Georgios D. Dimakopoulos
Saint Ieronymos of Aegina, whom
the martyric Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of the Old Calendar
canonized, is the last confessor Saint of the century that has passed. And this
is not because he walled himself off on account of the calendar innovation—during
the German Occupation—and joined the non-innovating pleroma of the
Orthodox Church, but because, amid political and ecclesiastical persecutions,
gratuitous insults, and orchestrated acts of harassment, he never ceased to
love every single one of his neighbors with immeasurable love, as a faithful
and noble image of Christ.
Even his letter of resignation to
his diocesan Metropolitan, Prokopios of Aegina, in 1942, apart from its
confessional character, was simple, modest, and exceedingly loving in Christ.
“Your Eminence,
I respectfully
ask you to accept my resignation from the hospital, for since 1924 it has been
my desire, as well as my zeal, to remain faithful to the Orthodox Church and
the Faith. From childhood I have revered her, dedicating my entire life to her
and obeying the traditions of the God-bearing Fathers. I confess and proclaim
the Old Calendar to be correct, as you yourself also acknowledge. For this
reason, I ask you to pray that I may remain a genuine child of the Orthodox
Church until the end.”
Thus, simply and quietly, without
extravagant fanfare, ill-considered excommunications, or fanatical beliefs, he
followed the Old Calendar for the remainder of his life, belonging to the Holy
Synod presided over by the ever-memorable Archbishop Auxentios.
The walled-off stance of the holy
Elder, however, acquires particular significance when considered in conjunction
with the time and consistency with which it was undertaken.
The German-appointed occupation
government of Georgios Tsolakoglou was in power, while the Archbishop was
Damaskinos, formerly of Corinth, who, with the assistance of German oversight,
occupied the archiepiscopal throne, removing Chrysanthos, and himself becoming
Prime Minister and Regent of the country...
Amid these socially indescribable
conditions, Elder Ieronymos continued his pastoral work unhindered, having to
confront a subservient administrative government and a legally established
Church which, unfortunately, at the highest level, collaborated with its
Bavarian captors.
He did not enjoy today's luxury
of endless, published, triumphalist proclamations against Luciferian Ecumenism,
nor the artificial, illusory “security” of a state-subsidized salary, nor even
the “assurance” of social conformity...
On the contrary, his
Christological confession was attested and spiritually embodied in his
self-evidently holy way of life, within the Church of the Fathers, the Saints,
and the Righteous.
His life constitutes an example
worthy of imitation for today’s self-styled, outspoken “dissenters,” the “rebels
without a cause,” and those who condemn the ecumenist apostasy from the safety
of their own position...
God tested him for his spiritual
instruction through the loss of one of his hands and the lifelong, Job-like
patience he displayed in his ascending life of uncomplaining prayer.
Thousands of people from a weary
nation, both unknown and well-known, passed through his humble Hesychasterion
of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Kypseli, Aegina, encountering
his Spirit-inspired confession according to God.
He worked half the day repairing
mechanical watches to earn his livelihood, continually taking unceasing and
tireless spiritual breaks for fervent, tearful prayer.
He had a particularly profound
love for the holy Abba Isaac the Syrian, whom he regarded as his spiritual
elder and constantly recommended to his spiritual children.
Our Saint possessed, by Grace, an
abundance of the mercies of our Christ, among which were especially evident his
constant, unceasing prayer, his almsgiving that sought out those in need, and
the gifts of discernment and foresight, which he employed for the glory of God
and not of men.
The Elder cultivated faithful
Christians, not followers. He never exploited his God-given spiritual gifts for
personal advantage, but, on the contrary, always exercised them secretly and in
solitude.
This Spirit-inspired attitude and
grace-filled, joy-producing conduct stands in complete contrast to today's
self-proclaimed, self-publicizing “elders,” who, under the “ecclesiastical
security” of their spiritual complacency and their “pastoral legitimacy,” sell
off Orthodoxy and propagate delusion.
The holy Elder Ieronymos of
Aegina was an angel of consolation to everyone.
Throughout the day he alleviated
human suffering, while he spent the night praying with tears, profound sighs,
and anguish of soul for his fellow human beings.
Alone with God alone, practicing
stillness and delighting in the sweet honey of communion with our Heavenly
Father!
Greek source: https://353agios.blogspot.com/2021/10/3-2021.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.