Sunday October 2 / 15 ns 2023 † Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina ~ ASCETICISM by +Metropolitan Cyprian of Blessed Memory

 

Thou didst ascend the cross O Jesus

Thou Who didst descend from heaven

Thou camest unto death O Life Immortal

Thou camest unto those in darkness

Thou Who are the True Light

Thou camest unto the fallen O Resurrection of us all

Our Light and Savior Glory to Thee

Most holy Virgin Mother, hear our prayer.

In thy tender compassion and mercy, calm the oppressors fury, their rage, their hate and stop the fear, suffering and brutal death inflicted on God's precious people in the middle east, in Russia, in the Ukraine, and all around the world.  The oppressors are unashamed in the face of your Son and our God and they don’t realize the grievous indictments they place on their souls.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

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Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina

Cyprian moved from Carthage to Antioch, where Justina lived with her parents, Edesius and Cleodonia. Edesius was a pagan priest, and his entire household was pagan. But when Justina visited a Christian church and learned the true Faith, she converted both her father and mother to the Christian Faith. All three received baptism by Optatus the bishop. Cyprian, however, was a magician, who consorted with impure spirits and practiced sorcery. A certain dissolute pagan youth named Aglaidas was willing to pay any price to charm Justina, for she was beautiful. The holy virgin Justina rejected him adamantly, and he sought help from Cyprian. Cyprian invoked one evil spirit after another, to inflame Justina with impure passion for Algaidas, but did not succeed. By the sign of the Cross and prayer to God, she drove the evil spirits away. After this futile effort, Cyprian recognized the power of the Cross and was baptized. Eventually, he was made a presbyter, then a bishop. Embittered pagans denounced him and Justina; both were tried in Damascus, tortured, and then beheaded in Nicomedia. They entered into rest at the end of the third century. 

+Metropolitan Cyprian of blessed Memory

+Metropolitan Cyprian of blessed Memory

Saint John 20:11-18 KJV

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9 KJV

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

ATTEND TO WHAT THE HOLY APOSTLE SAYS!

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Saint Luke 6:31-36 KJV

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

ASCETICISM

by +Metropolitan Cyprian of Blessed Memory
Sts. Cyprian and Justina Monastery, Fili Greece

It is a real tragedy, one that every struggling Christian lives through each day, that our nature is inundated by the passions. We incline towards sin as if in accordance with our nature. Along with the Fall, we have inherited this sick nature from our forefathers. 

The first, earthly Adam, gave us the mortality of our nature along with our robes of skin. But the second Adam, the heavenly Adam - our Savior Jesus Christ - has raised us up again, fashioned our nature anew, and become the Founder of a new race, of a new breed of man - members of His Body - which we become through Holy Baptism, receiving the command to do battle against our weak nature our whole life long, and through His Church to become holy and to make ourselves divine.

This painful struggle with the sin that dwells within us is called by the holy Fathers 'asceticism';   A Christian devoid of asceticism is inconceivable. Faith must be generated in a crucible of voluntary and involuntary sufferings in order to be purified of the dross of sin. Along with the patience we must have afflictions - which our Master, Who loves mankind, allows to come upon us - it is indispensable that there be added the related struggle towards a life of overall abstinence. St. Maximus the Confessor defines the perfect man thus: 'He is perfect who struggles with voluntary afflictions through abstinence, and with involuntary afflictions by restraining himself with patience'. 

One must practice asceticism to endure temptations patiently, yet at the same time one must take care not to exhaust the body, lest through weakness it become the lair of passions.  However, it is incontestable that from this bitter and terrible contest against sin and the passions and the battle to acquire the virtues, there is born the sweet flower of humility and repentance. You will see the full extent of the wretchedness of our fallen nature, and you will understand that you are nothing; you will become contrite and humble, seeking both redemption and the Redeemer. The blessed Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov describes this phenomenon with great profundity: 'Perfect virtue is to understand that only Christ can redeem you, and to place yourself before Him as a slave, realizing that any virtue you might have is not due to yourself, and that you cannot possess any worthiness apart from Christ and independent of the Person of the God-man';

True and deep humility, which places us on the true path of repentance, is the shocking realization of our own wretchedness - blessed self-knowledge. And this is given to us as a gift of divine grace when we struggle amid both voluntary and involuntary afflictions with patience and abstinence. 

May the Lord strengthen us!