SACRED LESSONS -M A Y 2 0 1 1

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Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr ica

Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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.

Antipascha Antipascha Antipascha Antipascha ---- 2222ndndndnd Sunday of Holy PaschaSunday of Holy PaschaSunday of Holy PaschaSunday of Holy Pascha 1 1 1 1 MayMayMayMay 2011201120112011

Sunday o f S t Thomas Sunday o f S t Thomas Sunday o f S t Thomas Sunday o f S t Thomas –––– The Incredul i ty of S t ThomasThe Incredul i ty of S t ThomasThe Incredul i ty of S t ThomasThe Incredul i ty of S t Thomas

Also the Feast of St Jeremiah, Holy Prophet of God – St Panaretos of Paphos – St Maria, New Martyr of Fourna, Mirabella, Crete – St Tamara, Queen of Georgia – St Nikiforos Holy Monk of Chios – St Ignatios, St Akakios & St Euthemios, New Martyrs of Mount Athos– St Pahnutios of Borov – the Myrrhbearing Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Kazan – St

Makarios of Kiev – St Bata the Persian, Holy Martyr of Nisibis – St Gerasimos of Boldino – St Isidora – Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of “the Unexpected Joy” from Andronikov – St Zosimas II of Kumurdo

Apolyt ik ion Of Holy Pascha

Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanton patistas, ke

tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos!

Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death trampling

upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the tombs!

Apolyt ik ion o f S t Thomas Sunday - Tone (7) Varys/Grave

Esfragismenou tou mnimatos, i Zoi ek Tafou anetilas

Hriste O Theos: ke ton thiron keklismenon, tis Mathites epestis, i pantaon Anastasis: Pnevma evthes di afton egkenizon imin, kata to Mega Sou Eleos.

While the Tomb was sealed, Christ God, Thou Dawned,

O Life, from the grave; and while the doors were shut, Thou, the Resurrection of all, came to Thy Disciples, through them renewing a right Spirit in us, according to Thy Great Mercy!

Kontakion – For Holy Pascha – Unt i l Ascension Day

I ke en Tafo katilthes Athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles

tin dinamin; ke Anestis os Nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis Sis Apostolis Irinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon

Anastasin.

Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal

One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.

Resurrec t ion Gospel 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 1

Mat thew 28: 16 Mat thew 28: 16 Mat thew 28: 16 Mat thew 28: 16 –––– 20202020 – The Great Commission of Christ our Lord

Proke imenonProke imenonProke imenonProke imenon

Great and Mighty is the Lord: His Wisdom is infinite!

Praise the Lord, For He is Good and His Mercy endures forever!

The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 5 : 12 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 5 : 12 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 5 : 12 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 5 : 12 –––– 20202020

Evange l i sm in t he Sp i r i t

Through the hands of the Apostles many Signs and Wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, and the people esteemed them highly. And Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tomented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Then the High Priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the Sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.

But at night an Angel of our Lord opened the prison doors and took them out, and said: “Go, stand in the Temple and

speak to the people all the Words of this Life.”

Having received the Divine Power and Authority from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, His Holy Apostles were Empowered and enabled by God to perform “many Signs and Wonders.”

In other words: GOD ENABLED THEM TO CONTINUE HIS

DIVINE MISSION OF LOVE – HEALING THE AFFLICTED

AND ENLIGHTENING THE MINDS AND SOULS WITH

DIVINE TRUTH.

] THUS THE DIVINE POWER OF GOD RESTS IN HIS

HOLY, UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

WHILE MANY PEOPLE HAD GREAT FAITH, ST PETER WAS

GRANTED A PARTICULAR DIVINE GRACE TO HEAL people of all their physical and spiritual ailments in order to draw them close to the Holy Unity of Christ’s Church.

John 1 4 : 1 2 Christ said: “Most assuredly, I say to

you: he who believes in Me - the Works that I

do – he will do also; and greater Works than

these he will do, because I go to My Father.” ] These “greater Works” indicate that OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST WORKS THROUGH US MERE

HUMAN BEINGS AFTER THE GLORIOUS DAY OF

PENTECOST, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO

ASSIST US BY MEANS OF HIS DIVINE GIFTS, and, ACCORDING TO CHRIST, THESE GOOD WORKS

AND MIRACLES ARE EVEN GREATER THAT HIS

OWN DIRECT SIGNS AND WONDERS, which He did while still physically with us, since THEY ARE

FOUNDED ON GENUINE AND TRUE FAITH IN

CHRIST.

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These Great Works, which are attested to by St Luke in his Book of the Acts of the Apostles, include the spreading of Christ’s Holy Gospel – Divine Truth – throughout the world, the Miraculous Healings, and the raising of the dead.

Furthermore, this particular passage of Holy Scripture reveals to us how GOD WORKS THROUGH HIS

PHYSICAL CREATION, BECAUSE EVEN LIGHT AND

“SHADOW” ARE GRANTED DIVINE POWER – ARE

SANCTIFIED OR MADE HOLY. The Miracles that were initially performed by His Holy

Apostles followed those that were performed by our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore show us clearly that CHRIST LIVES AND WORKS THROUGH HIS FAITHFUL

DISCIPLES – Faithful Believers and Followers – Faithful Christians.

] OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE IS THE MANNER

WHEREBY PHYSICAL OBJECTS - such as handkerchiefs, aprons or cloths, which are Sanctified through contact with Christ and with those of Great Faith - BECOME HOLY OR

SANCTIFIED INSTRUMENTS OF DIVINE GRACE TO

OTHERS WHO ARE BLESSED WITH PROFOUND

FAITH – THROUGH CONTACT WITH DIVINE POWER

AND WILL.

The fact that Almighty God works Wonders or Miracles through both His Saints and physical objects, shows us that CREATION ITSELF IS CONSTANTLY BEING

RENEWED. FOR EXAMPLES OF OBJECTS BESTOWING SUCH DIVINE GRACE UPON

THE FAITHFUL READ: NUMBERS 21:8-9; 4 KINGS 13:20-21; MARK 6:12-13; LUKE 8:41-48 & JOHN 9:6-7

] DIVINE SIGNS AND WONDERS ARE GRANTED BY GOD, not as ends in themselves, but TO ENCOURAGE

AND TO STRENGTHEN THE APOSTLES AND

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO PREACH AND TO

CONFIRM DIVINE TRUTH – THE HOLY GOSPEL OF

CHRIST JESUS.

Ac t s 4 : 2 9 - 3 1 : (THE APOSTLES PRAYED:) “ ‘... Lord, look on

their threats, and grant to Thy Servants that

with all boldness they may speak Thy Word, by

stretching out Thy Hand to heal, and that

Signs and Wonders may be done through the

Name of Thy Holy Servant Jesus.’ And when

they had prayed, the place where they were

assembled together was shaken; and they were

all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke

the Word of God with boldness.” The Apostles prayed for “Signs and Wonders,” in order

TO RECEIVE FROM GOD THE “BOLDNESS” OR

COURAGE AND ABILITY TO PREACH AND TO CONFIRM

THE DIVINE TRUTH OF THEIR TRUE TEACHINGS – THE

HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

] WHILE THE HOLY SPIRIT PERPETUALLY ABIDES IN

THE HOLY CHURCH, HIS DIVINE PRESENCE IS

EXPERIENCED AGAIN AND AGAIN IN OUR

LITURGICAL ASSEMBLIES – COMMUNAL WORSHIP

– AND IN RECURRING PENTECOSTAL

OUTPOURINGS.

It is of great significance how quickly the Petition of the Apostles and Disciples was answered by God.

With utter confidence – True Faith – in God, we are able to achieve amazing Labours of Love for His Glory, Honour and Worship!

The choice is ours – whether TO SURRENDER OUR

HEARTS AND SOULS TO OUR LOVING AND

BENEVOLENT GOD AND ACCOMPLISH HIS GREAT

WORKS - or not, and to continue our aimless struggles through our fruitless and futile days!

While Almighty God commands our obedience to earthly governing authorities, OUR HUMBLE

OBEDIENCE TO GOD MUST ALWAYS COME BEFORE

ANYTHING ELSE.

] BUT AND WHEN THE TWO ARE IN CONFLICT, THE

FAITHFUL MUST RATHER FOLLOW GOD AND BE

WILLING TO ACCEPT THE TEMPORARY

CONSEQUENCES – SUCH AS MARTYRDOM – FOR

THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF ETERNAL LIFE.

The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 20 : 19 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 20 : 19 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 20 : 19 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 20 : 19 –––– 31313131 Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Appears to Ten of His Holy Apostles & Grants Them Divine Authority to Forgive Sins

At that time, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples were

assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus went and stood in their midst, and said to them: “Peace be with you!” When He had said this, He showed them His Wrists and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,

they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, called ‘the Twin,’ one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came and the other Disciples therefore

said to him: “We have seen the Lord.” And he said to them: “Unless I see in His Wrists the print of the nails, and put

my hand into His Side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days, His Disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came – the doors being shut –

and stood in their midst, and said: “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas: “Reach thy finger here, and look at My Wrists; and reach thy hand here, and put it into My Side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are those who have not

seen and yet have believed!” And truly Jesus did many other Signs in the presence of His Disciples, which are not written in this Book, but these are

written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing, you may have Life in His Name.

THE “FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK” IS SUNDAY. Sunday is known as “The Lord’s Day” because it is

dedicated to the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, which is CELEBRATED AS

HOLY PASCHA OR RESURRECTION DAY EVERY SUNDAY

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Because we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on Sundays, WE DO NOT KNEEL DOWN ON SUNDAYS BUT

WE DO BOW DEEPLY – although it is never “wrong” if one does kneel down in genuine worship and reverence before God.

During the week we kneel down at the appropriate moments of the Divine Liturgy or other Holy Services.

“Peace be with you!” is used throughout our Divine Liturgy and Holy Services by the Holy Priesthood to this day.

The Hellenistic Greek word for “hands” and “wrists” is the same.

Pathologically, we know that CRUCIFIXION VICTIMS

WERE NAILED THROUGH THE TINY GAP BETWEEN

THE BONES OF THE WRIST AND FEET TO SUPPORT

THE BODY, but which also caused indescribable pain and suffering.

This fulfilled the prediction that NOT A BONE OF

CHRIST’S PRECIOUS BODY WOULD BE BROKEN. The experienced Roman executioners had their grim

torture down to the finest detail, not wanting the condemned to die too quickly but to suffer the longest and worst type of pain in “retribution” for their “crimes.”

CRUCIFIXION VICTIMS WOULD BE SUSPENDED FOR DAYS

UNLESS THEIR LEGS WERE BROKEN and they perished in agony from the dreadful effects of green-stick fractures of their legs.

CHRIST, IN HIS DIVINE NATURE, CHOSE THE EXACT HOUR

OF HIS DEATH, to the astonishment of the executioners who then checked whether He was

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truly dead by piercing His Side between the fifth and sixth Ribs with a lance.

So much “Water and Blood” poured from His Lungs – due to soft tissue damage caused by His unlawful and merciless scourging, as well as the drowning effects of crucifixion, (as lungs filled with unexhaled moisture due to not being able to breathe properly while suspended by the wrists, as well as internal bleeding caused by various other means of torture, such as scourging and beating).

The reference to “eight days” is also an oblique reference to THE EIGHT DAY – THE FINAL DAY OF

OUR GENERAL RESURRECTION AND JUDGEMENT

WHEN ALL DIVINE TRUTH IS REVEALED CLEARLY TO

ALL CREATION AND THE BEGINNING OF ETERNITY.

The words of Christ spoken directly to St Thomas, show us that HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND THAT HE

WITNESSES EVERYTHING THAT WE THINK, SPEAK OR

DO!

St Thomas was known as ‘the Twin,’ because he was always in two minds or double-minded about various matters – i.e. HE QUESTIONED AND STUDIED

EVERYTHING BEFORE ACCEPTING OR REJECTING IT. (THIS MAY EVEN HAVE BEEN A NICKNAME BESTOWED ON HIM BY OUR

LORD, WHO KNOWS EVERY ASPECT OF EVERY SOUL WHOM HE HAS CREATED!)

] ALTHOUGH ST THOMAS DID NOT ACTUALLY TOUCH

OR FEEL CHRIST’S WOUNDS, DESPITE BEING

INVITED TO DO SO, HE MADE THE MOST

HEARTFELT CONFESSION OF FAITH: “My Lord

and my God!” ] CHRIST THEN AFFIRMS THAT EVERYONE WHO

BELIEVES WITHOUT HAVING TO PERSONALLY

WITNESS EVERYTHING HE DOES, OR SAYS OR

TEACHES, IS EVEN MORE BLESSED WITH A

DEEPER FAITH THAT IS IMPRINTED ON ONE’S

VERY SOUL!

IT IS THE RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF

DIVINE TRUTH BY OUR GOD-GIVEN IMMORTAL SOUL!

] CHRIST COMMISSIONED HIS APOSTLES AND

FAITHFUL DISCIPLES TO CONTINUE HIS DIVINE

MISSION ON EARTH, GRANTING THEM THE HOLY

SPIRIT WHO ENABLES AND ACTIVATES US so that

we can accomplish His Divine Will even beyond our own expectations and abilities.

] CHRIST ALSO BESTOWED HIS DIVINE AUTHORITY TO

FORGIVE THE SINS OF REPENTANT SINNERS.

THROUGH THIS DIRECT CONSECRATION AND THROUGH

THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OR CONTINUITY,

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S OWN HOLY PRIESTHOOD

IS COMMUNICATED TO HIS BISHOPS AND

PRESBYTERS (Priests) of His Holy Church. The “doubt” or rather the incredulity of St Thomas is

described in the Holy Church as “Blessed,” for IT

WAS NOT A DOUBT OF RESISTANCE TO DIVINE

TRUTH, BUT ONE THAT DESPERATELY DESIRED A

TRUTHFUL ANSWER – a “... doubt which gave birth to Faith,” when the answer was revealed to him.

In the Hymns of the Holy Church of Christ, our Lord says to St Thomas: “Thy doubt will teach My

Passion and Resurrection to all.” And we affirm that THE “DOUBT” OR INCREDULITY OF ST

THOMAS “... BROUGHT THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS

TO KNOWLEDGE” OF GOD.

The Conversion of St Thomas’ incredulity to Faith LED

HIM TO THE CLEAREST AND MOST CONCISE

CONFESSION OF FAITH in Christ’s Divinity, addressing our Lord Jesus Christ as “My Lord and

my God!” Once again St John the Divine reminds us that WHAT IS

WRITTEN AND RECORDED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS ONLY A FEW OF THE

MOST SIGNIFICANT WORKS, DEEDS AND TEACHINGS

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH ARE RECORDED

FOR OUR BENEFIT – SO THAT WE “... may believe that Jesus is the Christ – the Son of God – and

that believing (WE) may have Life in His (DIVINE)

Name.”

2nd Sunday of Holy Pascha – St Thomas Sunday - “The most devastating illness of human Soul: doubting” St Thomas represents those who are dominated by

rationality and who need evidence. They are not unbelievers, but they need evidence to

strengthen their Faith.

The moment they are given proof, their Faith

deepens, up to the ultimate sacrifice, as it was

with the Holy Apostle, St Thomas. Why was St Thomas not with the other Disciples in the first

place? It is possible that St Thomas was the most courageous of

them all and he had gone outside in order to gain some information and to hear what was being said about our Lord Jesus Christ…, or perhaps, he had gone out to obtain food and drink since the others were too afraid to do so.

Whatever the reason for him not being there, when our Lord Jesus appeared in their midst, St Thomas was not with them and when they told him that they had seen and spoken to Christ, St Thomas immediately responded with the words: “Unless I see in His Wrists

the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark

of the nails, and place my hand in His Side, I will not

believe.” (JOHN 20.25). The day when our Risen Lord Jesus appeared to His

Disciples and St Thomas was not with them, even

His Disciples doubted Him!

Even when our Saviour had clearly greeted them: “Peace

be with you!“ they did not believe it could really be Him until our Lord Jesus showed them His injuries and invited them to touch Him – reminding them in their shocked state that a ghost or spirit did not have flesh and bones as they could clearly see that He certainly did have.

So who was unfaithful: St Thomas, who had not seen

our Lord and was incredulous or unbelieving

when informed of His Appearance by the others,

or those who actually saw Him right before their

eyes and yet doubted His Reality?

Our Saviour knew of St Thomas’ doubt and reappeared in that locked room eight days later - especially for his sake.

CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THIS WORLD NOT ONLY FOR

BELIEVERS AND SINNERS, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO

LIVE IN DOUBT.

To doubt is a demonic action because demons

always seek to inflict wounds of doubt on our

soul by suggesting to us: “Well, I believe in God, I

believe that Jesus Christ came into the world, died

and was crucified for our Salvation, but was He the

Son of God? ” Or perhaps: “I believe in such and such

a Miracle... but are they really authentic or are they

merely tricks?” SUCH DOUBT IS THE MOST DISTURBING AND DESTRUCTIVE

DISEASE OF THE HUMAN SOUL.

In the Book of Revelation, the Angel of the Lord, addressing the Churches of Asia Minor, cautioned

those in Laodicea: “I will spit you out of My Mouth because you are neither hot nor cold, but

lukewarm.“ God despises anyone who is merely lukewarm because He

knows that those who advocate strongly against Him, can be converted to an even stronger Faith in Him.

St Paul, for example, was a zealous persecutor of

Christians, but when our Saviour met him on the

way to Damascus, he converted to the True Faith

in God and became one of His greatest Apostles.

Consequently, it is easier to convert such a zealous,

enthusiastic person than a lukewarm, indecisive

soul, who neither “boils” nor “freezes”

emotionally or spiritually and accomplishes

nothing good or worthwhile in life.

St Thomas was a not a lukewarm man - he had strong Faith, but he needed evidence to reassure and confirm his belief.

And when our Lord Jesus invited him to touch His Wounds, he no longer felt the need to do so but

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vehemently and sincerely Confessed his Faith in Christ as “My Lord and my God!”

Our Risen Lord Jesus was right there in front of

them all - shining with the Glorious Light of Resurrection – having entered the securely locked room where they had gathered - our bright and glorious Saviour Whose Uncreated Light shone forth.

Then our Saviour mentioned something else - not

only addressed to St Thomas but addressed

especially to each one of us.

He did not say: “Because you touched me, you believed.

He said: “...because thou hast seen Me, thou hast

believed. Blessed are those who have not seen

and yet have believed!” This Divine Blessing is for us all – every one of us

prayerful Christians. THIS DIVINE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND THE

HOLY SERVICES OF HIS CHURCH – WHO CONFESS THAT

OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY THE

SON OF GOD, WHO SUFFERED, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED,

WAS BURIED, ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY

ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES AND ASCENDED INTO

HEAVEN.

THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH!

The Sacred Lesson that we receive from today’s Holy Gospel is that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME FOR

EVERYONE – NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE OR

FOR THE OLD COVENANT HEBREWS, OR FOR ALL

SINNERS.

CHRIST CAME FOR THE LUKEWARM OF SOUL AS WELL – SO

THAT THEY CAN BE SPIRITUALLY WARMED UP AND

BECOME TRULY RED-HOT AND ZEALOUS IN OUR LIFE-

GIVING FAITH IN CHRIST. CHRIST CAME FOR THE DOUBTFUL AND THE INCREDULOUS –

AND WE ALL HAVE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF DOUBT

SOMETIMES …

We doubt whenever we have asked for something (in Prayer) once and God has not seemed to have granted our request!

Yet only one cry in “times of need” does not mean we have Faith. Instead it reveals our human weakness.

We must have a strong, steadfast Faith that is never doubtful, which never questions, suspects or surmises anything – for we are usually proved to be hopelessly wrong!

So today’s Sacred Lesson applies to every one of us – no matter the degree of our incredulity or doubt!

Just as St Thomas fell down at our Loving Saviour’s Feet and confessed with all sincerity: “My Lord and my

God!” let us also fall down before Him and just as

heartfelt declare with all our being: “My Lord and my

God! “ EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP - FROM: FATHER GEORGE CALCIU’ LIVING FATHER GEORGE CALCIU’ LIVING FATHER GEORGE CALCIU’ LIVING FATHER GEORGE CALCIU’ LIVING WORDS: “TO SERVE WORDS: “TO SERVE WORDS: “TO SERVE WORDS: “TO SERVE

CHRIST MEANS SUFFERINGCHRIST MEANS SUFFERINGCHRIST MEANS SUFFERINGCHRIST MEANS SUFFERING” (” (” (” (BONIFACIU PRESS, 2009) TRANSLATION BY EC - http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/04/

Elder CleopaElder CleopaElder CleopaElder Cleopa –––– On Personal SalvationOn Personal SalvationOn Personal SalvationOn Personal Salvation Some religious confessions teach that personal Salvation

presupposes the Action of Divine Grace alone, according to Calvin, or the Grace of Faith, i.e. of Trust in God, according to Luther, by which the “merits” or Virtues of our Lord Jesus Christ are conferred upon mankind.

Therefore, to give a general outline, there are Protestant Christians who believe that Salvation stems only from Faith and that on the part of man himself there is placed no condition or requirement for his Salvation.

