Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE LIFE OF SAINT SPYRIDON THE WONDERWORKER (Part II)

TWO MIRACLES ADDED TO THE LIFE OF SAINT SPYRIDON

While the Lord’s favorite was on his way to the holy First Ecumenical Synod, he stopped to spend the night at an inn. While he was there, hateful Arian heretics arrived and cut off the heads of the horses on which he and his servant were traveling. At daybreak, the servant saw what the heretics had done and informed Saint Spyridon of the evil deed. Putting his trust in the Lord, the Saint ordered the servant to place the horses’ heads against their bodies. Now one of the horses was white, the other black. The servant obeyed at once but put the head of the black horse against the white horse’s body and the head of the black horse against the white horse’s body. As soon as he did so both horses came to life and stood up. Saint Spyridon continued on his way, and everyone he passed was puzzled seeing a black horse with a white head and a white horse with a black head. The heretics meanwhile slipped away, utterly confounded.

At the First Ecumenical Synod, during one of his many disputes with the Arian heretics concerning the Divinity of Christ, our holy Father Saint Spyridon demonstrated the Holy Trinity’s UNITY in the following manner. Taking a brick in his hand, he squeezed it. Flame shot upward, water fell to the ground, and in his fist, only dust remained. "The brick was a single object," explained the Saint "but consisted of three elements: FIRE, WATER, AND EARTH. Similarly, THERE ARE THREE HYPOSTASES IN THE HOLY TRINITY, BUT ONLY A SINGLE, DIVINE NATURE."

+++

On this same day, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem, who was earlier a Prelate in Cappadocia. This Saint went to Jerusalem to see the Holy Places and was directed by Divine revelation to remain there. He was chosen to succeed Saint Narcissus, who was very old, as Bishop of the Holy City and later, during the reign of Decius (a vicious persecutor of Christians), was seized and bound. Let off to Cappadocia, he endured numerous tortures for Christ’s sake and was condemned to be eaten by wild beasts. Since the animals refused to harm him, he was cast into prison where he surrendered his soul into the hands of God, the Great High Priest, and the joy of Martyrs.

On this same day, we commemorate the holy Martyr Synesius, who suffered for Christ in Rome during the reign of Severus.

Through the prayers and intercessions of the Holy Martyrs, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and saves us. Amen.

________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+ Father George

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the Ninth Day of the Month of December our Holy Orthodox Church
Commemorates the Conception by Saint ANNA of the Most Holy
THEOTOKOS.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

TODAY the bonds of childless are loosed; for God hearkened to
Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly
promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom
was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a
mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her:
Rejoice, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee.

Kontakion Hymn

ALL the world doth celebrate Anna’s conception on this day with
festive joy, because it came to pass through God; for by Divine
grace she hath conceived her that beyond words conceived the
Logos (Word) of God.

Our Lord and God, wishing to prepare a Living Temple and Sacred abode for Himself, sent an Angel to the Righteous Joachim and Anna with word that the barren and childless Anna would conceive the Maiden He HAD FORECHOSEN to be His Mother according to the flesh. Soon after marital union Anna indeed found herself to be with child, and in time bore the Holy Virgin Mary, according to the Divine promise. Only our Lord and God Jesus Christ was conceived ineffably and WITHOUT SEED, BY THE THEOTOKOS and THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE Holy Spirit. At His Incarnation, the Lord received THE FULLNESS of His human nature (that same nature which He Himself created in the beginning) from the Maiden WHO NEW NOT WEDLOCK.

The present feast was celebrated with splendor at the most honorable temple of our Lady the Theotokos at Evorania, near the Great Church of Holy Wisdom (Aghia Sofia) in Constantinople. [Source:  The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints]

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the 12th Day of the Month of December
Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates our Father
among the Saints, SPYRIDON, the Wonder-worker, and Bishop of Tremethus.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn

Thou was shown forth as a champion of the First Council and a
wonderworker, O Spyridon, our God-bearing Father. Wherefore,
thou didst speak unto one dead in the grave, and didst change a
serpent to gold. And while chanting thy holy prayers, thou hadst
Angels serving with thee, O most sacred one. Glory to Him that
hath glorified thee, Glory to Him that hath crowned thee, Glory to
Him that worketh healings for all through thee.

Kontakion Hymn

Pierced through with the love of Christ, O sacred Spyridon, thou
gavest thy mind diving wings with the Spirit’s Light; in the active
vision of God were all thy labors, O inspired of God, whereby thou
becamest the Lord’s divine altar, asking divine light for all.

+

The island of Cyprus was the homeland of the wondrous Spyridon. The son of simple parents, Spyridon was himself simple-hearted, humble, and virtuous. From childhood he labored as a shepherd, and reaching manhood, he entered into lawful wedlock and begot a daughter. Living in an honorable and God-pleasing manner, Spyridon emulated David’s meekness, Jacob’s purity of heart, and Abraham’s hospitality. After a few years, his wife died, freeing him to toil even more diligently in the Lord’s service, doing good deeds, and expanding his means on the care of strangers and the poor. So greatly did he please God that while still a layman he was granted the gift of working miracles. Because he could heal every disease and expel demons by a word, he was CONSECRATED BISHOP OF TREMITHUS. Saint Spyridon was a shepherd of the flock of Christ in that city while Constantine the Great and his son, Constantius, reigned, during which time he continued to work the most marvelous Wonders (Thavmata or Miracles).

