Saint Jelena, Princess of Serbia

  

Princess Jelena (Elena) Branković-Berislavić was the wife of the Despot Stephen Štiljanović who is also venerated as a Saint. After his death around 1515, she fled to Germany in order to escape from the Turks.

Later, a light appeared at his grave by night, which led to the discovery of his holy relics. The Saint's body was kept for a long time in the monastery of Šišatovacnto at Fruška Gora. When she learned that her husband's incorrupt relics had been uncovered, Saint Jelena went to the monastery to venerate them. After witnessing the miracles which took place at his grave, she decided to remain there with the monastic name Jelisaveta. 

The only known historical source mentions Jelena Bogdanović in 1535. When, as a sign of gratitude for his loyalty, King Ferdinand granted the estate of Ešćen in Srem. There is no reliable information that they had offspring.

According to tradition, Princess Jelisaveta founded the Monastery of Petkovica in 1522.

As a nun, she lived in a monastery near Šišatovac, spending her days in fasting and prayer. She was buried in the vestibule of the Šišatovac Monastery Church, on the left side of the Relic of St. Stefan Štiljanović.

Petkovica Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located on Mount Fruška Gora, in the province of Vojvodina, northern Serbia. 

After a life of asceticism, Saint Jelena reposed in 1546 on October 4. There is reason to believe that she was buried at the Convent of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sremski Karlovci. 

Šišatovac Monastery Church situated on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina.

St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker

 

Saint Sergius of Radonezh (Russian: Се́ргий Ра́донежский, Sergii Radonezhsky; 14 May 1314 – 25 September 1392), also known as Sergiy Radonezhsky, Serge of Radonezh and Sergius of Moscow, was a spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia. Together with St. Seraphim of Sarov, he is one of the Russian Orthodox Church's most highly venerated saints. He is also the founder of Russian monasticism. 

His medieval biography states that he was born to Kiril and Maria, a boyar family, near Rostov (Yaroslavl Oblast), on the spot where Varnitsy Monastery now stands.

Trinity-Sergius Varnickiy Monastery

Sergius received the baptismal name of Bartholomew in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew. Although an intelligent boy, Bartholomew had great difficulty learning to read. His biography states that a starets (or spiritual elder) met him one day and gave him a piece of prosphora to eat, and from that day forward he was able to read. Orthodox Christians interpret the incident as being an angelic visitation.

When the Principality of Rostov fell into the hands of Prince Ivan Danilovich of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, his parents Kirill and Maria became impoverished and moved to Radonezh together with their three sons, Stefan, Bartholomew, and Peter. 

Upon his parents' death, Bartholomew went to Khotkovo near Moscow, where his older brother Stefan was a monk. He persuaded Stefan to find a more secluded place to live the ascetic life. In the deep forest at Makovets Hill they decided to build a small monastic cell and a church dedicated in honor of the Trinity. Thus started the history of the great Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

Village Khotkovo in Russia

In time, Stefan moved to a monastery in Moscow. Varfolomei (Bartholomew) was tonsured a monk and given the name Sergius, following which he spent more than a year in the forest alone as a hermit. Soon, however, other monks started coming to him and building their own cells. After some time, they persuaded him to become their hegumen (Abbot) and he was ordained to the priesthood. Following his example, all the monks had to live by their own labor. Over time, more and more monks and donations came to this place. Nearby, there appeared a posad, which grew into the town of Sergiev Posad, and other villages.

When the news of Sergius's accomplishments reached Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople, Philotheus sent a monastic charter to Sergius. During the reign of Dmitri Donskoi, his disciples started to spread his teaching across central and northern Russia. They settled intentionally in the most impracticable places and founded numerous monasteries, of which Borisoglebsky, Ferapontov, Kirillo-Belozersky and Vysotsky monasteries could be mentioned. Sergius was also connected with the foundation of two monastic communities in Moscow, Andronikov and Simonov monasteries. All in all, the disciples of Sergius founded about 40 monasteries, thus greatly extending the geographical extent of his influence and authority. Metropolitan Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow asked Sergius to become his successor but Sergius declined, preferring to remain a simple monk rather than be a bishop.

St. Sergius didn’t just start a monastery – he created a new system of monastic community. For example, monks had previously been prohibited from leaving the monastery to beg for food; thus, many monks became beggars and lived among laymen. Instead, every time food ran out, Sergius and his brethren fervently prayed for “daily bread”, and every time the monks were delivered from starvation. “Through his lengthy solitude, filled with toil and hardship, in the heart of a dense forest, he prepared to be the leader of the other monks,” historian Vasily Klyuchevsky wrote. The monks had a strict schedule; all of them, including Sergius himself, worked tirelessly – built churches, prepared food, split wood, sewed clothing, and fully sustained themselves. The monks lived a poor life and sometimes spent days without bread, but they were friendly to each other and, most importantly, kind to all those who visited them.

For his selfless monastic devotion, from the 15th century St. Sergius was already honored in Rus’ as “venerable” – meaning a monk who, through praying, fasting and toil, strove to be like Jesus Christ.

