One of the most beloved holidays in the nation is the day of the So-ro-ka mu-che-ni-kov of Se-va-stiy, March 22, no. I'm in style. Why do they love this holiday so much?

In 313, the holy im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Ve-li-kiy gave Christ-a-to-us free-bo-du-ve-ro-is-po- ve-da-niya. But the power in many pro-vin-tsi-yahs is still under-over-le-zha-la language-ni-kam, go-ni-te-lyam christian. This was the case in the province of Ar-meniya, located in la-gav-shay on the territory of modern Turkey. Here, in the city of Se-va-stia, gar-ni-zo-nom ko-man-do-val is a zealous pagan nickname Ag-ri-ko-lay. And so in the winter of 320, he ordered all of his and us to make sacrifices to idols. Forty people left the room, declaring that they were Christians and worshiped only God in truth -mu, not is-tu-ka-us.

Sna-cha-la Ag-ri-ko-lay wooed them, promised them a promotion, money. Then he began to threaten me with prison and shameful death. But they rejected all the promises and threats, and then the governor imprisoned them. The prisoners prayed diligently and at night heard a voice: “Per-suffer-singing until the end of the spa-set.”

A week later, the noble dignitary Lisi came to the city and ordered to beat the stones. But the stones are the same; the stone, abandoned by Li-si-em, fell in the face of Ag-ri-ko-bark. Confused mu-chi-te-li-would-have-not-been-in-prison, so that they could think about how to deal with them. But in the dark, we again heard the comfort of the voice of the Lord: “Believing in Me” , even if he dies, he will come to life. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”

The next day, we were again connected to a lake near the city of Se-va-stia. There was a strong frost that day. How about we take off our clothes and stand straight into the icy water. And on the b-re-gu there was a ba-nya, and mu-chi-te-li said that any of them could immediately warm up in it , if it is from Christ. All night long, we courageously brave the cold, encouraging each other. They sang psalms, despite the pain, I sang about the sea. And this torment is comparable to the burn from fire. One of the soldiers couldn’t stand it after several hours and ran to the shore, to the bathhouse. But as soon as he stepped on the threshold of the hot-top-flax-ba-ni, because of the sharp re-pa-da-temperature- His life and flesh fell away, and he died.

The night lasted, and the guards, guarding the place of torture, fell asleep. Only one of them, Agla-ii, could not sleep. He was astonished: how come these Christians, despite the unheard-of torment, do not stop praying? At three o'clock at night he saw that there was a bright light over the lake, just like summer. It became so warm that the ice melted. Agla-y was perplexed: what’s going on? Looking up, he saw new shining crowns above the heads. There were thirty-nine crowns - according to the number of remaining sta- tionists. Then Agla-y threw off his clothes, shouted, waking up the other guards: “And I’m khri-sti-a-nin!” - and ran to the mu-che-niks. He prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these warriors believe. Join me with them, so that I may be able to suffer with Your servants.”
In the morning the mu-chi-te-lei came back and saw that you were still alive, and indeed one of them was among them tyu-rem-schi-kov! In a rage, Li-siy and Ag-ri-ko-lay ve-le-li re-beat mu-che-ni-kam mo-lo-ta-mi go-le-ni to make a -yes-niya nevy-but-si-we-mi. But even when dying from torment, we cannot stop praying and praising the True God.
Li-siy at-the-hall uni-what-to-live the remains in-and-new, so that Christ doesn’t lose the power of the new mu-che-ni-kov. The bodies of the saints were burned on the pyre, and the bones were thrown into the river. Three days later, the mu-che-ni-ki appeared in a dream to Episcopal Se-va-stiya Peter and told him to take the bones from the river. The bishop and several saints secretly came to the river. Oh miracle: ko-sti mu-che-ni-kov si-ya-li in the water like stars! Christ took the remains of the saints and disposed of them with honor.

In Russia, from a long time ago, there was a custom on the day of remembrance of Se-va-stian mu-che-ni-kovs to drink from dough and bake “ja-vo-ron- kov" - boo-loch-ki in the form of birds. Why exactly is Zha-vo-ron-ki? The peasants, paying attention to the fact that the th-th-thaw is now soaring up, then the stone “falls” towards earth, explained this with special daring and humility of these birds before God. The heat quickly rushes towards the top, but, for the sake of the Lord, in the deepest bliss -go-go-ve-nii leans down. So I wish, according to the thoughts of our good ancestors, that I would imagine a song of glory to the Lord, -not-so-much-to-much, their humility and aspiration upward, to the Kingdom of Heaven, to the Sun of Truth - Christ .

