“THE EARTHLY TENT” (2 Corinthians 1:1-5)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"THE EARTHLY TENT" (2 Corinthians 1:1-5)

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, WE
HAVE A BUILDING FROM GOD, A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS,
ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. Here indeed we groan, and long to
put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be
found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety;
not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further
clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who
has prepared us for this very thing is God, Who has given us the
Spirit as a guarantee."

The holy Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian faithful of human mortality and on "our heavenly dwelling" and eternal life. Once this body, our earthly home is left behind, the soul will enter the heavenly realm. It will receive its body back, transformed "into a heavenly body." We do not look toward being delivered from a body but only from the corruption that is in it according to Saint John Chrysostom. Saint John continues in his instruction by saying, "Some will rise to honor and others to dishonor." The holy Fathers of the Church state that "our groanings are like those of a woman in labor, awaiting a new birth." Since God the Creator foresaw the sin of Adam, He prepared a remedy for it. The Almighty and Life-Giving God has given us the Spirit as a guarantee so that we might know that He will not allow the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (OUR BODY) to perish. Therefore any abuse or deliberate corruption or destruction of the body by us is a desecration of the "Temple of the Holy Spirit."

Everyone understands that our present body is our temporary earthly home. Our resurrection body is, we believe, our heavenly one. Our earthly home has a definite purpose and everyone must take care of it not only physically but spiritually. It is the only home that we have here on earth. There are different ways that we can harm and injure our body i.e., gluttony, drugs, alcohol, immoral acts, abuse, evil habits, neglect, uncleanness, extreme conditions, and misuse, depriving it of spiritual nourishment and sacramental life, life of communion with its Creator and Fashioner. Everyone will be resurrected according to the holy Apostle and Evangelist Saint John when he says, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVES WILL HEAR His VOICE AND COME FORTH–THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL, TO THE RESURRECTION OF CONDEMNATION" (John 5:28-29).

The above scriptural passage is read at the Orthodox Christian funeral service. These verses refer, of course, to the General resurrection of the dead at the end of days. However, that "hour" is already present and "now is" (v. 25) in that an encounter with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ results IN LIFE OR JUDGMENT AS A PRESENT REALITY, depending upon ONE’S RESPONSE. Those WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST HAVE ALREADY "PASSED FROM DEATH INTO LIFE" (v. 24). The holy Apostle Paul is talking here about two different worlds. One is the earthly, made with hands and visible. The other is invisible, MADE WITHOUT HANDS AND HEAVENLY. On earth, our soul is clothed in flesh and blood, which is the visible and organic body. But once this body is left behind, THE SOUL WILL MOVE TO THE HEAVENLY REALM, WHERE IT WILL RECEIVE ITS BODY BACK, BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A HEAVENLY BODY according to the Holy Fathers of the Church.

What witness here is Saint Paul offering Christian catechism to the faithful in Corinth Greece. He is attempting to impress upon the Greek Christians of our two different homes and how they are used. He is comparing it with the house we live in. He, of course, is not trying to make an exact contrast between the earthly and the heavenly but rather to exalt the latter in every possible way.

Everyone must face reality at one or another and see that our bodies are decaying before us no matter what means we employ to keep them in good health and form. As all of us grow older see that we have absolutely no control over the deterioration of our bodies. Notice that the holy Apostle Paul who, in discussing the corruptible body, had used the words "even though our outer man is decaying," goes on, a little further, to say: "For we know that if the earthly house in which we dwell be destroyed, we have "a building from God, a house NOT MADE BY HUMAN HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS." Our attention ought to be, however, not so much on the earthly body’s corruption but rather to be, hopefully, clothed with its immorality. In immortal life, we believe, we shall have a body, but it will no longer be a burden on our soul since our body will no longer be corruptible. How wonderful and awesome is that?

In the Divine Liturgy, two of the petitions offered we implore our Lord: "Christian ends of our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and of good defense before the fearful Judgment Seat of Christ." Also, "To complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance." No Orthodox Christian should take either this life or the heavenly one for granted. Everything points to the necessity of using this earthly life wisely and as a preparation for the life to come. Generally, Christians are earnest in their prayers that they should not be excluded from the glory which is promised. Because when the soul is clothed in a body, it must also be clothed with the glory by which is transformed into brightness. Saint John Chrysostom states the following: "The resurrection is COMMON TO ALL, but the glory IS NOT. Some will rise to honor and others to dishonor, some to a Kingdom and others to punishment."

Saint John Chrysostom writes: "God DID NOT CREATE THE FIRST MAN IN ORDER THAT HE SHOULD DIE BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE HIM IMMORTAL. To prove this, Saint Paul adds that we have been given the Spirit as a guarantee. God is presented as having made a commitment to us to fulfill His promise. We, as the followers of Christ, must also make a very important and serious promise to remain faithful to Him and to live good and godly lives adhering to His Divine Commandments. What comes immediately to mind is that we all must be OBEDIENT TO HIM. Through disobedience we severe our relationship with Him and punishment upon our souls. Let us, therefore, walk in the Light of God and always with faith and courage. 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

“THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT…” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort…" (1 Cor. 1:3).

"… Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort" (1 Cor. 1:4-7).

It is indeed our task as Orthodox Christians to comfort those around us who are afflicted in relation to God’s comfort of us in Christ. We know and believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself is always present with us, consoling and rescuing us. Our very salvation is manifested clearly when we bear all things with dignity.

Reviewing our life we derive the conclusion that the suffering that we have endured would not have been possible or have been withstood if the Almighty God had not been with us all the way. Life is filled at times with immense anxiety, stress, and grave concern. Our patience and strength are constantly tested but by the grace of God we persevere. But who was the one who granted us the fortitude and ability to continue on with courage and determination? God, indeed.

The holy Apostle Paul reveals (1:3) the personhood of the Father and the Son, even though they are of one substance. He teaches us that "God is not just the Father of creation, but the Father of mercies as well." All of God’s Divine actions reveal God’s love and mercy for all. Even at times of distress and when we are not able to understand God’s actions and questions arise in our hearts we are assured of His forgiveness and compassion. When we sin against Him and we regret it, He, as a loving God, accepts our repentance.

The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. Our Holy Orthodox Church teaches us the great significance of repentance. Repentance is more than regret, grief, sorrow, or change of mind or heart. Through the Mysterion of repentance and confession not only are we forgiven of our sins but are being born again and made anew. It is not only pardon or forgiveness but a restoration of our former state of experience. Our Holy Orthodox Church sets out to console us in our grief on account of our mistakes and faults.

