2012 - October - Sacred Lessons

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Wo rship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glori ous Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Sai nts. And let us commit ourselves an d one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
3 October 2012 St Dionysios the Areopagite of Athens

Also the Feast of St Rustikos the Presbyter & St Eleftherios the Deacon, Disciples & Companions of St Dionysios, & St Damaris, his wife - St Dionysios the Recluse of Kiev Caves St John the Chozebite of Caesarea, Palestine - St Hesychios of Mount Horeb
Festal Apolytikion Of St Dionysios The Areopagite T O N E 4
Hristotita
ekdidahthis ke nifon en pasin, Agathin Sinidisin iroprepos endisamenos, intlisas ek tou skevous tis eklogis ta aporrita ke tin Pistin tirisas, ton ison dromon tetelekas, Ieromartis Dionisie: Presveve Hristo to Theo Sothine tas psihas imon.
Since
Thou had been instructed in Uprightness thoroughly and was Vigilant in all things, Thou was clothed with a Good Conscience as befitted one Holy. Thou drew from the Chosen Vessel Ineffable Mysteries; and having kept the Faith, Thou finished a like Course, O Hieromartyr Dionysios: Intercede with Christ God that our souls be Saved. spirit, Thou passed through Heaven's Gates, instructed by the Great Apostle who attained to the Third Heaven's Heights, and was made rich in all Knowledge of things beyond speech; and then Thou, O Dionysios, Illuminated those who slumbered in the darkness of their ignorance. Hence we all cry out: Hail, O Universal Father!
Festal Kontakion of St Dionysios the Areopagite
Tas Ouranious diavas pilas en Pnevmati, Mathitefthis to In

iper tris Ouranous fthasanti apostolo, Dionisie, ton arriton eploutisthis pasan gnosin, ke katiigasas tous en skoti agnosias prin kathefdontas. Dion Krazomen: Heris, Pater Pagkosmie!
Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O

Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton Timonton Se.
Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 16 : 16 34

Exorcism of Evil Spirit
As we went to Prayer, we were met by a certain slave girl, who was possessed by a spirit of divination and who brought her masters much profit 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. But Paul, being greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit: I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And he came out that very moment. And when her masters saw that their hope of profit had gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace - to the authorities. And they took them to the Magistrates, and said: These men being Jews exceedingly trouble our city, and they teach customs that are not lawful for us being Romans to receive or to 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. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet into the stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing Hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, when suddenly there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones chains were loosened. And the Keeper of the prison awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open assumed that the prisoners had fled. So he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, but Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: Do not harm yourself! We are all here. The Jailer called for a light, ran in and fell down, trembling, before Paul and Silas. He then took them out and said: 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. 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. When he had taken them into his house, he set food before them and he rejoiced, believing in God together with his entire household. Name and by the Divine Power of God - expels Satan EXORCISMS IN THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE HOLY and his demons, and which prevents them from having TRINITY AND IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS MOST HOLY any further unbridled influence over the New Believer NAME - ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE CONTINUING the New Light of Christ. HOLY APOSTOLIC MINISTRY AS INSTITUTED BY CHRIST Even though the demon declared the Truth through the THROUGH HIS HOLY APOSTLES. slave girl, SHE NEEDED TO BE SET FREE FROM HIS Every Holy Mystery of Baptism in the Orthodox Christian DOMINATION AND POSSESSION IN ORDER TO ACCEPT Church begins with The Making of a Catechumen CHRIST BY HER OWN FREE WILL AND LOVE. Service with three significant Exorcisms, which in the
(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED)
ST DIONYSIOS
THE
AREOPAGITE
OF
ATHENS
3 OCTOB
ER
2012
1.
Furthermore, St Paul could not tolerate her possession and torment any longer. NEITHER COULD HE ENDURE THE IMPURE PRAISES OF GODS ENEMIES, WHICH ARE NEVER ACCEPTABLE AND ALWAYS DANGEROUSLY DECEPTIVE because SATAN, being the deadly inventor of lies and deceit, ALWAYS BAITS HIS HOOKS WITH A MINISCULE DROP OF TRUTH but the instant we accept that poisoned droplet, he captures us and leads us away from God and His Divine, Pure Truth. Another aspect of this Sacred Lesson is that we must NEVER FALL INTO THE EVIL ONES TRAP OF FORTUNETELLING, HOROSCOPES OR SO-CALLED PROPHECIES! 8 As Faithful Christians we must avoid anything concerning our future and rather C O N C E N T R A T E ON OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS THAT LEADS US TOWARDS GOD AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM OF DIVINE LOVE. THE ACCUSERS of St Paul and St Silas the owners of the CARED NOTHING ABOUT RELIGION BUT slave girl INSTEAD USED THE RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE OF THE MASSES
praying to God AS THOUGH NOTHING BAD HAD OCCURRED TO THEM! HEARING THEIR WORDS OF PRAYER, PRAISE AND PSALMODY AND WATCHING HOW THESE SAINTS CONDUCTED THEMSELVES despite the unjustified malice of their adversaries, the Jailer and the other prisoners were SPIRITUALLY PREPARED for their own Conversion to Divine Truth later that night. In addition, THE HOLY APOSTLES HAD NEITHER TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE THAT COULD HAVE SET THEM FREE NOR ALLOWED THE FRIGHTENED JAILER TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE.
especially against Jews or Christians TO AVENGE OR RETALIATE against the loss of their ill-gotten financial profits. However, BEING UNJUSTLY PERSECUTED FOR CHRISTS SAKE LED ST PAUL AND ST SILAS TO GREAT SPIRITUAL JOY RATHER THAN MISERY OR SORROW. ALL THOSE WHO WITNESSED THEIR MARTYRDOM WERE AMAZED AND PROFOUNDLY IMPRESSED for - despite the public humiliation of being stripped naked, beaten with rods so many times, before being shackled in prison the Holy Apostles remained serenely Joyful singing and
Had any of the prisoners escaped especially St Paul and St Silas the Jailer and his entire family would have suffered terribly at the hands of the Roman authorities. In his intense relief and gratitude THE JAILER REALISED THE GREAT MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND WANTED ETERNAL SALVATION FOR HIMSELF AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, having heard and observed the Apostles throughout the preceding hours. Consequently, THE HOLY APOSTLES BAPTISED THEIR JAILER AS WELL AS HIS ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD, who all lived on the premises and WHO HAD ALSO LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE WORDS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES as they praised God with Hymns and Prayers, and spoke to the other prisoners ABOUT CHRIST AND HIS WAY OF ETERNAL SALVATION. Our Lord Jesus Christ had told His Holy Apostles to USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD GODS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, GREAT MERCY AND LOVE and not to worry about what they would say or do because HE ALWAYS GIVES US THE
RIGHT WORDS TO SPEAK AND DEEDS TO FULFIL ACCORDING TO HIS LOVING, DIVINE WILL. IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO US to make use of every opportunity
that arises to spread Gods Divine Love to others.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 6 : 46 7 : 1

Beware of Hypocrisy!
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: ... why do you call Me: Lord Lord but not do the Things that I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a House, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that House, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the Rock. But he who heard and did nothing, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell down. And the ruin of that house was great. And when our Lord had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 8 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS OF THE HOLY GOSPEL AND ARE COMPELLED BY OUR LOVE PARTICULAR SACRED LESSON and on many OF GOD AND ONE ANOTHER TO FULFIL EVERYTHING ASKED occasions He emphasised THE PROFOUND NECESSITY OF US by our Loving and Compassionate Lord God. OF NOT MERELY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD BUT JAMES 2 : 24 ... a man is Justified by OBEYING EVERY TEACHING, EVERY COMMANDMENT AND Works(Deeds) and not by Faith only... EVERY DIVINE INSTRUCTION. JAMES 2 : 26: ... For as the body without the Obedience to the Divine Will of Almighty God requires the spirit is dead, so Faith without Works is conjoined twin Virtue: Humility. dead also. WITHOUT HUMILITY, WE CANNOT OBEY WE MUST BUILD OUR LIFE IN CHRIST UPON HIM WHO IS OUR GOD AND WITHOUT OBEDIENCE TO GOD, DIVINE, UNSHAKABLE, UNCHANGEABLE ROCK because IF WE HAVE NO HUMILITY AT ALL! OUR FAITH IS PROPERLY FOUNDED ON GOD HIMSELF, Consequently, hearing the Holy Gospel of Christ alone NOTHING WILL CAUSE US TO FAIL OR COLLAPSE UNDER THE even knowing every Word chapter and verse! will PRESSURES OF WORLDLY CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATIONS. not benefit us at all unless we UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT
St Dionysios the Areopagite

St Dionysios is one of the 70 lesser Apostles of Christ, who came from a distinguished pagan family of Athens and having studied Philosophy in Athens, went to Egypt for further studies. While in Egypt, our Lord Jesus Christ was Crucified and, the sun was suddenly darkened for three hours! St Dionysios cried out Either God the Creator of the world is Suffering, or this world is coming to an end! He returned to Athens, married St Damaris and produced three sons. He became a member of the highest court among the Greeks the Areopagos. When St Paul preached in Athens, St Dionysios and his entire household accepted Holy Baptism, and he became the Bishop of Athens. St Dionysios accompanied St Paul on many of his Missionary Journeys, met many of the other Holy Apostles and, travelling to Jerusalem, to his great Joy, he also visited our Most Holy Theotokos, which he described in one of his writings, and later he attended Her Funeral When St Paul was Martyred, St Dionysios went to Gaul accompanied by St Rustikos, his Presbyter, and St Eleftherios, his Deacon, to preach the Holy Gospel among the barbarians. They endured much suffering but also many triumphs - through their Labours of Love many pagans converted to Christianity. St Dionysios built a small church in Paris where they celebrated Divine Services until - at the age of 93 - he was seized and martyred together with St Rustikos and St Eleftherios. Several writings of St Dionysios have survived to this day. May their Holy Memories be Eternal!
2.
(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED)
ST DIONYSIOS
THE
AREOPAGITE
OF
ATHENS
3 OCTOBER 2012
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
6 October 2012 St Thomas Didymos (i.e. the Twin or the Double-minded) A p o s t l e o f C h r i s t

Also the Feast of the Glorification of St Innocent of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts & Apostle to the Americas
Festal Apolytikion St Thomas, Apostle of Christ TONE 3.
Apostole O
Agie Thoma: Presveve to Eleimoni Theo ina ptesmaton afesin, parashi tes psihes imon.
O Holy Apostle Thomas:
Intercede to our Merciful God, that He may grant our souls Forgiveness of sins.
Festal Kontakion St Thomas TONE 3.
tis Thias Haritos pepliromenos, tou Hristou Apostolos, ke ipiretis Alithis, en Metania ekravgaze: Si mou iparhis, Theos te ke Kyrios!
Christs Apostle, who was filled with Gods Divine Grace he who was His genuine and Faithful Servant in all Truth - All Lauded Thomas exclaimed aloud in deep Repentance: Thou art both my God and my Lord! Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!

First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4: 9 16

Wisdom in Spiritual Fatherhood
Brethren: ... I think that God has displayed us the Apostles last - as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world both to Angels and to men. We are fools for Christs Sake, but you are Wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are Strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour working with our own hands. Being reviled, we Bless; being persecuted: we Endure; being defamed, we Entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world the off-scouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my Beloved Children I warn you. For although you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many Fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have Begotten you through the Gospel. Therefore, I urge you : imitate me! ST PAUL USED IRONY AND SARCASM AS BITTER MEDICINE achieve great Spiritual Heights, despite our weak and his words ... we are fools... we are weak... we and limited human condition. are dishonoured... are stacked up in a stinging THE FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST series of self-accusation because of HIS DESIRE TO ALWAYS RESPONDED TO ADVERSITY WITH LOVE, COMPASSION AND EXTREME TOLERANCE ALL FOR THE MAKE THE QUARRELLING CORINTHIANS REALISE THAT WHILE THEY LIVED IN RELATIVE COMFORT, THE HOLY LOVE OF CHRIST AND HIS CREATION AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PURE JOY OF WHOLEHEARTEDLY SERVING GOD APOSTLES OF CHRIST SUFFERED ALL KINDS OF DISCOMFORT, HUMILIATION AND DEGRADATION at the BY RECONCILING THE FALLEN, SPIRITUALLY DARKENED WORLD WITH OUR LOVING AND MERCIFUL LORD GOD. hands of others. St Paul soothed the ruffled egos of the proud The Ascetic Life of Christs Holy Apostles was filled with persecution, discrimination, poverty and Corinthians by reminding them that HE WAS THEIR uncertainty each and every moment of the day, SPIRITUAL FATHER WHO WANTED NOTHING BUT THE yet THEY NEVER WEAKENED OR ABANDONED THEIR BEST FOR THEM. WONDERFUL LABOURS OF LOVE FOR GOD AND ONE St Paul was their Spiritual Father who was responsible for their proper Teaching, Guidance ANOTHER. The Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples of Christ and Worship, so AS THEIR LOVING HOLY FATHER, HE willingly endured all kinds of degradation and WOULD CORRECT THEM AND REDIRECT THEM WHENEVER THEY WERE IN DANGER OF GOING ASTRAY. insults often being treated like filth or offscourings by pagans - and even, sometimes, by Our Holy Orthodox Church is one enormous Holy their fellow Hebrews, who regarded them as Family and WE ARE THE MATURING SPIRITUAL blasphemers and fools. CHILDREN WHO NEED CONSTANT PARENTAL GUIDANCE WHEN ONE IS CALLED TO DIVINE SERVICE, GOD MAKES DUE TO OUR SPIRITUAL INEXPERIENCE that causes our EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR US TO ACHIEVE HIS ALL downfall or drifting off Christs True Path of HOLY WILL and those who joyfully respond to Righteousness. such a Calling, are CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE OUR BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS AND TEACHERS WATCH THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, EVEN THE NORMALLY OVER OUR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS by guiding, encouraging and comforting us so that our IMPOSSIBLE OR UNTHINKABLE COMES TO PASS. Preparatory Journey through this temporary life St Paul urges us to imitate him to IMITATE HIS is successful and we are able to arrive at our final UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN CHRIST Who enables us to Destination the Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom of God.
ST THOMAS
THE
HOLY APOSTLE
OF
CHRIST
6 OCTOBER 2012
3.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 20 : 19 - 31

The Appearance of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ to Ten of His Holy Apostles
At that time, on 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 Jews, Jesus went and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you! When He said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. And Jesus said to them again: Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And as He 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. Thomas called the Twin, one of the Twelve was not with them when Jesus came. The other Disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord! And he said to them: Unless I see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His Side, I will not believe! After eight days His Disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus went in although the doors were shut and stood in their midst and said: Peace be to you! Then He said to Thomas: Put your finger here and look at My Hands; and put your hand here put it into My Side and do not be unbelieving, but believing! And Thomas answered Him and said: My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe! 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. CONFIRMATION concerning various things he was THE INCREDULITY OF ST THOMAS IS described in our Hymns as BLESSED FOR IT WAS not compelled by a resistance regarded as being double-minded because HE LIKED to Truth, but rather coMPELLED BY HIS DESPERATE TO EXAMINE OR QUESTION MOST THINGS BEING DRIVEN DESIRE FOR ABSOLUTE DIVINE TRUTH ... doubt that BY THE NEED TO KNOW THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH not merely gave birth to Faith... when the Truth is revealed. anyones idea or perception of truth. In one of the Hymns, Christ says to St Thomas: ... your Furthermore, OUR LORDS RESURRECTED BODY IS doubt will teach My Passion and Resurrection to TRANSFIGURED AND INCORRUPTIBLE, SO ONLY ACCORDING all... which was affirmed when it ... brought the TO HIS DIVINE WILL WERE HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES hearts of believers to Knowledge. ABLE TO SEE HIM AND TO RECOGNISE HIM. THE CONVERSION OF ST THOMAS INCREDULITY INTO In other words, HIS RESURRECTED BODY IS INDEED HUMAN UNWAVERING FAITH INSTIGATED HIS HEARTFELT BUT IT IS GLORIFIED IN EVERY RESPECT AND ILLUSTRATES CONFESSION of our Lord Jesus Christs Divinity - His THE KIND OF BODY EVERY FAITHFUL BELIEVER WILL True Divine Identity My Lord and My God! RECEIVE AT OUR GENERAL RESURRECTION. Peace be to you is THE APOSTOLIC GREETING that we hear (KINDLY READ ST PAULS FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS repeatedly throughout our Holy Services. CONCERNING THIS MATTER.) (1 CORINTHIANS 15: 42 49) THE GREEK WORD FOR HANDS AND WRISTS IS ONE AND THE When the Apostles dispersed throughout the world to SAME. spread the Holy Gospel of Christ, ST THOMAS HAD In fact, CHRIST WAS NOT NAILED THROUGH THE PALMS OF HIS TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO INDIA. HANDS BUT RATHER THROUGH THE SMALL GAP BETWEEN Three days before the Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, at her request and by the Mysterious Grace THE BONES OF HIS WRISTS, thereby fulfilling the of God, all the other Apostles and Disciples had been Prophesy that NOT ONE OF HIS BONES WOULD BE gathered together in Jerusalem to attend to her final BROKEN. instructions and to perform her Funeral. The Roman executioners had worked out the most However, ST THOMAS WAS CARRIED THERE ONLY THREE DAYS effective form of prolonging the agonising torture of AFTER HER BURIAL, AND UPSET AT HAVING MISSED HIS crucifixion so the only way of securing the full weight OPPORTUNITY TO PAY HIS LAST RESPECTS, THE APOSTLES, of a body to the cross bar was to nail it through the wrists. WHO HAD KEPT A CONSTANT VIGIL OUTSIDE, OPENED THE If the nails were put through the hands as popularly SEALED TOMB, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT HER SANCTIFIED depicted, the sheer weight of the body would rip them BODY WAS NO LONGER THERE where they had reverently apart. laid it to rest It had disappeared. IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM THE BLOOD STAINS ON THE HOLY Thus, ONCE MORE, ST THOMAS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SHROUD OF CHRIST THAT HE WAS DEFINITELY NAILED REVEALING THE DIVINE TRUTH OF ALMIGHTY GOD! THROUGH HIS WRISTS, which was also obvious from the As our Lord said to St Thomas: ... because you have contraction of His Thumbs into His Palms for they are seen... you have believed. Blessed are those who not visible. have not seen... yet believe! ST THOMAS DID NOT ACTUALLY TOUCH THE WOUNDS OF OUR No one can make us believe anything for it is a profoundly RESURRECTED LORD JESUS CHRIST HE HAD NO NEED personal matter of Faith. NOR DESIRE TO DO SO. Not only do we believe in God, but through our heartfelt Our Lord had nicknamed St Thomas Didymos or the Faith, WE KNOW GOD AND CAN JOYFULLY PROCLAIM: MY Twin because HE ALWAYS SOUGHT PROOF OR LORD AND MY GOD!
St Thomas of the Twelve Holy Apostles of Christ