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste is a permanent holiday; traditionally it is celebrated on the same day - March 22 (new style). This year the holiday is moved to March 20 due to the coincidence with Thursday of the Great Canon.

The Xiropotamian Monastery on Mount Athos is dedicated to 40 martyrs.

For the holiday, we have prepared 40 facts about the saints who died in a lake on the territory of Armenia.

1. The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste are saints of the first centuries of Christianity.

2. The names of the martyrs have been preserved: Kirion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragd, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutyches, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Haggai, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdecius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Domitian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Filictimon, Severian, Hudion, Meliton and Aglaius.

3. During the time of the holy martyrs, in 313, Saint Constantine the Great issued a decree according to which Christians were allowed freedom of religion and they were equal in rights with pagans.

4. Constantine's co-ruler Licinius was a convinced pagan and in his part of the empire he decided to eradicate Christianity, which had spread significantly there.

5. At that time, in the Armenian city of Sebastia, one of the military leaders was Agricolaus, a zealous supporter of paganism. Under his command was a squad of forty Cappadocians, brave Christian warriors who emerged victorious from many battles.

6. When the soldiers refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricolaus imprisoned them. The soldiers indulged in fervent prayer and one night they heard a voice: “He who endures to the end will be saved.”

7. When the soldiers were brought to Agricolaus the next morning, the pagan used flattery. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength and again invited them to renounce Christ.

8. Hearing the refusal, Agricolaus ordered the soldiers to be chained.

9. Hearing the verdict, the eldest of the warriors, Kirion, said: “The Emperor did not give you the right to impose fetters on us.” Then Agricolaus became embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to prison without shackles.

10. After 7 days, the noble dignitary Lysias arrived in Sebastia and held a trial over the soldiers.

11. During the trial, the Saints firmly answered: “Take not only our military rank, but also our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than Christ God.”

12. Enraged by the firmness of the soldiers, Lysias ordered them to be stoned.

13. But the stones flew past their target: a stone thrown by Lysias hit Agricolaus in the face.

14. When the tormentors realized that some invisible force was protecting the saints, they ordered them to be imprisoned.

15. In prison, the soldiers spent the night in prayer and again heard the voice of the Lord comforting them: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”

16. The next day, the trial and interrogation before the torturer was repeated, but the soldiers remained adamant.

17. They stripped the holy warriors, led them to a lake located not far from the city, and placed them under guard on ice for the whole night. It was winter at that time and there was severe frost.

18. To seduce the martyrs, a bathhouse was set up on the shore.

19. In the first hour of the night, when the cold reached extreme severity and the bodies of the saints froze, one of the forty could not stand the feat and ran to the bathhouse. But as soon as he stepped on her threshold and felt the warmth, he immediately fell and died.

20. Seeing this shameful flight, the holy martyrs began to pray intensely that the Lord would strengthen them.

21. At the third hour of the night, the Lord sent consolation to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warmer.

22. At this time those guarding the martyrs were sleeping; only one prison guard, Aglaius, was awake. He reflected on what he saw: the one separated from the martyrs died immediately, while the rest remained alive and unharmed in the bitter cold.

23. Amazed by the light that shone on the holy martyrs, he raised his head up and saw 39 bright crowns that fell on the heads of the sufferers.

24. Surprised that there were not 40 of them, according to the number of those who suffered, but 39, he realized that one crown was missing, because the one who fled to the bathhouse was rejected from the saints.

25. The watchman immediately woke up the sleeping guards, threw off his clothes and, in front of everyone, ran into the lake, exclaiming: “And I am a Christian!”

26. Standing in the water, Aglaius prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in Whom these warriors believe. Join me with them, so that I may be worthy to suffer with Your servants.”

27. In the morning the tormentors came and, seeing that the saints were alive and did not suffer from the cold, they attributed it all to magic.

28. The torturers were also surprised that there was a prison guard among the soldiers and fell into a rage.

29. The holy martyrs were sentenced to be taken out of the lake and subjected to new torture - to have their legs broken with hammers.

30. During this painful execution, the mother of the youngest of the warriors, Meliton, urged her son not to be afraid and to endure everything to the end.

