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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