Little is known about the life of St. John of the Ladder, or St. John Climacus. According to one source, he was born around the year 579; tonsured a monk prior to 599; became abbot of St.. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai no later than 639; and died around 649.
The Greek word "klimakos" means ''ladder." The name was given to John because he wrote a popular book on asceticism, titled The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The book is divided into 30 chapters, or "steps on the ladder," describing the spiritual journey from sinfulness to entrance into God's Kingdom and perfection.
His 30 steps are regarded as falling into two sections; steps 1-26 mainly concern sins that must be overcome and suggestions as to how do so; steps 27-30 speak of prayer, solitude, faith, hope and love�the virtues that are to be perfected in order to achieve communion with God.
John's work primarily was written for monastic communities, but it has proven valuable for readers outside the monastic life.
He spent 40 years in solitude near a monastery church, ate and slept little, prayed much and wrote books. His life was dedicated to unceasing prayer, full of Christian humility and love for Christ.
I get discouraged when I slide backwards on the Journey to Your kingdom, Lord. Help me to persevere without despair.
O dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body! You were a wonder-worker, O our God-bearing Father John! You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer: healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength! Glory to Him who granted you a crown! Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
"Climb the ladder of success," "Corporate Ladder" these are terms we hear often in our lives. But there is another ladder -- the "LADDER OF .PERFECTION" which our Holy Orthodox Church gives us today. It was written by St. John Climacus back in the 6th Century. Each year on the 4th-Sunday of Great and Holy Lent we dedicate the day to St. John Climacus and his book which is called The Ladder of Perfection. The book is used by many as a meditative guide during this time. It gives us thirty steps leading toward the s piritual perfection of man. The book is similar to Bunyan's Pilgrims' Progress. Bunyan was undoubtedly influenced by St. John Climacus's treatise.
St. John contented that Divine Grace can only be achieved through Jesus Christ. He brought out the virtues in 30 Steps.
Saint Mary of Egypt: Feast Day -- April 1 and
Commemorated on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent
Holy Father Zossima: Feast Day -- April 4
At age 12, Saint Mary of Egypt left her parents, and for 17 years gave herself to any and all to satisfy her insatiable lustful desires.
One day she joined others hurrying to Jerusalem for the Elevation of the Cross, paying her boat passage with her body. On the holy day of the Elevation, an unseen power kept her from entering the church.
Realizing her impure life obstructed her entrance, she began to weep and groan, praying to the Most Holy Mother of God, "O Virgin, Lady, O Pure One, corrupt as I am...help me in my loneliness...I call upon you to be my guarantor of hope before God, Your Son, that neber again shall I defile this body."
Entering the church, Saint Mary knelt before the icon of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God. A voice said, "If you cross the Jordan River, you will find glorious peace."
For the next 47 years, Saint Mary lived in the desert, totally alone. After her clothing rotted of her body, she was naked, turning black in the burning desert sun or shivering in winter's cold.
Saint Mary fought her frenzied desires for 17 years, gaining strength from the icon of the Mother of God. At last she saw a shining light surrounding her.
When the good Father Zossima found her during his annual Lenten pilgrimage into the desert, he gave her his monastic cloak. Blessing her, he asked for her blessing. Amazed, he watched her rise from the ground and stand praying in the air!
Saint Mary asked Father Zossima to meet her at the Jordan River the next year and bring her the Mystical Supper. At the appointed time, she appeared on the opposite bank and walked over the waves.
The following year Father Zossima prayed, "Show me, O Lord, Your pure treasure which You have hidden in the desert." He found her lying dead. Unable to dig a grave in the baked earth, he saw a great lion licking the Saint's feet. Trembling, he spoke to the lion, "I am old and do not have the strength to dig out her grave. You do the work with your claws" -- and the lion did!
Saint Mary of Egypt died in the year 530. Her life was a triumph over sin and self. She said , "Blessed is God Who cares for the salvation of people and of their souls."
Troparion 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 Mary, rejoices with the angels.
Troparion Tone 4
O righteous Father Alexis,
Our heavenly intercessor and teacher.
