), martyr.
He was the slave of a rich young Roman woman, Aglaida, and was in lawless cohabitation with her. But they both felt remorse and wanted to somehow wash away their sin. And the Lord took pity on them and gave them the opportunity to cleanse their sins with their blood and end their sinful life with repentance. Aglaida learned that if the relics of the holy martyrs are reverently kept in the house, then through their prayers it is easier to obtain salvation, for under their grace-filled influence sins are diminished and virtues reign.
She sent Boniface to the East, where at that time there was a cruel persecution of Christians, and asked to bring the relics of a martyr so that he would become their leader and patron. At parting, Boniface, laughing, asked: “What, madam, if I don’t find the relics, and I myself suffer for Christ, will you accept my body with honor?” Aglaida took his words seriously and reproached him for taking liberties when going on a holy task. Boniface thought about her words, and was concentrated the whole time along the way.
Life
The fear of God is the father of attention, and attention is
mother of inner peace from which is born
the beginning and root of repentance.
Holy Martyr Boniface of Tarsus.
December 9, Art. / January 1 according to current time
As presented by St. Demetrius of Rostov
Once upon a time there lived in Rome a woman named Aglaida, her father Acacius was once the head of the city. Being young and beautiful, possessing rich estates inherited from her parents, and enjoying a free life without a legal husband, she, overcome by the passion of her weak flesh, spent her days in fornication and sins. She had a faithful slave who was the steward of her house and estates; he was young and handsome. His name was Bonifatius, and Aglaida lived with him in a criminal relationship, satisfying her carnal lust. And there is no shame in talking about this, since further we will talk about the blissful and wonderful change in their lives, for when praise is given to the saints, they are not silent about their previous sins, in order to show that not everyone from a young age was blessed and righteous, but They had, like others, a corrupt body, but through true repentance, a good change in themselves and great virtues they became famous for their holiness. This is narrated in the Lives of the Saints so that we, sinners, would not despair, but would hasten to quick correction, knowing that with God’s help even after sins it is possible to be saints, if only we ourselves wish for it and work for it. And indeed, it is wonderful that it delights the heart, the story in which we hear that a sinner, apparently having no hope of salvation, becomes beyond expectation a saint and, moreover, a martyr of Christ, like Saint Boniface, who during his lustful life served sin, and then he became a confessor, a valiant ascetic and a glorious sufferer for Christ. Boniface, during his dissolute life, was a slave of sin, but had some praiseworthy virtues: he was merciful to the poor, loving to strangers and responsive to all those in misfortune; He provided generous alms to some, to others he brought comfort with love, to others he helped with compassion. Having a strong desire to improve, Boniface often prayed to God to deliver him from the devil’s wiles and help him become master over his lusts and passions. And the Lord did not despise His servant and did not allow him to become even more mired in the uncleanness of sin, but deigned to arrange it in such a way that his unclean deeds were washed away by the shedding of his blood, and through this very thing his soul became like a royal scarlet and was crowned with a martyr’s crown. This happened in the following way.
At that time there was a strong persecution of Christians, deep idolatrous darkness covered the entire East, and many believers were tortured and killed for Christ. Mrs. Bonifatia Aglaida had a saving thought and a strong, irresistible desire to have the martyr’s relics in her home. Not having anyone among her servants who was more faithful and dutiful than Bonifatius, she called him, revealed her desire to him and said in private:
You yourself know, brother of Christ, how many sins we are defiled, not caring at all about future life and salvation; how will we appear on doomsday God, on whom they must, according to their deeds, be condemned to severe torment? But from one pious man I heard that if someone has the relics of the martyrs of Christ and honors them, he receives help for salvation and sin does not multiply in his house, so that he can even achieve that eternal bliss that the holy martyrs were vouchsafed. Now many, they say, perform exploits for Christ, and, giving their bodies to be tortured, receive martyr’s crowns. Serve me: now the time has come to show you whether you really have love for me. Go quickly to those countries where persecution of Christians is instituted, and try to bring me the relics of one of the holy martyrs, so that I can place them with honor and build a temple for that martyr and always have him as my guardian, protector and constant intercessor before God.
After listening to Aglaida, Bonifatius happily agreed to her proposal and expressed his full readiness to set off. The lady gave him a lot of gold, because it was impossible to take the bodies of the martyrs without gifts and gold: the wicked torturers, seeing the strong love and zeal of Christians for the relics, did not give them away for nothing, but sold them at an expensive price and thus acquired large incomes for themselves. Boniface took a lot of gold from his mistress, partly for the ransom of the martyr’s relics, and partly for the distribution of alms to the poor, and also prepared a lot of various incense, linen and everything that was needed to entwine the honest martyr’s bodies. Taking with him many more slaves, helpers and horses, he got ready to set off. Leaving the house, he laughed and said to his mistress:
And what will happen, madam, if I do not find any body of a martyr, and my body, tortured for Christ, is brought to you - will you then accept it with honor?
Aglaida, laughing, called him a drunkard and a sinner and, reproaching him, said:
Now is the time, my brother, not for mockery, but for reverence. During your journey, you should carefully protect yourself from all disorder and mockery: you must perform a holy work honestly and decently, and on this journey you should remain in humility and abstinence, remember that you are going to serve the holy relics, which we will not only touch, but they are not even worthy of looking at them. Go in peace, may God, who took on the form of a servant and shed His blood for us, forgive our sins and send you His Angel and guide you on a good and prosperous path.
Boniface took his mistress's order to heart and set off, reflecting in his mind on what he would have to touch with his defiled, sinful hands. Boniface began to lament his previous sins and decided to fast: not eat meat, not drink wine, but pray earnestly and often in order to come into the fear of God. Fear is the father of attention, and attention is the mother of inner peace, from which the beginning and root of repentance is born. So Boniface planted the root of repentance in himself, starting with the fear of God, attention to himself and unceasing prayers, he acquired for himself the desire for a perfect life.
When Boniface reached Asia Minor and entered the famous Cilician city of Tarsus,1 then, under King Diocletian and his co-ruler Maximian, a cruel persecution of Christians was instituted, and believers were subjected to severe torture. Leaving the slaves at the inn, he ordered them to rest, and without resting, he immediately went to look at the suffering of the martyrs, about whom he had previously heard. Arriving at the place of torment, Boniface saw many people gathered to watch the torment being carried out on Christians. All of them were declared to have only one guilt: Christian faith and pious life, but the torment imposed on them was unequal and unequal: one was hanging upside down, and a fire was lit on the ground under him, another was tied crosswise to four pillars, another was lying sawn with a saw, the tormentors whittled some with sharp instruments, gouged out the eyes of another, cut off members of the body of another, put another on a stake and, lifting it from the ground, set the stake in the ground so that it went up to his neck, in another the bones were broken, in another - his arms and legs were cut off, and he rolled on the ground like a ball, but spiritual joy was visible on all faces, because, enduring unbearable torment for humans, they were strengthened by the grace of God. Blessed Boniface looked at all this with attention, now marveling at the courageous patience of the martyrs, now wishing for the same crown for himself, then, filled with Divine jealousy and standing in the middle of that place, he began to embrace all those who had revealed themselves to be martyrs, of whom there were already about twenty, and, loudly, everyone, exclaimed loudly:
Great is the Christian God! Great is He, for He helps His servants and strengthens them in such great torment!
Having said this, he again began to kiss the martyrs and lovingly kiss their feet, and those who did not have legs, the rest of the body, hugging the martyrs, he pressed them to his chest, calling them blessed, because, having bravely endured short-term torment, they they will immediately receive eternal peace, consolation and endless joy, while Boniface prayed for himself, so that he too would be a friend of the martyrs in such a feat and a partaker of the crown that they receive from the Hero - Christ. All the people turned their gaze to him, especially the judge who tormented the holy sufferers. Seeing a stranger and a stranger before him in the person of Boniface, he asked: who is he and where is he from? And immediately ordering him to be seized and brought to him, he asked:
Christian! - answered the saint.
But the judge wanted to know his name and origin. Answering this, the saint said:
My first and most beloved name is Christian, I came here from Rome, and if you want to know the name that was given to me by my parents, then my name is Boniface.
So, Boniface,” said the judge, “go to our gods before I tear your flesh and bones to pieces, and make a sacrifice to them.” Then you will be rewarded with many benefits, you will appease the gods, you will get rid of the torment that threatens you, and you will receive many gifts from us.
In response to this, Boniface said:
I shouldn’t even respond to your words, but I will say again what I have repeated many times: I am a Christian, and this is the only thing you will hear from me, and if you do not want to hear this, then do with me what you please !
When Boniface uttered these words, the judge immediately ordered him to be undressed, hanged upside down and beaten severely. And the saint was beaten so severely that entire pieces of meat fell off his body and bones were exposed. He, as if not feeling the suffering and not caring about the wounds he received, only fixed his eyes on the holy martyrs, seeing in their suffering an example for himself and being consoled by the fact that he was worthy to suffer with them for Christ. Then the tormentor ordered to ease his torment a little and, trying again to convince him with words, said:
Boniface, let this beginning of torment serve as an indication to you of what it is better for you to choose: now you have experienced unbearable suffering, come to your senses, wretched one, and make a sacrifice, otherwise you will immediately be subjected to even greater and crueler suffering.
The saint objected:
Why do you command me obscene things, O madman! I cannot even hear about your gods, and you command me to sacrifice to them!
Then the judge, in great anger, ordered sharp needles to be inserted under his fingernails and toenails, but the saint, raising his eyes and mind to heaven, silently endured. Then the judge came up with a new torment: he ordered the tin to be melted and poured into the saint’s mouth. When the tin was melted, the saint, raising his hands to heaven, prayed:
Lord my God, Jesus Christ, who strengthened me in the torment I endured, remain with me now, easing my suffering. You are my only consolation: grant me a clear sign that You are helping me defeat Satan and this unrighteous judge: for Your sake, as You Yourself know, I suffer.
Having finished this prayer, Boniface turned to the holy martyrs with a request that with their prayers they would help him endure terrible torment. The torturers, approaching him, opened his mouth with iron tools and poured tin down his throat, but did not harm the saint. Those present during the torment, seeing such cruelty, shuddered and began to exclaim:
Great is the Christian God! Great is the King - Christ! We all believe in You, Lord!
Thus exclaiming, everyone turned to the nearby idol temple, wanting to destroy it, but they were loudly indignant at the judge and threw stones at him to kill him. The judge, getting up from the judge's seat, ran away to his house in shame, and ordered Boniface to be kept in custody.
