The Death Testament - Saint Mark of Ephesus and Saint Gennadius Scholarius
The Death Testament of Saint Mark of Ephesus naming Saint Gennadius Scholarius as his successor and the reply of Saint Gennadius accepting his plea
Saint Mark of Ephesus
I testify and solemnly declare regarding Master Scholarius that I have known him from his most tender age, that I am attached to him by friendship, that I love him as my son, as my friend - although some changes in our mutual friendly relations may be mentioned. Living unceasingly with him, even to this hour, when I feel the approach of my death, I fully know the strength of his mind, his wisdom, and the strength of his speech; and therefore I am sure that of all the people who are at this time, he alone is able to lend a helping hand to Orthodoxy, overwhelmed by those trying to shake the purity of dogmas; he alone, with the help of God, is able to protect the Church and strengthen Orthodoxy, being faithful and not hiding the lamp under a bushel. I cannot think that inner sympathy or suppression of the voice of conscience was the reason that he did not fight for the Church with his characteristic zeal and diligence, seeing her besieged by the waves, when Truth was shaken by a storm and when he knew that he had to defend her - the reason for this was only one human weakness! Whoever is wise like him cannot but see that the destruction of universal Orthodoxy destroys everything! - Perhaps, in this past tense, he considered the intercession of some others, and most of all mine, to be sufficient for this, - and therefore he did not show himself to be an obvious defender of the truth, and, no doubt, was restrained by some temporary circumstances or worldly considerations; but I did nothing, or contributed very little to the defense of the Church, having neither sufficient power of speech nor strength - and now I am coming to corruption - and what can be lower than corruption!
If he could then think that we alone were able to protect the Church and considered it useless to undertake what others could do, then now, when I am already ready to depart from this world, I do not see anyone else besides him who could, as I think, to replace me for the defense of the Church, the holy Faith, and the dogmas of Orthodoxy, and, for this reason, I entrust this matter to him. Being not only called, but also compelled by present circumstances, may he ignite the sparks of piety living in him, and may he stand up for the holy Church, for Orthodoxy, and may he lead, with the help of God, to the desired end what I could not complete myself. So, he will succeed in this, according to the goodness of God, with his own wisdom and with the gift of eloquence that he possesses — if these gifts are used by him at the proper time.
In any case, he is obliged, both before God and before the holy Faith and the Church, to faithfully and piously stand up for Orthodoxy; but no less than that, I myself command this struggle to him — let him replace me, the Warrior of the Church; let him pour out holy teaching, according to Orthodox dogmas, and let him be a defender of the truth! May he firmly trust in the help of God and in the very truth of those dogmas for which he fights; holy Church teachers will co-exist with him, divinely inspired holy fathers with him, great theologians with him; he will receive retribution from the Supreme Judge, from the One Who will call to Himself all who struggled for the Faith. Obliged to the Church to use all his strength to uphold the dogmas of Orthodoxy, he must also, at the solemn moment of my death, pledge himself to me, who bequeaths this feat to him, in the hope that my labors, continued to them will bring forth fruit a hundredfold, like seed sown in good ground. And so, may he answer me to this, so that I may be completely calm before I depart from this life, and so that I do not die in sorrow, despairing of saving the Church!
Saint Gennadius Scholarius
My holy Master! First of all, I thank Your Holiness for the praise with which you have honored me, for, wishing to console me, you attributed to me virtues that I do not have, which do not belong to me, but to the high perfection, virtue, and wisdom of Your Holiness. Seeing them for a long time contained in you and marveling at them, I have not ceased to this day to give Your Holiness the honor that belongs to the father, teacher, mentor of my childhood; I have always been guided by your opinions, by the correctness of your dogmas and speeches — and you yourself admit this. And even when I did not act according to your thoughts and even deviated from your rules, you did not consider me unworthy to be with Your Holiness, to remain your son, your disciple, to which I testify by you yourself. You know that I have always addressed you with unlimited power of attorney, revealing to you the depths of my heart — and this was the pledge of my fidelity, even at the very time when I did not take an obvious part in the asceticism of Your Holiness, along with others. But I do not dwell on this time. Who better than Your Holiness knows all these circumstances? Repeatedly, with complete confidence, I sincerely conveyed to you my innermost thoughts on this subject, asking for your forgiveness — and you did not refuse me it! But now, when, with the help of God, I have cast aside with contempt everything that happened to me and have become a sincere and open defender of the truth, you see me fully prepared to preach the pure Orthodoxy of our fathers, in accordance with the purpose of Your Holiness. I am not speaking in this way because I think that Your Holiness is close to death and ready to leave this world; we hope that the Lord will help you overcome your illness and leave you among us to complete your feat. If, according to God’s predestination, known only to Him, you must depart from here and move to a dwelling of peace prepared by you yourself, then I solemnly promise before the face of God, before His holy angels, invisibly surrounding us, and before pious men who are standing here, that, under the same circumstances, I will try to replace your face, your word, ardently loving and defending what you fought for — unswervingly, firmly fighting for Orthodoxy, not sparing life, to the last drop of blood, until my death, at least the feat exceeded my strength! But I hope that you, Holy Father, will complete my actions, you, experienced in ascetic deeds, you will show us your help even in that life, living in the blessed contemplation of God.
Troparion of Saint Mark of Ephesus - Tone 4
(Tone 4) By thy profession of faith, O all-praised Mark / the Church hath found thee to be a zealot for truth. / Thou didst fight for the teaching of the Fathers; / thou didst cast down the darkness of boastful pride. // Intercede with Christ God to grant forgiveness to those who honor thee!
Kontakion of Saint Mark of Ephesus - Tone 3
Clothed with invincible armor, O blessed one, / thou didst cast down rebellious pride, / thou didst serve as the instrument of the Comforter, / and shone forth as the champion of Orthodoxy. // Therefore we cry to thee: “Rejoice, Mark, the boast of the Orthodox!”
