sacred lessons - j u n e 2 0 11

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Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr ica

Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 wi th all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

1 1 1 1 JJJJ uneuneuneune 2011201120112011

Apodosis (LeaveApodosis (LeaveApodosis (LeaveApodosis (Leave ----Tak ing) o f Holy PaschaTaking) o f Holy PaschaTaking) o f Holy PaschaTaking) o f Holy Pascha Also the Feast of St Justin the Philosopher & his Fellow Martyrs of Rome : St Chariton & St Charito, St Evelpistos, St Hirax, St Peonos, St Valerian & St Justos of Rome – St

Dionysios the Abbot of Glushetsk Monastery, Vologda - St Agapitos the Unmercenary Physician of Kiev Near Caves – St Shio the New, St David, St Gabriel & St Paul, Hieromartyrs of the David-Gareji Monastery, Georgia - St Wistan of Mercia

Apo l y t i k ion O f Ho l y Pascha

>Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton

patistas, ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! > Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death

trampling upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the tombs!

Ipako i o f H o l y Pascha – T one 4

Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton lithon apokilisthenta tou mnimatos, ikouon ek tou Angelou: ton en foti aidio iparhonta, meta nekron ti zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana; damete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios, thanatosas ton Thanaton; oti iparhi Theou Ios tou Sozontos to genos ton anthropon.

Arriving before dawn, Mary’s companions found the

stone rolled away from the Tomb and heard these words from the Angel: Who do you seek as Man among the dead, the One Who exists in Eternal Light? Behold, the burial shrouds; go in haste and preach to the world that the Lord has Risen, having put Death to death; and that He is the Son of God Who Saves the human race.

Kon tak i on – For H o ly Pascha – Un t i l A scens i on Day

I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis

irinin doroumenos, o tis pesousi parehon Anastasin.

Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal

One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.

Ins t ead O f T he Ag i os O Theos

Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe.

Allilouia! [3]

> Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai

ke is tous eonas ton eonon.

Amin

Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia!

Dynamis!

Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe.

Allilouia!

As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, have put on Christ: Alleluia! [3]

> Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Amen

You have put on Christ: Alleluia! Power/Strength As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, have

put on Christ: Alleluia

The Acts o f the Apos t l es 18 : 22 The Acts o f the Apos t l es 18 : 22 The Acts o f the Apos t l es 18 : 22 The Acts o f the Apos t l es 18 : 22 –––– 28282828 S t Pau l I ns t ruc t s S t Apo l l os in Ephesos

When St Paul had landed at Caesarea and gone up and greeted the Church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the Disciples.

Now a certain Hebrew named Apollos – born in Alexandria, who was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures - went to Ephesos. He had been instructed in the Way of our Lord; and being fervent of spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the Things of the Lord, although he knew only the Baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the Synagogue.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately. And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the Brethren wrote, exhorting the Disciples to received him and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through Grace; for he vigorously refuted the Hebrews publicly, showing

from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

TWO OUTSTANDING QUALITIES CHARACTERISED ST APOLLOS: HE WAS FERVENT IN SPIRIT AND HE WAS HUMBLE.

A fervent person can be useful to God even if he is not yet well taught – and although St Apollos was not yet in the Holy Church of Christ, yet HE BOLDLY PREACHED CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.

HIS HUMILITY WAS EVIDENT WHEN HE SUBMITTED TO

CORRECTION by St Aquila and St Priscilla, two modest tent makers, and THE FACT THAT A WOMAN GUIDED AND TAUGHT SUCH AN EDUCATED MAN WAS REMARKABLE SINCE MOST MEN OF HIS CULTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN OFFENDED.

ST AQUILA AND ST PRISCILLA DISPLAYED GREAT DECENCY, CONSIDERATION AND WISDOM FOR THEY DID NOT CORRECT ST APOLLOS PUBLICLY, BUT INSTEAD TOOK HIM QUIETLY

AND PRIVATELY ASIDE TO DO SO – AND THEN URGED OTHER DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO WELCOME HIM WITH LOVE AS WELL.

Ephesos, a large, magnificent city, was the capital of the Roman Province of Asia Minor. St Paul remained there for at least two years and three months.

Due to the great influence of Ephesos on the region, Holy Churches of Christ were founded in almost every neighbouring city and town during that time and the Seven Holy Churches mentioned in the Book of the Apocalypse – the Revelation of Jesus Christ - (2:3) are all in that area.

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The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 12 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 12 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 12 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 12 : 36 –––– 47474747 We Mus t B ecome Sons O f L i gh t

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light,

lest Darkness overtake you. He who walks in Darkness does not know where he is going. While you

have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become Sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. And although He had done so many Signs before

them, they did not believe in Him, so that the word of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the Arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, let they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”

These things Isaiah said when he saw His Glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless, even among the Rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue; for they loved the praises of men more than the Praise of God.

Then Jesus cried out and said: “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him Who sent Me. And he who

sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come as a Light into the world, that whoever believes in Me

should not abide in Darkness. And if anyone hears My Words and does not believe, I do not judge him;

for I did not come to Judge the world, but to Save the world...”

] “The Light” REFERS TO CHRIST. Our Lord’s Divine Sacred Lesson of today has several

facets of meaning: ä OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD SOON BE COMPLETING HIS

PUBLIC MINISTRY.

ä OUR LIVES ARE VERY LIMITED – we have only a very short time to Repent and believe in Christ before our own death.

ä THE SECOND COMING OR REAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST OUR LORD WILL OCCUR IN A VERY SHORT WHILE COMPARED

TO ETERNITY! ä In other words: OUR PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE

ETERNITY - THE FINAL DAY AND OUR JUDGEMENT BY CHRIST - WILL END VERY SOON - BUT ETERNITY IS FOREVER – IT IS INFINITE – NEVER ENDING – AND

UNCHANGEABLE – I.E. WE CANNOT REPENT OR CHANGE OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AT ALL FOR CHRIST’S JUDGEMENT IS F I N A L.

According to St John Chrysostom, ST ISAIAH’S PROPHECY DID NOT MEAN THAT GOD CAUSES SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN

THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL. This is a figure of speech that was common to Holy

Scripture revealing God as GRANTING US OUR FREE WILL TO CHOOSE – LEAVING US UP TO OUR OWN SINFUL DEVICES

AND SELF-INDULGENT DESIRES. Roman 1 : 2 4 – 26 “... God also gave them up to

uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to

dishonour their bodies among themselves, who

exchanged the Truth of God for the lie, and

worshipped and served the creature rather than

the Creator, Who is Blessed forever. Amen. For

this reason God gave them up to vile passions.

For even their women exchanged the natural use

for what is against nature.”

HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IS A VILE REJECTION OF GOD’S

ORDER FOR CREATION AND THESE PERVERSIONS ARE SINS AGAINST NATURE AND THEREFORE SPIRITUAL

DEVASTATING. “Error” means “delusion.” Consequently, what is meant by the words “... (God) has

blinded...” is that GOD HAS PERMITTED THEIR OWN SELF-CHOSEN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.

(Compar e Exodu s 8 : 1 5 – 3 2 W i t h E xodu s 1 0 : 2 0 – 2 7 ) So they did not become Spiritually Blind because God

spoke through St Isaiah, but rather St Isaiah spoke out – cautioned them - because HE FORESAW THEIR DANGEROUS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.

ST ISAIAH, THE HOLY PROPHET OF GOD, SAW CHRIST’S GLORY CIRCA 700 BC AND SPOKE OF HIM ON NUMEROUS

OCCASIONS throughout his lengthy, Inspired Prophecy.

I s a i ah 6 : 1 “... I saw the Lord sitting on a Throne,

high and lifted up. The House was full of His

Glory...” The Rulers, according to St John Chrysostom, were in

reality, the worst of slaves in that THEY WERE ENSLAVED BY THE OPINIONS OF MEN, WHICH KEPT THEM FROM LEADING AS GOD WOULD HAVE WANTED THEM TO LEAD.

] OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT JUDGE WITH

FAVOURITISM OR PARTIALITY. ä He has spoken the Words of Life – Divine Words of

Love, Forgiveness, Repentance, Virtue and Mercy.

ä His Words will be the unbending Standard whereby all humanity will be Judged on the Last Day – at the start of Eternity.

Saint Silouan On LoveSaint Silouan On LoveSaint Silouan On LoveSaint Silouan On Love THE SOUL CANNOT KNOW PEACE UNLESS SHE PRAYS FOR HER

ENEMIES. THE SOUL THAT HAS LEARNT BY GOD'S GRACE TO

PRAY, FEELS LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR EVERY CREATED

THING, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR MANKIND, for whom the Lord suffered on the Cross, and His Soul was heavy for every one of us.

OUR LORD TAUGHT US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES. WITHOUT THE

GRACE OF GOD WE CANNOT LOVE OUR ENEMIES. ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES LOVE, and then even devils arouse our pity because they have fallen from good, and lost Humility in God.

I beseech you, put this to the test: when someone affronts you or brings dishonour on your head, or takes what is yours, or persecutes the Church, pray to the Lord, saying: "O Lord, we are all Thy creatures. Have pity on Thy servants and turn their hearts to Repentance," and you will be aware of Grace in your soul.

TO BEGIN WITH, CONSTRAIN YOUR HEART TO LOVE ENEMIES, AND THE LORD, SEEING YOUR GOOD WILL, WILL HELP YOU

IN ALL THINGS, AND EXPERIENCE ITSELF WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY.

But those who think with malice of their enemies have not God's Love within them, and they do not know God.

IF YOU PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES, PEACE WILL COME TO YOU; BUT WHEN YOU CAN LOVE YOUR ENEMIES - KNOW THAT A GREAT MEASURE OF THE GRACE OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU -

ALTHOUGH NOT PERFECT GRACE AS YET, BUT SUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION.

Whereas if we revile our enemies, it means there is an evil spirit living in us - bringing evil thoughts into our

heart, for, in the Words of the Lord, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts - or good thoughts.

THE GOOD PERSON BELIEVES THAT THOSE WHO HAVE STRAYED

FROM THE TRUTH BRING DESTRUCTION on themselves and are therefore to be pitied. But of course those who have not learnt the Love of the Holy Spirit will not pray for their enemies. THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNT LOVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT SORROW ALL THEIR LIFE OVER THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED, AND SHED ABUNDANT TEARS FOR OTHERS, AND THE GRACE OF GOD GIVES THEM STRENGTH

TO LOVE THEIR ENEMIES.

People who do not know God, or who go against Him, are to be pitied; the heart sorrows for them and the eye weeps. BOTH PARADISE AND TORMENT ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE TO US: WE KNOW THIS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

And did not the Lord Himself say, "The Kingdom of

God is within you"? THUS ETERNAL LIFE HAS ITS BEGINNING HERE IN THIS LIFE;

AND IT IS HERE THAT WE SOW THE SEEDS OF ETERNAL TORMENT.

Where there is pride there cannot be Grace, and if we lose Grace we also lose both Love of God and assurance in Prayer. The soul is then tormented by evil thoughts and does not understand that she must humble herself and Love her enemies, for there is no other way to please God.

O Lord, grant me tears to shed for myself, and for the whole universe, that the nations may know Thee and live eternally with Thee and the Gift of Thy humble Holy Spirit, that we may apprehend Thy Glory.

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Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr ica Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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.

2 June2 June2 June2 June 2011201120112011

Our Lord ’ s Ascens ion in to HeavenOur Lord ’ s Ascens ion in to HeavenOur Lord ’ s Ascens ion in to HeavenOur Lord ’ s Ascens ion in to Heaven ---- Ascens ion ThursdayAscens ion ThursdayAscens ion ThursdayAscens ion Thursday Also the Feast of St Nicephoros of Constantinople – St Constantine, New Martyr – Georgian Holy Martyrs of Persia – St John the New of Sochi – St Juliana of Vyazma – St Barlaam of Kutin – St Erasmos of Ochrid - Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Kiev-Bratsk – St Dodo of St David Gareji Monastery, Georgia

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Ascens i on

Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, Haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia tou Agiou Pnevmatos,

vaveothenton afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios tou

Theou, O Litrotis tou kosmou.

Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God, after Thou filled the Disciples with Joy, by promising to send

them the Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them and

established their Faith, that Thou art the Son of

God, the Redeemer of the world. Kon tak i on o f t h e Ascens ion o f C hr i s t ou r Sav i our - T O N E ( 6 ) P L A G A L 2

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,

oudamothen horizomenos, alla menon adiastatos,

ke voon tis agaposi se. EGO IMI METH IMON, KE OUDIS

KATH IMON.

When Thou had fulfilled the Dispensation for our sake,

and united things on earth with the Things in

Heaven, Thou were taken up thither in Glory, O

Christ our god, going not away from any place, but

continuing inseparable, and to the m who Love

Thee, crying out: I AM WITH YOU AND THERE IS,

THEREFORE, NONE AGAINST YOU.

Ascens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t MaAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t MaAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t MaAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Mark 16 : 9 rk 16 : 9 rk 16 : 9 rk 16 : 9 –––– 20202020 Our R i sen Lor d J esus Chr is t Appear s , G r an t s H i s G rea t C ommiss ion , and Ascends t o Heaven

At that time, when our Lord Jesus had Risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. And she went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. Yet when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country. And they went and told it to the others but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the Eleven as they sat at table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had Risen. And

He said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is

Baptised will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be Condemned. And these Signs will follow

those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will

take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means harm them and they will lay

hands on the sick and they will recover.” So then, after our Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the Right Hand of God.

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the accompanying Signs. Amen.

Although two early manuscripts did not contain these verses as part of St Mark’s Holy Gospel, nearly all the other manuscripts ever discovered do include them. THEY ARE CANONISED SCRIPTURE AND ARE THEREFORE CONSIDERED BY CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH TO BE DIVINELY

INSPIRED, AUTHORITATIVE AND GENUINE. It is evident that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S RESURRECTED

BODY TRANSCENDS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL SPACE AND TIME,

BUT APPEARANCE AS WELL because He appeared to St Luke and St Cleopas along the road to Emmaus in “another form,” which is why they did not recognise Him at all, despite being in close proximity and discussion with Him for most of that day,

ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL, OUR RESURRECTED LORD IS SOMETIMES RECOGNISABLE TO HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES, WHILE AT OTHER TIMES, HE IS NOT.

] THE GREAT COMMISSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO ALL HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES – HIS

FINAL COMMANDMENT AS GOD INCARNATE AT THAT TIME – IS TO BE LIVED OUT IN HIS HOLY CHURCH UNTIL HIS REAPPEARANCE ON THE EIGHTH DAY AT HIS FINAL JUDGEMENT.

] MAKING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST cannot be achieved through human endeavour but ONLY BY THE GRACE, WILL AND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

] THE POWER OF RESURRECTION was not only for our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, but IS GRANTED TO ALL FAITHFUL BELIEVERS FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND HOLY MISSION ON EARTH – WHICH LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.

] OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS PRESENT IN EACH BELIEVER AND IN ALWAYS IN HIS HOLY CHURCH – His Holy Body – both personally and in the Holy Spirit, for neither can be separated from the other – and the Holy Trinity is Eternally United and Harmonious.

“To the end of the Age” DOES NOT BY ANY MEANS SUGGEST THAT WE WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD AT THE END OF

THIS WORLD FOR HE IS WITH US NOW, AND FOREVER, AND

FOR ALL ETERNITY – “... unto the Ages of Ages.” “New tongues” refers to the DIVINELY GRANTED GIFT OF

SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES – totally foreign to our personal abilities – i.e. NOT ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY OTHERS.

Speaking in tongues is THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND PRECISELY, WITHOUT ANY INTERPRETATION NECESSARY, WHILE CONVEYING GOD’S DIVINE TRUTH TO

OTHERS BY SPREADING HIS HOLY GOSPEL amongst all Nations of this earth – which is granted to us ONLY BY DIVINE GRACE!

To “take up serpents” primarily refers to OUR CONSTANT SPIRITUAL WARFARE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS DEMONS

FROM WHICH OUR SAVIOUR HAS PROMISED TO DELIVER US. This would also include certain physical protection as well

– similar to when St Paul was bitten by a poisonous serpent and suffered no harm and when St Barsabas Justus was forced by pagans to swallow poison yet he also survived. (ACTS 28: 3 – 6 ; ACTS 1 :23)

Nevertheless, while Divine Grace does protect us from both physical and Spiritual Harm, WE ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO TEST GOD BY DELIBERATELY COMMITTING HARMFUL ACTS AGAINST OURSELVES. (DEUTERONOMY 6:16;

MATTHEW 4:7)

The Ascension of Christ is celebrated 40 days after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and fulfils the type given when St Elijah ascended into Heaven in a “fiery chariot.” (4 KINGS 2:11)

Ascension marks the completion of the Incarnate Son of God’s Glorification and Lordship over all Creation.

At His Incarnation, Christ brought His Divine Nature to our human nature.

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In the Divine Mystery of Ascension, our Saviour conveys our human nature to His Divine Kingdom where He Eternally reigns in His Glorified Body with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity Whom are worshipped ceaselessly by the whole Angelic Heavenly Realm.

At Vespers of Ascension we chant: “The Angels were amazed at seeing a Man so exalted...”

In some Holy Icons of the Ascension, Christ’s white robes are tented red to indicate the shedding of His Blood for the Redemption of the entire universe and the Mysterious and Glorious Ascent of that Life-giving Blood into Heaven.

I s a i ah 6 3 : 1 – 3 “Who is this Who comes from Edom

with red garments from Bozrah, so beautiful in

His Apparel, with force of strength? ‘I speak of

Righteousness and Saving Judgement.’ Why art

Thy Garments red and Thy Apparel as one who

treads in a winepress? ‘I Am full of the treading

of Grapes, and there is no man with Me among

the Nations. I trampled them in My anger, and

crushed them like earth, and brought down their

blood to the ground...’”

St John Chrysostom - and many other Holy Church Fathers - has taught us that the Garment of Salvation is Christ Himself. St Paul taught us that in Holy Baptism we “...PUT ON CHRIST.” (GALATIANS 3:27)

Psa lm 2 3 : 7 – 1 0 : “Lift up the Gates, O you Rulers. And be lifted up, you Everlasting Doors. And the

King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of

Glory? The Lord is Strong and Mighty. The

Lord is Powerful in Battle. Lift up the Gates, O

you Rulers, and be lifted up, you Everlasting

Doors and the King of Glory shall enter! Who is

this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the

King of Glory!” These words are proclaimed as the Priest knocks on the

door of the Church on Holy Pascha morning (i.e. Friday night) – signalling our Triumphant Entry into the Kingdom of Heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ’s Glorious Resurrection.

This same action also occurs at the Holy Consecration of a new church building throughout the Orthodox Christian world.

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 1 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 1 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 1 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 1 : 1 –––– 12121212 Passover to P en t e cos t

The former account I made, O Theophilos, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which He was taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given Commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen – to whom He had also presented Himself alive after His Suffering, by many infallible Proofs – being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And, being assembled together with them,

He Commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which...” He said: “...

you have heard from Me; for John truly Baptised with water, but you shall be Baptised with the Holy

Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?”

And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His own

Authority. But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be

Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now, when He had spoken these Things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a Cloud received Him out of their

sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as He went up, behold, two Men stood by them in white apparel, who also said: “O Men of Galilee: why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called ‘Olivet,’ which is near Jerusalem – a Sabbath Day’s journey. The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 –––– 53535353

The Pass ion o f our Lor d J esus Chr i s t

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying: “If Thou art the King of the Jews, save Thyself!” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “This is the King of the Jews!” And one of the criminals who were hanging beside Him blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou art the Christ, save Thyself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying: “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when Thou come into Thy Kingdom.” And Jesus

said to him: “Truly, I say to you: today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was

darkened, and the Veil of the Temple was ripped in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud Voice, He said: “Father, into Thy Hands I commit My Spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the Centurion saw what had happened, he Glorified God, saying: “Certainly this was a Righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who had gathered together for that sight – seeing what had been done – beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Now behold: there was a man named Joseph – a Council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea – a city of the Hebrews – who himself was also waiting for the Kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Then he took It down, wrapped It in linen, and laid It in a Tomb that was hewn out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.

S t Gregory PalamasS t Gregory PalamasS t Gregory PalamasS t Gregory Palamas –––– On AscensionOn AscensionOn AscensionOn Ascension "(Our Lord Jesus Christ) was separated from (His

Disciples) in the Body (although as God He was always with them) and - as He had promised them -

He was taken up and sat at the right hand side of God

the Father with our human flesh.

As He had lived, died, Resurrected and Ascended, so too

do we live, die and are Resurrected.

Not all of us, however, will attain to the Ascension, but

only those who believe that Life is Christ, and to die

for Him is gain and those who, before they died,

crucified their sin through Repentance and a Way of Life according to His Holy Gospel. (PHILIPPIANS 1:21)

After the Resurrection of all humanity, they alone will be

caught up in the Clouds to meet our Lord in the air. (CF. I THESSALONIANS 4:17)

A Cloud also received our Lord as He Ascended, as St

Luke related in his Book of the Acts of the Apostles. (ACTS 1:9)

After His Ascension, His Disciples did not see Him with

their bodily eyes but with the eyes of their souls, yet

they worshipped Him. (LUKE 24:52) Let us do the same, then, and like them, stay in Peace

(for Jerusalem means ‘Peace,’) keeping Peace within

ourselves and with one another.

Let each of us go into our own ‘Upper Room’ - our mind -

and stay there praying, and let us Purify ourselves

from passionate and base thoughts. (ACTS 1:13) In this way we shall not miss the Coming of the Divine

Comforter – God the Holy Spirit - and we shall

worship God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

in spirit and Truth - now and forever and unto the

Ages of ages.

Amen." (THE HOMILIES VOL. 2, HOMILY TWENTY-TWO PARAS. 16-17; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY

PRESS PGS. 10-11):

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Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

7777 t ht ht ht h A f t er Pascha Tone (6 ) Plagal 2 A f t er Pascha Tone (6 ) Plagal 2 A f t er Pascha Tone (6 ) Plagal 2 A f t er Pascha Tone (6 ) Plagal 2

5 June 20115 June 20115 June 20115 June 2011

Sunday o f the Holy Fa thers Sunday o f the Holy Fa thers Sunday o f the Holy Fa thers Sunday o f the Holy Fa thers ---- The 318 Holy Church Fathers o f the F ir s t The 318 Holy Church Fathers o f the F ir s t The 318 Holy Church Fathers o f the F ir s t The 318 Holy Church Fathers o f the F ir s t

Ecumenica l Counc i lEcumenica l Counc i lEcumenica l Counc i lEcumenica l Counc i l

Also the Feast of St Dorotheos, Hieromartyr of Tyre – St Nicandros, St Marcian, St Hyperechios, St Apollonios, St Leonidas, St Arios, St Gorgias, St

Pambo, St Selenia and St Irene of Egypt – St Mark the New Martyr of Chios – St Christophoros & St Konon of Rome – St Igor of Kiev, Translation of Holy Relics - St Constantine of Kiev – St Theodore of Novgorod, brother of St Alexander Nevsky – St Bassianos & St Jonah, Monks of Solovki Transfiguration Monastery – St Theodore, Wonderworker & Hermit of Jordan – St anubios the Confessor & Anchorite of Egypt - St Peter of Kosovo – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Igor

Apo l y t i k ion o f t he Resur r ec t ion - Tone (6) P lagal 2

Angelike Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa to ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilefsas ton Adin, mi pirasthis ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno, Doroumenos tin Zoin. O Anastas ek to nekron, Kyrie, Doxa Si.

The Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the Tomb seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led Hades captive, yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who art the Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman. Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the dead!

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Ascens i on

Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, Haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia tou

Agiou Pnevmatos, vaveothenton afton dia tis

Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios tou Theou, O Litrotis

tou kosmou.

Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God, after Thou filled the Disciples with Joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them and established their Faith, that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

Apo l y t i k ion O f T he 4 t h E cumeni ca l C ounc i l – Tone ( 8) P l aga l 4

Iperdedoxasmenos i Hriste O Theos imon, O fostiras epi gis, tous Pateras imon themeliosas, ke di afton, pros

tin alithinin pistin pantas imas odigisas,

Poliefsplahne Doxa Si!

Supremely praised art Thou, O Christ our God, Who established on earth, our Fathers as Luminaries; and through them, to the True Faith all of us Thou has Guided, O Most Compassionate One: Glory to Thee!

Kon tak i on o f t h e Ascens ion o f C hr i s t ou r Sav i our - T O N E ( 6 ) P L A G A L 2

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,

oudamothen horizomenos, alla menon adiastatos,

ke voon tis agaposi se. EGO IMI METH IMON, KE

OUDIS KATH IMON.

When Thou had fulfilled the Dispensation for our sake,

and united things on earth with the Things in Heaven, Thou were taken up thither in Glory, O Christ our god, going not away from any place, but continuing inseparable, and to the m who Love Thee, crying out: I AM WITH YOU AND THERE IS, THEREFORE, NONE

AGAINST YOU.

Matins Resurrec t ion Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 Mat ins Resurrec t ion Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 Mat ins Resurrec t ion Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 Mat ins Resurrec t ion Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 –––– 14 14 14 14 Our Resu r re c ted Lo r d Jesus Ser ves Br eak fas t T o H i s E l e ven Apos t l es

Proke imenonProke imenonProke imenonProke imenon

Thou ar t Blessed, O Lord , God o f Forefa thers .

For Thou has t a lways deal t R ighteously wi th us The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 20 : 16 – 18 & 28 – 36

S t Pau l ’ s Far ewe l l Address

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. From Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called for the Elders of the Church. And when they had gone to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived amongst you, serving the Lord with all Humility, with many tears and trials...

“... Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the Flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you Overseers, to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchases with His own Blood.

“For I know this: that after my departure savage Wolves will come in you, not sparing the Flock. Also from among

yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the Disciples after themselves.

“Therefore, watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone – night and day – with tears.

So now, Brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up and give you an

Inheritance among all those who are Sanctified.

“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold, or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my

necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way – by labouring like this – that you

must support the weak.

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“And remember the Words of our Lord Jesus – that He said: ‘It is more Blessed to give than to receive.’”

And when Paul had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

St Paul wanted to be together with the other Holy Apostles of Christ in Jerusalem for the Feast of Holy Pentecost, since A LITURGICAL CALENDAR BASED ON SACRED FEAST DAYS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBSERVED BY THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Consequently, ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – TRUE

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FESTAL CALENDAR OF MAJOR FEASTS, FASTS AND

CELEBRATIONS.

Ac t s 1 8 : 2 1 : St Paul told his Holy Flock: “I must by all means keep this coming Feast in Jerusalem; but I

will return again to you – God Willing.” THE SINCERE WORDS “GOD WILLING,” UNDERSCORED ST

PAUL’S CONSTANT RELIANCE ON GOD AND HIS CONTINUAL DEVOUT SUBMISSION OF HIS OWN PLANS AND FREE WILL TO THE WILL OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

James 4 : 1 3 - 1 7 “... you who say: ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year

there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas

you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that

appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Instead you ought to say: ‘ If the Lord Wills,

we shall live and do this and that...’ But now you

boast in your own arrogance. All such

boasting is evil. Therefore, to those who know

to do good and who do not do so, to them it

is sin!” The budding Christian Liturgical Calendar revealed THE

DEEP DESIRE OF THE HOLY APOSTLES AND FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO GATHER TOGETHER IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE GREAT CHRISTIAN FEASTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIPPING GOD AND THE

COMMEMORATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN A COMMUNAL MANNER.

At that time, the Holy Church of Christ was alive and developing in Ephesos and had already established a permanent pattern of Sacramental Leadership with Elders (Presbyters) and Overseers (Bishops).

However, the threat of false teachers and various heresies arose from both within and without the Holy Church.

Furthermore, THE FATAL THREAT OF SUCH FALSE

TEACHERS AND HERESIES CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, CAUSING SO MANY SOULS TO BECOME PLUNGED IN DEEP, DARK SPIRITUAL DEATH CAUSED BY ALIENATION FROM

GOD AND UNREPENTED SINS.

