St. James
by Phillip Aljouny (Oct. ’01)
Although little is known about the life of St. James, we know enough to establish him as a saint. It is not a lie to say that he played one of the most important roles in the spreading of our Lord’s word. Because of his dedication to Christ and his importance to the early church, we celebrate the feast day of Saint James on October 23. Saint James was often referred to as the “Brother of our Lord” because his kinship with Jesus Christ was so close. This is revealed in the Bible: “When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.’” (Mark: 6:2-3)
Although the term “Brother of our Lord” (the term used in Aramaic can refer to a close relative) points to James, he is believed to be the cousin of Jesus.
You probably know that our Lord was raised as a child in Nazareth, but what you might not have known is that James was also a Nazarene. After Pentecost, James was entrusted with the honor of preaching the good news to the people of Jerusalem. Over time, he was successful, and earned a reputation that eventually made him the first bishop of Jerusalem, which was a great honor. James was blessed with righteousness and was equipped with the strength of character. The success of James was dependent on these qualities. Saint James was preaching to common ignorant men who were without the knowledge of the Lord. James and his way of public speaking were capable of stirring people’s passions. No one failed to admire and respect him, but some wanted to destroy him.
I believe every Christian should celebrate the feast day of Saint James. He was no doubt a great Christian, trying his best to spread the good news at a time when Christians were being persecuted. James died by being stoned to death after being thrown off the roof of the temple in Jerusalem in 61 A.D. By celebrating the feast day of Saint James we are expressing our appreciation for the work he did for the Church. His life of dedication to Christ and the spread of the Christian faith should be celebrated by all Christians.
St. John of Damascus by Jenna Misleh (Dec. ’01)
The year was 676 in Damascus, Syria, when the renowned writer and church poet John Mansour was born. He later became known as St. John Damascene or St. John of Damascus.
St. John’s father, Sergius, died in 726 and St. John was appointed to take his father’s position as counselor to the caliph (civil and religious leader in a Moslem state). During the time he was in office, Leo the Isaurian, the Greek emperor, prohibited the veneration of icons. St. John wrote convincingly against Leo the Isaurian, as well as the iconoclasts (people who destroyed religious images/icons). The emperor tried punishing St. John with physical force, but it didn’t work. So he next tried punishing him with a different strategy.
The emperor had the scribes learn St. John’s handwriting, and had them write a letter of treason, claiming to overthrow the caliph, and the city of Damascus. They sent the letter to Abdul Malek, who was the caliph at the time. St. John was immediately punished. The caliph ordered St. John’s right hand to be cut off and hung in the marketplace.
Later in the night St. John went to the market place and recovered his hand. He placed it in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary and prayed, promising he would write hymns for Orthodoxy if he was healed. That night while St. John was sleeping, the Virgin appeared to him saying, “Thy hand is now whole; sorrow no more.” John awoke with great joy and astonishment seeing that his cut-off hand was back in its place. It had became whole with only a little scar.
The caliph received the news of the miracle. Through careful investigation, he proclaimed he was guilty of accusing St. John unjustly, and offered St. John great honors. But St. John did not accept any honor given to him. Instead he asked to have a replica of his hand made from silver and for it to be hung by the icon of the Virgin Mary. Thus the icon received the name “Three-handed”.
St. John went on to write many hymns and books which are still used in church services today. He later retired to the monastery of St. Sabbas, right outside Jerusalem. Since St. John was so renowned, none of the monks wanted to teach him. An elderly monk finally agreed to only if, for the sake of humility, St. John agreed to no longer write. St. John agreed and began to live as an ordinary monk.
A few years later, St. John’s friend’s father died and he asked St. John to write a prayer for him. The prayers and hymns he wrote are still used in funerals today.
The elderly monk heard of this and became angry and wanted to expel St. John from the monastery. The brethren went against this, so the elderly monk agreed to forgive St. John under the condition that he clean the filthy places of the monastery. So St. John humble-heartedly did.
After this the Mother of God appeared to the elderly monk in his sleep and said, “Do not stop up my wellspring any longer. Grant it to flow unto the glory of God.” The elderly man woke up and realized it was pleasing to God that St. John dedicate himself to writing.
From that time on, no one kept St. John from writing. After several years of uninterrupted labor he enriched the church with many hymns and prayers that are still used in the church services today.
The righteous St. John of Damascus became a bishop and died at the age of 104. His memory is celebrated on December 4.
