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

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

ON THE HOLY FATHERS
By Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotis) of Florina,
Greece.

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ,
yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have
begotten you through the gospel” [1 Corinthians 4:15].

Beloved , the word “father” is a holy word; implicit in it are many holy ideas. First, for Christians, it calls to mind the Heavenly Father, Who alone is worthy of the title in an absolute sense. For this reason the Lord said, “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” [Matthew 23:19]. Further, it calls to mind all of those who in this earthly life reflect the rays of the Heavenly Father’s love. Primarily, these are fathers according to nature.

LIFE

Father! This word plucks at the most tender of man’s heartstrings. When a father has left this life and is wrapped in the glory of eternity, the simple remembrance of him proves deeply moving, bringing tears to the eyes. A father is someone to be revered; he is an instrument of Divine Providence for each and every person who has passed from non-being into being, who has seen the light of day, has come through him. None of us was born of a stone; we all have a father. Jesus alone is fatherless on earth, just as He motherless in the heavens.

O, how much each of us owes to his father! A father–and here we speak of a good father–is not satisfied with the fact that he had a share in bringing a person into this world, but rather, from the moment he bears his child’s first cry he becomes his protector since if an infant is left on its own it cannot possibly survive. Like a plant, an infant needs particular care until its small, vulnerable body grows, until he matures to the point of being able to care for himself. The progenitor thus becomes a provider as well. He labors; he wears himself out; he makes sacrifices…

“…Oh, how much children owe to their parents when they are good parents! To them–after God–they owe their very life! This is why the Decalogue, immediately after setting out our obligations toward God the Heavenly Father in the first four Commandments, places the Commandment which enjoins the honoring of parents. This is the love Commandment which contains an explicit promise to those who keep it–that God’s blessing will be with them throughout the whole of their lives. Children who honor their parents will be richly blessed: “HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE” [Exodus 20:12]. Conversely, the Mosaic Law condemns an Israelite who ill-treats his father or mother to the most extreme of punishments, that is, death by stoning. “And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death” [Exodus 21:15]…

“…Children who honor and respect their parents receive blessings, then, while those who slander and wrong their parents are cursed. History, both ancient and modern, shows us by means of many examples that displays of disrespect towards one’s ancestors do not go unpunished in this life, but also that the respectful and loving behavior of children towards their parents is not without its blessings. Therefore, you children who are fortunate enough to still have your good parents with you in this life, hear the words of the Wisdom of Sirach: “For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations” [Sirach 3:9], and, “Honor thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother. Remember that thou wast begot of them, and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee” [Sirach 7:27-28]…

‘…Beyond bodily existence, beyond knowledge and science, there is something else infinitely more lofty which gives life true meaning. This IS HOLINESS. HOLINESS is separation from everything profane; it is the cleansing of the soul from the filth of sin; it is the putting off of vice, which like rust blemishes the INNER MAN. It is also THE ACQUISITION OF THE VIRTUES THROUGH WHICH MAN IS RAISED UP FROM THE LOWLY TO THE SPIRITUAL AND HEAVENLY SO THAT HE APPROACHES THE Cherubim and Seraphim (Archangels), appearing to be some sort of earthly Angel. This is a man at his peak, achieved through THE IMITATION OF THE VIRTUES OF CHRIST WHO IS THE UNRIVALED, UNAPPROACHABLE, AND ETERNAL MODEL OF HOLINESS…

“…Parents bestow life, then, and teachers bestow the good life, but who bestows upon us the life in Christ, life within the sphere of holiness? Who are those instruments by means of which man is white-washed, purified, made radiant?

O, how poor is our vocabulary when it comes to describing the life in Christ which the Holy Scriptures refers to as “NEW BIRTH, REBIRTH, AND A NEW CREATION!” It is the Holy Spirit Who fashions holiness, but the instruments of the Holy Spirit are those whom the holy Apostle Paul describes in his letter to the Ephesians, saying that Christ gave, “SOME, APOSTLES; AND SOME, PROPHETS; AND SOME, EVANGELISTS; AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS; FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST” [Ephesians 4:11-16]. This blessed person is the priest, by whom infants are baptized; by whom marriages are performed; by whom the sins of those who are repentant are remitted; by whom the Holy Gifts are sanctified; by whom the bread and wine are transformed at the Divine Liturgy; by whom our entrance and exit from this world are blessed. He is worthy of reverence on account of his loft service which excels even that offered by the Angels. It is from this perspective that these might be called, FATHER.

In the Orthodox Church, we also call fathers those exceptional figures who shone in the spiritual sky like radiant stars; who shone through their holiness; who shone through their writings; and not a small number of who shone through their miracles and martyric ends.

