Σάββατο 28 Δεκεμβρίου 2019

The dark-skinned race at the Birth of Christ & the Holy Innocents who slain by Herod at Bethlehem (memory day December 29)!...

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Δευτέρα 23 Δεκεμβρίου 2019

An old Greek story about Santa


No Santa Claus (Nicholas), but St Basil the Great is coming to town at the 1st night of January.
 
John the Blessed 
(Translated from the Greek original)

Images from here

You can read it here & here
 
 

See also 


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Πέμπτη 21 Νοεμβρίου 2019

The feast of Entrance of the Theotokos & two new Saints



Photo: Our Lady the Hidden or Our Lady of the Oranges (Argos, Greece).
Photo from here & here.


Please, see:

Mary and the Temple

Entrance of the Theotokos Resource Page (November 21)

St. Iakovos (Jacob) Tsalikis of Evia a sun of love, a living incarnation of the Gospel (November 22)

 

Akathist to St. Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia (+1991)

Three contemporary Orthodox Saints & the African peoples: Saints Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (an area, whose name means "the hut burner", on Holy Mount Athos), Paisios the Hagiorite and Jacob of Evia...

Father George Calciu († 2006, November 21)

The anti-Human
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Δευτέρα 18 Νοεμβρίου 2019

The honor of the Holy New Martyr fr Daniel Sysoev in Greece († November 19th, 2009)


Articles & posts in Greek about fr Daniel Sysoev in Google (& others here)

Akathist for fr Daniel Sysoev in Greek
 
Fr. Daniel Sysoev: holy hymns (in Greek)

Orthodox Christian Book on Islam dedicated to Father Daniel Sisoev & New Martyr Evgeny Rodionov (see pages 233 - 235)

Δανιήλ Συσόϊεφ, Μάρτυρας του Χριστού


See also  

İlahiyatçı ve İman İkrarcısı, Şehit Peder Daniel Sysoev (1974–2009) (in Turkish) 
 
New Martyr fr Daniel Sysoev - “The warriors of Christ are not killed, but crowned”!...

The mission is feasible! – about publishing activity of the Orthodox Missionary Center “Fr. Daniel Sysoyev”

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Παρασκευή 8 Νοεμβρίου 2019

Miley Cyrus, or: why Orthodox Mission in the West is an urgent need...


Ελληνικά εδώ

Miley Cyrus is an American actress and singer, born in 1992, who became famous mainly thanks to the leading role in the teenage TV series “Hanna Montana” – which was also aired in our country. You can read her biography here.
 
This is a 22-year-old woman (in 2014), who has become a pop star – or, more accurately, an idol – for millions of teenage girls all over the world, because she is supposedly living the dream of a perfect life: she is pretty, sexy, famous, obviously wealthy, with a resplendent life in which she can “do whatever she wants”, but also “have whomever she wants”!

This intoxicating dream is what dominates the imagination of the girls that we are raising – as well as the young boys. Miley is leading both in two different directions: towards seeking the realization of that dream at all costs (by sacrificing principles and values in order to “survive” in a society of human piranhas), or towards depression, if they don’t succeed in realizing that dream; otherwise, they resort to spending their entire fortune and their youthful vigor, in striving to possibly acquire the specifications that they lack” - for example, the suitable physical form.

I don’t know if Miley has anything to do with addictions, perversions etc… I don’t know if she feels happy or miserable; empty or full (after all, “she isn’t human” – she is an idol - the way she has been rendered by her glamorous exploiters, the bosses of the worldwide “entertainment” industry). But I do know where the millions of young girls are led, who either apparently or secretly sigh out of admiration or envy when they look at her.

To get an idea, you need only look at the many and various photos of her on the Internet (I repeat, that she is 22 years old today, and that she had embarked on her “career” much earlier).

“Poor girl” is the only thing that I have to say. You poor girl… I am not being judgmental. I love you. I love you because I am an Orthodox Christian. Is there anyone else in this world – with the exception of Christ – who loves you?

And she is not the only one. There are tens more – or, rather, hundreds more – pop stars just like her. There are quite a few in Greece also. So, who is going to tell that child and her like – as well as the millions of admirers – that theirs is NOT a “life”?

Who is going to speak to them about the true kind of love and joy – the union of heaven and earth – which cannot be acquired through the weird gurus, but through Christ?
Who is going to speak to them about holiness and eternity; of the eternal love that we call “Paradise”?

Kali (click)
Will it be the Protestant missionaries with their nonexistent theology, or the Pentecostals with their grotesque and fraudulent “metaphysical experiences”?
Or perhaps the roman catholic priests and theologians who – obviously unwittingly – serve the heresy that led Europe to its present sorry state, from the medieval era and through to this day?
Will it be the assortment of yogis, gurus, swamis and their ilk, who have descended upon us from the Far East in order to “civilize” or “cure” our ailing western brethren?

Who will restore these youngsters, other than Orthodoxy – that ancient and authentic teaching – and Christ’s only Church: the true therapeutic means for healing spiritual ailments and VICTORY over spiritual and moral (and not only) dependencies? 
Then again, which orthodox priest or theologian or missionary in the western world will approach them, speak to them about Christ, the Holy Mother, prayer, fasting, Confession and Holy Communion?