] Our Holy Church, however, teaches that OUR

PERSONAL SALVATION IS NEITHER A GIFT, NOR A

SIMPLE WORK, BUT RATHER A PROCESS AND AN

UNDERTAKING THAT MATURES OR DEVELOPS

GRADUALLY AND IS REALIZED IN THE CO-

OPERATION OF TWO PERSONS: GOD AND MAN. On the part of God, DIVINE GRACE (HIS UNCREATED DIVINE

ENERGY) IS OFFERED TO US, while for man’s part, FAITH AND RIGHTEOUS DEEDS ARE NECESSARY.

Consequently, tHE PREREQUISITES FOR OUR PERSONAL

SALVATION are the following: ä THE DIVINE GRACE OR UNCREATED DIVINE ENERGY

OF GOD

ä AND THE FAITH AND VIRTUOUS DEEDS OF MAN.

OUR OBJECTIVE SALVATION IS REALIZED ONLY IN THE

SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, whereas OUR PERSONAL

OR SUBJECTIVE SALVATION, which in the language of the New Testament is called “Righteousness,” “Holiness,” or “Salvation” (in the narrow sense), IS

REALIZED AS A CONTINUANCE OF THIS OBJECTIVE

SALVATION, WITH OUR PERSONAL ENERGY OR ACTIVITY

ACTING IN CO-OPERATION WITH DIVINE ENERGY OR

GRACE.

On the part of God, DIVINE GRACE IS ABSOLUTELY

NECESSARY, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, and WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, REDEEMED IN CHRIST JESUS (ROMANS 3:23-24).

“For it is God Who works in you, both to will and to

do His Good Pleasure” (PHILPPIANS 2:13).

“For by Grace are you Saved through Faith, and not

that of yourselves: it is the Gift of God – not by

Works, lest any man should boast. For we are

His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for

Good Works, which God has beforehand

Ordained, that we should walk in them.” (EPHESIANS 2: 8-10).

From this it is clear that DIVINE GRACE IS NECESSARY FOR

OUR PERSONAL SALVATION. This Truth is also evident in the Words of the Lord: “I Am

the Vine, you are the Branches: He that abides in

me, and I in him, the same brings forth much

Fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. If a

man abides not in Me, he is cast forth as a

branch, and is withered; and men gather them,

and cast them into the Fire, and they are burnt.

If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you,

you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done

for you.” (JOHN 15: 5-7). Hence, the Grace of God is for us the Life-giving Sap that

runs from Vine to the Vine Branch. On the part of mankind, SAVING AND ACTUALIZED FAITH IS

NECESSARY, i.e. “Faith which works by Love” (GALATIANS 5:6).

WITHOUT THIS CONTRIBUTION OF OURS, SALVATION IS NOT

HELD OUT FOR ANY ONE. ] CONSCIOUS FAITH IN GOD, WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS, THE

DEMONS, TOO, POSSESS, FOR THEY ALSO “believe and tremble” (James 2:19).

Holy Scripture itself makes it very clear that our CONTINUOUS GOOD WORKS ARE NECESSARY FOR

SALVATION.

Holy Scripture is filled with passages which refer to Good Deeds as a necessary prerequisite of our Salvation (MATTHEW 25:34, JOHN 5:29, ROMANS 2:6-13, 2 CORINTHIANS. 5:10, JAMES 2:14-26, REVELATION 20:12, AND OTHERS).

Edited & adapted by mp: THE TRUTH OF OUR FAITH”: A DISCOURSE FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE ON THE TEACHINGS OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY) BY ELDER CLEOPA OF ROMANIA http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/04/

St Justin Popovich of Celije St Justin Popovich of Celije St Justin Popovich of Celije St Justin Popovich of Celije ---- “Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ“Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ“Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ“Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ”””” IN CHRISTIANITY TRUTH IS NOT A PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPT

nor is it a theory, a teaching, or a system, but rather, IT IS THE LIVING THEANTHROPIC HYPOSTASIS—

THE HISTORICAL JESUS CHRIST. (JOHN 14:6) Before Christ men could only conjecture about the

Truth since they did not possess it. WITH CHRIST AS

THE INCARNATE DIVINE LOGOS THE ETERNALLY

COMPLETE DIVINE TRUTH ENTERS INTO THE

WORLD. For this reason the Gospel says:

“Truth came by Jesus Christ.” (JOHN 1:17) “The first Truth of Orthodoxy is that mankind does

not exist for the sake of mankind, but for the

sake of God or, more fully, for the sake of the God-Man. Therefore, WE STAY WITH THE GOD-MAN IN THE

NAME OF MANKIND. IN HIM ALONE IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF MAN’S BEING

POSSIBLE; IN HIM ALONE IS A JUSTIFICATION FOR MAN’S

EXISTENCE POSSIBLE. All the Mysteries of Heaven and earth are attained in this Truth - all the Values of all the worlds that mankind can contemplate - all the Joys of all the Perfections that mankind can attain.”

http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/04/

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5.



2 May 20112 May 20112 May 20112 May 2011 S t A thanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f Alexandria

(Translation of Holy Relics)

Also the Feast of St Boris & St Gleb, Holy Passion-bearers (Translation of Holy Relics) - St Athanasios of Constantinople – St Hesperos, St Zoe (his wife), St Kyrakos & St Theodoulos (their children) of Attalia - the Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Putivil.

Apo l y t i k ion O f Ho l y Pascha

Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanton

patistas, ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos!

Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death

trampling upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the tombs!

Apo l y t i k ion o f S t T homas Sunday - T one ( 7) Var ys/Grave

Esfragismenou tou mnimatos, i Zoi ek Tafou anetilas

Hriste O Theos: ke ton thiron keklismenon, tis Mathites epestis, i pantaon Anastasis: Pnevma evthes di afton egkenizon imin, kata to Mega Sou Eleos.

While the Tomb was sealed, Christ God, Thou Dawned,

O Life, from the grave; and while the doors were shut, Thou, the Resurrection of all, came to Thy Disciples, through them renewing a right Spirit in us, according to Thy Great Mercy!

Apo l y t i k ion O f S t A t hanas i os - T one 3

Stylos gegonas Orthodoxias, thiis dogmasin ipostirizon,

tin ekklisian Ierarha Athanasie: to gar Patri ton Ion Omoousion, anakirixas katishinas Arion. Pater Osie, Hriston ton Theon iketeve, dorisasthe imin to Mega Eleos.

Thou became a Pillar of Orthodoxy, strengthening the

Church with Divine Dogmas, O Hierarch Athanasios. For by preaching that the Son is One in Essence with the Father Thou put Arius to shame. O Venerable Father, to Christ our God pray earnestly, entreating that Great Mercy be bestowed on us.

Kon tak i on – S t T homas Sunday – Tone ( 8) P l aga l 4

Ti Filopragmoni dexia tin zooparohon Sou plevran O

Thomas exirevnise, Hriste O Theos: sigkeklismenon gar ton thiron os isilthes, sin tis lipis Apostolis evoa Si: Kyrios iparhis ke Theos mou.

With his probing right hand, Thomas examined Thy

Life-giving Side, O Christ our God. As Thou entered, although the doors were closed, he cried out to Thee with the other Apostles: “Thou art my Lord and my God!”

The Ep is t l e o f S t Paul to the Hebrews 13 : 7 The Ep is t l e o f S t Paul to the Hebrews 13 : 7 The Ep is t l e o f S t Paul to the Hebrews 13 : 7 The Ep is t l e o f S t Paul to the Hebrews 13 : 7 –––– 16161616 Loyalty to Orthodox Doctrine & Worship

Brethren: Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose Faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Do not be carried away with various and strange doctrines, for it is good that the heart be established by Grace – not with

foods that have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an Altar from which those who serve the Tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals,

whose blood is taken into the Sanctuary by the High Priest for sin, are burnt outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also – so that He might Sanctify the people with His own Blood – suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His Reproach, for here we have no continuing city, but we

seek the One to come. Therefore, by Him, let us continually offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God – that is: the Fruit of our lips – giving thanks to

His Name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Matthew The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Matthew The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Matthew The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t Matthew 5 : 14 5 : 14 5 : 14 5 : 14 –––– 19191919 Faithful Disciples of Christ are Light in the Spiritual Darkness

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “...You are the Light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be

hidden. Not do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all

who are in the house.

Let your Light so shine before others so that they may see your Good Works and Glorify your Father in

Heaven.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For

assuredly, I say to you: until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle will by any means pass

from the Law until all is fulfilled.

Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these Commandments, and teaches others so, shall be called

least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them shall be called great in the Kingdom

of Heaven.

For I say to you, that unless your Righteousness exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,

you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

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S t Athanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f AlexandriaS t Athanas ios the Grea t o f Alexandria Since the time of the Holy Apostles of our Lord and

Saviour, Jesus Christ, there proceeds a long line of Holy Church Fathers and Teachers.

It is customary to refer to the Holy Church Fathers as ‘Church Scribes’ (pre-eminently in the ranks of Bishops), especially those who distinguished themselves by their Holy Way of Life. Those Church Scribes who are not acknowledged as Saints are referred to as Holy Church Teachers.

The Fathers and Teachers of the Holy Church - through their Works - preserved for us the Apostolic Tradition and clarified the True Teaching of Faith and Piety.

During the difficult times of the fight with heretics and false prophets, they stepped forth as Protectors of Orthodoxy; and their Life and Activity is our high (worthy) example of True and Faithful Spiritual Life.

The 4th Century in particular was renowned for the great number of Orthodox Teachers, who banded together for the preservation and protection of the Holy Faith at a time when the Peace of the Holy Church was deeply - and for a long time - shaken by the controversial Arian heresy. (The Arians denied the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ).

The first great combatant against Arianism was St Athanasios the Great. (293-373).

Having been granted extraordinary Gifts by Divine Grace, St Athanasios received his education under the guidance of the Alexandrian Bishops, St Peter and St Alexander.

Furthermore St Athanasios was greatly influenced by the founder of Egyptian Monasticism, St Anthony the Great, whose Life he described.

Having judiciously studied Holy Scripture, the works of early Church Scribes and ancient classicists, he held what was considered at that time an important and influential function of Archdeacon during the time of Archbishop Alexander, and was his enviable assistant in the preliminary fight against Arian heresy.

As Bishop Alexander's closest colleague and confidant, St Athanasios accompanied him to the First Council of Nicaea where he drew a lot of attention to himself because no one expressed himself so strongly against Arianism and no one surpassed his depth of eloquence.

Hardly a year passed before the young Archdeacon Athanasios was elevated to the Cathedra of Alexandrian Archbishop.

In spite of his young age (28 years), Archbishop Athanasios took a firm hand in ruling the surrounding community under his jurisdiction: he visited churches in his vicinity, developed close relationships with Bishops, ordained Thrumentios as Bishop in order to strengthen the Church in Abyssinia, visited Monasteries scattered throughout Thebes and other regions of Egypt, and visited St Anthony the Great, who had been his tutor during his youthful years.

St Athanasios was energetic and courteous, unbending in Truth, and indulgent toward those who went astray.

Endowed with great tact in his dealings with people -possessing a shrewd presence of mind and having been so diversely educated – St Athanasios immediately gained public respect, devotion and Love.

However the peaceful days of his Patriarchal activity lasted no more than two years and was followed by a series of tragic trials and misfortunes.

Followers of Arianism, at whose head was the Nicodemian Bishop, Eusebios, a friend of Arios, from the school at Antioch, tried by all means to return Arios to the Holy Church. They were able to dispose in his favour, the sister of Emperor Constantine, and with her influence, the Emperor himself.

They were determined to reinstate Arios from exile, who supposedly had repented of his straying - and to force the Archbishop of Alexandria, St Athanasios, to reinstate him into the Holy Church Community.

However, St Athanasios – fully understanding the slyness and pretence of the false prophets - refused to accept

the heretic who so blasphemously rejected the Divine Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From then on, the persecution of the Witness of Christ began, with the blackest of calumny (false rumours and malicious gossip) being contrived against him.

He was falsely accused of embezzlement from the Church funds, and collusion with the enemies of the Byzantine Empire - and it was even whispered that he had murdered Bishop Arsenios whose severed hand he used in the practice of satanic sorcery!

St Athanasios was obliged to defend himself in court since there were some who actually believed these absurd fabrications.

The enemies of St Athanasios then displayed a severed hand that had supposedly been found in his possession.

However, to their great embarrassment Bishop Arsenios himself appeared in court and showed all those present both his hands as created by God.

This exposure of their lies and deceptions threw the enemies of St Athanasios into an indescribable rage and they immediately seized him and almost strangled him.

All these problems began during the reign of St Constantine the Great - the Protector of the Holy Church - and his successors to the Byzantine Throne, Constantios the Arian and Julian the Apostate, openly continued to persecute St Athanasios but could not destroy his unwavering Steadfastness.

There was a time when some of the more fervent accomplices of St Athanasios such as Osee, Bishop of Cordoba and Liberios, the Pope and Bishop of Rome - who also fought against the heresy of Arianism, who were exiled from their Cathedras and who were incarcerated - wavered in their dedication and eventually agreed to concede to the Arians, leaving St Athanasios as the solitary leader of Faithful and True Christians in the battle against their blasphemous heresies.

During his almost half century of dedicated service to God St Athanasios was exiled from Alexandria five times and remained in either exile or incarceration for almost 20 years.

Nevertheless, right up until the last minute of his life, he fervently fought for the establishment of Peace and unanimity of thought in the Holy Church of Christ.

Having endured so many difficulties and tumults of his Ascetic Life, St Athanasios wrote many Apologias in defence of Christianity and for the edification of True Believers.

The wisdom, thoughts and attestations of St Athanasios have such great meaning and power that they remain relevant to this day, and the original language is profoundly rich and exemplary.

The valiant St Athanasios – one of our greatest Holy Church Fathers died at the age of 75.

May his memory be Eternal! Holy Father Athanasios: Guide us and Intercede for us!

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: HOLY PROTECTION RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/athanasius_great.htm

Teach ings o f S t A thanas iosTeach ings o f S t A thanas iosTeach ings o f S t A thanas iosTeach ings o f S t A thanas ios "ONE AND THE SAME GRACE IS FROM THE FATHER IN THE SON,

AS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN AND OF THE RADIANCE IS ONE,

AND AS THE SUN'S ILLUMINATION IS EFFECTED THROUGH

THE RADIANCE; and so too when he prays for the

Thessalonians, St Paul in saying, 'Now God

Himself even our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ, may He direct our way to you' has

guarded the UNITY of the Father and of the Son. For he has not said, 'May they direct,' as if a double Grace were given from two Sources, This

and That, but 'May He direct,' to show that THE

FATHER GRANTS IT THROUGH THE SON." (I Thessalonians 3:11)

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Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

8888 May 2011May 2011May 2011May 2011

3333 r dr dr dr d Sunday o f Holy Pascha Sunday o f Holy Pascha Sunday o f Holy Pascha Sunday o f Holy Pascha Tone 2Tone 2Tone 2Tone 2

Sunday o f the Holy Myrrhbearers , Sunday o f the Holy Myrrhbearers , Sunday o f the Holy Myrrhbearers , Sunday o f the Holy Myrrhbearers ,

S t Nicodemos & St Joseph of Ar imatheaS t Nicodemos & St Joseph of Ar imatheaS t Nicodemos & St Joseph of Ar imatheaS t Nicodemos & St Joseph of Ar imathea

Also the Feast of St John the Divine Apostle, Theologian and Evangelist – St Arsenios the Great Ascetic – St Tamara, Queen of Georgia - St Pimen the Ascetic of the Kiev Far Caves – St Arsenios the Lover of Labour of the Kiev Far Caves -


Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanton patistas, ke

tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos!

Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death trampling

upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the tombs!

R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n –––– TONE 2

Ote katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote

ton adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!

When Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,

Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!

Apo l y t i k ion O f S t J oseph O f A r ima thea & The Ho l y Myr r h -Bear er s

O evshimon Iosif, apo tou xilou kathelon, to ahranton

Sou Soma, sindoni kathara, ilisas ke aromasin, en mnimati keno, kidevsas apetheto; alla trimeros anestis Kyrie, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

Tes Myroforis Ginexi, para to Mnima epistas, O

Angelos evoa: To Myra tis thnitis iparhi armodia, Hristos de diafthoras edihthi allotrios; alla kravgasate: Anesti O Kyrios, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

The noble Joseph taking down Thy spotless Body from

the Tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud with sweet spices and laid it for burial in a new tomb; but on the third day Thou arose, O Lord, granting the world Thy Great Mercy!

The Angel standing by the Tomb cried to the

Myrrhbearing Women: Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has been shown to be a stranger to corruption. But cry aloud: The Lord has Risen, granting the world His Great Mercy!

Apo l y t i k ia O f S t J ohn The D i v i ne T heo log i i an & Apos t l e O f Ch r i s t

Apostole Hristo to Theo igapimene, epitahinon, rise laon

anapologiton. Dehete se prospiptonta, O epipesonta to stithi katadexamenos. On iketeve, Theologe, ke epimonon nefos ethnon diaskedase, etoumenos imin Irinin, ke to Mega Eleos.

O Apostle, Speaker of Divinity, the Beloved of Christ

God, hasten and deliver Thy people powerless in argument; for He on Whose Bosom Thou leant accepts Thee as an Intercessor. Beseech Him, on our behalf for Peace and His Great Mercy.

Kon tak i on – For H o ly Pascha – Un t i l A scens i on Day

I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles

tin dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis irinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi

parehon Anastasin.



Resurrec t ion Gospel 4 Resurrec t ion Gospel 4 Resurrec t ion Gospel 4 Resurrec t ion Gospel 4 ---- Luke 24 : 1 Luke 24 : 1 Luke 24 : 1 Luke 24 : 1 –––– 12121212 The Ho l y Myr r hbear er s f i nd our R i sen Lor d ’ s T omb Emp ty


The Lord is my Strength and my Glory !

The Lord has punished me severely , but He has not de l ivered me to Death!

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 6 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 6 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 6 : 1 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 6 : 1 –––– 7 7 7 7 Deacons are O r da i ned

In those days, when the number of Disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the multitude of Disciples and said: “It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables. Therefore, Brethren,

seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom, whom we may

appoint over this business; for we will give ourselves continually to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word.”

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And their words pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of Faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip Prochoros, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed they laid hands on them.

Then the Word of God spread, and the number of Disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the Priests were Obedient to the Faith.

“The Hebrews” referred to the local Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who spoke Aramaic, while “the

Hellenists” were Greek-speaking Jewish Christians from other parts of the Hellenised world who had settled in Jerusalem.

St John Chrysostom noted that this particular complaint showed a lack of order among the quickly growing multitude of Faithful Christians, even though the neglect of the Hellenistic widows and orphans was certainly not malicious or intentional.

So it is evident that various problems that faced the early Church arose not only from outsiders, but also due to dissension or misunderstanding from within.

However, these various initial difficulties were quickly resolved due to the mutual respect and Love of one another within the Holy Church of Christ.

] PROBLEMS HAVE ALWAYS ARISEN DUE TO THE “HUMAN

FACTOR” – when OUR EGOS AND SELFISHNESS

DOMINATE AND RULE OUR EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS. However, these MUST always be very quickly repented,

resolved and forgiven, so that we may CONTINUE TO

FOCUS ON OUR FAITHFUL AND TRUE WORSHIP OF

ALMIGHTY GOD, WHILE CONSTANTLY CORRECTING AND

REPENTING OUR OWN PERSONAL FLAWS, which is the entire Purpose of this earthly life, before Eternity.

The term “Disciples” generally refers to all Faithful Believers and Followers of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and not only to His Twelve Apostles or those who were close to Him and who accompanied Him during His Public Ministry.

] To be A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST means that we are really trying to LEARN ALL THE SACRED TEACHINGS AND

COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR SO THAT

WE CAN APPLY THEM TO OUR EVERY WORD, THOUGHT

AND DEED: THIS IS LIFE IN CHRIST, WHICH TAKES

MUCH EFFORT AND A FAITHFUL WILLINGNESS TO

OBEY GOD AT ALL TIMES.

While THE MINISTRIES OF THE WORD AND OF SERVING widows (and orphans) are important Sacred Tasks,

they CANNOT BE PERFORMED BY THE SAME PEOPLE AND

STILL RECEIVE PROPER ATTENTION. Therefore, the Holy Church developed diversified

Ministries. In the Orthodox Church to this very day, our Bishops

and Presbyters (Priests) are Called to focus on “Prayer and the Ministry of the Word” of God, while the other essential ministries of Christ’s Holy Church are accomplished by Deacons and the laity (the people or congregation) of each Parish.

DEACONS WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE ARE REQUIRED TO BE

NOT ONLY SPIRITUAL, BUT ALSO “FULL OF WISDOM,”

WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR MANAGING THEIR SACRED

TASKS.

While “the multitude” submitted the names of the first Seven Deacons, THE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST

ORDAINED THEM.

Thus the synergy between Laity and Clergy was demonstrated in the selection of these Church Servants and leaders.

Whether these first chosen Deacons held the Liturgical Office of Deacon, or whether their Diaconate was more Service-oriented, THEY RECEIVED THEIR SACRED

OFFICE BY MEANS OF HOLY ORDINATION BY THE

DIVINELY AUTHORISED APOSTLES OF CHRIST. ] THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF

CHRIST ONLY OCCURS WHEN THREE GREAT PILLARS

OF CHURCH LIFE ARE FULLY IN PLACE:

WORSHIP

EVANGELISM

CHARITY/LOVE

Furthermore, this wonderful Growth occurs WHEN

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STRUGGLES OR PROBLEMS

HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, RESOLVED AND REPENTED.

