Dragoon Springs Stage Stop

Dragoon Springs Stage Stop (Take exit 318 off interstate 10 and turn south onto Dragoon Road.  Cross the RR tracks in the town of Dragoon and take the dirt road to the right (N. Old Ranch Road). After about 2.6 miles turn left at the sign marking the Springs and Station, Dragoon Station is just over a mile ahead.) From the parking area, a short trail leads to the entrance gate, the ruins are immediately past the gate.

The San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line began service across Arizona to the Pacific coast in July, 1857. Also, Congress passed the ‘Overland Mail Bill’ in 1857 and this was to provide mail service twice a week from San Francisco to Saint Louis.  Along this 2700-mile route, this station was to be one of 200 and construction began in August of 1858.

The San Antonio line of the Butterfield-Overland stage route stopped here near the Dragoon Springs. The stop’s name refers to the spring nearby in the Dragoon Mountains. The name of mountains themselves originated from the Third U.S. Cavalry Dragoons that patrolled the area. This mail service which was before Wells Fargo times was commonly known as the “Jackass Mail” because mules pulled the coaches, and passengers rode with their packs on mule-back across the Desert.

The Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company built this station in August and early September 1858 to house employees and livestock. William Buckley of Watertown, New York serving as the Butterfield Division Superintendent supervised the construction of the station. The Dragoon Springs station was a stop between the San Pedro Station and the Apache Pass Station. Later The company added the Ewell station between Dragoon Springs and Apache Pass but no evidence of its structure remains today.

Dragoon Springs Station was considered a ‘swing’ station—these stations stood for the purpose of changing horses or mules.  A home station would include a Station master, a cook and a maintenance man. This stage stop had a great impact on the economy of this southwest area; bringing many new settlers and employing a large number of people.

_{1860 drawing of station surroundings by H. C. Grosvenor, of Tubac, AZ}

We know about the structure from the history book that contains the Grosvenor drawing: “This station, or corral, is 85 miles east of Tucson. It is a rectangular enclosure, protected by a stone wall eight foot high. One third of the space is occupied by storehouses and the sleeping apartment of the station master. These structures are covered by thatched roofs. The mules are kept in the other part, ready for change on the arrival of the mail. A heavy wooden gate defends the entrance. The two graves in the foreground are mementos of a tragedy that occurred on the night of September 8, 1858. Rude wooden slabs at their head bear brief inscriptions.”(Note: These wooden slab markers are no longer present at the gravesite)

The Tragedy on September 8, 1858

The stage stop was nearly complete and the majority of the workers had moved on towards the next station. Left behind were a few men to complete the thatching of the roof. These were James Burr, James Cunningham and James Laing and three Mexican workers: Guadalupe Ramirez, Pablo Ramirez and Bonifacio Mirando. Two of the Americans would meet their end at this stage stop at the hands of the three Mexican workers. In January 1859, Silas St. John, the only survivor would give an account of the day to the Washington Union, a DC based newspaper.

The Escape OF SILAS ST JOHN Printed in the Washington Union of Fri Jan 28, 1859, page 2

In yesterday’s Union we spoke at length of the necessity for the organization of Arizona, the story told below in a strong commentary upon our remarks.

 Mr. St. John, the maimed hero of this escape, is now in this city, and the great courage he displayed under the horrible circumstances in which he was placed entitles him to much sympathy. It is under- aloud that Mr. St. John brings letters of commendation from distinguished sources to many prominent men in Congress; and should the territorial bill for Arizonia become a law, an application, which we trust will be successful will lie made for him for a subordinate appointment in the Territory, where he has been, by the loss of his arm, disabled for life.

The Escape OF SILAS ST JOHN Mr. Silas St. John, the only survivor of the party in charge of the United States Mail station at Dragoon Springs, Arizona in September last, has reached this city from San Francisco, by the sea passage, and it on his way to Washington with letters commending him to the attention of the government. He called at the office of the Century on Thursday last, and gave us the following particulars of the murder of his associates, and of his own remarkable escape and sufferings He wore an overcoat of the national blue, one sleeve of which bung loose and armless at his side. He was born in the city of New York, and is now only twenty-four years of age; but his features are already strongly marked by the resolution that is acquired by exposure to the toil and accidents of pioneer life.

Dragoon Springs is in the Gadsden purchase, eighty-three miles east of Tucson, and sixty-five miles from Fort Buchanan. The corral, or station, is a rectangular enclosure, twenty-five by thirty-five feet, protected by a stone wall two and a half feet thick at the base, and eight feet high. One-third of the space is occupied by the store houses and the sleeping apartment of the station-master. The mules are kept in the other part, ready for change on the arrival of the mail. A heavy wooden gate defends the entrance.

