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6 August 2016
Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
ISODIKON : TRANSFIGURATION
For with
Metemorfothis en to Ori, Hriste O Theos, dixas tis Mathites Thou were Transfigured upon the Mountain, O Christ our
Sou tin Doxan Sou, kathos idinanto. Lampson ke imin
tis amartolis, to Fos Sou to aidion, Presvies tis
Theotokou, Fotodota, Doxa Si.
Soson
1.
2.
1.
2.
Iakov
3.
4.
dwellings of Jacob.
3.
en
4.
afti.
OF
TO
CHRIST
ST LUKE 9 : 28 - 36
ON
MOUNT TABOR
At that time, after saying these words, about eight days later, our Lord Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up
on the Mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the Appearance of His Face was altered, and His robe became white
and glistening. And behold! Two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in Glory and
spoke of His Departure, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep. When they were fully awake, they saw His Glory and the two men
who stood with Him. And it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus: Master, it is good for
us to be here! And let us make three tabernacles - one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah not knowing
what he said.
While he was saying this, a Cloud came and overshadowed them. They were fearful as they entered the Cloud. And a
Voice came out of the Cloud, saying: This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! And when the Voice had ceased, Jesus
was alone.
And they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the Things they had seen.
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS A
He does not say: This has become My Son, but This
IS My Son... indicating that THIS DIVINE GLORY
THEOPHANY A MANIFESTATION OR REVELATION OF GOD
especially of the Divinity of Christ THROUGH A DISPLAY
BELONGS TO CHRIST DUE TO HIS DIVINE, ETERNAL NATURE.
OF HIS UNCREATED DIVINE ENERGY.
From Eternity infinitely before His Baptism and
Therefore the Orthodox Church celebrates the
Transfiguration HE IS GOD THE SON OF GOD THE
Transfiguration of Christ as a major Feast Day.
FATHER FULLY SHARING IN THE DIVINE ESSENCE AND
SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION SHOW THAT OUR
ATTRIBUTES OF THE ETERNAL FATHER.
LORD JESUS CHRIST IS INDEED BOTH MESSIAH (ANOINTED
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD
SAVIOUR) AND GOD:
THE FATHER HE IS CERTAINLY GOD OF GOD.
1. Because GOD IS UNCREATED LIGHT, THE BRIGHT CLOUD, THE
3. THE TRANSFIGURATION NOT ONLY PROCLAIMS CHRISTS DIVINE
SHINING OF OUR LORDS FACE as bright as the sun
SONSHIP, BUT ALSO FORESHADOWS HIS FUTURE GLORY
AND THE GLISTENING WHITENESS OF HIS GARMENT, all
when He as the long awaited Messiah ushers in
demonstrate that He is God.
the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom of Love, Peace and
(In some Holy Icons this Uncreated Light is shown as
Joy the Kingdom of Eternal Life in Christ.
beyond white a blue-white, an ineffable colour
THE BRIGHT CLOUD RECALLS TEMPLE WORSHIP AND THE
indicating its Spiritual Origin.)
MYSTERIOUS CLOUD THAT WENT BEFORE THE ISRAELITES
2. GOD THE FATHER BEARS WITNESS FROM HEAVEN CONCERNING
DURING THEIR TRAVELS IN THE WILDERNESS BEFORE THEY
HIS BELOVED ETERNAL SON.
ARRIVED AT THE PROMISED LAND the visible Sign of
the Extraordinary Divine Presence.
THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR
6 AUGUST 2016
1.
Thy Works shall be greatly magnified, O Lord. Thou hast made all things in Wisdom.
Bless, O my Soul, the Lord!
THE SECOND UNIVERSAL
EPISTLE
PARTAKERS
OF
OF
ST PETER 1 : 10 19
DIVINE NATURE
Brethren: be even more diligent to make your Call and Election sure. If you do these things you will never stumble.
An Entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For this reason I will not neglect reminding you always of these things, although you know and are established in
the present Truth. I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you knowing that
shortly I must put off my tent - just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. I will be careful to ensure that you always
have a reminder of these things after my decease.
We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the Power and Coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. He received from God the Father Honour and Glory when such a Voice
came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased. And we heard this
Voice, which came from Heaven, when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain.
And so we have the Prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a Light that shines in a dark place, until
the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts...
THE PRIMARY TRUTH WITH WHICH ST PETER DEALT and which
ST PETER WAS AN EYEWITNESS TO THE MAJESTY OF CHRIST IN MANY
he only indirectly touched upon at this point - IS THE
WAYS and he reminds us especially that he was
SECOND COMING OR REAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST AND HIS
present at our Lords Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
What ST PETER REPEATED concerning the Reappearance of
PEOPLE LIVED IN TENTS WHILE JOURNEYING, constantly moving,
Christ is THE COMMON APOSTOLIC TRADITION, which is
or at war.
SUPPORTED BY THE EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY of the Holy
So as long AS WE ARE IN THIS PHYSICAL BODY DURING THIS
Apostles and ESPECIALLY THE THREE WHO WITNESSED THE
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TOWARDS ETERNITY, WE LIVE IN TENTS TRANSFIGURATION.
TEMPORARY, TRANSPORTABLE STRUCTURES - which bear
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH concerning everything to do with
witness to OUR LONG JOURNEY OF LIFE AND THE ONGOING
Christ IS DEFINITELY NOT AN ELABORATE SCHEME of fables
BATTLE AGAINST ENEMY FORCES of Darkness that
such as the Gnostics invented and propounded.
constantly threaten us.
In all the Holy Gospel accounts, THE TRANSFIGURATION IS
OUR TEMPORARY PHYSICAL BODIES BELONG TO GOD, HAVING BEEN
DIVINE AND TRUE PROOF AS WELL AS A FORETASTE OF THE
SANCTIFIED THROUGHOUT OUR LIFETIME WITH THE HOLY
GLORIOUS RETURN (in his physical form) of Christ in all
MYSTERIES.
His Divine Glory.
Thus THEY ARE TO BE RETURNED TO THE EARTH from whence
THE TRUTHFUL TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES BOTH CONFIRMS
they came always being TREATED WITH THE UTMOST
THE PROPHETIC WORD THE HOLY PROPHECIES AND THE
RESPECT.
SECOND COMING, AND SHOWS US HOW TO INTERPRET HOLY
PROPHECY CORRECTLY AND TRUTHFULLY.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
ST MATTHEW 17 : 1 9
THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR
6 AUGUST 2016
THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR
- ST ANASTASIOS
OF
MOUNT SINAI
THE
STARTING POINT
OF
CHRIST
TO
OUR
SAVIOUR
6 AUGUST 2016
3.
CARRYING
THE
CROSS
AND
LIVING
IN
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer so that we would not
have to. He suffered so that we could endure our
own personal suffering TOGETHER WITH HIM.
In other forms of Christianity, one is often told that Christ
suffered and died ...so that we could be freed from a
similar fate. A focus in Protestant Theology is Christ
...appeasing the Wrath of the Father, and freeing us
from a Rightful Punishment.
But for our Greek Holy Fathers and Orthodox
Christianity, the focus is largely on our Lord Jesus
Christ as our Great Divine Physicianour Loving
and Compassionate God Who suffers and dies so
that He can Wash away our (habitual, continuous) sins,
Cleanse us from defilement, and Reunite us with the
Father in Him.
Rather than presenting a Trinitarian nightmare in which
the Father and Son are at odds with each other (God
forbid!), Orthodox Christology declares that our Saviour
voluntarily lays down His Life for the sake of the
worldand that this is the Unified, Divine Will.
In other words, even while we are still sinners, Christ
died for us.
One of my personal Struggles is that of a severe and even
crippling empathy. I have trouble disassociating
myself from the sufferings or experiences of others,
grafting their experiences into my own.
In these distressful times I can pray, and Petition God for
His Great Mercy. But in these Prayers, I catch myself
assuming that suffering is only a negative.
While it might seem noble to ask for Gods Deliverance
especially for others - we should adjust our heart and
our Prayers in light of what I previously stated - Christ
suffered so that we could endure our own suffering
together with Him.
Better than praying for Deliverance from suffering, we
must pray for Salvation through suffering.
In the Christian context, Hope is inextricably linked with
suffering:
...The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that
we are Children of God. And if Children, also
Heirson the one hand Heirs of God, on the other
hand Co-Heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, in order that we might also be Glorified
together. For I reckon that the sufferings of the
present time are not worthy in comparison to the
Future Glory to be revealed in us. (ROMANS 8:1618)
ST PAUL was referring to our Divine Adoption through the
Holy Mystery of Baptism and Chrismation, whereby
we become Children of God Children of Divine,
Uncreated Light and thus Co-Heirs with the Son of
God.
However, if we are to receive our Eternal Inheritance (as
Gods Adopted Children), we are Called to suffer,
thereby becoming Joint-Heirs with the True, Only
Begotten, Eternal Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ.
As St Paul explained, for that very reason and Purpose,
we must endure the ...sufferings of the present time...
and Live in Christ, according to Hope.
A falsehood spread throughout the broader Christian
world today is that God adopts us into His Family
without anything expected of us - or even worse - we
are ...promised a better life, happiness, and even
material wealth or worldly success!!
BEHALF OF ALL
4.
THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR
6 AUGUST 2016
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
7 August 2016
th
Also the Feast of St Dometios of Persia & 2 of his Disciples St Metrophanes, First Bishop of
Voronezh St Pimen the Much Ailing of Kiev Near Caves Monastery St Pimen the Faster of Kiev
Caves Monastery St Mercurios, Bishop of Smolensk, Kiev Near Caves Monastery St Marinos
the Soldier & St Asterios the Senator, of Caesarea, Palestine St Horos of the Thebaid, Egypt St Potamia the
Wonderworking Virgin Martyr St Dometios the Elder, of Philotheou Monastery, Mount Athos St Anthony of Optina
Monastery St Theodora the Great Ascetic, of Sihla St Nicanor, Wonderworker of Mount Kallistratos St Theodosios
the New, Wonderworking Healer of Peloponnesos
Angelike
The
Doxa Si.
OF
CHRIST TONE 4
Metemorfothis en to Ori, Hriste O Theos, dixas tis Mathites Thou were Transfigured upon the Mountain, O Christ our
Sou tin Doxan Sou, kathos idinanto. Lampson ke imin
tis amartolis, to Fos Sou to aidion, Presvies tis
Theotokou, Fotodota, Doxa Si.
PROKEIMENON PSALM 27 -
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
ROMANS
15: 1 7
Brethren: We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us
please our neighbour, for his good and edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself, but, as it is written: ... the
reproaches of those who reproached Thee, fell on Me...
For whatsoever things were written beforetime, were written for our learning, that we through Patience and Comfort
of the Scriptures might have Hope.
Our God of Patience and Consolation grants you to be like-minded towards each other, according to Christ Jesus, that
you may with one mind and one mouth Glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore, receive one another as Christ also received us to the Glory of God.
When St Paul instructed us to bear the infirmities of the
As Faithful Disciples of our Saviour, we must always strive
weak he did not teach us to merely put up with or to
to imitate our Lord Who bears all mankinds
tolerate but rather to carry together each others
weaknesses, so that being strong in our Faith and
weaknesses and failures.
Love of God, we lovingly, compassionately and
In his Epistle to the Galatians, St Paul tells us that
joyfully identify with those who are still weak
whenever anyone ... is overtaken in any trespass,
Believers who do not know how to fulfil their Sacred
you who are Spiritual (must) restore such a person in
Commitments according to the Divine Truth and
a spirit of Gentleness, considering yourself lest you,
Teachings of our All Merciful God.
too, be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens, and so
The Infinite Bounty of our Hope is to be found in Holy
fulfil the Law of Christ.
Scripture, which is a Sacred Record of actual
However, St Paul also urged each of us to bear our own
Spiritual Experiences and personal Witness to the
burdens our own problems - and never take
Divine Truth and Love of God that teaches us about
advantage of the generosity and kindness of others,
the necessity of Holy Virtue and Worship that
unless unavoidable and absolutely necessary!
prepares us for Eternal Life.
As Faithful Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are
Furthermore, it is through the Divine Promises, Victories
Called to care for each other within His Holy Church
and Spiritual Struggles that are recorded in Holy
but never be needlessly dependent on others who
Scripture, that we find True Comfort, Encouragement
have their own problems with which to contend.
and Hope
THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR
6 AUGUST 2016
5.
TO
ST MATTHEW 9: 27 35
AND A
DEMONIAC
At that time, two blind men followed our Lord Jesus, crying out and saying: Son of David: have Mercy on us!
And when He had gone into the house, the blind men went to Him. And Jesus asked them: Do you believe that I Am
able to do this? They said to Him: Yes, Lord!
And He touched their eyes, saying: According to your Faith, let it be to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus
sternly warned them, saying: See that no one knows it. But when they had departed, they spread the news
about Him in all that country.
As they went out, behold! They brought Him a man who was mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon had
been cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marvelled, saying: It was never seen like this in Israel! And the
Pharisees said: He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons!
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom
and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
According to St Isaiah, the Messianic Age is signified
of the demons, exposes the depth of their spiritual
when ... The eyes of the blind shall be opened, ad
blindness and deviousness because it is impossible to
the ears of the deaf shall hear. (ISAIAH 35:5)
do so since Satan is obsessed with the consolidation of
his evil powers rather than the destruction of it.
These Miraculous Healings are Extraordinary Signs that
our Lord Jesus Christ is Truly the long awaited
Our Lord Jesus Christ Cleansed Lepers, Raised the
Messiah.
dead and Remitted sins by the Divine and Good
Furthermore, the fact that the Two Blind Men addressed
Power of the Holy Trinity by the Will of the Father,
our Saviour as Son of David also expressed their
through the Son and Activated by the Life-giving
Faith in this Truth they instinctively knew without
Holy Spirit!
any doubt, that He is Truly the Messiah the Saviour
The evil one and his demons are entirely incapable of
of our fallen world.
doing anything that is so genuinely Good, Merciful,
The ridiculous and false accusations of the self-righteous
Compassionate or Kind.
Pharisees that our lord cast out demons by the ruler
7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 7TH SUNDAY
OF
OF
OF THE
OF
OF
FOR
OUR PERFECTION
SALVATION
IN THE
WORLD
BY
OF
surrounds us.
When we put what is most important first, we can - even
while living in the midst of worldly vanity - derive
Spiritual Benefit from everything for there are few
things in this world that are in and of themselves
either completely negative or completely positive.
Everything that surrounds us can either benefit or harm
us. If we learn to Benefit from everything that
surrounds us, the whole world will be Transfigured.
We will see that, without having to go into the desert like
St Mary of Egypt, without living in a Monastery,
without any special Ascetical Feats, but simply by
living in this world, we can attain Spiritual Heights.
The majority of us live in a city and are rarely able to
spend time in nature. But when an opportunity arises,
we can go somewhere for a day or two, and be alone
with nature, which is a very important experience that
should not be neglected.
As city dwellers, we unwillingly become involved in an
artificial rhythm and the pursuit of material things,
but once we tear ourselves away from these
circumstances, we immediately feel the fresh breath
of Eternity, especially when surrounded by the beauty
and magnificence of
nature, where the very
Presence of God is tangible we feel the Power and
Energy of the Holy Spirit, Who was ...moving over the
face of the waters... when Earth was created and
Who even now permeates and gives life to everything.
Each of us has a particular expertise, a certain area in
which we know something. Every science and every
sort of expertise can have a useful and practical
value, and in this sense, they are all neutral with
respect to our Spiritual Life.
Yet Science, - as long as it reveals the depths of the
Universe, and the laws that are in force among
people, in nature, in the cosmos - can acquire a
religious significance and can open God to us.
The deeper we go into any Science, the more it can
enable us to know God.
As one Philosopher commented: A little knowledge
leads mankind away from God; Great Knowledge
leads mankind back to Him. The narrow-minded
and ignorant often have primitive conceptions of
religion as well.
Many of our Church Fathers, such as St Gregory the
Theologian, St Basil the Great, St Gregory of Nyssa, St
John Chrysostom, and Blessed Augustine, spent years
and even decades mastering the Sciences and the
knowledge contained in various fields philosophy,
rhetoric,
medicine,
astronomy,
mathematics,
geometry, etc. being some of the most well educated
people of their times. Afterwards, when they were
ordained, they used all their knowledge for the
Service of God, His Church, and His people.
As St Gregory the Theologian once said: I have worked
hard to acquire all the riches accumulated in the
East and the West, but I have laid all of these riches
at the Feet of Christ.
In the opinion of some, Faith and Science are
incompatible, as if Education and Science were
completely foreign to the Christian Church, where
everything depends on simplicity and Humility. In
school, children are taught that religion contradicts
Science and that Science denies the tenants of Faith.
On the other hand, among religious people there is fear
in the face of dialogue, exchanging views, and
reason as such. Some are even distrustful of the
Science of Theology.
There is much that I could say on this subject, but it is
sufficient to mention the words of Father. Alexander
Elchaninov, one of the most remarkable Holy
Shepherds of the 20th century: The fear of thinking,
Philosophy, and Theology, which has become
common in our time, cannot be justified either by
the Gospel or the Holy Fathers, who themselves did a
lot of reasoning and analyzing. I cannot recall a
single one of the Holy Fathers who would have been
afraid of the human mind, of reasoning, of a
difference of opinion
(TRANSLATION JOHN HOGG, 2009)
HTTPS://THEINNERKINGDOM.WORDPRESS.COM
Metemorfothis en to Ori, Hriste O Theos, dixas tis Mathites Thou were Transfigured upon the Mountain, O Christ our
Sou tin Doxan Sou, kathos idinanto. Lampson ke imin
tis amartolis, to Fos Sou to aidion, Presvies tis
Theotokou, Fotodota, Doxa Si.
FESTAL KONTAKION
THE ACTS
OF THE
APOSTLES ACCORDING
TO
In those days, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath
Days journey.
And when they had entered, they went up into an upper room, where was both Peter, and James, and John, and
Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas,
brother of James.
These all continued with one accord in Prayers and Supplication, together with the Women, and Mary, the Mother of
Jesus, and with His Brethren.
And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples, (the number of names altogether were approximately
120) and said: Men and Brethren: this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before, by the mouth
of David, concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and
obtained a part of this Ministry...
... Wherefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that our Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
beginning with the Baptism of John until that day when He Ascended from us, one of these must become a Witness
of His Resurrection with us.
And they proposed two Joseph called Barsabas who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
And they prayed and said: Thou, O Lord, Who know the heart of all, show which of these two Thou hast chosen to take
part in this Ministry and Apostleship, from which Judas, by transgressions, fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the Eleven Apostles.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
OF
ST LUKE 10 : 16 - 21
At that time, our Lord said to His Disciples: He who hears you, hears Me. And he who rejects you, rejects Me. He
who rejects Me, rejects Him Who sent Me.
The Seventy returned with Joy, saying: Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Thy Name!
