ΤΟ ΙΔΙΟ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ
These
five holy martyrs lived during the reign of the Roman emperors
Diocletian and Maximian, in 296 A.D. At that time, perhaps the worst
persecutions against Christians had broken out, aiming to wipe off all
Christians from the face of the earth.
In
those days the Cappadocians were being slandered to the emperors,
claiming they did not respect or listen to the emperors' orders and were
preparing to defect.
When
Diocletian heard this, he was disturbed. He immediately ordered that
the rulers of Cappadocia be removed from office, and in their place he
sent two wise Hellenistic Romans, authorizing them to put to death any
person found out to be Christian, without needing a pretext and under
false accusations.
The
basic precondition was the knowledge of the Greek language, since from
the time of Archelaos the Macedonian, not only had Cappadocia been
Hellenized, but many Greeks, especially from the islands, had
translocated there as well.
A
strong example are the small towns of Bar-Poros, Dila-Dilos,
Axos-Naxos, Imvros-Imvrassos, Limna-Limnos, Tenei-Tenedos, etc. And so
the official language of Cappadocia was Greek. After having reached
their provinces, Agricolaus and Lysias remorselessly and mercilessly put
to death young and old, men and women, without a reason and without
plea. In fact, so as not to allow Christians to martyr in their own
areas―something which they desired greatly―the two prefects agreed that
the martyrs of Caesarea would be sent to Sebaste and those of Sebaste to
Caesarea.
And
so, Eustratios, the ruler of the area of Arabrak and a general, who
respected God and was a virtuous person, saw what was happening and
decided―after a revelation of the divine will―to appear to Lysias and to
outspokenly appeal for the Christians and become a martyr.
He
first invited all his friends and hosted them to his last supper. Among
them was also the military tribune Eugenios. The saint's face was so
bright and cheerful that his heartfelt friend Eugenios asked him where
this brilliance came from. Saint Eustratios revealed to him his
intention.
The following day, after Lysias sat on his throne in the middle of the city, he ordered all the prisoners to be brought for examination. Eustratios came before him proud and upright, wearing the official vesture of a general. The Roman prefect was perplexed with the saint's unexpected appearance and outspokenness. He immediately ordered they remove his vestments, strip him naked and tie him up and bring him before him.
He asked how many years he had served the Roman army. “Twenty seven,” the saint replied.
“Eustratios,” the prefect said, “repent and denounce your Christian ideas and call on the mercy of the gods, the goodness of the kings, and the court's philanthropy!”
The following day, after Lysias sat on his throne in the middle of the city, he ordered all the prisoners to be brought for examination. Eustratios came before him proud and upright, wearing the official vesture of a general. The Roman prefect was perplexed with the saint's unexpected appearance and outspokenness. He immediately ordered they remove his vestments, strip him naked and tie him up and bring him before him.
He asked how many years he had served the Roman army. “Twenty seven,” the saint replied.
“Eustratios,” the prefect said, “repent and denounce your Christian ideas and call on the mercy of the gods, the goodness of the kings, and the court's philanthropy!”
“Are you ordering me to worship deaf idols and mischievous demons?”
“And you, Eustratios, you miserable people, how is it you worship a crucified God?” Lysias replied.
“If your mind and soul were not corrupt, I would bear witness to my crucified Savior and the Creator of all Creation for you!”
Enraged,
Lysias ordered that the saint's legs be burned with fire and that he be
whipped and after his wounds be coated in salt and vinegar. Afterwards,
the ruler approached him and said, “Did you take pleasure in that,
Eustratios?”
The
saint unperturbed replied, “Would you like to be certain that nothing
is impossible for my God? Watch me!” Suddenly the wounds fell off as
scales and nothing of his previous torture was apparent.
Then
Eugenios, a fellow citizen of Eustratios', who came from the same
class, the Roman army's military tribune cried out saying, “Lysias, I
too am a Christian like Eustratios.” On hearing those words and
trembling from his rage and astonishment, the ruler ordered that both
saints' entire bodies be chained up and they be put in jail along with
the other Christians.
