My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

FEAR IS DEBILATING TO MAN

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness
in the day of jdgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves
torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love
Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:17-19).

The holy Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba,’ Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are CHILDREN OF GOD, and if children, then HEIRS–HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified" (Romans 8:15-17).

Adam knows fear for the first time in the garden following his and Eve’s act of disobedience. We read in the book of Genesis 3:9-10, "So the Lord God called Adam and said to him, ‘Adam, where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard Your voice as You were walking in the garden, and I WAS AFRAID because I was naked; so I hid myself." Adam and Eve now had a FALLEN WILL and for the first time tried to hide from God. Fallen man now has A FALLEN WILL, Thus he has a tendency to run away from God. But the grace of Christ heals the will of those WHO RETURN TO HIM THROUGH REPENTANCE (METANOIA) so they might freely pursue God and do His will. Adam and Eve knew not any fear prior to the fall.

No human traverses this earthly life without knowing fear. There are some who live in constant fear of one kind or another. And yet there are others who have no fear at all. There are many people who suffer from different kinds of phobia i.e., fear of death, loosing a job, loosing a child or spouse, water, snakes, flying on an airplane, loosing wealth, insects, animals, etc. In Psalm 111:10 we read, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." And in the Gospel of the holy Evangelist Luke 1:74-75, "To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." Man’s relationship with God is not one of fear but of love, truth, trust, humility and obedience. God, for the Christian believer, is a loving Father and, therefore, all human beings are His children. Only slaves fear their master who are in bondage and constantly threatens them with punishment and even death.

"There us no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:18-19). We know for a fact that "fear involves torment," because the person possessed by fear is constantly tortured by it. He or she cannot function normally and live a peaceful life. These poor souls feel anxious much of the time, experience panic attacks, are resticted to what they are able to do and to find a way to live free without any concern whether imaginery or real. This is why a person who is suffering from fear, life is a "torment." The cure for fear, however, is our Lord Jesus Christ Who "casts" all fear.

"Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid…with us is the Lord our God, to save us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). The Orthodox Christian believer derives his strength and courage from the Almighty God. An example of this is the true story of David and Goliath who was nine feet tall. This familiar story reminds us of the courage in men’s hearts when their faith is placed entirely in God. As we remember from this story that Goliath tauts David, but David’s faith becomes evident when he does not cower under the threats, but instead defies Goliath for he has the power of God with him. This is what young David said to the Philistine: "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a shield. But I come to you IN THE NAME OF THE LORD SABAOTH,THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, WHOM YOU REPROACHED TODAY." (1 kINGDOMS 17:24). "So David prevailed over the philistine with a sling and a stone…" (vs. 29). We too can prevail over any and and all adversity, and against all odds.

_______________

"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.

"For none of us lives to himself and no one dies to himself.
For if we live, we live to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live
or die, WE ARE THE LORD’S. For to this end, Christ died
and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the
dead and the living." (Romans 14:7-9)

God’s gift of life to man is a most precious gift that must be appreciated and used wisely by him. The Holy Fathers interpret this biblical passage in the following way. Saint John Chrysostom writes, "This means that we are not free. We have a Master who wants us to live and not die, and to Whom life and death matter more than they do to us… For if we die, we do not die to ourselves alone but to our Master as well. By "death", Paul means apostasy from the faith" (Homilies on Romans 25). Pelagius writes, "No believer lives for himself or dies for himself, because Christ "has died for all so that those who live no longer live for themselves but for Him." Theodore of Mopsuastia states, "If we live, it is Christ’s life that we live; if we die, we die with Him, under His custody."

"Given that so good a Son of so good a Father does not want rational spirits to bend to the obedience of this law by force but waits for them to come voluntarily so that they will seek what is good freely and not of necessity, he persuaded them by teaching them rather than by commanding them and by inviting them rather than by forcing them. Thus he was pleased to go even to the point of death in order to leave an example of NEW LIFE and a way of dying for those who want to die to sin and evil. Christ is, therefore, Lord of both the living and the dead– of the living because He is the head of those who by the example of His resurrection look for a new and heavenly life here on earth, and of the dead because these same people bear the death of Christ about in their bodies and mortify their members which are on earth." (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans 14:9, by Origen).

The Orthodox Christian believer understands and respects fully what the Holy Fathers say. The Holy Scripture state: "If we live, it is Christ’s life that we live; if we die, we die with Him, under His custody." It is clear indeed that "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). The Christian witness goes beyond the words that come out of our mouths, to the way we live and the way we die: the totality of what we are and do. The holy Apostle Paul anticipates "deliverance", though not necessarily for his ‘body". His "expectation and hope" is of Eternal Life.

It is imperative that the Orthodox Christian believer understand that "not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29). Suffering not only bears witness to others but also can serve to strengthen our faith. Suffering is a gift from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as is of course faith: it is participation in His grace. We should recall the Divine words of the Lord to His disciples, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and follow Me" (Mark 8:34). The cost of discipleship is self-denial, carrying one’s cross (A SYMBOL OF SUFFERING), and obedience to our Savior Jesus Christ. The true disciples and followers of Christ must be willing to divorce themselves from their sins and from the inclination of their hearts towards evil, crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires. Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians makes it perfectly clear that "those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (5:24).

It is understood by the Christian disciples that the life of the Christian is inseperable from the life of the Lord. There can be no other life for the believer. The Gree word σάρξ or σάρκα is translated as "flesh." The word "flesh" used by the holy Apostle Paul does not mean the human body. Flesh (sarka) is a more general term for evil actions, the depraved will, the earthly mind, the slothful and careless soul. This flesh (sarka) is crucified with Christ as indicated by Saint Paul when he writes, "and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

In our Holy Orthodox Christian Tradition the Cross has been preached, displayed in our churches, in our homes, venerated, used to bless the faithful, and to constantly identify ourselves as Christians by openly signing ourselves with the Cross in worship of the Holy Trinity and during times of danger, distress, and threat of evil attacks and temptation. "We venerate Thy Cross, O Lord, and we praise and glorify Thy Holy Resurrection." We must remember as Orthodox Christians to live according to His Resurrection and to seek our true life in Christ, awaiting the heavenly and glorious final revelation.

