1 JANUARY
BASIL OF CAESAREA AND GREGORY OF NAZZIANZEN
Basil was born at Caesarea in Cappadocia around year 330AD. He received his education at Constantinople and Athens, where he encountered his friend and companion, Gregory of Nazienzen. Later, he returned to Caesarea and, in 356, began to lead the life of a hermit. This hermetical life was already practiced by his mother, Emilia, and his sister, Macrina. His spiritual writings dating from this period are very rich.
He became the bishop of Caesarea in 370AD, an office he held until his death on January 1, 379AD.
His principal writings include treaties on the Holy Spirit, the monastic life, a commentary on scriptures, sermons and numerous letters which defend the catholic faith against the Arians.
Gregory was born in the region of Nazianzen around 330AD. He accomplished the majority of his studies in Alexandria and Athens, where he established his friendship with Basil. He returned to his village in 357AD and was baptized. His father, who was the bishop of Nazianzen, ordained him to the priesthood. Gregory was later consecrated the bishop of a small city which was dependent on Caesarea.
The desert life of solitude attracted him, so he took up the life of a hermit, but continued with his writings and exhortations of the faithful.
In 380AD, he was raised to the See of Constantinople, but he later resigned and returned to his village where he took up the life of solitude once again. He died around 390AD.
7 JANUARY
PRAISES OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER
After the feast of the birth of our Lord, the church celebrated the praises of Mother of God. After the feast of the birth of Mary, the church commemorates Anne and Joachim, her parents. Now, after the feast of the Epiphany, the church calls to memory john the Baptizer, the one who fulfilled the will of the Father and who witnessed the manifestation of the divinity of Jesus. This feast is celebrated in all of the churches of the East.
John witnessed to the Lord; he pointed him out, saying, “There is the Lamb of God!’’ Afterwards, he was put in jail because of his criticisms of the lifestyle of the king. Even though he was in jail, John’s interest did not leave Jesus. Like the other Jews of his time, John was expecting Jesus to conquer the world for his people. However, Jesus was to be another kind of king. He heard of his miracles, his preaching, and sent his disciples to inquire of Jesus whether he was indeed the awaited Messiah. Jesus told the disciples of John about the miracles he was performing and how he was fulfilling the predictions of the prophets.
After John disciples had departed, Jesus himself began to praise John the Baptizer. (Perhaps John never heard of these praises.) He did this by asking three questions: “Why did you go out to the dessert?’’
“A reed swayed by the wind?’’ Jesus was telling everyone that John was not in jail because his teachings and exhortations were false, but rather he would not bend in the face of the powerful or evil. John was a strong reed, a courageous martyr.
“A man dressed in luxurious clothing?’’ John is not like those people who are found in royal palaces (the ones who cast him into prison). Instead, he is a man of asceticism and holiness. He is a light pointing the way to the kingdom of God. He is calling us to conversion through penitence.
“A prophet?’’ Yes, John has all of the characteristics of a prophet and is indeed a prophet, but much more. The prophets preached in the name of the Lord; John is announcing the imminent coming of the Lord. John is the link between Old and the New Covenants.
Jesus closes his praise with the declaration: “I assure you, there is no man born of woman greater than John. Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than him.’’ The Lord is assuring us that if we personally believe in Him and commit ourselves to the kingdom of God, we can even be greater than this Holy man of the desert, John.
28 JANUARY
SAINT EPHREM
Ephrem was born in Nisibis at the beginning of the fourth century AD. He was educated at Edessa. As a disciple of bishop James of Nisibis, he was ordained to the diaconate and was a lecturer in the newly established school at Nisibis. After the fall of Nisibis, Ephrem departed from the city and began to teach in Edessa, where he lived as a “solitary’’ in a cell on a rocky hill. After a life full of good deeds, preaching, religious writings and ascetical exercises, he died in 373AD.
Ephrem was a prolific writer and left to the church a lot of sermons, commentaries and hymns. Because of enormous amount of material, he was given the titles “Pillar of the Church’’ and “Harp of the Holy Spirit.’’ The main body of his writing comprises part of the liturgical prayer of the Antiochene churches.
