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Rev. Joseph the Songwriter and creator of the canons Today the Church commemorates St. Joseph the Songwriter - one of the great fighters who defended icon veneration, one of the high prayer books, “enlightened by the gifts of God,” who enriched with eloquent canons the treasury of prayerful outpourings and doxologies - in all centuries raised by believers from the excess of feelings that overwhelm the heart. Fatherland of St. Joseph was in Sicily, but when he was still a youth, the Saracens attacked Sicily, and his parents, the pious Plato and Agathia, forced to leave their homeland, retired to the Peloponnese. - After moving here, over time, in the young man Joseph, imbued with reading St. Scripture, having grown up in the love of fasting and prayer, was finally determined by alienation from everything worldly. Therefore, having parted with his parents, he, in the 15th year of his age, entered the Solunsk monastery as a monk, where from the very beginning he devoted himself to a strict ascetic life. He slept on the ground covered with leather, his clothes consisted of rags that barely covered his body; food – a small piece of bread and “moderate” drinking of water; His prayer was constant singing in his mouth, kneeling and often lasting all night. Reading St. Writing and copying books was his main and favorite pastime; Thus he advanced from strength to strength in his spiritual mind; He was among the brethren, like an angel of God, shining with holiness, for which he was chosen unanimously and forced to accept the rank of abbot of the monastery and the rank of priesthood. In this rank, he devoted himself even more zealously to labors and exploits, working for his God and praying for the whole world, often with tears - while performing the Divine Mysteries. Once I visited the monastery where Joseph labored, the Venerable. Gregory Dekapolit, seeing the holy life of Joseph, loved him with all his soul, became close to him and lived in the monastery for some time. Then, going to Byzantium to strengthen the faithful, who were then embarrassed by the heretics, he wished to go there with Joseph, seeing in him a great helper in the defense of the Church, agitated by a heretical storm. Arriving in Byzantium, they settled in the church of St. martyrs Sergius and Bacchus and zealously set about admonishing the people - how to protect themselves from heretical harm and firmly adhere to the dogmas and customs of the faith of their fathers. At that time, the iconoclastic heresy resumed under Emperor Leo the Armenian. One of his first acts upon ascending the throne was to strictly prohibit the veneration of icons. Therefore, they were taken out of churches, thrown out with desecration and trampled underfoot. The clergy who opposed this were deprived of their positions, sent into exile and replaced by heretics who were like-minded to the iconoclast king. Then St. Gregory with St. Joseph began openly - in city squares and among public meetings, also bypassing the houses of believers - to convince and beg everyone not to be tempted by the new teaching, not to deviate from the rules taught by the teachers of Orthodoxy. And “like the morning dew, refreshing and reviving flowers and herbs that were drooping, half-withered the day before from the heat of the day, their words revived hearts that were faint-hearted, doubting, and as if withering from the heat of furious persecution and heretical teachings”... Meanwhile, seeing that many were ready to succumb to the power of temptation and retreat from Orthodoxy, monastics in various monasteries convinced Gregory the Venerable to send Joseph to Rome to inform the Orthodox Pope Leon III about the disasters of the Church in Constantinople, hoping that their beloved teacher, strong in the strength of soul and body, would endure the burden of a long journey and “skilled in words,” eloquent, would convince the pope rise to the aid of those oppressed by heretics. “Oh my son,” said St. Gregory to Joseph, entrusting this commission to him, - the time has come to show your zeal for God and prove your devotion to a just cause: go to the West and tell the High Hierarch and all the faithful about the disasters of the persecution of the Orthodox faith in the East, and how the icons of the Savior and His Most Pure Mother are trampled underfoot, and what desecration is committed on the decoration of churches, and how non-Orthodox shepherds are bribed with gold or fear are supplied instead of faithful guardians of the flock of Christ. Proclaim all this, convince and implore us to raise the sword of the word of God for us and rise up in our