We, as Orthodox Christians, believe that God alone is Holy and Good, He alone is Blessed because He gives blessing and does not receive it from someone else. He is the Father of mercies by nature, because He is the Source of All Mercy. It is very important that we, as Christians, do not attempt to place human traits on Our Lord God as though He is one of us and feels, thinks, and acts as a fellow human being. He is the Creator and our Heavenly Father Who cannot be understood by man. What we know of Him is what He Himself has revealed to us over time and through His Only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit. Christianity is NOT a religion! Christianity is NOT a theory! Christianity is a REVELATION (APOCALYPSE).

Saint Gregory of Nyssa wrote: "The Lord summons us through the activity of the Spirit to salvation THROUGH OUR AFFLICTION and to a sharing in the goods of the Spirit… For he says: ‘who comforts us in our afflictions, that we also may be able to comfort those who are in any distress.’" "As the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." Those who share in suffering will share also in the comfort in proportion to the suffering they share with Christ.

Saint John Chrysostom says, "our salvation is demonstrated more clearly when we bear all things nobly. The work of salvation does not consist only of believing but OF ENDURING EVIL WHEN IT IS DONE T O US. " Looking and examining Christian history we clearly learn that being a follower of Christ means persecution, martyrdom, and suffering. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered on the Cross and following Him the holy Apostles also suffered. For the first three hundred years of Christianity countless Christians also suffered. Their suffering, however, was so great that they would not have withstood it if God had not been with them. Afflictions as a Christian have never ceased from happening. But every Christian suffering by the disciples of the Savior is experienced for the sake of Christ.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation, taht we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation, and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer." (2 Corinthias 1:1-6).

The purpose of afflictions, if we use them wisely, may be our comfort and salvatio, as the Heavenly Father Himself preserves us through them. The means of confronting our suffering is a hope in God which allows us to enter into the suffering of others. The communion of the Saints, spiritual solidarity, is to begin now in the pains of this life. The godly suffer, in part, so that having experienced God’s comfort they in turn can comfort others. No Christian should ever be concerned only for himself and his own challenges. It is said that compassion for others means not only to feel sadness or sorrow for them, but for us to put ourselves in their situation and to feel the same pain and suffering that they experience and through it to aleviate their suffering by sharing in their agony. The holy Apostle Paul exhorts us to "bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks of himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Galatians 6:2-3).

When we petition our Heavenly Father to bless and comfort us, we petition Him not only for ourselves and our loved ones, but for all our fellow citizens. In the Divine Liturgy we pray and petition the Lord: "For the peace of the whole world, the stability of the holy Churches of God and for the union of all mankind, let us pray to the Lord." "For this city and for this Community, for every city and country, and for the Faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord." "For those who travel by water, by air, and land, for the sick, for the afflicted, for captives, and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord."

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father anad our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:3).

________________

"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

“STRIVING TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE” (Acts 24:16)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"STRIVING TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE (συνείδησιν) WITHOUT
OFFENSE TOWARD GOD AND MEN" (Acts 24:16).

It is a good thing for all to have a healthy and sensitive conscience. A conscience that is vibrant, chaste, prudent, pure, loving, righteous, discerning, compassionate, and open to God’s grace. A good conscience is obedient to her Creator, reverent, faithful, grace-filled, and virtuous. It is a conduit between the person and the Lord Who through it communicates with us and guides us.

Man has a tendency to ignore and neglect his soul. Although it is the soul which gives life to the body, a soul which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:26]. A good conscience serves and gives voice to the soul. It is referred to as the "inner voice." A voice acting as a guide to righteousness as well as righteousness and/or wrongness of one’s behavior and conduct.

A faithful and pure conscience is essential to man’s salvation. A good Christian relies on his conscience while striving to have a strong spiritual life, a life in Christ. By and through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the conscience is energized and vivified. Spiritually speaking the conscience has the potential to develop and grow in Christ. It becomes a type of compass for man to follow his true path that leads to God’s Kingdom and Eternal life.

The conscience just like man’s soul and body needs constant nourishment and to be nurtured. Our conscience is fed and nourished by the grace of the Holy Spirit, a virtuous and holy life. A life of humility, repentance, obedience to God’s commandments, faithful prayer, and sacramental life. By receiving forgiveness and cleansing through the Mysterion of Repentance and Confession. With the reception of the Divine Eucharist, the Most Precious and Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. And by helping our fellow man and those who are suffering and neglected.

The Orthodox Christians believer strengthens his/her communion with God when the conscience is sensitive and open to God’s word. It is in this unique and special place that man and woman strengthen his/her communion with God Who speaks to our heart and helps us to discern right from wrong, from good or evil, and to understand what path to take which leads to salvation. It is the voice of our conscience that leads us to come to our senses when we have lost our way and are sinful and remorseful and feeling unworthy before the Lord. and repenting of our evil actions.

A good conscience serves as our teacher and as our best friend. A friend that always has good intentions and desires only what is good for us. A conscience that adheres to Christian morals and spiritual precepts and strives to do good and avoid doing evil. A conscience that is dependable to cry out and renders judgment about the goodness or evil of a specific act or choice in a circumstance of the moment. A conscience that evaluates the various choices we make and determines with certainty if it is contrary to God’s law.

There is, however, another kind of conscience, a conscience is known as a petrofied or hardened conscience. In Greek it is called peporomene syneidesis. A conscince in other words which is dead. A conscience that has been corrupted and has become obsolete and useless. A conscience which not leads to destruction but hell itself. It is, therefore, extremely important that all of us remain alert and vigilant, that we maintain our communion with God and that our conscience is fed constantly by the Life-Giving grace of the Holy Spirit. That the believer must have a consistent and powerful prayer life, a sacramental lilfe, that our faith and commitment to God is undiminished, that we free our conscience and soul from the passions, that there is not even a hint of hatred towards anyone, that our heart is filled with love for all, and that we avoid completely pride and vanity.

Another word for sin in Greek is englema which it means crime. The Christian who commits sin against ansyone is a spiritual criminal. He or she becomes a lawbreaker, a person who intentionally breaks God’s law. It shows arrogance, unbelief, lack of fear of God, open defiance and disobedience. In so doing we bring demnation and condemnation upon ourselves. It is perhaps a spiritual suiside. That kind of attitude is insane and evil. In the Lord’s Prayer, our Lord taught us to ask God the Father to "deliver us from the evil one." No Christian could ever be so foolish or not undertand the outcome of such a rebelion against the Almighty God. Remember what happened to Lucifer, the angel of light and the conequences of his evil and rebelious actions against His Creator and God.

