My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

Homily on the ANNUNCIATION of Our Most Holy Lady
THEOTOKOS and EVER-VIRGIN MARY

Saint Evodos (Ist Century), a disciple of Saint Peter and one of the Apostles of the Seventy, wrote in his work on the Mother of God how the Virgin was taken to the Temple at the age of three and remained there for almost eleven years. She was then given into Joseph’s keeping and gave birth to the Lord in her fifteenth year. The account of the Virgin Mary’s girlhood, spent in the Temple from three years of age, is found in the Feast of the Entrance, commemorated by the Holy Church on the 21st of November.

The Virgin Comes of Age

When Mary was about thirteen, it was an occasion for the Pharisees to remark that it was not the custom to allow a woman of that age to abide in the Temple of God. Therefore, at that time, the high priest made a public order: all virgins who had public settlements in the Temple and had come of age were to return home. Furthermore, since they attained a proper age of maturity, in accordance with Hebrew custom, they should endeavor to be married.

Saint Romanos the Melodist (490-556 A.D.) made the following observation: "Mary did not leave the Temple of the saints. Now, at the proper time, Mary had become radiant, and Zacharias observed that she was past the bloom of girlhood. The record of accommodations provided by the Temple for young female virgins is not clear scripturally or historically. Evidently, they were dedicated to God and were brought up according to the Scriptures. The young ladies received a proper education in the doctrines, commandments, and sacred rites of their religion.

The Vow Of Virginity

All the virgins of the Temple readily yielded obedience to the high priest’s order, except Mary who alone answered that she could not comply. She said, "It cannot be that I should know a man or that a man should know me." She assigned the following reasons for her resolve to remain a virgin: that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord and that she herself had vowed never to lie with a man. Mary, evidently, did not believe that marriage was an end in itself.

Therefore, the high priest was brought into a difficulty. On the one hand, he did not wish to dissolve the maiden’s vow and disobey the sacred Scriptures which declare, "Make vows for yourselves and pay them to the Lord our God" [Psalm 75:11; Eccl. 5:4-6]. On the other hand, he did not wish to introduce a new custom among the people.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa comments that Mary had bound herself to virginity and that "it would be akin to sacrilege if a man were to become master of a gift sacred to God." The priests then thought to espouse Mary to someone who would ensure the custody of her virginity; for Mary felt obliged "to remain untouched and to entirely dedicate her flesh as a sacred offering to God."

The priests met in council and said, "Behold, Mary is of age! For fear lest the holy place of the Lord our God be defiled, what shall we do with her?" While they were all engaged in prayer, the high priest entered into the holy place and offered prays concerning Mary. Then behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by Zacharias, and said unto him, "Zacharias, Zacharias, go forth and call together all the widowers among the people and have each man bring his rod. And he by whom the Lord shall show a sign, shall be the husband of Mary. For the matter concerning to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed shall be resolved in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah, where he says, ‘There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root" (Isaiah 11:1).

The lot was then cast by the priests upon the Twelve Tribes, and the lot fell upon the Tribe of Juda. Then the priest announced that all eligible widowers of Juda be summoned, saying: "Let every man who has no wife come and bring his rod in his hand." Thus, the criers went out through all of Israel. And when the trumpet of the Lord sounded, all the people ran and met together.

There was at that time, the aged Joseph of Nazareth, then eighty years old, of the Tribe of Juda and of the royal house of David. After wishing to slight the order of the high priest, he put down his axe; for he was a carpenter by profession and lived honorably by the labor of his hands. He came forward bearing his rod in his hand with the other widowers of his Tribe.

His first wife, a pious and God-fearing woman, Salome, had borne him seven children; Iakovos, Jude, Simon, and Joses; and three daughters. The names of the daughters are Salome (she being the future mother of the Apostles Iakovos and John the Theologian), Esther, and a third girl whose name has been recorded with several appellations.

The rods were then handed over to the high priest who offered a sacrifice to the Lord God and inquired of the Lord. The Angel of the Lord then revealed to the high priest that tall the rods were to be placed into the Holy of Holies of God. They were to remain there and, the following day, the men were in return to receive back their rods. The sign that was to be shown was that out of whoever’s a flower bud forth… he was the man to whom the Virgin would be given and betrothed.

Returning to the Apocryphal account, the following day all assembled early. The high priest went into the Holy of Holies and brought forth their rods. However, when the rods had been distributed, no sign had appeared. The priest then put on the sacerdotal robes. Having entered the Holy of Holies, he made a burnt offering and poured forth prayers. The Angel of the Lord then appeared to him, saying, "There is here the shortest rod, of which thou has made no account. Thou didst bring it in with the rest but neglected to take it out with the others. When thou hast taken it out and hast given it to him whose it is, then the sign will appear of which I had spoken to thee." Indeed, the rod in question was Joseph’s. The elderly widower, acknowledging his great age and feeling that he presented its pitiful appearance, did not volunteer to request his rod back, lest perchance he should be enjoined to receive the young maiden.

When he was standing last of all, the high priest cried out to him with a great voice, "Joseph, come and receive thy rod; for we are waiting for thee." Trembling, because the high priest had called him, Joseph came forward. As soon as he laid hold of his rod, STRAIGHTWAY, FROM THE TOP OF IT THERE BLOSSOMED FORTH A BUD AND IT FLOWERED.