We, as His followers, are guided and enlightened by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. The "joy of the Holy Spirit" is not an easy emotional high but comes with the struggle proper to spiritual life, including persevering through afflictions and torment. The one who suffers is the one who is comforted. It is assumed that the Orthodox Christian is a person of faith and a life of prayer. Prayer must be always be united with hesychia (quiet) and of course with godly conduct. Our Lord’s command is to pray secretly, not be seen by men (Matthew 6:5) and to pray everywhere. Union with the Almighty God should be sought after by all believers in Christ Jesus and those who persevere in their faith to "the end", not to those who step with a one-time profession of faith. Faith, as we Orthodox Christians, undestand it is inseperable from obedience. Lack of one is lack of the other. Lack of either bars entrace into the perfect, final rest of the Kingdom of Heaven. One understands that a man must labor (work) to enter the rest of God, for rest implies prior work.

_____________

"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 spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE SPIRITUAL CROWN OF LIFE

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has
been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord
has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12).

The spiritual warfare against the Christian believer continues throughout life. The believer is constantly tempted by the evil one and is determined to prevent him or her from retaining his obedience to the Almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ. We know even in the Garden of Eden how he tempted and deceived Adam and Eve and convinced them to rebel against the Creator to commit the ancestral sin and their eventual expulsion. Satan even went as far as to tempt the Son of God immediately following His forty-day and night prayer and fasting in the wilderness.

Temptation is the tool used by Satan to attack the faithful and to use one’s own sinful passions to separate one from God. Satan manipulates man’s sinful passions to deceive him and lead him into sin. Our Lord God tries us, but He never tempts us. Every temptation originates with desires or lustful thoughts (logismoi). When one entertains these evil thoughts and finds satisfaction and pleasure in them ("when desire has conceived"), we readily end up acting upon them ("it gives birth to sin"). Truthfully one falls to temptation because he/she is weak and allows himself or herself to do so. Neither the Lord nor circumstances force one to give in. When we yield to evil temptation we must be honest enough to admit that we are at fault and to take the responsibility and not blame anyone else.

The Orthodox Christian must always be aware of Satan’s machinations and snares. No one should ever let his/her guard down and must remain vigilant and always alert. The enemy is cunning and ruthless and seeks our destruction and death. Saint Paul advises all to "abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). There is a constant need in the life of the Christian of discernment (diakrisis) and testing so as to avoid being misled. The holy Apostle Peter warns to "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant, BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS AOUT LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR" (1 Peter 5:8). Satan has his demons (‘angels’) to evaluate us individually, looking for our weaknesses. The evil one will offer attractive visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses triggering and stimulating them so that it leads to sin. He encourages the tongue to speak evil about our fellow man and to use our hands to hurt others. He plays on our vanity and ego to seek earthly honors and prestige. Therefore, we must always be vigilant for his many-faceted attacks ready to resist him at every turn.

The Christian’s battle against evil continues until his/her very last breath on earth. The enemies and adversaries are relentless and never tire. The harder the Christian struggles to strengthen his/her faith, to be more obedient to the Almighty God, to adhere and abide by His Commandments, the more he/she tries to become more righteous, the greater the effort to have a good prayer discipline, the greater the effort to have a more lasting communion with the Lord, the more fierce will be the attacks from the devil. The evil powers cannot and will not ever give up in their attempt to prevent the believer to win or succeed. Saint Anthony the Great was not only tempted by the devil and his demons but physically beaten by them.

Turning our attention to the Apocalypse written by the holy Apostle John Chapter 2:10 we read, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and you have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and will give you the crown of life." The "crown of life" refers to the wreath awarded to a victor in an arena. It is very clear that "if anyone competes in athletics, he is NOT crowned (awarded) UNLESS HE COMPETES ACCORDING TO THE RULES" (2 Timothy 2:5).

Enduring the temptations and overcoming the various obstacles that the secular world lays upon the Orthodox Christian will bestow upon him/her the stephanon tis zoes ("crown of life"). We, as Orthodox Christians, are athletes and participate, as ancient Olympians, in a spiritual contest. We are competing with the evil one to win by overcoming his evil snares and temptations. The reward is the crown "of honor and glory" bestowed by the Lord our God. In the Greek Orthodox marriage ceremony the priest chants and invokes the Almighty God to "crown them (the man and woman) with honor and glory." This constitutes the coronation of the two Orthodox Christians as they begin their new life as husband and wife to be the king and queen of their Christian realm and household.

When "the Chief Shepherd" bestows on the believer "the crown of glory", the crown is eternal and "does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:4), unlike the earthly crown. The Orthodox Christian understands that he or she is never worthy of God’s grace or gift. If anything is accomplished by us here on earth is only because of the Lord’s unconditional love and mercy. As Jesus confronted fearlessly His tormentors, death, and hell, so we, through Him, can confidently face our evil tormentors and dispel all darkness by shining His Light upon them. This is made known to us in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts when the priest turning to the people and standing in the Royal Arch while holding a lit candle proclaims: "Φώς Χριστού φαίνει πάσι" ("The Light of Christ enlightens all").

_________________

"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

"…BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY…" (1 Peter 5:5).

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and
be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives
grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under
the Mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time"
(1 Peter 5:5-6).

