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

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

Let Us Arise in the Deep Dawn, and
Instead of Myrrh-offer A Hymn to
the LORD.
By Saint John Maximovitch [Pascha, 1940]

We forestall the rising of the sun and hasten in the depth of night to meet the Sun of Righteousness.

The present night is not an ordinary night! Brighter than day, it fills our souls with light! The rays of the Sun of the world illumine us and the whole universe, enlightening all who come to His Light. The warmth poured out through His rays penetrates all our members, filling our souls with deep peace, even healing our bodily illnesses. This warmth melts away our sorrows, and our passions are burned away as by fire. Enmity and hatred disappear from us, we forget our bitterness, and we do not feel our impoverishment.

The whole world becomes different on this holy and only night! All nature is changed, and everything is filled with warmth and light. Just as birds of prey hide at the rising of the sun, and wild bears disappear into their dens, so does evil flee from every heart illumined today by the Light which radiates from the tomb. Like the morning dew, now are our tears dried away! As blossoms unfold at the onset of the day, enlivened by the sun’s rays, so do virtues return to us as the Sun rises upon us this morning. Let us strive to be wholly illuminated by this Wondrous Light!

When spring comes, we open all the windows and doors of our homes, so that the warmth may enter and dry the darkness within. Now the Divine Light can also enter, but it cannot shine within souls that have closed themselves and do not want to be illumined by that Light. Let us open our souls and hearts! Let us hasten with the myrrh-bearers, let us come bearing our lamps to Christ. Who has come forth from the tomb! Even if you are burdened by sins, do not turn away; for today even those in the bonds of hell hasten to the Light with joyful feet. Even if you are poor and have not the means to buy candles and myrrh, do not turn away. Let our hearts and souls burn in place of candles. There is impoverishment in the world!

In these past days, we were all called to bring our material offerings and bodily ascetic labors as myrrh. Now we all are called to partake of spiritual joy . This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Instead of myrrh and material offerings, let us bring a hymn to the Lord. Let us sing the praise of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God!

Let us open now the doors and windows of our souls and hearts, that they might be warmed by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness! "From the outermost border of Heaven is His going forth, and His goal is to the outermost part o Heaven, and there shall no man hide himself from His heat" (Pss. 18:6). Now all things are filled with light: Heaven and earth and the nether regions" (Ode 3 of the Paschal Canon). Only we are impenetrable if we do not want Him! If you do not feel this radiant joy today, seek the reason within yourself only.

It would be insane for a man to claim that the sun does not exist, only because he does not see it from within his tightly closed and shuttered dwelling. Pitiable is the blind man who keeps telling everyone that there is no such thing as light, only because he does not see it! It would look very foolish for a man to insist that spring has not come, only because no warmth has penetrated into his locked cellar!

We praise the gentle Light, the Holy Glory of the Immortal Heavenly Father–the Resurrected Lord, crying out to Him from the depths of our souls, "MEET IT IS FOR THEE AT ALL TIMES TO BE HYMNED!"

Then the Light of Christ that enlightens all will enlighten even us, and we shall behold Christ the Sun of Righteousness,
Who shines upon all life!

Christ is Risen!
[Source: Orthodox Heritage]

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

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

+ Father George

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

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

Decrees of Spiritual Perfection
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

The most important work of the Church IS TO CURE MAN. Therefore, the Orthodox Church IS A HOSPITAL, AN INFIRMARY OF THE SOUL. This does not mean that the Church disregards other domains of pastoral activity since she AIMS AT THE WHOLE OF MAN, consisting of both BODY and SOUL. She cares indeed for the physical, economic, and social problems as well, yet the main weight of her pastoral service is put on the SOUL’S THERAPY, for when man’s soul is cured then many other intractable problems are solved.

Some people accuse the Orthodox Church of not being very much involved in social problems. However, the Church does care about all matters which concern man. This is evident in the content of her prayers during worship services as well as in the work and teaching of the Holy Fathers. But just as a medical hospital is primarily interested in the treatment of the body–and through this therapy it gets involved with the rest of a person’s problems–so it is in the Orthodox Church. She cures the core of human personality and through this, she heals THE WHOLE PERSON. That is why even during times of social upheavals when all governmental mechanisms are virtually brought to a halt–even peoples’ external freedoms are disrupted–the Church maintains its work: TO TREAT AND CURE THE PERSON.

Healing of man’s personality is in fact his progress TOWARD PERFECTION which is actually identified as THEOSIS, for in Patristic Theology THEOSIS and PERFECTION are synonymous terms. And this therapy is absolutely necessary, because man’s fall, effected in the person of Adam, constitutes the sickness of man’s nature.

In Paradise, before the Fall, Adam was IN A STATE OF CONTINUOUS THEORIA (VISION) OF GOD. The study of the Book of Genesis reveals that Adam was IN COMMUNION WITH GOD; however, it was necessary for him to remain in that state,, by VIRTUE OF HIS VOLUNTARY STRUGGLE, IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BECOME MORE STABILIZED AND REACH PERFECT COMMUNION AND UNION WITH HIM. Saint John of Damascus describes this state of primordial "JUSTICE" characteristically. Adam WAS PURIFIED AND NOURISHED AT THE SAME TIME BY THE VISION OF GOD. His NOUS was ILLUMINED, and this signifies above all THAT HE WAS A TEMPLE OF THE Holy Spirit, and was EXPERIENCING UNCEASING REMEMBRANCE OF GOD. [NOTE:  The word NOUS has various uses in Patristic teaching.  It can indicate either THE SOUL or THE HEART or EVEN AN ENERGY OF THE SOUL.  Yet, the NOUS is mainly THE EYE OF THE SOUL; THE PUREST PART OF THE SOUL; THE HIGHEST ATTENTION.  It is also called NOETIC ENERGY and it is  NOT  identified with reason.]

"Ancestral" [Gk. Propatorikon Amartema] ("Original") sin CONSISTS OF THE DARKENING of the NOUS and THE LOSS OF COMMUNION WITH GOD. This, of course, had other repercussions, as well: MAN WAS CLOTHED IN THE FLESHLY GARMENTS OF DECAY AND MORTALITY. The NOUS experienced a DEEP DARKNESS. In other words, MAN LOST THE ILLUMINATION of his NOUS; IT BECAME IMPURE, IMPASSIONED and his body bore CORRUPTION and MORTALITY. Thus, from the day of our birth, we bear within us corruption and death. Hence, because of the Fall, we experience universal malady. Both SOUL and BODY are sick and, naturally, since man is the SUMMATION OF ALL CREATION, –THE MICROCOSMOS WITHIN THE MEGACOSMOS–CORRUPTION ALSO BEFELL ALL OF CREATION.

"My mind is wounded, my body has grown feeble, m spirit is sick, my speech has lost its power,
my life is dead, then end is at the door. What shalt thou do, then, miserable soul, when the
Judge comes to examine thy deed?" (Great Canon).

In fact, when we speak of Ancestral sin and its consequences, we mean three things: First, the malfunction of the NOUS, since the NOUS ceased to work properly; Secondly, the identification of the NOUS with reason (and to a certain extent, deification of reason) and Thirdly, the NOUS’ enslavement of the passions, anxiety and the conditions of the environment. And this CONSTITUTES MAN’S REAL DEATH.

He experiences TOTAL DISORGANIZATION; HIS INNER SELF IS DEADENED–HIS NOUS IS OVERCOME BY DARKNESS. And just as when the eye of the body is hurt, the whole body is obscure, so also when THE EYE OF THE SOUL–the NOUS–SUFFERS BLINDNESS, THE SPIRITUAL SELF AS A WHOLE BECOMES SICK. It falls into the deepest darkness. This is what the Lord is referring to when He says: "IF THEREFORE THE LIGHT THAT IS IN THEE BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS!" (Matthew 6:23).

