My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

ORTHODOX PRAYERS FOR ALL SEASONS AND OCCASIONS [Part II]

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us of how we must pray:

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that
they may be seen by me. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut
your door, pray to your Father Who is in the secret place; and your Father
Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For
they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Therefore do ot be like them. For your Father knows the things you
have need of before you ask Him" [Matthew 6:5-8].

THANKSGIVING AFTER DELIVERANCE FROM TROUBLE

Almighty and Merciful God, I most humbly and heartily thank Thy Divine Majesty
for Thy loving kindness and tender mercies, that Thou hast heard my humble prayer,
and graciously vouchsafed to deliver me from my trouble and misery. Grant me, I
beseech Thee, Thy helping grace, that I may obediently walk in Thy holy commandments,
and lead a sober, righteous and godly life, ever remembering Thy mercies, and the
blessings Thou hast undeservedly bestowed upon me, that I may continuously offer
to Thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

A PRAYER OF A SICK PERSON

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Physician of our souls and bodies, Who didst become man
and suffer death on the Cross for our salvation, and through Thy tender love and compassion,
didst heal all manner of sickness and afflictions; do Thou O Lord, visit me in my suffering,
and grant me grace and strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with Christian
patience and submission to Thy will, trusting in Thy loving kindness and tender mercy. Bless,
I pray Thee, the means used for my recovery, and those who administer them. I know O Lord,
that I justly deserve any punishment Thou mayest inflict upon me for I have offended Thee and
sinned against Thee, in thought, word and deed. Therefore, I humbly pray Thee, look upon my
weakness, and deal not with me after my sins, but according to the multitude of Thy mercies.
Have compassion on me, and let mercy and justice meet; and deliver me from this sickness
and suffering I am undergoing. Grant that my sickness may be the means of my true repentance
and amendment of my life according to Thy will, that I may spend the rest of my days in Thy
love and fear: that my soul, being helped by Thy grace and sanctified by Thy Holy Mysteries,
and may be prepared for its passage to the Eternal Life, and there, in the company of Thy
blessed Saints, may praise and glorify Thee with Thy Eternal Father and Life-Giving Spirit.
Amen.

THANKSGIVING AFTER RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS

Almighty God,our heavenly Father, Source of life and Fountain of all good things, I bless
Thy Holy Name, and offer to Thee most hearty thanks for having delivered me from my
sickness and restored me to health. Grant me Thy continuing grace, I pray Thee, that I may
keep my good resolutions and correct the errors of my past life, and improve in virtue, and
live a new life in dutiful fear of Thee, doing Thy will in all things, and devoting this new life
which Thou hast given me to Thy service: that thus living for Thee, I may be found ready
when it pleaseth Thee to call me to Thee, O Heavenly Father, to Whom with Thine Only-begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is due all Honor, praise, glory, and thanksgiving: now and ever,
and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PSALM 51[50]

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude
of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against Thee, Thou
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight — that Thou may be found just when Thou
speak, and blameless when Thou judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, Thou’
desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part Thou will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make
me hear joy and gladness, that the bones Thou have broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from
my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me
away from Thy presence, and do not take away Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me by Thy generous Spirit. Then I will
teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to Thee.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall
sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth
Thy praise.
For Thou do not desire sacrifice, or else sI would give it; The sacrifices to God are a broken
spirit, a broken and a contrite heart–These, O God, Thou will not despise.
Do good inThy good pleasure to Zion; built the walls of Jerusalem, then Thou shall be pleased
with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they
shall offer bulls on Thy altar.
+

Please note: The original meaning of the word "hypocrite" was "actor." "Hypocrites" are play-actors practicing theatrical piety. They put on their show in synagogues and in the streets to please people, not God. Wearing masks of compassion, inwardly they are cruel and heartless. Their "reward" is the applause of people– nothing more. The Almighty God is not impressed with what people think of us, or even with our own opinion of ourselves. He sees who we really are, and He knows our motives as well as our deeds. Everything will be judged,and our good deeds will be rewarded "openly."

The "hypocrites" miss the spirit of prayer, which involves an intimate, personal relationship with God and leads to the vision. Mere "vain repetitions" do not establish such a relationship, for God does not need our "babble." To be made intimate with Him, BE HUMBLED, BE SINCERE, BE CONTRITE, BE HONEST, BE TRUTHFUL, AND BE REMINDED OF OUR SINS, BOTH SILENCE AND WORDS ARE NECESSARY. Therefore, we always pray "WITHOUT CEASING" AND WE DO USE "MANY WORDS"–BUT THEY MUST COME FROM THE HEART TO SEEK GOD HIMSELF.

