sacred lessons of november 2010

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST KOSMAS & ST DAMIANOS THE UNMERCENARY PHYSICIANS & WONDERWORKERS OF ASIA MINOR – 1 NOVEMBER 2010 1

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa Archdiocese of Good Hope ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN. REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

1 November 2010

St Kosmas & St Damianos the Unmercenary Physicians & Wonderworkers of Asia Minor

Feast of St Theodota, (mother of St Kosmas & St Damianos) – St John

Hieromartyr of Persia – St James the Zealot & Hieromartyr of Persia – St Cyrenia and St Juliana of Cilicia; St Hermeningilda, Price of Goths in Spain – St Caesarios, St Adrian, St Dacios, St Savas, St Sabinian, St Agrippa and St Thomas of Damascus – St James of Kastoria & his disciples: St James the Deacon & St Dionysios of Prodromou Monastery, Mount Athos – Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenaries

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e U n m e r c e n a r i e s – T o n e P l a g a l 4

Agii Anargiri ke Thavmatourgi, episkepsasthe tas astheneias imon: dorean elavete, dorean dote imin!

Sainted Unmercenaries and Wonder Workers, regard our infirmities; freely you have received, freely share with us.

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

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 Protector of Christians unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all who honour Thee!

The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 12 : 27 – 13 : 8 LOVE, A DIVINE AND EVERLASTING GIFT THAT IS SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHER GIFTS

Brethren: you are the Body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the Church: first

Apostles, second Prophets, third Teachers, after that Miracles, then Gifts of healing, helps, administrations,

varieties of tongues (languages).

Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all Teachers? Are all workers of Miracles? Do all have Gifts of Healing? Do

all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best Gifts. And yet I show you a more

excellent way.

Although I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, but have not Love, I have become sounding brass or a

clanging cymbal. And although I have the Gift of Prophecy, and understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge,

and although I have all Faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not Love, I am nothing!

And although I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and although I give my body to be burnt, but have not Love, it

profits me nothing!

Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave

rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

Love never fails!

But whether there are Prophecies, they will fail. Whether there are tongues, they will cease. Whether there is

Knowledge, it will vanish away.

There was a Hierarchy of Honour in the Holy Church of the New Covenant as there is in the Church today.

The Apostolic Work – that of the Bishop – sets the pace for all the rest.

When the oversight of the Bishop is in order – i.e. the supervision of the Bishop – the rest of the Holy Church is free to function at its optimal level.

However, even with all the Divine Gifts in place and operative, there is something even more excellent and that is the Love of God – Agape – which is the True Sign of the Presence of the Life-giving, All Holy Spirit.

St Basil the Great taught us that there are three reasons – all Biblical and all God-given – that we follow the Lord:

1. Fear (Proverbs 1:7 “The Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom.”)

2. Obedience – a recognition that because He is God we must follow Him. (Acts 5:29 “... Peter and the other Apostles answered: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men...’)

3. Love - (1 John 4:19 “We Love Him (God) because He first Loved us.”)

Furthermore, while we must aim to do all things out of Love, we must also not cease fearing – i.e. respecting – God and (willingly) obeying Him.

To any church that is preoccupied with the speaking of tongues – different languages – St Paul taught the ultimate Divine Gift – that of Divine Love – Agape..

Divine or Godly Love outshines prophecy and all faith because it is of far greater value and spiritual benefit than the miraculous ability to remove mountains!

Our Lord Jesus urged us to give to the poor and to lay down our lives for others but even such a selfless act of Holy Martyrdom and personal sacrifice that is done without Love will profit us absolutely nothing – it will be a wasted effort because it is not done strictly out of Love for others and especially for God.

This particular passage gives us specific characteristics Of True Love – Divine Godly Love - Agape:

] Love is patient, kind and gentle, especially with

those who are hurt. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 – “We exhort you, Brethren: warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” ; Ephesians 4:32 “... Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, even as God in Christ forgives you.”)


] Love does not envy and is not jealous of what

others have. (Proverbs 23:17 – “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be in Fear of the Lord the whole day long.”)

] Love does not parade itself or put itself on

display. (John 3:30 “He (Christ) must increase, but I (St John the Baptist) must decrease.”

] Love is not puffed up or arrogant or proud.

(Galatians 6:3 “... If anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

] Love does not act rudely or brashly, mean-spiritedly nor does it insult anyone. (Ecclesiastes 5:2 “The voice of a senseless man is with a multitude of words.”

] Love does not seek its own way or act forcefully

(1 Corinthians 10:24: “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.”)

] Love bears all things – it copes with burdensome things or all difficulties of daily life. (Galatians 6:2 “Bear each other’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”)

] Love believes all things and trusts in God no matter what the circumstances or what happens.

(Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in God with all your heart.”)

] Love hopes all things: it keeps looking upwards,

does not despair and is always optimistic (Philippians 3:13 “... Forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forward to those things that are ahead.”

] Love endures all things: it puts up with everything and does not wear out. (Galatians 6:9 “... Grow not weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

The only thing that Love cannot do is fail! (1

Corinthians 16:14: “Let all that you do be done with Love.”

The Divine Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as wonderful as they are, are merely temporary and incomplete. They are for the purpose of this life only, while we are still Spiritual “Children” – Spiritually Immature.

However, Love is Eternal, complete and fulfilling,

and it continues into the Age to come.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 11: 47 – 12 : 1 AVOID THE FATAL SINS OF PRIDE AND HYPOCRISY

At that time, our Lord Jesus said to a Pharisee: “Woe to you! For you built the tombs of the Prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you built their tombs.

“Therefore the Wisdom of God also said: ‘I will send them Prophets and Apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ that the blood of all the Prophets that was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the Altar and the Temple.

“Yes! I say to you: it shall be required of this generation! “Woe to you Lawyers! For you have taken away the Key of Knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and those

who were entering you hindered.” And as Jesus said these things to them, the Scribes and Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross3

examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, so

that they might accuse Him.

In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one

another, He began to say to His Disciples first of all: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy! For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known!”

Our Lord Jesus Christ used the term: “Woe!” which indicates COMPLETE, DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION.

� Isaiah 5 : 18 – 24: “Woe to those who draw sins to themselves as with a long rope and lawlessness as with the strap of a cow’s yoke, who say: ‘Let God speedily hasten what He will do so that we may see it, and let the counsel (advice) of the Holy One of Israel come, so that we may know it!’

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

“Woe to those who are intelligent in their own eyes and expert in their own sight!

Woe to your stron ones who drink wind and the mighty ones who mix intoxicating drink, who justify the ungodly for a bribe and take away Justice from the Righteous!

“Therefore in the manner that stubble shall be burnt by coals of fire and consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be like chaff and their flower shall go up like dust, for they did not will to do the Law of the Lord of Hosts, but despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.”

� Amos 5 : 18 : “Woe to you who desire the Day of the Lord! What is the Day of the Lord to you? It will be Darkness, not Light!”

� Revelation: 12:12 “Rejoice, O Heavens! And you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time!”

Satan and all his evil inventions – the deadly passions or sins – are overcome – defeated by Christ’s Self-sacrifice and that of the Holy Saints and Martyrs – those who did not love their lives to death.

Our own self-denial, Repentance-Confession and regular partaking of the Holy Mysteries, which all bring us closer to God in humble and eager willingness to obey and worship God, conquer and destroy any deceptions or enslaving bonds of wickedness of the evil one – as well as unselfish, loving encouragement through the Prayers and assistance of our fellow strugglers.

The short time of Satan is the period of tribulation just prior to the end of the ages – just before the Eighth Day – the General Resurrection and the Final Judgement of Christ.

Because the example of a leader can be so influential, ANY LEADER WHO DOES NOT LOVE GOD WILL HINDER

OTHERS FROM SEEKING, FINDING AND DEVELOPING

A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP OF HUMBLE OBEDIENCE AND

WORSHIP WITH GOD.

Therefore, DUE TO THE INCALCULABLE RESPONSIBILITY

OF ANY LEADER FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL

WELFARE OF OTHERS, THEY ARE HELD TO A HIGHER

STANDARD THAN THOSE WHO FOLLOW OR OBEY

THEM.

� James 3:1 “My Brethren: let NOT many of you become Teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter Judgement, for we all stumble in many things.”

] WHAT WE SAY, DO OR TEACH OTHERS REVEALS THE

TRUE STATE OF WHAT WE REALLY ARE.

If we control our words, we can control what we do, which is a prime example of the relationship between Faith and Works.

This substantiates (proves) the relentless Spiritual Warfare that confronts and threatens us, and against which we must ceaselessly struggle.

We must CONSISTENTLY GUARD AGAINST HYPOCRITICAL

AND CONTRADICTORY THOUGHTS, SPEECH AND

DEEDS.

] TRUE WISDOM COMES ONLY FROM GOD AND IS

PROVED BY THE FRUIT IT BEARS – the result or consequence of such Wisdom.


These dire warnings of our Lord Jesus Christ are especially vital to Orthodox Christians.

HIS HOLY CHURCH HAS CAREFULLY AND FAITHFULLY

MAINTAINED THE HOLY TRADITION OF OUR CHURCH

FATHERS - the verbal Instructions and Teachings of Jesus Christ, (God Himself!) to His Holy Apostles, which have been PRESERVED UNCHANGED AND

PASSED ON THROUGHOUT THE AGES TO US. ] GOD’S TRUTH – ABSOLUTE, PERFECT AND PURE –

AND ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE OUR

EXPRESSIONS OF DEEP FAITH, WHICH LEAD US

TO A MORE INTIMATE AND SINCERE

COMMITMENT TO GOD, and which safeguard our Life IN Christ.

However, if we merely pay “lip service” to them, without ever really taking them to heart and practising - i.e. LIVING - WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY

CHRIST, we will face Eternal Condemnation as hypocrites!

St Kosmas & St Damianos - Holy Wonder-workers & Unmercenary Physicians of Asia Minor St Kosmas and St Damianos lived in Asia Minor

(POSSIBLY MESOPOTAMIA.)

Their pagan father had died while they were still

quite small so their mother, St Theodota, was

able to raise them in Christian piety.

Through her own example, and by reading Holy

Writings to them, St Theodota preserved her

children in purity of life according to the

Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the

two little boys matured into Righteous and

Virtuous adulthood.

Trained and skilled as Physicians, they received from

the Holy Spirit the Gift of Healing all illnesses of

body and soul by the Power of Prayer.

The two Saints also treated sick animals, and with

their Fervent Love for both God and neighbour,

they refused any payment for their services,

strictly observing the Commandment of our Lord

Jesus Christ: "Freely have you received; freely give." (MATTHEW. 10:8).

The fame of St Kosmas and St Damianos spread

throughout the surrounding regions, and the

grateful people referred to them as “the

Unmercenary Physicians.”

One day, the Holy Brothers were summoned to a

grievously ill woman named Palladia, whom all

the doctors had refused to treat because of her

seemingly hopeless condition.

Nevertheless, through their Faith and Fervent

Prayers, our Lord healed Palladia, who was able to

arise from her bed in perfect health and offer her

praises of thanksgiving to God.

In her gratitude for being healed and wishing to give

them a small gift, Palladia quietly went to St

Damianos with three eggs: "Take this small gift in

the Name of the Holy Life3Creating Trinity, the

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Upon her invocation of the Most Sacred Name of the

Holy Trinity, the Unmercenary Physician did not

dare to refuse her humble gift.

However, when St Kosmas heard what had occurred,

he became extremely saddened, for he thought

that his brother had broken their strict Vow.

This caused a terrible rift in their personal

relationship and finally, on his deathbed St

Kosmas issued firm instructions that his brother

should not be buried beside him.

St Damianos, who had been broken3hearted by the

consequences of accepting the three eggs offered

to him in the Name of the Holy Trinity, died

shortly afterwards, and everyone wondered

where to locate St Damianos' grave.

Then, by the Grace and Divine Will of God, a Miracle

occurred:

An unruly camel that the Saints had managed to

tame, suddenly spoke to the people with a human

voice, telling them not to worry about laying St

Damianos to rest besides his beloved brother, St

Kosmas, because he had not accepted the eggs

from Palladia as payment, but due to his deep

and sincere respect for the Most Sacred Name of

God.

Consequently, the reassured and relieved Faithful

laid the venerable Holy Relics of the Unmercenary

Brothers side by side at Thereman, Mesopotamia.

Even after their repose in Christ, the Holy

Unmercenary Physicians have continued to work

innumerable Miracles by Divine Grace.

At Thereman, near to the church that was erected in

Commemoration of St Kosmas and St Damianos,

a certain faithful man, known as Malchos,

resided.

One day he set off on a journey, leaving his wife all

alone for what would be a long time, having

prayerfully entrusted her to the Heavenly

Protection of the two Holy Brothers.

One of Malchos' acquaintances, an evil man, had

plotted to kill his devoted wife.

So, after a certain time had passed without the return

of the faithful husband, the wicked man went to

Malchos’ house and falsely informed his wife that

her concerned husband had sent him to fetch her

and accompany her to his current location.

The devious man was so convincing that he managed

to persuade the faithful wife to leave the safety

of her home and travel with him.

Then he led her to a solitary place with the intention

of killing her and hiding her body.

As soon as the faithful wife realised the impending

mortal danger she faced, she immediately fell

upon her knees in Prayer and loudly called upon

God with all her heart and soul.

At once the two Holy Unmercenary Physician

Brothers appeared and the evil one released

Malchos’ wife and fled in blind terror, falling off a

high cliff to his death below.

The two Saints calmed and comforted the

traumatised woman and returned her to the

safety of her home, where she then bowed deeply

to them and enquired: “I shall be most grateful to you both until the end of my days, but who are you?”

They replied: “"We are the servants of Christ, Kosmas

and Damianos," and disappeared.

The faithful woman joyously told everyone about

what had happened to her and glorifying God for

His Great Mercy, she stood before the Holy Icon

of the Holy Brothers and tearfully offered

Prayers of Thanksgiving for her deliverance from

evil.

Ever since then, St Kosmas and St Damianos have

been venerated as Holy Protectors of the Sanctity

and Inviolability (Blessedness) of Christian

Marriage, and as Holy Intercessors for Blessed

Harmony and Unity in Marriage.

St Kosmas and St Damianos of Asia Minor should not

be confused with St Kosmas and St Damianos of

Rome (1 July), or St Kosmas and St Damianos of

Arabia (17 October): all Unmercenary Physicians.


The Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenary Saints – 1 NovemberC St Kosmas & St Damianos of Asia Minor – 1

November

C St. Kosmas & Damianos of Rome 3 1July C St Kosmas, St Damianos, St Leontios, St

Anthimos, and St Eutropios of Arabia – 17

October

C St Cyros & St John – 31 January & 28 June (translation of their relics)

C St. Tryphon 3 1 February C St. Julianos – 6 February C St. Mokios – 11 May C St. Thallaleos – 20 May C St. Sampson the Innkeeper – 27 June

C St. Ermolaos – 26 July C St. Panteleimon the Great3Martyr 3 27July C St Anikitos & St Photios – 12 August C St. Diomedis 3 16August C St. Luke the Apostle, Evangelist and Physician –

18 October

C St. Luke Archbishop & Surgeon of Simferopol – 11 June

C St. Hermione – 4 September C St Zenais & St Philonilla 3 Daughters of St. Philip

the Deacon 3 11October

C St. Agapit the Righteous Unmercenary of the Kiev Caves – 1 June

The following Saints were mentioned in the Doxastikon of the Sitchera from the Vespers of the Synaxis of the

Unmercenaries from the OCA. .Although not referred to anywhere else as Unmercenaries, however, they are

Wondrous Healers of Afflictions of soul and body, so they deserve Honour and Supplicatory Prayers:

C St. Antipas the Hieromartyr (Healer of Teeth) 311April

C St. Charalambos (Protector and healer of sufferers of gastric distress, dysentery, infectious diseases, depressive or destructive thoughts and contemplations or obsessions,

[διαλογισµών? πανούκλας?], Protector of flocks and shepherds, Protector of trees,

Protector of marble-workers) 3 10 February

C St. Blaise (Vlassios) (Protector and Healer of

sufferers of Throat Ailments) – 11 February

C St. Spyridon (Protector of ceramicists, Protector and Healer of sufferers and threats of

epidemics, smallpox, and diseases of the ears)

– 12 December

C St. Modescos (Modestos) (Protector and Healer of diseases of animals and crops threatened by locust swarms, Protector of ploughs and

Farmers) – 16 December

C St. Artemios (Protector and Healer of psychiatric, neurotic, intestinal and hernia sufferers) 3 20

October

Hymns to the Holy Unmercenaries (TRANSLATED BY FR. EPHRAIM LASH )

Stichera Automelon – Tone (6) Plagal 2 Placing all their hope in Heaven,

the Saints treasured up for themselves an Inviolable Treasure; freely they received,

freely they give remedies to the sick; in accordance with the Gospel

they possessed neither gold nor silver; their kind deeds they shared out to humans and beasts alike;

that being in all things Obedient to Christ they might Intercede with confidence on behalf of our souls.

Apolytikion for the Holy Unmercenaries – Tone (8) Plagal 4 Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers,

visit our weaknesses; freely you have received, freely grant to us.

Kontakion. Tone 2 You have received the Grace of Remedies, spread Strength over those in need,

O Glorious, Wonderworking Physicians; but by Your Visitation,

cast down the insolence of enemies, healing the world by Wonders.

The Ikos. The word of the Wise Physicians

surpasses all understanding and wisdom; for having received Grace from the Most High,

they invisibly bestow Strength on all; therefore on me too they have bestowed the Grace of Narration,

to sing their praise as God-bearing, Well-pleasing to God and Healers, who grant multitudes of Cures; for they rescue all from pains, healing the world by Wonders.

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5

THE HEALING OF ST VERONICA – THE WOMAN WHO BLED FOR 12

YEARS

THE “JOYFUL” (VZIGRANIE) ICON OF THE MOST BLESSED & HOLY THEOTOKOS

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All

Africa Archdiocese of Good Hope

ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN. REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

7 November 2010 24th Sunday After Pentecost Tone (7) Varys/Grave

7th Sunday of St Luke – Jairus’ Daughter & the

Bleeding Woman (St Veronica)

Feast of St Hieron & the 30 Holy Martyrs of MeliteneSt Hieron & the 30 Holy Martyrs of MeliteneSt Hieron & the 30 Holy Martyrs of MeliteneSt Hieron & the 30 Holy Martyrs of Melitene: St Hesychios, St Nicander, St Mamas, St Barachios, St Callinkos, St Theogenes, St Loginos, St Theodore, St Valerios, St Xanthios, St Theodoulos, St Callimachos, St Eugene, St Theodochos, St Ostrychios, St Epiphanios, St Maxian, St Ducitios, St Claudian, St Theophilos, St Gigantios, St Dorotheos, St Theodotos, St Castrychios, St anikletos, St Theomelios, St Eutichios, St Hilarion, St Diodotos & St Amonitos – St Lazaros the St Lazaros the St Lazaros the St Lazaros the Wonderworker of Mount Galesios, EphesosWonderworker of Mount Galesios, EphesosWonderworker of Mount Galesios, EphesosWonderworker of Mount Galesios, Ephesos – St Zosimas Abbot of Vorbozomsk Monastery – St Cyril of Novoezersk, Monastery in Vologda: Finding of Holy Relics – St Theodotos of Ancyra – St Melasippos, St Karina Y St Antoninos their son & 40 children martyred with them at Ancyra, Phrygia – St Auktos, St Taurion and St Thessalonika – The Appearance of � – St Theodotos of Ancyra

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 ( 7 ) V a r y s / G r a v e

Katelisas to Stavro Sou ton thanaton. Ineoxas to listi ton Paradison. Ton Miroforon ton thrinon metevales ke tis sis Apostolis kirittin epetaxas, oti Anestis, Hriste O Theos, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos.

By Thy Cross Thou destroyed Death; Thou opened Paradise to the Thief; Thou changed the funeral wail of the Myrrh-bearing Women, and Commanded them to announce to Thine Apostles that Thou had Risen from the dead, O Christ our God, Who bestows on the world Great Mercy!

A p o l y t i k i o n o f S t L a z a r o s o f M o u n t G a l e s i o s – T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

Tes epagripnis prosevhes, en ohetis dakrion ton Stylon katevrehes. Ke tis ek vathon stevagmis, is ekaton tous ponous ekarpoforisas. Ke gegonas pimin, tis prosiousi nemon sighorisin. Osie Patir imon Lazare, presveve Hristo to Theo, sothine tas psihas imon.

In Thy Vigilant Prayers, Thou drenched Thy Pillar with streams of tears. And by Thy Sightings from the depths, Thou bore Fruit a hundredfold in Labours; and Thou became a Shepherd, granting Forgiveness to those who came to Thee. O our Righteous Father Lazarus: Intercede with Christ God that our souls be Saved.

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

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 Protector of the Christians unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all who honour Thee!

Resurrection Gospel 2 – Mark 16 : 1 – 8 – THE HOLY MYRRH-BEARERS WITNESS THE EMPTY TOMB OF OUR RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST

Prok e imenon The Lord will grant Strength to His People. Offer to the Lord, O Sons of God! Offer to the Lord Sacrifice and Praise!

The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 2: 14 - 22 T h e N ew C o v e n a n t - O u r R e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h A l m i g h t y G o d

Brethren: In Christ Jesus you who were once far off (lost) have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. For He

Himself is our Peace, Who has made both one, and Who has broken down the middle wall of separation, having

abolished, in His Flesh, the enmity – that is: the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances, so as to create

in Himself one New Man from the two, thus making Peace, and so that He might reconcile them both to God in

One Body through the Cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

And He came and preached Peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near. For through Him we both

have access by One Spirit to the Father.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow Citizens with the Saints and the members of

the Household of God, having been built on the Foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets 3 Jesus Christ

Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom you also are being built together for a Dwelling Place of God in

the Spirit.

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THE BROKENNESS OF MANKIND was twofold: WE WERE

SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER – I.E. GENTILE

(PAGANS) FROM HEBREWS – AND WE WERE

SEPARATED FROM GOD. ] THUS THE HEALING OF CHRIST WAS TWOFOLD: THE

CREATION OF A UNIFIED HUMANITY – THE CHURCH –

AND THE RAISING OR ELEVATING OF THIS UNIFIED

HUMANITY TO GOD.

IN OTHER WORDS: THE RESTORATION AND RECONCILIATION OF MANKIND TO ONE ANOTHER AND OF THE ORIGINAL PERFECT, CLOSE AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WHICH ADAM AND EVE HAD ENJOYED BEFORE THEIR FALL FROM DIVINE GRACE THROUGH THEIR DISOBEDIENCE.

] THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD

ACCOMPLISHED THE UNIFICATION OF ALL HUMANITY,

WHILE HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE UPON THE CROSS,

HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, ACCOMPLISHED

THE RECONCILIATION AND RESTORATION OF OUR

ORIGINAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD – a Renewal of our Holy Fellowship with God.

The Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – perpetually acts together in Perfect unison and harmonious Love.

Faithful Christians who strive to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ in all aspects of His Life on earth, must also CONSTANTLY ACT IN PEACEFUL AND JOYOUS

HARMONY, ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY AGAPE – DIVINE

LOVE. “The middle wall of separation” was a reference to the

barrier in the Temple that separated the Courtyard of the Gentiles from the Courtyard of the Hebrews.

This barrier exposed the limitations of the Old Covenant since it did not heal our human self-

alienation from one another but in fact actually increased our hostility towards those who were “different.”

] THE NEW COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND

HAS BROKEN DOWN THAT DIVIDING WALL OF

ALIENATION AND SEPARATION SO THAT BOTH

GENTILES AND HEBREWS ARE RECONCILED AND

UNITED IN CHRIST JESUS.

Our family of mankind is restored and reconciled as one race, one nation: THE NEW ISRAEL.

The Holy Church of Christ, which is humanity Unified and Renewed through Union with the Incarnate Son of God, is built upon a Foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Cornerstone or Foundation Stone, which is essential to every building) and His Holy Apostles and Holy Prophets.

From this solid and Most Holy Foundation come the Holy Scriptures and all Holy Doctrine (Teaching).

The Divine Gifts of the Holy Spirit are a continuous reality in the Holy Church of Christ.

The Spiritual Structure of Christ’s Holy Church is ONE: HIS HOLY CHURCH – THE HOLY BODY OF CHRIST – MUST ALWAYS BE UNITED AND HARMONIOUS – THERE CANNOT BE ALIENATION OR DIVISION WITHIN IT.

The ONE HOLY CATHOLIC (UNIVERSAL) AND APOSTOLIC

CHURCH IS HEADED EXCLUSIVELY BY OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST Whom we humbly and Obediently strive to imitate and follow, without any changes or arrogant self-indulgence.

