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Philoptochos Spiritual Enrichment Series |
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St. Euphemia the Martyr |
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| Prayer Glory to the Father, and the Son... Have mercy upon us, O Lord; for in You have we put our trust. Be not exceedingly angry with us nor remember our sins, but look upon us now for You are compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for You are our God and we are Your people; we are all the work of Your hands and we have called upon Your Name. Amen. |
Vitamin
Verse Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy. (Psalm 109:26) |
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| Inspiration St. Euphemia the Martyr is the patron saint of our blessed organization of the Philoptochos. She was born in Chalcedon, Asia Minor to an aristocratic family and lived during the period of harsh Christian persecutions under the Emperor Diocletian (3rd-4th centuries.) Euphemia had devoted herself to Christ and worked tirelessly to embody the Christian principles of charity and goodness. The local governor, Priscus, ever looking for more opportunities to crush the Christian "movement", decreed a feast to the idol Ares. The multitudes sacrificed sheep and oxen during the riotous celebration. Euphemia and 48 other Christians did not attend, but hid themselves. They were arrested and brought before Priscus in the pagan Temple to force them to renounce Christ publicly. St. Euphemia never wavered and held steadfast to her faith although they suffered cruel punishments for 19 days. All the Christians, except Euphemia, were sent to the dungeon. Through kind words, promises, and gifts, Priscus tried to entice her. She said, "Although I am a woman by nature, my heart is more manly than yours." Angered, he had her mangled on a torture wheel. She prayed to Jesus that He come to her aid, and angels immediately wrecked the wheel and her wounds were healed. Priscus then called to have her thrown into a furnace. When two soldiers saw an angel of God part the flames and forbid them to push Euphemia inside, they were imprisoned and two other soldiers were called to cast her in. These second soldiers were burned to ashes as they cast her in. The saint came out unharmed and praying. The pious Euphemia was repeatedly tortured and prayed that God would receive her soul and end her sufferings. A voice from heaven summoned her, and Euphemia surrendered her spirit. Immediately, an earthquake destroyed the temples and the city walls and all fled. Her parents came and buried her, honored to have her as a daughter. The steadfast saint and martyr for Christ, Euphemia, was again called on to witness to the true faith centuries later. In the year 451 AD., a priest name Eutyches taught that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not have two natures--the human and the divine--because the human had been absorbed by the divine. The Orthodox belief that Christ was both God and Man was thus challenged. The Ecumenical Council of 451 was called to resolve this growing division in the Church. During this Council the holy relics of St. Euphemia witnessed to the truth that Christ was both God and man. The writings of Eutyches concerning the nature of Christ were placed in the casket of St. Euphemia alongside those of the Fathers of the Holy Church. They closed the casket and after a short meditation period they re-opened the casket to see the miracle. The heretical works of Eutyches were found at her feet and the Orthodox writings of the Fathers were clutched in her arms. Thus the teachings of Eutyches were condemned and the Orthodox doctrine of the dual nature of Christ was firmly established. The feast day of St. Euphemia is September 16th. Her relics are presently in the Chapel of St. George in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. To read about the ruins of the Basilica of St. Euphemia where the Ecumenical Council was held go to the Patriarchate website.* *http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate/chapter_4/html/st._euphemia.html |
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