My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
On the 19th of December, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the
holy Martyr BONIFACE and Saint Aglais of Rome.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone
Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received as
the prize the crown of incorruption and life from Thee, our
Immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down
the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption.
O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone
Thou didst offer up thyself of thine own choosing as a spotless
sacrifice to Him that for thy sake, O Saint, shall soon be born of
a Virgin Maid, O all-renowned and wise crown-bearer Boniface.
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Saint Boniface, the holy Martyr, flourished during the years of the antichrist Emperor Diocletian who reigned from 284-305 A.D. Boniface was a slave in Rome. His mistress, the beautiful and statuesque Aglais, of distinguished lineage, was the widow of Senator and the daughter of Acacius the Proconsul of Rome. Coupled with her lovely countenance, she was extremely wealthy and mistress to property and many possessions. In a word, she possessed all those temporal good things of this life which are highly esteemed by those of this world. Aglais, a pampered and indulged woman, had given herself over to carnal pleasures. This lifestyle to which she had fallen prey was not uncommon to those in similar situations. Thus, in the midst of plenty and luxury, the will of the flesh prevailed.
Now Boniface, though a slave, was a man of learning, which was also not uncommon in that era. Apart from his good looks, he also was conspicuous for his sympathy and mercy toward poor people. His mistress, Aglais, had appointed him her personal secretary and established him as steward of her fortune and properties. He, being a man in the flesh, succumbed to a number of vices, chiefly being overcome by both wine and love for his mistress. Now that Aglais was a single woman–but well above his station and of a noble family, which convention made it impossible for them to be lawfully united–he fell into sin with her and they cohabited in illicit union. Despite his wayward conduct, he had several redeeming virtues, chiefly of compassion and hospitality, of which, to state the truth, he was incomparable. He had the custom that whenever he caught sight of some wayfarers, he took them to his dwelling and offered hospitality. In these deeds of kindness he was eager to distinguish himself. At any hour, he was ready to give drink to the thirsty and clothing to the naked; to those who asked for assistance, he was diligent to supply them abundantly. It was only his unwholesome affair with Aglais and his intemperance which restrained him from walking on the path to perfection. Nonetheless, in the Master Christ’s good time, which was to come shortly for Boniface–for his charity covered a multitude of sins–he would wash away the pollution of his flesh with the blood of martyrdom and become thoroughly cleansed and splendid to behold. Thus, for these two who sought the holy relics of the right victorious martyrs, Christ Himself devised salvation for both, permitting circumstances that made them eligible. Listen now, all of you sinners and every licentious person, and learn how Boniface and Aglais attained to the heavenly Kingdom, shunning what was evil and offering commensurate repentance.
At that time there was a great persecution against the Christians in the East, though the West enjoyed peace during that period. The persecution inaugurated under pagan Diocletian was being continued under Galerius Maximian and Maximinus Daia. The atrocities raged most fiercely in Cilicia under the maniacal pagan governor Simplicius. It was then that Aglais felt terror of being out of grace. She reconciled her anxieties somewhat when she conceived the salutary desire to obtain some sacred relics of the holy martyrs. She raised the matter with Boniface and spoke her mind regarding this commission; and her influence bore heavily upon him. She counted him not only faithful and diligent but also competent to bring the undertaking to a successful conclusion. She revealed to him her thoughts, saying, "Thou knowest, brother, how many sins we have committed and how we live for the pleasure of the moment. Thou knowest how many times we besmirched the image made according to God. Thou canst not be unaware that we shall suffer heavily for our misconduct with the everlasting punishment that awaits us. But, listen, I heard from a certain virtuous and pious elder that, whosoever renders honor to the holy relics, such a sone shall have a great reward and recompense from God Himself. Therefore, even as till now thou was eagerly disposed to execute that which was had, so also do thou fulfill this desire of mine which is soul benefitting and salvation for us.“ He took the meaning of her words seriously. He, therefore, earnestly undertook the commission as a sacred trust and a relief to his own conscience.
As Boniface bade farewell to Aglais, he smiled and said in teasing manner, "Mark you! If I should succeed in only bringing back my own relics, wouldest thou, milady, take me home again and honor these relics as those of a Saint?" He spoke these words in jest; but perhaps God enlightened him, thus revealing what would come to pass thereafter. Aglais put on a serious face and said, "This is not the time for fanciful joking, Boniface, but go forth in an orderly fashion, comporting thyself with piety in carrying out this charge. Be thou mindful that, regarding the sacred relics which thou art about to transfer, we are neither worthy to touch nor to gaze upon them with our eyes. Go, therefore, in peace. Boniface, now wise of soul, acknowledged his ugly and lawless deeds, he calmly and solemnly resolved to repent. He desire to become a friend of the Master Christ.
