Orthodox Sacred Lessons - September 2011

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, ye t Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one ano ther and our whole Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.
1 September 2011 New Ecclesiastical Year (7520) The Beginning of the Indiction
Also the Feast of St Joshua the Son of Nun St Ammoun the Deacon & the 40 Virgin Martyrs of Heraclea, Thrace: St Theona, St Lambrou, St Arevoia, St Alone, St Mos-ho, St Theofani, St Akrive, St Ermia, St Sappho, St Athena, St Adamatene, St Kalliroe, St Evterpe, St Terpsihore, St Erato, St Elpinike, St Melpomene, St Polymbia, St Dodone, St Troada, St Koralia, St Theano, St Aspasia, St Erasmia, St Theonymphe, St Aphrodite, St Aglaia, St Pandora, St Polynike, St Antigone, St Ourania, St Marianth, St Thaleia, St Harikleia, St Kleio, St Athena, St Penelope, St Kleopatra, St Kleonike, St Margarita. Also the Feast of St Callista & her Brothers, St Evodos & St Hermogenes, together with other Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia St Symeon the Stylite & his Venerable mother, St Martha, of Sisan, Cappadocia St Aithalas of Persia the Holy Icons of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of the Miasena Monastery - the Chernigov-Gethsemane The All Blessed of the New Monastery of the Transfiguration of our Saviour - St Meletios the New of Cappadocia St Evanthia
Apolytikion Of The Indiction Tone 2
pasis Dimiourgos tis ktiseos, O kerous ke hronous en ti idia exousia themenos, Evlogison ton Stefanon, tou eniaftou tis Hristotitos Sou, Kyrie, filatton en Irini tous Vasilis ke tin Polin Sou, Presvies tis Theotokou, Mone Filanthrope.
Creator of all the Universe, Who has placed times and seasons under Thine own Authority; Bless, O Lord, the Crown of this year of Thy Kindness, keeping in Peace Thy Kings and Thy City; by the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Only True Lover of mankind.
Apolytikion of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos -
Here
Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene. Ek Sou gar anetilen O Ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O Theos imon, fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke si Presvita Dikee, dexamenos en agkales ton elevtherotin ton psihon imon, harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin
Hail, O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, giving Light to those in darkness. Be glad also, Thou Righteous Elder, for Thou hast received in Thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who bestows upon us Resurrection.
Apolytikion Of St Symeon The Stylite Tone 1
Ipomonis
Stilos gegonas, zilosas tou propatoras Osie, ton Iob en tis pathesi ton Iosif en tis pirasmis ke tin ton Asomaton Politian iparhon en somatic. Simeon Patir imon Osie, Presveve Hristo to Theo, sothine tas Psihas imon.
Thou
became a Pillar of Patience, and the Ancient Fathers Thou equalled and rivalled; Thou rivalled Job in Sufferings, Joseph in Temptations, and the Lifestyle of the Incorporeals while in the flesh. Therefore, O our Righteous Father, Symeon, Intercede with Christ God to Save our souls!
Kontakion of the Indictos:Tone 4
O ton Eonon Piitis ke Despotis, Thee ton olon Iperousie O Thou Creator and Lord of ages, O God of All, truly
ontos, tin eniafsion Evlogison periodon, Soson to Eleei Sou, to apiro iktirmon, pantas tous latrevontas, Si to Mono Despoti, ke ekvoontas Fovo, litrota. Eforon pasi to etos horigison.
transcending all essence, we earnestly beseech Thee to Bless the year, and, O Tender-Loving Lord, in Thine Infinite Mercy, O only Master, Save us all who worship and serve Thee, O our Redeemer, and who cry with fear: For all Thy servants make the coming year fruitful.
The First Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy 2: 1 7

Bless The Crown Of The Year By Thy Goodness, O Lord, Alleluia!
Brethren: I exhort first of all that Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and Peaceful Life in all Goodness And Reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour, Who desires all men to be Saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man-Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a Ransom for all, to be Testified in due time, for which I was appointed a Preacher and an Apostle I am speaking the Truth in Christ and not lying a Teacher of the Gentiles in Faith and Truth. Intercessory Prayers are to be offered for everyone He emptied Himself of His infinite, uncontainable, without exception. However, SPECIAL PRAYERS SHOULD unrestricted Divinity and Majesty in order to take on BE OFFERED FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER US. our weak and vulnerable and limited human flesh and Thus - as Orthodox Christians - we repeatedly pray for all nature i.e. THE CREATOR BECAME A CREATURE, IN civil authorities... during our Fervent Prayers of the ORDER TO TEACH AND GUIDE US PERSONALLY AND THEN TO OFFER HIMSELF AS THE FINAL AND ULTIMATE BLOOD Holy Services. SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ETERNAL LIFE AND The religions of the ancient Greek or Hellenised world SALVATION. were pluralistic and elite. Some who are opposed to the established Holy Church of In contrast, St Paul taught that THERE IS ONE SAVIOUR, ONE Christ have used this particular verse to erroneously GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR ONE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO claim that all we need is our Lord Jesus - not His Holy OFFERS SALVATION EQUALLY TO ALL HUMANITY BECAUSE HE Church, Her Clergy nor Her Divine Mysteries CREATED US HUMAN BEINGS TO SHARE IN HIS DIVINE GOODNESS. (Sacraments.) GOD BECAME MAN IN ORDER TO GRANT US SALVATION.
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The New Ecclesiastical Year The Indiction St Symeon the Stylite 1 September 2011
1.
However: THE SON OF GOD BECAME OUR ONE AND ONLY DIVINE
MEDIATOR BY BECOMING MAN THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN THEOTOKOS I.E. THROUGH GOD AND MANKIND.
God took His human Nature not from Himself alone but from also from a human being the All Holy Ever Virgin Theotokos. Likewise, as our Divine Mediator, Christ said: I will build My Church. and HE ESTABLISHED HER LEADERS WHO
GUIDE US AND HER WORSHIP SO THAT WE, WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY INEXPERIENCED, MAY BE ABLE TO APPROACH GOD CORRECTLY, OBEDIENTLY AND WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT.
St Paul emphasised THE TRUTH OF GOD, which he taught and which he practised, having received his Truth DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF. St Paul had been CALLED BY CHRIST HIMSELF and therefore he was indeed AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST. He had been ENLIGHTENED AND INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF. Divine Knowledge and Illumination was bestowed by Christ upon St Paul at his Conversion along the road to Damascus.
AS A TRUE APOSTLE OF CHRIST, HE PERFORMED ALL HIS MISSIONARY DUTIES WITH ABSOLUTE TRUTH in humble
As the Blessed Theotokos gave us Christ in His Humanity, so HIS HOLY CHURCH INTRODUCES US TO HIM, WHO ALONE IS OUR DIVINE MEDIATOR. In the context of ancient slavery a ransom was paid : Not so much to purchase a slave, but TO FREE HIM
FROM BONDAGE
Obedience to God and not according to his own ideas or imagination! St Paul taught not only the Jews but also the Gentiles the Holy Gospel of Christ our Lord and therefore he was also known as THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES the nonJews and pagans.
DIVINE INSPIRATION DRIVES FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD TO SEEK HIS TRUTH AND TO PRACTISE HIS WAYS EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES, INSPIRING AND TEACHING OTHERS BY THEIR GOOD EXAMPLES.
So that he may EXPERIENCE LIBERTY FREEDOM In

FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY [SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL] other words: WE ARE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN BY THE DIVINE SALVATION OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
The Holy Gospel of St Luke 4 : 16 22

At that time, Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has sent Me to Heal the broken-hearted, to Proclaim Liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at Liberty those who are oppressed, to Proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord. Then He closed the Book and gave it back to the Attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the Synagogue were fixed upon Him. Then He began by saying to them: Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Thus all bore witness to Him, and marvelled at the Gracious Words that proceeded out of His Mouth. And they said: Is this not Josephs Son?
Our Lord had returned to Nazareth where He had spent most of His Life and where almost everyone would have known Him and His earthly Family. It was the usual practice for our Lord to go into the Synagogue to read the Holy Scriptures especially on the Sabbath. The Book of Isaiah (the Holy Prophet of God) was the Sacred Lesson for the day and whether our Lord Himself chose the passage to read aloud or whether it was prescribed, the fact is
WHAT HE READ IN THE ANCIENT TEXT WAS ALREADY FULFILLED BY HIM BY THAT DAY AS HE SO CLEARLY INFORMED THEM:
V V V V V
ALL HUMANITY HAS BEEN TAUGHT DIRECTLY BY CHRIST GOD HIMSELF! DIVINE SALVATION IS GRANTED TO ALL HUMANITY FOR ALL TIME BECAUSE OF THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF CHRIST. CHRIST HEALS THE SICK AND SUFFERING both spiritual and
physical illnesses.
CHRIST PROCLAIMS THE DIVINE LIBERTY OFFERED TO HUMANITY that sets us FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND DEATH. CHRIST REVEALS HIS TRUTH concerning the purpose of this existence as A PREPARATION FOR WHAT IS TO FOLLOW: ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.
St Isaiah spoke of the Anointing of Christ by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit had indeed Descended upon Him at His Baptism.
ALL THE LONG AWAITED BLESSINGS OF THE JEWISH NATION WERE FULFILLED BY CHRIST OUR LORD. V GOD THE FATHER HAD SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to live
The people marvelled at Christs Words, but they could not believe or would not accept that Jesus Christ, a fellow villager, could truly be the long-awaited Messiah.
among His creatures.
1 September the New Church Year 7520