Once there was no rain in Cyprus for a long time, and this drought caused famine. A multitude of people perished from starvation, and a second Elijah was needed who could open the heavens by his entreaties. Such a man was Saint Spyridon, who, seeing the tribulation that had befallen the people and filled with pity for the dying, turned to our Good God in fervent prayer. Immediately the sky filled with clouds and plentiful rain fell, soaking the ground for many days. When the Saint ceased and the sun shone once more. Soon the earth produced its fruits: grain sprouted in the fields, gardens were filled with vegetables, and the vines were heavy with grapes. The famine came to an end, and through the prayers of God’s favorite Spyridon, there was an abundance of food. A few years later, however, the Lord permitted hunger to strike the land once more because of the sins of the people. The wealthy grain merchants rejoiced since they had been hoarding wheat during the years of good harvests, and opening their storehouses, they began to sell at high prices.

Now there lived in Tremithus a merchant whose avarice and appetite for pleasures were insatiable. This merchant took advantage of the famine and starvation and began selling the grain which he had stored at the highest price possible. One day, a poor man came to him and fell down at his feet in tears, begging for a little grain so that he, his wife, and his children might not die of hunger. The pitiless merchant refused to show compassion on him and sneered, "Bring money, and you may have as much as you can pay for."

The starving man went to Saint Spyridon and tearfully explained his plight. The Saint assured him, "Return home and weep no more. The Holy Spirit has revealed to me that tomorrow you will have as much grain as your wish. The merchant will beg you to take his wheat without payment."

The poor man sighed and went back to his house. Just after dark, by God’s command, a mighty rain began beating down on the earth, undermining the foundations of granaries owned by the pitiless miser, causing them to fall, and sweeping away all the wheat. The merchant, seeing poverty stare him in the face, ran through the city crying out for help, but the poor were too busy gathering up wheat from the gutters to pay him any heed. He came upon the man who had begged him to show compassion the day before, and convinced that he had been punished by the Lord for not being merciful, insisted that his suppliant take as much grain as he desired without payment. The poor man took a large quantity of wheat and thus escaped starvation, as the Saint had prophesied.

During the reign of Constantine the Great, the First Christian Emperor the Glorious First Ecumenical Synod was convened in the city of Nicaea to DENOUNCE THE GODLESS AND HERETIC ARIUS, who referred to the Son of God not as the Creator, but AS A CREATED BEING. This Synod met and AFFIRMED THAT THE Son of God IS OF THE SAME NATURE AS GOD THE Father. Among the champions of piety, there were numerous clergymen renowned for their virtue and learning, such as the priest Alexander, legate of Saint Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople, and glorious Athanasius, who at this time still served as Deacon of the Church of Alexandria. No less eminent was the great Spyridon, whose virtuous life proved mightier and more convincing in REFUTING THE HERETICS THAN DID THE SPEECHES, PROOFS, AND ELOQUENCE OF OTHERS. Although the Blessed Spyridon was an UNEDUCATED MAN, who knew only Jesus Christ crucified, he asked the holy Fathers of the Synod permission to enter into debate. Saint Spyridon, certain of the power of Heavenly Wisdom and the feebleness of human erudition by comparison, turned to the sophist present and declared: "IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, O philosopher listen to my words! There is One God, Who created heaven and earth, and fashioned man from dust, by His Word and Spirit He has ordered all things visible and invisible. We believe that His Logos (Word) is the Son of God and God, Who, taking pity on those who have gone astray, deigned to be born of a virgin, live among men, suffer, die for our salvation, and rise again, resurrecting with Himself the whole race of man. We wait for Him to come and judge all men justly, rewarding each according to his deeds; and we believe that He IS OF ONE ESSENCE WITH THE Father and is His EQUAL IN AUTHORITY AND HONOR. Confessing these truths, we do not dare probe further into these mysteries with a curious mind, for they are above all reasoning and understanding."

When the work of the Glorious Synod was concluded and the heretic Arius had been condemned and expelled from the Church, all the holy Fathers, including Saint Spyridon, returned to their homes. At that time the Saint’s daughter Irene died. Having passed the days of youth in pure virginity, she was deemed worthy to enter the Bridal Chamber of Heaven. After her death a woman came in tears to the Saint, saying that she had entrusted to Irene a number of golden ornaments for safekeeping. Because the girl had died without warning, no one knew where to look for them. Saint Spyridon himself searched the house but found nothing. Then, seeing the woman crying and lamenting, he took pity on her and went to his daughter’s grave, accompanied by servants. Like Christ crying to Lazaros he called out to the maiden as though she were alive, "Irene, my daughter! Where are the gold ornaments entrusted to your keeping?"

