ON JUNE 29TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY, GLORIOUS, AND ALL-FAMED CHIEFS OF THE APOSTLES, PETER AND PAUL

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 9th June, our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the
feast of the Holy, Glorious, and All-famed Chiefs of the
Apostles, PETER AND PAUL.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

O FOREMOST of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede
ye with the Master of all that He grant peace to the world and great
mercy to our souls.

Hypakoe. Plagal of Fourth Tone

What prison hath not had thee as its prisoner? What church hath not
had thee as her orator? Damascus maketh muh of thee, O Paul for it
saw thee bereaved of sight; Rome received thy blood, and she too doth
boast; but Tarsus rejoiceth yet more, and with longing she honereth thy
swaddling bands, O Apostle Paul, thou boast of the world, be quick to
make us steadfast.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

Thou hast taken to Thyself, O Lord, the firm and God-proclaiming
heralds, the chief Apostles, for the enjoyment of Thy blessings and
for repose; for Thou hast accepted their labors and death as above
all sacrifice, O Thou Who alone knowest the secrets of our hearts.

The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas, thou shall be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)" (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, whe in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by the pagan Emperor Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68 A.D. leaving two Catholic (General) Epistles to the Church of Christ.

PAUL, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the Tribe of Benjamin, having Tarsus as his homeland. He was a Roman citizen, fluent in the Greek language, an expert in knowledge of the Law, a Pharisee, born of a Pharisee, and a disciple of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and notable teacher of the Law in Jerusalem. For this cause, from the beginning, Paul was a most fervent zealot for the traditions of the Jews and a great persecutor of the Church of Christ; at that time, his name was Saul (Acts 22:3-4). In his great passion of rage and fury against the Disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus bearing letters of introduction from the high priest. HIs intention was to bring the Disciples of Christ back to Jerusalem in bonds. As he was approaching the city of Damascus, about midday there suddenly shone upon him a Light from Heaven. Falling on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" And he asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest, it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." And that heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city,and on account of a Divine revelation to the Apostle Ananias, he was baptized by him, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Sun of Righteousness. And straightway–O wondrous transformation!–beyond all expectation, he spoke with boldness in the synagogues, proclaiming that "Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 9:1-21).

As for his zeal in preaching the Gospel after these things had come to pass, as for this unabating labours and afflictions of diverse kinds, the wounds, the prisons, teh bonds, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, the journeys, the perils on land, on seas, in cities, in wilderness, the continual vigils, the daily fasting, the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and all those other things that he endured for the Name of Christ, and which he underwent before nations and kings and the Israelites, and above all, his care for all the churches, his fiery longing for the salvation of all, whereby he became all things to all men, that he might save the all if possible, and because of which, with his heart aflame, he continuously travelled throughout all parts, visiting them all, and like a bird of heaven flying from Asia and Europe, the West and East, neither staying nor abiding in anyone place–all these things are related incident by incident in the Book of Acts, and as he himself tells them in his Epistles. His Epistles, being fourteen (14) in number, are explained in 250 homilies by Saint John Chrysostom and make manifest the loftiness of his thoughts, the abundance of the revelation made to him, the wisdom given to him from God, wherewith he brings together in a wondrous manner the Old with the New Testaments, and expounds the mysteries thereof which had been concealed under types; he confirms the doctrines of the Faith, expounds the ethical teaching of the Gospel, and demonstrates with exactness the duties incumbent upon every rank, age, and order of man. In all thee things his teaching proved to e a spiritual trumpet, and his speech was seen to be more radiant than the sun, and by these means he clearly sounded forth the word of truth and illuminated the ends of the world. Having completed the work of his ministry, he likewise ended his life in martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero, at the same time, some say, when Peter was crucified. [Source: The Great Horologion\

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

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

THE KNEELING DIVINE SERVICE ON PENTECOST SUNDAY

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

AGAIN, ON BENDED KNEES, LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

[As the faithful kneel, the Priest, also kneeling at the Royal Doors

and facing the people, reads the first Prayers aloud.]

Lord, pure and undefiled, existing before all eternity, invisible, incomprehensible, unsearchable, unchanging, surpassed by none, and to be calculated, long-suffering, the only immortal One, You abide in the unapproachable Light. You created heaven and earth, and all the creatures that inhabit them, supplying all their needs even before they ask. To You we pray and You we entreat, loving Master, the Father of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to be Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin May, the Glorious Theotokos. At first You taught in words, but then showed us by deeds, when in enduring the saving Passion You gave to us Your humble, sinful and unworthy servants an example of how to offer our prayers in the bending of our heads and knees for our own transgressions and for the failing of the people….grant forgiveness to those who hope in You; REMIT THEM AND US OUR SINS; CLEANSE US THROUGH THE WORK OF YOUR Holy Spirit; put an end to the wiles of the enemy…Hear our prayer and that of all Your people, and forgive us all our deliberate and unwitting sins; receive our evening petitions and send upon Your inheritance the abundance of Your mercy and compassion. Encompass us with Your Holy Angels; arm us with the weapons of Your Righteousness; fortify us within Your truth; make Your strength our garrison, spare us all adverse circumstances and all assaults of the adversary. Finally, vouchsafe to us this evening, and the impending night, perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, free of disturbing visions, and all the days of our lives, through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos and of all the Saints who hae pleased You through the ages.

In our Holy Orthodox Church, kneeling is a pious practice during certain parts of the Divine Liturgy, including the Great Vespers service on Pentecost Sunday. During this divine service, the clergy and laity kneel while three special prayers of Saint Basil the Great are read:

PETITIONS: Prayers for God’s mercy, the Holy Spirit, and the souls of the
departed.
FORGIVENESS: Prayers asking for forgiveness, freedom from oppression,
and for prayers to be heard.
RECALLING THE FATHER: Prayers that recall what the Father has done
for us, including creation, the Ministry of Christ, and the sending down
on them the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The kneeling prayers are symbolic and have profound meaning. For example, the kneeling signifies that after 60 days of Pascal joy, the Church is about to begin its pilgrimage through history. The prayers also show that our lives are lived under the gaze and grace of the Holy Trinity. The divine prayers were composed by Saint Basil the Great in the 4th century.
The kneeling prayers contain petitions for the mercy of God, for the sending down of the Holy Spirit, and also prayers for the souls of the reposed. These prayers have their own special symbolic meaning. They were introduced into church service in order to give strength to the faithful while keeping within the church mood of piety and humility, and also to enable them, following the example of the Apostles, to be in constant vigilance to receive the Grace of God.

"We are invited to kneel. This is our first kneeling since Pascha. It signifies that after these fifty days of Paschal joy and fullness, of experiencing the Kingdom of God, the Church now is about to begin her pilgrimage through time and history. It is evening again, and the night approaches, during which temptations and failures awaits us, when, more than anything else, we need Divine help, that presence and power of the Holy Spirit, who has already revealed to us the joyful End, who now will help us in our effort towards fulfillment and salvation.."