The Fathers! They loved the Lord with the full flame of their love. Out of desire to attain purity of heart [NOUS], to achieve holiness in the highest degree, to be as close to God as possible, they fled to desolate places, they undertook strict ascetical practices, they fasted, they prayed, they studied the Holy Scriptures. Then after many years of ascetical labour they left their hermitages and came to the cities. With what boldness and daring they rebuked those who oppressed and wronged the people of God! With what wisdom and skill they fought against the heresiarchs, scattering heretical assemblies!

The Fathers! In times of famine and social unrest they were shown to be new Josephs since through their preaching they opened storehouse doors, thereby feeding the hungry, and sheltered widows and orphans. They sold whatever they had–sometimes even the Church’s silver and gold vessels–to ransom captives from the clutches of barbarians.

The Fathers! In times of persecution they did not abandon the people of God to save their own ski, but they remained with the people as defenders and protectors and often met martyric ends as a consequence.

The Fathers! In times OF FEARFUL HERESY THEY SOUNDED LIKE TRUMPETS. They made up the body of Local and Ecumenical Synods (Councils); THEY CONDEMNED HERETICAL MINDSETS; THEY FORMULATED DOGMAS WITH CRYSTALLINE CLARITY; THEY ANATHEMATIZED HERETICS; THEY SECURED THE FLOCK, SAFEGUARDING IT FROM WOLVES.

The Fathers! In life, they are THE CHURCH’S BENEFACTORS, however, they do not cease from benefiting it even after their repose. Then they benefit it by their holy relics which are not only proof that the corruption of time has been overcome, but are also sources of healing. Above all, however, they benefit it through their sacred writings. Having embraced voluntary poverty, it is these which they have bequeathed to the Church as its inheritance.

Proof that the Orthodox Church honors its Holy Fathers may be found in the fact that, apart from the various feasts when Great Fathers and Teachers are celebrated individually, it dedicates three Sundays of the year to the corporate memory of the Holy Fathers, namely the 7th Sunday after Pascha when we celebrate the memory of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the Sunday falling between the 13th – 19th of July when we celebrate the memory of the Holy Fathers who assembled at the first Six Ecumenical Councils, and the Sunday between the 11th — 17th of October when we celebrate the memory of the Holy Fathers who assembled at the Seventh Ecumenical Council to condemn Iconoclasm. By means of the outstanding hymns that we sing at these services, the Church honors their memory. [Source: Orthodox Heritage]

(To be continued)

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

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

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

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

The Meeting of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple (Part II)

One of the most important and central persons in the Meeting (Presentation), apart, of course, from Christ and the Panagia (All-Holy Mother of God), was Symeon, "the Righteous and devout", who was granted to welcome Christ, to take Him in his arms and TO RECOGNIZE Him by the power and energy of the Holy Spirit. In fact he is a great personality both in that he saw the Christ and in what he said at that moment.

The Evangelist Luke characterizes him as a man who lived in Jerusalem and was just and devout, "waiting for the consolation of Israel". At the same time he says that he had the Holy Spirit and that he had been informed that he would NOT DIE BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST [Luke 2:25-26]. All these signs are characteristic of an inspired man. This is why Holy Scripture is not interested in man’s origin, and the elements of his human make-up, because he had another life, A LIFE OF THE SPIRIT. Saint Photios and Theophylact say that he was ONE OF THE SEVENTY INTERPRETERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT KNOWN AS THE SEPTUAGINT. The Septuagint is the official Orthodox Old Testament. Saint Symeon was unbelieving when he interpreted the Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A Son, and YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL…" [Isaiah 7:14] and just at that time he was informed that he would live until he received the Christ in his arms. In other versions of the Old Testament the word "virgin" as "maiden." In the Gospels of Matthew (1:23) and Luke (1:27, 34) to have been born to Mary, a "virgin" (Greek "παρθένος"). Theologically there is a great difference between one and the other. The Messianic Prophecy is fulfilled when the VIRGIN Mary gives birth to Christ. The Hebrew word ALMAH, "unmarried woman," designates "a hidden virgin, shut off from the occasional sight of men" (Jerome). The Greek word used in the LXX is PARTHENOS, which means "VIRGIN".

Righteous Symeon blessed the Theotokos and Joseph, who followed these events with wonder and amazement. And he then turned to the Theotokos to make two remarkable prophecies to her. The first referred to the Person of the Godman Christ. "BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS DESTINED FOR THE FALL AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL, AND FOR A SIGN WHICH WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST" [Luke 2:34]. This prophecy was realized during Christ’s life-time, but it continues to be realized in the history of humanity and in the personal life of every human being

The Godman Christ is the fall OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN Him and the rising of those who do. Golgotha is an example, one thief believes and is saved, the other doubts and is condemned. This happens also IN OUR INNER LIFE. Christ falls WHEN WE, THE BAPTIZED, FALL THROUGH PROSTITUTION, and He is raised THROUGH OUR PRUDENCE. Likewise it can be understood that Christ will suffer and fall in death, but also many will be raised through His own fall and His own death (Saint Theophylact).

