On this, the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, we commemorate the Venerable Chariton the Confessor, Abbot of Palestine (350), Ven. Chariton of Syanzhemsk (Vologda, 1509), the Ven. Herodion, Abbot, of Iloezersk (1541), the Holy Prophet Baruch (6th cent. B.C.), the Martyrs Alexander, Alphius, Zosimas, Mark, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and 24 others in Pisidia and Phrygia (4th c.), the holy Passion-bearer Wenceslaus, Prince of the Czechs (935), Schema-monk Cyril and Schema-nun Maria, parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh (14th c.)
Through the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy on us and save us!
Our holy Father Chariton was born and brought up at Iconium in Asia Minor. The Emperor Aurelian (270-276), who showed no hostility to Christians at the outset of his reign, was incited by the Devil after a while to begin a violent persecution of those who called upon the Name of Christ. Chariton, whose piety and godliness were well known in Iconium, was arrested and brought before the Consul when the imperial decree arrived. As he fearlessly confessed Christ and his abhorrence of idols, he was stretched on the ground, violently scourged, and thrown into prison with his flesh torn to shreds. A few days later, after a second appearance at the tribunal, he was set free and took refuge in Egypt, until the death of the tyrant put an end to persecution for a time.
Bearing in his body the marks of the Passion of Christ, Saint Chariton achieved his martyrdom by the ever greater zeal with which he followed the Lord in a life of spiritual struggle and renunciation. Unlooked for trials came his way, besides those voluntary afflictions by which he subdued his body and made it subject and obedient to the law of the Spirit. One day, he fell among thieves as he was going up to Jerusalem. They bound him hand and foot and took him to their cave at a place called Pharan, where God soon executed his judgment upon them, for they drank wine polluted by snake-venom and died. Chariton was miraculously freed from his bonds and found himself in possession of the booty amassed by the brigands. He distributed part of these ill-gotten goods to the poor and part he used to build churches to the glory of God. He then settled in the cave himself, and lived there in spiritual struggle.
While dwelling at Pharan, Saint Chariton brought many infidels to embrace the faith and to follow the example of his angelic life; but he wanted to find again his beloved solitude. He therefore placed the best of his disciples at the head of the community, and exhorted his spiritual children to observe a strict temperance in food and sleep, to pray day and night at the hours he had appointed them and to receive the poor and strangers as Christ himself. He then settled in a cave on Mount Doukas near Jericho. However, he was not left to converse alone with God. Many disciples came to join him and he had to establish a second Lavra, before fleeing once again to a place more remote called Thekoue. He later settled with a few disciples in a third lavra called in Syriac Souka, or the Old Lavra. But nothing could stop the flow of new disciples and of pagans who came to taste the honey of his words, and to look upon this living image of Christ. As Chariton sought nothing but the sweetness of union with God in solitude, he withdrew to a cave above the Lavra that could be reached only by using ladders. He dwelt there for many years, taking water from a spring that flowed in the cave at his prayer.
Knowing beforehand the date of his death, he was brought back to his first Lavra of Pharan, where, as a spiritual testament, he gave his disciples to understand that spiritual struggle, linked with humility and love towards all without exception, is the sure way to arrive at union with God. His last word spoken, St. Chariton lay on his bed and fell asleep in peace to take his place in the choir of angels and saints.
The spiritual center of Orthodox Christianity is not one of the great cities of the ancient world, but the northern tip of the Chalkidiki Peninsula, jutting into the Aegean Sea: the monastic republic known as Mt. Athos -- the Holy Mountain.
The first monastery was established on Mt. Athos by St. Athanasius of Athos in the tenth century. From that time, men flocked to the Holy Mountain to pursue the "angelic life." It is estimated that at one point as many as 40,000 monks lived on the mountain.
At present, more than 1,500 monks live in Athos' twenty ruling monasteries as well as in numerous small sketes and isolated hermitages. If we were to think of the Orthodox Church throughout the world as a single body and of prayer as Her heartbeat, Mt. Athos would be the sinus node that regulates that heartbeat. It is the prayer of these monks on this hallowed rock that sets the rhythm for the spiritual life of the Church.
Mt. Athos is best known to the secular world because women are not permitted anywhere on the mountain. What many people do not realize, however, is that the superior of the Holy Mountain is a woman. According to ancient legend, Mt. Athos was given to the All-holy Theotokos by her Son to be her "garden." This is why Athos is commonly referred to as the "Garden of Panagia" (the All-holy One). Thus, the Virgin Mary is the spiritual "abbess" of this all-male monastic republic.
This is quite appropriate, since monasticism itself, whether practiced by monks or nuns, has a certain feminine quality to it. Monasticism has nothing to do with the attainment of worldly power. It is not about control and dominance, but about obedience and contrition of heart: He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree (Luke 1:52).
Although Mt. Athos has produced scores of bishops and patriarchs, her greatest contribution is the large number of Saints who have lived and died on the Holy Mountain. They have sanctified not only Athos, but the entire Church with their lives of prayer and God-centeredness.
Although most of us will never have the chance to travel to Mt. Athos, the spirit of Athos is present here in North America in the numerous monasteries across the continent. Every Orthodox Christian should take advantage of this great treasure on our shores by making pilgrimages to these monasteries, getting to know the monks and nuns, and by supporting them through our prayers and material gifts. In this way, we too can have a share in the holy work of these spiritual scientists.