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Drosis of Antioch

2009-09-01T15:17:07Z

DrSJK:

St. '''Drosis''', the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan is commemorated on [[March 22]].

According to Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical traditions St. Drosis was the daughter of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). In 99 AD Trajan revived a decree prohibiting secret gatherings which was in truth a ruse to prohibit Christian rituals. In 104, a special law was issued against those who believed in Christ and who denied obedience to imperial idols.

Many Christians were martyred for disobeying this law. As a visible deterrent for other Christians these martyrs were kept unburied. Five nuns, Aglaida, Apolliniaria, Daria, Mamthusa and Thais, assumed the task of burying these holy persons. They secretly gathered their bodies, anointed them with spices, wrapped them in shrouds, and buried them in their nunnery. When Drosis learned about the nuns she secretly left the palace to assist them in collecting the martyred Christians.

Adrian, one of Trajan’s advisors, was engaged to Drosis. In order to advance himself Adrian obtained Trajan’s permission to set guard over those who had been killed and arrest anyone who tried to bury them. St. Drosis and the five nuns were eventually apprehended.

Trajan sentenced the five nuns to death by throwing them into a furnace used for preparing copper fixtures for a public bath project. Trajan excluded his daughter from this punishment ordering she be held separately within the palace. He hoped her feelings about Christianity would change.

Many roman non Christian citizens were invited for the opening ceremonies of the baths. The first idol worshiper who entered the facility immediately died as did the subsequent idol worshiper until it was impossible for any unbeliever to enter the facility. The priests suspected a magical spell so Adrian recommended that the copper fixtures be removed and melted. In order to disgrace the nuns the copper was used to create five naked statues in their likeness which were placed at the entrance to the baths. After their installation Trajan dreamt of five pure lambs in Paradise while an Awsome Shepherd said to him “Irreverent Caesar! Those whose images you placed there to be dishonored have been taken away from you by the Good Shepard Christ and brought to this fine paradise where in time your daughter, the pure lamb Drosis, shall also be.”

Awakening and enraged that these holy women could mock Trajan after their deaths he ordered two huge furnaces be placed at each corner of the city. An imperial edict was posted which said: “Galileans who worship the Crucified, rid yourselves many tortures and spare us also from these labors and let each of you voluntarily cast himself into this furnace.” Many Christians willingly went to their martyrdom. St. Drosis was one of them.

In her seclusion St. Drosis prayed for her release. Her prayers were heard. While the guards fell asleep, St. Drosis, dressed in her royal attire left the palace and heading to the ovens. Since St. Drosis was not yet baptized she wondered, “How can I go to God without a wedding garment that is without being baptized for I am impure. But, O King of Kings, Lord Jesus Christ, for Your sake I give up my imperial position, so that you can make me gatekeeper of Your Kingdom. Baptize me Yourself with your Holy Spirit.”

After praying in this manner, St. Drosis anointed herself with chrism she had taken along with her and after immersing herself in water three times, she said: “the servant of God Drosis is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” For seven days the saint hid, fasting and praying. Christians found her and she told them her story. On the eighth day, the holy Martyr Drosis went to the scorching ovens and cast herself into the fire.

==References==

* Patrologia Orientalis Tome XXII Fascicule 2, No. 108. Les Homiiae Cathedrales De Severe D’Antoche, Homolie C, pages 230 – 248

* The prologue from Orchid. Lives of the Saints and Homilies by Bishop Nicolai Velimirovic (Translated by Mother Maria). Part one January, February, March, Lazarica Press 1985

* [http://www.antiochian.org/node/17559 St. Drosis, the Daughter of Emperor Trajan]. The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

* George Poulos. ''March 22: Saint Drosis.'' In: '''Orthodox Saints: Spirtual Profiles for Modern Man January 1 to March 31'''. Vol. 1. Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline, 1990. pp.255-256.

'''In Greek''' 
* CΥΝΑΞΑΡΙCΤΗC ΤΩΝ ΔΩΔΕΚΑ ΜΗΝΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΥ. ''ΤΟΜΟC ΤΕΤΑΡΤΟC ΜΑΡΤΙΟC-ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟC.'' ΕΚΔΟCΕΙC ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΥ ΚΥΨCΕΛΗC.

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]

Drosis of Antioch

2009-09-01T02:07:40Z

DrSJK: New page: St. Drosis, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan Commemorated on March 22 According to Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical traditions St. Drosis was the daughter of the Emperor Trajan ...

St. Drosis, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan

Commemorated on March 22

According to Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical traditions St. Drosis was the daughter of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). In 99 AD Trajan revived a decree prohibiting secret gatherings which was in truth a ruse to prohibit Christian rituals. In 104, a special law was issued against those who believed in Christ and who denied obedience to imperial idols.
Many Christians were martyred for disobeying this law. As visible deterrent for other Christians these martyrs were kept unburied. Five nuns, Aglaida, Apolliniaria, Daria, Mamthusa and Thais, assumed the task of burying these holy persons. They secretly gathered their bodies, anointed them with spices, wrapped them in shrouds, and buried them in their nunnery. When Drosis learned about the nuns she secretly left the palace to assist them in collecting the martyred Christians.

Adrian, one of Trajan’s advisors, was engaged to Drosis. In order to advance himself Adrian obtained Trajan’s permission to set guard over those who had been killed and arrest anyone who tried to bury them. St. Drosis and the five nuns were eventually apprehended.

Trajan sentenced the five nuns to death by throwing them into a furnace used for preparing copper fixtures for a public bath project. Trajan excluded his daughter from this punishment ordering she be held separately within the palace. He hoped her feelings about Christianity would change.

Many roman non Christian citizens were invited for the opening ceremonies of the baths. The first idol worshiper who entered the facility immediately died as did the subsequent idol worshiper until it was impossible for any unbeliever to enter the facility. The priests suspected a magical spell so Adrian recommended that the copper fixtures be removed and melted. In order to disgrace the nuns the copper was used to create five naked statues in their likeness which were placed at the entrance to the baths. After their installation Trajan dreamt of five pure lambs in Paradise while an Awsome Shepherd said to him “Irreverent Caesar! Those whose images you placed there to be dishonored have been taken away from you by the Good Shepard Christ and brought to this fine paradise where in time your daughter, the pure lamb Drosis, shall also be.”
Awakening and enraged that these holy women could mock Trajan’s after their deaths he ordered two huge furnaces be placed at each corner of the city. An imperial edict was posted which said: “Galileans who worship the Crucified, rid yourselves many tortures and spare us also from these labor and let each of you voluntarily cast himself into this furnace.” Many Christians willingly went to their martyrdom. St. Drosis was one of them.

In her seclusion St. Drosis prayed for her release. Her prayers were heard. While the guards fell asleep, St. Drosis, dressed in her royal attire left the palace and heading to the ovens. Since St. Drosis was not yet baptized she wondered, “How can I go to God without a wedding garment that is without being baptized for I am impure. But, O King of Kings, Lord Jesus Christ, for Your sake I give up my imperial position, so that you can make me gatekeeper of Your Kingdom. Baptize me Yourself with your Holy Spirit.”
After praying in this manner, St. Drosis anointed herself with chrism she had taken along with her, and after immersing herself in water three times, she said: “the servant of God Drosis is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” For seven days the saint hid, fasting and praying. Christians found her and told them her story. On the eighth day, the holy Martyr Drosis went to the scorching ovens and cast herself into the fire.

References

Patrologia Orientalis Tome XXII Fascicule 2, No. 108. Les Homiiae Cathedrales De Severe D’Antoche, Homolie C, pages 230 – 248

The prologue from Orchid. Lives of the Saints and Homilies by Bishop Nicolai Velimirovic (Translated by Mother Maria)
Part one January, February, March, Lazarica Press 1985

CΥΝΑΞΑΡΙCΤΗC ΤΩΝ ΔΩΔΕΚΑ ΜΗΝΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΥ, ΤΟΜΟC ΤΕΤΑΡΤΟC ΜΑΡΤΙΟC-ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟC
ΕΚΔΟCΕΙC ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΥ ΚΥΨCΕΛΗC

http://www.antiochian.org/node/17559

Lynette Hoppe

2009-08-12T12:23:08Z

DrSJK:

[[Image:Lynnette1.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lynette Hoppe]]
'''Lynette (Katherine) Hoppe''' was an Orthodox [[missionary]] to [[Albania]] serving under [[Archbishop]] [[Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania|Anastasios]]. A graphics designer, she published the book ''Resurrection: The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania: 1991-2003''. Suffering from breast cancer, Lynnette joined her Lord on [[August 27]], 2006. She left behind her loving husband Nathan and two beautiful children, Tristan and Katherine.

==Further reading==
*''Lynette's Hope: The Witness of Lynette Katherine Hoppe's'' by Fr. Luke Veronis. ISBN 1888212993

==External links==
*[http://www.ocmc.org/images/PDFs/Magazine_Vol22_No2.pdf "A Christian Witness of Living and Dying, in Honor of Lynette Hoppe"] by Fr. Luke Veronis, ''OCMC Mission Magazine'', Fall 2006, pp. 8-9.
*[http://www.prayforlynette.org/ The Hoppe Albanian Mission / Pray for Lynette]
*[http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=RESU110 ''Resurrection 1991-2003: The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania''] by Lynette Hoppe. Foreword by Archbishop Anastasios: listing at Light & Life Publishing.

[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Modern Writers]]

St. John Vladimir Monastery

2009-08-01T21:01:43Z

DrSJK: New page: St John Vladimir Monastery is at the outskirts of Elabasan about 45 minute from Tirana, Albania. It had been in disrepair during and after the Albanian communist regime. His Beatitude Arch...

St John Vladimir Monastery is at the outskirts of Elabasan about 45 minute from Tirana, Albania. It had been in disrepair during and after the Albanian communist regime. His Beatitude Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania has “resurrected” the facilities to working order and it is now an active place of worship. Full night vigils on the feast day of St John Vladimir had been routine for years despite the absence of a ceiling, which was completed in 2005. The dormitories and the proximity to Tirana and Durres have made the Monastery and ideal setting for the Archbishop’s orthodox youth summer camps.

Lynette Hoppe

2009-07-31T03:38:56Z

DrSJK:

Lynette (Katherine) Hoppe was an Orthodox Missionary to Albania serving under Archbishop Anasatasios. A graphics designer she published the book Resurrection: The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania 1991-2003. Suffering from breast cancer Lynnette joined her Lord on August 27, 2006. She leaves behind her loving husband Nathan and two beautiful children, Tristan and Katherine.