The
next day, he ordered his servants to make all the necessary
preparations for the march to Nicopolis. He also ordered that the
martyrs wear shoes embedded with nails.
Without
complaining the saints wore them, and after a two days march they
reached Arabrak. A simple builder, named Mardarios, saw the glorious
star Eustratios being led to martyrdom, and after having descended down
to the room of his home (he must have been living in a catacomb), he
said to his wife, “Wife, have you seen our province's lord, who had so
much money and army and was of a proud lineage, how he disregarded all
this and is on his way to becoming a sacrifice well-pleasing to God, to
be worthy of the kingdom of Heavens?
And
the virtuous woman answered: “What is stopping you, my husband, from
accompanying him, and along with him to be made worthy of good
perfection? He immediately put on his tunic, embraced his two children
and, facing the east, prayed: “Lord God, Father Almighty, Lord the Only
Begotten Son, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, One God, One Power, have
mercy on me the sinner and do not consider my wrongdoings, save me Your
unworthy slave as You are forever blessed. Amen.” (Please note that this prayer has been included in the services of our Church, such as the Midnight office, the Hours, etc.)
So,
having warmly embraced his wife and children and greeted them farewell,
he hurried away to meet Arabrak's notable Moukatoras, St. Eustratios'
relative and a warm Christian, and asked him to become his family's
protector after God. Receiving his assurance he quickly caught up with
the saints.
And he said, “Lord Eustratios, I also come to accompany you as an innocent lamb running to his shepherd. Accept me and number me among your holy company and lead me as a martyr to my Lord and Savior Christ, even though I am unworthy.”
And he said, “Lord Eustratios, I also come to accompany you as an innocent lamb running to his shepherd. Accept me and number me among your holy company and lead me as a martyr to my Lord and Savior Christ, even though I am unworthy.”
After
having said all that, he cried out in a loud voice saying, “I too am a
Christian as my lord Eustratios.” Then the soldiers tied him up and
jailed him along with the two other saints and announced this fact to
Lysias. In the meantime, among the many Christians they had jailed in
Arabrak, there was also the notable and virtuous elder and friend of
Saint Eustratios, the devout Auxentios. He was a priest of Arabrak, who
celebrated the mystery of the Holy Eucharist in the catacombs located on
the edge of the small city and which survives to this day. This
catacomb hosted and saved Saint Makrina, Saint Basil the Great's
grandmother, during Galerius' and Diocletian's era when forced into a
long exile with her husband due to the relentless persecutions against
Christians (K. Boni). The catacomb was soon to become the grave of the
five martyrs, then be named in honor of Saint Makrina, and would exist
up to this day.
The
next day, Lysias ordered them to bring Saint Auxentios before him tied.
“Auxentios,” he said, “turn back from your disastrous beliefs and bow
down before the goodness of the gods so that they can forgive you.”
“I
know one God only, and Him I honor. And even if you threaten me through
countless beatings and wounds, flames and iron, I will not change my
thoughts and opinion.”
Then
the ruler commanded that he be beheaded in a deserted forest and that
his relics be left there to be eaten by beasts. After that he ordered
them to bring up Mardarios. The saint looked pleadingly at Eustratios
and said to him, “My lord, pray for me please, and tell me what answer I
should give, so that this disbeliever does not take me for an
uneducated villager and ridicule me?”
And Eustratios replied, “Persist, my friend Mardarios, saying only that you are a Christian and do not give any other answer.”
And Eustratios replied, “Persist, my friend Mardarios, saying only that you are a Christian and do not give any other answer.”
And
so the soldiers brought the saint in front of the ruler. He calmly
replied to all the questions saying that he is a Christian. Lysias,
seeing his simplicity, said, “Pierce his ankles, insert ropes through
the holes, hang him and with flaming spears, burn his kidneys and his
back, so he can acquire some understanding and speak differently.”
