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 8th of October, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
our holy Mother PELAGIA, the former courtesan, of Antioch and
Jerusalem.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking
up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst
teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the
soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Pelagia, thy spirit
rejoiceth with the Angels.
Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone
With fasting didst thou consume thy body utterly; with vigilant
prayer didst thou entreat thy Fashioner that complete forgiveness
of thy former deeds be granted thee, which, O Mother, thou didst
receive. The path of repentance hast thou shown to us.
Our holy Mother Pelagia lived in Antioch during the reign of the pagan Roman Emperor Numerianus (283-284 A.D.). She was famous, wealthy, and extremely beautiful. Her soul, however, was sordid and defiled, and submerged in the morass of sensuality. She had no concerns other than to adorn her body and enhance her physical beauty with various cosmetics and expensive jewelry. Her goal was to attract lovers, thus plunging them into destruction. Many consumed their wealth and imperiled their lives and souls for her love. She owned many men and women servants. She boldly walked the streets with an incomparable appearance. The air about her was filled with scents of musk and perfumes which she heaped upon herself.
However, the All-compassionate and very Merciful Lord, not despising such an immodest and profane harlot, but as the Foreknower of the future, knew how much repentance she would later accomplish. Hence, in the following manner, He enlightened the eyes of her soul that she might know the truth.
In those days, at the See of Antioch, the Church assembled to discuss a certain issue. Numbered among the bishops was the very virtuous Nonnos. A marvellous man, he led a life equal to that of the Angels. He was learned and skillful in the knowledge of the Divine Scripture. Instructing the Orthodox Christians in what was beneficial to their souls, he gave a wonderful sermon outside the Church of Saint Julian. The wisdom of his words astonished all, because it was manifest that the Holy Spirit enlightened him. By the sweetness of his words, he attracted many sinners to repentance.
Now it happened that, at the very hour while he was preaching, Pelagia rode by in her carriage. Bedecked with her usual adornments, she also permeated the air with the fragrance of perfumes. All were dumbfounded by the brilliance of hte precious stones which she bore upon her person. Beholding such a shameless display, the other hierarchs turned their eyes away at the sight of her. However, the blessed Nonnos knew that oftimes what is contrary can bring benefit and fruit. By means of this, which incites the pleasures of the flesh, he would kindle divine love in the soul. Gazing a long while upon the harlot, he sighed deeply and wept sufficiently that he soaked his garments. He thought himself most unhappy, because he deemed the harlot’s adornments as evidence of his own condemnation.
He then said to the bystanders, "Woe and alas unto us, the negligent and useless ones! Indeed, we shall be ashamed during the hour of Judgment by this harlot who, to please mortal men, diligently adorns herself, so she might enjoy a little, but bitter, pleasure. We, the mindless ones, indifferently dismiss, without regard, the soul, instead of preferring the Immortal and Living God. Moreover, we prefer what is vain and perishable, theus insulting and disdaiing our dignity. Thereupon, we suffer loss of that ineffable and wonderful delight of perpetual blessedness, thus, we are to be condemned to everlasting damnation for our negligence."
This and many other soul-benefitting illustrations were given by that sacred man. Upon finishing, he went to his cell and prayed alone to God all that day, uttering with tears: "O Most High and very compassionate One, pardon my negligence; for one day of that harlot’s diligence surpasses the strength of all my life to adorn my soul as a habitation to Thee. What excuse, therefore, shall I find before Thee, Who knows all the secrets of the heart? Woe is me, the wretched one! I am unworthy to enter Thy holy altar and am not adorned according to Thy Divine will. Nonetheless, O Lord, do not condemn me on that day of examination, because I am desolate of every virtue and have not kept even one of Thy Commandments."
In the crowd of listeners was Pelagia. Now she was not there for the sake of piety, for she never went to church previous to this day. Her presence was solely the divine behest and oeconomy of the Compassionate God Who wills that ALL "BE SAVED AND COME TO A FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH" [1 Timothy 2:4]. The harlot listened to the bishop’s sermon on the soul, the righteous judgment of God, and His Tribunal. Then–O the wonder!–she, who was previously immodest, CAME TO CONTRITION. She bitterly wept and despised her loathsome deeds, and desired only the True Lover and Bridegroom, Christ.