Saint Symeon’s second prophecy, which referred to the Panagia, (All-Holy), is as follows: "Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" [Luke 2:35]. Apparently this prophecy refers to the pain and sorrow of the Theotokos about the Cross, when she saw her Son, Who is the Son of God at the same time, suffering and enduring. Though the Panagia did not endure or suffer pain during the birth of Christ, precisely because SHE CONCEIVED HIM WITHOUT SEED AND GAVE BIRTH WITHOUT CORRUPTION, SHE HAD TO SUFFER VERY MUCH AT THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE.

This was the very sword that would pierce the soul of hte Theotokos at Christ’s death and the Cross and would reveal the thoughts of many men which were hidden in their hearts. From the pain which she felt they understood that this was His natural mother. Saint Athanasius the Great says that the phrase "that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" means that the Cross of Christ, His Passion, would reveal all the inner dispositions of men, since Peter, out of warmth and zeal, would deny Him, the Disciples would desert Him, Pilate would express regret by washing his hands, his wife would believe through a dream at night, the centurion would believe from the signs, Joseph and Nicodemos would be occupied with matters of the funeral, Judas would strangle himself, the Jews would give money to the guards to conceal the Resurrection. And indeed, "there will be some conflict and discord of thoughts and opposing speculations."

The prophecy does not refer only to the Incarnation and the crucifixion, but also TO THE WHOLE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE REAL BODY OF CHRIST. SOME ARE SAVED, REMAINING IN THE CHURCH, AND OTHERS ARE CONDEMNED DENYING ITS SAVING WORK. Also, since through Baptism, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE GRACE OF GOD IN OUR HEART AND IT NEVER LEAVES US, but is simply concealed by the passions, therefore, WHEN WE SIN, WE FALL, AND WHEN WE STRUGGLE AND REPENT, WE ARE RAISED UP AGAIN.

Christ will be "FOR THE FALL AND RISING OF MANY" also in the next life, since we see Christ, but for some it will be Paradise and for others Hell.

Apart from Saint Symeon THE RECEIVER OF GOD, in the Temple there was also Anna, the Prophetess, who was granted to recognize God and to proclaim that He was her REDEEMER. Anna was eighty-four years old and was widowed after having lived with her husband for seven years [Luke 2:36-40].

The Church made the feast of Christ’s fortieth day after birth the infant is offered to the Temple by its mother. This offering has a double meaning. First, the mother is blessed for the end of her purification after the bleeding of her confinement. Just as the Church prays for every illness, so also it prays for the woman who has given birth and naturally feels tired and physically weak. It prays for her purification and because, as we know today, the manner of our birth came after the Fall. Secondly, it is a celebration of thanksgiving for the birth of a child. Since the conception and birth of a human being is not a work of nature alone, but of God’s ENERGY, WE FEEL THAT IT BELONGS TO GOD. So, we offer it to God and He, through our priest, gives it over to us again to bring it up. But IN REALITY IT BELONGS TO God. [ Source:  The Feasts of the Lord ]

[Personal note] Having said the above, think of what it says about the mother or father who knowingly commits abortion and murders the child, A CHILD THAT IN REALITY BELONGS TO GOD. Taking the life of a child that belongs to God Himself is an UNFORGIVABLE SIN! At the Final Day or Judgment Day all people will give an accounting of all their deeds committed during their lifetime and this will determine where each one will spend eternity, heaven or hell.]

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

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

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

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

ON THE 2ND OF FEBRUARY THE FEAST DAY OF THE
MEETING OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

REJOICE, thou who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for from
thee hath risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlight-
ening those in darkness. Rejoice, thou also, O righteous Elder,
as thou receivest in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who
also granteth unto us the Resurrection.

Kontakion Hymn. First Tone

THOU Who didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, and didst
bless Symeon’s hands as was meet, by anticipation hast even now
saved us, O Christ God. But grant peace in the midst of wars unto
Thy commonwealth and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast
loved, O only Friend of man.
+

When the Most Pure Mother the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary’s FORTY DAYS OF PURIFICATION had been fulfilled, she too her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the FORTIETH DAY AFTER HIS BIRTH, that she might present Him in the Temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law [Luke 2:22-24; Exodus, 13:2; Leviticus 12:6-8]. On this same day, a Righteous and devout man, the greatly aed Symeon, was also present in the Temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting THE SALVATION OF GOD, AND HE HAD BEEN INFORMED B DIVINE REVELATION THAT HE WOULD NOT DIE UNTIL HE BEHELD THE LORD’S CHRIST. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, O MASTER, ACCORDING TO THY WORD; FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION, WHICH THOU DIDST PREPARE BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL THE PEOPLES, A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE NATIONS AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL." [Luke 2:29-32]. This feast day is called ‘Hypapante’ in Greek.

