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 January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
Our Righteous Father SERAPHIM OF SAROV.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Righteous One. Fourth Tone

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one, and ardently
desiring to work for Him alone, thou didst struggle in the wilderness
with constant prayer and labor; and having acquired love for Christ
with compunction of heart, thou didst prove to be the beloved favorite
of the Mother of God. Wherefore, we cry to thee: Save us by thy
prayers, O Seraphim, our holy Father.

Kontakion of the Righteous One. Second Tone

Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt therein, O
Saint, thou didst settle in the Monastery of Sarov. And having lived
there an angelic life, thou wast for many the way unto salvation.
Wherefore, Christ hath glorified thee, O Father Seraphim, and hath
enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles. And so we cry
to thee: Rejoice, O Seraphim, our holy Father.
+

SAINT SERAPHIM was born in the town of Kursk in 1759. From tender childhood he was under the protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her holy icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the Monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the holy Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (December 4th), and was ordained Deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added labors to labours, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared encompassed by the heavenly Hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to great labours.

In 1794, Saint Seraphim took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest. This period of extreme asceticism lasted fifteen years, until 1810. It was at this time that he took upon himself one of the greatest feats of his life. Assailed with despondency and a storm of contrary thoughts raised by the enemy of our salvation, the Saint passed a thousand nights on a rock, continuing in prayer until God gave him complete victory over the enemy (Satan). On another occasion, he was assaulted by robbers who broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving him almost dead. Here again, he began to recover after an appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos, who came to him with the holy Apostles Peter and John, and pointing to Saint Seraphim, uttered those awesome words, "THIS IS ONE OF MY KIND."

In 1810, at the age of fifty, weakened with his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim returned to the Monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours, in which he lived as a recluse, until 1825. For the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this period. After five years, he began receiving visitors little by little, giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his reclusion; from this time the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also at the command of the Holy Virgin that he undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments, foretold things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him. Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled ascetical travails, and his Angel-like love for God, he ascended to the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and became, like Saint Anthony of Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian land. In all, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him TWELVE TIMES IN HIS LIFE. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him that he would soon enter into his rest. She appeared to him accompanied by twelve virgins–Martyrs and Monastic Saints–with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an unspotted soul and shining with the Light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. On the night of his repose, the Righteous Philaret of the Glinsk Hermitage beheld his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the singular holiness of his life, and the seas of miracles that he performed both in life and after death, his veneration quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Russian Empire to every corner of the earth.

On July 19th our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the uncovering of the Holy Relics of Our Righteous Father Seraphim of Sarov. The uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov on July 19, 1903 was attended by many thousands, among them the foremost of the clergy and royalty; the holy Tsar Nicholas II, was one of the bearers of the holy relics in procession, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth wrote an eyewitness account of the many miracles that took place. Not only had the Saint foretold the coming of the Tsar to his glorification, and that from joy they would chant "Christ is Risen" in summer, but he had also left a letter "for the fourth sovereign, who will come to Sarov." This was Nicholas II, who was given the letter when he came in 1903; the contents of the letter are not known, but when he had read it, the Tsar and future Martyr, though not a man to show his emotions, was visibly shaken. [Source: The Great Horologion]

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

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 1st of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates Our Father
among the Saints BASIL THE GREAT, Archbishop of Cappadocia.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Saint. First Tone

Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy
word. Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; thou hast made
manifest the nature of all things that be; thou hast adorned the ways of
man. O namesake of the Royal Priesthood, our Righteous Father Basil,
intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn of the Saint. Fourth Tone

For the Church art thou in truth a firm foundation, granting an
inviolate lordship unto all mortal men and sealing it with what
thou hast taught, O Righteous Basil, revealer of heavenly things.

Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 A.D. in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents’ names were BASIL and EMILIA. His mother Emilia (commemorated July 19th) and his grandmother Macrina (January 14th) ae Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19th), Gregory of Nyssa (January 10th), Peter of Sevastia (January 9th), and Nafcratios. Basil studied in Constantinople under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called "the Theologian." Through the good influence of his sister Macrina, he chose to embrace the ascetical life, ABANDONING HIS WORLDLY CAREER. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies.
About the year 370 A.D., when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ, which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict asceticism, having no other care than to defend Holy Orthodoxy as a worthy successor of the Holy Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the heretical Arians, tried with threats of exile and of tortures to bend the Saint to their own confession, because he was the bastion of Orthodoxy in all Cappadocia, and preserved, and preserved it from heresy when Arianism was at its strongest. But he set all their malice at nought, and in his willingness to give himself up to every suffering for the sake of the Faith, showed himself to be a Martyr by VOLITION. Modestus, amazed at Basil’s fearlessness in his presence, said that no one had ever so spoken to him. "Perhaps," answered the Saint, "YOU HAVE NEVER MET A BISHOP BEFORE." The Emperor Valens himself was almost won over by Saint Basil’s dignity and wisdom. When Valens’ son fell gravely ill, he asked Saint Basil to pray for him. The Saint promised that his son would be restored if Valens agreed to have him baptized by the Orthodox; Valens agreed, Saint Basil prayed, the son was restored. But afterwards the Emperor had him baptized by Arians, and the child died soon after. Later, Valens, persuaded by his counselors, decided to send the Saint into exile because HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE ARIAN HERETICS INTO COMMUNION, BUT HIS PEN BROKE WHEN HE WAS SIGNING THE EDICT OF BANISHMENT. He tried a second time and a third time, but the same thing happened, so that the Emperor was filled with dread, and tore up the document, and Saint Basil was NOT banished. The truly Great Saint Basil, spent with extreme ascetical practices and continual labors at the helm of the Church, departed to the Lord on the 1st January in 379 A.D., at the age of 49.

His writings are replete with wisdom and erudition, and with these gifts he set forth the doctrine concerning the mysteries both of the CREATION (see his Hexaemeron) and of the HOLY TRINITY (see On the Holy Spirit). Because of the majesty and keenness of his eloquence, he is honored as "THE REVEALER OF HEAVENLY THINGS" and "the Great."

Saint Basil the Great is also celebrated on January 30th with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostomos. [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.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Feast. First Tone

Our human form hast Thou taken on Thyself without change, O
Greatly-compassionate Master, though being God by nature;
fulfilling the Law, Thou willingly receivest circumcision in the flesh,
tht Thou mightest end the shadow and roll away the veil of our sinful
passions. Glory be to Thy Goodness unto us. Glory be to Thy
compassion. Glory, O Logos/Word, to Thine inexpressible
condescension.

Kontakion Hymn of the Feast. Third Tone

Now the Lord of All that is doth undergo circumcision, in His Goodness
cutting off the sins and failings of mortals. He this day doth give salvation
unto the whole world; and the hierarch and bright daystar of the Creator
now rejoiceth in the highest, Basil the wise and divine initiate of Christ.
+



CIRCUMCISION was a mark of recognition that one belonged to the people of God. "So as to be a sign that this people is dedicated by it." According to the interpreters, circumcision in itself was not a testament, but A SIGN OF THE TESTAMENT AND AGREEMENT.

After Pentecost, the early Church was very occupied with the subject of whether the converts to the Christian faith should be circumcised. The grounds for it were that since the Old Testament preceded the New Testament, the pagans who come to the Christian Faith should keep the Law of hte Old Testament on the matter of circumcision as well. In order to deal with this topic, the First Ecumenical Synod, called Apostolic, was convoked, and it made the decision about it, as recorded in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

The problem was created when Jewish Christians "were teaching the brethren: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" [Acts 15:1]. Indeed there was discord and much discussion and, as it says, some who came from the sect of the Pharisees insisted that the converts be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses [Acts 15:5].

In the Apostolic Synod the Apostle Peter and the Apostles Barnabas and Paul and James the brother of God spoke. The decision of the Synod was THAT THOSE WHO CAME TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH FROM THE GENTILES SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUMCISED, but they should only keep themselves pure, abstaining from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. The decision, which was communicated in a letter to the Christians, said: "FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US, TO LAY UPON YOU NO GREATER BURDEN THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS, THAT OU ABSTAIN FROM THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS, FROM BLOOD, FROM THINGS STRANGLED, AND FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY. IF YOU KEEP YOURSELVES FROM THESE, YOU WILL DO WELL" [Acts 15:28-29].

