2013 - april sacred lessons

7/28/2019 2013 - April Sacred Lessons

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S U N D A Y O F T R I O D I O N 3R D

O F L E N T V E N E R A T I O N O F T H E H O L Y C R O S S 7 A P R I L 2 0 1 3 1.

G r e e k O r t h o d o x P a t r i a r c h a t e o f A l e x a n d r i a & A l l A f r i c a

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now

and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria,

Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and

one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

7 T H Sunday o f Triod ion Tone 3 7 April 2013

3 r d S u n d a y o f G r e a t L e n t V e n e r a t i o n o f t h e

H o l y C r o s s

Feast of St Calliopios of Cilicia St George the Confessor, Bishop of Mytilene

St Tikhon of Moscow, Enlightener of North America St Daniel of Pereyaslavl-

Zalesski t /rufinos the Deacon, St Aquilina & 200 Christian Soldiers of Sinope

St Serapion of Egypt

R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N TO NE 3

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N V E N E R A T I O N O F T H E H O L Y C R O S S O F C H R I S T :

Soson Kyrie ton Laon Sou, ke Evlogison tinKlironomian Sou, Nikas tis efsevesi kata varvarondoroumenos, ke to Son filatton, dia tou Stavrou Soupolitevma

O Lord, Save Thy people and Bless ThineInheritance, granting Orthodox Christians victoryover their enemies, and guarding Thycommonwealth with Thy Cross

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D T H E O T O K O S

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria Os Litrothisa tondinon Efharistiria Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou TheotokeAll os ehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton ek pantionme kindinon eleftheroson ina krazo Si: Here NimfiAnimfevte!

Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy Cityin Thanksgiving ascribes the Victory for theDeliverance from sufferings. But having Thy Mightunassailable, free me from all dangers so that I maycry out to Thee: Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!

I N S T E A D O F T H E T R I S A G I O N H Y M N , W E S I N G :

Ton Stavron Sou Proskinoumen, Despota, ke tin AgianSou Anastasin Doxazomen [3]

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Aike is tous eonas ton eonon.

AminKe tin Agian Sou Anastasin DoxazomenDynamis!Ton Stavron Sou Proskinoumen, Despota, ke tin Agian

Sou Anastasin Doxazomen

Thy Cross, O Master, we Reverence, and we GlorifyThy Holy Resurrection [3]

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to theHoly Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages ofages.

AmenAnd Thy Holy Resurrection we GlorifyPower/StrengthThy Cross, O Master, we Reverence, and we Glorify

Thy Holy Resurrection

P r o k e i m e n o nSing Praises to our God, sing Praises!

O Clap your hands, all you Nations!S t P a u l s E p i s t l e t o t h e H e b r e w s 4 : 1 4 5 : 6

CONCERNING OUR MERCIFUL HIG H PRIEST & QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE HOL Y PRIESTHOOD

Brethren: ... seeing then that we have a Great High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens Jesus, the Son ofGod let us hold fast our Confession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathise with ourweaknesses, but Who was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, so that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in the timeof need.

For every High Priest taken from among men is appointed for mankind in things pertaining to God, that he mayoffer both Gifts and Sacrifices for sins. He can have Compassion for those who are ignrant and going astraysince he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this, he is required as for the people, so also forhimself to offer Sacrifices for sins.

And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is Called by God just as Aaron was.So also Christ did not Glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He Who said to Him: Thou art My Son:

today I have Begotten Thee. As He also said in another place: Thou art a Priest forever according to theOrder of Melchizedek.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ONLY HIGH PRIEST

TRUE,DIVINE HEAD OFHIS ETERNAL,HOLYCHURCH.

The expression ... passed through the Heavens...refers to the Ascension into Heaven by our

Evfrenestho ta Ourania,agaliastho ta epigia, otiepiise Kratos en VrahioniAftou O Kyrios. Epatiseto Thanato ton Thanaton.Prototokos ton nekronegeneto. Ek kilias Adou

errisato imas ke paresheto kosmo to Mega Eleos.

Let the Heavens rejoice and letthe earth be glad, for theLord has shown Strengthwith His Arm; He hastrampled down Death byDeath; He has become theFirst-born of the dead; from

the womb of Hades He hasdelivered us, and to theworld He has granted GreatMercy.


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Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ when He returned toHis rightful Divine Position in Eternity at the righthand of God the Father.

However, it is important to keep in mind that GOD,

BEING OMNIPRESENT, NEVER LEAVES EITHER HIS

HEAVENLY KINGDOM NOR US ON EARTH. HE IS EVER

PRESENT BUT INVISIBLE TO US WATCHING OVER Us

unless we enter a state of Spiritual Death (sin)

then HE TURNS HIS SIGHT AWAY FROM US UNTIL WE

REPENT AND RETURN TO A STATE OFSPIRITUAL LIFE.

Our Lords Ascension into Heaven means that HE HAS

ACCOMPLISHED HIS DIVINE MISSION ON EARTH AND

HAS ENTERED INTO HIS SABBATH REST.

OUR LORDJESUS CHRIST HAS GREAT EMPATHY WITH HIS

CREATURES and especially with us sinners, since

HE EXPERIENCED THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE EVIL ONE

IN HIS HUMAN NATURE, EVEN THOUGH HE REMAINED

SINLESS.

AS GOD-MAN, OUR LORD JESUS WAS INCAPABLE OF

COMMITTING ANY SIN WHATSOEVER BECAUSE IT WAS

ABSOLUTELY AGAINSTHIS PERFECTNATURE.

Christ showed us by His own Example that IT IS INDEED

POSSIBLE TO RESIST TEMPTATION although for us it

is an even greater Spiritual Struggle that lasts until

we have drawn our last breath.The Ever Blessed Theotokos and St John the Baptist

were so devoted to the Will of God thatTHEIRLOVEFORHIM COMPELLED THEM TO BE HUMBLYOBEDIENT,

WHICH IS WHAT WE TOO MUST ALWAYS STRIVE TO

ACHIEVE.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is Enthroned at the right handside of God the Father the position of honour

and HE IS SEATED ON ATHRONE OF GRACE RATHER

THAN ATHRONE OFJUDGEMENT, GRANTING HIS GREAT

MERCY AND DIVINE GRACE TO HELP US IN TIMES OF

NEED.

APRIEST USUALLY STANDS WHILE SERVING OURLORD GOD.

He can never be seated while doing so, for that

would be utterly disrespectful.

(That is also why we should be standing at all timesthroughout the Holy Services. Now that we havepews or chairs in our churches, we should only rest

on the edge of the seat if need be, ready to standand worship with our entire bodies.)

THERE IS SIGNIFICANT POWER IN OUR ENTHRONED HIGH

PRIEST, FOR HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND FULFILLED

ALL THE NECESSARYSACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS FOR ALL

TIME!

(The Holy Icon of 0ur Lord Jesus Christ, depicted as aHigh Priest, is usually situated on the BishopsThrone in every Orthodox Church reminding usthat there is only one Divine Head and that the

Bishop acts on His Behalf. Thus we should obeythe will of the Bishop as though it was the Divine

Will of Christ.)In order to qualify as an Old Covenant Priest, a man

was chosen from among men i.e. another malehuman being who was appointed for men specifically for Liturgical Service. He had to offer

the blood Sacrifices to God for his and the peoplessins. He had to be compassionate towards othersand he had to be Called by God to serve Him.

In the Aaronic Priesthood APRIEST IDENTIFIED HIMSELF

WITH HUMANITY AND HAD GREAT SYMPATHY FOR

EVERYONE BECAUSE HE SINNED AS MUCH AS OTHERS

SINNED IN THE SIGHT OFGOD.The Blood Sacrifices were vicarious offerings of various

animals, according to the sins that had beencommitted.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ASSUMED AND FULFILLED THE

OLD COVENANT PRIESTHOOD FOR JUST LIKE

MELCHIZEDEK,HE IS BOTH PRIEST AND KING.

HOWEVER,HE HAS NEVER SINNED I.E.HE CANNOT SIN

AND HIS GREATSACRIFICE WAS THE BLOOD SACRIFICE

OF HIMSELF, WHILE HIS PERFECT, ETERNAL

PRIESTHOOD CONTINUES IN HIS HOLY CHURCH FOR

EVERMORE.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 8 : 3 4 9 : 1O U R L O R D J E S U S C H R I S T S D I V I N E T E A C H I N G C O N C E R N I N G E T E R N A L L I F E B E I N G G O O D & F A I T H F U L D I S C I P L E S

At that time, when our Lord Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His Disciples also, He said to them:Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoeverdesires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospels will Save it. Forwhat will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give inexchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinfulgeneration, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the Glory of His Father with theHoly Angels.

And He said to them: Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death until theysee the Kingdom of God present with Power.

V THE CROSS, which was the most dreaded andinhumane instrument of Roman torture and

execution, HAS BECOME FOR ALL STRUGGLING

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST A HOLY SYMBOL OF OUR

SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE AND SUFFERING, IN IMITATION

OF OURLORD AND SAVIOUR,JESUS CHRIST.

THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS OUR MOSTVENERATED

BADGE OF HONOUR WHEREBY WE LIVE AND DIE IN

CHRIST.

WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL FOR THE SAKE OF OURLOVE OF

GOD AND HIS HOLY GOSPEL and our acceptance of

this part of our Sacred Mission is certainly not a form

of punishment, nor is it an end in itself, but rather, IT

IS A MEANS OF OVERCOMING AND DEFEATING THE FALLEN

WORLD FOR THE SAKE OF GODS HEAVENLY, ETERNAL

KINGDOM OFLOVE,JOY AND PEACE.

Therefore we take up our personal Crosses and Follow

Christ byCRUCIFYING THE DEMANDS AND DESTRUCTIVE

PASSIONS OF OUR WEAK FLESH AND BY SO DOING, WE

STRENGTHEN OUR IMMORTAL SOULS AND GRADUALLY

BECOME WORTHY, SANCTIFIED CITIZENS OF ETERNAL

LIFE.

G A L A T I A N S 5 : 2 4 : ... those who are Christshave crucified the flesh with its passionsand desires.

The central paradox of our Life in Christ is that wheneverwe try to grasp temporal (earthly) things, we lose the

Eternal, Priceless Treasures of Heaven.

