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.

CONCLUSION OF WHAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT
"THE WORLD BEYOND THE GRAVE"

The MATERIAL WORLD in which we live is a place in the universe in which there exists another world, THE WORLD OF SPIRIT. The one, the Material World, is TEMPORARY, PERISHABLE, AND AT SOME TIME WILL BE DESTROYED. The other, the World of the Spirit, IS UNCHANGEABLE, ETERNAL. The Material world, even though perishable and temporary, has inexhaustible and priceless beauties most suitable to make man happy, who was created by God to be its MASTER. And man is master of the material world because he IS A BEING SUPERIOR TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT LIVES IN IT. Man was created by God OF TWO ELEMENTS. The one was MATERIAL, AN EARTHLY body, an element compatible with the surrounding material, earthly world, so that he would be able to adapt himself completely to it. The other IS THE SPIRITUAL ELEMENT, or BREATH OF DIVINE BREATHING, A SOUL, SUITABLE FOR THE OTHER HIGHER WORLD, THE WORLD OF THE SPIRIT, THE WORLD OF SOULS. And, for this reason, the life of man is A MATERIAL-SPIRITUAL ONE, but separated into TWO SECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE TO THE LIFE OF THE TWO WORLDS. The one section is called TERRESTRIAL LIFE, perishable, temporary, just like the world in which it resides. The other is called THE SPIRITUAL LIFE, IMPERISHABLE, ETERNAL LIKE THE WORLD OF SPIRITS.

Human nature was created according to the beauties of the two worlds. It is, i.e., ENDOWED BY GOD ABUNDANTLY, RICH WITH POTENTIALITIES THAT MAKE IT FEEL THE BEAUTIES OF THE TERRESTRIAL LIFE AND BE HAPPY. And, further, it is endowed with the needs of the body, the animalistic lower ones such that when a person satisfies them with THE PROPER MEANS, they provide many pleasures. The purpose, however, of these abilities is to make human beings able to feel and appreciate the beauties of the other life in the world beyond, IN THE SPHERE OF THE WORLD OF SPIRITS, THE WORLD OF HIGHER BEINGS, THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. And since TERRESTRIAL LIFE is temporary, and the world beyond is eternal, it is logical and natural, i.e., TERRESTRIAL LIFE SHOULD NOT HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN BEING ON THE ROAD ON WHICH IT WILL BECOME SUITABLE FOR THE ETERNAL LIFE IN THE WORLD BEYOND. And much more, it should CONTRIBUTE TO THIS. In other words, the MATERIAL LIFE SHOULD SERVE AS A PREPARATION FOR THE LATER SPIRITUAL LIFE.

For this to happen, however, man himself should want this. He himself should want his terrestrial life or earthly life to be such that it should be a suitable preparation for the world beyond. If this were to depend directly on God alone and we were to receive this development IN A PASSIVE MANNER, the gradual development of a fleshly-spiritual being would have been completely unnecessary. Surely God could have created us, from the beginning, higher spiritual beings, as the Angels are. Development means MOTION FORWARD OR UPWARDS. Will means action, endeavor. But that endeavor for motion, progress, REQUIRES AGAIN SUITABLE ELECTION OF THE WAY AND THE MEANS TO SUCCESS. The suitable means with which a person will use his terrestrial or earthly life so that his development and his existence which prove hikm to be suitable for the beauties of the life in the world beyond are called "MORAL MEANS," and the way is called the "MORAL LIFE."

God did not abandon man to himself in the selection of the moral means. He showed them to Himself. He wrote ON THE HUMAN HEART some safe and unchangeable beautiful laws. He further sent successively wise and inspired men who spoke to mankind concerning these laws and brought them to its attention. Among all peoples, in general, there appeared in the course of the centuries such inspired men sent by God who in some places were called "WISE" and in others "PROPHETS." And finally God sent His Only-begotten Son, not mere man, but the God-man, Who besides shedding His Blood on the Cross FOR THE REDEMPTION OF MAN, TAUGHT THE WHOLE TRUTH.

If man, after the coming of the Redeemer Jesus Christ, will follow His teachings, faith, works, and sanctification, he will be able with these alone to develop his being to a more SPIRITUAL DEGREE SUITABLE FOR THE WORLD OF HIGHER BEINGS, THE WORLD OF THE NOBLE SPIRITS. Mistakes are easy for man, but also easy is the correction, for as many times as they occur and for as great as they may be, THE CORRECTION IS SIMPLY SINCERE REPENTANCE.

The time limit for the preparation of the soul IS THE TERMINATION OF EARTHLY LIFE. The FINAL TIME, after which immediately begins the other stage and the life in the world beyond, is called "DEATH." If the effort for preparation was made, and made successfully, then death is the gate to the entrance into Eternal Blessedness. If the preparation was not made, then death is the BRINK OF THE ABYSS. But even though a person should always be prepared, for this reason, even in the eleventh hour, if he REPENT AND PREPARE, HE WILL NOT FALL SHORT OF THE OTHERS.

The pleasures of earthly life that are the result of the beauties of this world and of the satisfactions of the needs of the body, even the carnal needs, bring absolutely no hindrance to the efforts for preparation. The terrible hindrance IS THE UNLAWFUL USE OF THESE, AND THE ABUSE, THAT ON ONE HAND CONDEMNS A PERSON TO AN ANIMALISTIC CONDITION AND MAKES HIM IT’S SLAVE AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, MAKES HIM AN IDOLATER AND ONE WHO SCORNS GOD.

Enjoy life, O Christian, with its noble beauties and pleasures, but enjoy them CONSCIENTIOUSLY IN A CHRISTIAN MANNER. Your soul will continue such a life of the world beyond, and with greater beauties and pleasures, strewn bountifully to every worthy soul. Then death will become your best friend which, even though you never need to seek it, when it comes to meet you, you will embrace it with joy in your eyes. [Resources: The World Beyond the Grave or the After Life by Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas]

_________
"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.

Is Untimely Death an Injustice
By His Grace, Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas
[Founding Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox

Do we believe in Divine PROVIDENCE? PROVIDENCE is a Doctrine of our Orthodox faith. It is an INVIOLABLE TEACHING OF OUR CHURCH THAT GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, IS ITS GOVERNOR. He PROVIDES and SUSTAINS the world and directs it to its FINAL PURPOSE. The same is taught by the Church concerning man, i.e., that GOD PROVIDES FOR MAN AND, INDEED, ESPECIALLY FOR HIM. For this reason, the Holy Scripture requires THAT WE ASK GOD’S HELP ALONG THE ENTIRE ROAD OF OUR LIFE. And this is also THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER WHEN IT IS NOT ONLY TO GLORIFY GOD.

