My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

Christ is in our midst! He was, is, and ever shall be.

"…TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS
THAT I HAVE COMMENDED YOU." (Matthew 28:20)

The sacred mission of the Holy Church is to continue revealing God’s absolute Divine Truth to all of humanity. To accomplish this task our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned and commanded His holy Disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God Himself.

Beginning His earthly Divine Ministry, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ began to preach and to say, ‘Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is absolutely necessary to enter and continue in Jesus’ New Way of life. Repentance, Gk. Metanoia, indicates man’s turning from himself to Our Creator and God. It means belief and a total about-face, a radical change of one’s "phronema" or mindset and heart. "A complete reorientation of the whole of one’s life and being." It is the actual change in one’s thinking, feeling, and acting. The willingness of man to conform to the Divine will and commandments of the Almighty and Merciful God.

Christianity is not another of the thousands upon thousands of man-made religions, but the absolute Truth of God, revealed by Him to all of mankind through His Only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. Our Divine and Heavenly Teacher, our Master, the Logos/Word of God set out to reveal that He indeed is "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). And too, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). To Him we look and to Him we listen. We are called by God to be "in Christ."

It is absurd for any one of the Christian Faith to assert or believe that the Divine Teachings of our Lord can be changed by us. He is very firm and resolute when it comes to His Divine Teachings. He says, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19). Not observing the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ is a severe violation of God’s law. It is unthinkable for a Christian believer to pick and chose, or to be selective of what he/she likes or does not like about the revealed truths taught by our Lord Christ.

The Holy Orthodox Church is the principle and primary interpreter of God’s revelation, because of the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The Holy Spirit gives her aid and guidance because she is "the church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). The Church is the body of Christ, the Incarnate Logos (Ephesians 1:22). Who else is to declare the Gospel? Who shall preach the Word of God? Preaching and proclaiming are part of the essence of the Holy Church.

It is in the Holy Church that we, as members of the body of Christ, are guided, enlightened, and nourished by the Holy Spirit our God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself is always present within the Church, for "He is the Head of the body, the Church." The baptized members of the Church are constantly transformed and saved by the grace of the Holy Spirit within it. The Church is the Ark of salvation.

No one Orthodox Christian should ever marginalize or dismiss the guidance of our Holy Orthodox Church. As Orthodox Christians, we believe that the Church is Christ Himself. When we listen to the Church speak, we believe, that we are listening to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, for Christ is in her and she in Him, she is in very truth His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

We live in very dangerous times and we need to turn more and more to our Church for guidance. There are many voices of false prophets and preachers out there who are attempting to lure us away from our Church. They use all kinds of enticements and snares to catch us, but we must be alert and wise to avoid becoming their victims. The authentic Church of Christ is the only means for salvation. It is up to the individual Orthodox Christian to listen. Many times after the Lord Christ spoke to the people, He would say, "He who has ears to hear let him hear" (Luke 8:8).

___________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!

–Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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 VALUE OF PEACE

There can be no peace unless there is faith and prayer. And he who truly seeks peace, is he, whose heart and mind seek the Lord, Jesus Christ. There can be no peace without our Savior and Redeemer. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:9). Our Master Himself is the source of peace. Our Lord reveals Himself to us as the Great Reconciler, the Prince of Peace (Ephesians 2:14,16). The Holy Spirit gives peace, the Sign of God’s presence. to those who imitate Him.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov said, "Aquire the Spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved." And Saint Anatoly of Optina states: "Wherever God is – there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident: where there is envy, enmity, impatience, self-love – there is the devil. Wherever the devils – there, everything is ruinous, proudn and hostile."

Without peace nothing can be accomplished. Peace is essential to pray, peace is essential to grow spiritually, peace is essential to love, peace is essential to forgive, peace is essential to build, and peace is essential to commune with our Creator. Peace is God’s gift to us. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I GIVE TO YOU; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). Perfect peace is brought by the Messiah, who carries out the work of salvation and reconciles man with God.

Peace is not exclusively a Christian need, but also a human need. It is indispensable to all human beings, not only to have peace, but to be always at peace with Almighty God and withe one another. It is a fact that peace can be illusive and at times a rare experience for the average person. Yet, we can NOT do without it. Even at our worship during the Divine Liturgy the priest shouts, "Peace be to all."

"So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be to you!" As Christians we do not see this as simply a greeting from the Lord, but a great blessing. Understanding how necessary to our life peace is, we cannot, but to accepted it, as a special gift from Him to us. Saint Maximus the Confessor advises us to "stop defiling your flesh with shameful deeds and polluting your soul with wicked thoughts; then the peace of God will send upon you and bring you love."

