The Catalog of Good Deeds

St. Arsenios of Cappadocia: BLESSING-PSALTER

THE PSALTER AS A BOOK OF NEEDS, according to the usage of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia, as transmitted by the Athonite Elder Paisios.

translated for the St. Pachomius Library by Vassilios Kollias

edited by Karen Rae Keck

EDITOR'S NOTE: Saint Arsenios used to use the Psalms for blessings, especially when there was no prescribed blessing for a particular occasion. Here in Part One is the correspondence between the psalms and different occasions. The original Greek list can be found in -O Geron Paisios- by the Hieromonk Christodoulos, Agion Oros, 1994. In Part Two, we have provided a (rather poor) index; perhaps someone else would care to fashion a better.

Apart from all religious considerations, this "Book of Needs" is a fascinating portrait of village life in Anatolia at the beginning of the Twentieth Century: whether it reflects more the "longue duree" of Byzantine history or the particular difficulties of St. Arsenios' time we do not feel well enough informed even to speculate. There is certainly no idealization of rural conditions here: particularly noteworthy is the extreme concern for alleviating psychological as well as physical pain, and the mention of what we would nowadays call "post-traumatic stress disorder".

To us, at least, the exact reasoning behind the saint's choice of a particular psalm for a given need is not always obvious; perhaps this is by design, to encourage close reflection on the words. Orthodoxy is not magic, and a document like this one is not an endorsement of "peasant superstition"; it is rather a channel through which the Love of God can enter into every aspect of human society.

PART ONE: A LIST OF PSALMS FOR USE AS BLESSINGS, ARRANGED BY ORDER IN THE PSALTER:

[IMPORTANT NOTE: The FIRST number is the number of the psalm in the Greek Septuagint Bible. The SECOND number is the number of the psalm found in the Masoretic text and in most English language Bibles, such as the King James!]

1 (1) When a tree or a vine is planted, so that it may bring forth fruit.

2 (2) So that God illumines those who go to meetings and councils.

3 (3) So that badness goes away from people, so that they do not torment unjustly their fellows.

4 (4) So that God heals the sensitive people who fell ill from depression because of the behaviour of hard-hearted people.

5 (5) So that God heals the wounded eyes that were bitten by a bad person.

6 (6) So that God frees the person who has been under a spell.

7 (7) For those who got damaged from fear, from the terrors and the intimidations of bad people.

8 (8) For those who are hurt by demons or by perverse people.

9 (9 & 10) So that the demons stop tormenting you in sleep or with fancies during the day.

10 (11) For hard-hearted couples that argue and divorce (when the hard-hearted man or woman torments their sensitive wife or husband).

11 (12) For mentally ill people who have badness and harm others.

12 (13) For those who suffer from their liver.

13 (14) For a terrible demon, continually three times a day for three days.

14 (15) So that robbers or thieves change their mind and return having done no harm, and having repented.

15 (16) So that the key is found when it is lost.

16 (17) For a grave and unjust accusation, three times a day for three days.

17 (18) When there is an earthquake or other natural disaster, or devastating rain with lightning.

18 (19) So that women give birth successfully.

19 (20) For the couples who for medical reasons cannot have children, so that God heals them and that they do not divorce.

20 (21) So that God softens the hearts of the rich and they give alms to the poor.

21 (22) So that God contains the fire, so that no big harm happens.

22 (23) So that God makes milder the very rebellious children that bring sorrow to their parents.

23 (24) So that the door opens when the key is lost.

24 (25) For people who temptation troubles a lot and so brings continual problems into their lives, making them lose their peace and complain.

25 (26) When somebody asks something good from God so that He gives it without the person getting harmed.

26 (27) So that God protects the peasants from the enemy army, so that they do not harm the people or their fields.

27 (28) So that God heals those who suffer from illnesses of nervous or mental origin.

28 (29) For those that the sea makes sick and who are afraid of the rough sea.

29 (30) For those that are in danger far away, in the territory of barbarous and unbelieving people, so that God guards them and illumines the people there to become peaceful and to come to know God.

30 (31) So that God gives enough grain and fruit when the weather is not good for agriculture.

31 (32) So that the travelers find their way when they are lost and suffering from it.

32 (33) So that God reveals the truth to those who were unjustly imprisoned, and so that they are set free.

33 (34) For those on the edge of death, when they are tormented by demons. Or, for the enemy army when it brings danger and enters the borders with ominous intentions.

34 (35) So that God frees the good people from the traps of the bad people, who take advantage of the people of God.

35 (36) So that animosity disappears completely after arguments and misunderstandings.

36 (37) For people badly wounded by criminals.

37 (38) When the jaws have pain coming from rotten teeth.

38 (39) So that the people who are abandoned and depressed find work, so that they stop being in sorrow.

39 (40) So that the love between employer and employee comes back when there has been exchange of heavy words.

40 (41) So that women give birth with success when the child comes prematurely into the world.

41 (42) For young people when they get ill from falling in love, and one person gets wounded and is in sorrow.

42 (43) So that the people get free from the prisons of an enemy nation.

43 (44) So that God reveals the truth to couples when there has been a misunderstanding, so that they come into mutual peace and love again.

44 (45) For those who suffer from heart or kidneys.

45 (46) For the young people that the enemy because of envy prevents from making a family (i.e. from getting married).

46 (47) So that the employee or the employer find peace, when the employee leaves offended by the employer, and so that the employee finds work.

47 (48) When gangs of criminals go robbing and grave disasters are happening: to be continually read for 40 days.

48 (49) For those who do a dangerous job.

49 (50) So that the people who are far from God repent and return to God and are saved.

50 (51) When, because of our sins and in order to correct us, comes the punishment of God (epidemics of illness and deaths for people or animals).

51 (52) So that the hard-hearted masters repent and become compassionate and do not torment the people.

52 (53) So that God blesses the nets and they get filled with fish.

53 (54) So that God illumines the rich people that have bought slaves so that they free them.

54 (55) So that the name of a family that had been unjustly accused is restored.

55 (56) For sensitive people, whose souls have been wounded by their fellows.

56 (57) For those people who suffer headaches coming from big sorrow.

57 (58) So that things come in a helping way for those who work with good intention, so that God prevents every perverse action of demons or crooked people.

58 (59) For those that cannot speak, that God gives them the ability to speak.

59 (60) So that God reveals the truth when a whole group of people is unjustly accused.

60 (61) For those that have trouble in their work either because of laziness or because of fear.

61 (62) So that God relieves from troubles the person who is weak, so that he is not dominated by the urge to complain.

