Shepherds and Wolves

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.

Apostolic Messages
By Protopresbyter Father George D. Metallinos, [+ 19-12-2019] Professor Emeritus
of the Athens University School of Theology.

————————————-
SHEPHERDS AND WOLVES
 
“…will enter…savage wolves, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:16-18,28-36)
 
   Of opportune significance for the life of the Church are the words of the Apostle Paul, as given to us by Luke the Evangelist in the Book of Acts.  With his divine illumination, the Apostle details the course of the Church, and Her adventures in the world.  And he very clearly stresses that the greatest evil be the appearance of “WOLVES”, who will insolently dare to take the place of Shepherds (Pastors).  Shepherds and “wolves” ae als portrayed in parallel by the Apostle Paul, in order to reveal the sky-high difference between the two.
 
Shepherds of Christ’s flock
 
   Genuine Shepherds are the genuine Bishops of the flock; they are the ones responsible for the incessant care and supervision of the faithful, so that they can remain within the Body of Christ.  What weighs most in the conscience of the Shepherds is that the flock — THE ENTIRETY OF THE FAITHFUL — DOES NOT “BELONG” to them, but to the ONLY “Supreme Shepherd”, CHRIST.  The Church is HIS Body, which is why it is called “Body of Christ”, not “body of Christians.”  He is the ONE Who saved the Church and rendered Her His Body, through His Most Holy Blood.  And that is the reason “Shepherds” look after the flock that Christ entrusted to them, with “care”, fondness and love (cmp. John 21:15 etc), and are always willing to sacrifice themselves for it and its well-being.
 
   The holy Fathers, great and small, known and unknown, are all aware that their opus in the Church is a spiritual one, a regenerative one, and not merely an administrative or authoritative one.  Themselves being spiritually cleansed and illuminated by the Holy Spirit, they are aware that they have been assigned, as guardians of the flock’s spiritual health — as its physicians and healers.  That is why they do not transmit an intellectual faith which is expended in pious speculations and religious niceties; they actually lead to therapy, catharsis and to Holy-Spiritual illumination.  They activate the deactivated “nous” of man and they assist the faithful to progress from “praxis” (actively upholding the commandments and the cleansing of passions to “theoria” (illumination, which leads to theosis-deification), while in parallel they tend to the communion and the unity of the faithful, in the Truth and the Love of Christ and His Righteousness.
 
   In this way, they introduce the flock to the Tradition of the Church, which is the continuation of Her life, within the Grace and the experience of the Holy Spirit, given that they aim is not to create good and “useful” citizens or “moral personalities”, but Spirit-bearing people, whose goal is not merely the attainment of morality, but HOW THEY CAN FINALLY ATTAIN THEOSIS (DEIFICATION).
 
   As opposed to the genuine Shepherds, the witting — or even unwitting — perverters of the Church’s poemantic opus ae the “wolves” that Saint Paul so agonizingly mentions.  They ARE ALL THE FALSE TEACHERS, THE CORRUPT TEACHERS, THE DECEIVERS AND THE INSIDIOUS, WHO ENTER CHRIST’S FOLD STEALTHILY, OR WHO LIVE AND FUNCTION INSIDE THE CHURCH — BUT AS “WOLVES.”  Saint Paul’s words pertaining to them are clearly prophetic.  In his Poemantic Epistles, it is teachers such as those that he refers to — in fact, the Ephesians.  THEIR WORK IS ALTOGETHER SATANIC.  They USURP the place of genuine Pastors and make their appearance wearing his garment, which makes them especially dangerous.  THEY APPROPRIATE THE FLOCK AND THEY EXPLOIT IT, SPIRITUALLY AND MATERIALLY, AS IF IT IS THEIR WON FIEFDOM.  They do not toil for, nor do they concern themselves WITH THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST; instead, THEY TRANSFORM THE FAITHFUL INTO FOLLOWERS AND THEY FORM PARTICULAR GROUPS — NO LONGER OF PERSONS FAITHFUL TO CHRIST, BUT OF PERSONAL FOLLOWERS.  “FOR THE AIM OF HERETICS HASTENS TO MAKE THE PEOPLE ATTEND TO THEM, NOT TO THE LORD, SO THAT THEY MAY BOAST IN THEMSELVES” (Ammonios).
 
   The grouping of the faithful does not always lead them to becoming followers, even if those groups are not officially condemned as heretical.  But, just as the Shepherds must have certain inner spiritual prerequisites, so do the false shepherds (the “wolves”) have their own prerequisites.  And should they reach — even unwittingly — the state of “wolf” by having made the faithful their own followers without a trace of genuineness, they will definitely lack the spiritual experience of “God-sighting” Shepherds.  Albeit not having undergone the spiritual therapy of the Church, they dare to undertake the spiritual healing of others.  The Holy Fathers have common esoteric experiences, because THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ILLUMINATION.  That is why THEY REMAIN UNITED TO CHRIST AND KEEP THE FLOCK OF CHRIST UNITED.  However, instead of having the Holy Spirit and illumination, THE VARIOUS “WOLVES” HAVE WICKEDNESS AND THEIR PASSIONS INSIDE THEM.  in the worst case, THEY INFILTRATE THE CHRISTIAN FLOCK IN ORDER TO “SACRIFICE AND ELIMINATE IT”, BY NOT BEING SHEPHERDS BUT “THIEVES” (John 3:10).  Hence, they don’t see their mission as a continuous offering and sacrifice for the flock, but RATHER AS A STAGE TOWARDS A SECULAR CAREER AND PROFIT.  In the best case, they might only have the will to work for the flock, BUT CANNOT OFFER IT ANYTHING, BECAUSE INSIDE THEM THEY DO NOT POSSESS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE OFFERING: that is, Holy Spirit and Truth.
 