In the morning, when the excitement subsided and the popular uprising stopped, the judge again appeared at the judge’s seat and, calling Boniface, blasphemed the name of Christ and mocked how Christ was crucified. The saint, not tolerating blasphemy against his Lord, himself uttered many words that were annoying to the judge, in turn cursing the soulless gods and denouncing the blindness and madness of those who worship them, and thereby angered the judge even more, who immediately ordered to melt the cauldron of tar and throw the saint into it martyr. But the Lord did not abandon His servant: an angel suddenly descended from heaven and sprinkled the martyr in the cauldron, and when the resin poured out, a strong flame formed around him, which burned many of the wicked pagans standing near him. The saint came out healthy, without receiving any harm from the tar and fire. Then the tormentor, seeing the power of Christ, was afraid that he himself would suffer, and ordered Bonifatius to be beheaded with a sword. The soldiers took the martyr and led him to beheading. The saint, having asked for some time for prayer, turned to the east and prayed:
Lord, Lord God! Grant me Thy mercies and be my helper, so that the enemy does not block the path to heaven for my sins, insanely committed, but accept my soul in peace and place me together with the holy martyrs who shed blood for You and preserved the faith to the end; Deliver the flock acquired by Your honest Blood, Your people, O Christ, close to me, from all ungodliness and pagan error, for You are blessed and remain forever!
Having prayed thus, Boniface bowed his head under the sword and was beheaded, his wound bled out along with milk. The infidels, seeing this miracle, immediately turned to Christ - about 550 people in number, and, leaving the vile idols, joined the faithful. Such was the death of Saint Boniface, who, setting out on his journey from home, laughingly predicted to his mistress what he actually proved and accomplished in practice.
Meanwhile, the friends of Bonifatius and the slaves of Aglaida, who came with him to find the relics, not knowing anything about what had happened, sat in the hotel and waited for Bonifatius. Seeing that he did not return in the evening, they were surprised, not seeing him all night, and also in the morning of the next day, they began to judge and speak ill of him (as they themselves later said), assuming that he had gotten drunk somewhere and spends time with harlots:
“Here,” they said, laughing, “how our Boniface came to look for holy relics!”
But since he did not return the next night and on the third day, they began to be perplexed and looked for him, walking throughout the city and asking about him. By chance, or, better to say, at God's discretion, they met a man who was the brother of the commentator3, and asked him if he had seen a certain man, a stranger, who had come here. He replied that yesterday a certain foreign man, having suffered for Christ at the place of torment, was condemned to death and beheaded with a sword.
“I don’t know,” he said, “is this the one you are looking for?” Tell me, what does he look like?
They described the appearance of Bonifatius, that he was short in stature and had red hair; They also reported other features of his face. Then the man said to them:
This is probably the one you are looking for!
But they did not believe it, saying:
You don't know the person we are looking for.
And, talking among themselves, they remembered Boniface’s former character, cursed at him and said:
Will a drunkard and a libertine suffer for Christ?!
But the commentator’s brother insisted on his own.
In appearance, such as you say, the man yesterday and the day before was indeed tormented at the trial,” he said, “however, what is preventing you? Go and see for yourself his body, lying in the place where he was beheaded.
They followed that man and came to the place of torment, where military guards were stationed so that the bodies of the martyrs would not be stolen by Christians. The man walking ahead showed them the lying beheaded martyr and said:
Is this the one you are looking for?
When they saw the body of the martyr, they immediately began to recognize their friend, and when they put his head, which lay separately, to the body, they were completely convinced that it was Boniface, and they were very surprised, and at the same time they began to feel shame, because they thought and they spoke ill of him, and were afraid that punishment would befall them for condemning the saint and laughing at his life, not knowing his heartfelt thoughts and good intentions.
When they looked at the face of the saint and were in great amazement, they suddenly saw that Boniface gradually began to open his eyes, and graciously looked at them as at his friends, his lips smiled, his face glowed, as if showing the appearance that he forgave them all their sins against him.
They were horrified and rejoiced together and, shedding warm tears, cried over him, saying:
Servant of Christ, forget our sins, that we unrighteously condemned your life and foolishly mocked you!
Then they gave the wicked 500 gold coins and took the body and head of Saint Boniface, anointing them with fragrant ointments, wrapped them in clean shrouds and, placing them in the ark, went to their home, taking the body of the martyr to their mistress. As they approached Rome, the Angel of God appeared in a dream to Aglaida and said:
Get ready to accept the one who was once your servant, but has now become our brother and co-servant; accept the one who was your slave, and now will be your master, and reverently honor him, because he is the guardian of your soul and the protector of your life.
When she woke up, she was horrified, immediately taking several venerable church clergy, she went out to meet the holy martyr Boniface, whom she had previously sent on the journey as a slave, and upon her return she received him into her house reverently with tears as a master. And she remembered the prophecy that the saint uttered as he set out on his journey, and she thanked God, who arranged it so that Saint Boniface, for his and her sins, became a sacrifice acceptable to God. On her estate, which was 50 stadia away from Rome, Aglaida built a wonderful temple in the name of the holy martyr Boniface, and placed holy relics in it, after many miracles began to be performed through the prayers of the martyr, various healings were performed for the sick, demons were cast out from people, and many praying at the saint’s tomb received the fulfillment of their petitions.
Afterwards, blessed Aglaida herself, having divided all her property among the poor and wretched, renounced the world, and, having lived another 18 years in great repentance, died in peace and joined the holy martyr Boniface, being laid next to his tomb.
So this pair of saints, having miraculously changed their previous lives, received a good end, one, having washed away his sins with blood, was awarded the crown of martyrdom, while the other, with tears and a harsh life, cleansed herself from carnal filth; and both appeared justified and blameless before the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
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1 Cilicia is the southeastern Roman province of Asia Minor. - Tarsus is a large and populated city of this province, in the southern part of it, in a fertile plain, near the Kydna River, not far from it flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, - hitherto a fairly significant trading city.
3 Commentary - the head of prisons in the Roman Empire and the clerk of trials, who carried out preliminary investigations of the accused, especially of Christian martyrs.
Stage 4 - a measure of length of 88 fathoms; track. 50 stadia equal almost 9 versts. The head of St. Boniface was subsequently seen in Constantinople in 1200 by the Russian pilgrim Anthony. Over the temple of St. Boniface in Rome, built for him by Aglaida, a larger temple was later built in the name of St. Alexy, the man of God, and the relics of both saints in 1216 were transferred from the lower church to the new upper one, in the sacristy of which their honest heads are currently kept separately.
5 According to the Roman acts of St. martyrs and the Greek synaxarion of Saint Nicodemus, Aglaida, after her exploits, was even awarded the gift of miracles and the expulsion of demons, she was canonized, and her memory is celebrated together with St. Martyr Boniface.
Iconography Akathist
Akathist to the Holy Martyr Boniface
TROPARION, TONE 4
Martyrs were sent to the class, you were a true martyr, having suffered for Christ most powerfully, all-validated, but you returned with the might of the faith that sent you, blessed Boniface, pray to Christ God to accept forgiveness of our sins.
KONDAC, VOICE 4
The immaculate sanctification was brought to you by your own will, even from the Virgin for the sake of the one who wanted to be born, the holy crowned, wise Bonifatius.
IN KONDAC, VOICE 4
Coming out to receive the passion-bearing relics and those suffering from the law of faith for the sake of vain, you showed your courageous strength by rushing to the passions by confessing to Christ, Who received the honor of the victory of your suffering, Bonifatius, pray ever for us.
Kontakion 1
Chosen warrior of Christ, adorned with the crown of glory, delivered from eternal death by martyrdom, turned away from the darkness of sin and come to eternal light, accept our prayer, which we bring to you in praise, and deliver us from the snares of our evil enemy, so we joyfully call to you:
Ikos 1
You were protected by a bright angel, who extinguished the fire of your torment with the dew of grace, Boniface, who suffered more than Christ, so that once, like an unrepentant sinner, you perished and appeared before the Lord in darker clothes. Teach us to clothe ourselves in the bright vestments of holiness, calling to you:
Rejoice, you who gave your life for Christ;
Rejoice, imitating His suffering.
Rejoice, turning your eyes to God;
Rejoice, having strengthened your will in virtues.
Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ;
Rejoice, holy end of your life has been accepted.
Rejoice, turn your hearts to repentance;
Rejoice, lead to Christ, the true Path.
Rejoice, enlightened by the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, not seduced by the temptations of this world.
Rejoice, you who put to shame the evil serpent;
Rejoice, joyful face of the saints.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 2
Seeing the great turmoil of this world and the sorrows of the earth, and counting all this as dust, you raised your mind to the most worldly, more suffering than Christ, ascended to the height of the understanding of God, you confessed Christ God before everyone, and now you call the souls of all who perish in sins to the merciful Lord May they repent in humility and cry out to Him in the tears of those who are touched: Alleluia
Ikos 2
You strengthened your reason with sobriety and you extinguished the flame of passions with repentance, wonderful Boniface. You came from the west to the east from Rome to share compassion with the Lord Jesus Christ, bearing a holy intention, so that grace abounds in you, and now you have drawn us into the temple of God, saying to you:
Rejoice, teach to overcome passions;
Rejoice, give hope of salvation to the desperate.
Rejoice, having known the vanity of earthly life;
Rejoice, you who predicted your own suffering.
Rejoice, consolation and approval to those who are sober;
Rejoice, strengthening the weak by will.
Rejoice, for through you we turn away from drunkenness;
Rejoice, for through you we turn to God.
Rejoice, inexhaustible source of healings;
Rejoice, endless treasure of miracles.
Rejoice, teaching us to always raise our minds to God;
Rejoice, having found true freedom from sins.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 3
The ineffable power of God’s mercy has been revealed to you, for the wondrous narrative of your life, martyr, clearly tells us how great sinners are mercifully accepted by our Father God when they bring repentance to Him. So you, too, have pleased God, and instead of bitter death, you have received eternal life; teach us to sing to God: Alleluia
Ikos 3
Having now eternal joy in the Heavenly Villages, and do not forget us sinners on earth, Martyr of Christ Boniface. We, who are toiling and burdened, come running to you: do not leave the orphaned and sick who ask you for help, but bring our prayers to the Heavenly Altar, and we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, O lover of your neighbor as you loved yourself;
Rejoice, you who did not harden your heart in sins.
Rejoice, you who served as a stranger and traveler with all diligence;
Rejoice, for this reason you left the sewage hail at night.
Rejoice, thou who teachest mercy to the rich;
Rejoice, protect the orphans and widows.
Rejoice, kind representative to the needy;
Rejoice, you who are intercessors for the offended and humiliated.
Rejoice, burned by the unbearable thirst for drunkenness and cooled down by sobriety;
Rejoice, for the sake of wine, call the impoverished to sobriety.