The Holy Apostle Peter in his First Epistle says:
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for
you” [1 Peter 5:7].

In the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew, we read:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them
will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the
HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED. FEAR NOT,
therefore; YOU ARE MORE OF VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS”
[Matthew 10:29-31].

This should be enough, I imagine, to prove THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE LIVES OF HUMANS HAPPENS FOR SOME PURPOSE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. And since it happens by the will of Divine Providence, this purpose assuredly MUST BE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PERSON FOR WHOM THEY ARE DONE BECAUSE DIVINE PROVIDENCE NEVER INTENDS TO DO EVIL.

Certainly this good is not always limited only to the life of a person on earth; it also concerns THE LIFE OF THE SOUL. Divine Providence tests the earthly life of persons for their benefit. The greater that the good is for the soul which Divine Providence aims, SO MUCH THE GREATER THE TRIAL CAN BE. Indeed, such a trial could reach the point of death, either of the person for whose soul Divine Providence is working, or of another person whose death might possibly serve the life of the souls of others.

And since we have set down this teaching of our Church as a precept, let us return now to the question: “Why does God allow the untimely death in the early life of a person?” And now the answer is: “With an untimely death, Divine Providence looks to the good of the life of the soul of such a person, or to the life of the souls of those persons who are dear to him.” Who knows the future, to be sure, in one or another untimely death of a loved one. Death, under some horrible, difficult, and painful circumstances would be considered as most charitable.

“If untimely death is horrible, cruel, and unjust,” we have the answer that for the devout, not only is it not such but, on the contrary, it is a desirable terminal to which the devout souls, with a justified hopeful expectancy, look forward to reach as soon as possible, as the Apostle Paul says in his Epistle to the Philippians:

“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far
better” [Philippians 1:23].

For the impious, however, and those worthy of punishment in general, truly death is horrible, a very unwanted visitor, an inexorable avenger. But, in this case, the question again arises: Is it not absolutely justified that people fear death which for them is a horrible matter? Are not the lamentations, wailing, and sobbing of persons justified who love those that have died, since, indeed, it is a known fact that the punishable persons are more than the devout? The answer is a great NO. They would be justified for this:
a. if each person who will be condemned was preordained beforehand for Hell, regardless of his will
and his actions;
b. if the demands of the merit-worthy life was greater than those
that a person was able to do; and
c. if every sin of man, every straying of his life, was not subject to
correction in this world be irreparably condemned, no matter how
much he repented.

a. MAN IS A MORALLY FREE BEING

The life here on earth is A TESTING OF THE SOUL, an education and preparation of the spiritual existence of a person. It would be of no value since we have moral laws and try to practice them if the effort and the sacrifice of the individual did not contribute at all towards the success of putting them into practice. Any religion that would regulate the moral acts in life WITHOUT ALLOWING FREEDOM OF ACTION WOULD BE TABOO, SUPERSTITION, A WRETCHED DEVICE TO TYRANNIZE MAN.. If, in Christianity, a person does not have the freedom to choose the good from the evil, then the teaching of Holy Scripture is reduced to a blank paper. Accepting Holy Scripture, the Christian should inevitably accept that man chooses FREELY TO DO GOOD OR EVIL and THAT EACH ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KIND OF SELECTION HE MAKES.

And, indeed, if we take into account the sinner’s inclination towards evil, when the longer he lives the more he usually delves into sin, then death, coming untimely, becomes his benefactor, that is, it comes before the sinner might become corrupt and completely callous.

b. IS MORAL LIFE VERY DIFFICULT?

The sincere answer to this question is as follows: Moral life is difficult living in society because of the physical pleasures and leisure (which, up to a point, favor the welfare of the body) are satisfied, for the most part, by general or partial violation of the moral laws. Moral life is difficult because rising in some positions (which indirectly contributes to betterment in life) is very slow moving when the individual seeks it with his own personal worth alone, Often his worth is put aside by the skillful ones who use devious methods. Moral life is difficult because family obligations and urgent needs make a person lose his patience and his serenity, and they lead him blindly to deeds that are not strictly Christian, nor socially just. However, the fact that moral life is difficult does not mean that it is impossible, nor that it is beyond the powers of a naturally and intellectually endowed average person.

c. IN SPITE OF ALL OUR EFFORTS, WE STILL SIN

Indeed, this is the truth. But what of it? Our Savior Jesus Christ has provided especially for this, for He knew, as no one else who had lived on earth, THE WEAKNESS OF HUMAN NATURE. It is indisputable that SIN IS FOREVER BEFORE EACH OF US REGARDLESS OF HOW DEVOUT WE MAY BE. We have examples of holy men who, in a weak moment, stumbled on sin and fell into it and, in falling, were bruised spiritually. Our Lord and Savior looks with Paternal pain, kindness, and unbounded sympathy as we stumble and fall into sin, and yet if we remain satisfied or unconcerned about sin, this is unforgivable. There IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS. When the soul arrives in the boat of death on the other side of life, then the PARTIAL JUDGMENT OF GOD WILL NOT COUNT HOW MANY TIMES THAT THAT SOUL FELL INTO SIN, BUT HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPENTANCE AND RETURN TO GRACE IT SCORNED FOR EVEN ONE SIN THAT IT COMMITTED. For this reason, the Holy Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, writes:
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give you light” (Ephesians 5:14).
And our Lord said in the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke: “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” [Luke 15:7].

It is the persistent and miserable disdain we show for the Paternal Love of God and that, knowingly, we prefer continuously the sinful state instead of repentance and spiritual cleansing. And although a person should always be ready, yet the opportunities, by far and often, are given by God, even up to the last moment in which Charon signals for a person to make ready because his time has arrived. Even at the eleventh hour of life, our Savior Jesus Christ will accept our sincere repentance and reward us, as well as the person who, by great struggles in life, willingly strayed away a little. Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross:

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” [Luke 22:43].
______________
“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 WORLD BEYOND THE GRAVE AND AFTER LIFE
By His Grace, Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas of
blessed memory.

From the moment of death, man ends for all time every effort for his salvation, for the betterment of his being, i.e.,his preparation in this world, which occurred by cooperation of man with Divine grace, ends. From the moment of faith, a new condition begins for the human being in which the future of the soul is now solely in the hands of God.

