Andrew was born in Damascus of Christian parents. He was a mute from birth
until the age of seven. When his parents brought him to church and he received
Holy Communion, he began to speak. So great is the power of the Divine and Holy
Communion. At age fourteen, Andrew went to Jerusalem and was tonsured in the
Lavra of St. Sabas the Sanctified. By virtue of his understanding and
asceticism, he surpassed many of the older monks and was an example to them.
After a while, the patriarch took him as his personal secretary. When the
Monothelite heresy began to rage the heresy which taught that the Lord Jesus
did not possess a human will but only a divine will the Sixth Ecumenical
Council convened in Constantinople in the year 681 A.D. during the reign of
Constantine IV [Bearded One]. Theodore, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, was unable
to attend the council but sent Andrew as his representative who, at that time,
was an Archdeacon. At the council, Andrew displayed his wonderful gift of
oratory, his zeal for the Faith and rare prudence. Having assisted in
strengthening the Orthodox Faith, Andrew returned to his duties in Jerusalem.
Later, he was elected and installed as the Archbishop of the Island of Crete.
As an archbishop, he was greatly loved by the people. Andrew was very zealous
for Orthodoxy and vehemently eradicated all heresies. Through his prayers he
worked miracles. By his prayers, he drove the Saracens from the Island of
Crete. Andrew wrote many books of instruction, hymns and canons of which the
most renown is the Great Canon to the Birth-giver of God read on Thursday of the
Fifth Sunday of the Great Lenten Season. His outward appearance was such that "seeing
his face and hearing his words flowing like honey, everyone found pleasure and
amended their ways." On one occasion, returning from Constantinople,
Andrew foretold his death before he arrived in Crete. And so it happened. When
the boat in which he traveled sailed near the island of Mitylene, this beacon of
the Church ended his earthly life and with his soul, took up habitation in the
Kingdom of Christ in the year 721 A.D.
安德魯在克裡斯琴父母的大馬士革出生。他是一啞從出生直到 7 歲。當他的父母帶給了他到收到的教會和他神聖的共享時，他開始了說話。因此大是神聖並且神聖的共享的力量。在年齡 14 點，安德魯去了耶路撒冷並且在聖 Sabas 的 Lavra 是噸肯定把。由他的理解的優點和禁欲主義，他超過了許多更舊的修道士並且是一個例子到他們。在一會兒以後，主教皇作為他的個人的秘書帶了他。當 Monothelite 異端邪說開始了主伊伊穌。斯沒擁有一個人愿望的教了的異端邪說到憤怒時但是僅僅第 6 個全合[利爾]斯托。斯教會的委員會在土耳其都市集合了的一個神聖的愿望在一年在 intravenous 靜脈牡目鄧固苟〉某蕩剗褻〞� 681 A.D [ 忍受一 ] 。悉奧多, 耶路撒冷的主教皇, 是不能的作為他的代表出席委員會但是送的安德魯, 在那時間，是一個副主教。在委員會, 安德魯顯示了他的修辭的奇妙的禮品, 他的為費思和稀罕的謹慎的熱情。在加強正教信仰幫助了, 安德魯在耶路撒冷回到了他的責任。后來, 他作為克利特島的島的大主教被選並且安裝。作為一個大主教，他極大地被人民愛。安德魯為正統說法是很熱心的並且激烈地根除了所有的異端邪說。通過他的禱告他工作了奇跡。由他的禱告，他從克利特島的島駕駛了撒拉遜人。安德魯寫了最多的名望是大教規到在大的四旬齋的季節的第 5 星期天的星期四被讀的上帝的出生送禮者的說明，聖歌和教規的許多書。他的外面的外觀是如此的那“看見他的臉並且聽見他的詞象蜂蜜一樣流動, 每個人發現快樂和阿們他們的方法。”在一個上場合, 從土耳其都市回來, 在他到達了克利特島以前，安德魯預知了他的死亡。並且它這樣發生了。當他在其旅行了的船在 Mitylene 的島附近航行了時, 教會的這烽火結束了他的現世的生活並且與他的靈魂，在一年在合[利爾]斯托。斯的王國在居住上面拿了 721 A.D 。
Martha was the mother of St. Simeon of the Wonderful Mountain (May 24).
