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 HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY (Part II)

About the Dispensation According to the Flesh Of Our
Lord Jesus Christ And the Gifts of Grace Granted To
Those Who Truly Believe in Him.
Also, teaching that God was able to redeem man from
the Devil’s Tyranny in many Different Ways but rightly
PREFERRED THIS DISPENSATION.
By Saint Gregory Palamas

When the evil one was justly abandoned by the God of True Life because of VOLUNTARY SIN, he became A DEAD SPIRIT. He was the FULLNESS OF WICKEDNESS, THE CAPTAIN OF ENVY, CRAFTY, AND THE ORIGINATOR OF EVIL, AND HE COULD NOT BEAR MAN TO LIVE IN THE PLACE OF DELIGHT, THAT IS TO SAY, IN PARADISE. He beguiled him with deadly advice and MADE HIM TO SHARE HIS OWN SIN AND SPIRITUAL DEADNESS. Of necessity bodily death FOLLOWED THIS SPIRITUAL DEAD, SO THE EVIL ONE CAUSED OUR DOUBLE DEATH BY HIS SINGLE DEATH. Having flung us down even lower than himself, he appeared to be great and exalted, and boasted that he had outwitted us with his intelligence and reduced us to slavery. As he was immortal, he appeared, alas, to be our God. Even AFTER DEATH OUR SOULS, HAVING BEEN DESERTED BY GOD, FELL TO HIS LOT AND HE DRAGGED THEM DOWN INTO HADES, AND SHUT THEM UP IN SEEMINGLY INESCAPABLE PRISONS.

God our Creator had mercy upon our wretchedness and graciously WILLED TO DESCEND TO THE PLACE WHERE WE HAD BEEN THROWN, TO CALL US BACK. HE ALONE APPEARED FREE AMONG THE DEAD (Psalm 88:5), DESCENDING WITH HIS LIVING SPIRIT. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE RADIATED DIVINE LIGHT AND POSSESSED LIFE-GIVING POWER, SO THAT HE COULD ENLIGHTEN THOSE WHO SAT IN DARKNESS AND SPIRITUALLY QUICKEN THOSE IN THAT PLACE WHO BELIEVED IN HIM. However, on that day when He stands up to raise THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE TO LIFE AND JUDGE IT, HE WILL QUICKEN THE BODIES OF ALL AS WELL. As the leader of the Holy Apostles teaches us in his letter, "For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, THAT THEY MIGHT BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO MEN IN THE FLESH, BU LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD IN THE SPIRIT" (1 Peter 4:6). A little earlier in the Epistle he shows us who it was that preached the gospel to the dead in Hades and why, saying, "Christ hath once suffered for sinners, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT: BY WHICH ALSO HE WENT AND PREACHED UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON" (cf. 1 Peter 3:18-19), that is, TO THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

As the evil one procured our twofold death by means of his single spiritual death, so THE GOOD LORD HEALED THIS TWOFOLD DEATH OF OURS THROUGH HIS SINGLE BODILY DEATH, AND THROUGH THE ONE RESURRECTION OF HIS BODY GAVE US A TWOFOLD RESURRECTION. BY MEANS OF HIS BODILY DEATH HE DESTROYED HIM WHO HAD POWER OVER OUR SOULS AND BODIES IN DEATH (cf. Hebrews 2:14), AND RESCUED US FROM HIS TYRANNY OVER THEM BOTH. The evil one clothed himself in the serpent to deceive man, BUT THE LOGOS/WORD OF GOD PUT ON MAN’S NATURE TO TRICK THE TRICKSTER. He received this nature in its undeceived and pure state, and kept it so to the end, OFFERING IT AS FIRSTFRUITS TO THE FATHER FOR SANCTIFICATION FROM OURSELVES FOR OURSELVES. If the Logos/Word of God had not assumed A MORTAL AND PASSIBLE BODY, HOW ELSE COULD THE DEVIL HAVE BEEN DECEIVED, HOW ELSE WOULD HE, WHO IS ENVY ITSELF, HAVE EVEN DARED TO ATTACK HIM?

"… He attacked Christ’s passible and mortal flesh, and unwittingly brought the Light into his dark and terrible caverns and set the GIVER OF LIFE OVER THE SOULS HE HAD TYRANNIZED THROUGH SPIRITUAL DEATH. Not only that, but HE BROUGHT RESURRECTION AND IMMORTALITY, WHILE HE WAS HASTENING TO DELIVER IT TO DEATH AND THE GRAVE. The Lord could have evaded these plots of the devil, but He did not wish to. Rather, it was He will TO UNDERGO THE PASSION FOR OUR SAKE, AS THIS WAS WHY HE BECAME THE GOD-man. HAD HE NOT BEEN HUMAN, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEE POSSIBLE IN HIS DIVINITY, HE COULD NOT HAVE SUFFERED DEATH IN THE FLESH FOR OUR SAKE, THEREBY BESTOWING UPON UR RESURRECTION, OR RATHER, RISING FROM THE DEAD AND IMMORTALITY. Nor would it be believable that it was possible for Him not to suffer, but that He CHOSE WILLINGLY TO DO SO IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT HIS HUMILITY WAS TO LIBERATE US AND LIFT US UP, TEACHING US TO WAGE A PRACTICAL STRUGGLE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO DEATH, IF NEED BE. TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION HE PROCLAIMED THE POWER OF IMMORTALITY — NOT JUST THAT THEY WOULD GO ON FOR EVER, BUT THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE WITHOUT ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, THE TERRIFYING ETERNAL DAMNATION PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL, AND LIVE FOR EVER WITH THE HOLY ANGELS, SHARING THEIR ENJOYMENT OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE AND NEVER-ENDING KINGDOM. [Resources: HOMILIES)

(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

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.