In addition to the disruption of the soul’s inner workings, Ancestral sin resulted also in the disorganization OF MAN OUTWARDLY. He now confronts his fellow men, God, the world, and all of creation in a different way. The NOUS is unable to encounter God; so reason undertakes the effort. Thus IDOLS of God are created leading to PAGAN RELIGIONS and even HERETICAL DEVIATIONS.

Incapable of seeing man AS AN IMAGE OF GOD, the NOUS encounters him under the influence OF THE PASSIONS. He ambitiously exploits his fell man, THROUGH HIS LOVE FOR PLEASURE AND MATERIAL GAIN. He regards him as a vessel or instrument of pleasure; at the same time, he idolizes all creation, which is what the Apostle Paul describes in his Epistle to the Romans: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the Uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23).

Therefore MAN NEEDS TO BE CURED, that is to be PURIFIED, TO REACH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS–Adam’s state BEFORE THE FALL–AND THEN ATTAIN THEOSIS (DEIFICATION). This is achieved precisely through CHRIST’S INCARNATION AND THE ENTIRE WORK OF THE Divine Economy and of the CHURCH. It is within this frame of reference WE MUST SEE MANY LITURGICAL texts according to which Christ is characterized A PHYSICIAN AND HEALER OF SOULS AND BODIES. Moreover, in the same framework, various Patristic texts should be studied, where it is apparent that the work of Christ IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A THERAPEUTIC ONE…

Living within the Church by grace, man must first CLEASE HIS HEART OF THE PASSIONS, ATTAIN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS–Adam’s state before the Fall–and then ASCEND TO THEOSIS (DEIFICATION), which constitutes MAN’S COMMUNION AND UNION WITH GOD AND IS IDENTIFIED WITH SALVATION. These are THE STEPS OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION–THE FOUNDATION OF ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY.

In Orthodox spirituality PURIFICATION, ILLUMINATION, AND THEOSIS ARE NOT STATES OF ANTHROPOCENTRIC ACTIVITY, BUT RATHER ARE RESULTS OF THE UNCREATED ENERGY OF GOD. When the Divine grace (energy of God) purifies man from passions, it is called purifying when it illumines his nous it is called illuminating, and when it deifies man it is called deifying. The same grace and energy of God is given various names according to its effects. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)

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

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

+ Father George

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

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

Sentenced to Immortality (Part II)
By Saint Justin Popovic

If a man fights with sins and passions, this demonstrates that he INDEED BELIEVES IN THE Risen Lord; if the fight with them, he fights for life eternal. If he does not fight, his faith is in vain. If man’s faith IS NOT A FIGHT FOR IMMORTALITY and ETERNITY, than tell me, what is it? If faith in Christ does not bring us to resurrection and life eternal, than what use is it to us? If Christ is not risen, that meant that neither sin nor death has been vanquished, than why believe in Christ?

For the one who by faith in the Risen Lord fights with each of his sins there will be affirmed in him gradually the feeling that Christ is indeed risen, has indeed vanquished the sting of sin, has indeed vanquished death on all the forms of combat. Sin GRADUALLY DIMINISHES THE SOUL IN MAN, DRIVING IT INTO DEATH, TRANSFORMING IT FROM IMMORTALITY TO MORTALITY, FROM INCORRUPTION TO CORRUPTION. The more the sins, the more the mortal man. If man does not feel immortality in himself, know that he is in sins, in bad thoughts, in languid feelings. Christianity is an appeal: FIGHT WITH DEATH UNTIL THE LAST BREATH, FIGHT UNTIL A FINAL VICTORY HAS BEEN REACHED. Every sin is a desertion: EVERY PASSION IS A RETREAT; EVERY VICE IS A DEFEAT.

One need not be surprised that Christians also die bodily. This is because THE DEATH OF THE BODY IS SOWING. The MORTAL BODY is sown, says the Apostle Paul, and it grows, and IS RAISED IN AN IMMORTAL BODY (I Corinthians 15:42-44). The body dissolves, like a sown seed, that THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY QUICKEN AND PERFECT IT. If the Lord Christ had not been risen in body, what use would it have for Him? He would not have saved THE ENTIRE MAN. If His body did not rise, then why was He incarnate?

Why did He take on Himself flesh, if He gave it nothing of his Divinity?

If Christ is not risen, then why believe in Him? To be honest, I would never have believed in Him had He not risen and had not therefore vanquished death. Our GREATEST ENEMY was KILLED AND WE WERE GIVEN IMMORTALITY. Without this, our world is a noisy display of revolting stupidity and despair, for neither in Heaven nor under Heaven is there a greater stupidity than this world WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION; and there is not a greater despair than this life without immortality. There is no being in a single world more miserable than man who does NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. It would have been better for such a man never to have been born.

In our human world, death is the greatest torment and inhumane horror. FREEDOM FROM THIS TORMENT AND HORROR IS SALVATION. Such a salvation was given the race of man by the Vanquisher of death–the Risen God-Man. He related to us all the mystery of salvation by His Resurrection. TO BE SAVED MEANS TO ASSURE OUR BODY AND SOUL OF IMMORTALITY AND LIFE ETERNAL. How to attain this? By no other way than by a theanthropic life, A NEW LIFE, A LIFE IN THE Risen Lord, in and by the Lord’s Resurrection.

For us Christians, our life on earth is a school in which we learn how to assure ourselves of resurrection and Life Eternal. For what use is this life if we cannot acquire by it Life Eternal? But, in order to be resurrected with the Lord Christ, MAN MUST SUFFER WITH Him, and live His life as his own. If he does this, then on Pascha he can say with Saint Gregory the Theologian: "Yesterday I was crucified with Him, today I LIVE WITH HIM, yesterday I was buried with Him, TODAY I RISE WITH HIM" (Troparion 2, Ode 3. Matins, Pascha).

Christ’s Four Gospels are summed up in only four words,
They are: CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

In each of these words is a Gospel, and in the Four Gospels is all the meaning OF ALL GOD’S WORLD, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE. When all knowledge and all the thoughts of men are concentrated in the cry of the Paschal salutation, Christ is Risen!, then IMMORTAL JOY EMBRACES ALL BEINGS AND IN JOY RESPONDS: INDEED HE IS RISEN! (Source: Orthodox Heritage)

_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in the Resurrection of Our Lord, God, and Savior JESUS CHRIST,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

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

Sentenced to
IMMORTALITY
By Saint Justin Popovic

Man sentenced God to death; by His Resurrection, He SENTENCED MAN TO IMMORTALITY. In return for a beating, He GIVES AN EMBRACE; for abuse, A BLESSING; for death, IMMORTALITY. Man never showed so much hate for God as when he CRUCIFIED Him; and God NEVER SHOWED MORE LOVE FOR MAN THAN WHEN He arose. Man even wanted to reduce God to a mortal, but God by His Resurrection made man immortal. The crucified God is Risen and has KILLED DEATH. DEATH IS NO MORE. IMMORTALITY HAS SURROUNDED MAN AND ALL THE WORLD.

By the Resurrection of the God-Man, human nature has been led irreversibly onto the path of immortality and has become dreadful to death itself. For before the Resurrection of Christ, DEATH WAS DREADFUL TO MAN, BUT AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, MAN HAS BECOME MORE DREADFUL TO DEATH. When man lives by faith in the Risen God-Man, he lives above death, out of its reach; it is a footstool for his feet:

"O Death, where is thy sting? O Hades,
where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).