Dedicated with all her soul to the Faith, she did not think of marriage. When
her parents betrothed her to a young man, Martha thought of leaving the home of
her parents and to withdrew from the world. But, St. John the Baptist appeared
to Martha and counseled her to fulfill the will of her parents and to enter into
marriage, which she did. From this marital union, the glorious saint, Simeon of
the Wonderful Mountain was born. She had the regular habit of rising at
midnight for prayer. With great charity, she helped the needy and misfortunate,
visited the poor, the orphaned and attended the sick. A year before her death
she saw many angels with candles in their hands and, from them, learned the time
of her death. Learning of this, Martha with even greater zeal dedicated herself
to prayer and good works. She died peacefully in the year 551 A.D. and was
buried in the proximity of her son, Simeon the Stylite. After her death, she
appeared many times for the purpose of instructing mankind and for the sake of
healing the sick. Recorded as her most significant appearance was the one to
the abbot of Simeon's monastery. Following the burial of St. Martha, the abbot
placed a votive candle on her grave with the understanding that it should never
be extinguished. Then the abbot became ill and the saintly Martha appeared to
him and said: "Why do you not burn a votive candle on my grave? Know that
I am not in need of the light from your candle since I have been made worthy
before God, the Eternal Heavenly Light, but it is needed for you. So when you
burn a light on my grave, you entreat me to pray to the Lord for you." It
is obvious from this that the goal of our veneration for the saints is to
entreat them as those worthier than us to pray to God for us and for our
salvation.
馬莎是奇妙的山的聖 Simeon 的母親 (5 月 24 日 ) 。與所有的她的靈魂奉獻了到費思, 她沒想到婚姻。當她的父母訂親了時她到一個年輕的人，馬莎想到了離開她的父母並且到的家從世界撤退了。但是, 洗者在看來了的聖伊望。馬莎並且建議了她完成她的父母的愿望並且進入婚姻, 她做了它。從這婚姻的聯合, 光榮的聖人, 奇妙的山的 Simeon 出生。她有了為禱告在半夜升起的常規的習慣。與大慈善, 她幫助了貧困並且 misfortunate , 訪問了窮人, orphaned 並且注意病了。在她的她在他們的手裡與蠟燭看見了許多天神的死亡前的一年並且, 從他們，學習了她的死亡的時間。聽說這, 與甚至更大的熱情的馬莎把她自己奉獻了給禱告和好工作。她和平地在一年死了 551 A.D 並且在她的兒子的最近被埋葬, Simeon 合[利爾]斯托。斯教苦行者。在她的死亡以後，她多次為指示人類的目的並且為愈合的緣故出現了病了。當她的最重要的外觀是一個到 Simeon 的修道院的修道院院長，記錄了。跟隨聖馬莎的埋葬, 修道院院長與理解它從來應該沒被撲滅把一支奉獻的蠟燭放了在她的墳上。然後修道院院長成為了病和聖潔的馬莎在他看來了並且說︰“你為甚麼不在我的墳上燒一支奉獻的蠟燭？知道自從我在上帝前被使了值錢，我不從你的蠟燭需要光，永久的天國的光，但是它為你被需要。因此當你在我的墳上燒一盞燈時，你懇求我為你向主祈禱。”我們的為聖人的尊敬的球門作為那些懇求他們比我們值錢為我們並且為我們的救助向上帝祈禱，從這是顯然的。
THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
上帝的神聖的普羅維登斯
In His Divine Providence, miraculous is the Lord,
在他的神聖的普羅維登斯，奇跡是主，
To Andrew, the mute, He gave a clear voice
到安德魯, 啞, 他給了一個清楚的聲音
And the mute, His audible trumpet made
並且啞, 他的聽得見的小號做了
As one time Saul (Paul), the pillar of the Church.