Rejoice, comforter of weeping women;
Rejoice, bring their tears to the Lord.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 4
You did not drown the storm of sin, you were covered below the waves of passions, martyr of Christ, you did not perish, but you came to Christ and you offered your life, like a fragrant sacrifice, to Him, our Sweetest Savior. Pray, then, and we, who exist in the sea of life, may call to the quiet refuge of the Lord the Savior, our father, in tenderness: Alleluia
Ikos 4
We also hear the Gospel parable, like the prodigal son in a distant country, having spent his property, from the hunger of his soul, he came into the arms of his father, calling in repentance: “Father! I have sinned in heaven and before you,” so you, martyr Boniface, without destroying yourself, but turning away from the birth of sin, you turned to Christ, but we, rejoicing in your correction, sing to you:
Rejoice, you who have experienced hunger in your work and passions;
Rejoice, O Christ God, for you who hungered for living bread.
Rejoice, most pure One, of His Blood, for having partaken of true nourishment;
Rejoice, as you have venerated the glorious martyrs.
Rejoice, you who fly to God on the wings of sobriety;
Rejoice, you who have sorrow in your heart.
Rejoice, you who came to the Lord by the power of the Life-giving Cross;
Rejoice, for you have received the crown of victory.
Rejoice, imperishable treasure for our soul;
Rejoice, our Church is a valuable adornment.
Rejoice, the beauty of this world is rejected;
Rejoice, take off your sinful clothes.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 5
The rich Blood of Christ, for all of us unworthy, and the blood of martyrdom, shed for Christ, in memory, Aglaida spoke to you: “Weigh for yourself how many sins of desecration we have and are careless about the future of our life. I have heard from the divine man that the might of martyrs they grant salvation to the same as the martyr, as a guardian and intercessor before God.” And we say to you: you are our guardian and intercessor before our Lord, for with the Angels you stand before the Most Holy Trinity, singing: Alleluia
Ikos 5
We now see and understand how these words of Aglaida awakened your soul, and you called for abstinence for yourself, martyr Boniface, and help us to imitate you, so that we do not perish in the abyss of lawlessness by drowning, but we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, awakening from passions, as from a disastrous sleep;
Rejoice, freed from the bonds of sin.
Rejoice, reproof of those who doubt the mercy of God;
Rejoice, endless joy affirmation.
Rejoice, calling us to the feat of abstinence;
Rejoice, for with the sign of the cross you cut off the leaping passions.
Rejoice, having acquired for yourself eternal possessions;
Rejoice, and encourage us to the work of salvation.
Rejoice, for you have despised the joy of wine;
Rejoice, you have endured fleshly wounds because you were incorporeal.
Rejoice, beaten by your enemies for confessing Christ;
Rejoice, scorched by unbearable fire for Him.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 6
The preacher of the veneration of the holy relics, Aglaida, your mistress, appeared, the sufferer of Christ, when she sent you to the east to bring the holy relics of the martyrs who suffered for the faith of Christ, and from them the benefits flow abundantly and eternal salvation is given to all who diligently flow to the martyr’s face. Grant us also consolation from the Lord. We bring him the angelic song: Alleluia
Ikos 6
You have risen for us, like an unsetting star, through your wondrous life, most blessed martyr, the yoke of Christ, light and all-bearing, received upon us and received salvation, for there is no way to find piety without Christ the Lord, so bring us with your prayers to the heavenly monastery, praising you sitse:
Rejoice, tablet of the law of Christ, inscribed by God;
Rejoice, fragrant myrrh of prayers to the Lord.
Rejoice, thou who rules the faith of Christ's pillar of fire;
Rejoice, honorable one, crowned with the commandments of God, like one built like stone.
Rejoice, sobriety ladder rising into heaven;
Rejoice, heal sinful illnesses and wounds.
Rejoice, you have received grace and strength from the Lord Jesus;
Rejoice, teaching us to sanctify the holidays by abstinence from sins.
Rejoice, you who protect us from mortal wine;
Rejoice, you who revive those killed by passions with the light of Christ.
Rejoice, call to a new life;
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 7
Although you left your home on a journey to the east, you predicted the end of your life, most praiseworthy, Aglaida, saying: “My lady, accept my body, which was tortured for Christ, it will be brought to you.” The thought of suffering for Christ is in your soul; you openly prayed to Him; and strengthen our faith, so that we too may be ready to suffer for the sake of it, singing to the Lord: Alleluia
Ikos 7
Not believing your wondrous and glorious correction, think evil in your heart Aglaida, wanting to slander you with the sin of blasphemy, thus answering: “Now is not the time for mockery, brother, but for reverence, knowing that you are about to bear the relics of saints. May the Lord send an Angel His own before you, and He will direct your steps with His mercy.” We, the purity of your heart, wondrous Boniface, seeing, cry out to you:
Rejoice, admirer of holy relics;
Rejoice, giver of reverent images to us.
Rejoice, you commanded us to guard against excesses;
Rejoice, all of you, for whom the sons of this age rejoice, despising them.
Rejoice, known helper to us;
Rejoice, more mysterious than holy thoughts.
Rejoice, patron saint of all who struggle with sins;
Rejoice, the guarantor of our repentance before God.
Rejoice, for through your prayers the Lord leaves sins;
Rejoice, helping us to endure sorrows and reproaches.
Rejoice, you who created wonder with your angelic face;
Rejoice, you who have brought the spirits of evil to shame.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 8
It is strange for you to have pagan worship of idols, and you, holy martyr, when you came to Tarsus, you did not bend your knees before alien gods, but you appeared to be a zealot of an apostle. In the same way, pray for us, that we too may be ignited with the fire of love, always singing to the Lord Christ: Alleluia
Ikos 8
You were all inflamed with holy zeal, not tolerating blasphemy against the Lord, and you were filled with the spirit of God, denouncing the blindness and madness of those who worship false gods. For this reason, the wicked king brought execution on you, the bitter martyr, unbearably beating you with scourges and inflicting inhealable wounds. We sing praises:
Rejoice, bold accuser of evil;
Rejoice, clothed in the righteousness of God like armor.
Rejoice, for your bones are laid bare for Christ;
Rejoice, the purity of your soul was then revealed.
Rejoice, for you have inherited the Heavenly Village;
Rejoice, for even now you have denounced evil people’s blasphemy against Christ.
Rejoice, thou who was pierced for Christ with sharp reeds;
Rejoice, unfading flower of the Garden of Eden.
Rejoice, as gold, purified by the furnace of plagues;
Rejoice, thou struck for Christ.
Rejoice, having pleased God with your death;
Rejoice, you who loved Him even to the point of martyrdom.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 9
Having betrayed everything to the Lord God, more passionate than Christ, when the wicked king commanded you to open your mouth and pour in boiling tin. You raised your hand to heaven, praying thus: “Lord, my God, Jesus Christ, who strengthened me in torment, continue to be with me, ease my suffering and do not leave me overcome by being an evil prince.” Thus you teach us love for Christ, singing to God: Alleluia
Ikos 9
Let the superstitious spirits tell us: the burning tin of your throat has not fallen, do no harm to you, martyr Bonifatius; You asked from the Lord as a sign of victory over the tormentor, and this sign was given to you quickly. For this reason, everyone who marvels exclaims: “Great is Jesus Christ, we believe in You, Lord.” We glorify you, martyr, Sitsa:
Rejoice, for through you the faithful are enlightened;
Rejoice, for through you they are being delivered from shameful death.
Rejoice, find your consolation in Christ alone;
Rejoice, teach us to call on God in suffering.
Rejoice, you did not overcome torment;
Rejoice, for you have not overcome passion.
Rejoice, for you have burned the thorns of sins within yourself;
Rejoice, for you were not burned by fire.
Rejoice, ever-living, joyful passion-bearer;
Rejoice, for with your help sorrows are turned into joy.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 10
Having desired to be saved, you ardently desired to suffer to the end for the Lord, martyr Boniface, and you cried out to Him: “Lord, Lord, my God, grant me Thy mercies and be my helper, so that for my iniquities, which I have committed insanely, the enemy will not hinder me.” path to heaven, accept my soul in peace, accept me with the martyrs who shed their blood for You and kept their faith to the end,” and with us who cry: Alleluia
Ikos 10
A strong wall, not overcome by the machinations of the enemy, you remained to the end, martyr of Christ. When your head was cut off from your body, what a miracle! Abi blood and milk flowed from your wound, just like the unbelievers who beheld this miracle, glorify Christ and call you with them:
Rejoice, for your torment was in vain, many people have turned to Christ;
Rejoice, for for your sake they rushed towards the prince of malice.
Rejoice, for your death will enlighten the darkened minds;
Rejoice, for your glorious death has resurrected the conscience buried in sins.
Rejoice, reproof of unrepentant sinners;
Rejoice, the will of the paralytic is healed by wine.
Rejoice, in the night of ignorance there is admonition for those who wander;
Rejoice, golden soul, drawing you to salvation from the depths of sins.
Rejoice, you were heard from God in your prayers;
Rejoice, for you have reigned in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, thou clothed in purple from thy blood;
Rejoice, for you now see an indescribable light.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 11
Bringing silent singing to the Lord, martyr Bonifatius, standing with the martyr faces of the Most Holy Trinity, you gave yourself up for Nyuzhe, and we, too, like beautiful brides, present our souls to the incorruptible bridegroom Christ with the consecrated song: Alleluia
Ikos 11
The light of love even after death shone forth, O wondrous Boniface, when my friends, having found your truncated head, wept bitterly, saying: “Servant of Christ, forget us the sin of unrighteous condemnation and our reckless abuse.” Then your face, like living rays, will be illuminated, showing them forgiveness. For this reason we call you with love:
Rejoice, you have a mouth of meekness speaking sweet words;
Rejoice, spacious container of love.
Rejoice, for the Church and her children rejoice in you;
Rejoice, for you have come to the Highest Heavenly City.
Rejoice, equal in death to the apostles;
Rejoice, glorious in zeal for God.
Rejoice, denounce worldly rumors and evil gossip;
Rejoice, you deliver us all from the enemy.
Rejoice, for you protect those who are unjustly persecuted;
Rejoice, before the throne of the Lord there is an unquenchable lamp.
Rejoice, loving your enemies according to the commandment of Christ;
Rejoice, having forgotten slander and slander.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 12
The grace of healing, sharpening your relics, as I approached Rome, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Aglaida, saying: You who were a slave of old, now accept our brother and colleague as if you were a master, and rest in peace, may your sins be forgiven, for he is now singing with us in heaven To the Most High: Alleluia
Ikos 12
Singing your miracles, a wondrous temple was created for you, warrior of Christ, Aglaida, in which you placed your relics and distributed your wealth to the poor, and lived fifty years in labors of fasting and repentance, reaching the ranks of saints. Moreover, magnifying your miracles, let us glorify you:
Rejoice, you who created your soul as a beautiful temple to God;
Rejoice, clear book of God’s wonderful works.
Rejoice, deliverer of sudden deaths;
Rejoice, sorrowful wives protected the evil pianists.