And
while all this was happening the saint said, “Thank you, my Lord, for
making me worthy of all these good things... Accept my spirit in peace.”
After having said that, he surrendered his sanctified soul to God's
hands, and the executioners brought down his sanctified remains.
Then
the ruler ordered that they bring him Saint Eugenios. And so they
brought the saint to him, and Lysias said, “Tell me which cunning demon
unnerved you, so that in audacity you insult us, ignoring the
strictness of the court?”
“My
God,” answered Eugenios, “who abolishes the demons, strengthened me and
granted me outspokenness so that I scorn your threats.”
“Cut
out his offensive tongue and crush his hands and feet, so that he
speaks more prudently.” And so the blessed one handed over his
sanctified soul to Jesus, the prize-giver.
After the martyrdom of Saint Eugenios, Lysias went out to the plain to exercise his soldiers. Seated on a rock, he ordered all the soldiers to individually pass in front of him and then to hit a target on a tree using their spear.
After the martyrdom of Saint Eugenios, Lysias went out to the plain to exercise his soldiers. Seated on a rock, he ordered all the soldiers to individually pass in front of him and then to hit a target on a tree using their spear.
A
young officer with an upright posture and handsome in appearance, after
having been praised by Lysias, was ordered to throw the spear at the
target. His tunic suddenly opened and right in front of him a small gold
cross which he was wearing on his chest appeared.
From
this, one can see that the lovely practice of Christians wearing a
cross on their chest is ancient. Saint Pagratios of Tavromenia, an
ancient bishop, who received the baptism from the hands of the apostles
and followed the Apostle Peter for a while, after baptizing Christians,
he gave them a cross made of cedar to keep on themselves. Besides, Saint
John the Bostrine said that the demons are scared of three things from
Christians: Baptism, the cross which they wear on their neck and Holy
Communion.
When
Lysias saw the cross, he called the young Orestes close, and
bewildered, said to him, “What is this? Do you also belong to the
Crucified One?”
The
saint spoke out affirmatively. Then Lysias ordered for Orestes to be
tied up and taken near Eustratios, so they would be examined not in
Arabrak but in Nicopolis. But the surprise that Lysias experienced was
unordinary. A crowd of soldiers, giving the impression of a rebellion,
yelled aloud in one voice, “Lysias, we are all soldiers of Christ.”
Initially
he was scared that they would dash against him. But then, seeing that
they gave themselves up as lambs, he ordered that they be prisoned. But
he was tortured by the presence of Saint Eustratios because of his
strong character and his ability to perform miracles; he would be able
not only to support Christians but also to dissuade
idolaters.
So
he decided to send Saint Eustratios and Orestes to Agricolaus in
Sebaste, requesting that he judge him who was elevated to the highest of
military offices but scorned everything according to his most wise
judgement and the laws of the Kings.
The
two martyrs passed their very sorrowful march which lasted many days
with psalms and hymns. On the way, Saint Eustratios asked Saint Orestes,
“Tell me my friend, in what eagerness and in what way did the holy
Auxentios perfect himself?”
And
Saint Orestes answered, “After Lysias issued the decision to put him to
death, he begged the soldiers to let him see you, but they refused.
Then they took him to a gorge called Ororea. All the while the saint
sang psalms. As he saw me close by, he nodded to me to approach him and
said, 'My brother Orestes, tell Eustratios to pray for me and soon he
will be with me.' After that he bent his knees, raised his hands to the
sky and prayed. The soldiers beheaded him, but no Christian dared come
close because of the commencing persecution. When it got dark, devout
men from Arabrak took his relics in secret but could not find the head. A
bird cried from the branch of a tree. As they approached, they saw his
holy head in between the branches. After taking it along with the holy
relics, they left for the small town.”
When the saint heard this he cried and pleaded God to make him worthy of a fast ending.
