My beloved brothers and sister in Christ God,

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

HOLY MOTHER MARY, PRAY FOR US
(SUNDAY OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT)

"It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to
reveal and preach the works of God" (Tobit 12:7).

The Archangel Raphael said this to Tobit when he performed the divine healing of his blindness. Not to keep the secret of the king is dangerous and can result in one’s demise. But it is a greater loss for the soul of one who keeps silent about the works of the Almighty God. The author of the life of Saint Mary was Saint Sophronios.

Saint Sophronios begins by first narrating the story of the elder Zosimas from one of the monasteries of Palestine. Father Zosimas, a priest who lead a holy life and who from very young was brought up in the monastic tradition and lifestyle. He lived a life of true obedience and adhered to all the spiritual labors. He was renowned for his spiritual life and he was sought after for his piety and holy life. However, at one stage in his life, he began to question whether he had reached perfection and if there was "a monk on earth who could be of use of him and show him a kind of asceticism that he had not accomplished?" "Is there a man to be found in the desert who has surpassed me?"

Thus thought the elder (Geronda), when suddenly an Angel of God appeared to him and said:

"Zosimas, valiantly have you struggled, as far as this is within the power of man, valiantly have you gone through the ascetic course, but there is no man who has attained perfection. Before you, lie unknown struggles greater than those you have accomplished. That you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land and, like the renowned Patriarch Abraham, go to the monastery by the River Jordan."

Father Zosimas did as he was told by the Archangel. He went to the monastery located near the River Jordan. He knocked at the door of the Monastery, told the monk who he was, and was lead to the Egoumenos (Abbot). The Egoumenos asked, "where do you come from, brother, and why have you come to us poor old men?" Father Zosimas replied:

"There is no need to speak about where I have come from, but I have come, father, seeking SPIRITUAL PROFIT, for I have heard great things about your skill in leading souls to God!"

Father Zosimas bowed to the Egoumenos, asked for his prayers and blessing and stayed in the monastery. There he observed the fathers proficient both in action and the contemplation of God, aflame in spirit, laboring in the Lord. Seeing this, Father Zosimas was edified and prepared for the struggle that lay before him.

There was a rule in that monastery which was the reason why God brought Father Zosimas there. At the beginning of the Great Fast, the priest celebrated the Divine Liturgy and all partook of the Precious Body and Sacred Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Following the Divine Liturgy, they went to the refectory and would eat a little Lenten food.

After this, the gates of the monastery were thrown open, and chanting, "The Lord is my Light and my Savior; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 26:1) and the rest of the psalm, all went out into the desert and crossed the River Jordan. Only one or two fathers were left in the monastery. Each of the monks took with him as much as he could, or wanted to, the way of food and some took nothing.

Crossing the River Jordan, they all scattered far and wide in different directions in the desert. In this way, they spent the whole of the fast and used to return to the monastery a week before the Resurrection of Christ on Palm Sunday. Father Zosimas did the same as all. He went far into the desert with a secret hope for finding some ascetic who might be living there and who might be able to quench his thirst and longing. He wandered on tirelessly for 20 days.

While praying, he suddenly saw to the right of the hillside, a semblance of a human form. At first, he thought he beheld a vision of the devil and made the sign of the Cross out of fear. What he saw was naked, with dark skin and hair white as a fleece, and not long, falling just below its neck. Father Zosimas ran in pursuit beholding a human being, but the form fled from him. He followed. When he was near enough to be heard, he shouted:

"Why do you run away from an old man and a sinner? Save of the True God, wait for me, whoever you are, in God’s name I tell you, for the love of God for Whose sake you are living in the desert."

"Forgiven me for God’s sake, but I cannot turn towards you and show you my face, Abba (Father) Zosimas. For I am a woman and naked as you see with the uncovered shame of my body. But if you would like to fulfill one wish of A SINFUL WOMAN, throw me your cloak so that I can cover my body and can turn to you and ask for your blessing."

Father Zosimas was filled with fear, for he heard that she called him by name. He realized that she could not have done so without knowing anything of him if she had not had THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL INSIGHT.

He threw her his cloak while turning away as he did so. She picked it up and was able to cover at least a part of her body. Then she turned to Father Zosimas and said:

"Why did you wish, Father Zosimas, to see a sinful woman?" What do you wish to hear or learn from me, you who have not shrunk from such great struggles?" After a long while the woman said to Father:

"Father Zosimas, It is you who must give blessings and pray. You are dignified by the order of Priesthood and for many years have you been standing before the Holy Altar and offering the Sacrifice of the Divine Mysteries."

"O mother, filled with the Spirit, by your mode of life, it is evident that you live with God and have died to the world. The Grace granted to you is apparent — for you have CALLED ME BY NAME AND RECOGNIZE THAT I AM A PRIEST, THOUGH YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME BEFORE. Grace is recognized not by one’s orders, but BY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, SO GIVE ME YOUR BLESSING FOR GOD’S SAKE, FOR I NEED YOUR PRAYERS."

Then the woman asked the elder "Why do you wish to see a woman naked and devoid of every virtue? Though I know one thing — the Grace of the Holy Spirit has brought you to render me a service in time. Tell me, father, how are the Christian people living? And the kings? How is the Church guided?"

Father Zosimas replied, "By your holy prayers, mother, Christ has granted lasting peace to all. But fulfill the unworthy petition of an old man and pray for the whole world and for me, who am a sinner, so that my wanderings in the desert may not be fruitless."

"I beg you, by the Name of Jesus Christ our God, Who was born of a Virgin, for Whose sake you have stripped yourself, for Whose sake you have exhausted your flesh, do not hide from your servant, who you are and whence and how you came to this desert. Tell me everything so that the marvelous works of God may become known…tell me all, I implore you.

"I am ashamed, Father, to speak to you of my disgraceful life, forgive me for God’s sake! But as you have already seen my naked body I shall likewise lay bare before you my work, so that you may know with what shame and obscenity my soul is filled. I was not running away out of vanity, as you thought, for what have I to be proud of — I who as the chosen VESSEL OF THE DEVIL? But when I start my story you will run from me, as from a snake, for your ears will not be able to hear the vileness of my actions. But I shall tell you all without hiding anything (her confession to a priest) only imploring you first of all to pray incessantly for me, so that I may find mercy on the Day of Judgment."

The elder wept and the woman began her story.

(To be continued)

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"BLESSED IS THE LORD MY GOD, Who trains my hands for battle,
My fingers for war;
He is my mercy and my refuge,
My helper and my deliverer,
MY PROTECTOR IN WHOM I HOPE…" (Psalm 143[144]:1-2)

Psalm 143 describes our war against Goliath, the giant who was arrogant and vainglorious against God. David slew him and cut off his head. This is an image of our war against powerful sinful passions as well as arrogance and vainglory (kenodoxia). In life, it is inescapable that we will face immense challenges of great odds but with God’s help, just like David, we can conquer anything that comes our way. David had faith in God and it was his faith in Him that won him the battle over the giant Goliath. Faith is much more than possessing a mental belief. Since neither faith nor righteousness originates in us but in our All-Merciful God, genuine faith transforms our lives, making us God-like, bearing the fruit of God the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul writes, "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also, we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and REJOICE IN HOPE of the glory of God. Not only that, but WE ALSO GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE; AND PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER; AND CHARACTER, HOPE. Now HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE Holy Spirit Who was given to us" (Romans 5:1-5).

