INTERCESSION: “PRAY ONE ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED…” James 5:16.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

INTERCESSION: "PRAY ONE ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED…" [James 5:16].

"O Theotokos, we shall never be silent.
Of you mighty acts, all we the unworthy;
Had you not stood TO INTERCEDE for us
Who would have delivered us,
From the numerous perils?
Who would have preserved us all
Until now with our freedom?
O Lady, we shall not depart from you;
For you always save your servants,
From all tribulation." [Small Paraklesis]

"Truly you are worthy to be blessed,
Mother of God, the Theotokos,
You the Ever-Blessed one, and all blameless one,
And the Mother of our God.
You are honored more than the Cherubim,
And you have more glory, when compared, to the
Seraphim;
You, without corruption,
Did BEAR GOD, the LOGOS [Word],
You are the Theotokos
You do we magnify." [Small Paraklesis]

"Higher than the Heavens above are you,
And you are much purer
Than the radiance of the sun;
You who have redeem us
From the curse which is upon us;
The Lady of all people,
In hymns, do we honor you." [Small Paraklesis]

"Prayer may be for oneself or for others. Prayer for each other expresses the mutual love between members of the Church. Since, according to the Holy Apostle, "LOVE NEVER FAILETH" [I Corinthians 13:8], the earthly members of the Church NOT ONLY PRAY FOR EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF CHRISTIAN LOVE, THEY PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEPARTED (THE HEAVENLY MEMBERS); AND THE HEAVENLY MEMBERS LIKEWISE PRAY FOR THOSE ON EARTH, AS WELL AS FOR THE REPOSE OF THEIR BRETHREN WHO ARE IN NEED OF THE HELP OF PRAYER. Finally, we ourselves appeal to those in heaven with the entreaty to pray for us and for our brethren. Upon this bond of the HEAVENLY with the EARTHLY is founded also the concern of the Angels over us and our prayers to them."

The power of prayer for others (intercessions) is constantly affirmed by the word of God. Our Savior Jesus Christ said to the Holy Apostle Peter: "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" [Luke 22:32]. The Holy Apostle Paul often entreats Christians TO PRAY FOR HIM: "I trust that through YOUR PRAYERS I shall be given unto you" [Philemon, v. 22]. "Brethren, PRAY FOR US, that the word of the Lord might have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you" [2 Thessalonians 3:1]. Being far away, the Holy Apostle is joined with his spiritual brethren in common prayer: "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me IN YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD FOR ME" [Romans 15:30]. The Holy Apostle James instructs: "PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH" [James 5:16]. Saint John the Theologian saw in revelation how in the heavens twenty-four elders, standing at the Throne of God, fell down before the Lamb (Christ), and everyone had harps and vials filled with incense, "WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS" [Revelation 5:8]; that is, THEY RAISED UP THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ON EARTH TO THE Heavenly Throne.

"In God ALL ARE ALIVE. Church life is penetrated by A LIVING AWARENESS AND FEELING THAT OUR DEAD ONES CONTINUE TO LIVE AFTER DEATH, ONLY IN A DIFFERENT FORM THAN ON EARTH, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT DEPRIVED OF SPIRITUAL NEARNESS TO THOSE WHO REMAIN ON EARTH."

"With the dogma of the Son of God’s BECOMING MAN is closely bound up the naming of the Most Holy Virgin as THEOTOKOS (Birth-giver of God). by this name the Church CONFIRMS ITS FAITH THAT GOD THE LOGOS [WORD] BECAME Man truly and NOT merely in appearance; a faith that, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, GOD WAS JOINED O MAN FROM THE VERY INSTANT OF HIS CONCEPTION IN THE WOMB OF THE VIRGIN MAY, AND THAT HE, BEING PERFECT Man, is also PERFECT GOD…The name "THEOTOKOS" has a direct foundation in Holy Scripture, The Holy Apostle Paul writes: "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made OF A WOMAN" (Galatians 4:4). Here is expressed the truth THAT A WOMAN GAVE BIRTH TO THE Son of God. "God was manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16): THE FLESH WAS WOVEN FOR GOD THE LOGOS (WORD) BY THE Most Holy Virgin Mary.

"Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls, we thy
servants offer o thee songs of victory and thanksgiving, for
thou, O Mother of God, hast delivered us from dangers. But
as thou hast invincible power, free us from conflicts of all
kinds that we may cry to thee:
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!" [Akathist]

"Having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, the INTERCESSOR OF THE CHRISTIAN RACE sees every tear, hears every groan and entreaty directed to Her. Especially ner to Her are those who labor in the battle with the PASSIONS and are zealous for God-pleasing life. But even in the worldly cares She is AN IRREPLACEABLE HELPER. "JOY OF ALL WHO SORROW AND INTERCESSOR FOR THE OFFENDED, FEEDER OF THE HUNGRY, CONSOLATION OF TRAVELLERS, HARBOR OF THE STORM-TOSSED, VISITATION OF THE SICK, PROTECTION AND INTERCESSOR FOR THE INFIRM, STAFF OF OLD AGE, THOU ART THE MOTHER OF GOD ON HIGH, O MOST PURE ONE" (Sticheron of the Service to the Hodegetria). "The hope and intercession and refuge of Christians." "The Mother of God UNCEASING IN PRAYERS" (Kontakion Hymn of Dormition), saving the world by Thine unceasing prayers" (Theotokion of the Third Tone). [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, The Orthodox Veneration of MARY, The Birthgiver of God by Saint John Maximovitch)

(To be continued)
____________
"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
+ Father George