31. The bodies of the martyrs were placed on chariots and taken to be burned. Young Meliton was still breathing, and he was left lying on the ground.

32. Then the mother picked up her son and carried him on her shoulders after the chariot. When Meliton breathed his last, his mother laid him on a chariot next to the bodies of his holy companions.

33. When the fire burned to the ground, the bones of the holy martyrs remained intact.

34. At the same time, the tormentors did not calm down: fearing that Christians would worship the holy relics, they decided to throw them into the river. But the Lord again preserved all the bones of the martyrs intact in the water.

35. Three days later, the holy martyrs appeared to the bishop of the city of Sebastia Peter and said to him: “Come at night and carry us out.”

36. The blessed bishop with reverent men from his clergy came to the river bank on a dark night. There they saw a wondrous sight: the bones of the saints shone in the water like stars, and those places in the river where their smallest particles lay also shone. The bishop collected every single bone and particle of them and placed it in a worthy place.

37. The memory of the holy 40 martyrs in all the most ancient calendars belonged to the circle of the most revered holidays and commemorations of saints. According to the Charter, the service to the 40 martyrs includes 2 canons.

38. On the day of remembrance of the 40 martyrs, the severity of fasting is eased - it is allowed to eat wine and even oil, and it is imperative to celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

39. The day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste was a sign for the common people that the long and frosty winter was coming to an end. Spring was approaching, and fasting was in full swing - “spring of the soul.”

40. The holiday coincided with the vernal equinox, very significant in the pagan consciousness of our ancestors. It was a day when Christian meanings were superimposed on ancient pagan ones.

"Orthodox heritage of Ukraine on Holy Mount Athos" - for "UNIAN-Religion".

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“Sincerely please the one who has endured torment, so that you too may become a martyr at will and, without persecution, without fire, without scourges, be awarded the same rewards as them.”

(St. Basil the Great)

The holy Sebastian martyrs accepted suffering for Christ just before the victory of Christianity in the Roman Empire. It happens: a war ends, and on the eve of victory someone accepts death.

In 313, under Saint Constantine the Great, the famous Edict of Milan was adopted, allowing freedom of Christian religion. But power in many provinces still belonged to the pagans, persecutors of Christians. This was the case in the province of Armenia, located on the territory of modern Turkey. Here, in the city of Sebastia, the garrison was commanded by the zealous pagan Agricolaus.

Before military operations and on pagan holidays, ritual sacrifices were performed. In the army of Agricolaus there were 40 Christian warriors, originally from Cappadocia, the color of the army - brave men who won many battles, covered with military glory. Of these, three: Kirion, Candide and Domnus were experts in the Holy Scriptures. Agricolaus decided to force these 40 people to make sacrifices to pagan idols.

At first, Agricolai persuaded them, promising them promotions and money. Then he began to threaten with prison and shameful death. But the soldiers rejected all the promises and threats, and then the ruler imprisoned them. In the dungeon, the soldiers began to loudly sing the 90th Psalm, “Alive in the help of the Most High.” At midnight the Lord appeared to them, and they heard the words: “The firstfruits of your purpose is good, but he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

A week later, the noble dignitary Lysias arrived in the city and ordered the Christian soldiers to be stoned. But the stones flew past their target; a stone thrown by Lysias himself hit Agricolaus in the face. Confused, the torturers returned the prisoners to prison to think about what to do with them. At night in prison, the soldiers again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”

The next day, the warriors were led bound to a lake near the city of Sebastia. It was bitterly cold that day. The soldiers were ordered to undress and placed directly in icy water. And on the shore there was a bathhouse, and the tormentors said that any of them could immediately warm up in it if they renounced Christ. All night the warriors bravely endured the cold, encouraging each other. They sang psalms despite the pain caused by frostbite. And this torment is comparable in strength to burns from fire. One of the warriors, after several hours, could not stand it and ran to the shore, to the bathhouse. But as soon as he stepped onto the threshold of the hot bathhouse, due to a sharp temperature change, his skin and flesh began to separate, and he died.