About the Dispensation according to the Flesh of Our Lord Jesus Christ
And the Gifts of Grace Granted To Those Who Truly Believe in Him.
By Saint Gregory Palamas

THE PRE-ETERNAL, Uncircumscribed and Almighty Logos/Word and Omnipotent Son of God could clearly have saved man from mortality and servitude to the devil WITHOUT HIMSELF BECOMING MAN. He upholds all things by the word of His power and everything is subject to His Divine Authority (cf. Hebrews 1:3). According to Job, He can do everything and nothing is impossible for Him (cf. Job 42:2). The strength of a created being cannot withstand the power of the Creator, and nothing is more powerful than the Almighty. But the Incarnation of the Logos/Word of God was the method of deliverance most in keeping with our nature and weakness, and most appropriate for Him who carried it out, for this method had justice on its side, and God does not act without justice. As the Psalmist and Prophet says, "God is Righteous and loveth righteousness" (cf. Psalm 11:7), "and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (Psalm 92:15). Man was justly abandoned by God in the beginning AS HE HAD FIRST ABANDONED GOD. He had VOLUNTARILY APPROACHED THE ORIGINATOR OF EVIL, OBEYED HIM WHEN HE TREACHEROUSLY ADVISED THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOD HAD COMMANDED, AND WAS JUSTLY GIVEN OVER TO HIM. In this way, through the evil one’s envy and the good Lord’s just consent, DEATH CAME INTO THE WORLD. Because of the devil’s overwhelming evil, DEATH BECAME TWOFOLD, FOR HE BROUGHT ABOUT NOT JUST PHYSICAL BUT ALSO ETERNAL DEATH.

As we had been justly handed over to the devil’s service and subjection to death, it was clearly necessary that the human race’s return to freedom and life should be accomplished by God in a just way. Not only had man been surrendered to the envious devil by Divine Righteousness, but the devil had rejected righteousness and became wrongly enamoured of authority, arbitrary power and, above all, tyranny. He took arms against justice and used his might against mankind. It pleased God that the devil be overcome first by the justice against which he continuously fought, then afterwards by power, through the Resurrection and the future Judgment. Justice before power is the best order of events, and that force should come after justice is the work of a truly Divine and Good Lord, not of a tyrant.

Whereas he who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44) ATTACKED US OUT OF ENVY AND HATRED, the Author of Life acted for our sake out of His OVERWHELMING AGAPE FOR MANKIND AND HIS GOODNESS. The devil achieved his victory and man’s fall unjustly and treacherously, but the Redeemer accomplished the final defeat of the originator of evil and the renewal of His creation with righteousness and wisdom. Earlier God left undone what it was in His power to do, so that He might first do what was fitting. In this way, justice was manifested more clearly, having been favoured by Him whose might IS UNCONQUERABLE. Men had to be taught to demonstrate righteousness in their actions now in the time of this mortal life, so that they might be strengthened to hold it fast when eternity comes.

It was necessary for the conqueror to be conquered by that nature which he had conquered, and for the cheat to be outwitted. To this end it was necessary and indispensable THAT A MAN BE MADE WHO WOULD BE SINLESS (cf. Job 14:4). This was, however, impossible, for as the Scripture says "No one is without sin, even if his life is one day" (Job 14:5), and "Who can say, I have made my heart clean?" ( Proverbs 20:9), and "There is none sinless, but one, that is God" (cf. Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18). God the Logos/Word was from God, Pre-Eternally begotten of Him, and in Him — for we cannot even imagine that God was ever without His Logos/Word — being one God with Him. (For the sun’s brightness is not a different light from the sun, and the sun’s ray is not a different sun.) So the ONLY SINLESS Son and Logos/Word of the Father became the Son of man, UNCHANGED AS GOD, BLAMELESS AS MAN. WHO ALONE, as Prophet Isaiah bore witness beforehand, "DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH" (1 Peter 2:22, cf. Isaiah 53:9). Moreover He ALONE HAD NOT BEEN SHAPEN IN INIQUITY OR CONCEIVED IN SIN, as David declared in the Psalms about himself, or rather about everyone (Psalm 51:5). The impulse of the flesh is involuntary and openly wars against the law of the mind. Even though it is brought into subjection by chaste people, and given reign only for the purpose of having children, it ushers in the original condemnation, being subject to corruption and always bringing forth what will perish. For those who are unaware of the honor which our nature has received from God, and have become like animals, it is a movement full of passion…

"Christ overturned the devil THROUGH SUFFERING AND HIS FLESH WHICH HE OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE TO GOD THE FATHER, AS A PURE AND ALTOGETHER HOLY VICTIM — HOW GREAT IS HIS GIFT! — AND RECONCILED GOD TO OUR HUMAN RACE. HE UNDERWENT THE PASSION ACCORDING TO THE FATHER’S WILL AND BECAME FOR US, WHO WERE DESTROYED THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE AND SAVED THROUGH OBEDIENCE, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW OBEDIENT WE SHOULD BE. He showed that death was far more precious than the devil’s immortality, because IF PROCURED LIFE THAT WAS TRULY IMMORTAL, LIFE THAT WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SECOND AND ETERNAL DEATH, TO THE COMING DAMNATION, WHICH IS WORSE THAN TEN THOUSAND DEATHS, BUT STAYS WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLY DWELLINGS. WHEN CHRIST HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY AND HAD SHOWN HIMSELF ALIVE TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN,. HE REMAINED IMMORTAL AND BESTOWED ON US, WITH COMPLETE ASSURANCE, RESURRECTION, IMMORTALITY AND TRULY BLESSED, ETERNAL, INCORRUPTIBLE LIFE IN HEAVEN. BY MEANS OF THE ONE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF HIS FLESH, HE HEALED OUR TWOFOLD DATH AND FREED US FROM OUR DOUBLE CAPTIVITY OF SOUL AND BODY. (Ressources: HOMILIES)

(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

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.