The first day of the Ecclesiastical (Church) New Year is also called The beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction is derived from a Latin word meaning, "to impose," and it was originally applied to the imposition of taxes in ancient Egypt. The first worldwide Indiction was in 312 when the Roman or Byzantine Emperor St Constantine the Great witnessed a Miraculous Vision of the Holy Cross in the sky. Before the introduction of the modern Julian calendar, the Roman Empire celebrated the New Year on 1 September. According to Holy Tradition, our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Synagogue in Nazareth on 1 September and, as we heard earlier, after reading the Holy Scripture, He proclaimed His fulfilment of the Old Covenant prophesies concerning His Coming - and His Divine Mission to all mankind. (LUKE 4:16-22) According to Old Covenant Holy Tradition, after wandering around the wilderness for forty years, the Israelites were finally permitted by God to enter the Promised Land on 1 September, where they settled down to a more stable life, and within a year, by the Grace of God, they enjoyed their first successful harvest. St Gregory Palamas "Prayer changes from Entreaty to Thanksgiving, and words, 'Taste and know that the Lord is bountiful' Meditation on the Divine Truths of Faith fills the heart (PSALM 34:8). with a sense of Jubilation and unimpeachable Hope. For He is the Jubilation of the Righteous, the Joy of the This Hope is a Foretaste of Future Blessings, of which the Upright, the Gladness of the Humble, and the Solace soul even now receives direct experience, and so it of those who grieve because of Him." (THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 4 EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD AND WARE; FABER AND FABER) comes to know in part the surpassing Richness of God's Bounty, in accordance with the Psalmist's St. Maximos the Confessor
"Every genuine Confession humbles the soul. When it takes the form of Thanksgiving, it teaches the soul that it has been delivered by the Grace of God."
St David - King, Shepherd & Psalmist
Give thanks to the God, because He is Good; His Love is Eternal... Psalm 106:1
2.
The New Ecclesiastical Year The Indiction St Symeon the Stylite 1 September 2011
Al l Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the F ather, 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 Glorio us Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n. th
12
Sunday After Pentecost

th
Tone 3
4 S ep t e m b e r 2 0 1 1 ep
12 Sunday of St Matthew: Inheriting Eternal Life (Sunday Before the Nativity of our Lady Theotokos) The Feast of St Babylas, Hieromartyr and his 84 Disciples - together with St Prilidian, St Epolonios, St Urbanos, and their mother, St Christodoula of Antioch St Moses the Holy Prophet and God Beholder St Joasaph of Belgorod, uncovering of Holy Relics St Hermione, daughter of St Philip the Deacon St Theodore, St Mianos, St Julian and St Kion (Oceanos) of Nicomedia St Centurionos of Nicomedia the Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos, The Unburnt Bush - St Metrophanes of Vorenzh, second finding of Holy Relics St Peter, Hieromartyr of Serbia St Parthenios, Igumen of Kiziltachsk Monastery St Symeon the Wonderworker of Davit-Gareji Monastery
Apolytikion of the Resurrection Tone 3
Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise

Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Thanato ton thanaton.Prototokos ton nekron egeneto. Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos.
Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for
the Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has trampled down Death by Death; He has become the First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He has delivered us, and to the world He has granted Great Mercy.
Apolytkion of St Babylas the Hieromartyr Tone 4
Ke
tropon metohos, ke thronon diadohos, ton Apostolon genomenos, tin praxin evres theopnevste, is theorias epivasin. Dia touto ton Logon tis Alithias orthotomon, ke ti Pisti enithlisas mehris ematos, Ieromartis Babila. Presveve Hristo to theo, sosthine tas psihas imon.
As a Sharer of the Ways and a Successor to the Throne

of the Apostles, O Inspired of God, thou found discipline to be a means of Ascent to Divine Vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the Word of Truth, thou also contested for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be Saved.
Tone 4
Apolytkion of St Mose the God Beholding Prophet
Tou Profiton Sou Moiseos

Kontakion of the Nativity of our Lady Theotokos
As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophets Moses, O

Lord, through them we beseech Thee to Save our souls.
Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek By

tis fthoras tou Thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti Agia Gennisi Sou. Aftin Eortazi ke O Laos Sou, enohis ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si: i stira tikti tin Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon.
Thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and Anna were freed from the scorn of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from Deaths corruption. This is the Feast now observed by thy people, who from the guilt of their errors, were delivered as they cry out to Thee: the barren one bears the Theotokos, and our Lifes Sustainer!
The Great Commission
Resurrection Gospel 1 : Matthew 28 : 16 20 Prokeimenon
Sing Praises to our God! Sing praises to our King! Clap your hands, all you Nations!
First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 15: 1 11
The Truth and Life of Christs Holy Gospel
Brethren: I declare to you the Gospel that I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are Saved - if you hold fast to the Word that I preached to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you, first of all, that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. After than He was seen by over five hundred Brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, although some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the Apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as one born out of due time. For I am the least of the Apostles, who am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the Grace of God I am what I am, and His Grace towards me was not in vain; and I laboured more abundantly than them all yet, not I, but the Grace of God, which was with me. Therefore - whether it was I or they so we preach and so you believed. St Paul reminded the Corinthians of the Holy Gospel of soul to Hades, nor allow Thy Holy One to see Christ, which he had preached to or taught them about corruption. Thou made known to me the and which they had so joyfully received at first, and Ways of Life; Thou will fill me with Gladness in whereby many struggled to live each day. Thy Presence; at Thy right Hand are Pleasures St Pauls concise summary of the Holy Gospel concerning forevermore. our Lord Jesus Christ was part of the earliest of Creeds WE SHOULD ALWAYS HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION from the of Faith or Catechism. dead since the Soul of our Lord Jesus Christ in His P s a l m 1 6 : 9 - 1 2 : ... my heart was glad, and my human Nature was not left in Hades, like all the souls tongue rejoiced exceedingly; my flesh also shall good or bad - who had preceded Him into Death. dwell in Hope. For Thou will not abandon my
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12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life -
4 September 2011
3.
Every human soul was imprisoned in Hades until His Coming, when the Righteous and those who repented, having heard the Glad Tidings of St John the Baptist, were able to proceed to the reopened Paradise, TO REST IN PEACE UNTIL OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT. Nor did our Lords Body decompose in His Tomb because it was reunited with His Victorious Soul in Glorious Resurrection, which He purposely showed us hundreds, if not thousands of people, having witnessed the Resurrected Christ - so that we would know without a doubt that WE, TOO, ARE TO BE RESURRECTED ON THE EIGHTH DAY the beginning of Eternity and the great and fearful Final Judgement. Furthermore, WE JOYFULLY ANTICIPATE THE HEAVENLY BLISS OF ETERNAL LIFE IN GODS PRESENCE. G a l a t i a n s 1 : 4 ... our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, so that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the Will of our God and Father... OUR LORD JESUS DELIVERS US from this present evil age SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ENTER THE AGE TO
COME ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS DIVINE KINGDOM OF LOVE.
The expression to receive designates the passing on of Holy Tradition and the Divine Truth of God. G a l a t i a n s 1 : 9 ... if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. St Paul warned the Galatians and us against MAN-MADE TEACHINGS OR HERETICAL INTERPRETATIONS, because they ARE HARMFUL AND TREACHEROUS and are
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO CHRISTS DIVINE TRUTH.
FALSE FALSE FALSE
TEACHINGS HERESY OR OUTRIGHT LIES SURREPTITIOUSLY MISLEAD AND MISGUIDE US BY TURNING US AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS DIVINE GRACE.
TEACHINGS DRAW US INTO TEMPTATIONS AND APOSTASY, (A REJECTION OR DENIAL OF GOD AND HIS HOLY THINGS) WHICH RESULTS IN A TERRIBLE STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH. TEACHINGS PERVERT AND DISTORT THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST THROUGH THE CONFUSION OF OUR OWN LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING,
OUR
DELIVERANCE
FROM
EVIL
IS
ACCOMPLISHED
according to the Will of our God THROUGH GOD THE SON in His human Nature i.e. by His Divine Teaching, which we must apply to our own personal life CO-OPERATING, LIKE CHRIST, WITH THE
DIVINE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.
which is exacerbated by Satans tiny drop of Truth mixed with his fatal deceptions and lies. The evil one knows Holy Scripture chapter and verse he and knows exactly how to confuse us with his misleading ideas and inventions that are far from Divine Perfection and Truth. Thus we must REJECT NEW, MODERN, DIFFERENT OR RADICAL CONCEPTS THAT DISTORT, REFUTE OR DENY DIVINE TRUTH.
h GODS TRUTH IS PERFECT, ONE JOT (IOTA) ORSLIGHTEST AND EVEN THE CHANGE TO IT BY EVEN TITTLE
Consequently:
MAKES IT IMPERFECT AND NO LONGER DIVINE TRUTH! ALL FALSE GOSPELS OR TEACHINGS ARE ACCURSED OR ANATHEMATISED BY CHRISTS HOLY CHURCH for such lies and deceptions are intended to DRAW US AWAY FROM GOD by pleasing others but NEITHER OBEYING NOR FULFILLING THE DIVINE WILL AND TEACHINGS OF GOD.
Just as our Lord Jesus unfailingly obeyed and fulfilled