At three o'clock in the morning, the Lord sent consolation to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards were asleep, only one named Aglaius was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown had appeared over the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. By an incomprehensible Divine Providence, it was revealed to him that where these martyrs stood there was life and glory. There is that warmth that cannot be found anywhere and never, there is the Lord Himself. Then Aglaius woke up the rest of the guards, took off his clothes and told them: “And I am a Christian!” - and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in whom these soldiers believe. Join me to them, so that I may be worthy to suffer with Your servants.” “Following the example of those standing in the ranks, who, as soon as someone in the first row falls, immediately replaces him with themselves, so that their ranks are not broken by the dead. This one did the same. He saw Heavenly miracles, learned the truth, came to the Lord, and became numbered among the martyrs!

Judas went away, and Matthew was brought in to take his place! Yesterday's persecutor, and now the evangelist, became Pavlov's imitator. And he had a calling from above, neither from man nor by man (Gal. 1:1). I believed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, baptized into Him not by anyone else, but by my own faith, not in water, but in my blood” (St. Basil the Great).

In the morning the chiefs of the tormentors returned and saw that the soldiers were still alive, and in addition one of the jailers was among them! In a rage, Lysias and Agricolaus ordered the martyrs' legs to be broken with hammers to make the suffering unbearable. But even dying from torment, the soldiers did not stop praying and praising the True God. Among them was one very young local native named Meliton. His mother, also a Christian, was afraid that he would not withstand the torture. She stood up persistently in front of him and persuaded him not to be afraid.

The bodies of the martyrs were placed on chariots and taken to be burned. Saint Meliton, still alive, was picked up by his mother and carried along. He died in her arms. After being burned at the stake, the charred bones of the holy forty martyrs of Sebaste were thrown into the river. But the Lord preserved them. Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to Blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered their remains to be taken from the bottom of the river and buried. He, along with several clerics, came to the river at night, and they saw that the bones, even a small particle of them, glowed in the dark. Having collected all the bones, they were transferred to the appropriate place. Their martyrdom in the Lord began on February 26, and they accepted death on March 9. On this day their memory is celebrated.

The names of the holy martyrs: Kirion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutyches, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Haggius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecditus, Lysimachus, Alexander, Ily, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Valery, Philoctimon, Severian, Khudion, Meliton, Aglaius - “Forty men, who had, as it were, one soul in separate bodies, in agreement and unanimity of faith showed patience in torment, the same steadfastness for the truth. All are similar to one another, all are equal in spirit, equal in feat; therefore, they were awarded equal crowns of glory.”(St. Basil the Great).

The rapidly spreading veneration of St. Forty martyrs reached the Christian West already in the 5th century. Particles of their relics were placed at the base of the altar of the basilica in Brescia, during its consecration; a special chapel was consecrated in honor of the 40 martyrs in Rome's Santa Maria Antiqua.

On March 9, 1230, the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan II Asen defeated the army of Theodore Komnenos and captured him with his family and most of the army. Ivan II Asen attributed his victory to the intercession of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. As gratitude, the king built or renovated the temple that was on this site (remains not fully understood) and consecrated it in honor of the Forty Martyrs, and also left a significant inscription on the column of this church in memory of the glorious victory.

A feat similar to that of Sevastia was performed in 1919 by forty-two Russian priests who were tortured by executioners in the snow near Perm. There Saint Theophan of Solikamsk suffered his death for the Lord. The torturers stripped the holy elder naked and lowered him into the hole until his body was covered with a crust of ice. And there are countless such examples of the death of our passion-bearers.

In Russia, it has long been a custom on the day of remembrance of the Sebastian Martyrs to sculpt dough and bake “larks” - buns in the shape of birds. These buns (cookies) were usually decorated with all sorts of frills and even gilding and were sold at church entrances and at the market. Why larks? The peasants, paying attention to the fact that the singing lark either soars high or “falls” to the ground like a stone, explained this by the special boldness and humility of these birds before God. The lark quickly rushes upward, but, struck by the greatness of the Lord, it bends down in deep reverence. Thus, the larks, according to the thoughts of our pious ancestors, represented the song of glory to the Lord raised by the martyrs, their humility and aspiration upward, to the Kingdom of Heaven, to the Sun of Truth - Christ.

It is believed that “On Soroka day and night are measured, forty different birds fly in, forty little birds make their way to Rus'.”

The memory of the 40 martyrs is one of the most revered holidays. St. Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Ephraim the Syrian delivered their teachings on this day, and John of Damascus and Theophan of Nicaea wrote stichera for the holiday. On this day, the severity of Great Lent is eased and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated.

Troparion, tone 1:
Through the illnesses of the saints, who suffered for You, / pray, O Lord, / and heal all our illnesses, / Lover of humanity, we pray.