Holy Gospel According to St Luke 8 : 41 – 56 JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER RAISE AND A BLEEDING WOMAN (ST VERONICA) HEALED AFTER 12 YEARS

At that time, when Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. And behold,

a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the Synagogue, fell down at Jesus’ Feet and begged Him to go to his

house, for his only daughter who was about twelve years of age, was dying.

But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.

Then a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians but could not

be healed by any of them, went from behind and touched the edge of His garment, and immediately the flow of

blood ceased.

And Jesus said: “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with Him said: “Master, the multitudes throng and press Thee, and yet Thou say:

‘Who touched Me?!’” And Jesus said: “Someone touched Me, for I perceived Power going out from Me.” Then, when the woman realised that she was not hidden, she went trembling and fell down before Jesus, declaring

to him in the presence of all the people the reason for touching Him and how she had been immediately healed.

And He said to her: “Daughter: be of good cheer; your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace.” While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the Synagogue’s house, and told him: “Your daughter

is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard him, He said to Jairus: “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

When Jesus went into the house, He permitted no one else to enter, except Peter, James and John, and the father

and mother of the girl. And all wept and mourned for her; but He said: “Do not weep; she is not dead, but asleep.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. So He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called out: “Little girl, arise!”

And her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And

her parents were astonished, but He instructed them not to tell anyone about what had occurred.

] ALL AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH IS

EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CONTROL OF AND

ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

� Deuteronomy 32:39: “Now behold: I – even I – Am He, and there is no god besides Me; I take away life and I grant life; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My Hands.”

This Divine Statement could be expressed not only by God the Father, but also God the Son and God the Holy Spirit because - BEING CO-EQUAL IN ONE

GODHEAD - EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY

TRINITY CAN TRULY SAY: “There is no god besides Me.”

This Statement is made in contrast to all the false (man-made) gods of the pagans. (ST ATHANASIOS THE

GREAT, ST BASIL THE GREAT & ST HILARY OF POITIERS) 1 Kings 2:6: “The Lord takes away life and grants life;

He takes down to Hades and raises up.”

This verse foreshadows the Resurrection and is likely a description of our Lord’s own (voluntary) descent into Hades and His glorious Resurrection.

St Aphrahat the Holy Prophet of God used this passage among many to demonstrate that THE BELIEF IN

THE RESURRECTION EXISTED EVEN IN THE OLD

TESTAMENT ERA. IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD IS NEITHER DESTRUCTIVE NOR

HARMFUL EVEN THOUGH HE PERMITS US TO EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL DEATH – THE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR HUMAN CONDITION - BEFORE HE RETURNS US TO FULL PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE AT THE RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGEMENT.

IN OTHER WORDS, GOD PERMITS US TO DEPART FROM THIS LIFE AND ENTER A STATE OF DEATH – I.E. PHYSICAL REPOSE IN CHRIST REPOSE IN CHRIST REPOSE IN CHRIST REPOSE IN CHRIST FOR HIS FAITHFULFOR HIS FAITHFULFOR HIS FAITHFULFOR HIS FAITHFUL BUT FOR THE UNREPENTANT AND UNGODLY SOULS A RESTLESS FORETASTE OF SPIRITUAL EXILE FROM GOD.

mp ] BEING OF ONE ESSENCE WITH GOD THE FATHER,

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS THIS EXACT SAME

DIVINE AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH.

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7

� John 5:21: “...as (God) the Father raises the dead and grants Life to them, even so (God) the Son grants Life to those whom He Will.”

The instantaneous healing of the bleeding woman (ST

VERONICA) revealed and demonstrated Christ’s Divine Powers of Healing and Cleansing.

ANYTHING THAT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE DIVINE – WITH GOD - IS SANCTIFIED AND DIVINE POWER IS TRANSFERRED VIA THE MEDIUM SUCH AS WATER, OIL OR EVEN GARMENTS TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFIT – ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR LOVING AND PROVIDENT GOD.

THUS THE MUNDANE BECOMES EXTRAORDINARY OR SANCTIFIED BY GOD – ALWAYS AN INEXPLICABLE AND GREAT MYSTERY TO OUR

LIMITED UNDERSTANDING. mp According to the Old Covenant, haemorrhaging (BLEEDING)

was regarded as ceremonial and social defilement, which imposed upon the sufferer stringent religious and social restrictions since any contact with blood was severely prohibited.

� Leviticus 15:25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her

menstruation, or if it occurs beyond this time,

all the days of her (haemorrhaging) shall be as

the days of her menstruation: she shall be

unclean.” Nevertheless the wretched suffering woman who was

regarded as “unclean,” daringly but secretly approached our Lord Jesus WITH COMPLETE FAITH

IN HIS HEALING POWERS – even though He was accompanied by Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, and a huge crowd who would be “defiled” by her and who would, without a doubt, ridicule and embarrass her beyond measure if her circumstances became known!

Yet her belief in Christ was so firm and unshakable that SHE KNEW THAT BY MERELY TOUCHING THE EDGE OF

HIS GARMENT, SHE WOULD BE HEALED, since ANYTHING THAT GOD TOUCHES OR BLESSES IS

SANCTIFIED BY GOD AND THROUGH ONE’S FAITH IN

GOD, IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE MIRACULOUS RESULTS. (REFER NOTE ABOVE �)

] HER FAITH AND DESIRE FOR GOD’S HEALING

SUPPLANTED ALL OTHER RESERVATIONS.

] Consequently, CHRIST REVEALED HER UTTER FAITH

IN GOD AS A SHINING EXAMPLE TO OTHERS – the majority of whom – like us - merely paid lip service to God while their hearts were empty of Love for God or Faith in God.

HE EXPOSED HER IDENTITY NOT TO SHAME OR

EMBARRASS HER, BUT TO BLESS HER AND

ENCOURAGE HER FOR HER GREAT FAITH AND TO

SHOW OTHERS THE POWER OF SUCH FAITH IN GOD.

When our Lord asked His Apostles: “Who touched Me?” it revealed HIS CONSTANT AWARENESS OF THE

PAIN AND SUFFERING OF ALL HUMANITY and that HIS

DIVINE POWER IS IMPARTED DIRECTLY FROM

HIMSELF TO THOSE WHO APPROACH HIM WITH

ABSOLUTE FAITH AND LOVE.

The Benevolence and Love of our Lord Jesus Christ is clearly evident in the manner whereby He addressed the faithful woman: ä HE BLESSED HER for her courage and deep

Faith, ä HE CORRECTED HER THINKING that He would

not be aware of her and ä HE DID NOT EXCLUDE HER FROM HIS

PRESENCE NOR CONDEMN HER for having the

courage to seek His – i.e. God’s - Blessings due to her long illness.

] HE PURPOSELY REVEALED HER DEVOTION TO GOD for all to witness so that they might IMITATE

HER rather than to condemn and ostracise her for breaking one of the Mosaic Laws in order TO

SEEK A CURE FOR SOMETHING THAT ONLY GOD

COULD GRANT.

The healing of St Veronica also shows us that GOD

ALWAYS HAS TIME FOR EVERYONE WHO REACHES

OUT TO HIM.

Furthermore, this Miraculous Healing of a twelve year long ailment before the resurrection of a little twelve year old girl, SERVED A TWO-FOLD PURPOSE

WITH REGARD TO JAIRUS AND HIS WIFE: ä IT WAS A REMINDER OF THE GREAT MERCY

AND POWER OF DIVINE HEALING, WHICH

CHRIST COULD DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY

GRANT.

ä IT STRENGTHENED THEIR WAVERING FAITH

WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE DEATH OF THEIR

BELOVED CHILD. PEOPLE ARE VERY QUICK TO BLAME GOD FOR ALL MISFORTUNES –

MOST OF WHICH ARE CAUSED BY EITHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT

HUMAN ACTIONS. mp When Jairus received the news of his daughter’s death

and was told not to bother our Lord any further – the inevitable belief that nothing could be done about it – our compassionate Saviour immediately

comforted the grief-struck father: “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

Only God can reassure us like this! Then at the house, Christ was again confronted by

despondent mourners who mocked His words of consolation: “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping,” because they knew for sure that she had died.

So it was that Christ made everyone else leave the room while He and His Apostles: St Peter, St James and St John, (who also would witness His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor) together with the parents, remained inside.

Quietly Christ called the little girl’s spirit to return to her body and she promptly awoke. Then He instructed her overjoyed parents to feed her (for He knew she would be hungry and thirsty).

At this point of His Divine Ministry, our Lord did not want everyone to know how great His Divine Powers were for HE WANTED TO TEACH THE PEOPLE TO

WORSHIP AND GLORIFY ALMIGHTY GOD AND NOT A

PERCEIVED “PROPHET.”

And so He instructed them not to let others know what had occurred with their resuscitated daughter.

THE RESUSCITATION OF JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER FROM DEATH WAS ONE OF THREE THAT WE KNOW OF, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR THEIR THREE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DEATH:

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER HAD JUST DIED, THE WIDOW OF NAIN’S SON HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND ST LAZAROS OF BETHANY HAD BEEN BURIED FOR FOUR DAYS AND ALREADY BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE WHEN CHRIST CALLED HIM BACK TO LIFE.

ALL THESE CLEARLY PROVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS NO ORDINARY “HOLY PROPHET OF GOD” BUT GOD HIMSELF WHO HAS DOMINION

OVER ALL LIFE AND DEATH! mp

The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter TODAY'S SACRED LESSON IS NOT ONLY ABOUT

MIRACLES AND THE MERCY OF GOD; IT IS ABOUT HOPE BEYOND HOPE.

In the account of the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of

the Synagogue, we hear of a beloved child who

was already dead by the time our Lord and her

father arrived at the house.

Everyone present had witnessed her dying and had

enough experience of death to recognise it.

So there was absolute certainty of it even when the

Son of God tried to comfort and reassure them by

telling them: “Do not weep; she is not dead, but asleep.”

Naturally, the mourners were surprised at His

apparent ignorance of death so they all loudly

contradicted Him, causing Him to “...put them all

outside...” before turning His attention to the little

child.

And then CHRIST, WITH A WORD OF POWER AND AN

ACT OF LOVE CALLED OUT TO HER DEPARTED SPIRIT AND RETURNED HER TO EARTHLY LIFE AGAIN.

Apart from being a True Event of our human history,

is this not also a Parable 3 AN ANALOGY OF SO

MANY HUMAN SITUATIONS?

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How often do we suppose that there is no point in

trying to do anything about certain

circumstances?

Or in our limited opinion, we consider the sinful, the

sick, the derelict, or whatever state of some

people as being utterly hopeless 3 beyond any

form of redemption or restoration?!

] Yet we must NEVER FORGET WHAT CHRIST OUR

SAVIOUR SAID TO ST PETER when he asked the

vital question: “Who, then, can be Saved?”

Our Lord’s words were : “Whatever is impossible for mankind, is possible for God!”

] NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD! ] This is Hope beyond hope! THIS IS DIVINE HOPE - INFINITELY GREATER THAN HUMAN HOPE –

WHICH IS GRANTED TO US BY OUR LIFE IN CHRIST!

As faithful Christians, we have Hope beyond hope!

And it is not because we have good reason to hope,

but because we possess A PASSIONATE CERTAINTY

AND TRUST THAT NOT ONLY DIVINE LOVE – AGAPE - BUT HUMAN LOVE CAN RESTORE WHAT HAS BEEN LOST.

People who have fallen into the deepest dereliction 3

those who seem to be utterly wicked and

destructive 3 if they are confronted by and

treated with Sacrificial Love 3 and the word

“sacrificial” is essential 3 THE SACRIFICIAL LOVE

OF GOD AND THE SAME SACRIFICIAL LOVE IN US, CAN BE REDEEMED.

In the case of this young child it happened

immediately and directly with Christ our Lord.

In our relationship to one another IT MAY TAKE

YEARS OF PATIENT LOVE, YEARS DURING WHICH WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES UNSELFISHLY, BUT ALSO ENDURE ENDLESSLY THE MOST AGONIZING THINGS UNTIL, FINALLY, THERE IS REDEMPTION.

] REDEMPTION IS POSSIBLE IN THIS LIFE – BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

Redemption and restoration is possible in those

whom we consider as being “hopeless cases” 3

beyond anyone’s help 3 YET, THROUGH CEASELESS

PRAYERS AND DESPITE ALL THE ODDS STACKED AGAINST THEM, THEY MIGHT BEGIN TO CHANGE FOR

THE BETTER – and then we witness a Miracle, and

we are elated, and HOPE IS JOYOUSLY FULFILLED!

There is also another astonishing manner in which

this Sacrificial Love can become Redemption.

During the terrible Second World War, when

emotions and senses were deeply and painfully

acute, suffering humanity was confronted by

uncontrolled evil in all its horrific aspects. ä SUFFERING, MISERY OR TORMENT IS ALWAYS

CAUSED BY THE ACTIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS 3

WHEN WE CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT, PREVENT IT, ENCOURAGE IT, PARTICIPATE IN IT - OR SIMPLY DO NOT ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY SUCH WICKEDNESS AND CRUELTY.

Human misery and affliction always cuts deeply into

the body and soul. However, on rare occasions, THROUGH MUCH PRAYER AND DIVINE INTERVENTION, VICTIMS ARE ABLE TO ACQUIRE

DIVINE POWER TO FORGIVE THEIR TORMENTORS, AND BY FORGIVENESS THEY UNDO THE EVIL, AND REDEEM OR RESTORE THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED SUCH VILE WICKEDNESS!

Let us reflect on this:

At the end of the Second World War, when their

horrific German concentration camps were being

liberated and exposed to an intensely shocked

world, a certain document was discovered in one

of the filthy structures where so much

indescribable horror had been suffered by

innumerable millions of souls over such a long

period.

It was written on a small, torn scrap of wrapping

paper by someone who had suffered beyond

measure and who eventually perished in the

concentration camp at the hands of the

merciless, cold3blooded torturers and murders.

The substance of the message was AN AMAZING

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS whereby he or she

beseeched God:

“... O Lord, when Thou come as a Judge of the earth, do not condemn the people who have done such atrocious things to us; do not hold against them their cruelty and our suffering, their violence and our despair, but look at the Fruit, which we have borne in Patience, in Humility, in Fortitude, in Forgiveness, in Loyalty, in Solidarity; and may these Fruits be accounted unto their Salvation.

“Do not allow the memory of us to be in Eternity horror to them; may it be their Salvation.”

This is truly A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOPE BEYOND

HOPE! THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SINFUL, FALSE

AND BLIND KNOWLEDGE as expressed by the

mourners in the house of Jairus when they

ridiculed Christ for His Words of Eternal Hope

and Comfort WHEN THEY THOUGHT THEY KNEW

MORE THAN GOD!

In their limited, human opinion, they knew that the

child had died and that ANY HOPE WAS DROWNED

IN THEIR TEARS OF DESPAIR AND SORROW!

] On the contrary: THE VICTORY OF DIVINE LOVE,

COMPASSION AND MERCY WAS CLEARLY

EVIDENT during this particular historical

Event 3 WHICH CAN BE APPLIED IN SO MANY

WAYS TO OUR PERSONAL LIVES - ON EITHER THE SIMPLEST OR MOST HEROIC LEVELS.

Therefore, let us contemplate today’s Sacred Lesson:

] CLING TIGHTLY TO THAT DIVINE HOPE, which is

beyond our limited and weak human hope,

] for DIVINE LOVE AND OUR TRUE FAITH IN GOD CAN

OVERCOME EVEN THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE EVIL IN THIS EARTHLY LIFE.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE RAISING OF JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER” BY METROPOLITAN ANTHONY OF SOUROZH

http://www.metropolit-anthony.orc.ru/eng/eng_143.htm

St Diadochos of Photiki – On Spiritual Knowledge Eve was the first to learn that sight, taste and the other

senses, when used without moderation, distract our heart from Remembrance of God.

As long as she did not look with longing at the Forbidden Tree, she was able to keep God’s (One!) Commandment carefully in mind; she was still covered by the Wings of Divine Love and thus was ignorant of her own nakedness.

But once she looked at the Tree with longing, touched it with ardent desire and then tasted its forbidden fruit with active sensuality, she at once felt drawn to physical intercourse and, being naked, she surrendered to her passion!

All her desire was focussed on enjoying what was immediately present to her senses, and through the pleasant appearance of the Fruit, she involved Adam in her Fall.

Thereafter it became difficult for man’s intellect to remember God or His Commandments.

] CONSEQUENTLY, WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK INTO

THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEART WITH CONTINUED

REMEMBRANCE OF GOD AND PASS THROUGH

THIS DECEITFUL LIFE AS THOUGH BLIND.

] TRUE SPIRITUAL WISDOM CLIPS THE WINGS OF OUR

LOVE FOR VISIBLE APPEARANCES....

] TO MASTER OURSELVES IN SUCH A MANNER IS

EVIDENCE OF GREAT SELF-CONTROL.

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8 November 2010

Synaxis of the Holy Archangels & the Heavenly Hosts

Feast of St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, St Uriel, St salaphiel, St Jegudiel, & St Barachiel the Holy Archangels of God and all the Heavenly, Bodiless Hosts; St Alexander of Guria

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e S y n a x i s O f T h e A r c h a n g e l s & H e a v e n l y H o s t s

Ton Ouranion Stration Arhistratigi, disopoumen imas imis i anaxii, ina tes imon deisesi, tehisite imas, skepi ton pterigon, tis aflou imon doxis, frourountes imas prospiptontas, ektenos ke Voontas. Ek ton kindinon litrosasthe imas, os Taxiarhe ton ano Dinamenon.

O ye Foremost of the Heavenly Hosts, we who are unworthy, beseech you that by your Petitions you encompass us with the shadow of your immaterial glory, preserving us who kneel and cry ceaselessly: deliver us from oppressions, since you are the Princes of the Ranks of Dominions on High

K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E n t r y I n t o T h e T e m p l e 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

O Katharotatos Naos tou Sotiros i Politimitos Pastas ke Parthenos, to Ieron Thisavrisma tis Doxis tou Theou, simeron isagete en to iko Kyriou, tin Harin sinisagousa, tin en Pnevmati Thio, in animnousin Angeli Theou: Afti iparhi Skini Epouranios.

The Most Pure Temple of the Saviour, the Precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Sacred Treasure of God, today enters the House of the Lord, bringing the Grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God

praise her. She is the Heavenly Tabernacle.

The Holy Gospel according to St Matthew 18 : 10 – 20 At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that

in Heaven their Angels always see the Face of My Father Who is in Heaven. For the Son of Man has come to Save that which was lost.

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than the ninety-nine sheep, what 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. Furthermore, 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. However, if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, 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.

Assuredly, I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven. For when two or three are gathered together in My Name, I Am there in the midst of them.

Prokeimenon Who makes spirits His Angels and a Flame of Fire His Ministers. Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord, my God, You have been greatly Magnified!

The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 2 : 2 – 10 BEWARE OF WILFUL NEGLIGENCE

Brethren, if the word spoken through Angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a

Just Reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a Salvation? Which, at the first, began to be spoken by

the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness, both with Signs and

Wonders, with various Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own Will.

For He has not put the world to come of which we speak, in subjection to Angels. But one testified in a certain

place, saying: ‘What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the Son of Man that Thou takest care of Him? Thou hast made Him with Glory and Honour, and set Him over the works of Thy Hands. Thou hast put all things in

subjection under His Feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under

Him.

But now we do not yet see all things put under Him. Yet we see Jesus Who was made a little lower than the Angels,

for the suffering of death, Crowned with Glory and Honour, that He, by the Grace of God, might taste Death for

everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons

to Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation Perfect through sufferings.

St Paul cautions Faithful Christians against WILFUL

NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS CAUSED BY A SLOW

PROCESSION OF ATTRITION OR SPIRITUAL DRIFTING

AWAY FROM OUR LIFE IN CHRIST.

The terms “if” and “how” suggest a conditional

statement or question: “if” Israel was expected to

obey the words of created Angels (WHO ARE SENT TO US

BY GOD HIMSELF IN ORDER TO CONVEY HIS DIVINE WILL) or suffer the consequential punishment, HOW MUCH MORE

MUST WE HEED (PAY ATTENTION TO AND OBEY) THE

TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS OF OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST WHO IS GOD INCARNATE, which are meticulously preserved and passed on throughout the ages to us as our most priceless Divine Inheritance!

And especially as THE WORD OF GOD HAS BEEN

CONFIRMED BY SO MANY MIRACLES OF THE HOLY

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SPIRIT – clear proof that THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS

COME UPON US!

During the Divine Liturgy, when we beseech God for “... pardon and the remission of sins and transgressions...” as well as “... a good Defence before the Dread Judgement Set of Christ...” we affirm that there is truly a JUST REWARD or

RETRIBUTION – A VERY REAL JUDGEMENT FOR EVERY

WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED SINCE OUR FIRST

MOMENT OF EXISTENCE!

EVERY ACTION HAS A CONSEQUENCE!

The Hebrews expected the Messiah to be an earthly, conquering King – a “political success story” – not a “failure!” (ACCORDING TO HUMAN EXPECTATIONS AND

MISCONCEPTIONS.)

IT WAS NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO WONDER WHY OR HOW

CHRIST COULD BE EXECUTED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A

DEGRADING AND TERRIBLE MANNER as He is superior to the Holy Angels of God, BEING A DIVINE PERSON

HIMSELF – THE ETERNAL AND IMMORTAL INCARNATE

SON OF GOD.

However, ST PAUL, WHO HAD ATTAINED HIS KNOWLEDGE

AND UNDERSTANDING DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST

HIMSELF AT HIS CONVERSION, IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN it to us as follows:

] THE HUMILIATION, SUFFERING AND DEATH OF OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS ONLY TEMPORARY BUT

IT WAS THE ONLY MEANS OF REDEEMING MORTAL,

FALLEN MANKIND AND RE-ESTABLISHING OUR

GOD-INTENDED DOMINION OVER ALL CREATION,

INCLUDING HIS HOLY ANGELS.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE COULD BE SET FREE FROM THE

ENSLAVEMENT OF SIN AND DEATH, AND RESTORED TO

OUR FORMER STATE OF GRACE ACCORDING TO DIVINE

WILL.

] Psalm 8 refers to THE INCARNATE LORD WHOSE

NAME”... IS WONDROUS... in all the earth, and

Who is “... EXALTED far beyond the heavens...” Who brings forth praises from His humble people, who are likened to little children who implicitly trust in God.

He is THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE WHO LOVES

MANKIND to such an extent that after our fall into sin, which resulted in death and decay, HE BECAME

INCARNATE SO AS TO SAVE AND REDEEM – RENEW –

US BY RESTORING US TO OUR FORMER GLORIOUS

STATE AND CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

The Incarnation of the Son of God made Him “... a little lower than the Angels...” whereas HIS EVENTUAL

SUFFERING AND DEATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM.

THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST, which should have brought shame and dishonour, has BROUGHT CHRIST AND

HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS EVERLASTING GLORY AND

HONOUR.

ALL THE WONDERFUL GOODNESS WITH WHICH GOD HAS

BLESSED AND REDEEMED US WAS DUE ONLY TO HIS

GREAT MERCY AND INFINITE LOVE FOR US.

HIS GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS ARE GRANTED FREELY TO

US BY HIS DIVINE GRACE – THEY ARE HIS DIVINE

GIFTS, WHICH HE FREELY BESTOWS UPON US AS

UNWORTHY AS WE ARE – and He has always done so, even when we are in a state of Spiritual Death – before seeking Repentance-Confession and Divine Forgiveness.

When Christ “tasted Death,” HE FULLY EXPERIENCED THE

STATE OF LIFELESSNESS – DEATH – WHICH HE

VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED on behalf of every human being who ever has or will exist – and not only for those who are His Faithful people – FOR ALL

HUMANITY THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

CHRIST IS THE PIONEERING CAPTAIN OF THE NARROW

PATH TO GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE in His Suffering, Death, Descent into Hades, Resurrection and Ascension.

] IN SALVATION WE TOO TAKE ON CHRIST’S MANNER OF

SUFFERINGS: OUR PERFECTION – THEOSIS –

REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND PROGRESS

THAT IS REVEALED BY PATIENT, ENDURED

SUFFERING.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10: 16 – 21 OUR LORD’S SENDING FORTH OF HIS 70 APOSTLES AND HIS CAUTIONARY WARNINGS TO THEM

At that time our Lord Jesus said to them: “He who hears you, hears Me, he who rejects you, rejects Him Who sent Me.”

Then the Seventy returned with Joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Thy Name!”

So He told them: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Behold, I grant you the Authority to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this - that the spirits are subject to you - but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven!”

In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said: “I thank Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy Sight.”

] WE HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY WARNED BY OUR LORD

AND SAVIOUR, THAT OUR JUDGEMENT WILL BE

SEVERE IF WE REJECT HIM AFTER EXPERIENCING

HIS DIVINE GRACE.