Risinig lke one wakened from a sound sleep, she replied, "I hid them at home, my lord," and described their exact location; whereupon the Saint order her, "Back to sleep, daughter, until the Lord of All calls for you a the General Resurrection." Fear came upon those present, and they marveled at the wondrous miracle. The Saint found the hidden items at the place inficated and gave them to the woman. [ Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

(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.

ABOUT DREAMS

By Father John, a Russian Monk

I have heard that many laypeople are talking about dreams and making various conjectures about them. Some of our own respected father monks believe in dreams and make their interpretations.

On receiving letters from laymen about dreams, some monks, because of their inexperience in the spiritual life read these letters with approval and show them to their brother monks as something edifying. Such wrong notions about dreams prompted me to make notes for some of the holy fathers.

The demons of vainglory are prophets in dreams. Being sly, they guess the future from present circumstances and foretell it to us. When these visions come true we are amazed, and we are indeed elated with the thought that we are already near to the gift of foreknowledge. A demon is often a prophet to those who believe in him, but he is always a liar to those who despise him. Being a spirit, he sees what is happening in the air, and noticing that someone is dying, he foretells it to the more credulous types of people through dreams. But the demos know nothing about the future from foreknowledge, but it is known that even doctors can foretell death. He who believes in dreams is completely inexperienced, but he who distrusts all dreams is a wise person. Therefore he who believes in dreams is like a person running after his own shadow and trying to catch it" (Saint John of the Ladder on dreams, ch. 3:28). The blessed Diodochos writes: "However, let us rather observe as a great value the rule not to believe in any dreams. For dreams are for the most part nothing but idols of thoughts, the play of imagination, or again, as I have already said, demonic sneering and mockery of us" (ch. 38).

Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes: "Only those can have a true vision in sleep (they should not be called dreams but visions) whose mind has been made simple by the grace of the Holy Spirit and freed from the pressure of passions and from slavery to them. These are men whose only care is things Divine, whose only thought is of future rewards and blessings, whose life is above ordinary life, free of care, not dispersed, serene, pure, full of mercy, wisdom, heavenly knowledge, and other good fruits tended in them by the Holy Spirit. In people who are not like this, dreams ARE DISORDERLY AND FALSE, AND EVERYTHING IN THEM IS SHEER DECEIT AND ILLUSION."

The wise Sirach writes: "Vain hopes delude the senseless, and dreams give wings to a fool’s fancy. It is like clutching a shadow, or chasing the wind, to take notice of dreams. Divination, omens, and dreams are all futile" (Ecclesiastes 34). Dreams have led many astray and ruined those who built their hopes on them. There are many examples in the writings of the Holy Fathers, of people perishing through believing in dreams. The Optina staretz priest-monk Leonid said to his pupil: "One should not believe in dreams even though they may be real in their own way, for many have gone astray through belief in dreams. The philosopher staretz Theosterik, who wrote the canon of consolation to the Most Holy Mother of God, trusted in dreams and finally became so misled that he perished."

Saint Paisios wrote: "No, don’t pay any attention to dreams. Whether they are pleasant or unpleasant, you are not to pay any attention to them, because there is the danger of being deluded. Ninety-five percent of dreams ARE DECEPTIVE. This is why the Holy Fathers say that we should not pay any attention to them. Very few dreams are from God, but in order for someone to interpret even these, he must have PURITY AND OTHER PREREQUISITES, much like Righteous Joseph, and the Prophet David in the Bible, who both HAD THE GIFT FROM GOD. Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, I will tell you what dream you had and what it means. But consider THE SPIRITUAL MATURITY HE HAD ATTAINED!

This is why you shouldn’t pay any attention to them. CROSS YOURSELF AND THE PILLOW, PLACE A CROSS AN ICON ON YOUR PILLOW AND SAY THE JESUS PRAYER UNTIL YOU FALL ASLEEP. The more importance you attach to such dreams, THE MORE THE ENEMY WILL COME TO DISTURB YOU. This is something that happens to children, too, even though they are little angels. The ENEMY (devil) comes and scares them in their sleep, and they wake up frightened, running into their mother’s arms. Other times, they are approached by Angels who make them smile in their sleep out of joy, or they may wake up from their great joy. As such, DREAMS BROUGHT ABOUT BY TEMPTATION AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCE OF THE ENEMY UPON MAN WHILE HE’S ASLEEP." (Source: "Spiritual Struggle").

Evening Prayers

In the Orthodox Christian home, the family members are usually able to be together, not only for the common evening meal but too for the offering of evening prayers before sleep. This is a wonderful opportunity for the ‘kat’ oikon ecclesia’ (‘home church’) to gather and pray together as a family. Every member of the family may pray privately as well. What it is commonly understood is how important and necessary prayers are and not to neglect to offer at any time of the day or night.

