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 5th of February, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy Martyr AGATHA.
Saint Agatha, the holy Martyr, was from Catania of Sicily. This wealthy maiden was conspicuous for the beauty of both her body and soul. At that time, the impious Decius reigned (249-251 A.D.) Lusting to rule, he had murdered Philip, called the Arabian (244-249 A.D.), so he might seize the throne. To corroborate his claim that he did not slay Philip, he charged the former Emperor with being one who revered the One called the Christ.
Thereupon, Decius instigated a great persecution against Christians. The most vile man installed his princes and governors in all cities and lands, commanding them to seek the Christians diligently. Utilizing every manner and method, they were to exterminate the Christians and the name of Christ. The harshest and most savage of his Prefects, Quintianus, was appointed as Governor of Sicily. In addition to this man’s other base actions, he was guilty of three sins: first, though he was a man of coarse and peasant stock, yet he attained his rank by evil dealings; second, he was immersed in the mire of carnality; and third, he was exceedingly fond of money.
At that time, in Catania, the comely and lovely maiden Agatha was a fifteen-year old virgin. Both her body and soul were adorned with various virtues and good works, for she put to death all ungodliness. Disdaining carnal-mindedness, Agatha desired only to be a bride of Christ. This God-instructed maiden worshiped only the crucified Christ Whom she loved with all the power of her soul, in accordance with the Divine command: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy mind, and with all soul, and all thy strength” [Deuteronomy 6:5].
Saint Agatha surpassed all other virgins in three ways: first, she was the daughter of one of the most noble houses; second, she was the most exquisite of all the maidens in that city; and third, she possessed both movable and stationary property which she, personally and compassionately, lavished, without regard to cost or risk, upon the poor. Moreover, she had consecrated her virginity to God; that is, she decided to preserve her bodily purity from defilement. Now it was not long before Quintianus learned of the excellent fame, virtues, and good deeds of Agatha. He then meditated upon the evil reasoning of his heart, saying to himself, “If, in some manner, I should bring Agatha to do my bidding, and take her to my wife, I would profit thrice! First, I shall fulfill my lust by possessing one of such beauty and comeliness of form. Second, with her as my wife, I shall share in the nobility of her blood, since I am of low birth and plebeian stock. Third, and above all, with my own hand, I shall be in charge of all of her wealth. Thus, I shall be richer than all others!”
Pondering upon these boons in his heart, the profane tyrant commanded that she be made to stand before him. Beholding and marveling at her beauty, as one out of his senses, he remained speechless for a long time. Afterward, he plied her with compliments, so that she might through flattery submit to his will. He also promised her many honors, majesty, and rank. However, the wise and beautiful damsel in no wise considered his nonsensical prattle. Instead, she delivered such a knowledgeable defense before him that he might immediately understand from the outset her immovable heart.
When Quintianus, who was devoid of understanding, beheld that he succeeded neither by his flattery nor by his promises, he summoned a certain wicked and indecent woman, named Aphrodisia (Frondisia). This disreputable woman had nine daughters who followed their mother’s example in leading a profligate lifestyle. Thus, all these women wallowed in the mire of carnal sins. The all-abominable Governor then addressed Aphrodisia and her daughters, saying, “Take this maiden to your house. Attempt in every way to master her resolve and bring her to your ways. If you should succeed and incline her to sensuality and to do my will, I shall bestow so much money upon you that you will leave off from your contemptible profession.”
Those shameless women then took the blessed Agatha into their house of ill-repute. For an entire month, they unceasingly afflicted and tormented the virgin, promising her great gifts and favors. Oftentimes, they terrorized her with diverse threats and punishments. They gave her little food and water, and hardly any rest. Through most of the night, they relentlessly attempted to incite her to partake in sensual pleasures and worldly vanities. The holy Agatha said to them, “My mind is founded and established in my Master Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone; whereas your words are as the wind, and your promises and threats as flowing rivers, which strike the tower of my mind. However, in no wise shall you shake it. The more you fight against it, the more you will find it firmly established in the love of my Creator.” After uttering this, Agatha wept and supplicated God to grant her peace, so she might enter quickly the expected and hoped-for Martyrdom.
