Friday, August 7, 2009

St. Theodosius the New, the Healer of Argos



St. Theodosius the new, the healer, was born in Athens in 862 to pious Christian parents. From an early age he showed fervent faith and was characterized by great love for his fellow men. When he decided to withdraw to the monastic life, he divided his property to those in need and went a short distance outside Athens. But many were those who went to see him and seek his council, which hindered his reading [spiritual tasks?]. For this reason and to live alone, he fled to Argos.

St. Peter Bishop of Argos went to visit St. Theodosius the New to assess the accusations against him. While he stopped to rest, St. Theodosios, who forsaw that he was coming to visit him, went out ahead to greet St. Peter, offering him incense (the burning charcoal, however, he held in his monastic hat which he held in his bare hands.) St. Peter, amazed that St. Theodosios was miraculously not burnt, and impressed by his virtue, greeted him with love, and ordained him a deacon and a priest (http://alphalinenet.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/agios-petros-argios-theo-cf80cebfcebb.jpg, amateur translation of text from: http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2008/10/26/%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B8%CE%B5%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BF-%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%BF%CF%82/)

There [after a divine vision of St. John, according to the source above] he founded a church in the name of the Precious Forerunner, where many went to seek his council. This angered certain priests however, who denounced him to the Archbishop of Argos, St. Peter. The Archbishop however understood the unselfishness and piety of Theodosius, and decided to constantly reinforce his God-pleasing charity work. St. Theodosius died peacefully in old age.
(amateur translation of text from: http://www.synaxaristis.googlepages.com/7αυγουστου)
  
Monastery of St. Theodosios the New, at the place where the Saint founded a Church of St. John the Forerunner in 910AD (http://www.agiosgeorgios.net63.net/AgTheoNeos.html)

Note: St. Theodosius is given the epithet "the Healer", because he was a treasury of divine graces, and proved a great physician of the sick. May he intercede for us and help us!

  
Απολυτίκιον. Ήχος δ’. Ταχύ προκατάλαβε.
Ως δόσιν θεόδεκτον, την καθαράν σου ζωήν, Θεώ καθιέρωσας, τω ιαμάτων πηγήν, τον τάφον σου δείξαντι, συ γαρ διά εγκράτειας, καθαρθείς των προσύλων, έλαμψας εν τω κόσμω, δι' ασκήσεως πόνων διό σε Θεοδόσιε, εν ύμνοις γεραίρομεν.
Apolytikion of St. Theodosius the New - 4th Tone. (amateur translation)
Your clean life, as a God-given gift, you presented to God, and your tomb was showed to be a fount of healings, by abstinence you purified your soul, shining in the world through ascetical pains, therefore O Theodosius, we praise you with hymns.
     
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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