My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the 10th of October, Our Holy Orthodox Church
Commemorates the holy siblings and Martyrs EVLAMPIOS and
EVLAMPIA of Nicomedia.

Apolytikion Hymn (Dismissal 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.

Kontakion Hymn of the Holy Martyrs. Third Tone

TO the wise Evlampios and brave Evlampia with him, to those siblings in
the flesh and Martyrs valiant in courage, we now offer praise and honor,
for with the power of Him that died on the Cross, they have shamed and
vanquished all the tyrants’ schemes; for they are the Martyrs’ glory and
their rejoicing and boast.

+



Evlampios and Evlampia, the holy Martyrs, were brother and sister. They hailed from the great city of Nicomedia. They were young and good-looking, the scions of an eminent family. The sacred twain were fervent zealots of piety who lived during the reign of Maximian (286-305 A.D.), when Maximios was governor.

In 296, Evlampios could not endure to see the name of the True God insulted and abused. Therefore, he left the city and went to dwell in the wilderness. Now other Christians also fled the city and took refuge in caves. Away from the city, Evlampios exercised self-control and mastery over himself; for he desired to conduct a God-pleasing life, lest he sin. At length, when pricked at heart by the outrages of the pagans, he was filled with divine zeal, as another Prophet Elias. Thus he departed his beloved wilderness and willingly reentered the city. Desiring to receive the crown of the contest, Evlampios spoke freely to the idolaters, preaching piety. Beholding the vain-minded idol worshippers, he mocked them. Offended bystanders recognized that he was a Christian and, immediately, bound and incarcerated him, until they could bring him as a new game or diversion to the ruler.

The governor, apprised of the prisoner’s activities, ordered that he be brought before him for inquiry. "For what reason wast thou incited to display suc impudent behavior, defying the imperial commands? …if thou wilt sacrifice unto the gods, thou wilt gladden them and us. Moreover, thou wilt deliver thyself from dread torments that await thee. The holy youth then made the sign of the Cross and answered, "…I am endowed with reason and hope to enter into eternal life and rejoice; for only one God do I worship and render honor, invisible in nature; and to Him solely do I wish to make my prayers before His people."

The tyrant, hearing this, commanded that the prisoner be laid naked and beaten on the ground mercilessly. Evlampios possessed so much endurance that it seamed that another was tormented, and the Saint was merely a spectator.

Then, in the midst of the crowds, there appeared a beautiful and comely maiden who, taking the hands of the martyr, uttered, "As I am thy sister Evlampia, we had one mother who bore and nurtured us; thus, it is fitting that we receive one death for the love of our True God and Savior." The tyrant was angered by the boldness of Evlampia. Beholding her with a fierce look, he, who was the most stained with blood, exclaimed, "Thou liest, O impudent woman, entreat the gods to forgive thee, so thou wilt not be deprived of the good things of this life…therefore, follow my words, lest I subject thee to worse torments."

The brave Evlampia and sister of equal worth to the Martyr, without cowering, answered, "Hear me, O judge, and understand my position well. I am the handmaiden of Christ. He is my breath and life, and the joy of my soul. It is His love for which I thrist to die. Therefore, prepare the fire, sharpen the swordd, and ready every other torment that thou canst contrive.."

These words, spoken with great freedom of tongue by the holy maiden provoked the tyrant. He commanded that they boil water in a large caulderen. He thought to leave the holy twain to boil, till only their bones remained. When the cauldron was prepared, the holy Evlampios straightway, entered. Evlampia also took courage and entered the cauldron. Instantly, the water froze as crystal, and both siblings stood rejoicing. Many of the Greeks beheld this miracle and believed. The tyrant directed that Evlampios be blinded, so that his sister would lose courage. Yet, in vain did that unconscionable man labor.

Having no other hope of breaking the Martyrs, he passed the final sentence–to sever their holy heads from their bodies. Thus, accocrding to the command, Evlampios wa executed, but Evlampia surrendered her holy soul peacefully inot the immaculate hands of Christ before the executioner struck off her head. Hence, God received the soul of the virgin-martyr, serenely and without the sword, lest the tyrant’s command be executed. Thus, Saints Evlampios and Evlampia now partake of glory in the Kingdom of Him to Whom is due Honor and Glory, Magnificence, and Majest, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

On the 10th of October, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy
TWO HUNDRED MARTYRS who suffered with Saint Evlampios, and being
slain by the sword. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Churh)

__________
"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.

Restoring God’s Image (On Virginity)

By Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Man is A CREATURE endowed with REASON and INTELLIGENCE, and he has been made in the LIKENESS of the undefiled Nature of God. Thus is it said of him in the Book of the creation of the world: "TO THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED HIM" (Genesis 1:27). This CREATURE MAN, then, did not possess as a property of his nature at the beginning any inclination to PASSION and MORTALITY. For the pattern of the image could not have been preserved if in its imitation it had in any respect contradicted its archetype.

But the element of PASSION was introduced later on, AFTER HE WAS CREATED, and in the following way. Man was, as we have said, the "image and likeness" OF THE POWER THAT RULES ALL CREATION; and this LIKENESS to the ruler of all things also extended TO MAN’S POWER OF SELF-DETERMINATION: MAN COULD CHOOSE WHATEVER PLEASED HIM AND WAS NOT ENSLAVED TO ANY EXTERNAL NECESSITY. But man WAS LED ASTRAY BY DECEPTION AND DELIBERATELY DREW UPON HIMSELF THAT CATASTROPHE WHICH ALL MORTALS NOW SHARE. MAN HIMSELF INVENTED EVIL: HE DID NOT FIND IT IN GOD. NOR DID GOD MAKE DEATH; IT WAS MAN HIMSELF WHO, AS IT WERE, WAS THE CREATOR OF ALL THAT IS EVIL.

All who have eyes can enjoy the sunshine, and anyone, if he likes, may deny himself this pleasure simply by closing his eyes. In such a case it is not the sun that withdrew or produces the darkness; rather, man himself put an obstacle between himself and the sun by closing his eyes. And yet, even when the eyes are closed, they cannot cease to function; hence it is the activity of the eyes which bring about the appearance of darkness in man because he deliberately shuts off this vision.

