Christos Aneste!
When ye have lifted up the Son of man,
then shall ye know that I am He...
And He that sent me is with me:
the Father hath not left me alone;
for I do always those things that please Him.
P R A I S E
In loving praise of precious Timothy and Maura from
our holy father Nikolai Velimirovich
Timothy and Maura, crucified and pale,
Through the Lord Christ, looked at one another,
And by the spirit see each other better than with the eyes,
By pain exalted, above all things.
And Timothy speaks: Maura, my sister,
You are of a female nature, and your pain is greater!
By prayer be encouraged, do not despair sister,
All of your thoughts, affix to Christ.
Maura replied: Brother Timothy,
The Spirit of God I feel, in my soul it waves
He keeps me strong, and helpless, He strengthens me,
And the Sweet Jesus, my pains alleviates,
But, about you, my glorious pride, I am concerned,
What kind of pains, with yours can be similar?
But just a little while, a little while, my sweet brother,
From the thorns of sufferings, then the roses will blossom,
To the entire heavenly host, the darling you will be,
Only endure, endure without sound and sobbing
Let us be alert brother, let us not fall asleep,
Perhaps the Lord might come, that we not be ashamed.
Behold, the entire heavens opened, I see
Unseen treasures for us prepared.
Then Timothy to Maura: O sister, wonderful,
Bride of Christ, glorious martyr,
For His glorious mercy, let us glorify God,
That such an honorable death, He permitted upon us.
O glory to You O Savior, Who for us suffered;
Our spirit, we now commend into Your hands.
Because of their Christian Faith and only twenty days following their marriage, they were brought to court before Arrianus, the governor of Thebaid, during the reign of Diocletian.
Timothy was a lector in his local church. The governor questioned him: "Who are you?" To that Timothy responded: "I am a Christian and a lector of God's Church." The governor further said to him: "Do you not see these instruments prepared for torture surrounding you?" Timothy replied: "And, do you not see all the angels of God who strengthen me?" Then the governor ordered an iron rod be pierced through his ears so that the pupils of his eyes protruded from pain. After that, they hung him upside down and placed a piece of wood in his mouth.
At first, Maura was frightened because of Timothy's sufferings, but when her husband encouraged her, she also confessed her steadfast faith before the governor. The governor then ordered all the hairs of her head pulled out and after that severed the fingers from her hands. After many other tortures, from which they would have succumbed had not the Grace of God strengthened them, they were both crucified facing each other.
Thus, hanging on the cross, they lived for nine days counseling and encouraging each other in perseverance. On the tenth day, they gave up their souls to their Lord for Whom they endured death on a cross and so were made worthy of His kingdom. They suffered honorably for Christ in the year 286 A.D.
Acts 10:44-11:10
King James Version
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
11 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
Saint John 8:21-30
King James Version
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
11 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
Saint John 8:21-30
King James Version
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Need you be reminded that the Father in Heaven requires ALL OF YOUR HEART? Have you forgotten that He, Who Creates, from nothing, became flesh and allowed us to crucify Him so we would know how much He loves us? Are you not aware that He has already freely given you everything this life has to offer? Don't be a fool who says in his heart there is no God! Don't think for a moment that if, in your heart, you exchange every last bit of this life, every jot and tittle, that you will lose anything!
How many enlightened ones, how many saints are required to convince you that, what He has yet to give in the next world, to those who love Him and others, makes this life little more than a cobweb?
Again, ALL of your heart means EVERY aspect of your life. In other words, you desire nothing but Christ! Never doubt! When this is accomplished, He will confirm it from within you.
Our Lord, our Father, our Savior, our Holy Trinity, doesn't require your blood but He requires that you martyr your association with this transient world - IF - you wish life eternal with Him. Make no mistake! This is exactly what He requires! When Satan whispers praise to convince you that you are satisfied and gratified with your life - with what you have accomplished, enjoy or acquired - reply, with all your being, to the thought saying: "Get thee behind me Satan! "
Is there no simple way to accomplish total devotion to Christ you may ask? Yes, the simple ceaseless remembrance of Him! If you do so, you will long for nothing but to love and be with Him and you will feel Him in all things, because He is everywhere present, filling all things! In doing so, you will inherit the earth and a mansion in Paradise with Him Eternally. If you question your ability to accomplish unceasing remembrance of Christ, never forget....what's not possible with man is possible with God and thus the quote from the holy Athonite father Porphyrios below. {Ed}
Our Lord, our Father, our Savior, our Holy Trinity, doesn't require your blood but He requires that you martyr your association with this transient world - IF - you wish life eternal with Him. Make no mistake! This is exactly what He requires! When Satan whispers praise to convince you that you are satisfied and gratified with your life - with what you have accomplished, enjoy or acquired - reply, with all your being, to the thought saying: "Get thee behind me Satan! "
Is there no simple way to accomplish total devotion to Christ you may ask? Yes, the simple ceaseless remembrance of Him! If you do so, you will long for nothing but to love and be with Him and you will feel Him in all things, because He is everywhere present, filling all things! In doing so, you will inherit the earth and a mansion in Paradise with Him Eternally. If you question your ability to accomplish unceasing remembrance of Christ, never forget....what's not possible with man is possible with God and thus the quote from the holy Athonite father Porphyrios below. {Ed}
Elder Porphyrios of Athos
ON THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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