When he, therefore, arrived in Asia Minor, Boniface and his traveling party went to Tarsus of Cilicia, where many martyrs were struggling and suffering. Boniface left his comrades at the inn so that they might rest. He proceeded hurriedly to the stadium, where he beheld the contests of the Saints. They were being tortured with diverse punishments by pitiless and heartless executioners. The most valiant contestants for Christ rejoiced in their struggles, as they considered the future reward that awaited them. He, too, became imbued with similar zeal and drew closer to piety, saying, "Great is the God of the Christians Who helps His Saints!" He then cried out this statement aloud with a great voice, which many took as foolish bravado. They were twenty Christian athletes at that time in the arena. Boniface, fell before the martyrs’ feet and ardently planted kisses on those members.
The pagan Governor, Simplicius, observed this abrupt entry and summoned Boniface, inquiring, "Who at thou? Whence comest thou?" What seekest thou here?" Boniface answered, "I am a Christain, and my name is Boniface. I came from Rome purposely in order to give witness to the truth of my Christ." Simplicius ordered the executioners to lay hold of Boniface. They stretched him on the rack and administered a beating which slashed his flesh and exposed his bones. Boniface endured the wounds, gazing steadfastly upon the other martyrs. When the governor saw that Boniface was unyielding he commanded that sharp reeds be driven underneath his fingernails. The impious tyrant perceived that, thus far, torturing Boniface had come to nought, and that he was no closer to vanquishing the martyr’s resolve. He,therefore, contrived a harsher torture. He made his men to open Boniface’s mouth and pour molten lead down his throat. When the exeuctiones melted the lead to a boiling point, they took a funnel and poured it into the martyr’s mouth that it might enter his belly. He suffered no harm and exclaimed, "I give thanks to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God!"
The impious tyrant sentenced Boniface to death by Decapitation, charging him as one who outraged the gods and as a transgressor of the imperial decrees. When they arrived at the appointed place, Boniface requested a little time apart from the soldiers, which was granted to him. He stood facing the East and prayed, "My Lord and God send forth Thy mercies upon me. Do Thou stand by me and become my helper during this hour, lest the evil one should hinder me on account of my sins which I, the imprudent one, previously committed. But do Thou receive my humble soul in peace, and also number me, Thine unworthy slave, with those who kept the Faith from the beginning until the end…" After the Saint offered up his prayer, the executioner severed his blessed head. There flowed from the cut–O extraordinary Wonderworking! –milk and blood. The blood was a sign of nature, but the MILK SIGNIFIED HIS PURE WITNESS OF THE FAITH. All those present who beheld this Wonder were astonished. Thereupon, fiver hundred and fifty men came to believe in the Christ. This is the end that the goodly Boniface received from God, the Giver of grat things. Thus, Boniface also fulfilled and made most true his prophecy.
His companions retrieved the holy relics of Saint Boniface. As the companions joined the head with the body, Saint Boniface opened his eyes and gazed upon his companions with a friendly and gentle expression, filled with deep compassion. They then ransomed his holy relics with the sum of five hundred gold coins. They wrapped them in fine linen with myrrh and aromatic spices. The holy relics were placed in a costly chest. They place the holy relis in a litter and carried them back to Rome, giving glory to God. As they approached Rome, an Angel descended fro out of the heavens and appeared to Aglais and announced, "Rise and go out to meet thy former slave, but now brother of the Angels who has become our concelebrant. Receive thy former household manservant and now thy lord, and honor hm reverently as thy soul’s savior and thy life’s most useful guardian." Aglais rose trembling and hastened and called together the most distinguished and pious of the clergy. All together went out to meet the approaching Saint. They bestowed much honor upon his holy relics and memory, as they greeted them with a procession bearing lighted torches. Saint Boniface was laid to rest in a fitting place outside the city on Via Latina.
Afterward Aglais built a very beautiful and splendidly adorned church, in which the holy relics of Saint Boniface were enshrined. Extraordinary miracles are wrought even to this day.
The blessed Aglais turned her lifestyle around. She distributed all her wealth among the poor and to the monasteries, and freed all her slaves. She conducted the rest of her life with prudence, sobriety, and virtue, united with rigorous asceticism, that striving for sanctification proved God-pleasing. She worked miracles and cast out demons from sufferers. After fifteen years of ausere fasting and continual prayer, she ran the course well and reached the heavens. She surrendered her holy soul and was translated to the Lord. Her blessed relics were interred with those of her beloved Boniface, the wondrous and thrice-blessed one. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 