Another Great Holy Father of the Church, Saint Seraphim of Sarov wrote: "There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the graceof the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: "O Lord, give us peace! When a man lives in peace, God reveals Mysteries to him."

Saint Isaac the Syrian stated: "The soul that loves God has its vest in God and in God alone. In all the paths that men walk in the world, they do not attain peace until they draw near to hope in God." Our Lord Christ reminds us that none of us need to go very far to meet with God "For indeed; THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU" (Luke 17:21). Also, we are reminded that His ver name, Immanuel, means when translated, "GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:23). Where God is so is His Kingdom! His Kingdom, is the Kingdom of peace! The Kingdom of Agape!

God’s will is that His Kingdom on earth is to be a Kingdom of peace too. We, as His followers, need to be His instruments of peace. Our world has known warfare and conflict, the loss of precious life, injustice, and often cruelty. God’s world was never meant to be abused, exploited and mismanaged by man,but for man, to be a good stward of it. "Then God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, and HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). However, the reality is, that mankind has proven not to be reliable or responsible or obedient to God’s will. When God handed over His creation t102:22).o man, "everything He had made, was indeed, it was very good," (Genesis 1:31).

Man has failed to maintain God’s creation and peace and harmony within the world which he lives in. It is time for us all to ask His forgiveness and with great and sincere humility to repent of our sins. Follow the example of the Psalmist and his words, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall always be in my mouth, and in all places of His dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul!" (Psalm 102:22).

According to the Holy Scripture, the most powerful prayer is short prayer that is done from the depth of the heart, with sighs and tears: "Our of teh depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice" (Psalm 129:1). Such short prayer was used by the thief on the cross, the Cananite woman, the apostles when they were caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the blind mand of Jericho and the leper.

Peace be on to you!

________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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.

"…I LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD…" (CREED)

Saint Nicholas Cavasilas writes: "The resurrection IS THE RESURRECTION OF OUR HUMAN NATURE. Such things God gives freely, for just as He forms us WITHOUT US WILLING IT, so He forms us ANEW though WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TO IT. On the other hand, the Kingdom and vision of God and UNION WITH CHRIST are PRIVILEGES WHICH DEPEND ON WILLINGNESS. They are possible ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WILLING TO RECEIVE THEM AND HAVE LOVED THEM AND LONGED FOR THEM. For such it is fitting that they should enjoy the presence of the things for which they longed; FOR THE UNWILLING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE… One need not, therefore, marvel that while all will live in immortality, IT IS NOT ALL WHO WILL LIVE IN BLESSEDNESS. ALL EQUALLY enjoy God’s Providence for our nature, BUT IT IS ONLY THOSE WHO ARE DEVOUT TOWARDS GOD WHO ENJOY THE GIFTS WHICH ADORN THEIR WILLINGNESS" (The Life in Christ, pp. 81-82… 3rd Ed.)

With the aim of making faith in the future transfiguration of bodies easier, the holy Apostle compares the future resurrection with sowing, a symbol of resurrection given by nature: "But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with wh11at body do they come?’ Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow tath body that shall be, but mere grain–perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases and to each seed its own body" (1 Corinthians 15:35-38).

With the same aim, the Holy Fathers of the Church have indicated that in the world in general nothing is annihilated and disappears and that God is powerful TO RESTORE THAT WHICH He Himself HAS CREATED. Turning to nature, they found in it similarities to the resurrection, such as the sprouting of plants from a seed which is thrown in the earth and rots away; THE YEARLY RENEWAL OF NATURE in springtime; THE RENEWAL OF THE DAY; THE AWAKENING FROM SLEEP; THE ORIGINAL FORMATION OF MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE EARTH; and other manifestations.

The Universal Resurrection and the events that follow after it are realities which we are incapable of representing fully with our imagination; nor can we fully understand them WITH OUR RATIONAL THOUGHTS, nor resolve those numerous questions which arise before the curious mind in connection with them. Therefore, both these questions themselves and those personal conceptions which have been expressed in answer to them–often in various forms–in the writings of the Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church, do not enter immediately into the subject of dogmatic theology, the duty of which is to sketch the precise truths of faith founded upon the Holy Scripture. (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky)

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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 RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
(1 Corinthians, chapter 15)

"I LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD…" (CREED)

In the Great Day of the Coming of the Son of Man, there will be accomplished the Universal Resurrection of the dead the Lord says: "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His (the Son of God’s ) voice, and shall come forth: THEY THAT HAVE DONE GOOD, unto the Resurrection of life; and THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVIL, unto TO THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION" (John 5:28-29). When the Sadducees expressed UNBELIEF in the possibility of the resurrection, the Lord reproached them; "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power (that is, the Almightiness of God" (Matthew 22:29).