The grounds for this decision were that since circumcision was a figure and prototype of holy Baptism and was preparing the people for the presence of Christ, IT WAS NOT INDISPENSABLE. The stipulation of the Old Testament Law, which were linked with the struggle for the purity of the body and soul from sin, and especially when they had to do with man’s personal freedom, must be kept, but circumcision, which has no connection with cutting off sin and with purity of soul, can be dispensed with, because IT HAS BEEN FULLY REPLACED, COMPLETED AND PERFECTED BY THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF BAPTISM.

The holy Apostle Paul confronting the case of the Jewish Christians, who were requiring the Gentile Christians to be circumcised, he says that they are doing this in order to be praised by the other Jews and not to be persecuted for the Cross of Christ, that is to say, for their faith in the Crucified and Risen Christ [Galatians 6:12-13]. However, the holy Apostle declares that he himself glories in the Cross of Christ, by Whom a New World, a New Creation is being created. "FOR IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION AVAILS ANYTHING, BUT A NEW CREATION" [Galatians 6:15].

Besides, this circumcision has NO VALUE IN ITSELF, UNLESS IT IS CONNECTED WITH FAITH AND KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. With an amazing ability to interpret, the holy Apostle Paul underlines that circumcision is of no use to anyone if he does not fulfil the Law. Likewise also the uncircumcised person, if he keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, will be regarded as if he had been circumcised [Romans 2:25-26]. The Apostle also refers to those who come from circumcision, but are marked by many passions. He says characteristically: "FOR THERE ARE MANY INSUBORDINATE, BOTH IDLE TALKERS AND DECEIVERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION…" [Titus 1:10].

The holy Apostle, in contrast to those who boast of the circumcision which they have received, boasts of the Cross of Christ, and indeed of the marks of Christ which he bears in his body. "FOR I BEAR IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF THE LORD JESUS" [Galatians 6:17]…

"…The Law and the works of the Law do not contribute to the justification of man. Justification in the whole thinking of the, but OF Apostle Paul and the life of the Church is linked with THE REBIRTH OF MAN, ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS AND DEIFICATION (THEOSIS). Thus it is NOT a matter of human emotional justification, BUT OF DEIFICATION (THEOSIS). The Apostle uses the term ‘JUSTIFICATION’ with this content. What it means is seen from what he offers next: "I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, ITIS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME" [Galatians 2:20].

The Law and the works of the Law, such as circumcision, DO NOT DEIFY MAN, FOR THIS IS ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH CHRIST. The SALVATION AND DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) OF MAN COME ABOUT THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. Furthermore, all the legislation and works of the Law of the Old Testament were given after the Fall of man, in order to prepare men for the INCARNATION OF THE LOGOS/WORD OF GOD. That is why it is the subsequent will of God and NOT His prior will. DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) IS NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH OUTWARD KEEPING OF THE LAW OF GOD, BUT THROUGH COMMUNION WITH A PERSON, THE PERSON OF THE GODMAN CHRIST. IF IT WERE POSSIBLE FOR THE LAW TO SAVE, THE INCARNATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEEDED…

"…According to the teaching of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, the Old Testament circumcision did not abolish death, which New Testament circumcision does. In fact, THE PERSON WHO ENTERS THE CHURCH THROUGH BAPTISM BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE RISEN BODY OF CHRIST. In this way SPIRITUAL DEATH IS ABOLISHED AND THERE IS ASSURANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. For if bodily death remains after Baptism, it is for the sake of cutting out sin.

"…In the teaching of Saint Maximos wew see that circumcision is the name for cutting off the passionate relation of the soul to the body. The soul and body have a relationship and unity. It is not a question of that, however, but of the PASSIONATE RELATIONSHIP, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOUL AND BODY THROUGH THE PASSIONS.

"…THROUGH CHRIST WE GAIN SPIRITUAL BIRTH AND TRUE WORSHIP. Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian emphasizes: "AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, EVEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME: WHO WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD" [John 1:12-13].