Pray always for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to protect and guide you and your conscience so that it will remain good, pure and holy. 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

“HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT”

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

"Now hope does not disappoint, BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD
has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was
given to us" (Romans 5:5).

For the devout Orthodox Christian who is facing extraordinary trials and tribulations in this earthly life, our Lord Jesus Christ remains his/her greatest hope. No matter what trials and disappointments the faith of the follower of Christ remain strong and resolute. The true believer always finds strength within. Why? Because "His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through knowledge of Him Who called us by glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). The holy Apostle Peter assures us we have no need for anything other than what we have received from God. Our Creator and Fashioner remind us constantly "I shall dwell among them and walk about in their midst" ( Leviticus 26:12; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

We are never alone and therefore we must never ever lose hope. Fear has no place in the Christian heart. Believing in God’s presence the Christian can never feel, hopeless, alone, and forgotten. Saint Paul says, "hope that is seen is NOT hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do NOT see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance" (Romans 8:24-25). We ought to understand that hope is more than optimism; it is strong confidence about good things to come. One must exercise patience and patiently wait no matter what the suffering may be.

At times of distress and uncertainty the believer does not allow himself to become a victim of hysteria but always turns to prayer. The Christian believes that God the Holy Spirit will help us to pray. Prayer in the spirit, also called prayer without words, is the highest form of prayer. The Holy Fathers of the Church teach us that are three stages of prayer: (a) saying the words of the prayer; (b) saying the words with meaning and full concentration; (c) praying without words when one is so filled with the Holy Spirit and so in union with God that words are inadequate.

Our human reasoning is weak and flawed and no one can rely upon it. It is a mistake to attempt to understand anything with defective reasoning. If one attempts to reason things out will always fail. Instead, let us believe with certainty that hope is the anchor of our life. Life on earth is bettered by all kinds of unforeseen storms. No human being can traverse through life and not face these fierce storms that darkened our horizon. However, the person of faith faces these storms no matter how threatening they are with courage and hope. We know that storms come and go they never remain indefinitely. Our Almighty God reassures us that very fact when we see in the heavens after a storm is over a beautiful rainbow lighting the sky.

Each and every one of us is a child of God. A child and a precious soul that our Heavenly loves unconditionally and for all eternity. No one should doubt this very fact. If we truly believe this we must never feel unloved or neglected. Feeling pity for ourselves and being dejected is wrong. These negative feelings not only do not serve us well but they are no less a type of temptation from the evil one. What led Judas Iscariot to hang himself was not only guilt for betraying his Master but also hopelessness. Although one of His disciples, if he truly listened to Christ’s Divine words, he would have known that if he had repented His Master would have forgiven him as He forgave Peter for denying Him three times.

Hopelessness is faithlessness! Nothing can be accomplished or overcome without faith. Saint Paul reminds us: "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Sampson and Jephthah, also David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens.." (Hebrews 11:32-34).

Our Heavenly Father is NOT a human father but our Creator Who is perfect in every way. No one should act like a spoiled child and have a tantrum every time he or she does receive all that one asks for. The sincere person accepts God’s decision no matter what it is. God is All-Wise and knows what is best for each and every one of us. We trust God and we never question His will for us. Even in prayer we do not demand but supplicate and entreat Him with humility and genuine obedience. We do not approach our Savior with anger, arrogance, conceit, or pride as though we are superior to Him. He is God and our Heavenly Father and we are His willing slaves (δούλοι) or servants. No servant or slave ever dictated to his/her Master of goods he or she desires. In ancient days when a wealthy and powerful man purchased a slave in the slave market one of his first acts was to shear a lock of the hair from his/her head to indicate to the slave that from that moment he or she belonged totally to him and expected complete obedience. The slave had no rights at all. Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, Our Divine Master paid the price to save us and NOT to enslave us but to free us from evil and death. But how to repay Him?

Saint James the holy Apostle writes: "If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask IN FAITH, WITHOUT DOUBTING, FOR HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN AND TOSSED IN THE WIND. FOR LET NOT THAT MAN SUPPOSE THAT HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD" (James 1:5-7).

_______________

"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

28th of October – The Feast of Four New-Martyrs ANGELIS, EMMANUEL, GEORGE, AND NICHOLAS OF CRETE

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the 28th of October, the Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy New Martyrs ANGELIS, EMMANUEL, GEORGE, and
NICHOLAS of Crete.

Apolytikion Hymn of the holy Martyrs. Fourth Tone

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received
as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our
immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast
down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless
presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls,
since Thou art Merciful.

Angelis, Emmanuel, and Nicholas, the holy new martyrs, were the sons of reverent parents. They were crypto-Christians practicing all the mysteries of the Church; yet, out of fear, they appeared outwardly as Ottomans. The island of Crete, just prior to the Greek Revolution (1821), was heavily populated, and there was much activity to overthrow its Moslem overlords. It was during this period that the four new martyrs lived. As their parents, they were born and raised in the village of Melambes of the eparchy of Saint Basil, which is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lambes of Crete. Emmanuel and Angelis, son sons of Retze[es, were brothers of the same parents.  George was the son of Constantine Retzepes, and Nicholas was the son of another John Retzeges.  The young men were cousins.  Apart from their Christian names, they also held Ottoman names for public use, even as did their parents.  The family occupation was farming.  When the four cousins took wives, they were secretly betrothed and married according to the order of the Orthodox Church.  Outwardly they performed Ottoman customs for the wedding festivities.  They also conducted their lives and reared their children in the same fashion.  Before the outside world, they practice Ottoman customs and habits, retaining their rights and privileges.   This means that they were exempt from the poll tax of the empire, which the Christians were obliged to remit.   Living in this matter, they were never bothered by the Ottomans (Turks).


   In the year 1821, every Orthodox Christian on the island of Crete took up arms and joined with the rest of Greece in the struggle for independence, to overthrow the Turkish yoke and the unbearable misery, wretchedness, and poverty they had endured for so many years.  The cousins decided to join the revolution, out of piety and zeal, and engage the Turks in battle.  Their desire was to become free men so that they might practice the Faith and perform their religious duties without fear.  They went to war, which lasted for three years and beyond.  The situation took a turn for the worse when Sultan Mahmud II, a fierce ruler, managed to secure the assistance of his vassal, Mehmet Ali, the Pasha of Egypt, a man who treated the nominal suzerainty of the Sultan lightly.  The price of Mehmet Ali's cooperation to crush the beleaguered Hellenes came at a high price:  the Pashalik of Crete for himself and that of the Peloponnese for his son, Ibrahim.  In 1824, after suppressing the last vestiges of resistance in Crete, Ibrahim said with the most powerful naval force ever launched in the Mediterranean by a non-European power and landed on Crete at Suda Bay in early winter.  In 1825, he sailed on to the Peloponnese, where he spread terror and destruction everywhere in a "scorched earth" campaign of fire and the sword.

