Feast Day: January 5th
The Life of Saint Syncletica: Thus I do not think that the oldest Martyrs struggled more bravely than the famous Syncletike. For the abominable one attacked them from the outside. For whether he brought to them death by the sword, or fire, they were gentler than the present trials of Syncletike…
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Prayers
Apolytikion: In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the Soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O Venerable Syncletike, thy Spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
Kontakion: O divine Syncletike, our venerable God-bearing Mother, thou didst shine forth as a lamp bright with unquenchable virtues, laying bare the dark devices of the deceiver; and thy light guided a multitude of wise virgins to the Heavenly bridal chambers; together with them, {ray that we all may be saved.
“In the beginning there is struggle and a lot of work for those who come near to God. But after that there is indescribable joy. It is just like building a fire: at first it is smoky and your eyes water, but later you get the desired result. Thus we ought to light the Divine Fire in ourselves with tears and effort.”
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“Those who put out to sea at first sailed with a favourable wind; then the sails spread, but later the wind becomes adverse. Then the ship is tossed by the waves and is no longer controlled by the rudder. But when in a little while there is calm, and the tempest dies down, then the ship sails on again. So it is with us, when we are driven by the spirits who are against us; we hold to the Cross as our sail and so we can set a safe course.”
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“It is dangerous for anyone to teach who has not first been trained in the practical life. For if someone who owns a ruined house receives guests there, he does them harm because of the dilapidation of his dwelling. It is the same in the case of someone who has not first built an interior dwelling; he causes loss to those who come. By words one may convert them to salvation, but by evil behaviour, one injures them.”
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“Just as one cannot build a ship unless one has some nails, so it is impossible to be saved without humility.”
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“Just as a treasure that is exposed loses its value, so a virtue which is known vanishes; just as wax melts when it is near fire, so the Soul is destroyed by praise and loses all the results of its labour.”
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“We ought to govern our Souls with discretion and to remain in the community, neither following our own will nor seeking our own good. We are like exiles: we have been separated from the things of this world and have given ourselves in one faith to the one Father. We need nothing of what we have left behind. There we had reputation and plenty to eat; here we have little to eat and little of everything else.”
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“There are many who live in the mountains and behave as if they were in the town, and they are wasting their time. It is possible to be a solitary in one’s mind while living in a crowd, and it is possible for one who is a solitary to live in the crowd of his own thoughts.”
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“I think that for those living in community obedience is a greater virtue than chastity, however perfect. Chastity carries within it the danger of pride, but obedience has within it the promise of humility.”
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Someone asked Amma Syncletica of blessed memory, “Is absolute poverty perfect goodness?” She replied, “It is a great good for those capable of it; even those who are not capable of it find rest for their Souls in it though it causes them anxiety. As tough cloth is laundered pure white by stretched and trampled underfoot, so a tough Soul is stretched by freely accepting poverty.”
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“There is an asceticism which is determined by the enemy and his disciples practise it. So how are we to distinguish between the Divine and Royal Asceticism and the demonic tyranny? Clearly through its quality of balance.”
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“Choose the meekness of Moses and you will find your heart which is a rock changed into a spring of water.”
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