Sunday of the
Samaritan Woman
St. Nicholas Bulletin - May 30, 2021 - Fifth Sunday of Pascha
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Christ is Risen! Христос Васкрсе! Χριστός Ανέστη! Cristo ha Resucitado! |
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The Courage to Faith the Truth:
Homily for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
from Rev. Fr. Philip LeMasters
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Christ is Risen!
It is strangely appealing to define ourselves by our failures, especially when others know that we have stumbled and treat us poorly as a result. As well, our own pride often causes us to lose perspective such that we obsess about how we do not measure up to whatever illusion of perfection we have accepted. People are often their own harshest critics in ways that are not healthy at all.
On this Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, we celebrate that our Lord’s great victory over death enables us to be free from defining ourselves by our sins or by how other people may view us. He rises in glory not only over the tomb and Hades, but over all the distortions of the beauty of the human person created in His image and likeness. Today we commemorate that His salvation extends to our most painful failings and to the harsh judgments of others upon us. Even such difficult circumstances may become points of entry into the joy of the empty tomb.
The woman at the well certainly knew what it was like to be defined by others as someone who did not measure up. She was a Samaritan, and therefore rejected by the Jews as a heretic and a member of a despised group that had intermarried with Gentiles. She herself had been married five times and was now with a man to whom she was not married, which may have been why she went to draw water at the unlikely time of high noon. Perhaps she went to the well in the heat of the day in order to avoid the other Samaritan women who wanted nothing to do with someone like her.
Imagine her surprise, then, when the Savior asked her for a drink of water and then engaged in a conversation about spiritual matters with her. Jewish men simply did not strike up conversations with women in that time and place, and consuming food or drink from a Samaritan was out of the question. How even more shocking it is that Jesus Christ’s conversation with her is the longest recorded between Him and any one person in the four gospels. He spoke straightforwardly to her and did not shy away from uncomfortable truths that hit her where she lived. But instead of shutting down the conversation or running away in fear, this Samaritan woman told the people of her village about Christ. As a result, many of her neighbors came to believe in the Lord.
This Samaritan woman is known in the Church as St. Photini, which means “the enlightened one.” Through the Savior’s conversation with her, Photini became an evangelist who boldly shared the good news, even to her Samaritan neighbors who were surely used to viewing her in anything but spiritual terms. That took tremendous courage. Photini was not only brave in preaching to them, but ultimately in responding to the persecution of the pagan Roman emperor Nero, to whom she said “O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?” The Great Martyr Photini refused to back down and gave the ultimate witness to Christ’s victory over death by laying down her life for Him. The Savior had set her free even from fear of the grave.
Too many of us today flee in shame from uncomfortable truths, whether we encounter them in our own thoughts or in the opinions of others. Too many of us define ourselves by our failings, weaknesses, and temptations. Too many of us accept some unrealistic cultural standard of “the good life” as the norm we must meet in order to be worthwhile. Thank God, St. Photini the Great Martyr did none of that. In response to her shocking encounter with the Savior, she humbly acknowledged the truth about her brokenness; she did not react defensively or make excuses. She did not end the conversation or run away in shame. Instead, she was open to the healing of her soul, to the possibility of a new and restored life through the mercy of the Lord. This was such a great blessing to her that she immediately shared the good news with the people of her village and refused to stop, even to the point of laying down her life.
In this joyous season of Pascha, we celebrate that Christ’s victory over death delivers us from all the corrupting effects of sin, including our deeply ingrained habits of thought and action that distract us from facing the truth about ourselves. By setting us free from bondage to the fear of death, our Risen Lord enables us to make even our most bitter failures points of entry into the new day of His eternal life. He has conquered death, the wages of sin, which means that our sins now have only the power over us that we allow them to have. When, like St. Photini, we acknowledge them straightforwardly and turn away from them, we participate personally in the good news of Pascha. We rise from death to life as we enter into the joy of the empty tomb. But when we proudly refuse to confess or repent of our sins, we remain in slavery to our self-centered illusions of perfection, to our sense of shame that we do not live up to the standards that we think we must meet in order to be worthwhile.