Again, it is like a man who builds a house and does not make any provision for the light to come in. Hence he will obviously be in darkness, since he has deliberately cut himself off from the light.

So too the first man who arose from the earth–he, indeed, WHO BEGOT ALL THE EVIL THAT IS IN MAN–HAD IT IN HIS POWER TO CHOOSE THE GOOD AND BENEFICIAL THINGS OF NATURE THAT LAY AROUND HIM. And yet HE DELIBERATELY INSTITUTED BY HIMSELF THINGS THAT WERE AGAINST NATURE; IN REJECTING VIRTUE BY HIS OWN FREE CHOICE HE FASHIONED THE TEMPTATION TO EVIL. FOR SIN DOES NOT EXIST IN NATURE APART FROM FREE WILL; IT IS NOT A SUBSTANCE IN ITS OWN RIGHT. ALL OF GOD’S CREATURES ARE GOOD, AND NOTHING HE HAS MADE MAY BE DESPISED: He made all things "VERY GOOD" (Genesis 1:31). But in the way I have described, the whole procession of sin ENTERED INTO MAN’S LIFE FOR HIS UNDOING, AND FROM A TINY SOURCE POURED OUT UPON MANKIND AN INFINITE SEA OF EVIL. The soul’s Divine beauty, which had been an IMITATION OF ITS Archetype, was like a blade, darkened with the rust of sin; it no longer kept the beauty of the image it once possessed by nature, and was transformed into the ugliness of evil…

"…We must no longer live in the shadow of the fig tree of this bitter life, but we must cast away the coverings which are the transient leaves of life and come into the presence of Our Creator. We must reject all the deception of taste and sight, and no longer follow the counsel of the venomous serpent, but hold fast only to God’s Commandment. And that Commandment ordered us to touch only what was good and to reject the taste of evil. For this was the beginning of the entire sequence of sin, the unwillingness to be ignorant of evil.

Our first parents were consequently forbidden TO COME TO KNOW EVIL ALONG WITH GOOD; THEY WERE TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES FROM "THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL" (Genesis 2:9); they WERE TO ENJOY THE GOOD IN ITS PURITY, UNMIXED AND UNMITIGATED BY ANY EVIL. And this, I think, is surely to remain always with God alone; IT IS TO ENJOY THE GOOD WITHOUT MINGLING WITH IT ANYTHING WHICH WOULD SEPARATE THEM FROM IT.

It would seem then, if one might be so bold as to express it, that this is the path by which man can be snatched up out of this world and restored to Paradise, to that place where Saint Paul saw those secret and invisible things which are given to man to utter.

"…The man who has girt himself with self-control lives in the light of a clean conscience, and his life is lit up by the lamp of sincerity. Thus under the rays of truth, his soul remains sleepless and undeceived, and he is not bemused by vain dreams. If we achieve this, as the Logos/Word directs us, we shall enter an Angelic way of life. For the Divine Command likens us to Angels, as for example when He says: "And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately" Luke 12:36). It is the Angels who receive the Lord as He returns from the wedding: they sit vigilant before the Gates of Heaven. that, when He rises from the wedding, "the King of Glory" might ENTER IN once more, returning to that beatitude beyond the stars.

The Church is taken into the Mystical Bridal Chamber, and the Angels await the return of their King while he leads the Church to that blessedness that befits her nature.

We too, He has said, should be like the Angels. Their lives are passed far from sin and temptation; they are constantly ready to welcome the Master’s Final Coming. And so too should we make ourselves ready for his call, KEEPING AWAKE BY THE DOORS OF OUR DWELLINGS, WHENEVER HE SHOULD COME AND KNOCK. "Blessed are those servants," He says, "whom the Lord when He cometh, SHALL FIND SO DOING" (Luke 12:37). [Source: From the Glory to Glory)

___________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +


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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

ON FAITH

By Saint Gregory Palamas

BELIEVING IN GOD IS DIFFERENT from believing God. To believe God is to regard His promises to us as sure and true, but TO BELIEVE IN HIM IS TO HAVE A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF Him. Both are necessary for us and we must speak correctly in both respects, in such a way that people with correct understanding can be confident that we are faithful before the God to Whom our faith is directed and that, being faithful, WE SHALL BE JUSTIFIED BY Him. "Abraham believed God", it says, "and it was counted unto Him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:6; James 2:23). Why was Abraham counted as righteous because he believed? He has received a promise from God that in his seed, that is, in Isaac, all the Tribes of Israel would be blessed" (Genesis 17:16; cf. 26:3-5; 24). Then he was commanded by God to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1), through whom alone the promise could be fulfilled (Genesis 17:21; 21:12), while he was still a child. Without contradicting he, the father, was hastening on his way to become his son’s murderer while at the same time regarding the promise concerning his son as infallibly sure (Genesis 22:1-18).

Do you see what sort of faith brings justification? But Christ also promised us that we would inherit eternal life, pleasure, glory, and the Kingdom, while then He commanded us TO BE POOR, TO FAST, TO LIVE IN LOWLINESS AND AFFLICTIONS, TO BE READY TO DIE AND TO CRUCIFY OURSELVES TOGETHER WITH OUR PASSIONS AND DESIRES (cf. Galatians 5:24. If therefore we eagerly do these things while at the same time believing God’s promise to us, then we shall have really believed God in the way Abraham did, and it will be counted to us as righteousness.

Christ looked at His Disciples and said, "Blessed are ye poor for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye that mourn. Blessed are ye merciful. Blessed are ye that are persecuted for righteousness sake" (Matthew 5:3-4, 7,10). But "woe unto you that are rich. Woe unto you that laugh. Woe unto you that are full. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you" (Luke 6:2426). How, I ask you, is it credible that someone believes God IF HE DOES NOT ASPIRE TO WHAT THE LORD PROUNOUCES BLESSED BUT TO WHAT HE PRONOUNCES WRETCHED? "Shew me," it says, "THY FAITH BY THY WORKS" (James 2:18). And, "WHO IS A WISE MAN? LET HIM SHEW OUT OF GOOD CONDUCT HIS WORKS" (James 3:13).

