My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST1 HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

What is Divine Revelation?
By Father Anthony Alevizopoulos

According to the Orthodox faith, the Church IS NOT FOUNDED ON WRITTEN TEXTS but ON THE CONFESSION THAT CHRIST IS GOD-MAN (Theanthropos), namely that in the Person of Christ, God WAS JOINED WITH MAN, "INDIVISIBLY, IMMOVABLY, UNMISTAKABLY," and man, HAS ACTUAL COMMUNION WITH GOD, AND IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST, GOD AND MAN WERE HYPOSTATICALLY UNITED, IN ONE UNIQUE HYPOSTASIS.

The Son and Logos/Word of God continues to be hypostatically UNITED with His 3:16body and as the Head of the Church, He IS ALWAYS UNITED WITH US (Matthew 18:20; 28:20). The presence of Christ is activated by the H3:16oly Spirit in the life of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:3). THIS IS WHY THE CHURCH IS ALSO "… THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-11).

Our holy faith was delivered to the body of Christ, "TO THE SAINTS AND FOR ALL" – and whoever DOES NOT BELONG TO THIS BODY, CANNOT INTERPRET Holy Scripture (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Peter 13:16; Jude 3-4). IN THIS SENSE HOLY TRADITION IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CHURCH, THE HOLY MEMORY OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS GUARDED AS A PRECIOUS TREASURE" (2 Timothy 116:12-15):13-14).

Holy Scripture DOES NOT CONTAIN THE FULLNESS OF THE DIVINE REVELATION. Already in the Old Testament, the importance of ORAL TRADITION and the care of its passing down from generation to generation is highlighted (Psalms 43:2; 44:1; Joel 1:3). The New Testament mentions that it does not have the completeness of the words and works of Christ (John 21:15).

The same Holy Scripture makes use of Tradition (Numbers 21:14-115; Matthew 2:23; Acts 20:35; 2 Timothy 3:8; Jude 14). Christ did not exhort His Disciples to write books BUT TO PREACH, PROMISING THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH THEM (Matthew 28:20) and that He would send them the Holy Spirit to be with them (John 14:16), TO TEACH AND TO REMIND THEM OF HIS TEACHING (John 4:25-26), TO GUIDE THEM "TO THE WHOLE TRUTH" by revealing to them the deeper meaning of the words of Christ, all those things that they were not able to "bear" by their own power (John 16:12-15).

The Apostles were also not limited to written texts — THEY PASSED ON TO THE FIRST CHRISTIANS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WAS WRITTEN: "WITH PAPER AND INK" (2 John 12:3; 1 John 3 John 13-14; 1 Corinthians 11:34). Some of those things written proved to be relevant to the time because were not maintained by the Church, such as the number of Deacons (Acts 6:3), the order of widows ( 1 Timothy 5:9), the washing of feet (John 13:14).

At the center of Holy Scripture is the person of Christ (John 5:38-39; Galatians #:24). Without Christ, WE CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THE HOLY SCRIPTURE (2 Corinthians 3:14). Therefore, UNION TO THE BODY OF CHRIST, NAMELY TO THE CHURCH, ASSURES THE PURITY OF THE GOSPEL TRUTH (1 Timothy 3:15).
Holy Scripture IS NOT INTENDED FOR JUST ANYONE, BUT FOR THE FAITHFUL, WHO ARE GATHERED IN ONE BODY. Holy Tradition is the atmosphere in which the body lives and understands the Truth properly. IT IS THE CONSTANT EXPERIENCE OF THE CHURCH, HER CONSCIENCE – NOT PERSONAL OPINIONS, TEACHINGS AND WRITS OF MEN" Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 3,4,9; Mark 7:8; Col. 2:8).

(To be continued)

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

2 FEBRUARY – THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (the ‘Meeting")
IN THE TEMPLE

On the 2nd of the month, we keep the feast of the
Holy Meeting (HYPAPANTE) of Our Lord, God and
Savior JESUS CHRIST.

When the 40 days prescribed by the Law of Moses for the purification of the mother of a newborn son were accomplished (Leviticus 12:2-4), the All-Holy Mother of God and Joseph brought the Child Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord for every first-born, belonging by the Lord (Exodos 13:15) had to be CONSECRATED to Him in the Temple and be, in a way, exchanged for the offering in sacrifice of A YEARLING LAMB or, for poor families, of two turtle doves or two pigeons (Leviticus 12:8). The Lord of heaven and earth, and Lawgiver of His people Israel, COMES "NOT TO DESTROY THE LAW BUT TO FULFIL IT" (Matthew 5:17). Having taken upon Himself OUR NATURE, mortal since AdaAm’s DISOBEDIENCE, He RESTORES IF FROM THE MOMENT OF His COMING INTO THE WORLD BY MAKING HIMSELF OBEDIENT TO ALL THE ORDINANCES OF THE LAW. Source of all riches and of all graces, HE MAKES HIMSELF THE HUMBLEST AND THE POOREST OF US ALL. HE IS OBEDIENT TO THE LAW, WHICH HE HAS GIVEN US, AND WHICH WE MEN NEVER CEASE TO TRANSGRESS, SHOWING US THEREBY THAT THE WAY TO RECONCILIATION WITH GOD IS OBEDIENCE. Although neither He nor His spotless Mother had need of purification, atter submitting His flesh to circumcision on the 8th day. He waited in the cave at Bethlehem for the time required by the Law to elapse before presenting in the Temple of His glory the body which He has taken upon Himself TO BECOME THE NEW PERFECT TEMPLE OF HIS DIVINITY. He the INACCESSIBLE and INCOMPREHENSIBLE God, ACCEPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE OFFERING OF TURTLE-DOVES AND PIGEONS, symbols of PURITY, PEACE and INNOCENSE which the Savior, the Friend of man, HAS COME TO BRING US.