   They might perhaps be moral (externally) and as such they would naturally be moralizers, who ruthlessly castigate corruption in others.  But they are definitely NOT (internally) CLEANSED AND ILLUMINATED, WHICH IS WHY THEY CAN NEVER BECOME PROPER PHYSICIANS, AND INSTEAD REMAIN CLUMSY “QUACKS”, WHO MORALIZE BUT NEVER LEAD THEIR FLOCK TO THERAPY, BY PRESERVING IT AT THE LEVEL OF IDOLATRY AND ATHEISM.  Idolatry, because they teach it to admire and believe in their “virtuous” and “cleansed” self (cmp. those Pharisees “who are convinced about themselvs” — Luke 18:9), and atheism, because by not progressing through inner catharsis to illumination in the Holy Spirit, they never become acquainted with the True Christ, and thus remain in the dark, as an observance of ritualism.
 
   Only the Holy Fathers of the Church throughout the ages, whom Orthodoxy honors in the Persons of the Good-bearing Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.0 as Genuine Shepherds, are the ones who continue Saint Paul’s opus, and who uphold his instructions ON PROTECTING CHRIST’S FLOCK FROM VARIOUS WOLVES.  WITH THE DIVINE LOGOS/WORD and the “slingshot of the Spirit”, THEY WARD OFF THE “SAVAGE AND PESTILENT WOLVES.”
 
   With their unsleeping care and the tears of their love, they admonish, they console, they correct.  By regarding the Church as Christ’s Flock and not theirs, they do not burden anyone, but instead, they offer everything that they have, to the Flock — both spiritual and material.  They render themselves poor (materially), in order to spiritually enrich others.  They are in the position to proclaim:  “I have desired no-one’s  silver or gold or attire:.  Being rich in Spirit, they regard material things as a means for themselves… We often speak of a famine of faith and a decline in the Christian mien in our times; if is because albeit so rich in “wolves”, we are unfortunately so poor in shepherds. [Source: Pantokratoras]
 
_____________________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+                        +                       +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
 
+ Father George

On the 22nd of July, our Holy Church commemorates the holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles, MARY MAGDALENE.

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 22nd of July, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the holy
Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles MARY MAGDALENE.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

WHEN Christ God had been born fro our sakes from the Virgin,
thou faithfully didst follow Him, keeping His statutes and heeding
His sacred laws, O august Mary Magdalene. Hence, as we today
observe thy holy remembrance, we receive the loosing of our sins
and transgressions through thy holy prayers for us.

Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone

WHEN God, the Mighty, the Transcendent in essence, came in the
flesh into the world, He received thee, O Mary, as His true disciple
as was meet. For thou hadst thy whole desire and thy love set
upon Him; wherefore, thou didst bring to pass many cures for the
ailing; and now translated to the Heavens’ heights, thou ever
fervently prayest for all the world.

+


Mary, the glorious Equal-to-the-Apostles, was a living example of faith, hope, and love, which she bore toward the Christ. She is one of the Savior’s most famous disciples, not to be confused with either the mystical Mary or Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair, or the penitent woman whose sins Jesus pardoned for anointing Him with perfumed ointment in the house of the Pharisee. There is a widespread mistaken notion that has prevailed in Western countries, saying that Mary Magdalene was a woman of bad character. Now Mary, who has come to be known as the Magdalene, was named after the city from which she hailed. She was also given the appellation to identify her among the several other women named Mary in the Gospels.

Magdala of the Galilee was situated on the Lake of Gennesaret. This body of water is also known as the Sea of Tiberias. The place of Saint Mary’s nativity. Our Lord not only stood on the shore of this lake but also walked and sailed upon it, stilling its tempest. From among the many fishermen who plied their calling on its waters abounding in fish, Jesus chose two sets of brothers–Peter and Andrew, and Iakovos (James) and John–to be His disciples. He sent them forth to be "fishers of men."

During the time that Mary lived, Magdala, on the borders with Syria, was exceedingly wealthy with beautiful views. Mary’s father’s name was Syros. Her mother was Efharistia. They were respected and liberal with their wealth. The maiden Mary of Magdala was raised and thoroughly educated in the law and Prophets by her parents, especially her father. While the maiden was orphaned of her parents at ten years of age, yet she continued to live an exemplary life before God. She was virtuous, prayed continually, and was like a bee collecting the honey of virtues. From her adolescence, she could be found either at home or in the synagogue. She never spoke to men. She did, however, have female companions of like mind, who would visit and minister to the infirm and sick, but would just smile modestly when the occasion demanded.

"Was she the virgin that Isaiah spoke of?" wondered Satan. Believing her to be, she was assailed by SEVEN EVIL SPIRITS that they might cause her to fall into grievous sin and destroy her virginity. Therefore, her early life was one of fierce struggle, and spiritual warfare. SEVEN DEMONS ASSAILED HER: THOSE OF PRIDE, FORNICATION, JUDGING OTHERS, LYING, STEALING, MURER, AND UNBELIEF. But she valiantly withstood them and never opened the door to any of them that they might take her captive. She persevered in spiritual warfare until Christ came and expelled those wicked spirits. Casting out of Seven Demons does not mean that Christ had rescued a social derelict. But she was a woman of means is evident from her ability to support Jesus from her property [Matthew 27:56]. Her obvious leadership and prominence among the women is seen in the fact that her name is mentioned more often than most, and usually first.

"Many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there beholding from afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of Iakovos (James) and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee" [Matthew 27:55-56).


