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 ACQUISITION OF GRACE
Saint Seraphim of Sarov

"Yes, father, but what about other good deeds
done for Christ’s sake in order to acquire the grace
of the Holy Spirit? You have only been speaking
of prayer."

"Acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit also by partaking all the other virtues for Christ’s sake. Trade spiritually with them; trade with those which give you the greatest profit. Accumulate capital from the superabundance of God’s grace, deposit itin God’s eternal bank which will bring immaterial interest, not four or six percent, but one hundred per cent for one spiritual ruble, and even infinitely more than that. For example, if prayer and watching gives you more of God’s grace, watch and pray; if fasting gives you much of the spirit of God, fast; if almsgiving gives you more, give alms. Weigh every virtue done for Christ’s sake in this manner.

"Now I will tell you about myself, poor Seraphim. I come from a merchant family in Kursk. So when I was not yet in the monastery we used to trade with goods which brought us the greatest profit. Act like that, my son. And just as in business the main point is not merely to trade, but to get as much profit as possible, so in the business of the Christian life the main point is not merely to pray or to do some other good deed. Though the Apostle says: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), yet, as you remember, he adds: "I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words with a tongue (1 Corinthians 14:19). And the Lord says: "Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he who does the will of My Father" (Matthew 7:21), that is who does the work of God and, moreover, does it with reverence, for cursed is he who does the work of God negligently" (Jeremiah 48:10). And the work of God is: BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN HIM WHOM HE HAS SENT, JESUS CHRIST (John 14:1; 6:29). If we understand the commandments of Christ and of the Apostles, aright, our business as Christians consists not in increasing the number of our good deeds which are only THE MEANS of furthering the purpose of our Christian life, but in DERIVING FROM THEM THE UTMOST PROFIT, THAT IS IN ACQUIRING THE MOST ABUNDANT GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"How I wish, your Godliness, that you yourself may acquire this inexhaustible source of divine grace, and may always ask yourself: Am I in the Spirit of God, or not? –there is nothing to grieve about. You are ready to appear before the awful judgment of Christ immediately. For ‘in whatsoever I find you, in that will I judge you.’ But if we are not in the Spirit, we must discover why not and what reason our Lord God the Holy Spirit has willed to abandon us. We must seek Him again and must go on searching until our Lord God the Holy Spirit has been found and is with us again, through His goodness. We must attack the enemies that drive us away from Him until even their dust is no more, as the Prophet David has said: "I will pursue my enemies and overtake them; and not turn back till they are destroyed. I will crush them and they will be unable to stand; they will fall under my feet" (Psalm 17 [18]:38-39).

"That’s it, my son. That is how you must spiritually trade in virtue. Distribute the Holy Spirit’s gifts of grace to those in need of them, just as a lighted candle burning with earthly fire shines itself and lights other candles for the illuminating of all in other places, without diminishing its own light. If it is so, with regard to the earthly fire, what shall we say about the fire of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God? For earthly riches decrease with distribution, but the more the heavenly riches of God’s grace are distributed the more they increase in the one who distributes them. Thus the Lord Himself was pleased to say to the Samaritan woman: "All who drink this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water that I shall give him will never be thirsty any more; but the water that I shall give him will be in him a spring of water leaping up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).

____________
"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.

SAINT SERAPHIM’S DIVINE REVELATION (Part II)

"How great is God’s compassion on our misery, that is to say, our inattention to His care for us, when God says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20), meaning by "door" the course of our life which has not yet been closed by death! Oh, how I wish, your Godliness, that in this life you may always be IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD! ‘In whatsoever I find you, in that will I judge you,’ says the Lord.

"Woe betide us if He finds us overcharged with the cares and sorrows of this life! For who will be able to bear His anger, who will bear the wrath of His countenance? That is why it has been said: "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation" (Mark 14:38), that is, LEST YOU BE DEPRIVED OF THE SPIRIT OFGOD, FOR WATCHING AND PRAYER BRING US HIS GRACE.

"Of course, every good deed done for Christ’s sake gives us the grace of the Holy Spirit, but PRAYER GIVES US THIS GRACE MOST OF ALL, FOR IT IS ALWAYS AT HAND, AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR ACQUIRING THE GRACE OF THE SPIRIT. For instance, you would like to go to church, but there is no church or the service is over; you would like to give alms to a beggar, but there isn’t one, or you have nothing to give; you would like to preserve your virginity, but you have not the strength to do so because of your temperament, or because of the violence of the wiles of the enemy (satan) which because of you human weakness you cannot withstand; you would like to do some other good deed for Christ’s sake, but either you have not the strength or the opportunity is lacking. This certainly does not apply to prayer. PRAYER IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE, RICH AND POOR, NOBLE AND HUMBLE, STRONG AND WEAK, HEALTHY AND SICK, RIGHTEOUS AND SINFUL.