When a man belonging to Christ dies, HE SIMPLY SETS ASIDE HIS BODY LIKE CLOTHING, IN WHICH HE WILL AGAIN BE VESTED ON THE DAY OF Dread Judgment. Before the Resurrection of the God-Man, death was the SECOND NATURE OF MAN: life first, death second. But by His Resurrection, the Lord has changed everything: IMMORTALITY HAS BECOME THE SECOND NATURE OF MAN, IT HAS BECOME NATURAL FOR MAN; AND DEATH–UNNATURAL. As before the Resurrection of Christ, it was natural for men to be mortal, so after the Resurrection of Christ, IT WAS NATURAL FOR MEN TO BE IMMORTAL.

By sin (Gk. amartia), MAN BECAME MORTAL AND TRANSIENT; by the Resurrection of the God-Man, HE BECAME IMMORTAL AND PERPETUAL. In this is the power, the might, the All-Mightiness of the Resurrection of Christ. Without it, there would have been no Christianity. Of all miracles, THIS IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE. All other miracles have it as their source and lead to it. From it grow FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, PRAYER, AND LOVE FOR GOD. Behold: the fugitive disciples, having run away from Jesus when He died, return to Him because He is risen. Behold: the Centurion confessed Christ as the Son of God when he saw the Resurrection from the grave. Behold: all the first Christians became Christian because the Lord Jesus is risen because death was vanquished. This is what no other faith has; this is what lifts the Lord Christ above all other gods and men; this is what, in the most undoubted manner, shows and demonstrates that Jesus Christ IS THE One True God and Lord in all the world.

Because of the Resurrection of Christ, because of His Victory over death, men have become, continue to become, and will continue BECOMING CHRISTIANS. The entire history of Christianity is nothing other than the history of A UNIQUE MIRACLE, NAMELY, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, WHICH IS UNBROKENLY THREADED THROUGH THE HEARTS OF CHRISTIANS FORM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, ACROSS THE CENTURIES, UNTIL THE Dread Judgment.

Man is born, in fact, not when his mother brings him into the world, but HEN HE COMES TO BELIEVE IN THE RISEN CHRIST, FOR THEN HE IS ORN TO LIFE ETERNAL, whereas a mother bears children for death, for the grave. The Resurrection of Christ IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL, THE MOTHER OF ALL CHRISTIANS, THE MOTHER OF IMMORTALS. By faith in the Resurrection, MAN IS BORN ANEW, BORN FOR ETERNITY. "That is impossible!" says the skeptic. But you listen to what the Risen God-Man says: "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR HIM THAT BELIEVETH" (Mark 9:23). The BELIEVER IS HE WHO LIVES, WITH ALL HIS HEART, WITH ALL HIS SOUL, WITH ALL HIS BEING, ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF THE RISEN LORD JESUS.

FAITH IS OUR VICTORY, BY WHICH WE CONQUER DEATH; Faith in the Risen Lord Jesus. Death, where is your sting? The sting of death IS SIN. The Lord "has removed the sting of death." Death is A SERPENT; sin IS ITS FANGS. By sin, DEATH PUTS ITS POISON INTO THE SOUL AND INTO THE BODY OF MAN. The more sins a man has, the more bites, through which death puts its poison in him.

When a wasp stings a man, he uses all his strength to remove the sting. But when sin wounds him, this sting of death, what should be done? One must call upon the Risen Lord Jesus IN FAITH and PRAYER, that He may remove the sting of death from the soul. He, in His Great Loving-Kindness, will do this, for He is overflowing with mercy and love. When many wasps attack a man’s body and wound it with many stings, that man is poisoned and dies. The same happens with a man’s soul WHEN MANY SINS WOUND IT WITH THEIR STINGS: IT IS POISONED AND DIES A DEATH WITH NO RESURRECTION.

Conquering sin in himself through Christ, man OVERCOMES DEATH. If you have lived the day without vanquishing a single sin of yours, know that you have become deadened. Vanquish one, two, or three of your sins, and behold: YOU HAVE BECOME YOUNGER THAN THE YOUTH WHICH DOE NOT AGE, YOUNG IN IMMORTALITY AND ETERNITY. Never forget that to believe in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ means to carry out A CONTINUOUS FIGHT WITH SINS, WITH EVIL, WITH DEATH. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)

(To be continued)

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

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

+ Father George

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

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

"Then God formed man out of dust from the ground,
and breathed in his face the BREATH OF LIFE, AND
MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL." (Genesis 2:7).

It is very clear in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament that God formed Adam’s body "out of dust from the ground." The "breath of life" is the grace of the Holy Spirit, "THE GIVER OF LIFE" (the Creed). The Almighty and Merciful God breathed THE BREATH OF LIFE into man’s body, and he became "A LIVING SOUL." Therefore, Adam was "a living soul" because he possessed a body, A SOUL, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The Patristic consensus is that man is composed of BODY and SOUL, and the SPIRIT (NOUS) is the highest and purest part OF THE SOUL. The spirit (nous) of man is created, and must never be confused with the Holy Spirit, Who is Uncreated. At Baptism, however, the Uncreated Grace of God, which man lost at the fall, is once again united with the nous. Thus, Saint Diadochos of Photike writes: "The Grace of God dwells in the very depths of the soul–that is to say, the nous. (Philokalia, vol. I, p. 280).

"The spiritual man possesses a soul, but being REBORN, he cultivates in himself the seeds of Grace; he grows and brings forth fruits of the spirit. However, by carelessness towards his SPIRITUAL LIFE HE MAY DESCEND TO THE LEVEL OF THE FLESHLY OR NATURAL MAN ("Are you so foolish? Having begun in the spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3) Therefore, there are no grounds for supposing that the thinking of the Apostle Paul is not in agreement with the teaching that the NATURE OF MAN CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS."

"First of all, the image of God may be seen only in the soul, not in the body. According to His Nature, God is most pure Spirit, not clothed in any kind of body and not a partaker of any kind of materiality. Therefore the image of God can refer ONLY TO THE IMMATERIAL SOUL–many Holy Fathers of the Church have considered it necessary to give this warning."

Man BEARS THE IMAGE OF GOD IN THE HIGHEST QUALITIES OF THE SOUL, especially in the soul’s IMMORTALITY, IN THE FREEDOM OF WILL, IN ITS REASON, AND IN ITS CAPABILITY FOR PURE LOVE WITHOUT THOUGHT OF GAIN.

a) The Eternal God gave IMMORTALITY OF SOUL TO MAN, even though the soul is immortal NOT by nature but ONLY BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

b) God is completely free in His actions, and He gave man FREE WILL and the ability to act freely within certain boundaries.

c) God IS MOST WISE, and He has given man A REASON WHICH IS CAPABLE OF BEING NOT LIMITED only to earthly needs and to the visible side of things, but IS CAPABLE OF PENETRATING TO THEIR DEPTHS OF RECOGNIZING AND EXPLAINING THEIR INWARD MEANING. Man’s reason is able to rise to the level of that which is invisible and to strive in thought toward the very Source of all that exists–GOD. Man’s reason makes his will conscious and authentically free because it can choose that which corresponds to man’s highest dignity rather than that to which his lower nature inclines him.

d) God created man in His goodness, and He has NEVER LEFT HIM NOR EVER WILL LEAVE HIM WITHOUT HIS AGAPE (LOVE). Man, having received HIS SOUL FROM THE BREATHING OF GOD, STRIVES TOWARD HIS FIRST Principle, God, as toward something akin to himself, seeking and thirsting FOR UNION WITH Him. This is specifically shown in the straight and upright posture of his body, and his gaze, which turns up toward heaven. Thus, striving toward and love for God expresses the IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.

