My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE WEDNESDAY OF MID-PENTECOST

Apolytikion (Dismissal) hymn of the Feast. Plagal of Fourth Tone.

"At Mid-feast give Thou my thirsty soul to drink of the waters
of piety; for Thou, O Savior, didst cry out to all. Whosoever is
thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Wherefore O Well-spring
of Life, Christ our God, glory to Thee."

Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone.

"O SOVEREIGN Master and Creator of all things, O Christ our God,
Thou didst cry unto those present at the Judaic Mid-feast and
addressed them thus: Come and draw the Water of Immortality
freely. Wherefore, we fall down before Thee and faithfully cry out:
Grant Thy compassions unto us, O Lord, for Thou art truly the
Well-spring of Life for all."

After our Savior had miraculously healed the paralytic, the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Scribes, were moved with envy and persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him, using the excuse that He did not keep the Sabbath, since He worked miracles on that day. Jesus then departed to Galilee. About the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles. He went up again to the Temple and taught. The Jews, marveling on the wisdom of His words, said, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" But Christ first reproached their unbelief and lawlessness, then proved to them by the Law that they sought to slay Him unjustly, supposedly as a despiser of the Law, since He had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath.

Therefore, since the things spoken by Christ in the MIDDLE OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES are related to the Sunday of the Paralytic that is just passed, the Church has appointed this present feast AS A BOND BETWEEN THE TWO GREAT FEASTS, THEREBY UNITING AS IT WERE, THE TWO INTO ONE, AND PARTAKING OF THE GRACE OF THEM BOTH. Therefore, today’s feast is called MID-PENTECOST, and the Gospel Reading, "At Mid-feast" — though it refers to the feast of the Tabernacles–is used.

It should be noted that there were THREE GREAT JEWISH FEASTS: THE PASSOVER, PENTECOST, AND THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. PASSOVER was celebrated on the 15th of Nissan, the first month of the Jewish calendar, which coincides roughly with our March. This feast commemorated the day on which the Hebrews were commanded to eat the lamb in the evening AND ANNOINT THE DOORS OF THEIR HOUSES WITH BLOOD. Then having escaped bondage and death at the hands of the Egyptians, they passed through the Red Sea to come to the Promised Land. IT IS ALSO CALLED "The Feast of Unleavened Bread," because they ate unleavened bread for SEVEN DAYS. PENTECOST was celebrated 50 days after the Passover, first of all, because the Hebrew Tribes had reached Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt, and there received THE LAW OF GOD. Secondly, it celebrated THEIR ENTRY INTO THE Promised Land, where they also ate bread after having been fed WITH MANNA FOR FORTY YEARS IN THE DESERT. Therefore, on this day they offered to God a sacrifice of bread prepared with new wheat. Finally, they also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles from the 15th to the 22nd of "the seventh month," which corresponds roughly to our September. During this time, THEY LIVE IN BOOTH MADE OF BRANCHES in commemoration OF THE 40 YEARS THEY SPENT IN THE DESERT, LIVING IN TABERNACLES (BOOTHS), that is, tents (Exodus 10:10-20; Leviticus 23). [The Great Hrologion]

Please note. The last, the 8th, day of the Old Testament feast of the Tabernacles (tents), commemorating the 40 years WONDERING OF THE JEWS IN THE DESERT (that is why the people during the feast lived in tabernacles, i.e., tents made from wood branches), was accompanied by the following action: With a countless confluence of people, the high priest left the Temple of Solomon to the spring of Siloam, at the food of Zion; with a golden chalice scooped up light and clean water; at the sound of the trumpet they returned to the Temple, he mixed the water with wine and poured it over the
Altar of Oblation. The people did this action without stopping the Great Alleluia, i.e., the Six Psalms (112-117). By this action, we commemorate the wonderful gift OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE JEWS IN THE DESERT, by Moses destroying a rock. Having taken an instance from this sign, Jesus Christ also PROCLAIMS Himself AS THE SOURCE OF THE TRUE LIVING WATER (for whom BOTH THE WATER OF THE DESERT, AND THE WATER OF THE SILOAM SPRING, TOGETHER WITH OTHER SPRINGS IN THE PROMISED LAND, WERE ONLY PROTOTYPES). At the same time, He taught that THE BELIEVER IN HIM, FILLED WITH THE TRUE LIVING WATER, WILL HIMSELF BECOME A BENEFICIAL VESSEL FROM WHICH FLOWS OUT PLENTY OF THE MULTIFARIOUS ABILITIES OF THE Spirit of God. Not only will he NOT THIRST FOREVER, BUT WILL RECEIVE THE STRENGTH TO ACT WITH THE SAVING IMAGE EVEN FOR OTHERS (Saint John 7:37-39). [Posted by John Sanidopoulos]

__________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Sain John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in Christ’s Saving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

SIMPLE VILLAGE FOLK WHO SAW…
THE UNCREATED LIGHT!
By the Reverand Father Nicholas Loudovikos

Once, I happened to witness an event that I will tell you about…

I was a young officiating presbyter at the time, and I was serving at some village churches just outside Thessaloniki. At the same time, I was the assistant to a very important theologian at the school of theology. What I was going through, while writing for my diatribe at the school of theology at the same time, was one, huge contrast: On the one hand, at the school of theology I was in contact with everything grand and strange and incomprehensible that theology holds with it profound meanings, etc., and on the other; I was a village priest to 10 different villages that my bishop had assigned me to at the time… and also another three or four villages, where I would act as sermon preacher… That’s what I did at the time… I felt desperately lonely because I felt that nobody understood me… either that, or I must have been responsible for their inability to understand me…

So, I would say four or five things to them, I would notice how the people sort of listened, then they would lower their heads, and, they would just go back to their routines, as though nothing had happened. That sense of loneliness was a crushing one… I kept asking myself, "what on earth am I doing here as a priest, right now? What is the meaning of going back there on Sunday to speak to that village, If the people don’t… Yes, I just couldn’t handle it. I’m not saying it’s an easy thing, but as I said to you earlier, I have chosen to speak of something difficult… I believe you are an audience that is capable of perceiving such matters… Anyway, from that day on, I learned many things, despite the difficulties encountered.

The miraculous event that I witnessed in that village was as though God conceded many different lessons to me…

One of those Sundays, after the Divine Liturgy was over, the priest — a simple person – and two equally simple, very simple vestrymen – illiterate people – invited me to the village cafe for a cup of coffee with them, before going back, "Come on don’t leave like that", they insisted. So, after the Divine Liturgy, and myself still feeling very sad in my loneliness, etc., etc, we went over to the cafe. Just as we were sipping our coffee, one of the vestrymen suddenly turned toward me, looked at me directly, and says to me:

"Well, father me and mister John here (John was the other illiterate vestryman) have a query. Our temple here was never consecrated – they never did the necessary "things" – and we were wondering since it was not consecrated by a bishop, are the sacraments and Divine Liturgy that are performed not canonical?"

Wow! I thought to myself – what have we got here? Such a query? I was impressed! But he continued:

"So, you know what we did? We all decided to fast for three weeks in the hope that God would show us the answer. So, we did fast. And in fact, ONE SUNDAY, BEFORE THE BISHOP ARRIVED TO DO THE NECESSARY "THINGS", WE AGAIN SAW THAT LIGHT DURING THE DIVINE LITURGY.

"THAT LIGHT? WHAT LIGHT?"