] Therefore, we must LEARN TRUE HUMILITY AND

OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD AND

FOLLOW ONLY WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT US – not the lies, deceptions and heresies that other less intelligent beings try to convince us of, which misguide and condemn us.

There is so much Divine Truth available to us these days that we have absolutely no excuse for “doing our own thing.”

] WITHOUT THE INSEPARABLE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY AND

OBEDIENCE, WE CANNOT MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AND WILL REMAIN IGNORANT, SELFISH

AND IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH DUE TO OUR ALIENATION FROM ALMIGHTY GOD WHO MAKES EVERYTHING THAT IS TRULY GOOD POSSIBLE FOR US.

The Holy Gospel According to St John 17 : 1 The Holy Gospel According to St John 17 : 1 The Holy Gospel According to St John 17 : 1 The Holy Gospel According to St John 17 : 1 –––– 13131313 Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Prayer for Himself & for His Holy Apostles

At that time, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His Eyes to Heaven, and said: “O Father, the Hour has come. Glorify

Thy Son, that Thy Son also may Glorify Thee, as Thou hast given Him Authority over all flesh, that He

should give Eternal Life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is Eternal Life: that they may

know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent.

“I have Glorified Thee on the earth. I have finished the Work, which Thou hast given Me to do. And now, O

Father, Glorify Me together with Thyself, with the Glory that I had with Thee before the world was. I

have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou hast given Me out of the world. They were Thine.

Thou gave them to Me, and they have kept Thy Word. Now they have known that all things, which Thou

hast given Me, are from Thee. For I have given to them the Words that Thou hast given Me; and they

have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from Thee; and they have believed that

Thou sent Me.

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine.

And all Mine art Thine, and Thine art Mine, and I Am Glorified in them.

“Now I Am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. O Holy Father, keep

through Thy Name, those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be One as we are One.

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name. Those whom Thou gave Me I have kept; and

none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to

Thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My Joy fulfilled in themselves...”

THE PRAYER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, is often referred to as “the High Priestly Prayer” because it CONTAINS THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF A PRAYER THAT ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRIESTS OFFER TO THE LORD OUR GOD BEFORE A (BLOODLESS) SACRIFICE

OR OFFERING IS OFFERED TO HIM:

ä GLORIFICATION of Almighty God ä REMEMBRANCE of God’s Divine Works ä INTERCESSION on behalf of others ä A DECLARATION of the Holy Offering Itself

This particular passage of New Covenant Holy Scripture is read on the Seventh Sunday After Holy Pascha in remembrance of the 318 Holy Church Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, which had been convened in Nicaea in 325 in order to condemn and correct the heresy of Arianism (which taught that the Son of God was created by God the Father and thus there was a time when the Son

and Word of God did not exist!)

ä OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S ACTUAL WORDS BEAR WITNESS TO HIS TRUE, ABSOLUTE AND ETERNAL DIVINITY, AS WELL AS HIS ETERNAL FILIAL

RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER.

This Divine Testimony alone is more than sufficient to dismiss any form of heretical Arianism.

“The Hour has come,” signifies that CHRIST IS LORD OVER TIME: “He voluntarily Willed to ascend the

Cross in the Flesh...” (HYMN OF SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY)

ä The expression “Glorify” refers to THE REDEMPTION OF ALL CREATION THAT WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED

THROUGH OUR LORD’S CRUCIFIXION (THE FINAL, ULTIMATE AND MOST PURE BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR SINS AND ETERNAL LIFE) AND GLORIOUS RESURRECTION (THE HARROWING OF HADES), which was THE DIVINE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE DIVINE WORD AND SON OF GOD WAS SENT BY GOD THE FATHER INTO THE SIN ENSLAVED AND DARKENED WORLD.

ä IN HIS DIVINE REDEMPTION, GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON ARE GLORIFIED.

ä FOR THAT REASON THE CROSS OF CHRIST - which was a hideous form of execution with its excruciating suffering and death - IS NOW GLORIFIED IN HIS HOLY CHURCH AS “LIFE-GIVING” AND A “WEAPON OF PEACE.”

ä THE (EMPTY) HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST HAS BECOME A VICTORIOUS EMBLEM OF DIVINE GOODNESS: RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE:

ä The Holy Cross of Christ CONQUERS ALL SINFUL ENSLAVEMENT, ALIENATION FROM GOD.

ä The Holy Cross of Christ is OUR SANCTIFIED BADGE OR EMBLEM OF HONOUR whereby we strive to live each moment of the day, for it REMINDS US OF THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF OUR

LORD AND SAVIOUR IN WHOM WE LIVE and it INFORMS OTHERS OF OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE.

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ä The Holy Cross of Christ is THE MOST POWERFUL FORM OF DIVINE PROTECTION, which repels and rejects Satan and his evil schemes.

ä The Holy Cross of Christ is ALL WE NEED. TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST DO NOT WEAR “EVIL EYES” OR ANY OTHER SO-CALLED

“GOOD LUCK CHARMS!” SUCH PAGAN TALISMANS, AMULETS OR TRINKETS EXPOSE DEEP-SEATED

SUPERSTITIONS, WHICH REVEAL A LACK OF FAITH IN GOD - THE DENIAL OF GOD’S INFINITE POWER AND LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL THREATS AND WICKEDNESS AGAINST US.

TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WEAR THE (EMPTY) CROSS ONLY AGAINST THEIR HEARTS (NOT AS MERE ORNAMENTATION SUCH AS EAR-RINGS, ETC) AND N E VE R N E VE R N E VE R N E VE R T O G E TH E R W I T H AN Y SU P E R S T I T I O U S “ L U CK Y CH ARMS ! ” T O G E TH E R W I T H AN Y SU P E R S T I T I O U S “ L U CK Y CH ARMS ! ” T O G E TH E R W I T H AN Y SU P E R S T I T I O U S “ L U CK Y CH ARMS ! ” T O G E TH E R W I T H AN Y SU P E R S T I T I O U S “ L U CK Y CH ARMS ! ”

BELIEF IN ANYTHING ELSE IS A REVERSION TO PAGANISM – THE REJECTION OF OUR ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!

T H E S OT H E S OT H E S OT H E S O ---- C A L L E D “ P E A CE S I G NCA L L E D “ P E A CE S I G NCA L L E D “ P E A CE S I G NCA L L E D “ P E A CE S I G N ” I S I N F A C T T H E CUR S E O F ” I S I N F A C T T H E CUR S E O F ” I S I N F A C T T H E CUR S E O F ” I S I N F A C T T H E CUR S E O F S A T AN : A C L O VEN H OO F AND A BR O K EN , U P S I D E D OWN S A T AN : A C L O VEN H OO F AND A BR O K EN , U P S I D E D OWN S A T AN : A C L O VEN H OO F AND A BR O K EN , U P S I D E D OWN S A T AN : A C L O VEN H OO F AND A BR O K EN , U P S I D E D OWN CRO S S C R O S S C R O S S C R O S S –––– D E C L AR I N G T H E WEAR E R A S A S L A VE O F S A T AN D E C L AR I N G T H E WEAR E R A S A S L A VE O F S A T AN D E C L AR I N G T H E WEAR E R A S A S L A VE O F S A T AN D E C L AR I N G T H E WEAR E R A S A S L A VE O F S A T AN T H A TT H A TT H A TT H A T MUSMUSMUSMUS T B E A VO I D E D A T A L L CO S T S B Y T R U E D I S C I P L E S T B E A VO I D E D A T A L L CO S T S B Y T R U E D I S C I P L E S T B E A VO I D E D A T A L L CO S T S B Y T R U E D I S C I P L E S T B E A VO I D E D A T A L L CO S T S B Y T R U E D I S C I P L E S O F CH R I S TO F CH R I S TO F CH R I S TO F CH R I S T ....

ä KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONLY TRUE GOD IS FAR MORE THAN INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING. IT IS PARTICIPATION OF CHRIST’S DIVINE LIFE AND BEING IN COMMUNION WITH HIM.

Consequently, ETERNAL LIFE IS AN ONGOING, LOVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine Work can never be separated from Who He is.

ä “I have Glorified Thee on the earth. I have finished the Work, which Thou hast given

Me to do...” is a statement that every Faithful Disciple of Christ should be able to make at the end of life – no matter how long or short our Life in Christ has been!

ä “...the men whom Thou hast given Me...” are THE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST THROUGH WHOM THE WORD OF GOD COMES DOWN THROUGH THE

AGES – CAREFULLY PRESERVED – TO US, WHICH IS KNOWN AS OUR “APOSTOLIC TRADITION” – THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF THE SON OF GOD, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

ä St Isaiah prophesied that IN THE DAYS OF THE MESSIAH, THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NAME OF GOD

WOULD BE REVEALED. (ISAIAH 52:6)

According to the Old Covenant, THE EXPRESSION “the Name” WAS MOST REVERENTLY USED instead of God’s actual Name, “Yahweh,” which was considered as being FAR TOO SACRED TO PRONOUNCE.

ä THE FULLER REVELATION OF THE DIVINE NAME WAS GRANTED TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, FOR HE MANIFESTED THE DIVINE NAME NOT ONLY BY DECLARING GOD THE

FATHER, BUT BY BEING THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH AND BY SHARING THE DIVINE NAME WITH HIM!

ä OUR LORD JESUS FIRST PRAYED FOR HIMSELF AND THEN

FOR HIS HOLY APOSTLES WHO WERE GRANTED TO HIM BY GOD THE FATHER – AS WELL AS ALL THE SOULS WHO BELIEVE IN HIM THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

ä The reference to “the world” means the fallen world consisting of ALL THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE DESIRES OF THEIR BODY –

THE FLESH – which is used against us through the temptation – the wiles and deceptions - of Satan.

T H E P H Y S I CA L WOR L D AND A L L T H A T I S I N I T T H E P H Y S I CA L WOR L D AND A L L T H A T I S I N I T T H E P H Y S I CA L WOR L D AND A L L T H A T I S I N I T T H E P H Y S I CA L WOR L D AND A L L T H A T I S I N I T ---- WH I CH G O D WH I CH G O D WH I CH G O D WH I CH G O D CR E A T E D CR E A T E D CR E A T E D CR E A T E D ---- I S A L L G O OD AND B E AU T I F U L I S A L L G O OD AND B E AU T I F U L I S A L L G O OD AND B E AU T I F U L I S A L L G O OD AND B E AU T I F U L ---- A NDANDANDAND WE WE WE WE –––– A S A S A S A S E AR TH L Y I N T E L L E C TUA L B E I N G S E AR TH L Y I N T E L L E C TUA L B E I N G S E AR TH L Y I N T E L L E C TUA L B E I N G S E AR TH L Y I N T E L L E C TUA L B E I N G S ---- H A VE B E EN O RD A I N E D H AVE B E EN O RD A I N E D H AVE B E EN O RD A I N E D H AVE B E EN O RD A I N E D BBBB Y G O D T O P R E S E R VE AND N UR TUR E I TY G O D T O P R E S E R VE AND N UR TUR E I TY G O D T O P R E S E R VE AND N UR TUR E I TY G O D T O P R E S E R VE AND N UR TUR E I T , YET THROUGH OUR SINFUL DESIRES OF GREED AND SELFISH INDULGENCE, WE HAVE ALMOST DESTROYED IT BEYOND RECOVERY!

ä The fallen world consists of ALL WHO ARE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD AND WHO PREFER SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND BLINDNESS TO HIS DIVINE, LIFE-GIVING LIGHT

AND SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT.

] The term “Holy Father” is echoed in THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OF DIDACHE: “We give Thee Thanks, O

Holy Father, for Thy Holy Name, which

Thou has made to dwell in our hearts...” (DIDACHE 10:2)

] The lost “son of Perdition” (Destruction) is Judas Iscariot to whom Old Testament Prophesy alluded. (PSALM 40:10; PSALM 108:2 – 13; ZECHARIAH 11: 12-13)

ä JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE SON OF PERDITION WHO BETRAYED CHRIST, EPITIMISES ALL WHO FALL AWAY, RENOUNCE REBEL AGAINST OR BETRAY GOD - ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST DAYS, WHICH IS

NOW!

According to St Paul in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, THE SON OF PERDITION IS “THE

ANTICHRIST” who is the manifestation of everything that is ungodly, evil and destructive but WHO WILL BE COMPLETELY DEFEATED AND BANISHED TO HELL – TOGETHER WITH ALL WHO ARE WILLINGLY ENSLAVED BY HIM - BY CHRIST ALMIGHTY AT THE FINAL JUDGEMENT OF ALL CREATION. (2 THESSALONIANS 2:3)

The Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Christian Dogma and DThe Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Christian Dogma and DThe Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Christian Dogma and DThe Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Christian Dogma and Defending God's Truthefending God's Truthefending God's Truthefending God's Truth Today is the Seventh Sunday of Holy Pascha – when all

Orthodox Christians commemorate our Holy Church Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, which had been held in the city of Nicea in 325.

At this gathering of Bishops, the Alexandrian Priest, Arius, and the heresy of Arianism were officially condemned. (Arius and his followers falsely taught that our Lord Jesus Christ was created by God and thus was inferior to Him.)

MEMBERS OF THIS REVERED COUNCIL SOUGHT TO PROTECT

THE ORTHODOX DOCTRINE AND EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST

AS BEING, "Light of Light, True God of True God,

Begotten, not made, of One Essence with the

Father, by Whom all things were made." (NICENE CREED)

It is a matter of record that THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED HERSELF WITH DOCTRINE, ARTICULATING AND DEFINING AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE THE DIVINELY REVEALED

TRUTHS ABOUT GOD AND MANKIND.

Modern religious thought, however, has a dislike for True Dogma, and frequently accuses the Holy Church of dividing people with her strict adherence to her Teachings; for her Condemnation of what is wrong - heterodox; and for the willingness of her members to die for the Truth.

The Holy Church of Christ is condemned for “living in the past,” and there are those who say that she is not prepared to meet modern crises and to offer people the solution to their problems.

Individuals tell us to adjust ourselves to our surroundings, accept the least common denominator of Dogma, and change our morality and ethics to fit changing social conditions.

] THESE CONDEMNATIONS AND CRITICISMS COME FROM

AN IMPERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE, OF WHAT MANKIND IS AND OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO

OUR CREATOR.

The assumption is that we live in a world that is totally different to the world into which our Lord Jesus Christ was born and lived His earthly Life.

It is said that possibly the Holy Church was the answer for the state of the world in the last days of the pagan Roman Empire, but that now we face a different situation; that Spiritual Humanity must have a new, “up-to-date, twentieth century solution” to our problems.

This, of course, represents a very superficial view of humanity and the problems of life - of our destiny.

Many stress that we are making progress - with the great “god of scientific discovery” as our guide; that we no longer have need of Christ’s Holy Church nor of her God (as He has been traditionally

understood), because we have learnt to depend on and have confidence in ourselves!

It takes little investigation, however, to discover that THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL TODAY ARE NOT AT ALL DIFFERENT FROM THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SO MANY CENTURIES AGO.

Each person who was ministered to by our Lord - as recorded in the Holy Gospels - has his or her parallel in today’s “modern society.”

] Our Holy Church teaches us that THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE, ALMIGHTY, GOOD, JUST AND LOVING GOD, WHO REVEALED HIS TRUTH TO HIS CHOSEN

PEOPLE. THAT DIVINE TRUTH HAS BEEN CAREFULLY AND

METICULOUSLY PRESERVED IN CHRIST'S HOLY CHURCH, WHICH HE HIMSELF ESTABLISHED, AND THAT TRUTH

DOES NOT CHANGE – IT IS CHANGELESS AND ETERNAL!

8. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 7 t h Sunday A f te r Pascha - 3 1 8 H o l y Chur ch Fa t her s : 1st Ecumenical Council – 5 J une 201 1

] GOD'S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS OF ALL MANKIND IS

LOVE: LOVE OF GOD AND ONE'S FELLOW MAN. His Eternal and Holy Church offers that Divine Gift of

unconditional Love (Agape) to a suffering world, and there are probably very few fair-minded individuals who would deny that IF WE HAD LOVE WE WOULD NOT HAVE WARS, CRIME, STRIFE, DECEPTION, HATRED AND ALL THAT GOES ALONG WITH SUCH DESTRUCTIVE WICKEDNESS.

GOD PROVED HIS LOVE BY GIVING HIMSELF FOR ALL

MANKIND, and in our terms for He even allowed His human Life to be taken by His own creatures.

This is THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF LOVE. THE ACCEPTANCE OF AND DEDICATION TO THAT SACRIFICE

IS THE CHURCH'S REASON FOR BEING AND IT COMPELS

OUR HOLY CHURCH TO METICULOUSLY AND MOST CAREFULLY GUARD – IN ALL ITS PERFECT PURITY – THE DEPOSIT OF TRUE FAITH LEFT BY OUR LORD DURING HIS BRIEF EARTHLY STAY.

This is why all Faithful Disciples of Christ – the Holy Church of Christ - condemns and will continue to condemn all novelties and man-made concepts (such as Arianism) that detract from the Divine Person of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and His Divine Mission.

] THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS

SUMMED UP IN THE PRECIOUS DOCUMENT LEFT TO US BY THE FIRST TWO ECUMENICAL COUNCILS OF

THE CHURCH, which we call THE NICENE CREED, and which we reaffirm each time we celebrate, in the Divine Liturgy, that Supreme Mystery of God's Love for mankind.

This is the only "least common denominator" for the Christian Church.

] WE CANNOT DENY OR DOUBT ANY ONE OF ITS TRUTHS. The forces of the enemy are at work to destroy the foundation of the Holy Church of Christ, for

IN CHANGING EVEN ONE OF THE CHURCH'S FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES, WE RUN THE RISK OF DENYING ALL OF THEM.

] THE SACRED TASK OF EVERY FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN IN

THIS DAY AND AGE IS TO DECLARE – UNFLINCHINGLY

- THAT WE ACCEPT THE TRUTH OF GOD, which was delivered to His Holy Saints; that it is the Guiding Principle of our life; that we are wholly dedicated to it, no matter how attractive the world and all its pomp may be at times.

WE CHRISTIANS – AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST - MUST LIVE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE, FOR THAT IS WHAT OUR LORD

HAS TAUGHT US TO DO. WE MUST SHOW BY OUR PERSONAL EXAMPLE THAT GOD'S

SOLUTION TO ALL OUR PROBLEMS IS AS WORKABLE NOW AS IT EVER WAS.

WE MUST TEACH OTHERS, BUT WE MUST FIRST LEARN OUR

OWN SACRED LESSON and we must always remember the words of our Lord:

"You are the Light of the world. A city that is set

on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men

light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but

on a candlestick and it gives light to all who

are in the house. Let your Light so shine

before men, that they may see your Good

Works and Glorify your Father Who is in

Heaven." (MATTHEW 5: 14-16) With these words, our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us

that - AS MEMBERS OF HIS HOLY CHURCH - WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD -- without the Church and His Divine Light, everything remains in darkness – Spiritual Darkness of Sin and ignorance.

OUR GOOD EXAMPLE MUST ILLUMINE THOSE AROUND US. If we have God's Love for mankind in our hearts, we will be the most dynamic force possible for WE INFLUENCE AND AFFECT EVERYONE WITH WHOM WE COME INTO CONTACT.

And in order to accomplish our Sacred Mission, we might not even have to open our mouths for those

who see us "... may see your Good Works and

Glorify God..."

If we are to bring Love to the world -- which is our Sacred Task -- we must begin in our own home.

] The first step towards the realization of our Destiny is HUMILITY - AWARENESS THAT WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST – STRIVING

AGAINST ANY FORM OF SELF-SATISFACTION OR SELF-PRIDE, SELF-JUSTIFICATION OR A SENSE OF SUPERIORITY - AND ACCEPTING, ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATING OUR DEPENDENCE UPON ONE

ANOTHER. ] There must be A HUMBLE ACCEPTANCE OF AND

OBEDIENCE TOTHE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST AND

HER PERFECTION FOR SHE TEACHES NO ERROR. THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO DESCENDED AT PENTECOST IS THE GUARANTEE OF THAT.

] WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WITH ONE

ACCORD WE MAY CONFESS: "Father, Son and

Holy Spirit, the Trinity, One in Essence and

Undivided." ] THE CHURCH IS ONE, AND THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY

SPIRIT ARE ONE, just as our Lord Jesus Christ

prayed: "O Holy Father, keep them in Thy

Name, those whom Thou hast given Me:

that they may be One as We are One." (JOHN 17:11).

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ARCHBISHOP DMITRI OF DALLAS AND THE SOUTH - THE THE THE THE DAWNDAWNDAWNDAWN ---- PUBLICATION OF THE DIOCESE OF THE SOUTH ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA - MAY 1998

http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/dmitri_dogma.htm

Eternal Wisdom of our Holy Church FathersEternal Wisdom of our Holy Church FathersEternal Wisdom of our Holy Church FathersEternal Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers StStStSt Leo the GreatLeo the GreatLeo the GreatLeo the Great

"David's Lord was made David's Son, and from

the Fruit of the Promised Branch sprang One without fault, the two-fold Nature coming together in one Person, that by one and the same Conception and Birth might spring our

Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom was present both

True Godhead for the performance of Mighty

Works and True Manhood for the Endurance

of sufferings." (THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. XII; EERDMANS PG. 172)

St Maximos the ConfessorSt Maximos the ConfessorSt Maximos the ConfessorSt Maximos the Confessor "'The long-suffering man abounds in

Understanding', because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that

end, patiently bears his distress. (PROVERBS 14:29) “The end, as St Paul says, is Everlasting Life.

“'And this is Eternal Life, that they might

know Thee - the only True God, and

Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent'” (CF. ROM. 6:22 JOHN 17:3 & THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 2 - EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD AND WARE; FABER AND FABER PG. 103):

St John of KronstadtSt John of KronstadtSt John of KronstadtSt John of Kronstadt "If you are fond of dressing elegantly, or when

you put on your clothes, think of the

Incorruptible Garment of Righteousness in which our souls should be arrayed, or of Jesus Christ Who is our Spiritual Raiment, as

it is said: 'For as many of you as have

been Baptized into Christ, have put on

Christ.’” (GALATIANS 3:27)

"...in our day Christ as the Truth has been abolished: we take Christ's Teaching - but

abolish Christ. “We want Truth the easy way. This is to abolish

Truth, for Christ the Teacher is more important than the Teaching...

“Truth is not a sum of statements, not a definition, not a system of concepts, but Life.

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9.


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 wi th all the Saints. And le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.


S t Theodore S tra te la t es (The Commander )S t Theodore S tra te la t es (The Commander )S t Theodore S tra te la t es (The Commander )S t Theodore S tra te la t es (The Commander ) (Transla t ion o f Ho ly Rel ic s )(Transla t ion o f Ho ly Rel ic s )(Transla t ion o f Ho ly Rel ic s )(Transla t ion o f Ho ly Rel ic s )

Also the Feast of St Theodore of Rostove & Suzdal – St Basil & St Constantine of Yaroslav (Discovery of Holy Relics) – St Ephraim of Antioch - St Zosimos of Phoenicia, Syria – St John of Kronstadt

(Glorification in 1990) – St Theodore of Kvelta – Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Yaroslav - Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of White Lake �

Apo ly t i k i on S t T heodor e S t r a te l a tes (Commander )

Stratologia Alithi Athlofore, tou Ouraniou Stratigos Vasileos, perkallis gegenise Theodore; oplis gar tis

Pisteos, paretxo emfronos, ke kateholothrefsas ton

demonon ta stifi, ke nikiforos ofthis Athlitits; othen

se Pisti, e Makarizomen.

A most Graceful and eminent General, in the True Armies of the King of Heaven, Thou became, O triumphant Theodore; because Thou fought courageous with the weapons of Faith, and Thou completely vanquished the hordes of the demons; and as victorious Contender Thou emerged; whence with Faith, we Bless Thee Eternally.

Kon tak i on o f S t Theodor e S t ra t e l a t es

Andria psihis, tin Pistin oplisamenos, ke rima Theou, os loghin hirisamenos, ton ehthron katetrosas, ton

Martiron kleos Theodore. Sin aftis Hristo to Theo,

presvevon mi pavsi iper panton imon.

With courage of soul, and armed with Faith, Thou took

in hand the Word of god as though a spear and put Thy foe to flight, O Thou Great Boast of Martyrs, Theodore. Now, together with the, O Saint, do not cease entreating Christ our God for all of us.

The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 23 : 1 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 23 : 1 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 23 : 1 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 23 : 1 –––– 11111111 S t Pau l ’ s T r i a l Be f or e t h e Sanhedr i n

At that time, Paul, looking earnestly at the Council, said: “Men and Brethren: I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the High Priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him: “God will strike you, you white-washed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet you command me to be struck contrary to the Law!” And those who stood by said: “Do you revile God’s High

Priest?” And Paul said: “I did not know, Brethren, that he was the High Priest; for it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of a Ruler of your people.’”

And when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other, Pharisees, he cried out in the Council: “Men and Brethren: I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the Hope and Resurrection of the dead, I am being

judged!” And having said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no Resurrection – and no Angel or spirit; yet the Pharisees confess both.

Then there arose a loud outcry. And the Scribes of the Pharisee’s party arose and protested, saying: “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an Angel has spoke to him, let us not fight against God!”

Now when there arose a great dissention, the Commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and take him into the barracks.

And the following night the Lord stood by him and said: “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified for Me

in Jerusalem, so thou must also bear witness at Rome.”

THIS COUNCIL WAS THE HEBREW SANHEDRIN – THE HIGHEST

JEWISH GOVERNING BODY. Ananias was the High Priest during the years 47 – 59.

He was a hard-hearted and violent man who was later assassinated by his own people at the start of the Hebrew war against the Roman Empire in the year 70.

ST PAUL HAD THUS FAR SAID NOTHING OFFENSIVE to the Hebrews, so - according to St John Chrysostom - THE ORDER TO “STRIKE HIM ON THE MOUTH” WAS “SHAMELESS AND WITHOUT JUSTIFIABLE CAUSE!”

ST PAUL ACCUSED ANANIAS OF THE ULTIMATE HYPOCRISY: HIS VIOLATION OF MOSAIC LAW WHILE POSING AS ONE WHO JUDGED ACCORDING TO THAT HOLY LAW.

Nevertheless, ST PAUL SHOWED GREAT RESPECT FOR THE HOLY OFFICE OF THE HIGH PRIEST (ESPECIALLY OUR ONE TRUE HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST) EVEN THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR OFFICIAL, THE WICKED ANANIAS, WAS

A CONTEMPTIBLE PERSON.

] We must NEVER DISRESPECT THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD OF GOD.

ä THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD IS SANCTIFIED BY GOD and ä ONCE THE ORDAINED PRIEST HAS BEEN VESTED IN

HIS LITURGICAL ROBES, HE IS UNDER THE

DIRECT AUTHORITY OF ALMIGHTY GOD and ä as such MUST BE TREATED WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

– REGARDLESS OF HIS CHARACTER.

Thus, even if anyone does not like the personality or the actions of a Priest or Bishop, WE MUST ALWAYS RESPECT THE HOLY OFFICE TO WHICH HE HAS BEEN ORDAINED – FOR GOD ALONE IS HIS JUDGE AND JURY!

(KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF AND NEVER ENCOURAGE OTHERS INTO REBELLION AGAINST GOD OR HIS HOLY SHEPHERDS!)

] All too often people are offended by Priests or Bishops – either because THEY ARE THEMSELVES GUILTY OF SOMETHING WHICH THE PRIEST OR

BISHOP HAS TRIED TO CORRECT by steering them back to the Divine Path and Life in Christ, or because for whatever personal reason they dislike the man – and then THEY USE THEIR OWN SELF-JUSTIFIED EXCUSES TO REJECT THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST AND EVEN GOD HIMSELF – AND THEY DRAG OTHERS DOWN WITH THEM !

ä THIS IS A FAR GREATER AND MORE DEVASTATING “CRIME” THAN THE SUPPOSED ERROR OF OUR HOLY

SHEPHERD!

