Galilee Folder, its rivers, lake and mountains.kmz

Galilee Folder, its rivers, lake and mountains

Galilee
Lower Galilee; Western Galilee; Upper Galilee; Galilee Region; ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, (28 April 1801-“ 1 October 1885), Commemorated July 30 ; WILLIAM WILBERFORCE [and ANTHONY ASHLEY-COOPER, 7th EARL OF SHAFTESBURY], PROPHETIC WITNESSES, 1833, 1885, Commemorated July 30 ; MARY MAGDALENE, FIRST WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (22 JULY NT); Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22 ; JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE, APOSTLE (25 JULY 41) ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second Feast of the Savior in August), Commemorated on August 6; THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD (15 AUGUST NT); The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, Commemorated on August 29 ; Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses, Commemorated on September 4; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Anna, Commemorated on September 9; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Joachim, Commemorated on September 9; LUKE THE EVANGELIST, (18 OCTOBER) ; Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip, Commemorated November 14 ; Venerable Callistus Xanthopoulos of Mt Athos, Commemorated November 22 ; Greatmartyr Mercurius of Caesarea, in Cappadocia, Commemorated on November 24 ; Prophet Nahum, Commemorated December 1 ; St John the Silent of St Sabbas Monastery, Commemorated December 3 ; Martyr Akepsimas of Egypt, Commemorated on December 11 ; Apostle Erastus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; THE FEAST OF THE HOLY EPIPHANY (6 January) ; Venerable Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis Commemorated on February 27 ; Venerable Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius at Decapolis, Commemorated on February 28 ; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4 ; Martyr Conon the Gardener of Pamphylia, Commemorated on March 5; Martyr Papas of Lyconia, Commemorated on March 16; JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF OUR LORD (19 MAR NT); The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God; The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on March 25; THE ANNUNCIATION, OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (25 MAR NT) ; Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria, Commemorated on April 13; James of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT) ; Apostle Simon Zealotes, Commemorated on May 10 ; Martyr Abercius the son of the Apostle Alphaeus, Commemorated on May 26; Martyr Abercius the son of the Apostle Alphaeus, Commemorated on May 26; THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, (31 MAY); Translation of the relics of the Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates, Commemorated on June 8; Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve, Commemorated on June 11 ; Apostle Jude the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on June 19; The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter, Commemorated on June 29; The Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachernae, Commemorated on July 2;

Road to Gilgal - Galilee to Jericho Road

Galilee 600BC-1291, Galilee History Folder

Galilee, 900 BC, 10th C BC Folder, Prophet Elijah

Galilee, 900 BC, Prophet Elijah, angels at birth, idols v God contest, to Mt Horeb cave, Lord in breeze, Elisha double portion
Galilee, 900 BC, Prophet Elijah, Tishba (Tishbe), Gilead, angels at his birth, rain stopped 3.5 yrs, cave beyon Jordan, fed by ravens, to Sarephta Sidon widow, gave last bread oil, then not depleted during famine, Mt Carmel idols true God contest, to consume sacrifice with fire, E watered his sacrifice, his fire came, E put Pagan Priests to death, J threatened to kill him, to Judea, Angel c him to Mt Horeb cave, Lord in gentle breeze, 7k faithful servants will be preserved, Elisha double portion; Tishba (Tishbe), Gilead ; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20; Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the greatest of the prophets and the first dedicated to virginity in the Old Testament. was born in Tishba of Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before the Incarnation of the Word of God. Epiphanius of Cyprus gives the following account about the birth of the Prophet Elijah: “When Elijah was born, his father Sobach saw in a vision angels of God around him. They swaddled him with fire and fed him with flames.” name Elijah (the Lord’s strength) given to the infant defined his whole life. From the years of his youth he dedicated himself to the One God, settled in the wilderness and spent his whole life in strict fasting, meditation and prayer. to prophetic service, which put him in conflict with the Israelite king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot of true faith and piety. this time the Israelite nation had fallen away from the faith of their Fathers, abandoned the One God and worshipped pagan idols, the worship of which was introduced by the impious king Jereboam. the wife of king Ahab, was devoted to idol worship. She persuaded her husband to build a temple to the pagan god Baal, which led many Israelites away from the worship of the true God. the ruin of his nation, the Prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab for impiety, and exhorted him to repent and turn to the God of Israel. The king would not listen to him. Prophet Elijah then declared to him, that as punishment there would be neither rain nor dew upon the ground, and the drought would cease only by his prayer. Indeed, the word of Elijah was a torch (Eccles. 48: 1). The heavens were closed for three and a half years, and there was drought and famine throughout all the land. this time of tribulation, the Lord sent him to a cave beyond the Jordan. There he was miraculously fed by ravens. When the stream Horath dried up, the Lord sent the Prophet Elijah to Sarephta to a poor widow, a Sidonian Gentile who suffered together with her children, awaiting death by starvation. the request of the prophet, she prepared him a bread with the last measure of flour and the remainder of the oil. the prayer of the Prophet Elijah, flour and oil were not depleted in the home of the widow for the duration of the famine. the power of his prayer the prophet also performed another miracle: he raised the dead son of the widow. the end of three years of drought the Merciful Lord sent the prophet to appear before King Ahab, and promised to send rain upon the earth. Prophet Elijah told the king to order all of Israel to gather upon Mount Carmel, and also the priests of Baal. When the nation had gathered, the Prophet Elijah proposed that two sacrificial altars be built: one for the priests of Baal, and the other for the Prophet Elijah who served the True God. Prophet Elijah told them to call on their gods to consume the sacrificial animals with fire, and he would call on his. Whichever was first to send fire on the sacrifice would be acknowledged as the true God. prophets of Baal called out to their idol from morning till evening, but the heavens were silent. Towards evening the holy Prophet Elijah built his sacrificial altar from twelve stones, the number of the tribes of Israel. He placed the sacrifice upon the wood, gave orders to dig a ditch around the altar and commanded that the sacrifice and the wood be soaked with water. When the ditch had filled with water, the prophet turned to God in prayer. the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water. The people fell down to the ground, crying out: “Truly, the Lord is God!” the Prophet Elijah had all the pagan-priests of Baal put to death, and he began to pray for rain. Through his prayer the heavens opened and an abundant rain fell, soaking the parched earth. Ahab acknowledged his error and repented of his sins, but his wife Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet of God. Prophet Elijah fled into the Kingdom of Judea and, grieving over his failure to eradicate idol worship, he asked God to let him die. An angel of the Lord came before him, strengthened him with food and commanded him to go upon a long journey. The Prophet Elijah traveled for forty days and nights and, having arrived at Mount Horeb, he settled in a cave. Lord told him that the next day Elijah would stand in His presence.There was a strong wind that crushed the rocks of the mountain, then an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in them. The Lord was in “a gentle breeze” (3 Kings 19: 12). revealed to the prophet, that He would preserve seven thousand faithful servants who had not worshipped Baal. the Lord commanded Elijah to anoint Elisha into prophetic service. Because of his fiery zeal for the Glory of God the Prophet Elijah was taken up alive into Heaven in a fiery chariot. Prophet Elisha received Elijah’s mantle, and a double portion of his prophetic spirit. to the Tradition of Holy Church, the Prophet Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world. life of the holy Prophet Elijah is recorded in the Old Testament books (3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 48: 1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58). At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Savior upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30). Christians of all times, and in all places, have venerated the Prophet Elijah for centuries. The first church in Russia, built at Kiev under Prince Igor, was named for the Prophet Elijah. After her Baptism Saint Olga (July 11) built a temple of the holy Prophet Elijah in her native region, at the village of Vibuta. iconography the Prophet Elijah is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. We pray to him for deliverance from drought, and to ask for seasonable weather.

Galilee, 700 BC, 8th C BC Folder, Prophet Nahum

Galilee, 700-675 BC, 7th Century BC, Prophet, Nahum, prophesied ends of Assyrian E, Nineva, and Israel
Galilee, 675 BC, 7th Century BC, Prophet, Nahum, prophesied ends of Assyrian E, Nineva, and Israel, fElkosh Galilee, prophesies Nineva end, Israel end, Sennacherib blasphemy, A empire crumbles 632-612BC, Nineveh fell 612, Nahum no call tRepentence&no denounce Israel infidelity, died age 45, 7th o12 minor prophets; Galilee Prophet, 7th Century BC, Nahum; was a minor prophet whose prophecy is recorded in the Tanakh, also called the Hebrew Bible and The Old Testament. book comes in chronological order between Micah and Habakkuk in the Bible.[1] wrote about the end of the Assyrian Empire, and its capital city, Nineveh, in a vivid poetic style.[2] was a very nationalistic Hebrew, and lived amongst the Elkoshites in peace. called "the Elkoshite", is the seventh in order of the minor prophets. Prophet Nahum, Commemorated on December 1; Holy Prophet Nahum, whose name means “God consoles,” was from the village of Elkosh (Galilee). lived during the seventh century B.C. Prophet Nahum prophesies the ruin of the Assyrian city of Nineveh because of its iniquity, destruction of the Israelite kingdom, the blasphemy of King Sennacherib against God. Assyrian king Ashurbanipal died in 632 B.C., and over the next two decades, his empire began to crumble. fell in 612 B.C. differs from most of the prophets in as much as he does not issue any call to repentance, nor does he denounce Israel for infidelity to God. of the prophet’s life are unknown. died at the age of forty-five, and was buried in his native region. is the seventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Prophet Nahum and Saint Nahum of Ochrid (December 23) are invoked for people with mental disorders.

Galilee, 1st C BC Folder, Joachin&Anna, Herod tG, Herod II, James, H Archelaus, Roman Rule, Annunciation

Galilee, 63 BC - 12 BC, Joachin and Anna, Grandparents of God
Jerusalem, 63 BC - 12 BC, Joachin and Anna, Grandparents of God; Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, Commemorated on September 9; Joachim, the son of Barpathir, was of the tribe of Judah, and was a descendant of King David, to whom God had revealed that the Savior of the world would be born from his seed. Saint Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, who was of the tribe of Levi. Saint Anna’s family came from Bethlehem. couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him. during a great feast, the gifts which Joachim took to Jerusalem as an offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who considered that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained the old man very much, and he, regarding himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place. Saint Anna learned what humiliation her husband had endured, she sorrowfully entreated God with prayer and fasting to grant her a child. In his desolate solitude the righteous Joachim also asked God for this. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born to them, Who would be blessed above all other women. He also told them that She would remain a virgin, would be dedicated to the Lord and live in the Temple, and would give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, Saints Joachim and Anna met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary. Joachim died a few years later at the age of 80, after his daughter went to live in the Temple. Saint Anna died at the age of 70, two years after her husband. Saints Joachim and Anna are often invoked by couples trying to have children. Jerusalem Saint, 18 BC-62AD, Mary, Mother of God; The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on September 8; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15;

Galilee, 47BC-33AD, Joseph, tBetrothed, 7kids before chosen MOG's guardian, Angel told him Incarntn, sent him Egypt, 100yrOld
Galilee, 47BC-33AD, Joseph, the Betrothed, Jesus' step father, Nazareth, Galilee, J of King David's line, 4 sons 3 daughters from previous marriage, strict temperance as widower, chosen guardian oTheotokos, a virgin, Angel told him oIncarnation through her, present at Jesus' birth wAngels&Shepherds, Angel ordered him flee tEgypt, carpenter there till Herod's death, died at age 100; Nazareth; Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, along with David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on December 26 ; Joseph the Betrothed was of the lineage of King David. had four sons from his previous marriage: James, Judah, Joses, and Simon (or Symeon), three daughters: Esther, Martha, and Salome, who was the mother of Saint John the Theologian. he became a widower, Saint Joseph led a life of strict temperance. was chosen to be the husband and guardian of the Most Holy Theotokos, who had taken a vow of virginity. angel told him of the Incarnation of the Son of God through her. Joseph was present when the shepherds and the Magi worshiped the new-born divine Infant. the orders of the angel, he fled into Egypt with the Mother of God and the Infant Jesus, saving them from the wrath of King Herod. lived in Egypt with the Virgin Mary and the divine Child, working as a carpenter. Joseph reputedly died at the age of one hundred. Joseph is commemorated on the Sunday after the Nativity. If there is no Sunday between December 25 and January 1, his Feast is moved to December 26. Righteous Joseph is also commemorated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers.

Galilee, 37 BC - 4 BCE, King, Herod the Great
Galilee, 37 BCE - 4 BCE, King, Herod the Great;

Galilee, 27 BC-34 AD, heir, Herod II
Jerusalem heir, 27BC-34AD, Herod II ; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated on September 23 ;

Galilee, 15BC-63, Dot 9, Apostle James, Lord's step, Nazarene, 1st Bishop of J, c many Jews, so thrown down f Temple top
If Joseph was 70 at Jesus' birth, then James was probably around 50, so he would have been 20 in 30BC. Jerusalem, 30BC-63AD, Apostle James, brother of the Lord, a Nazarene, became apostle in 30-33, 1st Bishop of J, council J in 51, converted many Jews, so thrown down from top of Temple; Jerusalem; Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on October 23; Apostle James, the Brother of God (Adelphotheos) the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). his early years James was a Nazarene, a man especially dedicated to God. The Nazarenes vowed to preserve their virginity, to abstain from wine, to refrain from eating meat, and not to cut their hair. vow of the Nazarenes symbolized a life of holiness and purity, commanded formerly by the Lord for all Israel. the Savior began to teach the nation about the Kingdom of God, Saint James believed in Christ and became His apostle. was chosen as the first Bishop of Jerusalem. James presided over the Council of Jerusalem and his word was decisive (Acts 15). his thirty years as bishop, Saint James converted many of the Jews to Christianity. by this, the Pharisees and the Scribes plotted together to kill Saint James. They led the saint up on the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and asked what he thought of Jesus. holy Apostle began to bear witness that Christ is the Messiah, was not the response the Pharisees were expecting. angered, the Jewish teachers threw him off the roof. saint did not die immediately, but gathering his final strength, he prayed to the Lord for his enemies while they were stoning him. James’ martyrdom occurred about 63 A.D. holy Apostle James composed a Divine Liturgy, which formed the basis of the Liturgies of Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. Church has preserved an Epistle of Saint James, one of the books of the New Testament. 1853, Patriarch Hierotheus of Alexandria sent to Moscow a portion of the relics of Saint James. Church distinguishes between the holy Apostle James the Brother of God, and Saint James the son of Zebedee (April 30) and Saint James the son of Alphaeus (October 9).

Galilee, 15BC-63, James Brother otLord, Nazareth, Galilee, approx 20yrs older than MOG, first bishop oJerusalem
Galilee, 15BC-40, James Brother otLord, Nazareth, Galilee (Kishon River drainage), approx 20yrs older than MOG, Solomonia's Son, flight to Egypt, probably to Bethlem Nativity also, thrown from roof of Temple Nazareth; Righteous James the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on December 26; Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord, was the eldest son of Joseph the Betrothed from his first marriage with Solomonia. Apostle James is remembered after the Feast of the Nativity of Christ together with his father Joseph and the Prophet-King David, since he accompanied his family on the Flight into Egypt and lived there with the Infant Jesus, the Mother of God and Joseph. Later, he returned to Israel with them. the Ascension of the Lord, Saint James was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, gaining the great esteem not only of Christians, but also of Jews. He was thrown from the roof of the Jerusalem Temple because he had publicly preached to the people about the God-Manhood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Apostle James is also commemorated on October 23.

Galilee, 4 BC-6 AD, Ethnarch, Herod Archelaus, (Samaria, Judea, Edom) Killed the Innocents
Jerusalem Ethnarch, 4BC-6AD, Herod Archelaus, (Samaria, Judea, Edom); Archelaus (Ancient Greek: ; 23 BC -AD 18) was ethnarch[1][2] of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea (biblical Edom), including the cities Caesarea and Jaffa, for a period of nine years[3] (c. 4 BC to AD 6). Archelaus was removed by Roman Emperor Augustus when Judaea province was formed under direct Roman rule, at the time of the Census of Quirinius. He was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace the Samaritan, and was the brother of Herod Antipas, and the half-brother of Herod II. Archelaus (a name meaning "leading the people") came to power after the death of his father Herod the Great in 4 BC, and ruled over one-half of the territorial dominion of his father. A map depicting the domain of Herod Archelaus as was given to him by Augustus after the death of King Herod the Great. Josephus writes that Herod the Great (father of Archelaus) was in Jericho at the time of his death.[4] Just prior to his final trip to Jericho, he was deeply involved in a religious conflagration. Herod had placed a golden eagle over the Temple entrance which was perceived as blasphemous.[5] The eagle was chopped down with axes. Two teachers and approximately 40 other youths were arrested for this act and immolated. Herod defended his works and offered an attack on his predecessors, the dynastic Hasmoneans. Herod killed all male lineal successors of the Hasmoneans. The Pharisees had long attacked the Hasmoneans as well, as having parentage from Greeks while under bondage. This racial slur was repeated by the Pharisees through the rule of Alexander Jannaeus and Queen Salome.[6] With this explicit background given, Josephus began an exposition of the days of Archelaus' reign before Passover of 4 BC. Archelaus dressed in white and ascended a golden throne and appeared to be kind to the populace in Jerusalem in order to appease their desires for lower taxes and an end to the (political) imprisonment of Herod's enemies. The demeanor of the questioning appeared to turn at some point, and the crowd began to call for the punishment of those of Herod's people who ordered the death of the two teachers and the 40 youths. They also demanded the replacement of the High Priest, from the appointed High Priest of Herod's to a High Priest, "of greater piety and purity".[7] Josephus does not tell who would be "of greater piety and purity". To this request, however, Archelaus acceded, although he was becoming angry at the presumptions of the crowds. Archelaus asked for moderation and told the crowds that all would be well if they would put aside their animosities and wait until he was confirmed as King by Caesar Augustus. Archelaus then left to feast with his friends. It was evening and as the darkness settled, a mourning and wailing begin over the city. Archelaus began to worry as people begin streaming into the Temple area and those who wailed for loss of the teachers continued their very loud mourning. The people were escalating in their threatening behavior. Henry St. John Thackeray's translation of Josephus here states it thus: "The promoters of the mourning for the doctors stood in the body of the temple, procuring recruits for their faction".[8] Josephus does not tell us who these "promoters of the mourning", who recruit from within a body inside the Temple, could be. Archelaus then sent a general, some other people and finally a "tribune in Command of a Cohort" to reason with these "Seditionists", to stop their "innovations" and wait until Archelaus could return from Rome and Caesar. Those who came from Archelaus were stoned, with many killed. After the stoning, those who stoned the soldiers returned to their sacrifices, as if nothing had happened. Josephus does not tell who performed the sacrifices in the Temple. It was after midnight, and Archelaus suddenly ordered the entire army into the city to the Temple. Josephus records the death toll at 3000. Archelaus sent heralds around the city announcing the cancellation of Passover. Archelaus quickly sailed to Caesar and faced a group of enemies – his own family. Antipas, the younger brother of Archelaus who was deposed from Herod's will days earlier, argued that Archelaus merely feigned grief for his father, crying during the day and involved with great "merriment" during the nights. The threats carried out by Archelaus ending in the death of 3000 in the Temple were not just threats to the worshipers in Jerusalem at Passover, but also amounted to a threat to Caesar himself, since Archelaus acted in every manner a King, before such title had been given by Caesar. At this point, Nicolaus of Damascus argued to Caesar that Archelaus acted appropriately and that Herod's will, supposedly written a few weeks prior (yielding the kingship to Archelaus and against Antipater), should be seen as valid. The change of this will in favor of Archelaus is given as Herod's true choice and, it is argued, occurred with Herod being in his right mind since he left the final decision to Caesar. The change of the will appears as one of Herod's last acts and it is attested from Jericho by one "Ptolemy", keeper of Herod's Seal. Nicholaus of Damascus had been Herod's confidant for years. He was loyal to Rome. Ptolemy was Nicholaus of Damascus' brother. Archelaus, at the conclusion of the arguments, fell at Caesar's feet. Caesar raised him up and stated that Archelaus "was worthy to succeed his father".[9] Caesar gave Archelaus the title of Ethnarch and divided the kingdom. Rome would consolidate its power later. Thus, Archelaus received the Tetrarchy of Judea through the last will of his father, though a previous will had bequeathed it to his brother Antipas. He was proclaimed king by the army, but declined to assume the title until he had submitted his claims to Caesar Augustus in Rome. In Rome he was opposed by Antipas and by many of the Jews, who feared his cruelty, based on the murder of 3000; but in 4 BC Augustus allotted to him the greater part of the kingdom (Samaria, Judea, and Idumea) with the title of ethnarch (a ruler of an ethnic group).[10][11] The first wife of Archelaus is given by Josephus simply as Mariamne,[12] perhaps Mariamne III, daughter of Aristobulus IV, whom he divorced to marry Glaphyra. She was the widow of Archelaus' brother Alexander, though her second husband, Juba, king of Mauretania, was alive. This violation of the Mosaic law, along with Archelaus' continued cruelty, roused the ire of the Jews, who complained to Augustus. Archelaus fell into disrepute and was deposed in his 10th year of reign as ethnarch, being banished to Vienna (today Vienne) in Gaul.[13][10] Samaria, Judea proper, and Idumea became the Roman province of Iudaea.[14] Biblical references[edit] Herod Archelaus from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum (16th century depiction) Archelaus is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 2 verse 13–23). An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to get up and take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt to avoid the Massacre of the Innocents. When Herod the Great died, Joseph was told by an angel in a dream to return to the land of Israel (presumably to Bethlehem). However, upon hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father as ruler of Judaea he "was afraid to go there" (Matthew 2:22), and was again warned in a dream by God "and turned aside to the region of" Galilee. This is Matthew's explanation of why Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea but grew up in Nazareth. The beginning and conclusion of Jesus' parable of the minas in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, may refer to Archelaus' journey to Rome. Some interpreters conclude from this that Jesus' parables and preaching made use of events familiar to the people as examples for bringing his spiritual lessons to life. Others read the allusion as arising from later adaptations of Jesus' parables in the oral tradition, before the parables were recorded in the gospels. A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return ... But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to reign over us." ... "But as for these enemies of mine," [said the nobleman,] "who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me." (Luke 19:12, 19:14, 19:27) Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated on September 23 ;

Galilee, 4 BC -6 AD, Direct Roman Rule
Galilee, 37 BCE - 18 AD, King, Herod Archelas; 9 years of direct Roman Rule during Jesus' early years 4BC-6AD Archelaus (Ancient Greek: á¼©Ïá¿´Î´Î·Ï‚ á¼ˆÏÏ‡ÎÎ»Î±Î¿Ï‚, HÄ“rÅidÄ“s Archelaos; 23 BC – c. AD 18) was ethnarch[1][2] of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea, including the cities Caesarea and Jaffa, for a period of nine years[3] (c. 4 BC to AD 6). was removed by Roman Emperor Augustus when Judaea province was formed under direct Roman rule, at the time of the Census of Quirinius. He was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace the Samaritan, and was the brother of Herod Antipas, and the half-brother of Herod II. (a name meaning "leading the people") came to power after the death of his father Herod the Great in 4 BC, and ruled over one-half of the territorial dominion of his father.