On reaching the Temple, they are said to have been greeted by the high priest Zacharias, the father of Saint John the Baptist who against all precedent, directed the Mother of God to the place set apart for virgins. At that moment, there arrived in the Temple a man named Symeon. He was just and devout, keeping all the commandments of God, and had waited many years for the fulfillment of the prophecy that the Holy Spirit had inspired in him, namely, that he should not die BEFORE HE HAD SEEN AND TOUCHED CHRIST THE LORD. Symeon, who typifies the whole expectation of Israel, then stretched out his arms to receive the Savior as on a Cherubic Throne, and he blessed God and said: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation" (Luke 2:20). The first Covenant and the Old Law, which is fading away at the appearance of Christ, in the prayer of Symeon beg leave to withdraw at the coming of the Light of Grace. This aged man, seeing and touching the Savior, so long awaited by the Righteous and the Prophets, was able to ask God in all confidence to be freed from the bonds of the flesh and corruption, in order to give place to the everlasting youth of the Church. He thus proclaimed the doing away of types and figures, and he delivered the final prophecy concerning the Savior in foretelling to His Mother that His Passion and Life-giving Resurrection WILL BE A SIGN OF CONTRADICTION, AND THAT THEY WILL BE FOR THE FALL OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND FOR THE RISE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM..

A woman named Anna, an aged widow of the Tribe of Asher, also came up to the Child and began to praise God. She was well-known to everyone who frequented the Temple, for she served God there continually, awaiting the coming of the Messiah in fasting and prayer. She too gave thanks to the Lord and spoke the Child to those who were looking for the redemption of Israel.

Having heard these revelations, the Pharisees present went off to inform King Herod, for they were infuriated at seeing Mary placed among the virgins by the High Priest. Herod realized that this Child must be the new King spoken by the Magi who had followed the star from the East, and immediately sent soldiers to kill Him. But warned in time Joseph and Mary fled from the city and sought refuge in Egypt guided by an Angel of God. According to Tradition, two and a half years were to pass before their return to Nazareth in Galilee. There the Divinie Child quitely grew up until the time was ripe for His Ministry in the world.

The feast of the holy Meeting of the Lord–which is known by the Latin West as the Purification of the Mother of God or Candlemas Day — was observed in Jerusalem from the 4th century. It was to Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian in 542 A.D. and has since been numbered among the feasts of the Lord.

Although a feast of the Lord, the Meeting retains the character and liturgical observances of a feast of the Mother of God. Thus if it falls on a Sunday the service of the Resurrection is retained, while if it falls on a fast day (Wednesday pr Friday) fish is permitted. (Source: The Synaxarion)

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn). First Tone

REJOICE, thou who are full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from
thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening
those in darkness. Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder, as thou
receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who also granteth
unto us the Resurrection.

Kontakion Hymn. First Tone

THOU Who didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, and didst
bless Symeon’s hands as was meet, by anticipation hast even now
saved us, O Christ God. But grant peace in the midst of wars unto Thy
commonwealth and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved,
O only friend of man.

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

HIDDEN BEHIND EVERY TRIAL IS A BLESSING OF GOD

Almost everyone owes their conversion to a certain trial.

Sorrow is a bad thing. However, hidden behind it – behind the pain, behind the sorrow, behind the trial – IS A BLESSING OF GOD, REBIRTH, AND THE RE-SHAPING OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND OF THE FAMILY. Almost everyone owes their conversion to a certain trial.
Just when they think that everything is going fine, God takes away their child; this is followed by weeping and upheaval, etc. But then, the Grace of God comes and overshadows them, and they eventually feel an inner peace; they approach the Church, the approach Confession, they approach the Priest. For the lost child’s sake, they now go to church, as their pain makes them seek and pray for the repose of its soul, and they also arrange accordingly for Liturgies to be performed.

Pain and softens the heart and makes it receptive to God’s words, whereas it had been hard – for example, this was something that a young person in the vigor of his youth would not accept: "I am the one and no-one else!" And off he would go, as healthy as can be, after the acquisition of degrees, after glory, after beauty, after everything… But when an illness renders him bedridden, then he will begin to think differently. "Vanity of vanities!" All is vanity!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2) "I may die; What was the benefit of all those things!" And so he begins to think differently. For example, a person may come to him and suggest "Here, read this book, see what it says…" He may also listen to someone talking about God, except that now, he will listen to the word. And if you do give him a book, the pain will have already prepared his heart suitably, and he will open both the book and the Gospel – and he will read them. It is from there on, that the res-shaping of a person commences. And when he does finally recover from his illness, he immediately gets back on his feet and thereafter lives his life far more carefully – and not as he did in the past, with the pride and the fantasy that he displayed.