Whoever does this will save both himself, as well as many others. However, analogous missionaries are required in our country as well. Some do exist. Are they enough? God only knows.
If you haven’t encountered one on your path until now, I hope that you do meet one eventually. Until then, you are cordially invited to take a stroll through our island-blog.
With ample love and a few prayers – the only treats that this humble corner can offer you….
I thank you.



Click:

Why I’m not an atheist
False Black: Gothic Orthodox?
Hippies meets Orthodoxy
A smile from eternity & a barefoot saint in USA
LOVERS OF TRUTH: THE LIFE OF HIEROMONK SERAPHIM ROSE
Lover of Truth: St John, The Wonderworker of San Francisco
The holy anarchists
VALERIU GAFENCU - The Saint of the Prisons and Prisoners
Through Closed Doors
Two Deaths  
Klaus Kenneth, the spiritual traveler

Orthodoxy's Worship: The Sanctification of the Entire World

The 'Death' of Anita Phillips
The Stories of the Saints of North America An Orthodox parish in Turkana desert
Orthodox Saints and the Future of America Greece: elder Porphyrios & the hippies… A Letter from an Orthodox Christian to our Indian Brothers  
OUR TALENT OF FREEDOM & SOME PITFALLS
A Deer Lost in Paradise
 
 
Ancient Faith Radio
Orthodox England
"The Orthodox World"   Saint Herman Press   Journey to Orthodoxy  
Road to Emmaus   "Death to the world"
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The feast of the Angels & St. Nektarios the Wonderworker in the Orthodox Church (8 + 9 November)

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Παρασκευή 1 Νοεμβρίου 2019

Saint David of Euboea Island (November 1st)


Orthodoxwiki

Our Venerable and God-bearing Father David of Euboea, also David the Elder ((Greek): Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαβὶδ ὁ ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ), ca.1480 - ca.1589, is a Saint and Wonderworker of Ottoman Greece. His feast day is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on November 1.
The Monastery of Saint David in Euboea, which is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior, and yet is associated with Saint David who founded it about 1535-1540 AD and lived his monastic life there in the 16th century, celebrates on August 6th as well as on November 1st. Within the church are the relics of Saint David, his censer, his priestly stole, and other treasures. 

Biography

 

Early Life

 

Saint David was born between 1470 and 1480, in the village of Gardinitsa in the province of Locrida. The name of this village today is Kyparissi. His father, Christodoulos, was a priest. He and his pious wife Theodora had four children, whom they raised "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord". 

St. David of Euboea as a child before the icon of St. John the Forerunner.
 
When little David was three years old, one evening he saw Saint John the Baptist in a vision. Saint John took his hand and they went together to a chapel dedicated to his memory. There, Saint John went into his icon, while the child got down on his knees in front of it. Little David's parents, as well as the whole village, were looking for him for six days and nights.
On the sixth day, which was Saturday, David's father went with some villagers to that chapel to serve the Vespers and pray to the Saint for his child. When they arrived, they were surprised to see little David on his knees in front of the icon of Saint John. His face was glowing with a celestial light and he didn't look at all haggard. Then they all understood that this child was not like the other children, he was special. 

Holy Orders

 

When Saint David was fifteen years old, he left his village with the blessing of his parents and followed the Hieromonk Akakios, a virtuous and experienced spiritual father, whom he met due to the Providence of the Lord. In the monastery of Elder Akakios, Saint David lived as member of the brotherhood for five years.
His asceticism, obedience and humility were sterling. The prudence and the wisdom of the young novice were the reason his brothers in the monastery called him "David the Elder".
Following Akakios, who had the desire to meet virtuous monks, they left the monastery and visited a lot of other monasteries and retreats. In a monastery in Ossa, where they stayed for a long time, Saint David was ordained Deacon.
Their next destination was Mount Athos. After worshiping in the Holy Monasteries and meeting the holy ascetics, Elder Akakios left for Constantinople to receive the blessing of the Patriarch, while Saint David remained at the Great Lavra of Saint Athanasios the Athonite. The Patriarch not only blessed Elder Akakios, but also convened a Synod and ordained him Metropolitan of the Holy Diocese of Nafpaktos and Arta. Akakios took Saint David with him to the Diocese, where he ordained him a priest.
The obedience of Saint David to the Elder, his spiritual father, was great. The following incident depicts this obedience in the most vivid way. One day Elder Akakios sent David from Nafpaktos to Arta for some work. It was a journey of four days by foot. Saint David was walking barefoot, as was usual for him, through difficult and wild paths. When he arrived outside the city of Arta, he stopped for a while to rest. A charitable Christian saw him and immediately bought a pair of tsarouhia (traditional Greek footwear) and gave them to the fatigued monk. The humble Saint David, who did not want to offend this kind and devout man, accepted and wore them. After finishing the work that the Elder had assigned to him, the Saint returned to Nafpaktos. When the Bishop saw him wearing new shoes, he reprimanded him for accepting the offer of the Christian without first having received his blessing. He ordered Saint David to remove the shoes from his feet and return them to the person who gave them to him. Saint David, obeying his Elder, returned barefoot to Arta, found the Christian, and after giving him back the tsarouhia, returned once again to Nafpaktos. 