Through circumcision men become good Israelites, God’s chosen people. Through Baptism AND THE FAMILY LIFE IN CHRIST MEN BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, THEY ATTAIN SONSHIP BY THE GRACE AND THEY CONQUER DEATH.

Therefore Christ’s CIRCUMCISION SUGGESTS TO US THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART. Through the SACRAMENTAL AND ASCETIC LIFE WE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. CHRIST’S CONDESCENSION BECOMES OUR ASCENT. [Source: The Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan Hierotheos]

____________
"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 CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

On January 1st our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Circumcision of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. According to the Holy Tradition and the Holy Scriptures on the eighth day after His birth Christ received circumcision, as the Old Testament Jewish Law provided. Because He was born and lived in a particular environment, He kept allits regulations and traditions. Nevertheless His circumcision must be interpreted within the theology of the self-emptying (Kenosis) which He accepted FOR THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE.

As the holy Fathers of the Church decided to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on the 25th of December, it is natural that the circumcision, which was performed after 8 days, is celebrated on the 1st of January, just eight days after His birth. Therefore on that day the troparia hymns bring out the theological importance of circumcision. This troparion hymn is well known: "The Savior, condescending to the race of men, in swaddling clothes accepted circumcision, He did not abhor the cutting of His flesh…" Just as, OUT OF LOVE AND CHARITY. He accepted to be wrapped in swaddling clothes, Christ also accepted the circumcision of His flesh. This extreme condescension and kenosis of Christ is regarded by the Orthodox Church AS A GREAT FEAST OF THE LORD.

The circumcision is the cutting off "from around the end part of the male organ." This is done to every male child, because it is provided by God’s COMMAND WHICH WAS GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF ABRAHAM. The relative passage from the Old Testament is the following: "Every male child among you shall be circumcised, and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be A SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU. HE WHO IS EIGHT DAYS OLD AMONG YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED" [Genesis 17:10-12]. The same Commandment is given to Moses: "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised" [Leviticus 12:3]. In conversation with the Jews Christ reminds them that circumcision was given by Moses, but that it existed before that. "Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that is is from Moses, but from the fathers], and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath" [John 7:22].

Circumcision was linked WITH GODLINESS, PIETY, AND ABIDING BY THE LAW, AND IT INDICATED THE PURE ISRAELITE, WHILE THE UNCLEAN, IMPIOUS MAN WAS INDICATED BY THE WORD FOR UNCIRCUMCISED. SO CIRCUMCISION AND UNCIRCUMCISION ARE OPPOSITE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES, WHICH POINT TO THE JEW AND THE GENTILE, THE PAGAN.

The rite of circumcision was a painful act, and especially as it was performed at that time. The instruments with which the circumcision was performed were the knife, the razor and the sharp stone. A characteristic circumcision is that in which Zipporah used a sharp stone to circumcise her son. "Then Zipporah used a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son" [Exodus 4:25]. It is also well known that Joshua made "flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel the second time" [Joshua 5:3].

Circumcision was not performed just for the person’s purity, but it had a deep theological content and essential meaning. And in this sense it differs from the circumcision which existed among other peoples, such as the Egyptians, Arabs, Moslims, and others…The word of God to Abraham by which circumcision was established also shows the most basic reason, God said: "AND IT SHALL BE A SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU" [Genesis 17:11]. In other words, IT IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOD AND HIS OWN PEOPLE, IT IS A TESTAMENT. Such an agreement must be confirmed with blood. We see this in the New Testament, for God’s NEW AGREEMENT with men is CONFIRMED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Circumcision WAS A MARK OF RECOGNITION THAT ONE BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD…Furthermore, circumcision WAS ALSO A FORESHADOWING OF BAPTISM WHICH WOULD BE GIVEN AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF THE SON AND LOGOS/WORD OF GOD, BECAUSE IN REALITY BAPTISM IS CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART.

Our Lord Jesus Christ too kept this painful practice, immediately after His Birth. In the Gospel according to Saint Luke the rite of circumcision which was given to Christ is preserved in a few words. The holy Evangelist says: "And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, HIS NAME WAS CALLED JESUS, the name given by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb" [Luke 2:21]. From this meagre presentation on the rite of circumcision in the life of Jesus Christ, we see it is closely connected WITH THE GIVING OF THE NAME, BECAUSE IT WAS THEN THAT HE WAS NAMED JESUS, WHICH MEANS SAVIOR.