“Triptych. The Work of Sergius of Radonezh”, 1890s

As an ascetic, Sergius did not take part in the political life of the country. However, he blessed Dmitry Donskoy when he went to fight the Tatars in the signal Battle of Kulikovo field, but only after he was certain Dmitry had pursued all peaceful means of resolving the conflict. Some historians interpreted his political stance as aspiring to make peace and unite Russian lands under the leadership of Moscow.

The most exceptional feature of the life of St. Sergius is his humility. To relieve his brethren, he undertook the most lowly tasks in his monastery. He wore threadbare, patched garments so that people who met him failed to recognize him as the renowned abbot of Radonezh.

St. Sergius died on September 25, 1392. In the place where the Holy Trinity Cathedral is now located, his holy relics were uncovered. Not just his body, but also his clothes were completely incorrupt, although there was water all around. With a large confluence of pilgrims and clergy, in the presence of Prince Yuri Dimitrievich of Zvenigorod, on July 5, 1422, the precious remains were removed from the ground and temporarily placed in the wooden Holy Trinity Church. His incorrupt relics were found in 1422 and placed in the new cathedral of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra which he founded.

Original Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra Dormition Cathedral (Trinity Lavra of St Sergius)

Next to the Dormition Cathedral on Sobornaya Ploschad is the lavra's most ancient and important cathedral - the Trinity Cathedral. It was built in 1422 and was originally decorated with frescos by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Chyorny. These frescos were restored in the 17th century and at other periods, however original icons painted by Andrey Rublev remain in the cathedral's iconostasis. Also housed inside is the lavra's most sacred religious relic - the relics of St Sergius of Radonezh and you will often see queues of believers waiting to be able to pray at his shrine. The cathedral holds services daily, all year round.

St. Sergius of Radonezh is not only the patron saint of Russia, he also guides us on our life and helps in the search for our own spiritual path.

To Celebrate his feast day on September 25, you can visit a monastery and Divine Liturgy service. 

You can read "The Wonderful Life of Russia's Saint Sergius of Radonezh."  

You can even watch a video or two about the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker. 

Troparion — Tone 4
Athlete of virtues, / true warrior of Christ God, / you struggled mightily against the passions in this temporal life; / in psalmody, vigils, and fasting, you were an example to your disciples; / therefore, the most Holy Spirit dwelt in you, / and you were radiantly adorned by His activity. / Since you possess boldness before the Holy Trinity, / remember the flock which you gathered wisely, / and do not forget to visit your children as you promised, O Venerable Sergius our Father.

Troparion — Tone 8
In the purity of your life, you combined the stream of your tears with later ascetical contests of faith, / thereby exuding a spiritual font, O Venerable Sergius, / in which you wash the spiritual and bodily impurity of all those who lovingly revere your memory. / Therefore, we your children cry out to you: “O Father, pray to the Holy Trinity for our souls.”

Kontakion — Tone 8
Wounded by love for Christ, O venerable one, and following Him with unwavering desire, / you despised all carnal pleasures, and as the sun, you shone upon the land of your birth. / Therefore, Christ has enriched you with the gift of working miracles. / Remember us who honor your most illustrious memory, / that we may call to you: “Rejoice, O divinely-wise Sergius." 

St. Julian the Martyr of Galatia and 40 Martyrs with him

 

The Holy Martyr Julian lived during the fourth century not far from the ancient city of Ancyra in Turkey. A report was made to the governor of the district of Galatia that the Presbyter Julian was hiding in a certain cave with 40 others of the same persuasion, and that he was celebrating divine services there. They arrested Saint Julian and demanded that he reveal where the remaining Christians were hidden, but he refused.

The pagans ordered the holy priest to offer sacrifice to their gods, but he would not consent to this, either. Then they stripped him and placed him on a red-hot iron grate. The martyr signed himself with the Sign of the Cross, and an angel of the Lord cooled the flame. But Saint Julian remained unharmed.

Icon of St. Julian the Martyr of Galatia and 40 Martyrs with him

When the governor asked who he was and how he had quenched the fire, the martyr said: “I am a servant of God.” The torturers brought forth an old woman, the mother of the saint, and they threatened her that if she did not persuade her son to offer sacrifice to idols, then they would torture her. The brave woman answered that if they defiled her body against her will, this would not make her guilty of sin before God. On the contrary, it would constitute an act of martyrdom.

The humiliated torturers sent the old woman away, but they condemned Saint Julian to death. In his prayer the saint gave fervent thanks to God and asked that he be given strength to endure the sufferings. Saint Julian also asked a special grace from God: that those who take earth from the place of his burial be granted forgiveness of sins
and deliverance from passions, and that harmful insects and birds might not descend upon their fields.

Commending himself to God with the words: “Lord, accept my spirit in peace!” the martyr bent his neck beneath the sword, and a Voice summoned the martyr to the Heavenly Kingdom. This Voice was heard also by the 40 Christians who had hidden themselves in the cave. Emboldened, they come forth to the place of Saint Julian’s sufferings, but they found him already dead. They all confessed themselves to be Christians, and they were arrested and brought to the governor, who ordered them beheaded.

"You commingled the swear of your aesteticism with your contests, Receiving a twofold crown Julian." 

Saint Julian’s feast day is commemorated on September 12.