Together, bowing low, we bowed our hearts and cried out asking the Holy Spirit to help us, yearning to be taught how to pray and better follow the true path in these dark and difficult times where the foundation, and boundaries, of society are crumbling.
Together, bowin-low, we bowed our hearts and called to remembranance all those who have finished "the race" and completed
"the marathon" of life, yet remain united with us through the love of God.

Each day we are all called to bow our hearts “unto the Lord ” and truly realize what an incredible, and sobering, act is to enter into such prayers – supplicating the Holy Trinity is a serious gift.

Knowing that everyone is spiritually ill and that all of us are sinners, how can we not thank God for the opportunity to be forgiven and be healed? How often does our Holy Orthodox Church remind us that the church is a hospital, a place of reconciliation, a place of spiritual renewal, the only place where a believer can be given the immortal medicine from the Divine hands of the Physician of our souls and bodies Himself. All wounds are healed and once again we are restored to spiritual health and well being. But as everyone knows it takes faith, trust, obedience, humility, and being willing to surrender to Him without any hesitation or fear.

No priest should treat the divine service of the Sunday of Pentecost Vespers as a regular vespers because it is not. This Great Vespers is unique in its composition, intent, and outcome. This Office, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Holy Spirit, that is Monday, is conducted immediately after the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is invoked to bestow His Divine grace, while kneeling, on each member of the Church as well as forgive him/her from all sins committed. The priest reads:
"…As we now pray to You, hear us, and be mindful that we are lowly and deserving of judgment; recall our souls from the bondage of sin. Your own compassion interceding for us. Accept us as we kneel before You cry the familiar, "I have sinned!" We have been dependent on You from our mother’s womb; You are our God. But because our days have been vainly squandered, we are stripped of Your help, without any defense. Even so, encouraged by Your mercies, and purge our secret thoughts…
From Your Holy Dwelling place look down upon the people present here in expectation of Your rich mercy; VISIT US IN YOUR GOODNESS; FREE US FROM THE OPPRESSION OF THE EVIL ONE; MAKE OUR LIVES SECURE WITHIN YOUR HOLY AND SACRED LAWS. ENTRUST YOUR PEOPLE TO A FAITHFUL GUARDIAN ANGEL; GATHER US ALL UNTO YOUR KINGDOM; GRANT FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO HOPE IN YOU; REMIT THEM AND US OUR SINS;CLEANSE US THROUGH THE WORK OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT; PUT AN END TO THE WILES OF THE ENEMY.

As Orthodox priests we have a sacred duty to protect, promote, and preserve our Holy Tradition from any defilement or omission. It is not very hard to begin deletion of one tradition after another. I believe that is called a hatchet job. What does this accomplish, if anything at all. We have witnessed what has taken place in other Christian confessions i.e. Anglican and Roman Catholic and how it has devastated its membership and created the opportunity to implode from within. Their members were left with confusion, fear, sadness, and outright panic. They left in droves to enter another Christian tradition with a more stable,sound, and one with a more secure history. Orthodox Christianity is "Orthodox" because the Church is founded on Jesus Christ Who is indeed the same "YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOREVER." [Hebrews 13:8] In other words, THE TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE!

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

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

THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE DIVINE PENTECOST AND THE DESCEND OF THE HOLY SPRIT UPON HIS HOLY DISCIPLES

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Lord, God and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

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

THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE DIVINE PENTECOST AND
THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON HIS HOLY
DISCIPLES

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Great Feast. Mode pl. 4.

BLESSED are Thou, O Christ our God. Thou
sent down the Holy Spirit into the fishermen,
and Thou gave them knowledge and wisdom
in everything; and through them, as in a net
Thou caught the whole world, O Lord Who
loves humanity, glory to Thee.
+

Before Christ Ascended into Heaven He gave a commend to His Disciples to return to Jerusalem after His Ascension and remain there until they were iINVESTED WITH THE POWER FROM HEAVEN. Thus He gave them the promise that they would receive the Holy Spirit, about which He had spoken during His life.

This promise by Christ to the Disciples was realized FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASCHA AND TEN DAYS AFTER HIS ASCENSION TO HEAVEN. Thus in the Church we have observed the Feast of Pentecost, in which we honor the Holy Trinity, and on the following day we celebrate and glorify the Holy Spirit. So the Feast of Pentecost IS A FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

The Feast of Pentecost is also included in what the Church calls the "Twelve Feasts”, because it is the last feast of the Divine Economy. The Incarnation of Christ was aimed at victory over death and the COMING OF THE Holy Spirit into the hearts of men. Moreover, it is well known tha the purpose of the Ecclesiastical and spiritual life IS THAT WE SHOULD BECOME MEMBERS OF THE Body of Christ and RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. THESE TWO ARE INSEPARABLY LINKED TOGETHER.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit took place on Sunday. And here we see the value of Sunday, for the Great Feasts of the Lord took place on it. According to Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite, THE CREATION OF THE WORLD BEGAN ON THE FIRST DAY, THAT IS TO SAY ON SUNDAY. FOR IT WAS THEN THAT LIGHT WAS CREATED; THE RENEWAL OF CREATION BEGAN ON SUNDAY WITH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST; THE COMPLETION OF CREATION TOOK PLACE ON SUNDAY WITH THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE MAKING OF CREATION WAS DONE BY THE FATHER WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE RENEWAL WAS DONE BY THE SON WITH THE GOOD WILL OF THE FATHER AND THE COOPERATION (SYNERGY) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE COMPLETION OF CREATION WAS DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER AND IS SENT BY THE SON.

Of course, in saying these things, we are giving importance to the Persons that played the leading part in the creation, RENEWAL AND COMPLETION OF CREATION. But finally, as we have been taught and we believe, HE ENERGY OF THE Triune God is theirs in common, and ONE Person can never be separated and isolated from the others in the Holy Trinity.

The Christian Pentecost in which we celebrate the Descent of the Holy Spirit coincides with the Jewish Pentecost. It was on the day when the Jews were celebrating Pentecost THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON THE HOLY APOSTLES AND MADE THEM MEMBERS OF THE RIDEN BODY OF CHRIST.

The Great Feast of Pentecost is a feast of the Holy Spirit, because we learn from the Descent of the Holy Spirit that GOD IS THREE-FOLD. Previously too, both obscurely in the Old Testament and in Christ’s teaching, people were learning the Trinitarian Character of God, but at Pentecost they acquired practical experience of His Three-Fold Hypostasis. Thus Pentecost is a Feast of orthodox theology.

The Holy Fathers lived this mystery as far as it is possible in the experience of revelation. Saint Gregory the Theologian speaks of three lights which shone round him during the revelation which he had. He writes: "No sooner do I come to understand the one, than I am shone round by the three, no sooner do I disnite the three than I am brought back to the one".

