My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

ORTHODOX CELEBRATION OF THE APODOSIS OF
ALL-HOLY PASCHA

On Wednesday, June 9th, our Holy Orthodox Christian Church celebrates the feast of the Apodosis (Leave-taking or "after-feast") of the All-Holy Pascha 39 days later. Our Holy Orthodox Tradition calls us to observe this holy day as though we celebrating Pascha itself. According to Divine establishment of Old Testament holidays, all of our great holy days have a "leave-taking" or "after-feast," that is the chanting of the holy day’s prayers are not only chanted on the feast day itself, but over the next several days, and on the final day– the "APODOSIS"– the services of the holy day almost in their entirety. The continuation of the celebration of the All-Holy Pascha until the feast of the Ανάληψις τού Κυρίου ημών Ιησού Χριστού (The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ) signifies that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, over the course OF 40 DAYS of His Holy Resurrection APPEARED TO HIS HOLY APOSTLES.

On Wednesday of this week, the Paschal Celebration comes to an end. It is natural for Orthodox Christians to feel a degree of sadness: the rejoicing ends, the abundance of food is replaced by a regular diet, in other words, weekday life begins and those who adore Pascha are grieved. However, our divine feast days are not like that they bring us from one glory to another–the holy day is glorious, but even more glorious is the SPIRITUAL FRUIT THAT THE HOLY DAY CREATES IN THE SOULS AND HEARTS OF THE FAITHFUL.

Our Holy Mother Church has taught us to express the glory of the fruit of the All-Holy Pascha thus: "Taught by Christ the new and pure way of life, let us all strive to preserved to the end, that we may receive the coming of the Holy Spirit." (1st Troparion, 9th hymn on the Fourth Sunday of Pascha).
Jesus speaking to His disciples says, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage THAT I GO AWAY; FOR IF I DO NOT GO AWAY, THE Helper will not come to you." (St. John 16:7).

Our prayer to God the Holy Spirit: O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places
and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of Life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from
every stain, and save ou souls, O Gracious Lord.

The celebration of the Great Holy Feasts of the Church year are extended for a number of days, depending upon the particular holy Feast. Each day of the Leave-taking or Afterfeast will have particular hymns assigned to it, continuing the theme of the feast being observed. Most of these Great Feast Days also have a day or more of preparation called a FOREFEAST (those Feast Days that are on the moveable Paschal Cycle do not have Forefeasts).

The last day of an Afterfeast is called THE APODOSIS (Gk. for "leave-taking"), literally, "giving-back") of the Feast. On the Apodosis, most of the hymns that are chanted on the first day of the Feast are repeated. On the Apodosis of holy Feasts of the Theotokos, the Epistle and Gospel readings from the day of the Feast are repeated again at the Divine Liturgy.

The Pashal Apodosis is observed on Wednesday, a day of fasting from meat, dairy, fish, oil, and wine. However, on the celebration of the Apodosis, the Church permits the consumption of fish as well.

In our Holy Tradition, every Lord’s Day (”Hemera Kyriou’) is the celebration of the ‘little Pascha.’ Every Lord’s Day we rejoice as we receive the Holy Eucharist, the Very Body, and Blood of Our Risen Savior Jesus Christ and we become one with Him and with one another.

On Thursday we celebrate the Great Feast of the Holy Ascension of Christ into Heaven. The Lord Jesus passed 40 days on earth AFTER HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, APPEARING CONTINUOUSLY IN VARIOUS PLACES TO HIS DISCIPLES, WITH WHOM HE ALSO SPOKE, ATE, AND DRANK THEREFORE DEMONSTRATING His Resurrection. On this Thursday, THE FORTIETH DAY AFTER PASCHA, He appeared again in Jerusalem.

Now you can all understand clearly why we chant the hymn of the Resurrection "Christ is Risen." ("Χριστός Ανέστη") for 39 days, the day of the leave-taking of Pascha and NOT only one week following the celebration of the All-Holy Pascha. Our Holy Orthodox Tradition must be respected and adhered to by all.

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Glorious and Life-Giving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΥΝΗ (JUSTICE) IS INDISPENSABLE
TO ALL OF MANKIND

"The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night,
and the Lord said to him, ‘Make a particular request
for yourself.’ Solomon said, ‘You have shown great
mercy to Your servant David my father, because he
walked before You in truth, and with You in
righteousness and uprightness of heart, You have
continued this great kingdom for him, and You gave
him a son to sit on his throne, as I do today. Now, O
Lord my God, You made Your servant a king in place
of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not
know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in
the midst of Your people whom You chose, a great
people, who will not be numbered. Therefore, give
Your servant A HEART TO HEAR AND JUDGE YOUR
PEOPLE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TO DISCERN
BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHO CAN
JUDGE THIS GREAT PEOPLE OF YOURS? (3 Kings 2:4-8).

The LORD, who APPEARED TO SOLOMON, was the Son of God, for He is the Logos/Word of God the Father. King Solomon did not ask for a "long life", or "riches, or the "life" of his "enemies," for such things are of this world. Therefore, God readily heard his prayer (Saint John Chrysostom). Rather, he asked for VIRTUES SUCH AS UNDERSTANDING AND JUDGMENT, WHICH BELONG TO THE CROWN OF THE VIRTUES. These virtues enable one to"DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL." (Hebrews 5:13-14).

"And the word of the Lord came to Zachariah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Render A JUST JUDGMENT; SHOW MERCY AND COMPASSION EACH TO HIS BROTHER. DO NOT OPPRESS THE WIDOW, OR THE ORPHAN, OR THE FOREIGNER, OR THE POOR. Let no one REMEMBER IN HIS HEART ANY WRONG OF HIS BROTHER" (Zechariah 7:8-10).

"Learn to do good. Seek judgment and redeem the wronged. Defend the orphan and justify the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. Or what does the Lord seek from you, but do justly and to love mercy, and
to be ready to walk with the Lord your God?" (Micha 6:8).

The holy Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans 1:7, writes, "For in the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith as it is written, ‘THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH". "The righteousness of God: a right relationship with God, which originates with Him. God’s plan for our reception of His righteousness is the Incarnation of His Son. Christ’s righteousness is given to us, and by our own cooperation with God we continue to grow in it.

"The just shall live by faith". Faith, as we know it, is NOT something abstract, but a way of life. The Christian faithful adhere to the commandments of God through their belief and obedience. Living by faith in Christ, we reveal the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As Saint Paul writes, "for the Kingdom of God is NOT eating and drinking, but RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Romans 14:17).

