Humbling Ourselves Before Men
We have a fairly clear idea of what humility is, for we’ve all met people who are truly humble. Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, the saintly man who’d led the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia as her Chief Hierarch, was such a man.
Our brotherhood’s beloved Father Spiridon (the Scotsman whose own humility inspired us, and who died a few years ago), told us a wonderful story of humility in action. It concerned the Evermemerable Metropolitan Laurus.
Rimmon Stuart (the future Monk Spiridon) had come from England to be baptized into the Orthodox Church at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. Upon arrival at the monastery, Rimmon settled into his guest cell, and proceeded to take a walk around the grounds of the monastery. He saw an old man, in bib overalls, crouched down in a large vegetable garden, pulling up weeds. Being an avid gardener himself, Rimmon asked the old man if he’d mind having some help with the weeding. The old man replied with a smile, and welcomed this Scotsman to join him.
Sometime later the bells of the monastery began tolling, and the old man stood up, announcing it was time to head to the cathedral for the service. Rimmon headed to his guest cell to change into clean clothes, and headed to Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he found the assembled monks awaiting the arrival of their abbot, the then Archbishop Laurus.
As the church banners flickered in the wind, the assembled vested priestmonks, together with the whole of the monastic brotherhood, awaited the arrival of their archbishop. You can imagine the shock awaiting Rimmon, when he saw Archbishop Laurus was the very man he’d been toiling away with, weeding in the garden.
Saint Seraphim of Sarov said that it is easy to be humble before God, but real humility is formed in our hearts when we humble ourselves before men.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: One of our islands Pileated Woodpeckers.
Thursday September 1, 2022 / August 19, 2022
12th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Martyr Andrew Stratelates and 2,593 soldiers with him in Cilicia (3rd c.).
St. Nicholas priest (1933).
St. Pitirim, bishop of Perm (1455).
Martyrs Timothy, Agapius, and Thecla of Palestine (304).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Don” (1591).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Gennadius, abbot of Kostroma (1565).
Venerable Theophanes, new wonderworker of Macedonia (Mt. Athos) (15th c.) (Greek).
St. Credan, abbot of Evesham.
The Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 7:1-10
The Corinthians’ Repentance
7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The Corinthians’ Repentance
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Mark 1:29-35
Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed
29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Preaching in Galilee
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.