The mystery of the HolyTrinity has been revealed to us by Christ Himself, Who told His Disciples that the Holy Spirit PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER and is SENT by Himself (John 15:26). This means that the Son of God does not take part in the procession of the Holy Spirit, but has a part in His sending and His mission to the world, and this sending is the MANIFESTATION OF THE Holy Spirit in energy. Thus, as Saint Gregory Palamas explains, THE HOLY SPIRIT PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER, BUT WE CAN SAY THAT IT IS SENT BY THE SON ONLY IN HIS ENERGY AND MANIFESTATION TO THE WORLD AND NOT IN ITS BEING IN ESSENCE. THE BEING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DIFFERENT THING FROM HIS MANIFESTATION IN ENERGY.

Many names have been given to the Holy Spirit. One of them, which also shows the work which He does in the Church as well as in the lives of the people is the name "COMFORTER". Christ Himself used this word for the Holy Spirit when He said to His Disciples shortly before His Passion: "i will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever – the Spirit OF TRUTH" (John 14:16-17). And a little further on, the Holy Spirit is characterized by Christ as the ‘PARAKLETE’, THE COMFORTER WHO WILL TEACH THE DISCIPLES AND WILL REMIND THEM OF EVERYTHING HE HAS SAID DURING HIS LIFE. "But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" {John 14:25]. Having the assurance that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, we pray to Him: "Heavenly King, Comforter, the spirit of Truth, Thou are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life come and abide in us,and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One!

The Holy Spirit comforts the person who IS STRUGGLING AGAINST SIN, trying to keep Christ’s commandments in his life. This struggle is hard, because the fight is against evil spirits. Therefore the Holy Spirit is a comforter, or one who consoles men, as Saint John Chrysostom says. He is a mark of God that He consoles men, as God is characterized by the same term as the Holy Spirit….the Holy Spirit is CONSUBSTANTIAL WITH THE SON AND FATHER, BECAUSE ALL THREE PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY HAVE A COMMON ESSENCE OR NATURE, AND A COMMON ENERGY OF INTENTION GLORY. This is why wherever Christ is, there is the Holy Spirit, and wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is Christ. Source: The Twelve Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos)

(To be continued)

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

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


Thou

GOD IS AGAPE (LOVE)

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

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

GOD IS AGAPE (LOVE)

“HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT
KNOW GOD, FOR GOD IS AGAPE (LOVE)
[1 John 4:8].

“God is agape” is not a definition of who God is, but rather a description or His relationship to us as our heavenly Father and Creator. As the “only begotten Son” (v. 9) sacrificially gave Himself “that we might live through Him” (v. 9), so we are to give yourselves to Him and to “one another” (v. 11). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves God is born of God and knows God” [1 John 4:7]. As Orthodox Christians we constantly say Christ Who is God, Who is Agape. He is agape, He gives agape, He gives us the ability to love. We learn how to love from Him for He is the par excellence example of agape.

How do we know we are acting with agape? Saint Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 gives specific characteristics of genuine agape: (1) “suffers long”, is patient, it is “kind”, gentle, especially with those who hurt (Ephesians 4:32); “it does not envy”, is not jealous of what others have; it “does not parade itself”, put itself on display (John 3:30), it is “not puffed up”, arrogant, proud (Galatians 6:3), it not act “rudely”, mean-spiritedly, insulting others; it “does not seek its own” way act pushy; it “is not provoked” or angered; it “thinks no evil” does not keep score of others (Mark 3:5) it “rejoices in the truth” is joyful when righteousness prevails (2 John 4); it “bears all things”, handles the burdensome; it “believes all things” trusts in God no matter what; it “hopes all things”, keeps looking up, does not despair (Philippians 3:13); it “endures all things” “put up with everything”; it “never fails”. THE ONLY THING AGAPE CANNOT DO IS FAIL GOD IS ETERNAL, COMPLETE AND FULFILLING.

Saint Symeon the Theologian states:
O Holy Love (i,e, the Holy Spirit of God), he who knows you not has never
tasted the sweetness of Thy mercies which only living experience can give us.
But he who has known Thee, or who has been known by Thee, can never have
even the smallest doubt. for Thou are the fulfillment of the law, Thou who fills,
burns, inflames, embraces my heart with a measureless love. Thou are the
Teacher of the Prophets, the offspring of the Apostles, the strength of the Martyrs,
the inspiration of the Fathers and masters, the perfecting of all the Saints. Only
Thou, O Love, prepare even me for the true service of God. (Homily 53).

No human being is capable to comprehend the enormity of Divine agape for it is unfathomable and a great mystery. Everything that the Almighty God does has its root on Divine agape. Divine agape in the purest form of love. Man’s love, however, is corrupt. and impure, self-centered, conditional, selfish, dishonest, limited and perverted. Truly mankind has absolutely no understanding of what genuine agape is. We witness Divine Agape on Christ’s supreme Sacrifice on the Cross. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” [John 15:13]. Indeed, God does love us unconditionally, no matter what our response. But His unconditional love does us no good unless we keep His Divine Commandments and abide in His agape. We show our love for God by obeying Him.

The Orthodox Christian invites God’s agape to dwell in his/her heart. The Holy Apostle Paul says, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the INNER MAN, THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH, THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHAT IS THE WIDTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT –TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSES KNOWLEDGE, THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD” [Ephesians 3:16-19].

Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is teaching His disciples their agape ought to be so strong that they would be willing to sacrifice, to die, for one another. The agape of Christ which “surpasses knowledge” means that it is so vast, so great, so overwhelming and so Divine that is outside of human knowledge. The only way it can be grasped is spiritually, through the Spirit of Christ which is the Spirit of God, which indwells the true believer. “And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures” [Luke 24:45]. Understanding is not merely intellectual, but a full experiential, spiritual understanding. To comprehend and receive the spiritual value of Holy Scripture is a gift of the Risen Lord through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Divine agape if implemented by man would transform us and the world if mankind would be willing to surrender to it. Why would anyone be afraid to trust God’s love for us? What more proof do we need than Jesus’ coming into the world, to take the form of a man (incarnation), to bring forgiveness, healing, to walk among us, to free humanity from sin and death, to die on the Cross to save us and to reconcile us on to Himself and to grant Eternal Life in His Everlasting Kingdom? If mankind would willingly accept fully His Divine Agape to take hold of the world, there would be no evil, no hatred, no malice, no corruption,, no wars, no murder, no infirmities, no despair, no sin, no lawlessness, no unhappiness, and therefore, the world would become a Heavenly Kingdom. Christ, our Lord, God and Savior would dwell in our hearts and we would always be in His presence.

There is no time to lose for the Kingdom of God is near. We see clearly that mankind. if continued in this disastrous path, will lead to the annihilation of its existence. Without God there is no peace! There is no love, no hope, no SALVATION! There are dark powers throughout the world that seek to subjugate and enslave humanity. These dark powers believe themselves to be gods and who arrogantly and openly say that they are superior to others and that the world and all of humanity belongs to them. They feel that they are not accountable to anyone for foolishly they have convinced themselves that there is no God. They definitely are the manifestation of the Artichrist. The Holy Apostle John writes, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME BY WHICH WE KNOW THAT IS THE LAST HOUR” [Matthew 20:6].