Hegumen of Varnakova

 

The goodness of Saint David and his spiritual progress were obvious to everybody. The Bishop and the lords of the area kindly requested, and finally persuaded, the Saint to become the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God in Varnakova. This position was difficult, because he had to deal all the time with the problems caused by the restive monks of the monastery. 

St. David teaching Orthodoxy and Hellenism to children in the "Secret School".
 
During his new activity, Saint David shone with formidable patience. One day, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Jeremias I, accompanied by the orator Emmanuel, visited the Monastery of Varnakova. During the stay of the Patriarch in the monastery, Saint David celebrated the Holy Liturgy. When the orator Emmanuel came into the church he saw Saint David, surrounded with light during the Holy Office of Preparation. He was not standing on the ground and his face was shining like the sun. Emmanuel immediately ran to the Patriarch and called him to come and see for himself the miraculous scene he had witnessed. When the Patriarch entered the church, he could only see the face of the Saint wet with tears. The Patriarch admired him and asked the Saint to become a Bishop, but he humbly refused.
As the Hegumen of Varnakova, he established the first Greek school, where very important learned priests from Mount Athos were teaching, as well as a "Secret School" in the Monastery, which was operating up to last century.
However, the problems caused by the fathers of the Monastery continued to exist. Because of the inappropriate behavior of some monks, who despite his advice did not reform, Saint David decided, reluctantly, to leave the Monastery. 

At Mount Steiris

 

St. David being tortured and imprisoned.
 
The Lord led him to Mount Steiris, in the area of Domvou. There he continued his ascetic struggle, accompanied by father Seraphim, who was also his spiritual child.
Nevertheless, the hateful devil found and took the opportunity to attack the Saint once more. He was accused by local people as the one responsible for the escape of some slaves of a Hagarene lord from Livadia. For this reason, they arrested Saint David, imprisoned him and tortured him brutally. Saint David suffered everything with patience. However, by the Providence of the Lord, some devout Christians appeared and paid the money to release the Saint. When the Saint was released, he thought that it would not be good to return to his monastery. After some time, which he spent wandering in that area, without being able to find an appropriate place to rest, he decided to go to the island opposite, that is Euboea. 

At Euboea

 

St. David miraculously crossing over the waters to the island of Euboea.
 
While he was on the coast of Atalanti, he saw a man with a boat and asked him kindly to take him to the island. The man saw the humble monk with the worn robe; he refused to transfer him and continued his work indifferently. Saint David, without being upset by the man's behavior, went some meters away, removed his worn robe, laid it on the water and after making the sign of the cross, stepped on his robe and started sailing quickly through the waves. The man, surprised, saw the Saint on his robe sailing and leaving the coast behind him. He then understood that this monk was a Saint and he started shouting and begging... Come father, come father with my boat. Come father... Saint David blessed him from afar and continued his journey.
With his robe he arrived at the village of Rovies. When he stepped on the shore, he began climbing the green mountain, which rose behind the village. He found there the almost ruined chapel of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ our Savior, which he totally reconstructed, assisted by the local people.
The holiness of Saint David was a powerful magnet attracting people who wanted to dedicate themselves to Jesus Christ. As a result, a small brotherhood quickly formed. The cells, built to cover the needs of the brotherhood near the chapel, were not enough. 

Trip to Russia

 

Saint David decided to travel to faraway Russia to collect the money needed to build a new monastery. After surveying the area, he chose an appropriate high place on the mountain and, before leaving for his journey, gave instructions regarding the construction work to the craftsmen and artisans.
Saint David, assisted by the Greek community in Russia, which was flourishing during those years, collected a great amount of money. However, he was aware of the difficulties and the dangers of the long return journey. So he decided not to take the money with him, but to transfer it to the island by a different route. He took a piece of wood, hollowed it out, and put all the money in it. Then he sealed the opening, made the Sign of the Cross over it, and threw it into one of the rivers of Russia, while he began his return journey alone. 

Monastery of Saint David at Euboea

 

St. David of Euboea putting the treasure into the log (top), and it being miraculously preserved (bottom).
 
When the Saint arrived, after a long time, at the beach of Rovies, he saw the fishermen staring at a peculiar log and trying to break it into pieces with their axes. Their efforts were in vain, since after every stroke, the axes bent or broke. Saint David came closer to them and told them that this log contained the money he had collected during his long journey and that it would open only by the Lord's will at the appropriate time.
When Saint David arrived at the monastery, he saw that the craftsmen had not observed his instructions and instead of building the new monastery on the top of the mountain, they had started building it near the chapel of the Transfiguration. Saint David became upset. He asked them why they had disobeyed and they answered that on the top of the mountain, where he wanted the new monastery to be built, there was no water. 

St. David of Euboea and the miraculous spring of holy water.
 
