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4 hours. The suffering of the holy martyr Nikita Saint Nikita, an Albanian Slav, labored as a monk in the Russian monastery of Mount Athos and served as a successive priest here. - 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 prepares for some time 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 admirers of the 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 nails, and burned him with fire when he was hung 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. Three days later, Christians bought the body of the hieromartyr from the wicked and buried him with honor; and after some time the Lord glorified His martyr with several miracles. This is how they wrote about the exploits of the martyr, dated February 19, 1809 in Russika, Konstanty the hieromonk of Serres and the local doctor Nikolai 170. 6 hours. Memory of Cyril and Methodius, Slavic enlighteners At the beginning of the 9th century. in Thessaloniki 171, a city then populated and especially surrounded by Slavs, lived a man venerable in spiritual qualities, wealth and rank, Lev, a Bulgarian by birth, but who served under the Greek. Emperor 172. His wife, Mary, was also a pious wife. From this good couple came the enlighteners of the Slavs - Methodius and the youngest Constantine, born in 827. At the age of seven, Konstantin discovered a strong love of learning and a quick memory; but he especially loved to study the works of Gregory the Theologian. From an unsatisfied thirst for learning, he began to grieve; He wanted to learn grammar from the Thessalonica monk, but he refused. His relative is logothete Theoktist, the guardian of the young emperor. Mikhail, having learned about his talents, summoned him to the court to study with the king. After studying grammar and the beginnings of Homeric poetry from the famous Leo, head of the Vardin school, and from the gifted Photius, later patriarch, he studied literature, philosophy, astronomy and music. Brilliant talents tied the logothete to him, so that he wanted to marry his goddaughter to him, but Constantine refused. Logofet suggested to the queen: “Here we have a young philosopher who does not like worldly life; In order not to lose him for society, having dedicated him to the priesthood, we will entrust him with the service of the librarian of Sofia. That's how things worked out 173. But Kirill did not stay in this troublesome position for long. He hid in the Golden Horn Monastery and only six months later did they learn about his whereabouts. “Then they persuaded him to accept the position of teacher. By the will of the king, he had a public dispute with the deposed Patriarch John, known for the tenacity with which he supported the iconoclastic heresy, and the blessed one shamed the proud stubborn man. In the 24th year of his life, in 851, the philosopher, together with George the asyncrit, was sent to the Militin emir to debate the Christian faith: Al-Rashid’s successors loved to argue about the Koran. The order was completed successfully. Upon returning to the capital, Cyril retired to Olympus - Athos, where brother Methodius lived as a monk and, in kind solitude, devoted himself with all zeal to monastic deeds. The elder brother, having received an education in Thessaloniki, entered military service and was for 10 years the ruler of the Strum Slavic region, then subject to the emperor. Bored with worldly life, Methodius retired to a monastic monastery and submitted to all the strictures of monasticism: “he performed unrequited obedience, remained in vigils and prayer, attended every service of God, kept fasting and spiritual sobriety, cleansed his soul with crying; I gave myself no rest day or night.” Such an ascetic life drew the attention of other ascetics to him, who, with the consent of the patriarch, wanted to see him as metropolitan of a famous place, probably Thessaloniki; but he did not agree to the election and they could hardly convince him to accept the abbess in the Polychronium Monastery 174, one of the richest, located on the Sea of ​​Marmara. In 858, the Khozar ambassadors asked the emperor to send them a learned man who would teach them the true faith, since, they added, “either the Jews or the Mohammedans are trying to convert them to their faith.” The Emperor, like others, knew in Blessed Cyril a special ability to study languages ​​and extensive scholarship. Therefore, he was appointed to a mission to the Khazars; Let, the emperor added, let your brother abbot Methodius 175 be your assistant. The zealous preachers managed to do at least so much among the Khazars that the Kagan accepted Christianity and everyone was allowed to confess St. believe, and the Greeks who lived there were prohibited, under threat of death penalty, from converting to Judaism or Mohammedanism 176 . The St. had barely returned. brothers from this mission, like the Slavic-Pannonian princes at the end of 862, not having a true teacher (although they had Latin priests), and even more feeling the need to hear worship and teaching about the faith in their native language, asked the emperor. Mikhail and Patr. Photius sent to them the teachers they needed. “No one else is capable of accomplishing such a task,” the Emperor said again to Kirill, “as you and your brother can.” St. Cyril, understanding the importance and difficulty of translating the Holy books into the vernacular, made the first attempt at translation with reverent preparation. The king and patriarch joyfully hastened to send the pious brothers. On this path, Methodius confirmed the Bulgarian prince's determination to fight paganism 177, and Blessed. Cyril, says the ancient synaxar, “went to Bregalnitsa and, finding here some of the Slavic people unbaptized, brought them to the Orthodox faith and baptized them, writing books for them in the Slavic language; In total, he converted up to 4,500 people to the Christian faith” 178. Having compiled Slavic letters in