Since, therefore, the condition after death is, henceforth, A MATTER OF GOD, and man has NOTHING MORE TO DO (whatever he did was done in this life), there is no reason for God to reveal to man all that that shall transpire after his death. There is no reason why God should reveal to man all the details of the life which his soul will have in the other world. That would be information and knowledge about things which would not change in the least the condition of man just by knowing them form before he dies in his life on earth.

The essential and necessary information for him to know is that he has "AN IMMORTAL SOUL, that his existence shall continue after death," and that, "according to his cooperation with, or his neglect of, appropriation of his salvation, he will be rewarded after death or punished." That much is sufficient for him. And if this is not enough to make him careful, even if he knows all the details of the life after the termination of his human existence, it will not help him.

This is the indisputable truth of which Christ the Savior assures us with His "Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus." The unmerciful rich man being in "torment" after death, said to Abraham, "I beg you, Father, to send Lazaros to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment." He said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead" [Luke 16:27-31].

In other words, if the impious and unbelievers on earth do not believe all that Holy Scripture says, that they will be punished after death for their wretchedness, then neither, again, if the dead would arise from their graves and tell them the details of the life beyond would they believe. The unbeliever and evil person, again, would doubt and reject the authenticity and sacredness of these books, just as he disregards the authenticity of the Holy Scripture. For this reason, in the Holy Scripture, we do not have a sufficient, definite, and clear teaching on this matter. And not only for our existence after death do we not have details, but neither even for the time in which the Final Judgment will occur do we have sufficient information, Our Savior Jesus Christ said: "But of that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, NOT EVEN THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN, BUT THE FATHER ALONE" [Matthew 24:36].

At the GENERAL JUDGMENT during the SECOND COMING (Parousia) of Christ, all human beings will appear physically. Each soul, i.e., will appear in its body to be REWARDED WITH IT or TO BE PUNISHED WITH IT. From the many verses in the Holy Scripture which ASSURES US OF THIS, we offer the following as sufficient from the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians:

"For we must ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST so that
each one may receive good or evil according to what he has done in the body"
[2 Corinthians 5:10].

From the day of the death of a person UNTIL THE Second Coming, whose time is unknown even to the Angels, THE SOUL WILL EXIT WITHOUT A BODY. Nowhere in the Holy Scripture is it mentioned that the soul during this time will have a body. Even though after death until the Second Coming of hte Lord and the Final Judgment THE SOULS WILL HAVE NO BODY, THEY WILL BE BODILESS, IMMATERIAL SPIRITS. Holy Scripture teaches us that they will be in some place, in a definite space. In the Gospel according to Saint Luke, in the "Parable of the Unmerciful Rich Man and Poor Lazarus," we are given the information that there is a definite place in which the souls exist.

The New Testament calls the place to which the souls go and remain after death until the Second Coming, Hades. At times, the New Testament with the word, "Hades," characterises separately the place where the SINFUL SOULS are punished. But his is not alway the case. Generally, Hades, as is mentioned in many parts of the New Testament, IS THE SAME FOR THE GOOD AND EVIL SOULS, but IT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. The one is called, "Place of Comfort," the other, "Place of Torment." The Place of Comfort is the place WHERE THE SOULS OF THE GOOD AND DEVOUT GO. The Place of Torment is THE PLACE WHERE THE SOULS OF THE EVIL AND IMPAIOUS ARE HELD.

Therefore, the souls exist after death in these two places, but also in different qualitative conditions until the Second Coming of the Lord Christ, i.e., in the Place of Comfort or in the Place of Torment. However, the kind and amount of reward for the good souls in Hades, as well as the kind and amount of punishment will be given to the good and evil souls at the Second Coming of Christ. Because then the FINAL JUDGMENT shall take place, and the Book of Life of such a person WILL BE OPENED AND THEIR DEEDS SHALL BE EXAMINED AND AUDITED.

During this TRANSIENT PERIOD of centuries until the Second Coming, THE GOOD SOULS WILL ENJOY ONLY A PART OF THE HAPPINESS (JOY) WHICH THEY WILL RECEIVE AT THE Last Judgment Day. And, in like manner, THE EVIL SOULS WILL BE PUNISHED BY ONLY A PART OF THE PUNISHMENT WHICH THEY DESERVE AND WHICH THEY WILL FULLY RECEIVE AFTER THE Last Judgment Day.

For the souls to know why they are being rewarded or why they are being punished, THEY MUST REMEMBER THEIR DEEDS WHICH THEY DID DURING THEIR LIFE ON EARTH. And, therefore, since they will remember the persons or the groups with which they were, in one way or another, related with those deeds, the souls will remember those persons which they benefited or harmed in their life on earth. And since they will remember those persons, they will certainly also remember THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY PERFORMED THE GOOD OR BAD DEEDS AND THE TIME WHEN THESE OCCURRED HERE ON EARTH. Since the souls remember all these and know that they themselve did them as persons in life, without any doubt whatsoever, the souls will retain SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS in Hades. And having self-conscientiousness and remembering the person and conditions which continue to exist on earth, and especially remembering their relatives, the souls are concerned about them and continue to love them and desire to communicate with them.

Since, after death, the soul watches with concern over the dear ones who remain alive in this world, it is natural and logical to conclude that it also is aware of and is concerned about the souls of persons who were dear to it on earth but who died and went to Hades before it, or even after it went there. In other words, it is obvious from what has been said that there is communication among the souls of the dead with each other. Yet, an unanswered but very justifiable question still remains, the following: "Sure, our souls will communicate with each other in Hades when we all go there. But why does God take from our bosom loved ones in an UNTIMELY DEATH and literally break our hearts?"

[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 the Only True Lord, God and Savior,

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

DEATH: THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN THE LORD

Our Lord God Jesus Christ speaking to His Disciples says,

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul. But rather fear Him [God] Who is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell" [Matthew 10:28].

As Orthodox Christians we believe that DEATH is a mystery, and only in the light of Eternal Life, in the name of Jesus Christ, has its dreadful threat been transformed into a joyous and triumphant event for the believer. "Kill the body" refers to physical death, but the impossibility of killing "the soul" shows the IMMORTALITY OF THE HUMAN SOUL which is ours by God’s grace. We are taught by the Holy Apostle Paul who said: "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God, will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. THEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS" [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18].

How wonderful and meaningful are the comforting words of Saint Paul to all those who believe in Jesus Christ, our Only Savior and God. It is very sad, however, that we Christians tremble before the idea of death. Our attitude reveals that we, as humans, deny the immortality of the soul thinking that we, in this way, might possibly extend our life here on earth. I recall how one day I was informed by a member of my church that one of my parishioners was dying at the hospital. I immediately rushed to visit him, but to my surprise and astonishment, I was refused entry into his room by his daughter. She said, "Father I cannot let you see my father and read a blessing or offer him the Sacraments, because he may think that he is dying." Her father, however, died soon after, but without either Confession or Holy Communion. That is how foolish some Christians can be.

