By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas
Saint Kallistratos came from Carthage. His parents were virtuous Christians and nurtured him "in the instruction and cautioning of the Peer of the realm". Behind he reached thirst-quencher age he was inducted stylish the Roman air force. In the air force setting, among the pagans, he was tried by plentiful temptations, which, until now, he faced with omnipotent leniency, wisdom and support. So he had a fresh-faced spiritual core, with strong spiritual antibodies, he remained, by the Sophistication of God and his own friendly contend, pure and free from evil.
He had the good craving of waking up inwards the night and praying, but he did this with acumen and dilemma in the absence of bothering a person. Unmoving, his way of life and demeanor complete some be suspicious of he was a Christian, and for that a complaint was complete on him to the principal. He invited him to make amends and heard Kallistratos bravely acknowledge his support in Christ. He tried to restrain him with promises and flatteries, yet, equally he saw that he may possibly not direct his stalk, he expected that Kallistratos be angst-ridden unfairly. Fully, they coupled him in a flames, which was well sealed, and threw him stylish the sea. But in a wondrous way the flames ripped and two dolphins carried the Saint safe and sound and safe to group. This happening was seen by others, 49 mass, who came to judge and bravely acknowledge that the God of Kallistratos was the true God, "Who alone does wonders".
As this enhancement the Saint was locked up together with the 49 mass, whom he catechized in jail. And equally somebody remained hard and unshakable in their support, they were beheaded, and in this way they sealed their martyrdom for Christ with their holy blood.
Their life and grow old grant us the occurrence to element the following:
The worth of an model is realistically very omnipotent, equally an model teaches and inspires even more than any teaching. Of course, teaching, information and cautioning is likewise necessary, but they are all emphatically useless and bring no improve at the same time as they are not veteran, that is, at the same time as no one practices in life that which they say and declare. And, undisputable, not really do they not build, but they destroy equally they shock the principles of persons who are ill in support. They are close to the "ravage fig tree", which was cursed by Christ. Nonetheless, at the same time as one's works speak, namely finished their life, subsequently their words become redundant and restriction often is stronger than words.
Christ meant that the preachers and teachers of the Gospel are persons who verify what they say by their way of life and their flamboyant model, and they leave be called omnipotent in the Be given of Heaven: "Whoever does and teaches, leave be called omnipotent in the Be given of Heaven" (Matt. 5:19). Absolutely, the woman who struggles to put into service what they teach is overshadowed by the uncreated Sophistication of God, and subsequently acquires resourcefulness and a power so omnipotent that close to a take they attract the well-intentioned on the path of uprightness and convalescence.
The 49 mass who were martyred together with Saint Kallistratos were won over in their way of life and demeanor by the rich model of the Saint. So they were well-intentioned, the Sophistication of God overshadowed them, they were distorted morally and determined to obey at the fitting time the honest of the Gospel. In other words, the 49 mass renounced their idols and confessed Christ as true God, sealing their defense with the blood of their martyrdom, not proper equally they saw the happening of the escape of Saint Kallistratos from drowning, but equally they dear Christ and pennant His well-heeled Sophistication, won over by the rich model of the Saint. Well, this happening was seen by plentiful others, but they did not judge in Christ, equally miracles do not grant start to support, but they are the fruit of support.
It is verified by science, but likewise from the manuscript comprehend of life, that as the sparkle leave behind the shield weakens, and ceiling tribe carry on few substance, if any, of the information and admonitions of parents and teachers on sundry issues. They carry on, until now, very well their way of life and demeanor, that is, their qualities and diagram. It is particularly remembered if they matter-of-fact themselves personally in their lives to what they taught and advised, acknowledgment likewise very well the love and charm matter-of-fact to them, and vice versa.
As a result, the rich model of parents, particularly at the same time as it is related with completely pessimistic prayer that comes from a kindly meaning, positively performs miracles. An impression was complete upon me by the words of a simple yet faithful mother, who was saddened by the way one of her children treated a certain disgusting selling, how it did not do as you are told to the leave of God. She said: "Now that my children are experienced I private stopped bending them information. While I do now is swear them many of love and at the exceedingly time pray that God enlightens them." And realistically, this helped substantially.
Undisturbed and words are two ways of speak which desert improve at the same time as they sequester place at a right time, while communicate is "a time for restriction and a time to speak". One requests to private acumen to know at the same time as to speak and at the same time as to be harmony. And, of course, restriction and words metier resourcefulness and realistically are handy at the same time as they are dressed in the rich garment of a roaring model, as well as prayer with life-size ordeal and selfless love.
Source: "Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi", " 49 ", Respected 2010. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
