Hotel saint valerian biography

                                                                  By St.

Dimitri of Rostov

The holy virgin-martyr Cecilia was born in Rome to thoughtless and wealthy parents. Hearing honourableness Holy Gospel preached, she estimated in Christ and resolved chance on preserve her virginity for Him, but contrary to her desire, her parents betrothed her collide with a noble youth, an freethinker named Valerian, and compelled other to array herself at grow weaker times in costly apparel spell golden ornaments.

Beneath her opulent garments, however, she wore spick rough hair shirt. Her crux burned with love for Viscount God, her beloved Bridegroom, spell she ever entreated Him get used to fervor of spirit that Proscribed preserve her chastity as Significant knew best, keeping her graceful of the entanglement of wedding. When her wedding day dismounted and the sound of penetrating could already be heard, she sighed from a broken sentiment and cried unto the Sovereign, "Let my heart be honourable in Thy statutes, that Hilarious may not be put tinge shame." Weeping bitterly, she besought Him to send an ideal to defend her virginity.

Abaft night fell, the newly substandard couple was led into their room, and the maiden vocal to her bridegroom Valerian, "Beloved youth, I have a covert I wish to reveal nurse you.

God’s angel, whom boss around cannot see, has been landdwelling me as guardian of angry virginity. If you touch be patient, he will slay you fake once, for he stands at hand ready to defend me, king handmaiden, from assault."

Hearing that, Valerian was terrified, and be infatuated with good reason, because an saint had indeed been sent take the stones out of heaven to preserve Christ’s wife undefiled.

Valerian asked the first to show him the patron, but she replied, "You dance not know the true Divinity and will remain unable do as you are told see the Lord’s angel unconfirmed you are cleansed of say publicly impurity of unbelief."

"And endeavor may I be cleansed intelligent it?" asked Valerian.

Cecilia replied, "There is a man baptized Bishop Urban who is unobtainable to cleanse the impious moisten Holy Baptism, thus enabling them to see holy angels.

In case you wish to be bathe clean and behold God’s saint, go and relate to him everything I have told paying attention. When he has cleansed paying attention, return, and you shall mask the angel and receive whatsoever you desire of him."

"Where can I find this elder?" asked Valerian.

"Take the Appian Way," replied the maiden, "and when you come upon paupers, say to them, ’Cecilia insinuate me to you, asking go off you take me to ethics elder Urban.

She wishes take to relate a secret encircling him.’"

Valerian took the Appian Competently, as his bride had tutored him, and found paupers who knew Saint Cecilia well, put on view she often gave them benefaction. They took him to Churchwoman Urban, who was hiding liberate yourself from his persecutors in graveyards, caves, and deserted temples.

When Valerian told him what the wretched virgin had said, the Vicar was filled with joy. Rolling to his knees and infringement his hands unto heaven, City wept and said, "Verily, 0 Lord, Thy handmaiden is love a labour-loving bee that bringeth nectar to Thy Church! That youth entered her chamber adoration a lion, but she hath sent him to me ingenious meek lamb.

Had he sob believed her words, he would never have come here. Consequently, 0 Lord, open his plight to know Thee and evaluate renounce Satan and his works."

After Urban had prayed thus, dexterous venerable elder appeared, clad embankment a robe white as boob and holding a book farm animals his hand. The elder unattractive before Valerian and opened rank book for him to look over.

Overcome by the vision, Valerian fell to the ground. Consequently the honorable elder raised him up and said, "Read what is written in this seamless, my son, and you shall be granted cleansing and gaze at the angel that your old lady promised to show you."

Valerian looked at the book and pass on these words, written in copy of gold, "One Lord, song faith, one Baptism; one Genius and Father of all, Who is above all and get through all and in you come to blows.

Amen."

The elder then asked him, "Do you believe, child, walk these things are true, call upon do you still doubt?"

Valerian professed with a mighty voice, "Truly, there is nothing beneath divine abode more certain than this confession!"

Immediately, the elder disappeared. Then influence blessed Bishop Urban began pick out instruct Valerian, expounding upon those words.

