My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
"When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints
and to be admired among all those who believe…" (2 Thessalonians
1:10).
"Therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so
easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of
our faith…" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
"Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and not
of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were
sown in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They
wondered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, tormented–+
OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY. They wandered
in the deserts and mountains, in dens, and caves of the
earth" (Hebrews 11:36-38).
Of all the attributes man ascribes to God, that of HOLINESS expresses the innermost entity to which all others are related. The total of all the other attributes and activities of The Holy is insufficient to exhaust its fullest meaning. For a person who experiences faith in God, the holiness ascribed to Hm is far greater than this expression. As such, the human definition of holiness is unattainable, for it is beyond reach and comprehension. The attribute OF HOLINESS is as diverse as the numerous cultures and religions of mankind. Holiness embodies the sense of the incomprehensible and an inarticulate feeling which is outside and beyond, but, at the same time, present and near to the everyday experience, including the taboos and rituals of all religions. Wherever God’s presence is felt, there man meets with the mystery and awesomeness of His HOLINESS. The intimacy of God’s holiness is granted to all who are willing to accept it, for as "He who calls you is holy, by holy yourselves in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15). This CALL TO HOLINESS IS ESPECIALLY NEEDED IN OUR WORLD TODAY.
The tendency of man to worship God is found in all ages and everywhere, although the ways and concepts of worship differ. The most characteristic feature of all religions is man’s concept that God is devoid of sin. Man’s worship and prayers, on any occasion, have particular meaning, but always presuppose God being devoid of sin. This means that man’s concept is that God IS HOLY. The holiness of God, then, is the object of worship in all religions. In the Creation God created man in His "IMAGE" and after His "LIKENESS", and although man fell into sin THROUGH ARROGANCE AND DISOBEDIENCE, God in His compassion now offers fallen man SALVATION and the chance to regain his state of sanctity. It is written as A COVENANT and PROMISE that the state of holiness is offered to man, for "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I (GOD) AM HOLY" (1 Peter 1:16; (cf. Leviticus 11:44-45).
"YOU SHALL BE HOLY" is an awesome reflection of God’s compassion and mercy to "fallen" man. This Divinie offer of holiness depends UPON MAN’S ACCEPTANCE. It means that man will attain his state of holiness through A SINCERE CHANGE FROM ARROGANCE AND DISOBEDIENCE TO HUMBLENESS AND OBEDIENCE. It should be stressed that this attitude is not to be considered an act of self-righteousness or pain, but AN INDICATION OF GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR PROVIDING MAN THE MEANS OF SALVATION AND THE STATE OF HOLINESS. This RESTORATION OF MAN TO HIS ORIGINAL STATE IS A PART OF GOD’S EVERLASTING Design, which was to take place when THE FULLNESS OF TIME CAME WHEN GOD SENT FORTH HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN Son, Jesus Christ, the fulfill the promise of God’s Design FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF MAN–TO RESTORE HIM TO THE STATE OF HOLINESS WITHIN REACH OF THE "LIKENESS" OF GOD.
God’s Design provided all things necessary for man’s attainment of holiness. God REVEALED TO MAN HIS COVENANT, BOTH THE Old Testament and the New Testament, by which man was informed of His EVERLASTING DESTINY, THE CORRECT FAITH IN THE TRUE GOD, THE CORRECT WORSHIP OF HIM AND MAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES TO HIMSELF AND TO HIS NEIGHBOR. The center of God’s Design (Plan) for man’s salvation was the sending of His Only-begotten Son, Christ, not only to teach man what to believe in and how to worship, but to be SANCTIFIED ON THE CROSS TO ATONE FOR MAN’S SIN IN ORDER TO RECONCILE MAN WITH GOD. This SACRIFICE of Christ as God-Man was necessary for man alone cannot atone for his own sins and does not have the power to make himself worthy of salvation. For the perpetual mission of making man holy, Christ founded and heads His Church — the One and Holy Church — to live through the ages, "for no one can be saved OUTSIDE THE Church. "All this is from God, Who through Christ RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF AND GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION"; "GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
The Church of Christ is a part of His Kingdom, and those WHO ENTER IT ENTER THE AWESOME PLACE OF HOLINESS. Without faith in and knowledge of the word of God, without a full dedication and devotion to a Christian life, without the sanctification of the Grace of God, man cannot be considered a worthy member of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. All these functions of the "members of the Church are meant to be incorporated in Christ’s one word for man: "REPENT" (cf. Matthew 4:17). By REPENTANCE Christ meant the complete change of mind from indifference to religion and salvation to a ceaseless ministry and obedience to God’s Will.