In summary, one may say that all of the good and noble qualities and capabilities of the soul are an expression of the image of God in man."
[Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

It is up to every Orthodox Christian believer to nourish, protect, and cleanse his/her soul and seek the grace of the Holy Spirit. No one should ever neglect that which gives life to the body, the soul. Without a soul, there is no life. One simply needs to view a dead body to know that this lifeless mass of flesh is missing the soul which gave it life. Man unfortunately is a sarkolatres, a worshipper of the flesh. The human being is totally committed to everything pertaining to the body, e.i., feeding it, cleaning it, exercising it, clothing it, beautifying it, and satisfying all its desires and passions. But what does the human offer to his/her soul? The average person and specifically a Christian even, gives no attention to the soul at all. And yet, the soul also needs to be nourished, cleansed, to be spiritually exercised (ascesis), to be clothed with the Light of goodness, faith, and love, to beautify it through works of mercy and kindness, energized and deify it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit. The soul needs to be in constant union with its Creator.

Every Orthodox Christian understands that the best way to serve the spiritual needs of the soul is to have a strong and consistent prayer life and a sacramental life. Through participation in the Holy Eucharist, we become one with Christ and with one another. We are spiritually cleansed through the Mysterion of Repentance/Confession, we are healed through the Mystery of the Holy Oil (Holy Unction), and we are reborn through the Mystery of Holy Baptism. One should see how very important and necessary it is for all Orthodox Christians to adhere to the guidance of our Holy Church. This is how the Orthodox Christian who practices his/her faith maintains his/her soul.

The enemy and the threat to the soul is apostasy from its Creator. It is living a life of disobedience to the will of God. It is rebelling and refusing to follow His Commandments. It is giving to the passions and evil thoughts that we are constantly assaulted with by the evil one.
It is our lukewarm faith, our weak faith, our lack of commitment, and our lack of good works, that puts our souls at risk. Our soul is our greatest God-given gift and treasure. Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ exhorts us: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, AND LOSES HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?" (Matthew 16:26).

My beloved be vigilant and protect your soul tenderly and consciously and with all your might for your life depends on it.

Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things
to rely upon Your Holy Will. In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surrounded me. Teach me to treat all that comes
to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with a firm conviction that
from Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and
feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach
me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give
me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray. And, Yourself, pray in me. Amen.

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



With sincere agape in the Divine and Glorious Resurrection of our Lord,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

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

On the 9th of May, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates Saint CHROSTOPHOROS (CHRISTOPHER)
THE GREAT MARTYR.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Martyr. Fourth Tone

Made comely with garments woven from thy venerable blood,
thou standest before the Lord, the King of Heaven and earth, O
famed Martyr Christopher. With the choirs of Angels and the Martyrs
thou chantest, singing the thrice-holy hymn and most awesome praises,
Thus, by thine intercessions with God, save us, thy worthless slaves.

Kontakion Hymn of the Martyr. Fourth Tone

Thou who wast terrifying both in strength and in countenance, for thy Creator’s
sake thou didst surrender thyself willingly to them that sought thee; for thou
didst persuade both them and the women that sought to arouse in thee the fire
of lust, and they followed thee in the path of martyrdom. And in torments, thou
didst prove to be courageous. Wherefore, we have gained thee as our great
protector, O Great Christopher.

Saint Christophoros (Christopher), the holy and Great Martyr of Christ, was vouchsafed the Crown of Martyrdom during the reign of the pagan and unjust Roman Emperor Docius (249-251 A.D.). From his youth, the Saint had been called Reprobus. During that epoch, the rulers were possessed by a frenzied madness against the pious Christians. The lawless emperors had issued an outrageous decree. His foul command urged the ill use of the righteous and godly slaves of the Christians, with the application of violence, if they could not be coerced into eating meats offered and sacrificed to pagan idols. These foods had been defiled by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrificial victims. Those who consented not to deny Christ were to be subjected to torture which led to death in a most horrifying manner. All the rulers and governors of the cities of the realm made it a point to appear compliant and obedient to the crown. The impious, as a result, were afforded no small protection by law while the pious were being persecuted.

One of the emperor’s military commanders, at that time, who was engaged in a campaign against other nations, encountered the blessed Reprobus. The latter hailed from the Tribe of the dog-faced, whom the general apprehended. The dog-faced one, according to the Greek compilers, must signify that the Saint was not comely but rather had an ill-favored facial appearance. His features were not deformed so that he had the aspect of a canine, even as some unlearned painters have depicted him. He possessed a human countenance, as other men. Although he had a look that was displeasing to the senses, and even frightening and wild looking, yet his inner man was Christ-like. The blessed Reprobus did not bear the least character resemblance to his countrymen. Indeed, he may be described as prudent and noble-minded, and as one who kept the divine words in his heart. The man of God observed how the idol-worshippers were torturing each of the Christians, which was ushering in no small grief such a one as Reprobus who was predisposed toward sympathy. With such a compassionate turn of mind, his love for the sufferers stirred him. Since, however, he was ignorant of the language of the idol madmen who had captured him, he was unable either to reason with or to rebuke the benighted ones. There was no one with whom he could speak and come to an understanding. He, consequently, managed to betake himself to a place contiguous but outside of the city. He prostrated himself to the ground, supplicating the Lord with tears that he might be endowed with the power to converse with his pagan captors. He noetically offered up this prayer: "O Lord God, the Almighty, hearken to my low estate and humiliation. Show Thy compassion to me, the unworthy one. Open my lips and grant me to speak as the men of this place that I might be able to reprove the tyrant." While Reprobus was praying in this manner, he found before him a certain light-bearing youth who addressed him and said, "Thine entreaty has been heard, O Reprobus. So then, rise up and receive grace from the Lord."

The holy man rose up, at which point the light-bearing being touched Reprobus’s lips. Straightway, as the Angel breathed upon his mouth, Reprobus was enabled to speak freely. He then, at once marched into the city. He viewed the Christians undergoing punishment, which brought pain to his heart. It was as if he were receiving those tortures himself. He, thereupon, directed his words to the idolaters, speaking on behalf of his fellow Christians, saying, "O guides of the darkness and those full of every transgression, does it not suffice to surrender your souls to Satan, but must you compel even us, who fear the one God, to perish along with you? I am a Christian and I do not condescend to venerate your vain gods and useless abominations." As the holy Reprobus was speaking, Vachthios, one of the pagan officers, happened to be near him. He struck Reprobus on the mouth. The blessed man, not giving reign to anger, turned to him and said modestly, "My Savior Christ is preventing me from retaliating, thus, I shall not render a fitting recompense. But should I become angry, all of thy perverse kingdom would not be able to vanquish me." Vachthios, frightened by this statement, turned on his heel and departed for the city where the emperor was abiding.

Vachthios reported to the emperor that there appeared a young man in the midst of the people who can only be described as a dreadful giant. That he had the form and look of a wild man, and his teeth jut out of his mouth, even as a swine. That he had a head like a dog and was blaspheming both the gods and the realm. The anger of the emperor, while hearing this report, was great indeed. Decius deemed it prudent to investigate the matter and immediately summoned two hundred soldiers and dispatched them with these orders: "Bind this giant, named Reprobus, and conduct him here before me. In the event he should resist, cut him into a thousand pieces. Only being forward his head that I may see for myself if he is the frightening ogre that his coward claims."

