Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates “the General” Commemorated on February 8

 

Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates “the General”

Commemorated on February 8

Troparion & Kontakion

The Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates came from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. He was endowed with many talents, and was handsome in appearance. For his charity God enlightened him with the knowledge of Christian truth. The bravery of the saintly soldier was revealed after he, with the help of God, killed a giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita. The serpent had devoured many people and animals, terrorizing the countryside. Saint Theodore armed himself with a sword and vanquished it, glorifying the name of Christ among the people.

For his bravery Saint Theodore was appointed military commander [stratelatos] in the city of Heraclea, where he combined his military service with preaching the Gospel among the pagans subject to him. His gift of persuasion, reinforced by his personal example of Christian life, turned many from their false gods. Soon, nearly all of Heraclea had accepted Christianity.

During this time the emperor Licinius (311-324) began a fierce persecution against Christians. In an effort to stamp out the new faith, he persecuted the enlightened adherents of Christianity, who were perceived as a threat to paganism. Among these was Saint Theodore. Licinius tried to force Saint Theodore to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. The saint invited Licinius to come to him with his idols so both of them could offer sacrifice before the people.

Blinded by his hatred for Christianity, Licinius trusted the words of the saint, but he was disappointed. Saint Theodore smashed the gold and silver statues into pieces, which he then distributed to the poor. Thus he demonstrated the vain faith in soulless idols, and also displayed Christian charity.

Saint Theodore was arrested and subjected to fierce and refined torture. He was dragged on the ground, beaten with iron rods, had his body pierced with sharp spikes, was burned with fire, and his eyes were plucked out. Finally, he was crucified. Varus, the servant of Saint Theodore, barely had the strength to write down the incredible torments of his master.

God, however, in His great mercy, willed that the death of Saint Theodore should be as fruitful for those near him as his life was. An angel healed the saint’s wounded body and took him down from the cross. In the morning, the imperial soldiers found him alive and unharmed. Seeing with their own eyes the infinite might of the Christian God, they were baptized not far from the place of the unsuccessful execution.

Thus Saint Theodore became “like a day of splendor” for those pagans dwelling in the darkness of idolatary, and he enlightened their souls “with the bright rays of his suffering.” Unwilling to escape martyrdom for Christ, Saint Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself to Licinius, and discouraged the Christians from rising up against the torturer, saying, “Beloved, halt! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Cross, restrained the angels and did not permit them to take revenge on the race of man.”

Going to execution, the holy martyr opened up the prison doors with just a word and freed the prisoners from their bonds. People who touched his robe were healed instantly from sicknesses, and freed from demonic possession. By order of the emperor, Saint Theodore was beheaded by the sword. Before his death he told Varus, “ Do not fail to record the day of my death, and bury my body in Euchaita.” He also asked to be remembered each year on this date. Then he bent his neck beneath the sword, and received the crown of martyrdom which he had sought. This occurred on February 8, 319, on a Saturday, at the third hour of the day.

Saint Theodore is regarded as the patron saint of soldiers. He is also commemorated on June 8.

thanks to:

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2016/02/08/100462-greatmartyr-theodore-stratelates-the-general

Sayings St. Dorotheos of Gaza ~ On being irritated by what others say

 

   There is the case of a man minding his own business, sitting at peace and quiet; and when a brother comes up and says an annoying word to him, he is put out by it. And from the circumstances he thinks that he is justifiably angered, and he speaks against the one who troubled him, saying, "If he had not come and spoken to me and annoyed me I should not have been at fault." This is a delusion: this is false reasoning! It was not the one who spoke that put him in a bad mood. He only showed that it already existed in him; so that he could, if he chose, make reparation for his fault. But the man referred to above is like clean-looking winter wheat, externally good and ready to use; but when someone crushes it, its corruption is revealed. He was sitting at peace but he had this anger inside him and he did not know it. One word to him from the other and the corruption hidden inside him leapt out.

From St. Dorotheos of Gaza (Discourses and Sayings; Cistercian Publications pg. 142):

Thanks to:

http://theodorakis.net/orthodoxquotescomplete.html

sic volo, sic jubeo ~ C.S. The Abolition of Man

 

sic volo, sic jubeo

Thus I will, thus I command, my pleasure stands for a reason.