THE PALM SUNDAY KERYGMA (Part II)
Saint Gregory Palamas

The people not only sang His praises and called Him God, but they subsequently opposed the Scribes and Pharisees’ evil purpose against God and their murderous allegations. For the latter were mad enough to say of Him, "This man is not of God, and since he doeth many miracles, if welet him thus alone and do not put him to death, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation" (cf. John 9:16; 11:47-48). But what did the people say? "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh" (Mark 11:9-10). By saying, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord," they SHOWED THAT HE WAS FROM GOD THE FATHER AND THAT HE AME IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER. AS THE LORD SAID OF HIMSELF, "I CAME IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER" (cf. John 5:43) and I proceeded forth and came from God" (John 8:42). On the other hand, by saying, "Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh," they showed that this was the kingdom in which, according to prophecy, the Gentiles too, and indeed the Romans, were to believe. For this king was not just Israel’s hope, but also the expectation of the Gentiles (Pagans), according to Jacob’s prophecy: "Binding his foal unto the vine," where "foal" refers to the Jewish people who were subject to Him, "and his ass’s colt unto the branch of the vine" (Genesis 49:11). The branch of the vine is the Lord’s disciples, for the Lord said to them, "I AM THE VINE, YE ARE THE BRANCHES" (John 15:5). By this branch, the Lord binds to Himself His "ass’s colt," namely the NEW ISRAEL OF THE GENTILES, who become sons of Abraham by grace. If, asked the people, this kingdom in which we have put our faith is the hope of the Gentiles (Pagans) too, why should we fear the Romans?

Those who were childlike in innocence but not in intelligence were inspired by the Holy Spirit to offer up to the Lord a faultlessly perfect hymn, and bore witness that, as God, He had brought Lazarus back to life after he had been dead for four days. When the Scribes and Pharisees, on the other hand, "saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the Temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were sore displeased and said unto the Lord, Hearest Thou what they say?" (Matthew 21:15-16). In fact, it would have been more appropriate for the Lord to put the same question to them, "Can you not see, or hear or understand?" To refuse those who were complaining that He tolerated songs of praise that were fitting for God alone, He replied, "Yes, I hear those who, invisibly enlightened by Myself, declare such things about Me. But if these should hold their peace, THE STONES WOULD IMMEDIATELY CRY OUT. Have you never read the prophecy that, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16). This was another amazing fact, that simple, uneducated children should speak perfectly of the Divinity of God made man for our sake, and that their voices should take up the Angelic Hymn. At the Lord’s birth the Angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth" (Luke 2:14), and now at the time of His Entry into Jerusalem the children offered up the same hymn, "Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9).

Let us all, young and old, rulers and subjects, be childlike in innocence, that God may empower us to make a public show of the trophies, and carry aloft the symbols of victory, not just victory over the evil passions, but over visible and invisible enemies, and may we find the grace of the word to help in time of need (cf, Hebrews 4:16). The young colt which the Lord deigned to ride for our sake prefigured, although it was only one, the Gentiles’ obedience to HIm and we, governors and governed alike, are all Gentiles come from them.

In Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female, nor Greek, nor Jews, but all, according to the Holy Apostle, are one (Galatians 3:28). In the same way, in Him there is neither ruler nor subject, but by His grace WE ARE ALL ONE IN FAITH IN HIM, AND BELONG TO ONE BODY, HIS CHURCH, WHOSE HEAD HE IS. By the grace of the All-Holy Spirit we have all drunk of the one Spirit, and have all received one baptism. We all have one hope and one God, Who is above all, and through all, and in us all (Ephesians 4:6). So let us love one another. Let us bear with one another, SEEING THAT WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER. When He departed from this world, the fatherly inheritance He left us was AGAPE (LOVE), and the last prayer He gave us when He Ascended to His Father WAS ABOUT AGAPE FOR ONE ANOTHER (John 13:33-35).

Let us strive to attain to this fatherly prayer and let us NOT lose the inheritance He left us nor the sign He gave us, lest we should also lose our sonship, our blessing and our discipleship. If that happens, we shall fall away from the promised hope and be shut out of the spiritual bridechamber. Before His Saving Passion, when the Lord entered the earthly Jerusalem, not just the people, but also the true rulers of the Gentiles, the Lord’s Apostles, spread their garments in His way. In the same manner, let us all, rulers as well as subjects, lay down our natural garments before Him, by making our flesh and its impulses subject to the spirit, that we may be made worthy not only to see and worship Christ’s Saving Passion and Holy Resurrection, but to enjoy communion with Him. "For if," says the Holy Apostle, "we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection" (Romans 6:5).

To which may we all attain by the grace and love towards mankind of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom belong All Glory, Honor and Worship, together with His Father without beginning and the Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Resources: HOMILIES)

A BLESSED AND GRACE-FILLED HOLY AND GREAT WEEK TO ALL!

________
"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

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.

THE TRIUMPH OF PALM SUNDAY
(Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40)

"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

‘Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the LORD!’
The King of Israel!’

Then Jesus, when He found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

‘Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.’

…Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus
out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this
reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done
this sign" (John 12:12:1-18).

HOMILY DELIVERED ON PALM SUNDAY
Saint Gregoy Palamas

IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee," said God through Isaiah (Isaiah 49:8). It is good day to speak these words of the Apostle to your charity: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us work the works of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day" (Romans 13:12-13). The commemoration of Christ’s SAVING PASSION is at hand, and the new, great spiritual Passover, which is the reward for dispassion and the prelude of the world to come. Lazarus proclaims it in advance by coming back from the depths of Hades and rising from the dead on the fourth day just by the voice and command of God, Who has power over life and death (John 11:1-45). By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, children and simple people sing praises in advance to the Redeemer from death, who brings souls up from Hades and gives souls and bodies Eternal Life.