62 (63) So that fields and trees bring forth fruit when the water is limited.

63 (64) When a person is bitten by a dog or wolf that had rabies. (He was also for giving them blessed water to drink).

64 (65) So that merchants prosper, so that they do not speak too much and take advantage of simple people.

65 (66) So that the evil one does not bring obstacles in the homes and cause families to be in sorrow.

66 (67) So that the places where hens are raised are blessed.

67 (68) So that the women whose pregnancies fail manage to endure and become healthy.

68 (69) When there is severe rain and the rivers overflow, taking with them people and houses.

69 (70) For sensitive people that get sad from little things and come to despair, that God gives them strength.

70 (71) For deserted people who become uninteresting to others [lit. "boring"] because of the devil's envy and come to despair, that they may find mercy and healing from God.

71 (72) So that God blesses the gatherings of the new agricultural production that the peasants bring home.

72 (73) So that the criminals repent.

73 (74) So that God protects the peasants that work in their fields when the enemy have surrounded the village.

74 (75) So that the barbarous employer becomes peaceful and does not torment his fellow human beings, the empoloyees.

75 (76) For a mother who is scared during her giving birth, so that God gives her braveness and protects her.

76 (77) When there is no mutual understanding between parents and children, that God illumines them, so that the children listen to the parents and the parents show love.

77 (78) So that God illumines those who lend so that they do not press their fellows for their debt, and so that they are compassionate.

78 (79) So that God protects the villages from the robbing and stealing of the enemy army.

79 (80) So that God cures a person whose face gets swollen and all his head is in pain.

80 (81) So that God takes care of the poor who are in need and sorrow and are depressed because of poverty.

81 (82) So that people buy the products of the peasants, so that the peasants are not sad and depressed.

82 (83) So that God prevents the bad people who want to do murders.

83 (84) So that God preserves all that is kept in the house, and the animals, and the products of the producers.

84 (85) So that God heals those who were wounded by robbers and moreover got psychologically damaged from terror.

85 (86) So that God saves the world when plague comes and people die.

86 (87) So that God extends the lives of those members of the family that are still urgently needed by the rest of the family.

87 (88) So that God protects all those who have no protector and are suffering from hard-hearted fellows.

88 (89) So that God gives strength to those who easily fall sick and are physically weak, so that they can work without getting tired and depressed.

89 (90) So that God brings rain when there is a drought, or that the wells bring forth water again if they have stopped doing so.

90 (91) So that the devil disappears when he appears in front of a person and brings him terror.

91 (92) So that God gives prudence to people so that they progress spiritually.

92 (93) So that God protects the ship when it is in great danger at sea. (He was also for throwing blessed water at the four corners of the ship).

93 (94) So that God illumines the disorderly people who cause problems to the nation and bring commotion to the people, causing trouble by disorder and divisions.

94 (95) So that no spells cause couples to start finding reasons for arguments and fights.

95 (96) So that God gives to the deaf people the ability to hear.

96 (97) So that spells go away from people.

97 (98) So that God gives comfort for those who are in sorrow so that they stop being depressed.

98 (99) So that God blesses and gives grace to those young people who want to leave everything and follow God. [I do not know how succesful is my translation here. To my Greek ear the exact phrase that is used would make me think of people who follow the monastic life but I am not sure. --Trans.]

99 (100) So that God blesses and makes real the desires of the people that are in accordance with His will.

100 (101) So that God gives graces and talents to the good and simple people.

101 (102) So that God blesses the people who hold offices of power so that they help the people with kindness and understanding.

102 (103) So that the monthly flow of blood comes to a woman when it is delayed.

103 (104) So that God blesses the possessions of the people that they are not sad and depressed, but glorify God.

104 (105) So that people repent and confess their sins.

105 (106) So that God gives illumination to people so that they do not move away from the way to salvation.

106 (107) So that God gives the woman who could not give birth the ability to do so.

107 (108) So that God humbles the enemies, so that they change their bad intentions.

108 (109) So that God cures the epileptics. Or, so that God has mercy on those who accuse unjustly and they repent.

109 (110) So that the younger have respect for the older.

110 (111) So that the unjust judges repent and judge justly the people of God.

111 (112) So that God protects the soldiers when they go to war.

112 (113) So that God gives blessings to the poor widow, so that she pays her debts and is saved from going to prison.

113 (114 & 115) So that God cures the mentally retarded children.

114 (116:1-9) So that God gives blessings and comfort to the sad poor little children, so that they are not looked down upon by the children of the rich and consequently feel depressed.

115 (116:10-19) So that God cures the horrible passion of lying.

116 (117) So that families keep unity and love and glorify God.

117 (118) So that God humbles the barbarians when they surround the village and bring fear, and that He reverses their bad intentions.

118 (119) So that God shatters the barbarians and humbles their action when they slay innocent women and children.

119 (120) So that God gives patience and forbearance to those people who have to live together with crooked and unjust people.

120 (121) So that God protects the slaves from the hands of the enemy so that they are not mutilated before they are set free.

121 (122) So that God cures those who suffer from the "evil eye".

122 (123) So that God gives eyesight to the blind and cures the eyes that are in pain.

123 (124) So that God protects people from snakes, so that they do not bite.

124 (125) So that God protects the fields of the just people from the bad people.

125 (126) So that God cures the people who suffer from continual headaches.

126 (127) So that God brings peace to a family when there are arguments.

127 (128) So that the badness of the enemy never approaches the homes, and that there is the peace and blessing of God in the family.

128 (129) So that God cures the people who suffer from migraines, or, so that God shows mercy to the hard and indiscreet people who bring sorrow to the sensitive.

129 (130) So that God gives braveness and hope to those who start a new job and do not know it well yet, so that they do not find extreme difficulty in their work.

130 (131) So that God gives repentance and comfort with hope to people so that they are saved.

131 (132) So that God shows pity to the world when because of our sins there are continual wars.

132 (133) So that God illumines the nations and they become friendly and the people find peace.

133 (134) So that God protects people from every danger.

134 (135) So that people concentrate at the time of prayer and their mind is united with God.

135 (136) So that God protects the immigrants when they abandon their homes and leave so that they are saved from the barbarians.

136 (137) So that God brings steadiness to the person with unsteady character.

137 (138) So that God illumines the masters of the place so that people's requests are treated with understanding.

138 (139) So that God stops the temptation of sensitive people by blasphemous thoughts.

139 (140) So that God makes peaceful the head of the family who has a very difficult character and brings suffering to all the family.