Galilee, 1 BC, Angel Gabriel, Annunciation, Jesus' birth
The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on March 25; Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. There is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in 692 says that the Annunciation was celebrated during Great Lent. Greek and Slavonic names for the Feast may be translated as “good tidings.â€ This, of course, refers to the Incarnation of the Son of God and the salvation He brings. The background of the Annunciation is found in the Gospel of Saint Luke (1:26-38). The troparion describes this as the “beginning of our salvation, and the revelation of the eternal mystery,â€ for on this day the Son of God became the Son of Man. are two main components to the Annunciation: the message itself, and the response of the Virgin. The message fulfills God’s promise to send a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15): “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.â€ The Fathers of the Church understand “her seedâ€ to refer to Christ. The prophets hinted at His coming, which they saw dimly, but the Archangel Gabriel now proclaims that the promise is about to be fulfilled. see this echoed in the Liturgy of Saint Basil, as well: “When man disobeyed Thee, the only true God who had created him, and was deceived by the guile of the serpent, becoming subject to death by his own transgressions, Thou, O God, in Thy righteous judgment, didst send him forth from Paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken, yet providing for him the salvation of regeneration in Thy Christ Himself.â€ Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee. There he spoke to the undefiled Virgin who was betrothed to Saint Joseph: “Hail, thou who art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.â€ contrast to Eve, who was readily deceived by the serpent, the Virgin did not immediately accept the Angel’s message. In her humility, she did not think she was deserving of such words, but was actually troubled by them. The fact that she asked for an explanation reveals her sobriety and prudence. She did not disbelieve the words of the angel, but could not understand how they would be fulfilled, for they spoke of something which was beyond nature. said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?â€ (Luke 1:34). “And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.â€ (Luke 1: 35-38) his Sermon 23 on the day of the Annunciation, Saint Philaret of Moscow boldly stated that “the word of the creature brought the Creator down into the world.â€ He explains that salvation is not merely an act of God’s will, but also involves the Virgin’s free will. She could have refused, but she accepted God’s will and chose to cooperate without complaint or further questions. icon of the Feast shows the Archangel with a staff in his left hand, indicating his role as a messenger. Sometimes one wing is upraised, as if to show his swift descent from heaven. His right hand is stretched toward the holy Virgin as he delivers his message. Virgin is depicted either standing or sitting, usually holding yarn in her left hand. Sometimes she is shown holding a scroll. Her right hand may be raised to indicate her surprise at the message she is hearing. Her head is bowed, showing her consent and obedience. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon her is depicted by a ray of light issuing from a small sphere at the top of the icon, which symbolizes heaven. In a famous icon from Sinai, a white dove is shown in the ray of light. are several famous icons of the Annunciation. One is in the Moscow Kremlin in the church of the Annunciation. This icon appeared in connection with the rescue of a prisoner by the Mother of God during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Another is to be found in the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow (July 8). It was originally located in Ustiug, and was the icon before which Saint Procopius the fool (July 8) prayed to save the city from destruction in 1290. One of the most highly revered icons in Greece is the Tinos icon of the Annunciation (January 30). Annunciation falls during Lent, but it is always celebrated with great joy. The Liturgy of Saint Basil or Saint John Chrysostom is served, even on the weekdays of Lent. It is one of the two days of Great Lent on which the fast is relaxed and fish is permitted (Palm Sunday is the other). Galilee, 1 BCE, Angel Gabriel, Annunciation, Jesus' birth; Annunciation (from Latin annuntiatio), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady,[1] or the Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Christian Messiah and Son of God, marking His Incarnation.[2] Gabriel told Mary to name her son Jesus, meaning "YHWH is salvation".[3] to Luke 1:26, the Annunciation occurred "in the sixth month" of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist.[4] Many Christians observe this event with the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March,[2] an approximation of the northern vernal equinox nine full months before Christmas, the ceremonial birthday of Jesus. The Annunciation is a key topic in Christian art in general, as well as in Marian art in the Catholic Church, having been especially prominent during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A work of art depicting the Annunciation is sometimes itself called an Annunciation.

Galilee, 1 BC, ANNUNCIATION, Nazareth, good tidings, salvation's beginning, mystery revealed, son of God became son of man, more
Galilee, 1 BC, ANNUNCIATION, Nazareth, Galilee, good tidings, salvation beginning, mystery revealed, son of God became son of man, the message & the response, Genesis promise, God sent back to earth, Angel Gabriel announcement, Holy Ghost upon thee, Son of God, Elizabeth old age 6mos pregnant, OK, our salvation of her free will and God's, A icons, Mar 25 9 mos b birth, beginning new year middle of month, selection by God not search for God, great things impossible to describe; Nazareth; The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on March 25; Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. There is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in 692 says that the Annunciation was celebrated during Great Lent. Greek and Slavonic names for the Feast may be translated as “good tidings.” This, of course, refers to the Incarnation of the Son of God and the salvation He brings. background of the Annunciation is found in the Gospel of Saint Luke (1:26-38). The troparion describes this as the “beginning of our salvation, and the revelation of the eternal mystery,” for on this day the Son of God became the Son of Man. are two main components to the Annunciation: the message itself, and the response of the Virgin. The message fulfills God’s promise to send a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15): “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.” The Fathers of the Church understand “her seed” to refer to Christ. The prophets hinted at His coming, which they saw dimly, but the Archangel Gabriel now proclaims that the promise is about to be fulfilled. see this echoed in the Liturgy of Saint Basil, as well: “When man disobeyed Thee, the only true God who had created him, and was deceived by the guile of the serpent, becoming subject to death by his own transgressions, Thou, O God, in Thy righteous judgment, didst send him forth from Paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken, yet providing for him the salvation of regeneration in Thy Christ Himself.” Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee. There he spoke to the undefiled Virgin who was betrothed to Saint Joseph: “Hail, thou who art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” contrast to Eve, who was readily deceived by the serpent, the Virgin did not immediately accept the Angel’s message. In her humility, she did not think she was deserving of such words, but was actually troubled by them. The fact that she asked for an explanation reveals her sobriety and prudence. She did not disbelieve the words of the angel, but could not understand how they would be fulfilled, for they spoke of something which was beyond nature. said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). “And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1: 35-38) his Sermon 23 on the day of the Annunciation, Saint Philaret of Moscow boldly stated that “the word of the creature brought the Creator down into the world.” He explains that salvation is not merely an act of God’s will, but also involves the Virgin’s free will. She could have refused, but she accepted God’s will and chose to cooperate without complaint or further questions. icon of the Feast shows the Archangel with a staff in his left hand, indicating his role as a messenger. Sometimes one wing is upraised, as if to show his swift descent from heaven. His right hand is stretched toward the holy Virgin as he delivers his message. Virgin is depicted either standing or sitting, usually holding yarn in her left hand. Sometimes she is shown holding a scroll. Her right hand may be raised to indicate her surprise at the message she is hearing. Her head is bowed, showing her consent and obedience. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon her is depicted by a ray of light issuing from a small sphere at the top of the icon, which symbolizes heaven. In a famous icon from Sinai, a white dove is shown in the ray of light. are several famous icons of the Annunciation. One is in the Moscow Kremlin in the church of the Annunciation. This icon appeared in connection with the rescue of a prisoner by the Mother of God during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Another is to be found in the Dormition Cathedral in Moscow (July 8). It was originally located in Ustiug, and was the icon before which Saint Procopius the fool (July 8) prayed to save the city from destruction in 1290. One of the most highly revered icons in Greece is the Tinos icon of the Annunciation (January 30). Annunciation falls during Lent, but it is always celebrated with great joy. The Liturgy of Saint Basil or Saint John Chrysostom is served, even on the weekdays of Lent. It is one of the two days of Great Lent on which the fast is relaxed and fish is permitted (Palm Sunday is the other). THE ANNUNCIATION, OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (25 MAR NT) ; the first chapter of Luke we read how the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Christ, and how Mary answered, "Here I am, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me as you have said." is reasonable to suppose that Our Lord was conceived immediately after this. Accordingly, since we celebrate His birth on 25 December, we celebrate the Annunciation nine months earlier, on 25 March. The Annunciation, by Fra Angelico The Annunciation, by Fra Angelico many centuries most European countries took 25 March, not 1 January, as the day when the number of the year changed, so that 24 March 1201 was followed by 25 March 1202. If you had asked a Christian of that time why the calendar year changed so awkwardly partway through a month, he would have answered: "Today we begin a new year of the Christian era, the era which began X years ago today when God was made man, when He took upon Himself a fleshly body and human nature in the womb of the Virgin." following paragraph is from Chapter 14 of the book MIRACLES, by C S Lewis. of those features of the Christian story which is repulsive to the modern mind. To be quite frank, we do not at all like the idea of a "chosen people". Democrats by birth and education, we should prefer to think that all nations and individuals start level in the search for God, or even that all religions are equally true. It must be admitted at once that Christianity makes no concessions to this point of view. It does not tell of a human search for God at all, but of something done by God for, to, and about Man. And the way in which it is done is selective, undemocratic, to the highest degree. After the knowledge of God had been universally lost or obscured, one man from the whole earth (Abraham) is picked out. He is separated (miserably enough, we may suppose) from his natural surroundings, sent into a strange country, and made the ancestor of a nation who are to carry the knowledge of the true God. Within this nation there is further selection: some die in the desert, some remain behind in Babylon. There is further selection still. The process grows narrower and narrower, sharpens at last into one small bright point like the head of a spear. It is a Jewish girl at her prayers. All humanity (so far as concerns its redemption) has narrowed to that. following quotation is from Martin Luther's sermon "On the MAGNIFICAT" (the Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55). He that is mighty hath done great things for me, and Holy is His Name." (Luke 1:49) "great things" are nothing less than that she became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed upon her as pass man's understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among whom she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in Heaven, and such a child. She herself is unable to find a name for this work, it is too exceedingly great; all she can do is break out in the fervent cry: "They are great things," impossible to describe or define. Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her or to her, though he had as many tongues as there are leaves on the trees, or grass in the fields, or stars in the sky, or sand by the sea. It needs to be pondered in the heart, what it means to be the Mother of God. Luther's Works, Vol. 21, p. 326, ed. Jaroslav Pelikan, Concordia Publishing House, 1956. by James Kiefer

Galilee, 000, 1st C Folder, Herod Antipas, Joanna, John tBaptist, Jesus, Apostles, Transfiguration, H Agrippa

Galilee, 6-39, King Herod Antipas, killed John the Baptist
Jerusalem King (Galilee), 6-39, Herod Antipas; Antipater (born before 20 BC – died after 39 AD), known by the nickname Antipas, was a 1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea, who bore the title of tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter") and is referred to as both "Herod the Tetrarch"[1] and "King Herod"[2] in the New Testament, although he never held the title of king.[3] He is widely known today for accounts in the New Testament of his role in events that led to the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.[4] (Matthew 14:1–12) being recognized by Augustus upon the death of his father, Herod the Great (4 BC/), and subsequently by his brother, the ethnarch Herod Archelaus, Antipas officially ruled Galilee and Perea as a client state of the Roman Empire.[5][6] He was responsible for building projects at Sepphoris and Betharamphtha, and for the construction of his capital Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Named in honour of his patron, the emperor Tiberius, the city later became a centre of rabbinic learning after the Jewish-Roman wars (66-135 CE). divorced his first wife Phasaelis, the daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea, in favour of Herodias, who had formerly been married to his half-brother Herod II. (Antipas was Herod the Great's son by Malthace, while Herod II was his son by Mariamne II.)[7][8] According to the New Testament Gospels, it was John the Baptist's condemnation of this arrangement that led Antipas to have him arrested; John was subsequently put to death in Machaerus. Besides provoking his conflict with John the Baptist, the tetrarch's divorce added a personal grievance to previous disputes with Aretas over territory on the border of Perea and Nabatea. The result was a war that proved disastrous for Antipas; a Roman counter-offensive was ordered by Tiberius, but abandoned upon that emperor's death in 37 AD. In 39 AD Antipas was accused by his nephew Agrippa I of conspiracy against the Roman emperor Caligula, who sent him into exile in Spain, according to Josephus. Accompanied there by Herodias, he died at an unknown date.[9] Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was first brought before Pontius Pilate for trial, since Pilate was the governor of Roman Judea, which encompassed Jerusalem where Jesus was arrested. Pilate initially handed him over to Antipas, in whose territory Jesus had been most active, but Antipas sent him back to Pilate's court. (Hérode), by French painter and Bible illustrator James Tissot, in the Brooklyn Museum life[edit] was a son of Herod the Great, who had become king of Judea, and Malthace, who was from Samaria.[10] His date of birth is unknown but was before 20 BC.[11] Antipas, his full brother Archelaus and his half-brother Philip, were educated in Rome.[12] was not Herod's first choice of heir. That honour fell to Aristobulus and Alexander, Herod's sons by the Hasmonean princess Mariamne. It was only after they were executed (c. 7 BC), and Herod's oldest son Antipater was convicted of trying to poison his father (5 BC), that the now elderly Herod fell back on his youngest son Antipas, revising his will to make him heir.[13] During his illness in 4 BC, Herod had yet another change of heart about the succession. According to the final version of his will, Antipas' elder brother Archelaus was now to become king of Judea, Idumea and Samaria, while Antipas would rule Galilee and Perea with the lesser title of tetrarch. Philip was to receive Gaulanitis (the Golan Heights), Batanaea (southern Syria), Trachonitis and Auranitis (Hauran).[14] of Judea's status as a Roman client kingdom, Herod's plans for the succession had to be ratified by Augustus. The three heirs therefore travelled to Rome to make their claims, Antipas arguing he ought to inherit the whole kingdom and the others maintaining that Herod's final will ought to be honoured. Despite qualified support for Antipas from Herodian family members in Rome, who favoured direct Roman rule of Judea but considered Antipas preferable to his brother, Augustus largely confirmed the division of territory set out by Herod in his final will. Archelaus had, however, to be content with the title of ethnarch rather than king.[15] 4 BC to c. 39 AD[edit] given to Herod Antipas, as Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, by Augustus in 4 BC the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, Augustus confirmed the testament of the dead king by making Antipas tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a region he would rule for the next forty-two years.[16] The two territories were separated by the region of the Decapolis, with Galilee to the north and Perea to the south (see map). Threats to stability in both areas would have been clear to Antipas when he took office. While he had been making his case to Augustus in Rome, dissidents led by Judas, son of Hezekiah, had attacked the palace of Sepphoris in Galilee, seizing money as well as weapons which they used to terrorize the area.[17] In a counterattack ordered by Quinctilius Varus, Roman governor of Syria, Sepphoris was destroyed by fire and its inhabitants sold as slaves.[18] Perea, meanwhile, bordered on the kingdom of Nabatea, which had long had uneasy relations with Romans and Jews.[19] of Antipas' solution was to follow in his father's footsteps as a builder. He rebuilt and fortified Sepphoris, while also adding a wall to Betharamphtha in Perea.[20] The latter city was renamed Livias after Augustus' wife Livia, and later Julias after his daughter.[21] However, the tetrarch's most noted construction was his capital on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, so named to honour his patron Tiberius, who had succeeded Augustus as emperor in 14 AD.[22] Residents could bathe nearby at the warm springs of Emmaus, and by the time of the First Jewish-Roman War the city's buildings included a stadium, a royal palace and a sanctuary for prayer.[23] It gave its name to the sea and later became a centre of rabbinic learning after the Jewish-Roman wars.[24] However, pious Jews at first refused to live in it because it was built atop a graveyard and therefore a source of ritual impurity. Antipas had to colonize it with a mixture of foreigners, forced migrants, poor people, and freed slaves.[25] other times Antipas was more sensitive to Jewish tradition. His coins carried no images, which would have violated Jewish prescriptions against idolatry.[26] When Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea from 26 AD to 36 AD, caused offence by placing votive shields in the Antonia palace at Jerusalem, Antipas and his brothers successfully petitioned for their removal.[27] the Baptist and Jesus[edit] before Herod Antipas, Albrecht Dürer, 1509 to Herodias[edit] in his reign, Antipas had married the daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea. However, on a visit to Rome he stayed with his half-brother Herod II and there he fell in love with his wife, Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great and Mariamne I, and the two agreed to marry after Herod Antipas had divorced his wife.[28] Aretas' daughter learned of the plan and asked permission to travel to the frontier fortress of Machaerus, whence Nabatean forces escorted her to her father. With his daughter safe in his custody, Aretas now could declare war on Herod.[29] is generally agreed that the war, in which Herod was defeated, occurred in 36 AD, a year before the death of the emperor Tiberius. A point of contention today is how long before this date Herod's marriage to Herodias took place. Some surmise that the marriage of Antipas and Herodias took place shortly before the war in about 34 AD, after the death of Philip,[30] but others have pointed to Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews (Book 18, chapter 5, paragraph 4) comment that Herodias "divorced herself from her husband while he was alive" to argue that it took place before Herod II's death, in about 27 AD, thus making it possible for Jesus to have been born in the reign of Herod the Great (as indicated by the Gospel of Matthew) and to have died in his early 30s (as indicated by the Gospel of Luke).[31] ministry and execution[edit] faced more immediate problems in his own tetrarchy after John the Baptist, in 28/29 AD according to the Gospel of Luke[32] (or 27 AD, if the co-regency of Augustus and Tiberius is included in Luke's reckoning of time, for which there is some evidence), began a ministry of preaching and baptism by the Jordan River, which marked the western edge of Antipas' territory of Perea. The Gospels state that John attacked the tetrarch's marriage as contrary to Jewish law (it was incestuous, as Herodias was also Antipas' niece, but also John criticized the fact that she was his brother's wife (Mark 6:18), (lending credence to the belief that Antipas and Herodias married while Herod II was still alive), while Josephus says that John's public influence made Antipas fearful of rebellion.[33] John was imprisoned in Machaerus and executed.[34] According to Matthew and Mark, Herod was reluctant to order John's death but was compelled by Herodias' daughter (unnamed in the text but named by Josephus as Salome), to whom he had promised any reward, up to half his kingdom, she chose as a result of her dancing for guests at his birthday banquet.[35] ministry and trial[edit] those baptized by John was Jesus of Nazareth, who began his own ministry in Galilee, causing Antipas, according to Matthew and Mark, to fear that John had been raised from the dead.[36] Luke alone among the Gospels states that a group of Pharisees warned Jesus that Antipas was plotting his death, whereupon Jesus denounced the tetrarch as a "fox" and declared that he, Jesus, would not fall victim to such a plot because "it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem".[37] Luke also credits the tetrarch with a role in Jesus' trial. According to Luke, Pilate, on learning that Jesus was a Galilean and therefore under Herod's jurisdiction, sent him to Antipas, who was also in Jerusalem at the time. Initially, Antipas was pleased to see Jesus, hoping to see him perform a miracle, but when Jesus remained silent in the face of questioning, Antipas mocked him and sent him back to Pilate. Luke says that these events improved relations between Pilate and Herod despite their earlier enmity.[38] aspects[edit] reason for Antipas' involvement has been debated. Theodor Mommsen argued that the normal legal procedure of the early Roman empire was for defendants to be tried by the authorities of their home provinces.[39] A. N. Sherwin-White re-examined the relevant legal texts and concluded that trials were generally based on the location of the alleged crimes, but that there was a possibility of referral to a province of origin in special cases.[40] If Pilate was not required to send Jesus to Antipas, he may have been making a show of courtesy to the tetrarch[41] and trying to avoid the need to deal with the Jewish authorities himself.[42] When Jesus was sent back, Pilate could still have represented Antipas' failure to convict as support for his own view (according to Luke) that Jesus was not guilty of a capital offence,[43] thus allowing him to avoid responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion.[44] of Gospel narrative[edit] to the lack of historical evidence, it has been suggested that Jesus' trial by Herod Antipas is unhistorical.[45] For example, Robin Lane Fox, an English historian, alleges that the story was invented based on Psalm 2, in which "the kings of the earth" are described as opposing the Lord's "anointed", and also served to show that the authorities failed to find grounds for convicting Jesus.[46] reign[edit] 34 and 36 AD[47][48] the conflict with Aretas of Nabatea, caused by Antipas' divorce from Aretas' daughter and the rulers' disagreement over territory, developed into open war. Antipas' army suffered a devastating defeat after fugitives from the former tetrarchy of Philip sided with the Nabateans, and Antipas was forced to appeal to Tiberius for help. The emperor ordered Lucius Vitellius, governor of Syria, to march against Aretas and ensure that he was captured or killed.[49] Vitellius obediently mobilized two legions, sending them on a detour around Judea while he joined Antipas in attending a festival at Jerusalem. While staying there he learned of the death of Tiberius (16 March 37 AD), concluded he lacked the authority to go to war, and recalled his troops.[50] implies that Vitellius was unwilling to cooperate with the tetrarch because of a grudge he bore from an earlier incident. According to his account, Antipas provided hospitality at a conference on the Euphrates between Vitellius and King Artabanus III of Parthia, and after Vitellius' diplomatic success anticipated the governor in sending a report to Tiberius.[51] However, other sources place the meeting between Vitellius and Artabanus under Tiberius' successor Caligula,[52] leading some historians to think that Josephus misdated it to the reign of Tiberius or conflated it with an earlier diplomatic meeting involving Antipas and Vitellius.[53] and death[edit] fall from power was due to Caligula and to his own nephew Agrippa, brother of Herodias. When Agrippa fell into debt during the reign of Tiberius despite his connections with the imperial family, Herodias persuaded Antipas to provide for him, but the two men quarrelled and Agrippa departed. After Agrippa was heard expressing to his friend Caligula his eagerness for Tiberius to die and leave room for Caligula to succeed him, he was imprisoned. When Caligula finally became emperor in 37 AD, he not only released his friend but granted him rule of Philip's former tetrarchy (slightly extended), with the title of king.[54] relates that Herodias, jealous at Agrippa's success, persuaded Antipas to ask Caligula for the title of king for himself. However, Agrippa simultaneously presented the emperor with a list of charges against the tetrarch: allegedly, he had conspired against Tiberius with Sejanus (executed in 31 AD) and was now plotting against Caligula with Artabanus. As evidence, Agrippa noted that Antipas had a stockpile of weapons sufficient for 70,000 men. Hearing Antipas' admission to this last charge, Caligula decided to believe the allegations of conspiracy. In the summer of 39 AD, Antipas' money and territory were turned over to Agrippa, while Antipas was exiled.[55] Spain was the place of his exile, as recorded by Josephus in Antiquities.[56] Caligula offered to allow Herodias, as Agrippa's sister, to retain her property. However, she chose instead to join her husband in exile.[57] died in exile.[58] The 3rd-century historian Cassius Dio seems to imply that Caligula had him killed, but this is usually treated with skepticism by modern historians.[59] Antipas as portrayed in the Nuremberg Chronicle the followers of Jesus and members of the early Christian movement mentioned in the New Testament are Joanna, the wife of one of Antipas' stewards, and Manaen, a "foster-brother" or "companion" of Antipas (both translations are possible for the Greek σύντροφος). It has been conjectured that these were sources for early Christian knowledge of Antipas and his court.[60] In any case, Antipas featured prominently in the New Testament in connection with the deaths of John the Baptist and Jesus. The pseudepigraphical Gospel of Peter went further, stating that it was Antipas rather than Pilate who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. In line with the work's anti-Judaic theme, it pointedly remarked that Herod and "the Jews", unlike Pilate, refused to "wash their hands" of responsibility for the death.[61] has appeared in a large number of representations of the passion of Jesus – most notably portrayed by Frank Thring in King of Kings (1961), José Ferrer in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), and Christopher Plummer in Jesus of Nazareth (1977). Often, as in the films Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) and The Passion of the Christ (2004), Antipas is portrayed as effeminate (Antipas was played in those films by Joshua Mostel and Luca De Dominicis respectively); the origin of this tradition may have been Antipas' manipulation by his wife Herodias, as well as Christ's description of him as a "fox" in Luke 13:32, using a feminine word in the original Greek.[62] In Salome (1953), he is portrayed by Charles Laughton, opposite Dame Judith Anderson as Herodias and Rita Hayworth in the title role. He features in Salomé (1923) by Mitchell Lewis. He also features in The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow. In Longfellow's view, he was not effeminate so much as rash, ineffective, and when backed into a corner by his furious ex-father-in-law, willing to do anything to save himself. Gustave Flaubert's "Herodias" (1877), Herodias uses her long-concealed daughter, Salome, to manipulate Herod sexually for her own political purposes. This conceit (original with Flaubert) inspired Oscar Wilde's play "Salome" (1891), the first version of the legend to show Salome with a will of her own, opposing her mother and lusting after John the Baptist herself. Naive and puzzled by her stepfather's lascivious attentions, the young girl arouses Herod in order to avenge herself on the prophet who has refused her advances. Flaubert's novella was turned into an opera by Jules Massenet (1881) in which Salome, ignorant of her royal parentage, becomes a disciple of the Baptist, who is then executed by the lustful and jealous Herod (a baritone). In Richard Strauss's operatic setting of Wilde's play (1905), Herod, one of the most difficult tenor roles in the repertory, is depicted as befuddled by both drink and lust, and in bitter conflict with his wife (as in Flaubert). At the end of the opera (as in Wilde's play), disgusted with Salome's behavior with the head of John, he orders her execution. novella was also, very roughly, the basis of the 1953 film "Salome," a Rita Hayworth vehicle directed by William Dieterle, in which the girl is implausibly unaware that her dancing will be used by her mother (Judith Anderson) to secure Herod's (Charles Laughton) consent to the execution of John the Baptist (Alan Badel). The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE, APOSTLE (25 JULY 41); St Joanna the Myrrhbearer, Commemorated on June 27, wife of Chusa, who worked for King Herod (the King Herod who killed John the baptist), who lived in Tiberias;; The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, Commemorated on August 29 ;

