top of page
Writer's pictureFather Mark

Unveiling the history of the Orthodox Church and her saints in the region of Sicily.


HOLY MARTYRS FATHER GIOVANNI MARIA SCOLARICI AND HIS SON SUBDEACON GIUSEPPE SCOLARICI.


SICILY

According to fruits of etymology, Sicily is the land of figs and olives. It is a region that is rendered rich via the nutrition of the sun and the cultivation of an abundance in vegetation- a Mediterranean peninsula that has hosted various nationalities throughout the centuries. Such cultures present were the Sicani (ancient Sicilians from the river Sicanus), Sicels (Iron Age Sicilians), Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish who brought along their customs, traditions, and creeds. Further, it is rather extraordinary in pondering on the various cultures which took root in these lands that gave way to the birth of the language, which has shaped music, poetry, and art: Italian!


Thus, in the capital Palermo - the court of King Fredrick II that was filled with philosophers, scribes, and professionals of the arts - Italian, which is the daughter of the Latin Vulgate, was born! This later evolved and affirmed status in Tuscany, Florence, Sienna, and other surrounding places. Hence, a great scholar and linguist (the Apostle Paul) also came to this peninsula to plant the seed of the Gospel of Christ (evidence affirmed in the catacombs of St. John of Syracuse), so that it could take root in the minds and hearts of the Sicilian populace.

Hence, the Byzantine Greeks cultivated the faith given them via the succession of St. Paul, which truly took root deep in the heart of the local people who followed the Orthodox faith and devoted themselves to the Church present in Sicily. However tarnished this ancient land may be from the fact and fiction of Hollywood and its sagas found in the genera of Mario Puzzo’s script, the sacrosanct past of this noble peninsula can never be erased - for it is consecrated with the courage, and ardent faith of the early martyrs who’s certainty in the Gospel shone brightly as stars through the darkness of ignorance!


We can recall two of our sisters who were extraordinary women: Agatha of Catania, who was martyred during the reign of the emperor Decius, and Lucy of Syracuse, who was persecuted in martyrdom under the reign of the emperor Diocletian. There are numerous martyrs amongst the orthodox clergy and monastics; here, we will like to recall the witness given by Father Giovanni Maria and his Son Subdeacon Giuseppe Scolarici, who were slaughtered by the Muslims in the town of Piranio in the year 1544AD.


PIRANIO

The town of Piranio came under the authority of the Orthodox Bishop of Messina to which Father Giovanni was a priest of his fold (in the Orthodox Church each bishop although in communion with the Holy Synod of that land: Sicily - is independent and runs his Church according to the needs) Thus Piranio was constantly plagued by Muslim pirates, and such at the time were contesting Christendom as a payback for the crusades and other political conquistorial gains. Furthermore, these pirates under the command of the Ottoman dictator Khayr al Din Barbarossa terrorized the Sicilian coast in the year 1544AD.


With the terror of Muslim invasion and the possibility of that which is sacred being profaned in mind, Father Giovanni who was a faithful servant of the Church and devouted to his family; rushed from his home taking his young son and subdeacon Giuseppe to the parish church - removing the reserved sacrament and holy chrism oil from the altar.


In truth, this devotion for the Holy paved the way to endure the bitter trial of martyrdom father and son would soon face – a devotion that comfortable clergy in the diaspora would betray at the first sign of danger!!! Hence, Father Giovanni clung to his son, who held the holy mysteries (Consecrated Lamb/Eucharistic bread and Oil of Chrism vessels) as they were tortured and decapitated – buried by the orthodox Christians in that very Church. Their bodies were later translated to the Cathedral Church. Upon examination, their bodies were found to issue a scent of myrrh - a common occurrence with the bodies of Orthodox Saints.


Although we use the accepted word of Canonization, yet the word or process of declaration in the Orthodox Church is: Glorification – for the glory of God worked wonders with and in the life of that person/s who aspired to holiness according to the capacity and charism the Holy Spirit rendered them! Hence, we do not share the notion of proof for us to canonize according to miracles the supposed saint works once departed – rather, we look at the miracles accomplished via the saint’s intercessions whilst alive on earth where the grace of the Holy Spirit is at work through the person we acclaim as holy! In short – either one is holy or is not; there are no stages and titles in-between, but living testimony to the wonders God works through his saints!


TEACHING AND LEGACY

Father Giovanni always alerted the faithful in how one may be an authentic Christian where Service must be central. Our every action which stems from goodness is truly inspired, suggested, and desired by God, whom out of love made all things not merely exist but fully alive; breathing the fullness of life in our being via our own wholehearted RSVP to his call!

Hence, when God bestows a Gift or Gifts upon us, we must share them with others as the parable of the talents exhorts - the meaning of presence which is the centre of our life in Christ; the Holy Mysteries where the Holy Spirit makes possible to receive Him freely!


It is interesting to note that when father and son were on their way to the parish church, they spotted the pirates who were near the vicinity. With that Giuseppe tells his father that they should flee and run back home (for this “invasion” had happened several times) Yet Father Giovanni reminded his son that upon ordination his Bishop placed the consecrated lamb (communion) in his hands saying: “Receive He who is the bread of angels and guard thus wholeheartedly for when the Lord of the Church returns in glory He shall ask of an account of thy faithfulness!”


