Orthodox Sacred Lessons - September 2011

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The New Ecclesiastical Year – The Indiction – St Symeon the Stylite – 1 September 2011 1.

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

Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

1 Sep tember 1 Sep tember 1 Sep tember 1 Sep tember 2011201120112011

New Ecc l es ias t ica l Year (7520)New Ecc l es ias t ica l Year (7520)New Ecc l es ias t ica l Year (7520)New Ecc l es ias t ica l Year (7520) The BeThe BeThe BeThe Beg inning o f the Indic t iong inning o f the Indic t iong inning o f the Indic t iong inning o f the Indic t ion

Also the Feas t o f S t J oshua the Son o f Nun – S t Ammoun the Deacon & the 40 V irg in Mar tyrs o f Herac l ea , Thrace40 V irg in Mar tyrs o f Herac l ea , Thrace40 V irg in Mar tyrs o f Herac l ea , Thrace40 V irg in Mar tyrs o f Herac l ea , Thrace : S t Theona , S t Lambrou , S t : S t Theona , S t Lambrou , S t : S t Theona , S t Lambrou , S t : S t Theona , S t Lambrou , S t Arevo ia , S t A lone , S t MosArevo ia , S t A lone , S t MosArevo ia , S t A lone , S t MosArevo ia , S t A lone , S t Mos ---- ho , S t Theo fan i , S t Akr iv e , S t Ermia , S t ho , S t Theo fan i , S t Akr iv e , S t Ermia , S t ho , S t Theo fan i , S t Akr iv e , S t Ermia , S t ho , S t Theo fan i , S t Akr iv e , S t Ermia , S t Sappho , S t A thena , S t AdamSappho , S t A thena , S t AdamSappho , S t A thena , S t AdamSappho , S t A thena , S t Adamatene , S t Kal l i roe , S t Ev t e rpe , S t Terps ihore , a t ene , S t Kal l i roe , S t Ev t e rpe , S t Terps ihore , a t ene , S t Kal l i roe , S t Ev t e rpe , S t Terps ihore , a t ene , S t Kal l i roe , S t Ev t e rpe , S t Terps ihore , S t Era to , S t E lp inik e , S t Me lpomene , S t Po lymbia , S t Dodone , S t Troada , S t Era to , S t E lp inik e , S t Me lpomene , S t Po lymbia , S t Dodone , S t Troada , S t Era to , S t E lp inik e , S t Me lpomene , S t Po lymbia , S t Dodone , S t Troada , S t Era to , S t E lp inik e , S t Me lpomene , S t Po lymbia , S t Dodone , S t Troada , S t Kora l i a , S t Theano , S t Aspas ia , S t Erasmia , S t Theonymphe , S t S t Kora l i a , S t Theano , S t Aspas ia , S t Erasmia , S t Theonymphe , S t S t Kora l i a , S t Theano , S t Aspas ia , S t Erasmia , S t Theonymphe , S t S t Kora l i a , S t Theano , S t Aspas ia , S t Erasmia , S t Theonymphe , S t Aphrod i t e , S t Agla ia , S t Pandora , S t Po lyn ike , S t Ant igone , S t Ourania , Aphrod i t e , S t Agla ia , S t Pandora , S t Po lyn ike , S t Ant igone , S t Ourania , Aphrod i t e , S t Agla ia , S t Pandora , S t Po lyn ike , S t Ant igone , S t Ourania , Aphrod i t e , S t Agla ia , S t Pandora , S t Po lyn ike , S t Ant igone , S t Ourania , S t Mar ianth , S t ThS t Mar ianth , S t ThS t Mar ianth , S t ThS t Mar ianth , S t Thaaaa l e ia , S t Har ik l e ia , S t Kl e io , S t A thena , S t Pene lope , l e ia , S t Har ik l e ia , S t Kl e io , S t A thena , S t Pene lope , l e ia , S t Har ik l e ia , S t Kl e io , S t A thena , S t Pene lope , l e ia , S t Har ik l e ia , S t Kl e io , S t A thena , S t Pene lope , S t Kleopatra , S t Kleon ike , S t Margar i ta .S t Kleopatra , S t Kleon ike , S t Margar i ta .S t Kleopatra , S t Kleon ike , S t Margar i ta .S t Kleopatra , S t Kleon ike , S t Margar i ta .

A l so the Feas t o f S t Ca l l i s ta & her Bro ther s , S t Evodos & S t Hermogenes , toge ther wi th o ther Ho ly Mar tyrs o f Nicomed ia – S t Symeon the S ty l i t e & h is Venerab l e mo ther , S t Mar tha , o f S i san , Cappadoc ia – S t A i tha l as o f Per s ia – the Ho ly I cons o f our Ever B l essed Lady Theo tokos o f th e Miasena Monas te ry - the “Chernigov -Ge thsemane” – “The A l l B l essed o f the New Monas t e ry o f the Trans f i gurat ion o f our Sav iour - S t Me l e t ios th e New o f Cappadoc ia – S t Evan th ia

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e I n d i c t i o n – T o n e 2

O pasis Dimiourgos tis ktiseos, O kerous ke hronous en ti idia exousia themenos, Evlogison ton Stefanon, tou eniaftou tis Hristotitos Sou, Kyrie, filatton en Irini tous Vasilis ke tin Polin Sou, Presvies tis

Theotokou, Mone Filanthrope.

O Creator of all the Universe, Who has placed times

and seasons under Thine own Authority; Bless, O Lord, the Crown of this year of Thy Kindness, keeping in Peace Thy Kings and Thy City; by the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Only True Lover of mankind.

A p o l y t i k i o n o f o u r E v e r B l e s s e d L a d y T h e o t o k o s -

Here Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene. Ek Sou gar

anetilen O Ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O Theos imon, fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke si Presvita Dikee, dexamenos en agkales ton elevtherotin ton psihon imon, harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, giving Light to those in darkness. Be glad also, Thou Righteous Elder, for Thou hast received in Thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who bestows upon us Resurrection.

A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t S y m e o n T h e S t y l i t e T o n e 1

Ipomonis Stilos gegonas, zilosas tou propatoras Osie, ton Iob en tis pathesi ton Iosif en tis pirasmis ke tin ton Asomaton Politian iparhon en somatic. Simeon Patir imon Osie, Presveve Hristo to Theo, sothine tas Psihas imon.

Thou became a Pillar of Patience, and the Ancient

Fathers Thou equalled and rivalled; Thou rivalled Job in Sufferings, Joseph in Temptations, and the Lifestyle of the Incorporeals while in the flesh. Therefore, O our Righteous Father, Symeon, Intercede with Christ God to Save our souls!

K o n t a k i o n o f t h e I n d i c t o s : T o n e 4

O ton Eonon Piitis ke Despotis, Thee ton olon Iperousie

ontos, tin eniafsion Evlogison periodon, Soson to Eleei Sou, to apiro iktirmon, pantas tous latrevontas, Si to Mono Despoti, ke ekvoontas Fovo, litrota. Eforon pasi to etos horigison.

O Thou Creator and Lord of ages, O God of All, truly transcending all essence, we earnestly beseech Thee to Bless the year, and, O Tender-Loving Lord, in Thine Infinite Mercy, O only Master, Save us all who worship and serve Thee, O our Redeemer, and who cry with fear: For all Thy servants make the coming year fruitful.

T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 2 : 1 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 2 : 1 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 2 : 1 T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 2 : 1 –––– 7 7 7 7

Bless The Crown Of The Year By Thy Goodness, O Lord, Alleluia!

Brethren: I exhort first of all that Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and Peaceful Life in all Goodness And Reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour, Who desires all men to be Saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man-Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a Ransom for all, to be Testified in due time, for which I was appointed a Preacher and an Apostle – I am speaking the Truth in Christ and not lying – a Teacher of the Gentiles in Faith and Truth.

Intercessory Prayers are to be offered for everyone – without exception. However, SPECIAL PRAYERS SHOULD BE OFFERED FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER US.

Thus - as Orthodox Christians - we repeatedly pray for “all

civil authorities...” during our Fervent Prayers of the Holy Services.

The religions of the ancient Greek or Hellenised world were pluralistic and elite.

In contrast, St Paul taught that THERE IS ONE SAVIOUR, ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR – ONE ALMIGHTY GOD – WHO

OFFERS SALVATION EQUALLY TO ALL HUMANITY BECAUSE HE

CREATED US HUMAN BEINGS TO SHARE IN HIS DIVINE

GOODNESS. GOD BECAME MAN IN ORDER TO GRANT US SALVATION.

He “emptied” Himself of His infinite, uncontainable, unrestricted Divinity and Majesty in order to take on our weak and vulnerable and limited human flesh and nature – i.e. THE CREATOR BECAME A CREATURE, IN ORDER TO TEACH AND GUIDE US PERSONALLY AND THEN TO OFFER HIMSELF AS THE FINAL AND ULTIMATE BLOOD

SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ETERNAL LIFE AND

SALVATION.

Some who are opposed to the established Holy Church of Christ have used this particular verse to erroneously claim that all we need is our Lord Jesus - not His Holy Church, Her Clergy nor Her Divine Mysteries (Sacraments.)

2. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The New Ecclesiastical Year – The Indiction – St Symeon the Stylite – 1 September 2011

However: THE SON OF GOD BECAME OUR ONE AND ONLY DIVINE MEDIATOR BY BECOMING MAN THROUGH THE INCARNATION

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN

THEOTOKOS – I.E. THROUGH GOD AND MANKIND. God took His human Nature not from Himself alone but

from also from a human being – the All Holy Ever Virgin Theotokos.

Likewise, as our Divine Mediator, Christ said: “I will build My Church….” and HE ESTABLISHED HER LEADERS WHO GUIDE US AND HER WORSHIP SO THAT WE, WHO ARE

SPIRITUALLY INEXPERIENCED, MAY BE ABLE TO APPROACH

GOD CORRECTLY, OBEDIENTLY AND WITH THE GREATEST

RESPECT.

As the Blessed Theotokos gave us Christ in His Humanity, so HIS HOLY CHURCH INTRODUCES US TO HIM, WHO ALONE IS OUR DIVINE MEDIATOR.

In the context of ancient slavery a ransom was paid : ä Not so much to purchase a slave, but TO FREE HIM

FROM BONDAGE ä So that he may EXPERIENCE LIBERTY – FREEDOM

FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY [SPIRITUAL &

PHYSICAL] In other words: WE ARE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN BY

THE DIVINE SALVATION OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

St Paul emphasised THE TRUTH OF GOD, which he taught and which he practised, having received his Truth DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF.

St Paul had been CALLED BY CHRIST HIMSELF and therefore he was indeed AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST.

He had been ENLIGHTENED AND INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF. Divine Knowledge and Illumination was bestowed

by Christ upon St Paul at his Conversion along the road to Damascus.

AS A TRUE APOSTLE OF CHRIST, HE PERFORMED ALL HIS

MISSIONARY DUTIES WITH ABSOLUTE TRUTH – in humble Obedience to God and not according to his own ideas or imagination!

St Paul taught not only the Jews but also the Gentiles the Holy Gospel of Christ our Lord and therefore he was also known as THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES – the non-Jews and pagans.

DIVINE INSPIRATION DRIVES FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD TO

SEEK HIS TRUTH AND TO PRACTISE HIS WAYS EVERY DAY OF

THEIR LIVES, INSPIRING AND TEACHING OTHERS BY THEIR

GOOD EXAMPLES.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t L u k e 4 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t L u k e 4 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t L u k e 4 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l o f S t L u k e 4 : 1 6 –––– 2 22 22 22 2 At that time, Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the

Synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has sent Me to Heal the broken-hearted, to Proclaim Liberty to the captives and recovery of

sight to the blind, to set at Liberty those who are oppressed, to Proclaim the acceptable Year of the

Lord.” Then He closed the Book and gave it back to the Attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the Synagogue

were fixed upon Him. Then He began by saying to them: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Thus all bore witness to Him, and marvelled at the Gracious Words that proceeded out of His Mouth. And they said: “Is

this not Joseph’s Son?”

Our Lord had returned to Nazareth where He had spent most of His Life and where almost everyone would have known Him and His earthly Family.

It was the usual practice for our Lord to go into the Synagogue to read the Holy Scriptures especially on the Sabbath.

The Book of Isaiah (the Holy Prophet of God) was the Sacred Lesson for the day and whether our Lord Himself chose the passage to read aloud or whether it was prescribed, the fact is WHAT HE READ IN THE ANCIENT TEXT WAS ALREADY

FULFILLED BY HIM BY THAT DAY AS HE SO CLEARLY

INFORMED THEM:

St Isaiah spoke of the Anointing of Christ by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit had indeed Descended upon Him at His Baptism.

ALL THE LONG AWAITED BLESSINGS OF THE JEWISH NATION

WERE FULFILLED BY CHRIST OUR LORD.

] GOD THE FATHER HAD SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to live among His creatures.

] ALL HUMANITY HAS BEEN TAUGHT DIRECTLY BY CHRIST –

GOD HIMSELF!

] DIVINE SALVATION IS GRANTED TO ALL HUMANITY FOR ALL

TIME BECAUSE OF THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF

CHRIST.

] CHRIST HEALS THE SICK AND SUFFERING – both spiritual and physical illnesses.

] CHRIST PROCLAIMS THE DIVINE LIBERTY OFFERED TO

HUMANITY that sets us FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND DEATH.

] CHRIST REVEALS HIS TRUTH concerning the purpose of this existence as A PREPARATION FOR WHAT IS TO FOLLOW: ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.

The people “marvelled” at Christ’s Words, but they could not believe or would not accept that Jesus Christ, a fellow villager, could truly be the long-awaited Messiah.

1 S e p t e m b e r 1 S e p t e m b e r 1 S e p t e m b e r 1 S e p t e m b e r –––– t h e N e w C h u r c h Y e a r t h e N e w C h u r c h Y e a r t h e N e w C h u r c h Y e a r t h e N e w C h u r c h Y e a r –––– 7 5 2 07 5 2 07 5 2 07 5 2 0 The first day of the Ecclesiastical (Church) New Year is also called “The beginning of the Indiction.” The term “Indiction” is derived from a Latin word meaning, "to impose," and it was originally applied to the imposition of

taxes in ancient Egypt. The first worldwide Indiction was in 312 when the Roman or Byzantine Emperor – St Constantine the Great witnessed a

Miraculous Vision of the Holy Cross in the sky. Before the introduction of the modern Julian calendar, the Roman Empire celebrated the New Year on 1 September. According to Holy Tradition, our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Synagogue in Nazareth on 1 September and, as we heard

earlier, after reading the Holy Scripture, He proclaimed His fulfilment of the Old Covenant prophesies concerning His Coming - and His Divine Mission to all mankind. (LUKE 4:16-22)

According to Old Covenant Holy Tradition, after wandering around the wilderness for forty years, the Israelites were finally permitted by God to enter the Promised Land on 1 September, where they settled down to a more stable life, and within a year, by the Grace of God, they enjoyed their first successful harvest.

S t G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t G r e g o r y P a l a m a s "Prayer changes from Entreaty to Thanksgiving, and

Meditation on the Divine Truths of Faith fills the heart

with a sense of Jubilation and unimpeachable Hope.

This Hope is a Foretaste of Future Blessings, of which the

soul even now receives direct experience, and so it

comes to know in part the surpassing Richness of

God's Bounty, in accordance with the Psalmist's

words, 'Taste and know that the Lord is bountiful' (PSALM 34:8).

For He is the Jubilation of the Righteous, the Joy of the

Upright, the Gladness of the Humble, and the Solace

of those who grieve because of Him." (THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 4 EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD AND WARE; FABER AND FABER)

S t . M a x i m o s t h e C o n f e s s o rS t . M a x i m o s t h e C o n f e s s o rS t . M a x i m o s t h e C o n f e s s o rS t . M a x i m o s t h e C o n f e s s o r

"Every genuine Confession humbles the soul. When it takes the form of Thanksgiving, it teaches

the soul that it has been delivered by the Grace of God."

S t D a v i dS t D a v i dS t D a v i dS t D a v i d ---- K i n g , S h e p h e r d & P s a l m i s tK i n g , S h e p h e r d & P s a l m i s tK i n g , S h e p h e r d & P s a l m i s tK i n g , S h e p h e r d & P s a l m i s t

“Give thanks to the God, because He is Good; His Love is Eternal...” —Psalm 106:1

(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 12 t h Sunday AP - 1 2 t h o f S t Ma t t hew – I nhe r i t i ng E t e r na l L i f e - 4 Sep t ember 201 1 3.

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

Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope Al l Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

12121212 t ht ht ht h Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone 3 4 Sep tember Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone 3 4 Sep tember Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone 3 4 Sep tember Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone 3 4 Sep tember 2011201120112011

12121212 t ht ht ht h Sunday of S t Mat thew: Inher i t ing Eternal L i feSunday of S t Mat thew: Inher i t ing Eternal L i feSunday of S t Mat thew: Inher i t ing Eternal L i feSunday of S t Mat thew: Inher i t ing Eternal L i fe (Sunday Be fore the Nat iv i ty o f our Lady Th(Sunday Be fore the Nat iv i ty o f our Lady Th(Sunday Be fore the Nat iv i ty o f our Lady Th(Sunday Be fore the Nat iv i ty o f our Lady Th eo tokos)eo tokos)eo tokos)eo tokos)

The Feast of St Babylas, Hieromartyr and his 84 Disciples - together with St Prilidian, St Epolonios, St Urbanos, and their mother, St Christodoula of Antioch – St Moses the Holy Prophet and God Beholder – St Joasaph of Belgorod,

uncovering of Holy Relics – St Hermione, daughter of St Philip the Deacon – St Theodore, St Mianos, St Julian and St Kion (Oceanos) of Nicomedia – St Centurionos of Nicomedia – the Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos, “The Unburnt Bush” - St Metrophanes of Vorenzh, second finding of Holy Relics – St Peter, Hieromartyr of Serbia – St Parthenios, Igumen of Kiziltachsk Monastery – St Symeon the Wonderworker of Davit-Gareji Monastery

A p o l y t i k i o n o f t h e R e s u r r e c t i o n – T o n e 3

Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise

Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to

Thanato ton thanaton.Prototokos ton nekron

egeneto. Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to

kosmo to Mega Eleos.

Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for

the Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has

trampled down Death by Death; He has become the

First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He

has delivered us, and to the world He has granted

Great Mercy. A p o l y t k i o n o f S t B a b y l a s t h e H i e r o m a r t y r – T o n e 4

Ke tropon metohos, ke thronon diadohos, ton

Apostolon genomenos, tin praxin evres theopnevste,

is theorias epivasin. Dia touto ton Logon tis Alithias

orthotomon, ke ti Pisti enithlisas mehris ematos,

Ieromartis Babila. Presveve Hristo to theo, sosthine

tas psihas imon.

As a Sharer of the Ways and a Successor to the Throne

of the Apostles, O Inspired of God, thou found

discipline to be a means of Ascent to Divine Vision.

Wherefore, having rightly divided the Word of Truth,

thou also contested for the Faith even unto blood, O

Hieromartyr Babylas. Intercede with Christ our God

that our souls be Saved. A p o l y t k i o n o f S t M o s e t h e G o d B e h o l d i n g P r o p h e t – T o n e 4

Tou Profiton Sou Moiseos As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophets Moses, O

Lord, through them we beseech Thee to Save our

souls. K o n t a k i o n o f t h e N a t i v i t y o f o u r L a d y T h e o t o k o s

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek

tis fthoras tou Thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti

Agia Gennisi Sou. Aftin Eortazi ke O Laos Sou,

enohis ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si: i stira

tikti tin Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon.

By Thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim

and Anna were freed from the scorn of childlessness,

and Adam and Eve from Death’s corruption. This is

the Feast now observed by thy people, who from

the guilt of their errors, were delivered as they cry

out to Thee: the barren one bears the Theotokos,

and our Life’s Sustainer!

R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e lR e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e lR e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e lR e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 : M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 1 : M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 1 : M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 1 : M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 –––– 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 –––– T h e G r e a t C o m m i s s i o n

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

Sing Praises to our God! Sing praises to our King!

Clap your hands, all you Nations! F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 1 F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 1 F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 1 F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 1 –––– 1 11 11 11 1

T h e T r u t h a n d L i f e o f C h r i s t ’ s H o l y G o s p e l

Brethren: I declare to you the Gospel that I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are Saved - if you hold fast to the Word that I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you, first of all, that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve.

After than He was seen by over five hundred Brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, although some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the Apostles.

Then – last of all – He was seen by me also, as one born out of due time. For I am the least of the Apostles, who am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But – by the Grace of God – I am what I am, and His Grace towards me was not in vain; and I laboured more abundantly than them all – yet, not I, but the Grace of God, which was with me.

Therefore - whether it was I or they – so we preach and so you believed.

St Paul reminded the Corinthians of the Holy Gospel of Christ, which he had preached to or taught them about and which they had so joyfully received at first, and whereby many struggled to live each day.

St Paul’s concise summary of the Holy Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus Christ was part of the earliest of Creeds of Faith or Catechism.

� P s a l m 1 6 : 9 - 1 2 : “... my heart was glad, and my

tongue rejoiced exceedingly; my flesh also shall

dwell in Hope. For Thou will not abandon my

soul to Hades, nor allow Thy Holy One to see

corruption. Thou made known to me the

Ways of Life; Thou will fill me with Gladness in

Thy Presence; at Thy right Hand are Pleasures

forevermore.” WE SHOULD ALWAYS HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION from the

dead since the Soul of our Lord Jesus Christ – in His human Nature – was not left in Hades, like all the souls – good or bad - who had preceded Him into Death.

4. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 12 t h Sunday AP - 1 2 t h o f S t Mat t hew – I nher i t i ng E t e r na l L i f e - 4 Sep tember 201 1

Every human soul was imprisoned in Hades until His Coming, when the Righteous and those who repented, having heard the Glad Tidings of St John the Baptist, were able to proceed to the reopened Paradise, TO REST IN PEACE UNTIL OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT.

Nor did our Lord’s Body decompose in His Tomb because it was reunited with His Victorious Soul in Glorious Resurrection, which He purposely showed us – hundreds, if not thousands of people, having witnessed the Resurrected Christ - so that we would know – without a doubt – that WE, TOO, ARE TO BE RESURRECTED ON THE EIGHTH DAY – the beginning of Eternity and the great and fearful Final Judgement.

Furthermore, WE JOYFULLY ANTICIPATE THE HEAVENLY BLISS OF ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S PRESENCE.

� Gala t i an s 1 : 4 “... our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, so that He might deliver

us from this present evil age, according to

the Will of our God and Father...”

ä OUR LORD JESUS DELIVERS US from “this present evil

age” SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ENTER THE AGE TO COME – ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS DIVINE KINGDOM OF

LOVE.

ä OUR DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL IS ACCOMPLISHED “according to the Will of our God” – THROUGH GOD THE SON in His human Nature – i.e. by His Divine Teaching, which we must apply to our own personal life – CO-OPERATING, LIKE CHRIST, WITH THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.

ä Just as our Lord Jesus unfailingly obeyed and fulfilled the Divine Will of God the Father, SO TOO, MUST WE OBEY AND FULFIL THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD – “... on earth, as it is in Heaven!”

� 1 J ohn 2 : 2 “(Christ) Himself is the Propitiation for our sins – and not for ours only, but also

for the whole world.”

ä Faith in God means that we must constantly and ceaselessly seek forgiveness and the cleansing of our personal sins through Repentance-Confession and Holy Eucharist.

� 1 J ohn 4 : 1 0 : “... this is Love – not that we loved

God, but that He Loved us and sent His Son to

be the Propitiation for our sins.”

ä This is a most astounding statement of God’s Great Mercy and Divine Grace! This is truly AGAPE! Divine Love!

St Paul delivered an Apostolic Tradition of Christ’s Resurrection, which is unchanging and sufficient for our Salvation and Eternal Life.

St Paul had received the Holy Gospel by his direct Experience of and Calling by our Resurrected and Eternal Lord Jesus Christ.

Subsequently, St Paul was confirmed by his interactions with the original Apostles of Christ and the whole Holy Church of Christ.

� Gala t i an s 2 : 2 – 1 0 “... I went up by Revelation, and

communicated to them that Gospel which I

preached among the Gentiles, but privately to

those who were of reputation... They desired only

that we should remember the poor...” (READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE AND THE EXPLANATORY NOTES OF THE ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE AS

WELL.)

