The 7 Holy Macabee Martyrs

Commemorated on August 1

The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would come.

A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures and died at Jerusalem.

The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.

The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was thrown into the frying pan, and he died.

The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to imitate the courage of his brothers.

The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to God and died.

The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus, and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).

Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees, including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.

Saint Justin the Martyr

Commemorated on June 1

The Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher was born around 114 at Sychem, an ancient city of Samaria. Justin's parents were pagan Greeks. From his childhood the saint displayed intelligence, love for knowledge and a fervent devotion to the knowledge of Truth. When he came of age he studied the various schools of Greek philosophy: the Stoics, the Peripatetics, the Pythagoreans, the Platonists, and he concluded that none of these pagan teachings revealed the way to knowledge of the true God.

Once, when he was strolling in a solitary place beyond the city and pondering about where to seek the way to the knowledge of Truth, he met an old man. In the ensuing conversation he revealed to Justin the essential nature of the Christian teaching and advised him to seek the answers to all the questions of life in the books of Holy Scripture. "But before anything else," said the holy Elder, "pray diligently to God, so that He might open to you the doors of Light. No one is able to comprehend Truth, unless he is granted understanding from God Himself, Who reveals it to each one who seeks Him in prayer and in love."

In his thirtieth year, Justin accepted holy Baptism (between the years 133 and 137). From this time St Justin devoted his talents and vast philosophical knowledge to preaching the Gospel among the pagans. He began to journey throughout the Roman Empire, sowing the seeds of faith. "Whosoever is able to proclaim Truth and does not proclaim it will be condemned by God," he wrote.

Justin opened a school of Christian philosophy. St Justin subsequently defended the truth of Christian teaching, persuasively confuting pagan sophistry (in a debate with the Cynic philosopher Crescentius) and heretical distortions of Christianity. He also spoke out against the teachings of the Gnostic Marcian.

In the year 155, when the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) started a persecution against Christians, St Justin personally gave him an Apology in defense of two Christians innocently condemned to execution, Ptolemy and Lucias. The name of the third remains unknown.

In the Apology he demonstrated the falseness of the slander against Christians accused unjustly for merely having the name of Christians. The Apology had such a favorable effect upon the emperor that he ceased the persecution. St Justin journeyed, by decision of the emperor, to Asia Minor where they were persecuting Christians with particular severity. He proclaimed the joyous message of the imperial edict throughout the surrounding cities and countryside.

The debate of St Justin with the Rabbi Trypho took place at Ephesus. The Orthodox philosopher demonstrated the truth of the Christian teaching of faith on the basis of the Old Testament prophetic writings. St Justin gave an account of this debate in his work Dialogue with Trypho the Jew.

A second Apology of Saint Justin was addressed to the Roman Senate. It was written in the year 161, soon after Marcus Aurelius (161-180) ascended the throne.

When he returned to Italy, St Justin, like the Apostles, preached the Gospel everywhere, converting many to the Christian Faith. When the saint arrived at Rome, the envious Crescentius, whom Justin always defeated in debate, brought many false accusations against him before the Roman court. St Justin was put under guard, subjected to torture and suffered martyrdom in 165. The relics of St Justin the Philosopher rest in Rome.

In addition to the above-mentioned works, the following are also attributed to the holy martyr Justin the Philosopher:

1) An Address to the Greeks

2) A Hortatory Address to the Greeks

3) On the Sole Government of God

St John of Damascus preserved a significant part of St Justin's On the Resurrection, which has not survived. The church historian Eusebius asserts that St Justin wrote books entitled

The Singer

Denunciation of all Existing Heresies and

Against Marcian

In the Russian Church the memory of the martyr is particularly glorified in temples of his name. He is invoked by those who seek help in their studies.

The holy martyrs Justin, Chariton, Euelpistus, Hierax, Peonus, Valerian, Justus and the martyr Charito suffered with St Justin the Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin, whether he really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven and receive a reward from God. Saint Justin answered, "Not only do I think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."

The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of death, and the saints were beheaded

A Different Child

A different Child

A different child,
People notice
There’s a special glow around you.
You grow
Surrounded by love,
Never doubting you are wanted;
Only look at the pride and joy
In your mother and father’s eyes.

And if sometimes
Between the smiles
There’s a trace of tears
One day
You’ll understand
You’ll understand

There was once another child
A different child
Who was in their hopes and dreams
That child will never outgrow the baby clothes
That child will never keep them up at night
In fact, that child will never be any trouble at all.

Except sometimes in a silent moment,
When mother and father miss so much
That different child
May hope and love wrap you warmly
And may you learn the lesson forever
How infinitely precious
How infinitely fragile
Is this life on earth.

One day, as a young man or woman
You may see another mother’s tears
Another father’s silent grief
Then you, and you alone
Will understand
And offer the greatest comfort.
When all hope seems lost,
You will tell them
With great compassion,
“I know how you feel.
I’m only here because my mother tried again.”

Hummus

Hummus


2 cans chick peas drained
2 cloves garlic minced
¼ cup tahini
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 red pepper seeded chopped
Teaspoon basil
salsa


Put chopped bell pepper in bowl sprinkle with water and microwave about 5 min.
Combine peas, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, salt, basil, red pepper puree, and add water as it gets to thick, may not need all of water you want the dip thick but not so thick it isn’t blending. Pour into bowl and add salsa. I didn’t measure salsa but just eyeballed it, I looked for a good pink color, and did it to taste you can put as much or little as you want.