Then all the people congratulated the elderly man, remarking, "Thou hast been made blessed in thine old age. O father Joseph, seeing that God has shown thee worthy to receive Mary." The priests then said, "Take her, because of all the Tribe of Juda thou alone hast been chosen by God. Take the Virgin of the Lord and keep her for Him." But Joseph began bashfully to address them, saying, "I am an old man and have children. Why do you hand over to me this infant, who is younger than my grandsons? She is quite young, and I fear lest I should appear ridiculous in Israel."

Saint Epiphanios notes that "the Virgin was delivered to Joseph…and he was compelled to receive her. Saint Germanos adds that "the righteous Joseph drew the lot and by this means did the Virgin leave God’s Temple. Thus, Mary was given to the fatherly care of a proper guardian. Actually, in the case of Mary, as the sole heiress of her father’s property, regardless of its value, the law insisted that she be betrothed only to a man from her own city and Tribe to prevent the transfer of property to another Tribe since the landed property was carefully guarded. Thus, Mary fulfilled this obligation of the law.

Saint Ambrose, commenting on the just character of Joseph, says that Joseph considered that the purpose of the marriage ws the preservation of Mary’s good name, "for the Lord preferred that some should doubt His own origin, rather than the chastity of His Mother" –that is, should take Him for Joseph’s son. Saint Ambrose also upheld the view of Saint Ignatius of Antioch than Satan ws then kept in ignorance of the virginal conception.

Saint Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople, also gives his opinion that she was betrothed "IN ORDER TO MOCK THAT ANCIENT AND ORIGINAL SERPENT, SO THAT BEING BETROTHED THAT SERPENT WOULD NOT ATTACK THE IMMACULATE DAUGHTER, BUT WOULD PASS HER BY…" (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

____________

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the 25th of March Our Holy Orthodox Christian Church
commemorates the Great Feast Day of the ANNUNCIATION
OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY, THE THEOTOKOS AND
EVER-VIRGIN MARY.

Apolytkion of the Feast

TODAY is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of
the mystery which was from eternity. The Son of God becometh the
Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel announceth the Good Tidings of grace; for
this cause, let us cry to the Mother of God with him: Rejoice, thou
who art full fo grace, the Lord is with thee.

Kontakion Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone

WHEN the bodiless one learned the sacred command, in haste he
came and stood before Joseph’s dwelling, and spake unto the
Maiden who knew not wedlock: The One Who hath bowed the
Heavens by His descent is held and contained unchanging wholly
in thee. Seeing Him receiving the form of a servant in thy womb.
I stand in awe and cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded.

+



The ANNUNCIATION is the Great Mystery of the INCARNATION of God the Logos/Word. It is one of the Mother of God celebrated by the Holy Orthodox Church. The narrative reveals one of the most important events in world history, THE INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL Son of God. Saint Photios (+ 810-895 A.D.) remarks that "THIS FESTIVAL IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL THE OTHER FESTIVALS, IN THAT IT GIVES US THE CONTRACT FOR HEAVENLY COMMERCE, ENRICHES THE WORLD WITH THE INVIOLATE WEALTH OF THE LORD’S ADVENT, AND BOTH EFFECTS THE CLEANSING OF OUR HUMAN FRAME AND OFFERS US THE ENJOYMENT OF THE UNDEFILED GOODS; …FOR TODAY, THE VIRGIN, ON BEHALF OF OUR HOLY RACE, IS BEING BETROTHED TO THE COMMON Lord. Verily, the Betrothal of the Ever-Virgin IS THE FOUNDATION AND GROUNDWORK OF OUR SALVATION… With good reason does humanity bear itself proudly and rejoice; for upon receiving the news of a marriage contract with the Lord, it casts off the shameful yoke of slavery."

Today Is Revealed They Mystery From Al Eternity

On this day of the Annunciation, the Logos/Word of God entered mankind in a way hitherto unexampled: The Father sent the Son; the Son was made flesh BY THE POWER AND OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT. "The Co-Eternal Logos/Word of the Father without beginning, not being parted from the things on High, has now DESCENDED HERE BELOW, in His Infinite compassion taking pity upon fallen men; and ASSUMING THE POVERTY OF ADAM, He HAS PUT ON A FORM THAT IS ALIEN TO Him."

In the Dismissal Hymn (Apolytikion) of the Feast, we chant: "Today is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. The Son of God becometh the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel proclaimeth the Good Tidings of grace: wherefore, we also cry to the Theotokos with him: ‘Rejoice, thou who hast been shown grace, the Lord is with thee."

Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (+ 130-200 A.D.), comments that "just as Adam had been created by the Logos/Word of God from the unworked and virgin earth, so also the Logos/Word of God CREATED FLESH FOR HIMSELF FROM A VIRGIN WOMB when the Son of God became the New Adam, so as to correct the Fall into sin of the first Adam."

Saint Theophanes the "Branded" and Poet (+ 1381 A.D.), in a hymn from the feast, chants: "Today is revealed the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes the Son of Man, that, sharing in what is worse, He may make me share in what is better. In times of old Adam was once deceived: He sought to become God [Genesis 3:5], but received not his desire. Now God becomes man, that He may make Adam god. Let creation rejoice, let nature exult: For the Archangel stands in fear before the Virgin and, saying to her ‘Rejoice,’ he brings the joyful greeting whereby our sorrow is assuaged. O Thou Who in Thy merciful compassion wast made man, our God, glory to Thee!"

