| Orthodox Saint a Missionary to Be Proud Of Source: The Pueblo Chieftan America " s first Orthodox saint was a failure by American standards. He never possessed anything more than the clothes on his back. He had no formal education or career. He never achieved sexual fulfillment. Priest Barnabas Powell 08 June 2010 America’s first Orthodox saint was a failure by American standards. He never possessed anything more than the clothes on his back. He had no formal education or career. He never achieved sexual fulfillment. I don’t know when or where he was born. I can’t say with certainty when he died, since he was alone when it happened and his body waited months for burial. I can’t even tell you his full name, only the one name given at his monastic tonsure: “Herman.” Like most American Orthodox saints, Herman was an immigrant. Together with a small band of monks from Russian Finland, they came to Alaska in 1794, when it also belonged to Russia. Their primary mission was to catechize and confirm Aleuts who’d been baptized by Russian fur traders, many of whom married native Alaskans. This effort eventually led to the full-scale evangelization – at their own request – of the Aleut, Tlingit, Yupik and other First Nations. After traveling literally halfway around the world to get to Spruce Island (near Kodiak), Herman spent his first year in America living in a pit he dug in the ground. He later upgraded to a one-bedroom, no-bathroom hut made of twigs. There he established a school and orphanage for natives peoples and “Creoles” – children of mixed Russo-native parentage. Herman’s goal wasn’t to make the children Russian, but Christian. His students weren’t abducted from their families or beaten for speaking indigenous languages. In fact, when Herman discovered how brutally the management of the Russian American Fur Trading Co. was exploiting native people – men for their labor, women for sex – he became a persistent thorn in the side of his countrymen. Repeatedly slandered, marginalized and beaten, he was always vindicated by investigators from Moscow, to whom he denounced Russian abuses. |
| John Anthony McGuckin United States of America, Orthodoxy in the THOMAS FITZGERALD THE ALASKAN MISSION The Alaskan territory became part of the United States in 1867 when it was sold by Imperial Russia. The Orthodox Church had a significant presence in the territory dating from 1794. In that year, eight monks and two novices from the Church of Russia established the first mission in Alaska. Led by Archimandrite Joseph Bolotov, the missionaries departed St. Petersburg on December 25, 1793 and arrived on Kodiak Island on September 24, 1794. They had traveled about a third of the circumference of the earth. Discovered and explored by Russian explorers from 1741 onwards, the Alaskan coastland and the numerous islands between North America and Siberia were claimed by Imperial Russia. A colony had been established in 1784 on Kodiak and became the center of trade. While these early missionaries confronted numerous difficult challenges, their work in Alaska in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was remarkable. Spreading from its center on Kodiak to other populated regions, the Alaskan Mission was one of the largest and most significant missionary endeavors guided by the Church of Russia and supported by the imperial government. As a sign of its significance, the Church of Russia selected Fr. Joseph the head of the mission to serve as the first bishop in Alaska in 1796. After traveling to Siberia for his consecration, however, the new bishop died in a shipwreck before returning to Kodiak. Two missionaries during this period have attracted particular attention. With little formal education, the monk Herman (1760–1837) came to exemplify the best qualities of the early missionaries in Russian Alaska. As one of the first missionaries, Herman, who was not ordained, instructed the natives both about Christianity and about agricultural techniques. He staunchly defended the rights of the natives in the face of exploitation by many Russian merchants and traders. By 1812, Herman moved to Spruce Island, three miles from Kodiak, and established a chapel, an orphanage, and a hermitage. Not long after his death in 1837, the natives began to honor him as a saint. They collected stories about his service and recorded the miracles attributed to his intercession. His formal canonization took place in 1970. |
| Скачать epub pdf The nature of faith Our soul possesses the amazing ability to sense God. Although this awareness of the Divine presence is weak and hazy in a person just beginning to grow spiritually, it gets stronger and becomes more and more conscious with a virtuous way of life. This, in turn, strengthens onés faith in Him, so that the inner feeling of God grows to a strong religious conviction. In such a state, the omnipresence of God, His infinite love and fatherly care are continuously felt and become a source of inner peace and strength. True faith cannot be satisfied with a cold recognition of God " s existence but strives to be in close communion with Him. The believing soul naturally reaches to God, as a sunflower turns toward the sun. In turn, an active relationship with God further strengthens the person " s faith, so that his faith becomes a spiritual guide, based on personal experience. In some particularly gifted people faith grows into an all-illumining and constantly inspiring idea, that leads them from this world of vanity into the transcendent world of eternal life. Among such people were