   In the year 1824 many Hellenes were captured and taken prisoner, including, men, women, and children, the four cousins were unharmed in their village.  Now they openly appeared and acted as Greek Orthodox Christians.  In the meantime, the Turks on the island resumed their demands for payment of taxes.  This time, the four cousins willingly rendered their share of "HEAD TAX" (meaning if one was to refuse to pay it, one would lose his head) with the other Christians.  The Turks recognized the four cousins and urged them to return to Islam sot hat they might be exempted from paying the tax and be set free from fear and resume their past privileges.

   The blessed witnesses for Christ, however, in no wise heeded the counsels and the flattering words of those in power.  No, instead, they struggled on behalf  of piety, confessed that they were Christians even as were their parents, and added, "We gladly pay the tax."  The Turks, seeing the persistence of the ever-memorable righteous men for Orthodoxy, reported the incident to their governor, the Pasha Mehmet, who was in the city of Rethymno on the North shore of the island.  Upon receiving intelligence of the matter, he dispatched men to lead the four Christians bound from their village.  They were brought before the governor, who interrogated them: "What religion do you revere?" The blessed cousins, without fear, confessed their Christian faith adding, "From the beginning, we were Christians, baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity even as our parents. Indeed, Christ is the only God Whom we worship."  The Turkish governor urged them to renounce the Faith and return to Islam, that they receive gifts, ranks, and great dignities.  They replied, "From the beginning we were Christians, and as Christians, we wish to die."  So the governor sent them to prison in bonds.  Once again, they were brought before the Pasha, who kept talking and advocating that they do his bidding.  After applying various tortures, again, he achieved nothing, for their resolve remained unaltered.  They kept shouting aloud, "We shall die for Christ!"

   The governor, at last perceiving, that the Orthodox Christian martyrs' immovable resolve was steadfast, were led to the execution site, which was called Gate of Rethymno, where the executioner performed beheadings, they kept on invoking God to their last breath, reciting the "Kyrie Eleison" (Lord have mercy).  The holy Martyrs surrendered their holy souls into the hands of the Lord.  The Moslems, contemptuously, left the sacred relics exposed to the weather for three days.  Now during those days, the Turkish guards of that city kept seeing a light on their holy relics.  They kept blaspheming and hurling reproaches, saying that fire from out of the sky descended and consumed them. This was far from the truth.  The Moslems, furthermore, after having executed the four holy cousins, apprehended their wives, ana children and held them as captives.

   After those days had passed, certain Christians who were abiding in the city arranged it so that the Pasha's interpreter, Manuel Papadakis, asked for the holy relics of the holy martyrs.  After he had received permission, the holy relics of the holy Martyrs were taken to the Monstery of Saint George, which is located in the village of Perivolia near Rethymno.  Their blood-spotted clothing was taken up by Orthodox Christians and many miracles were wrought.  After one year, the Bishop of Rethymno, Ioannikios, sents some of the holy relics to the church in Rethymno.  The remainder of the holy relics were sent to the Monastery of Saint Constantine.  The holy relics of the holy martyrs have produced countless miracles for the Orthodox, healing every kind of illness for those who have asked for the intercessions of Saints Angelis, Emmanuel, George, and Nicholas.  Thus, they continue, glorifying their Lord, for Whom they struggled.  By their intercessions, O God, have mercy on us.  Amen. [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

MIRACLES OF SAINT DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

Miracles of Saint Demetrios the Great Martyr and
Wonder-worker.

Let us now, blessed Christians, listen to some of the miracles of the Saint, so that we may also appreciate the grace with which God honored him on account of the purity of his life and his martyric sacrifice.

After the repose of the Saint, it was God’s will to glorify him in all the world. He dispensed in His oeconomy to have fragrant myrrh flow from his holy body. Although boht natives and those from afar came and collected the myrrh, this in no way exhausted the supply. In fact, the greater the demand, the more the supply increased through the intercessions of the Saint and holy Martyr. This holy myrrh, filled with Divine grace and power, ushered in great healings. People, hence, from all over were coming with profound faith.

The Ascetic

There was a particular ascetic, who once lived on a certain mountain, named Holomontos. He heard the report that the holy relics of the Saint gushed forth holy myrrh abundantly from out of his tomb. He was not inclined to believe the reports, and was reasoning to himself that in that place there existed other Saints, who underwent greater martyric contests for the name of Christ, yet no myrrh flowed from their relics. "What kind of martyrdom, indeed, did he suffer, the ascetic wondered, "that he should be so glorified by God?" God, then, wished to make the truth known to the ascetic. So how did He dispense it?

One night, after the ascetic had read his service, he retired for the evening. He went to sleep, and it appeared to him that he found himself in Thessalonike, even inside the church of Saint Demetrios. He beheld a man before him who was holding the keys to the tomb of the Saint. "Open the tomb to me that I might offer veneration," the ascetic asked. The warden then opened up the tomb for him to enter. The ascetic went inside to the kouvouklion (edicule) to pay homage. While he was venerating the holy relics, he saw that fragrant myrrh covered the entire tomb and permeated the air with its scent. He turned to the warden and said, "If thou wilt, I beseech thee, let us dig here that we might see from whence the myrrh comes forth." It seemed to the ascetic then that tools were brought to him. They began to digging and continued, until they came to a great marble slab, which they lifted with great effort. Straightway, the body of the Saint appeared, radiant, bright, and beautiful. The holy myrrh emanated from the lance wounds of the Martyr. So much myrrh then overflowed fro the tomb that the warden and the ascetic were drenched. The ascetic, trembling, became frightened that he might drown, and so he cried out with a loud voice, "Saint Demetrios, help!" With that shout–O the wonder!–he came to himself and was roused from his sleep. He quickly observed that his garments were soaked with the fragrant holy myrrh.