Rejoice, O Vessel Of Rejoicing, Through Whom
Our First Mother’s Curse Is Utterly Dispelled!"

Saint Kyril of Jerusalem (+ 318-386 A.D.) continues the Eve-Mary parallel: "Through Eve, yet a virgin, came death, there was need that through a virgin, or rather from a virgin, life should appear; that as the serpent deceived the one, so Gabriel should bring the Good News to the other."

Saint John Chrysostom (+ 354-407 A.D.) put the Ever-Mary parallel pithily when he wrote that Christ had triumphed by the very weapons that the devil had used. "A virgin, the wood, and death were the symbols of our defeat. The virgin was Eve, for she had not yet known her husband; the wood was the tree…And behold, a second time, a virgin, the wood, and death! The symbols of defeat have become the symbols of victory. For Mary is in the place of Eve."

The Prophets Speak

Let us now hear the renowned hymnographers Saint John of Damascus (675-749 A.D.), Saint Theophanes, and Basil the monk bring forward the prophets of the Old Testament, who spoke of the Virgin.

In the "Book of Exodus, the bush and the fire showed a strange marvel to Moses, the initiate in sacred things (Exodus 3:2). Seeking its fulfillment in the course of time, he said, ‘I shall observe it brought to pass in the pure Virgin."

"O Prophet Isaiah, prophecy to us: Who is the Virgin that shall conceive" [Isaiah 7:14]. Through her did the Lord go; from her did the Most High come forth, yet left her still sealed, delivering our life from corruption." "Daniel called thee a spiritual mountain; Gideon saw thee as a fleece [Judg. 6:38); and David called thee sanctuary [Psalm 95:6]; another called thee gate [Ezekiel 44:2]. And Gabriel, in his turn, cries out to her: "Rejoice thou who has been filled with grace, the Lord is with thee" (Luke 1:28).

The Archangel Gabriel Sent By God Almighty

Let us listen to the hymns of the feast which characterize the Archangel Gabriel as "the greatest and most godlike of the Spiritual Powers, shining with heavenly brightness, who, with the Hosts on High gazes upon the Light of the Threefold Sun, comes to the Virgin to announce to her the glad tidings."

The Archangel himself, "ever filled with Light, does the will and fulfills the decrees of the Almighty." As one of the Chief Leaders, to him alone, "was entrusted the Great Mystery, till then UNKNOWN TO THE ANGELS AND HID FROM ALL ETERNITY. Coming to Nazareth, thou (Gabriel) hast not dared to impart thy message to any except the pure Virgin alone."

The New Eve

Saint Photios comments: "When thou hearest of favor, O man, think not that this gift was granted to the Virgin in vain, nor consider the present as an empty honor. For the Virgin found favor with God because she had made herself worthy before he Creator, because, having adorned her soul with the fairness of purity, she had prepared herself as an agreeable habitation of Him Who by His Logos/Word had established the heavens [Psalm 32:6]. She found favor with Him not only because she had kept her virginity inviolate but also had been sanctified to God AS A LIVING AND UNQUARRIED TEMPLE. She was built for the King of Glory, for the stainlessness of her body, the exceeding splendor of her virginity, her undefiled chastity, the great purity of her disposition, and her soul unwavering to sin and clinging to the best." (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

(To be continued)

___________

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

BAPTISM IS THE MYSTERION (SACRAMENT) OF ILLUMINATION OR
ENLIGHTENMENT.

"For it is impossible for those who were once ENLIGHTENED, and
have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the
Holy Spirit" (Hebrews 6:4).

"But recall the former days in which, after you WERE ILLUMINATED,
you endured a great struggle with sufferings" (Hebrews 10:32).

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT" (Ephesians 5:14).

Jesus speaking to Soul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, says, "I will deliver you from the
Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send
you, TO OPEN YOUR EYES, IN ORDER TO TURN THEM FROM
DARKNESS TO LIGHT, AND FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO
GOD, THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND AN
INHERITANCE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH
IN Me" (Acts 26:17-18).

"For it is the God Who commanded LIGHT to shine out of darkness,
Who has shone in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6)

In the first place in the series of Mysteries (Sacraments) of our Holy Orthodox Church stands the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism. It serves as the door leading into the Kingdom of Grace, and it grants access to participation in the other Sacred Mysteries. Speaking to Nicodemus our Lord indicated THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM FOR SALVATION: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." And He went on to explain what He stated. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:3-6). In Baptism the new believer receives the Grace of God within him, united with his soul, as Adam had it before the Fall.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes concerning the saving fruits of this Mystery: "There has come another birth, or REBIRTH, which REGENERATES MAN THROUGH Holy Baptism by the Holy Spirit, again unites him with the Divine Nature as it was when he was created by the hands of God, RESTORES ALL THE POWERS OF HIS SOUL, RENEWS THEM AND BRINGS THEM TO THE CONDITION IN WHICH THEY WERE BEFORE THE TRANSGRESSION OF FIRST-CREATED Adam; in this way, IT LEADS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, INTO WHICH NO ONE UNBAPTIZED CAN ENTER, AND ENLIGHTENS HIM WITH ITS LIGHT AND GRANTS HIM TO TASTE ITS JOYS. Thus each one who is baptized BECOMES AGAIN SUCH AS ADAM WAS BEFORE THE TRANSGRESSION, AND IS LED INTO THE NOETIC PARADISE AND RECEIVES THE COMMANDMENT TO WORK IT AND KEEP IT–TO WORK IT BY FULFILLMENT OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS RECREATED HIM, AND TO KEEP IT BY THE KEEPING OF THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HIM THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM, CONFESSING THAT THE POWER OF THE GRACE WHICH DWELLS IN HIM FULFILLS TOGETHER WITH HIM THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST" (First-Created Man, p. 71).

