March: Day 10: Teaching 2:
Venerable Anastasia the Patrician
(Cherish the Priestly Blessing)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Venerable Anastasia the Patrician
(Cherish the Priestly Blessing)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
I. Saint Anastasia, whose memory is celebrated today, lived during the reign of the Emperor Justinian (6th century). Having lost her husband early, she enjoyed the general respect of all who knew her. The Emperor himself showed her favor and often conversed with her. This did not please Justinian's wife, Theodora, a jealous and suspicious woman, and Theodora hated Anastasia. Then the latter left Constantinople and withdrew to Alexandria. She founded a monastery near Alexandria and lived in it for a long time, spending her time reading sacred books, singing psalms, and doing needlework. Then, desiring more difficult feats, she went to the skete of the ascetic Daniel and asked him to show her a place for a more solitary life. The elder ordered her to dress in male monastic clothing and, under the name of Anastasios, locked her in a cave, forbidding her to leave or receive anyone. Once a week, one of the brethren brought the Saint bread and water, placed this food in front of the cave and silently withdrew. In such seclusion, the Venerable Anastasia lived without leaving for seventeen years.
When her end approached, Anastasia wrote on a potsherd to the elder Daniel: “Honorable father, take with you the disciple who brought me bread and water, and come bury your child.” The potsherd was placed in front of the cave; the monk saw it and took it to Daniel. The abbot of the skete hurried with the monk to the cave and found the Venerable Anastasia dying. He led the monk to her, saying: "Bless my disciple" - and the Venerable One blessed him, saying: "May the Lord God rest the Spirit of the father upon the son, as the Spirit of Elijah rested upon Elisha." The abbot gave her the Holy Mysteries and she, with the words "Lord, into Your hands I commit my spirit," died peacefully.
II. From the above life of Venerable Anastasia we see, brethren, how in ancient times they valued the blessing of pious people. The Venerable Elder Daniel, having brought his disciple to the dying righteous woman, asked her to give him her blessing.
Cherish the blessing of your shepherds, who have received the right to bless from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who, at His Ascension, surrounded by His faithful followers, raised His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50), and in their persons blesses believers now, everyone and everywhere. He ascended, “never separating, but remaining constant, and crying out to those who love Him: I am with you, and no one is against you.”
a) The power of the priest's blessing is confirmed by this promise. If it is received with faith, it brings spiritual benefit to those blessed and protection from misfortunes. An infant sleeps peacefully, under the shadow of a blessing mother. So also the soul of believers is reassured in its future, encouraged by the blessing of the Church, through the ministers of the altar of the Lord. Their blessing Saint Chrysostom calls "a spiritual weapon that makes a Christian safe on all sides, and invincible." And indeed, not only in important matters and in enterprises associated with dangers, the blessing of spiritual persons contributed to success, but also in ordinary everyday activities it sometimes showed significant power. In the monastery of Saint Benedict they were building a building. It was necessary to lift a large stone. When the workers, despite the fact that they had called many to help, did nothing, they asked the venerable abbot to take his place. As soon as he, having said a prayer, gave a blessing, the stone was lifted, as if it had no weight at all.
b) They will say: such power belongs to the saints; but the ordinary priestly blessing shows nothing of the kind. True, we have infinitely more incentives than the apostles to say about ourselves to people of worldly status what they once remarked to the inhabitants of the city of Lystra: "And we, being men, are like you" (Acts 14:15). Therefore, every humble priest prays that the Lord will cleanse his unworthiness. But even those who doubt the power of the priestly blessing should not forget that "signs will follow those who believe" (Mark 16:17). What benefit can those expect for themselves who approach the priest for a blessing out of mere propriety, only because it is customary to pay him respect when meeting, and not because he is an instrument of the Lord's grace? Whatever he may be, he performs the work of God, for which he was appointed from above. Great is the name of the Holy Trinity, and the perishable hand is nothing. True, it is necessary not only by appearance for the hand that blesses to be pure, in order to avoid condemnation for unworthy service to the sanctuary. But should not the soul that seeks to receive a spiritual gift also purify itself? If pure water is poured into a dirty vessel, it will lose its sweetness and transparency. Thus the water of grace hides its sanctifying and life-giving power if it is received into an unclean soul.
III. Therefore, we must preserve the apostolic faith, having reverent thoughts and meekness of heart, so that we "may inherit the blessing" (1 Peter 3:9), which Jesus Christ left in His Holy Church when He ascended into heaven. Amen.
Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