作為一個預定 Saul ( 葩。韋勒 ), 教會的支柱。
In vain from marriage did holy Martha shun
無用從婚姻做了神聖的馬莎躲避
To the will of God must bow down,
必須下面鞠躬到上帝的愿望，
To marriage the Providence of God led Martha
到婚姻上帝的普羅維登斯領導了馬莎
That for God and the world, of a saint to give birth
那為上帝和世界，生孩子的聖人
Whoever himself gives to God, himself he gave to the Best,
無論誰自己給上帝, 自己他給了最好，
And his will, he overcame by God's will
並且他的愿望, 他由上帝的愿望克服了
My child, without the Lord, do not plan anything,
我的孩子, 沒有主，別計劃任何東西，
That your plans without fruit do not be.
你的計劃不沒有水果。
Of life, all the threads and all your desires
生活，所有的線程和所有的你的欲望
In the hands of the Creator Almighty stand.
在萬能的創造者的手裡站。
His are the fields; His are the slopes,
他的是場地;他的是斜坡，
His are the basic elements, the foundations and the threads.
他的是基本的單元，基礎和線程。
His is the soul; His is the body,
他的是靈魂;他的是身體，
And of everything and its attire, the spirit
並且任何事情和它的服裝，神
In his field with His tools
在他的與他的工具的場地
Whose shall we fulfill, except His will.
誰的我們將完成, 除了他的愿望。
If your entire life passed smoothly and without worry, then weep for
yourself. For the Gospel and the experience of the people, with one accord
assert that no one has, without great suffering and pain, left behind any great
and beneficial work on earth or was glorified in the heavens. If, however, your
earthly sojourn is completely adorned with sweat and tears to attain justice and
truth, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for truly great is your reward in the
heavens. Do not ever succumb to the insane thought that God has abandoned you.
God knows exactly how much one can endure and, according to that, measures the
sufferings and pains of everyone. St. Nil Sorsky says: "When even men know
how much weight a horse, or a donkey or a camel can carry and, according to that
they are loading them according to their strength; when a potter knows how long
to leave the clay in the kiln for it to be neither shattered nor over-baked, how
could God not know how much temptation a soul can bear to make it ready and
fitted for the Kingdom of Heaven?"
如果你的全部生活順利並且沒有擔心過去了，那麼為你自己哭泣。為人民的主條和經驗, 全體一致斷言沒有人有, 沒有大受苦並且疼痛, 落在后面在地球上的任何大並且有益的工作或在天堂被贊美。如果, 然而，你的現世的逗留完全用汗和眼淚被佩戴達到公正和真相, 高興並且極其高興為真正大是你的在天堂的報酬。不曾經確實屈服到上帝拋棄了你的發瘋的思維。上帝確切知道一個人能忍受多少並且, 根據那，測量每個人的痛苦和疼痛。聖無 Sorsky 說︰“當甚至人知道一匹馬，或一頭驢子或一匹駱駝能帶多少重量時並且, 根據他們根據他們的力量正在裝載他們;當一 potter 知道讓在火爐的泥土它不是粉碎的任何一個也不在烤上多長時, 上帝怎麼能不知道靈魂能忍受多少誘惑使它準備好了並且為天堂的王國適合了？”
To contemplate all the miracles which the Lord performed at the hands of
Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: "And Aaron and Moses went in unto
Pharaoh and they did as the Lord had commanded" (Exodus 7:10):
沉思主在埃及的陸地在摩西和艾倫的手施行了的所有的奇跡︰“並且艾倫和摩西到法老和他們進去了作為主命令了” ( 離開 7:10 ) ︰
1. How great and awesome were those miracles;
1 . 怎麼大並且令人驚畏是那些奇跡;
2. How the heart of pharaoh remained obstinate before all the miracles of
God;
2 . pharaoh 的心怎麼在上帝的所有的奇跡前仍然是固執;
3. How even my heart is hard before the countless miracles of God in my
heart, in my life and around me and how I need to repent before the end befalls
me and eternal punishment reaches me.
3 . 我的心怎麼甚至在在我的心的上帝的無數的奇跡前是難的, 在我的生活並且在我附近並且我怎麼需要在結束前后悔，降臨我和永久的懲罰到達我。
About the salvation of a soul as the end of faith
關於作為信念的結束的靈魂的救助
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls" (1 Peter 1:9).
“收到你的信念的結束, 你的靈魂的甚至救助” ( 1 撇。特爾 1:9 ) 。
Brethren, what is the end of faith? The salvation of a soul. What is the
goal of faith? The salvation of a soul. What is the fruit of faith? The
salvation of a soul. We do not adhere to faith, therefore, for the sake of faith
but rather for the salvation of our souls. No one travels for the sake of the
road but because of someone or something that awaits him at the end of the road.