Knowing that we are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare we must be constantly vigilant and aware of the evil threats around us at all times. Prayers are very useful, they are weapons against evil thoughts, evil temptations, evil dreams, and evil practices. The Orthodox Christian must never let his/her guard down. We ought to realize how beneficial they can be in our daily struggle of the spiritual life, which it seeks the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Sleeping should be peaceful, however, the enemy, the evil one, never sleeps and uses this opportunity to trouble us. He uses dreams to frighten us, tempt us, scandalize us, and present us with ugly, and obscene images. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we prevent this occurrence through prayer before going to sleep. It is also important to note that if it is God’s will for us to die in our sleep to be prepared spiritually and to leave this world with a prayer of praise in our lips and hearts.

An Evening Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

+In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Blessed are You, O Lord God Almighty,
You have illumined the day with the light of the sun
And the night You have brightened with the rays of the fiery moon;
You have made us worthy to go through this day
And to approach the beginning of the night.
Hear our petitions and those of all Your people,
And forgive us all our voluntary and involuntary sins.
Receive our evening prayers,
And send down upon the people of Your inheritance
The multitude of Your mercy and compassionate love.
Encompass us with Your holy Angels.
Arm us with the weapons of Your Righteousness.
Outline us with the mark of Your truth.
Guard us by Your power.
Deliver us from every circumstance
and influence of the adversary.
Grant us once again, O Lord, that this present evening,
together with the approaching night,
and all the days of our life,
Will be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless,
and without any scandalous imaginations.
We pray for this through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos
and all the Saints who have pleased You through the ages.
Amen.

+

Make us worthy, O Lord,
to be kept without sin this evening.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
And praised and glorified is Your name unto the ages. Amen.
Lord, let Your mercy be upon us,
Even as we have placed our hope in You.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments;
Blessed are You, O Master, make me prudent by Your commandments;
Blessed are You, O Holy One, enlighten me with Your commandments;
Lord, Your mercy endures forever,
Do not overlook the creations of Your own hands,
To You belong praise, hymns, and glory,
To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

GOD GAVE MAN FREE WILL

"We should understand that while God knows all things
beforehand, He does NOT predestine all things. For He
knows beforehand those things that are in our power, but
He does NOT predetermine them. For it is NOT His will
that wickedness should exist, nor does He choose to
compel virtue." (St. John Damascene).

Our Creator God created man with free will. Our Lord Jesus Christ casts man whom He has created free, like a wonderful seed, into the world prepared for him. The act is that of a sower tossing seed into the earth that has been plowed and made ready. "All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men" (John 1:3-4).

In the Old Testament account of creation, God created mankind and established a place for him in Paradise. He also gave him a commandment regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying, "You may eat food from every tree in the garden, but from the tree of the knoledge of good and evil you may not eat; for in whatever day you eat from it, you shall die by death" {Genesis 2:16-17). The words "you shall die" indicate a spiritual death through separation from God. Adam willingly and freely chose to disobey this commandment of God and fell from God’s path to perfection, thus separating himself from His Creator, the Source of Life. Adam’s act of disobedience indicates clearly that by using his free will in this manner, although he was commanded by His Creator not to do so, his rebelliousness, and rejection of God’s love and God’s will.

According to our Holy Orthodox Church God desires our cooperation or synergy. Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians describes this synergy beautifully: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (2:12-13). We "work out" our "own salvation" while "it is God Who works in" us to do His will.

Although the Holy Orthodox Church has been teaching about man’s free will throughout its history, Western theology has been teaching that God the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have predestined a significant number of people to everlasting torment in hell.

Predestination, in theology, is the doctrine that all occurrences have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual destiny of the individual soul. Some of the Protestant Reformers e.g., John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli, also held a strong belief in predestination. "The Calvinists believe that God chose those whom He will save and bring with Him to heaven before the world was created. They also believe that those people God does not save will go to hell. John Calvin thought people who were saved could never lose their salvation and the "elect" (those God saved) would know they were saved because of their actions."

Saint Theophan the Recluse in response to "What is the relationship between the Divine provision and our free will?" states:

"The fact that the Kingdom of God is "taken by force" presupposes personal effort. When the Apostle Paul says, "It is not of him that willeth," this means one’s efforts do not produce what is sought. It is necessary to combine them: to strive and to expect all things from grace." It is not one’s own efforts that will lead to the goal, because without grace, efforts produce little; nor does grace without effort bring what is sought, because grace acts in us and for us through our efforts. Both combine in a person to bring progress and carry him to the goal. (God’s) FOREKNOWLEDGE is unfathomable. It is enough for us with our whole heart to believe that it never opposes God’s grace and truth and that it does not infringe on man’s freedom. Usually, this resolves as follows: God FORESEES HOW A MAN WILL FREELY ACT AND MAKES DISPOSITIONS ACCORDINGLY. Divine determination depends on the life of a man and not his life upon the determination."