Rejoice, calling upon those who have fallen to rise from sins;
Rejoice, give them the light of purity.
Rejoice, for you have tamed the fire of passions;
Rejoice, for through you we leave the prison of sin.
Rejoice, little child, guarding from the temptations of the world;
Rejoice, for you teach the teachings of Christ.
Rejoice, herald of sobriety, glorified forever;
Rejoice, servant of Christ, ever revered.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr
Kontakion 13
O glorious martyr of Christ Boniface, accept from us this small praiseworthy offering, which we bowed our knees before your icon and stretched out our hands to you, now we offer it to you: grant us your intercession before the Lord, especially to our brothers who are perishing from drunkenness. Healing has descended, the beginning of a good life has been granted to all of us, so that having gained salvation through prayers, let us praise God forever, singing to Him: Alleluia
(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion.)
Prayer to the Holy Martyr Boniface
O long-suffering and all-praised martyr Boniface! We now resort to your intercession; do not reject the prayers of us who sing to you, but graciously hear us. See our brothers and sisters, who are obsessed with the serious illness of drunkenness, see for this reason from their mother, the Church of Christ, and eternal salvation falling away. O holy martyr Boniface, touch their hearts with the grace given by God, quickly raise them from the falls of sin and bring them to saving abstinence. Pray to the Lord God, for His sake you suffered, so that having forgiven us our sins, may He not turn away His mercy from His sons, but may He strengthen sobriety and chastity in us, may His right hand help those who are sober to keep their saving vow to the end, day and night, in He is awake and a good answer is given about him at the Last Judgment. Accept, servant of God, the prayers of mothers who shed tears for their children; honest wives, weeping for their husbands, orphaned and wretched children, abandoned by the pianists, all of us, falling to your icon, and may this cry of ours come through your prayers to the Throne of the Most High, granting to all through their prayers health and salvation of souls and bodies, especially Kingdom of heaven. Keep us from the evil trap and all the snares of the enemy, in the terrible hour of our exodus, help us to pass through the airy ordeals without stumbling, and through your prayers deliver us from eternal condemnation. Pray the Lord to grant us unfeigned and unshakable love for our Fatherland before the enemies of the Holy Church, visible and invisible, so that God’s mercy will cover us for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER 2
Oh, holy passion-bearer of Christ, warrior of the Heavenly King, despising earthly sensuality and ascending to the Heavenly Jerusalem through suffering, martyr Boniface! Hear me, a sinner, offering prayer songs from my heart, and beg our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive all my sins, committed in knowledge and in ignorance. To her, the martyr of Christ, she showed the image of repentance to sinners! Be a helper and intercessor for the evil of the enemy of the devil through your prayers to God; I tried a lot to escape the snares of his evil ones, but I was caught in the snare of sin and was tightly dragged from it, I cannot get rid of it, unless you appear to me, in a bitter situation to the one who endures, and how many times I tried to repent, but it was a lie before God. For this reason I come running to you and pray: save me, Holy One of God, from all evils by your intercession, by the grace of the Almighty God, glorified and worshiped in the Trinity of Saints, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The providential Orthodox Church on December 19, old style (January 1, according to the New Style) celebrates the day of remembrance of the holy martyr Boniface, the patron saint of all those who struggle with the disease of drunkenness. Of course, at the beginning of the civil New Year, one can and should see some kind of spiritual warning against wild celebrations and excesses, especially in the midst of the Nativity Fast.
Alexander Cabanel. Boniface and Aglaida. Ser. 19th century
Who was the holy martyr Boniface and why do they pray to him for deliverance from drunkenness? Let us try, with God's help, to answer this question.
It is worth remembering that the lives of saints are not some fairy tales. This real life real people. So, let’s try to run our hand over the rough, dusty stone slab of time and examine the spark of life through it...
...Rome of the late 3rd - early 4th centuries after the Nativity of Christ was only the nominal capital of the empire. The huge state was divided into two parts, which were ruled by four people - two couples - Western Augustus and Caesar and Eastern Augustus and Caesar (actually, the reigning emperor and his co-ruler-heir). In the East, Diocletian was August. He chose Nicomedia in Asia Minor (modern Turkish Izmit) as his residence. The residence of Western August Maximian became Mediolan (modern Milan).
Rome turned out to be virtually a provincial city. He no longer felt his former power. On the contrary, a decline in morals reigned, and the words of the poet Horace, calling on his compatriots to “feast amidst the plague and live one day at a time” a couple of centuries before the events described:
“Cut off long hopes. While we speak, envious time is passing: seize the moment, trust the future as little as possible.”
This is, in principle, what the young aristocratic patrician Aglaida and her young slave Bonifatius did. They were in illegal cohabitation and spent time in pleasure feasts. But sadness reigned in their hearts.
The fact is that Aglaida and Bonifatius, according to Roman law, could not get married. The girl was in the patrician class - the highest privileged class of the Roman aristocracy. Boniface was a slave - a “speaking thing” or a “speaking instrument.” In Rome, a slave was completely without rights. He could have been punished, killed, sold without a twinge of conscience. The slaves were not even given names, only nicknames. “Boniface” (in Greek transcription “Boniface”) is one of them. Literally translated from Latin, it meant “good fate”, i.e. “lucky.
Therefore, young people who loved each other could not legitimize their cohabitation in marriage. They also could not become Christians, because according to Christian laws one must either marry or separate. They couldn’t get married, and obviously they couldn’t separate either...
Perhaps this is why the couple led a riotous lifestyle in order to somehow “fill in” the moral abyss that had formed in their hearts and overcome public censure. For the Roman community, the act of Aglaida and Bonifatius was unacceptable. In principle, it would be difficult to surprise corrupt Rome with anything, but such an open cohabitation of a patrician with a slave, for the hypocritical Roman society, whose representatives, far from prying eyes, could commit truly terrible debauchery, caused bewilderment and rejection. Despite the fact that both Boniface and Aglaya were not depraved people in their internal structure. No, they were looking for God and a way out of this situation. And Aglaida succeeded.
The fact is that paganism was already becoming obsolete. People were very interested in Christians and especially martyrs: the aura of heroism and feat, posthumous miracles and healings from relics. Christian martyrdom was perhaps the most interesting topic for the peoples of the Roman Empire. Aglaida learned that it is a very blessed thing to keep the relics of Christian martyrs in the house. It was believed that this called the grace of God to the house and those living in it, giving health and family happiness. Of course, the girl sought the help of the saints in resolving the difficult situation between her and Boniface.
At the same time (at the beginning of the 4th century) in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, one of the most brutal persecutions of Christians in the entire history of this state raged - the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Thousands of Orthodox Christians accepted death for Christ. Among them are the great martyrs George the Victorious, Demetrius of Thessaloniki and many other famous saints.
In the hope of finding the relics of one of the martyrs, Aglaya sends her beloved Boniface to the East to Asia Minor (the territory of modern Turkey) - to the Cilician city of Tarsus, which was the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. Before leaving, Boniface jokingly addresses his beloved: “What, madam, if I don’t find the relics, and I myself suffer for Christ, will you accept my body with honor?” Aglaida reproached him for the joke, but the words of the future saint turned out to be prophetic.
When Boniface arrived in Tarsus, he heard that Christians were being executed in the city square at that time. He leaves his companions and goes to look at this bloody spectacle. During the execution, something happens to him. The grace of God overshadows his heart, and the sinful soul, tormented by reproaches of conscience, responds to the Lord’s call. Boniface rushes straight to the place of execution to the martyrs, kisses their feet, and asks for holy prayers. And when the judge asks him: “Who is he?” - Boniface answers: “I am a Christian.”
Then, as the life tells, the future martyr is beaten until the meat is separated from the bones, needles are stuck under his nails, red-hot tin is poured into his throat, he is thrown into a cauldron with boiling resin, but the holy Angel helped him, and Boniface remained unharmed. Finally, tired of torturing the sufferer for the faith of Christ, the executioners beheaded his head with a sword. Blood and milk came out of the wound. Amazed by such a miracle and the martyr’s standing in the faith, 550 people believed in Christ.
The saint’s companions searched for him for two days, thinking that he had indulged in sinful amusements. Finally they found a witness to the feat of Bonifatius, and he told them about what had happened. Crying and asking forgiveness from the martyr, the friends bought the honest remains of Boniface for a lot of money and went back to Rome to Aglaida.
On the eve of their arrival, an Angel appeared to the girl in a dream and commanded that she, accompanied by priests, meet the honorable relics of the holy martyr Boniface.
Aglaida performed everything exactly. She built an Orthodox church at the burial site of the martyr. The relics of Boniface became famous for many miracles. Aglaida herself went to a monastery and spent eighteen years in penitential deeds. During her lifetime she acquired the gift of expelling unclean spirits. After her death, she was buried near the grave of the martyr Boniface. The Church also glorified Aglaida in the rank of righteous saints.
Using the example of the holy martyr Boniface and righteous Aglaida, we see that a person often indulges in drunkenness and debauchery not because he is bad, but because of a spiritual emptiness that he does not know how to fill.
But it is filled only with faith in God. Then a person finds harmony, peace and mental balance. A gracious heavenly peace reigns in his heart, for which he is not afraid to give his life. And confirmation of this is the life of the holy martyr Boniface and righteous Aglaida.
Holy martyr Boniface and righteous Aglaido, pray to God for us!
Priest Andrey Chizhenko
Orthodox saints, with their righteous lives, good deeds and humility, set an example for believers to follow. They come to the aid of people subject to a sincere request coming from the heart. There are ascetics whose names are on everyone’s lips, such as St. Nicholas, Seraphim of Sarov, Spiridon of Trimifunt, Matrona of Moscow, Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov, Sophia. But there are also people of God in the Orthodox Church that few are familiar with. However, this makes their strength no less than that of the famous miracle workers. One of the little-known ascetics is the holy martyr Boniface, whose Memorial Day falls on January 1. We will dedicate our short material to Saint Boniface, the story of his life and tragic death.
The Personality of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface lived at the end of the 3rd century. AD in Rome. The period of his earthly existence occurred during the reign of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305). By status, Boniface was a forced man, a slave, being in the service of the noble Roman woman Aglaida. Despite belonging to the lowest class imaginable, he held the position of manager for his mistress, that is, he managed the latter’s money and other means.
As a person, Boniface possessed a remarkable quality of compassion. Obeying the dictates of his heart, he helped those in need in every possible way, including money. And since he did not have his own financial resources, he actually spent Aglaida’s money on noble purposes. Boniface provided shelter for the homeless and wanderers, gave to the poor and could not ignore any human grief. Moreover, in no case could he be called a righteous man: the future saint was overcome by passions, in particular drunkenness and fornication. In addition, Boniface was a pagan.