As the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ our God and Savior, we are to exhibit the same respect for justice as He. God’s Divine justice is absolute and perfect. God’ s justice is founded on the purest and holiest form of love. Man’s kind of justice is flawed and in many cases corrupt. God’s judgment of us is based on our exercise of free will. Although sin impairs our powers, it does not destroy God’s image in us or our free will.

A wonderful illustration of Christ’s act of justice and mercy is the story of the adulterous woman in the Gospel of Saint John 7:53-8:11, "He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her first… convicted by their sonscience, went out one by one… He said to her, ‘Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said , ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

When we, however, review Christ’s mock trial based on false accusations, slander, lies, and fabrications by the high religious Jewish leaders, we see that Our Lord did not receive justice, but was convicted on false charges of blasphemy and killed. "He made Himself to be the Son of God." Blinded by their hatred of Him, they crucified the Son of God, the true Messiah, the Savior of the world! In one of the hymns from Holy and Great Thursday, we hear our Lord asking: "O My people, what have I done unto thee, or wherein have I wearied thee? To thy blind I have light, thy lepers I cleansed, thy paralytic I raised up. O My people, what have done unto thee, and how has thou recompense Me? Instead of manna, gall; instead of water, vinegar; instead of My love, you nailed Me to the Cross…". This of course was man’s greatest act of injustice, not only to another human being, but also to the Almighty God Himself; He Who will pass the final judgment on all humanity on Judgment Day. God’s judgment is absolute.

God, "the Judge will appear in all His glory with all His holy Angels before the face of all the world. ‘Strict and terrible,’ performed in all the justice of God, it will be ‘A day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. ‘Final and definitive,’ determining for all eternity the fate of each one who is judged. The result of the Judgment will be Eternal reward, blessedness for the righteous and torment for the evil who are condemned."

It is said that human justice must be applied equally to all peoples. Law has been passed to determine who is innocent and who is found guilty. Crimes committed must be punished, but after a fair and just trial. No one must be above the law of the land. Whether the accused is rich or poor, the identical legal and correct procedure should be followed. The crime should be investigated and the results should be honest and objective and not prejudicial in any way. The accused should have an attorney to represent him at court. If justice is to prevail, everything must be done according to the laws of the country. Unfortunately, there have been cases where people have been found guilty on circumstancial evidence and have been unustly imprisoned for many years. Also, powerful and rich people who were truly guilty, were exonerated and set free. Hopefully, there is a strong Justice System to protect the rights of the individual and either to investigate or prosecute those in question.

There is not a greater injury to human dignity than injustice. We can clearly see that the Almighty God commands justice, compassion, and the protection of the weak in society, such as widows, orphans, poor, and foreigners. It is easy for these unfortunate people, who are not able to sustain themselves, to be ignored and dismissed by society. It is also easy to abuse and exploit them to the point of exhaustion and even death. There are many tragic stories of people who were treated as though they were subhuman and used as slaves. Many of the poor were used to entertain the wealthy and powerful, to fight wars, and forced to work in mines and the most hazardous of jobs.

The holy Apostles themselves served food to the widows and those in need. When the Apostles could not preach the word of God and serve tables, they elected "seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). The FIRST ORDINATION PERFORMED BY THE HOLY APOSTLES THEMSELVES WERE THE SEVEN DEACONS. The Greek word ‘διάκονος’ (‘deacon’) which literally means "servant." They were elected to continue the ministry of serving the widows and the poor.

Ο Μέγας Φιλάνθρωπος (The Great Philanthropist) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, makes charity a criteria for salvation and for entering His Heavenly Kingdom when He says, "Depart from Me, YOU CURSED, INTO THE EVERLASTING FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS: FOR I WAS HUNGRY and you gave Me, no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. Then they also will answer Him, saying, 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, IS SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME. And these will GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE" (St. Matthew 25:41-46). Our Lord Jesus Christ identifies Himself WITH THE POOR AND THE OUTCASTS. He invites to brotherhood all who are kindled with love for others. "And this COMMANDMENT WE HAVE FROM Him, that he who loves God MUST LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO" (1 John 4:21). These are crowned with grace.

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, BUT SINNERS, TO REPENTANCE" (St. Matthew 9:13). The world should become more loving and merciful as the Almgihty God is to all. Even after thousands of years, mankind has still not learned to respond to the human suffering and plight. The streets, parks, and neighborhoods are filled with the indigent, the mentally impaired, those addicted with drugs, and with thousands of homeless and destitute. Why is this? Especially in the greatest and wealthiest country in the world? Why are chlldren still neglected, abused, and exploited? Why are thousands of women forgotten, ignored, and tormented? Have we, as a society, as a community, lost our humanity?

We should emulate the good exmple of one of the Great holy Fathers of the Church, Saint Basil the Great, who founded philanthropic institutions for the poor. Of course, there were countless other holy Fathers and Mothers of the Church that came from wealthy families and gave all that they had inherited from their parents to the poor. Christians throughout the centuries have been known for helping the poor, the homeless, the suffering, and the forgotten in society. We, as the contemprary Orthodox Christians, must be more engaged in philanthropy. By this, I do not mean only to donate funds alone, but to personally touch the life of someone through compassion, love, understanding, encouragement, kindness, and good example. The world has great need for sensitive and good people.

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IS THE ARK OF SALVATION

"Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth,
is filled with unrighteousness through them, and behold, I will destroy them with
the earth. Make yourself AN ARK …and behold I am bringing A FLOOD OF WATER
ON THE EARTH, TO DESTROY FROM UNDER HEAVEN ALL FLESH IN WHICH IS the
THE BREATH OF LIFE… Now the FLOOD WAS ON THE EARTH FORTY DAYS AND
FORTY NIGHTS. The waters increased and LIFTED UP THE ARK AND IT ROSE HIGH
ABOVE THE EARTH… So it came to pass, at the end of the forty days, Noah OPENED
THE WINDOW OF THE ARK HE HAD MADE. Then he sent OUT A RAVEN, which kept
going to and fro until the waters dried up from earth… he waited another seven days,
and again he sent the DOVE from the Ark. The dove returned to him in the evening,
and behold, a freshly plucked OLIVE LEAF was in her mouth; and Noah KNEW THE
WATERS HAD RECEDED FROM THE EARTH…" ( Chapters 6, 7, 8).

The story of Noah and the Great Flood is one of the most familiar and well-known stories of the Old Testament. However, I will not concentrate on this story perse but on the Christian symbolism of the Ark. Indeed, according to Orthodox Christianity, the entire Holy Bible is interpreted Christocentrically. Books written by the Venerable Prophets of the Old Testament, and the Holy Apostles were written under the inspiration and action of the Holy Spirit, therefore they are called "Divinely inspired." They are divided into books of the Old Testament and the books of the New Testament.

