OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAYS, “WALK WHILE YOU HAVE THE LIGHT, LEST DARKNESS OVERTAKES YOU…” John 12:35.

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.

"Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with
you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you;
HE WHO WALKS IN DARKNESS DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE
IS GOING. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you
may become sons of light" [John 12:35-26].

In the Orthodox Confession of faith (Nicene Creed) which we recite in every Divine Liturgy we confess, "And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all Ages. Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made, One in essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made."

The people who live in darkness want to know the identity of the Son of Man. But Jesus challenges them to come to the Light while there is still time to become children of Light. Christ is "LIGHT OF LIGHT". In UNION WITH HIM, WE PARTAKE OF HIS LIGHT, BECOMING CHILDREN OF LIGHT. Again, He says, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORD. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKESS BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE" [John 8:12]. The followers and believers of Jesus, the Christians, are the light and shine as lights in the world. The Holy Apostle John reminds us, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declares to you, that GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS"[1 John 1:5]. The Holy Apostle John believes, "light" is Divine energy manifested as (1) truth (orthodox doctrine0, (2) virtue and holiness (true believers), and (3) COMMUNION WITH GOD IN THE HOLY CHURCH (true spirituality). The strongest of all weapons AGAINST "DARKNESS" [evil] is our love for God, a strong, vibrant relationship with Him. In these and other references in Saint John, God IS THE SOURCE OF THIS UNCREATED LIFE-GIVING LIGHT

The Holy Apostle Paul exhorts all believers, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of crooked and perverse generation, among WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain" [Philippians 2:14-16]. Furthermore, Saint John reinforces our understanding of God when he says, "in Him was life, and the life was the light of men" [John 1:4]. By seeing and participating in Christ’s "LIFE" believers become LIGHT AND CHILDREN OF LIGHT" [12:36]. Prophet Moses saw this Light IN THE BURNING BUSH [Exodos 3:2]. Prophet Isaiah saw it in his heavenly vision [Isaiah 6:1-5], and the Holy Apostles Peter, John and John saw it on the Mount of Transfiguration [Matthew 17:2]. In the Divine Liturgy at All- Holy Pascha. light breaks forth from the night at the proclamation of the Anastasis (Resurrection): "COME, TAKE LIGHT FROM THE LIGHT THAT IS NEVER OVERTAKEN BY NIGHT. COME, GLORIFY CHRIST, RISEN FROM THE DEAD."

"DARKNES": the satanic wickedness which actively opposes the Light. Though the world has embraced darkness [3:19], the Logos/Word freely offers light to all. Darkness (evil) will oppose the Light, yet CANNOT DEFEAT THE LIGHT. The True "Light", Jesus Christ enlightens EVERY PERSON, but "the world" REFUSES TO RECEIVE AND LIVE IN THIS LIGHT, AND DOES NOT "KNOW Him." The Holy Orthodox Church chants, in the hymn after Holy Communion, "We have seen the True Light…worshipping the Undivided Trinity."

As faithful Orthodox Christians receive Christ and are given His power, His grace, to "become children of God" –no longer servants but friends of Christ [15:15]. The Jews were children of God by descent from Abraham, the father of the people of God. But now DIVINE SONSHIP IS A GIFT OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. Whether we are of a privileged race or not, WE ARE BORN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD AND SAVED NOT BY "the faith of our fathers", BUT BY OUR OWN FAITH IN CHRIST. "His name" : His identity, the Logos/Word, the Son of God, the Messiah and Savior, Who in His HUMANITY IS CALLED JESUS. To "believe" MEANS TO TRUST ONESELF COMPLETELY TO Him: WHO HE IS, WHAT HE DSOES, WHAT HE TEACHES.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave THE RIGHTS to become children of God, to know who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, not of the will of man, BUT OF GOD" [John1:10-13]. "Who were born": This spiritual truth from God is a mystery of the Holy Spirit [3:8] which is closely integrated with the Sacrament of Holy Baptism [3;5; Titus 3:5]. For since God became man, and we are UNITED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, we experience His Incarnation in our lives.

Our personal challenge is not to be overtaken by darkness, evil. Every day is a new battle against evil for those who remain united to Christ. As Orthodox Christians we believe and confess that as God and man in one Person, Christ accomplishes a redemption that fully heals and saves fallen humanity. He "dwells among us": "We" are the disciples, the people of God, pilgrims in this transient world. In union with Christ’s deified humanity, we participate in the fullness of grace by nature. Darkness means death and Light means Life. Darkness is Satan and Light is Christ. The believer seeks the Light, Jesus Christ. He who follows the Light will never stumble, will not sin. Stumbling is to blunder morally or to commit a grievous sin. Jesus says, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the NIGHT (DARKNESS), he stumbles, because the light is NOT IN HIM" [John 11:9-10].

"Glory to Thee Who has shown us the light" [Orthros]. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Divine and unwaning Light. The kingdom of the evil one is the kingdom of eternal suffering, wailing, and "gnashing of teeth". We witness daily how very important to our lives is the sun light which we take very for granted. Much more necessary to our lives and salvation is the Light of Christ. We are promised that in the Kingdom of heaven we shall see God face to face. We will look on His countenance, "In Thy light shall we see light" Let us not forget that "the eye is of the lamb of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but it your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of DARKNESS" [Matthew 6:22]. Our Lord refers to things within the reach of the senses so that we might more easily grasp His teaching. We all understand the value of light in our lives. As the eye is the "lamp of the body," so the mind [Greek NOUS] IS THE SPIRITUAL EEYE OF THE SOUL: IT ILLUMINATES THE WHOLE INNER PESON. Keeping OUR SPIRITUAL EYES "GOOD," THAT I, WHOLESOME AND PURE, IS FUNDAMENTAL TO A CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Let us pray to the Lord.
Kyrie eleison

O Lord Jesus Christ, Word of God, O God the Logos, Thou are
the Light that created the perceptible light. Thou are the way and the
Truth and the Life. In Thee are indeed the Light, and apart from Thee
there is spiritual darkness. Thou are the way of Truth and virtue, and
without Thee mankind wanders in error. Thou are the Truth, without
which there is only vanity. Thou are the Life and without Thee there
is death. Amen. [Saint Augustine]

_____________
"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

“BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY” 1 Peter 1:16

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.

"BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY" [1 Peter 1:16].

The Trisagion Prayers

Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal!
Have mercy on us.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
Lord, cleanse us from our sins!
Master, Pardon our transgressions!
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for
Thy Name’s sake.

"And one called to another and said: ‘Holy,
Holy, Holy is hte Lord of Hosts, the whole
earth is full of His glory" [Isaiah 6:3].

"Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,
and give thanks to His Holy Name" [Psalm 30:4].

"Let the evildoers still do evil, and the filthy
still be filthy, and the righteous still do
right, and the holy still be holy" [Revelation 22:11].

"There is none holy like the Lord: for there
is none beside you, there no rock like our
God" [1 Samuel 2:2].

"For He who is mighty has done great
things for me and Holy is His Name" [Luke 1:49].

"I will not execute my burning anger, I will not
again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not
a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not
not come in wrath" [Hosea 11:9].

Holiness of God BELONGS TO GOD, and we who CANNOT ATTAIN HOLINESS ON OUR OWN BUT RECEIVE FROM HIM, are called to LIVE A HOLY LIFE BEFORE HIM. Indeed, Christians are called to HOLINESS IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIVES. In the Lord’s Prayer we say, "Hallowed be Thy Name." It is not that we want God’s name to be made holy by our prayers, but THAT HIS NAME MAY BE MADE HOLY IN US.

"As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am Holy" [1 Peter 1:14-16; Leviticus 20:7]. God created man to be holy as He is Holy. He calls everyone to live holy lives; a life of holiness, is the life in the Spirit. God’s Divine plan for our salvation has always been to lead us to holiness by obeying His Commandments. By adhering to His Holy Commandments, the faithful would reveal to the world the Goodness, Righteousness, Holiness, and love of the one, True God and Creator.