ä When we are corrected by our fellow Brethren in Christ – and especially by the Holy Priesthood – WE MUST APPLY THEIR ADVICE TO OURSELVES IMMEDIATELY WITH ALL HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE

TO GOD - for to do otherwise exposes OUR DEEP-SEATED SPIRITUAL OBSTINACY AND WILFUL, PROUD EGO THAT ALIENATES US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS.

10. DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St T heodor e S t r a te l a tes (Commander ) 8 J une 201 1

It is always easy to identify and accuse others of their faults rather than to TURN SUCH THOUGHTS INWARDS AND CORRECT OUR OWN (MIRRORED) SINS –

REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION.

As St John of Kronstadt always sadly lamented when seeing the blatant sins of others: “Today my

Brother – tomorrow me!” Knowing that his interrogators would not hear him

impartially, ST PAUL INTENTIONALLY DIVIDED THE

COUNCIL AGAINST ITSELF BY MENTIONING THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: THE RESURRECTION OF THE

DEAD.

The words: “... the Pharisees confess both...” was used by St Paul although three things were mentioned, because, according to St John Chrysostom, “Angel” and “spirit” referred to one entity or concept, so

“both” meant THE BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE BELIEF IN THE INVISIBLE REALM OF ANGELS AND SPIRITS.

] ST PAUL RECEIVED DIVINE COMFORT FROM OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST when he was confronted by the impending wicked plot on his life by his enemies - and as a Prophecy of both his Inspired Preaching of Divine Truth and his subsequent Holy Martyrdom in Rome.

HIS WITNESSING IN ROME WAS AN OBLIQUE REFERENCE TO HIS EVENTUAL HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR AND THE TRUTH OF HIS HOLY GOSPEL.

TheTheTheThe Holy Gospel According to St John 16: 15 Holy Gospel According to St John 16: 15 Holy Gospel According to St John 16: 15 Holy Gospel According to St John 16: 15 –––– 23232323 Our Lord Jesus Christ Reveals His Approaching Death, Resurrection and Ascension

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “...All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that he will take of

Mine and declare it to you. A little while, and you will not see Me; and again, a little while, and you will

see Me, because I go to the Father.”

Then some of His Disciples said among themselves: “What is this that He says to us: ‘A little while, and you will not

see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me...’ and “... because I go to the Father...’?” They said,

therefore: “What is this that He says: ‘... a little while...’? We do not know what He is saying!”

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them: “Are you inquiring among yourselves about

what I said: “... a little while, and you will see Me?’ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and

lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into Joy.

“A woman - when she is in labour - has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she have given

birth to her child, she no longer remembers the anguish for Joy that a human being has been born into

the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and

your Joy no one will take from you.

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Truly, I say to you: whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He

will grant you...”

The first “... little while...” refers to our Lord Jesus Christ’s illegal arrest, trial, punishment, crucifixion and death, followed by His reverent burial by St Nikodemos and St Joseph of Arimathea.

The second “... little while...” is the period of His Burial in the Tomb, His Harrowing of Hades and His Glorious Resurrection.

Christ’s reference to how a mother “... no longer remembers the anguish for Joy...” does not imply that the Faithful Disciples of Christ are to forget all about His dreadful Passion and Crucifixion.

Instead WE MUST REMEMBER EVERYTHING IN THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF CHRIST’S VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION, WHICH TRANSFIGURES OUR PERCEPTION OF SUFFERINGS.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S VICTORY ALLOWS US TO “rejoice

in anguish” BECAUSE OF THE INFINITELY GREATER GOOD THAT COMES FROM IT: OUR OWN FUTURE RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE! (REFER TO ROMANS 5:3-5 & PHILIPPIANS 3:10)

DURING THE 40 DAYS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SPOKE CLEARLY AND “PLAINLY ABOUT

THE FATHER,” BECAUSE HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES THEN REALISED THAT HE CERTAINLY WAS GOD INCARNATE AND WERE MORE RECEPTIVE TO HIS

TEACHINGS AND DIVINE REVELATIONS, which - once the Holy Spirit had descended upon them at Pentecost - they were granted full Understanding and profound Wisdom.

Furthermore, AS PROMISED BY OUR LORD, HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GRANTED THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS IN HIS MOST HOLY AND POWERFUL NAME, IN ORDER TO CONVEY GOD’S HOLY

GOSPEL TO OTHERS – and to this day, BY THE EXACT SAME GRACE OF GOD, HIS DIVINE TRUTH IS SHARED WITH ALL THOSE WHO SEEK IT.

St Theodore Stratelates – Translation of Holy Relics The preciousness of Holy Martyrdom depends upon the

life that a Christian abandons and then accepts great suffering for Christ's sake.

St Theodore was a Roman Commander in the army of Emperor Licinius, and, being in Imperial favour, was elected Mayor of the flourishing town of Heraclea, Crete.

However St Theodore scorned his youthful and handsome appearance, military rank and the good graces of the Emperor – preferring to accept instead horrible tortures for the sake of Christ.

At first, St Theodore was flogged and received six-hundred lashes on his stomach. After this, he was crucified and pierced with many lances, before, finally being beheaded by sword.

Such terrible punishment had been inflicted upon St Theodore Stratelates because he Loved Christ the Lord above all else in this world and he had expressed his abhorrence of the stupidity of the idolatry of the superstitious pagans by smashing all the silver and gold idols and distributing the pieces of precious metal amongst the poor.

He converted many to Christ and even tried to persuade Emperor Licinius himself to reject useless idolatry and to accept the Only True, Eternal and Living God.

Throughout his tortures, St Theodore said constantly prayed: "Glory to Thee my God! Glory to Thee!”

Finally on 8 February 319 at 15:00 St Theodore entered into the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom of Christ.

St. Theodore is the Protector of Soldiers who call upon him for assistance and his Miracle-working Relics were eventually translated from Euchaita - where he had been buried according to his will by his faithful servant, Varos - and interred in the Holy Church of Blachernae, Constantinople.

St Anastasios of Sinai recorded the Miracle of St Theodore Statelates’ Holy Icon: When the Saracens conquered Damascus, a group of Saracens took up residence with their wives and children in a church dedicated to St Theodore Stratelates in Karsat, a town near Damascus.

Noticing a wall icon depicting St Theodore, one of the Saracens shot an arrow into the face of the Saint and immediately blood began to flow from it!

Shortly afterwards the entire group of ungodly Saracens persished there.

St Anastasios had visited the church and seen the Holy Icon of St Theodore Statelates with it’s traces of congealed blood still clearly visible!

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) A p o d o s i s o f t h e A s c e n s i o n 10 June 2011 11.


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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.


Apodosis o f the Ascens ion o f Chr is t our LordApodosis o f the Ascens ion o f Chr is t our LordApodosis o f the Ascens ion o f Chr is t our LordApodosis o f the Ascens ion o f Chr is t our Lord

Also the Feast of S t Bar tholomew & S t Barnabas , Holy Apos t l es o f S t Bar tholomew & S t Barnabas , Holy Apos t l es o f S t Bar tholomew & S t Barnabas , Holy Apos t l es o f S t Bar tholomew & S t Barnabas , Holy Apos t l es o f Chr is t our Sav iour (Feast Trans ferr ed) Chr is t our Sav iour (Feast Trans ferr ed) Chr is t our Sav iour (Feast Trans ferr ed) Chr is t our Sav iour (Feast Trans ferr ed) ---- St Metrophanes Chi Sung, Hieromartyr & all the Holy Martyrs of the Chinese Boxer Rising (Feast Transferred) – St Alexander & St Antonina (Translation of Holy Relics) – St Timothy Hieromartyr of Prusa – St Silvanos, Schemamonk of Kiev Far Caves – St Basil of Ryazan ((Finding of Holy Relics) – St John Maximovitch, Wonderworker of Tobolsk & All Siberia – St Alexander & St Antonina the Virgin Martyr of Constantinople – St Theophanes of Antioch – St Bassian of Lodi, Lombardy - Synaxis of the Saints of Ryzan – Synaxis of the Saints of Siberia – St Pansemnas of Antioch

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e A s c e n s i o n O f C h r i s t – T o n e 4

Anelifthis en Doxi Hriste O Theos imon, haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti Epangelia tou Agiou Pnevmatos,

veveothenton afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Ios tou

Theou, O Litrotis tou kosmou.

Thou Ascended in Glory: O Christ Jesus, our God: cheering up the Disciples by the Promise of the Holy Spirit; by assuring them through Thy Divine Blessings that Thou art indeed the Son of God, and the world’s Redeemer.

A p o l y t i k i o n o f t h e H o l y A p o s t l e s o f C h r i s t – T o n e 3

Apostoli Agii, presvefsate to eleimoni Theo, ina ptesmaton afesin, paraskhi tes psihes imon.

O Holy Apostles, Intercede with our Merciful God to

grant our souls forgiveness of sins! K o n t a k i o n O f T h e A s c e n s i o n O f C h r i s t O u r G o d - T o n e P l a g a l 2 :

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas tis Ouraniis, Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon;

oudamothen horizomenos alla menon adiastatos, ke

voon tis agaposi se: Ego imi meth imon, ke oudis

kath imon.

Having fulfilled the dispensation for us, and uniting the

earthly with the Heavenly, Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God; being in no way separated, but remaining inseparable, and calling out to those who Love Thee: I Am with you and no one can be against you!

Ascens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l AccAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l AccAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l AccAscens ion Mat ins Holy Gospe l Acc ord ing to S t Mark 16 : 9 ord ing to S t Mark 16 : 9 ord ing to S t Mark 16 : 9 ord ing to S t Mark 16 : 9 –––– 20202020 O u r R i s e n L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t A p p e a r s , G r a n t s H i s G r e a t C o m m i s s i o n , a n d A s c e n d s t o H e a v e n

At that time, when our Lord Jesus had Risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. And she went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. Yet when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country. And they went and told it to the others but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the Eleven as they sat at table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had Risen. And

He said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is

Baptised will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be Condemned. And these Signs will follow

those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will

take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means harm them and they will lay

hands on the sick and they will recover.”

So then, after our Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the Right Hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the accompanying Signs. Amen.

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t LuThe Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t LuThe Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t LuThe Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 1 : 1 ke 1 : 1 ke 1 : 1 ke 1 : 1 –––– 12121212 P a s s o v e r t o P e n t e c o s t

The former account I made, O Theophilos, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which He was taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given Commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen – to whom He had also presented Himself alive after His Suffering, by many infallible Proofs – being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And, being assembled together with them, He Commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which...” He said: “...

you have heard from Me; for John truly Baptised with water, but you shall be Baptised with the Holy

Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?”

And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His own

Authority. But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be

Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now, when He had spoken these Things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a Cloud received Him out of their

sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as He went up, behold, two Men stood by them in white apparel, who also said: “O Men of Galilee: why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called ‘Olivet,’ which is near Jerusalem – a Sabbath Day’s journey.

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The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Luke 24 : 36 –––– 53535353 T h e P a s s i o n o f o u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying: “If Thou art the King of the Jews, save Thyself!” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “This is the King of the Jews!” And one of the criminals who were hanging beside Him blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou art the Christ, save Thyself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying: “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done

nothing wrong.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when Thou come into Thy Kingdom.” And Jesus said to him: “Truly, I say to you: today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the Veil of the Temple was ripped in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud Voice, He said: “Father, into Thy Hands I commit My Spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the Centurion saw what had happened, he Glorified God, saying: “Certainly this was a Righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who had gathered together for that sight – seeing what had been done – beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Now behold: there was a man named Joseph – a Council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea – a city of the Hebrews – who himself was also waiting for the Kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Then he took It down, wrapped It in linen, and laid It in a Tomb that was hewn out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.

Hiding from God and God’sHiding from God and God’sHiding from God and God’sHiding from God and God’s HiddennessHiddennessHiddennessHiddenness –––– by Father Stephenby Father Stephenby Father Stephenby Father Stephen

I have written a number of times about the “hiddenness” of God, which is a very important aspect of how He makes Himself known (although I know that is a paradox!).

] HIS “HIDDENNESS” BOTH PROTECTS OUR FREEDOM AND

REMOVES COMPULSION FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

There can be no compulsion where there is Love. I found a small verse from the writings of St. Ephraim the

Syrian that offers some thoughts: O Lord, Thy Symbols art everywhere,

yet Thou art hidden from everywhere.

Although Thy Symbol is on High

yet height does not perceive that Thou art;

although Thy Symbol is in the depth,

it does not comprehend Who Thou art;

although Thy Symbol is in the sea,

Thou art hidden from the sea;

although Thy Symbol is on dry land,

it is not aware what Thou art.

Blessed is the Hidden One shining out!

St. Ephraim’s use of the word “Symbol” is in its ancient sense: something that makes present that which it represents. It is not something which stands in place of that which is absent (the more modern definition).

St Ephraim celebrates THE MYSTERY OF THE GOD WHO IS “EVERYWHERE PRESENT AND FILLING ALL THINGS,” IS ALSO THE HIDDEN ONE, AND YET ALSO THE ONE WHO IS “SHINING OUT.”

This Mystery comes to rest in the human heart: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

] WE DO NOT SEE GOD BECAUSE HE IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT – WE SEE HIM EVERYWHERE PRESENT BECAUSE OUR HEARTS ARE MADE PURE.

ä A SIN-DARKENED HEARTS DOES NOT REVEAL GOD TO US – IT DISTORTS OUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD, OF

PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY OF GOD. ä THUS THE DARKENED HEART OFTEN PROJECTS ITS OWN

DARKNESS ONTO A CONCEPT OF GOD AND TEACHES FALSELY.

] IT IS IN THIS DARKNESS OF THE HEART THAT WE FIND

OURSELVES “HIDING” FROM GOD. It is instructive that in the narrative of Adam and Eve in the

Garden of Eden, following their sin (of Disobedience to God), they tried to hide from God.

GOD DOES NOT HIDE FROM THEM, BUT RATHER SEEKS THEM

OUT, CALLING THEM BY NAME. THEIR RESPONSE IS A DISTORTION OF THE FACTS.

WE SINNERS HIDE WITHIN OUR LIES.

] GOD SEEKS US AND CALLS US BY NAME! ä GOD DOES NOT HIDE FROM US IN ORDER TO

CONDEMN US – THE “HIDDENNESS” OF GOD IS A

HIDDENNESS IN HIS DIVINE LIGHT. ä And so HE DRAWS US FORTH FROM THE DARKNESS

AND INTO THE LIGHT THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM –

EVERYWHERE PRESENT. Blessed is the Hidden One shining out! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: FATHER STEPHEN’S BLOG “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS” –

3 MAY 2011

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/hiding-from-god-and-gods-hiddenness/

A Word From The Deser t A Brother whom another Brother had wronged came to

see Abba Sisoes and said to him, "My Brother has hurt me and I want to avenge myself."

The old man pleaded with him saying, "No, my Child, leave vengeance to God."

The Monk said to him, "I shall not rest until I have avenged myself."

The Wise Elder responded: "Brother, let us pray." Then he stood up and prayed aloud: "O God, we no

longer need Thee to care for us, since we do justice

for ourselves." Hearing these terrible words, the humbled Monk fell at the

Elder’s feet, saying: "I will no longer seek justice from my Brother! Forgive me, Abba!"

St Seraphim of Sarov Prayer, Fasting, Vigils, and all other Christian

practices -however good they may be in themselves - certainly do not constitute the Aim of our Christian

Life: they are but the indispensable means of attaining that aim.

For the True Aim of the Christian Life is the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.

As for Fasts, Vigils, Prayer and Almsgiving, and other Good Works done in the Name of Christ, they are only the means of Acquiring the Holy Spirit of God.

Note well that it is only Good Works done in the Name of Christ that bring us the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Alexandar Kalomiros - Against False Union, 1959 In order for us to understand the Saints and Fathers of the

[Orthodox] Church, it is not sufficient to merely read them.

The Saints spoke and wrote after having lived the Mysteries of God. They personally experienced the Mysteries.

In order for us to understand them, we too must have progressed to a certain degree of initiation into the Mysteries of God by personally tasting, smelling, and seeing.

We can read the books of the Saints and become very well versed in them with a ‘cerebral’ knowledge without

even minutely tasting that which the Saints - who wrote these books through their personal experience - tasted.

In order to understand the Saints essentially, not

intellectually, we must have the proper Experience for all that they say; we must have tasted - at least in part - of the same things as they have.

We must have lived in the Fervent Environment of Orthodoxy; we must have grown in it…

A Whole New World must be born in Westerners’ hearts in order for them to understand something of Orthodoxy.

http://wordfromthedesert.squarespace.com/

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Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 wi th all the Saints. And le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

Remembrance o f Judgement DayRemembrance o f Judgement DayRemembrance o f Judgement DayRemembrance o f Judgement Day 11 June11 June11 June11 June 2011201120112011

Sa turday o f the Soul sSa turday o f the Soul sSa turday o f the Soul sSa turday o f the Soul s

Also the Feast of St Bartholomew & St Barnabas of the Seventy Apostles of Christ our Lord – St Barnabas of Vetluga – St Ephraim of Novy Torg, Transfer of Holy Relics – Commemoration of the Appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a Monk on Mount Athos and the Revelation of the Hymn “Axion Estin...” (It is Truly Meet...) – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos, Axion Estin, Karyes Monastery, Mount Athos – St Metrophanes Chi Sung & the Holy Martyrs of the Boxer Rising

Apo l y t i k ion o f Sa tu r day o f t h e Sou l s

O vathi sofias filanthropos panta ikonomon, ke to simferon pasin aponemon, mone Dimiourge, anapafson Kyrie, tas psihas ton doulon Sou; en si gar tin elpida anethento, to Piiti ke Plasti ke Theo imon.

O Thou Who with profound Wisdom and Love for mankind, order all things, and grant to all what is to their profit, Only Creator: grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants; for they set their every hope in Thee, the Maker and Creator and God of us all.

Kon tak i on o f Sa t ur day o f th e Sou l s

The Fir s t Epis t l e o f S t Paul to the Thessa lonians 4 : 13 The F ir s t Epis t l e o f S t Paul to the Thessa lonians 4 : 13 The F ir s t Epis t l e o f S t Paul to the Thessa lonians 4 : 13 The F ir s t Epis t l e o f S t Paul to the Thessa lonians 4 : 13 –––– 17171717 Par t i c i pa t i on i n C hr i s t ’ s Re t ur n

Brethren: I do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no Hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the Coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the Voice of an Archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with our Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE CLEAREST NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES ON THE SECOND COMING OR PHYSICAL REAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR – OUR FINAL AND ONLY DIVINE JUDGE!

THE DIDACHE – the writings of the Holy Apostles – LISTS THREE SIGNS THAT WILL HERALD THE RETURN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST:

1. “...the Sign spread out in the heavens...” – Christ and all His Heavenly Hosts

2. “... the Sign of the Trumpet...”

3. “... the Resurrection of the dead...” THE REAPPEARANCE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR

GREATEST JOY AND DIVINE COMFORT – I.E. THE JOYOUS HOPE AND EXPECTATION OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS AND

FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – while it is regarded as a dreadful and much feared threat to the ungodly and unrepentant sinners, including Satan and his demons.

The Holy Gospel AThe Holy Gospel AThe Holy Gospel AThe Holy Gospel According to St John 21 : 14 ccording to St John 21 : 14 ccording to St John 21 : 14 ccording to St John 21 : 14 ---- 25252525

The Third Appearance of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ - His Divine Commission

At that time, it was then the third time our Lord Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was Raised from the dead.

And when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah: do you Love Me more than

these?” He said to Him: “Yes, Lord; Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Feed My Lambs.”

Jesus said to him again – a second time – “Simon, son of Jonah: do you Love Me?” And he said to Him: “Yes, Lord,

Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Tend My Sheep.”

He said to him the third time: “Simon, son of Jonah: do you love Me?” And Peter was grieved because He asked him for the third time: “Do you love Me.” And he said to Him: “Lord, Thou know all things – Thou know that I

love Thee.” And Jesus said to him: “Feed My Sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were younger, you

girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands

and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”

This he spoke, signifying by what death he would Glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him: “Follow Me.” And, turning around, Peter saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, who also had leant upon His Breast at the

Supper, and had asked: “Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?” And Peter – seeing him – said to Jesus: “And

Lord, what about that man?” And Jesus said to him: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to

you? You follow Me!” Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he

would not die, but: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

This is the Disciple who testifies of these Things, and wrote these Things; and we know that his Testimony is True. And there are also many other Things that Jesus did, which – if they were written one by one – I suppose that even the

world itself could not contain the Books that would be written. Amen.

The fact that our Lord Jesus Christ singled out St Peter has a twofold significance: 1. ST PETER WAS THE LEADER OR SPOKESMAN

AMONG THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST and – being

such a passionate and impulsive character – HAD TO BE THE FIRST TO CONFESS HIS LOVE FOR OUR RESURRECTED LORD AND SAVIOUR.

Meta ton Agion anapafson, Hriste, tas psihas ton

doulon Sou, entha ouk esti ponos, ou lipi, ou stenagmos, alla zoi atelevtitos.

Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your

servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no

grieving, but life everlasting.

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2. ST PETER HAD DENIED CHRIST THREE TIMES after His arrest – despite having been adamant that he would never betray or deny him. KNOWING THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF EVERYONE HE CREATES, CHRIST KNEW WHAT MOTIVATED ST

PETER. Consequently, DUE TO HIS INFINITE DIVINE LOVE AND GREAT MERCY, OUR LORD RESTORED HIS DIVINE GRACE UPON ST PETER WITH HIS THREEFOLD CONFESSION OF LOVE.

] It is important to note that the first two times our Lord Jesus inquired of St Peter: “Do you Love

Me?” HE USED A FORM OF THE WORD “AGAPE,” WHICH DENOTES THE HIGHEST FORM OF SACRIFICIAL AND SELF-EMPTYING LOVE – THE KIND

OF LOVE THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAS FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS – AND WHICH WE CAN DEVELOP ONLY THROUGH MATURING IN GOD’S DIVINE GRACE.

However, each time ST PETER WAS UNABLE TO CLAIM SUCH A LOFTY LOVE and when he answered: “Lord, Thou know that I love Thee,” he used the term “PHILO,” which is A LESSER FORM OF LOVE – MERELY AKIN TO BROTHERLY AFFECTION.

Then, WHEN OUR LORD ASKED ST PETER FOR THE THIRD TIME WHETHER HE loved HIM, HE USED THE TERM “PHILO” – THEREBY CONDESCENDING TO ST PETER’S

HUMAN WEAKNESS AND ACCEPTING WHATEVER LOVE ST PETER WAS ABLE TO OFFER HIM AT THAT STAGE OF HIS LIFE.

Nevertheless, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CERTAINLY KNEW THAT ST PETER AND ALL THE OTHER HOLY APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES WOULD DEVELOP A DIVINELY GRACIOUS AGAPE FOR HIM – INDEED FOR GOD – BECAUSE ST PETER

AND MOST OF THEM ACCEPTED HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR

HIS SAKE – for the sake of their absolute Faith and Trust in God’s Divine Truth and Eternal Life.

Of course ST PETER – in his lack of profound Understanding at that time – WAS “GRIEVED” – both by the fact that our Lord Jesus had to condescend to his basic level of love and that this was a clear – although gentle – reference to his previous three denials of Christ.

When our Lord said: “... when you are old, you will

stretch out your hands and another will gird

you and carry you where you do not wish to

go,” He prophesied for the second time St Peter’s eventual martyrdom under Emperor Nero, circa 67, in Rome – when St Peter would be crucified upside down.

The “...Disciple whom Jesus Loved...” is AN OBLIQUE REFERENCE TO ST JOHN – THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN,

EVANGELIST AND APOSTLE OF CHRIST WHO RECORDED

THIS PARTICULAR EVENT and who was the only Holy Apostle to survive the cruel persecutions against all

Christians until his Repose in Christ at the age of approximately 101 – circa 98 – 108 AD.

His longevity was marvelled at by THE EARLY CHRISTIANS who THOUGHT HE WOULD LIVE UNTIL THE SECOND COMING – the Reappearance of our Lord.

] However, ST JOHN THE DIVINE HIMSELF CORRECTED THIS FALSE ASSUMPTION BY CLARIFYING THE TRUTH

THAT OUR LORD JESUS “... DID NOT SAY TO HIM

THAT HE WOULD NOT DIE...” THE USE OF THE WORD “WE” INDICATED THAT ST JOHN THE

EVANGELIST, HAD AN ASSISTANT – and according to Holy Tradition, that faithful Scribe was named “Prochoros,” who is often depicted in many of the Icons of St John writing down his words and Teachings.

] ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING AND CONFIRMING THAT HIS HOLY GOSPEL CONTAINS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S EARTHLY LIFE, ST JOHN THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN AND EVANGELIST WROTE HIS HOLY BOOK TO BRING ALL WHO READ IT CAREFULLY TO TRUE FAITH IN GOD.

] WHILE THE HOLY GOSPELS OF ST MATTHEW, ST MARK AND ST LUKE CONTAIN MANY MORE DIVINE

MIRACLES AND PARABLES, THOSE TOO ARE FAR

FROM EXHAUSTIVE – i.e. they are only a few of the rich Spiritual and Divine Treasure that Christ bestowed upon all His Faithful Disciples throughout all ages.

Therefore, TO RESTRICT ONESELF MERELY TO THE WRITTEN WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, RESTRICTS ONESELF TO A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE WHOLE

DIVINE TRUTH OF ALMIGHTY GOD, which consists of so much more: the VERBAL TEACHINGS OF CHRIST OUR GOD – HOLY TRADITION - THAT WAS GRANTED BY GOD

TO CHRIST’S APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES and which have been CAREFULLY PRESERVED AND PASSED ON to us THROUGH THE GOD-INSPIRED WRITINGS, HYMNS AND TEACHINGS OF ALL OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND

MOTHERS throughout the ages.

] Consequently, by reminding us “...there are also many other Things that Jesus did...” ST JOHN NOT ONLY EMPHASISES THE DIVINE HOLINESS OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN, BUT ALSO POINTS TO THE ONGOING GOD-INSPIRED HOLY TRADITION WITHIN CHRIST’S VERY MUCH ALIVE – NURTURING AND

GROWING - BODY – HIS HOLY CHURCH.

THAT IS THE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S ABSOLUTE, PERFECT AND GOD’S ABSOLUTE, PERFECT AND GOD’S ABSOLUTE, PERFECT AND GOD’S ABSOLUTE, PERFECT AND DIVINE TRUTHDIVINE TRUTHDIVINE TRUTHDIVINE TRUTH THAT UNITES US WITH GOD AND ONE ANOTHER IN THAT UNITES US WITH GOD AND ONE ANOTHER IN THAT UNITES US WITH GOD AND ONE ANOTHER IN THAT UNITES US WITH GOD AND ONE ANOTHER IN TRUE AGAPE, WHICH RESULTS IN JOYOUS ETERNAL LIFETRUE AGAPE, WHICH RESULTS IN JOYOUS ETERNAL LIFETRUE AGAPE, WHICH RESULTS IN JOYOUS ETERNAL LIFETRUE AGAPE, WHICH RESULTS IN JOYOUS ETERNAL LIFE - AND THE WEAK, FLAWED AND MISGUIDED IDEAS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF HUMAN EGO AND ARROGANCE THAT CAUSE SO MUCH CONFUSION, CONFLICT, DISUNITY AND ALIENATION FROM GOD AND ONE ANOTHER – SPIRITUAL DEATH!

Our Spiritual Elders’ Words of Wisdom Our Spiritual Elders’ Words of Wisdom Our Spiritual Elders’ Words of Wisdom Our Spiritual Elders’ Words of Wisdom –––– On PrayerOn PrayerOn PrayerOn Prayer My will for you is to never cease praying.

My hope of you is to understand that - if there is a

Protection extending over human society, over our

country - this is the Power of Prayer.

Do not execute a Prayer of routine, but put your heart

in motion, fill yourself with the Shiver of Prayer.

I am convinced that many of you are praying; I too

was praying, and believed – before they placed me

in prison – that I knew how to pray.

