Father Justin's Blog

Χθὲς συνεθαπτόμην σοι Χριστὲ συνεγείρομαι σήμερον ἀναστάντι σοι, συνεσταυρούμην σοι χθὲς, αὐτός με συνδόξασον Σωτήρ, ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.

Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ, and today I arise with Thine arising. Yesterday was I crucified with Thee; do Thou Thyself glorify me with Thee, O Saviour, in Thy Kingdom.

— From the Third Ode of the Paschal Canon

Ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθ’ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ· ἀπεκδυσάμενος τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας ἐδειγμάτισεν ἐν παρρησίᾳ θριαμβεύσας αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:14-15)

The first of the twelve Gospels is what is known as Christ’s High Priestly Prayer, John 13:31 – 18:1.

Οὐ περὶ τούτων δὲ ἐρωτῶ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν πιστευσόντων διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν εἰς ἐμέ ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν καθὼς σύ πάτερ ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν σοί ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ἓν ὦσιν.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. (John 17:20-21)

The floor of the bema inside the Sinai basilica, lit by a single candle. The floor is made of inlaid marble and hardstones, now very worn after the passage of so many years.

Ὁ συνάναρχος καὶ συναΐδιος Υἱός, καὶ Λόγος τοῦ Πατρός, ἐπὶ πώλου ἀλόγου, ἦλθε σήμερον καθεζόμενος, ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν Ἱερουσαλήμ, ὃν τὰ Χερουβὶμ μετὰ δέους ἀτενίσαι οὐ δύνανται. Παῖδες ἀνευφήμησαν, μετὰ βαΐων καὶ κλάδων, τὸν αἶνον μυστικῶς ἀναμέλποντες. Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, τῷ ἐλθόντι σῶσαι ἐκ πλάνης, ἄπαν τὸ γένος ἡμῶν.

The co-beginningless and co-eternal Son and Word of the Father came today to the city of Jerusalem sitting upon the colt of an ass, even He upon Whom the Cherubim cannot gaze without fear. The children acclaim Him with palms and branches, mystically singing out the praise: Hosanna in the highest unto Him that cometh to save our whole race from error.

There is a small marble plaque set into a frame over the door to the kelli of Father Daniel, at the basin of the Prophet Elijah. I photographed it in afternoon shade, but it was difficult to read. I returned in the evening and photographed it with raking light. Then the inscription became more legible.

Ὦ Κελλίον . . .
Σήμερον ἐμοῦ· Αὔριον ἑτέρου· Καὶ οὐδέποτέ τινος. Ἐκτίσθη δι᾿ ἔξοδον· Ἀρχιμανδρίτου Δανιήλ ΠαπαΪωάννου Μεσολογγίτου· καὶ Συμμοναστοῦ Σιναϊτου· + 1923, Μαΐου κγ.

O Kelli . . .
Today it is mine, tomorrow someone else’s, and never anyone’s. Created for exodus/departure/departure from life/decease. Archimandrite Daniel Papaioannou from Messolonghi, and Fellow-monk of Sinai. + 1923, May 23.

From the Sinai Monachologion we learn that Father Daniel was born in 1852 in Messolonghi, and given the name Dimitrios. His father was a priest named Ioannis, and his mother’s name was Magdalene. On March 9, 1874, he was ordained to the diaconate, and on December 7, 1877, to the priesthood, by Anthimos, Bishop of Naupaktos and Evrytania. On February 28, 1879, he visited Mount Athos. In 1890 he went to Jerusalem as a pilgrim to the Holy Land. On March 20, 1905, he came to live at Sinai. Here he passed away on February 24, 1923, having become an archimandrite and father confessor. The marble plaque was placed above the door to his kelli three months after his repose.