The Orthodox Church appointed this Great Feast of the Lord and the Mother of God to be celebrated on the 2nd of February, because it is the FORTIETH DAY after the 25th of December, when the Nativity (Birth) of Christ in the flesh is celebrated. In this way the year is divided by the turning points in the Divine Economy and blesses them. At the same time it makes it possible for man to be INITIATED into the Great Mystery of the INCARNATION of the Son and Logos/Word of God.

God Himself, that is to say the Unincarnate Logos/Word of God, gave the Commandment of purification on the 40th day to Moses and it has been established for all the Israelites. This Commandment was given to Moses even before the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, before they crossed the Red Sea.

In the Book of Leviticus (Old Testament) we see that God gives more details about the ceremony of CONSECRATION AND THANKSGIVING. The woman who bears a MALE CHILD is to CIRCUMCISE HIM on the 8th day and offer him to the Temple on the 40 day. And with the offering of the child "she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb as burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtle-dove for a burnt offering" [Leviticus 12:1-6].

Since the Logos/Word of God Himself gave the Law to Moses, when He assumed human flesh He had to keep the Law, so as not to be a law-breaker. Saint Cyril of Alexandria says that when anyone sees Christ keeping the Law, he should NOT be shocked, nor should he regard as a servant Him Who is free, but he should have a better understanding of "THE DEPTH OF THE ECONOMY." This keeping of the Law of the offering in the Temple is part of the Mystery of the Divine Kenosis of the Son and Logos/Word of God.

Likewise, according to Saint Gregory Palamas, Christ HAD NO NEED OF PURIFICATION, but since ritual purification was LEGISLATED in the Old Testament for both the parents and the children, He did it IN ORDER TO OBEY THE LAW WHICH HE HIMSELF HAD GIVEN. Christ had NO need of ritual purification, because He WAS CONCEIVED WITHOUT SEED AND GIVEN BIRTH WITHOUT LOSS OF VIRGINITY. "There was certainly no ned for purification, but IT WAS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE." This obedience had the meaning of obedience to the Law of God, but also OF OBEDIENCE OF THE NEW ADAM (CHRIST), in contrast to the DISOBEDIENCE OF THE OLD ADAM. And if the disobedience of the First Adam resulted IN THE FALL AND CORRUPTION, THE OBEDIENCE OF THE NEW ADAM, CHRIST, BROUGHT DISOBEDIENT HUMAN NATURE BACK TO GOD AND CURED MAN OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DISOBEDIENCE.

After mentioning that what was done in the Old Testament was a type of the Nativity of Christ. Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite says that Christ alone opened the virgin’s womb "in a way worthy of God and beyond comprehension, for having opened her in being born, He LEFT HER CLOSED AGAIN, JUST AS SHE WAS BEFORE THE CONCEPTION AND BIRTH."

Christ is the FIRST-BORN and is characterized as such in Holy Scripture. This characterization certainly DOES NOT MEAN that there is also a second-born and a third-born, but that He AS BORN FIRST, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE WAS A SECOND OR THIRD. The term "FIRST-BORN" MUST BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE "ONLY-BEGOTTEN," AS CHRIST IS ALSO CHARACTERIZED in Holy Scripture.

The term "first-born" also refers to the TWO BIRTHS OF CHRIST, that is to say, TO THE PRE-ETERNAL BIRTH FROM A Virgin Father, without a mother, and the BIRTH IN TIME FROM A Virgin Mother, without a father (Saint Gregory Palamas).

Christ is called First-Born in three ways. First, because He was born of the Father before all ages. The Apostle Paul says: "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation" [Colossians 1:15). And as we saw before, the "first-born" identified with the "only-begotten." Secondly, He is called first-born in His human birth, and regardless of whether another was born of the All-Holy (Panagia). "And she brought forth her first-born son" (Luke 2:7). And thirdly, He is called first-born from the dead because He was THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD, thus making it possible FOR EVERYONE TO BE RAISED AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. The Resurrection is also characterized as a "BIRTH," because RESURRECTION IS REGARDED AS A BIRTH. The holy Apostle Paul says, "HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE FIRST-BORN FROM AMONG THE DEAD" [Colossians 1:18). The FIRST meaning of the first-born IS CONNECTED WITH THE INCARNATION OF THE LOGOS/WORD and refer to the economy.