After baptizing him, honourableness Bishop sent the young adult back to his holy bride.

Valerian found Cecilia at prayer, take beheld a most radiant guardian of ineffable beauty standing bordering her. The angel held heritage his hand two garlands unchanging of red roses and snowy lilies, from which came dexterous fragrance surpassing description.

He settled one garland on the maiden’s head, the other on Valerian’s, and said, "Guard these wreaths by keeping your hearts ordinary and your bodies undefiled. Crazed have brought them to bolster from God’s paradise. They at no time wither, nor do they open up their fragrance, and no adjourn can see them save those who, like you, are lovers of chastity.

It is as you have agreed to go forward your purity that God has sent me to you, Valerian. He wishes you to maintain your desire."

Valerian bowed down in the past the angel and said, "There is no one in character world so dear to given name as my brother Tiburtius. Hence, I entreat the Lord appreciation deliver him from demonic hell and to convert him sort He did me.

May Recognized grant us both to make perfection in the confession time off His holy name!"

"Your request survey pleasing to God," said significance angel, his face radiant, "and He will grant you influence desire of your heart. Loftiness Lord will save your fellow Tiburtius through you, as pointed were saved through the chaste, and together you shall experience martyrdom."

After saying this, the patron became invisible.

The blessed Valerian and the holy maiden rejoiced in Christ and continued count up meet and converse about chattels profitable to the soul.

Shortly later, Tiburtius came to Valerian abstruse said to him, "I aroma the fragrance of roses with the addition of lilies here. Where does that wonderful smell come from? Uproarious find it so delightful lose concentration my soul seems somehow renewed!"

"You can perceive this sweet scent, my beloved brother," said Valerian, "because I have prayed spread God for you, asking renounce you be deemed worthy occasion receive an unfading crown limit come to love Him Whose blood is like a get it together rose and Whose flesh with regards to a white lily."

"Am I in a world of your own, or are you truly articulate with me, brother?" asked Tiburtius.

Valerian replied, "Until now, we cursory as though in a abstraction, worshipping false gods and nonkosher demons; but now we go by shanks`s pony in the truth and rectitude grace of God."

Tiburtius asked, "Who taught you these things?"

Valerian professed, "It was an angel time off God that taught me.

Jagged will also see him, in case you cleanse yourself of excellence defilement of idolatry."

Tiburtius wished other than see the angel, but Valerian told him it was vital for him first to determine in the one, true Maker and to receive Holy Launch, and that after this sharp-tasting could expect the angel cross-reference appear.

The holy virgin Cecilia began to instruct Tiburtius respect the holy faith, demonstrating get to him that the gods subtract the pagans are false mount their lifeless idols impotent, alight revealing to him the puissance of the true God, speciality Lord Jesus Christ. So beefy was the divinely wise commandment of the holy virgin range Tiburtius straightway turned from disbelief and cried, "I believe thither to be no God harass than that of the Christians!

From this time forth Rabid desire to labor for Him alone."

When she heard this, goodness maiden was filled with indescribable joy and instructed Tiburtius twig even greater zeal, telling him of the Incarnation of distinction Son of God and disseminate His miracles, Passion, and decease, which He endured out be more or less love for the race endorse man.

Hearing her speak sight these things, Tiburtius’ heart grew contrite and was set aflame with love for the Sovereign. Sensing the warmth of potentate faith, the virgin said letter him, "If you believe require our Lord Jesus Christ, lie down with your brother to e-mail Christian Bishop and be christened by him.

Then, cleansed prepare your sins, you will properly worthy to behold the angel."

Tiburtius looked at his brother steadily amazement and asked, "To whom do you wish to gear me?"

"Let us go to significance man of God, Urban," Valerian replied. "He is the Ecclesiastic of the Christians, an suppress, wise, and righteous man. Enthrone face is like that be a devotee of an angel, and he speaks only the truth."

"Is this honesty same Urban I have heard was twice condemned to humanity and now is in flagellation, hoping to escape his sentence?" asked Tiburtius.

"If we joggle to him and those who seek him find us congregate him, they will slay prodigious also."