“The last hour” is the era of the New Covenant, the ELEVENTH HOUR.” THE DECEPTIONS ARE AT HAND ARE IN VIEW, rather than a specific prediction of the end of the world. “MANY ANTICHRISTS” ARE THE HERETICS, THROUGH WHOM THE Antichrist of the end of the end time (see 2 Thessalonians 2] is dong his spadework. The heretics are his evil instruments who have surrendered their souls to him. These are the DARK POWERS IN THE WORLD!

Christians must always remain vigilant and alert and possess the gift of discernment to know right from wrong, goodness from evil. To practice UNCEASING PRAYER and worship. Be humble and obedient to our Lord, God and Jesus Christ and only listen to Him, to His Divine Gospel, to the teachings of Our Holy Orthodox Church. Have compassion and love to your fellow man, to your neighbor. Tun away from sin and evil and instead strive for righteousness.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Amen.

___________
“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

 

THE DIVINE AND GLORIOUS ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (Part II)

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

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

THE DIVINE AND GLORIOUS ASCENSION OF OUR LORD, GOD,
AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Great Feast.

Thou ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
after Thou filled the Disciples with joy, by
promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and
Thou blessed them and established their faith,
that Thou are the Son of God, the Redeemer
of the world.

Kontakion Hymn of the Feast.

When Thou had fulfilled the dispensation for our
sake, and united things on earth with the things in
heaven, Thou were taken up thither in glory,
O Christ our God, going not away from any place,
but continuing inseparable, and to them that love Thee
crying out: “I am with you, and there is, therefore,
none against you.”

At the Ascension Christ had the wounds of the Cross on His Body and HE is on the Throne of the Father with these. Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite collected Patristic passages in which one can see why Christ after His Resurrection left on His Body the wounds made by the nails and the spear, while He could have healed them. He gave five reasons. First, to adorn and beautify His body. Just as the windows in houses are a decoration, because they transmit the light of the sun, so it is too with the Body of Christ (Saint Gregory Palamas). Second, He left the wounds open for Thomas to feel them and to theologize about the Resurrection, to confess that He is God and man. Third, to show the great love which He has for man, because He suffered and in the fact, boasts about these marks of the Cross. Fourth, He left the holes open so that we may take shelter in them in time of trial and be covered, just as the pigeon runs to its nest when it is pursued by a hawk. Fifth, He left the wounds for the Jews to see and recognize on the Day of Judgment. In the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) it says every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7).

Among other things He said, “I am going to send you what My Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). We find the same information in the Acts of the Apostles: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He also gave there a commandment: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift of My Father promised” [Acts 1:4).

 
   The Holy Disciples obeyed Christ’s command and, after worshipping Him, “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  And they were continually in the Temple, praising God” (Acts 24:52-53).  Indeed, as it says in the Acts of the Apostles, they went up into the Upper Room and “they all joined together persevering in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers”  (Luke 24:52-53).
 
  Interpreting these passages, in which we can see both Christ’s command and the Disciples’ OBEDIENCE TO IT, we can observe some interesting  points.
   First,  The Holy Disciples left the Mount of Olives with great joy.  Although they had been deprived of Christ, they were exceedingly glad, precisely because they had the assurance that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and then they would be MEMBERS of His Body.  Actually, being deprived of Chris in the flesh was a blessing, because they gained another COMMUNION AND UNITY WITH Him.  Moreover, Christ had assured them:  “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself”  (John 12:32).  Thus the Holy Disciples’ joy had two reasons.  First,  the hope of partaking of the Holy Spirit and second, the fact that they were granted to be personal eye-and ear-witnesses of such Great Mystery.
 
   Second.  Between the Ascension and Pentecost there was a period of PRAYER, SUPPLICATION AND STILLNESS, HESYCHIA of both body and soul.  NO ONE CAN PARTAKE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UNLESS HE IS IN A STATE OF PRAYER AND INNER NEPSIS.  Moreover, the practical life, which is the keeping of Christ’s commandments prepares the ground for what is called PURE PRAYER, AND PRAYER IS THE BASIC PRECONDITION FOR ACQUIRING AND PARTAKING OF THE GIFT OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT.
 
  THIRD.  The Holy Disciples are constantly gathered together, persevering with the Panagia, Christ’s Mother, in their midst.  This shows the value of the worship of the Church, because AT THE CENTER, IS THE PERSON  MOST BELOVED TO CHRIST AND TO THE CHRISTIANS, THE PANAGIA (ALL-HOLY MOTHER OF GOD] THE THEOTOKOS did not claim any authority or any function in the Church, but SHE WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE WORSHIP, THE MOST PRECIOUS TREASURE THE CHURCH HAD AND HAS.

FOURTH. We should always OBEY CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD AND HOLY RESULT. If the Holy Disciples had not returned to Jerusalem, if in their distress they had departed each in his own house, they would not have been granted the great gift of receiving the Holy Spirit and of becoming MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. THUS THEY DID NOT SIMPLY KEEP THE COMMANDMENT, BUT THEY WERE PROTECTED BY IT.

Christ’s Holy Ascension is celebrated in hymns and spiritual chants, but AT THE SAME TIME IN ACTION AND VISION OF GOD, WHICH MEANS WITH PURITY AND ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS. Within this struggle and illumination the person rejoices at the great meaning and very deep content of the Feast. Then he/she rejoice exceedingly over the Feast of the Lord. By His Ascension “to the place where He was before”, Christ showed THAT HE WAS NOT MERELY A MAN OR THE SON OF JOSEPH THE CARPENTER , But the Son of God (Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite). Also, is that the joy comes FROM THE LIFTING UP AND ASCENT OF OUR NATURE (St. Gregory Palamas), This of course also closely CONNECTED WITH THE ASCENSION OF EVERY PERSON WHO BELIEVES AND IS JOINED TO CHRIST. Thus the Head of our body is on the Throne of God. SO ALSO OUR LIMBS CAN AWAKEN FROM THE SLEEP OF SIN AND BE DEIFIED (THEOSIS).

Christ’s Holy Ascension is the jewel OF ALL THE FEASTS OF THE LORD, THE COMPLETION OF ALL THAT CHRIST DID FOR US, THROUGH THE WORK OF THE DIVINE DISPENSATION. This consummate feast INVITES US TO SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND FULLNESS , TO PARTICIPATE IN CHRIST’S ASCENSION AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR OWN ASCENSION. (Source: The Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos HIEROTHEOS)
________________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in Our Lord’s Divine Ascension,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

THE GREAT FEAST DAY OF THE DIVINE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

THE GREAT FEAST DAY OF THE HOLY ASCENSION
OF OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Forty days after His Resurrection Christ ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, where He had been previously, according to His own words to the Disciples before His Passion: “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” (John 6:61-62). Of course this does not mean that Christ, as God, was not in heaven during the time of His Incarnation, but that He would go up even with His Human flesh. Moreover, His coming down from heaven is meant as Divine condescension and not as a change of place.