What Saint Theophylactos says is characteristic, that this part which was cut back by Christ’s circumcision, Christ Himself kept unharmed and assumed anew with His Resurrection. Furthermore, what happened with Christ also shows THE WAY IN WHICH IT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR OWN BODIES. It is a teaching of the holy Fathers of the Church THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN BODY WHICH HAVE BEEN HARMED IN VARIOUS WAYS WILL BE RECONNECTED TO THE BODY OR RESHAPED BY GOD, SO THAT THE WHOLE MAN, MADE UP OF SOUL AND BODY, WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. TO BE SURE, IN THIS CASE THE BODY WILL BE SPIRITUAL AND NOT CARNAL AS IT IS TODAY…

Furthermore, CHRIST ACCEPTED CIRCUMCISION IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT HE HAD ASSUMED TRUE HUMAN NATURE. And this is very important, for in the early Church A HERESY had appeared that was called DOCETISM, which maintained that Jesus Christ did not assume true human nature, a really human body, but that it was a seeming and imagined body. This led to the conclusion THAT CHRIST WAS NOT CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS, SINC EHE DID NOT HAVE A REAL BODY, BUT HE DECEIVED THE JEWS. But such a view DOES NOT SAVE MAN. How can man be saved if Christ did not assume the real human body? Therefore, AS SAINT EPIPHANIOS SAYS, CHRIST WAS CIRCUMCISED IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT "HE HAD IN TRUTH TAKEN FLESH UPON HIMSELF."

This saying is also connected with the fact that Christ’s circumcision PROVED THAT THE BODY WHICH HE HAD WAS NOT CONSUBSTANTIAL WITH THE DEITY. IN CHRIST THE UNCREATED HAD UNITED WITH THE CREATED. THE HUMAN NATURE IS CREATED, WHILE THE DIVINE IS UNCREATED. The body, since it had been DEIFIED (THEOSIS) BY THE DIVINITY OF THE LOGOS/WORD, BECAME IDENTICALLY GOD, BUT NOT CONSUBSTANTIAL WITH GOD. THIS MEANS THAT CHRIST’S BODY IS ALSO A SOURCE OF GOD’S UNCREATED GRACE, BUT IT HAS NOT THE SAME ESSENCE AS THE DIVINITY.

Furthermore, Christ was circumcised IN ORDER TO TEACH MEN THAT CIRCUMCISION, WHICH HE HIMSELF HAD GIVEN TO THE JEWS, HAD SERVED HUMANITY AND PREPARED THE GROUND FOR HIS OWN PRESENCE (Saint Epiphanius). It was NOT a useless rite. THROUGH CIRCUMCISION THE JEWS HAD REMAINED FAITHFUL TO GOD’S LAW AND HAD WAITED FOR THE MESSIAH…And lastly, it is not only showed that the circumcision was preparing the human race for His PRESENCE, but also that IT IS A TYPE, A PREFIGURING OF THE CIRCUMCISION NOT DONE BY HUMAN HANDS, WHICH IS HOLY BAPTISM. According to Saint John of Damascus, CIRCUMCISION WAS A FIGURE OF BAPTISM. Just as circumcision cuts off from the body a part that is not useful, SO BY HOLY BAPTISM WE SHED SIN, WHICH IS NOT A NATURE STATE, BUT EXCREMENT. When we speak of sin which is shed, WE MEAN DESIRE, AND OF COURSE NOT THE USEFUL AND NECESSARY DESIRE, FOR IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN TO LIVE WITHOUT IT, BUT USELESS DESIRE AND PLEASURE. BAPTISM IS THE CIRCUMCISION NOT DONE BY HUMAN HANDS, WHICH DOES NOT REMOVE ONE FROM ONE’S NATION, BUT SEPARATES THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL FORM THE UNFAITHFUL ONE WHO LIVES IN THE SAME NATION. [Source: The Feasts of the Lord. An Introduction to the Twelve Feasts and Orthodox Christology by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos 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

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 30th of December, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy Martyr ANYSIA, of Thessalonike, Greece.