The ascetic rose up and wasted no time leaving his philosophical retreat and making for Thessalonike. After he arrived, he was proclaiming the miracle of the Saint and kept glorifying God. He remained in the Saint’s church for a considerable number of days and then returned to his hermitage, saying, "Great, in truth, is Saint Demetrios!"

Healing of a Paralytic

Toward the eastern part of the city of Thessalonike, there is a very beautiful place that has delightful meadows, mild air, and many fruit-bearing trees. In that country place, there is also a very lovely spring where sweet and cool water flows from a rock sundered from time immemorial. In that picturesque and grace-filled place, a certain Christian nobleman was moved to raise up a church in the name of Saint Demetrios. He also built a number of cabins surrounding the church that were inhabited by monastics. In that church, on account of the wonderworking (miracle-working) of the Saint, the most marvelous water gushed forth. At that time, the Emperor at Constantinople dispatched one of his noblemen, giving him full authority and superintendence over the city of Thessalonike. The nobleman proved to be a righteous man in his judgments. He was also merciful, sympathetic, and prudent. It happened, however, that he took very ill, to the point that he was rendered paralyzed. In time, his flesh began to rot and dissolve like wax. The pain that he suffered was frightful, so that daily awaited death. Then, one night, there appeared to him Saint Demetrios, the physician without charge, who said to him, "Do you go to my church which is outside of the city and is called Peegee (Spring). Take the water from that fountain and wash thy hands, they feet, and all thy body, and thou shalt be cured immediately. I, who tell thee these things, am Demetrios who guards this city." The paralytic awakened and narrated to all the vision to which he was revealed. They lifted him then and lade him upon a bed which they carried to that fountain. In fact, dear Christians, one would be justified to call this fountain another Siloam as spoken of in the Holy Scripture. When he arrived the nobleman had his body washed in the name of the Saint. Straightway, he was completely healed. He rose up and walked into the city proclaiming and mangifying the miracle which came to pass for him. Since that nobleman received healing to all the members and joints of his body, the people from that hour named the fountain Armoumene, which is from the Greek word armos, meaning articulation of joint. [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

26th of October – The Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the Great-Martyr DEMETRIOS the Myrrh-gusher.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the 26th of October, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the Great-Martyr and Wonder-worker DEMETRIOS the Myrrh-gushers.

Apolytikion Hymn (Dismissal Hymn) of the Martyr. Third Tone

A GREAT champion hath the whole world found thee to be when in
grave perils; for thou dost put to flight the heathen, O victorious one.
As thou didst humble Lyaeus’s arrogance and gavest boldness to
Nestor in the stadium, thus, O holy Great Martyr Demetrios, do thou
entreat Christ God, that we be granted great mercy.

Kontakion Hymn of the Martyr. Second Tone

GOD, Who hath given invincible strength, O Demetrios, hath adorned
the Church with the royal purple of the streams of thy blood and hath
kept thy city unharmed, for thou art the support thereof.

+

Demetrios, the Great Martyr, and athlete of Christ lived approximately three hundred years after the Nativity of Jesus Christ. He flourished at the time of the co-rulership of the Roman realm by Diocletian and Maximian Herculius, who were paired by the devil himself. They had appointed as Caesar one named Maximian Galerius, who lorded over Greece and Macedonia. His wife was the daughter of Diocletian Valerius, and he was also impious and in no wise would even hear the name of The Christ spoken. Wherever he found any Christian, he would attempt in different ways to put him to death. May Christians, indeed, were going to him of their own will that they might suffer martyrdom for the love of Christ. Among those Christians was Saint Demetrios.

In answer to prayers, he was born in A.D. 270 at Thessalonike, Greece of devout yet long-childless parents, who were secret Christians. At his birth, his father prepared a city-wide feat. Demetrios was carefully instructed by his parents, who were among the first and most distinguished rulers of the Macedonians. He was taught early in life the difference between the True God and the gods of their pagan neighbors. Demetrios was baptized at an early age, and he grew from strength to strength in virtue. From his childhood years, he was good, innocent, sweet, and humble.

By the time Demetrios attained his majority, he was generally deemed gallant, polite, and most honorable. He loved righteousness and abhorred injustice. His good fame and virtues were in the mouths of all, including those in the circle of Emperor Maximian Galerius. In an interview, the Emperor was impressed with the young man. Galerius selected Demetrios, out of all the leaders of Thessalonike, and elevated him to the rank, of Doux, that is, military Commander of all Thessaly.

It is important to remember that the holy man was given this dignity from Emperor Maximian not knowing that he was a Christian. When Saint Demetrios received the office, howeever, he mad it no secret that he was a Christian. He used the imperial appointment as milatary commander to protector the people. Day and night, he never left off teaching the word of God and faith in The Christ. He made it his chief labor to sow the see of piety in a suitable manner that was adapted to those souls who listened.

Many of the converts who came to the knowledge of God had been Greek pangans. They now disdained the idols and turned away from them, confessing and believing in the True God. The devil, the enemy of Truth, who always bears malice toward the souls of men, observed that the Christians were multiplying and the idolaters were diminishing in numbers. What he contrived to destroy the Saint, nonetheless, worked to the cevil’s own ruin. Saint Demetrios perceived in the Spirit that the time of his repose was drawing near, so instructed his devoted friend Loupos to distribute all his inheritance and belongings, while he prepared himself with fasting and prayer.

Emperor Maximian had just brought under Roman rule the Scythians and Sarmatians (nomdic tribal groups). Upon his return as victor, certain idolaters, went to him and declared, "Many years to your majesty! …Know thou, then, that Demetrios, whom your honored has renounced the religion of his fathers and believes in Christ, the One Who was crucified by the Hebrews and openly preaches that this Christ is the True God. Indeed, many persons have been deceived and misled by his words, and have abandoned their ancient beliefs and became Christians."

The Emperor, wishing to learn the truth for himself, he commanded that Demetrios be brought to him. The imperial officers immediately seized Demetrios and brought him before the Emperor. As he stood before the Emperor, far from being afraid, he was so filled with gladdness and good cheer that his countenance appeared bright, beautiful, and graceful from his joy.

The Emperor spoke to Demetrios, saying, "I did not expect such a lack of regard on thy part…you did not come forth even one mile from the city to meet me in advance?"

