" Εκλαιγα, έκλαιγα. Τί ήτανε αυτό, Θεέ μου;!!" ( π, Στεφανος Αναγνωστοπουλος )

"ΥΠΕΡ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΩΘΕΝ ΕΙΡΗΝΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣ ΤΟΝ ΨΥΧΩΝ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΔΕΗΘΩΜΕΝ"

Ό μακαριστός π. Χαράλαμπος, πού διετέλεσε και Ηγούμενος της Ιεράς Μονής Διονυσίου του Αγίου Όρους, όταν ήταν στη Νέα Σκήτη το 1964, σε ανύποπτη στιγμή και στην ερώτηση μου "τι διαφέρει ή ειρήνη του Χριστού από την ειρήνη του κόσμου", απάντησε: "Ειρήνη με ειρήνη έχει διαφορά. Υπάρχει τεραστία διαφορά από την ειρήνη πού δίδει ο Θεός, Ούτω κάποτε προσευχόμενος πλησίον του παραθύ ρου του κελιού μου, αισθάνθηκα ένα πράγμα, που δεν μπορεί να το έκφραση κανείς. Εκεί πού προσευχόμουν, ακούω ξαφνικά μια βοή "σσσ, συσ.,. σσσσ". Οι αισθήσεις μου οι εξωτερικές κόπηκαν και "άνοιξε" μέσα στην καρδιά μου μία ειρήνη σε ανέκφραστο βαθμό. Δεν μπορούσα να κουνηθώ.


Μία ανέκφραστος γλυκύτης, γαλήνη, ειρήνη... Δεν περιγράφεται! Αισθανόμουν Παράδεισον μέσα μου. Αυτό ίσως κράτησε μία ώρα. Κατόπιν υποχώρησε. Έμεινε όμως μέσα μου. Βεβαίώς, ελάχιστο πράγμα παρέμεινε. Και έκτοτε ό,τι κι αν συνέβαινε, οιαδήποτε φροντίδα, ταραχή, πειρασμός κλπ, ή ειρήνη από μέσα μου δεν χανόταν. Όταν έφυγε εκείνη ή μεγάλη και ανέκφραστος ειρήνη, έκλαιγα, φώναζα: τι ήτανε αυτό, τι ήτανε αυτό; Θεέ μου, έλεγα, αύτη ήτανε ή ειρήνη πού έδωσες στους Αγίους Αποστόλους: "ειρήνη την εμήν διδωμι υμίν"; Δεν μπορούσα να βαστάξω. " Έκλαιγα, έκλαιγα. τι ήτανε αυτό, Θεέ μου;!!"

ΒΙΒΛ. ΕΜΠΕΙΡΙΕΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ. ΠΡ. ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/11/blog-post_5.html

Saint Kosmas Aetolos (1714-1779) the equal to Apostles

«When you will see the «one thousand ship» in Greek waters, then it will come.»

The complete PROPHECIES of St. Kosmas from Aetolia Greece, who was a Hieromonk on Holy Mount Athos.

From the book «Kosmas of Aetolia» by the Metropolitan of Florina Augustinos Kantiotis, ed. Orthodox Missionary Brotherhood «The Cross» from which is the numbering. Prophecies also have been added from other manuscripts referred in the book «SAINT KOSMAS THE AETOLOS, Life and Prophecies» by the theologian Mr. Triantafyllou, and the excellent work of the Abbess of St. Kosmas Aetolos’ Monastery in Megadendro Thermo, Nun Efthymia: «The prophecies of Saint Cosmas Aetolos in History.» (See more at the end of this text). Notes added by Leontios Monahos Dionysiatis (LMD) of Holy Mount Athos.

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«This one day will be Roman (Greek) and fortunate whoever lives in this kingdom.» (He used to say this in various parts of enslaved Greece, which thereafter gained their freedom from the Turkish yoke).
«Oh blessed mountain, how many souls of women and children you will save, when the adverse years come!» (He said this prophecy in Siatista, northwestern Greece, and elsewhere facing the mountains, which at the time of the Greek Revolution were dens of women and children).
«You here, who are found up in these high mountains are fortunate, because these will keep you away from many evils. You will hear and you will not see the danger. Three hours or three days you will suffer.» (It was said at the region of Siatista).
«The desired fact will come about the third generation. It will be seen by your grandchildren.» (It was said in Himara – This very important prophecy of the Saint, which nursed the sweetest hope of the enslaved Greek nation, took amazing verification. Because the time of the liberation of the Nation is actually the third generation by the year prophesied that from the Saint, because as we know, each generation is estimated at 25 years).
«There will come a time for your enemies to take even the ash from the fire, but do not change your faith like others will.» (It was said in Siatista).
6. «I pity you because of the pride you have. My leg will not step here again. And if you don’t stop these things that you do, the arbitrariness and robbery, you will be destroyed. In this branch, where you hang your swords, it will come a day that the gypsies will hang their musical instruments.» (It was said in the village of Saint Donatos, Souli).
«There will come the red caps and then the Englishmen for 54 years, and then it will become Roman (Greek).» (It was said in Cephalonia on the liberation of the Ionian Islands – «Red hats» are called the French soldiers from the color of their headgear during the Napoleonic period. This prophecy found amazing fulfillment. Because after the Venetians the Ionian Islands were taken over by the French, and after their departure there came the English, whose stay lasted 54 years, that are as many as prophesied by the Saint. In 1810 the English seized the Ionian Islands. (Except Corfu, which surrendered in 1815 to Campbell, and in 1864 they handed it to Greece).
«The boundaries of Romans will be the Vovousa (River Aoos).» (It was said in the Old Arta). -It happened already, see the next prophecy. LMD-
«From there will come the Romans.» (This prophecy was said by the Saint in Preveza showing that part of the mainland from which would come the army of freedom. This occurred in 1912).
«The suffering will be much more. Remember my words. Pray, act and endure steadily. Until the wound of this plane tree closes, your village will be enslaved and unhappy.» (It was said to Tsaraplana, today Vasilikon of Epirus. The wound of the plane was closed in 1912, year of liberation of Epirus. Act means to work yourselves to be freed and not passively to wait others to liberate you – LMD).
«When will come the desired?» Asked the Saint in Tsaraplana of Epirus. «When these come together,» answered the Saint showing two saplings. (The saplings grew, fattened and joined together in 1912).
«The desired will come when two Paschal celebrations come together.» (In fact in 1912 the Annunciation and Easter celebrations coincided).
«Once it is closed the (branches of) tree and the rod is closed inside, then will come the desired. There will be a sign and do not be afraid. Go when the sun goes down to those mountains (the Homalia and Merope), which will save many souls. Do not take anything with you, only your lives to save, and the evil will not last more than 24 hours.»
«The villages of the valley will suffer turmoil, while at the feet of Mt Kissavos they will sleep slaves and wake up free.» (It was said in Larissa).
«If this cypress is dried from the top, Greece will be freed. If it is dried from the bottom, will not be free.» (It was said in Zelenitsa (Prasia) of Evritania).
«With difficulty will come» (Saint is referring to the desired).
«When you will see the «one thousand ship» in the White Sea, then it will come.» (Very large assemblage of ships (naval) in the Aegean -White Sea- which is opposite to the Black Sea. For more see the 62th prophecy LMD-).
«When you will see the «one thousand ship» in Greek waters, then it will come.»
«When you will see the «one thousand ship» in Greek waters, then it will be resolved the issue of Constantinople (Istanbul)» (Saint Kosmas here means the fleet of security in the seas of the entire planet. See No 62 for more – LMD).
«It will come suddenly. You must have a bag with wheat hanging at the door. This will block you on leaving. Do not leave it. Get it with you to feed your children.»
«In Avlona (Vlora, in Albania) will be destruction. Troops will come to liberate the place.»
«In Boukormae will be shed much blood.»
«When you hear that the war started, then it is near.»
«Those villages which are near the road a lot will suffer.» (Be away from Egnatia Highway & pαrα-Egnatia! -LMD).
«Dropolis will suffer because the place is bare.» (Area of Northern Epirus, filled with vineyards then, but not trees that could hide people during the fighting. So Saint Kosmas brought olive nurseries with him and told people not to plant grapes, but olives and other trees. Already the prophecy has been verified many times. – LMD).
«Dropolis will be full of troops.» (At the «General War» as the Saint called World War III -LMD).
«The harvest of that year will be lost from the fertile Dropolis and – my mother! – how much blood will be shed.»
«Puddles and rocks in Dropolis will be filled while leaving.» (At the Albanian manuscript, the prophecy is as follows: «The mountains, valleys and plains of Dropolis will be full of refugees»).
«You, in the villages of Pepeli, wrongly will fear. You will not sustain any damage. Only your children who will be in the streets you will cry for.»
«The antichrists will leave, but shall come again. Then you will chase them to Red Apple Tree.» (This tree means the headquarters of the red-flag Antichrists i.e. the bloodthirsty enemies, perhaps in Mecca or the Muslim countries. -LMD)
«It will come when two summers and two Paschal celebrations will come together.» (The release of Northern Epirus by the atheist regime of Hodja was in 1991, coinciding the feast of Easter and Evangelism in the old Calendar, which was in use at the time of Saint Kosmas. The 2 good times -summer in Greek means good time- refer first to the overthrow of the communist -atheist- rule and democratization of the countries of Eastern Europe, and secondly, to the generally good economic situation of that time. LMD)
«Foreign troops will come, Christ they will believe in, language they will not know…»
«There will come once a foreign crowd who will believe in Christ. But you will not know it.”
«With others you will sleep and with others you will dawn.» (It will come suddenly. LMD). The 149th prophecy in the manuscript of Triantafyllou says: «In the evening we will sleep soundly and in the morning we will find the streets filled with a foreign crowd.»
«You’ll see three families in one house.»
“You will go to reside elsewhere, and others shall come to dwell in your place.”
«You’ll see 40 horses to be tied up to a peg.» (Cars with engine 40 hp).
«Many will be lost from hunger.»
«The rich will become poor and the poor will die.» (Concerns not only the physical but also spiritual wealth, because it is increasingly compromised by the corrupt age, due to the general degradation of impiety, materialism, and immorality. LMD)
«A handful of gold a handful of flour.» The 81st of Triantafyllou: «They will dig in their homes to hide (wheat) for bread. Whoever will have hidden some of it, will not dare to go to the mill. They will grind in the hand mill.» (It has been proved true and during World War II. -LMD).
«The time will come that the Greeks will fight each other. I recommend concord and love.»
«You will see regular army, and you will see rebels (guerrilla). You will suffer much from the last of them.»
«They will ask rifles from you. Have double, give one and keep the other. A rifle will save 100 lives.» (To be taken seriously into consideration by the islanders. LMD). In the 99th of the book by Triantafyllou: «Foreign troops will come, Christ will believe, language will not know. They will seek weapons. You must have double. You give the one and keep the other. With others you will sleep and with others will dawn.»
«The time will come when the mute and dumb objects will manage the world.»» (By “mute and dumb”, in Greek “alala & balala”, the Saint means the soulless machines of various inventions. They replaced and all the more replace working hands and dominate in the life of people as newer idols worshipped by the material-minded world. – The mute are computers, virtually quiet, and the dumb are noisy machines bii… buu…-LMD)
«The cause of the General War will come from Dalmatia.» (From there found occasion the 2 previous World Wars. Because both Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose murder (28 June 1914) has prompted the First World War and Hitler who started the Second one, were Austrians. From there, perhaps Kosovo, the opportunity is already being prepared to start the third as well – LMD)
«The cause of the general war will come from Dalmatia. First will split Austria and then the Turkey.» (The Austro-Hungary was dissolved back in 1918, and its occupied in the past land of Yugoslavia partitioned after 1990, so it is Turkey’s time now. – LMD)
«The destruction will be done by a scurfy man (Cassidiari in Greek).» The prophecy in the Albanian manuscript reported as follows: «The destruction will come from a blind and scurfy man.» (Scurfy man – is he who is suffering from cassida=alopecia or scurf. But it reminds us too, of the Cassidics or Chassidics, a branch of Jews without good doctrines about God. Blind people are spiritually unbelievers, non-baptized, and scurfy allegorically are those having additionally contracted an illness in their head that is mental. See also the 80th prophecy. – LMD)
«They will try to resolve it by pen, but they will not be able. 99 times by war and one by pen.»
«If 3 powers are found to agree, nothing bad will happen to you.»
«If the matter is solved by war you will suffer many disasters. In three countries one will remain …»
«The time will come when you will not hear (= learn) anything.» (End of communications, radios, televisions, etc. Verified and in Albania, where the Hodja had the people in a terrible state with 50 drams of bread a day per person, and to prevent revolt he isolated them from all over the world and he was saying that Greece and the West live worse! – LMD)
«Whatever they ask from you give them. Only save your life.» Also the 107th of Triantafyllou says: «The doors will close. People will be afraid to get out.»
«If they find silver as they walk, will not bend down to get it. But for a cob they would kill each other trying to get it first.» (It will then occur terrible hunger. What food to find then in the supermarket! Besides the hunger from deprivation of goods, there is from a manuscript of Vassiliki Vassilopoulou hunger also due to inadequate food: «Your dishes will be full, but the food will not be edible”. And: «The time will come when you will have all the goods, but will not dare to eat them, – manuscript of Athanasopoulos. Genetically modified, contaminated food, etc. – LMD)
«The evil will come to you from the learned (educated).» (The inventions of the learned including the modern predatory economic system, for which indeed we are proud! In Arnea Halkidiki said: «When the young will rule there will be evil.» Also: «Refugees from the East will come to assistance of Macedonia». They came and come returnees, ethnic Greek and mostly Christian Orthodox: Russians, Georgians, Ukrainians, etc. LMD)
«Or three days or three months or three years it will endure.» (Confirmed in many cases of fighting for liberation of Greek territories from the Turks. Another prophecy says: «Or two days it will last, or two months.» For Northern Epirus the Saint said: «Your freedom will be a little earlier or a little later than the outcome of the issue of Constantinople”. – manuscript Kalyvopoulou LMD).
«Time will come when there will not be this harmony, as in our days, among the people and clergy.» (I.e. in his time Saint Kosmas accepts harmonic relationship between clergy and laity. -LMD).
«The clergy will be the worst and most impious of all.» (When St. Kosmas was saying this, some clergy from the audience resented and said: «Oh Holy one, great insult to us.»

And the Saint replied: «Ah, what am I? Am I not from your class? I tell you that this one day will happen.» Manuscript of Kalyvopoulou, from magazine «Northern Epirus». The ethical misdeeds come first. Then dominates spiritual obfuscation, which is followed with the descent into falsehoods, even in heresy. Here he speaks both on ethical (worst) and falsehoods (most wicked) wrongdoings e.g. Pan-religion.

In another manuscript, «The clergy will become like the laity, and the lay people like animals.» Also: «Hear my brethren Christians. Time will come when will not be this harmony, which is present, between the people and clergy. When a priest will go to a layperson’s home, as he will leave, they (the laypeople) will cense with incense. If he will sit on a bed, after his departure they will shake (clean) it. If the people encounter a priest on their way, they will come back and will not continue their way. » Manuscript of Kalyvopoulou -LMD).
«In Constantinople will spill so much blood that a 3 year-old calf would swim in it.» Also, according to the ed. of «Mikra Zyme» (Little Dough) of village Thermo, Trihonetes in Greece 2003, he said: «6-fingered man gave the City, and 6-fingered man will receive it.»
«Fortunate whoever will live after the general war. He will eat with silver spoons…»
«After the general war will live together the wolf with the lamb.»