Divine adornment of the Church of Christ,
Entreat the Master of All To strengthen the Orthodox Faith in America,
To grant peace to the world And to our souls great mercy.
FATHER ALEXIS TOTH had Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and had the honesty and courage to follow Christ where he led him. He was the seed that fell on fertile ground and bore fruit a hundred-fold .
It has been five years since Fr. Alexis Toth was recognized as a saint. He was instrumental for many people returning to the Orthodox faith here and in Europe. He was known as the "Batko/Father of Orthodoxy in America."
He was born in 1854 in the area then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father and brother were priests and his uncle was the bishop of Presov. After receiving his theological education, he married prior to ordination in 1877. Unfortunately, his wife and infant daughter died in the following year. For the next ten years he served as chancellor for the bishop and taught at the seminary in Presov.
In 1889, Fr. Alexis, along with seven other Uniate priests, arrived in the USA for mission work. Fr. Alexis headed for Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was assigned to St. Mary's Parish. He reported to the Roman Catholic bishop who had jurisdiction over the parish; and for various reasons, he was refused the faculties to care for the parish. After discussion with the parish, it was decided to petition the only Orthodox bishop in America, Bishop Vladimir in San Francisco.
Fr. Alexis's acceptance of Orthodoxy in San Francisco was very dramatic. He was familiar with the Orthodox Church because of his studies. He returned to Minneapolis and spoke to the people about the differences between two churches and several times gave them time to discuss and reflect on the change. They decided to accept Orthodoxy. Bishop Vladimir visited the parish, gave more instructions and time to think about the possible change, and then accepted 386 people into the faith. Understandably, there was much turmoil and the financial situation was poor. Fr. Alexis went to work in a bakery to sustain himself.
Things settled down in Minneapolis; but after information about the situation reached the northeast United States, where many immigrants had settled, they wanted a solution of jurisdiction in the parishes they had organized.
Fr. Alexis arrived in Wilkes-Barre, PA on March 3, 1893. For the next 16 years he traveled by horse and buggy over many dusty, muddy roads in his mission efforts. He is credited with starting between 15-20 parishes and bringing many other parishes into the Orthodox Church. He received many death threats; and it was necessary for him to have bodyguards, who were called his "eagles."
His work extended beyond educating about the faith. He was disturbed by the plight of the miners' widows and orphans. There was no welfare, no insurance, and since they often lived in company houses, they had to vacate them upon the death of the miner. He organized an insurance lodge in 1895. ROCMAS is still headquartered in Wilkes-Barre.
Some miners returned to their home villages in Europe. They carried zeal for their religion with them. Aided by the booklet "Why I Am Orthodox," written by Fr. Alexis, many returned to the Orthodox faith. They suffered discrimination and arrest but they retained their zeal. The booklet was recently reprinted and is circulated in the Carpathian region.
Fr. Alexis' work was recognized as far away as Russia. He continued his missionary work with zeal until his untimely death in 1909.
He was buried at St. Tikhon Monastery in South Canaan, PA in an elaborate marble tomb financed by nickels and dimes of the many mourners; His remains are now in a reliquary near the ikonostas on the left side of the church at St. Tikhon's Monastery.
Please hear our prayers St. Alexis and let us not rest from our mission efforts!
An acafist (prayer service) was written for St. Alexis and an ikon was commissioned. From the Acafist:
"O chosen defender and confessor of the
faith Father Alexis, we offer this song of
praise honoring your struggles, patience
and great suffering "through which you
were revealed as a man of God leading
your people back to the true faith. And as
you have boldness in prayer to God free us
your children from every adversity, that we may cry out to you:
'Rejoice, O Father Alexis
Defender and Confessor of Orthodoxy in America.'"
As the bountiful harvest of your sowing of salvation,
The lands of North America offer You, O Lord,
all the saints who have shown in them.
By their prayers keep the Church and our land in abiding peace.
Through the Theotokos, O Most Merciful One.
Today, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. Born in 1724, the son of a very poor sexton. His father died when he was a mere infant. This placed the family in a very destitute condition. Only through the efforts and sacrifices of his mother was he able to attain an elementary education. Due to his poverty, he was continually at the point of ridicule.