He said to them: I beheld Satan fall like lightning from Heaven!
Behold! I grant to you Power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and
nothing shall by any means harm you.
However, do not Rejoice that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice rather because your names are written in
Heaven.
In that hour, Jesus Rejoiced in Spirit, and said: I Thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that Thou hast
hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto infants.
Indeed, Father, for it seems Well-pleasing in Thy Sight.
ST MATTHEW LEVI HOLY APOSTLE & EVANGELIST
OF
OF OUR
OF OUR
9 AUGUST 2016
THE ETERNAL, INSPIRED WISDOM OF OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS & MOTHER
ST BASIL OF POIANA MARULUI
ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
OF
KRONSTADT
ST PAISIOS VELICHKOVSKY
MOTHER GABRIELLA
10.
THE FEAST
OF
THE
ELDRESS
OF OUR
9 AUGUST 2016
By
Lai
Ti
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
CORINTHIANS 1 : 10 17
AVOID CONTENTIOUSNESS
Brethren: I plead with you by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same, and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be Perfectly United in the same mind and in the same Knowledge. For it has
been declared to me concerning you, my Brethren, by those of Chloes household, that there are contentions
amongst you.
I say this for each of you says I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you Baptised in the name of Paul?
Thanks be to God that I Baptised none of you except Crispos and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had Baptised in
my own name! I also Baptised the household of Stephanas besides which I do not know if Baptised any others. For Christ did not send me to Baptise, but to preach the Gospel - not with Wisdom of Words, lest the Cross of Christ
should be made meaningless!
THE
TO
ST MATTHEW 14 : 14 22
At that time, Jesus saw a great multitude, and He was moved with Compassion for them, and He healed their sick.
When it was evening, His Disciples went to Him, saying: This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the
multitude away, so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food. Jesus said to them: They do not
need to go away. You give them something to eat. They said to Him: We have here only five loaves and two
fish. He said: Bring them to Me.
And He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking
up to Heaven, He Blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the Disciples, and the Disciples gave to the multitudes.
And they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
Those who had eaten were about five thousand men besides the women and children!
And immediately Jesus made His Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the
multitudes away.
This great Divine Miracle, which was recorded by all
ST MATTHEW MENTIONED ANOTHER DIVINE MIRACLE OF 4000
four Holy Evangelists, shows OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
FAMILIES FED WITH SEVEN LOAVES AND A FEW SMALL FISH.
FED A GREAT MULTITUDE OF HIS PEOPLE (5000 FAMILIES!)
While certain modern scholars say that these two
JUST AS HE HAD FED THE WANDERING ISRAELITES FOR 40
different accounts are merely one and the same
story, the True Witness and Testimony of the Holy
YEARS in the wilderness before they entered the
Gospel is quite clear that they are definitely TWO
Promised Land. (EXODUS 16)
Our Holy Church Fathers regard this Divine Event as AN
SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ACCOUNTS with Christ Himself
IMAGE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST a concept made clear
referring to both of them separately. (MATTHEW 16: 8
10)
by St John the Beloved Apostle and Theologian in
his Holy Gospel. (JOHN 6)
8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - 8TH
OF
11
Blessings.
THE TERMINOLOGY THAT IS USED POINTS TOWARDS THE LAST
SUPPER OR THE MYSTICAL SUPPER OF CHRIST, which leads
us to a Eucharistic interpretation of this Divine
Miracle.
Just as His Faithful Disciples and Apostles distributed the
food amongst the great multitude, so also does OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST DISTRIBUTE HIS HOLY EUCHARIST TO HIS
FAITHFUL FLOCK THROUGH THE HANDS OF HIS ORDAINED
BISHOPS (OVERSEERS) AND PRIESTS (PRESBYTERS).
OF
12.
OF
Those early Christians who had had to use the cryptic fish
symbol to mark their secret meeting places, all wore
around their necks and against their heart - as we
do the empty cross, symbolising Resurrection (not
the crucifix with Christ still nailed to it!)
And like us they made the Sign of the Cross, which
proclaims our worship of our Trinitarian God, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit ... with all our mind, our heart,
our strength and our soul.
Also regarding the symbolism of this Great Event of
feeding, sustaining and fulfilling the hunger of so
many souls with so little - whenever bread is used by
our Lord Jesus Christ it symbolises the Holy Mystery of
Eucharist - Christs Precious Life-giving Body and
Blood, of which every Baptised, Chrismated Disciple of
Christ partakes.
Those five small bread rolls were Miraculously
increased by Christ through His Apostles and
Disciples as they distributed them to the Faithful
families who were seated in groups.
Furthermore, the little rolls of bread had increased to
such a degree that, to the astonishment of everyone,
there were twelve baskets of bread left over one
basket each of the Holy Apostles each having
more than what they had collectively began with!
This foretold the innumerable Faithful Christians who
would increase through the Loving Labours of
Christs Holy Apostles - as long as they remained
Faithful to God.
Sadly, one of those Baskets would have to be given to
another Faithful Disciple of Christ, for Judas Iscariot not only due to his impending betrayal of Christ for
those miserable 30 silver coins but by not Repenting
and receiving Divine Forgiveness - would forfeit his
basket to St Paul, who, ironically, also initially
betrayed, and even persecuted, his own people due
to his misguided zealous desire to serve God.
However, unlike Judas Iscariot, St Paul Repented all his
sins, received Divine Forgiveness, and spent the rest
of his life in Repentance and in humble, Faithful
Service to God, becoming the greatest, most effective
Holy Apostle of our Lord and Saviour.
The difference between that dedicated persecutor of
Christians and the fatal betrayer of our Lord, was
sincere, determined and True Repentance!
ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY REPENTANCE
THE
SHIP
THE WAY
egotism in us."
When we adopt a Repentant attitude, we accept that we
are always imperfect and in need of continual
correction in order to acquire Spiritual Perfection.
It is this attitude that kills our ego based pride.
We recognize our limitations and our lack of Perfection,
and have a feeling of compunction. (regret, sorrow,
contrition, remorse)
Father Dimitru Staniloae points out that EGOISM IS OUR
LARGEST, MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE: ...So the greatest
and continuous obstacle in the way of our progress
to Love is egoism.
Until egoism completely dies, we cannot possess True
Love...
We love ourselves, and thus, being full of self-admiration,
we consider ourselves as being most important and
we cannot Love anyone else, for to Love others
means to forget ourselves and to always go beyond
8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - 8TH
OF
HTTP://WWW.SAINTBASIL.ORG/WP/WPCONTENT/UPLOADS/2012/12/8TH-WEEK-FEEDING-THEFIVE-THOUSAND.PDF
OVERCOME EGOISM
13
REPENTANCE- CONFESSION
OF OUR
AS A
HOLY MYSTERY
THE
NEW
OF
MOUNT ATHOS
14.
OF
15 August 2016
En
In
Tin
Neither
A IPARTHENON .
TO
ST LUKE 1 : 38 49 & 56
VISITATION
At that time, Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of
Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leapt
in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she spoke out with a loud voice, saying: Blessed art
Thou among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb! And why is this grant to me, that the Mother of my
Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of Thy Greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leapt
with Joy in my womb. And Blessed is She Who believed, for there will be a Fulfilment of those Things that were
told Her from the Lord!
And Mary said: My soul Magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour! For He has regarded the
lowly state of His Maidservant. For behold! Henceforth all generations will call me Blessed. For He Who is
Mighty has done great things form me, and Holy is His Name...
... And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
The Ever Blessed Virgin Marys faithful response to the
WITH THESE THREE SIGNIFICANT ROLES BEING VACANT,
Annunciation of Archangel Gabriel was that of the
ILLEGITIMATE AND SILENT, ALL WAS READY FOR THE SON OF
highest degree of Humility and Obedience to God.
GOD TO BE REVEALED AS OUR DIVINE AND ETERNAL PROPHET,
THE INCARNATION OF GOD THE SON IS NOT ONLY THE DIVINE WORK
KING AND HIGH PRIEST.
OF ALMIGHTY GOD, BUT IT ALSO INVOLVED THE FREE AND
COMPELLED BY HER WONDER AND GREAT JOY AT HER DIVINE
WILLING RESPONSE OF MANKIND IN THE HOLY AND DEVOUT
CONCEPTION, OUR LADY THEOTOKOS WENT TO HER BELOVED
PERSON OF ST MARY THE EVER BLESSED, ALL HOLY
AUNT, ST ELIZABETH, the sister of her late mother, St
THEOTOKOS.
Anna.
Although Eve had once disobeyed the Lord our God, THE
AT THE SOUND OF HER GREETING, THE BLESSED ST JOHN - as a
EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY INSTANTLY AND VOLUNTARILY
tiny six month baby still developing in the womb of his
mother PROPHESIED THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF GOD
OBEYED HIS DIVINE WILL WHICH SHE HAS ALWAYS DONE,
SINCE HER VERY EARLY CHILDHOOD.
INCARNATE BY LEAPING FOR JOY.
And although Eve - through her wilful disobedience by
BECAUSE ST JOHN IS GODS HOLY PROPHET, HIS RECOGNITION OF
breaking the one Divine Commandment - had
CHRIST WHILE THEY WERE STILL BOTH IN THE WOMBS OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE MOTHERS, FULFILLED ST JEREMIAHS HOLY
alienated and distanced herself from God exile and
alienation caused by sin OUR EVER BLESSED LADY
PROPHESY:
OPENED HER HEART AND SOUL UP TO GOD AND DREW EVER
Before I formed Thee in the womb, I knew Thee.