Galilee, 6-39, Joanna, wife of Chuza, worked for Herod and saved John's head
Galilee, 6-39, Joanna, wife of Chuza Jerusalem King (Galilee), 6-39, Herod Antipas; JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE, APOSTLE (25 JULY 41); St Joanna the Myrrhbearer, Commemorated on June 27, wife of Chusa, who worked for King Herod (the King Herod who killed John the baptist), who lived in Tiberias;; The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, Commemorated on August 29 ;

Galilee, 20-100, JOHN, t theologian, Jesus' nephew, son of Jesus's step sister, Jesus' friend, MOG care 34yrs, much more
Galilee, 20-100, JOHN, the theologian, Jesus' nephew, son of Jesus's step sister, virgin, friend of Christ, Jairus' daughter restored to life, Transfiguration, last supper, Gethsemane, Court, Golgotha, behold thy son, took care of MOG 34 yrs, then Ephesus w Prochorus, shopwreck and 14 days in sea, conversions in E, to Rome Nero trial, sentenced to death, preserved by poison drink, caldron of boiling oil, sent back to Patmos near E, many years, Revelation; Galilee, 20-100, JOHN, the theologian, Jesus' nephew, son of Jesus's step sister, virgin, friend of Christ, Jairus' daughter restored to life, Transfiguration, last supper, Gethsemane, Court, Golgotha, behold thy son, took care of MOG 34 yrs, then Ephesus w Prochorus, shopwreck and 14 days in sea, conversions in E, to Rome Nero trial, sentenced to death, preserved by poison drink, caldron of boiling oil, sent back to Patmos near E, many years, Revelation; the Evangelist is the name traditionally given to the author of the Gospel of John. Christians have traditionally identified him with John the Apostle, John of Patmos, or John the Presbyter,[2] although this has been disputed by most modern scholars.[3] Mount Tabor; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Holy, Glorious All-laudable Apostle and Evangelist, Virgin, and Beloved Friend of Christ, John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a daughter of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. was called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of His Apostles at the same time as his elder brother James. This took place at Lake Gennesareth (i.e. the Sea of Galilee). Leaving behind their father, both brothers followed the Lord. Apostle John was especially loved by the Savior for his sacrificial love and his virginal purity. After his calling, the Apostle John did not part from the Lord, and he was one of the three apostles who were particularly close to Him. Saint John the Theologian was present when the Lord restored the daughter of Jairus to life, and he was a witness to the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor. the Last Supper, he reclined next to the Lord, and laid his head upon His breast. He also asked the name of the Savior’s betrayer. The Apostle John followed after the Lord when they led Him bound from the Garden of Gethsemane to the court of the iniquitous High Priests Annas and Caiphas. He was there in the courtyard of the High Priest during the interrogations of his Teacher and he resolutely followed after him on the way to Golgotha, grieving with all his heart. the foot of the Cross he stood with the Mother of God and heard the words of the Crucified Lord addressed to Her from the Cross: “Woman, behold Thy son.” Then the Lord said to him, “Behold thy Mother” (John 19:26-27). From that moment the Apostle John, like a loving son, concerned himself over the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and he served Her until Her Dormition. the Dormition of the Mother of God the Apostle John went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his own disciple Prochorus. boarded a ship, which floundered during a terrible tempest. All the travellers were cast up upon dry ground, and only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, bereft of his spiritual father and guide, and he went on towards Ephesus alone. the fourteenth day of his journey he stood at the shore of the sea and saw that the waves had cast a man ashore. Going up to him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord had preserved alive for fourteen days in the sea. and disciple went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John preached incessantly to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by such numerous and great miracles, that the number of believers increased with each day. this time there had begun a persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero (56-68). They took the Apostle John for trial at Rome. Saint John was sentenced to death for his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord preserved His chosen one. The apostle drank a cup of deadly poison, but he remained alive. Later, he emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil into which he had been thrown on orders from the torturer. this, they sent the Apostle John off to imprisonment to the island of Patmos, where he spent many years. Proceeding along on his way to the place of exile, Saint John worked many miracles. On the island of Patmos, his preaching and miracles attracted to him all the inhabitants of the island, and he enlightened them with the light of the Gospel. He cast out many devils from the pagan temples, and he healed a great multitude of the sick. with demonic powers showed great hostility to the preaching of the holy apostle. He especially frightened the chief sorcerer of them all, named Kinops, who boasted that they would destroy the apostle. But the great John, by the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic artifices to which Kinops resorted, and the haughty sorcerer perished in the depths of the sea. Apostle John withdrew with his disciple Prochorus to a desolate height, where he imposed upon himself a three-day fast. As Saint John prayed the earth quaked and thunder rumbled. Prochorus fell to the ground in fright. The Apostle John lifted him up and told him to write down what he was about to say. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the Apostle John. Thus in about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written, known also as the “Apocalypse,” of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. In this Book were predictions of the tribulations of the Church and of the end of the world. his prolonged exile, the Apostle John received his freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued with his activity, instructing Christians to guard against false teachers and their erroneous teachings. In the year 95, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus. He called for all Christians to love the Lord and one another, and by this to fulfill the commands of Christ. The Church calls Saint John the “Apostle of Love”, since he constantly taught that without love man cannot come near to God. his three Epistles, Saint John speaks of the significance of love for God and for neighbor. Already in his old age, he learned of a youth who had strayed from the true path to follow the leader of a band of robbers, so Saint John went out into the wilderness to seek him. Seeing the holy Elder, the guilty one tried to hide himself, but the Apostle John ran after him and besought him to stop. He promised to take the sins of the youth upon himself, if only he would repent and not bring ruin upon his soul. Shaken by the intense love of the holy Elder, the youth actually did repent and turn his life around. John reposed when he was more than a hundred years old. He far outlived the other eyewitnesses of the Lord, and for a long time he remained the only remaining eyewitness of the earthly life of the Savior. it was time for the departure of the Apostle John, he went out beyond the city limits of Ephesus with the families of his disciples. He bade them prepare for him a cross-shaped grave, in which he lay, telling his disciples that they should cover him over with the soil. The disciples tearfully kissed their beloved teacher, but not wanting to be disobedient, they fulfilled his bidding. They covered the face of the saint with a cloth and filled in the grave. Learning of this, other disciples of Saint John came to the place of his burial. When they opened the grave, they found it empty. year from the grave of the holy Apostle John on May 8 came forth a fine dust, which believers gathered up and were healed of sicknesses by it. Therefore, the Church also celebrates the memory of the holy Apostle John the Theologian on May 8. Lord bestowed on His beloved disciple John and John’s brother James the name “Sons of Thunder” an awesome messenger accompanied by the cleansing power of heavenly fire. And precisely by this the Savior pointed out the flaming, fiery, sacrificial character of Christian love, the preacher of which was the Apostle John the Theologian. The eagle, symbol of the lofty heights of his theological thought, is the iconographic symbol of the Evangelist John the Theologian. The appellation “Theologian” is bestown by Holy Church only to Saint John among the immediate disciples and Apostles of Christ, as being the seer of the mysterious Judgments of God. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ;

Galilee, 30-38, THOMAS, Madras, Doubting Thomas, p loyal, aTouching greatest apostle, many places&arab icon appearances
India, 38-72, Apostle Thomas, Madras, absent when Jesus appeared on Easter Day, refused tBelieve resurrection, until he saw him and said My Lord..., Doubting Thomas, but previously proven loyal, let us also go..., at last supper said we don't know where you go, How do we know the way, Jesus said I am the way, preached in india, Kerla district, Madras, still Christians there connected to Thomas, From OCA Thomas fPansata Galilee, fisherman, hearing Jesus he left all and followed him, one of the 12, not present Pascha, unless I see his hands, 8days later My Lord My God, Thomas toiled more bravely zealously tirelessly than them all, he went to nearly al the earth's people, tPalestine Mesopotamia Parthia Ethiopia and India, died as martyr after converting wife son Perfect oMelipur, his relics to India Hungary Mt Athos, Arabian Icon appeared to him in Ethiopia Arabia & India; Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas, Commemorated on October 6, ; East Africa, 1st Century, Apostle Thomas; the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Thomas is commonly known as "Doubting Thomas" because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told of it (as related in the Gospel of John alone); later, he confessed his faith ("My Lord and my God") on seeing Jesus' crucifixion wounds. to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Tamilakam which is in South India.[1][5][6][7] According to their tradition, Thomas reached Muziris of Tamilakam (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in Kerala State, India) in AD 52.[8][9][1] In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Ortona, in Abruzzo, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle.[10] He is often regarded as the patron saint of India among its Christian adherents,[11][12] and the Feast of Saint Thomas on July 3 is celebrated as Indian Christian Day by believers belonging to many Christian denominations.[13][14] The name Thomas remains quite popular among the Saint Thomas Christians of the Indian subcontinent. Arapet Icon of the Mother of God, Commemorated on September 6; Arapet, or “Arabian” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared while the holy Apostle Thomas (October 6) was evangelizing Ethiopia, Arabia, and India. of the usual three stars (signifying the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God), the outer garment of the Theotokos has three circles with the head of an angel inside each one. In this feature, it resembles the icons “In Giving Birth you Preserved your Virginity” (“A Virgin Before and After Giving Birth”) (October 17) and “O All-Hymned Mother” (October 6). Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas, Commemorated on October 6, From OCA Thomas fPansata Galilee, fisherman, hearing Jesus he left all and followed him, one of the 12, not present Pascha, unless I see his hands, 8days later My Lord My God, Thomas toiled more bravely zealously tirelessly than them all, he went to nearly al the earth's people, tPalestine Mesopotamia Parthia Ethiopia and India, died as martyr after converting wife son Perfect oMelipur, his relics to India Hungary Mt Athos, Arabian Icon appeared to him in Ethiopia Arabia & India; Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada was a fisherman. the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and followed after Him. Apostle Thomas is included in the number of the holy Twelve Apostles of the Savior. to Holy Scripture, the holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). the eighth day after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and showed him His wounds. “My Lord and my God,” the Apostle cried out (John 20:28). “Thomas, being once weaker in faith than the other apostles,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “toiled through the grace of God more bravely, more zealously and tirelessly than them all, that he went preaching over nearly all the earth, not fearing to proclaim the Word of God to savage nations.” icons depicting this event are inscribed “The Doubting Thomas.” is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, “The Touching of Thomas.” Slavonic, it says, “The Belief of Thomas.” Saint Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. to Church Tradition, the holy Apostle Thomas founded Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. the Gospel earned him a martyr’s death. having converted the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur [Melipur], the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered torture, and finally, pierced with five spears, he departed to the Lord. of the relics of the holy Apostle Thomas are in India, in Hungary and on Mt. Athos. name of the Apostle Thomas is associated with the Arabian (or Arapet) Icon of the Mother of God (September 6). THOMAS THE APOSTLE, (21 DEC NT); Apostle Thomas (Hebrew or Aramaic for "twin") was also called "Didymus" (Greek for "twin"). was absent when the Risen Lord appeared to the other apostles on the evening of Easter Day, refused to believe that Christ had indeed risen until he had seen him for himself, when he had seen Him, he said to Him, "My Lord and My God." (John 20:19-29) of this episode, he has been known ever since as "Doubting Thomas." we ought also to remember his earlier words, when Jesus announced His intention of going to the Jerusalem area, aside the protests of His disciples that His life was in danger there, at which Thomas said to the others: us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:7,8,16) Thomas was pessimistic, he was also sturdily loyal. the Last Supper, Jesus said: "I go to prepare a place for you.... And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." replied: "Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?" this Jesus answered: "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:1-6) Thomas is mentioned again (John 21) as one of the seven disciples who were fishing on the Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias) when the Risen Lord appeared to them. from this he appears in the New Testament only as a name on lists of the Apostles. couple of centuries later a story was circulating in the Mediterranean world that he had gone to preach in India; there is a Christian community in India (the Kerala district) that claims descent from Christians converted by the the preaching of Thomas. tradition among Christians in India is that Thomas was speared to death near Madras, accordingly he is often pictured holding a spear. Paintings of martyrs often show them holding or accompanied by the instruments with which they were put to death. recently discovered work called the Gospel of Thomas is a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus. I know of no scholarly support for the notion that it is the work of the Apostle Thomas, but some scholars think that some of the sayings in it may be authentic sayings of Jesus. POEM These things did Thomas hold for real: the warmth of blood, the chill of steel, the grain of wood, the heft of stone, the last frail twitch of blood and bone. His brittle certainties denied that one could live when one had died, until his fingers read like Braille the markings of the spear and nail. May we, O God, by grace believe and, in believing, still receive the Christ who held His raw palms out and beckoned Thomas from his doubt. (Thomas Troeger, 1984, Psalter/Hymnal of the Christian Reformed Church) by James Kiefer

Galilee, 30-60, Apostle Andrew and Saint Inna, first called, Peter's b, Scythia, Black Sea and Kiev
Rome, 30-60, 1st Century, Apostle Andrew and Saint Inna; Mongol, Scythia, 1st Century, Apostle Andrew and Saint Inna; Martyrs Inna, Pinna, and Rimma, disciples of the Apostle Andrew, in Scythia, Commemorated on January 20; Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma were Slavs from northern Scythia (modern Bulgaria), they were disciples of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. preached the Gospel of Christ and they baptized many barbarians who converted to the true Faith. were seized by the local chieftain, but they would not deny Christ, nor would they offer sacrifice to idols. was wintertime, and the rivers were so frozen that not only people, but also horses with carts could travel on the ice. chieftain had the saints tied to logs on the ice, and gradually lowered them into the freezing water. the ice reached their necks, they surrendered their blessed souls to the Lord. Martyr Inna the Disciple of Apostle Andrew in Scythia, Commemorated on June 20;

Galilee, 30-70, Saint Mary Magdalene, first to proclaim his resurrection
Galilee, 30-70, Saint Mary Magdalene, Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan); Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. woman whose name has entered forever into the Gospel account was born and grew up in Magdala. The Gospel tells us nothing of Mary’s younger years, but Tradition informs us that Mary of Magdala was young and pretty, and led a sinful life. It says in the Gospels that the Lord expelled seven devils from Mary (Luke. 8:2). From the moment of her healing Mary led a new life, and became a true disciple of the Savior. Gospel relates that Mary followed after the Lord, when He went with the Apostles through the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee preaching about the Kingdom of God. Together with the pious women Joanna, wife of Choza (steward of Herod), Susanna and others, she served Him from her own possessions (Luke 8:1-3) and undoubtedly shared with the Apostles the evangelic tasks in common with the other women. The Evangelist Luke, evidently, has her in view together with the other women, stating that at the moment of the Procession of Christ onto Golgotha, when after the Scourging He took on Himself the heavy Cross, collapsing under its weight, the women followed after Him weeping and wailing, but He consoled them. The Gospel relates that Mary Magdalene was present on Golgotha at the moment of the Lord’s Crucifixion. While all the disciples of the Savior ran away, she remained fearlessly at the Cross together with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. Evangelists also list among those standing at the Cross the mother of the Apostle James, and Salome, and other women followers of the Lord from Galilee, but all mention Mary Magdalene first. Saint John, in addition to the Mother of God, names only her and Mary Cleopas. This indicates how much she stood out from all the women who gathered around the Lord. was faithful to Him not only in the days of His Glory, but also at the moment of His extreme humiliation and insult. As the Evangelist Matthew relates, she was present at the Burial of the Lord. Before her eyes Joseph and Νikόdēmos went out to the tomb with His lifeless Body. She watched as they covered over the entrance to the cave with a large stone, entombing the Source of Life. to the Law in which she was raised, Mary together with the other women spent the following day at rest, because it was the great day of the Sabbath, coinciding with the Feast of Passover. But all the rest of the peaceful day the women gathered spices to go to the Grave of the Lord at dawn on Sunday and anoint His Body according to the custom of the Jews. is necessary to mention that, having agreed to go on the first day of the week to the Tomb early in the morning, the holy women had no possibility of meeting with one another on Saturday. They went separately on Friday evening to their own homes. They went out only at dawn the following day to go to the Sepulchre, not all together, but each from her own house. Evangelist Matthew writes that the women came to the grave at dawn, or as the Evangelist Mark expresses, extremely early before the rising of the sun. The Evangelist John, elaborating upon these, says that Mary came to the grave so early that it was still dark. Obviously, she waited impatiently for the end of night, but it was not yet daybreak. She ran to the place where the Lord’s Body lay. went to the tomb alone. Seeing the stone pushed away from the cave, she ran away in fear to tell the close Apostles of Christ, Peter and John. Hearing the strange message that the Lord was gone from the tomb, both Apostles ran to the tomb and, seeing the shroud and winding cloths, they were amazed. They went and said nothing to anyone, but Mary returned to the tomb and stood about the entrance to the tomb and wept. Here in this dark tomb so recently lay her lifeless Lord. proof that the tomb really was empty, she went down to it and saw a strange sight. She saw two angels in white garments, one sitting at the head, the other at the foot, where the Body of Jesus had been placed. They asked her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She answered them with the words which she had said to the Apostles, “They have taken my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” At that moment, she turned around and saw the Risen Jesus standing near the grave, but she did not recognize Him. asked Mary, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom dost thou seek?” She answered thinking that she was seeing the gardener, “Sir, if thou hast taken him, tell where thou hast put Him, and I will take Him away.” she recognized the Lord’s voice. This was the voice she heard in those days and years, when she followed the Lord through all the cities and places where He preached. He spoke her name, and she gave a joyful shout, “Rabbi” (Teacher). and love, fondness and deep veneration, a feeling of thankfulness and recognition at His Splendor as great Teacher, all came together in this single outcry. She was able to say nothing more and she threw herself down at the feet of her Teacher to wash them with tears of joy. But the Lord said to her: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and tell them: ‘I ascend to My Father, and your Father; to My God and to your God.’” came to herself and again ran to the Apostles, to do the will of Him sending her to preach. Again she ran into the house, where the Apostles still remained in dismay, and proclaimed to them the joyous message, “I have seen the Lord!” This was the first preaching in the world about the Resurrection. Apostles proclaimed the Glad Tidings to the world, but she proclaimed it to the Apostles themselves. Scripture does not tell us about the life of Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection of Christ, but it is impossible to doubt, that if in the terrifying minutes of Christ’s Crucifixion she was at the foot of His Cross with His All-Pure Mother and Saint John, she must have stayed with them during the happier time after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Thus in the Acts of the Apostles Saint Luke writes that all the Apostles with one mind stayed in prayer and supplication, with certain women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and His brethren. Tradition testifies that when the Apostles departed from Jerusalem to preach to all the ends of the earth, then Mary Magdalene also went with them. A daring woman, whose heart was full of reminiscence of the Resurrection, she went beyond her native borders and went to preach in pagan Rome. Everywhere she proclaimed to people about Christ and His teaching. When many did not believe that Christ is risen, she repeated to them what she had said to the Apostles on the radiant morning of the Resurrection: “I have seen the Lord!” With this message she went all over Italy. relates that in Italy Mary Magdalene visited Emperor Tiberias (14-37 A.D.) and proclaimed to him Christ’s Resurrection. According to Tradition, she brought him a red egg as a symbol of the Resurrection, a symbol of new life with the words: “Christ is Risen!” Then she told the emperor that in his Province of Judea the unjustly condemned Jesus the Galilean, a holy man, a miracleworker, powerful before God and all mankind, had been executed at the instigation of the Jewish High Priests, and the sentence confirmed by the procurator appointed by Tiberias, Pontius Pilate. repeated the words of the Apostles, that we are redeemed from the vanity of life not with perishable silver or gold, but rather by the precious Blood of Christ. to Mary Magdalene the custom to give each other paschal eggs on the day of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ spread among Christians over all the world. In one ancient Greek manuscript, written on parchment, kept in the monastery library of Saint Athanasius near Thessalonica, is a prayer read on the day of Holy Pascha for the blessing of eggs and cheese. In it is indicated that the igumen in passing out the blessed eggs says to the brethren: “Thus have we received from the holy Fathers, who preserved this custom from the very time of the holy Apostles, therefore the holy Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene first showed believers the example of this joyful offering.” Magdalene continued her preaching in Italy and in the city of Rome itself. Evidently, the Apostle Paul has her in mind in his Epistle to the Romans (16: 6), where together with other ascetics of evangelic preaching he mentions Mary (Mariam), who as he expresses “has bestowed much labor on us.” Evidently, she extensively served the Church in its means of subsistence and its difficulties, being exposed to dangers, and sharing with the Apostles the labors of preaching. to Church Tradition, she remained in Rome until the arrival of the Apostle Paul, and for two more years following his departure from Rome after the first court judgment upon him. From Rome, Saint Mary Magdalene, already bent with age, moved to Ephesus where the holy Apostle John unceasingly labored. There the saint finished her earthly life and was buried. holy relics were transferred in the ninth century to Constantinople, and placed in the monastery Church of Saint Lazarus. In the era of the Crusader campaigns they were transferred to Italy and placed at Rome under the altar of the Lateran Cathedral. Part of the relics of Mary Magdalene are said to be in Provage, France near Marseilles, where over them at the foot of a steep mountain a splendid church is built in her honor. Orthodox Church honors the holy memory of Saint Mary Magdalene, the woman called by the Lord Himself from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. immersed in sin and having received healing, she sincerely and irrevocably began a new life and never wavered from that path. Mary loved the Lord Who called her to a new life. She was faithful to Him not only when He was surrounded by enthusiastic crowds and winning recognition as a miracle-worker, but also when all the disciples deserted Him in fear and He, humiliated and crucified, hung in torment upon the Cross. This is why the Lord, knowing her faithfulness, appeared to her first, and esteemed her worthy to be first to proclaim His Resurrection. Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan, between Capharnum and Tiberias); Matthew 15:29-39, Jesus Cures Many People, and Feeding the Four Thousand They returned to Magadan.; The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; MARY MAGDALENE, FIRST WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (22 JULY NT);