In contrast, THOSE WHO TRULY HAVE NEVER KNOWN CHRIST due to their genuine ignorance are without sin in that regard and instead WILL BE JUDGED BY THEIR GOD-

GIVEN CONSCIENCE.

� John 15:22 – 24: Christ said: “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

“He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the Works that no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.”

REBELLION AGAINST GOD REVEALS THAT WHILE UNION

WITH CHRIST BRINGS LOVE, TRUTH AND PEACE, IT ALSO

BRINGS PERSECUTION, BECAUSE THE FALLEN WORLD

HATES LOVE AND TRUTH. The fallen world hates Christ and also hates all who strive to become Christ-like.

Furthermore: THE FALLEN WORLD HATES CHRIST BECAUSE

IT NEITHER KNOWS NOR DESIRES TO KNOW GOD THE

FATHER.

HATRED OF CHRIST IS IRRATIONAL AND UNREASONABLE –

AS IS ALL FORMS OF HATRED, BECAUSE CHRIST BRINGS

LOVE AND MERCY TO EVERYONE UNCONDITIONALLY.

� Romans 2: 12 – 16: St Paul explained “... as many as have sinned without Law will also perish without

Law... these, although not having the Law, are a

Law to themselves, who show the Work of the

Law written in their hearts, their conscience also

bearing witness... God will Judge the secrets of

men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.” GENTILES WERE COUNTED AS HEBREWS – GOD’S PEOPLE –

WHEN THEIR CONSCIENCE LED THEM TO

RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE MANNER THAT THE MOSAIC

LAW LED A VIRTUOUS HEBREW.

The Law “... written in their hearts...” refers to OUR

CONSCIENCE WHICH IS GOD-GIVEN AND HAS THE SAME

POWER AS THE LAW TO LEAD US TO GOD.

] THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEIR CONSCIENCE TO GOD ARE

MORE VIRTUOUS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE THE LAW

TO GUIDE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT HAVE THE

ADVANTAGE OF CONCRETE INSTRUCTIONS AND

GUIDELINES, YET STILL DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD. (ST

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM) However, such Gentiles were no better off than the

Hebrews who, despite having the advantage of the “Oracles of God” – Mosaic Law and the Holy Prophets – to lead and guide them towards God did not become more Righteous for everyone is sinful.

THE FALL OF SATAN TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE CREATION

OF THE WORLD. FIVE TIMES SATAN SET HIS WILL

AGAINST GOD.

THE TERM “BABES” IS A REFERENCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE

SIMPLE, OPEN HEARTS AND FAITH IN GOD.

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9 November 2010

St Nektarios Kephalas of Pentapolis & Aegina Beloved Holy Wonderworker

Feast of St Onesiphoros & St Porphyrios of Ephesos – St Matrona, Abbess of Constantinople – St Onesiphoros the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves – St Alexander

of Thessalonika – St Anthony of Apamea – St John the Dwarf of Egypt – St Eustolia of Constantinople – St Sopatra of Constantinople – St Theoktiste of Lesbos – St Euthymios & St Neophytos, Co-Founders of Dochiariou Monastery, Mount Athos – The Wonder-working “Quick to Hear” Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, Docheiariou Monastery, Mount Athos

A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t N e k t a r i o s – T o n e 1

Silivrias ton gonon ke Eginis ton eforon, ton eskhatis hronis fanenta, aretis filon gnision, Nektarion timisomen pisti, os entheon theraponta Hristou; anavlizi gar iasis pantodapas, tis evlavos kravgazousi: Doxa to Se, doxanti Hristo, Doxa to Se thavmastosanti! Doxa to energounti dia Sou, pasin iamata!

Silivria’s the offspring and Protector of Aegina, the True Friend of all Virtue, who appeared to us lately, Nektarios the godly servant of Christ, let us honour, we the Faithful; for he pours forth healings of every kind, on those who piously cry out: Glory to Christ Who Glorified thee! Glory to Him Who magnified Thee! Glory to the One Who works through Thee, Healings for everyone!

K o n t a k i o n O f S t N e k t a r i o s – T o n e P l a g a l 4

Orthodoxias ton astera ton neofoton, ke Ekklisias to Neodmiton protihisma, animnisomen kardias en evfrosini. Doxasthis gar energia ti tou Pnevmatos, iamaton anavlizi Harin afthonon, tis kravgazousi. Heris Pater Nektarie!

In joy, let our hearts praise the latest shining Star of the Orthodox, the newly erected Rampart of the Church. For, Glorified by the Work of the Spirit, he abundantly pours forth the Grace of Healing to those who cry out, "Hail, Father Nektarios!"

K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E n t r y I n t o T h e T e m p l e 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




The Matins Gospel According to St Matthew 24 : 42 - 47 At that time, our Lord said: “Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know

this: that if the Master of the house had known what hour the thief should come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Master made ruler over His Household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Master, when He comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that He will make him Ruler over all His Goods..”

Prokeimenon My mouth shall speak Wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding. Thy Priests shall clothe themselves in Righteousness; Thy Saints shall greatly rejoice!

Second Thessalonians 1 : 10 – 2 : 2 T H E P R E S E N T P E R S E C U T I O N

Brethren: When the Lord comes, in that Day, to be Glorified in His Saints and to be admired among all those who

believe, because our Testimony among you was believed.

Therefore, we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this Calling, and fulfil all the good

pleasure of His Goodness and the Work of Faith with Power, that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be

Glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, Brethren, concerning the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not

to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day

of Christ had come.

God’s Calling and the Work of Faith are unified through our co-operation with God’s Divine Power.

God reveals His Dread Judgement and His Glory to us to help us towards Righteousness.

“If the fear of an earthly King withdraws us from so many evils, how much more the Fear of the King

Eternal!” (St John Chrysostom) How we bear up under unjust persecution now is

evidence of how we will stand before God at the Final Judgement.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 12 : 42 - 48 C H R I S T O U R S A V I O U R W A R N S U S A G A I N S T L A Z I N E S S A N D F O R G E T F U L N E S S

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Who then is the faithful and wise Steward, whom his Master will make ruler over His Household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when He comes.

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“Truly, I say to you that He will make him ruler over all that He has. “But if that servant says in his heart: ‘My Master is delaying His Return...’ and begins to beat the male and

female servants, and to eat and drink, and be drunk, the Master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

“And that servant who knew his Master’s Will, and did not prepare himself or do according to His Will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”

OUR LORD’S EXHORTATIONS TO THE PRINCIPLES OF

VIRTUE AND HIS DIRE WARNINGS AGAINST

CORRUPTION APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE WHO

ARE ENTRUSTED WITH SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP.

The Judgement of the Holy Teachers of the Church will be very strict.

� James 3 : 1 : “Brethren: let not many of you become Teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter Judgement.”

St James warned against becoming a Christian Teacher due to the tremendous weight of Spiritual

Responsibility that is carried upon their shoulders and for which they shall be judged even more strictly than those whom they teach and guide.

The “many stripes” - the severe punishment - given to those who are wilfully and knowingly disobedient to God symbolise the Eternal Condemnation they will suffer, while those who are disobedient due to their genuine ignorance will suffer only a “few stripes,” indicating Divine Chastisement or correction.

A Miracle in Romania As there were no Priests in a small, remote village of

Romania and despite innumerable requests for a Parish Priest – even a visiting Priest - the Patriarch was unable to satisfy the needs of his Flock due to the general insufficient number of Holy Fathers under his jurisdiction.

Consequently, the faithful reposed without any Funeral Service, relationships were unsanctified by Betrothal and Marriage Blessings, and everyone from children to adults remained unbaptised.

One day a car stopped outside the village church and a Priest stepped out, shouting loudly for all the people to gather.

The villagers were astonished and immediately entered the church to welcome him and to ask him: “Holy Father, how did You manage to come to our

village when our Patriarch has told us on so many

occasions that he does not have anyone to send to

us?” And the Priest answered: “Is is not what you have

prayed for? You asked for a Priest, now one has

come!”

The villagers were overjoyed by the presence of this new Priest who immediately set to work.

He went to all the graves and read the Trisagion Prayers at each one; he Baptised everyone and united in Holy Matrimony those who had formerly lived in a state of sin; he heard the repentant sinners Confess and he served Holy Communion to the eager and thankful congregation.

Finally, the day came when he gathered everyone into the church to inform them that he had to leave since his Holy Mission had been accomplished.

The Romanian villagers were deeply saddened and confused by his announced and asked him: “Holy Father, now that you have come to us, how can

you leave us again?”

But the Holy Priest explained that as much as he would have liked to, he could not remain with them any longer, so the deeply saddened parishioners, accepting the fact that he had to leave, thanked him profusely for everything he had done for them in such a short time.

A few days after his departure, the villagers went to thank their Patriarch for having sent such a wonderful Priest to their poor little village, and to let him know that they would greatly appreciate it if he could send them another Priest as soon as possible.

However, the Patriarch was amazed and most mystified by their words and he told them that he had most certainly not sent them a Priest since he did not have one to spare.

Nevertheless he decided to check with the Chancellor to see if somehow he had managed to get a Priest to fulfil their needs.

He immediately phoned the Chancellor but he too had not sent anyone to the village.

Then the Patriarch inquired, "What did this Priest do for you?" And the villagers happily answered: “He married us; he Baptised us; he performed Funerals

and read Trisagion Prayers for our parents and families – he did everything that any other Holy Priest would have done for us!”

The Patriarch asked if the Holy Visitor had given them any official papers or recorded the Holy Mysteries he had performed for all the villagers.

"Of course," responded the people, "he gave us papers and he wrote in the Church's books."

And the Patriarch continued: “Then did anyone see what he wrote? And with what name he signed?"

And their spokesman said: "All the documents were written in Romanian and we are not well educated

but the signature he signed in a language we have

not seen before." The Patriarch requested them to fetch the Parish books

so that he could see who the mysterious Priest was and when they returned with the specific book of Parish Records, the Patriarch was speechless!

He could not believe his eyes! Indeed all the documents were correctly written in

Romanian while the Holy Priest’s name was written and signed in Greek: “Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis."

This was the biggest Miracle of the Century in Romania! May St Nektarios’ memory be Eternal! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE – THE BIGGEST MIRACLE OF

THE CENTURY IN ROMANIA”

http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/11/great-miracle-of-st-nektarios-in.html

My Beloved Spiritual Father SHORTLY BEFORE MY HOLY CALLING IN JERUSALEM IN SEPTEMBER 1980, IN

SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE, MY HUSBAND, HIS MOTHER AND I HAD VISITED ST NEKTARIOS’ MONASTERY ON THE ISLAND OF AEGINA.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF TEACHING ORTHODOXY AND SERVING OUR LORD IN VARIOUS OTHER WAYS, I WAS IN 2001 DIAGNOSED AS BEING IN A VERY ADVANCED STAGE OF CANCER. THERE WAS LITTLE HOPE OF RECOVERY BUT I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT IT AT ALL SINCE I TRULY BELIEVE GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING SO WE CAN REST IN HIM AND LET HIM LEAD THE WAY...

I HAD AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRIALS FOR A NEW FORM OF CHEMO-THERAPY SINCE I COULD NO LONGER DONATE ANY PARTS OF MY BODY TO HELP OTHERS, AND I FELT AT LEAST SOMETHING WORTHWHILE COULD BE ACHIEVED.

EVERY SUNDAY EVENING BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE VAST DOSES OF LARGE PILLS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CHEMO THE NEXT DAY, I WOULD LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPH OF ST NEKTARIOS � AND ASK HIM TO HELP ME SWALLOW THE ESSENTIAL MEDICATION (I HAVE DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING) AND WHEN THINGS GOT A BIT TOUGH, I WOULD SEE HIS LOVELY FACE BEFORE ME AND FALL INTO A DEEP SLEEP WHILE MY BODY DEALT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

CONSEQUENTLY, BY DIVINE GRACE AND THE INTERCESSION OF ST NEKTARIOS, ALTHOUGH MY BODY SUFFERED TREMENDOUS TRAUMA, MYSTERIOUSLY, I DID NOT! (PROVED BY THE JOURNALS MY DEAREST HUSBAND KEPT FOR THE DOCTORS’ RECORDS.)

SEVERAL YEARS LATER, WHILE PREPARING THE SACRED LESSON PAGES FOR THE FEAST OF ST NEKTARIOS, I SUDDENLY REALISED THAT HE HAS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED AND GUIDED ME WITH MY ORTHODOX TEACHING AND GUIDANCE OF OTHERS, AND, UNKNOWINGLY, IT WAS HIS WORDS THAT I USED TO TEACH AND GUIDE BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

SINCE MY CONVERSION TO OTHODOXY IN 1979 I HAVE SAT BELOW HIS HOLY ICON IN OUR PARISH CHURCH AND ONLY WHEN I CAME ACROSS TRANSLATIONS OF HIS WORKS, DID I REALISE THE FULL SIGNIFICANCE OF ST NEKTARIOS IN MY OWN LIFE!

FURTHERMORE, I LEARNT THAT HE HAS BECOME THE PATRON SAINT OF CANCER SUFFERERS – A FACT UNKNOWN WHILE TRAVELLING ALONG THAT ROCKY ROAD!

I HAVE SET AS MY FINAL TASK THE COMPILATION OF ALL HOLY SERVICES IN HONOUR OF ST NEKTARIOS IN ENGLISH (WITH GREEK TRANSLITERATION) BEFORE MY FINAL REPOSE... I AM SLOWLY GETTING THERE!

ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO GOD FOR HIS INFINITE GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR ALL WRETCHED AND UNWORTHY SINNERS SUCH AS ME!

MP

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11 November 2010 St Menas the Great Martyr of Egypt

Also the Feast of St Victor of Damascus – St Vincent of Spain – St Stephanida of Spain – St Theodore the Confessor & Abbot of Studion – St Maximos the Fool for Christ of Moscow – St Martyrios of Veliki Luki (Great Meadows) Monastery – St Stephen of Dechani, Serbia – St Martin the Merciful of Tours

A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t M e n a s – T o n e ( 6 ) P l a g a l 1

Tous megistous agonas tou Martiriou Sou, kateropsihos anisas Megalomartis Mina, Ouranion doreon lampros ixiose, ke thavmaton aftourgos, ek Theou anadihthis, prostatis imin edothis, ke voithos en anages, ke antiliptor enargestatos.

The most fearful contests of thy Martyrdom, stout-heartedly enduring, O Great Martyr Menas, the Divine Gifts thou brilliantly merited; and being shown by God, as Worker of Miracles, thou were sent to us as Protector, and aid in our needs of life, and a Helper

most responsive to us. K o n t a k i o n O f H o l y M a l e M a r t y r s – T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

I Martires Sou, Kyrie, en ti athlisis afton, to stefos ekomisanto tis aftharsias, ek Sou tou Theou imon; ehontes tin iskhin Sou, tous tirannous kathilon. Ethrafsan ke demonon ta aniskhira thrasi; afton tes ikesies Hriste, O Theos, soson tas psihas imon.

Thy loyal Martyrs, O Lord, while contending for Thee, the Crown of Incorruption they earned for themselves, from Thee the God of all of us; for armed with Thy Might, they defeated the tyrants, and crushed all the demons and their powerless presumption. Through their Intercessions, O Christ our God, we pray to Thee to Save our souls!

The Second Epistle of St Paul to the Thessalonians 2 : 13 – 3 : 5 W E M U S T S T A N D F A S T I N O U R O R T H O D O X F A I T H

Brethren: We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, beloved of the Lord, because God, from the

beginning, chose you for Salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the Truth, to which He

Called you by our Gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, Brethren, stand fast and hold the Traditions, which you were taught, whether by word or our Epistle.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, Who has Loved us and given us everlasting

Consolation and Good Hope by Grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every Good Word and Work.

Finally, Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and

that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have Faith.

But the Lord is Faithful, Who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

St Paul instructed the early Christians – and this most definitely still applies to us today – that when the world falls even deeper into a dark and sinful state, Faithful Christians must not become distressed or deceived by the wicked people but rather persevere as Good Stewards of Divine Truth and Life in Christ.

According to the New Covenant with God there are two types of “tradition”:

ä THE TRADITION OF MAN is soundly condemned by our Lord Jesus Who described it as “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men!”

� Matthew 15: 1 – 9 “... the Scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem went to Jesus, saying: ‘Why dost Thy Disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’

“He answered and said: ‘Why do you also transgress the Commandment of God because of your tradition?

“For God commanded: “Honour thy father and thy mother,” and “he who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say: “”Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a Gift to God” – then he need not honour his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the Commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOUR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN!’

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them: ‘HEAR AND UNDERSTAND: NOT WHAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH DEFILES A MAN, BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH; THIS DEFILES A MAN!”

] Christ shows that THE DIVINE COMMANDMENT OF GOD CANNOT BE SUPERSEDED BY MAN’S RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS.

] DEVOTION TO GOD INCLUDES BOTH OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS AND SERVICE TO OTHERS –

these two cannot be separated. � James 2: 14 – 18 “What does it profit, my Brethren,

if someone says he has Faith but does not have Works? Can Faith Save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them: ‘Depart in Peace, be warmed and filled...’ but you do not give them the thing that are needed for the body, what does it profit?”

ä FAITH THAT SAVES IS A COMPLETE FAITH, not just the mind and tongue but the whole person trusting in the Living God, for OUR FAITH AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD – OUR JUSTIFICATION – IS DYNAMIC AND ALIVE!

� 1 John 4: 7 – 21 “Beloved, let us Love one another, for Love is of God...”

ä GOD IS LOVE! And this is not a definition of Who God is but rather DESCRIBES HIS RELATIONSHIP TO US AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. AS HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON SACRIFICIALLY GAVE HIMSELF SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM, SO ARE WE TO GIVE OURSELVES TO HIM AND TO ONE ANOTHER.

ä WE KNOW THAT GOD TRULY LIVES IN US WHEN WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS MUCH AS GOD LOVES US; IF WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE HOLY SPIRIT; IF WE CONFESS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD AND IF WE ABIDE IN THE DIVINE

LOVE OF GOD. � Colossians 2: 8 “AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS

THE LORD, SO WALK IN HIM!

� Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord said: ‘THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOUR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME, AND THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN!’

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The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 13 : 1 – 9 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNREPENTANT

At that time, there were present at that season, some who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had

mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered and said to them: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were

worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you: No! For unless you repent

you will all likewise perish!

“And those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed, do you think that they were worse sinners than all

other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you: no! For unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Jesus also narrated a Parable: “A certain Man had planted a Fig Tree in His Vineyard, and He went seeking Fruit on it

but found none. So He said to the Keeper of His Vineyard, ‘Behold, for three years I have come seeking Fruit on this fig tree but find none. Cut it down! Why does it use up the ground?’ But the Keeper answered and said to Him: ‘Master, let it alone this year also, until I have dug around it and fertilised it. And if it bears Fruit, all is well, but if not, after that, Thou can cut it down.’”

These two historical incidents are only recorded by St Luke in his Holy Gospel.

The slain Galileans were probably Zealots, Jewish Nationalists, who triggered some disturbance against the Romans.

The collapse of the tower in Siloam, whether by accident or sabotage, was believed to be Divine Justice on sinners.

Yet our Lord Jesus Christ denied that such devastation and suffering was caused by God or due to His Divine Judgement on sinners.

Instead our Lord used these particular events as illustrations for those who perish Eternally because they refuse to repent their sins.

Our Lord’s Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree is universally interpreted in the Holy Church as referring to the fallen state of all humanity.

The three years represent God’s Holy Covenant with His People through St Abraham, St Moses and His Only Begotten Son, God Incarnate - our Lord Jesus Christ - including His three year public Ministry - all of which are rejected by the ungodly, fallen world.

The Keeper of the Vineyard is our Most Compassionate Lord Jesus Christ Who intercedes on our behalf so that He should suffer His Passion, Death and Resurrection before sending us our Great Comforter, Advocate and Divine Guide and Teacher, God the Holy Spirit Who enables us to achieve Spiritual Heights that without God would be impossible to do, before we are confronted by the General Resurrection and the Final Judgement of Christ.

St Menas – the Great Holy Martyr of Egypt St Menas was an Egyptian by birth and served as a

Roman Military Officer in the Kotvaeion region of

Phrygia under the command of Firmilian during

the reign of Emperors Diocletian (284 3305) and

Maximian (305 – 311).

When the Roman Emperors began the most relentless

and cruellest persecution of Christians in history,

St Menas refused to obey their malicious orders.

He removed his belt of authority that reflected his

Military Rank, and withdrew into the

mountainous region, where he kept an Ascetic

Life of Fasting and Prayer.

During a pagan festival, St Menas happened to visit

the city and at the climax of the games, his

accusing voice rang out aloud, preaching Faith in

Christ our Saviour of the fallen world to the

gathered multitude.

As expected, he was promptly arrested and

imprisoned and when brought before Prefect

Pyrrhus for his sentencing, St Menas boldly

confessed his unwavering Faith in Christ,

proclaiming to all within hearing distance that he

had come to denounce the impious, which

further enraged the Roman lackeys.

However, as soon as the Prefect learnt of St Menas’

former life in the Roman Legion, he offered to

restore him to his former rank once St Menas

made a reconciliatory offering to the pagan gods.

Nevertheless, St Menas vehemently refused to co3

operate and continued to castigate the pagans for

their false beliefs that always proved to be

useless and ineffectual compared to the infinite

Blessings, Divine Miracles and Providence of our

One Almighty and Living God and His Son, our

Lord Jesus Christ.

Consequently, on 11 November 304, St Menas was

finally beheaded by sword, having endured the

most hideous and inhumane torture but also

being Perfected in Holy Martyrdom.

Faithful Christians gathered up St Menas’ Holy Relics

during the night and kept them hidden until after

many painful and terrible years, the persecution

of Christians ceased.

Eventually the Holy Relics of St Menas were returned

to Egypt where they were laid to rest in a church

that had been built in honour of him, which was

situated in an area south3west of Alexandria.

By Divine Grace, St Menas continued to work many

Miracles and helping those who sought his

intercessory Prayers.

St Menas is the Patron Saint of healing various

ailments, delivering the possessed from demons,

and as a Holy Protector, especially during the

horrors of warfare.

St Menas also assists those who seek his guidance in

finding lost objects and possessions.

May his memory be Eternal! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE LIVES OF SAINTS – FEASTS & SAINTS OF THE

ORTHODOX CHURCH - http://www.oca.org/FSlives.asp

The Wisdom of St John of Kronstadt ] “WHEN SOME INWARD DISTURBANCE OR WEAKNESS OF

THE HEART PREVENTS YOU FROM PRONOUNCING

THE WORDS OF THE PRAYERS DURING DIVINE

SERVICE, then consider such disturbance and weakness as an illusion of the enemy, of the demon.

REJECT THE DESPONDENCY, THE FAINT-HEARTEDNESS,

AND TIMIDITY, AND SPEAK CONCERNING THE NAME

OF THE LORD WITHOUT HURRYING, CALMLY AND

INTENTIONALLY LOUDER.

You will thus overcome your disturbance and weakness, and will obtain courage and strength.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE

AND TRUST.

WE MUST STRUGGLE AND CONQUER.” ] “WHEN YOUR HEART IS TOUCHED BY THOUGHTS OF

FORNICATION, OR IMPURITY, EVIL, OR BLASPHEMY,

OR WHEN THOUGHTS OF MALICE, ENVY, AVARICE,

COVETOUSNESS, GLUTTONY, DARKEN, WOUND, AND

OPPRESS YOU, then say to yourself, with firm, heartfelt conviction, that ALL THIS IS THE

IMAGINATION OF THE DEVIL, and all such ideas and thoughts shall immediately vanish.

BLESSED IS HE WHO ‘SPEAKS THE TRUTH FROM HIS

HEART’. [PSALM XV. 2,3.] TORTURED WILL BE HE WHO IMAGINES OR THINKS OF

EVIL AND SIN IN HIS HEART! ‘TRIBULATION AND

ANGUISH UPON EVERY SOUL OF MAN WHO COMMITS

EVIL.’ [ROMANS 2.9.]

DESPISE THE CARNAL DELIGHT OF SIN, FOR IT IS A

PROVOCATION OF THE PERISHABLE FLESH.

WHEN A THOUGHT OF DOUBT IN THE TRUTH COMES TO

YOU, SAY ALOUD: THIS THOUGHT IS AN ILLUSION,

WHILST THE TRUTH REMAINS-ETERNAL TRUTH.”

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13 November 2010 St John Chrysostom of Constantine

Feast of St Antoninos, St Nicephoros, St Germanos, and St Manetha of Caesarea – St Damascene Monk-Martyr of Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos

A po l y t i k i o n O f S t J o h n C h r y s o s t o m – T o n e P l a g a l 4

I tou stomatos Sou, kathaper pirsos eklampsasa haris tin ikoumenin efotisen; afilargirias to kosmo thisavrous enapetheto; to ipsos imin, tis tapinofrosinis ipedixen. Alla sis logis pedevon, Pater Ioanni Hrisostome, presveve to Logo Hristo to Theo,

sothine tas psihas imon.

