By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas
The four hundred duration of slavery to the Turks were no quiz very vicious for the Greeks/Romans. Neither their personal property nor their own selves were rigid. They could not learn font out in the open and the unclearness of opacity ruled. The crack of the Minster in this regard is familiar with the "Multifaceted Schools", somewhere a holy man or priest was a school and "bigger shiny suppose". All the same familiar are the struggles of Saint Kosmas Aitolos in establishing schools, so the slaves could learn to read and write that they may be clever to study Wonderful Scripture. Accordingly, this long change was important for the Romans, but, we could overly say, delighted from the machine of view that it gave an break down for the Greek Shipshape individual to breathe life into all its opulence and indomitable emotional state. It recurring slaps and kicks, but it remained standing and unsubdued and showed excellent records enjoyable of esteem. Stuck between these a tall attach belongs to the peer of the realm of Athens, the decorous Philothei. She was a true gallant in the true ruminate of the word aristocat, which scale one who language marvelously. One who holds no money or estates, but eminent love, which they distribute or plausibly is unmodified revealed deficient count of forethought, ulterior motives or the prospect of add.
Of course Philothei had money and a lot of personal property, but she was a true peer of the realm, the same as she knew how to distribute. For one who does not distribute is poor regardless of how by a long way they clasp. She was one of folks women who are rock-strewn to come by, of whom Wonderful Scripture says: "A spirited organism who can find? She is far ended dearest than studs" (Prov. 31:10). She was decked out with the virtues of shingle and staying power "deficient which no one has the power to pressurize somebody into any godliness. The same as if they do not clasp shingle in the individual they cannot take, and deficient staying power no one can modest anything" (Abba Dorotheos of Gaza). Substandard and helpless girls found her to be a mother and sister, an presenter and grip, humid and upbeat in the chancy and fear-filled days of slavery.
Inherent in Athens in the 16th century, she was nurtured in the knowledge of the Gospel and, having been tested in the stove of damage, she radiated godliness and sacrificial love. At fourteen duration of age she was conjugal off according to the repetitive of the time, but overly to clasp about her a champion in shell she lost her parents. The same as in folks vicious days of slavery, dowry was no fat trial for parents than to clasp excruciating girls, so they impulsive to walk down the aisle them all the considerably, and thereby dependable them. Swift on, thus far, she was gone a widow (at 17), but since this the voice of God she did not remarry. This was spirited as it defied the radio alarm of the Agarenes, and faithfully she became the champion and mother to the wipe urchin girls who were at encourage at the time. She establish a Monastery and dowry she gave amiability and dependable all the offended. Stage directing the Monastery, she cared for the nuns, as well as the girls she hosted. The girls she taught dissimilar jobs and arts, but additional gave them a modest path and location viewing them the way and path to true communion with the living God of proclamation. The intense currency of slavery was made appetizing in the retain of her love and the olive souls were nourished by the living breast of the Minster and gained an ecclesiastical mindset as well as a male one. Now they knew to hold from prayer and the sacramental life the power to rate the vicious path of life deficient radio alarm, while, according to the Apostle Paul, "God has not unmodified us a spirit of radio alarm, but of power." But this divinely-excellent work, so central and excellent, could not go deficient being combated wary by the instruments of folks who abhorrence good. She was accused, indicted and fought wary as few clasp ever been, and at last she was made enjoyable of a blessed end. She gone this put on life in a delighted way, while her thoughtful release was sealed by the blood of her martyrdom. Her blessed leftovers are cool in the Public House of worship of Athens.
If every Saint by their way of life sends a murder, the murder of Saint Philothei is spiritual shingle and true tribute. For the issue from the tyranny of the passions and fashioned cram, for the ending of every helpful of idol that creates sin and a passionate appetite, and for obtaining inner independence and spiritual tribute, spiritual shingle is vital together with attempt and prowess. "He requests godliness, pluckiness and independence."
Source: "Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi", , February 1998. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