The Christian of the New Testament were called saints. In baptism they were SANCTIFIED IN THE NAME OF CHRIST AND WERE WASHED AND JUSTIFIED IN HIS NAME (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:11). Christians also are sanctified in the Truth, which is the word of God’s Grace (cf. John 17:17; 20:32). The word ofGod and His Grace are able to uplift the Christian and give them the inheritance of sonship and holiness. The Holy God has sanctified the Christian wholly through the offering of the Body of Christ on the Cross, once and for all (cf. Hebrews 10:10-14). So Christ has sanctified the people through His Own Blood, and call them to "sanctify God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15). Thus God leads man through the RECONCILIATION and SANCTIFICATION TO CHRIST TO THE STATE OF HOLINESS AND SAINTHOOD. For Christ was THE FIRST TRUE MARTYR, WHO SANCTIFIED Himself for man’s reconciliation with God the Father. By His SACRIFICE, Christ sealed His witness of the Divine Truth and was the first Risen from the dead (cf. Revelation 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:13).
"TO THOSE SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS, CALLED TO BE SAINTS" is the call that God makes to everyone today to enter the state of holiness and sainthood (1 Corinthians 1:2). This calling TO SAINTHOOD APPLIES TO HE FAITHFUL MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHO SHARE THE PRIVILEGES OF THIS DIVINE COVENANT AS HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD. CHRISTIANS ARE SAINTS BY VIRTUE OF BEING "IN CHRIST JESUS” (Philippians 1:1). Christ Himself was "The Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24). God’s calling then, IS THE INSTRUMENT OF THE CHRISTIANS HOLINESS. The holy Apostle Paul admonishes those who are called TO BE SAINTS to become worthy of the calling. Moreover, at the Second Coming of Christ, "THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS WITH ALL HIS SAINTS". hE WILL "BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS" (2 Thessalonians 1:2). The term SAINTS is used to describe the members of the Church in the New Testament, especially in Saint Paul’s Epistles (cf. Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2). The term HOLY or SAINT, the original Greek AGIOS (HAGIOS), is related TO THE EFFORT OF A PERSON TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE SAINTHOOD.
The State of Sainthood in the Christian Church IS A DIVINE INSTITUTION. ITS PURPOSE IS TO RECOGNIZE AND REWARD THOSE PERSONS WHO DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO GOD, WHOSE FAITH WAS UNSHAKEABLE AND WHOSE WORK WAS TO SERVE OTHERS IN THE NAME OF GOD. The surname "holy", "hagios", which was first assigned TO THE FOLLOWERS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, WAS LATER REPLACED BY THE SURNAME "CHRISTIAN."
The list of saints at first included only Martyrs, but was later gradually expanded to include persons who had not been martyred but had DEVOTED THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND PIETY. Thus, the STATE OF SAINTHOOD tookon an expanded image. Most of the saints at that time WERE ASCETICS, MONKS AND BISHOPS although Martyrs held THE FIRST PLACE OF HONOR.
The consideration and proclamation of a person AS SAINT OF THE CHURCH IS MADE AFTER HIS DEATH BY THE PEOPLE OF HIS LOCAL CHURCH. TO BE RECOGNIZED LOCALLY AS A SAINT, HE HAD TO BE A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. HE MUST HAVE BEEN A MARTYR OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, OR/AND LIVED A PIOUS AND HOLY LIFE, GIVEN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE CHURCH, OR PERFORMED UNANIMOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED MIRACLES DURING HIS LIFETIME, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER DEATH BY INTERCESSION. These qualifications for sainthood ARE NOT FIXED, mechanically applied conditions or regulations, nor A LEGALISTIC PROCEDURE SUCH AS THAT INVOLVED IN THE CANONIZATION OF SAINT IN THE Roman Catholic practice. The pronouncement of A SAINT IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH COMES SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE "CONSCIENCE OF THE CHURCH" THAT OF THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LOCAL VICINITY, AND NOT FROM A PATTERN OF RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR JUDICIAL "CASES." This pronouncement OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH IS THEN RATIFIED AND ADOPTED BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CHURCH. THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF SAINTHOOD IS TRULY A DIVINE AND HUMAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT EXPRESSED BY THE "CONSCIENCE OF THE CHURCH", THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD, BOTH LAITY AND CLERGY. (Source: OLGOGOS by Reverent Father George Mastrantonis)
_________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 