My father, God rest his soul, used to refer to life as ‘βιοπάλη’ (viopale) which means literally, ‘wrestling life’. Indeed this wrestling or struggling in life begins almost immediately following our birth and does not end until the day that we fall asleep in the Lord. Life is compared at times to a vast ocean or sea which at times is calm and peaceful and other times, without any warning, it turns into a raging and dangerous place threatening our very existence. The logical question, however, is how ready are we as Christians to face the unexpected in life? How strong and prepared are we to face, not only the good days, but also the stormy ones that inevitably will come? There is a Greek saying, ‘O kalos o capetanios stin fourtouna fenete’ which means, ‘the good or worthy captain proves his ability during a storm.’ Anyone one of us can make all kinds of claims on how strong we are, or how capable, but it is only during the unexpected challenges in life that we prove what we are truly made of.

Losing hope is not an option for anyone. We can’t cower before adversity and danger. We must stand tall and determined to win. Surrender to it is not an option. We have the potential to be courageous and to face life head-on no matter the threats. The good captain never gives up no matter how high the waves of a stormy sea are. God has not left us without the means to conquer life’s problems and obstacles. We are intelligent people with logic and wisdom to think things out and make the necessary decisions and solve what needs to be solved. As people of faith in God, we automatically and naturally turn always to Him for assistance and inspiration before we make any difficult decision. By not seeking His help, we reveal our arrogance and pride.

We need God more than you know. God awaits our invitation to Him to come to our aid. Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME" (Revelation 3:20). He does NOT break down the door or force Himself into your heart, but "KNOCKS" for you to let Him in. Oh God, how great You are! God does not force anyone to cooperte with Him. He keeps knockig, awaiting a response. The one who cooperates with our Lord OVERCOMES or CONQUERS.

Why am I saying all these things to you all? It is because we are all sharing the same concerns, challenges, dangers, and consequences of the pandemic. I am saying these things to you because I am troubled with all the sad news being reported of how men, women, and children have fallen into despondency and depression and are beginning to drink, take drugs, and commit suicide. People all over the world have faced many tragedies from war and natural catestrophies and have not resorted to these unfortuate and sad actions. These extreme actions are actions of hopelessness, of faithlessness, of irrational and emotional reactions to a temporary situation that all of us face together. It must end and must not continue to happen. We must come together and support each other emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, brotherly, and encourage one another to avoid making these dreadful mistakes.

This is not the end of the world. Mankind has confronted all kinds of disasters of enormous proportions over the many centuries. Who can predict what will happen in the future? Everything that happens in our life-time is a learning experience that prepares us to face the next big challenge. It is our hope and prayer that by the grace of God it will not be as destructive.

Stay close to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to our Thetotokos, the holy Angels, to the Saints and righteous men and women of God. As Orthodox Christians we always seek their holy intercessions to our Creator to protect and keeps us safe and in good health. We believe that our prayers are joined with theirs to keep the world free of evil and for the Angelic powers to guard us from the influence of the Evil One.

I am profoundly gratified and rejoice when I hear Christians encouraging other Christians to pray. I just heard recently an American General urge everyone to keep on praying for our country and emphasize that there is nothing greater than prayer to Almighty God and Savior. Prayer is our greatest weapon against any form of evil. Thanks be to God! There is hope indeed when believers practice unceasing prayer and not lose faith in our Redeemer under any circumstances.

Stay strong! Keep the faith! Keep on praying!

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

–Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

GOD’S EVER PRESENCE (OMNIPRESENCE) IN THE WORLD
HE CREATED

"Where can I go from Your
Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your
presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are
there;
If I make my bed in hell,
behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the
morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts
of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead
me,
And Your right hand shall hold
me…" (Psalm 138[139]:7-10).

"..AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,
EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." Amen.
(St. Matthew 28:30)

Our Almighty God and Creator is with us for ever and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. God is not subject to absolutely any limitations, but fills everything. In Greek, we say, ‘O pantachou paron kai ta panta pleron’ (‘He Who is ever-present and fills all things.’) According to our Holy Father Saint John Damascenos, "The Divinity penetrates everything without being mingled with anything, but nothing can penetrate Him." Another great Saint of the Church, Saint John Chrysostomos says, "That God IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE WE KNOW, but how, we do not understand, because we can understand ONLY A SENSUOUS PRESENCE, and it is not given to us to understand FULLY THE NATURE OF GOD."

It is by the Divine Power of God that everything exists in the universe. It is He Who gives life to everything, including meaning and purpose. The Omnipresence of Almighty God is one of His Divine attributes. Other attributes are Omniscient, "All Things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him" (Hebrews 4:13). "My being while it was still unformed, Thine eyes did see" (Psalm 138[139]:16). God has FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE FUTURE AND EVIL IN THE WORLD AND THE ACTS OF FREE BEINGS IS AS IT WERE CROWNED BY THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD, WHEN "God will be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). God is "ALL RIGHTEOUS. Righteousness is understood in the word of God and in its general usage as having two meanings 1) Holiness and 2) Justice. God IS ALMIGHTY (OMNIPOTENT). He spoke, and they came into being; He commanded, and they were created". God is the Creator of the world. It is He Who cares for the world in His Providence. "But if God tolerates evil and evil people in the world, this is NOT because He cannot annihilate evil, but because He has given freedom to spiritual beings and directs them so that they might freely, OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, REJECT EVIL AND TURN TO GOOD." God IS UNCHANGEABLE. "In the Father of lights, there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17) Our Creator gives to His creatures, including us, as many good things as each of them can receive according to its nature and condition. (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

In our Orthodox Christian liturgical tradition and worship, the opening prayer is directed 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 our souls, O Gracious Lord."

As Orthodox Christian believers, we believe without any hesitation or doubt that our God and Creator IS EVER PRESENT THROUGHOUT HIS CREATION AND OVERSEES AND "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28). Therefore, we should never feel alone or abandoned, but be confident and faithful knowing that He is ALWAYS WITH US AND CONTINUES ALWAYS TO CARE FOR US.

A person of faith, a true Christian, never despairs at times of danger or a time of crisis, for God is with us. A spiritually mature Orthodox Christian is someone who totally depends on God for everything, just like a child depends on his father or mother. One who strives to achieve or to reach this kind of spirituality does not become less dependent, but more dependent on His Creator. This is why, as A CHILD OF GOD, before making any decision, He turns to prayer and seeks God’s guidance and wisdom. We are reminded by the holy Apostle Paul, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

ORTHODOX SANCTIFICATION OF PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND
OBJECTS

In our Holy Orthodox Christian Tradition, there are blessings and prayers performed by the priest for just about everything living and even objects (i.e. homes, cars, icons, etc). Every pious and spiritual act is founded on faith in God’s love and the grace of God the Holy
Spirit. The Orthodox priest invokes the blessings of the Almighty God believing that He indeed responds to our supplication and fortifies and sanctifies the people, animals, and the various objects.

Doubt does not ever enter the mind or heart of the Orthodox Christian as to whether or not the blessing has occurred. There is a personal conviction, trust, and belief that is immovable and powerful.

The Orthodox priest is called upon by the faithful to bless their homes, to bless their cars, to bless their family members, to bless their religious items before they are worn, i.e., crosses, icon metals, prayer ropes, icons, etc., to bless them before they travel, before an exam at school, to bless children before they begin school, to bless ill members, to bless them before surgery, and to bless them when they are threatened by evil. There are blessings before a woman goes to be delivered, after the birth of the child, to offer the 8th-day blessing of the child following his birth, and the 40-day blessing of mother and child after birth. There is a blessing for the place of burial or grave. There are also blessings of large and small boats, blessings for the foundations of new homes before they are erected. And let us not forget the Consecration of a new church building or Chapel, the blessing of the Five Loaves of Bread, wine and oil at the solemn service of Artoklasia, the blessing of flowers on the veneration, and exaltation of the Cross, the Blessing of the Palms on Palm Sunday, of Pascha eggs and cheese and other foods, the blessing of the first-fruits i.e., grapes, on the feast of the Savior on 6th August, and blessing the corner-stone of a church building, etc.