Christian worship, with familiar psalms, hymns, prayers and readings from the Holy Scripture, brings God the praise "in spirit and truth" which He seeks (John 4:23). In no way do these liturgical acts violate Jesus’ command against vain words and repetition.

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

ORTHODOX PRAYERS FOR ALL SEASONS AND OCCASIONS

MORNING PRAYERS

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

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.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal:
have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto age so
ages. Amen.

All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us, Lord,
cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our
iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our
infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.

Our Father, and Who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy Name: Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as
we forgive those who trespass against us; and
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from
evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and
and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages
of ages. Amen.

EVENING PRAYERS

A Prayer for Forgiveness

O Lord God, if during this day I have sinned,
whether in word or deed or thought, forgive me
all, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Grant
me peaceful and undisturbed sleep, and deliver
me from all influence and temptation of the
evil one. Raise me up again in proper time that
I may glorify Thee; for Thou art Blessed: with
Thine Only-begotten Son and Thine All-Holy Spirit:
now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A PRAYER TO YOUR PATRON SAINT

Pray unto God for me, O Holy Saint (Name),
well-pleasing to God: for I turn unto thee, who
art the speedy helper and intercessor for my
soul.

A PRAYER TO YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL

O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector
of my soul and body, forgive me everything
wherein I have offended thee every day of my
life, and protect me from all influence and
temptation of the evil one. May I never more
anger God by any sin. Pray for me to the Lord,
that He may make me worthy of the grace of the
All-Holy Trinity, and of the Most Blessed
Theotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.

PRAYERS AT THE TABLE

O Christ our God, bless the food and drink of
Thy servants, for Thou art Holy always; now and
ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou
has satisfied us with Thy earthly gifts, deprive
us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom; but as Thou
entered into the midst of Thy Disciples, O Savior,
and gave them peace, enter also among us and
save us. Amen,

A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE

O Lord our God, good and merciful, I acknowledge
all my sins which I have committed every day of my
life, in thought, word and deed; in body and soul alike.
I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended Thee, and
I sincerely repent; with tears I humbly pray Thee, O
Lord: of Thy mercy forgive me all my past transgressions
and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help
of Thy Grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more;
that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer
praise and glory to the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. Amen.

A PRAYER OF A CHILD

Our Father Who are in heaven, bless my father and mother,
my guardians, and those who are in authority over me, for their
love and tender care for me, and the benefits I receive at their
hands. Help me, I pray Thee, to be respectful and obedient to
them in all things according to Thy will; and give me Thy grace
to perform all my duties carefully and faithfully, to avoid undesirable
company and influence, and resist all temptation that may come
my way; that I may live a sober, righteous and godly life, ever
praising Thee, and glorifying Thy Name. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THE SICK

O Holy Father, Heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies,
Who has sent Thine Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ
to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death; do Thou
visit and heal Thy servant (Name), granting him/her release from
pain and restoration to health and vigor, that he/she may give
thanks unto Thee and bless Thy Holy Name, of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages
of ages. Amen.

A PRAYER IN TIME OF TROUBLE

O God, our help and assistance, Who are just and merciful, and Who hears the supplications of Thy
people; look down upon me, a miserable sinner, have mercy upon me, and deliver me from this trouble
that besets me, for which, I know, I am deservedly suffering. I acknowledge and believe, O Lord, that
all trials of this life are given by Thee for our chastisement, when we drift away from Thee, and disobey
Thy Commandments; deal not with me after my sins, but according to Thy bountiful mercies, for I am
the work of Thy hands, and Thou knowest my weakness. Grant me, I beseech Thee, Thy Divine helping
grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to
Thy Will. Thou knowest my misery and to suffering and to Thee, my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief
and comfort, trusting to Thine infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when Thou knowest best,
Thou will deliver me, from this trouble, and turn my distress into comfort, when I shall rejoice in Thy
mercy, and exalt and praise Thy Holy Name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.

[To be continued}

____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

"Mary said… Let it be to me according to your word" [Luke 1:38]

Mary’s faithful response makes her THE HIGHEST MODEL OF OBEDIENCE to God. The Incarnation of the Son of God is not only the work of the Holy Trinity, but also the work of the will and the faith of the Virgin. Therefore, the Virgin Mary is honored not only because God chose her, or because she bore the Son of God in the flesh, but also because she herself CHOSE TO BELIEVE and OBEY GOD FIRMLY.