Five
days later, the escort reached Sebaste and handed over the saints to
Agricolaus, who ordered them to be imprisoned in a very secure prison.
The
following day, after sitting at the market's central throne, the saints
were taken there in front of the whole town. Afterwards, he asked that
someone read Lysias' letter. Listening to the testimony and the saint's
responses he said to him, “Do not think that Lysia's punishment is
anything compared to my own! Before you try my tortures, obey the royal
commands and worship the gods.”
But
the Saint replied, “Are not laws above kings? Are you not all obligated
to act according to the laws? Is it not written in the laws that the
defendant pleas without repression and the judge in gentleness, wisdom
and discretion listens to him and decides?”
“Yes,” answered Agricolaus.
“Then I also ask you to hear me before you decide”
“Say in outspokenness what you want so that the court judges you more fairly?” answered Agricolaus.
“Say in outspokenness what you want so that the court judges you more fairly?” answered Agricolaus.
So taking the opportunity the saint told him, “What are you ordering me to worship, a God or gods?”
The ruler said, “God and gods.”
And the saint, “Greater and lesser ones?”
“Yes,” answered Agricolaus.
Then,
calmly, convincingly and vividly, the saint started to analyze the
Greek theogony with the monotheistic beliefs of many wise people, such
as those of Plato, whom he knew by heart: a Plato who on one hand extols
virtues, and on the other taunts the weaknesses of the Olympian gods
and advises every virtuous person not to imitate the passions of a
lawless, immoral and patricidal Zeus.
“Your impudence has crossed the limits of my patience and philanthropy,” answered Agricolaus. “And who then is your Galilean?”
“He
is the only real God who resurrected us and made us worthy to become
His children, teaching us how to fight the demons and our passions, how
to exercise our thinking, how to avoid dishonesty and acts of shame and
how, by cultivating His unique ethical teaching, we can be led to
perfection and find our residence in heaven.”
Agricolaus
was enraged and said, “We are not worthy to judge the royal virtues,
but only to obey to their commands. And so, let any conversation seize
and come worship the gods. Otherwise, I will punish you with such
torture you cannot even imagine.”
The saint said to him, “Why then did you not do so earlier? Did you think I would cower?”
Then
the tyrant ordered an iron bed to be lit up by a big fire underneath
till it became red and for Orestes to be placed on it. Then he said to
Eustratios, “It is fair for you to first see the hell that awaits you
and then be tortured, so that you can show more fortitude.”
The
executioners took young Orestes and led him to the burning bed. On
seeing the fire, the saint cowered for a moment, but immediately
Eustratios said to him, “Do not cower, Orestes my child, because only
the looks of it are fearful and punishing, but you will not feel it at
all, if you walk in faith. God is here with us and helps us. Remember
the bravery of Saint Auxentios and the rest of the martyrs and don't
appear more neglectful than them, because in a little while the pain
passes away and the never ending heavenly treasure remains.”
After
having heard all this, Saint Orestes took courage and bravely jumped
onto the burning iron bed, made the sign of the Cross over his chest and
immediately lay down his body saying, “Lord to you I hand over my
soul!”
After
that the ruler ordered that Saint Eustratios be put in prison for
further examination. At this point let's stop discussing the events for a
moment which will lead us to Saint Eustratios' martyrdom, and let us
describe a joyful event that occurred in Chios, and in particular, in
Nea Moni.
The
people of Chios, always having been believers and lovers of martyrs,
always had a close connection to Cappadocia and the five martyrs. This
is apparently for two reasons. One is because the builders' guilds
literary scoured Cappadocia, reached Caesarea and met the saints up
close. Even the name Eustratios was linked to the well-wish “good path”*
(in Greek “kali strata” meaning “kalo dromo”) in folkloric imagination,
just like at weddings for the newlyweds' good progress (“kali prokopi”)
they call on Saint Prokopios. It is also known that many years ago they
were forced to move to Asia Minor, together with other islanders and
people of Chios.