The certainty of the Truth of the RESURRECTION and the importance of the belief in the resurrection were expressed by the holy Apostle Paul in the following words: "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, THEN IS OUR PREACHING VAIN, AND YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN. Yea and we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: Whom He raised not up if so be that the dead rise not… But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept… For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:13-15, 20, 22).

The resurrection of the dead will be universal and simultaneous, BOTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND OF SINNERS. All the dead "shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29). "There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the JUST and UNJUST" (Acts 24:15; these are the words of the holy Apostle Paul before the governor Felix). If the same Apostle in another place (1 Corinthians, chapter 15, likewise 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4), speaking of the resurrection of the dead in Christ, does not mention the resurrection of sinners, this is evidently because his direct purpose is to strengthen the faith of the Christians themselves in their future resurrection in Christ. However, there is no doubt that the appearance or FORM OF THE RESURRECTED RIGHTEOUS WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF RESURRECTED SINNERS: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father–are words spoken by the Lord only of the righteous (Matthew 13:43). "Some WILL RESEMBLE LIGHT, AND OTHERS DARKNESS," reflects Saint Ephraim the Syrian in this passage (Homily "On the Fear of God and the Last Judgment").

From the word of God, one must conclude that the resurrected bodies WILL BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME ONES THAT BELONGED TO THEIR SOULS IN THIS EARTHLY LIFE: THIS corruptible MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, and THIS mortal MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY" (1 Corinthians 15:53). But at the same time, they will be TRANSFORMED, AND FIRST OF ALL, THE BODIES OF THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE INCORRUPT AND IMMORTAL, AS IS EVIDENT FROM THE SAME WORKS OF THE APOSTLE. They WILL BE COMPLETELY FREE FROM WEAKNESS AND FROM THE INFIRMITIES OF THE PRESENT LIFE. They WILL BE SPIRITUAL, HEAVENLY, NOT HAVING EARTHLY, BODILY NEEDS. LIFE AFTER THE RESURRECTION WILL BE LIKE THE LIFE OF THE FLESHLESS SPIRITS, THE ANGELS, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD (Luke 20:36). As for sinners, their bodies also without any doubt will rise IN A NEW FORM, but while receiving an incorrupt and spiritual nature, AT THE SAME TIME THEY WILL EXPRESS IN THEMSELVES THE CONDITION OF THEIR SOULS." (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

(To be continued)

______________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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.

"AND HE SHALL COME AGAIN WITH GLORY TO JUDGE
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD; WHOSE KINGDOM SHALL
HAVE NO END…" (ORTHODOX CREED OR SYMBOL OF
FAITH)

The spiritual gaze of mankind which believes in Christ, beginning with the time of the Ascension from earth to heaven of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, has been directed to the greatest future event of world history: His Second Coming to earth.

Testimony to the reality of this expected Coming was given quite definitely many times by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, together with a whole series of details regarding it (Matthew 16:27 and chap. 24; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:40; John 14:3). The Angels declared it at the Lord’s Ascension (Acts 1:11). The Apostles often mention it: the Apostle Jude (vv. 14-15); the Apostle John (1 John 2:28); the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:13); and the Apostle Paul many times (1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6; and other places).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself described to His Disciples the manner of His Coming in the following characteristics:

IT WILL BE SUDDEN AND OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE" (Matthew 24:27).

First of all, "there shall appear THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn" (Matthew 24:30). This, according to the universal interpretation of the Holy Fathers of the Church, will be THE SIGN OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF THE LORD.

The Lord will come surrounded by innumerable Choirs of Angels, in all His Glory: "And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30), "with the Holy Angels (Mark 8:38). "He shall sit on the Throne of His Glory (Matthew 25:31). Thus, the Second Coming WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST when the Lord "HUMBLED Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross" (Philippian 2:8).

He will come to "JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Acts 17:31) "AND TO REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS" (Matthew 16:27). In this, the purpose of His Second Coming into the world IS TO BE DISTINGUISHED IN ESSENCE FROM THE PURPOSE OF His Coming, when He came "NOT O JUDGE THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED" (John 3:17); He came "TO GIVE HIS LIFE (AS) A RANSOM FOR MANY" (Matthew 20:28). [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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.