For those who may not know, on the 8th-day after the child’s birth, the child receives his/her Orthodox Christian name and NOT at his/her baptism, just as our Lord Jesus received His name on the day of His circumcision 8 days of His birth (St. Luke 2:21). Every Orthodox Christian is aware that 40 days following the birth of the baby, according to the Old Testament Hebrew tradition observed by the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, (St. Luke 2:22-24) the mother brings her child for its first visit to the church.

There is the Great, as well as the Lesser, agiasmos or blessing of Waters. The Great Blessing of Waters takes place on the eve of, as well as the day of Theophany, which commemorates the manifestation of God the Holy Trinity during the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. It also signifies that the entire creation is destined to share in the glory of redemption and renewal in Christ. The Lesser Blessing of Waters may be performed according to need. It is referred to as the Lesser Blessing, not because it is shorter, but because it does not have the same solemnity as the Great Blessing conducted on the Glorious Feast of the Epiphany.

Allow me to offer you a sample of the blessing for the blessing of the Waters:

"That these waters MAY BE SANCTIFIED BY THE POWER, AND EFFECTUAL OPERATION, AND DESCENT
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. That there may DESCEND UPON THESE WATERS THE
CLEANSING OPERATION OF THE SUPER-SUBSTANTIAL TRINITY, let us pray to the Lord. That He WILL
ENDOW THEM WITH THE GRACE OF REDEMPTION, THE BLESSING OF JORDAN, THE MIGHT AND OPERATION,
AND DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, let us pray to the Lord. That Satan may SPEEDILY BE CRUSHED UNDER
OUR FEET, AND THAT EVERY EVIL COUNSEL DIRECTED AGAINST US MAY BE BROUGHT TO NAUGHT, let us
pray to the Lord. That the Lord our God WILL FREE US FROM EVERY ATTACK AND TEMPTATION OF THE ENEMY,
AND MAKE US WORTHY OF THE GOOD THINGS WHICH HE HAS PROMISED, let us pray to the Lord…That this water
may be unto THE BESTOWING OF SANCTIFICATION, UNTO THE REMISSION OF SINS; UNTO THE HEALING OF
SOUL AND BODY, AND UNTO EVERY EXPEDIENT SERVICE…THAT THIS WATER MAY BE A FOUNTAIN WELLING FORTH
UNTO LIFE ETERNAL..That it may MANIFEST ITSELF EFFECTUAL UNTO THE AVERTING OF EVERY MACHINATION OF
OUR FOES, WHETHER VISIBLE OR INVISIBLE…"

Please note that the Orthodox Christian Church teaches that the Great Blessing of Waters ACTUALLY CHANGES THE NATURE OF THE WATER, and that water so blessed is NO LONGER CORRUPTIBLE, BUT REMAINS FRESH FOR MANY YEARS.

The blessing of any object

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Kyrie eleison.

O Gracious and Author of mankind, Giver of spiritual graces and Bestower of
Eternal salvation: Do Thou, the same Lord, SEND DOWN THE Holy Spirit, with
a BLESSING FROM ON HIGH, UPON THIS (name of object); that FORTIFIED BY
THE MIGHT HEAVENLY PROTECTION, IT MAY BE POTENT UNTO BODILY
SALVATION AND SUCCOR AND AID, UNTO ALL WHO SHALL DESIRE TO MAKE
USE OF IT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Amen.

THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF HOLY OIL (UNCTION OR EFCHELAION)
(The Essence of the Mystery)

The Mystery of the Holy Oil is A SACRED ACTION in which, while the body
is anointed with oil, the grace of God WHICH HEALS INFIRMITIES OF SOUL
AND BODY IS CALLED DOWN UPON A SICK PERSON (Orthodox Catechism,
p. 65).

The clearest testimony of the Mystery of Efchelaion is to be found in the holy Apostle James (Iakovos) [5:14-15]: Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders (priests) of the Church, and LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP; AND IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM." (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

PRAYER OF ANOINTING (Holy and Great Wednesday)

O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, Who did send Thine Only-Begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, TO HEAL EVERY INFIRMITY AND DELIVER FROM DEATH:
HEAL THOU, ALSO, Thy servants FROM THE ILLS OF BODY AND SOUL WHICH DO
HINDER THEM, AND QUICKEN THEM, BY THE GRACE OF THY CHRIST, THROUGH
THE PRAYERS OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY, THE BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD AND EVER-
VIRGIN MARY; THROUGH THE INTERCESSIONS OF THE HONORABLE BODILESS
POWERS…"

Now that all the above has been said and has been established that THE SANCTIFICATION, HEALING, AND RESTORATION COMES FROM THE ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS DIVINE GRACE, WHY IS THERE IS SUCH FEAR IN THE CHURCH OF PARTICIPATING IN THE SACRED SERVICES OF
OUR HOLY CHURCH? WHICH IS GREATER COVID OR GOD’S GRACE? Why are there NOT venerations of the sacred icons and of the Holy Cross? Why is there is such fear of receiving the Precious Body and Sacred Blood of our Lord? Why is there so much fear to receive the sacrament of Holy Unction, the Sacrament OF HEALING? What happened TO SANCTIFICATION? What happened to THE HEALING OF THE SOUL AND BODY BY THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? Where is our faith? Where is our trust in God’s grace? I personally, as a priest of the Church for a half-century, find this ILL CONCEIVED ATTITUDE within our Church SCANDALOUS AND TOTALLY UNORTHODOX, to say the least.

KYRIE ELEISON!

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT ENTER
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" (Saint John 3:5).

"Nicodemus came to the Savior during the night and spoke with Him, and He said, "Unless one is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven." Although Nicodemus was an excellent teacher of the Old Testament, he was perplexed by these words. Christ then said to him for a second time, "Unless one is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven." Nicodemus became even more confused and said to Him: "Lord, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" (St. John 3:4). He was puzzled about what kind of birth the Savior was referring to. Then Jesus repeated it clearly a third time.

Saint Cleopa of Sihastria writes: "So, you see what kind of baptism is required for all of us: baptism through WATER and the SPIRIT, which we have all received from the Holy Church of Christ through the new BATH OF REGENERATION. The Spirit is invisible, and the water is visible. All the sacraments of the Church which were established by Christ are twofold, ONE ASPECT IS VISIBLE and ANOTHER INVISIBLE. ONE IS NOETIC and the other TANGIBLE, in this case, the Spirit and water."

"…Thou did sanctify the waves of Jordan, by sending down from Heaven Thine All-Holy Spirit and smotest
the heads of the lurking dragons. Wherefore, O Merciful King, do Thou now be present through the descent of
Thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water (thrice), and give to it: the GRACE OF REDEMPTION, THE BLESSING
OF JORDAN. Make it A SOURCE OF INCORRUPTION, A GIFT OF SANCTIFICATION, A RANSOME FROM SINS,
A GUARD AGAINST SICKNESS, A DEFENCE AGAINST DEVILS, INACCESSIBLE TO EVERY ADVERSE POWER,
AND FILLED WITH ANGELIC STRENGTH…" (Sacrament of Baptism)