Through the Incredulity of St Thomas in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, a new Proof was given of that most Wonderful and Saving Event. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, when the Apostles cast lots to see where they would go to preach the Holy Gospel to the people, St Thomas was sent off to India. Although rather saddened to go so far away, our Lord appeared to him and encouraged him. Through the Spiritual Labours of St Thomas, many souls from aristocrats to the poorest of the poor converted to the Christian Faith and many churches were erected, and many Bishops and Priests were Ordained. Three days after the Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, when St Thomas arrived too late to pay his final respects and the tomb was opened at his request, the body of our Lady was no longer where they had so reverently laid it to rest, but had been carried to Heaven. So it was that St Thomas once again revealed to us all the Wondrous Glorification of the All Pure, Ever Virgin Mary just as he had once before unintentionally confirmed our Faith in the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. St Thomas had Baptised a wife and a son of an Indian Prince, which had enraged him, and ultimately caused St Thomas untimely death having been speared to death by five of the Princes soldiers.
4.
ST THOMAS
THE
HOLY APOSTLE
OF
CHRIST
6 OCTOBER 2012
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Ho ly Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselve s and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
1 8 t h S u n d a y Af t e r P e n t e c o s t
Tone1
7 O c t ob er 2 0 1 2
3rd Sunday of St Luke- The Widow of Nain

Also the Feast of St Sergios & St Bacchos of Syria St Polychronios the Presbyter, St Juliana the Presbytera & St Cesaria, the Deacon - St Sergios the Obedient of Kiev Near Caves Monastery St Sergios the Abbot of Nurma, Disciple of St Sergios of Radonezh St Martinian of White Lake St Julian the Presbyter & St Caesarios the Deacon of Terracina, Italy St Pelagia of Tarsos, Cilicia 99 Hieromartyrs of Crete - St Joseph the Elder & Wonderworker of Khevi, Georgia
Resurrection Apolytikion TONE 1
Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton While

filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros, Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope!
the stone was sealed by the Jews, and soldiers stood on guard over Thy Body undefiled, Thou rose on the Third Day, O Saviour, Who grants Life to the world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves mankind!
Festal Kontakion Male Martyrs
Martyres Sou, Kyrie, en ti Athlisi afton, to Stefos ekomisanto tis aftharsias, ek Sou tou Theou imon; ehontes tin eshin Sou, tous tirannous kathilon, ethrafsan ke demonon ta anishira thrasi; afton tes ikesies Hriste, O Theos, Soson tas psihas imon.
Thy loyal Martyrs, O Lord, while contending for Thee, the

Crown of Incorruption they earned for themselves, from Thee, the God of us all; for armed with Thy Might, they defeated the tyrants, and crushed all demons and their powerless assumption. Through their Intercessions, O Christ our God, we pray to Thee to Save our soul. Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!

Resurrection Gospel 7 John 20 : 1 - 10

St Peter & St John Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Sing Praises to our God! Sing praises to our King! Clap your hands, all ye Nations!
The Second Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 9 : 6 11
Cheerful Giving
Prokeimenon
Brethren: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart not grudgingly or of necessity - for God Loves a Cheerful Giver. And God is able to make all Grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every Good Work. As it is written: He has dispersed abroad. He has given to the poor. His Righteousness endures forever. Now may He Who supplies seed to the Sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the Seed you have sown and increase the Fruits of your Righteousness, while you are Enriched in everything for all Liberality, which causes Thanksgiving through us to God... This Sacred Lesson is an essential part of ST PAULS GOD BESTOWS HIS INFINITE BLESSINGS UPON THE GOOD IMPORTANT TEACHING ON CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP AND THE EVIL ALIKE and it is entirely our choice to do what we want to with such Blessings. THE LOVE AND CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. However, we must never lose sight of the fact that our OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF TOLD US CLEARLY THAT EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED AFFECTS HOW WE THIS IS EXACTLY HOW HE WILL FINALLY JUDGE US. WILL EXIST IN ETERNITY, which begins with the WHAT WE SOW AND REAP WILL RESULT IN OUR General Resurrection and Final Judgement. ETERNAL LIFE OR DEATH! SO OUR FINAL DESTINATION DEPENDS ON THE CONDITION His metaphor does not concern the giving of money but AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH rather THE SOWING OF SACRED SEED, WHICH RESULTS GOD AND WITH ONE ANOTHER. IN A GOOD HOLY HARVEST OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT. God always grants us a little more than we actually In other words: St Paul reminds us about what it means need, and OUR EXCESS BLESSINGS MUST THEN BE TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST, which IS ALL ABOUT OUR JOYFULLY AND FREELY SHARED AMONGST OTHERS who UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR GOD AND EACH OTHER. are less Blessed or privileged than us. WHATEVER WE DO FOR GOD AND EACH OTHER GOOD OR The Seeds that God grant us, is everything good that BAD - WILL BE RETURNED TO US IN GREAT ABUNDANCE. benefits us all now and forever.
18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD
OF
ST LUKE THE WIDOW
OF
NAIN 7 OCTOBER 2012
5.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 7 : 11 16

The Great Mercy & Love of God - The Widow of Nain
At that time, our Lord Jesus went into a city called Nain, and many of His Disciples went with Him, as well as a large crowd. And when He arrived at the gate of the city, behold! A dead man was being carried out the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And a large crowd was with her. When our Lord saw her, He had Compassion for her and said to her: Do not weep. And He went and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said: Young man, I say to you: arise! And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus presented him to his mother. Then Fear came upon all those who were present, and they Glorified God, saying: A great Prophet has risen up among us! and God has Visited His people! THE RAISING OF THE WIDOWS SON AT NAIN IS ONE OF However, COMPELLED BY HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR THREE GREAT DIVINE MIRACLES OF OUR SAVIOUR, THE BEREFT WIDOW OF NAIN, HE TOUCHED THE OPEN JESUS CHRIST. COFFIN and showed us that ANYTHING THAT COMES Each of the three Miracles depicted different stages of INTO CONTACT WITH HIS BODY IS CHANGED FROM THE Death: MUNDANE (ORDINARY A DEAD MAN) INTO THE Jairus little daughter had just died. EXTRAORDINARY SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT in The Widow of Nains son had been dead for some this case, someone who was brought back from time and was about to be buried. Death to Life and WHOSE LIFE WOULD NEVER BE THE St Lazaros had been dead for four days and had SAME AS BEFORE. already begun to decompose in his tomb. THIS PARTICULAR EVENT PREFIGURED OUR LORDS THEY CONFIRM THE DIVINE PROMISE GIVEN TO ST EZEKIEL, CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION for just as the the Holy Prophet of God, that our Lord would one Widow wept for the loss of her beloved and only day open the tombs or graves and raise the dead son, so too would His Ever Blessed Mother weep for no matter how long they had been dead, for He is Him at that foot of His Cross yet later her tears of truly the Master of Life: sorrow would become tears of Great Joy at His Glorious Resurrection. E z e k i e l 3 7 : 1 4 : ... the Hand of the Lord came Christ knew the exact circumstances that faced the upon me, and took me by the Spirit of the mourning Widow of Nain: Lord, and set me in the midst of the plain, Without a close male relative to take care of her and to which was full of human bones. And He led protect her, all her property and possessions would me round about them, and behold! There was have been taken from her and she would have been a great multitude of bones on the face of the cast out into the street to depend on the kindness plain. They were very dry. And He said to me: of strangers. Son of Man: can these bones live? And I Perhaps this woman had much property and answered: O Lord, Thou know this. And He possessions that was about to be seized and that said to me: Prophesy to these bones and could have been why there were so many people say to them: O dry bones, hear the Word following her to the cemetery. of the Lord: thus says the Lord to these Even to this day, widows and orphans are taken full bones: Behold, I will bring the Spirit of advantage of and mistreated abominably by the Life upon you. I will put muscles and wicked and merciless. flesh on you. I will cover you with skin 8 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES and put My Spirit into you. And you shall AND APOSTLES TO TAKE CARE OF ALL WIDOWS AND live and know that I Am the Lord! ORPHANS AND IT IS ONE OF OUR MOST SACRED DUTIES TO FULFIL. 8 Although many people have exercised their Having witnessed such a marvellous Miracle, the people authority over the living, ONLY THE SON OF were naturally rather shocked - and although most GOD ... has Power over the living and the of them Glorified and offered Prayers of dead! (ORTHODOX FUNERAL SERVICE) Thanksgiving to Almighty God, there were others AS THE INCARNATE ETERNAL SON OF GOD THE FATHER, who plotted against our Lord Jesus Christ. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS DIVINE POWER THROUGH HIS WORDS ALONE.
The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain

Beloved: todays Sacred Lesson occurred on the day after our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, healed the servant (or some say, child) of the Faithful Centurion. However, todays Divine Miracle is much more spectacular than the previous one when He healed someone who was seriously ill - for ON THIS DAY HE RAISED A MAN FROM THE DEAD A MAN WHO WAS ABOUT TO BE BURIED! The day before our Lord Jesus Christ simply spoke to the Centurion and the sick person, who was not present, was immediately healed. Yet on this day, THE MOST MERCIFUL SON OF GOD STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED THE BIER OF THE DEAD MAN, AND CALLED HIM BACK TO LIFE! In the case of the Centurions beloved servant (or child) our Lord was sought out especially by someone who had utter Faith in His Great Power, yet on the following day, OUR LORD HIMSELF SOUGHT OUT THOSE WHO NEEDED HIS DIVINE AID THE MOST. What compelled our Saviour to go to that particular funeral procession? What was it about that particular dead man the only begotten son of his weeping, bereft and widowed mother? OUR LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE WAS DRAWN TO THE IMAGERY OF HIS OWN APPROACHING DEATH AND THE SORROW OF HIS OWN WIDOWED MOTHER. In that lifeless corpse He saw His own Suffering on behalf of all suffering mankind. HE SAW THE FUNERAL PROCESSION AS A ICON OF THE PROGRESSION OF HUMANITY AWAY FROM THE SAVING AND LIFE-GIVING CONFINES OF THE HEAVENLY CITY, AND OUR HASTENING AWAY INTO THAT FAR COUNTRY, WHICH IS AN ETERNAL TOMB. Yet it was primarily His infinite Tenderness and concern for this one distraught, heart-broken mother that demanded His attention THE COMPASSIONATE ATTENTION OF THE ONE WHO IS INDEED OUR RESURRECTION AND LIFE! We can almost hear the beautiful Voice of OUR SWEET LORD JESUS WHO NEVER FORGETS THOSE WHO WEEP AND WHO NEVER NEGLECTS THOSE WHO GRIEVE. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ( MATTHEW 5:4) Compassionate and Merciful is the Lord; Longsuffering and plenteous in Mercy... (PSALM 102 : 8 LXX) That is what caused the Son of God to approach the funeral procession of the son of the Widow of Nain. He approached her because of His DEEP AND ABIDING COMPASSION, WHICH IS THE FRUIT OF LOVE. IF WE POSSESS DEEP COMPASSION, THEN WE TOO WILL HAVE LOVE i.e. Agape unconditional, Absolute, Divine Love which is not of this fallen, sin-darkened world
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and which has nothing in common with our weak human desires and flesh. SUCH LOVE AGAPE IS GODS MOST AMAZING LOVE DIVINE LOVE! St John the Beloved Apostle, Evangelist and Theologian said: We Love because (God) first Loved us. (1 JOHN
4 :19)
Dearly Beloved:
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TIME AND AGAIN.
SPIRITUALLY DEAD
[SPIRITUAL DEATH IS A STATE OF UNREPENTED SIN, WHILE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS A STATE OF REPENTANCE AND SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE FOR PERFECTION.]
We often realise that WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, BUT CHRIST IN HIS PROFOUND COMPASSION AND INFINITE LOVE FOR US ALWAYS COMES TO US WITH HIS LIFEGIVING WORD AND HIS LIFE-GIVING TOUCH: THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND HIS HOLY EUCHARIST. Because of His own Death on the Cross, ... He has granted us Eternal Life and His Great Mercy!
(SUNDAY MATINS HYMN)
We must also REJOICE AT THE MIRACLE OF NEW LIFE, WHICH CHRIST HAS GRANTED TO US i.e. THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND HOLY EUCHARIST, WHICH GRANTS US FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND THUS ETERNAL LIFE. And having joyfully received such great Gifts of Divine Love, Compassion and Mercy, WE MUST GENEROUSLY SHARE ALL OUR DIVINE BLESSINGS WITH OTHERS. Freely you have received freely give! (MATTHEW 10:8) We must never hide the Glorious Light of Christ under a bushel (basket), but instead we must put it on a lampstand so that everyone can see it. (MATTHEW 5:15) Brethren: we must BECOME EMISSARIES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST for He told us that WE ARE HIS WITNESSES IN THIS EARTHLY WORLD. (LUKE 24 : 48) We are commanded: Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your Good Works and Glorify your Father, which is in Heaven. (MATTHEW
5:16)
The citizens of Nain rejoiced at such a great Miracle, which they had witnessed. They also rejoiced because someone who was loved by them had been returned to them and their tears of sorrow were changed into tears of Joy and Thanksgiving.
To Him be Glory, Honour, and Worship, together with His Only Begotten Son, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto Ages of Ages. Amen
HTTP://GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/ORTHODOXSERMONS/MESSAGE/128
May God Give You Wisdom!

My dear little Children: How orphaned you have become and not only you, but we, too. GODLY PEOPLE ARE DEPARTING for another world those who have witnessed by their lives that they are indeed Godly people and who are becoming more and more rare, WHILE THE WORLD BECOMES EMPTIER OF GOODNESS. What the next generation has to say for itself is not yet clear, but so far LIFE DOES NOT CONSOLE US WITH GOOD EXPECTATIONS. In past centuries e.g. 19th century Russia THE ORTHODOX WORLD VIEW WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF ORTHODOX LIFE AND WAS SUPPORTED BY THE LIFE AROUND IT. There was no need even to speak of it as a separate thing WE LIVED ORTHODOXY IN HARMONY WITH THE ORTHODOX SOCIETY AROUND US, AND WE HAD AN ORTHODOX WORLD VIEW PROVIDED BY THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY. In many countries, Governments Confessed Orthodoxy; it was the centre of public functions and the Ruler himself was, historically, the first Orthodox layman with the great responsibility of being a good Christian example to all his subjects. EVERY CITY HAD ORTHODOX CHURCHES, AND MANY OF THEM CONDUCTED HOLY SERVICES EVERY DAY MORNING AND EVENING. There were Monasteries in all the great cities, in every village and throughout the countryside; in deserts and in the wilderness. In Russia there were more than 1000 officially organised Monasteries, in addition to other more unofficial groups. MONASTICISM WAS AN ACCEPTED PART OF LIFE AND MOST FAMILIES HAD RELATIVES WHO WERE MONKS OR NUNS, IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER EXAMPLES OF ORTHODOX LIFE such as those who went from Monastery to Monastery and Fools for Christ. THE WHOLE WAY OF LIFE WAS PERMEATED WITH ORTHODOXY CENTRED AROUND MONASTICISM. ORTHODOX TRADITIONS WERE INTERWOVEN WITH DAILY LIFE AND MOST LITERATURE WAS ORTHODOX BASED. Daily survival was difficult for most people who had to work extremely hard and life expectancy was not great death was a frequent reality all of which reinforced the Churchs Teaching on the reality and nearness of the other world. LIVING AN ORTHODOX LIFE UNDER SUCH HEART-BREAKING CIRCUMSTANCES WAS THE SAME AS HAVING AN ORTHODOX WORLD VIEW SO THERE WAS LITTLE NEED TO TALK OF IT. On the other hand, today, all this has drastically changed.
Godly People Are Departing!

