Dec. 14 – 27th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 2

Prophet Nahum (7th c. B.C.). Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia in Asia Minor (792). Martyr Ananias of Persia.

Eph. 6:10-17 ; Lk. 18:18-27;

Dec. 21 – 28th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 3

Ven. Patapius of Thebes (7th c.). Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus. Holy 362 Martyrs of Africa, martyred by the Arians, and Martyr Anthusa, at Rome (5th c.). Martyr Victoria (477). Martyr Anthusa at Rome (5th C).

Col. 1:12-18; Lk. 17:12-19;

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia in Asia Minor

Righteous Philaret the Merciful, son of George and Anna, was raised in piety and the fear of God. He lived during the eighth century in the village of Amnia in the Paphlagonian district of Asia Minor. His wife, Theoseba, was from a rich and illustrious family, and they had three children: a son John, and daughters Hypatia and Evanthia.

Philaret was a rich and illustrious dignitary, but he did not hoard his wealth. Knowing that many people suffered from poverty, he remembered the words of the Savior about the dread Last Judgment and about "these least ones" (Mt. 25:40); the Apostle Paul's reminder that we will take nothing with us from this world (1 Tim 6:7); and the assertion of King David that the righteous would not be forsaken (Ps 36/37:25). Philaret, whose name means "lover of virtue," was famed for his love for the poor.

One day Ishmaelites [Arabs] attacked Paphlagonia, devastating the land and plundering the estate of Philaret. There remained only two oxen, a donkey, a cow with her calf, some beehives, and the house. But he also shared them with the poor. His wife reproached him for being heartless and unconcerned for his own family. Mildly, yet firmly he endured the reproaches of his wife and the jeers of his children. "I have hidden away riches and treasure," he told his family, "so much that it would be enough for you to feed and clothe yourselves, even if you lived a hundred years without working."

The saint's gifts always brought good to the recipient. Whoever received anything from him found that the gift would multiply, and that person would become rich. Knowing this, a certain man came to Saint Philaret asking for a calf so that he could start a herd. The cow missed its calf and began to bellow. Theoseba said to her husband, "You have no pity on us, you merciless man, but don't you feel sorry for the cow? You have separated her from her calf." The saint praised his wife, and agreed that it was not right to separate the cow and the calf. Therefore, he called the poor man to whom he had given the calf and told him to take the cow as well.

That year there was a famine, so Saint Philaret took the donkey and went to borrow six bushels of wheat from a friend of his. When he returned home, a poor man asked him for a little wheat, so he told his wife to give the man a bushel. Theoseba said, "First you must give a bushel to each of us in the family, then you can give away the rest as you choose." Philaretos then gave the man two bushels of wheat. Theoseba said sarcastically, "Give him half the load so you can share it." The saint measured out a third bushel and gave it to the man. Then Theoseba said, "Why don't you give him the bag, too, so he can carry it?" He gave him the bag. The exasperated wife said, "Just to spite me, why not give him all the wheat." Saint Philaret did so.

Now the man was unable to lift the six bushels of wheat, so Theoseba told her husband to give him the donkey so he could carry the wheat home. Blessing his wife, Philaret gave the donkey to the man, who went home rejoicing. Theoseba and the children wept because they were hungry.

The Lord rewarded Philaret for his generosity: when the last measure of wheat was given away, an old friend sent him forty bushels. Theoseba kept most of the wheat for herself and the children, and the saint gave away his share to the poor and had nothing left. When his wife and children were eating, he would go to them and they gave him some food. Theoseba grumbled saying, "How long are you going to keep that treasure of yours hidden? Take it out so we can buy food with it."

During this time the Byzantine empress Irene (797-802) was seeking a bride for her son, the future emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797). Therefore, emissaries were sent throughout all the Empire to find a suitable girl, and the envoys came to Amneia.

When Philaret and Theoseba learned that these most illustrious guests were to visit their house, Philaret was very happy, but Theoseba was sad, for they did not have enough food. But Philaret told his wife to light the fire and to decorate their home. Their neighbors, knowing that imperial envoys were expected, brought everything required for a rich feast.

The envoys were impressed by the saint's daughters and granddaughters. Seeing their beauty, their deportment, their clothing, and their admirable qualities, the envoys agreed that Philaret's granddaughter, Maria was exactly what they were looking for. This Maria exceeded all her rivals in quality and modesty and indeed became Constantine's wife, and the emperor rewarded Philaret.

Thus fame and riches returned to Philaret. But just as before, this holy lover of the poor generously distributed alms and provided a feast for the poor. He and his family served them at the meal. Everyone was astonished at his humility and said: "This is a man of God, a true disciple of Christ."

He ordered a servant to take three bags and fill one with gold, one with silver, and one with copper coins. When a beggar approached, Philaret ordered his servant to bring forth one of the bags, whichever God's providence would ordain. Then he would reach into the bag and give to each person, as much as God willed.

Saint Philaret refused to wear fine clothes, nor would he accept any imperial rank. He said it was enough for him to be called the grandfather of the Empress. The saint reached ninety years of age and knew his end was approaching. He went to the Rodolpheia ("The Judgment") monastery in Constantinople. He gave some gold to the Abbess and asked her to allow him to be buried there, saying that he would depart this life in ten days.