However, WHEN WE LEARN SELF-DENIAL AND REPENTANCE,

AND WE SACRIFICE OR RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF ALL

WORLDLY THINGS, WE GAIN UNTOLD AND UNIMAGINABLE

ETERNAL RICHES!

What will a man give in exchange for his soul?isa most profound question because it emphasises the

utter foolishness of trying to accumulate WORLDLY

POSSESSIONS AND TEMPORARY SOCIAL STATUS OR

POWERfor NONE OF THESE CAN REDEEM OUR FALLEN,

UNREPENTANT IMMORTAL SOUL.

NOTHING OF THIS TEMPORARY, MATERIAL WORLD BENEFITS

US IN ETERNITY. THEREFORE, WE MUST RESIST THE

TEMPTATIONS THAT DISTRACT US AND LEAD US ASTRAY

AND CAUSE US TO FALL INTO SPIRITUAL DEATH.

Let us rather take up our heavy Crosses ofearthly life AND FOLLOWCHRIST OURSAVIOUR,

WHO LEADS US SAFELY TO OUR HEAVENLY

DESTINATION.

Let us use every minute of our lifespan LIVINGINCHRIST AND SEEKING ONLY THE SPIRITUAL

QUALITIES AND NECESSITIES TO ADVANCE US

AND TO BENEFIT US ETERNALLY.

Let us CONSTANTLY OFFERTHANKSGIVING TO OURLIVING GOD WHO IS INFINITELY MERCIFUL,GRACIOUS AND BENEVOLENT.

BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS WHICHFAR OUTWEIGH ALL THE THINGS YOU MAY THINK

YOU WANT OR NEED!


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Let us MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO IMITATE CHRISTourLord Who clearly and concisely shows us that

EVERYTHING GOOD IS INDEED POSSIBLE in this

poor, tragic and darkened fallen world.

V Finally, those who would ... see the Kingdom ofGod present with Power...was a reference to

OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS TRANSFIGURATION ON

MOUNT TABOR, which three of His closest

Apostles witnessed shortly before His GreatPassion and Resurrection.

It is also a reference to THOSE FAITHFULDISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN EVERY GENERATION

WHO WILL EXPERIENCE THETRUE PRESENCE OF

GODS KINGDOM.

V e n e r a t i o n o f t h e H o l y , L i f e - g i v i n g C r o s s o f o u r L o r d & S a v i o u rTHE HOLY CROSS IS RECOGNISED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT

AND SACRED SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY.

The terrible Roman instrument of torture and slowdeath for criminals and enemies of the state wasConsecrated by the Most Precious Blood of our Lordand Saviour, Jesus Christ, when He was so unjustlycrucified, thus becoming for the Faithful ChristiansA POWERFUL AND HOLY SYMBOL OF HUMAN REDEMPTIONAND AN OBJECT OF VENERATION, WHICH IS AN ESSENTIALPART OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTYGOD.

THE HOLY CROSS REPRESENTS MANY THINGS AND REMINDS USOF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR FAITH.

We call to mind the ultimate and Most Perfect BloodSacrifice of the Incarnate Son and Word of God andthe wooden cross upon which He was crucified THE HOLY ALTAR OF HIS SACRIFICE AS THE DIVINEOFFERER AND OFFERING FOR THE ETERNAL SALVATION OF

ALL MANKIND.The Sign of the Cross is the Blessed Sign of the Son of

Man and of all Orthodox Christians.WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH INTENSE

REVERENCE - AS A HOLY SEAL AND AS ADECLARATION OF WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTYGOD.

EACH TIME WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WEALSO DEMONSTRATE OUR WILLING

PARTICIPATION IN THE SANCTIFYINGSACRIFICE OF CHRIST.

The Sign of the Cross has always been usedas a Sacred Symbol in one form oranother even by pagans long before theemergence of Christianity.

In paganism the Cross had mythical

significance and, according to certain researchers,had originated among the ancient Babylonians ofChaldea and had been used as a symbol of thepagan god, Tammuz.

Since the Bronze Era, the Sign of the Cross was used bymany Tribes throughout Europe as a symbol ofConsecration for newborn infants.

Furthermore the Sign of the Cross was used amongAryans as a representation of Mystical Light orSacred Fire or the sun.

The ancient Scientists believed that the middle of theUniverse was where the earth meets the sky and thefour arms of the cross indicate the four cardinalpoints.

HOLY SCRIPTURE AND HOLY TRADITION PROVIDE US WITHTHE SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING OF THE HOLY CROSS BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORDJESUSCHRIST.

The Holy Cross is mentioned in the Old Testament asthe Tree of Life rising from the earth THECOMMANDMENTS OF GOD in the midst of earthlyParadise - together with the Tree of Knowledge ofGood and Evil.[GENESIS 2:9]

THE TREE OF LIFE IS THE METAPHORICAL NAME OF THE HOLYCROSS OF CHRIST, which appears in the first pages ofHoly Scripture.

The Holy Cross is PORTRAYED THROUGHOUT ALL THEDIVINE SERVICES AND HOLY MYSTERIES, AND IS ANESSENTIAL PART OF ORTHODOX WORSHIP, as WITH EACHSIGN OF THE CROSS THAT WE MAKE, WE ARE IN FACT,DECLARING OUR PROFOUND WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD:

WITH ALL OUR MIND, HEART, STRENGTH AND SOUL.THE HOLY CROSS IS DEPICTED ON ALL LITURGICALVESTMENTS,IMPLEMENTS AND CHURCH ART.

St Moses, the ancient Patriarch, led his people throughthe Red Sea by the Power of the Divine Cross,

thereby leading them to freedom from Egyptianslavery.

He raised his staff and stretched out his hand over thewaters, which then separated into two walls oneither side of a pathway so that all the people ofIsrael could safely cross over as though on dry land.

However, as the pursuing Egyptians tried to followthem, St Moses, by Divine Commandment, onceagain stretched out his hand with his staff andmade the Sign of the Cross the opposite way, whichcaused the walls of water to collapse and close overthe pathway, thereby drowning the Egyptians. [EXODUS14 : 21 27]

Furthermore, the Patriarchal Blessing that St Jacob gavewith his hands to the two sons of St Joseph,Ephraim and Manasseh, was a Blessing with hishands crossed, which prefigured the Holy Cross1500 years before the Crucifixion of Christ.

There are many other examples of the Sign of the HolyCross being used to Save Gods Chosen Peoplethroughout the Old Testament.

The New Testament shows even moreexplicitly than the Old Testament, THE DIVINETEACHINGS CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OFTHE HOLY CROSS, WHICH IS THE REAL,HISTORICAL DIVINE ALTAR OF CHRISTIANITY THE HOLY ALTAR UPON WHICH OUR LORD ANDSAVIOUR,JESUS CHRIST, WAS... Offered onceto bear the sins of many.[HEBREWS 9:28]THE HOLY CROSS IS ... the Power of God...FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE SAVED FOR THOSEWHO TRULY BELIEVE IN THE DIVINE TEACHINGSAND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD.[1 CORINTHIANS 1:18]In the Divine Power of the Holy Cross, St Paul

rejoiced despite his human sorrows and distress.[GALATIANS 6:14]THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE DIVINE SEAL OF GOD ON

THE FOREHEAD OF THE FAITHFUL a Divine Sealwhereby we escape visible and invisible enemies anddeadly plagues.

In the New Testament, THE HOLY CROSS IS THE SIGN OFTHE SON OF MAN AT HIS SECOND COMING HISREAPPEARANCE ON THE FINAL DAY the Beginning ofEternity and the Day of the Final Judgement of God when among many Signs that will appear in thesky there will be one huge Sign of the Son ofMan THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST THAT ALLCREATION WILL CLEARLY SEE![MATTHEW 23:30]

Archaeological discoveries from Palestine have shownthat THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WAS USED BY THE VERY

FIRST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY INJERUSALEM.Among the first works of Minucios Felix: Octavios,

which were written at the end of the second century,the Cross appears as a Christian Symbol withMystical meanings related to our Eternal Salvationthrough the Crucifixion of Christ.

St Clement of Alexandria referred to the Sign of Godwhich was foreshadowed by the letter number 318from Genesis 14:14, as explained in the Epistle of StBarnabas: For the number 300, the letter T wasused in the Hebrew alphabet the similarity withthe Sign of the Cross is obvious. For the letter 18the first two letters of the Name of Jesus Christ IC were used, which shows the connection

between Christ and the Cross.

Please keep in mind, this is not a Church Dogma, but instructions we find

in the old writings of the early Fathers of the Church that can guideus in better understanding certain Mysteries - they are not to be

taken literally or understood strictly in a rational sense but with

a contrite and dispassionate heart Illumined by the Holy Spirit

when we abandoned our whole life at the Feet of Christ, as many of

the Great Fathers and Saints of the Church did.


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That is why we trust our Holy Church Fathers, because through their

Dispassionate Life, they spoke in the Spirit (i.e. Inspired by the Holy

Spirit and by the Grace of God.)

In the 4th century, the Veneration of the Holy Cross wasgeneralised, manifesting itself publicly - andofficially entering Divine Worship.

In addition, there was the Heavenly Appearance in thesky of the Holy Cross whereby Constantine theGreat won his battle against Maxentios, after whichit was adopted as the official state emblem on theByzantine flags, official documents and coins.

ST CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, HAVING EMBRACED THE SIGNOF THE CROSS, ABOLISHED CRUCIFIXION AND INSTITUTEDMANY OF THE FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS IN HISTORY.

Following the Miracle of the Discovery of the Holy Crossof Christ in 326 in Jerusalem, St Helena, the PiousMother of Emperor Constantine the Great, had alarge church built over the Holy Site of our LordsTomb - THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE - ANDanother large church at the Holy Site of Golgotha THE BASILICA OF THE HOLY CROSS which WERECONSECRATED ON 13 SEPTEMBER 335, WHEN THEVENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS WAS INITIATED.

