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

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

SAINT MARK EVGENIKOS, METROPOLITAN OF EPHESUS [January 19th]
[Part II]

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Third Tone.

O ALL-LAUDABLE and most divine Mark, in thee the Church
found a great zealot by thy confession of the holy and sacred
faith; for thou didst champion the doctrines which the Fathers
taught and didst cast down darkness’ boastful pride. Wherefore
pray thou to Christ God for them that honor thee, that we be
granted the forgiveness of sins.

Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone.

CLAD, O godly-minded one, with an invincible armour, thou
didst dash to pieces the pride of the Western rebellion; thou
wast brought forth as the champion of Orthodoxy, as the
Comforter’s own instrument and pure vessel. For this cause,
to thee, we cry out: Rejoice, O Mark, thou boast of the
Orthodox flock.
+



THE COUNCIL AT FERRARA ITALY

Subjects of the Debates

The Pope took the initiative in the third sitting of the council, Cardinal Giuliano Cesarini listed THE PRINCIPLE POINTS OF DISPUTE IN DOCTRINE, AS FOLLOWS:
(1) THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT;
(2) THE QUESTION OF AGYMES IN THE EUCHARIST;
(3) PURGATORY;
(4) THE PRIMACY OF THE POPE OF ROME.

The Saint Censures the Latins

At some point during the Fourth Session in 1438, Saint Mark addressed the pope with his cardinals, archbishops, and bishops. The Russian priest, Symeon of Suzdal, records that "in a sweet voice, Mark said, "Hearken, O reverend Pope of Rome and teachers of the Latins, how you speak and name this synod AS THE EIGHTH SYNOD! By doing so, you allude to the First Synod… You number your synod as the 8th, yet you deny the other Seven Ecumenical Synods. You do not consider the Patriarchs as your brothers; and you have designated the Orthodox Church after the Latin Church." These words greatly angered Pope Eugene and created no small stir among the Latin cardinals and bishops. The Pope, cardinals, the Italians, French, Milsanese, Germans, Hungarians, Czecks, Poles, and other followers walked out of the meeting.

The Pope’s Desire to Move to Florence

The pope harbored a desire to transfer the council to Florence. He considered using as an excuse the fear of the plague that had broken out in Germany. Moreover, the pope complained that he could not pay the Greeks for their expenses in Ferrara. However, the rich Florentines promised to lend the Pope forty thousand gold pieces if he transferred the council to their own town. From the outset, the Greeks did not wish to transfer to Florence, for they had misgivings concerning their treatment and accommodations. It was 12th of January, in the year 1439. The pope was the first to leave for Florence.

"They are Heretics"

Saint Mark, describing the papists, again said, "They are not only schismatics, but heretics…Therefore, we must not have union, until they remove the addition from the Symbol (Creed) and confess the Symbol (Creed) as we do."

On the 27th of May, the Pope threatened the Greeks that if they did not conform, they could hope for no aid from the Christian monarchs of the West. He complained that after he had underwritten all the expenses of the Greeks for two years, they were obliged to him to submit and give their signatures for union. Soon afterward, votes were collected in favor of the formula and the infamous union which would follow. The bishops anathematized all those that were adverse to union.

The Betrayal of Orthodoxy

At last the end came. On the 5th of July, in the year 1439, by the signing of the Act of Union, Orthodoxy was betrayed and sold. The pseudo-Orthodox renounced Orthodoxy and espoused all the Latin formulas and innovations. After the Emperor, all delegates, many of whom were reluctant, ACCEPTED AND SIGNED THE ACT OF UNION, whether for themselves r, in the case of some, for the Eastern Patriarchs, whom they had been entrusted to represent…Though in their hearts many did not wish to sign, yet they trampled on their Orthodox conscience for fear of death or for the sake of money, food, or to appease the Emperor. After the Greek delegates KISSED THE POPE’S KNEE, they were lavishly entertained by the Pope.

More Pressure Applied to Saint Mark

The Pope spoke to the Emperor, provoking him to persuade the Ephesian (Saint Mark) to sign the union. The Emperor refused to do so and therefore the Pope Eugene sent a papal representative to Saint Mark, not to rebuke him buto pay homage to him. The representative, ordered to take a large tray laden with gold florins and a golden vase, ws to beseech Mark to accept the gifts and accept in invitation from the Pope, who would receive him with honor. The holy man not only rejected the gifts, but also refused entry to any papal representative to his apartment.

Saint Mark Confronts the Pope: "Sinners Have Waited for Me
to Destroy Me; But Thy Testimonies Have I Understood" [Psalm 118:95].

When the Greek bishops had affixed their signature to the Council’s decree, the Emperor sent ten bishops to witness the signing of the Pope. When Eugene took up the document, he closely studied the signatures of the Greek bishops. Then, while Pope Eugene was signing the decree, he asked whether the Ephesian (St. Mark) had signed. When he was told that Saint Mark had NOT, he involuntarily exclaimed, "THEN WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING!" He then stood up and demanded that Saint Mark be forced to sign the union, or be delivered up to judgment as a stubborn opponent to the decree. The Emperor defended him, saying that since he was a Metropolitan of the Eastern Church, he could be judged only by the Eastern Bishops. Nevertheless, the Pope insisted that the Emperor send Saint Mark to him to receive at least a private reprimand.

The Emperor then summoned Saint Mark of Ephesus, and requested that he meet with the Pope and promised him "that nothing harsh shall befall thee." Go and hear whatever he has to say. As needed, boldly make a complete defense." These final words were superfluous, since the brave spirited Mark already decided upon this.

Sitting on his throne, flanked by his cardinals and bishops, Pope Eugene met the adornment of Ephesus, Mark, with rebukes and threats. Perceiving the utter hopelessness of convincing the Ephesian, the pope then threatened to depose him if he did not sign. Then, undaunted, the defender of Orthodoxy, Saint Mark, gave the pope a decisive answer, saying, "The synods condemn those who will not obey the Church and maintain opinions contrary to what she teaches. I neither preach to my own glory, nor have I said anything new or unknown to the Church. I keep intact the pure and unadulterated teaching which the Church has received and preserved, and continues to preserve, from Christ our Savior…"

The pope, perceiving Saint Mark’s inflexibility, finally understood there was no hope of dissuading the lone and brave guardian of Orthodox Truths. He bade Mark to leave his presence. The Emperor also had much to do with preventing Mark from being further threatened by the pope and his organization.