(«Αnd will graze the wolf with the lamb, and leopard will rest with kid», as said the prophet Isaiah: 11:6. This occurs at the propagation of the Gospel, according to Saint Basil the Great: “…Predicting the allogeneic nations’ society, which was to become in Christ, speaks -Isaiah- like that”. -39th speech to the Annunciation-. Then the wicked-wolves spiritually are transformed in pious-lambs. But according to Holy Chrysostom: “Wolf calls the Holy Scripture the -predator- rich, lamb the poor”. -MPG 50. p. 437- So during the «Blink» of Orthodox Christianity after WWIII, this verb of St. Kosmas will be done both spiritually and secularly. -LMD).
«First will come a pseudo-Roman (false Greek).Not to believe in it. It will flee back.»
«It will be gathered the «1000 ships Navy» to Skaloma (Agioi Saranta) and the red-vested shall come, to fight for you.» (“We talk about a “thousand ship Navy”. That’s not just our ships. It’s an international fleet of like-minded nations participating in security operations around the world.» It is from the official website of the US Navy: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/quotes.asp?q=11&c=2) So, the time is …now! -LMD.
«The Turks will go away, but will come back again and will arrive up to the Hexamilia (6-miles location). Finally you will drive them out into the “Red Apple tree”. From the Turks the 1/3 will be killed, the other third will be baptized, and only 1/3 will go to Red Apple Tree». («Red Apple Tree»: Location, which the imagination of enslaved Greeks put into the depths of the Great Asia, see and Pr. 30).
«So many terrible events will happen, that the mothers will give birth prematurely from their fear.»
6 «Animals will not be left. They will eat them. Eat you too with them. At Tzoumerka you will get seed (their breed).» (Whoever will anticipate let go to high mountains, away from the streets! -LMD). In Albanian manuscript we read: «Horses will not be left. And you will go with them. From (Mount) Tzoumerka you will take their breed again.»
«‘Do not make big houses. Yard-walls to make, so they don’t come inside.» (Saint Kosmas says here that people with large and luxurious homes, often lose them when wars start, because they are usually converted into houses or headquarters of the army, as happened during the 1st and 2nd World War by the occupying forces. But to make fenced yards with gates, so they cannot come easily for grabs, indoors. – LMD)
«They will impose you a huge and unbearable tax, but will not catch up.» (Of course something big will happen, like the explosion of the great war. Confirmatory are the two following prophecies).
«They will put a tax on chickens and on windows». (I.e. livestock and houses, which already occurred, so the events are near. It remains only the enlistment of the following prophecy! – LMD)
«They will request to take you as soldiers, but they will not catch up». (The «Allies» plan and other wars for peace! Albright -U.S. Secretary of State- was saying when NATO bombed Serbia that such interventions will be ongoing for 25-50 years! But God’s plans are different! – LMD)
«The Turks will be informed of the secret 3 days sooner than the Christians». (The Albanian manuscript has the following prophecy: «The Turks will realize it three days sooner than the Christians».
«When you hear that the war was caught underneath (the south), then it will be soon.»
«If the war is caught underneath, you (Greeks) will suffer only a little. If it is caught from above (the North), you will be destroyed.» (The reason -start- will be from above i.e. Dalmatia – Kosovo, which already was with the NATO intervention in 1999, and is the starting of East – West confrontation of interests inside NWO, but will get caught underneath (the South) – LMD).
«The rocks and the pits will be full of people.»
«It will come suddenly. It will be either the ox in the field or the horse on the threshing floor.» (October or July. -LMD)
«It’s sad for me to say it to you: today, tomorrow, we expect thirst, great hunger that even giving thousands of gold coins we will not find some bread.» (About thirst there is, from the collection of Vassiliki Vassilopoulou, the prophecy of St. Kosmas: «The taps will run dry and the rivers will be dirty.» Also from the collection Kalyvopoulou: “time will come when will be great thirst and the devil will go around to the pits with his pumpkins full of water. He will only give to his own». Basically refers to the era of the Antichrist and the marked people with his sign or a chip.- LMD)
«After the (general) war, people will run half an hour to find a human and make him brother.» (In some places, as in Turkey, the situation will be even worse. You will walk 7 hours, says elder Paisios to see someone. – LMD)
«Do not plant vineyards, because they will spoil, as those in Dryinoupolis».
«There will be a paperwork that will have (great) future in the East.» (Elsewhere is indicated as «little» rather than «great.» – LMD)
«The world will be so much bankrupt, as to be belted with vine branches.»
«The reason will come from Deleiata.» At the 101st collection of Triantafyllou: «The very big war will begin from a small state.» Also in the 102nd of Triantafyllou: «The war will start from a small state of Ottomans. The Greeks will go to war last as gravediggers. In the end, the Christians will win.» The 108th of Triant.: «When war breaks out in Dalmatia, and the marked man will appear, the protagonist at outrages, near will be the end of the world.» (When the war broke out to Kosovo, March 1999, protagonist was the U.S. President Bill Clinton who had been charged with several scandals, the most famous being erotic, but was blamed for much heavier ones, such as the use of intelligence for selfish purposes, etc. It is not known if he is additionally sealed (marked) in some way… ).
«France will liberate many Greek places and especially the Italians will, too.»
«France will liberate Greece, and Italy the Epirus.» (Epirus is in northwest Greece).
«Through three narrow passages, Kra, Krapsi and Mouzina will pass a lot of troops to go to the City (Constantinople). It would be good for women and children to go out to the mountains. You will be asked if the City is far away. Do not say the truth, because they will abuse you. This army will not reach the City, in the middle of the road they will know that the war has finished». (Obviously they go to occupy the City, held by the Russians, who will be already in battle against the army of the West.

Probably this army will be aid of recruiting reservists from Western countries. We (Greek) must be like fools to everything they tell us. Another manuscript states: «From three narrow passages, troops will pass to the City. They will ask how far it is. You must answer that it is near, because they will be tired and can do to you something bad.»

In another manuscript: «They will pass filthy troops from the Esperia places of the West and they will ask: where is the City, is it near? Those who will say it is near they will not harm, those who will say it is far away they will kill.»

And here it seems that these troops have no desire to hear about wars especially long, and will not tolerate other opinions than their own. (How far is it will they ask, not the location, but the outcome of events in the City. Another similar: «Woe to the plains. Filthy nations shall come. When they will come do not be afraid, when they leave go aside». I.e. they are immoral and stubborn, so be careful … and stay away! – LMD)
«The time will come when the devil will make rounds with his pumpkin.» (Satellites – LMD).
«You will see others going up and others down».
«The freedom will come from below, where the water is poured.» (It happened in the Greek Revolution locally, but also in Egypt, the Nile with many waters. There Rommel was defeated at El Alamain – Saint Minas – and so was the fate of the Second World War determined. – LMD)
«From above and from the stairway (Skala) turmoil (don’t) expect.» (The «not» in other manuscripts, as in collection of Kalyvopoulou is “to” and this is the right one, because that’s what happened during the wars for liberation from the Turkish yoke, and also the 1st & 2nd World War. – LMD)
«One bread will be lost half and one whole».
«The time will come when one woman will drive away ten Turks with a distaff (with which they spin wool).» (When the Russians suddenly occupy Turkey, then the task forces of the Turks, those located outside Turkey, will not know where to hide – LMD)!
«Curse the Pope, because he will be the reason.» (Vatican as a state intervenes everywhere because of interests! Already, the Pope expressed openly in favor of the New World Order, which has caused bloodshed in many countries before the final bloodshed of the 3rd World War comes. Notice here that St. Kosmas prophetically excludes all possibility of (every) Pope’s repentance and return from his falsehoods. Because only the demons are cursed as unrepentant… – LMD)
«The destruction in the land will be done by one official’s name … (illegible)»
«Many villages will be destroyed; the three countries will become one.»
«Have three doors; if they hold one, leave from the other.»
«If one hides behind a door, he will be saved; it will be fleeting.»
«Supplicate that it will be day and not night, summer and not winter.»
«People will stay poor because they will not have love for the trees.»
«People will stay poor, because they will become lazy.»
«From high up, through the port will come the destruction.» (This was verified also in Pearl Harbor, during the second World War – LMD).
«They will throw to you much money; (Then) they will ask you to take it back, but will not.» (Elsewhere is written «will not make it in time.» They will offer many «packages» and loans to control Greece economically. However, they will not manage to get back their money due to some very serious cause, such as the outbreak of the Great War! For the same reason is stated in another prophecy, the No 67: «They will impose significant and onerous tax but will not make it in time»… – LMD)
«You’ll save others and the others you.»
«You will leave from the left mountains; from the right side not; By the caves do not be afraid.»
«It will come suddenly; The horses will be left spanned to their jobs and you will leave.» (The machines will work producing electricity, motion, cooling, heating, communications, etc, but people will not have the time, nor will be interested to stop them. – LMD)
«It will be eighth (great) century when these will take place». (Eighth great century is the period between the years 7000 to 8000 approx since Adam. Because Christ was born in year 5508 since Adam, 1992 was the year 7500 since Adam, based on this numbering of the Fathers of the Orthodox Christian Church, which is different from that of the Jews. The year 2012 AD is the year 7520 since Adam. -LMD)
«Conceal yourselves either near the door or near the plate, if it is hasty (fleeting) and fast.»
«A lot will happen. The cities will end up like shanty towns».
«The time will come when the damned demon will be expelled from his skull.» (Maybe getting power from the witchcraft and other impurities of people, demons will start to control the technology of dirty people, or may even emerge from the various devices such as televisions, computers, etc, or perhaps it will be by newer technologies like «Blue Beam».

Examples using conventional technology:
A few years ago (1991) in Chile, in a bank in the city Valparaiso, who had just upgraded its computer system with new equipment worth 7.3 million dollars, from a computer screen (terminal), jumped out demons. Indeed, the employee who saw them first, Maria Catalan (22 years old) died instantaneously after she turned over with her head between her legs!… Another employee named Carmen De La Fuente, died when she just tried to banish the creepy person from the computer, while another third employee, Louisa Morello (27 years old and mother of 2 children), was taken to the hospital in a state of coma from cerebral necrosis, as explained by the vice president of the Bank, Jorge Montalbo. The same said to reporters:

«It seems illogical and superstitious today to talk about demon-possession but there is no other explanation!» The strange thing about the whole case was that when the computer was off power, the creepy face of the demon remained there… Two technical experts who tried to control the computer system of the Bank were tossed and swirled away by some invisible force! Henceforth, nobody could get close enough, and the bank’s manager called a priest who is known as an exorcist in Latin America named Hector Diaz, to exorcise the evil spirits! The news was so shocking, that TV channels in Germany discontinued their program and broadcasted from Chile the creepy demonic faces that emerged from the computer. Some feared that the Earth was under attack from outer Space!
It has happened in Thessaloniki in a Christian family, in their son’s computer, to display “666” just as it was turned on! They deleted everything, did a new installation of the operating system and programs, but nothing. They put it then in a closet. From there it would turn on by itself without being plugged-in and again was displaying «666»! Finally they realized that they had to go to a good spiritual father, who indeed, after finding that an attitude of spiritual slump/indifference had begun in the family, and that from an unknown cause, it was granted by God, for the computer to become a seat of demonic power, he heard their confessions and put them in spiritual order. The demonic demonstrations then stopped. Orthodoxy is powerful, but only when we do not forget it!

The technology and especially the TV will be used by the Antichrist and his people with the aim of deceiving the world, with the secret collaboration of evil spirits. Technological devices and demonic forces will then be so closely connected, that the device will correspond to the shell (skull) and demonic power to the animal that lives in it!

The results will be so terrible that «the elect» Christians will barely escape, and probably so because they will not watch TV! According to Starets Lavrenti from Russia, almost everyone who will see the Antichrist on TV will rush to support him. The image of the beast that will deceive the people in Revelation, will not talk based (mostly) on technology, but on the magic – supernatural imposition of any (non-believer) viewer. Then, for example, even a simple drawing of the Antichrist in a prominent place, will come to «life» and suddenly the Illustrated will become three-dimensional (affecting the imagination of the non-«elect»), and will command the people to worship him and be sealed! -LMD)
«There will come once a false prophet; do not believe him and do not rejoice in him. He will leave again and not come back.»
«The time will come when the Christians will rise up against each other.»
«You must have a cross on the forehead, in order to be recognized that you are Christians.»
«The army will not reach the City (Constantinople); in the middle of the road will come the news that the desired has come».

In No 32 of B. K. Triantafyllou, Saint Kosmas said in Kolindros of Pieria the following also: «The great battle will be in the City. There, all nations will gather, and so much blood will be spilled as for a calf to swim in. Winner will be the blond race. We will be with the blond race».

(We, i.e. the Greeks, will not be military allies with the blond race, the Russians. As it is seen elsewhere and also supported by elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, we will be independent. But we will be connected emotionally as Orthodox peoples, although the leaders of the war will have turned their interest to earthly conquests and will have materialistic and predatory attitudes.

Russia will not be victorious in all phases of the war, as you can read in other prophecies. But in the end, Orthodoxy, from being persecuted until then, will prevail and will be broadcast in all countries. LMD).

In the 75th of Triantafyllou is reported that in Karia of Mount Olympus Saint Kosmas said: «The time will come when the Russian race will go down to the Jews, where there will be war, and will swim a 3 year-old calf. It will be regular army. You will not suffer anything from it. But from the rebel troops you will suffer a lot. If they pass by Vlora, joy in Macedonia (the Northern Greece). If they pass through Macedonia, woe to Macedonia. There will be great evil».

(Those who will pass by Egnatia -Macedonia- or paraEgnatia -Vlore- will be the reserves of armies of the West who will go to fight the Russians. Especially after the end of war, returning in a semi-dissolved state i.e. as «rebels», perhaps along with local gangs, they will plunder wherever they pass. So it is much better not to pass through Macedonia i.e. North Greece… LMD).

Another similar prophecy is the 103rd of the Triantafyllou collection: «Once the Egnatia road is made, the troops will go through it. The head of the troops will have arrived in Constantinople and the tail will be located in Vlora (Albania).»
«Go and on the road you will be rewarded.» (It was said at Dervistani about someone who expressed himself ironically about the Saint. This man after a while was wounded en route by an enemy of his).
«Say to those idols not to come here, but to turn back.» (As the Saint was teaching in Assos of Kephallenia, he interrupted for a moment his sermon and sent one listener to the house of the ruler of the place saying these words. This man left and found 4 ladies of aristocracy indecently dressed, who were ready to come and attend the preaching of the Saint).
«You make homes as of lathe and will not dwell on them.» (The Saint said these words in Assos of Kephallenia, where one day he was going through a newly built house. After a while all the owners died except one nun).
«This child will prosper; he will rule over Greece and will be glorified.» (It was said about Ioannis Kolettis, the later governor).
«You will become a great man, you will conquer all Arvanitia, subjugate Preveza, Parga, Souli, Delvino, Gardiki and even this neat army of Kurt Pasha. You will leave a big name into the world. And in the City you will go, but with a red beard. This is the will of Divine Providence. Remember, however, throughout the duration of your power to love and defend the Christians, if you want to keep the power on your successors.» (It was said at Tepeleni about Ali Pasha. To the City went his severed head. The beard dyed red by his blood!)
«Things will come out of schools which your mind cannot imagine.»
«You’ll see in the plain a car without horses running faster than a hare.»
«A time will come when the place will be girded with a thread.» (Telecommunication services. This was said in Assos, Kephallenia).
«Time will come when people will talk from a distant place to another, as if they were in adjoining rooms, for example from the City (Constantinople) to Russia.»

About habitation in apartments and modern mentality, the Saint said under the 79th Triantafyllou: “A time will come when people will be closed in large boxes, and their parents will die alone in small boxes”.
«You will see people flying in the sky as blackbirds and throwing fire to the world. Those who will live will run into graves and shout: get out you dead so that we, the living, get in». (The five consecutive prophecies (116th – 120th) of the Saint refer clearly to the great inventions of our century. The cars without horses are trains and motor vehicles. The thread that winds around the world is the communications cables. The blackbirds, which will throw fire upon the earth, are the planes of the Air Force. These prophecies of Saint Kosmas were written in the books many years, about a century, before the related inventions).
«The evil will come up to Cross and will not be able to go down. Do not be afraid. Do not leave your homes.» (It was said in the region of Grevena Polineri. Indeed in 1940 the Italians arrived up to the location Cross, in which the Saint had preached, and stopped).
«When the branch will fall (in which the Cross was set up), there will be a great evil, which will come from the place where the branch will show; and when the tree will fall, there will be a greater evil.» (It was said in the village «Tsiraki» (today Saint Kosmas) in Grevena. Indeed, in 1940 the branch and the Cross dropped toward Albania, hence the Italians attacked, and in 1947 the tree fell, when the area was destroyed completely by the guerrilla war).

And about moral transgressions the Saint said: «We will see and live Sodom and Gomorrah in our country», Vas. Vassilopoulou manuscript. (This is about homosexuality. Indeed, the European Parliament has recently decided to show the true face of corrupt Europe.

From news (01/27/2006) magazine «Stylos Orthodoxias»: «The European Parliament is leading the legal effort to establish the «perversion» and its protection in EU countries. Having apparently as a standard the ethical principles of Sodom and Gomorrah, it promotes resolutions supporting homosexuality. In this context, MEPs voted for a proposal of a joint resolution of the political groups, with 468 votes in favor, 149 against and 41 abstentions». With this resolution «any discrimination based on sexual orientation» is condemned, and Member – States are called upon to ensure the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from homophobic hate speech and violence»… Also, «The Member States and the Commission, must also intensify the struggle associated with measures of enlightenment against homophobia(!) in schools, universities, media, and take administrative, legislative and legal measures»…

I.e., even the children will be abused in a «progressive» way through violent imposition of sodomitic education on them. In the land of the blind someone who sees is forbidden! But the sin of Sodom – Gomorrah is punished with fire, just as it will be done in the coming 3rd World War. It is good this to be taught in schools too! Let us remember the words of elder Sophrony of Mount Athos and later of Essex, about the time for the end of the World: «When the new children, who will be born, will be distorted so that they will not be able to know the true God, then the end will come». See also «Epitomos” by LMD, in Greek.