"And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons
which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and
you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8).

"It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,
which the Father has put in His own power" (Acts 1:7).

However, the fact that the time is UNKNOWN should arouse Christians, TO A CONSTANT SPIRITUAL VIGILANCE: "Take heed, watch and pray, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS" (Mark 13:33).

From the earliest days of the Church, Christians lived always in anticipation of Christ’s return or His Second Coming. Reflecting on the course of historical events and discerning in them the SIGNS of the approach of the time of the "LAST DAY." Our Lord Christ taught: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near" (Matthew 24:33).

Here are some of the signs indicated in the word of God:

a. The spread of the Gospel to the whole world: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached IN ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS UNTO ALL NATIONS; AND THEN SHALL THE END COME" (Matthew 24:14).

b. On the other hand, there will be an extraordinary MANIFESTATION OF THE POWERS OF EVIL: "Because INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND, the love of many shall grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). The holy Apostle Paul writes: "But know this, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, UNLOVING, UNFORGIVING, SLANDERERS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, DESPISER OF GOOD, TRAITORS, HEADSTRONG, HAUGHTY, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER TAH LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. AND FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Faith in general WILL GROWN WEAK: "When the Son of Man comes, will He really FIND FAITH ON EARTH? (Luke 18:8).

c) The devil will raise up warfare against the Kingdom of Christ through his instrument, ANTICHRIST. The name "ANTICHRIST" is used in Holy Scripture in two meanings: In A BROAD, GENERAL sense it indicates EVERY ENEMY OF Christ; this is the mean when "antichrists" are spoken of in the First and Second Epistles of Saint John the Theologian. But IN A PARTICULAR SENSE, "ANTICHRIST" signifies A DEFINITE PERSON–the ADVERSARY OF CHRIST who is to appear BEFORE THE END OF THE WORLD. Concerning the qualities and actions of this Antichrist, we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who appeareth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God… "

The image of this ADVERSARY of God is presented also in the Prophet Daniel (chapters 7 and 11, and in the New Testament in the Revelation of Saint John the Theologian (chapters 11-13). The work of the Antichrist will continue UNTIL THE VERY DAY OF JUDGMENT (2 Thessalonians 2:8). The character of the person of Antichrist and a description of his activities are depicted hypothetically, but in detail, by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechetical Lectures and by Saint Ephraim the Syrian in his "Homily on the Coming of the Lord and Antichrist."

d) In the Book of Revelation of Saint John the Theologian there is indicated THE APPEARANCE OF "TWO WITNESSES" during the period of the Antichrist’s activity; THEY WILL PROPHESY of the truth and PERFORM MIRACLES, and when they finish their testimony they will be killed, and then after "three days and a half" will be resurrected and ascend into heaven" (Revelation 11:2-12).

According to the universal interpretation of the Holy Fathers, these TWO WITNESSES" (mentioned also in Zachariah, chap. 3) are the Old Testament righteous ones Enoch, and Elijah, WHO NEVER DIED BUT WERE CARRIED UP ALIVE INTO HEAVEN, and endured their earthly death ONLY DURING THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST. (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky)

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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 PARTICULAR JUDGMENT
THE FATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH
UNTIL THE GENERAL JUDGMENT

Death is the common lot of men. But for man, it is not annihilation, but only the separation of the soul from the body. The truth of the immortality of the human soul is one of the fundamental truths of Christianity. "God is not a God of the dead but of the living for all live unto Him" (Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:38). In the New Testament Sacred Scripture, death is called "the decease (departure) of the soul" ("I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance" (2 Peter 1:15). It is called the deliverance of the soul from prison (2 Corinthians 5:1-4); the putting off of the body ("knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle" 2 Peter 1:14); a departure ("having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is for better", Phil. 1:23; "the time of my departure is at hand," 2 Timothy 4:6); a sleep (David "fell asleep," Acts 13:36).

The state of the soul after death, according to the clear testimony of the word of God, IS NOT UNCONSCIOUS BUT CONSCIOUS (for example, according to the Parable of the rich man and Lazaros, Luke 16:19-31). After death man is subjected to a judgment which is called "PARTICULAR" to distinguish it from the General Last Judgment. It is easy in the sight of the Lord to reward a man "ON THE DAY OF DEATH ACCORDING TO HIS CONDUCT," says the most wise son of Sirach (11:26). The same thought is expressed by the holy Apostle Paul: "It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). The Apostle presents the judgment as something which follows immediately after the death of a man, and evidently, he understands this not as the General Judgment, but AS THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT, as the Holy Fathers of the Church have interpreted this passage. "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43), the Lord uttered to the repentant thief.

