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| Sepulcher Basilica of St. John the Theologian as seen from the air. The Cross on the left marks the grave of St John the Theologian, Cross on the right, Sepulcher Hermitage |
Bishop Akakije has dedicated the Ephesus
Hermitage of the Theologian to the memory of the miraculous dust which came out
of his grave for more than ten centuries which is celebrated on May 8/21.
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| Bishop Akakije on the roof terrace of the newly-purchased house. In the background can be seen the hill and remains of the Byzantine fortress Ayasoluk, where St John wrote his Gospel. |
“Among all other people, one could
not find a greater nor better, no even equal, to St John the Theologian” – St
Gregory Palamas
The caretakers of the Sepulcher Hermitage
of St John the Theologian will be the nuns of the Serbian monasteries
Uteshiteljvo and Novi Stjenik, along with the nuns of Russian Orthodox Monastery Lesna (France).
We are calling the house adapted to a
monastic residence a hermitage or cell. In monastic terminology, a cell is an
individual, smaller residence with a chapel. The entire structure is
only large enough to accommodate two or three monks, who live separate from a
monastery and support themselves through their handiwork. The Ephesus house
fits this concept of monastic life.
The Ephesus cell of St John the Theologian
is also similar to “pilgrimage monasteries” or “holy sites of veneration” (in
Greek, Ιερό Προσκύνημα). Such monasteries, along with their other usual
monastic work, take care of pilgrims, offering them hospitality, acquainting
them with the sites of veneration in question, and reading them prayers for
various needs.
The monastery of the Theologian by the
tomb of St John, even if it is not large enough to be a proper pilgrimage
monastery, will still, as much as possible, assist pilgrims coming to Ephesus
by helping them find affordable accommodation, taking them to places of
veneration, sharing pilgrim’s guides, and offering them refreshment when they
are passing by.
Inspiration for a Pilgrimage to
Ephesus
A pilgrimage to the grave of St John the
Theologian and the other holy places of Ephesus is a voyage taken with the
spiritual goal of showing the saints honor through our veneration, praying
sincerely for the strengthening of our faith, spiritual renewal, and healing
from illness. Pilgrimages are also taken as an expression of repentance and a
wish for purification. All is done with a firm faith that a miracle will take
place.
The main inspiration for a pilgrimage to
Ephesus is the criticism of the cooling of their first love towards God and
neighbor that Our Lord brings upon the Ephesians themselves in the Book of
Revelation: “ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works...” (Rev.
2:4-5) Ephesus inspires us to light the fires of zeal once again,
lest we become lukewarm and the Lord spit us out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).
In tandem with the purchase of the house
and founding of a hermitage, there will be a blog:
www.stjohnshermitage.blogspot.com
The purpose of the blog is to introduce
those who venerate St John and the other saints of Ephesus to the reasons for
the founding of the St John the Theologian Hermitage, of which a spiritual
mission and renewal of pilgrimage to this great holy site are the most
important.
As the activities of the Hermitage of the
Theologian are unmercenary (without charge), its existence and maintenance will
depend a great deal on voluntary donations. The blog will also serve the
purpose of raising funds for the renovation, maintenance and life of the
hermitage.
With your God-loving contributions, you
become founders and benefactors of the Hermitage of St John the
Theologian. Names of all benefactors will be written for remembrance
in prayers at the miraculous grave of St John and the other holy places of
Ephesus. Thus you will receive powerful intercessors before the Lord: Our Most
Pure Lady and the beloved disciple of the Lord, John, who spent so much of
their life in Ephesus, Apostles Timothy, Onisimus and Gaius, the first bishops
of Ephesu, Maria Magdalene, the Seven Youths of Ephesus, the Fathers of the Third
(Ephesian) Ecumenical Council, Martyr Hermione, the Venerable Lazarus of
Galicia, and all the other countless saints of Ephesus.
Donations can be made to the following
bank account:
Ziraat Bankasi
USD
IBAN: TR02 0001 0090 1049 9448 1050
02
Swift Code: TCZBTR2AXXX
Nemanja Stankovic
Izmir Selcuk
Turkey
Donations can also be made through Paypal to the email matialipia@gmail.com
This blog will also acquaint you with the holy places of Christian Ephesus, above all of course the Tomb of St John the Evangelist and Theologian.
Address:
St John’s Hermitage
Isa Bey Mahallesi, 2013 Sk. No: 2
Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Email address:
agiostheologosephesus@gmailcom
Contact telephone (Turkey): +90 545 165 15 22
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| the northern side of the Sepulcher Hermitage of St John the Theologian in Ephesus during the renovation of the façade and roof terrace |
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| Bishop Akakie in front of the Hermitage of the Theologian after blessing and moving in |
Troparion to St John the Theologian, 3rd tone (Composed by Bishop Akakije):
O beloved Apostle of Christ God, chosen mystery-seer of the glorious transfiguration on Mt Tabor, Son of Thunder, teacher of evangelical love, O John, truly chaste in mind, soul and senses. By grace you became that which Christ was by nature: a son of the Virgin Mother of God. Since thou didst lean on Christ’s breast and thunderously theologized that He is the Word of God, Who was in the beginning, was in God and was God, pray to Him, O Theologian, that He destroy the works of darkness and summon the works of light within us, that He grant us love towards God and our neighbor, and to grant us peace and great mercy.
St John the Theologian, Pray to God
for us!
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