In the time between His Resurrection and Ascension He appeared many times to His Disciples, to whom He revealed the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, according to the words of Saint Luke: “to whom he also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

The feast of the Lord’s Ascension has great meaning and importance for the Christian and spiritual life, because it is connected with the THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) of every person. In what follows, presenting the central Christological points of this Great Feast of the Lord,

Let us see exactly what Holy Scripture says about the Divine Ascension. The Old Testament makes prophecies about this Great Event, and the New Testament presents it. The Prophet Ezekiel saw a vision, which certainly refers to Christ’s Ascension: “Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the Cherubim. And the Cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight” (Ezekiel 10: 18-19).

In the teaching of Christ Himself, and in His speech to the Disciples before His Passion He said the following: “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father” (John 16:28). And in another situation Christ gave assurance: “No one has ascended to heaven but the one who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of man who is in heaven” (John 3:13).

In the Holy Scripture it is seen clearly that Christ went up to Heaven with His Body, because, as we know from the teaching of our Church, the Divine Nature has never been separated from the human Human Nature. Christ’s Ascension took place in stillness, for only the Apostles were present, but in spite of these things it became known to all the ends of the world. No one was unaware of it. This shows that all the great happenings take place in stillness and silence. While the REGENERATION OF MAN seems to be unseen by the eyes of the secular world, nevertheless it causes the greatest astonishment in the whole universe. There is no greater proof of the existence of God than the lives of the Saints. Most of them were unknown to the world, but the grace of God made them known to the whole universe and to all the ages.

Saint Luke gives us a detail that is characteristic, because it shows the way in which Christ went up to heaven. When He was leading His Disciples as far as Bethany, “He lifted up His hands, and blessed them, and it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51). He did not bless them and then go up into heaven, but He was blessing them as He ascended. “As He blessed them He parted from them and was taken up into heaven.” He began to bless them, GIVING THEM POWER FOR SUCCESS IN DOING THE COMMANDMENTS. By this He showed that He would always continue blessing His own, granting them His abundant and infinite grace.

This image is presented in holy iconography by Christ enthroned blessing the people. Essentially it is a matter of the truth that Christ is King and Lord of Heaven and earth, it is He Who sends grace and blessing to people. He is the only blessed one, Who by His blessing, strengthens and makes worthy of the blessing those who are blessed. The holy icon of the Ascension is splendid. The Holy Disciples were astonished and watched with joy and wonder as He ascended into heaven. Saint Luke reports: “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up… and while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up…” (Acts 1:9-10).

The posture, apart from the sense of the grandeur of the image of the ascended Christ also has the meaning that the Christians have the eye of their soul, the NOUS, FIXED ON HEAVEN. It is in this light that we should view the Liturgical exhortation of the priest “LET US LIFT UP OUR HEARTS” or in the Divine Liturgy of the brother of God James, “LET US LIFT UP OUR NOUS AND HEARTS.” And this is important, because OUR CITIZENSHIP IS NOT ON EARTH, BUT IN HEAVEN, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). And in another place the Apostle Paul sends word: “Set your mind on things above, not in on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

During the Event of the Ascension it is said that while the Holy Disciples were looking at Christ Ascending to Heaven, “a cloud hid Him from their sight”, Then two men “dressed in white” stood beside them and said that Christ would come back again in the same way” (Acts 1:9-11). Thus we have plenty of Angels at Christ’s Ascension, even with the type and shape of the cloud as well as the type of men who were wearing white clothing. Saint John Chrysostom says that this is natural, because if all the air is filled with Angels, it must have been filled much more with the Angelic powers on the day when Christ ascended into Heaven.

The Angels are SPIRITUAL CREATURES who were made by God and have a double function. The first is to glorify God unceasingly, as we see in may texts of the Old Testament, and the second from the verb to announce and indicates those who make things known, who convey the message of man’s salvation. The presence of the Angels at Christ’s Ascension was prophesied in the Old Testament. The Prophet Ezekiel saw a splendid sight: “While I watched, the Cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went the wheels went with them” (Ezekiel 10:19). And King David writes: “He mounted the Cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind” (Psalm 18:10). (Source: The Twelve Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

(To be continued)

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

With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Ascension,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father Goorge

IS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION ATTAINABLE?

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

IS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION ATTAINABLE?

"Jesus said to him, ‘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].

Jesus said, "Therefore YOU SHALL BE PERFECT, just
as your Father in heaven IS PERFECT" [Matthew 5:48].

"…Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, TO A PERFECT MAN,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ” [Ephesians 4:13].
+



As Orthodox Christians, we only need to look closely at the divine person of the Theotokos, the lives of the countless, Saints, Holy Fathers, Holy Mothers, Holy Confessors, Holy Martyrs, to truly understand what it means to be perfect, to attain holiness and ultimately theosis. Theosis is the spiritual goal of each Orthodox Christian who is involved in a movement toward God. Theosis, or deification, is the process of becoming more like God and more holy, and of experiencing communion with God. It is a spiritual journey that involves acquiring godly characteristics, gaining immortality and incorruptibility, and becoming united with God. Orthodox Christians believe that God intended this process for humanity at creation, but that the Fall caused humans to lose the ability to achieve it. We believe that the Incarnation and work of Jesus Christ have made it possible again.

For the Orthodox Christian believer, salvation is a process that encompasses not only the whole earthly life of the Christian, but also the Eternal LIfe of the age to come. It is often described in terms of the three stages-PURIFICATION (katharsis), ILLUMINATION (theoria) and DIVINIZATION (theosis). SALVATION is therefore not only becoming sinless (purification), but it is also progress in being filled with the Divine Light (illumination). And it is becoming so filled with God in union with Him that we shine with the likeness of God. In some cases that means even literally becoming a bearer of the Uncreated Light, which is a physically visible ligtht from God that is His presence, such as at the Transfiguration [Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36] or when Moses spoke with God on Mt. Sinai [Exodus 34:29-35]. Though this terminology of three stages is sometimes used, there is overlap between them, and the whole process itself is also called theosis.

It is only and through Jesus Christ that we can be saved [John 14:6]. SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED. IT IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD. But being saved requires OUR COOPERATION (SYNERGY) WITH GOD, because God will NOT VIOLATE OUR FREE WILL. A life of REPENTANCE IS NEEDED – that’s TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SIN AND TOWARD GOD. Along with repentance, participation in the DIVINE MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS), like baptism and Holy Communion, is how we cooperate with God. God’s grace not only forgives sins through Christ’s ATONING SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS BUT ALSO MAKES US MORE LIKE CHRIST. This cooperation is called SYNERGY (SYNERGEIA), MAKING US CO-WORKERS WITH GOD [1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:10.


   Having made clear the Orthodox Christian theological position on theosis (deification) one understands there is a great deal more to attaining it than a luke-warm effort on our part.  As anyone can see, there is a life-time commitment and sacrifice that a believer must be willing to undertake.  No Christian should ever be satisfied with one's weak expressions of faith.  The basic characteristics of Christians, are the virtues which contribute to UNITY: though we are many persons, we share ONE NEW NATURE.  Though we are members of the Most  Exalted  body,  the Greatness is of God, not of ourselves.  Even the cohesiveness  of this body is the work of God.