Orthodox Holy Tradition reveals the holiness of all the men and women both in the Old and New Testaments who served Our Merciful God faithfully through the centuries. They were the righteous and sanctified people of God. They were blessed by Him and revealed their holiness to the world. They were the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the holy Archangels and Angels, the holy Prophets, the Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers and Mothers, the Holy Ascetics, the Holy Martyrs, and the Holy Confessors. In the Gospel of Saint Luke we read: "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall bless me. For the Might One hath done to me great things; and Holy is His Name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation" [Luke 1:46-50]. She says that His Name is HOLY, showing that He Who is Most Pure was not stained in any way by having been conceived in the womb of a woman, but He REMAINS HOLY. His mercy is not only upon me, but upon ALL THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

Saint Theophylact says, "He magnifies God WHO LIVES IN A WORTHY MANNER WORTHY OF GOD. But you, O Christian, do not do the opposite and belittle the dignity of Christ and the Name of Christian by doing what you should not do, but rather MAGNIFY HIM WITH MAGNIFICENT AND HEAVENLY DEEDS. " The name Christian carries a great responsibility with it and it should not be taken lightly. When identifying himself/herself as Christian, he or she must live up to the name, which means to be a person worthy of His name. The Christian represents not himself but our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember the words, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" [Galatians 2:20].

In the Divine Liturgy we hear the celebrant priest exclaim: "Let us be attentive. The Holy [Things] for the holy." As the priest "elevates" the Holy Gifts he "invites" the faithful: "The Holy Things for the holy." What an awesome and fearful invitation! Although we are here for this reason, and this reason only, i.e. TO PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES, nevertheless when the moment comes we feel totally inadequate, unworthy and unprepared (can we ever be adequately prepared?) to step forth. The priest’s cry checks us, ctus us through, dissects us and proves us wanting" "Ta Hagia, the Holy Things, It is very clear that the Holy Gifts are NOT FOR EVERYONE. The "Holy [Things]" ARE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. Saint Nicholas Cavasilas says, "WE PARTAKE NOT OF HIS, BUT OF HIM." By saying, "The Holy [Things] to the holy" Saint John Chrysostom says, "it is if he meant, Whoever is NOT holy let him NOT come." This has been the understanding of the author of one of the earliest Christian documents, the Didache: "IF ANY ONE IS HOLY , LET HIM COME; IF ANY ONE IS NOT HOLY, LET HIM REPENT." As we see, then, HOLY COMMUNION IS NOT ‘OPEN’ TO ALL.

It is understood, however, it is not meant only for those who are sinless–or ELSE NO ONE COULD EVER APPROACH. It rather means those who have dedicated themselves to God, those who have set themselves apart, those who have been consecrated to God the sens Saint Paul applied it to himself: "set apart" [Romans 1:1]. IN BAPTISM WE WERE CONSECRATED TO GOD, TO HIS SERVICE, TO HIS ARMY. Saint Cavasilas offer a different interpretation as to why the faithful are called holy: "Those whom the priest calls holy are NOT ONLY those who have attained perfection, but THOSE ALSO WHO ARE STRIVING FOR IT WITHOUT HAVING YET OBTAINED IT". Protopresbyter Kallinikos agrees with this view: "Even thou complete holiness does not adorn our nature, even though our soul is bruised, let there be abundant our effort, that we may overcome evil and approach the only Holy ONe, from Whom we will draw new strength."

The people respond: "One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen" This response swells up from the depths of our hearts. "For ONe is truly Holy, by nature Holy: we too are holy, but NOT by nature, ONLY BY PARTICIPATION, AND DISCIPLINE, AND PRAYER." Only Christ, the God Incarnate, has HOLINESS AS HIS ATTRIBUTE. ONLY HE IS WHOLLY HOLY. The Saints receive of His Holiness, through the action of the Holy Spirit: "Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" [John 1:16]. "No one has holiness of himself; IT IS NOT THE CONSEQUENCE OF HUMAN VIRTUE, BUT COMES TO ALL FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM," says Saint Nicholas Cavasilas.

The Saints and the Angels receive from the Holiness of God. "From the Holy One sanctification is transmitted to everyone who is sanctified," says Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki. He also reminds us that "Saint Paul teaches that on the last day it will be declared ‘THAT IN THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BEND…AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER" [Philippians 2:11]. Even as we humbly chant this "disclaimer," we prepare to receive, not in boldness, BUT IN UTTER HUMILITY, IN REALIZATION OF OUR SINFULNESS AND UNWORTHINESS. [Resources:  New Testament and The Heavenly Banquet]

___________
"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

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID: “NO SERVANT CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS” Luke 16:13.

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.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID: NO SERVANT CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS” [Luke 16:13].

Speaking to His disciples said, “No servant can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be
loyal to the one and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD
AND MAMMON” [Luke 16:13].

Ultimate loyalty cannot be divided. Our devotion is dedicated either to God or wealth (materialism), NOT both. God knows our hearts and where your loyalty lies. We encounter an ultimate “either/or” choice, because on the one hand we have the choice of God–and for Jesus is the Living God revealed in the Holy Scriptures and our earthly attachments. “Mammon” is a Semitic expression that means worldly wealth or property. Faithfulness in the Holy Scripture is often equated with undivided loyalty, commitment, with being steadfast, trustworthy and reliable.

One witnesses absolute loyalty in the lives of the holy martyrs of the Church who were willing to be imprisoned, tortured and die for the glory of Christ. A luke-warm kind of ‘service’ to God is refused by Him. Saint Theophylact explains, “Since the God-pleasing stewardship of wealth cannot be accomplished without detachment from riches, the Lord adds to His teaching, and says, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon, that is, it is impossible for a man who is passionately attached to wealth, and who holds back even a part of it, to be a servant of God. Therefore if you intend to be a faithful steward (servant) of God, do not serve wealth, which means, do not have any tie of affection to wealth, but truly serve God. Everywhere the Gospel condemns the love of money, which is the impassioned bond of affection and devotion to wealth.”

God condemns the Pharisees because they loved money. Being lovers of money, they were unhappy by what they had heard about non-possessions. Christ reveals their hidden wickedness and shows that despite their feigned righteousness, they are an abomination in the sight of God. “Earthly wealth” He calls “least” because it is small and insignificant; indeed, it is nothing at all, since it is transitory. But the heavenly wealth He calls “much” because in his handling of earthly wealth, usurping for himself the things that were given to him for the COMMON NEED OF THE PEOPLE, will not be found worthy to be trusted with the heavenly wealth, and he will be cast out as unrighteous. He names as “unrighteous mammon” that wealth which we have in our possession, if it were righteous wealth, we would no longer have it. But now, since we still have it, it is abundantly clear that we kept it for ourselves and did not distribute it to the poor, and thus it is unrighteous. This wealth that belongs to the poor and to withhold it is wrong.

“Our own” is the heavenly and divine wealth, for there in heaven is man’s true citizenship and birthright. The money and possessions of man who has been created in the image of God are indeed “another’s” and alien to man because neither money nor possessions resemble man. But the enjoyment of divine things and communion with God–these are “our own.” We are stewards and not lords and masters, writes Saint Theophylact. Those who united to Christ through faith in Holy Baptism begin a re-creation process, being renewed in God’s image, and likeness.

Somehow we, as Christians, have distracted or have misunderstood how we should relate to riches. The wise believer understands that our earthly life is temporary and brief, while our heavenly one is eternal and endures forever. Why is man wasting this opportunity,this gift of life, this precious time? Why invest all of his life to accumulate material things which inevitably will be left behind? Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a need for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” [Matthew 19:23-24]. And speaking to the youth who had kept all the commandments, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me” [Matthew 19:21]. “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” [Matthew 19:22]. Riches are a serious obstacle in entering the Kingdom of God because people are too attached to them.

