Christ is risen!
Today the Church honors the memory of St. Emmelia, the mother of Basil the Great, who rested peacefully in the monastery where she lived with her daughter Macrina. We also celebrate the memory of St. Isaac the Confessor, Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery.
Isaac was a native of Syria and lived under King Valis, who supported the followers of Arius. It was a harsh imperial decision to forbid the Orthodox from using their churches.
At that time, around 364 AD, Wales was preparing for a campaign against the Goths who were threatening Constantinople. Enlightened by the Blessed God, Isaac went and asked the king to return the temples so that he could have the blessing of God and return from the war victorious. He even warned him that otherwise he too would be killed by the barbarians. The priest's appeals were not heeded and in fact Wales was killed. Then Isaac, with his spiritual experiences, appeared in the minds of the faithful as a God-pleaser and was honored by the people, who willingly built a monastery there to always have him with them. In this monastery, which received the name of Dalmata, from his successor in the hegumenate named Dalmatos, Isaac the Confessor rested in Christ in his old age.
Once again it is affirmed that the Risen Christ singles out courageous men of Faith, moderation and dignity who do not hesitate to confess the truth and enlighten rulers out of love for a righteous God, to secure the rights of man.
Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!
Bishop Grigoriou of Mesaoria
Today the Church honors the memory of St. Emmelia, the mother of Basil the Great, who rested peacefully in the monastery where she lived with her daughter Macrina. We also celebrate the memory of St. Isaac the Confessor, Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery.
Isaac was a native of Syria and lived under King Valis, who supported the followers of Arius. It was a harsh imperial decision to forbid the Orthodox from using their churches.
At that time, around 364 AD, Wales was preparing for a campaign against the Goths who were threatening Constantinople. Enlightened by the Blessed God, Isaac went and asked the king to return the temples so that he could have the blessing of God and return from the war victorious. He even warned him that otherwise he too would be killed by the barbarians. The priest's appeals were not heeded and in fact Wales was killed. Then Isaac, with his spiritual experiences, appeared in the minds of the faithful as a God-pleaser and was honored by the people, who willingly built a monastery there to always have him with them. In this monastery, which received the name of Dalmata, from his successor in the hegumenate named Dalmatos, Isaac the Confessor rested in Christ in his old age.
Once again it is affirmed that the Risen Christ singles out courageous men of Faith, moderation and dignity who do not hesitate to confess the truth and enlighten rulers out of love for a righteous God, to secure the rights of man.
Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!
Bishop Grigoriou of Mesaoria
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