   Blessed Jerome (347-420 A.D.) affirms that the Mary mentioned in this verse as "the Mother of Iakovos (James the 'less') is the Lord's Mother.  James (Iakovos) is called 'less' to distinguish him from James (Iakovos) the 'greater', who was the son of Zebedee."

   Saint John Chrysostom (354-407 A.D.) praises the women who followed Jesus in His public ministry and who showed their quality, especially by fidelity in His Passion.  Mary Magdalene ministered to Christ in His Ministry and did not abandon Him when He died.

   "Now there had stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene [John 19:25].

Before the first day of the week, the women disciples determined to meet at the sepulchre. Saint Gregory Palamas (1359 A.D.), in his homily entitled "On the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women," believes that Mary Theotokos, together with Mary Magdalene, were first to arrive and witnessed the descent of the Angel who rolled back the stone at the time of the earthquake. At that time it was still dark, but beginning to dawn [Matthew 28:1; John 20:1).  The Myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene, seeing the stone taken away from the sepulchre and the soldiers , ran immediately to notify Simon Peter and John, leaving the Virgin at the sepulchre.  It is at this time when the Virgin wa alone at the sepulchre that her Son appeared to her first.


   Now after Mary Magdalene notified Simon Peter and John, she went along but at a slower pace.  After Peter and John departed, she was still weeping.  She stooped to look into the sepulchre.  She beheld two Angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the  body of Jesus had been lying.  They said to her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She answered, "Because they took away my Lord, and I know not where they laid Him" [John 20:13]. Having spoken thus, she then turned herself back. She beheld Jesus standing, though knew not that it was Jesus, He said to her, "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing it was the gardener, said, "Sir, if Thou didst bear Him away, tell me where Thou didst lay Him, and I will take Him away" (John 20:15). Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned herself, and saith to Him, "Rabbouni," that is to day, Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Cease touching Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren, and say to them, "I ascend to My Father, and your Father, and to My God and your God" (John 20:16-17). Mary then hastened to report to the other disciples those things she had seen and heard from the Lord.

After the Lord’s Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her. Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the Tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. [ 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



KYRIE ELEISON! (LORD HAVE MERCY!)

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.

KYRIE ELEISON! (LORD HAVE MERCY!)

"HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD, according to
Your great mercy;
And according to the abundance of Your
compassion, blot out my transgression…"
Psalm 51[50]:1

Jesus said:

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE MERCY
and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13).

The chanting of Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy in Orthodox Christian worship echoes throughout the divine services in our churches. The word ‘Mercy’ (Gk. eleos) dominates all other words in petitions offered during all of our mystical services and one can sense its impact in our hearts, minds, and souls. Powerful, yet very gentle and infused with faith and love. Jesus, in His statement mentioned in Matthew 9:13, reveals that His priority is MERCY–the forgiving agape of God in action (see Psalm 51). God’s mercy brings to all, but especially to the sinners, hope of forgiveness.

Psalm 51[50] is written by King David. Historically, David committed the sins and transgressions of adultery and murder. However, he obtained mercy from God because of his repentance. The power of genuine and sincere repentance (Gk. metanoia) is absolutely necessary if God is to forgive the one who has committed this wicked ‘crime" (Gk. Eglema). What King David committed, adultery and murder were crimes indeed. It is true that there are many who fall into sins but, tragically, never come to repentance; therefore, non can use David’s sins as an excuse to sin. Sins and transgressions in themselves do not invite the mercy of God. Genuine and sincere and contrite repentance, however, does attract God’s mercy, for God sees it and responds accordingly. True repentance, for the Orthodox Christian, is characterized by participating in the Mystery (Sacrament) of Confession/reconciliation, the means used to acquire healing from the Lord and Physician of our souls and bodies. God’s grace is bestowed upon the penitent Christian who seeks inward spiritual katharsis, purity, and to be restored once again as a member of the body of Christ, the Church.

"A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,
A broken and humbled heart God will
not despise" (Psalm 51:19).

The believer supplicating God’s mercy can only approach Him with "a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart" and not arrogance. In the gospel according to Saint Luke 1:50, the Mother of God and Ever-virgin Mary says: "And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation." The word "fear of God" is used frequently throughout the Holy Scripture. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 we read: "Fear God and keep His Commandments, for this is the whole man." What causes this fear of God you say, "For God will bring every work into judgment, including everything that has been overlooked, whether it be good or evil" (v. 14). Or as Proverbs teache us, "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom begets the fear of God "in the simple" as said in v.4. "The simple" are beginners on the spiritual path. As these beginners practice this fear, they grow in "good understanding" of wisdom and His virtues.

Our Almighty God promised to His children mercy and He always keeps His promise. No one is entitled to His mercy for it is a divine gift to us. The Lord is faithful and merciful to those who love and trust Him without any hesitation and reservation. When we entreat God for mercy we must ask ourselves if we possess faith, love, and trust in Him, our Creator, or are we filled with doubt and uncertainty?

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). To be merciful is to be like God. Mercy is agape (love) in action, i.e., works of mercy or philanthropy. God’s loving kindness, His Divine mercy in assuming our sufferings upon Himself in order to grant us His Heavenly Kingdom, sets us free from captivity to the devil. In view of God’s compassion and lovingkindness Luke 6:36, we ub tryb are to be "merciful" to all others. In the gospel of Saint Matthew 18:21-35 we are taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself to be merciful and forgiving as He is to all of us sinners. "Then the master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart does not forgive his brother his treaspasses." God shows love and strictness toward us depending on our willingness to be merciful and forgive our brothers and sisters. When each Christian forgives "from the heart" true reconciliation we are blessed and renewed by God’s grace.