Although Christ was an infant, at the same time He WAS "GOD BEFORE THE AGES," and therefore He was wiser than anyone else. We know that human nature in the womb of the Theotokos (Mother of God) was deified by the UNION OF DIVINE AND HUMAN NATURE IN THE PERSON OF THE LOGOS/WORD, AND THEREFORE CHRIST;S SOUL WAS ENRICHED WITH THE FULNESS OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. Yet, this wisdom was expressed in accordance with His age, because if it had been otherwise, He would have appeared to be a freak (Saint John of Damascus). Anyway, although Christ was an infant, nevertheless He was God, having all the fulness of Divinity bodily and all the human wisdom and knowledge by virtue of the hypostatic union of His Divine and Human Natures. [Source: The Twelve feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan Hierotheos)

(To be continued)

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

The Three Holy Hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John of the Golden-Mouth (Chrysostomos) are commemorated on the 30th of January by reason of the following event. In 1081 A.D., Emperor Alexios Komnenos of Constantinople (1057-1118 A.D.) came to the throne with the support of the military aristocracy, after Nekephoros III Botaneiates. At that time there came to pass in Constantinople a contention song men of high repute and virtue. This vigorous controversy came about in regard to the three great teachers and hierarchs, and which of them should be the greatest. Some preferred the great Basil on account of his treatises, which vividly and articulately examined the nature of things in existence. This group also landed Saint Basil’s virtues, not only likening him to the Angels, but even believing that he revealed them. They also approved of his practice of not absolving sinners in an easy or offhand manner. They applauded his serious disposition, and his freedom from being possessed of anything earthly. Now this same group also would have placed the divine Chrysostom in a lower place than Basil, since they believed that he readily absolved sinners.

Yet another faction elevated the holy Chrysostom over both Basil and Gregory, maintaining that his teaching, filled with wise and agile expressions, guided all and drew sinners to repentance. This group mostly favored Saint John on account of the multitude of his mellifluous writings, and the loftiness and breadth of his thoughts.

Others, however, favored the writings of Saint Gregory the Theologian and gave him the preeminent positions. They enjoyed his elegant and diversified manner of writing. His elevated and flowery style surpassed that of both the philosophers of Greek wisdom and Church writers to that date.

Thus the Christians were split into three rival groups, which named themselves Johannites, or Basilians, or Gregorians. Consequently, since the Christians could not settle the issue, a visitation, not a vision, was vouchsafed to Metropolitan John Mavroupous (1050-1075 A.D.) of Efchaita, a holy hierarch who attained to the summit of virtue. He was a notable and erudite man, well acquainted with Hellenic wisdom, of which his writings bear witness to his learning. He was also acclaimed for his writing of hymnographic canons and the lives of the Saints.

Metropolitan John affirmed that the Three Hierarchs appeared to him first individually and then together. He says that they spoke to him as with one mouth, saying, "We are as one before God. Even as thou dost see, we neither have any opposition to one another nor have any quarrel among ourselves; but in accordance with the times in which we happened to live, each of us, moved by the Divine Spirit, taught and wrote about various themes. Now as much as we learned by the Holy Spirit, these same teachings were also published for the salvation of the people…For this reason, command the rivaling factions not to remain divided on account of us…Therefore, when it seems fitting to thee, unite our commemoration on one day, and compose a troparion (hymn) for the feast; for we are as one before God. And be certain that we shall cooperate toward the salvation of those who celebrate our general commemoration, since we have boldness before God.

After the Saints uttered these things, they appeared to ascend again into the heavens, illumined with brilliant light and calling one another by name. Therefore, John of Efchaita was stirred in his heart and set about doing as the holy hierarchs (bishops) gave him charge. Indeed, he calmed the multitude of people and brought peace among the contending factions, because he was known by all as a virtuous man. It was decided that their celebration was to take place on the 30th of January.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Three Hierarchs. First Tone

THE three most great luminaries of the Three-Sun Divinity have
illumined all of the world with the rays of doctrines divine and true;
they are the sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom, who with godly knowl-
edge have watered all creation in clear and mighty streams: The Great
and sacred Basil, and the Theologian Gregory, together with the
renowned John, the famed Chrysostomos of golden speech. Let us
all who love their divinely-wise words come together, honouring them
with hymns; for ceaselessly they offer entreaty for us to the Trinity.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

THOU hast taken to Thyself, O Lord, the sacred and God-proclaiming
heralds, the crown of Thy teachers, for the enjoyment of Thy blessings
and for repose; for Thou hast accepted their sufferings and labour
above all sacrifice, O Thou Who alone dost glorify Thy Saints.

