[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Dec 13 2007

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Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no
torment will ever touch them.
2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their
departure was thought to be affliction,
3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at
peace.
4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is
full of immortality.
5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt
offering he accepted them.
7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run
like sparks through the stubble.
8 They will govern nations and rule other peoples, and the Lord will
reign over them for ever.
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will
abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect,
and he watches over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 1 of 6


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Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
15 But the righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord;
the Most High takes care of them.
16 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem
from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover
them, and with his arm he will shield them.
17 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, and will arm all
creation to repel his enemies;
18 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, and wear impartial
justice as a helmet;
19 he will take holiness as a invincible shield,
20 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with
him to fight against the madmen.
21 Shafts of lightening will fly with true aim, and will leap to the
target as a from a well-drawn bow of clouds,
22 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the
water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly
overwhelm them;
23 a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will
winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and
evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers.
1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the
ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty
from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into
your plans.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6


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Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by
number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe
old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile
deceive his soul.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving
desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him
quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing
to heart, that God's grace and mercy are his elect, and he watches
over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6


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Matthew 11:27-30  (Matins Gospel)
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows
the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the
Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6


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Galatians 5:22-6:2  (Epistle, Saint)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6


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Luke 6:17-23  (Gospel, Saint)
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd
of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear
Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they
were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out
from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed
are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed
are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And
revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6



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Repose of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All
America
Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America. A spiritual
mission was organized in 1793 with volunteers from the monks of the
Valaam Monastery. They were sent to preach the Word of God to the
native inhabitants of northwestern America, who had come under the
sovereignty of Russia only ten years before. St Herman was one of the
members of this mission.
St Herman came from a family of merchants of Serpukhov, a city of the
Moscow diocese. His name before he was tonsured, and his family name
are not known. There is a possibility, however, that his baptismal
name was Gerasimus. He had a great zeal for piety from his youth, and
he entered monastic life at sixteen. (This was in 1772, if we assume
that Herman was born in 1756, although sometimes 1760 is given as the
date of his birth.) First he entered the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage
which was located near the Gulf of Finland on the Peterhof Road, about
15 versts (about 10 miles) from St Petersburg. He also spent time at
at Sarov, where he first met Fr Nazarius, who became his Elder at
Valaam. Later, St Herman followed him to Sanaxar where St Theodore
(February 19) was their igumen.
MIRACULOUS HEALING OF HERMAN While at the St Sergius Hermitage, Father
Herman was healed by the Mother of God after an abcess appeared on the
right side of his throat under his chin. The swelling grew rapidly,
disfiguring his face. It became difficult for him to swallow, and the
odor was unbearable. In this critical condition Father Herman awaited
death. He did not appeal to the physicians of this world, but locking
his cell he fell before an lcon of the Queen of Heaven. All night
long, with fervent tears, he prayed that he might be healed. Then he
took a wet towel and wiped the face of the Most Holy Theotokos with
it. Then he covered the swelling with this towel. He continued to pray
until he fell asleep from sheer exhaustion on the floor. In a dream he
saw the Virgin Mary healing him.
When Herman awoke in the morning, he found to his great surprise that
he was fully healed. The swelling had disappeared, even though the
abscess had not burst, leaving only a small mark as a reminder of the
miracle. Physicians to whom this healing was described did not believe
it, arguing that it was necessary for the abscess to have either burst
of its own accord or to have been cut open. But the words of the
physicians were the words of human experience, for where the grace of
God operates there the order of nature is overcome. Such occurrences
humble human reason under the strong hand of God's mercy.
HERMAN'S LIFE AT VALAAM
For five or six years Father Herman continued to live in the St
Sergius Hermitage, and then he transferred to the Valaam Monastery,
which was widely scattered on the large islands in the waters of the
great Lake Ladoga. He came to love the Valaam haven with all his soul,
as he came to love its unforgettable Superior, the pious Elder
Nazarius, and all the brethren. He wrote to Father Nazarius later from
America, "Your fatherly goodness to me, the lowly one, will never be
erased from my heart. Neither the terrible, impassable Siberian
wilderness, nor the dark forests, nor the rapids of the great rivers,
nor the mighty ocean can quench these feelings. In my mind I imagine
my beloved Valaam, looking to it beyond the great ocean." He praised
the Elder Nazarius in his letters as,"the most reverend, and my
beloved father." (Batushka) and he called the monks of Valaam "my
beloved and dearest brethren." He called the place where he lived in
America, desolate Spruce Island, "New Valaam." As we can see, he
always remained in spiritual contact with his spiritual homeland, for
as late as 1823, that is after living in America for almost thirty
years, he wrote letters to the successor of Father Nazarius, lgumen
Innocent.
Father Barlaam, later lgumen of Valaam, and a contemporary of Father
Herman, who was tonsured by Father Nazarius, wrote of Father Herman.
"Father Herman went through the various obediences here, and being
well disposed toward every thing was in the course of events sent to
Serdobol to oversee there the work of quarrying marble. The brethren
loved Father Herman, and impatiently awaited his return from Serdobol.
Recognizing the zeal of the young hermit the wise Elder, Father
Nazarius, blessed him to live in the wilderness. This wilderness was
in the deep forest about a mile from the monastery. To this day this
place has retained the name 'Herman's Field.' On holy days, Father
Herman returned to the monastery from the wilderness. At Little
Vespers he would stand in the choir and sing in his pleasant tenor the
responses with the brethren from the Canon, 'O Sweetest Jesus, save us
sinners. Most Holy Theotokos, Save us,' and tears would fall like hail
from his eyes."