In Christ are two wills, HUMAN and DIVINE; His human will is obedient to His Divine will. Through His obedience, His salvation brings healing to our will. Therefore, "many"–that is, those who believe in Christ–"are made righteous" and able by grace to participate willfully by faith in God’s righteousness. "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" [Philippians 2:8]. Our Lord, God and Savior showed the fullness of humility by His obedience to the death which has enslaved humanity.

Our Lord and the Theotokos are the most excellent examples of true obedience. As Orthodox Christians celebrate the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God they are also taught numerous spiritual lessons to inspire and assist all those who are struggling to overcome their sinful lives and seek guidance to attain a greater and lasting relationship with the Savior of the world Jesus Christ. One essential lesson is the necessity and significance of genuine obedience. There can’t be any kind of progress and spiritual growth without obedience.

Saint John Climacus writes: "As flower comes before every fruit, so exile of body or will precedes all obedience." "Obedience" writes Saint John Climacus, "is a toral 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 movement, death freely accepted, a simple life, dange face without worry, and 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 deliberateness, to put aside the capacity to make one’s own judgment."

Furthermore, Saint John states, "He who is submissive is passing sentence on himself. If his obedience for the Lord’s sake is perfect, even when it does not appear to be so, he will escape judgment. But if in some things he follows his own will, then even though he thinks of himself as obedient, he takes the burden onto his own self."

Our Holy Church reminds us constantly of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Genesis 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and of the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendants became heirs of death and corruption. We too are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. Itis an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires, and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in the divine services of our Church, and partake of the Life-giving Mysteries of Christ.

As one can clearly see that our Orthodox liturgical tradition is essential to our spiritual life and development. Everyone should make a sincere effort not only to follow it but to understand it and to benefit from it. We, as Orthodox Christians, are constantly educated through sacred music, hagiography, architecture, the Mysteries, fasting, repentance, prayer, worship, the Holy Scripture and the Sacred Tradition of the Church. The intent is to bring us closer to our faith and through it to our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.

"What is obedience? In the common meaning of the word, obedience is submission to
someone else’s will. The commandment of obedience is the very first in time, the most
ancient, for while still in Paradise, in their original state of innocence, our first father
and mother were already given a commandment of obedience–not to taste of the fruit
of a certain tree–the transgression of which commandment let to their exile and death".
[Egoumenissa (Abbess) Thaisia, Letters to a beginner)

Let us instead emulate and imitate the divine example of our Lord and our Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary!

_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

THE DEATH OF THE THEOTOKOS WAS ALSO LIFE-BEARING

A most mystical economy of courtship came to pass as regards the Virgin, a strange greeting surpassing speech which the Archangel, descended from above, addressed to her, and disclosures and salutations from God which OVERTURN THE CONDEMNATION OF EVE AND ADAM AND REMEDY THE CURSE LAID ON THEM, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A BLESSING…THERE CAME TO PASS IN THE WOMB NOT A UNION ONLY, BUT FURTHER, A FORMATION, AND THAT THING FORMED FROM THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH AND THE ALL-HOLY VIRGINAL WOMB WAS THE INCARNATE LOGOS/WORD OF GOD. Thus the Logos/Word of God took up His dwelling in the Theotokos in an inexpressible manner and proceeded from her, bearing flesh…This is the encomium which transcends nature and the surpassingly glorious glory of the Ever-Virgin …She was also rightly glorified and exalted together with Him…

The death of the Theotokos was also the Life-bearing translating (Gk. Metastasis) her into a celestial and immortal life …Its commemoration not merely renews the memory of the wondrous (miraculous) deeds of the Mother of God, but also adds thereto the strange gathering at her All-sacred burial of all the sacred Apostles conveyed from every nation…Thus she exalted those under her through herself, and, showing while on earth an obedience to things heavenly rather than things earthly, she partook of more excellent deserts and of superior power.