Through the intercessions of this sacred triad of hierarchs, may the Church granted peace, and may we be vouchsafed to glorify together the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the One God, to Whom is due all Glory, Honor, and Veneration, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
(Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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

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

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

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

CONCERNING EVIL: SPIRITUAL WARFARE

In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul writes: “Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES,
AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS
AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY
PLACES” [Ephesians 6:10-12].

More and more people who are witnessing current conditions in our country and in the world are saying that “we are living in evil days.” It seems to them that evil occurrences are happening more daringly, more often, and with boldness, as though they have nothing to fear. “It’s open season” they say. However, no matter how blatantly and conspicuously they act we must never be intimidated by them and their actions. We must remain steadfast in our Christian faith and follow our Lord God with humility and obedience to His commandments and holy Gospel. All who stand for good must wage a constant battle with the forces of evil. For the demons still have power in the world as is mentioned in Ephesians 6:12), UNTIL CHRIST COMES AGAIN IN GLORY. This is clearly acknowledged in the prayers at the conclusion of Orthodox baptism. Christians FIGHT WITH GOD’S ARMS, that is, His Uncreated Divine energy, given to us [1:19-23; 3:16-21] and actively used by us, The Christian has “put on” (4:23) at baptism all of the qualities listed as armor. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand IN THE EVIL DAY, and having done all; to stand: Stand therefore having put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod your feet the preparation of THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; above all, taking the shield OF FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD” [Ephesians 6:13-17]. Just as important is spiritual armor is a Christian’s READINESS and ALERTNESS, DILIGENT PRAYER AND WATCHFULNESS in submission to the Holy Spirit. Those in the “FRONT LINES,” holy Apostles and Evangelists in this case, require the back up power of a PRAYING CHURCH.

No follower of Christ can act, under the current conditions, as though all of the above are foolishness and ludicrous. We are all witnesses of what is taking place throughout the world and the destruction of everything that is decent and good. We see the systematic and wicked way these evil forces have targeted all institutions with the intent to demolish them completely, such as education, law enforcement, family, Church, marriage, government, and many others. These evil forces do not want to leave anything standing. It is clear that their agenda is to subject all humanity and to enslave it. They consider human beings as dumb as sheep and easily deceived. They treat humans as stupid as frogs. It is claimed that frogs cannot sense a slow change in the temperature of the water around them. If you plunge them into boiling water they’ll immediately jump out. But if you place them into room temperature water and slowly heat it to boiling, the frog won’t notice and will slowly cook to death. Is it possible that this is what has been slowly happening to human beings? Is it possible that humans are already in the pot and into boiling water?

The spiritual warfare is very real! However, we must not be afraid of the unseen warfare that is taking place around us. Our Commander and Chief is our Lord Jeus Christ Himself and He will never permit the enemy to triumph. It is for His honor and glory we are waging war. Since He Himself leads us into battle, He will do everything possible to protect us from either being captured by the enemy or killed. Unless, again we do not cross over to the other side willingly. He will Himself fight for you and will deliver your enemies into your hands. “Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of their face; for the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” [Deuteronomy 20:3-4]. We ought to remember all the good things that God has bestowed upon us throughout our lives. He has created us out of nothing and He has formed us in His image and likeness. He died on the Cross to save us from death and sin and to grant us His Heavenly Kingdom. What greater proof of His love do we need than this?

Be confident and trust in God. The holy Apostle Paul exhorts us “to fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12]. Prayer must be united with godly behavior. Prayer must not be reduced to empty words and promises. Prayer must be sincere, contrite and reverent. Our Almighty God knows if we truly mean what we are saying to Him. We ought to also remember that no Christian is perfect but as the Saints of our Church say, a Christian is one who falls and rises, falls and rises. He or she never gives up and will never surrender. Saint Paul writes, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15]. Throughout the Old and New Testaments and Church history, the greatest sinners have often become most notable Saints: for instance Moses, Rahab, David, Photini (the Samaritan woman at the well), Matthew, Paul, and Saint Mary of Egypt.

The life in Christ is one of suffering, and martyrdom. It is a life of sacrifice and of giving of one’s self to others. It is a life of repentance and of forgiving our enemies. It is a life of faith and good conscience, of righteousness and kindness. It is a life of agape for God and for our “fellow man. It is a life of renewal and godliness. It is a life of prayer, worship, and adoration. It is a life of obedience and saintliness. Every Christian trusts in the living God, Who is the Saviour of all men” (1 Timothy 4:10].

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

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


,

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

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

"LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY" [Luke 11:1].

"So He said to them, ‘When you
pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily
bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone
who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into
temptation,
But deliver us from the evil
one." [Luke 11:2-4].