LIFE IS BECOMING FAR MORE DIFFICULT SPECIFICALLY DUE TO
THE FACT THAT THE WORLD IS FAST BECOMING BEREFT OF
GODLY PEOPLE. Hold fast to your Mothers commands. They are not empty words but golden grains, which will send forth shoots into Eternal Joy... May her Prayers before God for you be now even more bold than during her lifetime! Gods Blessings to all of you.
LETTERS OF FATHER JOHN KRESTIANKIN
Living the Orthodox World View Part 1

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND LIFE IN CHRIST IS A LITTLE
ISLAND IN THE MIDST OF A WORLD THAT OPERATES ON TOTALLY DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE AND EVERY DAY THESE PRINCIPLES BECOME WORSE MAKING US MORE AND MORE ALIENATED.
Many people are tempted to divide their lives into two sharply distinct categories: the daily life of work, worldly friends and business and Orthodoxy, which we observe on Sundays (for a very short time) and perhaps at other times during the week if we make the effort to celebrate the Feasts and Fasts. However, the world view of such people if we look closely is often A STRANGE COMBINATION OF CHRISTIAN VALUES AND WORLDLY IDEAS, WHICH DO NOT REALLY MIX AT ALL. Therefore WE SHALL CONTEMPLATE HOW WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE OUR WORLD VIEW MORE UNITED MORE A COMPLETE ORTHODOX WORLD VIEW. ORTHODOXY IS LIFE. IF WE DO NOT LIVE ORTHODOXY, WE SIMPLY ARE NOT ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS no matter what formal beliefs we might hold! Life in our contemporary world has become very artificial very uncertain and very confusing. ORTHODOXY, TRULY, HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN, BUT IS ALSO NOT
VERY FAR FROM THE LIFE OF THE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS US, and therefore THE LIFE OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN EVEN WHEN BEING TRULY ORTHODOX CANNOT DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT REFLECT IT IN SOME MANNER.
A kind of uncertainty and confusion have also entered into our Orthodox Life in our current era. So, we will try to look at contemporary life and at Orthodox Life to see HOW BETTER WE MIGHT FULFIL OUR CHRISTIAN OBLIGATIONS to lead an other-worldly Life even in these rather terrible times - and to have AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE WHOLE OF LIFE TODAY THAT ENABLES US TO SURVIVE WITH OUR TRUE FAITH INTACT.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A TALK DELIVERED BY HIEROMONK SERAPHIM (ROSE) AT ST HERMAN PILGRIMAGE, AUGUST 1982, ST HERMAN OF ALASKA MONASTERY, PLATINA, CALIFORNIA.
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/7360.HTM
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7.
Protodeacon Leonid Mickle
- Cultivate the Quiet Light of Christ

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND LIGHT ALL THE LAMPS, I MUST ARRANGE MY DAY SO THAT I CAN BE HERE EARLY. Then I MUST CONCENTRATE on my task. I MUST SEE THAT THERE IS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF OIL, so that the lamps do not go out. I CANNOT HURRY. I MUST CAREFULLY POUR EACH ONE, lest the oil spills onto the Holy Altar or on to the Holy Icons. I MUST TRIM AND ADJUST THE WICKS BEFORE LIGHTING THEM, and THEN OBSERVE THE FLAME to see if it is too low so that any little breeze can blow it out. If it is too high, it will generate such heat that the glass will crack, or at least, will burn so quickly that the wick will turn to ash and the flame will be extinguished. SUCH AN APPARENTLY INSIGNIFICANT TASK, AND YET, IT IS DONE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! IF I CANNOT BE ATTENTIVE TO THE LITTLE TASKS THAT GOD PERMITS ME TO TAKE ON, HOW CAN I HOPE TO PERSEVERE IN THE GREATER TASKS? IF I CANNOT TAKE THE NECESSARY TIME AND MAKE THE NECESSARY EFFORT TO PREPARE THESE LITTLE LAMPS, to see that the flames remain lit but that they do not become destructive fire, HOW CAN I HOPE TO DO THE SAME WITH MY SOUL? How can I control my passions, and HOW CAN I INSTRUCT OTHERS to do the same? No, sometimes THE QUICK WAY THE EASY WAY IS NOT THE BEST WAY. Glory to Thee, O Lord! Although I was struck by his words, to my shame, I felt a little irritated too. I thought to myself : yes, that may well be the best way, but he has the luxury of serving in a small country church, with a small congregation that probably does not put great demands on his time. He has the time he has no secular job from which to rush to the church in time for Holy Services... Suddenly I realised how irrational my thoughts were and
HOW CUNNING AND PERSISTENT WAS THE ENEMY OF OUR SALVATION!
ST SERAPHIM OF SAROV taught us to ... cultivate the Quiet Light of Christ within you, and with it you will Enlighten those around you. At times, when contemplating the zeal that so many Apostles demonstrated in their Confession of the Faith before the world, I have wondered about that Teaching. We know that many are perishing, that many have either never even heard of the Orthodox Christian Church, or are unaware that the Holy Church is NOT an Ethnic Clubhouse but a Source of Living Water for everyone. Why are we not told to advertise to go out with trumpets, drums, loudspeakers and bright lights in order to make our Holy Church more visible to everyone? GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES US WITH THE MOST WONDERFUL ANSWERS IN MOST UNEXPECTED SETTINGS. Once, while on a long journey, I stopped at an information centre to ask for the best route to my destination. The Clerk asked me whether I wanted the best or the quickest route and then she pointed out that the best way would add about an hour to the fourteen-hour journey I could expect via the interstate, but, IF I HAD THE TIME TO TAKE THE ALTERNATE ROUTE, I WOULD
CERTAINLY ENJOY COUNTRYSIDE. THE SERENE BEAUTY OF THE
Thinking about my schedule, I chose the interstate, and I certainly seemed to make excellent time until I was pulled over for speeding! I saved less than an hour, lost a sizable percentage of my salary as well as the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful country and had briefly been angry at the state police officer for simply fulfilling his duties - for which I paid taxes! Shortly thereafter, I stopped at a small church almost two hours before the Vigil Service was to begin and I met the Priest who was trimming the wicks and replenishing the oil in the lamps behind the Holy Altar. He told me that he always arrived at the church well before the Holy Services in order to maintain all the oil lamps. I asked him whether he had ever considered using candles instead of oil lamps and he smiled, and began to explain: That certainly would be the quick way: I could enter and light the candles without giving them a thought! Think how great a Lesson would be lost!
WHEN CONFRONTED BY AN EVIDENT TRUTH, THE ENEMY CHALLENGES IT BY BRINGING TO MIND EXTERNAL, IRRELEVANT DETAILS, DIVERTING OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE LESSON.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP:CULTIVATE THAT QUIET LIGHT HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/CULTIVATE-THAT-QUIET-LIGHT/
The Eternal, Inspired Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers den, she went inside and brought out her little cubs, St Anthony:
While praying in his cell, a Voice spoke to St Anthony, saying: Anthony, you have not yet reached the measure of the Tanner who lives in Alexandria! The Holy Elder immediately arose, took his stick and hurried into the city, and when he had located the Tanner, he said to him: Tell me about your work, for today I have left the desert to come to see you. The Tanner replied: I am not aware that I have done anything good. When I get up in the morning, before I sit down to work, I tell myself that the whole of this city, small and great, will enter the Kingdom of God because of their good deeds, while I alone will go into Eternal Punishment because of my evil deeds. Every evening I repeat the same words to myself and truly believe them in my heart. When Blessed St Anthony heard this, he said: My son: you sit in your own house and work well, and you have the Peace of the Kingdom of God, while I spend all my time in Solitude with no distractions, yet I have not come near the measure of such words! which had been born blind. He prayed over them and then returned them to the hyena with their sight healed. She, in turn, by way of Thanksgiving, brought him a huge skin of a wild ram and laid it at his feet. He smiled at her as if at a kind person, and accepting the skin, he spread it out beneath him.
St Apollo:
When Abba Apollo heard the singing of the Monks who welcomed us, he greeted us according to the custom that all Monks follow: he first lay prostrate upon the ground, then got up and kissed us, and having brought us in, he prayed for us. Then, after washing our feet with his own hands, he invited us to partake of some refreshment... We could see that all his Monks were filled with Joy and an unearthly contentment, for none of them was gloomy or downcast. If anyone appeared a little sad, Abba Apollo immediately asked him the reason and he would tell each of the Monks what was in the secret recesses of his heart. Abba Apollo believed that ... those who are going to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven must not be despondent about their Salvation... we who have been considered worthy of so great a Hope how shall we not rejoice without ceasing, since the Apostle urged us to always ... pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks!
St Makarios:
While Abba Makarios was praying in his cave in the desert, a hyena suddenly appeared and began to lick his feet. The she gently grasped the hem of his tunic, and drew him towards he own cave. He followed her, saying: I wonder what this animal wants me to do? And when she had led him to her
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19th Sunday After Pentecost
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4th Sunday of St Luke The Sower & the Seed

The Feast of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council St Nazarios, St Gervasios, St Protasios & St Celsios of Milan St Paraskeva of Serbia St Nicholas Sviatosha, Prince of Chernigov & Wonderworker of Kiev Near Caves Monastery St Silvanos, Hieromartyr of Gaza
Resurrection Apolytikion -
TONE 2
Ote katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote When

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!
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!

Resurrection Gospel 8 : John 20 : 11 18

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Speaks to St Mary Magdalene
Prokeimenon
Let Thy Mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on Thee. Rejoice in the Lord, O All Righteous people!
The Epistle of St Paul to St Titos 3 : 8 15
Remaining True to the Faith
To Titos a True Son in our Common Faith: It is a Faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain Good Works. These things are good and profitable to mankind. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings concerning the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychikos, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Send Zenas the Lawyer and Apollos on their Journey with haste, so that they may lack nothing. And let our people also learn to maintain Good Works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who Love us in the Faith. Grace be with you. Amen St Paul was painfully aware that WE ARE ALL AWAITING THE THE DIVINE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS US TRUE CONSUMMATION OF THE AGE TO COME ETERNITY and LIBERTY because God frees us from the shackles of sin and Death so that we are able to behold God and to he knew that WE ALREADY PARTICIPATE IN THE enjoy open and constant access to Him. ESCHATOLOGICAL COMMUNITY i.e. those of us who are HAVING BEEN CREATED IN GODS DIVINE IMAGE, WE ARE ABLE concerned with our immortal soul in its relation to TO SEE GODS UNCREATED IMAGE HIS WORD AND ONLY Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING BEGOTTEN SON OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Who is the Glory of the Lord in two aspects: OF OUR PROGRESSIVE LIFE OF RENEWAL IN CHRIST. 2 CORINTHIANS 3 : 16 18 : ... when one turns to the Lord, Through Christs Deified Humanity the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is Spirit; and In the Power of the Holy Spirit where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. But AS WE BEHOLD GOD INCARNATE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror AND AS WE GROW CLOSER TO HIM THROUGH OUR the Glory of the Lord are being Transformed into SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES, WE SLOWLY BECOME WHAT HE the same Image from glory to Glory just as by the CREATED US TO BE we regain our lost Divine Likeness. Spirit of the Lord. GOD IS INFINITE SO GROWING IN HIS DIVINE IMAGE AND ST PAUL TRANSFORMED THE OLD COVENANT UNDERSTANDING GLORY HAS NO RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS EITHER! OF ONE GOD, THE LORD, INTO OUR LORD JESUS NEW IN ETERNITY WE SHALL SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY, AND WE COVENANT REVELATION OF ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS: SHALL BE FOR EVERMORE TRANSFORMED INTO HIS DIVINE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT EACH OF WHOM IS LIKENESS. LORD. No creature no Angel nor any human being can ever So when we turn to the Lord our God, we turn not just to become Divine because GOD ALONE IS ETERNALLY God the Father, but also to God the Son and God the DIVINE. Holy Spirit. We can just like our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos and St John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ achieve a
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very high Spiritual Purity Holy Sainthood, Theosis or Deification through Absolute Humility and Obedience to God in all things. A divisive person is one who picks or chooses from the whole, Pure Truth.
A Sect is a group of people who follow their own choices, ideas and beliefs utterly independent of any Holy or Sacred Tradition. Incomplete or erroneous beliefs result in immoral and ungodly, unrighteous behaviour.

The Sower and the Seed
At that time our Lord Jesus Christ said: A Sower went out to sow His Seed. And as He sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. When He had said these things, He exclaimed: He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Then His Disciples asked Him: What does this Parable mean? And He said: To you it has been granted to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in Parables, so that Seeing, they may not see; and hearing, they may not understand. Now the Parable means this: the Seed is the Word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be Saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with Joy; but these have no root, for they believe for a while and in times of temptation, they fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches and pleasures of life, and bring no Fruit to maturity. But the Seed that fell on good ground are those who having heard the Word with a noble and good heart keep it and bear Fruit with Patience. THE HOLY MYSTERIES ARE THE VERY PRESENCE OF THE AS THE SOWER IN THIS PARABLE, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILS THE DIVINE PROPHECY RECORDED IN THE OLD KINGDOM OF GOD, WHICH CANNOT BE DEFINED. Ones unwillingness to understand Christs Parables is COVENANT BOOK OF ISAIAH: due to a rejection of His Eternal Kingdom. I S A I A H 5 5 : 1 0 1 3 : ... as rain comes down, or S T J O H N C H R Y S O S T O M commented: If the blindness snow from Heaven, and does not return were natural, it would have been proper for God to until it saturates the earth, and brings forth open their eyes; but because it was a voluntary and produces, and gives seed to the Sower, and self-chosen blindness, He does not and bread for food, so shall My Word be, overthrow their free will... for doing so would whatever proceeds from My Mouth. It shall have been not only to ... no advantage for them, not return until it accomplishes whatever I but an even greater Condemnation... Willed, and I shall prosper your ways and UNLESS WE AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO My Commandments... and the Lord shall be LEARN ALL THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL for a Name and for an Everlasting Sign, and FAITH AND PUT THEM INTO PRACTISE, WE TOO, SHALL He shall not fail. MY WORD IS THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS FALL AWAY FROM GODS TRUTH and become ensnared in the evil ones deadly traps. CHRIST, WHICH ACCOMPLISHES GODS DIVINE WILL. If all we had to do was to declare our belief in our Lord Although there are times when the Preaching of the Holy Jesus Christ in order to receive Eternal Life, THERE Gospel seems to bear no Fruit, GOD IS ALWAYS AT WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE HOLY CHURCH WITH ALL WORK whether or not we see visible Results. ITS DIVINE MYSTERIES AND DIVINELY INSPIRED, TRUE While some people might believe that one is permanently Saved at the very moment one TEACHINGS AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES professes Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ a UP OUR LIFE IN CHRIST WHILE ON EARTH. dangerous and erroneous belief that is rejected by We could then all simply Repose for there would be no Orthodox Teaching CHRIST HIMSELF IS VERY CLEAR further purpose for our unique lifespans, which God grants each of us, knowing how much time we will ON THIS SUBJECT for, as He teaches by means of need to achieve our best Spiritual Condition. this significant Parable, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ONE TO IF IT WAS AS EASY AS THAT, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT OUR BELIEVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN FALL AWAY DUE TO LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD HAVE OFFERED HIMSELF AS VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT OUR ULTIMATE BLOOD SACRIFICE OR THAT ALL THE TO GOD. SAINTS AND HOLY MARTYRS WOULD HAVE SUFFERED OUR SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR ETERNAL LIFE IN THE UNNECESSARILY?? HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE ACHIEVED If it was as easy as that, OUR LORD JESUS WOULD NOT WITHOUT A DETERMINED AND CONSTANT STRUGGLE HAVE SPENT THE THREE YEARS OF HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY both physically and spiritually. TRYING TO TEACH US EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR WE ARE IN A PERMANENT STATE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE against the evil one and his demons who never ETERNAL LIFE even returning to us in His cease their efforts against us to lead us astray and Resurrected State to show us and to confirm His to destroy our Relationships with God and each Truth - and to give us His Final Commandments other. that benefit and develop our Immortal Soul. THE HOLY MYSTERIES ARE NOT OBSCURE INTELLECTUAL CONCEPTS OF MANKIND.
The Sower & the Seed