Holy Tradition is the Tradition which comes form the early Church of the Apostolic times. In the 2nd and 4th centuries they are called "the Apostolic Tradition." "Holy Tradition is necessary for the correct understanding of separate passages of Holy Scripture, and for refuting heretical interpretations of it, and in general, so as to avoid superficial, one-sided, and sometimes even prejudiced and false interpretations of it."

"The Orthodox Church of Christ is the Body of Christ, a spiritual ORGANISM whose Head is Christ. It has A SINGLE SPIRIT, A SINGLE COMMON FAITH, A SINGLE AND COMMON CATHOLIC CONSCIOUSNESS, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND ITS REASONINGS ARE BASED ON THE CONCRETE, DEFINITE FOUNDATIONS OF Holy Scripture and Holy Apostolic Tradition. This catholic (universal) CONSCIOUSNESS is expressed in the Ecumenical Synods (Councils) of the Church… The Ecumenical Councils formulated precisely and confirmed a number of FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS of the Orthodox Christian Faith, DEFENDING THE ANCIENT TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH AGAINST THE DESTORTIONS OF HERETICS. The Ecumenical Councils likewise formulated numerous laws and rules governing PUBLIC and PRIVATE Christian church life, which are called the Church CANONS, and REQUIRED THE UNIVERSAL AND UNIFORM OBSERVANCE OF THEM. Finally, the Ecumenical Councils confirmed THE DOGMATIC DECREES of a number of LOCAL councils, and aalos the dogmatic statements composed by certain holy Fathers of the Church–for example, the Confessions of Faith of Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neo-Caesarea, the Canons of Saint Basil the Great ans so forth."

"The Orthodox Church is the Church NOT of ‘councils" as such, BUT ONLY OF TRUE COUNCILS, inspired by the Holy Spirit. WHICH CONFORM TO THE Church’s catholic (uviversal) CONSCIOUSNESS (ΣΥΝΕΙΔΗΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ)."

Having posted all the above information regarding our Orthodox Christian Faith and Church I pray that it will strengthen your knowledge of the Authentic Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Founder and Head of the Church.

In the ancient Christian iconography, the image of Noah rising from the Ark is simultaneously a type of Christ riding from the tomb. The dove signifies the Second Coming of Christ, the True Olive (also remember that the dove returned twice to the Ark). The Ark itseldf is seen by the holy Fathers and hagiographers of a type of the Church of Christ, the ARK OF SALVATION. Furthermore, the main church (Gr. κυρίως ναός – ναύ = ship) symbolizes the Ark. Many of the holy Fathers of the Church give allegorical interpretations of practically every detail of the construction of the Ark and of the Great Flood story.

"So, irrespective of its authenticity as literal historical account, Christocentrically interpreted the Great Flood narrative becomes a story of God’s love. It teaches us that we can sacramentally die with Christ, be buried with Him, and be raised up with Him. We can be redeemed, cleansed, and re-created through water and the Spirit and find salvation in the ARK OF THE CHURCH. And we can await in hope the Second Coming of our Lord."

It is clear that in order to be saved or rescued from the storms and challenges of our life on earth, we ought to place ourselves on the SHIP with Christ, the Pilate of the Ship or Ark. This Ship is the Holy Orthodox Church. For all of our faithful the Church is the Life-saving Ship, the Ark of Salvation. Since the name Noah means ‘REST’, his entering the Ark signifies the ‘rest’ which the people of God obtain from this world by enterining into the Church. According to the Holy Apostle Peter, it also signfies BAPTISM. In 1 Peter 3:20-21, he writes, "… While the Ark was being prepeared, in which A FEW, THAT IS, EIGHT SOULS, WERE SAVED THROUGH WATER. There is also an antitype which now SAVES US–BAPTISM (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of good conscience toward God), throug the resurrection of Jesus Christ." For the baptismal water is symbolized by the waters of the Flood, and the grace of the Holy Spirit by the dove bringing the OLIVE BRANCH to Noah after the waters had subsided.

The Holy Church has always been viewed throughout the centuries as the faithful believers struggling through the storms of life with all the tempations, persecutions, assaults, be they physicall, spiritual or moral in nature, or the various and many heresies that undermine the Teachings of the Church from the Apostolic times till today. Saint Nikolai Velimirovich writes: "The flood of madness and sin continues incessantly. Therefore, the Lover of Mankind constructed the Ark of Salvation. Ask for this Ark, and you will soon be entering it. Do NOT let yourselves be led astray by the multitude of variegated vessels, decorate and adorned on the outside. Ask about the power of the engine and about the skill of the captain. The most powerful engine and the most skilled Helmsman are to be found in the Ark of Christ. This is the All-Seeing, All-Powerful, Holy Spirit Himself." (The Faiht of the Chosen People),

As the waters of passions, temptations and persecutions confront us and threaten to throw us against the rocks, it is good to remember that as long as we remain on board the Ship of the Church WE ARE SAFE! We sail aboard a Ship that is piloted by our Savior Jesus Christ Himself and we are comforted with the knowledge that this Ship is headed for the safe habour which is the Eternal Kingdom of God.

Remember too, there is only ONE SHIP, just as there is ONE CHURCH, that is safe and only ONE Ship sea-worthy to safely take us to our heavenly destination. Noah had only eight passengers but now hopefully will be millions. However, without the grace of the Holy Spirit, man is easily overcomed by the devil, for his will power alone is incapable of resisting the devil’s temptations. It is only by the grace of the Holy Spirit that we can hopefully be one of the chosen passengers on the Ship of Salvation.

THANKS BE TO GOD!

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL COMPASS IS THE LORD HIMSELF

"Now may the Lord DIRECT YOUR HEARTS
INTO THE LOVE OF GOD AND INTO THE
PATIENCE OF CHRIST" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

"Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me" (St. John 14:6).

A compass is a device used for navigation, location, and direction. People use it to find their way and prevent becoming lost. For centuries, the compass has been considered one of the most important instruments for navigation. Knowing what direction to take to arrive at your destination is extremely important to all of us. Even animals, such as certain types of ants, fish, and birds, use the Sun as a compass to help them find direction. Other animals, like pigeons, are able to navigate using the earth’s own magnetic field. It is said that their brains function like an internal magnetic compass.

Today, however, we use the more advanced technological system which is known as the "Global Positioning System or GPS, which is a satelite-based radionavigation system. Both the compass and the GPS system are necessary for us to find our location or to find direction.