defense. The inscrutable destinies of God, however, placed an obstacle on the path of Joseph who set off for Rome. Knowing that many residents were leaving Constantinople in this troubled and dangerous time of struggle against heresy, there were people who, wanting to serve the king, tried to capture and return those fleeing to the hands of the iconoclasts. Having learned about Joseph’s departure to the western capital, these people did not allow his journey to take place: having organized an attack on the ship with the help of sea robbers, they captured everyone on it and betrayed them on the island of Crete into the hands of the iconoclasts. Rev. Joseph, bound in chains, was thrown into prison, where he met many sufferers, also imprisoned for maintaining the right faith. Some of them, exhausted to the point of exhaustion, were ready to fall into despondency. It was then that St. appeared as the general comforter. Joseph, day and night, encouraging everyone with his inspired speeches: “What could be more gratifying and joyful than those chains with which we are bound for the sake of love for God and for the sake of honoring His image! - he said, himself rejoicing in his bonds for the Lord, - even if we suffer in our temporary imprisonment here, then we must thank God for this, having before us the bright image of St. Ap. Paul, who considered bonds and chains to be his best, most precious adornment, rejoicing that he was worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. And didn’t Christ Himself suffer more for us, Who “committed no sin, and although He was slandered, He did not slander each other; while suffering, he did not threaten,” as St. says about Him. Apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:22–23). “Of course,” St. continued to exhort the prisoners. Joseph, - suffering and bodily illness are severe, but it is impossible for anyone to be called a bearer of the yoke of Christ if he does not follow His path, taking upon himself the suffering that the Lord determined for us to endure, so that from them that power of virtue would be born, with which the heavenly door would be opened for us, closed by our sins... And he showed us no other path to salvation than one strewn with labors and sorrows. Do not be embarrassed when you lose your health in suffering for the honor of St. icons of the Savior and His Divine Mother: in the legitimate struggle for the truth of God, God Himself will not abandon man.” Among other prisoners, one Orthodox bishop was kept in prison. He was especially depressed by the prison torment; he was already growing cold in the fight against heresy... Realizing the elder’s confusion, Joseph tearfully begged and persuaded him to rise up from his exhaustion and take heart in the fight. And Joseph’s God-inspired admonitions were not in vain: the elder became strengthened in spirit, arbitrarily surrendered himself into the hands of the tormentors, endured the torture with firmness... He was hanged, naked, handed over to the torment of his body, and finally, hit in the head with a huge stone, he gave up his soul to God. And St. delivered many more. Joseph from spiritual death, tirelessly teaching and supporting everyone on the right path, and the Lord preserved his useful life... He spent six years in prison - until the death of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who was killed by his soldiers on the very night of the Nativity of Christ, during Matins, about which St. Joseph through St. who appeared to him, praying all that night. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who told him that he should now return to Constantinople, for the confirmation of many by the grace of the Holy Spirit abiding in him... Following this, released from prison (in 820), Joseph arrived in Constantinople, but did not find his beloved father Gregory Decapolitus alive and settled in a secluded place outside the city, near the church of St. John Chrysostom Fr. Here he began building a church in the name of St. Nicholas, and transferred the body of St. Gregory Decapolite, and built a monastery near the church, in which a significant number of monks soon gathered and, in addition, many people gathered to be edified by his God-inspired, comforting and intelligible word, reaching the heart of everyone. Soon Joseph built another new, small church at the monastery in the name of St. Apostle Bartholomew and with honor placed in this church part of the relics of St. Bartholomew, which he once received as a gift from a pious man. Joseph had great love and faith for the holy Apostle, he often saw him in a dream vision and wanted to magnify his holiday with singing of praise, but, considering