THE FIRST MISSION TO AMERICA
In the second half of the eighteenth century the borders of Holy
Russia expanded to the north. In those years Russian merchants
discovered the Aleutian Islands which formed in the Pacific Ocean a
chain from the eastern shares of Kamchatka to the western shares of
North America. With the opening of these islands there was revealed
the sacred necessity to illumine with the light of the Gospel the
native inhabitants. With the blessing of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan
Gabriel gave to the Elder Nazarius the task of selecting capable
persons from the brethern of Valaam for this holy endeavor. Ten men
were selected, and among them was Father Herman. The chosen men left
Valaam for the place of their great appointment in 1793. The members
of this historical mission were: Archimandrite Joseph (Bolotoff),
Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius, Athanasius, Stephen and Nectarius,
Hierodeacons Nectarius and Stephen, and the monks Joasaph, and Herman.
As a result of the holy zeal of the preachers the light of the
evangelic sermon quickly poured out among the sons of Russia, and
several thousand pagans accepted Christianity. A school for the
education of newly-baptized children was organized, and a church was
built at the place where the missionaries lived. But by the
inscrutable providence of God the general progress of the mission was
unsatisfactory. After five years of very productive labor,
Archimandrite Joasaph, who had just been elevated to the rank of
bishop, was drowned with his party. (This occurred on the Pacific
Ocean been Kamchatka and the Aleutian Islands. The ship, Phoenix, one
of the first sea-going ships built in Alaska, sailed from Okhotsk
carrying the first Bishop for the American Mission and his party. The
Phoenix was caught in one of the many storms which periodically sweep
the northern Pacific, and the ship and all hands perished together
with Bishop Joasaph and his party.) Before this the zealous Hieromonk
Juvenal was granted the martyr's crown. The others died one after
another until in the end only Father Herman remained. The Lord
permitted him to labor longer than any of his brethren in the
apostolic task of enlightening the Aleutians.
THE NEW VALAAM - SPRUCE ISLAND
In America Father Herman chose as his place of habitation Spruce
Island, which he called New Valaam. This island is separted by a
strait about a mile and a quarter wide from Kodiak Island on which had
been built a wooden monastery for the residence of the members of the
mission, and a wooden church dedicated to the Resurrection of the
Savior. (New Valaam was named for Valaam on Lake Ladoga, the monastery
from which Father Herman came to America. It is interesting to note
that Valaam is also located on an island, although, this island is in
a fresh water lake, whereas, Spruce Island is on the Pacific Ocean,
although near other islands and the Alaskan mainland.)
Spruce Island is not large, and is almost completely covered by a
forest. Almost through its middle a small brook flows to the sea.
Herman selected this picturesque island for the location of his
hermitage. He dug a cave out of the ground with his own hands, and in
it he lived his first full summer. For winter there was built for him
a cell near the cave, in which he lived until his death. The cave was
converted by him into a place for his burial. A wooden chapel, and a
wooden house to be used as a schoolhouse and a guest house were built
not too distant from his cell. A garden was laid out in front of his
cell. For more than forty years Father Herman lived here.
FATHER HERMAN'S WAY OF LIFE
Father Herman himself spaded the garden, planted potatoes and cabbage
and various vegetables in it. For winter, he preserved mushrooms,
salting or drying them. He obtained salt from sea water. It is said
that a wicker basket in which the Elder carried seaweed from the
shore, was so large that it was difficult for one person to carry. The
seaweed was used for fertilizing the soil. But to the astonishment of
all, Father Herman carried a basket filled with seaweed for a long
distance without any help at all. By chance his disciple, Gerasimus,
saw him one winter night carrying a large log which normally would be
carried by four men; and he was bare footed. So the Elder worked, and
everything that he acquired as a result of his immeasurable labors was
used to feed and clothe orphans, and also for books for his students.
His clothes were the same for winter as for summer. He did not wear a
shirt; instead he wore a smock of deer skin, which he did not take off
for several years at a time, nor did he change it, so that the fur in
it was completely worn away, and the leather became glossy. Then there
were his boots or shoes, cassock, an ancient and faded cassock (riasa)
full of patchwork, and his klobuk. He went everywhere in these
clothes, and at all times; in the rain, in snowstorms, and during the
coldest freezing weather. In this, Father Herman followed the example
of many Eastern Ascetic Fathers and monks who showed the greatest
concern for the welfare and needs of others. Yet, they themselves wore
the oldest possible clothes to show their great humility before God,
and their contempt for worldly things.
A small bench covered with a time-worn deerskin served as Father
Herman's bed. He used two bricks for a pillow; these were hidden from
visitors by a skin or a shirt. There was no blanket. Instead, he
covered himself with a wooden board which lay on the stove. This board
Father Herman, himself called his blanket, and he willed that it be
used to cover his remains; it was as long as he was tall. "During my
stay in the cell of Father Herman," writes the creole Constantine
Larionov, "I, a sinner, sat on his 'blanket'-and I consider this the
acme of my fortune!" ('creole' is the name by which the Russians
referred to the children of mixed marriages of native Indians of
Alaska, Eskimo and Aleuts with Russians.)
On the occasions when Father Herman was the guest of administrators of
the American Company and in the course of their soul-saving talks he
sat up with them until midnight. He never spent the night with them,
but regardless of the weather he always returned to his hermitage. If
for some extraordinary reason it was necessary for him to spend the
night away from his cell, then in the morning the bed which had been
prepared for him would be found untouched; the Elder not having slept
at all. The same was true in his hermitage where having spent the
night in talks, he never rested.
The Elder ate very little. As a guest, he scarcely tasted the food,
and remained without dinner. In his call his dinner consisted of a
very small portion of a small fish or some vegetables.