the Divine Will of God the Father, SO TOO, MUST WE OBEY AND FULFIL THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD ... on earth, as it is in Heaven! 1 J o h n 2 : 2 (Christ) Himself is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Faith in God means that we must constantly and ceaselessly seek forgiveness and the cleansing of our personal sins through RepentanceConfession and Holy Eucharist. 1 J o h n 4 : 1 0 : ... this is Love not that we loved God, but that He Loved us and sent His Son to be the Propitiation for our sins. This is a most astounding statement of Gods Great Mercy and Divine Grace! This is truly AGAPE! Divine Love! St Paul delivered an Apostolic Tradition of Christs Resurrection, which is unchanging and sufficient for our Salvation and Eternal Life. St Paul had received the Holy Gospel by his direct Experience of and Calling by our Resurrected and Eternal Lord Jesus Christ. Subsequently, St Paul was confirmed by his interactions with the original Apostles of Christ and the whole Holy Church of Christ. G a l a t i a n s 2 : 2 1 0 ... I went up by Revelation, and communicated to them that Gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation... They desired only that we should remember the poor... (READ THE WHOLE
PASSAGE AND THE EXPLANATORY NOTES OF THE ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE AS WELL.)
P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 9 ...do the (Holy) Things that you learnt and received and heard and saw in me, and the God of Peace will be with you. By living in Christ we are drawn into the Divine Love and Peace of Almighty God a little Heaven on earth! 1 T h e s s a l o n i a n s 2 : 1 3 ...we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you welcomed It not as the word of men, but as It is in Truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 1 T h e s s a l o n i a n s 4 : 1 ...we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what Commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. Our Holiness and Sanctification includes sexual purity, mutual Love (Agape) and honest labour. As for knowing Gods Divine Will, this passage comes through in brilliant simplicity. GODS WILL IS OUR SANCTIFICATION - our being set apart to the Lord as His special Children and adopted Heirs. WE ARE BEING SANCTIFIED i.e. regaining our lost Divine Likeness AS WE WALK WITH GOD IN FAITH AND HUMBLE
OBEDIENCE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DECIPHER OR DISTINGUISH EXACTLY

WHAT ST PAUL LEARNT FROM CHRIST, THE HOLY SPIRIT OR ELSEWHERE - BUT HIS TRUE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS A FLAWLESS WHOLE AND THE PERFECT DIVINE TRUTH OF GOD.
St Paul listed those who would testify to the Truth of the Resurrection from the very first witnesses to St Paul himself.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 19 : 16 26

Earthly Wealth & the Inheritance of Eternal Life
At that time, someone went to our Lord Jesus and said: Good Teacher, what Good Thing shall I do so that I may have Eternal Life? And He said to him: Why do you call Me Good? No one is good except One that is God. But if you want to enter into Life, keep the Commandments. He asked Him: Which Commandments? Jesus said: Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, and, Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man said to Him: All these things I have kept since my youth. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him: If you want to be Perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have Treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me. Yet when the young man heard what He said, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to His Disciples, Truly, I say to you: it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And
4.
12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life - 4 September 2011
again, I say to you: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. When His Disciples heard that, they were greatly astonished, and said: Who then can be Saved? And Jesus looked at them and said: With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible! THIS YOUNG MAN DID NOT INTEND TO TEST OUR LORD JESUS, VERY FEW PEOPLE OFFER CONSTANT DAILY PRAYERS OF like the Pharisees and Scribes constantly tried to do. THANKSGIVING OR ARE EVEN AWARE OF HOW BLESSED THEY ARE BY DIVINE GRACE! HE SINCERELY SOUGHT HIS ADVICE because although But when, alas! misfortune and disaster strike, how the young man did not acknowledge Christ as the quickly they remember God either to lay the Divine Messiah/Saviour, HE DID RESPECT HIM AS A WISE AND PROFOUND TEACHER. blame for their tragedy at His Feet or to beseech Our Lords surprising reaction to the expression Good Him for more of His Blessings and Great Mercy, Teacher, DID NOT DENY THAT HE IS GOD but was which they take for granted or as their right. pointed out IN ORDER TO LEAD that rich young man GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE FEEDS ON OUR and others who heard them speak TO SUCH A OBSESSION FOR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS!
REALISATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS TRUE DIVINE IDENTITY. OUR LORD IS ALL WISE. HE NEVER FORCES ANYTHING ON US THE YOUNG MANS WEALTH HAD SUCH A TIGHT GRIP ON HIM, THAT HIS ONLY HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE WAS TO UNBURDEN HIMSELF OF ALL HIS WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS, by selling what he could and then
whether it is knowledge, understanding or commitment. He lays His Divine Truth before us, and those who see it for the exquisite Spiritual Treasure it truly is, will cherish it and keep it forever.
EACH OF US IS PERSONALLY UNIQUE AND GOD KNOWS EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. Sometimes His Divine Truth will lie
dormant in our soul until we are Spiritually Awakened and Enlightened, and ready and able to deal with or to accept His Divine Treasure.
FORMAL, AUTOMATIC OBSERVANCE OF GODS DIVINE COMMANDMENTS DOES NOT MAKE ANY OF US TRULY RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED SHOULD BE DONE WITH A CONSCIOUS AWARENESS ; MEANING, PURPOSE AND UNDERSTANDING especially when it
generously distributing the proceeds and the rest of his belongings amongst those in need. Many of OUR GREATEST SAINTS did just that and consequently, WITHOUT THE DISTRACTIONS AND TEMPTATIONS OF EARTHLY BURDENS, THEY GREW CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GOD, slowly through much Spiritual Effort REGAINING THEIR LOST DIVINE LIKENESS (Theosis) by becoming Sanctified until finally they achieved our ultimate Spiritual Goal and returned to Paradise to await our Final Judgement. St John Chrysostom has taught us that GIVING AWAY
ALL OUR POSSESSIONS IS THE VERY LEAST OF CHRISTS DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS because BY EAGERLY FOLLOWING HIM IN ALL THINGS IS A FAR GREATER AND MORE DIFFICULT CALLING.
EVERY
concerns our worship of God and our practice of Faith. Empty gestures are simply that they do not bring us any Spiritual Benefit. For example, WHEN MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, EACH TIME WE DO SO CAREFULLY AND PRECISELY, because WE ARE MAKING A DECLARATION OF FAITH: I worship Thee, O Lord, with all my mind, with all my heart, with all my strength and with all my soul! The arrogant Scribes and Pharisees professed to know the Law of God better than anyone else, yet they were the worst of sinners hypocrites! as our Lord declared. They fell far short of Gods Divine Blessings because although they followed every letter of the Law, they did not UNDERSTAND nor APPRECIATE AND LIVE the Spirit of the Law! In other words, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE, HIS LAW IS A LAW OF LOVE. Therefore, ALL GODS LAWS ARE TO BE LIVED, KEPT,
OBEYED, UNDERSTOOD AND FULFILLED WITH LOVE WITH DIVINE AGAPE!
Not everyone is required to give away all their wealth and possessions, but THE MORE WE ARE BLESSED WITH
EARTHLY RICHES, THE MORE GENEROUSLY WE SHOULD BE TOWARDS OUR FELLOW SINNER WHO IS LESS BLESSED THAN US. WORLDLY GOODS ARE NOT BAD IN THEMSELVES it depends
on how we use them and for what purpose we use them. GOD GIVES US MORE THAN WE NEED and He watches over us to see how well we make use of His Divine Blessings and Abundance.
MORE WE SHARE WITH OTHERS, THE MORE WE CERTAINLY DO RECEIVE IN RETURN - a hundred
THE
times more in various ways and without fail! Furthermore, THE PURE JOY OF GIVING UNSELFISHLY AND
GENEROUSLY TO OTHERS IS OUR GREATEST SPIRITUAL REWARD while on earth it is the best way of experiencing THE SPIRITUAL JOY OF AGAPE DIVINE LOVE.
The rich young man who had everything this life could offer, realised that HE STILL LACKED SOMETHING
ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE IN GODS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
To be Perfect. to regain our lost Divine Likeness we must willingly, eagerly sacrifice all our personal, selfish desires, time and possessions so that we can sincerely and correctly follow Christ without any worldly distractions or temptations.
NO SPIRITUAL TREASURE CAN BE GAINED UNLESS WE FREELY GIVE OR SHARE WHATEVER WE HAVE WITH OTHERS - always with Love (Agape) and according
to Gods Will Gods Commandments and Teachings. Because each of us is unique, THE SPECIFIC MANNER
WHEREBY WE ARE CALLED BY GOD TO FOLLOW HIM AND TO SERVE HIM, IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US. POSSESSIONS AND WEALTH OPPRESS OUR SOULS with their
...it is more difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle... has many different interpretations. 1. The utter impossibility of a camel going through the eye of a tiny sewing needle is self evident. 2. Others suggest the word used was rope not camel, which is also impossible to go through the eye of a small sewing needle. 3. The eye of a needle referred to the small pedestrian gate set into the larger city gates that protected the citizens against sudden invasion. People had to bend down to enter and certainly a heavily laden camel or beast of burden would have to be unloaded before being squeezed through the small doorway and then perhaps also unable to go through the small opening, so would have to remain outside.
4. WE ARE UNABLE TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH OUR EARTHLY BURDENS, which need to be
demands and desires, which then become obsessions or addictions TO THE EXCLUSION OF GOD
AND ALL HIS GOODNESS.
When times are good and prosperous, and everyone is enjoying themselves to the fullest extent, they forget all about God. Just look at our empty churches!
unloaded and distributed amongst those who need them. ALL WORLDLY GOODS AND CONCERNS must be left behind us - for such things only weigh us down they HAVE NO
VALUE AT ALL - AND WE HAVE NO NEED OF THEM IN GODS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life -
4 September 2011
5.
5. The Talmud uses the same expression but with the word elephant instead of camel, an even greater impossibility! Whatever phrase is used or whatever it refers to, IT
EMPHATICALLY EXPRESSES THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF SALVATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE SHACKLED BY OR OBSESSED WITH EARTHLY RICHES, STATUS OR AFFAIRS.
This is clearly evident by Christs Disciples voicing their apprehension: Who then can be Saved? which is immediately followed by THE HOPE AND COMFORT
AND INDEED, THE JOY OF OUR LORDS DECLARATION AND DIVINE PROMISE: With mankind this is
impossible BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! When HE REFUSED TO FOLLOW CHRIST, he was REFUSING IN
EFFECT TO BE MOULDED BY THE WILL OF GOD.
The Young Rich Man & Eternal Life

