Going back to the primitive years of our Church which is Orthodox in faith and Katholic in setting, the first Christians who gave witness to God come in the flesh (Jesus), working wonders amongst us, (Emmanuel) suffering martyrdom, yet raised in the flesh via his Spirit that breaths life into the world (Christ); these good folk followed in the very same steps paved in sanctified blood!
From the holy innocence – the babes that were slaughtered in Herod’s rage to annihilate the Messiah (Mt 2: 16-18) to the Martyrs of Communism (New Martyrs of Russia: M. Polsky C2000) with which its (communism) objective sought to crush any power especially that of the Divine being foreign and contrary to its precepts. Yet, these early Christians held onto the promise of eternal bliss – just like the world rejected its’ Creator, so too did these (Martyrs) shun the world and its ways which sought to place earthbound burdens on the human soul. This testament remains true in our times within the Middle East although conveniently hushed due to phobia rendered towards the executioner’s side yet, Christians are slaughtered in masses due to confessing God come in the flesh: IESUS KRISTOS!
Amongst these early champions of the faith were those who served in high places amidst the empire; the Roman Military. Such were not foreign to the spilling of blood and battle – the oath of allegiance they undertook recorded their names amongst the grand; yet they knew very well what the penalty was for shunning the emperors who placed themselves as living deities. Many times the executioners or better still – the champions of battle became the disgrace of the empire and witnessed their own execution; military style.
In winding the clock forward, the Church experienced many changes or evolutions within – the greatest blows of all times were schism, apostasy, and heresy. With that, certain elements were either placed to the side and coded as fable, whilst other such matters often due to the mistranslation of language and culture (no longer used or known from that side/setting in question) along with the lack of taste for that which is held in common was completely ignored!
Growing up in a Latin oriented setting, one of my first encounters or better still; portals to the Orthodox Faith was via family friends my father had in those migration periods in Australia (1960’s) who were Greek. Although English was not easy for these folk and they understood one another via common words in their own language (Italian and Greek sharing common words) - he would teach them Italian, they would Greek; not to mention that we have Greek in the distant family tree! One of his friends was a local priest in the Orthodox Church of the Greek tradition: may I reiterate that there is no such thing as nation before faith (Greek, Russian, Serbian, Macedonian Orthodox) for the Church is not an earthly kingdom! Hence, the Orthodox Church is present in various countries and of course such develop a cultural heritage!
Thus, icons always appealed to me from early on; however reverential I mean to be via that, for I hold them most dear, yet for me as a kid in those days - thus were like one would consider their toys; special! Hence, one of the very first saints I was introduced to in veneration was an ancient soldier saint whose icon was given me bearing the name Phanourios. The Greek community held him in high regard and that was evident due to his icon being in a prominent place in Greek households and within their churches.
A saint as all saints, who would invoke the Lord’s grace and healing through his intercessions and presence. A saint who the faithful would venerate and pledge an offering of the phanouropita – a symbol cake (flour, oil, sweet wine, honey, walnuts, sultanas, sweet spice, rose water and citrus juice) made in his honour and distributed to the poor when prayers were graced by God through Phanourios’ entreaties.
Not much was known about him and the only piece of evidence from his life was the appearance of his icon in a rundown church in Greece. Everyone kept the same traditional story piece of his appearance: an icon of a soldier saint, found in the Isle of Rhodes (1600 AD), holding a cross and palm branch – unknown in name yet given us in revelation: Phanourios! So much so that later depictions showed him holding a candle which bares testament to his icon and name appearing as: a light ignited via revelation that shines in darkness!
In actual fact, once this discovery was made, the Archbishop of Rhodes Father Nilos urged the synod to declare/reinstate the lost saint amongst the Church Menaion (daily saint ordo) Furthermore, the Church decided to consecrate a day (when the discovery was made) the 27th of August in the year mentioned previously - proclaiming the military saint to be worthy of veneration. Hence, as custom; hymns and services were composed together with icons reproduced….. All was ignited with a liturgy (Divine Eucharist) celebrated in his honour to which a new church was gradually built on the ancient ruins of its former.