140 (141) So that God makes peaceful the barbarian master of a place who torments his fellows.

141 (142) So that God makes peaceful the rebel who is doing bad; then even if he is a Kurd he becomes a lamb. [St. Arsenios was living in Asia Minor. Kurds, who were often soldiers, had a reputation among other ethnic groups for being brutal fighters. --Trans.]

142 (143) So that God protects the mother throughout the pregnancy so that she does not loose the child.

143 (144) So that God pacifies the people when they are in unrest so that no civil war happens.

144 (145) So that God blesses the work of people so that it is well accepted by God.

145 (146) So that God stops the flow of blood from people who suffer from it.

146 (147:1-11) So that God heals the people who have been bitten and wounded in the jaws by bad people.

147 (147:12-20) So that God brings peace to the wild animals so that they do not harm people or farm produce.

148 (148) So that God makes the weather appropriate so that people have plenty and glorify God.

[These were from St. Arsenios. The following two are from Fr. Paisios of the Holy Mountain.]

149 (149) From gratefulness and thankfulness to God for His many kindnesses and for the plenitude of His love, that knows no limit and bears with us.

150 (150) So that God gives happiness and comfort to our sad brothers and sisters who are in far places, and to those of our brothers and sisters who are sleeping and are even farther away. Amen.

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PART TWO: TOPICAL INDEX

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the Septuagint psalm number is given in this index.]

AGRICULTURE: 1, 26, 30, 50, 52, 62, 66, 71, 83, 124, 147, 148

ANIMALS, Unfriendly: 63, 123, 147

CHILDREN: 22, 76, 109, 113, 114

DEATH AND DEPARTED: 33, 150

DISASTERS: 17, 21, 30, 50, 62, 68, 85, 89

HEALTH, Physical: 5, 12, 28, 36, 37, 44, 56, 58, 63, 79, 86, 88, 95, 102, 108, 122, 125, 128, 145, 146

HEALTH, Psychological: 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 24, 27, 41, 55, 56, 60, 61, 69, 70, 80, 81, 84, 97, 100, 103, 128, 136, 138

HEALTH, Women's: 18, 19, 40, 67, 75, 106, 142, 145

LAW AND GOVERNMENT: 14, 16, 32, 36, 47, 51, 59, 72, 82, 84, 93, 101, 108, 110, 137, 140, 141, 143

MAGIC AND DEMONS: 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 33, 57, 65, 90, 94, 96, 121

PEACE AND WAR: 26, 33, 42, 73, 78, 93, 107, 111, 117, 118, 120, 127, 131, 132, 135, 140, 141, 143

PEACE (among friends and family): 10, 19, 22, 35, 41, 43, 45, 54, 65, 76, 86, 94, 109, 116, 126, 127, 139

PROPERTY: 14, 15, 23, 47, 83, 103, 124

PROTECTION: 9, 13, 34, 47, 48, 57, 90, 133

SOCIAL CONCERNS: 20, 32, 35, 38, 51, 53, 59, 77, 80, 81, 87, 93, 101, 110, 112, 113, 114, 119, 124, 137, 140

SPIRITUALITY: 3, 9, 24, 25, 29, 49, 50, 57, 72, 91, 98, 99, 100, 104, 105, 108, 115, 119, 130, 134, 136, 149

TRAVEL AND EMIGRATION: 28, 29, 31, 92, 135, 150

WORK: 2, 38, 39, 46, 48, 51, 52, 57, 60, 64, 74, 81, 83, 100, 101, 103, 129, 137, 140,144

THE END, AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Source: http://www.voskrese.info/spl/arsenios.html

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:29-34)

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

We are bombarded with the message that we are to be tolerant of the beliefs and practices of others. “Tolerant,” however, has come to mean “accept and condone without question or reservation”; failure to practice this form of tolerance makes one intolerant and a hater. These assertions are addressed especially to those from traditional Christian backgrounds who acknowledge that the truths in Scripture are absolute, not relative, as secular and liberal society views them. It must be noted, too, that when entirely secularized people refuse to be tolerant of “traditional values,” they are called progressive, open-minded and enlightened, anything but intolerant; while traditional Christians are considered deluded, superstitious, brain-washed, and ignorant. (This is so despite the fact that – in all ages – living a Christian life requires a concerted effort and personal dedication – a clear choice. Just ask the Virgin Mary and the Martyrs.)

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those few who claim to hold traditional Christian values, but go beyond intolerance to outright hatred; unfortunately, those who try to stand up for Christian beliefs in a peaceful manner are lumped together with these pseudo-Christian extremists.

The common thread between the dogmatic secularists and the traditionalist extremists is their “all-or-nothing” attitudes; they are two sides of the same coin. For Orthodox Christians, neither side is right.

As with every generation since Adam and Eve, amorality and immorality abound; in our time, however, they are cheered and championed as never before. Instead of being places to avoid, Sodom and Gomorrah have become “the place to be.” Meanwhile, as during Old and New Testament times, the faithful trying to live according to the Gospel are harassed and mocked by the unfaithful. So how does an Orthodox Christian deal with this situation? The same way God has dealt with us forever, by going beyond tolerance to love, and, at times … tough love.

In many moral controversies today, such as “open-marriage,” assisted suicide, abortion, so-called mercy-killing, and “gay marriage,” some argue that we should accept conduct that, in the Old Testament, was punishable by death. A few pseudo-Christian extremists go around the country saying that 9/11 and other tragedies are our punishment for accepting these behaviors, and that those who practice them should die because God hates them! (God does not hate anyone! Hatred is the province of Satan and his demons, who want us all to hate. Anyone who hates is not of God, as St. John the Theologian makes clear: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” [1 John 4:8]). God loves us; however, like any parent, He does get angry when His children do self-destructive things. While He repeatedly sent the Hebrews into exile for rejecting Him, He never completely wiped them out. (Just ask Noah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and so forth.) He would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for ten righteous people (Genesis 18:32–33). We of the “Christian Era” have launched Crusades in which the crusaders killed as many Christians as infidels, and have spent centuries torturing, maiming, and imprisoning people, all in the name of Christ. We make nukes, napalm, anthrax, wipe out whole species which He created, and kill each other with impunity – yet He lets us live. He Himself said,

“If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18: 21–23).

Despite all we’ve done, He sent His Son to save us. (This is why we say, “Lord have mercy” so often.) Since He still loves us despite our moral failings, we must do likewise with others, lest we be like the unforgiving servant (Matthew18:21–35).