Since 431, the Holy Cross has been depicted in allchurches, chapels, Monasteries, etc throughout theChristian world but Crosses on Church Domes only

appeared in 586.THE ORTHODOX TEACHING ON THE VENERATION OF THEHOLY CROSS WAS FORMULATED BY THE 7TH ECUMENICALCOUNCIL OF NICAEA IN 787 AND COMPLETED BY THELOCAL COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN 869, WHEN ITWAS PROCLAIMED THAT THE HOLY ICONS, THE HOLY

GOSPEL AND THE HOLY CROSS SHOULD BE EQUALLYVENERATED.

We Commemorate the Life-giving Holy Cross of Christon several Feast Days throughout the LiturgicalYear: 14 SEPTEMBER: THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLYCROSS (CELEBRATING THE RECOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSSOF CHRIST)SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS ON THE THIRDSUNDAY OF GREAT LENT 1AUGUST: THE PROCESSIONOF THE HOLY CROSS 7 MAY: THE HEAVENLYAPPEARANCE OF THE HOLY CROSS TO EMPERORCONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

The full significance and meaning of the Holy Cross ofChrist is celebrated throughout our OrthodoxChristian Faith in all our Prayers, Hymns, Teachings,Writings, etc.

NOT ONLY IS THE HOLY CROSS A DIVINE SIGN OF GODSGREAT MERCY AND INFINITE LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND, BUTITS VITAL POWER AND MEANING IS INEXHAUSTIBLE.

V As faithful Christians, we have no need of anyuseless, pagan good luck charms because ASDISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE SHOULD ONLY WEAR THEHOLY CROSS OF CHRIST AGAINST OUR HEART TOPROTECT, TO REMIND AND TO GUIDE US - AS OURBADGE OF HONOUR THE HOLY SIGN OF OURDIVINE ADOPTION AS CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST OFGODS HEAVENLY KINGDOM AND AS A CONSTANTREMINDER OF OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TOWARDSETERNITY.ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE HOLY CROSS: INSTRUMENT OF

TORTURE & GIVER OF LIFE - ORTHODOX WORD

HTTP://ORTHODOXWORD.WORDPRESS.COM/2010/03/04/THE-

HOLY-CROSS-INSTRUMENT-OF-TORTURE-AND-GIVER-OF-LIFE/

T h e S i g n o f t h e C r o s s :We make the Sign of the Cross by PUTTING THE THUMB

AND FIRST TWO FINGERS OF THE RIGHT HANDTOGETHER, which signifies THE HOLY TRINITY.

By making the Sign of the Cross, we can make TWODECLARATIONS OF FAITH:

1. Touching the FOREHEAD: In the Name of theFather we honour GOD THE FATHER, WhoseDivine Will we must always obey.

Touching the LOWER SECTION OF THE ABDOMEN: And ofthe Son, which denotes THE DESCENT TO EARTH OFTHEWORDANDSONOFGOD AND HIS INCARNATIONFOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION AND THROUGH WHOM WEOBEY THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.

Touching first OUR RIGHT AND THEN OUR LEFT SHOULDER:And of the Holy Spiritwhich expresses OUR FAITHIN THE RECONCILIATION WITH GOD BY MEANS OF THESACRED WORKS AND DIVINE GRACE OF THE HOLYSPIRITWHO ENABLES US TO FULFIL GODS DIVINE WILL.

2. The second Declaration of Faith recalls exactly HOWCHRIST TAUGHT US TO WORSHIP ALMIGHTY GOD:

By making the Sign of the Cross with our thumb andtwo fingers held together, we declare to the HolyTrinity:

I worship Thee with all my mind... touching theFOREHEAD

... with all my heart... touching the LOWERABDOMEN

... with all my strength... touching the RIGHTSHOULDER

... and with all my soul. Touching the LEFTSHOULDER.

As we make the Sign of the Cross, we also BOW BEFORETHE LORD OUR GOD, revealing our WILLINGNESS TOPROPERLY WORSHIP HIM WITH ALL HUMILITY ANDOBEDIENCE.

W h e n s h o u l d c h i l d r e n b e g i n t o F a s t ?Take possession of your stomach, before it takes possession of you!ST.JOHN CLIMACUS

How early should children begin Fasting?

According to the Teaching of our Holy Church Fathers, AHEALTHY CHILD BEGINS TO FAST ONCE IT HAS BEEN WEANED -

approximately at the age three. (In ancient times,

Hebrew mothers breastfed their infants until they reached

three years of age).

ALONG WITH THE NEED TO OBSERVE WHATEVER DEGREE OF FASTING,

PARENTS MUST ALSO TAKE CARE TO PREVENT THEIR CHILDREN FROM

FORMING A HABIT OF OVEREATING, OR EATING TOO OFTEN - eatingbetween meals.

St Theophan the Recluse advised parents: A child should

eat in such a way that while developing and fortifying

the body and giving it health, he does not foment

flesh-pleasing in the soul. Regardless of how young

your child is, he must begin from the earliest years tostabilize the flesh, which leans toward coarse matter,

and accustom it to self control, so that in both the

childhood and teenage years and beyond, he can

easily and freely control this need.

When children grow and their personality and

inclinations become clearer, PARENTS SHOULD SHOW

TACT WITH RESPECT TO THE NORMS OF FASTING. THEY MUST NOT,

for example, forbid them sweets against their will, or MAKE

THE FAST DAYS SO STRICT WITH REGARD TO FOOD QUALITY ANDQUANTITY AS TO EXCEED THE NORMS OF THE CHURCHS RULE OF

FASTING.AILING OR FRAIL CHILDREN CAN NATURALLY BE GIVEN DISPENSATION, OR

EVEN BE FREED FROM FASTING ALTOGETHER.

YOUNG ADULTS SHOULD ALSO NOT BE FORCED INTO A STRICT

OBSERVATION OF ALL THE NORMS OF FASTING IF THEY ARE

OVERBURDENED BY THEM.

SUCH FORCED FASTING WILL NOT BRING BENEFIT TO THEIR SOULS , AND

COULD EVEN HARDEN THEM AGAINST IT.

Our Lord said: I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice. (MATTHEW9:13).

THE WHOLE MEANING OF FASTING LIES INVOLUNTARYSELF-RESTRAINT

AND PLACING LIMITS ON OURSELVES.

Therefore, CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO FAST FROM AN EARLY AGE,SO THAT THE NORMS OF FASTING WILL NOT PROVE BURDENSOME TO

THEM WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG ADULTS.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: HOW TO KEEP THE FAST[IN RUSSIAN] -

HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/52084.HTM


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and

unto the Ages of ages. Amen.

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever

Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to

Christ our God. Amen.

8 t h S u n d a y o f T r i o d i o n T o n e 4 1 4 A p r i l 2 0 1 3

4 t h S u n d a y o f G r e a t L e n t S t J o h n K l i m a k o s( o f t h e L a d d e r o f D i v i n e A s c e n t )

Also the Feast of St Aristachos, St Pudens & St Trophimos of the 70 Apostles of Christ St

Ardalionos the Actor St Thomaidos St Dimitrios the New Martyr of Tripoli St Martyr the

Confessor of Rome St Anthony, St John & St Eustathios of Vilnios, Lithuania St Azades

(Azat) the Eunuch together with 1000 Holy Martyrs of Persia

R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N TO N E 4

To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou AngelouMathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikinapofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomeneelegon: Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos OTheos, doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learntfrom the Angels the Glad Tidings of theResurrection, and had cast away the Condemnationof their Forefather, they spoke exultingly to theApostles: Death is no more: Christ-God is Risen,

granting to the world Great Mercy!A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T J O H N K L I M A K O S TO N E ( 8 ) PL A G A L 4

Tes ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to AgononEgeorgisas, ke tis ek vathou stenagmis, is ekatontous ponous ekarpoforisas. Ke gegonas Fostir, tiIkoumeni Lampon tis Thavmasin, Ioanni Patir imonOsie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihasimon.

With rivers of Thy tears Thou made the desert bloom;and with Thy sighs from deep within; Thou madeThy Labours bear Fruits a hundredfold; and Thou

became a Star, illuminating the world by ThyMiracles, O John, our devout Father: Intercede withChrist our God for the Salvation of our souls.

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N - T H E O T O K O S TO N E (8 ) PL AG A L 4

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria, os litrothisa ton dinonEfharistiria, anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke. All osehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton, ek pantion me

kindinon eleftheroson, ina krazo Si: Here NimfiAnimfevte!

To Thee, O Theotokos, Invincible Defender, havingbeen Delivered from peril, I, Thy City, dedicate theVictory Festival as a Thanksgiving Offering. InThine Irresistible Might, keep me Free from allTrials, so that I may call out to Thee: Hail, OUnwedded Bride!

R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 : M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 - 2 0T H E G R E A T C O M M I S S I O N O F C H R I S T

P r o k e i m e n o nTTTThe Lord will grant Strength to His People.

OOOOffer to the Lord, O Sons of God, Offer to the Lord Sacrifice and Praise!

S t P a u l s E p i s t l e t o t h e H e b r e w s 6 : 1 3 2 0T H E L O R D O U R G O D C O N F I R M S H I S D I V I N E P R O M I S E B Y A S A C R E D O A T H

Brethren: when God made a Promise to Abraham, because He could Swear by no one greater, He Swore by Himself,saying: Surely Blessing I will Bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

And so after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the Promise, for mankind indeed swears by the greater,and an Oath for Confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the Heir of Promise the immutability of His Counsel, ConfirmedIt by an Oath, so that by two immutable Things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strongConsolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us.

This Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast and which enter the Presence behind the

Veil, where the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to theOrder of Melchizedek.

THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO ST ABRAHAM

CONCERNED a son who would be born to him and

his equally elderly and barren wife, St Sarah AN

HEIR THROUGH WHOM GOD WOULD GREATLY MULTIPLY

HIS FAMILY.

The two immutable Things refer to GODS DIVINE

PROMISE AND GODS DIVINE OATH.

Behind the Veil is a reference to THE HEAVENLYALTAR, WHICH IS SERVED BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR,

JESUS CHRISTWHO IS OUR ONE AND ONLYMOSTHIGH

PRIEST OF THE ETERNAL HOLY PRIESTHOOD

ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK an

ancient King and Priest of the Old Covenant whose

Holy Priesthood was equally Eternal.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t M a r k 9 : 1 7 - 3 1O F A I T H L E S S G E N E R A T I O N !

