Eastern Rite ~ Feasts of 12 July AM 7534

Today is the Seventh Sunday After Holy Pentecost, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils, & the Feasts of the Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarion and of Our Venerable Father Michael of Maleon.

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The Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.

In the Ninth Article of the Nicea-Constantinople Symbol of Faith proclaimed by the holy Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, we confess our faith in “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.” By virtue of the Catholic nature of the Church, an Ecumenical Council is the Church’s supreme authority under the Pope and possesses, with the Supreme Pontiff's assent, the competence to resolve major questions of church life. An Ecumenical Council is comprised of archpastors and pastors of the Church, and representatives of all the local Churches, from every land of the “oikumene” (i.e. from all the whole inhabited world).

The First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I) (May 29, and also on the seventh Sunday after Pascha) was convened in the year 325 against the heresy of Arius, in the city of Nicea in Bithynia under Saint Constantine the Great, Equal of the Apostles.

The Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople I) (May 22) was convened in the year 381 against the heresy of Macedonias, by the emperor Theodosius the Great.

The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus) (September 9) was convened in the year 431 against the heresy of Nestorius, in the city of Ephesus by the emperor Theodosius the Younger.

The Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon) (July 16) was convened in the year 451, against the Monophysite heresy, in the city of Chalcedon under the emperor Marcian.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council (Constnatinople II) (July 25) “Concerning the Three Chapters,” was convened in the year 553, under the emperor Justinian the Great.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople III) (January 23) met during the years 680-681, to fight the Monothelite heresy, under the emperor Constantine Pogonatos.

The fact that the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicea II) is not commemorated today testifies to the antiquity of today’s celebration. The Seventh Council, commemorated on the Sunday nearest to October 11, was convened at Nicea in the year 787 against the Iconoclast heresy, under the emperor Constantine and his mother Irene.

The Church venerates the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils because Christ has established them as “lights upon the earth,” guiding us to the true Faith. “Adorned with the robe of truth,” the doctrine of the Fathers, based upon the preaching of the Apostles, has established one faith for the Church. The Ecumenical Councils, are the highest authority in the Church. Such Councils, guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and accepted by the Pope, are infallible.

The Ecumenical Councils were always convened for a specific reason: to combat false opinions and heresies, and to clarify the Church’s teaching. But the Holy Spirit has thus seen fit, that the dogmas, the truths of faith, immutable in their content and scope, constantly and consequently are revealed by the mind of the Church, and are given precision by the holy Fathers within theological concepts and terms in exactly such measure as is needed by the Church itself for its economy of salvation. The Church, in expounding its dogmas, is dealing with the concerns of a given historical moment, “not revealing everything in haste and thoughtlessly, nor indeed, ultimately hiding something” (Saint Gregory the Theologian).

The 150 Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council left their mark on the theology of the Church concerning the Holy Spirit, “repudiating the teaching of Macedonius, as one who wished to divide the inseparable Unity, so that there might be no perfect mystery of our hope.”

The 200 God-bearing Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council expounded the teaching that “Christ, the Incarnate Son of God is One.” They also confessed that “she who bore Him without seed was the spotless Ever-Virgin, glorifying her as truly the Mother of God.

The 630 Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council decreed that “the One Christ, the Son of God... must be glorified in two natures.”

The 165 God-bearing Holy Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council “in synod anathematized and repudiated Theodore of Mopsuestia (the teacher of Nestorius), and Origen, and Didymus, and Evagrius, renovators of the Hellenic teaching about the transmigration of souls and the transmutation of bodies and the impieties they raised against the resurrection of the dead.”

The 170 Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council “taught that we ought to confess two natural volitions, or two wills [trans. note: one divine, and the other human], and two natural operations (energies) in Him Who was incarnate for our salvation, Jesus Christ, our true God.”

In decisive moments of Church history, the holy Ecumenical Councils promulgated their dogmatic definitions, as trustworthy delimitations in the spiritual battle for the purity of the Catholic Faith, which will last until such time, as “all shall come into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4: 13). In the struggle with new heresies, the Church does not abandon its former dogmatic concepts nor replace them with some sort of new formulations. The dogmatic formulae of the Holy Ecumenical Councils need never be superseded, they remain always contemporary to the living Tradition of the Church. Therefore the Church proclaims:

In addition to their dogmatic definitions, the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils exerted great efforts towards the strengthening of church discipline. Local Councils promulgated their disciplinary canons according to the circumstances of the time and place, frequently differing among themselves in various particulars.

The universal unity of the Church required unity also in canonical practice, i.e. a conciliar deliberation and affirmation of the most important canonical norms by the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils. Thus, according to conciliar judgment, the Church has accepted: 20 Canons from the First, 7 Canons from the Second, 8 Canons from the Third, and 30 Canons from the Fourth Ecumenical Synods. The Fifth and the Sixth Councils concerned themselves only with resolving dogmatic questions, and did not leave behind any disciplinary canons.

