February 12translatedThis page has been translated from Serbian to English. It may contain minor phrasing or syntactic issues.
The Lives of the Saints
1. SAINT MELETIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF ANTIOCH
This great and holy man was an extraordinary interpreter and defender of Orthodoxy. His entire life was devoted to the struggle against the Arian heresy, which did not acknowledge the Son of God as God and blasphemed against the Holy Trinity. From his archiepiscopal throne he was three times removed by heretics and exiled to Armenia. The struggle between the Orthodox and the heretics was waged so bitterly that once, when Saint Meletius was speaking in church to the people about the divine Trinity in unity, his own deacon, a heretic, ran up to the bishop and covered his mouth with his hand. Unable to speak with his tongue, Meletius spoke with signs. Namely, he raised his hand upward, opened first three fingers, and showed the people, then closed his hand and raised one finger. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council where Emperor Theodosius showed him particular honor. At that council God manifested a miracle through this holy hierarch. Namely, when Meletius was proving to the Arians the dogma of the Holy Trinity, he first raised three fingers, separately, one by one, then closed them together, and at that moment light like lightning appeared before all present from his hand. At that council Saint Meletius confirmed Gregory the Theologian on the throne of Constantinople. Earlier he had ordained Basil the Great to the diaconate and baptized John Chrysostom. After the conclusion of the council Saint Meletius ended his earthly life in Constantinople. His relics were transferred to Antioch.
2. SAINT ALEXIS, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW
A great hierarch of the Russian Church in the difficult time of the Russian people's subjugation under the Tartars. Once in childhood he was catching birds, and fell asleep, and in a dream heard a voice: "Alexis, why do you labor in vain? I will make you a fisher of men." In his twentieth year he became a monk and in time became Metropolitan of Moscow. Twice he went to the Tartar "Golden Horde"; the first time to soften the anger of Khan Berdibek against the Russian people, and the second time at the invitation of Khan Amurat, to heal his wife from blindness. For three years that woman had been blind, but she was healed and received sight when Alexis read a prayer over her and anointed her with holy water. After a laborious and fruitful life he reposed in the year 1378 in his eighty-fifth year and departed to the courts of the Lord.
3. VENERABLE MARIA
A girl of manly courage. After her mother's death her father desired to become a monk. But Maria did not want to be separated from her father, so by agreement both set off to a men's monastery, Maria with shorn hair and in men's clothing, as a youth. The father died, and Maria became a monk as a male and received the name Marinus. Near the monastery there was an inn, and the innkeeper's daughter looked upon the supposed monk Marinus, and after unsuccessful wooing accused Marinus of unlawful relations with her, since she had conceived by someone else and borne a son. Maria did not defend herself and was expelled with disgrace from the monastery. With another's child in her arms she lived in the monastery grove for three years enduring both hunger and cold and every torment and deprivation. Meanwhile the innkeeper's daughter went mad, and soon after Maria died. Only after death was it learned that "the monk Marinus" had been female. The mad innkeeper's daughter, as soon as she touched the relics of Saint Maria, was healed, and then confessed her terrible sin. Saint Maria reposed and departed to immortal joy in the year 508.
4. SAINT ANTHONY, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
First a great ascetic of uncommon mercy and then patriarch during the time of Emperor Leo the Wise (889-912). He tonsured his own father into monasticism. He established a monastery over the relics of Saint Callia.
5. SAINT CALLIA
Generous of hand toward the poor from pure Christian mercy both as a girl and, later, as a married woman. Her husband was wealthy but harsh. Returning once from a business trip, he saw that his wife had squandered his wealth on the poor. And he killed her. But God glorified this merciful soul in such a way that from her relics many sick people were healed. Becoming convinced of this, Saint Patriarch Anthony erected a monastery over her relics.
Hymn of Praise
Unity and Trinity, One and Three, Christ - is God and is Man, One and Two. These two mysteries are greatest and most wondrous, In them the key of life and being is hidden. The Holy Trinity in unity, eternal flame. Three blazes - one flame, eternal flame. Unity and Trinity - One and Three. Christ - is God and is Man - One and Two.
Reflection
Saint John Chrysostom recounts from the life of Saint Meletius the following example which shows the high nobility of this great hierarch. "It would be unjust to pass over what happened at the very exile (of Meletius from Antioch). When the governor sat in the chariot and seated the saint beside him, and began to drive hurriedly through the marketplace, the citizens pelted his head with stones like hail from all sides, for they could not easily part from their bishop, and were ready sooner to part with life than with this saint. But what did this blessed man do? Seeing the stones flying, he covered the governor's head with his own garment. Thus he shamed his enemies with his exceeding gentleness, and to his followers he thereby gave instruction, what meekness must be shown toward those who offend us; how not only must we do them no evil, but with all our strength ward off from them the danger that threatens them." About Meletius's very outward appearance Chrysostom says further: "Truly the greatest delight was to see his holy face. Not only when he was teaching, or speaking, but when people simply looked at him, he was able to introduce into the soul of the beholders every virtue."
Contemplation
Contemplate the Lord Jesus as faster, namely: 1. How He fasted not to subdue His most pure body, but to give example to us; 2. How He fasted for my sake; 3. How I should fast for the sake of my salvation and for the sake of His love.
Homily
on the wondrous visitation of the Son of God
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father (John 16:28)
These words, brethren, are of fateful importance for us. For of all things in this world the most important is to know: is there God and is there life after death? These words are more precious than all pearls in the world, and than the sun and stars, for these words were spoken by Him who is the most reliable and most truthful witness. Truly, these words are the source of greatest joy for us, plunged into despair, and into death after despair. They testify that there is God and life after death. I came forth from the Father — this above all means that there exists God, from whom the Lord Jesus came forth. And I go to the Father — and this means that there exists God the Father, to whom the Son of God returns. Both these words mean at the same time that there exists eternal life, and that death does not mean our destruction. For the Lord spoke these words just before His own death.
O sweet and wondrous gospel! What the heart of all people and tribes through all ages dimly sensed, the Lord has testified as fact, as truth.
Further, these words confirm the unity of Father and Son, and the divinity of our Lord and Savior. God has visited us, my brethren, the Most High God Himself — the holy, mighty and immortal God. This is the summit of our consolation and our joy.
O Lord Jesus, Son of God, true witness of all good for which our hearts yearn day and night, enlighten us, strengthen us and immortalize us. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.