At that time, one of the crowd said to our Lord Jesus Christ: Teacher, I brought Thee my son who has a mute spirit.And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So Ispoke to Thy Disciples, that they could cast it out, but they could not.

He answered him and said: O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with

you? Bring him to Me. And they brought him to Him. And when he saw Jesus, immediately the spiritconvulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

And He asked his father: How long has this been happening to him? And he said: From childhood. And oftenhe has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if Thou can do anything, haveCompassion on us and help us.


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Jesus said to him: If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. And immediately the father ofthe child cried out with tears: Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirits, saying to it: Deaf anddumb spirit: I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more! And the spirit cried out, convulsedhim greatly, and went out of him. And he became as though dead, so that many said: He is dead!

And Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.And when He had gone into the house, His Disciples asked Him privately: Why could we not cast it out? And He

said to them: This kind can come out by nothing but Prayer and Fasting.Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught

His Disciples: The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men who will kill Him. And after He isdead, He will rise the Third Day.

IN ANCIENT TIMES, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS WAS

OFTEN REGARDED AS BEING CONNECTED TO DEMONIC

ACTIVITY, WHICH INTRUTH IT OFTEN CAN BE.

According to St Matthews account of this incident, THE

DESPERATE FATHER OF THE EPILEPTIC BOY HAD KNELT

DOWN BEFORE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH

REVEALED HIS HUMILITY BEFORE SUCH A POWERFUL

TEACHER AND HOLYPERSON, EVEN THOUGH HE LACKED

PERSONAL FAITH IN GOD.

ALTHOUGH HIS DISCIPLES ALSO WERE LACKING IN THEIR

ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

REBUKED NOT ONLY THEM AND ALL THOSE WHO

WITNESSED THE INCIDENT, BUT ALSO THE FATHER OF

THE YOUNG BOY, WHICH PREVENTED THE HEALING OF

HIS BELOVED SON.

ALTHOUGH OURLORDJESUS DEFENDED THE ABILITIES OF

HIS DISCIPLES ANDAPOSTLES BEFORE THE GATHERED

MULTITUDE, HE LATER REBUKED THEM IN PRIVATE for

their weak Faith and trust in the Divine Mercy andPower of Almighty God.

Christ thereby teaches us that WHEN WE CORRECT

OTHERS, WE MUST NOT HUMILIATE OR EMBARRASS

THEM, ESPECIALLY BEFORE WITNESSES WHO MAY NOT

UNDERSTAND ONES CONCERN OR LOVING MOTIVATION

FOR CORRECTING THOSE WHO ARE STUMBLING OR WHO

HAVE ALREADY FALLEN.

EVERYTHING WE DO TO ENCOURAGE, ASSIST, GUIDE OR

TEACH OTHERS MUST ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL BE

DONE WITHAGAPE UNCONDITIONALLOVE.

FURTHERMORE, THOSE WHO ARE BEING CORRECTED MUST

ACCEPT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OR SPIRITUALGUIDANCE WITH UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION

OF THE WELL INTENTIONEDACT OFLOVE.

Besides that, whenever we are corrected by our fellow

Disciples of Christ, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE APPLY

SUCH CORRECTIONS TO OUR BEHAVIOUR OR PRACTISES.

OTHERWISE NONE OF US WOULD MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL

PROGRESS AT ALL!

This is all part of our Spiritual Journey learning to

ACCEPT GOOD ADVICE FROM OTHERS WITH ALL DUE

HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE. To do otherwise is to

showA LACK OF THESE TWO IMPORTANTVIRTUES AND

CAN MEAN THAT WE HAVE FALLEN INTO THE VICES OF

PRIDE, ARROGANCE AND DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD.

THE DISCIPLINE OF OUR HOLYCHURCH IS BASED ON OUR

MUTUAL CORRECTION IN THREE EXPANDING STAGES.

Sin and correction are to remain private unless theoffender stubbornly refuses to Repent and rejectscorrection.

ALL CORRECTION OF OUR ERRORS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN

DONE WITH GREAT CARE AND HUMILITY, with THE

PRIMARY CONCERN BEING THE SALVATION OF THE

OFFENDER.

CORRECTION OF OUR ERRORS IS ESSENTIAL SO THAT WE DO

NOT DRAW OTHERS INTO SIN AS WELL:

1 CORINTHIANS 5 :5 ... deliver such a one to Satanfor the destruction of the flesh, so that hisspirit may be Saved in the Day of the LordJesus.

This means thatIN THE HOLYCHURCH OFCHRIST WE ARE

PROTECTED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OFSATAN.

HOWEVER, THIS HOLY PROTECTION WILL BE REMOVEDFROM US THROUGH EXCOMMUNICATION in the hope

thatAS SOON AS WE EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN GODS DIVINE AND MERCIFUL RULE OVER US

AND THE DESTRUCTIVE, WICKED AND DEVASTATING

ENSLAVEMENT OFSATAN WE WILL QUICKLYREPENTour

sins of Spiritual Disobedience and Rebellion againstGod and return to the Sacred Fold of Christ our

Saviour.The flesh (sarx) is not synonymous with our body

(soma) STPAUL WAS CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION

OF THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH rather than the

destruction of our body.

GALATIANS 6 :1 Brethren: if (anyone) is overtakenin any trespass, you who are Spiritual

restore such a (person) in a spirit ofGentleness, considering yourself lest youalso be tempted.

TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER CORRECTION WITH THE

BLESSEDVIRTUE OFGENTLENESS IS ASPIRITUAL GIFT

FROM GOD.

St John Chrysostom taught us that THIS REBUKE OFCHRIST WAS ACTUALLY DIRECTED AT THE NINE

DISCIPLES WHO COULD NOT CAST OUT THE DEMON that

caused the young boys epileptic fits, WHEREAS THE

PILLARS OFFAITH, ST PETER, STJAMES AND ST

JOHN, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE REBUKE, since they

had been on Mount Tabor with our Lord Jesus

Christ, where they had witnessed His GloriousTransfiguration.

This kind... of evil spirit DEMONIC POSSESSION THATCAUSES NOT ONLY SPIRITUAL ILLNESS BUT ALSO

PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GREAT SPIRITUAL

STRUGGLE that occurs during demonic attacks is A

REFERENCE TO ALL (LIMITED) POWERS OF DARKNESS

OF EVIL - and not simply to those that can cause a

particular type of physical illness.

THE BANISHMENT OF DEMONS REQUIRES STRONG,

UNSHAKABLE FAITH, SINCERE AND HUMBLE PRAYER AND

BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL FASTING, for THERE IS

NO HEALING AND NO VICTORY IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

WITHOUT ALL THREE!

Beginning with the Didache the earliest writings of theHoly Apostles our Holy Church Fathers have

taught us thatBOTH THE PERSON WHO IS IN NEED OF

HEALING AND THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS THE

HEALING, MUST HAVE UNWAVERING FAITH INALMIGHTY

GOD, must constantly Pray for Divine Assistance and

Grace and Fast properly.Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed His approaching Death

and Resurrection for a second time to show thatHE

FULFILLED HIS PASSION FREELY AND NOT ACCORDING

TO THE DICTATES OF THOSE SEEKING HISDESTRUCTION.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO

THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,

ACCEPTED HIS ULTIMATE BLOOD SACRIFICE WILLINGLY

AND FREELY OUT OFGODS INFINITE LOVE OF MANKIND

for it was the final and greatest of all BloodSacrifices for mankinds Salvation the greatest

Blood Sacrifice that Redeemed all mankind so that

NEVER AGAIN WOULD WE HAVE TO OFFER TEMPORARY

BLOOD SACRIFICES FOR THE ATONEMENT OF OUR

CONTINUOUS SINS.

NowACCORDING TO OUR NEW COVENANT WITH GOD A

BLOODLESS COVENANT WE CONSTANTLY MAKE OUR

OFFERINGS OFTHANKSGIVING, PRAISE AND WORSHIP

IN THE DIVINE LITURGYSERVICE OFHOLYEUCHARIST

continuously Repenting our sins and joyfullyaccepting the ongoing Forgiveness of Christ ourSaviour, which grants us Eternal Life in His Divine

Kingdom of Love, Peace and Joy.BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT SIN, WE MUST

CONTINUE TO REPENT AND BESEECH GODS DIVINE


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FORGIVENESS SO THAT WHEN OUR TIME COMES TO

LEAVE THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD OF TEMPORARY

LIFE, WE SHALL BE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

a state of True Repentance rather than in a stateof Spiritual Death and Alienation from God a stateof unrepentance, disobedience and sin!

Just like so many of us today, THE DISCIPLES DID NOT

FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FULLTRUTH AND SIGNIFICANCE

OFCHRISTS CLEAR WORDS YET THEY DID NOT USE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT EVERYTHING WOULD

MEAN TO THEM.

Similarly, many of us today, could not bother to SEEKDIVINETRUTH AND UNDERSTANDING,which is granted

to us once we honestly begin our Spiritual Journey.

THE MORE WE SEEK DIVINE TRUTH WITH A SPIRITUAL

YEARNING FOR A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITHALMIGHTY

GOD, THE MORE HE GRANTS US HIS KNOWLEDGE AND

UNDERSTANDING!

However, because GOD NEVER FORCES ANYTHING ON US

having granted us free will to choose for ourselves

which Spiritual Path we take towards Eternity IT IS

UP TO US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LEARN HIS DIVINE

AND ABSOLUTETRUTH concerning everything to do

with the Purpose of this temporary life and Eternity

the Age to come which is never ending and a veryconscious state more consciously aware than at

present!!

F o u r t h S u n d a y o f G r e a t L e n t S t J o h n K l i m a k o sMy dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: today is the

Fourth Sunday of the Great and Holy Lenten Fast,which is dedicated to St John Klimakos alsoreferred to as St John of the Ladder.

St John Klimakos was a Monk of St CatherinesMonastery on Mount Sinai, where he lived a strictSpiritual Life.

At the request of another devout Abbot, Abba John ofRaithu Monastery, St John, who was the Abbot ofMount Sinai Monastery, recorded his SpiritualExperiences entitled The Ladder of Divine

Ascent.St John describes the Spiritual Life, which draws us

closer to God by means of 30 Steps or Rungs on aLadder, which enable us to become Transfiguredinto a continual Holy Communion with God.