St. Seraphim of Sarov
by Aaron Farha (Jan. ’02)
On the 2nd of January the Orthodox Church celebrates the glorious feast day of the holy staretz (elder), St. Seraphim of Sarov. It would do us well to reflect upon the mystical and awe-inspiring life and teachings of St. Seraphim. St. Seraphim was born in the holy land of Russia on July 19, 1759 in the town of Kursk. In the summer of 1786, St. Seraphim made his monastic vows at the monastery of Sarov. He was soon after ordained a deacon and four years later elevated to the priesthood.
After living within the community of the monastery for fifteen years, St. Seraphim withdrew and spent the next thirty years of his life in seclusion. These years spent in solitude came to be his training for the office of eldership. In 1825 St. Seraphim opened the doors of his cell to the people and spent his energy on the spiritual direction of the people. Because of his humility and his concern for people, Sarov became a center of pilgrimage until the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. St. Seraphim is well known for his experience of and teachings on the Holy Spirit. The following is part of his famous conversation with Motovilov:
Then Father Seraphim took me very firmly by the shoulders and said: ‘My son, we are both at this moment in the Spirit of God. Why don’t you look at me?’ ‘I cannot look, Father,’ I replied, ‘because your eyes are flashing like lightning. Your face has become brighter than the sun, and it hurts my eyes to look at you.’ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘At this very moment you yourself have become as bright as I am. You yourself are now in the fullness of the Spirit of God; otherwise you would not be able to see me as you do.’ Then bending his head towards me, he whispered softly in my ear: ‘Thank the Lord God for His infinite goodness towards us…But why, my son, do you not look me in the eyes? Just look, and don’t be afraid; the Lord is with us.’
The whole account of St. Seraphim’s conversation with Motovilov is of great significance for our understanding of the goal of our life. The goal of our life is to become like God, to acquire the Holy Spirit. In the Orthodox Church this is known as deification. St Seraphim says, “Prayer, fasting, works of mercy-all this is very good, but it represents only the means, not the end of the Christian life. The true end is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.”
Through the prayers of our Holy Father, St. Seraphim of Sarov, may God bless us on our journey to acquire the Holy Spirit. And as St. Seraphim would say, ‘Learn to be peaceful, and thousands around you will find salvation.’
St. Abraham of Harran
by Matt Leming (Feb. ’02)
Each year on February 14, we celebrate the holiday of Valentine’s Day. On this day we are usually giving each other candy hearts and looking for ways to surprise our loved ones. We don’t take too much time for God. Even if we do take time to remember God on this day, we think of St. Valentine. However, the same feast day is shared by a saint far less known than St. Valentine. His name is St. Abraham of Harran. This is the very reason this article is dedicated to St. Abraham.
St. Abraham was born in Cyrrhus in Ancient Syria. He began devoting his life to God when he lived in the desert. Here he controlled his earthly body by fasting and prayer. He departed for a town in Lebanon when he heard that the town was “engulfed in the darkness of impiety.” After nearly being killed by the inhabitants of this town, he was able to convert them to Christianity and served as their priest for three years. The town’s name was never documented; however, it was believed to be Aquara.
When he left the town he appointed one of his good friends from there to be his successor. Upon leaving Lebanon, he was made Bishop of Carrhae. Later he visited the Emperor Theodosius II and his wife the Empress Eudocia in Constantinople, where he died. His body was then escorted to the city of Antioch by the Emperor and Empress’ entourage. He was buried in that holy city.
This is just a brief summary of the life of St. Abraham. There is one verse in the Bible that comes to mind when reading about this great saint. That is John 13:34: “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; even as I do, that you also love one another.” This man did just that. He showed love toward people who nearly killed him. He gave them the greatest gift one could receive, the gift of God. So on Valentine’s Day, go ahead and enjoy the surprises and the candy hearts, but please remember to take time to remember other saints of the past who struggled to spread the word of our Lord Jesus Christ.
40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste by Jamil Malone (Mar. ’02)
On March 9th the Orthodox Christian Church celebrates the feast day of the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste. When attending a wedding, one will find the prayer that the priest reads before the couple to be quite familiar. The prayer reads, “Remember them (the bride and groom), O Lord, as thou didst thy Forty Holy Martyrs, sending down upon them crowns from Heaven…” The symbolic crowns come from the crowns that were sent down on the Forty Holy Martyrs.