According to our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ a believer will be merciful because he is also in need of mercy. There is no one without sin except for Christ, and no one is righteous before God. God the Father rules by MERCY and LOVE. In the epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians says, "But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have saved), and raised us together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians2:4-6). The beginning of His rule is redemption to Eternal Life.

Mankind relies totally on God’s mercy and kindness. Whether while worshipping in church or in our private prayers we will continue always to entreat His mercy: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" the most solemn Jesus prayer of an Orthodox Christian. We pray for understanding and illumination so that we may be enlightened and may come to know His gospel. The prayer that Orthodox Christians pray before the reading of the gospel begins, "illumine our hearts, O Master, Who loves mankind with the pure light of Your Divine knowledge."

The Saints of our Church which we revere and seek their intercessions reminds through their own holy lives to recognize and admit our sinfulness and to repent. We learn from them that the holier a person is the greater is his understanding and feeling of his sinfulness and unworthiness. We do not merit salvation! "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST" (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Saints of our Holy Orthodox Church believed to be "the sinner of sinners" in other words the greatest of all sinners. No one can invoke God’s mercy who is prideful and arrogant.
The sincere Christian is meek and humble knowing that he or she is a creature that God the Creator made. The "Heavenly King" is Uncreated, God the Father. His rule is the "heavenly places." The desires of His subjects are thankfulness and glorifying God.

The goal of deification (theosis) is "that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" is accomplished by the working together, the synergism, of our faith and love with God’s power and Spirit "in us." (Ephesians 3:20-21). To live in the heavenly places we are to walk in solidarity and humility on earth. However, though we are members of the exalted body, the greatness IS OF GOD, and of ourselves. The holy Apostle Paul exhorts us: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or CONCEIT, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself" (Philippians 2:3). "Conceit" or vainglory is a common and fatal vice. It hinders spiritual growth. Saint John Climacus says, "The spirit of despair exults at the sight of mounting vice, the spirit OF VAINGLORY at the sight of the growing treasures of virtue." To be conceited IS A FORM OF IDOLATRY, and it captures those who say they want to please God, but SECRETLY WISH TO PLEASE ONE’S SELF FIRST AND SECONDLY, OTHER PEOPLE MORE.

Seek always God’s mercy and glorify His Name forevermore! 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

On the 20th of July our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy and Glorious Prophet ELIAS the Thesbite (Elijah the Tishbite)

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

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

On the 20th of July Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy
and Glorious Prophet ELIAS the Thesbite (ELIJAH the Tishbite).

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

THE incarnate Angel, and the Prophets’ summit and boast, the second
Forerunner of the Coming of Christ our God, Elias, the glorious, from
above sent down his grace upon Elisseus; he doth cast our sickness
and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all that honor him, he poureth
forth streams of cures.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

O RENOWNED Elias, Prophet and seer of the mighty works of God, who
by thy word didst check the rain clouds: Intercede in our behalf with the
only Friend of man.

ELIAS (ELIJAH) of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of seep skin, and girded about his loins with a leather belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for reaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God’s command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sareptha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold of the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were on dry land and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Genesis 5:24; IV Kingdoms (Kings) 2:11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as t is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chronicles 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ. (Source: The Great Horologion)

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

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

+ Father George

THE VALUE OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND MODESTY

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 VALUE OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND MODESTY

DIGNITY: The presence of poise and self-respect in one’s
deportment to a degree that inspires respect.

MODESTY: Reserve or propriety in speech, dress or
behavior. Lack of pretentiousness. Quiet and
humble in appearance. Moderate; not extreme.
"keeping due measure."
[American Heritage Dictionary]

The Christian perspective on human dignity and modesty, and good conduct, throughout the centuries, has been consistent and unaltered. Christian men and women were alway guided by the Divine teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His commandments. Christianity taught specific values, virtues, and principles that all believers followed willingly and faithfully. The Christian man and woman maintained a noble attitude, character, and morality which reflected their Christian faith. Just by their behavior, dress, and dignity others would know who they were.

The holy Apostle Paul presents the true Christian spirit of good conduct: "Do not let your adornment be MERELY OUTWARD–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel–rather let it be THE HIDDEN PERSON OF THE HEART, WTH THE INCORRUPTIBLE BEAUTY OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, WHICH IS VERY PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD" (1 Peter 3:4). Our goal of a disciple of Christ is to always strive to honor and please God. Therefore, the attitude, the life, and conduct of the Christian is to bring glory to our Heavenly Father and not to ever offend him.

The Orthodox Christian’s allegiance is only to our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ and no one else. We, as faithful followers of Christ, conform only to His teachings and instructions of how we should live in this world and how to prepare spiritually for His Heavenly Kingdom. "Christ also suffered for us LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW His steps’ ‘ (1 Peter 2:21). Furthermore, according to the holy Apostle Peter, our ultimate loyalty. and obedience is to Christ and His Gospel. Our commitment and obedience to the Almighty God must be unyielding and uncompromising, even to the point of imprisonment and death. We see this manifested with the countless of Christian Martyrs throughout the centuries.

The secular and unbelieving world, however, has refused or resisted to accept Christ and His gospel. Instead, it has attempted again and again to interfere and much more, to infiltrate Christianity and to transform it and if possible to destroy it. Atheists and tyrants have viewed Christianity as an obstacle to their global aspirations and a threat to their sinister agenda. The evil one and his minions do not want God to rule the world but evil and disharmony to prevail. We witness this conflict every century in human history.