According to Saint John of Damascus and Saint Cleopa there are NINE BAPTISMS until the consummation of the world: The first baptism was that of the Great Flood, when God drowned sin with water! The second baptism was the passing of the chosen people through the Red Sea, through the sea and through the cloud, which was an image of the descent of the Holy Spirit. The third baptism was the Levitical baptism, in other words, the circumcision of the Old Testament. No Levite could perform circumcision or be considered a priest unless he had been first baptized with water, washing his clothing and body. The fourth baptism was that of Saint John the Baptist and Forerunner and was called THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE. The fifth baptism, which was given by Christ to the holy Apostles. Didn’t the Savior Christ say to Nicodemus: "Unless one is baptized through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven?" The sixth baptism of confession. When the Savior breathed the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples, he said, "Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever since ye retain, they are retained." This baptism was instituted by the Savior immediately after the Resurrection when He gave the Apostle the power to bind and loose the sins of men. "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (St. Matthew18:18). The seventh baptism is the baptism of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, when He Descended in the form of tongues of fire and gave the holy Apostles the power to speak in all the languages of th earth. The eighth baptism is THE BAPTISM OF BLOOD, of MARTYRDOM. The two sons of Zebedee, at the urging of their mother, asked that they be given places at the right and left of the Lord, and Jesus replied, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be batized with the batism that I am baptized with." (St. Mark 10:38). The BAPTISM OF BLOOD, with which Christ was baptized on the Cross, is the eighth baptism. This the MOST HOLY BAPTISM UNDER HEAVEN, FOR NO MAN CAN SIN AFTER THIS BAPTISM. HE IS BAPTIZED IN HIS OWN BLOD, AS CHRIST WAS ON THE CROSS, AND THEN HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN. The ninth baptism IS THE END OF THE WORLD, THE Baptism WITH FIRE, WHICH IS NOT UNTO SALVATION, BUT ETERNAL TORMENT. EVERYONE WILL PASS THROUGH FIRE AND BE BURNED; FOR SOME IT WILL BE FOR CLEANSING AND SALVATION, BUT FOR OTHERS IT WILL BE ETERNAL TORMENT. (These are NINE BAPTISMS according to Saint John of Damascus)

"We are buried with Him by Baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Baptism is called "THE WASHING OF REGENERATION" (St. Titus 3:5). The holy Apostle Peter calls Baptism the promise of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21). Through Baptism, ONE IS JOINED OR UNITED TO THE Church.

The comparison of Baptism with a washing by water, WITH THE GRAVE, and other such things indicates that this Mystery (Sacrament) IS TO BE PERFORMED THROUGH IMMERSION. The Greek word BAPTIZO itself signifies "TO IMMERSE." The immersion in water is done three times with the pronunciation of the words: "The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," in accordance with THE COMMANDMENT GIVE BY Christ Himself (St. Matthew 28:19). Thus was it performed in the ancient Church.

Through Baptism, A NEW EXISTENCE OF LIFE begins and the baptized becomes A CHILD OF GOD, A MEMBER OF THE Body of Christ and the Church, and an inheritor of Eternal Life. It is therefore evident that Baptism IS INDISPENSABLE FOR ALL, INCLUDING INFANTS, SO THAT GROWING IN BODY AND SPIRIT THEY MIGHT GROW IN CHRIST.

The tenth parabraph of the Creed (Symbol of Faith) states: "I confess ONE BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS." This signifies that the Sacrament of Baptism in the Holy Orthodox Church, AS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH, is conducted as a sacred rite correctly through TRIPLE IMMERSION in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and CANNOT BE REPEATED.

Baptism is NOT ONLY a symbol of cleansing and washing away the defilement of the soul, but in itself is the beginning and source of the Divine Gifts which cleanse and annihilate ALL THE SINFUL DEFILEMENTS AND COMMUNICATE A NEW LIFE. All sins are forgiven, both original sin and personal sins, the way is opened for a new life, and opened is the possibility to receive the Gifts of God. (Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

One of the most troubling trends in recent years, is that there are many of Orthodox young men and women who not only live together as husbands and wives without having an Orthodox marriage, but also give birth to children outside marriage. Couples who, sadly enough, are not interested in being married in the Church and/or having their children baptized. It is important for them, and also a matter of salvation, that they correct their spiritual standing with God and the Church as soon as possible. It is also most urgent and necessary that the child or children born out-of-wedlock be baptized. Our Church NEVER REFUSES BAPTISM, no matter under what conditions the child was conceived or born.

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT (Part III)
Author: Saint John Climacus

QUOTATIONS FROM THE 30
SPIRITUAL STEPS:

Step 21. On Unmanly Fears

If you pursue virtue in a monastery or in gatherings of holy men, you are unlikely to be attacked by cowardice. But if you pass your time in solitary abodes, you must strive not to be mastered by cowardice, the child of vainglory, the daughter of unbelief…

"…So as you go where fright will lay hold of you, put on the armor of prayer, and when you reach the spot, stretch out your hands and flog your enemies with the name of Jesus since there is no stronger weapon in heaven or on earth. And when you drive the fear away, give praise to the God Who has delivered you, and He will protect you for all eternity, provided you remain grateful. Just as one morsel will not fill your stomach, so you will not defeat fear in one move."

Step 22. On Vainglory

VAINGLORY induces pride in the favored and resentment in those who are slighted. Often it causes dishonor instead of honor because it brings great shame to its angry disciples. It makes the quick-tempered look mild before men. It thrives amid talent and frequently brings catastrophe on those enslaved to it…
"…" Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you" (St. Luke 6:26). You can recognize the first kind of glory when you look at it as dangerous AND RUN FROM IT IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY, HIDING YOUR LIFESTYLE WHEREVER YOU ARE. "

Step 23. On Pride

PRIDE begins where vainglory leaves off. Its midpoints comes with the humiliation of our neighbor, the shameless parading of our achievements, complacency, and unwillingness to be found out. It ends with the spurning of God’s help, the exalting of one’s own efforts, and a devilish disposition… I have seen people who speak aloud their thanks to God but who in their hearts are glorifying themselves, something demonstrated by the Pharisee with his "O God, I thank You" (St. Luke 18:11).

PRIDE takes up residence wherever we have lapsed, for a lapse is in fact an indication of pride. An admirable man said once to me: "Think of a dozen shameful passions. Love one of them, I mean pride, and it will take up the space of all the other eleven. The proud man wants to be in charge. He would feel lost otherwise… Pride makes us forget our sins, for the remembrance of them leads to humility…Darkness is alien to light. PRIDE IS ALIEN TO EVERY VIRTUE…"

Step 24. On Meekness, Simplicity, Guilelessness, and Wickedness24:9)

The light of dawn comes before the sun and MEEKNESS IS THE PRECURSOR OF ALL HUMILITY. So let us listen to the order in which Christ, our Light, places these virtues. He says, "LEARN FROM ME BECAUSE I AM MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART" (St. Matthew 11:29). Therefore, before going at the sun of humility, we must let the light of meekness flow over us. If we do, we will then be able to look steadily at the sun…

"…MEEKNESS is a mind consistent amid honor or dishonor. Meekness prays quietly and sincerely for a neighbor, however troublesome he may be…Meekness is the bulwark of patience, the door, indeed the mother of love, and the foundation of DISCERNMENT. For it is said: "The Lord will teach His ways to the meek" (Psalm 24:9). It is meekness that earns pardon for our sins, gives confidence to our prayers, and makes a place for the Holy Spirit. "To whom shall I look if not the meek and the peaceful (Isaiah 66:2)…

SIMPLICITY is an enduring habit within a soul that has grown impervious to evil thoughts… GUILELESSNESS is the joyful condition of an uncalculating soul…Malice is honesty PERVERTED, a deluded thought, a lying disposition, perjury, deceit that has become habitual, pride that is second nature. It is the foe of humility, fake penitence, a refusal to confess, an insistence on getting one’s own way…"

Step 25. On Humility

Do you imagine that plain words precisely or truly describe the love of the Lord, humility, blessed purity, divine enlightenment, fear of God, and assurance of the heart? "…Humility is constant forgetfulness of ONE’S ACHIEVEMENTS," someone says. "It is the admission that in all the world one is the least important and it also the greatest sinner," another says. "It is the mind’s awareness that one is weak and helpless," a third says. "It is to forestall one’s neighbor at a contentious moment and to be the first to end a quarrel." "It is the acknowledgment of Divine grace and Divine mercy." "It is the disposition of a contrite soul and the abdication of one’s own will."