A Celebration of Union

On Monday, the 6th of July, in the year 1439, at the Church of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, the festival attendant with the union was concluded by celebrating the Mass according to the Latin Rite, though no Greek bishop participated or received the wafer. The Greeks only exchanged the kiss of peace among themselves. The reading of the Creed (Symbol of Faith) was executed in both Latin and Greek with, of course, THE ADDITION OF THE FILIOQUE. When the decree of the union was read, both Bessarion of Nicaea and Cardinal Ceesarini embraced. The Byzantine Emperor was then seen to bow before the Pope, causing many to weep and repeat, "LORD, WE HAVE SINNED."

A FALSE UNION

"The decree of union was as a spider’s web," Saint Mark later wrote. This council can be called neither "holy" nor "ecumenical."

The Greeks Return to Constantinople

On the 1st day of February, in the year 1440, ships carrying the Greeks sailed into the Golden Horn. Through the merchants that had been in Ferrara and Florence, the fame and achievements of Saint Mark arrived before him in the Capital. After hearing of his valiant steadfastness, the people WERE WAITING TO APPLAUD AND CHEER THEIR HERO. When the delegation arrived on shore, the Constantinopolitans overwhelmed the bishops with questions, asking, "How did the synod end?" and "Have we gained the victory?" Bishop Anthony of Herakleia and others answered sorrowfully, "WE HAVE SOLD THE FAITH; WE HAVE EXCHANGED PIETY FOR IMPIETY; WE HAVE BETRAYED OUR FORMER UNDEFILED SACRIFICE, WE HAVE BECOME AZYMITES."

Horrified, the faithful avoided the bishops that had signed and even cast insults at them. The clergy that remained in Constantinople also would not concelebrate with the unionists. In due time, the Eastern Patriarchs announced that they WERE NOT BOUND BY ANYTHING THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAD SIGNED. The Venerable Mark was called a new Saint Athanasius and Saint John the Theologian. He was considered a confessor and Martyr by almost the entire body of the Great Church. He was met with universal enthusiasm and respect. [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.

OUR HOLY FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS, MARK EVGENIKOS,
METROPOLITAN OF EPHESUS, CHAMPION, AND GUARDIAN
OF ORTHODOXY.

Saint Mark Evgenikos, our holy and God-bearing Father, was born in 1392. He lived the greater part of his life in Constantinople. The father of the Saint, George, was at first a Deacon and later proto-ekadikos, proto-notarios and great chartophylax of the patriarchate. The Saint’s mother, Maria, was the daughter of the well-known physician, Loukas. Both of St. Mark’s parents were the scions of renowned and devout families. In all likelihood the Saint’s ancestors hailed from Imvros or Trebizond. When the Saint first beheld the light of the sun, his home was in Galata of Constantinople.

Before he embraced the monastic life, the young Mark was named Manuel. From his earliest youth, the lad distinguished himself in his studies. When Manuel was thirteen, his father reposed. He dedicated himself even more to his scholarly pursuits. All his biographers–his brother, the famous orator John, Manuel led a monastic and ascetic life. As if he were an Angel living on earth. The sterling qualities of the holy youth were noticed by both Patriarch Efthymios II of Constantinople and Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos (1391-1425 A.D.) He appointed Manuel as his personal secretary and entrusted him with editing his own writings. Indeed, a preeminent position in government already awaited Manuel together with the honor and admiration of the world.

Nevertheless, the world weighed heavily upon the blessed man. Among his many qualities, he possessed humility, and, therefore, he sought neither glory which is vain, nor riches that fade, nor the favor of the Imperial Court. The young Manuel desired monastic perfection in the eremitic life, so that he might concentrate his soul and hear in prayer and in the remembrance of God. He believed there could be no greater good than unceasing joy in the Lord and in the illumination that comes only from the remembrance of God.

Manuel decided to pursue the silence that he so desired, and to attain inner quietness, peace and, ultimately, ascent to God. He subjected himself to harsh asceticism and to the prudent administration of his Elder Symeon. Shortly after settling in the monastery, the godly Symeon was translated to the heavenly mansions. After his novitiate, Manuel received the name Mark at his holy tonsure. Mark was wholly engrossed in one activity, of which he never tired both day and night: studying the Divine Scripture and enriching himself with their understanding (which his writings clearly reveal).

George Scholarios comments, "Father Mark was a spiritually pure person. Even as a young man, before his became a monk, he was wise in the struggles of asceticism. He dwelt as though in the desert. Upon the brotherhood’s constant urging and insistence, Mark, with heaviness of heart and against his will, accepted the dignity of ordination. In 1420 A.D., at twenty-eight years old, the monk Mark was made a Deacon. Then, two years later, he was ordained to the Priesthood. His brother, John, makes this comment about Father Mark and how he served the Divine Offices: "When Father Mark celebrated the Divine Liturgy, he was filled by Divine inspiration to such an extent that all who beheld him said that he appeared to be outside of himself, outside even the earth, and completely immersed in God, like an Angel in the flesh.

The political atmosphere in the Christian East was very serious. Events at that time included the sack of Serbia and Bulgaria by the Turks, the defeat of the crusaders at Nikopolis, the fruitless journey of Manuel II through Western Europe and, finally, the conquest of Thessaloniki by the Turks in 1430 A.D. Economically, the dismembered and enfeebled Empire lay in complete ruin. Therefore, from 1431 A.D. onwards, fresh negotiations began to work TOWARD A UNION WITH THE CHURCH OF ROME when the former Venetian Cardinal, Gabriel Candulmer, that is Eugene IV (1431-1437 A.D.), was Pope.

Emperor John VIII was hard pressed by the Turkish advances. In despair, he resolved to conclude NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CHURCHES. Again, he hoped to obtain the frequently promised Western help against the infidel, even AT THE COST OF ECCLESIASTICAL SUBMISSION TO ROME. Rome DEMANDED RECOGNITION OF HER SUPREMACY AS ESSENTIAL AND, IN RETURN, PROMISED HELP AGAINST THE ONCOMING TURKS. However, she was not actually capable of supplying Latin military power in the East–only that the state could spare on repairs to the great land-walls of the City of Constantinople, so that they might be ready for the inevitable Turkish onslaught.

Although previous attempts at union ENDED IN DISILLUSIONMENT AND OFFERED LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT, there was still an influential circle in Constantinople which favored a policy of agreement with Rome as the only hope in their hour of danger. The Emperor put himself at the head of this group, in spite of the very strong Orthodox nationalistic party against the union…Nevertheless, envoys were sent to the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, requesting their presence at a council with the aim of uniting the East and West. As delegates to the proposed council, the Patriarch of Alexandria chose Metropolitan Anthony of Herakeia and Priest-Monk Mark Evgenikos. The name of the blessed Mark had been heard abroad for he was distinguished in virtue and wisdom.