…She alone in her body, GLORIFIED GOD, now enjoys the celestial realm together with her Son. For earth and grave and death did not hold forever her Life-originating and God-receiving body — THE DWELLING MORE FAVORED THAN HEAVEN AND THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS …HOW INDEED COULD THAT BODY SUFFER CORRUPTION AND TURN TO EARTH? …tHE ‘Ark of Holiness" (Psalm 131:8) IS RESURRECTED, AFTER THE PROPHETIC ODE BELOW …IN THIS MANNER SHE WAS IN Sion …UNITING THOSE ON HIGH WITH THOSE BELOW …IN THIS MANNER SHE WAS IN THE BEGINNING "A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS" (Psalm 8:6) as it is said, referring to her mortality, yet this only served to magnify her Pre-eminence as regards all creatures …RECEPTACLE OF GREAT GRACES …SHE ONLY IS THE FRONTIER BETWEEN CREATED AND UNCREATED NATURE, AND THERE IS NO MAN THAT SHALL COME TO GOD EXCEPT HE BE TRULY ILLUMINED THROUGH HER …IT WAS THROUGH THE THEOTOKOS ALONE THAT THE LORD CAME TO US. [Saint Gregory Palamas, Homily on the Dormition).

________________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

What does the word ‘Transfiguration’ mean?
By Metropolitan of Nafpaktos HIEROTHEOS

The word ‘transfiguration’ means CHANGE OF FORM. in other words, at a certain moment Christ revealed what He has been concealing, He manifested the glory of the DIVINITY with which His human nature WAS UNITED FROM THE MOMENT OF HIS CONCEPTION IN THE WOMB OF THE THEOTOKOS. Through His great love for mankind Christ concealed what He always had, in order that the Disciples should not "be burned" by reason of their unitness, because they had not yet been prepared.

At that moment Christ was transfigured, "NOT ASSUMING SOMETHING THAT HE WAS NOT, NOR CHANGING INTO SOMETHING WHICH HE WAS NOT, BUT MANIFESTING WHAT HE WAS TO HIS OWN DISCIPLES" (Saint John of Damaskos). Essentially, when we speak of the Transfiguration we mean THAT HE MANIFESTED THE GLORY OF HIS DIVINITY, which He kept unseen in the visible body, because men were not able to face it.

Saint John Chrysostom says that Christ DID NOT SHOW HIS WHOLE DIVINITY, BUT A SMALL ENERGY OF IT. And He did this, on the one hand, to give information about what the Divine glory of the Kingdom is like, and on the other hand, out of love for mankind, lest they even lose their life on seeing the FULL GLORY OF THE GODHEAD. Therefore, the mystery of the Transfiguration is both A REVELATION OF THE KINGDOM and an EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE AND HIS PHILANTHROPY.

It is said in the liturgical texts that during the Transfiguration Christ DEIFIED THE HUMAN NATURE which He assumed. But this is said with a definite meaning and does not mean that it was only then that human nature was deified. According to Saint John of Damaskos, human nature was deified BY THE HYPOSTATIC UNION AND COMMUNION WITH GOD THE LOGOS/WORD WHICH CAME ABOUT FROM THE MOMENT OF HIS CONCEPTION IN THE WOMB OF THE THEOTOKOS ON THE DAY OF THE ANNUNCIATION. At that moment the Divinity deified the human nature, while the human nature was deified (Saint Gregory the Theologian). During the Transfiguration of Christ this human nature, deified by its assumption by God the Logos/Word, was made manifest to the Disciples. Previously it was UNKNOWN, now it became MANIFEST. It is in this sense that several troparia (hymns) speak about the deification (theosis) of human nature during the Transfiguration.

This very fact leads us to the view that on Mt. Tabor we do not have only a Transfiguration, a revelation of Christ, because He really showed some rays of His Divinity then, but WE ALSO HAVE HAVE A TRANSFORMATION OF THE DISCIPLES. The Disciples were granted to see the theosis (edification) of the human nature of Christ, precisely because THEY THEMSELVES WERE TRANSFIGURED. The Holy Fathers speak of a change in the Disciples. "They were changed, and so they saw the change" (Saint Gregory Palamas). This means that there was a change, a Transfiguration of Christ, but his became known because there was also, a change, a transfiguration of the Disciples.

The transfiguration of the Disciples took place in their whole psychosomatic (soul and body) being. The Disciples did not see the Divine Light only with their nous, WHICH IS THE EYE OF THE SOUL, but also with those bodily senses which had previously been empowered by he Uncreated energy of God and transfigured in order to see it. the bodily eyes are blind to God’s Light, since man’s eyes are created and cannot see the UNCREATED LIGHT. This is why they were changed by God’s action and granted to see the glory of God (Saint Gregory Palamas).