To walk in the Light is to walk in one’s baptism. In the Church, the baptized ae one humanity, one flesh with Christ. "Do you not know that as many of you were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:3-5). Because of ignorance many are miserably defeated in their battle against sin. What our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross–an actual and real death to sin–BAPTISM is to us AN ACTUAL and REAL DEATH TO SIN, A LIBERRATION FROM IT. Therefore, in our union with Christ THROUGH BAPTISM, in His death and Resurrection, lies the power for victory over the law, the power of sin. In this sense baptism is an exact likeness to Christ’s death on the Cross. Baptism is our Cross! There we tap into the power of the God to say no to sin’s commands and temptations.

In our union with Christ through baptism we are also raised with Him to share His Resurrection. As He will never die again, so there is no second baptism. We lay hold on our one baptism and continue in communion with God. At the Mystery of Baptism we pray: "O Master of All, show forth this water, a water of redemption, a water of sanctification, a purification of body and soul, a loosening of bonds, a forgiveness of transgressions, AN ILLUMINATION OF SOULS, a washing of regeneration, a renewal of spirit, a gift of sonship, a garment of incorruption, a fountain of life…". Also, the blessing at the Mystery of Chrismation: "Blessed art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, the Source of Goodness, the Sun of Righteousness, Who lightedst up for those in darkness the Light of Salvation, through the manifestation of Thine Only-Begotten Son and our God, and Who grantest to us who are unworthy, blessed purification through Holy Baptism, and Divine sanctification through Thy Life-Giving anointing; Who has also now been pleased to regenerate Thy servant NEWLY ILLUMINED through water and the Spirit and has granted him forgiveness of his voluntary and involuntary sins. Do Thou, O compassionate Master, King of All, grant to him also the Seal of the Gift of Thine Holy, All-Powerful, and Worshipful Spirit, and the PARTICIPATION OF THE Holy Body and of the Precious Blood of Thy Christ…". Then, after the priest has administered Holy Communion to all the communicants, the chanter sings: "We HAVE SEEN THE TRUE Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the True Faith by worshipping the Undivided Trinity; FOR THIS HAS SAVED US." We solemnly rejoice and confess that by receiving the Eucharist we have also been illuminated. Christ God, Our Divine Savior, not only delivers us from the tyranny of human weakness, but also crowns us with Eternal Life. Baptism is the beginning of Eternal life.

The Mystery of Baptism frees us from being "slaves of sin" and makes us servant of God IF WE CONTINUE WITH A WILLING SPIRIT AND SUBMISSIVENESS TO GOD. Therefore, if we, Orthodox Christians, are to keep God’s illumination within us undiminished and bright, we must continue our struggle against the sinful passions. We are no longer to sin as those who sinned during the period of ancient law. That we must never defect from grace and return to our former life. Our battle against the powers of evil is real and difficult but we have been given the weapons of war to triumph over the ruler of this world. Let us, therefore, keep our light bright and strong! Let us not allow darkness to overtake us and defeat us. Slavery to God, initiated in baptism, is true freedom. Salvation is a process of transformation from sinner to Saint. We ARE SAVED THROUGH BAPTISM, and we are being saved, that is, being transformed by the Uncreated Grace of God to be like Him, in anticipation of Eternal life.

_________

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



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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

ON PRIDE

By Saint John Climacus

An old man, very experienced in these matters, once spiritually admonished a proud brother who said in his blindness: "Forgive me father, but I am not proud." "My son", said the wise old man, "what better proof of your pride could you have given than to claim that you were not proud?"

Saint John writes, "Pride begins where vainglory leaves off. Its midpoint with the humiliation of our neighbor, the shameless parading of our achievements, complacency, and unwillingness to be found out. It ends with the spurning of God’s help, the exalting of one’s own efforts, and a devilish disposition."

If our contemporary world is suffering it is because of a unique pandemic, an old virus known as pride. A spiritual virus, a passion, that is easily spread from one person to another. Pride inflicts humanity with all kinds of symptoms that bring spiritual paralysis and blindness. It takes over the human being and overpowers independent thinking, feeling, and acting. A person loses his/her free will given to us by our Merciful and Loving God.

A proud person is filled with self-admiration and conceit. He or she only thinks of himself or herself. The person becomes selfish and self-centered. People characterize them as the "me" generation. It is what I want, what makes me happy, and what benefits me. No one else matters. The person feels entitled and everyone else is there to satisfy his or her every demand or need. All others are expected to constantly feed their ego and puffed up his/her self-esteem.

What is resented by the proud is any form of criticism. The proud can never be accused of having any faults for they consider themselves infallible. According to the holy Apostle James, "God resists the proud" (James 4:6). Who then could have mercy on them? Before God every proud man is unclean and who then could purity such a person?" asks Saint John Climacus. Pride is the greatest obstacle to communion with God and salvation that comes from Him. The proud person could never even admit to being a sinner and therefore there is not even the slightest desire to repent. Saint John says, "Pride makes us forget our sins, for the remembrance of them leads to humility."