Hearing these things, the holy man replied, "O Emperor, I esteem thy monarchy; however, I honor, above thee, much more the God of heaven and earth, Who is the King of the cosmos. The Emperor asked, "And who is thy God and King?" The Saint answered, "The Lord Jesus Christ: He is True God and the Almighty King." The Emperor questioned him again, "In Him, therefore, thou believest, and for this reason thou does not accept us, O thou who art unworthy of honor? …And thou, O ungrateful man, dost recompense us with these thngs? I therefore shall render back to thee what is in accordance with thy defiled opinion. Thou shalt be tormented and punished with myriads of tortures and chastisements, sot aht thou mightiest learn who I am and who thou art, and what thy God is able to work on thy behalf." The Saint replied, "O Emperor, thy punishments and torments, with which thou threatenest me, I consider to be joy and gladness and to my benefit. For these shall usher in for me the Kingdom of the Heavens and uncearning honor."

The soldiers took the holy man and led himto be imprisoned, not in the usual prison, but in an unclean place. In prison an Angel of the Lord appeared over him, bearing a golden drown, and said to him, "Rejoice, Demetrios, soldier of Christ, be brave, be empowered, and conquer thien enemies." Having spoke thus, the Angel placed the crown upon the head of Christ’s holy martyr. Though the Saint pleased God, he longed for the hour of his death.

The Romans continued the custom of holding athletic games that the ancient Greeks initiated. He, the Emperor, designated that only one day would be scheduled for the events. He sat on a lofty place and observed the contestants. One of the participants was the Emperor’s hand-picked contender, named Lyaios, who was from a certain city of the Scythians called Wandeia. He was the tallest and strongest of the competitors, and on ewhom the Emperor esteemed and praised. Lyaios’ specialty was wrestling. As he competed and won every competition, the Emperor received great joy and bestowed rich gifts upon him.

There was a certain comely youth of Thessalonike, named Nestor, who was a secret Christians, and yet he was known by Saint Demetrios. Nestor, too, observed the contests and how Lyaios slew man after man. Nestor desired that the pagans should learn the power of God, Christ. Thus, he hastened to visit Saint Demetrios in the bathhouse, and said to him, "O servant of the True God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and my superior…My soul reaches out to meet him in single combat, but only bless me and empower me so that I prevail over him." Saint Demetrios then made the sign of the Cross on Nestor’s forehead, and said to him,, "Go thou and prevail over Lyaios, and witness and suffer on behalf of Christ." Thus received the blessing of Sainit Demetrios, the holy Nestor, made ready to depart and went to the place where the contests were still in progress.

The Emperor gave Nestor leave to enter lists of combatants. The godly youth, Nestor, drew near to Lyaios, threw off his outer garment and shouted, "O God of Demetrios, do Thou help me!" Straightway, as soon as he uttered those words, he drew his dagger and dealt that proud man a fatal stabbing to his heart. Immediately, the giant Lyaios fell to the ground dead. When the Emperor witnessed the slaying of his favorite, he was angry and he grieved the loss of his champion and friend. The Emperor said to Nestor, "Young man, with what kind of magic did you conquer Lyaios? Nestor replied, "I, O Emperor, did not prevail over Lyaios with magic, but by the power of The Christ, the True God." When the defiled Emperor heard these words, he flew into a rage. He ordered one of his princess, name Marcian, to take Nestor outside the golden gate and to sever his head with his own dagger. Thus, Saint Nestor received the crown of the contest both on earth and in the heavens. He is commemorated by the Holy Orthodox Church on the 27th of October.

While grieving, the Emperor was told that Nestor shouted out Demetrios’ name, and that he must be implicated in the death of his friend. Without further evidence, the Emperor ordered his soldiers to slay the holy man Demetrios amid the columns in the subterranean chamber. The soldiers went to the bathhouse and marched in with their lances ready in their hands. They found the Saint standing at prayer. Without uttering a word, Saint Demetrios himself raised his right hand and received the first lance in his side, in the same place where our Savior was lanced on the Cross. The other soldiers then pierced his body all over with their lances. Such was the martyrdom of the Great-Martyr Demetrios, blessed Christians, whom we commemorate today, the 26th of October. After the soldiers fulfilled their commission, they left Saint Demetrios on the ground where he lay. Certain godly Christians came to the place secretly and found his holy relics on the ground. In that chamber where he struggled and suffered martyrdom, the Christians interred him.

Countless miracles are attributed to Saint Demetrios. In the Orthodox Church, not many Saints hae the distinction of being myrrh-streamers or myrrh-gushers. Together with Saint Demetrios, there are the widely known Saints Nicholas, Symeon Nemanja of Serbia and Hilandar. Simon of Simonopetra, and Neilos of Mount Athos. (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


SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM SPEAKS ON PRAYER

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

Saint John Chrysostom speaks on PRAYER

As Christians, we are obligated to honor and appreciate the Saints of God for two reasons. The first reason is because all the Saints had placed the hope of their spiritual salvation upon the sacred prayers. The second reason is because the prayers which they offered to God with joy and fear have been preserved in their writings, Thus their spiritual treasures, having been transmitted to us, may draw all subsequent believers toward the zeal of these Saints.

When we converse with God at the time of prayer we become similar to the Angels and dissimilar to the irrational beings. For the work par excellence of the Angels is prayer and worship. By praying with much awe and presenting themselves to us as an example, the Angels teach us to learn and to know that we must pray to God with joy and with fear. We must pray both with fear of being found unworthy of the prayer which connects us with God, but also with fulness of joy for the magnitude of honor that is bestowed upon the human race through the very possibility of prayer. Divine Providence has made us capable of enjoying constant communion with God, through which we appear not to be mortal and transient. Even though by nature we are mortal, it is through our conversation with God that we are transformed into immortal life. For the one who holds a conversation with God must be by necessity above death and every moral and spiritual corruption. And by the same token, as it is most essential for one who enjoys the rays of the sun to be free of darkness, so also the one who enjoys conversation with God must no longer be mortal, precisely because the magnitude of this honor transfers us into the realm o spiritual immortality. It is impossible for those who pray and speak to God to have mortal souls. The death of the soul is precisely impiety and sinful life, while the life of the soul is the worship of God and a way of life in the believer that is becoming to such worship.

For the one who does NOT pray to God and does NOT desire to enjoy constantly this conversation with God IS INDEED DEAD, WITHOUT A LIVING SOUL, and CERTAINLY WITHOUT PRUDENCE. The greatest sign of folly and imprudence is for us humans to be unaware of the magnitude of the honor we have received from God; to not love prayer, and to not regard the neglect of the worship of God as THE VERY DEATH OF THE SOUL. For, I believe, as our body without the soul is dead and foul, so also by the same token the soul, without prayer, is dead and miserable and foul.

