A word on the transfer from Samothrace to Sigriana of the sacred relics of our most holy wonderworker Father Theophan

The essay “The Sermon on the Transfer of the Sacred Relics of Our Most Holy Wonderworker Father Theophan from Samothrace to Sigriana” (19 chapters) is a heartfelt panegyric in honor of Saint Theophan the Confessor, timed to coincide with the solemn return of his relics. St. Theodore the Studite describes the life path of St. Theophan: from noble origin and successful secular career (strator at court) to adoption of monasticism. His marriage deserves special attention: the couple retained their virginity and, by mutual consent, left the world, choosing the monastic path. The author describes in detail the ascetic deeds of St. Theophan, his strict monastic life in Sigrian Mountain, virtues (humility, meekness, love, wisdom) and works (copying books). The central place in the work is occupied by the confessional feat of Saint Theophan during the period of the second iconoclastic persecution unleashed by Emperor Leo V the Armenian. Despite a serious illness (kidney failure), Saint Theophan steadfastly endured arrest, interrogation (his famous answer to John the Grammar about the Divinity of Christ), imprisonment and exile to the island of Samothrace, where he ended his life. In the final part of the Word of St. Theodore the Studite emphasizes posthumous miracles revealed from the relics of St. Theophan (healing, casting out demons). According to the author, this is irrefutable proof of the truth of icon veneration and the fact that suffering for the icon of Christ is tantamount to suffering for Christ Himself. Contents St. Theophan the Confessor and his faith The transfer of his holy relics His noble origin His marriage St. Theophan leaves the world Monastic tonsure Asceticism His spiritual qualities and virtues Encouragement of his sister Attitude to the Michian dispute Leo V proclaims iconoclasm Resistance of St. Theophanes Taking custody of the faithful Meeting with John the Grammar Imprisonment Expulsion and death Posthumous miracles Protection of holy icons Conclusion Venerable Theophan the Confessor and his faith 1. The meeting is sacred and the celebration is divine, the day is joyful and the meeting is extraordinary. But who brought all these spectators? But who is this ascendant, or, better to say, transported from foreign places to his home, like someone luminous, emitting rays of confessional fortitude, all crowned with grace and all perfumed with miracles, and all this - in the midst of heretical obscurantism? This is Theophanes, Theophanes - let us repeat the name twice as a divine name 1, and so that it better guides the praise tripled, [I will say again:] Theophanes is a lover of reverence and a hater of vanity, a defender of truth and an admirer of the Christ icon, an ascetic of patience and a conqueror of the iconoclastic heresy, whose name and deed are honest, truly shining with images of theophany and not false making sounds of divine signs. For he who has preserved that which is in the image of God, with the lightness of virtue, and who has kept that which is in the image of Christ, with confessional firmness, is beautiful and very just, as an undistorted imitation of God, without harming one another, radiates miracles and exudes healings to the praise of the glory of Christ, to the praise of the right-minded and to the triumphal shame of the wicked. Transfer of his holy relics 2. Come from Lebanon, O blessed one, come from Lebanon, called by the sayings from the [Song of] Songs, that is, from the heights of the confessional peak, come and cross the wet path, so that the sea may also be sanctified from the beginning of faith, from the head of Sanir and Aermon (Song. 4:8), as the word [of God] says. Come and tell us, using the lips of the one who became your son through the perception of the monastic vow (because it is fitting for a child to proclaim the father’s deeds and to borrow glory through glory), what is the beauty of your life and - so that even more, as if from a flower, an incense comes out, because what is contemplated corresponds - how great is your feat of confession. For in this way you will especially strengthen the efforts of the virtuous, who are wounded by zeal for doing better, and you will turn triumph to the praise of God when it hears what is worthy of praise. His noble birth 3. So, from what root this illustrious one came - let's start the speech from the beginning - it is not so important to tell. However, in order for the parents to receive glory from praising their son, it is good to mention them too. Their names are Isaac 2 and Theodota, their nobility is famous and their wealth is great, and the third significant reason for pride in life is a prominent position at court. Having shone from them, the wondrous one, uniting spiritual [virtues] with carnal ones, is presented to us as a brilliant subject of narration; and I don’t know whether I should describe the makeup of his soul or his physical appearance? Although the second is of no concern to those who are adorned in spirit with splendor fused with virtues (and only such beauty pleases God, who loves, like a lover, those who love Him mutually and makes those who are loved as disciples conformable to His glory), however, there is considerable praise for this because he neglected, along with other things, those things that attract many to vice, as if enslaved by nature and, therefore, did not become above sensual lures. What are these things? The correctness of the face, the proportionality of the limbs, tall stature, flexibility of the arms, quickness of the legs both in military and in other occupations, in which the valiant, outshining his peers, immediately becomes known to the king and is elevated to the rank of lord, is famous at the royal court as truly having a commanding appearance and ascends from what has already been achieved to even greater lordship. 