There, (in gulag), I discovered that I do not know how

to pray...

If the Shiver of Faith does not penetrate you from the

head to the soles of your feet, you are not in True

Prayer.

It is not easy. But if you persist, the Lord will help you

and grant you the Grace of Prayer. And this Grace

is only given as and when you ask It.

The Grace of Prayer is gained through great effort and

persistence.

Our Savior had said: “From John the Baptist on, the

Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force

(conquest)!” And this is “our conquest” – to ask

with persistence for the Grace that only the Lord

can grant. Now, I would like to address a word to the

Theologians and advise them: learn how to pray,

so then you may teach others!

As long as you do not know how to pray, it is in vain

to say to your Spiritual Children “Pray!”

When the Priest will know how to pray, he will

transmit this flow of Power to his Spiritual Child. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP - FRAGMENTS FROM A SPEECH GIVEN IN BUCHAREST, 1998, TO ASCOR – ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ROMANIA AND TRANSLATED FROM ROMANIAN BY EC) NOTE:NOTE:NOTE:NOTE: FR. GEORGE CALCIU REPOSED IN 2006 AT THE AGE OF 81, HAVING

SPENT UNJUSTLY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF HIS LIFE IN THE DIABOLIC PRISONS OF COMMUNIST ROMANIA, ONLY BECAUSE HE CONFESSED THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. FROM THESE EXPERIENCES IN PRISON, HE EMERGED AS A WITNESS TO GOD’S LOVE, FORGIVENESS, AND ABILITY TO RESURRECT MAN FROM THE DEATH OF HIS SOUL.

One thing is truthful!One thing is truthful!One thing is truthful!One thing is truthful! My Beloved: know that our Relationship with God is not a joke! Know that this whole world with all its ‘civilization’ is a fad. You close your eyes forever (when you die) and will no longer know about ‘civilization’ or man’s endeavours to the Moon or Mars,

and so on … All are shadows/hollows; All are shadows/hollows; All are shadows/hollows; All are shadows/hollows; only one Thing is Truthfulonly one Thing is Truthfulonly one Thing is Truthfulonly one Thing is Truthful: : : : our Relationship with Christ, the Immortality of our soul and what awaits us our Relationship with Christ, the Immortality of our soul and what awaits us our Relationship with Christ, the Immortality of our soul and what awaits us our Relationship with Christ, the Immortality of our soul and what awaits us

beyond death beyond death beyond death beyond death ---- either an Eternal Tormeither an Eternal Tormeither an Eternal Tormeither an Eternal Torment or the Eternal Life.ent or the Eternal Life.ent or the Eternal Life.ent or the Eternal Life. Father George Calciu

http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/category/orthodox-saints-and-church-fathers/father-george-calciu/page/2/

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12 June12 June12 June12 June 2011201120112011 Holy Pentecos tHoly Pentecos tHoly Pentecos tHoly Pentecos t

The Descent o f the Holy Spir i t The Descent o f the Holy Spir i t The Descent o f the Holy Spir i t The Descent o f the Holy Spir i t & the Beginning of our Holy Church o f Chr is t& the Beginning of our Holy Church o f Chr is t& the Beginning of our Holy Church o f Chr is t& the Beginning of our Holy Church o f Chr is t

Also the Feast of St Onouphrios & St Peter of Mount Athos - St Anna of Kashin – St Arsenios of Konevits, Novgorod – St Onuphrios of Malsk, Pskov - St Bassianos & St Jonah of Pertomsk, Solovki - St Onuphrios & St Auxentios of Vologda - St Stephen of Ozersk Monastery, Vologda - – St John Tornike of Mount Athos – St Onuphrios the Great of Thebaid Desert, Egypt – St Timohty the Desert Dweller, St John, St Heraclemon, St Charalambos, St Theophilos & St Andrew - Holy Hermits of Egypt

2 n d A n t i p h o n O f P e n t e c o s t – P s a l m 1 9 - T o n e 2

Ekouse Sou Kyrios en imera thlipseos, iperaspise Sou to Onoma tou Theou Iakov.

>Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia!

Exapostile Si voithian ex Agiou, ke ek Sion antilavito Sou.

>Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia! Mnisthii pasis thisias Sou, ke to olokavtoma Sou pianato

>Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia!

The Lord hear you in the day of trouble: the Name of the God of Jacob shield you.

>Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

May He send you Help from the sanctuary: and support you

out of Zion.

>Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia! May He remember your every sacrifice: and accept your

Burnt Offering.

>Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia! I s o d i k o n O f P e n t e c o s t

>Ipsothiti, Kyrie, en ti Dinami Sou. Asomen ke psaloumen tas Dinastias Sou. Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe,

psallontas Si Allilouia!

>Be exalted, O Lord, in Thy Power: we shall sing and chant Thy Mighty Deeds. Good Paraclete, Save us

who sing to Thee: Alleluia! A p o l y t i k i o n O f P e n t e c o s t

>Evlogitos i Hriste O Theos imon, O Pansofous tous aliis anadixas, katapempsas aftis to Pnevma to Agion, ke di

Afton tin ikoumenin saginefsas, Filanthrope: Doxa Si!

>Blessed art Thou, Christ our God, Who has filled the Fishermen with Wisdom by sending down the Holy

Spirit upon them, and Who, through them, has united

the world: Glory to Thee, O Lover of Mankind! K o n t a k i o n – T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4 - U n t i l T h e A p o d o s i s B e f o r e A l l S a i n t s S u n d a y

Ote katavas tas glossas sinehee, diemerizen ethni O

Ipsisto. Ote tou Piros tas Glossas dienimen is enotita

panta ekalese. Ke simfonos Doxazomen to Panagion

Pnevma!

When the Most High came down and confused the

tongues, He parted the Nations; when He divided out

the Tongues of Fire, He Called all to Unity. And with one

voice we Glorify the All-holy Spirit! B a p t i s m H y m n – I n s t e a d O f T h e “ A g i o s O T h e o s . . . ”

>Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allelouia >As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have put on Christ: Alleluia!

H y m n T o T h e o t o k o s – T o n e V a r y s / G r a v e - I n s t e a d O f “ A x i o n E s t i n ”

Mi tis fthoras diapira kioforisasa ke pantehnimoni Logo

sarka danisasa, Miter Apirandre, Parthene Theotoke,

dohion tou astektou, horion tou apirou plastourgou

Sou, Se Megalinomen!

Conceiving without knowing corruption, lending Thy flesh to the Word, the Deviser of all, O Mother knowing no man; Virgin Theotokos, Vessel of the Uncontainable, Space for Thine Infinite Creator, we magnify 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 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 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 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 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 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 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 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 –––– 2 32 32 32 3 Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, Appears to Ten of His Disciples and Bestows His Divine Authority on Them

At that time, the same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with

you!” When He had said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again: “Peace to you! As the Father has Sent Me, I also Send you.” And when He had said

this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they

are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

P r o k e i m e n o n :P r o k e i m e n o n :P r o k e i m e n o n :P r o k e i m e n o n :

Their sound has gone out into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God!

T h e A c t s o f tT h e A c t s o f tT h e A c t s o f tT 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 2 : 1 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 2 : 1 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 2 : 1 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 2 : 1 ---- 1 11 11 11 1 Th e D i s c i p l e s R e c e i v e T h e H o l y S p i r i t F r om T h e R i s e n C h r i s t

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and It filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there appeared before them divided Tongues, as of Fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Hebrews, devout men, from every nation under Heaven. And when this Sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another: "Look! Are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Hebrews and proselytes, Cretans and

Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the Wonderful Works of God!"

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i nT h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i nT h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i nT 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 7 : 3 7 g t o S t J o h n 7 : 3 7 g t o S t J o h n 7 : 3 7 g t o S t J o h n 7 : 3 7 –––– 5 2 ; 8 : 1 25 2 ; 8 : 1 25 2 ; 8 : 1 25 2 ; 8 : 1 2 Our Lord Jesus Christ Promises The Holy Spirit To His Disciples

On the last day, that Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to

Me and drink. He who believes in Me - as the Scripture has said - out of his heart will flow rivers of

Living Water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet Glorified.

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said: “Truly this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ

comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands upon Him. Then the officers came to the Chief

Priests and Pharisees, who said to them: "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered: "No man

ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them: "Are you also deceived? Have any of the Rulers of the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed." Nikodemos

(he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them), said to them: "Does our Law judge a man before it

hears him and knows what he is doing?" They answered and said to him: "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no Prophet has arisen out of Galilee."

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I Am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in

Darkness, but have the Light of Life."

S u n d a y o f P e n t e c o s t S u n d a y o f P e n t e c o s t S u n d a y o f P e n t e c o s t S u n d a y o f P e n t e c o s t ---- T h e V e s p e r s P r a y e r sT h e V e s p e r s P r a y e r sT h e V e s p e r s P r a y e r sT h e V e s p e r s P r a y e r s A f t e r t h e P r o em i a l P s a lm , t h e G r e a t L i t a n y a n d t h e s i n g i n g o f " L o r d , I h a v e c r i e d " t h e f o l l ow i n g P r a y e r s a r e r e a d . T h e P r i e s t a n d t h e w ho l e C o n g r e g a t i o n k n e e l .

Prayer 1Prayer 1Prayer 1Prayer 1 O Pure and Blameless Lord, Who is without beginning,

invisible and incomprehensible, unchangeable, immeasurable, and unbounded, Who is without evil and Who alone is Immortal; Who dwells in the Unapproachable Light; Maker of Heaven and earth and the seas and all that was created therein; Who grants to all their Petitions even before asking: to Thee we pray and of Thee we ask, O Philanthropic Master, the Father of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who for us men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven and was Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Noble Theotokos; Who first taught by Word, and then testified by Deed while bearing the Saving Passion, teaching us - Thine unworthy, sinful, and miserable servants - to offer Thee our Supplications with bent head and knee, for our sins and human ignorance.

Wherefore, O Most Merciful and Philanthropic Lord, hear us on whatever day we call upon Thee - and especially on this Day of Pentecost, whereon - after our Lord Jesus Christ had Ascended into Heaven and sat at Thy right Hand, O God and Father - He sent down the Holy Spirit to His Disciples, the Holy Apostles, Who alighted on each of them and filled them all with His Inexhaustible and Divine Grace; and they spoke in strange tongues - prophesying Thy Great Deeds.

Hear us who beseech Thee, and remember us -wretched and condemned.

Deliver us from the (sinful) captivity of our souls by Thy Loving Intercession.

Accept us, who kneel down before Thee and cry out: we have sinned.

From birth - from the womb of our mother - we are Thine, O Lord - Thou art our God.

But as our life passes in vanity, we have therefore been stripped of Thine Aid, and have become silent.

Yet do we trust in Thy Compassion and cry unto Thee: Remember not the sins of our youth and ignorance;

cleanse us of our secret sins. Reject us not in our old age, nor forsake us when our

strength fails. Before we return to the earth, prepare us to return to

Thee. Measure our lawlessness with a Measure of Thy

Generosity, and erect against our many transgressions a bottomless Abyss of these Generosities.

Look down from the height of Thy Holiness upon Thy people who stand and await Abundant Mercy from Thee.

Visit us with Thy Goodness and Deliver us from the force of Satan and preserve our Life with Thy Holy and Solemn Laws.

Commit Thy People unto a Faithful Guardian Angel. Gather us all unto Thy Kingdom. Forgive those who put their trust in Thee, relinquish us

and them from sin. Purify us by the Operation of Thy Holy Spirit and

remove from us the wiles of the adversary.

Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer : Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Almighty Master, Who

Illumines the day with the light of the sun and the night with the glow of the moon; Who has made us worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near to the onset of the night; hear our Petitions and those of all Thy people.

Forgive us all our sins - both voluntary and involuntary - and accept our Evening Supplications and send down the multitude of Thy Mercies and Compassions upon Thy People.

Protect us with Thy Holy Angels.

Arm us with the Weapons of Thy Truth. Envelop us with Thy Righteousness. Preserve us by Thy Power, and Deliver us from every

oppression and from every conspiracy of the cunning one.

Grant us that this evening and the approaching night and all the days of our life may be Perfect, Holy, Peaceful, Sinless, without doubt and vain imaginings, by the Intercessions of the Holy Theotokos and all the Saints who have done Thy Will from the beginning of time.

P r a y e r 2P r a y e r 2P r a y e r 2P r a y e r 2 O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who resides with us in

this life, and Who grants mankind the world, and in Thine inalienable Rule bestows the True Gift of the Holy Spirit - this Blessing Thou hast sent down more fully to Thy Disciples and Apostles and hast dispensed into their mouths the Fire of Tongues, so

that through them all mankind may receive Knowledge of God and be Enlightened by the Light of the Spirit - being emancipated from seduction as from darkness - and by their Supernatural Action, learning to believe in the Son of God and to >

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Praise Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit as one Godhead, Power and Authority.

Wherefore, O Splendour of the Father, the Likeness of his Essence, His immutable and unchangeable Nature: Thou art the Fountain of Salvation and Grace.

Open my lips - sinner that I am - and teach me how and for what I should pray; for Thou knows the multitude of my sins - yet the enormity thereof is overcome by Thine unbounded Compassion.

Behold, I come and stand before Thee in fear and dismay, casting my soul's despair into the depth of Thy Mercy.

Ordain my life, O Thou Who rules the whole Creation with ineffable Wisdom.

O Tranquil Haven to those who are caught in the rages of winter, make known to me the Way in which I should walk.

Grant to my thoughts the Spirit of Thy Wisdom, and bestow upon my ignorance the Spirit of Thy Understanding.

Overshadow my acts with the Spirit of Thy Fear; a Just Spirit Renew Thou within me, and by Thy Sovereign Spirit Strengthen my unstable mind, that I may be worthy each day to do Thy Commandments - being Guided by Thy Righteous Spirit into that which is Profitable - ever mindful of Thy Glorified (Second) Coming, when we shall all be obliged to give an account for our deeds.

Let me not be led astray by the corrupting pleasures of this world, but Strengthen me to delight in the Treasures to come. For Thou, O Master, said:

"Whatever you ask in My Name you shall

receive..." from God the Father Co-Eternal with Thee.

Therefore, I a sinner, implore Thy Goodness on the Day of the Descent of Thy Holy Spirit.

Grant my Request for Salvation: yea, O Good Lord, Who grants all riches and Benevolence; for Thou art He - the Merciful and Pitying One Who grants us more than we ask - Who has become a Partaker with us in the Flesh, yet Without Sin.

Thou art He Who, for His Love for mankind, has Compassion for those who bend their knee before Thee, having become an Offering for our sins.

Grant, O Lord, Thy Compassion to Thy people, and incline Thine Ear to us from Thy Holy Heaven.

Sanctify us by the Saving Might of Thy right Hand. Cover us with the Shelter of Thy Wings and turn not

away from the Work of Thy Hands. Against Thee only do we sin, yet Thee only do we serve. We know not how to bow to a strange god, nor how to

reach out to a different god. Pardon our iniquities, O Master, and - accepting our

requests on bended knee - extend to us all a helping Hand, and accept the Prayers of all as fragrant Incense acceptable to Thy Most Righteous Kingdom.

Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer : O Lord, Lord, Thou Who hast delivered us from every

arrow (obstacle) that comes by day: Save us from everything that walks in darkness, and accept the lifting up of our hands as an Evening Offering.

Consider us worthy to pass the night blamelessly and to experience no evil.

Deliver us from Satan. Free us from all confusion and fear.

Grant our souls Great Joy, and our thoughts concern for our accountability at Thy Just and Terrible Judgment.

Transfix our flesh with Thy Fear, and mitigate our members while on earth, that in the tranquillity of sleep we may be Enlightened by the Meditation of Thy Precepts. (Teachings)

Drive from us every evil fancy and lasciviousness. Elevate us during our Prayers, strengthened in Faith

and enriched by Thy Commandments.

Prayer 3Prayer 3Prayer 3Prayer 3 O Christ our God, the Ever-flowing Spring, Life-Giving,

Illuminating, Creative Power, Co-Eternal with the Father, Who Divinely Achieved the Deed of Saving mankind, and Who tore apart the indestructible bonds of Death, Who broke asunder the bolts of Hades, and trod down the multitude of evil spirits, offering Thyself as a Blameless Sacrifice and offering us Thy Pure, Spotless and Sinless Body: Who, by this Fearsome, Inscrutable Divine Service grants us Life Everlasting.

O Thou Who descended into Hades, and demolished the Eternal Bars, revealing an Ascent to those who were in the Lower Abode; Who with the Lure of Divine Wisdom enticed the dragon - the head of subtle evil - and with Thy boundless Power bound him in Abysmal Hell, in Inextinguishable Fire, and Extreme Darkness.

O Great Wisdom of the despairing! Overcomer of misfortunes - eminent Helper, Who came and lit the Way for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of Death; Thou art the Lord of Everlasting Glory, the Beloved Son of the Most High Father, Eternal Light of Eternal Light, Thou Sun of Truth!

Hear us who beseech Thee, and lay to rest the souls of Thy Servants - of those who have died heretofore, and those of our Fathers and Brothers and other kinsmen in flesh and all others through Faith - for whom we now celebrate this Memorial; for Thou hast Power over all, and in Thy Hands all the boundaries of the earth are held.

O Almighty Master, God of our Fathers, Lord of Mercy and Creator of all the nations of mankind - the living and the dead - and of all nature - animate and inanimate - Who appeared and resided here on earth and again departed into the other world - Who sets the years for the living and appoints the time for the dead, Who brings down to Hades and raises to Bliss; Who binds with weakness and looses with

Power; Who arranges the present as is meet and Who directs the future towards usefulness, Who consoles with the Hope of Resurrection those who feel the sting of Death - for Thou art the Master of all - our God and our Saviour - O Hope of all the boundaries of the earth and of those who are away on the seas; O Thou Who on this Last and Great Day of Salvation - the Day of the Feast of Pentecost - hast revealed to us the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, Consubstantial and Co-Eternal, Indivisible and Immiscible, Who sent down the Holy and Life-Giving Spirit in the form of Tongues of Fire on His Holy Apostles, revealing them as Proclaimers of our God-fearing Faith, making of them True Confessors and Preachers of the Word of God, Who makes us worthy, so that our propitiatory Prayers of this All-Perfect Day of Salvation be acceptable for those who are imprisoned in Hades, and Who grants those imprisoned therein a Great Hope in receiving from Thee Consolation and Relief of their confining grief.

Hear us - disconsolate and wretched - who beseech Thee, and grant Rest to the souls who have formerly departed, and let them repose in a Resplendent Place - a Place of Verdure and Coolness - where there are no ills nor sorrow nor sighs.

And array their souls in the Tabernacles of the Righteous, and make them worthy of Peace and Repose; for it is not the dead who praise Thee, O Lord, nor do those who are in Hades venture to offer Thee Confession, but we - the living - Bless Thee and Supplicate Thee, O Lord, and offer unto Thee Prayers of Purification and Sacrifices for their souls' sake.

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Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer : O Great Eternal God, Holy and Loving toward mankind,

Who makes us worthy to stand at this Hour before Thine Unapproachable Glory, praising and Glorifying Thy Wonders: forgive us, unworthy sinners, and grant us Grace that from a humble and contrite heart we may offer Thee the Thrice-Holy Glorification and Gratitude for Thy Great Gifts which Thou granted - and still steadfastly grants to us.

Remember, O Lord, our weakness and destroy us not in our iniquities; but in accordance with our Humility show us Thy Great Mercy, that being delivered from the darkness of sin, we may walk in the Day of Truth, equipped with the Armour of Light, and freed from all the evil attacks of the wicked one -Glorifying Thee in all things, O Only True God and Lover of mankind.

For in Truth, O Master and Creator of all, Thine is the Great and Original Mystery - the temporary death of Thy Creatures, and their Restoration thereafter unto Eternal Repose.

In all things we acknowledge Thy Favour, at our Entrance into this world and at our departure, O Thou Who by Thy unfailing Promises offers us the Hope of Everlasting Life, Resurrection, and Incorruptible Life, which shall be ours to enjoy at Thy Second Coming; for Thou, O Lord Christ, art the Fountain of our Resurrection, the Mankind-Loving and Incorruptible Judge of the deceased and those worthy of Reward.

Thou hast assumed, with Utmost Condescension, our flesh and blood, and through Thine undying Love for us, did not dismiss Thy Suffering - willingly submitting to torture - so that, having been tempted, Thou, as Promised, became the Helper to those who are tempted, Elevating us to Thy Dispassion.

Wherefore, O Master, accept our Prayers and Supplications, and grant Repose to our Fathers,

Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Children, Blood Relatives, and Kinsfolk, and all those who have gone to their final rest with the Hope of Resurrection and Life Everlasting.

Inscribe their names in the Book of Life; in the Bosoms of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in the Land of the Living, the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Paradise of Delight - leading all into Thy Holy Dwelling Places by Thy Radiant Angels - and raise their bodies on the Day that Thou hast Appointed - according to Thine unfailing Holy Promises; for there is no death, O Lord, to Thy departing servants who cast off their bodies and come to Thee, O God, but a transition from sorrowful things to pleasant and benign, to Repose and Joy.

And if they have sinned (in any respect) against Thee, forgive them, and be Thou Compassionate to them and us; for there is none without stain before Thee, even though our life be but a day - save Thou alone, Jesus Christ our God, Who appeared on earth without sin, and because of Thee we all trust in attaining Thy Mercy and the Remission of sins.

Therefore, O God, through Thy Grace and Love of mankind, weaken, remit and forgive our sins and theirs; overlook both our voluntary and involuntary offences, which we have committed either wilfully or through ignorance, openly or in secret whether by word, deed, or thought and all our wrathful dealings which we have committed during our lifetime.

As for those who have preceded us, grant them Emancipation and Repose.

To those of us who are here, Bless us, and grant us and all Thy People a Blessed and Peaceful End to this life.

At Thy Fearsome and Dreadful Coming open to us Thy fathomless Love of mankind, making us worthy of Thy Kingdom.

Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer : O Thou Most Exalted God, Who alone possesses

Immortality, Who dwells in the Unapproachable Light, Who in Wisdom brings into being all Creation, who separated the light and the darkness, setting the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to

rule the night, Who on this Day vouchsafed us sinners as worthy through Confession to present ourselves before Thy Sight and to offer to Thee our Evening Prayers.

Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer :Addi t iona l Prayer : O Philanthropic God, set our Prayers like Incense before

Thee, and receive them as a sweet Fragrance. Grant that this evening and the approaching night may

be Peaceful and Serene for us. Clothe us with the Armour of Light, and deliver us from

nightly fears and from everything that walks in darkness.

Vouchsafe that the slumber, which Thou grants us for rest from our weakness, be also free from every satanic vision.

Yea, O Master, Who provides Good Things for all, grant that in our lodgings, amid the night, we may with fervour recall Thy Most Holy Name.

Grant that being Enlightened by the Teachings of Thy Commandments, we will rise up in Spiritual Joy to Glorify Thy Goodness - offering for Thy Compassion Petitions and Supplications for our sins and those of all people, for which Thou, through the Intercessions of the Holy Theotokos, visits upon us with Mercy!

Amen ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP : FROM MISSIONARY LEAFLET # E5 - 2001 HOLY TRINITY

ORTHODOX MISSION - 466 FOOTHILL BLVD, BOX 397, LA CANADA, CA 91011 - EDITOR: BISHOP ALEXANDER (MILEANT)

The Feast of PentecostThe Feast of PentecostThe Feast of PentecostThe Feast of Pentecost The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old

led to the confusion of tongues.

Now the Glory of the Knowledge of God brings them Wisdom.

There God condemned the impious for their transgression.

Here Christ has Enlightened the Fishermen by the Spirit.

There disharmony was brought about for punishment.

Now Harmony is Renewed for the Salvation of our souls.

Holy Pentecost is a very rich Feast – one that is filled with meaning (as is appropriate). But all of the meaning

takes as its Source the Gift to Creation of the “Lord and Giver of Life” - God the Holy Spirit.

Just as we are told in Genesis: “In the beginning God

created the heavens and the earth. The earth was

without form, and void; and darkness was on the

face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was

hovering over the face of the waters...”

With a Word, God speaks, and where the Holy Spirit hovers, life comes forth.

So it is in the Life of the Church and in Creation today: Where God speaks, Renewed Life comes forth. All of Creation groans and travails, awaiting the final Great Word that will signal the Renewal of all things.

For now, we see that Promise foreshadowed by trees in Church and by the green Vestments on the Priests and by the Joy of our hearts. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP FROM FATHER STEPHEN’S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BLOG

“GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!”

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/category/end-of-time/

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Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr ica Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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.

H o l y T r i n i t y W e e k H o l y T r i n i t y W e e k H o l y T r i n i t y W e e k H o l y T r i n i t y W e e k 13 June 201113 June 201113 June 201113 June 2011

M o n d a y o f t h e H o l y S p i r i tM o n d a y o f t h e H o l y S p i r i tM o n d a y o f t h e H o l y S p i r i tM o n d a y o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t

Also the Feast of St Aquilina of Byblos, Syria – St Triphyllios of Leucosia, Cyprus - St Andronikos of Moscow, Disciple of St Sergios of Radonezh – St Antonina of Nicea – St Anna & St John, her son, of Constantinople – St Savva of Moscow – St James the Ascetic – St Antipatros of Bostra, Arabia – St Anthimos of Iberia, Georgia

2 n d A n t i p h o n O f P e n t e c o s t – P s a l m 1 9 - T o n e 2

>Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si:

Allilouia! >Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee:

Alleluia! I s o d i k o n O f P e n t e c o s t

>Ipsothiti, Kyrie, en ti Dinami Sou. Asomen ke psaloumen tas Dinastias Sou. Soson imas,

Paraklite Agathe, psallontas Si Allilouia!

>Be exalted, O Lord, in Thy Power: we shall sing and chant Thy Mighty Deeds. Good Paraclete, Save

us who sing to Thee: Alleluia! A p o l y t i k i o n O f P e n t e c o s t

>Evlogitos i Hriste O Theos imon, O Pansofous tous aliis anadixas, katapempsas aftis to Pnevma to

Agion, ke di Afton tin ikoumenin saginefsas,

Filanthrope: Doxa Si!

>Blessed art Thou, Christ our God, Who has filled the Fishermen with Wisdom by sending down the Holy

Spirit upon them, and Who, through them, has

united the world: Glory to Thee, O Lover of Mankind! K o n t a k i o n – O F T H E A S CEN S I ON O F CH R I S T O UR G OD O F T H E A S CEN S I ON O F CH R I S T O UR G OD O F T H E A S CEN S I ON O F CH R I S T O UR G OD O F T H E A S CEN S I ON O F CH R I S T O UR G OD ---- T O N E P L AGA L 2 :T O N E P L AGA L 2 :T O N E P L AGA L 2 :T O N E P L AGA L 2 :

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon;

oudamothen horizomenos alla menon adiastatos, ke

voon tis agaposi se: Ego imi meth imon, ke oudis

kath imon.

Having fulfilled the dispensation for us, and uniting the earthly with the Heavenly, Thou Ascended in Glory,

O Christ our God; being in no way separated, but

remaining inseparable, and calling out to those who

love Thee: I Am with you and no one can be against

you!

B a p t i s m H y m n – I n s t e a d O f T h e “ A g i o s O T h e o s . . . ”

>Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe.

Allelouia

>As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have put on Christ: Alleluia!

H y m n T o T h e o t o k o s – T o n e V a r y s / G r a v e - I n s t e a d O f “ A x i o n E s t i n ”

Mi tis fthoras diapira kioforisasa ke pantehnimoni Logo

sarka danisasa, Miter Apirandre, Parthene Theotoke,

dohion tou astektou, horion tou apirou plastourgou

Sou, Se Megalinomen!

Conceiving without knowing corruption, lending Thy flesh to the Word, the Deviser of all, O Mother knowing no man; Virgin Theotokos, Vessel of the Uncontainable, Space for Thine Infinite Creator, we magnify Thee!