Now the soldiers, whom Decius dispatched to arrest the righteous man, arrived at the place where Reprobus was and who stood outside the doors of a Christian church praying. From a distance, they described his features and became frightened. As a result, they did not dare to get near him. But one of the soldiers found the courage and rallied his comrades, saying, "Why should we fear one lone man who is unarmed?" Thus, they approached him. Reprobus said to them, ‘If you will let me, I will come of my own volition; for thou shall not be able to drag me bound before the emperor." I implore you, however, that you delay the order until I should receive holly Baptism and thereafter we shall go together. The soldiers, attempting to oblige him, answered, "Our expedition is finished, because for many days we have searching for you and, furthermore, we hardly have any rations." The Saint remarked, "Bring what little remains that you may see the power of my God." The soldiers brought the Saint their small supply. Reprobus went to his knees and besought the Lord, saying, "O Lord God, Who blessed the five loaves and filled countless crowds, hear Thy slave! Multiply these few slices of bread that they may behold Thy Wonders and may believe that Thou art True God Who art able to do all things."

An Angel of the Lord came to him and said, "Take courage, O athlete of Christ, Christopher! For He has sent me forth to come unto thine aid, commanding me to fulfill all thou hast set thy heart upon." After the Angel blessed the soldiers’ bread, they were marvelously multiplied. The soldiers, witnessing this miracle-working, were astonished and cried aloud with one mouth, "Great is the Christians’ God, the One Who saves His slaves!" They began revering the Saint saying, "We too, believe in the only True God!" Then the Saint, becoming filled with joy, began teaching them the saving preaching of the Lord. After this took place, Reprobus led them all forth to Antioch and to the sainted Babylas, bishop of that city. Once there, Reprobus recounted the entire matter. When the hierarch was apprised of the history, he offered up heartfelt thanksgiving to God. He catechized and baptized all the soldiers, including the former Reprobus whom he named CHRISTOPHOROS.

When this was completed, Christophoros (Christopher) counseled the soldiers to return to headquarters at the palace, As they marched on their way, Saint Christopher was strengthening them with words of advice, "…Let us endure, therefore, for His sake, both wounds and scourges in this vain world. And let us not deny Him, no matter what they should perpetuate against us. Upon hearing these admonitions, the soldiers began to weep. When they arrived at the palace and Decius set his eyes on the righteous man, the emperor cringed. After the tyrant composed himself from his fear, he forced himself to address Christ’s witness, "State thy religion, race, and name." The holy martyr answered, "I am a Christian, and my former name was Reprobus, but now, through holy Baptism, I was named Christophoros. My race appears on my face. Soon after the Saint was imprisoned and two harlots were sent to seduce him, but he converted them also and encouraged them in their martyrdom.

Decius ordered the hanging of the Saint and said to the executioners, "Suspend him by the hairs of his head. Bind a heavy stone to his feet. Submit his whole body to a thrashing with the flat side of the sword." The emperor then commanded that lit torches be applied to the martyr’s armpits. After the Saint was savagely burned, some of the noblemen began urging Decius to alter his strategy. "Flatter the Christian." After many horrific tortures, Decius handed down his final decision and said, "Since this most incorrigible and useless fellow foolishly slights my own commands, I command the severing of is revolting and ugly head."

The beheaders, thereupon, drew him to the place of execution. When they arrive at the site, Saint Christophoros requested leave from the headsman so that he might first pray. Having received permission, the Saint prayed to God in the hearing of the whole company. He uttered these words: "O Lord God, the Almighty, I give thanks to Thee…Receive my spirit in peace and number me with the least of Thy slaves…O most compassionate Lord, grace to my body, so that, wheresoever the least portion of my relics should be found, demons would be dispelled, and, moreover, that neither famine nor hail would harm that place. Indeed, do not permit any other affliction ever to occur in that place. All those who celebrate the feast of my martyric contest and read of it, preserve them safe and sound, that they may glorify Thee, the Most Good Lord, for blessed art Thou to the ages of the ages. Amen."

The decapitator, drawing near to Saint Christopher with much fear and reverence, then swung his sword and severed that honorable head. It should be noted that, after the execution, the same executioner took his own life and died upon the sacred body of the Martyr. The day of the Martyrdom was the 9th day of May. After the repose of the Saint, Bishop Peter of Attaleia on the Mediterranean ventured forth. He bribed the soldiers for the purchase of the holy Martyr’s body. Bishop Peter wrapped the holy relics in spice and transferred them to his own city.

May we the faithful be delivered from all evil and wicked temptations by the intercessions of Our Ever-Virgin Lady Theotokos, the holy and Great Martyr Christophoros, and all the Saints. 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 Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

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

On the 8th of Mary, the Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Synaxis of the Holy and Glorious Apostle and Evangelist,
JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN, THE BELOVED DISCIPLE AND
VIRGIN.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Apostle. Second Tone

O APOSTLE, beloved of Christ our God, hasten to deliver a
defenseless people. He that allowed thee to recline on His breast,
receiveth thee bowing in intercession, Implore Him, O Theologian,
to dispel the persistent cloud of the heathen, and ask for us His
peace and great mercy.

Kontakion Hymn of the Apostle. Second Tone

Who can tell thy mighty works, O virgin Saint? For thou pourest
forth miracles, and art a source of healings, and thou dost
intercede for our souls, as the Theologian and the friend of Christ.

+

The Holy and Glorious Apostle John the Theologian, the divine Apostle and Evangelist, the Beloved Disciple of the Lord, was born in Bethsaida of Galilee. He was translated to the Lord, while preaching the word of God at Ephesos, in deep old age during the days of Emperor Trajan (8-117 A.D.). When the Blessed John was about to depart from this present life to that which is perpetual and eternal, he foreknew it by the indwelling of Divine grace. He took his disciples and went outside of the city of Ephesus. Saint John, according to Prochoros his disciple, had assembled seven of his disciples. Prochoros and six others, Saint John said to them, "Take spades in your hands and follow me." They followed him outside the city to a certain place, where he said, "Sit down." He then went a little apart from them to where it was quiet and began to pray. It was very early in the morning; the sun had not quite risen. After his prayer, he said to them, "Dig with your spades a cross-shaped trench as long as I am tall." This was done while the Evangelist prayed. After he had finished his prayer, he set himself down in the trench that had been dug. Saint John then said to Prochoros, "My son, thou shalt go to Jerusalem. That is where thou must end thy days." The Evangelist then gave them instructions and embraced them, saying, "Take some earth, my mother earth, and cover me." The Disciple embraced them again and, taking some earth, covered him only up to his knees. Once more, he embraced them, saying, "Take some more earth and cover me up to the neck." So they embraced him again and then took some more earth and covered him up to his neck. Then he said to them, "Bring a thin veil and place it on my face, and embrace me again for the last time, for you shall not see me nay longer in this life." So they, stricken with grief, embraced the Apostle again. As he was sending us off in peace, the disciples, lamenting bitterly, covered his whole body. The sun rose just then, and he surrendered his spirit.

The disciples returned to the city and were asked, "Where is your teacher?" So they explained what had just occurred in great detail. The Ephesians begged them that they show them the site. They, therefore, went back to the grave with the brethren, but Saint John was not there. Only his shoes were left behind. Then they remembered the words of the Lord to the Apostle Peter, "If I wish him to tarry while I am coming, what is that to thee?" (John 21:22). And they all glorified God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to Whom is the glory, honor, and worship, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Each year, on the 8th day of May, THE GRAVE OF THE SAINT WAS DECORATED WITH ROSES.

Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, in his narration on how the Apostles departed this life, notes that Saint John "went to Ephesos and there reposed. When his holy relics were sought by the inhabitants of Ephesos, it could not be found." Saint Gregory the Theologian, in answering a question put to him by his brother Caesarius, comments: "The Great John, at the end of his Gospel, writes that the Lord said to Peter, ‘Follow thou Me.’ And Peter, having turned about, seeth the disciple, whom the Jesus loved, following–who also leaned back on His breast at the Supper–and said, "Lord, who is the one who is delivering Thee up?" After Peter saw him, he saith to Jesus, "But Lord, this man–what?" Jesus saith to him, "If I wish to tarry while I am coming, what is that to thee? Do thou be following Me." Then this saying went out among the brethren "that disciple dieth not"; and yet Jesus did not say that "he dieth not," but, "If I wish him to tarry while I am coming, what is that to thee?" (John 21:19-23). Now some use this passage as a pretext that Saint John still has not tasted death, but rather was transported live as it were Enoch and Elias. However, this is not the truth. Christ spoke enigmatically when He said, "If I wish him to tarry.." …meaning that the Lord did not intend for Peter and John to be in one another’s company to the end. Their future work would take each one to different places. The Lord also reveals here that Saint John would not die in the same manner as the other Apostles." Saint Gregory then describes to Caesarius THE FINE DUST WHICH HAS WROUGHT CURES FOR A MULTITUDE OF SUFFERERS.

Saint Bede remarks that "Jesus did not love John alone in a singular way to the exclusion of others, but He loved John beyond those whom He loved, in a more intimate way as one whom the special prerogative of chastity had made worthy of fuller love. Indeed, Jesus proved that He loved them all when before His Passion He said to them, "Even as the Father loved Me, I ALSO LOVED YOU; ABIDE IN THE LOVE, THAT WHICH IS MINE" (John 15:9). But beyond the other He loved the one who, being a virgin when chosen by Him, remained forever a virgin. Accordingly, when Christ was about to die on the Cross, He commended His Mother to John (John 19:26-27), so that the virgin might watch over the Virgin; and when He Himself Ascended to Heaven after His death and Resurrection, a son would not be lacking to His Mother whose chaste life would be protected by his chaste services." Furthermore, Saint Bede writes: "Mystically speaking, we can take these things which are predicted by the Lord to Peter and John, as designating the two ways of life in the Church which are carried out in the present, namely the active and the contemplative…Christ said this about John suggests the state OF CONTEMPLATIVE VIRTUE, which is not to be ended through death, AS THE ACTIVE LIFE IS, but after death is to be more perfectly completed with the Coming of the Lord."

We, therefore, at the empty tomb of Saint John the Theologian celebrate the Great Evangelist. He was granted Christ’s grace by which he is adorned with many wonder-workings (miracles). His tomb, yearly and to the day of this writing, in a sudden and mysterious manner, SPOUTS UP DUST. THE NATIVES HAVE NAMED THE DUST "MANNA." The dust has been called so because IT IS USED FOR DELIVERANCE AND RECOVERY FROM EVERY DISEASE. IT IS EMPLOYED FOR THE HEALTH OF BOTH SOULS AND BODIES, TO THE GLORIFICATION OF GOD AND HIS SERVANT JOHN.

The Synaxis of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John is celebrated in his august Apostolic Church, which is located at Evdomon (Hebdomon). Evdomon (lit. "seventh"; is a suburb of Constantinople, and is situated on the Sea of Marmara. The Church to the Evangelist was built before the year 400. In the years 673 and 717, Arab fleets were put in there at Hebdomon. Emperor Basil Ist (867-886 A.D.) rebuilt the churches of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, which had fallen into ruin. The Evangelist’s church, thereafter, was transformed into a Monastery. (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 Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

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

SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC (John 5:1-15)

Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 3

Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice
exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength
with his arm. He trampled death by death. He
became the first-born of the dead. Out of the
belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the
world, He has granted the Great Mercy.

Kontakion hymn of Pascha. Mode pl. 4.

Though Thou went down into the tomb, O
Immortal One, yet Thou brought down the
Dominion of Hades; and Thou rose as the
Victor, O Christ our God; and Thou called
out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women,
and gave peace to Thine Apostles, O Lord
Who to the fallen grant resurrection.

+



CONCERNING THE PARLYTIC WHO WAS INFIRM FOR THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS.

"After this, there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now
there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew
tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent
folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an Angel went
down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then
first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever
disease he had."

According to Saint Theophylact "went up" to Jerusalem on the Jewish feast of Pentecost. The Lord went up on this feast for two reasons. First, to celebrate with the others, lst His absence be interpreted as opposition to the law. Second, to use the occasion of the feast to draw more people to Himself by His signs and teaching, especially from among the guileless multitude, such as the farmers and the city craftsmen, who on other days were occupied with their work. The pool was called Sheep’s Pool because the sheep intended for the temple sacrifices were brought there and their entrails were washed in its water. It was the common belief that the washing of the sacrificial entrails imparted divine power to the water and that after washing an Angel would descend to the water to work a miracle. Here divine providence is plainly evident, guiding the Jews of ancient times towards faith in Christ by preordaining this miracle of the pool. God intended in due time to bestow Baptism, the greatest of gifts, MAKING IT FULL OF POWER TO WASH AWAY SINS AND BRING SOULS TO LIFE. Therefore, He PREFIGURED BAPTISM in the Judaic practices of the Old Covenant by directing the Jews to use water for cleansing from defilement. This water did not cleanse the fundamental stain of sin. It merely granted them purification from the pollution they believed occurred on various occasions in the course of everyday life, such as contact with a leper or a corpse. Similarly, God worked this miracle at the pool to prepare the Jews to receive the grace of Baptism. An Angel would come down at certain times to trouble the water and infuse it with HEALING POWER. Water itself has no power to heal — if it did, it would heal everywhere and on every occasion. This miracle was accomplished entirely BY THE ACTIVITY AND DIVINE ENERGY OF THE ANGEL. Likewise with us. IN BAPTISM, ORDINARY WATER BY THE DIVINE INVOCATIONS RECEIVES THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CLEANSES US FROM SPIRITUAL DISEASE. THE WATER OF BAPTISM HEALS ALL: the "BLIND," whose spiritual eyes are darkened and cannot distinguish good from evil; the "LAME," who are paralyzed and neither practice virtue nor make any spiritual progress; and the "WITHERED," who are in complete despair because of their inability to accomplish anything good. In former times infirmity prevented many from being healed in the waters of the pool, and only one was made whole. But now, what hinders any man from being baptized? If the whole world approached at once for Baptism, ITS GRACE WOULD NOT BE DIMINISHED.

"And a certain man was there, who had an infirmity thirty and eight years…"

For thirty-eight years he lay there waiting, each year hoping to be healed. But every time, those who were stronger and quicker got to the water before him. Yet HE NEVER DESPAIRED. The only purpose of the Lord’s question–"Wilt thou be made whole?" –was TO REVEAL THE PARALYTIC’S PATIENT AND STEADFAST ENDURANCE. What sick man would not want to be healed? And indeed, the paralytic answers GENTLY AND HUMBLY: "Yes, Lord, I wish to be healed, but I have no man who can put me into the water." He DOES NOT BLASPHEME; HE DOES NOT REBUKE CHRIST FOR ASKING A STUPID QUESTION; HE DOES NOT CURSE THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH AS WE OFTEN DO, FAINTHEARTED AS WE ARE, WHEN SUBJECT TO A MUCH SLIGHTER AFFLICTION THAN THIS. He answers MEEKLY, having no idea to Whom he was speaking, but hoping that Jesus would help hm into the waters. Note well that the Lord asked, "Wilt thou be made whole?" and not, "Will thou that I make thee whole?" He posed the question as He did to AVOID ANY APPEARANCE OF BOASTFULNESS.

