#easterntradition

August 11/July 29

THE HOLY MARTYR SERAPHIMA of ANTIOCH (2nd. C.)

The Holy Virgin Martyr Seraphima, a native of Antioch, lived in Rome in the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138). She resided with Sabina, a woman from a prominent senatorial family, whom the saint had converted to Christianity. During the persecution against Christians ordered by the Emperor, the governor Virilus had Saint Seraphima brought before him for questioning. Wishing to obtain a crown of martyrdom from the Lord, she went fearlessly to face Virilus, and her devoted friend Sabina accompanied her. When he saw that illustrious lady, Virilus at first set the maiden free, but after several days he summoned Saint Seraphima once again and began the trial.

The governor insisted that she honor the pagan gods and offer sacrifice, but she boldly confessed her faith in the one true God, Jesus Christ. Then Virilus gave her to two shameless young men of Egyptian descent so they could defile her. Saint Seraphima begged the Lord to protect her. Suddenly there was an earthquake, and the two men fell to the ground paralyzed and unable to speak. On the following day the governor learned that his plan had failed. Believing that the saint was a sorceress, Virilus told her to restore the young men to health so that they could relate what had happened to them.

After praying to the Lord, Saint Seraphima ordered the men to stand up. They got up at once and informed the governor that an Angel of the Lord had shielded the saint, and prevented them from approaching her. The cruel governor did not believe his servants, and he continued to urge Saint Seraphima to offer sacrifice to the idols. The holy martyr remained steadfast, however, even when they burned her with flaming torches and mercilessly beat her with sticks. Then harsh punishment overtook the governor. Splinters from the sticks with which the saint was beaten, struck him in his right eye, and after three days the tormentor became blind. Powerless before the unyielding Christian, Virilus ordered her to be beheaded. Sabina buried the body of her holy mentor with all due honor and reverence.

SAINT LUPUS, (St LOUP), THE CONFESSOR BISHOP OF TROYES (479)

Fifteen new saints were added to the list of saints of the Russian Church two years ago. They are ancient saints of the Western Church who lived before the deplorable Schism of 1054. They demonstrated their love of Christ and staunch commitment to Orthodoxy with their lives. Each Local Church has her own menologion, that is, a special calendar marked with commemorations of those saints whom that particular Church finds most precious to her. The commemoration of the greatest Church Fathers, prominent monks, and famous martyrs is celebrated on the universal level; with that said, each Church preserves the memory of other godly men and women who became known and revered in a certain land and who are less known to the faithful in distant lands. Thus, Slavic Christians barely heard of the spiritual feats of Saint Patrick of Ireland and Saint Genevieve. Even today, hardly anyone knows about Saint Lupus of Troyes.

The situation changed after the 1917 catastrophe and the Russian exile. Many Orthodox Christians who had to live as emigres in the Western Europe got to know ancient Orthodox saints of the West. Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco was one of the first hierarchs to promote liturgical veneration of ancient Western saints. Saint John was acutely aware of the universal dimension of the Orthodox faith. He deemed it important to restore the names and lives of those saints in the memory of the Church. He even issued a special decree ordering his clergy to mention Western saints during litiyas and dismissals.

Saint Lupus of Troyes is one of those ancient Western saints. Lupus was born around 393 or 383 in Tullum Leucorum to a noble Gallo-Roman family. He received good education and married Pimeniola, a sister of St. Hilary of Arles and a relative of St. Honoratus. His biographer tells us that Lupus spent six years in marriage, after which both spouses decided to dedicate themselves to monastic living. Pimeniola became a nun, whereas Lupus entered Lérins Abbey because he was fascinated by Saint Honoratus, the abbey’s founder.

Lérins Abbey was founded in 410 on an island in the Mediterranean, not far from Cannes. Lérins Abbey played the same role for Gaul as Kiev Caves Lavra for Russia: the abbey, noted for its strict charter, supplied educated and pious bishops for the entire Gaul. It produced a lot of renowned saints, such as St. Vincent of Lérins, St. Hilary of Arles, St. Patrick the Enlightener of Ireland, and many others. The future Saint Lupus also made his first steps in monastic living in that abbey.

Lupus was elected bishop of Augustobona Tricassium, which is now known as Troyes. Here are a couple of exciting stories from his life.

Preserving Marriage. In spite of having parted with his wife by mutual agreement, Saint Lupus helped a commoner named Gallus to preserve his marriage. Gallus decided to abandon his wife and ran from her to Clermont. Saint Lupus wrote him a wise and moving letter and forwarded it through Sidonius, the bishop of Clermont. Gallus returned to his wife thanks to the bishop’s persuasiveness. That was what Bishop Sidonius said in that regard, “Is there anything more beautiful than an admonition, which both leads the sinner to repent and makes him love the admonisher at the same time?”

Defending Orthodoxy in Britain. At the request of Pope Celestinus (an Orthodox holy hierarch whose commemoration date is April 8), the Council of Arles sent Lupus and Germanus of Auxerre to Britain in 429 to eradicate Pelagian heresy. Saint Lupus converted many former heretics to Orthodoxy. The memory of the bishop from Gaul lives in the hearts of Britons to this day. There are many churches in Great Britain that are consecrated in honor of Lupus. There is also an English last name Sentlow, which is derived from the name St. Leu.

Lupus and Attila. The Lord saved Troyes from the invasion of Huns led by Attila thanks to St. Lupus’s prayers. The bishop, clad in his full attire, walked towards the leader of the Huns in front of a religious procession, and asked Attila, “Who are you?”

Attila replied, “I’m God’s scourge.” Lupus retorted, “We shall accept everything that God sends us but if you are a scourge, with which the Heavens punish us, be careful: you cannot do anything other than what God’s hand, which directs you, lets you do.” Attila was left speechless and didn’t ruin the town. Lupus took his horse by the reins and showed Attila around the town. These are the memories that Saint Lupus’s flock have of this educated monk, a man of prayer, and a capable diplomat to boot. Saint Lupus died on July 29, 479, having spent fifty-two years on his bishop’s see.

Source: St Elizabeth Convent ( Minsk)

 MATTHEW 16:20-24

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:12-22