Spiritually speaking, the Orthodox Christian living in the world tends to lose his way and, therefore, needs a ‘spiritual compass’ or a ‘spiritual GPS’ to find his or her way back to God. Life in the world is difficult and challenging for everyone. There are so many problems, issues, and challenges of all kinds that people are preoccupied with and absorbed by. There are many distractions and conditions which cause a person to deviate and to change their course. There are illnesses, accidents of all kinds, marriage and family issues, professions which take control of one’s life, making wrong decisions, death of a loved one, etc., which can lead a person to take a different path and choose a more worldly path.

Losing one’s way is not unusual at all. Losing sight of God and communion with Him is a very serious concern. This is the time that we need that spiritual comass to direct us back to Him. Our risen Lord Jesus Christ says, "I am the way," and so naturally we turn to Him and we seek His guidance and our return to the right path that leads to salvation and His Kingdom. Our Savior is never far off nor too busy to help us find our way. We know that this is true, because He has said so over and over again. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall snatch them out of My hand" (St. John 10:27-28).

The Orthodox Christian believer needs no man-made instrument to find his way back home. Our Lord the Holy Spirit is always with us, guiding us to our true destination, His Eternal Kingdom. God awaits for our return, as in the case of the Prodical Son. Who needs a compass or a GPS when the Creator Himself has made it possible for us to be saved and gain eternal life? I believe that His Cross, which is shaped in such a way that it points us and directs us from Earth to Heaven.

A compass or a GPS may be useful, but they are not perfect instruments. People who use them have still gotten lost or even misdirected. Our Almighty and Merciful God is perfect and, beyond that, as our Heavenly Father, He wants all of us to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We believe that spiritual compass is found in every person, inasmuch we were created in the image and likeness of God. Naturally, instictively, and through faith we are drawn to our Savior. He is our divine magnet whose power is pulling us closer and closer to Him.

Don’t be frightened if you, for a time, lose your way. Our Savior will make sure that you are found just like the lost sheep. "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays, it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, REJOICE WITH ME, FOR I HAVE FOUND MY SHEEP WHICH WAS LOST! I SAY TO YOU THAT LIKEWISE THERE SHALL BE MORE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER NINENTY-NINE JUST PERSONS WHO NEED NO REPENTANCE" (St. Luke 15:4-7).

The parable illustrates God’s unconditional love and forgiveness FOR THE REPENTANT SINNER. God neither holds nor pulls anyone by force. We are free to make our own choices and to faithfully follow our Redeemer and Good Shepherd. But even if we make the wrong choice or decision and end up "to a far country", and there "waste" your "possessions with prodigal living" among people who care not about you and come to your senses, it is still NOT too late to return home to your loving Father Who awaits your return. It is very important, however, to repent and to say, "I will arise and go to my Father and I will say to Him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You, and I am no longer worthy to be called Your son. Make me like one of Your hired servants" (St. Luke 15:18-19). "But when he was still a great way off, his Father saw him and HAD COMPASSION, AND RAN AND FELL ON HIS NECK AND KISSED HIM…AND THE FATHER SAID TO HIS SERVANTS, ‘BRING OUT THE BEST ROBE AND PUT IT ON HIM, AND PUT A RING ON HIS HAND AND SANDALS ON HIS FEET, AND BRING THE FATTED CALF HERE AND KILL IT AND LET US EAT AND BE MERRY; FOR THIS MY SON WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND" (vs 20-24). This parable said by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who celebrates the return of his son, just as He always longs for the return of every sinner to His loving and forgiving fatherly embrace.

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

Περί καλοσύνης (About Kindness)

PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE

"… giving all diligence, add to your faith VIRTUE, knowledge,
to KNOWLEDGE, self-control, to SELLF-CONTROL, to
perseverance, to PERSEVERANCE GODLINESS, to
godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and to brotherly kindness
LOVE." (2 Peter 1:5-7).

The Orthodox Christian understands that he or she doe not stand still, but continues to grow in Christ and in knowledge. How do we attain godliness and theosis (deification)? Saint Cyril of Alexandria states, "We that are made worthy to participate in Him [the Holy Spirit] through faith in Christ are brought to perfection as participants of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and are said to be born of God, and on that account are given the title gods, not flying up to the glory above us by grace alone, but as already having God indwelling and taking lodging in us, according to what is set forth in the Prophet, ‘ I shall dwell among them and walk about in their midst’ (Leviticus 26:12; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

Being renewed by God’s power, we become PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE. This does NOT mean we become divine by nature. "If we participated in God’s essence or nature, the distinction between God and man would be abolished. What this does mean is that we participate in God’s Divine ENERGY, described in Holy Scripture, such as GLORY, LIFE, LOVE, VIRTUE, AND POWER. We are to become like God by His grace, and truly His adopted children, but we NEVER BECOME GOD BY NATURE. According to the Holy Fathers of the Church, this TRANSFORMATION especially occurs through the Divine Eucharist, for when Christ’s Body and Blood BECOME ONE WITH OURS, WE BECOME CHRIST-BEARERS AND PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE.

DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) is the theological word used to describe the process by which a Christian becomes more like God. Saint Peter speaks of this process when he writes, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness… you may be partakers of the Divine nature" (2 Peter 1:3-4).

The Holy Apostle Peter makes perfectly clear that we reach participation with God through the increase of spiritual virtues, not the absence of them. God’s Kingdom is conditional upon a faith that exhibits perseverance and holiness. Virtue refers to the vigor and courage behind attaining MORAL EXCELLENCE. Love is connected TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS (affection among Christians), for love of God CANNOT BE PERFECTED EXCEPT THROUGH ONE’S NEIGHBOR. This understanding is reinforced by the Holy Apostle John who writes, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this is a commandment we have from Him: THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD MUST LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO" (1 John 4:20).

You will agree with me when I say that spiritual people are sweet and kind people who are always gentle and loving. However, as good Christians, we believe that kindness is part of our nature and we emulate our Almighty God for He is kind. God’s kindness is unconditional, not like ours. God is not just kind to the good, but He is also kind to "the ungrateful and selfish." In the Gospel of Saint Luke, Jesus reminds us, "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful as your Father also is merciful" (St. Luke 6:35-36).

