Saints Cyril & Methodius
Bulgarian Orthodox Mission
(web address: www.bocdc.org)
Meeting
at St. Luke Orthodox Church
6801
Georgetown Pike, PO Box 1015
Mc Lean, VA 22101
St. Cosmas the Bulgarian
(Commemorated
on Septebmer 22)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH
Orthodox Church in America
Diocese of Washington
Saint Cosmas, Hermit of Zographou, was a Bulgarian. In his
youth he avoided entering into marriage, and secretly left his parents' home
for Mount Athos. Then as he was on his way to the Holy Mountain, the devil
tried to shake the yearning of the youth, vexing him with a vision of the
infinite abyss of the sea surrounding the Holy Mountain. The fervent prayer of
the youth dispelled the demonic temptation.
On Athos, St Cosmas was accepted in the Zographou
monastery. There he was a novice for a long time, and then he was tonsured, and
was appointed ecclesiarch. St Cosmas received a special mercy to see the
heavenly abbess of Mount Athos Herself, Who on the Feast of the Annunciation at
the Vatopedi monastery deigned to reveal to him a glimpse of Her care for Her
earthly appanage. He saw a Woman of royal majesty and grandeur, Who attended to
both in church for services, and in the trapeza. All the monks served and
obeyed Her.
Soon the saint was ordained as deacon, and then as
presbyter, which inspired him to new exploits. Zealous for salvation, the saint
through fervent prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos was granted a particular sign
of Her special favor. He heard the voice of the Mother of God issuing from Her
holy icon and asking Her Son, "How will Cosmas be saved?" The Lord
answered, "Let him withdraw from the monastery into silence." After
obtaining the blessing of the Superior, St Cosmas withdrew into the wilderness,
and there in a cave cut into a cliff, and began his new deed of silent
seclusion. God did not forsake the faithful man of prayer, for the saint was
granted the gift of clairvoyance.
Just as at the start of his ascetic life, the Enemy of the
race of mankind again tried to dissuade the saint from his intended path, and
so the final days before the righteous one's death were also a grievous trial
for him.
Not long before the death of God's chosen one, he was
granted a vision of Christ Himself, Who informed the saint that before his soul
would depart to the heavenly Kingdom, Satan himself with his hosts would beat
and gnash at him. Prepared for the suffering by this divine solace, the saint
bravely underwent the terrible demonic assaults, and on the third day after
furious beatings, he received the All-Pure Mysteries. With words of praise on
his lips, he peacefully departed to the Lord.
God, "Who glorifies those who glorify Him," also
glorified St Cosmas miraculously at his death. At the time of the saint's
burial a multitude of beasts and birds flocked to his cave, as though sensing
the common loss of the Holy Mountain. When they placed his body in the grave
and began to cover it with ground, each of the speechless creatures let out a
mournful cry, bestowing final respect to the saint of God.
Forty days later, when the brethren opened the saint's tomb
after the all-night Vigil (as was customary), in order to transfer them to the
monastery with honor, they were not to be found. The Lord hid them in a
miraculous manner. This occurred in the year 1323.
Schedule of Divine
Liturgies at SS Cyril & Methodius
Sept. 27 - Ven. Sergius, Wonderworker of
Radonezh (1392)
Oct. 11 - Ven. John, Abbot of Rila in Bulgaria
(celebrated on Oct. 19)
Oct. 25 - Holy Greatmartyr Demetrius of
Thessalonica (ca. 306)
Nov. 8 - St. Michael the Archangel and the
Bodiless Powers of Heaven
Nov. 22 - Entry of the Theotokos into the
Temple; Righteous Michael the Soldier, of Bulgaria (866)
Dec. 6 - St.
Nicholas the Wonderworker (ca. 345)
Dec. 20 - Forefeast of the Nativity
of Christ
Saints Commemorated
Today
16th
SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 7 (1st of Luke).
Martyrs Callistratus and his company (49 Martyrs—ca. 304). Ven. Savvatii
(Sabbatius), Wonderworker of SolovŽtsky Monastery (1435). Apostles Mark,
Aristarchus, and Zenas, of the Seventy (1st c.). Martyr Epicharis of Rome (3rd
c.). Ven. Ignatius, Abbot in Asia Minor (963-75).
Ss. Cyril and Methodius is meeting regularly at St. Luke
Orthodox
Church, 6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101.
From
I-495 (Beltway). Take the VA-193/Georgetown Pike exit,
"Langley/Great
Falls" east for 1 mile. St. Luke Orthodox Church is
on the
right .3 miles after St. Luke Catholic Church.
Bulgarian Orthodox Mission
Ss. Cyril and
Methodius
6801 Georgetown Pike,
McLean, VA 22101
TEL
(703)385 2049
bgchurchdc@gmail.com
www.bocdc.org