Aglaida's personality
The biography of the holy martyr Boniface is closely connected with that of his mistress. Therefore, it is important to reveal the characteristics of nature and Aglaida. Boniface was in lawless cohabitation with this woman. Thus, both committed the sin of adultery. But the rich Roman woman also had a positive trait: an absolute absence of greed and greed. How else can we explain the connivance that the woman committed towards Boniface, who distributed money to the sick and poor? Only partly love. Apparently, Aglaida had a kind heart, but a weak physical nature, just like her slave lover.
Aglaida's sinful desire
Oddly enough, Boniface’s hostess and friend, a true pagan, had Christians as friends. They often regaled Aglaida with stories about the remains of holy martyrs who died for their faith in Christ, who heal the sick and help those in need of God’s support if you pray sincerely near them. The Roman woman was inspired by this truthful information and became eager to acquire the relics of the holy martyrs, placing them in her home.
Her desire was probably dictated by superstition. As is known, adherents of polytheism at all times actively practiced the use of various amulets, amulets, and talismans in order to protect themselves, their homes and loved ones from the machinations of black forces and human opposition. However, it is possible that the appearance of such a daring desire in Aglaida’s soul was God’s providence.
The hostess shared her thoughts with Boniface. Do not forget that those times coincided with the period of persecution of Christians, and it was not easy to become the owner of the coveted miraculous relics. There was only a real opportunity to buy the remains of the great martyrs for big money in the regions of the East, where there were a great many of them.
Having learned about Aglaida’s desire, Bonifatius, on his own initiative, volunteered to set off on a journey to retrieve the holy relics. He got ready for the journey with two companions, taking with him the necessary things and money. At the moment of farewell, Bonifatius and Aglaida had a short but very symbolic conversation. The future saint, as if jokingly, asked his girlfriend: “What if I am tortured there for Christ and my relics are brought to you, will you accept them with honor?” Aglaida called him a sinner and a drunkard, laughing. She didn’t yet know that this was exactly what would happen...
The journey and its results
Boniface's trip from Rome to Asia Minor turned out to be quite long. The entire time this difficult journey continued, the traveler indulged in thought. This was partly facilitated by the sharp change in the usual environment, and partly by the unusualness of the mission entrusted to him. Boniface's thoughts concerned both his own unrighteous life and the meaning of the earthly existence of every person. Suddenly the sinner’s eyes seemed to open. He was overcome by a feeling of remorse for his misdeeds, and a feeling of all-encompassing emptiness settled in his heart.
Finally, the trip came to an end. Boniface and his companions arrived in the homeland of the holy Apostle Paul - in the city of Tarsus, the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia. He checked into a hotel and immediately went to the city square, the usual place for public executions of Christians. It must be said that Boniface did not take his companions with him, which was extremely imprudent on his part.
Finding himself in the square, the future holy martyr Boniface actually witnessed the trial and torment with the subsequent death of innocent people. The death of the sufferers was truly terrible: the prisoners were subjected to inhuman cruelties. Seeing all this, Boniface was filled with sympathy and pity for the unfortunate. He suddenly realized with inexpressible clarity that he wanted to repeat the path of selfless people. Boniface went to the judge and declared himself a Christian. He was given over to torture, which ended with the beheading of the unfortunate man. So the sinner Boniface became a holy martyr.
Well, what about Boniface’s companions? They waited a long time for their friend to return, but to no avail. And then they went in search of the sinner, which was not immediately crowned with success. The fact is that, knowing the preferences of their friend, the companions visited drinking and debauched establishments one after another. Two days later they met a man who recognized the martyr Boniface from the description. He led the Christians who were looking for the latter to the place of execution, where his companions discovered the body and separately the head of the former sinner. The remains of Bonifatius had to be redeemed for money. These holy relics were wrapped by the companions in a shroud and taken to Aglaida. This is how what Bonifatius said to his friend came true.
Aglaida, seeing her slave and lover dead and tortured, was shocked. Subsequently, she radically changed her lifestyle. 10 km from Rome, on one of the estates owned by a wealthy Roman woman, Aglaida erected a temple. In this earthly abode of God, the former sinner reverently placed the holy relics of the martyr Boniface, who began to provide healing and other help to the living after sincere prayer. Thus, Aglaida’s sinful desire to have in her house the remains of a Christian who suffered for his faith was fulfilled. The once rich Roman woman gave away everything she had. She died 18 years after the death of Saint Boniface.
They pray to the Holy Martyr Boniface for any needs, difficult life circumstances, but especially for healing from drunkenness and debauchery. Saint Boniface also helps in getting rid of any other sinful addiction.
Martyr Boniface (290).
Holy Martyr Boniface (290).
Martyr Boniface of Tarsus
BONIFATIUS OF ROMAN
Day of the Holy Martyr Boniface
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Memory December 19/January 1
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| Holy Martyr Boniface |
BONIFATIUS OF ROMAN
(† 290), martyr. Tarsian (commemorated on December 19, commemorated on May 14), suffered during the imp. Diocletians.
He was the chief manager of the estates of the noble Roman Aglaia (Aglaida), daughter of the proconsul Acacius, and was in a love affair with his unmarried mistress. V.R. led a dissolute life, but was merciful, generous and hospitable.
http://www.pravenc.ru/text/155230.html
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In Rus', this martyr is revered as a deliverer from drunkenness.
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| Mch. Boniface of Tarsus. Icon. Russia. XIX century |
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| Holy Martyr Boniface Russia, XVII century |
The holy martyr Boniface suffered for Christ in 290, during the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305).
He was a slave of the noble Roman woman Aglaida. She entrusted him with the management of her house and vast estates. Bonifatius was in an unlawful cohabitation with Aglaida (“the drunkard was lying around in uncleanliness”). At the same time, he was merciful to the poor and willingly received strangers. Conscious of himself as a slave of sin, Boniface prayed to God to deliver him from the snares of the devil and make him a winner over his lusts and passions. The Lord heard His servant, but arranged it so that he could wash away his sinful deeds with blood and crown his soul with a martyr’s crown.
At that time there was a strong persecution of Christians in the East. Aglaida wished to have the relics of the holy martyrs in her house, hoping to receive salvation under their protection. She sent Boniface with several servants to the East so that he could redeem the holy relics from the wicked tormentors. Leaving, he asked Aglaida: “And if they bring my body to you, martyred for Christ, will you accept it with honor?” Aglaida reproached him for mockery and noted that he needed to remain meek and abstinent in order to worthily accept the relics of the saints. Boniface remembered the words of his mistress and, reflecting on his life on the way, regretted the sins he had previously committed. The entire time they reached Asia Minor, Boniface fasted and diligently prayed to God.
In the Cilician city of Tarsus (Asia Minor), Boniface left his companions at the hotel, and he hurried to the city square, where, in front of a crowd of people, the Christian martyrs were subjected to cruel torture. The faces of the martyrs shone with spiritual joy, for the grace of God strengthened them in their exploits. Amazed by the courage of the saints, Boniface was filled with Divine zeal and publicly declared himself a Christian. He rushed to the martyrs, began to reverently hug their legs and pray to the Lord to grant him a martyr’s crown. The judge interrogated Saint Boniface and, when he received from him a decisive refusal to sacrifice to idols, he handed him over to torture.
They hung Saint Boniface upside down and began to beat him brutally until his bones showed, then they stuck needles under his nails. Seeing his resilience, they poured molten tin down his throat. However, the Lord, through the prayer of the martyr, mysteriously preserved him unharmed. The people glorified the Lord Jesus Christ for the patience of the sufferer and rushed to the pagan temple to destroy the idols. The judge escaped death by flight and could continue his torment only the next day, when the popular unrest had subsided somewhat. The holy martyr was thrown into boiling tar, but he again remained unharmed. Suddenly an Angel descended and showered the martyr with Heavenly coolness; the resin poured out, flared up and burned the wicked tormentors themselves. Then the judge ordered Saint Boniface’s head to be cut off.
Before his execution, the holy martyr prayed to the Lord for forgiveness of sins committed in madness, and for the deliverance of the flock of Christ from all wickedness and pagan error. Blood and milk flowed from the wound of the holy martyr. 550 pagans were surprised by this miracle and believed in Christ.
Boniface's companions bought the saint's body for 500 gold coins and delivered it with honors to Aglaida, whom the Angel had already notified of what had happened. Aglaida greeted the body of the holy martyr with reverence. On her estate, 50 stadia from Rome, she built a temple where she placed the relics of the martyr. They became famous for many miracles; through the prayers of the martyr Boniface, the sick and those suffering from unclean spirits were healed.
Aglaida distributed all her property to the poor and spent 15 years in a monastery in repentance. During her lifetime, she received the gift of exorcism. Upon her death, she was buried next to the martyr Boniface. The feat of the holy martyr Boniface teaches us how to “have a corrupted nature, through true repentance and good change” we can become worthy of the suffering that the Lord endured for us. Through the prayers of Saint Boniface, believers find healing from ailments and deliverance from sinful passions - drunkenness and debauchery.
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| Mch. Boniface of Tarsus. Icon. Rus. XVII century |
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Holy Martyr Boniface
The holy martyr Boniface, whose memory is celebrated on January 1, was from the villages, a simple Maovite warrior. The farmer's thick arms and large hands with fleshy fingers gripped the handle of a long and heavy sword unpretentiously and ineptly, like the handle of a shovel. Boniface was called by his duty to his family; someone had to go as a warrior to the rebels. The father had a large family, the elder brother Elisha was married and had children, and the younger brother Joram was still young, and the three sisters did not count.
In battles with the Romans, Bonifatius was fearless and, with his inability to wield a sword, terrified the attacking legionnaires. He chopped right and left, as if he were not wielding a two-handed sword, but chopping wood with an axe. His comrades followed him, covering Boniface’s back from an accidental blow.
The strength of the rebel Ma-Hovians was melting before our eyes, the legionnaires were pushing back their last troops, there was nowhere to wait for help. But Boniface didn’t even think about his fate; a mug of intoxicating wine and a random woman was enough for him for the night.
Once, in a heavy battle, he broke away from his own and one of the legionnaires stunned him from behind. After the battle, the rebels and legionnaires dispersed to pick up their dead and wounded, and the stunned Bonifatius was captured by the Romans. A helmet forged by a relative with a thick felt liner saved him from death. The concussion he received in the battle did not go away for a long time, but then went away during a long and grueling journey to a foreign land. There he was sold to a lustful, rich and noble Roman woman, Aglaida.
From century to century, people say that time heals mental wounds and the bitterness of loss, this happened with Bonifatius. He led a sinful, carnal and drunken life. With a cup of wine on the chest of the loving Aglaida, he forgot his homeland, the loss of his family and friends. Cohabitation with his mistress only increased his earthly sin before the Lord God. But his heart ached about his behavior and always had the intention of changing his lifestyle. I often prayed to God about this with tears. The poor and unfortunate did not leave him without consolation.
One day Aglaida - Mrs. Bonifatia - hosted a distant relative of Dimetrian, who returned to Rome from ten years of captivity as a Christian. He told Aglaida for a long time about the martyrdom of her husband Anthony from long-healing wounds, whom everyone in Rome considered dead long ago. Demetrius spoke about the difficult life in captivity among nomads, about the cruel persecution of Christians in Asia Minor. With his stories, Dimetrian upset the woman so much that Aglaida set the slave Boniface free on the same day, repenting of her sinful life.
Aglaida learned that if the relics of the holy martyrs are reverently kept in the house, then through their prayers it is easier to obtain salvation, for under their grace-filled influence sins are diminished and virtues reign. She sent Boniface to the East, where at that time there was a cruel persecution of Christians, and asked to bring the relics of a martyr so that he would become their leader and patron. Boniface asked in parting, laughing: “What, madam, if I don’t find the relics, but I myself suffer for Christ, will you accept my body with honor?”
Aglaida noticed that now was not the time for laughter, but that she needed to hurry to carry out her instructions. At her words, Boniface only smiled sadly.
Taking the essentials, Bonifatius set out on a long journey. Before his eyes he saw his father’s house, his own mother, father, brothers and sisters, whom he had left against his own will many years ago, to the point of pain in his heart.
Naturally, Boniface could not immediately give up all his addictions. On the way, I quite often drank wine and had fun. However, during such a long journey from Rome to Asia Minor, Boniface not only thought about the exploits of the Christian martyrs, but learned more and more about them, about the cruel executions of innocent people. He compared his sinful life with the life of Christian martyrs, and faith came to him, repentance in him intensified to the point of readiness to repent. His soul burned with a thirst for salvation, fear of the Lord God touched his soul and heart. And he himself decided to suffer for Christ - the rest of the way he fasted and was constantly in a prayerful mood. And soon he was ready to accept the crown of martyrdom.
A long road remained behind, and Bonifatius and his fellow travelers arrived in the city of Tarsus on the Kidna River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea almost next to this city. Boniface, while still on his way, heard that in this city Christians were literally tortured, tried and executed every day, since Tarsus at that time was the capital of the province of Cilicia in Asia Minor.
Having ordered the servants of Aglaida to wait for him and leaving their things and horse on them at the inn, Bonifatius went to the square, where executions were carried out in front of a crowd of people. Christians who endured inhuman torment from torture accepted death with faith in Christ and with calm faces. Boniface was shocked by their faith in God to the depths of his soul, accepting with his heart the suffering of innocent people. He approached the martyrs for the faith, kissed their hands, feet, wounds, begging them to pray for him, so that the Lord would deign to count him among them. He declared himself a Christian with the words: “Great is the God of Christians, who gives such strength of spirit to his servants.”
Soon he was captured, called for interrogation, and because he admitted to being a Christian, the judge sentenced him to torture. The judge in charge of the executions of Christians demanded that Boniface renounce his words and beliefs, but he was firm in his decision, and the judge handed Boniface into the hands of the executioners. First, they drove a sharp iron under his fingernails and toes, then they tortured his body with whips, poured molten tin into his throat, but, to the surprise of everyone, he remained alive and could speak. Boniface never renounced his faith; he praised the Lord for giving him the strength to withstand all torture.
Boniface was taken to prison, and the next day he was again given over to torment and torture, but they did not achieve a renunciation of Christianity. Since the new torment did not take his life, the judge ordered the tormentor to behead him with a sword. With joy in his heart and with prayer on his lips, Boniface bowed his head under the sword.
Boniface's companions were worried, waiting for him for two days, but he still did not come to the inn. Only on the third day did they learn from the brother of the local scribe, who was recording the testimony of the interrogations, about the execution of a certain foreigner who had suffered for his faith in Christ, that his death had converted more than half a thousand non-believers to the true God. Drawn not only by curiosity, but also by the need to set off on a further journey, Boniface’s companions came to the place of execution. Here they became convinced of the truth of what had happened. They asked the dead Boniface for forgiveness, since they could not even imagine that a drunkard and sinner would undertake such an unthinkable feat and be worthy of a glorious death for Christ.
Shocked by the feat of their companion and comrade, they ransomed the tortured body of Bonifatius, giving away all their gold. The body of Boniface was smeared with aromas, wrapped in a shroud and went back to Rome to his mistress. And at this time a miracle happened in Rome. When the cart with the body of Bonifatius was already not far from Rome, Aglaida received a message from an angel in a dream: “Accept him who was your servant, and now is our brother and servant, who will become the guardian of your soul and a prayer book for you.” She woke up in horror, invited church ministers, and together with them went out with tears to meet the relics of the martyr.
Aglaida fulfilled her promise to God. Boniface was buried with great honors in the outskirts of Rome on her estate and built a temple in the same place.
The holy martyr Boniface truly serves as a model of repentance after sinful passions: intemperance, intoxication, pleasures of the flesh - then an extraordinary thirst for salvation, the experience of terrible torment, the shedding of blood, the cutting off of the head. And all this is completely voluntary. He proved by his actions the sincerity of his repentance and his immeasurable love for Christ. And now God, through the prayers of the holy martyr Boniface, helps us take the true path of repentance, as He once helped this saint to do the same.
http://iconsv.ru/
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Akathist to the Holy Martyr Boniface
http://www.kotlovka.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1761
Kontakion 1
Chosen warrior of Christ, adorned with the crown of glory, delivered from eternal death by martyrdom, turned away from the darkness of sin and come to the eternal light, accept our prayer offered to you in praise, and deliver us from the snares of our evil enemy, so that we cry to you with victorious joy:
Ikos 1
You were protected by the bright angel, who extinguished the fire of your torment with the dew of grace, Boniface, who suffered more than Christ, so that not when, as an unrepentant sinner, you perish and appear before the Lord in darker clothes. Teach us to clothe ourselves in the bright vestments of holiness, calling to you:
Rejoice, you who gave your life for Christ;
Rejoice, imitator of His suffering.
Rejoice, turning your eyes to God;
Rejoice, having strengthened your will in virtues.
Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ;
Rejoice, holy end of your life has been accepted.
Rejoice, turn your hearts to repentance;
Rejoice, enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, not seduced by the temptations of this world;
Rejoice, you put to shame the evil serpent.
Rejoice, joyful face of the saints;
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the great turmoil of this world and the sorrows of the earth, and counting all this as dust, you raised your mind to the most worldly, suffering more than Christ, ascending to the height of God-mind, you confessed Christ God before everyone, and now you call the souls of all who perish in sins to the merciful Lord, yes they will repent in humility and cry out to Him in the tears of those who are touched: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
You strengthened your reason with sobriety and you extinguished the flame of passions with repentance, wonderful Boniface. You came from the West to the East from Rome to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ with a holy intention, so that grace may abound in you now, draw us to the Temple of God, who say to you:
Rejoice, teach us to overcome passions;
Rejoice, give hope of salvation to the desperate.
Rejoice, having known the vanity of earthly life;
Rejoice in your suffering, the one who predicted it.
Rejoice, consolation and approval to those who are sober;
Rejoice, strengthening the weak with will.
Rejoice, for through you we turn away from drunkenness;
Rejoice, for through you we turn to God.
Rejoice, inexhaustible source of healings;
Rejoice, endless treasure of miracles.
Rejoice, teaching us to always raise our minds to God;
Rejoice, having found true freedom from sins.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 3
The ineffable power of God’s mercy has been revealed to you, for the wondrous narrative of your life, martyr, clearly tells us how great sinners are mercifully accepted by our Father God when they bring repentance to Him. Thus, you too pleased God and instead of bitter death you received Eternal Life, teach us to always sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having now eternal joy in the heavenly villages, and not forgetting us on the sinful earth, the martyr of Christ Boniface. We, who are toiling and burdened, come running to you: do not leave the orphaned and sick who ask you for help, but bring our prayers to the heavenly altar, and we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, O neighbor, as you loved yourself;
Rejoice, you who did not harden your heart in sins.
Rejoice, you who served as a stranger and traveler with all diligence;
Rejoice, for this reason you bypassed hailstorms at night.
Rejoice, you who teach mercy to the rich;
Rejoice, protect the orphans and widows.
Rejoice, kind representative to the needy;
Rejoice, you have always been an intercessor for the offended and humiliated.
Rejoice, burned by the unbearable thirst for drunkenness and cooled down by sobriety;
Rejoice, for the sake of wine, call the impoverished to sobriety.
Rejoice, comforter of weeping women;
Rejoice, bring their tears to the Lord.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 4
The storms of sin did not drown you, below the waves of passions covered you, martyr of Christ: you did not perish, but you came to Christ and you offered your life as a fragrant sacrifice to Him, our sweetest Savior. Pray, then, so that we, too, who exist in the sea of life to a quiet refuge, the Lord the Savior, may be called to our father in tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
We also hear the Gospel parable, like a prodigal son in a distant country, dependent on his property, from the hunger of his soul he came into the arms of his father, calling in repentance: “Father! I have sinned in heaven and before you,” so you, martyr Boniface, without destroying yourself, but turning away from the birth of sin, you turned to Christ. We, rejoicing at your correction, sing to you:
Rejoice, you who have experienced passion in your work and are strong in your work;
Rejoice, Christ God, for you have hungered for living bread.
Rejoice, O His most pure blood, for you have partaken of true nourishment;
Rejoice, as you were venerated as a glorious martyr.
Rejoice, you who fly to God on the wings of sobriety;
Rejoice, you who have sorrow in your heart.
Rejoice, you who came to the Lord by the power of the Life-giving Cross;
Rejoice, for you have received the crown of victory.
Rejoice, imperishable treasure of our souls;
Rejoice, our Church is a valuable adornment.
Rejoice, beauty of this world of rejection;
Rejoice, you have taken off your sinful clothes.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 5
Remember the rich Blood of Christ, for all of us unworthy and the martyr's blood shed for Christ, Aglaida tells you: “Weigh for yourself how many sins we have desecrated and are careless about the future of our lives. I have heard from the Divine Man that the might of martyrs grants salvation, like a martyr, as a Guardian and intercessor before God." And we say to you: you are our guardian and intercessor before our Lord, for with the Angels you stand before the Most Holy Trinity, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
We now see and understand how these words of Aglaida awakened your soul, and you called for abstinence for yourself, martyr Boniface, and help us to imitate you, so that we do not perish in the abyss of lawlessness by being drowned, but we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, thou who has awakened from passions, as from a disastrous sleep;
Rejoice, freed from the bonds of sin.
Rejoice, reproof of those who doubt the mercy of God;
Rejoice, endless joy affirmation.