Step 26. On Discernment

"…To put the matter generally, DISCERNMENT is and is recognized to be–A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF THE WILL OF GOD IN ALL TIMES, IN ALL PLACES, IN ALL THINGS, AND IT IS FOUND ONLY AMONG THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN HEART, IN BODY, AND IN SPEECH… DISCERNMENT IS AN UNCORRUPTED CONSCIENCE. IT IS PURE PERCEPTION…
"…Everyone with a healthy sense of smell can detect hidden perfumes, and a pure soul can quickly recognize in others the sheer fragrance of goodness that he himself has received from God. Indeed he can also recognize, as others cannot, THE FOUL ODOR FROM WHICH HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN LIBERATED…"

Step 27. On Stillness

Stillness of the body is the accurate knowledge and management, of one’s feelings and perceptions. Stillness of soul is the accurate knowledge of one’s thoughts and is an unassailable mind…The start of stillness is the rejection of all noisiness as something that will trouble the depths of the soul…

"…The following are the signs, the stages, and the proofs of practicing in the right way: a calm mind, a purified disposition, rapture in the Lord, the remembrance of everlasting torments, the imminence of death, an insatiable urge for prayer, constant watchfulness, the death of lust, no sense of attachment, death of worldliness, an end to gluttony, a foundation for theology, a well of discernment, a truce accompanied by tears, an end of talkativeness, and many other such things alien to most men.."

Step 28. On Prayer

PRAYER is by nature A DIALOGUE AND A UNION OF MAN WITH GOD. Its effect is to hold the world together. It achieves A RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. PRAYER is THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER OF TEARS. It is AN EXPIATION OF SIN, A BRIDGE ACROSS TEMPTATION, A BULWARK AGAINST AFFLICTION. IT WIPES OUR CONFLICT, IS THE WORK OF ANGELS, AND IS THE NOURISHMENT OF ALL BODILESS BEINGS. Prayer is future gladness, action without end, wellspring of virtues, source of grace, hidden progress, food of the soul, enlightenment for the mind, an axe against despair, hope demonstrated, sorrow done away with…For the man who really prays it is the court, the judgment hall, the tribunal of the Lord prior to the judgment that is to come…"

"…But heartfelt thanksgiving should have first place in our book of prayer. Next should be confession and genuine contrition of soul. After that should come our request to the Universal King. This method of prayer is best, as one of the brothers was told by an Angel of the Lord…In your prayers there is no need for high-flown words, for it is the simple and unsophisticated babblings of children that have more often won the heart of the Father of heaven… Faith gives wings to prayer, and without it no one can fly upward to heaven. Those of us who are swept by passion must ceaselessly pray to the Lord, for all the passionate have advanced from passion to dispassion…

"…After a long spell of prayer, do not say that nothing has been gained, for you have already achieved something. For, after all, what higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and TO PERSEVERE IN UNCEASING UNION WITH Him? … Do not stop praying as long as, by God’s Grace, the fire and the water have not been exhausted, for it may happen that never again in your whole life will you have such a chance to ask for the forgiveness for your sins…Prayer has its own special teacher in God, Who "TEACHES MAN KNOWLEDGE" (Psalm 93:10). He grants the prayer of him who prays. And He blesses the years of the just."

Step 29. ON Dispassion

Stars adorn the skies and DISPASSION HAS THE VRITUES TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL. By dispassion I mean A HEAVEN OF THE MIND WITHIN THE HEART, WHICH REGARDS THE ARTIFICE OF DEMONS AS A CONTEMPTIBLE JOKE. A MAN IS TRULY DISPASSIONATE–AND IS KNOW TO BE SUCH–WHEN HE HAS CLEANSED HIS FLESH OF ALL CORRUPTION, WHEN HE HAS LIFTED HIS MIND ABOVE EVERYTHING CREATED, AND HAS MADE IT MASTER OF AL THE SENSES, WHEN HE KEEPS HIS SOULD CONTINUALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD …

"… THINK OF DISPASSION AS A KIND OF CELESTIAL PALACE, a palace of the King of heaven. Think of the numerous mansions (cf. John 14:2) as so many dwelling places within this city. Think of the forgiveness of sins as being the fortifying wall of this Jerusalem…"

"…Blessed DISPASSION raises the poor mind from earth to heaven, raises the beggar from the dunghill of passion. And love, all praise to it, makes him sit with princes, that is with Holy Angels, and with the princes of God’s people" (cf. Psalm 112:7-8).

Step 30. On Faith, Hope, and Love (Agape)

And now at last, after all that has been said, there remain that TRIAD: FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE, BINDING AND SECURING THE UNION OF ALL. "BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS AGAPE (LOVE)" (1 Corinthians 13:13), since that is the very name of God Himself (cf. 1 John 4:8). To me they appear, one as a ray, one as light, and one as a disk, and ALL AS A SINGLE RADIANCE AND A SINGLE SPLENDOR…The man who wants to talk about love is undertaking to speak about God…God is love" (1 John 4:16). But someone eager to define this is blindly striving to measure the sand in the ocean…Love is the banishment of every sort of contrariness, FOR LOVE THINKS NO EVIL…

"…For when the heart is cheerful, the face beams (cf. Proverbs 15:13) and a man FLOODED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD REVEALS IN HIS BODY, AS IF IN A MIRROR, THE SPLENDOR OF HIS SOUL, A GLORY LIKE THAT OF MOSES, WHEN HE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH GOD" (cf. Exodus 14:29-35).

"…HOPE is the power behind love. HOPE is what causes us to look forward to the reward of love. HOPE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF HIDDEN TREASURE. It is the abundant assurance of the riches in store for us. It is a a rest from labor, a doorway of love. It LIFTS DESPAIR AND IS THE IMAGE OF WHAT IS NOT YET PRESENT. When hope fails, so does love. Struggles are bound by it, labors depend on it, and mercy lies all around it. The hopeful person slays despondency, kills it with his sword. Hope COMES FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LORD’S GIFTS, AND SOMEONE WITH NO SUCH EXPERIENCE MUST BE EVER IN DOUBT. Hope is DESTROYED BY ANGER, FOR HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT AND THE ANGRY MAN HAS NO GRACE…

"…The empress, as if coming from heaven, spoke thus in my soul’s hearing: ‘My love, you will never be able to know how beautiful I am unless you get away from the grossness of the flesh. So let this ladder teach you THE SPIRITUAL UNION OF THE VIRTUES. And I am there on the summit, for as the great man said, a man who knew me well: ‘REMAINING NOW ARE FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE, THESE THREE. BUT AGAPE (LOVE) IS THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

GLORY BE TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!

___________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT (Part II)
Author: Saint John Climacus

QUOTATIONS FROM THE 30
SPIRITUAL STEPS:

Step 11. On Talkativeness and Silence

TALKATIVENESS is the throne of vainglory on which it loves to preen itself and show off. Talkativeness is A SIGN OF IGNORANCE, a doorway to slander, a leader of jesting, a servant of lies, the ruin of compunction, a summoner of despondency, a messenger of deep, a dissipation of recollection, the end of vigilance, the cooling of zeal, the darkening of prayer.