The proud are devoid of faith. He or she thinks of themselves as a deity. The proud person worships himself or herself. There is no need for God. God does not exist. There is no belief in righteousness or holiness. Life is only here on earth and there is nothing beyond it. There are no rules, no morality, no values, no conscience, no apologies, no remorse, no accountability, and no fear of God. The attitude is "eat, drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:19). The proud person is foolish, despite his or her wealth, profession, or social standing because he/she vainly puts all trust in material possessions rather than in God.

Pride causes spiritual blindness and a lack of discernment. Our Lord, God, and Savior taught that "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing" (Luke 12:23). The proud person is unable to understand that material riches do not bring happiness or contentment while spiritual wealth abides eternally. Gluttony, greed, drunkenness, carnal pleasure, power, and personal corruption are not only acceptable but are justified by the proud.

Pride is a deadly illness of the soul just as dangerous as cancer is to the body. The cure for this grave illness is humility. The holy Apostle James (Iakvos) writes: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10). When one becomes humble begins to acknowledge the existence of God and submits to God’s will. In the absence of pride begins a life of virtue. Saint Maximus the Confessor says, "The reward for the toils of virtue is dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are the mediators of the Kingdom of Heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the mediators of eternal punishment. It is because of this that he or she who seeks those rewards for the sake of human glory and not for their intrinsic goodness is rebuked by the words of the Holy Scripture: "You ask, and do not receive because you ask wrongly" (The Philokalia Vol II, p. 71).

Avoid the sin of pride and "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Since pride is an illness we must seek the Physician of our souls and bodies, Christ God. Jesus is the Divine Healer and throughout His earthly Diakonia (Ministry), He healed all kinds of illnesses and all kinds of diseases (Luke 4:18). In addition, Jesus healed darkened hearts and minds as He released people from demonic oppressions. Our Holy Orthodox Church has never believed as though the gifts of the Holy Spirit or the healing of our Lord Christ have somehow passed away. Our Savior promised us, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father?" (John 14:12). Our Holy Orthodox Church has a special service of healing, Holy Unction (Oil). The Priest prays for the ill person (s), anointing him/her with holy oil saying:

"O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, Who sent Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord
Jesus Christ to heal every infirmity and deliver from death, heal also these, Your servants from
the ailment of their body and soul, and endow them with life by the Grace of Your Christ, through
the intercessions of Our All-Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the power of the honored
Bodiless Powers in Heaven; the supplications of the honored, glorious Prophet and Forerunner
John the Baptist, the Hol, glorious and All-laudable Apostles…".

At the end of the Service, the faithful come forth to be anointed on the forehead, chin, cheeks, and hands by the Priest who anoints them by making the sign of the cross and says: "O Holy Father, Physician of our souls and bodies, have mercy, forgive, and save Your servant (Name)."

As Orthodox Christians we pray, neither commending God to heal, nor doubting His power to heal, but humbly supplicating for His promised mercy upon all who are suffering spiritually or bodily.

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

SPIRITUAL STEPS THAT LEAD TO SPIRITUAL
ATTAINMENT.

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT

By Saint John Climacus

A strong faith is the mother of renunciation. The opposite of this
is quite evident.
Unswerving hope is the gateway to detachment. The opposite of
this is perfectly obvious.
Love of God is the foundation of exile. The opposite of this is
quite evident.
Self-criticism begets obedience and the longing for health.
Self-control is the mother of health. The mother of self-control is the
thought of death and the memory of the gall and vinegar of God
our Lord.
The solitary life is the helper and the foundation of chastity.
Fasting quenches the fires of the flesh. And contrition of heart is the
foe of dirty thoughts.
Faith and withdrawal from the world are the death of avarice.
Compassion and love are betrayers of the body.
Unremitting prayer is the death of despondency.
Remembrance of the judgment is an encouragement to zeal.
Love of being dishonored is a cure for anger. And the singing of
hymns, the display of compassion, and poverty are quenchers of
sorrow.
Detachment from the things perceived by the senses means the
the vision of things spiritual.
Silence and solitude are the foes of vainglory. If you are in a
crowd, seek out dishonor.
A gloomy environment will cure open pride, but only He Who is
invisible from all Eternity can cure the pride hidden within us.
The deer destroys all visible serpents and humility and humility
destroys those of the spirit.
We can learn to perceive intelligible things clearly by means of
everything that exists in the natural world.
Clouds hide the sun. Evil thoughts bring shadows to the mind
and ruin it.
One spark has often set fire to a great forest, and it has been
found that one good deed can wipe away a multitude of sins
(cf. James 3:5; 5:20).
Just as by nature we cannot exist without food, we cannot
afford to slip into carelessness even for an instant at any time
up to the moment of death.
A dead man cannot walk. A man in despair cannot be saved.
A man who asserts that he has the true faith and yet continues to
sin is like a man without eyes. And the man who has no faith but
who does good is like someone who draws water and then pours it
into a barrel with holes.
Keep track of the exact condition of each passion and of each virtue,
and you will know exactly how you are maiking progress.
The beginning of repentance is the beginning of salvation.
To have dispassion is to have the fullness of love, by which I mean the
complete indwelling of God in those who, through dispassion, are pure
of heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). To Him be glory
forever and ever. Amen.