The advanced corruption justifies the characterization of St. Kosmas «filthy nations» and «filthy crowds of Esperia places» mentioned in previous predictions, of the troops who will go to line up against the Russians. – LMD).

In Halkidiki where St. Kosmas taught, according to the testimony of elders which was passed on to us by the captain Mr. Paraskevas Kokonas, when the Saint was asked about the years of events in the City, he gave the following two points which will be preceding:

1st: “The villages will be united” and

2nd: «Kravasaras in Athos will flourish». I.e. the region of Mount Athos which is like a small cape between Dafni and the Monastery of Simon Petra. (Now the villages are combined not by dense population but administratively, first by the “Kapodistrias” plan and later by the “Kallikratis” plan. And the barren, until now, place of Kravasara, is filled not with plant crops, but with cells of Russian Monks. President Putin of Russia himself expressed interest for them, when he visited Mount Athos in 2005! So both these points have been fulfilled.

The text and details are from the book of Metropolitan Augustine Kantiotis: «Saint Kosmas Aetolos.» The explanatory notes of the writer are accompanied by the initials: LMD (Leontios Monahos Dionysiatis).

References to other manuscripts were taken from the excellent book of the Abbess of the Monastery of St. Kosmas Aetolos in Megadendro Thermo, Nun Efthymia, «The prophecies of St. Kosmas Aetolos in History,» 2004 edition. Also, prophecies have been added from the book by the theologian Mr. Triantafyllou, «SAINT KOSMAS THE AETOLOS, Life and Prophecies», Publications “Mikra Zymi” 2005, Thermo, Aetolia.

Which psalms should I memorize? ( St. Theophan the Recluse )

 

Which psalms should you memorize? Memorize the ones that strike your heart as you are reading them. Each person will find different psalms to be more effective for himself. Begin with Have mercy on me, O God (Psalm 50); then Bless the Lord, O my soul (Psalm 102); and Praise the Lord, O my Soul (Psalm 145).


These latter two are the antiphon hymns in the Liturgy. There are also the psalms in the Canon for Divine Communion: The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 22); The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof (Psalm 23); I believed, wherefore I spake (Psalm 115); and the first psalm of the evening vigil, O God, be attentive unto helping me (Psalm 69). There are the psalms of the hours, and the like. Read the Psalter and select.

 A Prayer Rule, by St. Theophan the Recluse

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/10/which-psalms-should-i-memorize.html

Η αγάπη που δεν έχει όρια ( Αγιος Παίσιος )

...Αυτός ο άνθρωπος με τόση προσευχή, με τόσα δάκρυα που έχυνε...Μια φορά πήγα, τον είδα. Ήταν πολύ κουρασμένος. Του λέω:

-Τι έχεις γέροντα;

- Τι να κάνω, ευλογημένη ψυχή; Πονάω πάρα πολύ με τους ανθρώπους που έρχονται. Και ιδίως για τα παιδιά με τα ναρκωτικά (σσ: Τότε είχε αρχίσει το κύμα των ναρκωτικών το πολύ και έρχονταν πολλά παιδιά στον γέροντα και ζητούσαν βοήθεια).

Να, χθες είχα τρεις μέρες άυπνος κι ήρθε ένα παιδάκι, το καημένο εδώ πέρα, ταλαιπωρημένο, ορφανό, εγκαταλειμμένο, δεν είχε που την κεφαλή κλίνη και μου είπε: "Γέροντα, κανέναν δεν έχω στον κόσμο. Κανένας δεν με αγάπησε και είμαι και ορφανός και έμπλεξα και με τα ναρκωτικά. Θέλω να μου πεις κάτι". Και, ενώ τα μάτια μου έκλειναν απ'την αγρυπνία, τα τραβούσα -λέει- 9 ώρες, τα κόλλησα πάνω σ'αυτό το παιδάκι να μπορέσω να το βοηθήσω να καταλάβει κι αυτό ένα ίχνος αγάπης. Ε... Έφυγε αναπαυμένο. Τώρα δεν ξέρω πόσο το βοήθησα...

Αλλά αυτό το πράγμα, αν ερχόταν σε μένα κάποιος που θα'μουν κουρασμένος, θα έλεγα "άφησέ με να ξεκουραστώ και μετά".
Ο π. Παΐσιος δεν έβαζε τον εαυτό του ποτέ μπροστά. Έβαζε πάντοτε τον άλλον. Που είναι δείγμα μεγάλης αγιότητος αυτό...


Αγιος Παίσιος

Adolescence is the most important period of life ( part 1 ) - St. Nektarios of Pentapolis

The age of adolescence is the most important and crucial time  period in man's life, because whoever someone comes to be during these years, one will subsequently continue to be throughout the remainder of life. For this reason, assiduous attention must be given to this time of life.
 
If the good or evil of adolescence was restricted only to this part of life, then the virtues or evils would have a limited impact restricted to the
individual alone. However, the virtue or evil of teenagers convey a broad and generalized quality, because this is the time of formation for the
successive generation, to whom in a short while the nation and the state will hand over the in
heritance of their forefathers and all the treasures
of the former generations. 

The upcoming generation will be entrusted with the honor and glory of the country. It will take over the administration of the nation. It will advance the arts and sciences. It will contribute to the prosperity of its citizens. It will embellish the state, the nation, and the Church. It will be the one to shape the moral character of society.
 
Consequently, if the next generation becomes virtuous, its virtue saves and preserves e
verything; if, however, it ends up being evil, its evil will destroy all things.

On account of the paramount significance of adolescence, both societies and parents have always turned their attention to and shown great concern for this age group, in order to render its teenagers into adults, fit and capable of preserving the precious heritage, which their country entrusts to them. 

 So they may by becoming virtuous people and useful citizens , increase their nation's glory and bestow honor to its name. 

St. Nektarios of Pentapolis

http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/weeklymessage.pdf

Ἅγιος Μεγαλομάρτυς Δημήτριος ὁ Μυροβλύτης (Ἐγκωμιαστικοὶ Λόγοι)

Ἅγιος Νεόφυτος ὁ ἔγκλειστος,
Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὸν ἅγιον καὶ ἔνδοξον
μεγαλομάρτυρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΝ

Νεοφύτου πρεσβυτέρου μοναχοῦ καὶ ἐγκλείστου ἐγκωμιαστικὸς λόγος στὸν ἅγιο καὶ ἔνδοξο μεγαλομάρτυρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ Δημήτριο καθὼς καὶ σχετικὰ μὲ τὸ μαρτύριο, τὰ θαύματα καὶ τὸ σεβάσμιο ναό του.

1. Ὁ ἔνδοξος Δημήτριος καὶ συμμέτοχος στὴν οὐράνια δόξα, μᾶς χάρισε σήμερα τὴν πανήγυρή του ὡς ὑπέρτατο δῶρο. Ἐμπρὸς λοιπὸν καὶ ἐμεῖς, ποὺ ἀποτελοῦμε τὸ θίασο ἐκείνων ποὺ ἀγαποῦν τὸ μάρτυρα, ἂς τὸν τιμήσουμε μὲ θεόπνευστους ὕμνους καὶ ἐγκώμια, γιὰ νὰ μᾶς ὠφελήσει ὁ φίλος καὶ μάρτυρας ὡς μεσολαβητὴς στὸ βασιλέα Χριστό. Ἂς τονίσουμε λοιπὸν καὶ τὸ θεϊκό του ζῆλο καὶ τὴν ἀγάπη του γιὰ τὸ Χριστὸ καὶ τὰ ἐνάρετα προτερήματα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ ἂς γεμίσουμε μὲ θεϊκὴ χαρὰ ὅπως ἔχει γραφεῖ, γιατὶ ἀναφέρεται ὅτι, ὅταν ἐγκωμιάζεται ὁ δίκαιος, γεμίζουν μὲ εὐφροσύνη οἱ λαοί. Μακάρι ὅμως νὰ μὴν γεμίσουμε μόνο μὲ ἀγαλλίαση, ἀλλὰ νὰ ὠφεληθοῦμε ἀπὸ τὶς ὁμιλίες καὶ τὶς τιμητικὲς ἐκδηλώσεις στὴ μνήμη τοῦ σύμφωνα μὲ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ.2. Αὐτὸς λοιπὸν ὁ μακάριος Δημήτριος, ποὺ εἶναι πράγματι πολίτης στὴν οὐράνια πόλη καὶ βασιλεία τιμήθηκε καὶ ἀπὸ τὴν ἐπίγεια θνητὴ βασιλεία. Γιατὶ μιὰ καὶ εἶχε εὐγενικὴ καταγωγὴ καὶ μεγάλη φήμη καὶ φρόντιζε ἀπὸ μικρὴ ἡλικία γιὰ τὸν ἄψογο καὶ ἔντιμο βίο, τὸν ἀγάπησαν καὶ τὸν τίμησαν πολὺ συνάμα καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ λοιπὸν ἀρχικὰ ἔλαβε τὸ ἀξίωμα τοῦ ἐκσκέπτορος καὶ ἦταν συνεργὸς καὶ συμμέτοχος στὴ σύγκλητο. Στὴ συνέχεια ἀναγορεύθηκε ἀνθύπατος τῆς Ἑλλάδας. Γιὰ τὸν ἴδιο ὅμως ὁ ἀληθινὸς πλοῦτος καὶ ἡ δόξα ἦταν αὐτή, νὰ εἶναι δηλαδὴ καὶ νὰ τὸν ἀποκαλοῦν χριστιανό, καὶ δὲν ὑπολόγιζε καθόλου τὶς τιμὲς τῶν βασιλιάδων. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ ἐπειδὴ ξεχείλιζε ἀπὸ διδασκαλία γεμάτη μὲ θεϊκὴ σοφία καὶ πνευματικὸ λόγο, ἄλλαζε τὴν πίστη πολλῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τὴν πλάνη τῶν εἰδώλων τοὺς ὁδηγοῦσε στὴν ἀληθινὴ πίστη.

3. Ἐπειδὴ λοιπὸν ὁ ἅγιος τέτοια κήρυττε στὸ λαὸ στὴν πόλη τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης καὶ ἐξαπλωνόταν ἡ φήμη του σ᾿ ὁλόκληρη τὴν περιοχὴ γύρω ἀπὸ αὐτήν, τὸν συνέλαβαν οἱ διῶκτες τῆς ἀλήθειας καὶ τὸν ὁδήγησαν στὸν τύραννο Μαξιμιανό. Ὁ ἅγιος ὅμως εἶχε λαμπερὸ τὸ πρόσωπό του μὲ τὴν παρέμβαση τῆς θείας χάρης καὶ προκάλεσε ἔκπληξη στὸν τύραννο, ὁ ὁποῖος ἐπειδὴ ντράπηκε τελικὰ δὲν τὸν τιμώρησε, ἀλλὰ τὸν κατηγόρησε ὡς ἀχάριστο γιατὶ λησμόνησε βαθιὰ τὶς βασιλικὲς τιμὲς καὶ πίστεψε στὸ σταυρωμένο Χριστό. Ἐκφράζοντας λοιπὸν αὐτὰ τὰ λόγια καὶ κάποιες ἄλλες κολακευτικὲς μωρολογίες προσπαθοῦσε νὰ παρασύρει τὸν ἅγιο ἀπὸ τὴν πίστη του. Αὐτὸς ὅμως ἀντιστεκόταν σὰν ἀκλόνητος στύλος καὶ σὰν βράχος στὴν ἀκτὴ ἀπέναντι στὰ χτυπήματα τῶν κυμάτων. ‘Ὅταν τὸν ρώτησε καὶ πάλι ὁ βασιλιὰς ἂν ἐπιμένει νὰ πιστεύει στὸ σταυρωμένο Χριστό, ὁ ἅγιος του ἀπάντησε: «Μακάρι νὰ μποροῦσα, βασιλιά, ὄχι μόνο τὸν ἑαυτό μου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅλο τὸν κόσμο νὰ τὸν πείσω νὰ πιστεύει στὸν Ἐσταυρωμένο καὶ νὰ τοὺς ἀπαλλάξω ἀπὸ αὐτὴ τὴ μεγαλομανία καὶ τὴν πλάνη τῶν εἰδώλων. Καὶ ἐγὼ βέβαια εἶμαι ἕτοιμος στὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου νὰ ὑποστῶ ὄχι μόνον ἕναν θάνατο, ἀλλὰ πολλούς, ἂν βέβαια αὐτὸ τὸ ἐπιτρέπει ἡ φύση μου».

4. Ὁ βασιλιὰς λοιπόν, ὅταν εἶδε τὴ μεγάλη τόλμη τοῦ ἄνδρα καὶ κατάλαβε τὴν ἀκλόνητη ἀπόφασή του, ἔγινε θηρίο ἀπὸ θυμὸ γιὰ νὰ βασανίσει τὸν ἅγιο. Συγκράτησε ὡστόσο τὸ θυμό του γιὰ τὸ τέλος, γιατὶ ἤθελε νὰ ἀσχοληθεῖ μὲ τὸ θέατρο καὶ τὸ στάδιο. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ λοιπὸν ἔφτασε σ᾿ αὐτὸ τὸ μέρος μὲ ἅμαξα. Διέταξε νὰ φρουρήσουν τὸ μάρτυρα σὲ μιὰ κάμαρα λουτροκαμίνου, ποὺ δὲν τὴν εἶχαν ἀκόμη ἀνάψει, ὥσπου νὰ βρεῖ εὐκαιρία ἀπὸ τὰ μάταια θεάματα καὶ στὴ συνέχεια νὰ ὁδηγήσει τὸν ἅγιο σὲ ἐξέταση.

5. Τὸ θέατρο τῆς πόλης, ποὺ τὸ ἔλεγαν καὶ στάδιο, ἦταν κλεισμένο γύρω – γύρω μὲ σανίδες καὶ ὁρισμένα μάγγανα, ὅπου ὅσοι ἔμπαιναν, παρακολουθοῦσαν σὰν σὲ θέατρο, καὶ σκότωναν σὲ μονομαχία γιὰ νὰ εὐχαριστήσουν τὸν αἱμοχαρῆ βασιλιὰ μὲ τὸ νὰ χύνουν συχνὰ ἀνθρώπινο αἷμα.

6. Ὁ βασιλιὰς εἶχε ἀποκτήσει κάποιον μονομάχο, ποὺ τὸν ἔλεγαν Λυαῖο, πολὺ δυνατὸ καὶ μεγαλόσωμο, ποὺ καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὸ ἔθνος τῶν Βανδάλων καὶ ὁ ὁποῖος στὴ Ρώμη, στὸ Σέρμιο καὶ στὴ Θεσσαλονίκη, ἀλλὰ καὶ σὲ πολλοὺς ἄλλους τόπους σκότωσε πολλοὺς ἀνθρώπους σὲ μονομαχία, καὶ ὁ βασιλιὰς θεωροῦσε θαυματουργὴ τὴν πολὺ μεγάλη του δύναμη καὶ τὴν ἱκανότητά του στὸ φόνο καὶ κόμπαζε.

7. Ὅταν αὐτὸς στάθηκε στὸ στάδιο, ποὺ ἀναφέραμε, καὶ ὁ βασιλιὰς καλοῦσε τὸν κόσμο μὲ τοὺς κήρυκες ὑποσχόμενος χρήματα σ᾿ ὅποιον ἐπιθυμοῦσε ἀπὸ τοὺς πολίτες νὰ μονομαχήσει μὲ τὸ Λυαῖο, κανεὶς δὲν εἶχε τὴν τόλμη νὰ μονομαχήσει μὲ αὐτόν, γιατὶ ὅλοι ἔτρεμαν ἀπὸ φόβο καὶ μόνο ἀπὸ τὴν ὄψη καὶ τὸ θράσος τοῦ Λυαίου.

8. Τότε λοιπὸν ἕνας νεαρὸς παρακινήθηκε ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ του κακοποιοῦ, ποὺ τὸν ἔλεγαν Νέστορα, ποὺ ἦταν ὡραῖος στὸ σῶμα καὶ τὴν ψυχή, καὶ γνωστὸς τοῦ ἁγίου Δημητρίου, τρέχει σ᾿ αὐτόν, στὸν τόπο ποὺ τὸν φρουροῦσαν, ἔπεσε στὰ πόδια του καὶ τὸν παρακαλοῦσε λέγοντας «Νὰ προσευχηθεῖς γιὰ μένα, δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ νὰ ἐπικαλεστεῖς τὸ Χριστό. Γιατὶ θέλω νὰ μονομαχήσω πρόθυμα μὲ αὐτόν». Τότε ὁ ἅγιος σταύρωσε τὸ μέτωπο καὶ τὴν καρδιὰ τοῦ Νέστορος καὶ λέγει στὸν ἴδιο. «Πήγαινε, παιδί μου, καὶ τὸ Λυαῖο θὰ νικήσεις καὶ θὰ μαρτυρήσεις γιὰ χάρη τοῦ Χριστοῦ».

9. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξοπλίστηκε μὲ τὴν εὐχὴ τοῦ ἁγίου Δημητρίου σὰν νὰ φόρεσε θεῖο θώρακα, ἔρχεται τρεχάτος στὸ στάδιο, ἔβγαλε καὶ πέταξε κάτω τὸ χιτώνα του καὶ πηδώντας ἀπὸ τὶς βαθμίδες στάθηκε μπροστὰ στὸ βασιλιά. Αὐτὸς ἔμεινε ἔκπληκτος ἀπὸ τὴν τόλμη τοῦ νεαροῦ καὶ τοῦ λέγει: «Νεαρέ μου, ἀπ᾿ ὅ,τι φαίνεται ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν χρημάτων σὲ ὁδήγησε σ᾿ αὐτὸ τὸ τόλμημα. Ἐγὼ βέβαια, ἐπειδὴ λυπᾶμαι καὶ τὴν ὀμορφιά σου καὶ τὸν ἀνθὸ τῆς νιότης σου, σοῦ δίνω τὰ χρήματα καὶ παραδέχομαι τὴ γενναιότητά σου καὶ φύγε κερδίζοντας καὶ τὴ ζωή σου καὶ τὰ χρήματα. Μὴν ἀντισταθεῖς ὅμως στὸ Λυαῖο, γιατὶ πολλοὺς ἔστειλε στὸ θάνατο, πιὸ δυνατοὺς ἀπὸ σένα».

10. Ὅταν λοιπὸν τὰ ἄκουσε αὐτὰ ὁ Νέστωρ, οὔτε τὸ Λυαῖο φοβήθηκε γιὰ τοὺς ἐπαίνους, οὔτε ὑποχώρησε στὴ γενναιοδωρία τοῦ βασιλιά, ἀλλὰ τοῦ εἶπε: «βασιλιά μου, δὲν ἔχω ἔρθει σ᾿ αὐτὴ τὴ μονομαχία γιατὶ ἐπιθυμῶ χρήματα, ἀλλὰ γιὰ ν᾿ ἀποδείξω σήμερα μπροστά σου πιὸ ἰσχυρὸ τὸν ἑαυτό μου ἀπὸ τὸ Λυαῖο». Τότε λοιπὸν ὁ βασιλιὰς καὶ οἱ σύνεδροί του γεμάτοι θυμὸ κατάλαβαν τὴν ἀλαζονεία τοῦ Νέστορος καὶ ἐνθάρρυναν ὑπερβολικὰ τὸ Λυαῖο γιὰ τὴν ἐξόντωσή του.

11. Καὶ ὁ νεανίας τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνισχύθηκε μὲ τὸ σημεῖο τοῦ σταυροῦ, πῆρε στὰ χέρια του τὸν ἀκινάκη, σήκωσε τὰ μάτια στὸν οὐρανό, προσευχήθηκε καὶ εἶπε «ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ δούλου σου Δημητρίου καὶ ὁ ἀγαπημένος γιὸς σου Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ποὺ νίκησες τὸν ἐχθρὸ Γολιὰθ μὲ τὸν ἐκλεκτό σου Δαβίδ, ἐσὺ Κύριε νίκησε καὶ τούτη τὴ στιγμὴ τὴ δύναμη τοῦ Λυαίου». Ἔτσι λοιπὸν προσευχήθηκε καὶ πήδησε μέσα ἀπὸ τὰ μάγγανα καί, ὅταν ἔγινε ἡ συμπλοκή, ὁ Λυαῖος δέχτηκε καίριο χτύπημα στὴν καρδιὰ ἀπὸ τὸ Νέστορα καὶ πέθανε ἀμέσως καὶ ἔφερε τὴν πιὸ μεγάλη στενοχώρια στὰ βασιλιά. Καὶ ὁ Νέστωρ δόξαζε τὸ Θεό, γιατὶ ὁ βάρβαρος σκοτώθηκε μὲ τὶς προσευχὲς τοῦ ἁγίου Δημητρίου.

12. Ὁ Μαξιμιανὸς ὅμως τινάχτηκε μὲ θυμὸ ἀπὸ τὴν καθέδρα, καὶ συμπεριφερόταν στυγνὰ στοὺς αὐλικούς του λέγοντας «μὰ τοὺς θεούς, ἂν δὲν ἔγινε κάποια μαγεία, ἕνας μικρόσωμος νεαρὸς δὲν θὰ σκότωνε τὸ Λυαῖο, ποὺ ἔχει κάνει τόσα καὶ τέτοια κατορθώματα».

13. Τότε ὁ τύραννος κάλεσε τὸ Νέστορα καὶ τὸν ρώτησε λέγοντάς του «ἀπάντησέ μας, νεαρέ μου, μὲ ποιὰ μαγικὰ τεχνάσματα καὶ ποιοὺς συνεργάτες εἶχες καὶ σκότωσες τὸ Λυαῖο;». Ὁ Νέστωρ λοιπὸν πῆρε τὸ λόγο καὶ εἶπε «οὔτε μὲ μαγεία, οὔτε μὲ μαγγανεία, ὅπως εἶπες, βασιλιά, σκοτώθηκε ὁ Λυαῖος, ἀλλὰ ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Δημητρίου, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν χριστιανῶν, ἔστειλε τὸν ἄγγελό του καὶ σκότωσε τὸ Λυαῖο μὲ τὸ χέρι μου, γιατὶ ἦταν μιαρὸς καὶ ἐγωιστής». Τότε λοιπὸν ὁ θεομάχος γέμισε μὲ θυμὸ καὶ ὀργὴ καὶ διέταξε νὰ ὁδηγήσουν τὸ Νέστορα στὸ δυτικὸ μέρος τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης, στὴ λεγάμενη Χρυσὴ πύλη, καὶ νὰ τὸν σκοτώσουν, γιατὶ ἦταν χριστιανός, καὶ ἔτσι λοιπὸν ὁ ἅγιος αὐτὸς νεανίας στεφανώθηκε μὲ τὸ στεφάνι τοῦ μαρτυρίου, στὶς εἰκοσιπέντε τοῦ Ὀκτωβρίου.

14. Αὐτὸς ὁ ἱερὸς μεγαλομάρτυρας τοῦ Χριστοῦ Δημήτριος βλέπει στὴν καμάρα ποὺ τὸν φρουροῦσαν νὰ βγαίνει ἀπὸ τὴ γῆ ἕνας πελώριος σκορπιὸς ἕτοιμος νὰ τὸν πλήξει μὲ τὸ κεντρί του, μνημονεύει ἐκεῖνον ποὺ ἔδωσε ἐξουσία νὰ πατοῦμε πάνω σε φίδια καὶ σκορπιούς, ἔφτυσε τὸ σκορπιό, τὸν σφράγισε μὲ τὸ σημεῖο τοῦ σταυροῦ καὶ τὸν ἐπέδειξε ἀμέσως νεκρό. Ἀμέσως τότε ἄγγελος Κυρίου πῆρε ἕνα θεϊκὸ στεφάνι καὶ στεφάνωσε τὴν κάρα τοῦ μάρτυρα, ἡ στέψη δὲν ἔγινε ἴσως γιὰ τὴ νέκρωση τοῦ σκορπιοῦ, ἀλλὰ γιὰ τὴ σφαγὴ τοῦ ἁγίου στὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ποὺ θὰ γινόταν μετὰ ἀπὸ λίγο. Γι’ αὐτὸ καὶ τοῦ ἔλεγε ὁ ἄγγελος «Εἰρήνη σὲ σένα, ἀθλητὴ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, νὰ ἔχεις θάρρος καὶ νὰ φανεῖς γενναῖος ἄντρας».

15. Τότε λοιπὸν ὁρισμένοι ἄρχοντες συκοφάντες κατηγοροῦν τὸ Δημήτριο στὸ βασιλιὰ ὡς αἴτιο τῆς σφαγῆς τοῦ Λυαίου. Ὅταν τὸ ἄκουσε ὁ ἴδιος, ἔλεγε πὼς δὲν ἦταν καλὸς οἰωνὸς ἡ συνάντησή του μὲ τὸν ἅγιο στὰ στάδιο. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ βράζοντας ἀπὸ τὸ θυμό του ἐναντίον τοῦ μάρτυρα, διατάζει νὰ τὸν σκοτώσουν μὲ λόγχη, ἐκεῖ μέσα στὶς καμάρες, ὅπου τὸν φρουροῦσαν, πράγμα ποὺ ἔκαναν ἀμέσως μὲ πολλὴ γρηγοράδα οἱ δήμιοι χωρὶς λύπηση στὶς εἰκοσιέξι Ὀκτωβρίου.

16. Καὶ τὸ μαρτύριο τοῦ ἀθλητῆ ἦταν σύντομο καὶ χαλαρό, ὁ ἴδιος ὅμως ἐπιθυμοῦσε νὰ ὑποστεῖ τὸ μαρτύριο ὄχι μόνο σὲ σύντομο χρονικὸ διάστημα, ἀλλὰ γιὰ πολλὲς ἡμέρες καὶ μὲ περίπλοκα βάσανα γιὰ τὴν ἀγάπη του στὸ Χριστό. Γι᾿ αὐτὸ καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης Θεός, ἐπειδὴ δέχτηκε τὴ στιγμιαία σφαγὴ ὡς πολύχρονο μαρτύριο καὶ τὴ συντομία της ὡς διαρκέστερο μαρτύριο, τὸν στεφάνωσε γιὰ τὴν πρόθεσή του καὶ τὸν ἐφοδίασε μὲ πολλὲς θαυματουργικὲς ἱκανότητες καὶ ἰαματικὰ χαρίσματα, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα ἡ ἴδια ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ ἁγίου λειψάνου νὰ ἀναδίδει συνέχεια τὸ μύρο, σὰν πηγὴ τοῦ ζῶντος ὕδατος, ὥστε πιὸ εὔκολα νὰ λιγοστεύει τὸ νερὸ τῆς πηγῆς, παρὰ νὰ λιγοστέψει ποτὲ ἐκείνη ἡ πηγὴ τοῦ μύρου. Μὲ αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπο λοιπὸν ὁ γενναιόδωρος Θεὸς γνωρίζει νὰ ἀνταποδίδει τὴ δόξα σ᾿ ὅσους τὸν δοξάζουν.

17. Καὶ ὁ Λοῦπος, ὁ ὑπηρέτης τοῦ μάρτυρα βλέποντας τὴ σφαγὴ τοῦ ἀφέντη του ἀποκομίζει σημαντικὸ κέρδος. Ἀφοῦ πῆρε λοιπὸν τὸ ὀράριο τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ τὸ βασιλικὸ δαχτυλίδι ἀπὸ τὸ χέρι του καὶ τὰ ἔβαψε μέσα στὸ αἷμα τοῦ ἁγίου, ἐπιτελοῦσε μὲ αὐτὰ θεραπεῖες κάθε νοσήματος καὶ ἀπομάκρυνε τὰ πονηρὰ πνεύματα. Ἐπειδὴ ἡ φήμη τῶν θαυμάτων ἐξαπλώθηκε σ᾿ ὁλόκληρη τὴν περιοχὴ γύρω ἀπὸ τὴ Θεσσαλονίκη, ἔφτασε μέχρι καὶ στὸ βασιλιά, ὁ ὁποῖος παθιασμένος ἀπὸ τὸ θυμὸ διέταξε νὰ σκοτώσουν καὶ τὸ Λοῦπο, τὸν ὁποῖο σκότωσαν στὸ λεγόμενο δημαρχεῖο τῆς πόλης τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης.

18. Τὸ καλλίνικο καὶ πανάγιο λείψανο τοῦ ἁγίου Δημητρίου βρισκόταν περιφρονημένο ἀπὸ φόβο στὸ βασιλιὰ καὶ τοὺς διῶχτες. Τὴ νύχτα ὅμως, τὸ ἔκλεψαν ὁρισμένοι πιστοὶ ἄνθρωποι καὶ τὸ ἔκρυψαν στὸ χῶμα, ὅσο μποροῦσαν. Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ κρυφτεῖ μιὰ πόλη, ποὺ βρίσκεται στὴν κορφὴ τοῦ βουνοῦ, οὔτε αὐτὸ τὸ ἄφησε νὰ κρυφτεῖ ἡ πηγὴ τῶν θαυμάτων, ἀλλὰ ἔγινε ξακουστὸς σ᾿ ὁλόκληρη τὴ Μακεδονία καὶ τὴ Θεσσαλία ὁ ἅγιος μὲ τὰ θαύματά του δηλαδή, μὲ τὰ ὁποῖα νικήθηκαν οἱ αὐθάδειες τῆς μανίας τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ λαμπρύνονταν τὰ δόγματα τῆς ἄμεμπτης πίστης τῶν χριστιανῶν.

19. Τότε λοιπὸν ἕνα εὐσεβὴς καὶ ἔνδοξος ἄντρας, ποὺ τὸν ἔλεγαν Λεόντιο, καὶ ἔγινε ὕπαρχος τοῦ Ἰλλυρικοῦ, πήγαινε στὴ χώρα τῶν Θρακῶν καὶ ἀρρώστησε ἀπὸ ἀνίατη ἀσθένεια· τὸν ὁδήγησαν οἱ δικοί του στὴν πόλη τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης μ᾿ ἕνα φορεῖο καὶ τὸν ξάπλωσαν πάνω στὸ ἰαματικὸ μνῆμα τοῦ μάρτυρα καὶ ἀμέσως ἔγινε ἐντελῶς καλά, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα καὶ ὁ ἴδιος ὁ ὕπαρχος καὶ ὅλοι οἱ γύρω του νὰ θαυμάζουν τὴν ταχύτατη βοήθεια τοῦ μάρτυρα, νὰ δοξάζουν τὸ Θεὸ καὶ νὰ ἐγκωμιάζουν τὸ μάρτυρά του Δημήτριο.

20. Αὐτὸς λοιπὸν κατέστρεψε τὶς καμάρες τῶν καμινιῶν καὶ τὰ κτίσματα τῶν θερμῶν λουτρῶν καὶ καθάρισε ἐντελῶς τὸν τόπο ἀπὸ ὅλα τα ξύλα καὶ τὰ σκουπίδια, ἀνήγειρε πανέμορφο καὶ πάνσεπτο ναὸ πρὸς τιμὴν τοῦ μάρτυρα ἀνάμεσα στὸ δημόσιο λουτρὸ καὶ στὸ στάδιο, ποὺ ἀναφέραμε προηγουμένως, τὸν ὁποῖο κόσμησε μὲ δαπάνη πολλῶν χρημάτων καὶ τὸν ἔκανε πολὺ λαμπρό. Αὐτὸς μέχρι καὶ σήμερα καμαρώνει σὰν ἐπίγειος οὐρανός, γιατὶ τὸν ἔχει κάνει ἔνδοξο ἡ πηγὴ τῶν θαυμάτων, αὐτὸς φέρει πάντα τὴ θεοβρυτη λάρνακα τοῦ μύρου ὡς ἀνεξάντλητη πηγή, αὐτὸς ὑπάρχει παυσίπονο φάρμακο, ποὺ θεραπεύει τὰ διάφορα νοσήματα, αὐτὸς ἔχοντας ὡς ἀσυναγώνιστο οἰκοδεσπότη τὸν ξακουστὸ Δημήτριο δὲν θὰ φοβηθεῖ τὶς ἐπιδρομὲς τῶν βαρβάρων ἐχθρῶν, αὐτὸς πολλὲς φορὲς εἶναι ἡ λύτρωση τῶν αἰχμαλώτων, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα πολλὲς φορὲς νὰ βρίσκονται αἰχμάλωτοι σ᾿ ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἱερὸ ναὸ μαζὶ μὲ τὶς ἁλυσίδες τους καὶ ἀπὸ τὴ Συρία καὶ ἀπὸ ἄλλες βαρβαρικὲς χῶρες καὶ νὰ λένε ὅτι τοὺς ἁρπάζει ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος καὶ τοὺς διασώζει φέρνοντάς τους μετέωρους μέχρι τὸ ναό του.

21. Καὶ ὄχι μόνο αὐτῶν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν πιστῶν βασιλιάδων εἶναι σύμμαχος αὐτὸς ὁ ἱερὸς ὁπλίτης, στὸν ὁποῖο καὶ ἐγὼ γεμάτος χαρὰ θὰ ἀπευθύνω λίγους χαιρετισμοὺς καὶ θὰ τελειώσω τὸ λόγο μου.

22. Χαῖρε, ἀσυναγώνιστε στρατιώτη τοῦ Χριστοῦ τρισευτυχισμένε Δημήτριε, γιατὶ σύμφωνα μὲ τὸν Παῦλο, ἀγωνίστηκες τὸν ὡραῖο ἀγώνα, ἔχεις τρέξει τὸ δρόμο μέχρι τὸ τέρμα, ἔχεις διαφυλάξει τὴν πίστη καὶ στεφανώθηκες ἐπάξια ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ μὲ τὸ στέφανο τῆς δικαιοσύνης.