himself unworthy to begin such a task, he only prayed to God and the Apostle, asking himself for admonition and inspiration; While praying, he also fasted for a long time and strictly. And so, on the eve of the feast day of St. Apostle Bartholomew, he was honored to see him in a dream: St. The Apostle appeared to him at the altar in white robes and, lifting the curtain in the altar, seemed to call Joseph to him. When Joseph approached him, St. Bartholomew, taking St. He placed the Gospel from the table of the Divine Table on Joseph’s chest and said: “May the right hand of Almighty God bless you, may the waters of heavenly wisdom flow onto your tongue, may your heart contain the Holy Spirit and may your songs delight the universe!” And from that hour, feeling overshadowed by grace from above, St. Joseph began to write his Divinely inspired canons and hymns in honor of the Mother of God and the saints, for which the Church calls him “Songwriter.” Again the time of difficult trials came for Joseph, during the reign of Emperor Theophilus, an adherent of the iconoclastic heresy. For his bold denunciation of heretics, Joseph was sent into exile - to the city of Chersonesos, where he languished until, under Theophilus's widower wife Theodora, the iconoclastic persecution ceased, and all the exiled zealots of Orthodoxy, together with His Holiness Patriarch Methodius, were returned from exile. After the death of St. Methodius, who after him took the patriarchal throne, Ignatius, appointed Joseph as a vessel guard at the great Sophia Church of Constantinople. Here, enjoying universal love and respect, Joseph was in constant labor, praying, singing songs and tirelessly teaching the people. A few years later, however, he was again expelled, antagonizing the most noble nobleman Varda by denouncing and reproaching him for his cruel treatment of his wife and for entering into a second marriage while his wife was alive, and even with a close relative. For the same denunciations and a similar fate, Patriarch Ignatius suffered. Both of them were returned from exile and again took up their honorary positions under Basil the Macedonian, who reigned (827) after the death of Theodora's son Michael and a relative of the royal Bardas, killed by courtiers. Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople after Ignatius, also loved and respected Joseph so much that he called him the father of fathers, an angel in the flesh, and made him confessor of the entire Constantinople clergy. Having reached a ripe old age, the great worker Joseph finally felt physically exhausted and fell into an illness that led to his death in 883. Having received notification from above about his impending death, Joseph made a list of all the church affairs and things entrusted to him, sent it to Patriarch Photius, and himself, preparing for his death, prayed like this: “I thank You, Lord my God, for preserving me all the days of my life and now for the rest of my soul, so that my enemy may not rejoice in ignorance and weakness at the sins he has committed.” Save, Lord, Your people and protect everything that You have created until the end of the ages. Be a Helper to the sons of Your beloved Church. Grant her eternal peace and storm-free silence; eradicate the destructive heresy from it; Let my soul depart from my body in peace and silence. And although, knowing my sins before You, I cannot count myself among Your saints, in whom Your Holy Spirit dwells, I pray to Your whole world for the invincible goodness, despite my iniquities, to make me worthy of the honor of Your chosen sons! - And, having received Holy Communion. Mystery and blessing everyone around him, the righteous man joyfully gave up his soul to the Lord - on the week of Easter, April 4th. None of the hymns wrote as many sacred songs as Joseph wrote. Most of the canons were written in honor of the martyrs, especially those who are less famous by the Church, and then the same saints. According to a study of different individuals, their number ranges from 211 to 300. About the hymns of St. Joseph’s disciple Theophan writes: “The monk, having been enlightened by grace, so easily and quickly composed the holy. songs that seemed as if he was not composing something new, but only recalling something forgotten”... About the spirit and power of the hymns of St. The biography of St. John, deacon of the Church of Constantinople (about 890) writes about Joseph as follows: “When he began to write poetry, he amazed his ears with the wonderful pleasantness of the sound, and struck his heart with the power of his thoughts. What kind of music does he not have? what sweetness of verse does