Emperor Herakleos & The Precious Cross
THE REPATRIATION & THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE PRECIOUS CROSS
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THE AKATHIST HYMN
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THE CRUCIAL AGE OF EMPEROR HERAKLEOS OF THE ROMANS
First Edition 2024
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PROLOGUE TO THE GREEK EDITION
By the Reposed († 11-12-2021)
Abbot Archimandrite Kyrillos
It has been written: “A people that forgets its history cannot possibly build its future properly.” Even more so, when its History is a glorious, brilliant, instructive one for all peoples - and very obviously unique - like the History of the Hellenic peoples.
Unfortunately, the spiritual decline of our time, as a result of the relentless war against the values that elevate man - along with the hedonistic and materialistic modern lifestyle being projected from every other source - has succeeded in rendering modern-day Hellenes un-historical (to say the least, and not label them as ignorant or even indifferent towards the glorious History of their ancestors).
The most vehement discredit and polemic is being meted out in our days on the glorious period of the Greek Orthodox Roman Empire (referred to in our times as “Byzantine Empire”), during which period the entire ancient Hellenic civilization became interwoven with the Orthodox faith in Christ, and was ranked and exalted in a particularly spiritual way, making it impossible for someone to connect to the genuine, ancient Hellenic spirit by ignoring this millennium-plus Historical period.
We glorify the Holy Triune God, because recent scientific historical studies have been multiplying and are awakening consciences, by revealing the truth of events and silencing the falsifiers of History.
We praise our Almighty Lord, Who has made us worthy of holding such an important study in our hand, and patristically bless its publishers, the Philanthropic Association of Friends of our Monastery 'Saint Gregory Palamas' for the work titled: 'Emperor Herakleos of the Romans', for which we also wholeheartedly express our congratulations to all those who labored for it.
The present historical study, which had seen the light of publicity initially on the website of our Monastery, written in a simple, descriptive manner, has attracted the interest of readers by offering genuinely spiritual nourishment drawn solely from pertinent sources with details on those events.
Apart from the more general contribution to the existing void that we pointed out, the preoccupation with the person of the great Emperor Herakleos was to highlight an outstanding example of a leader; an example that is useful to be studied by rulers as well as by the ruled. The assumption of power by Herakleos at a critical turning point of the Empire highlights the man's ability even more, since he pulled the State out of a crisis and delivered it intact and glorious. Also, the aftermath of these historical moments - the decline and the glorious resurgence - ensures extreme hopes against the tyrannical situation of the general crisis that is plaguing our country in these times - as well as the rest of the world.
Of course, what is widely known and identifies with the personality of Herakleos are the victorious campaigns against the Persians (who for long periods of time preyed on the territories of the Empire), which resulted in the liberation of the Holy Lands and the recovery of the most important holy relic of our Faith: the Holy and Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, thus rendering his campaigns the only genuine and guileless 'Crusades'.
However, the point that must be emphasized – made evident by the manifestations of Herakleos’ personality and intensely underlined by the author - was his deep faith in God and his genuine piety for the Holy Orthodox Church. From the very beginning, he steadfastly participated in the ecclesiastic life and worship, and respected in practice the institutions and the persons within the ecclesiastic structure. This piety of his - regardless of whichever of his mistakes - combined with the simplicity of the way he treated his subjects, were the elements that miraculously elevated him to the heights of a distinguished leader, who was crowned with the honour of his people’s love and the blessings of the Triune God.
In conclusion, along with our warm thanks to all those who contributed towards this significant edition, we must also relay our heartfelt thanks to the recently departed Protopresbyter and Professor Fr. Georgios D. Metallinos, a beloved and respected brother, who reviewed this work and sent us his complimentary testimonial on it.
We pray for the enlightenment of all well-meaning scholars, and extend every blessing, progress and increment in the work of material and spiritual philanthropy to the Association 'Saint Gregory Palamas'.
With wishes and love in Christ,
The Abbot of the Sacred Retreat
of Pantocrator of Melissochori
† Archimandrite Kyrillos
and my in-Christ brothers with me
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