No one throws a rope into the water in which someone is drowning for the sake
of the rope but for the sake of the one drowning. God gave faith to us as a
road, the end of which the travelers will receive salvation of their souls.
And, as a rope, God extended faith to us who are drowning in the dark waters of
sin, ignorance and vice that we, through the help of faith, save our lives.
兄弟們, 信念的結束是甚麼？靈魂的救助。信念的目標是甚麼？靈魂的救助。信念的水果是甚麼？靈魂的救助。我們不遵守信念, 因此, 為信念的緣故但是相反為我們的靈魂的救助。沒有人為道路但是因為某人或在道路的結束等候他的一些東西的緣故旅行。沒有人把繩扔進某人在其要不是淹死的一個的緣故為繩的緣故正在淹死的水。上帝作為一條道路，旅行者其結束將收到他們的靈魂的救助把信念給了我們。並且, 作為繩, 上帝擴大了信念到我們在天黑了正在淹死的人，罪惡，無知和罪惡流水我們, 通過信念的幫助，救我們的命。
That is the purpose of faith. Whoever knows the price of a human soul must
admit that there is nothing in this world more necessary or more beneficial than
faith. A merchant who carries precious stones in an earthen vessel carefully
and cautiously protects the vessel, hides it and keeps vigil over it. Is it
because of the vessel that the merchant exerts such effort and concern? Not
because of the vessel, but because of the precious stones which are in the
vessel. Our entire earthly life is like an earthen vessel in which a priceless
treasure is hidden. That priceless treasure is our soul. A vessel is cheap but
a treasure is valuable. First, one must have faith in the value of a human soul
and second, in the future glow and life of the soul in the Kingdom of God;
third, in the Living God Who waits for the return of a soul which He Himself
gave us and fourth, in the possibility that a soul could be lost in this world.
Whosoever has faith in these four things will know how to protect his soul and
will further know that the salvation of a soul is the end of his road, the goal
of his faith, the fruit of his life, the purpose of his existence on earth and
the justification of his sufferings.
那是信念的目的。知道人靈魂的價格的任何人，必須承認在更必要或比信念更有益的這個世界沒有任何東西。小心地並且小心地在一個土製的容器帶寶石的一個商人保護容器, 隱蔽它並且在它上堅持守夜。它因為商人施加如此的努力和擔心的容器嗎？不因為容器，但是因為在容器的寶石。我們的全部現世的生活象無價的財富在其被隱蔽的一個土製的容器一樣。那無價的財富是我們的靈魂。一個容器是便宜的但是財富是珍貴的。第一, 一個人必須在人靈魂和秒的價值有信念, 在在上帝的王國的靈魂的未來發光和生活;第 3 , 在生活的上帝等他自己給了我們的靈魂的回來並且第四, 在靈魂能沉醉於這個世界的可能性。不管是誰在這些 4 件事情有信念將知道怎麼進一步保護他的靈魂和愿望知道靈魂的救助是他的道路的結束, 他的信念的球門, 他的生活的水果，他的在地球上的存在和他的痛苦的理由的目的。
We believe for the sake of the salvation of our soul. Whoever has a true
faith, must also know that faith is for the sake of the salvation of souls. He
who thinks that his faith serves another purpose other than salvation does not
have a true faith nor does he know the value of his soul.
我們為我們的靈魂的救助的緣故相信。無論誰有一個真實的信念, 必須也知道那個信念為靈魂的救助的緣故。認為他的信念除救助以外服務另外的目的他沒有一個真實的信念也不他知道他的靈魂的價值。
O All-good Lord Jesus, You have given us a shining and victorious faith,
strengthen and maintain that faith in us that we may stand unashamed before Your
judgment with our pure and shining souls.
哦！完全好的主啊伊伊穌。斯, 你給了我們一照耀並且勝利的信念, 加強並且在我們維持那個信念我們可以站不害羞在你的判斷與前我們的純並且照耀的靈魂。
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
讚榮和感謝永遠歸於你。阿民。