Rejoice, calling us to the feat of abstinence;
Rejoice, for with the sign of the Cross you have cut off the outburst of passions.
Rejoice, having acquired for yourself eternal possessions;
Rejoice, and awaken us to the work of salvation.
Rejoice, for you have despised the joy of wine;
Rejoice, you have endured fleshly wounds because you were incorporeal.
Rejoice, beaten by your enemies for confessing Christ;
Rejoice, scorched by unbearable fire for Him.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 6
The preacher of the worship of the holy relics appeared Aglaida, your mistress, the sufferer of Christ, when you sent to the East the holy relics of the martyrs who suffered for the faith of Christ, to bring them, their benefits flow abundantly, and eternal salvation is given to all who diligently flow to the martyr’s face. Grant that we too may receive consolation from the Lord, and to him we offer the angelic song: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You have shone upon us, like an unsetting star, through your wondrous life, most blessed martyr, the light and all-bearing yoke of Christ that we have accepted and received salvation, for there is no way to find piety without Christ the Lord. In the same way, with your prayers, bring us to the heavenly monastery, praising you here:
Rejoice, tablet of the law of Christ, inscribed by God;
Rejoice, fragrant myrrh of prayers to the Lord.
Rejoice, true pillar of fire in Christ’s faith;
Rejoice, honorable one, crowned with the commandments of God, as if built from other stones.
Rejoice, heavenly ladder of sobriety;
Rejoice, heal sinful illnesses and wounds.
Rejoice, for you have received grace and strength from the Lord Jesus;
Rejoice, for through this light of Christ you have shone.
Rejoice, you teach us to sanctify the holidays by abstinence from sins;
Rejoice, you protect us from mortal wine.
Rejoice, revive those killed by passions with the light of Christ;
Rejoice, you call to a new life.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 7
Although you left your home on a journey to the East, you predicted the end of your life, most praiseworthy, Aglaida, saying: “My lady, accept my body, which was tormented for Christ, when it is brought to you.” The thought of suffering for Christ is in your soul; you prayed to Him in secret; and strengthen our faith, so that we too may prepare it for the sake of suffering, singing to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Not believing your wondrous and glorious correction, think evil in your heart Aglaida, wanting to slander you with the sin of blasphemy, thus responding to you: “Now is not the time for mockery, brother, but for reverence, knowing how to bear the relics of the holy Imasha. May the Lord send His angel before you and guide your steps with His mercy." We, the purity of your heart, wondrous Boniface, seeing, cry out to you:
Rejoice, admirer of holy relics;
Rejoice, giver of reverent images to us.
Rejoice, we are commanded to guard against atrocities;
Rejoice, all of you, for them the sons of this age rejoice, despised.
Rejoice, our famous helper;
Rejoice, more mysterious than holy thoughts.
Rejoice, patron saint of all who struggle with sins;
Rejoice, the guarantor of our repentance before God.
Rejoice, for through your prayers the Lord leaves sins;
Rejoice, helping us to endure sorrows and reproaches.
Rejoice, you who created joy and wonder with your angelic face;
Rejoice, thou who hast brought the spirits of evil to shame.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 8
It is strange for you to have pagan worship of idols, and you, holy martyr, when you came to Tarsus, you did not bend your knees before alien gods, but you appeared to be a zealot of an apostle. In the same way, pray for us, that we may also be ignited with the fire of love for the Lord Christ, always singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You were all inflamed with holy zeal, not tolerating blasphemy against the Lord, and you were filled with the Spirit of God, denouncing the blindness and madness of those who worship false gods. For this reason, the wicked king brought execution on you, the bitter martyr, unbearably beating you with scourges and inflicting inhealable wounds. We sing praises:
Rejoice, bold accuser of evil;
Rejoice, thou clothed in the Truth of God, as if clothed in armor.
Rejoice, for your bones are laid bare for Christ;
Rejoice, for the purity of your soul was then revealed.
Rejoice, for you have inherited the heavenly village;
Rejoice, for even now you reprove evil people’s blasphemy against Christ.
Rejoice, thou who was pierced for Christ with sharp reeds;
Rejoice, everlasting blossom of the Garden of Paradise.
Rejoice, for you have purified gold from the furnace of plagues;
Rejoice, thou struck for Christ.
Rejoice, having pleased God with your death;
Rejoice, you who loved him even to the point of martyrdom.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 9
Having betrayed everything to the Lord God, the passion-bearing Christ, when the wicked king commanded to open your mouth and pour in boiling tin, you raised your hand to heaven, thus praying: “Lord, my God, Jesus Christ, who strengthened me in torment, remain with me now, Ease my suffering and do not leave me overcome by being a wicked prince.” Thus you teach us love for Christ, singing Alleluia to God.
Ikos 9
Let the wits of superstition tell us that the molten tin of your larynx has not fallen, and do no harm to you, martyr Bonifatius. You asked the Lord for a sign of victory over your tormentor, and this sign was given to you quickly. For this reason, everyone miraculously exclaimed: “Great is Jesus Christ, we believe in You, Lord.” We glorify you, martyr, Sitsa:
Rejoice, for through you the faithful are enlightened;
Rejoice, for through you they are being delivered from shameful death.
Rejoice, find your consolation in Christ alone;
Rejoice, teach us to call on God in suffering.
Rejoice, for you did not overcome the torment;
Rejoice, for you have not overcome passions.
Rejoice, for you have burned the thorns of sins within yourself;
Rejoice, for you were not burned by fire.
Rejoice, ever-living, joyful passion-bearer;
Rejoice, our gracious prayer book.
Rejoice, for through you the eyes blinded by sins are opened;
Rejoice, for through your help sorrows are turned into joy.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 10
Having desired to be saved, you ardently desired to suffer to the end for the Lord, martyr Boniface, and you cried out to him: “Lord, Lord, my God, grant me Thy mercies and be my helper, so that for my iniquities, the foolish things I have done, I am not an enemy.” will block my path to heaven: receive my soul in peace, join me with the martyrs who shed their blood for You and kept their faith to the end,” and now cry out: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
A strong wall, not overcome by the machinations of the enemy, you remained to the end, martyr of Christ. When your head was cut off from your body, what a miracle! Abi blood and milk flowed from that wound, just as the unbelievers who beheld this miracle glorify Christ and call you with them:
Rejoice, because your torment is visible, many people have turned to Christ;
Rejoice, for for your sake they rushed against the prince of malice.
Rejoice, for your death will enlighten the darkened minds;
Rejoice, for your glorious death has resurrected the conscience buried in sins.
Rejoice, reproof of unrepentant sinners;
Rejoice, through the will of the paralyzed, healing came from wine.
Rejoice, in the night of ignorance there is admonition for those who wander;
Rejoice, golden soul, drawing you to salvation from the depths of sins.
Rejoice, for you were heard from God in your prayers;
Rejoice, for you have dwelled in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, thou clothed with purple from thy blood;
Rejoice, for you now see the indescribable light.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 11
Bringing silent singing to the Lord, martyr Bonifatius, standing with the martyr's faces of the Most Holy Trinity, you gave yourself up for your worth, and we, too, like adorned brides, present our souls to the incorruptible Bridegroom Christ with a consecrated song: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The light of love even after death shone, O wondrous Boniface, when my friends found your truncated head, weeping bitterly, saying: “Servant of Christ, forget us the sin of unrighteous condemnation and our reckless abuse.” Then your face, as if illuminated by living rays, shows forgiveness to them. For this reason we call you with love:
Rejoice, you have a mouth of meekness speaking sweet words;
Rejoice, spacious container of love.
Rejoice, for the Church and her children rejoice in you;
Rejoice, for you have come to the Highest Heavenly City.
Rejoice, equal in death to the apostle;
Rejoice, glorious in zeal for God.
Rejoice, denounce worldly rumors and evil gossip;
Rejoice, deliver us all from the enemy’s trappings.
Rejoice, for you protect those who are unjustly persecuted;
Rejoice, before the throne of the Lord there is an unquenchable lamp.
Rejoice, loving your enemies according to the commandment of Christ;
Rejoice, having forgotten slander and slander.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 12
The grace of healing, sharpening your relics, as I approached Rome, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Aglaida, saying: “You who were a servant of old, now accept our brother and colleague as a Master, and rest in peace, may your sins be forgiven,” for she is with us now in Heaven sings to the Most High: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your miracles, Aglaida created a wondrous temple for you, warrior of Christ, in it you placed your relics and distributed your wealth to the poor and lived for fifty years in the labors of fasting and repentance, reaching the face of the saints. Moreover, magnifying your miracles, we glorify you:
Rejoice, thou who created thy soul, as a beautiful temple to God;
Rejoice, clear book of the wonderful works of God.
Rejoice, deliver us from sudden death;
Rejoice, protect sorrowful wives from evil pianists.
Rejoice, calling upon those who have fallen to rise from sins;
Rejoice, give them the light of purity.
Rejoice, for you tame the fire of passions;
Rejoice, for through you we leave the prison of sin.
Rejoice, little child, guarding from the temptations of the world;
Rejoice, you who teach the teachings of Christ.
Rejoice, messenger of sobriety, glorified forever;
Rejoice, servant of Christ, ever revered.
Rejoice, Boniface, long-suffering martyr.
Kontakion 13
O wonderful martyr of Christ Boniface, accept from us this small commendable offering, who bowed our knees before your icon and stretched out our hands to you now, grant us your intercession before the Lord, especially to our brethren who are perishing from drunkenness. make us all worthy, so that, having improved our salvation through prayers, we will praise God forever, singing to Him: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1st and kontakion 1st
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Prayer for healing from alcoholism to the Martyr Boniface
Boniface himself died from the passion of drunkenness, but he turned to the Lord and was awarded martyrdom. They pray to him from the passion of drunkenness and binge drinking.
Prayer to the Holy Martyr Boniface
O long-suffering and all-praised martyr Boniface!
We now resort to your intercession; do not reject the prayers of us who sing to you, but graciously hear us. See our brothers and sisters, obsessed with the serious illness of drunkenness, see for the sake of their mother, the Church of Christ, and eternal salvation falling away. O holy martyr Boniface, touch their hearts with the grace given to them by God, quickly raise them from the falls of sin and lead them to saving abstinence. Pray to the Lord God, for His sake you suffered, so that having forgiven us our sins, may He not turn away His mercy from His sons, but may He strengthen sobriety and chastity in us, may His right hand help those who are sober to keep their saving vow to the end in days and nights, oh He is awake and a good answer will be given about him at the Last Judgment. Accept, servant of God, the prayers of mothers who shed tears for their children; honest wives, weeping for their husbands, orphaned and wretched children, abandoned by the pianists, all of us, falling down on your icon, and may this cry of ours come through your prayers to the throne of the Most High, granting to all through their prayers health and salvation of souls and bodies, especially the Kingdom Heavenly. Cover and protect us from the evil deception and all the snares of the enemy, in the terrible hour of our exodus, help us to pass through the airy ordeals without stumbling, and with your prayers deliver us from eternal condemnation. Pray to the Lord to grant us unfeigned and unshakable love for our Fatherland, before the enemies of the Holy Church, visible and invisible, invincible power, so that the mercy of God will cover us for endless centuries.