Naan

Naan


Pull off peach size amount of dough (can be little larger doesn’t really matter, bread will just be little thicker which is how I like it)

Put flour on counter so dough doesn’t stick while rolling out

Roll to about 1/8th inch thickness (doesn’t matter if thicker, I prefer mine thicker)

Heat cast iron skillet on a medium high (about 5 and 6 for me)
When water sizzles when sprinkled on then ready to cook with

Add 2tbs safflower oil (can use vegetable oil safflower is better for you, also if not lent you can use butter)

Put dough into skillet and cover (I use a large plate to cover but either a lid or foil will work

Cook about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Cooks quickly take off and use pizza cutter to cut into pieces.

Artisan Bread

Artisan Bread
Makes 4 1-pound loaf

Ingredients

3 cups lukewarm water (slightly warmer than body temp, if too hot you will kill yeast about 100 degrees)
1 ½ tbsp yeast (2 packets, do not get fast rise yeast, need regular yeast)
1 ½ tbsp coarse kosher or sea salt
6 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour


Equipment

Baking stone
Pan to put in oven to hold water while bread is cooking
Plate to put dough on while resting

Directions

1. Heat water to just a little warmer than body temperature
2. Add yeast and salt to the water in a large bowl. Don’t worry about getting it all to dissolve
3. Mix in the flour by gently scooping it up, then leveling the top of the measuring cup with a knife; don’t pat down. Mix with a wooden spoon until uniformly moist. If hand mixing becomes too difficult, use very wet hands to press it together. Don’t knead! This step is done in a matter of minutes and yields a wet dough loose enough to conform to the container.
4. cover loosely. Do not use screw-topped jars, which could explode. Allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse or flatten on top, approximately two hours depending on temperature. Longer rising times, up to about five hours, will not harm the result. You can use a portion of the dough any time after this period. Refrigerated we dough is less sticky and easier to work with. I recommend refrigerating the dough at least three hours before shaping a loaf. This does not need to be monitored or anything, very easy dough that even if sits out longer does not matter.




ON BAKING DAY

Sprinkle plate liberally with flour to make easy sliding onto stone in oven.
Sprinkle some flour on dough in bowl. Pull about a grapefruit size ball of dough off from rest of dough. Use as much flour as you need to keep from sticking to fingers. Gently stretch surgace of dough around to the bottom on four “sides” rotating the ball quarter turn as you go. Loose flour does not need to be incorporated so if it falls off then don’t worry about it. Place on a plate and let rest for 40 minutes.

20 minutes before baking preheat oven to 450-475 depending on oven place baking stone in oven and empty pan to hold water on shelf under stone while preheating

Make a little slash on top of dough with serrated knife.

After preheated place dough on stone, helps to hold plate up to stone and slide off plate onto stone. After putting dough on stone, place about 1 cup of water in pan and close oven to trap the steam in from water. Bake 30-40 minutes or until nice golden brown coloring.

Refrigerate remaining dough fridge cover with foil. Will last up to two weeks in fridge

The Story of Princess Ana

The Story of Princess Ana

Once upon a time in a land far away their lived a king and queen who dreamed of having a daughter to call their own. One day the queen discovered that she was with child and the kingdom rejoiced. Months passed and the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who they called Princess Ana. The princess had beautiful strawberry blonde hair with rosy cheeks and brilliant red lips.




The king and queen were pleased to have the baby girl they always dreamed of. But Princess Ana was so radiant that the world was unable to hold her beauty and she became very ill.


In an effort to save the princess, God decided to bring Ana to heaven and make her an angel for all eternity. The king and queen were sad to say goodbye to their sweet princess.

But God assured them that someday they would all be reunited again. So the king and queen said goodbye to their daughter and decided to hide a stone deep in the woods to honor Princess Ana’s time on earth. The king and queen spent their remaining years remembering their beautiful princess and the day finally came when they all were reunited in God’s kingdom. And they all lived happily ever after.


The End

Gypsy Soup

Gypsy Soup

3 to 4 tablespoons oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup celery, chopped
3/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
dash cayenne pepper
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoos tamari (haven't been able to find tamari so left out and was still very good)
2 onions, chopped
2 cups peeled, chopped sweet potatoes
1 cup tomatoes, chopped (I used canned chopped tomatoes)
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon basil
dash cinnamon
1 bay leaf 1 can drained chick peas (didn't have on hand so used little bit of wheat Penne pasta, and was great)

Saute onion, garlic, celery, potatoes, pepper, and tomatoes in oil for 5 minutes. Add everything else except chick peas and tamari and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add the rest of ingredients and simmer another 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.

I know this one can get expensive if you have to buy everything which defeats the purpose of a lenten meal but I keep most of this stuff on hand (seasonings and some of the veggies) those seasonings are good to keep around for future recipes (I used paprika and bay leaves all the time) so good idea to buy them to have on hand anyway.

3 Bean Barbecue Chili

3 Bean Barbecue Chili

2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 can (1 pound)black beans
1 can (1 pound) red kidney beans
1 can (1 pound) white kidney beans (I used Great Northern Beans and it was good)
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 can regular diced tomatoes
1 package (10 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
1 chopped onion
I also added some of my other favorite seasoning little basil, and ofcourse salt

In large soup pot saute chopped onion in hot oil until soft. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and heat to boiling. Reduce to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Drain the beans in a colander and stir into tomatoe mixture. Add frozen vegetables, barbecue sauce, and 1/2 cup water. Heat to boiling, reduce to low, simmer uncovered 10 minutes to blend flavors. Great served over rice.

Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini Fritters

2 cups grated zucchini, uncooked
1 large grated onion
1/4 cup bread crumbs
pepper to taste
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together and drop by tablespoon into a wok (I just used regular skillet worked fine) with hot oil (I used safflower better for you but anything will work). Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. you want a good brown color like corn fritters.