   The nature of man is to reduce everything to the least degree so as not exert himself or over work.  We need to pay a greater attention to man's inventions and technology to see the things he has invented to make his life more comfortable, effortless, and convenient.  Especially currently the advancements in science and artificial intelligence (AI).  Man desires his future life to be effortless, painless, and with absolutely no demands on him or responsibilities.  Christianity does not agree to man's obsession with comfort, pleasure, and aimlessness.   Christians are expected to grow in Christ and to progress spiritually.  The Holy Church in which Christian life develops, is not primarily an organization, but an ORGANISM WHOSE PARTS OR MEMBERS RECEIVE THEIR EDIFYING POWER FROM CHRIST GROW UP INTO CHRIST.  The Holy Apostle Paul does not look at the Christian as AN ISOLATED INDIVIDUAL WALKING TOWARDS PERFECTION, BUT AS  A MEMBER OF THE BODY, STRIVING TO REACH THE PERFECT FAITH AND FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD.  Thus UNITY OF FAITH CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD. 

   The life of the Orthodox Christian is a life of constant struggle and ascesis.  The process of Christian growth requires SOUR FREE-WILL COMMITMENT TO WALK IN "RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS."  Saint Paul exhorts us, "This I say, therefore,  and testify in the Lord, that you  should no longer WALK AS THE REST OF THE GENTILES WALK, IN THE FUTILITY OF THEIR MIND, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But you have NOT so learned Christ, IF INDEED YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS:  THAT YOU PUT OFF, CONCERNING YOUR FORMER CONDUCT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS, AND TO BE RENEWED TO THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS" [Ephesians 4:17-24].

A child of the light can no longer act as a child of darkness. A change of life-style is possible because of Christ, the original NEW MAN." So Christ MUST BE "LEARNED," and RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM MUST "BE RENEWED," a process implying INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP. Further, Christ must be "PUT ON", a clothing metaphor, an allusion to baptism and the haptismal robe. While spiritual grace makes man heavenly, righteousness is both a gift and a goal, a present reality and a promise to be striven for. The way we live AFFECTS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, but also with each other–FOR IN CHRIST WE ARE "MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER [4:25]. The moral conduct for the NEW HUMANITY IS THE LIFE APPROPRIATE TO A CHILD OF GOD (5:1)–of the Father (4:32-5:1), the Son of man, demonstrated in self-sacrificing service (5:2 "GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US"); and love of God; manifested in worship ("an offering and a sacrifice to" God. Saint Paul especially emphasizes that Christians must avoid sexual immorality, not just the act of thinking and talking about it also, and greed, which treats things as if they were gods. Ungodly thoughts as well as behavior can keep believers out of His Kingdom.

I believe now that we all have a better understanding of Orthodox Christian spirituality which is a life in Christ and a life in the Spirit. Most of us haven’t even scratched the surface of authentic spirituality. Contemporary Christians are confused and are lost spiritually. Because Christians are fragmented badly, they cannot come to a common understanding about the genuine Gospel message and have lost, some less and others more, sight of Christ. If one was to examine the life of an unbeliever, a Gentile, a pagan and that of some contemporary Christian, he would not see much difference in morality, in greed, in possession of things, in goals, in life-styles, in pride, in selfishness, in politics, in raising their children, in priorities, in permissiveness, etc. There are many who give their own false interpretation of the Divine Teachings of Christ God and always attempt to distort the truth. No matter how determined mankind is to adulterate and to dilute the faith he will never succeed. Saint Paul admonishes us "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" [Ephesians 4:30].

"Therefore, be IMITATORS OF GOD as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints…" [Ephesians 5:1-5]. Everything that a true Chritian needs to live a life in Christ can be found in the Holy Scripture, the Holy Tradition of the Church, and the sacred teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Church. The loyal Christian follower does not make any compromises in anything pertaining to the Faith, does not listen to the secular world and government which are contrary to the commandments of God, does not fear persecution of any kind, is willing to confess openly his/her faith in the only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ and his/her love for Him is unconditional as is God’s love for mankind.

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

With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

THE LORD SAID: “WATCH AND PRAY, LEST YOU ENTER INTO TEMPTATION…” Matthew 26:41

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

The Lord said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" [Matthew 26:41].

"Watch and pray" is a key to Orthodox Christian spirituality and our individual struggle against wicked temptations. The Lord is praying in Gethsemane. "He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and reply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. STAY HERE AND WATCH WITH ME." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’ Then He came to the disciples and FOUND THEM SLEEPING, AND SAID TO PETER, ‘WHAT? COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?" [26:37-40].

"Watch," said the Lord, "and pray not to enter into temptation." We see how our Savior is again teaching His disciples not to be self-confident, but contrite in mind, and to be humble, and to refer all things to God. It is evident that man is still spiritually very weak and filled with arrogance, self-conceit and self-confidence. All that is reflected in the attitude of His disciples and while He was praying knowing "that the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners" [Matthew 26:45]. The "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" [Matthew 26:41]. In contrast to Jesus’ VIGILANCE, His disciples sleep. Since body and soul are united, the "spirit" is paralyzed by a lethargic body. A "willing" spirit, recognizing the weakness of the "flesh" knows it needs God’s presence and power. True prayer is nourished by ardent, VIGILANT PRAYERS.

"Pray, lest you enter not into temptation" [v. 41]. Our Lord’s admonition to His disciples was to expose and to free them from their spiritual infirmities and weaknesses. Our Lord has no fear of death but in His Divine nature He must drink the cup. As a man He wishes the chalice to pass, for it is a mark of humanity to abhor death and struggle against it. He prays, "if…possible" the suffering be taken from Him. Thus He gives abundant proof that His flesh is true flesh BUT WITHOUT SIN.

Our Lord Who is All-knowing knew that His disciples were drowning in despondence, as not to have any sense even of His presence. He did not however reprove them, but stood apart from them a little, showing their unspeakable weakness and fragile faith. "Sleep on now," He said to them, "and take your rest; behold the hour is near, and the Son of Man is BETRAYED into the hands of sinners." Because of his weak faith and belief in the Almighty God, man suffers from despondency or hopelessness. Man is known to be ruled by fear and despair. Psalm 27 itself is a confirmation of FAITH in the midst of adversity. We read, "The Lord is my Light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? …Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord" [Psalm 27: 1-2, 14].

The powerful and tyrants in the history of the world and especially inside the great empires, the emperors ruled and enslaved their citizens through fear of imprisonment, confiscating their wealth, selling them and their wives and children in slave markets, torture, and death. The people became their "subjects." In other words those who were under severe punishment submitted to the will of the dictator. This kind of fear still exists today throughout the world. The Christians were known for their great faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, were not afraid, and were willing to be tortured or to die, rather than to submit to the enemies of Christ and Faith. Proof of this over the centuries of persecutions against Christianity, are the countless martyrs who gladly gave their life for and to the glory of God.