Illness and sorrow are the par excellence medicine of God’s Providence, which bring man close to Him and which increase his virtue.

Illness and sorrow are the par excellence medicines of God’s Providence, which bring man close to Him and which increase his virtue. Job was the finest man on earth at the time, but God wanted to make him an even better one. Indeed, Job was glorified, after he had remained steadfast through all the severe trials. He was a good and pious man etc., but, not having been tried and tested. Job was not renowned. However, after being tried, after fighting back and struggling, he was finally crowned and his wealth was restored, and his glory also commenced thereafter and has spread to this day.

His example is a shining one; it reinforces every person who undergoes trials. If he – a holy man – was tried, so much the more should we, who are sinners.

The outcome of Job’s trials was his becoming a Saint, years were added to his life, and he was rewarded twice and three times over what he had lost, thus becoming a perennial shining example FOR EVERY SUFFERING PERSON – WHO SHOULD ADEPT AND RELY ON THIS EXAMPLE AND ALSO FEEL RESTED, SAYING: "AS THE LORD THOUGHT, SO BE IT. MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD BE BLESSED." He should bow his head in the presence of trials, and say: "WHAT GAVE, GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY. Even if He takes away the child from me, wasn’t God the One Who gave it to me? Well, He did take it away. And where is my child now? In heaven? What is it like, there? The child is at rest there…"

Hidden behind every trial is the will of God and the benefit – which, at the time, one may not be able to preserve; however, with time, he will perceive the benefit. We have an immense number of such examples.

Take for example Saint Andronikos and Athanasia. They were husband and wife; Andronikos was a goldsmith, with vast wealth. With the one part of his profits, he tended to his family, and with another part of the profit, he would loan to those who had no money, without demanding interest.

The couple had two lovely little girls. One day, they both died of a disease. The parents buried them both. Poor Athanasia wept and wept and wept endlessly over their grave. Andronikos also wept, but he eventually returned home. Poor Athanasia remained by the grave, grieving: "My children… my children…", until the sun was about to set and the cemetery has to close. For a moment, amid her grief and her tears, she noticed a monk approaching her, who said:
and e
"Why are you crying, my lady?"

"How can I not cry, Father?" she replied (thinking he was the cemetery’s priest). "I buried my children… my two angels… I put them in the grave, and now my husband and I are left alone… We have nothing that can refresh us…"

He replied: "Your children are in Paradise, together with the Angels. They are in the bliss and the joy of God, and you are mourning, my child? What a pity… And you are supposed to be a Christian…"

"So my children are alive? They really are angels?"

"Of course your children are angels."

The "monk" who appeared there as the Patron Saint of the cemetery’s church.

Andronikos and Athanasia became monastics and eventually attained Sainthood.

[Source: Pantokratoras]

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SALVATION ACCORDING TO THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH (Part II)

Man is inaugurated into the Kingdom of God (into the Body of Christ) through Holy Baptism, and he is called to live the life of the Body, i.e. TO BECOME A PARTAKER OF SALVATION IN CHRIST, OF THE LIFE IN CHRIST. In this sense, he can now say along with Saint Paul, "I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME" (Galatians 2:20). For this reason, Saint Paul’s task aimed at "SUCH TIME AS CHRIST SHALL BE FORMED WITHIN YOU" (Galatians 4:19). The Lord Himself assures everyone who shall love Him in truth, that he shall be loved by God the Father "AND WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM"; WE WILL DWELL WITH HIM" (John 14:23).

It is important to underline that the body which Christ assumed was no different than our body. It was a created body and thus susceptible to corruption and death. And indeed, Christ subjected Himself to these in order to meet death and destroy it through His death in the flesh on the Cross, and to LIBERATE US FROM ITS BONDS, THUS BECOMING THE FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD (I Corinthians 15:55-58). In this way the believer, incorporated into the human flesh which Christ assumed, in the body of Christ, MAKES HIS OWN COMMUNION WHICH WAS BROUGHT ABOUT IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST AND IS LED TO THEOSIS (DEIFICATION); IN CHRIST THE UNCONTAINED GOD BECOMES CONTAINED AND IN CHRIST MAN BECOMES A "PARTAKER OF THE DIVINE NATURE" (II Peter 1:4).

The path which God chose in order to save man is the path of love and honor towards His creature. God Himself undertook the task of man’s salvation. In God’s eyes, APOSTATE MAN ceases to be something precious. For this reason, He did not search him out and summon him back through "a representative or a messenger"; He Himself set out in search of him and "EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT, TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT". He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:7-8), IN ORDER TO RAISE MAN UP FROM THE STATE OF DISHONOR T THE HEIGHTS OF HONOR. HE OFFERED HIM THE COMMUNION OF HIS LOVE WITHOUT CRUSHING HIM, WITHOUT VIOLATING MAN’S PERSONALITY.