There are many such incidents as the above mentioned unfortunate situation of Christians who are literally terrified by the thought that death is dreadful and it should always be feared. The other serious mistake for the Christian is NOT to be spiritually prepared. An Orthodox Christian should contemplate death constantly and be ready for this final event in his/her life here on earth. The most spiritually beneficial way is to participate frequently in the divine Mysteria (Sacraments) of our Holy Church. It is expected that all faithful have a mysteriake zoe (sacramental life), that one has a strong prayer life, that we have reconcile with our enemies and we have forgiven them, that we have repented of our sins, and that we have reconciled with our Lord through the Mystery of Repentance/Confession. The necessary and most needed sacrament for the dying is of course Holy Confession because through it we are cleansed of all sin and therefore, is the most appropriate and only way to appear before our Lord Christ, our Divine and Heavenly Judge.

But what is Death? "To this question, Christianity answers: "Death for man is a change of life." But just as this definition is a simple one, and we can express it with only a few words, so also in its essence, the reality of death, IS A MYSTERY THAT GENERATES MANY PROBLEMS. The spiritual, and the physical consequences of this mystery, which we call death, is very great and extensive so that our mind finds it impossible to conceive of the entire meaning of the consequences of death. And much more impossible is for the mind to define and enumerate all these consequences exactly for him who dies as for him who remains alive and has before him the impression of death which no one can avoid."

The Christian faith is the belief that "Jesus Christ is hte Son of God, the Savior of the human soul, which he redeemed by His sacrifice as the God-man on the Cross at Golgotha." In His teaching, Christ does not endeavor to persuade his followers that the soul is immortal. He takes it for granted, as absolutely and indisputably known. And on this recognized truth He defines the relations which that immortal soul should have with its Creator and in its behalf, He imposes the moral life, i.e., moral principles for life. On the other hand, it concerns those things which, because of their unimagined magnificence, would be inconceivable for impoverished human understanding. How can one describe the delicate color of the rose to a man born blind, or how can one describe the beauty of the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven to a man born deaf"

The truth is that man has an IMMORTAL SOUL. The teaching of the Orthodox Church is that the immortal soul is the TRUE ESSENCE of the person, that is his TOTAL SELF, his BEING, his PERSONALITY, the ONLY UNCHANGEABLE ELEMENT OF MAN, IS HIS SOUL. And the body with which he co-exists in life on earth IS PERISHABLE, CHANGEABLE AND, ALTHOUGH NECESSARY, YET SECONDARY. "Death is an event which causes a change in the condition of man. Death is only the momentary time element in which earthly life ends a human existence and a new life begins in the other world, without any interruption, even for a thousandth of a second, of the real existence of man."

Indeed, this is how we Christians accept death, because according to the Holy Scripture, we believe that after the death of the body, THE IMMORTAL SOUL CONTINUES TO EXIST. If the atheists or deniers of the soul do not consider the death of man to be different than the death of a dog or any other animal, this is of no interest to us. "That which happens, therefore, at this momentary time period of death is nothing more than that a human being IS SEPARATED FROM HIS FLESHLY BODY WHICH DISINTEGRATES INTO THE EARTHLY ELEMENTS FROM WHICH WAS CREATED, IN ORDER TO BE VESTED IN A SPIRITUAL SOUL, AN IMPERISHABLE BODY. In this manner, after death ONE REMAINS THE SAME PERSON, THE SME ENTITY, BUT ONLY AS A SPIRITUAL BEING." This is the teaching of Holy Scriptures, concerning death.

The basis of Christianity is that the Son of God, having become man, was crucified for the salvation of the human soul. But the salvation which the Savior, with His Sacrifice, underwent is NOT given to man WITHOUT SOME TERMS, GOOD OR BAD; NOR IS IT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD AND THAT THAT FAITH BE WEAK, A MERE FAITH, A DEAD FAITH, A FAITH WITHOUT OBLIGATIONS, A FAITH THAT ANYONE CAN HAVE, SINCE IT DOES NOT COST ANYTHING TO HAVE IT. Christian faith should be expressed by DOING THE WILL OF GOD, Jesus said:

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter
the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who DOES THE WILL OF
MY FATHER Who is in Heaven" [Matthew 7:21].

And the Holy Apostle James added:

"So faith apart from works is dead" [James 2:26].

And, again, Jesus sending His Disciples out to preach
concerning salvation, said to them:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit" [Matthew 28:19].

Relating this command with the words that Jesus said to Nikodemos,

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God" [John 3:5].

We find that FOR SALVATION, the Mystery of Baptism is NECESSARY, but also Holy Communion because for this, also, our Savior Christ explicitly said:

"Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His
Blood, you have no life in you" [John 6:53].

All these together, FAITH, WORKS, and CONFIRMATION THROUGH THE HOLY SACRAMENTS are called APPROPRIATION OF SALVATION; THAT IS SALVATION, WHICH WAS GIVEN BY CHRIST, THE SAVIOR, TO BECOME OUR POSSESSION, MUST BE GIVEN WITH OUR COOPERATION (SYNERGY) THAT WE MIGHT BE CONSIDERED WORTHY OF IT BY GOD. Thus is imposed upon us by Christ. And if we are indifferent or negligent in appropriating our salvation, which Christ GRANTS TO US, if, that is, in one of these we are lacking, either in faith or good works, or neglect SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS, we shall be worthy of CENSURE AND PUNISHMENT. Consequently, Christianity is a religion NOT ONLY of faith, but also of MORALS and A SANCTIFIED LIFE. For putting it into practice, there is the promise of reward, and if not, there is the threat of punishment; But neither the punishment nor the reward are given in the present life. They shall be given AFTER DEATH, as our Savior Christ said:

"Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit, the Kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world…" and to others: "Depart from Me,
you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…"
[Matthew 25:34-41].
[Resources: The World Beyond the Grave or the After Life by Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas

(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.