Three Mexicans, named Guadaloupe, Bonifacio, and Pablo, and three Americans, constituted Mr. St. John’s guard at the time of the attack. On the night of the 8th of September, one of the Mexicans took his turn on the watch, while the other two were supposed to be sleeping outside of the corral. James Burr, formerly of Watertown N. Y., also slept on the outside on a hillock. The other Americans, Preston Cunningham, of California, and James Laing, of Kentucky, were sleeping in the storeroom, which communicated by a door with Mr. St. John’s apartment. The first notice that Mr. St. John had of any unusual movement was the passage of the two Mexicans from the outside into the storeroom, and immediately after he heard blows struck. He called to Burr to arouse him outside, but at that instant, the poor fellow was killed by the third Mexican.

Station sleeping locations Drawn by Gerald T. Ahnert, 2016

Images of the remains of the interior of the Stage station in 2025

Silas St. John’s Sleeping Quarters (Laing slept to the right)

Cunningham Sleeping Quarters also the Storehouse

Entrance to the Stage Stop

Corral and flagpole base

The two others now rushed into St. John’s apartment, Guadaloupe made a stroke at him with a carpenter’s axe, which cut him severely in the hip. Bonifacio struck at him with a chopping axe, and he received the blow on his left arm, which was instantly disabled; he was fortunate enough to knock him down with his fist before he could aim a second. Then he retreated, still warding off blows, to the head of his mattress for his gun, when the two assassins backed out; but hearing the gun fall, they judged that St. John was unable to use it, and returned to the assault, accompanied by the boy who had killed Burr. St. John met them with a revolver and fired, when they all fled. The shot struck Pablo, and his bones were found some days after picked by the wolves.

St John took up a position whence he could see around the corral, and remained there until daylight, when he fell over from the loss of blood. His left arm was broken and cut through, excepting only the flesh which covered the main artery. He was alone all the next day, which was Thursday. Cunningham died twenty-four hours after he received Iris wound. Laing staggered about hardly sensible, the brain oozing from his skull. They attempted to drink some wafer which the Mexicans had placed there In buckets, but it caused vomiting immediately and St. John poured it on the ground, fearing that excessive weakness from loss of blood might tempt him to try it again.

Laing lived six days after he received his wound. The mules were suffering for food and water, and several had broken loose. St. John crept a distance of fifteen feet, and opened the gate to let them out, and returned to his watching place. This exertion cost him two hours of time on account of his extreme weakness. His wound began to mortify on the second day, and to fill with maggots. He could not sleep at night for which came round and poked their noses through the gate bars, howling for admission; and during the day crows and buzzards perched on the walls, attracted by the smell of the dead bodies.

St. John had succeeded in writing a statement of the murder in a small book, for the information of the San Antonio and San Diego mail party that was due at the station on Monday, fortunately, it arrived on Sunday morning; the first person who approached him was a personal friend, Mr. George Caldwell of California. They immediately went in pursuit of water. Lieut. Mowry, delegate to Washington from Arizona, and Col. Loach, the Superintendent of’ the E1 Paso wagon road, made every exertion for Mr. St. John’s relief.

A man was left with him, while the mail pushed on to the next station, from which two men were sent with supplies An express was sent to Dr. Irwin, at Fort Buchanan. The Doctor was absent at fifty miles’ distance. On being notified, he rode day and night, 115 miles, and reached Dragoon Springs early on the morning of the 17th. St. John had lain nine days in his blood.

His arm was amputated with no hope, however, by the Doctor that his life would lie saved. The maggots hail consumed the mortified flesh, and prevented the more rapid spread of putrefaction. Six days after the amputation, St. John was taken to Fort Buchanan, where he remained till Nov. 16.

Mr. St John desires particularly to return his grateful thanks to Lieut. Mowry, Col Leach, Dr. Irwin, and Mr. Caldwell, for their attention and kindness. Since waiting the above, Col Leach has called and confirmed its truth. He given a few additional particulars. Burr’s head was crushed by a heavy blow with a stone hammer, as he lay doubled up on his side, and to all appearance had not moved a muscle. St. John’s arm wax separated at the shoulder from the socket.