"That light – you know, the ever-shining one – WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUN AFTERWARDS AND YOU THINK IT’S DARKNESS – A LIGHT THAT COMES DOWN AND YOU SEE ALL SORTS OF THINGS – MANY, MANY THINGS, SITUATIONS, THE PRESENT, THE PAST, THE FUTURE ETC. ALL IN THERE…"

I began to quake… I was dealing with people here who had the same experience as Saint Gregory Palamas and Saint Symeon the New Theologian!

And the priest who was giving his blessings etc. was also concurring – yes, yes… and it was as if everyone there was inside the same ‘conspiracy!’ This experience was earth-shaking for me… Of course, didn’t end there; I now began in-depth questioning of that simple person.

"Tell me how do you live?" I asked him (after that initial shock that would accompany me for years thereafter) "How do you live?"

"How do I live? Well, Frugally,"

"What do you do, how exactly does your day go by, what exactly do you do during the day?"

"I don’t do absolutely anything" (he replied). I don’t have any special ‘things.’ – I JUST LOVE GOD, BUT I DO PRACTICE A LITTLE PATIENCE. I PRACTICE PATIENCE."

That person had patience! Do you know what patience means? "PATIENCE, IS THAT CRUCIFIX OF FREEDOM BY WHICH WE EMBRACE OTHERS. IT IS IN THERE THAT GOD REVEALS HIMSELF.

And that was the majestic lesson here: that Hesychasm is an experienced physiology. Do not think – you theologians – that it is an individual’s accomplishment (as professed by Hinduists), or something like those who abolish their will in anticipation of spectacles. IT IS ALL ABOUT THAT "OPENING UP" OF ONE’S SELF TOWARDS SOCIETY, through which major revelations are given to mankind… which I, as a candidate Doctor, was not honored with – nor have I ever been honored with…

Thank you for your patience.

Please Note. Father Nichoas Loudovikos has studied Psychology, Pedagogics, Theology, and Philosophy in Athens, Thessaloniki, Paris and Cambridge. He has a Doctorate of Theology from the University of Thessaloniki, and has also worked at the "research center for Primeval Christianity," Tyndale House, Cambridge. He has taught at the Cambridge University’s a School of Theology as well as the University of Durham. He is a professor of Dogmatics and Philosophy at the Higher Ecclesiastic School of Thessaloniki; a scientific associate at the post-graduate Theological program of the Open Hellenic University and also a part-time lector at the Orthodox Institute of the University of Cambridge.

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

THE LAY PORTER WHO RESURRECTED A DEAD MAN
By the Geron (Elder) Paisios

… I once met a man who was very kind and sensitive. Just imagine, he even refused to stay overnight at the Monastery, because he didn’t want to be a burden to the monks… I used to be the host monk at the time, at the Iveron Scete, when I went out onto the balcony for a moment at noon and saw a man lying down on the stones outside. Well, well, I wondered, what is he doing out there? So I went down to him.

— What are you doing here, you blessed one? Why don’t you come into the monastery where we can offer you our hospitality?

— No, no, I’m just fine here, don’t concern yourself, he said.

I pressed him to come in, but he refused. He said: "All through the night, the fathers here are on vigil prayer… they’re tired, they fast… they retire at noon to get some rest, and I’m supposed to disturb them? It is not proper!"

See what kind of good thoughts he made? That is an indication of mental and spiritual health… whereas, other visitors come here, demanding to be served, and then they have nothing but malicious thoughts… they even accuse you. I finally convinced him and brought him into the monastery, where we became better acquainted and eventually became friends.

Now listen to what this man had done. He was orphaned from his youth. He never knew his parents, he grew up in an orphanage. When he grew up, he worked as a porter in the port of Thessaloniki.

He married and was very happy about that, as he had found the family that he longed for. His in-laws were like parents to him. They moved into a house near his in-laws and he was extremely fond of them. Imagine that, after living his work every day, he would go to his in-laws to greet them, to see if they needed anything, and would go afterward to his own home to see his wife.

He was also very pious. He would repeat the prayer, "My Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me." He would carry loads and pray.

He was concerned, however, that his in-laws were not believers. In fact, his father-in-law blasphemed, and that made him sad… So, he prayed to God, asking Him not to take them away from this life before they had properly repented… He even asked me to pray for this problem.

So, there came a time that his father-in-law became very ill and had to be taken to the hospital. He was in there for days. One day, after work, as usual, he went directly to the hospital, without passing by his home first. He looked for his father-in-law, but did not find him in his room… He searched everywhere, asking for him… "Who? Him? Oh, he passed away. He’s downstairs, in the morgue, where they keep all the deceased patients," they told him.

It was as if lightning had struck him. "Why, my Lord, did You take him away if he wasn’t ready, and he didn’t even have a chance to repent? Why my God?

He began to pray fervently, with profound pain: "What is for God, to bring him back? Nothing,!" he thought, and began to beseech God accordingly.

He found his way downstairs and looked around in the morgue, only to find him frozen, dead. He grabbed his fathers-in-law by the hand, insisting, "Come on, get up, let’s go home." The dead man immediately came alive… he got up and followed him…

— Really, Geron, did that really happen? I asked him, dumbfounded.

— Yes, it is really true.

— And is that man still alive today?

— No, he has passed away… he lived on for a few more years, HE REPENTED, he became a much kinder person… a veritable lamb and Christ then took him into Paradise…

I was amazed.

— Do things like that actually happen in our day? I asked with wonder…

— See? …and he was an ordinary layman. But HE HAD MUCH SIMPLICITY!!!
And such PROFOUND FAITH. Didn’t Christ say: "Whosoever believes in Me, can do whatever I do, and even greater things? Why should this incident seem strange? Didn’t Christ resurrect the dead? Lazarus, the widow’s son, Jairus’s daughter? Didn’t the Apostles resurrect the dead? …Haven’t we read so many wonders (miracles or Gk. "thavmata") in the Lives of the Saints?

Why should this seem strange?

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

_____________________

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Jesus Christ God and Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

"…Others were TORTURED, not accepting deliverance, that they
might obtain a better resurrection. Still, others had trial of mockings
and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They WERE
STONED, THEY WERE SOWN IN TWO, WERE TEMPTED, WERE
SLAIN WITH THE SWORD. THEY WONDERED ABOUT IN
SHEEPSKINS AND GOATSKINS, BEING DESTITUTE, AFFLICTED
TORMENTED– OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY. THEY
WANDERED IN DESERTS AND MOUNTAINS, IN DENS AND
CAVES OF THE EARTH" (Hebrews 11:35-38).

Our Holy Orthodox Church, the Authentic Church of Jesus Christ, has over the centuries acknowledged God’s holiness manifested on grace-filled men and women whose lives were spiritually exemplary. Throughout man’s history, God reveals those faithful, righteous, and obedient to His will and Commandments. This is seen clearly in the Old Testament Prophets, righteous men and women who He had chosen to guide His people, implement His will, and deliver His Divine message to his chosen people and eventually to the nations. These men and women whose faith was pure, were not afraid to teach God’s truth, even if they were threatened with torment, exile, or imprisonment. We referred to them as Righteous, Venerable, Holy, Witnesses, Messengers, Saints. Our Almighty God revealed Himself to mankind from the very beginning. He never ceases to reach out to His creation with abundant love and blessings, desiring everyone to partake of the personal communion with Him.

Saint Justin Popovich states that the Lives of the Saints not only bear witness to the life of Christ: they may even be said to be the continuation of the life of Christ on Earth. The lives of the Saints, he states, "are nothing else, but the life of the Lord Christ repeated in every Saint to a greater or lesser degree in this or that form. More precisely, it is the life of the Lord Christ continued through the Saints, the life of the incarnate God-man Jesus Christ Who became man."