Then Saint David took some workers and monks and climbed the mountain. When they arrived at the place he had suggested for the new monastery, he got down on his knees and prayed to the Holy Mother. As soon as he finished his prayer, he knocked with his staff at the root of a big tree. Forthwith, water came streaming out of it, flowing like a river to the foothills.
However, for reasons known only to the Lord, the Saint allowed the craftsmen to continue the construction at the point where the monastery has stood up to the present day. The monastery was founded circa 1535-1540 AD. As for the water that still flows powerfully today, in 1963, some fellow-countrymen of the Saint created a channel to bring it into the yard of the monastery.
The natural gifts and the holiness of Saint David had become widely known. Many Metropolitans invited him to their dioceses for the spiritual benefit of the Christians.
Once, the lords and bishops of the Peloponnese invited him to resolve the problems and the divisions between them. Saint David began his journey with love and eagerness. Although the ship on which he was traveling encountered heavy seas and was wrecked, Saint David was rescued through a miracle and nine hours after the shipwreck the accompanying monks saw him floating on the sea, unscathed.
At one time, Saint David was going to Karystos on some business of the Monastery. On the road, he stopped at the village of Disto to rest himself. There, the residents of the village asked the Saint to release them from the swarm of mosquitoes, from which they were suffering. The Saint seeing their devotion, prayed fervently to the Lord and then a great miracle happened. Mosquito clouds started to fall and disappear into the sea, in front of the surprised eyes of the locals.
Another time, the Saint was in Elefsina for the spiritual benefit of the Christians. There, he was guest in the house of a devout Christian. The master of the house, so as to please the Saint, cooked among other dishes, a pumpkin, which at the time, was a newly introduced garden vegetable. But when they tasted the pumpkin they found that it was really bitter. The master of the house felt really bad. The Saint realised it, prayed secretly, and as a result the pumpkin became sweet and tasty.
The monastery became a beacon for the area of North Euboea which illumined the people's souls and comforted the Christians during those difficult years of slavery.
Saint David was distressed and hurt to see the poverty and misery of the people who came to the door of the monastery. He cared first for the spiritual welfare of the pilgrims and then for their material needs. The believers called the monastery "The Monastery of Charity".

Later Life and Departure

 

The righteous dormition of St. David of Euboea.

When Saint David grew old he appointed another hegumen and withdrew to his retreat, which was a tiny cave formed by a complex of rocks in the forest. He stayed there in prayer during the whole week, eating only a piece of Antidoron and drinking only some holy water.
On Saturday afternoons Saint David would come to the monastery. On Sunday morning he served the Holy Liturgy, received Holy Communion and after advising and comforting the pilgrims to the Monastery, and educating and supporting the monks, he would leave late in the afternoon for his retreat. 

The wonderworking Skull of St. David, treasured by his monastery in Euboea.
 
When Saint David became even older, he foresaw his death in a divine revelation. Then he called the fathers of the monastery and announced to them that in three days he would pass away. With fatherly love, he advised the monks accordingly. Shortly before rendering his holy soul into the hands of the Lord he said... Behold, my brothers, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming! The monks of the monastery were desolate. With deep sadness and tears, they buried his body.
The miracles of Saint David have been numerous during the centuries, as have been the believers, who have become witnesses of his glory before the Lord's throne. People with physical, psychic and spiritual diseases are freed from the burden of their ailments by leaning down to venerate his holy skull. They depart healed and they thank the Saint, praising God.
We commemorate him on November 1st.
May we all have his blessing! 

Sources

 

External Links


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Δευτέρα 28 Οκτωβρίου 2019

"The young martyr Anastasia humbly came out to meet the armed soldiers..."

Holy Martyr Saint Anastasia the Roman (October 29)

Orthodox Church in America
 
The Martyr Anastasia the Roman lost her parents in infancy, and was then taken to be reared by the abbess of a women’s monastery, named Sophia. She raised Anastasia in fervent faith, in the fear of God and obedience.
The persecution against Christians by the emperor Decius (249-251) began at that time. The city administrator, Probus, on the orders of the emperor commanded that Anastasia be brought to him. Blessed by her abbess to suffer for Christ, the young martyr Anastasia humbly came out to meet the armed soldiers. Seeing her youth and beauty, Probus first attempted flattery to make her deny Christ.
“Why waste your youth, deprived of pleasure? What is there to gain by enduring tortures and death for the Crucified? Worship our gods, marry a handsome husband, and live in glory and honor.”
The saint steadfastly replied, “My spouse, my riches, my life and my happiness are my Lord Jesus Christ, and you will not turn me away from Him by your deceit!”
Probus subjected Anastasia to fierce tortures. The holy martyr bravely endured them, glorifying and praising the Lord. In anger the torturers cut out her tongue.
The people, seeing the inhuman and disgusting treatment of the saint, became indignant, and the ruler was compelled to end the tortures by beheading the martyr. In this manner, Saint Anastasia received the crown of martyrdom.
The body of the saint was thrown out beyond the city to be eaten by wild animals, but the Lord did not permit her holy relics to be dishonored. At the command of a holy angel, Abbess Sophia went to find Saint Anastasia’s mutilated body. With the help of two Christians, she buried it in the earth. 
.
 
Troparion — Tone 4 Your lamb Anastasia, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love.” / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.
 
Kontakion — Tone 3 Purified by the waters of virginity, / righteous Anastasia, you were crowned by the blood of martyrdom. / You grant healing and salvation to those in need, / and who call on you from their hearts, / for Christ gives you strength, pouring out on you ever-flowing grace!

See also

Holy Martyr Epimachus of Alexandria & others holy Apostles & saints in October 31
Saint Jose Munoz-Cortes the new martyr of Athens/ Greece, from Chile & Canada (+31 October 1997)
  
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Κυριακή 27 Οκτωβρίου 2019

October 28, 1940: the small Greece vs the Fascism & Nazism...

Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos
OXI (No) Day


Click here please!...

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Σάββατο 26 Οκτωβρίου 2019

Saint Demetrios the Great Martyr & Myrrhstreamer of Thessaloniki (October 26)


Click here please!...

Icon from here

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Σάββατο 19 Οκτωβρίου 2019

St Artemios the Great Martyr of Antioch & St Matrona of Chios — Άγιος Αρτέμιος ο Μεγαλομάρτυρας & αγία Ματρώνα της Χίου (20 Οκτ.)

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ αμέσως μετά το αγγλικό
 
Saint Artemios, the Great Martyr of Antioch (from here)
 
He was a prominent military leader during the reigns of the emperor Constantine the Great (May 21), and his son and successor Constantius (337-361). Artemius received many awards for distinguished service and courage. He was appointed viceroy of Egypt. In this official position he did much for the spreading and strengthening Christianity in Egypt. He was sent by the emperor Constantius to bring the relics of the holy Apostle Andrew from Patras, and the relics of the holy Apostle Luke from Thebes of Boeotia, to Constantinople. The holy relics were placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles beneath the table of oblation. The emperor rewarded him by making him ruler of Egypt.

The emperor Constantius was succeeded on the throne by Julian the Apostate (361-363). Julian in his desire to restore paganism was extremely antagonistic towards Christians, sending hundreds to their death. At Antioch he ordered the torture of two bishops unwilling to forsake the Christian Faith. During this time, St Artemius arrived in Antioch and publicly denounced Julian for his impiety. The enraged Julian subjected the saint to terrible tortures and threw the Great Martyr Artemius into prison. While Artemius was praying, Christ, surrounded by angels, appeared to him and said, 
“Take courage, Artemius! I am with you and will preserve you from every hurt which is inflicted upon you, and I already have prepared your crown of glory. Since you have confessed Me before the people on earth, so shall I confess you before My Heavenly Father. Therefore, take courage and rejoice, you shall be with Me in My Kingdom.” 
Hearing this, Artemius rejoiced and offered up glory and thanksgiving to Him. On the following day, Julian demanded that St Artemius honor the pagan gods. Meeting with steadfast refusal, the emperor resorted to further tortures. The saint endured all without a single moan. The saint told Julian that he would be justly recompensed for his persecution of Christians. Julian became furious and resorted to even more savage tortures, but they did not break the will of the saint. Finally the Great Martyr Artemius was beheaded.

His relics were buried by Christians. After the death of St Artemius, his prophecy about Julian the Apostate’s impending death came true.
St Artemius is invoked by those suffering from hernias.

Saint Matrona of Chios (from here)

Icon from here
Saint Matrona of Chios (also called "Saint Matrona Chiopolitis") was born during the 15th century in the village of Volissos on the island of Chios, Greece. This is the same village in which St. Markella was martyred in 1462. The Church celebrates her memory on October 20, and the finding of her head on July 15.
Saint Matrona was born in the village of Volissos on Chios sometime in the fourteenth century. Her parents, Leon and Anna, were highly respected and well-to-do Christians. Mary was the youngest of seven children. From her youth, she showed an interest in monasticism. When the time came for her parents to arrange her marriage, she refused because she wanted to remain a virgin. To avoid this marriage, she left Volissos and went to an area overlooking the village, called Katavasis. Here she began her spiritual struggle by fasting and prayer. Soon other nuns joined her. [1] Her parents searched everywhere to find her. After locating her, they convinced her to return home. Mary complied with her parents' wishes, except for one—she refused to wed. Her parents, seeing that she still desired to lead a monastic life, gave her their consent to pursue her ambition.
When Mary's parents died, she distributed the farmland she inherited among her sisters and the orphans of the community. She left Volissos and returned to Katavasis. Her food was simple and brought to her by one of her sisters. After three years she left Katavasis and went to the capital of the island, where there were many women's monasteries. [2]

Upon visiting the different monasteries, Mary found a small secluded one consisting of three nuns: a mother and her two daughters. The nuns, realizing her sincerity, immediately welcomed her into their home. At this point Mary's name was changed to Matrona. (When a nun reaches a high point in her monastic life and becomes a Stavrophore, a new name is bestowed upon her, symbolizing a second baptism and a new way of life).

Matrona surpassed the other nuns in her devotion, spirituality, and understanding. Her sincerity convinced other girls to come to this monastery and lead the same type of life. The church itself was small, and so the abbess agreed with Matrona's plan to enlarge it and to build cells for the nuns. Any remaining farmland and personal belongings Matrona sold, and the monastery built a public bath with the money received from this sale so that the poor and wayfarers could bathe. These baths were very common at this time. After this, the renovation of the church began. When the church was completed (with the help of St. Artemios, to whom it was dedicated), the abbess of the monastery died. The nuns then elected Matrona as the new abbess. She showed charity to the poor, and was able to heal the sick.[1]

After the Genoese conquered the island of Chios, they plundered the island and the monasteries, including the monastery of St. Matrona. When one of these foreigners attempted to attack the nuns of the monastery, the saint prayed for divine help. From the heavens bolts of lightning fell to the ground, killing the assailant. The foreigners, seeing the destruction, fled from the island in fear.