Orthodox Christians have shown their courage and faith in Christ under some very horrific conditions such as the Roman Empire and the 500 years of enslavement, torture and death under the Ottoman Turks, the millions who were imprisoned in Syberia and elsewhere in the Communist Soviet Union who was determine to systematically eradicate and exterminate Christianity and all faith in God. Yet, not only did this attempt fail miserably but Communism collapsed and the Russian and Eastern European nations were freed from this oppression and Christianity flourished and continues to flourish once again.

Even in the most adverse, and hard times, the Christian’s faith in God must remain true and steadfast till the end. Hopelessness is faithlessness. We, as Christians, faithfully follow the Divine example of our Savior that at the time of danger we must always remain vigilant and alert and to turn to Him in prayer, seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit, strength, guidance, courage, and illumination from above. The faithful Christian has fortitude and is never willing to give in to temptation. We supplicate Jesus when we recite "And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one." Jesus says. "Now is the judgment of the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out" [John 12:31]. "Lift up" is a reference to the lifting up of Christ on the Cross, which is His Glorification and will lead to the salvation of the human race. At the same time this Great Event is a "judgment" on the UNBELIEVING WORLD OF DARKNESS AND THE ABOLITION OF THE POWER OF "the ruler of this world, Satan.

The great example of vigilance and watchfulness are the Saints of our Holy Orthodox Church. They were constantly vigilant, watchfull, fasted, and practiced unceasing prayer. Christ’s first word, like that of Saint John the Baptist, is "REPENT" because repentance is necessary to enter and continue in His New Way of Life. Repentance (METANOIA) is man’s turning from himself to God. A Christian must also look within himself, his behavior, one’s words, feelings, his life, his priorities, his soul, his heart and to assess and evaluate himself sincerely using the Lord’s teachings and commandments as a rule. "Darkness" means ungodliness which leads to death. Having been given FREE WILL by our Merciful God, man is totally responsible for how he thinks, feels, and acts in this earthly life. We believe that nothing, but nothing, is forced upon a person, not even salvation.

Why is it crucial that we remain always on the alert? Because we have a ferocious and deadly enemy that wants our demise, Satan. Saint Maximus the Confessor says, "The rewards for the tolls of virtue are dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are the mediators of the Kingdom of Heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the mediators of Eternal punishment." The vigilant and careful Christian always seeks guidance from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to be actively present in the life of the Church. But there is a constant need of DISCERNMENT and TESTING so as to avoid being deceived and misled. It is always possible to get "carried away," and "led" into error. For not all gifts are from the Holy Spirit. Demons lurk behind "dumb idols" speaking evil."

Spiritually the average Christian is spiritually naive, immature and an easy target. Man, without the help and guidance of our Savior Christ is no match for the evil one who is cunning and the archdeiver. The Holy Apostle Peter warns us and says, "Be sober, BE VIGILANT, because your adversary (enemy) the devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR" (1 Peter 5:8]. There should be no doubt at all that the devil and his angels explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. The enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin. No one should ever underestimate the enemy, his deviousness, hatred and wickedness he has for us because he is committed to destroy us. However, everyone must understand that our Merciful and Loving God will never surrender us to him. We are His children, and He will continue to protect and guide each, and everyone of us, if we allow Him to do so.

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things1"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST REMAINS IN THE HOLY GIFTS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST REMAINS
IN THE HOLY GIFTS

1. Although the bread and wine ARE TRANSFORMED IN THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) into the Body and Blood of the Lord, He IS PRESENT in this Mystery (Sacrament) "WITH ALL HIS BEING," that is, WITH HIS SOUL AND WITH HIS VERY DIVINITY which is inseparably UNITED WITH HUMANITY.

2..Although, further, the Body and Blood of the Lord are broken in the Mystery of Communion and distributed, still WE BELIEVE THAT "IN EVERY PART"–EVEN IN THE SMALLEST PARTICLE–of the Holy Mysteries, those who receive Communion RECEIVE THE ENTIRE CHRIST in His being, that is, in His soul and Divinity, AS PERFECT GOD and PERFECT MAN. This faith the Holy Church expresses in the words of the priest AT THE BREAKING OF THE HOLY LAMB: "BROKEN AND DIVIDED IS THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH IS BROKEN, THOUGH NOT DISUNITED, WHICH IS EVER EATEN, THOUGH NEVER CONSUMED, BUT SANTIFIETH THOSE THAT PARTAKE THEREOF."

3. Although at one and the same time there are many Liturgies in the universe, still there are not many Bodies of Christ, but ONE AND THE SAME CHRIST IS PRESENT AND IS GIVEN IN His body IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE FAITHFUL."

4. The bread of offering, which is prepared separately in all churches, AFTER ITS SANCTIFICATION, and offering become "ONE AND THE SAME WITH THE BODY WHICH IS IN THE HEAVENS."

5. After the TRANSFORMATION of the bread and wine in the Mystery (Sacrament) of the Eucharist into the Body and Blood, THEY NO LONGER RETURN TO THEIR FORMER NATURE, but REMAIN "the Body and Blood of the Lord forever," whether or not they are consumed by the faithful. Therefore the Orthodox Church FROM ANTIQUITY HAS HAD THE CUSTOM OF PERFORMING ON CERTAIN DAYS THE LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS, BELIEVING THAT THESE GIFTS, SANCTIFIED AT A PRECEDING LITURGY, REMAIN THE TRUE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. There has likewise been from antiquity the custom of PRESERVING THE SANCTIFIED GIFTS IN SACRED VESSELS IN ORDER TO GIVE Holy Communion to the dying. It is well known that in the ANCIENT CHURCH THERE EXISTED THE CUSTOM OF SENDING OUT THE SANCTIFIED GIFTS THROUGH DEACONS TO CHRISTIANS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY GIFTS IN CHURCH, for example to CONFESSORS, to those in prison, and to penitents. Often in antiquity believers brought the Holy Gifts with reverence from the churches to their own houses, and ascetics took Them with themselves to the desert to receive Communion.

6. Since to the God-Man Christ it is fitting to offer a single inseparable Divine worship, boht according to His Divinity and His humanity, A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR INSEPARABLE UNION, therefore also to the holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Eucharist, there should be given THE SAME HONOR AND WORSHIP WHICH WE ARE OBLIGED TO GIVE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

Personal note: Since all Orthodox Christians of true worship believe the above to be true and that indeed this is the Holy Body and Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ why was there such fear to receive them during the pandemic? Who encouraged this faithlessness among the faithful? Why did not the leadership of the Church defend the Faith but, instead, submitted to a secular government? By doing so created fear and doubt in the minds and hearts about the real of the PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN Holy Eucharist with Orthodox Christians who never ever feared Holy Communion before. "THOSE WHO RECEIVE RECEIVE THE ENTIRE CHRIST IN HIS BEING, THATIS, IN HIS SOUL AND DIVINITY AS PERFECT GOD AND PERFECT MAN." WHAT THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN RECEIVES IS NOT SYMBOLIC BUT TRUE!