His body, emaciated as a result of his labors, his vigils, and
fasting, was crushed by chains which weighed about sixteen pounds.
These chains are kept to this day in the chapel.
Telling of these deeds of Father Herman, his disciple, the Aleut
lgnaty Aligyaga, added, "Yes, Apa led a very hard life, and no one can
imitate his life!" (Apa, Aleutian word means Elder or grandfather, and
it is a name indicative of the great affection in which he was held).
Our writing of the incidents in the life of the Elder deal, so to
speak, with the external aspects of his labor. "His most important
works," says the Bishop Peter, "were his exercises in spiritual
endeavor in his isolated cell where no one saw him, but outside the
cell they heard him singing and celebrating services to God according
to the monastic rule." This witness of the Bishop is supported by the
following answers of Father Herman, himself, "How do you manage to
live alone in the forest, Father Herman? Don't you ever become
lonesome?" He answered, "No I am not there alone! God is here, as God
is everywhere. The Holy Angels are there. With whom is it better to
talk, with people, or with Angels? Most certainly with Angels."
FATHER HERMAN AND THE NATIVES
The way in which Father Herman looked upon the natives of America, how
he understood his own relations with them, and how he was concerned
for their needs he expressed himself in one of his letters to the
former administrator of the colony, Simeon Yanovsky.
He wrote, "Our Creator granted to our beloved homeland this land which
like a newly-born babe does not yet have the strength for knowledge or
understanding. It requires not only protection, because of its
infantile weakness and impotence, but also his sustenance. Even for
this it does not yet have the ability to make an appeal on its own
behalf. And since the welfare of this nation by the Providence of God,
it is not known for how long, is dependent on and has been entrusted
into the hands of the Russian government which has now been given into
your own power, therefore I, the most humble servant of these people,
and their nurse (nyanka) stand before you in their behalf, write this
petition with tears of blood. Be our Father and our Protector.
Certainly we do not know how to be eloquent, so with an inarticulate
infant's tonque we say: Wipe away the tears of the defenseless
orphans, cool the hearts melting away in the fire of sorrow. Help us
to know what consolation means."
The Elder acted the way he felt. He always interceded before the
governors in behalf of those who had transgressed. He defended those
who had been offended. He helped those who were in need with whatever
means he had available. The Aleuts, men, women and children, often
visited him. Some asked for advice, others complained of oppression,
others sought out defense, and still others desired help. Each one
received the greatest possible satisfaction from the Elder. He
discussed their mutual difficulties, and he tried to settle these
peacefully. He was especially concerned about reestablishing
understanding in families. If he did not succeed in reconciling a
husband and wife, the Elder prevailed upon them to separate
temporarily. The need for such a procedure he explained thus, "it is
better to let them live apart, or believe me, it can be terrible if
they are not separated. There have been incidents when a husband
killed his wife, or when a wife destroyed her husband."
Father Herman especially loved children. He made large quantities of
biscuits for them, and he baked cookies (krendelki) for them; and the
children were fond of the Elder. Father Herman's love for the Aleuts
reached the point of self-denial.
AN EPIDEMIC STRIKES
A ship from the United States brought to Sitka Island, and from there
to Kodiak Island, a contagious disease, a fatal illness. It began with
a fever, a heavy cold, and difficult respiration, and it ended with
chills; in three days the victim died. On the island there was neither
a doctor nor medicine. The illness spread rapidly through the village,
and then throughout the nearby areas. The disease affected all, even
infants. The fatalities were so great that for three days there was no
one to dig graves, and the bodies remained unburied. An eyewitness
said, "I cannot imagine anything more tragic and horrible than the
sight which struck me when I visited an Aleutian 'Kazhim'. This was a
large building, or barracks, with dividing sections, in which the
Aleuts lived with their families; it contained about 100 people. Here
some had died, their cold bodies lay near the living; others were
dying; there were groans and weeping which tore at one's soul."
"I saw mothers over whose bodies cold in death crawled a hungry child,
crying and searching in vain for its food...My heart was bursting with
compassion! It seemed that if anyone could paint with a worthy brush
the full horror of this tragic scene, that he would have successfully
aroused fear of death in the most embittered heart." Father Herman,
during this terrible sickness which lasted a whole month, gradually
dying out towards the end, visited the sick, never tiring. He
admonished them in their fear, prayed, brought them to penance, or
prepared them for death. He never spared himself.
FATHER HERMAN AS A SPIRITUAL TEACHER
The Elder was concerned in particular for the moral growth of the
Aleuts. With this end in mind a school was built for children-the
orphans of the Aleuts. He himself taught them the Law of God and
church music. For this same purpose he gathered the Aleuts on Sunday
and Holy Days for prayer in the chapel near his cell. Here his
disciple read the Hours and the various prayers while the Elder
himself read the Epistle and Gospel. He also preached to them. His
students sang, and they sang very well. The Aleuts loved to hear his
sermons, gathering around him in large numbers. The Elder's talks were
captivating, and his listeners were moved by their wonderous power. He
himself writes of one example of the beneficial results of his words.
"Glory to the holy destinies of the Merciful God! He has shown me now
through his unfathomable Providence a new occurence which I, who have
lived here for twenty years had never seen before on Kodiak. Recently
after Easter, a young girl about twenty years of age who knows Russian
well, came to me. Having heard of the Incarnation of the Son of God
and of Eternal Life, she became so inflamed with love for Jesus Christ
that she does not wish to leave me. She pleaded eloquently with me.
Contrary to my personal inclination and love for solitude, and despite
all the hindrances and difficulties which I put forward before
accepting her, she has now been living near the school for a month and
is not lonesome."
