Today, on the fourth day of the Great Fast we commemorate Our Holy Father Simeon the Myrrh-Streamer. St. Simeon was once known as Stevan Nemanja. He was the ruler of the Serbian people. During his rule he unified the Serbian lands, made Serbia its own country independent of Greece, drove out heresy, and strengthened the Orthodox Church within. After this, he became a monk at the monastery of Studenica , and was given the name Simeon. After he had lived in Studenica for two years, he went to the Holy Mountain with his son Sava. They stayed in the monastery of Vatopedi. Father and son spent days and nights in prayer. There they built six chapels: to the Savior, the Unmercenaries, St George, St Theodore, the Forerunner and St Nicholas. They also bought the ruins of Hilandar and built a beautiful monastery, but Simeon lived there only eight months before his death. One year after his death, Simeon was recognized as a saint by the community of Mount Athos because holy old was flowing from his relics. Even today his relics give forth a sweet smell. Below is an icon of both St. Simeon and his son, St. Sava.
Today we spent some time with some good friends. We learned a game that is similar to “red light, green light”, but it is called “1,2,3, star”. Basically one person stands across the room from the others and turns around and counts to three. Once they count to three they turn to face the others and they say “star”. The others try to make it to the other side of the room as quickly as possible, but they can only move while the one person is counting. When the one person says “star” and turns around, the others have to freeze. Whoever makes it to the other side first wins. This is a great game to get children to listen and follow instruction.
It has been snowing all day today and is supposed to keep snowing for a while. I am so glad I have a four-wheel-drive car. This weather is really great for the first week of the fast. 😉
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephriam
In Christ,
D. Kyriake