4. A little time passed, and when his father passed away and his mother acted as usual, the sacred husband, still with youthful fluff on his face (after all, he was about nineteen years old), was brought to married life. The girl was the daughter of one of the people famous for wealth and fame. But God did not leave the one whom He foreknew and predestined for the gifts of healing (1 Cor. 12:9) living on earth to be occupied with the flesh for a long time. So what then? As some say, because not many people know the secrets, those who cohabit without ever knowing each other from the bridal chamber (which is very commendable), and as everyone knows, having been childless for two or more years, both come to the decision, with divinely inspired reason, to break off the relationship with each other for the sake of choosing a monastic image. Venerable Theophan leaves the world 5. And the vision is unusual, and the story is divine. How and in what way? Because although there was a previous example presented superbly by other holy men 3 , here it was when the monastic community had just emerged from the bitterest persecution at the hands of Briareus 4 , the God-hating heart - I’m talking about the all-evil Constantine 5 , whose fury is unsurpassed - and the peaceful power of Irene shone in our universe, in accordance with the name of the reigning 6 - then they manifest themselves glorified. Isn't this amazing? Isn't it worthy of respect? And look at what wonderful deeds are being accomplished: nature is conquered by the desire for the supernatural, wealth is squandered for the sake of the treasure of eternal life, office is rejected for the sake of immortal glory, and rumors spread everywhere about what is happening. Oh miracle! Those shining with beauty moaned, thinking about the handsome man; those abounding in wealth were annoyed when they saw the rich man; those who were proud of their high position were remorseful, looking at the one who had thrown away glory, for it is natural for the lover of God to wound the one who hates virtue, just as, on the contrary, it is for the one who hates the world to console the one who loves virtue. What can I say? Those who are married, seeing the one who is praised after marriage as celibate for God's sake, shall we not treat our own vessel with sanctification and honor? Shall we not set a time for abstinence and prayer? But this one is like an angel, and we are like a pagan; and he did not even taste of his own flesh, and we, raging even against other people’s marriages, will go into the ready unquenchable fire. 6. This is what those who destroy the church of God do, whom God will punish, as the holy apostle says (1 Cor. 3:17). He, having risen above nature itself, as a truly valiant ascetic and warrior of Christ, with the assistance of the ruler, whose heart was very moved by what had happened, placed his wife 7 in a certain monastery, not far from Byzantium, on an island called Prinkis 8, and he himself, going further away, on another island called Kalonim, was ordained into the monastic vocation, tonsured by a certain famous man named Theodore 9 and nicknamed Monochirarius. Having received from him a sacred superior, he remains with him in the best possible way and obeys admirably, relying on the advantage of obedience and adorning the splendor of humility, without further needing encouragement or restraint thanks to zealous zeal. Then, a little later, having escorted the mentor to the ruler in heaven, after the test he himself leads the monastery. Then, like any silent person, moving from there to a certain foothill of Mount Sigrian, he creates a most beautiful and desirable place of reflection, the pleasantness of which is better evidenced by sight. 7. There he takes on more ascetic labors, dressed in the armor of faith and strengthened by hope, having proportionate fasting, constant prayer, compassionate tears, laborious handicrafts, from which many books and other works of a skillful hand. Hence, he excels in age and is distinguished by his pastoral dignity, which is the law of primacy, so that he himself can attract followers to good stability and become a witness to the word. If he was plump and did not melt away in flesh, in my opinion, it is not surprising: on the one hand, some people’s bodies are structured this way, and on the other, the immaculate nature is usually fattened even by the simplest food. And otherwise, the flesh that had previously been flourishing, by the end of his life, from a long illness, was so depleted that the composition of his bones could almost be seen through it. His spiritual qualities and virtues 8. How beautiful is the simplicity of this man, meekness, complacency, affability, friendliness, sociability, speech and disposition with love and without deception: the beloved of God loved everyone so much that it seemed to everyone that they loved him alone; and was so loved by everyone that it seemed that he had no opponent. For this is the nature of love: it receives a reciprocal attraction to its feeling. Without anger, unenvious, respectable, kind-hearted, generous, loving science, prudent, kind, teaching, although he was not versed in mad wisdom (cf. Rom. 1:22), however, with the purity of his heart he acquired the gift of knowledge, with his thoughts he defeated many apparently grammarians and philosophers; with the wise, being wise, and with the simple-minded, dealing ingenuously, with the simpleton, taking leave of absence, and responding to the serious with seriousness, loving to be, as far as possible, everything to everyone (1 Cor. 9:19-22), according to the apostolic example. Therefore, he visited the fathers and asked about appropriate things, not in order to wander, as anyone would think, from place to place, but relying on the law of friendship and the ancient custom, which had changed and was now seen to be renewed almost only by the blessed one. When he came, he was loved as providing a service, and when he left, he left his good character as a fond memory. Therefore, if he was received somehow, he was not annoyed (after all, this is the feeling of those dissatisfied with life), and when he himself showed hospitality to others, he was not satisfied if he did not bother his own flesh with service, which was a distinctive feature of his holy soul. 9 . And the fact that some called him by his father’s name 10 was customary, because his real name was Theophanes, with whom he was baptized. Since the life of saints is a test, they were not spared by the temptations that flared up intelligibly and sensually, and especially from a sister who departed from what was due. This is the reason for the oppression of the heart, and communication in letters with calls to stay awake, stand in faith, endure, take courage, with a reminder of the agreement to which God was a witness. And what does it feel like to hear that! - he did not agree to see her from the very separation until death. Relation to the Michian dispute 10. Someone might consider that this husband was not without guilt, because during the persecution - I mean the one that flared up due to the adultery of the second Herod 11 - he chose not to suffer for a good cause, but to go with the others as necessary. And there is nothing surprising if the sun, briefly covered by clouds, does not emit rays, and a person whose nature is changeable, even if he seems to be one of the sophisticated, turns out to be a little sinner, because only God is characterized by perfect sinlessness and inaccessibility to passions, as one of the sacred theologians said 12. I would say, and I understand well, that just as a certain hunter, having inadvertently missed the first prey, on the second attempt becomes more experienced in order to catch the hunted, so here the most valiant, having prepared himself for the first defeat, was the most courageous during the second and most severe persecution. I’ll tell you what it was like now. Leo V proclaims iconoclasm 11. The pagan-minded iconoclasts installed over themselves as king, as they used to say in the old days, the son of Tabeel (cf. Isa. 6:7), because Leo 13, the seed of the criminal Constantine through the wickedness, was proclaimed a tyrant after the glorious king Michael 14, an insidious serpent, an opposing mind, an exalted neck, a man of destruction, a son of iniquity, a vessel anger, an Armenian miscarriage, a servant of the devil, a minion and minion of Satan, who, inspired by his father’s rage, gathers a nasty Sanhedrin against the Holy Council, supposedly to confirm a long-standing false meeting 15. Because of this, the icon of Christ was again subjected to desecration, [the images of] His holy Mother, all His saints, like some kind of abomination (it’s scary to say), quickly removed from sight; therefore the churches were darkened, and the altars were undermined, and the shrines were desecrated and destroyed. Because of this, blood was shed, and venerable men were killed, and prisons were filled, and places of exile were invented in deserts and mountains, in caves and gorges of the earth (Heb. 11:38); Because of this, the priests were foolish and the bishops committed wickedness, and the vile princes of Taneos (Isa. 19:11) dominated, and the virgins were naked, and everyone was filled with fear, because the evil power was zealous to subjugate every soul to destruction, so that not a single person would be saved. Resistance Rev. Feofana 12. But not everyone was caught by the dragon, as he hoped, in the net of wickedness. For here, too, according to the broadcast of Elijah, the voice of God spoke: I have left among the Israelites seven thousand [men]; all these did not bow their knees to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Who was it? The best of the patriarchs 16, bishops and priests, monks and laity, and now glorified. Since he, being bedridden due to kidney disease and a long-term illness, could not at will come to those in the City and share the competition with them, this is what he does: in his letters he asks to be considered one of the fighters through a sympathetic disposition. Gathering to himself those near and far, and the leaders of the Bithynia region, because they obeyed him because of his venerable virtue, he makes speeches befitting steadfastness, and with truly ancient zeal of spirit seals the joint struggle with a like-minded handshake. 