(JEREMIAH 1:5)
CLOSER TO HIM BY HER HUMBLE OBEDIENCE TO HIS DIVINE
THE ALL HOLY EVER VIRGIN THEOTOKOS RECEIVES VENERATION
WILL IN ALL MATTERS.
FROM THE HEAVENLY HOSTS AS WELL AS ALL HUMANITY.
SHE WAS EVER WATCHFUL AND RESISTED TEMPTATION, PREFERRING
And just as St Gabriel, the Holy Archangel of God, had
TO REMAIN IN HIS DIVINE GRACE.
done, SO NOW TOO, ST ELIZABETH DECLARED HER YOUNG
As St Theophilact of Bulgaria put it, Her response to God
NIECE TO BE BLESSED AMONG WOMEN.
was always as though she said: I am a (writing)
Our Panagia Mary is confessed as the Mother of my
tablet; let the Writer inscribe whatever He desires on
Lord by St Elizabeth and HER SPONTANEOUS, SINCERE
me.
CONFESSION and others like it in our Holy Church such
In other words, HER ATTITUDE TO GOD WAS ALWAYS: Let it be
as Theotokos or Mother/Bearer of God CONFIRMS
according to Thy Will and not my will, O Lord!
THAT THE ONE IN HER PURE WOMB IS BOTH FULLY HUMAN AND
AS SOON AS CHRIST BECAME INCARNATE, HOLY PROPHECY RESUMED
FULLY DIVINE IN NATURE - our Lord Jesus Christ is THE
IN ISRAEL.
TRUE SON OF GOD Himself as well as being the TRUE
GOD HAD SILENCED HIS HOLY PROPHETS FOR MANY YEARS and
SON OF MAN(kind)!
even permitted an illegitimate usurper occupy the
At Holy Vespers of the Annunciation, we declare: It is the
position of King of Judea.
Word of God Who dwells in Her.
And in the last days before the Coming of Christ, GOD ALSO
SILENCED ST ZACHARIAH, THE HIGH PRIEST.
THE DORMITION
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS
15 AUGUST 2016
15
In this day and age, infertile couples regard the dividing cells - from
the moment of conception or fertilisation - as a viable, living
baby who is Joyfully awaited and already named!
Every child who is conceived but lost is mourned and remembered by
the loving parents.
Furthermore, the tiny heart begins to beat very soon after conception
and babies have been able to be delivered and kept alive from
very early in the gestation period, many of whom survive and
grow into adulthood.
Therefore, ABORTION IS THE VIOLENT AND MOST BRUTAL MURDER OF A
TINY CHILD WHO IS MORE SENSITIVE TO AND AWARE OF EVERYTHING
THAN A FULLY DEVELOPED AND BORN BABY!
NOT ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN CONCEIVED OR BORN IS A MISTAKE
My soul Magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour!
For He has regarded the lowly state of His Maidservant.
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
PHILIPPIANS 2 : 5 - 11
TO THE
PRESERVING UNITY
IN
HUMILITY
Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the Form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be Equal to God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and Coming in
the likeness of men. And being found in Appearance as a Man, He Emptied Himself and became Obedient to the
point of Death even the death of the Cross.
Therefore, God also has highly Exalted Him and given Him the Name, which is above every other name that at the
Name of Jesus every knee should bow of those on Earth and of those under the Earth and that every tongue
should Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.
CHRIST HAS EQUALITY WITH GOD THE FATHER not by illegal or
This passage consists of a Hymn that was already in use
in the early Christian Church, which was quoted by St
forceful seizure or theft but DUE TO HIS ETERNAL DIVINE
Paul.
NATURE, HAVING BEEN BEGOTTEN BY HIS ETERNAL DIVINE
It calls us to CONTEMPLATE THE EXTREME AND ABSOLUTE
FATHER.
HUMILITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST the Majestic and All
THERE WAS NEITHER LOSS NOR CHANGE IN THE DIVINE NATURE OF
Powerful Incarnate Son of God which is A DIVINE
OUR LORD JESUS WHEN HE TOOK ON OUR HUMAN NATURE and
TRUTH THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL SUFFERING AND
offered us His Eternal Salvation.
CHRIST ...made Himself of no reputation... IS A REFERENCE
STRUGGLING CHRISTIANS TO UNDERSTAND, TO APPRECIATE AND
TO IMITATE THROUGH LIVING EVERY MOMENT OF THIS LIFE IN
TO HIS DIVINE WILL, NOT HIS DIVINE NATURE FOR HE
CHRIST.
EMPTIED HIMSELF not by laying down or ridding
The words of this particular passage of Holy Scripture
Himself of His Divine Nature or by setting it aside, but
have been incorporated into many Hymns of the
BY VOLUNTARILY TAKING ON OUR HUMAN FORM AND NATURE.
Orthodox Church.
(He Emptied Himself of His Majestic Divine Glory in order to
assume our weak human form and nature.)
CHRIST is He Who BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, i.e. HIS
OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR TOOK ...THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT...
ETERNAL, DIVINE NATURE IS ALSO IN THE FORM OF A
VOLUNTARILY SHARING OUR HUMAN CONDITION EXCEPT FOR
BONDSERVANT IN OUR HUMAN LIKENESS, HIS HUMAN NATURE
OUR INCLINATION AND ABILITY TO SIN HE CANNOT SIN!
and so HE WAS VOLUNTARILY SUBJECT TO DEATH.
To us human beings, Christ looks just like us, for BEING
Christ could only enter Hades in His human Nature where - in His
TRULY INCARNATE, HE IS FULLY HUMAN BY NATURE AND FORM.
Divine Nature - He smashed open the imprisoning Gates of
In His human Nature, CHRIST SHOWED THE FULLNESS OF HIS
Hades and set the Righteous free to Rest in Peace in Paradise
HUMILITY BY HIS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE even to Death,
until the Final Judgement. mp
which has enslaved us since our Fall.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - Who died upon the Cross for our
To have died by crucifixion a terrible, humiliating and
Eternal Salvation -HAS BEEN EXALTED AND NAMED AS LORD
shameful form of execution for the worst type of
BY GOD THE FATHER a Divine Name that God the Son
criminals of the Roman Empire was as repulsive to
shares with His Eternal Father.
the Roman Citizens as it was to the Hebrews who
The Form (Morphe) of God... is a concept that is parallel
considered it the ultimate Curse.
with the Image (Ikon) of God and refers to GOD THE
However, THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOUR BROUGHT ETERNAL LIFE TO
SONS SHARING IN THE COMPLETE, FULL DIVINE NATURE OF
ALL WHO ARE JOINED TO HIM even those whom He
GOD THE FATHER. (COLOSSIANS 1:15)
confronted in Hades and who repented their sins.
Robbery (harpagmon prize or booty) refers to
something that is stolen or looted illegally.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING
ON
TO
E
ST LUKE 10 : 38
THIN
G IS
EEDED
- 42
&
11 : 27 28
At that time, He entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a
sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus Feet and heard His Word.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said: Lord, dost Thou not care that my
sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me!
And Jesus answered and said to her: Martha! Martha! You are worried and troubled about many things, but one
thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
... And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him:
Blessed is the Womb that bore Thee, and the breasts that nursed Thee! And He replied: More than that: Blessed
are those who hear the Word of God and keep It!
16.
THE DORMITION
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS
15 AUGUST 2016
OF OUR
OF
SIMFEROPOL &
THE DORMITION
OF OUR
AND
CRIMEA
LADY THEOTOKOS
15 AUGUST 2016
17
18.
THE DORMITION
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS
15 AUGUST 2016
Tin
En
SEASONAL KONTAKION -
In
EVER VIRGIN
THEOTOKOS
Tin
OF
ST PAUL
TO
ST
TIMOTHY 4: 13 - 4: 5
My Child, Timothy: those who have used the Office of Deacon well, purchase for themselves a Good Degree, and Great
Boldness in the Faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
These things I write to Thee, hoping to come to Thee soon. If I tarry long, Thou know how Thou ought to behave in the
House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth, and Confess how Great is
the Mystery of Godliness:
God was Manifested in the Flesh, Justified in the Spirit, seen by Angels, Preached among Gentiles, Believed in the
world, Ascended in Glory.
The Spirit expressly says that in the latter times, some will depart from the Faith, heeding deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding
marriage, and commanding abstention for food that God created to be received with Thanksgiving by those who
believe and know the Truth. For every creature of God is Good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with
Thanksgiving, for it is Sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
At that time, when the time had come for (our Lord Jesus) to be received up, He steadfastly set His Sight to go to
Jerusalem. And He sent messengers before His Presence. And as they went, they entered a village of the
Samaritans, to prepare for Him. And they did not receive Him, for His Sight was set on the journey to Jerusalem.
Seeing this, His Disciples, James and John said: Lord, dost Thou want us to command Fire to come down from Heaven,
and consume them, just as Elias did? Turning to them, He rebuked them, and said: You do not know what
manner of spirit you are! For the Son of Man did not come to destroy mankinds life but to Save it!
And they went to another village...
As they went on their way, He said to those who followed Him: ... all things have been delivered to me by My Father.
And no one knows Who the Son is, except the Father, and Who the Father is, except the Son, and the one to
whom the Son Wills to reveal Him.
And, turning to His Disciples in private, He said: Blessed are the eyes that behold the Things that you see; for I tell
you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you
have heard, and have not heard!
And He went through the cities and the villages, teaching, and journeying towards Jerusalem.
OF
BY
19
20.