In Holy Scripture, it is not given us to know how the Particular Judgment occurs after a man’s death. We can judge of this only in part from separate expressions which are found in the word of God. Thus, it is natural to think that in the Particular Judgment also a large part in the fate of a man after death is taken both by good and by evil angels: the former are implements of God’s mercy, and the latter–by God’s allowance–are implements of God justice.

Concerning the state of the soul after the Particular Judgment, the Orthodox Church teaches thus: "We believe that the souls of the dead are ARE IN A STATE OF BLESSEDNESS OR TORMENT ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS. After being separated from the body, they immediately pass over either into joy or into sorrow and grief; however, THEY DO NOT FEEL EITHER COMPLETE BLESSEDNESS OR COMPLETE TORMENT. For complete blessedness or complete torment, each one receives after the General Resurrection WHEN THE SOUL IS REUNITED WITH THE BODY IN WHICH IT LIVED IN VIRTUE OR IN VICE" ("Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs on the Orthodox Faith," par. 18). Thus the Orthodox Church distinguishes two different conditions after the Particular Judgment: ONE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS, AND ANOTHER FOR SINNERS; IN OTHER WORDS, Paradise or Hell. The Church does not recognize the Roman Catholic teaching of three conditions: (1) blessedness, (2) purgatory, and (3) Gehenna (hell). The very name "Gehenna" the Holy Fathers of the Church usually refer to the condition AFTER the Last Judgment, when both death and hell will be cast into the "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15). The Holy Fathers of the Church, basing themselves on the word of God, suppose that the torments of sinners before the Last Judgment have A PREPARATORY CHARACTER. These torments can be eased and even taken away by the prayers of the Church ("Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs," par. 18). Likewise, the fallen spirits are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness" (in hell) until the judgment of the great day" (Jude, v. 6; 2 Peter 2:4). [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky)

"Glor Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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 KINGDOM OF GLORY

With the end of this age and the transformation of the world INTO A NEW AND BETTER WORLD, there is revealed the Eternal Kingdom of God, THE KINGDOM OF GLORY.

Then will come to an end the Kingdom of Grace, the existence of the Church on earth, the MILITANT Church; it will enter in this Kingdom of Glory and WILL MERGE WITH THE HEAVENLY (TRIUMPHANT) Church. "Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom of God the Father, hen He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The LAST ENEMY that will be DESTROYED IS DEATH… Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (I Corinthians 15:24-26, 28). These words concerning the end of the Kingdom of Christ must be understood as the FULFILLMENT OF THE SON’S MISSION, which He accepted from the Fathe, and which consists of the conducting of mankind to God through the Church. Then the Son will reign in the Kingdom of Glory through the Church. Then the Son will reign in the Kingdom of Glory together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and "of His Kingdom, there shall be no end," as the Archangel announced to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:33), and as read in the Symbol of Faith (Creed): "And His Kingdom will have no end." Saint Cyril of Jerusalem says of this: "For will not He who reigned before overthrowing his enemies, reign all the more after He has conquered them."

Death WILL HAVE NO POWER IN THE Kingdom of Glory. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed IS DEATH… Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Corinthians 15:26, 54), "There shal be time no longer" (Revelation 10:6).

The ETERNAL BLESSED LIFE is presented vividly in the 21st chapter of Revelation: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away: and there was no more sea" (Rev. 21:1). In the future Kingdom everything will be SPIRITUALIZED, IMMORTAL, AND HOLY.

But the chief thing is that those who attain the future blessed life and become "partakers of the Divine Nature" (2 Peter 1:4) will be participants in that most perfect life, whose source is in God alone. In particular, the future members of the Kingdom of God will be vouchsafed, like the Angels, to "see God" (Matthew5:8), to behold His Glory not as through a dark glass, not by means of conjectures, but FACE TO FACE. And not only will they behold this glory, but they themselves will be "PARTAKERS" of it, shining like "the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). being "fellow heirs" with Christ, sitting with Christ on a throne and sharing with Him the roayal grandeur" (Revelation 3:21, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 2:11-12).

Blessedness in God will be all teh more desirable in that it will be eternal, WITHOU END: "The righteous (shall go) into life eternal" (Matthew 25:46).