"Humility is constant forgetfulness of one’s achievements,
someone says.
"It is the submission that in all the world one is the least
important and is also the greatest sinner," another says.
"It is the mind’s awareness that one is weak and helpless,"
a third says.
"It is to forestall one’s neighbor at a contentious moment
and to be the first to end a quarrel."
"It is the acknowledgment of Divine grace and Divine
mercy."
"It is the disposition of a contrite soul and the abdication
of one’s own will." (The Ladder of Divine Ascent)

According to Saint John of Kronstadt "to be humble means to consider ourselves deserving, for our sins, of every humiliation, injury, persecution, and even blows; and to be meek means to patiently endure injustice, abuse, and so forth, and to pray for our enemies." Humility is the mother and the foundation of all virtue. The Orthodox Christian learns from the most excellent of all examples our Savior Jesus Christ and that He Himself is the original, Divine, true, pure, and authentic humility. His entire earthly life is one of meekness and humility. "Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). Meekness is the mother of love, the foundation of discernment, and the forerunner of all humility. Our Savior Jesus Christ finds rest in the hearts of the meek, while the unholy spirit to the home of the evil one.

The pure of heart and humble are lead and guided by the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul writes: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:2-4). "Authentic humility means to understand reliality as it actually is in God." The believer can never go wrong if he models himself after the Head of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ. With the aid of humility the Orthodox Christian is able to overcome many of his/her spiritual obstacles and continue to successfully pursue the attainment the many other virtues and thus strengthen the "likeness" of God in us.

"God abides in the souls of the humble" say the Holy Fathers of the Church. Our Divine Creator Who sees and knows all is very aware who is and who is not sincerely humble. The Almighty God can never be deceived by us no matter how clever we think we are. Remember the Lord saying, "Before I formed you in the womb, I KNEW YOU" (Jeremiah 1:5). The Christian needs to always recall these Divine words and cease all efforts to shield his/her own sinfulness and hypocrisy. There can be no spiritual growth if we are in a state of denial of our soul’s impurities and weaknesses. We all stand naked before the Lord.

We, Orthodox Christians, must follow the good example of the venerable Prophets and strive to reafirm always our reliance upon God’s will and their hope in His mercy. Saint Simeon the New Theologian states, "Humility consists of obedience, patience, recognizing human weakness, thankfulness to God for everything–for both glory and dishonor, health and illness, wealth and poverty." The proud person places himself on a pedestal while the humble person debases himself. Jesus Himself make it very clear when He says, "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and eh hwho humbles himself wil be exalted" (Mattthew 23:11-12). Those who exalt themselves are abandoned by God.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke 18:11-14 the Lord says, The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘GOD. BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WIL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED." The Lord expects the believer to be profoundly humble and contrite and not boastful and arrogant. This is reafirmed in Psalm 50[51]: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart–These, O God, You will not despise" (vs.17).

Prayer must be honest, sincere, and as Saint Neilos the Ascetic says, "Let us prepare and adorn ourselves with all of our soul and heart and strength, and with all of our mind andd with profound humility… Let us express, with compunction and pain of heart, the confession of our sins which we, as fools, commit against God on a daily basis… Pray with much humility and then a greater desire will come to you from God, with yearning and grace, to approach Him with greater piety and more contrition…When the soul and the mind come together with piety and contrition and humility, and are united with prayer to become three, there in their midst certainly Christ will be found to do His own activity."

Saint John of Kronstadt writes: "We must by every means humble our hearts and subdue our proud intellect, lest we should be like the contemporaries ofthe Prophets, who looked on them only as sweet-voiced singers, and nothing more; they did not wish to fulfil their commands, they even despised, persecuted, beat, and killed them; lest we should be like those, by whom "no Prophet is accepted in his own country." However insignificant and unimportant the man may be, honor in him the image of God, especially when he speaks with love, and, above all, when he speaks of and does the works of love."

Saint John continues, "Consider yourself worse and more infirm than all others in spiritual respects, and despise, hate yourself for your sins, –this is pious and right — and be indulgent to others, respect and love them in spite of their sins, for God’s sake, Who commanded us to respect and love all men, and also because they are created after His image — although they bear the wounds of sin, and because they are members of Jesus Christ."

_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"PRIDE IS OF THE DEMON"

"For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not
of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:16).

Who has lived here on earth and has not tasted the taste of pride? Pride is the common enemy to every human being. The chief of pride is none other then Satan. It was because of his pride that he lost his place in the heavens and cast out. "And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). Satan is both fallen from heaven, and he is defeated and dethroned from his demonic lordship over the world by the Divine earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ and His holy Disciples. And in Isaiah 14 we read, "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who rose up in the morning! He who sends for all the nations is crushed to the earth. For you said in your mind, ‘I will ascend into heaven; I will place my throne above the stars of heaven. I willl sit on a lofty mountain, on the lofty mountains toward the north. I will ascend above the clouds; I will be like the Most High.’ (Pride) But now you shall descend to Hades, to the foundatons of the earth" (vs. 12-15). Five times Lucifer says "I will" in this passage. In this five-step process, he fully intended to take the place of the One Ture God.

Pride has different names i.e., egotism, arrogance, conceit, vanity, etc. but nevertheless it is the same passion and is just as destructive."The one who is subject to pride is desperately in need of God, for no man can savse such one" (St. John Climacus). Saint John Climacus writes: "Pride is a denial of God, an invention of the devil, contempt for men. It is the mother of condemnation, the offspring of praise, a sign of barrenness. It is flight from God’s help, the harbinger of madness, the author of downfall. It is the cause of diabolical possession, the source of anger, the gateway of hypocrisy. It is the fortress of demons, the custodian of sins, the source of hardheartedness. If is the denial of compassion, a bitter pharisee, a cruel judge. It is the foe of God. It is the root of blasphemy. Pride begins where vainglory leaves off…" (The Ladder of Divine Ascent).