In 1758 he completed his seminary education at Novgorod and became a professor at the seminary. Shortly thereafter he became a monk. In 1761 he was consecrated as Vicar-Bishop of Novgorod-the diocese of his childhoon. St. Tikhon served two years there and then four years in Voronezh, Russia. He then became physically weak and went to the Monastery at Zadonsk to regain his health.
At the monastery St. Tikhon spent his time in prayer, writing, spiritual healing and guidance for those who came to him for advice.
His authority was great; his word efficient. He taught people not only by words but by deeds. Being of a meek and loving nature, he would often dress in simple attire and visit the homes of the poor, prisons, elders and invalids and help materially and spiritually until his death , August 13, 1783. His relics were glorified in 1861 and he was canonized a Saint by our Holy Orthodox Church.
From your youth you have loved Christ, O Blessed One.
You have been an example for all by word, life, spirit,
faith, purity and humility;
Therefore you now abide in the heavenly mansions,
where you stand before the throne of the All-Holy Trinity,
Holy Hierarch Tikhon, pray for the salvation of our souls.
St. Moses is a perfect example, like St. Mary of Egypt, that sometimes the greatest sinners can become the greatest saints, by means of deep and sincere repentance. Moses had been a murderer, a thief, and a very violent person. Therefore, St. Moses is a marvelous model for us of the power of repentance and of God's forgiveness, especially for those who might feel that they are too sinful to be reconciled to God and His Holy Church, because they have strayed and fallen into sin. The "righteous" can be further from God than the sinner, because the "righteous," like the pharisee and the elder son of Jesus' parables, do not see their sins, and therefore are filled with pride instead of humility. In contrast, like Jesus' prodigal son and tax-collector, the great sinner who repents can grow ever closer to God by means of Ms continued sincere repentance and consequent humility and self-abasement. St. Moses is just such a person.
St. Moses lived in Egypt during the fourth century. He was a very dark-skinned Ethiopian, and thus is also called St. Moses the Black. In his youth he was a slave of a high-ranking man, but after Moses committed a murder, his master banish ed him Filled with much anger and bitterness, Moses joined a band of thieves who attacked, robbed and murdered travelers in the Egyptian desert. His band of brigands chose Moses as their leader because of his enormous physical strength and readiness to sin. People were afraid at the mere mention of his name.
After a number of years of this sinful life, by the grace of God, Moses repented, abandoned his band of robbers and went to one of the desert monasteries. He had to weep and beg for a long time before the brethren believed he was sincere, and finally they accepted him. He wept bitter tears of repentance for his sinful life, and became very obedient to the abbot, his spiritual father and confessor, Abba (Father) Isidore, a wise and experienced spiritual guide. After a while, Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he prayed, fasted, and continued to struggle against the passions and tie violent attacks of demons, with the guidance of Abba Isidore, who taught him how to pray all night and to struggle agaiast the demons. His long struggle with the passions and demons was necessary in order to become completely cleansed of his former sins. In his battle between the legions of demons and angels, Abba Isidore assured Moses that the angels would prevail.
One time four robbers of his former band attacked him in his solitary cell, not realizing who he was. Having lost none of his great physical strength, Moses tied them up, threw them over his shoulder, and brought them to the monastery, where the elders said to release them. Upon learning that this was Moses, their former ringleader, and that he had dealt with them kindly, they followed his example, repented and also became monks. When the rest of the band of thieves learned what happened, they too abandoned their life of sin and became fervent monks.
Intensifying his spiritual efforts, St. Moses started carrying water every night from the well to each of the brothers, especially for the Elders, who lived far from the well, and for whom it was difficult to carry water. Once, while leaning over the well, the demons took revenge for Moses' victory over them, and delivered such a severe blow to Moses' back, that he fell unconscious, and for an entire year he lay crippled in his cell. After this, he was healed and was freed from his passions, and received from the Lord power over demons.
As the years went on, and word about St. Moses spread, people started coming to see him, and Moses left his cell to hide from visitors. Along the way he met the servants of the local governor who were sent to find the saintly desert dweller. Moses told them, "go no further to see this false and unworthy monk." When the servants returned to the governor at the monastery, they learned that they had encountered St. Moses himself.
