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SerbianOrthodoxChurch.net |
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The great heavenly glory attained by St Simeon, who held the holy Saviour in his arms, is clearly attested in this incident taken from the life of St Peter the Athonite (June 12th). As a military commander, Peter was taken captive in some battle, bound and cast into prison in the town of Samara on the banks of the Euphrates. Lying long in prison, Peter begged St Nicolas with tears to pray God for him, that he might be freed from prison, vowing that he would consecrate himself wholly to God. St Nicolas appeared to him in a dream and said that he had prayed for him, but that God was delaying his deliverance because he, Peter, had earlier made a similar vow and had not fulfilled it. St Nicolas then advised him to pray to St Simeon `who has great power before God, and stands near His throne with the most holy Mother of God and St John the Forerunner'. Peter followed this advice and began to pray to St Simeon. St Nicolas appeared to him again - this time with St Simeon and in a vision, not a dream. Peter saw Simeon, wonderful in appearance with light streaming from his countenance. He was clad in the robes of a priest of the Old Covenant and bore a golden sceptre in his hand. St Simeon said to Peter: `Do you wish to fulfil your vow and become a monk?' Peter replied: `Yes, Lord, with the help of God.' Then Simeon touched Peter's fetters lightly with his sceptre and they melted as if made of wax. And he opened the door of the prison and led Peter out. Let me ponder on the Lord Jesus as the foundation stone: 1. As the foundation stone in the building of personal character. 2. As the foundation stone of families and peoples. 3. As the foundation stone of every social change and under-taking thatisforthegood of mankind. -on the Spirit of God, who speaks through those who bear this Spirit within them. 'Take no thought what ye shall speak ... for the Spirit of your Father speaketh in you' (Matt. 10:19-20). These are the words of Him who knows all things and who has revealed to the world things that were known to none before His coming into it. If a man is filled with the Spirit of God, he speaks not from his human spirit but the Spirit of God speaks in and through him. He is then only an instrument of the Spirit of God, through which God the Spirit speaks. And when such a man speaks, he speaks infallibly and none find falsehood in his speech save those who, through the twistedness of their minds, regard truth as false-hood. The speech of those who are filled with the Spirit of God is demonstrated clearly in the prophets and even more clearly in the apostles. The speech of the apostles seemed so strange and unusual to foreigners, that is, to those who had not the Spirit of God within themselves and who knew only earthly speech, that they thought the apostles drunk. I mention in passing those who first began to speak of the hidden wonders of the physical world, of steam as motive energy, of magnetism, electricity, wireless telegraphy and conversa-tion at a distance, who all appeared as drunken, and were a laugh-ingstock to the ignorant. If this is so, how could those who spoke by the Spirit of God of the innumerable hidden mysteries of the spiritual kingdom not appear drunken and be laughing-stocks? Whosoever humbles himself before God, him God exalts. The Spirit of God makes His abode in a humble heart and thence speaks through a man's mouth. That is confirmed not only in the apostles and prophets but in sons and daughters of God without number. O gracious Lord, take not Thy Holy Spirit from us. To Thee be glory and praise for ever. Amen. |
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SerbianOrthodoxChurch.net * From "The Prologue from Ochrid", by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic - Lazarica Press - Birmingham 1985 Four Book Edition - Translated by Mother Maria - Dates based on old church calendar. Please see our calendar for conversion between old and new calendar dates. |