Our Spiritual Growth is achieved by fulfilling each ofthese Spiritual Steps, which is only possible throughGods Mercy and Grace, and our constant Prayersand Fasting.

In todays Sacred Lesson we are reminded of GodsGreat Mercy and Healing as well as the relationshipto our sincere Prayer and Fasting.

We hear ofA FATHER who PRESENTED HIS EPILEPTIC SON TOOUR LORD FOR HEALING FROM DEMONIC ATTACKS EVENTHOUGH HE WAS UNCONVINCED that He couldaccomplish such a Miracle since His Apostles had

failed.CHRIST first REBUKED THE FATHER AND THE GATHERED

CROWD FOR THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then, turning Hisattention to the father, He told him: If you canbelieve, all things are possible to him whobelieves.

The father confessed that although he did indeedbelieve HE STILL NEEDED CHRIST TO HEAL HIS UNBELIEF HIS PERSISTENT, SUSPICIOUS DOUBTS.

CONSEQUENTLY, HIS SON WAS HEALED AND THE FATHER HADNO MORE RESERVATIONS BUT WAS CONFIDENT IN HIS

FAITH IN GOD.Later, in private, His Apostles asked our Lord why they

were unable to heal the boy, whereupon He revealedto them that THOSE TYPES OF DEMONS COULD ONLY BEEXORCISED THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING.

The first fact that confronts us in this Sacred Lesson isTHE EXISTENCE OF EVIL SPIRITS, FALLEN ANGELS ORDEMONS.

We would all like to deny their existence. We would liketo dismiss their action as illness or mental illness.

MENTAL ILLNESS is something that does exist but, it ISDIFFERENT TO THE SPIRITUAL ILLNESS THAT IS DESCRIBEDIN THIS PARTICULAR ACCOUNT.

The possession of the soul by demons is a sickness ofthe soul. THE SICKNESS OF THE SOUL SEPARATES APERSON FROM GOD AND FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

The fatal intention of the demons is to convince us thatthey do not exist or that they have the same poweras God.

The prince of the demons is Lucifer or the devil himself

Satan who is the prince and inventor of all lies,deceit and everything evil that causes us such grief,which is meant to drag us away from God and HisDivine Grace.

IF WE BELIEVE THE LIE THAT THAT THERE IS NO EVIL THEN ITBECOMES EASIER FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT WE DO NOT

NEEDGOD!The other lie that the devil wants us to believe is that he

is an evil god who is equal to God!We often hear of this good and evil equality in the

belief of theyingand theyang.

BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT NOTHING IS EQUAL TO ALMIGHTY GOD WHO ,

BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT MERCY AND LIF E-GIVING LOVE AND

INFINITE GOODNESS, CREATED EVERYTHING VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH !

SO SATAN AND HIS FALLEN ANGELS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN

CREATED BEINGS JUST LIKE US !! !

WHEN WE BELIEVE THESE LIES WE DENY THE POWER OF GODAND SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM HIM AND OTHERS.

Through this separation from God and others OUR SOULBECOMES SICK and in the most severe cases THEAILING PERSON STARTS TO ACT DIFFERENTLY, WHICH ISOFTEN MISTAKEN FOR A MENTAL ILLNESS.

That is what was witnessed in this Holy Gospel account:the father thought of his son as being lunatic orinsane for he was controlled by a demon that triesto kill him.

THE TRUTH IS THAT NEITHER SATAN NOR HIS DEMONS CAN ACTUALLY

KILL US BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO REAL POWER OVER OUR LIFE OR

DEATH ONLY GOD HAS SUCH DIVINE POWERS AND EVERYTHING IS

ACCORDING TO HIS WIL L. THEREFORE, GOD ALONE PERMITS THE

EVIL ONE TO TEMPT US , WHICH SHOULD BRING US CLOSER TO GOD , BUT THAT IS THE LIMIT OF HIS ABILITIES.

HOWEVER, THE EVIL ONE CAN CAUSE US TO HARM OURSELVES AND

EACH OTHER - AND HE ALWAYS USES OUR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES

AGAINST OURSELVES.

The desperate father wanted to believe that his sonsfrightening illness was something other than asickness of his soul.

In a way he wanted to believe that his sons illness wassomething that was a Punishment from God.

SUCH A BELIEF IS THE TRUE DENIAL OF GOD BY ATTRIBUTINGTO HIM THE EVIL OF THE FALLEN ANGELS THAT HAVE BEENSELF INFLICTED THROUGH THE MISUSE OF OUR FREE WILL!

We must always remember that EVERYTHINGCREATED BY GOD IS GOOD which is confirmed inthe Book of Genesis, for when God created the

world, ...He saw that it was Good.(GENESIS 1:10-31)That is why our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the father

and the crowd and later, in private, nine of HisHoly Apostles.

Christ rebuked them for their lack of Faith becausethey forgot - or did not believe - that EVERYTHINGTHAT GOD CREATED IS GOOD - and He did so in orderto bring them back to TRUE BELIEF IN GOD.

St James the Apostle of Christ explained thesignificance of such rebukes: For in many thingswe offend all. If any man offend not in word, thesame is a perfect man, and able also to bridle thewhole body. Behold, we put bits in the horsesmouths, that they may obey us; and we turn abouttheir whole body.(JAMES 3:2-3)

Thus, REBUKES MAY SEEM OFFENSIVE BUT THEY ARE A TOOLTO TURN US BACK TO A CORRECT WAY OF LIVING.

When our Lord Jesus asked the troubled father tobelieve that his son could be Healed, he respondedby appealing to Christ: Lord, I believe! Help myunbelief!


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St Nikolaj Velimirovic taught us: There is nothing thatmelts the ice of unbelief as readily as tears.

THESE HEALING TEARS OCCUR WHEN WE CAN NO LONGERENDURE THE PAIN OF NOT TRUSTING IN GOD.

We often hear this in the cry God help me! when weare AT THE POINT OF DESPAIR and it is at this pointthat GOD CAN ENTER INTO OUR LIVES.

This is when GOD CAN HELP US TO HAVE BELIEF AND FAITHIN HIM.

St Nikolaj Velimirovic said mankind cannot evencome to Faith without Gods Help. We can only

come to some slight beliefBut THE PATH FROMSOME MEASURE OF BELIEF TO TRUE FAITH IS LONGINDEED, AND NO ONE CAN FOLLOW THISPATH WITHOUTGODSGUIDINGHAND.

Having exorcised the wretched son, our Lord JesusChrist ordered the demon to never enter the sonagain.

Thus our Lord reminds us all that OUR BEHAVIOURBECOMES INGRAINED INTO OUR VERY BEING.

Christs banishment of the demon is A SEVERE WARNINGto each and every one of us that WE ARE NOT TORETURN TO OUR SINS ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED OF THEM.

In the Holy Gospel of St Matthew OUR LORD ALSOREMINDED US THAT ONCE WE HAVE REMOVED A SIN FROM

OUR LIVES WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO ADD MORE SINS:

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,and he goes, and takes with himself seven

other spirits more wicked than himself, andthey enter in and dwell there: and the last stateof that man is worse than the first.(MATTHEW 12:43-45)

With these two vital Sacred Lessons our Lord JesusChrist cautions us to BE CONTINUALLY DILIGENTin the conduct of our lives - not to sin and toprevent the sickness of the soul.

Later, in private, Christs Apostles asked Him why theywere unable to cast out the demon, and our Lordtold them that it was due to the degree of theirunbelief their lack of Spiritual Strength and Faithin God because THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF DEMONPOSSESSION COULD ONLY BE EXORCISED THROUGH PROPER

PRAYER AND FASTING I.E. THROUGH DIVINE HELP,HUMILITY AND SELF-DENIAL.

St Nikolaj Velimirovic pointed out the following withregard to the Holy Apostles: the measure oftheir Faith had become weaker - whether fromworldly fear or from pride - so the Power that hadbeen granted to them had become weakened.

Our Lord Jesus Christ then gave His Holy Apostles andall His Faithful Disciples - THE HOLY PRESCRIPTIONFOR HEALING - TO REGAIN THAT WHICH HAD BEENGRANTED TO THEM BY GOD:PRAYER AND FASTING.

This same Holy Medicine is prescribed to us by the HolyChurch of Christ so that WE, TOO, CAN REGAIN ORSTRENGTHEN OUR FAITH AND ENTER INTO CONTINUOUSCOMMUNION WITH GOD.

St Peter Chrysologos of Ravenna explained Prayer andFasting as follows : Prayer knocks at the door,Fasting obtains, Mercy receives. Prayer, Mercy andFasting: these three are one, and they give life toeach other. Fasting is the soul of Prayer, Mercy isthe Lifeblood of Fasting.

V FASTING IS A METHOD OF QUENCHING THE PASSIONSTHROUGH ABSTINENCE.

V FASTING IS NOT ONLY THE ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD BUTTHE ABSTINENCE FROM LOSE LIVING.

V FASTING IS A SELF DISCIPLINE THAT ALLOWS US TO KNOCKAT THE LORDS DOOR THROUGH PRAYER AND RECEIVEHIS MERCY THAT RESTORES US TO CONTINUALCOMMUNION WITH HIM.

So my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: my Prayer foryou is that you may TAKE YOUR SPIRITUAL MEDICINE OFFASTING, that you may be able to PRAY - to RESTOREAND GROW IN YOUR FAITH so that you may RECEIVEOUR LORDS MERCY AND HAVE CONTINUAL COMMUNIONWITH HIM.

AmenEDITED & ADAPTED BY MP: A SERMON BY FATHER MILAN MEDAKOVIC DELIVERED AT

THE HOLY TRINITY SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, USA, ON

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT 2009

HTTP://FRMILAN.WORDPRESS.COM/2009/03/29/SERMON-4TH-SUNDAY-OF-GREAT-

LENT/

T h e E t e r n a l , D i v i n e l y I n s p i r e d W i s d o m o f o u r H o l y C h u r c h F a t h e r sO n R e p e n t a n c e P a r t 2

Brethren! Let us come to know the unspeakable Love ofGod for the fallen human race. The Lord becameMan in order to make it possible to take uponHimself the punishments that mankind has earned,and to ransom the guilty from EternalCondemnation.