Constantinople, bl. Constantine, first of all, delighted the Slavs with his invention, who had known him since his youth and who lived not far from Thessaloniki 179. So many of his dear relatives who had not previously been Christians, especially because they did not know the Greek language in which they spoke to them about Christ, he easily converted to Christ the Lord with his native Slavic preaching. In Moravia, Cyril and Methodius, with apostolic zeal, carried out the work for which they were called: they taught children, organized divine services, both in the Slavic language 180. They had to fight both the remnants of paganism and the passions of the ignorant Latin clergy. They moved from the region of one prince to another preaching about the pure Gospel truth, in a language understandable to everyone. For four years and a half (from 863 to 867), Cyril and Methodius carried out the orders of the Eastern Patriarch, for the glory of God. “And for the sake of glory they were heard, hearing the greatness of God with their tongue.” But the pupils of Rome, the German priests, were not too happy about this. They showered abuse on Slavic preachers for Slavic worship. “Pilate’s inscription on the cross,” they said, “was written only in three languages; This is how we should now pray only in three languages ​​(Hebrew, Greek, Latin). “So,” the preachers of truth answered them, “you are disciples of Pilate?” Be ashamed. – But the German has no shame for money. The Germans made a denunciation to Rome against Slavic preachers. The pope, as Nicholas was, did not really like the fact that the preachers, winning hearts to the faith of Christ, did not have the pope in mind; he demanded Greek preachers to Rome. On the road to Venice, Cyril and Methodius had to endure a fierce dispute about the rightness of their cause. “How many nations,” said smart teachers to stupid people, “glorify God in their own languages! we can point to the Armenians, Persians, Avazgs, Georgians, Goths, Kazars, Arabs, Egyptians, Syrians! P. Adrian (from December 4, 867), the successor of Nicholas, fearing to lose influence on Moravia, turned out to be satisfied with the enlighteners of the Slavs, obedient to the ancient rules about patriarchs. He justified the Slavic service with a special message. St. Cyril died in Rome, Feb. 14, 869 181 St. Methodius, in accordance with the will of St. brother, decided to continue working for the Slavs. The Germans, unsuccessful in Rome, agitated the Slavs with civil strife and destroyed Rostislav. - Methodius, evading the troubles, arrived (in 870) with his disciples in Pannonia and Prince. The cauldron received him lovingly at Moosburg (swamp castle). Kotel asked the pope to consecrate Methodius as Archbishop of Pannonia, and his wish was granted. – Now only Slavs were ordained priests and, to the consolation of their relatives, they performed the service in a language they understood. Nobody wanted to listen to the Latin service. The German clergy, left without income, became extremely irritated. - It (872) began to persecute Methodius with all the bitterness, and raised both the German emperor and the Moravian prince Svyatopolk against him: the matter was brought to the point that Methodius was sent to prison, where he stayed for two and a half years. The German clergy, acting in this way against St. Methodius, was doubly offended by the power of the pope, to which he turned for protection for money: he offended by the fact that he removed from Moravia the one who was dedicated there by the pope; He was offended by the fact that he arbitrarily ruled in that area, which, according to a long-standing order, belonged to the diocese of the pope and where the Germans were allowed to act only under the dependence of the pope. Therefore, Pope John the 8th not only returned the hierarchical power over Moravia to Methodius (874) and not only wrote to Louis and Carloman about the innocence of Methodius and the guilt of the German biscups; but he forbade the latter from performing the priesthood itself. Therefore, the Slavic princes not only expelled everything German from their country, but at their request, Methodius was declared by the pope to be the archbishop of the Moravian state. What was most striking at this time was that the four bishops who had acted against St. Methodius, were struck by the judgment of God, as Methodius predicted - all four died in the same year. “From that time,” says an eyewitness, “the Divine teaching began to spread quickly, paganism and superstitions disappeared,” and Svyatopolk’s state flourished. The happy successes of Slavic preaching in Moravia also had an impact on neighboring Slavic countries. Svyatopolk married a Bohemian princess in 871. This connection between the Moravian and Bohemian court opened up opportunities for the evangelical preaching of St. Methodius in Bohemia. The violence of the Germans, forcing Borivoi, the Bohemian prince, to enter into a political alliance with Svyatopolk, brought Borivoi even closer to Methodius and St. Methodius baptized Prince in 874. Borivoya and his wife Lyudmila in Velegrad; and following the sovereign prince, a significant part of the people in Bohemia were baptized: the Slavic sermon, understandable to every Czech, easily revealed to the Bohemians the holiness of the Christian faith. Church of St. Clement near Prague and the Church of St. George in the castle built by Borivoj remained monuments of pure faith in Bohemia 182. “The pagan prince, who was sitting on the Vistula, cursed at Christians and caused them various insults. Methodius sent to tell him that it would be good for him to be baptized of his own free will on his own land, so that, having been captured, he would not be forced to be baptized in captivity, on someone else’s land and remember him. That’s really what happened,” says a witness to Methodieva’s life. Methodius's disciples, in agreement with the wishes of the wise prince, implanted the Orthodox teaching of Christianity