Christ went up to Mt. Tabor in order to show the glory of His Divinity. This could also have taken place on a plain in a remote place. But why did He prefer the mountain?
In early times all the great events usually took place on a higher place, on high and low mountains, just as the pagans also used to do, who performed their sacrifices on the mountains. Christ showed the magnitude of His glory on Mt. Tabor, FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) OF HUMAN NATURE IS THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND.
Then, as Christ said, He came to seek the sheep that had gone astray, which was lost on the mountain. So Christ went up on the mountain to show that He had found the sheep that had gone astray and freed it from sin and the devil, that HE WAS THE TRUE SHEPHERD OF MEN (Saint Gregory the Theologian).
Again, His going up on the mountain shows that lal who want to see the glory of the Divinity in the human nature of the Logos/Word must come out of lowness, leave the low things and go up high, that is to say they must be PURIFIED OF ALL THE EARTHLY THINGS THAT KEEP THEM BOUND TO THE EARTH. [Resources: The Feasts of the Lord.  An Introduction to the Twelve Feasts and Orthodox Christology].

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chyrsostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

CHRIST’S TRANSFIGURATION [Gk. METAMORPHOSIS]
By Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, HIEROTHEOS.

The Transfiguration of Christ shows just what the Church is and what it is like, it also shows what its purpose is. Membership of the Church includes the Prophets and Apostles and those who accept their enlightening theology and are struggling to have the same perspective. Of course there are many degrees of participation but one must at least be in the stage of purification.

It is also clear what is the nature of the deepest and most essential purpose of the Church. IT IS TO GUIDE MAN TO THEOSIS (DEIFICATION), WHICH IS THE VISION OF THE UNCREATED LIGHT. The whole work of pastors is aimed at this lofty target. THEOSIS (Deification), then, does not constitute a luxury for the Christian life, but is its mystical entelechy and deepest purpose. Both the Mysteries (Sacraments) and Asceticism aim at this state. When they are cut off from this, they become idols.

THE UNCREATED LIGHT IS A LIVING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS THE FOOD OF HEAVEN. But in parallel there is the FORETASTE OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME. The Transfiguration shows what the Kingdom of God is and what the future state will be. The Godman will be in the midst of the deified, who will rejoice in the presence and glory of God to different degrees and wit varying participation in UNCREATED GRACE. "God stands int eh congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods" (Psalm 82:1). Christ, and the Holy Trinity in general, will be God by nature, and the saints will be gods by participation and by grace. Therefore the coming Kingdom, just like our presence in the Church, IS NOT A GATHERING OF PIOUS PEOPLE, BUT A CONGREGATION, A CHURCHGOING OF GODS BY GRACE, IN FACT "DEIFIED BY HIM WHO IS GOD BY NATURE" (Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki).

Just as all the feasts of the Lord are not only altogether Christological, but anthropological and soteriological, so it is also with the Transfiguration of Christ. By His Transfiguration Christ SHOWED THE THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) OF HUMAN NATURE, BUT ALSO THE GLORY OF THOSE WHO WILL BE UNITED WITH HIM. Therefore the event of the Transfiguration is a central point in the soteriological (salvific) teaching of the Church, since it shows what is the purpose of man’s existence.

But in order for anyone to attain the experience of the glory of his theosis (deification) HE MUST GO THROUGH THE PURIFICATION OF HIS HEART. And this is why Christ illumines man in accordance with the purity of his heart. Saint Gregory the Theologian says characteristically: "Therefore, one must first be purified oneself and then associate oneself with the pure." The same thing happens with the NOETIC LIGHT as with the sensory light. Just as the created light gives light to the healthy eyes of the body, so also THE UNCREATED LIGHT GIVES LIGHT TO THE PURE NOUS AND THE ILLUMINED HEART (Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite).

The Holy Fathers, speaking of the Transfiguration of Christ and the partaking of Divine Glory, speak of the personal ascent on the mount of THE VISION OF GOD. It is the constant cry of the Church: "make Thine everlasting light shine forth also upon us sinners." And in a related prayer in the First Hour we feel the need to ask Christ: "O Christ, the True Light, which illumineth and sanctifieth every man who cometh into the world! Let the light of thy countenance be shown upon us, that in it we may behold the Light Ineffable." Continual ascent and development are needed. In the Church we speak of man’s development, not from the ape to man, but FROM MAN TO GOD. And this "ecclesiological theory" of development which the Church has, gives an understanding of life and satisfies all of man’s inner problems and existential anxieties.

