{"title":"Saints of the Church","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"our-venerable-father-ephraim-the-syrian-life-canon-and-selected-writings","title":"Our Venerable Father Ephraim the Syrian: Life, Canon, and Selected Writings","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book, which includes Saint Ephraim's life, canon (and other prayers), and selected writings, is offered to the faithful to aid in a deeper understanding and prayerful veneration of the saint whose words of compunction ring out throughout the world during the Lenten Season:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eO Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eYea, O Lord King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA sticheron (hymn) to Saint Ephraim found in this book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThou didst flourish like the palm tree described by David, O venerable father Ephraim, and didst cut off the tongues of the blasphemous as with a sword.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThou didst dry up the depths of the passions with abstinence and, taking up the Cross as a weapon, wast shown to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eUnceasingly entreat Christ in behalf of us who ever celebrate thine honored memory with faith.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt from the Saint's Life:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe venerable Ephraim received from God the gift of wisdom: from his lips grace flowed like a river of sweetness, watering with compunction the souls of all who listened to his instructions. This was evident very early in his life. When he was still a child, his parents had the following dream concerning him: a grapevine arose from the tongue of their son and, increasing in stature, filled the whole world with its branches and fruit. The birds of the heavens flocked together and ate the grapes, yet however many they consumed, the quantity of grapes increased accordingly.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFiery of temperament, the young Ephraim did not pass his youth without encountering several obstacles. As he himself relates, he was short of temper: “I would become involved in quarrels over petty matters, behave recklessly, involve myself in wicked schemes and prodigal thoughts… My youth would almost have convinced me that what happens with us in this life transpires by chance; but the providence of God brought hot-blooded youth to its senses.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperbound, 32 pages, 5x8\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damascene Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51974692339993,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/7521\/0521\/files\/StEphraimProdImage.png?v=1770748156"},{"product_id":"our-venerable-father-john-of-damascus-life-canon-and-akathist-hymn","title":"Our Venerable Father John of Damascus: Life, Canon, and Akathist Hymn","description":"\u003cp\u003eSaint John of Damascus was a prolific writer and hymnographer. His liturgical hymns -- which include the \u003cstrong\u003eCanon of Pascha\u003c\/strong\u003e, the services for each day of the week (\u003cem\u003eThe Octoechos\u003c\/em\u003e), and the solemn funeral hymns -- permeate Orthodox worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis booklet offers an account of his life, along with prayers (a canon and akathist) written in his honor.\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA sticheron (hymn) to Saint John found in this book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eO most wise father John, thou hast adorned the Church of Christ with thy hymns, sweetly chanting things most divine through the activity of the Spirit, O most glorious father, striking thy harp and imitating all the musical modes of David. And causing it to sound, thou hast drawn all to thee with divine hymns.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt from the Saint's Life:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAfter the amputation John’s hand was hung aloft in the city market, and the saint, weak from pain and the loss of much blood, was returned to his home. Just before darkness fell, the blessed one was told that the Caliph’s wrath had abated; whereupon John sent him this request: “My pain continues to increase, giving me indescribable torment. Permit my hand to be returned from the market, my lord, that I may bury it and so assuage my pain.” \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Caliph granted the request, and when the hand was brought, John entered his prayer-room and fell to the floor before his icon of the most pure Theotokos. Pressing the severed hand to his wrist, he sighed and wept, praying from the depths of his heart: “O Lady, most pure Mistress and Mother of God, behold: my right hand hath been cut off for the sake of the divine icons by the tyrant Leo! Whatsoever thou wiliest, thou canst accomplish, for through thy holy prayers, the right hand of the Most High, Who was incarnate of thee, worketh numerous miracles; wherefore, come quickly to mine aid, that He may heal my hand by thine intercession, O Theotokos. May I again be permitted to defend the Orthodox faith; may my hand write once more in praise of thee and thy Son!” \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWith this John fell asleep and beheld in a dream the most pure Theotokos looking down upon him from the icon with warm, compassionate eyes. She said, “Your hand has been restored. Do not be troubled any longer, but return to your work and labor diligently, like a swiftly writing scribe, even as you promised me.” \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn arose from sleep, felt his right hand, and realized that it had indeed been healed. His spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour and in the Lord’s most pure Mother, who had done such a great thing for him. He rejoiced throughout the night with all his household, chanting a new hymn: “Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power. Thy right hand hath healed my severed hand and crushed Thine enemies, who do not revere Thy precious image or that of Thy most pure Mother. It shall destroy those who destroy the icons, and multiply Thy glory!”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperbound, 36 pages, 5\" x 8\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damascene Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52360463122713,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/7521\/0521\/files\/StJohnOfDamascus-cover.png?v=1778170888"},{"product_id":"the-holy-martyrs-timothy-maura-life-canon","title":"The Holy Martyrs Timothy \u0026 Maura: Life \u0026 Canon","description":"\u003cp\u003eTimothy, a reader during the Great Persecution, was arrested for his faith twenty days after marrying Maura. Although she initially attempted to dissuade her husband from his steadfast faith, through his love and prayers Timothy persuaded Maura to proclaim her own faith before the governor and join him as a witness of the Truth. Having first been tortured, they were crucified and together received incorruptible crowns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore her last breath, Maura exhorted those looking on with the following words: “Brothers and sisters! As you know, we led an ordinary life among you; nevertheless, we have accomplished the will of God, Whose servants we are. Soon we shall receive imperishable crowns from our Lord Jesus Christ. You also, while attending to your daily tasks, should do what is pleasing to God, that your sins may be forgiven and you may receive crowns from the Master.