And
this explains the wonderful mosaics of the five martyrs found in
Chios's Nea Moni, like the beautiful church of Saint Eustratios in
Chios' Thymiana, which we visited in 1989 for its 100th anniversary,
bringing along the saint's skull. It is the third church mentioned by
Orthodoxy after their catacomb in Semedere and their the church named
after them in Cappadocia's Bor (Poros).
Let
it also be noted that after gathering material for 27 years, as many
years Saint Eustratios' served in the army, we are given today the
opportunity to print this book, when the Metropolitan of Philippi is the
Very Reverend Prokopios, born in myrrh-bearing Chios, with deeper roots
from Asia Minor. On this island there was a metochi (dependent
monastery) of the five holy martyrs that belonged to Nea Moni. The year
the miracle occurred, there was a heavy and harsh winter. Because of the
excessive snow the fathers were not able to get down to the metochi and
the pilgrims could not get to the chapel. The priest by himself rang
the bell, made the blessing and began Matins.
Suddenly,
he saw five respectable people entering the church humbly, unknown to
the priest, taking their seats with the youngest in the middle chanting
the canon. Their faces seemed familiar, their dress strange, their
voices bright, their look dignified. The priest was filled with joy and
pleasure, glorifying God for the unexpected helpers. But he was curious
to know who they were. The time of the reading of the “synaxarion”
(lives of the saints) arrived. The young canon singer read, “… Saint
Orestis, being led to the bed, snickered (emeidiase) and, after
approaching Saint Eustratios, said pray for me…” At that point, the man
who looked very much like Saint Eustratios lifted his eyes and looking
very carefully at the one resembling Orestes, said to him, “Why did you
change the words and not say them as they are written? Read this part a
second time.”
But
he again changed the verb and instead of reading “cowered (edeiliase),”
because he was embarrassed, he said “emediase.” Then Saint Eustratios
said to him loudly, “Read it as it happened to you, because you did not
snicker when you saw the bed, but you cowered.”
Immediately
after this exchange all five of them disappeared. Seeing this paradox,
the priest remained speechless for a long time. When he came to his
senses, he finished the service as best as possible. After that he
narrated in fear to those that arrived later what had happened. That's
all regarding the word “cower.”
And now let us continue with Saint Eustratios' martyrdom.
The
whole time during his path to martyrdom he kept a faithful servant with
him. At night he said to him, “My child, bring me my will, because
tomorrow I also hope to appear before my Lord.”
After
the servant brought a parchment and ink, he wrote, “Transfer my relic
to the small city of Arabrak and bury it there in the Analidazor
catacomb, together with the relics of the saints Eugenios, Mardarios,
Orestes and Auxentios.
He
asked that his holy relic be taken to the village of Arabrak
(Semedere), to be buried in the Alivazora catacomb, to remain whole and
complete together with the other bodies for burial with his four fellow
martyrs, according to their previous desire, at the time of their
arrest. After that he asked that his estates be dedicated to the
monastery that would be made in their name and from the rest of his
fortune, half be given to his relatives, in order to free the servants
and the other half to the poor. After putting together his will, he
fasted for the whole of that day.
In
the meantime, Saint Vlasios, the bishop of Sebaste, heard of the
glorious personality that had arrived in the city and routed Agricolaus.
Believing that his presence in his bishopric was a blessing, he
approached the crypto-Christian guards at night, tipped them, and even
asked to let him enter the interiors and talk with the saint. After
having entered, he fell on his face and knees and said, “You are
blessed, Eustratios, for the strength that God gave you. Please remember
me, the sinner.”