the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Baptist, the Apostles John and Paul, and countless saints like Sergius of Radoneszh, Seraphim of Sarov, John of Kronstadt, Herman of Alaska and Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, to name just a few. The significance of faith in a person " s development lies in that it gives proper direction to all his aptitudes and powers. Specifically, it gives clarity and the correct outlook to his intellect, direction and purpose to his will, it ennobles and refines his senses. Faith brings harmony to a person " s inner world. It frees one from base earthly interests and leads him into a realm of higher and holier experiences. Faith and knowledge In our time of many scientific achievements it has become customary to belittle faith in comparison to intellect. Knowledge is regarded as something firmly founded, positive, and completely objective. Faith, on the other hand, is considered to be arbitrary, subjective and unproved. However, both high confidence in scientific knowledge and disdain of faith are pitiable misconceptions. |
| Tweet Нравится Saint Ilarion of Tvali (†1041) Memory 24 July (6 August) Saint Ilarion of Tvali (Tulashvili) served as abbot of Khakhuli Monastery in southwestern Georgia at the beginning of the 11th century. In his work The Life of Giorgi of the Holy Mountain, Giorgi the Lesser writes that Venerable Ilarion was outstanding in virtue and celebrated for his sermons and ascetic labors. St. Ilarion raised the young Giorgi of the Holy Mountain to be a brilliant writer, translator, theologian and patriot. From him Giorgi also received a blessing to enter the monastic life. According to the chronicle Life of Kartli, St. Ilarion was a famous translator and writer and an eminent theologian. Eventually St. Ilarion moved from Khakhuli to Tvali Monastery, not far from Antioch, where he remained for the rest of his life. According to the 19th-century historian-iconographer Mikhail Sabinin, St. Ilarion reposed in the year 1041. Outstanding in virtue and celebrated for thy great spiritual feats, O Holy Ilarion, pray for us unceasingly to Christ our God! Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press : St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076 13 августа 2007 г. Saint Ilia the Righteous (†1907) Commemorated July 20/August 2 Saint Ilia the Righteous (†1907) Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Saint Ilia, called the “Uncrowned King of Georgia,” the “Father of the Nation” and “the Righteous,” belonged to the noble family Chavchavadze. He was born on October 27, 1837, in the village of Qvareli in Kakheti. He received his primary education at home: his mother instructed him in reading and writing, prayer and the law of God. When he was eight years old, Ilia was sent to study with Archdeacon Nikoloz Sepashvili of Qvareli. The years he spent there left an indelible impression on this holy man’s life. The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Since the time of the ancient Greek historians, Georgia has been viewed as an enigma hidden behind impenetrable mountains and a complex language. |
| Tweet Нравится Saint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082) Memory 31 July (13 August) Arsen of Ninotsminda was an ascetic who labored in the 11th century. History tells us that he was a brilliant translator, writer, calligrapher, and theologian, and indeed one of the greatest Church figures of his time. St. Arsen was tonsured a monk in Jerusalem, and after some time he returned to Georgia, where he was consecrated bishop of Ninotsminda. But the venerable Arsen longed to lead a life of solitude, so he approached King Davit Kuropalates for permission to resign from the bishopric and settle at a monastery. The king honored Arsen’s request, and the pious man set off for the monastery with Ioane Grdzeslidze, a man of letters and another great figure in the Church. When the news of his decision reached the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos, Sts. Ioane and Ekvtime invited the fathers to Mt. Athos, and the next year Arsen and Ioane arrived at the Holy Mountain. There they assisted St. Ekvtime in his translations of the Holy Scriptures and many theological books. St. Arsen labored fruitfully at the Iveron Monastery for many years and reposed peacefully at an advanced age. He was buried on Mt. Athos at the monastery’s church of St. Simeon the Stylite. St. Giorgi of the Holy Mountain later translated his relics to the ossuary of the monastery’s catholicon. Outstanding in virtue and a fulfiller of Christ’s commandments, O Holy Father Arsen, pray to God for us! Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press : St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076 15 августа 2007 г. Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century) Commemorated July 30/August 12 Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century) Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Saint Tsotne Dadiani, a virtuous military leader and the prince of Egrisi, lived in the middle of the 13th century. During that time Georgia languished under the yoke of Mongol oppression. |
| Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Strength of Spirit Baroness von Luelsdorff Strength of Spirit Baroness Rida Von Luelsdorff on the history of the white Russian emigration in Xinjiang, terrible trials, and miraculous help from St. John of Shanghai. Olga Rozhneva, Baroness von Luelsdorff Baroness Rida Von Liuelsdorf on the history of the white Russian emigration in Xinjiang, terrible trials, and miraculous help from St. John of Shanghai. VIDEO: St. John the Wonderworker VIDEO: St. John the Wonderworker Russian studio " Neophyte " and TV channel " Russia-Culture " have teamed up to produce a number of inspiring videos on a series of holy elders, the first of which concerns St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the great wonderworking saint, including testimony of those who knew him. The video includes English subtitles. Manuscript of St. John Maximovitch from archives of Transcarpathian ascetic published in US Manuscript of St. John Maximovitch from archives of Transcarpathian ascetic published in US The compilation includes two tractates of the saint: On Prayer and On Communion, and also the appendix Instructions for Church Servers; Rules for Acolytes, Compiled by Archbishop John; and A Guide for Subdeacons and Acolytes for Hierarchical Services. Uncovering of the Relics of St. John of Shanghai Archpriest Andrew Phillips Uncovering of the Relics of St. John of Shanghai Archpriest Andrew Phillips And here we come to the secret of Shanghai theology, the theology of the Church. It is immortal because it comes from the immortal heart, warmed by the love of God through the Holy Spirit. Before the Pannikhida for Archbishop John of San Francisco Sermon by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) of Eastern America and New York (+1985) Before the Pannikhida for Archbishop John of San Francisco Sermon by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) of Eastern America and New York (+1985) Met. Philaret (Voznesensky) When he was still a young man in Harbin, the equally-spiritual monastic, hieromonk Methodius (Yogl), noted perceptively that we all stand up for prayer, but Vladyka John does not need to stand, he is always in a prayerful mood… The Price of Sanctity. Memories of Archbishop John Maximovitch Fr. Herman (Podmoshensky) The Price of Sanctity. Memories of Archbishop John Maximovitch Fr. Herman (Podmoshensky) Feeling an utter triumph in my soul, that I had spoken to a saint, I turned to Fr. Vladimir for further information about him, Archbishop John. But I heard nothing of what my dear benefactor Fr. Vladimir was telling me then, due to my excitement over having met a man not of this world. Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru |
| Tweet Нравится Holy Hieromartyr Kozman (†1630) Memory 18 (31) July Over the centuries the monastic complex founded by St. Davit of Gareji became a spiritual and cultural center for all of Georgia.Many of the faithful flocked there with a desire to serve Christ. Among them was the hieromonk Kozman, who would end his earthly life as a martyr. Few details of the life of Holy Martyr Kozman have been preserved. According to the Georgian catholicos Anton, St. Kozman was a learned and righteous ascetic, well-versed in the canons of the Orthodox Church. St. Kozman composed a set of “Hymns to the Great-Martyr Queen Ketevan” but his work has not been preserved. According to the 19th-century historian Platon Ioseliani, Hieromonk Kozman was taken captive and tortured to death in the year 1630, when the Dagestanis were carrying out a raid on the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. Thou didst give thyself up to many tribulations, O Holy Father Kozman, and didst appear as a holy hieromartyr before Christ our God. Intercede on behalf of all those who honor thy holy name! Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press : St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076 3 августа 2007 г. Venerable Fathers Ioane and Gabriel of Mt. Athos (10th century) Commemorated on July 8/21 Venerable Fathers Ioane and Gabriel of Mt. Athos (10th century) Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Saint Ioane was born the son of a nobleman during the reign of King Davit Kuropalates.For his love of Christ he left his family and the world to be tonsured a monk. After informing the royal court of his decision, St. Ioane received a blessing from his spiritual father to travel to Greece, where he settled at a monastery on Mt. Olympus. The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Since the time of the ancient Greek historians, Georgia has been viewed as an enigma hidden behind impenetrable mountains and a complex language. |
| Tweet Нравится Holy Royal Martyr Mirdat, King of Kartli (†410) Memory 8 (21) July King Mirdat (408–410), the son of Varaz-Bakur, was the first martyred king of Georgia. He was raised by his maternal grandfather, King Trdat. The faithful grandfather taught the future king to love God and his nation, and the young prince mindfully preserved his grandfather’s wisdom throughout his life. Mirdat was endowed with the greatest of a nobleman’s virtues: wisdom, discretion, physical prowess, fearlessness, valor, and courage. He liberated Klarjeti from the Byzantines, abolished the tribute system (by which Georgia was required to pay taxes to Persia, and prepared for war against the Persians. The Persian king gathered an enormous army to punish the Georgian nation, and King Mirdat courageously marched toward Gardabani (in eastern Georgia with his much smaller army. But the selflessness and bravery of the Georgian soldiers were no match for the multitude of Persian warriors. The Georgians suffered defeat, and the Persian conquerors captured the young king. The Persian king demanded that Mirdat renounce the Christian Faith, but he was firmly rebuffed. Neither intimidation nor fear of persecution would break the will of the king. After torturing him for his love of Christ, the Persians bound him in chains, tormented him almost to death, and cast him into prison, where he gave up his soul to the Lord. The martyrdom of King Mirdat took place at the beginning of the 5th century, in the year 410. O Holy Martyr Mirdat, entreat Christ God to save our souls! Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press : St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076 3 августа 2007 г. Venerable Giorgi the God-bearer (†1068) Commemorated July 3/16 Venerable Giorgi the God-bearer (†1068) Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Saint Giorgi the God-bearer and Recluse labored in the Black Mountains near Antioch during a time when the churches and monasteries there flourished. |
