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The
Great Intercession:
As our
Lord did in His great high –priestly prayers, especially
as we read it in Jn. 17:20 here we pray for all the living
and the dead. The first three prayers are for the living
and the next three are for the departed.
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FOR
THE LIVING SPIRITUAL FATHERS : Here we pray for the
Patriarch of Antioch, Catholicos of the East, bishop of
Jerusalem, Diocesan bishop, and for all other bishops in
the church.
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FOR
THE LIVING FAITHFUL BRETHREN: Here we pray for all the
living laymen, women and children who are sick, needy
troubled and stranded.
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FOR
THE LIVING FAITHFUL SECULAR RULES AND ADMINISTRATORS:
The prayers here are for all the faithful political
rulers and authorities.
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FOR
THE MOTHER OF GOD AND THE SAINTS: In the fourth
intercession we remember Mother St. Mary, all the saints
Apostles, martyrs, and the like.
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FOR
THE DEPARTED SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND DOCTORS OF TE CHURCH
: Here we remember the great ecclesiastical leaders who
worked for the establishment of the faith and the
teachings of the Church, and ask for their intercession
for our day to day Christian life.
Also
the three ecumenical synods the Church accepts are
referred and the names of the 23 fathers are mentioned in
the fifth long intercession.
A. The
Synod of Nicea (325 A.D.) : This synod was convened
by the Roman emperor Constantine in the city of Nicea in
325 A.D. against the heresy of Arius who preached that
Christ is merely a creation. 318 Church fathers from all
over including representatives from India attended this
synod and established that Christ is equal to God and the
second person of the Trinity. This synod formulated
the creed for the universal church. It also fixed the date
of Easter and twenty important decisions had been taken
for making the Church canon.
B. Synod
of Constantinople (381 A.D.) : Emperor Theodosius
convened this second ecumenical synod in A.D. 381 against
the teachings of Macedonius, patriarch of Constantinople.
150 fathers attended and decided the divinity of Holy
Spirit which is the third person of the Trinity and added
this formula to the Nicene Creed. This synod also made
seven decisions to the canon of Church.
C. Synod
of Ephesus (431 A.D.) : The heresy of Nestorius channeled
to meet this third general council by emperor Theodosius
II. Bishop Cyril of Alexandria presided and the 200
fathers met unanimously decided against teaching of
Nestorius and added to the Creed that Virgin Mary is
“Mother of God”.
The
following 23 Fathers lived through the first six centuries
have been remembered (not in order) in
this fifth great intercession.
1. St.
James :
· Brother of our Lord
· First Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem
· Presided the Jerusalem Synod in A.D. 50
· Strict vegetarian
· Wrote the Epistle in A.D. 61
· Jews stoned to death in A.D. 63
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2. St. Ignatius :
· Third bishop of Antioch
· Organized the orderly conduct of liturgical
services
· Established the Episcopal administration of the
church.
· Martyred as prey to the lions under the
persecution of Emperor Trajan in A.D. 108.
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3. Mar Clemis :
· Third bishop of Rome
· Published a number of encyclicals to defend and
strengthen the Church.
· Died in A.D. 101
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4. Mar Dionysius:
· (195 -266)
· Taught at the Alexandria Theological Institute for
17 years
· Great Scholar
· Became bishop in 241
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5. Mar Athanasius:
· ( 297 – 373)
· Attended the first ecumenical synod of Nicea, as a
deacon in 325.
· Became a bishop of Alexandria in 326
· Exiled five times in connection with the Arian
controversy |
6. Mar Yulios :
· Bishop of Rome from 337 – 352.
· Friend of Mar Athanasius.
· Attended the provincial council of Sardica in 347.
· Died in 352.
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7. Mar Baselius ( 329 –
379 ):
· The title of “Baselius”, given to the Supreme head
of our church, is derived from this great father of
the Church, St Basil the great.
· Son of Basil, a wealthy lawyer and Emmalia a
devout Christian women, Schooling a Caesarea, the
capital of Cappadocia, and the centre of
ecclesiastical studies in Asia Minor.
· Classical study under Libanius in Antioch. Studied
philosophy, and classics in Constantinople and at
the University of Athens.
· Taught at the University of Caesarea, sister
persuaded to become a monk. Visited Egypt, the home
of monasticism. Retreated to the bank of Iris for
solitary spiritual meditations, self-discipline and
self – abnegation.
· Emphasized the importance of Christian love and
charity.
· Built a hospital and a home for the disabled and
the poor attached to a monastery outside the old
town of Caesarea.
· Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, ordained him as a
priest in 364.