Galilee, 30-80, Apostle Philip, all-praised, Bethsaida, Galilee, knew Scripture, awaited coming, Call, preaching, miracles
Galilee, 30-80, Apostle Philip, all-praised, Bethsaida, Galilee, knew Scripture, awaited coming, Call, preaching, miracles, greece, parthia, Azotus, Syrian Hieropolis, Lydia, Emessa, sister Mariamne, Bartholomew, Phrygian Hieropolis, k serpent, healed wife, arrested, o crucified, earthquake, prayed for those, they believed, he died on cross, M&B to Armenia, M to Lykaonia; Galilee, 30-80, Apostle Philip, all-praised, Bethsaida, Galilee, knew Scripture, awaited coming, Call, preaching, miracles; the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Later Christian traditions describe Philip as the apostle who preached in Greece, Syria, and Phrygia. Bethsaida; Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip, Commemorated on November 14; Holy and All-praised Apostle Philip was a native of the city of Bethsaida in Galilee. had a profound depth of knowledge of the Holy Scripture, and rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, he awaited the coming of the Messiah. the call of the Savior (John 1:43), Philip followed Him. Apostle Philip is spoken about several times in the Holy Gospel: he brought to Christ the Apostle Nathaniel (i.e. Bartholomew, April 22, June 30, and August 25. See John. 1:46). The Lord asks him where to buy bread for five thousand men (John. 6: 5-7). He brought certain of the Hellenized Jews wanting to see Jesus (John. 12:21-22); and finally, at the Last Supper he asked Christ to show them the Father (John. 14:8). the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostle Philip preached the Word of God in Galilee, accompanying his preaching with miracles. he restored to life a dead infant in the arms of its mother. Galilee he went to Greece, and preached among the Jews that had settled there. Some of them reported the preaching of the Apostle to Jerusalem. In response, some scribes arrived in Greece from Jerusalem, with one of the Jewish chief priests at their head, to interrogate the Apostle Philip. Apostle Philip exposed the lie of the chief priest, who said that the disciples of Christ had stolen away and hidden the body of Christ. told instead how the Pharisees had bribed the soldiers on watch, to deliberately spread this rumor. the Jewish chief priest and his companions began to insult the Lord and lunged at the Apostle Philip, they suddenly were struck blind. By his prayer the Apostle restored everyone’s sight. Seeing this miracle, many believed in Christ. Apostle Philip provided a bishop for them, by the name of Narcissus (one of the Seventy Apostles, January 4). Greece the Apostle Philip went to Parthia, and then to the city of Azotus, where he healed an eye affliction of the daughter of a local resident named Nikoklides, who had received him into his home, and then baptized his whole family. Azotus the Apostle Philip set out to Syrian Hieropolis (there were several cities of this name) where, stirred up by the Pharisees, the Jews burned the house of Heros, who had taken in the Apostle Philip, and they wanted to kill the apostle. The apostle performed several miracles: the healing of the hand of the city official Aristarchus, withered when he attempted to strike the apostle; and restoring a dead child to life. When they saw these marvels, they repented and many accepted holy Baptism. making Heros the bishop at Hieropolis, the Apostle Philip went on to Syria, Asia Minor, Lydia, Emessa, and everywhere preaching the Gospel and undergoing sufferings. he and his sister Mariamne (February 17) were pelted with stones, locked up in prison, and thrown out of villages. the Apostle Philip arrived in the city of Phrygian Hieropolis, where there were many pagan temples. There was also a pagan temple where people worshiped an enormous serpent as a god. The Apostle Philip by the power of prayer killed the serpent and healed many bitten by snakes. those healed was the wife of the city prefect, Amphipatos. Having learned that his wife had accepted Christianity, the prefect Amphipatos gave orders to arrest Saint Philip, his sister, and the Apostle Bartholomew traveling with them. At the urging of the pagan priests of the temple of the serpent, Amphipatos ordered the holy Apostles Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified. an earthquake struck, and it knocked down all those present at the place of judgment. upon the cross by the pagan temple of the serpent, the Apostle Philip prayed for those who had crucified him, asking God to save them from the ravages of the earthquake. this happen, the people believed in Christ and began to demand that the apostles be taken down from the crosses. Apostle Bartholomew was still alive when he was taken down, and he baptized all those believing and established a bishop for them. the Apostle Philip, through whose prayers everyone remained alive, except for Amphipatos and the pagan priests, died on the cross. his sister buried his body, and went with the Apostle Bartholomew to preach in Armenia, where the Apostle Bartholomew was crucified (June 11); herself then preached until her own death at Lykaonia. holy Apostle Philip is not to be confused with Saint Philip the Deacon (October 11), one of the Seventy. ANDREW THE APOSTLE, (30 NOV NT) ; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); PHILIP ;

Galilee, 30-73 or 107, Apostle Simon the Zealot, Cana, Galilee, the bridegroom, went many places from Britain to Black Sea
Galilee, 30-73, Cana, Galilee (Kishon River Drainage) the bridegroom at Jesus' first miracle, so became zealous for Christ, went many places from Britain to Black Sea, Crucified; Cana in Galilee; Apostle Simon Zealotes, Commemorated on May 10; Simon was from Cana in Galilee, and was known to the Lord and His Mother. says that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. witnessing the miracle of the water which had been turned into wine, he became a zealous follower of Christ. For this reason, he is known as Saint Simon the Zealot. Simon was one of the twelve Apostles, and received the Holy Spirit with the others on Pentecost. traveled to many places from Britain to the Black Sea, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. After winning many pagans to the Lord, Saint Simon suffered martyrdom by crucifixion. Demetrius of Rostov says that this Saint Simon is to be distinguished from the Apostle Simon Peter, and from the Lord’s relative Simon (Mt.13:55), who was the second Bishop of Jerusalem. Simon is also commemorated on June 30 with the other Apostles.

Galilee, 30-90, Apostle Matthew, Capernaum, tax c, Gospel early in 50 at J, many lands, Ethiopia, Fulvian-Matthew story
Galilee, 30-90, Apostle Matthew, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee; the Apostle,[a] also known as Saint Matthew and possibly as Levi, was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. to Christian traditions, he was also one of the four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of Matthew, and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist, a claim rejected by the majority of modern biblical scholars, though the "traditional authorship still has its defenders."[3] New Testament records that as a disciple, he followed Jesus, and was one of the witnesses of the Ascension of Jesus. Later Church fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria claim that Matthew preached the Gospel to the Jewish community in Judea, before going to other countries. Capernaum; MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (21 SEP NT); day Jesus was walking and saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at a tax collection post, and said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew stood up and followed Him, and became one of His twelve apostles. (See M 9:9-13 = P 2:13-17 = L 5:27-32) Tax collectors in those days were social outcasts. Devout Jews avoided them because they were usually dishonest (the job carried no salary, and they were expected to make their profits by cheating the people from whom they collected taxes). Patriotic and nationalistic Jews hated them because they were agents of the Roman government, the conquerors, and hated them with a double hatred if (like Matthew) they were Jews, because they had gone over to the enemy, had betrayed their own people for money. Thus, throughout the Gospels, we find tax collectors (publicans) mentioned as a standard type of sinful and despised outcast. Matthew brought many of his former associates to meet Jesus, and social outcasts in general were shown that the love of Jesus extended even to them. (Jesus numbered among his disciples persons of widely different backgrounds. They included not only Matthew, a former agent of the Roman government, but Simon the Zealot (not to be confused with Simon Peter). Josephus tells us that the Zealots were fanatical nationalists, determined to drive out the Romans by guerrilla tactics, ambushes, assassinations, terrorist methods, or whatever worked. Their motto was, "No king but Messiah, no tax but the Temple, no friend but the Zealot." It is not clear that Simon was, or had been, a member of the group that Josephus describes, but it seems clear that he would have regarded himself as at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Matthew.) The name "Matthew" means "gift of the LORD." Mark and Luke, in the story of his calling, name him "Levi." Perhaps this was his original name, and he received a new name from Jesus when he became a disciple. (It has also been suggested that he was simply a member of the tribe of Levi.) Of Matthew's life after Pentecost the Scriptures tell us nothing. Later accounts of his life vary, some reporting that he was martyred, others that he died a natural death. The Christian community since early times has commemorated him as a martyr. the Apostle Matthew is also the Evangelist Matthew -- that is, whether the Apostle Matthew wrote the Gospel that bears his name -- is disputed. The Gospel itself does not say who wrote it, but the designation "according to Matthew" is very old. In favor of his authorship it may be noted that (1) while Mark and Luke give the fourth pair of Apostles as "Matthew and Thomas," the Gospel of Matthew gives them as "Thomas and Matthew"; and (2) while Luke 5:29 explicitly states, and Mark 2:15 suggests, that Matthew gave a banquet for Jesus, Matthew 9:10 in describing the same banquet does not indicate who the host was. Both of these variations would be routine touches of modesty if Matthew was the author. On the other hand, the gospel (1) does not have the manner of an eyewitness, and (2) is thought by many scholars to contain material borrowed from Mark, whereas one would not expect someone who had been an eyewitness to borrow from someone who had not. (NOTE: The view that Mark is an older Gospel than Matthew is widespread and not long ago many scholars regarded the matter as settled. However, there is respectable opinion holding that Matthew is the earliest Gospel after all. See, for example, the comments in the Matthew volume of The Anchor Bible.) the Gospel was written by some early Christian, not an apostle, whose name was Matthew, and about whom nothing else is known. Early Christian readers, hearing the Gospel ascribed to "Matthew," would naturally associate it with the Apostle of that name, and so the ascribing of the work to the Apostle Matthew becomes common at an early date, by a perfectly natural misunderstanding. of Hierapolis, writing in the late first or early second century, says that Matthew compiled the sayings (Logia) of Jesus in Hebrew. Now the material common to Matthew and Luke, but not to Mark, includes sayings of Jesus but almost no narrative. It has therefore been conjectured that there was once a document (usually called Q), now lost, that is basically a collection of speeches by Jesus, and that Matthew (the evangelist) and Luke, had access to it while Mark did not. It has been suggested that Matthew (the apostle) is the author of this document Q, which may well have been first written in Hebrew (or Aramaic). Scripture readings associated with the day bear the themes of Matthew as a Gospel-writer (hence readings that speak of the Scriptures), Matthew as an Apostle, and Matthew as a sinner called by God's grace. by James Kiefer Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, Commemorated on November 16; Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: “Come, follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), left everything and followed the Savior. and His disciples did not refuse Matthew’s invitation and they visited his house, where they shared table with the publican’s friends and acquaintances. Like the host, they were also publicans and known sinners. event disturbed the pharisees and scribes a great deal. who collected taxes from their countrymen did this with great profit for themselves. Usually greedy and cruel people, the Jews considered them pernicious betrayers of their country and religion. The word “publican” for the Jews had the connotation of “public sinner” and “idol-worshipper.” To even speak with a tax-collector was considered a sin, and to associate with one was defilement. the Jewish teachers were not able to comprehend that the Lord had “come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:13). acknowledging his sinfulness, repaid fourfold anyone he had cheated, and he distributed his remaining possessions to the poor, and he followed after Christ with the other apostles. Matthew was attentive to the instructions of the Divine Teacher, he beheld His innumerable miracles, he went together with the Twelve Apostles preaching to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 10:6). was a witness to the suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior, and of His glorious Ascension into Heaven. received the grace of the Holy Spirit, which descended upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, Saint Matthew preached in Palestine for several years. the request of the Jewish converts at Jerusalem, the holy Apostle Matthew wrote his Gospel describing the earthly life of the Savior, before leaving to preach the Gospel in faraway lands. the order of the books of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew comes first. Palestine is said to be the place where the Gospel was written. Saint Matthew wrote in Aramaic, and then it was translated into Greek. The Aramaic text has not survived, but many of the linguistic and cultural-historical peculiarities of the Greek translation give indications of it. Apostle Matthew preached among people who were awaiting the Messiah. His Gospel manifests itself as a vivid proof that Jesus Christ is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and that there would not be another (Mt. 11:3). preaching and deeds of the Savior are presented by the evangelist in three divisions, constituting three aspects of the service of the as Prophet and Law-Giver (Ch. 5-7), over the world both visible and invisible (Ch. 8-25), finally as High Priest offered as Sacrifice for the sins of all mankind (Ch. 26-27). theological content of the Gospel, besides the Christological themes, includes also the teaching about the Kingdom of God and about the Church, which the Lord sets forth in parables about the inner preparation for entering into the Kingdom (Ch. 5-7), about the worthiness of servers of the Church in the world (Ch. 10-11), about the signs of the Kingdom and its growth in the souls of mankind (Ch. 13), about the humility and simplicity of the inheritors of the Kingdom (Mt. 18:1-35; 19 13-30; 20:1-16; 25-27; 23:1-28), and about the eschatological revelations of the Kingdom in the Second Coming of Christ within the daily spiritual life of the Church (Ch. 24-25). Kingdom of Heaven and the Church are closely interconnected in the spiritual experience of Christianity: the Church is the historical embodiment of the Kingdom of Heaven in the world, and the Kingdom of Heaven is the Church of Christ in its eschatological perfection (Mt. 16:18-19; 28:18-20). holy Apostle brought the Gospel of Christ to Syria, Media, Persia, Parthia, finishing his preaching in Ethiopia with a martyr’s death. land was inhabited by tribes of cannibals with primitive customs and beliefs. The holy Apostle Matthew converted some of the idol-worshippers to faith in Christ. He founded the Church and built a temple in the city of Mirmena, establishing there his companion Platon as bishop. the holy apostle was fervently entreating God for the conversion of the Ethiopians the Lord Himself appeared to him in the form of a youth. He gave him a staff, and commanded him to plant it at the doors of the church. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this staff and it would bear fruit, and from its roots would flow a stream of water. the Ethiopians washed themselves in the water and ate the fruit, they lost their wild ways and became gentle and good. the holy apostle carried the staff towards the church, he was met by the wife and son of the ruler of the land, Fulvian, who were afflicted by unclean spirits. In the Name of Christ the holy apostle healed them. This miracle converted a number of the pagans to the Lord. But the ruler did not want his subjects to become Christians and cease worshiping the pagan gods. He accused the apostle of sorcery and gave orders to execute him. put Saint Matthew head downwards, piled up brushwood and ignited it. When the fire flared up, everyone then saw that the fire did not harm Saint Matthew. Then Fulvian gave orders to add more wood to the fire, and frenzied with boldness, he commanded to set up twelve idols around the fire. But the flames melted the idols and flared up toward Fulvian. The frightened Ethiopian turned to the saint with an entreaty for mercy, and by the prayer of the martyr the flame went out. The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord. ruler Fulvian deeply repented of his deed, but still he had doubts. his command, they put the body of Saint Matthew into an iron coffin and threw it into the sea. In doing this Fulvian said that if the God of Matthew would preserve the body of the apostle in the water as He preserved him in the fire, then this would be proper reason to worship this One True God. night the Apostle Matthew appeared to Bishop Platon in a dream, and commanded him to go with clergy to the shore of the sea and to find his body there. righteous Fulvian and his retinue went with the bishop to the shore of the sea. The coffin carried by the waves was taken to the church built by the apostle. Then Fulvian begged forgiveness of the holy Apostle Matthew, after which Bishop Platon baptized him, giving him the name Matthew in obedience to a command of God. Saint Fulvian-Matthew abdicated his rule and became a presbyter. Upon the death of Bishop Platon, the Apostle Matthew appeared to him and exhorted him to head the Ethiopian Church. Having become a bishop, Saint Fulvian-Matthew toiled at preaching the Word of God, continuing the work of his heavenly patron.

Galilee, 30-91, Nathaniel ot70, aka Bartholomew ot12, Cana, Galilee, great story, many places GArmenia, India, Syria, Asia Minor
Galilee, 30-91, Nathaniel otSeventy, aka Bartholomew otTwelve, Cana, Galilee (Kishon River Drainage) His first miracle, Gift oGod, brought by Philip to Jesus, called true Israelite, one who sees God, amazed seen under Fig t, more to be seen, heavens opened, angels a&d on Son oMan, Barts's story, after Pentecost his lot tSyria&AsiaMinor wPhilip&sisMariamnne, stoned prison, wJohn theologian tPhrygia, Hieropolis blind man 40yrs Stachys received sight, news spread, many healed baptized, city perfect, magic in clothes, orderd strip, but Mariamne became torch, Philip crusified upsidedown, earthquake swallowed perfect and priests, Bart&M freed, M tLykaonia, BtIndia, tranlated Gospel M, converted many, tGreater Armenia, Healed Kings daughter, deliverance, King Polymios baptized & 10 Cities followed example, but Bart beheaded by Kings brother, relics tMany places, Dara Mesopotamia, Black Sea Armenia, coffin floats tLipari Is, tBeneventum, Neopolitan Italy, tRome, Joseph tHymnographer blessed by Bart in person to write hymns for whole world, 300 Canons in all; Cana in Galilee; Apostle Nathaniel of the Seventy, Commemorated on April 22; Nathanael, whose name means "the gift of God," from Cana of Galilee (John 21:2). was brought to the Savior by Phillip, as described in the Fourth Gospel (John 1:45-51). calls him a true Israelite, which means "one who sees God." was amazed when Christ says that He had seen him under the fig tree. He says that Nathanael will see even greater things; he will the heavens opened, and "the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Epiphanios of Cyprus and other Fathers of the Church regard the Apostle Bartholomew (the son of Tholomai) as the same person as Nathanael. his name would be Nathanael, and his patronymic would be Bartholomew. to The Jerome Biblical Commentary (page 796), Nathanael was thought to be the same person as Bartholomew, because the latter's name followed Philip's in three lists of the Apostles (Matthew 10:2-5; Mark 3:14-19; and Luke 6:14-16). The Synoptic Gospels mention Bartholomew as one of the Twelve Apostles, but they do not mention Nathanael. On the other hand, Saint John's Gospel makes mention of Nathanael, but not of Bartholomew. the Life of Saint Bartholomew, see June 11. Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve, Commemorated on June 11 ; Holy Apostle Bartholomew was born at Cana of Galilee and was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ. the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, it fell by lot to the holy Apostles Bartholomew and Philip (November 14) to preach the Gospel in Syria and Asia Minor. their preaching they wandered through various cities, and then met up again. Accompanying the holy Apostle Philip was his sister, the holy virgin Saint Mariamnne. the cities of Syria and Myzia, they underwent much hardship and tribulations, they were stoned and they were locked up in prison. one of the villages they met up with the Apostle John the Theologian, and together they set off to Phrygia. the city of Hieropolis by the power of their prayers they destroyed an enormous viper, which the pagans worshipped as a god. holy Apostles Bartholomew and Philip with his sister confirmed their preaching with many miracles. Hieropolis there lived a man by the name of Stachys, who had been blind for 40 years. When he received healing, he then believed in Christ and was baptized. of this spread throughout the city, and a multitude of the people thronged to the house where the apostles were staying. The sick and those beset by demons were released from their infirmities, and many were baptized. city prefect gave orders to arrest the preachers and throw them in prison, and to burn down the house of Stachys. the trial pagan priests came forth with the complaint that the strangers were turning people away from the worship of the ancestral gods. that perhaps some sort of magic power was hidden away in the clothes of the apostles, the prefect gave orders to strip them. Saint Mariamne became like a fiery torch before their eyes, and none dared touch her. sentenced the saints to death. The Apostle Philip was crucified upside down. there was an earthquake, and a fissure in the earth swallowed up the prefect of the city, together with the pagan priests and many of the people. Others took fright and rushed to take down the apostles from the crosses. the Apostle Bartholomew had not been suspended very high, they soon managed to take him down. The Apostle Philip, however, had died. making Stachys Bishop of Hieropolis, the Apostle Bartholomew and Saint Mariamne left the city and moved on. the Word of God, Mariamne arrived in Lykaonia, where she peacefully died (February 17). Apostle Bartholomew went to India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew into their language, and he converted many pagans to Christ. also visited Greater Armenia (the country between the River Kura and the upper stretches of the Tigrus and Euphrates Rivers), he worked many miracles and healed the daughter of King Polymios from the demons afflicting her. In gratitude, the king sent gifts to the apostle, who refused to accept them, saying that he sought only the salvation of the souls of mankind. Polymios together with his wife, daughter, and many of those close to them accepted Baptism. people from more than ten cities of Greater Armenia followed their example. through the intrigues of the pagan priests, the Apostle Bartholomew was seized by the king’s brother Astiagus in the city of Alban (now the city of Baku), and crucified upside down. even from the cross he did not cease to proclaim the good news about Christ the Savior. on orders from Astiagus, they flayed the skin from the Apostle Bartholomew and cut off his head. Believers placed his relics in a leaden coffin and buried him. about the year 508 the holy relics of the Apostle Bartholomew were transferred to Mesopotamia, to the city of Dara. the Persians seized the city in 574, Christians took the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew with them when they fled to the shores of the Black Sea. since the enemy overtook them there, they were compelled to leave the coffin behind, and the pagans threw it into the sea. the power of God the coffin miraculously arrived on the island of Lipari. the ninth century, after the taking of the island by the Arabs, the holy relics were transferred to the Neapolitan city of Beneventum in Italy, in the tenth century part of the relics were transferred to Rome. holy Apostle Bartholomew is mentioned in the Life of Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (April 4). Having received from a certain man part of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew, Saint Joseph conveyed them to his own monastery near Constantinople, and he built a church in the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, placing in it a portion of the relics. Saint Joseph ardently desired to compose hymns of praise in honor of the saint, and he fervently besought God to grant him the ability to do so. the Feast day in memory of the Apostle Bartholomew, Saint Joseph saw him at the altar. beckoned to Joseph and took the holy Gospel from the altar table and pressed it to his bosom with the words, “May the Lord bless you, and may your song delight the whole world.” from that time Saint Joseph began to write hymns and canons to adorn not only the Feast day of the Apostle Bartholomew, but also the Feast days of many other saints, composing about 300 canons in all. John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Epiphanius of Cyprus and certain other teachers of the Church regard the Apostle Bartholomew as being the same person as Nathanael (John 1:45-51, 21:2).

