Monday July 11/24 ns 2023 • Holy Great Martyr Euphemia the all-Praised; St. Olga of Russia, Equal-to-the-Apostles > II Cor. 6:1–10; St. Luke 7:36–50 > THE MAIN THING IN LIFE

 

Monday July 11/24 ns 2023
Holy Great Martyr Evphemía
the All-Praised
St. Olga of Russia, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Saint Evphemía is commemorated on September 16, the day on which she was martyred but on this day, however, is also commemorated the miracle surrounding her honorable relics, which was manifested at the time of the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. This Council was convened during the reign of Emperor Marcian and the Empress Pulcheria in the year 451 A.D., after the death of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. The reason for summoning this Council was the heresy of Diascoros, the Patriarch of Alexandria and Evtychés, an Archimandrite from Constantinople, who spread the false teaching that in Christ the Lord there were not two natures, divine and human, but only one, a divine nature. At this Council Anatólios, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Juvenal, Patriarch of Jerusalem, played the most prominent roles. Because a conclusion could not be reached through debates and testimonies from either side, Patriarch Anatólios motioned that the Orthodox and the heretics write down their confessions of faith and then place them in the sarcophagus where the relics of St. Evphemía reposed. They all agreed to this.

Therefore, the two confessions of faith were written and placed on the bosom of the great female martyr. The sarcophagus was closed, sealed with the emperor's seal and military guards were appointed. All of them spent three days in prayer and fasting. When they opened the sarcophagus on the fourth day, they saw the Orthodox confession of faith in the right hand of the saint and the heretical confession of faith under her feet. Thus the dispute, through the power of God, was decided in favor of Orthodoxy.

During the reign of Emperor Heraclius, the relics of St. Evphemía were translated from Chalcedon to Constantinople to the church dedicated to her near the Hippodrome. The iconoclastic Emperor Leo the Isaurian ordered that these relics be tossed into the sea but, in a miraculous manner, the sarcophagus was translated to the island of Lemnos and placed in the church of the great female martyr Glykería. Then, during the reign of the Empress Irene, the sarcophagus with the relics of St. Evphemía was again returned to Constantinople to its former place. Blood flowed from these relics from time to time which helped those who were ill or in misery.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 KJV 

6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Saint Luke 7:36-50 KJV 

Click here and read more from St. Ephraem the Syrian concerning this woman

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

THE MAIN THING IN LIFE

or

Leave this world attached to only one thing

JESUS CHRIST

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi Monastery - Mt Athos

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi often repeated: “The main thing in life is purpose.” What is the purpose of your life? It’s one thing when you’re acquiring the Holy Spirit, and quite another when you are fixated on acquiring something that, in fact, you will never take away from this corrupt world.   What are you saving up? Knowledge? Impressions? Money? Everything that is not an experience of the Liturgy—bringing down the Holy Spirit even to our seemingly simplest everyday tasks, when we dedicate them to God and we deny ourselves for the sake of others—has no point. It will all rot away here—even those things that are good by human standards.

“Mark my words, only good deeds done for Christ’s sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ’s sake, even though it be good*, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this life,” St. Seraphim of Sarov said in his conversation with Nicholas Motovilov. He also quoted the words of the Lord there: He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad (Mt. 12:30).

[If not done for Christ's sake, is it not self-glorification? We know where that leads.

Here today and gone tomorrow