After these events, Matrona dreamt of her own death. She suffered from an illness for seven days. In the seven days she advised the other nuns as a mother would advise her children. She received Holy Communion sometime before 1455.[1] She was buried in the monastery's church, in which she had spent the greater part of her life. To honor this great saint, Miracles are said to have occurred after her death. Many people with all manner of afflictions came to the church and were cured.

In the village of Katavasis, there was a church built to honor the place where St. Matrona had first started her spiritual struggles. Later, a larger church was built and the smaller one was used as a cemetery chapel.

The Holy Monastery of St. Matrona was built by the noble Roidis in 1470 near the village of Mesa Didima. He originally intended to build a summer villa; however, Matrona appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to build the monastery instead.[3] His sisters were the first two nuns to enter the monastery. The abbot of the monastery during the Turkish Occupation was the Holy Nikiforos of Chios. Nikiforos wrote the 24 Hymns of Agia Matrona. Today, four nuns dwell in the monastery. The monastery celebrates the saint's feast day on October 20 each year.

Άγιος μεγαλομάρτυς Αρτέμιος (από εδώ)

Ο άγ. Αρτέμιος, έργο Χρήστου Στύλου
Ο Άγιος Αρτέμιος ήταν διακεκριμένος πολιτικός του Βυζαντίου και ευσεβέστατος χριστιανός. Ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος, εκτιμώντας τα ηθικά και πολιτικά του χαρίσματα, του έδωσε το αξίωμα του πατρικίου και τον διόρισε Δούκα και Αυγουστάλιο της Αλεξανδρείας.

Το 357 μ.Χ. πηγαίνει στην Πάτρα, κατ' εντολή του Αυτοκράτορα Κωνστάντιου, γιου του Μεγάλου Κωνσταντίνου, για να παραλάβει τα σεπτά λείψανα του Αγίου Ανδρέα και να τα ανακομίσει στον νεόκτιστο Ναό των Αγίων αποστόλων στην Κωνσταντινούπολη (3 Μαρτίου 357 μ.Χ.).

Κατά την διαμονή του στην Πάτρα και με την επίβλεψη του κατασκεύασε υδραγωγείο. Στρατοπεδευμένος στην περιοχή της Μονής Γηροκομείου ελεούσε και βοηθούσε πλήθος αναξιοπαθούντων και κυρίως γερόντων, γεγονός που δικαιολογεί την τοπωνυμία Γηροκομείο.

Όταν, το 363 μ.Χ., ο Αρτέμιος άκουσε ότι ο Ιουλιανός ο Παραβάτης βασάνιζε τους χριστιανούς στην Αντιόχεια, ήλθαν στα χείλη του τα λόγια του ψαλμωδού Δαβίδ προς το Θεό: «Κύριε, πνεύματι ηγεμονικώ στήριξόν με» (Ψαλμός Ν' (50), στ. 14). Κύριε, στήριξε με με σκέψεις σταθερές και θέληση ισχυρή, που να κυριαρχεί μέσα μου και να με κατευθύνει στην υπεράσπιση του αγαθού με θάρρος.

Πράγματι, ο Αρτέμιος, με τη δύναμη που του έδωσε ο Θεός, πήγε αμέσως στην Αντιόχεια και με παρρησία ήλεγξε ευθέως τον Ιουλιανό για τις παρανομίες του κατά των χριστιανών. Ο Ιουλιανός, που δεν περίμενε τέτοια στάση από αξιωματούχο, τον συνέλαβε και τον μαστίγωσε αλύπητα. Έπειτα του έσπασε τα κόκαλα με πέτρες, και τελικά τον αποκεφάλισε. Το Ιερό λείψανο του Αρτεμίου παρέλαβε κάποια διακόνισσα, η Αρίστη, που το μετέφερε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, στο ναό του προφήτου Προδρόμου.

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος πλ. α’. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

Εὐσέβειας τοῖς τρόποις καλλωπιζόμενος, ἀθλητικῆς ἀγλαΐας ὤφθης, σοφὲ, κοινωνός, πρὸς ἀγῶνας ἀνδρικοὺς παραταξάμενος· ὅθεν ὡς λύχνος φωταυγής, τῶν θαυμάτων τὰς βολάς ἐκλάμπεις τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, Ἀρτέμιε Ἀθλοφόρε, πρὸς σωτηρίαν τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν.

Αγία Ματρώνα η Χιοπολίτιδα (από εδώ).
Η εικ. από εδώ, όπου ιστολόγιο αφιερωμένο στην αγία.


 Η Οσία Ματρώνα ονομαζόταν, αρχικά, Μαρία και γεννήθηκε στο χωριό Βολισσός της Χίου από γονείς ευσεβείς και πλουσίους, τον Λέοντα και την Άννα. Έξι άλλες αδελφές της Μαρίας, μεγαλύτερες της, παντρεύτηκαν η μία μετά την άλλη, περιζήτητες νύφες για την ομορφιά, την ανατροφή και για την καλή προίκα τους. Η μικρότερη αφοσιώθηκε στη μελέτη των θείων και ασχολείτο θερμά με φιλανθρωπικά καθήκοντα. Έτσι θέλησε να ακολουθήσει άλλο δρόμο. Η τακτική επαφή της με τις καλογριές των γυναικείων μοναστηριών του νησιού, έκανε τη Μαρία να ποθήσει την αγνή μοναχική ζωή. Αλλά η αγάπη προς τους γονείς της, τη συγκρατούσε στο πατρικό της σπίτι. Όταν όμως αυτοί πέθαναν η Μαρία δοκίμασε τη μοναχική ζωή κοντά σε μια ευσεβή χήρα, που ασκήτευε με τις δύο θυγατέρες της. 