May I flag down a fact that when the churches of Greece had to deal with the Patriarch of former Constantinople now Istanbul; all matters could not bypass the grand Sultan of the Caliphate – it is interesting to mention St. John the Russian (1690-1730 AD) inwardly converted the Sultan of his time via God’s grace manifest in his very life….a matter such deny ever took place!
Yet, a similar icon of the military saint appeared much earlier in the Isle of Crete which was recorded in the synaxarion (daily hymnology of the Church) dated 1452AD. We must remember that both sides; the people from Crete and Rhodes do not see eye to eye and that is also seen when one reads the conflicting accounts and other such information relating to this case (which I’ve chosen not to state for obvious reasons) Thus, however similar the appearance of the icon was to that in Rhodes (remembering that Greece was under Ottoman/Turkish rule) yet that of Crete offers us a much broader understanding upon the origins of the saint. As we know, the Mediterranean was acquainted with attacks from the Normans, the Arabs and other invaders. Thus, the Church suffered various blows in these timeframes; not only with the blood of her faithful, but with the loss of its structures.
Hence, there was a small church (in Crete) that lay in ruins to which the Nomadic pagans came upon; searching thoroughly through it with the hope of finding priceless treasures….the only item they found apart from decayed icons was an icon panel in good condition of a military youth with depictions of his life around him– it was no use to them at which they laid it aside. The next aggressors to invade were the Arabs who sort to build walls around their stronghold; coming to the ruins in order to use its bricks/stones for the project. After collecting materials for their purpose, they brought out the icon to inspect it in the hope that it was worth something; yet, as was done previously, it was laid aside - not so much in terms of their understanding of idolatry, but rather deeming thus incompatible for any gain!
Close by the ruins where some monks who had gone into hiding during the infliction of terror…they had noticed the icon which was unearthed from the rubble via both groups; drawing forth with utmost care lest they be caught – they thus venerated the icon and asked their Abbott who was the local bishop to come and ratify their findings. Furthermore, in the timeframe of 1204-1669 AD, certain parts of Greece were occupied by the Latins and the evidence remnant of those times is portrayed on the island of Syros. Hence, the Latin’s had built their churches (also seen via architecture in Rhodes) and established their hierarchy…….In addition, ordinations in the Orthodox Church especially in Crete were restricted via Latin decree to monasteries and forbidden for most village churches with the minimum exception!
The bishop of the island of Kythira in the peninsula of the Peloponnese was the only authorized hierarch (via Latin decree) assigned for ordinations appointed to village churches; the minimum number of ordinands were sent to him during this timeframe. We must remember that the Turks were still amongst the Greeks and their nobility reaped much of the country’s fruits – slavery was still on the cards! Hence, here begins one of the saint’s interventions. Three deacons were sent to the island for ordination to the priesthood, yet as they were making their way back to Crete, they were caught by pirates who brought them to Rhodes and sold them off to Turkish nobles as slaves.
The priests were familiar with the newly revealed saint whose icon was found also in Rhodes and requested they go to the church which housed him; thankfully these noble were not the savage type and such received permission to do so! Yet, superstition played a great part in the Middle Eastern psyche and when the saint came to these noble via dreams demanding them liberate the priests; this did not go down well – thinking that a spell was worked on them encouraged the priest’s sentence to confinement.
Yet although the saint persisted; fear fuelled the noble to torture the clerics so that this supposed dream spell (according to the advice they received from a medium) be undone! Once again, the saint clearly exhorted that if they do not release the clerics – sight would be removed from them; this scourge certainly came to be! With that, they asked the clerics to pray over them …..The clerics said that they (their captors) must listen to the will of God via his saints! Thus the saint came to their dreams for the last time and decreed that their sight be returned only after they formally free the clerics via a notary’s written documentation; wholeheartedly obliging to the saint’s request!
Let us chant numerous hymns telling God’s glory revealed in the life of his servant Expeditus who was born in Armenia and shed his blood for the Gospel of Christ in Melitene. He is worthy of veneration for his name is recorded within the book of life in the heavens via the crown of holy martyrdom. Latin hymnology for the feast of St. Expeditus.