Account of William Buckley, nephew of James Burr and member of the station construction crew (As published in The New York Reformer, Watertown, November 4, 1858)

The graves of Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company employees are a result of a massacre that started a few minutes after midnight on September 9, 1858. Some of the station construction crew had just gone on to the San Pedro River to build a station. Left behind were Silas St. John, James Burr, William Cunningham, James Laing, and three Mexican laborers. One of the construction crew that had just left for the San Pedro River was Superintendent William Buckley. As one of those that was killed was his uncle, he wrote an account of the massacre for their hometown newspaper in Upstate New York.

“The last hope that there might be an error or falsehood in the first report of the massacre of our old fellow townsman, Mr. James Burr, and his companions, at Dragoon Springs has been dispelled by a letter from William Buckley, one of the superintendents of the overland mail company, to his father. The details of the horrid murder equal in atrocity anything we read in the annals of crime. Mr. B. writes from Tucson, seventy-five miles from Dragoon Springs, September 14, five days after the murder. We copy from his letter: Uncle James, Mr. St. John, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Laing, together with three Mexicans in our employ, were stationed at that place, [Dragoon Springs.] Everything had gone on well. I had not learned of any trouble between the men. I had eight mules with quite a large amount of property at the place. The murder was committed by the three Mexicans. Mr. Laing is undoubtedly dead before this. Mr. St. John is wounded, but I think with good care he will recover. The murder was committed in order to steal the property, as I had quite a large amount there. Uncle James was lying outside the corral when he was found, which was on Sunday morning. The murder was committed on Wednesday night. He lay in his blankets, with his head on one side all broken in. He had been killed with a stone hammer, and from all appearances he was struck two blows. He undoubtedly died without a struggle, from his appearance and position when found. Mr. Colwell and another man I had sent up to Dragoon Springs arrived there Sunday morning. Soon after the stage came up with Lieutenant Mowry, Colonel Leach, and several other passengers. Immediately on their arrival they buried uncle James and attended to the wants of the wounded men. They had nothing to eat or drink from Wednesday night to Sunday morning, being unable to move from the corral. Everything was done for them that men could do.”

From a letter by Silas St. John to Miss Sharlot Hall, Dewey, AZ. “…The largest is a double grave in which rests together the remains of Wm. Cunningham, and James Hughes [Burr]. The single grave next south is that of James Laing. The two graves north of the double grave are those of a Cal. regiment which used the old station as a fort in 62–63. Those graves have each a rough stone inscribed with the names of the occupants. The double grave and the single one to the south of them are without markers. My good left arm was buried between those graves.”

Remains of the burial spot for James Burr, Preston Cunningham, James Laing and Silas St. Johns’ left arm

(Located to the right as you face the stage entrance)

The graves of Burr and Cunningham lie to the right side of the stage stop entrance. Pablo, the Mexican that died from the shot from St. James was discovered years later a mile or so from the stage stop. His remains had succumbed to the elements.  Silas St John died on September 15, 1919 and his remains lie at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego California. His marker lists his birthdate as April 21, 1835, making him only 23 at the time of the massacre at the Dragoon Springs Station.

End of the Dragoon Springs Stage Station: Mail service at Dragoon Springs ended in 1861.  At this time the Civil War began, and the faster Pony Express service had started in 1860.  Under the Confederate States of America, the abandoned Butterfield route between Texas and Southern California operated under a new Federal contract as part of the Overland Mail Corporation route with limited success by George Henry Giddings. The contract awarded in May 1861 set a start date of April 1, 1861, and an end date of June 30, 1862. An attempt was made to fulfill the contract, beginning April 1, but faced with insurmountable obstacles and with the development of the Civil War, the contractors were compelled to give it up.

Additional Graves Present

Four Confederates soldiers who died during the battle of Dragoon Spring in May 1862 rest here. The story of their demise is featured at the next stop where the actual battle at Dragoon Springs was fought.

These graves are the final resting places of four members of Captain Sherod Hunter’s Company of Arizona Rangers (also known as Company A, Governor John R. Baylor’s Regiment of Arizona Rangers): Sergeant Sam Ford, a private known only as Richardo, and two other soldiers whose names are lost to history (one of these is probably John Donaldson, based on an obituary which appeared in a Tucson newspaper. However, there is nothing at the gravesite itself to indicate this, and it is unknown as to which, if either, of the two unmarked graves is that of Donaldson). Currently no markers are present at any of the four mounds. (see also the battle site at https://thepaintedhawk.wordpress.com/dragoon-springs/)

Youtube video also available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwcg2F7QIb4

A Strong Lent

One can have little doubt Lent is much different this year for all of us. In years past, we enjoyed the blessing of a wealth of extra church services and fellowship with members of our parish families. Always a joy and comfort in our journey through the Lenten period. This year however our beautiful worship spaces, filled with the sights of beautiful icons, sounds of our glorious choirs and rich scent of incense are closed to us. We miss the embrace of our fellow Christians and the sharing of the communion cup.

