689. Read, brethren, the Word of God

And He Himself entered into all things: and a woman named Martha received Him into her house. And (her sister was called Mary, who sat at the foot of Jesus, hearing His word (Luke 10:38:39)

The Son of God, our Deliverer, wandering about the earth for our salvation and passing from city to city, from one place to another, came to a certain place, in which a certain pious woman, named Martha, received Him into her house with great joy. She wanted to treat the much-desired Guest as best she could, and took care of it in every possible way. But since the Son of God then came into the world to proclaim the will of the Heavenly Father, He did not fail to preach the Word of God in the house of Martha. The reverent Martha had a most pious sister Mary, who left all household care, which in such cases women are usually occupied with, sat down at the feet of the Savior and began to listen to the Word of God with love. What do you think, brethren, about these two Christ-loving sisters: which of them served Christ more, Martha or Mary? Martha tried to treat the Saviour, and Mary wholeheartedly kissed the hearing of Christ's preaching. Many, perhaps, will praise Martha more than Mary, for she labored, restlessly, to please her beloved Guest; and Mary enjoyed hearing the Word of God without difficulty. For this reason Martha complained to Christ about her sister: "Lord, do not care, for my sister leave me alone to serve: pray to her, that she may help me." But you hear what Christ says to the caring Martha: "Martha, Martha, take care and talk about many: there is only one thing that is needed." But Mary chose the good, that is, the best, part, which shall not be taken away from her. Now, you see, Christ didn't think our way. Martha did well that she tried to treat Christ; but Mary did even better that she diligently listened to the Word of God. Martha cared for bodily refreshments, and Mary for spiritual ones: the Saviour, like sweet food, is pleased if one listens to His holy Word with reverence. Let us, brethren, imitate the diligence of the God-loving Mary, let us study more earnestly in the Word of God!

From ignorance of the Word of God come all errors and vices. Whoever has lost his sight or walks in deep subjects, does not know where he is going, does not see where he is in danger, often stumbles, falls into a pit, does not see the impurity on himself, even though he is completely dirty, — so a man who does not have reason, enlightened by the Word of God, does not see the true path of salvation, wanders in the darkness of ignorance, often falls, and the more miserable he is, that he does not feel his fall. He is all defiled by vices, but, unfortunately, he does not see them. He sins constantly, but he does not know his sins. Do you want to be sure of this? Take drunkenness as an example. What a foul and most harmful vice this is! He destroys both the soul and the body of a person, which is why St. Chrysostom says that the devil loves no one so much as a drunkard: after all, no one fulfills his evil will as much as a drunkard. The Word of God thunders terribly against this vice: do not flatter yourselves, neither harlot nor drunkard... They shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). In the same way it denounces all other vices. In the Word of God the will of God is revealed, good and perfect: whoever wants to fulfill the will of God must know it from the Word of God. How can one fulfill the will of the tsar if one does not know the royal decrees? How can one live according to the will of God if one does not read the Word of God, in which it is revealed? For this reason the Word of God was given, that we might learn from it. Every scripture, says the Apostle, is God-inspired and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for chastisement, for chastisement, if it is in righteousness: "Let the man of God be perfect, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). For this reason Christ Himself commands: Examine the Scriptures! (John 5:39). The Lord commands us to learn unceasingly in His law: "Let not the book of this law depart from thy mouth, and let thou learn in it day and night, that thou mayest understand all that is written: then shalt thou prosper, and straighten thy ways" (Joshua 1:8). The Holy Scriptures are a candle shining in a dark place: "Thy law is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my paths" (Psalm 118:105). It is a guide that leads us to God our Creator, a spiritual mirror that shows our soul the vices so that we can cleanse them through repentance, a fragrant pharmacy in which there are various remedies for spiritual infirmities. If anyone suffers from the disease of pride and arrogance, there he will find that everyone who exalts himself will humble himself: and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11), will stand next to the publican, and, not daring to lift up his eyes to heaven, will lament over his sins. If anyone is sick with the sickness of the love of money, he will hear the voice of God: "Foolishness, this night thy soul shall be taken from thee, and what thou hast prepared for whomsoever" (Luke 12:20), and, terrified by this voice, he will be healed. If someone is faint-hearted, if he doubts something, if he suffers from the illness of unbelief, he will find there for himself a cure; in despair, he will find there hope in God's mercy and will see that the merciful Heavenly Father receives with outstretched hands fornicators, adulterers, tax collectors, robbers and other great sinners who come to Him with a broken heart, and commands all the Heavenly Powers to rejoice in their conversion: joy is before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10), says Christ, encouraging us, faint-hearted, with such mercy. In a word, no matter who has any spiritual weakness, in the Holy Scriptures he will find an undoubted cure for himself. It enlightens the mind in faith, strengthens the will to good works, inspires hope, and thus all the three theological virtues – faith, hope and love, without which it is impossible to be saved, it implants in our hearts with the help of Him Who handed down these Scriptures to us in His goodness.