This Sacred Lesson begins with a question: What should I do to have Eternal Life? Then the young rich man asks again: I have fulfilled all the required Commandments, what more shall I do to be Perfect?Leave everything and follow Me, answered our Lord Jesus.
CHRISTS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES LISTEN CAREFULLY AND PUT HIS WORDS INTO PRACTICE. So they are the reverse image
of the self-indulgent rich young man. Afterwards, St Peter pointed out that they had left everything behind them to follow Christ, Who then reassured His Disciples that THOSE WHO HAVE
VOLUNTARILY SACRIFICED THEIR PERSONAL LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF GOD, WILL CERTAINLY INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.
In other word, HE REFUSED COMMUNION WITH CHRIST, which is, as St Paul said, participation in His Sufferings as well as in His Resurrection. Sufferings, afflictions or tribulations are the portion of Christians. As you know AFFLICTIONS ARE OFTEN A SIGN THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH. When we LIVE THE GOSPEL AND FOLLOW CHRIST, we are bound to EXPERIENCE THE PASSION OF CHRIST in our own person. For LIVING THE PASSION OF CHRIST IS NECESSARY TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: THE
RESURRECTION CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS.
Some have suggested that this Sacred Lesson is intended for those who have chosen a commited religious life: Virgins (Nuns), Hermits and Monastics. And it may be interpreted as such in the context of Matthew 19. However, as the vast majority of our Holy Church Fathers emphasise - there is far more to this Lesson, which is intended for all committed Christians True Disciples of Christ. The rich young man represented the religious Hebrew who had put his trust in the Old Covenant Law. He was a Pharisee because he believed in Eternal Life, and in order to understand why he refused to obey our Lord Jesus, we must remember that in Judaism the Kingdom of God was closely linked with material happiness and was inconsistent with poverty for success in life and wealth are considered as Blessings of God. (CF. SOLOMON SCHECHTER. ASPECTS OF RABBINIC THEOLOGY. 109-110) The rich young man wished to advance beyond the Law, but according to his own will, without being disturbed in his comfortable lifestyle. Protection of the poor is a mitzvah - a good deed. It is the mitzvah of tzedaka justice; but giving away all ones possessions did not make any sense. Our Lord Jesus challenged this idea, just as St Job, King David the Psalmist and the Holy Prophets of God had all done before Him. The poor become the Just. It is one of the characteristics of the Words of the Lord: He shakes us up so that we may be deprived of or set free from our false sense of securities. What God says is always different from what we expect. There is no rest or life of ease for those who follow Christ. In this case, our Lord did not say that success and wealth were bad. Instead He implied that WHAT IS WRONG IS TO BE ENSLAVED
TO ONES OWN POSSESSIONS, TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO THE POWER OF SUCCESS AND WEALTH.
Moreover, as St Paul, St James and all the Holy Fathers teach us: these SUFFERINGS, AFFLICTIONS AND
TRIBULATIONS MUST NOT ONLY BE ENDURED WITH RESIGNATION BUT ACCEPTED WITH LOVE. We are far from simple resignation. AFFLICTIONS ARE THE TRUE BLESSINGS OF GOD not success and possessions according to the world AND AS SUCH SHOULD GIVE RISE TO JOY AND NOT SADNESS - because THROUGH AFFLICTIONS, WHEN THE HEART IS CLEANSED AND OUR FAITH PURIFIED, WE BECOME THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. Therefore, let us FOLLOW CHRIST WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. Whatever is expected from us, STRENGTH WILL BE GIVEN. ALL OF US ARE CALLED TO BE THE GUARDIANS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. All of us are Called to SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND SHOW BY OUR ACTIONS OUR LOYALTY TO GOD AND EACH OTHER
within our Community. All of us are offered the great Blessing of following our Lord Jesus Christ by BEARING OUR CROSSES WITH LOVE and SOME OF US MAY EVEN BE CALLED TO BEAR THE CROSS OF OTHERS, ascending the Cross with Christ, and thus MEETING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. WHAT MATTERS IS not so much what we are asked to do we all have different Callings but THE WAY WE DO
IT, AND WHETHER WE HAVE TRULY SUBMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD: WE SHALL BE JUDGED ON OUR HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
This Sacred Lesson of our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly not a new or modern concept by any means, and we need to keep it constantly before us always present in our minds and our hearts because it is far too easy for us to ignore or to forget in the rush of daily living. Our modern society has taken its toll of our SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES - because THE CEASELESS PURSUIT OF AND
OBSESSION WITH ENDLESS VARIETIES OF ENTERTAINMENT, PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT HAVE MADE PERSONAL COMPUNCTION AND INWARD REFLECTION ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. SELFISHNESS AND INDIVIDUALISM HAVE TRANSFORMED COMMUNION INTO EMPTY WORDS while the early Christian
Being enslaved to it engenders the desire to possess more and more. Therefore, if the rich young man had abandoned his possessions, he would have lost his social status in the opinion of the people since, to the fallen world, possessions meant power, which in turn engendered vain glory and personal pride. What our Lord is asking us to do, is to renounce our selfishness and our own desires in order to better serve the whole community, which has a positive connotation the sharing of our talents and all that which has been granted to us by the Lord. It may have also a negative connotation: RENOUNCING OUR
IDOLS, RENOUNCING OUR PRETENCES AND THE GLORY OF MANKIND, SO THAT WE MAY FREELY LOOK FOR GOD WHO IS BEYOND THE GOD OF OUR LIMITED REPRESENTATIONS. IN EFFECT, BY REFUSING TO RENOUNCE HIS WILL, THE YOUNG MAN SHOWED THAT HE WAS PLAYING A GAME; HE WAS BEING A TOURIST, CHOOSING, TAKING ONLY WHAT HE LIKED. He did not expect anything from Christ: HE WAS NOT LIVING BY FAITH BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN SELFISH RULES. HE REFUSED TO BE CHALLENGED OR CHANGED IN HIS HEART.
Communities were putting everything in common.