 

Within these days, as we are sheltered in our homes, there is a renewed clarity for the preciousness of our faith and our brotherhood with each other. We long for each other and our communal worship but we do not despair. It also serves us as a reminder that above all things, our relationship with our God is also one on one. This time of seclusion will pass, and even if it extends days or years, an end will come. For certainty, we will reach the point where we stand together before our Lord and God whose kingdom shall have no end.

 

In our love for others, we have a heightened sense of what life must be like for those who live in areas where no church is available for them. Their ache and longing we are only beginning to understand. Perhaps we can add to our prayers, alms and good works the vision and hope for more parish communities to spring up. Remembering with shared tears not only those challenged by distance from services but especially those living in parts of the world where the decision to worship God may cost one’s mortal life.

 

For myself, I am comforted knowing that each of us remember each other in payer. We are physically more apart, but spiritually closer than ever. I am grateful to each of your and this special Lent, which is making us stronger than ever. May your Lenten journey continue to be richly blessed.

IT IS THE PLAGUE!

Blasted in the news and media are alerts, alarms and precautions about the corona-virus. We observe, discuss respond in the ways that seem best to us. Among these, as Christian we also are reminded that our reactions are to be in line with the teachings of our Lord. Perhaps these are different for each of us, dependent on where we are on the road to our salvation and becoming more like Christ.

 

For myself, I have a unique perspective because of my former career as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. A job that brings with it the possibility of death on any given day requires of necessity that this reality be faced. I found great comfort in believing that God has a specific time in which we are to end this life and join Him in the eternal kingdom. We can not add or subtract one second from this save the grievous sin of electing suicide.

 

These thoughts have brought me comfort over the years, and perhaps in the face of the current dangers of the spreading virus, they might be of assistance to others. Therefore, I felt obligated to share that. That is, no reason to panic, God has this. Our job is to have our souls prepared for the transition. Happily, it is Lent and we are already on that with enthusiasm.

 

Even so, it is important to remember that there are those not yet mindful of the path to salvation, still out there stumbling and trying to find their way in the darkness. Love them, keep the light of hope shining for them and use kind precautions to prevent spreading the virus to others. It is a very good time to be a haven of peace and hope, and I am grateful for all of you who serve as such to myself. Thank you and may your Lent be richly blessed.

Sunday of Orthodoxy

It is the first Sunday in Lent, and today we commemorate the Triumph of Orthodoxy. The traditions of this day are lovely, and I especially enjoy the children who have brought their favorite icons with them to parade around the church. The little ones, so precious, pure innocent love for our Lord!

 

Beyond this precious tradition, it is worthwhile to perhaps reflect on the meaning of this day. Last evening, amidst caring for the icons in my own home, I also pondered the relevance of this day of memorial. What was it that we are remembering today? It is the confirmation of value of icons as an integral part of Orthodox worship. This is not minor point as many martyrs sacrificed their lives in defense of the importance of icons. One could ask why would a person be willing to embrace death rather than forego possessing and loving icons. I think this occurs for numerous reasons, but two which come to my mind are:

 

1. HOW ICONS ARE CREATED: Icons are not simply ascetics. Beautiful pictures of our Lord are a treasure, but there exists within them is so much more than this. They are so much more than art. Icons are not created by man, but rather they are the Holy Spirit working through humble hands of Christians who have emptied themselves to be used as no more than a tool. These images are given to us as creations of the Holy Spirit. There exists among us, holy iconographers able to submit to this on a regular basis. I as a sinful woman can not be counted among these, but I have on a few occasions been granted the experience of this process. While this is impossible to clearly state in words, I once documented the writing of my first icon, if interested at https://thepaintedhawk.wordpress.com/writing-an-icon) )

 

2. WHAT ICONS REPRESENT: Icons stand as physical reminders of the truth that God himself took on human flesh visible to us. We can portray Christ because of this fact. It might be important to note here that in the Orthodox faith we never portray God the Father. We know of Him only through His Son. Christ humbled himself to become as one of us, created beings formed in the image of God. He revealed to us our own true form, created in the image and likeness of God. A form that sin has sullied and we have so often forgotten. Some of us, those we refer to as saints have approached the return to this state and we also have icons to represent them as our models or heroes to emulate.

