“The babe leaped in my womb for joy” Luke 1:44.

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.

"For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded
in my ears, THE BABY LEAPED IN MY WOMB FOR JOY"
[Luke 1:44].

"The baby," is Saint John the Baptist in his sixth month of gestation, "leaped in her womb" as a joyous response TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, the lord Jesus Christ, in Mary’s womb. The Ever Virgin Mary receives VENERATION FROM BOTH ANGELS AND HUMANS. For as did Gabriel (v. 28) Elizabeth also calls Mary "BLESSED." MARY IS THE MODEL OF WOMANHOOD. None other has ever received the glory given to her, either in Holy Scripture or in Church history. The Archangel Gabriel also told Mary, "Now indeed, Elisabeth your relative HAS ALSO CONCEIVED A SON IN HER OLD AGE; AND THIS IS NOW THE SIXTH (6th) MONTH FOR HER WHO WAS CALLED BARREN" [Luke 1:36].

Mary is confessed as "THE MOTHER OF MY LORD" by Elizabeth. This was no mere man Mary carried. The title "THEOTOKOS" (the Mother of God}.given to the Ever Virgin Mary by the Holy Church, was derived from the TRUTH OF THIS CONFESSION. For UNLESS THAT One in her womb was God, THE WORLD IS STILL ENSLAVED TO SIN.

The miracle of the conception of John the Forerunner and Baptist by Zacharias and Elisabeth in their old age is very significant and awesome. "But the Angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for our 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 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" [Luke 1:13-17].

Zacharias and Elizabeth have prayed often for "a son" and now their prayer is answered. "The Angel Gabriel" promises a son who will be named JOHN, meaning "THE GRACE OF GOD." The description of the character and role of Saint John the Baptist as an ASCETIC Prophet who is to prepare the Jewish people FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH. Elijah, one of the greatest Prophets of Israel, was expected to reappear from heaven in order TO ANOINT THE MESSIAH.

"Now Elizabeth’s FULL TIME CAME (9th month of her pregnancy) to be delivered, and she brought forth a son" [Luke 1:57] and indeed he was named John as the Archangel told them to do. "So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and WAS IN THE DESERTS TILL THE DAY OF HIS MANIFESTATION TO ISRAEL" [Luke 1:80].

Two very blessed and unique women bore two sons, one a future Prophet and the other the awaited Messiah and Savior of the world. Elizabeth was barren and it was by the grace of God that she conceived in her old age and for that she and Zacharias gave praise to God and rejoiced at John’s birth. "And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED" [Luke 1:46-48].

Birth-giving was always believed to truly be a blessing from God but when did people depart from that belief? A child was believed to be a gift from God and people rejoiced at the birth of a child but what happened? Saint John the Baptist was ONLY SIX MONTHS AND REJOICED AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB. What does that say to us today when abortion, the murder of a child, is acceptable and lawful? A child is dismembered inside his mother’s womb, and murdered, no matter what state of gestation the child is including after a child’s birth. Why is this NOT a CRIME? Not only a crime in the laws of all countries in the world but A CRIME AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST HUMANITY. There is no greater crime than the murder of a child. It is called INFANTICIDE! MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ARE ABORTED AND MURDERED EVERY YEAR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD INCLUDING WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS CHRISTIAN COUNTRIES AT ONE TIME. One such example is GREECE.

The Orthodox Church considers abortion, MURDER! The penalty according to the holy canons of the Church for committing abortion was excommunication from the Church. The Church from the very beginning of existence has sought to PROTECT "THE LIFE IN THE WOMB" and has considered ABORTION AS MURDER IN ITS THEOLOGY AND HOLY CANONS. Orthodox Christians are admonished not to encourage Christian women to have abortions, not assist in the committing of abortion. Those who perform abortions i.e. doctors, nurses, midwives, etc. are complicit in the killing of a child.

One of God’s Ten Commandments says, "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER" [Exodus 20:13]. There is absolutely no justification of murder no matter what form it takes. The woman’s womb is sacred and it should never become a chamber of death and destruction. God created the woman to bear children and bring life into the world. Every human being was created in the image and likeness of God, therefore abortion is the destruction of this great gift from Him. But let us turn to the Holy Bible itself and hear the voice of God Himself when He said, "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… So God made man; in THE IMAGE OF GOD HE MADE HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE MADE THEM. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, "BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY; FILL THE EARTH…" [Genesis 1:26-28].

God made man in His image and likeness meaning in the image and likeness of the Holy Trinity and he was made male and female. Therefore, the DIGNITY OF EACH MAN AND EACH WOMAN IS THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS. When one commits an abortion what happens to the "image and likeness" and this priceless and holy "dignity"? The Almighty God and Creator formed Adam ‘s body "out of the dust from the ground". The "BREATH OF LIFE" IS THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE GIVER OF LIFE (the Creed), God breathed THE BREATH OF LIFE INTO MAN’S BODY, AND HE BECAME A "LIVING SOUL." Therefore, Adam (man) was a living soul BECAUSE HE POSSESSED A BODY, A SOUL, AND THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Are any of these things taken into account when one considers taking a life? How does anyone think God will judge the person that commits abortion and kills a child at the Last Judgment? Will one be rewarded or punished? What will happen to those people who knowingly and purposely commit multiple abortions without any fear of God or any remorse or repentance? This is what the Lord Jesus Christ says about children: "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better FOR HIM (OR HER) IF A MILLSTONE WERE HUNG AROUND HIS NECK, AND HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA" [Matthew 18:6]. Can anyone imagine what He would say about the torture, suffering, mutilation and murder of millions and millions of children around the world? Is it at all conceivable for the so-called "Christian" women to ever commit such a grave and deadly sin?

Our Holy Orthodox Church believes that human life IS SACRED,INVIOLABLE, AND A GIFT FROM GOD. All life is precious but human life IS ESPECIALLY IS PRICELESS BECAUSE IT IS CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS. Orthodox Christians believe that human life is meant to be cherished and respected. It is the responsibility of all Orthodox Christians as human beings to treat all life with care, reverence, and love. Any deliberate ending of human life is a rejection of its sacredness and inviolability and is unacceptable. The Church mourns the premature end of a human life. Murder is NEVER CONDONED BY THE CHURCH, yet in this broken and sinful world, violence, including killing, is tragically a daily reality.
Let us all pray that Our Merciful God will intervene and change the dreadful course which humanity has taken which inevitably will lead to our condemnation and eternal damnation.

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George