What the unbelieving populace does not understand is that Jesus Christ is not another man who happened to form another religion but, instead, God in the flesh Who came from Heaven to save us mankind from evil and death. Jesus Christ fulfilled and accompli16:shed His Divine Mission on earth and through His Crucifixion, death, and Resurrection saved humanity. We must never lose sight of this very fact! Having made this important point, it is expected that the Orthodox Christian adhere to the Divine Teachings of the Lord and maintain his/her faith strong and resilient.

Christian men and women must not be swayed by the enticements and philosophies, ideologies and corruption of the world. Christianity cannot be diluted or mixed with secular ideology and teachings. Some heterodox people have allowed this and the result has been disastrous. There is no neutrality between the Christian Church and the persecution of the Christian people. The Gentile world and society have found the Christian lifestyle as repulsive and undesirable. However, we will not allow an atheistic society to dictate rules and norms to us Christians. Jesus declares: "And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (His Church)" [Matthew 16:18].

Saint Paul directing his attention to the Christian men and women says, "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves IN MODEST APPAREL with PROPRIETY and MODERATION and not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Prayer must be united with quiet and godly behavior. Men should not distract women and women should distract men at worship. In Orthodox churches in order to prevent any distraction between the sexes, the churches had the "Gynaikeion" (Greek: Γυναικωνίτης), the part of the church dedicated to women for worshipping. The separation between men and women to avoid any distraction.

Much of what has been said is simply common sense. All the faithful are assembled together for no other reason than to worship our God the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Divine Liturgy is the great central act of Orthodox Christian worship, offered to God for the benefit of the members of the Church, the Christians. No Orthodox Christian should enter the consecrated House of God without the proper attire and a humble demeanor. The Orthodox Christian man, woman, and children believe that in the Divine Liturgy our Lord IS PRESENT: first in the person of His priest, secondly, in His Logos/Word which is read in the Church, and thirdly, according to His promise: "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Lastly, He is really and truly present upon the altar under the appearance of the consecrated Bread and Wine. He reminds the faithful: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the FLESH of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day…" (John 6:34-56). Having said this, no Orthodox Christian can attend the divine services unprepared spiritually, physically and with the proper frame of mind and spirit. However, we are remind by the Lord Christ through the Parable of the Wedding Banquet that all are invited to attend the joyous celebration but with the appropriate garment: "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment… Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away…For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:1-14). In the Church, "the wedding garment," is true repentance and righteousness–the way of salvation–gained by the grace of God.

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

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

+ Father George

On the 17th of July, Feast-Day of holy and gloriously triumphant Martyr MARINA of Antioch of Pisidia

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

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

On the 17th of July, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates
the holy and gloriously triumphant Martyr MARINA of
Antioch in Pisidia.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

O LORD Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice:
O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest,
and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake,
that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in
Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless
sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions,
since Thou art great in mercy.

Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone

WITH most fair virginity wast thou made comely, O virgin, and
with bright and spotless crowns wast thou crowned also, O
Martyr; reddened with martyric blood, thou, O famed Marina,
wast vouchsafed to shine forth brightly with wondrous healings,
while receiving from the right hand of thy Creator thy triumph’s
sacred rewards.

Saint MARINA, the blessed maiden and godly virgin-martyr, was from Antioch of Pisidia. The daughter of notable parents, she lived during the reign of either Emperors Claudius II (268-270 A.D.) or Diocletian (284-305 A.D.). Her father Aidesios, a solemn priest of the idols, was respected throughout the city. As her parents’ only child, Marina’s mother died a few days after giving birth to her. Aidesios then took the infant and gave her to be nursed by a certain woman dwelling outside the city, at a distance of fifteen stadia (1.72 miles).

God’s special Providence was at work here when the maiden was taken outside her home to a Christian nurse living in a Christian neighborhood. As Marina passed through the normal milestones of infancy and early childhood, when she learned to talk, she also heard certain words about the Faith of Christ in that place. By nature, she possessed a pure soul and good disposition. Moreover, she was uncommonly intelligent, wise, and prudent. She received, straightway, the word of salvation when she heard that Christ is the Good God, Eternal and Most compassionate. She learned and accepted that He became man for our salvation and was voluntarily Crucified. She believed that He rose in glory and ascended into the heavens; and that the nature of humanity is honored through Him Who sits at the right hand of Father. Hearing these and many other doctrines, the seed of Faith took in that grace-filled maiden. Marina’s faith began like a grain of mustard seed which, when cast upon the good soil of her soul, waxed into a great tree where the fowls of the air would lodge in the branches. Again, as good and fertile ground, she heard the word and understood it, which brought forth fruit a hundredfold. We speak here of her martyrdom for the Orthodox Faith.

As she increased in physical age, more so did she advance in knowledge, understanding, and prudence. The desire for Christ was aflame in her heart. Daily, she entreated our Savior that she be counted worthy to enter the community of martyrs and to partake of their contest for the Faith. The God-enlightened maiden not only in her soul meditated upon this course but also in her speech spoke of it to whomever she encountered. She confessed to everyone that she was a Christian, and rebuked idol madness. Due to her candid profession, her father according to the flesh–though certainly not in spiritual matters–despised her with all his soul. When the ruthless Aidesios heard Marina’s confession of the Christian Faith, he not only refused to look upon her countenance but he also chose to disinherit her. When her earthly and motatl father turned away from her, so much more was she received by the Heavenly and Eternal One Whom Marina loved with all her heart. Moreover, all those whom she beheld tortured, beaten, and slain for Jesus’ name, she revered and desired to be numbered among them. She, too, pondered upon witnessing for Christ, when He so dispensed by His grace. Her turn, indeed, would come; for if one believes in Christ by word and thought, one must also glorify Him with works. With this in mind, she desired to be tried for the Faith, so she might glorify Christ in His Kingdom together with the other holy martyrs. Now the manner of this holy maiden’s contest took place during the fifteenth year of her life.

