My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and SavioCHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain
a better resurrection. Still other had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes,
and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two,
were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheep-
skins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted tormented–of WHOM THE
WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY. They wandered in deserts and mountains,
in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:35-38).
As Orthodox Christians continue their Lenten journey they recall the par excellence of authentic spirituality and example. The Saints, Holy Martyrs, Holy Confessors, Wonderworkers, Unmercenaries, Holy Prophets, Holy Apostles, Holy Fathers, Holy Mothers… are the inestimable treasure and holy source of inspiration for every practicing Orthodox believer. Commemorating and knowing the lives of Orthodox Saints, Martyrs, and Confessors is vital because they provide living proof of Christ’ transforming power, serving as "applied dogmatic theology." Their holy lives offer concrete examples of virtue, provide intercession in prayer, encourage perseverance through difficult times, and connect believers to the Church’s ongoing history.
Along with prayer, fasting, repentance, the sacred Mysteries of the Church, the study of Holy Scripture, the Orthodox Christian includes in his daily spiritual discipline the Lives of the Saints, especially those commemorated specifically on the current day. The Saints serve as models of Christian life because they demonstrate that holiness is achievable by ordinary men, women and children who are transformed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Chrst, showing how to live out the Sacred Gospel in practical ways. Orthodox Christians believe Saints are alive in the "heavenly half" of the Church, serving as patrons who intercede with Almighty God on behalf of the faithful, acting as spiritual mentors and protectors. The holy lives of the Martyrs who literally shed their blood and Confessors who suffered without dying, validate the truth of the Christian faith, demonstrating the power of Divine Grace, especially during persecution. Learning of their struggles and sacrifice, particularly in times of fear or despair, gives believers confidence that our Benevolent and Merciful Lord Who strengthened the Saints will also aid us.
It is, therefore, imperative that the Orthodox faithful study the holy lives of the Saints and by doing so they focus on the spiritual life and the "cloud of witnesses" surrounding our Holy Church. By studying and honoring the Saints the Orthodox believer finds tangible inspiration to "bring your life into conformity with theirs" and, by extension, into conformity with Our Compassionate and Loving Christ. Spirituality is not something abstract but something real and tangible and achievable. According to our Holy Orthodox Tradition there are holy icons that depict the holy people of God, the Saints, and on their feast day the Church presents them to the faithful to onor and venerate.
Just like the Holy Apostle Paul who said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7), the Saints of the Church accomplished their goal too. The dedicated and committed Christian ought to say the same words as he or she nears the end of his earthly life. The fact that Orthodox Christian faithful as the prayers of Saints and their intercession is prefigured in the New Testament. The Holy Apostle Paul asks the Christians and Romans to pray for him (Ephesians 6:19:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:25); Colossians 4:3; and Romans 15:30-31). In every Divine Liturgy, we petitione God the Father to accept, on our behalf, "the prayers and the intecession" of all the Saints who now live in heaven.
Saint Basil the Great speaking of the Holy Forty Martyrs, who suffered martyrdom for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he emphasized that "they are common friends of the human race, strong ambassadors, and collaborators in fervent prayers". Saint John Chrysostom says that we should seek the fervent prayers of the Saints, because they have special "boldness" (parresia), before God. However, one most important point to make is that in our Holy Orthodox Church the worship (latreia) given to the Almighty God is much different from the honor (teemee) of love and respect, or veneration (proskynesis), "paid to all those endowed with some dignity" (St. John Chrysostom). Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes, "God is the Teacher of the Prophets, the co-traveller with the Apostles, the power of the Martyrs, the inspiration of the Fathers and Teachers, the perfection of all Saints."
Christians are to imitate together with the Martyrs who pray before the Throne of God and wear white robes as a reward of their martyrdom. However, it was Saint Paul with his doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ who provided a theological basis for the venerating and invoking the Saints. According to it, all members have their particular office as "fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God," (Ephesians 2:19). It has been this teaching about the Church that supplied the Biblical foundation for the practice of devotion to the Saints. The first documentary witness of the devotion to Saints in the early Church comes from the "Martyrdom of Polycarp" (about 156 A.D.). Saint Polycarp’s followers express their intention to ‘celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom’ in all days to come. At the same time this practice was supplemented by the growing veneration of the holy relics of those who had suffered martyrdom.
Is it any wonder why Orthodox Christians include the lives of the Saints in their daily spiritual askesis? The Saints are the heroes of our Christian faith and should always be respected and emulated. The spiritual life of each individual ought to be of substance and profound. imIt must continue to grow in knowledge, faith and commitment in order for it to have meaning and impact in our lives. Proclaiming and professing to be a Christian does not make it so. Our Lord Jesus says to us, as He spoke to the young ruler, "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘ You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and COME FOLLOW ME." (Matthew 19:16-21). We are taught here that salvation does not depend upon external things, whether they be many or few, great or small, but on the virtues of the soul–FAITH, HOPE, AND AGAPE (LOVE)–the reward of which is salvation. These virtues the houng man still lacked.
The Saints of our Church, who inherited from their parents great wealth did exactly that, they sold their estates and then distributed their wealth to the poor and followed our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.
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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 