In this Holy Parable of our Lord and Saviour, He created four human typologies: 1. The first type represents THE CARELESS PERSON. The mystical author and Philosopher, Sir Kierkegaard, called this type of person the wing man, or the taster, for they flit from flower to flower, seeking the Joy of earthly life but ending their existence with broken wings and being trapped in the dust. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO REJECT GODS WORD AND WHO
ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE DRAGGED INTO ALL SORTS OF IDEOLOGICAL, GNOSTIC OR PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS. THEY HAVE NO SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION OR STABILITY and
this world buried under the rubble of a collapsed wall on which is written all the false ideas of the present and the past. LET US BE ATTENTIVE AND CONSIDER WHETHER WE ARE LIKE THE EARTH UPON WHICH THE SEED FALLS YET PRODUCES NO FRUIT. 2. The second category is represented by those who hear the Word of God, who receive it with Joy, yet AT THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF DIFFICULTY, ADVERSITY OR TROUBLE, THEY ABANDON THEIR EFFORTS. It takes one small mishap or disaster to occur or perhaps a greater or lesser degree of discrimination
they become buried under all the wrong teachings of
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or persecution, which is often very subtle and insidious for them to GIVE UP THE STRUGGLE. Contemporary discrimination and persecution might even possibly be, in many aspects, worse than the blatant dangers of Communism, for then we all knew who was committing wickedness and who was doing Good Deeds. NOW IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN
GOOD AND EVIL BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS ITS GREY AREAS THAT ARE NOT VERY CLEARLY DEFINED.
HAVE INDULGED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, HAVE BECOME STRONGER THAN OUR OWN FREE WILL AND THEY ENSLAVE AND DOMINATE US. THIS IS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY EITHER NON-REPENTANCE OR IF OUR REPENTANCE-CONFESSION IS INSINCERE AND IS NOT WELL-INTENTIONED.
We identify with those who hear the Word of God, who receive it and who are Joyful until they are struck down by tribulation - like the burning heat of the sun, which dries out the soil of their soul, and causes the Divine Seed to perish. During the religious persecution of the Communist era, those who were patriots had separated easily from the traitors. Some had failed, some had compromised or committed evil deeds, while others had suffered, and if they had not been arrested, they silently resisted underground constantly praising Almighty God for helping them in such troubled times. I often wondered HOW MANY PEOPLE REFUSED TO COMPROMISE THEIR FAITH and I was deeply moved to see how the Faithful Orthodox Christians raised their arms to God, exclaiming aloud: Lord, have Mercy! while I read the Prayers for Forgiveness and mentioned every name so that our Lord God might hear their Prayers and send them His Great Mercy. I was impressed by such profound, unwavering Faith, the like of which I have never seen in the West SUCH
SPONTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SOUL CRYING OUT TO GOD. I was even more troubled when I saw that MANY PEOPLE HAD A DUAL PERSONALITY: in Church they
When our Repentance-Confession is merely a moment in the Presence of God - WITHOUT US IMMERSING OR INVOLVING OUR HEART AND SOUL IN THE HOLY MYSTERY WE DO NOT FULLY OR WORTHILY ACCEPT THE HEALING SOURCE FOR OUR AILING SOUL because - although we may have opened ourselves a little for a moment WE QUICKLY FORGET EVERYTHING AND RETURN TO OUR SINFUL HABITS. OUR UNREPENTED PASSIONS FLARE UP WITHIN US, STRONGER THAN THE CALL TO CHRIST AND THE VIRTUES THAT GOD SOWS WITHIN OUR HEART AND SOUL. Consequently, we do not bring forth any Fruit and WITHOUT FRUIT WE ARE DESTINED FOR ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. Let us contemplate in what Spiritual State we are and LET US MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RECTIFY IT HERE AND NOW! The fourth category of people are THOSE WHO CERTAINLY HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND WHO CEASELESSLY MAKE EVERY EFFORT IN THEIR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES BY SERVING THE LORD OUR GOD WITH JOY.
4.
Yet
behaved as Faithful Christians, lighting candles, making the Sign of the Cross, and attending part of or even the entire Holy Service. BUT AFTER THEY DEPARTED FROM CHURCH, THEY BECAME LIKE BEASTS: brother rose against brother, fighting for a piece of land or certain possessions... They deceived and hurt each other in many ways. SUCH PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE A DUAL OR SPLIT SPIRIT. In Communism, that kind of duality was very different. Many people listened to the Voice of Europe, and went to Church, but in public they would declare that they did not believe and praised Ceausescu [PRESIDENT and other powerful Communist Party OF SERBIA] members. Such behaviour was perpetuated for a very long time. However, A NEW FORM OF DUALITY HAS DEVELOPED, WHICH IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN BEFORE, BECAUSE PEOPLE NO LONGER FEAR GOD OR THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR. Now, under the pressure of modernity, or under the influence of many erroneous theories or simply because it is convenient, PEOPLE DARE TO DENY GOD AND AS A RESULT THEY PRODUCE NO ETERNAL SPIRITUAL FRUIT AT ALL. LET US VERY CAREFULLY AND HONESTLY REFLECT WHETHER OR NOT WE FALL INTO THIS TRAGIC CATEGORY or whether we did so long ago. 3. A third category of people are THOSE WHO ARE DOMINATED BY THEIR PASSIONS: fornication, drunkenness, greed, etc all those passions that choke our heart and soul with sinful, noxious weeds, thorns and brambles. And even if the Word of God touches us even if we turn back to Him with Love OUR PASSIONS, WHICH WE Anyone who looks at our contemporary life from the perspective of the normal life lived by people in earlier times such as Russia, America or any West European country in the 19th century cannot help but be struck by the fact of HOW ABNORMAL LIFE HAS BECOME TODAY. THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF AUTHORITY AND OBEDIENCE, OF DECENCY AND POLITENESS, HAVE BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN except in a few isolated groups of people
Such Faithful Disciples of Christ nurture their Spiritual Soil, so as TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE WORD OF GOD. THEY ATTEND ALL HOLY SERVICES AND PARTAKE REGULARLY IN ALL THE NECESSARY HOLY MYSTERIES REPENTING, CONFESSING AND COMMUNING WHILE ENDEAVOURING ALWAYS TO DO GOOd to those around them, and becoming True Lights in the sin-darkened world. SOME PEOPLE MAY STRUGGLE LESS THAN OTHERS FOR GOD HAS GRANTED EVERYONE SPECIFIC TALENTS: to some He has bestowed only one Talent, while on others He has bestowed more. EVERYONE HAS RECEIVED SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM GOD and EACH OF US MUST BRING FORTH FOR GOD A GIFT THAT IS AT THE VERY LEAST - EQUAL TO THE DIVINE GIFTS WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM HIM. No matter how much or how little God has bestowed upon us, we must NURTURE IT AND INCREASE IT for those who bear Fruit in this manner, have truly heard the Word of God and are indeed Fruitful. Finally: our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us: He who has ears to hear let him hear! We must look around us and within ourselves, and SINCERELY SEE WHAT AND WHERE WE ARE. If we have good intentions and we do not deceive ourselves or others, we acknowledge exactly where we stand. Then truly and joyfully, as our Saviour has said, we will be among those who have properly heard and understood His Divine Truth! And, STRIVING IN ALL ASPECTS TO ACHIEVE THE HOLY VIRTUES OF WHICH OUR LORD HAS TAUGHT US, WE WILL BEGIN TO SERVE GOD WHOLE-HEARTEDLY AND COMPLETELY and thus motivated, we will bring forth Sacred, Eternal Fruit and even though it may seem small, we will constantly and faithfully make every effort for it!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: TO SERVE CHRIST MEANS SUFFERING BY FATHER GEORGE CALCIU HTTP://ORTHODOXWORD.WORDPRESS.COM/2010/10/20/THE-PARABLE-OF-THESOWER-AND-THE-FOUR-HUMAN-TYPOLOGIES-BY-FR-GEORGE-CALCIU/
Father Seraphim Rose - Living the Orthodox World View Part 2

usually Christians who try to preserve the so-called old fashioned way of life. OUR ABNORMAL LIFE TODAY CAN BE CHARACTERISED AS SPOILED AND PAMPERED. From infancy, todays children are treated, in general, like little princes or princesses by the family: every whim, every demand, every desire is fulfilled.
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Children are surrounded by a vast variety of toys, amusements and indulgent comforts. THEY ARE NEITHER TRAINED NOR DISCIPLINED - NOR ARE THEY TAUGHT ANY CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES OR VIRTUES BEING
LEFT TO DEVELOP WHICHEVER DESIRES DRIVE THEM. WAY THEIR SELFISH
When they demand or refuse anything - I want...! Give me...! or I wont..! THEIR EVER OBLIGING PARENTS IGNORE THE RUDE, DEMANDING BEHAVIOUR AND OBEY THE WILL OF THEIR CHILDREN ENABLING AND INCREASING SELF-INDULGENCE AND THEIR SELF-GRATIFICATION, SELFISH ARROGANCE. Perhaps this does not happen all the time in every family, but IT HAPPENS OFTEN ENOUGH TO BE THE RULE OF CONTEMPORARY CHILD-REARING, and even the bestintentioned parents do not entirely escape its influence. Even if parents try to raise their children strictly, their neighbours are doing something else, so they take that into consideration when disciplining their children. WHEN SUCH SPOILT CHILDREN BECOME ADULTS, THEY
NATURALLY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH THE SAME KIND OF THINGS THAT THEY WERE USED TO IN THEIR CHILDHOOD: self-indulgent comforts, amusements,
brain-washing and mind-control, of deified gurus and swamis, of a pursuit of UFOs and extra-terrestrial beings, of abnormal spiritual states and emotions. We will not go into all these manifestation, which are probably familiar enough to most of us, except to discuss later how these touch on the Orthodox Christian Life. It is important for us to realise, as we try to lead a Christian Life, that THE WORLD THAT HAS BEEN FORMED BY OUR PAMPERED TIMES, MAKES DEMANDS ON OUR SOUL whether in religion or in secular life, which are totalitarian. This is easy enough to see in the mind-bending cults that have received so much publicity in recent years, and which demand total allegiance to a self-made holy man. But it is just as evident in secular life, where WE ARE
CONFRONTED NOT JUST BY AN INDIVIDUAL TEMPTATION HERE OR THERE, BUT BY A CONSTANT STATE OF TEMPTATION THAT ATTACKS US - in the background
and adult toys. LIFE BECOMES A CONSTANT QUEST FOR FUN, which, by the way, is a word totally unheard of in any other vocabulary and certainly in 19th century Russia people would not have understood at all what that word meant, nor would any other ethnic groups! LIFE IS A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR FUN, WHICH IS SO EMPTY OF ANY SERIOUS MEANING especially popular television programmes, amusement parks and arcades, advertisements, movies, music... almost every aspect of our popular culture. WE ARE FAST BECOMING A RACE OF MINDLESS HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE LOSING ALL CONTACT WITH NORMAL, HEALTHY REALITY. However, WE SELDOM THINK ABOUT OUR CONTEMPORARY HUMAN CONDITION simply because we are living in such an undisciplined, self-gratifying and indulgent society, which we merely take for granted. Certain observers of contemporary society regard the young people of today as being the ME GENERATION and this era being THE AGE OF NARCISSISM, characterised by A WORSHIP OF AND FASCINATION WITH
ONESELF THAT PREVENTS NORMAL LIFE FROM DEVELOPING PROPERLY. Others speak of THE PLASTIC UNIVERSE OR FANTASY WORLD in which so many people exist today UNABLE TO FACE OR TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE REALITY OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM OR THE PROBLEMS WITHIN THEMSELVES. WHEN THE ME GENERATION TURNS TO RELIGION which
music heard everywhere, in the public advertisements and billboards, in the rock music, and IN THE HOME ITSELF WHERE TELEVISION - AND/OR THE INTERNET - IS THE SECRET RULER OF THE HOUSEHOLD, DICTATING MODERN VALUES, OPINION, AND TASTES. YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED AND IMMATURE PEOPLE EVEN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE SUBTLY BUT PROFOUNDLY
AFFECTED AND SUBJECTIVE TO EVERYTHING THEY EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET. THE CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF THESE UNIVERSAL TEMPTATIONS THAT ATTACK US ALL THESE DAYS IS QUITE EVIDENT IN ITS SECULAR FORM, BUT IS USUALLY MORE HIDDEN IN ITS RELIGIOUS FORMS is ... live for now...
has been happening very frequently in the past several decades IS IT USUALLY TO A PLASTIC OR FANTASY FORM OF RELIGION a religion of self-development where THE SELF REMAINS THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP, of Some Monks went to see Abba Lucios and they said to him: We do not work with our hands; we obey St Pauls Commandment and pray without ceasing. The Old Man said: Do you not eat or sleep? They said: Yes, we do. He said: Who prays for you while you are asleep? Forgive me, Brothers, but you do not practice what you claim. I will show you how I pray without ceasing, although I work with my hands. With Gods Help, I collect a few palm leaves and sit down and weave them, saying: Have mercy on me, O God, after Thy Great Goodness. According to the
enjoy yourself... relax... be comfortable... do whatever you want... BEHIND SUCH SELF-INDULGENT MESSAGES ARE OTHER, MORE SINISTER UNDERTONES, which were openly expressed in atheist countries that were ahead of the free world in this respect. In our world today THERE ARE EVEN MORE MENACING VARIETIES OF TEMPTATIONS THAT ATTACK OUR SOUL: ... forget about God and any other life but the present... abandon the Fear of God and reverence for Holy Things... those who believe in God are old fashioned... there is no God... ANY OF THE HUGE, POPULAR AMUSEMENT PARKS, ARCADES OR CASINOS ARE SYMBOLIC OF OUR NEVER ENDING PURSUIT OF CAREFREE, FUN-LOVING, SELF-WORSHIPPING ENTERTAINMENT AND DISTRACTIONS - and we should realise that behind their glittery facades and bright lights, there lurk other things that are considerable more ominous that point in the direction towards which the Me Generation is really heading: the Spiritual Gulag the terrible Concentration-Death Camps that already imprison so much of the worlds population!!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/7361.HTM
The Eternal, Inspired Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers

multitude of Thy Mercies do away with my offences. Is this Prayer or not? the Elder asked them. Yes, it is, they replied. Then he continued: When I have worked and prayed in my heart all day, I make about sixteen pence. Two of these I put outside my door and with the rest I buy food. And he who finds the two coins outside the door prays for me while I eat and sleep. And so, by the Grace of God, I pray without ceasing.
HTTP://WWW.COPTIC.NET/ARTICLES/PARADISEOFDESERTFATHERS.TXT
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All Glo ry, Honour and Wo rship to th e Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and foreve r, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glori ous 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.
2 0 t h S u n d a y Af t e r P e n t e c o s t
Tone 3
21 October 2012
6th Sunday of St Luke The Gadarene Demoniac

Feast of St Hilarion the Great of Palestine St Christodoulos of Patmos St Theodotis & St Socrates St Hilarion of Meglin, Bulgaria, Translation of Holy Relics St Hilarion the Schemamonk of Kiev Caves Monastery St Hilarion the Abbot of Gdov & Pskov Lake - St Theophilos & St James, Ascetics of Omutch, Pskov St Dasios, St Gaios & St Zotikos of Nicomedia St Philotheos of Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos - St Bessarion Sarai the Confessor of Romania St Sophronios the Confessor of Ciorara, Romania St Oprea of Salistie, Romania St Hilarion of Kiev St Moses & St John, Hieromartyrs of Bucharest
Resurrection Apolytikion - TONE 3
Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for the
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.
Festal Apolytikion St Hilarion the Great of Palestine
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.
TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Tes
ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to Agonon Egeorgisas, ke tis ek vathou stenagmis, is ekaton tous ponous ekarpoforisas. Ke gegonas Fostir, ti Ikoumeni Lampon tis Thavmasin, HILARINOS Patir imon Osie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon.
With
rivers of Thy tears Thou made the desert bloom; and with Thy sighs from deep within; Thou made Thy Labours bear Fruits a hundredfold; and Thou became a Star, illuminating the world by Thy Miracles, O HILARION our devout Father: Intercede with Christ our God for the Salvation of our souls.

