Saints Mary and Martha, Orthodox Monastery, Wagener, SC

By now, we had hoped to have a building permit, but the plans are still bouncing between us, the architect, the agent, the structural engineer, the electrical engineer, and the HVAC/plumbing engineer. As all of you know, “the devil is in the details” which have to be hammered out before we submit them to the building permit office. Almost all of the architectural particulars have been resolved. With a plethora of unconventional changes, we met with the architect and electrical engineer, whose closing comment asserted that without seeing these changed plans, he would have never figured out what was wanted. Also, we are working with the HVAC engineer on the best geothermal method for this area ― not an easy task.

On the last Thursday afternoon of November, we staked out the footprint of the entire building including porches and ramps. After this land is cleared, we will determine the placement of the car port and service road, as well as the area for the workers and supplies, the pump room, back steps, etc., etc., etc.

The exterior drawings of the front and back of the monastery plans are shown below. God willing, the exterior will be wire-cut, red brick, white trim, and a green, metal roof. We are building, in part, for ourselves, but mostly for those monastics (nuns) who come after us.

FRONT ELEVATION - North Side

REAR ELEVATION - South Side

In late August, we had the pleasure of receiving a visit from James & Daphne Hargrave before they returned to Mwanza, Tanzania as Orthodox Christian missionaries. It is wonderful to know that they are happy, expecting parents. We pray for her safe delivery of a healthy child.

On Tuesday morning, September 11th, the women’s group from United Methodist Church in Wagener visited us. Then, two months later on November 17th, an adult group from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, in Pelion, which is fourteen miles from us, also paid us a visit. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of them, answering their questions, and giving them a tour of our monastery.

Our biannual trip to the Barnyard Flea Market took place on Saturday, September 15th. As always, we had fun, answered questions about Orthodox Christianity and about us, and sold $361.45 worth of stuff, mostly one and two dollar items or less. Every bit goes to the building fund.

This year’s Clergy Wives Retreat was full to over-flowing with a total of fifteen in attendance. What a great problem to have ― too many people and not enough space. These women are near and dear to us. Being the wife of a priest has many challenges, to say the least. It is important for these women to get together for spiritual nourishment, friendship, and sharing. Sorry, no photos.

Those of you who have children or two or more pets can relate to our account of Arnora (our eight pound cat) eating half of a tiny pill meant for Laufey (our hundred pound collie dog). As usual, Laufey’s pill was wrapped in butter and placed in her food bowl. Normally Laufey’s bowl sets on the bookshelf till we give it to her. However, on this morning, the plumber was here, and things were moved in front of the shelves so the plumber could access the pipes. Laufey’s bowl was placed on the table where the cat is fed. Loving butter, Arnora ate the butter covered pill. About two hours later, Mother Helena noticed the pill was gone and Laufey had not eaten it. A frantic call was made to the veterinarian whose assistant researched the medication and advised us to bring her in ASAP. Catching Arnora was tricky, but we eventually succeeded with the promise of treats that she could only obtain once inside. With an ear-piercing, complaining cat in a carrier, Mother Helena made the drive to our vet in record time. Once there, they took steps to flush the medicine out of her system and sent her home with instructions to watch her. She’s still alive and the same as ever.

Us with ROCOR Bishop Jerome
in Western Vestments
for Western Rite Liturgy

Over a year ago, we were graced with a visit from Fr. Anthony Bryant, his family, and some of his parishioners. Fr. Anthony is the Western Rite Orthodox priest at Saint Katherine Orthodox Church in Pelion, the town we spoke of earlier. They are with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) jurisdiction in this country and under Bishop Jerome who administrates Western Rite Churches within ROCOR. Having received an invitation to join them in worship on Saturday, November 10th, we attended. The Liturgy of Saint Peter which had been translated into English from the Greco-Slavonic was served by Bishop Jerome, Fr. Anthony, and Fr. Andrew. That afternoon, with the blessing of Bishop Nikon, Locum tenens of the South, Orthodox Church in America (OCA), many of them visited our monastery.

The following Tuesday, Mother Thecla attended the OCA All American Council at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma, Ohio, for the election of a Metropolitan. Note: They have Orthodox Churches up North like we have Protestant Churches in the South.