and Slavic worship in Poland. Its ancient historian says about Dalmatia: “Methodius established the liturgy according to the rules of the Greeks.” – It couldn’t have been otherwise: Methodius visited Dalmatia on his way to Rome and from Rome 183 . Croats and Serbs, at the same time, and due to political disasters, asked for and received help from the emperor. Basil, and after that they accepted the preachers of the Eastern Church; Of these, even those who were pagans, listening to the sermon and worship in an understandable language, were willingly baptized 184. No matter how god-giving the activity of St. Methodius for the Holy Church and all Slavs, the Germans did not care about faith and the salvation of people - they needed their income - and their pride was excited by the successes of the Slavic preacher. They reported to Rome that Methodius was an apostate from the faith, did not profess the procession of the Holy Spirit and from the Son, did not preach not only the universal power of the pope, but even his dependence on the pope, and performed services in Slavic, and not in the Roman language. Pope John was calm regarding the dogma of the Holy Spirit, confessing it in accordance with St. Photius; but he became alarmed for his power over Moravia and, contrary to his previous orders, banned (in 879) Slavic service. The Germans were triumphant: they came to Moravia and announced that Methodius had been deprived of power and Moravia had been handed over to them. St. Methodius was forced to go to Rome. At the Roman Council (880) St. Methodius is recognized as an evangelical teacher in all respects. The Pope wrote to Moravia that he affirms Methodius in the rights of an archbishop, recognizes his faith as pure and “since it is said: let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:11), does not find a contradiction with sound faith in the fact that the litury is sung in the Slavic language, or St. Scripture." St. Methodius returned to Moravia calm, with the triumph of truth over lies. But German ingenuity is inexhaustible in evil; she spread a rumor that the patriarch and emperor were angry with Methodius for his agreement with the pope. St. Methodius had no reason to be alarmed by rumors of anger, and he also received a letter from the emperor that breathed love. Nevertheless, to dispel harmful rumors, he went to Byzantium. Here both the patriarch and the emperor received him with respect. A monument to the high opinions of Orthodoxy about the exploits of Methodius was also served by the fact that the emperor left for the court clergy a priest and a deacon dedicated to St. Methodius and in the Slavic translation of the book. When both at the court of the pope and at the court of the emperor the intrigues of the Germans did not achieve their goal, the Germans turned to Svyatopolk. They used low flattery and low slander. Svyatopolk did not understand St. well. faith and gave free rein to his passions. The Germans forgave him everything, without requiring him to perform feats of repentance. Methodius spoke about the sinner, as the Gospel says. From now on, Svyatopolk began to show obvious dislike towards Methodius and favor towards the flatterers of the Germans. The vicar bishop, Schwab Wiching, a champion of the error about the Holy Spirit, a man who valued little conscience, became the favorite of Svyatopolk and the worst enemy of the Holy Spirit. Methodius. So until the very grave of St. Methodius endured sorrow for his apostolic labors. He rested blessedly on April 6, 885 and was buried in Velehrad, “in the great Moravian church, on the left side behind the altar of St. Mother of God" 185. The Slavic enlighteners left the high fruits of their labors not only for their contemporaries, but also for their later posterity. According to accurate research, St. Cyril invented the Slavic alphabet, or, as the monk Brave says, “create 30 letters and 8, according to the order of Greek letters, and according to the words of speech.” According to Khrabr, the Cyrillic alphabet was Greco-Slavic not only in the selection of sounds, but also in the design of the letters - in it, in design, no more than 14 letters differed from the Greek ones 186. St. Cyril, according to his Pannonian life, “offered (translated, translated) the entire church rite and taught his disciples Matins and Years (hours), Mass and Vespers and the secret service.” “Methodius, according to his life, presented first the Psalter and the Gospel with the Apostle and selected services with the philosopher.” Combining this news with others, we are convinced that Constantine owns the translation of the Gospel readings, the apostolic readings, the Psalter, the paremic book, the service book, the breviary and the octoechus. In the list of the 15th century. “a writing on the right faith studied by Constantine, the blessed philosopher, teacher of the Slavic language about God” has been preserved. At the end of the confession it is said: “Here I confess my faith and with my close brother Methodius.” The confession is as undoubted in authenticity as it is precious in content. It thoroughly exposes the German error about the Holy Spirit 187. The compiler of the life of Constantine the philosopher, briefly summarizing Constantine’s conversations with the Jews and Mohammedans of the Khozars, adds: “Whatever you want from the verified conversations of these saints, you will find me in the books, which our teacher and Archbishop Methodius, the brother of Constantine the philosopher, taught, having allowed eight words.” In an article about useful and harmful books, “Cyril of Slovenia” is placed between the first after Cyril of Jerusalem. Now the book of conversations of St. Cyril is unknown and one can only be content with extracts from it, but even here there are many lofty thoughts about man and Christianity, many irresistible denunciations of Judaism 188. St. Methodius continued, after his brother, to translate into Slavic both the books of Holy