When we wish to listen to or read the Word of God for the benefit of the soul, then we must cleanse our heart of everything that the Word of God does not allow into it. A watered sponge cannot take anything into itself until they squeeze out of it what it is filled with. In the same way, the human heart, occupied with various lusts and cares, cannot admit the Word of God into itself. Thus, it is necessary that our heart should not be a road along which various lusts and vain thoughts go, on which the sown Word of God is eaten by the birds of the air, that is, by the spirits of wickedness in high places. It is necessary that our heart should not be made of stone, that is, insensitive, so that the seed of the Word of God does not wither from the sorrows of worldly cares. It is necessary that it should not be choked by the thorns of love of money, covetousness, voluptuousness, and other whims. This means that the heart must be good ground for him, so that it can bear fruit in a hundred, or sixty, or at least in thirty. Having thus cleansed the heart, it is necessary to approach the hearing of the Word of God with fear and joy. With fear, thinking of the majesty of Him Who gave it, for He is God, the King of Heaven. With joy. Thinking of the goodness of Him Who, through His holy Word, deigned to converse with us, the poor, the needy, and the outcast, and did not hesitate to send us His Scriptures, as a friend sends a letter to his friend. Judge for yourselves what this joy must be: if an earthly king writes a letter to someone on his behalf, do you know with what delight the one who receives it reads this letter? How many times he reads it, kisses it, almost does not let it go from his hands, is comforted by it day and night, and boasts to his friends and neighbors: "The Emperor himself has honored me with his letter!" But the King of Heaven, our God and Creator, sent His Scriptures to man through the prophets and apostles, as a letter to His friend, and in it He declared how He loves man, protects him, and to what He leads him, calls him to Himself, and promises him with Him the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Read and hear, O man, this Scripture, as if it were written to you; read it as a letter from the King of Heaven, from God and your Creator, sent to you as a sign of His love and mercy for you. And you will read or listen to the Word of God with great joy. At the same time, pray diligently with St. David: "Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Thy law" (Psalm 118:18). This prayer of yours will be a conversation to God, and your reading or. hearing the Word of God will be God's conversation with you: through your prayer you will speak to God, and God through His holy Word will instruct, admonish, exhort, and console you. What a sweet and desirable conversation — God with man, the Creator with His creation, the Lord conversing with His servant! Approaching the hearing of the Word of God, take as an example that same pious Mary who forsook all domestic care and, sitting at the feet of Jesus, heard His word. Amen.

(From the Sermon of St. Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, on the Day of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple)

690. The Four Saints Paraskeva

The name Paraskeva is one of our favorite names in Russia. This word is Greek, in Russian it means "Friday". Unfortunately, many Christian women bearing the name of Paraskeva know various superstitious legends about the veneration of the Twelve Fridays, and do not know at all who were the saints of God whose names they bear. And the Holy Church honors the memory of the four saints of God – Paraskevi, but has not established any Fridays in their honor. On the superstitious veneration of the 12 Fridays, read our leaflet No 559, and here we offer brief stories about the four holy Paraskevi.

1. Paraskeva the Martyr

The Holy Gospel tells how Christ the Savior conversed with a Samaritan woman who believed in Him and then suffered for Him together with her five sisters and two sons. Among these sisters-martyrs was St. Paraskeva. All of them suffered in Rome under the emperor Nero, who ordered to beat off their hands with a hammer on an anvil, then crucify them on crosses. For three days the sufferers hung on crosses upside down, and every day they were beaten with ox sinews, then they tore the skin off their heads, cut off their nipples, and finally cut off their holy heads. Only the eldest sister, St. Photinia the Samaritan, suffered for 20 days in a gloomy prison, and then was thrown into a well. Their feast day is 20 March.

2. Paraskeva the Venerable Martyr

This Saint Paraskeva was a native of Rome, the daughter of Christian parents. After the death of her parents, she distributed all their possessions to the poor, took monastic form and departed from Rome with the preaching of the Gospel, converting many to Christ. The Jews slandered her to the governor Antoninus, who at first by caresses and threats forced her to renounce Christ, then ordered a red-hot copper helmet to be put on her head and thrown into boiling oil. But God preserved her unharmed, and the governor turned to faith in Christ.

After this Saint Paraskeva again went to preach the faith of Christ. The governor of a certain city, a certain Asclicius, demanded that she renounce Christ, and when Saint Paraskeva did not agree to this, he gave orders to take her outside the city to a certain cave, where a terrible serpent nested, so that this serpent would tear her to pieces. But the saint killed him with the sign of the cross, and Asclitius, struck by this miracle, believed in Christ. And Saint Paraskeva again went to the apostolic feat. And again in a certain city the governor Tarasius began to compel her to worship idols. Saint Paraskeva endured many fierce torments from him, and finally she was beheaded at the head. The memory of this nun-martyr is celebrated on July 26.

3. St. Paraskeva