At that time, the Prefect of Anatolia, name Olymvrios, was a savage and brutal man. It happened that as he was traveling through Asia Minor, he passed through Antioch of Pisidia. On the road, he espied the comely virgin Marina who was tending her father’s flock. Admiring the maiden’s exquisite beauty, his heart was consumed with carnal desire. Hence, that thrice-accursed man thought to take her as his wife. Thereupon, he ordered his men to conduct her to the judgment hall for an interview. As Marina was escorted on the road, she prayed that the Lord grant her wisdom and power to guard right-believing piety to the end. She also asked that the Lord enable her to overcome torments and to be crowned with the holy martyrs. Arriving at the palace, Olymvrios asked her name, her family, and in what deity she believed. Without fear, I am the child of freeborn parents; and I hope to become the slave of my God and Savior Jesus Christ Who made all the world. All they bystanders, while delighting in her lovely appearance, were astonished uon hearing such a daring answer. As a consequence of her candor, Marina was imprisoned. Now it so happened that , the following day, the entire city was going to celebrate a pagan festival. All were enjoined to offer sacrifice. After all gathered for the festival, the holy maiden was brought into their midst. Olymvrios observing that the Christiani maiden mocked and disdained his words, he no longer could conceal his ire. He commended the soldiers to disrobe her and beat her severely and mercilessly with rods. The rods had thorns which tore in her flesh. Christ’s martyr bore all the pain courageously without every sighing or crying.

After administering this punishment for a long time the tyrant directed that she be returned to prison. After a certain number of days, they brought Marina again to the place of judgment. She was suspended on high where they could rake her sides with iron nails. Her flesh, so torn and mutilated, left her unsightly and wasted. All the comeliness of her body was disfigured. Undaunted, she prayed with thanksgiving that the Lord count her worthy to be tormented for His love. The hater-of-good and malicious demon, beholding that his servant, the chief of that city, could not vanquish one delicate maiden and make her fall down before the demons, wished to test her himself. The devil took on the guise of a great and terrible dragon. He approached the holy maiden, appearing as a fearful spectacle. The Saint, however, was not intimidated. She did not leave off praying. Observing that she in no wise cowered, but continued to pray fearlessly, he ran up against her. Widening his mouth and distending his belly, it appeared as though the creature swallowed her. When the Saint beheld that the dragon swallowed her up to the waist, as it appeared to her she called upon the saving name of the Savior Christ. With her right hand, she traced the sign of the Cross over the entrails of the dragon. Having done so, the belly of the dragon was sundered as though by a double-edged sword. Since the dragon was fortn apart, it became invisible. The martyr remained unhurt and rejoiced, chanting unto God hymns of glorification and victory.

Saint Marina’s horrific tortures continued for some time. Then the Lord, with a multitude of holy Angels, noetically manifested Himself to the righteous maiden and said, "Take courage, Marina, and do not fear, for I have hearkened unto thine entreaties. All thou has requested shall be fulfilled at the proper time. The executioner, trembling, did not dare raise his sword. However, she encouraged him to strike off her head. Thus, the Venerable virgin-Marty Marina surrendered her soul into her Bridegroom’s hands on the 17th day of the month of July. He is now numbered with the ranks of virgins and the armies of the Martyrs, as she so much desired.

The holy relics of Saint Marina were then secretly taken up by the Christians and buried in an honorable place, as was proper. The virgin-Martyr is now interred in a church built in her honor in Athens, Greece.

By the supplications, O elect bride, dissolve thou the fetters of my faults and scatter the record of my sins!" 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

ON DISTRACTION

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

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

ON DISTRACTION
By Saint Ignatius (Brianchininov)

The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the Holy Fathers recognize it to be THE ORIGIN OF ALL EVILS. The person who has given up to distraction has, concerning all subjects and even the most important ones, a ver light most superficial understanding. One who is distracted is usually inconstant. The feelings of his heart usually lack depth and strength; and therefore, they are not solid but transitory. As a butterfly flits from flower to flower so also a distracted person passes from one earthly satisfaction to another, from one vain care to another.

The distracted person is a stranger to love for one’s neighbor. He indifferently looks o the misfortune of men and he lightly lays on them burdens, which are difficult to bear. Sorrows powerfully affect a distracted person, precisely because he does not expect them. He expects only joys. If the sorrow is a strong one but swiftly passing the the distracted person soon forgets about it in the noise of amusements, but a long lasting sorrow crushes him.

Distraction itself punishes the one who is devoted to it. With time everything bores him, and he as one who has not acquired any sound understandings and fundamental impressions whatsoever is given up to a tormenting endless despondency. As much as distraction is harmful in general, it is especially harmful in the work of God and the work of salvation, which requires CONSTANT AND INTENSE VIGILANCE AND ATTENTION. "Watch and pray lest you enter into misfortune," says the Savior to His Disciples. (Matthew 26:41). "I say to all watch," (Mark 13:21), the Savior said to all Christianity, and therefore, he said it to us at this time.

He, who is leading a distracted life is directly contradicting the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. All of the Saints diligently FLED FROM DISTRACTION. Constantly or at least as often as possible they were concentrated in themselves. They paid attention to the movements of the mind and heart and they directed them according to the testament of the gospel.