The fact that we truly believe God, that we understand that His promise and warnings to us ARE TRUE AND SURE, even though they have not happened yet, is shown by our good works and by our keeping of His commandments. But what proof is there that we have a right belief in God, that WE HAVE A TRUSTWORTHY AND DEVOUT UNDERSTANDING OF HIM? It is THAT WE CONFESS THE SAME FAITH AS OUR GOD-BEARING FATHERS. SINCERELY BELIEVING GOD PROVOKES OPPOSITION NOT ONLY FROM THE PHYSICAL PASSIONS AND THE EVIL ONE’S SNARES BUT ALSO FROM PEOPLE IN THE GRIP OF PASSIONS WHO LURE OTHERS AND DRAG THEM DOWN WITH THEMSELVES INTO WICKED PLEASURES. In the same way, having a right belief in the One True God provokes opposition not only from ignorance and the enemy’s promptings but also from godless men who treacherously pull believers down into the depths of their own destruction. In both aspects of faith our greatest help comes not just from God Himself and our God-given faculty of knowledge, but FROM THE GOOD ANGELS AND FRMO GOD-FEARING PEOPLE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO His will.

This is why the Church of Christ, the SPIRITUAL MOTHER AND NURSE OF US ALL, clearly and publicly celebrates today those who were ILLUSTRIOUS AND THEIR PIETY AND VIRTUE, THEIR HOLY COUNCILS, AND THE GODLY DOCTRINES THESE COUNCILS PROCLAIMED. At the same tie the Church briefly denounces the supporters of ungodliness and their evil pursuits, so that we can turn away from them, follow those whose understanding accords with God’s intention, and believe in One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, from Whom and through Whom and in Whom were made; Who is before all things and in all things and beyond all things, Unity in Trinity, Trinity in Unity, united without confusion, undividedly divided, Almighty Unity and Almighty Trinity.

Faith WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD AND CHAOTIC, and WORKS WITHOUT FAITH ARE EMPTY AND USELESS. We, therefore, eagerly pursuing both faith and works together may show our faith by our works and carry off the prize for our labors through faith.

EVIL PASSIONS and GODLESSNESS NOT ONLY OPEN THE DOOR TO ONE ANOTHER, THEY ARE ALSO SIMILAR. Adam was given authority by God to eat from every tree in Paradise but HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEM ALL. Once he had been convinced by the counsel of the serpent (evil one), THE ORIGINATOR OF EVIL, he ate from the one tree which he had been commanded NOT to touch. In the same way, God sets before us all His riches and truly beneficial gifts to share if we wish, in accordance with the words, "THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DEIFIED BY GRACE WILL BE IN EVERY RESPECT AS GOD IS, EXCEPT FOR HIS VERY ESSENCE…WE HAVE RECEIVED POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER AL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY. Without difficulty, we can crush all the tricks and snares he devises against piety and the devout way of life. And when we have openly gained the victory him in every respect we shall attain to heavenly and incorruptible crowns of righteousness in Christ Himself, to the impartial Judge Who gives to each his due.

To Whom belong all Glory, Honor, and Worship, with His Father without beginning and the All-Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever, and unto all ages of ages. Amen. [Source: Saint Gregory Palamas The Homilies]

_____________

"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.

6th October,
Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy and
Glorious Apostle THOMAS.

Apolytikion Hymn(Dismissal Hymn). Third Tone

O HOLY Apostle Thomas, intercede with the Merciful God that He
grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone

CHRIST’S Apostle, who was filled with God’s Divine grace, he who
was His genuine and faithful servant in all truth, all-lauded Thomas
exclaimed aloud in deep repentance: Thou art both my God and
Lord.

Thomas, the Holy Apostle, surnamed Didymos (which means "twin"), was born in the Galilean city of Paneada, the child of poor parents. In his youth, he cherished the law of Moses greatly and diligently studied the Sacred Scripture of the Jews. Never interested in the games other children played, he led a godly life, occupying himself constantly with physical labor or the activity of the soul. By trade, he was a fisherman, and his life was a struggle for subsistence; yet he was accustomed to poverty and hardship. When our Lord Jesus Christ, during His sojourn on earth with men, passed through the cities and villages, teaching the people and healing all manner of diseases, Thomas, on hearing His preaching and seeing His miracles, cleaved unto Him with all his heart. Delighting in the sweet words of Jesus Christ and the sight of His All-Holy face, Thomas followed Hi and was accounted worthy by the Lord of a place in the Choir of the Twelve Apostles, with whom he followed Christ until the very time of His Saving Passion. When the holy Lazaros reposed (he who was to remain dead for four days in the tomb), it was Thomas who, a good faithful servant of his Master, said in the midst of His Disciples, "Let us also go, that we might die with him" (John 11:16).

After the Resurrection of the Lord, Saint Thomas, by his disbelief when the other Apostles told him that the Savior was Risen, STRENGTHEN THE Faith in the Church of Christ; for when the other Disciples of Christ said, "We have seen the Lord," he would not believe them unless he himself beheld Christ and touched His wounds. Eight days after the Resurrection, when all of the Disciples, including Thomas, had gathered together, the Lord appeared to them and said to Thomas, "BRING THY FINGER HERE, AND BEHOLD MY HANDS, AND BRING THY HAND, AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. AND CEASE BEING UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING." And when he saw Christ and touched His Life-Giving side, Thomas cried out, "MY LORD AND MY GOD" (John 20:24-29).

The incident involving Thomas CONVINCES EVERONE OF THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD IN THE MOST GRAPHIC MANNER, BECAUSE CHRIST APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES NOT AS A PHANTOM, AND NOT IN SOME OTHER BODY, BUT IN THE VERY ONE IN WHICH HE HAD SUFFERED FOR OUR SALVATION.