God acts in cooperation (synergy) with the human soul. To save the unwilling would be compulsion, but to save the willing is a show of grace. Perfection is voluntarily to sacrifice all and to follow Christ for the cause of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God does not belong to sluggards but to those who “want to be perfect.” Our Holy Orthodox Church teaches that the ultimate purpose of spirituality is to become perfect in Christ through love which means attaining perfect, selfless love for God and our fellow men. Our Lord Christ is Perfect God and Perfect man. Therefore, humans must strive to be perfect, pure, merciful, compassionate, gentle, and kind. Our Savior says: “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect” [Matthew 5:48]. Every Christian should grow into the perfection of the “Father.” [Ephesians 4:13]. Christ is our guide, and He is able to bring us to participate in the very life of God , which is agape (love).

There are so many billionaires today but they are never satisfied with their wealth, they want more. They have such an opportunity to help the poor and the underprivileged today but most of them lack compassion. Money has become an obsession with them and they use their wealth to oppress their fellow men. Greed is their greatest illness but they are not looking for a cure. Instead, they use their wealth to acquire more power and be able to control the people. They believe themselves to be ‘gods’ and demand unquestionable obedience by all. Their attitude is not only insane but it is demonic. They have stopped believing in the Almighty true God and wish to determine the future of all mankind. They are indeed possessed by wicked mammon.

We, Christians, are to be made perfect in Christ. “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in Me” [John 17:23]. Also, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” [Hebrews 10:14]. The completeness of Christ’s Sacrifice establishes the prophesied New Covenant: Sacrifice for sin IS COMPLETE, SANCTIFICATION IS PERFECT. Christ’s is the offering for all sin–voluntary and involuntary–which demonstrates God’s incomparable grace toward us. As believers we look unto our Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross” [Hebrews 12:2]. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” [Hebrews 12:14].

Man tragically may listen to more than one master in his life. The Holy Apostle asks the question, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.” [Romans 6:16]. Though we choose freely, we are never without a master, either Satan or God, law or grace. If one should defect from grace and return to his former master, the law of sin, he will find himself led to “death,” the “second death [Revelation 20:14]. But those “UNDER GRACE” (vv. 14, 15), WHO LOVINGLY AND WILLINGLY TAKE ON GOD AS MASTER, PRACTICE OBEDIENCE AND GROW IN GOD’S FREE GIFT OF “RIGHTEOUSNESS” They cannot keep on sinning (John 14:15).

A master can take a different form. Drug addiction becomes one’s master because the addicted person is loyal to and obeys willingly. Other masters can be alcohol, gluttony, greed, fornication, adultery, pride, despair, hate, riches, and many others. We can be enslaved by any one of these passions and sins. Christ’s call to follow Him is a call to abandon all other masters in our life. We cannot serve two masters because, as our Lord Christ made perfectly clear, we end up hating one and loving the other. Each one of the masters demands different things from us and competes with the other for our total loyalty. There is only one Good Master and that is Jesus Christ Who suffered for us and Who willingly shed His precious blood on the Cross to save us. There is no other master who loves us unconditionally. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” [John 6:47].

The genuine follower of Christ “knows His voice…will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” [John 10:4-5]. There is only one Good Shepherd, the “sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep BY NAME and LEADS THEM OUT” [John 10:3]. Jesus is the True Master of the sheep Who protects the sheep from danger. Christians do not hear the voice or any pretender and dangerous and evil master who wishes to do harm to us. Listen to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine Master, our Creator, our Father, our Good Shepherd, and our Redeemer.

___________
“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

GUILELESSNESS IS ESSENCIAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

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.

GUILELESSNESS IS ESSENTIAL TO OU SPIRITUAL LIFE

"Behold, an Israelite indeed, IN WHOM IS
NO GUILE" [John 1:47].

Our Lord Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelilte indeed, in whom is no guile". Our Beloved Lord God who knows the hearts of all, sees in Nathanael a pure heart, free of any "guile." A heart, in other words, free of deceit and a heart which is capable of recognizing Christ. "Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I SAW YOU." Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" [John 1:48-49].

"I saw you." The GodMan and Savior not only sees us and into our hearts but penetrates the innermost parts of our souls. In Greek we say that He is καρδιογνώστης. In other words someone who knows what is in our hearts and therefore we are an open book, and we cannot hide anything from Him. Anyone believing that he can deceive our Lord of who he truly is, or what he feels in his heart, is most foolish and one who has no understanding of who Christ is.

The word "guile" is defined as "insidious cunning, deception, or duplicity". To be without guile is to be free of deceit, cunning, hypocrisy, and dishonesty in thought or action. It is a God-like characteristic that is sometimes called "integrity" or "trustworthiness." Saint John Climacus writes: "Guilelessness is the joyful condition of an uncalculating soul." The authentic believer strives to attain guilelessness and purity of heart and soul. There are many stages and steps to Christian spirituality. No one becomes spiritual instantly or overnight. It takes the grace of God, it takes sincere faith, it takes love, it takes trust, it takes commitment, it takes unceasing prayer, it takes a virtuous life, it takes humility, and it takes patience. As Chritians we do not make any declarations on how spiritual we are or how righteous. The Christian is meek. "Meekness is the bulwark of patience, the door, indeed the mother of love, and the foundation of discernment" writes Saint John Climacus. "The Lord will teach His ways to the meek" (Psalm 24:9).

Currently we are witnessing an explosion of deception and dishonesty among the people. The Holy Apostle Paul warns us when he says, "LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU WITH EMPTY WORDS, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" [Ephesians 5:6-7).    Today wicked people have been emboldened by a corrupt world and are not afraid to use every evil weapon against us.  Saint Paul again says, "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather EXPOSE THEM" [Ephesians 5:11-12]. "Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord" [Ephesians 5:8-10]. We must judge what the world says is reasonable on the basis of what God says is true.

It is a good thing to be concerned about clean air but it is more important to worry about the pollution of the heart. Since society now is condoning all evil behavior, speech, and vice, people are constantly bombarding it with obscenities, immoralities, and lewdness. Jesus Himself said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men proceed EVIL THOUGHTS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, MURDERS, THEFTS, COVETOUSNESS, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, LEWDNESS, AN EVIL EYE, BLASPHEMY, PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS. All these evil things come from within a man" [Mark 7:20-23]. Our Lord teaches that nothing is of itself unclean. God makes all things good. Sins committed of our own FREE WILL, what comes from within us, "DEFILE" and make the heart impure. "All these evil things" (v. 23) are NOT what God created. We will them, we produce them; they are our sins COMING FROM WITHIN US. They are a PERVERSION of what God has made.

The dark powers in our world, will have us believe that all perversions, all wicked conduct, all vices, all immoral behavior is a good thing. What is good is bad and what is bad is good. There is no God and therefore, there is no such thing as sin or wrong. There is no heaven or hell. There is no eternal life but only our earthly life here and now. No one has the right to question or judge our actions, whether as a parent, a teacher, a priest, or a friend. It is what makes us happy that counts. In some of the former Christian countries today, people refer to Christianity as a collection of superstitions and mythology. Satan is called the Adversary. Jesus calls him "a liar and the father of it" [John 8:44]. The "devil " he says, "was a murder from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources" [John 8:44]. There is doubt that he is the archliar of all time.

It is extremely important to possess the gift of discernment so that we may be able to know truth from lies and falsehood. Guilelessness is very essential not only to our spiritual life but to our very salvation. How does an Orthodox Christian cleanse his heart that may be dirty and filled with impurities? Our Lord Christ, knowing man’s inclination to sin, established the divine Mysteries or Sacraments. All the Sacraments of our Holy Orthodox Faith are offered to the faithful by the Church for their spiritual well being. The grace of God the Holy Spirit flows through them to the one who receives them with faith. The Orthodox Christians approach the Divine Sacrament with the fear of God, with faith and love. They are given for healing and for the remission of sins and eternal life.

A pure heart demands a good spiritual life. Our sweet and Loving Lord speaks about the heart and says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God" [Matthew 5:8]. To be pure is to be unmixed with anything else. The "pure in heart" are devoted to the worship and service of God. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, they practice all virtues, are not aware of any evil in themselves, and live in temperance–a stage of spirituality attained by few in this life. When the soul is not dominated by sinful passions nor its energy wasted on the things of this world, its only desire is God. Then the heart–holding fast to the new life in Christ and contemplating the glory of God. Our Holy Orthodox Church teaches that purity of heart is a necessary condition to union with God and seeing God. It is also the foundation for a pure, faithful or chaste life. Our Holy Church believes that the heart is the center of knowledge, emotion, and the principle of good and evil thoughts.