The habit of attending to oneself keeps one from distraction, even amongst distractions which are noisy and surrounding one on all sides. The ATTENTIVE PERSON ABIDES IN SOLITUDE, EVEN AMIDST A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE. A certain great Father who has learned by experience the benefit of attention and the harm of distraction said that WITHOUT INTENSE WATCHFULNESS OVER HIMSELF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SUCCEED IN EVEN ONE VIRTUE.

The words of God, obviously, ought to be learned and examined with the greatest reverence and attention. Otherwise a person can neither examine them nor know them. The great work of God, the creation of man, and then after his fall, HIS RESTORATION BY REDEMPTION, OUGHT TO BE WELL KNOWN TO EVERY CHRISTIAN. Without this knowledge one cannot know and fulfil the obligation of a Christian, but the knowledge of this great work of God cannot be acquired WITH DISTRACTION.

The commandments of Christ are given not only to the outer man but even more to the inner man. They embrace all of the thoughts and feelings of man, all of his most subtle movements. To keep these commandments is impossible without constant vigilance and attention. Vigilance and attention are impossible WITH A DISTRACTED LIFE. Siin and the devil who arms himself with sin subtly creep into the mind and the hearts. A person must constantly be on the watch against his invisible enemies. How can he be on this watch when he is given over to distraction?

The distracted person is like a house without doors or gates. No treasure whatsoever can be kept in such a house. It is open for thieves, robbers, and harlots. The distracted life, completely full of earthly cares, gains for a person heaviness just as gluttony and surfeiting do. (cf. Luke 21:34). Such a person is attached to the earth. He is occupied with only the temporary and vain. The service of God becomes for the distracted person an irrelevant subject. The very thought about this service is something wild, full of darkness, and unbearably heavy.

Distraction is nourished by the unceasing effect of the bodily senses. In vain do distracted people ascribe innocence to the distracted life. With this they are unmasking the evil quality of the illness which has seized them. Their illness is so great and has so dulled the feelings of the soul, that the soul, which is sick with this disease, does not even feel its unfortunate condition.

Being active is the essential path to vigilance over oneself. This path is prescribed by the Holy Fathers of the Church for all persons who wish to learn attentiveness to themselves. ATTENTIVENESS to oneself in deep solitude brings forth precious spiritual fruits, but for this only people of mature spiritual stature are capable, who have advanced in the struggle of piety, and who first learned attentiveness in the active life. In the active life people help a person acquire attentiveness as they remind him of violation of attentiveness. Being in a subordinate position is the best means of learning attention. No one teaches a person to attend to himself as much as his strict and prudent superior.

During your occupation of service amidst people, do not allow yourself to slay time in empty conversations and foolish jokes. In your solitary occupation, forbid yourself daydreaming and soon your conscience will become sharpened and will begin to point out to you every deviation into destraction as a violation of the law of the gospel and even as a violation of good sense. Amen. [Source: Orthodox Heritage]

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

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

+ Father George



THE VENERATION OF HOLY RELICS

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 VENERATION OF HOLY RELICS

OLD TESTAMENT MIRACLE:

Prophet "Elisha died, and they buried him. Then in the following year, the
raiding bands from Moab invaded the land. And it came to pass, as they
were burying a man, they beheld a lightly armed band of raiders, and cast
the man INTO THE TOMB OF ELISHA. When the man TOUCHED THE
BONES (RELICS) OF ELISHA, HE REVIVED AND STOOD UP ON HIS FEET"
[4 Kingdoms 13:20-21).

The above biblical (Old Testament) account testifies the significance of holy relics of holy people of God, Saints. There are those who struggle with the idea of honoring the holy relics of Saints, doubting they have any special importance and spiritual value. Here, the bones of a departed Prophet and Saint bring a dead man back to life. Saint Cyril comments, "is a dead man raised to life on touching the bones of Prophet Elisha, and is it not much easier for the Creator of mankind to be raised by the power of the Father? Well then, He truly rose, and after He had risen was seen again by the Disciples…are you still incredulous in regard to His Resurrection?"

In giving veneration to the saints of God who have departed with their souls into heaven, the Holy Orthodox Church at the same time honors the holy relics or bodies of saints of God which remain incorrupt on earth. However, in the Old Testament there was no veneration of the bodies of the Righteous, for the Righteous themselves were still awaiting their deliverance. Then also the flesh (of the dead) in itself was considered unclean.

The Seventh Ecumenical Synod in the following words expressed THE DOGMA of the VENERATION OF SACRED ICONS: "We therefore…define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, so also the Venerable and Holy images …should be set forth in the holy churches of God (for veneration)… For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation (that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Theotokos, the Angels, and Saints who are depicted in the holy icons), by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them. And to those should be given due salutation and honorable reverence (Greek: timitiki proskynisis), NOT indeed that true worship of faith (Greek: latreia) which PERTAINS ALONE TO THE DIVINE NATURE; but to these…incense and lights may be offered…For the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents."

In the New Testament, after the Divine Incarnation of the Savior, there was an elevation not only of the concept of man in Christ, but also of the concept of the body AS THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE Holy Spirit. The Lord Himself, the Logos/Word of God, was incarnate and took upon Himself A HUMAN BODY. Christians are called to this that not only their souls but also their bodies, SANCTIFIED BY HOLY BAPTISM, SANCTIFIED BY THE RECEPTION OF THE MOST Pure Body and Blood of Christ, might become TRUE TEMPLES OF THE Holly Spirit. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). And therefore the bodies of Christians who have lived a righteous life or have become holy through receiving a Martyr’s death, are worthy of special veneration and honor.