A Christian does not question, analyze, or deliberate before he is kind to someone in need. He does not plan to be kind, he simply acts. I am sure you have heard of random kindness, when good people are kind without any forethought. There are so many opportunities to be kind to people in general and should take advantage of them. When some think of kindness, they always associate it with giving money to the poor and destitute. But being kind can also mean giving of one’s self to others. It means to be compassionate and forgiving those who have made mistakes or wrongs in their life. There may be someone who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, or committed a grave sin. Being kind to these people does not mean that one has to gloss over or ignore these sins, but that we pray for them and entreat the Lord to help them overcome their problem and forgive the sins committed by them. Being kind means offering moral support and brotherly guidance and encouragement to someone who is lost.

Everyone must avoid judging another person who has made wrong decisions in his/her life. We must never be cruel, unforgiving, condemn, demean, or even ridicule someone else. A kind word to someone who may think that no one cares goes a long way and may even save a life. Everyone needs love and understanding. A truly kind person will correct someone by encouraging him or her lovingly and gently. There is nothing worse than someone who feels that this unfortunate soul deserves what is coming to him or her and deserves no compassion or understanding. However, this attitude is totally wrong and very unchristian. That kind of person is not only insensitive, but cruel and inhuman. Saint Seraphim of Sarov says, "You cannot be too gentle, too kind." Kindness should take it seriously enough to make it a priority in our lives.

Kindness is not limited to strangers alone. We all should be kind to people who we know, including our own family members i.e., husband, wife, children, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, etc. Kindness is divine and infinite, beyond space and time. Kindness is spiritually profitable to all, for it brings an abundance of blessings to those who practice it. Kindness brings warmth and comfort to those giving it. When you or anyone commits a random act of kindness to someone that does not expect it, you can watch that person’s eyes light up with gratitude and hope. What greater reward is there than this?

"… for we are members of one another…". Our Risen Lord and God points out the true attitude of kindness and its importance when He said, "Come, you blessed of My Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD; for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, INASMUCH AS YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME.’" (St. Matthew 25:34-40).

There is absolutely nothing more that can be said after the Divine words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We truly need to take His words to heart and know that the act of kindness to our fellow man IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SALVATION!

____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

"… HE WHO HATES…"

"But he who hates his brother IS IN DARKNESS and WALKS
IN DARKNESS, and DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING,
because THE DARKNESS HAS BLINDED HIS EYES" (1 John 2:11).

The NEW COMMANDMENT of our Lord Christ’s that we love as He loved us (St. John 13:34; 15:12, 17). To love our Lord is to be IN THE LIGHT, is also to love one another. Anyone who approaches hating his brother or sister to the Font of Life where he or is to be reborn, to to the Cup of that Precious and Divine Blood whereby he is to be saved, even though he may think he is enlightened by the Savior, is still in darkness. He cannot have put off the darkness of his sins when he did not take care to put on the fundamentals of agape according to Saint Bede.

Our Savior Jesus Christ says, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift and go your way, FIRST BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER YOUR GIFT" (St. Matthew 5:24). The Lord of Agape (Love) cannot permit one who is full of anger and hatred for his "brother" to accept any gift or the holy altar. There must be love, harmony, friendship, and peace with one another because it is that which takes presidents over duties of worship. We know historically that in the early Church and Christian worship the practice was to exchange the "kiss of peace" at the beginning of the Communion prayers–not after– WAS A SING OF RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS, preparing the Ecclesia (the faithful) to offer and receive the Divine Eucharist. (1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14).

The holy Apostle Paul exhorts us "Do not let the sun go down on your anger, no give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27). Saint John Chrysostom writes: "If you fail to control your anger on the first day, then on the next day and even sometimes for a whole year you will still be dragging it out… Anger will cause us to suspect that words spoken in one sense were meant in another. And we will eve do the same with gestures and every little thing… Be angry WITH THE DEVIL and NOT with your own member…". According to Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk states, "…whoever nurses anger and malice for his neighbor gives place to the devil. The devil ALREADY POSSESSES HIM like a spirit of malice and leads him about like a captive. Hate arises either from envy, as with Cain who nursed a hatred for his brother, Abel, whose happiness he envied, and he killed him (cf. Genesis, Chapter 4).

Love in the world has not been extinguished but nevertheless, there is too much anger, hatred, and malice (violence) among the people. All that can only bring about division, suspicion, and cruelty. It is not at all surprising that many refer to what they experience on a personal level that what is happening is insane. There is a loss of reason and common sense. We witness what anger, hatred, and malice are doing to too many innocent people that are caught up in this turmoil and conflict. There is doubt that there are dark forces out there that fuel the hatred and so we see it translated into violence where innocent people are killed and cities are put to the torch. The evil means and tools used to accomplish this is lies, deception, manipulation, confusion, propaganda, distortion, and most of all fear. These evil forces are determined to turn one against the other or for one to fear the other. The end result is chaos and destruction. None of these evil passions i.e., anger, hatred, slander, and malice are of God but have their origin with Satan. There is absolutely no justification among fellow citizens and brethren.

Saint Tikhon writes: "If it were possible to look into the heart of a malicious man, nothing else would appear but onlyTHE TORMENT OF HELL. So it is that malicious people ARE DARKENED AND WITHERED, FOR MALICE EATS UP THEIR FLESH LIKE A POISON… When it is not cut off in the beginning it works great calamities, much the same as a fire having gathered strength eats up many houses". " Malice is the sort of thing that if it is not cut off at the very beginning multiplies without limit, in the same way as a flame blazes on finding dry materials", says Saint John Chrysostom.

"Woe to the world for malice!" writes Saint Tikhon, "It harms everything and in every way, as we have said. No one can hide from it anywhere. When it cannot harm a man any other way, then it injects its poison into a man through his tongue." An evil man full of hatred will resort to destroying the man’s reputation through slander. Evil is not satisfied simply to hurt someone it needs to completely destroy him. It may go as far as desiring the destruction of the person’s business and his family.

"It is a fearful thing for Christians to be hateful WHO ARE COMMANDED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO DO GOOD TO THOSE THAT HATE THEM. It is a fearful thing for Christians to get revenge, who are commanded to forgive the transgressions of others. The avenger will fall into the hands of the avenging God. "It is a fearful thing t fall into the hands of the Living God" (Hebrews 10:31). Let the malicious soul heed this, and let them put the poison of their malice to death by repentance and contrition of heart, otherwise, they shall appear at the fearful Judgment of Christ with their sins and receive a reward according to their deeds… It often happens that though they harm others, the malicious first hurt themselves" says, Saint Tikhon. "
The psalmist writes: He opened a pit and dug it, and he shall fall into the hole which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown" (Psalm 7:15-16).

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ let us avoid any anger, any hatred, any slander, any malice, and instead as Jesus says, love our enemies and do good to them. We are followers of Christ and the best way to treat others is to follow the example of our Savior, Who from the Cross said: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (St. Luke 23:34).