Saint Maximos the Confessor teaches that Christ is not shown to all in the same way, but to beginners He is shown in the form of a servant, while to those who are ascending the mountain of the vision of God He is shown "in the form of God." As soon as the three Disciples on Tabor saw the glory of the Christ, they confessed: "Lord, it is good for us to be here, if you wish, let us make here three booths: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" (Matthew 17:4). Interpreting this desire of the Disciples, Saint Maximos says that the three booths are of ACTION, VISION AND THEOLOGY. Elijah, as courageous and prudent, was a model of the first booth (action). Moses, as a lawgiver and a righteous man was a model of the second (vision), and Christ the Lord was a Model of the third booth (Theology), since He was perfect in everything.

In this interpretive analysis are shown the three stages of the spiritual life, PURIFICATION, ILLUMINATION, AND THEOSIS (DEIFICATION), which constitute man’s spiritual ascent on Mt. Tabor. Thus it is not a question of a geographical ascent, but OF A FIGURATIVE DEVELOPMENT. If we look carefully at the whole life of the Church, and the Holy Fathers’ teaching about salvation, we shall discover that they constantly speak of these three stages of the spiritual life, which constitute man’s varied sharing in the grace of God. If the spiritual life DOES NOT have this reference and development, then it is being made AN IDOL OR MORALIZED.

The Transfiguration of Christ shows us just what Orthodox theology is. From the teaching of the Church we know that THEOLOGY IS NOT CONJECTURAL AND CEREBRAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT MAN’S SHARING IN THE DEIFYING ENERGY, VISION AND UNCREATED LIGHT AND, INDEED, THEOSIS (DEIFICATION). When we speak of theology we mean EXPERIENCE AND VISION OF GOD.

In conclusion we must say that the TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST IS THE CENTRAL EVENT IN CHRIST’S LIFE, BUT ALSO A FUNDAMENTAL POINT IN THE LIFE OF MAN. Therefore it must be analyzed not with beautiful moral thoughts and sentimental effusions, BUT IN THE FRAMEWORK OF ORTHODOX THEOLOGY. Moreover, we live in the Church and are trying not simply to become good people, but to be gods by grace. The LIFE OF THE CHURCH AND ORTHODOX THEOLOGY SUMMON US TO THIS HEIGHT. [Resources: The Feasts of the Lord]

____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

On August 6th Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the Great
Feast-Day of the TRANSFIGURATION or Our Lord, God, and Savior
JESUS CHRIST.

Our Lord had spoken to His Disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desires to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matthew 16:28), He took His three foremost Disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light \, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before HIm as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the LIVING AND THE DEAD, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from Heaven, whether he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and our of the cloud they heard that same voice which has been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matthew 17:5).

Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendour the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matthew 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion hymn of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to the Holy Tradition, the Lord’s Transfiguration ( Gk. Metamorphosis) came to pass FORTY DAYS BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION, this is why Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the holy Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Grave Tone

THOU was transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to
Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure. Shine forth Thou on
us, who are sinners all, Thy light ever-unending, through the prayers
of the Theotokos. Light-bestower, glory to Thee.

Kontakion Hymn. Grave Tone

ON the mount Thou was transfigured, and Thy disciples, as much as they
could bear, beheld Thy glory, O Christ our God; that when they should
see Thee crucified, they would know Thy Passion to be willing, and would
preach to the world that Thou, in truth, art the Effulgence of the Father.

[Resources: The Great Horologion]

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
Joh
THE FIRST ENEMIES OF THE VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
By Saint John Maximovitch

THE MORE the faith in Christ spread and the Name of the Savior of the world was glorified on earth, and together with Him also She Who was vouchsafed to be the Mother of the God-Man, –the more did the hatred to be the Mother of Christ increased towards Her. Mary was the Mother of Jesus. She manifested a hitherto unheard-of example of purity and righteousness, and furthermore, now departed from this life, She was a mighty support for Christians, even though invisible to bodily eyes. Therefore, all who hated Jesus Christ and did not believe in Him, who did not understand as the Church understood, who wished to replace the preaching of Christ with their own human reasonings–all of thee transferred their hatred for Christ, for the Gospel and the Church, to the Most Pure Virgin Mary. They wished to belittle the Mother, so as thereby to destroy faith also in Her Son, to create a false picture of Her among men in order to have the opportunity to rebuild the whole Christian teaching on a different foundation. IN the womb of Mary, God and man were JOINED. She was the One Who served as it were as the ladder for the Son of God, Who descended from heaven. To strike a blow at Her VENERATION means to strike CHRISTIANITY at the root, TO DESTROY IT IN ITS VERY FOUNDATION.