 

I am sure each of you have even more reasons to treasure this day, the first Sunday in Lent, celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Perhaps you will share these. For myself, I am grateful that the church sets aside this day each year to reflect on these things, and I wish all of you a blessed feast!

The Kneeling Prayers for Vespers are so Beautiful.

THE FIRST KNEELING PRAYER: “O pure and blameless Lord, Who art without beginning, invisible and incomprehensible, unsearchable, unchangeable, immeasurable, and unbounded, Who art without evil and alone immortal, who dwellest in the unapproachable light, Maker of Heaven and earth and the seas and all that was created therein, Who grantest to all their petitions before asking, to Thee we pray and of Thee we ask, O philanthropic Master, the Father of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the ever-virgin Mary, the noble Theotokos; Who first didst teach by word, and then gave testimony in deed while bearing the saving Passion, teaching us Thine unworthy, sinful, and miserable servants, to offer Thee our supplications with bent heads and knees, for our sins and human ignorance.

Wherefore, O most merciful and philanthropic Lord, hear us on whatever day we call upon Thee, and especially on this day of Pentecost, whereon, after our Lord Jesus Christ had ascended into Heaven and sat at Thy right hand, O God and Father, He sent down the Holy Spirit to his Disciples, the holy Apostles, Who alighted on each of them and filled them all with His inexhaustible and divine grace; and they did speak in strange tongues, prophesying Thy great deeds. Hear us who beseech Thee, and remember us, wretched and condemned. Deliver us from the sinful captivity of our souls by Thy loving intercession. Accept us, who kneel down before Thee and cry out: we have sinned, and we have cleaved unto Thee from our birth, even from our mother’s womb. Thou art our God, but as our life passes in vanity, we have therefore been stripped of Thine aid, and have been deprived of every defense. Yet do we trust in Thy compassion and cry unto Thee: Remember not the sins of our youth and ignorance; cleanse us of our secret sins. Reject us not in our old age, and forsake us not when our strength fails. Before we return to the earth, prepare us to return to Thee, and attend to us in favor and grace. Measure our transgressions according to Thy compassion, and set the depth of Thy compassions against the multitude of our offenses.

Look down from the height of Thy holiness upon Thy people who stand and await abundant mercy from Thee. Visit us with Thy goodness and deliver us from the possession of Satan and preserve our life with Thy holy and solemn laws. Commit Thy people unto a faithful guardian angel. Gather us all unto Thy kingdom. Grant forgiveness to those who put their trust in Thee, relinquish us and them from sin. Purify us by the operation of Thy Holy Spirit and remove from us the wiles of the adversary.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Almighty Master, Who hast illumined the day with the light of the sun and the night with the glow of fire, Who hast made us worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near to the onset of the night; hear our petitions and those of all Thy people. Forgive us all our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, and accept our evening supplications. Send down the multitude of Thy mercies and compassions upon Thine inheritance. Encompass us with Thy holy angels. Arm us with the weapons of Thy justice. Envelop us with Thy righteousness. Protect us by Thy power, and deliver us from every oppression and from every conspiracy of the adversary. Grant us that this evening and the approaching night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without doubt and vain imaginings, by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and all the saints who have done Thy will from the beginning of time. “

 

 

THE SECOND KNEELING PRAYER: “O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who hast given Thy peace to mankind and, being present still in this life, doth ever grant the gift of the All-holy Spirit to the faithful, as an inheritance that Evening of Pentecost Great Vespers 9 with the Kneeling Prayers can never be taken away, Thou hast sent down today in a manner most clear, this grace upon Thy holy Disciples and Apostles, and didst place into their mouths and on their lips the tongues of fire. Through them all mankind, through the hearing of the ear, hath received knowledge of God in their own languages. We have been enlightened by the light of the Spirit, being emancipated from delusion as from darkness, and through the distribution of the perceptible tongues of fire and the wondrous action of the same, we have been taught the faith that is in Thee, and we have been illumined so as to praise Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, in one Godhead, Power and Authority.