Χαῖρε μάρτυρα Δημήτριε, γιατὶ ἂν καὶ ἔχεις δεχτεῖ καὶ σὺ στὸ σῶμα σου τὶς πληγὲς ποὺ δέχτηκε ὁ Χριστός, ἀνέβηκες στὸν ἴδιον μὲ χαρὰ καὶ ἀγαλλίαση.

Χαῖρε, μάρτυρα Δημήτριε, γιατὶ ἔγινες πράγματι μιμητὴς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἐκεῖνος βέβαια γιὰ χάρη ὅλων μας δέχτηκε τὴ λόγχη ἀπὸ τὸν ἀσεβῆ στρατιώτη στὴν ἀμόλυντη πλευρά του καὶ σὺ ὡς εὐσεβὴς στρατιώτης του γιὰ χάρη τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ δέχτηκες τὴ λόγχη στὴ φυλακὴ ἀπὸ ἀσεβεῖς στρατιῶτες.

Χαῖρε, μάρτυρα Δημήτριε, γιατὶ ἔχεις πλουτίσει μὲ τὴν ἀγγελικὴ χάρη καὶ ἀποδεικνύεσαι ἐπίγειος ἄγγελος καὶ οὐράνιος ἄνθρωπος γεμάτος δόξα.

Χαῖρε, μάρτυρα Δημήτριε, γιατὶ εἶσαι μυημένος στὴ χάρη καὶ ἐλευθερωτὴς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων καὶ πολὺ γρήγορος γιατρὸς τῶν διάφορων ἀσθενειῶν.

Χαῖρε, μάρτυρα Δημήτριε, μαζὶ μὲ τὸ Γεώργιο καὶ τὸ Θεόδωρο, τοὺς συναθλητὲς καὶ συμμέτοχούς σου, τὸ τρισευτυχισμένο ὅπλο τῶν εὐσεβῶν βασιλιάδων μας, τὸ ξίφος τους μὲ τὶς τρεῖς αἰχμὲς ἐναντίον τῶν ἄθεων βαρβάρων, τὸ τριπλὸ τεῖχος τῆς βασιλικῆς αὐλῆς, τὸ τρίσπαθο κάρφωμα στὴν καρδιὰ τῶν σκληρῶν ἐχθρῶν, τὸ τριστόλιστο στέμμα τῶν βασιλιάδων μας, τὸ τριπλὸ φῶς τῆς ὁδοιπορίας τοὺς μέρα καὶ νύχτα, τὸ τριπλὸ ὅπλο τοῦ ἐκφοβισμοῦ τους καὶ τὸ πολὺ ἀγαπητὸ καὶ ἰσάριθμό της Τριάδος.

Χαῖρε, γιατὶ ἔχεις ἀξιωθεῖ τὴν ἀκατάπαυτη χαρὰ καὶ εἶσαι συνοδὸς τῶν πιστῶν βασιλιάδων. Καὶ ἐγὼ τὸ γνωρίζω ὅτι νικιέται ἡ παράταξή μας σὲ περίοδο πολέμου. Ἀλλὰ δὲν ρίχνουμε τὴν εὐθύνη γιὰ τὴν ἥττα στὴν ἀδράνεια αὐτῶν τῶν στρατηγῶν, ἀλλὰ οἱ καρποὶ τῶν κακῶν πράξεων κάνουν πιὸ ἰσχυρούς τους ἐχθρούς μας ἐναντίον μας. Πῶς λοιπόν, ἀναφέρει ὁ προφήτης, ἕνας θὰ καταδιώξει χίλιους καὶ δύο θὰ μετακινήσουν μυριάδες καὶ τὰ ἀκόλουθα.

23. Καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ἐκεῖνος ἄνθρωπος, ὁ Λεόντιος, ὅταν ὁλοκλήρωσε τὸν πανσεβάσμιο ναὸ τοῦ μάρτυρα καὶ ἐπρόκειτο νὰ φύγει στὸ Ἰλλυρικό, σκεπτόταν νὰ πάρει μαζί του κάποιο λείψανο, γιὰ νὰ ἀνεγείρει καὶ ἐκεῖ ναὸ στὸ ὄνομα τοῦ ἁγίου. Ὁ ἅγιος ὅμως τὴ νύχτα παρουσιάστηκε σ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ τοῦ ἔκοψε τὴν ὁρμή. Τότε λοιπὸν ὁ ἄνθρωπος πῆρε τὴ χλαμύδα τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ἕνα μέρος ἀπὸ τὸ ὀράριο, ποὺ ἦταν βαμμένα κατακόκκινα στὸ αἷμα τοῦ ἁγίου, κατασκεύασε ἀργυρὴ λειψανοθήκη, τὰ ἀπέθεσε μέσα σ᾿ αὐτὴν καὶ συνέχισε τὸ δρόμο του.

24. Ὅταν ἔφτασε σ᾿ ἕναν ποταμό, ποὺ τὸν λένε Δούναβι, ἐπειδὴ δὲν μποροῦσε νὰ περάσει ἀπὸ τὸ θυελλώδη καιρὸ καὶ τὸ φούσκωμα τοῦ ὁρμητικοῦ ρεύματος, καθόταν καὶ περίμενε νὰ λιγοστέψει ὁ ποταμός, αὐτὸς ὅμως πιὸ πολὺ φούσκωνε, ἀντὶ νὰ λιγοστεύει. Καὶ ὁ ἅγιος Δημήτριος παρουσιάστηκε νύχτα σ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ τοῦ εἶπε: «Διῶξε ἀπὸ μέσα σου κάθε δειλία καὶ ἀπιστία, ἀνέβα πάνω στὸ πλοιάριό σου, πάρε στὰ χέρια σου τὴ σορὸ ποὺ φέρνεις μαζί σου καὶ πέρνα ἄφοβα τὸν ποταμὸ μαζὶ μὲ τὴ συνοδεία σου». Καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἔκανε αὐτὸ τὸ πράγμα, πέρασε ἀβλαβὴς τὸν ποταμὸ καὶ ἔτσι διασώθηκε καὶ ἀπέθεσε τὴν ἁγία λειψανοθήκη μὲ τὰ ἁγιάσματά της, ἐκεῖ ὅπου ἔχτισε καὶ ἄλλον ναὸ πρὸς τιμὴν τοῦ μάρτυρα ἁγίου Δημητρίου, δίπλα στὸ σεβάσμιο ναὸ τῆς καλλίνικου μάρτυρας Ἀναστασίας, ἀπ᾿ ὅπου ξεχύθηκαν πολλοὶ ποταμοὶ θαυμάτων. Ἀπὸ αὐτούς, Χριστὲ βασιλιά μου, ἀφοῦ μᾶς ποτίσεις, ὡς ποταμὸς τῆς εἰρήνης, γέμισέ μας, φώτισε, καθάρισε, θεράπευσε τὶς ψυχές μας μαζὶ καὶ τὰ σώματά μας μὲ τὶς προσευχὲς τοῦ ὑπηρέτη Σου καὶ μάρτυρα Δημητρίου καὶ τῆς ἄχραντης Θεοτόκου, γιὰ νὰ δοξαστεῖ καὶ ἀπὸ ἐδῶ τὸ πανάγιο ὄνομά Σου, γιατὶ Σοῦ πρέπει κάθε δόξα, τιμὴ καὶ προσκύνηση, μαζὶ μὲ τὸν Πατέρα Σου καὶ τὸ ἅγιό Σου πνεῦμα πάντοτε, καὶ τώρα καὶ γιὰ πάντα καὶ στοὺς αἰῶνες Ἀμήν.
Συμεών μοναχὸς καὶ φιλόσοφος,
Ἐγκωμιαστικὸς λόγος εἰς τὸν ἅγιον καὶ πανένδοξον μεγαλομάρτυρα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΝ

1. Φίλοι τοῦ μάρτυρα, σήμερα μᾶς συγκέντρωσε ὁ σπουδαῖος ἀνάμεσα στοὺς ἀγωνιστὲς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Δημήτριος, ὁ ἀληθινὸς πολιοῦχος καὶ θερμοτατος προστάτης μας, προσφέροντάς μας τοὺς ἄθλους του σὲ πνευματικὸ συμπόσιο.

Ὅτι ἦταν λοιπὸν ξεχωριστὸς ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ὑπερεῖχε ἀπ᾿ ὅλους τοὺς ἄλλους σὲ δύο πράγματα, στὴ γενιὰ καὶ τὴν εὐημερία τῆς φύσης, καθὼς καὶ στὴ σύνεση τῶν θείων καὶ τὴ δόξα τῶν ἀνθρώπινων εἶναι φανερὸ ἀπὸ πολλά, ποὺ τὸ δείχνουν καθαρά, ὅλα ὅσα σχετίζονται μ᾿ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἦταν ὅμως καὶ στοὺς ἄθλους ἀσυναγώνιστος, τὸ ἐπιβεβαιώνουν αὐτὰ ποὺ βλέπουμε.

Ποιὰ τιμὴ λοιπὸν τόσο μεγάλη καὶ ὑπέροχη, καὶ χοροστάσια μὲ τὴ συμμετοχὴ ὅλου του λαοῦ καὶ ἄσματα γεμάτα χάρη, τοῦ ἔχουν ἀποδώσει ἀκόμη καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι οἱ βασιλιάδες περισσότερο ἀπὸ κάθε ἄλλον;

Καὶ ἂν αὐτὰ ποὺ τελοῦμε ἐδῶ γιὰ τὰ μαρτύρια καὶ τοὺς ἄθλους του, ποὺ ἔκανε γιὰ χάρη τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὸν ἀποδεικνύουν τόσο σπουδαῖο καὶ λαμπρό, πόσο σπουδαῖο θὰ τὸν ἀναδείξει ἡ εὐτυχία του στοὺς οὐρανούς;

Ἐπειδὴ λοιπὸν εἶναι νικητὴς σὲ κάθε λόγο, δὲν εἶναι καθόλου ἄξιο ἀπορίας ἂν θὰ κατανικήσει καὶ τοὺς δικούς μας ἐπαίνους. Ἀπὸ ἐδῶ λοιπὸν θὰ ἀποδειχτεῖ πολὺ περισσότερο ἄξιος θαυμασμοῦ, γιατὶ ὑστεροῦν ὅλοι λόγω τῆς ἀνωτερότητας τῆς δόξας του καὶ θὰ δοξαστεῖ περισσότερο, γιατὶ μειονεκτοῦν ὅλοι μετὰ ἀπὸ αὐτόν.

2. Θὰ ἀδιαφορήσουμε λοιπὸν γιὰ ἕνα τόσο σπουδαῖο θέμα ἂν καὶ ἔχουμε ἀνταποκριθεῖ πιὸ ἀργὰ ἀπὸ τὸν κατάλληλο χρόνο καὶ γιὰ νὰ μὴ φανοῦμε κατώτεροι ἀπὸ τοὺς προηγούμενους ὁμιλητές του μάρτυρα; Τόσο πολὺ θὰ διστάσουμε, ὥστε νὰ νομίζουμε ὅτι μὲ τὸ νὰ μὴν τὸν ἐγκωμιάζουμε τιμοῦμε περισσότερό τους ἑαυτούς μας καὶ καθαγιάζουμε τὴ γλώσσα; Σὲ καμιὰ περίπτωση. Καὶ αὐτὸ λοιπὸν τὸ ὅτι δὲν ἐπαρκοῦν οἱ λόγοι γιὰ τὴν ἀξία ἐκείνου καὶ ὑποχωροῦν μπροστὰ στὸ μεγαλεῖο του ἀποτελεῖ μεγάλη φιλοδοξία γιὰ ὅσους τὸν ἐπαινοῦν. Τόσο μεγάλη δόξα εἶναι ὁ ἔπαινος τοῦ μάρτυρα.

3. Μιὰ καὶ ἔχω τονίσει ἀπὸ τὸ ἴδιο τὸ προοίμιο τοῦ λόγου ὅτι αὐτὸς ἦταν ἐξαιρετικὸς σὲ ὅλα καὶ πανένδοξος καὶ στὰ δύο, ἀπὸ ποῦ νὰ ἐπιχειρήσω νὰ πλέξω τὸ ὑφάδι τῶν ἐγκωμίων; Ἀπὸ ὅπου λοιπὸν καὶ νὰ θελήσουμε, θὰ βροῦμε εὔκολα πολλὰ καὶ σπουδαία καὶ δὲν θὰ παραχωρήσουμε γενικὰ (ἐνν. τὸ ὑφάδι τῶν ἐγκωμίων) σὲ κανέναν ἀπὸ αὐτοὺς ποὺ ἔχουν τὴν ἐξουσία καὶ τὰ πρωτεῖα, μέχρι ποὺ κανεὶς λόγος δὲν θὰ μὲ πείθει ὅτι δὲν καμαρώνουν οἱ μάρτυρες μὲ τοὺς ἐπαινετικοὺς λόγους, ποὺ ἀφιερώνονται σ᾿ αὐτούς, σὰν νὰ εἶναι δικοί τους.

Νὰ μιλήσει λοιπὸν κανεὶς γιὰ τὴ γενιά του, ποιὰ ἦταν, καὶ γιὰ τὴν οἰκογενειαά του καὶ γιὰ τὴν πατρίδα του καὶ γιὰ τὴ στρατιωτική του δύναμη καὶ τὴν ἐπαγγελματική του σταδιοδρομία καὶ τὴν εὐτυχία καὶ τὸν κλῆρο, τὰ ὁποῖα κέρδισε μὲ ἀφθονία χάρη στὴν εὐσέβεια καὶ στὶς δύο ζωές του, θὰ τραβοῦσε πολὺ μακριά, εἶναι κοπιαστικό, καὶ ἀποτελεῖ ἔργο τῆς ἱστορίας καὶ ὄχι τοῦ ἐγκωμίου. Μὲ τὴν ἐξαίρεση ὅμως νὰ ποῦμε ὅσα θὰ ἔπρεπε, εἶχε εὐγενικὴ καταγωγὴ σὰν ἕνας ἄλλος Ἰώβ, δὲν ἦταν βέβαια βασιλιάς, ὅπως ἐκεῖνος, τῆς Ἀνατολῆς ἢ τῆς Δύσης, γιὰ νὰ μιλήσουμε πιὸ οἰκεία, ἀλλὰ ἦταν ἀνθύπατος τῶν δικῶν μᾶς βασιλιάδων καὶ τῆς συγκλήτου.

4. Πατρίδα του ἦταν ἡ Θεσσαλονίκη, ὁ ἔνδοξος τόπος μας χάρη σ᾿ αὐτὸν τὸν ἴδιο, περισσότερο φημισμένη ἀπὸ τὶς ὑπόλοιπες πόλεις, καὶ ὑπερέχει ἀπὸ ὅλες σὲ ὅλα, γιὰ ὅσα ἐγκωμιάζεται μιὰ πόλη, πολὺ περισσότερο ὅμως γιατὶ ἔχει πολιοῦχο τὸ μάρτυρα. Ἡ στρατιωτική του καριέρα καὶ τὰ ἄλλα, μὲ τὰ ὁποῖα ἐξυμνεῖται ἡ ἐπίγεια φήμη, ὑπῆρξαν σ᾿ αὐτὸν λαμπρὰ καὶ σπουδαία, τοῦ φαίνονταν ὡστόσο ἀσήμαντα μπροστὰ στὴν πίστη τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τὴν εὐτυχία ποὺ προερχόταν ἀπὸ ἐκεῖ καὶ τὴν αἰώνια δόξα. Γιατὶ μόνο τὸ Χριστὸ ἀγαποῦσε καὶ σεβόταν πάνω ἀπ᾿ ὅλους καὶ τὸν κήρυττε σωστὰ καὶ μὲ σαφήνεια στοὺς συμπατριῶτες του.

5. Ὅπως πάντα καὶ τότε τὸ νυχτερινὸ σκοτάδι τὸ διέλυε ὁ ἥλιος, ἔτσι καὶ τὸ σκοτάδι τῆς ἀσέβειας καὶ τῆς μανίας τῶν εἰδώλων, ποὺ ξερνοῦσε ἀπὸ τὰ μύχια του εἰδωλολάτρη Μαξιμιανοῦ, ποὺ κυβερνοῦσε ὁλόκληρη τὴν οἰκουμένη, ὁ Δημήτριος τὸ διέλυε μὲ τὶς ἀστραπὲς τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἐπειδὴ σκεφτόταν συνάμα μὲ σοφία καὶ σύνεση, ἀντάλλασσε τὸν πρόσκαιρο καὶ ἄθεο βασιλιὰ μὲ τὸν ἀληθινὸ καὶ αἰώνιο, καὶ γινόταν ἀπὸ ὕπατος ἀπόστολος καὶ ἀπὸ ἰλλούστριος γνώστης τῶν θείων μυστηρίων. Γιατὶ γνώριζε τὸ ἀνώτερο καὶ προοριζόταν μᾶλλον νὰ τὸν ρίξουν στοὺς ναοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ παρὰ στὰ ἀνάκτορα τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν βασιλιάδων, ποὺ ἀποπνέουν ἀσέβεια.