Our Savior Christ seeks to "dwell in your hearts through faith" [Ephesians 3:17]. In order for Him to dwell in our hearts, the heart must be pure and free from all evil. Our example of a pure heart is the Ever-Virgin Mary the Theotokos. She is "All-Pure," not merely because of her spiritual soundness. Her heart was pure. Her mind was pure, Her soul filled with love, her body was His Sacred Temple. Therefore, everything is connected with each other. What I am saying here is that the totality of man must be spiritually sound in excellent spiritual health. Evil poisons the human being. It poisons the mind, the heart, the eyes, the ears, the heart, and all members of the body. Evil is death not only of the mind but also of the soul. Just as we care what goes into our stomachs, we must be very careful what goes into our hearts and souls. One thing we know by now is that there should be absolutely no guile in our hearts.

Our prayer should always be for God to "deliver us from the evil one." We need God’s mercy, guidance, protection, forgiveness, mercy, and love. He sacrificed His Divine Life on the Cross to save us what greater proof of His unconditional love for mankind do we need. The least that we can do is to obey Him and to do His commandments. It is always advisable to be vigilant and on the alert. To avoid unnecessary risks and to avoid bad company. The bad influence coming from the various means of communication i.e. Internet, Television, Radio, magazines and others are serious and damaging. People of all ages are indoctrinated and constantly deceived by them. After years of exposure people have been decesantized and become willing slaves to them.

Let us always pray the Jesus Prayer with faith: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

____________
"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

CONCERNING VIRGINITY

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.

CONCERNING VIRGINITY

"There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The
unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord,
that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she
who is married cares about the things of the world–how
she may please her husband" [1 Corinthians 7:34].

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is
translated, ‘God with us’ " [Matthew 1:23].

"Celibacy for the sake of Christ has created another kind of Christian social unit: MONASTICISM. The Church places it above married life, and in actuality, in the history of the Church is has been a leading, guiding element, a support of the Church, bringing into realization to the greatest degree the moral law of the Gospel, and preserving the dogmas , the Divine services, and other foundations of the Church. However, not all can take upon themselves the VOW OF VIRGINITY AS A CHOSEN AND PERFECT FORM OF LIFE, the Church blesses also married life for the sake of those exalted, and at the same time difficult, aims which are placed before the Chrisian family, and this blessing is acknowledged as a Mystery (Sacrament)."

"Those who believe in Christ are "temples of God," "temples of the Holy Spirit" [1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19]. In the true Church there have always been and there always are people OF THE HIGHEST SPIRITUAL PURITY and with special gifts of Grace—MARTYRS, VIRGINS, ASCETICS, HOL MONKS AND NUNS, HIERARCHS, RIGHTEOUS ONES."

Saint John Maximovitch writes: "The seedless birth of Christ can and could be denied only by those who deny the Gospel, whereas the Church of Christ from of old confess Christ "Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary." But the birth of God from the Ever-Virgin was a stumbling stone for those who wished to call themselves Christians but did not wish to humble themselves in mind and be zealous for PURITY OF LIFE. The pure life of Mary was a reproach for those who were impure also in their thoughts. So as to show themselves Christians, they did not dare to deny that Christ was born of a Virgin, but they began to affirm that Mary remained a virgin only "until she brought forth her first-born son, Jesus" (Matthew 1:25). But the word "until" does not dignify that Mary remained a virgin only until a certain time. The word "until" ["eos") and words similar to it OFTEN SIGNIFY ETERNITY.


   A careful study of Holy Scripture reveals with complete clarity the insubstantiality of the objections against the Ever-Virginity of Mary and puts to shame those who teach differently.

    Virginity, chastity, and purity does not apply only to women but also to men.  There can be no true spirituality without the constant battle to retain one's purity of body and soul.  Orthodox monastics and ascetics throughout history attest to the fact that it is very possible to overcome temptations and the passions through prayer, fasting and adhering to the commandments of Christ God.  Sexual purity is only one of many challenges set for these spiritual warriors.  For Orthodox Christians, however, the Ever-virginity of the Theotokos is nonnegotiable and its alternative UNTHINKABLE.  Our Holy Orthodox Church witnessed the perpetual virginity of the Theotokos steadfastly for two thousand years and will never believe otherwise.  The Ever-Virgin Mary the Theotokos is the Par- excellence example of authentic virginity for all of mankind.

   According to the Holy Fathers of the Church, purity and virginity are important in our aiming to attain holiness.  Sexual purity can lead to one's personal holiness which is a wondrous experience that can be felt.  They also taught  that virgins who strive to preserve their purity for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven must be worthy of it in every way.  They believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is obtained through faith, not by beauty, strength or other factors.  Saint Gregory of Nyssa taught that virginity is a precious gift that only those who are helped by God's grace can achieve.  He also said that the word "uncorrupted" is often used to describe virginity, which shows the kind of purity it represents.

   According to the Holy Apostle Paul "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit" [Galatians 5:17).  We have witnessed, however, in the lives of our Saints, Desert Fathers, ascetics, hermits, hesychasts, monks, nuns that the battle against the appetites of the flesh can be controlled and quenched or mortified, through prayer and fasting.  The satisfaction of  evil lusts darkens the mind, hardens the heat, plunges the soul into despair, and makes a person hostage to passions.

   Virginity serves as a blessing for virgins both male and female, delivering them from the need to be subordinate to the passions.  The human mind must ascend from earthly and worldly cares to more virtuous and heavenly goals.  Saint John Chrysostom says, "Virginity can plant a good root in us from which grows all the blessings: FREEDOM, COURAGE, ARDENT ZEAL, FIERY LOVE FOR HEAVENLY THINGS, AND CONTEMPT FOR ALL THINGS EARTHLY."  It takes commitment, it takes sacrifice, it takes discipline, it takes faith, it takes love, it takes humility, it takes repentance, it takes prayer,  and the grace of the Holy Spirit to obtain genuine virginity.

   Hardly anyone speaks about virginity, purity, chastity, and holiness any longer, even among Christians.  If there is no thought given to any of these things, then there can be no real piety, no true righteousness, no actual growth in Christ.  Virginity or purity is not only sexual but also includes such things as thoughts, desires, actions, lifestyles and attitudes.  Our Savior Christ points out "that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already  committed adultery with her in his heart" [Matthew 5:28]. People forget that God sees the hidden desires and knows our thoughts which motivate our actions. The issue here is lust, not simply the God-given mutual attraction of men and women. He who feasts on lust within himself brings sin into his heart through his thoughts known as logismoi (evil thoughts). They become sins only when they are held onto and entertained. Other spiritual challenges are desires which become obsessions, such as greed, wanting more and more wealth and material possessions. The obsession of wanting to always look attractive and youthful is known as vanity. The drive to experience various questionable lifestyles that lead to unnatural acts.
Another obstacle to genuine spirituality is a heart full of hate for our fellow man and seeking his destruction. Also, seeking vengeance because of someone’s wrong actions against us. And let us not forget another major wrong, pride.

The target for all Christians is the Kingdom of God, Eternal Life. In order to enter His Divine Kingdom one must cleanse himself of all defilement and sin. It requires repentance. Jesus clearly says, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." True repentance is a complete, true and deep change. We must be determined and have the necessary patience to want it. Saint Theophan the Recluse taught that the older we are when we decide to take up the spiritual struggle, the more difficult it may initially be. That is because we are more deeply entrenched in the ways of the world and our wicked habits as we age. Weeds which are firmly rooted in the soil, these sinful passions will take tune and much effort to uproot.

Our Lord Jesus Christ explains who may enter the Kingdom in Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24. "The Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, and they were not willing to come… Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, INVITE TO THE WEDDING. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw A MAN THERE WHO DID NOT HAVE ON A WEDDING GARMENT. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘BIND HIM HAND AND FOOT TAKE HIM AWAY, AND CAST HIM INTO OUTER DARKNESS; THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.’ For MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN."