Galilee, 32, Beheading of the Forerunner in Galilee, jail because he denounced Herod, Salome danced, Herod gave her John's head
Galilee, 32, Beheading of the Forerunner in Galilee, jail because he denounced Herod for leaving wife and living with brother's wife, Salome danced, Herod gave her what she wanted, John's head ; Lower Galilee; Western Galilee; Upper Galilee; Galilee Region; The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, Commemorated on August 29 ; Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist: Evangelists Matthew (Mt.14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in the year 32 after the Birth of Christ. the Baptism of the Lord, Saint John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch (ruler of one fourth of the Holy Land) and governor of Galilee. the death of king Herod the Great, the Romans divided the territory of Palestine into four parts, and put a governor in charge of each part. Herod Antipas received Galilee from the emperor Augustus). prophet of God John openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife, the daughter of the Arabian king Aretas, and then instead cohabiting with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19-20). his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. the daughter of Herod, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl, he swore to give her whatever she would ask, up to half his kingdom. vile girl on the advice of her wicked mother Herodias asked that she be given the head of John the Baptist on a platter. became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He also feared the people, who loved the holy Forerunner. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave orders to cut off the head of Saint John and to give it to Salome. to Tradition, the mouth of the dead preacher of repentance once more opened and proclaimed: “Herod, you should not have the wife of your brother Philip.” took the platter with the head of Saint John and gave it to her mother. frenzied Herodias repeatedly stabbed the tongue of the prophet with a needle and buried his holy head in a unclean place. the pious Joanna, wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, buried the head of John the Baptist in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives, where Herod had a parcel of land. Uncovering of the Venerable Head is celebrated February 24). holy body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebastia, there where the wicked deed had been done. the murder of Saint John the Baptist, Herod continued to govern for a certain time. Pilate, governor of Judea, later sent Jesus Christ to him, Whom he mocked (Luke 23:7-12). judgment of God came upon Herod, Herodias and Salome, even during their earthly life. crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The ice gave way in such a way that her body was in the water, but her head was trapped above the ice. It was similar to how she once had danced with her feet upon the ground, but now she flailed helplessly in the icy water. she was trapped until that time when the sharp ice cut through her neck. corpse was not found, but they brought the head to Herod and Herodias, as once they had brought them the head of Saint John the Baptist. Arab king Aretas, in revenge for the disrespect shown his daughter, made war against Herod. The defeated Herod suffered the wrath of the Roman emperor Caius Caligua (37-41) and was exiled with Herodias first to Gaul, and then to Spain. Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a Feast day established by the Church, is also a strict fast day because of the grief of Christians at the violent death of the saint. some Orthodox cultures pious people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food that is round in shape on this day. the Church makes remembrance of Orthodox soldiers killed on the field of battle, as established in 1769 at the time of Russia’s war with the Turks and the Poles.

Galilee, 33, CONFESSION OF PETER THE APOSTLE, Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights, Galileee, Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Christ
Galilee, 33, CONFESSION OF PETER THE APOSTLE, Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights), led by God's Grace, Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Christ; Caesarea Philippi; Mark 8:27-9:1 Peter's Declaration about Jesus; CONFESSION OF PETER THE APOSTLE, (18 JAN NT) , Commemorated January 18; 18 January we remember how the Apostle Peter was led by God's grace to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20), we join with Peter, and with all Christians everywhere, in hailing Jesus as our Lord, God, and Savior. by James Kiefer

Galilee, 33, TRANSFIGURATION, Tabor, Jesus d light, Peter, James, John, w Moses & Elijah, this my son, Orthodox d light focus
Galilee, 33, FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source), beginning to teach his death and resurrection, revealed himself to Peter, James and John, w Moses and Elijah, Law and Prophets, Father proclaimed this is my son, Listen to him, Orthodox say what light, why 6 days and 8 days, 8 on the mt only 6 visible, it is because mystery of the 8th day in the future, the day of the Church; Mount Tabor; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); we celebrate the occasion (recorded in M 17:1-8 = P 9:2-8 = L 9:28-36) on which Christ, He was beginning to teach His disciples that He must die and rise again, Himself in shining splendor to Peter, James, and John. and Elijah were present, and are taken to signify that the Law and the Prophets testify that Jesus is the promised Messiah. the Father also proclaimed him as such, saying, "This is my Beloved Son. Listen to him." For a moment the veil is drawn aside, and men still on earth are permitted a glimpse of the heavenly reality, the glory of the Eternal Triune God. The Transfiguration, by Giovanno Lanfranco the East, the Festival of the Transfiguration has been celebrated since the late fourth century, and is one of the twelve great festivals of the East Orthodox calendar. the West it was observed after the ninth century by some monastic orders, and in 1457 Pope Callistus III ordered its general observance. the time of the Reformation, it was still felt in some countries to be a "recent innovation," and so was not immediately taken over into most Reformation calendars, but is now found on most calendars that have been revised in the twentieth century. recent tendency in the West is to commemorate the Transfiguration on the Sunday just before Lent, in accordance with the pattern found in the Synoptics, where Jesus is represented as beginning to speak of his forthcoming death just about the time of the Transfiguration, so that it forms a fitting transition between the Epiphany season, in which Christ makes himself known, and the Lenten season, in which he prepares the disciples for what lies ahead. observing the Transfiguration then will affect the observation of it on 6 August remains to be seen. The Transfiguration, from the Predis Codex FIRST READING: Exodus 34:29-35 (When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, after speaking with the LORD, the skin of his face was so radiant that the Israelites were afraid to look at him. Therefore, he wore a veil.) PSALM 99 or 99:5-9 (The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble.... Moses and Aaron and Samuel cried unto him, and he spoke to them from the pillar of cloud.) EPISTLE: 2 Peter 1:13-21 (Peter, near the end of his life, for his own strengthening and that of his readers, recalls his long-ago experience of seeing the Transfigured Christ.) THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 9:28-36 (Jesus took Peter and James and John up a mountain, and there appeared to them in shining splendor, and with Him appeared Moses and Elijah, who spoke with Him.) by James Kiefer The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second œFeast of the Savior in August), Commemorated on August 6; on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica an explanation of the present Feast and understanding of its truth, it is necessary for us to turn to the very start of today’s reading from the Gospel: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up onto a high mountain by themselves” (Mt.17:1). of all we must ask, from whence does the Evangelist Matthew begin to reckon with six days? From what sort of day is it? What does the preceding turn of speech indicate, where the Savior, in teaching His disciples, said to them: “For the Son of Man shall come with his angels in the glory of His Father,” further: “Amen I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:27-28)? is to say, it is the Light of His own forthcoming Transfiguration which He terms the Glory of His Father and of His Kingdom. Evangelist Luke points this out and reveals this more clearly saying: “Now it came to pass about eight days after these words, that He took Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray. as He prayed, His countenance was altered, and His raiment became a radiant white” (Luke 9:28-29). how can the two be reconciled, when one of them speaks definitively about the interval of time as being eight days between the sayings and the manifestation, whereas the other (says): “after six days?” were eight on the mountain, but only six were visible. Three, Peter, James and John, had come up with Jesus, and they saw Moses and Elias standing there and conversing with Him, so altogether there were six of them. the Father and the Holy Spirit were invisibly with the Lord: the Father, with His Voice testifying that this was His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit shining forth with Him in the radiant cloud. the six are actually eight, and there is no contradiction regarding the eight. there is no contradiction with the Evangelists when one says “after six days,” and the other says “eight days after these words.” these twofold sayings as it were present is a certain format set in mystery, and together with it that of those actually present upon the Mount. stands to reason, and everyone rationally studying in accordance with Scripture knows that the Evangelists are in agreement one with another. spoke of eight days without contradicting Matthew, who declared “after six days.” There is not another day added on to represent the day on which these sayings were uttered, nor is the day on which the Lord was transfigured added on (which a rational person might reasonably imagine to be added to the days of Matthew). Evangelist Luke does not say “after eight days” (like the Evangelist Matthew says “after six days”), but rather “it came to pass eight days after these words.” where the Evangelists seem to contradict one another, they actually point out to us something great and mysterious. In actual fact, why did the one say “after six days,” but the other, in ignoring the seventh day, have in mind the eighth day? is because the great vision of the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the mystery of the Eighth Day, i.e., of the future age, coming to be revealed after the passing away of the world created in six days. the power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom the Kingdom of God is to be revealed, the Lord predicted: “There are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:28). and in every way the King will be present, and everywhere will be His Kingdom, since the advent of His Kingdom does not signify the passing over from one place to another, but rather the revelation of its power of the Divine Spirit. is why it is said: “come in power.” And this power is not manifest to simply ordinary people, but to those standing with the Lord, that is to say, those who have affirmed their faith in Him like Peter, James and John, and especially those who are free of our natural abasement. and precisely because of this, God manifests Himself upon the Mount, on the one hand coming down from His heights, and on the other, raising us up from the depths of abasement, since the Transcendent One takes on mortal nature. such a manifest appearance by far transcends the utmost limits of the mind’s grasp, as effectualized by the power of the Divine Spirit. the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is not something that comes to be and then vanishes, nor is it subject to the sensory faculties, although it was contemplated by corporeal eyes for a short while upon an inconsequential mountaintop. the initiates of the Mystery, (the disciples) of the Lord at this time passed beyond mere flesh into spirit through a transformation of their senses, effectualized within them by the Spirit, and in such a way that they beheld what, and to what extent, the Divine Spirit had wrought blessedness in them to behold the Ineffable Light. not grasping this point have conjectured that the chosen from among the Apostles beheld the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord by a sensual and creaturely faculty, and through this they attempt to reduce to a creaturely level (i.e., as something “created”) not only this Light, the Kingdom and the Glory of God, but also the Power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom it is meet for Divine Mysteries to be revealed. all likelihood, such persons have not heeded the words of the Apostle Paul: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love Him. But to us God has revealed them through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor.2:9-10). with the onset of the Eighth Day, the Lord, taking Peter, James and John, went up on the Mount to pray. always prayed alone, withdrawing from everyone, even from the Apostles themselves, as for example when with five loaves and two fish He fed the five thousand men, besides women and children (Mt.14:19-23). taking with Him those who excelled others, as at the approach of His Saving Passion, when He said to the other disciples: “Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Mt.26:36). He took with Him Peter, James and John. But in our instance right here and now, having taken only these same three, the Lord led them up onto a high mountain by themselves and was transfigured before them, that is to say, before their very eyes. “What does it mean to say: He was transfigured?” asks the Golden-Mouthed Theologian (Chrysostom). answers this by saying: “It revealed something of His Divinity to them, as much and insofar as they were able to apprehend it, and it showed the indwelling of God within Him.” Evangelist Luke says: “And as He prayed, His countenance was altered” (Luke 9:29); from the Evangelist Matthew we read: “And His face shone as the sun” (Mt.17:2). the Evangelist said this, not in the context that this Light be thought of as subsistent for the senses us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses). it is to show that Christ God, for those living and contemplating by the Spirit, is the same as the sun is for those living in the flesh and contemplating by the senses. some other Light for the knowing the Divinity is not necessary for those who are enriched by Divine gifts. same Inscrutable Light shone and was mysteriously manifest to the Apostles and the foremost of the Prophets at that moment, when (the Lord) was praying. shows that what brought forth this blessed sight was prayer, that the radiance occured and was manifest by uniting the mind with God, that it is granted to all who, with constant exercise in efforts of virtue and prayer, strive with their mind towards God. beauty, essentially, can be contemplated only with a purified mind. To gaze upon its luminance assumes a sort of participation in it, as though some bright ray etches itself upon the face. the face of Moses was illumined by his association with God. Do you not know that Moses was transfigured when he went up the mountain, and there beheld the Glory of God? But he (Moses) did not effect this, but rather he underwent a transfiguration. our Lord Jesus Christ possessed that Light Himself. this regard, actually, He did not need prayer for His flesh to radiate with the Divine Light; it was but to show from whence that Light descends upon the saints of God, and how to contemplate it. it is written that even the saints “will shine forth like the sun” (Mt.13:43), is to say, entirely permeated by Divine Light as they gaze upon Christ, divinely and inexpressibly shining forth His Radiance, issuing from His Divine Nature. Mount Tabor it was manifest also in His Flesh, by reason of the Hypostatic Union (i.e., the union of the two perfect natures, divine and human, within the divine Person [Hypostasis] of Christ, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity). Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon defined this Hypostatic union of Christ’s two natures, divine and human, as “without mingling, without change, without division, without separation.” believe that at the Transfiguration He manifested not some other sort of light, but only that which was concealed beneath His fleshly exterior. This Light was the Light of the Divine Nature, and as such, it was Uncreated and Divine. also, in the teachings of the Fathers, Jesus Christ was transfigured on the Mount, taking upon Himself something new nor being changed into something new, nor something which formerly He did not possess. it was to show His disciples that which He already was, opening their eyes and bringing them from blindness to sight. For do you not see that eyes that can perceive natural things would be blind to this Light? this Light is not a light of the senses, and those contemplating it do not simply see with sensual eyes, rather they are changed by the power of the Divine Spirit. were transformed, and only in this way did they see the transformation taking place amidst the very assumption of our perishability, with the deification through union with the Word of God in place of this. also she who miraculously conceived and gave birth recognized that the One born of her is God Incarnate. it was also for Simeon, who only received this Infant into his arms, the aged Anna, coming out [from the Jerusalem Temple] for the Meeting, since the Divine Power illumined, as through a glass windowpane, giving light for those having pure eyes of heart. why did the Lord, before the beginning of the Transfiguration, choose the foremost of the Apostles and lead them up onto the Mount with Him? it was to show them something great and mysterious. is particularly great or mysterious in showing a sensory light, which not only the foremost, but all the other Apostles already abundantly possessed? would they need a transforming of their eyes by the power of the Holy Spirit for a contemplation of this Light, if it were merely sensory and created? could the Glory and the Kingdom of the Father and the Holy Spirit project forth in some sort of sensory light? in what sort of Glory and Kingdom would Christ the Lord come at the end of the ages, when there would not be necessary anything in the air, nor in expanse, nor anything similar, but when, in the words of the Apostle, “God will be all in all” (1 Cor.15: 28)? is to say, will He alter everything for all? If so, then it follows that light is included. it is clear that the Light of Tabor was a Divine Light. the Evangelist John, inspired by Divine Revelation, says clearly that the future eternal and enduring city “has no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it. For the Glory of God lights it up, and the Lamb will be its lamp” (Rev 21:23). it not clear, that he points out here that this [Lamb] is Jesus, Who is divinely transfigured now upon Tabor, and the flesh of Whom shines, is the lamp manifesting the Glory of divinity for those ascending the mountain with Him? the Theologian also says about the inhabitants of this city: “they will not need light from lamps, nor the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shed light upon them, and night shall be no more” (Rev 22:5). how, we might ask, is there this other light, in which “there is no change, nor shadow of alteration” (Jas 1:17)? light is there that is constant and unsetting, unless it be the Light of God? could Moses and Elias (and particularly the former, who clearly was present only in spirit, and not in flesh [Elias having ascended bodily to Heaven on the fiery chariot]) be shining with any sort of sensory light, and be seen and known? since it was written of them: “they appeared in glory, and spoke of his death, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31). how otherwise could the Apostles recognize those whom they had never seen before, unless through the mysterious power of the Divine Light, opening their mental eyes? let us not tire our attention with the furthermost interpretations of the words of the Gospel. shall believe thus, as those same ones have taught us, who themselves were enlightened by the Lord Himself, insofar as they alone know this well: Mysteries of God, in the words of a prophet, are known to God alone and His perpetual proximity. us, considering the Mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord in accord with their teaching, strive to be illumined by this Light ourselves encourage in ourselves love and striving towards the Unfading Glory and Beauty, our spiritual eyes of worldly thoughts and refraining from perishable and quickly passing delights and beauty which darken the garb of the soul and lead to the fire of Gehenna and everlasting darkness. us be freed from these by the illumination and knowledge of the incorporeal and ever-existing Light of our Savior transfigured on Tabor, in His Glory, and of His Father from all eternity, and His Life-Creating Spirit, Whom are One Radiance, One Godhead, and Glory, and Kingdom, and Power now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Galilee, 33, Holy Transfiguration, Tabor, Orthodox d light focus, Jesus d light, 6days&8, 6people&8, Spiritual 8th day Church
Galilee, 33, Holy Transfiguration, Tabor, Orthodox d light focus, Jesus d light, 6days&8, 6people&8, 8th day Church, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Father God, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Church of the 8th Day Mount Tabor; The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second œFeast of the Savior in August), Commemorated on August 6; on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica an explanation of the present Feast and understanding of its truth, it is necessary for us to turn to the very start of today’s reading from the Gospel: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up onto a high mountain by themselves” (Mt.17:1). of all we must ask, from whence does the Evangelist Matthew begin to reckon with six days? From what sort of day is it? What does the preceding turn of speech indicate, where the Savior, in teaching His disciples, said to them: “For the Son of Man shall come with his angels in the glory of His Father,” further: “Amen I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:27-28)? is to say, it is the Light of His own forthcoming Transfiguration which He terms the Glory of His Father and of His Kingdom. Evangelist Luke points this out and reveals this more clearly saying: “Now it came to pass about eight days after these words, that He took Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray. as He prayed, His countenance was altered, and His raiment became a radiant white” (Luke 9:28-29). how can the two be reconciled, when one of them speaks definitively about the interval of time as being eight days between the sayings and the manifestation, whereas the other (says): “after six days?” were eight on the mountain, but only six were visible. Three, Peter, James and John, had come up with Jesus, and they saw Moses and Elias standing there and conversing with Him, so altogether there were six of them. the Father and the Holy Spirit were invisibly with the Lord: the Father, with His Voice testifying that this was His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit shining forth with Him in the radiant cloud. the six are actually eight, and there is no contradiction regarding the eight. there is no contradiction with the Evangelists when one says “after six days,” and the other says “eight days after these words.” these twofold sayings as it were present is a certain format set in mystery, and together with it that of those actually present upon the Mount. stands to reason, and everyone rationally studying in accordance with Scripture knows that the Evangelists are in agreement one with another. spoke of eight days without contradicting Matthew, who declared “after six days.” There is not another day added on to represent the day on which these sayings were uttered, nor is the day on which the Lord was transfigured added on (which a rational person might reasonably imagine to be added to the days of Matthew). Evangelist Luke does not say “after eight days” (like the Evangelist Matthew says “after six days”), but rather “it came to pass eight days after these words.” where the Evangelists seem to contradict one another, they actually point out to us something great and mysterious. In actual fact, why did the one say “after six days,” but the other, in ignoring the seventh day, have in mind the eighth day? is because the great vision of the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the mystery of the Eighth Day, i.e., of the future age, coming to be revealed after the passing away of the world created in six days. the power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom the Kingdom of God is to be revealed, the Lord predicted: “There are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:28). and in every way the King will be present, and everywhere will be His Kingdom, since the advent of His Kingdom does not signify the passing over from one place to another, but rather the revelation of its power of the Divine Spirit. is why it is said: “come in power.” And this power is not manifest to simply ordinary people, but to those standing with the Lord, that is to say, those who have affirmed their faith in Him like Peter, James and John, and especially those who are free of our natural abasement. and precisely because of this, God manifests Himself upon the Mount, on the one hand coming down from His heights, and on the other, raising us up from the depths of abasement, since the Transcendent One takes on mortal nature. such a manifest appearance by far transcends the utmost limits of the mind’s grasp, as effectualized by the power of the Divine Spirit. the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is not something that comes to be and then vanishes, nor is it subject to the sensory faculties, although it was contemplated by corporeal eyes for a short while upon an inconsequential mountaintop. the initiates of the Mystery, (the disciples) of the Lord at this time passed beyond mere flesh into spirit through a transformation of their senses, effectualized within them by the Spirit, and in such a way that they beheld what, and to what extent, the Divine Spirit had wrought blessedness in them to behold the Ineffable Light. not grasping this point have conjectured that the chosen from among the Apostles beheld the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord by a sensual and creaturely faculty, and through this they attempt to reduce to a creaturely level (i.e., as something “created”) not only this Light, the Kingdom and the Glory of God, but also the Power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom it is meet for Divine Mysteries to be revealed. all likelihood, such persons have not heeded the words of the Apostle Paul: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love Him. But to us God has revealed them through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor.2:9-10). with the onset of the Eighth Day, the Lord, taking Peter, James and John, went up on the Mount to pray. always prayed alone, withdrawing from everyone, even from the Apostles themselves, as for example when with five loaves and two fish He fed the five thousand men, besides women and children (Mt.14:19-23). taking with Him those who excelled others, as at the approach of His Saving Passion, when He said to the other disciples: “Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Mt.26:36). He took with Him Peter, James and John. But in our instance right here and now, having taken only these same three, the Lord led them up onto a high mountain by themselves and was transfigured before them, that is to say, before their very eyes. “What does it mean to say: He was transfigured?” asks the Golden-Mouthed Theologian (Chrysostom). answers this by saying: “It revealed something of His Divinity to them, as much and insofar as they were able to apprehend it, and it showed the indwelling of God within Him.” Evangelist Luke says: “And as He prayed, His countenance was altered” (Luke 9:29); from the Evangelist Matthew we read: “And His face shone as the sun” (Mt.17:2). the Evangelist said this, not in the context that this Light be thought of as subsistent for the senses us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses). it is to show that Christ God, for those living and contemplating by the Spirit, is the same as the sun is for those living in the flesh and contemplating by the senses. some other Light for the knowing the Divinity is not necessary for those who are enriched by Divine gifts. same Inscrutable Light shone and was mysteriously manifest to the Apostles and the foremost of the Prophets at that moment, when (the Lord) was praying. shows that what brought forth this blessed sight was prayer, that the radiance occured and was manifest by uniting the mind with God, that it is granted to all who, with constant exercise in efforts of virtue and prayer, strive with their mind towards God. beauty, essentially, can be contemplated only with a purified mind. To gaze upon its luminance assumes a sort of participation in it, as though some bright ray etches itself upon the face. the face of Moses was illumined by his association with God. Do you not know that Moses was transfigured when he went up the mountain, and there beheld the Glory of God? But he (Moses) did not effect this, but rather he underwent a transfiguration. our Lord Jesus Christ possessed that Light Himself. this regard, actually, He did not need prayer for His flesh to radiate with the Divine Light; it was but to show from whence that Light descends upon the saints of God, and how to contemplate it. it is written that even the saints “will shine forth like the sun” (Mt.13:43), is to say, entirely permeated by Divine Light as they gaze upon Christ, divinely and inexpressibly shining forth His Radiance, issuing from His Divine Nature. Mount Tabor it was manifest also in His Flesh, by reason of the Hypostatic Union (i.e., the union of the two perfect natures, divine and human, within the divine Person [Hypostasis] of Christ, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity). Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon defined this Hypostatic union of Christ’s two natures, divine and human, as “without mingling, without change, without division, without separation.” believe that at the Transfiguration He manifested not some other sort of light, but only that which was concealed beneath His fleshly exterior. This Light was the Light of the Divine Nature, and as such, it was Uncreated and Divine. also, in the teachings of the Fathers, Jesus Christ was transfigured on the Mount, taking upon Himself something new nor being changed into something new, nor something which formerly He did not possess. it was to show His disciples that which He already was, opening their eyes and bringing them from blindness to sight. For do you not see that eyes that can perceive natural things would be blind to this Light? this Light is not a light of the senses, and those contemplating it do not simply see with sensual eyes, rather they are changed by the power of the Divine Spirit. were transformed, and only in this way did they see the transformation taking place amidst the very assumption of our perishability, with the deification through union with the Word of God in place of this. also she who miraculously conceived and gave birth recognized that the One born of her is God Incarnate. it was also for Simeon, who only received this Infant into his arms, the aged Anna, coming out [from the Jerusalem Temple] for the Meeting, since the Divine Power illumined, as through a glass windowpane, giving light for those having pure eyes of heart. why did the Lord, before the beginning of the Transfiguration, choose the foremost of the Apostles and lead them up onto the Mount with Him? it was to show them something great and mysterious. is particularly great or mysterious in showing a sensory light, which not only the foremost, but all the other Apostles already abundantly possessed? would they need a transforming of their eyes by the power of the Holy Spirit for a contemplation of this Light, if it were merely sensory and created? could the Glory and the Kingdom of the Father and the Holy Spirit project forth in some sort of sensory light? in what sort of Glory and Kingdom would Christ the Lord come at the end of the ages, when there would not be necessary anything in the air, nor in expanse, nor anything similar, but when, in the words of the Apostle, “God will be all in all” (1 Cor.15: 28)? is to say, will He alter everything for all? If so, then it follows that light is included. it is clear that the Light of Tabor was a Divine Light. the Evangelist John, inspired by Divine Revelation, says clearly that the future eternal and enduring city “has no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it. For the Glory of God lights it up, and the Lamb will be its lamp” (Rev 21:23). it not clear, that he points out here that this [Lamb] is Jesus, Who is divinely transfigured now upon Tabor, and the flesh of Whom shines, is the lamp manifesting the Glory of divinity for those ascending the mountain with Him? the Theologian also says about the inhabitants of this city: “they will not need light from lamps, nor the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shed light upon them, and night shall be no more” (Rev 22:5). how, we might ask, is there this other light, in which “there is no change, nor shadow of alteration” (Jas 1:17)? light is there that is constant and unsetting, unless it be the Light of God? could Moses and Elias (and particularly the former, who clearly was present only in spirit, and not in flesh [Elias having ascended bodily to Heaven on the fiery chariot]) be shining with any sort of sensory light, and be seen and known? since it was written of them: “they appeared in glory, and spoke of his death, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31). how otherwise could the Apostles recognize those whom they had never seen before, unless through the mysterious power of the Divine Light, opening their mental eyes? let us not tire our attention with the furthermost interpretations of the words of the Gospel. shall believe thus, as those same ones have taught us, who themselves were enlightened by the Lord Himself, insofar as they alone know this well: Mysteries of God, in the words of a prophet, are known to God alone and His perpetual proximity. us, considering the Mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord in accord with their teaching, strive to be illumined by this Light ourselves encourage in ourselves love and striving towards the Unfading Glory and Beauty, our spiritual eyes of worldly thoughts and refraining from perishable and quickly passing delights and beauty which darken the garb of the soul and lead to the fire of Gehenna and everlasting darkness. us be freed from these by the illumination and knowledge of the incorporeal and ever-existing Light of our Savior transfigured on Tabor, in His Glory, and of His Father from all eternity, and His Life-Creating Spirit, Whom are One Radiance, One Godhead, and Glory, and Kingdom, and Power now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); we celebrate the occasion (recorded in M 17:1-8 = P 9:2-8 = L 9:28-36) on which Christ, He was beginning to teach His disciples that He must die and rise again, Himself in shining splendor to Peter, James, and John. and Elijah were present, and are taken to signify that the Law and the Prophets testify that Jesus is the promised Messiah. the Father also proclaimed him as such, saying, "This is my Beloved Son. Listen to him." For a moment the veil is drawn aside, and men still on earth are permitted a glimpse of the heavenly reality, the glory of the Eternal Triune God. The Transfiguration, by Giovanno Lanfranco the East, the Festival of the Transfiguration has been celebrated since the late fourth century, and is one of the twelve great festivals of the East Orthodox calendar. the West it was observed after the ninth century by some monastic orders, and in 1457 Pope Callistus III ordered its general observance. the time of the Reformation, it was still felt in some countries to be a "recent innovation," and so was not immediately taken over into most Reformation calendars, but is now found on most calendars that have been revised in the twentieth century. recent tendency in the West is to commemorate the Transfiguration on the Sunday just before Lent, in accordance with the pattern found in the Synoptics, where Jesus is represented as beginning to speak of his forthcoming death just about the time of the Transfiguration, so that it forms a fitting transition between the Epiphany season, in which Christ makes himself known, and the Lenten season, in which he prepares the disciples for what lies ahead. observing the Transfiguration then will affect the observation of it on 6 August remains to be seen. The Transfiguration, from the Predis Codex FIRST READING: Exodus 34:29-35 (When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, after speaking with the LORD, the skin of his face was so radiant that the Israelites were afraid to look at him. Therefore, he wore a veil.) PSALM 99 or 99:5-9 (The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble.... Moses and Aaron and Samuel cried unto him, and he spoke to them from the pillar of cloud.) EPISTLE: 2 Peter 1:13-21 (Peter, near the end of his life, for his own strengthening and that of his readers, recalls his long-ago experience of seeing the Transfigured Christ.) THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 9:28-36 (Jesus took Peter and James and John up a mountain, and there appeared to them in shining splendor, and with Him appeared Moses and Elijah, who spoke with Him.) by James Kiefer