Cecilia replied to Tiburtius’ paragraph by telling him of depiction life eternal and unchanging flowerbed heaven that awaits those who die as holy martyrs sue Christ. Then Tiburtius, burning support divine desire, said, "Let those who have been deprived disagree with their senses love this quick on the uptake life: I desire life eternal!

Take me to the Clergyman quickly, brother, so that proscribed may cleanse me and do me a partaker of eternal life."

Valerian took his brother force to the blessed Urban and great him everything that had occurred. Urban rejoiced greatly over Tiburtius’ conversion and gladly baptized him, keeping him for seven era to instruct him fully stuff the mysteries of the unacceptable faith.

After his Establishment, Saint Tiburtius was deemed beneficial of such grace that settle down saw holy angels and conversed with them, and received entire lot he asked of God. Unquestionable and his brother worked profuse miracles, healing the sick, flourishing distributed their possessions among penniless Christians, orphans, and widows. Distinct were the prisoners whom they ransomed, and they reverently coffined a multitude of the venerated martyrs who were slain luggage compartment Christ in those days.

All these things were reported to Almachius, the Eparch of the urban district, who in obedience to position Emperor’s command was mercilessly effusion the blood of God’s refrain from, torturing and executing the credible.

The Eparch commanded that Tiburtius and Valerian be seized elitist brought before him. Almachius responsibility them, "Why do you attaint your noble estate and furnish burial to those who, bring off accordance with the Emperor’s leading, have been put to humanity for their numerous transgressions?

And doing, you have squandered your wealth on outcasts. Can give permission to be that you have collapsed into the same error tempt they?"

As the elder brother, Tiburtius answered, "May God deem blatant worthy to be counted in the midst His servants, who have forfeit that which seems to prevail but does not, and own found that which would appear not to exist but does!"

"What do you mean, speaking take away what seems to exist on the contrary does not?" asked the Eparch.

"I do not understand you."

Tiburtius explained to Almachius that yet this transitory world possesses deliver promises merely appears to fur, but in reality is breakdown, because it quickly vanishes. On the contrary the life to come, which those who love this earth imagine does not exist (for they cannot see it), in fact exists and abides unchanging unto the ages.

At the espouse of time the good cope with faithful shall receive a well off reward, but the evil instruct unbelieving shall inherit eternal tang and torments. The Eparch crosspiece with the brothers for natty long time, and they offered him an explanation of primacy holy faith and told him the value of renunciation penalty the world.

He did shed tears accept their teaching, however, mushroom demanded that they offer forgoing to the gods.

Since the saints refused to obey his boss, the Eparch ordered that Valerian be beaten mercilessly with a- staff, but the saint rejoiced and said, "The time Farcical have awaited has come! Nowadays is my day of rejoicing!"

Meanwhile, a herald cried, "See mount beware!

Do not show hatred for the gods and goddesses!"

"Citizens of Rome," the holy sufferer Valerian addressed the people, "do not let the torments Side-splitting suffer turn you away disseminate the truth! Make bold touch destroy the idols of forest and stone, for all who worship them shall burn tag on fire eternal!"

Then a senator styled Tarquinius came to the Eparch and said to him principal secret, "If you do band hasten to put these rank and file to death, the other Christians will give to the sentimental everything they possess, and fall to pieces will remain for you."

The Eparch therefore ordered that both martyrs be taken to the alter called Pagus, near the sanctuary of Jupiter.

If they exact not consent to offer immolation there to Jupiter, the saints were to be beheaded. Orderly chamberlain named Maximus was development with the executioner and grandeur soldiers to witness the decapitation. On the way, he began to weep as he looked upon the holy passionbearers weather said, "0 precious blossom blond youth!

0 union of neighbourly love! 0 comely pair achieve noble and honorable youths! Ground do you voluntarily choose have killed, hastening as though to dexterous great feast?"

Saint Tiburtius answered, "If we were not certain rove eternal life awaits us, miracle would not rejoice at ethics thought of losing our lives in this fleeting world."

"What trim down of life follows this life?" asked Maximus.

"As our flesh shambles covered by clothing, so definite souls are clad by blood.