Our Loving and Merciful God calls all people to salvation in Christ–Jews and Gentile–carrying forth the plan of salvation to all humanity. However, the proper garment. Ancient tradition applies this Parable in Matthew to the process of initiation into the Church because the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation bring us into marriage or union with Christ, the "Bridegroom", a union fully realized in the age to come. Our Master says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD." [John 3:3]. And again He says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD" [John 3:5]. Being "born again," is but the beginning OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. The goal IS TO "SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD." Christians are "born" from the Son in His Human Nature within time by Holy Baptism. One cannot call himself/herself a Christian if he/she has not been "born again" through the Mystery of Baptism.

_________
"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

THE DORMITION (KOIMISIS) AND METASTASIS (TRANSLATION) OF THE THEOTOKOS FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN IS THE SUMMER PASCHA

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 Dormition (Koimisis) and Metastasis (Translation) of the Theotokos from
Earth to Heaven is the SUMMER PASCHA.

Our Holy Orthodox Tradition reveals to the faithful not only the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos but her Metastasis (Translation) from earth to heaven. We are reminded how the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Mother of God at Golgotha and announced Her departure from this earthly life. As a pledge to this, the Archangel gave Her a PALM BRANCH FROM PARADISE. On the day of Her Dormition miraculously all the Holy Apostles who were dispersed throughout the world were transported and brought to Her to be present at this momentous and holy event. Everyone was present except the Holy Apostle Thomas who was still in India. At the conclusion of the divine service of the Paraklesis we chant the following Exapostilarion hymn: "O You Apostles from far off, Being gathered together in the village of Gethsemane, Lay my body in burial, And You, my Son, and my God, Receive now my spirit from me." The funeral and Her burial took place by the Holy Apostles and the multitude of the faithful. Arriving late on the third day after the Theotokos was buried Saint Thomas requested that Her tomb be opened so as to venerate Her All-Holy relics and bid Her farewell. When the Holy Apostles opened the tomb, they found the grave wrappings, Her holy Body not there.

Later that day, the Holy Apostles were assembled to eat and as they raised the bread in Jesus’ Name, as was their practice, the Theotokos suddenly appeared to them and said: Rejoice! I am with you all the days of your lives. It was from this occurrence that the Holy Apostles learned of Her BODILY METASTASIS OR TRANSLATION INTO HEAVEN.

There is a special divine service held in Orthodox Monasteries called the RITE OF OFFERING OF THE PANAGIA (ALL-HOLY). A portion of the prosforon {Offering bread) used in the Divine Liturgy is dedicated in Honor to the Mother of God. This divine service is done as a procession after conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. It traces its roots to the Holy Apostles who first offered a portion of the bread, set aside at the meal in memory of the Savior and they exclaimed Most Holy Theotokos save us.

At ever Divine Liturgy, during the divine Service of the Proskomidi, where the priest prepares the Host to be offered, A TRIANGULAR PORTION IS CUT OFF FROM THE PROSFORON AND PLACED REVERENTLY AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AMNOS (LAMB) OR HOST ON THE PATEN DISKARION) IN HONOR OF THE THEOTOKOS. As the priest cuts that portion he says, "In Honor and Memory of Our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Through her prayers, O Lord, accept this sacrifice upon Thy Heavenly Altar. The priest removes the triangular particle of hte prosphora and places it on the right side of the Holy Bread saying, "The Queen stood on the right side, arrayed in golden robes, all glorious."

Our Holy Orthodox Church does not adhere to the Roman Catholic dogma of the Assumption of the Theotokos. Although the Theotokos lived a life of purity and without sin, She WAS NOT EXEMPT FROM THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE ANCESTRAL SIN which is death. Her conception WAS NOT IMMACULATE AS IT WAS FOR CHRIST WHO WAS CONCEIVED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Furthermore, She DID UNDERGO A PHYSICAL DEATH. Her soul was received by Christ upon Her DEATH and Her Body was transferred to Heaven.

The Mother of God was NOT raised from the dead by Christ as was Lazarus, Jesus raised Lazarus who continued to live an earthly life, having a mortal death years later. The Theotokos, on the other hand, was not raised from the dead to continue Her earthly life. Rather, Her Sacred Body was translated from this life to heaven. The Dismissal (Apolytikion) hymn chanted on Her Dormition reveals this very fact: "In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition, thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou WAS TRANSLATED UNTO LIFE, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death. And the Kontakion Hymn of the Dormition says, "The grave and death could not hold the Theotokos, who is unsleeping in her intercessions and an unfailing hope in her mediations. For as the Mother of Life she was TRANSLATED TO LIFE by Him Who dwelt in her Ever-virgin womb."

It was essential that the Sacred Body of the Ever-Virgin Mary NOT remain on earth to decay. For in Her CONTAINED GOD HIMSELF WHICH IS WHY HER BODY IS HOLY AND SACRED, IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT SHE WAS RESURRECTED TO LIFE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM. In other words, the Theotokos is not awaiting the Common or General Resurrection on the Last Day for Her soul to be united to Her Body. THEY ARE INDEED UNITED AND THE THEOTOKOS IS TOGETHER WITH HER SON IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. She was raised up by Her Son to His Heavenly Kingdom as the Mother of Life. Thus, the Dormition of the Theotokos is the SUMMER PASCHA BECAUSE IT IS COMMEMORATING THE PASSAGE FROM DEATH TO LIFE. (Resource: Mr. John Athanasatos)

_________
"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

“The babe leaped in my womb for joy” Luke 1:44.

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.

"For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded
in my ears, THE BABY LEAPED IN MY WOMB FOR JOY"
[Luke 1:44].

"The baby," is Saint John the Baptist in his sixth month of gestation, "leaped in her womb" as a joyous response TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, the lord Jesus Christ, in Mary’s womb. The Ever Virgin Mary receives VENERATION FROM BOTH ANGELS AND HUMANS. For as did Gabriel (v. 28) Elizabeth also calls Mary "BLESSED." MARY IS THE MODEL OF WOMANHOOD. None other has ever received the glory given to her, either in Holy Scripture or in Church history. The Archangel Gabriel also told Mary, "Now indeed, Elisabeth your relative HAS ALSO CONCEIVED A SON IN HER OLD AGE; AND THIS IS NOW THE SIXTH (6th) MONTH FOR HER WHO WAS CALLED BARREN" [Luke 1:36].

Mary is confessed as "THE MOTHER OF MY LORD" by Elizabeth. This was no mere man Mary carried. The title "THEOTOKOS" (the Mother of God}.given to the Ever Virgin Mary by the Holy Church, was derived from the TRUTH OF THIS CONFESSION. For UNLESS THAT One in her womb was God, THE WORLD IS STILL ENSLAVED TO SIN.

The miracle of the conception of John the Forerunner and Baptist by Zacharias and Elisabeth in their old age is very significant and awesome. "But the Angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for our prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name JOHN. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ‘For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He WILL ALSO FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVEN FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB. AND he will turn many of the children of Israel TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. HE WILL ALSO GO BEFORE Him in the spirit and power of Elijah" [Luke 1:13-17].

Zacharias and Elizabeth have prayed often for "a son" and now their prayer is answered. "The Angel Gabriel" promises a son who will be named JOHN, meaning "THE GRACE OF GOD." The description of the character and role of Saint John the Baptist as an ASCETIC Prophet who is to prepare the Jewish people FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH. Elijah, one of the greatest Prophets of Israel, was expected to reappear from heaven in order TO ANOINT THE MESSIAH.

"Now Elizabeth’s FULL TIME CAME (9th month of her pregnancy) to be delivered, and she brought forth a son" [Luke 1:57] and indeed he was named John as the Archangel told them to do. "So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and WAS IN THE DESERTS TILL THE DAY OF HIS MANIFESTATION TO ISRAEL" [Luke 1:80].

Two very blessed and unique women bore two sons, one a future Prophet and the other the awaited Messiah and Savior of the world. Elizabeth was barren and it was by the grace of God that she conceived in her old age and for that she and Zacharias gave praise to God and rejoiced at John’s birth. "And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED" [Luke 1:46-48].