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Redeemer,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT (SOUL)
(On the struggle between flesh and spirit that takes place
within a Christian]

By Tikhon of Zadonsk

Every Christian HAS TWO BIRTHS, the old and fleshly, and the spiritual and new, and each is opposed to the other. The fleshly birth is flesh and the spiritual birth is spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (St. John3:6).

Because each of these births is opposed to the other, then from this arises A CONFLICT and A STRUGGLE between a Christian’s flesh and spirit (soul). "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh" (Galatians 5:17)… The flesh desires to bring the spirit (soul) INTO SUBMISSION, and the spirit, (soul) the flesh…

"…The flesh desires to fornicate and to commit adultery, but the spirit (soul) is repelled by it and desires to be chaste. The flesh desires to seize that which is another’s, to steal and to plunder in every manner, but the spirit is repelled by this and desires to give of its own…

"… Beloved Christians, let us see whether we have this warfare, whether we take part IN THIS SAVING STRUGGLE, whether WE WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE, whether we oppose the inclinations and desires of the flesh, and whether we do not allow sin to reign over us and to rule us. Only those who have "CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES" ARE CHRISTIANS. What use is it to be called Christians, yet truly not to be Christian? It is NOT the name Christian that shows the True Christian, but THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FLESH AND AGAINST EVERY SIN.

Saint Tikhon is not exaggerating at all about the constant spiritual warfare and struggle that we must be engaged in throughout our life here on earth. Much of the spiritual struggle takes place within us because that is where the conflict is. We are called to repeat with profound and sincere faith the Jesus Prayer "without ceasing" until our very death. Those who lose their souls do so because they lack faith and are unwilling to turn our Savior with humility and say, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." They bring condemnation upon themselves because, not only do they refuse to acknowledge their sins, but especially because they refused to repent. The people who make personal choices in their lives preclude they are saying this essential prayer with tears to seek forgiveness and absolution from our Merciful God.

When one is physically injured, he feels pain immediately. So much so, that it may bring one to tears. The pain is real and unbearable and, of course, it is to be expected. After all, it’s our flesh and our body. Well, there is another part of us, our soul (spirit), which it too can and is constantly injured by us. It, too, feels agony and pain when spiritually injured. When injured physically, we immediately turn a physician to cease the pain and to use medicine to bring healing to our body. When the soul is hurt and in pain, we ought to run immediately to the Physician of our souls and bodies and seek from Him to stop the pain and bring healing to our souls.

For most of our years here on earth we neglect and ignore our soul. Yet, it is the soul that gives life to the body, which we constantly take care of and even adore. Adoration (worship) or "sarkolatreia" (worship of flesh), has become an obsession for many people today. One only has to view how far people have gone to keep the body fit, attractive, youthful, and in good form. How many millions of dollars are spent each year to exercise the body, for plastic surgery, for countless diets and special food, for cosmetics, for surgeries to correct or improve the imperfections of the body, to prevent the body from aging, etc.? We can agree, however, that we do almost nothing to meet the needs of our soul. The soul thrives by prayer, by the sacraments, by worshiping God, by virtue, by love, by kindness, by compassion, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, by maintaining communion with its Creator, by God’s forgiveness of sins committed, by abiding by the commandments of Christ, by loving our fellow man, by reconciliation with our enemies, and by being good stewards with the gifts and talents that God has bestowed upon us.

The soul’s greatest enemy is the evil one. This evil hunter sets out to capture the soul, to corrupt it, and to kill it. It uses all kinds of means to deceive it and sets snares to capture it. If he is successful in his pursuit, the soul is enslaved and becomes his victim. However, this cannot be accomplished without our cooperation or without our consent. The evil one cannot, thanks be to God, force one to surrender to him. Jesus destroyed the power of the devil and therefore needs our willing capitulation. The most frequent weapon used against man is temptation, with which he is able to to beguile and entrap us. There is no reason to fear him and his demonic angels knowing that we have God with us and His holy Angels to protect us.

We pray thus: "… Be compassionate, O Lord, and make not as example of me, the sinner, but
deal with me, according to Thy Mercy, and let these Holy Things be for me unto HEALING and
PURIFICATION and ENLIGHTENMENT and PROTECTION and SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION
of SOUL and BODY; unto the turning away from evil practice and imaginings and DIABOLICAL
ACTIVITY WORKING SECRETLY IN MY MEMBERS; UNTO LOVE AND COURAGE TOWARD
THEE… ( A prayer said before receiving Holy Communion written by Saint Basil the Great).

It is the Christian’s responsibility to keep his/her soul pure and chaste. I believe that we all agree that there is no one without sin, even if we were to live for one day. As a matter of fact, everyone sins constantly in thought, word or deed. Sin stains and injures our soul. Sin corrupts and poisons the soul. Sin is a disease, an evil virus which threatens the very life of the soul. When we sin, the remedy is repentance and forgiveness from God. He is the only one that can forgive, heal, and restore us to spititual health. Also, there are other sacraments that are accessible to us for our cleansing, forgiveness, and healing. These are the sacraments of Holy Unction and especially the Divine Eucharist.

There are two kinds of death: the biological death, the separation of the soul from the body, and the spiritual death, the separation of the soul from God. The biological death is our natural death, however, spiritual death is brought about by our own apostasy and rejection of God. When one revolts against God and becomes knowingly disobedient to His commandments, he invites condemnation upon his/her soul. When a believer continues to sin with arrogance and defiance to God’s Teachings, he/she drives the grace of the Holy Spirit away. Whether we know it or not, through our unbelief and sin we become pray to the dark and evil enemies.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes the following
Prayer offered before the reception of Holy Communion:

"Though my lips with sin are filthy,
Though my heart is foul with evil,
Though my tongue is all uncleanness,
Though my soul with dirt is blackened,
Yet, dear Christ accept my pleading…

I confess myself a sinner
Worse than the poor Fallen Woman…"

________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Life-Giving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord and God,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE DANGER OF LOSING YOUR SOUL (Part II)

Saint Gregory the Theologian says, "Just as the body, which was originally formed IN US OF DUST, became subsequently the current of human bodies as has not been cut off from the first-formed root, in one man including others-so also soul, being unbreathed by God, from that time comes together into the formed composition of man, being born anew, and from the original seed (Saint Gregory evidently means here A SPIRITUAL SEED) BEING IMPARTED TO MANY AND ALWAYS PRESERVING A CONSTANT FORM IN MORTAL MEMBERS… Just as the breath in a musical pipe, so also THE SOUL, APPEARING POWERLESS IN AN INFIRM BODY, BECOMES MANIFEST AS THE BODY IS STRENGTHENED AND REVEALS THEN ALL ITS INTELLIGENCE" (Homily, 7 "On the Soul"). Saint Gregory of Nyssa has the same view.