ä IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DECIPHER OR DISTINGUISH EXACTLY WHAT ST PAUL LEARNT FROM CHRIST, THE HOLY SPIRIT

OR ELSEWHERE - BUT HIS TRUE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS

A FLAWLESS WHOLE AND THE PERFECT DIVINE TRUTH

OF GOD.

The expression “to receive” designates the passing on of Holy Tradition and the Divine Truth of God.

� Gala t i an s 1 : 9 “... if anyone preaches any other

gospel to you than what you have received,

let him be accursed.” St Paul warned the Galatians – and us – against MAN-MADE

TEACHINGS OR HERETICAL INTERPRETATIONS, because they ARE HARMFUL AND TREACHEROUS and are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO CHRIST’S DIVINE TRUTH.

ä FALSE TEACHINGS – HERESY OR OUTRIGHT LIES - SURREPTITIOUSLY MISLEAD AND MISGUIDE US BY

TURNING US AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS DIVINE GRACE.

ä FALSE TEACHINGS DRAW US INTO TEMPTATIONS AND APOSTASY, ((((A REJECTION OR DENIAL OF GOD AND HIS HOLY THINGS)

WHICH RESULTS IN A TERRIBLE STATE OF SPIRITUAL

DEATH.

ä FALSE TEACHINGS PERVERT AND DISTORT THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST THROUGH THE CONFUSION OF OUR

OWN LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, which is exacerbated by Satan’s tiny drop of Truth mixed with his fatal deceptions and lies.

The evil one knows Holy Scripture chapter and verse – he and knows exactly how to confuse us with his misleading ideas and inventions that are far from Divine Perfection and Truth.

Thus we must REJECT NEW, MODERN, DIFFERENT OR RADICAL CONCEPTS THAT DISTORT, REFUTE OR DENY DIVINE TRUTH.

i GOD’S TRUTH IS PERFECT, AND EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CHANGE TO IT – BY EVEN “ONE JOT (IOTA) OR TITTLE” –

MAKES IT IMPERFECT AND NO LONGER DIVINE TRUTH!

Consequently: ALL FALSE GOSPELS OR TEACHINGS ARE ACCURSED OR ANATHEMATISED BY CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH for such lies and deceptions are intended to DRAW US AWAY FROM GOD by pleasing others but NEITHER OBEYING NOR FULFILLING THE DIVINE WILL AND

TEACHINGS OF GOD.

� Ph i l i p p i an s 4 : 9 “...do the (Holy) Things that you

learnt and received and heard and saw in me,

and the God of Peace will be with you.”

ä By living in Christ we are drawn into the Divine Love and Peace of Almighty God – a little Heaven on earth!

� 1 The s s a lon i an s 2 : 1 3 ”...we also thank God

without ceasing, because when you received

the Word of God, which you heard from us, you

welcomed It – not as the word of men, but as It

is in Truth, the Word of God, which also

effectively works in you who believe.” � 1 The s s a lo n i an s 4 : 1 “...we urge and exhort in the

Lord Jesus that you should abound more and

more, just as you received from us how you

ought to walk and to please God; for you

know what Commandments we gave you

through the Lord Jesus.” Our Holiness and Sanctification includes sexual purity,

mutual Love (Agape) and honest labour. As for knowing God’s Divine Will, this passage comes

through in brilliant simplicity. GOD’S WILL IS OUR SANCTIFICATION - our being set apart to

the Lord as His special Children and adopted Heirs. WE ARE BEING SANCTIFIED – i.e. regaining our lost Divine

Likeness – AS WE WALK WITH GOD IN FAITH AND HUMBLE OBEDIENCE.

St Paul listed those who would testify to the Truth of the

Resurrection – from the very first witnesses to St Paul himself.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a t t h e w 1 9 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a t t h e w 1 9 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a t t h e w 1 9 : 1 6 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a t t h e w 1 9 : 1 6 –––– 2 62 62 62 6 Ear t h l y Weal t h & t he I nher i t ance o f E te rna l L i fe

At that time, someone went to our Lord Jesus and said: “Good Teacher, what Good Thing shall I do so that I may have

Eternal Life?” And He said to him: “Why do you call Me ‘Good?’ No one is good except One – that is – God. But if you want to enter into Life, keep the Commandments.”

He asked Him: “Which Commandments?” Jesus said: “’Thou shalt not murder,’ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ ‘Honour thy Father and thy

Mother,’ and, ‘Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thyself.’”

The young man said to Him: “All these things I have kept since my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him: “If you want to be Perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have Treasure in

Heaven; and come, follow Me.” Yet when the young man heard what He said, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to

His Disciples, “Truly, I say to you: it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And

(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 12 t h Sunday AP - 1 2 t h o f S t Ma t t hew – I nhe r i t i ng E t e r na l L i f e - 4 Sep t ember 201 1 5.

again, I say to you: 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.” When His Disciples heard that, they were greatly astonished, and said: “Who then can be Saved?” And Jesus looked at

them and said: “With men this is impossible – but with God all things are possible!”

THIS YOUNG MAN DID NOT INTEND TO TEST OUR LORD JESUS, like the Pharisees and Scribes constantly tried to do. HE SINCERELY SOUGHT HIS ADVICE because although the young man did not acknowledge Christ as the Divine Messiah/Saviour, HE DID RESPECT HIM AS A WISE AND PROFOUND TEACHER.

Our Lord’s surprising reaction to the expression “Good

Teacher,” DID NOT DENY THAT HE IS GOD but was pointed out IN ORDER TO LEAD that rich young man – and others who heard them speak – TO SUCH A REALISATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS TRUE

DIVINE IDENTITY. OUR LORD IS ALL WISE. HE NEVER FORCES ANYTHING ON US –

whether it is knowledge, understanding or commitment. He lays His Divine Truth before us, and those who see it for the exquisite Spiritual Treasure it truly is, will cherish it and keep it forever.

EACH OF US IS PERSONALLY UNIQUE AND GOD KNOWS

EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT AT

ANY GIVEN TIME. Sometimes His Divine Truth will lie dormant in our soul until we are Spiritually Awakened and Enlightened, and ready and able to deal with or to accept His Divine Treasure.

] FORMAL, AUTOMATIC OBSERVANCE OF GOD’S DIVINE

COMMANDMENTS DOES NOT MAKE ANY OF US TRULY

RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD.

ä EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED SHOULD BE DONE WITH A CONSCIOUS AWARENESS ; MEANING, PURPOSE

AND UNDERSTANDING – especially when it concerns our worship of God and our practice of Faith.

Empty gestures are simply that – they do not bring us any Spiritual Benefit.

For example, WHEN MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, EACH TIME WE DO SO CAREFULLY AND PRECISELY, because WE ARE MAKING A DECLARATION OF FAITH: “I worship Thee, O Lord, with all my mind, with all my

heart, with all my strength and with all my

soul!” The arrogant Scribes and Pharisees professed to know

the Law of God better than anyone else, yet they were the worst of sinners – “hypocrites!” as our Lord declared.

They fell far short of God’s Divine Blessings because although they followed every “letter of the Law,” they did not UNDERSTAND nor APPRECIATE AND LIVE “the Spirit of the Law!”

In other words, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE, HIS LAW IS A LAW OF LOVE.

ä Therefore, ALL GOD’S LAWS ARE TO BE LIVED, KEPT, OBEYED, UNDERSTOOD AND FULFILLED WITH

LOVE – WITH DIVINE AGAPE!

The rich young man who had everything this life could offer, realised that HE STILL LACKED SOMETHING ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S

HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

“To be Perfect.” – to regain our lost Divine Likeness – we must willingly, eagerly sacrifice all our personal, selfish desires, time and possessions so that we can sincerely and correctly follow Christ – without any worldly distractions or temptations.

] NO SPIRITUAL TREASURE CAN BE GAINED UNLESS WE

FREELY GIVE OR SHARE WHATEVER WE HAVE WITH

OTHERS - always with Love (Agape) and according to God’s Will – God’s Commandments and Teachings.

Because each of us is unique, THE SPECIFIC MANNER WHEREBY WE ARE CALLED BY GOD TO FOLLOW HIM AND

TO SERVE HIM, IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US. POSSESSIONS AND WEALTH OPPRESS OUR SOULS with their

demands and desires, which then become obsessions or addictions – TO THE EXCLUSION OF GOD AND ALL HIS GOODNESS.

When times are good and prosperous, and everyone is enjoying themselves to the fullest extent, they forget all about God. Just look at our empty churches!

ä VERY FEW PEOPLE OFFER CONSTANT DAILY PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING OR ARE EVEN AWARE OF HOW

BLESSED THEY ARE BY DIVINE GRACE!

But when, alas! misfortune and disaster strike, how quickly they remember God – either to lay the blame for their tragedy at His Feet or to beseech Him for more of His Blessings and Great Mercy, which they take for granted or as their “right.”

ä GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE FEEDS ON OUR

OBSESSION FOR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS! THE YOUNG MAN’S WEALTH HAD SUCH A TIGHT GRIP ON HIM,

THAT HIS ONLY HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE WAS TO

UNBURDEN HIMSELF OF ALL HIS WEALTH AND

POSSESSIONS, by selling what he could and then generously distributing the proceeds and the rest of his belongings amongst those in need.

Many of OUR GREATEST SAINTS did just that and consequently, WITHOUT THE DISTRACTIONS AND

TEMPTATIONS OF EARTHLY BURDENS, THEY GREW

CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GOD, slowly – through much Spiritual Effort – REGAINING THEIR LOST DIVINE LIKENESS (Theosis) by becoming Sanctified until finally they achieved our ultimate Spiritual Goal and returned to Paradise to await our Final Judgement.

ä St John Chrysostom has taught us that GIVING AWAY ALL OUR POSSESSIONS IS THE VERY LEAST OF

CHRIST’S DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS because BY

EAGERLY FOLLOWING HIM IN ALL THINGS IS A FAR

GREATER AND MORE DIFFICULT CALLING.

Not everyone is required to give away all their wealth and possessions, but THE MORE WE ARE BLESSED WITH EARTHLY RICHES, THE MORE GENEROUSLY WE SHOULD BE

TOWARDS OUR FELLOW SINNER WHO IS LESS BLESSED

THAN US.

WORLDLY GOODS ARE NOT BAD IN THEMSELVES – it depends on how we use them and for what purpose we use them.

ä GOD GIVES US MORE THAN WE NEED and He watches over us to see how well we make use of His Divine Blessings and Abundance.

ä THE MORE WE SHARE WITH OTHERS, THE MORE WE CERTAINLY DO RECEIVE IN RETURN - a hundred times more in various ways – and without fail!

Furthermore, THE PURE JOY OF GIVING UNSELFISHLY AND GENEROUSLY TO OTHERS IS OUR GREATEST SPIRITUAL

REWARD while on earth – it is the best way of experiencing THE SPIRITUAL JOY OF AGAPE – DIVINE LOVE.

“...it is more difficult for a camel to go through

the eye of a needle...” has many different interpretations. 1. The utter impossibility of a camel going through

the eye of a tiny sewing needle is self evident.

2. Others suggest the word used was “rope” not “camel,” which is also impossible to go through the eye of a small sewing needle.

3. The “eye of a needle” referred to the small pedestrian gate set into the larger city gates that protected the citizens against sudden invasion. People had to bend down to enter and certainly a heavily laden camel or beast of burden would have to be unloaded before being squeezed through the small doorway - and then perhaps also unable to go through the small opening, so would have to remain outside.

4. WE ARE UNABLE TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH OUR

EARTHLY BURDENS, which need to be unloaded and distributed amongst those who need them. ALL WORLDLY GOODS AND

CONCERNS must be left behind us - for such things only weigh us down – they HAVE NO VALUE AT ALL - AND WE HAVE NO NEED OF THEM

IN GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

6. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 12 t h Sunday AP - 1 2 t h o f S t Mat t hew – I nher i t i ng E t e r na l L i f e - 4 Sep tember 201 1

5. The Talmud uses the same expression but with the word “elephant” instead of “camel,” an even greater impossibility!

Whatever phrase is used or whatever it refers to, IT EMPHATICALLY EXPRESSES THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF

SALVATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE SHACKLED BY OR

OBSESSED WITH EARTHLY “RICHES,” STATUS OR AFFAIRS.

This is clearly evident by Christ’s Disciples voicing their apprehension: “Who then can be Saved?” which is immediately followed by THE HOPE AND COMFORT – AND INDEED, THE JOY – OF OUR LORD’S DECLARATION

AND DIVINE PROMISE: “ With mankind this is impossible BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE

POSSIBLE!”

T h e Y o u n g R i c h M a n & E t e r n a l L i f e T h e Y o u n g R i c h M a n & E t e r n a l L i f e T h e Y o u n g R i c h M a n & E t e r n a l L i f e T h e Y o u n g R i c h M a n & E t e r n a l L i f e This Sacred Lesson begins with a question: “What should I

do to have Eternal Life?” Then the young rich man asks again: “I have fulfilled all the required

Commandments, what more shall I do to be

Perfect?”“Leave everything and follow Me,” answered our Lord Jesus.

CHRIST’S FAITHFUL DISCIPLES LISTEN CAREFULLY AND PUT HIS

WORDS INTO PRACTICE. So they are the reverse image of the self-indulgent rich young man.

Afterwards, St Peter pointed out that they had left everything behind them to follow Christ, Who then reassured His Disciples that THOSE WHO HAVE

VOLUNTARILY SACRIFICED THEIR PERSONAL LIVES FOR THE

SAKE OF GOD, WILL CERTAINLY INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. Some have suggested that this Sacred Lesson is intended

for those who have chosen a commited religious life: Virgins (Nuns), Hermits and Monastics. And it may be interpreted as such in the context of Matthew 19.

However, as the vast majority of our Holy Church Fathers emphasise - there is far more to this Lesson, which is intended for all committed Christians – True Disciples of Christ.

The rich young man represented the religious Hebrew who had put his trust in the Old Covenant Law.

He was a Pharisee because he believed in Eternal Life, and in order to understand why he refused to obey our Lord Jesus, we must remember that in Judaism the Kingdom of God was closely linked with material happiness and was inconsistent with poverty for success in life and wealth are considered as Blessings of God. (CF. SOLOMON SCHECHTER. ASPECTS OF RABBINIC THEOLOGY. 109-110)

The rich young man wished to advance beyond the Law, but according to his own will, without being disturbed in his comfortable lifestyle.

Protection of the poor is a ‘mitzvah’ - a good deed. It is “the mitzvah of tzedaka” — justice; but giving away all one’s possessions did not make any sense.

Our Lord Jesus challenged this idea, just as St Job, King David the Psalmist and the Holy Prophets of God had all done before Him.

The poor become the Just. It is one of the characteristics of the Words of the Lord: He

shakes us up so that we may be deprived of or set free from our false sense of securities.

What God says is always different from what we expect. There is no rest or life of ease for those who follow Christ. In this case, our Lord did not say that success and wealth

were bad. Instead He implied that WHAT IS WRONG IS TO BE ENSLAVED

TO ONE’S OWN POSSESSIONS, TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO THE

POWER OF SUCCESS AND WEALTH. Being enslaved to it engenders the desire to possess more

and more. Therefore, if the rich young man had abandoned his

possessions, he would have lost his social status in the opinion of the people – since, to the fallen world, possessions meant power, which in turn engendered vain glory and personal pride.

What our Lord is asking us to do, is to renounce our selfishness and our own desires in order to better serve the whole community, which has a positive connotation – the sharing of our talents and all that which has been granted to us by the Lord.

It may have also a negative connotation: RENOUNCING OUR IDOLS, RENOUNCING OUR PRETENCES AND THE GLORY OF

MANKIND, SO THAT WE MAY FREELY LOOK FOR GOD WHO IS

BEYOND THE GOD OF OUR LIMITED REPRESENTATIONS. IN EFFECT, BY REFUSING TO RENOUNCE HIS WILL, THE YOUNG

MAN SHOWED THAT HE WAS PLAYING A GAME; HE WAS

BEING A TOURIST, CHOOSING, TAKING ONLY WHAT HE

LIKED.

He did not expect anything from Christ: HE WAS NOT LIVING BY FAITH BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN SELFISH RULES.

HE REFUSED TO BE CHALLENGED OR CHANGED IN HIS HEART.

When HE REFUSED TO FOLLOW CHRIST, he was REFUSING IN EFFECT TO BE MOULDED BY THE WILL OF GOD.

In other word, HE REFUSED COMMUNION WITH CHRIST, which is, as St Paul said, participation in His Sufferings as well as in His Resurrection.

Sufferings, afflictions or tribulations are the portion of Christians.

As you know AFFLICTIONS ARE OFTEN A SIGN THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH. When we LIVE THE GOSPEL AND FOLLOW CHRIST, we are bound to EXPERIENCE THE PASSION OF CHRIST in our own person. For LIVING THE PASSION OF CHRIST IS NECESSARY TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: THE RESURRECTION CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS.

Moreover, as St Paul, St James and all the Holy Fathers teach us: these SUFFERINGS, AFFLICTIONS AND

TRIBULATIONS MUST NOT ONLY BE ENDURED WITH

RESIGNATION BUT ACCEPTED WITH LOVE. We are far from simple resignation. AFFLICTIONS ARE THE

TRUE BLESSINGS OF GOD — not success and possessions according to the world — AND AS SUCH SHOULD GIVE RISE TO JOY AND NOT SADNESS - because THROUGH AFFLICTIONS, WHEN THE HEART IS CLEANSED

AND OUR FAITH PURIFIED, WE BECOME THE IMAGE OF

CHRIST. Therefore, let us FOLLOW CHRIST WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. Whatever is expected from us, STRENGTH WILL BE GIVEN. ALL OF US ARE CALLED TO BE THE GUARDIANS OF OUR

BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. All of us are Called to SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND SHOW BY

OUR ACTIONS OUR LOYALTY TO GOD AND EACH OTHER within our Community.

All of us are offered the great Blessing of following our Lord Jesus Christ by BEARING OUR CROSSES WITH LOVE and SOME OF US MAY EVEN BE CALLED TO BEAR THE CROSS OF OTHERS, ascending the Cross with Christ, and thus MEETING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

WHAT MATTERS IS not so much what we are asked to do — we all have different Callings — but THE WAY WE DO IT, AND WHETHER WE HAVE TRULY SUBMITTED TO THE WILL

OF GOD: WE SHALL BE JUDGED ON OUR HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

This Sacred Lesson of our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly not a new or “modern” concept by any means, and we need to keep it constantly before us – always present in our minds and our hearts – because it is far too easy for us to ignore or to forget in the rush of daily living.

Our modern society has taken its toll of our SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES - because THE CEASELESS PURSUIT OF AND OBSESSION WITH ENDLESS VARIETIES OF ENTERTAINMENT,

PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT HAVE MADE PERSONAL

COMPUNCTION AND INWARD REFLECTION ALMOST

IMPOSSIBLE.

SELFISHNESS AND INDIVIDUALISM HAVE TRANSFORMED

COMMUNION INTO EMPTY WORDS while the early Christian Communities were putting everything in common. GREED AND INDIFFERENCE HAVE DESTROYED CHARITY AND

COMPASSION. THEOLOGY HAS SEPARATED ITSELF FROM OUR HOLY CHURCH

FATHERS AND HAS BECOME A FORM OF INTELLECTUALISM

TURNED ONLY TO THE GLORY OF MANKIND. Love of business replaces too often the Apostolic Doctrine. Spiritual Blindness and ignorance is so extensive that

many claim HERESY AS THE ‘MODERN WAY’ OF CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD!

LET US FULFIL OUR CALLING; LET US FOLLOW HIM TO THE BEST

OF OUR ABILITY, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Amen! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON BY FATHER ROMAN, ST VLADIMIR ORTHODOX

CHURCH, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

http://halifaxorthodox.org/vladimir.html

Divine Gifts follow sufferings endured for the sake

of Virtue. (ST MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Nat i v i t y o f ou r Ever B l essed Lady Theo t okos – 8 Sep t embe r 201 1 7.


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.


Nat iv i ty o f the Ever Bl essed V irg in MaryNat iv i ty o f the Ever Bl essed V irg in MaryNat iv i ty o f the Ever Bl essed V irg in MaryNat iv i ty o f the Ever Bl essed V irg in Mary

Also the Feast of St George of Georgia – the Holy Icons of our Lady Theotokos: “of the Sign,” – “of Pochaev Monastery” - “of Kholm” – “of Sophia, the Wisdom of God,” Kiev - “of Syamsk –Vologda Monastery” - “of Glinsk” - “of Domnitsa River, Chernigov - “of Isaakov” – “of Lukianov” – “the Kathariotissa” of Ithaca

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e N a t i v i t y O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s : : : : TONE 4 :

I Gennisis Sou Theotoke hara eminise pasi ti ikoumeni,

ek sou gar en etilen O ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O

Theos imon; ke lisas tin kataran, edoke tin

Evlogian; ke katargisas ton Thanato, edorisatos

imin, Zoin tin Eonion.

Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, has brought Joy to all earthly habitations; because from Thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Jesus our Lord. And having loosened the Curse from us, He granted the Blessing; and He abolished the power of Death, and bestowed upon us, Life Eternal.

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

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva, ek

tis fthoras tou thanatou, ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti

Agia gennisi Sou; aftin eortazi ke O laos Sou, enohis

ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si; I stira tkti tin

Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon.

Joachim & Anna were delivered from the reproach of

childlessness, and Adam & Eve from the corruption of death, in thy Holy Nativity, O All Pure One. This do thy people celebrate, being Redeemed from the guilt of transgressions, when they cry unto thee: the Barren gives birth to the Birth-giver of God and the Nourisher of our Life!

F i r s t A n t i p h o n O f T h e N a t i v i t y 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 – T O N E 2

STIHOS Mnisthiti Kyrie tou David ke pasis tis praotitos

aftou...

>Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

STIHOS 2 Idou ikousamen aftin en Efratha evromen aftin en

tis pediis tou drimou.


STIHOS 3 Dedoxasmena elalithi peri Sou i Polis tou Theou


STIHOS 4 O Theos en Meso Aftis ke ou salefthisete


> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton eonon.

Amin


VERSE Lord, remember David and all his meekness...

>Through the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, Save us.

VERSE Behold, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood


VERSE 3 Glorious Things are spoken of Thee, O City of God


VERSE 4 God in the midst of Her; She shall not be moved: God shall help Her and that right early


> Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of

ages.

Amen


S e c o n d A n t i p h o n - N a t i v i t y 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 – Tone 2

STIHOS 1 Omose Kyrios to David Alithian ke ou mi athetisi

aftin.

Soson imas Iie Theou, O EN AGIIS THAVMASTOS psallontas Si: Allilouia!

STIHOS 2 Ek Karpou tis Kilias Sou thisome epi tou Thronou

Sou.


STIHOS 3 Eki exanatelo Keras to David, itimasa lihnon to

Hristo Mou. Soson imas Iie Theou, O EN AGIIS THAVMASTOS

psallontas Si: Allilouia!

VERSE 1 The Lord swore in Truth to David; and He will not turn from it.

O Son of God, WHO ART EXTOLLED BY THY SAINTS, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia

VERSE 2 O the Fruit of Thy Body will I set upon Thy Throne


VERSE 3 There will I make the Horn of David Bud: I have Ordained a Lamp for Mine Anointed


8. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Na t i v i t y o f our Ever B l essed Lady Theo t okos – 8 Sep tember 201 1

STIHOS 4 Oti exelexato Kyrios tin Zion, iretisato aftin is

kati ian eafto.


> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton eonon.

Amin

VERSE 4 For the Lord has chosen Zion: He has desired it for His Habitation.


> Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages

of ages.

Amen

M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l M a t i n s G o s p e l –––– L u k e 1 : 3 9 L u k e 1 : 3 9 L u k e 1 : 3 9 L u k e 1 : 3 9 –––– 4 9 &4 9 &4 9 &4 9 & 5 65 65 65 6 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 5 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 5 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 5 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 5 –––– 1 11 11 11 1

S t r i v e f o r H u m i l i t y a n d O b e d i e n c e

Brethren: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the Form of God, did not consider it robbery to be Equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of mankind, He humbled Himself and became Obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross.

Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name that is above every name – that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow – of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth – and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

This section of St Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians consisted of A HYMN THAT WAS ALREADY IN USE IN THE EARLY HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST, which St Paul quoted in order to remind us and call us to CONTEMPLATE THE ABSOLUTE HUMILITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD – A DIVINE

TRUTH THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL SUFFERING

CHRISTIANS TO UNDERSTAND AND TO APPLY TO OURSELVES

AND OUR DAILY WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS AS

FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

These words have been incorporated into many of our Orthodox Christian Hymns.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is He Who “being in the Form of God,” IS ALSO IN THE “form of a bondservant” - a reference to the TWO COMPLETE, UNMINGLED,

UNCONFUSED NATURES OF CHRIST – COMPLETELY DIVINE

AND COMPLETELY HUMAN NATURES.

In His human Nature, CHRIST VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED THE TERRIBLE, UNJUST PUNISHMENT of public humiliation, scourging (that would have killed anyone else!), and crucifixion and death – at the exact hour that He Himself chose to die!

ONLY IN HIS HUMAN NATURE COULD CHRIST BE KILLED AND

ENTER HADES with all the other human souls who had already died.

Having suffered such indescribable torture and execution, CHRIST OUR LORD IS EXALTED BY GOD THE FATHER AND -

BEING SUPREMELY WORTHY - IS GIVEN THE DIVINE NAME

“LORD JESUS,” WHICH IS SO SACRED THAT ALL CREATION

BOWS DOWN BEFORE HIM IN HONOUR, WORSHIP AND

DEVOTION.

The Divine title “Lord” clearly shows us that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD – SHARES HIS ETERNAL DIVINITY WITH GOD THE FATHER.

THE “FORM” (“Morphe”) of God – a concept parallel with the “Image” (“Eikon”) of God – REFERS TO GOD THE SON’S SHARING IN THE FULL DIVINE NATURE – HE IS ETERNALLY

DIVINE LIKE GOD THE FATHER.

“Robbery” (“harpagmon”) literally means “loot" “ill gotten

gains” or “plunder” - referring to something that is illegally, shamefully or dishonourably stolen.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ETERNAL DIVINE EQUALITY WITH

ALMIGHTY GOD – not by false or illegal seizure but – BY HIS OWN ETERNAL DIVINE NATURE.

OUR LORD’S ABSOLUTE HUMILITY IS REVEALED by His voluntary “emptying Himself” of all His Divine Majesty and Power – not by laying aside His Divine Nature, but BY FREELY TAKING ON OUR WEAK, POWERLESS HUMAN

NATURE.

To all human beings, GOD THE SON INCARNATE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE US, FOR BEING TRULY INCARNATE, HE IS

COMPLETELY HUMAN BY NATURE.

DUE TO HIS INCARNATION GOD THE SON CAN BE SEEN BY US HUMAN BEINGS – AND IS

DEPICTED IN HOLY ICONS IN HIS HUMAN FORM.

HOWEVER, GOD THE FATHER, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO HAVE NEVER MANIFESTED WHO HAVE NEVER MANIFESTED WHO HAVE NEVER MANIFESTED WHO HAVE NEVER MANIFESTED

IN MATERIAL FORM,IN MATERIAL FORM,IN MATERIAL FORM,IN MATERIAL FORM, BUT WHO ARE EQUALLY ETERNAL WITH CHRIST, CANNOT BE

DEPICTED EXCEPT AS COLOURED SHAPES SURROUNDING CHRIST OR AS THREE

IDENTICAL HOLY ANGELS – I.E. THE HOLY TRINITY AS DEPICTED IN THE HOLY ICON

“THE HOSPITALITY OF ABRAHAM” WHICH COMMEMORATES THEIR VISITATION AS

THREE IDENTICAL BEINGS AT THE OAKS OF MAMRE.

IT IS INCORRECT TO DEPICT GOD THE FATHER AS AN OLD MAN OR THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A

WHITE DOVE! THIS IS A WESTERN, HERETICAL CONCEPT AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED

BY FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

Our Lord Jesus took on our weak human nature because HE WAS WILLING TO SHARE OUR HUMAN CONDITION EXCEPT

FOR THE ABILITY TO SIN!

In His human Nature, CHRIST OUR LORD SHOWS THE FULLNESS OF HUMILITY BY HIS OBEDIENCE EVEN TO DEATH that had enslaved all humanity.

To suffer the humiliation and degradation of crucifixion – a most hideous and severe form of slow execution that was reserved for the worst type of criminals according to Roman Law – was repulsive and horrific to the Romans as well as the Hebrews and all the other Nations.

The Hebrews considered hanging and crucifixion as the worst type of curse possible on earth.

However, THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS, BROUGHT ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL WHO ARE FREELY AND

FAITHFULLY JOINED AND UNITED TO GOD through Holy Baptism, Chrismation and Life IN CHRIST.

Therefore: BECAUSE OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION, WE MUST TAKE HOLD OF WHAT GOD

OFFERS US AND THEREBY ACCEPT HIS DIVINE GRACE BY

CONSTANTLY STRIVING TOWARDS BECOMING SPIRITUALLY

MATURE IN CHRIST.

IN OTHER WORDS: WE MUST STRUGGLE EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY TO IMPROVE

OURSELVES AND TO REGAIN OUR LOST DIVINE LIKENESS BY HUMBLY AND EAGERLY

OBEYING ALL GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND CHRIST’S TEACHINGS – APPLYING THEM

TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 0 : 3 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 0 : 3 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 0 : 3 8 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 0 : 3 8 –––– 4 2 & 1 1 : 2 7 4 2 & 1 1 : 2 7 4 2 & 1 1 : 2 7 4 2 & 1 1 : 2 7 –––– 2 82 82 82 8 One Th i ng i s Requ i r ed o f us – T he D i f f e rence Be tween S t Mary and S t Mar t ha o f B e t hany

At that time, as they went, 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, so she approached Him and said: “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has

left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

S P I R I T U A L P OWER & S P I R I T U A L WAR F AR ES P I R I T U A L P OWER & S P I R I T U A L WAR F AR ES P I R I T U A L P OWER & S P I R I T U A L WAR F AR ES P I R I T U A L P OWER & S P I R I T U A L WAR F AR E

...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 that nursed Thee!” But He said: “More than that: Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”

St Martha and St Mary of Bethany were the sisters of St Lazaros whom our Lord Jesus Christ had raised from the dead.

ST MARTHA WAS PREOCCUPIED AND WORRIED ABOUT ALL

HER HOUSEHOLD DUTIES of providing hospitality to our Lord Jesus and His entourage of Disciples.

HER TEMPORARY, WORLDLY CARES CONCERNED HER MORE

THAN ANYTHING ELSE at the time so, RESENTING HER SISTER WHO SAT AT THE FEET OF OUR LORD TO HEAR

HIS TEACHINGS, SHE APPEALED TO HIM TO MAKE HER

GET UP AND HELP HER.

However INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING HER IMMEDIATE NEEDS, OUR LORD JESUS POINTED OUT THAT WHILE SHE WAS

SO CONCERNED ABOUT ALL HER CURRENT DUTIES, HER

SISTER HAD PREFERRED TO SPEND THE PRECIOUS TIME

LISTENING TO CHRIST’S TEACHINGS.

] The “one thing ... Needed” was for her TO PAY

ATTENTION TO HIS DIVINE TEACHING – TO REALLY

LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID. IT WAS A SERIOUS PRIORITY

THAT CERTAINLY DID NOT EXCLUDE SERVING HIM.

Later, when a woman called out to our Lord Jesus from the crowd, our Lord pointed out to her that GOD’S

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Nat i v i t y o f ou r Ever B l essed Lady Theo t okos – 8 Sep t embe r 201 1 9.

BLESSINGS FALL UPON ALL THOSE WHO HEAR THE

WORD OF GOD AND OBEY HIM.

] FAMILY OR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO

WITH OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD and the Ever Blessed Theotokos was especially complimented by Her Son because SHE NOT ONLY PAID CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD BUT SHE ALSO FAITHFULLY

OBEYED ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND LIVED HER

ENTIRE LIFE ACCORDINGLY.

] IT IS THAT PRFOUND VIRTUE OF HUMBLE AND ATTENTIVE OBEDIENCE TO GOD OF THE EVER BLESSED

THEOTOKOS ALONE – EVEN MORE THAN HAVING

BORNE THE INCARNATE GOD – THAT MAKES HER OUR

MOST SHINING EXAMPLE OF TRUE SAINTHOOD AND

THEOSIS – SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & Ever Virgin Mary The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & Ever Virgin Mary The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & Ever Virgin Mary The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & Ever Virgin Mary –––– The Right TimeThe Right TimeThe Right TimeThe Right Time In the Holy Services of the Feast of the Nativity of our Ever

Blessed Lady, All Holy Theotokos, we hear the words of the Hymn: “In the sorrow of their barrenness, the wise parents of the Mother of God cried out

unto the Lord, and they gave birth to Her unto

all generations, for Universal Salvation and

Glory.” Let us ponder these wonderful words for a moment, my

dear Brethren. We see before us the Righteous ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNA –

the venerable, pious and faithful spouses, who had issued from A GREAT ANCESTRY OF KINGS AND PRIESTS, who were GOD-FEARING and who FAITHFULLY KEPT ALL GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, as well as being known for their SINCERE HUMILITY AND CHARITY.

And yet this model couple suffered the scorn and humiliation of their self-righteous neighbours because as the years passed by, they remained childless and having reached their old age, the Lord still had not Blessed them with any children.

In those days EVERY HEBREW FAMILY HOPED THAT THROUGH THEIR DESCENDANTS THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE

LONG AWAITED KINGDOM OF THE GREAT AND HOLY

MESSIAH. Therefore, INFERTILE COUPLES WERE OPENLY SCORNED BY

OTHERS, BECAUSE SUCH BARRENNESS WAS CONSIDERED

TO BE GOD’S GREAT PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR PERSONAL,

HIDDEN SINS.

Their childless state was especially difficult for St Joachim to endure since he was very aware of the fact that, as a descendent of King David, Christ the Saviour was to be born of his ancestry – and thus it was apparent to everyone that the Messiah would definitely not come from his otherwise perfect marriage.

Nevertheless, the Righteous ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNA NEVER LOST THEIR FAITH IN GOD and despite being publicly mocked by others for so many years, THEY NEVER GRUMBLED AGAINST THE LORD AND THEY NEVER

DIMINISHED NOR ABANDONED THEIR VIRTUOUS LIFE.

THEY HUMBLY ACCEPTED THEIR LOT IN LIFE AND QUIETLY

CONTINUED TO SUFFER THE UNCOMPASSIONATE ATTITUDE

OF OTHERS.

WITHOUT FAIL THEY TRUSTED IN GOD’S DIVINE PROVIDENCE and hoped that one day their shame in the sight of their neighbours would somehow be justified and corrected.

THEY HAD COMPLETE FAITH IN GOD’S GREAT MERCY, and they besought Him to let them know what dark or secret sin they had committed in His Sight, so that they could repent it and return to Divine Grace.

In the sorrow of their barrenness and their unknown “fall from Grace,” THEY CEASELESSLY AND TEARFULLY PRAYED TO GOD FOR HIS FORGIVENESS AND CONSTANTLY THANKED

HIM FOR HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.

Finally, the great Joyful Reward for such tremendous Virtue – Humility, Patience, Faith, Hope and ceaseless Prayer – was bestowed upon them, for THESE TWO WISE PARENTS RECEIVED A HEAVENLY GIFT FROM GOD – their extraordinary little daughter - the All Pure and Ever Blessed Virgin Mary Who is more glorious and more honourable than the Cherubim and Seraphim, the highest Orders of Heavenly Hosts - and Birth-giver to God the Word Incarnate!

THEY GAVE LIFE TO HER WHO IS THE MOST BLESSED OF ALL

WOMEN AND WHO IS ETERNALLY FULL OF GRACE, FOR THE

UNIVERSAL SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND AND FOR THE

EVERLASTING GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY

GOD!

Such was the most extraordinary Divine Gift that was earned by the Righteous parents - St Joachim and St Anna, who gave birth to the All Holy Ever Virgin Mary and Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos –and BY HER MOST JOYOUS NATIVITY THEY THEMSELVES WERE GLORIFIED FOR

ALL AGES!

Yet, we may wonder: why did they have to wait so long? OUR LORD GOD WAS NOT PUNISHING THEM FOR THEIR SINS

FOR THEY WERE ALREADY RIGHTEOUS AND PURE – and HE

WAS NOT TESTING THEIR VIRTUES OF PATIENCE AND

HUMILITY for they had always exhibited such wonderful Virtues abundantly.

No, dear Brethren, THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR SO LONG UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT - UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT

ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE OF

ALMIGHTY GOD!

The Holy Virgin Mary, as the future Mother of God, had to be the purest Vessel possible in all humanity and because of this SHE HAD TO COME FROM THE PUREST PARENTS POSSIBLE.

Consequently, for this reason the Righteous ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNA HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE PURIFIED OF

ALL HUMAN PASSIONS BY MEANS OF HUMILITY, PATIENCE

AND MATURITY OF AGE. And then, when the time was right, THEY – WHO HAD SO

MEEKLY ACCEPTED GOD’S WILL AND THE FATE THAT THE

LORD HAD METED OUT TO THEM – JOYFULLY AND MOST

GRATEFULLY RECEIVED THE MOST WONDROUS COMFORT! Does not the same happen in our lives, dear Brethren? WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL

BARRENNESS: WE ARE SUBJECTED TO SORROWS AND

HARDSHIPS, and we pray to God without apparently receiving any Comfort, or we ask for the fulfilment of some spiritually-beneficial Prayer – which after a while seems unlikely to be fulfilled according to our hope.

And so WE BEGIN TO THINK THAT THIS IS PUNISHMENT FOR OUR UNREPENTED SINS – perhaps something we have chosen to forget – AND WE BEGIN TO LOSE HOPE, which sends us spiralling towards despair – hopelessness - when we even dare to grumble against the Lord - UNLESS WE RESIST SUCH TEMPTATIONS, and RATHER USE OUR TIME OF SORROW WISELY BY SEARCHING INWARDLY,

EXAMINING OUR HEARTS AND SOULS IN ORDER TO SEEK

AND ERADICATE ALL OUR UNREPENTED SINS,

CEASELESSLY PRAYING TO GOD TO ENLIGHTEN US AND TO

GUIDE US TOWARDS HIS DIVINE TRUTH. Nevertheless: OUR LOVING LORD OFTEN DELAYS THE

FULFILMENT OF OUR PRAYERS - not because He does not hear our Prayers or punishes us for our sins, but BECAUSE THE RIGHT T IME HAS NOT YET COME !

WE DO NOT KNOW GOD’S WILL for us, while OUR LORD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US - HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT - HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND

WHEN TO GRANT US HIS DIVINE BLESSINGS AND WHEN TO

WITHHOLD THEM.

Therefore, let us follow the example of the Righteous St Joachim and St Anna.

ä Let us PATIENTLY WAIT AND CEASELESSLY PRAY. ä Let us MEEKLY AND PATIENTLY ACCEPT THE ALL WISE AND

ALL KNOWING DIVINE WILL OF GOD.

ä Let us HAVE ABSOLUTE, UNWAVERING HOPE IN GOD’S GREAT MERCY and let us always HAVE COMPLETE, CONFIDENT FAITH IN HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

ä Let us HAVE UNSHAKABLE, STEADY FAITH - KNOWING that OUR LORD ALWAYS HEARS EVERY PRAYER – great or small – and every cry for help, courage or mercy.

OUR LORD GOD SEES EVERY TEAR, EVERY PAIN, ALL OUR

SORROWS and HE KNOWS ALL OUR NEEDS, ALL OUR DESIRES, ALL OUR WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS.

And because HIS LOVE IS INFINITE AND FAR BEYOND OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDING, we may REST ASSURED THAT EVERY PRAYER IS CERTAINLY ANSWERED for HE DOES GRANT US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED - AND AT THE EXACTLY RIGHT TIME FOR US TO BENEFIT THE MOST.

Glory to God for His Great Mercy! Amen. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE RIGHT TIME” A SERMON ON THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY

OF OUR EVER BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS – PRAVMIR – ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY &

THE WORLD: http://www.pravmir.com/the-right-time/

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Na t i v i t y o f our Ever B lessed Lady Theo t okos – 8 Sep tember 201 1 10

S o m e t h i n g f r o m N o t h i n gS o m e t h i n g f r o m N o t h i n gS o m e t h i n g f r o m N o t h i n gS o m e t h i n g f r o m N o t h i n gMany of our Orthodox Christian Feasts mark Events that

are unfamiliar to many Protestant Christians, in that they are based on Tradition and have no direct account within the Holy Scriptures.

This would be especially troubling for some, if these extra-canonical stories changed essential Doctrine or added to the Faith more than was proclaimed in the Creeds.

However, I would submit, neither is the case. These extra-canonical Traditions not only conform to

the Apostolic Hypothesis mentioned by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, they provide commentary and reinforcement to that very deepest heart of Christian Teaching.

The situation for St. Irenaeus in the 2nd century needs to be appreciated.

Although some Protestant groups constantly point back to when the writings of the New Testament were finished (at the death of the last Holy Apostle of Christ), such an artificial date is a modern configuration and was not entirely obvious to the early Church and those who succeeded the Apostles...

...What is consistent throughout the Apostolic Hypothesis, as witnessed in the Holy Scriptures, the Creeds, and the writings of our early Holy Church Fathers (most of whom were Bishops in Apostolic Succession) is the nature of the Incarnation of Christ and of human sin and of

the role of Christ’s Death and Resurrection in

the Salvation of the human race and of all

Creation. It is this same fundamental understanding that runs

throughout the extra-canonical devotions and stories of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary.

It does not add to that fundamental understanding nor change it. It serves to underline, yet again, the very nature of our Salvation in Christ.

The most simple example I can point to is the

Nativity of the All Holy Virgin Mary.

The story handed down to us is that the Righteous Parents of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary were aged and childless. Thus St Anna and her husband, St Joachim, were (in their own Jewish context) considered somehow “unblessed.” St Anna’s barrenness was seen as a rebuke from God.

This is a common theme within the Old Testament. St Sarah’s barrenness was the bane of her existence. The Promise of God was not simply that He would

give St Abraham a land, but, more importantly,

that St Abraham would be “the Father of many

Nations.”

As an elderly man with an elderly wife, such a Promise seems beyond belief. Yet St Sarah duly bore St

Abraham a son and God’s Promise was

fulfilled. Such barrenness occurs in the story of St Hannah, the

mother of the Prophet Samuel. It occurs as well in the story of Manoah and his wife in

the Book of Judges (the parents of Samson). The theme cannot be fully understood apart from

the Apostolic Hypothesis.

God brings forth Fruitfulness from barrenness – it is a theme of His Work of Salvation.

In modern Protestant parlance we would say, “We are Saved by Grace and not Works.”

The barren woman cannot be fruitful of herself – it

is entirely the Grace of God, which causes Fruitfulness to occur.

This is very obvious in the case of the elderly St Abraham and St Sarah, which is echoed in the extra-canonical story of St Joachim and St Anna.

Our Salvation is a Work of Divine Grace, not of

human effort. The image of Fruitfulness being brought forth from

barrenness is merely interesting if considered apart from the Apostolic Hypothesis.

However, when placed in that proper context, it becomes a hallmark of the Gospel as a type of

Salvation itself. The image of Fruitfulness from barrenness goes as

deep as Genesis 1:1 and its ancient commentaries. The God Who created the world brought it forth

from “nothingness.” No image of barrenness can be found that is greater

than “nothing.” For many Christians, this Teaching of the Faith is simply

a datum of Cosmology: God created the Universe from nothing. But to make this a matter of mere Cosmology is to miss the point.

The God Who created the Universe out of nothing

delights Himself in bringing forth something

from nothing. As St. Paul said: “He has chosen…the things that are not” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:28).

It is a consistent pattern throughout the Old Testament from the Creation to the birth of St Isaac - to the very creation of the Nation of Israel.

The Work of God’s Election is not a choice among things that are, but a bringing forth of things that never could be (apart from Grace).

This same pattern is seen in the story of the Nativity of the Ever Blessed Virgin, and of Christ’s Virgin Birth.

St Mary was born to elderly parents who were barren. God made a Promise to the elderly St Joachim and St

Anna - and they bore an extraordinary child. For Her, in Her Youth and Purity we have one of

the ultimate instances of barrenness: what can be more barren than the womb of a Virgin? How can a Virgin be fruitful?

The fact that Christ is born of a Virgin (often bound up in tortuous theories about sin and sinlessness) is perfectly consistent with the Actions of a

God Who creates out of nothing. Our Salvation comes forth from the utterly barren

womb of Hades.

In His Death (what is more empty and barren than Death?) Christ descends into Death and “takes captivity captive.”

As is sung throughout the Orthodox world, “Christ has trampled down Death by Death, and upon

those in the tombs bestowed Life.” This great theme of Christ’s Pascha (Easter) is the

very theme of our Salvation. We are Saved by the One Who trampled down Death by

Death. The Death of our sin is trampled down by the Life

of His Righteousness. The great Miracle of God’s Work in Creation is of a

piece: He creates where there would otherwise be nothing - our Life in Christ is a “New

Creation.”

The stories of the Virgin Mary, including those the Church observes which are “extra-canonical,” are not outside the Apostolic Hypothesis.

Our own lives and experience of Christ are not outside that same hypothesis. “Apart from Me you can do nothing,” Christ says.

In my sin I am empty, barren and unfruitful,

incapable of True Life. Only in the Action of the Good God, Who creates

from nothing - Who makes the barren womb to be Fruitful, Who enters Himself into the barrenness of the Womb of the Virgin and the emptiness of sinful man, Who becomes what we are and enters into the emptiness of Death and Hades – can Save and make those things which are not, to be as if

they were.

God is Glorified in His Saints! The God of Israel! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS” BY FATHER STEPHEN –

FOR THE FULL ARTICLE PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/something-from-nothing-and-

the-apostolic-hypothesis/

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 13th Sunday After Pentecost – B e fo re th e Exa l t a t i on o f t h e H o l y C r oss – 11 September 2011 11.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

(HOLY ICON IS AVAILABLE FROM THE

CONVENTOF ST ELIZABETH)



13131313 t h t h t h t h Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Tone 4 11 September Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Tone 4 11 September Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Tone 4 11 September Sunday Af ter Pentecos t Tone 4 11 September 2011201120112011

Sunday Be fore the Exal ta t ion o f the Holy CrossSunday Be fore the Exal ta t ion o f the Holy CrossSunday Be fore the Exal ta t ion o f the Holy CrossSunday Be fore the Exal ta t ion o f the Holy Cross

A f ter Feas t o f the Nativ i ty of our EAf ter Feas t o f the Nativ i ty of our EAf ter Feas t o f the Nativ i ty of our EAf ter Feas t o f the Nativ i ty of our E ver Blessed Lady Theo tokosver Blessed Lady Theo tokosver Blessed Lady Theo tokosver Blessed Lady Theo tokos

Also the Feast of St Theodora of Alexandria – St Euprosynos the Cook – St Demetrios & St Evantea, with their son, St Demetrianos – St Sergios & St Herman of Valaam Finland, translation of Holy Relics – St Ia & 9000 Persian Holy Martyrs

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Resur r e c t i on – T one 4

To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou

Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin

apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene

elegon: Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O

Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from

the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection, and had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather, they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no more: Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world Great Mercy!

Apo l y tk i on o f t h e Sa i n t o r F eas t – T one

I gennisis Sou Theotoke, Haran eminise pasi ti

ikoumeni. Ek Sou gar anetilen O Ilios tis Dikeosinis,

Hristos O Theos imon. Ke lisas tin kataran, edoke

tin Evlogian. Ke katargisas ton Thanaton,

edorisato imin, Zoin tin Eonion

Thy birth, O Theotokos, has brought Joy to all the inhabited earth; for from Thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He has freed us from the Curse and granted the Blessing; He has made Death ineffectual, and bestowed on us Eternal

Life. K o n t a k i o n o f t h e N a t i v i t y o f o u r E v e r B l e s s e d L a d y T h e o t o k o s

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek

tis fthoras tou Thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti

Agia Gennisi Sou. Aftin Eortazi ke O Laos Sou,

enohis ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si: i

stira tikti tin Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon.

By Thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and

Anna were freed from the scorn of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from Death’s corruption. This is the Feast now observed by thy people, who from the guilt of their errors, were delivered as they cry out to Thee: the barren one bears the Theotokos, and our Life’s Sustainer!

R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2 : M a r k 1 6 : 1 : M a r k 1 6 : 1 : M a r k 1 6 : 1 : M a r k 1 6 : 1 –––– 8888 The Holy Myrrhbearers Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ


Save Thy People, O Lord, and Bless Thine Inheritance!

I will appeal to Thee, O Lord our God! T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 6 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 6 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 6 : 1 1 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 6 : 1 1 –––– 1 81 81 81 8

T h e R u l e o f C h r i s t i a n F a i t h

Brethren: See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh would compel you to be circumcised, only so that they may not suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

But God forbid that I should boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision not uncircumcision avails anything, by a New Creation. And as many walk according to this Rule, Peace and Mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear on my body the Marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren: the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

ST PAUL MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE HAD PERSONALLY WRITTEN

THIS EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, IN ORDER TO RECTIFY

THE CONTROVERSY RAISED BY ST PETER AND THOSE

WHO ADHERED TO THE OLD COVENANT LAWS

ESPECIALLY CONCERNING CIRCUMCISION. According to the New Covenant with God, which is a

Bloodless Covenant, OUR “New Circumcision” or the offering of a small part of us to show our Love and Commitment to Almighty God IS OUR TONSURING DURING HOLY BAPTISM, when four small segments of our hair are cut in the Sign of the Cross.

St Paul often had to contend with HEBREW LEGALISERS WHO OFFENDED GOD IN ORDER TO PLEASE HUMAN

BEINGS – or to “make sense” to them. Those who insisted that the Gentile Christians had to be

circumcised in order to become the Chosen People

of God, often had other motives for doing so, especially so that they could either brag about how they converted the Gentiles to Judaism or

in order to avoid the later persecution of

Christians. FOLLOWING THE DIVINE EXAMPLE OF GOD, OUR HOLY

CHURCH HAS NEVER FORCED CONVERSION ON ANYONE

AT ALL.

WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES BODY AND SOUL TO ALMIGHTY

GOD THROUGH OUR OWN VOLUNTARY FREE WILL AND

NOT TO PLEASE OTHERS OR BECAUSE WE ARE BEING

FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO DO SO – OR FOR ANY

OTHER MISGUIDED REASONS!

It has become “popular” to convert to Orthodox Christianity for the sake of family or a loved one, or in order to receive an inheritance, etc.

12. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 13th Sunday After Pentecost – B e fo r e t he Exa l t a t i on o f t h e H o l y C ross – 11 September 2011

THIS IS VERY WRONG AND EXTREMELY SPIRITUALLY

DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONCE WE HAVE COMMITTED

OURSELVES TO THE TRUE FAITH, WE SHOULD NEVER

APOSTASISE, THUS EXCOMMUNICATING OURSELVES

FROM THE DIVINE GRACE OF GOD - which can be corrected through sincere Repentance and commitment to God – and confirmed by truly living in Christ through regular faithful

worship and participation in the Holy

Mysteries as required of us. HOWEVER, BY CONVERTING TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY

WITHOUT ANY INTENTION OF LIVING IN CHRIST AS

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS - WITHOUT ANY INTENTION OF

WORSHIPPING OR PARTAKING OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES

OF THE HOLY CHURCH, EXCEPT WHEN IT SUITED US -

WILL CAUSE US ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AT OUR FINAL

JUDGEMENT, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE NO EXCUSE OF

IGNORANCE.

Consequently, NOT ONLY DOES SUCH A PERSON CONDEMN HIM- OR HERSELF, BUT ALSO THE PRIEST, THE

GODPARENTS OR SPONSORS AND ALL THOSE

RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING THE ILL INTENDED

CONVERSION TO OCCUR!

As Faithful Disciples of Christ, WE RELENTLESSLY STRIVE TO ATTAIN THE HOLY VIRTUES, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF

WHICH ARE THE TWO INSEPARABLE VIRTUES OF

HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE.

Thus, we must be ever watchful that we SUPPRESS OUR INFLATED EGOS THAT TEMPT US INTO SIN, and ENSURE THAT WE NEVER BOAST ABOUT ANYTHING WE MANAGE TO

DO, FOR EVERYTHING GOOD AND WORTHY IS ONLY

POSSIBLE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND NOT MERELY BY

MEANS OF OUR OWN ENDEAVOURS.

] We must FOLLOW ST PAUL’S GOOD EXAMPLE – he only ever boasted “in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” – meaning that WE MAY ONLY PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD AND ALL HIS GOOD

THINGS BY WEARING, DISPLAYING OR USING THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IN DAILY LIFE AND

WORSHIP. ] Throughout history Christians have preached THE

POWER OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST,

WHICH MEANS MANY THINGS TO US.

ä So WE WEAR OUR CROSSES AGAINST OUR HEARTS to signify THE SACRED PATH WE HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE TOWARDS ETERNITY, and by means of it WE PROCLAIM OUR DISCIPLESHIP TO CHRIST OUR GOD

WHOM WE STRUGGLE TO FAITHFULLY FOLLOW AND

IMITATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY LIFE.

ä We do not wear the Cross as mere ornamentation but as A JOYFUL DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH AND OUR GOOD INTENTIONS.

ä As Orthodox Christians, we DO NOT WEAR

SUPERSTITIOUS PAGAN, ANTICHRIST TALISMANS

SUCH AS THE “EVIL EYE” TOGETHER WITH THE

CROSS because this reveals A LACK OF TRUE FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD and is A DENIAL OF

CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, and His All Powerful Providence and Great Mercy – A

REJECTION AND DENIAL OF HIS CEASELESS AND

MOST POWERFUL PROTECTION against the evil one and all his sinister schemes.

ä THE CROSS IS OUR “BADGE OF HONOUR,” which we must STRIVE TO LIVE UP TO AND BE WORTHY OF WEARING – with honour and respect for everything it means.

ä THE CROSS is displayed in our homes and our places of worship because it PROCLAIMS OUR DIVINE PROTECTION BY ALMIGHTY GOD AND ALL HIS

HEAVENLY HOSTS, SAINTS AND RIGHTEOUS WHO

WATCH OVER US AND PROTECT US FROM EVIL.

ä WE NEED NOTHING MORE THAT CHRIST’S LIFE-GIVING, HOLY CROSS TO GUIDE, PROTECT AND LIVE IN HOPE

BY.

ä Faithful Christians do not use any so-called “good luck” talismans but TRUST IMPLICITLY IN THE LORD OUR GOD.

ä THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS SYMBOLIC OF THE RESURRECTION AND HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN

GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND

JOY ä THE CROSS IS USED THROUGHOUT OUR HOLY SERVICES –

by us MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS numerous times AS A DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH AND WORSHIP of our Triune and Almighty God: “I worship Thee, O Lord, with all my mind,

with all my heart, with all my strength and

with all my soul!” – IN PROCESSION AT THE GREAT ENTRANCE OF THE HOLY GIFTS and at other times, and WHEN THE CELEBRANT PRIEST BLESSES THE CONGREGATION.

Furthermore, THE POWER OF THE SIGN OF THE CROSS IS EVIDENT WHEN WE USE IT AGAINST SPIRITUAL OR

PHYSICAL THREATS, IN TIMES OF FEAR, IN

SUPPLICATION, IN GRATITUDE, OR TO GLORIFY, WORSHIP

AND PROCLAIM THE LORD OUR GOD.

] THE NEW CREATION IS OUR LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS AS

COMMITTED AND DEDICATED DISCIPLES who are CEASELESSLY STRIVING FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION

– THEOSIS – which is the regaining of our lost Divine Likeness, and the attaining of Eternal Life in the Divine Presence of our Most Loving and Benevolent God.

] THE NEW COVENANT CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE NEW

ISRAEL – and we are the New Chosen People of God.

Finally, St Paul pointed out that HE WAS NO HYPOCRITE OR COWARD FOR HE HAD PERSEVERED THROUGH MUCH OF

WHAT HE TEACHES US - and in addition, HE BORE IN AND ON HIS BODY THE EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT – BOTH

SPIRITUAL SCARS AND PHYSICAL SCARS OF HIS

CEASELESS STRUGGLE TO SPREAD AND NURTURE AND

LIVE BY THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

T h e T h e T h e T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 3 : 1 3 H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 3 : 1 3 H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 3 : 1 3 H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 3 : 1 3 –––– 1 71 71 71 7 O u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t r e v e a l s t h e H e a v e n l y L i f e i n t h e E t e r n a l K i n g d o m o f G o d

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... No one has ascended to Heaven but He Who came down from Heaven – that is: the son of Man Who is in Heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so

must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal

Life.

“For God so Loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not

perish but have Everlasting Life, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but

that the world, through Him, might be Saved.”

According to St John Chrysostom, “earthly things” refer to DIVINE GRACE AND HOLY BAPTISM GRANTED TO MANKIND BY GOD.

These wonderful Divine Blessings are regarded as “earthly” not because they are “unspiritual,” but that THEY OCCUR WHILE WE ARE STILL IN THIS TEMPORARY,

PREPARATORY EARTHLY EXISTENCE AND BECAUSE THEY

ARE GRANTED TO GOD’S INTELLECTUAL, EARTHLY

CREATURES – MANKIND. The “Heavenly Things,” on the contrary, involve THE

UNGRASPABLE MYSTERIES OF THE ETERNAL

GENERATION OF GOD THE SON FROM GOD THE FATHER,

WHICH RELATE TO CHRIST’S ETERNAL EXISTENCE

BEFORE TIME AND MATTER WAS CREATED – AND

ACCORDING TO GOD’S DIVINE PLAN OF SALVATION FOR

THE ENTIRE WORLD.

WE MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND THE MANNER WHEREBY

ALMIGHTY GOD WORKS AMONGST US HUMAN BEINGS

BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE

UNFATHOMABLE DIVINE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO GOD

HIMSELF.

During the Israelites 40 year sojourn in the Wilderness before being allowed to enter the Promised Land, Moses had lifted up an image of a serpent coiled around a long stick in order to cure the Israelites from the deadly bites of poisonous snakes. (This has become the emblem of Medical Healing.)

Number s 2 1 : 4 – 9 “...the people became discouraged

on the way and spoke against God and Moses... So

the Lord sent venomous serpents amongst the

people.,. then the people went to Moses and said:

‘We sinned, for we spoke against the Lord and

against Thee; therefore pray to the Lord to take

away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for

the people and the Lord said to Moses: ‘Make a

serpent for yourself and put it on a signal


pole; and it shall be: if a serpent should bite

anyone, when the one bitten looks at it, he

shall live.’ So Moses made a copper serpent and

put it on a signal pole; and it happened that when

a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the

copper serpent, he lived.” THIS MIRACLE-WORKING IMAGE PREFIGURED OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST BEING LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS OF HIS

PASSION.

DURING GREAT LENT, ON HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY AND

FRIDAY, AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS BEHOLD OUR

CRUCIFIED CHRIST IN UTTER FAITH, THE LIMITED POWER

OF SIN AND DEATH IS OVERTHROWN IN US – AND WE ARE

RENEWED AND REJUVENATED!

Just as the image of a serpent was the ancient Sacred Weapon that destroyed the deadly poison of the serpents, so THE LIFE-GIVING INSTRUMENT OF

CHRIST’S DEATH BECOMES THE WONDROUS WEAPON

THAT OVERTHROWS DEATH ITSELF.

To show the reason why the Son of God had to be crucified – “lifted up” – OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DECLARED GOD’S GREAT LOVE NOT ONLY FOR THE

ISRAEL OF THE OLD COVENANT, BUT ALSO FOR THE

WORLD THAT WOULD SOON BECOME THE NEW ISRAEL OF

THE NEW COVENANT WITH GOD.

“... God so Loved the world that He gave His Only

Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have Everlasting Life...” THESE WORDS OF DIVINE REVELATION EXPRESS THE ENTIRE

MESSAGE OF ST JOHN’S HOLY GOSPEL, AND INDEED, THE

ENTIRE SALVATION HISTORY OF MANKIND!

ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SAVE AND NOT

TO CONDEMN US, WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED FREE WILL by God so that we can choose to either joyfully accept or to tragically reject His Divine Gift of Eternal Life, which will respectively Eternally Bless us or Condemn us due to our wilful rejection of God and all His Goodness.

T o L i v e a s a C h r i s t i a nT o L i v e a s a C h r i s t i a nT o L i v e a s a C h r i s t i a nT o L i v e a s a C h r i s t i a n We are living in a world where we encounter many

different situations - situations to which we must react.

We see sorrow and grief in those around us; we respond sometimes with sympathy, sometimes with pity, and sometimes with sheer indifference.

We see friends and family or strangers beset with difficulties and problems; sometimes we try to help, but at other times we turn away and justify ourselves by saying that it is not our concern.

We see men and women who are rejected by others for some reason; sometimes we are willing to defend such a one, but at other times we feel it is more prudent to go along with the wider group.

These are choices we all have to make, for we live

in human society, in a community where the

lives of others will somehow touch us.

It would, of course, be wonderful if there were no sorrow or suffering, no pain, no hardship, no worries.

It would be wonderful if no one were ever in the position of being judged by others and where we, therefore, did not have to make any decision on how to act.

This, however, is not the case. We will never be free from making decisions on

how to act towards those around us.

We live in the world and we must, therefore, interact with the world and our fellow human beings.

For many, this does not present a problem. Many people are content to act according to what is best for their own selves, and in so doing they feel that they are perfectly justified.

Why, indeed, should anyone be concerned for those around him? Why not look out for our own interests and let everyone else do the same?

This is an easy answer, but the Christian must bear something else in mind, something far more

important than his or her own good and well-

being. The Christian has been given a very unique and

powerful example of what his life must be.

One of the central tenets of the Orthodox Christian Faith is that God became Man in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He lived on earth among us; He experienced our life in all its joys, sorrows, woes and worries; He saw human suffering and grief, and He reacted

to them. He did not turn away from them; He did not pretend

that it was not His affair or concern. Time and time again the Gospels tells us that Christ

had compassion. Compassion and sympathy — the two words mean

exactly the same thing: the ability to feel for someone else, the willingness to experience

the worries and woes of our fellow human

beings, the love which will enable one to reach

out to the sorrows and pains of others and to

extend to them the Healing Power which our

Lord has entrusted to us.

Our Lord dealt with the world in Compassion and Love, and He expects us to do the same.

We have been Redeemed by Him, Baptized into

His Body, and He expects us to carry on His

Mission and Work in the world. Every Christian, be he Orthodox or otherwise, must ask

himself or herself this question: Does my life reflect the Life of Christ? Do my attitudes show the Love and Compassion which He had for human beings? Am I willing to take upon myself the responsibility of raising up those who are down-trodden or afflicted? Have I enough Love in my heart to care for those whom society rejects?

We would all like to answer, «Yes» to such questions, and possibly we would so answer without thinking.

But stop and consider: Can we claim that we are always compassionate and caring?

Can we truly say that we never turn our backs on

anyone in pain or trouble, anyone who is

suffering, anyone who is crying out for

understanding and compassion?

If we think long enough, we will probably all realize that we have not always been as Christ-like as our

Lord expects us to be. Of course, we can always find excuses for our

actions. We can always find a reason why we should not

behave lovingly towards someone. We can so quickly see that some particular person does

not deserve our concern. We know that God would not want us to have anything

to do with «those sinners» or with «that kind of people.»

In other words, we find it so easy to judge! This is the terrible trap in to which every Christian

can so easily fall, and many do, and they can feel so righteous when they do so.

But how can this happen? It can happen all too easily through our own consciousness of who

we are. As Christians we like to think that we are «good

people,» and when we see ourselves as «good people,» we immediately contrast others with

ourselves. Then, since it is easier to see their faults rather

than our own, we judge them, condemn them,

and feel justified in doing so. As a result we create our own laws of right and

wrong, good and bad, respectability and non-respectability.

We feel that we are doing the right thing by rejecting those who do not measure up to our standards of goodness.

But when we behave in such a manner, we are in effect denying the faith, which we have been

privileged to receive and to guard. Even worse, we are in reality placing ourselves

above God Himself. Our Lord did not judge and condemn even the woman

who had committed adultery, and in His refusal to

14. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 13th Sunday After Pentecost – B e fo r e t he Exa l t a t i on o f t h e H o l y C ross – 11 September 2011

judge her, He shows us that no one has the right to judge. That prerogative belongs only to God.

And our Lord further shows us that God is Compassion, and that His Judgment will be

one of Mercy and Love. We can, if we wish, be judgmental of those whom we

feel are beneath us, but in doing so, we are in fact saying that we are more righteous than

God. «God forgives, but I do not.» I have heard people say this very thing. «I don’t approve of this idea of forgiveness; that is just an easy way out. People need to be

responsible for their actions.» The person who made this statement — and this

was an actual statement — was in effect claiming that she had no need of forgiveness.

She was vaunting her own self-righteousness. And this is exactly what we all do when we judge

another person. There are no exceptions. We have no right to say, «God does not expect me to accept that.»

Judging, of course, is the most vicious way in

which we deny our Lord’s Love and

Compassion. But it is also easy to find excuses for not showing

care and concern in situations where they are needed. It takes very little to convince ourselves that we have no responsibility towards others in their difficulties.

«Christ only expects you to do what you can,» someone once said when he was asked to help

someone in need. What he really meant was, «I

am not going to do anything that I don’t want to

do.» A person who thinks in this way may call himself a

Christian, but his Christianity is lifeless and

useless. Such a faith is no faith; it is nothing but a superficial religion that wants everything to be easy and allows us to have our own way in our dealings with the world around us.

This may be the type of religion that is acceptable to the world and to those who want their lives to be

comfortable, but it is not acceptable to our Lord.

Our Lord was Incarnate out of His Divine Love

towards humanity, and He asks us to show that same love in our lives.

If we call ourselves His Disciples and His

Followers, we have no choice but to live as He

would have us live, in the Power of His Spirit

and His Eternal Life. In the Liturgy, immediately before the Anaphora, we

proclaim, «Let us love one another that with one accord we may confess Father, Son, and

Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in Unity and

undivided.»

The Christian is expected to live the full Life of

Christ into Whom he or she was Baptized. There can be no half-way Christian life. It must be the fullness and totality of what our

Lord would have us to be, and then it will be

fullness and totality of the Joy and Peace

which only He can give. To be a Christian in the modern world is a challenge,

and it will become more of a challenge as things change, grow and develop.

The future may bring some radical changes to our society and our world, and we may have to meet those changes with solutions and answers which are equally radical.

But the Orthodox faith, with its Tradition Enlivened by the Power of the Holy Spirit, is

well equipped to face the future. We need remember but one thing: as Followers of the

Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, we are given

the responsibility and privilege of living His

Life to the fullest.

We must show ourselves to be His servants and

His Presence in a world which is estranged from Him, and we must work and pray that through our efforts our Lord will be able to make that

world one with His Eternal Kingdom.

Father Vladimir M Tobin – St Vladimir Orthodox Church http://www.pravmir.com/to-live-as-a-christian/

T h e E t e r n a l W i s d o m o f E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s : O n S p i r i t u a l C o u n s e lT h e E t e r n a l W i s d o m o f E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s : O n S p i r i t u a l C o u n s e lT h e E t e r n a l W i s d o m o f E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s : O n S p i r i t u a l C o u n s e lT h e E t e r n a l W i s d o m o f E l d e r P a i s i o s o f M o u n t A t h o s : O n S p i r i t u a l C o u n s e l

c The humble are like nightingales that hide in

ravines and spread joy to the souls of mankind with their sweet songs.

c We mustn’t despair when we Struggle and continuously see nothing but the slightest progress.

We all do nearly nothing - some a little more, some a little less.

When Christ sees our little effort He grants

us an analogous (SIMILAR OR CORRESPONDING) token and so our nearly nothing becomes valuable and we can see a little progress.

For this reason we mustn’t despair, but hope in God.

c Unfortunately, in our days, there are many people who upset the Mother Church.

Of these, those who are educated have

understood Dogma with their minds and

not with the spirit of the Holy Fathers. At the same time, those who are unlettered have

grabbed hold of Dogma with their teeth, which is why they grind their teeth when they speak about ecclesiastical topics.

In this way, greater harm is caused by those in the Church than by those who battle it from without.

c That which is asked of every Orthodox person is to instill a “good

uneasiness” into the heterodox,’ that

they might understand that they are in

delusion. This is so they will not falsely calm their conscience and thus be deprived in this life of the rich Blessings of Orthodoxy and in the Life to come of the even greater and Eternal Blessings of God.

c Those who are possessed by material things are always subjugated to

unhappiness and anxiety, for on the one hand they tremble for fear that others may take their possessions away from them, while on the other they tremble for fear that their soul may be taken from them.

Now, the miser whose hand is sore from his tight hold on things, also squeezed his

own heart, and turned it into stone. In order for him to be healed, he must visit unhappy people, or suffer, so he will be forced to open his hand slowly, slowly,

and his heart of stone will also start to

soften. It will become a human heart and in this way the Gates of Paradise will also open.


THE LARGEST KNOWN FRAGMENT OF THE TRUE CROSS IN THE WORLD,

WHICH IS PRESERVED AT THE HOLY MONASTERY OF XEROPOTAMOU

ON MOUNT ATHOS. A HOLE FROM THE NAIL THAT PIERCED OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST’S RIGHT WRIST IS SURROUNDED BY DIAMONDS

AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VERTICAL CROSS BAR

Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia

& Al l A fr ica& Al l A fr ica& Al l A fr ica& Al l A fr ica Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.


The Universa l Exa l ta t ion The Universa l Exa l ta t ion The Universa l Exa l ta t ion The Universa l Exa l ta t ion o f the Holy Cross o f Chr is to f the Holy Cross o f Chr is to f the Holy Cross o f Chr is to f the Holy Cross o f Chr is t

Also the Feast of the Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Troulo – St Agathonikos, St Zotikos, St Theoprpios, St Acindynos, St Severianos, St Zeno & other Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia – St Athanasios, Hieromartyr, St Anthusa the Nun & St Charesimos & St Neophytos her servantts of Tarsos - St Evlalia, Virginmartyr of Barcelona – St Gorazd of Prague, Bohemia & Moravo-Cilezsk - St Felix of Spain – St Bogolep, disciple of St Paisios of Uglich – St Isaac I of Optina Monastery

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e E x a l t a t i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s

Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou, ke Evlogison tin Klironomian

Sou, Nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron doroumenos,

ke to son Filatton, dia tou Stavrou Sou Politefma. [3]

O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance,

granting Victory over enemies unto our Rulers and

through Thy Cross preserving Thine Estate [3] K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E x a l t a t i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s

O Ipsothis en to Stavro ekousios, ti eponimo Sou keni

politia, tous iktirmous Sou Dorise, Hriste O Theos.

Evfranon en ti Dinami Sou, tous Pistous Vasilis imon,

Nikas horigon aftis, kata ton polemion. Tin

sinmmahian ehien tin Sin, Oplon Irinis, Aittiton

Tropeon.

Thou Who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily, on Thy

new Commonwealth that bears Thy Name, do Thou

bestow Thy Mercies, O Christ our God; gladden in

Thy mighty Strength, our Faithful Rulers, granting to

them Victories, against all the enemies, and may

Thy Help in battle be for them, a Weapon of Peace,

and Banner Invincible! I s o d i k o n :

Ipsoute Kyrion ton Theon imon ke proskinite to

ipopodio ton podon aftou, oti Agios esti.

Soson imas, Ie Theou, O SARKI STAVROTHIS, psalontas

Si: Allilouia!

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and Worship at His

Footstool; for He is Holy!

Save us, O Son of God, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED IN THE

FLESH, who sin to Thee: Alleluia! I n s t e a d O f T h e T r i s a g i o n H y m n

Ton Stavron Sou proskinoumen, Despota, ke tin Agian

Sou Anastasin doxazomen.

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

Amin

Ke tin Agian Sou Anastasin doxazomen

Dinamis!