Resurrection Gospel 9 John 20 : 19 31

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Bestows His Authority to Forgive upon His Holy Apostles
Prokeimenon
The Lord is my Strength and my Glory! The Lord has punished me severely but he has not delivered me to Death!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 1 : 11 19
St Pauls Divine Calling to Gods Service
Brethren: I make known to you that the Gospel that is preached by me is not according to mankind, for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy It. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being exceedingly more zealous for the Traditions of my Fathers. Yet, when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mothers womb, and Called me through His Grace, to reveal His Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except James, the Lords Brother. THE TRUE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT BY HIS TRUE TRUE APOSTLES ALWAYS BRING GLORY, HONOUR AND APOSTLES and although many have declared WORSHIP EXCLUSIVELY TO ALMIGHTY GOD never to themselves to His Apostles, we can differentiate His themselves! True Apostles from those who are false: TRUE APOSTLES FORM ONE HOLY CHURCH GOVERNMENT TRUE APOSTLES ARE CALLED BY GOD. holding the exact same Doctrine and Working by agreement reached in the Holy Church Councils. TRUE APOSTLES LEARN THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST BY TRUE APOSTLES ALWAYS STAND FIRM IN MATTERS OF DIVINE REVELATION either directly from our Lord CONSCIENCE yet are correctable when mistaken Jesus Christ as did His original Apostles, or from Him after His Resurrection, as did St Paul, or by similar to when St Paul rebuked St Peter for his means of the Revelation of the True and Faithful hypocritical ethnic elitism. (GALATIANS 2 : 11 14) Apostolic Tradition THROUGH THE INSPIRATION AND APOSTOLIC TRADITION IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE DIVINE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Who taught His Holy Apostles and Disciples directly and TRUE APOSTLES ARE CALLED TO HOLY SERVICE BY DIVINE personally. And these Holy Men and Women GRACE not according to their works, abilities or CAREFULLY PRESERVED HIS TEACHINGS AND proper credential or backgrounds. COMMANDMENTS AND PASSED THEM DOWN TO THE
(SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR DONATIONS)
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FOLLOWING CORRECT.
GENERATIONS
UNALTERED
AND
As with St Paul, GODS INTENTIONS AND PURPOSE FOR US MAY

LIE HIDDEN FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE WE RECEIVE OUR CALLING, WHICH WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES COMPLETELY for
Just as Christs Twelve Apostles were Called by our Lord Jesus Himself, so was ST PAUL who WAS CALLED AND TAUGHT BY OUR RESURRECTED LORD JESUS. Just as His Twelve Apostles RECEIVED HIS HOLY GOSPEL DIRECTLY FROM OUR LORD, so did St Paul. (ACTS 9: 3 6 & 26:
13 18)
Just as the Twelve Apostles STOOD TOGETHER AS ONE HOLY CHURCH, so too did St Paul enter their UNITY IN CONSENSUS AND MUTUAL SUBMISSION. PEOPLE ARE CALLED BY GOD not according to their former conduct, good or bad, but BY HIS DIVINE GRACE. ST PAUL, whom God Called in His Great Mercy, RECEIVED DIVINE GRACE THROUGH ST ANANIAS AND THE SANCTIFIED WATER OF HOLY BAPTISM. (ACTS 9: 10 19) St Pauls expression ... separated me from my mothers womb... was not a reference to his physical birth but rather to GODS CALLING HIM TO APOSTOLIC MINISTRY EVEN BEFORE HE WAS BORN. (PSALM 138:15-16 ISAIAH 49:1 JEREMIAH 1:5 LUKE 1:35, 43-44 & 48)
the better but only if we heed the Call and humbly obey our Lord by fulfilling whatever is required of us for His Glory, Honour and Worship. As a True Apostle of Christ, ST PAUL SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE HOLY CHURCH AND HER APOSTLES rather than elevating himself. St Paul knew that his Encounter with Christ, his Divine Instruction in His Holy Gospel and His Call to Apostleship were highly unusual, yet he knew HE TAUGHT, BY DIVINE GRACE, THE EXACT SAME HOLY GOSPEL AS THE OTHER HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST. IN ANY PRIVATE REVELATION AND CALLING, THE ONLY OTHER WITNESS IS GOD HIMSELF, AND THE TRUTH OF OUR CALLING IS EVIDENT FROM THE MANNER WE LABOUR in Gods Spiritual Vineyard, striving to plant good and fertile Seeds of Divine Truth for a rich and abundant Spiritual Harvest.

The Gadarene Demoniac
At that time, when our Lord Jesus stepped out on the land, a certain man from the city, who had demons for a long time, met Him. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. And when he saw Jesus he cried out, fell down before Him and with a loud voice said: What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg Thee do not torment me! For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man because it had often seized him and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying: What is your name? And he replied: Legion, because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him not to command them to go out into the Abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him to permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine - and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and went and told those who lived in the city and the country. And they went out to see what had happened, and went to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the Feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those also who had witnessed it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was Healed and the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed had begged Jesus to allow him to remain with Him, but He sent him away, saying: Return to your own house, and tell what Great Things God has done for you. And the man went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what Great Things Jesus had done for him. The Gadarene or Gergesene Demoniac is the same the steep incline, fell over the high cliffs and were person - the region was known by slightly differently either dashed to death on the rocks below or drowned names by St Matthew, a Palestinian, and St Luke, a a most dramatic and terrifying sight to all witnesses. Syrian. This shows us how the poor demon-possessed man had THE DEMONS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNISE OUR LORD JESUS AS been protected by God - because GOD ALWAYS THE SON OF GOD because EVEN SATAN AND HIS EVIL PROTECTS US HUMAN BEINGS AGAINST THE DESTRUCTIVE SERVANTS KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALMIGHTY GOD, Who FORCES OF EVIL. in His Great Mercy has allowed them to continue their The obliteration of the huge herds of swine reinforced the wicked, destructive TEMPTATIONS of mankind, which unlawfulness of Hebrews who owned those forbidden ONLY MAKE US SPIRITUALLY STRONGER AND DRAW US animals and clearly demonstrates THE CLOSER TO GOD, ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSITY. INCOMPARABLE VALUE OF HUMAN BEINGS, WHOSE ETERNAL SALVATION IS WORTH EVERY SACRIFICE. THE EVIL ONES MAY TEMPT US GREATLY and drag us into the Although some may believe that the presence of the herds lowest pits of degradation and sin, BUT THEY HAVE NO of swine indicated a Gentile population in that region, POWER TO ACTUALLY KILL US, for ONLY GOD MAY PERMIT it is unlikely since OUR LORD FORBADE HIS DISCIPLES OUR FALLING INTO A STATE OF DEATH WHETHER AND APOSTLES TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE GENTILES (the PHYSICAL DEATH OR SPIRITUAL DEATH. pagan non-Hebrews) and HE HIMSELF WAS RELUCTANT DEMONS KNOW THEY HAVE A LIMITED TIME AMONGST US, but TO HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY AT THAT when God Wills, THEY WILL BE EXILED TO THE GREAT, STAGE OF HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, which was initially the DARK AND TERRIFYING ABYSS TOTAL EXILE FROM GOD renewal of the Faith of the Hebrew nation restoring AND ALL HIS GOODNESS. and gathering the Lost Sheep of God. As soon as they saw our Lord Jesus Christ, they thought it Many Gentiles lived in the region and the mixed was THE EIGHTH DAY THE DAY OF FINAL JUDGEMENT population was not considered a genuine Hebrew AND THE BEGINNING OF ETERNITY. region, even through many had converted to Judaism THEY ONLY HAVE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE like us and they were during the Maccabean period. shocked and horrified to see Him, but as soon as they Many of the local Hebrews had been influenced by the realised they still had time to do their dirty deeds Hellenic culture and its pagan customs so they were among mankind, they besought Him to enter the generally regarded as second-class citizens by the forbidden herds of swine. Judean Hebrews. Although their malice and destruction can be devastating, In conclusion: the annihilation of the entire herd of swine DEMONS CAN DO NOTHING AT ALL AGAINST THE DIVINE revealed several important aspects: WILL OF GOD, which is evident from the fact that THEY 1. While animals are a venerable part of Creation, HAD TO BEG CHRISTS PERMISSION TO ENTER THE POOR MANKIND IS OF FAR GREATER VALUE ANIMALS. THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCE WAS COMPLETE DESTRUCTION of the wretched, crazed herds that stampeded down
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CHRIST REMOVES A SOURCE OF SIN such as the swine herding that was an abomination to the Hebrews. (DEUTERONOMY 14:8) 3. DEMONS HAVE NO POWER OVER CREATION, but like all Creation, are subject to the Divine Will of Almighty God. 4. PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND GREAT MERCY OF GOd otherwise the demon-possessed man would have been killed like the swine. 5. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ECONOMIC LOSS TO THE LOCAL GADARENES WOULD REMAIN AS A SIGN AND DIVINE ADMONITION for the hard-hearted and
Spiritually Stubborn people who fled that region, having witnessed the terrifying Event. GOD NEVER FORCES HIMSELF ON ANYONE and since the terrified Gadarenes asked Him to leave them alone, without delay our Lord Jesus Christ returned to Capernaum from whence He had come.
GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH US BUT IF WE KEEP ON REJECTING HIM OR IGNORING HIM, HE WILL SOON DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM US UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE THE UNBEARABLE DESOLATION THAT WE SUFFER WITHOUT GODS GRACE! GOD NEVER DESERTS US yet WE ABANDON AND REJECT HIM WITH EACH SIN WE COMMIT! OUTSIDE OUR HOMES...
The Healing of the Gadarene Demoniac

In todays Sacred Lesson concerning the Gadarene Demoniac, WE ARE OFTEN DISTRACTED BY CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT ARE SO UNLIKE OUR NORMAL, EVERYDAY CIRCUMSTANCES. We are presented with a wild, violent and frightening account of the kind of demonic possession that Hollywood likes to depict. It involved a wretched, naked man, who hid himself in a graveyard amongst the tombs - terrifying the local population because not even shackles and chains could control him. Then our wonderful Saviour the greatest of all Heroes arrived and set him free by exorcising the demons that possessed his body and soul. Meanwhile, the legion of demons, being permitted by our Lord, took possession of the herds of grazing swine forbidden herds for the Hebrews which instantly caused a frantic, terrified stampede over the high cliffs, onto the rocks and into the sea below! However, let us contemplate the basic but common element of this significant Event THE ELEMENT OF FEAR. Of all the different aspects from which to choose, most of us relate to that of fear. EVERYONE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
WAS AFRAID OF THINGS BEYOND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OR CONTROL.
the list of fears is endless and
ever increasing. SLOWLY BUT SURELY, WE ALL BECOME PARANOID THROUGH OUR PERSONAL FEARS WHETHER REAL OR IMAGINED IF WE ALLOW THEM TO OVERWHELM OR DOMINATE US. WE EVEN FEAR THE TRUTH AND HONESTY. Consequently, we try to escape from or protect ourselves from things that frighten us. We live in gated communities; we take too many drugs legal and/or illegal - we eat and drink too much, especially junk food and alcohol; we mindlessly watch television or play games, or indulge in all kinds of entertainment anything that will distract us and take our minds off our constant fears. As Frank Herbert expressed it in his book, Dune, ... fear is the mind-killer! ULTIMATELY, ALL THESE LITTLE FEARS ARISE FROM OUR ONE BIG FEAR THE FEAR OF DEATH! It is curious that the HOLY GOSPEL CALLS US TO DO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT to what we are used to doing with fear: WE ARE INVITED not to run away from fear but TO CONFRONT IT, just as our Lord Jesus Christ confronted the Gadarene Demoniac and later, His Great and Holy Passion, where He came Face to face with Death itself. Of course our Lord, in His human Nature, must have been afraid! This is quite evident when we read about his agonised Prayers to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane! COURAGEOUS PEOPLE ARE NOT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED FEAR. THEY ARE THOSE WHO KNOW IT
INTIMATELY YET HAVE NOT ALLOWED IT TO DOMINATE OR TO DEFEAT THEM. are invited to MEET OUR FEAR HEAD ON WITH FAITH AND HOPE IN ALMIGHTY GOD WHO NEVER FORSAKES US!
THE WRETCHED DEMONIAC WAS CONSUMED AND GOVERNED BY

HIS OWN TERROR WHILE THE LOCAL POPULATION WERE FRIGHTENED BEYOND MEASURE BY SUCH AGGRESSIVE, UNCONTROLLABLE BEHAVIOUR. Even after the Demoniac had been healed and restored to good health able once again to interact in society as a normal human being THE GADARENES REMAINED FEARFUL AND DISTRUSTFUL. FEAR HAD DRIVEN THE DEMONIAC TO ISOLATE HIMSELF IN A PLACE THAT CONSISTENTLY INVOKES SUPERSTITIOUS FEAR in so many people who do not realise that A CEMETERY IS A PLACE OF REST a peaceful, quiet place where
We
our beloved family and friends repose sleep - until the General Resurrection! THE LEGION OF DEMONS who had taken control of the Gadarene mans entire body and mind, had USED HIM
TO TERRORISE THE PEOPLE AND TO INCREASE AND DEEPEN THEIR SUPERSTITIONS AND INHERENT, YET IRRATIONAL PHOBIAS.
The atmosphere of terror was a focus of life in Gadara and EVERYONE KNEW AND NO DOUBT, EMBELLISHED ALL THE HORROR STORIES concerning the Demoniac. Parents probably used such stories to scare their children into obedience since fear is a powerful incentive and motivator. FEAR IS SOMETHING WITH WHICH WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR TO A GREATER OR LESSER DEGREE. Since 11 September 2001 - the mind-numbing devastation of the Twin Towers of New York - most USA citizens have lived in fear of more terrorist atrocities being committed in their formerly perceived safe country. Their national discourse seems to revolve almost entirely around fear. What a terrible way to live! Throughout the world, WE ALL FEAR SOMETHING : POVERTY, STARVATION, CANCER AND ALL OTHER DEBILITATING ILLNESSES, CRIMINAL ACTS, VIOLENCE INSIDE AND
When we stand our ground and confront our fears just as all the Holy Martyrs have done not only will we discover that the monsters we so feared are no longer so terrifying, but at the same time, OUR LORD GOD GRANTS US COURAGE AND POWER TO DEAL WITH SUCH TERRIFYING CIRCUMSTANCES. ST ANTHONY was like the Gadarene Demoniac, except with an important difference: he VOLUNTARILY WENT TO LIVE IN THE TOMBS, BUT HE DID SO not because he was driven there by fear but IN ORDER TO TACKLE HIS FEARS AND TO TRIUMPH OVER THEM. Many of the accounts of the battle of St Anthony against the demons in the guise of animals and other frightening things may actually have occurred, or, as some people believe, were symbolic of the Spiritual Battles he fought against his own fears rather than against supernatural creatures. Whatever the case, ST ANTHONY DID NOT WIN HIS STRUGGLES BY RUNNING AWAY from or avoiding the tombs HE WON
HIS BATTLES BY REMAINING THERE SO THAT HE COULD CEASELESSLY PRAY AND MEDITATE, FAST AND REPENT. other words, ST ANTHONY CONFRONTED EVERY FEAR WITH COURAGE AND WITH FAITH IN GOD WHO PROMISES US THAT HE IS ALWAYS WITH US or at the very least,
In
especially when we are in a state of Spiritual Death, in close proximity to us. After having endured a particularly harrowing Spiritual Battle, St Anthony called out to God: O Lord, where were Thou? A bright, Uncreated Light illuminated the
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dark tomb and a Voice replied: I was here all the time! This is an Example that we should always keep in mind especially when we are threatened physically or spiritually by someone or something evil. WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH FEARS THAT NEED TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND DEALT WITH SINS THAT NEED REPENTANCE, CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION. However, NONE OF THESE IS POSSIBLE UNLESS WE CONFRONT THEM, EXPOSE THEM AND DEAL WITH THEM BECAUSE IF WE
TRY TO IGNORE THEM BY PRETENDING THAT THEY DO NOT EXIST OR TRY TO HIDE FROM THEM, THEY WILL SOONER OR LATER OVERWHELM AND DEFEAT US.
Instead of trying to avoid facing our fears and problems,

WE NEED TO STOP RUNNING AND TO CLOSELY EXAMINE EVERYTHING THAT TROUBLES US. We need to LET GO OF OUR FEAR AND TO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFRONT AND RESOLVE OUR ISSUES WHEN THEY ARISE. ALL GOD ASKS OF US IS TO BE HONEST AND SINCERE
THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF JUDGEMENT OR CONSEQUENCE. Unfortunately, however, FEAR OF REALITY ALL TOO OFTEN MOTIVATES MOST OF US - EVEN THE CLERGY - TO RUN AWAY WHEN FACED WITH THE AILING OR BROKEN CONDITION OF OTHERS THAT REMIND US OF OUR OWN SINS, HABITUAL WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS. Nevertheless, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INVITES US TO ABANDON ALL OUR FEARS AND COME TO HIM AS WE ARE as He knows us to be, for He is All Seeing. The Lord our God is All Merciful and All Loving and HE WANTS US TO BE VICTORIOUS over all our fears and weaknesses. So let us JOYFULLY ACCEPT HIS DIVINE INVITATION AND RESOLVE ALL OUR FEARS, knowing that He is indeed always with us!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A SERMON BY FATHER ANTHONY HUGHES OF ST MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH
HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/THE-GADARENE-DEMONIAC
especially concerning our own personal condition.
On the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets

... you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow Citizens with the Saints and Members of the Household of God, having been built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole Structure, being fitted together, grows into a Holy Temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are being built together for a Dwelling Place of God in the Spirit... [EPHESIANS 2: 19 22]
There are a number of statements in the New Testament that deeply contradict the near fetish that some attach to the Bible. One of these is found in the admonition St Paul offered to the young St Timothy describing the Church as ...the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth. If Protestants were asked what is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, they would answer: The Bible. And they would be wrong! Another example is the abovementioned quotation from St Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians. Although ST PAUL DESCRIBED CHRIST HIMSELF AS THE FOUNDATION OF HIS HOLY CHURCH (IN HIS FIRST EPISTLE TO THE expanding that metaphor, HE ALSO CORINTHIANS), DESCRIBED CHRIST AS THE CORNERSTONE, WITH THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS BEING THE CHURCHS FOUNDATION. IN NEITHER CASE DOES HE DESCRIBE THE BIBLE AS FOUNDATION, although in popular Evangelical culture Holy Scripture is erroneously regarded as the very Foundation of Christian Faith! What is lacking in these misconceptions of Holy Scripture is the proper regard for THE CHURCH AS A LIVING TEMPLE. CHRIST DID NOT COME INTO OUR WORLD TO DELIVER A BOOK. SUCH NOTIONS, sometimes enshrined in the concept that once the New Testament was complete, the task of the early Church was complete as well, ARE NOTHING BUT CHRISTIANISED VERSIONS OF ISLAM! Christians are NOT people of the Book! SUCH A THOUGHT DEEPLY DISTORTS THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL! St Pauls vision (and THE REALITY GRANTED BY GOD) is of A CHURCH THAT IS COMPOSED OF A LIVING COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THE WHOLE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, WHICH IS THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH. Its Foundation is THE LIVING BODY OF PEOPLE (THE HOLY APOSTLES AND THE PROPHETS) JUST AS CHRIST HIMSELF, THE DIVINE CORNERSTONE, IS ALIVE. This is the Holy Church that reads Holy Scripture and is itself ... our Epistle written in the fleshy tablets of the heart. (2 CORINTHIANS 3:3) THOSE WHO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HOLY SCRIPTURE AND OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS - as though everything was simply a text, and the Holy Fathers were very inferior texts FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTER OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHICH IS TRULY ALIVE. Of course our Holy Fathers are Inspired by the Holy Spirit, for how could they be our Spiritual Fathers and not be Inspired? IF WHAT THEY WROTE AND SAID IS NOT BY THE POWER, GRACE AND INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN IT WOULD BE USELESS. The Apostles themselves did not regard their own writings to be comparable to the Writings of the Scriptures (Grammata.) But WITHOUT THE WRITINGS OF THE APOSTLES AND THEIR HOLY GOSPELS, WE WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO READ THE SACRED SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD COVENANT. WHEN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS READ THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT, THEN THE OLD BECOMES THE NEW, so therefore, THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO READ THE OLD TESTAMENT AS THOUGH IT WERE SOMEHOW NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT, DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ HOLY SCRIPTURE: They are drinking from a foreign river! 8 AS WE HAVE TO LEARN TO READ HOLY SCRIPTURE, SO WE HAVE TO LEARN TO READ THE WRITINGS OF THE HOLY FATHERS. Not all Fathers are of equal importance, and not everything written by a single Father is as important as everything else he wrote. The nightmare of a loose cannon! We are indeed BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS AS A LIVING TEMPLE AND SO THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE LIFE OF THAT TEMPLE. ONLY IN THE CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY OF THE LIVING CHURCH OF GOD CAN WE LEARN HOW TO READ WHETHER APOSTLES, PROPHETS OR HOLY FATHERS. THOSE WHO HAVE WRENCHED THE SCRIPTURES OUT OF THE CONTEXT OF THE LIVING, ORTHODOX CHURCH HAVE ONLY WRESTED THEMSELVES ERROR AND DELUSION. Like a sorcerers apprentice they are only able to read the words of a spell but know nothing of their magic. THEY CONJURE UP A WRATHFUL GOD AND FEARFUL VISIONS OF THE WORLDS END. The results of such faulty reading surrounds us and threatens us. Most of the Apostles Writings deal with how to BE A TRUE AND LIVING CHURCH OF GOD, and FULL OF ADMONITIONS TOWARDS HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCE, WARNING THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THEIR
LEADERS AND CAUTIONING US AGAINST THE MANY FALSE PROPHETS AND LEADERS WHO WILL ARISE.
There is no instant key to understanding Holy Scripture, but WHOEVER BEGINS TO READ THEM IN THEIR PROPER AND LIVING CONTEXT BEGINS THE JOURNEY ON THE PATH FOR WHICH THEY WERE WRITTEN.
...And truly Jesus did many other Signs in the presence of His
Disciples, which are not written in this Book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have Life in His Name.
(JOHN 20:30-31)
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All Glo ry, Honour and Wo rship to t he Father, and to the Son, and to th e Holy Spirit, now and fo rever, 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.
23 October 2012 St James the Just & Adelphotheos Holy Apostle & Son of St Joseph the Betrothed First Bishop of Jerusalem & First Hieromartyr
Also the Feast of St James of Borovichi & Wonderworker of Nogorod St Ignatios of Constantinople St Elisha of Lavreshev, Beloros
Apolytikion Of St James Adephotheos & Holy Apostle TONE 4:
Os tou Kyriou Mathitis, anedexo Dikee
to Evangelion; os Martis ehis to aparatrepton; tin parrisian os Adelfotheos; to Presvevin os Ierarthis. Iketeve Hriston ton Theon, Sothine tas psihas imon.
As the Disciple of the Lord, Thou undertook the Work of

the Gospel, O Righteous One; as Martyr Thou possess the Steadfastness; as Brother of God the Confidence; as Hierarch to be an Intercessor. Intercede with Christ our God, for our souls to be Saved. Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediator to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!

The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 1 : 11 19

The Divine Calling Of St Paul The Apostle Of Christ
Brethren, I make known to you that the Gospel that was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the Traditions of my Fathers. But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mothers womb and Called me through His Grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except James, the Lords brother. APOSTOLIC TRADITION IS GROUNDED IN DIVINE THE HOLY GOSPEL AND HIS CALL TO APOSTLESHIP REVELATION FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. WERE HIGHLY UNUSUAL. Just as the Twelve Apostles were CALLED BY IN ALL PRIVATE REVELATIONS, THE ONLY OTHER WITNESS CHRIST, so was St Paul. IS ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF. Just as the Twelve RECEIVED THE HOLY GOSPEL However, ST PAUL KNEW THAT HE HAD TO TEACH THE SAME DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST, so did St Paul. HOLY GOSPEL AS THE OTHER APOSTLES OF CHRIST. Just as the Twelve STOOD TOGETHER AS ONE, so James refers to ST JAMES THE JUST, THE FIRST BISHOP St Paul entered their UNITY IN CONSENSUS AND OF JERUSALEM AND AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE OF ST MUTUAL SUBMISSION. JAMES. PEOPLE ARE CALLED BY GOD not according to their THE TERM BROTHER IS ALSO A REFERENCE TO A COUSIN former conduct whether good or bad - but BY OR CLOSE MALE RELATIVE. DIVINE GRACE. ST JAMES WAS THE ELDEST SON OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND HIS LATE WIFE, SALOME (a sister of ST PAUL, WHOM GOD CALLED IN MERCY, RECEIVED DIVINE St Anna, the mother of the Blessed Virgin) and GRACE FROM ST ANANIAS HANDS AND THE BLESSED therefore a COUSIN TO THEOTOKOS AND OUR LORD. WATERS OF HOLY BAPTISM. ST JAMES DEEP LOVE FOR AND DEVOTION TO OUR LORD The words ... separated me from my mothers womb... refer not to St Pauls physical birth but to JESUS SINCE HIS BIRTH, ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE GODS DIVINE CALL TO APOSTOLIC MINISTRY BEFORE REASON FOR HIS HONOURABLE TITLE OF BEING OUR HE WAS BORN. LORDS BROTHER. As with St Paul, GODS INTENTIONS FOR PEOPLE MAY LIE According to some, he was the only one of St Josephs sons who was quite willing to share his inheritance HIDDEN FOR MANY YEARS. with Christ. As a True Apostle of Christ, ST PAUL In accordance with Mosaic Law, adopted SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE CHURCH AND children were supposed to have equal HER HOLY APOSTLES RATHER THAN rights to inheritance, but often this proved ELEVATING HIMSELF. problematic due to human greed or other St Paul knew that his ENCOUNTER WITH OUR motivations. LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS INSTRUCTION IN
ST JAMES ADELPHOTHEOS -
THE
JUST APOSTLE, FIRST BISHOP
OF
JERUSALEM & HIEROMARTYR - 23 OCTOBER 2012
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The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 13 : 54 58

Our Lords Rejection At Nazareth
At that time, when Jesus had come to His own country, He taught them in their Synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said: Where did this Man get this Wisdom and these Mighty Works? Is this not the Carpenters Son? Is not His Mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things? So they were offended with Him. But Jesus said to them: A Prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house. Now He did not do many Mighty Works there because of their unbelief. THE SANCTITY OF HER BETROTHAL TO ST JOSEPH FURTHER THE PEOPLE OF NAZARETH REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT A CARPENTERS SON WHO WAS ONE OF THEIR OWN PROTECTED HER AGAINST SCANDAL. As far as Hebrew society and Mosaic Law were concerned, they were COULD HAVE SUCH DIVINE WISDOM. legally husband and wife - ESSENTIAL FOR THE THEY STUBBORNLY REFUSED TO BELIEVE OR EVEN THINK LEGALITY OF CHRISTS BIRTH. THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD BE FROM THEIR OWN EVEN IN HIS OWN HOME TOWN, NAZARETH, OUR LORD PEOPLE. JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT ACCEPTED AS THE MESSIAH ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED HAD SEVEN CHILDREN FROM BUT REJECTED. HIS PREVIOUS MARRIAGE TO HIS LATE WIFE, SALOME IN THEIR ENVY AT HIS GREAT WISDOM AND ALTHOUGH THEY (sister of St Anna): 4 sons: James, Jude, Simon and Joses and 3 daughters Salome (the mother of St COULD FIND NO FAULT IN HIS WORDS AND MIRACLES, James and St John the Divine and Beloved Apostle THE NAZARENES DISMISSED HIM ON THE BASIS OF THE of Christ), Esther and Martha or Lydia or Thamar or SOCIAL UNIMPORTANCE OF HIS FAMILY. Assia [name is uncertain.] It is further proof of our Lords infinite Humility that HE HAVING BEEN ELECTED BY THE TEMPLE PRIESTS, THROUGH DID NOT EVEN TRY TO CONVINCE THEM OF HIS TRUE DIVINE GUIDANCE, TO PROTECT THE EVER BLESSED IDENTITY - It was not essential to mankinds VIRGIN MARY WHO HAD TAKEN A SACRED VOW OF Salvation, which was the entire Purpose of the CELIBACY, ST JOSEPH [HER ELDERLY - OVER 80 Incarnation of the Son of God. YEARS OLD - UNCLE BY MARRIAGE] PROVIDED HER AND HER FIVE VIRGIN COMPANIONS WITH A SAFE HAVEN and his Paternal Protection.
St James the Just Apostle & Adelphotheos St James is called the Lords Brother because seem very long for later Christians 3 hours he was the eldest son of St Joseph the or longer. Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos. Consequently St John Chrysostom and St Basil When St Joseph was near death, he divided his the Great shortened the Divine Liturgy, which estates among his sons, and wanted to leave we use to this day. a port to our Lord Jesus, the Son of the Most St James converted many Hebrews and Greeks to Holy Virgin Mary, but all the other brothers the Christian Faith, and even the unbelieving opposed this, not regarding Him as their Jews were amazed at his sincere brother. Righteousness, referring to him St James was devoted to our Lord as James the Just Jesus and declared that he would When Ananias became High include Him in his share of his Priest, he and other Jewish inheritance and that is why he was Elders were determined to kill known as Adelphotheos Brother St James for being a Preacher of God. of Christ. When St Joseph took the Blessed Ever During the Feast of Passover, Virgin and Her young Son to Egypt when many people had to protect them against the vile gathered in Jerusalem, the plots of Herod, St James Elders forced the elderly Saint accompanied them, watching over to climb all the way to the roof and taking care of the young of the Temple, and tried to Christ. make him denounce Christ. Later, as soon as he heard our Lords However, St James used the Teaching, St James not only opportunity to address the accepted it completely but lived by multitude, preaching to them it. about Christ Who is the Son of He never partook of anything other God and the True Messiah. He than bread and water, and told them about His Glorious remained a virgin his entire life. Resurrection and His Eternal He often kept Vigil throughout the Glory at the Right Hand of God night, praying ceaselessly to God. the Father, in Heaven. St James was one of our Lords 70 Apostles who The infuriated Priests and Elders pushed St were sent forth to prepare the people for the James off the roof; and he fell down and was coming of the Messiah. severely injured but still alive. After His Glorious Resurrection, our Lord Then a Scribe ran up to him and smashed his appeared especially to St James, as St Paul head with a sycamore branch with such force recorded in his First Epistle to the Corinthians his brains spilled out. (1 Corinthians 15:7) So it was that this most Glorious Apostle of Jesus St James was the First Bishop of Jerusalem for Christ died a Martyrs Death. 30 years and he zealously governed the Holy St James was 66 years old when he was martyred Church of God. for Christ. At the Instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ, St May his memory be Eternal! James compiled the first Divine Liturgy, which
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ST JAMES ADELPHOTHEOS -
THE
JUST APOSTLE, FIRST BISHOP
OF
JERUSALEM & HIEROMARTYR - 23 OCTOBER 2012
All Glory, Honour and Worship to th e Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and foreve r, 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.
26 October 2012 St Dimitrios the Great & Holy Martyr Myrrhgusher & Miracle Worker of Thessalonika
Also the Commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople Feast of St Theophilos of Kiev Caves Monastery St Lupos, Faithful Servant of St Dimitrios of Thessalonika S Athanasios of Medikion Monastery St Demetrios of Basarvov, Bulgaria St Joseph of Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos St Demetrios of Tsilibinsk
ST DIMITRI BY JULIA BRIDGET HAYES
F e s t a l A p o l y t i k i o n o f S t D i m i t r i o s o f T h e s s a l o n i k a Tone 3
Megan evrato en tis kindinis, se ipermahon i ikoumeni,

Athiofore ta theni tropoumenon. Os oun Lieou kathiles tin eparsin, en to stadio tharrinas ton Nestora, outos Agie, Megalomartis Dimitrie, Hriston ton Theon iketeve, dorisasthe imin to Mega Eleos.
Festal Apolytikion of the Great Earthquake
Verily,
the inhabited world found thee a great comfort in tribulations and a conqueror of nations, O fight-bearing One. Wherefore, as thou didst demolish the arrogance of Lahosh, and on the battlefield didst hearten Nestor, beseech, O Saint Demetrios, Christ God to grant us the Great Mercy!
O epivlepon epi tin gin, ke pion aftin tremin, rise ims

tis foveras tou sismou apilis, Hriste O Theos imon; ke katapempson imin, plousia ta elei Sou, presvies tis Theotokou, Mone Filantrhope
Kontakion Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos
Thou Who surveys all of the earth, and causes her to

tremble, deliver us all from the frightful fear of the quake, O Christ our God; and bestow upon us Thy Mercies abundantly; by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only True Friend of mankind. Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects all those who honour Thee!

Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton timonton se.