“If we live, we live to the lord; and if we die, we die to the lord”

A christian witness of living and dying
In honor of Lynette Hoppe
(who joined her Lord on August 27, 2006)

by Fr. Luke Veronis

“But the righteous person, though she die early, will be at rest. For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by number of years; but understanding is gray hair for people, and a blameless life is ripe old age. There was one who pleased God and was loved by him, and while living among sinners she was taken up. She was caught up before evil could change her… ….Being perfected in a short time, she fulfilled long years; for her soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore He took her quickly from the midst of evil. (Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15)

These words from the Wisdom of Solomon aptly describe Lynette Hoppe’s full life of 46 years. Many people have been greatly inspired by the witness of faith, courage, strength, peace, joy and love which Lynette and Nathan have displayed these past 20 months. St. Paul writes, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:8)) Lynette has modeled these words of the Apostle Paul, not only through the way she lived her life to its fullest as a Christian, a missionary, mother, wife, daughter, mentor and friend of so many, but especially through her unforgettable and inspiring journey of cancer, suffering, and death.
While some people may wonder why such a person of God, a faithful servant of the Lord in the prime of her life and in the midst of a fruitful ministry, needed to face the path of cancer and death at such a young age – and no less with two young children – Lynette exemplified how such a path of illness and even death, when experienced with faith, does lead one into a fuller union with her Lord and offer a witness more powerful and memorable than many lifetimes on earth. She truly offered a contemporary witness of what saints throughout all ages have given to the world. As the Wisdom of Solomon so poetically describes, the righteous often don’t live to a ripe old age, but in the prime of their lives God calls them to remind the world of what a genuine, Christ-centered life of divine love and invincible faith is all about.
The saintly Bishop Gerasimos of Abydou once said, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived.” Lynette embraced this divine, and sometime harsh mystery of life, and allowed it to hone her faith, deepen her love, and increase her compassion. She experienced the presence of God like never before through this mystery. From a human perspective, many will not understand this problem of cancer and death at a young age. From a divine point of view, however, life is a deep mystery that when lived properly, leads us into the Kingdom of Heaven here and now. And everyone who knew Lynette understood very well that she lived this mystery of life and death and experienced the Kingdom of heaven like few people we have ever known.

What has made this mystery even more poignant is how Lynette and Nathan invited others to join them in her final journey. They reflected a genuine understanding of Christian community by inviting others to share their experience and walk with them – both by inspiring others through their example and lessons learned, while not hesitating to ask others to pray, visit, and help them in their moments of darkness. The website www.prayforlynette.org has been invaluable to countless people worldwide in walking this journey with the Hoppes.
I had the very special and blessed privilege to experience this journey from an intimate perspective. Not only are our families dearest of friends, but throughout her illness, I spoke with Lynette almost weekly, along with being able to see her six times over the past 20 months. From such contact, several aspects of Lynette’s journey brilliantly stand out as a light and example for all of us.

St. Paul once wrote, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) Throughout this journey of sickness, Lynette has repeated this phrase in her own words. Shortly before she died, she shared with me, “Although I cry at the thought of leaving my dear husband and precious children, I simultaneously realize that our heavenly homeland awaits me, and I look forward to dwelling in the continual presence of our loving Lord.” This life is but a brief sojourn on planet earth. God created us for eternity, and Lynette understood that eternal perspective so well. She had a passionate love for Christ, which filled her with the joy of going home. She mourned that she would not be physically present with her husband and children for many future events nor be able to continue her ministry among her beloved Albanian co-workers and friends, but she truly believed that she was “going home” to that heavenly dwelling place, which is in the loving presence of our Lord.

Of course, her illness held many deserts and “valleys of the shadow of death” which often humbled her. In following the path of the saints, though, she was an astute learner who realized that the closer she drew to our Lord Jesus, the clearer she saw her own fears, faults, weaknesses and sins. She humbly learned many invaluable lessons from her illness. She describes in her inspiring journal her struggles with pride, self-righteousness, lack of understanding, immature desires, and life-long temptations. Yet, while honestly critiquing herself, she discovered in new and amazing ways the unconditional and divine love of God. She repeatedly emphasized that her hope to enter the eternal homeland came solely from God’s indescribable and unimaginable love, mercy and grace.

For me, one of the most illuminating characteristics that Lynette radiated throughout her 20 months of illness was her spirit of joy and gratitude. St. Paul writes that we are to “Rejoice always… and give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thess 5:16,18) Archbishop Anastasios has said that the absence of gratitude is a clear sign of spiritual sickness and immaturity. Well, I’m not exaggerating when I say that at each stage of Lynette’s illness, and especially when the medical news went from bad to worse, her first words to me would always be, “Well, although the news isn’t good, still I thank God…”

She possessed the rare, yet divine, ability to see God’s hand at work in the midst of any and every situation. She held a deep rooted attitude of gratitude, understanding full well St. Paul’s promise that “Neither death, nor life… nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38) I heard Lynette thank God shortly after she discovered her cancer. I heard her thank God shortly after she learned that her cancer had metastasized. I heard her thank God shortly after the cancer entered her bones. And even in the last days of life, when she informed me that the cancer had entered her liver and the doctors gave her a few weeks to live, she still thanked God for the abundant grace she felt throughout her illness, for the love showered upon her by her beloved husband Nathan, for her precious children Tristan and Katherine, and for the countless friends from around the world who supported her with their love and prayers. She thanked God for the lessons of life she so vividly learned from the illness – lessons about God’s love, about herself, about her relationships with others and about so many other things. She even thanked God that He gave her the strength and grace to return to Albania, her adopted motherland, during her finals months of life, actively ministering in the youth camps up to her final days. To be honest with you, if I had not talked with Lynette so frequently, and witnessed the authenticity of her gratitude, I’m not sure I could have believed that it was so sincere.

Feeling the concrete presence of God, and living with this spirit of gratitude, gave root to one of the most visible signs of a true, living relationship with our Lord – that of deep, spiritual joy and peace. In the midst of illness, suffering and dying, with the temptation of fear and doubt ever lurking nearby, Lynette never lost that sense of deep, inner joy. Mother Teresa once said, “Never let anything make you forget the joy of our Risen Lord” and Lynette lived by this principle. The Prophet Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength” and Lynette found her inner strength from this joy of the Lord. As she wrote in one of her final diary entries, “Both Nathan and I feel ourselves overwhelmed by the amazing grace that God has given to us. We could not be so joyful without his help….I am happy and feel a great sense of joyful anticipation at my home-going. God is with us and will continue to be with us until the end.”

And such joy led to a deep inner peace. During one of her final days of life, my wife Faith and I sat around her bed, together with Nathan, her siblings and father, and other dear friends, singing hymns and reminiscing about Lynette’s legacy. In those final days and hours, Lynette radiated divine peace. At times, she would open her eyes and struggle to smile. Yes, she was dying, but simultaneously she dwelt securely in the peace of her Lord.

So much more could be said about what a gifted woman Lynette was. Her brother John half-jokingly said to me, “She’s the one in the family who got all the talent!” From her gourmet baking to her artistic crafts, from her creative St. Nicholas Day celebrations with which she entertained the children to her melodious and beautiful voice, from her humble, quiet, dignified demeanor to her compassionate outreach to the needy and poor, from her talents as a graphic artist to her becoming an author, from her model as a wonderful, tender Christian mother to her loving, supportive role as a devoted spouse – so much more could be said, but I think her beloved husband Nathan summarized it all when he wrote a few days before her death: “My eyes are full of tears as I write but I also have a strong sense of joy. The jewel which I have been privileged to hold a short time is slipping away from me, but I know that she will be held in far more worthy arms until we are reunited. I am so blessed in these days by her joy and her faith and her love. She is truly an icon of Christ to me.”

Although Nathan, Tristan, and Katherine will sorely miss their wife and mother during the days and years ahead, as will all her dear friends and family, yet still we all can find great comfort in the incredible witness she offered to so many throughout her life. She is not gone and dead. She is just physically absent. She now is dwelling with our Lord, watching over us and interceding for us with her motherly love.

Lynette, you may truly say, along with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is now laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

May her memory be eternal and everlasting!

By Permission of Fr Luke Veronis.

Lynette Hoppe

2009-07-31T03:23:29Z

DrSJK: New page: Lynette (Katherine) Hoppe was an Orthodox Missionary to Albania serving under Archbishop Anasatasios. A graphics designer she published the book Resurrection: The Orthodox Autocephalous ...

Orthodox Christian Mission Center

2009-07-31T02:48:30Z

DrSJK: /* Board of Directors */

The '''Orthodox Christian Mission Center''' is the official Orthodox Missions and Evangelism Agency established by the [[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]]. The headquarters of the OCMC is in St. Augustine, Florida. It supports Orthodox [[missionary]] activities world wide and currently includes training and sending missionary teams to countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, [[Uganda]], [[Tanzania]], [[Albania]], Korea, Puerto Rico, and Philippines. The teams preach, teach, and [[baptize]] as well as minister to the poor, hungry, suffering, and orphaned. They also strive to strengthen the infrastructures of the local churches through development of local leaders.

==History==

===Early Years===

The roots of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center go back to the late 1950's, when students at [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross School of Theology]] began to accept students from sub-saharan Africa. Other members of the student body began a Missions Committee to raise support for their fellow-students, and to raise consciousness in general about the work of the Church in Africa. Among the leaders of this effort was [[Alexander Veronis]], later to become the founding President of OCMC.

As the students touched by this outreach graduated and began to serve parishes in the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America]], their interest in mission followed them and began to have an impact across the Archdiocese. In response to a proposal at the 17th Clergy-Laity Congress in 1966, the Archdiocese organized the Standing Committee on Missions. This committee, composed of twenty volunteer clergy and lay members, conducted an annual solicitation for overseas Missions throughout the parishes of the Archdiocese, primarily directed at providing scholarship assistance to Mission students from Uganda, Kenya, Korea, and Mexico. Bishop Silas of Amphipolis was the Chairman of the Standing Commitee. Fr. Alexander Veronis and Fr. [[Alexander Doumouras]] served to coordinate the efforts of the Committee, but there was no salaried staff dedicated to the committee or to missions efforts.

===St. Augustine, Florida===

In 1984, the 27th Clergy-Laity Congress approved the creation of a permanent office for the mission effort, as well as the appointment of a salaried Executive Director. [[Dimitrios (Couchell) of Xanthos|Fr. Dimitrios Couchell]] was appointed by [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|Archbishop Iakovos]] as Executive Director of what was now called the Archdiocesan Mission Center. [[St. Photios National Shrine]] in St. Augustine, Florida provided the first offices for the Center. The first edition of the Mission Center's semiannual publication "Mission," identified the continuation of scholarships to ten mission students as a key priority, along with direct support to the [[Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary]] in Nairobi, [[St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska)|St. Herman's Seminary in Kodiak]], indigenous priests in Ghana and Korea, and support for missionaries from the [[Church of Greece]] serving in Africa. By the end of 1985, the Mission Center had announced the appointment of the first full time missionaries to Africa (Fr. Daniel and Nancy Christopoulos), as well as sent a study team to Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya.