Throughout the last two thousand years, multitudes of Christian soldiers have served governments that persecuted Christians, especially those within their own ranks. Often this oppression was accomplished overtly by seizing Christian soldiers, publicly denouncing and humiliating them, using torture to dissuade them, and, if they did not recant their faith in Christ, prolonging torture which ended with their martyrdom. Other times they were covertly subjected by not being promoted, being assigned to undesirable or dangerous tasks, being continually undermined passive-aggressively, or by other multifarious and invidious tactics. Callistratus and forty-nine others are among the hosts of Christian soldiers who have given their lives for Christ, received crowns of victory from Christ, and live eternally in His kingdom.

Callistratus was born in the middle of the third century of Christian parents living in Chalcedon, an ancient town on the opposite shore from Byzantium (present day Kadiköy, a district of Istanbul). Okorus, one of his forefathers who was also a soldier in the Roman army under Pontius Pilate, was in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Having witnessed these events first hand, and hearing the preaching of the apostles he believed and was baptized on Pentecost, the day The Church was born. Okorus returned home and instructed his family, and anyone who would listen, in the Christian faith. Each generation taught and followed Christ and His teachings, which Callistratus also embraced.

Volunteering to serve in the Roman army, Callistratus found himself to be the only Christian in the Chalcedon unit. Secretly, he would arise late at night to pray, and, secretly, he would teach other soldiers about Christ. After serving for several years, his unit was stationed at Rome in 288. This occurred during the reign of Diocletian (284-305) who spent his first fifteen years as emperor purging his military and government of Christians, which was followed by his “Great Persecution” of Christians in 303.

One night, while in Rome, some of his fellow-soldiers overheard his praying to Jesus and tried to persuade him to offer incense and blood to Zeus, but to no avail. Being under orders from the emperor, they reported him to Captain Presentinus the following morning. Immediately, Presentinus had Callistratus brought before him, questioned him, and commanded that he be obedient, comply with Diocletian’s edict, and make a sacrifice to Zeus, lest he, the captain, be compelled to cruelly destroy him. Remaining steadfast, Callistratus responded that if he denied Christ, then Christ would deny him, and he would be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 10:33) and suffer eternal torment. The captain promptly ordered Callistratus to be held down and beaten with clubs. While eight men took turns beating him, Callistratus prayed to Christ that He would strengthen him and that he would remain faithful against the evil one.

Seeing blood gushing forth in rivulets, Presentinus commanded his soldiers to cease beating Callistratus and, once again, gave him the opportunity to worship the Roman gods lest he suffer more grievously. Callistratus refused and prayed that others from his unit would also rise up and praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Infuriated by his answer, Captain Presentinus had his men shatter potsherds, scatter them on the ground, and stretch Callistratus over the sharp pieces so that the back side of him would be further lacerated. Then he ordered a funnel to be placed in his mouth and water to be poured down his throat until he swelled up like a full wineskin. Continually praying to remain indomitable in his faith, Callistratus admonished the captain as a shameless combatant for Satan and prophesied that Christ would call forth men from his own unit, illuminate them in the True Faith, and build a Christian church in the city. Presentinus flung these words back at Callistratus, informing him that he ludicrously thought that he could lead others to his God and found a church while he himself was the one who was unholy and faced death.

Having received orders to drown Callistratus, the captain had him sewn up in a large, linen sack, loaded onto a boat, carried far offshore, and thrown into the sea. Captain Presentinus and his soldiers watched from the shore as the men rowed back to land. All the while, Callistratus prayed fervently. He was caught between some sharp rocks which tore the sack apart. At that moment, by the command of God, two dolphins flanked him and bore him to shore. Callistratus began to sing a psalm of thanksgiving, but the soldiers with their captain observed everything with astonishment.

Upon reaching Callistratus, forty-nine of the soldiers fell down before him and professed their faith in Jesus Christ. Thereupon, Callistratus prayed that the Lord would preserve and strengthen them. Nevertheless, Presentinus swore by his gods and accused Callistratus of using sorcery to bewitch these men. Ordering all fifty of these soldiers to be bound and taken back to their military base, Presentinus sat down upon his judgement seat, commanded that each one of the forty-nine be brutally beaten with rods and cast into prison. That night, Captain Presentinus pondered what to do, for losing fifty soldiers under his command was a considerable reduction of men in his unit.