In the New Testament, Christ doesn’t abolish the crimes or punishments laid out in the Old Testament, but He puts them in a new light. An adulterous woman is brought to Him by the men of the village, to see if He will say that she should be executed for her crime, as taught in the letter of the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 22:13–30; Leviticus 20:10; John 8:3–11). Christ does not abolish the penalty, but says that only one who is without sin can carry it out justly – and that one is Christ Himself. Then, as the only Righteous Judge, He grants the woman the opportunity to repent, as He would later grant the same to Peter, despite Peter’s denials of Him. No one but Christ determines ultimately who is saved and who is damned. For this reason – not to mention the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule – hating, judging or condemning, and especially abusing or harassing people whose conduct and beliefs don’t square with Scripture is a sin, because no one abides by Scripture perfectly – except Christ.

That being said, St. Paul also warns us to avoid being led away by strange doctrines, but to hold fast the Gospel as Christ delivered it to him and the Apostles, and as he delivers it to us. We do well to follow St. Paul here, and not the “enlightened” scholar who “corrects” the interpretation of the Bible to make it fit modern mores, claiming that St. Paul and the Evangelists obviously intended what the scholar intends, despite what we see in the Bible (see Mark 7:6–8 and 2 Corinthians 11:1–15). Saint Paul says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8–9). One Christian group has posters that say, “Do not put a period where God put a comma... Christ is still speaking.” The Orthodox Church agrees, but as St. Matthew relates in Chapter 5:17–19, Christ tells us,

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

A similar point is made repeatedly by Saint Paul, especially in Galatians 6: 6–12:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Christ is always saying the same thing. Christ teaches that we are to love those who hate us, revile us, and persecute us (Matthew 5:43–48; Luke 6:27–36); and we are to love everyone (1 John 3:10–24). That does not mean, however, that we have to condone, bless and embrace their views or behavior. Like any parent, the Father loves us unconditionally, but He did not embrace the immorality of the people of the Old Testament and He does not embrace the immoral views and practices of those under the New Testament. If He did, the Gospels and Epistles combined would be two lines long; for if God approves of our sins, they wouldn’t be sins, and Christ would not have had to die to expunge them.

Christ doesn’t condone our sinful acts, and His tears in Gethsemane were as much for our lack of true repentance, as they were for Himself. This is little different from a parent crying when his or her child chooses to drink, do drugs, act irresponsibly, befriend the wrong people – in essence, take the wrong path: the parent cries because he or she loves the child, but hates what the child is doing and, though it may alienate the child, the parent will not condone his or her actions. John the Baptist preached publicly against Herod, but did not hate him. The Apostle Paul often castigated those he wrote (especially the Corinthians), but he did so in love. Most importantly, Christ repeatedly chastised the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, elders, scribes, laypeople and even the Apostles (mostly Peter) for their false views; but He never stopped loving them. We are to do likewise.

God did lay down how He wants us to live, and what conduct He will not accept. As Orthodox Christians we are to witness to the manner of living contained in Scripture, and not self-righteously denounce others, as the Pharisee did the Publican in the parable (Luke 18:9–14), nor as the Pharisees did to the man born blind (John 9:13–34), nor as the Pharisees’ denounced Christ, for Christ Himself said:

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:37–38, 41–42).

We do not determine whether someone is going to hell or not! We do not get to condemn the person for his or her beliefs! Christ alone has that authority (John 5:22–30). To prevent misunderstanding: while the hierarchy can exclude those who refuse to accept the Church’s teachings from the care of the Church (excommunication), the excommunicated person is not condemned; God is the only one who makes that decision: “Those who are outside, God judges…” (1 Corinthians 5:13). The excommunicated are simply removed from the community, just as any disruptive person is from any group. Saint Paul tells us how to handle those who refuse to accept what Christ teaches: “If anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14–15). We are to witness to the truth sternly, resolutely, humbly, in the same way Christ witnessed to it on earth. As President Lincoln once said: “With malice towards none, with charity for all.”

Thus the Orthodox Church’s teaching concerning relations with those of other beliefs and behaviors differs greatly from alternative understandings of tolerance. We are to show love for all and respect for their right to their beliefs, in any case, even those beliefs that differ from ours. (So the Good Samaritan did not treat the victimized Jew differently, despite the animosity between their groups [Luke 10:25–37].) At the same time, we are to resist “peer pressure” and refuse to endorse and condone what Scripture does not endorse or condone, as the Prophet Nathan did with King David over his taking of Bathsheba, for example. Just as others today stand for their beliefs, we should stand for the truth. We can do so in a non-confrontational manner, but simply say, “That goes against my beliefs, and, as you want your beliefs respected, I hope you’ll respect mine.” If our interlocutor asks why, we can explain the scriptural reasons, as St. Paul directs, “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). (Ask your priest for help, if needed.) If he or she doesn’t question us, we can move on (Romans 16:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:6).

This applies chiefly to personal relationships; when it comes to anti-Scriptural beliefs and standards being codified in law or government regulations – especially in this country of free speech and beliefs – we can and must state the truth, still following St. Paul’s admonition from Ephesians, yet never wavering until the truth wins out (either by vote or court decision or the Second Coming).

Archbishop Iakovos, of thrice-blessed memory, exemplified this when he marched with the evermemorable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a time and in a region where it was unquestionably politically incorrect to call for equal rights for black people, and supporters were hated with a demonic passion. Our witness to the truth, however, must be made with respect, as the Prophet Daniel respectfully greeted Nebuchadnezzar with “O King, you are the King of Kings,” and then proceeded to state what God desired firmly and humbly (Daniel 2:36–45). As in all things, we Christians must not only speak the truth; more importantly, we must live it, as the renowned ascetic Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if you must, use words.” Don’t give fire-and-brimstone exhortations; those turn people off. Christ wants people to flee sin … not other people.

We commit sins regularly, yet Christ still loves us. He refuses to condone the sin, but He still loves us; we are to love others the same way. In this way, we are beyond “tolerant”; we are Christian.

That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:14–16; New King James Version).

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:8–10; New King James Version).