We, the Orthodox Christians, are truly inspired by the Lives of the Saints. Their lives truly reveal what a genuine life in Christ is and what is meant by ‘spiritual life.’ They are the pillars of spirituality, of unceasing prayer, of philanthropy, of piety, of sacrifice, of humility, of love, of faith, and of virtuous life. Genuine spiritual life is when we live in Christ and He lives in us. The Saints of the Church truly live Christ daily and adhere to the words, "For in Him we live and move and have our being" ( Acts 17:28).

None of us can claim to have any kind of spiritual life if we have never read the Lives of the Saints. It is a fact, however, that Orthodox Christians who are truly committed to improving and progressing spiritually are naturally those who constantly read and are inspired by the Lives of the Saints. Spiritually speaking, the Lives of the Saints serve as our greatest inspiration and example of genuine spirituality, of being an authentic Christian, of attaining communion with our God our Divine Creator. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Saint Paul writes: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."

Holiness cannot be bought and/or merit. None of the Saints of the Church ever claimed holiness, righteousness, or Sainthood. Rather, they considered themselves as the worst sinner on earth. Their life is a life of struggle against, sin, pride, temptations, arrogance, anger, hate, evil thoughts, gluttony, avarice, lethargy, and greed. They seek, however, communion with God, theosis (deification), unceasing prayer, asceticism, humility, chastity, poverty, suffering, piety, forgiveness,virtue, charity, deprivation, meekness, faith, obedience, sacrifice, love, and salvation.

The various categories of Saints are: Prophets, Evangelists, Martyrs, Ascetics, holy Hierarchs, priests, and all those who continue to live a noble and righteous life"in the world." The objectives and goals of all Christian believers is to, by the grace of God, attain holiness. All baptized Orthodox Christians have the gift and potential to reach holiness. We are commanded by God Himself, Who said, "Sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I, the Lord your God, am Holy…" (Leviticus 11:44). Holiness is the target of every Orthodox man, woman, and child. The word for sin ( Greek – hαμαρτία) litretally means, "missing the target". When one fails to hit the target, holiness, he commits "amartia," or sin. All people are sinners who miss the mark of perfection or holiness that God has set for His disciples, resulting in alienation from Him. Sinful actions that violate the commandments of God ultimately lead to death. (1 John 1:8).

Glorification of a Saint can be initiated because of miracles, but it is not absolutely necessity for canonization. There have been numerous Saints of our Church who were not credited with miracles but nevertheless they are Saints. What is required is a virtuous life of apparent holiness. Also, a Saint’s sacred writings and preaching must be "fully Orthodox," in accordance with the pure faith that we have received from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Apostles and taught by the Holy Fathers and Ecumenical Synods.

The Church does not make a Saint! God alone can do that. The Church, the holy people of God, glorify those whom God Himself has glorified, seeing in their lives sincere love for God and their fellow man. The Church recognizes that such a man or woman has indeed cooperated with grace of the Holy Spirit to the extent that his/her holiness there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever.

Before any formal actions or inquiry is made on a person’s life by the Church, that person is venerated by the faithful where he or she lived i.e., a cell, monastery, mountain skete, or other. Orthodox Christians in a respectful way begin to keep his/her memory alive and seek his/her prayers and intercessions. They also visit his/her grave or even paint icons of him or her. Traditionally the local Hierarch makes a request for the Church to acknowledge and recognize that person as a Saint. A committee (‘Cannonization Commission’) is formed to investigate the life of the person who is considered for glorification and submits their findings to the Synod of Bishops stating the reasons why the person should be recognized a Saint of the Church. Then the Holy Synod decides to number him or her among the Saints and commission icons to be made and liturgical services composed.

The formal Rite of Glorification begins with a Memorial Service for the person about to be canonized, after which Vespers and Orthros (Matins) with special hymns to the Saint are chanted and the Saint’s holy icon is unveiled. The Saint’s life is published and the date of his or her commemoration is established. The Orthodox Churches are informed of the glorification, so that they can place the new Saint’s feast on their calendars.

Holy Fathers and Mothers intercede for the salvation of mankind to the Merciful and
Loving God. Amen.

_________________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy and Glorious Resurrection of our Savior Jesus
Christ
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!

WE ARE UNITED IN CHRIST OUR
RISEN LORD

"There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, just as you were called
IN ONE HOPE of your calling, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE
BAPTISM, ONE GOD and Father of ALL, and in you ALL" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The Church is also is ONE IN ESSENCE. There is UNITY in the Church among its members and with the Almighty God. The Orthodox Christian becomes a child of God, a member of the Body of Christ or the Church, and inheritor of Eternal Life through the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Baptism. By receiving the True Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mysterion of the Holy Eucharist, the Orthodox Christian believer is united with Christ and Eternal Life. Being UNITED WITH CHRIST IN THE DIVINE EUCHARIST, Orthodox Christian believers who receive Holy Communion ARE UNITED WITH EACH OTHER. "WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY, FOR WE ARE ALL PARTAKERS OF THAT ONE BREAD."

The uniting power of our Holy Church is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Proof of Orthodox unity is, "the CORRECT AND SAVING CONFESSION OF THE FAITH." As we know and believe, our unity in Christ God is impossible without the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, true unity in God the Holy Trinity is unity in Truth, for God is Truth. "The unity of the Christian Church must be UNITY IN THE TRUTH OF GOD."

The average Orthodox Christian believer is certainly not aware of Orthodox theology, the current inter-Christian issues, the interaction between Christian people and other concerns of the Church. The average Orthodox believer is content to simply be able to worship freely, to receive the sacraments, to be an active member of the local parish, to feel a sense of belonging in the local parish, and be accepted by the rest of the church family. It may be that he or she is only satisfied to be involved in the local parish ministries, i.e., Parish Council, Choir, Religious Education, Youth and Young Adult ministry, Philoptochos, and fund-raising activities such as the annual Gree Festival, etc. Others seeking greater participation may be involved in the Metropolis Ministries and programs.

Unlike other Christian Confessions and traditions, the majority of our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ have not been educated religiously and have, therefore, limited knowledge of the Faith. The unfortunate reality, however, is that there is hardly any interest among the faithful to learn something more of the Faith. Sadly, due to that prevailing attitude, the home or domestic church (‘e-kat’ oikon ecclesia’), the Orthodox Christian home, has ceased to exist. Orthodox Christian children who are baptized grow up at a home devoid of any Christian learning, nurturing or church traditions. There are Orthodox children who tragically have no idea who Jesus Christ is!

What this does is place the Church in a precarious sitation and make it vulnerable to attacks. Perhaps this is one of the major reasons why over 65 percent of the young adults of our Church are leaving the Church. One would consider this fact as a major crisis in the Church. Church attendance of all the major Christian bodies has dramatically dropped from 75 percent from ten years ago, to approximately 45 percent currently. Our Orthodox Church in America, among all the Orthodox Jurisdictions, has witnessed that and perhaps even more. Should we not be concerned and alarmed about this predicament?

Orthodox Christians, no matter what their ethnic background may be, should work together and cooperate with each other to find common solutions to common problems. As they say, there is strength in unity. The background may be different, the language, and the customs, but the faith is the same. We, Orthodox Christian parishes, are SISTER CHURCHES AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. Members of the body of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and God.