"You may judge how great the power of prayer is even in a sinful person, when it is offered wholeheartedly, by the following example from Holy Tradition. When at the request of a desperate mother who has been deprived by death of her only son, a harlot whom she chanced to meet, still unclean from her lst sin, and who was touched by the mother’s deep sorrow, cried to the Lord: "Not for the sake of a wretched sinner like me, but for the sake of the tears of a mother grieving for her son and firmly trusting in Thy loving kindness and Thy Almighty power, O Lord!" And the Lord raised him up.

"You see, your Godliness! Great is the power of prayer, and it brings most of all the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by everyone. We shall be happy indeed if the Lord God finds us watchful and filled with the gifts of His Holy Spirit. Then we may boldly hope "to be caught up… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Who is coming with great power and glory (Mark 13:26) to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5) and to reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

"Your Godliness deigns to think it a great happiness to talk to poor Seraphim, believing that even he is not bereft of the grace of the Lord. What then shall we say of the Lord Himself, the never-failing source of every blessing both heavenly and earthly? Truly in prayer WE ARE GRANTED TO CONVERSE WITH HIM, OUR ALL-GRACIOUS AND LIFE-CREATING GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDS ON US IN MEASURES OF HIS HEAVENLY GRACE KNOWN TO HIM. And when He deigns to visit us, WE MUST STOP PRAYING Why should we then pray to Him, ‘Come and abide in us and cleanse us from all impurity and save our souls, O Good One,’ when He has already come to us to save us, who trust in Him, and truly call on His Holy Name, that humbly and lovingly we may receive Him, the Comforter, in the mansions of our souls, hungering and thirsting for His coming?

"I will explain this point to your Godliness through an example. Imagine that you have invited me to pay you a visit, and at your invitation I come to have a talk with you. But you continue to invite me, saying: ‘Come in, please. Do come in !’ Then I should be obliged to think: ‘What is the matter with him? Is he out of his mind?’

"So it is with regard to our Lord God the Holy Spirit. That is why it is said: "Be still and know that I am God; Iwill be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 45[46]:10). That is, I will appear and will continue to appear to everyone WHO BELIEVES IN ME AND CALLS UPON ME, AND I WILL CONVERSE WITH HIM AS ONCE I CONVERSED WITH ADAM IN PARADISE, WITH ABRAHAM AND JACOB AND OTHER SERVANTS OF MINE, WITH MOSES AND JOB, AND THOSE LIKE THEM.

Many explain that THE STILLNESS refers only to worldly matters; in other words, that during prayerful converse with God you must ‘be still’ with regard to worldly affairs. But I will tell you in the name of God that not only is it necessary to be dead to theme at prayer, but when by the Omnipotent power of faith and prayer our Lord God the Holy Spirit condescends to visit us, and comest to us n the plenitude of His Unutterable Goodness, we must be dead to prayer too.

"The soul SPEAKS AND CONVERSES DURING PRAYER, but at the DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE MUST REMAIN IN COMPLETE SILENCE, IN ORDER TO HEAR CLEARLY AND INTELLIGIBLY ALL THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE WHICH HE WILL THEN DEIGN TO COMMUNICATE. Complete soberness of soul and spirit, and chaste purity of body is required at the same time. The same demands were made at Mount Horeb, when the Isrraelites were told not een to touch their wives for three days before the appearance of God on Mount Sinai. For our God is a fire which consumes everything unclean, and NO ONE WHO IS DEFILED IN BODY OR SPIRIT CAN ENTER INTO COMMUNION WITH HIM.

(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.

STRIVING FOR ATTAINMENT OF THE ACQUISITION
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
By Saint Seraphim of Sarov

"The Lord has revealed to me," said the great elder,
"that in your childhood you had a great desire to know
THE AIM OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE, and that you have
continually asked nab great spiritual persons about it."

I must admit that from the age of twelve this thought had
constantly troubled me. In fact, I had approached many
clergy about it, however, their answers had not satisfied me.
This could not have been known to the elder

"But no one," continued Saint Seraphim "has given you a
precise answer. They have said to you, ‘Go to church,
pray to God, do good–that is the aim of the Christian life…

"However prayer, fasting, vigil and all the other Christian
practices may be, THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE THE AIM
OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. Although it is true that they
serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end, the
true aim of our Christian life CONSISTS OF THE
ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. As for fasts,
and vigils, and prayer, an almsgiving, and every good deed
done for Christ’s sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
All tha tis not done for Christ’s sake, even though it be good,
BRINGS NEITHER REWARD IN THE FUTURE LIFE NOR THE
GRACE IF GOD IN THIS LIFE. That is why our Lord Jesus
Christ said: "He who does not gather with Me scatters"
(Luke 11:23]…

The Lord uses all His divine means to give such a man, in
return for his good works, the opportunity not to lose his
reward in the future life. But to this end, we must begin
WITH A RIGHT FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON
OF GOD, WHO CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS
AND WHO, THROUGH OUR ACQUIRING FOR OURSELVES THE
GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BRINGS INTO OUR HEARTS THE
KINGOD AND OPENS THE WAY FOR US TO WIN THE BLESSINGS
OF THE FUTURE LIFE…

"What do you mean by acquiring?" I asked Saint Seraphim.
"Somehow I don’t understand that."

