• =?UTF-8?Q?January_20th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Euthymius_the_Great=2C_Abbot=2C_

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sun Jan 19 06:55:35 2020
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    January 20th =E2=80=93 St. Euthymius the Great, Abbot, Healer

    Born at Melitene, Armenia, c. 378; died in Palestine on January 20,
    473. Saint Euthymius was the fruit of the fervent prayers of his
    wealthy parents through the intercession of a local martyr, Saint
    Polyeuctus. Euthymius studied under the bishop of Melitene, who
    ordained and appointed him supervisor of monastic settlements of the
    diocese. In that capacity, Euthymius often visited Saint Polyeuctus's monastery, where he would spend whole nights in prayer on a nearby
    mountain. From the octave of Epiphany to the end of Lent, Euthymius
    was continuously in prayer.

    When he was about 30, his love of solitude had grown so strong that he
    secretly migrated to Palestine. After offering his prayers at the holy
    places in Jerusalem, he settled in a cell six miles distant near at
    the Pharan laura. He earned money for his bread and some alms for the
    poor by weaving baskets.

    About 411, he moved 10 miles closer to Jericho, where he and a
    companion, named Theoctistus, lived as hermits in a cave. When a
    number of other hermits gravitated to him, he left them with his
    companion Theoctistus as superior, settled in the desolate country
    between Jerusalem and Jericho, and began his solitary life. He would
    meet with his spiritual children only on Saturdays and Sundays, and
    would abide for only a short time in one place, then move to another,
    usually in caves. Thus, he became their spiritual director without
    giving up his own solitary mode of life.

    Saint Euthymius was one of the most revered of the early Palestinian
    monks. He attracted enormous crowds by his preaching, and combated
    Nestorianism and Eutychianism alike. He gained influence among the
    Arabs by his healing of the paralytic son of an important sheik,
    simply with a short prayer and the Sign of the Cross. The sheik, who
    had vainly employed Persian magic arts seeking some relief for his
    son, immediately requested baptism.

    So many Arabs followed suit that Patriarch Juvenal of Jerusalem
    consecrated Euthymius bishop to minister to them. In 420, Juvenal
    built him a laura on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, which
    Euthymius ruled through vicars to whom he gave directions on Sundays.
    Cyril of Scythopolis relates that this was only one of many miraculous
    cures wrought by Euthymius, usually with the Sign of the Cross. It was
    in his capacity as bishop that Euthymius attended the Council of
    Ephesus in 431.

    His humility and charity won the hearts of all who spoke to him. He
    seems to have surpassed even the great Saint Arsenius in the gift of
    perpetual tears. Empress Eudoxia, widow of Theodosius II, sought the
    advice of Saint Simeon Stylites regarding the frightening afflictions
    of her family. He referred her to Euthymius. Because Euthymius would
    allow no woman to enter his laura, she built a lodging and asked him
    to come to her there. She followed his counsel as the command of God,
    gave up her allegiance to the Eutychians, returned to orthodoxy in
    459, and received the Council of Chalcedon.

    On January 13, 473, Martyrius and Elias, both of whom Euthymius
    foretold would be patriarchs of Jerusalem, came with several others to
    visit him and accompany him to his Lenten retreat. But he said he
    would stay with them all that week, and leave on the next Saturday,
    giving them to understand that his death was near at hand. He
    appointed Elias as his successor, and foretold to Domitian, a beloved
    disciple, that he would follow him out of this world on the seventh
    day, which happened just as he prophesied. At the time of his death,
    Euthymius had spent 66-68 years in the desert. He is still highly
    revered throughout the East (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Walsh).


    Saint Quote:
    For one to attempt to speak of God in terms more precise than He
    Himself has used:--to undertake such a thing is to embark upon the
    boundless, to dare the incomprehensible. He fixed the names of His
    nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever is sought over and
    above this is beyond the meaning of words, beyond the limits of
    perception, beyond the embrace of understanding.
    --Saint Hilary of Poitiers on the Holy Trinity

    Bible Quote:
    The spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to
    preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of
    heart, =C2 (Luke 4:18 ) DRB


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    A prayer from The Imitation of Christ, of Thomas `a Kempis:

    I offer up unto Thee my prayers and intercessions, for those especially who have in any matter hurt, grieved, or found fault with me, or who have done
    me any damage or displeasure. For all those also whom, at any time, I may
    have vexed, troubled, burdened, and scandalized, by words or deeds,
    knowingly or in ignorance; that Thou wouldeth grant us all equally pardon
    for our sins, and for our offences against each other. Take away from our hearts, O Lord, all suspiciousness, indignation, wrath, and contention, and whatsoever may hurt charity, and lessen brotherly love. Have mercy, O
    Lord, have mercy on those that crave Thy mercy, give grace unto them that
    stand in need thereof, and make us such as that we may be worthy to enjoy
    Thy grace, and go forward to life eternal. Amen.

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)