After the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles cast lots amongst themselves TO DETERMINE WHERE EACH OF THEM SHOULD GO TO PREACH THE Logos/Word of God. To Thomas fell the lot TO GO TO INDIAN, to the Brahmans and the other divers and obscure peoples of those parts, to enlighten lands benighted by paganism, and to teach the True Faith to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanias, and Bactrians.

Saint Thomas was dismayed to be sent to such savage peoples; but the Lord appeared to him in a vision, strengthening him and commanding him to be valiant and not to be afraid; and He promised to abide with him Himself. And soon He showed him a way to enter those lands.

While the holy Apostle Thomas was enlightening the lands of India with the preaching of the Gospel, the Honored Dormition (Koimisis) of the Mother of God (Theotokos) took place, and all the holy Apostles were caught up from various lands on the clouds of heaven and were TRANSPORTED TO GETHSEMANE, TO THE BIER OF THE All-Blessed Virgin. Then the holy Apostle Thomas was also caught up from India, ye he did not manage to arrive in time for the actual day of the burial of the body of the All-Pure Theotokos which was GLORIFIED BY GOD. This was PERMITTED BY THE WILL OF GOD, THAT THE FAITHFUL MIGHT BE ASSURED THAT THE MOTHER OF GOD WAS BODILY TRANSLATED (METASTASIS) INTO THE HEAVENS. For just as they were more greatly assured of the Resurrection of Christ, THROUGH THE DISBELIEF OF THOMAS, SO DID THEY LEARN OF THE TRANSLATION (METASTASIS) OF THE ALL-PURE VIRGIN MARY. FROM THE VANTAGE POINT, HE BEHELD THE TRANSLATION (METASTASIS) OF HER BODY INTO THE HEAVENS, AND CRIED OUT TO HER, "WHITHER GOEST THOU, O ALL-HOLY ONE?" AND, REMOVING HER CINCTURE, SHE GAVE IT TO THOMAS, SAYING, "RECEIVE THIS, MY FRIEND." AND THEN SHE WAS GONE. Thereupon, he descended to find the other Disciples keeping watch over the Sepulchre of the Theotokos. He sat down beside them, saddened that he had not been there when she reposed, as the other Apostles had been; and he said, "WE ARE ALL DISCIPLES OF THE MASTER; WE ALL PREACH THE SAME THING; WE ARE ALL SERVANTS OF ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST. HOW, THEN, IS IT THAT YOU WERE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO BEHOLD THE REPOSE OF His Mother, and I was not? Am I not an Apostle? Cant it be that God is not pleased with my preaching? I beseech you, my fellow Disciples; open the tomb, that I also may look upon her remains, and embrace them, and bid her farewell!" The others than did as Thomas requested and opened the tomb; but THEY DISCOVERED THAT HR REMAINS HAD VANISHED, FOR SHE HAD BEEN BODILY TRANSPORTED TO PARADISE. Her body was imbued WITH INCORRUPTION AND IMMORTALITY EVEN BEFORE THE Second Coming of Christ when, AT THE General Resurrection, the RIGHTEOUS WILL RECEIVE IMPERISHABLE BODIES.

The Holy Apostle Thomas was martyred in India. He was delivered into the hands of five soldiers, ordering them to go wit him to a mountain and there to run him through with their spears. Asking permission, Saint Thomas, of the soldiers to pray, entreated the Lord, praying, "O LORD MY GOD, THOU HOPE AND REDEMPTION OF THE FAITHFUL: LEAD ME TO THEE THIS DAY, THAT MY SOUL, MAY NOT BE HINDERED IN ITS ASCENT. BEHOLD, I HAVE COMPLETED THE WORK WHICH THOU HAST ASSIGNED TO ME, AND HAVE CARRIED OUT THY COMMANDS. AS THY SLAVE DIDST THOU SELL ME; THEREFORE, RENDER UNTO ME MY FREEDOM THIS DAY." Thereupon, the Holy Apostle blessed the faithful. And he ordained Siphor to the Priesthood and Wazan to the Diaconate, commanding them to see to the increase of the faithful and the growth of the Church of Christ. Turning to the soldiers, he said, "Carry out now the king’s order." The soldiers then RAN THROUGH WITH FIVE SPEARS: AND THUS THE BLESSED THOMAS ENDED HIS EARTHLY SOJOURN NEAR THE CITY OF MYLAPORE.

The faithful wept bitterly and wrapped his sacred remains (relics) in the costly cloth which Tertiana had purchased to serve AS A SHROUD, and they buried him in ground set aside for royalty. After they had performed the burial, they sat down by the Apostle’s grave and wept. And at the place where the holy body of the Apostle had been buried, many miracles worked through his supplications, to the Glory of Chris our God, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, it behooves us to render honor and worship forever. 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

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

LIFE AFTER DEATH ACCORDING TO THE HOLY
ORTHODOX CHURCH

By Saint John Maximovitch

“I LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD,
AND THE LIFE OF THE AGE TO COME.” (Nicene Creed)

“Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given to eternal life. Our life would be pointless if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good deeds? Then they would be correct who say: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” BUT MAN WAS CREATED FOR IMMORTALITY, AND BY HIS RESURRECTION, CHRIST OPENED THE GATES OF THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM, OF ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN HIM AND HAVE LIVED RIGHTEOUSLY. Our earthly life IS A PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE LIFE, AND THIS PREPARATION ENDS WITH OUR DEATH. “It is appointed unto man once to die, but AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT” (Hebrews 9:27). Then a man leaves all his earthly cares; THE BODY DISINTEGRATES, IN ORDER TO RISE ANEW AT THE General Resurrection.”

But HIS SOUL CONTINUES TO LIVE, AND NOT FOR AN INSTANT DOES IT CEASE ITS EXISTENCE. By many manifestations of the dead, it has been given us to know in part what occurs to the soul when it leaves the body. When the vision of its bodily eyes ceases, ITS SPIRITUAL VISION BEGINS.