The Abolition of Man (page 65)

~ C.S. Lewis

This reminds me of a saying by the Satanic manifesto:

Do as thou wilt, that shall be the whole of the law

In Matthew our Lord says

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Satan would say it in the opposite:

You shall hate the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

You shall hate your neighbor as yourself.

C.S. Lewis' book, point by point, explains that when we remove the Commandments, the virtues, the absolutes or The Tao(Lewis calls it the Tao), we remove any value system professing good and evil and step into a void where we have no values. We can't even call anyone in this void good or evil, because such distinctions do not exist within it. Good and evil are distinctions within the Tao only; outside of this Tao there is only feeling, emotion and passions, and the degree or level that those impose on us. Lewis is warning the generations then and now about stepping into this void. What a thought! He called the deciders of what is and should be as 'conditioners' that will replace the Tao. These conditioners within this void will naturally arise to fill the space. These conditioners will instruct to us what is "good" or "proper".

How have The Supreme Court, and Secular or Progressive thinkers moved us closer to the void? Which political party do these proponents of the void side with? Are we currently in the void in some ways? Is the religion of Scientism a conditioner? Or Technocratism, Progressiveism, Humanism, LGBTQ+ism?

Afterfeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ~ Commemorated January 8th

 

Afterfeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Commemorated on January 8

Troparion & Kontakion

The second day of the Afterfeast of Theophany falls on January 8. At Vespers we repeat a hymn which has already been sung at Compline for Theophany. In the hymn Saint John wonders in whose name he should baptize Christ. Should he baptize Him in the name of the Father? The Lord Jesus Christ already bears Him in Himself. Of the Son? He Himself is the incarnate Son of God. Of the Holy Spirit? Christ Himself sends the Spirit.

thanks to:

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/01/08/100111-afterfeast-of-the-theophany-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ

Sayings St. Peter of Damaskos ~ Opposites (good/evil/heaven/hell) and the Way of the Saint

 

"One day, while St. Antony was sitting with a certain Abba, a virgin came up and said to the Elder: 'Abba, I fast six days of the week and I repeat by heart portions of the Old and New Testament daily.' To which the Elder replied: 'Does poverty mean the same to you as abundance?' 'No', she answered. 'Or dishonour the same as praise?' 'No, Abba.' 'Are your enemies the same for you as your friends?' 'No', she replied. At that the wise Elder said to her: 'Go, get to work, you have accomplished nothing.' "

~ St. Peter of Damaskos

thanks to:

http://theodorakis.net/orthodoxquotescomplete.html

Sayings Emmanuel Kant ~ three formulations of the Categorical Imperative (Ethics and others as a means to something else)

 

1. “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” (Ibid., 422)
2. “Act as though the maxim of your action were by your will to become a universal law of nature.” (Ibid)
3. Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only.” (Ibid., 429)

Kant’s Criticisms of Utilitarianism

Kant’s criticisms of utilitarianism have become famous enough to warrant some separate discussion. Utilitarian moral theories evaluate the moral worth of action on the basis of happiness that is produced by an action. Whatever produces the most happiness in the most people is the moral course of action. Kant has an insightful objection to moral evaluations of this sort. The essence of the objection is that utilitarian theories actually devalue the individuals it is supposed to benefit. If we allow utilitarian calculations to motivate our actions, we are allowing the valuation of one person’s welfare and interests in terms of what good they can be used for. It would be possible, for instance, to justify sacrificing one individual for the benefits of others if the utilitarian calculations promise more benefit. Doing so would be the worst example of treating someone utterly as a means and not as an end in themselves.

Another way to consider his objection is to note that utilitarian theories are driven by the merely contingent inclination in humans for pleasure and happiness, not by the universal moral law dictated by reason. To act in pursuit of happiness is arbitrary and subjective, and is no more moral than acting on the basis of greed, or selfishness. All three emanate from subjective, non-rational grounds. The danger of utilitarianism lies in its embracing of baser instincts, while rejecting the indispensable role of reason and freedom in our actions.

thanks to:

https://iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/#H8

Sayings Hippocrates ~ "To help, or at least do no harm"

 

   As to diseases, make a habit of two things—to help, or at least to do no harm. I swear by Apollo the physician, by Asclepius, by Health, by Panacea and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgement, this oath and this indenture.

thanks to:

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191826719.001.0001/q-oro-ed4-00005454