"I, looking on this with great wonder, remembered the 'words of the
Savior: that which is hidden from the wise and learned is revealed to
babes." (Matt. 11:25)
This woman lived at the school until the death of the Elder. She
watched for the good conduct of the children who studied in his
school. Father Herman willed that after his death she was to continue
to live on Spruce Island. Her name was Sophia Vlasova.
Yanovsky writes about the character and the eloquence of the talks of
the Elder in this way:
"When I met Father Herman I was thirty years old. I must say that I
was educated in the naval corps school; that I knew many sciences
having read extensively. But to my regret, the Science of sciences,
that is the Law of God, I barely remembered the externals - and these
only theoretically, not applying them to life. I was a Christian in
name only, but in my soul and in reality, I was a freethinker.
Furthermore, I did not admit the divinity and holiness of our
religion, for I had read through many atheistic works. Father Herman
recognized this immediately and he desired to reconvert me. To my
great surprise he spoke so convincingly, wisely - and he argued with
such conviction- that it seemed to me that no learning or worldly
wisdom could stand one's ground before his words. We conversed with
him daily until midnight, and even later, of God's love, of eternity,
of the salvation of souls, and of Christian living. From his lips
flowed a ceaseless stream of sweet words! By these continual talks and
by the prayers of the holy Elder the Lord returned me completely to
the way of Truth, and I became a real Christian. I am indebted for all
this to Father Herman he is my true benefactor."
"Several years ago," continues Yanovsky, "Father Herman converted a
certain naval captain G. to Orthodoxy from the Lutheran Faith. This
captain was well educated. Besides many sciences, he was well versed
in languages. He knew Russian, English, German, French, Italian and
also some Spanish. But for all this he could not resist the
convictions and proofs of Father Herman. He changed his faith and was
united to the Orthodox Church through Chrismation. When he was leaving
America, the Elder said to him while they were parting, "Be on guard,
if the Lord should take your wife from you then do not marry a German
woman under any circumstance. If you do marry a German woman,
undoubtedly she will damage your Orthodoxy." The Captain gave his
word, but he failed to keep it. The warning of the Elder was
prophetic. Indeed, after several years the Captain's wife did die, and
he married a German woman. There is no doubt that his faith weakened
or that he left it; for he died suddenly without penance."
Further on Yanovsky writes, "Once the Elder was invited aboard a
frigate which came from St Petersburg. The Captain of the frigate was
a highly educated man, who had been sent to America by order of the
Emperor to make an inspection of all the colonies. There were more
than twenty-five officers with the Captain, and they also were
educated men. In the company of this group sat a monk of a hermitage,
small in stature and wearing very old clothes. All these educated
conversationalists were placed in such a position by his wise talks
that they did not know how to answer him. The Captain himself used to
say, 'We were lost for an answer before him.'
"Father Herman gave them all one general question: 'Gentlemen, What do
you love above all, and what will each of you wish for your
happiness?' Various answers were offered ... Some desired wealth,
others glory, some a beautiful wife, and still others a beautiful ship
he would captain; and so forth in the same vein. 'It is not true,'
Father Herman said to them concerning this, 'that all your various
wishes can bring us to one conclusion - that each of you desires that
which in his own understanding he considers the best, and which is
most worthy of his love?' They all answered, 'Yes, that is so!' He
then continued, 'Would you not say, Is not that which is best, above
all, and surpassing all, and that which by preference is most worthy
of love, the Very Lord, our Jesus Christ, who created us, adorned us
with such ideals, gave life to all, sustains everything, nurtures and
loves all, who is Himself Love and most beautiful of all men? Should
we not then love God above every thing, desire Him more than anything,
and search Him out?' "
All said, "Why, yes! That's self-evident!" Then the Elder asked, "But
do you love God?" They all answered, "Certainly, we love God. How can
we not love God?" "And I a sinner have been trying for more than forty
years to love God, I cannot say that I love Him completely," Father
Herman protested to them. He then began to demonstrate to them the way
in which we should love God. "if we love someone," he said, "we always
remember them; we try to please them. Day and night our heart is
concerned with the subject. Is that the way you gentlemen love God? Do
you turn to Him often? Do you always remember Him? Do you always pray
to Him and fulfill His holy commandments?" They had to admit that they
had not! "For our own good, and for our own fortune," concluded the
Elder, "let us at least promise ourselves that from this very minute
we will try to love God more than anything and to fulfill His Holy
Will!" Without any doubt this conversation was imprinted in the hearts
of the listeners for the rest of their lives.
"in general, Father Herman liked to talk of eternity, of salvation of
the future life, of our destinies under God. He often talked on the
lives of the Saints, on the Prologue, but he never spoke about
anything frivolous. It was so pleasant to hear him that those who
conversed with him, the Aleuts and their wives, were so captivated by
his talks that often they did not leave him until dawn, and then they
left him with reluctance;" thus witnesses the creole, Constantine
Larionov.
A DESCRIPTION OF FATHER HERMAN Yanovsky writes a detailed description
of Father Herman. "I have a vivid memory," he said, "Of all the
features of the Elder's face reflecting goodness; his pleasant smile,
his meek and attractive mien, his humble and quiet behavior, and his
gracious word. He was short of stature. His face was pale and covered
with wrinkles. His eyes were greyish-blue, full of sparkle, and on his
head there were a few gray hairs. His voice was not powerful, but it
was very pleasant." Yanovsky relates two incidents from his
conversations with the Elder. "Once," he writes, "I read to Father
Herman the ode, 'God,' by Derzhavin. The Elder was surprised, and
entranced. He asked me to read it again. I read it once more, "Is it
possible that a simple, educated man wrote this?" he asked. "Yes, a
learned poet," I answered. "This has been written under God's
inspiration," said the Elder.