THE ORTHODOX SACRED TRADITION [ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΙΣ] OF THE CHURCH

The term "tradition" comes from the Latin "traditio," but the Greek term is paradosis and the verb is paradido. It means giving, offering, delivering, performing charity. In theological terms it means any teaching or practice which has been TRANSMITTED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE Church. More exactly, PARADOSIS is THE VERY LIFE OF THE HOLY TRINITY AS IT HAS BEEN REVEALED BY CHRIST HIMSELF AND TESTIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The roots and the foundations of this Sacred Tradition can be found in the Holy Scriptures. For it is only in the Holy Scriptures that we can see and live THE PRESENCE OF THE THREE PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY, THE Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Saint John the Evangelist speaks about THE MANIFESTATION of the Holy Trinity:

"For the Life was manifested, and we
have seen it, and bear witness, and show
unto you that eternal life, which was with
the Father, and was manifested unto us"
[1 John 1:2].

The ESSENCE of Christian tradition is described by Saint Paul, who writes: "But now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For He is peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep us apart, actually destroying in His own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single man in Himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the Cross, to unite them both in a single body and reconcile them with God. In His own person He killed the hostility. Through Him, both of us have in one Spirit our way to come to the Father".

Ephesians 2:13-14

He also makes clear that this Trinitarian Doctrine must be accepted by all
Christians:
"If any man preach any other gospel to
you than you have received (paralavete) let
him be condemned."

Galatians 1:8-9

"Speaking about the Holy Eucharist, which is
a manifestation of the Holy Trinity, he writes:
"For I have received (parelavon) of the Lord
that which I also delivered (paredoka) to you"

1 Corinthians 11:23.

Again speaking about the death, burial
and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saint Paul
writes:
"For I delivered {paradoka) to you first of
all that which I also received" (parelavon).

Finally he admonishes:

"Brethren, STAND FAST AND HOLD THE
TRADITIONS (tas paradoseis) which you
have been taught, whether BY WORD OR
EPISTLE."

2 Thessalonians 2:15.

The SOLE SOURCE and cause and principle
of the Trinitarian unity is the Father Himself
(Ephesians 4:4-6].

THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION

Theologians call the teaching of the Holy Scriptures "the Apostolic Tradition." It encompasses what the Holy Apostles LIVED, SAW, WITNESSED AND LATER RECORDED IN THE BOOKS OF THE New Testament. The bishops and presbyters, whom the Holy Apostles appointed as their SUCCESSORS, FOLLOWED THEIR TEACHING TO THE LETTER. Those who DEVIATED from the Apostolic Teaching WERE CUT OFF FROM THE CHURCH. They WERE CONSIDERED HERETICS AND SCISMATICS, FOR THEY BELIEVED DIFFERENTLY FROM THE HOLY APOSTLES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THUS SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM THE CHURCH. This brings into focus the Church as the CENTER OF UNITY OF ALL CHRISTIANS. This is the Ecclesiastical or Ecclesiological characteristic of Sacred Tradition. The Church IS THE IMAGE AND REFLECTION OF THE HOLY TRINITY SINCE THE THREE PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY LIVE, INDWELL, AND ACT IN THE CHURCH. The Father offers His agape, the Son offers His obedience, the Holy Spirit His comfort. Only in the historical Church can we see, feel, and live THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE WORLD. In describing this reality Sainit Paul writes:

"So He came and proclaimed the good news: peace to you who were far off,
and peace to those who were near by; for though Him we both alike have
access to the Father in the one Spirit. Thus you are no longer aliens in a
foreign land, but fellow-citizens with God’s people, members of God’s household.
You are built upon the foundation laid by the Apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus
Himself is the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is bonded together and grows
into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you too are being built with all the rest into
a spiritual dwelling of God".

THE PATRISTIC TRADITION

From what has been said so far, it can seen that there is no theological distinctions or differences or divisions WITHIN THE TRADITION OF THE CHURCH. It could be said that Tradition, as an historical event, begins with the Apostolic preaching and is found in the Holy Scriptures, but it is kept treasured, interpreted, and explained to the Church by the Holy Fathers, THE SUCCESSORS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES. Using the Greek term Pateres tes Ecclesias, the Fathers of the Church, this "interpretive" part of the Apostolic preaching is called "Patristic Tradition."

The Fathers, MEN OF EXTRAORDINARY HOLINESS and TRUSTED ORTHODOXY IN DOCTRINE, enjoyed the acceptance and respect OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH BY WITNESSING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL, LIVING AND EXPLAINING IT TO POSTERITY. Thus, Apostolic Preaching or Tradition is organically associated with the Patristic Tradition and vice versa. This point must be stressed since many theologians in the Western churches [Roman Catholic and Protestant] either distinguish between Apostolic Tradition and Patristic Tradition, or completely REJECT Patristic Tradition.

For the Orthodox Christian, THERE IS ONE TRADITION, THE TRADITION OF THE CHURCH, INCORPORATING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY FATHERS. This is "THE PREACHING OF THE TRUTH HANDED DOWN BY THE CHURCH IN THE WHOLE WORLD TO HER CHILDREN" (Saint Irenaeus, Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, 98). Saint Athanasius, the Great "Pillar of Orthodoxy," who was bishop of Alexandria during the 4the century, gives the most appropriate definition of the Church’s Tradition:

"Let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the catholic
Church from the very beginning which the Logos/Word gave (edoken),
the Apostles preached (ekeryxan), and the Fathers preserved (ephylaxan).
Upon this the Church is founded (tethemeliotai).

We find this Sacred Ancient Tradition
a) in the most ancient record of the Church, the Holy Canons
of the Holy Apostles;
b) in the Symbols of Faith of the ancient Local Churches’
c) in the ancient Liturgies, in the rite of Baptism, and in other
ancient prayers;
d) in the ancient Acts of the Christian Martyrs. The Acts of the Martyrs did not enter into use by the faithful until they had been examined and approved by the Local bishops and they were read at the public gatherings of Christians under the supervision of the leaders of the churches. In them we see the confession of the Most Holy Trinity, the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, examples of hte invocation of the Saint, of belief in the conscious life of those who had reposed in Christ, and much else:
e)in the ancient recorcs of the history of the Church, especially in the book of Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Caesarea, where there are gathered many ancient traditions of rite and dogmas–in particular, there is given the canon of the Sacred Books of the Old and New Testaments;
f) in the works of the ancient Fathers and Teachers of the Church;
g) and, finally, in the very spirit of the Church life, in the preservation of the faithfulness of all her foundations which come from the Holy Apostles.

The APOSTOLIC TRADTION which has been PRESERVED AND GUARDED BY THE CHURCH, by the very fact that it has been kept by the Church, becomes the Tradition of the Church herself. IT "BELONGS" TO HER, IT TESTIFIES TO HER; AND, IN PARALLEL TO HOLY SCRIPTURE, IT IS CALLED BY HER "SACRED TRADITION."