That which remains for man IS HIS DISPOSITION. He IS STILL FREE AND CAN MAKE HIS OWN CHOICE; THE BELIEVER KNOWS THAT THERE IS BUT ONE ROAD TO SALVATION: CHRIST, Who said, "I AM THE WAY… NO ONE COMETH UNTO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (John 14:6). THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SALVATION OUTSIDE THE God-man Jesus Christ; neither can our brother saves us. How then can someone else save us? NO ONE CAN OFFER ANYTHING TO GOD TO ATONE FOR HIM. HE DOES NOT HAVE THE PRICE TO PAY FOR HIS SOUL, EVEN IF HE WERE TO LABOR ALL HIS LIFE.

This is underlined by Holy Scripture: "NO ONE CAN RANSOM A BROTHER, THERE IS NO PRICE ONE CAN GIVE TO GOD FOR IT. FOR THE RANSOM OF LIFE IS COSTLY AND CAN NEVER SUFFICE" (Psalm 48:8-9). In harmony with Holy Scripture one of the hymns of the Church emphasizes:

"BEING CRUCIFIED, O CHRIST,
TYRANNY HAS BEEN DONE AWAY WITH;
THE POWER OF THE ENEMY HAS BEEN TRAMPLED UPON;
FOR NEITHER ANGEL NOR MAN,
BUT THE LORD HIMSELF HAS SAVED US.

GLORY TO THEE."

Here then every idea of self-development, self-realization, self-discovery, and self-salvation is overthrown and shown to be incompatible with the Christian faith. MAN’S PARTICIPATION IS FOUND IN HIS FREE AND TOTAL CONSENT TO THE SAVING WORK OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST. (Source: The Orthodox Church Its Faith, Worship, and Life by Father Antonios Alevizopoulos)

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SALVATION ACCORDING TO THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH
By Father Anthony Alevizopoulos

After the Fall, we are told by Holy Scripture, was cast out of Paradise (Genesis 3:24). God, however, through this expulsion, did not lead man to despair, for He simultaneously sowed within him the hope of salvation.

The final outcome of his vicissitude would be accomplished with the coming of the offspring of the "woman", who would crush the "head" of the "serpent" (Genesis 3:15). Man had to prepare himself systematically for this advent, FOR HIS RESTORATION WAS NOT THE RESULT OF FORCE BUT THE FRUIT OF GOD’S LOVE WHICH MAN ACCEPTED. MAN HAD TO ACCEPT ONCE AGAIN IN FREEDOM THE SAVING ACTION OF GOD.

The Orthodox Church believes that God wanted to prepare mankind for His FOR HIS SAVING INTERVENTION THROUGH THE ELECTION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL and the preaching of the Old Testament Prophets. The prophetical message had as its center the AWAITED OFFSPRING OF THE "WOMAN."

This Savior of mankind was Jesus Christ in Whom God UNITED HIMSELF WITH MAN AND IN THIS WAY MAN BECAME A PARTAKER OF GOD’S LIFE. Christ is NOT two persons, a human and a Divine, BUT ONE: A THEANDRIC PERSON. H E WAS ONE CHRIST, NOT TWO.

God’s UNION WITH MAN IN THE Person of Christ did not shatter the human nature, because THE UNION OF THE DIVINE AND THE HUMAN NATURE IN THE One Christ took place "WITHOUT CONFUSION, WITHOUT SEPARATION, WITHOUT CHANGE, WITHOUT DIVISION." The TWO NATURES ARE NOT CONFUSED BETWEEN THEMSELVES IN A MIXTURE, NOR THE ONE SEPARATES ITSELF FROM THE OTHER. Moreover, the human nature does nto change into the Divine nature nor does the Divine change into the human. In this way, the Son and Logos/Word of God TOOK ON HUMAN NATURE AND TO HIS UNIQUE PERSON HE LED HIM TO COMMUNION WITH GOD. One of the hymns of the Church states:

"You assumed my corrupt and mortal nature, You clothed me in incorruption, and you raised me up to eternal and blessed life, where, O compassionate Lord, do thou give rest to those whom you assumed."

The Orthodox Christian does not attempt to approach the God-manhood of Christ rationally; he accepts it with humility AS REVELATION FROM GOD, AS "GREAT MYSTERY" (I Timothy 3:16), which identified with man’s very salvation.