Daniel Manzuk

Reader, St. Panteleimon Church, Summit, Illinois

Source: http://www.antiochian.org/content/orthodox-perspective-tolerance

In the city of Magdu or Magedon, located in Persia, a daughter was born to a King named Licinius. She was named Penelope and at age six Licinius and his wife decided to place her into seclusion until she reached the age of marriage. Licinius built a castle outside of his city and adorned it with fine materials. Penelope was to have all the comforts of the royal court. She would be attended to by thirteen handmaidens and educated by her aged secretary and tutor, Apellianus. She remained in strict seclusion, except for her handmaidens, and Apellianus was only brought into her presence “with ropes by means of the contrivances of an engine of artifices to her own high windows in the castles.” There were curtains hung between Apellianus and Penelope when he instructed her. King Licinius assured his daughter that his actions were for her well being, and that he had commanded that statues of ninetyeight gods be placed throughout the castle to watch over her.

The young Penelope did not welcome her forced seclusion and pleaded with her father not her shut her up within the “gates of Hades, where she shall never again hear the sweet voice of her mother. I shall not see the sun, nor the moon, nor shall I contemplate the brilliancy of heaven nor the stars. My eyes shall not delight in the birds of the air, and I shall not distinguish between day and night in my prison house.” In spite of her fears and protests, Licinius commanded that Penelope and her handmaidens be taken to the castle, where the gates were locked, and which the King placed the seal of his signet ring. Licinius ordered that the door was not to be opened until the time arrived for his daughter’s betrothal.

During her confinement Penelope continued to be tutored by Apellianus, who was a devote Christian. Each day the guards drew Apellianus up on ropes to the highest windows of the castle and he taught the young women many subjects, including the teachings of Jesus Christ. After six years and three months of confinement, Penelope experienced a vision, which was both frightening and wondrous. In this vision, she saw that the window on the east side of her castle was opened, and a dove flew threw it carrying an olive-leaf in its mouth, setting it on the table in front of her bed. Soon afterward she saw an eagle fly into her room by the same window carrying in its mouth a wreath adored with beautiful flowers, and it too placed on the table near her. Penelope next saw a raven fly into her room carrying a wriggling serpent, which was also placed on her table.

In the morning Apellianus was brought to her window to begin her lessons. She immediately related this vision to him and asked for his counsel. First, her tutor asked her if the objects which the birds of heaven had laid upon her table remained there now. She answered no, and saying they were only in her vision. Apellianus responded excitedly saying to her:

“Hearken, O daughter of the King! The dove which thou has seen is the doctrine of the teaching of the Wisdom of God: and the olive-leaf is the grace of Christ, and it announces the opening of the baptismal font. And the eagle is a great and powerful king, and the wreath which it carried in its mouth, adorned with all flowers, the vocation which hat called thee to espousals of the Heavenly Bridegroom, and the perfection which is completed by faith. And the raven is Satan the weak and crafty one, [who is] also the tempter of the righteous; and the serpent which he carried in his mouth is affliction and anxiety, misery, and tumult, and persecutions. Therefore, hearken, o queen and daughter of the king to what I tell thee! Though art called to the city of the great and Heavenly King; and thou shalt be hidden under the shadow of His wings. Though shalt surely see much affliction upon earth. And thy father and thy mother shall deliver thee up to thy enemies; and thy father himself shall be a persecutor of thee; and shall mediate evil, and not good, against thee. But why do I talk much with thee? For lo, a man of God shall be sent to thee, an angel of peace from the presence of the mighty King of Heaven, and he will teach thee all that is necessary to thee.”

A short time after Penelope experienced this vision Licinius summoned his queen and said that the day had arrived for the betrothal of their daughter. They and others went to the castle of their daughter to release her from her seclusion. As Penelope approached her father, he was pleased with her beauty and composure. He informed her that the day of her betrothal was at hand and that she should make preparations for marriage. She asked her father to allow her seven days to think about this important event in her life. Her father patiently agreed, saying that he would return in seven days.

Alone, Penelope faced the idols her father had placed in her chamber and declared, “If ye be gods, tell me beforehand. Shall I be given to a husband, or no?” There was only stone silence. Penelope turned toward the eastern window and looked at the sky and prayed, “Lord of the heavens and the earth, and of the seas, and of all that move in them, if Thou are God the Almighty, Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, He whom the Galileans have preached, if it is proper for me to make a transitory weddingfeast for myself, and to be given to a mortal man, and a bridegroom who will perish; show me plainly They divinity.” Following this Penelope began singing praises to God.

On that same night she looked up and saw an angel of God standing beside her clothed all in white. She was afraid and confused, and the angel seeing this said, “Peace be unto thee, fear not, for behold thou has found mercy and grace before God. I have been sent to you in order to show and teach you things that will come. From this day forward your name shall not longer be Penelope, but Irene, which means Peace. The angel declared that Irene will be a citadel against all the deeds and acts of the evil one and many will find safety and peace in her, repenting, and believing in God for her sake. The angel then stated that everything her teacher Appllianus has told her about the birds in her dreams was true, for he spoke by the Holy Spirit! The angel told her that a man of God will come to you, a skilful doctor of the Church of God. He shall have a letter, which he shall read in your presence, and then teach you the word of God, baptizing you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After your baptism, power and strength will be given to you, with you will have the wisdom of God.

On the following day the holy priest Timothy accompanied by an angel of God come to Irene. Irene declared to Timothy that it is time that her sins should be confessed and her transgressions and faults be blotted out. Timothy baptized Irene and her thirteen handmaidens who were with her. He then taught them the faith and fear of God. Irene obtained the power and strength of God and she lifted up the stone idols in her chambers and threw them from the eastern window, smashing them and shouting, “stand up yourselves, if you can, and help yourselves by your own power for you were not able to help me.”

After seven days Irene’s Father, King Licinius, accompanied by many nobles of the city, returned to his daughter. He announced to her that the seven days were finished and he wanted her answer. Irene boldly declared to her Father and those with him that she had entered the palace of the Heavenly King and declared her love and faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. The nobles accompanying the King declared that by these words Irene perhaps was a Christian? Irene responded that all should know she was truly a Christian and the handmaid of Christ and the bride of Jesus. She further announced that she had been baptized. Irene then declared to her father and his nobles that they were oppressors of orphans and widows, and spoilers of the poor and unfortunate, and were enemies of righteousness and aliens from God! She called upon them all, especially her father, to repent and turn to the living God and embrace the resurrected Jesus Christ!

Licinius responded to his daughter saying that he has had great patience with her owing to her grace and beauty. He called on his guards to escort her to the city and face his punishment. However, his wife and mother of Irene, bent down and dug her hands into the dust where her daughter had been standing and covered her eyes and body with it, declaring, “May this dust from beneath the hold feet of my beloved daughter bring to me rest and healing, and for the redemption of my life and for the remission of sins and for the new eternal life.” Many people who were following them did the same, but the King ordered his guards to clear a path and to remove anyone who blocked their return to the city.

