• =?UTF-8?Q?November_4th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Joannicius_of_Mt=2E_Olympus=2C_H

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sat Nov 3 09:53:21 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    November 4th =E2=80=93 St. Joannicius of Mt. Olympus, Hermit

    A soldier in the Byzantine army, seeing active service against the
    Bulgars; left the service at 40 became a monk and hermit on the
    Bithynian Olympus. While at the monastery near Brusa the second
    iconoclast controversy began in 818; Joannicius, who had formerly
    favored the iconoclasts, now showed himself a vigorous opponent of
    them.=C2 He was greatly respected among the prophetical figures of his
    time, and both Saint Theodore the Studite and Saint Methodius of
    Constantinople consulted him. He counselled moderation in their
    treatment of iconoclasts--unusual enough advice from a monk in that
    struggle.

    Joannicius was born in Bithynia in the year 752 in the village of
    Marikat. His parents were destitute and could not provide him even the
    basics of an education. From childhood he had to tend the family
    cattle, their sole wealth. Love for God and prayer completely
    dominated the soul of the child Joannicius. Often, having shielded the
    herd with the Sign of the Cross, he went to a secluded place and spent
    the whole day praying, and neither thieves nor wild beasts came near
    his herd.

    By order of the emperor Leo IV (775-780), a multitude of officials
    went through the cities and towns to draft young men for military
    service. Young Joannicius was also drafted into the imperial army. He
    earned the respect of his fellow soldiers for his good disposition,
    but he was also a brave soldier who struck fear in the hearts of his
    enemies. St. Joannicius served in the imperial army for six years.
    More than once he was rewarded by his commanders and the emperor. But
    military service weighed heavily on him, his soul thirsted for
    spiritual deeds and solitude.

    St. Joannicius, having renounced the world, longed to go at once into
    the wilderness. However, on the advice of an Elder experienced in
    monastic life, he spent a further two years at the monastery. Here the
    saint became accustomed to monastic obedience, to monastic rules and
    practices. He studied reading and writing, and he learned thirty
    Psalms of David by heart.

    After this, commanded by God to go to a certain mountain, the monk
    withdrew into the wilderness. For three years he remained in deep
    solitude in the wilderness, and only once a month a shepherd brought
    him some bread and water. The ascetic spent day and night in prayer
    and psalmody. After each verse of singing the Psalms St. Joannicius
    made a prayer, which the Orthodox Church keeps to this day in a
    somewhat altered form, =E2=80=9CThe Father is my hope, the Son is my refuge=
    ,
    the Holy Spirit is my protection.=E2=80=9D

    By chance, he encountered some of his former companions from military
    service. The saint fled the wilderness and withdrew to Mount
    Kountourea to hide himself from everyone. Only after twelve years of
    ascetic life did the hermit accept monastic tonsure. The saint spent
    three years in seclusion after being tonsured. wrapped in chains, Then
    he went to a place called Chelidon to see the great ascetic St. George (February 21). The ascetics spent three years together. During this
    time St. Joannicius learned the entire Psalter by heart. As he grew
    older, St. Joannicius settled in the Antidiev monastery and dwelt
    there in seclusion until his death.

    St. Joannicius spent seventy years in ascetic deeds and attained to a
    high degree of spiritual perfection. Through the mercy of God the
    saint acquired the gift of prophecy, as his disciple Pachomius has
    related. The Elder also levitated above the ground when he prayed.
    Once, he crossed a river flooded to overflowing. The saint could make
    himself invisible for people and make others also hidden from sight.

    Once, St. Joannicius led Greek captives out of prison under the very
    eyes of the guards. Poison and fire, with which the envious wanted to
    destroy the saint, did him no harm, and predatory beasts did not touch
    him. He freed the island of Thasos from a multitude of snakes. St.
    Joannicius also saved a young nun who was preparing to leave the
    monastery to marry; he took upon himself the agonized maiden's
    suffering of passion, and by fasting and prayer, he overcame the
    seductive assault of the devil.

    Foreseeing his death, St. Joannicius fell asleep in the Lord on
    November 4, 846, at the age of 94. Saint Joannicius was over
    90 when he died at the monastery of Antidium (Attwater).
    He is highly venerated among the Greeks (Attwater, Benedictines).


    Saint Quote:
    Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master
    who pays well, who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of
    Him.
    -- Saint Dominic Savio

    Bible Quote:
    Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why
    do you not believe me? 47 He that is of God, heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God.=C2 (John
    8:46-47)=C2 DRB


    <><><><>
    The Promised Gift

    =C2 =C2 "Christ grants justification to those who believe in him, simp=
    ly
    because they have faith and not because they serve the law. The
    blessing granted to Abraham for his exemplary faith is extended to the Gentiles, so that we may receive the promised Spirit through faith.
    =C2 =C2 In other words, the promised gift to believers is not a spirit=
    of
    outward observance but one of inward devotion inspired by love."
    --St. Augustine--Commentary on Galatians 22

    Prayer: O truly full of grace! Who can explain this grace? Who is able
    to give thanks for this grace?
    --St. Augustine--Sermon 290, 5

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