Pride blinds a person and cannot see his/her sin. A proud person has lost all discernment between good and evil. Man is deceived through pride that he and not God is the Supreme Being. Man is self-absorbed and so egotistical that he believes that he is all-powerful and in control of life and destiny. He is drunk with pride, so much so, that he believes himself to be a supreme and a brilliant being, very talented and indinspansable. He has become delusional and psychotic. He has rebelled against His Creator and God and lives in total isolation. Thanks to his all-consuming pride he has lost vuluntarily communion with the Lord and has reached the point of insanity.

Saint John of Kronstadt writes, "Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and gave life to the fallen. O abyss of humilty! Adam and Eve lost themselves through gluttony, the Lord fasted and died for them, in order to give them life. They were disobedient, Christ fulfilled obedience. We are invited to join the company of the cherubim, seraphim, thrones, dominations, angels, and archangels — to take the place of the proud, fallen spirits."

The antidote for pride is HUMILITY! "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you." "Therefore, thank God for outward dishonor:those who endure dishonor here will not be subjected to it in the next world." Keep a strict watch against every appearance of pride: it appears imperceptibly, particularly in time of anger and irritabillity against others for quite unimportant causes. See yourself as the Saints do as the sinner or sinners and reject self-love. The two idols that a proud man worships are materialism (wealth) and hedonism (pleasure).

The proud and foolish man says ‘there is no God.’ "Man, in his present state, is wholly permeated with pride, wickedness, unbelief, doubt, incredulity, disobedience, heedlessness, malice, fornication, envy, covetousness, avarice, slothfulness, sometimes cowardice, despondency, theft, falsehood, and blasphemy. What a great labor lies before every Christian man to cleanse himsel from all the impurity and corruption of the passions! (St. John Kronstadt)

Saint Kronstadt advises how to overcome pride: "Value highly, and always preserve Christian meekness and kindness, mutual peace and love, crushing by every possible means the impulses of self-love, malice, irritabiility, and disturbance. Do not be disturbed and angered, when anybody bells you a falsehood to your face, or claims any unjust pretension, or speaks offensively, or boldly detects any of your weaknesses or passions, the wrongfulness of which, through your self-love, you did not suspect."

"Watch you heart during all your life — examine it, listen to it, and see what prevents its union with the Most Blessed Lord. Let this be for you the science of all sciences, and with God’s help you will easily observe what estranges you from God, and what draws you towards Him and unities you to Him. It is the evil spirit more than anything that stasnds between our hearts and God, he estranges God from us by various passions, or by desires of the flesh, by the desires of the eyes, and by worldly pride." (St. John Kronstadt)

Saint John of Kronstadt states, "This is why Christ, the Savior, and the Christian religion command everyone to hae the meeknes and humility which do not allow the spirits of evil and pride, seeking the death of all and each one, to work in the hearts of true Christians. The Lord says: "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." The wrath of man is a terrible unnatural phenomenon in a man; it is often aroused in the heart by the most unimportant causes — mostly through the self-love or pride concealed in our heart. We must remember that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). "The wrath of man" is unjust, ungracious and severe. It proceeds from unconrtrolled anger and it is not God’s judgment. For us to discern "the righteousness of God" requires patience, graciousness, and controlled passions.

Saint John of Kronstadt reminds us that "humility destroys all the snares of he enemy. Ah! how much secret pride there is in us. This, we say, I know; this I do not need; this is not for me; this is superfluous; in that I am not a sinner. How much sophistry of our own! "He who is infected by pride is inclined to show conempt for everything even for holy and Divine objects: PRIDE MENTALLY DESTROYS OR DEFILES EVERY GOOD THOUGHT, WORD, NOT, EVERY CREATION OF GOD. IT IS THE DEADLY BREATHING SATAN.. It is the evil spirit than anything that stands between our hearts and God, he estranges God from us by various passions, or by the desires of the flesh, by the desires of the eyes, and by worldly pride."

____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER…" (Ephesians 4:32).

One of the most poignant and stark examples of kindness is the Parable of the Good Samaritan told by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and illustrates Jesus’ teaching of who our "neighbor" is: anyone in immediate need, including our enemy. The Good Samaritan symbolically is our Savior Jesus Christ Himself and the wounded man is humanity attacked by demonic forces, and the inn is the Holy Church. True love for neighbor is love for our All-Loving God. Saint Paul reminds us that "Love suffers and is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seeks its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil…love never fails…" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Kindness is the fruit of pure love. A kind person is one who is gentle and sweet with those who are hurt and in pain. A kind person is one who instinctively responds to a fellow human being suffering and through his/her love, compassion, and tenderness brings healing to the one injured. Kindness knows no boundaries, no nationality, no culture, no language, and yes, no race. Kindness is impartial and free of all prejudice. Our Creator God created humans to always reflect in our lives His unconditional agape and kindness to one another.

"… Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? Then He will answer them saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, INASMUCH AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME…" (Matthew 25:44-45). "THE LEAST OF THESE" refers to all those people who are in agony and who are suffering. Anyone who shows kindness and compassion to his/her neighbor does it also to the Lord Himself.

When our Holy Orthodox Church speaks of "good works" she speaks about works of philanthropy or charity. The holy Apostle James writes, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but doe snot have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD" (James 2:14-17).

The world in which we all live is in need of greater kindness. Kindness is essential to a more perfect human being. Cruelty and a hateful disposition are not a part of the human who possesses the image of God. Writing to the Galatians Saint Paul says, "But the fruit of the Spirit IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESSS (Gk. Χρηστότης), GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL" (Galatians 5:22). Again Saint Paul writings to the Colossians 3:12, says, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, KINDNESS (ΧΡΗΣΤΟΤΗΤΑ=ΚΑΛΩΣΥΝΗΝ), HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING; BEARING ONE ANOTHER, IF ANYONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER, EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU ALSO MUST DO."