Troparion, tone 1:
Passion-bearers of all honor, / the fourty soldiers of Christ, / the firmament of the armorer, / for they passed through fire and water / and fellow citizens faster than the Angel, / with them you pray to Christ for those who praise you with faith / Glory to Him who gave you strength, / glory to Him who crowned you, / glory to Him who bestows upon you healing to all.

Kontakion, tone 6.
All the armies of the world have left, / cling to the Lady of Heaven, / the fourty passion-bearers of the Lord, / having passed through fire and water, blessed ones, / worthily received glory from Heaven / and many crowns.

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

The first quarter of the 4th century was marked by changes between the Roman state and Christians.

The Roman government carried out hostile actions towards believers in Christ, insisting on returning to the faith of their ancestors.

It was in such a struggle that the young warriors, the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, found their suffering for the Christian faith.

Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

Under the reign of Saint Constantine, changes took place that solved the problems of Christians, making it possible to practice their faith and build premises for prayer. But another ruler, Licinius, sided with harsh anti-Christian figures, fully supporting the pagan faith and the persecution of Christians. These disagreements provoked a military conflict between the two rulers, which broke out in the city of Sebastia.

Constantine's troops consisted entirely of Christian believers, but Licinius' troops were of mixed faiths, Christians and pagans. Licinius, fearing that the soldiers of the Christian faith would betray him or would not fight against their fellow believers, decided to persuade him to worship and sacrifice to idols.

These warriors were 40 Cappadocian soldiers under the leadership of the commander Agricolaus, an ardent pagan. They refused to renounce Christ, which led to their imprisonment in a cave, where they passionately indulged in prayer.

At night, the soldiers heard a voice that spoke of their humble patience with trials and of impending salvation.

The next day brought trials with flattery. The warriors were praised in every possible way, pointing out their youth, courage and valor, thereby trying to win them over and encourage them to renounce Christ, but again received a negative answer.

After a week, the famous high-ranking official Lysias arrived, carrying out a trial of 40 soldiers who boldly spoke about the renunciation of all their ranks and merits, and about firmness in their faith. The court sentenced the soldiers to be stoned, but carrying out the execution turned out to be impossible.

Sophisticated tormentors have come up with new tests for warriors. Since it was winter time and the frosts were severe, the judges ordered 40 martyrs to be taken to the lake, where they stripped them naked and placed them on frozen ice. On the contrary, on the shore, they installed warm baths and lit fires, so that this would help quickly break their will.

At midnight, the Cappadocian warrior cannot withstand the cold, his soul breaks, and he runs to the doors of the bathhouse, where he instantly dies. The Almighty brings joy to the warriors, dispelling the darkness of the night, making the ice sheet soft and the water warm. Crowns shone over the 39 warriors themselves.

All this was seen by one of the guards, Aglaius, who of all the guards was awake. The miracle he saw prompted him to abandon the pagan faith and acquire the Christian faith with all his soul. He woke up the sleeping guard, took off his clothes and with the words: “I now believe in Christ,” joins the saints.

At dawn, the guards saw the unharmed saints, next to whom was Aglaius, glorifying the living God. Then they receive an order to execute 40 martyrs, and without wasting time they carry it out, leading the soldiers out of the lake and cutting off their legs. The deceased 40 martyrs of Sebaste were burned on a huge pyre.

The Bishop of Sebaste received news in a dream from the holy martyrs, who ordered him to go to the place of execution and bury their remains properly.

Icon of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

The icon “40 Martyrs of Sebastia” preserves the legacy of those times, recalling the fortitude of the spirit in the face of terrible trials.

It depicts forty holy warriors of Christ, forming a dense composition of several rows. The poses of the martyrs are unique, the faces of the saints are distinguished by their diversity, some show inspiration, others show touching or caring, restraint or concentration.

The plastic intrinsic value of faces and naked bodies is not violated by the clear contours applied. Despite the laconicism of the combination of blue, red and golden-ocher colors, the icon looks rich.

The icon helps in gaining strength in faith, courage, perseverance in the sent trials and sorrows.

The icon was painted at the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th centuries. Located in Mestia (Georgia).

Prayer to the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

A prayerful appeal to the holy martyrs helps in finding holy helpers during imprisonment and persecution, during difficult moments of life, and to obtain patronage and protection for people in hot spots.