"Acquiring is the same as obtaining," he replied. "Do you understand
what acquiring money means? Acquiring the Spirit of God is exactly
the same… The acquisition of God’s Spirit is also capital, but GRACE–
GIVING AND ETERNAL, AND IT IS ALMOST THE SAME WAYS AS
MONETARY SOCIAL TEMPORAL CAPITAL.

"God the Logos/Word, the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, compares our life with the market, and the work of our life on earth He calls trading. He says to us all: "Trade till I come" (Luke 19:13), buying up every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). In other words, make the most of your time getting heavenly blessings through earthly goods. Earthly goods are good works done for Christ’s sake that confer the grace of the All-Holy Spirit on us.

"God the Logos/Word, the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, compares our
life with the market, and the work of our life on earth, He calls trading. He
says to us all, "Trade till I come" (Luke 19:13), buying up every opportunity,
because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). In other words, make the most
of your time getting heavenly blessings through earthly goods. Earthly
goods are good works DONE FOR CHRIST’S SAKE THAT CONFER THE GRACE
OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT, ON US.

"In the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins, when the foolish ones ran short of oil, they were told: "Go and buy in the market." But when they had bought it, the door of the bride-chamber was already shut and they could not get in. Some say that the lack of oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins MEANS LACK OF GOOD DEEDS IN THEIR LIFETIME. Such an interpretation is not quite correct. Why should they be lacking in good deeds, if they are called virgins, even though foolish ones? Virginity is the SUPREME VIRTUE, an ANGELIC STATE, and it could take the
place of all other good works.

"I think that what they were lacking was THE GRACE OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. These virgins practiced the virtues, but in their SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE they supposed that the Christian life consisted merely in doing good works. By doing a good deed they thought they were doing the work of God, but they CARED LITTLE WHETHER THEY ACQUIRED THE GRACE OF GOD’S SPIRIT. These ways of life, based merely on doing good, without carefully testing whether the bring the grace of the Spirit of God, are mentioned in the Patristic books: "There is another way which is deemed good in the beginning, but ends at the bottom of hell."

"Anthony the Great in his letter to monks says of such virgins: ‘Many monks and virgins have no idea of the different kinds of will which act in man, and they do not know that we are influenced by THREE WILLS: The First is God’s All-perfect and All-saving will; the Second is our own human will which, if not destructive, neither is it saving; and the Third will IS THE DEVIL’S WILL–WHOLLY DESTRUCTIVE.’ This third will of the ENEMY prompts man to do any no good deeds, or to do them good out of VANITY, ore MERELY FOR VIRTUE’S SAAKE RATHER THEAN FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. The second, our own will, PROMPTS US TO DO EVERYTHING TO FLATTER OUR PASSIONS, OR ELSE IT TEACHES US LIKE THE ENEMY, TO DO GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF GOOD AND NOT CARE FOR THE GRACE WHICH IS ACQUIRED BUT IT. But the FIRST, GOD’S ALL-SAVING WILL, CONSISTS IN DOING GOOD SOLELY TO ACQUIRE THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS AN ETERNAL, INEXHAUSTIBLE TREASURE WHICN IS PRICELESS. The ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, THE OIL, WHICH THE FOOLISH VISRGINS LACKED. THEY WERE FOOLISH JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THE NECESSARY FRUIT OF VIRTUE, THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE IS OR CAN BE SAVED, FOR: "THORUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT EVERY SOUL IS QUICKENED AND THROUGH PURIFICATION IS EXALTED AND ILLUMINED BY THE TRIUNE UNITY IN A HOLY MYSTERY.’

"The oil in the lamps of the wise virgins could burn brightly for a long time. So these virgins, with their bright lamps were able to meet the Bridegroom, Who came at midnight. With Him, they could enter the bridal chamber of JOY. But the foolish ones, though they went to market to buy more oil, when their lamps we going out, were unable to return in time, for the door was already shut. The market IS OUR LIFE; the door of the bridal chamber, which was shut and barred the wy to the Bridegroom IS HUMAN DEATH; the wise and foolish virgins are CHRISTIAN SOULS; the oil is not the good deeds, BUT THE GRACE OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WHCIH IS OBTAINED THROUGH GOOD DEEDS AND WHICH CHANGES SOULS FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER — SUCH AS, FROM A CORRUPTIBLE STATE TO INCORRUPTEBLE STATE, FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH TO SPIRITUAL LIFE, FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, FROM THE STABLE OF OUR BEING (WHERE THE PASSIONS ARE TIED LIKE DUMB ANIMALS AND WILD BEASTS) INTO A TEMPLE OF THE DIVINITY, THE SHINING BRIDAL CHAMBER OF ETERNAL JOY IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, THE CREATOR, REDEEMER AND ETERNAL BRIDEGROOM OF OUR SOULS..