According to Saint John of Damascus, "One must bear in mind that God’s original wish was that all should be saved and come to His Kingdom. For it was NOT for punishment that He formed us but to share in His Goodness, inasmuch as He is a good God. But inasmuch as He is a just God, His will is that sinners should suffer punishment… Bear in mind, too, that virtue is a gift from God implanted in our nature, and that He Himself is the Source and cause of all good, and without His cooperation and help we cannot will or do any good thing. But we have it in our power either to abide in virtue and follow God, Who calls us into the way of virtue, or to stray from paths of virtue, which is to dwell in wickedness and to follow the devil who summons but cannot compel us. For wickedness is nothing else than the withdrawal of goodness. Just as darkness is nothing else than the withdrawal of light while then we abide in the natural state we abide in virtue, we come into an unnatural state and dwell in wickedness.

Repentance is the returning from the unnatural into the natural state, from the devil to God, through discipline and effort.

Man, then the Creator made male, giving him to share in His own Divine grace, and bringing him thus INTO COMMUNION WITH Himself, and thus it was that he gave in the manner of a prophet the names to living flyings, with authority as though they were given to be his slaves. For having been ENDOWED WITH REASON AND MIND, AND FREE-WILL AFTER THE IMAGE OF GOD, he was fully entrusted with dominion over earthly things by the common Creator and Master of all." {Source: Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith)

____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"-

– Saint John Chyrsostomos

+ + +



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 LIFE OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF MYRA (Part III)

A ship was once sailing from Egypt to Myra when a violent storm arose, churning up the sea. The sails were torn, and it seemed that the vessel itself would be crushed by the mighty waves. The passengers were in despair for their lives when they remembered the great hierarch Nicholas. Although none of them had ever seen him, they had heard that he was the quick helper of those who call on him in misfortune, so they turned to him in prayer, begging his assistance. The Saint immediately appeared, announcing, "You called for me, and I have come o help you!" He took the helm and began piloting the ship, calming the storm, as once did the Lord, Who said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do he do also." Because he was a faithful servant of God, Saint Nicholas gave commands to the wind and sea and they obeyed him. Sped by a fair wind, the boat reached Myra, and the passengers disembarked, hoping to see the holy bishop. They met the Saint on his way to church, and recognizing their benefactor, fell at his feet, thanking him. The wondrous Nicholas did not merely deliver them from danger of physical death but took thought for the salvation of their souls as well. Because he was CLAIRVOYANT, HE PERCEIVED THAT SOME OF THE PASSENGERS WERE DEFILED BY FORNICATION, which estranges a man from God, and causes him to neglect the Lord’s commandments. "Children," he said to them, "I beseech you to correct your hearts and thoughts, so that you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although we may reckon ourselves to be righteous and frequently succeed in deceiving men, we can conceal nothing from God. Let us, therefore, strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the purity of our bodies with all fervor. "You are the temple of God," says the divine Apostle Paul; "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." (1 Corinthians, ch. 3) So saying, the blessed one, like a loving father, let them depart in peace.

Saint Nicholas’ countenance resembled that of an Angel, splendid with divine grace. A brilliant ray shone from his face, as from Moses’, so that those who looked at him were astonished. Whoever was oppressed by some affliction or passion of soul had only to lay eyes on the Saint, and his sorrow was eased at once. As for those who conversed with him, they soon found themselves advancing on the path of virtue. Not only the faithful but unbelievers as well were moved to compunction and directed their steps toward salvation when they heard his sweet lips speak; the evil of unbelief implanted in their hearts since childhood was uprooted, and in its place, the word of truth was sown.

When he reached old age, the Saint paid the common debt due human nature, and after falling ill for a short time, ended this temporal life in a God-pleasing manner. He joyfully departed unto eternal blessedness to the sound of chanted psalms; his soul was escorted by holy Angels and met by the Choirs of Saints. Bishops and clergy, monastics and laity from throughout the county of Lycia assembled on the sixth day of December to lay his body to rest in the cathedral of Myra. Numerous miracles were worked by Saint Nicholas’ holy relics, which gushed streams of fragrant, healing myrrh for the ailing. People began coming to his grave from every corner of the earth, hoping to be healed. They were not disappointed, for there was no disease the holy myrrh could not cure. The Saint continued to war against the demons even after his repose, and many times evil spirits were expelled from possessed people brought to his sepulcher.

Saint Nicholas was present at the First Ecumenical Synod of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in A.D. 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that the heretic Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity about what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and Our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him since he had acted not out of passion, but EXTREME LOVE AND PIETY. The Dismissal (Apolytikion Hymn) Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock… was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the Patron of all travelers, and of seafarers in particular; he is one of the best-known and best-loved Saints of all time.

Through the holy intercessions of Saint Nicholas, O Lord God, have mercy on us and save us. 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

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

Our Venerable Father Nicholas decided to visit Palestine and venerate the Holy Places in the land where our Lord and God Jesus Christ once walked. While his ship was sailing off the coast of Egypt, Saint Nicholas foresaw that a violent tempest was about to arise although no one else suspected this. The godly one told the others what would occur explaining that he had seen the devil himself enter the ship, entering to sink it and drown the passengers. At once black clouds appeared in the sky and a violent storm arose, churning up the sea. All were seized with fear and entreated Saint Nicholas to rescue them. In despair, they cried, "Unless you pray God to save us, O favorite of the Lord, we shall certainly be swallowed by the deep!"