Scripture and some others that were more necessary than others. In the last year of his life, he forced capable scribes to rewrite his works and thus left in translation “all the books were destroyed, unless the Maccabees and the Nomocanon decreed the law and the books of the Fathers” - (Paterikon), - this is what his life says; and according to John the Exarch, “translate all the statutory books 60 from the Hellenic language into the Slovenian language.” According to both, it is known that St. Methodius left in translation a) all the canonical books of St. Scriptures, but apocryphal ones were not translated; b) nomocanon and patericon. So St. Cyril and Methodius labored in preaching the pure, holy faith (Eastern Orthodoxy) to the Slavic peoples, suffering courageously for this, to the grave. If there are those who want to give St. husbands for admirers of human self-will, then one can only regret that they allow themselves to lie about St. truth 189. The memory of the Slavic enlighteners is sacred to the Slavic tribes, as the memory of the preachers of pure truth. It was celebrated more than once a year by the Slavic tribes 190. The ancient services of St. Cyril and Methodius 191. 20 h. Memory of St. Vetran and Theotim, bishops of Lesser Scythia (Dobrudzha, Dobrich) Sozomen 192, describing the disastrous time of the Arian Valens, says: “where the churches were ruled by courageous people, only the people did not change their previous thoughts. In fact, for precisely this reason the Scythians remained, as they say, with the same faith (Orthodox). This people has many cities, villages and fortresses.” According to Pliny 193, the country, which was owned by the Scythian farmers (arotyres), stretching from the mouths of the Danube to Thrace, contained “the most beautiful cities - Istropol (Dunavets), Tom (now Kyustendzhi), Callatis, Dionysiopolis, formerly called Krona.” This plain in medieval times was called Dobrich 194, and now Dobrudzha. “The metropolis of the Scythians,” continues Sozomen, “Tom, a vast and rich city, lying by the sea, on the left side for those entering the Black Sea. There, to this day, the ancient custom is preserved that all the churches of this people should be ruled by one bishop. At the time described, Vetran ruled. Tsar Valens arrived in Tom. Arriving at the church, as usual, he began to convince Vetran to enter into communication with the Arians. The veteran, courageously and boldly expressing his thoughts to the sovereign in favor of the teachings of the Nicene fathers, left him and moved to another church, and the people followed him; and almost the entire city was crowded - they came together, partly to see the king, and partly in anticipation of some news. Left alone with his retinue, Valens was greatly irritated by this, considering it a deliberate insult. He ordered Vetran to be arrested and exiled. Then, however, he soon allowed him to return. For when he learned that the Scythians were grumbling about the expulsion of their bishop, he began to fear that they would start something. He knew that these people were courageous and locally needed for the empire, because they protected it from the border barbarians. So, Vetran in this case appeared above the efforts of the sovereign. According to the testimony of the Scythians themselves, he was a generally kind man and was distinguished by the holiness of his life.” Theodoret briefly, but with even greater animation, speaks about the blessedness. Scythian archpastor; he writes: “and Vretanion, shining with all virtue and the power of the archpastor, who ruled the cities of all Scythia, inflamed his spirit with jealousy and denounced the corruption of dogmas and lawlessness in relation to the saints. He said with the inspired David: “Your words in your testimonies are before the kings, and you are not ashamed” (Ps. 119:46) 195. St. Vetran, who bore a Slavic name in the rank of bishop, probably died the next year after his victory over Valens († 377), since at the 2nd Ecumenical Council in 381 there was already his successor - Tomsk Bishop Gerontius 196, followed by St. Theotimus, “a Scythian by birth,” according to the Greek, or that he is also a Slav 197. In 392, Theotimus was already known to Jerome both as a writer and as a bishop 198. When in 399 St. Chrysostom considered the case of the Ephesian bishop at the council, then at this council, along with other bishops, “Theotim from Scythia and Thrace” 199 was present. In 402, when Epiphanius urgently demanded from St. Chrysostom and others pronounce condemnation on Origen; the Scythian bishop Theotimos even clearly reproached Epiphanius: “It is ungodly to insult,” he said, “one who has long since died, to rebel against the judgment of the ancients and to reject what was approved by them. He brought out one of Origen’s works, read it and, showing that what he read was useful to the churches, added: those who condemn these books also revile what is said here.” 200 Theotimos was a wonderful saint in his enlightenment, his high life, his pastoral activity, and his miracles. His own Slavic eparchy, which was very extensive, also required quite a lot of work from him. On the other (left) bank of the Danube, the Huns then roamed, subjugating the Slavs living there 201. Theotimus extended the power of faith and love to the wild tribes; traveled in the country occupied by them with the preaching of the Gospel and through prayer conquered their savagery; He tried to soften those accustomed to robbery with charitable love, treating and caressing them with gifts. The power of the miracles he performed in the name of the Lord Jesus so amazed the rude tribes that they called Theotimus the Roman god. The historian writes: “at the same time (during Chrysostom) the church of Tomis and the rest of Scythia was ruled by Theotimus, a Scythian by birth, a man brought up in philosophy, whom the Danube barbarians Huns, marveling at his virtue, called the Roman god, because they actually saw from him experiences of divine affairs. They say, for example, that one day he was traveling through the barbarian country there and met several natives going to Tomis. Those who were with him began to cry, believing that they would be killed. But he, getting off his horse, began to pray, and the barbarians passed them without noticing either himself, his companions, or the horses from which they dismounted. Since the inhabitants of that country (the Huns) ravaged the Scythians (Slavs) with their frequent raids, Theotim taught these beast-like people to be meek, treating them and offering them gifts in a friendly manner. One barbarian, assuming that he was rich, decided to capture him by cunning. For this purpose he prepared a lasso. Leaning on his shield, as he usually did, he stood and talked with the enemies. Then, raising his right hand, he wanted to throw a rope over him in order to drag him to himself and to his fellow tribesmen; but during this action his hand remained outstretched in the air and not before freed from invisible bonds, as when Theotimus, at the request of others, prayed to God for the barbarian. They say that this bishop always wore his hair long since he began to diligently study philosophy. He adhered to a simple way of life, ate food not at the same time, but when he felt hungry or thirsty” 202. Blazh. Jerome wrote: “Theotimus, the Scythian bishop Tom, published short and beautiful treatises in conversations, following the examples of ancient eloquence, and, as I hear, writes other works” 203. Leontius, who lived not long after Theotimus, copied short passages from two of his works - from the work “on the teaching of the Savior” and from another - “against idols” 204. St. Damascene included in his parallels several passages from the last work and from three others: “on being”, on the interpretation of the words: “if you bring your gift to the altar” and from the word: “about fasting” 205. Blazh. Theotimus reposed blissfully, probably no later than 412 206 and his memory according to the Roman martyrology is honored on April 20, 207. 26 o'clock. Death of the Venerable. Ioannikiy Chernoretsky In the monthly Gospel, written in 1329, it is shown under April 26. memory of "St. Ioanicia" 208. Biographer of St. Stefan Lazarević writes about the Serbian monks: “many chosen ones appear in the monasteries and many among them are silent, talking only with the rustling of leaves, with the birds of the air and with the murmur of stream waters. Their only business is to glorify God, glorified in the Trinity, Whom the angels praise with continuous songs.” If anyone in Serbia was like this, then especially St. Ioannikiy of Chernoretsk. A recent visitor to Serbia describes the place of the exploits and the very exploits of St. Ioannicia. “We went down to the Ibru, crossed the river at a ford, and began to climb through a dense forest. Half an hour later, such a majestic mass of rocks was revealed, such as is rarely seen even in Herzegovina, this fatherland of rocks. This place is called “Black River”. The reddish mass of granite rises almost vertically, presenting at the top either regularly surrounded outlines, or teeth and points. There is a church in this granite. A row of cells is attached to the rock itself, the outer, whitewashed stone wall with six small windows, protruding from the flat surface of the cliff, is reminiscent of the nests of swallows on the house: only there is no cornice supporting this human nest, but it rests on an inconspicuous ledge of the rock. Near the cliff, making almost a right angle with it, but not touching it, stands another mountain, overgrown with forest, along which a path leads. Opposite the church it forms a small platform; the platform is connected to the cells by a narrow wooden bridge leading to a wooden gallery, which is surrounded by a row of cells. Break the bridge and the cells with their church will be separated by an abyss from the whole world. - The church, I said, is in the cliff itself, only the altar goes out, a semicircular wall, which stands in a row of cells, crowned with a small cross and decorated with two al fresco images of St. Archangel Michael and St. Peter Korishsky. You are led through a low and completely dark passage, which seems to have been formed by nature itself, into a cave that is quite extensive and in one place quite high. They show you a small gorge in the wall of the cave: the holy hermit Ioannikios sat here; Under this recess you can see a recess where he rested his legs, and another on the side where he rested his elbow. You can only sit in the most difficult position, bending over and putting your head forward. – Ioannikios lived in this cave, on this chair, for 70 years. “I tried to sit down, and in one minute my whole dress was wet: water constantly oozes through the rock, and the surface of the cave never dries out. In another place they show a depression where water accumulates and flows in a stream; This depression, they say, was dug by the hermit with his nails in order to have water. – From this cave you enter another, but larger one, where St. Ioannikiy built the church of St. Archangel Michael. “It is also completely dark and just as damp as the other cave...” 209 According to the synaxarion of Serblyak, the hermit Ioannikis, born in Zeta, on the coast, settled in his early youth on the river. Ibre in Chernoretskaya Rock. Here he labored as a stern fasting man who renounced himself. Some monks, having seen his selfless life, remained to live with him, in order to obey his advice unrequitedly. The hermit, after some time, suggested that they build a church and a monastery. The good idea, with the help of God, was brought to fruition. – When rumors spread about the high life of Ioannikios, many came to the rock for spiritual exploits. Ioannikis began to be praised even in person. This greatly disturbed the one who loved humility and silence so much. Having betrayed his brethren to the Lord and His grace, he withdrew from his beloved rock. In the nearby Devitskaya desert, he settled in a cave, near a stream of cold water. And here he peacefully gave up his spirit to the Lord, at the end of the 13th table. 210 Relics of St. Joannikia rests in the Devitsky monastery, which was built by Yuri Brankovich (1427–1456) in gratitude for the healing of his daughter. The Serbian Church sings to the saint: “Having obeyed the Divine commandments, you remained in silence throughout your entire life, and having been reproached in your fatherland, you were nourished by the desire for true glory.” “Having acquired the desire for Christ’s beauty, you closed your feelings from everything that is perishable and fleeting, and through the exploits of your soul you ascended to the heights, blessed one.” “Reverend Father, having listened to the voice of the Gospel of the Lord, you left the world, attributing wealth and glory to nothing, and living in solitude, you cried out to everyone from there: love God and find grace, prefer nothing to His love, so that when He comes in His glory, you will find peace with all the saints: through their prayers, Christ, preserve and save our souls.” 211. 29 hours Memory of St. Basil, Saint of Zakholmsky The recent synaxarion reports the following information about St. Vasily 212. According to legend, St. Vasily was born in Popova volost, in Herzegovina; His parents were pious people, but suffered from Turkish rule. Even at a young age, he loved to visit the church of God. When he reached adulthood, he left his parents’ house, retired to the Trebinsk monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God and here he became a monk. This monastery, alas! long ago destroyed by the wicked Turks. The Lord, seeing Vasily’s pure life, elevated him to a high degree of bishop, after he had passed through the lower ministries; Vasily was a shepherd for the Orthodox Zakholmiya and Skenderiya. In this service they multiplied their labors and exploits for the benefit of the Orthodox Church. Who can retell His solitary praises, prayers, sighs and tears? The saint diligently visited the faithful of his flock and with instructions encouraged them to follow the paths of salvation without laziness. The Lord supported his word with various miracles, so that Vasily was the subject of general surprise, and for his suffering flock he was a consolation. Let the detractors of Orthodoxy know that the Lord sends us His saints, He also shows us martyrs, as strong as the martyrs of the time of Roman paganism were.... St. Basil was patient in his dealings with his enemies, meek and kind in his dealings with those who offended him, merciful towards the poor, cheerful and courageous when it was necessary to protect his flock from wolves. To refresh his soul with ascetic wisdom, he traveled to Athos; The Lord returned the shepherd to his flock, so that even after death he would protect Orthodoxy, which he courageously served in earthly life. Resting in Ostrog, the newly-minted Vasily bestows healing on those who come to the shrine of his relics. How in life he was merciful to the weak in body and soul; so after death he helps not only the faithful, but also the simple-minded Mohammedans. Such is the news of the synaxarion about St. Vasily. The year of his blessed death is not shown in them, and the time of his exploits is not determined with accuracy. One can only guess about it. since it is said that St. Vasily pursued monastic asceticism in the Trebinsk Dormition Monastery; and it is known that this monastery was destroyed in 1695 213, but this means that he labored monastically before 1690, since he was born when Herzegovina was already suffering under Turkish rule, it is clear that he lived long after the times of independence of Serbia and the rule of the Nemanjić. Ostrog is now part of the district of Montenegro, located on its border with Herzegovina. During the service they sing St. Vasily: “Rejoice, guardian of Zaholmia and Skenderia, invincible pillar and representative of the Black Mountains and Primoria. – Based on these data, it should be assumed that St. Vasily was the Montenegrin Metropolitan Vasily who lived in the second half of the 16th century, being the successor in the department of Paul and the predecessor of Nicodemus 214. We cannot help but add here a few words about the Trebinj Mother of God Monastery, where St. Vasily. Trebinje is a place where Christianity has flourished, faithfully according to the locals, since the 4th century; Since the time of the Nemanjić, the Trebinj Mother of God Monastery has had a metropolitan see. The entry, very ancient in language, says: “1270 - the Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy. Mother of God, there is a hedgehog in Trebinu; Previously, it was erected from the foundation by the pious Tsar Constantine with the material Helena, and for many days it fell into disrepair. “This church was renovated by the pious and hardworking king Stefan, this is Milutin, the great-grandson of Neman Stefan, the myrrh-streaming Simeon, illuminated by Metropolitan Vasily of Kir to abbot Vasily” 215. Athos Patericon 2, 394–396. Pannonian Life of St. Kirill on 6 list. ex. in Reading total ist. 1863 and 1864 Pannonian Life of St. Methodius - in Safarik: Pamatki drevniho pisemnistwi, Prague 1851. Critical comparison of evidence about the enlighteners - in Ist. doctrine of the fathers 3, 351–381. Arrangement of ancient lives with additions and comments - from Platonov: Life and exploits of Cyril and Methodius, Khark. 1862. Review of source information - from Bodyansky: About the time of origin of the Slavs. letters, M. 1855. Cyril and Methodius - Orthodox preachers, Lavrovsky, Khark. 1863 (Refutation of unscrupulous rumors about the history of their papism). The Cyril and Methodius Collection (M. 1865) contains several studies on the lives of saints, for example. Nevostruev about the translation of the Gospel, Viktorov “about new sources and new works” regarding Slavic enlighteners; Viktorov especially tried to determine the meaning of the Italian legend. “You are Selunians and all Selunians speak purely Slavic,” the emperor says to the brothers, sending them to Moravia. In the synaxar of the 15th century. about Kirill: “he was born from the city of Thessaloniki, he was a Bulgarian by birth.” Izv. acad. VI, 383. About the Slavs who lived near Thessaloniki in the 6th century. see article: V.M. Demetrius and the Slavs, M. 1847. About the Slavs of Cyril and Methodius Pogodin in the review of 1864 2, 1–30. The words of Theoktistus: “he took monastic vows and became a priest,” in connection with the words about Cyril’s dislike for worldly life, mean initiation into the priesthood: St. Konstantin confirms this significance with his life; after accepting the rank, he hurries to go to the monastery; then returning from the mission he again lives in the monastery. This is how St. understood it. Dimitri. Praise to St. Cyril and Methodius. On the way to the Khozars near Kherson, Constantine “you will find the gospel and the psalter written in ruins, and you will find a person speaking with that conversation.” – G. Platonov rightly notes that Ulfilov’s Gothic translation of the Gospel and Psalter, compiled in the 4th century, was found in Crimea, but it is in vain that the Varangians are involved here. The matter can easily be done without them. Together with the Goths they lived in Crimea back in the 4th century. Russian Slavs; Subsequently, the first mostly scattered throughout Europe, but the Russian Slavs remained. The Russian, who lived in Crimea with the Goths, could easily read and explain Ulfilov’s translation to the philosopher, especially since this translation contains many Slavic words. – The writings are called Russian only because they were explained by a Russian. - The words: “conversation with him and the power of speech” do not at all require the meaning that Constantine was talking in Gothic - the conversation was between a Russian Slav and a Macedonian - about the translation of Ulfila. On the way back to Constantinople, St. the brothers were again in Kherson. Konstantin predicted the imminent death of Kherson. bishop. At that time they were in Fulla. In the 13th century Archbishop of Sugdei was called Sugdeo-Fullan. This is also evident from the notes of the Sugdean Greek (Kherson. diocesan journal, 1865, No. 4). Track. Sugdeya, otherwise Sudak and Surozh, was not far from Fulla. And since the Kherson archbishop once wanted to include Fulla in the district of his diocese, then Fulla should be placed not far from Kherson. Residents of Fulla, according to the life of St. Cyril, although there were Christians, idolized the huge oak tree. St. Constantine proved to them the wickedness of their superstition, and brought it to the point that the oak tree was cut down and burned by the Fullans themselves. Ancient service of St. Kirill: “The host of Jews, who joined the barracks in the northern cities, were scattered by the sharp weapon of your word.” Recalling that according to the life, the preachers were in Crimea on the way to Kozaria and from Kozaria, according to the canon, we see that the Khazars, who had preachers, lived in the north of Crimea. Life of Clement: “even before (before his stay in Moravia) he made the ruler of the Bulgarian Boris his disciple, aroused his love for the beautiful native language and then bestowed on him the gifts of instructions, which he repeated to him incessantly.” – The translator (p. 7) misunderstood and conveyed the words of the original. Sl. Safarika Ancient. IV, 330. Text of the synaxarion in Izv. acad. VI, 384. The reality and time of this event are also justified by the story of the transfer of the relics of the Strumnica martyrs to Bregalnica (see May 2). According to Latin legend, Cyril and Methodius came to Moravia with the translated Gospel. Cognoscentes loci iilius indigenæ abventum illorum, valde gauisi sunt, quia – et evangelium in eorum linguam a philosopho translatum secum ferre audierant. The Legend of Lyudmila: sanctus Cyrillus, postquam Bulgariam ad fidem Iesu Christi convertisset, Moraviam est ingressus. G. Sreznevsky reconciles Brave with other witnesses about the year of the invention of letters with the same thought that Brave believed before his birth. Chr. 5500 years. There is nothing else left to do, given the certainty of the news about the invention of letters in 862. Bregalnica is a city with a district on the river. Bregalnice, which flows into the Vardar (Aksiy), is 5 hours' journey from Strumnica, in the north-west of the latter, while Strumnitsa is 5 hours' journey from Thessaloniki in the north. Grigorovich: “I went to a waterless valley, whose name is Ovchepolye... I reached Istiba, a city lying on a cape-shaped mountain slope, on the Bregalnitsa River. – An ancient castle on one of the hills, strong beautiful bridges place it among the most beautiful cities in Macedonia... My attention turned to the Episcopal Church of St. Nicholas... From Istiba begin the rich valleys cultivated by the Bulgarians” (Putesh. 141). The current Istib is the ancient city of Bregalnica. Life of Cyril: “the disciples gathered and gave them to teach; Soon the entire church rite will be taught, teaching the morning service and the hour and vespers and the evening service and the mysteries.” So Clement in his words of praise to Cyril. Cosmae Prag. chronicon in T. 1. Script, rer. Bohemiae. 784. Testimonies in the Doctrine of the Fathers 3: 362, 363. Sl. tetr. 9. Ancient Prokhorov 1864 pp. 114–116, 126–128. The testimony of the chronicle of Andrei Dandola, not entirely accurate: “according to the sermon of Blessed. Cyril Zootopol, king of Dalmatia, descended from Odrill, a relative of King Totila, accepted the Orthodox faith with all his people.” – Reiskir notæ ad Porphyr. p. 357. Imp. Konstantin about the life of the emperor. Basil § 28. De administr. imperio § 31, 42. The composer of the service for the seventh numerals sings: “Rejoice, the choir of the seventh numerals - the salvation of the Bulgarians and the joy of the Dalmatians (Serbs)... On the seventh numerals, God, as on seven pillars, founded the entire church of the wild Bulgarians and Dalmatians (Serbs), subordinating them to the law with the words of scripture and the invention of writing" (Russian demon. 