13. It was the sacred Nativity of the greatest Forerunner, and the hand of the persecutor grabbed him. Oh, godlessness: inside the divine church the people were secretly led, and outside the royal man blocked the gates of the church. What contempt for God, what a desecration of the Divine Liturgy! Is this the pure and undefiled worship of Christians? But how else can a wicked and demeaning person be recognized if not by what he does and says? He drags others to a personal meeting, whom he caught after the trial in prison, not established on the gospel rock, but found on the sand, as the sacred sayings would say (Matthew 7:24-25), but he left him for a short time in order to shake [them] by example, but was deceived, rather invigorating this husband, rather than relaxing him. After all, even if when the wicked fall, the righteous are terrified (Proverbs 29, Glory), but he becomes firmer, acquiring fortitude through their fall. Meeting with John the Grammar 14. So what? He orders him to be brought on a stretcher, who could hardly turn independently on the bed, and does not bring him before his face, fearing accusations and otherwise respecting this man, but hands him over to the most important of the wicked, named John 17, a man similar to John and Jambres, 18, a corrupt mind and a champion of lies. He is put to the test, the hero repels the enemy, he is flattered even more than he attacks, and reproaches himself. Oh, foolishness, if a fool hoped to lure a theologian, a deceiver - a worshiper of God, a darkened one - an enlightened one, an infant in both mind and age 19 - venerable in both reason and head. And to add one word to crown the story, here is the question of the tempter: “When the body of Christ lay in the tomb, where was the Divinity?” - as if the hearer was invited to be perplexed. The same one says: “The Divinity is everywhere, the God-fighter, except your heart.” And the answer is divinely inspired, and the word is victorious. And having overcome the villain with such short-lived fortitude, since he enraged Caesar as well, he was transferred to another, more strict prison 20. Then he again threatens and tempts him, like some snow flakes falling asleep, but not frightening the confessor in the least, not weakening him in the least. 15. Oh, sincere faith, oh, invincible heart: dying daily (cf. 1 Cor. 15:31) both from an intolerable illness and from confessional preparation, moreover, for two whole years, he did not think evil, did not utter foolish things with his lips (cf. Job 1:9). But what did he say? “Behold, let you be allowed to do whatever you want: nothing will separate me from the confession and love of my Lord.” O martyr's voice! And the witness is the great and famous Vasily. “Already someone,” he says, “just by nodding his head during martyrdom for Christ, was considered to have fulfilled all piety 21 . And what will we say, making excuses for sinful deeds (Ps. 141:4) and, perhaps, neither depressed by old age, nor burdened by illness, but only for the sake of property and the kisses of these here, betraying the truth? Shall we not repent of our folly, shall we not cry uselessly a little later, when there will be no benefit from repentance? Alas for the falling away. How will the one who renounced ask along with the martyr, who did not choose the blessing of persecution along with the one who preferred the good exile? Truly, it is the work of an infant’s mind to think so, although here you are playing with such things as if with dice. 16. So, since the father was so firm, like an anvil or, rather, an unshakable rock against every onslaught of threat, he receives a sentence of exile. This was the land of Samothrace, and the confessor was pleased, and the limited space multiplied his talents. And so he leaves Constantinople, like a truly persecutor, sails across the Propontis, like a long-awaited farewell, and arrives on the island. There he ends the apostolic course of life, having kept the faith and fought the good and blessed fight, whose crown is in eternal promises (2 Tim. 4:7-8). What was the dormition like? After living there twice for eleven days and predicting his last day to his companions, so that through this he would appear righteous, he departs to the Lord in a good old age, in divine pleasure, which he created for himself through virtue, having spent forty years in the monastic life, and in general his entire life - sixty. 17. But what is the cruelty of the persecutor! What? Because even after his death he expressed anger against the saint, since he did not allow him to be brought back from exile. But it was necessary for this to happen, so that after the dragon was eliminated by a terrible death 22, truly in justice for his apostasy, then the victorious body would return home in a voice of joy and confession (Ps. 42:5). So it comes back: and what kind of confession? Creation of miracles. And what are they? The escape of unclean spirits from the bodies they inhabit, the healing of a woman who had been bleeding for a long time through drinking oil from a sacred lamp, the healing of a paralytic brought by touching an honest shrine, the recovery of a deaf and dumb person from the age of fifteen, the return to the sickly state of others, possessed by various and varied diseases, and also good deeds for livestock, because divine grace reached even them. Such and such are the great miracles, to put it briefly as we speak. 