Salvation through Christ, then, is not to be found in the showing of some "way" outside His Person, or in the keeping of certain Commandments on man’s part. NO EFFORT WHATSOEVER ON THE PART OF THE CREATED COULD EVER LEAD TO THE UNCREATED, i.e. TO FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE TO CORRUPTION AND DEATH. The Uncreated and Eternal God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, TRANSCENDS THE ONTOLOGICAL ABYSS SEPARATING THE CREATED FROM THE UNCREATED. This accomplished, not that God might live the life of the created, but that He might RAISE CREATED MAN TO DIVINE LIFE BEYOND CORRUPTION AND DEATH. THIS COMMUNION OF MORTAL MAN WITH IMMORTAL AND ETERNAL GOD IS COMMUNION "ACCORDING TO ENERGY" AND NOT "ACCORDING TO ESSENCE"; THIS MEANS THA TMAN DOES NOT PARTAKE OF GOD’S ESSENCE, THAT HE IS TOUCHED BY GOD’S ENERGY, i.e. HIS GRACE. And because the Divine energy is from the essence of God, THE COMMUNION BETWEEN GOD AND MAN IS A REAL COMMUNION WHICH GRANTS LIFE TO MAN WITHOUT DOING AWAY WITH HIM; IT DOE NOT CONSTITUTE A CONFUSION OR MIXTURE OF HUMAN NATURE IN GOD’S GOD SAVES MAN WHILE RESPECTING HIS PERSON; HE ATTRIBUTES TO IT INESTIMABLE VALUE.

All that we have mentioned shows THAT FAITH IN CHRIST’S GOD-manhood CONSTITUTES MAN’S ONLY HOPE, BECAUSE HE FINDS IN THIS FAITH A DEEPER MEANING IN LIFE EVEN BEYOND THE GRAVE. Saint Paul calls salvation in Christ A GREAT MYSTERY OF PIETY: "Truly great is the mystery of our piety: God was revealed in the flesh, vindicated through Spirit, appeared to the Angels, proclaimed to the nations, believed in throughout the world, ascended in glory" (I Timothy 3:16).

Man’s salvation, therefore, IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE EVENT OF GOD’S INCARNATION/ GOD THROUGH THIS MANNER ASSUMES MAN AND SAVE HIM/ BELIEF THAT WE WILL MAKE THIS FACT, THIS EVENT, OF OUR SALVATION OUR OWN POSSESSION IS THE GREAT MYSTERY OF PIETY.

CHRIST IS NOW THE NEW HEAD OF THE HUMAN RACE. Holy Scripture underlines the fact that He is the Savior of God’s NEW PEOPLE: The Church, which constitutes "His Body", having Him as its very Head (Matthew 1:21; Ephesians 5:23). In speaking about the Church he describes her as the "Kingdom of God." For in the Body of Christ the heavenly and the earthly, i.e. ANGELS AND MEN, ARE TO BE "RECAPITULATED" (Ephesians 1:17), SO AS TO BE UNDER THE ONE HEAD AND TO BE RULED BY CHRIST.

(To be continued)

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Thongs!"

– Saint John Chrysotomos

+ + +
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THE HOPE OF
THE WORLD (Part II)

The Orthodox believer knows that man after the Fall ceased to offer creation up to God as a doxology, i.e., TO PRACTICE HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES VIS-A-VIS CREATION; IT WAS HE WHO LED CREATION INTO SERVITUDE TO CORRUPTION. Within the Church, however, he acquires the experience of freedom from this servitude. With this experience, he is now called to return to the world with the assurity of the TRANSFIGURATION and SALVATION OF THE ENTIRE CREATION. Having once again ACQUIRED WITHIN THE LITURGICAL PLACE HIS CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH CREATION AND HIS CORRECT PLACE WITHIN IT, HE IS CALLED TO PRACTICE HIS SERVICE AS PRIEST OF THE WORLD.

Christians respect the authorities of the world and submit to human laws WHICH DO NOT GO AGAINST THEIR CHRISTIAN HOPE (Romans 13:1-8; Acts 3:30). They do not preach a "gospel" conforming to the aspirations and the aims of this world. THIS IS THE SAVING MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH TO A WORLD WHICH HAS AN EXCLUSIVELY INTER-SECULAR CHARACTER AND CAN DISCERN NO OTHER VERTICAL DIMENSION IN ITS LIFE. It is for this reason that Orthodox Monasticism with its ASCETICAL CHARACTER and HEAVENLY ORIENTATION offers to our society a great service. It shows to contemporary man, who is exclusively orientated towards the horizontal dimension, the vertical dimension which is at the center of monastic life.

The monks thus constitute the indicators of the reality of heaven, which man who lives in the world cannot easily grasp. Monasticism OPENS THE WAY TO THE ABSOLUTE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE IN CHRIST: A WAY OF ASCETICISM AND OBEDIENCE WHICH IS FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT ONE’S LIFE WITHOUT ENDING; A WAY WHICH IS AT THE SAME TIME DANGEROUS FOR THOSE WHO FAIL TO REMAIN HUMBLE AND STEADFAST IN LOVE THAT "SEEKS NOT ITS OWN." This life of the monastics constitutes a continuous vocation to contemporary man’s disposition and an excellent prefiguration of the future life.

This anticipation OF A NEW LIFE creates in the Christian the conviction that here on earth they are strangers and sojourners, and that in traversing this life they walk towards their true homeland (Hebrews 11:13-16). THE BELIEVER HAS HIS EYES FIXED UPON HEAVEN AND CONSIDERS DEATH TO BE THE LAST STOP IN HIS JOURNEY, HIS "PASSING ON" OR BIRTH INTO THE NEXT LIFE.