It is, therefore, obvious to all that without prayer it is entirely impossible to cultivate virtue and live out a virtuous life. For how can anyone be virtuous who does not pray and does not always bow reverently to the Provider and Giver of virtue? How will anyone desire to be prudent and righteous if one does not converse with delight with the One Who demands from us not only prudent and righteousness but also so much more? I want to demonstrate briefly that even if our prayers find us with many sins, they will quickly cleanse us.

Prayer does not only cleanse us from sin, but it also protects us from great dangers. Truly the king and Prophet David, avoided many difficult wars through prayer, precisely because he gave prayer precedence as the only weapon of his army. a weapon that permitted his soldiers to enjoy victory readily and without fear.

Real prayer, however, will also purify the soul from our sins. This we are taught by the story of the Publican in the Gospel (Luke 18:9-14), who beseeched God to show mercy on him and to forgive his sins, and who was really granted this grace. We are taught the same thing by the leper, who was cleansed when he turned to God in repentance (Matthew 8:1-4). For if the destroyed body was healed by God immediately, even more readily will He heal an ailing soul as one Who loves mankind. Inasmuch as the soul is more precious than the body, it is more appropriate for God to show greater concern for the health of the soul. One could include many other examples from the Old and the New Testaments if one were to number all those who were saved through prayer.

This is why we must pray and worship God when we rise from our bed before the dawn of the sun, when we are about to have our meals, and when we prepare to recline for sleep. We must at every moment offer a prayer to God. If anyone should be found to be barren of any prayer, such a person is readily drawn by the demons and guided toward sins and misfortunes and many other evil things.

Since we fear all these evil things and want to be protected from them, let us guard ourselves with the holy prayers, so that God may have mercy upon us all and make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven through His Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Whose power and glory will endure until the end of the ages. Amen. [Source: A Prayer Book. An Anthology of Orthodox Prayers by Father Peter A. Chamberas)

________________

"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

OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY HEAD OF HIS CHURCH

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST IS
THE ONLY HEAD OF HIS CHURCH.

The Close Bond Between the Church of Christ on Earth
and the Church of the Saints in Heaven.

The Holy Apostle instructs those who have come to believe in Christ and have been joined to the Church as follows: "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to be spirits of just men made perfect" (Hebrews 12:22-24). We are NOT SEPERATED FROM OUR DEAD BROTHERS IN THE FAITH BY THE IMPASSABLE ABYS OF DEATH: THEY ARE CLOSE TO US IN GOD, "FOR ALL LIVE UNTO HIM" (Luke 20:38).

Of course, there is a distinction between the Church of Christ on earth and the Church of the saints in heaven: the members of the earthly Church are not yet members of the heavenly Church.

In the "Epistle of the Eastern Patriarchs" (17th century) formulates the Orthodox teaching about the Church: "We believe, as we have been instructed to believe, in what is called, and what is actual fact is, the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, which embraces all those, whoever and wherever they might be, who believe in Christ, who being now on their earthly pilgrimage have not yet come to dwell in the heavenly homeland. But we do not in the least confuse the Church in pilgrimage with the Church that has reached the homeland, just because, as certain of the heretics think, one and the other both exist, that they both COMPRISE AS IT WERE TWO FLOCKS OF THE SINGLE Chief Shepherd, God, and are sanctified by the one Holy Spirit. Such a confusion of them is out of place and impossible, inasmuch as one is BATTLING AND IS STILL ON THE WAY, WHILE THE OTHER IS ALREADY CELEBRATING ITS VICTORY AND HAS REACHED THE FATHERLAND AND HAS RECEIVED THE REWARD, SOMETHING WHICH WILL FOLLOW ALSO FOR THE WHOLE ECUMENICAL Church."

And in actuality, the earth and the heavenly world are two separate forms of existence: there in heaven in bodilessness, here on earth are bodily life and physical death; there, those who have attained, here, those seeking to attain; here, faith, there, seeing the Lord face to face; here, hope, there FULFILLMENT.

The Unity of the Chuch

In the Greek text the word "in One," is expressed as a numeral (Είς Μίαν). Thus the Symbol of Faith (Creed) confesses THAT THE Church IS ONE: a) it is one as viewed from within itself, not divided; b) it is one as viewed from without, that is, not having any other besides itself. Its unity consists not in the joining together of what is different in nature, but in inward agreement and unanimity. "There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, just as you were called in ONE HOPE of your calling, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The Church IS ONE not only inwardly, but also outwardly. Outwardly its unity IS MANIFESTED IN THE HARMONIOUS CONFESSION OF FAITH, IN THE ONENESS OF DIVINE SERVICES AND MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS), IN THE ONENESS OF THE GRACE-GIVING HIERARCHY, WHICH COMES IN SUCCESSION FROM THE APOSTLES, IN TH ONENESS OF CANONICAL ORDER.

The Sanctity of the Church

The Lord Jesus Christ performed the work of His earthly ministry and death on the Cross; Christ "LOVED THE CHURCH…that HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT, OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THING; BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH" (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Church IS HOLY through its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is holy, further, through the presence in it of the Holy Spirit and His grace-giving gifts, communicated in the Mysteries (Sacraments) and other sacred rites of the Church. It is also holy through ITS TIE WITH THE Heavenly Church.

The very BODY OF THE Church IS HOLY. "If the firstfruit be holy, the lump IS ALSO HOLY; and if the root be HOLY, SO ARE THE BRANCHES" (Romans 11:16). Those who believe in Christ are "TEMPLES OF GOD," "TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). In the True Church there have always been and there always are people of the highest spiritual purity and with special gifts of grace–martyrs, virgins, ascetics, holy monks and nuns, hierarchs, righteous ones, blessed ones. The Church has an uncounted choir of departed ones of all times and peoples. It has manifestations of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, both visible and hidden from the eyes of the world.

The Catholicity of the Church

In the Greek text of the Nicaean Constantinopolitan Symbol of Faith (the Creed), the Church is called "catholic" (in the Slavonic translation, sobornaya). What is the significance of the Greek word?

The word catholikos in ancient Gree, pre-Christian literature is encountered very rarely. However,the Christian Church from antiquity chose this word to signify ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH, NAMELY, TO EXPRESS ITS UNIVERSAL CHARACTER. The Church is catholic. This corresponds to the Apostolic words, "the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:23). This concept indicates that THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE IS CALLED TO SALVATION, AND THEREFORE ALL MEN ARE INTENDED TO BE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, EVEN THOUGH NOT ALL DO BELONG TO HER IN FACT.