Then, one day, as Patriarch Joseph was sitting in his cell with other bishops, he made a perceptive statement, He said, "They desire the council to convene in Italy and that the Latins should subsidize our entire trip. If we are to expect daily rations solely at their hands, we have already become their servants and hirelings, and they the lords. The servant is obliged to do the bidding of his lord, as the hireling must perform that for which he is being paid…"

The Priest-monk Mark Elevated to Metropolitan

At that time, Emperor John looked upon Saint Mark with much love and respect. In fact, many of the Saint’s theological works written at the Emperor’s request. The Emperor respected the holy Mark’s thorough knowledge of the principles of Orthodoxy. He also appreciated his clear and disciplined mind, which quickly perceived the errors of the enemies of Orthodoxy. With the death of Metropolitan Joseph of Ephesus, and for many other reasons, the Emperor insisted that the holy Mark accept the See of Ephesus and be ordained (consecrated) Metropolitan. He understood that Mark had a pure and incorruptible love for the truth and could develop sound ideas. It was the Emperor’s desire that Saint Mark attain to this rank, so as to occupy a suitable place among the Greek representatives, namely, the place of chief theologian of the Orthodox. He sensed that the Office of Bishop was beyond his worth and powers. Nevertheless, he was enjoined by many respected persons, including the Ecumenical Patriarch. Therefore, obedient to the Patriarch, the Emperor, and to the genuine need of theTrue and Only Church of Christ, he submitted to the Synod and its decision for his elevation. Thus, it was plain that he accepted this high ecclesiastical rank SOLELY FOR THE DEFENSE OF ORTHODOXY, which he loved. Indeed, the power and genius of the holy man’s words were needed by the Orthodox, so as not to be led astray by the innovators who were already preparing a wayward path.

Saint Mark, however, was a cautious man. Desiring to receive enlightenment and help from above for the mighty labor that lay ahead in Italy, Mark, in prayer, invoked the Holy Trinity, and beggeds the intercessions of God’s holy Angels and the Lady Theotokos. He prayed that God would put "His fear into his heard heart."

In the intervening time, Emperor John was nearing agreement with Pope Eugene IV, who was taking over the leadership in negotiations for union. The Pope wished to have negotiations take place in the Northern Italian city of Ferrara, where the Emperor himself would attend. The year was 1437 when Pope Eugene IV officially transferred the council to Ferrara,..

"…After the preliminary prayer, Saint Mark was permitted to address all present and to thank the Pope for assembling the Council. Saint SMark also made it clear THAT THE ORTHODOX HIERARCHS HAD NOT COME TO ITALY TO SIGN A CAPITULATION. The Orthodox would NOT sell the Faith for the benefit of their crumbling state. Their purpose in attending the Council WAS FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF TRUE DOCTRINE. Saint Mark, the star of the Church of Christ, made it clear to the West that THE PURITY OF ORTHODOXY MUST BE PRESERVED. He indicated that negotiations could end in failure if Rome DID NOT CONCEDE AND RENOUNCE HER INNOVATIONS. The Westerners had introduced DOGMAS AND LITURGICAL PRACTICES UNKNOWN TO THE ANCIENT CHURCH, WHICH HAD LED TO SCHISM BETWEEN ROME AND BYZANTIUM. The fiery teacher of piety then said THAT IF THE CHURCH OF ROME DESIRED TO FINISH AS WELL AS SHE HAD BEGUN–THAT IS, FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES–THEN SHE MUST RETRACT HER DOCTRINE ON THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT PERFORM THE LITURGY WITH UNLEAVENED WAFERS (AZYMES). Furthermore, Saint Mark pointed out to them that UNION WAS JUST AS NECESSARY TO THE WEST, BECAUSE ALL CHRISTIANS HAD A COMMON ENEMY–THE MOSLEM TURKS.

It was visibly apparent that the Pope and his committee received Saint Mark’s address with cold disdain. When Emperor John and others among the Greeks, who were not present, learned of Saint Mark’s words, they, too, were indignant. They did not wish for the differences between East and West to be mentioned. As a result, the Emperor almost surrendered Mark, to the judgment of the Greek council for daring to express such opinions before the Western delegates. As the real head of his committee, the Emperor authorized only certain persons to speak with the Latin delegates. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

(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 EVE SHALL BE.

On the 21st of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
our Venerable Father MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Righteous One. Plagal of FourthTone

GUIDE of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary of the
world, God-inspired adornment of monastics, O wise Maximus, by
thy teachings thou hast enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. Intercede
with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn of the Righteous One. Plagal of Fourth Tone

LET us the faithful praise with fitting hymns that lover of the Holy
Trinity, great Maximus, who clearly taught the divinely-given Faith:
that we should give glory unto Christ our God, Who, though but one
hypostasis, hath in very truth two natures, wills, and energies. Let
us cry to him: Rejoice, divine herald of the Faith.
+



The divine MAXIMUS, who was from Constantinople, sprang from an illustrious family. He was a lover of wisdom and an eminent theologian. At first he was the chief private secretary of the Emperor Heraclius and his grandson Constans. But when the Monothelite heresy became predominant in the royal court, out of hatred for this heresy the Saint departed for the Monastery at Chrysopolis (Scutari), of which he later became the Egoumenos (Abbot). When Constans tried to constrain him either to accept the Monothelite teaching, or to stop speaking and writing against it–neither of which the Saint accepted to do–his tongue was uprooted and his right hand was cut off, and he was sent into exile, where he reposed in 662 A.D. At the time only he and his few disciples were Orthodox in the East.

MORE ON THE LIFE OF SAINT MAXIMUS

He was provided with an education in philosophy, rhetoric, and grammar. Possessed of a sharp mind and diligent character, he learned his lessons quickly. In short, he was prepared for a career, at the Imperial Court. The young Maximos successfully completed his curriculum, excelling in expounding upon the philosophical and theological foundations of Orthodox spirituality. He pursued what was good and useful, leaving behind what was injurious and useless to the soul. His soul was smitten with divine love. He only wished to please God. He was humble minded and moderate. He was not puffed up due to his family’s nobility. He was not proud on account of his own wisdom and virtue.

Saint Maximus had come to be known as "Maximus the Wise" not only among fellow monastics, but also with the diplomats and government officials with whom he had served. He would now prepare to defend the Apostolic Faith through God-inspired words. In both the East and West, he is acknowledged as the most significant theologian of his time. He expounded and acted upon the traditions handed down to him, that is, Mysteries, divine offices, Scriptures, synods, Saints, and writings of the holy Fathers.

In the year 624 A.D., Father Maximus began preaching about the hypostasis of Jesus Christ, the Logos/Word of God. He had a constant disciple, Father Anastasios, who would accompany him even to martyrdom. Now on account of the Monothelite heresy, Father Maximus left Scuteri and dwelt in the small Monastery of Saint George at Kyzikos. In that sacred precinct, he produced many spiritual works. The most influential of his early writings were The Ascetic Life, a catechetical piece on the two great commandments, and The Four Centuries of Love, consisting of practical discourses on the Christian life and prayer, and the practise of the virtues. Father Maximus taught that the virtues are natural. By nature we have an appetite simply for what is good. Nature impels us to desire and move toward obtaining these virtues. They exist in all men because of the identical nature of men, but we do not all practice what is natural to us to an equal degree. With regard to asceticism, he comments that it was devised in order to ward off deception, which establishes itself through sensory perception. When deception is completely expelled, the soul immediately exhibits the splendor of its natural virtue. Father Maximus perceived the Scriptures as foretelling man’s purpose, since it was God Who said, "LET US MAKE MAN ACCORDING TO OUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS… AND GOD MADE MAN, ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF GOD HE MADE HIM, MALE AND FEMALE HE MADE THEM. AND GOD BLESSED THEM…AND GOD SAW AL THE THINGS THAT HE HAD MADE, AND, BEHOLD, THEY WERE VERY GOOD" [Genesis !:26, 27, 28, 31]. Saint Maximus said that we are taught to speak to ourselves of the grace of adoption. In his commentary on the Lord’s Prayer, Our Father, he writes that "we are also taught to speak to ourselves of the grace of adoption, since we are by grace worthy to call Father the One Who is our Creator by nature. Thus by respecting the designation of our Begetter in grace, we are eager to set on our life THE FEATURES OF THE One Who gave us life. We sanctify His Name on earth in taking after Him as Father, in showing ourselves by our actions to be His children."

In his work, entitled Four Centuries of Love, our holy Father and Saint Maximus makes clear in the first letter, "First Century," THAT A CHRISTIAN TRAINS IN LOVE (AGAPE): "LOVE IS A GOOD DISPOSITION OF THE SOUL BY WHICH ONE PREFERS NO CREATURE TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTAIN TO A LASTING POSSESSION OF SUCH LOVE IF ONE HAS ANY ATTACHMENT TO EARTHLY THINGS. Saint Maximus encourages us, writing: "LOVE IS BEGOTTEN OF DETACHMENT, DETACHMENT FROM HOPE IN GOD, HOPE FROM PATIENT ENDURANCE AND LONG-SUFFERING; and these from general self-mastery; self-mastery from fear of God; and fear of God from faith in the Lord. In the "Second Century," he instructs us that "PURE PRAYER IS FROM ONE WHO TRULY LOVES GOD AND SO PRAYS ENTIRELY WITHOUT DISTRACTION." In the "Third Century," Saint Maximus reminds one OF THE CHRIST-LIKE RESPONSE TO PASSIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, RESENTMENT, BY SAYING: "If thou dost harbor resentment against anyone, pray for him and thou will prevent the passion from being aroused; FOR BY MEANS OF PRAYER THOU WILL SEPARATE THY GRIEF FROM THE THOUGHT OF THE WRONG HE HAS DONE THEE. WHEN THOU HAST BECOME LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE TOWARD HIM, THOU WILT WIPE THE PASSION COMPLETELY FROM THY SOUL. IF SOMEONE REGARDS THEE WITH RESENTMENT, BE PLEASANT TO HIM, BE HUMBLE AND AGREEABLE IN HIS COMPANY; AND THOU WILT DELIVER HIM FROM HIS PASSION."

In the "Four Century," he wrote: "THE ONE WHO LOVES CHRIST THOROUGHLY IMITATES HIM AS MUCH AS HE CAN. THUS CHRIST DID NOT CEASE TO DO GOOD TO MEN. TREATED UNGRATEFULLY AND BLASPHEMED, HE WAS PATIENT; BEATEN AND PUT TO DEATH BY THEM, HE ENDURED, NOT THINKING ILL OF ANYONE AT ALL. THESE THREE ARE THE WORKS OF LOVE OF NEIGHBOR, IN THE ABSENCE OF WHICH A PERSON WHO SAYS HE LOVES CHRIST OR POSSESSES HIS KINGDOM DECEIVES HIMSELF."

As an important sign that we are beginning to free ourselves from self-love, we practice loving our enemies. "Why did the Lord give you the command to love your enemies, to bless those who curse you, to do well to those who hate you, and to continue praying for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)? To free you from hatred, grief, anger, and resentment, and to make you worthy of the supreme gift of perfect love. But you cannot attain such love IF YOU DO NOT IMITATE GOD AND LOVE ALL MEN EQUALLY. For God loves all men equally and wills that all men be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:4).

Saint Maximus, from his Commentary on the Our Father: "The evil one (devil) one mischievously uses other types of temptations, voluntary and involuntary, the first by sowing and greatly provoking the soul with bodily pleasures and scheming first to take away the desire of divine love. Then he cunningly works on the other type, hoping to corrupt our nature by pain so as to constrain the soul, struck down by the weakness of sufferings, to set in motion the attitudes of hatred of the Creator. We pray to avoid voluntary temptation, so that we will not turn aside our desire from divine love. As far as involuntary temptation is concerned, let us endure it nobly as coming with God’s consent, so that we may show that we prefer the Creator of nature. to nature itself."

THE MARTYRS SUFFER MUTILATIONS

The Prefect decided that the penalty for blasphemy was removal of the tongue. The Venerable Maximus’ tongue was torn out from the very root. In this way , the heretics thought to render the elder silent. Father Anastasios also suffered the same. Both holy men were then cast into prison. The Physician of bodies, Christ, Who of old "perfected praise, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16}, and bestowed speech upon the dumb, also then granted speech to His faithful slaves, Fathers Maximus and Anastasios. Father Maximus and Anastasios, though tongueless, miraculously received the ability to speak more clearly than when they had tongues. The heretics were roundly ashamed by this wonderworking. In their anger and malice, the heretics took a knife and plunged it through the elder’s right wrist, which stroke severed the hand. The heretics then ast to floor that hand which wrote divinely inspired wisdom.

The Repose and Grave of Saint Maximus

Before the Venerable Elder completed the course of his earthly sojourn, the Lord comforted His much-suffering His much-suffering servant with a Divine visitation. The Master summoned Maximos to the Heavenly Jerusalem, by revealing to him the day and hour of his repose. This ushered in great joy for the martyr and confessor, who then gladly surrendered his soul into the hands of Christ God, Whom he had loved from his youth and for Whom he had suffered so greatly. The Heavenly man and eathly Angel, Saint Maximus, reposed in Lazika on the 21st of January, in the year 662 A.D. at the age of 82.

