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.
HOLY PENTECOST: GLORY TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. [Part IV]
A Prayer to the Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
Lord, cleanse us from our sins!
Master pardon our transgressions!
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities,
for Your name’s sake.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the
Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
The COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT into the heart of man is called by the Holy Fathers of the Church "SOBER INTOXICATION" [Saint Dionysios the Areopagite]. Saint Isaac the Syrian, referring to such states, speaks of the fact that all the person’s powers are plunged "IN DEEP INTOXICATION". It is called intoxication because THERE IS GREAT JOY AND GLADNESS, AND ITIS CHARACTERIZED AS "SOBER" BECAUSE THE PERSON DOES NOT LOSE HIS SENSES NOR HIS REASON. When a person is taken possession of by the Holy Spirit HE REMAINS FREE, OR TO EXPRESS IT BETTER, HE ACQUIRES REAL FREEDOM, WHICH DOES NOT FUNCTION AS A POWER OF CHOICE, AS PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS SAYS, BUT AS NATURAL WILL, AS AN OVERCOMING OF DEATH. The Holy Apostle Paul writes characteristically: "The spirits of Prophets are subject to the Prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:32). This means that the man who is a Prophet is not subject to his gift of grace, but THE GIFT OF GRACE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROPHET, which is to say that MAN’S FREEDOM IS NOT ABOLISHED, NOR ARE THE ENERGIES OF HIS MIND AND SOUL SUSPENDED.
Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite says that there are THREE KINDS OF INTOXICATION. First, that which comes with too much wine, which is the cause of many evils. Second, is the intoxication which is activated by the passions. Third, is the intoxication caused by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Apostles underwent this third intoxication on the day of Pentecost, because THEN THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT, DISCOVERED THE PLACE OF THE HEART, KNEW CHRIST BETTER, BECAME MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, DEVELOPED A GREAT LOVE AND LONGING FOR CHRIST, AND THIS WAS EXPRESSED, AS THE HOLY FATHERS EXPLAIN, BY PRAYER.
"…The order of the Divine Economy and SALVATION of the human race is: "Father, Son and Holy Spirit, since the Father sends the Son and the Son sends the Holy Spirit. But the order of man’s deification (theosis) is just the opposite: MAN IS LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE SON, AND THROUGH THE SON HE RECOGNIZES THE FATHER.
We find the same teaching in many Saints of the Church. We should mention the teaching of Saint Symeon the Theologian, who says that IF CHRIST IS THE DOOR, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE KEY TO OPENING THE DOOR AND THIS IS HOW WE REACH THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER. In this perspective there are special prayers to the Holy Spirit, such as the prayer: "Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, everywhere present and filling all things, the treasure of blessings and giver of Life. Come and abide in us and cleanse us from all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One."
Here one sees the order of this knowledge of God. The heart of man is cleansed by the Holy Spirit, then it knows Christ, and then it is brought to the Father… In Orthodox Theology we speak of enhypostatic grace and energy. We see this during the Divine Liturgy. All the prayer of the offering is prayer to the Father to send the Holy Spirit and TRANSFORM THE BREAD AND WINE INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. In fact, the Holy Spirit DOES TRANSFORM THE GIFTS INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, AND WE SHARE THE PRECIOUS GIFTS AND BECOME A DWELLING OF THE TRIUNE GOD.
The Holy Fathers of the Church teach that while the Holy Spirit is active IN THE WHOLE CREATION AND IN ALL PEOPLE, nevertheless each person partakes of His energies in accordance with his receptivity. One must have A RECEPTIVE ORGAN IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE MANIFOLD GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Saint Maximus the Confessor, referring to this, says THAT THE SAINTS ACQUIRE DIFFERENT GIFTS OF GRACE NOT BY THEIR NATURAL POWER, BUT BY DIVINE POWER. All the gifts of grace are given by the Holy Spirit but this happens ACCORDING TO THEIR RECEPTIVITY. The Holy Spirit DOES NOT INSPIRE WISDOM IN THE SAINTS WITHOUT THEIR HAVING THE NOUS THAT RECEIVES WISDOM, NOR KNOWLEDGE IF THERE IS NO POWER OF REASON, NOR FAITH WITHOUT THE NOUS AND REASON BEING INFORMED ABOUT THE THINGS TO COME, NOR GIFTS OF HEALING, WITHOUT NATURAL LOVE TOWARDS MEN. This means that the Saints receive THE GIFTS OF THEOLOGY, GIFTS OF KNOWLEDGE, GIFTS OF HEALING, IF THERE IS AN ORGAN TO RECEIVE THIS GIFT.