not flow from his lips? Sleep and laziness flee from lazy people when they begin to delight not only their ears, but also their souls with singing. Those who strive for a perfect life also find wonderful relaxation here; those who are disturbed, as if by waves, by heart movements, tame the confusion within themselves when they listen to them; and those who rejoice begin to cry from the fullness of joy and delight. Writers, leaving other poems, from this one treasury - from the writings of Joseph, began to draw treasures for their songs, or, better yet, draw them daily. Finally, all nations translate them into their own language in order to enlighten the darkness of the night with songs and, driving away sleep, continue vigils until the sun's rays rise. And who would be so insensitive that, while reading sweet, delightful songs to the Virgin Mary, he would not be struck to the depths of his soul and begin to grieve and mourn his sins? But what am I saying about the variety and harmony of poetry? Why am I expanding on the pleasantness and sweetness with which Joseph’s poems are fragrant like fragrant aromas? If anyone reads the life of a saint celebrated on any day by the Church, he himself will see the dignity of Joseph’s song and recognize the life of the one being glorified. Truly, while the life and deeds of almost every saint are adorned with praise, isn’t he worthy of immortal glory who was able to glorify them so worthily and beautifully! Let some saints glorify his meekness, others his wisdom, others his deeds; and let everyone together glorify the grace of the Holy Spirit, which so generously and unparalleledly enriched him with her gifts.” For a first acquaintance with the canons of St. Joseph, the following verses from his penitential and other canons can serve: “By the multitude of Thy mercy, destroy the multitude of my sins, O Christ, I pray to Thee: grant me the thought of conversion, so that I may glorify Thy goodness, which surpasses my mind!” “By Your great mercy, You appeared incarnate on earth. And therefore, having sinned more than any man, accept me now, when I fall in repentance to Your compassions!” “The ranks of the disembodied sing with us, O Virgin worthy of song: for You gave birth to the Immense One who was contained in Your womb, remaining a Virgin, as before the Nativity, Bride of God!” “Awake, go soul, and cry to your Creator, who knows your secret deeds; show the fruits of repentance, may the generous Lord have mercy on you and deliver you from eternal fire!” “Cleanse, O One Good One, cleanse and save me; like a publican I cry before You in trembling: I am carried away by a multitude of sins, I bow under the weight of sins, I am filled with immeasurable shame.” “My savior! You, Who have determined repentance for those who turn, grant me repentance, O Good One, before the end of my life, grant me contrition and sighing, as you gave to the harlot who kissed Your feet, Master!” “Every day I sin and do not fear You, Christ, You, Who patiently seeks my repentance. Grant me thoughts of conversion as the Good One, and do not neglect me.” “I add sins to sins, Christ, and I never cease, wretch. The One Good and Sinless! Be generous and save me!” “Send me streams of tears, Word of God! Yes, Lord, I will wash away the impurity of the Falls!” “From the darkness of excessive passions, I have become blind in mind, I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m devastated in my heart; Convert me, Christ, and grant me repentance to cleanse my defilements!” “Moan, my soul, to get rid of your groaning; shed tears so that you don’t have to shed incessant and completely useless tears in agony...” “From the depths of laziness and immeasurable passions, take me, O Good One; You, Who gave birth to the Source of mercy, grant me the source of tears, Ever-Virgin!” “As a Canaanite, I appeal to You: have mercy on me, O Christ; just as I was once crooked, so correct me, Jesus, like Peter the Savior, save me, drowning in sins.” “Behold, at the door of the Bridegroom: decorate the soul of the candle, watering it with the oil of alms and other good deeds; strive to enter with Christ into unspeakable joy!” The Holy Church sings St. To Joseph: “An inexhaustible source of repentance, a giver of endless consolation, and an abyss of tenderness, Joseph, give us tears of Divine repentance, with them the consolation of those who cry here, we will find from God, asking for your help, Holy One!” Rev. Feons, Met. Solunsky Rev. Theons, Met. Thessalonica, whose relics are in the monastery of St. Anastasia (in Galachista), of which he was primate before his elevation to the metropolitan see. He reposed in the 16th