After many years of monastic straggles, St. Moses was ordained deacon. In his humility, he believed himself unworthy of this office. Once, wishng to test him, the bishop told the clergy to insult and ridicule him as an unworthy Ethiopian, and to drive him out of the altar. The humble monk accepted the abuse. After this test, the bishop then ordained St. Moses as a priest. He was sixty years old at this time. For another fifteen years he continued his monastic labors, and about 75 disciples gathered around the saintly Elder, who had been granted by the Lord the gifts of wisdom, foresight, and power over demons. When he was 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands would attack their small monastery (skete) and murder everyone. He begged his monks to leave, but he himself refused to leave, because he believed the time had come for the Lord's words to be fulfilled: "All who take up the sword shall perish by the sword" (Mt. 26:52). Seven brethren stayed with their Abba, one of whom hid when attacked, and lived to tell how the robbers killed St. Moses and the other six monks. It was about the year 400.
St. John is referred to as the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptiser of Christ. The above references are found in the scriptures "and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;" (Luke 1, 76). "John did baptise in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (MK 1, 4). He was put to death because he rebuked King Herod for his sinful living. The events leading to his beheading are related in the Gospel of St. Mark.
"For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.
For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy man, and observed him; and when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly.
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought; and he went and beheaded him in the prison.
And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it lin a tomb." (St. Mark, Chapter 6, vs. 17-29). This holy day is kept by the church as a stnict fast day.
In 1795 Hieromonk Juvenaly left Kodiak for Nuchek, where he baptized more than seven hundred Chugach, and then crossed to Kenai Bay and baptized there all the local inhabitants. In the following year (1796), he crossed to Alaska�in the direction of Lake Iliamna, where his apostolic duties came to an end, together with his life. He was killed by the natives, and the reason for his death, was partly because the first thing he did after baptizing the natives was to order them to give up polygamy. He had also persuaded the chiefs and other leading men in the tribes there to give him their children so that the latter might be educated on Kodiak. When he set out with the children, the men regretted what they had done, gave chase, caught up with him, and fell upon him.
When Father Juvenaly was attacked by the savages he did not try to defend himself, or run away, which he could easily have done, especially since he had a firearm with him. He let himself be taken without offering any resistance, asking only that those with him should be spared, which was done.
Much later those who had been spared related that when Father Juvenaly was already dead he had risen up and followed his murderers, saying something to them. The savages, supposing him to be still alive, attacked him again and beat him. But as soon as they left him he again stood up and followed them, and this happened several times. Finally, in order to be rid of him, the savages hacked his body to pieces. Only then did this fervent preacher fall silent, a Martyr for the word of God. On the spot where the missionary's remains lay, there at once appeared a column of flame, reaching up to the sky.
In a letter to Abbot Damascene of Valaam, dated November 22, 1865, Simeon I. Yanovsky, Chief Manager of the Russian Colonies from 1818 to 1820, wrote:
Once I related to [Fr. (later St.) Herman] how the Spaniards in California had taken fourteen of our Aleuts prisoner, and how the Jesuits had tortured one of them, to try and force them all to take the Catholic faith. But the Aleuts would not submit, saying: "We are Christians, we have been baptized," and they showed them the crosses they wore . But the Jesuits objected, saying "No, you are heretics and schismatics; if you do not agree to take the Catholic faith we will torture you." And they left them shut up two to a cell until the evening to think it over.
In the evening they came back with a lantern and lighted candles, and began again to try and persuade them to become Catholics. But the Aleuts were filled with God's grace, and firmly and decisively answered, "We are Christians and we would not betray our faith." Then the fanatics set about torturing them. First they tortured one singly while the other one was made to watch. First they cut off one of the toe joints from one foot, and then from the other, but the Aleut bore it all and continued to say: "I am a Christian and I will not betray my faith."Then they cut a joint off each finger�first from one hand, then the other; then they hacked off one foot at the instep, then one hand at the wrist. The blood poured out, but the martyr bore it all to the end, maintaining his stand, and with this faith he died, from loss of blood!