Birth-giving was always believed to truly be a blessing from God but when did people depart from that belief? A child was believed to be a gift from God and people rejoiced at the birth of a child but what happened? Saint John the Baptist was ONLY SIX MONTHS AND REJOICED AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB. What does that say to us today when abortion, the murder of a child, is acceptable and lawful? A child is dismembered inside his mother’s womb, and murdered, no matter what state of gestation the child is including after a child’s birth. Why is this NOT a CRIME? Not only a crime in the laws of all countries in the world but A CRIME AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST HUMANITY. There is no greater crime than the murder of a child. It is called INFANTICIDE! MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ARE ABORTED AND MURDERED EVERY YEAR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD INCLUDING WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS CHRISTIAN COUNTRIES AT ONE TIME. One such example is GREECE.

The Orthodox Church considers abortion, MURDER! The penalty according to the holy canons of the Church for committing abortion was excommunication from the Church. The Church from the very beginning of existence has sought to PROTECT "THE LIFE IN THE WOMB" and has considered ABORTION AS MURDER IN ITS THEOLOGY AND HOLY CANONS. Orthodox Christians are admonished not to encourage Christian women to have abortions, not assist in the committing of abortion. Those who perform abortions i.e. doctors, nurses, midwives, etc. are complicit in the killing of a child.

One of God’s Ten Commandments says, "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER" [Exodus 20:13]. There is absolutely no justification of murder no matter what form it takes. The woman’s womb is sacred and it should never become a chamber of death and destruction. God created the woman to bear children and bring life into the world. Every human being was created in the image and likeness of God, therefore abortion is the destruction of this great gift from Him. But let us turn to the Holy Bible itself and hear the voice of God Himself when He said, "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… So God made man; in THE IMAGE OF GOD HE MADE HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE MADE THEM. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, "BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY; FILL THE EARTH…" [Genesis 1:26-28].

God made man in His image and likeness meaning in the image and likeness of the Holy Trinity and he was made male and female. Therefore, the DIGNITY OF EACH MAN AND EACH WOMAN IS THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS. When one commits an abortion what happens to the "image and likeness" and this priceless and holy "dignity"? The Almighty God and Creator formed Adam ‘s body "out of the dust from the ground". The "BREATH OF LIFE" IS THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE GIVER OF LIFE (the Creed), God breathed THE BREATH OF LIFE INTO MAN’S BODY, AND HE BECAME A "LIVING SOUL." Therefore, Adam (man) was a living soul BECAUSE HE POSSESSED A BODY, A SOUL, AND THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Are any of these things taken into account when one considers taking a life? How does anyone think God will judge the person that commits abortion and kills a child at the Last Judgment? Will one be rewarded or punished? What will happen to those people who knowingly and purposely commit multiple abortions without any fear of God or any remorse or repentance? This is what the Lord Jesus Christ says about children: "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better FOR HIM (OR HER) IF A MILLSTONE WERE HUNG AROUND HIS NECK, AND HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA" [Matthew 18:6]. Can anyone imagine what He would say about the torture, suffering, mutilation and murder of millions and millions of children around the world? Is it at all conceivable for the so-called "Christian" women to ever commit such a grave and deadly sin?

Our Holy Orthodox Church believes that human life IS SACRED,INVIOLABLE, AND A GIFT FROM GOD. All life is precious but human life IS ESPECIALLY IS PRICELESS BECAUSE IT IS CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS. Orthodox Christians believe that human life is meant to be cherished and respected. It is the responsibility of all Orthodox Christians as human beings to treat all life with care, reverence, and love. Any deliberate ending of human life is a rejection of its sacredness and inviolability and is unacceptable. The Church mourns the premature end of a human life. Murder is NEVER CONDONED BY THE CHURCH, yet in this broken and sinful world, violence, including killing, is tragically a daily reality.
Let us all pray that Our Merciful God will intervene and change the dreadful course which humanity has taken which inevitably will lead to our condemnation and eternal damnation.

__________
"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

THE ANCESTRAL SIN [“ORIGINAL SIN”)

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

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

THE ANCESTRAL SIN {"Original Sin")

By "original sin" is meant the sin of Adam, which was transmitted to his descendants and weighs upon them. The expressio "original sin" has become traditional in Roman Catholic (Latin) theology since the time of Blessed Augustine. Contemporary Orthodox writers generally prefer the expression "ancestral sin" [Gk. promatorikon amartima], which is common among the Holy Fathers of the Church. When such writers do speak of "original sin," they are usually careful to distinguish the Orthodox conception from the Roman Catholic conception.

The word of God teaches us that through Adam "all have sinned"; By "one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). "For), who will be clean of defilement? No one, if he have lived even a single day upon earth" (Job 14:4-5, Septuagint). "For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me" (Psalm 50[51]:5); "The seed of corruption is in me" [Evening Prayers].

The common faith of the ancient Christian Church in the existence of original sin may be seen in the Church’s ancient custom of baptizing infants. The Local Council of Carthage in 252 A.D., composed of 66 bishops under the presidency of Saint Cyprian, decreed the following against heretics: "Not to forbid (the Baptism) of an infant who, scarcely born, has sinned in nothing apart from that which proceeds from the flesh of Adam. He has received "the contagion of the ancient death" through his very birth, and he comes, therefore, the more easily to the reception of the remission of sins in that it is not his own but the sins of another that are remitted.

The Orthodox Holy Fathers often affirm that all of Adam’s descendents inherit his sin, in accordance with the words of Saint Paul: "By one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners" [Romans 5:19]. However, in saying this THEY DO NOT MEAN THAT THE GUILT OF ADAM’S SIN WAS IMPUTED TO HIS DESCENDANTS RATHER, IT WAS THE "CONSEQUENCES" OF THAT SIN THAT WERE TRANSMITTED. These consequences include SUFFERING, DEATH, AND PHYSICAL CORRUPTION, A CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE; AND A CONSEQUENT LOSS OF THE INDWELLING GRACE OF GOD. The corruption of human nature ENTAILS AN INCLINATION OR TENDENCY TOWARD SIN.

According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church (from the first centuries and up to our days), all men are subject to ancestral sin – all, INCLUDING ALSO THE MOTHER OF GOD. And all have TO BE REDEEMED BY THE SACRIFICE OF THE SON OF GOD. The Most Holy Virgin herself numbers herself among the saved, calling God her Savior, "and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47). Sacred Scripture knows only one man who did not partake of the ancestral sin – the God-Man Christ Jesus, Who was conceived in a supernatural manner – BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Roman Catholic view on ‘original sin’ and on it consequences contradicts the clear testimonies of the word of God that point out the damage [caused] to man’s very nature through the sin of our progenitors and the consequences of this sin, which show the violation of the natural order of human life. The Apostle Paul says: "For the good that I will do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good" [Romans 7:19-21]. The Roman Catholic teaching on inherited GUILT is based on the words of Blessed Augustine who said, "The fault of our nature remains in our offspring so deeply impressed as to make it [our offspring] guilty" ["On Original Sin," chap. 44]. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Original sin is the privation of sanctifying grace."

One must NOT see the essence of sin–including original sin–only in the dominance of the fleshly over the spiritual, as Roman Catholic theology teaches. Many sinful inclinations, even very serious ones, have to do with qualities of a SPIRITUAL order: such, for example, is PRIDE, which, according to the words of Apostle, is the source, together with lust, of the general sinfulness of the world [1 John 2:15-16). "Original sin is understood by Orthodox theology AS A SINFUL INCLINATION WHICH HAS ENTERED INTO MANKIND AND BECOME ITS SPIRITUAL DISEASE."

The infinite grandeur of the redeeming Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is demeaned by the Roman Catholic teaching on the Fall, and too great a significance is attributed to the participation of man himself in the work of salvation. Here the juridical approach characteristic of Roman Catholics is again expressed: man not only receives salvation as something due and earned, but he can even perform more good works than he needs for acquiring eternal salvation.

