Commemorating Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (March 24/11)

St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem Born in the city of Damascus and having brilliant secular education, he loved the pious life since his youth, traveled to monasteries and, finally, accepted monasticism in the Monastery of St. Theodosius the Great. He struggled a lot against the heresy of the Monophysites and Monothelites, and for his zealousness for the faith he was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem in 634 and after that continued to struggle even more zealously against the heretics. He was "chaste in deeds, righteous, courageous and reasonable". In 636 Jerusalem was seized by the Mohammedans who began to strongly attack the Christians. Sophronius tearfully prayed to the Lord for his death so that he would not see the suffering of the Christians and the desecration of the holy places by the unbelievers, and peacefully turned his soul over to the Lord in 644. St. Sophronius left behind: a General Epistle in which he delivered a strong polemic against Monothelitism, an explanation of the liturgy which has a historico-topographical character, lives of some of the saints, an office of the Royal Hours for the Nativity of Christ, an office of the Great Blessing of Water and many other church canticles ¹). 

Kontakion, tone 8 

Having ascetically struggled with divine zeal, You spread the precepts of truth with your lips; Having laid the foundation of the church in good order, You firmly established there the existing monastic rule, O Sophronius, Most wise among the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, You brought all wise words into the light, And instructed by them, we cry out to you: Rejoice, Splendid Praise of the Orthodox.

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St. Sophronius visited many monasteries and writing down the lives and spiritual wisdom of the ascetics he met. From these notes emerged their renowned book, the LEIMONARION or SPIRITUAL MEADOW,

From the Spiritual Meadow

WRITTEN BY JOHN MOSCHUS

This translation of The Spiritual Meadow by Benedict Baker.

Prologue of John Moschus - To his beloved in Christ Sophronius Sophista It is obvious to all, my beloved son, that the meadows present their most beautiful appearance in Springtime, with its pleasing variety of flowers of every sort, demanding the attention of all who gaze, impossible to ignore, beneficial in all sorts of ways, for they delight the eyes and give pleasure to the sense of smell. Part of this meadow indeed flourishes with the colour of roses, part grows white with lilies, easily attracting the attention of the onlooker away from the colour of the roses. Other parts shimmer with the colour of violets, copying in their own colour the imperial purple. The profusion of various differing sights and fragrances of countless flowers everywhere gratify the senses. Think of this present work like this, Sophronius, my holy and most faithful son, since you will find in it the virtues of the holy men who have enlightened our time “planted by the running waters”, as the Psalmist says (Psalms 1.3). And though all of them are acceptable to God and of great grace, yet each one of them is distinguished by some particular grace more than the others, so that out of this great variety of virtues arises a charming picture of pleasing beauty. Out of these flowers I have picked the most beautiful, and woven a corona for you out of this imperishable and everlasting meadow, my most faithful son, which I offer to you, and through you to everyone.

For this reason it seems good to call this present work a Meadow, for the delight, comfort and usefulness which those who read may take from it. It is not only right belief and meditation on divine truth which lead to a life and morals of integrity, but also the examples of other people, and written accounts of their virtuous lives. Therefore I have undertaken this task trusting in the Lord, beloved son, and hoping that it will commend itself to your charity. Just as a bee seeks out only what is useful and true so I have I described the lives of the holy fathers that souls may be enlightened.

To read entire book online
http://www.orthodoxriver.org/post/spirtual-meadow/

Just as a ship cannot move without water, so the mind cannot maintain silence and peace without the prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” sobriety and humility. - St. Hesychius of Jerusalem Saint Hesychius of Jerusalem (second half of the 4th century – c. 451)a famous Palestinian priest, ascetic and theologian, a disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian

 

These days, the Church reminds us of the mystery of deification: how it is possible for a created being to unite with the Uncreated. This enlightenment begins here, with the ascetics of piety, and continues to a greater degree in the future life. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, in a conversation with Motovilov, was granted the grace of God; his face shone like the sun. Through the prayers of the holy elder, Motovilov felt such warmth in the midst of winter, such a fragrance of flowers, and such love for all people that he could not describe or explain. This is what God's grace does to people.

We all sin, we all violate the commandments of Christ...

We all sin, we all violate the commandments of Christ and the canons of the Holy Church, however, some confess that they are sinners and repent of their iniquities, while others reject the Holy Canons, claiming that they are outdated and no longer necessary.
The latter behave as if they were more spiritual than those who handed down to us the church Canons, which the Lord Himself gave to His Holy Apostles and Holy Hierarchs.
Two paths stretch before us:
the path of the wise robber who repented
and the path of the robber who was cast into hell under the weight of his blasphemy.
St. John Maximovich

Joy in the life of a Christian is proof that the Lord is at work in us!

 

A pre-revolutionary pilgrim

A pre-revolutionary pilgrim at the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. He holds a walking stick for the long journey, a vessel for boiling water on his shoulder, a modest load, and simple clothing, but everything is clean and tidy.
The wanderer arrived at the monastery cemetery inside the Holy Canal. Behind him, on the left, is the nearby hermitage of St. Seraphim, transported from the Sarov forest.
Apparently, he had just been there, venerated the Seraphim's relics, and was now heading to a distant hermitage that serves as the altar of the Transfiguration Cemetery Church.

"If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the door of the Church, you will not find Him in the Holy Chalice." - St. John Chrysostom