6. Αὐτὴ ἡ μεγαλόπολη λοιπὸν τὸν εἶχε ὅπως τώρα δὰ καὶ τότε καὶ ὑπέρλαμπρο ἄστρο τῆς αὐγῆς ποὺ ὑπερεῖχε μὲ τὴν ἀκτινοβολία τῆς εὐσέβειας τοῦ θείου καὶ νοητοῦ ἡλίου καὶ μὲ τὸ φεγγοβόλημα τῆς ψυχῆς, καθόλου κατώτερο ἀπὸ τὴν ἐξωτερικὴ ὀμορφιὰ τοῦ σώματος ποὺ ἦταν στὸ ἄνθος της καὶ ἀκτινοβολοῦσαν ἀπὸ πολὺ μακριά.

7. Καὶ ὁ Μαξιμιανὸς λοιπόν, Ἐρκούλιος στὴ γενιὰ καὶ στὴ συμπεριφορὰ συνάμα, ὁρμᾶ στὴν περιοχὴ τῶν Ἰλλυριῶν σὰν ἀπειλητικὸ σύννεφο, ποὺ φέρνει τὴν καταστροφή· γιατὶ ἦταν ἰσχυρὸς στὴν ἀσέβεια συνάμα καὶ στὴ σκληρότητα, κομπάζοντας καὶ μὲ ἄλλον τρόπο γιὰ τὴν τυραννία του, κυρίως ὅμως καυχιόταν μὲ τὶς νίκες τοῦ κατὰ τῶν Σαυροματῶν καὶ τῶν Γότθων. Μπαίνει λοιπὸν πρῶτα σ᾿ αὐτὴν ἐδῶ τὴν πόλη καὶ παραμένει μὲ ἀλαζονεία καὶ μὲ κακία, δυναμώνοντας συνάμα καὶ κατοχυρώνοντας τὴν ἀσέβεια.

8. Καὶ ὅταν ξεχύθηκε στὴ Δύση σὰν μιὰ ὁμίχλη καὶ ἄγρια θύελλα καὶ αἰγυπτιακὸ σκοτάδι, ποιὸς θὰ μποροῦσε νὰ περιγράφει λοιπὸν ἱκανοποιητικὰ τὶς συμφορὲς καὶ τὸν πόλεμο κατὰ τῶν χριστιανῶν; Ὁ λόγος εἶναι σύντομος καὶ ὁ χρόνος δὲν ἐπαρκεῖ.

Ἐκεῖνοι λοιπὸν ποὺ μιλοῦσαν μὲ τόλμη γιὰ τὴν εὐσέβεια καὶ κατέφευγαν στοὺς ἀγῶνες, πέθαιναν μὲ διάφορα φοβερὰ βασανιστήρια, ὅσοι ὅμως λόγω τῆς ἀσθενικῆς φύσης φοβόντουσαν λίγο ἀκόμη τὴ δοκιμασία, κρύβονταν στὶς σπηλιὲς καὶ τὰ βουνὰ καὶ τὰ ἀνοίγματα τῆς γῆς.

Τότε λοιπὸν ὁ λαμπρὸς λυχνίτης τῆς εὐσέβειας Δημήτριος, ποὺ δὲν κρυβόταν ἔξω καὶ μακριὰ ἀπὸ τὴν πατρίδα του, ἀλλὰ στὸ κέντρο της, γιὰ νὰ μὴ νομίσει κανεὶς ὅτι ἀποφεύγει τὸ μαρτύριο ἢ ἔχει δισταγμοὺς γιὰ τὸν ἀγώνα ἢ ἀπαρνιέται τοὺς κόπους (μὲ ποιὸν τρόπο ἄλλωστε θὰ ἔκανε αὐτὸ τὸ πράγμα, αὐτὸς ποὺ ἔκανε πολλοὺς μάρτυρες μὲ τὶς σοφές του παραινέσεις), ἀλλὰ γιὰ νὰ ὁδηγήσει περισσότερους στὸ Χριστὸ μὲ τὴ διδασκαλία, διοχέτευε πλούσια σ᾿ αὐτοὺς ποὺ τὸν πλησίαζαν τὸ θεῖο φωτισμό. Δὲν εἶναι δυνατὸν ὅμως νὰ κρυφτεῖ ὁλόκληρο τὸ λυχνάρι κάτω ἀπὸ τὸ μόδι.

Γιατὶ σὲ κάθε μέρος ἐκεῖνοι ποὺ εἶχαν ἀφοσιωθεῖ στὴ μανία τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ ὑπηρετοῦσαν τοὺς κυβερνῆτες τῆς ἀσέβειας, ὠμὰ καὶ χωρὶς ἔλεος γύριζαν παντοῦ καὶ ἔψαχναν τὰ πλήθη τῶν χριστιανῶν, γεμίζοντας χαρὰ μὲ τὸ αἷμα τῶν μαρτύρων καὶ σὰν νὰ χόρταιναν ἀκόμη καὶ μὲ αὐτὸ μιμούμενοι τὴν αἱμοβόρα διάθεση τῶν δαιμόνων, ποὺ λάτρευαν οἱ ἴδιοι.

9. Καὶ γιατὶ πρέπει νὰ ὑπερβοῦμε τὸ λόγο; Σ᾿ αὐτὸν τὸν πανένδοξο Δημήτριο φτάνουν πιὰ μὲ ὁρμὴ σὰν ἄγρια θηρία στὶς ὑπόγειες στοές, ὅπου κρυβόταν, καὶ μὲ μεγάλη χαρά, γιατὶ τάχα πέτυχαν τὸ πιὸ σπουδαῖο θήραμα καὶ ἀπέδωσαν μεγαλύτερη εὐγνωμοσύνη στὸ Μαξιμιανό, ἔσυραν ὀδηγώντας ὡς ὑπεύθυνο τὸν ἀνεύθυνο.

10. Ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ συνέλαβαν τὸν ἅγιο καὶ πήγαιναν βιαστικὰ μὲ μεγάλη χαρὰ στὸ βέβηλο καὶ ἐκεῖνος ὁ ἀσεβὴς Μαξιμιανὸς ποὺ διασκέδαζε μὲ τὴν εὐμένεια τῶν ὑπηκόων του καὶ ἔκανε διασκέδαση ὁλόκληρη τὴ ζωή του, πήγαινε βιαστικὰ στὸ στάδιο τῆς πόλης, γιὰ νὰ παρακολουθήσει τὰ πένταθλα, τὰ ὁποῖα γνωρίζουν πιὸ πολὺ ἀπὸ τοὺς ἄλλους οἱ ἄνθρωποι τοῦ θεάτρου, καὶ τὰ ὁποῖα μακάρι νὰ μὴν εἶχαν ὀνομασία, οὔτε νὰ ἦταν γνωστά, στὴν πραγματικότητα ὅμως, γιατὶ χαιρόταν μὲ τὶς αἱματοχυσίες καὶ ἱκανοποιοῦνταν μὲ τὸ φόνο τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

Ὑποστήριζε λοιπὸν πολὺ κάποιον Λυαῖο, ποὺ καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὸ ἔθνος τῶν Βανδάλων, ὁ ὁποῖος ὑπερίσχυε ἀπ᾿ ὅλους τους ἄλλους καὶ στὸ μέγεθος καὶ τὴ δύναμη τοῦ σώματος καὶ διέτρεχε μὲ μεγάλη πείρα μέσα ἀπὸ τὶς σανίδες τῶν μαγγάνων, καὶ ὁ ὁποῖος ὅταν συμπλεκόταν μὲ πολλοὺς σὲ ἀγῶνες, πολλοὺς μέσα ἀπὸ τέτοια μονομαχία τοὺς ἔστειλε στὸ θάνατο.

Καθὼς λοιπὸν αὐτὸς πήγαινε μὲ σκοπὸ νὰ παρακολουθήσει τέτοια θεάματα καὶ εἶχε προετοιμαστεῖ ἐντελῶς γιὰ τὸ θέατρο, τὸν συνάντησε ὁ σπουδαῖος Δημήτριος, καθὼς τὸν ὁδηγοῦσαν σ᾿ αὐτόν.

11. Τώρα ὅμως ὁ λόγος γίνεται γεμάτος ἀγωνία, γιατὶ ἔφτασε στὸ σπουδαιότερο μέρος τῶν ἀγώνων τοῦ στεφανωμένου μάρτυρα. Μὲ ποιὸν τρόπο λοιπὸν θὰ περγράψω ἀντάξια εἴτε τὸ θράσος τοῦ τυράννου εἴτε τὴ σταθερότητα τοῦ ἁγίου; Αὐτὸς πήγαινε πάνω στὴν ἅμαξα μὲ μεγάλη ἔπαρση καὶ φούσκωνε σύμφωνα μὲ τὴ συμπεριφορὰ τοῦ Φαραώ, σὰν ἄλλος Αἰγύπτιος, βλασφημώντας τὸν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐξαπολύοντας ὑβριστικὰ λόγια κατὰ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ καὶ ὅσοι προπορεύονταν καὶ τὸν ἀκολουθοῦσαν δυνάμωναν τὸ βόρβορο τῆς θρασύτητας καὶ φούντωναν τὴ φλόγα τῆς ἀλαζονίας.

Καὶ αὐτὸς ὁδηγοῦνταν μὲ χαμηλωμένα μάτια, ὅπως ὁ Χριστός μας στὸ παρελθὸν στὸν Ἡρώδη καὶ τὸν Πιλάτο ἀποστρέφοντας τὸ πρόσωπο νὰ κοιτάξει μὲ ἐκεῖνο τὸ βλέμμα τοῦ μαρτυρίου τὰ πρόσωπα τῶν ἀσεβῶν. Καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ ἴδιος καὶ μὲ τοὺς σωματοφύλακές του ἀπηύθυνε αὐτὲς τὶς ἄθεες καὶ ἀσεβεῖς ἐρωτήσεις, δηλαδὴ ἂν εἶναι χριστιανὸς καὶ ἂν τὸ ἐπιβεβαιώνει ὅτι εἶναι καὶ δὲν ἔχει ἀλλάξει τὸ χαρακτήρα του.

Καὶ αὐτὸς δείχνοντας τὸ πρόσωπο καὶ τὴν ψυχή, γεμάτα χάρη καὶ λαμπρότητα μὲ καθαρὴ καὶ γεμάτη σύνεση φωνή, συντάραξε τὰ αὐτιὰ τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς. Καὶ εἶπε «δὲν ἤθελες ἐσὺ βέβαια, σοφὲ στὰ μάταια καὶ ἰσχυρὲ στὴν ἀσέβεια νὰ εἶμαι καὶ νὰ ὀνομάζομαι χριστιανὸς καὶ νὰ λατρεύω τὸν κτίστη ἀπ᾿ ὅ,τι βέβαια τὴ κτίση, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον νὰ κάνω μαζὶ μὲ σένα ἀνόητες ἐνέργειες καὶ νὰ προσκυνῶ τὴν ἄψυχη καὶ ἀναίσθητη ὕλη καὶ νὰ βάλω ἐμένα πάνω ἀπ᾿ ὅσα ἔχουν γίνει γιὰ χάρη μου καὶ ὄχι βέβαια τὸ Θεὸ ποὺ δημιούργησε τὰ πάντα ἀπὸ τὸ μηδὲν καὶ τὰ ἔστησε μὲ θαυμαστὸ τρόπο.

Ἀλλὰ ἐγὼ βέβαια δὲν τυφλώνω τὰ μάτια τῆς ψυχῆς μου, καὶ ὅπως ἐσὺ ποὺ εἶσαι μύωπας στὸ θεῖο φῶς ἢ προσπαθεῖς νὰ κλείσεις τὰ μάτια στὴν ἀλήθεια, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα νὰ ἐξευμενίζεις ἀποστάτες καὶ ψυχοφθόρους θεοὺς μὲ ξόανα καὶ ἀγάλματα καὶ σπονδὲς καὶ κνίσες καὶ νὰ πηγαίνεις νὰ βγάζεις δόγμα γιὰ τὴ κτίση μπροστὰ στὸ δημιουργό. Μακάρι καὶ σὺ ὁ ἴδιος νὰ ἐπανερχόσουν ἀπὸ τέτοια πλάνη καὶ νὰ μὴν προσπαθοῦσες νὰ κάνεις καὶ πολλοὺς ἄλλους συμμέτοχους στὴν καταστροφή σου. Ἀφοῦ λοιπὸν ἀποκάμεις ἀπὸ τὰ πάντα, πολέμησε μόνο ἐκεῖνο ποὺ μπορεῖς νὰ πολεμήσεις, τὸ σῶμα καὶ πλήγωσέ το καὶ χτύπησέ το μὲ ὁποιοδήποτε χτύπημα θανάτου. Πάλι λοιπὸν αὐτὸ θὰ τὸ λάβω ἄφθαρτο στὴν Ἀνάσταση καὶ θὰ δοξαστῶ αἰωνίως μαζὶ μὲ τὸ Χριστό, γιὰ τὸν ὁποῖο ὑποφέρω προσωρινά. Γιατὶ οὔτε σύ, οὔτε ἄλλος ἄνθρωπος ἔχει ἀποκτήσει τὴν ἐξουσία νὰ τιμωρεῖ τὴ νοερὴ ψυχή, παρὰ μόνο ὁ Θεός».

12. Μπροστὰ λοιπὸν σὲ τέτοια καὶ τόσο μεγάλη τόλμη τοῦ περίφημου καὶ ἐκλεκτοῦ μας ὁ ἀσεβὴς ἀφοῦ ἀπόκαμε μὲ ἔκπληξη καὶ σαστιμάρα καὶ ἀκόμη ἐπειδὴ πήγαινε βιαστικὰ στὸ στάδιο καὶ γιὰ τὰ ἄλλα θεάματα καὶ κυρίως γιὰ τὴ μονομαχία τοῦ Λυαίου, διέταξε τελικὰ νὰ φρουροῦν τὸν ἅγιο κάπου ἐδῶ, στὶς στοὲς κάποιου δημόσιου λουτροῦ κοντὰ στὸ στάδιο. Καὶ μὲ αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπο ὁ μάρτυρας συνέτριψε τὰ ψυχοφθόρα βέλη τῶν λόγων τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς, γιατὶ δὲν ταίριαζε νὰ χαρακτηρίσουμε διαφορετικά τα βλάσφημα λόγια του, καὶ πέτυχε τὸν πρῶτο ἄθλο του σύμφωνα μὲ τὸ Χριστὸ καὶ νίκησε δυναμικὰ αὐτὸν ποὺ κυριαρχοῦσε σὲ πολλοὺς μὲ τὴν τυραννία του.

13. Καὶ τὸν ἀθλητὴ λοιπὸν ἀκολούθησε ἡ φυλακὴ καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ Μαξιμιανοῦ προσπαθοῦσε νὰ τὸν κεντρώσει ἕνας σκορπιός· γιατὶ ὁ ἐχθρός των ἁγίων εἶναι προορισμένος ἀπὸ τὴ φύση του νὰ ἐπιτίθεται σ᾿ αὐτοὺς μὲ ὅλα τα μέσα καὶ νὰ καταντροπιάζεται, γιατὶ νικιέται παντοῦ· μὲ τὸ χέρι λοιπὸν τοῦ μάρτυρα, ποὺ σχημάτισε τὸ σημεῖο τοῦ σταυροῦ, ὁ σκορπιὸς φάνηκε καθαρὰ ἀμέσως νεκρὸς καὶ ἀδρανής.

14. Ὁ Μαξιμιανὸς ὅμως κάθισε στὴν πρώτη θέση στὸ στάδιο μαζὶ μὲ τοὺς συνέδρους του καὶ ξεκίνησε νὰ καλεῖ μὲ τοὺς κήρυκες ὅποιους ἤθελαν νὰ μονομαχήσουν μὲ τὸ Λυαῖο· καὶ ἐνῶ ὅλοι οἱ ἄλλοι εἶχαν φοβηθεῖ τὴ δύναμη καὶ τὸ ψηλὸ ἀνάστημα τοῦ Λυαίου, ἕνας Νέστωρ ἀρκετὰ νέος, χριστιανὸς καὶ στὸ ἦθος καὶ στὴ γενναιότητα καὶ πολὺ πιὸ δυνατὸς στὸ θάρρος καὶ τὴ φρόνηση ἀπὸ τὸ Νέστορα τῆς Πύλου, τρέχει στὸ μάρτυρα, ποὺ βρισκόταν στὴ φυλακή, καὶ τοῦ ἀνακοινώνει τὴν ἀπόφασή του καὶ τοῦ ζητᾶ ἐπίμονα νὰ τὸν βοηθήσει μὲ τὴν προσευχὴ στὴ μονομαχία μὲ τὸν ἐχθρὸ καὶ νὰ καταβάλει τὸ θράσος τοῦ Λυαίου.