We believe that after their separation from the body THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD (Wisdom of Solomon, 3:1) and they AWAIT THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODIES, SO THAT THEY MAY "TOTALLY" BECOME PARTAKERS IN GOD’S LOVE AND GLORY. On the contrary, THE SOULS OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS WHO IN THEIR LIVES REJECTED GOD’S LOVE AND COMMUNION WITH HIM AND WITH THE BRETHREN, AND WHO HAD AS THE ONLY CENTER OF REFERENCE THEIR "EGO", ARE DEPRIVED OF THIS LOVE, FOR THEIR EGOTISM DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO ACCEPT IT.

Christ’s Second Coming will signal the General Resurrection; OUR BODIES WILL BE CLOTHED WITH INCORRUPTION AND IMMORTALITY. THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE RAISED UNTO LIFE, THE UNRIGHTEOUS UNTO CONDEMNATION. THIS WILL BE THE General Judgment of the world; God’s love will judge man in accordance with the position he assumes toward it, i.e. whether he accepts it or rejects it.

The Lord DESIRES THE SALVATION OF ALL MEN AND THEIR RETURN TO THEIR TRUE HOMELAND: TO THE LOVE AND COMMUNION WITH THE TRIUNE GOD. THIS WE CALL Paradise. By this word, we do not mean A MATERIAL BUT A SPIRITUAL REALITY. Holy Scripture compares this communion to the relationship between the Bridegroom and the Bride, and their union is compared to marriage (Revelation 19:7).

The sons of the Kingdom shall be ETERNITY UNITED WITH CHRIST AND SHALL HENCEFORTH ABSOLUTELY LIVE THE CONDITION OF BEING "ONE IN CHRIST"; THEN SHALL WE BE IN HIM PARTICIPATORS BY GRACE OF HIS UNITY WITH THE FATHER ("I in My Father and you in Me" (John 14:20). All who live in this life closed up within themselves, all those who do not rejoice in seeing the face of their brother shall be deprived of this joy. They of their own accord have chosen their ETERNAL TORMENT.

Christ’s Second Coming is for the faithful the FULFILLMENT OF THEIR HOPE, JUST AS THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRIDEGROOM FOR THE BRIDE. This is why THE PREPARATION FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE COMING CHRIST CONSTITUTES THE CHIEF CONCERN OF THIS LIFE.

But when shall the Lord come? Christians DO NOT CONCERN THEMSELVES IN PINPOINTING A SPECIFIC DATE. They are VIGILANT and take care to be ready every moment, for the Lord shall come suddenly when we do not expect Him (Matthew 24:13; 33; Acts 1:7). The Lord Himself WARNS US TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM FALSE PROPHETS WHO WILL BE WORKERS OF GUILE AND TREACHERY. OUTWARDLY THEY SHALL APPEAR IN THE GUISE OF CHRIST OR IN TEH FORM OF AN Angel (Matthew 24:4-5, 23-27; II Corinthians 11:13-15). Their teaching shall not be identical with that of Christ; thus the knowledge of the only real Truth of Christ IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID ERROR AND DECEIT. (Source: The Orthodox Church Its Faith, Worship, and Life)

______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

– Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THE HOPE OF THE WORLD
By Father Anthony Alevizopoulos
Ph.D. of Theology, Ph.D. of Philosophy

The entire world is God’s creation and therefore it is BY NATURE GOOD; evil does not have an ontological existence. Natural evil IS THE RESULT OF DISCORD WHICH WAS CREATED AFTER MAN’S FALL; even death is a means of educating man IN ORDER TO LEAD HIM BACK IN COMMUNION WITH GOD. Moral evil, sin (amartia), does not have its cause in man’s nature, BUT IN MAN’S DISPOSITION.

Through man’s fall, all of nature was dragged into servitude to corruption. God, however, in the Person of the Incarnate Logos/Word entered into the reality of the world and renewed it. By His death, Resurrection, and Ascension, He led man, whom He had assumed, TO THE LIFE OF INCORRUPTION AND IMMORTALITY, AND He EXALTED HIM TO THE HEIGHT OF THE GLORY OF GOD THE Father.

This glory, which during the Second Coming of our Lord shall become our possession, is prefigured in the life of the Church, and especially in the life of the Saints. The bodies of the Saints, the sacred relics, are surrounded by the sanctifying grace of God and become A SOURCE OF DIVINE BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES (IV Kings 13:21; Wisdom of Sirach 18:14). The grace, honor, and glory which God grants to the holy relics of the Saints CONSTITUTE A FORETASTE AND PREDEPICTION OF MAN’S TRANSFIGURATION AND THAT OF ALL CREATION. The same grace surrounds the Saints even during this life and can be discerned in some AS WARTHM, IN OTHERS AS LIGHT, OR THROUGH VARIOUS MIRACULOUS ENERGIES, WHICH ARE BLESSINGS FOR MAN. EVEN MATERIAL OBJECTS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH BEAR GOD’S GRACE.