"What man is he that desireth life and to see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile: depart from evil and do good" (Psalm 34:12-14; cf. 1 Peter 3:10-11). Evil means gluttony, drunkenness and dissolute living. Evil means vainglory, arrogance and pride. Let everyone turn aside from such vices and do those things which are good. What are they? Self-control, fasting, charity, righteousness, almsgiving, forebrance, love, humility. That by so doing we may worthily partake of the Lamb of God Who was sacrificed for our sake, and so receive the earnest of incorruption, and keep it as an assurance of the inheritance promised to us in heaven. Is it hard to do good, and are the virtues more difficult than the vices? That is certainly not how I see it.

Notice that the Father and the Son are of equal honor and have the same will. The words are in the form of a prayer for the sake of the crowd standing by , but they are not words of prayer but of Lordship and absolute authority. "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43). And at once the man who has been dead four days stood before Him alive. Did this come about by the command of the Life-Giver or His prayer? He cried with a loud voice, again on account of the bystanders, since He could have raised him not only by using His normal voice, but just by His will alone.

The simple people believed Him in every respect, and did not keep their faith quiet, but began to preach His Divinity by deeds and words. After the raising of Lazarus on the fourth day the Lord found an ass, and, when His disciples had made it ready, as the Evangelist Matthew tells us (Matthew 21:1-11), He sat upon it and entered Jerusalem, as had been foretold in Zechariah’s prophecy: "Do not fear, O daughter of Zion: behold thy king cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5). The Prophet shows by these words that his king in the prophecy is the only true King of Zion." "Your king," he says, "does not arouse fear in those who see him. Nor is he an oppressor or an evildoer accompanied by shield-bearers and spearmen, trailing behind him a host of foot-soldiers and cavalry; passing his life in greed for gain, demanding taxes and tributes, and unpleasant and harmful labors and services. By contrast, His banner is HUMILITY, POVERTY AND LOWLINESS, AND HE ENTERS UPON AN ASS, WITHOUT ANY HUMAN PRETENSIONS AT ALL. He is the Righteous King WHO RIGHTEOUSLY SAVES. HE IS MEEK, AND MEEKNESS IS HIS DISTINCTIVE WORK." The Lord said of Himself, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

So the King Who had raised Lazarus from the dead entered Jerusalem sitting upon an ass. Everyone, children, men, old people, immediately spread their garments in the way. They took palm branches, which are SYMBOLS OF VICTORY, and went to meet Him as the Life-Giver and Victor over death. They fell at His feet and escorted Him in procession, singing together, not just outside but also inside the precincts of the Temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9). "HOSANNA" IS A SONG OR PRAISE DIRECTED TO GOD, WHICH MEANS, "SAVE US." The additional words, "in the highest" show that He is not only praised on earth, nor only by men, BUT ALSO BY THE HEAVENLY ANGELS ON HIGH.

(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

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.

LAZARUS THE FRIEND OF CHRIST

"Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town
of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed
the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped HIs feet with her hair,
whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters, sent
to HIm, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’
When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto
death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be
glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister
and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed
two more days in the place where He was. Then after this
He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’
… These things He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our
friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then
His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He
was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to
them plainly ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes
that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let
us go to him… So when Jesus came, He found that he had
already been in the tomb four days…
Now Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my
brother would not have died. But even now I know that
whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’ Jesus said to
her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, I know
that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus
said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes
in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said
to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of
God, Whois to come into the world.’ …Therefore, when Jesus
saw her (Mary) weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping.
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, ‘Where
have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’
Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’
…Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was
a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this
time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus
said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would
see the glory of God?’ Then they took away the stone from the place
where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,
‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You
always hear Mes, but because of the people who are standing by I said
this, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ Now when He had said
these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’
And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,
and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose
him, and let him go.’ (John 11:1-45).

The Saturday before Palm Sunday is referred to in the Orthodox Tradition as the Saturday of Lazarus. This day, along with Palm Sunday, occupies a special position between Lent and Holy and Great Week. The Saturday before Palm Sunday celebrates the raising of Lazarus at Bethany This miracle is performed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as A REASSURANCE TO HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE THE COMING PASSION; THEY ARE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THOUGH HE SUFFERS AND DIES, YE THIS LORD AND VICTORY OVER DEATH. THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS IS A PROPHECY IN THE FORM OF AN ATION. IT FORESHADOWS CHRIST’S OWN RESURRECTION EIGHT DAYS LATER, AND AT THE SAME TIME IT ANTICIPATES THE RESURRECTION OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS ON THE LAST DAY: LAZARUS IS ‘THE SAVING FIRST-FRUITS OF THE REGENERATION OF THE WORLD.’

This miracle is the last of our Lord’s Seven Signs in the Gospel of Saint John: These signs are: (1) changing water into wine; (2) curing the nobleman’s son; (3) healing the paralytic; (4) feeding the 5,000; (5) walking on water; (6) giving sight to the blind man; (7) raising Lazarus from the dead. The sign and miracle of Lazarus sealed the decision of the Jewish authorities to put Jesus to death. Bethany is on the Easter slope of the Mount of Olives, about 2 miles from Jerusalem. Lazarus is the same name as Eleazar (lit. "Gospel helps"). Lazarus’ sickness would not result in permanent "death" because he would be brought back to life by the Christ, an act which would bring "glory" to the Father and the Son. Our Lord Jesus Christ delayed visiting Lazarus to allow for the assured death of Lazarus, which underscores the magnitude of the miracle. As true man Jesus shows by example that weeping is the natural human response to death. As True God He shows compassion upon His creation when the soul is torn from the body. Our Lord comes to the place of burial. A corpse that has by the fourth day begins to deteriorate is enough reason for Martha’s warning. Embalming was prohibited in Judaism. The body was simply anointed with spices and other aromatic substances which would keep the stench of decomposition at bay for a brief time.