The witness of Sacred Tradition IS INDISPENSABLE FOR OUR CERTAINTY THAT ALL THE BOOKS OF SACRED SCRIPTURE HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US FROM THE APOSTOLIC TIMES AND ARE OF APOSTOLIC ORIGIN. [Resources: George Bebis, Ph.D; Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

______________
"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 LIFE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST LUKE [Part II]

When, at the end of his Third Missionary Journey, the Holy Apostle Paul again visited Philippi, Greece, Luke, on his instruction and as the choice of all the faithful, went to Corinth, Greece to collect alms for the poor Christians of Palestine. When he had finished what he had been sent to do, Saint Luke departed with the Holy Apostle Paul for Palestine, stopping along hte coast of Asia Minor, in Phoenicia, and in Judaea. When the Holy Apostle Paul was kept under guard in prison in the city of Caesarea of Palestine, the Holy Luke remained by his side. And he would not forsake him even when he was sent to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Together with the Holy Apostle Paul he endured all the difficulties of their voyage across the sea, and nearly lost his life. On arriving in Rome, the Holy Luke again stayed by the Holy Apostle Paul’s side and, together with Mark, Aristarchos, and several other of the Apostles’ companions, preached Christ in the capital city.

In Rome, the Holy Apostle Luke the Evangelist wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts of the Apostles. In his Gospel, he described the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only on the basis of what he himself had seen and heard, but also taking into account all that had been handed down by those "WHO FROM THE BEGINNING BECAME EYEWITNESSES, AND SERVANTS OF THE LOGOS/WORD [Luke 1:2]. He included many details not mentioned by the other Evangelists, including the CONCEPTION OF THE HONORABLE FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST JOHN, THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE EVER VIRGIN MARY, AND OTHER POINTS IN CHRIST’S NATIVITY, PASSION, AND ASCENSION. He certainly is known to have recorded the most Parables as spoken by the Lord to His Disciples and the Jews. Now the Holy Apostle Paul guided him in this labor and afterward approved the Gospel written by Saint Luke. In the same way was the Book of Acts of the Apostles written, as the Holy Tradition of the Church says, at the command of the Apostle Paul. He indubitably received an excellent education in general, for the quality of the Greek language of his writings is far more pure and correct than that of the other New Testament writers.

It is quite possible that Saint Luke was also a witness to the Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Paul in Rome. After the repose of his teacher, the Holy Luke, as the Holy Tradition of the Church informs us, spread the Gospel of Christ in Italy, Dalmatia, Gaul, and, especially Macedonia, in which he had labored before for several years. He also Evangelized Achaia. When he was already quite elderly, the Holy Apostle Luke undertook a journey to faraway Egypt and there labored greatly and endured many afflictions for the Holy Name of Jesus. He arrived in Egypt, having first passed through all of Libya, and in the Thebaid of Egypt converted many to Christ. In the city of Alexandria he ordained as bishop a certain Abilius to be a successor to Annas, who had been ordained by the Evangelist Mark and had carried out his ministry for twenty-two years.

Returning to Greece he again set up churches there, primarily in Voeotia, ordained priests and deacons, and healed those sick of body and soul. In the Metropolis of Theves of Voetia, known in ancient times for its Seven Pillars, the Holy Evangelist had great concerns. He destroyed the altars of the idols and drove out the deception of idol madness. Churches were built to the honor of Christ and the number of Christians was growing.

Like his friend and Mentor, the Holy Apostle Paul, Saint Luke fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the Faith [2 Timothy 4:7]. At the age of 84, he died a Martyr’s death in Achai, crucified on an olive tree in lieu of a cross. His Precious body was buried in Theves, the principal city of Voetia, where his holy relics, which were responsible for a multitude of healings, were not to be found until the second half of the 4th century; they were subsequently translated (transported) to Constantinople, the Capital of the Eastern Empire. The location of the holy relics of the Holy Apostle Luke became known in the 4th century because of the healings worked there. A great many cures were worked through them for those who suffered from diseases of the eyes.

The Holy Evangelist Luke also PAINTED ON BOARDS THE IMAGES OF THE HOLY PREEMINENT APOSTLE PETER AND PAUL, AND WAS THUS HIMSELF THE INITIATOR OF THE GOOD WORK OF ICONOGRAPHY, TO THE GLORY OF GOD, THE MOTHER OF GOD, AND ALL THE SAINTS, unto the adornment of the Holy Churches and the salvation of the faithful who piously venerate them. Amen. [Resource: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

___________

"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 MIDST1 HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

On the 18th of October, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Holy Apostle LUKE the Evangelist.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Third Tone

O HOLY Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede with the Merciful
God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offenses.

Kontakion hymn. Fourth Tone

Thou with Paul didst shine thy light upon the whole world, since
thou wast a genuine Disciple of the Logos/Word of God. And thou
didst drive out the gloom far hence when thou didst write the divine
Gospel of Christ God.
+

The Holy Apostle Luke was born in the Syrian city of Antioch, situated between the Orontes River and Mount Silpius. The name "Luke" is an abbreviated form of the Latin name "Lucanus." His parents were not members of the Hebrew race. In one passage in his Epistle to the Colossians, the Holy Apostle Paul makes a clear distinction between Luke and those "who are of the circumcision," that is, the Jews [Colossians 4:10-15]. In his own writings, however, Luke shows a thorough knowledge of the law of Moses and the customs of the Jewish people. He was instructed in both the Hebrew and Syriac tongues, and was even as David pronounced: "He shall be like the tree which is planted by the streams of hte waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in its season; and its leaf shall not fall, and all things whatsoever he may do shall propers" [Psalm 1:3]. Thus, from his youth, he advanced in wisdom and knowledge. In his native land, which was renowned for the flourishing state of the arts and sciences, Luke had developed his intellect with various scholarly studies. He was a man of noble character and talents, having become skilled in many arts. From the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, we learn also that Luke had studied medicine [Colossians 4:14].

Now when he came of age, he went to Greece and to Egypt where he learned all the wisdom of the Greeks. At school, no one excelled him in grammar and rhetoric–not even the rhetors of old. He surpassed all in philosophy, so that none other arrived at his level of understanding. By contemplation he came to the knowledge of things, and this manifested itself on a practical level as he governed himself toward virtue. Thus, evn before he came to know Christ he was a good example to all who observed him. As a university man, he came to study all the sciences. He, however, specialized in MEDICINEs and earned an esteemed name in his chosen profession. He was a man of culture, broad sympathies, and great personal charm. His fame was so great that he came to be universally known as "PHYSICIAN LUKE." As a Greek, and son of Greek parents, he too was a product of his culture steeped in idolatry. Hear however, how Luke came to the True Faith.