He returned home and became ill. On the tenth day he summoned his family, he exhorted them to imitate his love for the poor if they desired salvation. Then he fell asleep in the Lord. He died in the year 792 and was buried in the Rodolpheia Judgment monastery in Constantinople.

The appearance of a miracle after his death confirmed the sainthood of Righteous Philaret. As they bore the body of the saint to the cemetery, a certain man, possessed by the devil, followed the funeral procession and tried to overturn the coffin. When they reached the grave, the devil threw the man down on the ground and went out of him. Many other miracles and healings also took place at the grave of the saint.

After the death of the righteous Philaret, his wife Theoseba worked at restoring monasteries and churches devastated during a barbarian invasion.

Праведний Філарет Милостивий

Праведний Філарет Милостивий жив у VIII столітті в селищі Амнія Пафлагонської області, що в Малій Азії. Він був вихований у благочесті і страху Божому. Його дружина Феозва була із багатої і знатної сім'ї. У подружжя були діти: син Іоанн і доньки Іпатія та Єванфія.

Філарет був багатим і знатним вельможею, але багатство його не радувало. Знаючи, як багато людей страждає від бідності, згадував він слова Спасителя про Страшний Суд і про "малих цих" (Мф. 25:40); слова апостола про те, що людина, помираючи, нічого не забирає зі світу (1Тим. 6:7); рядки царя Давида про винагороду праведника (Пс. 36:25). І Філарет прославився турботою про убогих.

Одного разу ізмаїльтяни (араби) напали на Пафлагонію, спустошили країну і розграбували майно Філарета. У нього залишилося два воли, корова, декілька вуликів і будинок. Але й це, останнє, він поступово роздав бідним. Стійко і лагідно переносив він докори дружини й глузування дітей. "Я маю в схованках, вам невідомих, таке багатство й такі скарби, — відповідав він рідним, — котрих вистачить вам, навіть якщо ви і сто років проживете без праці й ні про що не піклуючись".

І Господь відплатив Філаретові за його милосердя. Коли було віддано останню міру пшениці, його старий друг надіслав йому сорок мір, а після того, як жебракові було віддано теплий одяг, до Філарета повернулося багатство.

У той час візантійська імператриця Ірина (797–802) шукала наречену для сина, майбутнього співправителя Константина Багрянородного (780–797). Для цього по всій імперії вона розіслала послів. Вони не оминули й Амнії. Коли Філарет і Феозва дізналися, що високі гості мають відвідати і їхній дім, Філарет дуже зрадів. Феозва засмутилася: у домі не було взагалі ніякої їжі, а про належне частування годі було й думати. Але Філарет наказав дружині гарненько прибрати в будинку. Сусіди, дізнавшись, що повинні прибути царські посли, принесли вдосталь всього для багатого пиру.

Посли відібрали для царських оглядин разом з десятьма найкрасивішими дівчатами внучку Філарета Марію. Вона перевершила своїх суперниць добротою та скромністю і стала царицею, а Константин Багрянородний щедро обдарував Філарета. Так повернулися до Філарета слава і багатство. Але, як і раніше, святий Філарет щедро роздавав милостиню і влаштовував трапези для жебраків. Він особисто служив їм під час цих трапез. Усі дивувалися смиренню Філарета і говорили: "Воістину людина ця вся Божа, істинний учень Христовий".

Своєму слузі праведник наказав зробити три шухляди й наповнити їх порізно золотими, срібними і мідними монетами. Із першої отримували милостиню зовсім незаможні, із другої отримували її ті, хто втратив кошти, а із третьої її отримували ті, хто лицемірно виманював гроші.

Так, не приймаючи почестей, у смиренні і любові до убогих досяг блаженний старець дев'яноста років. Передбачаючи свою кончину, він вирушив до константинопольського монастиря Родольфії. Там він роздав усе, що мав при собі, на монастирські потреби і жебракам.

Покликавши рідних, праведний Філарет наставляв їх в любові до убогих та в нестяжательності і мирно преставився до Бога. Помер він 792 року і був похований в обителі Родольфія.

Святість праведного Філарета підтвердило явлене після його смерті диво. Коли тіло святого несли до місця поховання, одна людина, одержима бісом, схопилася за гроб і йшла з похоронною процесією. На кладовищі відбулося зцілення біснуватого: біс повалив людину на землю, а сам вийшов із неї. Багато й інших чудес і зцілень відбувалися біля гробу святого.

Після смерті праведного Філарета його дружина Феозва трудилася, відновлюючи в Пафлагонії монастирі і храми, зруйновані під час іноземних навал.

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Молитви за Україну проводяться під час кожної служби. За розкладом дивіться тут.

May God bless and protect Ukraine!

Please Note!

• Only Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion or other Sacraments.
  
• If you have not been to confession in over a month, please go to confession before receiving the Holy Gifts.
  
• We fast from all food and drink (including water) from bedtime (the previous night) until we receive the Holy Gifts during morning Divine Liturgy. That also means no coffee, no cigarettes, no gum, candies in the morning and during Divine Liturgy.

Happy Birthday

• December 20: Anne Kinney

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Please Pray for the Servants of God

John, Rose, Solomiia, Bob,
Melodye, Hristos, John, Jane,
Fr. Andre, Mary, Zenna, Douglas, Ivan,
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Mariann, Robert, Jean, Ronald, Brian,
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Pipinos, Fr. Gabriel and PM Susan, Vasyl

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