The Longer Orthodox Catechism, answering the question, "Why is the Church called catholic, or which is the same thing, universal" replies: "Because she is not limited to any place, nor time, nor people, but CONTAINS BELIEVERS OF ALL PLACES, TIMES AND PEOPLE" (Eastern Orthodox Books, ed. p. 50).

The Apostolic Church

The Church is called "Apostolic" because the Apostles placed the HISTORICAL beginning of the Church. They spread Christianity to the ends of the earth and almost all of them sealed their preaching with a martyr’s death. The seeds of Christianity were sown in the world b their word and watered with their blood. The unquenched flame of faith in the world they lit by the power of their personal faith.

The Holy Apostles preserved and transmitted to the Church the Christian TEACHING OF FAITH AND LIFE in the form in which they had received it from their Master and Lord. Giving in themselves the example of the fulfillment of the commandments of the Gospel, they handed down to the faithful the teaching of Christ by WORD OF MOUTH and IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE SO THAT IT MAY BE PRESERVED, CONFESSED, AND LIVED.

The Holy Apostles established according to the commandment of the Lord, the Church’s SACRED RITES. They placed the beginning of the performance of the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Body and Blood of Christ, of baptism, and of ordination.

The Holy Apostles established in the Church the grace-given SUCCESSION OF THE EPISCOPATE and through it the succession of the whole grace-given ministry of the Church hierarchy, which is called to be STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD, in accordance with 1 Corinthians 4:1.

The Holy Apostles established the beginning OF THE CANONICAL STRUCTURE of the Church’s life, being concerned that everything should be done DECENTLY AND IN ORDER; an example of this is given in the fourteenth Chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, which contains directions for the assemblies where church services are celebrated. [Source: The Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Father Michael Pomazansky)

_________________

"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

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

The Savior, in giving authority to the Apostles before His Ascension, told them very clearly that He Himself would not cease to be the invisible Shepherd and Pilot of the Church. "I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD" (every day constantly and inseparably; Matthew 28:20). The Savior taught that He, as the Good Shepherd, had to bring in also those sheep who were not of this fold, so that there might be ONE FLOCK and One Shepherd (John 10:16). "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations (Matthew 28:18-19). In all these words there is contained the idea that the Highest Shepherd of the Church IS CHRIST Himself. We must be aware of this so as not to forget the close bond and the INWARD UNITY of the Church on earth with the Heavenly Church.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also the FOUNDER of the Church: "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Christ is also the FOUNDATION of the Church, its CORNERSTONE: "Other foundation can NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST" (I Corinthians 3:11).

He also is its HEAD. God the Father "gave Him TO BE THE HEAD over all things in the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23). "The HEAD is Christ, from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). As
ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR BODY COMPRISE A FULL AND LIVING ORGANISM WHICH DEPENDS UPON ITS HEAD, SO ALSO THE CHURCH IS A SPIRITUAL ORGANISM IN WHICH THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE THE POWERS OF CHRIST DO NOT ACT. IT IS "FULL OF CHRIST" (Bishop Theophan the Recluse).

Christ is the GOOD SHEPHERD of His flock, the Church. We have the "GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP," according to the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 13:20). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief of Shepherds. "BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK," the Apostle Peter entreats those who have been placed as shepherds in the Church, as their co-pastor (Greek syn-presbyteros), when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Christ, Himself is the invisible Chief BISHOP of the Church. The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, an Apostolic Father, calls the Lord the "INVISIBLE BISHOP" (Greek, "EPISKOPOS AORATOS").

Christ IS THE ETERNAL HIGH-PRIEST of His Church, as the Apostle Paul explains in the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Old Testament Chief Priests "were many, because they were not suffered in continue by reasons of death. But this one, because He CONTINUETH FOREVER, hath an UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Hebrews 7:23-25).

He is, according to the Apocalypse (Revelation) of Saint of John the Theologian, "He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth" (Revelation 3:7).

The TRUTH that Christ Himself is the Head of the Church has always in lively fashion run through and continues to run through, THE SELF-AWARENESS OF THE CHURCH. In our daily prayers also we read, "O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep" (The Prayer of Saint Antioch in the Prayers Before Sleep of the Orthodox Prayer Book).
men
Saint John Chrysostom teaches in his Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians as follows: "In Christ, in the flesh, God placed A SINGLE HEAD FOR EVERYONE, for Angels and men; that is, He gave one principle both to Angels and men: to the one, Christ according to the flesh; and to the other, God the Logos/Word. Just as if someone should say about a house, that one part of it is rotten and the other part strong, and he should restore the house, that is, make it stronger, placing a stronger foundation under it; so also here, He has brought ALL UNDER A SINGLE HEAD. Only then IS UNION W POSSIBLE; only then WILL THERE BE THAT PERFECT BOND, WHEN EVERYTHING, HAVING A CERTAIN INDISPENSABLE BOND WITH THAT IS ABOVE, WILL BE UNDER A SINGLE HEAD" (Works of Saint John Chrysostom in Russian, v. 11, p. 14).

The Orthodox Church of Christ REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE YET ANOTHER HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN THE FORM OF A "Vicar of Christ on earth," a title given in the Roman Catholic church to the Bishop of Rome. Such a title DOES NOT CORRESPOND EITHER TO THE WORD OF GOD OR TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH CONSCIOUSNESS AND TRADITION; IT TEARS AWAY THE CHURCH ON EARTH FROM IMMEDIATE UNITY WITH THE HEAVENLY CHURCH. A VICAR IS ASSIGNED DURING THE ABSENCE OF THE ONE REPLACED, BUT CHRIST IS INVISIBLY PRESENT IN HIS CHURCH ALWAYS.

The REJECTION by the ancient Church of the view of the Bishop of Rome as the Head of the Church and Vicar of Christ upon earth is expressed in the writings of those who were active ini the Ecumenical Councils.

The Second Ecumenical Council of Bishops, after the completion of their activities wrote an epistle to Pope Damasus and other bishops of the Roman church, which ended thus: "When in this way the teaching of Faith is in agreement, and Christian love is established in us, we will cease to speak the words which were condemned by the Apostle: "I am of Paul, I am of Apollo, I am of Cephas," And when we will all he manifest as of Christ, since Christ IS NOT DIVIDED IN US, THEN BY GOD’S MERCY WE WILL PRESERVE THE Body of Christ UNDIVIDED, AND WILL BOLDLY STAND BEFORE THE THRONE OF THE LORD." [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Father Michael Pomazansky)

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

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

+ Father George