In his commentary Saint Theophylact says the following: "This disciple of Christ is jealous of John’s disciples, which is why he wants to be taught how to pray. The Lord teaches and does not reject the demand of the disciple. He says, "Our Father Who art in the heavens." See the power of prayer. It immediately leads you upwards. And it encourages you, since you have called God, "Father," not to fall far short of the likeness between you and your heavenly Father, but to strive to make yourself like your Father. The Lord did not say, "My Father," but, "Our Father," so as to urge ust to have brotherly love and to oblige us to love all men as our very own brothers. He says, "Who art in the heavens," not to limit God to that place, but to lead the listener upwards to the heavens and away from earthly things. "Hallowed be Thy name" means "Glorified be Thy name," that is, "Make our lives be to Thy glory." Just as God’s name is blasphemed by the wicked, so too is it glorified by those who lead a good life. "Thy Kingdom come." The sinner begs that the Kingdom of God not come, because he fears the judgments and punishments that will accompany it. By contrast, the righteous man prays that the Kingdom of God will come quickly, so that he might be delivered from temptations and find rest. "And may Thy will be done, just as in heaven by the Angels, likewise by us men on earth." For every deed of every Angel is done according to God’s will. He teaches us to seek only our "daily bread," that is, the bread which is required for our being and for the sustenance of our life, and not to ask for more than we need. That we enter not into temptations means that we do not leap into temptations by our own will. We should not ask God to throw us into temptations; we should instead beseech Him to do just the opposite. But when temptations come upon us, then we should withstand them with courage. We may say, here, that there are two kinds of temptations. The first kind are VOLUNTARY TEMPTATIONS, such as drunkenness, murder, adultery, and the other passions. We willingly entangle ourselves in these kinds of temptations. The other kind of temptations are INVOLUNTARY, such as those which tyrants and violent men inflict upon us. From voluntary temptations, that is, from the passions, we must therefore flee, and pray that they not come, and say, "Lead us not into them," that is, "Do not permit us to fall into temptation, namely VOLUNTARY PASSIONS. But deliver us from the evil one." For it is the "EVIL ONE" who leads us into both involuntary and voluntary temptations. Therefore, when you are tempted against your will by a man, do not think that the man is the cause of your temptation; it is not he, but instead THE EVIL ONE who persuades the man to rage against you."
+

"Pray without ceasing" [ IThessalonians 5:17].

Saint Paul offered this advice in his First Epistle to the new believers in Thessaloniki. He did so precisely because he understood how essential prayer is to the life in Christ. The holy Fathers of the Church teach that unceasing prayer is a proper goal, for spiritual growth comes through such discipline. For centuries, Christians have used the "JESUS PRAYER" as a way to pray unceasingly from the heart: "O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER."

It is important to say the Jesus Prayer with faith, humility, reverence, and sincerity. The Orthodox tradition is to use a prayer rope. A prayer rope is a cord of intricate knots made from yarn in the form of numerous Crosses, usually braided by monastics. To use a prayer rope you merely recite the Jesus Prayer once for each knot on the rope, until you have used all of the knots on the rope. Using a prayer rope helps one to concentrate on the prayer which takes a minimal amount of time and therefore permits him/her a way of worshiping our Lord God at any time of the day or night. It is especially recommended to everyone to recite the prayer at a time of temptation until such time that it recedes. When the Jesus Prayer is offered with faith and conviction the Christian believer will find inner-peace, spiritual strength, courage to face one’s problems, inspiration and hope.

___________

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

+ Father George

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

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

THE PASSIONS [ΤΑ ΠΑΘΗ]

The holy Fathers of the Church say, "Passion is properly something that lies hidden for a long time in the soul and by its very presence it takes on the character of a habit, until the soul of its own accord clings to it with affection." "But passion is unequivocally denounced in every situation and requires suitable repentance or future punishment. From all of which it follows that he who regards the first encounter with detachment cuts off with one blow all the rest that follow, writes Saint John Climacus.

"Some say that it is the thought of fornication that introduces passion into the body, while others deny this, insisting that evil thoughts derive from the capacity of the body to experience sensual things. The former declared that if the mind had not taken the lead, the body would not have followed. But the latter maintain that their view is proved by the depravity of bodily passion, for, very often, a pleasing sight, a touch of the hand, the scent of perfume, or the sound of sweet voices can be enough to generate evil thoughts."

"Some passions enter the body by way of the soul and some work in the opposite way, the latter affecting people living in the world, the former assailing those living the monastic life and, hence, lacking stimulus from the outside. All I can say here about it is that if you look for wisdom among evil men, you most certainly will NOT find it" writes Saint John Climacus.