What drew Him to us here, on earth, in the land of ourexile? Our righteousness? No! He was drawn to us byour disastrous condition into which our sinfulnesshas cast us.

Sinners! Let us stand aright. For us, precisely for us didthe Lord perform the great task of becoming Man;He has looked upon our sickness withincomprehensible Mercy.

Let us stop our wavering, let us stop despairing anddoubting! Full of Faith, Zeal and Gratitude, let usstep forward to Repentance, and through it let usmake Peace with God.

And if the transgressor turn away from all hisiniquities, which he has committed, and keep allMy Commandments, and do Justice and Mercy, heshall surely live, and shall by no means die. Noneof his trespasses, which he has committed, shall beremembered: in his Righteousness, which he hasdone, he shall live.(EZEKIEL. 18:21-22).

Such a Promise does God give the sinner through thelips of His great Prophet, St Ezekiel.

Brethren! We have lost by voluntary sin our Holy Purity,which is untouchable not only by sinful deeds, buteven by the notion of evilthat Purity in whoseSpiritual Radiance we came into being at the Handof our Creator.

We lost this Purity that we received at Baptism - alongour Path of Life we have stained our Garments,rendered white by the Redeemer, with ournumerous sins.

We are left only with the Cleansing Waterthe Water ofRepentance. What will come of us if we disdain eventhis Washing? We will have to stand before God withsouls deformed by sinand He will gaze terrifyinglyat a defiled soul, and condemn it to the Fires ofGehenna.

God sees your sins: He looks with Longsuffering uponthe sins you have committed within His Sight; Helooks upon the chain of sins constituting the wholeof your life; He awaits your Repentance andsupports your free will to choose Salvation orDestructionand you abuse the Goodness andLong-suffering of God!

There is no correction in you! Your carelessness

increases! Your contempt of God and of your ownEternal Lot only escalates! You care only for themultiplication of your sins, adding to your previoussins new and more vicious ones!

But in accordance with your hardness and yourimpenitent heart you are treasuring up foryourself Wrath in the Day of Wrath and Revelationof the Righteous Judgement of God, Who willrender to each according to his deeds.Eternal Lifeto those who by patient continuance in doing good,seek for Glory, Honour and Immortality; but to thosewho are self-seeking and who do not obey the Truth,but obey unrighteousness Indignation and Wrath,Tribulation and Anguish, on every soul of those whodo evil...[ROMANS 2:59]

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ON REPENTANCE BY

ST IGNATIOS BRIANCHIANINOV, ASCETIC EXPERIENCE


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S U N D A Y O F G R E A T L E N T S T M A R Y O F E G Y P T 2 1 A P R I L 2 0 1 3 9.


All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and

unto the Ages of ages. Amen.

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever

Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to

Christ our God. Amen.

9 t h Sunday o f Triod ion Tone (5) Plagal 1 21 Apri l 2 0 1 3

5t h

S u n d a y o f G r e a t L e n t S t M a r y o f E g y p t

Also the Feast of St Januarios the Bishop, St Proculos, St Sossios & St Faustos, the Deacons,

St Desiderios the Reader, St Eutychios and St Acution of Benevento & Pozzuoli

St Alexandria the Queen St Theodore, St Philippa, St Dioscoros, St Socrates & St Dionysios of

Perge, Pamphylia St Isaac, St Apollos & St Quadratos of Nicomedia St Maximian of

Constantinople

R E S U R R E C T I O N / F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N TO N E ( 5 ) PL A G A L 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ekParthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen,Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthinen to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire toustethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.

The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has nobeginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born ofa Virgin, let us Faithful Believers hymn and adore.For it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in

the Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through Hisown Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T M A R Y O F E G Y P T - TO N E ( 8 ) PL A G A L 4

K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D T H E O T O K O S

Prostasiaton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros tonPiitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseonfonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian

imon, ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon ispresvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai,Theotoke, ton Timonton Se.

O Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediatorto the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleadingvoices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to

the Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee:speed up Thine Intercession, and present ThySupplication, O Theotokos who always protects allthose who honour Thee!

R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2 M a r k 1 6 : 1 - 8T H E H O L Y M Y R R H - B E A R E R S W I T N E S S T H E E M P T Y T O M B O F O U R R I S E N L O R D J E S U S C H R I S T

P r o k e i m e n o n

Pray to the Lord our God and render Thanks to Him!GGGGod is known in Judea His Name is Great in Israel!

S t P a u l s E p i s t l e t o t h e H e b r e w s 9 : 1 1 - 1 4T H E H E A V E N L Y H O L Y S A N C T U A R Y A N D T H E D I V I N E L I T U R G Y

Brethren: Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come with the greater and more Perfect TabernacleNot Made With Hands that is, not of this Creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His ownBlood He entered the Most Holy Place once, for all having obtained Eternal Redemption.

For, if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of heifers, sprinkled upon the unclean Sanctifies for the purifyingof the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ - Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself withoutspot to God - Cleanse our conscience from dead works, to Serve the Living God?!

In contrast to the Old Covenant Hebrew High Priest,

CHRIST OURSAVIOUR IS OUR ONLYHIGH PRIEST OFGODS

NEWCOVENANT.

Christ entered the Heavenly Sanctuary once for all i.e.HIS ONE PERFECT AND ULTIMATE BLOOD SACRIFICE

COVERS ALL THE SINS COMMITTED BY ALL HUMAN BEINGS

FOR ALL TIME THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY AND

FOREVER!

V Christ was our High Priest THE DIVINE, PERFECTOFFERERWHO OFFERED HIS OWN PERFECT, SINLESS

BLOOD THE DIVINE PERFECTOFFERING WHICH IS

ABLE TO HEAL THE ENTIRE CORRUPTION OF ALL

HUMANITY FOR ALL TIME AND NEEDS NEVER BE

REPEATED EVER AGAIN!

His Most Precious Blood Offering RESTORES EACH AND

EVERY ONE OF US HUMAN BEINGS throughout history

TO OUR PROPER, FORMER SACRED RELATIONSHIP WITH

ALMIGHTYGOD.

CHRISTS SACRIFICE PURIFIES CLEANSES our conscience

and REINSTATES US AS HOLY ORSANCTIFIED BEINGS who

are DRAWN CLOSER TOALMIGHTYGOD THROUGH CORRECT

LITURGICAL WORSHIP serve the Living God

together with our COMMITMENT TO CONSTANT

REPENTANCE of our habitual sins.

Because we continue to use our God-given free will to

indulge our wilful and selfish flesh rather than to obeythe Spiritual Guidance of our Holy Conscience the

little Remnant or Voice of God within us WE MUST

CONSTANTLY STRIVE AND STRUGGLE TO RESIST

TEMPTATION AND RESOLVE OUR SINS AS SOON AS WE FALL

INTO A STATE OFSPIRITUAL DEATH by means of sincere

Repentance and a determined effort to return toSpiritual Life and so continue our Spiritual Journey in

the Divine Footsteps of our Lord and Saviour.

b NO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS IN CHRIST IS POSSIBLE WITHOUTCONSTANTWATCHFULNESS AND STRUGGLE.

En Si Miter akrivos diesothi to kat ikona; lavousa garton Stavron, ikolouthiasas to Hriste, ke prattousaedidaskes, iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar;epimilisthe de psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio kemeta Angelo sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou.

In Thee, O Mother, was preserved, intact what was inGods Image; for after taking up the Cross, Thoufollowed Christ our Lord, and by Thy actions Thoutaught us to overlook the flesh, for it perishes andto care for the soul, which is Immortal; wherefore,O Holy Mary, Thy spirit rejoices, along with theAngels.


10/2410. 9T H


S U N D A Y O F G R E A T L E N T S T M A R Y O F E G Y P T 2 1 A P R I L 2 0 1 3

Those who erroneously believe that the mere acceptanceof our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour willguarantee us Eternal Life are seriously deceiving

themselves because that implies that our Struggle forTheosis (Spiritual Perfection) has been achieved.

However, OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE THROUGHOUT THIS

ENTIRE PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY IS AN

ONGOING SACRED MISSION THAT IS ONLY ENDED AT OUR

VERY LAST BREATH.

Christ our Lord emphasised the fact that FAITH WITHOUT

GOOD WORKS AND SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE DOES NOT

BENEFIT ANYONE and is actually be mere lip-service AN

EMPTY TYPE OF FAITH WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANCE!

LIFE IN CHRIST MEANS A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO ALL

FACETS OFCHRISTIAN FAITH AND WORSHIP not simply

a few selected portions of the whole Faith according tothe luke-warm manner we choose to follow Him.

AGENUINE LIFE IN CHRIST IS our most determined effort -

A DEDICATED ORSACRED COMMITMENT TO GOD, which iscompelled by our utter Love for Almighty God and a

desire to please Him in all ways possible: Let it be

according Thy Will, O Lord!Tragically, in this day and age, a large majority of our

fellow sinners have been deceived by false teachings

of Spiritual Wolves who lead Gods Lost Sheep evenfurther astray and then consume them with their lies

and duplicity luring them with baited hooks that havea miniscule drop of Truth just enough to entice them

and by telling them whatever they want to hear

pleasing or pleasuring people rather than OBEYING THE

DIVINE WILL OFGOD which REQUIRES what they lack

LOVE,HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD!

The DEAD WORKS that St Paul often cautions us against is

a reference to all human activity in and of this fallen

age when we participate in acts of mortality,

immorality and corruption EVERYTHING THAT

ALIENATES AND EXILES US FROM THE DIVINE PRESENCE

AND GRACE OF OURLOVING AND BENEVOLENTGOD.

Liturgically speaking, dead works include the actions of

OLD COVENANT TYPE OF WORSHIP, WHICHARE NO LONGER

REQUIRED OF US AS CHRIST HAS FULFILLED EVERYTHING

REQUIRED OF THOSE OLD LAWS.

b OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD REQUIRES US TO FULFIL HISNEW COVENANT: TO LOVE GOD with all our mind,

with all our heart, with all our strength and with all

our soul,AND TOLOVE ONE ANOTHER AS MUCH AS HE

LOVES US unconditionally and completely, without

exception! and this includes all the TenCommandments as well!

bTHE NEWCOVENANT OFGOD IS ACOVENANT OFETERNALLOVE and so WE WILL BEJUDGED ACCORDING TO

EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED COMPELLED AND

FULFILLED WITH AGAPE DIVINE LOVE a difficult

Sacred Task To achieve until our very last breath!