Μετά απ' αυτή τη μοναχική εμπειρία, αποφάσισε να προσχωρήσει στις μοναχικές τάξεις. Χειροτονήθηκε λοιπόν μοναχή και μετονομάσθηκε Ματρώνα. Η διαγωγή της μέσα στη μικρή αδελφότητα ήταν άριστη. Η διάθεση της πάντοτε αγαθή, φιλάδελφη, ταπεινή και εγκάρδια. Μάλιστα, από τα έσοδα της πώλησης της περιουσίας της, κτίστηκε στο μοναστήρι ωραιότατος ναός. 

Μετά από κάποιο χρόνο, πέθανε η γυναίκα που κοντά της η Ματρώνα γυμνάστηκε στη μοναχική ζωή. Τότε όλες οι μοναχές από κοινού, εξέλεξαν ηγουμένη -παρά τη θέλησή της- τη Ματρώνα. Υπό τις οδηγίες της η αδελφότητα ζούσε με πολλή εγκράτεια, υπακοή και ευσέβεια. Το 1462 η Ματρώνα πέθανε, αφού έζησε ζωή πραγματικά αγία. (Άλλες πηγές υπολογίζουν τον χρόνο κοιμήσεως της Αγίας 100 περίπου χρόνια πριν το 1462, διότι η πρώτη βιογραφία της γράφτηκε από τον Μητροπολίτη Ρόδου Νείλο, 1357).

Σημείωση: Επειδή στα γυναικεία μοναστήρια συνήθιζαν να λέγουν την ηγουμένη κυρά, επικράτησε μέχρι και σήμερα να καλούμε την Οσία Ματρώνα, Αγία Κυρά και από αυτό προέρχονται και τα ονόματα Κυράτσω και Κερασιά που εορτάζουν σήμερα.

Συμπλήρωμα (από την ανάρτησή μας Χριστιανικά θαύματα σε μουσουλμάνους)
 
Όταν η αγία εντάχθηκε στο μικροσκοπικό μοναστήρι, όπου ζούσε η μητέρα με δυο κόρες της, αν και δεν ήταν ηγουμένη, πολλές γυναίκες παρακινήθηκαν, λόγω της αγιότητάς της, να μονάσουν κοντά της.Έτσι, η αγία, που είχε ήδη μοιράσει όλα τα χρήματα και τα κοσμήματά της στους φτωχούς, δαπάνησε και τα κτήματα της πατρικής της κληρονομιάς για να μεγαλώσει το μοναστήρι τους.

Κατά τις οικοδομικές εργασίες μάλιστα οι εργάτες βρήκαν έναν κρυμμένο θησαυρό. Τότε η αγία προσευχήθηκε με δάκρυα και είπε: «Κύριε, αν ο θησαυρός αυτός είναι σταλμένος από Σένα, φανέρωσέ μας το, αν όμως είναι παγίδα του διαβόλου, ας αφανιστεί». Και αμέσως ο θησαυρός μετατράπηκε σε ένα σωρό κάρβουνα. (Ίσως πρέπει η αγία να αναγορευτεί σε προστάτιδα του Χρηματιστηρίου –θα μας χρειαζόταν ένας έλεγχος σαν αυτόν).

Εικ. από εδώ
Ένα άλλο θαύμα της, ενώ ζούσε ακόμη και, χωρίς να το θέλει, οι μοναχές την είχαν εκλέξει ηγουμένη τους, ήταν το εξής: κάποτε βάρβαροι επιδρομείς από κάποια ευρωπαϊκή χώρα (Γενουάτες) επιτέθηκαν στο νησί και εισέβαλαν και στο μοναστήρι. Ένας απ’ αυτούς όρμησε να βιάσει μια μοναχή και αμέσως έπεσε νεκρός. Τότε η αγία δόξασε το Θεό, από τον Οποίο είχε ζητήσει προστασία, αλλά και προσευχήθηκε και αναστήθηκε ο επίδοξος βιαστής! Οι σύντροφοί του έμειναν άναυδοι και η αγία τους συγκέντρωσε, τους νουθέτησε και τους απέλυσε εν ειρήνη. Έφυγαν από το νησί και έκτοτε, όταν κάποτε επέστρεψαν, ήταν «ημερώτεροι και φιλανθρωπότεροι, και τα πρότερα δεινά δεν ετόλμησαν πλέον να κάμουν» (αγ. Νικοδήμου του Αγιορείτου, Νέον Μαρτυρολόγιον, εκδ. Αστήρ, 1993, σελ. 146-147).