The world as we knew it has changed greatly and deliberately. It will continue to change quickly and at greater speed. Christianity and Christian values and precepts are under attack by a secular society. Synergy among Christians is of the utmost importance and necessity. Christians by the grace of God are able to resolve any challenge and prepare for all possible threats facing us. Undoubtedly, all of us, without exception, need to pray more earnestly and unceasingly to Our Savior Who continues watching over us and His Holy Church. Our faith in Christ must be true and unyielding. What we believe is that without Him we can do nothing!

I do believe, however, that the average Orthodox Christian believer is well educated otherwise and very intelligent. With the extraordinary communications technology that we possess and use daily, we ought to go beyond the needs of the local parish and find out what is happening in the local Metropolis, the Archdiocese, and Patriarchates all over the world. It is important for the Orthodox faithful to expand their horizons and to learn as much as possible of their Christian faith directly from your smartphones and from genuine Orthodox Websites.

For thousands of years, Christianity has been persecuted systematically in many countries, but it has flourished and triumphed over evil. We must continue to fight the good fight and to make sure that we defend the purity of the faith with courage and fortitude. We must not ever deviate from the fundamental principles of our Faith, that it alone preserves the fullness of the Apostolic Church.

_______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in the Holy Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

ORTHODOXY IS THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH OF CHRIST

"When the first Christian Community began, "THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND IN PRAYERS" (Acts 2:42).

As we are taught by our Risen Lord Jesus Christ and is revealed through the Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit is to "guide" us "into all Truth" (Saint John 16:13). The holy Apostle Paul, ‘the Apostle to the Nations,’ the Church is "a dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22). Our Holy Orthodox Church, the Authentic Church of Jesus Christ, "is a dynamic organism, the Living Body of Jesus Christ. She makes an indelible impact in the world, and those who live in her life and faith are personally transformed."

From the early years of Church history, the Holy Apostles lead the way and taught her to "STAND FAST AND HOLD THE TRADITIONS YOU WERE TAUGHT, WHETHER BY WORD OR OUR EPISTLE" (2 Corinthians 2:15). Saint Paul very prudently warns, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and NOT according to the tradition which he received from us" ((2 Thessalonians 3:6). The doctrines taught by our Lord Christ and His Apostles ARE TO BE SAFEGUARDED BY "THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:15) AND ARE NOT OPEN FOR NEGOTIATION.

Our Holy Orthodox Church has faced over the centuries persecution both from without and from within. From without by the pagans and Jews, and from within from heretics. Both saught her total destruction and the spread of Christ’s Divine Gospel to the nations, the ‘Good Tidings’ of salvation. These dark powers have failed, but their sinister efforts continue by using different tactics and methods. We all know that our Adversary, Satan, is capable of taking different forms. Saint Paul says to the Corinthians, "For such are false apostles, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO APOSTLES OF CHRIST. AND NO WONDER! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves INTO MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, whose end will be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

The Corinthian Christians thought they had the ability and knowledge in order to evaluate Church leadership. They had been deceived by false apostles who were using worldly methods, full of outward displays and crafty talk. As a result, they were controlled by them and became hostages to them. The holy Apostle Paul did everything he could to expose these false apostles and to show the Corinthians how foolish they were to believe and trust them.

We constantly hear "times have changed!" And we hear also, "that we need to change if our Orthodox Church is to survive." "Change is long overdue!" However, it is never clear what they mean with so-called "change?" We have seen ‘the change’ in other Christian traditions and the result is dreadful. They have compromised their beliefs, their identity, their theology, their unity, and their traditions. Many of their adherents have left them and joined other Christian bodies or they attend non-denominational congregations. Due to their ‘change’, the Person of Jesus Christ and His Gospel has been lost and replaced with entertainment and skits. Some want our Church to emulate the Episcopalians and become what they refered to as "all-inclusive." In other words, no one, whether they are Orthodox Christians or not, are to be treated any different than the Orthodox Christian members, having all the rights of the Faith, and not be turned away or refused the sacraments of the Church. This new policy of the Episcopalians divided them, some left completely, others joined other Christian groups,

Are we to follow their example? Are we so arrogant as to believe the authority or the right to change our Savior Jesus Christ? To change His commandments? To change His teachings and to compromise the Truth? Is He not the Head of the Church? Are we not the body of Christ? Is not God the Holy Spirit that guides the Church, is He not the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, the One that fillest all things, the Treasurer of good things, and Giver of life? What happen to the divine words of Saint Paul who says, "JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER?" (Hebrews 13:8). SINCE CHRIST IS GOD AND DOES NOT CHANGE, HIS GOSPEL DOES NOT CHANGE. If the early Christians attained the Eternal Kingdom of God through faith, so can we. Thus the Orthodox Church STRIVES ALWAYS KEEP HER DOCTRINE PURE AND WITHOUT CHANGE.

We, in the Orthodox Church preach the Divine teachings of our Lord, God, and Savior, of the Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers and the Holy Church guided by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, we must be ready to defend the Truth, to do everything possible to keep these teaching whole and inviolate and pure. In the Book of Deuteronomy we read, "You shall not add to the word which I am commending you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God…" (Deut. 4:2).

Our obedience is ONLY to our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We do not adhere to the so-called "blind-obedience" theory. As Orthodox Christians, we are obedient only to those who are also obedient to Him and to His Gospel. Since our Church believes that it is the Authentic Church of Christ and possess the fullness of the Truth, there is no need for us to emulate the heterodox and heretics. Why should we?

Be a vigilant and a practicing Orthodox Christian and always be ready to defend the truth! Our Lord and God Jesus Christ is not the one that should comform to the world, but the world must comform to Him! The change applies to us, his followers and disciples since we are sinners and unrighteous. Is that not what the Greek word for repentance, "METANOIA," means? Doesn’t it mean CHANGE? Change of life, change of mind, change of heart? Is this a surpise to anyone?

The evil one works stealthely and secretely. This is why we must be watchful and aware of what is happening around us and inside our Church. Those enemies of Orthodoxy work to change our Holy Faith incrementally and secretly. The days are evil and we must be on the alert. Don’t take anything for granted and don’t be gullible. "Beloved DO NOT believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in Our Risen Lord,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

ORTHODOX SPIRITUAL MOTHERS

The "phronema" of Christians is a unique thing. It is their way of living, their mind (the way they think) and speech, their actions (the way they live). The way of those of the secular world are completely different; and the chasm between them is enormous. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians 3:20 says, "For OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, FROM WHICH WE ALSO EAGERLY WAIT FOR OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST", the Orthodox Christian mind and way of thinking is always in the heavenly frame. They behold as in a mirror the good things of eternity by their reason of their partaking and possessing the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox Christian man, woman, and child possess a glory, a beauty, and a heavenly wealth which is beyond words and is acquired through prayer, fasting, pain, sacrifice, trials, and many other conflicts–and all by the grace of God.

Saint Basil the Great writes that we were made after the "IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD" (Genesis 1:26-27), but sin marred the beauty of the image by dragging down the soul to passionate desire…When we lost our likeness to God, we lost participation in the True Life. Let us return, then, to the grace..from which we have alienated ourselves with the beauty of God’s image, being made like unto our Creator through the quieting of our passions… If by overcoming our passions, we regain the image of God and if the likeness of God bestows upon us Everlasting Life, let us devote ourselves to this pursuit in preference in all others, so that our soul may never again be enslaved by any vice. Let our understanding remain firm and unconquerable under the assaults of temptation to the end, that we may become sharers of the Divine beatitude."

