Saint Mauricios the Martyr, and those with him

from the Synaxarion:

Saint Mauricios, a military commander of Syrian Apameia, suffered in the year 305 under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) together with his son Photinos and 70 soldiers under his command (from the soldiers are known the names of only two: Theodore and Philip).

During a time of persecution, pagan priests made denunciation to the emperor that Saint Mauricios was spreading the faith in Christ. Brought to trial, Saint Mauricios, together with his son and his soldiers, firmly and unflinchingly confessed their faith in Christ, wavering neither to entreaty nor to threats. They were then beaten without mercy, burned with fire, and torn at with iron hooks. Young Photinos, having firmly endured the tortures, was beheaded by the sword before the very eyes of his father. But even this cruel torment did not break Saint Mauricios, who took comfort in that his son had been vouchsafed the martyr's crown.

They then devised for the martyrs even more subtle tortures: they led them to a swampy place, where it was full of mosquitoes, wasps and gnats, and they tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with honey. The insects fiercely stung and bit at the martyrs, who were weakened by hunger and thirst. The saints endured these torments over the course of 10 days, but they did not cease praying to and glorifying God, until finally the Lord put an end to their sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly by night buried the venerable remains of the holy martyrs at the place of their horrible execution.

Elaeth's Englynion

I picked up my copy of Celtic Spirituality and ran across this little gem from the ancient Orthodox Celts of Wales. May it be a blessing to you.

Since my clothes are as battered as my spirits,
On account of sin, I confess it,
May God not punish me twice.

May God not punish a man twice
In his wrath and sadness,
Those cursed by heaven are cursed on earth.

Let the man of earth and sin pray to God,
And keep vigil in the dark,
Let him who offends Christ not slumber.

Let the son of man not slumber for the Son of God's Passion,
Let him be awake at matins,
Then he will win heaven and forgiveness.

He will gain forgiveness who remembers God,
And does not neglect him,
And heaven too on the night he dies.

If he dies unreconciled to God,
Then for the sin he may have done,
It was unfortunate that he was born.

The wicked man does not practice prayer to God,
Against the day of tribulation,
The foolish man does not ponder his end.

"God, grant me always to remember Thy love and Thy mercy in prayer, and that I not be unmindful of the end appointed unto me. Have mercy on this foolish and wicked man, O Lord, lest I forget that the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; blessed is the servant whom He finds watching, but again unworthy is the servant whom He heedless. Remind me ever of Thee, and keep in Thy ways, O Lord. Through the prayers of Thy holy and God-pleasing martyrs, Thy pure and blameless mother, and of all the saints, have mercy and forgive me. Amen."

St. Zakharios Patriarch of Jerusalem

from the Synaxarion:

The Monk Zakharios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, lived from the end of the 6th to the early 7th century. In the year 614 the Persian emperor Chosroes fell upon Jerusalem, looted it, and led into captivity many a Christian, including also Saint Zakharios. Together with his captives, Chosroes seized also the Life-Creating Cross of Christ. During the time of the invasion as many as 90,000 Christians perished. Afterwards Chosroes was compelled to sue for peace with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641). The Cross of the Lord was returned to Jerusalem. The Christian captives that yet remained alive also were returned, among them Patriarch Zakharios, who died peacefully in the year 633.

Promises

I have not kept up with the blog much at all lately, and for that I am sorry. Several of you have written and asked if I am all right. I must say, I am deeply touched. I had not thought there was much readership here. The things that have gotten in the way are the cares and worries of this life: family problems, relationship problems, work problems, sickness, and death. I have much I want to blog about, and many things have been on and in my mind of late. However, there has simply not been enough time to do this. Pray for me, a sinner. And God repay the kindness and warmth shown by all of you.

Turn us back, O God of our salvation, and turn away Thine anger from us. Wilt Thou be wroth with us unto the ages? Or wilt Thou draw out Thy wrath from generation to generation? O God, Thou wilt turn and quicken us, and Thy people shall be glad in Thee. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy, and Thy salvation do Thou give unto us. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me; for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints and to them that turn their heart unto Him. (from Psalm 84, LXX)