GREED AND INDIFFERENCE HAVE DESTROYED CHARITY AND COMPASSION. THEOLOGY HAS SEPARATED ITSELF FROM OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND HAS BECOME A FORM OF INTELLECTUALISM TURNED ONLY TO THE GLORY OF MANKIND.
Love of business replaces too often the Apostolic Doctrine. Spiritual Blindness and ignorance is so extensive that many claim HERESY AS THE MODERN WAY OF CHRISTIAN
INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD! LET US FULFIL OUR CALLING; LET US FOLLOW HIM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
Amen!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON BY FATHER ROMAN, ST VLADIMIR ORTHODOX CHURCH, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
http://halifaxorthodox.org/vladimir.html
Divine Gifts follow sufferings endured for the sake of Virtue. (ST MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR
6.
12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life - 4 September 2011
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, 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, ye t Ever Virgi n, toge ther with all the Saints. And le t us commit o urselves and one anothe r and o ur w hole Life to Christ our God. Ame n.
8 September 2011 Nativity of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary Also the Feast of St George of Georgia the Holy Icons of our Lady Theotokos: of the Sign, of Pochaev Monastery - of Kholm of Sophia, the Wisdom of God, Kiev - of Syamsk Vologda Monastery - of Glinsk - of Domnitsa River, Chernigov - of Isaakov of Lukianov the Kathariotissa of Ithaca
A p o l y t i k i o n O f T h e N a t i v i t y O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s : TONE 4:
I Gennisis Sou Theotoke hara eminise pasi ti ikoumeni,

ek sou gar en etilen O ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O Theos imon; ke lisas tin kataran, edoke tin Evlogian; ke katargisas ton Thanato, edorisatos imin, Zoin tin Eonion.
Kontakion Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos
Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, has brought Joy to all earthly

habitations; because from Thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Jesus our Lord. And having loosened the Curse from us, He granted the Blessing; and He abolished the power of Death, and bestowed upon us, Life Eternal. & Anna were delivered from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam & Eve from the corruption of death, in thy Holy Nativity, O All Pure One. This do thy people celebrate, being Redeemed from the guilt of transgressions, when they cry unto thee: the Barren gives birth to the Birth-giver of God and the Nourisher of our Life!
Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva, ek Joachim

tis fthoras tou thanatou, ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti Agia gennisi Sou; aftin eortazi ke O laos Sou, enohis ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si; I stira tkti tin Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon.
First Antiphon Of The Nativity Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos TONE 2

STIHOS
Mnisthiti Kyrie tou David ke pasis tis praotitos aftou...
VERSE
Lord, remember David and all his meekness...

the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, Save us.
Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

STIHOS 2
Through
VERSE
Idou ikousamen aftin en Efratha evromen aftin en tis pediis tou drimou. Dedoxasmena elalithi peri Sou i Polis tou Theou O Theos en Meso Aftis ke ou salefthisete
Behold, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood


STIHOS 3
Through
VERSE 3
Glorious Things are spoken of Thee, O City of God

STIHOS 4
Through
VERSE 4
God in the midst of Her; She shall not be moved: God shall help Her and that right early
Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas. Doxa

Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton eonon.
Through Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages. the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, Save us.
Tone 2
Amin Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

STIHOS 1
Amen Through
VERSE 1
Second Antiphon - Nativity of the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Omose Kyrios to David Alithian ke ou mi athetisi
The Lord swore in Truth to David; and He will not
aftin.
turn from it.
Soson
STIHOS 2
imas Iie Theou, O EN AGIIS THAVMASTOS psallontas Si: Allilouia!
Son of God, WHO ART EXTOLLED BY THY SAINTS, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia
Ek Karpou tis Kilias Sou thisome epi tou Thronou Sou.

VERSE 2
O the Fruit of Thy Body will I set upon Thy Throne
Soson
STIHOS 3
Eki exanatelo Keras to David, itimasa lihnon to Hristo Mou.

VERSE 3
There will I make the Horn of David Bud: I have Ordained a Lamp for Mine Anointed
Soson
The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos 8 September 2011
7.
STIHOS 4
Oti exelexato Kyrios tin Zion, iretisato aftin is kati ian eafto.
VERSE 4
For the Lord has chosen Zion: He has desired it for His Habitation.
Son of God, WHO ART EXTOLLED BY THY SAINTS, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Soson
Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai

ke is tous Eonas ton eonon.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Amen
Amin
Matins Gospel Luke 1 : 39 49 & 56 The Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians 2 : 5 11

Strive for Humility and Obedience
Brethren: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the Form of God, did not consider it robbery to be Equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of mankind, He humbled Himself and became Obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name that is above every name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. This section of St Pauls Epistle to the Philippians OUR LORDS ABSOLUTE HUMILITY IS REVEALED by His consisted of A HYMN THAT WAS ALREADY IN USE IN THE voluntary emptying Himself of all His Divine Majesty EARLY HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST, which St Paul quoted in and Power not by laying aside His Divine Nature, but BY FREELY TAKING ON OUR WEAK, POWERLESS HUMAN order to remind us and call us to CONTEMPLATE THE
ABSOLUTE HUMILITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD A DIVINE TRUTH THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL SUFFERING CHRISTIANS TO UNDERSTAND AND TO APPLY TO OURSELVES AND OUR DAILY WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. NATURE.
To all human beings, GOD THE SON INCARNATE LOOKS

EXACTLY LIKE US, FOR BEING TRULY INCARNATE, HE IS COMPLETELY HUMAN BY NATURE.
DUE TO HIS INCARNATION GOD THE SON CAN BE SEEN BY US HUMAN BEINGS AND IS DEPICTED IN HOLY ICONS IN HIS HUMAN FORM. HOWEVER, GOD THE FATHER, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO HAVE NEVER MANIFESTED IN MATERIAL FORM, BUT WHO ARE EQUALLY ETERNAL WITH CHRIST, CANNOT BE DEPICTED EXCEPT AS COLOURED SHAPES SURROUNDING CHRIST OR AS THREE IDENTICAL HOLY ANGELS I.E. THE HOLY TRINITY AS DEPICTED IN THE HOLY ICON THE HOSPITALITY OF ABRAHAM WHICH COMMEMORATES THEIR VISITATION AS THREE IDENTICAL BEINGS AT THE OAKS OF MAMRE. IT IS INCORRECT TO DEPICT GOD THE FATHER AS AN OLD MAN OR THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A WHITE DOVE! THIS IS A WESTERN, HERETICAL CONCEPT AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
These words have been incorporated into many of our Orthodox Christian Hymns. Our Lord Jesus Christ is He Who being in the Form of God, IS ALSO IN THE form of a bondservant - a reference to the TWO COMPLETE, UNMINGLED, In
UNCONFUSED NATURES OF CHRIST COMPLETELY DIVINE AND COMPLETELY HUMAN NATURES. His human Nature, CHRIST VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED THE TERRIBLE, UNJUST PUNISHMENT of public humiliation,
Our Lord Jesus took on our weak human nature because In

HE WAS WILLING TO SHARE OUR HUMAN CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE ABILITY TO SIN! His human Nature, CHRIST OUR LORD SHOWS THE FULLNESS OF HUMILITY BY HIS OBEDIENCE EVEN TO DEATH
scourging (that would have killed anyone else!), and crucifixion and death at the exact hour that He Himself chose to die!
ONLY IN HIS HUMAN NATURE COULD CHRIST BE KILLED AND ENTER HADES with all the other human souls who had
already died. Having suffered such indescribable torture and execution,

CHRIST OUR LORD IS EXALTED BY GOD THE FATHER AND BEING SUPREMELY WORTHY - IS GIVEN THE DIVINE NAME LORD JESUS, WHICH IS SO SACRED THAT ALL CREATION BOWS DOWN BEFORE HIM IN HONOUR, WORSHIP AND DEVOTION. The Divine title Lord clearly shows us that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD SHARES HIS ETERNAL DIVINITY WITH GOD THE FATHER. THE FORM (Morphe) of God a concept parallel with the Image (Eikon) of God REFERS TO GOD THE SONS SHARING IN THE FULL DIVINE NATURE HE IS ETERNALLY DIVINE LIKE GOD THE FATHER.
that had enslaved all humanity. To suffer the humiliation and degradation of crucifixion a most hideous and severe form of slow execution that was reserved for the worst type of criminals according to Roman Law was repulsive and horrific to the Romans as well as the Hebrews and all the other Nations. The Hebrews considered hanging and crucifixion as the worst type of curse possible on earth. However, THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS,
BROUGHT ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL WHO ARE FREELY AND FAITHFULLY JOINED AND UNITED TO GOD through Holy
Baptism, Chrismation and Life IN CHRIST. Therefore: BECAUSE OF CHRISTS SACRIFICE FOR OUR
ETERNAL SALVATION, WE MUST TAKE HOLD OF WHAT GOD OFFERS US AND THEREBY ACCEPT HIS DIVINE GRACE BY CONSTANTLY STRIVING TOWARDS BECOMING SPIRITUALLY MATURE IN CHRIST.
IN OTHER WORDS: WE MUST STRUGGLE EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY TO IMPROVE OURSELVES AND TO REGAIN OUR LOST DIVINE LIKENESS BY HUMBLY AND EAGERLY OBEYING ALL GODS COMMANDMENTS AND CHRISTS TEACHINGS APPLYING THEM TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE.
Robbery (harpagmon) literally means loot" ill gotten gains or plunder - referring to something that is illegally, shamefully or dishonourably stolen.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ETERNAL DIVINE EQUALITY WITH ALMIGHTY GOD not by false or illegal seizure but BY HIS OWN ETERNAL DIVINE NATURE.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10 : 38 42 & 11 : 27 28

One Thing is Required of us The Difference Between St Mary and St Martha of Bethany
At that time, as they went, Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus Feet and heard His Word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, so she approached Him and said: Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her: Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
SPIRITUAL POWER & SPIRITUAL WARFARE
...And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him: Blessed is the Womb that bore Thee, and the breasts that nursed Thee! But He said: More than that: Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it! St Martha and St Mary of Bethany were the sisters of St However INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING HER IMMEDIATE NEEDS, OUR LORD JESUS POINTED OUT THAT WHILE SHE WAS Lazaros whom our Lord Jesus Christ had raised from SO CONCERNED ABOUT ALL HER CURRENT DUTIES, HER the dead.
ST MARTHA WAS PREOCCUPIED AND WORRIED ABOUT ALL HER HOUSEHOLD DUTIES of providing hospitality to our
Lord Jesus and His entourage of Disciples.