The Christian understands that fighting against the passions is most difficult and is a constant struggle. Saint John Climacus says, "After we have fought long and hard against this demon, this ally of the flesh, after we have driven it out of our heart, torturing it with the stone of fasting, and the sword of humility, this scourge goes into hiding in our bodies, like some kind of worm, and it tries to pollute us, stimulating us to irrational and untimely movements."

The holy Fathers say, "Hatred comes from harboring ills, harboring ills–from pride, pride–from vanity, vanity–from lack of faith, lack of faith–from hard-heartedness, hard-heartedness–from laxity, laxity — from laziness, laziness — from despondency, despondency — from impatience, impatience — from cenceit." "We must consider" the Venerable Cassian says, "sadness healthy for us only in the case when it results from repentance for sins, or a fervor desire for perfection, or contemplation of future blessings. The blessed Paul says the following concerning this: "For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" [2 Corinthians 7:10].

"There is also another type of sorrow that is indecent, that fills the sinning soul not with the intention of correcting one’s life and purifying itself from passions, but with ruinous despair. This is what did not permit Cain to repent after murdering his brother, and did not let Judas seek ways of assuagement after his reason, but led dim, through instilled despair, to hang himself.

God does NOT permit temptations to exceed our powers. The Master lightly strikes the crystal or glass vessel, so as not to break it, but he hits the silver or bronze hard; thus the weak are given light, and the strong are given the heaviest temptations."

"Passions are the uncontrolled desires that come from our bodily needs. They subordinate our soul to our egoistic or self will. They come about because we forget about God and only think of our own needs or desires. The seven passions are: GLUTTONY, LUST, AVARICE, ANGER, DEJECTION, LISTLESSNESS, AND PRIDE. All these passions lead us to sin, but with proper discipline can be offset by virtues." On the other hand the virtues are: TEMPERANCE, CHASTITY, GENEROSITY, MILDNESS, HAPPINESS, DILIGENCE, AND HUMILITY." Our Saints who practiced virtuous lives reveal the key to a virtuous life. Their life is one of fasting, vigils (unceasing prayer), solitude, study of Holy Scripture, philanthropy, and an active sacramental life.

"…as soon as you feel a passionate impulse, whether of lust or irritation, hasten to curb it by an effort of will, descend into your heart with the attention of your mind, and try in every possible way not to let the passion enter your heart. Watch to prevent the heart being irritated by what irritates, or attracted by what attracts, If, however, either the one or the other happens suddenly to be born in your heart, to begin with try and prevent it from coming out; do not express it either by word, look or gesture." Saint Maximos the Confessor writes: "Dispassion is a peaceful condition of the soul in which the soul is not easily moved to evil."

One way that one is assaulted from the evil one are evil thoughts known as logismoi (lo-ggee-smee). Even the holy gerondes [elders] were constantly battling serious assaults (temptations) and even bombarded with logismoi (evil thoughts). The evil one uses the mind to plant an evil thought in it desiring to lure us into committing a sin. Therefore, it behooves us to examine all foreign thoughts carefully before we act upon any of them. To question ourselves and to seek the origin of the thought. Is it my thought? What kind of a thought is it? Is it a good thought? or Is it an evil thought? Someone once said that when it comes to thoughts we need to treat them as airplanes are treated at the local airport before they are permitted to land. At every airport there is a tower with people responsible who direct the planes, arriving from all over the world. Before a plane is permitted to land at a local airport the pilot must identify who he is and from where he is coming from. If the information he gives is not correct the plane will not be permitted to land. We too, must be sure the thoughts that wish to enter our mind are good thoughts and anything deleterious will not be permitted to enter. Up to this point we are held accountable.

If, however, the person consents to commit what the logismos (evil thought) urges us to do, then the next act is to make a personal decision. That’s when accountability starts to take hold. It is the beginning of sin. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ explains: "I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" [Matthew 5:28]. The Almighty God sees the hidden desires or passions which motivate our actions. The issue here is lust; not simply the God-given mutual attraction of men and women. Sin does not come out of nature, but out of internal self-indulgence. The person who feasts on lust within himself brings sin into his heart through his thoughts (logismoi). Thoughts which enter the mind involuntarily are temptations, not sins. They become sins only when they are held onto and entertained.

The Orthodox Christian should not allow himself or herself to become a captive or hostage of evil thoughts and passions because it leads to self destruction. The holy Fathers have warned us that when we become taken over by such passions it is like surrendering our heart and soul to Satan so that he can have excess to it at any time of the day or night. When a person feels unable to free himself or herself from this tyranny of the devil the only salvation is our Merciful God. "Through the Grace of the Holy Spirit everything is possible, including his/her healing." The forgotten medicine is the Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance/Confession. One should repent and participate in the healing sacrament of the Church as soon as possible. The Lord "is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance" {2 Peter:39].

_____________
"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