Saint Evménios, Bishop of Gortyna
Saint Romýlos the Hagiorite
{Hagiorite: inhabitant of the Holy Mountain Athos}
From his youth, Evménios wholeheartedly followed Christ, freeing himself of two heavy burdens: the burden of wealth and the burden of the flesh. He freed himself of the first burden by distributing his entire estate to the poor and needy, and the second burden by strict fasting. In this way he first healed himself, and then began to heal others.
Passionless and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Evménios shone with a light that could not be hidden. As it is written, A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (St Matthew 5:14), so the holy Evménios could not be hidden from the world. Witnessing his goodness, the people chose him as Bishop of Gortyna, and he governed the flock of Christ as a good shepherd. He was a father to the poor, wealth to the needy, consolation to the sorrowful, a healer of the sick and a most wonderful miracle-worker. By his prayers, he worked many miracles: he subdued a poisonous serpent, cast out demons and healed many of the sick-and he did this not only in his own town, but also in Rome and in the Thebaid. In a time of drought in the Thebaid, he obtained rain from God by prayer. There, in the Thebaid, his earthly life ended, and he took up his habitation in the eternal home of his Lord. He lived and labored in the seventh century.
Galatians 2:21-3:7 KJV
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Saint Luke 3:23-4:1 KJV
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
FROM
KNOW THYSELF
BY ST NEKTARIOS OF PENTAPOLIS
Portion from chapter on:
"KNOWING GOD AND DOING HIS WILL"
Knowing and performing one's responsibilities toward God is the first and foremost virtue. Those who have acquired this virtue confess God is Creator, Maker and Fashioner of the whole world. They perceive that they were created for this task, and that for this purpose they were made rational and free beings. An inner voice prompts them to praise and glorify God. They envision their own soul being drawn to God as well as a feeling of love toward Him developing in their heart. Instinctively their spirit moves toward God and delights in investigating His marvelous works. A mystical voice echoes in their soul's ears, gently whispering to them that this is why they were fashioned; this is why they came into existence from non-being and that their destiny is to come to know God, to be made like Him, and to give Him praise and thanksgiving. Those who know God and do His will are acutely aware of the fact that they are straying from His sublime purpose and veering from the path of truth and righteousness set before them whenever they neglect these supreme responsibilities toward God. They are fully cognizant that they must conform their will to the Divine will, for in doing so they perceive that they are morally free and superior to subservient nature. They indeed consider any negligence of their responsibilities toward God as ingratitude on their part toward the good God who enriches them with grace and gifts. Those who know God acknowledge his multifarious revelations, which are offered in manifold ways for their instruction, guidance and salvation. These revelations were planned from the foundation of the world by God's good pleasure for human enlightenment, and have been confirmed by historical testimonies, for which those who know God offer him praise and thanksgiving.
Tomb of our holy father Nektarios
on Aegina
GREATER THAN THE GIFT
When prayer is actually prayer and not the mere inattentive repetition of words, there is a connection. And when you pray to Christ you are praying to for all mankind in heaven and on earth. And when prayer is again actually prayer you will love it more than all things, more than any former love, because you are with Christ Who is love. And greater even than the gift itself.....Christ confirms Himself as the Giver.
WHO WERE THEY?
from Sunday 9/29/2024 D. Liturgy Gospel
Saint Mark 9:1 KJV And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
You heard the Gospel, do you know who our Lord was referring to when He said there are those who will see the Kingdom before they die.
If so, enter your response in COMMENTS below.
Saints Peter, James, and John at the transfiguration
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