] THE FIRST PRESBYTERS (PRIESTS) WERE CHRISTIAN

CONVERTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HEBREW

PRIESTS but they had not necessarily been Ordained into the Priestly Ministry within the Christian Church after their conversion to the New Covenant of God.

The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 15 : 43 – 16 : 8 The Unnailing & Burial of our Crucified Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council Member, who was himself waiting for the Kingdom of God, went courageously to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus.

Pilate marvelled that He was already dead; and, summoning the Centurion, he asked him if Jesus had been dead for some time. And when he found out from the Centurion that it was indeed so, he granted the Body to Joseph.

Then Joseph bought fine linen, took Jesus down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the Tomb.

And Mary of Magdala and Mary, the Mother of Joses, observed where He was laid. Now, when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the Mother of James and Salome, bought spices so that they

might go and Anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the Tomb when the sun had risen. And they discussed among themselves who would roll away the stone from the door of the Tomb for them. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away – for it was very large – and entering the Tomb, they saw a young man, clothed in a long white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

And He said to them: “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth Who was crucified. He is Risen! He is not here.

See the place where they laid Him. Now go: tell His Disciples – and Peter – that He is going before you into Galilee;

there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

So they went out quickly and fled from the Tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone,

for they were afraid.

If His Faithful Apostles had buried Christ, doubters and enemies of Divine Truth could claim that His Most Precious Body had simply been hidden away by them and that there was no Resurrection.

] ST JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, BEING BOTH A COUNCIL

MEMBER (OF THE SANHEDRIN) AND AN

ACKNOWLEDGED “GOOD AND JUST MAN” TOGETHER

WITH ST NICODEMOS – ALSO OF GOOD REPUTATION

AND SOCIAL STATUS - REFUTES ANY POSSIBILITY

THAT OUR LORD’S BODY WAS MERELY REMOVED AND

HIDDEN BY HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES.

As a wealthy and highly prominent, respected member of Hebrew society, St Joseph of Arimathea was able to personally approach the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, to request the Body of Christ, Whom Pontius Pilate had already acknowledged as having been unjustly tried, punished and condemned to death by crucifixion.

] The fact that Pontius Pilate “...marvelled that He

was already dead...” confirms the Divine Truth that CHRIST PANTOCRATOR CHOSE THE EXACT HOUR

OF HIS DEATH, HAVING SACRIFICED HIMSELF

FREELY AND WILLINGLY FOR THE SAKE OF ALL

HUMANITY.

Usually crucifixion victims suffered for a very long time, sometimes for days, before dying but when the Sabbath Day was approaching, Hebrew criminals’ legs were shattered so that they quickly died from the most painful green fracture injuries, YET AS

PROPHESIED, NOT A BONE OF OUR LORD WAS BROKEN! ] The Spiritual Significance of a New Tomb that “had

been hewn out of rock” and “where no one had

ever lain before” is that CHRIST SUFFERED A

DEATH UNLIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING – DEATH

WITHOUT SPRITUAL OR PHYSICAL CORRUPTION – A

DEATH LEADING TO ETERNAL VICTORY OVER THE

TOMB ITSELF.

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Furthermore, the description of the New Tomb according to several sources, clearly shows that IT

WAS A VERY SPECIAL TOMB FIT FOR A MOST

IMPORTANT PERSON – AND WHO IS MORE IMPORTANT

AND INFLUENTIAL THAN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST –

OUR ONE AND ONLY ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST AND KING

– OUR ONLY ETERNAL GOD INCARNATE!

] Another fact to be considered is that NOT ONLY WAS A

HUGE, HEAVY ROCK PLACED - WITH MUCH EFFORT -

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE TOMB AND THEN SEALED,

BUT TWO ROMAN GUARDS STOOD WATCH AS WELL, because the devious Hebrew leaders had alleged that Christ’s Body would be removed by His Disciples so that they could then proclaim His Resurrection from the dead as He had truthfully and precisely foretold.

] AFTER CHRIST HAD RESURRECTED, A POWERFUL

EARTHQUAKE announced the Glorious Event by BREAKING THE SEALS, ROLLING AWAY THE ROCK

blocking the entrance and REVEALING TO ALL

MANKIND THE EMPTY TOMB, containing only the discarded Shroud (Soudarion) and carefully folded Facecloth (Mandylion).

] THE ROCK DID NOT ROLL AWAY SO THAT CHRIST COULD

EXIT THE TOMB BUT ONLY TO REVEAL TO MANKIND

THAT HE HAD TRULY RISEN! The terrified guards – who also witnessed the Empty

Tomb - ran away in fear of the punishment they faced from the Roman authorities, but were later paid by the Hebrew authorities to blatantly lie to everyone that the Disciples had removed the Body of Christ after knocking them unconscious!

HABITUAL LIARS, THIEVES AND DECEIVERS ALWAYS ACCUSE OTHERS OF THEIR OWN SINS – AND THEY DO NOT RECOGNISE DIVINE TRUTH – THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH – BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY ALIEN TO THEM.

CHRIST DIED JUST BEFORE THE SABBATH SO THE USUAL

BURIAL CUSTOMS OF THE HEBREWS COULD NOT BE

COMPLETED by His Mother and Disciples, and they had to return on the first day of the week – Sunday – to do so.

ST JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA AND ST NIKODEMOS HAD

UNNAILED OUR LORD FROM HIS CROSS AND WRAPPED

HIS NAKED BODY IN A FOURTEEN FOOT LONG “FINE

LINEN” CLOTH that became the Burial Shroud, also gathering up any bloody soil that surrounded the Cross, to be buried with Him.

THEY HAD CARRIED HIM TO THE TOMB AND WRAPPED HIM

WITH OTHER LINEN STRIPS DOUSED WITH THE 100

POUNDS OF BITTER ALOES THAT ST NIKODEMOS

SUPPLIED.

THE MANDYLION OR FACE CLOTH WAS GENTLY AND

RESPECTFULLY PLACED OVER HIS FACE AS SOON AS

THEY TOOK HIM DOWN FROM THE CROSS, WHICH

REMAINED UNDER THE OUTER BURIAL CLOTHS, which were soaked with bitter aloes and dried as hard as concrete.

Therefore, when St Peter and St John saw the folded Mandylion, they were amazed – (AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN THEY NOTICED THE IMAGE OF CHRIST UPON IT – WHICH BECAME KNOWN AS THE HOLY ICON “NOT-MADE-BY-HANDS” – THE FIRST HOLY ICON OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH WAS COPIED MANY TIMES BY OTHERS OVER THE YEARS. mp)

ST JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA AND ST NIKODEMOS SHOWED THEIR ABSOLUTE FAITH, HONOUR AND WORSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR BY ALL THEIR ACTIONS: GOING DIRECTLY TO PONTIOUS PILATE FOR PERMISSION TO UNNAIL OUR LORD FROM THE CROSS, PURCHASING THE BEST QUALITY OF FINE LINEN AVAILABLE IN WHICH TO WRAP HIS PRECIOUS BODY, DONATING A NEWLY HEWN TOMB CARVED FROM SOLID STONE AND IN A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN – AGAIN NOTHING BUT THE BEST RESTING PLACE FOR CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR – AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL ATTENTION TO ALL THE NECESSARY BURIAL RITES, INCLUDING THE SUPPLY OF 100 POUNDS OF BITTER ALOES!

ST JOHN THE DIVINE APOSTLE, OUR EVER BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS AND HER CLOSE COMPANION, ST MARY OF MAGDALA WATCHED AND WITNESSED OUR LORD’S BURIAL.

ACCORDING TO OLD COVENANT LAW, THE BODIES OF THE

DECEASED WERE NOT WASHED BUT ANOINTED WITH

AROMATIC OILS – and in the cases of violent death, all blood and body parts were carefully gathered, wrapped and buried together with the rest of the body.

Although the Apostles and Disciples had gone into hiding for fear of the Roman and Hebrew authorities, the eight devoted Holy Myrrhbearing

Women, led by our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos bravely went to fulfil their Sacred Duty out of their profound Love and Respect for Christ our Lord and Saviour.

OUR LADY THEOTOKOS WAS THE LEGAL “MOTHER” OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED’S SEVEN CHILDREN - ST JAMES, ST JOSES, ST JUDE, ST SIMON, ST SALOME (MOTHER OF ST JOHN AND ST JAMES), ST ESTER AND ANOTHER DAUGHTER, WHO WERE ACTUALLY HER COUSINS AND PROBABLY MUCH OLDER THAN HER.

SINCE SHE PREFERRED AND INSISTED ON REMAINING HUMBLY IN THE BACKGROUND OF HER BELOVED SON AND LORD, THE APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS RESPECTFULLY REFERRED TO HER IN OBSCURE WAYS SUCH AS “THE MOTHER OF JOSES” OR “THE MOTHER OF JAMES AND SALOME,” ETC.

The Angel of God – possibly Archangel Gabriel who is the Angelic Messenger and Bearer of Good Tidings from God to us human beings – specifically mentioned St Peter, which revealed our Lord’s special Care and Love even for one of His Apostles who had denied Him at a crucial time.

According to St Theophylact the deeply repentant and sorrowful St Peter would have said of himself: ‘I

denied the Lord, and therefore I am no longer His

Apostle!’ Yet the Angel’s words showed that our Lord God had already forgiven St Peter and still Loved him as before.

This is another Divine Teaching that clearly shows us that WHENEVER AND WHATEVER WE TRULY REPENT WITH

ALL SORROW AND HUMILITY, WE ARE FORGIVEN BY GOD

WHO LOVES US - EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS - FOR HE

DOES NOT REQUIRE OR DESIRE ANYONE TO SUFFER

ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND PERPETUAL SPIRITUAL

DEATH.

For this reason, WE MUST NEVER DARE TO JUDGE ONE

ANOTHER AND NOT EVEN OURSELVES FOR GOD’S DIVINE

LOVE AND GRACE IS FAR BEYOND ANYTHING WE CAN

BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE.

Our Blessed Lady Theotokos and Mary Magdalene “... said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid...” does not mean that they never told the others what they had experienced so early on that first Resurrection Day.

] OUR LADY THEOTOKOS “...KEPT MANY THINGS TO

HERSELF...” THROUGHOUT HER LIFE, ONLY

SPEAKING OF THEM WHEN IT BECAME NECESSARY TO

DO SO and in order to confirm the Absolute Truth of Christ’s Holy Gospel and His sinless Life on earth as God Incarnate and Perfect Man – AND THEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO WOULD FULLY

APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THEM.

Only after our Risen Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to the other Holy Apostles and faithful Disciples, did they speak of their experiences of that very early Sunday morning – Holy Pascha.

] THE STATEMENT THAT “THEY WERE AFRAID,” MIGHT

HAVE REFERRED TO THE ENORMOUS SHOCK OF NOT

ONLY WITNESSING THE OPENED TOMB WITH THE

ABANDONED BURIAL CLOTHS AND THE PRESENCE OF

THE ANGEL OF GOD, BUT ALSO A RELUCTANCE TO

TELL THE OTHERS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BELIEVED

THEM and – being men – they would have thought the women were merely “hysterical” and “delusional” due to their intense grief.

] ALTHOUGH AS THE ADORING MOTHER TO OUR LORD, OUR

LADY THEOTOKOS WOULD HAVE BEEN

INDESCRIBABLY TRAUMATISED BY WITNESSING

CHRIST’S TERRIBLE SUFFERING, SHE WAS ALSO

DEEPLY FAITHFUL AND FILLED WITH DIVINE GRACE

THAT ENABLED HER - MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE -

TO APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND ALL THINGS

PERTAINING TO ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS DIVINE

WILL FOR ALL HUMANITY.

IN HER PROFOUND WISDOM AND LOVE FOR GOD AND HER

FELLOW MANKIND, SHE WOULD KEEP MANY THINGS –

ESPECIALLY THE DIVINELY MYSTERIOUS THINGS – TO

HERSELF, knowing that others would either not understand or would misinterpret or blaspheme them.

Third Th ird Th ird Th ird SundaySundaySundaySunday o f Holy Pascha o f Holy Pascha o f Holy Pascha o f Holy Pascha –––– Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday o f the Holy o f the Holy o f the Holy o f the Holy MyrrhbearersMyrrhbearersMyrrhbearersMyrrhbearers Hristos Vaskrse! Vaistinu Vaskrse!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is the

Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women who went very early in the morning to anoint the Most Precious Body of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus

Christ, with myrrh and sweet smelling spices, and when they arrived at His Tomb, they found the heavy stone at the entrance rolled away.

They were the first to experience the Glorious Resurrection!

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They were the first to hear the joyous words: “He is Risen! He is not here!”

What had these women done to deserve such a most Joyous Message? They simply expressed their True Love of the One Who had died – they were ready and will to lovingly take care of lifeless Body that no longer could not return Love to them so theirs was a selfless act of Love on their part.

We find it very easy to love or care for those who are around us because THERE IS ALWAYS THE HOPE OF

RECEIVING SOMETHING IN RETURN.

ALL TOO OFTEN, HOWEVER, OUR LOVE AND CARE FOR

OTHERS IS BASED MAINLY ON OUR OWN SELFISHNESS!

] THE DECEASED, HOWEVER, HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER IN

RETURN, SO THIS IS WHAT MAKES ANY LOVE AND

CARE FOR THESE DEPARTED SOULS ACTS OF

SINCERE LOVE AND SELFLESS.

One of our Most Sacred Duties to fulfil while on this earth is to constantly remember all the departed souls and to keep them in our Prayers.

We are clearly reminded of this by the final Prayer of the Memorial Service, (MNIMOSINO IN GREEK OR PARASTOS IN SLAVONIC) : with the words: “Memory Eternal!” (“EONIA I MNIMI!”IN GREEK OR “VJEČNAJA PAMJAT!” IN SLAVONIC.)

] WE ARE SPIRITUALLY OBLIGED TO REMEMBER ALL THE

DEPARTED, REPOSING SOULS BECAUSE THEY NEED

OUR HELP SINCE THEY CAN NO LONGER CHANGE THE

COURSE OF THEIR ETERNITY THROUGH CONSTANT

REPENTANCE OF THEIR SINS.

] IT IS ONLY THROUGH OUR REMEMBRANCE OF THEM IN

OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS THAT DIVINE

MERCY AND COMPASSION MAY BE GRANTED TO THEM

FOR THEIR UNREPENTED SINS, WHICH THEY CAN NO

LONGER CORRECT AND WHICH WILL CONDEMN THEM

ETERNALLY.

] Furthermore, OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND OUR FELLOW

SINNERS COMPELS US TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER – whether in this temporary earthly life or awaiting the Final Judgement of Christ on the Eight Day – the beginning of Eternity for us.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Apostles and throughout the ages, His Holy Church have taught us to ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DEPARTED AND TO PRAY

FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY AT SPECIFIC TIMES AFTER THE

SEPARATION OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY: on the third day, the ninth day and the fortieth day after the repose of each person, as well as on the yearly anniversary of the repose.

We offer our special Prayers at these particular times because of what has been revealed to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Saints regarding the transition of our immortal soul from this short and temporary life into Eternity.

We have been taught that DURING THE FORTY DAYS AFTER

THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY, THE

SOUL RECEIVES PARTICULAR INITIAL JUDGMENTS TO

DETERMINE WHERE IT WILL WAIT UNTIL THE FINAL

JUDGMENT at the General Resurrection of all mankind.

These first Judgments or Trials are described by St Paul

in his Epistle to the Ephesians: “For our wrestling

is not against flesh and blood, but against the

principalities, against the powers, against the

world-rulers of this darkness, against the

spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly

Places.” (EPHESIANS 6:12) WHAT WE KNOW OF THIS FIRST JUDGMENT HAS BEEN

DESCRIBED BY MANY OF OUR HOLY FATHERS AND

MOTHERS who have been Blessed to behold and to return and reveal such awful Knowledge to us, so that we are better prepared and do not waste our valuable time with nonsense and unprofitable things.

One of these Holy Saints - St Theodora – revealed in a Vision to Gregory, a disciple of St Gregory the New and WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY HER IS A SPIRITUAL

REALITY IN HUMAN TERMS THAT WE MIGHT

UNDERSTAND: On the first two days after the soul’s departing from the

body, the soul spends it time visiting places on earth that are dear to it.

On the third day, the soul starts its Journey through what are described as “Toll Houses,” which are

places where each particular initial Judgment of different categories of unrepented sins occur.

The soul passes through twenty Judgments or Toll Houses for the various types of unrepented sins.

However, the soul does not go through this First Judgment alone for God sends two of His Angels to accompany and defend the soul against the shrill accusations of the demons who seek to claim each soul for their Eternal Condemnation.

While the Angels of God defend the soul by recalling all good thoughts, words and deeds, the demons try to confuse them by making loud, noisy accusations of all unconfessed, forgotten and unrepented sins but if they dare to recall any sin that has been forgiven by God and His Holy Priesthood, the Angels forbid them to be mentioned for they have been removed from the Book of that soul’s earthly life and cannot be used against the soul at all.

On the ninth day, this period of Trial is completed. The soul is then escorted by the Angels through Heaven and Hell to give it a foretaste of Eternal Joy and Eternal Damnation.

These visits of Heaven and Hell occur until the Fortieth Day.

During this period, the soul does not know whether it will find rest in Paradise or begin to suffer the pangs and foretaste of Eternal Condemnation, while awaiting Christ’s Final Judgement.

On the Fortieth Day after the separation of the soul from the body, the soul receives its particular Judgment, or the determination of where it will spend Eternity while waiting for the General Resurrection.

As we can see – especially during the Forty Day period following a death of our fellow sinners – whether they are our beloved family and friends, acquaintances or strangers - through our personal Prayers for the departed souls and the offering of Prayers for them during the Holy Services, we become like the Holy Myrrhbearers - by performing sincere Acts of Mercy and Love so that all souls may be found in the in the Heavenly Kingdom at the General Resurrection.

Through such unselfish Prayer, we share in God’s Concern for all departed souls.

St Nikolaj Velimirovic described for us God’s Concern for the departed souls with these words: “He (God)

is ... constantly concerned about how to grant

Resurrection to mankind. He constantly visits

the graves of people ... with His Holy Angels

.... Caring for the dead, we also share in God’s

Concern, and become in this way God’s

Friends and fellow workers.” So my dear Brethren in Christ:

my Prayer for you is that you remember the deceased, that you may share in God’s Work of bringing them to the Resurrection of Life by being like the Holy Myrrhbearers through Acts of Love, that both the departed and you may hear the

Joyous Message of Christ’s Resurrection: “He is

Risen, He is not here!” Amen.

Hristos Vaskrse! Vaistinu Vaskrse!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE HOLY MYRRBEARING WOMEN” BY

F A T H E R M I L AN MEDAKO V I CF A TH E R M I L AN MEDAKO V I CF A TH E R M I L AN MEDAKO V I CF A TH E R M I L AN MEDAKO V I C (2009) – ST GREGORY PALAMAS LIBRARY http://www.saintgregorypalamas.com/2010/02/sunday-of-holy-

myrrhbearing-women.html

S t . Ephra im the Syr ianS t . Ephra im the Syr ianS t . Ephra im the Syr ianS t . Ephra im the Syr ian "With Thee, O Lord, I will flee, that I may gain

in Thee Life in every place. The prison with Thee is no prison, for in Thee mankind goes up into Heaven: the grave with Thee is no grave, for Thou art the Resurrection!" (JOHN 11:25 - THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. XIII; EERDMANS PG. 236):

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Archdiocese Archdiocese Archdiocese Archdiocese o f Good Hopeof Good Hopeof Good Hopeof Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

4 th4 th4 th4 th Sunday o f Holy Pascha Tone Sunday o f Holy Pascha Tone Sunday o f Holy Pascha Tone Sunday o f Holy Pascha Tone 3 15 May 3 15 May 3 15 May 3 15 May 2011201120112011

Sunday o f the Heal ing o f the Para lyt ic a t Ba thesdaSunday o f the Heal ing o f the Para lyt ic a t Ba thesdaSunday o f the Heal ing o f the Para lyt ic a t Ba thesdaSunday o f the Heal ing o f the Para lyt ic a t Ba thesda

Also the Feast of St Pachomios the Great, Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism – St Achilles of Larissa – St Isaiah, Wonderworker of Rostov – St Demetrios of Uglich & Moscow – St Pachomios, Abbot & St Silvanos of Nerekhta Monastery - St Euphrosynos, Abbot & Wonderworker & St Serapion of Pskov


>Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton


> Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death


Resur r ec t i on Apo l y t i k i on - TONE 3

Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise

Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Thanato ton thanaton.Prototokos ton nekron egeneto. Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos.

Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for

the Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has trampled down Death by Death; He has become the First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He has delivered us, and to the world He has granted Great Mercy.

Kon tak i on – For Ho l y Pascha – Un t i l A scens i on Day

I ke en tafo katilthes Athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles

tin Dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis Irinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon

Anastasin.



Resurrec t ion Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 Resurrec t ion Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 Resurrec t ion Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 Resurrec t ion Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 –––– 35353535 Our R i sen Lor d J esus Accompani es S t Luke & S t C l eopas A l ong The Road T o Emmaus


S ing Praises to our God! S ing Praises to our King!

C lap your hands, al l your Nations!

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 9 : 32 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 9 : 32 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 9 : 32 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 9 : 32 –––– 42424242

St Peter i n Gent i le Judea

Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also went down to the Saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man names Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralysed. And Peter said to him: “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ Heals you. Arise, and make you bed.” And he arose immediately.

