"Save me, God!".
Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Orthodox community on Instagram, Lord, Save and Preserve † - https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/. The community has more than 60,000 subscribers. There are many of us like-minded people and we are growing quickly, we post prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, and timely post useful information about holidays and Orthodox events... Subscribe. Guardian Angel to you!
Saint Melania is the patroness of women during pregnancy and childbirth. The saint helps to carry and give birth to a healthy baby; people also pray to her during difficult labor.
Brief biography of the saint
The noble Roman woman became famous for her adherence to the Christian faith.
Origin and childhood
Melania was born into the family of a Roman senator from the Valeri family, a branch of the Publicola. The girl was to become the sole heir to possessions in Rome, Spain, North Africa, and most of the future France (in the north, southwest, south).
Her paternal grandmother, Melania, was a Christian. She instilled her views on the teachings of Christ in her granddaughter. After the death of her husband, Melania Sr. took a vow of chastity, distributed property to the poor and founded a monastery in Jerusalem. Since childhood, Melania Jr. dreamed of becoming the bride of Christ, devoting her life to serving the Almighty.
Life
The father opposed his daughter’s decision and married her at the age of 14 to a young man 4 years older named Alinian. Melania the Roman persuaded the groom not to enter into a marriage relationship, maintain chastity and devote his life to God. But the parents and husband agreed to fulfill Melania’s wishes after the birth of 2 children, heirs of the family property. While married, the saint wore a hair shirt under her clothes, fasted and prayed.
The first to be born was a girl who lived for several years. During the second birth, a boy was born who died after baptism. Due to the difficult birth, Melania was seriously ill for a long time. The husband, who dearly loved his wife, vowed to maintain chastity in family relationships if his wife recovered.
Melania has recovered. Alinian fulfilled his promise to God. When Melania was 20 years old, her father died. Before his death, he repented of his opposition to his daughter serving the Almighty. After his death, the couple sold their properties in Italy in order to provide material support to Christian monasteries and churches in Syria, Palestine, Egypt, as well as sick and poor people.
The amount received from sales was so large that it affected the state of the financial system of the Roman Empire due to the withdrawal of the money supply from circulation.
Serving God
During the Visigoth invasion (410), Melania with her husband, mother and grandmother hide in an estate in Numidia (modern Algeria). Here she meets the Christian philosopher Augustine Africanus. In Tagaste (modern Suk-Aras) he founded 2 monasteries.
The saint, in addition to charitable assistance, did not stop personal service to the Almighty: she wore a hair shirt under her clothes, read prayers daily, and copied holy books.
After 7 years, the couple moved to Jerusalem, where Melania would live for 22 years. She sells real estate in Spain and continues to provide financial assistance to the poor. When financial possibilities were exhausted, the faithful spouses separated and turned to God with all their souls, spending all their days in prayer.
The blessed one founded a cell near the mountain where Jesus Christ was buried, and became a hermit following the example of the desert ascetics. Soon a monastic monastery of 90 girls was formed near her. The monk refused to become abbess, but provided pastoral assistance to the novices.
In her teachings, she called on the nuns:
- deny sleep;
- pray constantly;
- avoid sinful thoughts;
- pacify the flesh with fasting;
- to love each other;
- direct all thoughts and feelings towards God.
Thanks to the hermit, an altar and a chapel appeared in the monastery. After Alinian’s death, his wife buried him and spent 4 years next to the grave, constantly praying for the salvation of his soul, forgiveness of sins and ascension into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The saint wished to build a monastery on the Mount of Olives. The Lord was pleased to send a rich Christian who donated money for the construction of a monastic monastery. Thanks to the efforts and energy of Melania, the monastery was erected a year later.
Demise
Anticipating her imminent death, the Monk Melania goes to Bethlehem to participate in the service in honor of the Nativity of Christ. On December 31, 439, Melania died quietly. Initially she was buried in her cell. Then the relics were transferred to Venice. Currently, you can venerate the holy remains in the Temple of Santo Stefano Rotondo (Rome).
Life of Melania the Roman
The girl was born into a Christian family. Her parents were wealthy and noble people and wanted Melania to continue their family line. They gave her in marriage at the age of fourteen to Apinian from a wealthy family. She asked her husband to live in an immaculate relationship or to let her go to serve the Lord. But he promised that when his wife gave birth to two heirs, he would also give up worldly concerns.
The first child was a girl, the second was a boy, who died immediately after baptism. Soon the girl gave her soul to God. The woman suffered so much that her husband began to worry and ask God not to take her, and took a vow of chastity.
