February: Day 11: Teaching 1:
Holy Hieromartyr Blaise
(On the Gentle Treatment of Animals)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Holy Hieromartyr Blaise
(On the Gentle Treatment of Animals)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
I. The Holy Hieromartyr Blaise, now being glorified, was a Greek by origin. He lived in the 4th century. For his holy life he was chosen bishop of the city of Sebaste. Even in life he was distinguished by his meekness and compassion towards animals and beasts, both domestic and wild. Because of persecution, the bishop hid in the desert; there he prayed and remained silent, wild animals came to him and he, laying his hands on them, blessed them, and healed the sick among them. For this, the animals in their own way showed respect to the Saint: when Blaise prayed, the animals stood near his cave and did not disturb the silence of prayer. Soon his refuge was discovered, and he was taken for interrogation, after which he was sentenced to death, as one who refused to worship the pagan gods.
Before the beheading, Saint Blaise prayed to God for the whole world and especially for those who would celebrate his memory.
A bright cloud overshadowed the Martyr and the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ was heard: “I will fulfill all your requests, My beloved ascetic!”
And in our Orthodox Russia, the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise is celebrated. He has long been considered the patron saint of cattle and prayers are held to him when animals are driven out to pasture and when they are sick.
II. The example of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise, who treated animals gently, teaches us, brethren, to treat our pets with gentleness and compassion.
a) In the word of God we read: "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain" (Deuteronomy 25:4). "Do you have cattle? Look after them; if they are profitable to you, keep them" (Sirach 7:22).
b) And the Holy Church also prays for the multiplication of cattle and the preservation of their health: “Bless the herd of cattle and multiply them, and deliver them from the destructive disease,” the priest reads in prayer when driving them out to pasture.
c) Does not our common sense inspire us with the same need to care for domestic working animals? Does it not tell us that every cattle, animal, and bird is God's creation, and therefore neither you, nor I, nor anyone else has the right to offend, torment, or starve them. Moreover, cattle and animals can live without us (e.g. wild animals); God feeds and preserves them. But a farmer cannot live without the help of cattle. Horses and oxen till the land and carry heavy loads, sheep provide warm clothing, cows provide food and shoes. How can you, cruel master, raise your hands against God's creation, which is necessary and useful to you? Does this not mean that when you torture, starve, and beat animals, you, insulting the Creator and Lord of all creation, destroy your own well-being?
d) If we listen to the voice of our heart, it will prompt us to pity, compassion and participation in the unresponsive, unreasonable and at the same time almost free of charge workers - horses. Let us remember their labors, and hardships, and patience. After all, they are the wings and co-workers of the farmer. And for all this they do not require from him any payment, or clothing, or shoes, but only straw and hay, and a little oats.
d) Let us give an example from the lives of saints. For example, the Venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan loved cattle and animals, fed them, petted them and treated them. Once during Great Lent, walking through the Jordan desert, he met a lion with a sore leg, swollen from a splinter. The holy elder took the splinter out of its leg, cleaned it and bandaged the wound with linen, and let the beast go. But the lion, as if in gratitude, did not leave its benefactor and followed the Saint. From that time on, he fed the beast and ordered it to guard the donkey that carried water for the needs of the monastery. When the donkey was stolen, the lion willingly fulfilled the donkey's duties, carrying water to the monastery.
After the death of its benefactor, Saint Gerasimos, the grateful lion longed for him, roared for him, and died at his grave. (March 4th Synaxarion).
III. Thus, everything teaches us to abandon cruelty and severity in our treatment of our domestic animals and to treat them with gentleness and pity.
Before the beheading, Saint Blaise prayed to God for the whole world and especially for those who would celebrate his memory.
A bright cloud overshadowed the Martyr and the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ was heard: “I will fulfill all your requests, My beloved ascetic!”
And in our Orthodox Russia, the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise is celebrated. He has long been considered the patron saint of cattle and prayers are held to him when animals are driven out to pasture and when they are sick.
II. The example of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise, who treated animals gently, teaches us, brethren, to treat our pets with gentleness and compassion.
a) In the word of God we read: "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain" (Deuteronomy 25:4). "Do you have cattle? Look after them; if they are profitable to you, keep them" (Sirach 7:22).
b) And the Holy Church also prays for the multiplication of cattle and the preservation of their health: “Bless the herd of cattle and multiply them, and deliver them from the destructive disease,” the priest reads in prayer when driving them out to pasture.
c) Does not our common sense inspire us with the same need to care for domestic working animals? Does it not tell us that every cattle, animal, and bird is God's creation, and therefore neither you, nor I, nor anyone else has the right to offend, torment, or starve them. Moreover, cattle and animals can live without us (e.g. wild animals); God feeds and preserves them. But a farmer cannot live without the help of cattle. Horses and oxen till the land and carry heavy loads, sheep provide warm clothing, cows provide food and shoes. How can you, cruel master, raise your hands against God's creation, which is necessary and useful to you? Does this not mean that when you torture, starve, and beat animals, you, insulting the Creator and Lord of all creation, destroy your own well-being?
d) If we listen to the voice of our heart, it will prompt us to pity, compassion and participation in the unresponsive, unreasonable and at the same time almost free of charge workers - horses. Let us remember their labors, and hardships, and patience. After all, they are the wings and co-workers of the farmer. And for all this they do not require from him any payment, or clothing, or shoes, but only straw and hay, and a little oats.
d) Let us give an example from the lives of saints. For example, the Venerable Father Gerasimos of Jordan loved cattle and animals, fed them, petted them and treated them. Once during Great Lent, walking through the Jordan desert, he met a lion with a sore leg, swollen from a splinter. The holy elder took the splinter out of its leg, cleaned it and bandaged the wound with linen, and let the beast go. But the lion, as if in gratitude, did not leave its benefactor and followed the Saint. From that time on, he fed the beast and ordered it to guard the donkey that carried water for the needs of the monastery. When the donkey was stolen, the lion willingly fulfilled the donkey's duties, carrying water to the monastery.
After the death of its benefactor, Saint Gerasimos, the grateful lion longed for him, roared for him, and died at his grave. (March 4th Synaxarion).
III. Thus, everything teaches us to abandon cruelty and severity in our treatment of our domestic animals and to treat them with gentleness and pity.
Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
