“The inward life of the Church is the mystical cooperation of Christ as the Head, with the Church as His Body, in the Holy Spirit, by means of all mutually strengthening ties: ‘ This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church’, instructs the holy Apostle Paul (Eph. 5:32). Also in 1 Corinthians 4:1, the Apostles called themselves “stewards of the mysteries of God.”

The name of “mystery” has become well known in the Church as referring to seven rites or sacraments: Baptism, Chrismation, Communion (the Eucharist), Repentance, Priesthood, Matrimony, and Unction. “The Mysteries are ‘means which unfailingly act by Grace upon those who come to them,” as is said in the “Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs” (par. 15).

In the Holy Tradition of the Church, the believer’s mysteriaki zoe or sacramental life should mean a sanctified life or the new life in Christ God. It is, of course, understood the holy mysteries are the means of grace, and only the means. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Christian believer is constantly guided and inspired to live a righteous life, a life of holiness, a life of virtue, and a life of spiritual renewal.

We, as Orthodox Christians, believe that the Holy Spirit forms Christ within us and He is manifested in us. We also understand that the Holy Spirit does not serve as Christ’s substitute, but He prepares us for Him. We read in the Gospel of Saint John 16:13-14: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you”.

Let us now turn to the well familiar prayer to the Holy Spirit with love and humility:

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Thou are everywhere
and fill all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life come and
abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls,
O Good One! Amen.

A blessing offered to all of you:

The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God and Father, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all. (Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)

“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

HIS LIFE IS MINE

By Archimandrite Sophrony

Through Dark to Light

“A man is born into the world” (John 16:21). Before Christ, no one ever greeted with such rapture the appearance of MAN as He Who had created man. The Creator of the universe rejoiced more man than ALL THE REST OF THE COSMOS. Man, competed and perfected, is wondrous, even as God is wondrous. He is IMMORTAL and SUPRA-COSMIC. He is more than A MICROCOSM-he is MICROTHEOS. For the Eternal Logos/Word of the Father to be made flesh “IN THE LIKENESS OF MAN” (Philippians 2:7) means that, with the gift of love, MAN, IN TURN, MAY BECOME LIKE GOD, even to identity.

Between God and man, there is and must be commensurability in spite of all that is non-commensurable. To dismiss this idea of commensurability would make it totally impossible to interpret any form of cognition as truth–that is, as corresponding to the reality of Primordial Being. If man by the nature of his spirit is not “LIKE UNTO GOD”, then neither could God COULD HAVE BEEN MADE MAN. In the lofty bliss of His All-Perfect Being God, infinite goodness, desired to bestow this bliss ‘OUTSIDE’ Himself, and so He created a world of reasonable beings. He did NOT create them for a part only of His bliss–any elements of limitation would indicate UNLIKENESS and rule out Eternal unity with Godon the highest plane…

“…The tragedy of creation came with the fall and continues in our perpetual instability. Prone to evil, we detest and fight evil; in our longing FOR THE ABSOLUTE GOOD, FOR GOD, WE PUSH Him away ad resist Him.

Christ, having linked God and man INSEPARABLY IN Himself, is the one and only solution of the apparently insoluble conflict. He is like in truth “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42). He is the measure OF ALL THINGS, Divine and human. He is the sole way to the Father. He is the sun which ILLUMINATES THE UNIVERSE. Only in His Light can the way be seen…

“…By darkness, by all that defiles, WE MEAN PRIDE. PRIDE IS AT THE ROOT OF EVERY SIN. Christ began His preaching on earth by A CALL TO REPENTANCE– TO A RADICAL ALTERATION IN OUR APPROACH TO LIFE. Our normal perspective changes to its opposite: HUMILITY RAISES, PRIDE CASTS DOWN. God manifests Himself to us IN ABSOLUTE HUMILITY. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF REPENTANCE WHICH HAS NO END ON EARTH, FOR AN END WOULD INDICATE PERFECT DEIFICATION (THEOSIS)–EQUALITY WITH Christ-God.

It is a fact that sorrowful prayer becomes all-enveloping. There is nothing left in mind or heart: DEATH ENGULFS ALL CREATION, OURSELVES FIRST AND FOREMOST. And lo, there appears that which “EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAS ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN” (cf. Corinthians 2:9)–a ray of the UNCREATED Sun to pierce DEEP INTO OUR DARKNESS.