===Mission Teams===

An early project of the Mission Center was the establishment of '''Mission Teams''', groups of short-term workers from America that would visit mission communities in the developing world, ostensibly to work on building projects, but also in doing so to provide witness to the local communities. The first team, under the leadership of Fr. Paul Costopoulos, visited Laikipia, Kenya in 1987 to build the Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church. The following year, another team led by Fr. Alexander Veronis constructed a medical clinic in Chavogere, Kenya. The Mission Board followed up by supporting the provision of medical personnel and funds to support the clinic. According to the website of the OCMC, by 2007 twenty teams annually were being organized and sent to ten countries.

===Fundraising/Education===

The Mission Center also organized fundraising programs designed to raise consciousness at home and to creatively tap new sources of revenue. An early effort was the '''Support a Mission Priest''' program, which sought to identify monthly donors to provide for the payment of regular stipends to indigenous clergy working in developing countries. The '''Agape Canister Program''' placed collection boxes in restaurants, stores, and other businesses with large volumes of foot traffic. Members of the public were invited to support humanitarian efforts globally by dropping coins and bills into the boxes, which were collected by volunteers who forwarded the funds to the Mission Center. To encourage business owners who might have concerns about soliciting for religious purposes, the Mission Center identified specific humanitarian projects to be the recipients of the monies collected through the canisters.

===Mission Center becomes OCMC===

Although an agency of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, the Mission Center had early in its life included members on its Board from other Orthodox jurisdictions under the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]], such as the [[Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America]] and the [[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]]. In 1993, Charles Ajalat proposed to Archbishop Iakovos that the Mission Center become an agency of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, thus expanding the scope of its ministry. This concept was embraced by the Mission Center Board and the SCOBA members, and was approved by the 32nd Clergy-Laity Congress. Consistent with the change of ownership, the Archdiocesan Mission Center changed its name to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

The Board of the Mission Center was restructured. Previously, the Board had consisted of three members from each of the constituent dioceses in the Archdiocese of America. Under the new structure, each of the member jurisdictions of SCOBA was allocated seats on the Board, the Board members being appointed by the primates of their respective jurisdictions.

The Archdiocesan Mission Center had been responsible for both domestic and foreign (i.e., outside North America) mission efforts on behalf of the Archdiocese. Although the original intention was for the OCMC to have this role for SCOBA, some of the jurisdictions balked at moving their domestic ministries to the new entity. Accordingly, the Board determined to redefine its efforts to focus exclusively on foreign missions. Since this meant that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese no longer had a domestic mission agency, a new '''Department of Missions''' was set up under the umbrella of the Archdiocese.

The reorganization of OCMC coincided with the end of communism in Eastern Europe. Bolstered by the participation of the jurisdictions with roots in Russia and Eastern Europe, the OCMC became engaged in providing resources and mission teams to work with the newly emerging churches, especially in [[Albania]], where the church was emerging from total suppression.

===Fr. Martin Ritsi===

Fr. Dimitrios Couchell was elected Bishop of Xanthos in 1998 and transferred to New York to take up new responsibilities as SCOBA General Secretary. Fr. [[Martin Ritsi]], who had been a missionary in Kenya and Albania since the early days of the Mission Center, was selected as the new Executive Director. Fr. Martin brought a renewed focus on the sending of individual long-term missionaries, particularly couples with children. By 2006, the OCMC website reported that sixteen missionaries and mission families were serving, with a strong emphasis on assignments in Albania.

==Physical Plant==

At its founding in 1984, the Mission Center shared facilties with the St. Photios Shrine in St. Augustine. It was quickly realized that the limited facilities were not sufficient to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding program. A property was acquired at 92 Cedar Street in St. Augustine, and proclaimed the "Fr. Alexander Veronis Orthodox Mission Center." With the support of several large benefactors and a major fundraising drive, the mortgage was paid off in 1990. By 2003, the OCMC had moved into a new facility at 85 South Dixie Highway, with plans to create an even larger facility which would allow for training and educational facilities in addition to office and storage space.

==OCMC Leadership==

===Board of Directors===

* Clifford T. Argue, ''President''
* Fr. Chad Hatfield, ''Vice President''
* Fr. Raymond Valencia, ''Treasurer''
* Fr. George Liacopoulos, ''Secretary''
* Fr. Alexander Veronis, ''President Emeritus''
* Fr. Nicholas Anctil
* Fr. John Chakos
* Fr. Louis Christopoulos
* George Conopeotis
* Patrick Crosson
* Cina Daskalakis
* John Demakis, M.D.
* Fr. [[Peter Gillquist]]
* Robert Gremley
* Fr. John Harvey
* Fr. Gregory Horton
* Fr. David Hudson
* Fr. Dimitri Leussis
* George Marangakes
* Fr. Constantine Mersinas
* Fr. Luke Mihaly
* Scott Mitchell
* Helen Nicosizis
* Fr. Ted Pisarchuk
* Fr. John Rallis
* Elizabeth Slanta
* Fr. Matthew Tate
* Fr. Nicholas Verdaris
* Gayle Woloschak, M.D.
* Andrew Yiannakos

===Staff===

* Fr. Martin Ritsi, ''Executive Director''
* Fr. David Rucker, ''Associate Director''
* Andrew J. Lekos, ''Mission Teams''
* John-Paul Conners, ''Development''
* Alex Goodwin, ''Communications''
* Kenny Kidd, ''Agape Canister & SAMP''
* Jack Klees, ''Finance''

===Past Presidents===

* Fr. Alexander Veronis, 1984-1988
* Fr. Paul Costopoulos, 1988-1992
* Fr. John Chakos, 1992-1996, 1998-2000
* Fr. Constantine Zozos, 1996-1998
* Helen Nicosizis, 2000-2004
* Clifford T. Argue, 2004-present

==External links==
*[http://www.ocmc.org OCMC web site]
*[http://www.orthodoxnews.netfirms.com/31/Is%20God%20calling.htm ''Is God calling you to be a missionary?''] Published by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, August 12, 2003

[[Category:Orthodoxy in America]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Aggelis the Physician

2009-07-31T02:35:17Z

DrSJK: New page: The Physician Neomartyr St. Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and a physician practicing in New Ephesus in Asia Minor. He had the admiration and respect of every...

The Physician Neomartyr St. Aggelis was originally from Argos. He was a devout Christian and a physician practicing in New Ephesus in Asia Minor. He had the admiration and respect of everyone. His compassion to the sick and suffering revealed his spiritual thirst to achieve Christian Perfection. As it is reported St Aggelis had some personal eccentricities.

In working toward perfection St. Aggelis he had many unusual struggles due to his unconventional nature. On one occasion he actually challenged an atheist Frenchman to a duel when the Frenchman began slandering the Saint during a discussion on Christian Faith. St. Aggelis went to his spiritual father for confession and to receive a blessing for the upcoming contest. His confessor urged him to withdraw from the duel but due to St. Aggelis’ persistence felt compelled to give St. Aggelis this blessing. St. Aggelis went into all night prayer and after receiving communion proceeded to the designated dueling site. At the last moment the atheist Frenchman lost his nerve and fled the scene.

From that moment on the eccentric tendencies of St. Aggelis became hard for people to comprehend. He gave up his profession and withdrew to his home. He stopped speaking to people with the exception of two close friends. He confided to them that his path would be one of Martyrdom.

On the Saturday of Lazarus 1813 without explanation St. Aggelis announced he would become a Muslim. By his expressions towards the Turkish Muslims it was obvious that he could easily return to Orthodoxy.

It was not uncommon for the Saint to use harsh language and angrily threaten the non-Christian citizens. The authorities, in order to avoid civil disturbances from such actions, sent him to the island of Chios. In Chios, he was commonly found in Orthodox Churches weeping. The Saint would ask his fellow Christians to pray on his behalf that God may give an end to St. Aggelis’s struggles.

In Chios St. Aggelis met and would associate with a man of some spiritual advancement. St. Aggelis would enter into a spiritual state and when his companion would ask to share his spiritual knowledge, St. Aggelis would change the subject matter.

Living on Chios for 6 months St. Aggelis shaved his beard and went to the local customs office. The customs workers asked the Saint the purpose of such an act only to be answered, “while I was a Turk I had my beard. Now that I am once again a Christian, I have shaven.”

The authorities naturally attempted to have St. Aggelis reconsider his faith. When he did not he was incarcerated and tortured.

Having failed to convince St. Aggelis to denounce Christianity the Turkish authorities took him to a place called “Small Mountain” (Βουνάκι) and beheaded him on December 3rd. His body was tossed into the sea at a depth of 25 leagues. Despite the efforts of the faithful to recover the Saint’s Relics they were never found.

From the Religious and Ethical Encyclopedia (Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια), Volume 1,166-167

User:DrSJK

2009-07-31T01:40:46Z

DrSJK:

Fr John:

This information is only for the editorial staff and not for self promotion. (Being know as DrSJK is enough)

Spero Kinnas

Church: Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. GOA Metropolis of Chicago.

Active Steward, Involved in feed the hungry program, Orthodox Missions Committee, prison ministries.

Past OCMC national board member, heathcare committee member and acting chair.

Past mediacl misionary to Chavogere Kenya, Tirana Albania and Cluj Romania.

Professionally I am an eye surgeon:

www.WestchesterEyeCenter.com

Personally I have a family with 3 children and have interests in history and numismatics:

www.PenelopeCoins.com

I am fluent in Greek

I will try and contribute as best I can.

Hermione

2009-07-31T01:30:12Z

DrSJK: New page: HOLY UNMERCENARY PHYSICIAN SAINT HERMIONE THE MARTYR September 4 Born in Caesarea of Palestine early in the first century Saint Hermione was a daughter of Saint Philip the Deacon (Acts...

HOLY UNMERCENARY PHYSICIAN
SAINT HERMIONE THE MARTYR

September 4

Born in Caesarea of Palestine early in the first century Saint Hermione was a daughter of Saint Philip the Deacon (Acts chapter 6). Inspired by a true understanding of the Gospel, she studied the philosophy of medicine in her native city. After the Christians were driven out of Palestine, Saint Hermione traveled to Ephesus to seek out the St John the evangelist but arrived too late as he had already departed this life.

Saint Hermione bought a house and founded a medical clinic, devoted to the treatment of the poor and the homeless. Joined by heir sister Eukhidia, she added rooms for these homeless ones and for poor travelers who were ill. Thus was established the first of those hospital-hostels or "xenodukia", which would become so much a part of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Like the other unmercenary physicians who would come after her, she understood that salvation consisted in the healing and liberation of the whole person - body and soul together. While ministering to the physical illnesses of those who came to her, the saint also nourished them with the Gospel and led them to that true healing and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Saint Hermione was given gift of prophecy. She became a link in that chain of New Testament prophets who were united in spirit and calling to the great Old Testament prophets.

During the reign of Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, she was arrested. In spite of her old age she was subjected to tortures to force her to renounce her faith. She was beheaded on September the fourth (the day of her commemoration).