Advising passengers and crew to take courage and put their hope in God, the Saint sent up fervent supplication to the Lord. A great calm at once settled upon the waters, and the passengers’ terror turned to joy. They thanked God and His favorite, our holy Father Nicholas, marveling at how he had both foretold the storm and accomplished their deliverance. Then, however, one of the sailors, who had climbed to the top of the ship’s mast to attend to a sail, fell to the deck as he was descending and was killed. But Saint Nicholas, ever ready to help even before called upon, restored the man to life as though he had merely been asleep. A fair wind filled the sails, and the boat quickly made for the port of Alexandria where it docked. There God’s favorite healed many sick people and cast out demons, bringing consolation to the afflicted. Eventually, he resumed his journey to Palestine.

Upon the death of Archbishop John of the city, the bishops of the land assembled in Myra to elect a worthy successor. Several noble, respected men were nominated. Then some of the hierarchs, moved by divine zeal, declared that the Archbishop of the country ought not to be elected by men, by Divine Providence. If they turned to prayer, they maintained, the Lord Himself would reveal who was worthy to assume the rank of Archbishop and become the chief shepherd of Lycia. This good counsel met with general approval, and the bishops devoted themselves to fervent prayer and fasting.

The Lord, Who hearkens to the entreaty of those who fear Him, deigned to reveal His will in the following manner to one of the eldest bishops. While the bishop was praying, a radiant man appeared, commanding him to stand that night by the doors of the church and observe who entered the building first. "That man," said He, "is filled with My Spirit. Receive him with honor and make him Archbishop, his name is Nicholas."

The Bishop informed the other hierarchs of the Divine vision and told them what he had been commanded. Hearing this, they redoubled their prayers. Then the Bishop went to the church and stood by the doorway, awaiting Nicholas’ coming. When the time for Orthros (Matins) drew near, Saint Nicholas, who always rose at midnight to pray, went to the church, arriving as usual before the other worshippers. The Bishop stopped him as he entered the Narthex, and asked, "What is your name, child?" At first, the Saint did not reply, but since the Bishop repeated the question, he answered, "My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am Your Holiness’ servant."

Both from his name and the meek, humble, and calm manner in which the reply was made, the holy Bishop knew that the man who stood before him was the one chosen by God to be Archbishop of Lycia. The Bishop rejoiced exceedingly, as though he had found a great treasure. He took Nicholas by the hand and said, "Follow me, child."

Nicholas was presented to the bishops, who, filled with spiritual delight because God had revealed His choice, escorted the Saint back to the church. The Bishop who saw the vision addressed the congregation with these words: "Receive, brethren, your shepherd, whom the Holy Spirit has anointed and to whom He has entrusted the care of your souls. He was chosen not by an assembly of men but by God Himself. We have found him whom we sought and under His good guidance and instruction, we shall never lose hope of standing before the Lord on the day of His return."

The great assembly gave thanks to God, and the people’s joy knew no measure. Saint Nicholas, however, who hated the praise of men, at first refused the hierarchical rank. Nevertheless, he had seen a vision before the death of the last Archbishop in which he was commanded to accept CONSECRATION, so in the end, he submitted unwillingly to the persistent entreaties of clergy and laity. Concerning this vision Saint Methodios, the Patriarch of Constantinople, writes, "One night, Saint Nicholas saw our Savior standing before him, radiant with glory. The Lord gave him a Gospel adorned with gold and pearls. Beside him, the Saint beheld the Most Holy Theotokos, who placed upon his shoulders an Omophorion, the SYMBOL OF EPISCOPAL DIGNITY. A few days later John, the Archbishop of Myra, breathed his last, and Nicholas became his successor.

Remembering the vision and bowing to God’s will, the Saint accepted the faithful of Myra as his flock. The bishops, assisted by other clergy, performed the usual RITE OF CONSECRATION, and all the people celebrated the appointment at their DIVINELY APPOINTED SHEPHERD. Thus a brilliant luminary was given to God’s Church, not to be hidden beneath a basket, but to be set in a fitting place whence it could shine brightly. And indeed at all times this holy Hierarch of Christ rightly divided the word of Truth, instructing his flock IN THE TEACHINGS OF ORTHODOXY. (Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

(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.

The Sixth Day
of the Month of December
Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates our
Father Among the Saints
NICHOLAS THE WONDER-WORKER
Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith,
an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause,
thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty.
O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our
souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone

Thou, O righteous Nicholas, in Myra truly wast shown forth as a
sacred minister fulfilling Christ’s holy Gospel; for thou didst lay
down thy life for thy flock and people and, O Saint, didst save the
innocent from unjust death. Wherefore, thou wast sanctified as a
great initiate of the Divine grace of God.