OF
BY
En
SEASONAL KONTAKION -
In
EVER VIRGIN
THEOTOKOS
Tin
- PSALM 75
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
CORINTHIANS 3 : 9 17
Brethren: We are Gods Fellow Workers you are Gods field you are Gods building. According to the Grace of God,
which was granted to me, as a Wise Architect, I have laid the Foundation, and no other builds on it.
Let each one take heed how he builds on it! For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this Foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each ones
work will become clear. For the Day will declare it as it will be revealed by Fire. And the Fire will test each ones
work, of what sort it is. If anyones work, which he has built on, endures, he will receive a Reward. If anyones work
is burnt, he will suffer loss, yet he himself will be Saved, as though through Fire.
Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within you? If anyone defiles the
Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple you are!
Fellow workers (synergoi) refers to the Biblical concept
AS LIVING HOLY TEMPLES OF GOD, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO TREAT OUR
of synergism, shown here by the way THE HOLY
BODY AND THE BODY OF OTHERS WITH ABSOLUTE RESPECT AS
APOSTLES OF CHRIST WORKED TOGETHER WITH GOD BY
A SACRED SANCTIFIED - VESSEL OF GOD.
CARRYING OUT AND FULFILLING HIS DIVINE MINISTRY ON
THE HUMAN BODY is to be honoured and nurtured carefully
EARTH.
FOR IT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO GOD Who has lent it to us in
So, too, as Gods fellow workers do WE CO-OPERATE WITH
order TO ACCOMMODATE OUR IMMORTAL SOUL.
HIM TO FULFIL HIS DIVINE WILL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR
We are created with BODY AND SOUL and since the body is
ETERNAL SALVATION.
complicated while the soul is very simple the two
THIS HOLY SYNERGY OR CO-OPERATION WITH GOD DOES NOT MEAN
WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE GOOD PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL
THAT WE ARE CO-EQUALS WITH ALMIGHTY GOD. Neither is it
PROGRESS in this lifespan - and especially for later - for
a 50-50 arrangement.
Eternity.
Holy Synergy means that GOD IS OUR LORD AND WE ARE HIS
OUR IMMORTAL SOUL IS BREATHED INTO EACH OF US BY GOD THE
FAITHFUL SERVANTS who are CALLED BY HIM TO PARTICIPATE
LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT SO IT IS NATURAL TO YEARN FOR GOD
WITH HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE IN HIS HOLY WORK.
AND ALL HIS GOODNESS AND TO KNOW GOOD FROM EVIL.
St Paul reminds us that OUR PHYSICAL BODY IS A HOLY TEMPLE
AT THE SEPARATION OF BODY AND SOUL, THE TWO ELEMENTS ARE
OF GOD and when we are IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE,
RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL PLACES the body to the
THE HOLY SPIRIT INDEED, THE HOLY TRINITY DWELLS WITHIN
earth and the soul to Eternity resting until the
US AND ACTS FROM WITHIN US.
General Resurrection and our Final Judgement when
OUR ENTIRE LIFE IS SPENT SANCTIFYING OUR BODY AND SOUL
we will receive either Eternal Life or Eternal Death
through the partaking of the Holy Mysteries of God.
(Eternal Exile and Alienation from God and all His
Therefore, OUR BODY IS AS HOLY AND SACRED AS OUR IMMORTAL
Goodness.)
SOUL.
9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - 9TH
OF
ST MATTHEW WALKING
ON
WATER 21 AUGUST
2016
21
At that time, our Lord Jesus made His Disciples get into the boat, and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the
multitudes away. And when He had sent them away, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening
came, He was alone there.
The boat was then in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves. The wind was contrary. In the Fourth Watch of the
night Jesus went to them walking on the sea. And when His Disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were
troubled, and said: It is a phantom! And they cried out in Fear.
Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good cheer! It is I do not fear! Peter answered Him, saying: Lord, if
it is Thee, command me to come to Thee on the water. He said: Come! And when Peter got down out of the boat,
he walked upon the water and went towards Jesus.
Seeing the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out: Lord! Save me! Immediately Jesus
stretched out His Hand and caught him, and He said to him: O thee of little Faith! Why did thou doubt?
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat went and worshipped Him, saying:
Truly! Thou art the Son of God!
And when they had crossed over, they arrived at the land of Gennesaret.
Having fed and Healed the bodies and souls of the 5000
TO HAVE MERCY ON US OR OUR WEAK HUMAN CONDITION, HE
FAMILIES who had followed our Lord Jesus Christ and
IMMEDIATELY RESPONDS.
His Disciples into the wilderness, Christ first dismissed
NOT ONE WORD OF OUR PRAYERS GO UNHEARD BY GOD but WE
His Disciples and then the great multitude before
MUST ACCEPT WITH ALL DUE HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE THAT
going up the mountain in total isolation to
EVERYTHING IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD AND
communicate through Prayer with God His Father.
ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE, UNIQUE PLAN OR PURPOSE FOR
Several hours later, when the Disciples were in the
EACH US!
middle of the Lake ... In the Fourth Watch of the
ONLY GOD HAS DOMINION OVER ALL CREATION.
night... - OUR LORD WENT TO THEM BY WALKING ON THE
Consequently THESE DIVINE MIRACLES CERTAINLY CONFIRM THE
WATER something that was quite natural for Him but
DIVINITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
terrifying to behold for His Disciples who immediately
The imagery of CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES IN A BOAT ON THE
STORM-TOSSED WAVES DEPICTS HIS HOLY CHURCH, WHICH IS
perceived Him to be a ghost or phantom.
WITH HIS WORDS OF COMFORT, HE CALMED THEM down but ST
STEERED BY GOD AND FILLED WITH HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES,
PETER, as impulsive as usual, ASKED OUR LORD JESUS TO
AND CARRIED SAFELY OVER THE TURMOIL AND TROUBLES OF
PROVE IT IS INDEED HIM BY MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO
EARTHLY LIFE, TOWARDS THE SAFETY OF HIS ETERNAL HARBOUR
ALSO WALK UPON THE WATER.
HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
WITH ONE DIVINE WORD: COME! CHRIST ALLOWS ST PETER TO DO
GOD PERMITS US TO EXPERIENCE THE STORMY, LIFE-THREATENING
THE NORMALLY IMPOSSIBLE to walk on water and AS
CONDITION OF EARTHLY LIFE SO THAT WE MAY ALSO
LONG AS ST PETER IS FOCUSSED ON OUR LORD, HE WAS INDEED
UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND
ABLE TO DO SO!
PROTECTION, WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO
Our Holy Church Fathers believe that ST PETERS INITIAL
SURVIVE OR PROGRESS.
STRENGTH OF FAITH ALLOWED HIM TO WALK ON THE WATER.
When Christ rebukes the stormy conditions that threaten
life and limb, it also illustrate His Compassion for His
Furthermore, ST PETER DID NOT ASK CHRIST TO MAKE HIM WALK
ON WATER, BUT RATHER TO BE WITH HIM FOR HIS YEARNING WAS
most beloved creatures mankind for HE ALONE CAN
not to perform any Miracle but rather TO BE JOYFULLY
ALSO CALM THE STORMY, THREATENING TEMPESTS OF OUR
REUNITED WITH CHRIST.
IMMORTAL SOUL.
Thus ST PETER WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE MIRACLE
This is the second time that our Lord permitted His
OF CHRIST AS LONG AS HE FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON HIM.
Disciples to be caught in a storm at sea.
However, THE INSTANT ST PETER TOOK HIS ATTENTION OFF
During the first terrifying storm at sea, He was with them
CHRIST AND FOCUSED ON THE SURROUNDING CONDITIONS, HE
but in this instance, they were on their own.
In this manner, CHRIST STRENGTHENED THEIR FAITH IN HIS
LOST FAITH AND BEGAN TO SINK.
Lord! Save me! IS THE MOST POWERFUL PRAYER that has
ETERNAL PRESENCE HE IS ALWAYS WITH US even in the
been repeated countless times throughout the
midst of the worst conditions and circumstances of our
centuries.
earthly life.
The Greek term for doubt in this context means to
It is I (Am) I Am IS THE DIVINE NAME OF GOD. Thereby
waver or to hesitate.
our Lord Jesus Christ reassured His Disciples of His
Absolute and Divine Authority over life especially
Thus, THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF ST PETERS SINKING WAS not due to
their lives, as His Faithful Disciples.
the stormy conditions, but rather DUE TO HIS SUDDEN
DOUBT, WAVERING OR HESITATION, which then caused
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HIS DISCIPLES CONFESS OUR LORD
Christ to rebuke St Peter rather than the wind and
AS SON OF GOD and knowing that ONLY GOD CAN BE
waves.
WORSHIPPED, they confess His Divinity by Worshipping
And immediately Jesus stretched out His Hand and
and Glorifying Him.
caught him... Whenever WE BESEECH GOD TO SAVE US OR
9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 9TH SUNDAY OF ST MATTHEW WALKING ON WATER
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the In order to describe this Relationship of Cooperation, St
Paul used the word synergoi, - synergy, when he
Holy Spirit...
said ...we are Gods fellow workers.
Dearly Beloved: we often think of Gods Will as some
This Holy Relationship with God is no 50/50 Relationship:
overarching Plan for our life.
for we are certainly NOT equals with God.
We tend to focus on the big picture and forget that Gods
We cooperate with Gods Work in us through our
Will for us is revealed every day - discerned through
Humility and Obedience to His Teachings, to His
our daily - if not moment by moment - Relationship
Church, to His Hierarchy, so that we can be properly
and participation in the Life of the Holy Trinity
and safely Shepherded Spiritually Guided and
through His Holy Church.
