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† Memory of Rev. Mark, John and Theophilus We, the weak, begins his story about St. Mark Pechersk monk Polycarp, we want to follow the example of the ancients. “They put in a lot of work, walked through deserts, mountains, and hollows of the earth, and some of the venerable men they wrote about, they saw for themselves, about the lives of others, about miracles and God-pleasing deeds they heard from former fathers, and so they compiled a patericon, which, reading, we enjoy so much spiritually. “I, unworthy, have no understanding of the truth and have not seen anything like this, but follow only what I heard from the Venerable Bishop Simon. I didn't go to St. in places, I did not see either Jerusalem or Mount Sinai so that I could add anything to my story, as those skilled in words do. - But let me not boast of anything else than St. the Pechersk Monastery and the monks who were there, their lives and miracles, which I remember with joy. I, a sinner, strongly desire the prayers of those fathers. – Then I begin the story about Rev. Mark Pechersky 370. Let us truly say, the Venerable Mark of Pechersk is such a man of God who constitutes the glory of the Russian Church, and, with him in mind, we have no need to go to the East to see the true man of God. Rev. Mark is a wonderful man of God! The most amazing thing about him is the simplicity of his feat. He did not lead a high contemplative life. His occupation was very ordinary: he was digging the earth. But with this simple work he achieved a high spiritual perfection that few achieve. - This is the most convincing example of the fact that during any bodily labor, if the spirit works for the Lord, drives away everything unclean from the soul, fills it with thoughts and sighs of saints, strictly guarding it with humility and simplicity, the soul can improve spiritually. Let us listen to Polycarp's entire story about the wondrous Mark. Rev. Mark, writes Polycarp, “living in a cave, dug many caves with his own hands and carried the earth on his shoulders, working day and night for the Lord. He dug many places for the burial of the brethren and did not take anything for it, unless someone himself gave something, and even then he distributed it to the poor. With him St. Theodosius was transferred from the cave to the monastery, to the great church.” It should be added that the monk, despite all the fact that he worked so hard, digging caves and graves, wore chains on himself: they now hang over his relics. Here is his cross - a monument to his abstinence even in drinking water; when he was tormented by thirst, he drank no more than what was contained in this copper cross 371. “At one time, Polycarp narrates, Mark, while digging the ground, became tired to the point of exhaustion and left the place cramped, not expanded. It happened that one brother fell ill and died; There was no other place for him except that cramped one; The dead man, having been brought into the cave, was barely put in. The brethren grumbled against Mark, not being able to remove him or pour oil on him; the place was so narrow! The caveman humbly bowed to everyone and said: “Forgive me, holy fathers! Unfortunately, I didn’t finish.” They began to scold him even more. – Mark said to the dead man: “The place is cramped; work yourself, brother, take the oil and pour it on yourself.” The dead man stretched out his hand and, rising a little, took the oil and poured it in a cross shape on his face and chest and, giving the vessel, he himself removed everything in front of everyone, lay down and fell asleep. “When this miracle happened, fear fell on everyone.” “Another brother, after a long illness, died, and one of his friends, having washed his body according to custom, went to the cave to see where to lay the body of his friend. He asked the caveman Mark about this; but he answered: “Go, tell your brother to wait until the morning until I dig out the place, and then let him go to eternal rest.” “Father! - the brother objected, who do you tell him to say this to? I have already wiped the dead body with my lip.” But Mark repeated to him: “You see, the place is not ready yet; go, tell the deceased: sinful Mark says to you: - stay, brother, one more day, until I tell you that the place is ready; In the morning you will go to Christ.” - The monk returned to the monastery; here the brethren were already performing the usual singing for the dead. In front of everyone, he said to the deceased: “Mark is telling you that the place is not ready for you yet, wait until the morning.” At these words, the deceased opened his eyes, his soul returned, and he remained alive all night, not speaking to anyone. - In the morning, the brother again went to the cave to find out about the place, and the caveman said to him: “Go - tell the one who has come to life - Mark says to you: now leave this temporary life, surrender your spirit to God, and a place is ready for your body here.” – As soon as the brother said this to the revived one, he closed his eyes and gave up