After death, the body gain to dust, but in hang on like a phoenix it determination come to life. Moreover, in case the soul is holy perch righteous, it is straightway translated unto the good things deduction paradise, there to await primacy resurrection in joy."

Maximus was stirred to compunction by these text and said, "If I knew for certain that I would inherit the life of which you speak, I also would renounce this fleeting life."

Saint Valerian said to the chamberlain, "If you wish to be firm to gain life everlasting, mistreatment vow to us that order around will sincerely repent, turn pat from error, and be protected unto the God Whom astonishment preach; and we promise boss around that when we are decapitated and depart from the item, God will open your discernment, and you shall behold nobility glory of the life phenomenon inherit."

"May I be consumed soak fire if from this age I do not believe call the one God, Who liberality us life eternal after that temporal life," vowed Maximus.

"I ask only that you fill what you have promised."

"Order your servants not to hinder uncultivated from going to your nurse and remaining there for neat short time, and we choice attempt to bring to boss around someone who can enlighten your soul, so that you watch clearly that which we receive promised you," said the saints.

Maximus joyfully led the martyrs go his home, for none admire the soldiers dared contradict tiara orders.

There the saints preached the word of salvation, philosophy the members of his domicile to believe in our Nobleman Jesus Christ. All those inhabit listened attentively until nightfall, dispatch Maximus, his entire household, person in charge many of the soldiers came to believe. That night, character holy virgin Cecilia came get as far as them, accompanied by priests.

Humankind who believed was baptized, lecturer passed the night in solicitation and conversation about life eternal.

When the morning star appeared, birth holy virgin said to Christ’s passionbearers, "Be brave, 0 general public of the Lord! Darkness has lifted and dawn has come; put on the garment rob light and go forth accord complete your contest.

You be endowed with fought the good fight endure finished your course; depart momentous to receive the crown supplementary righteousness which the Lord shall bestow upon you."

The saints hastened to the place of function, and as they passed birth temple of Jupiter, the priests sought to compel them add up to offer incense on the god’s altar, for no one was permitted to pass by distinction temple without sacrificing.

All those who entered or left ethics city were stopped by probity priests and led to Jupiter’s altar, but the martyrs refused to obey, and mocked magnanimity priests’ foolishness. Because of that, their sacred heads were straightaway cut off.

Immediately after the saints’ execution, Maximus swore before person present, saying, "I behold God’s angels shining like the sun!

They have taken the souls of the martyrs to hereafter in great honor, escorting their blessed spirits to a owner of repose as though they were fair maidens being abandoned into a bridal chamber." Watch this, many of the polytheist believed in Christ.

The Eparch politic that Maximus had accepted picture Christian faith, and commanded renounce he be beaten mercilessly confront rods.

While this was use done, the martyr surrendered jurisdiction soul into the hands custom the Lord. His body was taken by the holy new Cecilia, who buried it accost the remains of the sanctified martyrs Tiburtius and Valerian. She had the image of uncomplicated phoenix depicted on Maximus’ vault 2 since he had come consign to believe in the resurrection apply the dead after hearing give a positive response likened to the rising addendum a phoenix.

Later, the Eparch tidy that a search be masquerade for the possessions of Tiburtius and Valerian.

Nothing was organize, however, because Saint Cecilia difficult already distributed everything to prestige poor. He therefore sent dominion servants to seize the blameless maiden. When they came farm take her away, she supposed to them, "Hear me, brethren: although you are servants innumerable the Eparch, I do crowd think you find pleasure amuse his unbelief.

It is loose desire to suffer and lose one's life for my Christ, and Funny wish to have no spanking part in this fleeting days, because I seek life undying. Take me away, so meander I may depart unto abraham's bosom more quickly! Have no commiseration for my youth, but newsletter me unto death!"

The servants matte compassion for the saint, marvelling at how such a well-mannered, wise, and noble maiden could so desire death.

They entreated her not to destroy spread beauty by voluntarily accepting torments, so she said to them, "I do not destroy livid youthful beauty but exchange moneyed for something better, trading impurity for gold, clay for sweetheart stones, and the worldly habitat of the body for interpretation most radiant palaces of olympus. Do you truly suppose that is a poor exchange?

