Orthodox Calendar July 12
The Prodromitissa Icon of the Mother of God
There are few icons not made by human hands in the whole Orthodox world and this is one of them.
The icon is part of the treasure of the Romanian “Prodromou” (“The Forerunner” – St John the Baptist) Skete on Holy Mount Athos. The Skete is about an hour’s walk from the Lavra of St. Athanasios.
In 1863, during the construction works at Mount Athos’ “Prodromou” Skete, its venerable founders Niphon and Nectarius were looking for an iconographer to paint on wood a very special icon of the Mother of God.
The painter needed to practice fasting and prayer while working on the icon.
They found iconographer Iordache Nicolau from the Romanian city of Iași, an old and faithful man, who started work on the icon in 1863, by respecting the spiritual requests of his commissioners during his work.
He did the painting at the Bucium Monastery in Iași, which was at that time subordinated to the “Prodromou” Skete. He finished painting the clothes and the other parts of the icon, leaving the Holy Faces of the Mother of God and of the Holy Baby Jesus at the end, as the technique of traditional icon painting requires.
Inexplicably, the holy faces of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus could not be completed properly, despite the skills and experience of the painter.
The iconographer covered the icon, locked the workshop and postponed work for the next day.
The next morning, however, he discovered the icon perfectly painted with bright faces and full of divine grace.
Frightened by these events, he left a written testimony dated June 29, 1863, which is kept at the “Prodromou” Skete.
The news spread fast among Romanians and, on its way to the Holy Mountain, travelling through Romanian lands, the icon worked many miracles for those who came in good faith to see and honour it.
A certain man had a large thorn in his eyes, and he could not see anything. He was brought in to venerate the Icon of the Mother of God and was given some Holy Water to drink, and to wash with it. He took some of it with him to his house. Three days later he received perfect sight, so that without the help of others he was able to come to give thanks to the Mother of God before her miraculous Icon for his healing.
A nobleman had a child who was unconscious for three days without any movement, so that only by the child’s barely perceptible breath could one determine that a faint spark of life still remained. Despairing of saving his child from death by conventional medical means, the father turned to the Mother of God for help, praying fervently before her Icon. Taking some Holy Water to his house, he sprinkled the dying child and poured a few drops into his mouth. And a miracle occurred: the child had already died, but then he recovered.
Many other patients afflicted with various ailments received healing by praying before the Icon of the Mother of God. In view of the numerous miracles performed by the power of the Theotokos through her Holy Icon, not only did Orthodox Christians come to venerate her, but also schismatics, Armenians, and even Jews, for there was the case of a Jewish woman who received her gracious help, which was why she and her entire household were baptized.
By the time the monks arrived at their Skete on the Holy Mountain, there was a sick monk, who had not eaten any food for three weeks, nor did he speak. He was so weak that he did not move at all. Only by his breathing could anyone tell that he was still alive. When the monks arrived at the Skete, the patient seemed to awaken from a deep sleep and asked to be taken to venerate the Holy Icon. Presenting himself before the Icon, he turned to the Mother of God with this plea: “O Mother of God! You know my heart and you know my fate. If it would be good for me to live, then give me health. If, after I am healed of my illness, I do not behave better, then let me die: end my life here on earth, so that I do not suffer or endure torments there, in the grave.” After praying this way, he returned to his cell, put on clean linen and his full monastic garb, and asked to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. He seemed to have a clear premonition of his approaching death. And, indeed, less than an hour after receiving Communion, he departed peacefully and quietly to the Lord.
In this Skete there were even more cases of healings by the Icon of the Mother of God. The monk Sergius was healed from weakness in all his members, and from deafness, and one of the masters who worked in the same Skete was subjected to torments by an unclean spirit; as soon as he was brought to the Icon of the Mother of God, he was freed from the excruciating power of the Enemy.
More copies of the icon were made in time. Some remained in the Holy Mountain and others were sent to Romania, all of whom worked miracles.
Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarion
They were natives of the village of Kallippi, near Ancyra, and they suffered during the time of persecution under the emperor Trajan (98-117). Saint Proclus was put under arrest first. Brought before the governor Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor decided to compel the saint to submit himself to the emperor and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. During his tortures, the martyr predicted to Maximus that soon he himself would be compelled to confess Christ as the true God.
They forced the martyr to run after the chariot of the governor, heading towards the village Kallippi. Exhausted, Saint Proclus prayed that the Lord would halt the chariot. By the power of God the chariot halted, and no force could move it from the spot. The dignitary sitting in it became petrified. The martyr told him that he would remain unmoving until such time as he would sign a document with a confession of Christ. Only after this could the chariot continue on its way with the governor.
The humiliated pagan took fierce revenge on Saint Proclus. He commanded that Proclus be led out beyond the city, tied to a pillar and shot with arrows. The soldiers, leading Saint Proclus to execution, told him to give in and save his life, but the saint said that they should follow their orders.
Along the way to the place of execution, they met Hilarion, the nephew of Saint Proclus, who with tears embraced his uncle and also confessed himself a Christian. The soldiers seized him, and he was thrown into prison. The holy Martyr Proclus prayed for his tormentors and surrendered his soul to God beneath a hail of arrows.
Saint Hilarion was brought to trial and, with the same courage as Saint Proclus, confessed himself a Christian. After tortures he was sentenced to death. They tied the martyr’s hands and dragged him by his feet through the city, wounded and bloody, and then they beheaded him three days after the death of his uncle, the holy Martyr Proclus. Christians buried them together in a single grave.
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyrs Proclus and Hilary, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Saint Michael Maleinus
He was born about the year 894 in the Charsian region (Cappadocia) and at Baptism he received the name Manuel. He was related to the Byzantine emperor Leo VI the Wise (886-911). At age 18 Manuel went off to Bithynia, to the Kyminas monastery under the guidance of the Elder, John Heladites, who tonsured him into monasticism with the name Michael. Fulfilling a very difficult obedience in spite of his illustrious lineage, he demonstrated an example of great humility.
After the passage of a certain time, he was found worthy of the grace of the priesthood. Constantly studying the Holy Scripture, Saint Michael showed how the priesthood ought to be properly conjoined with monasticism, he attained a high degree of dispassion and acquired the gift of perspicacity. He was very compassionate and kind towards people, he could not let remain without help and consolation for those who were in need and in sorrow, and by his ardent prayer, he accomplished many miracles.
After much monastic effort under the guidance of the Elder John, Saint Michael asked his blessing to live in a cave as a hermit, Five days of the week he spent at prayerful concentration, and only on Saturday and Sunday did he come to the monastery for participation in the divine services and to partake of the Holy Mysteries.
By his example of sublime spiritual life, the holy hermit attracted many seeking salvation. In a desolate place called Dry Lake, the venerable Michael founded a monastery for the brethren gathering around him and gave it a strict monastic rule. When the monastery was secure, Saint Michael went to a still more remote place and built there a new monastery. By the efforts of the holy abba, the whole mountain of Kyminas was covered with monastic communities, where constantly prayers were raised up for all the world to the Throne of the Most-High.
About the year 953, the youth Abraham entered the brotherhood, flourishing under the guidance of Saint Michael, who gave him the name Athanasius. Later, Saint Athanasius (July 5) founded the renowned Great Lavra, the first cenobitic monastery on Mount Athos. In the building of the Lavra great help was given to Saint Athanasius by Saint Michael’s nephew, the future Byzantine emperor Nicephorus Phocas (963-969), who met Athanasius while visiting his uncle. After fifty years of ceaseless monastic struggle, Saint Michael Maleinos went peacefully to the Lord in the year 962.
Troparion — Tone 8
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, O holy Father Michael, rejoices with the angels.
Saint Veronica
She was the woman with the issue of blood, who received healing by touching the hem of Christ’s robe (Mt. 9:20). According to the Tradition of the Church she is said to have wiped the Savior’s face with her veil as He carried His Cross to Golgotha. The Saviour’s Face remained imprinted on the cloth, becoming the first icon – one unmade by human hands.