THE MARTYRDOM OF PETER "On another occasion I was relating to him how
the Spanish in California had imprisoned fourteen Aleuts, and how the
Jesuits (actually Franciscans) were forcing all of them to convert to
Catholicism. But the Aleuts would not agree under any circumstances,
saying, 'We are Christians.' The Jesuits argued, 'That's not true, you
are heretics and schismatics. If you do not agree to accept our faith
then we will torture all of you to death.' Then the Aleuts were placed
in prisons two to a cell. That evening, the Jesuits came to the prison
with lanterns and lighted candles. Again they tried to persuade two
Aleuts in the cell to accept the Catholic Faith. 'We are Christians,'
the Aleuts replied, 'and we will not change our Faith.' Then the
Jesuits began to torture them, at first the one while his companion
was a witness. They cut off one of the joints of his feet, and then
the other joint. Then they cut the first joint on the fingers of his
hands, and then the other joint. Then they cut off his feet, and his
hands. The blood flowed, but the martyr endured all and firmly
repeated one thing: "I am a Christian.' He died in such suffering, due
to a loss of blood. The Jesuit also promised to torture his comrade to
death the next day.
But that night an order was received from Monterey stating that the
imprisoned Aleuts were to be released immediately, and sent there
under escort. Therefore, in the morning all were sent to Monterey with
the exception of the dead Aleut. This was related to me by a witness,
the same Aleut who had escaped torture, and who was the friend of the
martyred Aleut. I reported this incident to the authorities in St
Petersburg. When I finished my story, Father Herman asked, 'What was
the name of the martyred Aleut?' I answered, 'Peter. I do not remember
his family name.' The Elder stood reverently before an icon, made the
Sign of the Cross and said, "Holy New Martyr Peter, pray to God for
usl"
THE SPIRIT OF FATHER HERMANS TEACHING In order to express the spirit
of Father Herman's teaching, we present here a quotation from a letter
that was written by his own hand.
"The empty years of these desires separate us from our heavenly
homeland, and our Love for these desires and our habits clothe us, as
it were, in an odious dress; it is called by the Apostle 'the external
(earthy) man.' (I Cor. 15:47). We who are wanderers in the journey of
this life call to God for aid. We must divest ourselves of this
repulsiveness, and put on new desires, and a new love for the coming
age. Thus, through this we will know either an attraction or a
repulsion for the heavenly homeland. It is possible to do this
quickly, but we must follow the example of the sick, who wishing for
desired health, do not stop searching for means of curing themselves.
But I am not speaking clearly."
Not desiring anything for himself in life; long ago when he first came
to America having refused, because of his humility, the dignity of
hiero-monk and archimandrite; and deciding to remain forever a common
monk, Father Herman, without the least fear before the, powerful,
strove with all sincerity for God. With gentle love, and disregarding
the person, he criticized many for intemperate living, for unworthy
behavior, and for oppressing the Aleuts. Evil armed itself against him
and gave him all sorts of trouble and sorrow. But God protected the
Elder. The Administrator of the Colony, Yanovsky, not having yet seen
Father Herman, after receiving one of those complaints, had already
written to St Petersburg of the necessity of his removal. He explained
that it seemed that he was arousing the Aleuts against the
administration. But this accusation turned out to be unjust, and in
the end Yanovsky was numbered among the admirers of Father Herman.
Once an inspector came to Spruce Island with the Administrator of the
Colony N. and with company employees to search through Father Herman's
call.
This party expected to find property of great value in Father Herman's
call. But when they found nothing of value, an employee (of the
American Company), Ponomarkhov, began to tear up the floor with an
axe, undoubtedly with the consent of his seniors. Then Father Herman
said to him, "My friend, you have lifted the axe in vain; this weapon
shall deprive you of your life." Some time later people were needed at
Fort Nicholas, and for that reason several Russian employees were sent
there from Kodiak; among them was Ponomarkhov; there the natives of
Kenai cut off his head while he slept.
THE TEMPTATIONS OF FATHER HERMAN Many great sorrows were borne by
Father Herman from evil spirits. He himself revealed this to his
disciple, Gerasim. Once when he entered Father Herman's cell without
the usual prayer he received no answer from Father Herman to any of
his questions. The next day Gerasim asked him the reason for his
silence. On that occasion Father Herman said to him, "When I came to
this island and settled in this hermitage the evil spirits approached
me ostensibly to be helpful. They came in the form of a man, and in
the form of animals. I suffered much from them; from various
afflictions and temptations. And that is why I do not speak now to
anyone who enters into my presence without prayer." (It is customary
among devout laymen, as well as clergy, to knock and say,"Through the
prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on
us and save us." After hearing the response, "Amen," one would enter
and venerate the icon in the room and say a prayer before greeting the
host).
SUPERNATURAL GIFTS FROM GOD Herman dedicated himself fully for the
Lord's service; he strove with zeal solely for the glorification of
His Most Holy Name. Far from his homeland in the midst of a variety of
afflictions and privations Father Herman spent several decades
performing the noblest deeds of self-sacrifice. He was privileged to
receive many supernatural gifts from God.
In the midst of Spruce Island down the hill flows a little stream into
the sea. The mouth of this stream was always swept by surf. In the
spring when the brook fish appeared the Elder raked away some of the
sand at its mouth so that the fish could enter, and at their first
appearance they rushed up the stream'. His disciple, lgnaty, said, "it
was so that if 'Apa' would tell me, I would go and get fish in the
streaml" Father Herman fed the birds with dried fish, and they would
gather in great numbers around his call. Underneath his cell there
lived an ermine. This little animal can not be approached when it has
had its young, but the Elder fed it from his own hand. "Was not this a
miracle that we had seen?" said his disciple, lgnaty. They also saw
Father Herman feeding bears. But when Father Herman died the birds and
animals left; even the garden would not give any sort of crops even
though someone had willingly taken care of it, lgnaty insisted.
