My Beloved the benevolent                    October 2026

Grace and peace, wishing you every goodness and blessings

We celebrate on Monday, October 5th (the 25^th of Tout), the Feast of the Martyrdom of Saint Maurice, the commander of the Theban Legion. We celebrate on Tuesday, October 13 (the 3^rd of Baba), the Feast of the Martyrdom of Saint Ursus, one of the commanders of the Theban Legion, who was martyred in Switzerland.

The Church always presents to us the lives of the martyrs, both men and women, as an example for us in living a life of spiritual seriousness. The martyrs offered their lives as a sacrifice of love to our good God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. As the Book of Revelation says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11)

The lives of the martyrs, both men and women, provide us with an example of seriousness in spiritual struggle. Saint Paul reminds us of the importance of being serious in our spiritual struggle, saying, “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” (Hebrews 12:4)

The spiritual life is a continuous spiritual struggle against Satan and his evil forces. Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, calls us to spiritual struggle, saying, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10–12)

We do not struggle against one another, but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness. We struggle against the schemes of the devil. Therefore, we do not need to overcome the devil by our own strength; rather, we need God’s help and grace. We need the whole armor of God, not human weapons.

In the story of the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion, he refused to use human weapons, even though he was the commander of a legion with more than six thousand soldiers carrying weapons.

Although he had used weapons to defend the Empire, he refused to use weapons to defend the Christian faith, because the Empire is temporary and human, and of this world; therefore, it needs weapons to protect it.

As for the Christian faith, it is a divine and heavenly faith, and it does not need human weapons or human beings to protect it. It is not our responsibility to protect our faith; rather, our faith protects us: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4) We do not protect our faith; rather, we preserve our faith and hold fast to it until our last breath.

Saint Paul gives us an example of seriousness in spiritual struggle, even unto the last breath. As he prepares to offer his life as a sacrifice to Christ, who died for him, he says, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8)

Spiritual struggle requires seriousness because our enemy, the devil, is constantly watching for an opportunity to attack us. As Saint Peter writes, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Spiritual struggle requires seriousness and constant vigilance, because “he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Many have started but did not finish. Saint Paul mentions Demas, one of his disciples, saying, “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (2 Timothy 4:10) And it was not Demas alone, rather Saint Paul says, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18)

May God grant us seriousness in our spiritual struggle until our last breath, and may the Lord bless your offerings to support Santa Verena Charity’s programs.

Metropolitan Serapion