Saint Maximus and His Tomb

After the interment of the holy relics of Saint Maximus in Schemarion, there appeared every night three lamps over his tomb. They miraculously burned and illuminated the entire place. This wondrous phenomenon confirmed for many how much boldness the Venerable Maximus found before the Master Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor, and veneration, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. 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.

Saint Dorotheos of Gaza has a useful model about love. He says, "the closer we are to God, the closer we are to one another. The closer we are to one another, the closer we are to God." We can think of this relationship as spokes in a wheel with God in the center. Think of the spokes of the wheel as the path that leads to God, as we move from the rim to the center of the wheel. As the spokes, or our paths, approach the center, our paths become closer together. However, when the spokes, or our paths, move away from the center, or God, as we depart the center and move toward the rim, we move away from God and from one another. The path to God is one of godliness and holiness. It is the path of the Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life Who cleanses us from every impurity and Who saves our souls.

For the true Christian believer God is always the center of his or her life. Everything revolves around our Creator Who created everything in wisdom and love. He is the Sun of Righteousness Who bestows upon us His grace for without it there is no life or salvation. Think how everything depends on the sun for its very existence. Just as nothing would exist without its energy, its light, its warmth, the same way and much more, nothing could exist without God’s love, His energy, His Light, His Divine Teachings and Commandments. It was our Creator that created the sun, the stars, the planets and every living thing in the world. It was no accident that the distance between the earth and the sun is precise. If our planet was to move slightly closer to the sun, our planet earth would burn up; and if the earth was to move slightly away from the sun, it would freeze instantly. This is what happens to the souls that distance themselves away from the Source of Life, the Holy Trinity. Jesus says to us: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life" [John 8:12]. Everything that the Almighty God and Fashioner created, including light, is perfect and "very good."

A humanity that distances itself from God is a humanity which is doomed. People lose their humanity and do not recognize themselves any longer. They act beastly toward one another, and they do not see themselves as having anything in common. Under these conditions life ceases to have any value and therefore there is rampant murder and killing, unrestricted violence, they rejoice in being cruel, they doubt and question their very own gender, and rampaging is common among them. rancor is constant, they are guilty of savage behavior, stealing with no accountability or fear, there is outright lawlessness and chaos throughout. When their human identity is totally lost, they seek to replace it with that of mythical creatures or actual animals. Humanity turns to idol and demon worship. We have seen over the centuries how fickle and faithless man is, even when God has given him everything that he has asked for. What comes to mind is what Aaron, Moses’ brother, and the people did when Moses was delayed on Mount Sinai waiting for God to give him the Ten Commandments, "The people gathered against Aaron and said to him "Rise up and make us gods that shall go before us…Aaron then said to them, "Remove the golden earrings in the ears of your wives and daughters and bring them to me." So, all the people removed the golden earrings in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He received them from their hands; and he fashioned them with an engraving tool and made a molten calf. Then he said, "There are your gods, O Israel that brought you out of the land of Egypt. So, when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it" [Exodus 32:1-5]. God warns Moses to "go quickly..for your people whom you brought out of Egypt are transgressing the law. They turned aside quickly from the way I commanded them. THEY MADE THEMSELVES A CALF AND ARE WORSHIPPING AND SACRIFICING TO IT AND THEY ARE SAYING ‘THESE ARE YOUR GODS’… [Exodus 32:7-8]
God sent His Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ to earth and became man in order to save mankind but instead He was rejected by His own people and eventually they crucified Him and killed Him. One can clearly see that humanity has not changed very much over thousands of years. However, man has the potential to be deified (theosis) and be redeemed. As Saint Gregory Palamas writes, "The Lord patiently endured for our sake a death He was not obliged to undergo, to redeem us, who were obliged to suffer death, from servitude to the devil and death, by which I mean death both of the soul and of the body, temporary and eternal. Since He gave His Blood, which was sinless and therefore guiltless, as a ransom for us who were liable to punishment because of our sins, HE REDEEMED US FROM OUR GUILT. HE FORGAVE OUR SINS, TORE UP THE RECORD OF THEM ON THE CROSS AND DELIVERED US FROM THE DEVIL’S TYRANNY (cf. Colossians 2:14-15). The Resurrection of Christ is "the foundation and the crown of our Orthodox Christian faith." The saving fruits of the Resurrection of Christ are: (a) the victory over hell and death {b) the blessedness of the saints in heaven and the beginning of the existence of the Heavenly Church; and (c) the sending down of the Holy Spirit and the creation of the Church of Christ on earth."

A Godless society is a society plunged in eternal darkness. Our All-Merciful God has given mankind the freedom and choice to choose either Light or darkness. His Light is the Light of Life. Man was created by Him to inherit this Divine Light and live in God’s Life-giving Light for eternity. It is in the Kingdom of God where man finds true joy, fulfilment, and everlasting happiness. In darkness there is no joy, no hope, no fulfillment, no salvation, but eternal torment and suffering. Why would anyone desire darkness over the Light?

Our earthly life can be one of great joy and blessedness. Together as one people and by the grace of God we can make our world an earthly paradise. A world that enjoys peaceful coexistence, harmony and brotherly love. A world that is in constant communion with its Creator and is thankful for the countless blessings which He has bestowed upon us. A world which is aware of His Divine Presence and His unconditional agape. There are no wars, there is no hatred, there are no vices or wicked behavior. Is this not what Jesus has asked us to do? "A new commandment I give to you, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER" (John 13:34-35). There is no greater power than that of love. What is missing in a Godless world or society filled with sadness and despair is LOVE! Therefore the answer to the world’s problems is love of God and love for one another. As Saint Dorotheos of Gaza says, "the closer we are to God, the closer we are to one another."

"Grace to you, and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ."

___________
"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 PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO BE "ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" [Romans 6:11].

In his epistle to the Romans, the holy Apostle Paul writes: "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:10-11].

Our life on earth has a purpose indeed and therefore it is not a life that is lived aimlessly. There is certainly a real opportunity to aim at a real target. The Greek word αμαρτία (amarteeah} means to miss the mark (target), to fail to one’s purpose, go wrong, to err to sin. There ought to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that there is a definite purpose in life and not just for Christians, but for all.

According to our Holy Orthodox Christian Church, our Lord Jesus Christ was subject neither to "death" nor to "sin," yet He VOLUNTARILY DIED "to sin" FOR OUR SAKE. In Christ, through the power of God, we, too, can voluntarily "die" to sin in baptism. But Christ’s death is "once," and "now He lives to God." As He will never die again, so there is never a second baptism. We lay hold our one baptism and continue in communion with God. Furtheron, Saint Paul says, "Therefore, do not let sin reign to your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" [Romans 6:12-14].