Saint Theophan the Recluse, in a message to a dying woman, writes: “You will not die. Your body will die, but YOU WILL GO OVER INTO A DIFFERENT WORLD, BEING ALIVE, REMEMBERING YOURSELF, AND RECOGNIZING THE WHOLE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS YOU.”

After death, THE SOUL IS MORE, NOT LESS, ALIVE, AND AWARE THAN BEFORE DEATH. Saint Ambrose of Milan teaches: “Since the life of the soul remains after death, there remains a good which is not lost by death but is increased. The soul is not held back by any obstacle placed by death, but IS MORE ACTIVE BECAUSE IT IS ACTIVE IN ITS OWN SPHERE WITHOUT ANY ASSOCIATION WITH THE BODY, WHICH IS MORE OF A BURDEN THAN A BENEFIT TO IT.”

Saint Abba (Father) Dorotheos, the 6th century monastic Father of Gaza, summarizes the teaching of the Early Holy Fathers on this subject: “For as the Holy Fathers tell us, THE SOULS OF THE DEAD REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED HERE–THOUGHTS, WORDS, DESIRES-AND NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN. But, as it says in the Psalm, “IN THAT DAY ALL THEIR THOUGHTS SHALL PERISH” (Psalm 145:4). The thoughts he speaks of are those of this world, ABOUT HOUSES AND POSSESSIONS, PARENTS, AND CHILDREN, AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. ALL THESE THINGS ARE DESTROYED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE SOUL PASSES OUT OF THE BODY…BUT WHAT HE DID AGAINST VIRTUE OR AGAINST HIS EVIL PASSIONS, HE REMEMBERS, AND NOTHING OF THIS IS LOST… In fact, THE SOUL LOSES NOTHING THAT IT DID IN THIS WORLD BUT REMEMBERS EVERYTHING AT ITS EXIT FROM THIS BODY MORE CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY ONCE FREED FROM THE EARTHLINESS OF THE BODY.”

The Great 5th century monastic Father, Saint John Cassian, sets forth quite clearly THE ACTIVE STATE OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH OF THE BODY, IN ANSWER TO THE EARLY HERETICS who believed the soul was unconscious after death: “SOULS AFTER THE SEPARATION FROM THIS BODY ARE NOT IDLE, DO NOT REMAIN WITHOUT CONSCIOUSENSSS; THIS IS PROVED BY THE GOSPEL PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS (Luke 16:22-28)… THE SOULS OF THE DEAD NOT ONLY DO NOT LOSE THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS, THEY DO NOT EVEN LOSE THEIR DISPOSITIONS–THAT IS, HOPE AND FEAR, JOY AND GRIEF, AND SOMETHING OF THAT WHICH THEY EXPECT FOR THEMSELVES AT THE Universal Judgment THEY BEGIN ALREADY TO FORETASTE… THEY BECOME YET MORE ALIVE AND MORE ZEALOUSLY CLING TO THE GLORIFICATION OF GOD. And truly, if we were to reason on the basis of the testimony of Holy Scripture concerning the nature of the soul, in the measure of our understanding, would it not be, I will not say extreme stupidity, but at least folly, to suspect even in the least that the most precious part of man (that is, THE SOUL), IN WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE BLESSED APOSTLE, THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD IS CONTAINED (1 Corinthians 11:7, Col. 3:10), after putting off this fleshly coarseness in which it finds itself in the present life, should become unconscious–that part which, containing in itself the whole power of reason, makes sensitive by its presence even the dumb and unconscious matter of the flesh? Therefore it follows, and the nature of reason itself demands, THAT THE SPIRIT AFTER CASTING OFF THIS FLESHLY COARSENESS BY WHICH NOW IT IS WEAKENED, SHOULD BRING ITS MENTAL POWERS INTO A BETTER CONDITION, SHOULD RESTORE THEM AS PURER AND MORE REFINED, BUT SHOULD NOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEM.”

Today’s “AFTER-DEATH” experiences have made men shockingly aware OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SOUL OUTSIDE THE BODY, OF THE KEENER AND QUICKER STATE OF ITS MENTAL FACULTIES. But this awareness by itself is NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT ONE IN THAT STATE FROM BEING DECEIVED BY APPEARANCES IN THE “outer-of-body” realm; one must be in possession of the FULL Christian doctrine on this subject. [Source: The Soul After Death by Father Seraphim Rose]

____________

“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.

Elder Paisios: NOBLE LOVE
By Hieromonk Isaac

By Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

The apex and crown of all the elder’s struggles was NOBLE LOVE (agape). "I love everyone the same way I loved my family," he said. "I feel like they’re all my brothers and sisters."

Full of love for man and creation, the elder was aflame with divine love. From the time he was a small child, he gave alms, helping many people. When the poor of Konitsa needed something, they ran to him for help. Moved by their sighs, he would give away even the clothes on his back. He embraced the villages of Konitsa with his tremendous love, and he found ways to help the sick and needy.

At the beginning of the elder’s time on Sinai, when he would leave the monastery on Sunday evening to go back to his cell, the monastery’s steward would provide him with bread, flour, and other staples. The poor Bedouins who knew his schedule would stop him on the road and ask him for a donation. He would give them whatever food he had and then continue on to his hermitage with an empty bag.

He placed great value on alms-giving: as the elder saw it, a person’s charity showed whether he was worthy to receive divine mercy and salvation. "Someone might not be a Church-goer," he said, "but if he feels compassion for someone who’s sick, if he gives alms, don’t be afraid for him."

One time, he helped exhume the remains of elder Prodromos at the neighboring cell of Saint John the Theologian. The incident made an impression on him, because the bones were yellow, signifying holiness, even though elder Prodromos, a mule-driver, had been concerned mostly with the mules and not so much with monastic disciplines. "It looks like he gave alms," the elder commented.

He was saddened by social inequality. "What kind of Christians are we?" he said. "We have two or three houses and a place in the country, while other people don’t even have a place to lay their heads!"

He encouraged people to give to the poor because he believed that "When you receive something, you feel human joy. But when you give something, you feel divine joy. In the spiritual life, you receive by giving."