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 1 0 : 3 2 4 5O U R L O R D J E S U S T H I R D P R O P H E C Y C O N C E R N I N G H I S P A S S I O N

At that time, they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus had gone before them; and they were amazed.And as they followed, they were afraid, for He had taken the Twelve aside again and had begun to tell them thethings that would happen to Him.

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests, and to theScribes; and they will condemn Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.

So James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Him and asked: Teacher, we want Thee to do for us whatever weask. And He said to them: What do you want Me to do for you? And they said to Him: Grant us that wemay sit, one on Thy right hand side and the other on Thy left, in Thy Glory. And Jesus said to them: You donot know what you ask. Are you able to drink from the Cup that I drink, and be Baptised with the Baptismwith which I Am Baptised? And they answered: We are able.

And Jesus said to them: You will indeed drink the Cup from which I drink, and with the Baptism with which IAm Baptised you will be Baptised; but to sit on My right hand side and on My left is not Mine to grant, sinceit is for those for whom it is prepared.

And when the ten heard about it, they were greatly displeased with James and John. And Jesus called them toHimself and said to them: You know that those who are considered Rulers over the Gentiles lord it overthem, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; for whoeverdesires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desire to be first shall beslave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to Serve and to give His Life as aRansom for many.

Our Lord Jesus Christs Revelations of His approaching

Passion were intended to encourage and strengthenHis Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples for theterrifying Events with which they would all too soonbe confronted.

bTHE DIVINE PROPHECIES OF OURLORDJESUS CHRISTALSO CONFIRM THE TRUTH AND REALITY THATHE

APPROACHED HIS TERRIBLE PASSION ACCORDING

TO HIS OWN WILL AND HIS OWN TIMING.Our Lord Jesus pointed out that ANY QUEST FOR

TEMPORAL POWER AND GLORY IS UNFITTING FOR A

FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OFCHRISTand it only exposes an

earthly misunderstanding of the Eternal Kingdom of

God.St Matthew noted that the Mother of Zebedees sons

actually asked for the great Honour for her belovedsons to be seated on either side of Christ in HisEternal Glory, butTHE FACT THAT OURSAVIOUR USED

THE PLURAL TERM YOU SHOWS THATHE KNEW WHO

REALLY SOUGHT THIS DIVINE FAVOUR FROM HIM.

However, a True Disciple of Christ should BE READY TO

SACRIFICE EVEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IF THEY

PREVENT US FROM FULFILLING OUR SACRED DUTY TO

GOD OR IF THEY IMPEDE OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH INCHRISTJESUS.Our Lord Jesus referred to His Crucifixion as a Cup,

and His Death as Baptism.

His unjust Crucifixion like a common criminalwas regarded as a Cup since HE DRANK OF

IT VOLUNTARILY FREELY AND WILLINGLY FOR

THE ETERNAL BENEFIT OR SALVATION OF ALL

MANKIND FOREVER.

his Death was regarded as Baptism since HEWAS FULLY IMMERSED IN IT, WHILE IT

CLEANSED THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE AND

RENEWED THE ENTIRE CREATION.

Furthermore, THE PROPHECY OFCHRIST CONCERNING ST

JOHN AND STJAMES participating in the same Cupand Baptism SHOWS HIS DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF

THEIR FUTURE PERSECUTION, SUFFERING AND HOLY

MARTYRDOM for their Love of Christ, which they

would endure after the Glorious Day of HolyPentecost from the beginning to the end of theirHoly Gospel Mission on earth.

Although our Lord Jesus Christ told the two Apostles

that the places of Great Honour in the EternalKingdom of God are not His to grant, it does notmean that He has no Divine Authority, but rather

that SUCH DIVINE FAVOURS ARE NOT HIS TO GRANT

ARBITRARILY TO ANYONE.

Instead HE WOULD GRANT THEM TO THOSE FOR WHOM

ALMIGHTYGOD HAS PREPARED THEM: BY THE WILL OF

GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH GOD THE WORD AND SON,

AND BY THE ACTION AND ABILITIES MADE POSSIBLE BY

GOD THE HOLYLIFE-GIVING SPIRIT.

With regard to being seated as equals to Christ on His

right and left hand side in Gods Eternal, Heavenly

Kingdom, St John Chrysostom taught us that NO


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11.

ONE NO ORDINARY HUMAN BEING - COULD POSSIBLY

OCCUPY SUCH AN ELEVATED DIVINE POSITION!

However, according to the Depiction of our God-

Inspired Holy Icons, THE HIGHEST PLACES OF HONOUR

THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED TO HUMAN BEINGS BELONG

TO THE EVER BLESSED,ALL PURE AND MOST HOLY

THEOTOKOS (THE MOST BLESSED AMONGST ALL

WOMEN) AND STJOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER

TO CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR (THE GREATEST HOLY

PROPHET EVER BORN OF WOMEN) BUT THEY ARE

NEVER SEATED AND THEY STAND IN PERFECT HUMILITY

AND OBEDIENCE AT EITHER SIDE OF OURENTHRONED

LORD AND MASTER,JESUS CHRIST having dedicated

their entire earthly lives to the Service of AlmightyGod with all due Humility and Obedience, as well as

many other Virtues as well THE TWO MOST PERFECT

HUMAN ROLE MODELS WE COULD EVER WISH TO IMITATE

TOGETHER WITH OURLORD AND SAVIOUR.The phrase for many, is an Aramaic expression

meaning for all.

F i f t h S u n d a y o f G r e a t L e n t S u n d a y o f S t M a r y o f E g y p tB E R E N E W E D F O R W H A T I S A H E A D T H R O U G H E N D U R A N C E O F T H E T R I A L S - B O T H V I S I B L E A N D I N V I S I B L E Brethren: because Winter has passed and Spring has

arrived, we see Creation flourishing again - theplants are flowering, the earth is growing green,the birds are singing and everything else is beingrenewed - and we take pleasure in all this and weGlorify God the Master Craftsman Whotransforms and changes Creation year by year,which is reasonable to do.

"Ever since the creation of the world His EternalPower and Divine Nature - invisible thoughthey are -, have been understood and seenthrough the things He has made."[ROMANS. 1:20]

It is our duty not just to stay where we are, but toadvance further and to examine carefully for

ourselves the logic of Creation.How? Because this Renewal has Winter as its cause. Itwould not have reached its prime had it not firstendured snows and rains and winds.

And so it is with our soul - unless she is first snowedunder by afflictions, troubles and difficulties, oursoul will not blossom and will not bear fruit.

Only by enduring such difficulties are we able to bearSpiritual Fruit and to partake of the Blessingsfrom God:

"Ground that drinks up the rain falling on itrepeatedly, and that produces a crop usefulto those for whom it is cultivated, partakesin a Blessing from God"[HEBREWS 6:7]

Therefore, Brethren, let us also endure everyaffliction, every trouble, every trial, which assails

us both visibly and invisibly.The Fast is essential for us because by striving to

discipline the demands of our flesh, we mayeventually bear worthy Spiritual Fruit and partakeof God's Blessing - and not only that, but so thatwe may nourish and welcome our Lord JesusChrist as our most honoured Guest.

For just as we enjoy the beauty of Creation, so doesHe too enjoy the ripe beauty1 of our souls.

What are the Fruits?These are the wonderful Virtues granted by the Holy

Spirit to those who Struggle ceaselessly: "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness,

Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Mastery"[GALATIANS 5:22].

By these He is nourished, by these He is entertained.

And most Blessed are those who nourish our Lord,for they will be Nourished by Him with EternalGood Things.

And Blessed are those who receive Him andwelcome Him as their most honoured Guest forthey will also be Received and Welcomed by Godas His Guest in His Eternal Kingdom of Heaven!

Indeed!So if someone is to receive a King as his house Guest,

he rejoices and is extremely glad.Therefore, how much more will those rejoice who

receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lords astheir most honoured Guest.

They will certainly be received by God, for our LordJesus Christ told us clearly: "I and My Father willcome and make Our Abode with (them.)" [JOHN14:23].

1 THE GREEK HAS LITERALLY THE HOUR OF OUR SOULS, BUT THE WORD CAN ALSOCONNOTE BEAUTY, RIPENESS, THE BLOOM OF YOUTH, SPRING-TIME. HENCE,

FOR EXAMPLE, THE DERIVATIVES . BEAUTIFUL AND RIPE.

And He also said: "One who has My Commandmentsand keeps them, is the one who Loves Me; theone who Loves Me will be Loved by My Father,and I shall Love him and manifest Myself tohim."[JOHN 14:21].

Therefore, since such are the Divine Promises, let usnot only bear, but let us endure with Joy allthings, both those that are present, those that arewhispered about, and those that are expected:

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,and in my flesh I complete what is lacking inChrist's afflictions for the sake of His Body,that is the Church."[COLOSSIANS 1:24].

My Brethren, whenever you face trials of anykind, consider it nothing but Joy, becauseyou know that the testing of your Faithproduces endurance; and let endurancehave its full effect, so that you may beperfect and complete, lacking in nothing."[JAMES 1:2-4].

Do you see then that in trials there is Joy, and intribulations, gladness?

For these are the things that are exchanged whereGod is concerned; and this is how the Saints ledtheir lives - this too how we, by doing violence toourselves and yet greater violence, and by livingour life in their footsteps, shall inherit theKingdom of Heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord, towhom be Glory and Might, with the Father andthe Holy Spirit, now and always and to the ages of

ages. Amen. ST THEODORE THE STU D ITE H T T P : / / W W W .J O H N S A N I D O P O U L O S . C O M / 2 0 1 0 / 0 3 /S E R M O N

- F O R - F I F T H - S U N D A Y - O F - G R E A T - L E N T . H T M L

ST JOHN OF KRONSTADT

What would it have been if God's preventive Grace had

not been bestowed upon us; if it did not

unexpectedly, suddenly embrace all our being after

we have sinned, and incline our hearts to Repentance

and Tears?