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

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

+ Father George

On the duty of parents and children

By Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

ON THE DUTY OF PARENTS

The Holy Apostle Paul says this to parents, "BRING UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (Ephesians 6:4), and he exhorts them to nurture their children in a manner befitting of Christians. All Christians are renewed in holy Baptism to the new, holy, and Christian life, and they have vowed to serve God in faith and in truth, and so to please Him. But lest those who have been baptized become corrupt and come into a poor inheritance and have that saying come into a poor inheritance and have that saying come true in them, A "dog has turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that hath been washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:22), good nurturers of children must without fail to warn them against this calamitous condition while they are yet small and young. For we sign with pain to see that many children are corrupted in their youth, this happens to them because OF THE CARELESSNESS OF THEIR PARENTS.

Many parents teach their children the arts that serve the temporal life and spend no small sum on it, but they NEGLECT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND ARE REMISS IN TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN TO LIVE AS CHRISTIANS. Such parents beget their children UNTO THE TEMPORAL LIFE BUT CLOSE THE DOOR TO THE ETERNAL.

Saint John Chrysostom, in considering the misfortune of both parents that neglect the good upbringing of their children and of the children not well brought up, says this, "Parents that neglect to bring up their children as Christians are most heinous murderers of children" (Homily 3 "Against Those that Slander the Monastic Life"). Because child-killers separate the body from the soul, but these parents cast both soul and body into fiery Gehenna. It is impossible to escape from the former death according to natural law, but it would be possible to escape from the latter death were the negligence of the parents not to blame for it. Moreover, once it comes, the Resurrection is able to abolish bodily death, but NOTHING CAN OVERTURN SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION. Therefore, parents, listen to the word of the Lord, "BRING UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (cf. Ephesians 6:4).

A gardener binds a newly planted sapling to a stake driven and fixed into the ground lest it be uprooted from the ground by wind and storm, and he prunes unneeded branches from the tree lest they harm the tree and dry it up. You should also act likewise with your small and young children. Bind their hearts TO THE FEAR OF GOD LEST THEY BE SHAKEN BY THE MACHINATIONS OF SATAN AND DEPART FROM PIETY, AND PRUNE AWAY THE PASSIONS THAT GROW IN THEM LEST THEY MATURE AND OVERPOWER THEM AND SO PUT THE NEW, INWARD MAN TO DEATH THAT WAS BORN IN HOLY BAPTISM. Because we see that as children grow up, then sinful passions also appear and grow with them as unneeded branches on a tree. Therefore, lest these iniquitous branches mature and harm and kill the man washed, sanctified, and justified in holy Baptism, it is absolutely necessary TO PRUNE THEM AWAY WITH THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD. Then, beloved, PRUNE AWAY THESE SHOOTS FROM YOUR CHILDREN AND "BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (Ephesians 6:4). As soon as they begin to understand reason, even a little, and TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL, YOU SHOULD BEGIN YOUR WORK AND TEACH THEM. Do this with them:

1. Remind them often of holy Baptism and that at that time they promised God to live decently and steadfastly, to serve Him with faith and righteousness, and to keep away from every evil and sin.

2. Repeat to them as often as possible that we are all born and begotten in Baptism not for the temporal life, not for the sake of obtaining honor, glory, and riches in this world — that our very death indicates that we should abide otherwise than forever in this world–but that we are born and begotten for ETERNAL LIFE. ALL our life in this world, from birth to death, IS A JOURNEY ON WHICH WE TRAVEL TO OUR PROMISED HOMELAND AND ETERNAL LIFE.

Remind them often of this, lest they give themselves over to the vanity of this world, and so that they may learn to philosophize on higher and not on earthly things.

3. Let them understand Who is the God of Christians, and what He requires of us, that He hates evil and loves good, that He punishes man for evil and rewards him for good, and although we do not see Him, He does see us and is invisibly present with us everywhere and sees our every deed and hears our every word. It is necessary, then, to fear Him, and to do what is pleasing to Him.

4. Enlighten their INWARD EYES as to Who Christ is in Whom we believe, and for what cause He came into the world and lived and suffered and died. Our sins were the cause of this, and our Eternal salvation, so that by being delivered from sin we might obtain Eternal salvation.

5. Teach them the Law of God, and tell them what that Law demands of us. That is, we should love God and every person; everything that is contrary to that Law IS VICE and SIN, while everything that is in agreement and accordance with it IS VIRTUE.

In holy Baptism, we promised God to keep the Law of God and so depart from every sin and live virtuously. Whoever lives otherwise does not keep these vows and is found to be false before God, and if he does not truly repent and correct himself, he will appear false at the Judgment of Christ.

6. Set before them the Last Things: death, Christ’s judgment, Eternal Life, and Eternal torment, that the fear of God ma so abide in them and preserve them from every evil. Pour these and other things like milk into their young hearts, tha they may mature in piety.
They call you parents, the be true parents. You gave them birth according to the flesh, then also give birth to them according to the spirit. You gave them birth into the temporary life, beget them also to Eternal Life.

Beloved Christians, you and your children shall appear at that Judgment of Christ, and you shall give account for them to the just Judge. He will not ask you whether you have taught your children the arts or whether you have taught them to speak French, or German, or Italian, but whether you have taught them TO LIVE AS CHRISTIANS.