Protected - thereby increasing our Christ-likeness
We can forget - or willingly choose to forget - that ...Thy
and changing ourselves so as to conform to Divine
Will be done... goes hand in hand with ...give us
Will.
this day our Daily (Super-Substantial) Bread...
Obviously, this is a Great Challenge to all of us, but it is
feeding being Spiritually Nourished and Sustained
most necessary if we are to Live in Christ to regain
- on Christ through His Holy Mysteries.
our lost Likeness to God - and to become Deified.
It is necessary for those of us who Love God - those who
The Purpose of our Ordained Priests being the
desire Salvation - to suspend our own opinions and
Spiritual Fathers of all Communing members of the
preferences in order to learn Gods Way, to continue
Church is to give us their opinions concerning our
to Struggle, and thereby, to acquire the Likeness of
Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Church, nor the Orthodox
Christ.
Faith.
In this way alone, we are able to learn to participate
Rather, they must strive to Love everyone as Christ Loves
more and more in the Life that He is.
all mankind, to teach us, to preach to us, and to
22.
OF
ST MATTHEW WALKING
ON
WATER 21 AUGUST
2016
OF
ST MATTHEW WALKING
ON
WATER 21 AUGUST
2016
23
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not only come to preach the
Acceptable Year, but He brought it as well.
Where is it? In the souls of believers.
Earth will never become Paradise under the current
state of affairs; but it is and will be an Arena of
Preparation for the Heavenly Life.
The rudiments of Heavenly Life are placed in our soul.
The possibility of Heavenly Life lies in Gods Grace,
while Grace was brought by our Lord Jesus Christ
Who brought, consequently, the Acceptable Year for
souls.
Those who listen to our Lord and who fulfil all that is
commanded by Him, receive Grace, and with Its
Power enjoy the Acceptable Year within ourselves.
ST MAXIMOS
THE
RECLUSE
THE
CONFESSOR
OF
KRONSTADT
24.
OF
CONFESSOR
ST MATTHEW WALKING
ON
WATER 21 AUGUST
2016
Tone 1
28 August 2016
th
10 Sunday After Pentecost
10th of St Matthew - Faith as Small as Mustard Seed
The Feast of St Moses the Ethiopian of Skete, Egypt St Diomidos & St Laurence St
Hezekiah, Righteous King of Judah - St Hannah Prophetess at the Temple of
Jerusalem (who was present at the Meeting/Presentation of Christ our Lord with St
Symeon) - St Job, Wonderworking Abbot of Pochaev Monastery St Susanna,
Queen of Georgia Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves Monasteries St Savva
of Pskov
MATINS
Tou
OF
THEOTOKOS
Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek tis By Thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and
fthoras tou thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti Agia
gennisi Sou. Aftin eortazi ke o laos sou, enohis ton
ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin si: i stira tikti tin
Theotokon, ke trofon tis zois imon.
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
CORINTHIANS 4 : 9 16
Brethren, God has set forth us, the Apostles, last, as it were appointed to Death, for we are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to Angels, and to men. We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you
are strong; you are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and
are naked, and are buffeted, and have no dwelling place. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being
reviled, we Bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we Entreat. We are made as the filth of the world the offscourings of all things unto this day.
I write not these things to shame you, but as my Beloved Children, I warn you. Although you have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet have you not many Fathers. In Christ Jesus through the Gospel I have begotten you. I
beseech you, therefore - be imitators of me.
Irony
and sarcasm are bitter medicine, which St Paul used on
They endured all their humiliation and suffering for the
Pure Joy of serving our Lord and Saviour thereby
this occasion with full force.
The three parallel statements: ... we are fools... weak...
reconciling the fallen world to God.
St Paul soothed the pain of his rebuke by reminding the
dishonoured... were heaped upon each other in a
stinging series.
Faithful of his Spiritual Fatherhood to them.
The relative comfort of the Corinthians Christian
The Holy Church of Christ is similar to any other family
with maturing children who need parental guidance.
Community was contrasted with the persecuted,
poverty-stricken and uncertain lifestyle of the Holy
As Struggling Disciples of Christ, we who are the maturing
Apostles of Christ.
children, need our Spiritual Fathers to teach and
They endured all kinds and degrees of humiliation
guide us.
being treated as filth and even like the off-scourings
St Paul urged us as Faithful Disciples of Christ to imitate
yet, instead of retaliating in a similar fashion
him just as he ceaselessly strove to imitate our Lord
striking back in a similar manner at their persecutors
Jesus Christ.
the Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples of Christ
responded with unconditional, Divine Love Agape!
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 17 : 14 23
THE POWER
OF
FAITH
EVEN
At that time, a man went to our Lord Jesus, knelt down before Him and said: Lord, have Mercy on my son, for he is an
epileptic and suffers severely. He often falls into fire and water. So I brought him to Thy Disciples, but they could not
cure him. Jesus answered and said: O faithless and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How
long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him. And the
child was Cured at that very hour.
OF
AUGUST 2016
25
When the Disciples went to Jesus privately and asked Him: Why could we not cast it out? Jesus said to them: Because
of your unbelief.
Truly, I say to you: if you have Faith as (small as) a mustard seed, you will say to that mountain: Move from here to
there, and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind (of demon) does not go out
except by Prayer and Fasting.
And while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of
men. And they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.
Sickness and disease is sometimes associated with
Him
to
Mount
Tabor
and
witnessed
His
demonic activity especially in Old Covenant times.
Transfiguration.
By kneeling before our Lord Jesus, the Father displayed
THIS KIND OF DEMON POSSESSION WAS A REFERENCE TO ALL EVIL
his sincere Humility and desperation, but he also
POWERS OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DEATH and not
lacked faith.
simply those types of demons that caused certain
Although the Disciples of Christ also suffered from a lack
illnesses.
of faith, our Lord rebuked the Father of the epileptic
THE EXORCISM AND BANISHMENT OF SUCH FEARSOME DEMONS
REQUIRED STRONG, UNWAVERING FAITH, FERVENT PRAYERS AND
boy for trying to blame the Disciples when it was his
even greater lack of Faith that prevented his son from
STRICT FASTING, for THERE IS NO HEALING AND NO VICTORY IN
being Healed.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT ALL THREE SPIRITUAL WEAPONS.
In effect, our Lord Jesus Christ defended His Disciples and
Beginning with the Didache, our Holy Church Fathers
Apostles in front of the multitudes but later, in private,
have taught us that BOTH THE PERSON IN NEED OF HEALING
He reprimanded them for their personal doubts and
AND THE PERSON PERFORMING THE HEALING MUST FIRMLY
lack of trust in God through Whom all things are
BELIEVE, FERVENTLY PRAY AND STRICTLY FAST.
possible after they sought the reason for their failure
While it is not recorded that an Apostle literally moved a
to Exorcise the demon and Heal the boy.
mountain, our Holy Church Fathers are clear that THEY
This is a good Lesson of how to correct the errors of others
HAD SUCH DIVINE AUTHORITY IF THE NEED EVER AROSE and
without humiliating or embarrassing them in front of
certain Saints have been able to cause crevasses to
witnesses.
appear in mountains.
ERRORS ARE TO BE GENTLY BUT FIRMLY CORRECTED and THOSE
Furthermore, NOT EVERYTHING THAT THE HOLY APOSTLES OF
WHO ARE BEING CORRECTED SHOULD ACCEPT IT WITH HUMBLE
CHRIST ACCOMPLISHED WAS WRITTEN DOWN FOR POSTERITY.
GRATITUDE AND OBEDIENCE INSTEAD OF RESENTMENT,
Beyond the literal meaning this Divine Promise is also an
REBELLION OR ANGER.
illustration of the Great Power of True Faith and
Fervent Prayer in all areas of Earthly life.
The Discipline of our Holy Church is based on mutual
correction in three expanding stages. (MATTHEW 18: 15 St Theophylact believed: Whatever we ask, without
20)
hesitation and by believing in Gods Power, we shall
Sin and correction are to remain private unless the
receive... WHEN WE ASK FOR SPIRITUALLY PROFITABLE
offender stubbornly and wilfully refuses to Repent or
THINGS.
correct their errors.
For the second time, our Lord Jesus Christ predicted and
spoke of His forthcoming Death and Resurrection,
ALL CORRECTION MUST BE DONE WITH GREAT CARE AND HUMILITY,
which showed that He went to his passion freely and
WITH THE HIGHEST CONCERN BEING THE SALVATION OF THE
was not taken against His Will.
OFFENDER. (1 CORINTHIANS 5:5 & GALATIANS 6:1)
God Himself chose the day, the year and the hour of His
Nevertheless, CORRECTION IS NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL SO THAT
Passion so it was not due to anyone elses schemes or
THE SIN DOES NOT SPREAD TO OTHERS AS WELL.
St John Chrysostom pointed out that Christ reprimanded
plots.
nine of His Apostles none of whom had been able to
EVERYTHING IS CONTROLLED AND PERMITTED BY GOD FOR OUR
Exorcise the demon that caused the young boys
SALVATION - or Condemnation depending on what
epilepsy.
course we freely and wilfully choose to take!
The other three Apostles were the Pillars of Faith St
Peter, St James and St John who had accompanied
10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 10TH
Glory
OF
ST MATTHEW FAITH
26.
OF
AS
SMALL
AS A
MUSTARD SEED
AUGUST 2016
OF
SYRIAN
AUGUST 2016
27
IN
THINGS
OF THIS WORLD
TO
OF
28.
