From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The way to glory and honor   
      
   "Ponder how profound this is. They were conferring with him about   
   glory. He intended to precede loftiness with humility and, only   
   through humility, to ready the way for loftiness itself. For, of   
   course, even those disciples who wanted to sit, the one on his right,   
   the other on his left, were looking to glory (Matthew 20:20-23; Mark   
   10:35-40). They were on the lookout, but did not see by what way. In   
   order that they might come to their homeland in due order, the Lord   
   called them back to the narrow way. For the homeland is on high and   
   the way to it is lowly. The homeland is life in Christ; the way is   
   dying with Christ (Matthew 6:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17-33). The way   
   is suffering with Christ; the goal is abiding with him eternally. Why   
   do you seek the homeland if you are not seeking the way to it?"   
   --St. Augustine--(excerpt from TRACTATE ON JOHN 28.5.2.13)   
      
   =================   
   January 14th - Saint Sava of Serbia   
   (1175-1237)   
      
   Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Sava of Serbia, uniter of the   
   Serbian people, founder of the Khilandrai Monastery on Mount Athos,   
   and first Archbishop and patron saint of Serbia.   
      
   Born Rostivslav, the son of the Serbian king Stephen Nemanya, the   
   future saint was drawn from an early point in childhood to the   
   religious life. As a young boy, he fervently attended church services,   
   and demonstrated a special love for iconography. At the age of 17,   
   following a chance meeting with a monk from Mount Athos, Rostivslav   
   left his family home and entered the monastery at Saint Panteleimon.   
      
   Knowing that his father would disapprove of this choice, Rostivslav   
   left home in secret. His father, King Stephen, reacted as his son had   
   predicted, threatening war against the governor of the Greek district   
   if Rostivslav was not returned to him. The king dispatched trusted   
   aids and soldiers to safely return his son to him, and upon their   
   arrival they found him safely embracing the monastic life. That   
   evening, he received the monastic tonsure, taking the name Sava, and   
   rather than accompany his father’s guards home, instead sent his   
   worldly clothes and possessions and a persuasive letter. It was Sava’s   
   hope that his parents, in their worldly power, would embrace   
   monasticism. His father eventually abdicated the throne and joined   
   Sava, taking the monastic name of Simeon.   
      
   Together with his father, Saint Sava established the Serbian Hilander   
   monastery on Mount Athos, and then countless more throughout the   
   region. Sava’s mother, Anna, eventually became a nun, taking the name   
   Anastasia. Saint Sava was a model of religious virtue and deed, and   
   was recognized by the leaders of Serbia for his actions. He was   
   consecrated the first Archbishop of Serbia, and successfully   
   petitioned that Serbian bishops be allowed to elect their own   
   Archbishop in the future, ensuring Eastern autonomy at a time of great   
   East-West fighting.   
      
   Having been appointed Archbishop, the life of Saint Sava changed   
   dramatically. After a return to the Holy Mountain, he visited each of   
   his monasteries for the last time, blessing them, instructing the   
   religious, and making his farewells with deep remorse. It is said that   
   he left “the Holy Mountain, as if from Paradise.” Later, while   
   trudging along the road from Mount Athos to Thessalonica, he   
   encountered Our Blessed Mother, the Theotokos, who spoke to him in a   
   dream. "Having My Patronage,” Mary, the Mother of God, said to Saint   
   Sava, “why do you remain sorrowful?" Upon awakening, his despondency   
   turned to joy, and he commissioned many icons of the Theotokos in   
   celebration.   
      
   The remainder of Saint Sava’s life was spent in service to peace and   
   unity. He worked to solidify the Serbian Church, demonstrating and   
   performing many miracles. He unified the political factions of Serbia,   
   eventually crowing his brother, Radislav, king of the land. He visited   
   churches throughout the region, strengthening orthodoxy, enacting   
   reform, consecrating and establishing holy places, and instituting the   
   monastic rules of Athos on religious communities.   
      
   Saint Sava, following a life of constant travel and service, desired   
   nothing more than “to end his days as a wanderer in a foreign land."   
   He set off, alone, on a hermit’s journey, passing through Palestine,   
   Syria, Persia, Babylon, Egypt and Anatolia. Everywhere he went, he was   
   drawn to holy places, collecting holy relics of saints, and meeting   
   the great ascetics. He died peacefully and joyfully in Bulgaria, at   
   the age of 62.   
      
   The relics of Saint Sava were translated to the Church of Mileshevo in   
   Serbia, where numerous miracles of healing were reported. Three   
   hundred years later, during invasion, the relics of Saint Sava were   
   burned. However, miracles continued to occur through his intercession.   
   Today, the largest orthodox cathedral it the world, in Belgrade, is   
   dedicated to Saint Sava.   
      
   Saint Sava desired a quiet, monastic life—like many of the great   
   ascetics throughout Church history. He wished to remain in solitude,   
   communing with the Lord, and growing deeper in his faith. However,   
   this was not the plan for Saint Sava. Instead, he established monastic   
   communities, traveled considerably, had honors and titles thrust upon   
   him, and brokered peace through involvement not only with family   
   disagreements, but with national political discord. Saint Sava   
   accepted the role that the Lord intended for him with patience and   
   endurance, dedicating himself to the will of the Lord, and service to   
   Our Blessed Mother. The path we are asked to take is frequently not   
   what we would choose or plan for ourselves. From Saint Sava, we can   
   learn how best to follow the Will of God, recognizing that He alone   
   knows what is best for us.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   “At first we were confused. The East thought that we were West, while   
   the West considered us to be East. Some of us misunderstood our place   
   in the clash of currents, so they cried that we belong to neither   
   side, and others that we belong exclusively to one side or the other.   
   But I tell you, Ireneus, we are doomed by fate to be the East in the   
   West and the West in the East, to acknowledge only heavenly Jerusalem   
   beyond us, and here on earth—no one.”   
   —Saint Sava to Saint Ireneus   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains   
   his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Thou wast a guide to the Way of Life, a first Hierarch and a teacher;   
   thou didst come and enlighten thy home country, O Sava,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)