| St Herman the Archbishop of Kazan Commemorated on November 6 Saint Herman, Archbishop of Kazan, lived during the sixteenth century. He was born in the city of Staritsa, and was descended from the old boyar nobility of the Polevi. In his youth Gregory (his baptismal name) was tonsured at the Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery under Igumen Gurias, who later became Archbishop of Kazan (December 5). (St Gurias was head of the monastery from 1542 to 1551). At the monastery St Herman occupied himself with copying books, and he was a close friend of St Maximus the Greek (January 21), who was living there in confinement. In 1551 the brethren of the Staritsa Dormition monastery, seeing his piety, chose him as their archimandrite. Taking up the governance of this monastery with a pastoral zeal, St Herman concerned himself with its internal and external order, for he himself was a model of humility and meekness. He exhorted all to observe their monastic commitment strictly, and he introduced into his monastery the Rule of St Joseph of Volokolamsk (October 18). But after two and a half years Archimandrite Herman left the Staritsa monastery, leaving its direction to the hieromonk Job (June 19), who afterwards was to become the first Patriarch of Moscow, and was an ascetic and sufferer for the Russian Land. St Herman’s love for solitary struggles brought him to return to his original Volokolamsk monastery, where he strove toward salvation as a simple monk. However, when the new heretic Matthew Bashkin (who refused to acknowledge the Holy Mysteries and denied faith in the Holy Trinity) appeared at Moscow, St Herman and his own father (who had received tonsure at the Volokolamsk monastery with the name Philotheus) were summoned to the Moscow Council of 1553. The Council censured the heretic Bashkin and resolved to send him for correction to St Herman at the Volokolamsk monastery, since St Herman was known for his holy life and zeal for the faith in Christ. In 1555, after the taking of Kazan, an archepiscopal See was established there. St Gurias, the former igumen of Volokolamsk monastery, was chosen as archbishop. He was entrusted with building the Dormition monastery in the city of Sviyazhsk for missionary purposes. By decree of St Gurias, St Herman was appointed as head of this new monastery in Sviyazhsk. A stone cathedral was built with a belltower and monastic cells. The igumen of the monastery lived very frugally in a cramped cell beneath the cathedral belltower. St Herman particularly concerned himself with acquiring a library for the monastery. |
| Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin, Michael D. Peterson Скачать epub pdf HERMAN OF ALASKA HERMAN OF ALASKA, monk, St. (?–1837). The first Orthodox saint (q.v.) canonized in the United States (1970), he lived on Spruce Island, Alaska (q.v.), off Kodiak until 1837. He originally came from Valaam (Lake Ladoga) Monastery to Alaska in 1794. His secular name and parents are unknown. Father Herman came with a group of about a dozen monk-missionaries, half of whom perished within five years. By 1823 Herman was the sole survivor of the original mission who was still in Alaska. In the history of North American horticulture, Herman is listed as the discoverer of a method of fertilization based on the harvest of “sea cabbages”-a type of marine plant-which is dried or composted and used to enrich Alaskan soil. He probably brought this practice, unknown in the New World, from Lake Ladoga Monastery where it had been in use. Since the history of Russians in Alaska is largely also a history of food production, it was important that Herman was known for growing turnips, potatoes, and garden vegetables-when others had failed. In 1825 he grew 150 to 180 beds of potatoes, but all the gardening enterprise ceased after his death. In any case Herman is better known for other achievements: 1) The early success of the missionary party-thousands of baptisms, etc. were performed-may be attributed to their “missionary education” in traveling across Europe and Asia to Alaska for almost a year. Stopping in monasteries established by the Russian Church all along the way, Herman and the others were recipients of an education in missionizing indigenous “shamanistic” populations by successful historical example. (See Komi.) These way stations were first established as missions to the native peoples of their lands. 2) In Kodiak the monks laid the foundation of the Holy Resurrection Church and established a school in which they taught catechism, history, mathematics, language, agriculture, and domestic science to the indigenous population. In spite of this new learning, the native cultures were not suppressed, and there existed an official directive to prevent interference in their societies. |
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