In other words, we insist on being our own saviors. But since we cannot conquer death or heal our own souls, that is nothing but foolish pride that keeps us bound to the fear of death, to the terror of realizing how weak we are before the challenges we encounter both within our own minds and in relation to others. Our failures and weaknesses are not good in and of themselves, but we put them to good use when we let them open our eyes to the truth of who we are, of where we stand before the Lord. If we will use them as ways to humble ourselves without making excuses or otherwise blinding ourselves to what they reveal about us, then we will put ourselves in the blessed place of St. Photini, who was thirsty for strength and healing that she knew she could not give herself, for “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” from the depths of her soul.
Like her, we must refuse to be paralyzed by guilt and shame before others and in our own minds. Then we will take our attention off whether we measure up to some self-imposed standard and instead focus on receiving the healing mercy of Jesus Christ. No matter what we have done, no matter how distorted and corrupt any dimension of our life may be, no matter how anyone else treats or views us, Christ is able to raise us up with Him from death to life. That is not only a future promise, but a present reality. He rose in glory with His wounds still visible, and no wound that we or others have inflicted puts us beyond the good news of His resurrection. In this glorious season of Pascha, let us all become like the Great Martyr Photini by embracing enthusiastically the new life that the Savior has brought to the world, for Christ is Risen!
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PASCHAL TROPARION—TONE 1
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 4
When the women Disciples of the Lord learned from the Angel the joyous message of the Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the Apostles: “Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy!”
MID-PENTECOST TROPARION—TONE 8
In the middle of the feast, O Savior, fill my thirsting soul with the waters of piety as You cried to all: “If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink!” O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory to You!
SAMARITAN WOMAN SUNDAY KONTAKION —TONE 8
The Samaritan Woman came to the well in faith; she saw You, the Water of wisdom and drank abundantly. She inherited the Kingdom on high, and is ever glorified!
MID-PENTECOST KONTAKION —TONE 4
Christ God, the Creator and Master of all, cried to all in the midst of the feast of the Law: “Come and draw the water of immortality!” We fall before You and faithfully cry: “Grant us Your mercies, for You are the Fountain of our life!”
Instead of “It is Truly Meet…”
Magnify, O my soul, the most holy Theotokos,
Virginity is foreign to mothers; childbearing is strange for virgins. But in you, O Theotokos, both were accomplished. For this all the earthly nations unceasingly magnify you.
Priest: “Blessed is the Kingdom…” Choir: Amen. Priest: Tropar 2 1/2 times. Choir: Finishes.
Priest: “In the fear of God …” Choir: “Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord … “
Priest: “O Lord, save Your people …” Choir: “Christ is risen from the dead … “ (slow version)
Priest: “Always, now and ever …” Choir: “Let our mouths be filled …”
Slava Procession before "Budi Imja/Blessed be the Name", completing the procession with the cutting of the Slavski Kolac in front of the Church.
(At the Dismissal, the Priest says: “Glory to You, O Christ….,” and the choir sings “Christ is risen from the dead….” (thrice).
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Lenny Tepsic Epistle: Stefan Gligorevic
Matins Next Week: Nicholas Ressetar Epistle Next Week: Dasha Gencturk
EPISTLE: Acts 11:19-26, 29-30
EPISTLE: Acts 11:19-26, 29-30
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Third Tone: Sing praises to our God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
CHOIR: Sing praises to our God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
READER: v: Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
CHOIR: Sing praises to our God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
READER: Sing praises to our God, sing praises!
CHOIR: Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Go forth, prosper and reign, for the sake of meekness, righteousness and truth!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: For You love righteousness, and hate iniquity.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Дјела Ап. 11:19-26, 29-30
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 3 Појте Богу нашему, појте! Појте Цару нашему, појте!
Хор: Појте Богу нашему, појте! Појте Цару нашему, појте!
Читач: Сви народи, запљескајте рукама, покликните Богу гласом радосним!
Хор: Појте Богу нашему, појте! Појте Цару нашему, појте!
Читач: Појте Богу нашему, појте!