The Grace of thy mouth which has shone like a beacon, has illumined the Universe; it stored up in the world treasures of the absence of avarice; it showed to us the height of humility. Therefore, instructing by thy words, O Father John Chrysostom, intercede with the Word, Christ our God, that our souls may be Saved.

Kon t a k i o n O f S t J o hn C h r y s o s t o m – T o n e P l a g a l 2

Ek ton Ouranon edexo tin thian harin, ke dia ton son hileon, pantasdidaskis, proskinin en Triadi ton ena Theon, Ioanni Hrisostome, pammakariste osie, epazios evfimoumen se. Iperhis gar kathigitis, os ta thia safon.

Thou received Divine Grace from Heaven, and by thy own lips taught all to worship the One God in Trinity. All-Blessed, Venerable John Chrysostom, deservedly, we praise thee for thou art a Teacher clearly revealing things Divine

No v e m b e r U n t i l 2 5 N o v e m b e r ] – E n t r y O f E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s

O katharotatos Naos tou Sotiros, i politimitos pastas ke Parthenos, to Iron Thisavrisma tis Doxis tou Theou, simeron isagete, en to iko Kyriou, tin Harin sinisagousa, tin en Pnevmati dio: In animnousin Angeli Theou. Afti iparhi, skini epouranios

The very purest Abode of the Saviour, and the Most Priceless Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Most Sacred Treasure of the Glory of God, today is led inside the House of the Lord, bringing in the Grace with her, of the Holy Spirit. It is for her God’s Angels sing in praise: She is truly a Heavenly Tabernacle!

The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 7 : 26 – 8 : 2 J e s u s C h r i s t i s o u r o n e a n d o n l y e t e r n a l h i g h p r i e s t

Brethren: a High Priest was fitting for us, Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become

higher than the Heavens, who does not need daily, as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own

sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the Law appoints as High Priests men who have weakness, but the word of the Oath, which came after the Law

appoints the Son Who has been perfected forever.

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: we have such a High Priest Who is seated at the right hand of

the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Ministry of the Sanctuary and of the True Tabernacle, which the

Lord erected, and not man.

] Not only is the Founder of the New Covenant

Priesthood superior to that of the Old

Covenant, the Rules of the New Covenant’s

Priestly Order are also superior.

Priesthood is so intertwined with a Covenant that if the Priesthood is changed, so is the Covenant.

"Majesty" is a biblical name for God the Father.

] A High Priest sitting on the right hand of

Majesty would have to be both human and

Divine as is our Lord Jesus Christ. "Seated” means that no one but an equal sits in the

presence of a King – much less in the Presence of Almighty God.

] The Covenant of Jesus Christ solves the

problems that the Mosaic Covenant could

not. Both Holy Covenants come from God’s Grace and

require man’s willed response.

] However, the Covenant of Moses is external to

man and cannot solve the root of

humanity’s problem – sin and death. ä It cannot reunite and reintegrate the souls of

human beings ä It is learnt by being taught. ä It is heeded with fearful compliance, ä It gives imperfect forgiveness – (only temporary)

] The Covenant of Jesus Christ, on the contrary,

is internal

ä it heals our nature,

ä It unifies the Inner Being – mind and soul

are joined in Union with God.

ä It therefore is intuitively understood,

ä It is heeded with willing co-operation or

synergy and

ä It gives perfect forgiveness, even those sins

that the Old Covenant was powerless to

deal with.

The Holy Gospel According to St John 10 : 9 – 16 OUR LORD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEPOUR LORD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEPOUR LORD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEPOUR LORD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP

At that time our Lord said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come so that they may have Life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep. But a hireling - he who is not the Shepherd, one who does not own the sheep - sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

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“I Am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My Voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.”

The “thief” – the devil – steals, kills and destroys

the Virtues of Christian Life and lays waste

those who follow his heresies.

] Life “more abundantly” is the Life of God’s

Kingdom, offered us by Christ Himself.

(Psalm 23:5 “Thou prepares a table before me in the

presence of mine enemies; Thou anoints my

head with oil; my cup overflows.”) Verse 11 “I Am the Good Shepherd…” is a prophecy of

our Lord’s impending Death, through which his people are to be reconciled to God the Father.

] The “Good Shepherd,” Christ, and His under-

Shepherds [His Bishops and Priests] look

after the Sheep [the Faithful Christians]

even to the point of giving their lives for

them.

The “hireling” – the uncommitted religious leader - is contrasted with the “Shepherd” – the one who considers the “Sheep” his own.

The hired hand looks primarily after himself.

] “Other Sheep” are the Gentiles who will be

brought into the “one Flock” under the

“one Shepherd.”

Therefore the Church cannot be divided along

denominational, ethnic, cultural or family

lines.

This is also a reference to all those who have had diverse, heretical beliefs but who finally find God’s Truth with Christ our Lord, Saviour and God.

St John Chrysostom – On Fasting Fasting is the change of every part of our life, because

THE SACRIFICE OF THE FAST IS NOT THE

ABSTINENCE BUT THE DISTANCING FROM SINS.

Therefore, whoever limits the Fast to the deprivation of food, he is the one who, in reality, abhors and ridicules the Fast.

Are you Fasting? SHOW ME YOUR FAST WITH YOUR

WORKS. Which works? If you see someone who is poor, show

him mercy. If you see an enemy, reconcile with him. If you see a friend who is becoming successful, do not be jealous of him! If you see a beautiful woman on the street, pass her by.

In other words, NOT ONLY SHOULD THE MOUTH FAST,

BUT THE EYES AND THE LEGS AND THE ARMS AND

ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY SHOULD FAST

AS WELL. Let the hands Fast, remaining clean from stealing and

greediness. Let the legs Fast, avoiding roads which lead to sinful

sights. Let the eyes Fast by not fixing themselves on beautiful

faces and by not observing the beauty of others. You are not eating meat, are you? YOU SHOULD NOT EAT

DEBAUCHERY WITH YOUR EYES EITHER. Let your hearing also Fast. THE FAST OF HEARING IS

NOT TO ACCEPT BAD TALK AGAINST OTHERS AND SLY

DEFAMATIONS. Let the mouth Fast from disgraceful and abusive words,

because, what gain is there when, on the one hand we avoid eating chicken and fish and, on the other, WE CHEW-UP AND CONSUME OUR BROTHERS?

HE WHO CONDEMNS AND BLASPHEMES IS AS IF HE HAS

EATEN BROTHERLY MEAT, AS IF HE HAS BITTEN INTO

THE FLESH OF HIS FELLOW MAN.

It is because of this that St Paul frightened us, saying: "If you chew up and consume one another be careful that you do not annihilate yourselves."

You did not thrust your teeth into the flesh (of your neighbour) but you thrusted bad talk in his soul; YOU WOUNDED IT BY SPREADING DISFAME, CAUSING

UNESTIMATABLE DAMAGE BOTH TO YOURSELF, TO

HIM, AND TO MANY OTHERS.

If you cannot go without eating all day because of an ailment of the body, no logical person will be able to criticize you for that. Besides, WE HAVE A LORD

WHO IS MEEK AND LOVING (PHILANTHROPIC) AND

WHO DOES NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING BEYOND OUR

POWER.

Because he neither requires the abstinence from foods, neither that the Fast take place for the simple sake of Fasting, neither is its aim that we remain with empty stomachs, but that WE FAST TO OFFER OUR

ENTIRE SELVES TO THE DEDICATION OF SPIRITUAL

THINGS, HAVING DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM

SECULAR THINGS. If we regulated our life with a sober mind and directed

all of our interest toward Spiritual Things, and if we ate as much as we needed to satisfy our necessary needs and offered our entire lives to Good Works, we would not have any need of the help rendered by the Fast.

But because human nature is indifferent and gives itself over mostly to comfort and gratification, OUR

PHILANTHROPIC LORD, LIKE A LOVING AND CARING

FATHER, DEVISED THE THERAPY OF THE FAST FOR

US, SO THAT OUR GRATIFICATIONS WOULD BE

COMPLETELY STOPPED AND THAT OUR WORLDLY

CARES BE TRANSFERRED TO SPIRITUAL WORKS. There really are WAYS THAT ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT

THAN ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD, WHICH BOLDLY

OPEN THE GATES LEADING TO GOD. Therefore, THOSE WHO EAT AND CANNOT FAST, MUST

PERFORM RICHER ALMSGIVING, PRAY MORE, HAVE A

MORE INTENSE DESIRE TO HEAR DIVINE WORDS.

In this, our somatic illness is not a hindrance. WE MUST BECOME RECONCILED WITH ENEMIES AND

DISTANCE FROM OUR SOUL EVERY RESENTMENT.

IF WE ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS, THEN WE HAVE DONE

THE TRUE FAST, which is what our Lord asks of us more than anything else.

It is for this reason that He asks us to abstain from food, in order TO PLACE THE FLESH IN SUBJECTION

TO THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS COMMANDMENTS,

THEREBY CURBING ITS IMPETUOUSNESS. But if we are not about to offer to ourselves the help

rendered by the Fast because of bodily illness and at the same time display greater indifference, we will see ourselves in an unusual exaggerated way.

For if the Fast does not help us when all the aforementioned accomplishments are missing so much is the case when we display greater indifference because we cannot even use the medicine of Fasting.

Since you have Learnt these things from us, I pardon you - those who can, FAST AND YOU YOURSELVES

INCREASE YOUR ACUTENESS AND PRAISEWORTHY

DESIRE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

To our Brethren who cannot Fast because of bodily illness, encourage them not to abandon this Spiritual Word, teaching them and passing on to them all the things we teach, showing them that HE

WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITH MODERATION IS NOT

UNWORTHY TO HEAR THESE THINGS BUT HE WHO IS

INDIFFERENT AND SLACK. "He who eats for the Glory of the Lord eats and

he who does not eat for the Glory of the Lord does not eat and pleases God," for HE WHO

FASTS PLEASES GOD BECAUSE HE HAS THE

STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE FATIGUE OF THE FAST

AND HE THAT EATS ALSO PLEASES GOD BECAUSE

NOTHING OF THIS SORT CAN HARM THE SALVATION

OF HIS SOUL, AS LONG AS HE DOES NOT WANT IT TO. Because OUR PHILANTHROPIC GOD SHOWED US SO

MANY WAYS BY WHICH WE CAN, IF WE DESIRE, TAKE

PART IN GOD'S POWER it is impossible to mention them all.

Food does not bring us shame like acts of wrongdoing. SIN IS A GREAT SHAME AND SO, NOT ONLY SHOULD WE

FEEL GUILTY BUT WE SHOULD COVER OURSELVES AS

THOSE WHO ARE WOUNDED DO.

EVEN THEN WE SHOULD NOT FORSAKE OURSELVES BUT

RUSH TO CONFESSION AND THANKSGIVING.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM HOMILIES "ON FASTING"

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17


25th Sunday After Pentecost Tone (8) Tone Plagal 4 14 November 2010

8th Sunday of St Luke – The Good Samaritan

Feast of St Philip of Bethesda, Holy Apostle of Christ – St Philip Abbot of Irap, Nogorod – St Justinian the Emperor – St Theodora the Empress – St Gregory Palamas of Thessalonika – St Demetrops

Benevolenski of Tver

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 ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

Ex ipsous katilthes O Efsplaghnos, 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 po l y t i k i o n o f S t P h i l i p t h e A p o s t l e o f C h r i s t – T o n e 3

Apostole Agie Filippe, Presveve to Eleimoni Theo, ina ptesmaton afesin, parashi tes psihes imon

O Holy Apostle Philip, Intercede with the Merciful God that He grant to our souls forgiveness of offences.

Kon t a k i o n o f S t P h i l i p t h e A p o s t l e o f C h r i s t - T o n e ( 8 ) P l a g a l 4

O Mathitis ke Filos Sou, ke mimitis tou pathous Sou, ti ikoumeni Theon Se ekirixen, O Theigoros Filippos. Tes aftou ikesies, ex ehthron paranomon, tin Ekklisian Sou, dia tis Theotokou sintirison Polielee.

Thy Disciple and Friend, emulator of Thy Passion, the Divinely Eloquent Philip, proclaimed Thee to the world as God. By his Entreaties, and through the Theotokos, preserve Thy Church from lawless enemies, O Most Merciful.

8 N o v e m b e r U n t i l 2 5 N o v e m b e r ] – E n t r y O f E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s

O katharotatos Naos tou Sotiros, i politimitos pastas ke Parthenos, to Ieron Thisavrisma tis Doxis tou Theou, simeron isagete, en to Iko Kyriou, tin Harin sinisagousa, tin en Pnevmati dio: In animnousin Angeli Theou. Afti iparhi, Skini Epouranios!

The very purest Abode of the Saviour, and the Most Priceless Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Most Sacred Treasure of the Glory of God, today is led inside the House of the Lord, bringing in the Grace with her, of the Holy Spirit. It is for her God’s Angels sing in praise: She is truly a Heavenly Tabernacle!

Resurrection Gospel 3: Mark 16:9 – 20 - T H E R I S E N C H R I S T A P P E A R S T O H I S A P O S T L E S & D I S C I P L E S B E F O R E H I S T H E R I S E N C H R I S T A P P E A R S T O H I S A P O S T L E S & D I S C I P L E S B E F O R E H I S T H E R I S E N C H R I S T A P P E A R S T O H I S A P O S T L E S & D I S C I P L E S B E F O R E H I S T H E R I S E N C H R I S T A P P E A R S T O H I S A P O S T L E S & D I S C I P L E S B E F O R E H I S

A S C E N S I O NA S C E N S I O NA S C E N S I O NA S C E N S I O N

Prokeimenon: Pray to the Lord our God, and give thanks to Him! God is known in Judea; His Name is great in Israel!

The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4 : 9 - 16 T h e P ow e r o f a n A p o s t l e o f C h r i s t

Brethren: we are persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body

the Dying of our Lord Jesus, so that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then Death

is working in us, but Life in you.

And since we have the same spirit of Faith, according to what is written: “I believe and therefore I spoke,” knowing

that He Who raised up our Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all Things are for your sakes, so that Grace, having spread through the many, may cause Thanksgiving to

abound to the Glory of God.

TRUE CHRISTIANITY, BEING LIVED IN CHRIST WITH ALL HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD, IS VICTORIOUS BUT NOT TROUBLE-FREE.

EVERY OBSTACLE ALONG THE PATH OF LIFE IN CHRIST

BECOMES A HIDDEN BLESSING, and, by the Grace of God we are always able to endure and overcome.

Therefore, we have been taught by our Holy Church Fathers to THANK GOD EVEN FOR SUCH DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE, WHICH BRING US CLOSER TO HIM.

GOD ALLOWS US TO STRUGGLE through this earthly life because BY DOING SO, WE EXPERIENCE THE INFINITE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS GREAT MERCY, WHICH ENABLES US TO ACHIEVE WHAT FOR US ALONE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE THROUGH HIS

DIVINE LOVE, WISDOM AND STRENGTH. As the Creator of everything visible and invisible, GOD

IS IN CONTROL AND THUS, WE MUST LEARN TO TRUST AND TO DEPEND ON HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

However, that does not mean that we are able to sit back and wait for His Divine Providence; WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO ASSIST OURSELVES AND OTHERS – THEN GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE RETURNED TO US A HUNDRED TIMES MORE!!

St Paul reminds us that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT US AND REVEALED DIVINE MYSTERIES TO US BY HIS OWN PERFECT EXAMPLE.

Consequently, ALWAYS KEEPING OUR LORD JESUS AS OUR SHINING BEACON OF LIGHT TO GUIDE US

ALONG THE ROCKY PATHS OF LIFE, we may rest assured that we, too, will be Resurrected and become worthy Citizens of God’s Eternal Kingdom of Love.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND LOVE COMPELS US ALL TO RESPOND TO HIM WITH

CONSTANT THANKSGIVING AND PRAISES, encouraged always with our Hope of Eternal Life – and to assist, encourage and guide one another along the way.

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The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10 : 25 – 37 T h e G o o d S am a r i t a n & E t e r n a l L i f e

At that time, behold, a certain Lawyer stood up and tested Jesus, saying: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit Eternal

Life?” And He said to him: “What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?” And he answered: “’You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and: ‘... your neighbour as yourself.’”

And Jesus said to him: “You have answered rightly; do this and you will Live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbour?”

So Jesus said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him for dead. Then, by chance, a certain Priest went down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

“Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at that place, went and looked, and passed by on the other side. “However, a certain Samaritan, as He journeyed, came to where the man lay, and when He saw him He had

Compassion. And He went to him and Bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and He set him on His own animal, and took him to an Inn, and took care of him.

“The next day, when He departed, He took out two denarii, gave them to the Innkeeper, and said to Him: ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

“So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” And he replied: “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him: “Go and do likewise.” The term “Lawyer,” applied to those who studied

Mosaic Law and Holy Scripture – especially the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees, who regarded themselves as being superior to the average person.

These sanctimonious men looked down on everyone else, priding themselves on what they thought they knew.

As a result, they regarded our Lord Jesus Christ as a mere “nobody” Whom they saw only as “the Son of St Joseph the Carpenter” or as “Jesus of Nazareth,” (i.e. from a small insignificant town).

However, with Christ’s profound Divine Knowledge and Wisdom, combined with all His wonderful, compelling qualities and abilities, they had also begun to perceive Him as being a threat to their social status – with the possibility of being exposed for their true lack of knowledge concerning Divine Matters.

Knowing the hearts and souls of all people, our Lord Jesus humbly used the Lawyer’s own perception and understanding to answer his question concerning the inheritance of Eternal Life: “What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?”

Nevertheless, after his reply was confirmed to be correct, the Lawyer further felt the need to “justify himself” by enquiring: “Who is my neighbour?”

And, very ingeniously, instead of answering him directly, our Lord Jesus used the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a means of - once again - testing the knowledge and understanding of the arrogant man and those who listened to His Words.

Jerusalem was known as the “city of Peace,” a place of worship, while Jericho was notorious as a city of iniquity and was commonly identified with all kinds of sinful, debauched lifestyles.

So the man in the Parable was walking away from Peace and worship towards temptation and wickedness when he “... fell among thieves...” who, after robbing him of all his possessions, left him for dead.

This was a reference to the natural consequences with which we are all confronted when we turn away from God after being lured by the temptations of the evil one and wilfully enter a life of sin – we lose all the good things granted to us by God and voluntarily enter a state of Spiritual Death.

The ultimate thief is Satan who spreads his lies, deceptions and heresies among the people of God, thereby enticing both leaders and people.

All titles and social status is meaningless in God’s Sight when they have nothing to do with Good Deeds.

“The dignity of the Priesthood means nothing unless the Priest also excels in (Good) Deeds.” (St Cyril of Alexandria)

The fact that neither the Priest nor the Levite helped the dying man is another indication of the failure of the Old Covenant to heal the consequences of sin.

The Good Samaritan is an Image of Christ our Saviour. Samaritans were despised by the Hebrews and were

avoided at all costs. Christ our Lord was also despised by His enemies even

though He came down from Heaven to save all humanity – including those who rebel against God and those who reject Him.

The bandages, oil and wine that were applied to the dying man’s wounds are Sacramental (Mysterious) Images for our Garment of Holy Baptism, which delivers us from the fatal wounds of sin; the Oil of Chrismation, which grants us New Life in the Holy Spirit; and the Communion of Christ’s Divine Blood, which leads us to Eternal Life through the Forgiveness of sin.

The Good Samaritan gently placed the wounded man upon “His own animal,” indicating how Christ our Most Compassionate and Merciful Lord bears our sins upon His own Body.

The Inn and the Innkeeper refer to the Holy Church of Christ and His Holy Priesthood whereby we receive Spiritual Healing and Divine Care for all our wounds suffered throughout life on earth – especially those sustained during the ceaseless Spiritual Warfare that is waged against us by the evil ones and their willing slaves.

Our Spiritual Care is paid for in full by our Lord Jesus Christ and everyone will be properly repaid for all their deeds – both good and bad – when He returns on the Eighth Day – the dread Judgement Day –the beginning of Eternity.

1 Cor i n th i an s 6 : 2 0 – “... you were bought for a Price; therefore Glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”

1 Cor i n t h i an s 7 : 2 3 - “You were bought at a Price; do not become slaves of men.”

Finally: TOGETHER WITH THE ARROGANT HEBREW LAWYER, WE ARE EACH COMMANDED BY CHRIST TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND TO HAVE AS MUCH LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AS GOD HAS FOR US WRETCHED SINNERS!

The Good Samaritan & Neighbours IT IS COMPLETELY NATURAL FOR US TO HELP ONE

ANOTHER.

IT IS NATURAL BECAUSE WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF

THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE GOD, WHICH DEFINES US

AS HUMAN BEINGS.

The evil one increases our anxieties and fears, using them against us so that we make every effort to subvert or resist our natural inclination to help one another and one of the many ways we do that is by making up convenient excuses, jokes and scary stories.

Most ethnic groups or nationalities have a target for such myths – each has a “bogeyman” or some

group who is the butt or victim of their jokes, scare-stories or reason to hate and destroy.

For example: the Irish have the English; the English have the Irish; the Russians have the Chechnyans; the French have the Belgians, the whole of Europe and the United Kingdom have the Gypsies and many other migrant nationalities, and religious fundamentalists or fanatics (no matter what sect) have everybody else.

It makes their world a nice, neat, controllable and compartmentalised place.

There are people to love and people to hate, things to accept and things not to accept, places to go and

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19

places to avoid - clear delineations at all times to keep things straight and easy.

In the Old Covenant times, the Hebrews told stories about the Samaritans whom they despised and no doubt, feared.

The Samaritans were viewed as a motley group who were born of intermarriages during the time of the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom by Sargon II after which many were exiled and their lands resettled by Assyrians and other subjects of the conquering king.

There are various stories of course, but at some time there was a schism between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel, before the exile, and as a result, a Temple was built on Mount Gerizim in the North for Hebrew worship.

Intermarriage with Gentiles “spiced the soup” quite a bit and so the Hebrews of the South began to despise those whom they regarded as being traitors and syncretists (HAVING COMBINED DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHICAL OR

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICE) in the North, calling them “Samaritans.”

Such wild and imaginative stories had been invented about them that most Hebrews would have nothing to do with them, and they would avoid any contact with them however possible.

It is extremely significant that our Lord Jesus chose His Parable about a “Good Samaritan,” which, no doubt, riled the bigots in the crowd, but our Lord did so with regularity.

He used every opportunity to smash honoured religious and cultural icons (I.E. THEIR INVENTED, ASSUMED AND FALSE

PERCEPTIONS OF VARIOUS OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE).

Christ purposely messed up their "nice, neat" little world which had been fabricated by those who were regarded as being so "respectable and pious".

And our Saviour is still doing so with His Divine Truth - certainly in the personal lives of those who have ears to hear and eyes to see!!

There was no way the Good Samaritan would have been ignorant of the animosity between his people and the Hebrews of the South.

He – like everyone else - had grown up knowing the rules that governed life.

However, as usual, our Lord turned everything upside down, and He – as a devout and faithful Hebrew – narrated a Parable that portrayed a despised Samaritan as its hero!

What is more, the Hebrews who were considered to be the most powerful and respectable – a Priest and a Levite - were shown as examples of hypocrisy and unrighteousness!

The Samaritan proved to be more Righteous, Compassionate and Spiritually Pure compared to the Hebrew Priest and Levite who were exposed as being wicked, unmerciful and Spiritually Foul!

It was extraordinary and astonishing how our Lord Jesus dared to reveal that which was honoured and respected as being Righteous and Spiritually Good by society as actually being sinful, uncaring and ugly.

Clearly, our Saviour is never concerned about offending people – He simply states the absolute and perfect Truth!

GOD IS PURE GOODNESS AND COMPLETELY SINLESS, SO HE CANNOT LIE OR AVOID SPEAKING HIS DIVINE TRUTH! GOD CANNOT DO ANYTHING WICKED OR DESTRUCTIVE BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY AGAINST HIS DIVINE AND LOVING NATURE!

This is a Perfect Pattern or Example for us to imitate and follow – it teaches us how to examine, investigate and understand the stories we are told by others.

For example: when we see the homeless people or beggars on the street, several emotions such as fear, doubt, suspicion, anger or revulsion might arise which are merely due to what we have accepted as “truth” concerning them.

We have been conditioned to react in that manner, but these are merely due to assumed beliefs, which can be just as easily dismissed as the myriad thoughts that invade our consciousness moment by moment!

Nevertheless, what happens subsequently cements those emotions and solidifies them into habitual behaviour – and we continue to relate stories that arise from our false assumptions and imagination!

