Our venerable father Sophronius was born in Damascus around 560. From his youth he was distinguished for his piety and his love for classical studies. He was especially proficient in philosophy, and so he was known as Sophronius the Wise. The future hierarch, however, sought the true philosophy of monasticism, and conversations with the desert-dwellers. He went to Jerusalem to the monastery of St. Theodosius. After the death of St. Modestus in 634, St. Sophronius was chosen Patriarch of Jerusalem. He toiled much for the welfare of the Jerusalem Church as its primate. Toward the end of his life, St. Sophronius and his flock lived through a two year siege of Jerusalem by the Moslems. Worn down by hunger, the Christians finally agreed to open the city gates, on the condition that the enemy spare the holy places. But this condition was not fulfilled, and St. Sophronius died in grief over the desecration of the Christian holy places. Written works by Patriarch Sophronius have come down to us in the area of dogmatics, and likewise his “Excursus on the Liturgy,” the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, and also about 950 troparia and stikheras from Pascha to the Ascension, including the prayer for the solemn blessing of the water on the Feast of the Theophany.
O guide of the true faith, mirror of piety and commendable behavior, bright star of the universe, and adornment of pontiffs, you enlightened us all by your teachings. O wise Sophronius, inspired by God and lyre of the Holy Spirit, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
You advanced by heavenly fervor and spread the true dogma by your lips. You ruled your Church well and reformed the monks within it. You clearly preached words of instruction for us, and so we sing to you, O blessed patriarch: Rejoice, luminous glory of the faithful.
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japeth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.
Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank some wine, became drunk, and lay naked inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness, and he told his two brothers outside. Shem and Japeth, however, took a robe, and holding it on their shoulders, they walked backward and covered their father’s nakedness; since their faces were turned the other way, they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah woke up from his wine and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said:
“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers.”
He also said:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! Let Canaan be his slave. May God expand Japeth, and may he dwell among the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.”
Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. The whole lifetime of Noah was nine hundred and fifty years; then he died.
These are the descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japeth, to whom children were born after the flood.
The shrewd conceal knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim folly.
The diligent hand will govern, but sloth makes for forced labor.
Worry weighs down the heart, but a kind word gives it joy.
The just act as guides to their neighbors, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Sloth does not catch its prey, but the wealth of the diligent is splendid.
In the path of justice is life, but the way of abomination leads to death.
A wise son loves correction, but the scoffer heeds no rebuke.
From the fruit of the mouth one enjoys good things, but from the throat of the treacherous comes violence.
Those who guard their mouths preserve themselves; those who open wide their lips bring ruin.
The appetite of the sluggard craves but nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is amply satisfied.
The just hate deceitful words, but the wicked are odious and disgraceful.
Justice guards one who walks honestly, but sin leads the wicked astray.
One acts rich but has nothing; another acts poor but has great wealth.
People’s riches serve as ransom for their lives, but the poor do not even hear a threat.
The light of the just gives joy, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Tuesday, March 10 –