During the reign of the Emperor Licinius (AD 320), there was a group of forty young soldiers of the Roman army who were garrisoned in the city of Sebaste, Armenia. These soldiers committed themselves to the service of Jesus Christ while serving the emperor. They were excellent examples of men who could bear arms for their country and still worship the Prince of Peace. The forty young men did not just accept Christ as their Savior on their own, but they did so with the knowledge that they ran a considerable risk of being killed. Licinius soon discovered their allegiance to Christ and issued an edict that those who did not worship the pagan gods would face punishments that could include torture or death. When the forty young men where given the choice of recanting or dying, none of them stepped forward to be counted as a pagan. It was very cold at this time, which led to the idea of stripping the soldiers and standing them out by a lake where the cold winds would kill them. The forty stood shivering in the wind looking across at the warm fires of the pagans to which they could go if they denied Christ. The forty preferred death to that kind of dishonor and stood their ground. Finally there was one in the group who weakened and started for the warm fires, but he died before reaching them. As death grew nearer, a band of angels descended from Heaven and placed crowns on the heads of the dying soldiers. This spectacle overcame one of the pagan guards so much that he stripped his clothes and rushed to die at the side of these men. This brought to forty the number who died for Christ on that somber day. It is for this reason that we say the prayer at a wedding as a symbol of the blessing of Heaven for those who keep their faith in Jesus Christ.
What makes these men examples for everyone is the strength and faith these forty young men displayed in risking their lives for Christ. The reading of their story inspires us to look at how we really view Christ.
Through the prayers of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, may God bless us. May He send down crowns from Heaven upon us someday.
Great Martyr Saint George by Ronnie Lawand (Apr. ’02)
On the 23rd of April we celebrate the life of the Great Martyr Saint George. Raised in Cappadocia, St. George was brought up in the Christian faith. His parents were wealthy and provided him with a strong religious background.
As he grew older, the Great Martyr George became an important part of the Roman army because of his many virtues. By the end of the Third Century, St. George had become one of Emperor Diocletian’s favorite soldiers. He was in charge of thousands of soldiers.
Once Diocletian had used the help of his many Christian officers, he focused on trying to reintroduce a state religion. His goal was to force his belief in paganism upon the people of the Roman Empire. He believed it would unite the Empire. Diocletian concentrated his efforts on the suppression of Christianity. He issued a royal order stating that anyone who failed to deny Christ would be punished to death.
The Great Martyr George would not comply. He declared himself a Christian to the Emperor and scorned him for believing in false idols. Anticipating a punishment for his actions and his beliefs, St. George distributed his riches to the poor and freed his slaves. Soon after, the Emperor ordered that the Great Martyr George be placed in a dungeon and subjected to merciless torture. He was first hit in the belly with a spear that pierced his flesh and drew much blood, but St. George did not succumb. He was then tied to a wheel that had sharp knives embedded in it and was cut many times. Once again, the Great Martyr George survived. He endured the pain patiently and continued to glorify the Lord.
The inability to kill St. George frustrated the Emperor. At the same time, many new people were attracted to Christianity. They had seen that the Great Martyr George had survived terrible torture. Even the wife of the Emperor, Empress Alexandra came to the faith of Christ. Finally, in about 303 AD, the Emperor ordered that the Great Martyr George’s head be cut off. That is how Saint George departed unto Christ.
In most icons, Saint George is depicted sitting on a white horse, smiting a dragon with a spear. This is based on one of the miracles of the Great Martyr George. Not far from where Saint George was born there lived a dragon which frequently devoured humans. Once, as the beast approached a sacrificed maiden, a radiant Saint George appeared and stabbed the dragon with his spear, saving the maiden. This helped convert the people of the nearby city to Christianity.
The Great Martyr St. George will be remembered as a devout Christian who placed his life in the hands of God. Through his good deeds and by his example, Saint George was able to convert many people to Christianity and to spread the word of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Prophet Job
by Katie Nimmer (May ’02)
We commemorate the Holy Prophet Job the Righteous on May 6 each year. Many of us are familiar with the story of this man who lived approximately 1500-2000 years before the birth of Christ. A God-fearing individual, Job worshipped the Lord and refrained from sin, both in action and thought. God blessed Job for his piety, rewarding His servant with great riches in the material world and also in his family life with many children. For all of these things and his unassuming approach to life, he was wellrespected within his community.
However, a tremendous test lay in store for Job. Satan proposed that the only reason Job worshipped God was because of all the blessings he had received. The Lord disagreed, knowing Job’s faith, and allowed Satan to remove all of Job’s blessings, including his children. Upon these things happening, Job said to God: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) He did not sin or curse the Lord for his misfortune; he simply continued to worship God.