We, Orthodox Christians, believe that the Almighty God and Creator is most kind, most generous, most forgiving, so too, His followers are called to emulate His Divine and Good example and practice kindess, compassions, gentelness, and come to the aid of our fellow man. According to Saint Isaac the Syrian, "In God there is no hatred towards anyone, but all embracing love which does not distinguish between righteous and sinner, between a friend of truth and an enemy of truth, between Angel and demon. Every created thing is precious in the sight of God/"

It is necessary, however, to comprehend that kindness does not mean ignoring the sins of others, it means praying for them and forgiving them. Furthermore, a kind person should attempt to help the one who has lost his/her way with patience, gentleness, and compassion. Even when one has self-inflicted these spiritual injuries to himself/herself needs time to regain their perspective and realize his/her own mistakes and to rectify them himself through prayer and seeking guidance from the Master Himself. Let us not forget that "we are members one of another… forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:26-32).

Another noble example of kindness is revealed in the life of Saint Agathon who lived in the 4th century. One day the Saint had to travel from the desert to the flour mill to grind his wheat, which was hard work. He loaded his sack of wheat on his shoulders and went to the mill. The moment Saint Agathon was prepared to spread his wheat, another traveler arrived and pleaded with him to let him go first because he was in a hurry. The Saint answered, "happily," and he even offored to assist the man to mill his wheat. They finished the grinding and the man got his flour and departed. As soon as Agathon was about to unload his wheat to grind, another man came and the same thing happened over again. Then two more came along asking him for the same thing. Night came, and Saint Agathon was still unable to grind his wheat. He put it on his shoulders and returned to his monastery.

Saint Agathon a most virtuous monk set an example of Christian kindness (Gk. Καλωσύνη, Χρηστότητα). This God-like goodness or kindness is needed today and would be of greater benefit and more fruitful than anything else. All Saints throughout time possess the same spirit of kindness and selflessness. By reading the Lives of the Saints one can see clearly their generosity, their meekness, they humility, their kenosis and sacrifice for the good of others. It is imperative that we keep focus on their holy lives and be inspired by their virtuous example.

In recent days I have heard of "random acts of kindness" performed by complete strangers in one form or another which is edifying and welcomed. When kindness is practiced randomely and not pre-planned by us, it is more authentic, more sincere and its value is much greater. I have been a recipient of a random kindness as a child and I know how wonderful it is.

Long, long ago, in Athens Greece my father and sister Ioanna and i arrived late in the afternoon from our village, tired, hungry, and cold from our long trip. Everything in the city was closed except for a small caffenion that was still open with only one customer left. This took place after the civil war came to end in 1948. The country was devasted and there were no place for us to spend the night. We went in the caffenio to get out of the cold and for my father to think of what to do next. The last customer and stranger that was there came over to my father and said to him: "I see that you and the children are from the country do you have a place to stay tonight?" My father answered the man that we did not. The man said "you will come with me to my house and you may stay with us until you are well situated and have a place to stay. " This was a true random act of kindness which even after many decades I have not forgotten and never will.

These kind of acts of kindness are very important and touch deeply the soul of the one hurting and those in despair. They are not only good for our own salvation, but they are necessary manifestations of God’s χρηστοτητα και αγάπη for all of mankind. None of us should ever stop expressing kindness to the countless people who need to be loved and comforted. We must continue to act as God’s instrument of kindness, love, mercy, compassion, goodness and hope for as long as we live. The world cannot exist without God’s help and without man’s care for one another. There are many opportunities for one to make a real difference in the life of someone and to save him or her.

Isn’t the life of our Lord Jesus Christ one of love, kindness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, sacrifice and healing? The question of whether one ‘deserves’ kindness is never asked. We definitely know that none of us are worthy of all that the Almighty God had and continues to do for us. The Son of God gave His life so that we may be saved not because we ‘deserved’ it but out of His unconditional love to save us from sin and death. "For His mercy rules over us and the truth of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 117:2). God’s mercy "rules over" those who walk by faith and His Truth is the subastance of faith that "endures forever" in them.

_________________

"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 Geoge

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

MAN’S QUEST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

"Μακάριοι οι πεινώντες και διψώντες τήν δικαιοσύνην,
ότι αυτοί χορτασθήσονται" (Ματθαίον 5:6).

Μακάριοι είναι εκείνοι, πού μέ σφοδρόν εσωτερικόν πόθον σάν
πεινασμένοι και διψασμένοι επιθυμούν τήν δικαιοσύνην και
τελειότητα, διότι αυτοί θά χορτασθούν δια πλήρος ικανοποιήσεως
τού πόθου των.

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6)

Blessed are they, who with a great inner desire is hungering
and thirsting for righteousness and perfection, for their desire shall
be fulfilled.

Man’s quest for righteousness never ceases. He continues seeking God’s righteousness throughout his earthly life. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says clearly, " But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). This is the central theme of the Divine Teaching of our Lord. Saint Theophylact writes, "The Kingdom of God is the enjoyment of all that is good. This comes through righteousness. To him who seeks after spiritual things God in His generosity adds that which is needed for physical life."

The Christian must willingly pursue righteousness because this is what means to "hunger and thirst." We are assured by our Savior Jesus Christ that it is the righteous who shall be filled, even here in this earthly and transient life, because all that they possess cannot be taken away from them.
The Orthodox Christian believer cannot be satisfied with what he is now but continues growing and developing spiritually striving for theosis (deification) by the grace of the Holy Spirit. None of the spiritual growth and development is accomplished on his own but by His Divine Creator. The holy Apostle Paul writes, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God the Holy Spirit bestows upon us "liberty" freeing us to have access to Him. Created in His image, we see His uncreated image, the Son "when one turns to the Lord." Saint Paul writes, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY" (v.16). As we behold Him, we become what we were created to be. Almighty God is eternal, therefore, growing in His image and glory has no limits. We shall ever see God more clearly and ever be "transformed" into His likeness.