Again we see the Evangelist’s insistence on relating Jesus’ dependence upon the Father for all His works. Jesus prays for the bystanders, that they may have the insight to see the glory of God in the miracle. Jesus’ "loud" cry for all to hear is reminiscent of His earlier words, "The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth" (John 5:28-29). Also, that Lazarus came out bound in his linen "graveclothes" is interpreted by Patristic writers as an indication he will need them once again: he will eventually die. Our Savior’s grave linens, by contrast, were left in the tomb. He will have no more use for them, for He will never die again.

In Orthodox Christian Tradition, Lazarus of Bethany is revered as the "Righteous Friend of Christ," who was raised from the dead after four days as a foreshadowing of Christ’s Resurrection and a prophecy of the Universal Resurrection. He was close friend to Jesus, lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha, and later became a Bishop in Cyprus after fleeing persecution, where he lived for another 30 years. Fearing for his life Lazarus fled to Cyprus, where it is believed Saint Barnabas and Saint Paul ordained him as the First Bishop of Kition (modern-day Larnaca. In our Holy Orthodox liturgical calendar, Lazarus Saturday immediately precedes palm Sunday and Holy and Great Week, setting the theme of Christ as Victory over death. Furthermore Tradition says Lazarus never smiled for the 30 years he lived after being resurrected, traumatized by what he saw in the underworld. The only exception was when he saw someone stealing a ot, saying: "the clay steals the clay." It is believed also that he met with the Ever-Virgin Mary the Theotokos in Cyprus and she presented him with Bishop’s robes or vestments she had woven herself. Lazarus died for the second and last time in Cyprus. His holy relics were later moved or translated to Constantinople in 898 A.D.

In holy icons, Lazarus is shown emerging from the tomb, still tightly bound in funeral cloths (shroud), symbolizing that while resurrected he was still subject to human mortality until his second death. He is of course considered a model of friendship with our Lord Jesus Christ and a living breathing witness to Christ’s power to conquer death. As a result of this miracle, many of he Jews that were present believed in Jesus. Others went and told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. In response the Pharisees and Chief Priests met and considered how they might arrest Him and put Him to death.

Standing with Christ are His Disciples who are witnesses of this great miracle, a true transformation of the power of God that would bring them assurance during the Passion of our Lord and Savior.

The Saturday of Lazarus is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostomos, which his preceded by the Orthros (Matins) service. On Friday before the feast, the Vespers (Esperinos) is done either in conjunction with the Presanctified Liturgy or if this is not held, according to the order of the Triodion. The day and commemoration receives its name from the miracle of Christ recorded in the Gospel of Saint John the Evangelist. Both this feast and Palm Sunday are joyous festivals of the Church, and thus bright colors are used for vestments and the Holy Altar Table. At the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday, the baptismal verse from Galatians ("As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27) replaces the Thrice-Holy Hymn, thus indicating the resurrectional character of the celebration, and the fact that Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal day sin the Orthodox Church Year. [Resources: Orthodox Study Bible and The Lenten Triodion]
Hymns of the Feast

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your
Passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection,
O Christ God! Like the children with palms of victory.
We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of Death. Hosanna
in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the
name of the Lord.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

Chriar — the joy, the Truth, and the Light
of All, the Life of the World and the
Resurrection — has appeared in His goodness
to those on earth. He has become the Image
of our resurrection granting divine forgiveness
to all.

Troparion Hymn of Saturday of Lazarus,
Orthros (Matins), Tone 1

O Christ God when Thou didst raise
Lazarus from the dead, before Thy Passion,
Thou didst confirm the Universal resurrection.
Wherefore, we, like babes, carry the insignia
of triumph and victory, and cry to Thee, O
Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest,
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the
Lord.

____________
"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

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 AND GREAT WEEK (Part III)

Holy and Great Saturday. On this day we celebrate THE BURIAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST and HIS DESCENT INTO HELL. At Orthros (Matins), usually on Holy and Great Friday evening, the service begins with the ‘PRAISES’ (in Greek, Enkomia) chanted before the Epitaphion in the center of the church. The predominant note at this divine service is not so much one of mourning as of WATCHFUL EXPECTATION. For the time being God observes a Sabbath rest in the tomb, but we look forward to the moment when He will rise again, bringing new life and RECREATING THE WORLD:

"Today Thou dost keep holy the seventh day,
Which Thou hast blessed of old by resting from Thy works.
Thou bringest all things into being and Thou makest all things
new,
Observing the Sabbath rest, my Savior, and restoring Ty
strength."

At the end of the service, all go WITH THE EPITAPHION AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH, SINGING, ‘Holy God…’ , exactly as they would at a funeral. And yet this is not in fact a funeral processions at all, God HAD DIED ON THE CROSS, AND YET HE IS NOT DEAD. HE WHO DIED, THE LOGOS/WORD, IS THE Life Himself, Holy and Immortal; and our procession through the night SIGNIFIES THAT HE IS NOW PROCEEDING THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF HELL, ANNOUNCING TO ADAM AND TO AL THE DEAD HIS COMING RESURRECTION, IN WHICH THEY ALSO CALLED TO SHARE.

