Feast Day: June 9th
& January 18th Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril
The Life of Saint Cyril: Saint Cyril guided the Alexandrian Church for 32 years, and towards the end of his life the flock was cleansed of heretics. Gently and cautiously Saint Cyril approached anyone, who by their own simpleness and lack of knowledge, fell into false wisdom…
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Prayers
Troparion: With all reverence let us praise a light of the world, the great orator and champion of the Mother of God. For by his fiery teachings he burned up the heresy of Nestorius; therefore, let us cry out to him: “Divine Cyril, intercede with Christ to strengthen the Orthodox Faith.”
Kontakion: You have openly poured out upon us the depth of the teachings of Theology, drawing from the well-springs of the Saviour; you drowned heresies and saved your flock unharmed from triple waves. Blessed and Venerable Cyril, you are shown to be a guide for all lands, revealing things Divine.
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Apolytikion of Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria: Shining forth with works of Orthodoxy, ye quenched every false belief and teaching and became trophy-bearers and conquerors. And since ye made all things rich and with true piety, greatly adorning the Church with magnificence, Athanasius and wise Cyril, ye both have worthily found Christ God, Who doth grant great mercy unto all.
Kontakion of Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria: O great Hierarchs of piety and brave champions of the Church of Christ, you watch over all who sing, “Save us who in faith honour you, O Compassionate.”
“If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist; and that Bread, Which is your God humbling and disguising Himself, will teach you humility. If the fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity. If the cold wind of coveting withers you, hasten to the Bread of Angels; and charity will come to blossom in your heart. If you feel the itch of intemperance, nourish yourself with the Flesh and Blood of Christ, Who practiced heroic self-control during His Earthly life; and you will become temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about Spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly Food; and you will grow fervent. Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to the Banquet of the Angels; and the spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste.”
“He who receives Communion is made Holy and Divinized in Soul and body in the same way that water, set over a fire, becomes boiling… Communion works like yeast that has been mixed into dough so that it leavens the whole mass; …Just as by melting two candles together you get one piece of wax, so, I think, one who receives the Flesh and Blood of Jesus is fused together with Him by this Communion, and the Soul finds that he is in Christ and Christ is in him.”
“Our Lord Jesus Christ joined together on the same day the paschal lamb of the Jews and the True Manna when blessing the bread and the wine He said: ‘This is My Body, this is My Blood.'”
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“Make your abode with the sheep, and flee from the wolves. Never depart from the Church.”
“Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of their own, even when the tongue is silent. For deeds prove the lover more than words.”
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