Ton Stavron Sou proskinoumen, Despota, ke tin Agian

Sou Anastasin doxazomen.

Thy Cross, O Master, we reverence, and we glorify Thy

Holy Resurrection.

> Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of

ages.

Amen

And Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify

PRIEST Dynamis (Power)!

Thy Cross, O Master, we reverence, and we glorify Thy

Holy Resurrection.

M a t i n s G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 2 : 2 8M a t i n s G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 2 : 2 8M a t i n s G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 2 : 2 8M a t i n s G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 2 : 2 8 ---- 3 63 63 63 6 The Judgemen t O f T h is Wor l d - T he H o l y C r oss O f C hr i s t

At that time our Lord Jesus said: “Father, Glorify Thy Name.” Then a Voice came from Heaven, saying: “I have both Glorified it and will Glorify it again.”

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said: “An Angel has spoken to Him.”

Jesus answered and said: “This Voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the Judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And when I Am lifted up from the earth, I will

draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

The people answered Him:, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever; and how can Thou say: ‘The

Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”

Then Jesus said to them: “A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest

darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

“While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become sons of Light.”

16. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ our Lord & Saviour 14 September 2011

These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

THE FATHER’S “NAME” IS AN EXTENSION OF HIS PERSON AND THE SON WORKED FOR THE GLORY OF THE

FATHER. Therefore HIS DEATH WAS OFFERED UP TO COMPLETE

THAT PURPOSE AND TO SHOW THE FATHER’S LOVE

FOR ALL PEOPLE.

The Divine “Voice” assured us that THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT HUMILIATION BUT

GLORIFICATION THROUGH THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S

PLAN FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD.

“LIFTED UP” IS A REFERENCE TO the lifting up of Christ upon the Cross, HIS CRUCIFIXION, WHICH IS HIS GLORIFICATION AND WHICH LEADS TO THE

SALVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE.

At the same time this Event, was A “JUDGEMENT” ON THE UNBELIEVING WORLD OF DARKNESS AND THE

ABOLITION OF THE POWER OF “THE RULER OF THIS

WORLD” WHO IS SATAN. WE LIVE IN A STATE OF TENSION BETWEEN THE VICTORY

WON AND THAT WHICH IS YET TO BE WON. [1 JOHN 2:13, 1 JOHN 5:4-5]

In a Vespers Hymn for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we sing: “Lifted high upon the Cross, O

Master, with Thyself Thou hast raised up Adam and

the whole of fallen nature. Therefore, exalting Thine

Undefiled Cross, O Thou Who Lovest mankind, we

ask Thee for Thy Strength from Above, crying: O God

Most High, in Thy Mercy Save those who honour the

Sacred Life-giving and Divine Exaltation of Thy

Cross.” The theme of JESUS CHRIST AS THE “LIGHT” receives

renewed emphasis. The crowd wanted to know the Identity of the Son of Man,

but JESUS CHRIST CHALLENGED THEM TO COME TO THE LIGHT WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO BECOME CHILDREN

OF LIGHT. [NICENE CREED]

IN UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE PARTAKE OF HIS LIGHT,

BECOMING CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 8T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 8T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 8T h e F i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 1 8 ---- 2 42 42 42 4 The Message O f T he C r oss I s Foo l i shness T o The Wor l d , Bu t T o Chr i s t i ans I t I s T he Power O f God

Brethren: the Message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being Saved it is the Power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

Where are the wise? Where are the Scribes? Where are the disputers of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the Wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the Foolishness of the Message preached to Save those who believe. For Jews request a Sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ Crucified: to the Jews a Stumbling Block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are Called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of

God.

The “Message of the Cross .. [is]... Foolishness” to unbelievers because as St John Chrysostom answers:

“IT IS A MARK OF THOSE WHO PERISH NOT TO RECOGNISE THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO SALVATION.”

WE WHO BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST MUST NOT BE DISCOURAGED

WHEN THOSE OUTSIDE OF HIM MOCK, for so did once even St Paul himself.

“BEING SAVED” - present tense - refers to THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE HOLY CROSS TRANSFORMS US WITH THE

“POWER OF GOD.”

To those who “request a Sign” the Church offers One: THE HOLY LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS

CHRIST! THE HOLY CROSS IS TO BE ADORED, FOR WHEREVER THE SIGN

OF THE CROSS MAY BE, THERE JESUS CHRIST WILL BE. SINCE “CHRIST” IS THE “POWER” AND “WISDOM OF GOD” THE

FATHER - THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER’S GLORY, THE

SUBSTANTIAL AND PERFECT IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD - WHERE HE IS, THERE IS THE UNCREATED AND SAVING

GRACE OF GOD. [HEBREWS 1:3] THE HOLY, LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR,

JESUS CHRIST, RESTORES MANKIND TO IMMORTALITY AND

STIRS UP DESIRE FOR THE THINGS.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 9 : 6T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 9 : 6T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 9 : 6T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 9 : 6 ---- 1 1 ; 1 31 1 ; 1 31 1 ; 1 31 1 ; 1 3 ---- 2 0 ; 2 5 2 0 ; 2 5 2 0 ; 2 5 2 0 ; 2 5 ---- 2 8 , 3 02 8 , 3 02 8 , 3 02 8 , 3 0 ---- 3 53 53 53 5 We Remember T he C r uc i f ix i on O f Our Lor d And Sav iour , J esus Chr i s t

At that time, when the Chief Priests and Officers saw Him, they cried out, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them: “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” And the Jews answered him: “We have a Law,

and according to our Law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Therefore, when Pilate heard those words, he was all the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and asked

Jesus: “From where art Thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him: “Art Thou not speaking to

me?! Dost Thou not know that I have power to crucify Thee, and power to release Thee?”

And Jesus answered: “Thou could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given thee from Above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

When Pilate therefore heard those words, he took Jesus out and sat down in the Judgement Seat in a place that is called “The Pavement,” and in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.” It was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the Sixth Hour, so he said to the Jews: “Behold your King!” But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate asked them: “Shall I crucify your King?” And the Chief Priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar!” So he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away.

And He, bearing His Cross, went out to a place called “the Place of a Skull,” which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha,” where they crucified Him, and two others with Him - one on either side, and Jesus in the centre.

Pilate wrote a title and put it on the Cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His Mother, and the Disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His Mother, “Woman, behold thy son!” and from that hour that Disciple took her to his own home.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, and so that the bodies should not remain on the crosses on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a High Day), the Jews asked Pilate for their legs to be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

And he who has seen has testified, and his Testimony is True; and he knows that he is telling the Truth, so that you may believe.

THE JEWISH LEADERS CONVICTED JESUS CHRIST ON A [FALSE]

CHARGE OF BLASPHEMY: “He made Himself the Son of

God.” What they missed, of course, was the Gospel: JESUS

CHRIST NOT ONLY CLAIMS TO BE, BUT INDEED IS THE SON

OF GOD!

ALMIGHTY GOD [THE HOLY TRINITY] CONTROLS ALL “POWER.”

With all Rome’s force, and with all the relentless persistence of the Jewish authorities, THEIR POWER WAS PERMITTED ONLY BY GOD.

“THE ONE WHO DELIVERED” JESUS CHRIST TO PONTIUS PILATE

WAS, according to many interpreters, THE HIGH PRIEST

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ our Lord & Saviour 14 September 2011 17

CAIAPHAS; HOWEVER, THE PHRASE MAY EVEN REFER TO JUDAS ISCARIOT.

THE JEWISH LEADERS APPLIED HARD POLITICAL PRESSURE ON

PONTIUS PILATE TO GAIN THEIR OWN SINISTER ENDS.

Confronted with the choice between Jesus Christ and “Caesar” PONTIUS PILATE CHOSE HIS EMPEROR, TIBERIUS CAESAR who reigned during the years 14 - 37.

“PREPARATION DAY” IS THE DAY BEFORE “PASSOVER.”

The Synoptic Gospels [Of St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke & St John] date THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST ON FRIDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE PASSOVER.

Ironically the Jewish leadership REJECTED THE KING OF THE JEWS AND ACCEPTED TIBERIUS CAESAR, A FOREIGN KING who ruled Palestine as a result of conquest.

IN THEIR BLIND HATRED FOR JESUS CHRIST, THEY DENIED THE

ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THEIR NATION’S HOPES.

CRUCIFIXION WAS THE METHOD OF EXECUTION used by the Romans in capital punishment INVOLVING REBELLIOUS SLAVES AND THE WORST POSSIBLE CRIMINALS.

IN CALLING THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS “WOMAN” OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST USED A TERM OF DIGNITY AND

AFFECTION.

Note THREE IMPORTANT TRUTHS concerning “His Mother.” In saying to “the Disciple whom [He] Loved” - St John the Evangelist - “behold thy Mother”:

1. CHRIST SYMBOLICALLY ESTABLISHED THE THEOTOKOS’

ROLE AS THE MOTHER OF ALL FAITHFUL DISCIPLES - OF

THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

2. IF THE THEOTOKOS HAD HAD OTHER CHILDREN, JESUS

CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE PLACED HER UNDER THE

CARE OF ST JOHN.

3. THE CHURCH’S TEACHING CONCERNING THE THEOTOKOS’

ETERNAL VIRGINITY IS RATIFIED BY CHRIST’S ACTION

T h e U n i v e r s a l E x a l t a t i o n o f t h e P r e c i o u s , L i f e g i v i n g H o l y C r o s s o f C h r i s t T h e U n i v e r s a l E x a l t a t i o n o f t h e P r e c i o u s , L i f e g i v i n g H o l y C r o s s o f C h r i s t T h e U n i v e r s a l E x a l t a t i o n o f t h e P r e c i o u s , L i f e g i v i n g H o l y C r o s s o f C h r i s t T h e U n i v e r s a l E x a l t a t i o n o f t h e P r e c i o u s , L i f e g i v i n g H o l y C r o s s o f C h r i s t The pagan Roman Emperors tried to completely eradicate

from human history the Holy Sites where our Lord Jesus Christ Suffered and was Resurrected for the Salvation of all mankind.

Emperor Hadrian (117-138) gave orders to cover the area of Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ with its surrounding garden under tons of rock and soil, so that a temple in honour of the pagan goddess Venus and a huge statue of Jupiter could be erected over the site.

Pagans gathered there in great multitudes and offered sacrifices and worship to their man-made idols and mythical gods until eventually, after 300 years, by Divine Providence, the Most Holy of Christian Sites – Golgotha, the Holy Sepulchre (Tomb) and the cave wherein the Precious, Life-giving Holy Cross was hidden, were excavated and revealed for all to venerate.

This became possible under the Roman Emperor, St Constantine the Great (306-337) after his victorious battles in 312 against Emperor Maxentius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire, and Emperor Licinius, ruler the Eastern Roman Empire.

By 323 Emperor Constantine the Great was the sole ruler of the vast Roman Empire.

In 313 he had issued the Edict of Milan, whereby the Christian Faith was legalized – thus bringing the terrible persecutions against the Faithful in the Western Roman Empire to an end.

However, his co-ruler, Emperor Licinius, although having signed the Edict of Milan to oblige Emperor Constantine, fanatically continued to encourage the merciless persecutions of Christians.

Only after his conclusive defeat was the 313 Edict of Milan honoured in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Emperor Constantine had gained victory in three consecutive wars against his co-rulers due to the Divine Grace of the One, Living and True God after a Miraculous Sign of the Cross had appeared in the sky with the words inscribed beneath it: "By This you shall conquer!"

Ardently desiring to find the Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified, St Constantine sent his mother, the pious Empress St Helen to Jerusalem, with a letter addressed to St Macarios, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Although the Holy Empress St Helen was already in her declining years, she set about completing the Sacred Task with much enthusiasm, issuing orders to destroy all pagan temples and idolatrous statues in Jerusalem.

In her determined search for the Precious Holy Cross of Christ, she and her servants questioned innumerable Christians and Jews, but for a long time their quest remained unsuccessful.

Finally, someone directed St Helen to a certain elderly Hebrew by the name of Jude who – when he saw that her request was sincere and honourable – revealed the location of the Holy Sites to her and also explained that the cave wherein the Holy Cross had been hidden centuries before was buried beneath the pagan temple of Venus.

The demolition of the pagan temple began immediately and, while ceaselessly praying for Divine Assistance,

the ground was soon excavated and the Tomb of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ was uncovered.

In a deep cave, which was a short distance from the Tomb, they found three crosses (THE CROSS BARS), the board with the inscription ordered by Pontius Pilate stating “Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews” and four nails that had pierced our Lord's Wrists and Feet.

In order to discern which of the three crosses our Saviour had been crucified on, St Makarios the Patriarch of Jerusalem touched a corpse with each of the cross bars.

As soon as the Life-giving Cross of Christ touched the dead person, he returned to life! And everyone who witnessed that great Miracle knew that at last the Holy Cross of our Saviour had indeed been found!

Word spread like wild fire and thousands of faithful Christians hurried to Jerusalem to see and to venerate the Precious Holy Cross of our Lord. Due to the great multitude who packed the area, they beseeched St Makarios to elevate it so that everyone might behold it and reverently venerate it.

So it was in 326 when for many tireless hours of jubilation and exaltation the Patriarch of Jerusalem and other Spiritual Leaders of the Holy Church held up as high as they could the Sanctified Cross of our Lord, while the entire congregation prayed over and over again with such Joy and Thanksgiving: “Kyrie eleison!” “Lord

have Mercy!” and prostrated themselves before such a wonderful sight.

During the Exaltation of the Life-giving Holy Cross various Divine Miracles occurred such as that of a terminally ill woman who was instantly healed by the shadow of the elevated Cross - and the Hebrew Elder named Jude (whose family had for generations kept the secret of the location of the Holy Sites) and many other Hebrews and pagans believed in Christ and accepted Holy Baptism.

Jude received the name Kyriakos and later was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem. During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363) he accepted a martyr's death for Christ.

The Holy Empress St Helen journeyed to as many of the Holy Sites as possible that were connected to the earthly Life of our Lord and Saviour, and also of His Ever Blessed Mother, our Lady Theotokos - and at each Holy Site she had churches and chapels built – eventually more than 80 churches were established throughout the Holy Land - from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where our Lord had so often prayed, and where He had prayed so fervently before His Passion, and on the top of the Mount of Olives where Christ had finally ascended to Heaven forty days after His Glorious Resurrection.

St Helen took part of the Life-giving Wood and nails with her to Constantinople, and Emperor Constantine had ordered a majestic and spacious church to be constructed over the entire Holy Site in honour of the Passion and Glorious Resurrection of Christ, which included Golgotha, the stone slab of the Unnailing, the Holy Tomb of the Resurrection and the cave wherein in the crosses were hidden.

18. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) The Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ our Lord & Saviour 14 September 2011

The great Temple of the Resurrection was constructed in approximately ten years.

Sadly, in 327, St Helen reposed in peace before the Consecration of the Holy Church of the Resurrection, which was celebrated on 13 September, 335.

The following day, 14 September 335, the Festal Celebration of the Exaltation of the Venerable and Life-giving Holy Cross was established.

Another memorable Event connected to the Holy Cross of our Lord is also commemorated today.

Having been in the possession of the Persians for fourteen years, the Precious Holy Cross was returned to the Holy Church in Jerusalem on 14 September.

During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Phocas (602-610) the Persian Emperor Khozroes II - in a war against the Greeks - had defeated the Greek army, plundered Jerusalem and seized the Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and had also captured the Holy Patriarch, Zachariah (609-633).

After Emperor Heraclius (610-641), who by the Grace of God had defeated Khozroes and made peace with his successor and son, Syroes, the Holy Cross was returned to the Christians.

With great solemnity the Precious Holy Cross was transferred to Jerusalem whereupon Emperor Heraclius, adorned in his elaborate Imperial Crown

and Royal Purple Robes carried the Cross of Christ into the Holy Temple of the Resurrection, accompanied by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zacharias.

At the gates at the foot of the steps leading upwards to Golgotha, the Emperor suddenly unable to proceed another step further!

Patriarch Zacharias, perceiving the cause of his obstruction, quietly explained to the Emperor that an Angel of our Lord was blocking his way and that he was to remove all his luxurious Royal Vestments, including his shoes.

Then, wearing the simplest, most modest of clothing and walking barefoot, the great Emperor was able without further hindrance to ascend the steps, since Christ Who had borne that very same Cross for the Salvation of the entire world had made His way to Golgotha in absolute Humility.

In a Sermon on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Life-giving Cross of Christ, St Andrew of Crete stated: "The Cross is exalted, and everything True

gathers together! The Cross is exalted, and the

city makes solemn, and the people celebrate the

Feast." ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AMERICA – THE UNIVERSAL

EXALTATION OF THE PRECIOUS LIFE-GIVING CROSS – WWW.OCA.ORG

T h e T h e T h e T h e W a y W a y W a y W a y o f t h e H o l y C r o s s o f Co f t h e H o l y C r o s s o f Co f t h e H o l y C r o s s o f Co f t h e H o l y C r o s s o f C h r i s th r i s th r i s th r i s t The “killing of a dragon” by the Sword of God is a type of

the Victory of the Cross over Satan. The Cross is the Weapon of God: it is His Sword. It is the

most powerful Weapon in the Universe because it is made in the Image and Likeness of Christ: it is made out of Humility and Meekness.

The Cross of Christ is offered to us as an indestructible Weapon. However, it will be our Weapon only insofar as it becomes our own Cross. That is to say, insofar as we clothe ourselves in the Humility and Meekness of Christ.

If we do not know how to do it yet, then the Liturgical Texts of today will give us the answer.

The Holy Cross of Christ is composed of three types of

wood: Cypress, Cedar, and Pine. The Cypress is a tall tree in the shape of a sword,

growing mainly in the Mediterranean world where its shade protects us from the blazing heat of the sun.

It also protects us from the wind, and when the wind blows, it moves like a willow and it sings like those who mourn and weep.

The Cypress tree represents Compassion. Like a Cypress, Compassion offers protection to those in

need. And like a Cypress, Compassion makes us care for those around us, by sharing in their sufferings and afflictions.

Compassion is our Spiritual Sword. It is both defensive and offensive, like the Fiery Sword at the Gates of the Garden of Eden.

To evil deeds we respond with acts of Compassion. And each act of Compassion that we do in a day will repel evil.

The Cedar is well-known for its qualities of resistance to all types of weather. It is particularly resistant to rot and decay. Moreover, it is aromatic: it smells wonderfully pleasant.

The Cedar tree represents Faith. Faith is the sweet-smelling incense we offer to God Who

in return sends upon us His Holy Spirit. Faith is our Spiritual Shield against all enemies: it

protects us from corruption, rot and decay in all circumstances of afflictions and tribulations.

The pine is a soft wood. It is a very simple wood. If it is not cared for, it rots easily.

It is commonly used for building shelters and houses and, as a veneer, it creates beauty.

The Pine tree represents charity. Like the Pine, Charity is soft and tender. It is simple:

Charity repels fear and anxiety, and through Charity Truth and Sincerity flourish.

But if Charity is not kept active through deeds of Love, like the Pine it rots easily.

Charity is our Spiritual Helmet. It is that which crowns our Spiritual Weaponry and Armour with beauty.

Being protected by the Helmet of Charity, the Shield of Faith and the Sword of Compassion, Humility and Meekness will grow in us like the vine that is protected from the weeds and the beasts by a strong fence.

We are like the strong City of Isaiah - a city surrounded by walls: Satan will not hurt us, unless we allow him to do so.

Being constantly Spiritually Watchful is like putting a sentinel on our city walls to spy on the enemy.

It is knowing our weaknesses. It is strengthening the weak places in us through which the enemy may invade. It is fixing the weak links in our fences.

There are usually two types of temptations that threaten us.

If we do not prevent future damage, we will die! The first temptation is discouragement. We are tempted

to give up our Spiritual Struggle. This is because we expect to see results, which is caused

by some form of self-esteem - that is self-love. It drags us into despondency, which is Spiritual Death. The second temptation is being overly self-confident,

trusting too much in our own strength and forgetting that the necessary Spiritual Weapons are God’s Weapons, not ours.

This fosters pride, and when something wrong happens — and it happens all the time — we become despondent, which is Spiritual Death.

This is ceaseless Spiritual Warfare. We have three invincible Spiritual Weapons:

Compassion, Faith and Charity (Love).

The material goods of the world wear out when they are used.

On the contrary, Compassion, Faith and Love become more and more efficient the more we

use them. Ever eaten, never consumed — as the Priest says while

dividing the Holy Body of Christ before Communion. Next to these three weapons, you have two tireless

Sentinels: Fasting and Prayer. Fasting will strengthen Endurance, Patience, and

Vigilance.

Prayer will strengthen the Presence of God.

Fasting and Prayer together will keep away the

enemy! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS” BY FATHER ROMAN OF

ST VLADIMIR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

http://halifaxorthodox.org/sermon15.html

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

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 14 th Sunday After Pentecost –After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – 18 September 2011 19.

Archdiocese o f Good HArchdiocese o f Good HArchdiocese o f Good HArchdiocese o f Good Hopeopeopeope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together wi th all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

18 Sep tember 2011 18 Sep tember 2011 18 Sep tember 2011 18 Sep tember 2011

14141414 t ht ht ht h Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (5 ) Plagal Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (5 ) Plagal Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (5 ) Plagal Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (5 ) Plagal

Also the Feast of St Evmenios of Gortyna – St Ariadne of Phrygia – St Sophia of Egypt – St Irene of Egypt – St Castor of Egypt – St Bidzina, Great Martyr & Prince of Georgia – St Elizibar & St Shalva of Georgia –

St Euphrosyne of Suzdal – St Hilarion of Optina Monastery – Translation of the Holy Icon “Staro Rus” of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos in Triumph to Russia - The Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos “The Healer”

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Resur r e c t i on - T one

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek

Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen,

Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin

en to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous

tethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.

The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a Virgin, let us Faithful believers hymn and adore. For it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.

A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e E x a l t a t i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s

Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou, ke Evlogison tin Klironomian

Sou, Nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron doroumenos,

ke to son Filatton, dia tou Stavrou Sou Politefma. [3]

O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance, granting Victory over enemies unto our Rulers and through Thy Cross preserving Thine Estate [3]

K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E x a l t a t i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s

O Ipsothis en to Stavro ekousios, ti eponimo Sou keni

politia, tous iktirmous Sou Dorise, Hriste O Theos.

Evfranon en ti Dinami Sou, tous Pistous Vasilis imon,

Nikas horigon aftis, kata ton polemion. Tin

sinmmahian ehien tin Sin, Oplon Irinis, Aittiton

Tropeon.

Thou Who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily, on Thy new Commonwealth that bears Thy Name, do Thou bestow Thy Mercies, O Christ our God; gladden in Thy mighty Strength, our Faithful Rulers, granting to them Victories, against all the enemies, and may Thy Help in battle be for them, a Weapon of Peace, and Banner Invincible!

M a t i n s R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 3 : M a t i n s R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 3 : M a t i n s R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 3 : M a t i n s R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 3 : M a r k 1 6 : 9 M a r k 1 6 : 9 M a r k 1 6 : 9 M a r k 1 6 : 9 ---- 2 02 02 02 0 The R i sen Chr i s t Appear s T o H i s Apos t l es & D i s c i p les B e f ore H i s Ascens i on


How manifold art Thy Works, O Lord! Thou hast created them all in Wisdom.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 2 : 1 6 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 2 : 1 6 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 2 : 1 6 T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 2 : 1 6 –––– 2 02 02 02 0

T h e S o u r c e o f F a i t h i s o u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t

Brethren: we know that we are not Justified by the Works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ. We have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be Justified by Faith in Christ and not by the Works of the Law, because by the Works of the Law no one shall be Justified.

But if - while we seek to be Justified by Christ - we ourselves are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore a Minister of sin? Certainly not!

For if I build again those things that I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I – through the Law – died to the Law so that I might live to God.

I have been crucified with Christ – it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the Life that I now live in the flesh, I live by Faith in the Son of God, Who Loved me and gave Himself for me.

E Justification & the New Covenant: When orthodox Christians approach the Doctrine

(TEACHING) of Salvation, the discussion centres around THE NEW COVENANT.