In the morning and early afternoon of Holy and Great Saturday there follow Vespers (Esperinos) and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. Originally, this service began later, in the evening, and continued into the early hours of Pascha (Easter) Sunday morning; but now it has been moved back, and its place taken by the existing MIDNIGHT SERVICE of Paschal Orthros (Matins), with the Canon by Saint John Damascus, ‘This is the Day of Resurrection…’, followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostomos. The more ancient Vigil service, now celebrated on Holy and Great Saturday morning, has a strongly baptismal character, reflecting the period when this Mysterion (Sacrament) was administered on Pascha night. The texts at Vespers (Esperinos) are dominated by the three connected themes of PASSOVER, RESURRECTION AND BAPTISMAL INITIATION. Of the Fifteen Readings — constituting the final stage in the teaching imparted to the catechumens before they were baptized — readings 4, 7, 8, 12, and 15 refer TO THE RESURRECTION. readings 4, 6,14, and 15 refer symbolically to Baptism. The BAPTISMAL CHARACTER of the Holy and Great Saturday Office is likewise apparent in the chant sung in place of the TRISAGION, ‘As many of you as were baptized into Christ…’, and in the choice of Epistle reading (Romans 6L3-11). With the verse following the Epistle, ‘ARISE, OF GOD, AND JUDGE THOU THE EARTH; FOR THOU SHALL TAKE ALL HEATHEN TO THINE INHERITANCE’, THE CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

On Holy and Great Saturday evening the faithful gradually reassemble in teh darkened church while the Acts of the Apostles are read adn then the Midnight Office is chanted. As TWELVE O’CLOCK APPROACHES, the lights in the body of the church are extinguished. All wait in silence for the moment when the priest will come out from the sanctuary with the burning candle and THAT SYMBOLIZE THE LIGHT OF THE RISEN CHRIST chanting: ‘COME YE AND RECEIVE LIGHT FROM THE UNWANING LIGHT; AND GLORIFY CHRIST, WHO HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.’ The faithful light their candles from the lighted candles of the Altar Boys. The procession of Clergy, Altar boys, Choir or Chanters AND THE PERSON HOLDING THE LABARUM OF THE ANASTASIS (RESURRECTION), MOVES TOWARD THE NARTHEX AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH TO A SPECIALLY PREPARED PLATFORM, WHILE THE CHOIR CHANTS ‘THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN PRAISE THY RESURRECTION, O CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR; MAKE US ON EARTH WORTHY,WITH PURE HEARTS, TO GLORIFY THEE.’ Then the Gospel reading according to Saint Mark 16:1-8 is read and at the conclusion the priest proclaims: ‘Glory to the Holy and consubstantial and Life-Giving and Undivided Trinity, always, now and ever and to the of Ages. Amen. The priest raising the candle high chants, CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, BY DEATH TRAMPLING UPON DEATH, AND HAS BESTOWED LIFE TO THOSE IN THE TOMBS (three times). The Resurrection hymn is then chanted by all. Soon after the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostomos is conducted. [Resources: (The Lenten Triodion]

___________
"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

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 AND GREAT WEEK (Part II)

Holy and Great Thursday. On this day four events are celebrated: THE WASHING OF THE DISCIPLES’ FEET, THE INSTITUTION OF THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST AT THE LAST SUPPER, THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (but the liturgical texts do not dwell much on this), AND THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST BY JUDAS ISCARIOT. In certain cathedrals and monasteries, there is a special ceremony of feet-washing at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, with the bishop or abbot (egoumenos) taking the part of Christ and Twelve Priests representing the Holy Apostles. At the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, and at the centers of other Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches, the Holy Chrism is blessed during the Divine Liturgy on this day; but the rite does not take place every year. The meaning of Holy and Great Thursday is summed up in a text of singular beauty, repeated many times at the Divine Liturgy, which combines the themes of Eucharistic Communion, Judas’ treachery, and the confession of the Good Thief:

At Thy mystical Supper, Son of God,
Today receive me as a communicant:
For I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies;
I will not give Thee a kiss like Judas;
But a the thief I confess Thee:
Remember me, Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.

Holy and Great Friday. On this day we celebrate THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST: THE MOCKERY, THE CROWN OF THORNS, THE SCOURGING, THE NAILS, THE THIRST, THE VINEGAR AND GALL, THE CRY OF DESOLATION, AND ALL THAT THE SAVIOUR ENDURED ON THE CROSS; ALSO THE CONFESSION OF THE GOOD THIEF. At the same time, the Passion is not separated from the Resurrection; even on this day of our Lord’s DEEPEST SELF-ABASEMENT, we look forward also to the revelation of His Eternal Glory:

"We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ:
Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection."

THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION, AS WE HAVE SEEN, ARE ASPECTS OF
A SINGLE, UNDIVIDED ACT OF SALVATION:

"THY CROSS, O LORD, IS LIFE AND RESURRECTION."

Holy and Great Friday Orthros (Matins) are usually ‘ANTICIPATED’ and held on Holy and Great Thursday Evening. They take a special form, with a series of TWELVE GOSPEL READINGS that begins with Christ’s discourse at the Last Supper and ends with the account of His burial. In the Greek use there comes a ‘high point’ shortly before the SIXTH GOSPEL, when the priest carries a large Cross from the sanctuary and sets it up in the center of the church. This ceremony, which originated in the Church of Antioch, was only adopted at Constantinople as recently as 1824; it is not found in the practice of the Slav Churches. Here we find the principle of dramatic representation carried a stage further than hitherto, through the use not only of words but of visible actions.

On Holy and Great Friday morning, the HOURS take a solemn form, as on the eves of Christmas and Theophany, with an Old Testament reading, an Epistle and a Gospel at each Hour. Vespers follow, either immediately after the Hours (normal Greek use) or in the afternoon (Slav use). At the end of Vespers (Esperinos), as was done earlier at Orthros (Matins) in the Greek use, the events of Holy and Great Friday are represented not only through words but through dramatic actions. The EPITAPHION — AN OBLONG PIECE OF STIFFENED CLOTH ON WHICH IS PAINTED OR EMBROIDERED THE FIGURE OF THE DEAD CHRIST LAID OUT FOR BURIAL — IS CARRIED IN PROCESSION FROM THE SANCTUARY TO THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH, AND IS THEN VENERATED BY THE FAITHFUL. There are few more moving moments in the whole of the Church’s Year. The Greek and Slav Triodia say nothing about this procession with the Epitaphion at the end of Vespers, nor about the corresponding procession at the end of Orthros (Matins) on Holy and Great Saturday. It seems that the practice of carrying the Epitaphion processionally on these two occasions originated at a relatively recent period, in the 15th or 16th century.