Through her holy prayers, may we also find healing and salvation.
________________________________________
From "Lives of the Saints", Vol. 11
Synaxis Press

Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol and Crimea

2009-07-29T21:24:49Z

DrSJK:

[[Image:Agios Loukas.jpg|right|thumb|230px| Saint Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol]] [[Image:St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol 2.jpg‎|right|thumb|230px|St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol]] [[Image:The Reliquary of St. Luke of Simferopol in Sagmata Monastery.jpg‎|right|thumb|230px|The Reliquary of St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol in Sagmata Monastery, Greece]]
[[Image:LukeSimferopol2.jpeg|right|thumb|330px|St Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol]]
Saint '''Luke, Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea, the Blessed Surgeon''', was born ''Valentin Felixovich Voino-Yasenetsky'' (''Валентин Феликсович Войно-Ясенецкий, Βαλεντίν Βόϊνο-Γιασενέτσκι''), [[April 14]], 1877 and died [[June 11]], 1961.

Doctor of Medicine, Professor, and State Prize winner, since 1944 he was the Archbishop of Tambov and Michurinsk, and later of Simferopol and the Crimea. While he was serving the church as an Archbishop, he was also practicing as a surgeon and taught and published many books and articles on regional anesthesia and surgery. He is now known to be a world-famous pioneering surgeon.

In November of 1995 he was announced as a Saint by the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church]], and was officially glorified by the [[Church of Russia|Patriarchate of Russia]] [[May 25]], 1996. He is commemorated by the church [[June 11]] the anniversary of his falling asleep in the Lord.

==Life==
“I ought to tell you that what God did to me as amazing and incomprehensible…. My pursuing surgery completely satisfied the goal I always had to serve the poor and the suffering, to dispose all my strength for the comfort of their pains, and to help them in their needs.”

These are some of the introductory comments from the memoirs of Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol that was kept by his secretary, E.P. Leikfeld. His words are not vainglorious but a commentary on how Gods plan was fulfilled through the life and example of Saint Luke.

Living in the Ukraine during the oppressive period of communism, St. Luke stood out among his fellow physicians both as a surgeon and as a Christian. Even the communists coveted his talents for healing the body.

Born with the name Valentine Felixovitch Voino-Yassentsky April 27th 1877 in Kerch (east Crimea), his family members were civil servants to Lithuanian and Polish Kings. The family was impoverished over time but Saint Luke remembers that he received his religious inheritance from his pious father. His first true understanding of the Christian faith came from the New Testament given to him at his high school graduation by his principal.

He had an outstanding secular training. Having exceptional drawing abilities, he graduated the Kiev Academy of Fine Arts. (When consecrated Bishop, he was given the name Luke after the Apostle, who in addition to being a physician and evangelist was a talented iconographer). He decided against pursuing art in favor of doing service in helping people who suffer and chose to be a physician. An extraordinary medical student, he excelled at anatomy. His superior knowledge of anatomy served him throughout his surgical career. Out of compassion to the blindness beggars were experiencing due to trachoma Saint Luke studied ophthalmology at the Kiev ophthalmologic clinic. In a very short time he acquired a significant amount of ophthalmologic training. His knowledge of this subspecialty helped him treat not only his trachoma patients but many other serious eye conditions as well.

Another important event in Valentine’s life was the marriage to his wife Anna, A nurse. They had 4 children. The family was transferred frequently to various regional health care facilities and from the very beginning Valentine never requested funds from his patients, nor would he turn anyone away because of his ethnic background or personal beliefs. During his early career he published many scientific treatises and eventually became the head surgeon and professor of surgery at the hospital in Tashkent March 1917. In October Lenin took over the government and civil war erupted in Tashkent in January 1919. To complicate matters his wife died. God in setting the path for Valentine’s Sainthood provided the family with Sofia Sergeevna who would be the joyful surrogate mother of his children during the harsh times ahead. Valentine never remarried.

Lenin’s government disfavored any religious witness. Valentine was under constant threat, especially when treating party members but he refused to operate under any circumstances without the Icon of the Mother of God. His results were outstanding. Despite the dangers from the Lenin regime he fearlessly attended theological discussions arranged by Archpriest Mikhail Andeev. At this time when clegymen and pious would prove their faith in blood, providence led the Archpriest to invite Valentine to the priesthood. For two years, this exceptional individual was active not only in his pastoral work but in public and scientific activity.

Eventually Fr. Valentine was arrested and put on trial, falsely accused of giving inappropriate surgical care to injured Red Army soldiers. At his trial in his characteristic fearless way he denounced the prosecutors claims by explaining:

“I cut people to save them. You, Mr. Public Prosecutor, why do you cut their heads off?”

Certainly the charges were never proven but since the Party had to be infallible Fr. Valentine was convicted to sixteen years imprisonment. Noting Fr. Valentine’s spiritual gifts, prior to his departure from Tashkent, Bishop Andrey Ufimsky administered monastic tonsure and facilitated his consecration as Bishop. Saint Luke realized that he would be cutting ties with family and friends for Greater Glory. “He who loves his father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son and daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).

Almost immediately Saint Luke was sent to the first of his three imprisonments. Due to his talent as a surgeon there would always be placement at a remote medical facility where the attending colleagues would be astounded that a professor with such impeccable academic credentials would be subservient to the whims of the local civil authorities. Despite the criticisms of lesser surgeons Saint Luke would practice his medical skills. With the grace of God he amazed his colleagues with excellent medical outcomes in ophthalmologic and surgical cases that others deemed incurable. As a capable hierarch he strengthened the parishes and supported priests and church councils. As Saint Luke’s surgical and pastoral popularity would increase the communist authorities would transfer him. When blatant injustices would be committed against Christians and fellow political prisoners he would initiate hunger strikes.

He was submitted to humiliation and tortures. In fact, on December 5, 1937, after being sleep deprived and interrogated for three weeks he broke down in a state of hallucination and signed a confession that he was a counterrevolutionary.

The people who met him during his ordeals bore witness to his true character. As a physician he was Unmercenary and never asked for money treating all his patients with immense love. He shared his patients’ pain and anguish for he saw each person as an image of God, unique and unrepeatable.

As a physician and professor he trained many students and colleagues in the art of surgery. As a scientist he found the time to publish many articles including his monograph “Essays on the Surgery of Pyogenic Infections” published in 1934. This monograph and the subsequent revisions was the “gold standard” reference for his colleagues at the time. In 1944 he received the “Stalin Award” for all his scientific publications.

As a Bishop he preached incessantly not only about the need to live Orthodoxy but against the perils of the “Living Church”. The latter was a defiled heretic sect propagated by the communist regime. He is credited with 1250 sermons over thirty-eight years of priesthood and episcopal service of which 750 were preserved in twelve volumes. When he practiced surgery from this point on he wore his bishop's cassock in the operating room and refused to perform surgery without an icon.

As the Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev regime came and went Saint Luke’s persecutions and frequent transfers only increased his popularity. Despite public slander he was known as an unselfish, loving, physician and spiritual father. This posed a great propaganda threat to each regime and towards the end of his life Saint Luke was restricted in his travels and his medical responsibilities to remedial services. The latter was also in God’s plan as toward the end of his life Saint Luke lost his vision to glaucoma. He could now devote his time exclusively to matters of faith. He performed many healing miracles and had many spiritual children. Toward the end of his life he was worried if it would be permitted to chant “Holy God” at his funeral. He last liturgized on the feast of the Nativity of Christ in 1960 and his last sermon on Forgiveness Sunday. His repose was June 11 1961, the day of commemoration for “All Saints who shone forth in the Land of Russia”.

The government made every effort to make Saint Luke’s funeral as inconspicuous as possible. Busses were provided to hurry the funeral procession along the side-streets to the gravesite so there would be little fanfare and recognition.

God had different plans for Saint Luke and a popular uprising occurred at the funeral. The faithful refused to be hurried. They boldly ignored, at peril to life and limb, the roadblocks to the central corridors. The mayor was angered from the roses spread on the roads and flung a basket away claiming that the roses were litter and trash on the streets. (He soon after had a very ugly death).

To the dismay of the government and to avoid an uprising, they conceded to allow the funeral to proceed for 3 and a half hours without interference. The roads were full and cars stopped everywhere. People had climbed on balconies, onto rooftops of houses. Such a funeral was a tribute of honor. The authorities wanted a silent event. It was witness to God’s Glory that throughout the walk there was a constant chant of “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us”. Saint Luke’s prayers to have Holy God chanted at his funeral during the atheistic times were answered!

==The Saint's last words==
'''In Russian'''
{{stub}}

'''In Greek''' (translation)
:"Παιδιά μου πολύ σας παρακαλώ,
:Ντυθείτε με την πανοπλία που δίνει ο Θεός για να μπορέσετε να αντιμετωπίσετε τα τεχνάσματα του διαβόλου.
:Δεν μπορείτε να φανταστείτε πόσο πονηρός είναι.
:Δεν έχουμε να παλέψουμε με ανθρώπους, αλλά με αρχές και εξουσίες, δηλαδή με τα πονηρά πνεύματα.
:Προσέξτε!
:Τον διάβολο δεν τον συμφέρει να δεχθεί κανείς την ύπαρξή του, να σκέφτεται και να αισθάνεται ότι είναι κοντά στον άνθρωπο.
:Ένας κρυφός και άγνωστος εχθρός είναι πιο επικίνδυνος από έναν ορατό εχθρό.
:Ο πόσο μεγάλος και τρομερός είναι ο στρατός των δαιμόνων.
:Πόσο αμέτρητο είναι το μαύρο τους πλήθος!
:Αμετάβλητα, ακούραστα, μέρα και νύχτα, επιδιώκουν να σπρώξουν όλους εμάς που πιστεύουμε στο όνομα του Χριστού, να μας παρασύρουν στό δρόμο της απιστίας της κακίας και της ασέβειας.
:Αυτοί οι αόρατοι εχθροί του Θεού,εχουν βάλει ως μοναδικό τους σκοπό μέρα και νύχτα να επιδιώκουν την καταστροφή μας.
:Όμως μη φοβάστε,πάρτε δύναμη από το όνομα του Ιησού"

'''In English''' (translation)
:“My children, very much do I entreat you,
:Arm yourselves with the armor that God gives, That you may withstand the devil's tricks.
:You can't imagine how evil he is.
:We don't have to fight with people but with rulers and powers, in effect the evil spirits.
:Take care!
:It's no use to the devil for anyone to think and feel
:that he is close to him.
:A hidden and unknown enemy is more dangerous than a visible enemy.
:O how large and terrible is the army of the demons.
:How numberless is their black horde!
:Unchanged, untiring, day and night, seeking to push all of us who believe
:in the name of Christ, to lure us on the road of unbelief, of evil and of impiety.
:These unseen enemies of God have made their sole purpose, day and night to seek our destruction.
:But do not be afraid, take power from the name of Jesus.”