HER TEMPORARY, WORLDLY CARES CONCERNED HER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE at the time so, RESENTING HER SISTER WHO SAT AT THE FEET OF OUR LORD TO HEAR HIS TEACHINGS, SHE APPEALED TO HIM TO MAKE HER GET UP AND HELP HER.
SISTER HAD PREFERRED TO SPEND THE PRECIOUS TIME LISTENING TO CHRISTS TEACHINGS. The one thing ... Needed was for her TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIS DIVINE TEACHING TO REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID. IT WAS A SERIOUS PRIORITY THAT CERTAINLY DID NOT EXCLUDE SERVING HIM.
Later, when a woman called out to our Lord Jesus from the crowd, our Lord pointed out to her that GODS
8.
BLESSINGS FALL UPON ALL THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND OBEY HIM. FAMILY OR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD and the Ever Blessed
Theotokos was especially complimented by Her Son because SHE NOT ONLY PAID CAREFUL ATTENTION
TO THE WORD OF GOD BUT SHE ALSO FAITHFULLY OBEYED ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND LIVED HER ENTIRE LIFE ACCORDINGLY.
IT IS THAT PRFOUND VIRTUE OF HUMBLE AND ATTENTIVE OBEDIENCE TO GOD OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS ALONE EVEN MORE THAN HAVING BORNE THE INCARNATE GOD THAT MAKES HER OUR MOST SHINING EXAMPLE OF TRUE SAINTHOOD AND THEOSIS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos & Ever Virgin Mary The Right Time
In the Holy Services of the Feast of the Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady, All Holy Theotokos, we hear the words of the Hymn: In the sorrow of their barrenness, the wise parents of the Mother of God cried out unto the Lord, and they gave birth to Her unto all generations, for Universal Salvation and Glory. Let us ponder these wonderful words for a moment, my dear Brethren. We see before us the Righteous ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNA the venerable, pious and faithful spouses, who had issued from A GREAT ANCESTRY OF KINGS AND PRIESTS, who were GOD-FEARING and who FAITHFULLY KEPT ALL GODS COMMANDMENTS, as well as being known for their SINCERE HUMILITY AND CHARITY. And yet this model couple suffered the scorn and humiliation of their self-righteous neighbours because as the years passed by, they remained childless and having reached their old age, the Lord still had not Blessed them with any children. In those days EVERY HEBREW FAMILY HOPED THAT THROUGH
THEIR DESCENDANTS THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE LONG AWAITED KINGDOM OF THE GREAT AND HOLY MESSIAH. Therefore, INFERTILE COUPLES WERE OPENLY SCORNED BY OTHERS, BECAUSE SUCH BARRENNESS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE GODS GREAT PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR PERSONAL, HIDDEN SINS. WAS NOT TESTING THEIR VIRTUES OF PATIENCE AND HUMILITY for they had always exhibited such wonderful
Virtues abundantly. No, dear Brethren, THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR SO LONG UNTIL
THE TIME WAS RIGHT - UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
The Holy Virgin Mary, as the future Mother of God, had to be the purest Vessel possible in all humanity and because of this SHE HAD TO COME FROM THE PUREST
PARENTS POSSIBLE.
Consequently, for this reason the Righteous ST JOACHIM

AND ST ANNA HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE PURIFIED OF ALL HUMAN PASSIONS BY MEANS OF HUMILITY, PATIENCE AND MATURITY OF AGE. And then, when the time was right, THEY WHO HAD SO MEEKLY ACCEPTED GODS WILL AND THE FATE THAT THE LORD HAD METED OUT TO THEM JOYFULLY AND MOST GRATEFULLY RECEIVED THE MOST WONDROUS COMFORT!
Does not the same happen in our lives, dear Brethren?

WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL BARRENNESS: WE ARE SUBJECTED TO SORROWS AND HARDSHIPS, and we pray to God without apparently
Their childless state was especially difficult for St Joachim to endure since he was very aware of the fact that, as a descendent of King David, Christ the Saviour was to be born of his ancestry and thus it was apparent to everyone that the Messiah would definitely not come from his otherwise perfect marriage. Nevertheless, the Righteous ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNA NEVER LOST THEIR FAITH IN GOD and despite being publicly mocked by others for so many years, THEY
NEVER GRUMBLED AGAINST THE LORD AND THEY NEVER DIMINISHED NOR ABANDONED THEIR VIRTUOUS LIFE. THEY HUMBLY ACCEPTED THEIR LOT IN LIFE AND QUIETLY CONTINUED TO SUFFER THE UNCOMPASSIONATE ATTITUDE OF OTHERS. WITHOUT FAIL THEY TRUSTED IN GODS DIVINE PROVIDENCE
receiving any Comfort, or we ask for the fulfilment of some spiritually-beneficial Prayer which after a while seems unlikely to be fulfilled according to our hope. And so WE BEGIN TO THINK THAT THIS IS PUNISHMENT FOR OUR UNREPENTED SINS perhaps something we have chosen to forget AND WE BEGIN TO LOSE HOPE, which sends us spiralling towards despair hopelessness when we even dare to grumble against the Lord UNLESS WE RESIST SUCH TEMPTATIONS, and RATHER USE
OUR TIME OF SORROW WISELY BY SEARCHING INWARDLY, EXAMINING OUR HEARTS AND SOULS IN ORDER TO SEEK AND ERADICATE ALL OUR UNREPENTED SINS, CEASELESSLY PRAYING TO GOD TO ENLIGHTEN US AND TO GUIDE US TOWARDS HIS DIVINE TRUTH. OUR LOVING LORD OFTEN DELAYS THE Nevertheless: FULFILMENT OF OUR PRAYERS - not because He does
not hear our Prayers or punishes us for our sins, but

BECAUSE T H E R I G H T T I M E H A S N O T Y E T C O M E ! WE DO NOT KNOW GODS WILL for us, while OUR LORD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US - HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT - HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND WHEN TO GRANT US HIS DIVINE BLESSINGS AND WHEN TO WITHHOLD THEM.
and hoped that one day their shame in the sight of their neighbours would somehow be justified and corrected. THEY HAD COMPLETE FAITH IN GODS GREAT MERCY, and they besought Him to let them know what dark or secret sin they had committed in His Sight, so that they could repent it and return to Divine Grace. In the sorrow of their barrenness and their unknown fall from Grace, THEY CEASELESSLY AND TEARFULLY PRAYED
TO GOD FOR HIS FORGIVENESS AND CONSTANTLY THANKED HIM FOR HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
Therefore, let us follow the example of the Righteous St Joachim and St Anna. Let us PATIENTLY WAIT AND CEASELESSLY PRAY. Let us MEEKLY AND PATIENTLY ACCEPT THE ALL WISE AND
ALL KNOWING DIVINE WILL OF GOD.
Let
us HAVE ABSOLUTE, UNWAVERING HOPE IN GODS GREAT MERCY and let us always HAVE COMPLETE, CONFIDENT FAITH IN HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE. KNOWING that OUR LORD ALWAYS HEARS EVERY PRAYER great or small and every cry for help, courage or mercy.
Finally, the great Joyful Reward for such tremendous Virtue Humility, Patience, Faith, Hope and ceaseless Prayer was bestowed upon them, for THESE TWO WISE PARENTS RECEIVED A HEAVENLY GIFT FROM GOD their extraordinary little daughter - the All Pure and Ever Blessed Virgin Mary Who is more glorious and more honourable than the Cherubim and Seraphim, the highest Orders of Heavenly Hosts - and Birthgiver to God the Word Incarnate!
THEY GAVE LIFE TO HER WHO IS THE MOST BLESSED OF ALL WOMEN AND WHO IS ETERNALLY FULL OF GRACE, FOR THE UNIVERSAL SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND AND FOR THE EVERLASTING GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
Let us HAVE UNSHAKABLE, STEADY FAITH -
OUR LORD GOD SEES EVERY TEAR, EVERY PAIN, ALL OUR SORROWS and HE KNOWS ALL OUR NEEDS, ALL OUR DESIRES, ALL OUR WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS. And because HIS LOVE IS INFINITE AND FAR BEYOND OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDING, we may REST ASSURED THAT EVERY PRAYER IS CERTAINLY ANSWERED for HE DOES GRANT US EVERYTHING THAT W E N E E D - AND AT THE EXACTLY RIGHT TIME FOR US TO BENEFIT THE MOST.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy! Amen.

ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE RIGHT TIME A SERMON ON THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR EVER BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS PRAVMIR ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY & THE WORLD: http://www.pravmir.com/the-right-time/
Such was the most extraordinary Divine Gift that was earned by the Righteous parents - St Joachim and St Anna, who gave birth to the All Holy Ever Virgin Mary and Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos and BY HER MOST
JOYOUS NATIVITY THEY THEMSELVES WERE GLORIFIED FOR ALL AGES!
Yet, we may wonder: why did they have to wait so long?

OUR LORD GOD WAS NOT PUNISHING THEM FOR THEIR SINS FOR THEY WERE ALREADY RIGHTEOUS AND PURE and HE
9.
Something from Nothing

Many of our Orthodox Christian Feasts mark Events that are unfamiliar to many Protestant Christians, in that they are based on Tradition and have no direct account within the Holy Scriptures. This would be especially troubling for some, if these extra-canonical stories changed essential Doctrine or added to the Faith more than was proclaimed in the Creeds. However, I would submit, neither is the case. These extra-canonical Traditions not only conform to the Apostolic Hypothesis mentioned by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, they provide commentary and reinforcement to that very deepest heart of Christian Teaching. The situation for St. Irenaeus in the 2nd century needs to be appreciated. Although some Protestant groups constantly point back to when the writings of the New Testament were finished (at the death of the last Holy Apostle of Christ), such an artificial date is a modern configuration and was not entirely obvious to the early Church and those who succeeded the Apostles... ...What is consistent throughout the Apostolic Hypothesis, as witnessed in the Holy Scriptures, the Creeds, and the writings of our early Holy Church Fathers (most of whom were Bishops in Apostolic Succession) is the nature of the Incarnation of Christ and of human sin and of the role of Christs Death and Resurrection in the Salvation of the human race and of all Creation. It is this same fundamental understanding that runs throughout the extra-canonical devotions and stories of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary. It does not add to that fundamental understanding nor change it. It serves to underline, yet again, the very nature of our Salvation in Christ. The most simple example I can point to is the Nativity of the All Holy Virgin Mary. The story handed down to us is that the Righteous Parents of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary were aged and childless. Thus St Anna and her husband, St Joachim, were (in their own Jewish context) considered somehow unblessed. St Annas barrenness was seen as a rebuke from God. This is a common theme within the Old Testament. St Sarahs barrenness was the bane of her existence. The Promise of God was not simply that He would give St Abraham a land, but, more importantly, that St Abraham would be the Father of many Nations. As an elderly man with an elderly wife, such a Promise seems beyond belief. Yet St Sarah duly bore St Abraham a son and Gods Promise was fulfilled. Such barrenness occurs in the story of St Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel. It occurs as well in the story of Manoah and his wife in the Book of Judges (the parents of Samson). The theme cannot be fully understood apart from the Apostolic Hypothesis. God brings forth Fruitfulness from barrenness it is a theme of His Work of Salvation. In modern Protestant parlance we would say, We are Saved by Grace and not Works. The barren woman cannot be fruitful of herself it is entirely the Grace of God, which causes Fruitfulness to occur. This is very obvious in the case of the elderly St Abraham and St Sarah, which is echoed in the extra-canonical story of St Joachim and St Anna. Our Salvation is a Work of Divine Grace, not of human effort. The image of Fruitfulness being brought forth from barrenness is merely interesting if considered apart from the Apostolic Hypothesis. However, when placed in that proper context, it becomes a hallmark of the Gospel as a type of Salvation itself. The image of Fruitfulness from barrenness goes as deep as Genesis 1:1 and its ancient commentaries. The God Who created the world brought it forth from nothingness. No image of barrenness can be found that is greater than nothing. For many Christians, this Teaching of the Faith is simply a datum of Cosmology: God created the Universe from nothing. But to make this a matter of mere Cosmology is to miss the point. The God Who created the Universe out of nothing delights Himself in bringing forth something from nothing. As St. Paul said: He has chosenthe things that are not (1 CORINTHIANS 1:28). It is a consistent pattern throughout the Old Testament from the Creation to the birth of St Isaac - to the very creation of the Nation of Israel. The Work of Gods Election is not a choice among things that are, but a bringing forth of things that never could be (apart from Grace). This same pattern is seen in the story of the Nativity of the Ever Blessed Virgin, and of Christs Virgin Birth. St Mary was born to elderly parents who were barren. God made a Promise to the elderly St Joachim and St Anna - and they bore an extraordinary child. For Her, in Her Youth and Purity we have one of the ultimate instances of barrenness: what can be more barren than the womb of a Virgin? How can a Virgin be fruitful? The fact that Christ is born of a Virgin (often bound up in tortuous theories about sin and sinlessness) is perfectly consistent with the Actions of a God Who creates out of nothing. Our Salvation comes forth from the utterly barren womb of Hades. In His Death (what is more empty and barren than Death?) Christ descends into Death and takes captivity captive. As is sung throughout the Orthodox world, Christ has trampled down Death by Death, and upon those in the tombs bestowed Life. This great theme of Christs Pascha (Easter) is the very theme of our Salvation. We are Saved by the One Who trampled down Death by Death. The Death of our sin is trampled down by the Life of His Righteousness. The great Miracle of Gods Work in Creation is of a piece: He creates where there would otherwise be nothing - our Life in Christ is a New Creation. The stories of the Virgin Mary, including those the Church observes which are extra-canonical, are not outside the Apostolic Hypothesis. Our own lives and experience of Christ are not outside that same hypothesis. Apart from Me you can do nothing, Christ says. In my sin I am empty, barren and unfruitful, incapable of True Life. Only in the Action of the Good God, Who creates from nothing - Who makes the barren womb to be Fruitful, Who enters Himself into the barrenness of the Womb of the Virgin and the emptiness of sinful man, Who becomes what we are and enters into the emptiness of Death and Hades can Save and make those things which are not, to be as if they were. God is Glorified in His Saints! The God of Israel!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS BY FATHER STEPHEN FOR THE FULL ARTICLE PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/something-from-nothing-andthe-apostolic-hypothesis/
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All Glory, Hono ur and Wors hip to the Fathe r, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mari a, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our w hole Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.
13th Sunday After Pentecost 2011
Tone 4
11 September
Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross After Feast of the Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos Also the Feast of St Theodora of Alexandria St Euprosynos the Cook St Demetrios & St Evantea, with their son, St Demetrianos St Sergios & St Herman of Valaam Finland, translation of Holy Relics St Ia & 9000 Persian Holy Martyrs
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (HOLY ICON IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CONVENTOF ST ELIZABETH)
Apolytikion of the Resurrection Tone 4
To
fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon: Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos!
When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from

the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection, and had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather, they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no more: Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world Great Mercy!
Apolytkion of the Saint or Feast Tone
gennisis Sou Theotoke, Haran eminise pasi ti ikoumeni. Ek Sou gar anetilen O Ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O Theos imon. Ke lisas tin kataran, edoke tin Evlogian. Ke katargisas ton Thanaton, edorisato imin, Zoin tin Eonion
Thy
birth, O Theotokos, has brought Joy to all the inhabited earth; for from Thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He has freed us from the Curse and granted the Blessing; He has made Death ineffectual, and bestowed on us Eternal Life.
Kontakion of the Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos
Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek By Thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and
tis fthoras tou Thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti Agia Gennisi Sou. Aftin Eortazi ke O Laos Sou, enohis ton ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin Si: i stira tikti tin Theotokon, ke trofon tis Zois imon. Anna were freed from the scorn of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from Deaths corruption. This is the Feast now observed by thy people, who from the guilt of their errors, were delivered as they cry out to Thee: the barren one bears the Theotokos, and our Lifes Sustainer!
Resurrection Gospel 2 : Mark 16 : 1 8

