Wednesday, January 25, 2023

PARAGON/TREASURE Thursday January 13/26 ns 2023 • Holy Martyrs Hérmylos and Stratónicos; St. Máximos of Kavsokalyvia; St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers - Mystical Contemplation and Divine Darkness by St. Dionysios - LOGO PIC Aivazovsky "Sparrow Hills" - FARM SCENE by Robin Molina

 

The Emperor Licinius raised up a persecution against Christians. St. Hérmylos, a Christian and a deacon in the Church, was captured and led to court. When Hérmylos was informed that he was being led away to be tortured, he greatly rejoiced. In vain did the emperor threaten him. Hermylos openly confessed his faith in Christ and responded to all the threats of the emperor saying, "The Lord is with me; I fear not; What can man do against me?" (Psalm 118:6). 

Following excruciating tortures, Hérmylos was thrown into the dungeon. The guard was Stratónicos, secretly a Christian, who sympathized with the suffering of Hermylos with all his heart. When it was reported to the emperor that Stratónicos was also a Christian, the emperor ordered that both of them be drowned in the Danube river. After that, the executioners tied Hérmylos and Stratónicos in a net and both were drowned in the Danube. Three days later, their bodies were washed ashore. Christians discovered their bodies and buried them about eighteen miles from Belgrade. These glorious martyrs suffered for Christ and were glorified in the year 315 A.D.


Ephesians 4:1-7 KJV

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.


Saint Luke 20:1-8 KJV

20 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.



Mystical Contemplation

and 

Divine Darkness

{the fruit of total self-renunciation}

by Saint Dionysios the Areopagite



St. Myrtidiótissa
In diligent exercise of mystical contemplation, leave behind the senses and the operations of the intellect, and all things sensible and intellectual, and all things in the world of being and non-being, that you may arise by unknowing towards the union, as far as is attainable, with Him who transcends all being and all knowledge. For by the unceasing and absolute renunciation of yourself and of all things you may be borne on high, through pure and entire self-abnegation, into the super essential Radiance of the Divine Darkness.  For by the unceasing and absolute renunciation of yourself and of all things you may be borne on high, through pure and entire self-abnegation, into the super essential Radiance of the Divine Darkness.











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