We, as Orthodox Christian believers, have been blessed by many righteous and holy men and women that have, by the grace of God, acquired holiness.

The Holy Mothers of the Orthodox Christian Church, setting their minds upon achieving the virtues, renounced the riches and the pleasures of the world. They understood that they could not be devoted both to the world and the future life in heaven. As good soldiers of Christ, they fought daily to destroy the passions that assail us. They counted it a joy to be cursed, slandered, censured, and even killed in the name of their Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

They considered abstinence to food, poverty to riches, and humility to be the glory. As they subdued their bodies, they rejected every passionate attachment, they subjected themselves to the carnal mind with ascetic struggles, and they subjected themselves to the Divine Spirit. They put down the hordes of demons and evil temptations.

Desiring instead to converse with God, these holy Mothers resolved to live in the wilderness and far away from the noise and clamor of cities and towns. Many of them were shown to be miracle workers.

Our Holy Mother Among the Saints Vasilissa of Egypt and
those with her.

Our story begins in Antinoupolis of Egypt during the reign of Emperor Valerius Diocletian (284-305 A.D.), when Marcian was the governor. The young woman Vasilissa was married to a man from Antinoupolis named Julian. They agreed, however, to live together wisely and in virginity. Eventually, they gave their possessions to the poor, and Vasilissa was tonsured a nun. Julian then also decided to become a monk, where later he was elevated and became Egoumenos of a monastery with over 12,000 monks.

In 303 A.D., Diocletian the Roman Emperor, launched great persecution against all Christians and issued an Edict at Nicomedia decreeing the demolition of churches and the burning of Christian books. The punishment was imprisonment, torture, and, in some cases, death for those who did not adhere to the Emperor’s edict.

During this perilous time, our Holy Mother Vasilissa was made an Egoumeni (Abbess) of 1,000 nuns. As a true and spiritual mother, she besought God that none of her daughters might suffer torture or humiliation by Diocletian’s men. In the event that it was God’s will that she or any of the nuns suffer this cross, she prayed that none might recant the Faith. The Lord heard her prayer and in a matter of six months, one by one, every nun in the Women’s Monastery fell asleep in the Lord, leaving Vasilissa alone. Before her own blessed repose, Vasilissa was given a vision of her Synodia (Monastic community) in the life beyond the grave. She saw all her nuns enveloped in radiant light, rejoicing as angels of the Lord. Vasilissa, having endured severe persecution, reposed in peace. Her husband Julian was severely tortured and finally beheaded.

+

OUR HOLY MOTHER AMONG THE SAINTS, XENE,
THE DEACONESS OF ROME, GREEK ISLAND OF KOS, AND MYLASA.

The blessed maiden’s name at her baptism was Efsevia, in Greek meaning "pious"). She was the daughter of prominent and noble parents, who loved God, though they were wealthy and brilliant leaders in Rome. They nurtured in the young Efsevia a love for Christian virtue. When Efsevia attained the legal age for marriage, her parents sought a worthy bridegroom, unaware of their daughter’s true desire to dedicate herself to the heavenly Bridegroom, Who is truly comely and immortal. She decided secretly to leave home, so she might preserve her virginity. She revealed her plans only to the closest maidservants and friends who also decided to follow their mistress, even unto death.

The day of Efsevia’s arranged marriage was approaching, so she decided that this was the time to put their plan into action. One evening, all three dressed in men’s clothes and left their home, both crying and rejoicing. As they left they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, enlighten us and direct us toward salvation, for it is You we desire with all our souls."

As they fled, Efsevia advised her companions, saying, "Preserve yourselves exactly and do not change your minds, because any other road other than that of asceticism is not blessed. When the women reached the sea coast, by God’s good pleasure, they found a ship and they left the very hour for Alexandria, Egypt. Due to good weather, their trip was short and lasted only a few days. Once in Alexandria, they boarded another ship for the Greek island of Cos (Kos), one of the Dodecanese group of islands in the Aegean. She chose the island of Cos because she anticipated that her parents would launch an extensive investigation in every monastery to find her and bring her back home. Speaking to her two companions, she reminded them, "You must conceal our identities and confide to no one where we came from. Also, you must not call me by my baptismal name of Efsevia, but instead call me Xene (in Greek meaning "stranger"). By calling me this name you do not lie, because I am a stranger to this county. When they put in at Cos, Xene searched for a place on the 25-mile length of the island and finally found a suitable house and rented it for herself and her companions.

Once they settled in their new home, Xene desired to find an experienced spiritual father, so that she might be under obedience and NEVER TO DO HER OWN WILL. She supplicated the Lord with tears, saying, "My God, as You behold and govern all, do not abandon us who have abandoned our homeland and relatives because of our love forYou. Send unto us one who is an Orthodox advocate, a protector and guide, just as Thecla found Paul. Thus, we humble ones, may be shepherded and not stray, either knowingly or unknowingly, before Your magnificence."

Her request to God was quickly heard and Xene observed a holy elderly man approaching them. His countenence was bright and reverent, and his whole aspect was truly angelic. The virgin Xene was very happy and, crying, she fell at his feet, saying, "For the love of Christ, O holy master, do not reject us, the foreigners, but teach us and guide us to salvation." The elder asked Xene where she was from and what brought her to the island. Xene whispered in his ear and told him the truth. He then revealed that he too was a stranger to this place and he was returning from Jerusalem. He told her that he was from Mylasa, a city of Caria, and that his name was Paul, the Egoumenos of a small monastery. Xene then pleaded that the elder Paul become her spiritual father and that he assume responsibility for the women. The holy man replied, "Here, in this strange land, it is not possible for me to guide you. It is necessary though that you immediately accompany me to my monastery. If you will follow me to Caria I shall be able to provide you with what you need." The holy Mother Xene agreed to follow him joyfully.

When they arrived in Mylasa, the elder Paul gave the women a hermitage to live in that was close by his monastery. It is there that the holy Xene built a church and dedicated it to the Protomartyr Stefanos (commemorated on the 27th of December). In time, the hermitage became a Women’s Monastery and other women emulated the zeal of Xene.

At that time, the bishop Cyril of Mylasa reposed, and the Elder Paul was elected to the episcopacy. He recommended that Xene be ordained as deconess, as was the tradition in those years. Although Xene did not wish to be ordained, the blessed Bishop Paul ordained her. From that point on, Xene lived a severe ascetic life of hardhship and fasting. She contended with spiritual warfare, but she concealed her asceticism to the others. The venerable nun was truly meek and was neve seen angry or irritated with anyone. She possessed love for all and served all.

It was the feast of Saint Ephraim, not the Syrian, but another struggler for Christ, who was from Mylasa. Bishop Paul went to venerate and honor the holy relics of Saint Ephraim where they were located. Mother Xene then gathered the "Synodia," (Sisterhood) and announced to them that the time was near for her departure from this life. She asked for their prayers and forgiveness. While Mother Xene spoke to her nuns, all wept, especially Xene’s two former maideservants, who wept unceasingly. The Saint then went and enclosed herself in the church, where she prostrated herself in prayer. Her two maideservants beheld a strange sight about their spiritual Mother when they peeked through a crack in the door. Suddenly, a light and ineffable fragrance came from on High. The aroma was most sweet and delightful, could not be compared to any earthly incense. The nuns opened the door and found their spiritual Mother where she had fallen asleep in the Lord. They summoned the Synodia, and all began to weep unceasingly. Then about the sixth hour of a cloudless day, suddenly, brighter than the sun, there appeared in heaven a crown of stars with an even brighter star-studded Cross inside. This sight was seen by all present.