(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.

On the 20th of July, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the
Holy and Glorious ELIAS the Thesbite (Elijah the Tishbite).

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

THE incarnate Angel, and the Prophets’ summit and boast, the
second forerunner of the Coming of Christ Our God, Elias, the
glorious, from above sent down his grace upon Elisseus; he doth
cast out sickness and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all that
honor him, he poureth forth streams of cures.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

O RENOWNED Elias, Prophet and seer of the mighty works of God,
who by thy word didst check the rain clouds: Intercede in our
behalf with the only Friend of man.

ELIAS of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his loins with a leather belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God’s command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, so that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols, and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the and of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were as on dry land; and finally,
while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, wither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Genesis 5:24; Kings 2:11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (2 Chronicle 21;12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ on the day of His Transfiguration. [ 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.

ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL SCANDALS IN CHRISTIAN
HISTORY IS THE FRAGMENTATION OF CHRISTIANS
WORLDWIDE.

"I believe… In one Holy, Catholic, and
Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one
baptism for the remission of sins. I
look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen." [Nicene Creed]

The Holy Orthodox Church believes that the Church is fundamentally ONE, JUST as Christ is ONE, and that divisions contradict the very nature of the Church. It is most important to note that the Orthodox Church is NOT one denomination among many but is the continuation of the ancient, UNDIVIDED CHURCH FOUNDED BY HER HEAD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. The Orthodox Church views divisions among Christians as a scandalous and trago departure from the UNITY THAT CHRIST INTENDED FOR HIS CHURCH.

The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, was the formal split of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. A central point of contention was the Pope’s claim to universal jurisdiction over all of Christnedom, a concept the Eastern Orthodox Church did not accept. The Roman Catholic or Western Church added the phrase "and of the Son" (filioque) to the Nicene Creed, stating that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which maintained the original wording (Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father), viewed this addition as a heresy and an unauthorized change to a foundational Creed. Other theological issues are: the nature of the Eucharist i.e., using leavened or unleavened bread), the concept of purgatory, role of icons, the created grace, the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, the assumption of the Virgin Mary, the mandated priestly celibacy, the use of indulgences, the infallibility of the Pope and other. The mutual excommunications of 1054 marked a formal break in communion. Also, the sacking of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 further deepened the divide and animosity between the two Churches. While there have been efforts at reconciliation, the Great Schism continues to this day, with both Churches maintaining their distinct identities and theological understandings. As we know, the Roman Catholic Church is still not in communion, even though in 1965 Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I lifted the mutual anathema of 1054.

The Protestant Reformation was a 16th century religious and political movement that aimed to reform the Roman Church, leading to the establishment of Protestantism. It was sparked by Martin Luther’s challenge to the Church ‘s authority and practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, and spread through Europe, creating significant religious and political upheaval. The Reformation challenged the Pope’s authority and the Catholic Church’s hierarchical structure, advocating for a direct relationship between individual believers and God. Core Protestant beliefs included "sola scriptura" (the Bible as the SOLE AUTHORITY) and "sola fide" (salvation by faith ALONE), contrasting with the Roman Catholic emphasis on faith and good works. The Reformation led to the development of various PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism, each with its own interpretations of Christian doctrine and practice. There are an estimated 45,000 Protestant denominations in the world today, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.

The sheer number of Protestant denominations highlights the diversity within this Christian tradition. These denominations vary in their interpretation of Scripture, their practices,and their governance structure. Differences in theology, church governance, and cultural contexts have contributed to the ongoing FRAGMENTATION WITHIN PROTESTANTISM. Protestantism continues to grow worldwide, with new denominations and independent churches emerging.

Whereas the Orthodox Church still insists that the individual believer submit his or her authority to the authority of the Church, in many Protestant sects there is no authority of the Church, for there IS NO CHURCH. In Protestantism theology is everybody’s and nobody’s business or preoccupation. The fragmentation of Protestantism is a direct consequence of the application of irresponsible freedom IN INTERPRETATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES when given to individuals, or usurped by them. When Protestantism granted to individuals the right to interpret the Holy Scriptures, which until then was THE PREROGATIVE OF THE CHURCH, it opened the door to boundless dissension, which in turn led to the divisions and fragmentations of Protestansim.