18. Such is the chosen vessel (Acts 9:15), the abode of the all-holy Spirit, the man of God, the weapon of righteousness, the purified eye of grace, the sunny mind, the luminous appearance, the golden soul, the snow-white heart, and what other divine name can be expressed. What do you say, Christ-fighter? Do you doubt God's grace in the monk? Don’t you understand that if there is no other evidence, then the act of working miracles alone constitutes proof of the truth, and to suffer for the icon of Christ means to suffer for Christ himself? From here the gifts of healing were also revealed, for whoever has one honor, I am talking about the prototype and the derivative, there is one confession, if we are not crazy, as well as, conversely, renunciation. And let no one think that the word does not work in relation to the made image, hearing from the Lord: he who rejects you rejects Me (Luke 10:16). It is clear that we too are a manufactured image of God, the Artist and Creator of which is God. But nothing can convince a mind prejudiced by ungodly teachings, just like the Jews, when Christ, walking on earth, performed divine and superhuman deeds. They, like those, will look at Him whom they pierced (John 19:37), when He comes from heaven in human form, just as He ascended. To me, at the end of the speech, you can say this, although it is bold: “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and his cavalry! (2 Kings 2:12), how did you rise to such heights? Of course, sitting on virtues in imitation of the divinely prophesied Elijah.” 19. Where are you now? It is clear that in the place of the settlement there is a wonder (Ps. 41:5), where the voice of those celebrating in the Lord is. Therefore, among the ancients at that time there were creators of signs for the acquisition of salvation, for the praise of the glory of God, and you now shine with your talents among this generation, which rejoices, boasts, crowns with confessors, venerates with the saints, places together with miracle workers, represents the glorious, the lover of good, the beloved of all. But as the blessed one who dwells in heaven and rejoices with the Angels, look favorably on us from there, on me, the indecent son of a hymnist, on your sacred flock and abbot, whom you have made through many labors into a perfect man (Eph. 4:13) to rule your sheep after you, and instruct everyone through your prayers to follow in your footsteps, so that you would have us, upon repose from here, living under your in the shadow and seeing you, if it is permissible to say, our good archpastor in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him be glory, and honor, and worship with the All-Holy Father and the Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages. Theophanes in Greek means “revealing God.” – Ed. In his Life of Theophan (chapter 5) St. Patriarch Methodius calls Isaac the strategist of the theme of the Aegean Sea (AV. R. 286). – Ed. Perhaps he means Rev. Ammon of Nitria, who preferred monastic life to marriage (see: St. Palladius of Elenopolis. "Lavsaik", 8) (AV. R. 286). However, such a motif is quite common in hagiography. – Ed. Hundred-armed giant in Greek mythology. – Ed. Constantine V Copronymus, emperor 741–775 Irene, empress from 780–803, restored the veneration of holy icons. Her name means "peace" in Greek. – Ed. In monasticism she took the name Megalo (AV. R. 286). – Ed. Princes' Islands in the Sea of ​​Marmara. – Ed. St. Methodius in the Life of Theophanes (chapter 22) calls another name - Stratigius (AV. R. 286). – Ed. According to the Life of St. Theophan Patriarch Methodius, the name Isaac was given to him by Constantine V. Theophan appears under the name Isaac in the Life of St. Joannicius, written by the monk Peter (AV. R. 287). – Ed. The so-called Michian schism (from the Greek μκοιχεία - “adultery”), which led, in particular, to the exile of St. Theodore and his uncle Rev. Plato, arose due to the fact that Emperor Constantine VI divorced his wife Maria, who was forcibly tonsured as a nun, and married Theodota. The wedding of Constantine and Theodota was performed by the abbot of the Kafar Monastery, Joseph, with the tacit consent of St. Patriarch Tarasius. – Ed. See: St. Gregory the Theologian. Homily 43, 28 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 525. – Ed. Leo V the Armenian, emperor 813–820. – Ed. Michael I Rangave, emperor 811–813. – Ed. This refers to the iconoclastic council in Hieria, held in 754. Leo the Armenian convened a council to confirm his decisions in 815 - Ed. St. Nikephoros of Constantinople. – Ed. John (Ilila, Morokharzaniy) Grammar, later patriarch in 837843. – Ed. Egyptian wise men who opposed Moses. Wed. 2 Tim. 3:8. – Ed. According to the anonymous author about Leo the Armenian (Scriptor Incertus de Leone Armenio), John the Grammaticus was initially not elected Patriarch of Constantinople due to his too young age and humble origin (AV. R. 287). The latter, however, is unlikely to be true, since, according to other sources, John came from a prominent family. – Ed. Rev. Theophanes was imprisoned in the palace of Eleutherius (AV. R. 287). – Ed. St. Basil the Great. About the Holy Spirit 1, 2 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 95. – Ed. Leo V was killed by conspirators in the altar of the palace church on Christmas Day 820 - Ed. Translation and notes by D. E. Afinogenov. Another title: “Like the saints of our father Theodore, abbot of the Studite monastery, a word of praise on our venerable father and confessor Theophan from the Bolshoye Pole monastery.” – Ed. You might be interested in: