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Martyrs are equal to angels; Through martyrdom, death became a gain for man and the greatest evil inflicted by the devil was turned into good by the wisdom of God. Martyrdom is both rejoicing and a battle, more terrible than ordinary battles, with the defenselessness of the martyrs. The victory of the unarmed over the armed. Martyrdom is a stairway to heaven; the severity of the torment, incomparable, however, with the greatness of the reward for it: they and the reward themselves - fellowship in the suffering of Christ - will also be rewarded in the next century. The ascension of the martyrs to heaven, to the throne of the Lord, who receives them as friends. Methods of preparation for martyrdom in peacetime. Deeds of virtue are facilitated by the thought of a reward and are themselves a reward. The sweetness of night prayer. An exhortation to always remember the martyrs and decorate your soul with this, like the dwelling of the Heavenly King. Ways to prepare for martyrdom in peacetime 1. Not yet seven days had passed since we celebrated the sacred solemnity of Pentecost, and here again the face of the martyrs overtook us, or - better - the militia and army of the martyrs, in no way inferior to the militia of angels that the patriarch Jacob saw (Gen. 32:2), but similar and equal to it. Martyrs and angels differ only in names, but are united in deeds: angels live in heaven, and martyrs also; the former do not participate in old age and are immortal, and the martyrs will have the same. But they received an incorporeal nature. What then? And the martyrs, although clothed with a body, are immortal, or, even better, before immortality, death for Christ adorns their bodies more than immortality. The sky, adorned with a choir of stars, is not as bright as the bodies of martyrs, adorned with the light blood of their wounds, so that, having died, they made the greatest acquisition, and even before immortality they received rewards, receiving crowns from death. “You have made him a little lower than the Angels: You have crowned him with glory and honor,” says David about human nature in general (Ps. 8:6); but Christ, having come, filled even this little, condemning death with death. However, I do not prove this, but the fact that this disadvantage - death, became an acquisition, since if they had not been mortals, they would not have become martyrs; if there were no death, there would be no crown; if there had been no death, there would have been no martyrdom; if there had been no death, then Paul could not have said: “I die every day: I am testified of this by the praise which I have in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 15:31); if there were no death and corruption, then he also could not say: “I rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up the lack of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh” (Col. 1:24). So, let us not grieve that we have become mortal, but let us give thanks that through death the field of martyrdom has been opened to us; Through corruption we received the opportunity of rewards, hence we have a reason for exploits. Do you see the wisdom of God, how He turned the greatest of evils, the height of our misfortune introduced by the devil, that is, death, into honor and glory for us, leading through it the ascetics to the rewards of martyrdom? What then? Shall we thank the devil for death? Let it not be: not according to his thoughts - this is good, but the gift of the wisdom of God; He introduced it to destroy people and, returning them to the earth, to take away from them all hope of salvation, but Christ, having taken this, changed it, and through death again raised us to heaven. Therefore, let no one condemn us if I called the entire host of martyrs a face and an army, attributing two opposite names to one object; face and army are opposite names, but here both of them are united together: (the martyrs) went to the torment with pleasure, as rejoicing, and together, as militants, they showed all the courage and patience and defeated their opponents. If you look at the essence of events, then these events are battle, war and militia, and if you examine the meaning of events, then what happened is rejoicing, festivities, celebrations and the greatest pleasure. Do you want to know how much more terrible these exploits, that is, the exploits of martyrs, are than war? What's terrible about war? On both sides there are fenced camps, shining with weapons and illuminating the earth; Clouds of arrows are launched from all sides, darkening the air with their multitude, streams of blood flow across the ground, everywhere in great numbers, like ears of corn during the harvest, warriors fall, struck by each other. Now from them I will take you to this battle. And here there are two militias: one of the martyrs, and the other of the torturers, but the torturers are armed, and the martyrs fight naked, and victory remains with the naked, not the armed. Who is not amazed that the one who is scourged overcomes the one who is scourged, the one who is bound overcomes the unbound, the one who is burned overcomes the one who burns, the one who dies overcomes the one who kills? Do you see how these exploits are more terrible than those? Those, although terrible, occur naturally, but these surpass all nature and any order of things, so that you are convinced that these are works of God’s grace. Moreover, what is more unfair than this struggle? What is more lawless than these battles? In wars, both combatants are armed, but here it is not so, but one is naked and the other is armed; also in wrestling both opponents are allowed to use their hands, but here one is tied and the other is free to strike. Having chosen for themselves, as if by tyranny, the right to do evil, and leaving the righteous martyrs to endure evil, the judges thus attack the saints, but even so they do not defeat them, but after such an unequal battle they retreat defeated; and it is the same as if someone led a warrior to battle and, breaking off the tip of his spear and removing his armor, ordered him to fight like this with his body naked, and he, being attacked and blown and receiving countless wounds, would put up trophies. In the same way, these too, bringing out the martyrs naked, tying their hands back and inflicting blows and wounds on them from all sides, were defeated, and they, receiving wounds, set up a trophy of victory over the devil. Just as adamant, struck by blows, does not succumb and does not soften, but on the contrary crushes the striking iron, so the souls of the saints, with so many torments inflicted on them, did not themselves suffer any harm, and the power of those who beat them crushed and forced them to retire from the fight defeated with shame and dishonor after many and unbearable blows. They were tied to a tree and their sides were planed, drawing deep furrows, as if plowing up the ground, and not tearing apart the body, so that one could see open entrails, exposed ribs, torn breasts; and here those bloodthirsty animals did not stop in their frenzy, but, having taken them from the tree, stretched them on an iron grate over hot coals, and one could again see spectacles more terrible than before: double drops fell from the bodies, pouring blood and melting flesh, but the saints, reclining on the coals, as if on roses, joyfully looked at what was happening. 2. You, hearing about the iron lattice (shaped like a ladder), remember the mental ladder seen by the Patriarch Jacob, which stretched from earth to heaven; angels descended on that one, and martyrs ascended on this one; on both “the Lord stands” (Gen. 28:13). These saints would not have endured suffering if they had not had such support. On this one angels ascend and descend, and on this one, as everyone knows, martyrs also ascend. Why? Because those “are sent forth to minister for those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14); and these, like warriors and crown-bearers, having completed their exploits, finally go to the Manager of their exploits. However, let’s not just listen when it is said that hot coals were placed under tortured bodies, but let’s imagine what it feels like for us when we fall into a fever; then we do not consider life itself to be life, we are annoyed, indignant, irritated, like little children, considering this fire in no way less than the fire of hell; and they, not being consumed by fever, but when flames besieged them from all sides, and sparks invaded their wounds and tormented their ulcers more fiercely than any beast, then, as if they were adamantine and as if seeing this happening in other people’s bodies, they stood valiantly and with their characteristic courage in the words of confession, and remained adamant in all disasters, brilliantly revealing their courage and God's grace. Do you often see the sun rising at dawn and casting purple rays? Such were the bodies of the saints when streams of blood poured over them from all sides, like crimson-shaped rays, and illuminated their bodies much more than the sky is illuminated by the sun. Seeing this blood, the angels rejoiced, and the demons were horrified, and the devil himself trembled: it was not just visible blood, but saving blood, holy blood, blood worthy of heaven, blood constantly feeding the good plants of the Church. The devil saw this blood and was horrified, because he remembered another blood - the Master; For the sake of that, this blood flowed, because since the time the Lord’s rib was perforated, you see thousands of perforated ribs. And who will not undertake these deeds with great joy, intending to participate in the sufferings of the Lord and become conformed to the death of Christ? This is a sufficient reward, a great honor, a reward that exceeds labor, even before the Kingdom of Heaven. So, let us not be afraid when we hear that such and such suffered martyrdom, but let us be afraid when we hear that such and such turned out to be weak and fell when such rewards were ahead of him. If you want to hear about future rewards, then no word can imagine them, because “no eye has seen,” they say, “no ear has heard, and no word has entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9); and none of the people loved Him as much as the martyrs. However, because the greatness of the appointed blessings exceeds both our word and our mind, we will not remain silent about them, but, as much as we can say and listen to you, we will try, although it is unclear, to depict to you the bliss that will receive the martyrs there, and only those who actually enjoy it will clearly know it. The martyrs endure cruel and unbearable suffering here for a short time, and after leaving here they ascend to heaven, with angels preceding them and archangels accompanying them, because they are not ashamed of slaves like themselves and decided to do everything for them, just as they decided to endure everything for Christ, their Master. Upon ascending to heaven, all the holy powers meet them. If then, when foreign warriors come to the city, all the people flock from everywhere and, surrounding them, examine the harmony of their members, then much more when the ascetics of piety ascend to heaven, the angels gather and all the highest powers flock from everywhere - to see their wounds, and, like some heroes who returned from war and battle with great trophies and after many victories, they joyfully accept and greet them all, then they are led with great triumph to the Heavenly King, to that throne filled with great glory, where the cherubim and seraphim are. Arriving there and bowing to Him who sits on the throne, the martyrs are rewarded by the Lord with much greater favor than from slaves like themselves, because He accepts them not as slaves (although this is the greatest honor, the like of which cannot be found), but as His friends: “You,” He says, “are My friends” (John 15:14); and very rightly, because He Himself also said: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life.” for his friends” (John 15:13). Since they showed the greatest love, He accepts them in a friendly manner, and they enjoy the glory there, unite with the (angelic) faces, and participate in mysterious chants. If, while still in the body, through communion in the sacraments they belonged to the local choir, chanting the Trisagion with the cherubim, as you know, initiated into the mysteries, then much more, enjoying their companions in the choir, they participate with great boldness in the local glorification. Have you ever feared martyrdom before? Now don't you want martyrdom? Now don’t you regret that now is no longer the time for torment? But we too will practice as during martyrdom. They despised life - you despise pleasure. They threw their bodies into the fire - now throw money into the hands of the poor. They trampled on the coals - you extinguish the flame of lust. It's difficult, but also useful. Look not at the sorrowful present, but at the pleasant future, not at the inherent disasters, but at the blessings hoped for, not at the suffering, but at the rewards, not at the works, but at the crowns, not at the efforts, but at the payment, not at the sorrows, but at the rewards, not at the burning fire, but at the kingdom to come, not at the surrounding executioners, but at the crowning Christ. 3. This is the best way and the most convenient path to virtue - to look not only at work, but also at the rewards after work - however, not only at them in themselves. So, when you intend to give alms, then pay attention not to the monetary costs, but to the acquisition of truth: “I lavished it, I gave it to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (Ps. 112:9); Do not look at the decline of wealth, but look at the increase of treasure. When you fast, think not about the exhaustion from fasting, but about the lightness that comes from this exhaustion. When you are awake in prayer, think not about the fatigue caused by wakefulness, but about the boldness that prayer brings. This is what warriors do: they look not at wounds, but at rewards, not at defeats, but at victories, not at those falling dead, but at crowned heroes. Likewise, helmsmen see piers before waves, before shipwrecks - trade benefits, before disasters at sea - prosperity after navigation. Do the same: imagine how great it is - in the middle of the night, when all people, animals and livestock are sleeping, when the deepest silence reigns, you alone should be awake and boldly converse with the common Lord of all. Sweet dream? But there is nothing sweeter than prayer. By talking with God alone, when no one bothers you or distracts you from prayer, you can have success in many ways; time itself is your ally to get what you want. But you turn around, lying on a soft bed, and hesitate to get up? Imagine today's martyrs who lay on an iron grate, where not a bed was laid, but hot coals were placed. Here I want to end my speech so that you leave with a living and fresh memory of this lattice and remember it night and day; even if thousands of bonds hold us back, we will be able to easily break everything and rise up for prayer if we constantly imagine this lattice. However, we will inscribe not only the grid, but also the other sufferings of the martyrs on the breadth of our hearts. Just as those who make their houses magnificent decorate them on all sides with multi-colored paintings, so we will paint the executions of martyrs on the walls of our souls. That painting is useless, but this one is useful; For this painting, neither wealth, nor expenses, nor any art are needed, but instead of everything, it is enough to apply diligence and a courageous and alert mind in order to depict their torment through it, as if through some skillful hand. So, let us paint in our souls some lying on frying pans, others stretched out on coals, others thrown into cauldrons, others thrown into the sea, others scraped, others bent on a wheel, others smashed against a cliff, others fighting with wild animals, others thrown into the abyss, others as each of them happened to end his life, so that, having made our home bright with the variety of such painting, we can prepare a decent shelter for the King of Heaven. If He sees such images in the soul, He will come with the Father and make an abode with us with the Holy Spirit; and, finally, our soul will be a royal house, and no obscene thought will be able to enter it, because the memory of the martyrs, like some kind of painting, will constantly be preserved in us and produce great splendor, and the King of all, God, will continually dwell in us. Thus, having accepted Christ here, after departing from here we can be accepted into the eternal abodes, which may we all be worthy of, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father, with the Holy and Life-giving Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. Nothing is known about the place (Antioch or Constantinople) and time of recitation. You might be interested in: