Wednesday, October 21, 2009

St. Christodoulos the Wonderworker, founder of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos

St. Christodoulos the Wonderworker, founder of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos - Commemorated on March 16th (his repose) and October 21st (the uncovering of his relics) (taken from: http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/Osios.html)

"St Christodoulos, who was from the region of Nicaea of Bithynia, was the son of Theodore and Anna, and was given the name John. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth and was renamed Christodoulos ("slave [or servant] of Christ" in Greek). At first, he lived the ascetical life in various places, then he received permission and monetary aid from the Emperor Alexis I Comnenos (reigned 1081-1118 AD), and built on the island of Patmos a church and monastery named in honour of St John the Evangelist. These buildings stand to this day.

St. Christodoulos of Patmos, by Photios Kontoglou (source)
  
However, when the Arabs attacked that place, he fled with his disciples and went to Euboia (Euripus), where also he completed the course of his life about the end of the eleventh century on the 16th of March. The disciples of this righteous man took his sacred incorrupt remains and transferred them to his own monastery, where they repose to this day for the sanctification of those who have recourse to them with faith." (taken from: http://home.iprimus.com.au/xenos/christodoulos.html)

Picture of the interior of the Chapel of St. Christodoulos in the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos. The large silver reliquary against the far wall contains the holy, incorrupt and wonderworking relics of St. Christodoulos, the founder of the monastery (taken from: http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/osiosx.html)

For more information on the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos, see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/09/translation-of-st-john-theologian.html.

St. Christodoulos the Wonderworker (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=205333)

Dismissal Hymn for St Christodoulos (First Tone)
Let us, O brethren, honour godly Christodoulos, offspring of Nicea, protector of Patmos and boast of monks. Let us venerate his relics and so receive healing of soul and body, and cry out with hymns, "Glory to Him Who has strengthened you; glory to Him Who has crowned you; glory to Him Who through your works healings for all".

Kontakion of St Christodoulos (Fourth Tone)
Since we possess your relics as a holy place of healing for all our diseases and afflictions, we are redeemed and cry aloud to you, "Rejoice, O Christodoulos".

St. Christodoulos the Righteous Wonderworker of Patmos (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s2197/s2197002.jpg)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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