==The Troparion of St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol==
:'''''Troparion of St. Luke of Simferopol - Tone 1'''
:''O herald of the way of salvation, confessor and archpastor of the Crimean flock, faithful keeper of the traditions of the fathers, unshakeable pillar and teacher of Orthodoxy, pray unceasingly to Christ our Saviour to grant salvation and strong faith to Orthodox Christians, O holy hierarch Luke, physician wise in God.''<ref>Archdeacon Vasily Marushchak. ''[http://www.monasteryofstjohnstore.org/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=15&CLSN_3049=12248293183049daeb8b57f80b37aeb0 The Blessed Surgeon: The Life of Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol]''. 2nd Edition. [[St. John of San Francisco Monastery (Manton, California)|Divine Ascent Press]], 2008. (Contains the life and service of St. Luke)</ref>

==Further Reading==
* Archdeacon Vasily Marushchak. ''[http://www.monasteryofstjohnstore.org/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=15&CLSN_3049=12248293183049daeb8b57f80b37aeb0 The Blessed Surgeon: The Life of Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol]''. 2nd Edition. [[St. John of San Francisco Monastery (Manton, California)|Divine Ascent Press]], 2008. (ISBN 978-0-97143924)

* Canadian Orthodox Messenger (OCA, Archdiocese of Canada). ''[http://www.archdiocese.ca/news/com/141.2003.Winter.pdf Lives of the Saints: Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol]''. (Glorified 17-19 March 1996). New Series 14:1 Winter 2002/2003. pp.13-15.

==External links==
*Photographs of St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol [http://www.rel.gr/photo/thumbnails.php?album=59]
*Dr. Alexander Roman. [http://www.ukrainian-orthodoxy.org/saints/saints_new/list.htm Saints of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: New Martyrs and Confessors of the Soviet Yoke]. (''List of glorified Ukrainian Orthodox New Martyrs and Confessors'').
*Russian Orthodox Church (MP). [http://www.mospat.ru/archive/ne208121.htm His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia Visits the Tambov Diocese]. 28 October, 2002.
*The St.Petersburg Times. [http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=3475 City Teacher, Nurse, Actress Gave War a Female Face]. Issue #1067 (33), Friday, May 6, 2005.
*Evgueny I. Arinin. [http://www.metanexus.net/magazine/ArticleDetail/tabid/68/id/8848/Default.aspx Essence of Organic Life In Russian Orthodox and Modern Philosophical Tradition: Beyond Functionalism and Elementarism].
* NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=6161 6161 Vojno-Yasenetsky (1971 TY2)]. (''Main-belt Asteroid 6161, discovered on Oct. 14 1971 by L.I. Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, was named in memory of Valentin Feliksovich Vojno-Yasenetsky (1877-1961), surgeon and bishop'')
* V Kogan. ''[http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymai/medline/record/MDLN.11620503 Two letters of V.P. Filatov to V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky]''. In '''Agapit.''' January 1996, Issue 4, pp.65-69. (''History, 20th Century; Portraits; Religion and Medicine; Ukraine'')

'''YouTube Video in Greek'''
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0cU-LHwC-jE Αγιος Λουκάς Κριμαίας μέρος 1ο][http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wwJXUoJEvAI μέρος 2ο]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=emObdkofrAE&feature=related Στο Ησυχαστήριο της Αδελφότητας των Δανιηλέων στα Κατουνάκια Αγίου Όρους ο '''Πάτερ Δανιήλ Αγιογραφεί''' τον Άγιο Λουκά τον Ιατρό Αρχιεπίσκοπο Συμφερουπόλεως και Κριμαίας.]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=K3UuAuOf6Cw&feature=related Veneration of his sacred & holy relics outside Russia - 1] [http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=66edFUqh3Lw 2]

'''In Greek'''
* Πατριαρχειον Ιεροσολημων. [http://www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/view.php?message_id=126 Η Μ.Κ.Ο. "ΡΩΜΗΟΣΥΝΗ" ΣΥΜΜΕΤΕΧΕΙ ΣΕ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΑΓΙΟ ΛΟΥΚΑ ΤΟΝ ΙΑΤΡΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΥΠΡΟ]. 24-10-2008 (Γρηγοριανόν); 11-10-2008 (Ιουλιανόν). ''jerusalem-patriarchate.info''
*http://agiosloukas.org/

'''In French'''
* Orthodoxologie. [http://orthodoxologie.blogspot.com/2008/07/saint-archevque-luc-voino-yasenetskyde.html Saint Archevêque Luc ( Voino-Yasenetsky) de Simféropol]. Dimanche 27 Juillet 2008.

==References==
<div class="small"><references/></div>

==Sources==
*[http://www.theologoi.com/agiosloukas/index.htm Saint Luke of Crimea the Doctor] (in Greek); [http://www.theologoi.com/agiosloukas/russia.htm (in Russian)]
*NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=6161 6161 Vojno-Yasenetsky (1971 TY2)].

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Saints]]
[[Category:Russian Saints]]
[[Category:Modern Saints]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]

[[el:Λουκάς Συμφερουπόλεως]]

Zenaida and Philonilla of Tarsus in Cilicia

2009-07-29T20:53:21Z

DrSJK:

{{Cleanup}}
{{Style}}
THE HOLY UNMERCENARY PHYSICIANS
ZENAIDA AND PHILONELLA, THE FRIENDS OF PEACE

October 11th

Does the work we do with our fellow Orthodox Christians make a diffenace? The answer to this shortsighted question sometimes does not come right away. Sometimes it comes from reading the lives of the Saints and the relationships they have with the laity which is the vehicle for God’s work to be done.

Such is the case of the unmercenary Saints Zenaida and Philonella. Their relationships with their cousins St Paul the Apostle and St James the Bishop of Tarsus opened the avenue to learn about Orthodoxy. Saints Zenaida and Philonella were sisters born into a prominent Jewish family in Tarsus. Being extremely intelligent they advanced their education at the highest learning centers of tarsus engaging in studies of philosophy and medicine.

Having learned the Christian Faith from Saint Jason, Saints Zenaida and Philonella were attracted by the love and compassion of Christ After their baptism, the two gave themselves over more fully to the study of medicine and began to apply Christian principles and ideas to medical philosophy. They understood that salvation is a healing process. They realized Christ’s message supplied the tools for the healing of the whole person, spiritual and physical, with the goal of reaching the Heavenly Kingdom.

Upon completing their studies Saints Zenaida and Philonella moved to Thessally, where many medicinal mineral springs flowed in the caverns of the Felion Mountains. Here, Greek physicians had centers of pagan worship tied to the philosophy of medicine and the worship of Asklepios, the patron of healing. Their earnest desire was to combine scientific medicine with prayer and faith and so reveal the nature of salvation and proclaim Jesus Christ to whoever would hear the words of the glorious Gospel. The holy sisters hoped their example would bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the great crowds of people who visited them for physical healing and thus address the aspects of spiritual healing as well.

Many of the pagan physicians, to the disgrace of their Hippocratic oath, not only ignored the poor but also sought out the care for the wealthy, mixing their medical practice with magic, superstition and witchcraft. Finding a cavern with a mineral spring, Zenaida and Philonella built two cells and a small chapel for themselves. Having thus established a women's monastery, they used their wealth to create a clinic. The two sisters then opened their hearts to the poor. The sisters' love, compassion and openness to the poor and humble attracted many to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. The medical skill of the two sisters became renowned, and the miracles worked through their prayers established many in the Gospel.
Saint Philonella was a patient and careful scholar. An astute observer she approached patient care as scientific medicine. She labored to free healthcare from the idea of magic, astrology and superstition.
Saint Zenaida, on the other hand, was more thoughtful. She was keenly interested in the suffering of children and worked to develop pediatric care. Her first love was monasticism. She became a spiritual elder for both men and women. She touched three of her spiritual children, Papias, Pateras and Philocyrus who built a men's monastery not far from the cavern-hospital of the holy sisters.
Toward the end of her life, Saint Zenaida became interested in psychiatric medicine. Many of those who came to the hospital suffered from severe depression and other psychiatric illnesses. Zenaida had the wisdom to recognize these as actual illnesses and concerned herself with their causes and cure. It is not known in what year Saint Zenaida departed this life, but she left her sister Saint Philonella to carry on their work and instruct others in medicine and the faith. After the death of her beloved sister, Philonella entered more deeply into spiritual life, leaving the treatment and care of patients more and more to the students and other nuns. She also became renowned as a wonderworker and reposed in peace and at a great age.

The Holy Church bestowed the title, "Friends of Peace" on the two saints because they both preached and practiced peace, serenity and charity. Philonella often said that a peaceful and serene disposition could not only aid in healing but could even prevent illness. For her, the source of true peace was the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. The disciples of Saint Zenaida reported that her last words in this life were a prayer for the peace of the world.

Christian medicine began with holy women. Not only were Saints Zenaida and Philonella the first Christian doctors (after Apostle Luke), but also they were the first of those saints whom we call "unmercenary physicians". Saints Zenaida and Philonella are commemorated October 11th.

User:DrSJK

2009-07-29T20:47:27Z

DrSJK: New page: Fr John: This information is only for the editorial staff and not for self promotion. (Being know as DrSJK is enough) Spero Kinnas Church: Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. GOA Metro...

Sts Anikitos and Photios Holy Unmercenaries

2009-07-29T12:54:28Z

DrSJK: New page: Sts Anikitos and Photios Holy Unmercenaries Feast Day August 12 Sts Anikitos and Photios lived in the Nicomedia during the 3rd century. St Anikitos was from a wealth Christian family a...

Sts Anikitos and Photios Holy Unmercenaries

Feast Day August 12

Sts Anikitos and Photios lived in the Nicomedia during the 3rd century. St Anikitos was from a wealth Christian family and was educated as a physician. His nephew Photios was orphaned so Anikitos took him in and trained him as a physician as well.

They adopted an unmercinary (ανάργυροι = anargyroi, meaning without silver i.e. reward) style of practice never taking any money or gifts for their services. God blessed them with healing powers and they cured all that came to them.

In those days the Emperor Diocletian was a ferocious persecutor of Christians. Diocletian found it entertaining to have his soldiers bring Christians to the Arena and discovered new methods of torture sparing them only if they denounced God and worshipped pagan idols.

When St Anikitos refused to denounce his faith he was beaten until his bones were exposed and thrown to a lion. By God’s intervention the lion was tame as a kitten, wiping the perspiration off St Anikitos with its paw. St Anikitos expressed his gratitude to God with a prayer of thanks for his deliverance. At the end of the prayer a violent earthquake erupted destroying the idol of Hercules after it toppled over.

This provoked the ire of Diocletian who ordered St Anikitos’ immediate persecution. The guards hands became unexplainably frozen and they could not harm St Anikitos. The next torture was to tie him on a wheel and roll him into fire. Although severely burned St Anikitos prayed and all his wounds were healed. While observing the brutal torment of his uncle, Photios approached to comfort him and he too gave witness to Christ in the company of the vicious Diocletian.