The Divine Light, hidden, mysterious by nature, imparts NEW LIFE TO THE SOUL. Immaterial by nature, yet sometimes to be seen, it gently draws to itself the spirit of man; and the earth and its alarms are forgotten. MEEK, it is more powerful than aught else. It comforts the soul; the heart melts; the mind is stilled. IT IS LIFE SUFFUSED WITH LOVE (AGAPE). Doubt and fear ARE DRIVEN OUT. DEATH FLEES BEFORE ITS FACE.

O Holy Spirit, mysterious Light;
O Light inscrutable, Light beyond all name:
Come and abide in us.
Deliver us from the darkness of ignorance;
and fill us with the stream of Thy knowledge.

This Light is the Light of Divinity. Ineffably tender, one is unaware of its approach. It may come in the night watch. Or at bright noon-day. As even light, entire, it is the breath of love. It brings peace. It brings an experience of RESURRECTION. The spirit of man enters the realm WHERE DEATH IS NO MORE. Time is at a standstill. The world, hitherto DEVOURED BY DEATH, COMES TO LIFE.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Light everlasting;
Who from the Father didst shine forth before all worlds;
Who didst open the eyes of the man that was born blind:
Do Thou open the eyes of our hearts;
and grant us to behold Thee, Our Creator, and Our God.

ON JANUARY 1st
OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH
COMMEMORATES SAINT BASIL THE GREAT,
ARCHBISHOP OF CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA

By Amphilochius, Bishop of Amaseia

Basil, preeminent among hierarchs, wisest of saintly teachers, and a wondrous favorite of God, was born in Cappadocia toward the end of the Great Constantine’s reign.  His father was also named Basil, and his mother, Emmelia.  He learned to read at the age of seven, and progressed so rapidly in his studies that five years later he was already engaged in philosophical inquiry.  Eventually, he forsook his homeland and moved to Athens, the fount of Hellenic (Greek) wisdom, where he took lessons with the renowned teacher Evvulus, at the same time visiting the schools of Hymerius and Proeresius.  Basil soon equaled, then surpassed his teachers, who were amazed at his diligence and intelligence, and still more at his modesty and purity.  In Athens, Basil became friends with Gregory the Theologian, later Bishop of Nazianzus.  Between Basil and Gregory a warm and unbreakable bond of love was formed, for both were meek, chaste, and upright…

   “…The wondrous Basil devoted much effort to attain an understanding of Divine mysteries, to the point of neglecting to eat…One night, while he was meditating on the Only Wise Creator and True God, a Divine ray penetrated his heart, kindling in him a fiery longing to comprehend the Scriptures on the most profound level.  Leaving Athens and his friend Gregory, Basil went to Egypt.  During this time he significantly deepened his understanding of the True faith…

   “…Basil and Evvulus returned to the Holy City and remained there for one year.  Afterward, they went to Antioch, where Archbishop Meletius ordained Basil to the Diaconate.  In Antioch Basil occupied himself with studying the Scriptures.  Before he departed for Cappadocia, his homeland, still accompanied by Evvulus.  As they were nearing Caesarea, Leontius, Archbishop of that city, had a dream in which he was told of their approach and that Basil would eventually inherit his See.  The next morning, Leontius summoned his archdeacon and several esteemed clergymen, commanding them to go to the eastern gates of the city and bring him the two strangers they found there.  Leontius was amazed when Basil and Evvulus were presented to him because they were the same men he saw in the dream.  Thereupon, he ordered the table set and summoned his clergy and the most eminent citizens.  When everyone had assembled, he explained to them his dream.  With one voice the clergy exclaimed, “God ahs indicated your successor to you because of your virtuous life! Do with him as you think best.  The Lord has clearly chosen him, and he is WORTHY OF ALL RESPECT.”

   “… In Caesarea Basil became a monk, and imitated the manner of life he had observed while visiting the ascetics of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia.  He was ordained Presbyter (Priest) by Hermogenes, who became Archbishop after Leontius died, and was appointed instructor of all the monks living in the Diocese.  When Hermogenes departed the world, the people wished to have the holy Basil as their Prelate, remembering how he had been forechosen and considering him worthy of the episcopacy, but the Saint, who disliked being held in high esteem, hid from them.  Basil decided to retire not the wilderness of Pontus…

   “…Basil was able to convince his good friend Gregory the Theologian to join him at  the Pontus retreat.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Saints compiled A RULE (MONASTIC) FOR COENOBITES.  The blessed Emmelia, Basil’s mother who resided in a village across the river Iris, provided their food.  She was already a widow and was devoting her remaining years to pleasing God.