Unanimity is impossible without Church Tradition and discipline. With the Protestanta, however, individuals, whether educated of uneducated, allegedly ‘inspired’ by who knows what kind of spirit or spirits, by who knows what kind of spirit or spirits, deprived of the Church’s guidance, left on their own and to themselves, insufficiently spiritualized and aware, start with the Bible and end up with some kind of their own ‘Bible.’ Starting from Christianity, het without accepting it as A WHOLE they end with their own kind of distorted ‘Christianity’ and their own ‘churches.’ Accepting one or several Christian principles, but rejecting all the other, gave rise to SECTS in which little or no genuine Christian theology is left. The Bible, left to the mercy of hte judgment of THE RATIONALITY OF INDIVIDUALS, became the shelter and the lurking place of many who assail the Divinity of Jesus Christ. ARIANISM, condemned at the First Ecumenical Council in 325 A.D., has BEEN REVIVED IN MANY PROTESTANT SECTS which consider themselves Christian. Arius, the founder of the above Christological heresy at the beginning of the 4th century denied the Divinity of Christ.

Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ praying to the Father says: "Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE" [John 17:11]. According to the Orthodox interpretation of John 17:11, emphasizes the importance OF UNITY among believers, modeled after the perfect unity of the Father and the Son. This unity is not merely a human construct but a Divine gift, reflecting the very nature OF THE HOLY TRINITY. The verse highlights the need for believers TO REMAIN CONNECTED TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLYAMIDST THE CHALLENGES OF THE WORLD. The Church, understood as the body of Christ, is seen as the primary place where this unity is manifested and experienced. It is through the Church that believers are united to God and to each other.

Heresy and division can never be condoned, tolerated, ignored, approved or promoted by anyone who professes to be a Christian. The early Church through the Ecumenical Councils unanimously acted on the various heresies threatening the unity Church. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of Truth" the Holy Fathers formulated the Symbol of Faith or Nicaean Constantinopolitan Creed which defines the True Christian faith and by doing so ALL CHRISTIANS WOULD CONFESS AND PRACTICE ONE FAITH.

The Seven Ecumenical (General) Councils hold paramount importance for the Orthodox Church, serving as the FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS UPON WHICH THE DOCTRINE, LITURGY AND GOVERNANCE ARE BUILT. These Councils were convened between the 4th and 8th centuries to address theological controversies and heresies that threatened the unity and purity of the Chrisstian faith received from the Holy Apostles. These Ecumenical Councils provided authoritative statements of faith on core doctrines, particularly concerning the nature of Christ and the Trinity. For example, the First Ecumenical Council (325 A.D.) affirmed THE FULL DIVINITY OF CHRIST ND PRODUCED THE NICENE CREED, A CORNERSTONE OF ORTHODOX THEOLOGY. These Councils were CRUCIAL IN COMBATING VARIOUS HERESIES THAT CHALLENGED THE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS OF THE CHURCH. THEY CLARIFIED AND DEFENDED THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AGAINST INCORRECT INTERPRETATIONS, ENSUING THE CONTINUITY AND INTEGRITY OF ORTHODOX DOCTRINE.

Also, we have the establishment of Canons and Church Order: Beyond Doctrinal definitions, the Ecumenical Councils also promulgated Canons, or Church Laws, governing the administration and discipline of the Church. These Holy Canons provided GUIDANCE FOR CLERGY CONDUCT, LITURGICAL PRACTICES AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH, ENSUING ORDER AND UNITY. The Ecumenical Councils embody the Orthodox Church’s emphasis ON CONCILIARITY AND SYNODALITY, MEANING DECISIONS ARE MADE THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT OF THE CHURCH’S LEADERSHIP, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS APPROACH EMPHASIZES THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND UNITY OF THE CHURCH IN PRESERVING AND TRANSMITTING THE FAITH. The decisions of these Ecumenical Councils or Synods continue to shape Orthodox beliefs and practices today. Therefore, the Ecu;menical Councils are not merely historical events for the Orthodox but remain LIVING AUTHORITY AND GUIDANCE FOR UNDERSTANDING AND LIVING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

Schisms and heresies are destructive and damage the very fabric of the Church. In Orthodox Christianity, schism refers to a division or separation within the Church, specifically when a group breaks away from the main body due to disagreements or disputes, often leading to separate communities or churches. It differs from heresy, which involves rejection of fundamental Doctrines, a schism that can arise from organizational, jurisdictional, or other non-doctrinal issues. Therefore, schisms and heresies must be avoided and if they occur to be condemned by all Christians. The Greek word σχίζω (schizo) means to tear, rend, split. Every true Christian must agree that Jesus Christ condemns all heretics and schismatics that divide His Church, HIs people, and cause havoc, confusion and revolt against the Truth. Many Christians and specifically Orthodox Christians have suffered martyrdom and death over the centuries who fight against heretics and schismatics. Heresy distorts the truth, and undermines the Holy Gospel and Gospel message in the world. Schismatics and heretics are the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the Holy Apostle Peter says: "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring destructive HERESIES, even DENYING THE LORD WHO BOUGHT THEM, AND BRING ON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION. And many will follow their DESTRUCTIVE WAYS, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with DECEPTIVE WORDS; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber" [2 Peter:1-3].