OF
AS
FASTING
OVERCOME
OUR
PASSIONS
OF THE
LADDER
OF
DIVINE ASCENT
AUGUST 2016
29 August 2016
ST JOHN
THE
The
OF
OF THE
Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek tis By thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and
fthoras tou Thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti
Agia gennisi Sou. Aftin eortazi ke O Laos Sou, enohis
ton
ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si: i stira tikti tin
Theotokon, ke Trofon tis Zois imon.
UNJUST MARTY
RDOM
ST MATTHEW 14 : 1 13
OF
ST JOH
THE
BAP
TIST
At that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, This is John the Baptist! He is
Resurrected from the dead, and therefore these Powers are at work in him.
Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and imprisoned him for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philips wife.
John had said to him: It is unlawful for you to have her! And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared
the multitude, for they regarded (John)as a Prophet.
When Herods birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore
he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she having been prompted by her mother said: Give me, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist!
And the King was sorry - nevertheless, because of his oaths and because of those who sat with him - he commanded it
to be given to her. And he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was presented on a platter to the
girl, and she took it to her mother.
And his Disciples took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard it, He departed from
there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. And when the multitude heard about it, they followed Him on foot
from the cities.
T HIS ACCOUNT WAS GIVEN PARENTHETICALLY , THEREBY
prepared mankind for the Coming of our Eternal
EXPLAINING S T J OHN THE B APTIST S EARLIER M ARTYRDOM
Saviour.
SO THAT THOSE WHO HEARD IT WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY
Consequently, THERE WAS NO LONGER A NEED FOR ANY MORE
H OLY PROPHETS OF GOD .
H EROD THOUGHT THAT ST J OHN THE B APTIST HAD BEEN
R ESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD .
After Christs Death on the Cross and His Descent into and
His Harrowing of Hades, ALL DEPARTED SOULS WERE
The Beheading of St John the Baptist is C OMMEMORATED IN
OUR H OLY C HURCH ON 29 A UGUST WITH A DAY OF VERY
GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR REJECT H IM AS
OUR ETERNAL L ORD G OD .
STRICT FASTING.
A S AN IMPORTANT PART OF GOD S P LAN OF SALVATION FOR ALL
NEVER AGAIN WOULD THERE BE SUCH AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REPENT OUR SINS AFTER
MANKIND , S T J OHN S H OLY M ARTYRDOM ALLOWED THE
C OMING OF THE M ESSIAH TO BE A NNOUNCED TO THE SOULS
DEATH!
Despite the efforts of St John the Baptist and the Love of
IMPRISONED IN H ADES .
God, CERTAIN WICKED AND STUBBORN SOULS REFUSED
ALL I MMORTAL SOULS BOTH THOSE OF UNREPENTANT SINNERS
G OD S D IVINE M ERCY AND L OVE , preferring the
AND THE R IGHTEOUS WERE INFORMED BY S T J OHN THAT THE
LONG - AWAITED M ESSIAH HAD INDEED COME TO S AVE THE
company of similar wicked and disgusting souls and
demons!
FALLEN , SIN DARKENED WORLD .
T HOSE WHO RECEIVED C HRIST WITH J OY AND GRATITUDE, WERE
St John - as the F ORERUNNER TO C HRIST AND THE LAST GREAT
GRANTED ETERNAL L IFE, AND now REST IN P EACE IN THE
H OLY PROPHET OF G OD ACCORDING TO THE OLD
RE- OPENED P ARADISE until our Final Judgement at the
C OVENANT had to depart from this life before OUR
Re-Appearance in the Flesh or the Second Glorious
L ORD J ESUS IN H IS HUMAN N ATURE COULD DIE AND THUS
Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ENTER H ADES , where, IN H IS D IVINE N ATURE , H E SET
D URING M ATINS , WE SING TO S T J OHN THE BAPTIST : Thy
SOULS FREE from Satans imprisonment Hades and
tongue, which constantly speaks of God, has
ALSO SMASHED OPEN THE G ATES OF H ADES THAT SHALL
preceded Christ into Death, and is sent to Preach
NEVER AGAIN PREVAIL AGAINST R EPENTANT SINNERS .
Him to those in Hades.
O UR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST FULFILLED ALL D IVINE PROPHESY as
revealed to us through His Holy Prophets, who had
THE BEHEADING
OF
ST JOHN
THE
29 AUGUST 2016
29.
The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall Hope in Him.
Hear my voice, O God, in my Supplication.
THE ACTS
OF THE
APOSTLES ACCORDING
TH
CH
URCH
IN
TO
ST LUKE
13 : 25 32
PISIDIA
In those days as John was finishing his course, he said: Who do you think I am? I am not He. But, behold: there comes
One after me the sandals of Whom I am not worthy to loosen.
Men and Brethren, sons of the Family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God: to you the Word of this
Salvation has been sent.
Those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their Rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets,
which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And although they found no cause for
death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. When they had fulfilled all that was written
concerning Him, they took Him down from the Tree and laid Him in a Tomb.
God Raised Him up from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, who are His Witnesses to the people.
And we declare to you Glad Tidings that what God Promised to the Fathers, He has fulfilled to us, their children, by
Resurrecting Jesus.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING
TH
BEHEADING
OF
ST JOHN
THE
BAP
TO
TIST
ST MARK 6 : 14 30
& FORERUNNER
TO
CH
RIST
At that time, King Herod heard of our Lord Jesus, for His Name had become well known. And he said: John the Baptist
is Risen from the dead, and therefore these Powers are worked in Him. Others said: It is Elijah. Others said: It is
the Prophet, or one of the Prophets. When Herod heard, he said: This is he whom I beheaded John. He has been
raised from the dead!
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip,
his brother, for he had married her. John had said to Herod: It is unlawful for you to have your brothers wife.
Therefore Herodias had held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not.
Herod feared John, knowing that he was a Just and Holy Man, and he protected him. And hearing (John), he did
many things, and had heard him gladly.
And an opportune day arose when Herod, on his birthday, gave a Feast for his noblemen, the high officers, and the
chief men of Galilee. And when the daughter of Herodias went in and danced, she pleased Herod and those who
sat with him.
The King said to the girl: Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it to you! And he promised her: Whatever you
ask of me, I will give you even half of my Kingdom! So she went out and asked her mother: For what shall I ask?
Herodias answered: The head of John the Baptist! And without delay she hastened to the King and said: I want
you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist!
And the King was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want
to refuse her. And immediately the King sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. He went
and beheaded him in prison, and presented his head on a platter, and she gave it to her mother.
And when his Disciples heard of it, they went and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.
heart of the father to his son, and a mans heart
T HIS K ING H EROD WAS THE SON OF KING H EROD THE GREAT
to his neighbour...
who having heard of the newly born Great King (our
S T E LIJAH T HE T ISHBITE ( WHO REPRESENTS THE H OLY
Lord Jesus Christ) from the Magi - had issued the
P ROPHETS OF GOD WHO PREPARED THE PEOPLE FOR THE
orders that led to the terrible Slaughter of the
C OMING OF THE MESSIAH ) AND ST M OSES (WHO GAVE US
Innocents when all male children who were two
THE D IVINE L AWS OF G OD WHEREBY WE MUST LIVE WHILE
years or younger, were put to the sword without
ON EARTH ) WERE PRESENT WITH OUR L ORD J ESUS ON
exception or the smallest sign of mercy.
M OUNT T ABOR AT H IS GLORIOUS T RANSFIGURATION.
(MATTHEW 17: 1 13)
A LTHOUGH TECHNICALLY ONLY A TETRARCH RULER ONE OF
T HE G IVER OF THE L AW OF M OSES ( THE WORD AND S ON OF
FOUR G OVERNORS ELECTED BY THE R OMAN OPPRESSORS
G OD AND OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST ) WOULD SOON
H EROD WAS KNOWN AS K ING .
BECOME I NCARNATE
However, HIS POWERS OF AUTHORITY AS G OVERNOR WERE
Those who believed OUR L ORD J ESUS WAS T HE
LIMITED TO HIS AREA OF RULE .
P ROPHET meant that THEY BELIEVED H E WAS THE
Knowing that St John the Baptist had performed
M ESSIAH THE O NE OF W HOM S T M OSES HAD
several Miracles while alive, H EROD WAS UTTERLY
FORETOLD .
CONVINCED BY HIS OWN BELIEFS THAT OUR L ORD J ESUS
O UR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST INDEED FULFILS THREE
C HRIST WAS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WHO HAD BEEN
SIGNIFICANT AND ESSENTIAL D IVINE R OLES : H E IS OUR
RAISED FROM THE DEAD erroneously believing that
D IVINE T EACHER , OUR D IVINE PROPHET AND OUR
such Divine ...Powers are worked in him.
D IVINE K ING !
Consequently, H EROD FEARED S T JOHN THE BAPTIST
D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 5 The Lord your God will
EVEN MORE THAN WHEN HE HAD BEEN ALIVE.
raise up for you a Prophet like me from your
S OME THOUGHT THAT OUR LORD J ESUS C HRIST WAS S T
Brethren. Him you shall hear... the Lord said to
E LIJAH THE T ISHBITE AND H OLY P ROPHET OF G OD WHO
me: ... I will raise up for them a Prophet like you
WAS EXPECTED TO RETURN AND TO WORK MANY
from among their Brethren, and I will put My
M IRACLES BEFORE THE S ECOND C OMING OF THE L ORD:
Word in His Mouth, and He shall speak to them
M A L A C H I 3 : 2 2 - 2 3 Behold: I will send you
all I command Him..
Elijah before the Coming of the Great and
Glorious Day of the Lord. And he will turn the
30.