his spirit to God. “Two brothers, John and Theophilus, were united by heartfelt love from their youth and were equally zealous to serve God. They asked Blessed Mark to prepare for them one common burial place. – After a long time, the elder brother Theophilus was sent to the side due to a monastic need. The younger one, having pleased the Lord, fell ill and died; it was placed in the prepared place. A few days later, Theophilus returned and, having learned about the death of his brother, went with the brethren to see where the deceased was laid. - Seeing that he was laid in their common coffin, in the first place, he was indignant at Mark and said: “Why did you put him here in my place? I’m older than that.” The caveman, bowing to him with humility, answered: “forgive me, a sinner, and turning to the deceased, he said to him: “brother, get up and give this place to your elder brother, and lie down on the other.” According to the word of the blessed one, the dead man stood up and lay down in another place. Then Theophilus, grumbling against the blessed one, fell at his feet and said: “I have sinned, father, I have disturbed my brother; I ask you, order him to lie there again.” The blessed one answered: “The Lord did the work so that there would be no enmity between us; He ordered the deceased to give you the place of elder. God’s work is to resurrect the dead, and I am a sinful man; tell him, won't he listen to you? Know also that you should, without leaving here, take your favorite seniority and be placed here. But since you are not yet ready for the outcome, go and worry about your salvation; in a few days you will be brought here.” “Hearing this, Theophilus was horrified and thought that he would die immediately. Returning somehow to his cell, he sobbed bitterly. Having given away everything he had and leaving only his robe, he waited every day for the hour of death, and no one could keep him from tears or force him to taste sweet food; Tears were his food, day and night. Every morning he washed his face with tears, not knowing whether he would reach the evening; as night approached, he darkened his eyes with tears and said: who knows whether I will live until the morning? Many, retreating to temporary peace, fell asleep in eternal sleep. How can I hope that I will stay alive when I have already been told that my death is imminent? Theophilus tearfully prayed to the Lord to give him time to repent. With such a feat, over the course of several years, he had dried up his body so much that his bones could be counted. He lost his sight from tears. Rev. Mark, seeing the hour of his departure to the Lord, called Theophilus to him and said to him: “Forgive me, brother, for offending you for so many years, and pray to God for me, I’m already leaving here; I will not forget to pray for you, so that the Lord God will deign us to see each other and be together with the reverend. Fathers Anthony and Theodosius." Then Theophilus said: “Father! why are you leaving me here? Take me with you, or let me see the light. “I know that for my sins I had to die at the same time that you raised my brother; For your holy prayers the Lord spared me, awaiting my repentance. “And now you are able to give me what I ask.” Let me go with you to the Lord or receive my sight.” Rev. Mark answered: “Do not grieve, my brother, because for God’s sake you have darkened your physical eyes, but you have received your spiritual sight. “I’m even glad that I was to blame for your blindness; I announced death to you, wanting to bring your carnal wisdom to humility. Don’t wish for death: it will come, even if you don’t wish for it. This is what will serve as a sign of your imminent death: three days before it you will receive your sight.” Having said this, blessed Mark rested. His holy relics are placed in a cave that he dug for himself.” Since, according to Polycarp, blessed. Mark witnessed the transfer of the relics of St. Theodosius from the cave to the church of the monastery, but Polycarp does not say that the blessed one. Mark saw Rev. alive. Theodosius, and the transfer of the relics of Theodosius was in 1091, then the death of St. Mark followed probably in 1102 372. Through his prayer, those who reverently drink from his cross receive healing. Blazh. Theophilus continued to cry for himself after Mark's death. His tears flowed in such abundance that a whole vessel was filled with them. According to Mark’s prediction, the light of his eyes also returned to him, and then he learned that his death was near. An angel appeared to him and said: “You pray well, but why do you boast about your tears, collecting them in a vessel? Here is another vessel full of fragrances; in it are those tears that flowed in prayer, which you wiped away with the edge of your clothes or dropped on the ground; they are all intact." Having said this, he left the vessel and ceased to be visible. Theophilus, calling the abbot, revealed a vision to him and, showing him two vessels, asked to pour them on his body during burial. On the third day after his epiphany, he rested