Pilgrimage Ampoules of St. John the Theologian

 

A Pilgrimage Blessing

The term a pilgrimage evlogia (Greek: ευλογια), a pilgrimage blessing, refers to a blessed object connected to a pilgrimage shrine.

From the first centuries of Christianity, a pilgrimage was a journey to a holy place which allowed the pilgrim to partake of the holiness of that place by physically being present there: simply put, to receive the blessing of that place. Ever pilgrim wished to take something away which was infused with the holiness of the place of pilgrimage, whether it be a fragment of relics, or more often, some object which was somehow connected to that place.

A pilgrimage to a forgotten sacred region of Asia Minor

A pilgrimage to a forgotten sacred region of Asia Minor, one of the greatest monastic centers of Byzantium. 

Produced by Bishop Akakije of Uteshiteljevo. 

Mount Latros is 100 km from Ephesus. 

The Hermitage of the Sepulcher of St John the Theologian, Selcuk, Turkey

DIVINE LITURGY AT MOUNT GALESION in the ruins of St. Lazarus’ monastery

A pilgrimage to a forgotten sacred place of Asia Minor

On the 20th of November (NS), AD 2024, when the Holy Church commemorates the memory of Venerable Father Lazarus of Galesion, Bishop Akakije of Uteshiteljevo, with the nuns of the Sepulcher Hermitage of St. John the Theologian celebrated the holy liturgy in the ruins of St. Lazarus’ monastery. This was a special occasion because no holy liturgy had been served here for centuries.

Mount Galesios is 15 km from Ephesus.

Produced by Bishop Akakije of Uteshiteljevo. 

The Hermitage of the Sepulcher of St John the Theologian, Selcuk (Ephesus), Turkey

The Symbol of Faith Revealed by St. John the Theologian

St. Gregory the Wonderworker of Neocaesarea, fresco from Studenica Monastery, Serbia, AD 1314

An excerpt from the life of St. Gregory the Wonderworker (+Nov. 17/30)

At that time arose the heresy of Savelius and Paul of Samosata (1).  This heresy caused confusion about the Holy Spirit. St Gregory prayed earnestly to God and to the Theotokos that they reveal the true faith to him. One night, as he prayed with great fervor, the Most Pure Virgin Mary appeared, shining like the sun, accompanied by St. John the Theologian dressed in bishops’ vestments.  The Most Pure Theotokos ordered St. John the Theologian to teach St. Gregory the mysteries of the Holy Trinity.  St. John the Theologian obeyed the Theotokos and taught St. John the Theologian, for a short time, the great mysteries of God, revealing divine knowledge from inexhaustible depths of wisdom.  The words of revelation spoken by St. John the Theologian were these:

The Fate of the Basilica of the Tomb of St. John the Theologian in Ephesus

Model based on archeological and historical research of the Basilica of the Tomb of St. John the Theologian near Ephesus

According to Byzantine chronicles, the Tomb Basilica of St. John the Theologian, located in the fortified village which was accordingly named Agios Theologos (The Holy Theologian) was one of the most-visited shrines in Byzantium, frequented by pilgrims from both East and West. As the renowned Byzantine historian Procopius of Cesarea (6^th c ) writes, “The sanctuary of St. John the Theologian was one of the most revered churches, and enjoyed great honor throughout the Roman Empire.”

The Grave of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian and the Hermitage of the Theologian - Ephesus, Turkey

The ruins of the Sepulchre Basilica of St John the Theologian. Ephesus, Turkey 

Epitaph on the Grave of St John the Theologian:

 “This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” – Ps 131:14

“The entire later destiny of St John the Theologian was completely different from the destiny of the other Apostles of Christ. While all the others ended their earthly life in martyrdom for Christ, St John the Theologian outlived them all to deep old age. He was the one apostle who died a natural, but very mysterious death. Did he just die? There is an ancient tradition which says that his body was not found in his grave just a few days after his death, as if he is alive and that will live until the second coming of Christ, and that he will appear before all and unmask the Antichrist. This belief is in part immortalized in our church hymnody.”

–  Archbishop Averky of Jordanville. “The Apostle of Love.” Modernity in the Light of God’s Word. Holy Trinity Monastery Press, Jordanville, NY, 1975, vol. III, p. 148 (in Russian)

 

The Wonder-working Tomb

St John the Theologian’s life, nearly half of which he spent in Ephesus (43 years in total including the time before and after his exile on Patmos), ended mysteriously, as his hagiography recounts.  It is said that St John went out of Ephesus, taking seven of his disciples with him to a nearby hill, which according to tradition was his favorite place. Here he often went by himself to pray, and it was on the top of this hill that he wrote his Gospel. There he ordered his disciples to dig him a cross-shaped grave and to bury him alive.