All who saw the face of Irene where filled with joy, and declared that it was like looking at the face of an angel. When Irene came to the door of her father’s palace, a vicious demon met her and declared, “What is there between me and thee, thou hand maiden of Jesus? Get out of this city, for no Christian can dwell in it, the demon shouted.” The blessed Irene then said to the demon, ‘Who art thou, and what is thy name?” The demon responded that Nargium is his name and that he guards the city, and many of the people within are his! I am the first charioteer of the gods, and I rejoice in quarrels and exult in slaughter. I excite disputes and I rejoice in the shedding of blood. I supply the wizards and enchain many by means of them. I am the father and the originator of all evils, and I am the rock on which all the souls of the wicked shall be dashed. Now I have made known to thee my power and my courage.

Irene answered the demon saying, “in the name of Jesus Christ, it is not lawful for thee to be in this city, or to ruin or hurt anyone of its inhabitants. Be gone demon, let I destroy you in the name of Jesus! When the demon heard the glorious name of Jesus Christ he fled in fear and trembling, and went out of the city astonished. As he was going out, he approached the king and whispered into his ear, saying, “if you are truly mine Licinius, be strong and of good courage, for thy daughter is mixed up with the fervor of the Christians.” After the demon had said this he went out of the city shaking and howling. At dawn of the next day the king called his queen and asked her counsel regarding what should be done with their daughter. The queen responded that he should not think that their daughter was in error and declared “peace be to our daughter and glory to Christ, who hath called her to immortal life!” At this declaration the king became enraged and ordered that the queen be put out of the palace. When Irene learned of this action she quickly ran to her mother’s aid and to confront her father.

When Licinius encountered his daughter he bent his head down and gazed at the ground in anger. When she saw her fathers’ reaction, she asked him why he was so sad and angry with her. Licinius declared that she had confessed the Christ and believed in Jesus, rejecting the gods. Irene responded saying that there was nothing wrong with her and her faith in Christ, and that she prays that he too will confess and believe in Jesus Christ.

The king responded by demanding that Irene sacrifice to the gods and cease calling herself Irene, for your name he said is Penelope! She responded by saying that her name is Irene, for by that name my betrothed did call me when I was in that castle, which you imprisoned me. King Licinius responded with anger, declaring that he renounces this child, and wished she had never had been born! He then commanded his soldiers to take her away to the circus, and to bind her with ropes and throw her in front of chariots so she would be trampled to death.

Irene was immediately taken by the king’s soldiers to the circus. The crowds were weeping at the site of her in ropes as the soldiers laid her in the middle of circus floor. The King soon left his palace and went to the circus to witness the death of his daughter. As the King entered the circus his most prized war horse cut the ropes of its halter and destroyed its stall, running straight for the Licinius. The horse bit the King, seizing his right arm, ripping it from his shoulder. The king fell to the ground dead! The horse returned to its stall, which was given the speech of man for the glory of God. It spoke and said:

“Blessed art though Irene, handmaid of God and blessed are thou among women. Thou hast been delivered into the hands of the wicked upon the earth and in heaven thine espousal and their adornment are prepared. Thou has wept upon earth and in paradise thou shalt be embraced by the sweetness of heaven. Here thou art afflicted but thou shalt be made splendid beyond the splendor of light. Thou art hated by man upon earth, but thou shall stand and be glorified beside Jesus they betrothed. Blessed be thou and blessed be thy soul.”

All the horses were brought to the circus but the one that had spoken these words was kept separate from the other horses owing to his great strength. The blessed Irene who had been bound with ropes by order of the King lay in the middle of the area, and all the horses came and knelt down in obeisance before her. Suddenly the ropes that had bound Irene fell from her, and the people who witnessed this immediately glorified God. At that very moment the servants of the King ran to Irene and declared, “A horse had bitten thy father and he is dead.”

“Irene responded by declaring that they should not fear for he really is not dead, but only sleeping, and that all this has happened for the glory of God! When the crow at the circus heard that the King was dead, they be came to Irene and fell down before her and pleaded saying, “Lady, take pity on thy father who is dead; and it is grievous to they for his hand, too, has been taken away and thrown aside.”

Irene then went to her father’s corpse and stood over it. The people at this time were dumbstruck and fearful, for they were amazed at the speech of the horse, the miraculous loosening of Irene’s bindings, and shocked by the sudden death of their King. The blessed Irene then declared, “Bring the hand that cut off close to place from which it as cut. And make it touch the place.” Once this was done, Irene turned to the East and lifted up her eyes and her hands to heaven. She cried with heavy sobs saying,

“God the Father in Heaven, who hast established the foundations of the earth; Thou rock that never movest, and fortress that never dost capitulate, Sun of righteousness and path of life, and Way of Salvation, who sittest on the right hand of Him who sent thee, O Lord, my God, and my betrothed Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, Thou who called sinner to repentance, that they may turn to the knowledge of the truth and not perish, Merciful and Pitiful One, hearken to my voice and look on the humble estate of Thy handmaiden. May they strong power come from heaven on this dead man and raise him up, that this crowd may see threes things and believe and glorify Thy holy name; and know that thou are the Lord of the heaven and of the earth and the Redeemer of all men who believe in thee.”

When she had finished her prayer, the soul of the dead man re-entered him and he arose, and sat-up. His daughter turned and saw him, and she went to him and took him with her hands and set him up saying, “Rise my father, by the power of Jesus!” At this he rose and began walking as if he had never been injured. The people were amazed and on that very day 3,000 were baptized. Then King Licinius took his daughter by the hand, blessing God and saying, “Great is the triumph of thy victory, my daughter, and great is thy promise in heaven. Thou art called the possession of Jesus, and the inheritance of the Christ. Behold! Licinius declared, I also am now a Christian and a servant of Jesus, and I renounce this kingdom of the world that passes away, and I look for the kingdom of heaven that never passes away. He then announced his abdication, stating that he will take his wife and daughter to the castle that he had built for them and will also see Jesus as they have.”