And the very beginning of Her heavenly glory was marked on earth by an outburst of malice and hatred toward Her by unbelievers. When, after Her holy repose, the Apostles were carrying Her body for burial in Gethsemane, to the place chosen by her, John the Theologian went ahead carrying the branch from Paradise which the Archangel Gabriel had brought to the Holy Virgin three days before this when he came from heaven to announce to Her Her approaching departure to the heavenly mansions.

"When Israel went out of Egypt, and the House of Jacob from among barbarous people," chanted Saint Peter from Psalm 113; "Alleluia," sang the whole assembly of the Apostles together with their disciples, as for example, Dionysius the Areopagite, who likewise had been miraculously transported at the time of Jerusalem, And while this sacred hymn was being sung, which was called by the Jews the "Great Alleluia," that is, the great "Praise ye the Lord," one Jewish priest, Athonius, leaped up to the bier and wished to overturn it and throw to the ground the body of the Mother of God.

The brazenness of Athonius was immediately punished: the Archangel Michael with an invisible sword cut off his hand, which remained hanging on the bier. The thunderstruck Athoniius, experiencing a tormenting pain, in awareness of his sin, turned to prayer to delay the Jesus Whom he had hatred up to then and he was immediately healed. He did not delay in accepting Christianity and confessing it before his former co-religionists, for which he received from them a martyr’s death. Thus, the attempt to offend the honor of the Mother of God served for Her GREATER GLORIFICATION.

The enemies of Christ resolved not to manifest their lack of veneration for the body of the Most Pure One further at that time by crude violence, but their malice did not cease. Seeing that Christianity was spreading everywhere, they began to spread various vile slanders about Christians. They did not spare the name of the Mother of Christ either, and they invented the story that Jesus of Nazareth had come from a base and immoral environment, and that His Mother had associated with a certain Roman soldier.

But here the lie was too evident for this fiction to attract serious attention. The whole family of Joseph the Betrothed and Mary Herself were known well by the inhabitants of Nazareth and the surrounding countryside in their time. "Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren: James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?" (Matthew 13:54-55; Mark 6:3; Luke 4:22). So said His fellow-countrymen in Nazareth when Christ revealed before them in the synagogue His other-worldly wisdom. In small small towns the family matters of everyone are well known; very strict watch was kept then over the purity of married life.

Would people really have behaved with respect towards Jesus, called Him to preach in the synagogue, if He had been born of illegitimate cohabitation? To Mary the law of Moses would have been applied, which commanded that such persons BE STONED TO DEATH; and the Pharisees would have taken the opportunity many times to reproach Christ for the conduct of His Mother. But just the contrary was the case. Many enjoyed great respect; at Cana She was an honored guest at the wedding, and even when Her Son was condemned, no one allowed himself to ridicule or censure His Mother. [Resources: The Orthodox Veneration of MARY, The Birthgiver of God)

_______

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

THE HOLY DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS, THE
SUMMER LENT AND PASCHA.

Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls, we thy
servants offer to thee songs of victory and thanksgiving, for
thou, O Mother of God, hast delivered us from dangers. But
as thou hast invincible power, free us from conflicts of all
kinds that we may cry to thee:
Rejoice, unwedded Bride! [Kontakion, Akathist to the Theo-

“She doth pray for us, and the scepters of kingdoms are confirmed by Her prayers” (daily Nocturne). Saint John Maximovitch writes, “There is no intellect or words to express the greatness of Her Who was born in the sinful human race but became “MORE HONORABLE THAN THE CHERUBIM AND BEYOND COMPARE MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE SERAPHIM.” “Seeing the grace of the secret mysteries of God made manifest and clearly fulfilled in the Virgin, I rejoice; and I know not how to understand the strange and secret manner whereby the Undefiled has been revealed as alone chosen above all creation, visible and spiritual. Therefore, wishing to praise Her, I am struck dumb with amazement in both mind and speech. Yet still I dare to proclaim and magnify Her: She is indeed the Heavenly Tabernacle” [Ikos of the Entry into the Temple]. “Every tongue is at a loss to praise Thee as is due; even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, when it seeks to sing praises, O Theotokos. But since Thou art good, accept our faith. Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, for Thou art the Protectors of Christians, and we magnify Thee” (Irmos of the 9th Canticle, Service of the Theophany).”

The Holy Dormition (Koimisis) is often referred to as the “Summer Pascha” because it shares many thematic similarities with the All-Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter). Both Holy Feasts highlight the triumph over death and the promise of resurrection and Eternal Life. Just as Holy Pascha celebrates Our Lord Christ’s triumph over death and His Glorious Resurrection, the Dormition celebrates the Theotokos’s TRANSLATION (METASTASIS) from the earthly life into Eternal Life, becoming a testament to Christ’s promise of resurrection for all who believe in Him.