M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l ---- J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 J o h n 2 0 : 1 9 –––– 2 32 32 32 3 Jesus Christ, Our Risen Lord, Appears To Ten Of His Disciples And Bestows His Divine Authority On Them

At that time, the same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples

were assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with

you!” When He had said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again: “Peace to you! As the Father has Sent Me, I also Send you.” And when He had

said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,

they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

P r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o n

Their sound has gone out into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God!

T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e E p h e s i a n s 5 : 8 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e E p h e s i a n s 5 : 8 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e E p h e s i a n s 5 : 8 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e E p h e s i a n s 5 : 8 ---- 1 91 91 91 9 L i ve I n Chr i s t The L i gh t , Expose Darkness , Obey God ’ s D i v i ne W i l l And Be F i l l ed W i t h The Ho l y Sp i r i t

Brethren: you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as Children of Light (for the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth) finding out what is acceptable to our Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of those things that are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light, for whatever makes manifest is Light.

Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will grant you Light.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. So do not be unwise, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the

Name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) M o n d a y O f T h e H o l y S p i r i t 1 3 J une 201 1 20

] WE MUST JUDGE what the fallen world regards as “reasonable” ON THE BASIS OF GOD’S DIVINE AND PERFECT TRUTH.

] BESIDES SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, WE MUST ALSO EXPOSE IT TO THE LIGHT OF GOD’S TRUTH.

ä However, IN ORDER TO BE EXPOSED TO DIVINE TRUTH OURSELVES, WE HAVE TO COME OUT OF

HIDING AS WELL. ä In other words: WE MUST REPENT AND CONFESS

OUR SINS.

The Holy Mystery of Repentance-Confession should be done by Orthodox Christians before participating in any of the Holy Mysteries such as Holy Unction, Holy Ordination, Holy Baptism (as parents or God-parents of the Catechumen), Holy Matrimony and Holy Eucharist throughout the year, (IF NOT EVERY WEEK BEFORE PARTAKING OF HOLY COMMUNION, WHICH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BECAUSE WE CONVENIENTLY “FORGET” OUR SINS DURING THE LONG PERIODS BETWEEN REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.)

The Hymn in Verse 14 : “Awake you who sleep...” is an early Baptismal Hymn.

] HOLY BAPTISM IS OUR SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION and to

“walk in the Light” is to walk in our Baptism or to ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION AND LIVE EACH

DAY ACCORDINGLY.

] THE PURPOSE OF THIS SHORT PREPARATORY LIFE IS not to abandon our life in the world, amongst other struggling sinners, but TO MAINTAIN OURSELVES AND OUR LIFE IN CHRIST AND SALVAGE AS MUCH AS

POSSIBLE FROM THIS TRAGIC, FALLEN WORLD.

ä As Faithful Disciples of Christ we renounce the fallen world – WE REJECT THE WICKEDNESS THAT SURROUNDS US – NOT GOD’S BEAUTIFUL CREATION.

] FOLLOWING REPENTANCE a surge of Joy wells up in our soul - A DISTINCTIVE SPIRIT, A KIND OF SPIRITUAL ELATION ENERGISES US.

THIS JOY COMES FROM OUR RESTORATION TO SPIRITUAL LIFE

For THOSE WHO LIVE IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND

IGNORANCE, (SPIRITUAL DEATH) THIS SPIRITUAL ELATION

IS MOCKED as drunkenness, artificial and temporary. However, FOR TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, SPIRITUAL

ELATION COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO GRANTS US THE JOY OF THE NEW COVENANT WORSHIP OF THE HOLY

TRINITY – THE HOLY EUCHARIST – EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH GOD THE SON INCARNATE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Those who are inebriated through drinking too much wine or alcohol totter and sway, being unstable on their feet, but THOSE WHO ARE INEBRIATED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE FIRMLY ROOTED IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND GLORIOUSLY SOBER!

ä QUOTING HOLY SCRIPTURE AND SINGING HYMNS CANNOT BE SPIRITUAL UNLESS IT IS DONE WITH TRUE HUMILITY, SUBMISSION OR OBEDIENCE TO AND FEAR

OF GOD.

THE TERM “FEAR OF GOD” DOES NOT MEAN BEING “TERRIFIED” OF GOD - BUT RATHER A FEAR OF SELF-INFLICTED ALIENATION AND EXCOMMUNICATION FROM GOD THROUGH SIN, WHICH PUTS US IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH – A SELF-IMPOSED EXILE OR DISTANCING FROM THE BENEVOLENCE AND BLESSINGS OF DIVINE GRACE AND GOD’S GREAT MERCY.

FOR WHEN WE TRULY LOVE OTHERS, WE NEVER WANT TO DISAPPOINT OR ALIENATE THEM – WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM AND TO PLEASE THEM IN ALL THINGS. AND SO IT IS WITH THE LORD OUR GOD WHOM WE LOVE MORE THAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD!

THUS THE FEAR OF GOD COMES FROM OUR DEEPEST RESPECT AND LOVE FOR GOD AND THE FEAR OF BEING BEREFT OF HIS DIVINE LOVE AND GRACE, WHICH WE CAUSE THROUGH OUR OWN FREE WILL – OUR OWN SELF-INDULGENT AND WICKED CHOICES.

GOD NEVER EVER ABANDONS US – WE ABANDON HIM. AND WHEN WE ARE IN A STATE OF UNREPENTANT SIN, GOD AND ALL HIS HEAVENLY HOSTS, AS WELL AS ALL THE SAINTS AND THE RIGHTEOUS, TURN THEIR SIGHT AWAY FROM US, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BEAR TO WATCH US COMMITTING EVIL.

THIS IS WHY WE BESEECH THE LORD TO KEEP US IN HIS SIGHT FOREVER – MEANING THAT AS SOON AS WE FALL INTO SIN, WE ARE ABLE TO REPENT AND REGAIN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE ONCE MORE.

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 t t h e w 1 8 : 1 0 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 t t h e w 1 8 : 1 0 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 t t h e w 1 8 : 1 0 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 t t h e w 1 8 : 1 0 –––– 2 02 02 02 0 G o d T h e H o l y S p i r i t I s I n H i s H o l y C h u r c h F o r e v e r

At that time our Lord Jesus said: “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their Angels always behold the Face of My Father Who is in Heaven. For the Son of Man is

come to Save that which was lost.

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them went astray, does he not leave the

ninety nine and go into the mountains to seek the one that went astray? And if he should find it,

assuredly I say unto you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go

astray. Even so it is not the Will of your Father Who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should

perish.

Moreover if your Brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears

you, you have gained your Brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, so

that ‘...by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear

them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen

and a tax collector.

Truly , I say unto you: whatsoever you bind upon earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you

loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth

concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father Who is in Heaven. For

where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I Am there in the midst of them.

] Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us that NO ONE SHOULD DESPISE HUMBLE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEIR

GUARDIAN ANGELS OCCUPY THE FOREMOST POSITIONS BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD.

ä Because they are created beings THESE ANGELS SEE THE FACE OF GOD, not in His Divine Essence, but IN HIS DIVINE GLORY, HIS ENERGY, according to the measure of their capacity.

] ONLY THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, BEING UNCREATED AND PART OF THE GODHEAD, ARE ABLE TO SEE GOD THE FATHER PERFECTLY. [JOHN 6:46; 11:27; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10]

It is not the Nature of Almighty God, but THE WEAKNESS OF MANKIND that REQUIRES THE ANGEL’S ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE. They are SENT BY GOD FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO WILL INHERIT DIVINE SALVATION. [HEBREWS 1 :14]

] The search for the “Lost Sheep” is A MERCIFUL AND LOVING ACT OF GOD TOWARDS EACH PERSON WHO

GOES ASTRAY and wanders about in the darkness of sin.

No First Century Palestinian Shepherd would have dared to leave 99 sheep in order to search for 1 in case the wolves came and killed the flock. ä But ALMIGHTY GOD’S LOVE IS SO GREAT THAT HE

SEEKS EVEN THE ONE WHO STRAYS.

] Verses 15 – 20: “… if your Brother sins against

you…. if he will not hear you, then take with

you one or two more, so that ... every word

may be established... For where two or three

are gathered…” set forth A CLASSIC FORM OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE BASED UPON MUTUAL CORRECTION, IN THREE EXPANDING STAGES.

ä SIN AND REPENTANCE ARE PRIVATE unless the offender refuses to repent. Then the issue may have to be made public and corporate, coming before the whole Church.

ä ALL DISCIPLINE MUST BE DONE WITH GREAT CARE AND HUMILITY BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO BY HYPOCRITICAL IN THE WAY WE JUDGE.

] THE TERM “CHURCH” which occurs only in the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew, REFERS TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH.

ä OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO ESTABLISH A CONGREGATION, GATHERED BY HIM AND UNITED WITH HIM, IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Temporal Rulers have the power of binding, but they bind only the body.

] GOD, however, BINDS WITH A BOND THAT PERTAINS TO THE SOUL ITSELF, A POWER THAT GOD HAS NOT EVEN GIVEN TO HIS ANGELS.

] ALMIGHTY GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US: HE HAS A SPECIAL PRESENCE IN HEAVEN AND IN EVERY CHURCH AS WELL, THROUGH HIS GRACE AND THE HOLY MYSTERIES -

SACRAMENTS.

] MUTUAL CORRECTION, which sometimes necessitates expulsion from the Community, MAKES THE CHURCH STRONG AND INVINCIBLE THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1st Sunday After Pentecost – 1st Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday ---- 19 J une 201 1 21



1111 s ts ts ts t Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Sunday Af ter Pentecos t ---- Tone (8 ) Plaga l 4 19 JuneTone (8 ) Plaga l 4 19 JuneTone (8 ) Plaga l 4 19 JuneTone (8 ) Plaga l 4 19 June 2011201120112011

1111 s ts ts ts t Sunday o f S t Matthew Sunday o f S t Matthew Sunday o f S t Matthew Sunday o f S t Matthew –––– Al l Sa ints SundayAl l Sa ints SundayAl l Sa ints SundayAl l Sa ints Sunday

Also the Feast of St Jude, son of St Joseph the Betrothed, “Brother of our Lord” & St Judas Thaddeus, Holy Apostles of Christ our Saviour – St Zosimos of Antioch, Pisidia – St Paisios the Great of Egypt – St Barlaam of Shenkursk – St John the Solitary of Jerusalem – St Paisios of Hilandar, Bulgaria - St Job of Moscow & All Russia – St Zenon A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e R e s u r r e c t i o n – T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

Ex ipsous katilthes O evsplaghnos, tafin katedexo triimeron, ina imas elevtherosis ton pathon. I Zoi ke

i Anastasis imon, Kyrie, > Doxa Si!

Thou descended from on High, O Tender-hearted One; Thou endured the three-days’ burial, so that Thou

might free us from our passions, O our Life and

Resurrection: > Glory to Thee! A p o l y t i k i o n O f A l l S a i n t s - T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

Ton en olon to kosmo Martiron Sou, os porfiran ke visson ta emata, i Ekklisia Sou stolisameni, di

afton voa Si, Hriste O Theos: To lao Sou tous

iktirmous katapempson, irinin ti politia Sou Dorise,

ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos.

Thy Church having bedecked Herself with the blood of all Thy Martyrs in the world, as with the finest linen

and purple robe, through them cries out to Thee, O

Christ our God: Send down Thy Compassion upon

Thy people, grant Peace to Thy Commonwealth,

and to our souls Thy Great Mercy. A l l S a i n t s S u n d a y U n t i l 2 7 J u l y

Os aparhas tis fiseos, to fitourgo tis ktiseos, i ikoumeni proferi si Kyrie, tous Theoforou Martirs. Tes afton

ikesies, en irini vathia tin Ekklisian Sou, dia tis

Theotokou, Sintirison Polielee!

Like the First Fruits of Nature, to the Author of all Creation, the earth’s people offer Thee, O Lord, the

God-bearing Martyrs. Through their Intercessions,

maintain Thy Church in True and Perfect Peace, and

through the Theotokos, preserve Her, O Most

Merciful!

M a t i n s M a t i n s M a t i n s M a t i n s ---- R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 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 M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 –––– 2 02 02 02 0 T h e G r e a t C o m m i s s i o n o f o u r L o r d & S a v i o u r , J e s u s C h r i s t

P r o k e i m e n o n P r o k e i m e n o n P r o k e i m e n o n P r o k e i m e n o n –––– 1111 s ts ts ts t S u n d a y o f S t M a t t h e wS u n d a y o f S t M a t t h e wS u n d a y o f S t M a t t h e wS u n d a y o f S t M a t t h e w

God is Marvellous in His Saints!

Bless the Lord in the Congregation!

T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e H e b r e w s 1 1 : 3 3 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e H e b r e w s 1 1 : 3 3 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e H e b r e w s 1 1 : 3 3 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e H e b r e w s 1 1 : 3 3 –––– 1 2 : 21 2 : 21 2 : 21 2 : 2 T h e F a i t h O f C e r t a i n I s r a e l i t e s & T h e P e r f e c t i o n O f F a i t h

Brethren: time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the

Prophets, who - through Faith - subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured - not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, tempted, slain with the world. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountain, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all of these – having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith – did not receive the Promise - God having provided something better for us so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with Endurance the Race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who - for the Joy that was set before Him - endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right Hand of the Throne of God.

] BY LIVING WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, OBEYING ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND LOVING HIM WITH ALL ONE’S

BEING, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE in this world because HE GRANTS US THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE ALL LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES, even the inhumane torture inflicted by others as experienced by the Martyrdom of so many of the Saints throughout the ages.

] THE UNSURPASSED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND DEPTH OF

THE FAITH OF THE SAINTS IS TO BE MARVELLED AT AND IMITATED BY US.

ä NOTHING COULD SHAKE THEM LOOSE FROM THEIR

UTTER FAITH IN AND LOVE OF ALMIGHTY GOD; not even promises of leniency in the midst of horrific tortures could make them denounce their Faith.

] STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE CRUELTIES OF MANKIND AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FALLEN – SPIRITUALLY

DARKENED - WORLD, IS DUE TO GOD’S GRACE ONLY - based upon COMPLETE TRUST IN HIM, Who provides us with all necessary abilities to achieve whatever is required.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1st Sunday After Pentecost – 1st Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday ---- 19 June 201 1 22

That is why GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS OF HIS BELOVED FAITHFUL who depend entirely upon Him to deliver them from all evil.

] ONLY THROUGH THE POWER AND GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD IS ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING POSSIBLE!

ä CHRIST’S INCARNATION AND ALL THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR US IN THE FLESH REDEEMED [SAVED] THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WHO, BY FAITH, PARTICIPATE IN HIS RESURRECTION AND

HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM.

ä This entire passage [BEGINNING WITH 10:9] is a progressive discourse imploring us to SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST – BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE!

ä Under the New Covenant, we CAN ASCEND TO THIS HEAVENLY PLACE IN WORSHIP AND PRAYER.

ä WE EXPERIENCE THIS HEAVENLY DIMENSION FUNDAMENTALLY IN THE DIVINE LITURGY.

ä We ascend to that Heavenly Place where WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A “GREAT CLOUD OF

WITNESSES.” [THE HEAVENLY HOSTS AND THE SAINTS] It is not a physical place but A SPIRITUAL CONDITION THAT

IS INHABITED BY ALMIGHTY GOD, THE ANGELS AND “THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.” [THE SAINTS]

IT IS IN THIS SPIRITUAL MYSTERY THAT THE COMMUNION OF

THE SAINTS IS ESTABLISHED IN THE NEW COVENANT [NEW

AGREEMENT/PROMISE OF AND WITH GOD]

The “Cloud of Witnesses” includes not only the Old Covenant Saints mentioned previously, but also the Saints and Martyrs of the Lord throughout all the ages.

] ALL THE HOLY SAINTS AND MARTYRS SUCCEEDED –

REACHED SPIRITUAL PERFECTION OR THEOSIS - AND

SO CAN WE!

We persevere by: c Getting rid of sin – the “weight” of which keeps us

from heeding the Truth c Setting the Heavenly City as our Destination –

running the “Race” of Faith

c Keeping our attention focused upon Jesus Christ our Lord and King.

This Race is not a sprint but A MARATHON OF ENDURANCE - WHICH DOES NOT END UNTIL WE FULLY ENTER ETERNITY

– “THE AGE TO COME.” [1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 – 27] ] OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS BOTH THE AUTHOR – THE

INITIATOR - AND FINISHER – PERFECTER – OF FAITH.

ä HIS JOY WAS TO DO GOD THE FATHER’S WILL.

ä He “endured the Cross” meaning that HE

VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED HUMILIATION AND

DEATH and THEREFORE WE ARE TO FOLLOW HIS DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE.

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 t t h e w 1 0 : 3 2T 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 t t h e w 1 0 : 3 2T 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 t t h e w 1 0 : 3 2T 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 t t h e w 1 0 : 3 2 ---- 3 3 ; 3 73 3 ; 3 73 3 ; 3 73 3 ; 3 7 ---- 3 8 ; 1 9 : 2 73 8 ; 1 9 : 2 73 8 ; 1 9 : 2 73 8 ; 1 9 : 2 7 ---- 3 03 03 03 0 B e i n g F e a r l e s s W i t n e s s e s T o O u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t ’ s P e r f e c t D i v i n e T r u t h

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father

Who is in Heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in

Heaven...”

“...He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter

more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his Cross and follow after Me, is not

worthy of Me...”

Then Peter said to Him: “See, we have left all and followed Thee. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them: “Truly, I say to you, that in the Regeneration - when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His Glory

- you who have followed Me will also sit on Twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel. And

everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for

My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit Eternal Life.

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

] The reference to taking up our Crosses in order to follow Christ our Lord and Saviour, means that NOTHING MUST PREVENT US FROM BEING

ABSOLUTELY FA ITHFUL TO OUR LORD GOD . ä A TRUE AND FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST MUST

ALWAYS BE READY TO OBEY GOD AND EVEN, IF

NECESSARY, TO SACRIFICE FAMILY OR FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE SPIRITUALLY DESTRUCTIVE.

ä HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND ALMIGHTY GOD, IS A

FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY of Michah 7 : 5 - 7 : “’...do not trust in friends, nor put

your hope in those who govern. Beware of your

wife and do not tell her anything. For a son

dishonours his father, a daughter will rise up against

her mother, a daughter-in-lay against her mother-in-

law; a man’s enemies are all the people of his own

house’ but I will look to the Lord...” OUR LORD JESUS – AS THE ALL DIVINE AND ALL KNOWING SON

OF GOD – KNEW EVERYTHING THAT HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE IN THE TIME TO

COME AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE AGES.

] OUR LORD ENCOURAGES US THROUGH ALL OUR

DIFF ICULTIES IN L IFE ä even if we are not confronted by terrible Martyrdom

WE ARE CONSTANTLY THREATENED BY

DESTRUCTIVE, FATAL UNGODLINESS AND SPIRITUAL ADVERSITY.

ä WE MUST DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO OUR LOVE OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM.

ä We must not follow the destructive norms of social life but instead TAKE UP OUR CROSSES AND FOLLOW FAITHFULLY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST WHO IS OUR ONLY JUDGE AND MASTER.

ä We must not worry about what our fellow sinners may think or do. And, in fact, we will SHOW THEM THE WAY BY OUR OWN HEALTHY, HAPPY AND

PEACEFUL LIFE IN CHRIST. ] THE DULL AND STUBBORNLY IGNORANT WILL

REMAIN IN SP IRITUAL DARKNESS BY THE IR

OWN CHOICE , but there are SOME WHO WILL FOLLOW US INTO THE DIVINE LIGHT AND LIFE IN CHRIST.

ä SPIRITUALLY STUBBORN AND DEAD SINNERS WILL ALWAYS FIND EXCUSES AND TRY TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM OBEYING GOD’S DIVINE WILL EITHER BY THEIR WORDS, THEIR DEEDS OR

THEIR ATTITUDES.

These are the people whom our Lord tells us to ignore although WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT AND DELIVERANCE, FOR, IF WE LOVE GOD AND HIS CREATURES, WE DO NOT WISH ANYONE TO BE LEFT OUT OF HIS DIVINE AND EVERLASTING

KINGDOM. ] “Christ Judges by discerning our hearts and

souls and not by examining our deeds. So

also the Apostles were shaped to exercise

Spiritual Judgement concerning Faith, and in

rebuking error with Virtue.” In other words, GOOD DEEDS ALONE, CANNOT GAIN DIVINE

BLESSINGS FOR US UNLESS OUR HEARTS AND SOULS ARE AS PURE, AS GOOD AND AS FAITHFUL AS OUR DEEDS - AND VICE VERSA.

THE APOSTLES WILL NOT JUDGE WITH EARTHLY

JUDGEMENT BUT BY THE WITNESS OF THEIR OWN LIVES.

] SINCE GOD’S DVINE AND HOLY KINGDOM

BEGINS WITH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THE AUTHORITY OF JUDGEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO THE HOLY APOSTLES AND

THEIR SUCCESSORS IN THE JOURNEY OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH. (MATTHEW 16:19 JOHN 20:23)

] This brings us back to THE HOLY MYSTERY OR

SACRAMENT OF CONFESS ION whereby REPENTANT SINNERS, HAVING REPENTED AND CONFESSED THEIR SINS BEFORE GOD AND HIS HOLY PRIESTS (OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS) ARE FORGIVEN

THEIR SINS BY MEANS OF DIVINE AUTHORITY BESTOWED UPON THEM BY GOD.

ä THROUGH THE HOLY MYSTERY OF CONFESSION ALL

OUR REPENTED AND CONFESSED S INS

ARE COMPLETELY REMOVED from the pages of our “Books of Life” wherein every word, thought and deed is recorded by our Holy Guardian Angels who defend us after death and who help us TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1st Sunday After Pentecost – 1st Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday ---- 19 J une 201 1 23

] On the contrary: ALL OUR UNREPENTED SINS ARE

ALSO RECORDED BY THE DEMONS WHO WILL LOUDLY ACCUSE US OF THEM AND TRY TO CLAIM OUR

SOULS FOR ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND EVER

LASTING SPIRITUAL DEATH IN OUTER DARKNESS – EXTREME AND PERMANENT – ETERNAL EXILE FROM GOD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD, PEACEFUL

AND LOVING! ] WHATEVER GOOD WE DO IN THIS LIFE FOR

THE SAKE OF OUR LOVE OF GOD AND HIS

CREATURES, BRINGS US ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND HELPS US TO PROGRESS TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE.

] God, being not only Just but also Merciful and Loving, grants to even the very last repentant sinner His Great Blessings – THE VERY LAST REPENTANT SINNER RECEIVES AS MANY BLESSINGS AND LOVE AS THE FIRST TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.

ä WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD BUT I T IS ENTIRELY UP TO OUR

OWN EFFORTS AND DECIS IONS – OUR

OWN FREE WILL - WHETHER WE WISH TO LIVE ETERNALLY IN THE SIGHT AND LOVE OF GOD OR WHETHER WE REJECT HIM AND ALL HIS ABUNDANT, INFINITE LOVE AND BLESSINGS.

Whoever Denies Me Before Men, Him I Will Also Deny Before My Father Who Is In HeavenWhoever Denies Me Before Men, Him I Will Also Deny Before My Father Who Is In HeavenWhoever Denies Me Before Men, Him I Will Also Deny Before My Father Who Is In HeavenWhoever Denies Me Before Men, Him I Will Also Deny Before My Father Who Is In HeavenB y S t C y p r i a n o f C a r t h a g e

At last, dear Brethren, Peace has been restored to the Church and - although the pessimists thought it improbable and the pagans impossible - we have recovered our liberty …

Was it something unheard of that had hap-pened - something beyond expectation - that made people recklessly break their Oath to Christ, as if a situation had arisen, which they had not bargained for?

Was it not foretold by the Prophets before Christ came - and by His Apostles since?

Were they not Inspired by the Holy Spirit to predict that the Just would always be oppressed and ill-treated by the Gentiles?

...Could a servant of God stand there and speak – and renounce Christ, whereas it was the world and the devil he had renounced before?

...It is Christ Who must not be left - it is giving up one’s Salvation and one’s Eternal Home that must be feared …

Let no one deceive himself - let none be misled. Only the Lord can grant Mercy. Sins committed against God can be cancelled by

Him alone Who bore our sins and suffered for us - by Him Whom God delivered up for our sins.

Mankind cannot be above God, nor can the servant - by any indulgence of his own - remit or condone the graver sort of crime committed against our Lord - for that would make the lapsed soul liable to this further charge - that he knows not the words of

the Prophet: ‘Cursed be the one who puts his

hope in mankind!’ It is our Lord we must pray to - it is our Lord we must

win over by our Repentance; for He has said He will deny anyone who denies Him - and He alone has received all Power of Judgment from His Heavenly Father …

But let none, my dear Brethren - let none - besmirch the fair name of the Martyrs.

Let none rob them of the Glory of their Crown!

The Strength and Parity (CONSISTENCY) of their Faith stands unimpaired: nothing can be said or

done against Christ by one whose whole Hope and Faith - whose whole Strength and Glory - abides in Christ... A [lapsed] person who - in spite of personal sin - also presumed secretly to join the rest in receiving of the Sacrifice offered by the Bishop, was unable to eat - or even handle our Lord’s Sacred Body - for when he opened his hands, he found he was holding nothing but ashes.

By this one example it was made manifest that our Lord removes Himself from those who deny Him, and that what is received brings no Blessing to the unworthy, since the Holy One has fled and the Saving Grace is turned to ashes …

Let each of you - I entreat you, Brethren - confess your sins - while you who have sinned are still in this world - while your Confession can still be heard - while Penance and Forgiveness granted through our Priests are pleasing to God.

Let us return to our Lord with our whole heart and - expressing our Repentance in deep sorrow - implore God for His Mercy.

Let our souls bow before Him - let our sorrow be offered to Him in satisfaction (HUMILITY & REPENTANCE) - let all our hopes rest in Him.

He Himself has told us how to ask... (JOEL 2:12) But those among you, my Brethren, who are responsive

to the Fear of God and who - despite your fall - are conscious of your plight, let the sight of your sins move you to Penance and Sorrow; acknowledge how grievously your conscience reproaches you - open your soul to the realization of your crime - neither despairing of God’s Mercy nor yet claiming instant pardon.

While God, in His Fatherly Affection is ever Forgiving and

Kind - in His Majesty as Judge, He deserves our fear. (ST CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE: “ THE LAPSED”)

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) –––– On All Saints SundayOn All Saints SundayOn All Saints SundayOn All Saints Sunday OUR ALL-SEEING LORD ADDRESSED (THE ABOVEMENTIONED WORDS)

TO ALL HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES THROUGHOUT THE AGES WITHOUT EXCEPTION – INCLUDING EACH OF US IN HIS HOLY

CHURCH, WHO HAVE NUMBERED OURSELVES AMONGST HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM.

As lightening flashes from one edge of the skies to the other without losing any of its brilliance, so has our Lord’s Truth reached us through the centuries - proclaimed with all Power and clarity in His Holy Gospels.

] OUR LORD’S DISCIPLES ARE not only those who call themselves ‘Christians’ in His Name - not only those who took Sacred Vows of Allegiance to Him – but THOSE WHO TRULY CONFESS HIM AS THEIR ABSOLUTE LORD, MASTER AND ETERNAL KING, BY EAGERLY FULFILLING ALL HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS AND

COMMANDMENTS. THEIR CONFESSION IS MADE WITH ALL THEIR MIND, HEART,

WORD, DEED, AND THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. Shame, timidity, and wavering are alien to their Confession of True Faith in God, WHICH REQUIRES DECISIVE SELF-DENIAL AND WHICH IS TRIUMPHANT – being made before all mankind, before Angels, Saints, and even the fallen angels - before the entire Heaven and earth: “...for

we are made a spectacle to the world, and to

Angels, and to men ...” (1 CORINTHIANS 4:9) THE APOSTLES WERE NEITHER ASHAMED NOR AFRAID TO

CONFESS THE GOD-MAN WHO WAS PUNISHED WITH A SHAMEFUL EXECUTION, HAVING BEEN SENTENCED BY

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL JUDGES. So they, too, were neither ashamed nor afraid to confess before any ecclesiastical and civil judges - before the powerful and wise of the earth, before tyrants and torturers - even though faced with horrific torture and execution - with violent death.