The PRESENCE OF GOD’S GRACE and GLORY in man and in the material creation PREFIGURES THE LIBERATION OF ALL OF CREATION FROM SERVITUDE TO CORRUPTION AND GUARANTEES THE CERTAINTY OF OUR HOPE IN LIFE AND INCORRUPTION. The world’s SANCTIFICATION was also wrought in the Jordan River during our Lord’s Baptism. The hymn of our Church on the day of Epiphany and the prayers of the Great Sanctification of the Waters reveal THE NEW REALITY OF THE WORLD: "TODAY the earth and the sea share in the world’s joy and the world is filled with gladness", states the prayer of Saint Sophronios of Jerusalem.

Christ hallowed the waters of the Jordan, the banks of the river, and all creation: "You, O Lord, being baptized in the Jordan did sanctify its waters"; "having hallowed the waters of the Jordan You did crush the power of sin"; "TODAY creation is enlightened; TODAY all things rejoice, the heavenly together with the earthly", states the hymnology of our Church.

Through the participation of the material creation in the Divine worship of the Church and in the praise and doxology of God, the hope of INCORRUPTION IS EXPRESSED. In the Divine Liturgy, all of creation is taken on and BECOMES A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. IT IS THE BREAD AND WINE THAT BECOMES THE Body and Blood of Christ, the candles, the icons, the Holy Cross; and ALL THE MATERIAL OBJECTS PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY IN TEH Divine Liturgy. The WATER, THE OIL, THE INCENSE, THE PALMS, THE FLOWERS, AND EVEN THE NEW HARVEST OF THE CROPS OF THE EARTH ARE BLESSED, AND THE WHOLE WORLD REGAINS THAT WHICH IT LOST THROUGH MAN’S FALL: INTERNAL UNITY, THE CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WHICH IS AN EUCHARISTIC RELATIONSHIP, A RELATIONSHIP OF OFFERING IN WHICH ALL THINGS ARE REFERRED UP AND OFFERED TO GOD, WHO BECOMES ONCE AGAIN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD.

The UNITY of the entire creation which offers up "WITH ONE MOUTH" DOXOLOGY TO THE Triune God is expressed at the end of the prayer for the Great Blessing of the Waters: "…THAT WITH THE ELEMENTS, AND MEN, AND ANGELS AND WITH ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE THEY MAY MAGNIFY THY MOST HOLY NAME, TOGETHER WITH THE Father, and the Holy Spirit, now ane ever and unto ages of ages. Amen." Man THUS FORESAKES HIS AUTONOMY AND HIS EGOTISTIC USE OF GOD’S CREATION; HE ONCE AGAIN FINDS HIS CORRECT PLACE IN THE WORLD AND HIS "ROYAL" AND "PRIESTLY" MINISTRY (Genesis 1:28; 2:15).

The Christian DOES NOT REJECT THE WORLD, NOR DOES HE CONSIDER IT TO BE NEGATIVE. He is NOT called to abandon the world, but TO SERVE OR LITURGIZE IN IT. Christ wants His faithful to be in the world; to be "THE SALT OF THE EARTH" and "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (Matthew 5:13-14). If our world is "TASTELESS AND UNSALTED" AND IN DARKNESS, IF IT FOLLOWS A PROCESS OF DISINTEGRATION, THEN THIS MEANS THAT CHRISTIANS DO NOT SERVE "AS THE SALT OF THE EARTH" AND THE "LIGHT OF THE WORLD". WE MUST NOT THEN LOOK FOR THE CAUSE OF THE WORLD’S MISFORTUNE IN OTHERS.

This place that the Christians hold in the world implies RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESERVATION AND THE SANCTIFICATION OF GOD’S CREATION, A TASK WHICH STEMS FROM THE SERVICE WHICH GOD INTRUSTED TO MAN IN PARADISE ("…to cultivate and preserve", Genesis 2:15). A Christian CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO THE WORLD’ PROBLEMS; HE MUST LABOR TO BRING THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN BACK TO ITS DOXOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THIS MEANS THAT THE USE OF THE WORLD CANNOT HAVE AS ITS CENTER THE SATISFACTION OF MAN’S EGO AND THE "NEEDS" THAT MAN CONSTANTLY CREATES.

The TRUE BELIEVER does not attribute absolute and exclusive value to the needs of this life nor to man’s abilities. He does not intervene in God’s creation in an autonomous way, independent of God’s will, and egocentrically; he feels THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATION. He does not seek knowledge and use of God’s creation "UNCONDITIONALLY". The faithful do not use the powers of the world in a manner not blessed by God and contrary to the balance and harmony in the creation and to the unity of God’s world.