15. Πιὸ γρήγορα λοιπὸν ὁ μάρτυρας μὲ τὴν παράκληση στὸ Χριστὸ γιὰ βοήθεια καὶ μὲ τὸ ἐφόδιο τοῦ σταυροῦ προφήτεψε στὸ Νέστορα καὶ τὴ νίκη τοῦ κατὰ τοῦ Λυαίου καὶ τὸ μαρτύριό του γιὰ χάρη τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τὸν ἔστειλε θωρακισμένο στὸ στάδιο.

16. Ἐμφανίζεται λοιπὸν ὁ Νέστωρ μὲ θάρρος στὸ βασιλιά, κάνει φανερὸ τὸ σκοπὸ τῆς παρουσίας του, τὸν εὐσπλαχνίζονται ὅλοι καὶ μόνο γιὰ τὴν τόλμη του, τὸν θαυμάζουν ὁ Μαξιμιανὸς καὶ οἱ σύνεδροί του, τὸν πιέζουν νὰ λάβει χρήματα, ὥστε νὰ ἀπαλλαγεῖ μὲ αὐτὰ ἀπὸ τὸ Λυαῖο καὶ νὰ μὴν ζεῖ μὲ δυσκολία. Ὁ Νέστωρ τοὺς περιγελᾶ ὅλους καὶ τοὺς περιφρονεῖ· δηλώνει φανερὰ ὅτι ἔσπευσε νὰ νικήσει μόνο τὴ θρασύτητα τοῦ Λυαίου· συμπλέκεται μὲ τὸ Λυαῖο, τοῦ δίνει καίριο χτύπημα, σκοτώνει τὸν ἐχθρὸ καὶ τελικὰ ἀφοῦ δήλωσε ὅτι εἶναι χριστιανὸς ἀκολούθησε τὸ δρόμο γιὰ τὸ θάνατο, νίκησε διπλὴ νίκη καὶ κέρδισε διπλὰ ἔπαθλα.

17. Ἀπὸ ἐκεῖ καὶ πέρα ὅμως ἡ καρδιὰ τοῦ Μαξιμιανοῦ εἶχε γεμίσει μὲ σκοτοδίνη καὶ δὲν μποροῦσε καθόλου νὰ βρεῖ μὲ τί τρόπο θὰ παρηγορηθεῖ γιὰ τὴ συμφορὰ ἀπὸ τὸ θάνατο τοῦ Λυαίου· ἀποδείχτηκε λοιπὸν πιὸ σκληρὸς ἀπέναντι στοὺς χριστιανοὺς ἀπ᾿ ὅ,τι προηγουμένως καὶ βγάζει τὸ πιὸ σκληρὸ διάταγμα νὰ τοὺς ἐξαφανίσει ἀπὸ τὴ γῆ.

18. Καὶ τότε λοιπόν, ὅταν τοῦ θύμισαν γιὰ τὸν καλλίνικο μάρτυρα Δημήτριο, αὐτοὶ ποὺ τὸν κατέτρωγαν μὲ τὰ ἀφανέρωτα σαγόνια τοῦ φθόνου, ὅτι ἀποδείχτηκε κακὸς οἰωνὸς γι᾿ αὐτόν, δίνει διαταγὴ στοὺς σωματοφύλακές του νὰ πᾶνε σ᾿ ἐκεῖνο τὸ μέρος, ὅπου φρουροῦσαν τὸν ἅγιο, καὶ νὰ τὸν κατασφάξουν μὲ τὶς λόγχες καὶ τὶς ρομφαῖες ὅλων καὶ νὰ τὸν θανατώσουν. Μποροῦσε λοιπὸν νὰ ἀντιληφθεῖ κανεὶς ἕνα θόρυβο καὶ μιὰ ἄτακτη προσέλευση σ᾿ αὐτὸ τὸ μέρος ὅλων αὐτῶν ποὺ ἀνταγωνίζονταν, ποιὸς θὰ βυθίσει πρῶτος τὸ ξίφος στὸ μάρτυρα καὶ θὰ προσφέρει τὴν πιὸ μεγάλη χάρη στὸ Μαξιμιανό. Τὰ διάφορα ξίφη λοιπὸν κατευθύνονταν μὲ μιὰ φορὰ στὸ ἴδιο μέρος τοῦ σώματος καὶ προξενοῦσαν στὸν ἀθλητὴ δυνατοὺς καὶ βίαιους πόνους.

19. Ὅμως ἀπέφυγε ἐκεῖνα τὰ ἀσεβῆ χέρια τοῦ Βριάρεως καὶ τὴν ψυχοφθόρα Χάρυβδη ἢ τὴν ἀναρρόφηση τῆς μανίας τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ μπαίνει στὸ οὐράνιο λιμάνι μὲ εὐχαριστήριους ὕμνους καὶ παρουσιάζεται στὸ Χριστό, γιὰ τὸν ὁποῖο σφαγιάστηκε μὲ προθυμία λάμποντας ἀπὸ τοὺς ἱδρῶτες καὶ ἔχοντας λάβει τὴ θεϊκὴ καὶ ἀπρόσιτη κληρονομιὰ μαζὶ μὲ τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ τοὺς προφῆτες καὶ τοὺς μάρτυρες καὶ ὅλους τους ἁγίους ἀπὸ πάντα.

Καὶ τώρα βρίσκεται στοὺς οὐρανοὺς μαζὶ μὲ ὅλους τους ἁγίους, ἀπὸ τοὺς ὁποίους πῆρε τὰ πιὸ καλὰ ἀπὸ τὸν καθένα καὶ δημιούργησε ἀκριβῶς τὸ πιὸ ὡραῖο εἶδος τῆς ἀρετῆς. Γιατὶ ἄλλου μιμήθηκε τὴ σοφία, ἄλλου τὴ γενναιότητα, ἄλλου τὴν ἐπιείκεια, ἄλλου τὴν πιὸ μεγάλη καρτερικότητα στὸ μαρτύριο, τὰ πάντα ὅσο κανένας, καὶ ἔτσι ὅλα συγκεντρώθηκαν σ᾿ αὐτὸν στὸν ὑπέρτατο βαθμό, ὅσο σὲ κανέναν ἄλλον ἀπὸ τοὺς ὑπόλοιπους. Μὲ τὸ νὰ ἐπιτύχει λοιπὸν ὅλα αὐτά σε ὑπερβολικὸ βαθμό, κυριάρχησε σὲ ὅλους ἀσύγκριτα.

20. Ἂν πρέπει ὡστόσο νὰ ἐπιβεβαιώσουμε τὸ λόγο μας, λίγες ρανίδες αἵματος πλημμυρίζουν συνεχὲς μύρο καὶ τὸ θαῦμα ἔχει ξεπεράσει κάθε ἀνθρώπινη λογική. Ἴσως λοιπὸν ὁ Νεῖλος τῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ὁ ὠκεανὸς μὲ τὰ βαθιὰ ρεύματα, ἂν ἀντλοῦνταν ἀπὸ τόσους πολλοὺς καὶ κάθε μέρα, θὰ περιορίζονταν σὲ πολὺ μικρὰ ὅρια.

21. Σχετικὰ λοιπὸν μὲ τὰ θαύματα ποὺ ἔγιναν μέχρι τὶς μέρες μας, ἂν προσπαθήσει κανεὶς νὰ τὰ περιγράψει ἀναλυτικά, μοῦ φαίνεται τὸ ἴδιο σὰν νὰ νομίζει κάποιος πὼς ἀπαριθμεῖ τὰ ἀστέρια τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἢ τὴν ἄμμο τῆς θάλασσας ἢ τῆς βροχῆς τὶς στάλες μὲ τὰ θαύματα τοῦ ἁγίου.

Γιατὶ ποιὸς θὰ μπορέσει μέχρι καὶ σήμερα, ἀπὸ τότε ποὺ ἀγωνίστηκε μὲ πάθος γιὰ τὸ Χριστό, νὰ περιγράψει τὸ πλῆθος τῶν θαυμάτων του, ποὺ ἔγιναν παντοῦ καὶ στὴν πόλη του καὶ στὰ περισσότερα καὶ διάφορα μέρη τοῦ κόσμου σὲ ὁλόκληρη τὴν οἰκουμένη, ἐκεῖνα ποὺ ἀποτρέπουν τοὺς ἐχθρούς, ὅταν βρίσκεται μπροστὰ ἀπὸ τοὺς πιστοὺς στὴ μάχη καὶ στὸν κίνδυνο, ἐκεῖνα ποὺ διαλύουν τὴ μεγάλη πείνα καὶ τὶς μεταδοτικὲς καὶ διάφορες ἄλλες ἀρρώστιες σὲ διαφορετικὲς ἐποχὲς καὶ μὲ διαφορετικοὺς τρόπους, ὅταν συμφωνεῖ μὲ συμπάθεια στὰ αἰτήματα, αὐτῶν ποὺ ζητοῦν, καὶ ὅσα θαύματα ἔγιναν στὴ θάλασσα καὶ ὅσα ἔγιναν σὲ ὅλους καὶ στὸν καθένα χωριστά, ὅταν συμπαραστέκεται καὶ προασπίζει αὐτοὺς ποῦ τὸν παρακαλοῦν;

Ἀκόμη λοιπὸν καὶ ἂν εἶχα, σύμφωνα μὲ τὴν ποίηση, δέκα γλῶσσες καὶ δέκα στόματα, ἐγὼ βέβαια θὰ πρόσθετα καὶ ἄλλα τόσα χέρια, δὲν θὰ κατόρθωνα οὔτε μὲ αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπο νὰ λέω καὶ νὰ περιγράφω ἀκριβῶς τὶς θαυματουργικὲς ἱκανότητες τοῦ θαυματουργοῦ Δημητρίου.

22. Εἶναι καλύτερα ὅμως νὰ λέμε ἐκεῖνο τὸ λόγο, ὅτι δηλαδὴ ὁ Κύριος θὰ πραγματοποιήσει τὸ θέλημα αὐτῶν ποὺ τὸν σέβονται· καὶ στοὺς ἁγίους του στὴ γῆ ἔκανε θαυμαστὰ ὅλα τα θελήματά του μὲ αὐτούς. Τί καλὸ περιεχόμενο καὶ πραμάτεια εἶχε ἐκεῖνος, τί ἄθληση καὶ τί σύνεση! Μὲ λίγο αἷμα πῆρε ὡς ἀντάλλαγμα τὴν οὐράνια βασιλεία, μὲ τοὺς πρόσκαιρους πόνους, τὴν ἀπέραντη εὐφροσύνη καὶ μὲ τὴν πολὺ σύντομη ζωὴ τοῦ τὴ μακραίωνη καὶ ἀτελεύτητη ζωή.

23. Ἂς μιμηθοῦμε λοιπὸν μὲ ζέση τὸ Δημήτριο κατὰ τὸν ἴδιο τρόπο, ὅσοι συγκεντρωθήκαμε καὶ τιμοῦμε τοὺς ἄθλους του καὶ πανηγυρίζουμε γι᾿ αὐτοὺς μὲ λαμπρὸ τρόπο. Ἂς σπεύσουμε καὶ στὴ θεωρία καὶ στὴν πράξη, ἀκόμη καὶ ἂν δὲν κερδίσουμε τὴν ἴδια δόξα μὲ ἐκεῖνον, εἶναι βέβαια ὑπερβολικὸ νὰ ποῦμε αὐτὸ τὸ πράγμα, ἀλλὰ τουλάχιστον μικρότερη. Ἂν ὅμως δὲν κερδίσουμε οὔτε αὐτή, γιατὶ καὶ αὐτὸ μας εἶναι ἀρκετὸ λόγω τῆς νωθρότητας ποὺ ἔχουμε, τουλάχιστον, ἐπειδὴ νομίζουμε ὅτι πανηγυρίζουμε ἀντάξια καὶ θεάρεστα γιὰ ὅσα ὁ Θεὸς χαίρεται μαζὶ μὲ τὸ μάρτυρα καὶ ὅτι ἑορτάζουμε μὲ θεϊκὸ τρόπο, νὰ μὴν ἐπιθυμοῦμε περισσότερο τὶς ἡδονὲς χωρὶς νὰ τὸ καταλάβουμε καὶ νὰ χαριζόμαστε πιὸ πολὺ στοὺς δαίμονες καὶ νὰ πάθουμε τὸ ἴδιο πράγμα μὲ αὐτοὺς ποὺ κινδυνεύουν στὸ λιμάνι καὶ προσβάλλονται ἀπὸ ἀθεράπευτες ἀσθένειες στὸ ἰατρεῖο.

24. Ἔχουμε συνεργὸ τὸ Θεὸ γιὰ τὶς καλὲς πράξεις, μὲ τὶς προσευχὲς τῆς Θεοτόκου, τῶν ἐπουράνιων τάξεων, τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ τῶν μαρτύρων καὶ τῶν αἰώνια ἁγίων, καὶ αὐτὸν ποὺ τώρα τελοῦμε τὴ μνήμη του νὰ ἱκετεύει συνέχεια γιὰ χάρη μας. Χαίρεται ὁ κόσμος τῶν ἁγίων μὲ κάθε τρόπο καὶ σὲ κάθε ἐποχὴ ἀπὸ κάθε ἡλικία καὶ τάξη, γιατὶ βλέπουν τὸ πλῆθος τους νὰ δυναμώνει καὶ νὰ αὐξάνεται, σὰν νὰ καταλαβαίνουν ὅτι ἡ πολυπληθὴς μερίδα ποὺ βρίσκεται ἀριστερὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ πάλι εἶναι σκυθρωπή.

25. Ὅμως, Δημήτριε, κόσμημα καὶ ὀμορφιὰ τῶν ἀθλητῶν, ξαναγυρίζω σὲ σένα πιὰ καὶ στρέφω τὸ λόγο πρὸς τὰ ἐπάνω, γιατὶ ἔχω λυγίσει περισσότερο ἀπὸ τοὺς ἄλλους ἀπὸ τὴν ἀγάπη μου γιὰ σένα καὶ ἐπιθυμῶ πιὸ πολὺ νὰ ἀναπνέω ἐσένα παρὰ τὰ εὐωδιαστὰ ἀρώματα, εὐσεβὲς καὶ εὐγενέστατο βλάστημα ἀπὸ εὐσεβῆ καὶ εὐγενικὴ ρίζα, κατάφορτο ἀπὸ τοὺς καρποὺς τῶν ἀρετῶν καὶ τῆς ἄθλησης, λαμπρὲ καὶ στὰ δύο καὶ ἐνδοξότατε σὲ ὅλα καὶ ὁλόφωτη λαμπάδα τῶν χριστιανῶν, καταστροφὴ τῆς ἀσέβειας καὶ τοῦ Μαξιμιανοῦ, δάσκαλε καὶ σύμμαχε τοῦ Νέστορα καὶ πρόξενε τῆς ἄθλησης καὶ ἰσχυρότατε καταστροφέα τῆς ἀλαζονείας τοῦ Λυαίου, σὺ ποὺ ἀπεικόνισες τὸ πάθος τοῦ Δεσπότη καὶ πληγώθηκες μὲ τὶς λόγχες στὴν πλευρά, ὅπως ἐκεῖνος καὶ γιὰ τὸ αἷμα ποὺ ἔχυσες τότε ἀναβλύζεις τώρα σὰν κρουνὸς τὸ εὐωδέστατο καὶ ἰαματικὸ μύρο, σὺ ποὺ περιπολεῖς μὲ τὸ πνεῦμα σου τοὺς οὐρανοὺς μαζὶ μὲ τοὺς ἀγγέλους καὶ παρευρίσκεσαι μαζί τους στὸν ἀκλόνητο θρόνο τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ χάρισες σὲ μᾶς καὶ τὴν πόλη σου τὸ μαρτυρικότατο σῶμα σου σὰν ἀκένωτο θησαυρό, τὸ ἀνυπολόγιστο πέλαγος τῶν ἄπειρων καὶ πιὸ μεγάλων θαυμάτων, σὺ ποὺ μοίρασες σωστὰ τὸν ἑαυτό σου στὴ γῆ καὶ στὸν οὐρανὸ καὶ καθόλου δὲν ἀπουσιάζεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ πάνω ἐποπτεύεις καὶ κάτω φροντίζεις τὴν πόλη σου, φιλοπόλι καὶ φιλάνθρωπε ποὺ ἐπαναφέρεις σύντομα τὴ συμπάθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅταν ὑποχωρεῖ μερικὲς φορὲς ἀπὸ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων μας, εἴθε νὰ δέχεσαι τοὺς λόγους καὶ τοὺς ἐπαίνους μας ποὺ προσφέρονται στὴ λαμπρὴ μνήμη τῶν ἀγώνων σου, ὅπως ὁ ἀθλοθέτης Χριστὸς ἔπλεξε τὸν ἔπαινο τῶν νηπίων, καὶ ἂν δὲν φτάνουν τὴ δική σου ἀξία, ὅμως δὲν ὑστεροῦν στὴν ἀγαθή μας πρόθεση· ρίξε ἕνα βλέμμα λοιπὸν ἀπὸ τὸν οὐρανό, κατέβα γιὰ λίγο ἐδῶ μαζί μας καὶ δὲς τὴν ἀγάπη τῆς πόλης σου γιὰ σένα, παρατήρησε τὶς μελωδίες τῶν συγκεντρωμένων, τὸ ἱερότατο ποίμνιό σου νὰ συμμετέχει στὸ πνευματικὸ συμπόσιο μαζὶ μὲ τὸν ἱεράρχη στὴ μνήμη σου, ὁλόκληρο τὸ ναό σου νὰ φωτίζει ὅλους τους παρόντες ἀπὸ τὴν ἄφθονη φωτοχυσία, τὴν εὐωδιὰ ἀπὸ τὰ θυμιάματα νὰ γεμίζει τὸν ἀέρα καὶ κάθε ἡλικία καὶ τάξη νὰ ἐπικροτοῦν μὲ μεγάλη χαρὰ τοὺς ἄθλους σου. Σχεδὸν σήμερα ἡ γῆ μιμεῖται τὸν οὐρανὸ καὶ ἡ ἁπλωμένη λαμπρότητα στὸ ναὸ τοῦ καλλίνικου σώματός σου κάνει ὁλοφάνερη τὴν ἐκεῖ λάμψη τοῦ φωτὸς ποὺ προστίθεται σὲ σένα ἀπὸ τὸ Θεό.

