St. Cornelius the centurion, was a captain over one hundred soldiers in Caesarea of Palestine and he worshipped the stars. When he heard the Apostles preaching and saw the miracles performed at their hands, which were above and beyond any human power or pagan gods, he was astonished, confused, and he started to doubt his gods. He forsook the worship of the stars and opened his heart to the Lord through prayers, fasting and merciful deeds. In his prayers he repeated, "O Lord God, I am confused in my knowledge of You, direct me and guide me to You." The Lord had compassion on him, accepted his prayers and his compassionate deeds, and sent an angel to announce to him that his prayers and alms had ascended before God and had been accepted by Him. He ordered him to send men to the city of Joppa, to bring St. Peter the Apostle, who was lodging with Simon the tanner and who would tell him what he must do. Cornelius did as the Lord said and had St. Peter brought to his house.

        As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." When Peter went in the house, he found many Gentiles who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or to go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore, I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then for what reason have you sent for me?" So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send, therefore, to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' So I sent to you immediately and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." Peter then opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness, is accepted by Him."

Then he preached to them of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, and explained to them the mystery of His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and the workings of miracles in His Name. Cornelius, his household, all his men and most of those who were with him, believed and were baptized in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Straightaway the Holy Spirit descended upon them. (Acts 10) Afterwards, Cornelius left the military service and followed the Apostles. St. Peter then ordained him a Bishop over the city of Caesarea of Palestine. He went there and proclaimed the Name of Christ, showing them the error of worshipping idols. Their minds were illuminated with the knowledge of God and they believed in Him. He strengthened them with the signs and miracles he performed before them and he baptized them all and among them was Demetrius the Governor. Then he departed in peace and received the crown of glory of the apostles.

May his prayers and blessings be with us all. Amen

 

v

القديس كرنيليوس القائد

قبوله الإيمان

كان رئيسًا على مائة جندي بقيصرية فلسطين وكان يعبد الكواكب، فلما سمع عن التلاميذ ورأى الآيات التي كانت تُعمل على أيديهم مما تعجز عن عملها قوى البشر والآلهة الوثنية ذُهل عقله وتحيّر ودخله الشك في آلهته.

ترك عبادة الكواكب، وبدأ يرفع قلبه إلى اللَّه بالصوم والصلاة والرحمة، وكان يقول في صلاته: "أيها الرب الإله إني قد تحيّرت في معرفتك فأرشدني وأهديني إليك". فتحنن اللَّه عليه وقَبِل صلاته وصدقته وأرسل له ملاكًا يبشر له بقبولهما وصعودهما إليه، ويأمره أن يرسل إلى مدينة يافا فيدعو بطرس الرسول الذي كان نازلاً عند سمعان الدبّاغ فيعلمه ماذا ينبغي أن يفعل. فأرسل واستحضره ولما دخل بطرس استقبله كرنيليوس وسجد واقعًا على قدميه، فأقامه بطرس قائلاً: "قم أنا أيضًا إنسان". ولما دخل بيته وجد جماعة كبيرة من الأمم فقال لهم: "أنتم تعلمون أن شريعة التوراة تمنعني من مخالطة غير المختونين، إلا أن اللَّه قد أراني أن لا أقول على إنسان ما أنه دنس أو نجس. فلذلك جئت إذ استدعيتموني فماذا تريدون؟"

قال كرنيليوس: "منذ أربعة أيام إلى هذه الساعة كنت صائمًا وفى التاسعة كنت أصلى في بيتي، وإذا رجل قد وقف أمامي بلباس لامع وقال: يا كرنيليوس سُمِعت صلاتك وذُكِرت صدقاتك أمام اللَّه. فأرسل إلى يافا واستدع سمعان الملقب بطرس إنه نازل في بيت سمعان رجل دباغ عند البحر، فهو متى جاء يكلمك. فأرسلت إليك حالاً وأنت فعلت حسنًا إذ جئت. والآن نحن جميعًا حاضرون أمام اللَّه لنسمع جميع ما أمرك به اللَّه".

فتح بطرس فاه وقال: "بالحق أنا أجد أن اللَّه لا يقبل الوجوه بل في كل أمة الذي يتقيه ويصنع البرّ مقبول عنده". ثم بشره بيسوع المسيح رب الكل، وأعلمه سرّ تجسده وصلبه وقيامته وصعوده وعمل الآيات باسمه. فآمن كرنيليوس وأهل بيته وكل غلمانه وأكثر الذين معه وتعمّدوا باسم الآب والابن والروح القدس فحلّت عليهم نعمة الروح القدس في الحال (أع10).

أسقف مدينة قيصرية

بعد ذلك ترك كرنيليوس الجندية وتبع الرسل، ثم رسمه القديس بطرس أسقفّا علي مدينة قيصرية من أعمال فلسطين، فمضي إليها وبشّر فيها بالمسيح، مبينًا لهم ضلالة الأصنام، فاستنارت عقولهم بمعرفة اللَّه وآمنوا به. ثم ثبّتهم بما صنعه أمامهم من الآيات والمعجزات وعمّدهم جميعًا، وكان بينهم ديمتريوس الوالي، ثم تنيّح بسلام ونال إكليل المبشرين.

السنكسار، 23 هاتور.