December: Day 12: Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trymithous

December: Day 12:
Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trymithous
 
(On the Properties of True Philanthropy)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Spyridon, whose memory is celebrated today, was born on the island of Cyprus of simple parents; he was married, had children, and was distinguished by his extraordinary humility and Christian wise simplicity of heart, and acquired such respect for himself from others that after the death of his wife, for the holiness of his life, he was unanimously elected and appointed bishop of the city of Trymithous. Saint Spyridon, working in the field together with simple workers and continuing to engage in sheep breeding, at the same time treated with active attention to all the needs of his flock, spiritual and material, to whom he provided philanthropy in whatever way he could. With the greatest love he served everyone in word and deed and was so pleasing to God that he received the gift of clairvoyance and miracles, which saved many.

In my memory, I have preserved countless examples of the complete accuracy of his predictions, as a result of which he even refrained from making threats, so that he would not be considered the cause of the disasters he had clairvoyantly foreseen. For example, Saint Spyridon predicted the disgrace of the plan of one inhuman greedy man who wanted to get rich at the expense of the poor, and this came true. When, during a famine on the island, one of the grain merchants, having bought a large supply of grain, did not want to give it up even to a single poor man at a reduced price, then to the complaint of one of these unfortunates, who were threatened with death by starvation, the Saint said: “Do not weep, tomorrow your house will be filled with grain, and the rich man who refused you bread today, tomorrow he himself will beg you to take bread from him without payment.” And indeed, that same night such a heavy rain poured down that all the granaries of the grain merchant were washed away and the grain was scattered throughout the city, so that everyone could collect for himself as much as he wanted, and the confused rich man, rushing in all directions, himself begged everyone, including yesterday's poor man, to take as much bread as they wanted, just to help him save the rest of the grain.

Glorified by many miracles, Saint Spyridon, having foreseen in advance the time of his departure from the world, died peacefully in old age in 348 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in the city of Trymithous.

II. Saint Spyridon, who predicted the misfortune of the hard-hearted rich man who had closed his heart from his neighbors, and who was himself a model of Christian philanthropy, encourages us, brethren, to Christian philanthropy. But in order not to make a mistake in this important matter, let us consider the properties of Christian philanthropy.

True love, and therefore true philanthropy, according to the words of the Apostle, must be “from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5).

a) In the work of philanthropy, especially in its most frequent performance, the most necessary thing is the wealth of the heart. A benefactor in heart will always find more means for philanthropy, will sooner find the truly poor, will not weaken longer in the exploits of love, will more courageously endure troubles and difficulties: because his own heart with the purest feeling of the sweetness of a good deed rewards him a hundredfold for everything. It would be unfair to think that for the poor it is all the same, as long as he receives help, even if it is not given from the heart. Poverty coarsens the feeling, but not so much that it cannot notice in philanthropy cold severity, or arrogant vanity and arrogance. In such a case, the mouth of the poor will be filled, but in the heart an even greater feeling of lack can arise, oppressing him.

b) The Apostle does not require from the benefactor any kind of heart, but a pure one, that is, not darkened by passions, moved by sincere love for God and neighbors. Indeed, with all our hunger we reluctantly accept bread from unclean hands; with all our thirst we do not quench it with such pleasure from a muddy spring. The same is true in philanthropy. Even if the benefactor did not know what purity of heart is in the benefactor, He knows it Who in the person of the poor is pleased to accept our gifts Himself. Will an unclean hand stretch out to Him from an unclean heart?

c) True philanthropy, further, must come, according to the word of the apostle, from a good conscience. A good conscience is one which is itself constantly guided by the law of God, does not look at persons, judges "not by words" (Isaiah 11:3), but by actions, never and in no form "does not seek its own" (1 Cor. 13:5) but that of one's neighbor, offers where necessary, and not to those who demand, stops where it is necessary, and to those who ask - which is always ready to say not only before people, but also before God: "I could have sinned in action, but I never wanted to sin, I took all precautions; of course, I did not do everything, but I did not omit anything with intent; I worked as much as I could!"

d) Finally, Christian philanthropy, according to the word of the Apostle, must come from sincere faith (1 Tim. 1:5). There is a prejudice to do good to one’s neighbors without thinking about God. Especially the name of the Savior, pronounced by the poor, seems hard for the delicate ears of some. The most shameful error! To whom else should our small acts of philanthropy be dedicated, if not to Him Who shed all His blood for us? It is enough that we forget our Savior when we sin: shall we drive Him out of our memory and lips even at the time when, apparently, we are doing good? And what does love for one’s neighbor gain by separating, through one’s foolishness, from love for God? Only weakness, dryness, and inconstancy. Only holy faith produces heroes of love for one’s neighbors; only Moses and Paul prayed to be blotted out of the book of life, so that the names of their brothers might be entered therein (Rom. 9:1). Human nature and earthly wisdom have never produced and will never produce this.

And where does the gaze of the poor man involuntarily turn upon receiving unexpected help? Is it not to heaven? Who would be so hard-hearted as to want to fix on his own or someone else's face a grateful gaze, seeking the face of the Heavenly Father? But it will be stopped and turned downwards if the benefactor sees that the benefactor himself is not inclined to look to heaven.

A sincere prayer of gratitude will not be heard even in such a case, when it will be seen that the true faith in the benefactor is replaced by its mask. The eye of poverty is sharp-sighted: nothing will prevent it from recognizing a real angel of mercy, coming in the name of God, from a pompous servant of worldly pride, who himself wants to appear as a deity for the humanity he pardons.

III. Thus a pure heart is a parent, a good conscience is a teacher and guide, and sincere faith is the confirmation and crown of true philanthropy.

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.