INTELLIGENT SILENCE IS the MOTHER OF PRAYER, FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE, CUSTODIAN OF ZEAL, A GUARD ON OUR THOUGHTS, A WATCH ON OUR ENEMIES, A PRISON OF MOURNING, A FRIEND OF TEARS, A SURE RECOLLECTION OF ANGUISH…a growth of knowledge, a hand to shape contemplation, hidden progress, the secret journey upward…

Step 12. On Falsehood

HYPOCRISY is the mother of lying and frequently its cause. Some would argue that hypocrisy is nothing other than a meditation on falsehood, that is the inventor of falsehood laced with lies…Only when we are completely free of THE URGE TO LIE may we resort to it, and then only in fear and out of necessity. A baby does not know how to lie, and NEITHER DOES A SOUL CLEANSED OF EVIL.

Step 13. On Despondency

Despondency or TEDIUM of the spirit. Tedium is a paralysis of the soul, a slackness of the mind, a neglect of religious exercises, a hostility to vows taken…Tedium is one of THE EIGHT DEADLY VICES.

Step 14. On Gluttony

Gluttony IS HYPOCRISY OF THE STOMACH…Gluttony thinks up seasonings, creates sweet recipes. A stuffed belly produces fornication, while a mortified stomach leads to purity. The man who pets a lion may tame it but the man who coddles the body makes it ravenous…
Control your appetites before they control you, and shame will greatly help you to maintain such mastery…
FASTING makes for purity of prayer, an enlightened soul, a watchful mind, a deliverance from blindness. Fasting is the door of compunction, humble sighing, joyful contrition, and end to chatter, an occasion for silence, a custodian of obedience, a lightening of sleep, the health of the body, an agent of dispassion, a remission of sins, the gate, indeed, the delight of Paradise…"

Step 15. On Chastity

To be CHASTE is to put on the nature of an incorporeal being. CHASTITY is a supernatural denial of what one is by nature so that a mortal and corruptible body is competing in a truly marvelous way with incorporeal spirits. A chaste man is SOMEONE WHO HAS DRIVEN OUT BODILY LOVE BY MEANS OF DIVINE LOVE, WHO HAS USED HEAVENLY FIRE TO QUENCH THE FIRES OF THE FLESH…"

Step 16. On Avarice

AVARICE is a worship of idols and is the offspring of unbelief. It makes excuses for infirmity and is the mouthpiece of old age. It is the prophet of hunger and the herald of drought…The MISER sneers at the Gospel and is a deliberate transgressor. The MAN OF CHARITY spreads his money about him, but THE MAN WHO CLAIMS TO POSSESS BOTH CHARITY AND MONEY IS A SELF-DECEIVED FOOL.

Step 17. On Poverty

A man who has EMBRACED POVERTY offers up a prayer that is pure, while a man who loves possessions prays to material images…Avarice is said to be THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL (1 Timothy 6:10) and it is so because it causes hatred, theft, envy, separations, hostility, stormy blasts, remembrance of past wrongs, inhuman acts, and even murder. "

Step 18. On Insensitivity

INSENSITIVITY IS DEADENING FEELING IN BODY AND SPIRIT and comes from long sickness and carelessness…The insensitive man is a foolish philosopher, an exegete condemned by his own words, a scholar, He talks about healing a wound and does not stop making it worse…He prays against it but carries on as before…He talks profoundly about death and acts as if he will never die. He groans over the separation of soul and body, and yet lives in a state of somnolence as if he were eternal…"

Step 19. On Sleep, Prayer, and the Singing in Church of Psalms

SLEEP is a natural state. It is also AN IMAGE OF DEATH and a respite of the senses…However, the man who considers with a sensitivity of heart that he is standing before God will be an immovable pillar in prayer, and more of the demons mentioned above will delude him…When chanting hymns with others it may be impossible to pray with the wordless prayer of the spirit…"

Step 20. On Alertness

ALERTNESS keeps the mind clean. Somnolence binds the soul. The ALERT PERSON does battle with fornication, but the sleepy one goes to live with it. ALERTNESS is a quenching of lust, deliverance from fantasies in dreams, a tearful eye, a heart made soft and gentle, thoughts restrained, food digested, passions tamed, spirits subdued, tongue controlled, idle imaginings banished.

Such then is the twentieth step. He who has climbed it has received light in his heart. (Source: John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent)

(To be continued)

____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT BY
SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS

The Ladder of Divine Ascent grew out of its author’s living experience and it requires from each reader a living, personal response. Read hastily, in a spirit of detached curiosity, the book is likely to prove a disappointment. Saint John expects to be pondered slowly, in a spirit of COMPUNCTION, and with a sincere intention on the reader’s part TO CHANGE HIS WAY OF LIFE.

A BRIEF SUMMARY AND
EXHORTATION

ASCEND, my brothers and sisters, ascend eagerly. Let your hearts’ resolve be to climb. Listen to the voice of the one who says: "COME, LET US GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, TO THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD" (Isaiah 2:3), Who makes our feet to be like the feet of the deer, "WHO SETS US ON THE HIGH PLACES, THAT WE MAY BE TRIUMPHANT ON HIS ROAD" (Habakkuk 3:9).

Run, I beg you, run with him who said, "Let us hurry until we all arrive AT THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, at mature manhood, at THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF CHRIST’S FULLNESS" (Ephesians 4:13). Baptized in the thirtieth year of His Earthly age, Christ attained the 30th step on the Spiritual Ladder, for God indeed IS LOVE (AGAPE), and in Him be praise, dominion, and power. In Him is the cause, past, present, and future, of all that is good forever and ever. Amen.

QUOTATIONS FROM THE 30 SPIRITUAL STEPS:

Step 1. On Renunciation of Life

"God is the life of All free beings. He is the salvation of all, of believers or unbelievers, of the just or the unjust, of the pious or the impious, of those freed from the passions or caught up in them, of monks or those LIVING IN THE WORLD, of the educated or the illiterate, of the healthy or the sick, of the young or the very old…
"… A Christian IS AN IMITATOR OF CHRIST IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, as far as this is humanly possible, and he believes rightly and blamelessly in the Holy Trinity. A FRIEND OF GOD is THE ONE WHO LIVES IN COMMUNION WITH ALL THAT IS NATURAL AND FREE FROM SIN AND WHO DOES NEGLECT TO DO WHAT GOOD HE CAN…"
"…Withdrawl from the world is a willing hatred of all that is materially prized, a denial of nature for the sake of what is above nature. All this is done by those who willingly turn from the things of this life, either for the sake of the coming Kingdom, or because of the number of their sins, or ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR LOVE OF GOD…"

Step 2. On Detachment

"…No one can enter crowned into heavenly bridechamber WITHOUT FIRST MAKING THE THREE RENUNCIATIONS. He has to turn away from worldly concerns, from men, from family; he must cut selfishness away; and thirdly, he must rebuff the vanity that follows obedience. "Go out from among them," says the Lord. "Go apart from them. Do not touch the uncleanness of the age" (2 Corinthians 6:17).
"…For those sailing the tides of spirituality know only too well that THE RELIGIOUS LIFE CAN BE A HARBOR OF SALVATION OR A HAVEN OF DESTRUCTION, AND A PITIABLE SIGHT INDEED IS THE SHIPWRECK IN PORT OF SOMEONE WHO HAD SAFELY MASTERED THE OCEAN."

Step 3. On Exile

EXILE is a disciplined heart, unheralded wisdom, an unpublicized understanding, a hidden life, masked ideals. It is unseen meditation, the striving to be humble, a wish for poverty, the longing for what is Divine. It is an outpouring of love, a denial of vainglory, a death of silence… Exile is a separation from everything, in order that one may hold on totally to God. It is a chosen route of great grief. An exile is a fugitive, running from all relationships with his own relatives and with strangers…".