"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.."

Jesus commands the paralytic to pick up his bed IN ORDER TO CONFIRM THAT THE MIRACLE WAS NO ILLUSION. Unless the limbs were truly firm and strong, the man would not have been able to carry his bed. The Lord DID NOT REQUIRE, as He did with many others, that the paralytic show faith before he was healed, for the man, had never seen Christ work a sign. Whenever the Lord did require faith of those He was about to heal, He had already performed other miracles in their presence. See how the paralytic believed as soon as he heard Jesus’ word. He did not hesitate and think, "He is mad! I have been here thirty-eight years without being made whole, and now all at once He commands me to stand." Instead, HE BELIEVED — AND ROSE TO HIS FEET. The Lord heals on the Sabbath TO TEACH MEN TO SEE THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW IS A NEW LIGHT: THAT THEY HONOR THE SABBATH BY REFRAINING FROM EVIL, NOT BY RESTING. How could the law forbid one from doing good on the Sabbath, when the law comes from God, Who is CEASELESS IN DOING GOOD?

"Who is it that said unto thee, Take up thy bed and walk?" The Jews blinded themselves TO THE MIRACLE and were obsessed by what they considered a transgression of the Sabbath. Jesus "conveyed Himself away" for two reasons. First, with the healer absent, the Jews would be more likely to believe the man’s testimony, because it would seem that he was simply telling what happened, and not attributing the miracle to Jesus. Second, the Lord withdrew so as not to provoke the Jews any further. He knew the mere sight of the object of envy is enough to ignite the flame of spite. He wanted the deed to be assessed calmly, on its own merit alone. And truly, the more the Jews accuse, interrogate, and examine, the more swiftly travels word of the miracle.

"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee…"

The Lord’s words to the paralytic, "Behold, thou art made whole, sin no more." confirm the truth of these two doctrines — ILLNESS IN MAN STEMS FROM SIN, and the punishment in hell is eternal. No one can now say, "I fornicated only for an hour; my punishment cannot last forever." Behold this man: his years of sin were far fewer than the many years of his punishment, which lasted almost a lifetime. Sin IS NOT JUDGED BY HOW LONG IT TOOK TO COMMIT BUT BY THE GRAVITY OF THE TRANSGRESSION. We also learn from the Lord’s words that even though we have already paid a harsh penalty for sins IF WE DEFILE OURSELVES AGAIN WITH THE SAME TRANSGRESSIONS, WE WILL BE PUNISHED MORE SEVERELY THAN BEFORE–and rightly so. If a man does not correct his ways after his first punishment, IT SHOWS HE IS INSENSIBLE AND CONTEMPTUOUS AND MUST BE DEALT WITH MORE HARSHLY. But why are not all punished in this manner? Man of the wicked are healthy and energetic and seem to pass their days merrily. But this absence of suffering in the present life becomes the grounds for even greater punishment in the next. Saint Paul confirms this: "But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:32), that is in the next life. The chastisements we receive in this life are mere admonitions, in the next life, THEY ARE TRUE PUNISHMENTS.

When He became man, He healed OUR NATURE and commanded us to "take up our bed." This means we must lift up from the earth our body — weighed down by the flesh and earthly cares — and make it light and free. We must rouse it from slothfulness so that it can "walk," that is to say, be active in doing good. The troubling of the water in the pool denotes the evil spirits stirred up in the waters of Baptism and then crushed and drowned by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Like the paralytic, we too are in need of healing, for we are paralyzed and inert in doing good. We also "have no man," that is, no rational thought proper to man, that would distinguish us from the irrational beasts and bring us to the pool OF TEARS AND REPENTANCE. In this pool, the first to enter is healed: if he procrastinates and does not swiftly REPENT, he obtains NO HEALING. Be quick to enter, lest death overtakes you. Again, there is an Angel which troubles this pool of repentance–the Angel of Great Counsel of the Father [see Isaiah 9:6], Christ the Savior. Unless the Divine Logos/Word touches our heart and troubles it with the thought of torments in the age to come, this pool will not be made active by divine power [ούκ ενεργηθήσεται], and there will be no healing for the paralyzed soul. The POOL OF REPENTANCE may rightly be called the Sheep’s Pool: THE POOL IN WHICH THE INWARD PARTS AND THOUGHTS OF THE SAINTS, LIKE THE SHEEP’S ENTRAILS, ARE WASHED. CLEANSED IN IT, THAT IS, RENDERED INNOCENT AND GUILELESS, THE SAINTS ARE MDE READY TO BECOME A LIVING SACRIFICE PLEASING TO GOD. May we also obtain healing, and afterward may the Lord ever find us in the temple, unstained by evil thoughts, "lest a worse thing" eternal punishment, "come unto us." [Source: The Explanation of the Holy Gospel according to John by Saint Theophylact).

___________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



With sincere agape In His Divine and Glorious Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servants of God

+ Father George

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

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

On the 5th of May, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy and Great-Martyr IRENE.

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

Being fair adorned before with pure and virginal beauty, thou
becamest fairer still in thy brave contest, O virgin; for when
thou, in thine own spilt blood, wast stained and reddened, O
Irene, thou overthrewest ungodly error. Hence, thou hast
received the prizes of thy good victory from thy Creator’s
right hand.
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Saint Irene, the holy Great-Martyr, was born in the city of Magedon or Magedo. She lived during the reign of Saint and Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 A.D.). She was the sole offspring of her pagan parents, Licinius, who was a certain kinglet, and Licinia. Irene has been given the name of Penelope at birth. Since she was the most fair of maidens and surpassed in beauty all the others of her day, her father, who feared for his daughter, built a lofty tower to isolate Penelope. He also lodged thirteen other young maidens with her, amid whom she lived in luxury and wealth. She received such items as a throne, a table, and a lamp made of solid gold. She was six years of age when her father confirmed her to the tower. He also assigned a certain elderly Apellianos to supervise his sheltered little daughter’s education.

One day, the Saint observed a dove had entered the tower. The dove, bearing an olive branch in its beak, placed it on the golden table. Subsequent to this, she beheld an eagle fly into the tower. The creature was holding a wreath of plaited flowers in its beak, which it deposited on the table. Following close upon this delivery, she then noticed that a raven came in through the window, carrying a snake, which it also dropped on the golden table. Witnessing all this, the blessed virgin was perplexed and wondered at the meaning of these signs.

Apellianos interpreted all these signs for her, saying, "The dove makes known thy superior education, the olive branch signifies many wondrous events, and is a symbol of Baptism. The eagle, being the king of birds, foretells, by the royal crown of flowers, future success in future endeavors. But the raven and serpent disclose thy future sufferings and anguish." By these hidden meanings, the elderly teacher revealed the great struggle of martyrdom, which the Saint was to undergo one day for the sake of her love for God. All the events that followed concerning the holy Irene, which have been committed to writing, are indeed supernatural and paradoxical.

It is said that an Angel of the Lord gave her the name of Irene, changing it from Penelope. That incorporeal being instructed her in the Faith of the Christ, and foretold that myriads of souls would be saved by means of her. Furthermore, Apostle Timothy, a Disciple of Saint Paul, would visit her in a paradoxical manner and baptize her. When this latter prophecy was fulfilled, the Blessed Irene cast her father’s idols to the ground, shattering them. At first, Irene was questioned by her father who, upon seeing that she persisted in the beliefs of the Christian Faith, was intensely dissatisfied. He ordered that she be bound. Irene was then cast between many horses so that they might trample upon her. However, one of the horses, instead of harming the Saint, turned on Licinius. It struck him down, crushing his right hand and slaying him. The horse then magnified the Saint with a human voice!