Young children pay greater attention to the actions of their parents than to their teaching. Therefore, if you wish your children to be pious and good, you yourselves should be pious and good, and show yourselves AS AN EXAMPLE TO THEM, and so "Bring your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (cf. Ephesians 6:4). And so you and your children together shall receive Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen. (Source: Journey to Heaven. Counsels on the particular duties of every Christian)

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"GOD IS UNCREATED"

Saint Gregory Palamas laid great emphasis on the Uncreatedness of the Divine Essence and the Uncreatedness of God’s energy (activity). The word ‘UNCREATED’, is applied to God. GOD IS UNCREATED. He has NOT been created but IS BEFORE ALL THE AGES. There IS NO BEGINNING IN GOD. Man and the entire creation WERE CREATED BY GOD, AND ARE THEREFORE CREATED. Hence the uncreated is identified with the Divine.

Saint Maximos the Confessor writes, "All immortal things and immortality itself, all living things and life itself, all holy things and holiness itself, all good things and goodness itself, all blessings and blessedness itself, all beings and being itself are manifestly works of God. Some began in time, for they have not always existed. Others did not begin to be in time, for goodness, blessedness, holiness, and immortality have always existed." …It is clear, then, that goodness, blessedness, holiness, and immortality are energies of God, which are eternal and uncreated.

"Therefore God’s energies are WITHOUT BEGINNING, ETERNAL AND UNCREATED. And, as God’s essence is Divine, so are His energies as well. This is important for orthodox theology. For if we regard God’s energies as created, then WE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN TO BE DEIFIED. That it to say, if God communicates with the world through created energies, then we can attain union and communion with God ONLY through created energies, WHICH MAKES SALVATION IMPOSSIBLE, God then remains entirely UNKNOWN TO MAN, or if we commune with the essence of God, then the difference between created and uncreated is lost.

"In the Tradition of the Church, a clear distinction is made between THE NOUS and the intelligence. When the nous is functioning according to nature, it acts in the heart, and that is where it should be. Because of the fall of man, the NOUS instead of being in the heart spreads out into the surroundings and becomes enslaved to created things. Moreover, this is what CONSTITUTES THE FALL OF MAN and THIS TRULY IS SIN….Saint Athanasios the Great says that the seat of the intelligence of the soul is in the brain. Saint Makarios the Great says that the SEAT OF THE ENERGY OF THE NOUS IS IN THE HEART…The entrance of the nous into the heart manifests its purity and the fact it is capable of receiving Revelation since man’s nous is the organ of the vision of God…The NOUS, then, IS THE ORGAN THROUGH WHICH MAN SEES THE Divine Light, which IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE FOOD OF THE ANGELS, but since the nous is joined to the holy, therefore, when the Saints attain Divine Grace, then by its power THEY SEE "WITH THE SENSE OF SIGHT AND WITH THE NOUS THAT WHICH SURPASSES BOTH SENSE AND NOUS." Thus man SEES THE Divine Light also with the eyes of his sense of sight, but this is because these have previously been transformed and empowered by the Uncreated Grace of God. Moreover, it is known that Uncreated Grace is also TRANSMITTED BY THE SOUL TO THE BODIES OF THE DEIFIED (Theosis).

In the 14 century, which was dominated BY HUMANISM, just as it is today, there were those who maintained that man’s UNION with Christ is through EXTERNAL IMITATION OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST, by an external conforming of our life to the commandments of Christ, WITHOUT LOOKING TO GRACE, which exists THROUGH DOING THE COMMANDMENTS, AND WITHOUT LOOKING FOR AN INNER TRANSFORMATION, WHICH THE COMMANDMENTS CONSTITUTE; IT TAKES PLACE THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT OF MAN’S RATIONAL NATURE, THROUGH FINE THOUGHTS, WITHOUT GOD’S DEIFYING ENERGY. In the "Hagiorite tome", which is a confessional text and received catholic and conciliar recognition, the teaching of the Church is presented as saying that MAN’S COMMUNION WITH GOD IS NOT A HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, IT IS NOT A WORK OF HUMAN NATURE, BUT A FRUIT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DEIFYING ENERGY OF GOD. The DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) OF MAN and HIS UNION WITH GOD IS ABOVE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE AND ABOVE EVEN THE VIRTUES THEMSELVES.

DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) is NOT a work of nature, but A GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS OFFERED TO THOSE WHO HAVE TEH APPROPRIATE PRECONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING IT. THUS the Grace of deification (Theosis) IS ABOVE NATURE, VIRTUE, AND KNOWLEDGE, AND NATURALLY, ALL SUCH THINGS FALL SHORT OF IT. Virtue and the imitation of God make a man fit for union with the Deity, "BUT IT IS THROUGH GRACE THAT THIS INEFFABLE UNION IS ACCOMPLISHED." Therefore, it is NOT by virtue that we acquire UNION with God, but IT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE UNCREATED DEIFYING ENERGY OF GOD. Through deifying Grace God in His entirety PENETRATES THE SAINTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND THE SAINTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY PENETRATE GOD ENTIRELY, IN THE WAY THAT THE SOUL EMBRACES THE BODY. (Source: Saint Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos)

_____________

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF HOLY AND GREAT LENT:
ON THE VENERATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS. (Part II)

By Saint Gregory Palamas

Lord our God, willingly You spread Your Divine hands to be nailed
on the Holy Cross. Count us worthy to venerate it with a heart
contrite and penitent, and with our bodies and souls aglow through
self-control and prayer and prayer and good deeds and from fasting.
for You are Good and Love humanity.