In his diary, Saint John of Kronstadt has this observation: "What are human souls? They are all one and the same soul, one and the same breathing of God, which God breathed into Adam, which from Adam until now is disseminated to the whole human race. Therefore, all men are the same as one man, or ONE TREE OF HUMANITY. From this, there follows the most natural commandment, founded upon THE UNITY OF OUR NATURE. "Thou shall love Lord thy God" (Thy Prototype, thy Father) "with all thy heart, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, and with all your mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbor" (for who is closer to me than a man who is like me and of the same blood with me?) "as thyself" (Saint Luke 10:27). There is a natural need to fulfill these commandments" (My Life in Christ).

THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

FAITH in the IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL IS INSEPARABLE FROM RELIGION IN GENERAL, and all the more, comprises one of the fundamental objects of the Christian Faith…

"… One must emphasize the fact that the idea OF IMMORTALITY IS PRESENT WITHOUT ANY DOUBT IN the Old Testament, because there exists an opinion that denies that the Jews had faith in the immortality of the soul… Patriarch Jacob, having received news that his son had been torn to pieces by beasts, says, "I will go down into hades unto my son, mourning" (Genesis 37:35). "Hades" here clearly means not the tomb, but THE PLACE WHERE THE SOUL DWELLS…"

"… The Lord Jesus Christ often POINTED TO THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL AS THE FOUNDATION OF PIOUS LIFE, and He accused the Sadducees, who denied immortality. In His farewell conversation with His disciples, the Lord told them that He was going TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR THEM SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE WHERE HE HIMSELF WOULD BE (Saint John 13:2-3). And to the thief He said: "Verily I say unto thee, TODAY THOU SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE" (St. Luke 23:43).

In the New Testament, generally speaking, the truth of the immortality of the soul is the object OF A MORE COMPLETE REVELATION, making up one of the FUNDAMENTAL PARTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH ITSELF. This Truth inspires a Christian, filling his soul with THE JOYFUL HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF GOD. Saint Paul writes: "For to me to die is gain…having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ" (Philippians 1:21, 23). "For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, WE HAVE A BUILDING OF GOD, A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. FOR IN THIS, WE GROAN, EARNESTLY DESIRING TO BE CLOTHED UPON WITH OUR HOUSE WHICH IS FROM HEAVEN" (2 Corinthians 5:1-2).

It goes without saying that the Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church HAVE UNANIMOUSLY PREACHED THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, WTH THIS DISTINCTION ONLY, THAT SOME ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOUL AS BEING IMMORTAL BY NATURE, WHILE OTHERS–THE MAJORITY–SAY THAT IT IS IMMORTAL BY THE GRACE OF God. "God wishes that the soul might live" (Saint Justin Martyr); "The soul is immortal by the Grace of God Who makes it immortal" (Saint Cyril of Jerusalem and others).

"…Observation shows that faith to the immortality of the soul has always been inwardly inseparable from faith in God… the more lively is one’s faith in God, the more firm and undoubting is his faith in the immortality of the soul. And, in contrast the weaker and more lifeless is one’s belief in God, the greater the wavering and doubt one brings to the truth of the immortality of the soul. One who completely loses or stifles faith in God within himself usually ceases to believe in the immortaliity of the soul or the future life at all. And this is truly understandable. A man receives the POWER OF FAITH from the very Source of Life, and if he cuts off his tie with this Source, HE LOSES THIS STREAM OF LIVING POWER, AND THEN NO RATIONAL PROOFS OR PERSUASION WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THE POWER OF FAITH INTO HIM.

"…The spirit of the Church typicon, the content of the Divine services and separate prayers, all support and animate in the faithful this awareness, this belief IN A LFE BEYOND THE GRAVE FOR THE SOULS OF OUR CLOSE ONES WHO HAVE DIED, AS WELL AS A BELIEF IN OUR OWN PERSONAL IMMORTALITY. This belief sheds a bright ray on the whole life’s work of an Orthodox Christian.

SOUL AND SPIRIT

The spiritual principle in man which is opposed to the body is designated in Holy Scripture be TWO TERMS which are almost equal in significance "SPIRIT" and "SOUL" The use of the word "spirit" in place of "soul," or both terms used in exactly the same meaning, is encountered especially in the holy Apostle Paul. This is made evident, for example, by placing the two following texts side by side: "Glorify God in your body and in your soul, which are God’s" (1 Corinthians 6:20); and "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit" (2 Corinthians 7:1)

"…a significant majority of the holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church directly acknowledge that man’s nature HAS TWO PARTS: THE BODY AND SOUL…The Holy Scripture acknowledge ONLY ONE SOUL, NOT TWO, and this is clearly indicated by the hiostory of the creation of the first man. God, having formed the body from the dust and breathed A SOUL INTO IT, showed in this wise that there ARE TWO NATURES IN MAN, AND NOT THREE. (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

(To be continued)

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Life-Giving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE DANGER OF LOSING YOUR SOUL

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for
his soul?" (St. Matthew 16:26).

At the creation of the SOUL, God took nothing of it from the earth but imparted it to man SOLELY BY His creative INBREATHING. This clearly shows that, in the conception of the word of God, "the HUMAN SOUL IS AN ESSENCE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE BODY AND FROM EVERYTHING NATURAL AND COMPOSED OF ELEMENTS, HAVING A NATURE NOT EARTHLY, BUT ABOVE THE WORLD, HEAVENLY." The high PRE-EMINENCE OF MAN’S SOUL compared to everything earthly was expressed by the Lord Jesus Christ in the words: "What is a man profiteth, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (St.Matthew 16:26), The Lord Jesus instructed His disciples: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul" (St. Matthew 10:28).

Concerning THE EXALTED DIGNITY OF THE SOUL, Saint Gregory the Theologian expresses himself thus: "The soul IS THE BREATH OF GOD, and while being heavenly, it endures being mixed with what IS OF THE DUST. It IS A LIGHT ENCLOSED IN A CAVE, BUT STILL, IT IS DIVINE AND INEXTINGUISHABLE… The Logos/Word spoke and having taken part of the newly-created earth, with His IMMORTAL HANDS FORMED MY IMAGE AND IMPARTED TO IT His life; because He sent INTO IT THE SPIRIT, which IS A RAY OF THE INVISIBLE Divinity" (Homily 7, "On the Soul").