The Holy Scripture tells us that when our Lord Jesus Christ was dying on the Cross, He saw His Beloved Mother and His beloved disciples John and said to the Virgin Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” [John 19:25-27).  and to Saint John, “Behold your mother!”  From that hour, the Holy Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.  We note three important truths concerning “His mother”: (1) In calling Mary “woman” Jesus is using a term of dignity and affection.  (2) In saying to “the disciple whom Jesus loved, that is, to Saint John, “Behold your mother”, Jesus symbolically establishes Mary’ role as mother of all faithful disciples–of the entire Church.  If Mary had other offsprings, Jesus would not have placed her under the care of John.  The Orthodox Church’s teaching concerning Mary’s eternal virginity is ratified by Christ’s action.

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

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

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

AUGUST Ist – AUGUST 15th – The Commemoration of the
Holy Dormition (Koimisis) of the Most Holyand Glorious
Lady, the THEOTOKOS and EVER-VIRGIN MARY.
"THE SUMMER PASCHA"

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

IN giving birth, thou didst preserve they virginity; in thy dormition,
thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou was translated
unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by by thine intercessions
dost thou redeem out souls from death.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

THE grave and death could not hold the Theotokos, who is unsleeping
in her intercessions and an unfailing hope in her mediations. For as
the Mother of Life she was TRANSLATED TO LIFE BY Him Who dwelt
in her Ever-virgin womb.

The Commemoration of the Koimisis (Dormition) of our Most Holy Lady and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary and the preparation for the Holy Feast begins on August 1st with a period of fasting. For all Orthodox Christians it is a time of maintaining a strict fast, of prayer, of repentance, of worship and spiritual renewal and rededication.

The Holy Feast commemorates the repose (dormition) and in the Greek Koimisis or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of God. The Feast also commemorates the TRANSLATION (Gk. METASTASIS) into heaven of the sacred body of the Theotokos.

Concerning the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the Tradition of the Holy Fathers. When the time drew near that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Holy Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, H would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God she returned to her house and prepa tred whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Holy Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was appropriate, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for THE PEACE OF THE WORLD. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Holy Apostles took up that God-receiving sacred body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is Higher than the Cherubim and more Glorious than the Seraphim. But one Jews moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, THEY BURIED THERE WITH HONOR THE ALL-IMMACULATE BODY OF THE THEOTOKOS, WHICH WAS THE SOURCE OF LIFE. But on the THIRD DAY AFTER THE BURIAL, when they were eating together, and RAISED UP THE ARTOS (BREAD0 in Jesus’ Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos APPEARED IN THE AIR, SAYING "REJOICE" TO THEM. From this they learned concerning THE BODILY TRANSLATION (METASTASIS) OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE HEAVENS.

These things has the Church received from the Tradition of the Holy Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of love and reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God. [Resources: The Great Horologion]

Saint John Maximovitch writes: "The end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Mother of God was the beginning of Her greatness, "Being adorned with Divine glory" (Irmos of the Canon of the Dormition), She stands and will stand, both in the day of the Last Judgment and in the future age, at the right hand of the Throne of Her Son. She reigns with Him and has boldness towards Him as His Mother according to the flesh, and as one in spirit with Him, as one performed the will of God and instructed others (Matthew 5:19). Merciful and full of love, She manifests her love towards Her Son and God in love for the human race. She intercedes for it before the Merciful One, and going about the earth, She helps men.

Having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, the Intercesor of the Christian race sees every tear, hears every groan and entreaty directed to Her. Especially near to Her are those who labor in the battle with the passions and are zealous for a God-pleasing life. But even in worldly cares Hse is an irreplaceable helper. "Joy of all who sorrow and intercessor for the offended, feeder of the hungry, consolation of travellers, harbor of the storm-tossed, visitation of the sick, protection and intercessor for the infirm, staff of old age, Thou art the Mother of God on high, O Most Pure One" (Stecheron of the Service to the Hodegetria) "The hope and intercession and refuge of Christians." "The Mother of God unceasing in prayers" (Kontakion of Dormition), "saving the world by Thine unceasing prayer" (Theotokion of the Third Tone). "She day and night doth pray for us, and the scepters of kingdoms are confirmed by Her prayers" (daily Nocturne)." [Resources: The Orthodox Veneration of MARY, The Birthgiver of God]

(To be continued)

_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George