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| St. Euphrosynos the Cook (Feast Day - September 11) |
By Fr. George Papavarnavas
Within the spiritual pasture of
the Orthodox Church one encounters various flowers all while it is
beautiful, but each has its own color and aroma and its own unique
fragrance. That is, in the List of Saints we will come across people
who have all the features of holiness, but are yet completely different
from each other, because each of them have their own personal gifts,
their own characteristics, their own culture and their own way of
thinking and living. One comes in contact with people who lived in
different times and in different circumstances of life, from all the
so-called social classes and from all professions and functions. Some
were doctors, others teachers, lawyers, actors, postmen, cooks, hotel
owners, workers, farmers, etc. Many of these were illiterate, others
somewhat literate, and still others were completely educated, but
certainly all were wise according to God. And this shows that no
bread-winning profession is able to prevent a person from living
according to the will of God and achieving their own personal
sanctification if, of course, they really desire it.
Saint Euphrosynos practiced the
profession of cook and even, as his biographer testifies, was sought
after for his profession, because he made such delicious meals. He was
illiterate, but he loved God very much and lived in a God-pleasing
manner. Despite his profession which allowed him to eat many delicious
foods, he was very ascetical. The money that was left over from his
immediate needs he deposited in the bank of heaven by giving alms to the
poor. Eventually he left the world and went to a monastery, where he
also served as a cook, except with one difference. While as a chef in
the world, with the art and experience available, he made delicious
foods, yet in the monastery he prepared mediocre foods. To his fellow
monks who asked him why he did this, he responded that "good cooking is
not such a good helper for the kingdom of heaven. The too much gladness
that bodies ask for will be lost for the needs of the soul, and I will
not destine you here for hell."
He ended his earthly life in a
solitary Hermitage and until the Second Coming of Christ he will taste
the gladness of the goods of the heavenly Kingdom of the Holy Triune
God.
The life and times of Saint Euphrosynos give us the opportunity to emphasize the following:
First, the purpose of man's life
is his personal sanctification. "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet.
1:16). This is not impossible in our times or any other time, which is
why there are always saints and there always will be "until the end of
the age." Certainly it is difficult and requires great effort, since in
this struggle one comes face to face with the devil, with their sins and
with their passions, and it is essential to have living examples,
because the Saints, old and contemporary, inspire by their example and
uphold through their intercessions. Initially, however, this primarily
requires a spiritual father to exist as a guide, because, unfortunately,
many are they who have become deluded without spiritual guidance. When
one travels alone they will surely stray from the path of spiritual
growth because it is steep and hard and has many pitfalls set by the
devil and from which one cannot escape without obedience and humility. Saint Anthony saw the traps set by the devil for spiritual strugglers
and wondered: "Who can escape them?" And he heard the voice of the Lord
tell him: "Humility".
Second, some have argued that
what the Gospel teaches does not apply today and especially in society
where there are many problems and great temptations. Certainly there are
obstacles and temptations in society, but if one goes into the desert
and lives by themselves they will also be tempted by the passions they
carry within them as well as by the devil. Therefore, the above doesn't
make sense and this is clearly seen in the life and times of Saint
Euphrosynos, who lived many years in society, and even due to his
business had daily contact with many people. Among many other
difficulties and temptations he encountered gluttony, which was defeated
by temperance and almsgiving. Therefore, there is no obstacle for those
wishing to experience the spiritual life and achieve their personal
holiness, except the lack of will and enslavement to unreasonable
passions.
Others bring forward the
argument that in their spiritual poverty and indolence they do not have
much of an education. But it is proven that in the daily experience of
life there are uneducated people who are virtuous and holy, just as
there are educated people who are atheists or are in error and daily
live their lives in lawlessness. Saint Kosmas Aitolos would say that
evil in the world will come from the educated who live without faith in
the true God of the Church, while, as it is known, he himself played a
leading part in building schools, so that young people could mainly
learn to study Holy Scripture, in order to prosper.
Saint Euphrosynos must become
for all of us a standard of living, no matter what so-called social
class we belong to or what profession we practice.
Source: Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi, "ΑΓΙΟΣ ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΟΣ Ο ΜΑΓΕΙΡΑΣ", September 2005. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
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