Wednesday July 27/ August 9 ns 2023 † Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon; St. Clement, Bishop of Ohrid, and his companions, Sts. Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum, and Sabbas > Wine and olive oil are permitted > II St. Tim. 2:1–10; St. Luke 21:12–19 > INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

† Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon;
St. Clement, Bishop of Ohrid, and his companions,
Sts. Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum, and Sabbas

Wednesday July 27/ August 9 ns 2023

 

Panteleimon was born in Nicomedia of a Christian mother and a pagan father. His mother was called Eubula and his father Eustorgio. As a young man he studied the science of medicine.

The priest, Hermólaos, invited Panteleimon to be with him and taught him the Faith of Christ and baptized him. Panteleimon miraculously cured a blind man whom the other doctors treated in vain; he cured him by the power of Christ and baptized him. Out of envy the doctors accused Panteleimon of being a Christian and he went before the Emperor Maximian to stand trial. "He stood before the earthly king in body but in thought he stood before the heavenly King." Before the emperor, he freely declared that he was a Christian and, before the eyes of the emperor, he healed a paralytic of a long-standing illness. This miracle drew many pagans to the Faith of Christ. The emperor subjected him to torture but the Lord appeared to him on several occasions and delivered him whole and unharmed. Saint Hermólaos with Hérmippos and Hermocrátes were then martyred. Sentenced to death, Saint Panteleimon knelt in prayer. At that moment the executioner struck him on the neck with a sword and the sword broke as though it were made of wax. The executioner was unable to execute him until the saint completed his prayer and until Panteleimon told him to behead him. His relics possessed the ability to heal. Panteleimon was executed under an olive tree which, after that, became all adorned with fruit. Panteleimon means, "Pan - all; Eleimon - merciful" "all compassionate." The All-merciful God received his righteous soul and glorified him among His great saints.

This wonderful martyr suffered honorably for Christ in his youth, on July 27, 304 A.D. Saint Panteleimon is invoked in prayers at the time of the "Blessing of Waters" and in the blessing of the holy oils used in the "The Mystery of Holy Unction," together with Saint Hermólaos and the other unmercenary saints and wonder-workers. A most beautiful church dedicated to this saint is located on Holy Mount Athos.

Monastery of the GM Panteleimon on the

Holy Mountain Athos

THE EPISTLE OF HOLY APOSTLE PAUL
2 Saint Timothy 2:1-10 KJV

2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
Saint Luke 21:12-19 KJV

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

The main duty of the spiritual man is to keep his mind clean
The main duty of spiritual people is to keep their mind free of intrusive thoughts. This is necessary because the devil is forever seeking a meeting of minds with his prey. Giving in to just a single thought is enough for him to gain a foothold and engage in spiritual combat.   And any mistake which we make in practice has already existed beforehand in the realm of our thoughts.

~ Based on St. Maximus the Confessor, Abba Mark

Another of our Lord's colors . . .

Luxurious, magnificent brown