With the INCARNATION OF THE LOGOS/WORD, not only the Jews, but those of the nations also came to believe in the Christ from Jesus’ teachings during His earthly sojourn. The Galilee region was inhabited by many Greeks, even as mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah. When rumor of the miracles and teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ spread from Galilee throughout Syria and hte entire surrounding region, Luke journeyed from Antioch to Galilee, where the Lord Jesus Christ had begun to sow the seeds of His saving teaching. Luke heard the preaching of the Lord and immediately came to believe in Him. His spiritual eyes were quickly opened to the light of the knowledge of the Truth and the Kingdom of Heaven. He had long been struggling in virtue to purge and purify himself OF THE PASSIONS OF THE WORLD. Thus, he readily received the see of teaching as good earth that had been cleaned and prepared. He utterly left off the religion of the idolaters and followed the Master Christ with all his soul.

Luke hte physician had been present at the many miracles of healing bestowed by Jesus, which further helped in making him steadfast in the knowledge of God and Divine mysteries. Even as he surpassed his peers in understanding the Truth. Thus, the Holy Luke became a genuine Disciple of the Christ and never left His side. Although he was not one of the Twelve, he was numbered among the SEVENTY [Luke 10:1], whom the Lord appointed and sent forth, two by two, before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

During the final days of the Savior’s earthly life, when, with the striking down of the Shepherd, the sheep of His flock also were scattered, the Holy Luke abod in Jerusalem, lamenting and weeping for his Lord Who has accepted suffering voluntarily. IN all probability, Luke also stood "afar off" among the others who knew Jesus, and looked upon the Crucified One. But soon his sorrow was transformed into joy, for the Resurrected Lord consoled Luke on the very day of His Resurrection, counting him worthy to see and converse with Him, as Luke himself informs us in his Gospel in detail and with animation [Luke 24:13-32]. Grieving over the death of his Master and in doubt concerning His Resurrection, of which the myrrh-bearing women had informed him. Luke setout for the village of Emmaus, being sixty stadia away from Jerusalem, in the company of Cleopas, another Disciple of hte Lord; and along the road to that town, he was accounted worthy to become the travelling companion of Him Who is "THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE." Both Disciples were walking and conversing with one another when Jesus Himself overtook them and walked with them. The Lord appeared to them, as the Evangelist Mark related, "IN A DIFFERENT FORM" [Mark 16:12], and NOT IN THE FORM IN WHICH THEY KNEW HIM BEFORE. Moreover, by the SPECIAL PROVIDENCE of God, "THEIR EYES WERE HELD" [Luke 24:16], that they might NOT recognize the Lord Who had appeared to them. They supposed that their Companion was one of hte pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.

Jesus then said to them, "What words are these which ye exchange with one another, as ye walk and are sad in countenance?" And the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him. "Art thou sojourning alone as a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which came to pass in it in these days?" And He said to them, "What kind of things?" And they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazaraean, Who was a man, a Prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how both the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to a judgment of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that He was the One Who was about to REDEEM ISRAEL; but, beside all these things, this passeth as the third day today since these things took place. Yes, and certain women from among us astonished us, who were early at the Sepulcher. And not having found His body, they came, DECLARING ALSO TO HAVE SEEN A 33].VISION OF ANGELS WHO SAY, ‘HE IS LIVING.’ And certain of those with us went away to the Sepulchre, and found it thus, even as also the women said, but Him they did not see" [Luke 24:17-24].

And He said to them, "O YE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING AND SLOW IN HEART TO BELIEVE IN ALL THINGS WHICH THE PROPHETS SPOKE! IT WAS NEEDFUL FOR THE CHRIST TO HAVE SUFFERED THESE THINGS AND TO HAVE ENTERED INTO HIS GLORY, WAS IT NOT?" And beginning from Moses and from all of the Prophets, He went on INTERPRETING TO THEM IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES THE THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF. And they drew near to the village where they were going, and He was making as if to be going further. And they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day hath waned." And He went in to stay with them. And it came to pass, as He RECLINED AT TABLE WITH THEM, HE TOOK BREAD, AND BLESSED IT, AND BROKE IT, AND WAS GIVING IT TO THEM. AND THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, AND THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, AND HE DISAPPEARED FROM THEM. And they said to one another, "Our heart was burning in us as He was speaking to us in the way and as He was opening to us the Scriptures, was it not?" And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem" [Luke 24:25-33].

Desiring to share their joy with the other Disciples of the Lord, Luke and Cleopas rose immediately from their meal and set out for Jerusalem. There they found the Apostles and the other Disciples assembled in one house, and, of course, they announced to them straightway that Christ HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN HIM AND CONVERSED WITH HIM.

After the ASCENSION of the Lord, the Holy Luke remained in Jerusalem for a time, with the other Apostles, but later, as tradition bears witness, he went to Antioch, his native city, where there were already many Christians. Along the road to Antioch, he passed through the city of Sevaste, the principal city of Samaria. There he proclaimed the glad tidings of the Coming of the Messiah. There also he found the INCORRUPT HOLY RELICS OF SAINT JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND BAPTISM. When it came time for him to leave Sevaste, the Holy Luke wished to take them with him to his native land, but the Christians there, fervently honoring the Baptizer of the Lord, would NOT permit Luke to remove his holy relics. The Saint Luke detached from them the right arm, under which Christ had bowed His head when He received BAPTISM from Saint John. With this priceless treasure the Holy Luke arrived in his homeland, to the great joy of the Christians of Antioch. And he left that city only when he became the travelling companion and fellow laborer of the Holy Apostle Paul, who, in the words of several ancient writers, was one of his kinsmen. This took place during the Apostle’s Paul Second Missionary Journey. At that time, Saint Luke and the Apostle Paul traveled to Greece, to preach the Holy Gospel, and the Holy Evangelist was left behind by the "Apostle of the Gentiles" to establish and organize the Church in the Macedonian city of Philippi; therefore, for a period of several years, the Holy Luke labored to spread Christianity throughout those parts. [Resource: The Great Synazsristes of the Orthodox Church]

(To be continued)

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

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

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

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

LIVING IN AN ERA OF LIES AND DECEPTION
JESUS SAID:
"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your
father you want to do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks from his
own resources, FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF
IT. But because I TELL THE TRUTH YOU DO NOT BELIEVE
ME" [John 8:44].5

"The devil, who DECEIVED THEM, was cast into the
lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false
prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever" [Revelation 20:10].