Galilee, 33, Veronica, Woman wIssue oBlood, home Pansada, Galilee, statue front of her house, healing plant grew there
Galilee, 33, Veronica, Woman wIssue oBlood, home Pansada Village, Galilee, grateful for His healing, 12 yr suffering, spent all, became worse, believed she be healed by touching His garment. who touched Me, disciples puzzled, your faith healed you, statue front of her house, healing plant grew there; Pansada Village, Galilee Saint Veronica (Bernice), the woman with the issue of blood, Commemorated on July 12; account of the woman with an issue of blood, who had the unusual name of Veronica, may be found in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (9:20-22), in Saint Mark's Gospel (5:25-34), and also in Saint Luke's Gospel (8:43-49). Synaxaristes of Saint Νikόdēmos of the Holy Mountain states that this Saint was from the city of Paneada. the Lord healed her issue of blood, she was very grateful, for twelve years she had "suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and nothing had helped, but instead she became worse" (Mark 5:26). had heard of Christ, and decided to go to Him, believing that she would be healed merely by touching His garment. she did this, the Savior felt that power had gone forth from Him. to the crowd, He asked who had touched His garment. disciples were puzzled by the question, since many people were pressing Him on all sides. Veronica came forward and fell down before Him in fear and trembling, and admitted what she had done. Lord said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction" (Mark 5:34). her gratitude, she made a statue of Him and placed it in front of her house, where everyone could venerate it. A healing plant grew at the base of the statue, which was able to cure various diseases. Saint Veronica became a member of the early Church. After living a life of holiness, she surrendered her soul to God. Catholics venerate a saint named Veronica, who is said to have wiped the Savior's face with her veil as He carried His Cross to Golgotha. She is not the saint who is commemorated by the Orthodox Church. That cloth was called the "Veronica," or true image (from vera and iconica) of Christ's face. Saint Gregory of Tours uses this word (Vita Patrum chapter 12) for an image (see the Greek word εικόνα). This incident, is not mentioned in the Gospels. uninformed iconographers confuse these two women and depict our Saint Veronica holding a cloth with the imprint of Christ's face, which is not in accordance with Orthodox Tradition. On August 16, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Image not made by hands, the cloth which Christ sent to King Abgar with the imprint of His Face.

Galilee, 40, Vladimir Icon by Apostle Luke painted on a board from Mary and Joseph's Table
Galilee,40,Vladimir Icon by Apostle Luke painted on a board from Mary and Joseph's Table, The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior ate together with His All-Pure Mother and Righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, upon seeing this image, exclaimed, œHenceforth, all generations shall call Me blessed. The grace of both My Son and Me shall be with this icon.; Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke on a board from the table at which the Savior ate together with His All-Pure Mother and Righteous Joseph. The Mother of God, upon seeing this image, exclaimed, œHenceforth, all generations shall call Me blessed. The grace of both My Son and Me shall be with this icon. Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26;

Galilee, 41-44, King, Herod Agrippa I
Galilee King, 41-44, Herod Agrippa I; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE, APOSTLE (25 JULY 41);

Galilee, 200, 3rd C Folder, Roman Senator Asterius expelled demon, Paul&sis Juliana iron hooks red hot grate

Gaillee, 249-251, Conon tGardener oPamphylia, confessed faith, nails in feet and dragged behind chariot, collapsed & surrendered spirit
Gaillee, 249-251, Conon the Gardener oPamphylia, from Nazareth, Galilee, lived in Mandona, Pamphylia, God Fearing, sincere in heart, without malice, suffered under Decius, confessed faith in Christ at trial, nails into feet and dragged behind chariot, collapsed and surrendured his spirit; Martyr Conon the Gardener of Pamphylia, Commemorated on March 5; Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener was born in Nazareth of Galilee, he lived in the city of , where he occupied himself with gardening. was a God-fearing man, sincere in heart, and without malice. saint suffered for his faith in Christ under the emperor Decius (249-251). they brought him to trial, he unwaveringly and firmly confessed his faith. torturers drove nails into his feet and dragged him behind a chariot until the sufferer collapsed from exhaustion. a prayer, he surrendered his spirit to the Lord.

Galilee, 260, Asterius the Roman Senator, Caesarea Philippi Palestine, expelled deamon, wrapped Martyr's body in his S Garb
Palestine, 260, Asterius the Senator, Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights), Christian Roman Senator, during C persecutions, expelled deamon, which exposed sacrifice, wrapped martyr's body in senatorial garb, carried to grave, for doing this beheaded ; Caesarea Philippi; Mark 8:27-9:1 Peter's Declaration about Jesus; Martyr Asterius the Senator at Caesarea, in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Holy Martyr Asterius the Senator lived during the reign of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and his son Gallienus (260-268). he was a Roman senator, Asterius nonetheless held firmly to the Christian Faith, in spite of the persecutions occurring during those times. while in Palestine, he came to the city of Caesarea Philippi, where by custom a pagan feast was made with the offering of sacrifice to an idol. demon residing in the idol made the sacrifice disappear, and this was looked upon as a great wonder. Asterius expelled the demon by prayer. sacrifice ceased to be invisible, the pagans ceased to celebrate this impious festival. Asterius also happened to be present at the sufferings of the Martyr Marinus (December 16). the execution was over, he took off his senatorial garb, spread it upon the ground and wrapped the head and body of Saint Marinus in it. his own shoulders he carried the martyr’s relics to the grave and reverently consigned them to earth. doing this, he was himself sentenced to death and beheaded in the year 260.

Galilee, 270-275, Paul&sisJuliana, aPtolemais (Acre) Phoenicia, executed under Aurelian, iron hooks, burned, red hot grates
Galilee, 270-275, Ptolemais, Galilee (Acre) Phoenicia, executed under Aurelian, iron hooks, burned, hot grates, soldiers believed executed, J preserved at brothel, touch lose sight, to execcution singing ; Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4; Holy Martyr Paul and his sister Juliana were executed under the emperor Aurelian (270-275) in the Phoenician city of Ptolemais. emperor happened to visit Ptolemais, and among those who met him was Paul, who made the Sign of the Cross. They arrested him and threw him in prison. the following day, when they brought him to trial, he openly and boldly confessed his faith in Christ, for which he was subjected to fierce tortures. Juliana, seeing the suffering of her brother, began to denounce the emperor for his injustice and cruelty, for which she was also subjected to torture. beat the martyrs, tore their bodies with iron hooks, burned them over red-hot grates, but they were not able to break the wondrous endurance of the Lord’s confessors. Three soldiers torturing the saints were struck by the courageous spirit of the martyrs, and they in turn believed in Christ. These newly chosen of God were named Quadratus, Acacius and Stratonicus, and they were immediately executed. tormentor tried to seduce Saint Juliana with a promise to marry her, if she were to renounce Christ, but the saint refused the offer and remained steadfast. By order of the emperor they sent her to a brothel to be defiled. The Lord also preserved her there, and anyone who tried to touch the saint lost his sight. the enraged emperor commanded that they again burn the bodies of the saints. Those who saw the suffering of the saints began to murmur loudly, and Aurelian gave orders to behead the martyrs. gladdened face the brother and sister went to execution singing, “For Thou hast saved us from those who afflicted us and hast shamed those who hated us” (Ps. 43/44:7).

Galilee, 270-275, Paul &His Sister Juliana, Paul tortured for crossing self, Juliana complained, tortured
Galilee, 270-275, Paul and his sister Juliana, from Ptolemais, Galilee (Acre) Phoenicia, EmperorAurelian happened to be in Ptolemais, Paul met him and made sign of the cross, P thrown in prison, next day boldly confessed Christ, fierce tortures, Juliana denounced emperor, was also tortured, beaten, torn with iron hooks, burned over red hot gates, 3 soldiers torturing them, saw their endurance and believed Christ, immediately executed, Juliana sent to brothel, whoever touched her lost sight, emperor commanded burn bodies again, bystanders murmured loudly, Aurelian ordered beheading both ; Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4; Holy Martyr Paul and his sister Juliana were executed under the emperor Aurelian (270-275) in the Phoenician city of Ptolemais. emperor happened to visit Ptolemais, and among those who met him was Paul, who made the Sign of the Cross. They arrested him and threw him in prison. the following day, when they brought him to trial, he openly and boldly confessed his faith in Christ, for which he was subjected to fierce tortures. Juliana, seeing the suffering of her brother, began to denounce the emperor for his injustice and cruelty, for which she was also subjected to torture. beat the martyrs, tore their bodies with iron hooks, burned them over red-hot grates, they were not able to break the wondrous endurance of the Lord’s confessors. soldiers torturing the saints were struck by the courageous spirit of the martyrs, and they in turn believed in Christ. newly chosen of God were named Quadratus, Acacius and Stratonicus, and they were immediately executed. tormentor tried to seduce Saint Juliana with a promise to marry her, if she were to renounce Christ, the saint refused the offer and remained steadfast. order of the emperor they sent her to a brothel to be defiled. Lord also preserved her there, and anyone who tried to touch the saint lost his sight. the enraged emperor commanded that they again burn the bodies of the saints. who saw the suffering of the saints began to murmur loudly, and Aurelian gave orders to behead the martyrs. gladdened face the brother and sister went to execution singing, “For Thou hast saved us from those who afflicted us and hast shamed those who hated us” (Ps. 43/44:7).

Galilee, 300, 4th C Folder, Commander Varus, Pagan Priest St Akepsimas, Cleopatra's divine light vision, Zosimas' beasts talking

Galilee, 301-307, Varus, commander, secret christian, assistance, fiercely beaten to d, holy relics in Galilee
Egypt, 307, Egyptian Saint, Varus; Martyr Varus, and seven Monastic Martyrs with him, Commemorated on October 19; Varus lived in Egypt during the period of several persecutions against Christians (late third to early fourth century). (Ouaros) was a military commander and secretly a Christian. He gave assistance to many of the persecuted and imprisoned Christians, and he visited the prisoners at night. He also brought food to the prisoners, dressed their wounds, and gave them encouragement. Varus spent a whole night talking with seven imprisoned monks. These men were Christian teachers who had been beaten and starved. Varus marched with the teachers when they were led to their execution. judge, seeing Varus’ strong faith, had him fiercely beaten. Varus died during the beating. After his death, the monks were beheaded.

Galilee, 301-350, Akepsimas &Aithalas, Arbel, Galilee, Pagan Priest and Arbel Church Deacon, martyred together for confession
Galilee, 301-350, Arbel (Arbela), Galilee, Pagan Priest and Arbel Church Deacon, martyred together for confession; Arbel; Roman and Byzantine "Arbel" or "Arbela"[edit] In 161 BCE "Arbela" in the Arbel Valley was the site of a battle between the supporters of the Maccabees and Seleucid general Bacchides, who defeated and killed his opponents (1 Macc. 9:2).[3][4][5] the second half of the second century BCE, the village of Arbel was the home of the sage Nittai of Arbela.[citation needed] 38 BCE, Jewish partisans of Antigonus who were opposing Herod in his conquest of the land with the help of Roman, sought refuge from his troops in the caves dotting the steep northern cliffs of Mount Arbel, but couldn't escape death.[6][4][5] Their story is told by Josephus, who himself fortified the cave-village as a storage base at the beginning of the First Jewish–Roman War against Rome in 66 CE.[4][5] ancient town of Arbel is thought by some to have been located at the site of Khirbet Wadi Hamam ("Ruins [in the] Valley of the Doves"; Hurvat Vradim being the modern Hebrew name), on the other side of Arbel Valley, on the eastern slopes of Mount Nitay and close to the stream bed; if that was the case, the village only moved to the site of Khirbet Irbid, close to where the modern moshav stands now, during the Middle Ages.[5] The Jewish scholar Ishtori Haparchi, writing in 1322, thought to identify ancient Arbel with the Arab village itself, in its location on Mount Arbel, 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) northwest of Tiberias.[7] from the late Roman and Byzantine periods have been found.[8][dubious – discuss] Martyr Akepsimas of Egypt, Commemorated on December 11 ; Holy Martyrs Akepsimas and Aithalas were from Persia. Akepsimas was a pagan priest in the city of Arbel. Having received healing through the prayers of a Christian bishop, he was converted to the faith in Christ and boldly confessed it. For this they threw Saint Akepsimas into prison. after, Saint Aithalas, a deacon of the Arbel Church, was imprisoned with him. They brought the martyrs before the ruler, where they again confessed their faith and were beheaded.

Galilee, 307-327, Cleopatra, witnessed Varus martyrdom, son died, in heaven w V, comforted, built Galilee church over r
Egypt, 307-327, Egyptian Saint, Cleopatra; Cleopatra (died 319 or 327) was a Christian saint who lived between the 3rd century and 4th century. She is venerated in the Catholic Church,[1] Oriental Orthodoxy[citation needed] and Eastern Orthodoxy[2]. originally came from a village called Edra near Mount Tabor in Lower Galilee.[3] was a contemporary of the holy martyr Saint Varus and had witnessed his suffering and execution. After Varus' death, Cleopatra had his remains taken to her home in Daraa, Syria where she had them buried with reverence. was a widow, whose only child, was a son named John. By 319, John had attained the officer rank of centurion, but to her great sorrow, had died suddenly. in grief, turned to the relics of Saint Varus, begging the saint to return her son. She dreamt that Varus and John appeared to her as radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads and took this to mean that the Lord had received John into the Heavenly Kingdom, and was comforted.[3] moved to live by the church that she had built was over the relics of Saint Varus and her son. Miracles were reported by people who had come to pray at the church. Cleopatra spent her remaining years in the service of God. She gave her property to the poor and spent her time praying and fasting.[3] She died in 327. from Cleopatra, her son John is also recognised as a saint in Orthodox Christianity. The feast day of Saints Cleopatra and John is 19 October. Egypt, 307, Egyptian Saint, Varus; Blessed Cleopatra with her son John, in Egypt, Commemorated on October 19; Cleopatra and her son John came from the village of Edra near Mount Tabor in Palestine. She was a contemporary of the holy Martyr Varus and witnessed his voluntary suffering. the execution, Saint Cleopatra brought the body of the holy martyr to her own country and buried him with reverence. had one beloved son, John, who had attained the honorable rank of officer. To the great sorrow of his mother, John suddenly died. Cleopatra with tears of grief turned to the relics of the holy Martyr Varus, begging him for the return of her son. and her son appeared to Cleopatra in a dream, radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads. She realized that the Lord had received her son into the heavenly Kingdom, and was comforted. this vision blessed Cleopatra started to live by a church she built over the relics of the holy martyr Varus and her son John, and performed many good deeds. She distributed her property to the poor and spent her time in prayer and fasting. After seven years she fell asleep in the Lord. Martyr Varus, and seven Monastic Martyrs with him, Commemorated on October 19;

Galilee, 307-327, Cleopatra, Mt Tabor, C prays to d Varus, divine light vision comforts, then built church distributed wealth
Galilee, 307, Blessed Cleopatra with her son John, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source), John dies, C prays to d friend Varus to raise him, divine light vision of V and J in heaven comforted her, then built church distributed wealth & spent time prayer&fasting ; Mount Tabor; Blessed Cleopatra with her son John, in Egypt, Commemorated on October 19; Cleopatra and her son John came from the village of Edra near Mount Tabor in Palestine. was a contemporary of the holy Martyr Varus and witnessed his voluntary suffering. the execution, Saint Cleopatra brought the body of the holy martyr to her own country and buried him with reverence. had one beloved son, John, who had attained the honorable rank of officer. To the great sorrow of his mother, John suddenly died. Cleopatra with tears of grief turned to the relics of the holy Martyr Varus, begging him for the return of her son. and her son appeared to Cleopatra in a dream, radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads. She realized that the Lord had received her son into the heavenly Kingdom, and was comforted. this vision blessed Cleopatra started to live by a church she built over the relics of the holy martyr Varus and her son John, and performed many good deeds. distributed her property to the poor and spent her time in prayer and fasting. After seven years she fell asleep in the Lord.

Galilee, 350, Martyr Zosimas the Hermit, calmly amiably conversing w beasts, prayer told huge lion to come
Galilee, 350, Martyr Zosimas the Hermit; Martyr Zosimas the Desert Dweller lived during the fourth century. Once, while hunting, Dometian, the governor of Sicily, saw the Elder calmly and amiably conversing with the beasts around him. the hunters, the beasts fled. They then interrogated the Elder, asking who he was and why he lived in the wilderness. The Elder answered that he was a Christian called Zosimas, and that he could not live in the city with the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, he lived alone among the wild animals. Dometian said threateningly: “If you worship the Nazarene, I shall subject you to fierce tortures at Nazareth, and you will renounce Christ.” asked what kind of magic he used to tame wild beasts, Saint Zosimas replied, “I am a Christian.” At Nazareth the tortures began. They tied the Elder head downwards, with a large stone around his neck, and they began to lacerate his body with iron hooks. torturers taunted the sufferer: “If the beasts do listen to you, tell one of them to come here, and then we will believe in your God.” The holy martyr turned to God in prayer, and suddenly a huge lion came forth. fled in terror, and the lion went up to the Elder, and began to lift the stone around the martyr’s neck with its paw in order to ease the suffering of the saint. The governor implored the martyr to keep the lion calm, and he gave orders to untie the saint, and to bring him to the emperor, but Saint Zosimas was already dead, having given up his pure soul to God. Nazareth; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20 ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD (15 AUGUST NT); The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Church New Year, Commemorated on September 1; to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, the Savior proclaimed, “The spirit of the Lord is upon Me; because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...” This scene is depicted in a Vatican manuscript (Vatican, Biblioteca. Cod. Gr. 1613, p.1). The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on September 8 ; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Joachim, Commemorated on September 9; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Anna, Commemorated on September 9; Martyr Zosimas the Hermit of Cilicia, Commemorated on September 19 ; JAMES OF JERUSALEM, BISHOP AND MARTYR (23 OCT NT) ; Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on October 23 ; Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, along with David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on December 26 Martyr Conon the Gardener of Pamphylia, Commemorated on March 5; Martyr Papas of Lyconia, Commemorated on March 16; JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF OUR LORD (19 MAR NT); The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on March 25; THE ANNUNCIATION, OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (25 MAR NT) ; James of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT) ; Prophet Amos, Commemorated on June 15; The Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachernae, Commemorated on July 2;

Galilee, 700, 8th C Folder, Procopius tConfessor oDecapolis

Galilee, 717-750, Procopius tConfessor oDecapolis, noticably Pure, he defeated iconoclasts saying vereration passes tPrototype
Galilee, 717-750, Procopius tConfessor o Decapolis, Eastern Galilee (Hippos), a monk devoted to life oPrayer&fasting, experienced, adorned wVirtue&Purity oSoul, other ascetics noticed him, meanwhile iconoclast heresy appeared, Emperor Leo tIsaurian regarded icons as idols and iconodules as idolaters, righteous Prokopios and others fought against that heresy, he defeated them by declaring Orthodox do not worship but venerate icons, and that veneration passes to the original prototype, so he received wrath of the Emperor, arrested tormented flogged beaten wRods raked wIron claws, then thrown into dank dungeon, with Basil he was there till Leo died in 741, when confessors were released, he spent rest of life in peace; the Decapolis city to the east of Lake Galilee, Hippos ; Venerable Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis Commemorated on February 27 ; Prokopios lived during the VIII century in the region of Dekapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee. the vainity of this world, Prokopios was tonsured in a certain monastery, where he labored for his salvation, himself to a life of prayer and fasting. he grew experienced in ascetical labors, he was adorned with virtue and purity of soul, that other ascetics began to notice him. about this time, the heresy of iconoclasm appeared. was distressed by the policies of the wicked Emperor Leo the Isaurian, regarded the Holy Icons as idols, those who venerated them as idolaters. righteous Prokopios, together with other zealots of Orthodoxy, fought against the wicked heresy of the iconoclasts. refuted their mindless madness and defeated them by declaring that Orthodox Christians do not worship icons, we venerate them, that veneration passes to the original prototype. brought upon him the wrath and disfavor of the Emperor. his command, Saint Prokopios was arrested and subjected to cruel torments: was flogged, beaten with rods, and raked with iron claws, and then was thrown into a dank dungeon. Saint Prokopios and Saint Basil (February 28), his co-struggler in the monastic liife, languished until the death of Emperor Leo, when the Holy Confessors were released. Prokopios the Decapolite spent the remainder of his life in peace, many on the path of virtue and salvation. reposed at an advanced age, around the year 750.