“Please
do not act this way, my father,” answered the saint. “I am required to
bow in front of you. God sent you here to me, because as He has revealed
to me, tomorrow in the afternoon at twelve o' clock, I will make my way
to my Christ. And so, take what I have written and read it. After all
this, he asked the bishop to give his word that he himself would take
responsibility for his relic and that of Saint Orestes and bury them
along with their fellow martyrs. He asked to commune of the Holy
Mysteries. Soon the dark prison became a church. The necessary things
for the holy liturgy were found. Guards, the imprisoned and the bishop
were the partakers of the holy mystery, as light flooded the prison. The
time for Holy Communion arrived. As Saint Eustratios was receiving the
divine pearl, lightning shone in the prison and a voice was heard
saying, “Eustratios, you have fought well. Come receive your crown.”
When
the people present heard this voice, they fell on their faces and
worshipped God. The bishop stayed for that whole night listening to him,
receiving joy from the holy saint's words. He left in the morning,
promising not to neglect all that was discussed in prison. After a
while, Agricolaus sat on his throne and ordered that they bring up
Eustratios. After calling him up, he told him in secret, “Honestly,
Eustratios, I feel very sorry for you because you do not accept to obey
the royal commands. Just for appearances, bow down and in your heart
believe in your own God, and ask for forgiveness for this submittal so
that you, a very wise and very well reputed man, don't have to perish as
though you were a common criminal. If my position was not at risk, I
would not ask you to succumb. Besides, I have put to death many
Christians and I was not saddened, but I am so concerned for you that
all night I stayed awake and was very troubled.”
The
saint answered soberly, “Do not be upset about my death, nor put your
position at risk for me, but act according to the royal rules, because
neither through hypocrisy nor by any other way do I wish to sacrifice to
your gods. My torture gives me joy and if you don't believe it, try.”
Then
the ruler covered his face with his hands for a long time and weeped.
In fact, the ones who were there, because they knew the ruler's sympathy
and appreciation towards the saint, both Christian and idolaters, broke
out in whaling tears.
But
the saint told them, “Why are you lingering? In your tears and
sympathy, I see the acts of the evil one trying to bend me emotionally,
to stop me from receiving the crown of martyrdom... So, do what you
desire. I oppose the royal commands and your will. I detest and I curse
your gods… as they are accursed and they who respect them.”
Consequently,
the ruler, seeing the solidity of his faith and his great willingness
to martyr, forced himself to write the decision against the saint:
“Eustratios, who showed disobedience to the orders of the kings and
whose iron soul did not yield to the emperors' commands and did not wish
to worship the gods, I order that he be burned in fire and in this way
end his life.”
When
the saint received the decision, he stood up, gazed upwards and lifted
his hands to the sky and in a loud voice said, “I humbly glorify You,
Lord, as You have seen my humility, and have not left me to the hands of
my enemies, but have saved my needy soul. And now, my Lord, let Your
hand protect me and have mercy on me, as my soul is troubled and aching,
as it is about leave from this miserable and unclean body, that it may
never meet the evil one's cunning will and obstruct it, for the sins
which I have committed in this life, in ignorance or in knowledge. Be
merciful to me, my Lord, and let not my soul face the murky and
abhorrent evil demons, but let it be received by winsome and bright
angels. Glory be to Your Holy name and through Your strength elevate me
to Your throne. When judging me let me not be received by the ruler of
this world to take me the sinner into the abyss of hades, but stand for
me and be my Savior and helper. Lord have mercy on my soul which is
polluted by passions and cleanse it through my repentance and confession
and accept it, as You are forever blessed. Amen.”
After
having prayed this wonderful devout prayer, full of meaning (which in
our Church has been included in Saturday's midnight office) and seeing
that the servants had already lit a fire, making the sign of the cross
he entered it singing psalms and joyfully handed over his soul. Saint
Eustratios was put to death on 13 December.
Simply
and accurately his pious biographer closes the scene of the great
martyr's life exemplifying the greatness of the man's soul, who joyful
and singing psalms lay on the burning bed and accepted sacrifice for the
Jesus, the prize-giver.