The present practice NO LITURGY IS CELEBRATED ON HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY — neither the complete Liturgy (except when it is the Feast of the Annunciation) nor the Liturgy of the Presanctified. But in earlier times there was a Presanctified Liturgy on this day. (Resources: The Lenten Triodion)

(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

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 AND GREAT WEEK ACCORDING TO THE
HOLY TRADITION OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

THE SATURDAY OF LAZARUS. This day, along with Palm Sunday, occupies a special position between Lent and Holy and Great Week. Following the forty days of penitence which has just ended, and immediately before the days of darkness and mourning which are to follow in the Week of the Passion, ther come two days of joy and triumph on which the Church keeps festival. The Saturday before Palm Sunday celebrates the raising of Lazarus at Bethany (John 11:1-46). This miracle is performed by Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ AS A REASSURANCE TO HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE THE COMING PASSION: they are to understand that, THOUGH HE SUFFERS AND DIES, YET HE IS LORD AND VICTORY OVER DEATH. The resurrection of Lazarus is a prophecy in the form of an action. It foreshadows Christ’s own Resurrection eight days later, and at the same time it anticipates the resurrection OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS ON THE LAST DAY: Lazarus is ‘THE SAVING FIRST-FRUITS OF THE REGENERATION OF THE WORLD.’

As the liturgical texts emphasize, the miracle at Bethany, reveals the TWO NATURES OF CHRIST the God-man. Christ asks where Lazarus is laid and WEEPS FOR HIM, and so He shows the FULLNESS OF HIS MANHOOD, involving as it does human ignorance and genuine grief for a beloved friend. Then, disclosing THE FULLNESS OF HIS DIVINE POWER, Christ raises Lazarus from the dead, even though his corpse has already bgun to decompose and stink. This double fullness of the Lord’s DIVINITY and His HUMANITY is to be kept in view throughout Holy and Great Week, and above all on Holy and Great Friday. On the Cross we see A GENUINE HUMAN AGONY, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, BUT WE SEE MORE THAN THIS: WE SEE NOT ONLY SUFFERING MAN BUT SUFFERING GOD.

PALM SUNDAY. ‘Blessed is He that comes…’: this is THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING — welcomed by the children at His entry into Jerusalem, and to be welcomed likewise BY EACH ONE OF US INTO OUR OWN HEART. ‘Blessed is He that comes…’ — that comes not so much out of the past AS OUT OF THE FUTURE: For on Palm Sunday WE WELCOME NO ONLY THE LORD WHO ENTERED JERUSALEM LONG AGO, RIDING ON A DONKEY, BUT THE LORD WHO COMES AGAIN IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY, AS KING OF THE FUTURE AGE. Palms and branches are blessed after the Gospel at Orthros (Matins), and held with lighted candles during the rest of the service. Although at one time the Eastern Church — like the Western Christendom up to the present — used to hold a procession on Palm Sunday, this has now fallen into disuse and there is no mention of it in the existing Triodion.

Very frequently repeated at the feast is the sticheron beginning ‘Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together…’ It is possible to see reflected here the practice of Saint Efthymios, Saint Savas, and other Palestinian monks in the 5th and 6th centuries. Shortly after the Feast of Epiphany they left their monasteries to make a Lenten retreat in the wilderness, either singly or with a companion, spending the following weeks in silence and continual prayer, eating nothing but wild roots. Then, on Saturday afternoon in the sixth week of Lent, they all returned to their monasteries for the vigil service on Palm Sunday, in order to celebrate Holy and Great Week together with their brethren. In isolated Orthodox parishes throughout the Western world, something similar occurs each year. Scattered members of the parish community, living far from the church and scarcely ever able to attend the services at other times, start to appear in church at the vigil service before Palm Sunday, and as Holy and Great ‘Week continues their numbers steadily increase. Like the monks of ancient Palestine, we in the twenty first century can also say with truth on Palm Sunday, ‘Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together…’

HOLY AND GREAT WEEK: HOLY MONDAY, HOLY TUESDAY AND HOLY WEDNESDAY. On the days following His Entry to Jerusalem, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoke to His Disciples in particular about the signs that will precede the Last Day (Matthew 24 and 25); and so this forms the theme of the first part of Holy and Great Week. The ESCHATOLOGICAL challenge of the first three days of Holy and Great Week is summed up in the troparion and exapostilarion hymns at Orthros (Matins), both of which are repeated three times to a slow and solemn melody. The troparion (hymn), ‘Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night…’, is based on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13); the exapostilarion hymn, ‘I see Thy bridal chamber…’, on the Parable of the man cast out from the feast because he had no wedding garment (Matthew 22:11-13). Here, presented in especially urgent terms, is the call that we have heard on many occasions during Holy and Great Lent: the End is near at hand; be watchful; repent while there is still time.
Each of the three days has its own particular theme:

(1) On Holy and Great Monday we commemorate the PATRIARCH JOSEPH, whose innocent sufferings (Genesis, chapters 37 and 39-40) PREFIGURE THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Also we commemorate THE BARREN FIG TREE cursed by our Lord (Matthew 21:18020). — A SYMBOL OF THE JUDGMENT THAT WILL BEFALL THOSE WHO SHOW NO FRUITS OF REPENTANCE; A SYMBOL, MORE SPECIFICALLY, OF THE UNBELIEVING JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.