OUR HOLY MARTYRS MADE THEIR FAITHFUL CONFESSION TO OUR LORD BY OFFERING THEIR LIVES AND PROCLAIMING THEIR TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINE TRUTH - TO THE TRUE

KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP OF GOD - BEFORE THE ENTIRE WORLD.

MONASTIC SAINTS CONFESSED OUR LORD WITH UNSEEN MARTYRDOM AND CONSTANT SELF-DENIAL THROUGHOUT

THEIR LIVES - UNITING HEAVEN AND EARTH BY COMMUNICATING AND PARTAKING OF HEAVEN THROUGH THEIR COMMUNION WITH HEAVENLY HOSTS WHILE YET IN THEIR EARTHLY HABITATIONS.

The Pleasers of God who labour in the world confess the Lord by their disdain and complete disregard for worldly principles: “These are in the world, yet

they are not of the world.” (JOHN 17:11, 16).

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1st Sunday After Pentecost – 1st Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday ---- 19 June 201 1 24

] CONFESSION WITH RESOLUTE AND TOTAL DENIAL OF THE

WORLD AND OF SELF IS THE SIGN OF ALL THE SAINTS. WHOEVER CONFESSES OUR LORD DURING THIS LIFE AS HE

TAUGHT US - whoever proves through personal lifestyle the Confession of our Lord as God - WILL BE

CONFESSED AS HIS TRUE DISCIPLE BY CHRIST - NOT ONLY BEFORE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, BUT BEFORE GOD THE FATHER.

] CHRIST’S CONFESSION OF A PERSON BEFORE HIS FATHER LEADS THAT SOUL INTO A MOST INTIMATE UNITY WITH

ALMIGHTY GOD. (CF. JOHN 14:20) When we confess God in a way that is pleasing to and as

prescribed by Him, it is a Sign that GOD HAS CHOSEN US and THE FRUIT OF OUR GOOD WILL IS THE EVENTUAL INCLUSION AMONGST THE HOLY RANKS OF THE CHOSEN.

Weak, ambiguous and secret or private confession is unacceptable, being unworthy of God since WE MUST CONFESS OUR FAITH BEFORE GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS WITH OUR LIPS AND WORDS – FULFILLING AND LIVING OUR CONFESSION WITH DEEDS AND DAILY LIFE.

] WE MUST NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST’S DIVINITY AND

SOVEREIGNTY BUT ALSO HIS TRUE TEACHINGS AND

COMMANDMENTS BY CONSTANTLY LIVING THEM - contrary to the customs of society, which are sinful, betraying and trading Agape – Divine and Holy Love of God - for carnal love.

Social customs are contrary to Life in Christ, which is subjected to the hatred and mockery of the arrogant, fallen world. ä Consequently THOSE WHO ARE WEAK AND

UNCONFIRMED IN TRUE FAITH QUICKLY SURRENDER TO A BETRAYAL AND DENIAL OF OUR LORD’S TRUE

TEACHINGS AND LIFE, THEREBY EXCLUDING OR EXCOMMUNICATING THEMSELVES FROM THE HOLY RANKS OF GOD’S FAITHFUL FLOCK.

] OUR LORD’S TRUE DISCIPLES ARE CONFIRMED IN THEIR

FAITHFULNESS TO GOD AND HIS TEACHINGS.

Dependency upon society is not as strong as dependency on family so it is easier to refuse to submit to the demands of society than to refuse to submit to the demands of family, which are aided by the laws of nature.

] WHEN THESE DEMANDS ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE LAW OF

GOD, THEN THAT TRUE LAW OF GOD AIDS THEM. Servants of Christ often find themselves perplexed by

conflicting demands - not knowing which of them are pleasing to God. OUR LORD JESUS RESOLVES SUCH PERPLEXITY BY CLEARLY WARNING US THAT THOSE WHO PREFER THE WILL OF PARENTS OR ANY OTHER RELATIVE OR

FRIEND OVER THE WILL OF GOD OR THOSE WHO PREFER THEIR WAY OF THINKING AND PHILOSOPHY OVER HIS DIVINE TRUTH – OR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PLEASE OTHERS RATHER THAN PLEASING AND OBEYING GOD, IS UNWORTHY

OF CHRIST AND ALL DIVINE BLESSINGS!

Difficulties and hindrances to Confession of Christ that work against us from outside are insignificant when compared with the difficulties and hindrances that are within us.

SIN LURKS WITHIN OUR MIND, HEART, AND BODY – AND DIRECTLY OPPOSES OUR FULFILLING HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Our natural goodness - when damaged by sin - makes Confession difficult by endeavouring to mix our fallen nature into it so that our Confession of Christ is ruined.

SIN REPELS THE ALL-PERFECT SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST, WHICH

CANNOT TOLERATE SUCH IMPURITY, and it demands firm recognition of the corruption of fallen nature. (GALATIANS 5:4; 2:16, 21)

Although it is possible to withdraw from society, or from relatives and friends, we cannot withdraw from ourselves – we cannot hide from our own flawed nature nor escape from it.

Thus IN ORDER TO BE FREED FROM SLAVERY TO OUR FALLEN NATURE, CHRIST COMMANDS US TO DENY ITS PERSISTENT DEMANDS AND TEMPTATIONS BY NAILING OUR MIND’S ACTIVITY AND OUR HEART’S ATTRACTIONS TO THE DIVINE

COMMANDMENTS OF THE HOLY GOSPELS. For those who are Christ’s Disciples, have crucified their flesh with its desires – NAILING DOWN ALL OUR SINFUL HABITS that will destroy us. (GALATIANS 5:24):

THE HOLY PROPHET, ST DAVID PRAYED TO GOD TO BE GRANTED

THE STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO SO CRUCIFY HIS SINS: “...Nail down my flesh with the Fear of Thee...”

meaning HIS CARNAL MIND AND WILL - HIS SINFUL HABITS – NEEDED TO BE IMMOBILISED AND RENDERED

POWERLESS. (PSALM 118:120)

“Establish for Thy servant Thine Oracle [WORD] unto Fear of Thee so that I might be steadily guided

in my seen and unseen activity by Thy Word. (PSALM 118:38)

“He who mortifies his fallen nature with the Sword

of Christ’s Teaching — whosoever shall lose his

life for My Sake and the Gospel’s, shall save it,” said our Lord. (MARK. 8:35; MATTHEW. 10:39).

On the contrary, THOSE WHO ACT ACCORDING TO THE REASONING AND ATTRACTIONS OF THEIR FALLEN NATURE, mistakenly accepting them as good ARE UNWORTHY OF CHRIST AND ALL HIS ETERNAL BLESSINGS – as Christ Himself warns us repeatedly! (MATTHEW 10:38–39).

] After hearing the (abovementioned) terrible, impartial, and resolute sentence from the Mouth of God and to explain the fate of God’s Faithful Disciples in both time and Eternity, His Holy Church has advised us to CONTEMPLATE ST PETER’S QUESTION:

“... what shall we have ...?” AND CHRIST’S DIVINE PROMISE OF GREAT HONOUR TO HIS FAITHFUL

APOSTLES. (MATTHEW 19:27) As Jesus Christ our Saviour is the only Eternal King of

Israel – i.e. of all Christians and the New Spiritual Israel, consisting of all nations that will finally inhabit the Promised Land of Heaven - IT IS NATURAL THAT HIS HOLY APOSTLES, THROUGH WHOM ALL NATIONS SUBMITTED TO HIM, SHOULD BECOME THE LEADERS AND JUDGES OF

THIS NEW ISRAEL, THE ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY NATION OF GOD.

] EARTHLY LIFE IS A PREPARATORY PERIOD OF PERSECUTION

AND A CONSTANT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE since we humans are subjected to a temporary sojourn of suffering FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD’S COMMANDMENTS. It is a place and time of persecution because the prince of this fallen world - as the enemy of God’s Faithful Flock - and his terrible reign of sin, cruelly and ceaselessly persecutes and oppresses us.

WE ARE SUBJECTED TO THE INNUMERABLE TORMENTS OF INNER

AND OUTER SIN BECAUSE THE EVIL ONES OBSESSIVELY SEEK OUR DESTRUCTION, UNREMITTINGLY WORKING AGAINST US WITH THEIR FRENZIED HATRED AND

INCREDIBLE CRAFTINESS. Furthermore those who have willingly enslaved themselves

to the demons as their Spiritually Blind, wretched instruments of wickedness also work against us by USING OUR OWN HUMAN WEAKNESSES AND PASSIONS AGAINST US.

So - even in this temporary exile from Paradise - CHRIST’S DISCIPLES RECEIVE A HUNDREDFOLD MORE BLESSINGS THAN ANYTHING THEY HAVE FORSAKEN FOR THE LOVE OF

GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR WE RECEIVE THE DIVINE GRACE OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT, WHO GRANTS US HIS CONSOLATION AND JOY.

] GOD’S EXQUISITE AND PRICELESS SPIRITUAL WEALTH AND

GLORY IS BEYOND ALL THE MATERIAL RICHES AND

FALSE GLORY OF THE FALLEN WORLD and the Saints who have attained such Divine Treasure regard all sinful and fleshly pleasures as disgusting filth, filled with deathly bitterness. To them all worldly possessions, fame and glory are like bleached tombs that might appear attractive from afar but which are filled with the stink and decay of corruption from close up and within.

Consequently ANY SOUL CORRUPTED BY SPIRITUAL DEATH – I.E. UNREPENTED SIN THAT CAUSES ALIENATION FROM GOD

- IS ALREADY LIKE A DEAD AND ROTTING CORPSE. ] DIVINE GRACE ACCOMPANIES REPENTANT SOULS INTO

ETERNAL LIFE THAT WE ACQUIRE HERE THROUGH CONSTANT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES AND IS OUR WITNESS BEFORE GOD WHEN WE APPEARS BEFORE HIM AT OUR JUDGEMENT.

DIVINE GRACE BESTOWS upon God’s Faithful Flock His INDESCRIBABLE, ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY DELIGHTS OF

EVERLASTING LIFE. (MATTHEW. 19:29) May we all be granted the unfathomable, boundless Mercy of Christ, Who has Redeemed us through Himself by having Confessed Him without fail.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/35501.htm

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) N a t i v i t y O f S t J o h n T h e B a p t i s t & F o r e r u n n e r 2 4 J u n e 2 0 1 0 25




Nat iv i ty o f S t John the Bapt i s t & ForerunnerNat iv i ty o f S t John the Bapt i s t & ForerunnerNat iv i ty o f S t John the Bapt i s t & ForerunnerNat iv i ty o f S t John the Bapt i s t & Forerunner

Also the Feast of St Panyiotes, New Martyr of Caesaria – St John & St James , the Youths of Meniugi, Novgorod – St Anthony the Abbot of Dymsk Monastery, Novgorod – St Athanasios of Paros the Great Theologian & Teacher A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F S T J O H N T H E B A P T I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F S T J O H N T H E B A P T I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F S T J O H N T H E B A P T I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F S T J O H N T H E B A P T I S T –––– T O N E 4T O N E 4T O N E 4T O N E 4

Profita ke Prodrome tis parousias Hristou, axios effimise se ouk efporoument imis, i potho timontes

se; stirosis gar tekousis, ke patros afonia, lelinte ti

endoxo ke septi sou gennisi, ke sarkosis Iou tou

Theou, Kosmo kirittete.

O Prophet & Forerunner of the coming of Christ, to

praise Thee worthily we find no proper means, we

who cherish Thy Memory. For the barrenness of the

Bearer, and lack of speech of the Father, both were

loosened, in Thy Birth the Sacred and Glorified; and

the Incarnation of the Son of God was proclaimed to

the world. A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T M A R K T H E A P O S T L E & E V A N G E L I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T M A R K T H E A P O S T L E & E V A N G E L I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T M A R K T H E A P O S T L E & E V A N G E L I S T A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T M A R K T H E A P O S T L E & E V A N G E L I S T –––– T O N E 3T O N E 3T O N E 3T O N E 3

Apostole Agie, ke evangelista Marke, presveve to eleimoni Theo, ina ptesmaton afesin, parashi tes

psihes imon.

O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, Intercede with our

Merciful God to grant remission of sins to our souls.

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 SK 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 SK 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 SK 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

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon

fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon,

ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian,

ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke,

ton timonton Se.

O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading

voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the

Aid of all who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up

Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O

Theotokos who forever protects all those who

honour Thee!

M a t i n s G o s p e l : L u k e 1 : 2 4 M a t i n s G o s p e l : L u k e 1 : 2 4 M a t i n s G o s p e l : L u k e 1 : 2 4 M a t i n s G o s p e l : L u k e 1 : 2 4 –––– 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 –––– 6 8 ; 7 6 , 8 06 8 ; 7 6 , 8 06 8 ; 7 6 , 8 06 8 ; 7 6 , 8 0 T H E M I R ACU L OU S CON CE P T I O N & B I R T H O F T H E M I R ACU L OU S CON CE P T I O N & B I R T H O F T H E M I R ACU L OU S CON CE P T I O N & B I R T H O F T H E M I R ACU L OU S CON CE P T I O N & B I R T H O F S T J O HN T H E BAP T I S TS T J O HN T H E BAP T I S TS T J O HN T H E BAP T I S TS T J O HN T H E BAP T I S T

At that time, after those days, Zachariah’s wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying: “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great Mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

So it was, on the eighth day, that they went to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias but his mother said: “No! He shall be called John.” So they said to her: “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” Then they made signs to his father – what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote: “His name is John.” So they all marvelled.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What kind of child will this be?” And the Hand of the Lord was with him.

Now his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has Visited and Redeemed His People... And you, child, will be called ‘The Prophet of the Highest;’ for

you will go before the Face of the Lord to prepare His Ways...”

...So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel

“Elizabeth Conceived:” THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER TO CHRIST

OUR SAVIOUR is Liturgically celebrated on 24 September, CONFIRMING THE SANCTITY OF MARITAL RELATIONS FOR THOSE PAST THEIR CHILDBEARING YEARS.

“Hid herself:” SINCE THE TIME OF MALACHI, GOD HAD NOT SENT A GREAT PROPHET TO ISRAEL.

1 Mac c abee s 9 : 2 7 : “There was great perplexity in Israel, such as had not been seen since the days

when the Prophets ceased to be seen in their

midst.” THIS SILENCING OF THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD SERVED

TO HEIGHTEN THE ANTICIPATION OF THE MESSIAH AND TO MAKE IT ALL THE MORE EVIDENT WHEN HE CAME.

c AS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE LAST AND GREATEST

HOLY PROPHET OF GOD WHO PREPARED THE WAY FOR CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, HE WAS KEPT HIDDEN UNTIL CHRIST – THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD – WAS

CONCEIVED.

Only then ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS REVEALED THROUGH HIS FIRST PROPHETIC ACT OF LEAPING WITH JOY INSIDE

ST ELIZABETH’S WOMB.

When ST ZACHARIAS WAS STRUCK DUMB DUE TO HIS LACK OF FAITH, it also served as PROOF THAT ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS TRUE.

c THE SILENCING OF THE HIGH PRIEST ALSO REVEALED A DEEPER MYSTERY: THE MESSIAH WAS EXPECTED TO FULFIL THREE CRUCIAL ROLES HELD BY VARIOUS

PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT: THE HOLY OFFICES OF PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING

c ONLY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED ALL THREE

HOLY OFFICES PERFECTLY. CIRCUMCISION WAS A SIGN OF ISRAEL’S (BLOOD) COVENANT

WITH GOD and the means whereby a male became a member of God’s Community.

Gene s i s 1 7 : 1 0 - 1 4 ( & L e v i t i c u s 1 2 : 3 ) : “This is the Covenant you shall keep; between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their

generations: every male child among you shall

be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in

the flesh of your foreskin. It shall be a Sign of

the Covenant between Me and you. A child of

eight days old shall be circumcised by you –

every male child throughout your genealogy; he

who is born in your house, and he who is bought

with your money must be circumcised; and My

Covenant shall be in your flesh for an

Everlasting Covenant. And the uncircumcised

male child(‘s) ...soul shall be cut off from his

people for he has broken My Covenant.”


c THE NEW COVENANT WITH GOD IS A BLOODLESS COVENANT AND HOLY BAPTISM OF BOTH MALE AND

FEMALE IS OUR “NEW CIRCUMCISION.”

The name “John” means “Grace of God,” and by insisting on the name God had chosen for her son, St Elizabeth affirmed the Truth of St John’s Divine Calling and Mission. (REFER GENESIS 17:5; 15; 32:28)

When St Zacharias assented to God’s Will, his speech was restored and just as the prophecy was restored at the Incarnation of Christ, so St Zacharias, as High Priest, could speak again now that our Saviour Jesus Christ and His Forerunner, St John the Baptist, had come into the world.

c It is of particular significance that ST ZACHARIAS IMMEDIATELY DECLARED CHRIST – “THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL” – AND THEN REVEALED THE ESSENTIAL

ROLE OF HIS OWN SON AS “PROPHET OF THE HIGHEST.”

Since the age of approximately two years, as a consequence of the terrible “Slaughter of the Innocents,” St John the Baptist lived in the desert on his own.

His mother had died soon after their escape and his father had been murdered in the Temple of Jerusalem by the soldiers of King Herod.

Due to the Will of God and by His Divine Providence and Grace, St John reached adulthood safely and without the influence or contamination of human wickedness, which made him Spiritually Pure – able to resist temptation by having grown so “strong in spirit.”

T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o R o m a n s 1 3 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o R o m a n s 1 3 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o R o m a n s 1 3 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o R o m a n s 1 3 : 1 1 –––– 1 4 : 41 4 : 41 4 : 41 4 : 4 Be Sp i r i tua l l y Awakened , A l e r t & P repared - And Pu t On The Armour O f L i gh t .

Brethren, ... do this knowing the time: that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our Salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of Light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts. Receive those who are weak in the Faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats

only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Who are you to judge Another’s servant? To his own Master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for

God is able to make him stand.

c EXPECTATION OF FUTURE “SALVATION” THROUGH THE

GLORIOUS COMING OF CHRIST MOTIVATES US TO VIGILANCE AND PROPER CONDUCT.

“The night” is this life under the influence of evil powers – while “the day” is the Glorious Coming or rather, the Reappearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

c IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT CANNOT BE COMPROMISED BUT THERE

ARE ALSO GREY AREAS. GOD IS GRACIOUS AND ALLOWS DIVERSITY IN “DOUBTFUL

THINGS” [PERSONAL OPINIONS - NOTNOTNOTNOT GOD’S TRUTH] – BUT NOT MATTERS INVOLVING CHRISTIAN DOGMA.

WE MUST CONDUCT OR BEHAVE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN TEACHING, HAVING “PUT ON CHRIST” AT OUR HOLY BAPTISM.

c THE CROSSES WE WEAR ARE A REMINDER

TO US, AND OTHERS, OF THE R ISEN CHR IST WHOM WE ARE STRIV ING TO IMITATE EVERY

DAY OF OUR L IVES . We must STRUGGLE TO LIVE UP TO THE CHRISTIAN IDEALS HE PRESENTED TO US.

THOSE “WEAK IN THE FAITH” ARE CHRISTIANS OF IMMATURE

CONSCIENCE AND WISDOM who may attach primary importance to secondary matters, such as foods and religious festivals. [MANY PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE RITUALS RATHER THAN THE COMPLETE, WHOLE FAITH, MAKING THEIR EFFORTS EMPTY GESTURES INSTEAD OF MEANINGFUL WORSHIP OF GOD.]

c We must NEVER JUDGE OTHERS BECAUSE WE

HAVE NO AUTHORITY or right to do so, being wretched sinners ourselves.

ä WE ARE ALL GOD’S SERVANTS WHOM ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE.

ä WE WILL BE JUDGED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE like those we dare to criticise, so therefore TAKE GREAT CARE NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS.

ä Instead LOOK CLOSELY AT YOURSELF AND CORRECT YOUR OWN FLAWS.

ä THROUGH CONSTANT WATCHFULNESS OF OURSELVES AND CORRECTION OF OUR OWN ERRORS, WE WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY STRONGER AND LESS

CRITICAL OF OTHERS.

ä ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF HIS CREATURES AND HE WILL DECIDE WHO HAS ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.

The two examples of flexible areas in this reference concern food restrictions and the observance of Liturgical Calendars, thing that the Spiritually Weak might try to use to judge others or to divide the Church.

In both cases, we are commanded to BE FLEXIBLE WITH OTHERS JUST AS GOD HIMSELF IS WITH US!

] DURING ANY PERIOD OF FASTING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE SHOULD NOT ONLY FOCUS ON THE DETAILS OF OUR PHYSICAL SELF-DENIAL BUT PARTICULARLY ON THE SPIRITUAL FAST

CONCERNING OUR IMMORTAL SOUL – RESISTING ALL TEMPTATIONS OF SIN.

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 L u k e 1 : 1 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 L u k e 1 : 1 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 L u k e 1 : 1 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 L u k e 1 : 1 –––– 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 2 5 ; 5 7 –––– 6 8 ; 7 6 ; 8 06 8 ; 7 6 ; 8 06 8 ; 7 6 ; 8 06 8 ; 7 6 ; 8 0 The P r ophecy , C oncep t i on & Nat i v i t y o f S t J ohn t he Bap t i s t , F or er unne r & Las t G r ea t P rophe t o f G od

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who, from the beginning, were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilos, so that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both Righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as Priest before God in the Order of his Division, according to the custom of the Priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the Hour of Incense.

Then an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense. And when Zacharias saw

him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your

Prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you

will have Joy an Gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and

shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s

womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the

spirit and power of Elijah, ‘...to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children...’ and the disobedient to the

Wisdom of the Just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the Angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the Angel answered and said to him: “I am Gabriel who stands in the Presence of God, and was sent to

speak to you and bring you these Glad Tidings. But, behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the

day these things take place, because you did not believe my words that will be fulfilled in their own time.”


And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he lingered so long in the Temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

Now, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying: “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

...Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

So it was, on the eighth day, that they went to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered: “No! He shall be called John.” But they said to her: “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” So they made signs to his father – what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying: “His name is John.” So they all marvelled.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What kind of child will this be?”

And the Hand of the Lord was with him. Now his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has Visited and Redeemed His People...

...And you, child, will be called the Prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the Face of the Lord to

prepare His ways...”

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to

Israel.

AS EYEWITNESSES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES LISTENED TO HIS HOLY GOSPEL (GOOD NEWS) AND SAW HIS DIVINE MIRACLES FIRSTHAND.

As St Luke himself was not one of the original Disciples of our Lord Jesus, HIS HOLY GOSPEL IS ANCHORED ON THE TRUE TESTIMONY OF THESE ORIGINAL WITNESSES.

ST LUKE ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO THEOPHILOS, A PROMINENT GENTILE, WHO HAD RECEIVED CHRISTIAN

INSTRUCTION. However, nothing else is known of him.

St Luke’s Holy Gospel is written as AN ORDERLY ACCOUNT so as to provide greater certainty CONCERNING THE DETAILS OF OUR LORD’S HOLY MINISTRY.

ST LUKE WAS ON THE ONLY EVANGELIST WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF ST

JOHN THE BAPTIST. ] ST ZACHARIAS AND ST ELIZABETH WERE

ACKNOWLEDGED AS BEING A RIGHTEOUS COUPLE OF PRIESTLY LINEAGE, WHO LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES IN THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S WILL.

Nevertheless, ST ELIZABETH WAS BARREN, like so many other significant women mentioned in Holy Scripture. (SUCH AS SARAH - GENESIS 16:1; REBECCA – GENESIS 25:21; HANNAH 1 SAMUEL 1:2).

INFERTILITY WAS REGARDED AS A “PUBLIC REPROACH” and it was viewed very negatively because a woman’s most important role in family life was to produce as many living children as possible to continue the family name and to contribute to the welfare of the family.

BARREN WOMEN WERE USUALLY DENIGRATED AND

INSULTED, being regarded as parasites rather than valuable contributors to society.

EACH PRIEST WHO SERVED GOD AT THE TEMPLE OF

JERUSALEM WAS ASSIGNED TO A DIVISION. [1 CHRONICLES 23:3-6; 28:13]

There were 24 Divisions in all, each serving a week at a time by rotation. The responsibilities of the Priests in each Division were decided by drawing lots.

ST ZACHARIAS AND ST ELIZABETH HAD CONTINUOUSLY

PRAYED FOR A SON and at last their Prayers were answered when St Gabriel, the Archangel of God, was sent to announce the coming of their son who would always be remembered as St John the Baptist & Forerunner to Christ our Lord. (THE NAME “JOHN” MEANS “THE GRACE OF GOD.”)

] THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL’S DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER AND ROLE OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IS

AS AN ASCETIC PROPHET OF GOD who was to prepare the Hebrew Nation for the long-awaited Coming of the Messiah.

The Hebrews expected St Elijah, one of the greatest Prophets of Israel, to reappear from Heaven in order to anoint the Messiah.

ST ZACHARIA’S QUESTION: “How shall I know this?” INDICATED A SLIGHT LACK OF FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISE

AND HIS SUBSEQUENT MUTENESS SERVED BOTH AS A DISCIPLINE FOR HIS UNBELIEF AND AS A SIGN OF THE DIVINE TRUTH OF ST GABRIEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT.

CIRCUMCISION WAS A MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL whereby a male child was initiated into the Covenant Nation of God.

AFTER CHRIST - ACCORDING TO THE NEW BLOODLESS COVENANT - CIRCUMCISION WAS REPLACED BY THE TONSURING IN THE HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM.

ACCORDING TO OUR NEW, BLOODLESS COVENANT WITH GOD, TONSURING IS THE BLOODLESS “NEW CIRCUMCISION ” WHEREBY WE OFFER A TINY PORTION OF OURSELVES – HAIR – TO GOD AS OUR AFFIRMATION OF ABSOLUTE FAITH IN OUR TRIUNE, ALMIGHTY GOD.

] THE SONG OF ST ZACHARIAS (“THE BENEDICTOS”,) WAS A PROPHETIC HYMN OF PRAISE TO GOD WHO IS

BLESSED FOR HIS GRACIOUS AND REDEEMING ACTS AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN FULFILMENT OF THE MESSIANIC PROMISES.

E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s –––– O n T h e o l o g yO n T h e o l o g yO n T h e o l o g yO n T h e o l o g y ] THEOLOGY IS THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH IS APPREHEND-

ED BY PURE, HUMBLE AND SPIRITUALLY

REGENERATED SOULS, and not the beautiful words of the mind, which are crafted with literary art and expressed by the legal or worldly spirit.

Just as a beautiful statue cannot talk, MANUFACTURED WORDS ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK TO THE SOUL OF A

PERSON, except if the listener is very worldly, and pleased simply by charming conversation.

THEOLOGY THAT IS TAUGHT LIKE A SCIENCE USUALLY EX-AMINES THINGS HISTORICALLY AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THINGS ARE UNDERSTOOD EXTERNALLY.

Since Patristic Ascesis and Inner Experience are absent, this kind of Theology is full of uncertainty and questions.

For, WITH THE MIND WE CANNOT GRASP THE DIVINE ENERGIES IF WE DO NOT FIRST PRACTICE ASCESIS AND

LIVE THE DIVINE ENERGIES, THAT THE GRACE OF GOD MIGHT BE ENERGIZED WITHIN US.

Those who think that they can come to know the Mys-teries of God through external scientific theory, resemble the fool who wants to see Paradise with a telescope.

THOSE WHO STRUGGLE PATRISTICALLY BECOME EMPIRICAL (THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION) THEOLOGIANS THROUGH THE VISITATION OF THE GRACE OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT. ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AN EXTERNAL EDUCATION, IN

ADDITION TO THE INTERNAL ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE SOUL, MAY DESCRIBE THE DIVINE MYSTERIES AND

INTERPRET THEM CORRECTLY, AS DID MANY HOLY FATHERS.