The emperor was now enraged and ordered that the guards behead the two Christian men. After several failed attempts to end their lives he ordered that the huge furnace be lit and cast them inside to burn alive. As Sts Anikitos and Photios approached the furnace they prayed to God to put an end to their torments and to allow them to die in peace. The Holy Unmercenaries Anikitos and Photios gave up their souls on August 12th. Their bodies were stolen by the hidden Christians who were always present at these games. They were secretly buried and a church was built next to their tombs later in time when Christians practiced freely.

Zenaida and Philonilla of Tarsus in Cilicia

2009-07-29T03:33:41Z

DrSJK: New page: THE HOLY UNMERCENARY PHYSICIANS ZENAIDA AND PHILONELLA, THE FRIENDS OF PEACE October 11th As a board member on the healthcare committee of the Orthodox Christian mission Center I someti...

THE HOLY UNMERCENARY PHYSICIANS
ZENAIDA AND PHILONELLA, THE FRIENDS OF PEACE

October 11th

As a board member on the healthcare committee of the Orthodox Christian mission Center I sometime ask myself if what my committee does with the other committees really make any difference. The answer to this shortsighted question sometimes does not come right away. Sometimes however it come from reading the lives of the Saints and the relationships they have with the laity that eventually allows for God’s work to be done.

Such is the case of the unmercenary Saints Zenaida and Philonella. Their relationships with their cousins St Paul the Apostle and St James the Bishop of Tarsus opened the avenue to learn about Orthodoxy. Saints Zenaida and Philonella were sisters born into a prominent Jewish family in Tarsus. Being extremely intelligent they advanced their education at the highest learning centers of tarsus engaging in studies of philosophy and medicine.

Having learned the Christian Faith from Saint Jason, Saints Zenaida and Philonella were attracted by the love and compassion of Christ After their baptism, the two gave themselves over more fully to the study of medicine and began to apply Christian principles and ideas to medical philosophy. They understood that salvation is a healing process. They realized Christ’s message supplied the tools for the healing of the whole person, spiritual and physical, with the goal of reaching the Heavenly Kingdom.

Upon completing their studies Saints Zenaida and Philonella moved to Thessally, where many medicinal mineral springs flowed in the caverns of the Felion Mountains. Here, Greek physicians had centers of pagan worship tied to the philosophy of medicine and the worship of Asklepios, the patron of healing. Their earnest desire was to combine scientific medicine with prayer and faith and so reveal the nature of salvation and proclaim Jesus Christ to whoever would hear the words of the glorious Gospel. The holy sisters hoped their example would bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the great crowds of people who visited them for physical healing and thus address the aspects of spiritual healing as well.

Many of the pagan physicians, to the disgrace of their Hippocratic oath, not only ignored the poor but also sought out the care for the wealthy, mixing their medical practice with magic, superstition and witchcraft. Finding a cavern with a mineral spring, Zenaida and Philonella built two cells and a small chapel for themselves. Having thus established a women's monastery, they used their wealth to create a clinic. The two sisters then opened their hearts to the poor. The sisters' love, compassion and openness to the poor and humble attracted many to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. The medical skill of the two sisters became renowned, and the miracles worked through their prayers established many in the Gospel.
Saint Philonella was a patient and careful scholar. An astute observer she approached patient care as scientific medicine. She labored to free healthcare from the idea of magic, astrology and superstition.
Saint Zenaida, on the other hand, was more thoughtful. She was keenly interested in the suffering of children and worked to develop pediatric care. Her first love was monasticism. She became a spiritual elder for both men and women. She touched three of her spiritual children, Papias, Pateras and Philocyrus who built a men's monastery not far from the cavern-hospital of the holy sisters.
Toward the end of her life, Saint Zenaida became interested in psychiatric medicine. Many of those who came to the hospital suffered from severe depression and other psychiatric illnesses. Zenaida had the wisdom to recognize these as actual illnesses and concerned herself with their causes and cure. It is not known in what year Saint Zenaida departed this life, but she left her sister Saint Philonella to carry on their work and instruct others in medicine and the faith. After the death of her beloved sister, Philonella entered more deeply into spiritual life, leaving the treatment and care of patients more and more to the students and other nuns. She also became renowned as a wonderworker and reposed in peace and at a great age.

The Holy Church bestowed the title, "Friends of Peace" on the two saints because they both preached and practiced peace, serenity and charity. Philonella often said that a peaceful and serene disposition could not only aid in healing but could even prevent illness. For her, the source of true peace was the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. The disciples of Saint Zenaida reported that her last words in this life were a prayer for the peace of the world.

Christian medicine began with holy women. Not only were Saints Zenaida and Philonella the first Christian doctors (after Apostle Luke), but also they were the first of those saints whom we call "unmercenary physicians". Saints Zenaida and Philonella are commemorated October 11th.

Paraskevi

2009-07-29T03:25:04Z

DrSJK: /* Life */

:''For other saints named "Paraskevi," see the [[Paraskevi (disambiguation)|disambiguation page]].''

[[image:Paraskevi.jpg|right|thumb|Holy Virgin-Martyr St. Paraskevi]]The holy and glorious [[Martyr|Virgin-Martyr]] [[Saint]] '''Paraskevi''' (also ''Paraskeva'') was arrested during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. A.D. 138-161) under the penalty of refusing to worship idols and adhering to the state pagan religion. After enduring many tortures, she was eventually released by the emperor, continuing to profess [[Christ]]. She was eventually tortured and beheaded by the Roman governor Tarasius in the year 180. The Church commemorates her on [[July 26]].

== Life ==
Saint Paraskevi, The Parthenomartyr, (July 26th), was born in a village near Rome during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD). Her parents were the pious [[Christians]] Agathonikos (Agathon) and Politea. Her parents prayed fervently for a child, and [[God]] finally blessed their piety. They gave great honor to Friday, the day of Our Lord's suffering. Being born on this day, her parents named her Paraskevi ("Friday" in Greek, but literally "preparation").

St Paraskevi obtained an excellent education from both secular and Scriptural instructors. She was also very knowledgeable in the field of philosophy. Bolstered by her Christian upbringing, she often conversed with other women about Christianity, trying to strengthen their faith in this new religion.
Many distinguished families wanted this beautiful, educated and rich woman to marry their sons. Her understanding and kindness made her even more desirable. However having a higher goal in life, St Paraskevi rejected any marriage proposals.

When she was 20 years old, both her parents died 1eaving her as the sole heir to the family fortune. St Paraskevi did not use her fortune for herself. Filled with the spirit of Christ and Christian ideals, she sold all her worldly possessions using the money to relieve human suffering. There was a portion retained to a community treasury that supported a home for reverent virgins who stayed in a kenobion, a type of commune like a contemporary monastery. These women preyed and fasted doing charitable works. They preached primarily to Hebrew and idol worshiping women giving them an opportunity to learn about Christian salvation.

She left Rome at the age of 30 and began her holy mission, passing through many cities and villages. St Paraskevi’s activities occurred during a period that the Jews and Romans persecuted the Christian religion with the greatest intensity. Antoninus Pius (138-161) ruled Rome at this time, and he did not execute Christians without a trial. She was not caught immediately or put to death. Instead, Antoninus protected Christians against the blind mania of the Jewish and Roman inhabitants. Christians could only be brought to trial if another citizen lodged a formal complaint against them. Antoninus however had to repeal this law because of the many disasters which had befallen Rome and which were blamed on the Christians.

Strong in faith, learning, and eloquence, Paraskevi spoke persuasively to her fellow Roman citizens, leading them from idolatry to faith in Christ. Eventually, Antoninus heard of St. Paraskevi's holy mission. Upon her return to Rome, several Jews filed complaints about her and Antoninus summoned her to his palace to question her. Attracted by her beauty and humility he tried with kind words to make her denounce her faith, even promising to marry her and make her an empress. Angered by her refusal he had a steel helmet, lined with nails and compressed on her head with a vice. It had no effect on the Saint and many who witnessed this miracle converted to Christianity. Thrown into prison, Paraskevi asked God to give her the strength to face the terror that awaited her. Antoninus again continued her torture by having her hung by her hair and at the same time burning her hands and arms with torches. The Saint suffered greatly, but had the will not to submit to the pain. Antoninus then prepared a large cauldron of oil and tar, boiled the mixture and then had Paraskevi immersed in it. Miraculously she stood in it as if she being refreshed rather than burned. Angered, Antoninus thought that she was using witchery to keep the contents cooled. Antoninus then approached the cauldron only to be blinded by the hot steam and searing emissions coming from the area. At this moment the mighty emperor asked for the intervention of St Paraskevi to heal him from this affliction to which she responded:

“Emperor, the Christian God is healing you from the blindness that was given to you as a punishment”.

Immediately, he regained his sight. Humbled by the miracle he freed the Saint, allowing her to continue her missionary activity and ended all persecutions against the Christians throughout the Roman Empire.

From this episode it is clear to the Christians that St Paraskevi has the intercessional ability to help people with visual ailments.

Astonished by the miracle, Antoninus released Paraskevi. He also ceased persecuting Christians throughout the Roman Empire.

This period was brief. After Antoninus' death in 161, a plague broke out throughout the empire. Romans took it as a sign from their gods that that they were angered by the tolerance of Christianity. Under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180), the laws dealing with "non-believers" were cahnged and the persecutions against the Christians resumed.

Despite these dangers, Paraskevi persevered in her missionary endeavors, spreading the [[Gospel]] wherever she traveled. By authority of emperor Aurelius the provincial eparchs Asclepius and Tarasios captured St Paraskevi. Having refused Asclepius’ demands to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was thrown into a snake pit. The Saint made the [[Sign of the Cross]] over the serpent and the serpent perished. Asclepius had heard of the Saint’s previous miracles, realized that a great and mighty power guarded Paraskevi and decided to set her free while Asclepius and his court were all converted.

Tarasios however was less tolerant. St Paraskevi was tied and beaten and afterwards imprisoned and a huge rock placed on her chest. She prayed to Christ to help her be strong.
The next morning Paraskevi was taken willingly to the Temple of Apollo. Everyone praised Tarasios, thinking that he had succeeded in breaking St Paraskevi's faith. However, upon entering the temple, the Saint raised her hand and made the sign of the cross. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard and all the idols in the temple were destroyed. The priests and idolaters dragged her from the altar, beat her, and pushed her out of the temple. The priests demanded that Tarasios kill Paraskevi. She was convicted and condemned to death by beheading.

It was customary to give the condemned their last wish. She asked to be left alone for a few moments so that she might pray for the last time. Afterwards, the roman soldiers returned and executed the Saint.

Many healing miracles occurred as a result of St Paraskevi’s divine intervention. It is said that that merely coming in contact with he dirt of her grave faithful, crippled could walk, demonized would return to health and that the infertile would bear children. Most importantly St Paraskevi healed the blindness of the roman emperor Antoninus Pius while she was in a heated cauldron. Her merciful disposition to her tormentor has made her an intercessor Saint for the healing of eye ailments.

Her remains were eventually taken to [[Constantinople]], where they are venerated by the faithful to this very day.