Step 4. On Obedience

"…Obedience IS A TOTAL RENUNCIATION OF OUR OWN LIFE, and it shows up clearly in the way we act. Or, again, OBEDIENCE is the MORTIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS WHILE THE MIND REMAINS ALIVE. Obedience is UNQUESTIONED MOVEMENTS, DEATH FREELY ACCEPTED, A SIMPLE LIFE, DANGER FACED WITHOUT WORRY, AN UNPREPARED DEFENSE BEFORE GOD, FEARLESSNESS BEFORE DEATH, A SAFE VOYAGE, A SLEEPER’S JOURNEY. Obedience is THE BURIAL PLACE OF THE WILL AND THE RESURRECTION OF LOWLINESS…INDEED TO OBEY IS, WITH ALL DELIBERATENNESS, TO PUT ASIDE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE ONE’S OWN JUDGMENT…"

Step 5. On Penitence

REPENTANCE is THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISM and is a CONTRACT WITH God for A FRESH START IN LIFE. REPENTANCE goes shopping for HUMILITY and is ever distrustful of bodily comfort. Repentance is THE DAUGHTER OF HOPE and the refusal to despair. The PENITENT stands guilty–but undisgraced. REPENTANCE is RECONCILIATION WITH THE Lord by the performance of good deeds which are the opposites of the sins. It is THE PURIFICATION OF CONSCIENCE and THE VOLUNTARY ENDURANCE OF AFFLICTION. The penitent deals out his own punishment, for repentance, is THE FIERCE PERSECUTION OF THE STOMACH AND THE FLOGGING OF THE SOUL INTO INTENSE AWARENESS…"

Step 6. On Remembrance of Death

"…To be reminded of death each day IS TO DIE EACH DAY; to remember one’s departure from life is TO PROVOKE TEARS by the hour. For death is a property of nature due TO DISOBEDIENCE, but TERROR OF DEATH IS A SIGN OF UNREPENTED SINS…
"If your remembrance of death is clear and specific, you will cut down on your eating; in your humility, you reduce the amount you eat, your passions will be correspondingly reduced…"

Step 7. On Mourning

"Mourning, which according to God is a melancholy of the soul, a disposition of an anguished heart that passionately seeks what it thirsts for, and when it fails to attain it, PURSUES IT DILIGENTLY AND FOLLOWS BEHIND IT LAMENTING BITTERLY…"

Step. 8. On Placidity and Meekness

"…Freedom from ANGER is an endless wish for dishonor, whereas among the vainglorious there is a limitless thirst for praise. Freedom from anger is a triumph over one’s nature. It is the ability to be impervious to insults and comes from hard work and the sweat of one’s brow. Meekness is a permanent condition of that soul which remains unaffected by whether or not it is spoken well of, whether or not it is honored or praised.
"…Just as darkness retreats before light, so ALL ANGER AND BITTERNESS DISAPPEARS BEFORE THE FRAGRANCE OF HUMILITY…"

Step 9. On Malice

"REMEMBERANCE OF WRONGS comes as the final point of anger. It is a keeper of sins…The man who has put a stop to anger has also wiped out the remembrance of wrongs since offspring can come only from a living parent. A LOVING MAN banishes revenge, but a man brooding on his hatreds stores up troublesome labors for himself… A malicious man is like A LURKING SNAKE CARRYING ABOUT ITS OWN DEADLY POISON…"

Step 10. On Slander

"…Slander IS THE OFFSPRING OF HATRED, A SUBTLE AND YET CRASS DISEASE, A LEECH IN HIDING AND ESCAPING NOTICE, wasting and draining away THE LIFEBLOOD OF LOVE. It puts on the appearance of love and is the ambassador OF AN UNHOLY AND UNCLEAN HEART. AND IS THE RUINING OF CHASTITY…
"…A good grape picker chooses to eat ripe grapes and does not pluck what is unripe. A charitable and sensible mind takes careful note of the virtues it observes in another, while THE FOOL GOES LOOKING FOR FAULTS AND DEFECTS. It is of such a one that it was said, "They have searched out iniquity and died in the search" (Psalm 63:7)…
"…Do NOT CONDEMN. Not even if your very eyes are seeing something, for they may be deceived.
This is the Tenth Step, and he who succeeds on it has practiced love or mourning. (Source: John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent)

(To be continued)

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

ORTHODOX OFFICE OF THE EPISKOPOS ("OVERSEER")

Qualifications for Bishops (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,
he desires a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not
covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in
submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his
own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest
being puffed up with pride he falls into the same condemnation as the devil.
Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

[see Titus 1:6-9 Ordination of Sound Elders)

"A Bishop must be ordained ("consecrated") by two or three other Bishops."

All Orthodox Christians comprise a single flock of God and all are equal before the judgment of God. However, just as parts of the body have different functions in the life of the organism, so also in the Church there exist different ministries. "For as we have many members in one body, but ALL THE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION" (Romans 12:4).

The hierarchy was established by Our Lord Jesus Christ, "He gave some, apostles and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13).

The Holy Apostles by a special rite that the Apostle Matthias was joined to the ranks of the Twelve in place of Judas who had betrayed the Lord. This rite was the choosing of worthy persons, followed by prayer and THE DRAWING OF LOTS. The Greek word, "κλήρωσις," means drawing lots and therefore the word for clergy comes from the Greek word κλήρος (cleros). The Holy Apostles themselves chose SUCCESSORS ("Apostolic Succession") for themselves through ORDINATION. These successors were the bishops.

The Holy Apostle Paul says, "Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery" (1 Timothy 4:15). And in 2 Timothy 1:6, he writes, "Therefore I remind you, to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." To the Holy Apostles Timothy and Titus, Bishops of Ephesus and Crete is given the right to ordaine presbyters, "For this reason, I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders (presbyters) in every city as I commanded you" (Titus 1:5).

The bishop is primarily the guardian of the faith and, as such, the center of the Mysteriaki Zoe (Sacramental life) of the community. Our Holy Orthodox Church remains steadfast in the doctrine of Apostolic succession. In other words, the diakonia of the bishop must be direct continuity with the Holy Apostles. A bishop cannot be consecrated or exercise his ministry without being in unity with his brothrers in Christ, i.e., being a member of an episcopal council or synod.

The bishop presides in all the divine services, especially in the Divine Liturgy. The omophorion-the episcopal stole that represents THE LOST SHEEP carried: "Rejoice with Me, for I have found My sheep which was lost" (St. Luke 15:6). The crown, a late accretion but a reference of the Kingship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The saccos, a vestment of the Byzantine Emperors, share first with the Ecumenical Patriarch and then with all bishops to honor their office. The staff, that of a shepherd and the brass serpent that of Moses the Prophet raised in the desert as mentione in the Old Testament Book Numbers 21: 8-9-symbols of healing. "Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a serpent for yourself and put it on a signal pole; and it shall be, if a serpent should bite someone, when the one bitten looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses made a copper serpent and put it on a signal pole; and it happened when a serpent bit anyone and he looked at the copper serpent, he lived." The dikerotrikera-the set of candles in two candle holders which he blesses the faithful symbolize the Holy Trinity and the Two Natures of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human.

The hierarchs of the Church, a living symbol of the High Priest our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, "binds together" the People of God to the Divine, that they may participate fully in "the greatest possible assimilation and union with God..to become like Him."

The Episkopos ("overseer"), who leads the flock of Christ as a shepherd, is in holy imitation of the Good Shepherd Himself Who sacrificed His life for all of our sakes. In imitation of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, the bishop leads the faithful "that they may be partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4) in the Holy Communion of the Precious and Sacred Body and Blood of Our Savior.