The appeal also helps in moments of despair and in acquiring resilience in the face of terrible troubles in life.

Church of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste near the Novospassky Monastery

The first church, dedicated to the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, was built in the Moscow region, presumably in the 16th century. It was made of wood, and a century later a stone one was built in its place, which became more spacious due to the expanded refectory, with the aisles of Peter and Paul and St. Nicholas adjoining on the sides.

In the 19th century, a bell tower was added in the style of late classicism, and reconstruction of the refectory began, with donations from the merchant Maslov. A little later, the refectory began to be rebuilt again, adding more modern decor.

In the 30s of the 20th century, the Soviet authorities closed the church, and on their orders the bell tower was beheaded, leaving only the first lower row. In the 90s, the church was returned to the possession of the Orthodox, who, through joint efforts, managed to restore the bell tower and restore the church to its former image.

Memorial Day of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

On such a day, mysterious divine services and liturgies are performed in Orthodox churches.

Location of Lake Sevastia

Lake Sebaste, which served as a testing site where forty holy great martyrs of Sebaste found their death, is located in Turkey, in Sivas. But the lake itself, in the usual sense, no longer exists. It dried up many centuries ago.

Near this place there is a vault in which the arrested soldiers were kept, filled with spring water penetrating from various sources.

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Orthodox calendar

3rd Week of Easter. Ap. Jacob Zebedee (44). Finding the relics of St. Nikita, ep. Novgorodsky (1558). St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, bishop. Caucasian (1867).

St. Donata, ep. Euria (c. 387). Finding the relics of Sschmch. Vasily, bishop Amasian (IV). Mch. Maxima.

Morning – In., 67 books, XXI, 15–251. Lit. – Acts, 17 parts, VI, 8 – VII, 5, 47–60. John, 13 credits, IV, 46–54. Ap.: Acts, 29 chapters, XII, 1–11. Luke, 17 books, V, 1–11.

We congratulate the birthday people on Angel Day!

Icon of the day

Venerable Paphnutius Borovsky, abbot

Venerable Paphnutius Borovsky was born in 1394 in the village of Kudinov, not far from Borovsk, and was named Parthenius at Epiphany. His father John was the son of a baptized Tatar-Baskak Martin, his mother Parthenia bore the name Photinia. At the age of 20, Parfeniy left his parental home and in 1414 took monastic vows with the name Paphnutius at the Intercession Monastery on Vysokoye from Abbot Markellus. The monk Paphnutius labored in the monastery for many years. When the abbot of the monastery died, the brethren elected him abbot. Saint Photius, Metropolitan of Kiev, ordained the monk to the priesthood (about 1426). The monk spent thirty years at the Intercession Monastery, where he was both rector and elder confessor. At the 51st year of his life, he became seriously ill, left his abbess and accepted the great schema. After recovery, on the day of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, April 23, 1444, he left the monastery and settled with one monk on the left bank of the Protva River at the confluence of the Isterma River. Soon the brethren began to gather at his new place. The number of monks grew rapidly. A new stone church was built instead of the previous wooden one in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The best icon painter of that time, Dionysius, and his assistants took part in the painting of the temple. The Monk Paphnutius set an example for the brethren, leading a strict life: his cell was the poorest of all, and he took the worst food from food. On Monday and Friday I didn’t eat at all, but on Wednesday I kept to dry eating. Of the general tasks, the monk chose the most difficult ones: he chopped and carried firewood, dug and watered the garden, and at the same time was the first to come to church services.

The Monk Paphnutius enjoyed deep love and veneration not only from the brethren of his monastery, but also from other monasteries. By the providence of God, a twenty-year-old young man, John Sanin, was sent to the monastery to the monk. Having tested the newcomer, the monk tonsured him into monasticism with the name Joseph. Subsequently, the Monk Joseph of Volotsky, who firmly preserved the purity of the Orthodox faith, led the fight against the heresy of the Judaizers, condemned at the Council of 1504. The Monk Paphnutius blessed the young monk for this feat.

A week before his death, the monk predicted his death. Having fulfilled the last prayer and blessed the brethren, he departed to God on May 1, 1477. The Monk Paphnutius was a follower of the Monk Sergius, abbot of Radonezh.