After thirty days, Aphrodisia went to the Governor and said to him that she and her daughters had failed in their attempt to corrupt or frighten her with threats. The Governor became infuriated and he commanded that Agatha be brought before him. When this had been done he said to her, “Put away her faith in Christ and either offer sacrifice to my gods or expect destruction with the harshest punishments by me!” He commanded that she be led to prison. Soon after he demanded that she must immediately renounce Christ and sacrifice to the idols. When the Saint refused he ordered that the holy woman be completely undressed and that he hands be tied behind her back. His men were then ordered to suspend he from a pillar and flog her with bullwhips. Next, the executioners were to burn her all about her head, hands, and feet. The horrific tortures continued so as to increase the Saint’s suffering.
During her suffering, Saint Agatha beheld a sacred and august elder who was holding in his hands a vessel containing medicinal herbs. Before him there marched a handsome youth, bearing a radiant torch. The elder was the holy Apostle Peter, who was accompanied by Agatha’s guardian Angel. The holy maiden, at first, did not recognize them. The Apostle spoke to her, saying, “It is for this, O daughter, that I am come: to heal thy wounded members. “Now this, O daughter, that I am the Apostle Peter; and behold, I heal thee by the grace of Christ.” Upon uttering this, the Apostle of the Lord vanished, leaving the holy maiden instantly healed. All of Agatha’s members were restored without the slightest trace of the former gashes and wounds. The maiden then knelt to the ground and prayed to the Lord, eulogizing the favor, and said, “Blessed be God the Father and my Lord Jesus Christ Who, through His Apostle Peter, healed my breasts and the remaining wounded members of my body!”
The following day, the Saint was brought again into the palace, where the Governor said to her, “Make obeisance and worship my gods, O perverse girl, or indeed, thou shalt receive even grimmer chastisements!” She remarked, “O vain and frenzied man, why should I want to renounce my Master Who has healed by wounds, so that I might worship stones?” The Governor charged his men to ready a huge coal fire and ordered them to cast upon the burning coals not only pitch and tile shards but also iron-spiked instruments to pierce her flesh. The tyrant then ordered that Agatha be bound hand and foot with iron chains. She was thereupon cast into the flaming coals. God helped His handmaiden, as he once bedewed the Three Children in the fiery furnace [Daniel 3:20-27]. However, Saint Agatha suffered no ill-effects from the fire. She was thereupon cast into prison to await further orders from Quintianus.
In her cell, Saint Agatha knelt in prayer. She prayed to the Master Christ: “Lord Jesus Christ, my God, Who made from nothing and caused me to be in this world… Who empowered me to overcome the punishments of the impious tyrant… I entreat and supplicate Thy goodness to receive me this day in Thy glory, that I might be made worthy to behold with my spiritual eyes Thy Holy Countenance.” Praying thus, the Saint straightway reposed. Her soul, adorned with the beauties of true virginity and luminous with the splendors of Martyrdom, then was received into the hands of her Bridegroom, to rejoice with Him in unspeakable delight and everlasting glory. The year was 251 A.D. When the people learned the news of her repose, all hastened weeping to the prison. With profound reverence, they took up her holy and virginal body. They prepared the holy relics for interment with myrrh and other fragrant spices. Her precious holy relics were then wrapped in a clean linen cloth and piously laid to rest in a purple marble tomb.
During the hour that Saint Agatha was interred, a handsome and wondrous youth, of luminous appearance, entered the city bearing a marble slab in his hands. Before this youth, there advanced another hundred youths in rows of two. Their apparel was as white as snow and extremely beautiful. When they arrived at the grave of the Saint, their chief placed upon the tomb this very marble slab he had been bearing. Immediately, thereafter, that youth and his entire company disappeared. They were the holy Angels. The one who was carrying the marble slab was Saint Agatha’s guardian Angel. Upon that marble was written the following: “A holy and self-determining mind, honor from God, and redemption of country.” [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 