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTroparia (hymns) from the Canon to the Martyrs from this book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eYe have been vouchsafed to behold the glory of Him Who in His loving-kindness abased Himself, O all-lauded ones; for ye kept His laws and came to share in His sufferings.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWherefore, assembling, we piously honor you.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eO wise ones, ye spent as many days nailed to your tree as in His loving-kindness Christ spent hours on His Cross.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAnd confessing Him as the Ruler of all, ye surrendered your spirit into His hands.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe army of the angels and the blessed choir of the prophets, apostles, martyrs and the venerable assembled to witness your departure from life, O martyrs; and the Master of all crowned you with wreaths of victory, in that He is all-good.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eO valiant and wise athletes of Christ, beg ye remission of sins, amendment of life and the avoidance of all evils for us who honor you with love and celebrate your honored festival.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperbound, 20 pages, 5\" x 8\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damascene Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52398110146841,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/7521\/0521\/files\/Timoth_MauraCover.png?v=1778897637"},{"product_id":"the-holy-martyr-christopher-life-canon","title":"The Holy Martyr Christopher: Life \u0026 Canon","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConcerning the all-glorious martyr Christopher, much that is strange and unusual has been said, ranging from his having the head of a dog to his origins in a country of cannibals. When a guardsman took him captive in battle, he lacked the ability to speak. He prayed to God, and God sent him an angel, who told him: “Be of good cheer, O Reprebius” (that was his first name)—and then touched his lips, and thereby transmitted to him the ability to speak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAfter this, when he arrived in a certain city, he began to rebuke those who were persecuting the Christians. For this, a certain Bacchus beat him; but in reply the saint told Bacchus that he was accepting the beating with humility for the sake of the commandment of Christ; but that if he were to give himself over to anger, neither Bacchus himself, nor even the power of the emperor, to which he might turn, would be of any avail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStichera (hymns) to the Martyr from this book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eO all-glorious Christopher, thou pillar named after Christ, precious ornament of grace: having cast down the dominion of the mighty, thou didst put the tyrants to shame and didst proclaim Christ, thy Creator, to be thy true King; and by His divine power thou hast received from heaven a divine crown and abiding glory.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIllumined with unapproachable divinity, ineffable grace and constant effulgence, destroying the gloom of idolatry, thou didst splendidly cast down the arrogance of the iniquitous; and, assailed by fire and wounds, thou didst cast down at the tribunal the archer who was thy foe, and wast shown forth as victorious.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe hosts of the armies on high marvelled at thee, the ranks of the martyrs rejoiced with thee, the assemblies of the righteous cried out together, and from on high God crowned thee with His divine hand. Wherefore, we cry out: Through the supplications of Christopher save all who celebrate his divine festival, in that Thou art compassionate.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperbound, 12 pages, 5\" x 8\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damascene Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52422502121753,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/7521\/0521\/files\/MartyrChristopher-Cover.png?v=1779397569"},{"product_id":"akathist-hymn-to-saints-martha-mary-the-sisters-of-righteous-lazarus","title":"Akathist Hymn to Saints Martha \u0026 Mary, The Sisters of Righteous Lazarus","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePaperbound. Printed in black and red text. 28 pages, 4x5\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eO Martha and Mary, divinely chosen servants of the new grace, lovers of God and sisters of the righteous Lazarus! By word and deed ye followed Christ in faith and love, and dwell now with the choirs of holy women who enjoy the beauty and bliss of paradise. As ye have boldness before God, earnestly entreat Him to guard us from harm, tribulation and sinful falls, that, taught by you to please Christ our God, we may never cease to cry out to you with compunction: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eR\u003c\/span\u003eejoice, O Martha and Mary, who show us the way of faith and love!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePerceiving the goodness of your souls, the King and Lord of angels and men loved you utterly, and in the days of His incarnate life visited your blessed house and raised up your brother Lazarus from the dead. Sinful though we are, remembering that loving condescension, with heartfelt compunction we thus cry aloud unto you:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eR\u003c\/span\u003eejoice, ye who loved God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind;\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003erejoice, for ye showed your love, not only by word and tongue, but also in deed and truth!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRejoice, ye who through your love received from the heavenly Father faith in Christ, the Son of God;\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003erejoice, ye who through obedience in faith served Him in works of love and mercy!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRejoice, ye who thus inherited the kingdom of heaven;\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003erejoice, praise and adornment of pure virgins and chaste women!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRejoice, O Martha and Mary, who show us the way of faith and love!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damascene Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52596509147417,"sku":null,"price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/7521\/0521\/files\/Martha_Mary-CatCover.png?v=1781708677"}],"url":"https:\/\/damascenepress.org\/collections\/saints-of-the-church.oembed","provider":"Damascene Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}