On the following day it was planned to torture the others, but that same night an order was received from Monterey that all the captured Russian Aleuts were to be sent under guard to Monterey. And so in the morning those remaining alive were sent away. This was related to me by an Aleut who was an eyewitness�a colleague of the man put to death�and who later escaped from the Spaniards....
When I had finished telling him this, Father [Herman] asked me, "What was the name of this tortured Aleut?" "Peter," I replied, "but I cannot remember the other name. Then the elder stood before the Icon, devoutly crossed himself and said, "Holy newly-martyred [Peter], pray to God for us!"
In the church of Saint Tikhon monastery in South Canaan, PA, one of the main icons is that of Saint Panteleimon. It depicts a young man attired in expensive clothes holding a spoon and a box with medicine.
How did this young man become a saint?
He was born in Nicomedia of a Christian mother and pagan father. He was a skilled physician and was appointed as the private physician of the ruler Emperor Maximian. He lived a life of self-indulgence until a Christian friend reminded him that he was baptized as a Christian and convinced him to change his ways. His conscience was awakened, his soul illumined and he was restored to a life in Christ and reconciled to the Church.
The persecutions of Christians by Diocletian reached Nicomedia in 303 AD. Saint Panteleimon was deeply touched by the plight of the poor and suffering. He distributed his possessions among the poor Christians and treated the sick and maimed without payment. He was denounced and arrested. The Emperor urged him to reject Christianity and he would free him. Panteleimon refused. With prayer and medicine, he miraculously cured a paralytic and a blind man. Even this sign of God's loving presence, power, and glory did not sway his torturers. Many different ways were used to attempt to kill him. He was finally beheaded on July 27/August 9 305 AD at the age of 29.
He is beloved by all Christians and many pray for his intercession in times of sickness. He is remembered at each Divine Liturgy and his name is invoked at the blessing of water and oil.
A beautiful church dedicated to him can be found on the Holy Mountain. An enormous Russian monastery on Mount Athos is also dedicated to him.
Saint Mark the Athenian lived in the 5th century abd came from a very wealthy family of merchants in Athens. His family valued intellectual thought and scholarship, and lovingly supported Mark when he chose to pursue religious knowledge rather than the family business.
Mark had the best education possible, due to his family's wealth and his outstanding academic ability. As he studied diligently and excelled in all areas of theological knowledge, he came to the attention of Saint John Chrysostom, who tutored him extensively.
Mark's one desire was to attain spiritual perfection. He gave up the comfort of his family's wealth, loving support and academic acclaim in order to seek union with God.
He became an ascetic on a secluded mountaintop in Ethiopia where he began to meditate, pray, fast and write about religious concerns.
During 60 years of solitude and spiritual intensity, Mark became intimately attuned to the presence of the Holy Spirit and was completely filled with joy and God's holy peace.
Lord, you have blessed me also with material wealth, loving family and friends, and an intellect capable of learning about you. Help me to follw the example of Saint Mark by desiring in my heart to know You above all else.
Symeon was born in 949 in Galatia. He was inspired from his youth by his spiritual father, Symeon the Studite, but did not enter the monastery of Studios in Constantinolpe until he was 27 and had studied extensively.
Symeon became the abbot of the nearby monastery of Saint Mamas after his ordination, and remained in this position for 25 years. As abbot, he implemented major reforms calling for the return to self-denial, asceticism, purity of heart, fasting and constant prayer. His discourses to his monks on these topics never wavered in truth or zeal. Nevertheless, his strictness caused animosity and harassment, which ultimately led to his exile.
Symeon was thoroughly grounded in the practice of the Jesus Prayer, but he differed from other mystic saints in his open descriptions of his personal experiences with Christ. Symeon felt an intimacy and transformation in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and his writings vividly reflect these personal experiences. He expressed the conviction that each Christian must experience the presence and power of Christ in his life. A personal mystical experience is available and should be the norm for all true Christians. His prayer before communion is among his most familiar works.
Lord, I believe that I have a relationship with You, but it is weak and needs to grow and mature. Help me to desire intimacy with You.