century (see Athos. Pater. ed. 4, part II, p. 72 and in the life of St. St. James - November 1). Rev. Joseph of Pechersk, sickly Rev. Joseph of Pechersk, sick. Suffering from a long illness, Joseph made a vow, in the event of his recovery, to devote his life to service in the Pechersk Monastery, which he fulfilled when he got rid of the illness, and through diligent work, fasting, prayer and service to the brethren he achieved glorification from the Lord with incorruptibility after his death. Lecturer Joseph reposed in the 14th century. His relics rest openly in the Feodosiev caves in Kiev. Holy martyrs Tarba and Fervuf with the latter's slave Sisters of the Persian Bishop Simeon, who suffered on April 17, 344. The queen accidentally fell ill, and the nosy Jews spread a rumor at court that she fell ill as a result of the spell of Tarba, who wanted to avenge the death of her brother on the royal family. The king ordered the head of the Mogs to conduct an inquiry, and since the sisters and the slave did not change their faith, they were condemned to death for witchcraft: they were sawn in two (April 4, 345). Ave. Zosima, hermit of Palestine Ave. Zosima, hermit of Palestine. About him, see the life of St. Mary of Egypt. He died a hundred years old, in 523. † Memory of Rev. Zosima Vorbozomsky The Monk Zosima of Vorbozom, named after St. Zosima of Palestine, whose memory is on April 4, acquired salvation in a deeply silent place, on the island of Lake. Vorbozomsky, 22 versts from Belozersk. – He received his initial monastic education from Rev. Cornelius of Komelsky. Leaving the Komel monastery, he labored on a secluded island, first alone; then he built a church in honor of the Annunciation of the Mother of God, and lovers of desert silence gathered there. – Worldly people think of themselves that they are strong, that the world is not an obstacle to the salvation of the soul. Sad dream! Today and yesterday the soul is full of unclean images that irritate passions; today and yesterday are busy with everything, except God; now and yesterday time was wasted without benefit to the soul. And this is for nothing! “Like the eye,” says Vasily Vel., when it constantly moves and turns now to the sides, now up, now down, it cannot clearly see objects and, in order to clearly examine a thing, must direct its vision to it alone; so it is impossible for the human mind, when it is distracted by countless worldly concerns, to clearly see the truth” 29. Far from the vanities and worries of people, on a silent island, Rev. Zosima dedicated everything to the Lord and cared about one thing - his soul. The incorruption of his relics testifies that he walked the right path and died peacefully in 1550 30. † Hieromartyr Nikita Saint Nikita, a Slav of Albania, labored monastically in the Russian Athos Monastery and served here as a rotating priest. - Out of jealousy for silence, he later lived in the monastery of St. Anna. Out of jealousy for the glory of the Lord Jesus, insulted by Mohammedanism, he decided to take upon himself the title of denouncer of Mohammedanism. Leaving Athos, he comes to Serres and in the Serres monastery he spends some time preparing with prayer for his feat. Then he goes to the local Mohammedan chief and says that he would like it to be proven to him that Mohammedanism is not a pathetic delusion that everyone who cares about their soul should abandon. The chief gathered scientists and mullahs. When the scientists remained ashamed of the confessor’s denunciations, they persuaded him with affection to recognize the Prophet Mohammed, then they turned to violence. The fans of the false prophet, not being able to justify Mohammedanism with reasonable convictions, began to justify it with blows of violence. They subjected the confessor to the most brutal tortures for an imaginary insult to Mohammed. They tied his head with screws, hammered needles into his fingernails, and burned him with fire when he was hanged upside down. The martyr endured everything firmly and glorified Christ the Lord. Finally the judges decided to strangle him. And the martyr died on the evening of Holy Saturday, April 4. 1808 After 3 days, Christians bought the body of the holy martyr from the wicked and buried him with honor; and after some time the Lord glorified His martyr with several miracles. This is how Konstanty, hieromonk of Serres, and local doctor Nicholas 31 wrote about the exploits of the martyr on February 19, 1809 in Russik. Letter to Gregory Bogosl. about desert living. Christ. Thurs. 1821. East. Hier. 3, 611. Consolidated. about the monastery 402. Dictionary of Saints, p. 115. St. Petersburg. 1836 Athonite Patericon 2. 394–396.