Baptist Christian School Issues

[aByzantineCatholic]

I really want you to read this story. It is about a Orthodox Christian Saint. Her name was St. Argery. It is story about sticking through the persacution.

[quote]Icon of Saint Argery (Orthodox church of St Cosmos and St Damian. Avignon, France)

In the early 18th century in the Oman Empire in the provincial town of Prusse there lived a beautiful Greek girl called Argery. She was brought up by pious parents and in her youth years she met her love – a kind Greek youth. They got married in the church and their honeymoon was happy. But, their Turkish neighbour was inflamed with lust towards Argery and tried with his sweet words to talk her into committing adultery in the absence of her husband. The pious wife declined his encroachments. Then the embittered Turk slandered her before the judge of Prusse by telling that she had promised to become Moslem. According to the laws of Sheriyat, a person who expressed the wish to become Moslem must adopt Islam; if he denies thereafter he must be punished: for a man – death penalty, for a woman – life imprisonment. The judge, having believed the plaintiff, immediately put Argery into prison. Her husband, wishing to avoid the biased judgment demanded its transferal to Istanbul.

But it didn't help. Both Argery and the Turkish plaintiff came to the court of the capital and the Moslem claimed against her, giving the false evidence about her before the judge. Argery replied that she had never said anything like she was charged with and was not going to betray her faith, that she was a Christian and wanted to die as a Christian. According to the judge's order she was beaten and thrown into prison, and sentenced to the life imprisonment.

Fear, bitter separation with her beloved husband, difficulties of imprisonment, not to say of the regular insults from her criminal Moslem neighbours. Torment of the body, of the soul, of the heart – without interruption, from day to day. And she could stop all this at any moment – once she agrees to adopt Islam...

But spiritual joy helped her to overcome the sufferings and temptations. The martyr herself exhausted her body with fasting and other kinds of abstinence as was witnessed by other Christian women who were imprisoned together with the saint and later released.

So, she laboured in the prison during seventeen years. With such joy was filled the saint's heart because she was imprisoned for Christ, for such consolation she considered her imprisonment that when one Christian called Manuil Curtsibasis offered her freedom she refused choosing the prison better than the tsar chambers. In such a way, imprisoned for the sake of Christ, she passed away on 30th April 1725. Her holy relics were laid in the church of St. Paraskevi by the blessing of Patriarch Paisios, and till nowadays patriarchs, bishops, priests and rulers bow before them.[/quote]

[crossingstandrewspass]

That's an awesome story. She might've just become my third favourite saint.

[Aloysius]

[quote name='crossingstandrewspass' date='Mar 9 2004, 08:13 PM'] It seems like I'm always in your prayers Dougherty! lol That's great though! Because I think your prayers revived me once! I'll keep it up. I'm fighting hard. Keeping the faith... which is excellent for me. [/quote]
hehe... i am UTTERLY BLOWN AWAY by God's power and His work in you, Andy. like seriously, hehe, prayer is POWERFUL STUFF... lol, CAUTION: PRAYERS ACTUALLY GET ANSWERED

i know i keep forgettin to bring you that stereo, think i could bring it to stations this sunday? lol i'll find some good books to put in it for ya. Have you heard of Scott Hahn?


anyway, don't be discouraged! the school has no power over you that the Lord does not allow them to have... he'll bring you through any persecution

[crossingstandrewspass]

I know and I agree 100%! Sure bring the Stereo to Stations, it looks interesting. I don't particularly know of Scott Hahn, but I suppose I can read him and know who he is!

[quote]CAUTION: PRAYERS ACTUALLY GET ANSWERED[/quote]

That's the truth! Kim Francis and I were lighting prayer candles and we prayed in the Blessed Sacrament for like an hour for my friend's Family, and shortly after we left the Narthex, Kim's phone rang. It was my friend saying that his mom had been admitted for surgery and it would greatly increase her chances of living! You know how awesome that is? That's just... great!

Edited March 10, 2004 by crossingstandrewspass

[frozencell]

i am reminded of something Christ said. It was something to the effect of rejoice in trials and welcome persecution. You must be doing something right. Jesus made all kinds of people uncomfortable, and He was THE MAN!!!!!

Keep it up and I will be praying for you.

[crossingstandrewspass]

Thanks frozencell