On the 16th of July, The Feast of Hieromartyr Athenogenes, Bishop of Sevasti in Armenia and the Commemoration of the Six Ecumenical Synods

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 16th of July, The Feast of Hieromartyr Athenogenes, Bishop of Sevasti
in Armenia and the Commemoration of the Six Ecumenical Synods.

He lived in a monastery near the town with ten of his disciples. In the time of the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian, a fierce persecutor of Christians called Philomarchus came to Sevasti. He arrested and killed many of the Christians in the town. When he saw Athenogenes and his disciples, he told the elder to sacrifice to idols, that they should not perish as had the other Christians. Athenogenes replied: "O Torturer, those whom you describe as having perished have not perished, but are in heaven and make merry with the Angels!" There was a touching moment when a deer, which had been hand-fed by the compassionate Athenogenes, ran up to him, and, seeing hm in such straits, shed tears. Wild animals of the hills had more pity on the martyrs than did the pagans. After harsh torture, during which an Angel of God comforted them, they were all beheaded, firs the priets and fellow-workers of Athenogenes and then Athenogenes himself, and went to their heavenly home in the year 311 A.D.

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SIX ECUMENICAL SYNODS.

This common commemoration of the First Six Ecumenical Synods is held on the Sunday between July 13th and 19th.

The Ecumenical Synods are the greatest duels between Orthodoxy and the heretics. Today, the Church commemorates the First Six Synods together:

The First Ecumenical Synod in Nicaea in 325 A.D., at which 318 Holy Fathers were present. It is commemorated on May 29th and n the 7th Sunday after the All-Holy Pascha. This Synod refuted the Arian heresy against God the Son.

The Second Synod in Constantinople in 381 A.D., was attended by 150 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on May 22nd. This Synod refuted the heresy of Macedonius against God the Holy Spirit.

The Third Synod was in Ephesus in 431 A.D., with 200 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on September 9th. This Synod refuted the Nestorian heresy against the Mother of God, the Theotokos.

The Fourth Synod was in Chalcedon in 451 A.D., with 630 Holy Fathers present. It is commemorated on July 6th. This Synod refuted the Monophysite heresy. The Monophysites taught that the human nature of the Savior had been absorbed by His Divine Nature, and therefore they acknowledged one ONE NATURE.

The Fifth Synod was in Constantinople in 553 A.D., with 160 Holy Fathers, and is commemorated on July 25th. This Synod refuted the heresy of Origin. The Fifth Ecumenical Synod (Second Synod of Constantinople anathematized Origen and his teachings. This condemnation ws for specific doctrines, including the pre-existence of the soul and the APOKATASIS (the idea that all will eventually be saved, including even fallen angels and demons.

The Sixth Synod was in Constantinople in 691 A.D., with 170 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on January 23rd. This Synod refuted the Monothelite heresy. The Monothelites taught that in Christ there was only ONE WILL–namely, the Divine Will.

The Seventh Ecumenical Synod, held in 787 A.D. with 367 Holy Fathers present, is not commemorated on this occasion, but on its own on October 11th. This Synod refuted the ICONOCLAST HERESY. This heresy began in the first half of the 7th century and continued to disturb the Church for more than 100 years. Directed AGAINST THE VENERATION OF ICONS, it touched also on other aspects of the faith and Church order (for example, THE VENERATION OF SAINTS).
The heresy was condemned at the Seventh Ecumenical Synod in 787, and the final triumph of Orthodoxy occurred in 842 under Saint Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople at that time there was established the feast of the "TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY," which is observed by the Church up to now (on the First Sunday of Holy and Great Lent). [Resources: The Prologue from Ochrid]

___________
"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