Saint Anysia, the holy and Venerable Martyr of Christ, lived during the reign of the pagan Roman Emperor Maximian [286-305 A.D.]. The daughter of pious and rich parents, she hailed from Thessalonike. With the death of her parents, Anysia distributed her wealth among the poor. She lived a God-pleasing life of silence, compunction, and fulfilling the Divine Commandments. She occupied herself with FASTING, TEARS, AND MORTIFYING THE PASSIONS. Deeming the joys of youth as deceitful temptations, though she was yet a young woman, she still yearned to be older. She thought to herself, "When pondering upon the length of time remaining until old age sets in, it fills me with sadness for so many years separate me from heaven!"

Then, one day, as was her custom, the fair Anysia proceeded to the church, when she encountered a soldier of the idol madness. He arrested Anysia and dragged her to the altar of the idols, aiming to compel her to sacrifice to demons. The Saint, however, stood her ground and refused to worship the sun. She confessed Christ and then spat upon the face of that blackguard. In a passion, that abominable soldier drew his sword and ran the virgin through her side. Thus, the blessed Anysia, endured this unjust slaughter and received the unfading crown of martyrdom.

On the 30th of December we commemorate the Venerable THEODORA of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

Saint Theodora lived during the reign of the ICONOCLAST [one who rejects veneration of icons and a destroyer of icons] Emperor Leo III [717-741 A.D.], who was engulfed in the darkness of impiety. Worse than his father Leo III, Emperor Constantine V [741-775 A.D.], violently implemented his father’s ICONOCLASM policies. Constantine was excessively cruel in his dealings with monastics, compelling them to leave their holy communities and marry. [Please note:  Leo IV supported ICONOCLASM, but only demonstrated active persecution of the  ICONOPHILES (Friends or lovers of icons and who venerate them] in August 780 A.D., when a number of his court officials were beaten, tonsured, and cast into prison. His reign was brief and the transitional period between the height of ICONOCLASM under his father and the RESTORATION of the holy icons under his widow IRENE, who acted as REGENT for their only son and heir, a very young Constantine VI. The First Iconoclastic period: 730-787 A.D. The Second iconoclastic period: 813-843 A.D.]

Saint Theodora was the scion of a splendid and distinguished family. Her father, Theophilos, held the rank of Patrician. The Saint’s mother, also named Theodora, had suffered from barrenness, for many years. Saddened, and afflicted that she was unable to conceive, she entreated God and the Most Holy Theotokos to grant her a child. After she had procured the favor by the intercession of Saint Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, God hearkened to her petition and bestowed a daughter. Theorda, whose name means "GIFT OF GOD." When the young Theodora arrived at an age of discretion, she was led to the Church of Saint Anna and dedicated to the attached Women’s Monastery in that area of Rigidion. As one divinely consecrated, the young Theodora was instructed in a God-fearing and orderly manner by the Egumeni (Abbess), who also taught her Sacred Scripture.

Saint Theodora, from childhood, conducted her life in a God-pleasing manner, however, the evil one could not endure to see himself trampled upon by this young woman. Therefore, he stirred up Emperor Leo III, who was completely under his influence, to seek a wife for his grandson, Caesar Christopher. Besieged by the Emperor’s men, the young woman, not yet tonsured, was compelled to accompany them to the Capital. Once Theodora was in Constantinople, whe was unable to resist; therefore, nuptial preparations were begun. Though this was the Emperor’s plan, yet God would dispose otherwise–as the Almighty has often done in the past. One such example took place upon the arrival of Abram and Sara in Egypt. While in the capital, she preserved her virginity blamelessly. Her only desire continued to be for the heavenly Bridegroom, Christ.

