From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
July 27th - The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus--Saints Maximian, Malchus, Martinian,
Dionysius, John, Serapion, and Constantine=E2=80=94were martyrs for the fai= th.
As recorded in the Golden Legend, the story of the Seven Sleepers is
one where good men fall asleep, only to wake up to a world changed for
the better. Akin to the resurrection of the body, which we shall all
experience on earth, the story of the 7 sleepers is a foretaste of the
glory of the Risen Christ. The Church's martyrology describes the
feast as the "Commemoration of the 7 Holy Sleeper of Ephesus, who, it
is recounted, after undergoing martyrdom, rest in peace, awaiting the
day of resurrection."
It was during the time of Christian persecution that our story
unfolds. Emperor Decius (249-251) traveled to the town of Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey) to enforce his laws against Christians. In Ephesus,
Decius found 7 noble young men (depicted in art as beardless, and
often in legend referred to as =E2=80=9Cboys=E2=80=9D), named Maximian, Mal= chus,
Martinian, Dionysius, John, Serapion, and Constantine. Each of these
young noblemen had proclaimed the Christian faith, being baptized into
it. Following a brief trial, Decius sentenced them to death, but gave
them some time to consider changing their faiths. He declared that
should they still be Christian upon his return to the town, they would
be executed.
Following his departure, the young men held firm in their faith. They
gave their property to the poor, and taking only a few coins with them
traveled to a cave on Mount Anchilos to pray and prepare for death.
There they lived in hermitude, contemplation, and holy prayer until
the emperor returned to Ephesus. Upon his return, he asked their
whereabouts, and upon his approach to their cave, the martyrs said
their last prayer, giving themselves up, and falling asleep. Decius
told his soldiers to find them, and when they were found asleep in the
cave, he ordered it to be closed up with huge stones and sealed.
Buried alive, and deprived of food and water, the 7 became martyrs for
the faith. Shortly thereafter, local Christians visited the sealed
entrance to the cave, and wrote the names of the 7 and their story on
the cave wall for all to see. Their sacrifice became a living witness
to the Christian faith.
Two centuries later, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the
Younger (408-450), persecution of Christians had ceased in Europe. In
fact, Christianity was now the official faith of the empire. In is
during this time that some heretics denied the resurrection of the
body. While this controversy went on, a rich landowner named Adolios
had the Sleepers' cave opened, to use it as a cattle-stall. The 7
youth awoke from their sleep, unaware that almost two hundred years
had passed. Their bodies and clothing were completely undecayed. They discovered they were preserved when one went into the city to buy
bread and heard the name of Jesus spoken freely, presenting an
outdated coin with the image of Decius to buy bread. Bewildered he was
taken to the Bishop of Ephesus who eventually spoke to all 7 youths
and discovered that God allowed this miracle to end the dispute
concerning the resurrection of the dead. The Emperor also went to
Ephesus to examine this miracle and after speaking with them they were
allowed to go back into their cave without the royal honors the
Emperor wanted to lavish on them, and there they fell asleep
permanently. Overall it has been determined that the holy youths fell
asleep in the cave in 250 and awoke in 434, which means that they
slept for 184 years. Each year, their feast is celebrated in the
cathedral built atop the cave. The cave in which their bodies were
found became a place famous for devout pilgrimages, and is still shown
to travelers.
The lives of the Seven Sleepers marks a true historical event. While
the length of their sleep, and the eventual resurrection of their
bodies is difficult to confirm, archeological remains indicate that 7
young men were buried in the cave in question in Turkey--the tombs and
relics remain, dated from the time period in which the miracles were
said to have occurred. The lives of the Seven Sleepers are recorded in
numerous sources, including the Koran.
The Seven Sleepers give us hope and confidence in the Lord. Whether historically accurate, or a more mystical metaphor for the joy of the resurrection, we look forward to the moment when our sleeping selves
awaken to grace, and purified, and then rest in the Lord for all
eternity!
by Jacob
Saint Quote:
Heresy is from the Greek word meaning 'choice'.... But we are not
permitted to believe whatever we choose, nor to choose whatever
someone else has believed. We have the Apostles of God as authorities,
who did not...choose what they would believe but faithfully
transmitted the teachings of Christ. So, even if an angel from heaven
should preach otherwise, he shall be called anathema.
--Saint Isidore of Seville
Bible Quote:
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of
good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think
on these things. [Philippians 4:8 ] DRB
<><><><>
The =E2=80=9Cfourteen angels=E2=80=9D of the lost children's prayer=
in the Composer,
Engelbert Humperdinck's (1854-1921) fairy opera, =E2=80=98Hansel an=
d Gretel',
are the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The English words are familiar and
very beautiful:
Prayer to the Fourteen Holy Helpers
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Great princes of heaven, Holy Helpers,
who sacrificed to God all your earthly possessions,
wealth, preferment and even life
and who now are crowned in heaven
in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory;
have compassion on me,
a poor sinner in this vale of tears
and obtain for me from God,
for Whom you gave up all things
and Who loves you as His servants,
the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life,
to overcome all temptations
and to persevere in God's service to the end,
that one day I too may be received into your company,
to praise and glorify Him, the supreme Lord,
Whose beatific vision you enjoy
and Whom you praise and glorify forever.
Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)