Wherefore, O Splendor of the Father, the Likeness of his Essence, His immutable and unchangeable Nature, Thou art the fountain of salvation and grace. Open my lips, sinner that I am, and teach me how and for what I must pray; for Thou dost know the multitude of my sins, but Thine unbounded compassion doth overcome the enormity thereof. Behold, I come and stand before Thee in fear and dismay, casting my soul’s despair into the depth of Thy mercy. Govern my life, O Thou Who rulest the whole creation with Thy word and with the unutterable power of Thy wisdom. O tranquil Haven of the storm-tossed, make known to me the way in which I should walk. Grant to my thoughts the spirit of Thy wisdom, and bestow upon mine ignorance the spirit of Thine understanding. Overshadow mine acts with the spirit of Thy fear; a right spirit renew Thou within me, and by Thy Sovereign Spirit strengthen Thou mine unstable mind, that I may be worthy each day to do Thy commandments, being guided by Thy righteous Spirit into that which is profitable, ever mindful of Thy glorified second Coming, which will search out our life’s deeds. Let me not be led astray by the corrupting pleasures of this world, but strengthen me to delight in the treasures to come. For Thou, O Master, didst say, “Whatever ye ask in My Name ye shall receive” from God the Father, co-eternal with Thee.

Therefore, I, a sinner, implore Thy goodness at the descent of Thy Holy Spirit: grant Thou my request for salvation. Yea, good Lord, Who grantest all riches and benevolence, Thou art He, the merciful and pitying, Who givest us more than we ask, Who hast become a Partaker with us in the flesh without sin. Thou art He Who, for His love for mankind, dost have compassion for those who bend the knee to Thee, having become an offering for our sins. Grant, O Lord, Thy compassion to Thy people, and incline Thine ear to us from Thy Holy Heaven; sanctify us by the saving might of Thy right hand. Cover us with the shelter of Thy wings and turn not away from the work of Thy hands. Against Thee only do we sin, yet Thee only do we worship. We know not how to bow to a strange god, nor to stretch forth our hands to a different god. Pardon our iniquities, O Master, and accepting our requests on bended knee, extend to us all a helping hand, and accept the prayers of all as fragrant incense acceptable to Thy most righteous Kingdom.

O Lord, Lord, Thou Who hast delivered us from every arrow that comes by day, save us from everything that walketh in darkness, and accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Consider us worthy to pass the night blamelessly and experience no evil. Deliver us from Satan. Grant our souls contrition, and our thoughts concern over our accountability at Thy just and terrible judgment. Nail our flesh to the fear of Thee, and mortify our earthly members, that in the tranquility of sleep we may be enlightened by the contemplation of Thy precepts. Drive from us every unseemly fantasy and injurious desire. Raise us up at the time of prayer confirmed in the faith and progressing in Thy commandments.”

THE THIRD KNEELING PRAYER: O Christ our God, the ever-flowing Spring, life-giving, illuminating, creative Power, coeternal with the Father, Who hast most excellently fulfilled the whole dispensation of the salvation of mankind, and didst tear apart the indestructible bonds of death, break asunder the bolts of Hades, and tread down the multitude of evil spirits, offering Thyself as a blameless Sacrifice and offering us Thy pure, spotless and sinless body, Who, by this fearsome, inscrutable divine service didst grant us life everlasting; O Thou Who didst descend into Hades, and demolish the eternal bars, revealing an ascent to those who were in the lower abode; Who with the lure of divine wisdom didst entice the dragon, the head of subtle evil, and with Thy boundless power bound him in abysmal hell, in inextinguishable fire, and extreme darkness.

O Wisdom of the Father, Thou great of Name Who dost manifest Thyself a great Helper to those who are in distress; a luminous Light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; Thou art the Lord of everlasting glory, the beloved Son of the Most High Father, eternal Light from eternal Light, Thou Sun of justice! Hear Thou us who beseech Thee, and give rest the souls of our parents, brethren, and the rest of our kinsmen in the flesh, and those who are of the Evening of Pentecost Great Vespers 11 with the Kneeling Prayers fold of faith who have fallen asleep, and for whom we celebrate this memorial; for Thou hast power over all, and in Thy hands Thou holdest all the boundaries of the earth.

O Almighty Master, God of our fathers, Lord of mercy and Creator of all the races of mankind, the mortals and the immortals, and of all nature, animate and inanimate, of life and of the end of life, of sojourning here and translation there, Who dost measure the years of life and set the times of death, Who bringest down to Hades and raisest up, binding in infirmity and releasing unto power, dispensing present things according to need and ordering those to come as is expedient, quickening with the hope of Resurrection those that are smitten with the sting of death. Thyself, O Master of all, God our Savior, the Hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far off upon the sea, Who, on this last and great and saving day of Pentecost, didst show forth to us the mystery of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial and co-eternal, undivided and unmingled, and didst pour out the descent and presence of Thy holy and life-giving Spirit in the form of tongues of fire upon Thy holy Apostles, appointing them to be the evangelists of our pious faith and showing them to be confessors and preachers of the true theology; Who also, on this all-perfect and saving feast, dost deign to receive oblations and supplications for those bound in Hades, and grantest unto us the great hope that rest and comfort will be sent down from Thee to the departed from the grief that binds them.