Хор: Појте Цару нашему, појте!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање из књиге дјела апостолских
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, y дане оне, они који бијаху расијани због невоље, која наста због Стефана, рођоше све до Финикије и Кипра и Антиохије не проповиједајући ријеч никоме до само Јудејцима. А неки од њих бијаху Кипрани и Киринејци, који
ушавши у Антиохију говораху јелинистима проповиједајући јеванђеље о Господу Исусу. И рука Господња бијаше с њима; и велики број их повјерова и обрати се Господу.А дође ријеч о њима до ушију Цркве у Јерусалиму; и послаше Варнаву да прође све до Антиохије. Кад овај дође и видје благодат Божију, обрадова се и мољаше све да искреним срцем остану у Господу; Јер бјеше човјек благ и пун Духа Светога и вјере. И обрати се многи народ Господу. Варнава пак изиђе у Тарс да потражи Савла, и када га нађе, доведе га у Антиохију. И они се цијелу годину састајаше са Црквом, и учише многи народ; и најприје у Антиохији ученици бише названи Хришћани. А ученици одлучише да сваки од њих, колико који могаше, пошаље на помоћ браћи која живљаху у Јудеји. Ово и учинише пославши старјешинама преко руке Варнавине и Савлове.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Похитај напријед, напредуј и владај ради истине, кротости и правде.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Љубиш правду и мрзиш безакоње.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
John 4: 5-42
At that time, He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”
The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Јован 4: 5-42
У вријеме оно тако дође у град самаријски звани Сихар, близу села које даде Јаков Јосифу, сину својему. А ондје бијаше извор Јаковљев. Исус пак уморан од пута сјеђаше тако на извору; бјеше око шестога часа. Дође жена из Самарије да захвати воде. Рече јој Исус: Дај ми да пијем. Јер ученици његови бијаху отишли у град да купе хране. Рече му жена Самарјанка: Како ти, који си Јудејац, тражиш од мене жене Самарјанке да пијеш? Јер се Јудејци не друже са Самарјанима. Одговори Исус и рече јој: Кад би ти знала дар Божији, и ко је тај који ти говори: дај ми да пијем, ти би тражила од њега и дао би ти воду живу. Рече му жена: Господе, ни ведра немаш, а студенац је дубок; одакле ти онда вода жива? Еда ли си ти већи од оца нашега Јакова, који нам даде овај студенац, и он из њега пијаше и синови његови и стока његова? Одговори Исус и рече јој: Сваки који пије од ове воде опет ће ожедњети; А који пије од воде коју ћу му ја дати неће ожедњети довијека, него вода коју ћу му дати постаће у њему извор воде која тече у живот вјечни. Рече му жена: Господе, дај ми ту воду да не жедним и не долазим овамо да захватам. Рече јој Исус: Иди, зови мужа својега, и дођи овамо. Одговори жена и рече: Немам мужа. Рече јој Исус: Добро каза: немам мужа; Јер си пет мужева имала, и сада кога имаш није ти муж; то си право казала. Рече му жена: Господе, видим да си ти пророк. Оци наши клањаху се Богу на гори овој, а ви кажете да је у Јерусалиму мјесто гдје се треба клањати. Рече јој Исус: Жено, вјеруј ми да долази час када се нећете клањати Оцу ни на гори овој ни у Јерусалиму. Ви се клањате ономе што не знате; а ми се клањамо ономе што знамо; јер је спасење од Јудејаца. Али долази час, и већ је ту, када ће се истински богомољци клањати Оцу у духу и истини, јер Отац тражи да такви буду они који му се клањају. Бог је дух; и који му се клањају, у духу и истини треба да се клањају. Рече му жена: Знам да долази Месија звани Христос; кад он дође, објавиће нам све. Рече јој Исус: Ја сам – који говорим с тобом. И утом дођоше ученици његови, и зачудише се што са женом разговара, али ниједан не рече: шта тражиш, или што говориш са њом?
А жена остави свој крчаг и отиде у град и рече људима: Ходите да видите човјека који ми каза све што сам учинила. Да није он Христос? Изиђоше, дакле, из града и пођоше њему. А у међувремену мољаху га ученици његови говорећи: Рави, једи!