So all we see are people who are ( IN OUR OPINION!) “dirty... diseased... lazy... shiftless... thieving...

degenerate... perverted... worthless...” - deserving of their circumstances and who are to be avoided and ignored.

We invent combined excuses and judgements for not doing what we know God Wills us to do for our fellow sinners who are less Blessed than us.

We create them in our minds and we do it all the time to justify our selfish motives.

The Truth is that we cannot possibly know anything about the real circumstances of others unless we get to know them – and then we only know as much as we can learn from them but still would not have the entire Truth!

We don’t want to break the “rules of common sense" or "decency" and choose to avoid the apparent risk to our life or reputation. And besides that, “who has the time?”

Yet our Lord Jesus always manages to find the time for us and our needs!

In our relationships with some people from time to time we choose to avoid them because whenever we see them we have an immediate negative reaction due to our ingrained false perceptions, assumptions and intolerance.

This clearly shows that we have become conditioned by our unjust and unforgiving opinions.

If everyone in actual fact knew the Truth about everything in life, we would be less judgemental and more forgiving – especially if we could see ourselves as others do!

Our Lord Jesus saw clearly what was before Him, and as His Faithful Disciples, we are Called to do the same.

He narrated Parables and true accounts to illustrate His Divine Truth, but we tell stories to ourselves and one another which are inevitably distorted and even outright lie!

We need love God’s Truth and stop telling negative stories, which distract everyone from reality and Divine Truth.

Our Lord always spoke to the sick, the poor and the despised - even at great risk to His own Life and reputation.

In fact, He was constantly hounded and eventually crucified for it, but certainly, He knew the consequences of such compassionate behaviour.

He did everything willingly and knowingly for the benefit of all mankind whom He Loves unconditionally and infinitely!

All too often Parish churches are wrongly regarded as being only for those who are "respectable” “pious” “religious” or “worthy," while those who see themselves as being “unworthy sinners” - not fitting any of the supposed characteristics - are discouraged from attending Holy Services due to their own personal conditioning of excuses and erroneous judgements.

That is the absolute opposite of what our Lord Jesus Christ wants from us.

Christ’s Holy Church rejects our flawed, human perception of "respectability" or “worthiness.”

As His Faithful Followers or Disciples, we must also reject such presumptions and we must encourage and welcome everyone to gather in communal worship of God with us, for we are all suffering, wretched sinners who need the Divine Healing, Guidance and Teaching of God and His Holy Priesthood.

We must be willing to not only Love the despised and the rejected, but also be willing and eager to admit the Truth – the real, absolute and perfect Truth of God.

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And the Truth is that we are all united together as sinners seeking Salvation and Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love.

A Rabbi explained our Lord Jesus' words to a clueless Preacher regarding the Divine Commandment: "Love your neighbour as yourself:"

He said: "It doesn't mean you can't love your neighbour unless you first love yourself. IT MEANS YOUR NEIGHBOUR IS YOURSELF."

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A SERMON BY FATHER ANTHONY HUGHES OF THE ST MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH http://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/2007-11-11-

hughes.php

Watch Your Tongue! TO JUDGE AND TO TALK IDLY ARE NOT AKIN TO THOSE WHO ARE

REPENTING, dear Brethren, for THEY OUGHT TO BE SILENT

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR

SALVATION IN REPENTANCE. Yet we constantly talk idly, constantly judge and criticize

others, constantly do evil with our tongue, thereby bringing evil upon both us ourselves, who are speaking, and upon those who are listening.

Our Holy Fathers point out that OUR TONGUE IS A LITTLE

MEMBER, BUT DOES GREAT EVIL, INFLAMING OUR LIFE'S

CIRCLE.

How conveniently it arms one against another. And THE

NEGLIGENCE OF OUR SPEECH IS AN INSTRUMENT OF MURDER!

"Whoever receives a man speaking evil or a calumniator (A FALSE ACCUSER OR SLANDERER) communes with a murderer." (ST ANTHONY THE GREAT)

] CALUMNIATORS AND MURDERERS ARE ONE AND THE SAME!

"Withdraw from the calumniator, whoever he might be, and do not be ashamed to withdraw from him."

"It is safer to live with a serpent than with a calumniator," say our Holy Fathers.

"Never render esteem to one who speaks to you evilly about a neighbour. Thereby you shall heal both yourself and your neighbour." (ST JOHN

KLIMAKOS)

Here the matter concerns calumny, but what if you hear others speaking badly about someone and what they are saying may be true - what is to be done then?

] SINCE WE ARE PRONE TO SPEAKING EVIL, IT IS BETTER FOR

US NOT TO LISTEN TO SUCH CONVERSATIONS.

After all, we might tell the person of whom they spoke: "They are saying this and that about you," or we shall discuss it with others.

Whenever you try to stop those who are speaking negatively, they usually justify themselves by the fact that, after all, they heard it “with my own ears.”

Consequently, THOSE WHO SPEAK EVIL FALL INTO PRIDE.

A Christian ought never to act like that - even if we witness some vile act or another.

] WE OUGHT NOT SPREAD ANOTHER'S SIN, BUT COVER IT WITH

OUR LOVE.

Let us LEARN FROM THE SAINTS HOW THEY ACTED IN SUCH

CIRCUMSTANCES.

� A Hermit went to live with the Ascetics at a Skete, where a cell was allocated to him by an Elder. He began to live in harmony with the Abbot and the Brethren of the Monastery, but soon this Peace was disrupted when the Elder who had initially welcomed him began to resent him as many people sought his counsel and Spiritual Guidance.

Goaded by envy, the Elder sent his young Novice to the newly arrived Hermit with an order to leave the Monastery, which was to be conveyed by the exact words: "Get thee thence from whence thou came!"

On the way to fulfil his duty of Obedience to his Elder, the Novice began to think: "If I convey the words to the newcomer just as my Elder said, I might

arouse malice in him, and enmity between the

Elders will begin. It is surely better, in the Name of

the Lord and general peace, that I hide these evil

words and take everything upon myself." (ABBA

DOROTHEOS, IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS, PERMITS ONE TO DO THIS IN PRAYER AND STRUGGLE.)

So, when standing before the new Elder, instead of saying "get thee thence", as he was ordered, the Novice bowed down and said: "My Father has asked me to inquire of thee, 'Art thou well?'" to which, he replied: "Tell thy Father that I ask for his Prayers, for I am a little ill."

On returning, the Novice said to his Elder: "That Elder has found himself another cell and will soon

leave."

Give heed, dear Brethren to such Love! For after some time, the Elder again sent the Novice to drive out the Hermit, but instead he said: "My Father, having learnt that thou art ill, has sent me to visit thee." – to which the ailing Hermit responded: "Tell the Father, that by his Prayers I am now completely

well."

The Novice conveyed to his Elder something completely different – he told him that the guest requested permission to live in the Monastery only a week more and then would move to another cell.

The following week, the enraged Elder went himself to evict the Hermit from the cell, but the Novice, having learnt of this, out of love for Peace and his Elder, ran ahead and informed the Hermit that his Father himself was coming to call him to join him at the trapeze (IE AT TABLE – IN THE REFECTORY FOR A MEAL),

whereupon the Hermit at once went out to meet the angry Elder with an expression of Love and said: "Trouble not thyself to come unto me; I myself am

coming to thee." Struck by the newcomer's complete lack of malice, the

jealous Elder was touched in his soul, his envy disappeared, and he actually conducted the visitor to the trapeza.

When the envious Elder learnt how his Novice had acted, he fell down at his feet and said: "Henceforth thou art my preceptor, for by thy words our souls have been saved."

This is how the Saints acted. EVEN WHEN THEY WERE SENT

TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING EVIL, THEY DID NOT DO SO,

ALTHOUGH THEY OUGHT TO HAVE DONE EXACTLY AS THEIR

ELDERS HAD ORDERED THEM TO DO.

However, with the greatest readiness and glee, we would rather recount everything evil, everything bad about others, and if it is something we ourselves have heard, we object and protest when we are stopped.

We fatally wound one another, and we do “the work of scorpions and serpents with our tongue” as our Holy Fathers say.

] DURING THE DAYS OF FASTING AND REPENTANCE, WE OUGHT

TO WATCH OUR TONGUE MORE THAN EVER.

] ASCETICS ARE TRULY SICK AT HEART OVER ANYONE WHO

SPEAKS EVIL OF A NEIGHBOUR, WHILE WE, IN THE NAME

OF WHAT SEEMS TO US “THE TRUTH,” CONSTANTLY

COMMIT EVIL.

Every society suffers more than anything else from evil speech and condemnation, which is communicated in every possible manner.

] So WHILE WE ARE REPENTING, LET US ATTEND TO OUR

TONGUE! Let us join real battle with it, and this will benefit us all very much.

If we REFUSE TO SPEAK EVIL OF OTHERS, BUT INSTEAD PRAY FOR

THEM; if we NEVER FORGET THAT ONE EVIL WORD CAN

UNDERMINE A WHOLE EDIFICE OF RELATIONSHIPS, then we shall understand why St Ephraim the Syrian asks in his Prayer that the Lord not permit him idle speech.

] BEWARE! FOR EVEN IN CHURCH WE COMMIT THE WORST EVIL, whereby we become Her destroyers as well as the DESTROYERS OF OUR OWN AND OTHER’S SPIRITUAL

WELFARE!

] Let this wise young Novice serve as our example and let us IN EVERY WAY STRIVE TO REJECT AND AVOID

EVIL SPEECH, CALUMNY AND CONDEMNATION, MAKING

LIFE EASIER AND ACQUIRING WORTHY FRIENDS IN

CHRIST WHO JOIN US IN A UNITED STRUGGLE AGAINST

SIN AS ONE FLOCK OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP:

http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/homilies/e_9802g.htm)

The Nativity Fast Begins Tomorrow!

( F i s h i s p e rm i s s i b l e e x c e p t o n t h e u s u a l f a s t i n g d a y s )

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16 Novembe r 2010

St Matthew the Holy Apostle & Evangelist of Christ our Lord

Feast of St Matthew (Prince Fulvianos) of Ethiopia – St Sergios of Malopinega

– St Hypatios Hieromartyr of Gangra

A po l y t i k i o n O f S t Ma t t h ew T h e A p o s t l e O f C h r i s t & E v a n g e l i s t – T o n e 3

Thias ikousas, fonis tou Logou, ke tis pisteos, to fos edexo, katalipsas teloniou ton sindesmon; othen Hristou tin aporriton kenosin, evingeliso Matthee Apostole. Ke nin presveve, dothine tis se gererousi, ptesmaton ilasmon ke Mega Eleos.

Thou heard the Word’s Divine Voice, and accepted the Light of Faith, and abandoned the bond with the customs-house; whence, O Matthew Apostle, thou brought all the Good News of Christ’s ineffable Kenosis. And now, intercede, to be granted to those who honour thee, Atonement for their faults and Great Mercy

Kon t a k i o n O f T h e E n t r y I n t o T h e T em p l e 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




The Epistle of St Paul to the Romans 10 : 11 – 11 : 2 Go d ’ s R i g h t e o u s n e s s I s B y F a i t h - I s r a e l R e j e c t s B u t G e n t i l e s R e c e i v e T h e H o l y G o s p e l O f C h r i s t

Brethren: The Scripture says: “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame,” for there is no distinction

between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him, for “... whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be Saved.”

How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they

have not heard? And how shall they hear without a Preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of Peace, who bring Glad Tidings of Good Things!”

But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah said: “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then Faith comes

by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their works to the ends of the world.”

But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses said: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will

move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah was very bold and said: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But to Israel He said: “All day long I have stretched out My Hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the

tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what Scripture

says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel...

BELIEF AND CONFESSION WERE BOTH OLD COVENANT

THEMES WITH ST ISAIAH EMPHASISING THE FAITH OF

THE HEART AND ST JOEL EMPHASISING THE

CONFESSION OF THE MOUTH.

Both Holy Prophets of God taught that DIVINE GRACE

AND FAITH ARE UNIVERSALLY OFFERED TO ALL

PEOPLE. St Paul left the Hebrews with NO EXCUSE FOR

REJECTING THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST OUR GOD. (ROMANS 9:1 – 10:13)

St Paul insisted that GOD FULFILLED HIS PART OF THE

HOLY COVENANT COMPLETELY, GIVING THE HEBREW

NATION EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES TO COME

TO FAITH IN HIM. GOD SENT HIS DIVINE MESSAGE THROUGHOUT ALL

CREATION and ALTHOUGH ISRAEL HEARD IT, THE

PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE IT. Therefore God turned to the Gentiles – the non-Jewish

Nations – who heard the Holy Gospel of Christ and believed it.

THE HEBREW PEOPLE DEMANDED SIGNS FROM GOD, YET HE

HAD GIVEN THEM THE CONTINUAL SIGN OF FULFILLED

PROPHECY.

Jewish unbelief in Christ raises the question of whether or not God cast away His Chosen People – the Old Covenant Israel. The answer is most certainly not!

IF GOD HAD CAST AWAY HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, NOT ONE

WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED. However, St Paul himself was being Saved and there was a Remnant of Hebrews who did believe.

St Elijah the Holy Prophet of God prefigured this Remnant when he thought he alone followed God.

BECAUSE ONLY A FEW HEEDED ST ELIJAH IN HIS DAY, SO

ONLY A FEW HEEDED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS

FAITHFUL APOSTLES.

GOD’S GRACE SAVES THE WILLING. Israel was not willing for she sought Righteousness on her

own terms through works of the ancient Mosaic Law and not through Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 9 : 9 – 13 S i n n e r s A r e We l c om e d B y C h r i s t O u r S a v i o u r

At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to

him: “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat

down with Him and His Disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His Disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

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When Jesus heard that, He said to them: “Those who are well have no need of a Physician, but those who are sick do. So go and lean what ‘I desire Mercy and not sacrifice’ means. For I did not come to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance.”

St Matthew was also named “Levi.” Roman overlords assigned specific areas to Jewish Tax

Collectors who were free to collect extra revenues for their own profit.

Their collaboration with the occupying Romans, their fraudulent practises, and their corruption caused other Hebrews to hate them intensely and to consider them as being socially and spiritually unclean.

To the astonishment of many, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

FREELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM by dining with them and by calling a Tax Collector (or Publican) to follow Him as His Faithful Disciple..

This deeply offended the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees, yet Christ’s defence was simple: OUR

SAVIOUR GOES WHEREVER A PHYSICIAN IS NEEDED THE

MOST and His reference to the quotation “I desire Mercy and not Sacrifice” is not a rejection of sacrifice per se but shows that according to God’s Divine Love, MERCY IS A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY – and it will be a most significant factor in our Final Judgement!

Hos ea 6 : 6 – “... I desire Mercy and not sacrifice, and the Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt Offerings.” (REFER TO PSALM 50/51 – THE PSALM OF REPENTANCE)

That Our Hearts May Be Healed � The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are

there, and there are also lions; there are poisonous

beasts and all the treasures of evil. But there too is

God, the Angels, the Life and the Kingdom, the Light

and the Apostles, the Heavenly Cities and the

Treasuries of Grace—all things are there. (ST. MACARIOS)

� If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to

separate them from the rest of us and destroy them.

But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the

heart of every human being.( A.I. SOLZHENITSYN)

These quotes are among the best known (ancient and modern) Orthodox statements on the heart of man and reveal the fundamental character of our Spiritual Struggle. There is not even a hint in these statements of human beings having a “legal” standing before God or that the Church should have any concern with such notions.

Man, as a fallen creature, is better described as diseased or broken (ST. PAUL USES THE TERM “CORRUPT” ).

The corruption that St Paul describes is again not a legal term (AS “CORRUPT” OFTEN MEANS IN MODERN ENGLISH USAGE) but refers instead to A CORRUPTION THAT IS SIMILAR TO

THE ROTTING OF A DEAD BODY. Indeed it is death that is at work in us that manifests itself

as sin in our lives. The death that is at work in us is our falling back towards non-existence, or nothingness, whence all of Creation came.

God alone is the Lord and Giver of Life and true existence is only found in Communion with Him. That Communion is made possible through Christ Who became what we are, that we might become like Him.

It is the heart, the very core of our existence, that the Fathers dwell on when they look at the work of sin and redemption in our lives. Thus Orthodoxy is extremely “realist” in its understanding of the Spiritual Life rather than being concerned with legal standing or “debts owed,” etc.

It is possible to use such relational language in a metaphorical manner, but the Truth of our problem is to be found in THE VERY CHARACTER OF OUR

EXISTENCE: Is it BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE

OF CHRIST OR is it FALLING DEEPER INTO CORRUPTION

AND DEATH?

This concern for the reality of our existence changes the focus and understanding of every action of the Church. Thus IN BAPTISM, THE FOCUS IS OUR UNION WITH THE

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND THE GIFT

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN US IN HOLY CHRISMATION.

St. Ignatios of Antioch referred to HOLY COMMUNION AS

THE “MEDICINE OF IMMORTALITY.” PENANCE (CONFESSION) IS OCCASIONALLY DESCRIBED by

the Fathers AS A “SECOND BAPTISM,” meaning that IT

RESTORES THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR

LIVES.

A PRIEST HEARING CONFESSION LISTENS INTENTLY FOR

THE STATE OF THE HEART rather than simply categorizing and subjecting to legal analysis what he hears. Indeed, IT IS CONSIDERED A SIN TO JUDGE

SOMEONE WHOSE CONFESSION YOU ARE HEARING. As a good Pastor, however, A PRIEST MUST ALWAYS BE

CONCERNED WITH THE STATE OF THE HEART OF THOSE

FOR WHOM HE IS RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD. He cannot change anyone’s heart, but with whatever skill God may have given him, HE CAN COUNSEL AND

NURTURE EACH SOUL TOWARDS THE PATH OF HEALING

in the heart and, most importantly, HE CAN PRAY

CONSTANTLY FOR HIS FLOCK AND FOR THE HEART OF

EACH OF ITS MEMBERS.

By the same token, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN

TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIS OWN HEART. Christ makes this abundantly clear when he interiorizes

the Commandments on murder and adultery, warning:

“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to Judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment… (MATTHEW 5:21-22)

And “You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (MATTHEW

5:27-28).

It is not that OUR OUTWARD ACTIONS do not matter, but that they ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE STATE OF THE

HEART: “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (LUKE

6:45).

THIS INNER LIFE TEACHES US TO OPEN OUR EYES TO THE

SOURCE OF OUR ACTIONS AND THE ABSOLUTE NEED

FOR THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ORDER TO

CHANGE OUR HEARTS – and IT IS THE MOST

FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING IN OUR DAILY LIFE

BEFORE GOD. There are innumerable other things which distract us from

the essential work of Repentance and IT IS EASIER TO

ARGUE POINTS OF DOCTRINE THAN TO STAND

HONESTLY BEFORE GOD IN PRAYER OR CONFESSION.

Doctrine is important as it makes Christ known to us. But THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST THAT SAVES is not the knowledge one gains as mere information – but rather the Knowledge ONE GAINS INWARDLY AS WE REPENT,

PRAY, FORGIVE, AND HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE GOD.

The Promise to us is that the “pure in heart shall see God.”

DOCTRINE IS NOT KNOWN UNTIL IT BECOMES UNITED TO

THE HEART IN A CONTINUAL ACT OF COMMUNION WITH

GOD. Thus, IF WE ARE HONEST, WE WILL PROFESS

IGNORANCE AND PRAY FOR TRUE KNOWLEDGE: “Create

in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit

within me....”

“The heart-stirrings of a good man are good; those of a wicked person are wicked; but everyone must learn how to combat intrusive thoughts, and turn the bad into good. This is the mark of the soul that is well versed.“ ST SILOUAN

Those who experience the Holy Spirit know when Divine Grace is within them or when they are threatened by evil for God grants our soul the recognition of His Divine Presence, when we are filled with Love and eager to do His Will. We can then identify thoughts from the enemy, not by their outward form but by their effect on our soul, which is Divine Knowledge that is born of Spiritual Experience; but those with no Spiritual Experience are easily duped by our enemy.

May God grant us all such True Knowledge and the Healing of our hearts.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP -

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/that-our-hearts-may-be-healed/

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26th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 1 21 November 2010

Entry into the Holy Temple in Jerusalem of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

Feast of St Hilarion the Great – St Hilarion of Meglin, transfer of Relics – St Hilarion Schemamonk of Kiev Caves – St Hilarion of Gdov & Pskov Lake – St Theophilos & St James, Abbots of Omucha ,Monastery, Pskov – St Dasios, St Gaios & St Zotikos, Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia – St Philothos of Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos – St Bessarion Sarai, Confessor of Romania – St Sophronios Confessor of Ciorara, Romania – St Oprea of Salistie, Romania – St Hilarion of Kiev – St Moses (Macinic) Hieromartyr & Confessor

– St John of Galesh R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N 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 T O N E T O N E T O N E 1111

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!

A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y ---- T O N E 4 T O N E 4 T O N E 4 T O N E 4

Simeron tis evdokias Theou to proimion, ke tis ton antrhropon sotirias i prokirixis; en Nao tou Theou, tranos i Parthenos diknite, ke ton Hriston tis pasi prokatangellete. Afti ke imism, megalofonos voisomen: Here tis ikonomias, tou Ktistou i ekplirosis.

Today is the prelude of the Good Pleasure of God for mankind, and the Proclamation of our Salvation; in the Temple of God, the Virgin is clearly revealed, to all foretelling the Coming of Christ. Wherefore, let us cry to her with a mighty voice: Rejoice O Fulfilment of the Creator’s Dispensation.

K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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


The Most Pure Temple of our Saviour, the Precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Sacred Treasure of God, today enters the House of the Lord, bringing the Grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God


Resurrection Gospel 4 : Luke 24:1 – 12 - T H E T H E T H E T H E H O L YH O L YH O L YH O L Y M Y R R H B E A R E R S F I N D T H E T O M B E M P T Y F O R C H R I S T I S R I S E NM Y R R H B E A R E R S F I N D T H E T O M B E M P T Y F O R C H R I S T I S R I S E NM Y R R H B E A R E R S F I N D T H E T O M B E M P T Y F O R C H R I S T I S R I S E NM Y R R H B E A R E R S F I N D T H E T O M B E M P T Y F O R C H R I S T I S R I S E N

Prokeimenon: My soul magnifies the Lord, for He has regarded the Humility of His handmaid.

The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 9:1 – 7 THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY AND THE DIVINE LITURGYTHE EARTHLY SANCTUARY AND THE DIVINE LITURGYTHE EARTHLY SANCTUARY AND THE DIVINE LITURGYTHE EARTHLY SANCTUARY AND THE DIVINE LITURGY

Brethren, indeed, even the first Covenant had Ordinances of Divine Service and the earthly Sanctuary. For a

Tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the Lamp Stand, the Table, and the Showbread, which is

called the Sanctuary; and behind the Second Veil, the part of the Tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of All,

which had the Golden Censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the

Golden Pot that had the Manna, Aaron’s Rod that budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant; and above it were

the Cherubim of Glory overshadowing the Mercy Seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things had been thus prepared, the Priests always went into the first part of the Tabernacle,

performing the Services. But into the second part the High Priest went alone once a year, not without blood,

which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance….

These verses describe THE MOSAIC TABERNACLE,

WHICH IS A COPY OF THE HEAVENLY ALTAR, and they are read during Feasts of the All Holy Virgin Mary and Advent (before Christmas) to describe the Divine Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God.

THE VIRGIN MARY’S WOMB was prepared as CHRIST’S

TABERNACLE, THE ACTUAL DWELLING PLACE OF

GOD! A most important detail is THE INNER VEIL, “THE

SECOND VEIL, ”which SEPARATES THE HOLY PLACE

– THE HOLY SANCTUARY – FROM THE MOST HOLY

PLACE – the Most Sanctified of all places on earth, which contained the Ark of the Covenant and into

which only the High Priest could enter, and then only once a year.

The Inner Veil forms the locus of the Liturgical practice of THE OLD COVENANT and reveals its IMPERFECTION since THE PEOPLE COULD NOT DRAW

NEAR TO GOD

AT HIS DEATH, CHRIST RESOLVED THIS ALIENATION. [THROUGH HIS INCARNATION, SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION CHRIST HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO APPROACH ALMIGHTY GOD AT ANY TIME – THROUGH LITURGICAL PRACTICES AND THROUGH OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.]

THE “ARK OF THE COVENANT” CONTAINED THE MOST

HOLY RELICS OF ISRAEL CONCERNING THE OLD

COVENANT BETWEEN MANKIND AND GOD:

] The pot of MANNA,

] AARON’S ROD and


] THE TABLETS OF THE LAW. [GIVEN TO ST MOSES OUR ANCIENT

PATRIARCH BY ALMIGHTY GOD.]