Protestantism, in its teaching on original sin, as in many other points, fell into the opposite extreme. In its notion, man’s Fall perverted human nature to such an extent that not even a trace of the power and abilities bestowed by the Creator remained in him, and all his desires are directed solely toward what is evil and sinful. Man, according to Luther’s expression, was turned, as it were, into a pillar of salt, like Lot’s wife; he became a soulless block and even worse, because a block does not act and does not oppose, while man opposes the action of Divine Grace. It is true that many Protestants later acknowledged their extremeness in this teaching and some drew near even to the Orthodox view, but others, unfortunately, fell into rationalism and went as far as a complete rejection of original sin and even the very historical fact of the Fall of our progenitors.

The consequences of ancestral sin ("original sin") are accepted by Orthodox theology differently. After the Fall, man HIMSELF departed in soul from God and became unreceptive to the Grace of God which was opened to him; he ceased to listen to the Divine voice addressed to him, and this led to the further deepening of sin in him.

However, God has NEVER DEPRIVED MANKIND OF HIS MERCY, HELP, GRACE, AND ESPECIALLY HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE; AND FROM THIS PEOPLE THERE CAME FORTH GREAT RIGHTEOUS MEN SUCH AS Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and the later Prophets. The Apostle Paul, in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, lists a whole choir of Old Testament righteous ones, saying that they are those "of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38). All of them were perfected not without a gift from above, not without the Grace of God. But the Old Testament righteous ones could not escape the general lot of fallen mankind after death, remaining in the darkness of hell, until the founding of the Heavenly Church–that is, until the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ destroyed the gates of hell and opened the way into the Kingdom of Heaven. (Resources: 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

PRAYER TO THE EVER-VIRGIN MARY BY Paul the Monk

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.

PRAYER TO THE EVER-VIRGIN MARY
By Paul the Monk of the Monastery of Evergetis

O Spotless, unstained, incorruptible, undefiled, pure Virgin, Lady Bride of God, Who through Your Wondrous birth-giving united God the Logos/Word with mankind, and linked the fallen nature of our human race with the heavenly; the only hope of the hopeless and the help of the persecuted; the ready support of those who seek refuge in You, anad the shelter of al the Christians: do not despise me, the wretched sinner who have defiled myself with shameful thoughts and words and deeds, and through negligence of thought have become slave to the pleasures of life.

But as the Mother of our compassionate God, and a friend of man, have compassion on me the usinsinner and prodigal, and accept this prayer from my impure lips; and using Your Motherly standing, entreat Your Son and our Master and Lord to open unto me the depths of His Loving Goodness and, overlooking my innumerable faults, to return me to repentance and make me a worthy servant of His commandments. Stand by me forever; in this life as a Merciful and Compassionate and Good and Loving warm Protector and Helper, by repulsing the assaults of the adversary and leading me toward salvation; and at the time of my death, by embracing my miserable soul and driving far away from it the dark faces of the evil demons; and at the awesome day of Judgment by redeeming me from Eternal hell, and proclaiming me an heir of the ineffable glory of Your Son and our God. May I enjoy such fate, my Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, through Your intercession and protection; through the grace and love for mankind of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ to Whom belong All-Glory, Honor and Worship, together with His Beginningless Father, and the All-Holy and Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Most Glorious, Ever-Virgin, Blessed Theotokos, bring our prayer before Your Son and our God, and entreat Him, through You, to save our souls.

The Father is my hope, the Son is my refuge, the Holy Spirit is my shelter, Holy Trinity, Glory to You.

My one and my every hope, now I entreat in You, O Mother of God, under Your shelter cover me.

+



THE AKATHIST HYMN

It is very meet to bless thee, the Ever-Blessed and Most Pure Virgin
and Mother of our God. Thou art more Honorable than the Cherubim
and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim; thou, without
spot of sin, didst bear God the Logos/Word; and thee, verily the Mother
of God, we magnify.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hym. Fourth Plagal Tone.

Now there came to the knowledge of the Angel the secret command,
and he hastened to the dwelling of Joseph and spake unto her who
knew not wedlock: Lo, He Who bowed the heavens and came down is
contained wholly and unchanged in thee. When I behold Him in thy
womb taking the form of a servant, marvelling I cry aloud to thee:
Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded.

An Angel, and the chiefest among them, was sent from Heaven to
cry: Rejoice! to the Mother of God (thrice). And beholding Thee, O
Lord, taking bodily form, he stood marvelling, and with his bodiless
voice cried aloud to her saying:
Rejoice, thou, through whom joy
shall shine forth; Rejoice, thou through
whom the curse shall be blotted out.

Rejoice, thou the Restoration of the
fallen Adam; Rejoice, thou, the redemption
of the tears of Eve.

Rejoice, Height, hard to climb, for human minds;
Rejoice, Depth, hard to explore, even for the
eyes of Angels.

Rejoice, thou that art the Throne of a King;
Rejoice, thou that sustainest the
Sustainer of all.

Rejoice, Star that causest the sun to
appear; Rejoice, Womb of the Divine
Incarnating.

Rejoice, thou through whom Creation
is renewed; Rejoice, thou through whom
the Creator becomes a babe.

Rejoice, thou Bride Unwedded.

Boldly and without fear the Holy Maiden spake
to Gabriel, knowing her own chastity: To my
soul thy strange message is hard to believe;
how speakest thou of a virgin and stainless
conception? crying aloud: Alleluia.

Craving to know unknown knowledge, the pure Maiden
cried to him who ministered unto her: From a virgin body
how is it possible for a Son to be born? Tell thou me.
Then spake he to her in fear, crying aloud thus:

Rejoice, beginner of the miracles of Christ; Rejoice,
completer of His ordinances.
Rejoice, heavenly Ladder by which God came down;
Rejoice, Bridge leading from earth to heaven.
Rejoice, thou great marvel and wonder of Angels;
Rejoice, thou great cause of wailing in Demons.
Rejoice, thou who ineffably gavest birth to the Light;
Rejoice, thou who withheldest the Divine secret
from all.
Rejoice, thou who oversoarest the knowledge of
the wise; Rejoice, thou who givest light to the
understanding of the faithful.

Gabriel stood amazed at the beauty of thy Virginity,
and at the splendour of the Purity, and he cried to thee,
O Mother of God What praise is meet for me to bring
to thee? What shall I call thee? I hesitate, and marvel.
Wherefore as commanded I cry to thee: Rejoice,
thou that art full of grace.
Rejoice, thou Bride Unwedded.

All the hymns of the Akathist reflect how the Mother of God is loved and venerated in our Holy Orthodox Church. However, the enemies of Christ have attempted over and over again to slander the Theotokos. And the very beginning of Her heavenly glory was marked on earth by an outburst of malice and hatred toward Her by unbelievers. When, after Her holy repose, the Holy Apostles were carrying Her body for burial in Gethsemane, to the place chosen by Her, Saint John the Theologian went ahead carrying the branch from Paradise which the Archangel Gabriel had brought to the Holy Virgin three days before this when he came from heaven to announce to Her Her approaching departure to the heavenly mansions.

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

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

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

But here the lie was too evident for this fiction to attract serious attention. The whole family of Joseph the Betrothed and Mary Herself were known well by the inhabitants of Nazareth and the surrounding countryside in their time. In small towns the family matters of everyone are well known, very strict watch was kept then over the purity of married life.

Would people really have behaved with respect towards Jesus, called Him to preach in the synagogue, if He had been born of illegitimate cohabitation? To Mary the law of Moses would have been applied which commanded that such persons be stoned to death, and the Pharisees would have taken the opportunity many times to reproach Christ for the conduct of His Mother. But just the contrary was the case. Mary enjoyed great respect; at Cana She was an honored guest at the wedding, and even when Her Son was condemned, no one allowed himself to ridicule or censure His Mother. [Saint John Maximovitch]

___________
"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


ON THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE

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 VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience
by the things which He suffered. And having been
perfected, He became the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him" [Hebrews 5:8-9].

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ "learned obedience" (v.8) in his human will, with which continually and freely submitted to the Divine will. In the agony of injustice and in physical pain He submits to the will of the Father. This perfecting of human activity in communion with God shows Christ alone to be the Savior (v.9).