Amen.
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| Holy Martyr Boniface |
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A different prayer - against drunkenness and all passion
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Your servants (names) with the words of Your divine Gospel, read about the salvation of these Your servants (names). The thorns of all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, have fallen, Lord, and may Thy grace dwell in them, enlightening, scorching, purifying this person. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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Prayer three
O holy passion-bearer of Christ, warrior of the Heavenly King, despising earthly sensuality and ascending through suffering to the heavenly Jerusalem, martyr Boniface! Hear me, a sinner, offering prayer songs from my heart, and beg our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive all my sins, committed in knowledge and in ignorance. To her, the martyr of Christ, she showed the image of repentance to sinners! Be a helper and intercessor for the evil of the enemy of the devil through your prayers to God; I tried many times to escape the snares of his evil ones, but was caught in the snare of sin and was tightly dragged from it, I could not get rid of it, unless you stood before me, in a bitter situation to the one who endures, and how many times I tried to repent, but it was a lie before God.
For this reason, I come running to you and pray: save me, Holy One of God, from all evils through your intercession, by the grace of the Almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
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| Holy Martyr Boniface Modern list of icons |
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Troparion to the Martyr Boniface
Troparion, tone 4:
Martyrs were sent to the class, you were a true martyr, having suffered for Christ most powerfully, most valiantly, but you returned with the might of the faith that sent you, blessed Boniface, pray to Christ God to accept forgiveness of our sins.
Kontakion, tone 4:
The immaculate sanctification was brought to you by your own will, even from the Virgin for the sake of the one who wanted to be born, the holy crowned, wise Bonifatius.
Kontakion, tone 4:
Coming out to receive the passion-bearing relics and those suffering from the law of faith for the sake of vain, you showed your courageous strength, rushing to the passions by confessing to Christ, Who received the honor of the victory of your suffering, Bonifatius, pray ever for us.
Kontakion, tone 6:
You appeared as a bright star, the charmless one of the world, proclaiming the Sun of Christ with your dawns, passion-bearing Boniface, and you extinguished all the charm, giving us light, praying unceasingly for all of us.
Greatness
We magnify you, the passion-bearing Saint Boniface, and honor your honest suffering, which you endured for Christ.
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Canon to the Holy Martyr Boniface
http://belmagi.ru/amolitv/vanefatey.htm
Irmos: Strong tristates, Born of the Virgin, dispassion in the depths of the soul, tripartite in the swamp, I pray that You, as in the tympanum, will sing a victorious song for the mortification of the body.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. With zealous thought and feat, being jealous of the good sufferers, you suffered greatly and you killed the serpent through your life-giving suffering, sufferer Boniface, the interlocutor of the holy Angels.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Seeing the enemy’s flattery poured out on the land, the good sufferer, having inflamed his soul with the most Divine desire, you entered the funeral feast unafraid, blessed, wise. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Enlightened by Divine wisdom, blessed one, you have made fools of your unwise enemies, proclaiming Christ, becoming likened by the stoutness of the flesh to whom Bonifatius, the long-suffering martyr, appeared at will.
Theotokos: The Mountain of God, which Daniel foresaw, the mental tabernacle, the pure Mary, the holy sanctification of glory, the table that contained the Divine bread, the faithful one, let us sing with one wisdom.
Irmos: Because the Church has given birth to barren children, and many of the children are weary, let us cry out to our wonderful God: Holy art thou Lord, Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us.
As you, O glorious one, desired the Highest freedom, freeing yourself from the yoke of work, being passionately jealous of honest things, O glorious one, for the mercy of the former slave.
Holy Martyr Boniface. pray to God for us.
The highest of the flesh appeared through the wisdom of the Divine change, suddenly everyone who lay down suffered cruelty, rejoice, martyr Boniface.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us.
You yourself, you rejected, and you came out to the feat and struggle of the enemy, strengthened by the weapon of the Cross, and, having become the winner, you became glorified, martyr Boniface.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: Having exhausted Yourself, Without having exhausted the Father’s bosom in Your womb, the pre-existent God and Your Son became, All-immaculate, saving humanity.
Kontakion, tone 4
Similar to: Ascended:
Coming out to receive the passion-bearing relics and those who suffered legitimately for the sake of faith in vain, you showed your courageous strength, rushing to the passions by confessing to Christ, Who received the honor of the victory of your suffering, Bonifatius, pray ever for us.
Sedalen, voice 4
Similar to: Ascended:
Martyrs were sent to the class, you were a true martyr, having suffered for Christ the most, most valiant, but you blessedly surrendered the burden by faith to the one who sent you, blessed Bonifatius. But diligently pray for complete forgiveness of all sins.
Glory, even now.
Theotokos: O sin-loving one, I pray to You, who gave birth to the sinless God, who takes away the sins of the world, the Most Pure One, to give mercy to my many-sinful soul and to cleanse my many sins: for You are purification for sinners, and salvation for the faithful, and intercession.
Theotokos: From the Beginning Father born, who finally gave birth to You in the flesh, hanging on the Cross, beholding, O Christ, alas for Me, O most dear Jesus, crying out: How is he glorified as God by the Angels, from the Son of lawless men now, even though you are crucified? I sing, Ty, Long-suffering.
Irmos: For the sake of Love, Generous, You became Your image on Your Cross, and the pagans melted away: For You are, O Lover of Mankind, my strength and praise.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Blessing the patience of the afflicted, with the likeness of the martyr of honest sufferings, you have become likened to the rich wisdom of God.
Holy and martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Going by faith to the martyrs of the Divine estate, blessed one, you yourself gave the most wonderful burden to you, the wise God. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Purified like gold, martyr, purified by the crucible, the purest one appeared, bearing the image of the Creator of Passions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: Virginity after the Nativity is sealed and cognized, O Young Lady, the unspeakably born Word from Your side You truly magnified.
Irmos: Thy Enlightenment, O Lord, descend upon us, and resolve us from the darkness of sins, O Blessed One, grant Thy peace.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Like a luminous star, you rose from the west, and you went, martyr, with suffering, patiently, and you shone towards the west, illuminating the ends. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. You labored as a martyr, tormenting nails with sharp, martyr's reeds, and faithfully dulling the evil sting with grace. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. The enemy is exhausted, God-wise, against your treachery, for with an unflinching gaze towards God, you endured the wounds of the flesh, as if bodiless. Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: I have washed every defilement, O Virgin, my soul, I cry out to You, and save me, O Pure One, Who embodied the true God of the Savior on earth.
Irmos: Cry out, prefiguring the three-day burial, the prophet Jonah, praying in the whale: deliver me from aphids, O Jesus, King of hosts.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Beaten by fleshly wounds, you have wounded the godless. those who were incurably ill with ignorance, and you appeared to the sick as a doctor, the suffering Boniface.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. We are exalted to God, blessed one, by the pretext of exploits, you have destroyed invisible enemies and you have been a helper to the humble, more passion-bearing. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. We drag along the earth, like a precious stone, more suffering, you have cast down delights, but you have strengthened the hearts of the faithful most of all by faith. Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: The bush is a prototype of You, the All-Immaculate One, the first, burning and in no way scorched, the Most Pure One, for, like it, you were not scorched, having embodied God.
Kontakion, tone 4
Similar to: You appeared:
The immaculate sanctification was brought to you by your own will, Who from the Virgin for the sake of you wants to be born, holy crowned, wise Bonifatius.
Irmos: Abrahamstin sometimes in Babylon the youths quenched the flames of the caves, crying out with songs: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Without bending your knees to the graven image, you fell into the greatest temptation, truly, a martyr, into the cave, watered by it, you gave thanks to Christ forever.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Eagerly to destroy the fortress of your confession, the flattering wise one mercilessly pours bubbling tin into your inner being, but in reality you are put to shame.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Having zealously cut off your honorable head, you cut off your flattering enemy's many-witted head with a sword, O martyr of Christ, God-wise.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: Let the voices of those who sing praise Thee, O Young Lady, deliver me from passions with Thy prayers, troubles and sorrows and wicked people who seek to embitter me.
Irmos: Savior of all, O All-Powerful One, in the midst of the flame of the pious, you descended, watered it - and taught you to sing: all things, bless, sing to the Lord.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. By making your salvation useful, Christ, Boniface, seeking the relics of the good-victorious martyrs, strengthens you, which you yourself truly sought to be.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Thou hast given the blessed treasure to the blessed lady, 6blessed, having become rich, girded with a cheerful heart: all things, bless, sing to the Lord.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. With diligence, the glorious woman, having erected the most sacred temple, place you in it, a true temple of the Divine Trinity, more passion-bearing than Boniface of Christ.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Having died for the love of the Creator, who mortifies the pernicious passions, give life through your prayer to those who clearly cry out: all things, bless, sing to the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: To Thee, the Pure One, the Divine One, descended like a message, incarnated and deified people, singing songs, the Virgin: all things, bless, sing to the Lord.
Irmos: Eve, through the illness of disobedience, instilled an oath; But you, Virgin Mother of God, through the vegetation of the womb of the world and the Blessing of the world, you have flourished. This is why we magnify you all.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Having seen you, the sacred burden, pray to God for us, drinking, ever remembering: the servant of thee, blessed, the true master, I accept, delivering me from evil with your favorable prayers. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Like a tree, in the abundance of your thoughts, you have blossomed, the martyrs, Bonifatius, like a date, you have risen like a cedar, you have been known to be myrrh-breathed, you have appeared as a chosen one, like a cypress, fragrant to our souls. Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Today your memory rises up to us, more passion-bearing, like the sun, with the radiance of Divine gifts, enlightening the souls of those who sing to you, driving away the darkness of passions, all-blessed martyr to the God-wise.
Holy Martyr Boniface, pray to God for us. Like the sun from the west, you shone and you reached the eastern city, where you suffered and died, you rose to life and you reached bright Rome, protecting it with your prayers. Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos: Illuminate me with Your light,
All-immaculate, in the darkness of the contents of sin, Mother of God, and grant the Divine commandments to walk in the day, Bride of God, as let me sing to Thee, the All-Singing One.
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| Mch. Fonifaty in the Life (fragment of the icon "Theotokos with Saints"). Icon. Russia. Mid-19th century 11 x 20. |
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| The Torment of St. Boniface of Tarsus. Tzortzi (Zorzis) Fuka. Fresco. Monastery of Dionysiates. Athos. 1547 |