The great wonder-worker, swift helper of those in need, and fervent intercessor before God, Christ’s holy hierarch Nicholas, was born in Patara, a city in the Province of Lycia. His parents were honorable, well-born, wealthy folk and were Orthodox. Nicholas’ father was named Theophanes and his mother was Nonna. Dwelling together in lawful wedlock, they were adorned with every virtue. Because of their God-pleasing way of life, numerous good deeds, and especially their unstinting almsgiving, they, as holy roots, were deemed worthy to put forth a holy shoot, their blessed child. When their son was born, they gave him the name Nicholas, which means “victor of the nations,” and truly, with God’s help, he proved victorious over evil and became a benefactor of the whole world. He was sanctified by divine grace while still in his mother’s womb, and his piety was made manifest as soon as he appeared in the world.

As the child grew, his understanding increased, and he was instructed in the rules of good conduct by his parents. The time soon came for him to begin the study of the Divine Scripture, and due to his natural intelligence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he quickly achieved a profound understanding of their contents. He also proved himself perfect in the life of virtue, distancing himself from vain acquaintances and conversations. He frequently spent the whole day and night in church, reading sacred books and engaging in mental prayer to God, exercising himself in reflection upon edifying themes, and profiting from the descent of the grace of the Holy Spirit, for Whom he had made of himself a worthy place.

The blessed one had an uncle who was also named Nicholas and was Bishop of Patara. It was for him that the younger Nicholas was named. Seeing his nephew advancing in the life of virtue and distancing himself from everything worldly, the uncle advised Nicholas’ parents to dedicate the young man to God’s service. They obeyed him, presenting their son to the Lord Who entrusted him to them. The Bishop took the young elder, who was adorned with the gray hairs of wisdom and the unspotted life of old age and elevated him to the sacred rank of Presbyter.

As a priest Saint Nicholas added to his labors, always fasting and keeping vigil, praying without ceasing, and striving to emulate the life of the bodiless powers although he was clothed in flesh. His soul shone brighter with virtue every day. At the time his uncle, Bishop Nicholas, wished to visit Palestine and he entrusted the entire administration of the Church of Patara to his nephew. While Saint Nicholas was administering the Diocese, his parents departed this fleeting existence for life eternal. They left their possessions to their son, who distributed them among those who begged for alms of him.

There was a man living in Patara who was once wealthy and renowned, but his fortune waned. He fell into poverty and was scorned by those who before had regarded him highly. This man had three beautiful daughters, and when the necessities of lilfe began to fail him, he decided to make his hour a brothel and sell their bodies. The man had already devised his unseemly plan and was making preparations to fulfill it when God, Who loves us and does not wish to see us perish, send down grace into the heart of His favorite, the holy Priest Nicholas, mystically inspiring him to assist the wretch and turn him away from sin. Hearing of the father’s poverty and learning by Divine revelation of his foul scheme, Nicholas felt deep pity for him and resolved to snatch him and his daughters from penury and sin by giving them generous alms. However, the Saint did not want to help the man openly for two reasons. Firstly, obedient to the words of the Gospel, “Take heed that you do not your alms before men” (Matthew, ch. 6), he sought to avoid the empty praise of men. Secondly, since the man was once rich and had only recently fallen on bad times, Nicholas did not wish to humiliate him. So great was Nicholas’ desire to avoid praise that he attempted to hide himself even from those whom he assisted! He went at midnight to the man’s house, threw a large bag of gold into the house through an open window, and fled. The next morning, when he rose, the man found the bag and untied it. Seeing the gold, he became frightened, thinking it was an illusion since he knew of no one like to aid him so generously. Only, when he touched it, did he become convinced that what he saw was real and wept with happiness. Ascribing his good fortune to Providence, he thanked God glorifying the Lord Who cares for all men. Without delay he married off his eldest daughter, using the gold to provide her dowry. Learning what the man had done, the wondrous Saint Nicholas was very pleased and prepared to assist the second daughter. He made ready another bag of gold, of the same man’s house through the same window. When the father rose the next morning and found the second bag, he was even more amazed than before, and falling to the floor, wept and cried, ‘I beseech Thee to reveal to me who it was that accomplished Thy will. Behold, Lord, because Thy favourite hath assisted me so generously, I am now able to find a husband for my second daughter.

Thanking the Lord for His kindness, the man celebrated the wedding of his second daughter. He trusted that God would provide a lawful husband fo rhis third daughter. It was not long before Christ’s favorite came a third time, walking very quietly, and again cast a bag of gold through the window. The father heard it striking the floor and ran as fast as he could in pursuit of the Saint. When he caught up with him, he recognized Saint Nicholas, who was known to all because of his virtuous life and noble ancestry. He fell at the holy Priest’s feet and kissed them, calling the Saint his helper and deliverer and the rescuer of souls. Saint Nicholas succeded in raising hm to his feet and compelling him to swear that he would tell no one what had occurred as long as his benefactor remained alive. After speaking to the man at length about things profitable to the soul, the Saint permitted him to return home. (Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

(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.