His charity knew no limits. He gave away everything and he knew each person’s needs even before he was asked for help. He distributed with discernment the food and clothes, which people sent him, to sick monks, the poor, and the students at the Athonite School. No one left empty-handed. Along with these simple but generous gifts, he also distributed blessings–crosses, prayer ropes, small icons, books, and so on–and he helped people spiritually. Visitors left consoled and happy.

When he would make trips into the world, he always carried a bag full of such blessings for people. "I have a piggy bank here in the cell," he said, "and every day I put in one or two thirty-three-knot prayer ropes. When I went to Athens I took all with me–five hundred or so — and it still wasn’t enough. And there were the little icons and crosses I made with the press, too."

"He was a man who always wanted to do good," Katie Patera recalls. "Not a moment went by when he didn’t help someone if it were at all possible." And the good he did had grace and beauty, because he was discreet. He didn’t want the person he was helping to feel indebted. He helped people as his brothers or sisters, and he set them at ease.

Appearances of Saints

Elder Paisios saw the Mother of God many times, as well as his guardian Angel, many of the Saints, and Christ Himself. He saw them, not in dreams, but during the day. He spoke with them; they venerated each other with kisses; and they gave him food with their own hands, healed him, made promises, and revealed mysteries.

He once told someone, "I read the lives of the Saints a lot when I was young, but reading their lives doesn’t help me as much now (meaning reading them), because I live them." He no longer needed that spiritual food, because he experienced something superior to it…Speaking of visions, he said, "When someone sees a vision, he sees with the eyes of the soul. Sometimes, when I was having a vision, I’d close my eyes, but I sould still see. So I saw with the eyes of the soul. When a Saint appears to someone, another person there might see the Saint, might only hear the Saint’s voice, or maybe neither. There’s no law."

A Professor of the Desert

The elder lived each of the forms of monasticism: in a coenobium, in an idiorhythmic monastery, in a monastery in the world, in the desert, in a skete, and by himself in a hermitage. He was under obedience, filled with the tradition of the Fathers of old, and he had much experience.

Out of humility, he didn’t desire to receive any distinctions or positions of authority, and he didn’t have his own brotherhood because of his spiritual sensitivity. "If I take on a disciple, "he used to explain, "he deserves two hours a day with me. But with all the people that I see, can I spare that much time? Really — should I take someone on as a monk and then turn him into everyone’s waiter? In spite of all this, though, the elder emerged as a professor of the desert and a practical teacher of the monastic life. (Source: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos by Hieromonk Isaac)

____________

"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.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE BISHOPS ACCORDING TO
THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.

The Apostle of the Nations, Saint Paul writes to Timothy, bishop of Ephesus in the year 64-65 A.D. Saint Paul speaks as an experienced mentor instructing his student, his "son," in his role as Apostle and bishop.

In Ephesus, where Saint Paul had left Timothy as bishop or overseer (episkopos), some Church members were promoting a variety of theological opinions–from the irrelevant to the DANGEROUSLY HERETICAL (1:3-7;4:1; 2:7; 6:3-5). Saint Paul found it NECESSARY TO EXCOMMUNICATE A COUPLE OF THE SPECULATORS (1:19-20). The Church was also dealing with external pressures from the Hellenistic mystery religions which made much misuse of the terms "SALVATION" and "SAVIOR"; and from the cult of emperor worship, according to which Caesar is "lord."

The holy Apostle Paul writes to guide Timothy as he encounters pastoral challenges and questions.

Church government in the Pastorals. Saint Paul uses episkopos (Greek, translated "bishop") synonymously with PRESVYTEROS (Gk.; translated "presbyter, "elder" or "priest"). Saint Timothy and Saint Titus have extraordinary assignments. They are responsible for several communities (Titus 1:5) they take part with the presbytery in ordinations (5:22) AND BRING UNITY TO THE PRESBYTERS (5:17-22). The original Apostles soon will face death and are passing on their Apostolic authority to a new generation of Church leaders.

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7

"This is a faithful saying: if a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Saint John Chrysostom on "BLAMELESS: writes, "Every virtue is implied in this word. [The bishop's] life should be unspotted so that all should look up to him, and make his life the model of their own."

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to
TITUS

The circumstances, content, and organization of Titus are similar to 1 Timothy. The two books were probably written about the same time, A.D. 63-65. The major theme of the epistle is the overseeing the Church according to the True faith. As the Church grew, it naturally developed theology and structure and encountered heresy and sub-Christian behavior among its members, as had been prophesied. The holy Apostle Paul advises Titus as he faces these issues.

Titus was a Gentile (Pagan) converted to Christ by Saint Paul (1:4). He became an associate of Barnabas and Paul at Antioch and went to Jerusalem with them, receiving the approval of the Twelve to remain uncircumcised (Galatians 2:1-5).

After Saint Paul was released from prison in Rome, about A.D. 63, he and Titus visited Crete (1:5). When Saint Paul moved on, he appointed Titus as Apostolic overseer of Crete. Thereafter, Saint Paul wrote this letter asking Titus to meet him in Nicopolis (probably the Nicopolis on the Western coast of Greece) as soon as possible (3:12). When Saint Paul was again imprisoned in Rome he sent Titus to Dalmatia in Illyricum, Yugoslavia (2 Timothy 4:10). According to Holy Tradition, Titus became bishop of Crete and died there in old age.