Lord, I pray, blot out my abundant transgressions according to the
abundance of Your compassion, Merciful Savior. And in Your love
for humanity, account me worthy to see and venerate Your Holy Cross,
during this fourth week of Lenten fasting, with my soul and body purified.

Truly amazing! On view is the Tree on which Christ was physically crucified.
The world venerates it, and illumined cries out: How great is the Cross’s
power! When demons simply look at it, it burns them. We make the sign of it,
and indeed it scorches them. O immaculate Tree, I extol you; with fear I
venerate and honor. And I send up glory to God my Savior, Who through you
to me granted never-ending life. [Third Saturday, Vespers]

+



Whereas earthly kings require those who follow them to be prepared to die for them, the Lord gave Himself over to death for our sake and commands us to be ready to die not for His sake, BUT FO OURS. To make it clear that it is FOR OUR OWN SAKE, HE ADDS, "For whosoever will save his soul shall lose it; but WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS SOUL FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT" (Mark 8:35). What doe this mean, that anyone who wants to save it shall lose it, and anyone who loses it shall save it? Man is twofold, consisting of our outward man, THE BODY, and our INWARD MAN, THE SOUL. When our outward man gives himself over to death, he loses his soul, being separated from it. But when SOMEONE LOSES HIS SOUL FOR CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL, HE CLEARLY SAVES AND GAINS IT, BECAUSE HE HAS PROCURED FOR IT ETERNA LIFE IN HEAVEN. In the resurrection, HE WILL RECOVER IT, and by means of it he will become, even in his body I say, just as heavenly and eternal as it is. Anyone, by contrast, who clings to life is not prepared to lose his soul in this way, because HE LOVES THIS FLEETING AGE AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT. He will inflict loss on his soul, depriving it of True Life, and he will lose it, surrendering it along with himself, alas, to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. The All-Merciful Lord mourned for such people and indicated how great a disaster was theirs by saying, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? O what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37). For neither his glory nor any of the other deceptive honors and delights of this present age, chosen by him in preference to a death which brings salvation, will go down with him. How could any of these things be given in exchange for a human soul, WHICH IS WORTHY MORE THAN THE WHOLE WORLD?

Even if a man could gain the whole world, brethren, it would be OF NO BENEFIT TO HIM BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE LOST HIS OWN SOUL. In reality, each person can only acquire an infinitely small share of this world. What a disaster, then, if someone loses his soul in his efforts to acquire this tiny share, rather than choosing TO TAKE UP THE SIGN AND WORD OF THE CROSS AND TO FOLLOW THE GIVEN OF LIFE. Now both the Sign which we reverence and the word concerning it are, in fact, the Cross.

As the word and the mystery came before the Sign itself, we shall expound them to your love first. Or rather, Saint Paul expounded them before us, Paul who boasts in the Cross, determined not to know anything, SAVE THE LORD JESUS, AND Him CRUCIFIED (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2). What does he say? The Cross means CRUCIFYING THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES (cf. Galatians 5:24). Do you think he is referring only to the passions of sensual pleasure and gluttony? In that case, he would not have written to the Corinthians, "Since there is among you strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3). Consequently anyone who loves glory or money or simply wants to impose his own will in his eagerness to prevail, is carnal and walks as men since such things are the source of divisions. As Saint James (Iakovos), the Lord’s brother, says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" (James 4:1-2). Crucifying the flesh with its passions and longings means STOPPING ALL ACTIVITY WHICH IS DISPLEASING TO GOD. Although our body may pull us down and exert pressure on us, we must still lift it up urgently to the height of the Cross. What am I trying to say? When the Lord was on earth He lived life of poverty, and not just lived but PREACHED POVERTY, SAYING, "Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciples" (Luke 14:33).

Surely we should honor and use this Divine Trophy of the freedom of the whole human race. Its appearance alone puts the serpent, the originator of evil, to flight, triumphs over him, and disgraces him, proclaiming him defeated and crushed. It glorifies and magnifies Christ, and displays His victory to the world. If it were really necessary to disregard the Cross because Christ suffered death on it, then His death too would be neither honorable nor salutary. So how can we have been baptized into His death, as the Apostle tells us (Romans 6:3)? And how can we share in His Resurrection, if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death?" (Romans 6:5). On the other hand, if someone were to reverence the Sign of the Cross without the Lord’s name written upon it, he could justly be accused of doing something incorrectly. Since "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in the earth, and things under the earth" (Philippians 2:10), and the Cross bears this Venerable Name. How very foolish not to bow the knee at Christ’s Cross!

Inclining our hearts as well as bending our knees, come, "let us worship", with David the psalmist and prophet, "at the place where His feet stood" (Psalm 132:7), where His All-embracing hands were outspread and His Life-Giving body was stretched out for our sake. As we reverence and greet the Cross with faith, let us draw and keep the abundant sanctification flowing from it. Then, at the sublimely glorious future advent of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, as we see Him come in glory we shall rejoice and skip for joy unceasingly, having attained a place on His right hand and heard the promised joyful words and blessings, to the glory of the Son of God crucified in the flesh for us.

For to Him belongs All Glory, together with His Father without beginning and the All-Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things1"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



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

+ Father George