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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.
Life
The Monk Melania was a noble and wealthy Roman woman. She was born into a Christian family, her father was a senator and the family had enormous wealth. Their estates represented entire cities and villages, located not only in Italy, but also in Sicily, Spain, Gaul and Britain. There was no one richer than them except the king. The parents saw in their daughter an heiress and continuer of the family, but the saint from her youth loved Christ and wished not to marry, but to preserve her virginity. However, against her will, at the age of 14, Melania was married to a noble young man, Christian Apinian. From the very beginning of their life together, the saint begged her husband to live in purity, to which Apinian promised that when they had an heir, they would both renounce the world. Soon Melania gave birth to a girl, whom the young parents dedicated to God. In preparation for a different life, Melania fasted, spent her nights in prayer, and secretly wore a hair shirt. Melania's second birth was painful. She gave birth to a boy who died immediately after baptism. After this, the saint became seriously ill and was close to death herself. Seeing the suffering of his wife, blessed Apinian asked God to save her life and vowed to spend the rest of their life together in chastity. Soon after Melania's recovery, their daughter died. The holy couple decided to give away all their wealth to the poor, renounce the world and become monks. At that time, Melania was 20 years old, and her husband Apinian was 24. The holy spouses began to visit the sick, receive strangers, and generously help the poor. Using their own funds, they built monasteries, decorated churches, and ransomed prisoners. They donated money to Mesopotamia, Phenicia, Syria, Egypt and Palestine - to churches and monasteries, hospices and hospitals, orphans and widows in prison. A few years later, having visited many Egyptian desert fathers, Melania secluded herself in a lonely cell on the Mount of Olives, only occasionally seeing Saint Apinian. The saint spent 14 years in such seclusion. A monastery arose near her cell. The monk, out of humility, did not agree to be the abbess, but served everyone like a slave and cared for everyone like a mother. By this time Saint Apinian had departed to the Lord. Melania buried her husband and spent about four years near that place in fasting and prayer. For her godly life, the saint received the gift of healing, and through her prayers many miracles were performed. The Venerable Melania reposed peacefully in the Lord in 439.
Venerable Melania the Roman, Bethlehem, Palestine
The Venerable Melania, the first of the noble Romans “from a young age who strove for Christ, thirsting for bodily integrity and wounded by Divine love,” was born into a Christian family. Her parents - eminent and rich people - saw in their daughter an heiress and continuer of the family. At the age of fourteen, Melania was married against her will to the noble young man Apinian. From the very beginning of their life together, the saint begged her husband to live with her in chastity or to let her go unsullied in both body and soul. Apinian answered: “When, at the command of the Lord, we acquire two children as heirs to our property, then together we will renounce the world.” Soon Saint Melania gave birth to a girl, whom the young parents dedicated to God. Continuing to live in marriage, Melania secretly wore a hair shirt and spent her nights in prayer. Melania's second birth was premature and painful. A boy was born, he was baptized, and he immediately went to the Lord. Seeing the suffering of his wife, Blessed Apinian asked God to save the life of Saint Melania and vowed to spend the rest of their life together in chastity. Having recovered, the saint took off her silk clothes forever. Soon their daughter died. Meanwhile, the parents of the saints opposed their desire to devote themselves to God. Only when Melania’s father suffered a fatal illness did he ask them for forgiveness and admonish them to follow the path they had chosen, asking them to pray for it. The saints immediately left the city of Rome, and a new life began for them, entirely devoted to serving God. Apinian was 24 years old at that time, and Melania was 20. They began to visit the sick, receive strangers, and generously help the poor. They went around prisons, places of exile and mines and freed the unfortunate people who were being held there for debt. Having sold estates in Italy and Spain, they generously helped the elders and monasteries, buying lands for the latter in Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Phenicia and Palestine. Many temples and hospitals were built with their funds. The churches of the West and East received benefits from them. When they left their homeland and sailed to Africa, a strong storm began during the voyage. The sailors said that this was the wrath of God, but blessed Melania told them to surrender the ship to the will of the One who carried it. The waves washed the ship onto an island on which stood a city besieged by barbarians. The besiegers demanded ransom from the residents, threatening the city with destruction. The saints contributed the necessary money and thereby saved the city and its inhabitants from destruction. Arriving in Africa, they also provided assistance to all those in need. With the blessing of local bishops, they donated to churches and monasteries. At the same time, Saint Melania continued to humble her flesh with strict fasting, and strengthened her soul by incessantly reading the Word of God, rewriting sacred books and distributing them to the poor. She sewed the hair shirt herself and wore it without taking it off.