· Ambition for quick reform was not accepted
enthusiastically by everyone. So retired for
seclusion. Gregory joined him there. Both compiled
the Philocalia, and anthology of Origen. Returned
from isolation on March 28, 364 at the instigation
of Esuebius at a very critical time when Julian, the
emperor died and the Arian Valens became co –emperor
of Constantinople.
· Correspondence with Athanasius, the great
Alexandrian saint.
· Snow storm, earthquake and drought in Cappadocia
in 368. Basil helped the poor and encouraged the
rich to do so.
· In 370 succeeded Eusebius.
· Ordained his brother (Gregory of Nyssa) and
friend ( Gregory of Nazianus) Emperor Valens sent
Modestus and Demosthenes to persuade St. Basil into
Arianism, but failed, Arrested and banished.
· Author of so many important publications.
Hexaemeron or The Six Days of Creation deals with
his mystical approach based on the Genesis Creation
story. Monastic piety is the summary of Longer and
Shorter Rules Against Eunomius is his answer to
Arianism. The Trinitarian formula is the content of
On the Holy Spirit. The Liturgy of St. Basil is
widely know among the Orthodox churches, and very
commonly used by Coptic Orthodox church. Wrote 365
Epistles on exile, heresy, doctrinal and ethical
problems.
· St. Basil’s great message is : Perfection in
sanctity through ascetic devotion on a monastic
formula.
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8. Mar Gregorios: ( 330 – 390)
· Became bishop of Lasema in Cappadocia in 372 and
then patriarch of Constantinople in 379.
· Presided one session of the second ecumenical
synod of Constantinople.
· Author of so many hymns and sermons.
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9. Mar Dioscoros :
· Became bishop of Alexandria in 444.
· Leader of the controversial two nature theory (
against) in the Chalcedon Synod of 451.
· Body guard killed in 457. |
10. Mar Thimotheos:
· Succeeded Mar Dioscoros as Patriarch of Alexandria
from 457 – 477.
· Fought against the Chalcedonians and Eutychians.
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11. Mar Philexinos :
· Bishop of Maboog from 458 – 519.
· Published new Syriac translation of the Holy Bible
in 508.
· Great theologian, leader and opponent of
Chalcedonians.
· Enemies smoked him to death in 519.
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12. Mar Anthimos :
· Became the patriarch of Constantinople in 535.
· With the favor of empress Theodora, achieved many
things for the prosperity of the Church.
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13. Mar Ivanios: ( St.
John Chrysostum 347 – 410)
· Born in Antioch.
· At the age of 13 embraced monastic life.
Chrysostum the Greek word means “ Golden – mouthed”
earned from his eloquent preaching.
· Became Patriarch of Constantinople in 398.
· Preached against the immorality of empress and was
exiled.
· Author of a liturgy, a number of letters, of moral
and ascetic treaties, including the work in
priesthood, of about 600 homilies and commentaries, and occasional, festal and
panegyric orations.
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14. Mar Coorilos:
· Patriarch of Alexandria from 429 – 449 . Great
theologian and fought against Nestorius
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15. Mar Severios:
· Patriarch of Antioch from 512 – 519.
· Known as “Crown of Syrians”. Author and
theologian.
· Died at the age of 81 in Egypt.
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16. Mar Jacob Baradessus
(490 – 577):
· Three imprisoned patriarchs consecrated when he
was a monk, as bishop of Uraha in 514.
· Toured many places for the establishments of the
Church.
· Ordained two patriarchs, 89 bishops and 10000
clergies. Composed a Communion order of service.
· Our church derived the name “Jacobite” from this
great leader, as the opponents nick named his
followers after him.
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17. Mar Aphrem :
· All time deacon, poet and teacher.
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18. Mar Jacob :
· Became bishop at the age of 67 in 519.
· Wrote so many Church hymns, and a communion and
baptism service orders.
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19. Mar Issac: 365 – 466
· Great monk, bishop, poet and author.
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20. Mar Balal :
· Arch – Priest, author and poet.
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21. Mar Bar Sauma:
· Great monk, bishop and teacher.
· Died in 457.
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22. Mar Simon Stylite
(397 – 459) :
· Great monk.
· Spent on the top of a pillar for 18 years in
prayer.
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23. Mar Abahai:
· Revolutionized the monastic order of life in the
5th century.
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FOR
ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED: In the sixth one, all the
faithful departed are generally remembered, with special
remembrance of the ones whose names are given for the
day.
All these intercessory
prayers are like the ones in the high – priestly prayers
of our Lord ( John. 17 :1 ff).
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