Pelagia then sent two of her servants to follow Nonnos and learn where he dwelt. After they had done so, she sent him a letter which stated: "To the holy bishop and disciple of Christ: from the disciple of the devil, Pelagia, an open sea of iniquities, renders abject homage. I have heard, O Saint of God, from a certain Christian, that the Master came NOT "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" [Matthew 9:13]; and that He does NOT despise even loathsome harlots, thieves, and tax collectors. Much rather, He, Whom the Cherubim dare not gaze upon, associated and conversed with them. If, therefore, thou art also the servant and athlete of such a Teacher, show forth unto me this work. Do not loathe me the harlot who is, as thee, of the same race and a fellow slave. Instead, vouchsafe me, I entreat thee, to confess my sins to thee that I may save my soul through thee."
After reading this letter, the holy Nonnos hesitated. He did not wish to speak alone with her. Therefore, he ordered that she go to the church, when the other hieararchs were present, and say all that she desired. Pelagia seized the opportunity and went to the church. She then bowed to the ground and soaked the feet of the bishop with her tears, as the harlot of Christ’s times [Luke 7:38]. With the flow of her tears, she said in a great voice, "Take compassion on the sinner, O holy father, and imitate thy Master. Baptize me and guide me unto repentance, because I am a sea of iniquity, an abyss of destruction, and the devil’s snare and spoil; for by reason of me, many have gone to damnation. Now, by the grace of God, I regret my harlotry and seek repentance, so I might not be condemned eternally."
This divine change, wrought by the Right Hand of the Most High, was witnessed by the hierarchs. Only by constraining her did they make her rise up. The holy Nonnos then said to her. "The rules of the Church order that a harlot may not be baptized if she cannot produce certain to go surety for her that she will no longer return to her former sins." Upon hearing this requisite for Holy Baptism, she fell prostrate to the ground. Weeping, she said, "May my sins hang upon thy neck! Indeed, shouldest thou delay and not baptize me as quickly as possible, at the hour of judgment, wouldest then be able to give a word concerning my soul? I desire to receive spiritual rebirth so that I might be presented to the pure Bridegroom Christ as a pure and blameless bride. This is because I fear that, if I delay receiving Baptism, the supplanner (the devil) shall ensnare me again and cast me into my former wanton behavior."
When holy Nonnos heard her firm resolve, he glorified God at such repentance. Therefore, after she made her confession, he asked her for her name. She answered, "From the beginning I was called Pelagia. However, when the people admired the abundance and beauty of the many precious stones and pearls that I wore, they called me ‘Margaro.’ The bishop then baptized her in the name of the Holy Trinity, naming her "Pelagia." Her sponsor, or godmother, was a certain virtuous deaconess, the Nun Romana. At the completion of the Divine Liturgy, Pelagia communicated the immaculate Mysteries. All the people celebrated the occasion of the salvation of her soul, each deeming this happiness his own, since the supplanter was vanquished.
The blessed Pelagia went to the Mount of Olives where she remained immured for three years in a cell. She was unknown to all, since she took on a man’s appearance. She struggled and accomplished so many virtues against the devil and fears of wrestling that only God, Who sees the secret things, knows them. She became known as Eunuch Pelagios, a virtuous monk but no one knew that she was the former Pelagia. Her flesh was wasted from extreme continence. She was only skin and bones, and appeared a frightful sight. After a short time, it was heard by all that at the skete (a small monastic community) that Palagios had gone to the Lord. Therefore, man assembled not only from Jerusalem but also from Jordan, Jericho and surrounding parts to bury with great reverence the holy relics.
According to Tradition, the relics were to be anointed with holy myrrh. When this was about to be done, it was discovered that Father Pelagios was a woman. Astonished, all glorified the Lord Who empowered her to battle against the enemy and decisively defeat him. The fame of this discovery spread in the surrounding countryside, People converged and contende one with the other to honor and embrace the holy relics. Holy men then devoutly took up the relics, followed by a crowd bearing candles and censers. Thus, she was honorably buried as was fitting.
We have now concluded the life of this former harlot. Let us, therefore, emulate her repentance. Let us distance ourselves from what is bad and from this point move forward. Do we sin and defile the temple of the Lord, that is, our flesh? Let us weep, fast, and mortify our perishable bodies, so we may not be eternally condemned. Let us meditate upon death every hour, that we might defeat the pleasures of the flesh and rejoice with Christ Jesus the Lord, to Whom is due all glory, honor, and Veneration unto the ages of ages. Amen. [Resources: 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 