JUSTIFICATION - BEING OR BECOMING RIGHTEOUS – BY

FAITH IN GOD IS PART OF BEING BROUGHT INTO A HOLY

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

While Israel was under the Old Covenant, in which Salvation came through Faith as revealed in the Law, THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS UNDER THE NEW COVENANT AND SALVATION COMES THROUGH OUR FAITH

IN CHRIST WHO FULFILS THE OLD COVENANT LAW. WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN

US, LEADING US TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE

FATHER. Rather than Justification as a legal acquittal before God,

Orthodox Faithful see Justification by Faith as A HOLY COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, CENTRED IN

OUR UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS. (ROMANS 6:1 – 6)

E Justification and God’s Mercy: Orthodoxy emphasises IT IS FIRST GOD’S MERCY – NOT

OUR FAITH – THAT SAVES US: “... having been Justified by Faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom

also we have access by Faith to this Divine

Grace in which we stand, and rejoice in Hope

of the Glory of God.” (ROMANS 5:1-2) IT IS GOD WHO INITIATES OR MAKES THE NEW COVENANT IN

US.

E Justification by Faith is Dynamic, not Static:

For Orthodox Christians, FAITH IS LIVING, DYNAMIC AND CONTINUOUS. It is never static nor merely “point in time.”

Faith is not something a Christian exercises only at one critical moment, expecting it to cover all the rest of his or her life.

TRUE FAITH IS not just a decision – it is A WAY OF LIFE! Thus, the Orthodox Christian sees Salvation in at least

three aspects: 1. I HAVE BEEN SAVED, being Joined to Christ

in Holy Baptism 2. I AM BEING SAVED, by growing in Christ

through the Sacramental Life – the Holy Mysteries – of the Holy Church

20. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 14 th Sunday After Pentecost –After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – 18 September 2011

3. I WILL BE SAVED, by the Great Mercy and Love of God at the Final Judgement on the Eighth Day – the beginning of Eternity.

Justification by Faith, although not the major New Testament Doctrine for Orthodox Christians as it is for Protestants, poses no problem.

However, Justification by Faith ALONE is

unacceptable because it contradicts Holy Scripture that states: “... mankind is Justified by

Works, and not by Faith only...” (JAMES 2:24)

We are “... Justified by Faith apart from the deeds of the Law...” but NOWHERE DOES HOLY SCRIPTURE PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED “... by Faith

alone!” (ROMANS 3:28) On the contrary, “... Faith by itself – if it does not have Works – is dead!” (James 2:17)

As Christians we are no longer under the demands of the Old Covenant Law, for Christ has fulfilled the Law. (ROMANS 3:20 – GALATIANS 2:21; 3:5 & 24)

BY GOD’S GREAT MERCY, WE ARE BROUGHT INTO A NEW

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM and those who believe are granted Entrance into His Eternal Kingdom by His Divine Grace.

THROUGH GOD’S MERCY WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AND

EMPOWERED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH THE

GOD THE SON, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE

FATHER FOR GOOD WORKS OR GOOD DEEDS OF

RIGHTEOUS THAT BRING GLORY TO HIM.

“Faith in Jesus Christ” is grammatically parallel to the “Works of the Law” and should be translated “the Faith of Jesus Christ,” which is THE HOLY GOSPEL.

AS THE SOURCE OF WORKS IS THE LAW, SO THE SOURCE OF

FAITH IS CHRIST and it is THE FAITH OF CHRIST – HIS BELIEFS, HIS TEACHING, HIS TRUST, HIS OBEDIENCE –

THAT JUSTIFIES US and not our Faith as such.

CHRIST’S FAITH IS SEEN IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE ON EARTH – not in only a few of His crucial Works or Miracles.

The term “by Christ” should be “IN Christ.” JUSTIFICATION IS not merely legal but ACTUAL – effected

by our real, personal Union with Christ in His Glorified human Nature.

The fact that we could be “found to be sinners,” shows THIS HOLY UNION NEVER TAKES AWAY OUR FREE WILL and explains how some early Christians defected to Judaism.

“Those things that I destroyed” are THE WORKS OF THE LAW, WHICH ST PAUL “DESTROYED” BY PROVING THEIR

INEFFECTIVENESS FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. The real transgressor is one who tries to reinstitute the

Old Covenant Jewish Law. We die ”...through the Law,” not bypassing or

dishonouring it, but BY RECOGNISING THAT IT IS HOLY – THAT WE DESERVE ITS CONSEQUENCE, WHICH IS

DEATH!

We voluntarily die “...to the Law” through our death with Christ – THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM.

Being “crucified” with Christ through our Holy Baptism, WE COME ALIVE TO THE LAW OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which Perfects the intention of the Old Covenant Law.

There is no contradiction between Divine Law and the Holy Gospel of God.

THE LAW IS “...Holy and Just and Good,” yet it is “weak” and “obsolete,” for it is FULFILLED IN THE HOLY GOSPEL IN CHRIST HIMSELF. (ROMANS 7:12 – ROMANS 8:3 – HEBREWS 8:13)

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 8 : 3 4 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 8 : 3 4 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 8 : 3 4 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t M a r k 8 : 3 4 ---- 9 : 19 : 19 : 19 : 1 F o l l o w i n g C h r i s t o u r L o r d

At that time when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His Disciples also, He said to them: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save

his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will Save it.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul! Or what will a man give

in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful

generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the Glory of His Father with

the Holy Angels.”

And He said to them; “Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God present with Power!”

] THE CROSS was the most dreaded instrument of Roman punishment, used to execute the worst type of criminals and enemies of the Roman Empire.

However, IT HAS BECOME A GREAT SIGN OF ETERNAL VICTORY OVER EVIL and SYMBOLIC OF THE EXTREME SUFFERING OF CHRIST AND HIS VOLUNTARY, SUPREME

AND FINAL BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF THE

SALVATION OF ALL HUMANITY THROUGHOUT ALL AGES.

] Thus THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST – “THE EMPTY CROSS” – SYMBOLISES FOR ALL FAITHFUL

CHRISTIANS THE ALL POWERFUL MIGHT OF GOD,

OUR RESURRECTION ON THE DAY OF THE FINAL

JUDGEMENT AND ALSO THE HOLY MARTYRDOM OF

THOSE WHO SUFFER FOR THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTION

TO CHRIST OUR LORD.

] WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LOVE OF GOD AND HIS HOLY GOSPEL.

Correct and essential self-denial is neither a punishment nor an end in itself but A MEANS OF RESISTING AND OVERCOMING OUR WEAKNESS AND

TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH – the temptations of this fallen world THAT DRAW US AWAY FROM GOD AND ALL HIS DIVINE GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS.

Self-denial of physical desires and Spiritual Temptations MAKES US STRONGER AND MORE

SPIRITUAL BEINGS for the sake of Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Through Self-denial, WE TRAIN OUR IMMORTAL SOULS TO DOMINATE OUR WEAK, DEMANDING FLESH – our physical bodies – so that we may rise to greater Spiritual Heights and SLOWLY BECOME FITTING, WORTHY CITIZENS OF GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM OF

LOVE. By taking up our personal Crosses, we accept our

Sacred Calling and Mission by accepting life’s pains

and sufferings without complaint, and fulfilling all our commitments to the best of our ability, confident in the Knowledge that by Divine Grace we will accomplish even the most impossible deeds for the benefit of others as well as ourselves.

] From our Holy Baptism and Chrismation until we draw our last breath on earth, WE CRUCIFY OUR FLESH – our physical desires and demands - THROUGH CONTINUOUS WATCHFULNESS, SELF-EXAMINATIONS AND CORRECTIONS –

REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION, FOLLOWED BY HOLY

EUCHARIST/COMMUNION. In this manner, WE BECOME SANCTIFIED – MADE HOLY –

THROUGH OUR GROWING AND MATURING RELATIONSHIP

WITH GOD.

SPIRITUAL PROGRESS REQUIRES DAILY PRAYERS,

CONTEMPLATION, WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING by means of THE GUIDANCE OF OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND OUR FAITHFUL LIFE IN CHRIST – by OBEDIENTLY FULFILLING ALL REQUIREMENTS

ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER,

THROUGH GOD THE SON, BEING ENABLED BY GOD THE

HOLY SPIRIT. The central paradox of Life in Christ or Christian living

is that IN GRASPING FOR TEMPORAL THINGS – WORLDLY THINGS – WE LOSE THE PRICELESS ETERNAL THINGS that are essential for Eternal Life.

However, BY SACRIFICING EVERYTHING OF THIS TEMPORARY WORLD, WE GAIN ETERNAL RICHES that are far beyond our understanding or imagination.

� 1 Cor i n t h i an s 2 : 9 “... it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into

the heart of mankind the Things that God

has prepared for those who Love Him!’”

The vital question: “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” emphasises THE UTTER

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 14 th Sunday After Pentecost –After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – 18 September 2011 21.

FOOLISHNESS OF TRYING TO ACCUMULATE WORLDLY

WEALTH AND POWER, OR BY GAINING THE USELESS

FLATTERY, DECEPTIVE GLORY AND FALSE HONOUR OF

HUMAN SOCIETY – FOR NONE OF THESE CAN REDEEM OUR

FALLEN SOUL, NOR BENEFIT US IN ETERNITY!

Furthermore, TO EXCHANGE OUR IMMORTAL SOULS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MERELY TEMPORARY, FLEETING AND

OF NO ETERNAL VALUE, IS TOTALLY STUPID AND

SENSELESSLY, DEVASTATINGLY RECKLESS!

] When Christ said: “...there are some standing here who will not taste death until they

see the Kingdom of God present with

Power...” HE WAS REFERRING TO THE THREE OF HIS HOLY APOSTLES WHO WOULD ACCOMPANY HIM

TO MOUNT TABOR WHERE THEY WOULD WITNESS HIS

GLORIOUS TRANSFIGURATION. St Peter, St John and St James actually saw our Lord

Jesus Christ in all His Glory as the Eternal Son of God, which enabled them to understand the Reason, Purpose and Truth of His Passion, His Death on the Cross and His Glorious Resurrection, followed by His Ascension into Heaven.

THOSE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALSO REFERRED

TO OTHERS OF EVERY GENERATION TO COME WHO WILL

EXPERIENCE THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD’S ETERNAL

AND HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

F a i t h i n C h r i s t , N o t i n W o r k sF a i t h i n C h r i s t , N o t i n W o r k sF a i t h i n C h r i s t , N o t i n W o r k sF a i t h i n C h r i s t , N o t i n W o r k s Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews

Sermon delivered September 21, 2008 There is a story about a Monk who despaired of the

Cross God had given him and complained of it constantly.

God finally relented and offered him a chance to select a different Cross.

He led the Monk into a room filled with several Crosses from which to pick.

The Monk was appalled at what he saw: huge Crosses, bloody Crosses, Crosses with nails.

He wandered through the room and finally spied a lovely small silver Cross tucked away in a corner.

He picked this Cross and held it up saying, "I'll take this

Cross!" God simply replied, "That is the Cross you already

had!"

We should ask ourselves: Do I embrace the Cross God has given me? Or do I try to take my Salvation - or as St. Paul says, my Justification - into my own hands?

Am I trying to get to Heaven without God's Help or Guidance?

In today's Gospel Lesson our Lord Jesus says: "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross and

follow Me" Like the Monk we may not want the Cross we've been

given, or we may think we know a better way than the Way our Lord Jesus is leading us.

This relates to St. Paul's words from today's Epistle Lesson where he says: "A man is not Justified by the Works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus

Christ" (GALATIANS 2:16-20) Let us take a closer look at this verse. Whenever we hear the word "Justify" in Holy Scripture,

we should think of the more accurate translation "Righteous."

So to be Justified is to be made Righteous, which means to act in an upright, moral, virtuous way.

When we hear "Works of the Law" we should think of the Mosaic Law, the Tablets of the Law given to Moses by God. (EXODUS 20FF).

This Law gave Commandments for life that instructed the Israelites on how to relate to God and to each other.

This Law revealed the difference between good and evil and functioned as a tutor that would lead them to the Messiah—Jesus Christ. (GALATIANS 3:24).

In this particular verse "Faith in Christ" should be translated "Faith of Christ."

The Faith of Christ is the absolute Trust and Obedience our Lord Jesus placed in God the Father, which He demonstrated throughout His Life, especially leading up to and including His Crucifixion and Death.

Reflected in many of his Epistles, St. Paul addressed the problem of Judaizers in the early Church.

Judaizers were those Christians who demanded that new followers of Christ must be circumcised and follow the strict Jewish Dietary Laws.

So how does all of the above relate to us more than 2,000 years later?

We no longer have the problem of Judaizers but we still have the problem of people thinking that their

“Righteousness” apart from Christ can do them good.

How often do we think, "I did a good deed yesterday, I

don't need to pray today; I went to Liturgy last

week, I can probably skip Liturgy this week; I

Confess to God in my personal Prayer, I don't need

to go to the Sacrament of Confession with the

Priest; I received Holy Communion last year during

Holy Week so I'm all set until next year."

Even worse may be: "I did something good for

someone or I attended Liturgy or I received

Communion, so now I can sin a little bit. I deserve

it or I earned it."

That is how too many people approach dieting or Fasting.

Unfortunately, what we're doing is taking our

Spiritual Life into our own hands instead of

placing our trust in the Lord.

In order to be made Righteous by the Faith of

Christ, we must seek to imitate as best we can,

the absolute trust in and Obedience towards

God the Father. Bargaining with God using our righteous actions as

leverage is making the same mistake that the ancient Judaizers did: Placing our faith in our works rather than in God.

To think or try to become Righteous before God

in order to get to Heaven without living in the

Life of His Church, the Body of Christ, is to be

ashamed of Christ and His Words! (MARK 8:38). The Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow,

who lived in the 19th century, expresses the attitude and disposition we should have towards God:

“O God, grant me to greet the coming day in Peace.

Help in all things

to rely upon Thy Holy Will.

In every hour of the day

reveal Thy Will to me.

Bless my dealings

with all who surround me

and teach me

to treat all who come to me throughout the day

with peace of soul and firm conviction

that Thy Will governs all things.

In all my words and deeds

guide my thoughts and feelings.

In unforeseen events

let me not forget

that all things are under Thy Care.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely

without embittering or embarrassing others.

Grant me Strength

to bear the fatigue of the coming day

with all that it shall bring.

Direct my will,

teach me to pray,

pray Thyself in me.

Amen”

Hopefully, we can now understand better that ä to lose our life for Christ and the Gospel

is expressed when we deny ourselves from what we want or what we think is best

22. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 14 th Sunday After Pentecost –After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – 18 September 2011

ä That taking up our Cross is to be crucified with Christ.

ä And finally, that to place our complete trust in God is to have the faith of Christ. (Mark 8:34-35).

Thus, most profoundly: "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (GALATIANS 2:20).

FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS IS THE PASTOR OF ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. FR. ANDREWS IS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF MINNESOTA EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CLERGY ASSOCIATION (MEOCCA), AND A VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN WITH THE ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles8/andrews-faith-in-

christ-not-in-works.php

G l o r y t o G o d f o r A l l T h i n g s G l o r y t o G o d f o r A l l T h i n g s G l o r y t o G o d f o r A l l T h i n g s G l o r y t o G o d f o r A l l T h i n g s ---- T h e C r o s s & t h e C o s m o sT h e C r o s s & t h e C o s m o sT h e C r o s s & t h e C o s m o sT h e C r o s s & t h e C o s m o s During this Afterfeast of the Holy Cross it seems

worthwhile to continue with thoughts on the Instrument of our Salvation.

In a short work, The Beginning of the

Day, (I believe it was a special printing and is not generally available), Metropolitan Kallistos Ware notes this about the Cross and its connection with the whole of Creation:

“…[The] created order in its entirety

participated in the Savior’s

Passion: the earth shook, the rocks were split, the whole cosmos shuddered (MATTHEW.

27:51)

“In the words of St Ephrem the Syrian, ‘humans were silent, so the stones cried out’.

“As the old English poem ‘The Dream of the Rood’ expresses it: ‘All creation wept.’

“This all embracing participation in the Death of God incarnate is memorably expressed in the Praises or Enkomia sung in the evening of Good Friday or early in the morning on Holy Saturday: ‘Come, and with the whole creation let us

offer a funeral hymn to the Creator.’

“‘The whole earth quaked with fear, O Lord, and the Daystar hid its rays, when Thy great Light

was hidden in the earth.’

“‘The sun and moon grew dark together, O

Saviour, like faithful servants clothed in black

robes of mourning.’

“‘O hills and valleys’, exclaims the Holy Virgin, ‘the multitude of mankind and all creation, weep

and lament with me, the Mother of God.’ “Most remarkably of all in what is truly an amazing

statement, it is affirmed: ’the whole Creation was altered by Thy Passion: for all things suffered

with Thee, knowing, O Lord, that Thou holdest

all in unity.’ “Do we reflect sufficiently, I wonder, upon the

environmental implications of our Lord’s Incarnation - upon the way in which our Lord Jesus is ecologically inclusive, embedded in the soil like us, containing within His Humanity what has been termed ‘the whole evolving earth story’?

“Do we allow properly for the fact that our Saviour came to Redeem, not only the human race, but

the fullness of Creation?

“Do we keep constantly in mind that we are not Saved from but with the world?”

In such a fashion St. Paul can say that the “...world is crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Frequently our own thoughts about the Things of God are too restricted, too limited. The Cross is diminished to an execution role in a very narrow atonement theory - the Incarnation reduced to a stage entrance. These Great Mysteries of God -

manifest among us - are the Gate

and Ladder, the Entrance into

the Kingdom of God and

Kingdom of God’s Entrance into

our world.

This is true not only of the Cross of Golgotha, but ultimately in every

Cross that participates in its reality. A believer’s making of the Sign of the Cross, with

Faith, participates in this Reality (and so the

demons flee).

Christ has promised that we would have Life

“more abundant.” By this is not meant that we will be rich or have more

material things (for these are not the True Life). But the Kingdom is an endless abundance that

enters our heart and world, shattering the

narrowness of opaque minds and opening to

us the Fullness of Life in Christ.

The Reality presented to us in the Cross (as with all Things of God) is never comprehended in rational theory.

It pushes us beyond the limits of our own poorly

defined rationality and towards the greater

rationality of the Truth of Things.

As noted by St. Gregory of Nyssa: “...only wonder grasps anything.”

To approach the Cross with wonder is to begin the

Journey that it makes possible.

The Life that we refer to as Salvation belongs to

this world of wonder – despite the banalities of much Christian conversation on the topic.

It is not surprising that Silence is among the most important Tools in our Spiritual Life.

O, Sweet Wonder! FATHER STEPHEN’S BLOG OF 17 SEPTEMBER 2010 “THE CROSS & THE COSMOS”

THIS IS A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BLOGSITE, WHICH HAS MANY PROFOUND

TEACHINGS, COMMENTARIES AND QUOTATIONS – TRUE SPIRITUAL

NOURISHMENT FOR THE SERIOUS ORTHODOX DISCIPLE

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/09/

A b b a A mm o n a s A b b a A mm o n a s A b b a A mm o n a s A b b a A mm o n a s –––– O n L o v eO n L o v eO n L o v eO n L o v e "Love never hates anyone, never reproves anyone, never condemns anyone, never grieves anyone, never abhors anyone

- neither faithful nor infidel nor stranger nor sinner nor fornicator, nor anyone impure -but instead it is precisely sinners, and weak and negligent souls that it Loves more, and feels pain for them and grieves and laments.

Love feels sympathy for the wicked and sinners, more than for the good - imitating Christ Who called sinners, and ate and drank with them. For this reason, showing what real Love is, He taught us by saying, `Become good and merciful like your Father in Heaven,' and as God rains on bad and good and makes the sun to rise on the Just and unjust alike, so also the one who has real Love has compassion, and prays for everyone."

S t . N i c o d e m o s o f t h e H o l y M o u n t a i nS t . N i c o d e m o s o f t h e H o l y M o u n t a i nS t . N i c o d e m o s o f t h e H o l y M o u n t a i nS t . N i c o d e m o s o f t h e H o l y M o u n t a i n

Fear of torment is the way of a slave, desire of Reward in the Heavenly Kingdom is the way of a hireling,

but God's Way is that of a son, through Love.

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) T h e C o n c e p t i o n o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t – 2 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 1 23.


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.


ConcepConcepConcepConcep t ion o f S t John the Bapt i s t & Forerunnert ion o f S t John the Bapt i s t & Forerunnert ion o f S t John the Bapt i s t & Forerunnert ion o f S t John the Bapt i s t & Forerunner

Also the Feast of St Rhais (iraida) of Alexandria – St Xanthippe & St Polyxene of Spain – St Nicholas the New Martyr – St John the New Martyr of Epiros – St Andrew, St Peter, St Antoninos & St John of Syracuse - the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Slovenka

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e C oncep t ion o f S t J ohn t he Bap t i s t – T one 4

I proin ou tiktousa, stira efranthiti. Idou gar sinelaves

Iliou lihnon safos, fotizin ton mellonta, pasan tin

ikoumenin, avlepsia nosousan. Horeve Zaharia,

ekvoon parrisia: Profitis tou Ipsistou, estin O Mellon

tiktesthe!

Rejoice, O Barren One, who had not given birth; for

behold Thou hast conceived clearly the one who is the Dawn of the Sun Who was about to Illuminate the whole Universe, blighted with blindness. Shout with Joy, O Zacharias, crying in favour: Verily, the one to be born is a Prophet of the High!


Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton

Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon

fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon,

ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke

spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton

timonton se.

O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation

to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!

T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 4 : 2 2T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 4 : 2 2T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 4 : 2 2T h e E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e G a l a t i a n s 4 : 2 2 ---- 2 72 72 72 7 L ike I saac , J ohn Was A Ch i l d O f P r omise , Bo rn T o Bar ren Pa ren t s In T he i r O l d Age

Brethren, it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through Promise, which things are symbolic.

For these are the two Covenants: the one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar - for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children - but the Jerusalem Above is free, which is the Mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren - You who do not bear! Break forth and shout - You who are not in labour! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”

Now we, Brethren, as Isaac was, are Children of Promise. But, as he was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be Heir with the son of the freewoman.”

So then, Brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the Free.

By saying that Abraham’s two sons and related events are symbolic St Paul was not implying that they are not historical facts. He asserted or confirmed that OLD COVENANT HISTORY IS ANNOUNCING SOMETHING FAR

GREATER THAN ITSELF.

“Hagar” and “Mount Sinai” symbolise earthly Jerusalem and the Hebrew who was under the Law of God – THE OLD COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND, THE DIVINE

PURPOSE OF WHICH WAS TO PREPARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE

– ISRAEL – FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH – the Incarnation of the Son of God, Who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Being enslaved to others and bearing an illegitimate child, Hagar also represented those who were outside the Holy Covenant with God – the Gentiles and/or pagans who were enslaved by sin – either wilfully or involuntarily.

Sarah, a free woman who was (legally) married according to the Old Covenant and in the Sight of God, symbolised the Heavenly Jerusalem - the Holy Church of Christ and the New Covenant with God – which is a natural continuation of our human Spiritual Progress towards Eternity.

BY CONTINUOUSLY REPENTING OUR SINS AND LEARNING TO

AVOID TEMPTATIONS, WE FAITHFULLY FOLLOW AND IMITATE

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS TAUGHT US DIVINE

TRUTH, WHICH ENABLES US TO SLOWLY REGAIN OUR

LIKENESS TO GOD AND THUS BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS IN HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE.

“The desolate” are those in the Church, especially the Gentiles - the Christians – many of whom had formerly stumbled about in Spiritual Darkness until their

conversion to the Divine Truth and Enlightenment of Christ’s Holy Gospel.

“She who has a husband” refers to (old) Israel - the Hebrew nation.

Sarah was a type of Mary, the Ever Blessed Theotokos, because Sarah’s son Isaac was born through a “Promise” - God’s Promise - the announcement of which was delivered to her by an Angel of God – most probably ARCHANGEL GABRIEL WHO ALWAYS ANNOUNCES GOD’S GOOD NEWS TO US THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

St John Chrysostom wrote that Isaac “...was the issue of

bodies that were dead, and of a womb that was

dead. His conception was not by the flesh, nor his

birth by the seed, for the womb was dead both

through age and barrenness. But the Word of God

fashioned him ... He who was not according to

the flesh was more honourable than he that was

born after the flesh. Therefore let it not disturb you

that you were not born after the flesh. For from

the very reason that you are not so born, you are

most of all Abraham’s Kindred.” THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION, WE HAVE

BECOME THE ADOPTED HEIRS TO GOD’S HEAVENLY

KINGDOM – WE ARE THE NEW ISRAEL – THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD.