And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. At Joppa there was a certain Disciple, named Tabitha, which is translated “Dorcas.” This woman was full of Good Works

and Charitable Deeds, which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the Disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them.

When he arrived, they took him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him, weeping, showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down, and prayed. And turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha, arise!” and she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the Saints and widows, he presented her alive.

And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

The term “Saints” referred to all Christian Believers, for ALL WHO BELIEVE IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS

CHRIST WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART AND WHO ARE

SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE BY DEFINITION

“SAINTS.”

The later use of the term, referring to Holy People who lived particularly exemplary lives and who have been Canonised (Glorified) by the Holy Church of Christ does not negate this primary meaning.

Lydda is approximately 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem.

St Peter took Christ’s Divine Healing to a paralytic in a manner similar to our Lord and healed him completely.

THE DIVINE HEALING POWER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

CONTINUES IN HIS HOLY CHURCH TO THIS VERY DAY.

Sharon was a region north of Lydda along the Mediterranean coastline.

The Signs or Miracles of the Holy Apostles of Christ convinced many witnesses and others who then turned to the Lord.

THESE DIVINE SIGNS OR MIRACLES PROVE THE GREAT MERCY

AND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD – THUS CONFIRMING

CHRIST’S HOLY GOSPEL AND LEADING MANY SOULS to sincere Repentance and Eternal Life in Christ.

St Peter’s raising St Tabitha from the dead parallels Christ’s raising the daughter of the Synagogue Ruler, Jairus, from death.

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The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 5 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 5 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 5 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 5 : 1 –––– 15151515 Chr i s t our Lor d & Sav i our H ea ls t he Para l ysed Man a t B e t hesda

At that time there was a Feast of the Hebrews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, a pool, which is called in Hebrew: ‘Bethesda,’ having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people: blind, lame and paralysed – waiting for the moving of the water. For an Angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then, whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease h3e had.

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that

he already had been in that condition for a long time, He said to him: “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him: “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am going,

another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him: “Rise. Take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

The Hebrews, therefore, said to him who was cured: “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them: “He Who made me well said to me: ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” Then they asked him: “Who is

the Man Who said to you: ‘Take up your bed and walk?’” But the one who was healed did not know Who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn – a multitude being in that place.

Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him: “Behold: you have been made well. Sin no more, lest

a worse thing come upon you.”

The man departed and told the Hebrews that it was Jesus Who had made him well.

This Divine Healing was the third Sign or Miracle that St John the Divine Apostle recorded in his Holy Gospel.

] IT EXEMPLIFIES THE DIVINE POWER OF CHRIST OUR LORD

TO RESTORE A PERSON TO WHOLENESS – TO FULL

HEALTH, DESPITE THE DEGREE OF AFFLICTION.

The Feast, which is referred to, was the Old Covenant Pentecost – also known as “the Feast of Weeks,” which celebrates the granting of the Divine Law – the Ten Commandments of God – to St Moses on Mount Sinai. (THE REFERENCES TO THE LAW OF MOSES LATER IN THIS CHAPTER CONFIRM THIS INTERPRETATION OF OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS..)

The double-basin Pool of Bethesda, which was believed to have had miraculous curative powers, has been discovered about 100 yards north of the Temple area, near to the Sheep Gate.

The water for this high-ground pool came from underground springs and was used to wash the sacrificial lambs before THEY WERE SLAIN AS OFFERINGS

FOR THE ATONEMENT AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS

ACCORDING TO THE OLD COVENANT LAW.

] THE POOL OF BETHESDA FUNCTIONED AS A TYPE OF HOLY

BAPTISM: ä UNDER THE OLD COVENANT, ALTHOUGH A GREAT

MULTITUDE WAITED to enter the water for physical healing after an Angel of God had touched it and stirred it up, ONLY ONE PERSON

WAS HEALED AT A TIME. The water was special because IN AN INDIRECT MANNER IT

WAS PART OF THE BLOOD SACRIFICES of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, since the sacrificial animals were cleansed in the water. ä However, DIVINE GRACE WAS LIMITED TO THE FIRST

PERSON WHO ENTERED THE WATER, NOT TO THE

REST.

] GOD’S NEW COVENANT BAPTISM IS GRANTED TO ALL

NATIONS AS A DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST’S OWN

SACRIFICIAL DEATH – WITHOUT THE MEDIATION OF HIS

ANGELS.

ä Holy Baptism of the New (Bloodless) Covenant GRANTS US ALL HEALING OF THE BODY AND OF THE

IMMORTAL SOUL, ä AS WELL AS THE DIVINE PROMISE OF ETERNAL

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. Furthermore, DIVINE GRACE OF THE NEW COVENANT IS

INEXHAUSTIBLE AND IS OFFERED TO ALL WHO SEEK IT. ] According to St John Chrysostom, OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST SINGLED OUT THE MAN WHO HAD SUFFERED

FOR THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS – PATIENTLY WAITING TO BE

HEALED – IN ORDER TO TEACH US TO PERSEVERE AND

TO HAVE PATIENCE, WHILE BEING A JUDGEMENT OR

CONDEMNATION AGAINST THOSE WHO LOSE HOPE OR

PATIENCE ALTOGETHER – THOSE WHO DESPAIR – WHO

LOSE ALL HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD’S DIVINE

PROVIDENCE because their circumstances are not according to their own will and desires – and especially when we have only minor problems that can be easily resolved if we make an effort to do so.

] GOD DOES EVERYTHING IN HIS OWN TIME AND ACCORDING

TO HIS OWN DIVINE WILL BECAUSE ONLY HE KNOWS

WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND HOW TO HELP US. WE USUALLY HAVE TO CORRECT SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR OWN PERSONAL SPIRITUAL

CONDITION BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE OR EXPERIENCE GOD’S DIVINE GRACE AND MERCY:

WE NEED TO REPENT OUR SINS, TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, TO LEARN OBEDIENCE TO GOD, TO FORGIVE OTHERS, TO DO UNSELFISH AND LOVING (CHARITABLE) ACTS OF MERCY WITHOUT EXCEPTION, LEARN TO BE PATIENT, KIND, GENTLE, GENEROUS, DEVELOP A

POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND TO FULFIL ALL OUR SACRED DUTIES AND COMMITMENTS WITH WILLING AND EAGER HEARTS.

] ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM STRANGE THAT OUR LORD ASKED

THE PARALYSED MAN IF HE WANTED TO BE HEALED, IT

WAS A MOST RELEVANT QUESTION FOR SEVERAL

REASONS: ä It made public the fact that THE SICK MAN KEPT HIS

FAITH EVEN IN A SITUATION THAT WAS SEEMINGLY

HOPELESS, for how could a paralytic ever be the first into the water?

ä Our Lord drew attention away from the water and towards THE NEED WE ALL HAVE FOR THE HELP

AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHERS, WHICH IS

FULFILLED IN CHRIST HIMSELF, Who became Man in order to heal all ailing and fallen mankind.

ä NOT EVERYONE WHO IS ILL ACTUALLY DESIRES

HEALING, for sadly, some prefer to remain infirm in order to have an excuse or licence to complain, to avoid any responsibility for their lives, or to continue drawing the pity of others!

Although Mosaic Law did not specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the Sabbath, it was prohibited and explicitly forbidden in Rabbinical Teachings.

J e r e m i a h 1 7 : 2 3 The Lord said: “... if you will not hear Me so as to Sanctify the Sabbath Days, and bear

no burdens, nor enter the gates of Jerusalem on

the Sabbath Days, then I will kindle a fire in her

gates. It will consume the streets of Jerusalem

and will not be quenched.”

St Jeremiah the Holy Prophet of God delivered the Word of the Lord which commanded that Israel stop violating the Sabbath Day. The Reward for Obedience to God is a gathering of the nations into Jerusalem to offer sacrifice and although this was done after the Exile, it was not completely fulfilled until the Gentiles joined the procession on the Day of Pentecost.

The Truth that Christ is Lord over the Sabbath is made clear by His Command to the Paralytic and by the man’s unhesitating Obedience to Him.

As is often the case in the Holy Gospel according to St John, “HEBREWS” REFERS TO THE LEADERS - and not to the people in general – WHOSE MALICE IS QUITE EVIDENT

BECAUSE THEY FOCUSED SOLELY ON THE “VIOLATION” OF

THE SABBATH RATHER THAN ON THE GREAT MIRACLE OF

THE LONG-SUFFERING PARALYTIC. ] THE GENUINE AND PROFOUND FAITH OF THE MAN IS

DEMONSTRATED BY HIS IMMEDIATELY GOING TO THE

TEMPLE TO OFFER HIS HEARTFELT THANKSGIVING AND

WORSHIP, instead of going home, or anywhere else to show off his healed body.

Furthermore, ALL MIRACULOUS HEALINGS HAD TO BE

CONFIRMED BY THE TEMPLE PRIESTS, FOLLOWED BY

VARIOUS CLEANSING AND SACRIFICIAL RITES ACCORDING

TO MOSAIC LAW.

While there is a general connection between sin and suffering, this connection is not always one to one, for the innocent often suffer while the guilty seem to be spared earthly consequences.

Nevertheless, OUR SINS USUALLY LEAD DIRECTLY TO MOST OF

THE SUFFERING OF THIS WORLD – OUR OWN SUFFERING AND

– EVEN WORSE - THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS DUE TO OUR

SELFISH OR THOUGHTLESS ACTIONS.

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Christ’s dire warning: “Sin no more...” was NOT ONLY

ADDRESSED TO THE HEAL MAN, BUT TO EACH AND EVERY

ONE OF US!

] SIN CAUSES SPIRITUAL DEATH, WHICH ONLY REPENTANCE

CAN RESOLVE BY RETURNING US TO SPIRITUAL LIFE IN

CHRIST.

ä However, IF WE STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO

ACKNOWLEDGE, CONFESS AND REPENT OUR SINS

THEY WILL DESTROY OUR SOUL – leading to a far worse consequence than any terrible, painful or disabling affliction of the body!

Our only hope is to RESIST ALL TEMPTATION AND SIN BY

BESEECHING THE LORD OUR GOD FOR HIS DIVINE

STRENGTH AND ASSISTANCE. THE HEALED PARALYTIC DID NOT REPORT OUR LORD JESUS TO

THE HEBREW LEADERS IN A MALICIOUS MANNER BUT AS A

WITNESS OF CHRIST’S ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, for even though those misguided leaders were only interested in the violation of the Sabbath, the restored man emphasised that it was our Lord Jesus Who had healed him, without saying anything about carrying his bed – i.e. WITHOUT BLAMING CHRIST FOR CAUSING HIM TO

BREAK THE SABBATH.

4th Sunday of Holy Pascha - the Paralytic The life of the Paralytic, who waited at the sheep pool,

Bethesda, was dramatic. For thirty eight years he had been paralyzed and

abandoned - alone, amongst so many other ill people and fellow countrymen, having waited with great patience the miraculous movement of the waters, which cured the first person to fall in.

In this sad and desperate environment Christ met the Paralytic - God met with His creation - the God-Man with man.

With philanthropic intentions Christ spoke to the

Paralytic, asking him: “Do you want to be made

well?” ] WITH DISCRETION OUR LORD ASKS US THAT QUESTION, IN

ORDER TO CURE US; WITH LOVE HE SEEKS US, IN

ORDER TO SAVE US.

The Paralytic had waited patiently for thirty eight long years and his hopes were never worn down - he never disbelieved and he never withdrew.

He simply waited – although all his friends and relatives seem to have abandoned him.

Everyone had returned to their homes, to work and to their families, when they saw no Miracle occurring for him.

In vain they must have tried untold times to get their paralysed relative or friend into the pool before others, but each time they failed, and while so many others were healed, he remained afflicted.

Their faith and hope had worn away and, one by one, they had abandoned him.

Now on this particular day the Paralytic voiced his

concern to Christ by saying: “Lord, I have no one to assist me.”

“Lord, I have no one! I have no relatives! I have no

friends! I have no companion who is willing to stay

with me! I have remained alone, in the loneliness of

my illness and sufferings, and no one offers me

help!”

Every day, the five galleries of the Pool of Bethesda were filled with crowds of invalids and their helpers, yet no one was willing to relieve the Paralytic’s loneliness and suffering.

It is the same today throughout our world: millions of people endure different physical or spiritual ailments, and most of them with one and the same voice cry out: “Lord, we have no one”!

Diseases have always tormented mankind and LONG-

TERM SUFFERING WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE DEPRESSION

AND MISERY – A SPIRITUAL AFFLICTION, which is a consequence of isolation and loneliness: “Lord, we

have no one!” AFFLICTION AND PAIN ARE INTERWOVEN WITH OUR EARTHLY

LIFE. NO AMOUNT OF WEALTH OR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

CAN PREVENT THEIR INTRUSION AND DEVASTATING

WRETCHEDNESS. Intense suffering and sorrow is also caused by the pain

and illness of our beloved ones, by the ingratitude of friends and relatives, by slander and wickedness, by suspicion and misunderstandings.

Distress and despair threaten to overwhelm us when our labours and deeds are unacknowledged. They are caused by love that is rejected, and hopes that are never fulfilled.

AFFLICTION AND PAIN CONFRONTS EVERY ONE OF US, SOONER

OR LATER, regardless of social status or personal circumstances – whether we are rich or poor, illiterate or educated.

The Paralytic had suffered the consequences of a former sinful life and after our Lord had healed him, He

warned the man to never sin again “...lest a worse thing come upon you.”

SIN AND PRODIGAL LIVING ARE THE CAUSE OF MOST OF OUR

TRIBULATIONS. OUR MORAL DECAY AND FAMILY DISTRESS

ARE ROOTED IN OUR OWN SELFISH AND THOUGHTLESS

DESIRES. WE CAUSE DEVASTATION THROUGH OUR OWN

FOOLISH BEHAVIOUR AND SINFUL DEEDS.

And for that reason, our Lord severely cautioned the healed Paralytic.

Unfortunately, ALTHOUGH ALL OF US KNOW THAT THIS

ADVICE IS SO LOGICAL AND TRUE, WE TEND TO IGNORE

IT. WE ALLOW OUR PRIDE, GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE TO

OVERRULE OUR LOGIC.

WE RISK OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND OTHERS by participating in mischievous and dangerous amusements, by addiction to alcohol, tobacco and drugs, all night gambling, illicit sexual relationships, and calamitous association with evil people who will corrupt us even more.

How many times - although we had promised that we would not sin - have we found ourselves in the fatal tentacles of sin?

How many times - although we had the will and ability to withstand our wicked desires - have we surrendered to the passions of the flesh from the first instant?

How many times have we felt strong, but have been proven to be so weak and susceptible to temptation and sin?

] IF THE SOUL IS NOT UNDER GOD’S GRACE, SIN WILL

ALWAYS PREVAIL.

] SIN DRAGS AND HUMILIATES US ALL – WITHOUT

EXCEPTION!

The Prophet David said: “If the Lord has not built the

city, in vain the builders labour. If the Lord has

not protected the city, in vain the guards

watched all night.” ] WHEN WE SIN, WE SIN WITH AN ILL WILL, WITHOUT MORAL

STRENGTH.

Thus those who becomes slaves to sin, are compared to an unsailable ship – one that has no helm to steer by, no compass to be guided and no anchor to keep it firmly moored.

This Spiritual Condition causes us both spiritual and physical paralysis, which eventually drags us helplessly towards death itself.

St Paul, the Great Apostle of the Nations, taught us:

“The wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is

Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (ROMANS 6:23).

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me

from this body of death? I thank God –

through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (ROMANS 7:24-45) And truly, sin can only be overcome with the Divine

Assistance of God’s Grace – as our Lord has assured us:“... without Me you can achieve nothing.” (JOHN 15:5).

My Beloved Friends in Christ, we cannot find the proper words to describe the encouraging Theology of St Paul who proclaimed:

“God demonstrated His own Love for us, in that

while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (ROMANS 5:8)

“God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, - born

under the Law, to Redeem those who were

under the Law – that we might receive the

adoption as sons.” (GALATIANS 4:5)


“... we are Children of God, and if Children, then

Heirs – Heirs of God and joint Heirs with

Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we

may also be glorified together.” (ROMANS 8:17)

Let us then STRUGGLE STEADFASTLY TO SHAKE OFF THE

PARALYTIC SINFUL LIFE AND THE SPIRITUAL

MORTIFICATION. And BY THE GRACE OF OUR RESURRECTED LORD AND

SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, LET US RECEIVE THE HEALTH OF

OUR SOUL AND BODY – let us BECOME A WHOLE

PERSONALITY IN CHRIST - and in general, LET OUR

WHOLE LIFE TO BE A DOXOLOGY OF GOD’S GLORY. Amen. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC” BY ARCHBISHOP

PANTELEIMON P LAMPADARIOS OF ANTINOE http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/sermons/

lampadarios_sunday_paralytic.htm

Elder Paisios explainElder Paisios explainElder Paisios explainElder Paisios explains s s s ‘‘‘‘PhilotimoPhilotimoPhilotimoPhilotimo’ ’ ’ ’ –––– Grateful ThoughtGrateful ThoughtGrateful ThoughtGrateful Thought Father Paisios related an incident from his childhood

years: “When I was a child and my soul was still pure, I Loved

Christ very much. I used to walk in the woods

carrying a cross in my hands, chanting and praying

and wishing to become a Monk. My parents told me

that I should first grow up and then leave to go to the

Monastery. “One day, as I was taking my usual walk in the woods, I

met a fellow villager. When he saw me carrying the

cross, he asked me; “What is this?” “The Cross of

our Christ,” I replied.

“Since he did not have any positive thoughts in his mind,

he said to me, “Arsenios, you are silly. You

don’t mean to say that you believe in God. He

does not exist. These religious stories are

made up by some Priests. We have evolved

from the monkey. Christ was simply a Man

like all of us.”

“When he finished, he got up and left. His twisted

thoughts filled my innocent soul with black

heavy clouds. Being alone in the woods, I

began to think that maybe God does not

exist.

“As I was feeling confused, desperate and

extremely sad, I asked Christ to give me an Indication

of His Existence, so I could believe in Him. But He did

not respond.

“Feeling exhausted, I lay on the ground to rest. Suddenly,

a positive thought, full of Philotimo (RESPONSIVE

GRATEFULNESS), entered my innocent soul: “Hold on a

second! Wasn’t Christ the kindest Man ever on

earth? No one has ever found anything evil in

Him. So, whether He is God or not, I don’t care.

Based on the fact that He is the kindest Man on

earth and I haven’t known anyone better, I will

try to become like Him and absolutely obey

everything the Gospel says. I will even give my

life for Him, if needed, since He is so kind!” “All my thoughts of disbelief disappeared and my soul

was filled with immense Joy. “The power of my Philotimo dissolved all the ambiguous

ones. “When I started believing in Christ and decided to Love

Him as much as I could, solely out of Philotimo, I

experienced a Miracle that firmly sealed my Grateful

Thought. Then, I thought, “I do not care any more

if someone tells me that God does not exist!” As the story of the Elder regarding his Grateful Thought

did not completely satisfy me, I asked him with a certain curiosity to tell me about the Miracle he experienced in the woods. Father Paisios seemed reluctant and replied that he could not tell me about it. This way, he indicated that I, too, should not look for Miracles, but rather trust my feeling of Philotimo, as it is the Key that opens the Door to every Good. (Later on, Father Paisios told me that he had seen our Lord Jesus Christ.) He had this to say about Philotimo: “The Righteous Christian does not practice

good acts for his own benefit - in order to be

rewarded or to avoid Hell and gain Paradise -

but rather because he prefers good to evil. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF THE

GOOD THAT FILLS OUR SOUL WITHOUT HAVING ASKED FOR

IT. This way, good has dignity; otherwise, it

originates from the cheap attitude of “give and

take.” ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: FROM THE BOOK “ELDER PAISIOS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN” BY

MONK CHRISTODOULOS OF MOUNT ATHOS http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/blessed-memory-of-elder-paisios-

the-athonite-of-mount-athos-july-12-1994/

Father George Calciu’ Living words: To serve Christ Father George Calciu’ Living words: To serve Christ Father George Calciu’ Living words: To serve Christ Father George Calciu’ Living words: To serve Christ ............ We all feel the need to confess when someone had helped

us. We feel the need to reveal a Miracle. Not for praise, but to escape the loneliness, the sickness and the pain!

I feel the need to confess who brought me to the Faith, who absolved me from my sins and the wickedness of my heart; a Priest, a Faithful Friend … I feel the need to say: “He helped me!”

My Beloved Faithful, OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND MOST

MODERN AUTHORITIES ARE INCREASINGLY ISOLATING US

FROM GOD AND FROM THE LOVE OF ONE ANOTHER!

CONSEQUENTLY WE WILL BECOME LONELIER, LESS BOUND OR

COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER AND LESS COMMUNICATIVE, IN

ORDER THAT OTHERS ARE ABLE TO LEAD US TO THEIR

INTENDED CORRUPTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE DESTINATION.

The wicked are is trying to separate and isolate us, because UNIFIED COMMUNITIES ARE MUCH MORE

DIFFICULT TO DESTROY THAN ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS.

The Communists, Fascists and other destructive forces have done it through violence and although the rest of the world may not use initially use violence they use other ways to mislead and destroy us.