If, however, one does not become spiritually related to the Holy Fathers and wants to take up translating or writing, he will wrong both the Holy Fathers and himself, as well as the people, with his spiritual cloudiness.

Neither is it right for someone to theologize using someone else’s theology, because he will resemble an impotent man who adopts others’ children, presents them as his own and pretends to be the father of a large family.

] OUR HOLY FATHERS TOOK THE DIVINE WORD OR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES FROM THEIR HEART; THEY WERE THE RESULT OF SPIRITUAL BATTLES AGAINST EVIL AND THE FIRE OF TEMPTATIONS, WHICH THEY CONFESSED HUMBLY OR, OUT OF LOVE, WROTE

DOWN IN ORDER TO HELP US.


THEY NEVER KEPT THIS LOVE FOR THEMSELVES, ACKNOWLEDGING, LIKEWISE, THAT HUMILITY AND ALL THE DIVINE GIFTS ARE OF GOD.

Those who present the Gifts of God as their own are the most insolent and most unjust of the world, for they wrong God and, even more, their own souls.

In this way they cause themselves to be deprived of Divine Grace so that they won’t be judged as being more ungrateful and so they won’t be destroyed due to their great vainglory.

THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL TOWARDS GOD FOR EVERYTHING

AND CONSTANTLY ATTEND TO THEMSELVES HUMBLY AND LOOK AFTER GOD’S CREATURES AND CREATION WITH KINDNESS, THEOLOGIZE AND THUS BECOME THE MOST FAITHFUL THEOLOGIANS, EVEN IF ILLITERATE.

They are like the illiterate shepherds who observe the weather in the countryside, day and night, and become good Meteorologists.

THOSE WHO LIVE SIMPLY - WITH KINDNESS AND GOOD THOUGHTS, AND HAVE ACQUIRED INNER SIMPLICITY AND

PURITY - REGARD THE SUPERNATURAL VERY SIMPLY, AS NATURAL, FOR EVERYTHING IS SIMPLE TO GOD.

God does not use greater Power for the Supernatural and less for the natural, but the same Power for everything.

] OUR LORD GOD IS VERY SIMPLE AND HIS SON REVEALED IT TO US ON EARTH WITH HIS HOLY SIMPLICITY.

ä WHEN PURITY COMES TO US - AND SIMPLICITY WITH ITS FERVENT FAITH AND DEVOTION ARRIVES AS WELL - THEN THE HOLY TRINITY TAKES UP HIS ABODE WITHIN US.

ä WITH THIS DIVINE ENLIGHTENMENT WE EASILY FIND THE KEYS TO DIVINE MEANINGS, SO AS TO INTERPRET THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN A VERY SIM-

PLE AND NATURAL WAY - without causing an intellectual headache.

DEPENDING ON THE PURITY OR GUILE THAT WE POSSESS, analogous interpretations are made, and WE ARE BENEFITED OR HARMED ACCORDINGLY.

WE MAY OFTEN CAUSE HARM DUE TO OUR INEXPERIENCE, EVEN IF ACTING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.

For example: a person does not know that white wine also exists apart from red, and pours red paint into it to seemingly make it better, and, in this way, poi-sons people.

So even IF WE ARE NOT INEXPERIENCED OR DECEITFUL, BUT WORK ONLY FROM HUMAN JUSTICE AND LOGIC, WE WILL

ONCE AGAIN WRONG THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, and, as a result, HARM OURSELVES AND OTHERS. ä WITH HUMAN LOGIC AND JUSTICE we also hear the

complaints of THE LABOURERS OF THE FIRST AND THIRD HOUR in the Gospel Parable, who BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE UNJUSTLY TREATED. (MATTHEW 20: 1 – 16)

] GOD, HOWEVER, THE BEHOLDER OF THE HEARTS OF MEN - with the subtlety of His Divine Justice - also REWARDED THE LABOURERS OF THE ELEVENTH HOUR FOR THE ANGUISH THEY SUFFERED BEFORE FINDING WORK.

God would have even given to the labourers of the Eleventh Hour a greater Reward, out of His Divine Righteousness, full of Mercy and Love, because THE

POOR ONES SUFFERED GREATLY IN SOUL AND WERE MORE FATIGUED THAN THOSE, WHO, FOR MORE HOURS, WERE EXHAUSTED PHYSICALLY.

But we - wretched people that we are - cannot fit God’s Divine Justice into our limited mind - just as HIS INFINITE KINDNESS CANNOT FIT INSIDE OUR LIMITED LOVE.

Therefore, GOD’S LOVE WAS LIMITED to giving everyone the same agreed Reward, SO AS NOT TO SCANDALIZE MORE THOSE WHO LOVED THEMSELVES MORE THAN THEIR FELLOWMEN.

If He told them: “I am not doing you wrong; we agreed on this amount…”. He meant that: “I Am a Boss with Noble Love and Divine Justice which you

cannot understand” and not: “I Am Boss and I take no one into consideration.”

For GOD IS OUR FATHER AND WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, and all people know of His Fatherly Love - HE WAS

CRUCIFIED IN ORDER TO REDEEM AND RESTORE US TO PARADISE.

If we could go out of ourselves – i.e. ERADICATE OUR SELF LOVE – SELFISH LOVE - WE WOULD also escape from the gravity of the earth and SEE EVERYTHING IN REALITY - WITH A DIVINE EYE, CLEARLY AND

PROFOUNDLY. ] That is why IT IS NECESSARY FOR US to leave the

world for the Desert - TO STRUGGLE WITH

HUMILITY, REPENTANCE AND PRAYER - TO ABANDON OUR PASSIONS – TO REMOVE OUR SPIRITUAL “RUST” AND BECOME A GOOD CONDUCTOR IN ORDER TO

RECEIVE DIVINE GRACE AND BECOME TRUE THEOLOGIANS.

If we don’t remove the rust from our spiritual cables, we will constantly be short-circuited - full of worldly theories, doubts and questions.

Then WE CEASE TO THEOLOGIZE, being found in a condition of worldliness and ONLY ABLE TO SPEAK HISTORICALLY, OR EXAMINE THINGS LEGALLY AND

MATHEMATICALLY. In other words: we will examine how many nails were

used to crucify Christ and how many soldiers were present when He was crucified without proceeding to THE ESSENCE OF THINGS: that CHRIST WAS CRUCI-FIED FOR OUR OWN SINS, IN ORDER TO REDEEM US, AND HE SUFFERED MORE THAN ALL THE HOLY MARTYRS PUT

TOGETHER! ] ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HELPED HIS HOLY

MARTYRS WITH HIS DIVINE POWER, HE DID NOT EMPLOY HIS DIVINE POWER FOR HIMSELF AT ALL AND SUFFERED TERRIBLE PAINS OUT OF LOVE, having both of His two hands and His two legs pierced with nails.

Whether they crucified His two Legs with one or two nails has no importance, inasmuch as both were nailed and HE SUFFERED THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN SO THAT HE MIGHT SWEETEN US AGAIN IN PARADISE, ETERNALLY CLOSE TO HIM, AS OUR LOVING FATHER.

EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP: TAKEN FROM “THE EPISTLES OF ELDER PAISIOS” – THE

ORTHODOX WORD - http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/06/

O r t h o d o x H o l y T r a d i t i o n O r t h o d o x H o l y T r a d i t i o n O r t h o d o x H o l y T r a d i t i o n O r t h o d o x H o l y T r a d i t i o n ---- t h e D i v i n e T r u t h o f G o d t h e D i v i n e T r u t h o f G o d t h e D i v i n e T r u t h o f G o d t h e D i v i n e T r u t h o f G o d –––– A n d t h e H e a r tA n d t h e H e a r tA n d t h e H e a r tA n d t h e H e a r t “He who possesses in Truth the Word of Jesus can hear even its silence.”

St Ignatius of Antioch (To the Ephesians, XV, 2)

The faculty of hearing the silence of our Lord Jesus, attributed by St Ignatios to those who in Truth possess His Word, echoes the reiterated appeal of

Christ to His hearers: “He who has ears to hear,

let him hear!”

The Words of (DIVINE) Revelation have then a margin of silence that cannot be picked up by the ears of those who are outside.

St Basil (THE GREAT) moves in the same direction when he says, in his passage on the Traditions: “There is

also a form of silence - namely the obscurity

used by the Scripture, in order to make it

difficult to gain Understanding of the

Teachings - for the profit of readers.” This silence of the Scriptures could not be detached

from them: it is transmitted by the Church with the Words of the Revelation, as the very condition of their reception.

If it could be opposed to the words (always on the horizontal plane, where they express the revealed

Truth), this silence, which accompanies the words, implies no kind of insufficiency or lack of fullness of the Revelation, nor the necessity to add to it anything whatever.

It signifies that the revealed Mystery, to be truly received as fullness, demands a conversion towards the vertical plane, in order that one may be able to “comprehend with all the Saints” not only what is the “breadth and length” of the Revelation, but also its “depth” and its “height.” (EPHESIANS 3:18)

VLADIMIR LOSSKY, TRADITION AND TRADITIONS

ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH A CONSTANT, CONCERTED STRUGGLE FOR ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH A CONSTANT, CONCERTED STRUGGLE FOR ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH A CONSTANT, CONCERTED STRUGGLE FOR ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH A CONSTANT, CONCERTED STRUGGLE FOR

HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCEHUMILITY AND OBEDIENCEHUMILITY AND OBEDIENCEHUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, WHICH ATTRACTS OTHER DIVINE VIRTUES - AND WITH THE AND WITH THE AND WITH THE AND WITH THE

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH –––– HOLY TRADITIONHOLY TRADITIONHOLY TRADITIONHOLY TRADITION - I.E. ALL CHRIST’S

VERBAL TEACHINGS, HYMNS AND SACRED, GOD-INSPIRED WRITINGS OF OUR HOLY

FATHERS AND MOTHERS - CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S PERFECT TRUTHGOD’S PERFECT TRUTHGOD’S PERFECT TRUTHGOD’S PERFECT TRUTH....

THUS IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO BE CONTINUOUSLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT BY THOSE BE CONTINUOUSLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT BY THOSE BE CONTINUOUSLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT BY THOSE BE CONTINUOUSLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT BY THOSE

WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BECOME FAITHFUL, WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BECOME FAITHFUL, WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BECOME FAITHFUL, WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BECOME FAITHFUL,

FULFILLED DISCIPLES OF CHRISTFULFILLED DISCIPLES OF CHRISTFULFILLED DISCIPLES OF CHRISTFULFILLED DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

BEFORE CONVERSION TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, WE MUST REGULARLY ATTEND ALL HOREGULARLY ATTEND ALL HOREGULARLY ATTEND ALL HOREGULARLY ATTEND ALL HOLY LY LY LY

SERVICES AND CLASSES IN ORDER TO REALISE THE DEPTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING SERVICES AND CLASSES IN ORDER TO REALISE THE DEPTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING SERVICES AND CLASSES IN ORDER TO REALISE THE DEPTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING SERVICES AND CLASSES IN ORDER TO REALISE THE DEPTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING

IN CHRISTIN CHRISTIN CHRISTIN CHRIST – AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO SO, ESPECIALLY AFTER BAPTISM INTO

ORTHODOXY. FOR TO MAKE LESS EFFORT IS AN INEXCUSABLE INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GODTO MAKE LESS EFFORT IS AN INEXCUSABLE INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GODTO MAKE LESS EFFORT IS AN INEXCUSABLE INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GODTO MAKE LESS EFFORT IS AN INEXCUSABLE INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GOD

AND WILL AND WILL AND WILL AND WILL CAUSECAUSECAUSECAUSE ETERNAL COETERNAL COETERNAL COETERNAL CONDEMNATION UNLESS QUICKLY AND SINCERELY NDEMNATION UNLESS QUICKLY AND SINCERELY NDEMNATION UNLESS QUICKLY AND SINCERELY NDEMNATION UNLESS QUICKLY AND SINCERELY

CORRECTED.CORRECTED.CORRECTED.CORRECTED.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2nd Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 J une 20 1 1 29 .


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, 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.

2222 ndndndnd SunSunSunSunday Af ter Pentecos t day Af ter Pentecos t day Af ter Pentecos t day Af ter Pentecos t Tone 1 26 JuneTone 1 26 JuneTone 1 26 JuneTone 1 26 June 2011201120112011

2222 ndndndnd Sunday o f S t Matthew: Sunday o f S t Matthew: Sunday o f S t Matthew: Sunday o f S t Matthew:

F ishers o f MenFishers o f MenFishers o f MenFishers o f Men

Al l Sain ts o f Mount Athos , Al l Sain ts o f Mount Athos , Al l Sain ts o f Mount Athos , Al l Sain ts o f Mount Athos , Russ ia , Georg ia , Pa les t ine & Russ ia , Georg ia , Pa les t ine & Russ ia , Georg ia , Pa les t ine & Russ ia , Georg ia , Pa les t ine &

North Amer icaNorth Amer icaNorth Amer icaNorth Amer ica

Also the Feast of St David, Monk-Martyr & Almond Tree-Dweller of Thessalonika – St John

of the Goths, Crimea - St Tikhon of Luchov, Kostroma, translation of Relics - St Dionysios of Suzdal – The Appearance of the Tikhvin Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos – the Meramts Holy Icon of our Lady – the Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Seven Lakes – the Wonderworking “Roman” Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Lydda - Roman”

R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n – T o n e 1

Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros,

Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e

Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti

Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti

Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope!

While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and soldiers

stood on guard over Thy Body undefiled, Thou rose

on the third day, O Saviour, Who grants Life to the

world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried

aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy

Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom!

Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves

mankind! 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



ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is

presvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai,

Theotoke, ton timonton se.

O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those 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 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 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 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 –––– 8888 The Ho ly Myr r hbear er s W i t ness The Emp ty T omb O f Our R i sen Lo r d & Sav i our , Jesus Chr i s t

P r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o nP r o k e i m e n o n

Have mercy on us, O Lord, as we have set our Hope on Thee!

Rejoice in the Lord, all Righteous men!

T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e R o m a n s 2 : 1 0 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e R o m a n s 2 : 1 0 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e R o m a n s 2 : 1 0 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e R o m a n s 2 : 1 0 ---- 1 61 61 61 6 Our C onsc ience W i l l J udge Us F i r s t B e f or e T he F i na l J udgemen t O f C hr i s t O ur Lor d And Sav i ou r

Brethren: Glory, Honour and Peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Hebrew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without Law will also perish without Law, and as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law (for not the hearers of the Law are Just in the Sight of God, but the doers of the Law will be Justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do the things in the Law, these, although not having the Law, as a law to themselves, who show the Work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the Day when God will Judge the secrets of mankind by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.

] Even as believing Christians, WE MUST NOT TAKE THE OUTCOME OF GOD’S FINAL JUDGEMENT FOR GRANTED!

In every Divine Liturgy Orthodox Christians pray: “For a

good Defence before the dread Judgement

Seat of Christ, let us pray to the Lord... Lord

have mercy!” St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (2:2-16) describes God’s

Judgement, showing how WE CAN PREPARE

OURSELVES for It. ] GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT will be:

] ACCORDING TO GOD’S TRUTH: NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD Who sees everything

and Who knows the Truth about every human being.

Our greatest deception is the belief that anything can be “secret” or “hidden” and

thinking that there is no Divine Judgement!

] ACCORDING TO IMPENITENT HEARTS: THOSE WHO ARE UNREPENTANT - STUBBORN AND IN A

STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH - DESPISE GOD’S INFINITE GOODNESS AND WILL RECEIVE THE ETERNAL CONDEMNATION OF GOD AT THE FINAL

JUDGEMENT. REPENTANT SOULS WHO ARE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL

LIFE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S INFINITE PATIENCE AND BLESSINGS, ABIDING IN CHRIST AND

PRACTISING DAILY REPENTANCE, WHICH PRODUCES

SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE before our Lord at the Final Judgement – WILL BE REWARDED WITH ETERNAL LIFE.

] ACCORDING TO OUR DEEDS: “Doing good” is not an attempt at gaining special

merits with our Lord. Rather it means ENJOYING THE UNITY OF INTENTIONS WITH ACTIONS – i.e. FAITH

30. ((SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2nd Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 J une 201 1

WITH WORKS – TRUE FAITH MOTIVATES AND COMPELS US TO DO GOOD DEEDS AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.

Even unbelievers are rewarded for their good deeds, apart from Spiritual Understanding.

“DOING GOOD” MEANS WHATEVER WE DO IS

EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE GLORY, HONOUR AND

WORSHIP OF GOD and never for our own glorification or to receive the FLATTERY AND COMPLIMENTS OF OTHERS, which can CAUSE OUR SPIRITUAL DEATH THROUGH VANITY, GREED, ETC.

By humbly seeking only the Glory of God through our good deeds, we receive the Eternal Reward of Immortality – Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Everlasting Love/Agape.

] GOOD DEEDS MAY BENEFIT OTHERS BUT THEY WILL NOT BENEFIT US AT ALL UNLESS WE SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Therefore, if we only commit ourselves to doing any good deeds so that others will praise us and admire us, that TEMPORARY GLORY BECOMES AN ACCUSATION AGAINST US, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH WILL WEIGH HEAVILY AGAINST US IN ETERNITY!

GOOD INTENTIONS ALONE, OR FAITH WITHOUT WORKS,

WILL NOT SAVE OUR SOULS FROM CONDEMNATION!

Simply to hear but not to do is false faith – faith without any foundation or reality.

] THOSE WHO HAVE TRUE FAITH are the doers of God’s Truth and they CEASELESSLY PRACTISE VIRTUE FROM PURE AND REPENTANT HEARTS.

“By nature” – i.e. BY OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT IS CREATED AND ENLIVENED BY GOD, WE ARE INSPIRED BY AND CO-

OPERATE WITH GOD’S DIVINE GRACE. Therefore GOOD DEEDS ARE NATURAL TO US while wicked deeds are contrary to our human, intellectual nature!

] Because we all fail sooner or later, WE ALWAYS NEED GOD’S DIVINE MERCY.

] THE PRESENCE OF DIVINE LAW – THE LAW OF GOD – WITHIN OUR CONSCIENCE CONDEMNS ANYTHING WE

DO THAT IS CONTRARY OR AGAINST OUR TRUE, PERFECTLY CREATED HUMAN NATURE.

Therefore, even Gentiles – those who are not under the Old or New Covenant with God – have a natural, internal Divine Law within them – their conscience – according to which they, too, will be judged.

Melchizedek, Job and the Ninevites are Old Testament examples of non-Hebrews who were judged to be Righteous.

Hebrews had TWO LAWS OF GOD – THE LAW OF MOSES (THE OLD COVENANT LAW) AND THE NATURAL DIVINE LAW OF THEIR CONSCIENCE – AND THEY – JUST LIKE US OF THE NEW COVENANT LAW – WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BOTH BEFORE GOD.

] THOSE WHO ARE CONDEMNED HAVE FREELY CHOSEN TO REJECT GOD.

ä There is no automatic, fated Eternal Condemnation: GOD’S JUST JUDGEMENT IS BASED ON OUR PERSONAL EXERCISE OF OUR FREE WILL.

ä ALTHOUGH SIN IMPAIRS OUR POWERS, IT DOES NOT DESTROY GOD’S DIVINE IMAGE IN US OR OUR

FREE WILL TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR REJECT GOD’S WILL.

] Due to our sinful state, WE HAVE LOST OUR LIKENESS TO GOD, WHICH IS WHY OUR ENTIRE LIFE ON EARTH SHOULD BE SPENT TRYING TO REGAIN THAT GOD-LIKE STATE.

ON THE EIGHTH DAY – THE DAY OF FINAL JUDGEMENT – WE

WILL NOT BE JUDGED DIRECTLY BY GOD THE FATHER WHOM WE CANNOT SEE, BUT BY HIS INCARNATE SON

WHOM WE CAN AND DO SEE: our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who will Judge us ON THE BASIS OF THE LIGHT THAT HE HIMSELF GRANTED EACH OF US AND OUR

RESPONSE to His Divine Light. The “secrets of men” are all the “thoughts and intents

of the heart.”

T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t M a t t h e w 4 : 1 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t M a t t h e w 4 : 1 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t M a t t h e w 4 : 1 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t M a t t h e w 4 : 1 8 –––– 2 32 32 32 3 O u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t C a l l s H i s F i r s t A p o s t l e s

At that time, our Lord Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casing a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make

you Fishers of Men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in the boat with

Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called to them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all

kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

THESE FIRST DISCIPLES OR APOSTLES OF CHRIST OUR

SAVIOUR had already heard the preaching of St John the Baptist and WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT OUR LORD “IMMEDIATELY.”

ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ILLITERATE AND UNEDUCATED IN THE HEBREW FAITH, THESE HUMBLE FISHERMEN WHOM OUR

LORD JESUS CALLED TO FOLLOW HIM WOULD SOON BE REVEALED AS THE WISEST OF ALL, THROUGH THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THAT GLORIOUS DAY OF PENTECOST.

The crowds of people did not swarm to our Lord Jesus when He commanded Repentance but only when He began to heal the people and perform His Divine

Miracles, which shows that THEY MISUNDERSTOOD THE TRUE NATURE OF HIS DIVINE, ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

THE ARROGANCE AND SELFISHNESS THAT MOTIVATES MOST PEOPLE IS CLEARLY EVIDENT: ONCE THEY REALISED THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM CHRIST – “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” – THEIR IMMEDIATE DESIRE FOR INSTANT BUT TEMPORARY GRATIFICATION -THEN THEY BEGAN TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HE TRIED TO TEACH THEM AND BESTOW UPON THEM – PRICELESS, EVERLASTING SPIRITUAL TREASURES OF ETERNAL LIFE!

It also clearly demonstrated OUR LORD’S CONCESSION TO GRANT CREDIBILITY TO WHAT HE TAUGHT AND

REVEALED to the fickle multitudes of that time.

S e c o n d S u n d a y A f t e r P e n t e c o s t S e c o n d S u n d a y A f t e r P e n t e c o s t S e c o n d S u n d a y A f t e r P e n t e c o s t S e c o n d S u n d a y A f t e r P e n t e c o s t –––– B e c o m i n g F i s h e r s o f M e nB e c o m i n g F i s h e r s o f M e nB e c o m i n g F i s h e r s o f M e nB e c o m i n g F i s h e r s o f M e n My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: in today’s Holy

Gospel we hear our Lord say: “Follow Me and I

will make you Fishers of men.” Our Lord said this to Call His Apostles. This is not just

the Apostles’ Call - IT IS OUR OWN CALL TO SERVE GOD AS WELL!

What this Statement says is that IF WE FOLLOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WE WILL BRING OTHERS TO HIM.

WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS TEMPORARY PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY AND IT IS OUR SACRED DUTY AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TO GUIDE, ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEOSIS – PERFECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND SPIRITUAL BLISS.

OUR SALVATION IS AN ONGOING, CONTINUOUS PROCESS THAT IS COMPLETED WHEN WE DRAW OUR LAST BREATH – HAVING BEGUN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AS ADULT & CHILDREN CATECHUMENS BEFORE OUR BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION (CONVERTS) AND AT BAPTISM AS INFANTS.

] FOLLOWING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST MEANS THAT WE MUST STRUGGLE EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY TO

LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE SAME MANNER THAT HE LIVED HIS. THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE TO BE

OBEDIENT TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND TAKE UP THE WAY OF THE CROSS.

As our Lord said to His Disciples: “If anyone will

come after Me, let him deny himself, and take

up his Cross, and follow Me.” (MATTHEW 16:24). It also means that WE MUST BE ONE AS THE SON IS WITH

HIS FATHER. Our Lord prayed for this at His Passion saying: “Holy

Father, keep - through Thine own Name -

those whom Thou hast given Me, that they

may be One, as we are... I in Thee, and Thou

in Me, that they may be made Perfect in One;

and that the world may know that Thou hast

sent Me, and hast Loved them, as Thou hast

Loved Me.” (JOHN 17:11 & 17:23) IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ONE WITH GOD AS THE FATHER, THE

SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE, WE MUST BE FIRST BE OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF GOD.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2nd Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 J une 20 1 1 3 1 .

Obedience to the Will of God means that WE MUST PLACE GOD IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES.

In other words: WE MUST SURRENDER OUR WILL TO GOD’S WILL. That is exactly what the Apostles did when they forsook everything and followed our Lord Jesus.

As our Lord said: “He who loves father or mother

more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he

who loves son or daughter more than Me is

not worthy of Me...” (MATTHEW 10:37) This means that WE MUST LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS. This is the Great Commandment: “And you shall

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

and with all your soul, and with all your

mind, and with all your strength.” (MARK 12:30) ] TO LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS IS a difficult Path to

follow but, it is also A PATH OF JOY - BECAUSE THE PATH OF THE CROSS LEADS TO THE

RESURRECTION. Many people look at this Path without seeing the Joy of

the Resurrection at its end. Saint Paul reminds us of this in his First Epistle to the

Corinthians when he says: “For the Preaching of

the Cross is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us who are Saved, it is the Power of

God.” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:18) ] THE HOLY CROSS LEADS US TO THE RESTORATION OF

OUR LIVES - to that FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED BY GOD.

When this happens WE BECOME CHANGED. WE ARE AT PEACE WITH CREATION. This Peace is often referred to as Serenity.

] ACCEPTING THE PATH OF THE CROSS IS SOMETHING WE

DO VOLUNTARILY. While our Lord Calls us to the Path of Salvation through the Cross, HE LEAVES US TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE PATH OF SALVATION AND THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION.

If we choose the Path of Destruction and our hearts are completely turned to evil, then God leaves us and Satan becomes our merciless master. This was the case with Judas when he turned against our Lord Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver.

Our Lord did not impinge on Judas’ freewill but rather said to him “That which thou doest, do

quickly!” (JOHN 13:27) ] OUR LORD ALLOWS US TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOOD AND

EVIL FREELY.

HIS CALL TO US TO MAKE THIS CHOICE IS “Follow me!” or

“That which thou doest, do quickly.” In making this significant, life-changing choice WE ALL

TOO OFTEN BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT OUR OWN IMMEDIATE BUT TEMPORARY WELFARE. WE ARE SCARED TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO THE INFINITE AND ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD.

However, our Lord Jesus Christ assures us that THESE CONCERNS ARE UNFOUNDED when He says: “Behold

the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither

do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your

Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much

better than they?” (MATTHEW 6:26) IF WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW CHRIST, then - as the Holy

Gospel says - WE WILL ALSO BECOME FISHERS OF MEN. This means that as fishermen cast their nets into the

dark depths of the sea for a catch of fish, so will we - with Christ and His Holy Gospel - catch others from the spiritual dark depths of this fallen world.

As Fishers of men we will fulfill the Lord’s Command:

“Go therefore, and teach all Nations, Baptising

them in the Name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit...” (MATTHEW 28:19) All too often we abdicate this responsibility to someone

else. If we do this then WE MUST ASK OURSELVES ARE WE TRULY FOLLOWING CHRIST.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Follow Me AND I will

make you Fishers of men.” One of the key ways that we are Fishers of men is

through our personal lifestyle – similar to fishermen who use lures or bait to attract fish to their hooks or nets.

AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE ALSO HAVE the vital responsibility of sharing our True Faith and this sharing can be as simple as when St Philip said to

St Nathaniel: “Come and see.” (JOHN 1:46) COME AND SEE WHAT I HAVE FOUND! COME AND SEE WHAT I HAVE! COME AND SEE WHAT GIVES ME JOY!

In sharing the Faith, St Paul instructed St Timothy in the

following manner: “Fight the Good Fight of

Faith, lay hold on Eternal Life, where unto

you are also Called, and have professed a

good Confession before many witnesses.” (1 TIMOTHY 6:12)

So my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: my Prayer for you is that you may FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH BY FOLLOWING THE WAY OF THE CROSS OF

CHRIST SO THAT YOU MAY DRAW OTHERS INTO CHRIST’S

DIVINE NET THROUGH YOUR CONFESSION OF HIM before all others according to the manner whereby you live your daily lives.