The parents of the young people objected to their decision to devote their lives to the Lord. When my father was dying, he gave his blessing for asceticism. The couple settled near Rome, the husband was twenty-four years old, and the wife was twenty. They visited sick people, gave money to the poor, freed prisoners and slaves in mines for gold, and received strangers. Having sold all their property, they bought land in Syria, Palestine and Egypt on which they built temples.
When the couple were sailing on a ship to Africa, a storm arose. But Melania assured that everything would be fine, you just need to surrender to the will of the Lord. Their ship landed on the shore of an island inhabited by barbarians. They began to demand money and threatened to kill everyone. The saints paid a ransom for the lives of their fellow travelers.
The best article for you, go to: Icon of the Nativity of Christ, meaning and what it helps with
Upon arrival in Africa, they helped everyone in need and built monasteries and churches. After living for seven years, they went to Jerusalem, where they gave the last gold to the poor and began to pray fervently. Melania decided to live alone in a cell on the Mount of Olives. Her husband and mother visited her once a week.
The fame of the ascetic quickly spread, and people flocked to her for advice. She came out of captivity to serve the salvation of the souls of lost people. Gradually, a monastery was formed near her cell and 90 nuns found refuge in it. She refused to become abbess of the monastery, but continued to take care of the sisters.
Prayer text
Oh, glorious mother Melania, our speedy helper and intercessor and vigilant prayer book for us! Standing before your most pure image and you, as I live, we pray to you with vision and prostration: accept our petition and bring it to the Throne of the Merciful Heavenly Father, as I have boldness towards Him; Ask those who come to you and all Orthodox Christians for eternal salvation and temporary prosperity, for all our good deeds and undertakings, a generous blessing, and quick deliverance from all troubles and sorrows. She, our child-loving mother, you, who stand before the Throne of God, know our spiritual and worldly needs, look at her with your mother’s eye, and with your prayers turn away from us the fluctuation of every wind of teaching, the increase of evil and ungodly customs; Establish in all the faith consonant knowledge, mutual love and like-mindedness, so that to all, in words and writings and deeds, the All-Holy Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God, worshiped in the Trinity, to Him be honor and glory, forever and ever. . Amen.
Icon of Saint Melania
Saint Melania is revered by women throughout the Orthodox world. The icon of this saint can save girls from harm, help save their family and find their happiness.
History of the icon
Saint Melania was born into a wealthy family: her parents were noble and respected people. The girl decided to devote her life to the Lord, but her parents did not listen to her wishes, and at the age of 14 Melania was given in marriage.
The immaculate girl refused intimacy with her husband for several years, but the young man managed to convince Melania to give birth to heirs in exchange for a promise to devote her life to serving the Lord. In their marriage, the saint and her husband had two babies - a boy and a girl, but immediately after giving birth they died, going to the Lord, and Melania herself found herself on the verge of death.
The frightened husband vowed to renounce all worldly things, and the saint returned to life. The couple sold all their property and spent their entire lives helping people in the name of the Lord. After the death of the spouses, they were canonized, and the image of Saint Melania began to be venerated by women who wanted to give birth to healthy children.
Where is the holy image located?
Currently, the first written image of Saint Melania is located in Jerusalem, in a cave near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to venerate the icon and ask for the greatest happiness - the birth of a healthy child.
Description of the icon of Saint Melania
The icon depicts the young, immaculate Melania, humbly placing her fate in the hands of the Lord. In her right hand the saint holds the Cross, and in her left hand a scroll with the Holy Scriptures. This image was created for the edification of all Orthodox people as a reminder of the true purpose of our lives.
How does the image of Saint Melania help?
They pray to Reverend Melania for the birth of healthy children, the healing of childhood illnesses and the guidance of children on the path of true love for the Lord. Women all over the world treasure the icon of this saint as a special value.
Sincere prayers before the holy image can completely change the life of any family: having heard the prayer, Saint Melania can give a woman a long-awaited child who will become a consolation in life and its meaning.
Prayer before the miraculous icon
“Oh, most holy Melania, who brought her life to the Lord, forgiven by His mercy, guide and merciful petitioner! I come running to you in tears and pray: help, holy innocent virgin, grant the humble servant of God (name) the great happiness of bringing new life into our world. Hear my cry and do not leave me in the moment of my sorrow. Be the intercessor and protector of my female happiness, so that with all my life I thank the Lord for the mercy shown to me. Amen".
This prayer must be read by all women who want to give birth to a healthy child, as well as to be healthy and happy in marriage with their beloved man.
Saint Melania's feast day is January 13th. At this time, prayers for family happiness and children, said sincerely and from the bottom of the heart, can create a real miracle.
Orthodox Christianity has many icons, in front of which people pray for various reasons. However, there are icons that...
The icon “The Savior is in Power” is revered among Orthodox Christians. The image embodies a prophecy from Holy Scripture and...