On Spruce Island there once occurred a flood. The inhabitants came to
the Elder in great fear. Father Herman then took an icon of the Mother
of God from the home where his students lived, and placed it on a
"laida" ( a sandy bank) and began to pray. After his prayer he turned
to those present and said, "Have no fear, the water will not go any
higher than the place where this holy icon stands" (Compare Job
38:11). The words of the Elder were fullfilled. After this he promised
the same aid from this holy icon in the future through the
intercessions of the Most Immaculate Queen. He entrusted the icon to
his disciple, Sophia; in case of future floods the icon was to be
placed on the "laida."
At the request of the Elder, Baron F. P. Wrangel wrote a letter to a
Metropolitan - his name is not known - which was dictated by Father
Herman. When the letter was completed and read, the Elder
congratulated the Baron upon his attaining the rank of admiral. The
Baron was taken aback. This was news to him. It was confirmed, but
only after an elapse of some time and just before he departed for St.
Petersburg.
Father Herman said to the administrator Kashevarov from whom he
accepted his son from the font (during the Sacrament of Baptism), "I
am sorry for you my dear 'kum.' It's a shame, the change will be
unpleasant for you!" In two years during a change of administration
Kashevarov was sent to Sitka in chains.
Once the forest on Spruce Island caught fire. The Elder with his
disciple, Ignaty, in a thicket of the forest made a belt about a yard
wide in which they turned over the moss. They extended it to the foot
of the hill. The Elder said, "Rest assured, the fire will not pass
this line." On the next day according to the testimony of lgnaty there
was no hope for salvation (from the fire) and the fire, pushed by a
strong wind, reached the place where the moss had been turned over by
the Elder. The fire ran over the moss and halted, leaving untouched
the thick forest which was beyond the line.
The Elder often said that there would be a bishop for America; this at
a time when no one even thought of it, and there was no hope that
there would be a bishop for America;this was related by the Bishop
Peter and his prophecy was fulfilled in time.
"After my death," said Father Herman, "there will be an epidemic and
many people shall die during it and the Russians shall unite the
Aleuts." And so it happened; it seems that about a half a year after
his passing there was a smallpox epidemic; the death rate in America
during the epidemic was tremendous. In some villages only a few
inhabitants remained alive. This led the administration of the colony
to unite the Aleuts; the twelve settlements were consolidated into
seven.
"Although a long time shall elapse after my death, I will not be
forgotten," said Father Herman to his disciples. "My place of
habitation will not remain empty. A monk like myself who will be
escaping from the glory of men, will come and he will live on Spruce
Island, and Spruce Island will not be without people."
(This prophecy has now been fulfilled in its entirety. Just such a
monk as Father Herman described lived on Spruce Island for many years;
his name was Archimandrite Gerasim, who died on October 13, 1969. This
monk took on himself the responsibility of taking care of the Chapel
under which at first was buried the Elder Herman. Metropolitan Leonty
soon after his elevation to the primacy of the Russian Orthodox Church
in America made a pilgrimage to Spruce Island, and the grave of
Herman.)
HERMAN'S PROPHECIES FOR THE FUTURE The creole Constantine, when he was
not more than twelve years old, was asked by Father Herman, "My
beloved one, what do you think; this chapel which they are now
building, will it ever stand empty?" The youngster answered, "I do not
know, 'Apa." "And indeed," said Constantine, "I did not understand his
question at that time, even though that whole conversation with the
Elder remains vivid in my memory." The Elder remained silent for a
short time, and then said, "My child remember, in time in this place
there will be a monastery."
Father Herman said to his disciple the Aleut lgnaty Aiigyaga, "Thirty
years shall pass after my death, and all those living on Spruce Island
will have died, but you alone will remain alive. You will be old and
poor when I will be remembered." And indeed after the death of Father
Herman thirty years passed when they were reminded of him, and they
began to gather information and facts about him; on the basis of which
was written his life. "It is amazing," exclaims lgnaty, "how a man
like us could know all this so long before it happened! However, no,
he was no ordinary man! He knew our thoughts, and involuntarily he led
us to the point where we revealed them to him, and we received counsel
from him!"
"When I die," said the Elder to his disciples, "you will bury me
alongside Father Joasaph. You will bury me by yourself, for you will
not wait for the priest! Do not wash my body. Lay it on a board, clasp
my hands over my chest, wrap me in my 'mantia' (the monk's outer
cloak), and with its wings cover my face and place the 'kiobuk' on my
head. (The 'klobuk' is the monastic head-dress.) If anyone wishes to
bid farewell to me, let them kiss the Cross. Do not show my face to
anyone . . ."
THE DEATH OF FATHER HERMAN The time of the Elder's passing had come.
One day he ordered his disciple, Gerasim, to light a candle before the
icons, and to read the Acts of the Holy Apostles. After some time his
face glowed brightly and he said in a loud voice, "Glory to Thee, O
Lord!" He then ordered the reading to be halted, and he announced that
the Lord had willed that his life would now be spared for another
week. A week later again by his orders the candies were lit, and the
Acts of the Holy Apostles were read. Quietly the Elder bowed his head
on the chest of Gerasim; the cell was filled with a pleasant smelling
odor; and his face glowed, and Father Herman was no more! Thus in
blessedness he died, he passed away in the sleep of a righteous man in
the 81st year of his life of great labor, the 25th day of December,
1837. (According to the Julian Calendar, the 13th of December 1837,
although there are some records which state he died on the 28th of
November, and was buried on the 26th of December).