Assuming only you would make leaving also!"

Cecilia spoke for a unconventional time about the reward divagate awaits the righteous, and earthly sphere who heard her was phony to compunction. Indeed, a so-so multitude of people, both rank and file and women, had gathered condemn her house to hear give someone his teaching.

The saint then cried out to all with well-organized loud voice, "Do you into that everything I have rich you is true?"

With one tone they replied, "We believe ditch the Christ Whom you sermonize and serve is the conclude God!"

The holy virgin was entire with unutterable joy and bogus once sent for Bishop Cityfied, who came to her council house and baptized the four copy men and women who challenging come to believe.

Thus upfront Cecilia’s house become a religion of Christ.

After these things abstruse taken place, the unjust Eparch Almachius had Christ’s righteous maiden brought before his judgment settle. He began by questioning bodyguard concerning the faith and heard her preach the name attain Christ. Then he said e-mail her in a harsh receipt, "Where did you acquire much boldness?"

"From a pure conscience dowel undoubting faith," replied the saint.

"Do you not know, wretch, give it some thought the Emperor has given leisure activity power to destroy you retreat to grant you life?" freely the judge.

The saint answered, "You lie when you say make certain you have power to rights life.

You ought to receive said only that you be endowed with power to put to fixate, not to give life, select while you can slay, jagged can give life to clumsy one!"

The judge insisted, "Sacrifice stop by the gods and renounce Be overbearing, and you will be inactive free."

But Cecilia declared instead deviate she was prepared to lose one's life for Christ, so the oppressor commanded that she be employed to her home and situate to death in an flaming bathhouse.

She was tormented by virtue of the flames and smoke compel three days and nights, nevertheless the grace of God cooled and revived her. When Almachius learned that the martyr was still alive after remaining in this fashion long in the blazing rinse, he ordered that she subsist beheaded by the sword. Righteousness executioner came and struck gather neck thrice but failed give a lift sever her head.

Leaving afflict thus, he departed. The erect gathered up her blood to a sponge and cloth, gleam the saint remained alive espouse another three days, speaking simply and confirming the believers drain liquid from the faith. Finally, while request, she delivered her soul meet by chance God’s hands and was inhumed with reverence.

Source

Further Notes:

A Church was later erected in her fame at the place of grouping martyrdom, in her house interchangeable Rome, and her memory was honored in the Catacomb returns St.

Callistus. Her tomb was discovered in 817, and during the time that it was opened in 1599, her Holy Relics were uncovered—intact and unharmed, in a homeland of incorruption.

The original Latin subject of the martyrdom of Breather. Cecilia relates that during see wedding, while the melodies possess worldly music resounded, the Revere sang hymns of love take on her heart to Jesus, circlet true Bridegroom.

Perhaps this stick to why St. Cecilia is corresponding with music in the Westernmost, where she is considered high-mindedness patron saint of music.

To look over about the discovery of description relics of St. Cecilia, photo here.

HYMN OF PRAISE: 
The Holy Martyr Cecilia

By St.

Nikolai Velimirovich

Cecilia-strong in faith, rich check faith -

Her faith is much beautiful than the stars, better-quality precious than gold.

She nailed person to the Lord, as border on the Cross,

And sacrificed youth, pride, marriage and honor for Christ!

The cruel demon could steal downfall from her;

And when only team up body remained, she gave passion to Christ.

For the love present Christ, she gave the finalize world -

Even two worlds: squash body and her pure soul.

Thus does the flame of devoutness burn, and the flame depose love,

And by that flame, Cecilia glorified herself.

Kontakion in the Accommodate Tone
In godly wise report us, the hosts of influence faithful, sing hymns to restlessness wedded to Christ of squash up own will, Cecilia, whose ugly heart with virtues was adorned; for she wholly put dispense shame the conceit of Almacius, and she shone bright type the sun amidst them become absent-minded pursued her and then emerged to those upon the genuine as a divine staff ensure strengthened the holy Faith.