THEIR FATAL HOOKS ARE BAITED WITH TINY DROPS OF TRUTH

THAT LURE US AWAY FROM GOD’S ABSOLUTE AND PERFECT

TRUTH by telling each of us individually: “You are

unique... you have rights... you are independent...

you can rebel against the constraints and discipline

of your family, your teachers, your Church and others (who actually want only what is best for all of us)... you do not have to follow or obey them because you

a free to do what you really want! You are free to

indulge yourself... to enjoy yourself any way you feel

like doing!” (JUST AS SATAN TEMPTED ADAM AND EVE!) However, such so-called “freedom” is in all Truth SPIRITUAL

ENSLAVEMENT to the evil one and his servants because it IS ACTUALLY REBELLION AND REVOLT AGAINST OUR

LOVING AND BENOVOLENT LORD GOD WHO LOVES US AND

WHO NEVER FAILS US.

The enemies’ “freedom” is nihilism – THE TOTAL REJECTION

OF EVERYTHING THAT MAKES SOCIAL LIVING AND MORALITY

POSSIBLE – IT IS TOTAL A STATE OF UTTER HOPELESSNESS

AND DISBELIEF IN ALL GOODNESS AND TRUTH.

The levels of depravity that we witness with all the crimes and violence that haunt the earth have broken our human connection and OUR SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH ONE ANOTHER HAS ALMOST VANISHED. In this exacerbation of our fallen world, WE ARE BEING LED

TOWARDS A DEMONIZED WORLD AND WE ARE GROWING

INCREASINGLY ISOLATED FROM GOD AND ALL HIS DIVINE

GOODNESS!

So, Beloved Brethren: LET US STAND FIRMLY UNITED IN FAITH

AND LOVE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. LET US STAND FIRMLY UNITED IN THE LOVE AND COMMUNITY OF

CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH, WHICH GUIDES US, PROTECTS US

AND GRANTS US ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST. BE SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL AND ALERT WITHOUT FAIL because

all other EGOCENTRIC, SELF-INDULGENT GROUPS LEAD TO

SELF-DESTRUCTION AND SPIRITUAL SLAVERY - destroying us by making us instruments of greed and mere cogs in this complicated mechanism of human society.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/04/

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) M i d - P e n t e c o s t 1 8 May 201 1 15.

Greek OGreek OGreek OGreek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icar thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icar thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icar thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr ica


11118 May 20118 May 20118 May 20118 May 2011 MidMidMidMid ----Pentecos tPentecos tPentecos tPentecos t

Also the Feast of St Andrew, St Paul, St Christina, St Herakles, St Pauline, St Bendeimos, Holy Martyrs of Athens – St Dionysios, St Peter, St Stephen the New & St Theodotos of Ancyra, together with the SevenVirgin Martyrs: St Tekousa, St Phaine, St Claudia, St Matrona, St Julia, St Alexandra & St Euphrasia of Ancyra – St Simeon, St Isaac & St Bachtisios of Persia – St David & St Tarechan of Georgia – St David of Greji Monastery, Georgia






Apo ly t i k i on O f M id – P en t e cos t – T one P l aga l 4 :

Mesousis tis Eortis, disosan mou tin psihin, efsevias

potison namata; oti pasi Sotir evoisas: O dispason erhestho pros me ke pineto. I Pigi tis Zois, Hriste O Theos imon Doxa Si.

Halfway to the Feast, refresh my thirsty soul with

flowing Streams of Piety; for Thou, O Saviour, cried to all: Those who thirst, come to Me and drink! O Fountain of Life, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!

Kon tak i on – For H o ly Pascha – Un t i l A scens i on Day

I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles

tin dinamin; ke Anestis os Nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis irinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon

Anastasin.



Kon tak i on O f Mid-Pen te cos t

Tis Eortis tis nomikis mesazousis, O Ton apanton Piitis

ke Despotis, pros tous parontas eleges Hriste O Theos. Defte ke arisasthe, idor athanasias. Othen Si prospiptomen, ke Pistos ekvoomen. Tous iktirmous Sou dorise imin. Si gar iparhis Pigi tis zois imon.

When the Paschal Feast was half-completed, O the

Creator of all and their Master, Thou said to those present, O Christ our God: Come to Me and draw now, the Water that is Immortal. Wherefore, we fall down before Thee and cry out in Faith: Thy Great Mercies grant to us; for Thou art indeed, the Fount of our lives.

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 14 : 6 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 14 : 6 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 14 : 6 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 14 : 6 –––– 18181818 The Chur ch o f C hr i s t i n I con ium , Ga la t i a

When a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Hebrews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone the Apostles, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they preached the Gospel there.

And in Lystra a certain man, without strength in his feet was sitting – a cripple from his mother’s womb – who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently, and seeing that he had Faith to be Healed, said with a loud voice: “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leapt and walked.

Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language: “The gods

have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called ‘Zeus,’ and Paul, ‘Hermes,’ since he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, took oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard this, they tore their clothing and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying: “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the

same nature as you, and preach to you so that you should turn from these useless things to the Living God, Who

made the Heavens, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them; Who in bygone generations allowed all

nations to walk in their own ways.

“Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without Witness, in that He did Good: He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful

seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

And with these sayings, they could scarcely retain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

According to St John Chrysostom, the unfitting praise of the Lycaonians was “... a contrivance of the devil...” who tried to lead the people to a new form of idolatry as well as trying to tempt St Paul and St Barnabas into the fatal sin of pride and arrogance.

While St Paul preached Christ to the Hebrews by using the Old Testament, in Lycaonia he used a starting point that was most accessible and understandable to his audience.

The people’s immediate change from worshipping the Holy Apostles of Christ to persecuting them shows their mob mentality, and teaches us that a Faith

that is based solely on obvious Miracles is fickle, weak and unstable because it is so easily shattered and lost.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD DUE TO A DEEP, PERSONAL

CONVICTION AND LOVE OF GOD – SOMETHING THAT

COMES NATURALLY ONLY FROM WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND

SOULS but which cannot be forced nor taught. IT IS A NATURAL RESPONSE OF OUR SOUL, WHICH HAS COME

FROM GOD AND WHICH NEEDS TO RETURN TO HIM. TRUE FAITH IN GOD IS A DEEP-SEATED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

AND RECOGNITION OF HIS DIVINE TRUTH AND A

PERSONAL COMPULSION OR YEARNING TO LIVE EVERY

MOMENT IN CHRIST.


The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 7 : 14 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 7 : 14 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 7 : 14 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 7 : 14 –––– 30303030 Our Lor d Jesus Chr i s t Teaches i n t he T empl e a t Mid-Pen t ecos t

At that time, about the middle of the Feast Jesus went up into the Temple and taught. And the Hebrews marvelled, saying: “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” And Jesus answered them and said: “My Doctrine

is not Mine, but His Who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His Will, he shall know concerning the Doctrine,

whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own Authority. He who speaks from himself, seeks his

own glory; but He Who seeks the Glory of the One Who sent Him, is True, and no unrighteousness is in

Him. Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you keeps the Law. Why do you seek to kill Me?”

The people answered and said: “Thou hast a demon! Who is seeking to kill Thee?” Jesus answered and said: “I did one Work, and you all marvel. Moses, therefore, gave you Circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from

the Fathers), and you Circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives Circumcision on the Sabbath,

so that the Law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely

well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with Righteous Judgement!” Now some of them from Jerusalem said: “Is this not He Whom they seek to kill? But behold! He speaks boldly, and

they say nothing to Him. Do the Rulers know indeed that this is Truly the Christ? However, we know where this

Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.”

Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the Temple, saying: “You both know Me, and you know where I Am from;

and I have not come of Myself, but He Who sent Me is True, Whom you do not know. But I know Him, for

I Am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Therefore, they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His Hour had not yet come.

THE SIMPLE DESIRE TO KNOW AND TO FOLLOW GOD’S WILL

IS THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING IT.

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS COMES FROM UNWILLINGNESS TO

KNOW GOD OR TO RECOGNISE HIS DIVINE AUTHORITY.

St John Chrysostom paraphrases Christ our Saviour’s Words as follows:

“Rid yourself of wickedness: the anger, the envy,

and the hatred that have arisen in your hearts,

without provocation, against Me. Then you will

have no difficulty in realising that My Words

are actually those of God. As it is, these

passions darken your understanding and distort

sound judgement. If you remove these

passions, you will no longer be afflicted in

this manner.” By providing Old Testament examples of blameless

violation of the Sabbath, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated to the Hebrews that THE LAW IS NOT

ABSOLUTE OVER OUR HUMAN NEED OR SERVICE TO GOD.

When the Hebrews professed to know where Christ was from, they were mistaken, both in the earthly sense and in a Divine sense.

Humanly speaking, they thought of our Lord as being from Nazareth, Galilee for they were unaware that HE WAS ACTUALLY BORN AND SPENT HIS VERY EARLY

YEARS, BEFORE THEIR FLIGHT TO EGYPT, IN BETHLEHEM.

Beyond that, they could not comprehend that CHRIST

HAS TRULY COME FROM OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, that He is ETERNALLY BEGOTTEN OF GOD THE FATHER, BEFORE

ALL AGES, and thus His Divine Origin remained unknown to them as well.

CHRIST’S “HOUR” IS A REFERENCE TO THE EXACT MOMENT

OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH, FOR HE IS LORD OVER

ALL TIME, WHICH IS A DIVINE AUTHORITY POSSESSED BY

ALMIGHTY GOD ALONE.

OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR VOLUNTARILY – ACCORDING TO HIS

DIVINE WILL – WENT TO HIS PASSION AND DEATH – and exclusively according to His own timing – certainly not according to the plots and schemes of wicked men.

Mid Pentecos tMid Pentecos tMid Pentecos tMid Pentecos tThe Apolytikion of Mid-Pentecost appeals to our

Christian soul, especially, these tragic days when we hear not about the “Streams of Piety,” but rather about the tumultuous waves of impiety that pound the entire world and human race.

The Christian soul, being so thirsty under the oppression of such wickedness, prays that our Lord will water it with Streams of Piety.

Our Lord responds to all who call out to Him: “Come unto Me, all you who labour and are heavy

laden, and I will give you rest!” [MATTHEW 11:28]. He also says to us: “Take My Yoke upon you, and

learn of Me, for I Am Meek and Lowly in heart:

and you shall find rest for your souls. For My

Yoke is easy, and My Burden is light.” [MATTHEW 11:29].

St John the Beloved Apostle also said that OUR LORD’S

COMMANDMENTS “… are not burdensome (heavy).” [1 JOHN 5:3]

Our Lord Jesus encourages us to learn from Him, and IF WE DO LEARN SUCH TRUE MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

FROM HIM, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY FIND REST FOR OUR

SOULS. Our present life - with its vanity and defilement, with all

its hardships and difficulties – is like something evil pressing down heavily upon us - suffocating and weakening us.

Yet OUR LORD HAS REASSURED US AND PROMISED US

FAITHFULLY THAT EVERYTHING OF HIS MAKES LIFE SO

MUCH EASIER – which has always been proved to be completely True!

If only we would understand that GOD ALONE CAN GRANT

US REST AND REMOVE OUR HEAVY BURDENS, SO THAT

OUR LIFE IS COMPLETELY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER! But alas! We know both from the Holy Gospel and from

the Inspired Writings of our Holy Church Fathers that the darkness of sin that oppresses us all, will continue to increase and worsen, and that everything around us will become far more difficult

while THOSE OF US WHO CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE TO

REMAIN OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL TO THE WILL OF GOD

AND HIS HOLY CHURCH WILL ENDURE OVERWHELMING

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AS NEVER BEFORE! The Faithful soon realise exactly how light and easy our

Lord’s Divine Yoke is and ALL WHO BOW THEIR HEADS

AND BEND THEIR KNEES IN PRAYER AND WORSHIP OF

GOD, WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

If only everyone – all lost and drifting souls - would at last UNDERSTAND CHRIST’S LOVING APPEAL AND TURN

TO HIM WHO CALLS EVERYONE TO HIMSELF, and LEARN

FROM HIM, they would understand the meaning of Truth and Light!

UNLESS WE ALL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE GENUINE AND

TRUE LOVE OF GOD, THERE IS VERY LITTLE HOPE FOR

US. However, AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WE SHOULD

NEVER BECOME DESPONDENT FOR WE CAN REST

ASSURED THAT THE LORD OUR GOD CERTAINLY KNOWS

EVERY ONE OF HIS FAITHFUL FLOCK AND PROTECTS US

FROM EVIL.

To all those who are faithful to God, Christ says:

“Because you have kept the word of My Patience, (HIS DIVINE WORD), I also will keep you

from the Hour of Temptation, which shall

come upon all the world.” [REVELATION 3:10] As we know from all past Experiences, OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST, NEVER LIES NOR DECEIVES US FOR EVIL IS NOT

OF HIS DIVINE, SINLESS NATURE - AND WHATEVER HE

HAS TOLD US IS MOST DEFINITELY TRUE!

Our Sacred Task is to MAINTAIN OUR FIDELITY TO HIM and if we KEEP HIS DIVINE WORD AND COMMANDMENTS

HOLY, AND FAITHFULLY FULFIL THEM, He will deliver us from the temptations and evil that ceaselessly threaten us

Amen. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ARCHBISHOP PHILARET’S SERMON AT MID-PENTECOST

http://www.pravmir.com/metropolitan-philaret-on-mid-pentecost/

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St C ons tan t ine & S t H e l ena – Equa l s t o t h e Apos t l e s 2 1 May 201 1 17.



21 21 21 21 May 2011May 2011May 2011May 2011 S t Cons tant ineS t Cons tant ineS t Cons tant ineS t Cons tant ine & S t Hel ena & St Hel ena & St Hel ena & St Hel ena

Equal to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l esEqual to the Apost l es

Also the Feast of St Michael & St Theodore, the Wonderworkers of Murom – St Cassian the Greek of Uglich – St Pachomios the Holy Martyr of Little Russia - the Vladimir Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & the deliverance of Moscow – the Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Tenderness of Pskov Caves Monastery











A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s – T o n e 4

Tou Stavrou Sou ton tipon en Ourano theasamenos, ke

os O Pavlos tin klisin ouk ek anthropon dexamenos, O en Vasilefsin Apostolos Sou Kyrie, Vasilevousan polin ti Hiri Sou paretheto; in perisoze dia pantos en Irini, Presvies tis Theotokou, Mone Filanthrope!

The Sign of the Cross in the sky having beheld, and like

Paul having received the Call that did not come from men, Thine Apostle among all the Kings, O Lord, built his capital city and placed its care in Thy Hands; which, we ask Thee to guard in Peace, forever, by the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Only Lover of mankind!






Matins Gospel Accord ing to S t John 10 : Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t John 10 : Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t John 10 : Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t John 10 : 9 9 9 9 –––– 16161616 Our Lor d Jesus Chr i s t i s t h e On l y Means o f A t t a i n ing E te r na l L i f e

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and

out, and find Pasture. The Thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come

that they may have Life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the Sheep. But a hireling – he who is not

the Shepherd – one who does not own the Sheep – sees the Wolf coming and leaves the Sheep and flees;

and the Wolf catches the Sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does

not care for the Sheep.

“I Am the Good Shepherd; and I know My Sheep, and am known by My Own. As the Father knows Me, even

so I know the Father, and I lay down My Life for the Sheep.

“And other Sheep have I, which are not of this Fold. Them also I must bring, and they will hear My Voice;

and there will be One Flock and One Shepherd.”

The Acts oThe Acts oThe Acts oThe Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 26 : 1 , 12 f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 26 : 1 , 12 f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 26 : 1 , 12 f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 26 : 1 , 12 –––– 20202020 S t Pau l ’ s De f ence

Agrippa said to Paul: “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” And Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself...

“... While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the Chief Priests, at midday,

O King, along the road I saw a Light from Heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who

journeyed with me.

“And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a Voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul,

Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? It is difficult for you to kick against the goads!’ And I said: ‘Who art

Thou, O Lord?’ And He said: ‘I Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. So, rise and stand on your feet; for I

have Appeared to you for this Purpose: to make you a Minister and a Witness – both of the Things that

you have beheld, and of the Things that I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Hebrew

people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you – to open their eyes - in order to turn

them from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive Forgiveness

of sins and an Inheritance among those who are Sanctified by Faith in Me.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa: I was not disobedient to the Heavenly Vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in

Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, so that they should Repent, turn to

God, and do Works befitting Repentance...”

18. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St Cons tan t i ne & S t H e lena – Equa l s t o t he Apos t l es 2 1 May 201 1

TheTheTheThe Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 10 : 1 Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 10 : 1 Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 10 : 1 Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 10 : 1 –––– 9999 Our Lo rd J esus Chr i s t i s ou r Good Shepherd Who Gu ides & P r o t ec t s us f r om ha rm

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “ Most Assuredly, I say to you: he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the

Door, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the Door is the

Shepherd of the Sheep. To him the Doorkeeper opens, and the Sheep hear His Voice, and He Calls His

own Sheep by name and leads them out. And when He leads out His own Sheep, He goes before them;

and the Sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a Stranger, but will

flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the Things that He told them. And Jesus said to them again:

“Truly, truly, I say to you: I Am the Door of the Sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and

robbers, but the Sheep did not hear them. I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and

will go in and out, and find Pasture...”

S t Cons tant ine & S t Hel ena S t Cons tant ine & S t Hel ena S t Cons tant ine & S t Hel ena S t Cons tant ine & S t Hel ena –––– Equal s to the Apost l esEqual s to the Apost l esEqual s to the Apost l esEqual s to the Apost l es St Constantine's parents were Emperor Constantios

Chloros and the Empress Helena. Emperor Chloros had other children by another wife,

but from St Helena he had only St Constantine. After his succession to the Roman Throne, St

Constantine fought three great battles: one, against Maxentios, a Roman tyrant; the second, against the Scythians along the Danube River and the third, against the Byzantines.

Before the battle against Maxentios, while St Constantine was doubtfully pondering his chances of victory, a brilliant Cross appeared to him in the sky during the day, completely adorned with stars.

The Cross was inscribed with the words: "By this Sign Conquer."

Completely amazed and transformed by the Heavenly Vision, St Constantine immediately ordered a large Golden Cross to be forged similar to the one that had appeared to him, which was then carried before his army as they went into battle against the wicked tyrant, Maxentios.

By the power of the Cross Emperor Constantine achieved a glorious Victory over his enemy whose army had immensely outnumbered his own.

During his frantic flight from the conquering forces, Emperor Maxentios drowned in the Tiber River, leaving St Constantine as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

Immediately thereafter St Constantine was able to issue the famous Edict of Milan in the year 313, which halted the merciless persecution of Christians and allowed freedom of all religious practises.

Having defeated the Byzantines, St Constantine moved the capitol of the Roman Empire from Rome to the ancient city of Byzantium, having built a magnificent city along the banks of the Bosphoros River, which became known as the great city of Constantinople.

However, St Constantine succumbed to the dreaded disease of leprosy before he saw his plans reach fruition.

Pagan priests and physicians had tried to persuade him to bathe in the blood of slaughtered children, which they claimed would cure him of the dreadful disease. However, he rejected all their wicked suggestions.

Then St Peter and St Paul, the great Holy Apostles of Christ appeared to him and told him to seek out Bishop Sylvester who would restore him to good health. No doubt, with the encouragement of his Faithful mother, St Helena, St Constantine turned to St Sylvester for help.

Consequently, St Constantine was properly instructed in the Christian Faith, Baptised and completely healed – both physically and spiritually.

When discord began in the Holy Church of Christ due to the mutinous heretic Arios, Emperor Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, 325. The heresy was condemned and Orthodoxy was confirmed.

St Helena, the pious and faithful mother of Emperor Constantine, Loved Christ with all her being, so she went to Jerusalem to find the Honourable, Life-giving Cross of our Lord, had the Church of the Holy Resurrection built upon Golgotha, as well as many other churches at various Holy Sites throughout the Holy Land.

In 327 - the eightieth year of her long, difficult life - St Helena finally presented herself to our Lord and reposed in Peace while St Constantine followed her ten years later, falling asleep in Christ at Nicomedia in 337 - his sixty-fifth year of life.

St Constantine’s mortal relics were interred in the Holy Church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople.

May their memories be Eternal!

The Prologue o f Ochr idThe Prologue o f Ochr idThe Prologue o f Ochr idThe Prologue o f Ochr id Vice is something shameful and sinful in that it always

hides and always takes upon itself the appearance of Good Works.

St John Chrysostom commented: "Vice does not have its own particular face, but borrows the face

of Good Works."

This is why our Lord and Saviour said: "...they come

to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they

are ravening wolves..." (MATTHEW 7:15). Call a liar, a liar; a thief, a thief; a murderer, a

murderer; an adulterer, an adulterer; a slanderer, a slanderer and you will infuriate them.

However, call a person whatever you want: honest, honourable, unselfish, truthful, just, conscientious and you will make him light up with Joy and please him.

Again, according to St John Chrysostom,: "Good Works are something natural in mankind while vice is something unnatural and false."

If people are even caught in a vice, they quickly justify their vice by some Good Works; they clothe it in the Garment of Good Works.

Indeed, vice does not possess its own particular face. The same is true of the devil, the father of vices!

http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/May21.htm

Father George Ca lc iuFather George Ca lc iuFather George Ca lc iuFather George Ca lc iu WHEN YOU COMMUNE AND LEAVE CHURCH, THE ANGELS BOW

BEFORE YOU!