Signs Before Eternity
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... before all these things, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the Synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before Kings and Rulers for My Names sake, but it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore, settle it in your heart no to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and Wisdom that all you adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My Names sake. Yet not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your Patience, possess your soul!
The Second Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy

The Power of God
2 : 1 10
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the Will of God, according to the Promise of Life, which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a Beloved Son: Grace, Mercy and Peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord. I thank God, Whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my Forefather did, as without ceasing I remember you in my Prayes night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with Joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine Faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your Grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the Gift of God, which is in you through the Laying on of my hands, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of Power and of Love and of a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His Prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the Power of God, Who has Saved us and Called us with a Holy Calling, not according to our works, but according to His own Purpose and Grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but which has now been revealed by the Appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who has abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel...
The Holy Gospel According to St John
15 : 17 16 : 2
The Unreasonable Hatred Of The Fallen World
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: ... These things I command you, so that you Love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world for I chose you out of the world the world hates you. Remember what I said to you: A servant is not greater than his Master! If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My Names sake, because they do not know Him Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin!
ST DIMITRIOS
THE
MYRRH-GUSHER, WONDER WORKER & GREAT MARTYR
OF
THESSALONIKA
26 OCTOBER 2012
19.
Those who hate Me, hate My Father also. If I had not done among them the Works that no one else has done, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and yet hate both Me and My Father. Yet this happened so that the Word might be fulfilled, which is written in their Law: They hated Me without cause. And when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you, also, will bear witness because you have been with Me from the beginning. These things I have spoken to you, so that you should not be made to stumble... St Dimitrios the Great Wonderworker, Myrrh-gusher & Holy Martyr of Thessalonika St Dimitrios along with St George are the two brave St Dimitrios prayed, and Blessed him with the Sign of the Defendants and Martyrs of Christianity of earth, while Cross, after which St Nestor hastened to the stadium the two Archangels, St Michael and St Gabriel are and challenged Maximians hero. above in Heaven. To the shock of the Romans who had thought their Initially they were depicted without armour, but later as favourite, most vicious Gladiator was undefeatable, St Holy Soldiers of Christ and His Church Militant - they Nestor not only accepted the dangerous challenge in were depicted armoured with swords, spears and the Name and Power of Christ, he then proceeded to breastplates. Hung one shoulder was their helmet wrestle with Lyaeus before throwing him down, and while covering the other was their shield. At the waist killing him. they were girded with straps that held the sheath of Maximian was enraged beyond measure, and further the sword, and the quiver with arrows for the bow. provoked when he heard not only that St Nestor was a In recent years, after the conquest of Constantinople, Christian but that St. Dimitrios his former trusted these two Saints, as well as certain other soldier Saints Governor - had Blessed him and ...given him certain are depicted riding horses: St George on a white horse supernatural Powers... to conquer the Romans and St Dimitrios on a red horse. favourite Gladiator. The armour worn by these Saints represents our Spiritual His immediate reaction was to have St Nestor seized Weapons, which St Paul exhorted us to: ...Put on the despite the accolades of the cheering, fickle and bloodthirsty masses - and ordered his soldiers to Armour of God, that you may be able to stand execute them without any pretence of a fair trial. against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is A group of Roman soldiers went not against flesh and blood, but against ... the to the bath house where St Spiritual Forces of wickedness .... having girded Dimitrios was incarcerated your loins with Truth, and having put on the and lanced him to death with Breastplate of Justice and having your feet shod with their spears, even as he the Readiness of the Gospel of Peace, in all things prayed and Blessed them taking up the Shield of Faith... And take unto you the with the Sign of the Cross. Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, that At the age of 36, 26 October is, the Word of God (EPHESIANS 6:11-17). 296, (8 NOVEMBER) St Dimitrios These heroic and preserving characteristics, which the of Thessalonika received the Holy Warriors possessed and who were martyred for Eternal Crown of Glory and Christ like harmless and innocent sheep, has reference Eternal Life in the Heavenly to Spiritual Things. Kingdom. St Dimitrios, was born in Thessalonica in 260 to illustrious The following day, 27 October, parents, and along with the transitory glory that he the Holy Martyr, St Nestor of Thessalonica was received from his family, he was adorned with beheaded by sword. Imperishable Virtues: Prudence, Sweetness, St Lupos, the faithful and loyal servant of St Dimitrios, with Humility, Justice, and with every noble beauty of the the help of other faithful Christians, took the Holy soul - like precious stones that shone in the Crown of Relics of the two Martyrs and reverently buried them in Faith in Christ, which he wore so worthily. secret, side by side. During the reign of Diocletian in Rome, his co-ruler in After a while, sweet-scented Holy Myrrh mysteriously parts of Macedonia and the East was the hardexuded from the tomb of St Dimitrios, which cured hearted, bloodthirsty General Maximian, a beast in many diseases and various ailments of the body and human form as were all those military rulers who ruled soul and for that reason St Dimitri is nicknamed by the sword. He in turn appointed St Dimitrios as Myrovletes or Myrrh-gusher. Governor of Thessalonica and all Thessalia. A basilica type church was erected over the bath house However, when Maximian returned from a certain war, he the place of St Dimitris Martyrdom and beneath which ordered the entire Roman forces and their leaders to was his hidden tomb. offer sacrifices to the idols. St Dimitrios the Great Martyr, Loved our Lord and Saviour, Then St Dimitrios revealed that he was a Christian, and did Jesus Christ, above all things of this earthly life and so not accept hewn stones as gods. renounced all its unfulfilling, temporary and Maximian flew into a rage and ordered that he be arrested unbeneficial pleasures, wealth and honours. and imprisoned in a bath house. And even while he He yearned to be with God in His Eternal, Celestial was imprisoned, the sorrowing populace flocked to St Kingdom and through St Dimitrios Intercessory Dimitrios to learn about Christ - and among them was Prayers may we also be deemed worthy of Eternal Life. a young man, Nestor, who visited him every day and , which is apparent from certain Holy Icons, which depict took everything he learn to heart. him as a soldier, seated upon a red horse. During those days, many brave men were forced to fight Often a scroll is included on which is written the Prayer of against each other often to death - for the bloodSt Dimitrios for the Salvation of the people: thirsty entertainment of Maximian and the sadistic O Lord, do not permit the defeat of the city or the mobs, who packed the stadiums to watch these brutal people. If Thou Save the city and the people, I shall spectacles. be Saved with them. If they perish, I also perish with Maximians favourite Gladiator was a huge, nasty man, them. named Lyaeus who was an idolater and blasphemer St Dimitrios is the Holy Protector of the Youth, and his from an unknown barbaric nation. Intercessory Prayers are besought by those who After Lyaeus had killed all his opponents, he boasted that Struggle against lustful temptations. he had the strength of Ares (the pagan god of war), Through the Prayers of St Dimitrios, may the Lord and that no one could defeat him. preserve you and your families in good health, St Nestor went to visit St Dimitrios and begged the Holy Spiritual Joy, and every True Happiness. May our Martyr to Bless him and to offer Intercessory Prayers so Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ send His Blessings with that God would enable him to vanquish the pagan upon each one who came today to Glorify with Love Gladiator and thereby shame the malicious Maximian and Prayer our Intercessor before God. and the false pagan beliefs.
http://www.orthodox-canada.com/saint-demetrius-day-sermon/ 6 3
20.
ST DIMITRIOS
THE
MYRRH-GUSHER, WONDER WORKER & GREAT MARTYR
OF
THESSALONIKA
26 OCTOBER 2012
2 8 O c to be r 2 0 1 2
21st Sunday After Pentecost Tone 4 7th Sunday of St Luke The Haemorrhaging Woman & Jairus Daughter Feast of the Holy Protection
Also the Feast of St Terence & St Neonilla, his wife, St Sarbelo, St Photios, St Theodoulos, St Hierax, St Nita, St Vele & St Eunice, their children of Carthage - St Stephen the Hymnographer of St Savvas Monastery St Arsenios of Serbia St Paraskeva of Iconium St Job, Wonderworker of Pochaev St Demetrios of Rostov St Nestor of Kiev Caves Monastery St Africanos, St Maximos, St Pompeios & 37 Holy Martyrs of Carthage - St Kyriakos of Jerusalem St John the Chozebite of Palestine St Athanasios the Younger of Constantinople St Neophytos of Urbin, Georgia St Arsenios of Cappadocia
Resurrection Apolytikion TONE 4
To ap eonos Apokrifon ke Angelis Agnoston Mystirion, O Theotokos, through Thee was revealed to us on earth,
dia Sou Theotoke tis epi gis pefanerote. Theos en asighito enosi sarkoumenos. Ke Stavron ekousios iper imon katadexamenos. Di ou Anastisas ton Protoplaston, esosen ek Thanatou tas psihas imon.
F e s t a l A p o l y t i k i o n o f t h e H o l y P r o t e c t i o n TONE 1
the Mystery, which was hidden from Eternity, and which the Angels themselves knew not: that God, uniting Natures without confusion, became Man and accepted crucifixion voluntarily for our Salvation; by virtue of which Resurrecting mankind whom He had first created, He Saved our souls from Death.
Tis Skepis Sou Parthene animnoumen tas Haritas, in os Of Thy Protection, O Virgin, we praise the benefits, which
fotoforon Nefelin efaplis iper ennian, ke Skepis ton Laon Sou noeros, ek pasis ton ehthron epivoulis; Se gar Skepin ke Prostatin ke Voithon, kektimetha voontes Si: Doxa tis Megaliis Sou Agni! Doxa ti Thia Skepi Sou! Doxa ti pros imas promithia Ahrante! as Luminous Cloud Thou stretch out most wondrously, and Thou protect Thy people so thoughtfully from every plot of the enemies; for Thee as Shelter, Protector and Helper have we, as we cry out to Thee: Glory to Thy Wonders, O Pure One! Glory to Thy Shelter Divine! Glory to Thy forethought for us, O Undefiled One!
Theotoke
Aiparthene, tin Agian Sou Skepin, di is periskepis, tous is se Elpizontas, Kratean to Ethni Sou katafigin edoriso; oti os pale ke nin Thavmastos imas esosas, os Noiti Nefeli, ton Laon Sou perivalousa. Dio disopoumen Se, Irinin ti politia Sou Dorise, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos
Ever
Virgin Theotokos, Thy Holy Protection, by which Thou protects those who hope in Thee, Thou hast granted to Thy Nation, as a Mighty Shelter; because, as of old, even now Thou miraculously Saved us, by enveloping Thy people, like a Spiritual Cloud. Wherefore, we implore Thee: Grant Peace to Thy commonwealth, and to our souls, Great Mercy.
Festal Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria, Os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City in
evharistiria, Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke, All os ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton Ek pantion me kindinon eleftheroson Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi Animfevte! thanksgiving Ascribes the Victory for the deliverance from sufferings. But having Thy Might unassailable, Free me from all dangers So that I may cry out to Thee: Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!
Resurrection Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 14

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Serves Breakfast to His Eleven Apostles
Prokeimenon
How manifold art Thy Works, O Lord! Thou hast created them all in Wisdom! Bless the Lord, O my soul!
St Pauls Epistle to the Hebrews 9 : 1 7
The Earthly Sanctuary and Liturgy
Brethren: even the first Covenant had Ordinances of Divine Service and the earthly Sanctuary. For a Tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the Table and the Showbread, which is called the Sanctuary.; and behind the second Veil, the part of the Tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden Censer and the Ark of the Covenant, overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that contained the Manna, Aarons Rod that budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant; and above it were the Cherubim of Glory overshadowing the Mercy Seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things had been thus prepared, the Priests always went into the first part of the Tabernacle, performing the Services. But into the second part, the High Priest went alone once a year not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the peoples sins committed in ignorance...
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A Woman is Healed & Jairus Daughter is Raised from Death
At that time, a man named Jairus, who was a Ruler of the Synagogue, went to our Lord Jesus and fell down at His Feet and begged Him to go to his house, for he had an only daughter who was about twelve years of age and dying. And as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. And a woman, who had a flow of blood for twelve years and who had spent all she had on Physicians - none of whom could heal her went from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately the flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said: Who touched Me? when all denied having done so, Peter and those with him said: Master, the multitudes throng and press against Thee, and Thou ask: Who touched Me? And Jesus said: Someone touched Me, for I perceived Power going out from Me. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she went trembling and fell down before Him. And she declared to Jesus in the presence of all the people the reason for having touched Him and how she had immediately been healed. And He said to her: Daughter, be of good cheer; your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace. While He was still speaking, someone from the house of the Ruler of the Synagogue arrived, saying to him: Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher. And when Jesus heard, He answered him: Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well. When Jesus went into the house, He permitted no one to enter except Peter, James and John, and the father and mother of the girl. And all wept and mourned for her; but He said: Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. And He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called: Little girl: arise! And her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.
St Veronica & the Daughter of Jairus

When our Lord Jesus Christ returned from the region of the Gergesenes, A LARGE CROWD WELCOMED HIM FOR HE HAD BEEN TEACHING AND WORKING DIVINE MIRACLES THROUGHOUT GALILEE, AND SO MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO MEET HIM AND RECEIVE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HEALING. Even Jairus, who was a leader of the Synagogue, sought Him out in his desperate quest for the healing of his seriously ill daughter, falling to his knees before our Lord Jesus and begging Him to go to his home and Save his child. Being our All Compassionate and Loving Saviour, Christ immediately agreed to accompany Jairus, but the crowd that surrounded them was vast and their progress was slow. Meanwhile there was A CERTAIN WOMAN (LATER KNOWN AS ST VERONICA) WHO HAD SUFFERED A PERSISTENT
AILMENT THAT CAUSED HER TO HAEMORRHAGE FOR TWELVE YEARS, WHICH KEPT HER ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY AND TAKEN ALL HER POSSESSIONS IN HER PURSUIT FOR A SUCCESSFUL REMEDY. Having heard of the Miraculous Powers of Christ, THE WOMAN KNEW THAT IF SHE COULD MERELY TOUCH THE VERY EDGE OF HIS GARMENTS, SHE WOULD BE HEALED. However, she also knew that ACCORDING TO MOSAIC LAW, SHE WAS UNCLEAN AND IF DISCOVERED AMIDST THE CROWD, SHE WOULD BE STONED TO DEATH! In her desperation SHE WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK AND AS SHE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED CHRISTS ROBE, HE FELT HIS DIVINE HEALING POWER GOING OUT TO HER.
To the astonishment of His Apostles who were also being pushed and pulled by the multitude, He asked: Who touched Me? And when they commented on the situation, He explained how He felt His Power going out from Him. THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ST VERONICAS TOUCH AND HER GOOD INTENTION. IT HAD BEEN
COMPELLED BY HER DESPERATE NEED FOR HEALING AND HER UTTER FAITH IN HIS POWER TO HEAL HER.
When she is revealed, instead of admonishing and condemning her for being in their midst when she confessed, CHRIST PRAISED HER FOR HER FAITH, WHICH WAS THE DRIVING FORCE OF HER HEALING. Many Scriptures point to THE NEED FOR SINGLE-MINDED FAITH AND UNDISTRACTED FOCUS. Our Lord Jesus promised us: Whatever you ask in my Name... will be done, and ...ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the Door shall be opened. And ST VERONICA CERTAINLY DID ASK, DID SEEK AND DID APPROACH THE DOOR HIMSELF AND KNOCK for she had denied herself radically as our Lord Jesus asks FROM
TIME IMMEMORIAL, OUR HOLY CHURCH HAS CELEBRATED THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS AS OUR MOST IMPORTANT PATRONESS AND PROTECTRESS OF ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS.
all of us to do having suffered pain and isolation for so long, but always believing that God would one day Heal her. Whatever else she may have offered Christ that day, she at least offered three things: CLARITY OF FOCUS, COURAGEOUS FAITH AND UTTER SELF-DENIAL. SHE HAD LITTLE ELSE TO GIVE OTHER THAN THESE NATURAL THINGS DEVELOPED IN HER THROUGH HER LONG-TERM SUFFERING, which are also available to all of us through the Gift of Gods Image and of the Holy Spirit within us. THE COMBINATION OF HER OFFERING OF FAITH AND THE DIVINE GRACE IN CHRIST BROUGHT FORTH A MIRACLE, as it does whenever we hone and develop our natural God-given attributes and call upon His Name. THE COMBINATION OF DIVINE GRACE AND HUMAN WILL IS EXPLOSIVE. It is what St Paul meant when he wrote that we are ...co-workers with Christ (synergy) and that we must ...work out our Salvation with fear and trembling. WE HAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO OUR OWN SALVATION. Perhaps this is a key to understanding THE EMPTINESS OF OUR OWN SPIRITUAL LIVES AND PRACTICE. We are too scattered, too distracted and too burdened with the cares and pleasures of life. Faith has no time and place to take root and grow in us. We are far from RENUNCIATION AND DETACHMENT - not forgetting our ESSENTIAL FOCUS, WHICH OUR HOLY FATHERS CALL VIGILANCE, WATCHFULNESS AND GUARDING THE HEART! We can barely remember what we had for dinner last night, much less are we able to bring our full attention to bear on LIVING AUTHENTICALLY MOMENT BY MOMENT IN CHRIST. And SELF-DENIAL? Fat chance in this society of ours where the ultimate and utterly insipid goal, is to become an American Idol! But WITHOUT THESE VIRTUES WE WILL ALWAYS BE ADRIFT SPIRITUALLY. The element most unsettling to us in the Teaching of Christ is His Commandment to ...take up your Cross and follow Me. Believe me, my friends, these things can be learnt. But
WE NEED THAT ESSENTIAL TRAINING OF OUR BODY AND SOUL: MEDITATION, PRAYER, VIGILANCE, SELF-DENIAL. The image of THE SPIRITUAL ATHLETE in St Pauls writings
is the image we need to take away from this Sacred Lesson. St Veronica the Woman with the issue of blood is to me an image of the SPIRITUAL ATHLETE because HER
LIFE OF RENUNCIATION AND DETACHMENT IS SOMETHING EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATE AND EMBRACE.
The Holy Protection of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos

PRAYERS HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SHOWN INNUMERABLE TIMES TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO NATIONS in Peace and in war, in Desert Monasteries and in densely populated cities. The Feast of the Holy Protection, commemorates our Blessed Ladys consistent Protection.
BY HER INTERCESSORY PRAYERS, SHE IMPLORES GODS MERCY FOR US SINNERS AND HER HELP, GUIDANCE AND
22.
21 AP 7 LUKE THE HAEMORRHAGING WOMAN &
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... Her Role was catalytic, not only because She ON 1 OCTOBER 911, during the reign of Emperor Leo the constituted the basis of our Faith, but also because, Wise, IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ALL NIGHT VIGIL IN THE with Her Miraculous Interventions, She proved to BLACHERNAE CHURCH OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, have been the greatest Ally of the Greek Army in the CONSTANTINOPLE SHE MADE AN APPEARANCE. midst of the rough mountains of Epiros. The church was filled with Faithful worshippers and St Many other Miracles and Visitations were reported in Andrew the Fool for Christ was standing at the rear numerous regions of Greece throughout the war, but of the church with his Disciple, St Epiphanios. at the Greek-Albanian borders and on Pindos, our It was four in the morning, when suddenly THEY BEHELD Ever Blessed Holy Mother was the constant Protector THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS HOVERING ABOVE THE and Guide of those who fought for their PEOPLE, HOLDING HER OMOPHORION country and their Faith under such (VEIL) OUTSTRETCHED LIKE A CANOPY OVER tremendously difficult circumstances. THE FAITHFUL. Their Faith was so strong that they could She was clothed in gold-encrusted purple actually see Her encouraging them and robes and She shone with an ineffable covering them while they battled against Radiance, surrounded by the Holy their enemies. Apostle, the Saints, the Martyrs and One eyewitness account occurred while the Virgins. Greek soldiers were fighting under seriously Unable to believe his own eyes, St Andrew adverse conditions. turned to St Epiphanios and asked him: OUR LADY MARY SUDDENLY APPEARED BEFORE Brother, do you see the Queen and THEM AND AS THEIR PROTECTRESS, SHE HELD Lady of all praying for the whole HER MANTLE OVER THEM, BEFORE LEADING world? And St Epiphanios replied: I THEM INTO BATTLE. see, Father! And I am struck with Similar Miracles were CORROBORATED BY amazement! VARIOUS OTHER ACCOUNTS of those who Consequently, the Feast of the Holy fought in the mountains of Pindos and elsewhere. Protection was instituted to commemorate that At the front, GREEK SOLDIERS WITNESSED THE SAME HOLY wondrous Event, and to remind us that we are able VISION EVERYWHERE: at night they could clearly see a to receive, through Her Prayers of Intercession, the tall, slim Woman walking with Her Kerchief (shawl) Unceasing Protection of our Ever Loving Lady across Her shoulders and THEY ALL ACCEPTED HER Theotokos in any time of difficulty. One of the Prayers that are offered on our behalf by the AS NONE OTHER THAN THE EVER BLESSED, ALL HOLY Priest imploring Her Protection and Assistance VIRGIN MARY HOLY PROTECTRESS OF GREEKS. states: Remember us in Thy Prayers, O Lady IN 626, HER INTERCESSORY PRAYERS TO GOD HAD SAVED Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the CONSTANTINOPLE from the attacks of the Turkishincrease of our sins. Protect us from every evil Mongolian Nomads so the Feast of Agia Skepi was and from grievous woes, for in Thee do we officially established ON 1 OCTOBER but AFTER THE hope, and Venerating the Feast of Thy Holy SECOND WORLD WAR, IN 1952, THIS HOLY FEAST WAS Protection, we magnify Thee. TRANSFERRED TO 28 OCTOBER to remind the Greek The Holy Orthodox Church of Greece has moved this Nation of Her Miraculous Interventions, Guidance Feast of Agia Skepi to 28 October, which is the and Protection during all their most tragic and worst Greek National Day Oxi Day Commemorating times. the great Help and Holy Protection of our Ever ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A SERMON OF FATHER ANTHONY HUGHES OF THE ST MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/THE-DAUGHTER-OF-JAIRUS-ANDBlessed Lady to the Greek Nation throughout its THE-WOMAN-WITH-THE-ISSUE-OF-BLOOD/ difficult history and particularly during World War II: Festal Kontakion of the Holy Protection
Let us, the Faithful, hasten to the Theotokos now and venerate Her Sacred Veil, as we chant to Her, singing Hymns of praise and honour, as is fitting; for She shelters with Her Shelter all Her Faithful Flock, and preserves them unharmed from all calamities, as they cry to Her: Hail, O Protection Most Radiant! The Inspired Wisdom of St Ignatios Brianchaninov (from his Letters) O N T H E G I F T O F W O R D S (ADDRESSED TO A CERTAIN ABBOT)
...ALL GODS GIFTS TO MANKIND ARE WORTHY OF RESPECT and without doubt, THE GIFT OF ELOQUENCE (WORDS) IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS OF ALL. Thereby we are made like unto God Who has His Word. THE WORD OF MAN, LIKE THE WORD OF GOD, EVER ABIDES WITH ITS FATHER AND IN ITS FATHER THE MIND BEING ONE WITH IT, AND AT THE SAME TIME BEING INSEPARABLY SEPARATE FROM IT. The human word is dependent on the mind alone, from which it is continually being born, and THROUGH THE WORD THE MIND EXPRESSES ITS EXISTENCE. We cannot even imagine the existence of the mind without the word or the word without the mind. When the mind wishes to communicate with the mind of its neighbours, it uses its words for this. The word, in order to acquire the means of communication, clothes itself in sounds or letters. Then THE IMMATERIAL WORD IS MADE, AS IT WERE, MATERIAL REMAINING IMMUTABLE IN ITS ESSENCE. THE WORD OF GOD, TOO, SO AS TO ENTER INTO CONTACT WITH US AND TO SAVE US, BECAME MAN. 8 A well-reasoned look at the human word makes understandable the Reason for OUR LORDS STRICT DECREE, whereby it ORDAINED AND
PROCLAIMED that WE ALL MANKIND WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR EVERY IDLE WORD! THE DIVINE PURPOSE OF THE WORD FOR WRITERS, FOR ALL TEACHERS, AND ABOVE ALL, FOR THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD, IS THE INSTRUCTION AND SALVATION OF MANKIND.
What a terrible answer will be given by those who turn the means of Edification and Salvation into a means of depravity and destruction! ST GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN WROTE IN VERSE WITH A LOFTY, PROFOUNDLY PIOUS GOAL: TO FURNISH READINGS AND IMAGES IN POETRY TO CHRISTIAN YOUTH, and to make it unnecessary for them to study the pagan poets, who exhale sensuality and other passions, who exhale sacrilege. I sincerely wish for you too, the Goal of the Theologian, finding you capable, to a certain degree, of COMPLYING WITH THIS PURPOSE and YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN. TAKE THE YOKE OF THIS GOAL UPON YOURSELF, as one OBLIGED TO RENDER AN ANSWER at some point TO THE GIVER FOR THE TALENT GRANTED TO YOU. TAKE UPON YOURSELF THE LABOUR NEEDED TO ATTAIN THIS GOAL.
21 AP 7 LUKE JAIRUS DAUGHTER HOLY PROTECTION 2 8 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2
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Putting aside all vexation, APPLY YOURSELF CONTINUALLY AND HUMBLY TO THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE with which you are now occupied DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM IT FOR YOUR WRITING. Then subject your writings to your own strictest criticism, and in the light of your conscience, ENLIGHTENED BY THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE,
MERCILESSLY THROW OUT OF YOUR WORKS EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS TO THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD THAT IS FOREIGN TO THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST!
Woe to those who laugh now! These are the Words of Christ! THIS IS A DECREE THAT PROCEEDS FROM GOD! It is impossible to set aside by any excuse whatever. Judging and scrutinising yourself, you will see that
EVERY WORD SPOKEN OR WRITTEN IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS (fallen) WORLD, PLACES ITS MARK UPON YOUR
SOUL, by which souls are SEALED BY THE PRINCE OF THE (fallen) WORLD (i.e. Satan). IT IS ESSENTIAL TO REPENT OF SUCH WORDS, WHICH ARE LET LOOSE THROUGH ENTHUSIASM AND IGNORANCE. It is essential to ESTABLISH IN ONES HEART A DEPOSIT OF FAITHFULNESS TO CHRIST, AND TO IMMEDIATELY HEAL ANY FALLING AWAY of the heart from Faithfulness, due to our infirmity, BY REPENTANCE AND BY PUTTING AWAY FROM ONESELF ACTIONS INSTILLED BY UNFAITHFULNESS AND COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SPIRITS THAT FLATTER US AND AT THE SAME TIME, THIRST FOR OUR DESTRUCTION.
In my imagination, I can already see a book of your verses of poetry worthy of being called both Sacred and elegant. O may I see my expectation become fact, that I might rejoice over it with Spiritual Joy!
O N T E M P T A T I O N S & G O D S P R O V I D E N C E (ADDRESSED TO A CERTAIN ARCHIMANDRITE)

... WITHOUT GODS WILL NOTHING CAN HAPPEN!... nothing can happen that is not permitted by God, and upon those whom He Loves, HE PERMITS TEMPTATIONS, and after temptation, HE GRANTS DELIVERANCE from them. CONSOLED BY OUR REDEMPTION, WE HASTEN IN PRAYER TO GOD; AND, RECEIVING DELIVERANCE FROM TEMPTATION, WE ACQUIRE FAITH IN GOD A FAITH THAT IS not dead nor theoretical but LIVING AND PRACTICAL. You present situation entails difficulties, but these DIFFICULTIES ARE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR YOU
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THEY WILL FORM YOU.
CROWNS OF LIFE AND WILL ACQUIRE THE GIFT OF HELPING OTHERS WHO ARE BEING TRIED. Believe that YOUR HAIRS ARE NUMBERED BY GOD
LIKEWISE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US WHO ARE IN HIS SIGHT.
A man who is untried is unskilled, says Holy Scripture, and THOSE WHO ARE TRIED WILL RECEIVE
Sail and direct the Helm of the Monastery with Faith in God, in Patience, and in the Fear of God. When someone stands in a high place, he must look up, not down. If he looks down, his head will easily begin to spin and he will fall. So LOOK UP WITH FAITH TO HEAVEN TO THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD AND YOUR HEAD WILL NOT SPIN, AND YOU WILL NOT FALL INTO CONFUSION AND DESPAIR, which comes when you look down i.e. when in a Place of Prayer and Faith we give ourselves up to our own reasoning, and desire to resolve every matter by our own understanding alone. May Christ be with you...
O N D E A T H (ADDRESSED TO A NUN WHO LOST A BELOVED RELATIVE) ... WE WHO HAVE DEPARTED FROM THE MIDST OF THE Having learnt of the death of your relative, DO NOT GIVE WORLD into the Bosom of the Holy Monasteries by YOURSELF OVER TO INCONSOLABLE WEEPING, which the world usually falls into, demonstrating by this that this very act HAVE INITIATED our death according to its hope is only in the flesh. the flesh, and our LIFE IN CHRIST. YOUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST! There are deaths that are sudden and there are deaths SHED PRAYERFUL TEARS FOR THE REPOSED, TURN YOUR that come with prolonged illnesses. From the time we leave the world, WE DIE DAILY, HEART AND THOUGHTS TO HIM WHO ALONE CAN ACCORDING TO THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY APOSTLE, COMFORT YOU AND BEFORE WHOM YOU MUST STAND AT ST PAUL. THE TIME APPOINTED FOR YOURSELF. In this death (RENUNCIATION OF THE FALLEN WORLD), we see THE DO NOT BE CARRIED AWAY BY ANYTHING EARTHLY the Fruit of such passion, which is illusory, seductive INDISPENSABLE CONDITION OF TRUE LIFE. and fanciful, is corruption. The moment of OUR CROSSING OVER FROM EARTH - OUR HAVE PEACE IN GOD AND GIVE YOURSELF OVER IN BIRTH INTO ETERNITY - IS NOT AS STRANGE AND COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO HIS HOLY WILL, before FOREIGN TO US as it is for those who live in the midst which - being the Fullness of Goodness and Wisdom of the world, deafened by its noise, attached to it in we bow and fall down, ENTRUSTING OUR SOULS AND mind and heart - those who have forgotten that BODIES TO OUR LORD. death exists and who do not think about Eternity, ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SELECTIONS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ST which must unfailingly be their Destiny as well.
IGNATIOS BRIANCHANINOV http://www.theorthodoxword.com
The Inspired Wisdom of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos 8 POINTS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
1. You must TAKE CARE OF THE PURIFICATION OF YOUR SOUL ON A DAILY BASIS. 2. You must ACQUIRE DIVINE JUSTICE and not logic, for only then the Grace of our Christ will come to you. 3. Before you do anything, THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD WANT YOU TO DO then ACT ACCORDINGLY. 4. You must perfectly PRACTICE OBEDIENCE, so you may later talk to others about THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE. 5. The "no" you say to people must be "no," and the "yes" must be "yes." Do not pretend, (DECEIVE) but SAY WHAT YOU THINK, even if it hurts the other person SAY IT IN A GOOD MANNER, however, AND ALSO OFFER SOME EXPLANATION. 6. You must attain and MAINTAIN THIS SPIRITUAL DIGNITY; ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION to what pleases your fellow Monks (OR CHRISTIAN BRETHREN) and not to what pleases yourself. ( ALWAYS PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS BEFORE
YOUR OWN.)
7. You must READ A SECTION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT EVERY DAY for the Purification and Edification of your soul. 8. DO NOT LOOK AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO, or examine how, and why they do it. YOUR OWN GOAL IS THE PURIFICATION OF YOUR SOUL AND
THE PERFECT SUBMISSION OF YOUR MIND TO DIVINE GRACE. DO EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GOAL;
pray, study, repeat the Jesus Prayer - ever aware that you need God's Mercy. In other words, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SPIRITUAL WORK.
24.
21 AP 7 LUKE THE HAEMORRHAGING WOMAN &
JAIRUS DAUGHTER HOLY PROTECTION - 2 8 O C T O B
ER
2012

2012 - October - Sacred Lessons

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2012 - October - Sacred Lessons

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa Archdiocese of Good Hope

3 October 2012 St Dionysios the Areopagite of Athens

Festal Apolytikion Of St Dionysios The Areopagite T O N E 4

Festal Kontakion of St Dionysios the Areopagite

Tas Ouranious diavas pilas en Pnevmati, Mathitefthis to In

Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O

The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 16 : 16 34

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that arises to spread Gods Divine Love to others.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 6 : 46 7 : 1

St Dionysios the Areopagite

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6 October 2012 St Thomas Didymos (i.e. the Twin or the Double-minded) A p o s t l e o f C h r i s t

O Holy Apostle Thomas:

Festal Kontakion St Thomas TONE 3.

Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O

First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4: 9 16

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The Holy Gospel According to St John 20 : 19 - 31

St Thomas of the Twelve Holy Apostles of Christ

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3rd Sunday of St Luke- The Widow of Nain

Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton While

Festal Kontakion Male Martyrs

Thy loyal Martyrs, O Lord, while contending for Thee, the

Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O

Resurrection Gospel 7 John 20 : 1 - 10

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18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD

ST LUKE THE WIDOW

NAIN 7 OCTOBER 2012

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 7 : 11 16

The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain

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18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD

ST LUKE THE WIDOW

NAIN 7 OCTOBER 2012

WE HAVE ALL BEEN TIME AND AGAIN.

May God Give You Wisdom!

Godly People Are Departing!

Living the Orthodox World View Part 1

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18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD

ST LUKE THE WIDOW

NAIN 7 OCTOBER 2012

Protodeacon Leonid Mickle

- Cultivate the Quiet Light of Christ

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18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD

ST LUKE THE WIDOW

NAIN 7 OCTOBER 2012

19th Sunday After Pentecost

4th Sunday of St Luke The Sower & the Seed

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

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O

Resurrection Gospel 8 : John 20 : 11 18

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19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 4TH

ST LUKE THE SOWER &

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 8 : 5 15