GOD IS ENTHRONED UPON THE CHERUBIM and therefore God’s Throne in Israel’s midst according to the Old Covenant, was THE MERCY SEAT, WHICH HAD AN

IMAGE OF A CHERUB DEPICTED ON EACH SIDE. CHERUBIM ALSO FLANK THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

HOLY ALTAR.

These representations, along with the depictions of Holy Cherubim on the Inner Veil and the beauty and detailed workmanship of everything made for the Holy Tabernacle, served as THE HOLY ICONS OF THE

OLD COVENANT.

� Exodu s 2 6 : 3 1 “Thou shalt make a curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen; it shalt be made with Cherubim skilfully worked into it.”

THIS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PASSAGES, REASSURES

THOSE WHO FEAR THAT THE SECOND

COMMANDMENT PROHIBITS ALL IMAGERY.

� Exodu s 2 0 : 4 - 6 “Thou shalt not make for thyself an

idol, whether in the form of anything that is in

Heaven Above, or that is on the earth beneath,

or that is in the water under the earth. Thou

shalt not bow down to them or worship them;

for I the Lord thy God Am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject Me, but showing Steadfast Love to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My Commandments”

OUR TRIUNE GOD – ESPECIALLY GOD THE FATHER AND

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - CANNOT BE REPRESENTED

BECAUSE DIVINE NATURE IS UNKNOWABLE AND

THEREFORE CANNOT BE DEPICTED.

HOWEVER, SINCE GOD THE SON BECAME MAN, THE

HUMAN NATURE OF GOD THE SON CAN BE AND IS

IMAGED.

While Priests entered the Holy Place daily, ONLY THE

HIGH PRIEST COULD ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE

AND ONLY ONCE A YEAR, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

He entered carrying THE ANIMAL BLOOD OF THE

ATONEMENT SACRIFICE that was FOR HIS OWN SINS

AND FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. THIS ANNUAL BLOOD SACRIFICE REVEALED THE

IMPERFECT, TEMPORARY STATUS OF THE OLD

COVENANT, BECAUSE:

ä ONLY ONE MAN CAN ENTER GOD’S PRESENCE

ä THAT MAN CANNOT ENTER CONTINUALLY

ä HE MUST ENTER OCCASIONALLY TO REPEAT THE

SACRIFICE FOR SINS, which was EFFECTIVE

ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME

ä This sacrifice deals entirely WITH MATERIALS

FROM THIS AGE THAT ARE IMPERFECT AND

IMPERMANENT

ä It COULD NOT BEGIN A PARTICIPATION IN THE

AGE TO COME – “the time of reformation” ä IT DEALS MAINLY WITH THE OUTER MAN – IT IS

SUPERFICIAL AND CANNOT PURIFY MAN’S

HEART AND MIND, NOR RESTORE FALLEN

HUMAN NATURE.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10 : 38 – 42 & 11 : 27-28 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TELLS US THERE IS ONLY ONE THING NEED: HEAR AND KEEP THE WORD AND COMMANDMENTS OF GODOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TELLS US THERE IS ONLY ONE THING NEED: HEAR AND KEEP THE WORD AND COMMANDMENTS OF GODOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TELLS US THERE IS ONLY ONE THING NEED: HEAR AND KEEP THE WORD AND COMMANDMENTS OF GODOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TELLS US THERE IS ONLY ONE THING NEED: HEAR AND KEEP THE WORD AND COMMANDMENTS OF GOD

At that time, it happened as they went that Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha

welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ Feet and heard His Word.

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my

sister hath left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

And Jesus answered her: “Martha, Martha, thou art worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary hath chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.”

…And it happened, as he spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to

Him: “Blessed is the Womb that bore Thee, and the Breasts which nursed Thee!” But He said, “More than that, Blessed art those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”

“Martha” and “Mary” are the sisters of St Lazaros whom

our Lord Jesus Christ raised after four days of death. [REFER JOHN 11:1]

MARTHA WAS DISTRACTED AND “...TROUBLED ABOUT MANY THINGS...” - PROVIDING HOSPITALITY FOR OUR

LORD and His Disciples.

] ONLY “ONE THING” IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS LIFE - TO

LISTEN TO GOD – REALLY HEAR HIS WORDS OF

DIVINE TRUTH AND WISDOM – AND FULFIL THEM

TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY – a vital priority that certainly DOES NOT EXCLUDE SERVING HIM.

] GOD’S BLESSINGS FALL UPON THOSE “WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP IT.” not those who have prominent family connections or high social status.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST STATED A PRINCIPLE and did

not denigrate His All Holy Mother because SHE

NOT ONLY PAID ATTENTION TO EVERY WORD

OF GOD BUT ALSO OBEYED EVERY

COMMANDMENT AND TEACHING!

CONSEQUENTLY, THE ALL PURE THEOTOKOS BECAME THE MOST BLESSED OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS – ATTAINING SPIRITUAL PERFECTION – THEOSIS - BEING DEIFIED AND ELEVATED ABOVE THE HIGHEST ORDERS OF HEAVENLY HOSTS!

AS OUR MOST PERFECT HUMAN EXAMPLE OF VIRTUE, SHE IS OUR SPIRITUAL MOTHER TO WHOM WE TURN FOR INTERCESSORY PRAYERS, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, PROTECTION AND BLESSINGS.

HER WONDERFUL, UNIQUE PERSONAL QUALITIES CONFIRM AND MANIFEST HER WORTHINESS AS TRUE MOTHER OF GOD INCARNATE!

ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS REGARD OUR LADY THEOTOKOS WITH THE HIGHEST RESPECT AND LOVE AS THE SAINT OF SAINTS WHO IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR – HER MOST BELOVED SON AND GOD.

ANY IRREVERENCE AGAINST HER IS INDIRECTLY A BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD!

Birth & Early Life of the Ever Blessed, All Pure Theotokos The birth of the All3Holy Virgin Mary was the

beginning of the Sacred History of the New

Covenant 3 our Salvation.

It was the preparation for the Incarnation of the Son

of God, the Advent (Coming) of God in the Flesh –

in physical, visible form.

Thereby that human nature, which was to receive

God Himself, was made ready so that the human

race might be Saved.

Our human nature had to be made worthy of God 3

had to be Holy and Immaculate; it needed a Holy

Origin, upbringing and development.

Her being Chosen of God rests in the fact that she of

all mankind needed to give to God reciprocally

the common nature of mankind.

The Feast of the Virgin's birth is the Feast of Advent

3 awaiting of our Messiah – our Saviour, Jesus

Christ.

Her parents were St Joachim and St Anna 3 of royal

and High Priestly lineage – who were well

advanced in age and barren, which the Hebrews

considered a disgraceful state, being deprived of

God's Blessing.

With deep and sincere Humility they besought God in

His Great Mercy for a child who would release

them from their disgrace and the reproach of the

Hebrews.

Their constant Humility, Prayers and a Sacred Vow to

dedicate their child to God for service in the

Temple were the Spiritual Prerequisites of her

birth.


Finally, God responded according to His own Will

granted them a daughter, whom they called

Miriam 3 Mary or Maria in English or Greek –

meaning “One who is higher or exalted over all others.”

Born of such pious parents, our Lady was the fruition

of their Spiritual Endeavours 3 , their heartfelt

striving and their tearful Prayers to God.

A Spiritual Existence could only be the Fruit of the

Spirit, initiated not only according to the natural,

blind inclinations of the flesh and the natural

laws of the requirements of the nature of the

flesh, but according to the Aspirations of the

Spirit and through the Action of the special Mercy

and Grace of God for such people as St Joachim

and St Anna, who were elderly, barren and whose

flesh was withering, but who always lived

according to the Holy Spirit.

If the Origin is Holy, so is the whole, and if the Root

is Holy, so are the Branches. (ROMANS 11:16).

From a Holy Root there came forth Holy Fruit.

An example of a Promise with reference to a future

child was that of the barren St Hannah [Anna],

the mother of the Holy Prophet Samuel: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and sorely wept. And she vowed a Vow, and said: ‘O Lord of Sabbaoth! If Thou wilt indeed look upon the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt grant to Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life... (1 KINGS

/SAMUEL 1:10-11).

St Joachim and St Anna also followed the example of

the parents of the Righteous St Samuel.

The Ever Blessed Theotokos – the All Pure Mother of

our Saviour Who was a King according to His

earthly descent and according to His Eternal

Ministry, and Who is our only High Priest of the

future Good Things 3 naturally, had to compass

the two lines of descent in herself, the Royal and

High Priestly, in her people.

By her father she was of the Tribe of Judah and the

House of David, and through her mother she was

of the Tribe of Levi and the House of Aaron.

Although Christ came forth from a (BIOLOGICAL) mother

alone without a father, and since St Joseph was

only the Betrothed husband and thus the legal

guardian and protector of her and her Sacred

Vow of Chastity, he was only the nominal father

(ALSO LEGAL “FATHER” ACCORDING TO HEBREW TRADITION AND LAW) of

our Saviour and yet our Lord Jesus was not

simply nominally but in reality of the Royal

House of King David, through His All Pure Mother

according to His Flesh – as proclaimed so many

centuries before concerning the Lord God: “... Thy Throne shall be established unto the ages...”

(2 KINGS /SAMUEL 7:16).

Such a Royal lineage could not be denied because

our Lady Theotokos was also a direct descendant

of King David.

When the Blessed Child was fully three years old, St

Joachim and St Anna fulfilled their Sacred Vow to

God and took her to the Temple in Jerusalem,

where she remained throughout her childhood in

service to God.

Having been dedicated to God by her faithful

parents, she grew up at the Temple, living in the

special apartments assigned to all dedicated

Virgins.

According to Hebrew custom, the High Priest

received and Blessed all children who were

consecrated to God at the gates of the Temple,

but when they brought in the infant Mary, he, by

Divine Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, led her into

the Holy of Holies, where he himself was

permitted to enter only once a year.

The All3Holy Virgin Mary lived at the Temple until –

like all the other little girls 3 she reached puberty

and thus was of marriageable age.

She was constantly occupied with various designated

labours such as weaving, embroidery, spinning,

sewing, etc – making new adornments for the

Temple, which was being renovated at the time.

Besides continuing in her labours, she prayed, she

studied of the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures

and she fulfilled every Virtue, leading others who

followed her good example.

At puberty, all young women had to return to their

parents for Betrothal and Marriage but since her

parents had reposed some years before, and

having been under the guardianship and care of

the Temple Priesthood, the All Holy One

confessed her Sacred Vow of Chastity, which

could not be broken.

The perplexed Priest asked God for His Divine

Guidance, after which they requested all the

oldest men of the area to hand over their staffs,

which were then placed in the Holy of Holies,

awaiting a Sign to indicate who would have the

responsibility of ensuring the protection and

maintenance of the young Virgin and her Sacred

Vow.

When nothing seemed to be happening, the staffs

were handed back except for one, which turned

out to be that of her 80 year old uncle Joseph –

the widower of Salome, sister of St Anna.

As St Joseph the Betrothed took hold of the staff, it

blossomed with pure white flowers, and thus all

accepted him as the entrusted Holy Guardian and

Protector of the All3Holy Virgin.

Thus it was that our young Lady, together with her

companion Virgins, went to live in the house of St

Joseph the Betrothed, being cared for and

watched over by his family.

The Blessed Virgin had been Consecrated to the Lord

at the age of three years, according to the Law of

the Old Covenant regarding the fruits of trees: "Three years shall it be uncircumcised unto you, it shall not be eaten of. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be Consecrated for the Festivals of the Lord" (LEVITICUS 19:23-4).

Thus St Hannah had said regarding her own son, St

Samuel, who became a Holy Prophet of God: "When the child shall be taken from the breast and

weaned, then Will I bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and there abide for ever."

"And she brought him to the House of the Lord in Siloam, and the child was still an infant ... and she said: ‘For this child I prayed, and the Lord has fulfilled my Petition, which I asked of Him; therefore also have I given him over to the Lord all the days of his life, that he may serve the Lord." (1 KINGS /SAMUEL 1:21-28).

In a like spirit, the Righteous and Pious St Joachim

and St Anna took and handed over their little

most beloved Child at the Temple for life3long

service to Almighty God.


The Truth of and degree to which this comparison

between the devout mother of St Samuel the Holy

Prophet of God, and the Righteous parents of the

Ever Blessed Theotokos which represents the

actual Entry of the All3Holy Virgin Mary into the

Temple, is evident from the fact that that the

All3Holy Virgin herself sang her Festive Hymn:

"My soul doth magnify the Lord" as well as her

heartfelt gratitude to God for her election as His

Mother according to the flesh 3 just as St

Hannah had done so many centuries before:

� 1 K i ng s 2 : 1 - 1 0 3 "My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord...."

Certain of the most important verses in the

composition of these wondrous Festive Hymns

parallel each other.

Furthermore, there are other parallels between the

birth and Entry into the Temple of the All3Holy

Virgin and the Holy Prophet St Samuel, including

the fact that St Samuel sought out and Anointed

King David who was the Founder of the Royal

House, according to the Grace and Will of God,

and that our Blessed Theotokos gave birth to

King David’s last Descendent 3 the long awaited

Messiah Who is the King of the Eternal Kingdom

of God: i.e. the two Ministers of the same Sacred

Tasks according to Divine Will (I.E. THOSE WHO FULFIL THE

SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF OTHERS ) had the same king of rearing

– their most important formative years were

spent serving God and being educated in the Will

and Love of God for the sake of so many others.

] EVERYONE WHO HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A TEMPLE OF GOD (1 CORINTHIANS 3:16; 6:19).

ä In such a person, God abides by Grace.

] But ONLY IN ONE PERSON IN THE WORLD DID

GOD HIMSELF ABIDE, IN HIS VERY BEING, IN

HIS NATURE, TAKING HUMAN NATURE AND

ABIDING IN THE ALL-HOLY VIRGIN MARY.

ä She is truly THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND THE

PLACE OF HIS PRESENCE AND OF HIS GLORY. ä AS SHE IS THE "HOLY OF HOLIES"— "THE ARK

OF THE COVENANT" — AGAIN THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED TO MANKIND

� Exodu s 2 : 2 5 “God looked down on the children of Israel and was known to them.”

The All3Holy Virgin did not simply enter the Temple

but was carried by the High Priest, St Zachariah,

into the Holy of Holies 3 behind the Inner Veil

with its depictions of Cherubim.

Just as St Simeon the God3receiver entered by Divine

Inspiration into the Temple to meet the Infant

Lord Jesus , so also by the Divine Inspiration of

the Holy Spirit, St Zachariah, the High Priest, met

the All Holy Virgin in such an extraordinary

manner, and was compelled to carry her into the

Holy of Holies, which corresponded to her.

� Luke 2 : 2 7 – “(ST SYMEON) ... went by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought the Child Jesus , to do for Him according to the Custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms, and Blessed God ...”

� 3 K i ng s 6 : 5 In "...the chambers built round the walls of the Temple, round the Temple and the Oracle (THE HOLY OF HOLIES), there in the chambers

built around at the sides...” 3 which were at

the second Temple 3 the All3Holy Virgin

spent her youth. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “VENERATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY” BY PROTOPRESBYTER MICHAEL POLSKY

- http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/veneration_mary.aspx

On Watchfulness & Holiness – St Hesychios the Priest Through His Incarnation God granted us the ideal

Model for a Holy Life and recalled us from our

ancient Fall.

In addition to many other things, He taught us –

feeble as we are – that we should fight against the

demons with Humility, Fasting, Prayer and

Watchfulness.

For when, after His Baptism, Christ went into the

desert and the devil came up to Him as though

He were merely a man, He began His Spiritual

Warfare by Fasting and won the battle by this

means – although, being God , and God of gods,

He had no need of any such means at all.

In these times of Spiritual Warfare, we need to arm

ourselves with various effective types of Spiritual

Watchfulness that gradually cleanse our intellect

from impassioned thoughts.

As St Paul taught St Timothy: “Pay attention, my

child, to what you read. (1 Timothy 4:13)

1. Closely scrutinise every mental image or

provocation; for only by means of a mental

image can Satan fabricate an evil thought and

insinuate this into our intellect in order to

lead us astray.

2. Free the heart from all thoughts, keeping it

profoundly silent and still, and in Prayer.

3. Continually and humbly call upon our Lord Jesus

Christ for His Divine Guidance, Strength and

Help.

4. Always remember Death. THE REMEMBRANCE OF DEATH MAKES US REALISE THAT WE MAY DIE WITHOUT

WARNING BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW THE HOUR NOR THE DATE OF OUR DEATH. WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS UNAVOIDABLE AND INEVITABLE! THUS WE SHOULD NEVER

WASTE A SECOND OF SUCH PRECIOUS PREPARATORY TIME ON NONSENSE AND USELESS MATTERS.

EACH LIFESPAN HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL SOUL FOR OUR SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY ACCORDING TO DIVINE WISDOM AND LOVE.

These types of Watchfulness act like Doorkeepers,

blocking and expelling evil thoughts.

Another form of Spiritual Protection against evil

thoughts and the lure of temptations, is to fix our

gaze upon Heaven and to pay no attention to

anything material [OF THIS FALLEN WORLD].

When we have to some extent cut off the causes of

the passions, we should devote our time to

Spiritual Contemplation; for if we fail to do this

we shall easily revert to the fleshly passions, and

so achieve nothing but the complete darkening of

our intellect and its reversion to material things.

Being constantly engaged in Spiritual Warfare, we

should simultaneously possess Humility, perfect

Attentiveness, the power of rebuttal, and Prayer.

ä Humility defends us against arrogant demons for

we have the Divine Help of Christ in our

heart: “... the Lord despises the arrogant...” (PROVERBS 3 :34)

ä ATTENTIVENESS KEEPS OUR HEART CLEAR of all

thoughts, even those that appear to be good. ä REBUTTAL ENABLES US TO IMMEDIATELY REPULSE

the evil one when we recognise him or his

demons: “... I shall reply to those who vilify me; will not my soul be subject to God?” (PSALMS 119:42 & 62:1- LXX)

ä PRAYER ENABLES US TO TURN TO AND MERGE WITH

CHRIST following the rebuttal of the evil one

with “... cries that cannot be uttered.” (ROMANS

8:26)

By the Most Holy Name of Christ the evil one is

broken and routed and his dissimulation (DECEPTION)

is scattered like dust or smoke before the wind!

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27


Apodos i s o f th e Ent ryApodos i s o f th e Ent ryApodos i s o f th e Ent ryApodos i s o f th e Ent ry 25 November 2010

St Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria Feast of St Augusta the Empress, St Mercurios & 200 Companion Holy Martyrs of Alexandria – St Clement Hieromartyr of Rome – St Peter, Hieromarty of Alexandria – St Peter of Galatia – St Clement of Ochrid & Enlightener of the Bulgarians, Equal of the Apostles, together with St Naum, St

Sava, St Gorazd and St Angelar, Disciples of St Cyril and St Methodios A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y A P O L Y T I K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y O F T H E E V E R B L E S S E D V I R G I N M A R Y ---- T O N E 4 T O N E 4 T O N E 4 T O N E 4

Simeron tis evdokias Theou to proimion, ke tis ton antrhropon sotirias i prokirixis; en Nao tou Theou, tranos i Parthenos diknite, ke ton Hriston tis pasi prokatangellete. Afti ke imism, megalofonos voisomen: Here tis ikonomias, tou Ktistou i ekplirosis.

Today is the prelude of the Good Pleasure of God for mankind, and the Proclamation of our Salvation; in the Temple of God, the Virgin is clearly revealed, to all foretelling the Coming of Christ. Wherefore, let us cry to her with a mighty voice: Rejoice O Fulfilment of the Creator’s Dispensation.

A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T C A T H E R I N E T H E G R E A TA P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T C A T H E R I N E T H E G R E A TA P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T C A T H E R I N E T H E G R E A TA P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T C A T H E R I N E T H E G R E A T OF ALEXANDRIA OF ALEXANDRIA OF ALEXANDRIA OF ALEXANDRIA

Tin Panevfimon Nimfin Hristou imnisomen,

Aikaterinan tin thian ke poliouhon Sina, tin voithian imon ke antilipsin; oti efimose lambros, tous kompsous ton asevon, tou Pnevmatos ti dinami; ke nin os Martis stefthisa, etite pasi to Mega Eleos.

The All Blessed Bride of Christ, let us extol in song: Catherine the Holy and Protector of Sinai, our assistance and unfailing firm support; for she brilliantly muzzled the ungodly, clever men, by the Power of the Spirit, and now, as a Crowned Martyr, she pleads for the Great Mercy for us all.

K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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 K O N T A K I O N O F T H E E N T R Y I N T O T H E T E M P L E 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


The Most Pure Temple of our Saviour, the Precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Sacred Treasure of God, today enters the House of the Lord, bringing the Grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God


The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 3 : 23 – 4 : 5 D i v i n e A d o p t i o n T h r o u g h O u r H o l y B a p t i s m

Brethren: Before Faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law – kept for the Faith that would afterwards be

revealed. Therefore the Law was our Tutor, bringing us to Christ so that we might be Justified by Faith. But

after Faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through Faith in Christ Jesus,

for as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all One

in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, and Heirs according to the Promise.

TWO FAITHS ARE CO-OPERATING: first and foremost CHRIST’S FAITH, AND then, secondly, THE FAITH OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

WHILE THE PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT WITH GOD CERTAINLY HAD FAITH, THEY COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN CHRIST’S FAITH BECAUSE HE HAD

NOT YET COME while they were still alive on earth. St Paul directly related our SAVING FAITH AND BEING

BAPTISED – connecting them as the most intimate of friends.

“For as many of you as were Baptised in Christ have put on Christ!” is THE ANCIENT HYMN WE STILL CHANT DURING THE PROCESSION OF THE NEWLY REGENERATED SOUL INTO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

WE SHARE ONE HUMAN NATURE WITH CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR SO THE ERROR OF VALUING PEOPLE BASED

ON PERSONAL OPINIONS AND ETHNICITY – “neither Jew nor Greek” – or on pride and social status – “neither slave nor free” – or gender – “neither male nor female” – has no place in Christ’s Holy Church.

WE CAN NEVER CATEGORIZE OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS BECAUSE WE ALL SHARE ONE AND THE SAME HUMAN NATURE AND SO WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE GOD AND ONE ANOTHER!

The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 5 : 24 - 34 T h e F a i t h O f T h e Wom an Whom N o On e C o u l d H e a l

At that time our Lord Jesus went with (Jairus, one of the rulers of the Synagogue,) and a great multitude followed

Him and thronged Him.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.

She had spent all that she had and was not better, but rather grew worse. And when she heard about Jesus, she

went behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment, for she thought: “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall

be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of

the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that Power had gone out of Him, turned around in

the crowd and asked: “Who touched My clothes?” And His Disciples said to Him: “Thou see the multitude thronging Thee, yet Thou ask: “Who touched Me?’”

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And He looked around to see her who had done so, but the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had

happened to her, went and fell down before Him and told Him the whole Truth. And He said to her: “Daughter, your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

ALL AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH IS ACCORDING

TO THE WILL OF GOD ALONE and being of one and the same Divine Essence as God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ has this same Divine Authority and control over all Creation.

The healing of this faithful woman – who later was known as St Veronica – demonstrated CHRIST’S

DIVINE POWERS OF CLEANSING AND HEALING,

WORKING TOGETHER WITH PERSONAL FAITH.

According to the Old Covenant, any type of haemorrhage caused ceremonial and social defilement, which imposed severe religious and social restrictions upon such sufferers since contact with blood was strictly prohibited and to be avoided at all costs.

This wretched woman who had suffered not only her painful and debilitating ailment but also social exile for twelve very long years, and having been subjected to all kinds of humiliating medicinal practises at the hands of numerous physicians who had accepted everything she possessed in payment despite their failure, had FOCUSED HER ENTIRE

FAITH ON CHRIST WHO SHE KNEW WOULD BE THE

ONLY ONE TO CURE HER.

Having heard all about the wonderful Teachings and Miracles of Christ, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN

THAT BY MERELY TOUCHING THE VERY EDGE OF HIS

SANCTIFIED GARMENTS, SHE WOULD BE HEALED

SINCE ANYTHING THAT IS TOUCHED BY THE DIVINE

AND THE HOLY IS SANCTIFIED BY ASSOCIATION.

The Healing Power of Christ was immediately felt by Him and HE WANTED TO IDENTIFY SUCH FAITH AS A

GOOD EXAMPLE TO ALL WHO DOUBTED THE WILL

AND POWER OF GOD TO DO EVEN THE MOST

IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.

BY SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO HER AND EXPOSING HER TO

THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS AMONGST THE CROWD,

CHRIST INCLUDED AND WELCOMED HER INTO HIS

COMPANY AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT GOD IS ALWAYS

AWARE OF EVERYONE’S NEEDS.