OUR QUEST FOR INNER PEACE

"Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 33[34).

In our quest to acquire inner peace, we become aware of the numerous challenges that we must first overcome. As with all spiritual struggles, this too is formidable but not impossible to attain by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The holy ascetics and desert fathers sought to find it through unceasing prayer, fasting, and away from the distractions of the world, in the wilderness, desert, and dens of the earth. However, even there, under immense hardships and attacks of the passions, the spiritual warfare against them continued as in the case of Saint Mary of Egypt.

It is most important to understand that without God we can do nothing. Together with God, we can do everything. Under God’s guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are able to see beyond ourselves and our wants. Our communion with our Creator and Fashioner is of the utmost importance. There must be a realization that we are all sinful and unprepared to enter His Kingdom. There must be honest and sincere repentance and a sense of unworthiness, humility, spiritual renewal, conversion, cleansing, and our willingness to distance ourselves from all evil. To be willing to love and serve Him unconditionally. To overcome pride and ego and dedicate ourselves to the service of our neighbor and to always put others and their needs first.

To find that inner peace that we seek we need to first heal the break between us and God which we have caused through our sinful lifestyles and lack of faith and obedience to His commandments. Our soul has been starved spiritually by us through our distance from God’s grace. Our inner being is constantly seeking peace and reconciliation with our Savior Jesus Christ, but sadly it cannot find it. What is needed is to begin anew and search to find our Lord not in some unknown place but within our hearts. When He is found there, then and only then, can we find inner peace.

We all live in a materialistic world and a world that thrives on a constant acquisition of goods and looks to find emotional and carnal pleasure. The current idols of mankind are two, wealth, and pleasure. Humanity looks at the constant gratification and satisfaction of these two passions. We are more concerned about fulfilling our worldly ambitions instead of seeking salvation. How can a contemporary person find inner peace when his entire preoccupation in life is to achieve material wealth and security? It is up to us to reverse our earthly priorities and turn our attention to our immediate spiritual priorities.

People, but especially Christian people, must have their sights on our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ says to His disciples: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In the world YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" (John 16:33). With His help, we too, can "overcome the world," and find lasting peace in Him. Our life on earth is a temporary one for all of us will die one day, therefore, we should not place such importance on worldly things. Instead, let us set our sights on the Kingdom of God and life eternal in God’s presence and agape. God’s Heavenly Kingdom is a Kingdom of joy and peace.

We, Orthodox Christians, are always petitioning our God for peace in our worship. At the Divine Liturgy, we say, "In peace let us pray to the Lord. For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. " It is understood by the Orthodox Christian that we cannot pray honestly to our Savior God unless we are in peace. How else can we communicate with Him unless we have genuine peace? This is the reason why the first petition of the Divine Liturgy is for peace. Saint Ignatius states, "there is nothing more precious than peace." When we are in the presence of God at the Divine Liturgy, we cannot be in a state of turmoil and confusion, instead, we must assume a state of inner peace and calmness.

One of the enemies of peace is fear. When fear overtakes us it destroys our inner peace and without it we are unable to think clearly, to act appropriately, to feel properly. and pray to the Lord. Fear obstructs our entire life and paralyzes our very being. Instead of inner peace, we suffer inner turmoil and painful storm. Fear has no place within us! It must never be allowed to impact our lives to the point that we become disabled and direct us to hopelessness. Saint John Chrysostom, counsels us never to be hopeless, no matter how many our mistakes and sins are when we cleanse them with pious tears and with our deep spiritual pain. Peace of mind and the cure of the soul can be attained by the grace of the Holy Spirit and all fear is dispelled forever.

Saint Isaac the Syrian states, "No man has understanding if he is not humble, and he who lacks humility is devoid of understanding. No man is humble if he is not peaceful, and he who is not peaceful is not humble. And no man is peaceful without rejoicing. In all the paths upon which man journeys in this world they will find no peace until they draw near to hope in God. The heart finds no peace from toil and from stumbling blocks, until hope enters it, makes it peaceful, and pours joy into it. That worshipful and All-Holy mouth spoke of this when it said, " COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST" (Matthew 11:28). Draw near, He says, and hope in Me, and find rest from labor and fear."

Saint Seraphim of Sarove said, "This is the peace of which the Lord said to His Disciples: "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27). If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (c.f. John 15:19). But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (c.f. Jon 15:33). And to those people whom this world hates but who are chosen by the Lord, the Lord gives that peace which you now feel within you, the peace which, in the words of the Apostles, passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). The Apostle describes it in this way, because it is impossible to express in words the spiritual well-being which it produces in those into whomse hearts the Lord God has infused it. Christ the Savior calls it a peace which comes from His own generosity and is not of this world, for no temporary earthly propsperity can give it to the human heart, it is granted from on high by the Lord God Himself, and that is why it is called the peace of God."

_______________

"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