The icon of the Great Martyr Alexandra is revered in the Orthodox world. People turn to her for help when there is a breakdown in...
The “Selected Saints” icon is especially revered in the Orthodox world. Her incredible power can help every parishioner.
What you can and cannot do on January 13
On January 13, any manifestations of stinginess and greed were believed to be strictly punished. It was impossible not to open the door to the generous ones or not to treat them with something. Stingy owners could face ruin in the future.
They didn’t count their money during the day, so as not to count their tears later.
Conflicts, quarrels, scandals and foul language were strictly prohibited. The whole day had to be spent in a good mood, communicating with others only on positive topics.
They didn't skimp on food in any way. The dinner table had to be rich so that wealth in the house would remain throughout the year. Pork dishes were preferred. They tried to cook so much so that there was enough food for possible uninvited guests.
If for Christmas they prepared rich kutya, then for Generous Evening - generous. The difference was the ability to fill it with lard and meat on January 13th.
It was necessary to sit down at the table only in light and clean clothes. Those who allowed themselves to wear black clothes could expect mourning.
There had to be an even number of people at the table. If this did not work out, an empty plate was placed.
You could stay visiting until midnight. It was forbidden to kick guests out of your home.
They didn’t lend money to anyone and didn’t borrow it from anyone themselves, so as not to end up in debt before the end of the year.
In the evenings, various fortune tellings were performed. Making a wish was allowed.
In the yard, snow was shaken off the trees so that in the summer they would “give” a rich harvest in return.
Dreams about Melania the Roman could be prophetic. They looked for signs and warnings about important events in life.
Fortune telling for Malanka and Vasily
On Malanka, Ukrainians not only eat delicious food, but also perform long-standing Ukrainian New Year rituals, in particular, fortune telling and generosity.
As a rule, young girls engage in fortune telling to find out with whom they are destined to spend their lives in the future. According to an old custom, which nowadays is found only in some villages, when a girl begins to tell fortunes, the young man who is in love with her must steal the gate or gate of her house. To regain his loss, the girl's father must put up a magarych.
In different regions of Ukraine, girls tell fortunes differently. Here are some examples:
they go out into the street, and which animal they meet first, that will be the betrothed: if a dog - angry and angry, if a sheep - quiet and calm, etc.;
three piles of grain are poured at the gate, and in the morning they check: if the grain is in place, then family life will be happy, and if a few grains are missing, then vice versa;
They put a comb under the pillow and before going to bed they say: “Mummer, comb my head!” Whoever dreams will be judged;
Before going to bed, they put a few twigs from a broom in a bowl of water and say: “Carry the betrothed-mummer across the bridge.” If in the morning the twig sticks to the edges of the bowl, then the girl will marry the one in the dream.
Malanka: poems and generosity
Unlike carols, Ukrainian folk shchedrivkas were slightly influenced by the church. Due to their more secular nature, šedrivkas have largely retained their authenticity and have come down to us in the form they were hundreds of years ago.
***
As on the Generous Evening, Melanka began to pray for an hour before us. The marvelous girl walks everywhere, making every house in the village happy. Tsia Melanka herself can’t walk, All the partnership is good for her. Abiyak dressed up lads Go to be generous to your loved ones. For Melanka they rob the boy, and clothe the girl with cloth. The whole community is coming to the house, Asking is allowed to be generous. “Oh, dear lord, dear darling, Let Melanochka go to her house, Melanochka should walk cleanly, Don’t damage anything in the house. If you do some harm, then you will get rid of it; Good evening!” Show Varto tsyu Melanka and begin to gawk at her. Melanka amuses everyone - The lady of the land is pitiless. Before all the fires, I won’t be able to earn anything myself, I scatter the smittya around the house, I turn everything around. “Our Melanka is not a worker, She is wearing a short shirt... People go to the stubble, And Melanka goes to beer! People will go with sickles, and Melanka will go with bottles! People will reap one harvest, And Melanka - one harvest!
***
We are generous and sleep under the window. Happily, we wish you all the best. Let your fields trade gold, so that you may live happily in May.
***
Shchedrik-vedrik, give me the dumplings! A breast of porridge, a ring of cowbaska. That’s not enough - give me more lard. Moreover, three rubles - give me some lemishki. Today, on Melanki, in front of St. Basil - Generous Kutya!
***
Ho-go, goat, go-go, sira, Oh, she was having fun, having fun, At her court, with the ruler! Where a goat walks, where it lives, where it lives, where it doesn’t fly, where it wags, where a goat walks, where it lives, where it lives, where a goat lives with its horns, where it lives like a haystack, where it lives with its tail, where it lives in a bush.