The
great skinarios (keeper of the archives) of premier ducal class, the
gifted leader of numerous perfections, the one who had a “rare” and
“most sweet” tongue, so much so that his biographer notes that he was a
professor “more eloquent than orators” on the 13th of December, 296 AD
ascended into heaven to meet the choir of martyrs, leaving us his relic
full of grace. In keeping his promise and his obligation, the holy
martyr Vlasios received the two relics. Despite the danger he was in and
which he did not escape in the end, as he himself sealed his life as a
martyr, joyfully received the relics and taking great care through a
many days walk, numerous dangers and adverse weather conditions, due to
the notorious Cappadocian winter, he reached Arabrak. The inhabitants
were very moved and accepted the precious bodies. They went to the
catacomb of St. Makrina, where she once stayed to escape Galerius'
wrath. They opened the stone door and descended the five steps. Then
they turned eastwards and continued down into the dark passageway. After
having gone down another ten steps they came across a big column. The
old Christian alter area with the two gates, the central one and that of
the service of Preparation, seemed minimally altered through the dim
light of the two candles. Freshly dug under the arches were two graves.
According to the order of the martyrdom of the saints, buried on a lower
lever Saints Eugenios and Mardarios, a little higher the priest,
Auxentios, and now the experienced hands of the Arabrakan-Semendrian
were digging the third one. With great devotion they placed Saints
Orestes and Eustratios inside, away from the memory of the enemies of
the Faith, lights in the darkness of idolatry.
Immediately
an describable fragrance filled the catacomb, a scent which continues
to our days, from the graves up to the reliquary. The three graves that
till today the muslims worship in Asia Minor and the Semendrians are
unable to explain why there are three and not five.
Not
long after Saint Vlasios' return to Sebaste, he too received the crown
of martyrdom. And in the early painting of the catacombs, that which
escaped the wrath of the iconoclasts, it shows Saint Vlasios' image next
to that of the five martyrs, holding Saint Eustratios' will. The whole
of the Orthodox world honored Christ's saints very devoutly, those who
through their blood sealed their love and desire for Christ.
The
amazing martyrdom of our five saints always projects before our eyes a
reminder of our own obligations, to check our own behavior against what
is correct, which is the constant confession of our Christian identity.
The
five martyrs' constitute the evangelical completion, as they in their
position of works, in times of confession and martyrdom, have completed
Christ the Savior's commands. The offering of their sacred blood has
taken away the importance given to idols and has created an infinite
crowd of God's faithful people.
This
was the martyrdom of Saint Eustratios alongside with the “competing”
holy martyrs Eugenios, Mardarios, Auxentios and Orestes. But still, if
the cold tomb stone for all Christians is nothing more than the
beginning of another life, how much more for Christ's' martyrs, the ones
that “God has highly honored and in glory sits among them.” Their
blessed relics, within their “more than spring flowers most scented
reliquaries,” will forever bless, sanctify, work miracles “so that in
all elements and Angels and people and events and the unseen, glorify
the most holy name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
So
let us devoutly approach those graves and rejoice in the venerable
pages that they have written in their living presence since the time of
their martyrdom, in 296, till today 1996―that is seventeen whole
centuries. Let us touch their gracious reliquaries, and let us speak out
together with Cassiani: “the five chord lyre and five lighted
candlestick, of the Church of God, the God-bearing martyrs, offering
hymns, and devoutly praise. Praise be to the good one under God's
soldier... Eustratios the divinely wise... Praise to the equal in number
choir of wise Virgins... Deliver us from all rage and trouble and of
Your indescribable glory make us partakers”.
*Trans.
Note: A more English expression would be “safe journey.” The name
Eustratios is actually from eu=good, stratia=army, not strada=way/path,
which was taken from Italian
Fr. Theoharis Mengas
Holy teacher
THE HOLY FIVE MARTYRS
FROM CAPPADOCIA TO POLISTILO OF KAVALA
POLISTILO 1996
Fr. Theoharis Mengas
Holy teacher
THE HOLY FIVE MARTYRS
FROM CAPPADOCIA TO POLISTILO OF KAVALA
POLISTILO 1996
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