А он им рече: Ја имам јело да једем за које ви не знате. Тада ученици говораху међу собом: Да му неко не донесе да једе? Исус им рече: Јело је моје да вршим вољу Онога који ме је послао, и извршим његово дјело. Не кажете ли ви да су још четири мјесеца па ће настати жетва? Ето, велим вам: подигните очи своје и видите њиве како се већ жуте за жетву. И који жање прима плату, и сабира род за живот вјечни, да се радује заједно и који сије и који жање. Јер у томе је истинита ријеч, да је други који сије, а други који жање. Ја вас послах да жањете гдје се ви нисте трудили; други су се трудили, а ви сте у труд њихов ушли. А из града онога многи од Самарјана повјероваше у њега за ријеч жене која је свједочила: Каза ми све што учиних. Када, дакле, дођоше к њему Самарјани, мољаху га да остане код њих; и остаде ондје два дана. И много их више вјерова за ријеч његову, Те жени говораху: Сад не вјерујемо више због твога казивања, јер сами смо чули и знамо да је ово заиста Спаситељ свијета, Христос.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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June Birthdays
Nikolas Lukic (June 1), Kolton Myers (June 2), Danica Mitrovic (June 2), Theodore Havalchak (June 3), Linda Wolf (June 4), Nora Van Huysen (June 5), Danilo Yanich (June 6), Marie Hernjak (June 6), Luke Jacobs (June 8), Jim Martin (June 9), Guiliana Bracale (June 10), Kyranna Radanovic (June 11), Jimmy Hernjak (June 11), Russell Heilman (June 13), Baylor Hook (June 13), Braydon Fithian (June 16), Xenia Grabbe (June 20), Aleksandar Bracale (June 20), Brian Lewis Jr (June 22), Cayden Healy (June 26), Michael Krnjaic (June 26), Matthew Hoover (June 28), Wayln Heilman (June 28)
June Anniversaries
Dr. James & Liliya Moses (June 1), Brian & Nikki Lewis (June 4), Mike & Terra Heilman (June 4), Fr Christopher & Popadija Andreja (June 13), Mike & Janet Krnjaic (June 14), Nick & Carole Blitva (June 16), Meghan & Brad Livingston (June 25), Mike & Samantha Stefan
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SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE
As we will continue to have the doors of the Church open during services, we will move the start time once again. Beginning next week, Matins will begin at 8am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9am.
DRIVE THRU PICNIC DONATIONS
We are in need of donations of Apple Strudel, Cherry Strudel, Savory Plain Cheese Gibanica and Potato Salad. If you are able and willing to donate any of these items for our drive thru picnic, please contact Popadija Andreja by May 30th. Please note we are only accepting those items to allow for easier packaging/selling/ordering. Donations can be dropped off in the church hall anytime Friday, June 4th but need to be delivered by 10am on Saturday the 5th.
SERB PARK CLEAN-UP
We will begin our Serb Park clean-up on Saturdays in June. Meet at the park at 9am each Saturday you are available in order to help clear debris (sticks and leaves, etc.), clean the kitchen and bathrooms, and other necessary tasks. God-willing, in July, we will have an in-person picnic!
CHURCH HALL USAGE
The Church Hall is once again available for parishioner use. Schedule your event with Daria Milletics or Fr. Chris to check for availability.
SERBIAN/AMERICAN CLUB 2021 DUES
Peggy Radanovic is collecting club dues once again. Please mail your dues to her at her new address (203 Community Circle, Palmyra 17078) or here at church. You may call her with questions at 717-641-4249. Dues are $5 for the year.
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS 2021 DUES
JoAnn Filepas is collecting 2021 dues for the St Nicholas Seniors. Please mail your dues to her at (7054 Red Top Road, Harrisburg 17111). Dues are $5 for the year.
HOME MASSAGE THERAPY
Heather Dockery, our recently newly-illumined convert, is a licensed massage therapist and is offering free 30 home chair massages for all ages to parishioners. The massage would focus on the head, neck, shoulders and back. Reflexology (foot massage) and cranial sacral (head massage) are available as well. Call Heather to set up an appointment at 340.643.9800 or email at tresorvi@gmail.com. While not necessary, tips are appreciated!
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May Charity
OCMC
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is the official international mission agency of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and was created to "establish vibrant Eucharistic communities throughout the world, to develop and support indigenous church leaders, and to strengthen the infrastructure of their churches." OCMC recruits and trains Orthodox missionaries to minister to people in need of spiritual, physical and emotional support. OCMC missionaries are currently serving in Albania, Romania and Tanzania. Orthodox Mission Teams are periodically organized to serve where needed and you may volunteer to participate in this activity. Mission teams have built churches and offered training and services to communities in need. OCMC also operates a Support a Mission Priest (SAMP) program offering financial assistance to priests living in extremely poor areas in more than a dozen countries around the world. Through SAMP donations, priests can tend more fully to the needs of their flock. The donation you make this month will support an Orthodox Christian organization that provides important services and spiritual comfort to many people in Eastern Europe and Africa. Visit the OCMC website at www.ocmc.org for more information.