11: 130, 134). Serbian chronicle: “Constantine the philosopher and his brother Methodius converted it to St. books from grcska ezika in Slovenian. The Bulgarians and the Slovenes and the Srbi and the Arbanasi and the Goddesses and the Rus, in all of them, are one Ezik. Sveta Konstantin the philosopher, having laid down many books, departed first to teach the river eziks and betray them to St. writing according to their ezik.” Glasnik X, 255. Without a doubt, the Slavic service spread between the neighboring Serbs from Bregalnica. After Methodius, first St. Gorazd, whose relics are near Berat, then St. Clement. About the time of the event Lavrovsky pp. 357, 503–509. Bulgarian synaxar of 1340 in Kalaidovich, p. 90, in Glasnik XI, 34. Only an eyewitness could talk about the burial this way, Mr. Bodyansky rightly notes. (On the origin of letters. 78). In the life of St. Methodius: “I placed it in the cathedral church.” – This is the church of Velehrad. Sreznevsky in Ancient. Christ tetr. 7, 1864 Detailed discussion in the Teaching about the Fathers. In the Russian translation, the abbreviation of Kirill’s conversations is from Mr. Platonov in approx. 19. Recently Ginzel has been intensifying his efforts to exhibit St. Cyril and Methodius by fans of Romanism: Geschichte d. Slavenapostel Cyrill u. Method, u. d. slavisch. Liturgie. Leitmeritz. 1857. Against him and others like him at length, Mr. Lavrovsky: Cyril and Methodius are Orthodox preachers. Har. 1861. In the Bulgarian synaxar of the 13th century. around 25 Aug. memory of St. Cyril and Methodius. And here it is said: “and create his memory on April 6. m. and the great church celebrates his memory on the day.” (Kalajdovich p. 90). To the synod. April at least 12th century memory to both Apr 6 In harat. Gospel of Moscow. archan. personal on April 6 memory of "St. Methodius arch. and his brother Cyril." In the Ostromir and Asseman Gospels on February 14. memory "pr. Constantine the Philosopher,” on April 6. "St. Methodius." Life of St. Kirill was placed under October 14; life of St. Methodius - on April 6; Czechs and Moravians have celebrated Cyril and Methodius on March 9 since 1380. Acta sanct. mart. 2. In the synodal April menea of ​​the 12th century. on April 6 Canon to Cyril and Methodius. Here in the 7th song about Methodius: “The Moravian country led the way and had a stalp towards God, enlightened by you, learn to call into your tongue: our father, God”... A completely different canon in the Bulgarian menaion of the 13th century. “Like the sun, the lordship (from) the east, shining to the west, father, the ambassador is a wise teacher to all.” Izv. acad. VI 191, 192. One printing service. Grigorovich in the West. cauldron Univers. and separately under the title: Ancient Slavic monument. Kaz. 1862. Here in paragraph 9 “you, blessed one, the Moravian land sings, possessing your body, and Panonska, enlightened by you. People have gathered together to celebrate your memory.” Several songs of St. Kirill - at the Devotee of St. mountains pp. 339, 340. K. 1864. From Chalkondyla: “Vladislav (c. 1444) - having left Transylvania, crossed the Danube, transferred all his troops to the royal country and settled in camp in Dobrodichia, the seaside country of the Bulgarians, etc. ed. Nigbur r. 326. Nikif. Callista East. 12, 13. Fakund lib. 4, r. 34. Sozomena East. 7, 28. Nikita Choniates: “Rus, which is also called Scythians.” Leo the Deacon: “Tauro-Scythians, whom the common language usually calls Rus.” Sl. Jan. 20. Palladium about the life of Chrysostom p. 123. Sozomena East. cer. 8, 14. Socrates East. 6, 12. According to Nestor, the Dulebs have long lived along the Bug, along the Dniester to the Danube and the sea, the Uglichs and Tivertsy; there is the great Scythia of the Greeks. Lavrent. page 7. Sozomena Cer. ist. 7, 26. Printing places Mayem in Collect. vet. auct. 7: 99, 107. Paralella p. 640, 675, 694, 785. Timothy, the Bishop of Tomsk, signed the definition of 431. Acta sanct. ad 20 april. Like the memory of St. Theotima according to the Roman martyrology is shown Apr. 20, so in the same martyrology the memory of St. Vetrana shown Jan. 25. About the latter: Tomis in Scythia s. Bretannionis episcopi, qui mira sanctitate et zelo catholicae fidei sub Valente imp. ariano, cui fortiter restitit, in ecclesia floruit. About Theotim: Tomis in Scythia s. Theotimi episcopi, quem ob insignem ejus sanctitatem et miracula etiam infideles et barbati veneradi sunt. Grigorovich Putesh. page 18. Hilferding in the West. geogr. total XIII, 160–162. Gieferding (in Western Geographical Society XIII, 161) believes that Rev. Ioannikiy lived under the despot Yuri Brankovich 1427–1456. But this is a mistake that was also made in Serblyak. According to the monthly calendar of 1329, it is clear that the monk died before 1320. The Traveler and Serblyak were led into error by the news that St. Ioannikis healed Brankovich's daughter (ibid. pp. 289, 290). This healing is the work of the saint’s afterlife activities. Serblyak, 1861. 50–51. Here is the memory of Rev. Ioannicia – Dec. 2 This is, of course, the day of the opening of his relics. Synaxarion in Serblyak 1861 Zap. geogr. total XIII, 658. Popova Travel to Montenegro p. 75. St. Petersburg. 1847 Zap. geogr. total XIII, 660. Here are also pp. 662, 663 of the “Metropolitan Monastery of Trebinj”, numbering 25. Porphyrogenite’s explanation of Terbunia’s word is incorrect, but Safarik’s explanation is just as inconsistent with the locality (Ancient III 445, 446). Trebi is not a demand, there is no pagan sacrifice, whereas before Trebinje was the place of a treasury, a pagan sacrifice.