The saints stayed in Africa for 7 years, and then, freed, according to the commandment of Christ, from all their wealth, they headed to Jerusalem. Along the way, in Alexandria, they were received by the holy Bishop Cyril and met in the temple with the holy elder Nestorius, who had the gift of prophecy and healing. The elder turned to them, comforting and calling for courage and patience in anticipation of the Heavenly Glory. In Jerusalem, the saints distributed their remaining gold to the poor and spent their days in poverty and prayer. After a short trip to Egypt, where the saints visited many desert fathers, Saint Melania secluded herself in a lonely cell on the Mount of Olives, only occasionally seeing Saint Apinian. Gradually, a monastery arose near the cell, where up to ninety virgins gathered. Saint Melania, out of humility, did not agree to be his abbess and continued to live and pray alone. In her teachings, Saint Melania called on the sisters to watch and pray, to guard their thoughts and, first of all, to kindle love for God and for each other, observing the holy Orthodox faith and purity of soul and body. She especially exhorted them to be obedient to the will of God. Recalling the words of the apostle, she advised fasting “not with grief or under compulsion: for God loves those who give willingly.” Through her efforts, a chapel and an altar were built in the monastery, where the relics of the saints were buried: the prophet of God Zechariah, the holy protomartyr Stephen and the Forty Saints who suffered torment in Sebastia. By this time Saint Apinian had departed to the Lord. Saint Melania buried the relics of the blessed one and spent about four years near this place in fasting and unceasing prayer.
The saint wished to build a monastery on the Mount of the Ascension of Christ. The Lord blessed her plan by sending a lover of Christ who gave funds for the monastery. Receiving them with joy, Saint Melania accomplished this great deed in one year. In the monastery she erected, holy men began to tirelessly offer their prayers to God in the Church of the Ascension of Christ. Having completed her labors, the blessed one left Jerusalem, going to Constantinople to visit her pagan uncle in the hope of saving his soul. On the way, she prayed at the relics of St. Lawrence at the site of his martyrdom and received a good omen. Arriving in Constantinople, the saint found her uncle there in illness and talked with him. Under the influence of her conversations, the patient abandoned paganism and died a Christian. At that time, many residents of the capital were confused by the heretical teachings of Nestorius. Saint Melania received everyone who turned to her for admonition. Many miracles happened through the prayers of the blessed one. Returning to her monastery, the saint of God felt the approach of death and announced this to the presbyter and sisters. In deep sorrow and tears they listened to her last instructions. Having asked for their prayers and commanded them to keep themselves pure, having partaken of the Holy Mysteries with joy and jubilation, Saint Melania meekly and calmly gave up her soul to the Lord. This was in 439.
See also: “The Life of our Venerable Mother Melania the Roman” as presented by St. Demetrius of Rostov.
Melania and Apinian left Rome and went to start a new life
The saints left Rome and left to start a new life, to fully devote it to serving God. Then Apinian was only 24, and Melania was 20 years old. Together they began to visit sick people and generously helped strangers and the poor.
They also went to prisons and freed innocent people. Very often they came to the monasteries and provided their assistance. Using the sold estates, they built churches and hospitals.
One day they were sailing on a ship to Africa, and a terrible storm began. The sailors began to say that the Lord was angry with them. But Melania told them to surrender this ship to the will of the One who bears it. The waves washed the ship onto the island, which was besieged by barbarians.