The Holy Apostle Peter reaches his main concern: "False teachers" who are unholy and communicate HERESY. They are arrogant, sensual, and greedy, and they deny accountability in their lives. Isolating themselves from Apostolic Doctrine concerning Christ, they hold their own "private interpretations," misconstruing doctrines about the Second Coming and the ultimate authority of Christ over us. Being DECEIVERS, THEY TEACH AS THOUGH THEY POSSESS TRUE APOSTOLICITY.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Kyrie Eleison

ILLUMINE our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light
of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding
of Thy Gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Thy Blessed
Commandments, that, trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon
a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-
pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies,
O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father,
Who is from everlasting, and Thine All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. [Divine Liturgy]

___________
"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 ORTHODOX SOURCES OF TEACHING ARE THE HOLY
SCRIPTURE AND SACRED TRADITION.

“It is sometimes thought that Orthodox attach less importance than Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians to the Holy Scripture. Yet in fact Holy Scripture is read constantly in Orthodox divine services; during the course of Matins and Vespers the entire Psalter is recited each week, and in Great and Holy Lent twice a week. The reading of the Holy Gospel forms the climax of Matins on Sundays and feasts; at the Divine Liturgy a special Epistle and Gospel are assigned for each day of the year, so that the whole New Testament (except Revelation of Saint John) is read at the Eucharist. The Divine Liturgy contains 98 quotations from the Old Testament and 114 from the New Testament.”

It was the Church which, on the basis of Sacred Tradition, DETERMINED WHICH BOOKS WERE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE AND IN WHAT ORDER. “The Church has given us the Bible through tradition, and the Reformers themselves received the Bible from the Church and by the Church, that is to say, by tradition.”

As important as Sacred Tradition was in determining the content of the Bible, it is equally important for proper interpretation of the Bible. The Bible without the Church and Sacred Tradition is insufficient as a source of Christian teaching. “The Church of the New Testament, during the first flourishing days of its existence, lived entirely WITHOUT BOOKS, WITHOUT EVEN THE GOSPELS, these were produced only in the course of the First Century, and were made part of the Canon, together with the Epistles, much later, finally taking definite form at the beginning of the Fourth Century.”

Without denying or belittling the authority of the Holy Bible, one must, nevertheless, mention the authority of the Church and Sacred Tradition in this matter because the Church came into being FIRST, and only afterwards, little by little, did the books of the New Testament, the Gospels and Epistles appear. Moreover, when we take into account how few “books”, or manuscripts, there were in those days, and the fact that besides the genuine writings there were gospels and texts written under the names of the Apostles, it is easy to understand how important the living Tradition of the Church was in safeguarding the THE TRUE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The prime importance of the Tradition is plainly shown by the fact that it was not until the Fifth Century that the Church established conclusively WHICH BOOKS IN CIRCULATION SHOULD BE REGARDED AS GENUINELY INSPIRED BY GOD’S REVELATION. Thus the Church itself DETERMINED THE COMPOSITION OF THE HOLY BIBLE.”

The sources of Sacred Tradition are the following:

1. The Books of the Holy Scripture;
2. Decrees and definitions which were formulated by the Seven Ecumenical Councils (325 A.D. in Nicaea; 381 A.D. in Constantinople; 431 A.D. in Ephesus; 451 A.D. in Chalcedon; 553 A.D. in Constantinople; 680 A.D. in Constantinople; and 787 A.D. in Nicaea). Definitions, Decrees, and formulation of the Council of Trulio, held in 691 A.D., are also a part of Sacred Tradition.
3. Universal Creeds: a) Nicene; b) Apostolic, and c) Athanasian;
4. Teachings of the Holy Fathers of the One and Undivided Christian Church. Both Eastern and Western Holy Fathers are represented, with Saint John of Damascus occupying the most prominent position. Only the teaching of the Fathers WHO DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE OFFICIAL TEACHING AND POSITION OF THE CHURCH ARE ACCEPTED AS A SOURCE OF SACRED TRADITION.

According to Timothy (Kallistos) Ware:

“Christian tradition, in that case, is that faith which Jesus Christ imparted to the Apostles, and which since the Apostles’ time
has been handed down from generation to generation in the Church. (See Paul, I Corinthians 15:3). But to an Orthodox Christian
Tradition means something more concrete and specific. IT MEANS THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE; IT MEANS THE CREED; IT MEANS
THE DECREES OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS AND WRITING OF THE HOLY FATHERS; IT MEANS HOLY CANONS, THE SERVICE
BOOKS, THE HOLY ICONS – IN FACT, THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF DOCTRINE, CHURCH GOVERNMENT, WORSHIP, AND ART WHICH
ORTHODOXY HAS ARTICULATED OVER THE AGES. The Orthodox Christian today sees himself as HEIR AND GUARDIAN TO A
GREAT INHERITANCE RECEIVED FROM THE PAST, AND HE BELIEVES THAT IT IS HIS DUTY TO TRANSMIT THIS INHERITANCE TO
THE FUTURE.”