Troparion — Tone 8
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Veronica, rejoices with the Angels!
Venerable Paisius the Hagiorite
Elder Paisius the Hagiorite (“of Mount Athos”) lived between 1924 and 1994. He was born with the name of Arsenios in the town of Farasa, Cappadocia of Asia Minor.
His name was given to him by St. Arsenios the Cappadocian, who baptized him, named the child for himself and foretold Arsenios’ monastic future. Very shortly after his baptism young Arsenios and his family were forced to leave Asia Minor in accordance with the Peace Treaty of Lausanne.
The family settled in the town of Konitsa in Epirus in northwestern Greece. Arsenios grew up in Konitsa and learned carpentry after completing intermediate public school.
During the civil war in Greece following World War II, Arsenios served as a radio operator. While concerned about his compatriots who had family, he didn’t worry for himself because he was single and had no children. He was noted for his bravery, self-sacrifice and moral righteousness. After the civil war ended, he wanted to enter monastic life, but had to consider his sisters, who were as yet unmarried. By 1950, he had provided for his sisters’ future and was free to begin his monastic vocation.
He arrived on Mount Athos in 1950, first to Fr. Kyril, the future abbot of Koutloumousiou Monastery, and then at Esphigmenou Monastery. In 1954, Arsenios, having been a novice for four years, was tonsured a monk and was given the name Averkios. He was a conscientious monk, finding ways to both complete his obediences (which required contact with others) and to preserve his silence, so as to progress in the art of prayer. He was always selfless in helping his brethren. He was unwilling to rest while others worked (though he may have already completed his own obediences) as he loved his brothers greatly and without distinction.
Soon after his tonsure, monk Averkios left Esphigmenou and joined the then idiorhythmic brotherhood of Philotheou Monastery, where his uncle was a monk. He placed himself under obedience to the Elder Symeon, who gave him the Small Schema in 1956, with the new name Paisius.
Fr. Paisius dwelt deeply on the thought that his own spiritual failures and lack of love were the cause of his neighbour’s shortcomings, as well as of the world’s ills. He harshly accused himself and pushed himself to greater self-denial and more fervent prayer for his soul and for the whole world.
1979, when he moved to his final home on the Holy Mountain, the hermitage Panagouda, which belongs to the Monastery of Koutloumousiou.
It was at Panagouda that Elder Paisius’ fame as a God-bearing elder grew, drawing to him the sick and suffering people of God. He received them all day long, dedicating the night to God in prayer, vigil, and spiritual struggle. His regime of prayer and asceticism left him with only two or three hours each night for rest. The self-abandon with which he served God and his fellow man, his strictness with himself, the austerity of his regime, and his sensitive nature made him increasingly prone to sickness.
In addition to respiratory problems, in his later days, he suffered from a serious hernia that made life very painful. When he was forced to leave the Holy Mountain for various reasons (often due to his illnesses) he would receive pilgrims for hours on end at the women’s monastery at Souroti.
The physical effort that this entailed in his weakened state caused him such pain that he would turn pale. He bore his suffering with much grace, confident that, as God knows what is best for us, it could not be otherwise. He would say that God is greatly touched when someone who is in great suffering does not complain, but rather uses his energy to pray for others.
In addition to his other illnesses, he suffered from haemorrhaging which left him very weak. In his final weeks before leaving the Holy Mountain, he would often fall unconscious.
Elder Paisius, perhaps more than any other contemporary elder, captured the minds and hearts of the Greek people. Many books of his counsels have been published, and the monastery at Souroti has undertaken a great work, organizing the Elder’s writings and counsels into impressive volumes befitting his memory. Thousands of pilgrims visit his tomb each year.
Elder Paisius was canonized on January 13, 2015, by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Troparion – Tone 1
The offspring of Farasa, and the adornment of Athos, and the imitator of the former righteous, equal in honor, O Paisius let us honor O faithful, the vessel full of graces, who hastens speedily to those who cry out: glory to Him Who gave you strength, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who grants through you healings for all.
Tr. by oca.org