The saints left Rome and left to start a new life and completely devote it to serving God
Those people who besieged the city demanded a ransom from the city. Saints Melania and Apinian contributed the necessary funds, and thereby saved the city. In this place they also donated for the construction of churches and monasteries.
During this time, Melania strictly adhered to fasting and often spent her time in prayer. She sewed a hair shirt herself and wore it constantly, without taking it off.
How does the icon of St. Melania the Roman help?
Through His saintly icons, the Lord sends us what we ask for, useful for our souls. The saints, just like us, who have walked the earthly path, know our needs. They experienced the same experiences, overcame similar earthly difficulties. When we ask a saint for intercession, we ask that he convey our prayer to God and that the saint’s prayers will be heard faster than our sincere appeal to them. The icon of St. Melania the Roman helps to establish a prayer connection with the patron saint. Having before us the visual image of Saint Melania, our prayer is not dissipated into empty ideas and dreams. And according to the faith of the one who asks, the Lord, through His saints, gives us what we ask.
They pray to Venerable Melania the Roman:
— About strengthening faith — About help in organizing earthly affairs — About healing of bodily and spiritual infirmities.
The meaning of the name Melania is from the ancient Greek word for “dark”
In Orthodoxy, the name Melania is very rare and unusual. It has been popular in Rus' for a very long time. But today this name is quite rare.
The meaning of the name Melania comes from the ancient Greek word, and means “dark” or “black.”
Melania celebrates her name day twice a year - June 21 and January 13.
Saint Melania is revered by women throughout the Orthodox world. Those who have this saint as their patron must have an icon at home.
Saint Melania - prayers have been written that can be read at home in front of the icon
There are prayers written to Saint Melania that can be read at home in front of the icon. You can also turn to the saint in your simple words. The most important thing is that your prayers come from the heart.
Troparion of Venerable Melania the Roman, tone 8:
In you, mother, it is known that you were saved, hedgehog in the image: having accepted the cross, you followed Christ, and in action you taught to despise the flesh, for it passes away; be diligent about souls, things more immortal; Likewise, your spirit will rejoice with the angels, O Venerable Melania.
Kontakion of St. Melania the Roman, tone 3:
Having loved the virginity of purity, and admonished the betrothed to good things, squander the abundance of wealth in the stay of the monastic, blessed one, and erected monasteries. Also, dwell in the heavenly monastery, remember us, all-honorable Melanie.
Also, during pregnancy and difficult childbirth, they pray before the Albazin icon of the Mother of God “The Word became flesh” and before the icon “Helper to the wives of children.”
The first prayer to the Venerable Melania of Rome, read by pregnant women for the successful resolution and birth of healthy children:
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, is worshiped in the Trinity, to Him be honor and glory forever centuries. Amen.
Second prayer to Venerable Melania the Roman, read by pregnant women for the successful resolution and birth of healthy children:
O holy servant of God, Rev. Mother Melanie! Having fought a good fight on earth, you have received in Heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory.
You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil,
May we, having been delivered from sorrows, illnesses, misfortunes and misfortunes and all evil, live piously and righteously in this present world and be honored by your intercession,
Even though we are unworthy, to see good things on the earth of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, glorifying God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
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The icon of Melania the Roman is quite rare
The icon of Melania the Roman is quite rare. In the icon she is depicted as very young and immaculate. In her right hand she holds a cross, and in the other a scroll with Holy Scripture. It was the image of this saint that was created for the edification of all Orthodox people as a reminder of the true purpose of our life.
The icon depicts Melania as very young and immaculate
They pray to Saint Melania:
- about the birth of healthy children;
- about the healing of childhood diseases;
- about guiding children on the right path.
There is a cave of St. Melania in Jerusalem
In Jerusalem, not far from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there is a cave of St. Melania. For some time, her relics were located in this place. They were later transported to Venice. Currently, the relics of Melania are located in Italy in Rome, in the Church of Santo Stefano.
Monastery of Great Panagia. Cave of St. Melania the Roman