Those sent with the sad news to the harbor returned to announce that
the administrator of the colony Kashevarov had forbidden the burial of
the Elder until his own arrival. He also ordered that a finer coffin
be made for Father Herman, and that he would come as soon as possible
and would bring a priest with him. But then a great wind came up, a
rain fell, and a terrible storm broke. The distance from the Harbor to
Spruce Island is not great - about a two hour journey - but no one
would agree to go to sea in such weather. Thus it continued for a full
month and although the body lay in state for a full month in the warm
house of his students, his face did not undergo any change at all, and
not the slightest odor emanated from his body. Finally through the
efforts of Kuzma Uchilischev, a coffin was obtained. No one arrived
from the Harbor, and the inhabitants of Spruce Island alone buried in
the ground the remains of the Elder. Thus the words which Herman
uttered before his death were fulfilled. After this the wind quieted
down, and the surface of the sea became as smooth as a mirror.
One evening from the village Katani (on Afognak) was seen above Spruce
Island an unusual pillar of light which reached up to heaven.
Astonished by the miraculous appearance, experienced elders and the
creole Gerasim Vologdin and his wife, Anna, said, "it seems that
Father Herman has left us," and they began to pray. After a time, they
were informed that the Elder had indeed passed away that very night.
This same pillar was seen in various places by others. The night of
his death in another of the settlements on Afognak was seen a vision;
it seemed as though a man was rising from Spruce Island into the
clouds.
The disciples buried their father, and placed above his grave a wooden
memorial marker. The priest on Kodiak, Peter Kashevarov, says, "I saw
it myself, and I can say that today it seems as though it had never
been touched by time; as though it had been cut this day."
Having witnessed the life of Father Herman glorified by his zealous
labors, having seen his miracles, and the ful- fillment of his
predictions, finally having observed his blessed falling-asleep, "in
general all the local inhabitants" witnesses Bishop Peter, "have the
highest esteem for him, as though he was a holy ascetic, anti are
fully convinced thdt he has found favor in the presence of God."
In 1842, five years after the passing away of the Elder, Innocent,
Archbishop of Kamchatka and the Aleutians, was near Kodiak on a
sailing vessel which was in great distress. He looked to Spruce
Island, and said to himself, "if you, Father Herman, have found favor
in God's presence then may the wind change!" It seems as though not
more than fifteen minutes had passed, said the Bishop, when the wind
became favorable, and he successfully reached the shore. In
thanksgiving for his salvation, Archbishop Innocent himself conducted
a Memorial Service over the grave of the ever-memorable Elder Herman.
In 1970, the Orthodox Church in America glorified the monk Herman as
the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America.
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Martyr Eustratius at Sebaste
The Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes
(the Five Companions) suffered for Christ under the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia.
Among the first Christians imprisoned and undergoing torture at that
time was St Auxentius, a presbyter of the Arabian Church. One of those
who witnessed the steadfastness of the Christians was the noble
military commander St Eustratius, the city prefect of Satalios, and
archivist of the province. He was secretly a Christian, and when he
openly confessed his faith, he was subjected to torture. They beat
him, and put iron sandals studded with sharp nails on his feet, then
forced him to march to the city of Arabrak.
Witnessing the arrival of St Eustratius in Arabrak, one of the common
people, St Mardarius, confessed that he was also a Christian like St
Eustratius. He was arrested and cast into prison. Holes were drilled
in his ankles, and ropes were passed them. He was suspended upside
down, then heated nails were hammered into his body. He died a short
time later. To him is attributed the prayer "O Master Lord God, Father
Almighty ..." (which is read at the end of the Third Hour).
As for St Eugene, they ripped out his tongue, they cut off his hands
and feet, and then they beheaded him with a sword. St Auxentius was
also arrested and beheaded. The young soldier St Orestes confessed
himself a Christian and stood trial for this "crime." He was sentenced
to be stretched out upon a red-hot iron bed, and became frightened
when he approached it. Encouraged by St Eustratius, he made the Sign
of the Cross and got onto the heated bed, where he surrendered his
soul to God.
St Eustratius was sentenced to be burned alive on December 13. As he
was being led to his death, he prayed aloud ("I magnify Thee
exceedingly, O Lord, for Thou hast regarded my lowliness..."). This
prayer is still read at the Saturday Midnight Office.
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Martyr Auxentius at Sebaste
Saint Auxentius was one of the Five Companions who suffered for Christ
under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia. Sts
Eustratius, Mardarius, Eugene, and Orestes were the other four.
Among the first Christians imprisoned and undergoing torture at that
time was St Auxentius, a presbyter of the Arabian Church. He was
beheaded.
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Martyr Eugene at Sebaste
Saint Eugene was one of the Five Companions who suffered for Christ
under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia. Sts
Eustratius, Auxentius, Mardarius, and Orestes were the other four.
St Eugene's tongue was ripped out, his hands and feet were cut off,
and then he was beheaded with a sword.
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Martyr Mardarius at Sebaste
Saint Mardarius was one of the Five Companions who suffered for Christ
under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia. Sts
Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, and Orestes were the other four.
St Mardarius was one of those who witnessed the arrival of St
Eustratius in Arabrak. When he confessed that he was also a Christian
like St Eustratius, he was arrested and cast into prison. Holes were
drilled in his ankles, and ropes were passed them. He was suspended
upside down, then heated nails were hammered into his body. He died a
short time later. To him is attributed the prayer "O Master Lord God,
Father Almighty ..." (which is read at the end of the Third Hour).