peacefully. His body was laid in a cave together with his beloved brother John, near St. Mark. During the burial, they poured an angel’s vessel on his body and the whole cave was filled with a fragrance, and then they poured another vessel on him.” To the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever" (1 Tim. 1:17). Holy babies 14,000, Christ for the sake of the slain These innocent male Jewish infants suffered for the sake of the flightless Infant Christ, the Son of God, at the command of Herod, king of the Jews. Hearing from the Magi about the birth of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, Herod, who did not come from a royal family, was confused and all of Jerusalem with him; asked the high priests and scribes of the Jews: where should Christ be born; secretly inquired from the wise men about the time of the appearance of the star that led them to Jerusalem, and said to the wise men: go and carefully investigate the Child, and when you find Him, notify me, so that I too can worship Him.” Scolded by the wise men, who, having bowed to the Infant Christ, did not return to Herod, but went to their country in a different way, Herod became angry and, fearing that the newborn King of the Jews would take away his kingdom, sent a year after the birth of Jesus Christ, not knowing where He was, to kill all the babies in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and younger, so that among them to destroy the Infant Christ, Whom he feared in vain. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, a voice was quickly heard in Rama, weeping and sobbing and much crying: Rachel wept for her children, and did not want to be consoled. as if they are not (Matthew 2:7–18). So the evil and vain Herod sacrificed 14,000 babies to his unbridled lust for power, not knowing that Jesus Christ was born to establish a kingdom not of earthly dominion, but of eternal salvation: not knowing that all human intrigues are powerless and in vain for the almighty Providence of God, powerfully and unhinderedly arranging the salvation of the world, and that the life of Herod himself, who arrogantly took care of himself will last no more than a year, and the fate of his children depends on God! The judgment of God, according to the writers of the Church, befell Herod with terrible illnesses that ended his life for the lawless slaughter of the innocent. The infant martyrs did not enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the door of St. baptism, but martyrdom for Jesus Christ, which He Himself called baptism (Mark 10:39). And with this baptism, in case of need, the sacrament of baptism with water itself is replaced. The Church began to commemorate the infants, Christ for the sake of those beaten by Herod, from the ancient times of Christianity. The Fathers of the Church of the 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries testify to this in their conversations, such as: Chrysostom, Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Origen and others. The latter calls the Bethlehem babies the firstfruits of Christian martyrs and says that their memory is glorified in the Churches among the saints, as the firstborn who were slain for Christ. But the oldest of the Church Fathers who glorifies the infants of Bethlehem is Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons of the 2nd century. Subsequently St. Andrew of Crete and Cyprian wrote songs of praise for the Church on the day of the massacre of the infants, now offered by the Church on this day. Rev. George, Bishop of Nicomedia Rev. George was a contemporary of St. Photius (whose memory is February 6), with whom he shared all the trials and tribulations. He died peacefully, leaving behind quite a lot of writings 374 and a story about the deliverance from danger of the Blachernae Church (in which there was an ark with the robe of the Mother of God), during the siege of Constantinople by the barbarians. Before that, he described in detail how Patricius Galbius and Candide found a holy robe under Emperor Leo I, which was placed in the Blachernae church, where it worked various miracles. Venerable Markell, abbot of the monastery of the Never Sleeping. Rev. Markell was the third abbot of the Ever-Sleeping community, founded by Rev. Alexander (July 3); a strong man in word and deed, merciful to orphans and the poor, blessed with the gift of clairvoyance and miracles. Died in 486. St. Prophet Nathan. The Holy Prophet Nathan lived under the kings David and Solomon and was one of the narrators about the deeds of the kings and also the events of his time (see about him in the life of King David - December 26). RKP. Epistle of Polycarp to Akindinus. Drawing of the cross - at Fundukley in Antiquities of Kyiv. RKP. Saints: “Rev. Marco the grave digger: even in the dead I listened to him; presgav. in l. 6600". This year has been postponed. relics of St. Feodosia; and Ave. Mark, as can be seen, according to Polycarp, lived after that for at least 10 years. About them, see “Histor. Review hymns” Philar., Archbishop of Chernigov, § 52.