Once again Holy Apostle Paul advises Titus on the ordination of sound presbyters (1:5-9). Saint Paul writes:

"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you–if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, nor violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

All Christians are priests in Christ. Candidates for eldership, that is, for the special priesthood within the general priesthood of all, should exhibit (1) a wholesome and united family life (v. 6), (2) control over passions and emotions 9v.7), (3) loving and righteous relations with others (v. 8) and (4) careful adherence to tradition (v. 9)

1:10-16 False leaders also exhibit certain characteristics. They (1) upset rather than reconcile (2) have an eye for personal profit (3) lack discipline and integrity (4) misjudge reality–here setting up external laws when the uncleanness is internal and (5) are immoral. Bad theology leads to bad behavior (v. 16). Good theology helps lead us to good behavior. [Source: Orthodox Study Bible]

___________________
"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 STRUGGLE AGAINST THE PASSIONS

"Passion is properly something that lies hidden for a long time
in the soul and by its very presence it takes on the character of
a habit, until the soul of its own accord, clings to it with affection."
(The Ladder of Divine Ascent)

"The most exact of the spiritual Fathers point to another more subtle notion, something they call PARARRIPISMOS, or DISTURBANCE of the mind. What happens is this. In a moment, without a word being spoken or an image presented, a sudden passionate urge lays hold of the victim. It comes faster than anything in the physical world and is swifter and more indiscernible than any spirit. It makes its appearance in the soul by a simple memory, which is unconnected with anything, independent of time and inexpressible, and in some cases comes without the person himself realizing the fact…the soul is led to omit a definite sin of unchastity without any notion or evil thought." (The Ladder of Divine Ascent)

"Some passions enter the body by way of the soul, and some work in the opposite way, the latter affecting people living in the world, the former assailing those living the monastic life and, hence, lacking stimulus from the outside. All I can say here about it is that if you look for wisdom among evil men, you most certainly will not find it (cf. Proverbs 14:6) [Saint John Climacus]

The Orthodox Christian believer is in constant vigilance and is aware that he or she is in constant spiritual warfare. The evil one does not need to sleep, rest, eat, or drink and he is always on the prowl to find new victims to consume. The evil one, the devil, and his evil angels explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. Our evil enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, and to each of our senses setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin. The holy Apostle Peter warns us about the evil one and his evil intentions, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

There are eight passions: GLUTTONY, LUST, AVARICE, ANGER, DESPONDENCY, DESPAIR, VAINGLORY, AND PRIDE. The majority of Christians have a great challenge ahead of them to avoid the passions and by the grace of God overcome them and be victorious. "The best and most successful struggle takes place when the thought is cut off by means of an unceasing prayer at the very start. For, as the Holy Fathers have said, whoever opposes the INITIAL THOUGHT, i.e. the provocation, will stop its subsequent disposition at once. Saint Hesychius of Jerusalem (5th century), a disciple of Saint Gregory the Theologian states: "Our mind, being something of light and innocent, easily gives itself over to daydreaming and is unrestrainedly subject to evil thoughts (logismoi), if it does not have in itself such a concept which, like a monarch over the passions, holds it constantly under control and bridles it."

Saint Hesychius continues and says, "Many of our thoughts come from demonic suggestions, and from these derive our evil outward actions. If with the help of Jesus Christ we instantly quell the thought, we will avoid its corresponding outward action. We will enrich ourselves with the sweetness of divine knowledge and so will find God, Who is everywhere. Holding the mirror of the intellect firmly towards God, we will be illuminated constantly as pure glass is by the sun. Then finally the intellect, having reached the limit of its desires, will in Him cease from all ther contemplation."

It is necessary, my dear friends, that we participate as frequently as possible in the Mysterion of Repentance and Confession. That we have a spiritual father who will help us in our spiritual struggle and offer sound spiritual advice and guidance. A spiritual father who assumes the responsibility before God to protect us from all the evil machinations and traps. It is no different than going to our physician and seeking from him not only a diagnosis of our condition or illness but to offer us the remedy for health, that is spiritual health. We must be humble enough to believe what our Lord says, "for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We are too weak, our faith is anemic and frail, and many more are confused and afraid. At Confession, we need to be honest, forthright, remorseful, sad, repentant, and open to the advice of our spiritual father.
Our spiritual father is not someone to be afraid of but our friend, someone to trust implicitly, who always prays for us and for God’s forgiveness and mercy. A person on his own is not strong enough to confront evil temptations and threats. We need the power of God because "not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). Ultimately human power is not sufficient for our salvation, we must depend utterly upon the Almighty God.

In recent years, however, there are dark powers that have deliberately attempted to undermine the Mysteria (Sacraments) of our Holy Church, especially the Sacraments of the Divine Eucharist and Repentance and Confession. These dark powers seek to create confusion, fear, doubt, and a lack of trust. It is an outright assault on the Sacraments and the Office of the Priesthood. We must reject them and expose them to what they are, evil. The father confessor, usually the parish priest, is not there to hurt his spiritual children but to help, guide, direct, and offer compassionate and loving consul. Those who attempt to put a wedge between the spiritual father and his spiritual children are sinister and very dangerous.

_____________

"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.

"O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You
have made all things in wisdom" (Psalm 103[104]:34

Everything God created, including man, is "very good" because God is good. Nothing He created is therefore evil in itself. So then, human nature is good in itself. But sin (αμαρτία) IS A FREE CHOICE OF MAN’S WILL, and it is contrary both to God’s Nature and human nature. Our Creator and God formed the first human being, Adam’s body "out of dust from the ground" (Genesis 2:7). The"breath of life" is the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life (Symbol of Faith)). God breathed the BREATH OF LIFE into man’s body and he became "A LIVING SOUL." Therefore, Adam was a living soul because he possessed a body, a soul, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Not only did Our Benevolent and Merciful God create Adam and Eve out of dust but he made them in His own "image" and "likeness" (1:26). Therefore, the dignity of each man and each woman is this image and likeness. The "image and likeness" given to the man and to the woman is sacred and holy and must be understood as a great gift from God, honored, and preserved pristinely and completely by man.

We are reminded by the holy Apostle Paul when he asks, "Do you not know your body IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Who IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and you are not your own. For you were BOUGHT AT A PRICE; therefore glorify God IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S" (1 Corinthians 6:19). It is unquestionably true that our bodies are the "Temple" of the Holy Spirit and "members of Christ" (6:15). Our bodies must always be respected, honored and must not be corrupted through sinful acts. "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (6:18). Our bodies are not our own! They are God’s because we "were bought at a price" (6:20).

When we disobey God, His commandments,and Divine will we divert ourself from God’s path which leads to perfection, and therefore separating ourselves from our Creator, the Source of Life and instead chose death. Is that wise?