In his Letter to the Romans 3:23, Saint Paul writes: "… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We believe that the ultimate purpose of man’s existence is to attain "the glory of God." The way to God is both perfect righteousness and eternal life. This can only be attained through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who alone lived in complete righteousness. He alone was resurrected to eternal life. Therefore, He alone is our way to God. No person, by virtue of his/her own ability, has the power to be righteous, has the capability to live up to the moral standards of a Righteous God but fall short of the glory of God.

The Orthodox Christian believer participates in the life of God. He or she knows God by uniting in divine activities that the Lord has taught His people i.e., the Mysteries (Sacraments). When the faithful receive the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ they are united with Christ Himself. Saint Basil the Great writes, "… teach me to perfect holiness in Thy fear that we the clear witness of my conscience I may receive the portion of Thy Holy Things AND MAY BE UNITED WITH THY HOLY BODY AND BLOOD, and have Thee to dwell and remain in me, with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit…". Through grace man is transformed, renewed and saved.

Grace used theologically, is that which radiates frm the hidden essence or nature of God, SUCH AS GRACE, are not created, and allow the believer to enter into a personal relationship with God while preserving the unique character of God, Whose essence always remains hidden from humanity. Prophet Moses was permitted to see the glory of God, His ENERGIES, but was forbidden to gaze on the face of God, His HIDDEN ESSENCE. In Exodos 33:18 we read: "Then God said (to Moses), ‘I will pass before you in My glory, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord… But He said, ‘You CANNOT SEE MY FACE; FOR NO MAN CAN SEE MY FACE AND LIVE…". No person can see THE ESSENCE OF THE Father("My face"), either in this world or in the one to come (John 1:18). But the Son IS ONE IN ESSENCE WITH THE FATHER, AND THEREFORE FULLY SEES AND KNOWS THE FATHER’S ESSENCE.

THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) means we are to become more like God THROUGH HIS GRACE OR DIVINE ENERGIES. In creation, humans were made in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God (Genesis 1:26) according to human nature. In other words, humanity by nature IS AN ICON OR IMAGE OF GOD: The Divine image is in all humanity. Through sin, however the image and likeness of God WAS MARRED, AND WE FELL. When the Son of God assumed our humanity in the womb of the Ever-Virgin Mary, the process of our being RENEWED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS BEGIN A RE-CREATION PROCESS, BEING RENEWED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS, WE BECOME AS THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER WRITES, "PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE" (2 Peter 1:4).

The Orthodox Christian nourished by the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Christ through the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the baptized believer partakes of the grace of God–His strength, His righteousness, His agape–and is enabled to serve Him and glorify Him. Thus we, being human, are being deified.

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

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

TRUSTING IN GOD

"IN THOU, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame… You
are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He Who took me out of my mother’s womb…" (Psalm 71:1, 5-6).

"They are tripped up because they fear and stand in awe of men;
but he who trusts in the Lord will rejoice." (Proverbs 29:25-26).

"And we have such trust through Christ toward God" (2 Corinthians 3:4)
As we grow and mature spiritually we come to the realization that human intellect and power are not sufficient to obtain all those things which we desire and hope for in life. We need to set our pride aside and with true humility ask the One Who we trust more than anyone in the world, the Almighty God.

One needs to overcome the temptation to attribute all that is accomplished in life to his/her intelligence, hard work, indivdual talents, and sound business choices or prudent investments alone. A wise person is a person who understands his or her human limitations and seeks to trust in God for HIs guidance and inspiration. The spiriutally mature person is the one who acknowledges his weasknesses and as he progresses spiriually becomes more dependent on God and less on himself. Jesus Himself says, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:15). Childrens hearts are pure, innocent, and in their openness and genuine trust. This is what the Orthodox Christian should be like "a little child." A child is totally dependent on his or her parents for everything and indeed, his/her relationship is based on love and trust.

Being in the presence of Geronda (Elder) Ephraim of Philotheou and Saint Anthony’s in Arizona one sensed not only his saintliness, humility, love, but also a childlike innocense. I felt the same way when I met Metropolitan Antonios of Siatista, Greece some years ago. Before me was a Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church but at the same time when speaking with him it was as though you were in the presence of a child. He did not act like a child but he had this purity and genuine honesty and innocence about him. Meeting both of them I was reminded of Jesus’ words of how a Christian must become "as a little child" in order to enter the Kingdom of God. In my mind that was truly manifested in both Geronda Ephraim and Metropolitan Antonios. Therefore, my friends, it can be done by the grace of God.

How can ayone of us claim to believe in Jesus Christ and to not trust Him? How can we profess to be followers of Jesus Christ and not to trust Him? How can we faithful, be willing to confess our love in Him but not trust Him? How could we be willing to die for Him and not trust Him? How can we be willing to abide by His commandments and not to trust Him? How can we openly confess that He is our Savior but not trust Him? How can we be obident to Him and not trust Him? How can we preach His Gospel and not to trust Him? Trust is necessary if our faith in God is true and real. There cannot be a personal relationship with our Savior and God without trust. As a matter of fact no relationship is possible without trust whether between husband and wife, between friends, among co-workers, relatives, between priest and parishioners, between teachers and students, between fellow soldiers who protect eachother during battle without real trust.