The Orthodox Church considers the Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition TO BE COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER. They DO NOT, and must not, contradict one another. Until the time when the Holy Scripture became a written document, THEY EXISTED AS A PART OF THE ORAL TRADITION. ORAL instructions, rather than written books, were used to instruct catechumens. But for Sacred Tradition, WE WOULD NOT EVE HAVE THE BIBLE ITSELF. It may be also said that in the Orthodox Church the Holy Bible IS THE SUBSTANCE AND ESSENCE OF THE UNFORMULATED CHRISTIAN TEACHING, and that Sacred Tradition IS THE KEY TO ITS FORMULATION AND INTERPRETATION. INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE LEFT TO INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER COMPETENT OR INCOMPETENT, HAS LED TO THE FRAGMENTATION OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE MULTIPLICATION OF HERESIES. The Orthodox Church and her faithful believe that :

“No individual person has possessed complete purity of heart and hence complete
infallibility in interpreting the word of God. However, THIS GIFT HAS BEEN GRANTED
TO THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH ACTING WITHIN IT.
In practice this means that when all or most of the Church Fathers known for their holy
lives have been consistent with one another in their explanation of some point of
Scripture has become truth to the members of the Church. It is our belief that the Bible
itself, WITHOUT TRADITION AS ITS LIVING INTERPRETER, IS INSUFFICIENT AS A SOURCE
OF FAITH.”

We, the Orthodox , do not believe in freedom without order, freedom without duties, nor freedom without responsibility. We do not believe IRRESPONSIBLE FREEDOM. Yet, exactly,this kind of freedom is practiced by Protestants. Such irresponsible freedom makes possible an absurdity whereby in the most important aspect of human life, in the spiritual and religious, freedom of teaching and interpretation is given to individuals. While in all else professionalism is required and responsibility is presupposed, interpretation of the Holy Scripture, the teaching about God, is granted to the qualified and unqualified. Whereas on one hand the authority of THE CHURCH IS REJECTED, the authority of an individual is recognized.

Orthodox teaching is based, already mentioned, on the Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition, which includes the decisions of the Ecumenical (General) Councils and the teaching of the Holy Fathers who distinguished themselves BY THE SANCTITY OF THEIR LIVES AND WHO WERE AMONG THE MOST LEARNED PERSONS OF THEIR TIME.

The Orthodox Church HAS PRESERVED THE TEACHING OF GOD BASED ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND SACRED TRADITION, INCLUDING THE DECISIONS OF THE SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS AND THE MEDITATION AND TEACHING OF THE WORTHIEST CHRISTIANS, THE HOLY FATHERS, THOSE WHO FIRST PREPARED THEMSELVES B FASTING AND PRAYERS AND ONLY DARED TO INTERPRET THE HOLY SCRIPTURE. [Resources:  ORTHODOXY: COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT AND STRENGTH TO REMAIN THE SAME by 

Father Mateja Matejic]

____________
“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

By 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 the 17th of July, the Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Holy Martyr MARINA.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

O LORD JESUS, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice:
O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest,
and with Thy Baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy
sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live
in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as spotless
sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since
Thou art great in mercy.

Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone

WITH most fair virginity wast thou made comely, O virgin, and
with bright and spotless crowns wast thou crowned alos, , O
Martyr, reddened with martyric blood, O famed Marina, wast
vouchsafed to shine forth brightly with wondrous healings, while
receiving from the right hand of thy Creator thy triumph’s sacred
rewards.