The Martyr was thereafter released from her bonds. At the request of the bystanders, she prayed and resurrected her father. Licinius came to believe in God and did his wife Licinia. In fact, another three thousand people received holy Baptism. Thenceforth, Irene’s father abandoned his dominion and lived in the tower which he had built for his daughter, passing the rest of his life in repentance.

After her father renounced this world, another kinglet, named Sedekias, rose to power. He attempted to force the Saint to sacrifice to idols. Since she opposed his demand, he ordered that the Blessed maiden be cast headlong into a deep pit filled with a nest of venomous snakes and reptiles. The Blessed maiden, nevertheless, persevered in that cavity of the earth. After fourteen days, she emerged unscathed. Following this trial, the pagans cruelly amputated her fee with a saw; yet, by the aid of a holy Angel, she was restored to health and stood on her feet. Next, the idolaters bound her to a wheel that turned by the force of water. When the waters miraculously ceased flowing, the sacred maiden remained unharmed. As a result of this miracle, eight thousand people came to believe n Christ Jesus.

Saint Irene endured other horrific tortures from the son of Sedekias, Savor, who ordered that her heels be pierced with spikes and burdened her back with a cumbrous sack of sand. In this manner, she was led on a march for three miles. Then, suddenly, the earth was rent asunder, swallowing ten thousand infidels. Due to this, thirty thousand other souls accepted the Faith of Christ. The holy maiden was able to walk unhindered through the city, accompanied by a priest, named Timothy. Through her God-inspired teachings, she succeeded in converting, in the Faith of Christ, five thousand idolaters who then received holy Baptism. Among them were thirty-three men who were designated to guard the tower.

Following this episode, the Saint came to a city called Kallinikos (Callinicus). It was the seat of Numerianos the kinglet, the son of Sebastianos. Once there, Irene appeared before him and proclaimed Christ. He, as a result, confined her to the interior of three bronze oxen, which figures were heated until they glowed red. He then had her transferred from the first to the second, and from the second to the third. The third ox, albeit it was inanimate, walked miraculously and then split asunder. The Saint, thereupon, exited uninjured, without the least trace of burn or singed hair and attire. Throngs of pagans who beheld this wonder (miracle) accepted Christ, numbering as many as one hundred thousand souls.

Hence, by 330 A.D., the fame of the Saint’s marvels reached the impious ears of Shapur the great king of the Persians, who ordered the beheading of the Saint. The victorious champion of Christ, Irene, was apprehended and her head was struck off. Though the Martyr was interred, yet was she was resurrected by an Angel of God. He magnified her because she had been martyred for Christ. Moreover, those who honor her name and commemorate the day of her martyrdom also bring blessings upon themselves. After her resurrection, it is said that she entered the city of Masembria, bearing an olive branch in her hand. Saint Irene appeared before the kinglet who, upon seeing her, straightway, accepted Christ and was baptized with myriads of other people by the Priest Timothy.

Since Saint Irene had taught and exhorted the populace of Ephesus, she departed there in the company of six followers, including Apellianos. Not too far from its outskirts, she came upon a newly constructed tomb wherein none had lain. She entered the tomb, and Apellianos sealed it with a stone. While Saint Irene was still among the living, the Saint ordered that, for four days, no one was to move the stone which Apellianos had placed over the grave. Two days later, he returned to the tomb, and–lo, the miracle!–he discovered the stone overturned and the body of the Saint missing. All these accounts may seem improbable to the limited intelligence of man, but to God, they are possible. [Source:  The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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

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With sincere agape in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

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

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

On the 3rd of May, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Holy and Glorious Martyrs TIMOTHEOS and MAVRA. (Part II)

The diabolical Arrianos decided to use Mavra, Timothy’s wife to break him. He said to her, "O Mavra, consider well thy youth and the sweetness of life…if thou shalt not offer a sacrifice unto the gods I will subject you to torments and punishments as those of thy husband. When Mavra heard these vile words from the tyrant, she exhibited the same heroism as Timothy. She answered, O impious man, I do not want thy favors, I refuse to pay homage to thine idols, I, am not afraid of thy punishments, I worship my Christ, the Creator of heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything visible and invisible…I prefer to die with him for my God…". Arrianos then commanded his soldiers to cut off all of Mavra’s hair and then ordered them to cut off the fingers of both her hands. Praying during the severing of her fingers, God, as a ready helper, did not abandon those that put their trust in Him. God strengthened the holy woman so that she should put to shame the devil, the ruler of darkness. The tyrant observing the courage of the sacred Mavra ordered another heinous torture. He ordered that a large cauldron be filled with water and brought to a boil. He then charged that Mavra he cast naked within the boiling water, so should suffer terrifying burns. Then God, Who once, in a paradoxical manner, caused dew to come upon the holy Three Children in the Babylonian fiery furnace [Dan. 3:25-26). Hence, the holy woman was preserved unscathed in a miraculous manner. The tyrant thought that his servants did not bring the water to a boil as he directed. He, consequently, in order to test the temperature, went up to the cauldron and said, "Mavra, sprinkle me with water that I may I might determine if it burns." The holy woman then filled her palms with water and poured it into the hands of the tyrant. He nearly fainted from the bitter pain of his scalded hands and dissolved flesh. As his body began to convulse. Although beside himself with pain, still managed to order that two crosses be made and that the two Christian Martyrs be crucified. When the holy ones heard their sentence of death, they joyfully thanked God Who counted them worthy, for His love, to receive death by crucifixion–just as the God-Man shed His undefiled blood upon the Cross for our love and salvation.

Straightway, Arrianus’s minions set about constructing the crosses for Saint Timothy and Saint Mavra. The executioners then seized the holy couple and led them to the execution site. The holy Martyrs were moved at the sight of the crosses upon which they would be transfixed; they, thereupon, bowed and piously kissed them, calling the Cross of Jesus "the Wood of Salvation." Then they both, bravely and calmly, surrender themselves to the executioners. Each contestant went and fell upon their cross as a bed of fragrant and dewy roses. Then, within moments, the soldiers hung the couple’s young bodies upon their crosses. The spectacle of the young couple upon their crosses seemed a tragedy to many, but, in reality, it was their loftiest moment. The two crosses were placed next to each other and were reminiscent to the Christians of the Passion of the God-Man. Each encouraged the other with heartfelt words of consolation which made manifest their mutual love, their oneness of soul, their faith in God, and their hope of immortality.

Our Lord Jesus Christ sent an Angel from heaven who stood by the holy woman and emboldened her. He then took her by the hand and they ascended, as in a trance, into the heavens. Once there, the Angel showed Mavra a lofty throne, beautifully adorned in white. The Angel exhibited another throne, also beautifully adorned in white, and s crown, saying, "These are allotted to thy husband Timothy whose place is higher than thine, because, as thou wilt testify, he was the agent of thy salvation." After nine days and nights upon their crosses, they surrendered their thrice-blessed souls into the hands of our Lord on the 3rd of May 286 A.D. The Holy Church chants: "Being joined together in an excellent marriage bond, you took up together the light yoke of Christ."

Then devout Christians bribed the soldiers with money and took down the Martyrs’ precious and holy relics from their crosses. They were honorably and reverently buried, to the glory of God Who enables His servants and handmaidens, without injury, to trample upon the serpent and scatter every device of the enemy. A church came to be dedicated to Saints Timothy and Mavra near the palace of Justinian (527-563 A.D.).

(Source: The Great Synaxarists of the Orthodox Church)

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

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

+ Father George