His final words to her “Daughter, your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of your affliction,” EMPHASISED GOD’S LOVE FOR

ALL HIS PEOPLE – HIS ADOPTED HUMAN FAMILY –

AND SHOWED THAT FAITH IN GOD BRINGS US HIS

DIVINE PEACE AND HEALING OF ALL OUR

AFFLICTIONS.

] NO HUMAN CONDITION EXCLUDES US FROM THE

PRESENCE OF GOD AND WE SHOULD IMITATE

THE GREAT FAITH OF ST VERONICA, ALWAYS

CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS IN

CONTROL OF LIFE AND DEATH AND EVERYTHING

IS POSSIBLE ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE WILL.

St Catherine the Great & Holy Martyr of AlexandriaSt Catherine was the daughter of Constos, the Governor

of Egypt during the reign of Emperor Maximian (305-313). Living in Alexandria, the centre of

Hellenistic knowledge, and being of a rare beauty and intellect, St Catherine received an excellent education, studying the works of the greatest

philosophers and teachers of antiquity. Young men from the most worthy families of the

empire sought the hand of the beautiful Saint, but she was not interested in any of them, having informed her parents that she would enter into Marriage only with someone who surpassed her in nobility, wealth, comeliness and wisdom.

Catherine's mother, a secret Christian, sent her to her own Spiritual Father, a Saintly Elder who lived in a cave outside the city, for advice. After listening to Catherine, the Elder said that he knew of a Youth Who surpassed her in everything. "His Countenance is more radiant than the shining of the sun, and all

of Creation is governed by His Wisdom. His Riches

are given to all the Nations of the world, yet they

never diminish. His Compassion is unequalled."

This description of the Heavenly Bridegroom produced in the soul of the Holy Maiden an ardent desire to see Him. "If you do as I tell you," said the Monk, "you will gaze upon the Countenance of this Illustrious Man."

The Elder gave St Catherine an Icon of the Blessed Theotokos with the Christ Child in Her arms and he told her to pray with Faith to the Queen of Heaven - the Mother of the Heavenly Bridegroom - who would hear Catherine and grant her heart's desire.

Catherine prayed all night and was permitted to see the Most Holy Virgin, Who said Her Divine Son, "Behold Thy handmaiden Catherine, how fair and virtuous

she is." But the Child turned His Face away from her saying, "No, she is ugly and unbelieving. She is a foolish pauper, and I cannot bear to look at her

until she forsakes her impiety."

Deeply saddened, Catherine returned to the Elder and told him what she had seen in the dream. He lovingly received her, instructed her in the Faith of Christ, admonished her to preserve her Purity and integrity and to pray unceasingly.

She then received the Mystery of holy Baptism from him, after which St Catherine had a Vision of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child but now our

Lord looked tenderly at her and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her Betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom. (THIS RING REMAINS ON HER HAND).

Emperor Maximian went to Alexandria for a pagan festival but the cries of the sacrificial animals, the smoke and the smell of the sacrifices, the endless blazing fires, and the bustling crowds at the arenas defiled Alexandria.

Christians were being burnt to death which compelled St Catherine to appeal for mercy to the pagan priests and Emperor Maximian himself.

Introducing herself, she confessed her Faith in the One True God and with Wisdom exposed the errors of paganism but her beauty captivated the Emperor who tried to convince her of the superiority of pagan wisdom, by summoning fifty of the most learned philosophers and rhetoricians to argue against her.

However, St Catherine’s Inspired words caused the wise men to believe in Christ themselves, and after she had made the Sign of the Cross over them, they bravely accepted Holy Martyrdom by being burnt alive by order of the frustrated and infuriated Emperor who had failed every attempt to get Catherine to renounce Christ and had thus subjected her to the most unspeakable tortures.

Empress Augusta, who had heard much about the Saint, went to see her, having prevailed upon the Military Commander, Porphyrios, to accompany her to the prison with a detachment of 200 soldiers.

The Empress was impressed by the strong spirit of St Catherine, whose face was radiant with Divine Grace while she explained the Christian Teachings to them all, which they unanimously and whole-heartedly accepted as Divine and Perfect Truth.

The following day as St Catherine approached the wheels of torture, an Angel of God shattered it into pieces before the shocked pagan witnesses and having beheld this Miracle, Empress Augusta, the Imperial Courtier, Porphyrios and the 200 soldiers openly confessed their faith in Christ for which they were subsequently beheaded.

St Catherine firmly and adamantly confessed her fidelity to the Heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a Prayer to Him and the Sign of the Cross, she placed

her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword.

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27th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 2 28 November 2010

13th Sunday of St Luke – Wealth & Eternal Life

Feast of St Stephen the New, St Basil, St Gregory, another St Gregory, St John, St Andrew, St Peter, and many other Monk-Martyrs & Confessors of Mount St Auxentios – St Anna of Trichinarion Monastery - St Irenarchos & 7 Martyred Women Companions of Sebaste, Armenia - – St Theodore of Rostov – St Auxantios & 16 Martyred Companions of Tiberiopolis: St Timothy & St Theodore the Bishops of Tiberiopolis; St Timothy, St Peter, St John, St Sergios, St Nicephoros, the Presbyters of Tiberiopolis; St Basil, St Thomas the Deacons of Tiberiopolis; St Hierotheos, St Daniel, St Chariton, St Socrates, St Comasios; and St Etymasios the Monk Martyrs of Tiberiopolis & St

Etymasios of Tiberiopolis

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 2 Ote katilthes pros ton thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote

ton adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!

When Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,

Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!

A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t S t e p h e n T h e N e w O f M o u n t S t A u x e n t i o s – T o n e 4

Askitikos Progmnasthis en to Ori, tas noitas ton dismenon parataxis, ti panoplia olesas pammakar tou Stavrou. Aithis de pros Athlisin, andrikos apediso, ktinas ton Kopronimon, to tis Pisteos xifi, ke di amfin estafthis ek Theou, Osiomartis aidime Stefane.

Trained on the mountain in Ascetical Labours, with the whole Armour of the Cross Thou vanquished the spiritual arrays of unseen enemies; and when Thou had stripped Thyself with great courage for contest, Thou slayed Copronymos with the Sword of the True Faith. For both these things hast Thou been Crowned by God, O Righteous Martyr, Blessed Stephen of great renown.

K o n t a k i o n O f A d v e n t & T h e N a t i v i t y O f C h r i s t

I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos.

Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all beings, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Resur re c t i on Gospe l 5 : Luke 24 :12 – 35 - O U R R I S E N L O R D J E S U S A P P E A R S A L O N G T H E R OO U R R I S E N L O R D J E S U S A P P E A R S A L O N G T H E R OO U R R I S E N L O R D J E S U S A P P E A R S A L O N G T H E R OO U R R I S E N L O R D J E S U S A P P E A R S A L O N G T H E R O A D T O E M M A U SA D T O E M M A U SA D T O E M M A U SA D T O E M M A U S

Prokeimenon : The Lord is my Strength and my Glory! The Lord has punished me severely, but He has not delivered me to Death.

The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 6 : 10 - 17 We A r e P r o t e c t e d A g a i n s t S p i r i t u a l W a r f a r e B y D i v i n e A rmo u r A n d F a i t h I n G o d

Brethren: be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might. Put on the Whole Armour of God, so that you may be

able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against

principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of

wickedness in the Heavenly Places.

Therefore, take up the Whole Armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done

all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with Truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteous, and having shod

your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; above all, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be

able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all

Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit....

St Paul warned us that all who stand for Good – who strive for Godliness by living IN Christ our Saviour – must wage a constant battle against the forces of evil that ceaselessly assault and threaten us, seeking our destruction and Spiritual Death.

The fallen angels – the demons – who were expelled and banished from “the Heavenly Places,” still fight against anything that is Godly or Good on earth, especially us human beings who are made in the Image and Likeness of God Who Loves us more than all His other creatures.

The demonic hatred, jealously and vengeance, as well as all the other ungodly vices or passions were

invented by the evil one and his demonic servants for their rebellion against God and all His Divine Goodness both in Heaven and on earth.

Now, belonging neither to Heaven nor earth, these wicked beings use our weaknesses against us in the Spiritual Warfare that continues ceaselessly and which will be waged against us until Christ reappears in all His Glory amongst us to Judge His entire Creation.

This is clearly acknowledged in the Prayers at the conclusion of the Holy Mystery of Baptism .

] AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST AND SPIRITUAL SOLDIERS IN GOD’S CHURCH MILITANT ON


EARTH, WE ARE PUT ON THE SPIRITUAL ARMOUR PROVIDED BY GOD FOR OUR PROTECTION AND VICTORY:

ä BY HIS BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.OUR HEARTS ARE PROTECTED

ä BY HIS GOSPEL OF PEACE – THE DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF CHRIST’S REVELATIONS AND TEACHINGS - OUR FEET AND OUR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS ARE PROTECTED.

ä BY HIS SHIELD OF FAITH, WHICH MAKES “... ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED ONE” UNABLE TO AFFECT, DECEIVE OR HARM US OUR ENTIRE BEING IS PROTECTED.

ä BY HIS HELMET OF SALVATION OUR IMMORTAL SOUL IS PROTECTED AND SAFELY GUIDED TO ETERNAL LIFE.

ä BY THE MOST POWERFUL, ENDURING AND INDESTRUCTIBLE SWORD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MAKES POSSIBLE EVERYTHING THAT FOR US HUMAN BEINGS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE - OUR SPIRITUAL VICTORY IS ASSURED.

This Divine Spiritual Armour of God that He grants to us as His Faithful Soldiers against such Spiritual Warfare is His Uncreated Divine Energy and Wisdom that we actively use throughout our preparatory Journey towards Eternity and His Everlasting Kingdom.

� Ephe s i an s 1 : 1 9 – 2 3 - God the Holy Spirit grants us the Wisdom and Understanding so that we know “... what is the exceeding Greatness of His Power towards us who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly Places, far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the which is to come. And He shall put all things under His Feet, and gave Him as Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body – the Fullness of Him Who fills all in all.”

Before reading Christ’s Holy Gospel we always pray: “Illumine our hearts (understanding), O Master Who Loves mankind, with the Pure Light of Thy Divine Knowledge...”

“...Principality and Power and Might and Dominion...” refer to four of the NINE ORDERS OF

HEAVENLY HOSTS – the invisible, bodiless or incorporeal beings who were created before mankind and the material world of God’s beautiful Creation and whose sole purpose is to praise, honour and worship God and to fulfil His Will in every aspect, acting whenever required, as Holy Messengers, Guides and Protectors of us human beings.

St Paul reminds us that Christ, as the Incarnate Word and Only Begotten Son of God the Father, being of the same Divine Essence, is greater than anything He has created; Christ is the exclusive Head of His Holy Church, which is His Holy Body.

HIS HOLY CHURCH HAS THE GREATEST GLORY OF ALL CREATION AS GOD’S MASTERPIECE AND SINCE CHRIST IS INFINITE, HIS HOLY CHURCH NEVER CEASES BEING FILLED.

CHRIST ALMIGHTY CONTROLS ALL CREATION AND HAS DOMINION OVER LIFE AND DEATH – NOTHING CAN DESTROY GOD NOR HIS BELOVED PEOPLE – ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY FOLLOW AND OBEY HIS DIVINE WILL.

AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM ANYTHING CREATED!

� Ephe s i an s 3 : 1 6 – 2 1 ”... He would grant you,

according to the riches of His Glory, to be Strengthened with Might through His Spirit in the Inner Man, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through Faith; that you,

being rooted and grounded in Love, may be able to comprehend with all the Saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the Love of Christ, which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the Fullness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that works in us, to Him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

WE “COMPREHEND” AND “KNOW” BY MEANS OF something other than a scientific fact or intellectual awareness. It is a by means of A DIVINE REVELATION OR GIFT THAT ILLUMINES AND TRANSFORMS OUR LIMITED HUMAN INTELLECT;

It is by means of A RECIPROCAL ENCOUNTER OR A PERSONAL BOND WITH OUR LOVING AND PERSONAL GOD WHO REVEALS HIMSELF IN US THROUGH OUR

HOLY COMMUNION WITH HIM – our sincere and intimate Prayers and constant participation in Holy Worship as well as the partaking of Holy Mysteries of Repentance-Confession and Eucharist, which bring us ever closer to God.

Such Divine Revelation and personal Communion and Faith is BEST KNOWN “... WITH ALL THE SAINTS...” BY PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH THE CORPORATE CHURCH OF CHRIST – I.E. CONSTANT WORSHIPPING WITH PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING AS A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

It is also experienced BY THE GREAT GIFT OF HIS DIVINE GRACE, WHICH IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WHICH COMPELS US TO EAGERLY FULFIL HIS DIVINE WILL HOWEVER NECESSARY AND WITH ALL HUMILITY AND

OBEDIENCE TO GOD – a completely life changing Experience that benefits many - not only one soul – so that WE ARE ENABLED TO PROCEED FURTHER TOWARDS GOD’S KINGDOM OF ETERNAL LIFE.

Theological Knowledge is initially personal and experiential before being thought out and verbalised.

A THEOLOGIAN BY DIVINE GRACE WITNESSES TO WHAT HE KNOWS THROUGH SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

THOSE WHO ARE SO GREATLY BLESSED WITH DIVINE KNOWLEDGE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, ARE CALLED TO SHARE EVERYTHING WITH OTHERS BY TEACHING, GUIDING, COUNSELLING AND ASSISTING.

This passage ends with a Blessing that acknowledges the Truth that God’s Work sp reads further than we could ever envision – “ ... able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...”

The ultimate Goal of Deification (Theosis or Perfection) “...that you may be filled with all the Fullness of God...” is accomplished by working together – the synergism of our Faith and Love with God’s Power and Holy Spirit in us.

AS FAITHFUL BUT STRUGGLING CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE PUT ON AT OUR HOLY BAPTISM ALL THE UNIQUE

QUALITIES that are listed by St Paul as our Spiritual Armour granted to us by Almighty God TO ENSURE THE FULFILMENT AND VICTORY OF ARRIVING SAFELY BEFORE HIS FEARFUL JUDGEMENT SEAT.

] SPIRITUAL ARMOUR AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS THAT GOD HAS SO GENEROUSLY AND LOVINGLY BESTOWED UPON US MUST BE PUT TO GOOD US THROUGHOUT LIFE – THROUGHOUT THE CEASELESS CONFLICT AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE OF OUR PERSONAL GROWTH AND PROGRESS.

] WITHOUT OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES THERE WILL BE NO DEIFICATION – PERFECTION OR THEOSIS.

In other words: UNLESS WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF CEASELESS AND CONCERTED SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE, WE CANNOT EXPECT TO REGAIN EVERYTHING WE HAVE LOST – INCLUDING ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 18 : 18 – 27 T h e R i c h Y o u n g M an & E t e r n a l L i f e

At that time, a certain ruler asked Jesus, saying: “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?” And Jesus

said to him: “Why do you call Me ‘Good’? No one is Good but One – that is, God. You know the Commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ‘Do not murder.’ ‘Do not steal.’ ‘Do not bear false witness.’ ‘Honour your father and your mother.’” And he said: “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

And when Jesus heard these things, He said to him: “You still lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute them amongst the poor, and you will have Treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.”


But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became

sorrowful, He said: “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

And those who heard it said: “Who then can be Saved?” And Jesus said: “The things that are impossible with mankind are possible with God!”

THE RICH YOUNG RULER HAD NOT GONE TO CHRIST IN

ORDER TO TEST HIM BUT TO SINCERELY SEEK THE

WISE ADVICE OF SOMEONE WHOM HE CONSIDERED

AS BEING MERELY A GOOD TEACHER OF MOSAIC LAW

– NOT AS THE MESSIAH OR THE SON OF THE MOST

HIGH GOD.

Consequently, our Lord’s response to him did not deny that HE IS GOD but was designed to lead the man to the Truth that HE IS INDEED GOD AND TO CONFIRM

GOD’S WISDOM AND TRUTH, WHICH NEVER

CHANGES.

FORMAL OBSERVANCE OF GOD’S DIVINE

COMMANDMENTS DOES NOT MAKE ANYONE

RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD and this young man had an earnest desire for Eternal Life.

HE REALISED THAT HE STILL LACKED SOMETHING VERY

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL TO THAT ETERNAL LIFE

IN GOD’S KINGDOM SO HE PERSISTED and, knowing the depths of that man’s heart, OUR LORD THEN

GAVE HIM AN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT SACRED TASK

TO FULFIL – ONE THAT CHRIST DOES NOT ASK OF

EVERYONE.

] In order for us to become Perfect or achieve Theosis – a Godlike Purity – WE MUST WILLINGLY

SACRIFICE EVERYTHING – family, friends, occupations and possessions ( that are to be distributed amongst the poor and destitute) – SO THAT WE CAN FREELY FOLLOW CHRIST TO

THE FULLEST DEGREE. The specifics of how we follow Christ is different for

every eager and devoted Disciple. However, due to his extreme wealth and despite all his

efforts to fulfil God’s Commandments throughout his short life, THE YOUNG MAN UNDERSTOOD AND

ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEPTH OF HIS AVERSION AND

UNWILLINGNESS TO SURRENDER HIS COMFORTABLE

LIFE AND FOLLOW CHRIST.

He became deeply sorrowful when faced with his own ability to give up his comfortable but impermanent circumstances in exchange for Eternal Life!

HIS SADNESS WAS CAUSED BY THE REALITY OF HIS

SPIRITUAL CONDITION, WHICH CHOSE INSTANT

GRATIFICATION OVER AN EVERLASTING EXISTENCE

OF LOVE, PEACE AND ALL DIVINE GOODNESS!

Such is our own deep Spiritual Mourning – the realisation of how much we prefer self-indulgence and temporary satisfaction (that never gratifies our desires) to SELF-DENIAL AND SACRIFICE THAT DOES

TRULY GRATIFY AND WHICH SETS US FREE AND ABLE

TO FOLLOW CHRIST ALL THE WAY TO HIS DIVINE

KINGDOM. Various interpretations have been suggested for the

utterly impossible image of a camel going through the eye of a needle.

Some have suggested that the word “camel” can be replaced by “rope.”

Otherwise, the “eye of the needle” referred to the small gate of the large city gates of ancient times, through which neither a fully laden person nor beast could pass through, without first being unloaded of all baggage – and even then it would have been a tight squeeze and taken some effort to get a camel or any other animal through the gap.

The symbolism was that NO ONE COULD ENTER THE

CITY THROUGH THE SMALL GATE WITHOUT EFFORT –

BY BOWING DOWN AND BEING UNBURDENED BY

POSSESSIONS. ] Thus, WHEN ENTERING THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF

GOD – WHETHER IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE OR HIS

ETERNAL KINGDOM, WE MUST FIRST UNBURDEN

OURSELVES OF ALL BAGGAGE – BOTH PHYSICAL

AND SPIRITUAL – AND BOW DOWN IN ALL

HUMILITY AND WORSHIP BEFORE HIS DIVINE

MAJESTY.

No matter how it is interpreted, CHRIST USED THE

EXPRESSION TO DESCRIBE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO

ACHIEVE SALVATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE SO

BURDENED BY THEIR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS AND

EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO IT!

And in answer to the vital question: “Who then can be Saved?” our Lord Jesus said: “THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MANKIND ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!”

] WITHOUT GOD WE ACHIEVE NOTHING WORTHWHILE

AND PERMANENT.

] BY THE GRACE OF GOD TRUE AND IMPOSSIBLE

MIRACLES OCCUR - AND EVEN REPENTANT

SINNERS ARE SANCTIFIED!

Our entire lifespan is allocated to each of us by God Who knows exactly how much time we need to grow to our fullest potential.

We can no longer claim to be ignorant of our Sacred Mission on this earth which is TO REGAIN OUR LOST

LIKENESS TO GOD AND FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM,

WHICH MAKES US FITTING CITIZENS OF HIS

HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

GOD DESIRES ETERNAL LIFE FOR EVERY SINGLE SOUL

HE HAS EVER CREATED, BUT HAVING GRANTED US

FREE WILL TO CHOOSE WHICH PATH WE WISH TO

TAKE TOWARDS ETERNITY, WE ARE ALL TOO OFTEN

DISTRACTED AND LED ASTRAY BY THE EVIL ONE

WHO SEEKS OUR SPIRITUAL DEATH AND ETERNAL

ALIENATION FROM GOD.

Nevertheless, EVEN BEFORE HE CREATED US, GOD HAD

MADE PROVISION FOR OUR SALVATION AND THEOSIS

– SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

When mankind continued to misinterpret and misunderstand His Divine Commandments and His infinite Love for us, God the Father sent His Only Begotten Son to live amongst us and to teach us directly so that we can now choose wisely and properly either to follow Him or reject Him.

WHATEVER CHOICES WE MAKE, WE WILL FACE THE

CONSEQUENCES either in this life so that by Divine Mercy we are able to correct our errors and seek forgiveness and Spiritual Renewal – being able to continue our Spiritual Journey – or by remaining unrepentant even when confronted by the results of our sins, being Eternally Condemned and Alienated from everything that is good.

So WE CONSTANTLY PRAY FOR OUR SALVATION, ASKING

THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT TO INTERCEDE WITH GOD

FOR HIS GREAT MERCY – AND CEASELESSLY

CORRECTING OURSELVES AND WITH LOVE, GUIDING

AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS WHO ACCOMPANY US

THROUGH THIS PREPARATORY LIFE.

“...What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?”

This is really the fundamental question of all of

humanity, both personally and collectively.

How can we live in true happiness, total

contentment, and forever and ever?

How can we live in the best possible and most

fulfilling way? And how can we live this way

eternally?

To this question there are many answers, as man has

struggled with this thought from the very

beginning. Every religion and philosophy, , has

sought to answer this question in their own way.

And because their answers arose from the minds and

hearts of men, according to their own limited

knowledge and moral imperfections, their

answers proved faulty and insufficient. Faulty

because they could not make man truly happy

and insufficient because they could not overcome

death and grant Eternal Life.

Yet, the answer from God Himself is neither faulty

nor insufficient, as it arises from His Perfect

Knowledge, boundless Love, and Divine Power –

even over death itself.


The same dialogue as that between our Lord Jesus

and the rich young man is repeated countless

times in the heart of man.

Having been created in the Image and Likeness of

God, it is natural to seek Eternal Life: to seek that

which is not only good, but the very best, to seek

Life with God, and to seek it Eternally.

And whether we realize it consciously or not, with

every moment of our life, we are asking thinking:

“How can I make my life better, how can I live in the best possible way?”

Some seek riches like the Foolish Rich Man who

planned to build bigger barns. Others seek

pleasures: to experience all the “good things” of

this world, all the things money can buy, like the

Prodigal Son.

Others seek glory and praise, to be highly esteemed,

either through their worldly successes or even

through their self3righteousness like the

Pharisees.

But the Lord’s Teaching 3 the only true answer to

this question 3 is to DENY ONESELF, TAKE UP

ONE’S CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM.

How sharply God’s answer conflicts with the varied

answers of the world! It’s like night and day.

The world says true life is found in riches, pleasures,

and glory.

Our Lord teaches us not to seek riches but to rather

distribute or at least share all we have amongst

the poor and not to seek worldly pleasures but

rather to learn self3denial, and to flee from the

praises and glory of people 3 seek Humility and

Obedience for “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

With every passing moment we are confronted by

two opposing answers 3 one from the world and

the other from God.

We know to Whom we should listen, but at the same

time, we often find ourselves being tempted by

the ways of the world, according to the limited

knowledge and moral imperfections of our

ancestors, rather than carefully following the

Unerring Path of Christ, Who is the Way, the

Truth, and the Life.

Let us investigate why we sometimes make wrong

decisions, so that we can correct our ways.

Our Holy Church Fathers teach us that the primary

reason for following the ways of the world rather

than the Ways of God, is not because we don’t

desire what is better or best, over what is just

good, but because we usually only see what is

best later in life, near the end of our days 3

having become not only accustomed to the

tempting things of the world but even sometimes

enslaved by them through years of habitual

seeking, working for, and loving wealth, pleasure,

and praise.

Then when we hear that Jesus Christ has come to

give us not only Life, but Life more abundantly,

when we hear that the Kingdom of God has been

opened once again, when we hear that we are

Called to become joint Heirs with Christ of His

Heavenly Kingdom, we are sometimes slow to

respond 3 not only due to being accustomed to

worldly things, or perhaps even enslaved by

them, but due to being entangled in worldly

living.

Having laboured relentlessly for so many years to

develop our business and to save our “nest3egg,”

– to provide for our “future” (which only God

knows!) it is difficult and frightening to

relinquish everything so that we can freely and

more fully follow Christ.

Or perhaps we are so completely enslaved or

addicted to the pleasures and vices of the flesh 3

tasty, abundant meals, drinking wine and alcohol

excessively, smoking, drugs, or all kinds of other

physical and spiritual addictions, that the simple

thought of denying ourselves of these vices

creates frantic agitation and anxiety at our very

deepest level!