God is indeed the Source of Life and through His blessing we were given His "blessing" of producing life as men and women. In other words to procreate. "Then God blessed them, and God sait to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subude it.." (Genesis 1:28). The blessing from God to procreate is sacred for life itself is sacred. The Commandment from God to man is "You shall not commit murder" (Exodos 20:13). Yet foolish man not only continues to find reasons to disobey this very clear Commandment of God but in his defective reasoning feels that he has the right to do it.

"Murder" takes different forms and uses different means to carry it out. Everyone in our contemporary society is a witness to various kinds of murder. Those that commit it have absolutely no regret and do it with impunity. There is no guilt, no remorse, no repentance, no conscience, and no fear of God. Man is openly, defiant, and rebellious against God. We see this impudence with the act of infanticide or the killing of an infant, a child. Millions upon millions are killed throughout the world and in accordance with the ligal system of the various conutries. It is not only considered to be murder but it is considered to be the right of the woman to kill her child. It does not matter if it is soon after conception, after three months, six months, nine months or even after the birth of the baby.

"Thanks to ultrasound allowing a peek inside the womb of the woman, scientists have discovered a virtual sensory playground in which a baby is living. The fetus responds to the mothers voice and other sounds in the room, reacts to light and dark shades as the mother moves from place to place, tumbles as the mother switches positions, and even tastes sweet or spicy foods the mother has just eaten." (Medical Journal)

The womb of the woman God created was to be a sacred and safe place for the baby to grow and develop in. Conception is a time of celebration and joy for a new life is beginning, a life that may make a difference in the world. A gift from God to the parents and to the world. The womb was never meant to be a torture chamber which leads to death. Is it possible in the 21st century with all the science and medical progress not to know that what is growing in the womb is a child? I doubt it. How can a so called civilized society permit the dismamberement of a living human being inside the mother’s womb? What a barbaric act and what a grave and unforgivable sin this is!

The Eastern Orthodox Church considers the act of abortion as murder with grave consquences and penalty. No Orthodox Christian is to be engaged in infanticide and still be a member of the Church.

_____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE LIFE OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN IS A
LIFE OF PRAYER

+

PRAYER TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

MY GOOD COMFORTER, Spirit of Right. Thou art my God, and I will confess to Thee; thou art my God, and I will extol Thee; for Thou hast procession from the Father Who is without beginning, and hast rest in the Co-Eternal Son, and hast perfect knowledge of the Father and of the Son; for Thou searchest the depths of God and knowest all, a treasure of good things and a bestower of life verily art Thou, a plentiful and perennial Fountain of all Grace, lord and Most Prudent Bestower of Grace. I pray Thee therefore in the name of the good-will of the Ever-Living Father and grace of the Only-Begotten Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray Thee, O Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life, Good Paraclete, breathe forever delightfully and graciously upon my soul, and, remaining with me forever, comfort me with a blissful consolation, bestowing on me grace to be well and to live well. Lead me into all truth, imparting to me abundantly of Thy wisdom and understanding, filling me with consel and strength, knowledge and piety, and the fear of God, that I may faultlessly and irreproachably please the Father and the Son, together with Whom, my Holy Spirit, I adore Thee and glorify Thee unto the ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER TO GOD THE SON

MY LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Only-Begotten Son, and Logos/Word, Who at in the bosom of the Father, Who didst become flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth, Thou art the perfect God and the perfect man. Thou art the perfect man, pure in heart, meek and humble, righteous and merciful, a peacemaker, Who endurest the Cross for the sake of mercy, peace and righteousness, Our Great High Priest, Holy, guileless, undefiled, separate from sinners, cleansing and sanctifying us sinners with Thy own blood, Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, having become higher than the heavens, having been placed above all rule and authority and power and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. Thou art that elect stone, the precious one, the Chief Cornerstone, Who hast knocked down the image of the old man, and has Thyself filled all the earth lie a great mountain, the True Vine, cultivated by the Heavenly Father, the Tree of Life, planted of old in the Paradise of God. Thou art the Mighty, the Eternal, the Great King, and Thy Kingdom hath no end. Thou art the perfect God, perfect Logos/Word, of perfect Mind, the Being of the Being, the Living One of the Living One, the True One of the True One, the radiance of glory, the similitude of substance, the exact image, the effusion of tenderness, exceedingly good in every respect, my righteousness, my sanctification, my redemption, my life, my joy, my peace, my light, my truth, my beginning, my science, my wisdom, my perfection, my good, the one, the perfect help of which all have need, the good portion, the perfect gift coming down to us from above from the Father of Lights. I desire as Thou desirest, that I may be with Thee forever, that I may behold Thy glory, which the Father gave to Thee, having loved Thee before the foundation of the world. Give unto me grace and mission to teach obedience to the faith unto all nations, in order that I may conciliate with Thee the people that have departed from Thee, for whom Thou didst die, whom Thou didst redeem from the curse by Thy Precious Blood. Amen.

[ A. Makrakis –  Divined and Sacred Catechism]

It is imperative for all Orthodox Chrisitan believers to have a personal prayer and who feel vividly the desire in their hearts for frequent communion with the Almighty God through prayer and worship. Saint John Climacus says, "Prayer is the spring of virtues, the cause of gifts, food for the soul, and the enlightenment of the mind."

Our prayer must come out of a convicted and sincere heart and not to pray robotically and mechanically because by doing so we offend our Lord who knows what is true and what is hypocritical. From time immemorial and under both the Old and New Testaments, the faithful ended the day with the setting of the sun, beginning the new day by lighting the lamps of the evening. As the comes to a close, believers, together with the Church, stand before God filled with thankfulness. We thank God for the abundant blessings He has granted to us and to all creation throughout time.

Most glorious, Ever-virgin, blessed Mother of God, present ur prayer to thy Son and our God, and plead with Him, that through thee He may save our souls.
My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

In thee, O Mother of God all my hope I set; guard me under thy protection.

Saint Paul exhorts all Christians to pray unceasingly. An inspiring Orthodox prayer is the following: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

+ Father George