   The time came when both Basil and Gregory had to leave the wilderness and serve the Church, which was then troubled by HERETICS.

   “…Before long, Archbishop Eusebius surrendered his spirit into God’s hands while resting in Basil’s arms.  The Great Basil was elevated to the Archiepiscopal throne and CONSECRATED BY NUMEROUS BISHOPS, among whom was Gregory of Nazianzus, father of Gregory the Theologian… Basil governed the Church of Christ well and ordained his brother Peter to the Priesthood.  Peter assisted the Saint considerably and eventually, Basil appointed him Bishop of Sevastea.  At that time their mother, the blessed Emmelia, departed to the Lord.  She was more than ninety years old.  Her children were known for their outstanding virtue, especially Basil and Peter, another son, Gregory Bishop of Nyssa, and her eldest daughter Makrina.  (Source:  The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

(To be continued)

---

“Glory Be To GOD For All Things!” +Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+Father George

JANUARY 1st – THE FEAST AND THEHOLY LIFE OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT(Part II)   

Several years passed, and the blessed Basil asked God to send down the grace of the Holy Spirit to enlighten his understanding and give him wisdom so that he might offer the UNBLOODY SACRIFICE using his won words.  Until that time the Greek-speaking Christians had celebrated the Divine Liturgy only in Hebrew.  Saint Basil for seven days; then the Holy Spirit descended and he went into ecstasy.  Coming to himself, he celebrated the liturgy daily for some time and prepared for the awesome task of writing the NEW VERSION OF THE SACRED SERVICE.  Finally, with a prayer on his lips and his heart full of faith, the great hierarch began work.  That night he returned to the church, and while he was setting out bread and wine on the Table of Preparation (Prothesis), the Lord appeared to him with the holy Apostles.  Saint Basil fell prostrate, but Christ raised him up and said, “IN ACCORDANCE OF YOUR SUPPLICATION, YOUR MOUTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH PRAISE, AND YOU WILL PERFORM THE SERVICE USING YOUR OWN WORDS.”  The Lord shone with glory so bright that Saint Basil, who was shaking with fear, could not endure to look upon Him.  When the vision ended, the Saint took a scroll and wrote in Greek the following words:  “Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn Thy glory.”  Then he began the service, the Liturgy that came to be known by his name, with such prayers as, “O Lord our God, Who hast fashioned us an brought us into this life,” and the prayer at the ELEVATION:,  “Attend, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy holy habitation and form the Throne of the glory of Tand through Kingdom, and come to Thou to SANCTIFY US, Thou Who art seated on High with the Father, yet INVISIBLY REMAINEST WITH US HERE.  By Thy Mighty hand vouchsafe to bestow the Holy Things which are FOR THE HOLY upon us, “and through us UPON THE PEOPLE.”  Afterward, Saint Basil recorded these prayers and the others on the scroll.  Evvulos and the clergy of higher rank saw A HEAVENLY LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE SANCTUARY (ALTAR) AND THE BISHOP AS HE OFFERED THE HOLY EUCHARIST, AND RADIANT MEN CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENTS SURROUND THE Great Hierarch.  Awestruck, they fell to the floor, weeping and glorifying God.   

About that time Saint Basil summoned a smith and had him fashion a golden dove to represent the one that appeared when Christ was baptized in the River Jordan.  The Saint hung it over the Holy Table as a receptacle for reserving the Divine Mysteries… Such was the gift of grace possessed by Saint Basil, that when he ELEVATED THE Holy Gifts during the Divine Liturgy, the DOVE HOLDING THE RESERVED MYSTERIES SHOOK THRICE, INDICATING THAT THE Holy Spirit WAS DESCENDING.   

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus received word of his friend’s death and hastened to Caesarea to take part in the funeral at which he shed copious tears.  Other bishops assembled, joining the Theologian in chanting the funeral service in the Church of the Holy Martyr Eupsychius.  At its conclusion, they buried the precious remains of Heaven’s great favorite Basil, praising God Who is one in Trinity.  To Him be glory unto the ages.  Amen.  (Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

“Glory Be To GOD For All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+Father George