Holy Martyrs Flórus and Láuros;
Sts. Barnabas, Sophrónios, and Christopher
of Soumelá
Florus and Laurus were brothers in the flesh, and in spirit and in vocation. Both were zealous Christians and, by occupation, stonecutters. They lived in Illyria. A pagan prince hired them for the building of a temple to the idols. It happened that during their work, a piece of stone flew and struck the eye of the pagan priest's son who was observing the work of the builders with curiosity. Seeing his son blind and bloody, the pagan priest began to shout at Florus and Laurus and wanted to beat them. Then, the holy brothers said to him that if he would believe in the God in whom they believed, his son would be healed. The pagan priest promised. Florus and Laurus prayed with tears to the one, living, Lord God and traced the sign of the Cross over the child's injured eye. The child was immediately healed and his eye became whole just as it had been. Then the pagan priest Merentius and his son were baptized and, shortly after that, both suffered for Christ by fire. When they completed the temple, Florus and Laurus placed a cross on it, summoned all Christians and consecrated it in the name of the Lord Jesus with an all-night vigil of hymn singing. Hearing of this, the Illyrian deputy burned many of those Christians and threw Florus and Laurus alive in a well and then filled it with dirt. Later, their relics were revealed and translated to Constantinople.
These two wonderful brothers suffered and were martyred for Christ and were glorified by Christ in the second century.
Romans 15:30-33 KJV30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Saint Matthew 17:24-18:4 KJV
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
GOD HAS COME TO US!
— St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
A Treasury of Russian Spirituality
Thou camest to find and to save him who was lost; therefore Thou camest to seek me too, for I am one of the lost. O Lord, O my God and Creator! I should have come to Thee as a transgressor of Thy law. I should have fallen at Thy feet, cast myself down before Thee, humbly begging forgiveness, pleading with Thee and craving Thy mercy. But Thou Thyself have come to me, wretched and good-for-nothing servant that I am; my Lord has come to me, His enemy and apostate; my Master has come and has bestowed his love of mankind upon me. Listen my soul: God has come to us.”
IF any man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Saint Matthew 16:24 KJV
Now is the time (hint) to ask your employer for time off for the Great Feast of the
+ELEVATION OF THE PRECIOUS CROSS
As you well know, our Lord came for His Holy Virgin Mother but are you aware that angels will come for you when you repose? If you need further convincing, read
"The Departure of the Soul: According to the
Teaching of the Orthodox Church"
This book is the first comprehensive presentation of the teachings of over 120 Orthodox Saints and dozens of holy hierarchs, clergy, and theologians on the subject of the soul's exodus to the next life.
If you read the Paragon can you answer the following question?
But first, as we all know, God allows us to choose if we wish to follow Him. Its not mandatory!
Q: If one calls himself a Christian and a right-believing one (Orthodox) at that,
has he made the choice to deny himself (not with the tongue but in act), to take up the cross (understand) and follow Christ?
I hope you will take a moment to respond in
COMMENTS
at the bottom of the blogHOLY MONASTERY OF STS. CYPRIAN AND JUSTINA
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