This sign was seen by Bishop Paul who was then in another town. Following the Divine Liturgy and after announcing the passing of the holy Mother Xene to the faithful, he went to venerate the precious relics of the holy nun amid many lit candles and censers. A procession was then formed that went to the center of the city. As the procession moved, so did the starlit crown in the sky. Everyone chanted hymns and remained all night for the vigil. All sick people who touched her holy relics with faith were healed, including those who had been ill for many years. When the procession reached the southern section of the city, called Sikinion, the righteous Xene was interred where she had previously arranged. The crown of stars then descended and rested upon the holy relics.

Thus, we close our account of the praiseworthy life of the holy Mother Xene.

Christos Anesti! Alethos Anesti!

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

HISTORICAL AND EMINENT WOMEN IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT (Part II)

JOCHEBED – MOTHER OF MOSES

Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses, who were of the priestly house of Levi. When the child was born, his mother kept him hidden for three months. She then enclosed him in a basket woven of rushes and sealed with pitch and concealed him among the reeds at the river’s edge.

Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe at this spot and when she saw the basket she sent a maid to fetch it. Upon opening it, the baby started to cry and the princes felt pity for it, realizing that it was one of the Hebrew children her father had ordered killed. Moses’s older sister Miriam had been watching from a little distance and offered to find a Hebrew nurse to suckle the child. This was agreed, and she ran off to fetch Moses’s mother Jochebed. When he was older, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and gave him the name of Moses, ‘Because I drew him out of the water’ (Exodus 2:10).

Jochebed the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, is one of the underappreciated mothers in the Holy Scripture, yet she showed tremendous faith in God. As Moses’s nurse, she ensured that Israel’s great leader would grow up under the godly influence of his biological mother during his formative years. Although little is known about Jochebed in the Holy Bible, her story speaks powerfully to all the mothers today.

+

HANNAH – THE MOTHER OF SAMUEL THE PROPHET

Hannah’s life story is one of the most touching in the Old Testament. Like a number of other mothers in the Holy Scripture, she knew what it meant to be barren or childless.

Hannah was cruelly taunted by her husband’s other wife. However, Hannah, a woman of great faith in God, never gave up on God. Her sincere prayers were answered. She gave birth to a son, Samuel. God went to bless Hannah with five more children, bringing great blessing to her for her faith in Him.

When Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the shrine at Shiloh and left him to be reared by the priests, as she had promised to God. The child Samuel grew up and helped with the religious services. Each year Hannah came with her husband to worship and brought her son a coat she had made for him.

God blessed her firstborn son by choosing him to be His great Prophet.

+

BATHSHEBA – WIFE OF DAVID

David was the youngest son of Jesse the prosperous sheep farmer. Jesse and his seven other sons were invited by Samuel the Prophet to a ceremony. Samuel asked Jesse where were all of his all sons. He replied that the youngest one, David, was out tending the sheep. On Samuel’s insistence, David was hurriedly brought to him. The Prophet Samuel anointed him with oil "and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day on." (1 Samuel 16:13).

The Lord helped David to kill Goliath the philistine.

One warm moonlit evening the sleepless king David strolled on the roof of the palace and looked down to see a young woman bathing herself on a lower roof. Smitten by her beauty, David asked who she was and was told her name was Bethsheba and the wife of Uriah, a Hittite officer in his army. David sent discreetly for her and made love to her. Bethsheba informed the king that she had become pregnant by him. Fearful of the scandal if the adultery became known, David sent her husband Uriah back to the front with a sealed letter to Joab, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest battle, and then draw back from him, that he might be struck down and die’ ( 2 Samuel 11:15). In this military engagement, Uriah was killed. After the traditional period of morning, Bathsheba became David’s wife and bore him a son.

Prophet Nathan exposed his adultery and admonished him for his sinful behavior. He sternly added his son by Bethsheba would forfeit his life to redress the wrong. The child fell ill and died. Another son was born to David and Bathsheba and was called Solomon who was loved by God and grew up to be Israel’s greatest king. From David’s line would come to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Bathsheba would have the distinguished honor of being one of only five women listed in the Messiah’s ancestry.

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ELIZABETH ( Hebrew ‘God is my oath) – THE MOTHER OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER

Elizabeth, the mother of Saint John the Baptist, was visited by the mother of Jesus when they were both expecting their first babies. We read in the Gospel of Saint Luke 1:39-45, " Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country in haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord would come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Elizabeth was the wife of a village priest, Zachariah. They were both of priestly descent, she from Aaron and he from Abijah. Both were devout and scrupulous in their observance of the Law; but they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren and they were getting older. When Elizabeth’s husband Zecharia was chosen by lot to tend the brazier on the altar of incense in front of the Most High Place. When Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah was carrying out this solemn task, he received a vision in which the Archangel Gabriel made him a promise: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John." (St. Luke 1:13). It was Elizabeth who at the child’s circumcision was to insist on his being named ‘John’, rather than Zachariah’ after his father.

Like Hannah before Elizabeth dedicated her son to God, and like Hannah’s son he also became a great Prophet, John the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ the Messiah. Saint Elizabeth’s joy was complete when a relative, her cousin Mary, visited her pregnant with the future Savior of the world.

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Mary – the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin

The hymn to the Mother of God, Axion Esti.

"It is meet indeed to bless Thee, the Ever-Blessed and Most Pure and
Mother of our God. Thee that art more Honorable than the Cherubim,
and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, who without spot
of sin didst bear God the Logos/Word; Thee, verily the Mother of God,
we magnify."

The dogmas concerning the Mother of God are bound up, with the dogmas of the Word’s becoming man. They are a) Her Ever-virginity, and b) Her name of Theotokos.

The bleesed and ever-glorious Virgin Mary, sprung from the royal family of David. Her father’s name was Joachim, and her mother’s name was Anna. Her father’s family, of the tribe of Judah, was from Nazareth of Galilee, but her mother’s family was from Bethlehem of Judea. Her mother, Anna, ws the daughter of Matthan the priest of the tribe of Levi.

They were both righteous before the Lord, and irreproachable and pious before men. Joachim was the shepherd of his own sheep. He feared the Lord in integrity and singleness of heart. Joachim was very rich and he was always very generous with his offerings to God and those in need. In fact, Joachim supplied the poor and all that feared God with food. At the age of twenty, he married Anna. They had lived together for fifty years, but had neither a son nor daughter, they were childless. Both Joachim and Anna felt shame and grieved over their childnessess.

When Joachim went to the mountain for some time where he fasted and prayed, saying, ‘I will not go down either for food or drink until the Lord my God shall look upon me, prayer shall be my food and drink.’ As he was alone, the Archangel Gabriel stood by him. Joachim was frightened at his appearance, but the Angel told him not to fear, saying, "Fear not, Joachim, do not be disturbed by my appearance, I am the Angel of the Lord and have been sent by Him to tell thee that thy prayer has been heard and that thy charitable deeds have gone up into His presence. God has seen thy shame and has heard the reproach of unfruitfulness which has been unjustly brought against thee; for God is the avenger of sin, not of nature. Accordingly, Anna, thy wife, will bring forth a daughter to thee and thou shall call her name MARY. According to thy vow, she shall be devoted to the Lord from her infancy, and she shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from her mother’s womb. Mary shall not eat or drink anything unclean, nor shall her conversation or life be among the crowds of the people, but in the Temple of the Lord, that it may not be possible to say, or so much as to suspect, any evil concerning her."