The problem with human beings is that we have shown to God again and again that we cannot be trusted. Our Creator has always kept all His promises to us throughout time and space. Mankind has betrayed God and His Divine Commandments consistently and often without any shame or repentance. There is no justification for ouir actions and to lack of our fidelity to Him. Our sinful lives proves our deliberate defiance to God’s will and disobedience. We at times say that we trust Him except when things go wrong and then we tend to lose both faith and trust in Him. This reminds me of the time "when Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side… but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary… Jesus went to them walking on the sea… they were troubled, saying ,’it is a ghost!’ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! IT IS I; DO NOT BE AFRAID.’ And Peter answered Him and said, LORD IF IT IS YOU, COMMAND ME TO COME TO YOU ON THE WATER. SO HE SAID ‘COME.’ AND WHEN PETER HAD COME DOWN OF THE BOAT, HE WALKED ON THE WATER TO GO TO JESUS. BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT THE WIND WAS BOISTROUS, HE WAS AFRAID, AND BEGINNING TO SINK, HE CRIED OUT, SAYING, ‘LORD SAVE ME!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?

It is true that when we find ourselves in the stormy sea of life, we too lose our faith and trust in Christ we begin to also sink out of fear. We too hesitate and "doubt" because of our weak faith and trust and by taking our eyes off Christ and instead focusing on the storm or storms in our lives. The believer makes every effor no matter what the conditions are to have our Savior on our sights. When that becomes a reality then we will have the strength to meet the challenges head on and to surrender to the immediate threat. Fear as we know it can do a lot of damage. Fear renders the person unable to act, it makes one freeze in place, and it paralizes the person. Our Lord helps us overcome fear when we reach out to Him and cry out to Him "Lord save me!" Jesus does just that. We clearly see here how quickly the Lord answers our prayer and stretches out His hand and catches us. Prayers do not have to be long but prayer ought to be sincere and founded on faith. Just the words common to all Orthodox Christians "Kyrie eleison" ("Lord, have mercy") is enough. Or the more extendent prayer we say, the Jesus Prayer or the Prayer of the heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Thngs!"

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

“LET US ATTEND!
The Holy Things for the holy!”

“The Holy Things” are the Sacred Body and Precious Blood of our Savior Christ. As the celebrant priest raises the consecrated Holy Gifts he “invites” the faithful: “The Holy Things for the holy.” The invitation to approach and receive is not just to anyone but to the faithful, to those who have been baptized and have spiritually prepared to receive them. In the ancient Christian document, the Didache states: “If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not holy, let him repent.” The spirit with which the believer approach is revealed by the following prayer authored by Saint John Chrysostom:

I am not worthy, Master and Lord, that Thou should come under the roof of my soul; yet
inasmuch as Thou desire to live in me as the Lover of mankind, I approach with boldness.
Thou has commanded: Let the doors be opened which Thou alone has made and Thou
shall enter with Thy love for mankind just as Thou are. Thou shall enter and enlighten
my darkened reasoning, I believe that Thou will do this. For Thou did not cast away the
prostitute who came to Thee with tears, neither did Thou turn away the tax-collector who
repented, nor did Thou reject the thief who acknowledged Thy Kingdom, nor did Thou
forsake the repentant persecutor, the Apostle Paul, even as he was. But all who came to
Thee in repentance Thou did unite to the ranks of Thy friends, Who alone are blessed
forever, now and unto the endless ages. Amen.

Saint Nicholas Cavasilas writes, “Those to whom the priest calls holy are not only
who have attained perfection, but those who are striving for it without having yet obtained

Who are the “holy”? or the “holy people of God?” (“Laos tou Theou?”) but the Church (Ekklesia) of course which our Lord and Savior Hmself founded. It is the entire body of believers in Christ. Essentially, all baptized Christians are part of the chosen race, and the royal priesthood, which form the holy nation of God. We read in Leviticus 26:12, “I will walk among you an be your God, and you shall be My people.”

In the Old Testament, the “people of God” were the Hebrews and citizens of other countries who converted and accepted the True God, the God of Israel. By chosing the Jews to be His chosen people God they were given a sacred mission and were required to obey Him and His Commandments and to proclaim God’s Truth to the entire world. God Who is just and does not show favoritism to one nations over the other, did not select the Israelites to be his chosen people out special favor to them, but to instead provide them the sacred opportunity to bring His Light to all of the human race and in doing so to be His messengers and reveal His glory and truth.

The “holy people of God” are the pleroma of the Ekklesia (Church). There can be no Church without the “people of God.” When the people ( O Laos) followed Jesus to hear His Divine Teachings there were unaware that He would also bestowed upon them His peace, love, hope, healing, and salvation. Each person in His presence responded indivitually by an act of faith. His or her personal commitment of faith incorporated that person into the Κοινωνία (Community) of believers from different countries. It was the group of believers that formed the Church of Jesus Christ and Who keeps them safe and nurtures them.

Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is indeed the Head of the body, with the Church being the “People of God.” The “People of God” are and will always be the GUARDIANS OF ALL TRUTH, INCLUDING ORTHODOX DOCTRINE. The “People of God” form the “CONSCIENCE OF THE CHURCH” AND WHO ARE IN COMMUNION WITH GOD. Their obedience is to the Founder and Head of the Church Jesus Christ. The “People of God” have an obligation to God not only to protect and defend the Truth but to prevent the enemies of the Church from corrupting it. The “People of God” must NEVER ALLOW ANYONE FROM SILENCING THEM. They MUST NEVER BETRAY JESUS CHRIST OR ABANDONING HIM. The “People of God” have only one loaylty and that is to our Savior.

There are those who over the centuries who wish to mislead and misinform the “People of God” so that their hidden and sinister agenda may succeed but this must never be permitted. The “People of God” need to be constantly vigilant, informed, aware, and ready to confront all evil people who attempt to destroy the harmony in the Church. As the custodians of the Truth the “People of God” must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to be prepared for all out war with evil. Saint Paul writing to the Ephesians says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand… having girded your waist with truth, having put onthe breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (6:13-17).