THE BEHEADING
OF
ST JOHN
THE
29 AUGUST 2016
AND THE
OF
THE BEHEADING
OF
ST JOHN
THE
29 AUGUST 2016
31.
OF
EDESSA
OF
ST JUSTIN POPOVICH
EGYPT:
32.
THE BEHEADING
EMPTOUSIA
OF
ST JOHN
.C
OM
/2016/04/
KRONSTADT:
://P
PHOTICE
ST MAKARIOS
HTTP
OF OUR
ST JOHN
THE
SINAITE (OF
THE
THE
LADDER)
OF
THE
GREAT
You will begin your Spiritual Life when you can see that
making money and spending it freely is no more
than a short-lived fantasy, and when you know that
the Virtuous and God-pleasing Life is very different
from temporary material wealth and possessions.
When you consider all this very carefully, and retain it
in your memory, you will not sigh, you will not
mourn, you will not speak badly about others, but
rather you will thank God for everything seeing
those who depend on mere words and money as
being far worse off than yourself, for the love of
money and flattery are the worst passions of the
soul together with desire, vainglory and
ignorance!
29 AUGUST 2016
31 August 2016
The Deposition of the Belt of our Lady Theotokos
Also the Feast of St Cyprian of Carthage - St Gennadios of Constantinople - St Aidan of
Lindesfarne - St Eanswythe Abbess of Folkestone
Theotoke
Tin
OF
TONE
The Precious Girdle that Thou wore around Thy Body that
hosted God, O All Blessed Theotokos, truly is Power
unassailable for Thy City and a Treasure whose
Blessings are perpetual, O Only Child-bearing Ever
Virgin.
THEOTOKOS (LUKE1) TONE 3
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
HEBREWS 9: 1 - 7
Brethren: the First Covenant had Ordinances of Divine Service, and a worldly Sanctuary. A Tabernacle was prepared:
the first part, in which was the Lampstand, the Table, and the Showbread, which is called the Sanctuary. Behind
the Second Veil, was the part of the Tabernacle, which is called Holy of Holies, which had the Golden Censer and
the Ark of the Covenant, overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was the Golden Pot that had the Manna, Aarons
Rod that budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant. Above it were the Cherubim of Glory overshadowing the Mercy
Seat. Of these we can no longer speak these days.
When these Things had been thus prepared, the Priests always went into the first part of the Tabernacle, performing
the Services. Into the second part only the High Priest went - once a year, not without blood, which he offered for
himself and for the peoples sins.
The first seven verses of St Pauls Epistle to the Hebrews
OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS ULTIMATE MOST PERFECT AND
describe THE MOSAIC TABERNACLE, WHICH PREFIGURES THE
POWERFUL BLOOD OFFERING ENDED OUR SEPARATION FROM
HEAVENLY ALTAR.
OUR LOVING, BENEVOLENT GOD.
This particular passage is read during the Feasts of our
Our alienation was resolved forever by our Lord Jesus
Lady Theotokos and Advent, to describe THE GREAT
Christ.
DIVINE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL WORD
HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE FULFILLED FOR ALL TIME THE ATONEMENT
AND SON OF GOD THE FATHER.
SACRIFICE - and being Perfect, ended any further need
OUR LADY THEOTOKOS WOMB WAS PREPARED BY GOD TO BECOME
for any more blood sacrifices.
THE HOLY OF HOLIES The Holy Tabernacle of Christ our
THROUGH HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING, OUR LORD HAS
Lord THE VERY DWELLING PLACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
REDEEMED MANKIND FOR ALL TIME.
A most important detail is THE INNER VEIL THE SECOND VEIL,
THE LORD OUR GOD IS ENTHRONED UPON THE CHERUBIM. So His
WHICH SEPARATED THE HOLY PLACE THE HOLY SANCTUARY
Throne in Israels midst the Mercy Seat is depicted
FROM THE MOST HOLY PLACE THE HOLY OF HOLIES OR THE
with a Holy Cherub on either side just as the
MOST HOLIEST OF ALL, WHICH CONTAINED THE ARK OF THE
Orthodox Christian Holy Altar is flanked by depictions
COVENANT AND THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT HOLY RELICS OF THE
of the Holy Cherubim. (One of the highest Orders of
OLD COVENANT A GOLDEN POT OF MANNA, AARONS ROD
Heavenly Hosts.)
THAT BUDDED, AND THE CARVED, STONE TABLETS OF DIVINE
THESE REPRESENTATIONS, along with the depictions of
COMMANDMENTS.
Cherubim on the Inner Veil , and the beauty and
THE HOLY OF HOLIES COULD ONLY BE ENTERED ONCE A YEAR BY THE
detailed workmanship of everything that was made
HIGH PRIEST carrying a Blood Offering for the
especially for the Holy Tabernacle, SERVED AS HOLY
forgiveness of his own sins as well as those of the
ICONS OF THE OLD COVENANT. (EXODUS 26:31)
people.
This, and other numerous passages, put to rest the fear
THE INNER VEIL FORMED THE LOCUS OF THE LITURGICAL PRACTICE
that the Second Commandment prohibits all imagery.
OF THE OLD COVENANT, WHICH REVEALED ITS IMPERFECTION,
GOD CANNOT BE REPRESENTED BECAUSE DIVINE NATURE IS
for the people could not personally draw near to God
UNKNOWABLE AND THUS CANNOT BE DEPICTED.
Who seemed to be only approachable through His
However, WHEN THE ETERNAL WORD AND SON OF GOD BECAME
Priests - and the forgiveness their sins required an
THE SON OF MAN I.E. INCARNATE HIS HUMAN NATURE CAN
annual Blood Offering carried into the Holy of Holies
AND IS IMAGED.
only by the High Priest, who offered the Sacrifice for
This is evidently permissible due to His Holy Icon Not
the forgiveness of his own sins as well as those of the
Made by Hands which He left behind on His inner
people.
Face Cloth and on other items such as His Shroud.
THE DEPOSITION
OF OUR
31 AUGUST 2016
33
TO
ST LUKE 10 : 38
- 42
&
11 : 27 28
At that time, He entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a
sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus Feet and heard His Word. But Martha was distracted with much serving,
and she approached Him and said: Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore
tell her to help me! And Jesus answered and said to her: Martha! Martha! You are worried and troubled about
many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from
her.
... And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him:
Blessed is the Womb that bore Thee, and the breasts that nursed Thee! And He replied: More than that: Blessed
are those who hear the Word of God and keep It!
what He said.
It was a serious priority that
St Martha and St Mary of Bethany were the sisters of St
Lazaros whom our Lord Jesus Christ had raised from
certainly did not exclude serving Him.
the dead.
Later, when a woman called out to our Lord Jesus from
St Martha was preoccupied and worried about all her
the crowd, our Lord pointed out to her that Gods
Blessings fall upon all those who hear the Word of
household duties while providing hospitality to our
God and Obey Him.
Lord Jesus and his entourage of Disciples and
Family or social connections have nothing to do with our
Apostles.
Obedience to God and the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Her temporary, worldly cares concerned her more than
was especially complimented by Her Son because
anything else at the time so, resenting her sister who
sat at the Feet of our Lord to hear His Teachings, she
She not only paid careful attention to the Word of God
appealed to Him to make her get up and help her.
but She also Faithfully Obeyed all His Commandments
However - instead of supporting her immediate needs and lived Her entire life accordingly.
It is that profound Virtue of humble and attentive
our Lord Jesus pointed out that while she was so
Obedience to God of the Ever Blessed Theotokos alone
concerned about all her current duties, her sister had
even more than having borne the Incarnate God
preferred to spend the precious time listening to
that makes Her our most Shining Example of True
Christs Teachings.
Sainthood and Theosis Spiritual Perfection
The One Thing ... needed was for her to pay
attention to His Divine Teaching to really listen to
THE DEPOSITION
OF THE
OF OUR
Today
unfortunately,
European
deference
(condescension) has entered our society, which is
portrayed as being acceptable, but although they try
to show themselves as being nice, they wish to show
themselves as being superior to us, and finally they
end up worshiping the two horned devil.
One religion... they tell you, ...should exist... and they
level out everything. Some also come to me and tell
me All of us who believe in Christ should create one
religion.
Now it is as if you are telling me, I told them, about
gold and copper - so many carats gold and that
much copper, that was separated - to gather them
and make them one again. Is it correct to mix them
again? Ask a jeweller. Is it proper to mix trash with
gold? So much Struggle was waged to distil the
Dogma.
The Holy Fathers knew the reason for prohibiting
relationships with heretics.
Today they say: We should pray together - not only with
heretics but also with the Buddhists and with the
fire worshippers, and the demon worshippers. The
Orthodox must also be present at their common
prayers and at their conferences. It is a presence.
What presence? They resolve everything with logic
and justify the unjustifiable. The European mind
34.
THE DEPOSITION
OF OUR
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS
The Sanctified Belt of our Ever Virgin, All Holy Lady was
completely whole and undamaged by time.
The Patriarch gently placed the Belt on the Empress, who
was immediately freed from her affliction.
A Service of Thanksgiving to the Most Holy Theotokos was
celebrated, after which with great reverence and
care, the Sanctified Holy Relic was returned to the
Reliquary and resealed.
In Commemoration of the Miracle and the twofold
Deposition of the Venerable Belt, the Feast that we
celebrate today was established.
Sections of the Holy Belt that was so exquisitely woven
and embroidered by our Lady Theotokos who was
renowned for her handiwork, are preserved at the
Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, in
the
Monastery of Trier, and in Georgia.
https://oca.org
THE
NEW
OF
MOUNT ATHOS
31 AUGUST 2016