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Martyr Orestes at Sebaste
Saint Orestes was one of the Five Companions who suffered for Christ
under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia. Sts
Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, and Mardarius were the other four.
St Orestes confessed himself a Christian and stood trial for this
"crime." He was sentenced to be stretched out upon a red-hot iron bed,
and became frightened when he approached it. Encouraged by St
Eustratius, he made the Sign of the Cross and got onto the heated bed,
where he surrendered his soul to God.
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Virginmartyr Lucy of Syracuse
Saint Lucy was born in Syracuse, Sicily during the reign of
Diocletian. She distributed her wealth to the poor, and made a vow of
virginity. Since she refused to marry him, a rejected suitor denounced
her to the prefect Paschasius as a Christian, and she was arrested.
She was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel, but with God's help she
preserved her purity.
Then the pagans attempted to burn her alive, but she was not harmed by
the fire. Finally, she was killed by a sword thrust to the throat.
The name Lucy (Lucia) is derived for the Latin word for light (lux),
and so she is often invoked for afflictions of the eyes. There is a
tradition that she was blinded by her torturers, and the church of San
Giovanni Maggiore in Naples even claims to possess her eyes.
Today's saint should not be confused with St Lucy of Campania (July
6).
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Venerable Arcadius of Novy Torg
Saint Arcadius of Vyazma and Novy Torg was from the city of Vyazma of
pious parents, who from childhood taught him prayer and obedience. The
gentle, perceptive, prudent and good youth chose for his ascetic feat
of being a fool-for-Christ. He lived by alms, and slept wherever he
found himself, whether in the forest, or on the church portico.
His blessed serenity and closeness to nature imparted to the figure of
young Arcadius a peculiar spiritual aspect and aloofness from worldly
vanity. In church, when absorbed in prayer, St Arcadius often wept
tears of tenderness and spiritual joy. Though he seldom spoke, his
advice was always good, and his predictions were fulfilled.
An experienced guide, St Ephraim the Wonderworker of Novy Torg
(January 28), helped the young ascetic to avoid spiritual dangers
while passing through the difficult and unusual exploit of
foolishness. After this the people of Vyazma witnessed several
miracles, worked through the prayers of Blessed Arcadius, but the
saint fled human fame and traveled along the upper Tvertsa River. Here
St Arcadius shared the work with his spiritual guide St Ephraim, and
with him founded a church and monastery in honor of the holy
Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb (May 2).
Entering into the newly-built monastery, St Arcadius became a monk and
took upon himself the exploit of full obedience to his spiritual
Father, St Ephraim. St Arcadius never missed Liturgy and he was always
the first to appear for Matins together with his spiritual guide.
After St Ephraim's repose (January 28, 1053), St Arcadius continued to
pursue asceticism in accord with the last wishes of his Elder,
dwelling in prayer, fasting and silence. After several years, he also
fell asleep in the Lord (December 13, 1077).
In 1594, a chapel dedicated to St Arcadius was built in one of the
churches of Vyazma. A combined celebration of Sts Arcadius and Ephraim
was established by Metropolitan Dionysius in the years 1584-1587. The
relics of St Arcadius, glorified by miracles of healing, were
uncovered on June 11, 1572, and on July 11, 1677, they were placed in
a stone crypt of Sts Boris and Gleb cathedral in the city of Novy Torg
(New Market). In 1841, the left side chapel of Sts Boris and Gleb
cathedral church was dedicated in honor of St Arcadius. The solemn
celebration of the 300th anniversary of the uncovering of the holy
relics of St Arcadius took place in the city of Novy Torg in July of
1977. He is also commemorated on August 14 and June 11 (Transfer of
his relics).
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Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
Saint Mardarius, Hermit of the Kiev Caves, lived as an ascetic in the
Far Caves during the thirteenth century. In his Troparion and
Kontakion he is called "non-covetous," and by the inscription over his
relics, "without a cell." In the Seventh Ode of the Service of the
Synaxis for the Fathers of the Far Caves (August 28) he is mentioned
together with St Ammon (October 4), and he is called a "zealot of
poverty." He was buried in the Far Caves. His memory is celebrated
also on August 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable Arsenius of Latros
St Arsenius of Latros, the son of rich, illustrious and pious parents,
was born at Constantinople. He was made Patrician and General of the
Cibyrra military Theme (the Byzantine Empire was divided into 29
Themes, or districts). Once, when he was traveling by sea with his
soldiers, a storm arose and the ships sank. Of all the soldiers only
St Arsenius was saved. After this he became a monk, and he mortified
his flesh by fasting, vigil and hardships.
Later, he came to a certain place on Mount Latros, in Asia Minor.
There he killed a poisonous viper by his prayer and the Sign of the
Cross, and then he settled in the nearby Kelliboria monastery on the
north side of the mountain, where he was chosen igumen. From the
monastery St Arsenius went to a cave, where he repelled wild beasts by
prayer. The brethren of the monastery asked him to return to them. He
did go back, but did not live with the other monks. He lived alone in
a small cell, and for six days of the week he neither ate any food,
nor would he converse with anyone.
Finally, St Arsenius attained such perfection that he was fed by an
angel. He was also granted the grace to perform miracles. He could
stir bitter water with his staff and change it into sweet water. After
performing many other miracles, he called the brethren to him and gave
them his final instructions.
After advising them to put aside all worldly cares and vanities, St
Arsenius surrendered his soul to God. The saint continued to work
miracles even after his death.
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Venerable Nicodemus the Romanian
No information available at this time
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St Gabriel of Serbia
No information available at this time
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St Nicodemus of Serbia
No information available at this time
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