In prison, the forty-nine men entreated Callistratus to make them Christians and to teach them the Word of God. After praying over them, Callistratus began instructing them and answering their questions. A law-court scribe who was near the prison listened to and recorded their words in court shorthand. When, at last, he finished, and everyone grew silent, Callistratus spent the remainder of the night in prayer.

At dawn, Captain Presentinus sat upon the judgement seat in a great hall where statues of the various Roman gods had been set up. The soldiers from the Chalcedon unit and a goodly number of soldiers with their captains were assembled there. Presentinus commanded that the fifty be brought before him. Whereupon, the captain asked Callistratus where he had learned to inveigle his soldiers and, was he ready to instruct them to sacrifice to the Roman gods and save themselves. Callistratus responded that he had already given his answer and would not deny Christ, but, as for the others, they were adults and could answer for themselves. Asserting that they had been deceived, Presentinus inquired whether they wanted to cease following this sorcerer or not. With one voice, they professed their faith in the Triune God.

Again, Captain Presentinus ordered them to be scourged with green switches, bound hand and foot, and dragged to the edge of a lake. There Presentinus allowed them one last chance to sacrifice to the Roman gods or be drowned. To a man, they confessed their faith in Christ and their willingness to die for Him. Just before they were to be cast into the lake, Callistratus entreated the true God that this would be their baptism and entry into His Kingdom that they may become fellow-workers with the Holy Spirit. Having simultaneously said, "Amen", they were thrown into the lake.

Immediately, upon entering the water, their bonds were loosed, they rose to the surface, walked upon the shore, and were resplendent with the grace of the Holy Spirit. As they came out of the water, a light shown over their heads and a voice from Heaven spoke, saying, “Be of good cheer, My loved ones, for I am with you; be ye glad, for, behold I have made ready for you a place in My kingdom. Rejoice, for I have written your names in My record in the Book of Life.” At the same time, there was thunder and a great earthquake which cause the idols to fall and break into pieces. Upon witnessing these wonders, one hundred and five more soldiers believed in Christ Jesus.

Remaining steadfastly callous and unbelieving, the fearful Presentinus ordered the fifty returned to prison where they prayed and, once again, Callistratus taught them.

Meanwhile, Captain Presentinus sought the counsel of a vir ducenarius, a commander of two hundred men. Acting upon his advice, Presentinus sent soldiers into the prison with orders to behead all fifty. Thus, on the 27th day of September, they became martyrs for Christ and receive crowns of glory and everlasting life.

The hundred and five were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Secretly by night, they gathered the relics of the fifty saints and gave them a proper burial at the place where they later built a church dedicated to Saint Callistratus. Many healings of both soul and body have poured forth from his shrine.

It was reported that the one hundred and five soldiers were later beheaded.

This is but one of a multitude of soldiers who served in earthly armies, found that, when given the choice, they sided with Christ and His army. Glory to God for such a great cloud of witnesses.

This account is based on The Armenian Apology and Acts of Apollonius and Other Monuments of Early Christianity, “Armenian Passion of St. Callistratus”, translated by F. C. Conybeare, London 1896.

The names of the forty-nine soldiers are recorded in this document. They are as follows: Acacius, Domnasius, Bibianus, Basiliscus, Bemarchus, Dorotheus, Gerontes, Alpius, Anthimus, Aragseos, Anictus, Bitalius, Grigorius, Georgius, Gigandius, Genadius, Domninus, Dulcimius, Dometianus, Dedalius, Dalmatius, Eusebius, Evagrius, Elsiidius, Eutolius, Evarestus, Evagrius, Tharasimides, Theodorus, Therasius, Lysimachus, Lambliricus, Liminus, Constantinus, Canditianus, Heliages, Hysicus, Heliodorus, Memnus, Milinus, Madrinus, Marcianus, Nicatius, Nicolaius, Olombrius, Utripeus, Olipeus, Xanthius and Heladorus.

Soldier Saints Whose Feastdays are in December

December 11^th Fr. Luke the Stylite of Chalcedon (10th Century)
December 11^th St. Cian (6th Century)
December 13^th Martyrs Eustratius (a general), Eugene, Orestes, Auxentius, and Mardarius (284)
December 18^th Fr. Nicolas (a commander) (9th Century)
December 24^th Saint Mochua of Timahoe (657)