Saint Paul said, "O FULL OF ALL DECEIT AND ALL FRAUD,
you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will
you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
[Acts 13:10].

"Let NO ONE DECEIVE YOU WITH EMPTY WORDS, for
because of these things the wrath of God comes upon
the sons of disobedience" [Ephesians 5:6].

"Let all invisible phantoms of the air depart from us,
and let no demons of darkness be hidden in the water
nor, we beseech Thee, O Lord, SUFFER TO DESCEND,
WITH HIM WHOM WE NOW BAPTIZE, ANY EVIL SPIRIT
WHICH BRINGETH DEFECTIVE REASON, AND
CONFUSION OF THOUGHT" [Mysterion of Holy Baptism]

Abba (Father) Antonios the Great said: "The time is coming
when people will be seized by manias and will behave like
madmen. And if they see anyone acting reasonably, they will
rise up against him saying, ‘You are insane.’ And they will
have accurately said this to him, for he will not be like them."

Satan is the great deceiver because he is the greatest concealer, the mightiest perverter of truth, the ultimate misleader, and the most convincing fraud and liar. Satan’s goal is two pronged. He wishes to convince us that God is neither all- powerful nor all- loving, and that he, Satan, seems to be something he really is not. More and more people are beginning to feel and see evil around us and the influence of the Devil in the world and upon unaware people of all walks of life.

It is, however, important that we attempt to uncover the Devil like we might uncover a viper hiding under a rock. Much has been written about evil and the evil one by the Holy Fathers of the Church and in the Holy Scripture which reveal his wicked machinations, snares, deceptions, and temptations. Satan is very real and very cunning. We must always be alert and know that he is our greatest enemy. We must also remember to maintain and keep our eyes on our Savior Jesus Christ and to never underestimate the devil and find us sleeping and unprepared. His ultimate goal is to do everything possible to keep all of us from the Kingdom of God. Satan has many faces and different forms and never sleeps or rests. He is a master of disguise and deception.

Our Holy Orthodox Christian Church encourages all the faithful to pray a prayer to our guardian Angel to guide and protect us through our daily life. There are morning and evening prayers and of course the Lord’s Prayer in which there is a petition in it against the devil that says, "lead us into temptation and deliver us from the evil one." Our greatest weapon against the evil one is making the sign of the Cross not only during prayer and worship but throughout the day and night.

Satan has no control over us other than to tempt, deceive, trick, lie, and set snares so that we may fall and sin against God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ defeated Satan and removed all his power to control humanity and to either threaten or to force us to commit evil or to obey him. Our excuse for committing evil cannot be "the devil made me do it." However, the Holy Apostle Peter warns us: "Be sober, be watchful. Your Adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour" [1 Peter 5:8]. Indeed, he truly prowls around us with his demons and seeks to convince and influence us and deceive us even within the Church. We must remember that he is not a "roaring lion" he is ‘like a roaring lion’ he is only pretending to be something that he is not just to frighten people. We must not be afraid of him no matter what he does. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" [James 4:7].

The evil one attempts always to enter into our minds and thoughts and to discourage us into giving up our fidelity to Christ and to our spiritual struggle. There are many Christians who have listened to his lies and have surrendered to him and, of course, soon after we see the painful results from their dreadful decision. It is inconceivable that a Christian would ever consider betraying the Lord Christ and allow themselves to be deceived by the devil. We know for a fact how Satan plays out his deception according to the faith and life of those he is hunting. He uses their weaknesses, passions,. against them. All who stand for good must wage a constant battle with the forces of evil. For the demons still have power in the world as we read in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" UNTIL, CHRIST COMES AGAIN IN GLORY. This is clearly acknowledged in the prayers at the conclusion of Orthodox Baptism. Christians fight back with God’s arms, that is, His Uncreated energy, given to us and actively used by us. The Christian has "put on" at Baptism all the qualities as armor. What are they? Saint Paul says, "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking thy shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" [Ephesians 6:1417]. These qualities and weapons must be used or exercised in the conflict of growth; NO STRUGGLE, NO THEOSIS (DEIFICATION).

Human history reveals the existence of evil in the world through wars, apostasy, deception, distortion of truth, mind manipulation, indoctrination, atheism, hedonism,perversion, immorality, hatred, rivalry, greed, power struggles, injustice, efforts to dominate the world and/or as they call it today, "the new world order." Countless innocent people have been killed unnecessarily over the centuries because of power hungry dictators, tyrants, emperors, kings, chancellors, prime ministers, globalists, etc. over thousands of years. People of faith have no other option other than to obey the Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Creator of the world, Having discernment the people of God must not allow themselves to be deceived by the devil. Non-believers are easily duped by the lies and deceptions of the evil one because they do not have the truth in them. They do not have the grace of the Holy Spirit and the ability to know right from wrong or good from evil. Therefore, these non-believers can be manipulated and indoctrinated so much so as to become his stooges and instruments of wickedness.

"The evil angels (demons) oppose and counteract the Holy Will of God, working against the salvation of men, leading them into sin, yet without impelling or forcing man, who is rational and endowed with free will: "that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" [Ephesians 6:11]. Thus, Satan BECOMES AN ENEMY OF THE GOOD WILL AND ACTIONS OF GOD, THE ENEMY OF THE HUMAN GENERATION AND, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE PERSONAL CARRIER AND LEADER OF EVIL INTO THE WORLD. Hence, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL" [1 John 3:8] (Dogmatic Theology of the Orthodox Church)

"Finally, my brethren, Saint Paul says, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His Might" [Ephesians6:10]. [Resources: the Holy Scripture, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, Father Timothy Evangelinidis of Orthodox Research Institute]

____________
"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.

GOD GAVE MAN FREE WILL

"Man bears the image of God in the higher qualities of the soul, especially in the SOUL’S IMMORTALITY, IN ITS FREEDOM OF WILL, in its reason, and in its capability for pure love without thought of gain.
a) The Eternal God gave immortality of soul to man, even though the soul is immortal not by nature but ONLY BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD.
b) God is completely free in His actions, and He GAVE MAN FREE WILL AND THE ABILITY TO ACT FREELY WITHIN CERTAIN BOUNDARIES.
d) God is Most Wise, and He has given man A REASON WHICH IS CAPABLE OF BEING NOT LIMITED ONLY TO EARTHLY, ANIMAL NEEDS AND
TO THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THINGS, BUT IS CAPABLE OF PENETRATING TO THEIR DEPTHS, OF RECOGNIZING AND EXPLAINING THEIR
INWARD MEANING…" [Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have eternal life. ForGod sent His Son into the world,
not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" [John