The very statement that the soul is of heavenly origin does not mean that the soul is divine in essence. "He breathed the breath of life" (Genesis 2:7) is an anthropomorphic expression, and there is no basis for understanding it as meaning that He gave something of His Divine substance.

Appealing to simple observation the Church Fathers show:

a. That it is characteristic of the soul to GOVERN the strivings of the body, and characteristic of the body to accept
this governance (Athenagoras and others).

b. That the body is, as it were, a tool or instrument of an artist, while the soul is the artist (Sts. Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa,
Cyril of Jerusalem and others).

c. That the soul is not unconditionally subject to the impulses of the body; it is even capable of "ENTERING INTO WARFARE" with the striving of the body as with something foreign and hostile to it, and is able to gain victory over them, thus showing that it is NOT THE SAME THING AS THE BODY but IS AN INVISIBLE ESSENCE, IS OF A DIFFERENT NATURE, SURPASSING EVERY BODILY NATURE (Origen)

d. That it is INTANGIBLE and UNGRASPABLE, and is neither blood, nor air, nor fire, but a self-moving principle (Lactantius)

e. That the soul is a power which brings all the members of the organism into full HARMONY AND FULL UNITY (Saint Athanasius the Great and Saint Basil the Great).

f. That the soul possesses REASON, SELF-AWARENESS, AND FREE WILL (Origen and others).

g, Speaking of the very nature of the soul, the Fathers and Teachers of the Church point to the SIMPLICITY and IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, as opposed to the complexity and the material crudeness of the body; they indicate ITS INVISIBILITY AND COMPLETE ABSENCE OF FORM, and in general to the fact that IS IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OF TEH MEASUREMENTS (SPACE, WEIGHT, etc.) to which the body is subject (Origen and others).

How the soul of each individual man originates is not fully revealed in the word of God it is "A MYSTERY KNOWN TO GOD ALONE" (Saint Cyril of Alexandria), and the Church does not give us a strictly defined teaching on this subject… In the view of certain Holy Fathers of the Church (Sts. Clement of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Epiphanius the Syrian, Theodoret).

"… According to Tertullian, Sts. Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa, Macarius the Great, Athanasius the Presbyter, BOTH THE SOUL AND BODY RECEIVE THEIR BEGINNING SIMULTANEOUSLY AND MATURE TOGETHER; THE SOUL PROCEEDS FROM THE SOULS OF THE PARENTS JUST AS THE BODY PROCEEDS FROM THE BODIES OF THE PARENTS. In this way, "creation" is understood here in a broad sense as the participation of the creative power of God which is present and essential everywhere, for every kind of life. The foundation of this view is the fact that in the person of our forefather Adam, God created the human race–"He HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN" (Acts 17:26). From this, it follows that in Adam the soul and body of every man was given in potentiality. But God’s decree is brought into reality in such a way that God holds all things in His hand: "HE GIVETH TO ALL LIFE, AND BREATH, AND ALL THINGS" (Acts 17:25). God, HAVING CREATED, CONTINUES TO CREATE." (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Father Michael Pomazansky)

(To be continued)

_________________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Life-Saving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

RECEIVING "LIVING WATER."

"…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him
come to Me AND DRINK. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS
OF LIVING WATER.’ But this He spoke CONCERNING OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THOSE BELIEVING IN HIM WOULD
RECEIVE…" (St. John 7:37-39).

"Living Water" is the gift of the Holy Spirit and the NEW LIFE which springs forth by the power of the Spirit. Our Savior gives the Holy Spirit, and the believer’s heart consequently flows with NEW LIFE. Our Savior does not compel us, but is always present if we desire Him. Our God and Redeemer Jesus Christ had another illustration of drinking ‘Living Water’ in his conversation with Photini, the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. "Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the Gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink, you would ask Him, and He would have given you LIVING WATER." (St. John 4:10). In the spiritual sense, it symbolizes TRUE LIFE from God, Who is the Fountain of Life.

Our Savior Jesus Christ proclaimed, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER" (St. John 7:38). Understanding the Old Testament requires some illumination (photisi). The Venerable Prophet Isaiah spoke, " You will draw water with gladness from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3), "For I will give water to the thirsty who walk in a waterless place. I will put My Spirit upon your seed and My blessings upon your children. They will spring up like grass in the midst of the water and like willows in THE FLOWING WATER. (Isaiah 4:3-4). "You who are thirsty, go to the water" (Isaiah 55:1). All speak of His people receiving the Living Water.

If the Living Water is the Holy Spirit (cf. St. John 7:38-39), then the Living Water flowing out of the hearts of His people represents the words and deeds of His Holy Spirit proceeding from Christ-centered activity. The term "Living Water" (Greek υδωρ ζων) means, water that is running as if alive. It was used synonymously for running water and the spiritual term that Jesus referred to as Living Water. Also in the 1st century document, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, the Church was given instructions, to baptize in "Living Water", if at all possible. "The Living and rushing water," (Song of Songs 4:15) is a phrase used by our Lord Christ (John 7:38) speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit in believers.

"Living Water" comes on the Person and operation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a lesser God than the Father and the Son, but like the Son is consubstantial, of one essence, with the Father and the Son. Hieromartyr Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons says, that faith is a vessel by which water is scooped up, but one must be next to this water and must put the vessel into it. This water is the grace of God. Saint John of Kronstadt writes, " Faith is the key to the treasure-house of God." Communion with God is founded on true faith and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

No living thing, no matter if it is animal, plant, or human, can live without water. No Christian believer’s soul can live without "Living Water." As we understand it, "Living Water" is the Holy Spirit working in us and bestowing His grace upon us. The Holy Spirit is "The Giver of Life," Who cleanses us of our sins and saves our souls from eternal death. Should we not seek to quench our thirst by drinking of the Living Water which God offers to those who believe in Him? We all know that our society is a spiritual wasteland, a spiritual desert, a desolate place, and one cannot traverse it without God’s Living Water. To attempt to take the journey to the Kingdom of God spiritually unprepared is not only naive, but foolish, because it will surely bring our demize and destruction.

It is true that those who are spiritually alive not only have the desire or need to drink or have the sensation of being thirsty. When our body needs water we immediately act to quench our thirst. What happens when our soul thirsts for the Living Water? How quickly do we respond or act to quench that thirst? If we are spiritually dead, then we will never thirst for God’s Living Water. It is only when our souls are spiritually alive that thirst will be great and so will be our response to quench it. This is a kind of test which will indicate to us how true our faith is, how profound our commitment to the Merciful God is, and how healthy we are spiritually.

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"