What if it had been left to us to obtain it by our own efforts

only? How accursed would we men then have been!

Few, very few, could have been Delivered from the

burden of their sins, for our nature is slothful in exerting

itself to effort, especially in the Spiritual Life; and

without Help, without Powerful Facility and the Delights

of Spiritual Labours, it would have abandoned them,

and would have thrown aside the Work of its Salvation.

But now God, the Most Wise and Merciful Father,

sometimes lightens and sweetens our Spiritual Burden,

sometimes makes it heavier for our trial, to teach us

Patience, and to weaken our crafty, destructive flesh,

wisely changing the one by the other; and the Work of

our Salvation, thank God, is thus always made

possible--not too difficult, and very often pleasant to

us.


12/2412. 9T H



S t M a r y o f E g y p tAt the end of the coming week Great Lent will be

over.Next Saturday is St Lazaros Saturday, which is

followed by Palm Sunday - the Entry of our Lordinto Jerusalem - and then by Great and HolyWeek.

However, today we commemorate another entry intoJerusalem - not the Entry into Jerusalem of ourLord Jesus Christ, but the entry into Jerusalem of

St Mary of Egypt.Who was she and what is her significance today?Born in Alexandria in Egypt in the middle of the fifth

century, as a young girl Mary fell into the vice ofprostitution.

For seventeen years, from the age of 12 until the ageof 29, she lived the life of a harlot.

Eventually arriving in Jerusalem, out of curiosity, shewent to see the Precious Cross of Christ thateveryone else was going to see.

However, she was unable to enter the Holy Church ofthe Resurrection - where St Helena had placed theMost Precious and Life-giving Cross of Christ -for some invisible Force blocked her path.

Mary was terrified by this strange occurrence so,weeping in fear and filled with an indescribableneed to see the Holy Cross of Christ, she turnedtowards a Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos thatwas at the entrance and asked Her to explainwhat prevented her from entering the church.

The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary told her that she firstneeded to Repent all her sins and then to alwayshumbly obey the Will of God.

Having done so, the repentant Mary was allowed toenter the church in Jerusalem, where she most

joyfully and with extreme gratitude venerated theHoly Life-giving Cross of our Lord and Saviour.

Afterwards, returning to stand before the Holy Iconof our Lady Theotokos and thanking her for herIntercession, St Mary of Egypt was instructed bythe All Pure Mother of God: 'If you cross the

Jordan, you will find True Peace'.Shaken to the depths of her soul by these wonderfulEvents St Mary of Egypt immediately andcompletely forsook her wicked and immoral lifeand, having received her first Holy Eucharist, shecrossed the Jordan River, and went to live in thedesert, taking with her only a little bread, whichsustained her for many years.

The exact details of her day-to-day life is unknown,but we do know that she dwelt there as a devoutand very strict Ascetic, sustaining her body withvarious wild plants, while struggling in tormentswith passionate thoughts and temptations untilafter many years she was granted Divine Graceand Knowledge and reached Spiritual Perfection which enabled her to cross the wide Jordan

River as though on dry land.She was naked, withered and emaciated, as depicted

on her Holy Icons.By the Grace and Great Mercy of God St Mary of

Egypt survived alone in wilderness forapproximately forty-eight years - until she wasdiscovered by a Pious Monk, St Zosimas, who isusually portrayed with her.

It was to St Zosimas that she related her life, whichwas eventually recorded and passed down to usthrough the ages.

The Life of St Mary of Egypt teaches us manyprofound Lessons.

Perhaps the first and most obvious Lesson we canlearn from St Mary of Egypt is that we shouldnever judge anyone - for only God knows the

depths of each and every soul.Who will be Saved? It is impossible to answer this

question, for it is never too late to Repent, eventhe worst sinner!

Humanly speaking, when we consider the debauchedlife of St Mary until her twenty-ninth year, we

might think that Salvation had becomeimpossible for her.

And yet the Holy Service in honour of her, addressesher as 'the greatest of Saints'.

Humanly speaking, we are all condemned but, bythe Grace of God, everything - including theheight of Repentance - is possible!

Consequently, none of us has the right to judgeothers we must only examine the condition of

our own souls and judge ourselves mostcritically, in order to properly and worthilyRepent our innumerable sins!

The Life of St Mary of Egypt also teaches ussomething about human nature.

In each of us there is the desire for worldlypleasures, for amusement and entertainment, forfood and drink - for the pleasures of the senses of the flesh.

But there is also the desire for pleasures of a highersort - genuine pleasures that are lasting, fulfillingand gratifying True Joy, which are far greaterthan the fleeting pleasures of the senses andwhich alone constitute the Path to lastinghappiness.

Societies which are devoted only to the satisfactionof the pleasures of the senses, pleasure-seekingsocieties, are societies without lasting joys, theyare full of sad faces.

The Life of St Mary teaches us that the values of theChurch are quite different from those of theworld. She went out into the desert and hadnothing, no friends, no home, no possessions, noclothes and hardly any food and drink. The worldlooked for pleasure, the satisfaction of thesenses, money and power, but St Mary wasmoneyless and powerless in the world. Today'sGospel confirms the choice of St Mary, for it saysthat those who wish to be great must be servants.This is upside down from all the ways of thisworld. But our Lord preached this and like Him St

Mary lived this.Indeed, as we have already said, the Church calls StMary 'the greatest of saints'. The use of this word'great' may surprise. In everyday life, we use'great' in other meanings. The world speaks of'great politicians', 'great soldiers', great film-stars', 'great performances by sportsmen', 'a greatholiday', 'a great car', 'a great amount of money'.But the Church calls St Mary 'great' and athousand and a half years after she lived we askfor her prayers, but not for those of anypolitician or soldier or film-star or sportsman. Letus think more carefully before next we utter thisword 'great'.

And as this last week of Great Lent begins, let us alsoponder on the words of the Mother of God, which

led Mary to her salvation through repentance andher greatness: 'If you cross the Jordan, you willfind true peace'. These mysterious words aretoday also addressed to each of us; theinterpretation of their mystery is open to thesouls of each of us, but only if we ask the Motherof God and St Mary to guide us. And then weshall find our own 'entry into Jerusalem'.

Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us!Amen.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON FOR SUNDAY OF ST MARY OF EGYPT BY ARCHPRIEST

ANDREW PHILIPS OFORTHODOX ENGLAND

S t M a k a r i o s o f O p t i n a :

Have great care for your children. We live at a

time when much freedom is given to theexpression of thought, but little care is takenthat thoughts should be founded on Truth.

Teach them to Love Truth!


13/24S T G E O R G E T H E G R E A T M A R T Y R & T R O P H Y - B E A R E R 2 3 A P R I L 2 0 1 3 13.


All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and

forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria,

Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one

another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

23 Apr i l 2013

S t G e o r g e t h e G r e a t M a r t y r & T r o p h y - B e a r e r

Also the Feast of St Alexandria the Empress, wife of Diocletian St Anatolios & St

Protoleon the Soldiers, converted witnesses of St Georges Martyrdom St Lazaros

of Bulgaria

A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T G E O R G E T H E G R E A T & V I C T O R I O U S M A R T Y R

TO N E 4

K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D T H E O T O K O S

Prostasiaton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros tonPiitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseonfonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithianimon, ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon ispresvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai,Theotoke, ton Timonton Se.

O Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediatorto the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleadingvoices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, tothe Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee:speed up Thine Intercession, and present ThySupplication, O Theotokos who always protects allthose who honour Thee!

M a t i n s G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 2 : 2 1 2C H R I S T C A U T I O N S U S A G A I N S T H Y P O C R I S Y A N D B L A S P H E M Y

At that time our Lord Jesus Christ said: ... there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that willnot be known. Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the Light, and what youhave spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

And I say to you, My Friends: do not be afraid of those who kill the body, after that have no more that they can

do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him Who, after He has killed, has power to cast intoHell! Yes, I say to you: fear Him!

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the veryhairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

Also I say to you: whoever Confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the Angels ofGod. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the Angels of God.

And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him but to him who blasphemesagainst the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

Now when they take you to the Synagogues and Magistrates and Authorities do not worry about how or whatyou should answer, or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what youought to say.

T h e A c t s o f t h e A p o s t l e s A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 2 : 1 1 1J E R U S A L E M I S S H A K E N B Y T H E P E R S E C U T I O N O F K I N G H E R O D A G R I P P A

About that time, Herod the King stretched out his hand to harass some from the Church. And he killed James thebrother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Hebrews, he proceeded further to seizePeter also.

Now it was during the Day of Unleavened Bread, so when he had arrested him, he had him imprisoned and deliveredto four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out before the people after Passover.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant Prayer was offered to God for him by the Church. And when Herodwas about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and theguards before the door were guarding the prison.

Now behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a Light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the sideand raised him up, saying: Arise quickly! And his chains fell off his wrists. And the Angel said to him: Gird

yourself and fasten your sandals;and he did so. And he said to Peter: Put on your garment and follow me.So he went out, following the Angel, and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he

was seeing a Vision.When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they got to the iron gate that led to the city, which

opened for them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the Angeldeparted from Peter.

And when he had come to himself, he said: Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His Angel, and hasdelivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Hebrews.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 5 : 1 7 1 6 : 2 U N I O N & C O M M U N I O N W I T H O U R L O R D J E S U S C H R I S T

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... These things I Command you, that you Love one another. If the world hatesyou, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own.Yet because you are not of the world, for I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. A

Os ton ehmaloton Eleftherotis, keton ptohon Iperaspistis,asthenounton Iatros, vaileonIpermahos, TropeoforeMegalomartis Georgie, PresveveHristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihasimon.

As the Liberator of prisoners,and the Protector of those inpoverty, Physician of the sick,and Defender of ruling Kings,O George Triumphant GreatMartyr, intercede with Christour God, so that our souls

may be Saved.


14/2414. S T G E O R G E T H E G R E A T M A R T Y R & T R O P H Y - B E A R E R 2 3 A P R I L 2 0 1 3

servant is not greater than his Master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept MyWord, they will keep yours also.

And all these things they will do to you for My Names sake, because they do not know Him Who sent Me.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excus

2013 - april sacred lessons

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