A few years ago I came across a prayer card of a military saint who is venerated amongst the Latin west and at the very first glance, without thinking twice – I exclaimed: Phanourios! Although he had another name, yet I knew that this was indeed Phanourios who I knew as a kid: there was no mistake! In the Latin setting, Phanourios is known as Expeditus which means: the rendering of a prompt and smooth outcome. It made sense in terms of Phanourios being known for helping people with lost causes and other such issues. He is mostly known amongst the Greeks for finding lost things for which he is greatly revered!
Finding lost things! This of course is within the power of grace God bestows through his saints onto the faithful. I must clearly state that such had happened to me whilst I was a deacon serving in the Russian parish of Dandenong: after an evening Church service, I was invited out for Yum Cha. As we know when wearing tracksuits under clerical robes; it’s easy for things to fall out of pockets and so forth….how many times have we found our wallet or keys and things that have slipped out onto the car seat when we get up and out of the car? It so happened that my set of church and house keys must of slipped out onto the parking lot at that point.
Hence, it was only after I arrived back home in Greensborough (opening the garage door via remote control) that I realised that the keys were not on me; a thorough search through the car, office and bedroom was carried out. Hence, I did not think twice to drive back to Dandenong in order to trace back my steps and seek the keys which I lost; all sorts of things went through my head at that point - especially facing the parish council! Hence, I could not find them and all I could do is ask for mercy and help invoking the archangels to which I share the name of one of them and one of the Prophets whose name I also have – Phanourious was also invoked! Thus, I drove back home and throughout the drive I was thinking of what my explanation to the council was going to be – along with the fertile scenarios we all create in our minds under such conditions!
The next morning when I woke up and turned around to look at the clock on my bedside table; lying beside it were the lost keys! This is no joke nor a fable to seek public admiration for I am as holy as a block of Swiss cheese (full of holes)! Yet the heavenly powers are very much alive and at work in our midst; aiding us especially when we least expect it and also at such times where via stress -belief goes out the window so to speak/write! In addition, may I also point out that if we are only going to call upon the saints or make them known because they help us find things etc.….then something is dreadfully wrong with us as a human person that is composed also of spirit. Furthermore, if we profess the living Christ and live in the Communion of Saints which forms his body the Church, yet deny/have trouble in accepting divine intervention on a greater of smaller scale; we really then need to reassess what we believe and perhaps move on!
On a more cheerful note, and to my surprise and immense joy, our Holy Exarchate was recently offered his relics; I can assure you that I jumped to this all blessed opportunity in receiving him! This divine occurrence (the offering of the relics) – testifies that the saint was always with me as a kid and is pleased to come amongst us as a Church, this actually prompted me to knuckle down and render a true testament to his life and works; the missing tiles now portray a glorious mosaic! Thus, in researching the saint’s formative years, we have come to know that a mistranslation of his name occurred – proving that which I stated in the opening paragraphs. (Missing links in both ecclesial camps)
Hence, the saint I knew as Phanorious, and then Expeditus is in actual fact named: ELPIDIUS which means: the bearer of hope! Elpidius was born in Armenia and served in the roman military – he became a centurion at the age of 25 and was admired by all especially due to possessing a good and tender natured soul. As we know, the primitive Church did not record much about actual birthdates, but rather celebrated thus when its children were born into eternal life – a fact found in many of the epitaphs/sarcophagus inscriptions of roman catacombs “NATIVITAS AETERNUM”: Birth into eternity! In addition, it is fitting that the name for ancient burial/entombment places ‘Cemetery’ derives from the Greek word “KOIMETERION” meaning: dormitory – the place where the just repose in the Lord awaiting his return to wake them!
Thus, under the tyranny of the Diocletian persecutions; Elpidius was martyred with 5 other companions from the military: Hermogenes, Aristonius, Caius, Rufus, and Galatas.... reposing in the Lord in the month of April and the year 303 AD in the city of Melitene of Asia Minor now modern Malatya of Turkey. This city leads us to the island of Crete which is close by to neighbouring Rhodes. It is most important to note that early venerations to Elpidius celebrated/commemorated him on the 19th of April -sprang out of Sicily which is also in the circumference of the zone in question!