You stand before the Angels, because you are Bearers of Christ!

If you do not understand this, I am not saying that you come to Church in vain, but that YOU ARE NOT TRULY

PENETRATED BY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ATTENDING

CHURCH - of the fact that YOU HAVE TO BE SAVED, of the fact that YOU DID NOT COME INTO THE WORLD TO

PERISH LIKE ANY OTHER ANIMAL.

You did not come to live a life that terminates in death, but YOU CAME INTO THE WORLD WITH A SACRED

MISSION. This Sacred Mission possesses a social aspect, but at

the same time it is a Sacred Mission: TO SPREAD THE

WORD OF GOD, TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO ALL, TO EXHORT

OTHERS THROUGH THAT WHICH YOU DO - TO DO GOOD - because this Saves you too.

“THE GREAT SUPPERTHE GREAT SUPPERTHE GREAT SUPPERTHE GREAT SUPPER” - “FATHER GEORGE CALCIU: INTERVIEWS, HOMILIES, AND FATHER GEORGE CALCIU: INTERVIEWS, HOMILIES, AND FATHER GEORGE CALCIU: INTERVIEWS, HOMILIES, AND FATHER GEORGE CALCIU: INTERVIEWS, HOMILIES, AND TALKSTALKSTALKSTALKS” - ADRIAN AND MIHAELA ULMER (TRANSLATERS) - SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA BROTHERHOOD (ED), P. 334)

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Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Greek Or thodox Pa tr iarcha te o f Al exandr ia & Al l A fr icaAlexandr ia & Al l A fr icaAlexandr ia & Al l A fr icaAlexandr ia & Al l A fr ica


5555 t ht ht ht h Sunday of Holy Pascha 22 May 2011Sunday of Holy Pascha 22 May 2011Sunday of Holy Pascha 22 May 2011Sunday of Holy Pascha 22 May 2011

Tone 4Tone 4Tone 4Tone 4

Sunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan Woman

Also the Feast of the Holy Church Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council – St Basiliskos of Comana – St Markellos & St

Cordos – St Dimitri & St Paul New Martys of of Tripoli, Peloponisos – St Paul of Lavra, Mount Athos – St John–Vladimir the Wonderworker & Great Martyr of Bulgaria – St James, Wonderworker of Novgorod - St Melchizeked, King of Salem - the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Cyprus



patistas, ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! > Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death







A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e H o l y C r o s s – T o n e 4

Tou Stavrou Sou ton tipon en Ourano theasamenos, ke

os O Pavlos tin klisin ouk ek anthropon dexamenos, O en Vasilefsin Apostolos Sou Kyrie, Vasilevousan polin ti Hiri Sou paretheto; in perisoze dia pantos en Irini, Presvies tis Theotokou, Mone Filanthrope!

The Sign of the Cross in the sky having beheld, and like

Paul having received the Call that did not come from men, Thine Apostle among all the Kings, O Lord, built his capital city and placed its care in Thy Hands; which, we ask Thee to guard in Peace, forever, by the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Only Lover of mankind!






Resurrec t ion Gospel 7 : John 20 : 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 7 : John 20 : 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 7 : John 20 : 1 Resurrec t ion Gospel 7 : John 20 : 1 –––– 10101010 St Peter & St John Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ

Proke imenonProke imenonProke imenonProke imenon O Lo rd , how man i f o l d ar t T hy Works . T hou has t c r ea ted t hem a l l i n W isdom!

B l ess the Lo rd , O my sou l !

TheTheTheThe Ac ts o f the Apos t l e s Accord ing to S t Luke 11 : 19 Ac ts o f the Apos t l e s Accord ing to S t Luke 11 : 19 Ac ts o f the Apos t l e s Accord ing to S t Luke 11 : 19 Ac ts o f the Apos t l e s Accord ing to S t Luke 11 : 19 –––– 30303030 The Gen t i l e Chur ch o f An t i o ch

Those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen, travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one but the Hebrews only. But some of them were from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, then they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things was heard by the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

And when he went and saw the Grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy spirit and of Faith.

And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsos to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he took him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the Church and taught a great many people and the Disciples were

first called ‘Christians’ in Antioch. And in those days Prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabos, stood up and showed by

the Spirit, that there was going to be a great famine throughout the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the Disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the Brethren dwelling in Judea.

This they also did, and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

THE EVANGELISATION OF THE GENTILES CAUSED A

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONFLICT TO THE EARLY CHURCH.

Even though Christ had commanded His Holy Apostles to preach His Holy Gospel universally – to all Nations – it took a while for this to be put properly into practice.

Much debate arose over what requirements from the Old Covenant Law – if any – the Gentile Christians would have to follow.

The “Hellenists” referred to actual Greeks, not to Hellenistic Hebrews.

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THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ANTIOCH WAS INSTRUMENTAL

IN BRINGING UNTOLD NUMBERS OF GENTILES TO OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST.

Two key Truths are revealed in the fact that St Barnabas was “sent out to Antioch”: 1. HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST WERE SENT FORTH TO

PREACH THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST BUT THEY

NEVER WORKED IN ISOLATION FROM OR

INDEPENDENT TO THE REST OF THE BODY OF THE

HOLY CHURCH.

2. THE HOLY CHURCH OF ANTIOCH NEEDED THE SEAL OF

HOLY APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO BECOME

INTEGRATED INTO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF

CHRIST.

ST BARNABAS REVEALED HIS GENUINE HUMILITY BY SEEKING

THE HELP OF ST PAUL (SAUL) – A HUMBLE RECOGNITION OF

HIS OWN PERSONAL LIMITATIONS, AND HIS TRUE

COMMUNION WITH AND DEPENDENCE ON THE OTHER HOLY

APOSTLES OF CHRIST.

] TWO KEY ELEMENTS OF LITURGICAL WORSHIP INCLUDED

THE EUCHARISTIC (THANKSGIVING) ASSEMBLY –

COMMUNAL WORSHIP – AND THE CORRECT TEACHING

OF THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST. The fact that the Disciples of Christ were first called

‘Christians’ in Antioch is more than just historical Truth. It demonstrates that CHRIST’S COMMANDMENT TO

PREACH HIS HOLY GOSPEL AMONG THE GENTILES AS WELL,

WAS FIRST FULLY REALISED IN ANTIOCH.

St John Chrysostom commented: “It was (in Antioch) for

the first time that people were accounted worthy

of that Name.”

The “Prophets” were Christian Believers within the Holy Church who had the Divine Gift of Prophecy.

1 Cor i n th i a n s 1 2 : 2 9 “Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets?

Are all Teachers? Are all Workers of Miracles?” THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WONDERFUL HIERARCHY OF

HONOUR IN THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE NEW COVENANT

WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS VERY DAY – AND WILL CONTINUE

UNABATED, UNTIL ETERNITY.

THE APOSTOLIC WORK OF THE BISHOPS SETS THE PACE FOR

ALL THE REST OF CHRIST’S HOLY FLOCK and when the oversight is in correct working order, THE REST OF

CHURCH IS FREE TO FUNCTION AT OPTIMAL LEVEL FOR THE

GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP OF GOD.

] Yet, even with all the Divine Gifts in place and operative, THERE IS SOMETHING FAR MORE

EXCELLENT – THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE TRUE

SIGN OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Cor i n th i a n s 1 4 : 3 “He who prophesies speaks

edification and exhortation and comfort to

mankind.”

1 Cor i n t h i an s 1 4 : 2 9 “Let two or three Prophets speak,

and let the others judge.”

GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION and the Truly Spiritual can control themselves, since GENUINE

SPIRITUALITY IS MANIFESTED IN PREPAREDNESS,

PROPRIETY AND ORDER, COURTESY AND SELF-

CONTROL/DISCIPLINE.

] IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TRULY PRESENT, THERE IS DIVINE

PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.

Ephe s i an s 4 : 1 1 “(Christ) Himself gave some to be

Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, and

some Pastors and Teachers, for the equipping of the

Saints for the Work of Ministry, for the edifying of

the Body of Christ until we all come to the Unity of

the Faith and of the Knowledge of Christ...” ] THE HOLY SPIRIT BESTOWS HIS DIVINE GIFTS IN ORDER TO

FORM ONE COHESIVE, HARMONIOUS GROUP who are responsible for equipping – TEACHING, GUIDING

AND PREPARING OTHERS - FOR THE SACRED TASK OF

CHRIST’S HOLY MINISTRY.

Every Faithful Christian has the Sacred Task of guiding, helping and encouraging one another as we all journey through this preparatory period of earthly life towards Eternity – whether we are Believers or not – all humanity will enter Eternity.

The great famine that was predicted, did indeed happen throughout the known world in 44 – 51 – having begun in Judea and spreading as far as Greece and Italy.

] THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING “EACH ACCORDING TO HIS

ABILITY” IS ONE THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY IN OUR

HOLY CHURCH.

The Elders (“the bearded ones”) were the Presbyters (Priests) who were Ordained by the Holy Apostles and put in charge of the local Parish churches, which had initially been founded by the Holy Apostles.

Since those days, the Orders of the Holy Ministry or Holy Priesthood of Christ consist of the Bishops (the Apostles and their direct successors), the Presbyters or Priests, and the Deacons.

The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 4 : 5 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 4 : 5 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 4 : 5 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 4 : 5 –––– 42424242 The Samar i t an Woman a t Jacob ’ s We l l

At that time Jesus arrived at a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. And Jacob’s Well was there. And being wearied from His journey, Jesus sat at the well. It was about the sixth hour.

A woman of Samaria went to draw water. Jesus said to her: “Give Me a drink,” for His Disciples had gone into the city to buy food. And the woman of Samaria said to Him: “How is it that Thou, being a Hebrew, ask for a drink from me,

a Samaritan woman?” For Hebrews had no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her: “If you knew the Gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you: ‘Give Me a drink,’

you would have asked Him, and He would have given you Living Water.” The woman said to Him: “Sir, Thou

hast nothing with which to draw, and the well is deep. Where then dost Thou get that Living Water? Art Thou

greater than our Father, Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his

livestock?”

Jesus answered and said to her: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the Water

that I shall give, will never thirst. And the Water that I shall give will become in him a Fountain of Water

springing up into Everlasting Life.” The woman said to Him: “Sir, give me this Water that I may not thirst, nor

come here to draw.”

Jesus said to her: “Go. Call your husband, and come back here.” The woman answered and said: “I have no

husband.” Jesus said to her: “You have well said: ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and

the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him: “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a Prophet. Our Fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you

Hebrews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her: “Woman, believe Me: the Hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You

worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for Salvation is of the Hebrews. But the

Hour is coming, and now is, when the True Worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and Truth; for

the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in

spirit and Truth.” The woman said to Him: “I know that Messiah is coming.” (Who is called ‘Christ’). “When He comes, He will tell us all

Things.” Jesus said to her: “I, Who speak to you, Am He.”

And at this point, His Disciples returned and they marvelled that Jesus talked with a woman; yet no one asked: “What

dost Thou seek?” nor “Why art Thou talking to her?”

The woman left her water pot, went into the city and said to the men: “Come. Behold a Man Who told me all things that I

ever did. Could this be the Christ?” And they went out of the city to Him.

Meanwhile, His Disciples urged Him, saying: “Rabbi, eat.” And He said to them: “I have Food to eat of which you do not know.” And the Disciples asked one another: “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” And Jesus said to

them: “My Food is to do the Will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His Work. Do you not say: ‘There are

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still four months before the harvest?’ Behold: I say to you: Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for

they are already white for harvesting! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers Fruit for Eternal

Life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is True: ‘One

sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not Laboured; others have

Laboured, and you have entered into their Labours.” And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the Woman who testified: “He told me all

that I ever did!” And when the Samaritans had gone to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own Word.

Then they said to the Woman: “Now we believe – not because of what you said – for we, ourselves, have heard Him and

we know that this is indeed the Christ – the Saviour of the world!”

The Old Testament does not mention “Jacob’s Well” although St Jacob did dwell in the area. (GENESIS 33:19)

Wells had great significance because of their rarity ad their value in desert life. Therefore, wells came to symbolise life itself. (PSALM 35:9–10; PSALM 45:4; ISAIAH 55:1)

Jacob’s Well has been maintained as a Holy Shrine by the Greek Orthodox Christian Church to this very day and pilgrims still drink from it. (ST PHILOMENOS THE NEW MARTYR GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ITS PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION IN 1979.)

Our Lord Jesus was “wearied from His journey” - meaning that IN HIS HUMAN NATURE, HE, TOO, SUFFERED HUNGER,

THIRST, TIREDNESS - the same weaknesses of our own human condition.

The “Sixth Hour” is midday – 12:00 – the hottest part of the day, when most inhabitants of hot areas rest from the heat.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN WAS THE EARLIEST EVANGELIST

(BESIDES THE APOSTLES) WHO TESTIFIED TO THE ADVENT

OF CHRIST. TOGETHER WITH HER TWO SONS AND FIVE DAUGHTERS (SOME SAY ‘SISTERS,’) SHE

BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF SOULS TO CHRIST. AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST SHE WAS BAPTISED WITH THE NAME OF “PHOTINI”

(“THE ENLIGHTENED ONE,”) AND WENT TO CARTHAGE TO SPREAD THE HOLY GOSPEL. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY MARTYRED WITH HER ENTIRE FAMILY BY ORDER OF EMPEROR

NERO BY BEING THROWN INTO A VERY DEEP WELL. WE COMMEMORATE HER MEMORY ON 20 MARCH AND ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF HOLY

PASCHA.

The Samaritans were a mixed breed and traditional enemies of the Hebrews. Although they worshipped the God of Israel and also awaited the Advent or Coming of the Messiah – the Christ – they accepted only the first five Books of the Old Testament Scriptures – the Pentateuch.

They had built their own temple on Mount Gerizim, which the Israelites had destroyed in 128 BC.

In the ordinary sense, living water means, fresh, flowing water from a stream or spring, rather than from a stagnant pond or cistern.

] CHRIST’S USE OF THE TERM “LIVING WATER” MEANT THE

DIVINE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT LEADS US TO

ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH NOT ONLY REMAINS IN A

FAITHFUL PERSON BUT IS SO ABUNDANT THAT IT

OVERFLOWS AND AFFECTS OTHERS IN THE BEST

POSSIBLE MANNER.

However, St Photini misunderstood our Lord Jesus and thus enquired whether He was greater that St Jacob, the ancient Patriarch who was a type of Christ because he had received the Vision of the Divine Ladder, which our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled. (GENESIS 28:12)

Furthermore, just as St Jacob gave this Well for earthly life, CHRIST GRANTS US THE WELL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR

ETERNAL LIFE.

Since our Lord Jesus knew that St Photini was living in sin, and as He was aware of her five previous husbands, she assumed Him to be a Holy Prophet but since the Samaritans did not accept or recognise any Prophets after St Moses, THE ONLY PROPHET THEY EXPECTED WAS

THE MESSIAH Whom St Moses had foretold. (DEUTERONOMY 18: 15-18)

CHRIST’S INSIGHT INTO ALL OUR HEARTS, which is repeatedly mentioned throughout the Holy Gospels, EMPHASISES

HIS DIVINE NATURE.

Our Lord Jesus was indeed the expected ‘Holy Prophet,’ so He could settle the historical argument about where True Worship was to be offered. However, OUR LORD

JESUS REFUSED TO ANSWER SUCH AN EARTHLY QUESTION

AND ELEVATED THE DISCUSSION TO THE ONE WHOM WE

WORSHIP: ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.

According to Christ Himself, GOD IS SPIRIT AND CANNOT BE

CONFINED TO ANY PARTICULAR LOCATION: GOD IS

OMNIPRESENT – HE IS EVERYWHERE!

] THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BELIEVE IN

JESUS CHRIST – THE SON AND WORD OF GOD THE

FATHER – CAN WORSHIP GOD WITH PURITY OF HEART.

Our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed that TRUE REVELATION

COMES FROM JUDAISM: “Salvation is of the Hebrews.”

St Athanasios the Great taught us: “The commonwealth

of Israel was the School of the Knowledge of

God for all nations.”

More importantly, our Lord Jesus Christ testified that THE

MESSIAH WHO WAS PROPHESIED AMONG THE HEBREWS,

HAS RISEN FROM THE HEBREWS.

WHILE THE GIFT OF THE SALVATION IN CHRIST IS TO ALL

NATIONS, IT HAS COME FROM WITHIN JUDAISM.

“The Hour” refers to THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF

CHRIST AND TO THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT

HOLY PENTECOST, which inaugurated the Worship of our New Covenant with Almighty God.

“I, Who speak to you, Am He,” is literally translated: “I

AM (EGO EIMI) Who speaks to you.” “I Am” is the Divine Name of God and its use indicates A THEOPHANY

OR DIVINE REVELATION OF GOD HIMSELF.

The use of this Most Holy Name by a mere man would have been considered as the worst blasphemy ever – punishable by stoning to death! (JOHN 8:58; MARK 14:62)

However, as our Lord Jesus Christ is Truly Divine – the Son of God and thus one of the three Persons of the Almighty Godhead – the Holy Trinity – HIS OWN USE OF

THIS DIVINE NAME REVEALS HIS TRUE UNITY WITH GOD THE

FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

He most certainly reveals that HE IS INDEED GOD INCARNATE!

His Apostles “marvelled” not only because our Lord Jesus spoke with a Samaritan, but that HE SPOKE WITH AN

UNACCOMPANIED WOMAN, WHICH WAS POTENTIALLY

SCANDALOUS FOR THEM BOTH!

] CHRIST IS ABOVE ALL SOCIAL NORMS AND CUSTOMS, SO HE

TREATED ALL WOMEN WITH THE HIGHEST OF RESPECT,

THEREBY SHOWING THEIR VALUE AND IMPORTANCE IN

EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY LIFE. (JOHN &;53-8:11; LL:20-30; 20: 11-18 & LUKE 8:1 – 3)

On many occasions CHRIST IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY PEOPLE

DUE TO OUR LIMITED HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND

KNOWLEDGE. Nevertheless, THROUGH THESE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, OUR

LORD FULFILS HIS DIVINE ROLE AS MESSIAH BY DOING THE

WILL OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER – AND THIS IS HIS

SPIRITUAL FOOD. Our Lord Jesus, by His own Perfect Example, has taught us

to PERFORM THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD THROUGHOUT OUR

LIFE WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED BY EARTHLY CARES such as hunger, shelter and comfort. (JOHN 6:27; MATTHEW 4:4; 6:25-33)

According to St John Chrysostom, when Christ commanded His Apostles to “Behold” He wanted them to witness the approaching multitude of white clad Samaritans who were ready and eager to believe in Christ Jesus.

Our Lord compared these Samaritans (RELATIVE TO THE HEBREWS) to fields of crops that were ready to harvest.

In addition, our Lord’s command to “Behold!” is also addressed to all Faithful Christians – to all Faithful Disciples of Christ – to LOOK AT THOSE AROUND US AND

TO SHARE HIS HOLY GOSPEL WITH ANYONE WANTING TO

RECEIVE IT – REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY OR SOCIAL

STATUS.

St John Chrysostom believed that THOSE WHO SOWED AND

THOSE WHO REAPED WERE THE HOLY PROPHETS OF THE

OLD COVENANT AND THE HOLY APOSTLES OF THE NEW

COVENANT RESPECTIVELY.

The Holy Prophets sowed the Seeds of Faith in preparation for the Advent of the Messiah, yet they did neither witnessed it nor reap the Spiritual Fruit of their Holy Labours.

The Apostles who did witness and experience the Presence of God Incarnate, did not prepare either the Hebrews nor the Gentiles yet, after the Resurrection and especially after Pentecost, they drew millions of souls

22. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 5 t h Sunday of Pascha – The Samar i tan Woman 22 May 2011

to Faith in Christ our Lord and Saviour, in their own lifetime.

The fact that these Samaritans were amongst the first to recognise and to acknowledge our Lord Jesus as the

Saviour of the world, shows us exactly how HIS HOLY

GOSPEL IS FOR ALL PEOPLE OF EVERY NATION

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD.

Sunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan WomanSunday o f the Samar i tan Woman Brothers and Sisters in Christ: as the Samaritan Woman

said, “This well is very deep.” The most important part of this narration concerns HOW

TO OBTAIN THE HOLY SPIRIT. And St Photini, the Samaritan Woman, most certainly did so.

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REFERRED TO SOMETIMES AS

“WATER” AND SOMETIMES AS “FIRE:” As Divine Water He washes us completely clean from our sins and as Divine Fire, He burns away our stubborn sins and causes His Spiritual Light to shine brightly from within our souls.

In this case, however, our Lord Jesus spoke about THE

HOLY SPIRIT AS “LIVING WATER.”

In order to avoid the mockery and scorn of other women who went to fetch water during the cool times of day, the Samaritan Woman preferred to do so when the sun was at its peak and baking hot.

And our Lord knew all this because in His Divine Nature, He knows all things – and that is why He so often puts Himself right before us so that we cannot fail to see Him nor are able to avoid Him.

The Holy Gospels contain so many reports of how our Lord Jesus Christ placed Himself in the path of those who so desperately needed His Divine Help, yet on each occasion, our Lord God was there for them at their saddest, most desperate time.

The Samaritan Woman never realised that she had such a desperate need for Divine Intervention in her difficult life because, although her life was not easy, she managed to get by day to day.