26. Εἴθε νὰ ἀνταμείβεις ἐπάξια ὅλους, μοιράζοντας τὶς προσφορές σου καθημερινὰ στὸν καθένα. Πρῶτα στεφάνωσε τοὺς πιστοὺς βασιλιάδες μας μὲ νίκες· γιατὶ καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι ἐπίσης τιμοῦν ξεχωριστὰ τὴν πανηγυρική σου ἑορτή. Ὑπόταξε στὰ πόδια τους τὰ στρατεύματα τῶν ἐχθρικῶν ἐθνοτήτων, παράτεινε εἰρηνικὰ τὴν ὑπόλοιπη ζωή τους, ἐνισχύοντάς τους μὲ τὴν ὀρθοδοξία, καὶ ρυθμίζοντάς την μὲ τὴ σωστὴ διοίκηση.

27. Ἀπομάκρυνε τὰ σκάνδαλα τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν, συμμάχησε μὲ τὸ στρατὸ ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν, δίνε συνεχῶς τὴ χάρη σου, ποὺ βοηθᾶ μὲ κάθε τρόπο, στὸν ποιμένα καὶ ἱεράρχη τῆς πατρίδας σου, ἐποπτεύοντας μαζὶ μὲ τὸν ἱεράρχη, βοηθώντας τὸ ποίμνιο νὰ εἶναι σὲ ἐπαγρύπνηση καὶ νὰ τὸν σέβεται, προετοιμάζοντας τὸν νὰ διδάσκει τὸ ποίμνιο μὲ τὴν ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὥστε νὰ τὸ ἀποδείξει πιὸ δυνατὸ ἀπὸ τοὺς λύκους ποὺ καταστρέφουν τὴν ψυχή, καὶ νὰ τὸ ὁδηγήσει στὴν οὐράνια μάνδρα. Παρηγόρησε ὅσους βρίσκονται σὲ στενοχώριες, βοηθώντας ἀνάλογα πλούσιους καὶ φτωχούς, κάνοντας συνετοὺς καὶ τοὺς γέρους καὶ τοὺς νέους στὰ καθήκοντά τους, ἀξιώνοντας κάθε ἡλικία μὲ πολὺ μεγάλη φροντίδα γιὰ τὴ δωρεὰ τῶν χαρίτων σου.

28. Γιὰ ὅλα αὐτά, εἴθε νὰ μᾶς χαρίσεις τὴ νίκη κατὰ τῶν δαιμόνων καὶ τῶν παθῶν καὶ ὅταν λίγο ἀργότερα ἀποδημήσουμε ἐκεῖ νὰ μᾶς κάνεις δεξιοὺς παραστάτες τοῦ τριαδικοῦ Θεοῦ μὲ τὶς παρακλήσεις σου, καὶ ἀπὸ ἐκεῖ θὰ συμμετέχουμε σὰν ἀσήμαντοι δοῦλοι σου στὴν αἰώνια καὶ θεία λαμπρότητα, μὲ τὴ χάρη τοῦ Κυρίου μας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ποὺ ἔχει τὴ δόξα καὶ τὴ δύναμη στοὺς αἰῶνες τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Cremation ( St. Nikolai Velimirovich )

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich (Written in 1956)

You ask me, why is the Orthodox Church against cremation. First of all, because it considers it violent. The Serbs still shudder with the crime of Sinan Pasha, who burned the dead body of St. Sava in Vratsa.

Do people burn dead horses, dogs, cats and monkeys? I have not heard of this. I have heard of and seen them buried. Why should the dead bodies of people who are the lords of all animals on earth endure violence? Would it not be in all respects much more reasonable to incinerate dead animals, especially in big cities, than people?

Second, because this pagan and barbaric habit disappeared from Europe thanks to Christian civilization two thousand years ago. Anyone who wants to reinstate it doesn't do anything else, neither civilized nor modern nor new, but something ancient which has long expired.

In England, which one can hardly call uncivilized, this form of Neopaganism is very much hated by the people. To tell you a case: during the years of World War II a famous Yugoslav lost his mind. When asked before he died, he said his only desire was to have his body burned.

In our day, our little Yugoslavian community was reduced in the incinerator of Golders Green. When the dead bodies entered the burning furnace we began to tremble with horror. Then they shouted to us on the opposite side of the furnace, "wait a quarter of an hour to see your compatriot in the form of ashes". We waited over an hour and were mystified why the fire struggled with the dead body, and we asked the stoker about this. He apologized saying the furnace was cold, "it is not heated every day, since rarely do volunteers get handed over to the fire". Listening to this we were dissolved, unable to wait at the edge for our compatriot. And we know that in London over a thousand human beings die every day.

I am in America, I saw the graves of the great Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt, Lincoln and many other important persons. None of them are cremated. Now this surprised me, that among the descendants of Saint Sava there could be found those who are like-minded with Sinan Pasha!

But why create an issue that has already been solved? If we want to be loaded with unnecessary worries, then someday we could be troubled by the question on whether to kill our decrepit men and women as do some primitive tribes? And we will create clubs to propagate this "idea"!

Finally, what sense is there in fighting the cemeteries, particularly in this country where the cemetery serves as a national pride, as a source of inspiration, and if you will as the book of the state?

Peace to you and health from God.

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Γιατί ὁ κόσμος μισεῖ τούς δικαίους.. ( Ὅσιος Νήφων Ἐπίσκοπος Κωνσταντιανῆς )

Πες μου, πάτερ, σέ παρακαλῶ, καί κάτι ἄλλο: Γιά ποιό λόγο οἱ περισσότεροι ἄνθρωποι μισοῦν τούς δικαίους; Γιατί τούς περιφρονοῦν; Γιατί σκανδαλίζονται μαζί τους; Ἀντίθετα, λίγοι εἶν’ ἐκεῖνοι πού τούς τιμοῦν....
-Πολύ συμφέρει τούς δικαίους, παιδί μου, ἡ περιφρόνηση τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Τούς ταιριάζει, θά ’λεγα, ὅπως ταιριάζουν στόν οὐρανό τ’ ἀστέρια. Εἶδα μάλιστα ἐνάρετο, πού κέρδισε πενήντα στεφάνια σέ μιά μέρα ἀπό τίς κακολογίες τῶν ἄλλων.
-Καί μέ ποιό τρόπο τά κέρδισε; Ρώτησε ἀπορημένα ὁ ἀδελφός.
-Ἄκουσε: Ὁ ἄνθρωπος αὐτός ἔμενε στά Βούκολα. Ἦταν ἐπιφανής καί ἀξιοσέβαστος. Ἔκανε πολλά καλά ἔργα στούς συνανθρώπους του καί ὅλους τούς ἀγαποῦσε σάν ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἐκεῖνοι, ὡστόσο, πλανέθηκαν ἀπό τόν πονηρό κι ἄρχισαν ν’ ἀντιπαθοῦν τόν εὐρεγέτη τους σά νά ἦταν κακοῦργος.
Ἄλλοι ἔλεγαν πώς εἶναι δολερός, ἄλλοι ἀκόλαστος, ἄλλοι κλέφτης καί ἄλλοι αἱρετικός! Ἔχει, βλέπεις, τή συνήθεια ὁ διάβολος νά διασύρει τούς ἁγίους μέ τό στόμα τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν ἀνθρώπων. Ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὅμως γιά τόν ὁποῖο μιλάω, ἀκούγοντας τίς συκοφαντίες αὐτές χαιρόταν εἰλικρινά καί εὐχαριστοῦσε τό Θεό. ‟Κύριε’’, ἔλεγε, ‟δεῖξε τό ἔλεός Σου σ’ ὅσους μέ μισοῦν, μέ συκοφαντοῦν, μέ διασύρουν. Κανένας ἀπ’ τούς ἀδελφούς νά μήν πάθει κακό γιά μένα τόν ἁμαρτωλό, οὔτε στήν παρούσα ζωή οὔτε στήν ἄλλη.

Σύντριψε ὅμως καί ἀφάνισε τούς πονηρούς δαίμονες, πού τούς ξεσηκώνουν ἐναντίον μου. Σέ παρακαλῶ, Θεέ μου, ὅπως δέν ἀποστράφηκες ἐμένα τόν βέβηλο, ὅσες φορές ἁμάρτησα καί πρόστρεξα στήν εὐσπαλχνία Σου ζητώντας συγχώρηση, ἔτσι καί νά μήν ἀποστραφεῖς τώρα κι αὐτούς, πού κατηγοροῦν τό ἀχρεῖο δοῦλο Σου. Ἀντίθετα, ἁγίασέ τους μέ τό ἔλεός Σου καί σκέπασέ τους μέ τήν ἀγαθότητά Σου’’.
Ἔτσι προσευχόταν, ἀγαπητέ, ὁ δίκαιος ἐκεῖνος, γι’ αὐτούς πού τόν μισοῦσαν καί τόν κακολογοῦσαν! Καί κοίταξε τί θαυμαστό γινόταν: Ὅσε φορές τή μέρα βίαζε τόν ἑαυτό του καί προσευχόταν γιά τούς ἐχθρούς του, τόσες φορές κατέβαινε ἄγγελος Κυρίου καί τοποθετοῦσε στό κεφάλι του οὐράνιο διαμαντοστόλιστο στεφάνι.
Αὐτό, βέβαια, δέν τό καταλάβαινε ὁ ἴδιος, γιατί ὁ Θεός τόν στεφάνωσε ἀόρατα.... Γι’ αὐτό λοιπόν, παιδί μου, ἐπιτρέπει πολλές φορές ὁ ἀγαθός Θεός νά κακολογοῦνται καί νά ἐξουθενώνονται οἱ ἐνάρετοι, γιά ν’ αὐξήσουν ἔτσι τά στεφάνια τους καί τά βραβεῖα τους καί τούς οὐράνιους μισθούς τους.
-Ὡστόσο, ὅπως εἶπα καί πρίν, πάτερ, δέν μπορῶ νά καταλάβω γιατί οἱ δίκαιοι σ’ ἄλλους ἀνθρώπους ἀρέσκουν καί σ’ ἄλλους ὄχι.
-Πρόσεξε, παιδί μου, καί θά σοῦ τό ἐξηγήσω μέ μερικά παραδείγματα: Δέν βλέπεις πού ὁ Θεός στέλνει βροχή, καί δέν ἀρέσει σέ ὅλους; Ὅπως συνήθως, ἄλλοι λένε τό ἕνα καί ἄλλοι τό ἄλλο. Ὁ ἕνας λέει: ‟Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός! Θά ποτιστεῖ ἡ γῆ!’’. Ὁ ἄλλος ἀντίθετα: ‟Κακό πού μᾶς βρῆκε! Πάει ἡ σοδειά!’’.
Ἄν πάλι ὁ Θεός στείλει βαρύ χειμώνα, οἱ φτωχοί, τρέμοντας ἀπό τή παγωνιά, λένε μέ παράπονο: Ἄχ, γιατί νά κάνει ὁ Θεός τόσο κρύο;’’. Οἱ πλούσιοι, ἀπεναντίας, τότε ἀκριβῶς ἀπολαμβάνουν περισσότερο τή θαλπωρή, γιατί ἔχουν ὅλα ὅσα χρειάζονται –καί θέρμανση καί χοντρά ροῦχα καί κρασί καί ζεστό ψωμί καί κρέατα καί καθετί πού ἀναπαύει τό σῶμα. Τέλος πάντων, φεύγει ὁ χειμώνας, ἔρχεται ἡ ἄνοιξη καί ἀκολουθεῖ τό καλοκαίρι μέ τήν πολλή ζέστη.
Τότε λένει μερικοί: ‟Ὁ χειμώνας εἶναι πολύ καλύτερος. Οὔτε μύγες ἔχει, οὔτε ψύλλους οὔτε κοριούς’’. Καί, κοντολογῆς, ἄλλοι προτιμοῦν τό χειμώνα σάν ὑγιεινόετρο, ἄλλοι τήν ἄνοιξη σάν γλυκύτερη, ἄλλοι τό καλοκαίρι σάν θερμότερο.... Ἀλλά γιατί στά λέω ὅλ’ αὐτά; Φτάνει μόνο νά σκεφτεῖς, ὅτι ὁ Χριστός, ὁ Κύριος καί Θεός μας, ἔγινε ἄνθρωπος, συναναστράφηκε μέ τούς ἀχάριστους Ἑβραίους καί τούς εὐεργέτησε μέ μύρια καλά –δαιμόνια ἔδιωξε, λεπρούς καθάρισε, τυφλούς φώτισε, κουτσούς στήριξε, παράλυτους σήκωσε, νεκρούς ἀνέστησε, τελῶνες διόρθωσε,πόρνες συνέτισε, μέ λίγα ψωμιά πλήθη χόρτασε καί τόσα ἄλλα ἔκανε, γιά τά ὁποῖα φθαρτός ἄνθρωπος δέν μπορεῖ νά μιλήσει. Καί γιά ὅλα τοῦτα ποιά ἦταν ἡ ἀνταμοιβή τοῦ Κυρίου μας;
Ὁ φθόνος, ἡ συκοφαντία, οἱ ἐξευτελισμοί, τά ραπίσματα, ἡ μαστίγωση, τά φτυσίματα καί στό τέλος ἡ σταύρωση! Ἄν λοιπόν ὁ Πλάστης μας δέν ἄρεσε σ’ ὅλους τούς ἀνθρώπους, πῶς θά τούς ἀρέσει ὁ δίκαιος συνάνθρωπός τους; Ξέρεις, παιδί μου, ὅτι ὁ ἐνάρετος Ἄβελ ἔζησε τότε πού ἐλάχιστοι ἄνθρωποι ὑπῆρχαν πάνω στή γῆ.
Καί παρόλο πού δέν ἔκανε τό παραμικρό κακό στόν ἀδελφό του Κάιν, αὐτός σκοτισμένος ἀπό τόν πονηρό, τόν φθόνησε καί τόν σκότωσε. Σκέψου λοιπόν, ἄν τότε, πού ὑπῆρχαν μονάχα δυό ἀδέλφια στή γῆ, ὁ δίκαιος Ἄβελ δέν μπόρεσε νά ξεφύγει ἀπ’ τόν ἀνθρώπινο φθόνο, θά μπορέσει κανείς σήμερα ζώντας ἀνάμεσα σέ τόσο κόσμο; Ἀδύνατον! Εἶναι γραμμένο ἄλλωστε: «Τέκνον, εἰ προσέρχῃ δουλεύειν Κυρίῳ Θεῷ, ἑτοίμασον τὴν ψυχήν σου εἰς πειρασμόν»33.

33. Σειράχ 2:1
Ἕνας Ἀσκητής Ἐπίσκοπος
Ὅσιος Νήφων Ἐπίσκοπος Κωνσταντιανῆς
(σελ.91-94)
Ἱερὰ Μονή Παρακλήτου
Ὠρωπος Ἀττικῆς 2004