This wasn’t enough for Satan. He again petitioned the Lord to further test Job, and God agreed on the condition that Satan spare Job’s life. Satan then afflicted Job with hideous sores from head to toe, so severe that his friends did not even recognize him when they came to visit. His friends and his wife all thought that God was punishing him for secret sins he committed, but Job maintained that this was all simply in accordance with Divine Will. As Job said when his wife advised him to curse God, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10)
Job did not turn from praying to God. He did ponder why the Lord should make him suffer so after his friends continued to believe he had sinned. Eventually, Job realized that doubting the Lord was a sin, and repented. He prayed to God for his friends’ salvation in recognition of this. The Lord accepted these prayers, and returned to Job his health and blessings twice over. Job went on to have ten children and lived for another 140 years (248 in total). [Portions adapted from “The Story of Saint Job,” www.oca.org]
Job, who prefigured Christ, has shown us how through trials and tribulations we must remain sinless in not only word or deed, but also in thought. Job sets an example for us — even when we are covered with the “boils of life” and have to “scrape at [our] wounds with a clay piece” this is the time when we must continue to love God and remain sinless. Job was rewarded for his faithfulness and for his unceasing trust in God, as we all shall be if we follow his example.
Virgin Martyr Febronia (Jun. ’02)
Saint Febronia, commemorated on June 25, was born in Mesopotamia around the turn of the Third Century. When she was two years old, she was given to her aunt, an abbess in Assyria, to be raised. While she physically grew to be quite beautiful, her spirit matured even more so, as she proved to be an apt pupil. Her aunt even assigned her to spend days apart from the rest of the nuns. She did nothing but pray and read the Scriptures.
Her example called forth many people to the monastery to learn about the faith and to be baptized. Saint Febronia herself instructed many of them, and her teaching abilities became even more renowned.
However, the Roman emperor Diocletian gave orders to rid the land of Christianity. He sent a number of troops under three commanders, Lysimachus, his uncle Selenus, and Primus. Selenus was infamous for his persecution of Christians. Lysimachus’ sympathies lay with the Christians though, as his own mother had died a Christian. When the soldiers approached the monastery, only three nuns remained, including the abbess and Saint Febronia. Lysimachus contemplated how to aid the nuns who had not fled.
Such was not to be, as Selenus received word of his intentions. He seized St. Febronia and imprisoned her in chains. He offered her many rewards and marriage to Lysimachus (who also refused the deal as it would be un-Christian) if she would renounce her faith. Saint Febronia did refuse, and Selenus commenced to torture her in many ways, so severely that even the townspeople urged an end to the spectacle. She eventually was beheaded and buried in the convent. Selenus returned to his quarters, where he suffered a mysterious ailment and died. Lysimachus, Primus, and others were converted and baptized, having witnessed the strength of Saint Febronia’s faith in God.
In the year 363, most of her relics were transferred to Constantinople. The others remained in a local church. Her tomb has became a source of miraculous healings.
May we all have the courage and faith to bear witness to God as Saint Febronia did!
(Portions adapted from the OCA Saints webpage).
Protomartyr Stephen
by Stephen Jacobs (Dec. ’02)
St. Stephen was one of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr. Historians do not know much about his early life, but have approximated that Stephen had to have lived early in the First Century. This is because it was not long after Jesus died and rose again that Stephen died. Scholars state that he was a Greek-speaking Jew who came to live in Jerusalem, but they can’t state when exactly he became a Christian. The Church of Jerusalem selected Stephen as one of the first seven deacons who were men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit. After a while, Stephen was named the archdeacon of his area.
Stephen first appears in the Bible in Acts Chapter 6, which mentions his appointment to the deaconate. “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, ‘It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen….” (Acts 6:2-5)
It is apparent that Stephen took his ministry very seriously. Stephen worked many wonders and miracles among the poor people of Jerusalem, whom he served. This caused a great deal of consternation among the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem. They slandered
Stephen and said that he had blasphemed against God and against Moses. The leaders of the Jewish Temple found false witnesses who supported these claims. Stephen stood before the people and spoke about all the good works that God had done for the people of Israel. Stephen then saw the heavens open and told the people what he saw: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56) The leaders of the Jewish Temple took him out of the city and stoned him to death.
The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Stephen on December 27. Saint Stephen is the patron saint of deacons. Saint Stephen is also my patron saint. It is the tradition of the Orthodox Church that children are named after saints who can be examples to them of a good Christian life. I am glad that Saint Stephen is my patron saint because he was brave and loving to other people even when they were hurting him. He is not only a good example to me, but for all of us on how to be more Christ-like in our everyday lives.