Thus, once they had taken the Holy Mysteries from the Church, they were surrounded by the pirates; both testified to the Blood of the Lamb via offering their very lives as the sacrificial oblations. Hence, Holy Martyrdom is the greatest testament one can give to the Lord by living his Gospel and not being afraid come what may! Although many of us may not be required to shed our very lifeblood, yet martyrdom is the constant witness we give in the world via turning the other cheek to the cruelness of the world, yet safeguarding our dignity with the armour of faith, hope and love; the means for many whom in the beginning came to Christ – love unconditional!


It is the ultimate challenge to many who have either been born in Christianity or have desired to serve the institutional setting of the Church – a place where faith, hope, and love are the last characteristics which should be employed in their minds; the behaviour of superficial clerical gentlemen constantly portrays thus! Yet, the Lord shakes the very foundations of these via sending into the world people like Father Giovanni and Subdeacon Giuseppe; the calling to serve not to be served! Thus, unless we are willing to remove the outer garment and lay it aside to tend to our brothers and sisters who are truly in need and have become godless due to our stupidity and prestige, we clearly cannot be carriers of Christ amidst a society that has completely lost its backbone and seriously needs reconstruction!!!


MINISTRY

When the Bread of the Promise and Wine of Gladness have been offered for the life of the faithful, the presbyter prays; asking not demanding as many do in prayer! Hence, such is rendered via Epiclesis – the invocation/calling upon the Holy Spirit via rite of Holy Succession in the Apostles within Ordination! Thus, the Spirit who lives, moves, and breaths in his Church outpours himself within that which has been offered and in reception sanctifies them. The reception where Christ may once again break the Bread of his Body and pour out the Wine of His Blood into the lives of the faithful so that they may partake of God who is Father of creation, Son with his created and Spirit rendering his own people with the gift of life that never dies!

The angels marvel at this grace bestowed upon man – the presbytery of Christ empowered with the gift of Emmanuel entering into the lives of his faithful at each Divine Liturgy: doing this as He commanded so that He may always be with us until He returns! Hence, we should recourse to this marvellous Mystery of mysteries the Lord makes available via his priests – when we are invited for dinner, we come with pleasure and feast sumptuously. Thus so should we do when we come to Church in fully participating and not merely spectating or allowing repugnant scrupulous teachings in baring us from the fruits of the Paschal Harvest!


Hence, Father Giovanni shared that same zeal for the Divine Mysteries as our Father amongst the Hierarchs St. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch constantly shared and lived with the early Christians of both Antioch and Rome; pillars of certainty for a Church now that is uncertain of its own shadow as nationalism spreads as cancerous tumours! Truly, the Apostle to the gentiles (St. Paul) reminded them back then and exhorts onto us: Humanity which exults in its worldly knowledge falls short and becomes paranoid when that which is supernatural (Divine knowledge) makes himself known!


HEALINGS

Our departed Metropolitan of blessed memory Father Metropolitan Antonio De Rosso had various heart issues (valve malfunctions), and on the 21st May 2007AD was rushed to Hospital in Teramo suffering two coronaries and a hernia. The metropolitan prayed to Father Giovanni and Subdeacon Giuseppe to assist him since his consecration as the Metropolitan of Italy. Hence, when they (the doctors) stabilized the Metropolitan, scans and other tests were performed in order to assess the procedures for surgery.As the Metropolitan slept – he had a vision of people coming to visit him, a priest with a subdeacon came to his bedside saying onto him: “Father Metropolitan, don’t be afraid - the Lord is the divine physician and we have come to let you know that you are free from your condition!” At this - when the Metropolitan woke, the head surgeon came along and was perplexed saying: “Father Metropolitan….umm, we have run through the procedures and necessary criteria a few times; perhaps we were given the wrong readings – there is nothing wrong with you….if I may say – it looks like you have stressed yourself out……we will keep you in for observation just the same, but after our diagnosis; you will be free to go home in the late morning!”


TESTIMONIAL

On the 23rd January 2009AD a testimonial upon the incorrupt relics of Father Giovanni and his Son Subdeacon Giuseppe was given by a native of Piranio (born 21st April 1930) by Mrs. Angela Giardinia. Mrs. Giardinia recounts when she was a child and was under the care of the Basilian nuns (Mother Dorothea) would often talk to them about Father Giovanni and Subdeacon Giuseppe.


During the war years, the local town’s people would seek the intercessions of these two holy martyrs and often met at the abbey church for a paraclesis (supplicatory prayer service) which was much needed in those years in war-torn Byzantine Italy.

Hence, when she, another lass Antonina Serraino, and Mother Dorothea visited the tomb which would was opened at Mother Dorothea’s request under the sacristan Antonino Caputo’s care, she (Angela) described as if it were yesterday: “An aroma of Holy Chrism (sanctified perfumed oil) would fill the air to which the bodies although decapitated remain incorrupt and with wounds still fresh!”


Troparion:

O Holy Saints, you stood firm in the face of death as the infidels extinguished the life of the body. Pray Holy Martyrs that He our Lord, (who trampled down death by His death in the flesh) may bring us from death into never-ending life- where those who have fought the good fight, feast at the Wedding Feast of the Son!

Kontakion:

You Holy Martyrs dance for joy, for your Lord has opened the doors of Paradise to all who in true faith, confess that Jesus is Lord. Pray Holy Saints that like you we may not fear those who seek to harm us but rather, like you, let us trust in the All-Holy Trinity who is the God who loves mankind.






70 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page