Or perhaps having put so much effort into creating

our social status with our puffed up ego craving

the satisfaction of being acknowledged and

flattered by our contemporaries, that the Path of

Humility and Obedience to God is just too

difficult or devastating for us to even consider!

Nevertheless: this is exactly why our Lord pointed

out to us: “How hard is it for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Naturally, those who heard Christ’s words so many

years ago, and those who hear them today,

immediately think: “Who then can be saved?”

Yet, let us not despair for our Lord Jesus Christ

reassured us of His infinite Divine Love and Great

Mercy by reminding us that: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God!”

] EVERYTHING THAT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY HUMAN BEING TO ACCOMPLISH IS POSSIBLE BY DIVINE GRACE – BY THE WILL AND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD!

For that very reason the Hebrews anticipated the

Coming of the Messiah 3 the One Who would Save

them from their fallen state 3 the One Who would

release them from the slavery of sins – of the

fallen world.

The long3awaited Messiah would overcome Satan

and all his inventions of sin and death 3 and He

would grant Life 3 Eternal Life 3 to all those held

captive by Death – the consequence of sin.

The Messiah – our Lord and Saviour 3 is Jesus Christ

Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He

has come so that He might grant within us,

everything that we cannot achieve by ourselves.

Our Lord came not simply to teach us about Eternal

Life but to grant us everything necessary for

Eternal Life by being within us!

He came to help us be in the world but not of the

world, to set us free from the bonds of riches,

pleasures, and pride and to help us die to

corruptible life and live to Incorruption.

He came to help each of us work out our own

Salvation, not as a remote, impersonal God but as

an intimate Companion walking each step of our

life with us.

Let us continue our Repentance so that we can more

fully celebrate His Entrance into our heart,

accomplishing all things necessary for our

Salvation, together with His Eternal Father, and

His All Holy Good and Life3giving Spirit.

Amen.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP:

http://orthodoxdelmarva.org/files/sermons/2006/Sermon_12_03_06.pdf

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30 November 2010

St Andrew the First-Called Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ of Bethsaida (Brother to St Simon Peter and son of Jonas)

Feast of St Frumentios of Inda (Abyssinia, Ethiopia) – the Entrance of St Andrew the First Called Apostle of Christ into Georgia – St Vakhtan Gorgasali, King of Georgia – St Peter, First Patriarch (Catholicos) of Georgia – St Samuel, Second Patriarch (Catholicos) of Georgia

A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T A N D R E W T H E F I R S T C A L L E D A P O S T L E A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T A N D R E W T H E F I R S T C A L L E D A P O S T L E A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T A N D R E W T H E F I R S T C A L L E D A P O S T L E A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T A N D R E W T H E F I R S T C A L L E D A P O S T L E –––– T O N E 4T O N E 4T O N E 4T O N E 4

Os ton Apostolon Protoklitos, ke tou korifeou

aftadelphos, ton Despotin ton olon Andrea iketeve, irinin ti ikoumeni dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon Mega Eleos.

As first of the Apostles to receive the Call, and very brother of the Prince of them, intercede O Andrew, with the Master of us all: Peace to all the world to grant, and to our souls His Great Mercy.

K O N T A K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F C H R I S TK O N T A K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F C H R I S TK O N T A K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F C H R I S TK O N T A K I O N O F T H E N A T I V I T Y O F C H R I S T

I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi, Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi, di’ imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.

Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a Young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4 : 9 - 16 W i s d o m i n t h e A p o s t o l i c M i n i s t r y

Brethren: We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s Field; you are God’s Building. According to the Grace of God

which was given to me, as a Wise Master Builder, I have laid the Foundation, and another builds on it.

But let each one take heed how he builds on it, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which

is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on this Foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each one’s Work will

become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by Fire; and the Fire will test each one’s

Work, of what sort it is 3 if anyone’s Work is burnt, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be Saved, yet so as

through fire.

Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the

Temple of God, God will destroy him, for the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple you are.

By using the term “fellow workers,” (synergoi), St Paul referred to the Biblical concept of Synergism, which EXPLAINS THE MANNER WHEREBY THE HOLY

APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ALL WORKED

TOGETHER WITH GOD IN FULFILLING THE HOLY

MINISTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ] AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE TOO ARE

GOD’S “FELLOW WORKERS” WHO ARE OBLIGED –

AND THROUGH OUR DEVOTION AND LOVE OF GOD,

ARE COMPELLED – TO OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS

AND TEACHINGS AND THEREBY TO FULFIL HIS DIVINE

WILL ALONE.

So we need to CULTIVATE THE INSEPARABLE VIRTUES

OF HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, WHICH LEADS US TO

ALL THE OTHER ESSENTIAL VIRTUES THAT EXPRESS

THE DEPTH OF OUR LOVE OF GOD AND ONE

ANOTHER.

Such enthusiastic co-operation or Synergy with God does not mean a working relationship with equals or a so-called 50-50 arrangement! For GOD IS OUR

LORD AND MASTER AND WE ARE MERELY HIS

DEVOTED AND EAGER SERVANTS WHO ARE CALLED

BY CHRIST TO PARTICIPATE WITH ALL HUMILITY AND

OBEDIENCE IN HIS DIVINE WORK AMONGST OUR

FELLOW SINNERS IN THIS FALLEN WORLD.

] THIS HOLY SYNERGY IS THE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S

INFINITE AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL HIS

CREATURES, ESPECIALLY ALL MANKIND WHO IS

CREATED IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

And OUR WILLING CO-OPERATION CLEARLY INDICATES

THE EXTENT OF OUR PERSONAL LOVE FOR GOD AND

EACH OTHER ACCORDING TO WHICH WE WILL BE

JUDGED.

THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONSECRATED TEMPLES OF

GOD AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT – INDEED THE HOLY

TRINITY – LIVES WITHIN US, PERMITS, ENCOURAGES,

ENABLES AND URGES US TO FULFIL OUR CHRISTIAN

CALLING AND HOLY MISSION BY STRIVING TO KEEP

ALL GOD’S DIVINE COMMANDMENTS AND TO LIVE IN

CHRIST EVERY MOMENT OF OUR DAY.

As Holy Temples of God, WE MUST TREAT OURSELVES

AND ONE ANOTHER WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT

AND CONSTANTLY CLEANSE OUR SELVES OF THE

CONTAMINATION OF SINS.

THE MANNER WHEREBY WE RESPECT THE HOLY THINGS

OF GOD EXPOSES OUR INNER STATE – OUR TRUE

SPIRITUAL CONDITION.

We should make every effort at all times to BE

SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL SO THAT WE MAY

RECOGNISE AND THUS AVOID ALL TEMPTATIONS,

WHICH LEAD TO WICKEDNESS.

Because we commit sins consciously or unconsciously all day long, WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT,

RENEW AND SANCTIFY OURSELVES WITH PRAYERS,

FASTING, THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCE-

CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST, WHILE ATTENDING

ALL HOLY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Finally - HAVING BEEN SANCTIFIED THROUGHOUT LIFE

BY THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF BAPTISM, CHRISMATION,

CONFESSION, EUCHARIST AND UNCTION - AND EVEN

HOLY MATRIMONY OR ORDINATION – OUR

CONSECRATED TEMPLES ARE LAID TO REST IN THE

EARTH FROM WHENCE THEY CAME, TO AWAIT THE

GENERAL RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGEMENT,

WHEN THEY SHALL BE RAISED AGAIN. THE VIOLENT DESTRUCTION OF ANY HOLY TEMPLE OF

GOD – WHETHER HUMAN OR STONE AND MORTAR – IS

A DEADLY SIN THAT BRINGS ETERNAL

CONDEMNATION ON THOSE WHO DEFIANTLY AND

REBELLIOUSLY DO SO AND ESPECIALLY ON THOSE

WHO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO.

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Our Consecrated bodies have been made Holy - SANCTIFIED - BY DIRECT CONTACT WITH ALMIGHTY

GOD THROUGH HIS HOLY MYSTERIES, which we so eagerly partake of throughout life .

Yet some choose to ignore and insult God in the worst way possible by the violent destruction of His Divine

Things. SUCH DELIBERATE BRUTALITY MUST BE

AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS FOR THERE ARE NO EXCUSES

THAT WILL JUSTIFY SUCH WICKEDNESS!

The Holy Gospel According to St John 1 : 35 – 52 The Disciples of St John the Baptist & Forerunner Become the Holy Apostles of Christ

At that time, John stood with two of his Disciples, and looking at Jesus as He walked, he said: “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

The two Disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned, and, seeing them following Him,

said to them: “What do you seek?” And they said to Him: “Rabbi,“ (which is translated, ‘Teacher’), “... where art

Thou staying?” And He said to them: “Come and see.” So they went and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (for it was about the tenth hour.)

One of the two Disciples who had heard John speak, and who had followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s

brother. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him: “We have found the Messiah!” (which is

translated: “the Christ.”) And he took him to Jesus. And when Jesus looked at him, He said: “You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Çephas!” (which is translated: “A Stone.”)

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him: “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. And Philip found Nathanael and said to him: “We

have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law, and also the Prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.”

And Nathanael said to him: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” And Philip said to him: “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, and said of him: “Behold! An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” And Nathanael said to Him: “How dost Thou know me?” Jesus answered and said to him: “Before Philip called you – when you were under the fig tree – I saw you.” And Nathanael answered and said to Jesus: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him: “Because I said to you: Í saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” And He said to him: “Most assuredly, I say to you: hereafter you shall see Heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Our Lord’s first Disciples had been followers of St John the Baptist.

They were St Andrew (the First-Called Apostle), St (Simon) Peter, whom our Lord nicknamed “Cephas,“ St Philip and St Nathanael who became known as St Bartholomew, and another unidentified Apostle who was actually his beloved cousin, St John – the author of this Holy Gospel.

It was a common literary device for a writer not to mention his own name.

� Luke 2 4 : 1 3 : “Now behold: two of them were travelling that same day to a village called

Emmaus...”

The “two of them“ were St Cleopas and St Luke. � John 2 1 : 2 4 : “This is the Disciple who testifies of these

Things, and who wrote these Things; and we

know that his Testimony is True...”

St John used the term “we,” which signified that he had an assistant – a faithful Scribe named Prochoros who wrote down his words and teachings and who is often depicted in many Holy Icons of St John the Divine Apostles, Theologian and Evangelist.

The depth of St Nathanael or St Bartholomew’s honesty was revealed by Christ when He remarked: “Behold! An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

The ability of seeing so clearly within our hearts and knowing everything about us – even those who have never met Him - proves that our Lord Jesus Christ is no ordinary human being and is - without a doubt - the True Messiah – our True, Divine Saviour and Incarnate Son of God.

Thus we immediately learn that St Bartholomew had a genuinely pure heart and soul and was always straightforward and honest with others.

St John did not mention what exactly occurred “under the fig tree“ but St John Chrysostom believed that our Lord’s words referred to the meeting place of St Philip and St Nathanael, when St Philip had gone to tell him the wonderful news and the response of St Nathanael: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (WHICH WAS

A HUMBLE VILLAGE – A SEEMINGLY UNLIKELY PLACE FROM WHENCE THE GREAT MESSIAH WOULD COME.)

However, Christ praised St Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in their search for the True Messiah (because there have always been false prophets, false messiahs and false christs.)

Our Lord Jesus’ Foreknowledge and ability to see so deeply into his soul motivated St Nathanael’s Confession of Faith: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!”

Being even more honest and straightforward than St Nathanael, our Lord – probably amused by the amazement expressed to His Foreknowledge and

depth of insight – prepares them for “...greater things than these.”

Christ often referred to Himself in the third Person such as “the Son of Man,“ which is a title of the Messiah that had a level of mystery in its meaning – indicating that Someone of Heavenly Origin would usher in the Kingdom of God.

� Dan i e l 7 : 1 3 - 1 4 - “... and behold: One like the Son of Man was coming with the Clouds of Heaven, until He came to the Ancient of Days and approached Him. Then Dominion, Honour, and the Kingdom were given to Him, and all peoples, tribes and languages served Him. His Authority is an Everlasting Authority which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom shall not be destroyed.”

St Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient Days is that of the Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ – the Son of Man – in all His Glory.

In an Old Testament Prophecy, St Jacob had dreamt of a Ladder that connected earth to Heaven, upon which he

saw “...the Angels of God ascending and descending...””

Genesis 28: 12 – 15: “... a Ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached Heaven; and there the Angels of God were ascending and descending on it... the Lord stood above it and said: Í Am the Lord God of Abraham your Father, and the God of Isaac. Do not fear; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your seed.... I Am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

This Ladder signifies our Lady the Ever Blessed Theotokos and Her Divine Son and God Incarnate, FOR SHE

CONNECTS HEAVEN AND EARTH THROUGH HIM FOR OUR

SALVATION WHILE OUR LORD UNITES HEAVEN AND

EARTH AS THE SON OF MAN. .

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St Andrew of Bethsaida – First Called Holy Apostle of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus ChristSt Andrew was the first of the Holy Apostles to

follow our Lord Jesus Christ, and he introduced

his brother, Simon ( St Peter) to Christ. (JOHN 1:35-42)

They lived in Bethsaida, and from his early youth St

Andrew had committed his soul to God, and

having chosen a celibate life, he never married.

The two brothers were humble fishermen but when

the last Holy Prophet of God, St John the

Forerunner and Baptist of Christ began to preach

Repentance in preparation for the Coming of the

long3awaited Messiah, St Andrew became his

closest Disciple.

Having declared our Lord Jesus to be “the Lamb of

God” – the anticipated Messiah – St John the

Baptist, after his imprisonment and before his

unjust execution, sent two of his closest Disciples

to Christ, who then became Holy Apostles of

Christ 3 St Andrew the First Called Apostle and

St John the Divine Theologian, Evangelist and

Beloved Disciple of Christ.

After the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the

Apostles and Disciples of Christ on that glorious

Day of Pentecost, ten days after the Ascension of

Christ, St Andrew set off on his Missionary

Journey to the eastern lands.

Constantly preaching and teaching the Word of God

and healing the sick, St Andrew made his way

through Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia until

he reached the River Danube.

Then he went along the coast of the Black Sea,

throughout Crimea and the Black Sea region and

along the River Dnieper where he climbed to the

place where the city of Kiev is presently

established.

He rested overnight on the hills of Kiev and in the

morning, he said to his Disciples who

accompanied him: "See these hills? Upon them the Beneficence of God shall shine forth, and there will be a great city here, and God shall raise up many churches."

Then St Andrews went up around the hills, Blessed

them and set up a Cross.

After praying and chanting Psalms of Praise and

Thanksgiving to God, St Andrew and his

Disciples went up even further along the Dnieper

River until they reached a settlement of Slavs 3

where Novgorod was eventually established.

From there St Andrew and his Disciples travelled

towards Rome through the land of the

Varangians.

They later returned to Thrace and in the small village

of Byzantium, which centuries later became the

great city of Constantinople 3 the “New Rome” 3

St Andrew founded the Church of Christ.

During the long Missionary Journeys throughout the

eastern lands, St Andrew the First Called Apostle

of Christ and his fellow Christians endured much

affliction, misery and torment 3 particularly

from the cruel pagans who insulted, beat, mocked

and humiliated them before casting them out of

their villages, towns and cities.

In Sinope the ungodly people threw rocks and stones

at them, but, by the Grace of God the faithful

Apostle and Disciples of Christ remained

unharmed.

Despite the adversity, anger and suspicion that

confronted them everywhere they went, St

Andrew and his Fellow Workers persisted in their

Holy Mission, spreading God’s Truth and Good

News of Salvation – proving by their tender care

and healing of all who suffered, the unconditional

Divine Love and Mercy of Christ our Saviour and

the One True, Living and Most Powerful God of all

Creation.

Through the Intercessory Prayers of St Andrew, our

Lord worked countless Miracles and the Holy

Labours of St Andrew bore abundant Fruit as

many Christian Churches were established, with

Bishops and Clergy Ordained by him.

Finally, St Andrew arrived at the city of Patras, where

he was destined to suffer Holy Martyrdom for his

Love and devotion to Christ our God and Saviour.

Our Lord continuously worked many Miracles in

Patras through His faithful Apostle: the frail were

strengthened, the ailing were healed, the

physically and mentally disabled were renewed

and the blind received sight.

Through the Prayers of St Andrew, an illustrious

citizen, Sosios, Maximilla, the wife of the

Governor of Patras, and his brother, Stratokles,

all recovered from serious illnesses and regained

their health.

All the Divine Miracles, combined with his preaching

and teaching of God’s True Faith and the Holy

Gospel of Christ Enlightened the hearts and souls

of almost all the citizens of Patras who eagerly

committed their lives to Christ.

However, a few influential pagans tenaciously

rejected the obviously Perfect Truth of God,

among whom was, the Prefect of Patras,

Aegeatos.

Nothing would convince Aegeatos of the One True

and Living God, despite every effort of St Andrew

who, with Love and Humility, appealed to his

immortal soul, determined to reveal to him the

Divine Mystery of Life Eternal, through the

Wonderworking and Life3giving Power of the

Holy Cross of Christ.

Erroneously believing that he could dishonour and

destroy Christianity by crucifying the Apostle of

Christ, the frustrated and enraged Prefect

ordered the execution of St Andrew.

To the utter shock of the pagans, St Andrew

accepted his Martyrdom with Joy and Prayers of

Thanksgiving to the Lord as he went to the place

of execution, where he requested upside down

crucifixion.

To prolong the agony of St Andrew, Aegeatos

ordered his hands and feet to be tied to the cross.

For two days St Andrew continued teaching those

who gathered to witness his Martyrdom.

Filled with remorse and pity, they tried to remove St

Andrew from the cross and fearing a riot

Aegeatos ordered his release.

However, St Andrew besought God to grant him

death on the cross so those who tried to unfasten

the ropes, lost control of their hands and, having

glorified God, St Andrew declared: "Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit."

A blazing ray of Divine Light illumined St Andrew

and as the Light faded, his Sanctified Soul was

received by our Lord.

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The Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers Fa t her A l e x and er S chm emann

When mankind stands before the Throne of God, when we have fulfilled all that God has given us to fulfil, when all sins are forgiven, all Joy restored, then there is nothing else for us to do but to GIVE

THANKS.

Eucharist (Thanksgiving) is the state of Perfect Man. Eucharist is the Life of Paradise. Eucharist is the only full and real response to God’s

Creation, Redemption and Gift of Heaven. But this Perfect Man Who stands BEFORE GOD IS

CHRIST. IN HIM ALONE ALL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US

WAS FULFILLED AND RETURNED TO HEAVEN.

He alone is the Perfect Eucharistic Being - He is the Eucharist of the world.

IN AND THROUGH THIS HOLY EUCHARIST THE WHOLE

CREATION BECOMES WHAT IT ALWAYS WAS TO BE -

AND YET FAILED TO BE.

“For the Life of the World”

Fa t her S t ep h en - “ Glo ry t o Go d f or A l l T h i n g s ! ” On “Whom God wou ld ha v e u s b e “

Perhaps THE GREATEST SINGLE FAILURE IN THE

CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THE REFUSAL TO GIVE THANKS.

Gratitude that is dependent upon success or the fulfilment and pleasure of our own will is indeed thanksgiving – but it is weak indeed.

It is easy to give thanks for our pleasures and self-satisfactions (although even then we often forget to give thanks to God).

All too often in our Relationship with God and others,

Thanksgiving is purely reciprocal: we offer thanks as though it were a token payment for that which we have received. As such, it may represent little more than a happy, greedy heart.

It falls far short of the Heart of Thanksgiving - Holy Eucharist - itself.

THE HEART OF TRUE THANKSGIVING IS not a payment for services rendered, but AN EXISTENTIAL

EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD AS THE LORD

AND GIVER OF LIFE.

THIS FUNDAMENTAL ATTITUDE MARKS THE

RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE FATHER. HE IS

ALWAYS AND ETERNALLY GIVING THANKS TO THE

FATHER.

It is also THE RIGHT AND TRULY “WHOLE” EXPRESSION

OF WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. We find ourselves beset with temptation, sickness and

oppression of every sort – including the burden of our own failure and sinfulness. But TRUE

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD YIELDS THANKS DESPITE ALL

OTHER TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS.

EUCHARIST IS THE VOICE OF CREATION GIVING PRAISE

AND THANKSGIVING TO OUR CREATOR. Nothing is more fundamental nor more ESSENTIAL TO THE

RIGHT-LIVING OF THE HUMAN HEART.

In the face of many circumstances that surround and crush us – THANKSGIVING TO GOD CAN SEEM

ABSURD. HOWEVER, SUCH ABSURDITY IS THE VOICE

OF LOVE THAT REFUSES TO GRANT FAILURE AND

OPPRESSION A GREATER PLACE IN OUR LIFE THAN

GOD HIMSELF.

He is our God – and we praise Him! Let His enemies be scattered! THANKSGIVING, ALMOST ABOVE ALL ELSE, TRANSFORMS

US INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST – Who Himself is the True Eucharist of all Creation.

TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD IS INHERENTLY TO UNITE

OURSELVES WITH CHRIST AND THE TRUE VOICE OF

CREATION.

“It is truly meet and right…“

Fa t her S t ep h en - On “ Fa l l i ng Shor t “

I fail. We fail. It’s just how things are. It is not a Conspiracy or the Judgment of God or a

Universe arrayed against us – we simply fall short. At times falling short is nothing less than embarrassing.

This is especially so if we have raised our own expectations as well as the expectations of others.

I DO NOT MEASURE UP TO MY OWN EXPECTATIONS MUCH

LESS TO THOSE OF OTHERS.

FALLING SHORT, HOWEVER, IS NOT THE DEFINITION OF

MY LIFE OR THE MEANING OF MY EXISTENCE – at least I have not so learnt it in Christ.

My failure is not the bottom line of the Universe – surprisingly the Universe does not turn on the success of my personal Journey.

I AM IMPORTANT TO GOD – BUT THAT IS SHEER GRACE

AND AN UNDESERVED GIFT.

St. Paul said that he would “boast in his weakness” because IN HIS WEAKNESS THE STRENGTH OF

CHRIST WAS MADE COMPLETE.

In our culture, we glory in our strengths and say of our nation that “it is the best” or the “greatest” or other various superlatives. Of course, it’s not really true.

We can be grateful for what we have without insisting on superlatives.

WE CAN LOVE WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US WITHOUT

DESPISING WHAT SOMEONE ELSE LOVES.

I cannot begin to share the depths of my own failure, nor would this venue be a proper place for such sharing.

Thank God, there is Confession in the Church. But IT IS

IMPORTANT FOR ME, AND FOR ANY OF US, TO

REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE NOT.

It is important to REMEMBER THE GIFT OF CHRIST, AS

WELL AS WHY THE GIFT IS NECESSARY IN THE FIRST

PLACE.

] WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, CHRIST NEVER FAILS. HE IS

OUR SUFFICIENCY.

S t J a c ob Of S e rug h - On Pra y e r

Prayer reveals the deep things of the Divine. By it we enter to behold the Mystery of Hidden Things.

It is the Key able to open all doors. From it one can clearly espy what is hidden; by it the soul can approach to speak with God; it raises up the mind so that it reaches the Majesty.

It is easy for Prayer to learn the Mysteries of the Divinity, for it can go in and out unhindered by the Angelic Powers: no Angel is as swift-winged as Prayer, nor do the Seraphim fly up with it as it ascends; it whispers its words in the Ears of the Lord, without any intermediary; it murmurs in the heart, and God hears it in His Exalted Place.

Where it ascends not even the Watchers have ever reached, for it is capable of approaching the very Divinity.

The Seraph hides its face from the Divine Being with its wings, but Prayer stands there unveiled before the Majesty: nothing at all stands in the way between it and the Lord, for it converses with Him and He hears it gladly.

The Watchers tremble and the Heavenly Hosts in their modesty are held back, whereas Prayer goes in and relates its affairs before God.

The Cherubim are harnessed and cannot see Him Whom they bear, but Prayer goes up and speaks with Him lovingly.

In its Love Prayer speedily attains the Exalted Place; in its Love Prayer advances to be raised up above the Heavenly Orders.

The Cherub is afraid to raise its eyes to the Majesty, being harnessed in its modesty with the Pure Yoke of Flame; the Ranks of Fire do not approach the Hidden One, whereas Prayer has authority to speak with Him.

Prayer enters closer in than they and speaks unashamed; above the myriads of Heavenly Hosts does it pass in flight, unhindered by their Ranks.

As though to a close relation Prayer reveals its secret to the Lord of the Watchers, asking of Him what is appropriate in all sorts of activities.

Prayer does not bend down to the Angels to speak with them, for it asks God Himself, and He bids the Angels attend to its Affairs.

sacred lessons of november 2010

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