However, this glory in God, in the thought of the Holy Fathers of the Church, will have its degrees, corresponding to the moral deignity of each one. One may conclude this also from the words of Sacred Scripture: "In My Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:2); He shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27); every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor (1 Corinthians 3:8); one star differeth from another star in glroy (I Corinthians 51:41).

Saint Ephraim the Syrian says: "Just as everyone takes enjoyment of the rays of the sensual sun according to the purity of his powerof seeing and of the impressions that are given, and just as in a single lamp which illumines a house each ray has its place, while the light is not divided into many lamps; so also in the future age all the righteous will dwell inseparably in a single joy, but each in his own degree will be illuminated by the single mental sun, and to the degree of his worth he will draw in joy and rejoicing as if in a single atmosphere and place, and no one will see the degrees that are higher and lower, lest looking on the surpassing Grace of another and upon his own deprivation, he will thereby have some cause in himself for sorrow and disturbance. May this not be there, where there is neither sorrow nor sighing, but everyone according to the Grace proper to him in his measure will rejoice, while outwardly all will have a single contemplation and a single joy" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian, "On the Heavenly Mansions").

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

Christ is in our midst! He was, is, and ever shall be.

"LET LOVE BE WITHOUT HYPOCRASY.,
ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL CLING TO WHAT
IS GOOD" (Romans 12:9).

Our Savior Jesus Christ speaking of the healing of the bent woman said to the ruler of the synagogue: "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:16).

Holy Scripture calls evil spirits "unclean spirits," "spirits of evil," "devils," "demons," "angels of the devil," "angels of Satan." Their chief, the devil, is also called the "tempter," "Satan," "Beelzebub," "Belial," the "prince of devils," "Lucifer" (the morning star).

Taking the form of a serpent, the devil was the tempter and the cause of the fall into sin of Adam and Eve, as described in Genesis, chapter 3. In the Book of Revelation, he is called "the great dragon, that old serpent" (Revelation 12:9).

Satan and his angels (demons) are deprived of remaining in the heavenly realm of light. Our Lord speaking to His Disciples of Satan He said: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke 10:18). Being cast down from the world above, the devil and his demons act in the world under the heaven, among humans on earth, and they have taken into their possession, as it were, hell and the underworld. The Holy Apostle calls them "principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of the world" (Ephesians 6:12). The devil is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), and his "servants, the fallen angels, are the spirits of wickedness under the heaven" (Ephesians 6:12).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ teaching His listeners how to pray said: "And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one." The existence of the evil spirit is revealed in Holy Scripture, which describes evil as emanating from the fallen angels. The Devil is not a mere theory, but a reality whose works are evident in the world of man, a world that witnesses wars, violence, coruption, injustice, poverty, deception, immorality, and hatred.

The miraculous power of our Lord Christ was exercised in many instances where physicians and remedies had no place, such as the miracle of resurrecting people, especially the raising of His friend Lazaros. The miracles conducted by our Savior were clear evidence of His Divinity. The main work of Satan has been to deceive and mislead the believers of God, keeping them from the faith, the Commandments of God, and from salvation.

There is no knowledge that Jesus Christ attempted to save the demons, whose purpose and mission is to destroy the communion between God and man. As everyone knows Satan as the author and originatros of evil CANNOT BE SAVED by Our Savior Christ, whereas man can be saved because he was drawn to sin (αμαρτία) by the powerful temptation of the evil one. According to Holy Scripture Satan and the demons will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24).

The victory of the Christian over evil is his rebirth, his restoration to his original state in obedience and humbleness as stated in Holy Scripture. As the SALVATION of one man is the highest mission ofthe Church, so the highest damage for a soul is the destruction of his communion with God in the Person and salvific work of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

One of the most important works of Jesus Christ was the annihlation of evil, which the emons themselves recognized (cf. Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34). The destruction of the kingdo of demons was imperative for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The power of Jesus Christ over demons is absolute; they are completely subject to Him (cf. Mark 1:27; Luke 4:41). The Gospel records many means used by Our Lord to confront and drive them out of people. Jesus knew the power, teh mthods and the purpose of the evil spirits, and dominated them accordingly. The power of Satan excercised in man has been diminished by believers in the Name of Jesus Christ. But this confrotation between the believers and demons still exist.