During the preparations for the wedding, when all hope of escaping marriage seemed to vanish, the Scythians attacked the borders of the Byzantine Empire. With this imminent threat at hand, Caesar Christopher, the would-be bridegroom, went to combat this barbaric horde. While in combat Christopher suffered a mortal wound and died. When Theodora received the news of his death, she perceived God’s foreknowledge and intervention. Theodora then bade farewell to all things transitory and vain. She took a ship and returned to her Monastery. When her escape became known, one of Christopher’s brothers searched for her at the Monastery. However, when he found her and beheld that she had received the holy Tonsure and wore an old and tattered rasso, he withdrew and never troubled her again. Finally, Mother Theodora was completely free. She then took on contests of endurance, so mortifying her flesh, she blunted the bodily appetites by her diet which consisted solely of an ounce, or eight drams of bread. She had only one garment, a coarse hair shirt. Her bedding, covered on top with coase material, had stones placed underneath, so her sleep would be short and uncomfortable. By frequent all-night prayer vigils, she would roll back the night of the passions and attain unto the daylight of dispassion.

The blessed woman not only endured these hardships that surpassed nature but also devised new tests of endurance, so she might tread the path of voluntary martyrdom. Saint Theodora wore chains, the weight of which, bruising and wasting her body members, covered her with wounds. Thereby, Saint Theodora wore away her flesh in the wrestling ground and stadium of the virtues. After many years of struggle, distinguished in all the virtues, the ever-memorable one was translated to that ageless and blessed life. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

____________

"Glory Be To GOD

For

All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos
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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 BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

"How shall a small cave receive Thee, for Whom the world
cannot find room, O Thou Whom none can comprehend! O
Thou, Who with the Father art without beginning, how shalt
Thou appear as a small child?" (Saint Joseph the Hymnographer)

"The Great King comes in haste to enter a small cave, that He may make me great who had grown small. And, so that by His poverty without measure, He, the Transcended God, may enrich me who had grown poor" [2 Corinthians 8:9].

Saint Justin the Martyr, born in Sichem (Nablus) spoke of the "cave" near Bethlehem. He provides us with one of the earliest testimonies on the subject. "When Joseph could find no lodging place in the village, he went to a cave nearby, and there Mary gave birth to the Child and laid Him in a manger." In holy icons, the dark background in the cave can be explained by a homily attributed to Saint Gregory Nyssa, where he compares the birth of Christ in a cave and the spiritual Light shining forth in the shadow of death that encompasses mankind. Thus, the black mouth of the cave symbolically means the world, stricken with sin through man’s fault, in which the "Sun of Righteousness" shone forth.

Over 2,000 years later the world finds itself "in the shadow of death." Why? Because mankind resists and refuses to accept Christ Jesus, Who is the Light of the world and God incarnate. The Savior of the world. The Ode states: "God of peace and Father of mercies, Your Son You have sent unto us as Your Messenger, the Angel of Great Counsel Who is granting peace. Therefore having been guided to the Light of godly knowledge, waking from the night to dawn, we sing Your glory, O Lover of man." The world did not accept Him then and the world continues not to accept Him today. Why would anyone wonder why humanity finds itself in this darkness? Humanity rejects the Light and embraces darkness.

God’s message to us has not changed and will never change. Jesus says, "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]. God is Light [1 John 1:5]. The followers and disciples of Christ are the light [Matthew 5:14]; and the believers shine as lights in the world [Phylippians  2:15]. Light is a symbol of God Who is the True, Uncreated Light . Light is necessary not only for clear vision but for life. Consequently, the life of faith relies on the Divine Light [Romans 13:12; Ephesians 1:18]. Speaking to His disciples Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men" [Matthew 14:13]. Thus as the "salt" of the earth, Christians are PRESERVERS OF GOD’S COVENANT AND GIVE PROPER FLAVOR TO SOCIETY.

What is the cause for the salt to lose its flavor? Christians are to adhere and obey the commandments of God. They are to preserve His Teachings without innovations, without altering His message, without adultering His Gospel, without diluting His teachings, and without compromising the sanctity of His Church. The Christians must remain faithful to Him, serve and love Him unconditionally. Tragically, Christians today no longer speak the same language and do not speak with one voice. Instead, Christians are divided and therefore even their teachings are diversified. This very fact undermines the ability to transmit the Gospel message and creates confusion and prevents the spreading of Christianity to the rest of the world.