Although decapitation was the norm for such betrayal of the empire, yet Elpidius/Phanourios who was a high ranking soldier had to be made an example of for his treachery/apostasy in confessing Christ as God. Thus, just as many martyrs in the military were executed by the means they excelled in for the skill of war – such was used on them (beheading) in return; labelling them as enemies of the state! As we know, in our Apostolic heritage – depictions (icons) were not as many thought “the book of the illiterate” but bore living testament to the faith; for the word cannot exist without deed as exhorted by the Apostle James first bishop of Zion: “Faith carried out via word alone and not accompanied with works is dead!” (Jm 2:14-26)
Therefore, just as liturgical deeds are visible icons, so too are further illustrations as is the case indicated in the depiction panels concerning Phanourios (a testament to iconography being part of the canon of scripture in the Apostolic Church) where our holy martyr suffered various tortures before he reposed in the risen Lord. Hence, the icon discovered in Crete unveils 12 panels which surrounded the icon of the martyr; portraying his testimony to the faith and the torture inflicted upon him by the military via decree in the following order:
1. Defending the faith before the governing officials.
2. Stoning the saint in order to provoke the denial of the faith.
3. Beating the saint with clubs in order to have him recant.
4. Stands exposed whilst sharp iron rods rip through his flesh.
5. Prays in his prison cell for the Lord to render strength and consolation.
6. Brought again to trial in order for him to recant.
7. Tortured with burning rods before the magistrate.
8. Placed in a rotating wood mechanism which crushes certain parts of his body.
9. Thrown into a den with wild animals who reverse their nature and comfort him.
10. Placed under the weight of a large rock.
11. Burning coal placed in his hands in order to provoke submission to a pagan deity placed before him.
12. Burnt to death via furnace.
Early depictions of martyrs portray them holding the cross of Christ as did Elpidius - in his case with the Latin inscription running across it: “HODIE” meaning: today – referring to the Lord’s exhortation: “Let your Yes be a yes and No be a no!” (Mat 5:37) and further elaborated in the exhortations of the Apostle Paul: “Now is the moment and the hour!” (2Cor 6:2) They also hold palm branches signifying the vision of the Apostle John beheld in the Revelation: “The ones who witnessed in blood were dressed in white robes that were cleansed by he who is the Lamb; holding palm branches in their witness to him!” (Rev 7:9)
Furthermore, the dress code depicted would bare testimony to their status in society - alongside the means of their martyrdom. A classic example is the virgin martyr Paraskeve (there were a few saints baring this name and they were martyred in the same way - eyes plucked out) In the Latin setting we know Paraskeve as Lucia of Syracuse! In addition, there exists another virgin martyr sharing the same fate: Corona who comforted a roman soldier Victor as he too was martyred for the faith.
Yet in the Eastern traditions (meaning the Orthodox Church present in countries predominantly orthodox) cultures and imagery depict the martyrs holding a cross (the testament to martyrdom) and at times baring a candle - signifying their witness to the Gospel of Christ which brought light into the world’s darkness (the first means given in baptism) For those of us who practice/live out our faith and serve/attend the Paschal Services – at the midnight hour, we sit in the darkened church until the three branched paschal candelabra is lit; drawing near to it with unlit candles igniting from thus - the sacramental symbolism of the Resurrection Gospel spreading throughout the nations!
Thus, “Elpidius”: brought hope to his fellow Christians and soldiers – “Expeditus” however mistranslated: rendered a prompt and smooth outcome to the persecuted Christians of Crete, and as “Phanourios”: bestowed illumination amongst the people of Rhodes in revealing the mercy of God and his grace alive and active in his Church amidst turmoil! Truly, he is a saint that one can call upon in their trials who is thus acquainted with such; inviting us to turn onto the Lord who came to nail all earth’s blunders and the ancient rebellion’s sting on humanity to the wood of the cross!
A song from the heavens now shines brightly upon the earth as the angelic host rejoice. They joyfully sing a triumphant hymn of a Son of the Church who struggled against the sufferings inflicted on him by the children of the earth: Glorious Phanourios, you are worthy of the promises of the Lord for you are a champion of the true faith! Orthodox Apolytikion Hymn for the Feast of St. Phanourios.
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