CATECHESIS & DAILY INSPIRATION
SAINT SAMPSON THE HOSPITABLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE (530)
Reflections and Daily Inspiration
“Many human activities, good in themselves, are not good because of the motive for which they are done. For example, fasting and vigils, prayer and psalmody, acts of charity and hospitality are by nature good, but when performed for the sake of self-esteem they are not good.”

- St. Maximos the Confessor
TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION
Holy Mountains:
The creation and re-creation of sacred space
Deacon David-John Williams

This was the first of two sessions, delivered during the Conversation Day on ‘The Kingdom of God is in our Midst. Rediscovering sacred spaces past and present’. This event was organised jointly by The University of Saint Katherine, San Diego, California and The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, on 7 July 2020.

The two featured speakers in conversation were Dcn David-John Williams (Assistant Professor of History, University of Saint Katherine) – ‘Holy Mountains: The creation and re-creation of sacred space through images, ritual and memory’; and Father Dragos Herescu (Principal IOCS) – ‘Sacred space and sacred action – Exploring a theological taxonomy of pilgrimage and the geography of the holy in secular context’.
FROM THE NEWS
The Emotional Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Together with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, we also recently celebrated the Feast of the Twelve Holy Apostles. In thinking about the Apostles and the challenges they faced as they worked to establish the Church, I am struck by their response after our Lord’s crucifixion. Saint John’s Gospel teaches us that the Apostles were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. (St. John 20:19) I suppose their fear was justified. After all Jesus had just been crucified, and as followers of Jesus, perhaps they thought their execution was eminent. The apostles did not yet understand what had happened. For them, death was still death, and their despair and fear loomed in their hearts deeper than ever. Yet in their fear, and in the depths of their despair, our Lord and Savior came and stood among them and offered them the greeting, “Peace be with you.” His resurrection totally transformed their lives! Saint Peter went from being fearful and denying our Lord to preaching with boldness to his Jewish brethren. Three thousand were baptized that very day! (Acts 2:41)

SAINT OF THE DAY

 JULY 10 / JUNE 27
Saint Sampson the Hospitable, of Constantinople (530)

Sampson was born of wealthy and eminent parents in ancient Rome, where he studied all the secular sciences of that time, dedicating himself particularly to the science of medicine. Sampson was a compassionate and unmercenary physician and he gave the sick medicine, both for the body and the soul, counseling everyone to fulfill the requirements of the Christian Faith. He later moved to Constantinople, where he lived in a small house, from which, just as the sun disperses its rays of light, he spread forth upon the whole land alms, comfort, counsel, hope, medicine and, in general, help to the helpless, both spiritually and physically. The patriarch heard of the great virtues of this man and ordained him a priest. At that time, Emperor Justinian the Great became ill and all his physicians were convinced that the illness was incurable. Then the emperor prayed to God with great fervency, and God revealed to him in a dream that Sampson would heal him. And indeed, when the emperor learned of Sampson, he invited him to his court, and as soon as the elder placed his hand on the ailing spot the emperor recovered. When the emperor offered him enormous wealth for this, Sampson thanked him but did not want to accept anything, saying to him: “O Emperor, I had gold and silver and other goods, but I left all for the sake of Christ, in order to gain eternal, heavenly wealth.” When the emperor insisted on doing something for him, the holy Sampson implored the emperor to build him a home for the poor. There, Sampson served the poor as a parent serves his children. Mercy toward the poor and helpless was natural to him. Finally, this saintly man, utterly filled with heavenly power and goodness, reposed peacefully on June 27, 530, and was buried in the Church of the Holy Martyr Mocius, his relative. After his death, Sampson appeared many times to those who called upon him for assistance.