A “bondwoman” was a slave who may have been captured as a “spoil of battle” when the victorious armies took possession of whatever they wanted from those they had killed or defeated.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WERE ENSLAVED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF

AN UNPAYABLE DEBT OWED TO SOMEONE ELSE.

24. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) T h e C o n c e p t i o n o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t – 2 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 1

NO ONLY THE DEBTOR BUT THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY WOULD BE

ENSLAVED BY THOSE TO WHOM THE DEBT WAS OWED AND

THEY COULD BE SOLD TO OTHERS OR WORK FOR THE

CREDITOR UNTIL THE DEBT HAD BEEN PAID.

SLAVES HAD NO RIGHTS and could be bought or sold, taken or left behind. They were regarded as being less important than the livestock and were barely more significant than mere household utensils.

Women, generally, existed according to the will and desires of men, who seldom treated them with equal respect, mercy or kindness.

Even the role of the so-called “freewomen” was to serve the male population, to bear and nurture children for the next generation, while taking care of all the household duties and the much valued livestock.

Women were expected to anticipate and to fulfil all requirements of the male population, without disturbing or interfering with their enjoyment of life.

Women would never dare to speak directly to any man unless they were addressed first. Then, with the permission of a male relative, perhaps they would be

allowed to respond, but usually everything would be addressed through a male relative.

It was most dangerous in so many aspects for any woman to be seen conversing with a man in public, unless she was in the strict custody of a male relative.

JESUS CHRIST “LIBERATED” WOMEN, INSTRUCTING MEN TO

LOVE THEIR WIVES AND SONS TO RESPECT THEIR MOTHERS.

He spoke to women publicly and openly, allowing them to sit and listen to what He had to say.

When He taught us to “Love thy neighbour as thyself” He meant that each of us was to TREAT EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE EXACT SAME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND RESPECT

THAT HE GRANTED TO ALL OF US - REGARDLESS OF

NATIONALITY, GENDER OR FAITH!

JESUS CHRIST MADE EVERY WOMAN A TRULY “FREEWOMAN”

THROUGH HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS, LOVE, GRACE, GIFTS,

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND HEAVENLY PROMISE.

ST PAUL CONTINUOUSLY REMINDED ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS

OF OUR TRUE FREEDOM IN CHRIST JESUS – THE TRUE

FREEDOM OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE/AGAPE.

TTTT h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 : 5 h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 : 5 h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 : 5 h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 1 : 5 ---- 2 52 52 52 5 S t John ’ s Appr oach ing B i r t h Is Announced T o H i s Fa t her , Zachar i as

At that time, there was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both Righteous before God, walking blameless in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as Priest before God in the Order of his Division, according to the custom of the Priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the Hour of incense.

Then an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your Prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have Joy and Gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

“And he will turn many of the Children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just, to make ready a People prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the Angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the Angel answered and said to him: “ I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God, and was sent to speak to

you and bring you these Glad Tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he lingered so long in the Temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months saying, “Thus has the Lord dealt with

me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

ST LUKE WAS THE ONLY EVANGELIST WHO PROVIDED

INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF ST JOHN

THE BAPTIST, FORERUNNER TO JESUS CHRIST.

St Zacharias and St Elizabeth were a Righteous couple of a Priestly Lineage, living always to fulfil God’s Will.

St Elizabeth, like other women of the Old Covenant, such as Sarah, Rebecca, Hannah and others, was barren – and beyond the age or possibility of child-bearing. And since she had been unable to produce any living children, she was socially disgraced because in those times infertility was unacceptable - it was a “reproach

among people.” Each Priest who served at the Holy Temple was assigned to

a specific division of the Temple. There were 24 Divisions in all and each Priest served a week at a time by rotation. The responsibilities of the Priests in each Division were decided by lot.

ST ZACHARIAS HAD OFTEN PRAYED FOR A SON AND NOW,

FINALLY, IN HIS LATE YEARS OF LIFE, HIS PRAYERS WERE

ANSWERED – AS ALWAYS, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

ALONE AND FOR HIS DIVINE PURPOSE, which we seldom understand until much later – or quite often, never understand!

The Archangel Gabriel, the Bearer of Good News, promised, on behalf of God, that St Zacharias and St Elizabeth

would have a son who must be named “John,” which means “the Grace of God.”

ARCHANGEL GABRIEL DESCRIBED THE CHARACTER AND ROLE OF

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

v HE WOULD LIVE AN ASCETIC LIFE AS A PROPHET v HE WOULD PREPARE THE JEWISH NATION FOR THE

COMING OF THE MESSIAH.

ST ELIJAH WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PROPHETS OF ISRAEL and

HE WAS EXPECTED TO REAPPEAR from Heaven in order TO ANOINT THE MESSIAH.

ST ZACHARIAS INDICATED A LACK OF FAITH IN GOD BY

QUESTIONING what Archangel Gabriel announced. When Abram had heard God’s Promise of a son announced

by the Angel, “he believed in the Lord” - without any hesitation or doubt, with total trust and Faith in the Lord.

However, ST ZACHARIAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR HIS UNBELIEF by losing his ability to speak until eight days after the birth of his son, John.

THIS PUNISHMENT OF ST ZACHARIAS ALSO A SIGN AND

CONFIRMATION OF THE TRUTH of Archangel Gabriel’s Announcement of the Forerunner to Christ our Saviour and the last but greatest of all the Old Covenant Prophets of God.

S t . G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t . G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t . G r e g o r y P a l a m a sS t . G r e g o r y P a l a m a s St John the Forerunner and Baptist did not merely, in

the words of the Scripture, ‘choose the good before knowing evil,’ but while yet unborn - before knowing the world - he surpassed it.

Then once he was born he delighted and amazed everyone by reason of the Miraculous Events surrounding him, because it says, 'The Hand of the

Lord was with him', working Wonders again as it had in earlier times.

Once this Divine Child - this Living Instrument of Grace from his mother's womb - had been conceived, he was moved by Grace to rejoice in the Holy Spirit. In the same way, after being born, he grew and waxed

strong in the Spirit." (ISAIAH 7:16 LXX & LUKE. 1:66 ), (ST GREGORY PALAMAS: THE HOMILIES VOL. 2; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS)

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St T hek la th e Gr ea t P r o tomar t yr o f I c on i um 24 Sep t ember 201 1 25.




S t Thekla the Grea t & Holy Pro tomarS t Thekla the Grea t & Holy Pro tomarS t Thekla the Grea t & Holy Pro tomarS t Thekla the Grea t & Holy Pro tomar tyr of I coniumtyr of I coniumtyr of I coniumtyr of I conium Equal to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l es

Also the Feast of St Silouan of Mount Athos - the Synaxis of All Saints of Alaska - St Peter the Aleut - St Juvenal, Protomartyr of America - St Nicander the Hermit of Pskov - St Galakteon the Monk-Martyr of Vologda - St Copres of Palestine - St Abraius the Abbot of Mirozh, Pskov - St Vladislav King & Martyr of Serbia - St Dorothy of Kasin - St Simon, St David & St Stephen of Serbia - St Abraham, Builder & Abbot of our Saviour’s Transfiguration Monastery in Pskov - the

Appearances of the Mirozh Icon & the Myrtidiotissa Icon (“Of the Myrtle Tree”) of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos.

Apo ly t i k i on o f S t T hek la t he Grea t P ro t omar t yr o f I con i um – T one 4

I amnos Sou, Iisou, krazi megali ti foni: Se Nimfie mou

potho, ke Se Zitousa athlo, ke sistavroume, ke

sinthaptome to Vaptismo Sou. Ke Pasho dia Se, os

Vasilefso sin Si. Ke thnisko iper Sou, ina ke ziso en

Si. All os thisian amomon, prosdehou tin meta

pothou tithisan Si. Aftis Presvies, os eleimon, soson

tas psihas imon.

Thy Lamb, O Lord Jesus, cries to Thee with a great

voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I Love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy Baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her Intercessions, since Thou art great in Mercy.

Kon tak i on o f S t T hek la t h e G rea t P ro t omar t yr o f I c on i um

Tis Parthenias to kalli exelampsas, tou Martiou Stefano

kekosmise, Apostolin Pistevi Parthene os Endoxos.

Ke tou piros men tin floga, is droson metevales, tou

tavrou de tonthimon, prosehi Sou imerosas, os

Protoathlos.

O Glorious Virgin, Thou wast entrusted with an

Apostolate, while shining brightly with Virginal Beauty and adorned with Crowns of Martyrdom. And, O Thekla, Thou also subdued the bull's fury and changed the fire to Dew by Thine Entreaties, O First Contestant among all womankind.

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






timonton se.



T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 3 : 1 0 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 3 : 1 0 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 3 : 1 0 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o S t T i m o t h y 3 : 1 0 –––– 1 51 51 51 5 O u r L o y a l t y t o H o l y T r a d i t i o n & D i v i n e T r u t h i s o u r D e f e n c e A g a i n s t A p o s t a s y

Timothy my son: you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, Purpose of Life, Faith, Longsuffering, Love, Perseverance, persecutions and afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured! And out of them all, the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to Live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. And evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving

and being deceived.

However, you must continue in the Things which you have learnt and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learnt them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for Salvation through Faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THE ERA OF “THE LAST DAYS” SINCE THE

INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD – since the Birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Holy Church of Christ has always been aware of the persecutions and perils of this final age of mankind but OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND OUR HOLY FATHERS HAVE TAUGHT US NOT TO DISTRESS

OURSELVES OR WASTE THIS VALUABLE PRESENT TIME –

NOW! TODAY! THIS MOMENT! - by being preoccupied with the future that only God the Father knows about and can control.

Life throughout the ages has suffered varying degrees of catastrophe and devastation, and OUR LORD JESUS DID WARN US THAT BEFORE HIS REAPPEARANCE ON EARTH FOR

HIS FINAL JUDGEMENT, EVERYTHING WOULD BE THE WORST

IT HAS EVER BEEN FOR ALL CREATION.

GREAT SPIRITUAL DECAY AND IMMORALITY HAS ALREADY TAKEN

ROOT – even from within His Holy Church – and similar to the prominent men of Cain’s city, THE OFFENDERS OF GOD DELIBERATELY REJECT GOD’S LAW AND SOCIAL

MORALS BECAUSE OF THEIR UNCONTROLLED GREED AND

SELF-INDULGENCE, and LACK OF LOVE, LACK OF MERCY AND

LACK OF COMPASSION for anyone else! READ MATTHEW 24; MARK 13; 2 THESSALONIANS 2; 2 PETER 2; ROMANS

1:28-32; MATTHEW 7:15-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-5; 1 TITUS 4: 1 – 11

& GENESIS 4:16-24

Knowing exactly what we are to endure and how difficult and destructive life on earth was to become, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WARNED US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR

SPIRITUAL WELFARE NOW!

c IF WE ALL BEGIN TO HUMBLE OURSELVES SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY AND EAGERLY OBEY ALL FACETS OF GOD’S

COMMANDMENTS, AS A UNIVERSAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

WE WILL BE STRENGTHENED AND UNITED IN HIS DIVINE

LOVE.

Equipped and protected by Almighty God and His entire Heavenly Host, WE WILL BE READY AND ABLE TO CONFRONT ANY ENEMIES OF HIS HOLY KINGDOM ON EARTH.

c AS TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO PRESERVE, TO SHARE AND TO PROTECT HIS DIVINE TRUTH

AT ALL TIMES, AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE ARE CALLED TO

OFFER OUR LIVES – PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY – IN

ORDER TO DO SO.

26. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St T hek la t h e Grea t P r o t omar t yr o f I con i um 24 Sep tember 20 1 1

The Life in Christ of St Paul exhibited what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us: IN THIS FALLEN WORLD, GODLINESS ELICITS PERSECUTION FROM THE GODLESS AND GOD-

HATERS.

John 15:20: Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Remember the Word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater

than his Master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will

also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they

will keep yours also.” The rebellion of the fallen world against God reveals

several aspects: � while UNION WITH CHRIST BRING US LOVE, TRUTH AND

PEACE, IT ALSO BRING US PERSECUTION, because the fallen world of Godless people – the enemies of God – hate His Divine Love and Truth (AND EVEN OUR HUMAN CONCEPT OF LOVE AND TRUTH!)

� THE FALLEN WORLD HATES CHRIST; THEREFORE IT WILL

ALSO HATE ALL THOSE WHO TRY TO IMITATE HIM – WHO

TRY TO BECOME CHRISTLIKE – THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR LIFE IN CHRIST – THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – THE

FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS.

� THE FALLEN WORLD HATES OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

BECAUSE IT NEITHER KNOWS NOR DESIRES TO KNOW

GOD THE FATHER. (THE REJECTION OF GOD AND ALL HIS GOODNESS IS A DIRECT INFLUENCE OF AND SUBJECTION TO SATAN!)

� THE FALLEN WORLD’S HATRED FOR CHRIST JESUS IS

IRRATIONAL AND UNREASONABLE BECAUSE OUR

SAVIOUR HAS BROUGHT US PERFECT, TRUE LOVE AND

HIS GREAT MERCY by Teaching, Guiding and Enlightening us – revealing through His Example

ALL THE UNCONDITIONAL BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS OF

GOD’S DIVINE LOVE AND THE WONDERFUL

CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERFECTION AND GOODNESS. (HATRED IS ALWAYS IRRATIONAL AND UNREASONABLE - AND CONSEQUENTLY

DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE! IT IS EVERYTHING THAT IS GODLESS AND SATANIC!)

SO OUR ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND LOVING LORD JESUS CHRIST

IS HATED AND REJECTED WITHOUT REASON OR CAUSE!

Having exhorted and encouraged St Timothy with the example of his own steadfastness – his own faithfulness, dedication and commitment to Christ and His Holy Gospel - St Paul then reminded St Timothy of HIS TRAINING as St Paul’s disciple, which CONSISTED OF A COMBINATION OF BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN TEACHINGS

AND INSTRUCTIONS. (DOCTRINE) � ONLY A PART OF THAT HOLY TRADITION CONSISTED OF HOLY

SCRIPTURE, which was, of course, the Old Testament since the New Testament had not yet been compiled.

� MOST OF OUR SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT AND

INSTRUCTION COMES FROM OUR GOD-INSPIRED VERBAL

TRADITION, which has been so METICULOUSLY AND TRUTHFULLY PRESERVED and then MOST VIGILANTLY PASSED DOWN TO US UNCHANGED from the time of Christ and His Holy Apostles!

READ MATTHEW 28:16-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2; 2 THESSALONIANS 2: 15 &

3:6

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 4 : 2 2 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 4 : 2 2 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 4 : 2 2 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 4 : 2 2 –––– 3 03 03 03 0 Many Pr o fess The i r Wonder And Be l i e f I n God Bu t Ver y Few T r u l y Wor sh ip And Obey H im!

At that time, all bore witness to (our Lord Jesus Christ) and marvelled at the Gracious Words which proceeded out of His Mouth. And they said: “Is this not Joseph’s Son?”

He said to them: “You will surely say this Proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal Thyself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also her in Thy Country.’”

Then He said: “Indeed, I say to you: no Prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly: many widows were in Israel in the day of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up for three years and six

months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent,

except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon – to a woman who was a widow.

“And many lepers were in Israel at the time of Elisha the Prophet, and none of them was cleansed except

Naaman the Syrian.” And all those in the Synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and they rose up and thrust Him

out of the city; and they led Him up to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, so that they might throw Him down over the cliff!

Then, passing through the midst of them, He went His Way.

REJECTION like that of the Hebrews in the Synagogue of Nazareth, ALL TOO FREQUENTLY OCCURS IN THOSE WHO ENCOUNTER OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE

TRUTH.

Luke 1 1 : 1 4 - 1 6 : Christ “... was casting out a demon, and it

was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out,

the mute spoke; and the multitudes marvelled, but

some of them said: ‘He casts out demons by

Beelzebub, the ruler of demons!’ Others, testing Him,

sought from Him a Sign from Heaven...”

� The unqualified ignorance and Spiritual Blindness of such people is extremely ridiculous and dangerous, for ONLY GOD CAN EXPEL OR EXORCISE EVIL THAT HAS NO

PART OF HIM (OR US HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE BEEN CREATED IN HIS LIKENESS AND IMAGE!)

� All aspects of evil and its resultant destruction of goodness are inventions of Satan.

c SUCH HIDEOUSNESS CERTAINLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BEAUTY AND PERFECTION OF GOD’S DIVINE

CREATION, BUT GOD ALONE CAN ERADICATE AND

BANISH IT FROM US.

Beelzebub is an imaginary pagan god that was derided (MOCKED) by the Hebrews as “the lord of the flies,” meaning, in this particular context, Satan.

c GENUINE DIVINE SIGNS OR MIRACLES ARE NEVER GRANTED TO THOSE WHOSE MOTIVES ARE MERELY TO TEST THE LORD

OUR GOD.

At the Temptation of Christ, the evil one tried to deceive our Lord Jesus by quoting Holy Scripture to Him - to convince Him to worship him and to reject God.

WITHOUT FAIL LUCIFER BAITS HIS POISONOUS HOOK WITH A

MINISCULE DROP OF TRUTH, which he always distorts and takes out of context in order to coax us into submission to his will in his ceaseless obsession to destroy us.

However, CHRIST IS TRUTH ITSELF and He repeated His

Divine Commandment to all Creation: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God!”

John 9 : 1 6 : “...some of the Pharisees said: ‘This Man is

not from God, because He does not keep the

Sabbath!’ Others said: ‘How can a man who is a

sinner do such Signs (Miracles)?’ And there was a

division among them.”

Just as the Pharisees chose to ignore the Miraculous Healings by Christ and only focussed on His perceived violation of the Sabbath, MOST PEOPLE CANNOT WITNESS THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH THE BLINDING DARKNESS OF

THEIR OWN SINFUL PREJUDICES AND SELF-

RIGHTEOUSNESS!

When our Lord Jesus was rejected in his own country, it fulfilled every rejection of the Old Covenant Prophets of God such as St Elijah and St Elisha.

Furthermore, it foreshadowed the rejection of Christ by the whole Hebrew nation at His public Trial before Pontius Pilate.

Nevertheless, OUR SAVIOUR WILLINGLY ACCEPTED HIS DEATH SENTENCE ACCORDING TO HIS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO

GOD THE FATHER’S DIVINE WILL – and not according to the misled and unjust will of the Hebrew leaders.

This particular Event in Nazareth clearly demonstrated that the Hour of His Great Passion had not yet come, and was only possible by Divine Will.

Thus, although the angry mob had hustled Christ all the way to the high cliff edge so that they could push Him over it, to be killed on the rocks far below, He simply passed through their midst and continued His Journey.

This amazing account, without a doubt is witness to the Truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly God Who controls all time and Creation!

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 15 th Sunday After Pentecost – 1st of St Luke – The Miraculous Catch - 25 September 2011 27.

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



15151515 t ht ht ht h Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (6 ) Plagal 2Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (6 ) Plagal 2Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (6 ) Plagal 2Sunday Af t er Pentecos t Tone (6 ) Plagal 2

1111 s ts ts ts t Sunday o f S t Luke: The Miraculous CSunday o f S t Luke: The Miraculous CSunday o f S t Luke: The Miraculous CSunday o f S t Luke: The Miraculous Catchatchatchatch

The Feast of St Sergios , Wonderworker of Radonezh – St Euphrosyne & St Paphnoutios, her father, & 546 Holy Martyrs of

Alexandria – St Euphrosyne of Suzdal – St Herman of Kazan, first translation of Holy Relics – St Arsenios the Great of Georgia

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Resur r e c t i on – T one ( 6) P l aga l 2

Angelike Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes

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

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

Apo l y tk i on o f S t Mary o f Egyp t – T one ( 8) P l aga l 4

En Si Miter, akrivos, diesothi to kat inkona. Lavousa gar

ton Stavron, ikoiouthisas to Hristo, ke prattousa

edidaskes, iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar;

epimelisthe de psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio ke

meta Angelon sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou.

In Thee, O Mother, is preserved undistorted what was made in the Image of God; for taking up the Cross, Thou followed Christ and taught by Thy Example, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Mary, Thy spirit rejoices with the Angels







timonton se.



R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 4 : R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 4 : R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 4 : R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 4 : L u k e 2 4 : 1 L u k e 2 4 : 1 L u k e 2 4 : 1 L u k e 2 4 : 1 –––– 1 21 21 21 2 T h e 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


O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance.

I appeal to Thee, O Lord our God T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 6 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 6 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 6 T h e S e c o n d E p i s t l e o f S t P a u l t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 6 –––– 1 51 51 51 5

T h e P o w e r o f t h e H o l y A p o s t l e s o f C h r i s t

Brethren: It is the God Who Commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to grant us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the Power may be of God and not of us.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the Dying of our Lord Jesus, that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to Death for Christ’s sake, 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...” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sake, that Grace, having spread through the many, may cause Thanksgiving to abound to the Glory of God.

St Paul emphasises the importance of preaching and teaching in order to Glorify the Lord our God – and not to gain any recognition or praise for ourselves.

God our Creator has Enlightened us with His Divine

Knowledge and Wisdom according to the Will of God the Father, through God the Son and by the enabling action of God the Holy Spirit.

We, as mere creatures of God, having been made from the earth, are thus “earthen vessels” wherein

Almighty God has placed His Divine Treasures – everything that makes us in His Likeness and Image.

Consequently, out of all Creation, only we humans and the Heavenly Hosts are intellectual beings with

free will who are able to understand and put into

practice what God teaches us. However, we must never forget that it is God alone Who

has granted us intelligence and the ability to do

things that His other creatures are unable to do – and so we have the Sacred Commitment of taking care of and nurturing this extraordinary planet

and all things on and in it.

The Divine Treasure is the Glorious Light in our Lord

Jesus Christ Who has come to teach us His Divine Truth in order to guide us, help us and teach us – i.e to prepare us for Eternal Life in His Kingdom by helping us to regain our lost Divine Likeness.

28. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 15 th Sunday After Pentecost – 1 st of St Luke – The Miraculous Catch - 25 September 2011

As we mature spiritually, God’s Divine Light of Truth

shines from within us and through us so that others are able to realise that the Power and

Wisdom is Divine and certainly not human. This preparatory period before Eternity is certainly not

easy for anyone and it is even more difficult for those of us who have chosen to live in Christ and

to follow faithfully in His Divine Footsteps.

God has never broken any Divine Promise to us, and Christ has never lied or deceived us – it is impossible for Him to do so because He is 100% Pure and Absolute Truth.

Thus, although He has prepared us for many great difficulties and sufferings – even Holy Martyrdom – our Journey is one of Victory over evil and such

trials and tribulations reveal both the Power of

God and – even more – His Divine Grace.

So despite our being “perplexed... persecuted... struck

down...” and everything else that we suffer in this temporary existence, God never abandons us and due to His infinite Love for us, He always eases, comforts and strengthens us so that we may continue to fulfil our allocated number of days.

Through constant Prayer, we grow closer to God Who

is ever present – always watching over us unless we wilfully commit sin.

Then He turns His Loving Sight away from us until

we have repented and returned to His Divine

Grace.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 5 : 1 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 5 : 1 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 5 : 1 T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t L u k e 5 : 1 –––– 1 11 11 11 1 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C a t c h

At that time, as the multitude pressed about our Lord Jesus to hear the Word of God, He stood by the lake of Genneraret and saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

So He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitude from the boat.

When He had finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon: “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon replied: “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, at Thy Word I will let down the

net.” And when they had done so, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they went and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. And when Simon Peter saw it, he knelt down at Jesus’ Knee, saying: “Depart from me, for I am a

sinful man, O Lord!”And he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said to Simon: “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” And when they had taken their boats to land, they forsook everything and followed Him.

The “Lake of Gennesaret” is also known as “the Sea of

Galilee,” which is about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide.

It was traditional practise for a respected Teacher to be seated before his disciples and audience, who stood before him out of respect. Some early Christian Preachers (FOR EXAMPLE, ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM) sat and preached while the people stood and listened.