Appropriate to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you worshipped with the readiness your name bears. For an abode you obtained faith, which is your namesake. Wherefore, you pour forth healing and intercede for our souls.

O most majestic One, we have discovered your temple to be a spiritual clinic wherein all the faithful resoundingly honor you, O famed and venerable martyr Paraskevi.

== External links ==
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=496 Saint Paraskevi] ([[GOARCH]])
*[http://www.antiochian.org/martyr_paraskeva Martyr Paraskevi] ([[AOCA|Antiochian]])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102096 Saint Paraskevi] ([[OCA]])
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/p/phn61.htm Icon and Troparion of St. Paraskevi]
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/peace.htm Prayer for Peace] St. Paraskevi practiced peacemaking by making an enemy her brother.

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]

[[el:Αγία Παρασκευή]]

Justinian

2009-07-27T16:28:03Z

DrSJK: /* Sources and external links */

[[Image:Justinian.jpg|right|thumb|St Justinian, Emperor of Rome and Byzantium in the sixth century.]]The holy and right-believing Emperor '''Justinian I''' ([[May 11]], 483–[[November 13]]/14, 565), was Eastern Roman Emperor from [[August 1]], 527, until his death. His wife was the Empress [[Theodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]]. Besides being one of the most important rulers of Late Antiquity and a major figure in the history of the Byzantine state, Justinian was also a great champion of Orthodoxy, a builder of [[church]]es and a Church writer. During his reign Byzantium won glory with military victories in Persia, Africa, and Italy, as a result of which paganism was decisively routed among the Germanic Vandals and Visigoth tribes. He is also known as "the last Roman emperor" and was the emperor who reconquered the city of Rome from the Ostrogoths. The Church celebrates his [[feast day]] on [[November 14]].

==Life==

Justinian's full name was Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus. He is said to be of Slavic descent, probably born in a small village called Tauresium in Illyricum, near Scupi (present day Skopje, Macedonia), on [[May 11]], 483, to Vigilantia. His mother Vigilantia was the sister of the highly esteemed General [[Justin I|Justin]], who rose from the ranks of the army to become emperor. His uncle adopted him and ensured the boy's education. Justinian was superbly well educated in jurisprudence, theology and Roman history. His military career featured rapid advancement, and a great future opened up for him when, in 518, Justin became emperor. Justinian was appointed consul in 521, and later as commander of the army of the east. He was functioning as virtual regent long before Justin made him associate emperor on [[April 1]], 527.

Four months later, Justinian became the sole sovereign upon Justin I's death. His administration had world-wide impact, constituting a distinct epoch in the history of the Byzantine Empire and the Orthodox Church. He was a man of unusual capacity for work (sometimes called the "emperor who never sleeps") and possessed a temperate, affable, and lively character, but he was also unscrupulous and crafty when it served him. He was the last emperor to attempt to restore the Roman Empire to the territories it enjoyed under [[Theodosius the Great (emperor)|Theodosius I]].

He surrounded himself with men and women of extraordinary talent, "new men" culled not from the aristocratic ranks, but appointed based on merit. In 523 he married [[Theodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]], who was by profession a courtesan (or actress or circus performer, according which source one believes) about 20 years his junior. According to the historian Procopius, notorious for his slanderous dislike of the royal couple, Justinian is said to have met her at a show where she and a trained goose performed ''Leda and the Swan'', a play that managed to mock Greek mythology and Christian morality at the same time. Justinian would have, in earlier times, been unable to marry her because of her class, but his uncle Emperor Justin I had passed a law allowing intermarriage between social classes. Theodora would become very influential in the politics of the empire, and later emperors would follow Justinian's precedent and marry outside of the aristocratic class. The marriage was a source of scandal, but Theodora would prove to be very intelligent, "street smart," a good judge of character, and Justinian's greatest supporter.

Theodora died in 548; Justinian outlived her for almost twenty years, dying on [[November 13]] or 14, 565.

==Legal and military accomplishments==

Justinian achieved lasting influence for his judicial reforms, notably the summation of all Roman law, something that had never been done before. Justinian commissioned quaestor Tribonian to the task, and he issued the first draft of the ''Corpus Juris Civilis'' on [[April 7]], 529, in three parts: ''Digesta'' (or ''Digest'' or ''Pandectae''), ''Institutiones'' (or ''Institutes''), and the ''Codex''. The ''Corpus'' forms the basis of Latin jurisprudence (including ecclesiastical [[Canons of the Orthodox Church|canon law]]: "''ecclesia vivit lege romana''," "the Church lives under Roman law"). It ensured the survival of Roman law, which would pass to the West in the 12th century and later to Eastern Europe, including Russia. It remains influential to this day.

[[Image:Byzantium550.png|left|thumb|The expanse of the Byzantine Empire in 550 under Justinian.]]As far as military campaigns, Justinian was generally successful; he was the last Byzantine emperor to have control over Rome and parts of the West. Like his Roman predecessors and Byzantine successors, Justinian initially engaged in war against Sassanid Persia in the Roman-Persian Wars. However, his primary military ambitions focused on the western Mediterranean, where his general Belisarius spearheaded the reconquest of parts of the territory of the old Roman Empire. Belisarius gained this task as a reward after successfully putting down the Nika riots in Constantinople, because of which Justinian considered fleeing the capital but remained in the city only on the advice of Theodora (according to Procopius). In 533 Belisarius reconquered North Africa from the Vandals, then advanced into Sicily and Italy, recapturing Rome (536) and the Ostrogothic capital at Ravenna (540) in what has become known as the Gothic War.

==Justinian and Orthodoxy==

[[Image:OrthodoxCross.jpg|right|thumb|Justinian was a fervent supporter of Orthodoxy.]]Justinian viewed himself as the new [[Constantine the Great]]. He believed in a Mediterranean-wide Christian order politically, religiously and economically, united and ruled from Constantinople under a single Christian emperor. To this end he directed his great wars and his colossal activity in reconquering the western provinces from the Germanic tribes.

Perhaps the most noteworthy event occurred in 529 when the Academy in Athens (famous for being founded centuries earlier by Plato) was placed under state control by order of Justinian, effectively strangling this training school for Hellenism. [[Paganism]] was actively suppressed. The worship of Ammon at Augila in the Libyan desert was abolished, and so were the remnants of the worship of Isis on the island of Philae, in Egypt, and unrepentant Manicheans were executed in Constantinople. Justinian frequently sent out [[missionary|missionaries]] and [[convert]]ed numerous tribes. In Asia Minor alone, John, [[Bishop]] of Ephesus, converted 70,000 pagans.

Justinian also took a very firm stance in his support of Orthodoxy; he fought different [[heresy|heresies]] throughout his rule. At the beginning of his reign, he promulgated by law belief in the [[Holy Trinity]] and the [[Incarnation]], and subsequently declared that he would deprive all disturbers of orthodoxy due process of law. He made the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] the sole symbol of the Church and accorded legal force to the canons of the four [[Ecumenical Councils]]. At the command of the sovereign, the [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] was convened in the year 553, censuring the teachings of Origen and affirming the definitions of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] at Chalcedon. He also attempted to secure religious unity within the Empire through his (unsuccessful) dialogues with the non-Chalcedonians. He appointed Theodora, a convert from [[Monophysitism]], as his special envoy to deal with those who rejected [[Chalcedon]]. Besides Monophysitism, other ecclesiastical tensions had begun to emerge between the East and the West; the "Three Chapters" controversy brought all of these to a head (cf. external links).

[[Image:Hagia Sophia BW.jpg|right|thumb|The Hagia Sophia as it was meant, without minarets.]]The Emperor was instrumental in the building of numerous churches. He gave orders to build 90 churches for the newly-converted and generously supported church construction within the Empire. The finest structures of the time are considered to be the [[St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|monastery at Sinai]], and the [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople. Under St. Justinian many churches were built dedicated to the [[Theotokos]]. Since he had received a broad education, St. Justinian assiduously concerned himself with the education of [[clergy]] and [[monk]]s, ordering them to be instructed in rhetoric, philosophy, and theology. He neglected no opportunity for securing the rights of the Church and clergy, for protecting and extending [[monasticism]]: his law codes contain many enactments regarding donations, foundations, and the administration of ecclesiastical property; election and rights of bishops, priests, and abbots; monastic life, residential obligations of the clergy, conduct of divine service, and episcopal jurisdiction.

Justinian's standardization of the [[Divine Liturgy]] included introducing the [[Cherubic Hymn]], and two oft-used troparia of the Church, ''[[Only-begotten Son|Only Begotten Son]]'' and ''[[Phos Hilaron|O Gladsome Light]]'' are traditionally accredited to him.

In his personal life, St. Justinian was strictly pious, and he fasted often. During Great Lent he would not eat bread nor drink wine, but lived on only water and vegetables. He is also remembered for promoting the idea of "symphony" between church and state.

However, Justinian is often criticized by secular sources as a despot. Even some dissent occurs in Orthodox [[Holy Tradition]]. For example, the [[hagiography]] of St. [[Eutychius of Constantinople|Eutychius]] paints a more complicated portrait of the Emperor:
:"After the death of the holy [[Patriarch]] Menas, the [[Apostle Peter]] appeared in a vision to the emperor Justinian and, pointing his hand at Eutychius, said, 'Let him be made your [[bishop]].' At the very beginning of his patriarchal service, St Eutychius [not Justinian himself] convened the [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] (553), at which the [[Church Fathers|Fathers]] condemned the heresies cropping up and anathematized them. However, after several years a new heresy arose in the Church: Aphthartodocetism [asartodoketai] or "imperishability" which taught that the flesh of Christ...[was] not capable of suffering. St Eutychius vigorously denounced this heresy, but the emperor ''Justinian'' himself inclined toward it, and turned his wrath upon the saint. By order of the emperor, soldiers seized the saint in the church, removed his patriarchal vestments, and sent him into exile to an Amasean monastery (565)."[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101008]

However, Father Asterios Gerostergios in his book ''Justinian the Great: The Emperor and Saint'', refutes the assertion that Justinian succumbed in his last years to the heresy of aphthartodocetism. It is commonly accepted that, after a lengthy reign in which Justinian spared no effort to try to bring the Monophysites back into the fold of the Orthodox Church, people were weary of the aged emperor. Thus, it is commonly asserted that Justinian adhered to the aphthartodocetist heresy, which was essentially an extreme form of Monophysitism, and deposed Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople for his supposed refusal to conform to this teaching.

Justinian's supposed decree imposing aphthartodocetism was not preserved, and the only contemporary source that refers to it is the testimony of the historian Evagrius. Most historians have accepted the information of Evagrius as true, reasoning that Justinian had either converted to the heresy at the end of his life or had succumbed to senility. These scholars thus relate the decree to the [[deposition]]s of both Eutychius and Anastasius, patriarch of Antioch. Father Gerostergios states:

: That they were deposed because of their refusal to accept the edict we do not believe to be true because of the following reasons:

: 1. The bishop of Northern Africa, Victor, an enemy of the Emperor, mentions the deposition of Eutychius in his ''Chronicle'', but does not give any reasons for the deposition. If he really knew anything about a new edict, and if, further, he knew of Justinian's acceptance of the aphthartodocetistic heresy, not only would he certainly have mentioned it, but he would also have emphasized the event, in order to defame Justinian's exiling and imprisoning him.