Our Lord knew everything about her, and so He spoke to her on her own personal level.

He did something rather amazing as a Hebrew and a Man by speaking to her - for usually the Hebrews despised and avoided the Samaritans whom they regarded as inferior, heretical and godless people - and it was strictly forbidden for any man to address an unaccompanied woman – a severely punishable offence!

Nevertheless, He began their conversation by asking her for a drink of water and she naturally responded out of pure astonishment – and consequently we have all learnt about “Living Water.”

All knowledge comes to us by degrees - a little bit at a time – and GOD GRANTS US HIS DIVINE KNOWLEDGE

ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO ABSORB AND PRACTICE

IT.

THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF HOLY PASCHA CONCERNS OUR

SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT: from St Thomas Sunday until Holy Pentecost.

In every circumstance, the common thread is that WHEN

CONFRONTED BY GOD, WE MUST REACT. WE MUST

LISTEN. WE MUST CHANGE - because GOD IS NOT

STATIC – NOR IS HE “SOMETHING” THAT WE CAN EITHER

ACCEPT OR REJECT!

] GOD IS BLESSED AND ETERNAL LIFE - so WHEN WE ARE

CONFRONTED BY GOD, WE ARE NATURALLY

COMPELLED TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AND

STRIVE EVER HARDER TO REACH THEOSIS – to regain our Likeness to Christ our Saviour – the Perfect Man.

The Samaritan Woman most definitely reacted correctly to God and to a far greater extent than all other’s life-changing events as recorded in the Holy Gospels.

WE ALL HAVE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, DOUBTS OR

IGNORANCE, YET WE DO NOT REALISE TO WHAT DEGREE

UNTIL GOD GRANTS US HIS ENLIGHTENMENT, WHICH

THEN MAKES US WILLINGLY TO IMMEDIATELY CORRECT

OUR BAD HABITS.

She was living in a way she did not want to live, but she was trapped. She had lived in sin for many years, although she thought she knew something of God’s Law. She was concerned and she asked intelligent questions, according to her level of understanding. She needed healing.

And then WHEN OUR LORD EXPOSED THE REALITY OF HER

LIFE, HER HEART WAS FILLED WITH HOPE AND WARMTH

IN THE REALIZATION THAT SALVATION WAS POSSIBLE

FOR HER!

Now, most people would not react like her. Instead they would be angry and afraid when their sins were revealed for THE IMMORAL AND WICKED DO NOT LIKE

TRUTH – THEY REJECT IT AND AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. YET WHEN HER SPIRITUALLY DARKENED LIFE WAS EXPOSED

IN GOD’S DIVINE LIGHT, SHE FELT TREMENDOUS RELIEF

AND SUCH HOPE FILLED HER HEART, THAT SHE BECAME

ONE OF OUR GREATEST SAINTS.

] IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT

ABIDING IN US WE MUST TRULY REPENT OUR SINS –

WE MUST NOT BE ANGRY, NOR TRY TO HIDE

OURSELVES FROM GOD, AND NEVER BE DISTRACTED

FROM OUR SACRED MISSION - we must be like the Samaritan Woman.

] THIS IS THE WAY OF LIFE IN CHRIST.

] SALVATION IS NOT JUST FORGIVENESS. How in the world did that idea come about? ANYONE WHO

HAS BEEN FORGIVEN SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN IS STILL

A SINNER AND STILL BEARS WOUNDS OF SIN AND IS

STILL INCOMPLETE AND HURTING.

] SALVATION IS TO UTTERLY CHANGE AND TO BECOME

HOLY – to become Equal to the Holy Apostles of Christ - to BECOME FULL OF HOLY LIFE AND

PURPOSE – A COMPLETE CHANGE OF HEART AND

SOUL – TO BECOME PERFECTED IN CHRIST JESUS, which is only possible with our willing participation and purity of heart.

] GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US - OTHERWISE, WE WOULD

NOT KNOW HIM AT ALL. This is a fundamental Dogma of our Faith – taught by Christ Himself.

ä IF WE DO NOT REACT POSITIVELY TO GOD, HE WILL

REMAIN UNKNOWN TO US, and we will have only vague facts about Him.

ä NEITHER WILL WE HAVE ANY TRUE KNOWLEDGE

CONCERNING EITHER THIS TEMPORARY LIFE

NOR ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST –

ä NOR WILL WE HAVE LIVING WATER – THE HOLY

SPIRIT – FLOWING FROM WITHIN US,

ä SINCE ALL THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE

DRASTICALLY CHANGE OUR WAYS.

True Christianity is not mere belief nor good deeds, although these do assist us – it is when we meet God, pay attention and change ourselves completely!

We are all entangled in circumstances similar to those of St Photini - yet when she met God, she reacted with Joy – and she left behind her water pot – all earthly matters – as soon as she had received God’s Living Water!

She had found the True Way of Life, and she had become really, vitally alive!

WE, TOO, HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH CHRIST’S WAY OF

LIFE. So why do we do so many things that are opposed to It? Because WE HAVE NOT TRULY

WELCOMED GOD AS SINCERELY, EAGERLY AND JOYFULLY

AS SHE HAD – even though God has indeed presented Himself to us on our own level and according to our own understanding. WE HAVE NOT

REACTED TO HIM AS SHE DID: BY TURNING OUR LIFE

UPSIDE DOWN AND BY CHANGING OURSELVES

COMPLETELY. WHEN WE MEET GOD, WE MUST CHANGE OURSELVES AND

OUR LIFESTYLE COMPLETELY BECAUSE IF WE TRULY

WANT LIVING WATER – THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT –

TO DWELL WITHIN US, WE MUST OBEY ALL THAT GOD HAS

TAUGHT US WITH ABJECT HUMILITY, EAGERNESS AND A

SINCERE WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW FAITHFULLY IN HIS

DIVINE FOOTSTEPS! May God help us all to fulfil our Sacred Mission and to

Live faithfully and completely in Him, having received His Living Water and Eternal Life.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN” BY REVEREND FATHER SERAPHIM HOLLAND – ST NICHOLAS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH,

MCKINNEY, TEXAS (2009) http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/04/29/the-samaritan-

woman-5th-sunday-of-pascha-john-45-42-new-homily/

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ApodosApodosApodosApodos is o f Midis o f Midis o f Midis o f Mid ----Pentecos t 25Pentecos t 25Pentecos t 25Pentecos t 25 May 2011May 2011May 2011May 2011

Th ird F inding o f S t John the Bapt i s t ’ s HeadThird F inding o f S t John the Bapt i s t ’ s HeadThird F inding o f S t John the Bapt i s t ’ s HeadThird F inding o f S t John the Bapt i s t ’ s Head

Also the Feast of St Therapon, Heromartyr of Cyprus – St Urbanos of Rome – St Olbianos the Confessor – St Celestine – St Aldhelm of Sherborne – the Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, “Helper of sinners,” of Koretsk










Apo l y tk i on o f t h e T h i r d F i nd i ng o f S t J ohn The Bapt i s t ’ s H ead – T one 4

Os thion thisavrisma, egkekrimmenon ti gi, Hristos

apekalipse, tin Kefalin sou imin Profita ke Prdodrome. Pantes oun sinelthontes, en ti taftis evresi, asmasi theigoris, ton Sotira imnoumen, ton sozonta imas ek fthoras, tes ikesies sou.

Christ God has revealed to us Thy Truly Ven'rable

Head as a Divine Treasure that had been concealed in the earth, O Prophet and Forerunner. Wherefore, as we gather on the Feast of its Finding, with our Hymns Inspired of God, we praise Christ the Saviour, Who by Thy Mighty Prayers Saves us from every kind of harm.






Matins Gospel Accord ing to S t Luke 7 : 17 Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t Luke 7 : 17 Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t Luke 7 : 17 Mat ins Gospel Accord ing to S t Luke 7 : 17 –––– 30303030 The Disciples Of St John The Baptist Enquire About Our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ

At that time, this report about Jesus went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. Then the Disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his Disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying: “Art Thou the

Coming One, or do we look for Another?” When the men went to Him, they said: “John the Baptist has sent us to Thee, saying: ‘Art Thou the Coming One, or do we look for

Another?’” And that very hour He cured many of their infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many who were blind, He granted sight.

Jesus answered them: “Go and tell John the Things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the

lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And Blessed

is he who is not offended because of Me.” When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into

the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? So what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft

garments? Indeed, those who are gorgeously apparelled and who live in luxury are in Kings’ courts; but what

did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes! I say to you: and more than a Prophet! This is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My Messenger before Thy Face, who will prepare Thy Way before Thee.’ For I say to you: among

those born of women there is not a greater Prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the Kingdom of

God is greater than he!” And when all the people heard Jesus, even the Tax Collectors justified God, having been Baptised with the Baptism of John. But

the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Will of God for themselves, not having been Baptised by him.

St John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ was imprisoned by Herod soon after our Saviour was Baptised in the Jordan River by him.

St Mark, in his Holy Gospel, emphasised the fact that ST

JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS IMPRISONED BEFORE OUR

LORD JESUS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, THEREBY

FULFILLING THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF THE OLD

COVENANT, WHICH WAS TO PREPARE THE PEOPLE FOR

CHRIST.

c As soon as our Saviour began His Divine Mission, THE

TIME OF PREPARATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND

THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY NEED FOR ANOTHER

HOLY PROPHET OF GOD. ST JOHN THE BAPTISED HAD TAUGHT PEOPLE TO REPENT,

which meant a radical change of mind, behaviour and attitude.

c REPENTANCE IS A COMPLETE REORIENTATION TO LIFE

IN CHRIST.

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Although St John the Baptist directed his faithful Disciples to follow our Lord Jesus, some remained with him.

While St John the Baptist’s own Faith was undoubtedly confirmed and strengthened by the Miracles of Christ, our Holy Church Fathers generally regard this particular encounter as a way of convincing his remaining Disciples that our Lord Jesus was definitely the “Coming One.”

c ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE LAST AND THE

GREATEST OF ALL THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD OF

THE OLD COVENANT.

THE NEW COVENANT SURPASSES THE OLD COVENANT to such a degree that, as Christ pointed out, those who were “... the least in the Kingdom of God..” would be even greater than those who remained outside It – i.e. THOSE OF THE NEW COVENANT WOULD SURPASS

THOSE OF THE OLD COVENANT – EVEN THOSE SUCH AS

THE GREATEST PROPHET OF ALL, ST JOHN THE

BAPTIST.

Nevertheless, THAT DID NOT IMPLY THAT ST JOHN THE

BAPTIST – AND ALL THE RIGHTEOUS AND SAINTLY OF

THE OLD COVENANT - WOULD NOT BE RESURRECTED

INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD, but merely that

his life on earth was in the era before the superior Events and Miracles of the New Covenant.

Because OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS CAREFUL NOT TO

REVEAL HIS TRUE DIVINE IDENTITY TO SCOFFERS AND

MOCKERS, He confounded them with different questions concerning St John the Baptist whom they all acknowledged as a great and True Prophet of God.

c BOTH THE ELDERS’ QUESTIONS AND CHRIST’S

QUESTIONS REQUIRED THE SAME ANSWERS –

DIVINE TRUTH - WHICH LED PEOPLE TO CONFESS

THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD CERTAINLY

COME FROM GOD – FROM HEAVEN.

c Consequently, by not answering those who questioned His Divine Authority, CHRIST TAUGHT US NOT TO

ANSWER THOSE WHO QUESTION HOLY THINGS WITH

MALICIOUS AND DECEPTIVE INTENTIONS.

ProkeimenonProkeimenonProkeimenonProkeimenon Their sound has gone out into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God!

The Second Epis t le o f St Paul to the Cor inthians The Second Epis t le o f St Paul to the Cor inthians The Second Epis t le o f St Paul to the Cor inthians The Second Epis t le o f St Paul to the Cor inthians 4 : 6 4 : 6 4 : 6 4 : 6 –––– 15151515 The Powe r o f t h e H o l y Apos t l e s

Brethren: It is the God Who Commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to grant the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Sight of Jesus Christ.

But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels so that the excellence of the Power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck

down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of our Lord Jesus so that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then Death is working in us, but Life in you.

And since we have the same Spirit of Faith, according to what is written: “I believed and therefore I spoke...” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He Who raised up our Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that Grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the Glory of God.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 11 : 2 The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 11 : 2 The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 11 : 2 The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 11 : 2 –––– 15151515 St John The Baptist’s Question To Our Lord And Saviour, Jesus Christ

At that time, when John had heard in prison about the Works of Christ, he sent two of his Disciples and said to Him: “Art Thou the Coming One, or do we look for Another?”

Jesus answered and said to them: “Go and tell John the Things that you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk;

the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.

And Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A

reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who

wear soft clothing are in Kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I say to you, and

more than a Prophet, for this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My Messenger before Thy Face, who will

prepare Thy Way before Thee.’

“Assuredly, I say to you: among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he

who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the

Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law

prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who has come.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

According to our Holy Church Fathers, St John the Baptist asked this question of Christ in order to guide his own Disciple to our Lord Jesus.

ST ISAIAH, THE HOLY PROPHET OF GOD, PREDICTED THAT

THESE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WOULD ACCOMPANY THE

COMING OF THE LONG AWAITED MESSIAH.

Our Lord Jesus performed these Divine Miracles in the presence of ST JOHN THE BAPTIST’S DISCIPLES so that they PERSONALLY WITNESSED MIRACLES THAT ONLY

THE MESSIAH COULD PERFORM.

In terms of the Old Covenant Laws, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

WAS INDEED THE GREATEST OF ALL THE HOLY

PROPHETS OF GOD. However, THE NEW COVENANT IS OF SUCH INCOMPARABLE

VALUE THAT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE IN

THE NEW COVENANT ARE FAR GREATER than St John the Baptist who was of the Old Covenant.

Several interpretations have been offered to explain our Lord’s statement: “... the Kingdom of Heaven

suffers violence...” Some believe that it refers to THE

HEBREW OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, while others felt that it was a reference to THE KINGDOM

BREAKING INTO THE WORLD “VIOLENTLY” – MEANING

WITH GREAT POWER AND FORCE. Still others maintain that THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

REFERS TO CHRIST HIMSELF – the Son of God Who has been Incarnate since St John the Baptist was six months in his mother’s womb – WHO WOULD SUFFER

THE VIOLENCE OF HIS PASSION AND CRUCIFIXION.

According to St John Chrysostom, the “violent” who take the Kingdom of Heaven “by force,” are THOSE WHO

HAVE SUCH AN EARNEST DESIRE FOR CHRIST THAT

THEY DO NOT LET ANYTHING STAND BETWEEN THEM

AND THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST. OUR LORD JESUS ASCRIBED THE ROLE OF THE HOLY

PROPHET, ST ELIJAH, TO ST JOHN THE BAPTIST – not St John himself who was utterly humble and obedient to God.

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST FULFILLED THE SACRED MISSION OF

ST ELIJAH AND HIS DESTINY WAS SIMILAR AS WELL. YET ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IS HONOURED ABOVE ST ELIJAH

BY OUR LORD SINCE ST JOHN ACTUALLY PREPARED THE

WAY – PREPARED THE PEOPLE – FOR THE ADVENT OF

CHRIST - the long-awaited Messiah – the Saviour of the world.

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 6 t h Sunday o f H o l y Pascha – T he B l ind Man 29 May 201 1 25.


Archdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good HopeArchdiocese o f Good Hope All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, 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 le t us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

6666 t ht ht ht h Sunday of Holy Pascha Tone (5 ) P lagal 1 Sunday of Holy Pascha Tone (5 ) P lagal 1 Sunday of Holy Pascha Tone (5 ) P lagal 1 Sunday of Holy Pascha Tone (5 ) P lagal 1

22229 May 20119 May 20119 May 20119 May 2011

Sunday o f the Bl ind Man (Born withou t Eyes)Sunday o f the Bl ind Man (Born withou t Eyes)Sunday o f the Bl ind Man (Born withou t Eyes)Sunday o f the Bl ind Man (Born withou t Eyes)

Also the Feast of St Theodosia the Nun, Virgin-Martyr of Constantinople– St Alexander, Archbishop of Alexandria – St Andrew the New Martyr of Smyrna – Holy Mothers and Fathers of Atchara – St John the Fool-For-Christ of Ustiug – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council – St Theodosia, Virgin-martyr of Tyre – Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos, “Surety of Sinners”





R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n - Tone (5 ) P l aga l 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek

Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin en to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous tethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.

The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no

beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a

Virgin, let us Faithful believers hymn and adore. For

it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the

Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own

Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.

Apo l y tk i on o f t h e T h i r d F i nd i ng o f S t J ohn The Bapt i s t ’ s H ead – T one 4

Os thion thisavrisma, egkekrimmenon ti gi, Hristos

apekalipse, tin Kefalin sou imin Profita ke Prdodrome.

Pantes oun sinelthontes, en ti taftis evresi, asmasi

theigoris, ton Sotira imnoumen, ton sozonta imas ek

fthoras, tes ikesies sou.

Christ God has revealed to us Thy Truly Ven'rable Head

as a Divine Treasure that had been concealed in the

earth, O Prophet and Forerunner. Wherefore, as we

gather on the Feast of its Finding, with our Hymns

Inspired of God, we praise Christ the Saviour, Who

by Thy Mighty Prayers Saves us from every kind of

harm. Kon tak i on o f H o l y Pascha I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin

dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi

Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis

irinin doroumenos, o tis pesousi parehon Anastasin.


One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and

Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the

Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to

Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One

Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.

Resurrection Gospel 8 Resurrection Gospel 8 Resurrection Gospel 8 Resurrection Gospel 8 –––– John 20 : 11 John 20 : 11 John 20 : 11 John 20 : 11 –––– 18 18 18 18 ---- Our Risen Lord Jesus Speaks To S t Mary Magdalene

Proke imenon Proke imenon Proke imenon Proke imenon

O Lord, Protect us and Preserve us both now and forever.

Save us, O Lord, for there is not one godly man left!

The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 16 : 16 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 16 : 16 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 16 : 16 The Acts o f the Apos t l es Accord ing to S t Luke 16 : 16 –––– 34343434 S t Pau l & S t S i l as ’ Impr i sonment

Now it happened, as we went to Prayer, that a certain slave girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who profited her masters much by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying: “These men are

the Servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the Way of Salvation!” and this she did for many days. So Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit: “I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out of her that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hopes of profit were gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

And they brought them to the magistrates, and said: “These men – being Hebrews – exceedingly trouble our city; and

they teach customs that are unlawful for us – being Romans – to receive or observe.” And the multitude rose up together against them; and the Magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the Jailer to keep them securely. And having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing Hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, and the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosened.

And the Keeper of the prison, having awoken from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, and supposing that the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. So Paul called with a loud voice, saying: “Do

yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then the Jailer called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he took them out, saying: “Sirs: what must I do to be Saved?” And they said: “Believe in the Lord

Jesus Christ, and you will be Saved – you and your household.”

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Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them that same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were Baptised. And when he had taken them into his house, he had set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God, together with all his household.

FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST LED IMMEDIATELY TO

HOLY BAPTISM – NOT ONLY OF THE JAILER AND THE

ADULT MEMBERS OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY, BUT TO HIS

ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD – men, women and children – the free and the enslaved.

] RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW HOLY

COVENANT WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, HOLY BAPTISM (I.E. THREE FULL IMMERSIONS) IN WATER AND WITH FAITH IN

CHRIST ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL FOR ENTRANCE INTO

HIS HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH (THE HOLY CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOUR – WITH ITS BLOODLESS SACRIFICES

AND OFFERINGS.)

] THE APOSTOLIC PATTERN OF CONVERSION IS HEARING

BELIEVING AND HOLY BAPTISM- (i.e. LEARNING

CORRECTLY AND THEN APPLYING EVERYTHING TO

DAILY LIFE – LIVING IN CHRIST FAITHFULLY AND

CONSTANTLY – NOT ONLY WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT OR

HAVE A NEED FOR IT!)

] BEING CHRISTIAN – A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST – IS

A CONTINUOUS LIFE-LONG PROCESS and that is one of the reasons why GOD GRANTS EACH SOUL ITS

OWN UNIQUE NUMBER OF DAYS in this material world.

It is LIFE IN CHRIST – meaning that EVERY MOMENT OF THE

DAY WE STRIVE TO IMITATE HIM WITH OUR WORDS,

THOUGHTS AND DEEDS – always remembering our Holy Baptism and our inevitable, unavoidable, death, when we will face our First Judgement, which is the Spiritual Foretaste of the Final Judgement of Christ on the Eighth Day – the beginning of Eternity for us.

LIFE IN CHRIST means a DEDICATION TO EVERY ASPECT OF

FAITHFUL WORSHIP, PRAYER AND DAILY LIVING – not merely being a token “member” of the Orthodox Christian Church – as though it was a mere “hobby” that we can pick and choose to do, whenever or however we feel like it.

Sadly far too many “converts” apostatize almost as soon as they have made their Sacred Vows before Holy Baptism!

This is usually due to the fact that either they

have not been taught correctly and thoroughly

or they had no real intention of living in Christ

Jesus at all! They have betrayed God!

Many unenlightened, misguided “converts” revert to their former lives either as non-believers altogether or by living as before.

Once we have converted and COMMITTED OURSELVES to Orthodox Christianity – HAVING SWORN OUR

ALLEGIANCE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST - we cannot continue to “shop around” for a type of religion or sect that “suits us!”

] AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WE HAVE A FAR GREATER

RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT TO LIFE IN

CHRIST THAN OTHERS – AND ESPECIALLY THOSE

WHO HAVE FREELY CHOSEN TO BECOME ORTHODOX

CHRISTIANS, for IF WE CHOOSE TO APOSTATIZE BY

REJECTING ANY ASPECT OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH – as taught by Christ and His Holy Apostles - WE

WILL BE SEVERELY JUDGED BY GOD, unless we contritely Repent our rebellion against God and return to His Sacred Fold.

ä THE CHOICE IS OURS AND WE MUST ACCEPT THE

CONSEQUENCES UPON OURSELVES – WE CANNOT

AND MUST NOT BLAME ANYONE ELSE AT ALL –

AND NEITHER SHOULD WE SHRUG IT OFF AS

BEING A “MAN-MADE” IDEA!

ä OUR LORD HIMSELF CAUTIONED US AGAINST BEING

PHARISAIC “HYPOCRITES,” “WOLVES,”

“HIRELINGS,” “GOATS,” “THIEVES AND

ROBBERS,” ETC. – meaning all those who are not of

the Sacred Fold of our Good Shepherd, Christ our Lord

– or WHO PRETEND TO BE COMMITTED TO GOD

YET DESERT HIM AND/OR DESTROY OTHERS

THROUGH THEIR OWN MEAN, SELFISH ACTIONS!

ä WE MUST EXAMINE OUR HEART AND SOUL

REGULARLY AND METICULOUSLY - PLUCKING OUT

AND ERADICATING ANY SIGN OF SPIRITUAL

REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD OUR GOD –

THROUGH REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.

Only through such regular “housekeeping” can we begin to prepare ourselves for our Final Judgement and Eternity.

EXORCISMS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST ARE PART OF

APOSTOLIC MINISTRY.

The Holy Baptism Service begins with three Exorcisms in “The Making of a Catechumen,” which EXPELS

SATAN AND HIS DEMONS FROM HAVING ANY FURTHER

INFLUENCE OVER THE NEW BELIEVER – THE NEW

DISCIPLE OF CHRIST - who must from that moment onwards LIVE DAILY BY THE PERFECT EXAMPLE AND

TEACHINGS OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. Although the demon-possessed slave girl declared the

Truth concerning the two Holy Apostles of Christ, she herself needed to be set free in order to

accept Christ by means of her own free will.

Furthermore, St Paul could not endure seeing her being tormented and possessed by the evil spirit, which misguides and deceives people into believing

Satanic inventions rather than Divine Truth, for the

devil and his servants always bait their deadly

hooks with a tiny, tempting morsel of truth,

which as soon as accepted by their prey,

proves to be fatal. ] THE IMPURE PRAISE OF HYPOCRITES AND ENEMIES OF

GOD IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD

BE INSTANTLY REJECTED.

W i s d o m O f S i r a c h 1 5 : 9 – “Praise is not proper in the

mouth of a sinner, because it is not sent from

the Lord.”

L u k e 4 : 4 1 ”...And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying: ‘Thou art the Christ,

the Son of God!’” THE ACCUSERS OF ST PAUL AND ST SILAS – the owners of

the slave girl - CARED LITTLE FOR RELIGION YET THEY

USED RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE AGAINST THE HEBREWS TO

RETALIATE FOR THEIR FINANCIAL LOSS when she could no longer make money for them through her “fortune telling” - by cheating the superstitious people out of their hard-earned wages.

NEVERTHELESS, BEING UNJUSTLY PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST

LED ST PAUL AND ST SILAS TO GREAT SPIRITUAL JOY

RATHER THAN SORROW.

WE SHOULD THANK GOD FOR ALL ADVERSITY, WHICH BRINGS US CLOSER TO HIM AND STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH AS WE DEPEND ON AND APPRECIATE MORE AND MORE THE GREAT MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD WHO PROTECTS US AND PROVIDES EVERYTHING WE COULD POSSIBLE NEED FOR THIS EARTHLY AS WELL AS ETERNAL LIFE.

Luke 6: 22-23 Christ warned us: “... Rejoice in that day

and leap for Joy! For indeed your Reward is

great in Heaven. For in like manner their

fathers did to the Prophets. But woe to you

who are rich, for you have received your

consolation!” THE “PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS” BY ST PAUL AND ST

SILAS PREPARED THE OTHER PRISONERS FOR

CONVERSION LATER THAT NIGHT.

Any Roman Jailer whose prisoners managed to escape faced extremely cruel torture and even possibly execution, for the Roman oppressors ruled and dominated the people through fear and merciless brutality. So the Jailer thought it would be better and quicker to commit suicide rather than endure the vicious suffering inflicted by the Executioners.

After St Paul had reassured him that he and St Silas were still there, the Jailer asked a double-sided

question: “What must I do to be Saved?”

This might have referred to his impending problem of the Roman authorities’ punishment for escapees, but IT ALSO REFERRED TO ETERNAL SALVATION, WHICH

ST PAUL IMMEDIATELY GRANTED THE JAILER AND HIS

ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM. THE UNNAMED ROMAN JAILER HAD LISTENED CAREFULLY TO

ST PAUL AND ST SILAS PROCLAIMING THE WAY OF

SALVATION, AS WELL AS THEIR DEVOUT, HEARTFELT

PRAYERS AND HYMNS.

The miraculous earthquake and St Paul’s concern for the Jailer’s life – earthly and Eternal – strengthened the man’s Faith and led to his and his entire household’s Conversion to Christ Jesus.

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The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 9 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 9 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 9 : 1 The Holy Gospe l Accord ing to S t John 9 : 1 –––– 38 38 38 38 A Man Born Without Eyes is Healed by Christ our Lord & Saviour

At that time, as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His Disciples asked Him: “Rabbi: who

sinned – this man or his parents – that he was born blind?” Jesus answered: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the Works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the Works of Him Who sent Me

while it is day; the night is coming when no one can Work. As long as I Am in the world, I Am the Light

of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the

Blind Man with the clay. And He said to him: “Go. Wash in the Pool of Siloam,” which translated means ‘Sent.’) And he went and washed, and returned, seeing.

Therefore the neighbours and those who previously had seen that he was blind said: “Is this not he who sat and

begged?” Some said: “It is he.” Others said: “He is like him.” He said: “I am he.” And they said to him: “How were

your eyes opened?” He answered: “A Man called ‘Jesus’ made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me: “Go to

the Pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed. And I received sight.” And they asked him: “Where is He?” He replied: “I do not know.”

They took him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. And it was a Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay and opened his eyes. And the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them: “He put clay on

my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore, some of the Pharisees said: “This Man is not from God because He does not keep the Sabbath!” Others said: “How can anyone who is a sinner do such Signs?” And there was a division among them.

They said to the Blind Man again: “What do you say about Him because He opened you eyes?” He said: “He is a

Prophet.” But the Hebrews did not believe concerning the Blind Man – that he had been blind and had received his sight – until they called his parents. And they asked them: “Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then

does he now see?” His parents answered them, and said: “We know that this is our son, and that he was born

blind; but by what Means he now sees, we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.”

His parents said these things because they feared the Hebrews, for the Hebrews had agreed already that anyone who confessed that He was the Christ, would be put out of the Synagogue. Therefore, his parents said: “He is of age; ask

him.”

So they again called the man who was formerly blind, and said to him: “Give God the Glory! We know that this Man is a

sinner!” He replied: “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know is that although I was

blind, now I see!” And they questioned him again: “”What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He replied: “I have told you already, yet you do not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to

become His Disciples?” And they reviled him, and said: “You are His Disciple, but we are Moses’ Disciples. We

know that God spoke to Moses; as for this Fellow – we do not know where He is from.” The man answered them: “Why, this is a marvellous thing – that you do not know where He is from - yet He has

opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a Worshipper of God and does

His Will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was

born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing!” They answered and said to him: “You were

completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?!” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him: “Do you believe in the Son of

God?” And he answered and said: “Who is He, O Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him: “You

have both seen Him and it is He Who is speaking to you.” And he said: “O Lord: I believe!” And He worshipped Him.

And Jesus said: “For Judgement I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and

those who see may be made blind.”

This Divine Healing is the sixth Sign in St John’s Holy Gospel.

] OF ALL THE MIRACLE ACCOUNTS THROUGHOUT HOLY

SCRIPTURE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHEREBY A PERSON

WAS “BLIND FROM BIRTH” – I.E. BORN WITHOUT EYES

AT ALL!

] THE BLIND MAN SYMBOLISES ALL SPIRITUALLY BLIND

HUMANITY FOR WE ALL NEED SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION

BY CHRIST OUR LORD WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE

FALLEN, SPIRITUALLY DARKENED WORLD.

This Divine Miracle is AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOLY BAPTISM, which is also referred to as “Holy Illumination.”

As Pascha (Easter) was the traditional day on which Catechumens were received into the Holy Church of

Christ, the Sacred Lessons of the Holy Pascha

period – from the Glorious Resurrection of Christ

until Pentecost – all reflect a Baptismal

Theology. Thus, this Sacred Lesson is read on the Sixth Sunday of Holy Pascha.

OUR SAVIOUR REJECTED THE ASSUMPTION - which was common in the ancient world - THAT ALL TROUBLES

AND MALADIES WERE NECESSARILY THE CONSEQUENCE OF

PERSONAL SIN OR EVEN THE SINS OF PARENTS. (REFER EXODUS 20:5; DEUTERONOMY 5:9 AND EZEKIEL 18:19-21)

ALTHOUGH SUFFERING CAN BE THE DIRECT RESULT OF

PERSONAL SIN, THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

THE MAN WAS BORN WITHOUT EYES, WHICH PROVIDED THE

MOST AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DIVINE WORKS OF

ALMIGHTY GOD TO BE REVEALED TO EVERYONE CONCERNED – so the man was not blind due to anyone’s personal sin at all.

The “Work” – i.e. the Spiritual Labour - that we are able to fulfil consists of FAITH, GOOD DEEDS AND REPENTANCE.

The “night” to which our Lord referred meant THE TIME

AFTER OUR DEATH AND THE AGE TO COME – ETERNITY –

WHEN THERE IS NO LONGER ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS

OUR FAITH because at our departure from this

world or earthly life, there is no chance of

Repentance or Confession and ALL IMMORTAL,

HUMAN SOULS – WHETHER BELIEVERS OR NOT – WILL HAVE

TO SUBMIT TO DEATH – WHETHER WILLINGLY OR

UNWILLINGLY.

] THE UNPRECEDENTED HEALING OF THE MAN BORN WITHOUT

EYES CONFIRMS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S TRUTHFUL

PROCLAMATION THAT HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ä St Irenaeus regarded THE MIXTURE OF CLAY FROM

THE EARTH AND THE SALIVA OF CHRIST OUR

ALMIGHTY LORD AND CREATOR LIKE THE ORIGINAL

CREATION OF HUMANITY FROM THE EARTH. (REFER GENESIS 2:7)

ä CHRIST REVEALS HIS DIVINE NATURE BY RESTORING A

TINY PART OF CREATION BY USING THE SAME

MATERIAL WITH WHICH HE HAD CREATED

HUMANITY AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR EXISTENCE.

The Pool of Siloam, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, was a considerable distance from the Temple and provided the water for the Holy Rites connected with the Feast of Tabernacles (WHICH TOGETHER WITH PASCHA AND PENTECOST WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVALS OF THE ANCIENT HEBREWS, WHICH INCLUDED NUMEROUS SACRIFICES AND CELEBRATIONS. (LEVITICUS 23:33 – 43) ä “Siloam” meaning “Sent” symbolises CHRIST WHO

IS SENT BY GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and just as the Healing of the Blind Man confirms Christ’s claim as the (Divine) Light of the World, so also HIS USE OF THE POOL OF SILOAM

CONFIRMS THAT HE IS THE TRUE AND DIVINE

PURIFICATION OF THE HOLY TEMPLE AND ALL WHO

WORSHIP IN IT WITH TRUE FAITH IN GOD.

Just as the hypocritical Pharisees had ignored the Healing of the Paralytic and focused only on the perceived violation of the Sabbath, so too on this occasion MANY

OF THEM COULD NOT BEHOLD THE GLORY OF GOD DUE TO

THEIR PERSONAL WICKED PREJUDICE.

When Christ was not present, the Pharisees dared to pronounce Him as a “sinner,” yet earlier, WHEN HE HAD

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ASKED THEM FACE TO FACE: “WHICH OF YOU CONVICTS ME

OF SIN?” THEY HAD ALL EVADED THE VITAL QUESTION. “Give God the Glory” was an Oath Formula, which

was always used before giving testimony. ] THE FORMERLY BLIND MAN MOST CERTAINLY GAVE GOD THE

GLORY FOR THE MORE HE WAS QUESTIONED BY THE

HYPOCRITES AND DOUBTERS, THE MORE FERVENT HIS

FAITH BECAME, WHILE THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS

PHARISEES LAPSED DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DEATH.

] THE HEALED BLIND MAN IS A MODEL OF CHRISTIAN

WITNESS. ä MOST PEOPLE DO NOT BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST

SINCE THEY FEAR THEY WILL BE ASKED QUESTIONS

THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER OR

EXPLAIN. ä THIS MAN’S HONEST AND SIMPLE ANSWER TO EVERYONE

– EVEN THOSE WHO WERE FAR BETTER EDUCATED

THAN HIM – PROVIDES THE TRUTH ä HE ADMITS SOMETHING THAT HE KNOWS NOTHING

ABOUT YET FOLLOWS UP WITH WHAT HE MOST

CERTAINLY DOES KNOW AND WHICH HE CAN

POSITIVELY CONFIRM: “... One thing I do know

is that although I was blind, now I see!” BY CONFIRMING WHAT WE DO MOST DEFINITELY KNOW – IN

UTTER TRUTH AND WITHOUT ANY DOUBT – IS FOUNDATIONAL

TO WITNESSING OUR TRUE FAITH TO OTHERS.

Have created perfectly healthy eyes for the formerly Blind Man – OUR LOVING LORD JESUS OPENED UP BOTH HIS

PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGHT – FOR GOD ALONE CAN

OPEN OUR HEART AND SOUL BY HIS DIVINE ILLUMINATION. All healings had to be confirmed by the Priests, followed

by various ritual cleansings, sacrifices, etc. This is the

only full account of a healing being examined and questioned by Hebrew authorities.

THE BLIND MAN PROGRESSES RAPIDLY FROM KNOWING

NOTHING ABOUT CHRIST TO HIS REALISATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONFESSION THAT THAT OUR

LORD JESUS IS INDEED THE TRUE MESSIAH: “... you do

not know where He is from - yet He has opened my

eyes! Now we know that God does not hear

sinners; but if anyone is a Worshipper of God

and does His Will, He hears him. Since the

world began it has been unheard of that anyone

opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If

this Man were not from God, He could do

nothing!”

The self-righteous, hypocritical Pharisees could not refute his Inspired Logic and Truth so they resorted to personal insult.

] THE DIVINE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN WAS ONE OF THE

GREAT SIGNS OR MIRACLES OF THE MESSIAH AND A

PREROGATIVE (RIGHT) UNIQUELY AND EXCLUSIVELY OF

ALMIGHTY GOD. (ISAIAH 35:5 & 42:7 –PSALM 145:8) The coming of God Incarnate into our world brought

Divine Judgement to us – not because He came to Judge us but because of OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD.

] ALL THOSE WHO SEE HIM AND WHO HEAR HIM BUT WHO DO

NOT BELIEVE OR WHO REJECT HIS DIVINE TRUTH ARE

JUDGED BY THEIR OWN FAITHLESSNESS!

6666 thththth Sunday of Holy PaSunday of Holy PaSunday of Holy PaSunday of Holy Pascha scha scha scha ---- Sunday of the Blind ManSunday of the Blind ManSunday of the Blind ManSunday of the Blind Man Six months before His Sacrifice on the Cross, our Lord

and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on the day of the Feast of the Tents, went to Jerusalem - although He knew that the leaders of the Hebrews were seeking to put Him to death - and He preached in the yard of the Temple. As He departed, He looked at a blind man sitting in a corner begging, and His Disciples asked Him: ‘Lord,

who sinned, he or his parents, so that he was born

blind?’ Christ, Who knows the hearts of men answered

with Compassion and Love: ‘Neither he nor his

parents sinned; he was born blind for God’s

Work to be revealed.’ Amongst the Hebrews there was a strong belief that the

sins of parents made their children suffer, which originated from the misunderstanding of God’s Commandment warning Israel against making idols and worshipping them – forbidding them from any form of idolatry.

To prevent or dissuade them from disobeying His Commandment or from defecting from the True Faith in our One God, the punishment for their sins would be transferred to their children up to the third and fourth generation!

This dire warning was generalised by the Hebrews concerning all sins. Consequently, the Apostles maintained that belief at the time.

HOWEVER, MOSAIC LAW CONCERNING PERSONAL SIN, CLEARLY

STATES THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

HIS/HER SINS: the parents would not be punished for the personal sins of their children, and likewise, the children would not be condemned for the personal sins of their parents.

] EACH AND EVERYONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR

HIS/HER PERSONAL WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS.

THE BLIND MAN WAS BORN WITHOUT EYES BECAUSE IT WAS

GOD’S WILL AND NOT BECAUSE GOD WANTED TO PUNISH

HIS PARENTS OR HIM – as our Lord Jesus assured us:

“Neither he, nor his parents, sinned.” NEVERTHELESS, SOMETIMES BABIES ARE BORN DEFECTIVE AND

MISSHAPEN DIRECTLY DUE TO THE SINFUL, DESTRUCTIVE

HABITS/VICES OF PARENTS WHO ARE ENSLAVED TO

ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND DEBAUCHERY – AND ESPECIALLY

WHEN A PREGNANT MOTHER IS ADDICTED OR SHE TRIES TO

ABORT HER OWN FLESH AND BLOOD, HER SINS ARE

BESTOWED UPON HER CHILDREN.

Consequently, IT IS A CRIMINAL ACT OF THE PARENTS, AND

DEFINITELY NOT “DIVINE PUNISHMENT” FROM GOD!

The Disciples enquired with purity of heart since ON

NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THEY HAD HEARD OUR LORD

SEVERELY CAUTIONING THOSE WHOM HE HAD HEALED NOT

TO RETURN TO THEIR SINFUL WAYS THAT HAD CAUSED

THEIR AILMENTS – and this man was not only born

blind, but was born without eyes - so CHRIST DID NOT

MERELY RESTORE HIS SIGHT, BUT CREATED EYES FROM THE

CLAY MIXED WITH HIS SALIVA!

Who had ever heard of such Miraculous Cure? Which doctor has ever been able to make eyes for those born without eyes? What other Miracle can be compared to this?

This proves the Truth that OUR LORD JESUS IS THE SAME GOD

WHO AT CREATION USED A MOUND OF EARTH TO CREATE

MAN, AND BY BREATHING UPON HIM, GAVE HIM “A LIVING

SOUL.” THE SAME GOD USED CLAY AND SALIVA TO CREATE

EYES AND GRANT SIGHT FOR THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN

DEPRIVED OF IT HIS ENTIRE LIFE! Jesus Christ, the Word and Son of God, is the Light of the

world - He Enlightens and Sanctifies our life, guiding us to do what is always right.

WITHOUT CHRIST WE LIVE IN THE DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE

AND SIN. Without Christ - no matter what education one might have, no matter what riches and glory – we would always be under the oppression and enslavement of sin, which would darken our whole existence.

SIN AND SINFUL PASSIONS BLIND THE SOUL’S SPIRITUAL EYES. Sinners – although having healthy eyes – stumble about in Spiritual Blindness, unable to see the Divine Light of God’s Revelations!

ENSLAVED BY SINFUL PASSIONS, THE UNREPENTANT SINNERS

DEPRIVE THEMSELVES FROM TRUE FREEDOM THAT ONLY

GOD CAN GRANT US.

TO PARTAKE IN THE DIVINE GIFTS OF GOD, WE MUST RESOLVE

OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS THROUGH REPENTANCE-

CONFESSION, for while we indulge our wicked desires, we prevent God’s Divine Enlightenment from entering the Temple of our soul.

Sin is like a dark cloud that overshadows the earth, preventing the sun’s radiance from lighting and thereby granting life to it, because SIN BLOCKS THE

DIVINE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GRACE FROM REACHING OUR

SOUL – THUS DEPRIVING US OF ETERNAL LIFE.

The Blind Man met Christ and CONFESSED HIM AS THE TRUE

GOD - let us FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE; let us APPROACH

CHRIST AND ASK HIM TO CURE OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS. Let us ask Him TO GRANT US HIS DIVINE LIGHT, so that we can see the Virtuous Path and let us ask Him TO

REMOVE THE HEAVY DARKNESS OF OUR SINFUL PASSIONS

that drown us in unfathomable Spiritual Darkness. Let us ask Him TO GRANT US HIS GREAT MERCY, SO THAT

through the Intercessions of our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos, and all the Saints WE MAY ACHIEVE

SALVATION IN CHRIST.

Amen. ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “6TH SUNDAY OF PASCHA: SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN” BY ARCHBISHOP PANTELEIMON (LAMPADARIOS) OF ANTINOE

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SACRED LESSONS -M A Y 2 0 1 1