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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With agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

What is Orthodoxy (Part II)
By Protopresbyter George Metallinos Professor Emeritus, School of Theology,
University of Athens

3. The purpose of the presence of the Church, as in Christ community, in the world is the treatment of man with the RESTORATION OF THE COMMUNION OF THE HEART WITH GOD, NAMELY OF THE NOETIC FUNCTION. ACCORDING TO THE BLESSED Professor Father Ioannis Romanidis, “The Patristic Tradition IS NEITHER A COMMUNAL PHILOSOPHY nor AN ETHICAL SYSTEM nor RELIGIOUS DOGMATISM but CURATIVE REGIMEN. At this point, it resembles a lot to medicine, particularly psychiatry. The NOETIC ENERGY OF THE SOUL, that prays noetically and incessantly is the heart, it is the physiological organ that everyone possesses and for which therapy is essential. Neither philosophy nor any of the known natural or social sciences are able to cure this organ. For this, the uncured does not even know the existence of such an organ…

“…The method of THERAPY offered by the Church is THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AS A LIFE IN THE Holy Spirit. The SPIRITUAL LIFE IS LIVED AS AN ASCESIS (EXERCISE) AND PARTICIPATION IN THE GIVEN THROUGH THE MYSTERIES UNCREATED GRACE. The ascesis (practice) is the violation of our self-independence and the DEADENED FROM SIN nature that proceeds towards the spiritual or eternal death, namely THE ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM THE GRACE OF GOD. The ascesis aspires to the victory OVER THE PASSIONS, TO OVERCOME THE INTERNAL ENSLAVEMENT TO THE SICKNESS BEARING STAGES OF MAN AND TO TRANSFER TO THE Cross of Christ, and His Resurrection. The ASCETIC CHRISTIAN under the direction of his Therapist-Spiritual Confessor – becomes RECEPTIVE OF THE GRACE, who accepts through his participation in the Mysteries of the ecclesiastic body. A NON-ASCETIC Christian CANNOT EXIST LIKE THERE CANNOT BE A CURED PERSON THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE THERAPEUTIC COURSE THAT THE PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBED.

4. The above lead to some firm points that indicate the authenticity of Christian Orthodoxy:

a) The Church as the body of Christ, FUNCTIONS AS A THERAPEUTIC CENTER – HOSPITAL. Otherwise, she is not a Church but a religion. The Clerics are selected originally from the cured, to work AS THERAPISTS OF OTHERS. The therapeutic liturgy (function) of the Church, today is mainly saved in the Monasteries, who even while enduring their separation from the world, continue the Church of the Apostolic times.

b) The scientists of the ecclesiastic therapies are already cured. Whoever does not have experience with Pastoral Therapeutic Treatment cannot be a therapist. This is the important difference between Pastoral Therapeutic science and Medical science. The scientists of the ecclesiastic therapy (Fathers and Mothers) produce other therapists, like the Professors of Medicine produce their successors.

c) The restriction of the Church to the simple forgiveness of sins for entry to Paradise after death suggests self-alienation which is equivalent to the Medical science forgiving the patient so that he gets cured after death! The Church DOES NOT to send someone to Paradise or Hell. Paradise and Hell, in any case, ARE NOT PLACES BUT A WAY OF EXISTENCE. The Church by CURING MAN, PREPARES HIM/HER TO SEE CHRIST INTO ETERNITY IN HIS UCNREATED LIGHT AS PARADISE AND NOT AS HELL, NAMELY “CONSUMING FIRE” (Hebrews 12:29). This naturally concerns EVERY PERSON, for ALL THE PEOPLE WILL BE SEEING CHRIST ETERNALLY AS “Judge” of the world.

d) The validity of science is indicated by the success of her goals (for example in Medicine, by the patient becoming cured). “This is the validity of the Medical science is differentiated FROM QUACKERY.” The criterion of the Pastoral Therapy of the Church is the ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL THERAPY, WITH HER OPENING OF THE TREK TOWARD THEOSIS (DEIFICATION). The therapy does not transfer to the after-death life BUT IN THE LIFE OF MAN IN THIS WORLD (IN THE HERE AND NOW). This IS CONFIRMED FROM THE INCORRUPT RELICS OF THE SAINTS THAT WIN OVER THE BIOLOGICAL CORRUPTION, LIKE THOSE OF THE SAINTS OF THE SEVEN ISLANDS (The Greek Adriatic islands, Corfu, etc): Saints Spyridon, Gerasimos, Dionysios, and Theodora of August. The incorrupt holy relics in our tradition ARE THE INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE OF THEOSIS (DEIFICATION), OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE THERAPEUTIC Church. The intact holy relics exhibit within the energy of Divine grace because at the moment the corruption of the cellular system begins, IT STOPS AUTOMATICALLY, AND INSTEAD OF FOUL SMELL, FRAGRANCE EMANATES.

e) Finally the holy texts of the Church (Bible, Synodic, and Patristic texts) do not codify some Christian idealogy
but have A THERAPEUTIC CHARACTER FUNCTIONING LIKE THE University texts in the Medical science. This also holds for the Liturgical texts, i.e., Prayers. The simple reading of a prayer, without a parallel will of involvement by the faithful in its therapeutic process, does not differ from the situation where the patient runs to the doctor with great pains and the doctor instead of drastically intervening, limits himself to laying the patient on the surgery bed and reading him the chapter concerning his sickness!

Briefly, this Orthodoxy. It does not matter if one accepts her or not. For this, we address everybody, including the non-Christians and the indifferent but also the “Christians” (in the overture). All the other interpretation of Christianity constitutes FALSIFICATION AND DISTORTION OF HER, EVEN IF IT WISHES TO APPEAR AS Orthodoxy!

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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George