Troparion — Tone 8

You are most glorious, O Christ our God, / You have established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, / and through them, You have guided all of us to the true Faith! / O greatly compassionate one, glory to You.

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “As the first fruits...”)
The preaching of the Apostles and the dog­mas of the Fathers sealed the one Faith of the Church; / and clad in the garment of truth woven of theology from on high, / it teaches aright and glorifies the great mystery of piety.

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The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarion were natives of the village of Kallippi, near Ancyra, and they suffered during the time of persecution under the emperor Trajan (98-117). Saint Proclus was put under arrest first. Brought before the governor Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor decided to compel the saint to submit himself to the emperor and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. During his tortures, the martyr predicted to Maximus that soon he himself would be compelled to confess Christ as the true God. They forced the martyr to run after the chariot of the governor, heading towards the village of Kallippi. Exhausted, Saint Proclus prayed that the Lord would halt the chariot. By the power of God, the chariot halted, and no force could move it from the spot. The dignitary sitting in it became petrified. The martyr told him that he would remain unmoving until such time as he would sign a document with a confession of Christ. Only after this could the chariot continue on its way with the governor.

The humiliated pagan took fierce revenge on Saint Proclus. He commanded that Proclus be led out beyond the city, tied to a pillar and shot with arrows. The soldiers, leading Saint Proclus to execution, told him to give in and save his life, but the saint said that they should follow their orders.

Along the way to the place of execution, they met Hilarion, the nephew of Saint Proclus, who with tears embraced his uncle and also confessed himself a Christian. The soldiers seized him, and he was thrown into prison. The holy Martyr Proclus prayed for his tormentors and surrendered his soul to God beneath a hail of arrows.

Saint Hilarion was brought to trial and, with the same courage as Saint Proclus, confessed himself as a Christian. After tortures, he was sentenced to death. They tied the martyr’s hands and dragged him by his feet through the city, wounded and bloody, and then they beheaded him three days after the death of his uncle, the holy Martyr Proclus. Christians buried them together in a single grave.

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs Proclus and Hilary, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “As You were voluntarily raised...”)
Like the morning star, / your glorious sufferings enlighten us with holy miracles. / We celebrate your memory, Proclus and Hilary; / pray to Christ God for us / that He will save our souls.

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Saint Michael lived during the reign of Emperor Constantine VI (913-959) until the reign of Basil II, the Bulgar-slayer (976 - 1025). He was born in Cappadocia to devout and wealthy parents, Eudókimos and Anastasó (Ἀναστασῶ). Eustáthios, his paternal grandfather, was a patrician; and his maternal grandfather, Adrálestos, held the rank of General of the East.

Manouḗl (the Saint's name in the world) was brought up in the east, but soon he realized the futility of worldly honours and goods. Around the year 925, he fled to Mount Kyminas (Όρος Κύμινας) in Bithynia. There he met a monk named John Heladites, an Elder of great virtue, and asked him if he might stay nearby. The Elder accepted him, but after a while, his father discovered where he was, and after many entreaties, he brought him home.

After a few months, however, and with the permission of his parents, he returned to his Elder, who received him with great joy. Soon he begged Father John to allow him to live alone in a cave, and the Elder blessed him to do this. For five days of the week, he devoted himself to fasting, vigil, and prayer. On Saturday and Sunday, he came to the monastery to participate in the Divine Services, and to partake of the Holy Mysteries.

After three years of probation, Manouḗl was tonsured as a monk with the name Michael. Later, after Elder John had reposed, Father Michael took the great inheritance he had received from his family and gave it away to the poor and the suffering.

Saint Michael was deemed worthy of ordination to the priesthood. From the Holy Scriptures, he showed how the priesthood ought to be combined with monasticism. He attained a high degree of dispassion, and he also received the gift of clairvoyance. He was very compassionate and kind toward people. He could not bear to let those who were in need or sorrow remain without help and consolation. By his ardent prayers, he performed many miracles.

Saint Michael also founded the famous Lavra of Kyminas, where many brethren received their spiritual formation. He had organized it as a cenobitic monastery, suffusing it with fraternal love. Many great ascetics passed through this Monastery, among whom was Saint Athanasios the Athonite (July 5), the founder of the Greatest Lavra (Μεγίστη Λαύρα) on the Holy Mountain. Kyminas Monastery was also renowned for its calligraphers, and for copying spiritual books.

Once the monastery was secure, Saint Michael went to an even more remote place, where he built a new monastery. Through his efforts, the whole mountain of Kyminas was covered with monastic communities, where constant prayers were offered for the entire world before the Throne of the Most High.

At an advanced age, but still vigorous in faith and in spirit, Saint Michael surrendered his holy soul to God in the year 962.

Troparion — Tone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, O holy Father Michael, rejoices with the angels.

Kontakion — Tone 2

By your deeds, you withered the arrogance of the flesh; / through enlightenment you gave wings to your agility of spirit. / You were revealed as a dwelling place of the Trinity, / Whom you now clearly behold. / Blessed Michael, unceasingly pray for us all.