Orthodox Christians believers, as individuals and as members of the Christian community, should be alert and vigilant to overcome the temptations of the evil one, who is constantly on the attack. The believer with his divine qualities, should be always under the protection of the Grace of God, which alone can assure his victory over evil. It is a fact that man attributes his weaknesses to demonic forces. But one should use his won physical, spiritual, and mental powers to ward them off, because "each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own passion. Then passion (desire) when it has conceived gives birth TO SIN, and SIN when it is full grown brings forth DEATH" (James 1:14-15). The essential daily ascesis (exercise) of a person, in the name of Christ, is to learn His Gospel, and to pray to Him for strength not only to avoid sin but to gain victory over evil through faith.

The human race has had to face the verious demonic forces in society throughout human history. Due, however, to new pressures and moral corruption from within the secular society today has been empowered. The evils and vices of society have become the norm. Everything which is wicked and unethical is not only condoned by contemporary society but encouraged and promoted. Mankind is led astray from spiritual directions and dignity.

Tragically man is responsible in that he is in a position to discriminate and choose between good and evil. It is man who brings about his own downfall through his passions, weakness, and indifference, caused by inner forces which impel him to certain kinds of immoral behavior. This evil force within man makes him prey to the works of evil. The evil spirit develops and progresses through man’s indifference, negligence, and compomising attuted toward moral standards. This evil force works itself inside the spiritual vaccum that exists in men who cease to believe in God. The behavior of the world cannot be understood unless one remains aware of this fact. This "demonic" power works within an because he has rejected the Almight God from his life and is now cooperating with the "evil one," eihter CONSCIOUSLY OR THROUGH INDIFFERENCE. This evil power is more evident in among those who have completely lost their way.

There are some who have alowed the devil in, and in turn, the devil, with their consent, has removed God from their hearts. In stead their heart is filled with greed, anger, hatred, malice, violene, etc. Therefore, there is no longer any love, peace, warmth, joy, and hope. Other people are possessed by the demon of PRIDE and worship the idol of reason. However, without the Grace of the Holy Spirit, they soon discover that human reason is cold and devoid of any gratification or fulfillment.

When we witness horific events in the history of the world the tendency of men is to attribute them, and even blame, the Almighty God. Yet ills of man and secular society throughout the world can be derectly traced to the "evil one", Satan. Whether is be war, whether it be violence or killing, whether it be anarchy, whether it be revolution, it is the work of evil. Evil exploits the weaknesses of mankind and uses them against the human race.

The only way that mankind can free itself from demonic influene and forces is to renounce it and turn to God. The only way that men can change their sinful condition is by the grace of the Holy Spirit entering the soul. The Spirit of God can move men of evil to put their faith in God’s inspiration and turn to works of love and peace. By accepting the Spirit of God in their hearts, they will no longer be dominated by fear, ignorance, pride, and sinful life. Peace and love would reign in the hearts of men. Then, when days of trouble, temptations, sorrow, and heartache come upon them, they will have a source of comfort in the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will infuse into the hearts of men of evil, the gift of love. Obeying God’s Commandments and receiving salvation in the Kingdom of Heaven. Entire lives will be changed, their souls will no longer have an emptiness, they will be fulfilled and uplifted with the Spirit of God. The power of goodness can destroy the power of evil. The development of Christian principles and values, thus, is necessary to eliminate evil from life. Living the virtuous and pious life in Christ the believer finds illumination and inner peace.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:13-18; 6:10-11).

________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unwworty 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 SPIRITUAL FATHER IN THE LIFE
OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

Every human being has a father according to the flesh, a biological father to whom he owes his biological arrival to life. The Christian, however, in addition to his natural or biological father, also has a spiritual father. The spiritual father is he who gave him spiritual REBIRTH, who introduced him TO LIFE IN CHRIST, and who guides him on the path of salvation. The natural birth brings us into life; it makes us members of the human race. Our REBIRTH IN CHRIST, however, makes us members IN THE COMMUNITY OF OUR CHURCH AND OFFERS US THE ABILITY TO LIVE A LIFE IN CHRIST GOD. Saint Symeon the New Theologian, one of the most genuine advocates of spiritual fatherhood to whom we will refer often, writes: "We conceived you through teaching, we travailed you through repentance, we gave you birth through patience, labor, great pains, and daily tears" (Epistle 3:1-3).

In the early Church, where the vast majority of the faithful received Holy Baptism as adults, the spiritual father (for the Christian) was the ecclesiastical shepherd, the one who was in charge of his religious instruction or catechesis, who would take him through the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism, and who would then continue to be his guiding hand in the life of Christ. Today, since most of us receive our baptism as infants, the Christian’s spiritual father is not necessarily the priest who baptized him but the one who at some point in his life "touched him," "reached him," and began to GUIDE HIM ON THE JOURNEY toward a conscious faith and a responsible Christian life.