This is the case not only for the gifts of theology, but also for other gifts of grace. They are called gifts of grace because they are granted by God, but IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF EACH PERSON. Saint Maximos the Confessor once again points out THAT EACH OF THE FAITHFUL RECEIVES THE ENERGY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCORDING TO HIS FAITH AND THE CONDITION OF HIS SOUL.
Saint Diadochos of Photiki teaches that by Holy Baptism WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEART AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE Body of Christ. However, we cover this grace with passions, but it is not lost completely, BUT IS COVERED BY THEM. We must, on the one hand, THROW OUT THE ASHES OF THE PASSIONS, AND ON THE OTHER HAND THROW ON AS WOOD THE DOING OF THE COMMANDMENT. But in order for the wood to be ignited by the sparks of Divine Grace, we must blow strongly with the prayer, "LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON AND WORD OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME" WHILE OUR NOUS RETURNS TO THE HEART. THIS PRAYER IS CALLED "NOETIC AND HOLY PRAYER."
Analyzing his thought, Saint Diadochos of Photiki says that when this prayer stays in the heart a long time it not only cleanses it from passions, but when it finds the spark of Divine Grace it sets alight a strange and wonderful fire, which burns up the attacks of evil thoughts, sweetness the heart and the whole inner world and illuminates the nous. And Saint Gregory Palamas says that HE WHO GATHERS HIS NOUS INTO HIS HEART AND LIFTS IT UP TO GOD IS BEAUTIFULLY CHANGED.
In reality, through the energy of the Holy Spirit, when the person is made a receptive vessel, the fire of Divine Grace is set alight in his heart. Saint Basil the Great says that THERE IS A REAL "BURNING OF THE SPIRIT WHICH REKINDLES THE HEART." An indeed it is maintained that this burning which illuminates souls and destroys the stubble and thorns, was active in the Holy Apostles who spoke in fiery tongues, it shone round the Apostle Paul, it warmed the hearts of Cleopas and those with him, this fire is something which will banish the demons, but also a power of resurrection, an energy of IMMORTALITY, ILLUMINATION OF THE HOLY SOULS, SUPPORT OF THE RATIONAL POWERS.
PENTECOST was in history once, but it is brought back in the lives of the saints. When the deified (theosis) attain a state of spiritual life, they share in Pentecost and become apostles of Jesus Christ. PENTECOST is the high point OF GLORIFICATION AND DEIFICATION (THEOSIS). All who follow the same journey with the Holy Disciples arrive at this vision of God and partake of the grace and energy of Pentecost.
The Holy Apostle Paul is clear when he says: "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" [Romans 8:14]. NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO WERE CREATED BY GOD ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. SONSHIP IS CONNECTED WITH INNER NOETIC PRAYER: "And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father" (Roman 8:15). The spirit of God which will be present in the heart of man "testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children" (Romans 8:16). He is himself a son of God who has the Holy Spirit within him, which testifies with our spirit and confirms that the man is a child of God. However, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart IS CONFIRMED BY THE INNER PRAYER OF THE HEART WHICH COMES WITH A CRY.
If anyone DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD in him, he does NOT belong to Christ, which means that he is not a living member of the Body of Christ. Even if he has been baptized at some time, the grace of Holy Baptism remains INACTIVE, and this man is A DEAD MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. This is said by the Holy Apostle Paul in an important and revealing passage: "AND IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST" (Romans 8:9). NO ONE BELONGS TO CHRIST IF HE DOES NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE PRECONDITIONS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE. By contrast, IF ANYONE HAS IN HIM THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE IS REALLY A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, SINCE HE IS NOT "CONTROLLED BY THE SINFUL NATURE BUT BY THE SPIRIT" (Romans 8:8-9). [Resources: The Twelve Feasts of the Lord]
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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 Magnificent Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 