Troparion to Saint Paphnutius of Borovsky

Having enlightened your fatherland through your life, / in prayers and fasting, you were filled with the gifts of the Divine Spirit, / and, in this temporary life, you labored well, / the mercy of compassion grieved everyone You opened the door to the poor,/ and you were the intercessor of the poor./ Therefore we pray to you, Father Paphnutius, // pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Translation: Having enlightened your fatherland with the light of life, in prayers and fasting you were filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and, having labored beautifully in your temporary life, you revealed the bounty of mercy to all who mourn and were a defender of the poor. Therefore, we pray to you, Father Paphnutius, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion to Saint Paphnutius of Borovsky

Enlightened by God’s light, father, / you have acquired fasting life, O venerable monk, / a good teacher and a fasting adornment. / For this reason, for the Lord’s sake, you have seen your labors, / enriched you with miracles for free, / exuding healing. / But we, rejoicing, We cry to you: Rejoice, Father Paphnutius.

Translation: You were enlightened by the bright light of God, father, you have achieved a life of fasting, venerable one, an excellent mentor for monks and a good adornment for fasting people. Therefore, the Lord, seeing your labors, enriched you with the gift of miracles, for you give healing. We, rejoicing, cry to you: “Rejoice, Father Paphnutius.”

Prayer to St. Paphnutius Borovsky

Oh, sacred head, earthly angel, heavenly man, great miracle worker, reverend our father Paphnutius! We zealously resort to you with faith and love and tenderly ask: show us your holy and powerful intercession to us humble and sinners. We do not dare, sin for our sake, with the freedom of the children of God, to ask our Lord and Master for mercy and forgiveness. But to you, the prayer book is favorable to Him, we offer and pray, ask us from His goodness for the beneficial and saving gifts of our souls: right faith, strong piety, true repentance, forgiveness of sin oh, perfect life, decisive correction, and turning from evil deeds to pleasing God, otherwise we do not anger the Lord by violating His holy commandments. Pray, Holy One of God, to the Most High Creator to grant peace and piety to our Orthodox country. Preserve, saint of Christ, your holy monastery, created by you, and all who live and labor in it are free from all evil. Look mercifully at the people who come running to you, and fulfill all their requests for good. For all of us, spiritual and physical health, fruitfulness of the earth, a quiet and pleasing life, a good Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment from the All-Merciful God, as you Have the truth with great boldness toward Him. Hey, Father, we know that your prayer can accomplish much in the face of the Almighty Lord, and nothing is possible for your intercession, unless you wish it: for this reason we firmly trust in you and in yours holy prayers, we hope that through your intercession you will lead us to the quiet haven of salvation and the heirs of the bright Kingdom of Christ will appear. Do not disgrace our hope, miracle-working saint. And grant us, together with you, the bliss of heaven, let us glorify, praise and magnify the great mercy towards us of the Lover of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your good, fatherly intercession laziness forever and ever. Amen.

Reading the Gospel with the Church

The Holy Church reads the Gospel of John. Chapter 6, art. 27-33.

27 Do not strive for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for He has sealed Him. My Father, God.

28 So they said to Him: What must we do to do the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 To this they said to Him: What sign will You give, so that we may see and believe You? What are you doing?

31 Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

33 For the bread of God is the one that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

(John chapter 6, 27-33.)

Cartoon calendar

Orthodox educational courses

BETRAYAL: Word on Great Wednesday

IN In the Old Testament, in order to denote betrayal, other words were used that were associated with man’s vile apostasy from God: debauchery, adultery, seduction, etc.

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Hieromonk Alexy (Godlevsky)

Preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism

IN section " Preparation for Baptism" site "Sunday school: on-line courses " Archpriest Andrei Fedosov, head of the department of education and catechesis of the Kinel Diocese, information has been collected that will be useful to those who are going to receive Baptism themselves, or want to baptize their child or become a godparent.

R This section consists of five cataclysmic conversations in which the content of Orthodox dogma within the framework of the Creed is revealed, the sequence and meaning of the rites performed at Baptism are explained, and answers to common questions related to this Sacrament are given. Each conversation is accompanied by additional materials, links to sources, recommended literature and Internet resources.

ABOUT course conversations are presented in the form of texts, audio files and videos.

Course topics:

• Conversation No. 1 Preliminary concepts
• Conversation No. 2 Sacred Bible story
• Conversation No. 3 Church of Christ
• Conversation No. 4 Christian morality
• Conversation No. 5 The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Applications:

• FAQ
• Orthodox calendar

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