Addressing the Christians of Corinth, Saint Paul writes, "For if you have myriads of tutors in Christ, yet YOU HAVE NOT MANY FATHERS, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:14-16). Saint Paul was indeed the father of the Corinthian Christians and not just a tutor. A spiritual father who gave them spiritual rebirth and introduced them to the family of THE REDEEMED. His Apostolic heart was ablaze from the love for his spiritual children. He wished to offer them not only the Gospel but his soul, as well as he, writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9).

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware writes: "Within the continuity of the life of the Christian community, it becomes evident to the faithful people of God–the true guard of Holy Tradition–that this or that person has the grace of the spiritual fatherhood or motherhood. Afterward, with a rather free and unofficial, unpretentious way, people begin to flock to him or her for advice and direction" (Kallistos Ware, The Kingdom of God Within).

The Mission of the Spiritual Father

What exactly is the mission of the spiritual father? Saint Basil the Great tells us that it is "The caretaking of souls having been bought by the blood of Christ" (St. Basil the Great, Ethics). The spiritual father IS OUR GUIDE IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST JESUS, the doctor of the soul who "with much compassion and according to the statutes of the Lord’s teachings HEALS THE PASSIONS and helps his spiritual child to achieve HEALTH IN CHRIST, living faith, and a solid spiritual life." The spiritual father ought to show them the path that leads to communion with Christ, TO THEOSIS.

According to Saint Gregory the Theologian a shepherd must be an organ "completely and harmoniously tuned to the beat of the Holy Spirit." Thus, before the spiritual father can guide and assist others to the Christian life, he first needs to live it himself. He must be a "prime example to the believers" (1 Timothy 4:2). His example must speak louder than these words. He must inspire with his virtuous lifestyle. He needs to build people up with his love and fatherly affection since according to Sant John of the Ladder, "a true shepherd shows forth or is proven through his love because the Great Shepherd was crucified out of love."

Even though the selection of a spiritual father is entirely a personal choice, something left to our discretion, the discovery of an experienced spiritual guide, in the final analysis, can only be a great gift from God. For this reason, Saint Symeon the New Theologian further advises: "Brother, beseech God extensively in order to reveal to you a man who is capable of guiding you properly, to whom you need to obey as God Himself, and to act upon his words without reservation, even if his precepts go against your own judgment and even if his rules initially seem harmful and nonsensical to you." (Catechism 20 SC 104 pg. 334).

The bond developed between the spiritual father and the spiritual child is characterized by A RECIPROCAL LOVE. The faithful responds and lives up to the love shown by the spiritual father. Saint John Chrysostom observes, "Nothing is so effective in the area of teaching as loving and being loved" The spiritual bonds are stronger than the natural ones. The love towards the spiritual father is genuine when expressed as "faith," and this faith is manifested when we show trust in his person, when we place our entire well-being in his hand and when we recognize him AS OUR GUIDE to the path of salvation. Consequently, we must trust him. We need to follow his precepts without reservations and inner doubts.

Now, if the spiritual father is watchful and vigilant over the soul of his spiritual child, the child must also obey and follow his directions faithfully (Hebrews 13:17). Through our spiritual father, God Himself is speaking. Essentially, when we show OBEDIENCE to him, we are obedient to God’s will. We insure and protect ourselves from mistakes that we would certainly fall into when we follow our own will. Finally, we acquire inner freedom, and we attract the grace of God.

Once more great responsibility of the father is the Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance/ Confession. To our spiritual father, we confess with confidence everything. "Do not keep a single movement of the soul secret," Saint Basil exhorts, "but unclothe the hidden areas of your heart." We must keep nothing from our spiritual father. With humility and with a "son-to-father" trust, we must place everything at his feet. This is THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE OUR SINS FORGIVEN BY GOD, TO FREE OURSELVES FROM THE WEIGHT OF GUILT, AND TO UPROOT OUR PASSIONS. In this context, the spiritual father is enabled to guide us in our spiritual life with assurance.

Changing Spiritual Father

The selection of a spiritual father is a matter of personal choice and preference. However, our God-bearing Fathers forewarn that the changing of spiritual fathers includes dangers as well, Saint Symeon writes, "Do not wander here and there searching for big-name monks and don’t become a curious examiner of their lives. By the grace of God, if you happen to meet a spiritual father, tell all your concerns to him only."

_____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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

+ Father George