(2) On Holy and Great Tuesday the liturgical texts refer chiefly to the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which forms the general theme of these three days. They refer also to the Parable of THE TALENTS that comes immediately after it (Matthew 25:14-30). Both these are interpreted as Parables of JUDGMENT.

(3) On Holy and Great Wednesday we commemorate the WOMAN THAT WAS A SINNER, who anointed Christ’s feet as He sat in the house of Simon. In the hymnography of the day, the account in Matthew 26:6-13) is combined with that in Luke 7:36-50) (cf. also John 12:1-8). A second theme is THE AGREEMENT MADE BY JUDAS with the Jewish authorities: the repentance of the sinful harlot is contrasted with the tragic fall of the chosen disciple. The Triodion makes it clear THAT JUDAS PERISHED, NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE HE BETRAYED HIS MASTER, BUT BECAUSE, HAVING FALLEN INTO THE SIN OF BETRAYAL, HE THEN REFUSED TO BELIEVE IN THE POSSIBILITY OF FORGIVENESS: ‘In misery he lost his life, PREFERRING A NOOSE RATHER THAN REPENTANCE,’ If we deplore the actions of Judas, we do so not with vindictive self-righteousness but conscious always of our own guilt: ‘Deliver our souls, O Lord, from the condemnation that was his.’ When the Triodion denounces those who rejected Christ and delivered Him to death, we recognize that these words apply not only to others, but to ourselves: for have we not betrayed the Savior many times in our hearts and crucified Him afresh?

On the evening of Holy and Great Wednesday in church the Mysterion (Sacrament) of the Anointing of the Sick (Efchaileon or Unction) is usually celebrated in church and ALL ARE ANOINTED WHETHER PHYSICALLY ILL OR NOT; for there is not sharp line of demarcation between bodily and spiritual illness, and this Sacrament confers NOT ONLY BODILY HEALING BUT FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THUS SERVING AS A PREPARATION FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION ON THE NEXT DAY, HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY. (Sources: The Lenten Triodion)

(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

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.

March 25th – THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR HOLY MOST HOLY LADY,
THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

TODAY is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of
the mystery which was from eternity. The Son of God becometh the
Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel announceth the good tidings of grace; for this
cause, let us cry to the Mother of God with him: Rejoice, thou who art
full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Kontakion. Plagal of Fourth Tone

WHEN the bodiless one learned the secret command, in haste he
came and stood before Joseph’s dwelling, and spake unto the
Maiden who knew not wedlock: The One Who hath bowed the
Heavens by His descent is held and contained unchanging wholly
in thee. Seeing Him receiving the form of a servant in thy womb,
I stand in awe and cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded.

Another Kontakion. Fourth Tone

TO THEE, the Champion Leader, we thy flock dedicate a feast of
victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O
Theotokos; but as thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do thou deliver us, that we may cry
to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded.

Six months after Saint John the Forerunner’s conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see November 21st). According to the tradition handed down by the Holy Fathers of the Church, she had been betrothed to Joseph for four months. On coming to Joseph’s house, the Archangel declared: “Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God’s unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her All-Blameless womb, and the Son and Logos/Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the Blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias has his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew night to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she felt her six-month old babe leap in her womb for joy. By leaping thus even before he had beheld the Light of Life, her babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of the Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,” and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (I:39-55). [Resources:  The Great Horologion]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ANNUNCIATION

When the Most Holy Virgin had lived and served in the Temple at Jerusalem for 11 years, and was by then 14 years old — when, that is, she entering on her 15th year — the priests informed her that, according to the Law, she could no longer remain in the Temple but must be betrothed and marry. But, to the great surprise of all the priests, the Most Holy Virgin replied that she had dedicated herself to God and wished to a maiden remain till death and enter into wedlock with no-one. Then, by God’s Providence and under His inspiration, Zacharias, the high priest and father of the Forerunner, in consultation with the other priests, chose 12 unmarried men from the Tribe of David so that they might entrust the Virgin Mary to one of them to preserve her virginity and care for her. She was thus ENTRUSTED TO JOSEPH, AN OLD MAN FROM NAZARETH AND A KINSMAN OF HERS. In his house, the Most Holy Virgin continued to live in the same manner as in the Temple of Solomon, passing her time in the reading of the Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in pondering on the work of God, in fasting, and in handiwork. She scarcely ever left the house, nor too, an interest in worldly matters or events. She generally conversed very little with anyone, and never without a particular need. She was intimate only with the two daughters of Joseph. But when the time prophesied by the Prophet Daniel had come and when God was pleased to fulfill the promise made to Adam when He drove him out of Paradise, and to the Prophets (the mighty Archangel Gabriel appeared in the chamber of the Most Holy Virgin, at the precise moment (as some priestly writers have related) that she was holding open on her lap the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and pondering on his great prophecy: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.’ Gabriel appeared to her in Angelic Light and said to her: ‘Rejoice, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee!’, and so forth, just as is related in the Gospel of the divine Luke. With this Angelic greeting and the descent of the Holy Spirit, THE SALVATION OF MANKIND AND THE RENEWAL OF CREATION WERE SET IN MOTION. The Archangel turned the first page of the story of the New Testament with the word ‘REJOICE!’, to show by this the joy that the New Testament signifies for mankind and for all things created. And therefore the Annunciation is looked upon AS A JOYOUS, AS WELL AS A GREAT, FEAST. [Resources: The Prologue from Ochrid]

[Please note:On the Great Feast of the Annunciation

_________
“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 Godd
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Saviour, CHRIST 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 mocking and scourging, 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 of 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 Christ, 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 petition God the Father to accept, on our behalf, “the prayers and the intercession” 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-traveler 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. It 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 young 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.

_____________
“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