While the holy Anna, her mother, was in the garden, behold, the same Angel of the Lord then appeared to her, saying, "Anna, Anna, the Lord hath heard thy prayer, and thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world." And Anna, ‘As the Lord, my God liveth, if I beget either male or female, I WILL BRING IT AS A GIFT TO THE LORD MY GOD AND IT SHALL MINISTER UNTO HIM, ALL THE DAYS OF ITS LIFE."

"I am the Angel who has presented thy prayers and alms before God, and now I have been sent to thee to announce to thee that there shalt bring forth a daughter, who shall be called Mary, and WHO SHALL BE BLESSED ABOVE ALL WOMEN. SHE SHALL BE FULL OF THE FAVOR OF THE LORD, EVEN FROM HER BIRTH. SHE SHALL REMAIN IN HE FATHER’S HOUSE UNTIL SHE IS WEANED AND, THEREAFTER, SHE SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE SERVICE OF THE LORD. SHE SHALL SERVE GOD, DAY AND NIGHT, IN FASTING AND PRAYERS. SHE SHALL ABSTAIN FROM EVERY UNCLEAN THING AND SHALL NOT DEPART FROM THE TEMPLE UNTIL SHE SHALL REACH THE YEARS OF DISCRETION."

Anna gave birth to her daughter and the child grew increased in strength daily. When Mary became three years old, she was taken with an escort of young girls. Upon arriving, they then put off Mary’s traveling clothes and arrayed her with clothes that were neater, and indeed, clothes befitting a queen.

The High Priest Zachariah, the husband of Annah’s niece Elizabeth, is the furture father of Saint John the Baptist. When he beheld the Virgin’s approach, he rejoiced in Spirit, and said, "Mary, the Lord God hath magnified thy name to all generations and, by thee, to the very end of time., the Lord will show His redemption to the children of Israel." Then Zachariah the priest of God, received her into the temple with rejoicing and established her there. He then took Mary to the vema. Thus she lived in the Holy of Holies for nine years. The Holy of Holies, a place that none dared enter, except the High Priest–and, then again, only at his appointed time, and this happened but ONCE A YEAR. Saint John Maximovich writes that Mary was settled in the quarters for virgins which existed in the temple. She spent so much time in prayer in the Holy of Holies that one might say that she lived in it. She desired to fulfil the commandment of God, "Ye shall be holy, for I am the Lord your God am Holy" (Leviticus 19:2).

(To be continued)

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in Christ’s Holy Resurrection,
The sinner and unworhty servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

HISTORICAL WOMEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

EVE (Hebrew ‘Life’)

In the Book of Genesis 2:21-25, we read: "Then the Lord God built the rib He took
from Adam into a woman, and brought her to him, So Adam said, ‘This is now bone
of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman because she was
taken out of her Man. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife; the two shall become one flesh,’ Now the two were naked,
both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed."

Eve in Hebrew ‘Chava’ BECAUSE SHE WAS ‘the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).

In the Book of Genesis Chapter 3:1-4:2, we read the following: "Now the serpent was more cunning
than all the wild animals the Lord God mad on the earth. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God
indeed said, ‘You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?’ And the woman said to the serpent,
‘We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden; but from the fruit of the tree of the garden in
the middle of the garden, God said, YOU SHALL NOT EAT FROM IT, NOR YOU SHALL TOUCH IT,
LEST YOU DIE.’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You shall not die by death. For God knows
in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods, KNOWING GOOD AND
EVIL. So when the woman saw THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES,
AND A TREE BEAUTIFUL TO CONTEMPLATE, SHE TOOK ITS FRUIT AND ATE. She also gave it
to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of the two were opened, and they knew they
were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings…

"Then they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden that afternoon, and Adam and
his wife hid themselves within the tree in the middle of the garden FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE
LORD GOD. 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.’ Thus He said, ‘Who said you were naked?’ Have you eaten from THE ONE TREE
FROM WHICH I COMMANDED YOU NOT TO EAT?’ Then Adam said, ‘the woman You gave me, gave
me of the tree and ate.’ So the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The
woman said, ‘The serpent DECEIVED ME, AND I ATE.’

"…To the woman, He said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain and your groaning, and in pain, you shall
bring forth children. Your recourse will be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.’

"…Now Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have acquired a man
through God.’ Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel…". Adam and Eve had three children
Cain, Abel, and Seth (Genesis 3; 4:1).

The SERPENT of course is the devil ( 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9), and he tempted and deceived Eve with the promise OF THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) ("YOU WILL BE LIKE gods, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.") However THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) COMES FROM OBEDIENCE TO
GOD, NOT THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE.

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SARAH – WIFE OF ABRAHAM

Sarah or Sarai (Hebrew ‘Princes’) was the wife of Abraham (Genesis 12:11). She was a very beautiful woman. She became his wife before the family let Ur of the Chaldeans on the long journey to Haran, and from there to Canaan. She was the first of the four biblical matriarchs, the others being Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel.

Sarah’s great beauty described in to two similar events. When they journeyed to Egypt because of famine, Abraham passed her off as his sister out of fear that he might otherwise be killed on her account. Pharaoh took her into his harem, bestowing gifts on her alleged ‘brother’. The Lord protected Sarah’s virtue.

The tragedy of Sarah’s life was that she was barren. Her childless condition was painful, although God kept on promising Abraham that "I will make your seed as the dust of the earth; that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be numbered," (Genesis 13:16), and that all of Canaan would belong to his descendants.

Sarah, due to her childlessness, came up with a solution to the problem which was permitted at the time. She offered Abraham her Egyptian maidservant Hagar, who bore him a son called Ishmael. However, Sarah could not conceal her jealousy when Hagar conceived, and at one point the pregnant maid "fled from her" (Genesis 16:6) but was persuaded by an Angel of the Lord to return.

When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord announced to him that Sarah would bear him a son. He was skeptical, because Sarah was then 90 years old and long past child-bearing age. The announcements was later repeated by three strangers, ANGELS IN DISGUISE, who visited Abraham at Mamre. Listening to the conversation from inside the tent, Sarah laughed scornfully to herself. But in due time the child was born and named Isaac, which in the Hebrew language means, "she or he laughed."

Sarah remained sensitive about having a child in her old age. Sarah lived till 127 years old and was buried in the Cave Mechpelah at Hebron, which he had bought to serve a family tomb. Also called Sarai. (Genesis 11, 12, 16-18).

Sarah was a good wife, a loyal helper, a good mother, and a builder with Abraham. Her faith was unwavering and she serves as a shining example for everyone who has to wait on God to act.

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REBEKAH – WIFE OF ISAAC

Rebekah was another great matriarch of Israel. Like her mother-in-law Sarah, she was barren. When her husband Isaac prayed for her, God opened Rebekah’s womb and she conceived and gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob.

At a time when women were usually submissive, Rebekah was quite assertive. At times Rbekah took matters into her own hands. However, sometimes she was successful, but other times the consequences were damaging.

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel and the grandaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. This part of the family stayed behind in Paddan-aram (Northern Syria) when Abraham moved in the land of Canaan with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot.

Rebekah went one evening to fill her water-jar at the well. As she was returning, a stranger in charge of a string of laden camels stopped this attractive young girl and asked for a drink. She gave it to him and offered to draw water for his camels as well. For her kindness he gave her a gold earring and two gold bracelets.

The man was Abraham’s trusted servant, sent to find a wife for his master’s son Isaac from among his relatives. Having earlier sought the help of an Angel, he knew that this was the girl he was looking for. He asked who her parents were and whether there was room in her home for him to stay there that night. Again, and with much politeness, she invited him to follow her to her home.