To receive communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord is THE ESSENTIAL, NECESSARY, SAVING, AND CONSOLING OBLIGATION OF EVERY CHRISTIAN. This is evident from the words of the Savior which He uttered: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, ye have NO LIFE IN YOU. WHOSO EATETH MY FLESH, AND DRINKETH MY BLOOD, HATH ETERNAL LIFE" [John 6:53-54].

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

With sincere agape in His Glorious Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George



GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE GIVER OF LIFE, LIFE-CREATOR, COMFORTER, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH…

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

AN ORTHODOX PRAYER TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of
Truth Who are everywhere and filled all things.
Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come
and abide in us, and cleanse us from every
impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

ABOVE us is God the Father, the Ever-flowing Source, as it is expressed in the Church’s prayer, the Foundation of all being, the Father of mercies Who loves and cares for us. His creation–for we are His children by Grace
WITH US is God the Son, begotten by Him, Who for the sake of Divine agape has manifested Himself to men as Man so that we might know and see with our own eyes that God is with us most intimately, partaker of flesh and blood with us (Hebrews 2:14) in the most perfect way.

IN us and in all creation–by His Power and Grace–is the Holy Spirit, Who fills all things, is the Giver of Life. Life-Creator, Comforter, Treasury and Source of good things. Having an Eternal and Pre-Eternal existence, the Three Divine Persons were MANIFESTED to the world with the coming and Incarnation of the Son of God, being “ONE POWER, ONE ESSENCE, ONE GODHEAD”.

The dogma OF THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT rests upon the following direct and precise expression of the Savior: “But when the Comforter is come, Who PROCEEDETH FROM THE FATHER, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME” [John 15:26).

 
   Concerning the EQUALITY OF HONOR AND Oneness of Essence of the Spirit with the Father and the Son there is the testimony of such passes as:
   “…Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” [Matthew 28:19].

“The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God (the Father), and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all, Amen” [1 Corinthians 13:14]. Here all three Persons of the Holy Trinity are named AS EQUAL. And in the following words the Savior Himself expressed the Divine dignity of the Holy Spirit: “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME” [Matthew 12:32].

“When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will
GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH… He will glorify
Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare
it to you. All that the Father has is Mine…”
[John 16:12-13].

The Holy Fathers of the Church say that the Holy Spirit makes people to be “christs,” that is, the “anointed” children of God. This also is the teaching of the 13]. Holy Apostles in the New Testament:

“But you have been ANOINTED by the Holy One and you know
all things… and the unction [chrisma] you have received from
Him abides in you… His anointing teaches you about everything
and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in Him…
And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which
He has given us… By this we know that we abide in Him and He
in us, because He has given us of His own Spirit” [1 John 2:20-27,

3:24,].

According to Saint Seraphim of Sarov, the essence of Christian spiritual life, the very essence of life itself, is the “acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.” Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no true life for man. Saint Seraphim reminds us, “In spite of our sinfulness, in spite of the darkness surrounding our souls, the Grace of the Holy Spirit, conferred by baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, still shines in our hearts with the inextinguishable Light of Christ… and when the sinner turns to the way of repentance, the Light smooths away every trace of the sins committed, clothing the former sinner in the garments of incorruption, spun of the Grace of the Holy Spirit. It is this ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT about which I have been speaking…” [ Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Conversation with Motovilov].

Having a better understanding of God the Holy Spirit how can anyone, especially a Hierarch, Priest or Deacon of the Church not fear God? How can one allow oneself to either attempt to dismiss God from his mind or to foolishly and sinfully tolerate heresy? What we witness throughout the many centuries but specifically in our own century, the deliberate effort of the heterodox outside the Orthodox Church who are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit by their wicked behavior, their abuse of the Christian Faith, and by their so called “inclusiveness” condone, permit, and embrace all kinds of perversion which corrupts the body of their denomination and all in the name of “love.” The whole world sees the result of these blasphemous decisions and the negative impact that it has on their followers. These denominations have imploded from within and people are not only totally scandalized by it, but they are scattering and looking to find the true Church of Christ.

The Spirit of Truth will never condone evil, corruption, heresy, distortion and rebelliousness. What happened to Lucifer will happen to those who challenge God’s Divine Authority and/or His commandments. Just as he fell from Grace they too will fall from Grace. There have been many over the centuries who because of their pride, and arrogance, thought they were above God’s Law. They believed that they knew Who God is but because of their pride fell into heresy, were proven wrong by the Ecumenincal Councils of the Church, were deposed as hierarchs, or defrocked or excommunicated if they were clergy or laymen. There can be no negotiations with the evil one and his minions. Genuine Christians are obedient and faithful servants of God alone. Saint Luke the Evangelist warns in the Acts of the Apostles, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you OVERSEERS (EPISCOPOI OR BISHOPS) to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, THAT AFTER MY DEPARTURE SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK” [Acts 20:28-29]. “Wolves” meaning the heretics. Also, Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself says, “Beware of FALSE PROPHETS who come to you IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE RAVENOUS WOLVES” [Matthew 7:15]. Jesus charges us to “BEWARE” because it is possible to be DECEIVED BY THOSE WHO WEAR A MASK OF VIRTUE BUT ARE “FALSE PROPHETS”. OR “WOLVES”, WHO LIVE CORRUPT LIVES.

What we see today, among Christians of various heterodox traditions (denominations) is their fall; one by one. No one enemy of God can escape His Divine Justice, especially those in high offices within the Church who betray Him. The higher the office, the greater the accountability and responsibility. There is what the Church refers to as a Final Judgment which no one can escape. Those who attempt to tear down the Church that Our Lord and Savior built on His Sacrifice on the Cross with His own blood will be dealt with severely. Also, those who assault the Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Church by trivializing them and demeaning them are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit who, through them, bestows His grace to the faithful and children of God. To deliberately plant the seed of doubt in the minds and hearts of the Orthodox faithful about the sanctity of the consecrated Eucharist, worshiping in church, receiving Holy Communion by spoon (lavida), and venerating the holy icons during the pandemic. The destruction of faith in innocent people.

No Orthodox Christian, hierarch, priest, deacon or laymen should ever doubt the grace of the Holy Spirit our God. There is nothing greater than the grace of the Life-Giving Spirit. He is always with us and His love for all of humanity is unconditional and infinite. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the Divine activity of the Spirit. This blasphemy in most cases, is undoubtedly the willful hardness of heart. Jesus pronounced a severe judgment against the blasphemers of the Spirit. It is therefore imperative to always be alert and know that the tree is revealed by its fruit, a human being, no matter what his station in life is, is known by his/her works. The blasphemers are a “brood of vipers” because of their evil works and malice. No one is infallible in our Orthodox Church and no one has unlimited authority over you, the people. And if there are hierarchs, priests, deacons who either abuse their authority, fallen into heresy, or betray the Faith you are NOT obligated to obey them or follow them.

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

With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George