Hear us, Thy humble and piteous ones who pray, and give rest to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep before us, in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away; and do thou place their souls in the tabernacles of the righteous; and make them worthy of peace and repose. For the dead praise Thee not, O Lord, neither do those in Hades dare to offer Thee confession, but we, the living, bless Thee and supplicate Thee and offer favorable prayers and sacrifices for their souls.

O great and eternal God, holy and loving toward mankind, Who dost make us worthy to stand at this hour before Thine unapproachable glory, praising and glorifying Thy wonders: be gracious to us, Thine unworthy servants, and grant us grace that from a humble and contrite heart we may offer Thee the thrice-holy glorification and gratitude for Thy great gifts which Thou didst grant and dost still grant unto us. Remember, O Lord, our weakness and destroy us not in our iniquities; but be merciful to our humility that, fleeing from the darkness of sin, we may walk in the day of righteousness and, clothed with the armor of light, may persevere unassailed from every attack of the evil one, so that with boldness we may glorify Thee in all things, the only true God and Lover of mankind.

For in truth, O Master and Creator of all, Thine is the great and original Mystery; the temporary death of Thy creatures, and their restoration thereafter unto eternal repose. In all things we confess Thy grace, at our entrance into this world and at our going out therefrom, O Thou Who by Thy unfailing promises didst hold out to us the hope of everlasting life, resurrection, and incorruptible life, which shall be ours hereafter at Thy Second Coming. For Thou art the Author of our resurrection, the impartial Judge of those that have lived, the Lover of mankind and the Master and Lord of recompense, Who didst partake with us, on equal terms, of flesh and blood, through Thine extreme condescension, and of our irreproachable passions, wherein Thou didst willingly submit to temptation, since Thou dost possess tenderness and compassion, and Thyself, having suffered temptation, art become for us, who are tempted, the Helper which Thou Thyself hadst promised to be; and therefore Thou hast led us to Thy passionlessness.

Wherefore, O Master, accept our prayers and supplications, and grant repose to our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, relatives, and kinsfolk, and all those who have gone to their final rest with the hope of resurrection and life everlasting. Set their names and souls in the Book of Life; in the bosoms of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in the land of the living, the Kingdom of Heaven, in the paradise of delight, leading all into Thy Holy dwelling place by Thy radiant angels, and raise our bodies with Thee on the day that Thou hast appointed, according to Thine unfailing promise. There is no death, O Lord, to Thy departing servants who cast off our bodies and come unto Thee, O God, but a transition from sorrowful things to things pleasant and sweet, to rest and joy. And though we have sinned against Thee, be Thou compassionate unto them and us; for there is none without stain before Thee, even though his life be but a day, except Thou alone, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, through Whom we all trust to attain mercy and the remission of sins.

Therefore, O God, through Thy grace and love of mankind, pardon, remit and forgive our sins and theirs, both voluntary and involuntary offenses, which we have committed either willfully or through ignorance, openly or in secret whether by word, deed, or thought and all our acts and movements. As for those who have preceded us, grant them emancipation and repose. To those of us who are here, bless us, and give us and all Thy people a blessed and peaceful end to life. At Thy fearsome and dreadful coming open to us Thy fathomless love of mankind, making us worthy of Thy Kingdom.

O great and most exalted God, Who alone hast immortality and dwellest in the unapproachable light, Who in wisdom didst bring into being all creation, Who hast divided the light and the darkness, setting the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night, Who on this day didst vouchsafe unto us sinners as worthy through confession to present ourselves before Thy presence and to offer to Thee our evening praise: O philanthropic God, set our prayers like incense before Thee, and receive them as a sweet fragrance. Grant that this evening and the approaching night may be peaceful and serene for us. Clothe us with the armor of light, and deliver us from nightly terrors and from everything that walketh in darkness. Vouchsafe that the slumber which Thou didst grant us for rest from our weakness be also free from every satanic imagination. Yea, O Master, Bestower of all good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, call to remembrance Thy Name in the night that, enlightened by meditation on Thy commandments, we may rise up in joyfulness of soul to glorify Thy goodness, offering up prayers and supplications unto Thy tender love, for our sins and for those of all Thy people, whom do Thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos.”