Abrahams servant revealed his mission to her family and gave them gifts sent by Abraham. After some discussion, and with Rebekha’s consent, it was agreed to Canaan to be the bride of her relative Isaac.

As she came close to their destination, Rebekah saw a man walking through the fields toward them at dusk, and was told by the servant that this was Isaac her future husband. Indeed, Rebekah became Isaac’s wife and he brought her to the tent of his late mother Sarah.

Rebekah remained with barren for many years, but after Isaac prayed to the Lord, she bore him two sons, Esau and Jacob. Old and almost completely blind, Isaac asked his favorite son Esau, a skilled hunter, to bring him a dish of venison. He would then bestow his patriarchal blessing on Esau, the first-born. Rebekah overheard the conversation but decided to secure the blessing for Jacob, the twin brother she loved the best. She ordered Jacob to chose two young kids (goats) from his flock and prepared a delicious dish of meat. Jacob carried the food to his father, after Rebekah gave him Esau’s coat garment to wear and covered his smooth hands and and neck with the fleece of the kids, because Esau was a hairy man. Isaac was tricked into bestowing the blessing on Jacob, announcing that he would succeed his father as head of the family and his brothers would serve him. Learning that Esau threatened to kill Jacob in revenge, Rebekah convinced Isaac to send Jacob to her brother Laban, in Northern Syria, so he too could find a bride among his own people.

When Rebekah died she was buried in the family tomb in the Cave of Mechpelah in Hebron.

(To be continued)

__________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+ Father George

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

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN!

"NO MAN IS AN ISLAND…"

As you know, the English poet, Mr. John Donne, in the 17th century, famously wrote that "no man is an island," comparing people to countries, and arguing for the interconnectedness of all people with God. Also, in his meditation on death, Mr.Donne writes that all beings are one with God. John Donne compares suffering to gold, arguing that we can never have enough of our neighbors’ pain: "No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by it." In other words: No one suffers alone, and being aware of another’s pain only makes us stronger and more able to live.

The words of Mr. John Donne, "no man is an island," are indeed very true and should be agreed upon by every human being on the planet. In Our Creator’s own words,"IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE, I WILL MAKE HIM A HELPER COMPARABLE TO HIM" (Genesis 2:18). "Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and mutilply…" (Genesis 1:28).

Our Creator in His Holy Wisdom determined that first man should not be solitary. It was His decision that it was "not good for man to be alone." Man needed to have someone like him to be with, a companion, to talk to, to share God’s manifold blessings, to love, to care for, to work together, to share together a common faith and love for their Creator.

Indeed, throughout human history we truly appreciate God’s decision for man to have a wife and children. God’s blessing to "Be fruitful and multiply" came true. Slowly, and over thousands of years, this beautiful and amazing planet became inhabited eventually by billions of people who share a common Creator and Father.

We, of course, know that man fell into sin due to his disobedience to God’s commandment, what we call ‘Ancestral sin.’ The Fall of Adam caused mankind to become subject to mortality (death). Mankind fell away from the grace of God through Adam’s disobedience and now has an inclination towards sin. Man introduced violence and murder into the world in the stark example of the two brothers Cain and Abel. "Cain rose up against Able his brother and killed him. ‘Where is Abel your brother?" He replied, "I do not know. AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?" Thus God said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground." (Genesis 4:8-10).

Almighty God sought to bring Cain to repentance for what he did. He commanded him to be still through repentance, for it was filled with turmoil because of the passions, and He also commanded him to be his brother’s keeper. Cain, however, rejected to deal with his passions through repentance, and his anger led to hate and murder. Unfortunately, Cain used his guilt as an excuse to avoid repentance, for he did not believe in the grace of God. He willfully allowed his passions to blind his heart.

God’s Divine Plan was and is perfect if only mankind would listen to Him. Why would man today or ever desire to be alone? Why would man seek to murder his brother, his fellow man? Why would he refuse to enjoy what His Creator has given him and to share it with his mate? It really doesn’t make any sense. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has shown us in person what a perfect human being should be like. What it means to be our brother’s keeper. In other words, not to murder our brother, our fellow man, but instead to die to save him as He did. To love and not to hate. To be faithful and obedient to our Heavenly Father. If Abel’s blood can cry to God for the injustice that befel him, what can we say then about the Son of God’s Divine Blood? Jesus’ blood did not seek vengeance or retribution. Instead, He, from the Cross, saught from His Father forgiveness for those who crucified Him, for they did not know what they were doing.

Again we must keep on reminding ourselves that God is AGAPE (Love) and His creation, including man, is all about love. There is absolutely no room in His creation for anything but love. "Then God saw everything He had made, and ideed IT WAS VERY GOOD" (Genesis 1:31). Everything that God made, including man, IS VERY GOOD, because God is good. Nothing He made is therefore evil in itself. Therefore, human nature is good in itself. Sin, on the other hand, IS A FREE CHOICE of man’s will, and is contrary to God’s nature as well as human nature.

It is our individual choice what kind of person we choose to be, what kind of world we desire to live in, and what kind of relationship we have with our Creator and Father and with our fellow man. For centuries man has failed to understand God’s Divine plan for His creation, but especially for humanity. Instead, mankind still struggles with the passions, with his greed for wealth and power, and with his obsession to rule and dominate the world. We see it again and again in ancient times with different emperors and empires i.e., Babylonias, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, etc. and in more recent times with the Nazis, Fascists, and with the Communists. We have suffered greatly from their evil ambitions to enslave all of humanity under a global government and control the destiny of humanity by replacing God with an evil world tyrant, the Antichrist.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! Can’t you see the signs of what the present govrnments and powers in the world are leading humanity toward? Are we so stupefied and unconscience that we cannot see that we, as mankind, are heading toward a cliff? Some are already predicting World War III, which most likely will be a nuclear war. Do you not see the insanity of world leaders? World War II destroyed an entire Continent and over 65 MILLION PEOPLE. What do you think a World War III with nuclear weapons will do? Don’t you see what two nuclear accidents in Chernobyl, Ukraine, and in Fukushima, Japan, have done? Do you actually believe that earth will be inhabitable after a nuclear war? In my previous parish in Tampa, Florida, I had a parishioner, Dr. Ashford, who was a scientist and informed me that radiation once released in the atmospere will never disappear. Here and now we are concerned with carbon emetions, fossil fuel poluting the air and its affects on our environment. Is it not insanity to destroy a perfectly beautiful world with nuclear weapons and yet be willing to explore and adopt a desolate and hellish world (planet) such as Mars as man’s future home? There is not even oxygen or water on this planet for heaven’s sake! Does it make any kind of sense to abandon this paradise of a planet and make hell your habitation?

We need to seek through prayer to God His guidance and, most of all, His enlightenment and protection. It is clear to me that after thousands of years we have learned nothing from our mistakes and we keep making the same mistakes over and over again. We keep on chosing the wrong people as leaders, kings, emperors, dictators, tyrants, chancellors, presidents, prime ministers, monsters and lunatics like Caligula, Nero, Hitler, Stalin, to name a few. Why do we keep on doing this to ourselves and futrue generations? It is also very clear that we are able to discern between good and evil. That we can no longer make good decisions that will benefit humanity. However, by the grace of God, we can still save ourselves and the world that we call home. We only need to allow God to lead the way.

KYRIE ELEISON

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Resurrection,
The sinner and unworhty servant of God

+ Father George