"Do not let sin reign" implies that sin’s power over us is not inevitable; it is something WE ALLOW BY OUR FREE WILL. Man’s will was the first aspect of human nature damaged in the Fall and, therefore, is the first thing our Lord Jesus Christ HEALS. His Divine healing enables us to make right choices, especially against sin. For the Christian, sin is no longer a power which reigns and puts one in bondage. Though our "mortal body" demands pleasures, we can direct it rather than allowing it to direct us. "Lusts," SINFUL PASSIONS, WE CAN RESIST, FOR SIN HAS NO POWER BUT WHAT GIVE IT. Only our own listlessness, dejection, indifference or laziness can defeat us. In Christ, we have no excuses. We can "help it," we can avoid sin. For in Christ Jesus, we are RESTORED TO WHAT GOD INTENDED HUMAN NATURE TO BE.

One would hope that the human race changes course to avoid a major catastrophe, but will it? Is there enough faith and wisdom to accomplish it? I believe, however, that there is hope. I ask to recollect the story in the Book of Genesis that speaks about Abraham’s hospitality and how he intercedes to save the two sinful cities, Sodom and Gommorrah. The Lord reveals to Abraham His plans to destroy them. So Abraham asked Him: "Suppose there were 50 righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous in it? The Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city then I will spare all the place for their sakes." Abraham continued asking what if there forty, thirty, twentu, and finally ten would You still destroy them? "So he said, "I WOULD NOT DESTROY IT FOR THE SAKE OF THE TEN." [Genesis 18:24-32].

Ancient cities at the time were small and scarcely populated by a few thousands each. World population currently is approximately eight billion people. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there are enough righteous people among the eight billion, to prevent the destruction of the world as we know it if God so wishes. However, God does not seek to destroy mankind but to save it. Proof of His infinite agape is His willingness to sacrifice His life and to give it as a ransom for many. It is man who seeks the destruction of humanity and NOT God! Even most recently there are concerns of a nuclear world war that will certainly bring total annihilation of humanity almost instantly. And why? Because man keeps on missing the mark, Jesus Christ Who is the God of Agape (Love).

Saint John Climacus says, "Chastity is a name common to all virtues. A chaste person feels no stirrings or change within himself even when he is asleep. A chaste person is completely oblivious to the difference between bodies… the beginning of chastity IS REFUSAL TO CONSENT TO EVIL THOUGHTS…" This is another reason for all of us to possess the gift OF DISCERNMENT. We live in evil days when the airwaves are saturated with lies, deceiving messages, mind and thought manipulation, "defective reasoning and confusion of thought." People have lost the ability to distinguish between what is good and what is evil. What is true and what is false. What is the will of God and what is of a demonic origin. Without the gift of discernment we are in danger of making sound and good decisions, or to know who is a friend and who is our enemy. Saint John exhorts and reminds us: "Keeping guard over one’s thoughts is one thing; watching over one’s mind another. Distant from each other as the east from the west, the latter is more significant and more laborious than the former." Everyone must remain vigilant at all times and understand our enemy the devil is most cunning and undeterred.

The Orthodox Christian is confident that he or she has allies and intercessors in this spiritual warfare. Their principal intercessor is the Theotokos, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, their guardian Angel, and all the Saints who constantly intercede for all of us to our Most-Merciful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are reminded of their intercessions in the Supplicatory divine service to the Theotokos: "A protection of Christians unshamable, Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, Please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; Your loving help bring unto us, Who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you." Also, "Deliver us, all of your servants, from dangers, O Theotokos; After God, we all flee to you, for shelter and covering, as an unshakable wall and our protection." "All those do you shelter, O Good One, those who in their faith flee to unto you, with your strong hand, you protect; We who sin have one else, who intercedes for us before God, praying endlessly, in ills and all dangers, for us who are laiden with our many sins and mistakes; Mother, of our God in the Highest. Therefore, we fall down to you, humbly; from all the misfortunes, keep your servants safe."

Therefore, knowing that we are "surrounded by a cloud of witnesses," the righteous of God who pray for the salvation of the human race unceasingly, no one should ever fall into despair. Continue your prayer discipline unhindered and unafraid and you will triumph. We should all offer David’s song of deliverance to the Almighty God that begins, "O Lord, my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God will be my guardian, in Whom I will trust; My defender and the horn of my salvation; My protector and the refuge of my salvation; You will save me from unrighteousness. I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; And I will be saved from my enemies…" [2 Kingdoms (Samuel) 22:2-4].

______________
"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 18th of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
Our Father Among the Saints ATHANASIOS and CYRIL, Archbishops
of Alexandria.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Third Tone

SHINING forth with works of Orthodoxy, ye quenched every false
belief and teaching and became trophy-bearers and conquerors.
And since ye made all things rich with true piety, greatly adorning
the Church with magnificence. Athanasius and wise Cyril, ye both
have worthily found Christ God, Who doth grant great mercy unto
all.

Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone

GREAT high priests of piety and noble champions of the Holy Church
of Christ, keep and preserve all those who chant: O Most Compassionate
Lord, do Thou graciously save those who faithfully honor Thee.
+

In the half-century after the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325 A.D., if there was one man whom the Arian heretics feared and hated more intensely than any other, as being able to lay bare the whole heresy of their teaching, and to marshal, even from exile or hiding, the beleaguered forces of the Orthodox, it was Saint Athanasios the Great. The blazing lamp of Orthodoxy, which Imperial power and heretics’ plots could not quench when he shone upon the lampstand, not found when he was hidden by the people and monks of Egypt, was born in Alexandria about the year 296 A.D. He received an excellent training in Greek Letters and especially in the Sacred Scriptures, of which he shows exceptional knowledge in his writings. Even as a young man he had a remarkable depth of theological understanding; he was only about twenty years old when he wrote his treatise On the Incarnation. Saint Alexander, the Archbishop of Alexandria, brought him up in piety, ordained hi his Deacon, and, after deposing Arius for his blasphemy against the Divinity of the Son of God, took Athanasios to the First Council (Synod) in Nicaea in 325 A.D. Saint Athanasios was to spend the remainder of his life laboring in defense of this holy Council. In 326 A.D., before his death, Alexander appointed Athanasius his successor.

He remained in his Archiepiscopal calling for more than forty years, although he was not on the Archiepiscopal throne the whole time. He was persecuted by heretics through almost the whole of his life, particularly by the Emperors Constantius, Julian and Valens, by Bishop Eusebius of Nocomedia and many others, and by the heretic Arius and his followers. He was forced to hide from his persecutors in a well, a grave, private houses and the deserts. Twice he was forced to flee to Rome. Only just before his death did he have a peaceful period as a good shepherd with his flock, which truly loved him. There are few Saints who have been so callously slandered and so criminally persecuted as Saint Athanasius. But his great soul endured all with patience for the love of Christ and at last emerged victorious from all these terrible and lengthy struggles. He often went to Saint Anthony for advice and moral support, revering him as his spiritual father. He suffered greatly for the Truth, until the Lord gave him rest in His Kingdom as His faithful servant, in the year 373 A.D. [Source: The Great Horologion and The Prologue from Ochrid]

SAINT CYRIL was also from Alexandria, born about the year 376 A.D., the nephew of Theophilos, Patriarch of Alexandria, who also instructed the Saint in his youth. Having spent much time with the monks in Nitria, he later became the successor to his uncle’s throne in 412 A.D. In 429 A.D., when Saint Cyril heard tidings of the teachings of the new Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, he began attempting to bring Nestorius to renounce his heretical teachings about the Incarnation; and when he did not repent, Saint Cyril, together with Pope Celestine of Rome, led the Orthodox opposition to his heresy. Saint Cyril presided over the Third Ecumenical Council (Synod) of the 200 holy Fathers in the year 431 A.D., who gathered in Ephesos under Saint Theodosios the Younger. At this Council, by his most wise words he put to shame and convicted the impious Nestorius. Saint Cyril, besides overthrowing the error of Nestorius, has left to the Church full commentaries on the Gospels of Luke and John. Having shepherded the Church of Christ for thirty-two years, he reposed in 444 A.D. [Source: The Great Horologion]

FOR CONSIDERATION

To the question, why did the Son of God reveal Himself to the world as man and not in the shape of some other creature, the wise Saint Athanasius replied thus: "If they ask why He did not reveal Himself in the form of some greater creature: for example, the sun, the moon, or stars, or as flame or space, but as man, let them know that the Lord did not come simply to reveal Himself but TO HEAL AND TEACH THOSE THAT SUFFER. For simply to reveal Himself and make His spectators marvel would mean to come as a show. Coming as a HEALER and TEACHER, He had not only to come, BUT TO COME IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE REVELATION SHOULD BE BEARABLE TO THE WRETCHED MEN WHOM HE HAD COME TO SERVE. NO SINGLE CREATURE HAS BEEN IN ERROR IN THE EYES OF GOD SAVE MAN ALONE; NEITHER THE SUN NOR THE MOON NOR THE SKY, THE STARS NOR WATER NOR SPACE HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL TO ITS STATE, BUT, ON THE CONTRARY, KNOWING THEIR CREATOR AND THEIR KING — THE WORD — THEY ALL LIVE AS THEY WERE CREATED. ONLY HUMAN BEINGS HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES FROM GOOD AND CHANGED THAT TRUTH WHICH BELONGS TO GOD INTO DECEIT, AS THEY TRANSFERRED THE KNOWLEDGE OF HM TO DEVILS AND IDOLS. What is there, therefore, unlikely to the Word’s (the Son of God’s) revealing Himself as a man IN ORDER TO SAVE MANKIND? Indeed, we ask the unbelievers of our generation: ‘In what form would you wish God to reveal Himself, if not as man?’ [Source: The Prologue from Ochrid]

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things1"
– 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 17th of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
our Venerable and God-bearing Father ANTHONY the Great.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

EMULATING the ways of Elias the zealot, and following the straight
paths of the Baptist, O Father Anthony, thou madest of the wilderness
a city, and didst support the world by thy prayers. Wherefore
intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

Thou leftest behind all earthly cares and turbulence, and leddest
a life of stillness and tranquility, emulating John the Baptist in
every way, O most righteous one. Wherefore, we acclaim thee with251
him, O first of the Fathers, Father Anthony.
+

Saint Anthony (Antony), our Great Father, was born in Egypt, during the reign of the most impious Decius (249-251 A.D.). His parents were Christians who raised him in piety. He was modest, shy, and honest. He had no dealings with others apart from his kinsfolk. His pious parents departed this life while he was still young.

Saint Anthony, the Father of monks, On hearing the words of the Gospel: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor" (Matthew 19:21), he immediately put it into action. Distributing to the poor all he had, and fleeing from all the turmoil of the world, he departed to the desert. The manifold temptations he endured continually for the space of twenty years are incredible. His ascetical struggles by day and by night, whereby he mortified the uprisings of the passions and attained to the height of dispassion, surpass the bounds of nature; and the report of his deeds of virtue drew such a multitude to follow him, that the desert was transformed into a city, while he became, so to speak, the governor, lawgiver, and master-trainer of all the citizens of this newly-formed city. But the cities of the world also enjoyed the fruit of his virtue. When the Christians were being persecuted and put to death under Maximinus in 312 A.D., he hastened to their aid and consolation. When the Church was troubled by the Arian heretics, he went with zeal to Alexandria in 335 A.D. and struggled against them on behalf of Orthodoxy. During this time, by the grace of his words, he also turned many unbelievers to Christ.

He began his ascetical life outside his village of Coma in Upper Egypt, studying the ways of the ascetics and holy men there, and perfecting himself in the virtues of each until he surpassed them all. Desiring to increase his labors, he departed into the desert, and finding an abandoned fortress in the mountains, he made his dwelling in it, training himself in extreme fasting, unceasing prayer, and fierce conflicts with the demons. Here he remained, as mentioned above, about twenty years. Saint Athanasius the Great, who knew him personally and wrote about his life, says that he came forth from that fortress "initiated in the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God." Afterwards, because of the press of the faithful, who deprived him of his solitude, he was enlightened by God to journey with certain Bedouins, until he came to a mountain in the desert near the Red Sea, where he passed the remaining part of his life. Saint Athanasius says of him that "HIS COUNTENANCE HAD A GREAT AND WONDERFUL GRACE, This gift also he had from the Savior. For if he were present in a great company of monks, and any one who did not know him previously wished to see him, immediately coming forward he passed by the rest, and hurried to Anthony, as though attracted by his appearance. Yet neither in height nor breadth was he conspicuous above others, but IN THE SERENITY OF HIS MANNER AND THE PURITY OF HIS SOUL."

So passing his life, and becoming AN EXAMPLE OF VIRTUE and A RULE FOR MONASTICS, he reposed on January 17th in the year 356 A.D., having lived altogether 105 years. [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

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

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

On the 16th of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the
Veneration of the Honored CHAINS of the holy and glorious
Apostle PETER.

Saint Peter, the most glorious and Chief of the holy Apostles, whose CHAINS are Venerated by the Orthodox Church this day, had suffered imprisonment for the sake of Christ, as we read in Saint Luke’s account of Acts, Chapter 12. “Now at that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to maltreat some of those from the Church” [Acts 12:1]. The time is the early part of A.D. 44, since that is the date of Herod’s death. The title “king” was also accurate during this period, since Herod Agripa I, grandson of Herod the Great, was king of Palestine from A.D. 42 to 44. Only those three years was he king over Palestine from the death of Herod the Great.

Herod is Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great who had sought to kill Jesus as a child. Herod Agrippa ruled as king in Judea and Palestine under Rome in A.D. 41-44. The dates of his reign determine the period in which James, the brother of John, was killed and Peter imprisoned. James is the first of the Twelve Apostles to be martyred. Herod had in mind to “oppress” or “hurt,” as the word for”harass” is translated elsewhere. This incident reveals that by A.D. 44 there was growing popular displeasure against Christians.

Saint Luke, author of the Book of Acts, notes: “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James, the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church, And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping bound with TWO CHAINS between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying ‘Arise quickly!’ And HIS CHAINS FELL OFF HIS HANDS. Then the Angel said to him, ‘Gird yourself and tie on your sandals,’ and so he did. And he said to him, ‘Put on your garment and follow me.’ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the Angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His Angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people. So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, ‘You are beside yourself!’ Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ‘It is his Angel.’ Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, ‘Go tell these things to James and to the brethren.’ And he departed and went to another place. Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down form Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. [Acts 12:1-19].

The holy Apostle Peter then left Jerusalem and preached the Gospel in other places. News of his miraculous release spread throughout Jerusalem. The CHAINS which fell from the holy Apostle’s body WERE COLLECTED BY THE CHRISTIANS AND REVERENTLY RETAINED BY THEM AS PRECIOUS RELICS. Those formerly base and ugly links of metal, used odiously for the detention of the Apostle, became SACRED TREASURES FROM THE TIME THEY WERE CLAPPED UPON HIM. By means of those chains, he suffered the Lord’s Passion on his own body through imprisonment and humiliation. Later, CHAINS would also bind him on the path to crucifixion.

In the twelfth year of Nero’s reign, Saint Peter arrived in Rome for the third time. At length, Saint Peter was arrested by soldiers, CHAINED, and taken to his death. Saint Symeon the Metaphrastes says that Saint Peter was not taken alone, but with a multitude of the faithful. The holy Apostle requested that he be crucified head-downwards. Thus the Great Apostle of the Lord, the holy Peter, reposed, glorifying God in his death by the cross; enduring great torment from the nails in his hands and feet, he surrendered his blameless soul into the hands of God, on the 29th of June, in the year of our Lord 67 A.D. Afterward, his disciple, the holy Clement, having begged for the body of the Apostle, took it down from the cross and washed it. He then called together the remaining faithful and clergy, and they interred the holy relics with honor. Decent burial was also given to those who suffered with him. The CHAINS BY WHICH THE APOSTLE WAS FETTERED WERE ALSO KEPT AS SACRED HEIRLOOMS BY THE Church. Thus, today, in our celebration of the Veneration of his CHAINS, we are keeping faith with the faithful of generations past by this expression of unity.

In 438 A.D., Atheanis-Evdokia (400-460 A.D.), wife of Emperor Theodosius II, Augustus from 402-450, fell down from favor as a result of allegations of adultery. She thereafter went to Jerusalem, as an exile of her own volition, still retaining her Imperial Title. She constructed and adorned churches, for which Juvenal (422-458 A.D.), Patriarch of Jerusalem, presented her WITH A GIFT OF THE SPIRITUAL TREASURE OF THE APOSTLE PETER’S CHAINS. For three centuries, the treasured chains were kept in Jerusalem, where many healings and miracles were wrought through them. The Empress brought these holy relics back to Hagia Sophia in 439 A.D.

The account of Saint Bede calls for the celebration of this particular day. Evdoxia, the wife of Emperor Valentinian, returned the chains from Jerusalem to Rome on the 1st day of August. She consulted with the Pope, who then brought out the chains with which the same Apostle had been bound under Emperor Nero. When the two chains were put down side by side, they miraculously joined together, as if there had always been one chain. The newly joined chains were placed in the Church of Saint Peter ad Vincula (“Saint Peter’s where the Chains are” or “Saint Peter in Chains”). The church was endowed with many gifts and privileges.

Thus, that church of Rome then held the chains from both the Apostle’s imprisonment in Jerusalem and his martyrdom under Emperor Nero in Rome. The Holy Church established the 16th day of January as the feast of this wondrous deliverance of the Apostle Peter and the celebration of the Veneration of his SACRED CHAINS. These chains wrought many miracles and cures. Even as the handkerchiefs and aprons from Saint Paul’s skin were being put upon the sick at Ephesus, and diseases and evil spirits departed from the afflicted [Acts 19:11-12], in like manner THE CHAINS which fettered Saint Peter’s body were divinely energized to work Wonders (miracles). Indeed, not only the bodies and holy relics of the Saints are filled with Wonderworking grace, together with their articles and associated instruments, but even THEIR SHADOWS–AS THAT OF PETER [Acts 5:15-16].

___________
“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 "SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS"

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you
who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be
tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, HE DECEIVES
HIMSELF" [Galatians 6:1-3].

Our Lord God Jesus Christ taught: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, FOR I AM GENTLE and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light" [Matthew 11:29-30]. A sign of Jesus’ Leadership is His MEEKNESS–He is "gentle and lowly." The Prophet and King David emphasized that the Lord would teach His ways to the meek [Psalm 25:9]. MEEKNESS is THE MOTHER OF AGAPE (LOVE), the foundation of discernment and the forerunner of all humility. Our Lord and Savior finds rest in the hearts of the meek, while the turbulent spirit is home to the evil one (devil). To be able to administer correction with "gentleness" is a spiritual gift.

Knowing that human life is filled with sorrow, uncertainty, fear, disappointment, sickness, and constant struggle, those who are reaching out to help them should be people of compassion, love, gentleness, patience, prayer, and kindness. Recollecting on my own fifty-four year ministry in the service of my Lord Christ and our Holy Orthodox Church I know that to be true. People are suffering, they have all kinds of injuries, some self-inflicted and others due to the constant battles in life. The authentic Christian is one who emulates our Lord Christ who taught us how to be good samaritans to all who are hurt and in pain. The holy Apostle Paul speaking to the Thessalonian Greeks says, "But we were gentle among you just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" [1 Thessalonians 2:7).