: 2. If Eutychius had been deposed for this reason, his successor, John the Scholastic, would have had to accept such a decree. We have absolutely no information concerning his acceptance of the edict, nor any testimony that he accepted aphthartodocetism. On the contrary, Pope [Saint] Gregory the Great, who was then the papal representative in Constantinople, praises the new patriarch, John, for his holiness and Orthodoxy.

: 3. The same Pope Gregory praises Justinian for his Orthodoxy and he makes no mention of the edict. He says that Patriarch Eutychius was an Origenist. For this reason, W. H. Hutton and A. Knecht have stated: this was the cause for Eutychius' deposition.

: 4. When Patriarch Eutychius returned to the throne of Constantinople in 577, he did not mention the reasons for his dethronement.

: 5. Bishop John of Ephesus, contrary to Evagrius, makes no mention of what transpired in Antioch concerning the deposition of Anastasius. …

: For all the above reasons, we can only conclude that Justinian never issued or planned to issue an edict imposing aphthartodocetism. Such an act would have been in antithesis to his whole previous theological work, and it is clear that it would not have helped the overall purpose of unification. Moreover, such a complete change at such an advanced age, we believe to be a totally unnatural thing. With regard to the deposition of the two mentioned Patriarchs, we believe that it was not related to such an edict, because there is no basis for such a conclusion from the contemporary sources. We are of the opinion that their deposition was due to other reasons, probably to their failure to obey the old Emperor. [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ibmgs/lives.html]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before= [[Justin I]]|
title=Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor|
years=527-565|
after=[[Justin II]]}}
{{end box}}

Coinage of Justinian I (Follis denomenation):

http://penelopecoins.com/index.php?p=item&cid=3&id=67

Constantine XI Palaiologos

2009-07-27T02:16:17Z

DrSJK: /* External Links */

Saint '''Constantine XI Palaiologos''' the [[Ethnomartyr]] (Gr: ''Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος'', also '' '''Dragases''' ''), was the last reigning emperor of the [[Palaiologos Dynasty]] as well as the last of the Roman Emperors. Born in 1404 AD in [[Mystras]], he ruled from 1449 until his death on [[May 29]], 1453, at the [[Fall of Constantinople]].

== Brief history ==
Constantine was the son of Emperor Manuel II. He was trained as a soldier and in 1441 conquered the Morea Peninsula of Greece. It had long been under the Frankish principality of 'Achaia' <ref> 'Achaia': A state established by the Crusaders. </ref> Constantine was crowned Emperor [[January 6]], 1449 AD succeeding his brother. A little less than five years later in 1453 AD he was killed during the final assaults by the Turkish Sultan, Mehmed II on Constantinople. Constantine, with some 8,000 Greeks, Venetians, and Genoese, had faced 150,000 Turkish besiegers under the Sultan, and after almost two months of heroic defense, directed by the emperor, the city and the empire fell. Constantine died fighting with the last of his men.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/constantine-xi Columbia Encyclopedia: Constantine XI].</ref>. Going back to Augustus and the ancient Roman Empire, he was the 138th and last Roman Emperor.

<gallery>
Image:Constantinos XI Palaiologos.jpg|Constantine XI Palaiologos
Image:CPalaeologos.JPG|Statue of Constantine XI Palaeiologos, Mystra, Greece
Image:CPalaeologos2.JPG|Close up of Statue
</gallery>

== Saintly Status ==
Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholics consider Constantine XI a [[saint]], but he has not been officially recognized as such. One of the reasons for this was that in the centuries of Ottoman rule, any effort on the part of the Orthodox Church to officially glorify Constantine XI as a saint would have been seen as an act of rebellion, and hence decidedly ill-advised. After the Greek War of Independence (1821-1831), when the Greek Orthodox Church once again had freedom to act, an official act of glorification was thought to be superfluous, on account of longstanding veneration as a saint and martyr, specifically, a national martyr or ethnomartyr, (Greek: Eθνομάρτυρας). However, the erection of the statue of "''Saint Constantine XI the Ethnomartyr''" in the square in front of the [[Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens]], with the formal blessing of the Church authorities, appears to be a semi-official act of recognition. His feast falls on [[May 29|29 May]].<ref>[[w:Constantine_XI#Unofficial_saint|Constantine XI: Unofficial Saint]] at Wikipedia.</ref>.

The Russian Menologion indicates commemoration days for the Emperor on [[May 29]] and [[May 30]]. The entry under May 30 is as follows: ''‘On this day we commemorate the suffering of the right-believing Emperor Constantine under the ungodly Turkish King, who himself became ruler.’'' The entry for May 29 reads simply: ''‘Emperor Constantine, who suffered under the Turks.’''<ref>[http://rumkatkilise.org/statusconstantineXI.htm A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI]. Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.</ref>.

== See also ==
* UNESCO World Heritage site of '''[[Mystras]]'''
* St. '''[[Ipomoni]]''', ''Born as'' '''Helena Dragaš''' <ref>Before becoming a nun and assuming the name Ipomoni, Helena was was the mother of Constantine XI Palaiologos. She lived a monastic life for over 25 years, after entering into the habit after the death of her husband. She died 1450AD and is commemorated by the church [[May 29]]. The relics of her skull and her icon are found at the Monastery of St. Patapios, Loutraki of Korinthos, Greece.</ref>

== Further Reading ==
* Donald M. Nicol. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=lnSmnmL984YC&pg=PP1&dq=The+Immortal+Emperor#PPP1,M1 The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans]''. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521894093, 9780521894098 (174 pp)

== Notes ==
<references/>
[[Category:Rulers]]

== External Links ==
* [[w:Constantine XI|Constantine XI]] at Wikipedia.
* [http://rumkatkilise.org/statusconstantineXI.htm A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI]. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
* [http://rumkatkilise.org/constantineXI.htm Great Martyr and Emperor Constantine XI]. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
* [http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Constantine:XI.htm Constantine XI]. EconomicExpert.com.

[[Category:Rulers]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Greek Saints]]

Coinage of Constantine XI:

http://penelopecoins.com/index.php?p=item&cid=3&id=14

Constantine XI Palaiologos

2009-07-27T02:15:30Z

DrSJK: /* External Links */

Saint '''Constantine XI Palaiologos''' the [[Ethnomartyr]] (Gr: ''Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος'', also '' '''Dragases''' ''), was the last reigning emperor of the [[Palaiologos Dynasty]] as well as the last of the Roman Emperors. Born in 1404 AD in [[Mystras]], he ruled from 1449 until his death on [[May 29]], 1453, at the [[Fall of Constantinople]].

== Brief history ==
Constantine was the son of Emperor Manuel II. He was trained as a soldier and in 1441 conquered the Morea Peninsula of Greece. It had long been under the Frankish principality of 'Achaia' <ref> 'Achaia': A state established by the Crusaders. </ref> Constantine was crowned Emperor [[January 6]], 1449 AD succeeding his brother. A little less than five years later in 1453 AD he was killed during the final assaults by the Turkish Sultan, Mehmed II on Constantinople. Constantine, with some 8,000 Greeks, Venetians, and Genoese, had faced 150,000 Turkish besiegers under the Sultan, and after almost two months of heroic defense, directed by the emperor, the city and the empire fell. Constantine died fighting with the last of his men.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/constantine-xi Columbia Encyclopedia: Constantine XI].</ref>. Going back to Augustus and the ancient Roman Empire, he was the 138th and last Roman Emperor.

<gallery>
Image:Constantinos XI Palaiologos.jpg|Constantine XI Palaiologos
Image:CPalaeologos.JPG|Statue of Constantine XI Palaeiologos, Mystra, Greece
Image:CPalaeologos2.JPG|Close up of Statue
</gallery>

== Saintly Status ==
Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholics consider Constantine XI a [[saint]], but he has not been officially recognized as such. One of the reasons for this was that in the centuries of Ottoman rule, any effort on the part of the Orthodox Church to officially glorify Constantine XI as a saint would have been seen as an act of rebellion, and hence decidedly ill-advised. After the Greek War of Independence (1821-1831), when the Greek Orthodox Church once again had freedom to act, an official act of glorification was thought to be superfluous, on account of longstanding veneration as a saint and martyr, specifically, a national martyr or ethnomartyr, (Greek: Eθνομάρτυρας). However, the erection of the statue of "''Saint Constantine XI the Ethnomartyr''" in the square in front of the [[Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens]], with the formal blessing of the Church authorities, appears to be a semi-official act of recognition. His feast falls on [[May 29|29 May]].<ref>[[w:Constantine_XI#Unofficial_saint|Constantine XI: Unofficial Saint]] at Wikipedia.</ref>.

The Russian Menologion indicates commemoration days for the Emperor on [[May 29]] and [[May 30]]. The entry under May 30 is as follows: ''‘On this day we commemorate the suffering of the right-believing Emperor Constantine under the ungodly Turkish King, who himself became ruler.’'' The entry for May 29 reads simply: ''‘Emperor Constantine, who suffered under the Turks.’''<ref>[http://rumkatkilise.org/statusconstantineXI.htm A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI]. Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.</ref>.

== See also ==
* UNESCO World Heritage site of '''[[Mystras]]'''
* St. '''[[Ipomoni]]''', ''Born as'' '''Helena Dragaš''' <ref>Before becoming a nun and assuming the name Ipomoni, Helena was was the mother of Constantine XI Palaiologos. She lived a monastic life for over 25 years, after entering into the habit after the death of her husband. She died 1450AD and is commemorated by the church [[May 29]]. The relics of her skull and her icon are found at the Monastery of St. Patapios, Loutraki of Korinthos, Greece.</ref>

== Further Reading ==
* Donald M. Nicol. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=lnSmnmL984YC&pg=PP1&dq=The+Immortal+Emperor#PPP1,M1 The Immortal Emperor: The Life and Legend of Constantine Palaiologos, Last Emperor of the Romans]''. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521894093, 9780521894098 (174 pp)

== Notes ==
<references/>
[[Category:Rulers]]

== External Links ==
* [[w:Constantine XI|Constantine XI]] at Wikipedia.
* [http://rumkatkilise.org/statusconstantineXI.htm A Special Note Concerning the Status of Blessed Constantine XI]. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
* [http://rumkatkilise.org/constantineXI.htm Great Martyr and Emperor Constantine XI]. The Society of St. John Chrysostom of Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise.
* [http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Constantine:XI.htm Constantine XI]. EconomicExpert.com.

[[Category:Rulers]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Greek Saints]]

http://penelopecoins.com/index.php?p=item&cid=3&id=14