The Holy Orthodox Church in all times, following Sacred Tradition, has shown honor to holy relics. This honor has been expressed (a) in the reverent collection and preservation of the remains of the saints of God, as is known from accounts even of the second century, and then from the testimonies of later times; (b) in the solemn uncovering and translation of holy relics; (c) in the building over them of churches and altars; (d) in the establishment of feasts in memory of their uncovering or translations; (e) in pilgrimages to holy tombs, and in adoring them; (f) in the constant rule of the Church to place holy relics of holy Martyrs at the dedication (consecration) of altars, or to place holy relics in the holy antimension upon which is performed the Divine Liturgy.

This very natural honor given to the holy relics and other remains of the saints of God has a firm foundation in the fact that God Himself has deigned to honor and glorify them by innumerable signs and miracles–something for which there is testimony throughout the whole course of the Church’s history. The body of the holy Prophet Eliajah was raised up alive into heaven, and the mantle of Elijah, which was left by him to Elisha, parted by its touch the waters of the Jordan river for the crossing of the river by Elisha.

Going over to the New Testament, we read in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles that handkerchiefs and belts ("aprons") from the body of the Apostle Paul were placed upon the sick, and the diseases of the sick were cured, and evil spirits departed from them (Acts 19:12). Saint Justin Popovich states: "By unceasing enactment of the ascetic struggle set form in the Gospels, Saints gradually fill themselves with the Holy Spirit, so that their sacred bodies, according to the word of the holy Apostle Paul, BECOME TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:17). CHRIST DWELLING BY FAITH IN THEIR HEARTS (Ephesians 3:7) and by FRUITFUL LOVE ALSO FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD the Father. Establishing themselves in the Holy Spirit participate in the life of the Holy Trinity, becoming sons of the Holy Trinity, TEMPLES OF THE LIVING GOD (2 Corinthians 6:16); their whole lives thus flow from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit."

Saint Ephraim the Syrian, speaking of the miraculous power of holy relics, relates the following concerning the holy Martyrs: "Even after death they act as if alive, healing the sick, expelling demons, and by the power of the Lord rejecting every evil influence of the demons. This is because THE MIRACULOUS GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE HOLY RELICS." Another great Holy Father of the Church, Saint Damascene writes: "The Saints have become according to grace that which the Lord Christ is according to nature. That is, they have become gods according to grace: PURE AND LIVING HABITATIONS OF GOD. For God says: "I will dwell in them, walk in the, and I will be their God" (2 Corinthians 6:16; Leviticus 16:12). The Holy Scripture likewise say: "The soul of the righteous are in God’s hand, and death cannot lay hold of them" (Wisdom 3:1). For death is rather the sleep of Saints than their death. Further: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints" (Psalm 119:6).

"The mystery of holy relics is at the heart of the universal mystery of the New Testament: THE INCARNATION OF THE GOD. The full mystery of the human body is explained BY THE INCARNATION, THE EMBODIMENT OF GOD IN THE GOD-MAN, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. For this reason, then, the Gospel message concerning the body: "The body for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (1 Corinthians 6:13). And through a human body also the entire creation, all of matter, received its divine significance, THE UNIVERSAL MEANING OF THE God-Man. By man, who is SANCTIFIED IN THE Church by the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) and the holy virtues, the creation and even matter ARE SANCTIFIED, UNITED TO CHRIST. There accrues to this also a joy–THE MYRRH STREAMING PROPERTY OF MANY HOLY RELICS. The wonder of myrrh has been given to the holy relics in order to indicate that Christians ARE TRULY A SWEET-SAVOUR OF CHRIST UNTO GOD" (2 Corinthians 2:15), sweet-smelling to God and to heaven. The truth of the Gospel is that the sin of man is a foul odor before God and EVERY SIN PLEASES THE DEVIL. Through the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments), and holy virtues, Christians become "a sweet-savour of Christ unto God." For this reason, then, the holy relics of the Saints pour forth myrrh" (Saint Justin Popovich).

The way that the holy relics of the Saints were translated and greeted is in a touching manner described by Saint John Chrysostom in a eulogy on Saint Ignatios: "You, inhabitants of Antioch, have sent forth a bishop and received a martyr; you sent him forth with prayers and received him back with crowns; and not only you. but all the cities which lay between. For how do you think that they behaved when they saw his remains being brought back? What pleasure was produced? How did they rejoice? With what laudations on all sides did they beset the crowned one! For as with a noble athlete, who has wrestled down all his antagonists, and who comes forth with radiant glory from the arena, the spectators receive him, and do not suffer him to tread the earth, bringing him home on their shoulders and according him countless praises. So also every city in turn received this Saint from Rome, and bearing him upon their shoulders as far as this city escorted the crowned one with praises, hymning the champion… At this time the holy Martyr bestows grace to the very same cities, establishing them in piety, and from that time to this day he enriches this city."

The remains of the Saints (in Greek, ta LEIPSANA,, meaning what is left. In Slavonic word MOSHCHI "relics," refers not only to the bodies of the Saints, in Church Slavonic this word signifies in general the bodies of the reposed. The holy relics are revered whether or not they are incorrupt, out of respect for the holy life or the martyric death of the Saint, and all the more when there are evident and confirmed signs of healing by prayer to the Saints for their intercession before God. Revering holy relics, we believe not in the power or the might of the remains of the Saints in themselves but rather IN THE PRAYERFUL INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS WHOSE HOLY RELICS BEFORE US AROUSE IN OUR HEARTS A FEELING OF THE NEARNESS TO US OF THE SAINTS OF GOD THEMSELVES, WHO ONCE WORE THESE BODIES. [Sources: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, Orthodox Heritage)

__________
"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