Μετά την κοίμησή της (το θάνατό της) η αγία τέλεσε αμέτρητα θαύματα με τη δύναμη του Θεού. Πλήθος ασθενών θεραπεύτηκαν από διάφορες νόσους της ψυχής και του σώματος. Πολλοί από αυτούς διανυκτέρευαν στο ναό της, την έβλεπαν στον ύπνο τους και το πρωί είχαν θεραπευθεί. Ωστόσο ενέσκηψε η Τουρκοκρατία και η αγία τελούσε τα θαύματά της και σε χριστιανούς και σε μουσουλμάνους. Δύο απ’ αυτά αναφέρονται στο Νέον Μαρτυρολόγιον, σελ. 147 και 150. Τα μεταφέρουμε σε περίληψη:

Α. Στη μεγάλη πόλη της Μικράς Ασίας Μαγνησία ζούσε ένας Τούρκος πολύ πλούσιος, που έμεινε παράλυτος σε όλο το αριστερό μέρος του σώματός του. Παρά τις προσπάθειες των γιατρών και τα χρήματα που δαπάνησε, δεν ωφελήθηκε. Είχε όμως μια χριστιανή σκλάβα, τη Μαρία, η οποία του είπε: «Αφέντη μου, στη Χίο είναι μια μεγάλη αγία των χριστιανών, που γιατρεύει κάθε αρρώστια χωρίς βότανα και έμπλαστρα. Ας πάμε, να σε γιατρέψει».

Ο άρχοντας πήρε τη Μαρία και άλλους συνοδούς και πέρασε απέναντι, στη Χίο. Πήγαν στο ναό και η κοπέλα του είπε: «Ξεκουράσου λίγο και θα έρθει η γιάτρισσα να σε θεραπεύσει οπωσδήποτε» (είναι εκπληκτικό το θάρρος και η πίστη της, όπως επισημαίνει και ο άγ. Νικόδημος, γιατί θα μπορούσε η αγία, για κάποιο λόγο, να μη θεραπεύσει τον άρχοντα και η σκλάβα, που τον εξέθεσε κιόλας, να υποστεί τις συνέπειες). Όμως η αγία του εμφανίστηκε σε όνειρο και του είπε: «Για τα δάκρυα, τις προσευχές και την πίστη της ομώνυμής μου Μαρίας, της δούλης σου, σε θεραπεύω» [το όνομα της αγίας πριν γίνει μοναχή ήταν Μαρία]. «Σήκω και περπάτα στο όνομα του Κυρίου μου και πήγαινε υγιής στο σπίτι σου». Ο άρχοντας ξύπνησε εντελώς υγιής! Αφιέρωσε πολλά δώρα στο ναό και απελευθέρωσε τη Μαρία, η οποία παρέμεινε στο μοναστήρι και φρόντιζε το ναό για όλη την υπόλοιπη ευλογημένη ζωή της.

Το θαύμα αυτό προκάλεσε σάλο στη Μαγνησία, την πατρίδα του πρώην ασθενούς, και από τότε πολλοί Μαγνησιείς χριστιανοί έρχονταν κάθε χρόνο στη Χίο για να εορτάσουν τη μνήμη της αγίας, στις 20 Οκτωβρίου (γράφω «έρχονταν», γιατί οι χριστιανοί της Μαγνησίας ξεριζώθηκαν το 1922 και ήρθαν στην Ελλάδα ως πρόσφυγες).

Β. Το 1745 ήρθε στο ναό της αγίας οδηγούμενος από το χέρι ένας Τούρκος εντελώς τυφλός και παρακάλεσε τον εφημέριο (τον ιερέα) να ζητήσει από την αγία να του δώσει το φως του. Ο εφημέριος προσευχήθηκε και ο Τούρκος πήγε στο σπίτι του (ήταν κάτοικος της Χίου). Τη νύχτα είδε στον ύπνο του μια μοναχή, που του είπε να ξαναπάει στον παπά και να του ζητήσει νερό από «το λουτρό που είναι μέσα στο αρμάρι» (στο συρτάρι) να πλυθεί.

Έτσι και έγινε. Ο ιερέας αρχικά βρέθηκε σε αμηχανία, γιατί δεν υπήρχε εκεί κανένα λουτρό. Μετά σκέφτηκε τον αγιασμό που φύλαγε στο αρμάρι με την αγία κάρα (το κρανίο) της αγίας. Έδωσε στον τυφλό απ’ αυτόν κι εκείνος έπλυνε τα μάτια του και αμέσως είδε το φως του.

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος γ’. Τὴν ὡραιότητα
 
Χριστοῦ τοῖς ἴχνεσιν ἀκολουθήσασα, κόσμου τερπνότητα, Ὁσία, ἔλιπες, καὶ ἐμιμήσω ἐν σαρκί Ἀγγέλων τὴν πολιτείαν· ὅθεν ταῖς τοῦ Πνεύματος δωρεαῖς κατεφαίδρυνας, τὴν ἐνεγκαμένην σε νῆσον Χίον πανεύφημε· διὸ χαρμονικῶς ἐκβοᾷ σοι· χαίροις Ματρῶνα πανολβία.

Δες και:

Άλλοι άγιοι στις 20 & 21 Οκτωβρίου

Άγιοι της ευλογημένης και μαρτυρικής Χίου:




Η μοναστική ζωή είναι έρωτας (ηγουμένη Θεοξένη, Χρυσοπηγή Χανίων Κρήτης)
Γερόντισσες (ενότητα)
Ορθόδοξα Ιστολόγια Γυναικών

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