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.
On the 30th of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
our Ecumenical Teachers and Holy Fathers BASIL THE GREAT,
GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN AND JOHN CHRYSOSTOMOS.
Apolytikion IDismissal) Hymn. First Tone
THE three most great luminaries of the Three-Sun Divinity have
illumined all of the world with the rays of doctrines divine and true;
they are the sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom, who with godly
knowledge have watered all creation in clear and mighty streams:
The great and sacred Basil, and the Theologian, wise Gregory,
together with the renowned John, the famed Chrysostomos of
golden speech. Let us all who love their divinely-wise words come
together, honoring them with hymns; for ceaselessly they offer
entreaty for us to the Trinity.
Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone
THOU hast taken to Thyself, O Lord, the sacred and God-proclaiming
heralds, the crown of Thy teachers, for the enjoyment of Thy blessings
and repose; for Thou hast accepted their sufferings and labors above
all sacrifice, O Thou Who alone dost glorify Thy Saints.
The three Holy Hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John of the Golden-mouth (Chryso-stomos) are commemorated today by reason of the following event. IN 1081, Emperor Alexios I Komninos of Constantinople (1057-1118 A.D.) came to the throne with the support of the military aristocracy, afer Nikephoros III Botaneiates. At that time there came to pass in Constantinople a contention among men of high repute and virtue. This vigorous controversy came about in regard to the three teachers and hierarchs, and which of them should be the greatest. Some preferred the Great Basil on account of his treatises. Another group elevated the holy Chrysostomos over both Saint Basil and Saint Gregory, maintaining that his teachings, filled with wise and agile expressions, guided all and drew sinners to repentance. Others, however, favored the writings of Saint Gregory the Theologian and gave him the preeminent position.
Thus the Christians were split into three rival groups, which named themselves Johannites, or Basilians, or Gregorians. Consequently, since the Christians could not settle the issue, a visitation, not a vision, was vouchsafed to Metropolitan John Mavropouis (1050-1075 A.D.) of Efchaita, a holy hierarch who attained to the summit of virtue. He was a notable and erudite man, well acquainted with Hellenic wisdom, of which his writings bear witness to his learning. He was also acclaimed for his writings of hymnographic cannons and the lives of the Saints.
Metropolitan John affirmed that the three holy hierarchs appeared to him first individually and then together. He says that they spoke to him as with one mouth, saying, "We are as one before God. Even as thou dost see, we neither have any opposition to one another nor have any quarrel among ourselves; but in accordance with the times in which we happened to live, each of us, moved by the Divine Spirit, taught and wrote about various themes. Now as much as we learned by the Holy Spirit, these same teachings were also published for the salvation of the people. There exists among us no first or second place; for if the one should speak, straightway the other two also are in agreement. For this reason, command the rivaling factions not to remain divided on account of us; for even after our translation, as when we were among the living, we are concerned and eager to bring peace, unity and oneness of mind among the faithful, and not to be the cause of division. Therefore, when it seems fitting to thee, unite our commemorations on one day, and compose a troparion (a hymn) for the feast; for we are AS ONE BEFORE GOD. And be certain that we shall cooperate toward the salvation of those who celebrate our general commemoration, since we have boldness before God.
After the Saints uttered these things, they appeared to ascend again into the heavens, illumined with brilliant light and calling one another by name. Therefore, John of Efchaita was stirred in his heart and set about doing as the divine hierarchs gave him charge. Indeed, he calmed the multitude of people and brought peace among the contending factions, because he was known by all as a virtuous man. Therefore, his words were mighty and persuasive. He delivered to the Church of God THE COMMON CELEBRATION OF THESE THREE GREAT SAINTS AND FATHER OF THE CHURCH. He united their celebration on the 30th of January.
Since these Three Hierarchs labored for our salvation, we ought to commemorate their feast and pleas them as much as possible. These thrice-blessed Saints have no other concern or thought, other than to make steadfast Orthodox piety with the pure confession of the Faith in God the Unoriginate Father, God the Only-begotten Son, and God the Holy Spirit Who PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER.
Through the intercessions of the sacred Triad of Hierarchs, may the Church be granted peace, and may we be vouchsafed to glorify together the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the One God, to Whom is due all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. [Resources: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
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"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
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 