CHRIST IS RISEN! ~~~~~ Monday May 28/June 10 ns 2024 ~~~~~ Holy Hieromartyr Evtychés, Bishop of Melitené; St. Andrew the Fool for Christ ~~~~~ DESCRIPTION OF PARADISE by St. Ephraem the Syrian

Monday May 28 / June 10 ns 2024

Today we commemorate

Holy Hieromartyr Evtychés,

Bishop of Melitené; 

St. Andrew the Fool for Christ

Evtychés was one of the lesser apostles and was born in Sebastopol. He was a disciple and imitator of the Apostle John the Theologian and the Apostle Paul. Even though he is not numbered among the seventy apostles, nevertheless, he is called an apostle because he was a disciple of the great apostles and, because in his evangelical service, he displayed true apostolic zeal. 

Consecrated a missionary bishop, St. Eutyches traveled much, having, an angel as his companion. In prison, he received heavenly bread from an angel. When his body was scrapped with a serrated iron rod, blood flowed from him with unusual fragrant myrrh. He was thrown into a fire and before wild beasts and finally beheaded with a sword in Sebastopol.

Acts 17:1-9 KJV

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

Saint John 11:47-54 KJV

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Description of Paradise

The revelations of God adapted to Man's Intellect

Select Metrical Hymns And Homilies Of
St. Ephraem The Syrian

READER:  Expressions of love come in many forms not only from the our Creator, but from those who have been inebriated with love for Him.
Beloved St. Ephraem's illustrious hymns embrace and caress the heart, soul and mind, with revelation, wisdom and making inner vision, visible.

The air of Paradise 

Is a fountain of sweetness, 

From which, in early life, 

Adam inhaled nutriment.

And the inspiration was to his youth 

Like the ministering breast of a mother. 

He was young, fair, and joyful: — 

But having spurned the commandment. 

He became unhappy, old, and fading. 

Bearing the weight of years 

And a load of miseries! 

No blighting frosts 

No withering heats, 

Are in that region 

Of blessedness and joy. 

It is a haven of gladness 

A home of delights, — 

Light and merriment reside within it: — 

There is a congregation of harpers, 

A society of players on the lute,

The sound of Hosannas, 

A Church of Hallelujahs!

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