THE PARAGON Tuesday January 31 / February 13 ns 2024 • Holy Unmercenaries Cyros and John, St. Arsénios the new of Páros - Saints: I Cor. 12:27-13:8; St. Matt. 10:1, 5-8- QUOTES FROM SAINTS: PREPARATION FOR PRAYING St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

Why the Paragon?

The Paragon was created to facilitate access to the daily commemoration of the saints, the Holy Scripture readings, and the writings of the holy  fathers and mothers and thereby provide a proper climate traditionally essential to the commencement of daily prayer.

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Today we commemorate

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 Holy Unmercenaries

Cyros and John

Saint Arsénios the new

of Páros

These charitable and glorious saints were not blood brothers but were brothers in the spirit. At first, Cyros lived in Alexandria, and as a physician he healed people by the power of Christ and by his knowledge of medicine. Learning that sickness mostly befalls man because of sin, Cyros always directed the sick to purify their souls from sin through repentance and prayer and, thereby restore health to the body.

When Diocletian's persecution against Christians began, Cyros withdrew to Arabia where he received the monastic tonsure. He became as famous in Arabia as he was in Alexandria, so that people there also resorted to him for assistance. Hearing about Cyros, John, then a Roman officer in Edessa, came to Arabia to see him. Upon meeting, they loved one another as a brother loves a brother and remained together to live a life of asceticism.

At that time, a certain Christian woman named Anastasia, together with her three daughters, was tortured by the persecutors in the town of Canopus. Hearing of this, Cyros and John came to Canopus to encourage the mother and her daughters not to abandon the Faith. And truly, thanks to the counsel of these saints, Anastasia endured all tortures and, with her daughters, was martyred for Christ. The daughters of Anastasia were named: St. Theoctista, age 15; St. Theodota, age 13; and St. Eudocia, age 11. The tormentors then captured Cyros and John, who, after imprisonment and torture were beheaded in the year 311 A.D.

Numerous miracles were wrought by these martyrs, both during their lives and after their deaths. Their relics were translated to Rome during the reign of Emperor Arcadius. These saints are invoked for assistance during the Blessing of Water, in the Mystery of Holy Anointing and especially by those suffering from insomnia.

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:8 KJV

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (agape Gr.), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Saint Matthew 10:1, 5-8 KJV

10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

PREPARATION FOR PRAYING

St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

An Elder used to say that in order to have light in your house, you need to install in your house the right hardware, switches, etc. 

To pray, you need to create for yourself the proper “climate”.   Then the Lord himself will teach us how to pray.

Therefore, there are certain prerequisites to praying. 

These are: 

1) some preparatory prayers, 

2) to ask the Lord to have tears, 

3) burning incenses, 

4) lighting of a candle, 

5) silence, 

6) no worrying, 

7) some prior study (i.e. reading the epistle and Gospel; lives of Saints etc,),  {Now you know - Why the PARAGON}

8) removal of yourself from everybody and everything, 

9) burning oil lamp, 

10) desire to be happy, 

11) complete dependence on God,  

12) and completely let go of yourself for God.