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St. Photina
the Samaritan Woman
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The Holy Martyr Photina (Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman, her sons Victor (named Photinus) and Joses; and her sisters Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva, Kyriake; Nero’s daughter Domnina; and the Martyr Sebastian: The holy Martyr Photina was the Samaritan Woman, with whom the Savior conversed at Jacob’s Well (John. 4:5-42).
During the time of the emperor Nero (54-68), who displayed excessive cruelty against Christians, Saint Photina lived in Carthage with her younger son Joses and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. Her eldest son Victor fought bravely in the Roman army against barbarians, and was appointed military commander in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor). Later, Nero called him to Italy to arrest and punish Christians. Sebastian, an official in Italy, said to Saint Victor, “I know that you, your mother and your brother, are followers of Christ. As a friend I advise you to submit to the will of the emperor. If you inform on any Christians, you will receive their wealth. I shall write to your mother and brother, asking them not to preach Christ in public. Let them practice their faith in secret.”
Saint Victor replied, “I want to be a preacher of Christianity like my mother and brother.” Sebastian said, “O Victor, we all know what woes await you, your mother and brother.” Then Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes. He was dumbfounded, and his face was somber. For three days he lay there blind, without uttering a word. On the fourth day he declared, “The God of the Christians is the only true God.” Saint Victor asked why Sebastian had suddenly changed his mind. Sebastian replied, “Because Christ is calling me.” Soon he was baptized, and immediately regained his sight. Saint Sebastian’s servants, after witnessing the miracle, were also baptized.
Reports of this reached Nero, and he commanded that the Christians be brought to him at Rome. Then the Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and said, “Fear not, for I am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be vanquished.” The Lord said to Saint Victor, “From this day forward, your name will be Photinus, because through you, many will be enlightened and will believe in Me.” The Lord then told the Christians to strengthen and encourage Saint Sebastian to persevere until the end.
All these things, and even future events, were revealed to Saint Photina. She left Carthage in the company of several Christians and joined the confessors in Rome. At Rome the emperor ordered the saints to be brought before him and he asked them whether they truly believed in Christ. All the confessors refused to renounce the Savior. Then the emperor gave orders to smash the martyrs’ finger joints. During the torments, the confessors felt no pain, and their hands remained unharmed. Nero ordered that Saints Sebastian, Photinus and Joses be blinded and locked up in prison, and Saint Photina and her five sisters Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriake were sent to the imperial court under the supervision of Nero’s daughter Domnina. Saint Photina converted both Domnina and all her servants to Christ. She also converted a sorcerer, who had brought her poisoned food to kill her.
Three years passed, and Nero sent to the prison for one of his servants, who had been locked up. The messengers reported to him that Saints Sebastian, Photinus and Joses, who had been blinded, had completely recovered, and that people were visiting them to hear their preaching, and indeed the whole prison had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place where God was glorified.
Nero then gave orders to crucify the saints, and to beat their naked bodies with straps. On the fourth day the emperor sent servants to see whether the martyrs were still alive. But, approaching the place of the tortures, the servants fell blind. An angel of the Lord freed the martyrs from their crosses and healed them. The saints took pity on the blinded servants, and restored their sight by their prayers to the Lord. Those who were healed came to believe in Christ and were soon baptized.
In an impotent rage Nero gave orders to flay the skin from Saint Photina and to throw the martyr down a well. Sebastian, Photinus and Joses had their legs cut off, and they were thrown to dogs, and then had their skin flayed off. The sisters of Saint Photina also suffered terrible torments. Nero gave orders to cut off their breasts and then to flay their skin. An expert in cruelty, the emperor readied the fiercest execution for Saint Photis: they tied her by the feet to the tops of two bent-over trees. When the ropes were cut the trees sprang upright and tore the martyr apart. The emperor ordered the others beheaded. Saint Photina was removed from the well and locked up in prison for twenty days.
After this Nero had her brought to him and asked if she would now relent and offer sacrifice to the idols. Saint Photina spit in the face of the emperor, and laughing at him, said, “O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?” Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to again throw the martyr down the well, where she surrendered her soul to God (ca. 66).
On the Greek Calendar, Saint Photina is commemorated on February 26.
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