St. Prokopius the Great

Today is the Feast of St. Prokopius, after which I named this blog. I realize I haven’t been very active in quite awhile and that I still have a couple of projects awaiting my return: both the Suleiman Subsector map as well as a Five Parsecs From Home Campaign. What hobby time I have has been eaten up by an even more agressive version of Gamer ADD that afflicts those of us who love to paint minis. One might call it “OOoo I want to paint THAT!”

Here are a couple of examples:

In the meantime, I wanted to tell the story of how I met St. Prokopius. I was travelling with a group to Mt. Athos (the center of monasticism on the Orthodox World) witht the intention of visiting 4 or 5 monasteries. Unfortunately, I had injured my foot just a few days prior on a stone step and it was swollen and angry. Our supervisor decided to try and find any kind of medical advise or treatment upon our arrival. I was placed on a bench to await any possible outcome. This bench was placed in front of a young soldier saint, whose name I did not know. While trying to make out his name, and wondering about his story, I was told that there was a doctor that would see me.

I was led through a maze of byzantine hallways until a pair of ancient doors revealed a white, modern, hospital examination room with several very cool looking pieces of medical equipment. My doctor introduced himself as a convert from Mexico City and proceeded to conclude that my foot was probably not broken, but that I should have it X-Rayed when I got home. He gave some ant-inflammatory cream and sent me on my way.

I managed to hobble through the next several days and monasteries, but I noticed something peculiar. Everytime I would find a place inside the chapel where we were doing services, I found this young soldier saint standing in front of me as an icon. Every single time.

When I got home, a thourough examination of my foot found absolutely nothing wrong and I learned that the young soldier was St. Prokopius the Great Martyr. He served under the Emperor Diocletian and was appointed as Duke of Alexandria, where he was sent to persecute Christians. After having a Road to Damascus moment, he became a Christian to horror of his mother. In an attempt to persuade her son to change his mind, his mother turned him in to the authorities.

As you might expect, the ploy failed spectacularly and Prokopius underwent all kinds of tortures. This inspired even his own guards to become Christians only to be executed as martyrs. His mother, seeing all of this joined them. She, St. Theodosia, is celebrated today along with her son.

He has been inpiring me since.

I hope to have more soon.