Tuesday May 3 /16 ns 2023 • Holy Martyrs Timothy and Máura; Translation of the Relics of St. Luke of Steírion; St. Theodósios of the Kiev Caves; St. Peter, Bishop of Argos • Acts 12:25–13:12; St. John 8:51–59 > ALL OF YOUR HEART PARADISE NOW > QUOTE FROM SAINT PROPHYRIOS OF ATHOS

 C H R I S T   I S   R I S E N !

Tuesday May 3 / 16 ns 2023

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

12:25-13:12

KJV

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

13 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Saint John

8:51-59

KJV

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

ALL OF YOUR HEART - ALL OF YOUR HEART 

ALL OF YOUR HEART

Link > PARADISE NOW

Need you be reminded that Christ requires ALL OF YOUR HEART?  Are you not aware that He has already freely given you everything 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 known 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