Amen ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON DELIVERED BY FATHER MILAN MEDAKOVIC AT

HOLY TRINITY SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ON THE 2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 2009 - “VONMEN” -

http://frmilan.wordpress.com/?s=2ND+SUNDAY+AFTER+PENTECOST

M e t r o p o l i t a n K a l l i s t o s W a r e M e t r o p o l i t a n K a l l i s t o s W a r e M e t r o p o l i t a n K a l l i s t o s W a r e M e t r o p o l i t a n K a l l i s t o s W a r e –––– O n t h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e O n t h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e O n t h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e O n t h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e i n O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n i t yi n O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n i t yi n O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n i t yi n O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a n i t y ---- P a r t 1 ( a ) P a r t 1 ( a ) P a r t 1 ( a ) P a r t 1 ( a )

More important than all possible books if we are climbing a mountain for the first time, WE NEED TO FOLLOW A KNOWN ROUTE; AND WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE WITH US, AS COMPANION AND GUIDE - SOMEONE WHO

HAS BEEN UP BEFORE AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY. To serve as SUCH A COMPANION AND GUIDE IS PRECISELY

THE ROLE OF THE “ABBA” OR SPIRITUAL FATHER — of the one whom the Greeks call “Geron” or “Geronta” and the Russians Starets - a title, which in both languages, means “Old Man” or “Elder.”

] THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE TO A SPIRITUAL

FATHER IS UNDERLINED from the very first beginnings of Eastern Christian Monasticism.

It is clearly evident, for example, in the sayings attributed to St Antony of Egypt:

“I know of Monks who fell after much Toil and lapsed into madness, because they trusted in their

own works and did not give due heed to the

commandment of him who says, “Ask your

father, and he will tell you.” (DEUTERONOMY 32:7). “If possible, for every step that a Monk takes, for every

drop of water that he drinks in his cell, he should

entrust the decision to the Old Men, to avoid

making some mistake in what he does.”

THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE is a master-theme throughout the “Apophthegmata” or “Sayings of the Desert Fathers”:

The Elders used to say: “If you see a young Monk climbing up to Heaven by his own will, grasp him

by the feet and throw him down, for this is to his

profit… If a person places his faith in someone

else and surrenders himself to the other in full

submission, he has no need to attend to the

Commandment of God, but he needs only to

entrust his entire will into the hands of his

Father.

“Then he will be blameless before God, for God

requires nothing from beginners so much as

self-stripping through Obedience.” This figure of the Starets - so prominent in the first

generations of Egyptian Monasticism - has retained its full significance up to the present day in Orthodox Christendom.

“There is one thing more important than all

possible books and ideas,” states a Russian layman of the nineteenth century, the Slavophil Ivan Kireyevsky, “and that is the example of an

Orthodox Starets, before whom you can lay

each of your thoughts and from whom you

32. ((SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2nd Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 J une 201 1

can hear - not a more or less valuable private

opinion - but the judgement of the Holy

Fathers.

“God be praised, such Staretsi have not yet

disappeared from our Russia.” And a Priest of the Russian emigration in the twentieth

century, Father Alexander Elchaninov, writes: “Their

field of action is unlimited… they are

undoubtedly Saints, recognized as such by

the people. I feel that in our tragic days it is

precisely through this means that Faith will

survive and be strengthened in our country.”

T h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e A s A “ C h a r i s m a t i c “ F i g u r eT h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e A s A “ C h a r i s m a t i c “ F i g u r eT h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e A s A “ C h a r i s m a t i c “ F i g u r eT h e S p i r i t u a l G u i d e A s A “ C h a r i s m a t i c “ F i g u r e What entitles someone to act as Spiritual Guide? How

and by whom is he or she appointed? To this there is a simple answer. ] THE ELDER OR STARETS IS ESSENTIALLY A

“CHARISMATIC” AND PROPHETIC FIGURE, ACCREDITED FOR HER OR HIS TASK BY THE DIRECT ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SPIRITUAL GUIDES ARE ORDAINED, NOT BY HUMAN HANDS, BUT BY THE HAND OF GOD.

THEY ARE AN EXPRESSION OF THE CHURCH AS “EVENT” OR

“HAPPENING,” rather than of the Church as institution.

There is, however, no sharp line of demarcation between THE PROPHETIC AND THE INSTITUTIONAL

ELEMENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH; EACH GROWS OUT OF THE OTHER AND IS INTERTWINED WITH IT.

THE MINISTRY OF THE STARETS - ITSELF CHARISMATIC - IS related to a clearly defined function within the institutional framework of the Church - THE OFFICE OF PRIEST-CONFESSOR.

] IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION, THE RIGHT TO HEAR CONFESSIONS IS NOT GRANTED AUTOMATICALLY AT ORDINATION.

BEFORE ACTING AS CONFESSOR, A PRIEST REQUIRES

AUTHORIZATION FROM HIS BISHOP; and in the Greek Church, at any rate, only a minority of the Clergy are so authorized.

Yet, ALTHOUGH THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF CONFESSION IS CERTAINLY AN APPROPRIATE OCCASION FOR

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, THE MINISTRY OF THE STARETS IS BY NO MEANS IDENTICAL WITH THAT OF A

CONFESSOR. ] THE STARETS GIVES ADVICE - not only at Confession -

but on many other occasions. Moreover, WHILE THE CONFESSOR MUST ALWAYS BE A

PRIEST, THE STARETS MAY BE A SIMPLE MONK, NOT IN

HOLY ORDERS, OR EVEN A LAYMAN. THE MINISTRY OF ELDERSHIP MAY ALSO BE EXERCISED BY A

NUN OR A LAYWOMAN, FOR IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION THERE ARE SPIRITUAL MOTHERS AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL

FATHERS. THE STARETS, whether Ordained or lay, FREQUENTLY

SPEAKS WITH AN INSIGHT AND AUTHORITY THAT ONLY A

VERY FEW CONFESSOR-PRIESTS POSSESS. If, however, Spiritual Fathers or Mothers are not

appointed by an Official Act of the Hierarchy, how then do they come to embark on their Ministry?

SOMETIMES AN EXISTING STARETS WILL DESIGNATE HIS

OWN SUCCESSOR. In this way, at certain Monastic centres - such as Optina

Monastery in nineteenth-century Russia - there was established an “Apostolic Succession” of Spiritual Masters.

In other cases, the Starets emerges spontaneously, without any act of external authorization.

As Father Alexander Elchaninov says, they are “recognized as such by the people.”

] WITHIN THE CONTINUING LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, IT BECOMES PLAIN TO THE FAITHFUL,

BELIEVING PEOPLE OF GOD – who are THE TRUE

GUARDIANS OF HOLY TRADITION — THAT THIS OR THAT PERSON HAS THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL

FATHERHOOD OR MOTHERHOOD. Then, in a free and informal fashion, others begin to go

to him or her for advice and Spiritual Direction. It will be noted that the initiative comes, as a rule, not

from the Master but from the Disciples. IT WOULD BE PERILOUSLY PRESUMPTUOUS FOR SOMEONE TO

SAY IN HIS OWN HEART OR TO OTHERS, “Come and submit yourselves to me; I am a Starets - I

have the Grace of the Spirit.” What happens, rather, is that — WITHOUT ANY CLAIMS

BEING MADE BY THE PERSON HIMSELF — OTHERS APPROACH HIM, SEEKING HIS ADVICE OR ASKING TO LIVE PERMANENTLY UNDER HIS CARE.

At first, he will probably send them away, telling them to consult someone else.

] EVENTUALLY THE MOMENT COMES WHEN HE NO LONGER

SENDS THEM AWAY BUT ACCEPTS THEIR COMING TO HIM AS A DISCLOSURE OF THE WILL OF GOD.

THUS IT IS HIS SPIRITUAL CHILDREN WHO REVEAL THE

ELDER TO HIMSELF. The figure of the Geronta or Starets illustrates the TWO

INTERPENETRATING LEVELS ON WHICH THE EARTHLY CHURCH EXISTS AND FUNCTIONS.

On the one hand, there is THE EXTERNAL, OFFICIAL AND HIERARCHICAL LEVEL, WITH ITS GEOGRAPHICAL ORGANIZATION INTO DIOCESES AND PARISHES, ITS

GREAT CENTRES — Rome, Constantinople, Moscow, and Canterbury — AND ITS “APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION” OF BISHOPS.

On the other hand, there is THE INNER, SPIRITUAL AND “CHARISMATIC” LEVEL, to which the Staretsi primarily belong.

Here the chief centres are, for the most part, not the great Primatial and Metropolitan Sees but certain REMOTE HERMITAGES, IN WHICH THERE SHINE FORTH A FEW PERSONALITIES RICHLY ENDOWED WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

] MOST STARETSI HAVE POSSESSED NO EXALTED STATUS

IN THE FORMAL HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH; YET THE INFLUENCE OF A SIMPLE PRIEST-MONK SUCH AS

ST SERAPHIM OF SAROV EXCEEDED THAT OF ANY PATRIARCH OR BISHOP IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY ORTHODOXY.

In this fashion, ALONGSIDE THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF THE EPISCOPATE, THERE EXISTS ALSO THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF THE SAINTS AND SPIRIT-BEARERS.

] BOTH TYPES OF SUCCESSION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE

TRUE FUNCTIONING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, and it is through their interaction that the Life of the Church on earth is accomplished.

T O B E C O N T I N U E D ..... ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY” – BY

METROPOLITAN KALLISTOS WARE – JUNE 2009 – LECTURE PUBLISHED ON PRAVMIR.COM :

http://www.pravmir.com/the�spiritual�guide�in�orthodox�christianity�part�i/

E l d e r L e o n i d O f O p t i n aE l d e r L e o n i d O f O p t i n aE l d e r L e o n i d O f O p t i n aE l d e r L e o n i d O f O p t i n a If you would be simple-hearted like the Apostles, if

you would not conceal your human shortcomings, if you would not pretend to be especially pious, you would walk free from hypocrisy - that is the Path of Truth and Righteousness.

While it is easy, not everyone can find it or understand it.

This Path is the shortest Way to Salvation and attracts the Grace of God.

Unpretentiousness, guilelessness, frankness of soul - this is what is pleasing to the Lord, Who is lowly of heart.

As our Lord taught us: “Unless you become like

children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom

of God.” (Matthew 18:13)

E l d e r S i l o u a n O f M o u n t A t h o sE l d e r S i l o u a n O f M o u n t A t h o sE l d e r S i l o u a n O f M o u n t A t h o sE l d e r S i l o u a n O f M o u n t A t h o s When asked: “How should one differentiate between a

genuine Union with God and imagined

experiences of philosophic or pantheistic nature?"

Elder Leonid replied: “By loving enemies..." and

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there rules

unconditionally humble Love for the enemy

and Prayer for the world," which is really hard to learn - as everyone who has got close to the subject knows.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Feas t O f The H o l y Apos t le s O f C hr i s t – S t Pe t e r & S t Pau l - 29 J une 201 1

33.



2 9 J u n e 2 0 1 12 9 J u n e 2 0 1 12 9 J u n e 2 0 1 12 9 J u n e 2 0 1 1

Apos t l es ’ Feas t :Apos t l es ’ Feas t :Apos t l es ’ Feas t :Apos t l es ’ Feas t :

S t Pe ter & S t PaulS t Pe ter & S t PaulS t Pe ter & S t PaulS t Pe ter & S t Paul Holy AposHoly AposHoly AposHoly Apos t l es o f our Lord & Saviour , J e sus Chr is tt l e s o f our Lord & Saviour , J e sus Chr is tt l e s o f our Lord & Saviour , J e sus Chr is tt l e s o f our Lord & Saviour , J e sus Chr is t

Also the Feast of St Mary, the Righteous Mother of St John-Mark the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, sister of St

Barnabas the Holy Apostle of Christ – the Kasperov Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t P e t e r & S t P a u l – T o n e 3 :

I ton Apostolon Protothroni, ke tis Ikoumenis Didaskali, to Despoti ton olon Presvefsate, Irinin ti ikoumeni

dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos..

Among the Apostles the loftiest, and Teachers of the Universe, intercede, O Peter and Paul, with the Master of us all, peace to all the world to grant, and to our souls, the Great Mercy

K o n t a k i o n o f o u r E v e r B l e s s e d L a d y T h e o t o k o s



ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke

spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton

timonton se.

O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those 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 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 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 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 J o h n 2 1 : 1 4 J o h n 2 1 : 1 4 J o h n 2 1 : 1 4 J o h n 2 1 : 1 4 ---- 2 52 52 52 5 O u r L o r d J e s u s R e s t o r e s A n d C o m m i s s i o n s S t P e t e r

The third time Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was raised from the dead, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me more than these?” He said

to Him: “Yes, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.”

He said to him again a second time: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me?” He said to Him:, “Yes Lord; Thou

know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time: “Simon, son of

Jonah, do you love Me?”

Peter was grieved because He asked him a third time: “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, Thou know all things; Thou know that I Love Thee.” Jesus said to him:, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you: when

you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you

will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”

This He spoke, signifying by what death he would Glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him: “Follow Me.”

Then Peter, turning around, saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, (who had also leaned on His Breast at the Supper and asked: “Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?” ) Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You

follow Me!” Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he

would not die, but: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the Disciple who testifies to these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his Testimony is True.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Amen

P r o k e i m e n o n : P r o k e i m e n o n : P r o k e i m e n o n : P r o k e i m e n o n :

Their Proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world!

The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the firmament shows the Creation of His Hands! T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 1 : 2 1 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 1 : 2 1 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 1 : 2 1 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 1 : 2 1 –––– 1 2 : 91 2 : 91 2 : 91 2 : 9

S t Pau l De f ends H i s Apos t l e sh i p , Recoun t i ng H i s Su f f e r i ngs , V i s i ons And Weaknesses

Brethren, to our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold – I speak foolishly – I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as a fool – I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

From the Hebrews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in Fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things that come upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things that concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

In Damascus the Governor, under Aretas the King, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast.

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I will come to Visions and Revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the Third Heaven. And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For although I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the Truth.

But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the Revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times

that it might depart from me. And He said to me: "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My Strength is made

perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the Power of Christ may rest upon me.

St Paul listed his Hebrew and Christian credentials according to his opponents’ level of argument.

Genealogy was important to the Hebrews and ST PAUL HAD HIS OWN IMPRESSIVE GENEALOGY AND HIS CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE WAS INCOMPARABLE

WITH ANYONE ELSE – his suffering, his compassionate, involved concern for others and even his rather extraordinary Missionary Journeys throughout the known world of the time and everything he endured since his Miraculous Conversion.

St Paul’s opponents had probably boasted of their Visions and Revelations so ST PAUL MENTIONED ONE OF HIS OWN, FOURTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY,

WHICH DATED THE EVENT BEFORE HE BEGAN HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS – HIS DIVINE CALLING BY CHRIST ALONG THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.

St Paul used two Hebrew terms to describe the Heavenly Realms: “the Third Heaven,” which is the highest Heaven and “Paradise,” which is where God is surrounded by the Assembly of the Just in the City of God.

Unlike his opponents who publicly boasted of their own greatness in their Mystical Experiences, ST PAUL

REGARDED HIS OWN “THORN IN THE FLESH” AS HAVING BEEN BESTOWED UPON HIM IN ORDER TO KEEP HIM HUMBLE.

His “thorn” was a chronic physical problem (some have suggested stomach or gastric ulcers or even cancer, which caused intense discomfort and constant pain) as well as the deluded Christians or stubborn Israelites with whom he had to daily contend.

Nevertheless, FOR ST PAUL, HIS HUMBLING PHYSICAL

WEAKNESSES - NOT HIS MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES - WERE

THE MEANS WHEREBY THE POWER OF CHRIST REMAINED WITH HIM.

c DIVINE GRACE ACCOMPANIES TRUE VIRTUE – ESPECIALLY THAT OF OBEDIENCE AND HUMILITY.

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 t t h e w 1 6 : 1 3 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 t t h e w 1 6 : 1 3 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 t t h e w 1 6 : 1 3 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 t t h e w 1 6 : 1 3 –––– 1 91 91 91 9 S t P e t e r C on f esses Ou r Lor d Jesus As The Chr i s t And I s P romised The Keys O f T he K ingdom

At that time, when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples: "Whom do men say

that the Son of Man is?" So they said: "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets."

Jesus asked them: "And Whom do you say that I Am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood

has not revealed it to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I say you that you are Peter; and

upon this Rock I shall build My Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against It. And I will

give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be

bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loosen on earth, it shall be loosened also in

Heaven.”

“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” is the greatest question we can ever answer!!

St Peter’s ringing Confession: “THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!” IS A DIVINELY INSPIRED

INSIGHT GIVEN TO HIM BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

Our Lord Jesus’ Messianic Identity and Divinity, the Mystery hidden from Eternity, cannot be truly known through human intelligence or reasoning, but only by God’s Revelation. [1 CORINTHIANS 12:3]

The title “Christ” means “the Anointed One” and AS CHRIST IS TRULY THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, THE

FATHER HAS ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. [ACTS 10:38]

King David wrote: “THEREFORE GOD, THY GOD, HATH

ANOINTED THEE WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE

THAN THY COMPANIONS.” [PSALM 45:7]

St Isaiah, speaking in the Name of the Lord, said: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE THE

LORD HATH ANOINTED ME.” [ISAIAH 61:1]

The name “Peter” is a play on the word for “rock” or “stone” in Aramaic and Greek. (PETROS/PETRA). THE TERM “ROCK” DID NOT REFER TO ST PETER HIMSELF BUT TO HIS SINCERE CONFESSION OF FAITH.

] THE TRUE ROCK AND FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IS,

OF COURSE, CHRIST HIMSELF.

] THE CHURCH RESTS UPON THIS ROCK BY HER

UNCHANGING FAITH AND HER CONFESSION. WITH THIS FAITH AS THE FOUNDATION, THE GATES OF

HADES, THE POWER OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION,

ARE POWERLESS AGAINST HER.

In the Old Testament, the term “gates” suggested a fortified city. [GENESIS 22:17; 24:60; ISAIAH 14:31]

] Hence, BY SHATTERING THE GATES, CHRIST OPENED THE STRONGHOLD OF DEATH AND SET THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ONES FREE.

In all the Holy Gospels, the word “church” [EKKLESSIA = GATHERING] is mentioned twice by our Lord (here and

in Matthew 18:17) describing THE TRUE ISRAEL WHOSE CITIZENSHIP IS HEAVENLY.

She is THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE DIVINE-HUMAN ORGANISM, and to Her comes the Call of our Lord Jesus for the whole of mankind TO ABIDE WITH HIM AND IN HIM. [EPHESIANS 1:23]

The expression “Keys of the Kingdom,” clearly implies A SPECIAL AUTHORITY THAT CHRIST GAVE TO ST PETER HIMSELF, BUT WHICH WAS NEVER SEPARATED FROM HIS

CONFESSION OF FAITH. c Furthermore, while St Peter was a leader of the

Disciples and of the early Church, ALL THE HOLY APOSTLES WERE EMPOWERED EQUALLY WITH CHRIST’S DIVINE AUTHORITY.

Therefore, ST PETER WAS NOT A LEADER OVER THE OTHERS BUT A LEADER AMONGST THEM, as seen at the Council of Jerusalem, where Elders or Presbyters [PRIESTS] met

with the Apostles – altogether as equals. Roman Papal claims in later centuries must not be

confused with the New Testament witness regarding St Peter, nor should the role of St Peter in the New Testament be minimised in opposition to those claims!

] “BINDING” AND “LOOSENING” IS A REFERENCE TO THE TEACHING, SACRAMENTAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES THAT WERE SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSMITTED TO THE BISHOPS OF

THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Synax i s o f t h e Twe l ve H o l y Apos t le s o f C hr is t - 30 June 201 1 35.

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Synaxis o f the Twelve Ho ly Apost l es o f Chr is tSynaxis o f the Twelve Ho ly Apost l es o f Chr is tSynaxis o f the Twelve Ho ly Apost l es o f Chr is tSynaxis o f the Twelve Ho ly Apost l es o f Chr is t

Also the Feast of St Peter of Ordinsk, Rostov – St Sophronios of Irkutsk, translation of Relics – St Gelasios of Rimet – St Dinar the Holy Queen of Hereti, Georgia – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Balikin

A p o l y t i k i o n o f S t P e t e r & S t P a u l – T o n e 3 :

I ton Apostolon protothroni, ke tis ikoumenis didaskali, to Despoti ton olon presvefsate, irinin ti ikoumeni

dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos..

Among the Apostles the loftiest, and Teachers of the Universe, intercede, O Peter and Paul, with the Master of us all, peace to all the world to grant, and to our souls, the Great Mercy

A p o l y t i k i o n o f t h e H o l y A p o s t l e s O f C h r i s t - T o n e 3

Apostoli Agii, presvefsate to eleimoni Theo, ina ptesmaton afesin, paraskhi tes psihes imon.

O Holy Apostles, Intercede with out Merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins!

K o n t a k i o n T o T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s



ton Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke

spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton

Timonton Se.

O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always Protects all those who honour Thee!

M a t i n s G o s p e l : J o h n 1 5 : 1M a t i n s G o s p e l : J o h n 1 5 : 1M a t i n s G o s p e l : J o h n 1 5 : 1M a t i n s G o s p e l : J o h n 1 5 : 1 ---- 7777 O u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t I s T h e T r u e V i n e A n d W e A r e H i s B r a n c h e s W h o M u s t B e a r G o o d

S p i r i t u a l F r u i t

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “I Am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every Branch in Me

that does not bear Fruit He takes away; and every Branch that bears Fruit He prunes, that it may bear

more Fruit. You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoke unto you. Abide in Me, and I

in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you

abide in Me.

“I Am the Vine, you are the Branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much Fruit; for without Me

you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a Branch and is withered; and they

gather them and throw them into the Fire, and they are burned.

“If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for

you.”

T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 9 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 9 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 9 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 9 –––– 1 61 61 61 6 S t P a u l T e l l s U s T o H a v e W i s d o m I n H i s S p i r i t u a l F a t h e r h o o d

Brethren, I think that God has displayed us, the Apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to Angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured!

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things until now.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel. Therefore, I urge you: imitate me!

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 t t h e w 9 : 3 6 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 t t h e w 9 : 3 6 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 t t h e w 9 : 3 6 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 t t h e w 9 : 3 6 –––– 1 0 : 81 0 : 81 0 : 81 0 : 8 O u r L o r d I s M o v e d T o C o m p a s s i o n F o r H i s P e o p l e & H e C h o s e T w e l v e A p o s t l e s

At that time when our Lord Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved to compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. And when He had called His Twelve Disciples to Him, He gave them Power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Now the names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the Tax Collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

These Twelve Jesus sent out and Commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not

enter the city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go,

preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,

cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give…”

] OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT SEE PEOPLE AS

SINNERS TO BE CONDEMNED, BUT RATHER AS LOST

SHEEP TO BE FOUND AND BROUGHT SAFELY HOME.

His Compassion means that HE SUFFERS WITH AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY LOST.

In his human Nature CHRIST UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS FOR US HUMAN BEINGS TO BE LOST AND EXILED

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FROM THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND GRACE OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.

HE ALWAYS SHARES OUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL SUFFERING BECAUSE OF HIS INFINITE LOVE FOR US.

] THE IMAGERY OF BEING “...LIKE SHEEP HAVING NO

SHEPHERD...” is drawn from the Old Testament and is an accusation against Jewish Leaders who - although charged by God with the Sacred Duty of being Spiritual Shepherds of His Holy Flock – His Chosen People - acted like ravenous wolves instead:

Number s : 2 7 : 1 6 - 1 7 : “Let the Lord - the God of the spirits of all flesh - appoint someone over the

Congregation, who shall go out before them

and come in before them, who shall lead them

out and bring them in, so that the

Congregation of the Lord may not be like

Sheep without a Shepherd.”

1 K i ng s 2 2 : 1 7 : “... Micah said: ‘I saw all Israel

scattered on the mountains, like sheep that

have no shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These

have no Master; let each one go home in

Peace.’” Eze k i e l 3 4 : 5 : “So they were scattered, because

there was no Shepherd; and scattered, they

became food for all the Wild Animals.” ] THE TERMS “APOSTLES” AND “DISCIPLES” ARE

INTERCHANGEABLE WORDS FOR THE TWELVE CLOSEST AND MOST FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The Greek word for “Disciple” means “learner” or “student” - and “Apostle” means “one officially sent on a Mission.”

] JESUS CHRIST PERFORMED MIRACLES BY HIS OWN

DIVINE POWER WHEREAS THE APOSTLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO DO WONDERFUL DEEDS THROUGH

CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE FOR US.

St Matthew and St Luke added to the Gospel of St Mark concerning the Power to heal all types of ailments and diseases.

The names of the Twelve Apostles - not exactly the same in all the New Testament lists - are arranged in pairs, which gives an interesting impression of who may have travelled with whom on this - the Apostles’ First - Missionary Journey, since St Mark wrote that they were sent out two by two.

] THE DISCIPLES’ MISSION - LIKE THAT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - WAS TO PREACH AND TO HEAL.

OUR LORD SENT THEM ONLY TO THE HEBREWS - who were the initial focus of His earthly Ministry - and SO THAT, AFTER THE RESURRECTION, THEY COULD NOT BLAME

THE DISCIPLES for “...going to uncircumcised men” – meaning the Gentiles. [ACTS 11:3]

] OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAREFULLY PREPARED HIS

DISCIPLES by instructing them: ä To BE SINGLE-MINDED AND FOCUSSED UPON THE

SACRED MISSION ä GOD’S POWER IS FREELY BESTOWED UPON HIS

FAITHFUL DISCIPLES – WHATEVER WE ACCOMPLISH IS A DIVINE GIFT FROM ALMIGHTY GOD – AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR OWN POWERLESS HUMAN ABILITIES.

ä He instructed them not to carry any money or provisions so that they would LEARN TO DEPEND ON GOD FOR ALL THEIR NEEDS - TO

DEPEND ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE - and TO PREVENT ANY ACCUSATIONS OF GREED OR

SELFISHNESS.

ä GOD FREES US FROM WORRYING ABOUT WORLDLY

MATTERS so that WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON PREACHING HIS DIVINE WORD AND/OR

FULFILLING OUR OWN PERSONAL SACRED MISSION.

T h e G o dT h e G o dT h e G o dT h e G o d ---- 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 sI 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 sI 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 sI 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 s

S t S e r a p h i m O f S a r o v

"You cannot be too gentle or too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each

other.

Joy, radiant Joy, streams from the faces of those

who give and kindles Joy in the hearts of

those who receive.

All condemnation is from the devil. Never

condemn each other. We condemn others only

because we avoid knowing ourselves.

When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a

swamp that nothing in another can equal it!

That is why we turn away (from our own

sins), and make much of the faults of others.

Instead of condemning others, strive to reach

Inner Peace.

Keep silent. Refrain from judgement. This will

raise you above the deadly arrows of slander,

insult and outrage and will shield your

glowing heart against all evil."

* S t P e t e r o f D a m a s c u s “One day, while St Anthony was sitting with a certain

Elder*, a Nun came up and said to the Holy Father:

'Abba, I fast six days of the week and I repeat - by

heart - portions of the Old and New Testament

daily.'

To which the Elder replied: 'Does poverty mean the

same to you as abundance?' 'No', she answered.

'Or dishonour the same as praise?' 'No, Abba.'

'Are your enemies the same for you as your

friends?' 'No', she replied.

At that the wise Elder said to her: 'Go, get to work,

you have accomplished nothing.’”

S t J o h n O f K r o n s t a d t " Love every one in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins, but remember that the Foundation of each

one is the same - the Image of God."

S a i n t S y m e o n T h e N e w T h e o l o g i a n

"In the Future Life the Christian is not examined to see if he has renounced the whole world for Christ's Love - or if he

has distributed his riches to the poor - or if he Fasted or kept Vigil or prayed - or if he wept and lamented for his

sins - or if he has done any other good in this life - but he is examined attentively if he has any similitude

with Christ, as a son does with his father."

P r o v e r b s 1 7 : 9

He who covers over an offence promotes Love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

sacred lessons - j u n e 2 0 11

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