Born in Pisidian Antioch of pagan parents, Marina only heard of the Lord Jesus at the age of twelve, of His Incarnation of the Most Pure Virgin, His many miracles, His death by crucifixion and His Glorious Resurrection. Her little heart was inflamed with love for the Lord, and she vowed never to marry and, further, desired in her soul to suffer for Christ and be baptized with the blood of martyrdom. Her father hated her for her faith, and would not regard her as his daughter. The imperial governor, Olymbrius, hearing of Marina and learning that she was a Christian, at first desired her for his wife. When Marina refused, he ordered her to sacrifice to idols. To this, Marina replied: "I shall not worship nor offer sacrifice to dead idols, lacking the breath of life, who have no awareness of themselves and are not even aware of our honoring or dishonoring them. I will not give them that honor that belongs to my Creator alone. Then Olymbrius put her to harsh torture, and threw her into prison all wounded and bleeding. Marina prayed to God in the prison, and, after she had prayed, there appeared to her first the devil in the form of a terrible serpent, which twined itself about her head. When she made the sign of the Cross, the serpent split asunder and disappeared. Then she was bathed in heavenly light; the walls and roof of the prison disappeared and a Cross was revealed, resplendent and lofty. On the top of the Cross was perched a white dove, from which there came a voice: "Rejoice, Marina, thou dove of Christ, daughter of the Sion that is on hight, for the day of the joy is drawing near!", and Marina was healed by the power of God of all her wounds. The demented judge tortured her the next day by fire and water, but Marina endured it all as if not in her own body. She was finally sentenced to death by beheading. At the moment of her death, the Lord Jesus appeared to her, accompanied by Angels. She was beheaded in the time of the pagan Roman emperor Diocletian, but remains alive in soul and in power in heaven and on earth. One of her hands is preserved in the Monastery of Vatopedi on the Holy Mountain. Even in Albania, in the Langa mountains overlooking Lake Ochrid, there is a Monastery of Saint Marina with some of her Wonderworking holy relics. Numerous miracles have been wrought in this Monastery and still are, witnessed not only by Christians but also by Muslims. The Turks have such a veneration for this holy place that they have never laid hands on either the place or the Monastery’s possessions. At one time, a Turk was caretaker of the Monastery. [Resources: The Prologue from Ochrid]

__________
"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 the 16th of July, The Feast of Hieromartyr Athenogenes, Bishop of Sevasti
in Armenia and the Commemoration of the Six Ecumenical Synods.

He lived in a monastery near the town with ten of his disciples. In the time of the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian, a fierce persecutor of Christians called Philomarchus came to Sevasti. He arrested and killed many of the Christians in the town. When he saw Athenogenes and his disciples, he told the elder to sacrifice to idols, that they should not perish as had the other Christians. Athenogenes replied: "O Torturer, those whom you describe as having perished have not perished, but are in heaven and make merry with the Angels!" There was a touching moment when a deer, which had been hand-fed by the compassionate Athenogenes, ran up to him, and, seeing hm in such straits, shed tears. Wild animals of the hills had more pity on the martyrs than did the pagans. After harsh torture, during which an Angel of God comforted them, they were all beheaded, firs the priets and fellow-workers of Athenogenes and then Athenogenes himself, and went to their heavenly home in the year 311 A.D.

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SIX ECUMENICAL SYNODS.

This common commemoration of the First Six Ecumenical Synods is held on the Sunday between July 13th and 19th.

The Ecumenical Synods are the greatest duels between Orthodoxy and the heretics. Today, the Church commemorates the First Six Synods together:

The First Ecumenical Synod in Nicaea in 325 A.D., at which 318 Holy Fathers were present. It is commemorated on May 29th and n the 7th Sunday after the All-Holy Pascha. This Synod refuted the Arian heresy against God the Son.

The Second Synod in Constantinople in 381 A.D., was attended by 150 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on May 22nd. This Synod refuted the heresy of Macedonius against God the Holy Spirit.

The Third Synod was in Ephesus in 431 A.D., with 200 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on September 9th. This Synod refuted the Nestorian heresy against the Mother of God, the Theotokos.

The Fourth Synod was in Chalcedon in 451 A.D., with 630 Holy Fathers present. It is commemorated on July 6th. This Synod refuted the Monophysite heresy. The Monophysites taught that the human nature of the Savior had been absorbed by His Divine Nature, and therefore they acknowledged one ONE NATURE.

The Fifth Synod was in Constantinople in 553 A.D., with 160 Holy Fathers, and is commemorated on July 25th. This Synod refuted the heresy of Origin. The Fifth Ecumenical Synod (Second Synod of Constantinople anathematized Origen and his teachings. This condemnation ws for specific doctrines, including the pre-existence of the soul and the APOKATASIS (the idea that all will eventually be saved, including even fallen angels and demons.

The Sixth Synod was in Constantinople in 691 A.D., with 170 Holy Fathers. It is commemorated on January 23rd. This Synod refuted the Monothelite heresy. The Monothelites taught that in Christ there was only ONE WILL–namely, the Divine Will.

The Seventh Ecumenical Synod, held in 787 A.D. with 367 Holy Fathers present, is not commemorated on this occasion, but on its own on October 11th. This Synod refuted the ICONOCLAST HERESY. This heresy began in the first half of the 7th century and continued to disturb the Church for more than 100 years. Directed AGAINST THE VENERATION OF ICONS, it touched also on other aspects of the faith and Church order (for example, THE VENERATION OF SAINTS).
The heresy was condemned at the Seventh Ecumenical Synod in 787, and the final triumph of Orthodoxy occurred in 842 under Saint Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople at that time there was established the feast of the "TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY," which is observed by the Church up to now (on the First Sunday of Holy and Great Lent). [Resources: The Prologue from Ochrid]

___________
"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 Catholic way of life [Part II)