Varied are the paths upon which God leads
those who desire to please Him and fulfill His law. There lived in Rome
at the time of Emperor Honorius a high-ranking dignitary, Euphemianus,
who was highly respected and extremely wealthy. He and his wife,
Aglaida, led a God-pleasing life. Even though he was wealthy,
Euphemianus sat at the table only once a day, after the setting of the
sun. He had an only son, Alexios, who was compelled to marry when he
became an adult. But, on the night of the wedding, Alexios left not only
his wife but also the home of his father. He boarded a boat and arrived
at the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia, where there was the wondrous
image of our Lord, sent there by our Lord Himself to King Abgar. Having
venerated this image, Alexios clothed himself in the garb of a beggar.
As such, he lived in the city for seventeen years, continually praying
to God in the vestibule of the Church of the Theotokos. When it became
known that he was a holy man, he became frightened of the praise of men,
departed Edessa, boarded a boat, and traveled to Laodicea. According to
God’s providence, the boat was carried off-course and sailed all the
way to Rome. Considering this to be the hand of God, Alexios decided to
go to the house of his father and there, unknown, continue his life of
self-denial. His father did not recognize him but of charity allowed him
to live in his courtyard in a hut. Alexios remained there for seventeen
years, living only on bread and water. Mistreated by the servants in
various ways, he endured everything to the end. When his end approached,
he wrote a letter, clenched it in his hand, and then lay down and died,
on March 17, 411. At the same time there was a revelation in the Church
of the Twelve Apostles. In the presence of the emperor and the
patriarch a voice was heard which said: “Seek out the Man of God.”
Shortly after that, it was revealed that this “Man of God” resided at
the house of Euphemianus. The emperor along with the pope and an entire
retinue arrived at the home of Euphemianus, and after a lengthy
discussion they learned that the beggar was that “Man of God.” When they
entered his hut, they found Alexios dead, but his face shone like the
sun. From the letter his parents learned that he was their son Alexios.
And his bride, who for thirty-four years had lived without him, learned
that he was her husband. All were overcome with immense grief and pain.
Later they were comforted, seeing how God glorified His chosen one. By
touching his body, many of the sick were healed, and from his body
flowed a sweet-smelling oil. His body was entombed in a coffin of marble
and jasper. His head is preserved in the Church of St. Laurus in the
Peloponnese.
Source: St. Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue of Ohrid – Volume One.
ApolytikionThough thou didst bud forth from a renowned and notable root, and though thou didst blossom from a city famed for her great imperial dignity, yet didst thou scorn all things as corruptible and fleeting, striving to be joined to Christ thy Master for ever. Entreat Him, O Alexis most wise, fervently for our souls.
Kontakion
As we celebrate today with fitting rev’rence the all-holy festival of Saint Alexis the all-blest, with hymns we praise him and cry aloud: Rejoice, thou gladsome adornment of righteous men.
source:gometropolis.org