Just as important as SPIRITUAL ARMOR is a Christian’s readiness and alertness. Many Christians have fallen into complacency and a false sense of security. They are led to believe that they are not in any danger and that they are safe from all evil forces but that is not true. Evil forces work both within the Church and without the Church. Spiritual warfare never ceases. We cannot afford to fall into a lull or stupor, a state of extreme apathy and indifference. Religious leaders must be held accountable for their actions if their actions are contrary to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Orthodox Church.

The “People of God”, the Orthodox Chrisians must be diligent in their prayers and always watchfull. Those who are engaged in spiritual combat and in the “front lines,” require the back up power of a praying Church. Always remembering the Divine words of our Savior, “for without Me YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5).

“Compel yourselves, my children, in the spiritual struggle.
Do not forget the vast experience of the devil and our
own weakness. Just as a leaf in autumn falls at the
slightest wind, likewise we fall at the slightest temptation
or trial when the grace of God does not assist us. And
when does the grace of God assist us? Only when
humility guides our every thought and deed.”
(Geronda Ephraim of Filotheou and Arizona of blessed
memory.)

________________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN MUST BECOME A
CONFESSOR (AN APOLOGIST) OF THE FAITH IN THE 21st
CENTURY

A Christian Confessor or an Apologist (Greek: απολογία) was and still is one who openly defends and explains the faith and one who attempts to present the positive light of Christianity. The Christian apologist addressed those standing in opposition and those yet to form an opinion such as pagan emperors, philosophers, and potential converts. A substantial number of early Saints, Martyrs, Holy Fathers, and Holy Mothers were Confessors even under a great threat to their lives. They taught that Christianity was a non-threatening religion that worshipped the one True God, that the Founder of the Faith was the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, and although Christians were law-abiding citizens willing to serve and honor the emperor, their belief in a single Divinity prevented them from taking the loyalty oaths that acknowledged the emperor’s divinity and, therefore, could not worship the pagan gods and idols. Needless to say, soon after their confession, they were imprisoned, tortured, and killed.

Countless other Christian apologists were exiled and sent to the mines, remaining always faithful in their confession until the very end of their lives. The title, thus, distinguished them from the holy martyrs, who were so-called because they underwent death for the Faith. The Christian Confessors, as well as the holy martyrs, were crowned by our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Orthodox Christian theology, the term "Apologetics" is used in regards to defending the True faith against atheism, heresy, pagans, and schismatics. This defense of the faith, however, is done always in the spirit of Christian love, patience, dignity, truthfulness, and is non-confrontational, polemical and, of course, uncompromising.

The earliest apologists or confessors were the Holy Fathers of the Church. Their apologies covered a wide range of issues such as Christ’s Nature, Gnosticism, the Theotokos, miracles, Holy Scripture, and numerous heresies that threatened the unity and integrity of the Christian Faith and the Church.

The method adopted by the Church to resolve the vital differences and concerns of opinions on the meaning of the Holy Scripture was the Ecumenical Synods. There were Seven Ecumenical Synods that were representative of the WHOLE Church and formed the key "apologetics" for the Orthodox Church. One such important apologetic work was The Nicene Creed ("The Symbol Faith").

The holy Apostle Peter writes, "…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, being ready to make A DEFENSE to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3:15).

The Holy Apostles and early Christians preached Christ crucified and resurrected as a veritable fact, and were not in need of any scientific and philosophical arguments. Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, AS A TESTIMONY TO THEM AND TO THE GENTILES. When they deliver you up, DO NO WORRY ABOUT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK, FOR IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU IN THAT HOUR WHAT YOU SHOULD SPEAK; FOR IT IS NOT YOU WHO SPEAK, BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS IN YOU" (Matthew 10:19-20). When the Christian bears witness to Christ, the Holy Spirit will speak through him/her and you will not be defeated (Mark 13:11; John 14:26), though you may be persecuted and even martyred for the faith.

Growing and expending Gentile world, Christianity, in defending itself from slanderous and defemendory rumors and attacks, was forced to disclose the delusions of the Gentile religions. It was necessary to prove to the Gentiles that the Christian God is the True God; and to the Jews that Christ is the Messiah promised by the holy Prophets. In defending the Christian faith, as the persecutions became more systematic and severe, the Christians felt it necessary to refute all defamation that was deliberatly spread throughout the Roman empire. To the watching pagan world, the perseverence of the faithful during affliction appears foolish. However, the holy Apostle Peter indicates that faith is precious, bearing greater glory and honor as it continues to stand firm under persecution.

Is the contemporary Orthodox Christian in this 21st century prepared to be and act as an apologist? Is our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ our Savior strong enough? These are questions that need to be answered, as we can clearly see that persecution against the Christian faith continues. Defamation against our Savior Christ and His Teachings continue to spread throughout the world. At the same time, heresies have divided the Christians among themselves and the Gospel message has been distorted by the various denominations and cults. Christians outside the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, are totally confused and disollusioned. The Christian teachings have been so diluted that the Person of Jesus Christ is disfigured and unrecognizable.

It is up to the Orthodox Christian Church and the Orthodox Christians world-wide to restore the true image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to defend the truth as taught by Him and the Holy Apostles. We need, the world needs, true apologists today. We need Apologists or Confessors who not only know the faith, but practice it, and have the needed knowledge to teach it, to preach it, to declare it, and to spread it throughout. We need apologist like the ones in the early years of Christianity who are willing to be tortured, suffer, and die for Jesus Christ the Son of God and our Redeemer. There are such apologist in every century who continue to defend the authentic Christian faith and who have devoted their whole lives in the service of the Lord. We can find them in our Monasteries. Orthodox Monasticism is flourishing today, monks and nuns practice the angelic life, and we know that they are praying unceasingly for the salvation of all mankind. Thanks be to God!

_______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"