Soon after this Zedkia, a neighboring king had learned of Lincius conversion and of the miracles done by his daughter. Zedekia assembled his army and marched to Magdu quickly occupying it. He summoned the leaders of the city and asked them where they king had gone? They answered that Lincius was in the castle he had build for his daughter! Zedkia then demanded to know where Irene lived, and was told that she was in the city, staying with her teacher, Apellianus. Zedkia’s soldier seized Irene and brought her to the King. When she meet him, she condemned his paganism. Zedkia became enraged and commanded his soldiers to dig a pit thirty cubits wide and thirty cubits deep, and to throw wild beasts and venomous snakes and scorpions into it. The king commanded that Irene be thrown into the pit. As Irene was brought to the pit she lifted her hands and raised her eyes upwards, weeping and saying, “O Lord the Christ, behold, for they sake I bear these things and I go down into this pit leaning on the power of thy divinity. Show thy favor to me, O Lord, and let the iniquitous people and their father, Satin, be ashamed.” Irene then made the sign of Jesus between her eyes, and on her breast, and threw herself head first into the pit. When she reached the bottom of the pit all the reptiles ran away from her and stuck to the sides of pit and died.

Irene remained in the pit for fourteen days and had nothing to eat or drink, but was nourished by the Holy Spirit. When King Zedkia was informed of the dead reptiles and that Irene was still alive, he had her brought before him and demanded that she make sacrifices to the gods. Irene replied, “O many headed Satan! O son of deceit, tell me, has the weak power of thy gods done any enchantment like these!”18 Zedkia became enraged and ordered his carpenters to bring two saws. He commanded that they squeeze Irene in their press and to saw her half. The carpenters followed the commands of their King, and placed a saw above her head and began to saw her, but the saws became blunted and did not hurt her body! The King being further enraged, commanded that they should tie her down and saw her in two, but the saw broke killing the two carpenters. Irene continued to sing praises to Jesus Christ throughout this ordeal! The King then ordered a large stone of 550 pounds to be placed on Irene and ordered that another large saw be brought. Then the King’s servants cut off Irene’s feet, but she felt no pain. The King then blasphemed God, when suddenly the air was aflame, and great thundering and fierce lightening occurred. Irene remained with the stone on her and her feet cut off. The King then shouted, “now we will see if the Christ will come to deliver her.”

All the people had fled, but a harlot came to the side of Irene. Here name was Curica. She said to her, “I will not leave thee, handmaid of the Christ! With thee I will die, and with thee will live in life eternal.” When the King saw the harlot beside Irene, he ordered his men to kill her. She asked Irene to pray for her that they would not be separated, and Irene sealed her in the name of the Fathers, and the Son, and the Holy Sprit. When the Kings men cut the head off of Curica, two angels came down from heaven by the command of God, and they freed Irene from the stone and took her feet which had been cut off and brought them to he places where they have been severed and healed her, and then went up to heaven. The handmaiden Irene continued singing praises to God without ceasing. Suddenly a strong current of air followed the king and his men who were bitterly were assaulted by a killing hail. It slew three thousand of the Kings men, but it did not hurt the king, because he was kept for the wrath to come.

The king then summoned Irene and said you have killed three thousand people with your enchantments. He also said that when the people saw that your feet were healed, they believed in your God and you have stolen 8,000 souls from the gods! Irene then declared that the king did not escape death because of his righteousness, but that her crown of martyrdom might be witnessed by the people. The king was again enraged and ordered his Eparch to take Irene to a mill and bind her to against the spokes of the wheel. He ordered that iron hooks be attached to the ends of the spokes and the water be opened to the mill wheel. When the force of the water hits the wheel the hooks will rip Irene apart he shouted! Irene was tied to the mill wheel, and the water was released, but the mill did not move and she was unhurt. The King and his men were completely bewildered. Irene was then taken off the mill wheel and imprisoned. But God created doubt in the minds of the people of the King, who suddenly rose up against him. The King was stoned by the people and he left the city for his own, but died within seven days died. His son Severon ascended to his father’s throne and quickly reoccupied Magedon with a large army.

While Irene was in prison the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to hear with a host of angels. He said to her, “Irene, fear not, I am with you, and my Father with the Holy Spirit, are helping you with your struggles. All the armies of heaven are helping with your conflict. And even the bones of the righteous fathers delight in thy victory.” Then the Lord set His seal upon her, and ascended up to heaven with His holy angels. Irene remained in prison for fourteen days, when the king called her and demanded that she make sacrifices to the gods. When she refused King Severon was enraged and ordered three hundred nails be brought to him and that they be fastened under St. Irene’s feet, and that heavy sacks of sand be tied to her. She was then muzzled, and a soldier of the King’s made her run five miles outside of the city and back again. She was then mocked by the populace as she was brought back into the city. But Irene saw an angel standing in front of her as she entered the city, and suddenly the earth opened up and swallowed all those who were mocking her and many pagans were destroyed. The nails were taken from her feet and the sacks of sand were removed from her sides, and the muzzle fell from her mouth. When the king saw this he was astonished, but his heart was only hardened. Then the angel of God turned to the king’s assembly and slew many of them. The King still would not believe, and the Lord also slew him.

Irene went into the city and taught many people the words of Christ, and baptized them in the name of the Holy Trinity. She also healed many who were sick and cast out demons. She remained in the city of Megedon for three years proclaiming the word of Jesus Christ. After Zedikia and Severon, Numerianus ruled after them in Magedon, the son of Septinus. He asked about the blessed Irene, and when told that she was in the city, he ordered that she be brought to the city of Callinicus and confined until he arrived.

When Numerianus arrived in Callinicus he declared that: “This maiden is very like her father; she is the daughter of Licinius who abandoned his kingdom, and renounced it, and now this city is without a king. Because of her actions Zedekia, my brother was stoned and died, and because of her the angel of the Lord killed Severon his son. I fear a fate worse than that befell my kinsmen. I see this woman as a destroyer of the kingdom. I do not know what to do with her. He then turned to his leading men and asked them to advise him on a course of action.” He then ordered that Irene be brought before him. Numerianus said to Irene, “ Will you sacrifice to the gods or will you remain obstinate? Will you persist in the folly of Christians?”

Irene answered, “Because though has repeated that I am the over turner of royalty, I say to thee, if thou dost no believe in God, in a very little while the judgment of God shall overtake thee also; and thou shall die a frightful and uncommon death. And then thou shall know there is a God who rules in the heaven and in the earth.” When the King heard this, he was incensed, and ordered that his men bring him sheets of copper. They came to the King and he ordered that they make three large copper cows. They made them and brought them to the King. He then ordered that the cows should be heated for three days until the copper was almost melted. When they cows were heated he commanded that Irene be brought before him. He told Irene that if she would not sacrifice to the gods she would suffer a terrible death. She would be thrown in the first copper cow, but if she would “conquer that one by her witchcraft, she would be thrown into the second; and if again she conquers the second one, she would be cast into the third, and surely die. The King said, we will see if Jesus will come, he whom you believe in, and will save you from my hands.”