Transcribed from “http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/liturgical_guides/hs_monday_vesp_0.pdf”)

A Transition

A Transition

Perhaps someday this choice will be meet with regret. For now however, with so many apathetic to the decline of our nation, any further efforts seem fruitless. As a result, it is with great peace I lay on the altar of my God, the sword borne in defense of my nation. Going forward I carry only the sword of the Spirit to battle against demons and principalities of evil. It is the nobler battle.

God is our Father, The Church is our Mother

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and just like many of you, I am thankful to my own biological mother for raising me in safety and good health. If you know me personally, you realize how much patience that required. God Bless you Mom!

However, my thoughts today are reflective on the Church, our spiritual mother. It has been my great blessing to find my way home to the church of the apostles, becoming a member of the ancient church, the Orthodox Christian faith. In parishes, small and great throughout the world, we are one family in every aspect of our lives. We follow Christ together, pray together, fast together and celebrate the life cycle of the church in unison.

I can go anywhere, and find my family. We are one body with Christ and our family is eternally united. Truly, that is huge compared to our earthly lives. Of course, we have our quirks just as any family but the connection created and blessed by God is indescribably beautiful, complete and whole.

Therefore, for my family, the church on this Mother’s Day, I love you and am overwhelmed with gratitude for what you mean in my life. I thank you and give glory to God especially for his gift of love from each of us to one another. Have a Blessed Mother’s Day.

A Sunday Journey

A few days ago, a close friend shared that perhaps the great majority of our society do not know Christ, and in the end will suffer at the last judgment. Scripturally, this is true:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”  ~ Matthew 7: 13-15

Because of this fact, Christians work very hard to follow that narrow way. Sometimes we stumble off the path, but God in his grace reproves us and sets our feet aright. How rarely do we truly appreciate His faithfulness to us? On occasions, we even become prideful of our walk, forgetting that it was by grace that we heard of the way and our hearts yearned to enter that narrow gate.

Therefore, today in the middle of Lent, I did something rather rash. I skipped worship service and went for breakfast at a local restaurant. While it is not true that all Christians attend Sunday morning services, I thought the odds would be in favor of my goal to look into the faces of the lost and consider their plight.

The faces look just like our faces. They enjoy taking time to dine with family and friends. Most are kind, and enjoy the good things life has to offer. In fact, it is quite hard to spot a distinguishable characteristic that would differentiate believers from non-believers. Perhaps, this is the most alarming result of this morning’s observational research.

Assuming that people by nature desire truth and look to find it, how then will they know where to search? Christ commanded, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Are our candles hidden under a bushel, rather than placed on a candlestick to give light to all?

I spend much time fighting to conquer my own passions, and have neglected the important work of going forth and shining for others. Please forgive me, and pray that I learn how to be a better servant so others may see the narrow way and glorify God.

The Walking Dead – An Analogy

Have you watched the television show “The Walking Dead”? A small band of characters fight their way to survive in a world filled with zombies. These un-dead are around every turn, and cluster at gates and entrances attempting to claim the living.

The show is science fiction, but there is also a fearful reality in the theme. The “walkers” are remarkably similar to the unseen demons that try to attack us as we go through our lives. Fallen spirits, desiring to feast on the life that is in us, and if we fail in our battle to resist them, we will lose our own humanity. We become cold, driven by self-gratification and lose our ability to look to God and grow in his image.

It is Lent, we are in the season of repentance and with God’s grace conforming ourselves to His will. We must smeller sweeter for the fallen spirits cluster at our gates. Lord, please give us strong walls, and sharp swords, for we need your strength to win the battle.

Starting the Christmas Card Process

Yes, I am blogging and not drawing up Christmas cards. It is not a matter of negligence. In fact, I have been tossing ideas back and forth in my mind constantly for the last week. I love the blessing of Nativity, and there is lots of peace and joy to share. Ideas, but nothing seems quite right this year.

It is not the Nativity story, but the situation in which we find ourselves. Across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia thousands of Christians are in terror for their lives because of their faith.  At home in our country, our government labels Christians as a terrorists, and causing many of them are too frightened to speak openly. I find these things hard to ignore or sweep to the side. Postage is expense, and for some people this is the one chance per year I have the opportunity to send a message of hope and comfort.

That is why, it is more important than ever for the card to be a special gift of Christ love.  I struggle because I keep trying to make it my task, when I should be leaving it up to God. Lord, have mercy on me, and show me the images and words that will convey your message to my friends and family. Amen.