The authentic nature of the hierarchy is described clearly in the Epistles of Saint Paul to Timothy and Titus and therefore there is nothing more to add. One can easily see that the hierarch is meant to be a man filled with love, with dignity, with humility, with deep affection for his spiritual children and fellow clergy, who a "his hands." It is not so much about governance, rule, or authority. All the faithful look up to him always to be their inspiration by his commitment to the Lord God and by his sincere concern and compassion for the many souls entrusted to him by the Savior.

All faithful Orthodox Christians pray for the welfare of their bishop and for a long life. At every Divine Liturgy we pray, "Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop whom do Thou grant to Thy Holy Churches in peace, safety, honor, health and length of days, and rightly preaching of the word of Thy Truth."

___________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father Geoge

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF HOLY AND GREAT LENT: SAINT JOHN
CLIMACUS

“Holy Father John, most glorious, you shed
a well-spring of tears and your soul thus was
purified; you propitiated God by your standing
in prayer all night, Thus given wings, you
ascended to His love and to His beauty, all
blessed as you are; which now you worthily
are enjoying endlessly as you rejoice with your
fellow athlete-monks, O godly-minded Saint.”

On this Sunday our Holy Church commemorates Saint John Climacus, Egoumenos of Sinai, who is assigned a special Sunday in Lent because of his writings and his own life, he forms a pattern of the true Christian ascetic. Saint John is the author of The Ladder of Paradise, one of the spiritual texts appointed to be read in church during Holy Lent.

Saint John lived in the second half of the sixth century, survived into the seventh, passed forty years of solitude at a place called Tholas; that he became Egoumenos (Abbot) of the great Monastery of Mount Sinai and he composed there The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The Ladder was written for a particular group, the Egoumenos, and the community of a monastic settlement at Raithu on the Gulf of Suez. It was put together for a restricted audience and to satisfy an urgent request for a detailed analysis of the special problems, needs, and requirements of the monastic life. Saint John Climacus was not immediately concerned to reach out to the general mass of believers. The Ladder became a classic, spreading it effects throughout all Eastern Christendom, the principal reason lay in the continuing impact on those who had committed themselves to a disciplined observance of an ascetic way as far removed as possible from daily concerns.

According to Saint John once inside the walls of the monastery, the monk, has to live under the scrutiny of a God Who is undoubtedly loving, merciful, and omnipotent, but Who is also just, stern, and conscious of protocol. For Saint John Climacus is concerned not so much with the outward trappings of monasticism as with its vital content. For him the monk is a believer who has undertaken to enter prayerfully INTO UNCEASING COMMUNION WITH GOD, and this in the form OF A COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO TURN THE SELF AND WORLD BUT TO BRING INTO BEING IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS OWN PERSON AS MANY OF THE VIRTUES AS POSSIBLE. He does not act in conformity with virtues of one kind or another. Somehow, FROM WITHIN the boundaries of his own presence, HE EMERGES TO BE HUMILITY, TO BE GENTLENESS, TO BE SIN ABHORRED, TO BE FAITH AND HOPE AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, TO BE LOVE (AGAPE).

Every Lent in Orthodox Monasteries it is appointed that The Ladder of Divinie Ascent be read aloud in church or IN THE REFECTORY (TRAPEZA OR DINING AREA), so that some monks will have listened to it as much as fifty or sixty times in the course of their life.

The author, Saint John Climacus, of The Ladder lived in the desert of Sinai, at the foot of Moses’ Mount, that rises rocky and precipitous to a height of nearly 7,500 feet. The surroundings would often have called to his mind the scene in Exodus: the lightning and thunder, the mountain shrouded in thick cloud, and Moses climbing up alone into the darkness to speak with God face to face (Exodus 20:18-21). But Saint John Climacus was also reminded constantly of another mountaintop, belonging to the New Testament–Tabor, “the high mountain apart” (St. Matthew 17:1), where our Lord was TRANSFIGURED (METAMORPHOSIS) before the three disciples. For when he prayed in the church built for the monks of Sinai by the Emperor Justinian in 556-557 A.D., each time he looked up Saint John would have seen in the apse at the East-end the great mosaic that still survives to this day, depicting Christ’s Transfiguration.

Visually and spiritually, then, Saint John’s imagination was dominated by these two mountains, Sinai and Tabor, and both alike are reflecting in the book that he wrote. In its severity, its refusal of compromise, and its demand for TOTAL DEDICATION. “The Ladder” calls to mind the arid desert, and the rocks and darkness of Sinai. But those prepared to look deeper will discover that the book speaks not only OF PENETENCE BUT OF JOY, NOT ONLY OF SELF-DENIAL BUT OF MAN’S ENTRY INTO DIVINE GLORY. Together with the gloom of Sinai there is also the fire of the Burning Bush and the Light of Tabor.

Little is known, beyond the bare outlines, about the life of Saint John Climacus. In Greek he is called Ioannis tis Klimakos, “John of the Ladder,” He was born shortly before 579 A.D., and he died around 649 A.D. Saint John was 16 years old when he came to Sinai. Here he would have found a monastic center already well etablished, containing in close proximity all the three forms of the monastic life that he describes in Step 1 of The Ladder. After three years, when Saint John was 19 years or 20 years old, Martyrius took him to the chapel at the top of Moses’ Mount and there, following the tradition of the time, HE TONSURED John AS A MONK. Martyrius, so it seems, died soon after Saint John’s profession. Saint John retired into solitude, settling as a hermit (erimitis) at Tholas. According to Saint John’s biographer Daniel of Raithu, during his years of retreat at Tholas he RECEIVED THE GIFT OF TEARS AND THE GRACE OF CONTINUAL PRAYER. He reduced sleep to a minimum but displayed a prudent moderation in his fasting, for it was his custom to eat everything allowed by the Monastic Rule but in extremely small quantities. Saint John kept TOTAL SILENCE FOR A YEAR only agreeing to speak once more with his visitors when entreated to do so by the very monks who had been his critics.

After 40 years of hermits life at Tholas, against his will Saint John WAS ELECTED EGOUMENOS (ABBOT) of the central monastery at Sinai. On the day of his INSTALLATION AS EGOUMENOS, a party of 600 pilgrims chanced to arrive at the monastery. While they weree all being given a meal, Saint John saw “A MAN WITH SHORT HAIR, DRESSED LIKE A JEW IN A WHITE TUNIC, GOING ROUND WITH AN AIR OF AUTHORITY AND GIVING ORDERS TO THE COOKS, CELLARERS, STEWARDS AN OTHER SERVANTS.” Once the meal had finished, the man was nowhere to be found. “It was our lord Moses,” said Saint John. “He had done nothing strange in serving here in the plae that is his own.” To the monks the sign was significant, for the were soon to feel that, in the person of their new Egoumenos (Abbot) John, they had indeed found another Moses.

How long Saint John continued in office is unknown. It was during this last period of his life, while Egoumenos, that he composed The Ladder of Divine Asent, at the request of another John, the Superior of a nearby monastery at Raithu. “Tell us in our ignorance,” asked John of Raithu, “what like Moses of old you have seen in divine vision upon the mountain; write it down in a book and send it to us as if it were the Tablets of the Law, written by God.” Constrained by the virtue of obedience he has complied with the request. Thre is nothing to indicate that Saint John Climacus was ever ordained a priest.

The Ladder relates to THE CONTEMPLATIVE as well as to the ASCETIC LIFE, while the final step ON LOVE IS CONCERNED WITH BOTH THE ACTIVE AND CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE AT ONCE; in the context of Divine Love there can be no sharp differentiation between the two.

The basic pattern of THE THIRTY STEPS of The Ladder can be presented thus:

I. The Break with the World

II. The Practice of the Virtues (“Active Life”)

III. The Strength Against the Passions

_________________________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”