Galilee, 717-750, Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius aDecapolis, Eastern Galilee, persecuted for icon veneration, torture, prison, long time
Galilee, 717-750, Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius aDecapolis, Eastern Galilee (Hippos), persecution against icon veneration, torture, prison, long time, set free on emperor Leo's death death, continued monastic struggles, instructing faith Virtuous life, died peacefully 750 ; the Decapolis city to the east of Lake Galilee, Hippos ; Venerable Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius at Decapolis, Commemorated on February 28 ; Basil the Confessor was a monk and suffered during the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian (717-741). a persecution started against those who venerated holy icons, Basil and his companion Saint Procopius of Decapolis (February 27) subjected to much torture and locked up in prison. both martyrs languished for a long while, until the death of the impious emperor. the holy Confessors Basil and Procopius were set free along with other venerators of holy icons, continued in their monastic struggles, many in the Orthodox Faith and the virtuous life. Saint Basil died peacefully in the year 750.

Galilee, 1200, 13th C Folder, Teutonic Knights at Acre

Galilee, 1192-1291, Teutonic Knights (Acre, Galilee)
Teutonic Knights, 1192-1291 (Acre, Galilee) then (Venice, 1291-1309); St Eupraxia, Princess of Pskov, Commemorated October 16 ;

Galilee, 1276-1354, Maximus tHut Burne, Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel, became fool to hide prodigious asceticdeeds, then one place
Troy, 1276-1354, Maximus tHut Burner oMt Athos, fLampsakos, Troy and sometimes included with Phrygia, tOne of the Deserts, tConstantinople&Blachernae Church entrance, abode there, asked MOG gift unceasing mental prayer, flame entered his heart from her icon, sweetness contrition within, from that time his heart repeated Jesus prayer, fulfilling his request, then fulfilled obedience aAthanasius Lavra Mt Athos, to conceal deeds behaved fool, vision MOG, she told ascent tMt, prayed 3 days there, MOG appeared again, surrounded bAngels, holdiing Jesus in her arms, he prostrated, she said receive the deliverance gift, and settle at foot oMt Athos, for this is my son's will, she told him he would ascend heights virtue, and teach guide many, then heavenly bread given him (after 3days without), as put it in mouth he surrounded bDivine light, saw MOG ascending tHeaven, Maximus told Mt Carmel elder, but skeptical, M turned disbelief tGood by pretending slightly crazy tConceal prodigious ascetic deeds, privations, hardship, solitude, he wandered like lunitic, burned hut when moved, called hut Burner (Kavsokalyvites), for long time Mt Athos residents contemptious, even though height spiritual life, but Gregory oSinai encouraged him, persuaded him stop fool act, live one place for othe, he settled cave oElijan, Byzantine emperors J Paleologos& J Kantakouzenos visited, suprised his predictions fThem fulfilled, Theophanes oVatopadi wrote about him, I saw several his miracles, travel through air, predicted I become igumen&Ochrid Metropolitan, even how I would suffer fChurch, M abandoned solitude right before death, died at 95 i1354, relics glorified by many miracles; Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel; Venerable Maximus Kavsokalyvites of Mount Athos, Commemorated on January 13; Maximus told his vision to a certain Elder living by the church of the holy Prophet Elias at Carmel. He was skeptical, but the saint turned his disbelief to good. He pretended to be slightly crazy in order to conceal his prodigious ascetic deeds, privations, his hardship and solitude. Saint Maximus did not live in a permanent abode, but wandered from place to place like a lunatic. Whenever he moved, he would burn his hut down. Therefore, he was called “Kavsokalyvites,” or “Hut Burner.” Venerable Maximus Kavsokalyvites of Mt Athos, Commemorated on January 13 ; Maximus Kavsokalyvites was educated at the church of the Most Holy Theotokos at Lampsakos. seventeen years of age he left his parental home, became a monk, and passed his obedience under Elder Mark, the finest spiritual instructor in Macedonia. the death of his teacher, the saint pursued asceticism under the guidance of several desert Fathers of extremely strict life. in Constantinople, Saint Maximus was constantly at the Blachernae church of the Most Holy Theotokos, as though he had taken up his abode at the entrance. his youth, Saint Maximus had a great love for the Mother of God. persistently entreated Her to grant him the gift of unceasing mental prayer. day, as he was venerating her icon, he felt a warmth and a flame enter his heart from the icon. did not burn him, but he felt a certain sweetness and contrition within. that time, his heart began to repeat the Jesus Prayer of itself. this way, the Virgin Theotokos fulfilled his request. Maximus fulfilled his obedience in the Lavra of Saint Athanasius on Mt. Athos. order to conceal his ascetic deeds of fasting and prayer, and to avoid celebrity, he behaved like a fool. day, he had a vision of the Mother of God, told him to ascend the mountain. the summit of the Holy Mountain, he prayed for three days and nights. the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him surrounded by angels, and holding Her divine Son in Her arms. himself, the saint heard the All-Holy Virgin speak to him, “Receive the gift against demons... and settle at the foot of Athos, for this is the will of My Son.” told him that he would ascend the heights of virtue, and become a teacher and guide for many. since he had not eaten for several days, a heavenly bread was given to him. soon as he put it in his mouth, he was surrounded by divine light, he saw the Mother of God ascending into Heaven. Maximus told his vision to a certain Elder living by the church of the holy Prophet Elias at Carmel. was skeptical, but the saint turned his disbelief to good. pretended to be slightly crazy in order to conceal his prodigious ascetic deeds, privations, his hardship and solitude. Maximus did not live in a permanent abode, but wandered from place to place like a lunatic. he moved, he would burn his hut down. Therefore, he was called “Kavsokalyvites,” or “Hut Burner.” on the Holy Mountain, knowing of the extreme deprivations and sorrows of Saint Maximus, for a long time regarded him with contempt, though he had attained the height and perfection of spiritual life. Saint Gregory of Sinai (August 8) arrived on Athos, he encountered the holy fool. speaking to him, he began to call him an earthly angel. Gregory persuaded Saint Maximus to stop behaving like a fool and to live in one place so that others might benefit from his spiritual experience. the words of Saint Gregory and the advice of other Elders, Saint Maximus selected a permanent dwelling a cave near the renowned Elder Isaiah. of his gift of clairvoyance, the Byzantine Emperors John Paleologos (1341-1376) and John Kantakouzenos (1341-1355) visited him were surprised by the fulfillment of his predictions. the igumen of Vatopedi monastery, wrote about Saint Maximus: “I invoke God as my witness, that I myself saw several of his miracles. for instance, I saw him travel through the air from one place to another. listened as he made a prediction concerning me, that first I would be an igumen, and then Metropolitan of Ochrid. He even revealed to me how I would suffer for the Church.” Maximus abandoned his solitude only just before his death, settled near the Lavra of Saint Athanasius, he surrendered his soul to the Lord at 95 years of age (+ 1354). his death, as in life, Saint Maximus was glorified by many miracles.

Galilee, Patriarch Locations Abstract folder, including Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun and Issachar
Patriarch Locations Abstract Folder, including Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun and Issachar;

Galilee, Sea of Galilee Folder, Central GAL

Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias)
Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias); Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; THOMAS THE APOSTLE, (21 DEC NT) ; Venerable Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis Commemorated on February 27 ;

Lake of Gennesaret
Lake of Gennesaret; Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter, Commemorated on June 29;

Capernaum, Sea of Galilee
Capernaum; Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22 ; MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (21 SEP NT); Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, Commemorated on November 16 ; Apostle Alphaeus of the Seventy, Commemorated on May 26; Martyr Abercius the son of the Apostle Alphaeus, Commemorated on May 26;

Bethsaida, Galilee (Lake Gennesaret)
Bethsaida; Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip, Commemorated on November 14; Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called, Commemorated on November 30 ; ANDREW THE APOSTLE, (30 NOV NT) ; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); PHILIP ;

Tiberiada (Tiberias Galilee)
Tiberiada (Tiberias Galilee) ; St Theophilus the Confessor of Bulgaria, Commemorated October 10 ; St Joanna the Myrrhbearer, Commemorated on June 27, wife of Chusa, who worked for King Herod (the King Herod who killed John the baptist), who lived in Tiberias;,

Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan)
Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan, between Capharnum and Tiberias); Matthew 15:29-39, Jesus Cures Many People, and Feeding the Four Thousand They returned to Magadan.; The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; MARY MAGDALENE, FIRST WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (22 JULY NT);

Magdala, Sea of Galilee
Magdala, between Capharnum and Tiberias; The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; MARY MAGDALENE, FIRST WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (22 JULY NT);

Pansada Village, Galilee, Home oWoman wIssue oBlood
Pansada Village, Galilee (Tiberias Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas, Commemorated October 6 ; Saint Veronica (Bernice), the woman with the issue of blood, Commemorated on July 12;

Arbel, Galilee
Arbel; Martyr Akepsimas of Egypt, Commemorated on December 11 ; Holy Martyrs Akepsimas and Aithalas were from Persia. Akepsimas was a pagan priest in the city of Arbel. Having received healing through the prayers of a Christian bishop, he was converted to the faith in Christ and boldly confessed it. For this they threw Saint Akepsimas into prison. after, Saint Aithalas, a deacon of the Arbel Church, was imprisoned with him. They brought the martyrs before the ruler, where they again confessed their faith and were beheaded.

Arbel, Mount Arbel, Sea of Galilee
Mount Arbel, Sea of Galilee; Arbel is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, to a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the Jordan Rift Valley and the geological faults that produced the valleys. are four villages on the mountain: Kfar Zeitim, Arbel, Kfar Hittim, and Mitzpa. peak, at 181 metres above sea level (380 metres above the surrounding area), dominates the surroundings (much of the area is below sea level) and from the lookout atop the mountain, almost all of the Galilee into the Golan Heights including Safed, Tiberias and most of the Sea of Galilee, is visible.

Natai, Mouth Natai
Natai, Mouth Natai;

Gennesaret town (Lake Gennesaret)
Gennesaret, 1 Maccabees Ch 11;

Galilee, Kishon River Folder (Jesreel Valley, Nazareth, Zebulon) Southwest GAL

Kishon River (the Wadi of the Jesreel Valley)
Kishon River (the Wadi of the Jesreel Valley); Judges 4, Deborah and Barak;

Diocaesarea, Galilee
Diocaesarea; Martyr Papas of Lyconia, Commemorated on March 16;

Cana, Galilee (Kishon River Drainage) His first miracle
Cana in Galilee; THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD (15 AUGUST NT); THE FEAST OF THE HOLY EPIPHANY (6 January) ; Apostle Nathaniel of the Seventy, Commemorated on April 22; Apostle Simon Zealotes, Commemorated on May 10; Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve, Commemorated on June 11 ;

Transfiguration Location, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20 ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second œFeast of the Savior in August), Commemorated on August 6; where the Evangelists seem to contradict one another, they actually point out to us something great and mysterious. In actual fact, why did the one say “after six days,” but the other, in ignoring the seventh day, have in mind the eighth day? It is because the great vision of the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the mystery of the Eighth Day, i.e., of the future age, coming to be revealed after the passing away of the world created in six days. on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica an explanation of the present Feast and understanding of its truth, it is necessary for us to turn to the very start of today’s reading from the Gospel: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up onto a high mountain by themselves” (Mt.17:1). of all we must ask, from whence does the Evangelist Matthew begin to reckon with six days? From what sort of day is it? What does the preceding turn of speech indicate, where the Savior, in teaching His disciples, said to them: “For the Son of Man shall come with his angels in the glory of His Father,” and further: “Amen I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:27-28)? That is to say, it is the Light of His own forthcoming Transfiguration which He terms the Glory of His Father and of His Kingdom. Evangelist Luke points this out and reveals this more clearly saying: “Now it came to pass about eight days after these words, that He took Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray. And as He prayed, His countenance was altered, and His raiment became a radiant white” (Luke 9:28-29). But how can the two be reconciled, when one of them speaks definitively about the interval of time as being eight days between the sayings and the manifestation, whereas the other (says): “after six days?” were eight on the mountain, but only six were visible. Three, Peter, James and John, had come up with Jesus, and they saw Moses and Elias standing there and conversing with Him, so altogether there were six of them. However, the Father and the Holy Spirit were invisibly with the Lord: the Father, with His Voice testifying that this was His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit shining forth with Him in the radiant cloud. Thus, the six are actually eight, and there is no contradiction regarding the eight. Similarly, there is no contradiction with the Evangelists when one says “after six days,” and the other says “eight days after these words.” these twofold sayings as it were present is a certain format set in mystery, and together with it that of those actually present upon the Mount. It stands to reason, and everyone rationally studying in accordance with Scripture knows that the Evangelists are in agreement one with another. Luke spoke of eight days without contradicting Matthew, who declared “after six days.” There is not another day added on to represent the day on which these sayings were uttered, nor is the day on which the Lord was transfigured added on (which a rational person might reasonably imagine to be added to the days of Matthew). Evangelist Luke does not say “after eight days” (like the Evangelist Matthew says “after six days”), but rather “it came to pass eight days after these words.” But where the Evangelists seem to contradict one another, they actually point out to us something great and mysterious. In actual fact, why did the one say “after six days,” but the other, in ignoring the seventh day, have in mind the eighth day? It is because the great vision of the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the mystery of the Eighth Day, i.e., of the future age, coming to be revealed after the passing away of the world created in six days. the power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom the Kingdom of God is to be revealed, the Lord predicted: “There are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Mt.16:28). Everywhere and in every way the King will be present, and everywhere will be His Kingdom, since the advent of His Kingdom does not signify the passing over from one place to another, but rather the revelation of its power of the Divine Spirit. That is why it is said: “come in power.” And this power is not manifest to simply ordinary people, but to those standing with the Lord, that is to say, those who have affirmed their faith in Him like Peter, James and John, and especially those who are free of our natural abasement. Therefore, and precisely because of this, God manifests Himself upon the Mount, on the one hand coming down from His heights, and on the other, raising us up from the depths of abasement, since the Transcendent One takes on mortal nature. Certainly, such a manifest appearance by far transcends the utmost limits of the mind’s grasp, as effectualized by the power of the Divine Spirit. the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is not something that comes to be and then vanishes, nor is it subject to the sensory faculties, although it was contemplated by corporeal eyes for a short while upon an inconsequential mountaintop. But the initiates of the Mystery, (the disciples) of the Lord at this time passed beyond mere flesh into spirit through a transformation of their senses, effectualized within them by the Spirit, and in such a way that they beheld what, and to what extent, the Divine Spirit had wrought blessedness in them to behold the Ineffable Light. not grasping this point have conjectured that the chosen from among the Apostles beheld the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord by a sensual and creaturely faculty, and through this they attempt to reduce to a creaturely level (i.e., as something “created”) not only this Light, the Kingdom and the Glory of God, but also the Power of the Divine Spirit, through Whom it is meet for Divine Mysteries to be revealed. In all likelihood, such persons have not heeded the words of the Apostle Paul: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love Him. But to us God has revealed them through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor.2:9-10). with the onset of the Eighth Day, the Lord, taking Peter, James and John, went up on the Mount to pray. He always prayed alone, withdrawing from everyone, even from the Apostles themselves, as for example when with five loaves and two fish He fed the five thousand men, besides women and children (Mt.14:19-23). Or, taking with Him those who excelled others, as at the approach of His Saving Passion, when He said to the other disciples: “Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Mt.26:36). Then He took with Him Peter, James and John. But in our instance right here and now, having taken only these same three, the Lord led them up onto a high mountain by themselves and was transfigured before them, that is to say, before their very eyes. “What does it mean to say: He was transfigured?” asks the Golden-Mouthed Theologian (Chrysostom). He answers this by saying: “It revealed something of His Divinity to them, as much and insofar as they were able to apprehend it, and it showed the indwelling of God within Him.” The Evangelist Luke says: “And as He prayed, His countenance was altered” (Luke 9:29); and from the Evangelist Matthew we read: “And His face shone as the sun” (Mt.17:2). But the Evangelist said this, not in the context that this Light be thought of as subsistent for the senses (let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses). Rather, it is to show that Christ God, for those living and contemplating by the Spirit, is the same as the sun is for those living in the flesh and contemplating by the senses. Therefore, some other Light for the knowing the Divinity is not necessary for those who are enriched by Divine gifts. same Inscrutable Light shone and was mysteriously manifest to the Apostles and the foremost of the Prophets at that moment, when (the Lord) was praying. This shows that what brought forth this blessed sight was prayer, and that the radiance occured and was manifest by uniting the mind with God, and that it is granted to all who, with constant exercise in efforts of virtue and prayer, strive with their mind towards God. True beauty, essentially, can be contemplated only with a purified mind. To gaze upon its luminance assumes a sort of participation in it, as though some bright ray etches itself upon the face. the face of Moses was illumined by his association with God. Do you not know that Moses was transfigured when he went up the mountain, and there beheld the Glory of God? But he (Moses) did not effect this, but rather he underwent a transfiguration. However, our Lord Jesus Christ possessed that Light Himself. In this regard, actually, He did not need prayer for His flesh to radiate with the Divine Light; it was but to show from whence that Light descends upon the saints of God, and how to contemplate it. For it is written that even the saints “will shine forth like the sun” (Mt.13:43), which is to say, entirely permeated by Divine Light as they gaze upon Christ, divinely and inexpressibly shining forth His Radiance, issuing from His Divine Nature. On Mount Tabor it was manifest also in His Flesh, by reason of the Hypostatic Union (i.e., the union of the two perfect natures, divine and human, within the divine Person [Hypostasis] of Christ, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity). The Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon defined this Hypostatic union of Christ’s two natures, divine and human, as “without mingling, without change, without division, without separation.” believe that at the Transfiguration He manifested not some other sort of light, but only that which was concealed beneath His fleshly exterior. This Light was the Light of the Divine Nature, and as such, it was Uncreated and Divine. So also, in the teachings of the Fathers, Jesus Christ was transfigured on the Mount, not taking upon Himself something new nor being changed into something new, nor something which formerly He did not possess. Rather, it was to show His disciples that which He already was, opening their eyes and bringing them from blindness to sight. For do you not see that eyes that can perceive natural things would be blind to this Light? this Light is not a light of the senses, and those contemplating it do not simply see with sensual eyes, but rather they are changed by the power of the Divine Spirit. They were transformed, and only in this way did they see the transformation taking place amidst the very assumption of our perishability, with the deification through union with the Word of God in place of this. also she who miraculously conceived and gave birth recognized that the One born of her is God Incarnate. So it was also for Simeon, who only received this Infant into his arms, and the aged Anna, coming out [from the Jerusalem Temple] for the Meeting, since the Divine Power illumined, as through a glass windowpane, giving light for those having pure eyes of heart. why did the Lord, before the beginning of the Transfiguration, choose the foremost of the Apostles and lead them up onto the Mount with Him? Certainly, it was to show them something great and mysterious. What is particularly great or mysterious in showing a sensory light, which not only the foremost, but all the other Apostles already abundantly possessed? Why would they need a transforming of their eyes by the power of the Holy Spirit for a contemplation of this Light, if it were merely sensory and created? How could the Glory and the Kingdom of the Father and the Holy Spirit project forth in some sort of sensory light? Indeed, in what sort of Glory and Kingdom would Christ the Lord come at the end of the ages, when there would not be necessary anything in the air, nor in expanse, nor anything similar, but when, in the words of the Apostle, “God will be all in all” (1 Cor.15: 28)? That is to say, will He alter everything for all? If so, then it follows that light is included. it is clear that the Light of Tabor was a Divine Light. And the Evangelist John, inspired by Divine Revelation, says clearly that the future eternal and enduring city “has no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it. For the Glory of God lights it up, and the Lamb will be its lamp” (Rev 21:23). Is it not clear, that he points out here that this [Lamb] is Jesus, Who is divinely transfigured now upon Tabor, and the flesh of Whom shines, is the lamp manifesting the Glory of divinity for those ascending the mountain with Him? the Theologian also says about the inhabitants of this city: “they will not need light from lamps, nor the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shed light upon them, and night shall be no more” (Rev 22:5). But how, we might ask, is there this other light, in which “there is no change, nor shadow of alteration” (Jas 1:17)? What light is there that is constant and unsetting, unless it be the Light of God? Moreover, could Moses and Elias (and particularly the former, who clearly was present only in spirit, and not in flesh [Elias having ascended bodily to Heaven on the fiery chariot]) be shining with any sort of sensory light, and be seen and known? Especially since it was written of them: “they appeared in glory, and spoke of his death, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31). And how otherwise could the Apostles recognize those whom they had never seen before, unless through the mysterious power of the Divine Light, opening their mental eyes? let us not tire our attention with the furthermost interpretations of the words of the Gospel. We shall believe thus, as those same ones have taught us, who themselves were enlightened by the Lord Himself, insofar as they alone know this well: the Mysteries of God, in the words of a prophet, are known to God alone and His perpetual proximity. Let us, considering the Mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord in accord with their teaching, strive to be illumined by this Light ourselves and encourage in ourselves love and striving towards the Unfading Glory and Beauty, purifying our spiritual eyes of worldly thoughts and refraining from perishable and quickly passing delights and beauty which darken the garb of the soul and lead to the fire of Gehenna and everlasting darkness. Let us be freed from these by the illumination and knowledge of the incorporeal and ever-existing Light of our Savior transfigured on Tabor, in His Glory, and of His Father from all eternity, and His Life-Creating Spirit, Whom are One Radiance, One Godhead, and Glory, and Kingdom, and Power now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord; Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord ; Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses, Commemorated September 4 ; Blessed Cleopatra with her son in Egypt; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Venerable Callistus Xanthopoulos of Mt Athos, Commemorated November 22 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Apostle James the Brother of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 30;

Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20 ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second œFeast of the SaviorÂ in August), Commemorated on August 6; Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord; Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord ; Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses, Commemorated September 4 ; Blessed Cleopatra with her son in Egypt; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Blessed Cleopatra with her son John, in Egypt, Commemorated on October 19; Venerable Callistus Xanthopoulos of Mt Athos, Commemorated November 22 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Apostle James the Brother of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 30;

Tabor, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20 ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ (the Second œFeast of the Savior in August), Commemorated on August 6; Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord; Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord ; Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses, Commemorated September 4 ; Blessed Cleopatra with her son in Egypt; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Venerable Callistus Xanthopoulos of Mt Athos, Commemorated November 22 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Apostle James the Brother of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 30;

Nazareth, Galilee (Kishon River drainage)
Nazareth; Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20 ; FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (6 AUGUST NT); THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD (15 AUGUST NT); The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Church New Year, Commemorated on September 1; to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, the Savior proclaimed, “The spirit of the Lord is upon Me; because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...” This scene is depicted in a Vatican manuscript (Vatican, Biblioteca. Cod. Gr. 1613, p.1). The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on September 8 ; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Joachim, Commemorated on September 9; Holy, Righteous Ancestor of God, Anna, Commemorated on September 9; Martyr Zosimas the Hermit of Cilicia, Commemorated on September 19 ; JAMES OF JERUSALEM, BISHOP AND MARTYR (23 OCT NT) ; Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on October 23 ; Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, along with David the King, and James the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on December 26 Martyr Conon the Gardener of Pamphylia, Commemorated on March 5; Martyr Papas of Lyconia, Commemorated on March 16; JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF OUR LORD (19 MAR NT); The Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on March 25; THE ANNUNCIATION, OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (25 MAR NT) ; James of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT) ; Prophet Amos, Commemorated on June 15; The Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachernae, Commemorated on July 2;

Nazrite definition, not the Nazarene Sect
Nazrite definition, not Nazarene; Nazarene definition, not Nazrite Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, Commemorated on October 23;

Hill of Moreh
below the Hill of Moreh, where the Midianites camped north of Gideon in the Valley; Judges 7:1-18, Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites;

Zebulon, Kishon Valley - Land of tribe of Zebulon (Jesreel Valley)
tribe of Zebulon; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Prophet Amos, Commemorated on June 15;

Kishon Valley - Land of tribe of Zebulon (Jesreel Valley)
tribe of Zebulon; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Prophet Amos, Commemorated on June 15;

Plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel valley
Plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel valley; Righteous Judith, Commemorated on December 11;

Kishon River Mouth (Haifa, Israel)
Kishon River;

Cave of Elijah on Mt Carmel, Kishon River Mouth, Galilee
Cave of Elijah on Mt Carmel, Kishon River Mouth, Galilee; Cave of Elijah is a grotto that appears in the Hebrew Bible, where the prophet Elijah took shelter during a journey into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:8).[1] exact location of the cave is unknown. There is a "Cave of Elijah" on Mount Carmel approximately 40 m above sea level in Haifa. For centuries it has been a pilgrimage destination for Jewish, Christian and Muslim people. Another cave associated with Elijah is located nearby, under the altar of the main church of the Stella Maris Monastery, also on Mount Carmel.[2][3] name of the cave is also known as el-Khader in Arabic[3] Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah, Commemorated on July 20; Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the greatest of the prophets and the first dedicated to virginity in the Old Testament. He was born in Tishba of Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before the Incarnation of the Word of God. Epiphanius of Cyprus gives the following account about the birth of the Prophet Elijah: “When Elijah was born, his father Sobach saw in a vision angels of God around him. They swaddled him with fire and fed him with flames.â€ The name Elijah (the Lord’s strength) given to the infant defined his whole life. From the years of his youth he dedicated himself to the One God, settled in the wilderness and spent his whole life in strict fasting, meditation and prayer. Called to prophetic service, which put him in conflict with the Israelite king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot of true faith and piety. this time the Israelite nation had fallen away from the faith of their Fathers, they abandoned the One God and worshipped pagan idols, the worship of which was introduced by the impious king Jereboam. Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, was devoted to idol worship. She persuaded her husband to build a temple to the pagan god Baal, which led many Israelites away from the worship of the true God. Beholding the ruin of his nation, the Prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab for impiety, and exhorted him to repent and turn to the God of Israel. The king would not listen to him. The Prophet Elijah then declared to him, that as punishment there would be neither rain nor dew upon the ground, and the drought would cease only by his prayer. Indeed, the word of Elijah was a torch (Eccles. 48: 1). The heavens were closed for three and a half years, and there was drought and famine throughout all the land. this time of tribulation, the Lord sent him to a cave beyond the Jordan. There he was miraculously fed by ravens. When the stream Horath dried up, the Lord sent the Prophet Elijah to Sarephta to a poor widow, a Sidonian Gentile who suffered together with her children, awaiting death by starvation. At the request of the prophet, she prepared him a bread with the last measure of flour and the remainder of the oil. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah, flour and oil were not depleted in the home of the widow for the duration of the famine. By the power of his prayer the prophet also performed another miracle: he raised the dead son of the widow. the end of three years of drought the Merciful Lord sent the prophet to appear before King Ahab, and promised to send rain upon the earth. The Prophet Elijah told the king to order all of Israel to gather upon Mount Carmel, and also the priests of Baal. When the nation had gathered, the Prophet Elijah proposed that two sacrificial altars be built: one for the priests of Baal, and the other for the Prophet Elijah who served the True God. Prophet Elijah told them to call on their gods to consume the sacrificial animals with fire, and he would call on his. Whichever was first to send fire on the sacrifice would be acknowledged as the true God. The prophets of Baal called out to their idol from morning till evening, but the heavens were silent. Towards evening the holy Prophet Elijah built his sacrificial altar from twelve stones, the number of the tribes of Israel. He placed the sacrifice upon the wood, gave orders to dig a ditch around the altar and commanded that the sacrifice and the wood be soaked with water. When the ditch had filled with water, the prophet turned to God in prayer. Through the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water. The people fell down to the ground, crying out: “Truly, the Lord is God!â€ Then the Prophet Elijah had all the pagan-priests of Baal put to death, and he began to pray for rain. Through his prayer the heavens opened and an abundant rain fell, soaking the parched earth. Ahab acknowledged his error and repented of his sins, but his wife Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet of God. The Prophet Elijah fled into the Kingdom of Judea and, grieving over his failure to eradicate idol worship, he asked God to let him die. An angel of the Lord came before him, strengthened him with food and commanded him to go upon a long journey. The Prophet Elijah traveled for forty days and nights and, having arrived at Mount Horeb, he settled in a cave. Lord told him that the next day Elijah would stand in His presence.There was a strong wind that crushed the rocks of the mountain, then an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in them. The Lord was in “a gentle breezeâ€ (3 Kings 19: 12). He revealed to the prophet, that He would preserve seven thousand faithful servants who had not worshipped Baal. the Lord commanded Elijah to anoint Elisha into prophetic service. Because of his fiery zeal for the Glory of God the Prophet Elijah was taken up alive into Heaven in a fiery chariot. The Prophet Elisha received Elijah’s mantle, and a double portion of his prophetic spirit. to the Tradition of Holy Church, the Prophet Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world. life of the holy Prophet Elijah is recorded in the Old Testament books (3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 48: 1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58). At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Savior upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30). Christians of all times, and in all places, have venerated the Prophet Elijah for centuries. The first church in Russia, built at Kiev under Prince Igor, was named for the Prophet Elijah. After her Baptism Saint Olga (July 11) built a temple of the holy Prophet Elijah in her native region, at the village of Vibuta. iconography the Prophet Elijah is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. We pray to him for deliverance from drought, and to ask for seasonable weather.

Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel, Maximus tHut Burner
Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel; Venerable Maximus Kavsokalyvites of Mount Athos, Commemorated on January 13; Maximus told his vision to a certain Elder living by the church of the holy Prophet Elias at Carmel. He was skeptical, but the saint turned his disbelief to good. He pretended to be slightly crazy in order to conceal his prodigious ascetic deeds, privations, his hardship and solitude. Saint Maximus did not live in a permanent abode, but wandered from place to place like a lunatic. Whenever he moved, he would burn his hut down. Therefore, he was called “Kavsokalyvites,” or “Hut Burner.”

Mount Carmel, Galilee (near Jerusalem)
Mount Carmel; Carmelite Order; THOMAS MERTON, MONK, POET, SPIRITUAL WRITER, 1968, Commemorated December 10; Righteous Judith, Commemorated on December 11; JUAN DE LA CRUZ (JOHN OF THE CROSS), MYSTIC, 1591, Commemorated December 14 ; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4 ;

Ptolemais, Galilee (Acre) Phoenicia
Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9; Martyr Paul of Syria, Commemorated August 17 ; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4;

Acre, Galilee (Ptolemais)
Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9; Martyr Paul of Syria, Commemorated August 17 ; Martyr Paul and his sister, Commemorated on March 4;

Teutonic Knights, 1192-1291 (Acre, Galilee) sometimes called Germans
Teutonic Knights, 1192-1291 (Acre, Galilee) then (Venice, 1291-1309); St Eupraxia, Princess of Pskov, Commemorated October 16 ;

Galilee, Dan Folder (Napthtali, Kadesh) Northern and Northwestern GAL

Dan, Northern Galilee (Tribe of Dan)
Dan, upper Galilee, Tribe of Dan; Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria, Commemorated on April 13;

Kedesh, Northern Galilee (Naphtali)
Kedesh, Naphtali; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak;

Naphtali, Northern Galilee (Kedesh)
Kedesh, Naphtali; Judges 4, Deborah and Barak; Naphtali, North Central Promised Land, Northern Galilee;

Achzib, Galilee
Achzib;

Hazor, Galilee (home of King Jabin and Commander Sisera, of Canaan)
Hazor, North Galilee; Judges 4: 1-7, Deborah and Barak,

Elkosh, Northwestern Galilee
Elkosh, Galilee ; Prophet Nahum, Commemorated December 1 ;

Upper Galilee, up to the Litani River from Beit HaKerem River
Upper Galilee; Righteous Judith, Commemorated on December 11;

Beit HaKerem Valley and River
Beit HaKerem Valley; Righteous Judith, Commemorated on December 11;

Beit HaKerem River (or watercourse)

Laish, Northern Galilee (City of Dan)
Laish, City of Dan; Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria, Commemorated on April 13;

Galilee, Asher Folder (Tyre, Sidon) Western and Coastal GAL

Asher, Western and Coastal Gallilee
Tribe of Asher ; Righteous Anna the Prophetess and Daughter of Phanuel, who met the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem, Commemorated August 28 ; Holy, Righteous Anna the Prophetess, Commemorated on February 3;

Zargos Mountains - Around the Fertile Crescent
Zargos Mountains, around the Fertile Crescent;

Galilee, Isachar Folder (Jesreel) Southern GAL

Spring of Herod, Southern Galilee (Isachar)
Spring of Herod, where Gideon chose his men; Judges 7:1-18, Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites;

Jesreel, Galilee - Ahab's Fort (Queen Jezebel from Tyre), Southern Galilee
Jesreel - Ahab's Fort; King Ahab - 7th King of Israel ; Prophet Micah, Commemorated on January 5 ;

Meroz, Isachar (5 miles nw of Beth-shan)
Meroz, Isachar (5 miles nw of Beth-shan) ; Judges 5, The Song of Deborah ;

Issachar, Galilee
Issachar; Issachar (an abstract view); Prophet Hosea, Commemorated October 17;

Decapolis (Scythopolis) Issachar
Decapolis;

Scythopolis, Galilee (aka Decapolis) Issachar
Scythopolis; Venerable John the Silent of Saint Sabbas Monastery, Commemorated on December 3;

Scythopolis, Southern Galilee, Issachar
Scythopolis; St John the Silent of St Sabbas Monastery, Commemorated December 3 ;

Jarmuth or Ramoth, Issachar, of the five Amorite Cities, Refuge City
Jarmuth or Ramoth, Issachar, of the five Amorite Cities, Refuge City; Joshua 9:22-10:15, The Five Amorite Cities, The Sun Stands Still;

Beth-shan, Southern Galilee, Issachar
Beth-shan, 1 Maccabees ch 5;

Rehob, Southern Galilee (near Lebo-hamath) Issachar
Rehob, near Lebo-hamath, Numbers 13 ; Numbers 13:1-3, 21-30;

Galilee, Golan Heights Folder (Caesarea Philippi, Decapolis) Southern and Eastern GAL

Golan Heights, Eastern Galilee
Golan Heights; Martyr Marinus the Soldier at Caesarea in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Apostle Erastus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria, Commemorated on April 13; Translation of the relics of the Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates, Commemorated on June 8;

Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights)
Caesarea Philippi; Mark 8:27-9:1 Peter's Declaration about Jesus; Martyr Marinus the Soldier at Caesarea in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Martyr Asterius the Senator at Caesarea, in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Apostle Erastus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; CONFESSION OF PETER THE APOSTLE, (18 JAN NT) , Commemorated January 18; Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria, Commemorated on April 13;

Palestine, 260, Asterius the Roman Senator, Caesarea Philippi Palestine, expelled deamon, wrapped Martyr's body in his S Garb
Palestine, 260, Asterius the Senator, Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights), Christian Roman Senator, during C persecutions, expelled deamon, which exposed sacrifice, wrapped martyr's body in senatorial garb, carried to grave, for doing this beheaded ; Caesarea Philippi; Mark 8:27-9:1 Peter's Declaration about Jesus; Martyr Asterius the Senator at Caesarea, in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Holy Martyr Asterius the Senator lived during the reign of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and his son Gallienus (260-268). he was a Roman senator, Asterius nonetheless held firmly to the Christian Faith, in spite of the persecutions occurring during those times. while in Palestine, he came to the city of Caesarea Philippi, where by custom a pagan feast was made with the offering of sacrifice to an idol. demon residing in the idol made the sacrifice disappear, and this was looked upon as a great wonder. Asterius expelled the demon by prayer. sacrifice ceased to be invisible, the pagans ceased to celebrate this impious festival. Asterius also happened to be present at the sufferings of the Martyr Marinus (December 16). the execution was over, he took off his senatorial garb, spread it upon the ground and wrapped the head and body of Saint Marinus in it. his own shoulders he carried the martyr’s relics to the grave and reverently consigned them to earth. doing this, he was himself sentenced to death and beheaded in the year 260.

Palestine, 260, Caesarea, Palestine (Phonecia, Dor, Way of the Sea 8)
Caesarea, Palestine ; Martyr Asterius the Senator at Caesarea, in Palestine, Commemorated on August 7; Holy Martyr Asterius the Senator lived during the reign of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and his son Gallienus (260-268). he was a Roman senator, Asterius nonetheless held firmly to the Christian Faith, in spite of the persecutions occurring during those times. while in Palestine, he came to the city of Caesarea Philippi, where by custom a pagan feast was made with the offering of sacrifice to an idol. demon residing in the idol made the sacrifice disappear, and this was looked upon as a great wonder. Asterius expelled the demon by prayer. sacrifice ceased to be invisible, the pagans ceased to celebrate this impious festival. Asterius also happened to be present at the sufferings of the Martyr Marinus (December 16). the execution was over, he took off his senatorial garb, spread it upon the ground and wrapped the head and body of Saint Marinus in it. his own shoulders he carried the martyr’s relics to the grave and reverently consigned them to earth. doing this, he was himself sentenced to death and beheaded in the year 260.

Paneas (Banias), Palestine, Golan Heights, near Galilee
Paneas (Banias), Palestine, Golan Heights, near Galilee; Apostle Erastus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4;

Decapolis, Eastern Galilee (Hippos) Manesseh
the Decapolis city to the east of Lake Galilee, Hippos ; Venerable Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis Commemorated on February 27 ; Venerable Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius at Decapolis, Commemorated on February 28 ;

Capitolias, Eastern Galilee, Decapolis, Manesseh
Capitolias, Palestine; Martyr Peter of Capetolis, Commemorated on October 4;

Gilead, Eastern Galilee
Gilead, Eastern Galilee; Righteous Judith, Commemorated on December 11;

Rock of Oreb, Golan Heights, Manesseh
Rock of Oreb is probably Orbo east of the Jordan near Bethshean;

Gerasa, Galilee , Golan Heights (land of the Gerasenes) Manesseh
Gerasa, Galilee (land of the Gesarenes); Saint Veronica (Bernice), the woman with the issue of blood, Commemorated on July 12;

Galilee (Clean), Roman Roads and Rivers Folder

Galilee (Clean), its Area
Galilee, its Area

Galilee (Clean), Golan Heights aka Eastern Galilee, its Area
Galilee (Clean), Golan Heights, its Area

Galilee
Lower Galilee; Western Galilee; Upper Galilee; Galilee Region;

Flight into Egypt by Way of the Sea, 350 miles
Flight into Egypt most likely by Way of the Sea from Nazareth to Egypt;

Way of the Sea (Egypt to Syria)

Kings Highway (Nile River, Egypt to Euphrates River, Syria)

Galilee (Clean), Zargos Mountains - Around the Fertile Crescent
Zargos Mountains, around the Fertile Crescent;

Nazareth, Galilee (Kishon River drainage)
Nazareth;

Galilee (Clean), Sea of Galilee Folder, Central GAL

Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias)
Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias);

Lake of Gennesaret
Lake of Gennesaret;

Capernaum, Sea of Galilee
Capernaum;

Bethsaida, Galilee (Lake Gennesaret)
Bethsaida;

Tiberiada (Tiberias Galilee)
Tiberiada (Tiberias Galilee) ;

Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan)
Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan, between Capharnum and Tiberias);

Magdala, Sea of Galilee
Magdala, between Capharnum and Tiberias;

Pansada Village, Galilee, Home oWoman wIssue oBlood
Pansada Village, Galilee (Tiberias

Arbel, Galilee
Arbel;

Arbel, Mount Arbel, Sea of Galilee
Mount Arbel, Sea of Galilee;

Galilee (Clean), Kishon River Folder (Jesreel Valley, Nazareth, Zebulon) Southwest GAL

Diocaesarea;

Cana, Galilee (Kishon River Drainage) His first miracle
Cana in Galilee;

Transfiguration Location, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor;

Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor;

Tabor, Mt Tabor, Galilee (Kishon River Source)
Mount Tabor;

Nazrite definition, not the Nazarene Sect
Nazrite definition, not Nazarene; Nazarene definition, not Nazrite

Hill of Moreh
below the Hill of Moreh, where the Midianites camped north of Gideon in the Valley;

Zebulon, Kishon Valley - Land of tribe of Zebulon (Jesreel Valley)
tribe of Zebulon;

Kishon Valley - Land of tribe of Zebulon (Jesreel Valley)
tribe of Zebulon;

Plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel valley
Plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel valley;

Ptolemais, Galilee (Acre) Phoenicia
Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9;

Cave of Elijah on Mt Carmel, Kishon River Mouth, Galilee
Cave of Elijah on Mt Carmel, Kishon River Mouth, Galilee;

Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel, Maximus tHut Burner
Cave of Elijah, Mt Carmel;

Mount Carmel, Galilee (near Jerusalem)
Mount Carmel;

Acre, Galilee (Ptolemais)
Ptolemais, Acre, 1 Maccabees Ch 9;

Teutonic Knights, 1192-1291 (Acre, Galilee) sometimes called Germans
Teutonic Knights, 1192-1291 (Acre, Galilee) then (Venice, 1291-1309);

Galilee (Clean), Dan Folder (Napthtali, Kadesh) Northern and Northwestern GAL

Dan, Northern Galilee (Tribe of Dan)
Dan, upper Galilee, Tribe of Dan;

Kedesh, Northern Galilee (Naphtali)
Kedesh, Naphtali;

Naphtali, Northern Galilee (Kedesh)
Kedesh, Naphtali; 4

Hazor, Galilee (home of King Jabin and Commander Sisera, of Canaan)
Hazor, North Galilee;

Elkosh, Northwestern Galilee
Elkosh, Galilee ;

Upper Galilee, up to the Litani River from Beit HaKerem River
Upper Galilee;

Beit HaKerem Valley and River
Beit HaKerem Valley;

Laish, Northern Galilee (City of Dan)
Laish, City of Dan;

Galilee (Clean), Asher Folder (Tyre, Sidon) Western and Coastal GAL

Asher, Western and Coastal Gallilee
Tribe of Asher ;

Galilee, (Clean) Isachar Folder (Jesreel) Southern GAL

Spring of Herod, Southern Galilee (Isachar)
Spring of Herod, where Gideon chose his men;

Jesreel, Galilee - Ahab's Fort (Queen Jezebel from Tyre), Southern Galilee
Jesreel - Ahab's Fort;

Meroz, Isachar (5 miles nw of Beth-shan)
Meroz, Isachar (5 miles nw of Beth-shan) ;

Issachar, Galilee
Issachar;

Scythopolis, Galilee (aka Decapolis) Issachar
Scythopolis;

Scythopolis, Southern Galilee, Issachar
Scythopolis;

Jarmuth or Ramoth, Issachar, of the five Amorite Cities, Refuge City
Jarmuth or Ramoth, Issachar, of the five Amorite Cities, Refuge City;

Rehob, Southern Galilee (near Lebo-hamath) Issachar
Rehob, near Lebo-hamath, Numbers 13 ;

GalileeL (Clean), Golan Heights Folder (Caesarea Philippi, Decapolis) Southern and Eastern GA

Golan Heights, Eastern Galilee
Golan Heights;

Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights)
Caesarea Philippi;

Palestine, 260, Asterius the Roman Senator, Caesarea Philippi Palestine, expelled deamon, wrapped Martyr's body in his S Garb
Palestine, 260, Asterius the Senator, Caesarea Philippi, Galilee (Base of Mt Hermon, Jordan River Source, Golan Heights), Christian Roman Senator, during C persecutions, expelled deamon, which exposed sacrifice, wrapped martyr's body in senatorial garb, carried to grave, for doing this beheaded ; Caesarea Philippi;

Palestine, 260, Caesarea, Palestine (Phonecia, Dor, Way of the Sea 8)
Caesarea, Palestine ;

Paneas (Banias), Palestine, Golan Heights, near Galilee
Paneas (Banias), Palestine, Golan Heights, near Galilee;

Decapolis, Eastern Galilee (Hippos) Manesseh
the Decapolis city to the east of Lake Galilee, Hippos ;

Capitolias, Eastern Galilee, Decapolis, Manesseh
Capitolias, Palestine;

Gadara, Bashan (up from Yarmouk River Mouth)
Gadara;

Gilead, Eastern Galilee
Gilead, Eastern Galilee;

Gerasa, Galilee , Golan Heights (land of the Gerasenes) Manesseh
Gerasa, Galilee (land of the Gesarenes);

Mount Hermon, Damascus, Syria
Mount Hermon;

Jordan River