Our Lord Jesus addressed the huge crowds with such Divine Authority and Wisdom, that His faithful Apostles and Disciples - as well as others who probably attended initially out of idle curiosity - would stand and listen for as long as necessary because they wanted to hear His Words and not to discuss or debate.

In the Old Covenant times, only a select few people

were chosen to hear the Lord our God directly. (REFER EXODUS 19: 3 – 13)

According to our New Covenant with God, we are

able to communicate with Him on a more

personal level as demonstrated by God Incarnate

– our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – Who

addressed the multitudes and individuals Face to

face.

St Ambrose regarded our Lord’s request to St Peter (i.e. Simon Peter) to “...launch out into the deep...” as being a Spiritual Invitation to give his life over to the

deep Mystery of the Divine Knowledge of the Son of God.

In His infinite Wisdom, our Lord draws us to Himself

by things that are familiar to us and just as He drew Wise Magi to Him by means of the extraordinary, Mysterious Star of Bethlehem, and as He drew Tax Collectors by means of another Tax Collector, in this instance He initially drew these hardworking yet simple Fishermen with a Miraculous Catch in order to eventually make them “Fishers of mankind.” (MATTHEW 2:2 – MATTHEW 5:29 – 1 CORINTHIANS 9 : 19 – 23)

St Peter’s cry “Depart from me...” after witnessing our Lord’s Divine Power was not a rejection of Him but rather due to suddenly being exposed to the Divine Light of Christ – because, quite obviously, anyone in such circumstances would become painfully aware of their own personal unworthiness. (COMPARE ISAIAH 6:5 & REVELATION 1 :17)

This Miraculous Catch of fish depicts the Holy

Apostles of Christ bringing mankind to the

Divine Knowledge and Truth of our Lord and

Saviour, Jesus Christ and it fulfils the Holy Prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I will send many Fishermen, and they will fish them...”

In the Festal Hymn of Pentecost we sing to our Lord Jesus Christ: “Through the Fishermen, Thou drew the world into Thy Net.”

T h e M i r a c u l o u s C a t c h T h e M i r a c u l o u s C a t c h T h e M i r a c u l o u s C a t c h T h e M i r a c u l o u s C a t c h –––– F i s h e r s o f M e nF i s h e r s o f M e nF i s h e r s o f M e nF i s h e r s o f M e n In today’s Sacred Lesson, we hear how our Lord Jesus

Christ came upon several fishermen amongst whom would be forever remembered as three of His Twelve Holy Apostles: St Peter, St James and St John.

They had been fishing throughout the night and had caught nothing at all.

After spending some time preaching to the gathered multitude, Christ turned His attention to the Fishermen and, at our Lord’s bidding, they returned to their boats and went out into the depths of the Lake.

Instinctively trusting Christ, they once again let

down their nets and to their utter amazement

they caught an enormous abundance of fish - enough to nearly break their nets and to fill two boats to capacity, the weight of which threatened to sink them.

Experiencing such a miraculous haul, St Peter

realised that our Lord Jesus was no ordinary

Preacher or Teacher, but an extremely Powerful

Person - and with his usual impulsiveness and

sincerity, he confessed his unworthiness of being in His Presence.

Christ responded to St Peter’s heartfelt public confession by telling him not to worry about it for soon they would be netting or catching mankind instead of

fish. It is of particular interest that when our Lord told them to

cast their nets once again, St Peter, who was certainly an expert in fishing, disputed the

possibility of anything being caught since they had been unsuccessful all night long.

Due to his experience as a fisherman he knew it

would be a waste of time – especially in the bright daylight when the fish would clearly see the old fashioned rope nets.

However, perhaps to humour our Lord Jesus out of respect for Him, St Peter obediently lowered the net and immediately it filled with the most

bountiful catch they had ever made!

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 15 th Sunday After Pentecost – 1st of St Luke – The Miraculous Catch - 25 September 2011 29.

In that instant, our Lord Jesus Christ began to teach

His Apostles and Disciple to put their complete

trust in Him – even when it seemed to be a waste of time, even when it seemed to be foolish, even if they thought they knew better!

Their humble Obedience to Christ was immediately

rewarded by a huge haul of fish! Christ commands us, equally strongly, to put our

trust in Him and to obey His Commandments.

Sometimes it may seem illogical to us, and yet we must learn to obey and implicitly trust God.

When, for example, illness overwhelms us and we have to bear lengthy bouts of pain and suffering, causing us to lose our courage and begin to worry about matters that we have no control over, we have God to comfort us and to grant us the strength and

ability to endure.

Our Faith and confidence in God’s Loving Providence

enables us to rest in the comfort and assurance

of His All Knowing Wisdom - by accepting His

Divine Will in all things.

Although we may try to accomplish certain things but often fail to do so, we must never cease striving, nor must we become hopeless.

Having laboured all night, St Peter and his partners had given up fishing and gone ashore to mend and to prepare their nets for the following night.

However, despite their doubts, St Peter had taken

his boat out again due to our Lord’s request to

do so – and their reward for their Obedience to

Christ was far greater than the enormous amount

of fish they had netted.

Those who are disposed to give up at the first sign of failure or disappointment - especially concerning their Spiritual Endeavours - are truly lost when they surrender to their impulsive weakness or hopelessness.

Yet those who continue to struggle despite any set-

backs or disappointments, will eventually

succeed in the end – and, concerning our Spiritual Struggles – we certainly become much more stronger and more determined the harder we

strive – and ultimately, we are rewarded beyond

our wildest dreams!

We must always remember that the Evil One never rests from tempting us nor does he cease his efforts to discourage, deceive or destroy us. He uses all our weaknesses against us so we must never

cooperate with him but rather Pray even more

fervently for Divine Help and Strength to resist.

When St Peter confessed his sinfulness and unworthiness to be in the Powerful Presence of Christ, at that moment, our Lord seemed to be rather unconcerned, telling him not to fear (His Divine Power) for He saw deep into St Peter’s heart and He knew

everything about him already. So it was that our Lord revealed to St Peter and the others

that they would soon be fishing for immortal souls rather than fish.

God knows His creatures far better than we can imagine and when He Calls us, He knows what we will be able to achieve for His Glory, Honour and Worship.

Every one of us has a Sacred Mission to fulfil. Yet it may take many years for us to realise what we need to do.

And when God Calls us to His Holy Service – quite often despite ourselves – our souls are filled to

capacity with such a profound, inexpressible

Love for Him that we are overjoyed - and driven

by that deep Love, we will do whatever is necessary in order to obey His Will!

St Bede believed that "The Lord soothes the fears of the unspiritual man so that no man need be

fearful in his conscience because of his own past

guilt; nor, confounded at the sight of the

innocence of others, be discouraged in setting

out himself on the Road to Sanctity."

Christ Loves us all and regardless of our past sins and offences, He wants us all to humbly turn to Him and to willingly and freely follow Him.

God has absolute dominion over His Creation, and can and does work Miracles.

The Old and New Testaments are filled with stories of the Miracles of God – as are the Lives of the Saints.

The entire history of Christianity is a Divine Miracle

itself.

Lives that were thought to be lost were in fact Saved. Suffering and distress is transformed into Peace and

Abundance. Nations threatened by certain catastrophe are repeatedly

Saved by God's Intervention. Generally, such Miracles are the result of fervent

Prayer and unwavering Faith, yet such answers to our Prayers are according to the Divine Will of

God and correspond with His Plan and Purpose for all mankind - and sometimes for individual souls.

We are not necessarily promised Rewards in this life, although God’s Blessings are certainly abundant for whatever we sow now will be reaped in

Eternity.

Nonetheless, God performs infinite Divine Miracles every day – such as when the humble and obedient Fishermen received the Miraculous Catch.

Even more He rewarded them by making them His Apostles, which brings us to the next Lesson of today:. "... From now on you will catch men..." as Christ said.

St Peter, St James, and St John became His closest

Apostles and spent the rest of their lives netting

souls for His Holy Church.

From an earthly standpoint, this might be a questionable Blessing for these men left a lifestyle of reasonably comfort and – through their Love of our Lord - accepted the Sacred Mission of bringing whole nations to God’s Truth and Worship.

These were simple, unsophisticated, illiterate men

who lacked worldly experience, yet our Lord

Jesus Christ made them our first Divinely

Inspired and Wise Holy Church Fathers.

Concerning their great Calling and the beginning of their world-wide Holy Mission that was to impact human history forevermore, St Luke simply stated: “...And when they had taken their boats to land, they

forsook everything and followed Him.” None of our Lord’s Holy Apostles and Faithful

Disciples received any material rewards in this

life for their devotion to their Sacred Mission. They all faced different degrees of intense hardship, toil,

hatred, violence, and finally death. Persecution and indescribable Martyrdom was the price

they paid for their voluntary and humble Obedience to Christ our Lord.

However, having been Enlightened with Divine Wisdom and Knowledge by God the Holy Spirit,

all Christ’s Apostles and Disciples willingly and

eagerly, out of their intense Love and devotion to

Him, fulfilled their Holy Calling. Consequently, all were rewarded with Eternal Life and

adorned with Martyr's Crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Throughout the ages their memory as God’s Holy Saints and Martyrs is venerated by all Christian Faithful every day - and will continue to be until the end of time.

As striving Disciples of Christ we honour each and every Saint, beginning with our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos and St John the Baptist by commemorating and imitating their good examples of absolute fidelity

to Christ.

Indeed, these first simple Fishermen were Called to “catch

men” in Christ's Holy Net so that they might be Saved. And they continue to catch mankind.

St Gregory the Theologian wrote: "These Fishermen are Teachers of the Church, who catch us in the Net

of Faith, and, as it were, bring us to the shore -

to the Land of the Living."

30. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 15 th Sunday After Pentecost – 1 st of St Luke – The Miraculous Catch - 25 September 2011

We too, as simple Orthodox Christians, are Called to catch mankind for Christ.

Consider, for a moment, the state of the world around us. Consider this city we live in, and the cities and towns

nearby. Consider the frightful nature of the world, of the

overwhelming evil that surrounds us! Consider the huge numbers of confused and frightened

people, darting this way and that, like frightened fish in a deep, dark sea.

Some of whom - although perhaps not all - would

doubtless find Peace and Joy if they could only

find Christ in the fullness of Orthodox

Christianity.

We need only to cast our Nets of Faith into the dark murkiness of the surrounding sea of humanity as Christ bids us to do, and we can catch them for Him.

How do we do this? We can do it by means of our own Faithful Life in

Christ – by showing others the benefits, the joy

and the confidence of humble Obedience to God

in our daily lifestyle and personal relationships.

If we are kind, patient, and generous towards our

neighbours, that in itself is the beginning of our witness.

If we are models of Christian Piety in our lifestyle -

praying, keeping the Fasts, regularly attending

the Divine Liturgy and Holy Services, and by

remaining close to the Church, that too is a witness and will attract a larger catch.

Finally, we must never be ashamed of Christ's Holy Church by hiding it from those around us.

If neighbours or friends or acquaintances have no religious life, or if they are dissatisfied with their current religion, we can invite them to attend the Divine Liturgy and introduce them to Orthodox Christianity.

Some people believe that Orthodoxy is only for Greeks, Russians, Romanians, and so forth.

Nothing could be further from the Truth! Orthodox Christianity is not a collection of tribal churches -

it is the Universal Church - the Holy Church of

all mankind. So, let us not be apprehensive in sharing the beauty of

Orthodoxy with others. Let each of us strive to follow in the footsteps of St Peter,

St James, and St John, by becoming Catchers of souls for Christ.

Let each of us also put aside all those things that distract us from our real Purpose in this life - let us leave those things, as the Gospel says, and, like the Apostles, follow Christ.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON BY FATHER JAMES THORNTON, PROTECTION OF THE

HOLY VIRGIN MARY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA,

SEPTEMBER 20/OCTOBER 3, 1999.

http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/thornton_catchmen.aspx

Kn o w i n g W h a t W e D o n ’ tK n o w i n g W h a t W e D o n ’ tK n o w i n g W h a t W e D o n ’ tK n o w i n g W h a t W e D o n ’ t K n o wK n o wK n o wK n o w The New Testament, particularly in the writings of St. John

(but in St. Paul’s works as well) say much about “knowing” God.

In St. John’s Gospel Christ says, “And this is Eternal Life: that they might know Thee, the only True

God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent” (JOHN 17:3).

Thus, knowing God is equated with Salvation itself. On the other hand, we speak of God as “incomprehensible

and unknowable” (for instance, in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom).

As Father Thomas Hopko has often said, “You cannot know God – but you have to know Him to know

that.” There is, I suggest, an unknowing that is knowing. This, of course, is a paradox, as is almost everything well

said in Theology. It is often necessary in the Spiritual Life to not know God

in order to rightly know Him. In work with Catechumens (those preparing to be received

in the Church), I often spend as much time helping them to unlearn as to learn.

The God Whom we seek to know is not the same thing as the “God of our understanding,” much less the God of our imagination.

Knowing God is Eternal Life (now and always). What kind of knowing is Paradise? It is very difficult to

find words to describe the kind of knowing that is described in the New Testament.

It is certainly not an assembly of facts – nor is it the kind of knowing that can be arrived at through reason.

Some describe this knowing as something like intuition, but I am not sure that this says enough.

There are two words or phrases that occur to me that have something of this sense of knowing.

One is the word, “nevertheless.” The other is the phrase “and yet.” Both carry a sense of hesitation. Offered one thing (as almost inevitable) and someone responds, “Nevertheless.”

It is a negation that is an affirmation as well. It need not necessarily speak the ground of its affirmation, but it remains.

The most famous such “nevertheless” I can recall is that of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace (BOOK OF DANIEL) who are confronted with the tortuous flames of the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar, being asked to abjure their Faith in the True God. They acknowledged the flames and the threats of the King, but responded with “Nevertheless.”

Despite every comfort to the contrary they would not deny Whom they knew. They knew God more than

they knew fear. There is no long discourse on their knowledge or great refutation of the errors of Babylon. There is the resounding sound of “nevertheless!”

Something of the same hesitation hovers about the phrase “and yet.” It is often a phrase unspoken, a hesitation of the heart. It is a hesitation that suggests there is something more than has thus far been acknowledged. Its absence in the Garden of Eden is deafening.

Confronted by the enticements of the serpent, we are told: “...And when the woman saw that the Tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a Tree to be desired to make one wise, she took the fruit thereof, and ate, and gave also to her husband who ate. (GENESIS 3:6)

Yes, the Tree is good for food and pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise… and yet... Such a hesitation is the pause that makes sin to

vanish and the Knowledge of God possible. In the course of our own lives, how much room is allowed

for and yet? Both nevertheless and and yet are negative expressions –

although both depend upon a positive. We yield all too easily to what we think we know and

do not hesitate sufficiently before what we do

not know.

That hesitation is often a moment of Faithfulness or at least the moment in which Faith can be born. In its negative aspect, it is an emptiness, a kenosis, that allows a True Fullness to appear in its place. It is a hesitation that admits what we do not know

while allowing the possibility of Knowledge at

the same time. It is the Inner Life of wonder.

The content of the Orthodox Christian Faith is not an argument. It is not something to be compared to other things such that we can say, “This is better.”

It is the Continual Life of God lived and known by

His people, who through the ages, when confronted by manifold opportunities for more convenient options have been able to say, “And yet…” When pressed by their enemies, even to the point of torture and death, they have affirmed, “Nevertheless.” And in so doing have preserved the Knowledge of the True and

Living God and kept intact the Treasure of

Tradition that is nothing other than that True

Knowledge.

God grant us such Holy Hesitation!

GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!” BY FATHER“STEPHEN http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St John the Beloved & Divine Apostle, Evangelist & Theologian – 26 September 2011 31.



22226666 Sep tember 2011September 2011September 2011September 2011

SSSS t John the Beloved Apost l e , Evangel i s t & Theolog iant John the Beloved Apost l e , Evangel i s t & Theolog iant John the Beloved Apost l e , Evangel i s t & Theolog iant John the Beloved Apost l e , Evangel i s t & Theolog ian

The Feast of St Gideon the Righteous – St Andrew, First Called Apostle of Christ – return of Venerable Skull to Patras & the Holy Consecration of the Holy Church of St Andrew in Patras – St Ephraim the Wonderworker of Perekop, Novgorod – The arrival of the Iveron Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos in Georgia

Apo ly t i k i on o f t h e Resur r e c t i on – T one ( 6) P l aga l 2

Apostole Hristo to Theo igapimene, epitahinon, rise

laon anapologiton. Dehete se prospiptonta, O

epipesonta to stithi katadexamenos. On iketeve,

Theologe, ke epimonon nefos ethnon diaskedase,

etoumenos imin irinin, ke to Mega Eleos.

O Apostle, speaker of Divinity, the Beloved of Christ

God, hasten and deliver thy people powerless in

argument; for He on Whose Bosom thou leant

accepts thee as an Intercessor. Beseech Him, asking

for our Safety and His Great Mercy. 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






timonton se.



M a t i n s H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o hM a t i n s H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o hM a t i n s H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o hM a t i n s H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 2 1 : 1 & 1 5 n 2 1 : 1 & 1 5 n 2 1 : 1 & 1 5 n 2 1 : 1 & 1 5 –––– 2 52 52 52 5 O u r R e s u r r e c t e d L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t R e s t o r e s S t P e t e r & C o m m i s s i o n s H i s A p o s t l e s

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias... The third time our Lord Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was Risen from the dead, when they had eaten

breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me more than these?” He said to Him: “Yes, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Feed My Lambs.”

He said to him again a second time: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me?” He said to Him:, “Yes Lord; Thou

know that I Love Thee.” He said to him: “Tend My sheep.”

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

Jesus said to him:, “Feed My sheep. “Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and

another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him: “Follow Me!” Then Peter, turning around, saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, (who also had leaned against His Breast at the

Supper and had asked: “Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?”) Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

This is the Disciple who testifies to these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his Testimony is True. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Amen

T h e f i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t J o h n 4 : 1 2 T h e f i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t J o h n 4 : 1 2 T h e f i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t J o h n 4 : 1 2 T h e f i r s t E p i s t l e o f S t J o h n 4 : 1 2 ---- 1 91 91 91 9 G o d A b i d e s i n U s

Beloved: No one has seen God at any time. If we Love one another, God abides in us, and His Love has been Perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the Love that God has for us.

God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been Perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgement; because as He is, so are

we in this world. There is no fear in Love, for Perfect Love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. So he who fears has not been

made Perfect in Love. We Love God because He first Loved us.

St John emphasises the fact that “No one has seen God...” for we cannot see Almighty God in all

His Majesty and Glory - even if we were of the

Spiritual World - although those who have risen to great Spiritual Heights have

experienced the great Joy and Wonder of His

Divine Uncreated Light.

The only way we can see God, is in the human

Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Incarnate Son and Word of God – one of the three Persons of the Eternal, Co-Equal Holy Trinity.

When He was asked about God the Father, He told His Apostles that anyone who sees Him, sees the Father as well.

32. DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St John the Beloved & Divine Apostle, Evangelist & Theologian – 26 September 2011

Thus, the Holy Icon of the Holy Trinity – “the

Hospitality of Abraham” – depicts the Holy Trinity as three identical Angels Who visited the ancient Patriarch at the Oaks of Mamre. (GENESIS 18)

The expression “God is Love” is not a definition

of Who God is, but rather a description of His

Relationship to us as our Heavenly Father Who Loves us far beyond our understanding.

As our Lord Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son Who sacrificially gave Himself (AS THE SUPREME AND MOST PERFECT OFFERER AND OFFERING) so that we might Live (Eternally) through Him, we must joyfully and willingly give ourselves to God and to one another in

that same Perfect, Divine Love – Agape.

St John reveals to us how we can know whether God Lives in us:

� If we Love one another unconditionally � If we receive His Holy Spirit � If we confess our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ is the Son of God

� If we abide in the Love of God – Live in Christ by striving every moment to imitate Him with our words, thoughts

and deeds.

God’s Great Mercy and Grace – His infinite, unconditional Divine Love for us - is proved by the fact that He created us due to and with His Divine Love.

And He created us with free will and as intellectual beings because He does force us to be with Him if we do not will it ourselves!

Love can never be forced since it is the greatest of free Gifts that God has bestowed on us, which we can grant to others!

Even before the Creation, God had a Plan of

Great Mercy and Divine Grace for us.

Having exiled – excommunicated – ourselves from

God through sin, His Love for us was so great that He sent His Beloved Only Begotten Son as the propitiation for our sins – as our Divine Reconciliation and Redeemer.

Through the ultimate and final Blood Sacrifice of

Christ, Who was both the Offerer and the Offering, all mankind was Saved from the enslavement of sin and Death caused by the evil one.

However, due to our free will, we still have the

ability to sin but we also have every

opportunity to Repent and return to Divine

Grace until we draw our very last breath in

this life.

The Lord our God is truly Merciful and Gracious because He grants us many opportunities and the means for our Spiritual Renewal through

Repentance-Confession and the Holy

Mysteries of His Holy Church.

Almighty God is a Loving God Who watches over

us, guides and protects us from evil and

harm.

In return, His Faithful Flock humbly and

obediently serve Him and worship Him

because we are grateful for His Abundant

Blessings.

Due our devotion to God, we worship and adore

Him with deepest and most sincere respect,

honour and glory, fearing only our personal

failure to fulfil our Sacred Duties to God and

our fellow mankind.

God does not dominate us by fear or terror like those who are evil and who seek our enslavement and destruction.

T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t T h e H o l y G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t J o h n 1 0J o h n 1 0J o h n 1 0J o h n 1 0 :::: 2 52 52 52 5 ---- 2 7 & 2 7 & 2 7 & 2 7 & 2 12 12 12 1 :::: 2 42 42 42 4 ---- 2 52 52 52 5 Our Lor d Jesus Chr i s t & God t he Fa t he r ar e One

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “I told you, and you do not believe. The Works that I do in My Father’s Name bear witness of Me. Yet you do not believe because you are not of My Sheep, as I said to you. My Sheep

hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me....”

T h e T r u e T e s t i m o n y o f S t J o h n t h e D i v i n e A p o s t l e , E v a n g e l i s t & T h e o l o g i a n

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

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

During the Feast of Dedication, (approximately three months after the Feast of Tabernacles, known as the “Festival of Lights” -“Hannukkah), the Hebrews had surrounded our Lord Jesus and had demanded to know: “How long dost Thou keep us in doubt? If

Thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.”

And this was His reply to them. Many of them had listened to His Divine Words of

Wisdom, Teaching and Guidance, and had witnessed many of His Divine Miracles, yet they still doubted Him being the True Messiah for Whom they had waited for so long.

It might seem strange to us how they could have been in the very Presence of such Divine Purity and Truth, yet still refused to accept Him as God’s Anointed Saviour.

However, we must look to ourselves: how much have we been taught concerning the Lord our God,

yet we still seek confirmation or “proof” before

we accept His Divine Truth and begin to fulfil

our necessary commitments as we journey ever

closer to Eternity?

Our lives are filled to capacity with everything worldly but of no Spiritual Benefit to us at all.

Consequently, we barely give God a thought and

most of us rarely give any time to Communal

Worship and Prayer – not even private Prayer!

Yet we expect to continue enjoying all the Spiritual

Benefits and Blessings our Lord so generously

bestows upon us – whether struggling Disciples of Christ or unrepentant sinners!

And when our comfort or enjoyment is disrupted

by illness, tragedy or disaster, we quickly turn

to God – either in Fervent Supplication, or to

point accusatory fingers at Him Who is All

Goodness and Love!

We have very little time left to decide whether we wish to be God’s “reason-endowed Sheep” who hear His Voice and follow wherever He leads us, or stubborn, wilful “goats” that prefer to do their own thing, ignoring the Voice of our Divine Shepherd and wandering off to Spiritual Death and Eternal Condemnation.

St John emphasised the fact that only a small selection of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine

Miracles, Deeds and Teachings were recorded

in the Holy Gospels. Thus, in order to have the complete Divine Truth as

Christ our Saviour taught us, we must also pay

attention to the Hymns, the Writings and the

Teachings of all our God-Inspired Holy Church

Fathers and Mothers – both modern and

ancient.

Orthodox Sacred Lessons - September 2011

Documents

Transcript of Orthodox Sacred Lessons - September 2011