St. Irene responded by saying, “Be not troubled, O son of Satan, for however much thy father Satan has excited you against me, I am not afraid, nor of thy threats. The King then cursed St. Irene and commanded that his men prepare the copper cows. He also ordered his heralds to go out into the city and proclaim that all men should come and see the punishment and procession of the despiser of the gods. When all in the city were assembled, the King came and sat on his judgment-seat and asked Irene to again sacrifice to the gods or go into the copper cow! St. Irene declared, “O senseless fool and ignorant sinner, son of Satan the coiling serpent! I have said to thee once and for all that I am a Christian, and I will not sacrifice to the infidel demons or to the foul fiends. I will not forsake Jesus the Christ, my Load, and I shall not be forsaken by Him.

King Numerianus then ordered that Irene be thrown into the copper cow. As the servants led her toward the first copper cow, Irene made the sign of Jesus on her breast and between her eyes and ran boldly into the copper cow. Immediately the fire was quenched and water even flowed from the cow itself and the handmaid of Christ was set free. The King then declared, did he not say that she would conquer it by her witchcraft?

All the people began to weep as they saw the beauty of Irene’s youth and what torments she was to suffer! She then prayed to God, “O Lord God, who dwellest in the highest heavens, hearken to my voice and let thy mercy come hither.” After she had prayed she saw an angel God standing beside her. He said to her, “Peace be to you Irene, and fear not for the Lord is with thee and I have been sent for they comfort.”

Then the King ordered that Irene be thrown into the second. Irene again sealed herself with the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and went into the cow rejoice and exulting in the power of Jesus to help. Once again the fire was quenched and fame was cooled and cow melted like wax, and Irene was unhurt. When the King saw this he said, her witchcraft has conquered the fire. He ordered Irene to be thrown into the third cow! When Irene freely went into the third copper cow, it walked as if it were animated in the flesh, and that it might proclaim to the unbelievers about he grace of God. All the people were amazed at this wonder. Even the King was astonished. Then the people all cried aloud, “there is none like unto thee, O Lord God, and there are none like unto thy servants. Be merciful to use as in the abundance of they grace. Thou are He who hast done the miracle by the hands of Irene, and though has shewn Thy might and thy valor amongst the nations.” A hundred thousand people believed in God that day, and the few people who were left who were unbaptized believed nevertheless in God.

When the King saw the people praise God and rejoice with St. Irene, he again became enraged and blasphemed against God. Then suddenly, the Angel of the Lord struck him with a pain in his heart, and with an internal wound. The King was taken to his chambers and a fire was lit with in him, and he refused all food, and his liver overflowed and swelled up, and his lung was nourishment for him, and worms came out of his mouth, and his kinsmen were afraid to come near him. He then made a great yell and burst apart and died. Before his death the King had ordered Bura the Eparch to try Irene.

While the King was dying, Irene had traveled to the town of Callinicus. She was there for thirty days, preaching the word of Christ and healing the sick. At the end of thirty days the Eparch went to Tela of Mauzalet, also known as Membria. The Eparch ordered soldiers to arrest Irene bring her to him. The solder’s were told by the people of the many wonderful things Irene had done. When they found her, they greeted her by declaring, “hail to thee, handmaiden of Christ! The Eparch send for thee!” Irene went with the soldiers and entered the city of Tela and was brought before the Eparch. He greeted her with “Peace be to thee, Irene.” She replied that you greet me with peace, but there shall be no peace upon thee because God has said that there will be no peace to the wicked.

The Eparch Bura called Irene an impudent and godless woman, and ordered her to sacrifice to the gods. Bura said that he will bring tortures to Irene that have not yet been seen the world before nor have they ever entered into the heard of the judges. The Eparch ordered that an iron chair be brought and Irene was forced to sit in it and bound with chains so she could not move. Wood was then piled around her and fat, wax, naphtha, sulpher, pitch, and resin were put on the wood. Then torches were placed under the kindling. The Eparch declared, “let us see if Jesus will deliver her form my hands.”28 Immediately, by the commandment of God, an angel descended from heaven and seized Irene by her hand, and set her out of the chair. The chair and iron chains were melted like the wax. When the Eparch saw that she was standing outside the fame he was astonish, and fear over took him. He ran and fell on his face before her feet, weeping and sought to persuade her saying, “I implore thee, O lady, handmaiden of the Christ, have mercy on me. Lo! I also believe in thy God, and henceforth I am a Christian. I renounce all the gods of paganism, and let me not die a fearful death.” Irene said, didn’t I tell you that you would speedily turn towards Jesus. Bura then pleaded with Irene that he may be accepted and not rejected. Irene said, fear not, let no anxiety come to thee. When the crowds saw that the Eparch now believed in Jesus the Christ, many also believed and confessed God. Irene remained in to Tela of Mauzalet for fifty days, preaching the word of God and converting many.

However, Shabar, the Persian King had come to the city of Nisibis, and he had heard about the blessed Irene and that she was in Tela. At the end of fifty days he sent seven horsemen after her, and they brought her to Nisibis. She entered the city; and Shabar ordered that Irene be brought before him. When he saw her he did not want to interrogate her, for he said, “This is the destroyer of royalty,” As Irene stood in front of Shabar, he struck her with his sword and killed her. Her Christian brothers then came and took her body and buried it.

The death of the Holy Great Martyr Irene has been reported differently in several sources. Some accounts report that after four days in the grave and angel came from heaven and raised her and she went into the city Nisibis were the entire citizens saw that she have been raised from the day. After three days by the command of God a cloud took her to the city of Ephesus, where she healed the sick and performed miracle in the Name of Jesus. In Ephesus she again met her teacher Apellianus and one day later she instructed him to find six good Christian men of the patrician class and she instructed them to put her in a marble coffin that was to be secured with iron clasps and that for four days on one should open or disturb her burial place. They followed Irene’s instructions and after four days they opened her coffin and all they found were the clothes of the virgin folded in her coffin.

Various other accounts state that when the Lord revealed to St. Irene the day of her death, she went into a mountain cave in Ephesus and asked that its entrance be blocked by stones. There she died peacefully and her relics were recovered by her followers. Another account states she was burned at the stake in Thessaloniki. In any case, there is no doubt that her holy relics were transferred to Constantinople, where several shrines were built in her honor, including the magnificent Hagia Irene.

Source: http://stbasilthegreat.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Life-of-St.-Irene1.pdf

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