If the world is in such peril it is partially due to the fragmentation of Christians. This break-up among the Christians is responsible for the salt losing its flavor. According to Jesus when the salt loses its flavor, "It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of ONE Church. The Church is one The Church is one because God is one, and because Christ and the Holy Spirit are one. There can only be one Church and not thousands of fragments of Christianity. The Church is called catholic. Why? "Because she is not limited to any place, nor time, nor people, but CONTAINS TRUE BELIEVERS OF ALL PLACES, TIMES, AND PEOPLES." The Church is not limited by place. It embraces in itself ALL PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE Orthodox way, wherever they might live on the earth. The enemies of our Lord God Jesus Christ have made countless attempts to destroy His Church both from within and without but their attempt will never succeed because the Church is Christ Himself. The fact that Christians among themselves may be fragmented into thousands of pieces, however, the Church of Christ remains unaffected. Why? Jesus Himself explains: "the gates of Hades SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT" [Matthew 16:18]. The True Rock and foundation of the Church, is of course, Christ Himself. The Church rests upon this Rock by her UNCHANGING FAITH,TRUTH AND CONFESSION. Evil powers are powerless against her. She is the BODY OF CHRIST, the Divine-human organism, and to her comes the call of Jesus for the whole of mankind to abide with Him and in Him" [Ephesians 1:23]. Those people who confess openly that they are followers of Jesus Christ but have abandoned His Church are no longer members of His body but have severed their communion with Him. The solution is to preach the same Gospel message, to speak with one voice, to proclaim the same Truth, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit to spread the love of God throughout the world. Only then will Christianity have the appropriate spiritual and moral impact among the people of the cosmos.

Heresy is a deadly virus which has been released deliberately to kill Christ’s message of salvation just as His enemies crucified and killed Him. However, after the Lord’s death on the Cross there followed the Resurrection; that by the Cross the world has been conquered; that if we die with the Lord we shall reign with Him, and shall rejoice and triumph in the manifestation of His glory [1 Peter 4:13]. Heresty renders the Christian faith obsolete and lifeless. Heresy is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, it is distortion of the truth, it is a cacophony of of the Christian message knowledge, it is lies and deception, it is antichrist, it is a tool of the evil one, and full of hatred for God and mankind, it is the enemy of peace, unity, and harmony, it is a deliberate betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no place for heresy or heretics in the Church of Christ. Neither can heresy or heretics be tolerated, embraced, or excused by the Church. "…Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that SHE MIGHT BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH…THIS IS GREAT MYSTERY…CHRIST AND THE CHURCH" [Ephesians 1:21-23; 2:19-22; 5:25-32]. The Seven Ecumenical Councils defined the Orthodox Truth and condemned heresy and excommunicated all heretics. The contemporary heresies are the greatest scandal in the history of the Christian Church.

Timing is very important and therefore the time to act is now. There is no logical reason why the world should dwell in darkness and hopelessness.
Christ is born! Glorify Him! The only way to dispel the darkness of our souls is to allow the Light of Christ to shine and illuminate it from within. The ultimate purpose of man’s existence is to attain "the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]. In the Person of Christ we see the perfection of human nature. We are to strive for perfection by the grace of God and to emulate Him in everything. Participation in Christ and the Holy Spirit leads to fullness of life. Our God is the God of Agape! Genuine Agape and Truth are inseparable and neither one can exist without the other. Neither can true agape or divine truth be compromised by sinful human weakness or sin. Wherever there is authentic love and truth, there is divine and everlasting light and life.

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer marvels at how the Great God will enter a small cave as a small Child: "How shall a small cave receive Thee, for Whom the world cannot find rood, O Thou Whom none can comprehend! O Thou, Who with the Father art without beginning, how shalt Thou appear as a small child?" And, "The Great King comes in haste to enter a small cave, that He may make me great who had grown small. And, so that by His poverty without measure, He, the Transcendent God, may enrich me who had grown poor" [2 Corinthians 8:9].

Let us invite Him,our Creator, and Savior, to enter our darken hearts and bless us with the Light of Life and to sanctify, illuminate, and renew us. Let us not be afraid as the shepherds were, for the Lord is with us, and let us freely receive our Savior in our hearts that He may dwell in us forever and ever. Amen.

_________
"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