The ancestral sin which was the first sin committed by Adam and Eve was the sin of disobedience. Saint Cyril of Alexandria expresses the Orthodox teaching on the transmission of ancestral sin: "What has Adam’s guilt to do with us? Why are we held responsible for his sin when we were not even born when he committed it? Did not God say: "The parents will not die for the children, nor the children for their parents, but the soul which has sinned, it shall die" (Deuteronomy 24:16)? We have become sinners because of Adam’s DISOBEDIENCE in the following manner…After he fell into sin and surrendered to corruption, impure lusts (of pleasures) invaded the nature of his flesh, and at the same time the evil law of our members was born. For our nature contracted the disease of sin BECAUSE OF THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ONE MAN, that is, Adam, and thus many became sinners. This was not because they sinned along with Adam, because they did not then exist, but because they had the same nature with Adam, which fell under the law of sin. Thus, just as human nature acquired the weakness of corruption in Adam because of DISOBEDIENCE, and evil desires [or passions] invaded it, so the same natur was later set free by Christ. Who WAS OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHER AND DID NOT COMMIT SIN".

According to Saint John Climacus, "Obedience is a total renunciation of our own life, and it shows up clearly in the way we act. Or, again, obedience is the mortification of the members while the mind remains alive. Obedience is unquestioned movement, death freely accepted, a simple life, danger faced without worry, an unprepared defense before God, fearlessness before death, a safe voyage, a sleeper’s journey. Obedience is the burial place of the will and the resurrection of lowliness. A corpse does not contradict or debate the good or whatever seems bad, and the spiritual father who has devoutly put the disciple’s soul to death will answer for everything. Indeed, to obey is, will all deliberateness, to put aside the capacity to make one’s own judgment."

In his excellent article entitled, "The Spiritual Father in Orthodox Christianity," Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of Diokleia, of blessed memory, makes several lucid points regarding the relationship between a Geronda [Elder] and his spiritual child and the subject of obedience. Metropolitan Kallistos writes: "Three points must be made. In the first place, the obedience offered by the spiritual son to his Abba (Father, IS NOT FORCED, but willing and voluntary. It is the task of the starets to take up our will into his will, but he can only do this IF BY OUR OWN FREE CHOICE WE PLACE IT IN HIS HANDS. HE DOES NOT BREAK OUR WILL, but ACCEPTS IT FROM US AS A GIFT. A submission that is forced and involuntary IS OBVIOUSLY DEVOID OF MORAL VALUE; the starets asks of each one that he offer to God his heart, not his external actions.

The voluntary nature of obedience is vividly emphasized in the ceremony of the tonsure at the Orthodox rite of Monastic profession. The scissors are placed upon the Book of the Gospels, and the novice must himself pick them up and give them to the Egoumenos (Abbot). The Egoumenos (Abbot) immediately replaces them on the Book of the Gospels. Again, the novice takes the scissors, and again they are replaced. Only when the novice gives the scissors for the third time does the Egoumenos (Abbot) proceed to cut hair. Never thereafter will the monk have the right to say to the Egoumenos (Abbot) or the brethren: ‘My personality is constricted and suppressed here in the monastery, you have deprived me of my freedom.’ No one has taken away his freedom, for IT WAS HE HIMSELF WHO TOOK UP THE SCISSORS AND PLACED THEM THREE TIMES IN THE ABBOT’S HAND.

But this voluntary offering of our freedom is obviously something that cannot be made once and for all, bhy a single gesture. There must be a continual offering, extending over our whole life, our growth in Christ is measured precisely by the increasing degree of our self-giving. Our freedom must be offered anew each day and each hour, in constantly varying ways, and this means that the relation between starets and disciple is not static, but dynamic, and unchanging but infinitely diverse. Each day and each hour, under the guidance of his Abba (Father), the disciple will face new situations, calling for a different response, a new kind of self-giving."

"Let this mind be in your which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH ON THE CROSS" [Philippians 2:5-9]. Our Lord God Jesus Christ, used to say characteristically, that absolute obedience saved him. He lived as if what his Elders said was according to Divine Dispensation, relinquishing every personal "right," desire, and high mindedness.

Again in the Orthodox Christian tradition, obedience is a fundamental virtue that is necessary for spiritual growth or development and a relationship with the Almighty God. The Holy Fathers of the Church, such as Saint John Climacus, have taught that obedience is NOT just a matter of submissiveness, but rather a virtue that takes place within a context of trust and love between two people in Christ. They also emphasize that obedience is given to specific people, not to abstract concepts. The word used here is υποτακτικός, which literally means a "submissive worker" or "underline." When the Orthodox Christian adheres to the teachings of the Church and has a spiritual father or father confessor it is understood that he or she will have obedience to his spiritual guidance and advice. It is not enough to go to him and recite a number of his/her transgressions like a robot and then leave. When one has an illness and goes to his/her physician he or she does not simply explain the symptoms of his/her illness and leaves but awaits for the physician’s diagnosis and his advice on how to cure this illness, even if it takes surgery. He or she trusts his/her physician and places his/her life in his hands, trusting in his judgment and solution. The spiritual father is no different, having years of experience, understanding, knowledge and practice. But again it is voluntary and not done by force.

"…This blessed obedience benefited me a great deal." Saint Porphyrios of blessed memory said, "because it changed me. I became alert, swift, and stronger both in body and soul… I bowed down before obedience and pored over it. All the rest, which God brought about into my life, came on its own. The gift of foresight, additionally, was given to me by God on account OF MY OBEDIENCE." Here, the Geronda (Elder) certifies with his own life, what Saint John Climacus writes in the Ladder of Divine Ascent: "From obedience comes humility. From humility comes discernment, as Saint Cassian has said and from discernment comes insight, and from insight comes foresight."

"Obedience," Saint Porphyrios said, "illustrates one’s love for Christ. And Christ particularly loves those who are obedient. This is why He says: "I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me" [Proverbs 8:17).  Everything is written in the Holy Bible, but such things are concealed."  


   The Elder's obedience was universal, meaning it was unconditional and it applied to everything and to all- with the exception of obedience to sin.  His obedience pertains to the Church at large, and not just to his spiritual fathers who granted him spiritual rebirth.  Such obedience means absolute faith and agreement with the Holy Bible.  Orthodox dogmas, and Bishops.  The Elder would say:  "If I ruin my relationship with my bishop, if my bishop is mad at me, then my prayer does not rise up to heaven."

    However, "Despite the importance of ecclesiastical obedience as a religious good, Orthodox history  also teaches us that resistance to religious authorities, be they patriarchs, bishops;, or councils, may be necessary to protect the faith.  This is especially the case when ecclesiastical authorities have been CO-OPTED BY THE STATE (GOVERNMENT) or WHEN THEY CLEARLY TEACH CONTRARY TO THE ANCIENT FAITH OF THE CHURCH.  "Obedience to the Truth of the Gospel IS THE FIRST REQUIREMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN.  When either by their teachings or their actions, Church authorities BETRAY THAT TRUTH FOR PERSONAL GAIN OR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY, HOLY DISOBEDIENCE IS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE." [Excerpted from the article by A. Edward Siecienski entitled, "Holy Disobedience"]

In the Orthodox spiritual tradition obedience is a basic virtue: Obedience to the Lord, to the Holy Gospel, to the Church [Matthew 18:17], to the leaders of the Church [Hebrews 13:7], to one’s parents and elders, to "every ordinance of man" [1 Peter 2:13; Romans 13:1], "to one another out of reverence for Christ" [Ephesians 6:21]. There is no spiritual life without obedience, no freedom or liberation from sinful passions and lusts. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him…" [John 14:21-24].

Saint Porphyrios writing on obedience says, "My whole life was a paradise: PRAYER, WORSHIP, HANDICRAFT, AND OBEDIENCE. But my obedience was the outcome of love not coercion. This blessed obedience benefited me greatly. It changed me, I became sharp-witted, quick and stronger in body and soul…OBEDIENCE SHOWS LOVE FOR CHRIST. And Christ especially loves the OBEDIENT" [Wounded by Love, p. 25].

__________
"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