The Holy Myrrhbearers Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Prokeimenon
Save Thy People, O Lord, and Bless Thine Inheritance! I will appeal to Thee, O Lord our God!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 6 : 11 18
The Rule of Christian Faith
Brethren: See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh would compel you to be circumcised, only so that they may not suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision not uncircumcision avails anything, by a New Creation. And as many walk according to this Rule, Peace and Mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear on my body the Marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren: the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. ST PAUL MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE HAD PERSONALLY WRITTEN of God, often had other motives for doing so, THIS EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, IN ORDER TO RECTIFY especially so that they could either brag about THE CONTROVERSY RAISED BY ST PETER AND THOSE how they converted the Gentiles to Judaism or WHO ADHERED TO THE OLD COVENANT LAWS in order to avoid the later persecution of ESPECIALLY CONCERNING CIRCUMCISION. Christians. According to the New Covenant with God, which is a FOLLOWING THE DIVINE EXAMPLE OF GOD, OUR HOLY Bloodless Covenant, OUR New Circumcision or CHURCH HAS NEVER FORCED CONVERSION ON ANYONE the offering of a small part of us to show our Love AT ALL. and Commitment to Almighty God IS OUR TONSURING WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES BODY AND SOUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH OUR OWN VOLUNTARY FREE WILL AND DURING HOLY BAPTISM, when four small segments of NOT TO PLEASE OTHERS OR BECAUSE WE ARE BEING our hair are cut in the Sign of the Cross. FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO DO SO OR FOR ANY St Paul often had to contend with HEBREW LEGALISERS
WHO OFFENDED GOD IN ORDER TO PLEASE HUMAN BEINGS or to make sense to them. OTHER MISGUIDED REASONS!
Those who insisted that the Gentile Christians had to be circumcised in order to become the Chosen People
It has become popular to convert to Orthodox Christianity for the sake of family or a loved one, or in order to receive an inheritance, etc.
13th Sunday After Pentecost B e f o r e t h e E x a l t a t i o n o f t h e H o l y C r o s s 11 September 2011
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THIS IS VERY WRONG AND EXTREMELY SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONCE WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO THE TRUE FAITH, WE SHOULD NEVER APOSTASISE, THUS EXCOMMUNICATING OURSELVES FROM THE DIVINE GRACE OF GOD - which can be
REJECTION AND DENIAL OF HIS CEASELESS AND MOST POWERFUL PROTECTION against the evil one
and all his sinister schemes.
corrected through sincere Repentance and commitment to God and confirmed by truly living in Christ through regular faithful worship and participation in the Holy Mysteries as required of us.
HOWEVER, BY CONVERTING TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT ANY INTENTION OF LIVING IN CHRIST AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS - WITHOUT ANY INTENTION OF WORSHIPPING OR PARTAKING OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY CHURCH, EXCEPT WHEN IT SUITED US WILL CAUSE US ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AT OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE NO EXCUSE OF IGNORANCE. Consequently, NOT ONLY DOES SUCH A PERSON CONDEMN HIM- OR HERSELF, BUT ALSO THE PRIEST, THE GODPARENTS OR SPONSORS AND ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING THE ILL INTENDED CONVERSION TO OCCUR! As Faithful Disciples of Christ, WE RELENTLESSLY STRIVE TO ATTAIN THE HOLY VIRTUES, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH ARE THE TWO INSEPARABLE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE. Thus, we must be ever watchful that we SUPPRESS OUR INFLATED EGOS THAT TEMPT US INTO SIN, and ENSURE THAT WE NEVER BOAST ABOUT ANYTHING WE MANAGE TO DO, FOR EVERYTHING GOOD AND WORTHY IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND NOT MERELY BY MEANS OF OUR OWN ENDEAVOURS. V We must FOLLOW ST PAULS GOOD EXAMPLE he only
THE CROSS IS OUR BADGE OF HONOUR, which we must STRIVE TO LIVE UP TO AND BE WORTHY OF WEARING with honour and respect for THE CROSS
everything it means. is displayed in our homes and our places of worship because it PROCLAIMS OUR DIVINE
PROTECTION BY ALMIGHTY GOD AND ALL HIS HEAVENLY HOSTS, SAINTS AND RIGHTEOUS WHO WATCH OVER US AND PROTECT US FROM EVIL. WE NEED NOTHING MORE THAT CHRISTS LIFE-GIVING, HOLY CROSS TO GUIDE, PROTECT AND LIVE IN HOPE BY.
Faithful Christians do not use any so-called good

luck talismans but TRUST IMPLICITLY IN THE LORD OUR GOD. THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS SYMBOLIC OF THE RESURRECTION AND HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN GODS HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY THE CROSS IS USED THROUGHOUT OUR HOLY SERVICES by us MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS numerous times AS A DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH AND WORSHIP of our Triune and Almighty God: I worship Thee, O Lord, with all my mind, with all my heart, with all my strength and with all my soul! IN PROCESSION AT THE GREAT ENTRANCE OF THE HOLY GIFTS and at other times, and WHEN THE CELEBRANT PRIEST BLESSES
THE CONGREGATION.
ever boasted in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ meaning that WE MAY ONLY
PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD AND ALL HIS GOOD THINGS BY WEARING, DISPLAYING OR USING THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IN DAILY LIFE AND WORSHIP. Throughout history Christians have preached THE POWER OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST, WHICH MEANS MANY THINGS TO US. So WE WEAR OUR CROSSES AGAINST OUR HEARTS to signify THE SACRED PATH WE HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE TOWARDS ETERNITY, and by means of it WE PROCLAIM OUR DISCIPLESHIP TO CHRIST OUR GOD WHOM WE STRUGGLE TO FAITHFULLY FOLLOW AND IMITATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY LIFE.
Furthermore, THE POWER OF THE SIGN OF THE CROSS IS

EVIDENT WHEN WE USE IT AGAINST SPIRITUAL OR PHYSICAL THREATS, IN TIMES OF FEAR, IN SUPPLICATION, IN GRATITUDE, OR TO GLORIFY, WORSHIP AND PROCLAIM THE LORD OUR GOD. THE NEW CREATION IS OUR LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS AS COMMITTED AND DEDICATED DISCIPLES who are CEASELESSLY STRIVING FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION THEOSIS which is the regaining of our lost
Divine Likeness, and the attaining of Eternal Life in the Divine Presence of our Most Loving and Benevolent God.
THE NEW COVENANT CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE NEW ISRAEL and we are the New Chosen People of
We do not wear the Cross as mere ornamentation

but as A JOYFUL DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH AND OUR GOOD INTENTIONS. As Orthodox Christians, we DO NOT WEAR
SUPERSTITIOUS PAGAN, ANTICHRIST TALISMANS SUCH AS THE EVIL EYE TOGETHER WITH THE CROSS because this reveals A LACK OF TRUE FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD and is A DENIAL OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, and His All A Powerful Providence and Great Mercy
God. Finally, St Paul pointed out that HE WAS NO HYPOCRITE OR

COWARD FOR HE HAD PERSEVERED THROUGH MUCH OF WHAT HE TEACHES US - and in addition, HE BORE IN AND ON HIS BODY THE EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT BOTH SPIRITUAL SCARS AND PHYSICAL SCARS OF HIS CEASELESS STRUGGLE TO SPREAD AND NURTURE AND LIVE BY THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 3 : 13 17

Our Lord Jesus Christ reveals the Heavenly Life in the Eternal Kingdom of God
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... No one has ascended to Heaven but He Who came down from Heaven that is: the son of Man Who is in Heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life. For God so Loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be Saved. UNFATHOMABLE DIVINE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO GOD According to St John Chrysostom, earthly things refer HIMSELF. to DIVINE GRACE AND HOLY BAPTISM GRANTED TO During the Israelites 40 year sojourn in the Wilderness MANKIND BY GOD. before being allowed to enter the Promised Land, These wonderful Divine Blessings are regarded as Moses had lifted up an image of a serpent coiled earthly not because they are unspiritual, but that around a long stick in order to cure the Israelites THEY OCCUR WHILE WE ARE STILL IN THIS TEMPORARY, from the deadly bites of poisonous snakes. (This PREPARATORY EARTHLY EXISTENCE AND BECAUSE THEY ARE GRANTED TO GODS INTELLECTUAL, EARTHLY has become the emblem of Medical Healing.) CREATURES MANKIND. N u m b e r s 2 1 : 4 9 ...the people became discouraged The Heavenly Things, on the contrary, involve THE on the way and spoke against God and Moses... So UNGRASPABLE MYSTERIES OF THE ETERNAL the Lord sent venomous serpents amongst the GENERATION OF GOD THE SON FROM GOD THE FATHER, people.,. then the people went to Moses and said: WHICH RELATE TO CHRISTS ETERNAL EXISTENCE We sinned, for we spoke against the Lord and BEFORE TIME AND MATTER WAS CREATED AND ACCORDING TO GODS DIVINE PLAN OF SALVATION FOR against Thee; therefore pray to the Lord to take THE ENTIRE WORLD. away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for WE MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND THE MANNER WHEREBY the people and the Lord said to Moses: Make a ALMIGHTY GOD WORKS AMONGST US HUMAN BEINGS serpent for yourself and put it on a signal BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE
12.
pole; and it shall be: if a serpent should bite anyone, when the one bitten looks at it, he shall live. So Moses made a copper serpent and put it on a signal pole; and it happened that when a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the copper serpent, he lived.
THIS MIRACLE-WORKING IMAGE PREFIGURED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BEING LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS OF HIS PASSION. DURING GREAT LENT, ON HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS BEHOLD OUR CRUCIFIED CHRIST IN UTTER FAITH, THE LIMITED POWER OF SIN AND DEATH IS OVERTHROWN IN US AND WE ARE RENEWED AND REJUVENATED!
To show the reason why the Son of God had to be crucified lifted up OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
DECLARED GODS GREAT LOVE NOT ONLY FOR THE ISRAEL OF THE OLD COVENANT, BUT ALSO FOR THE WORLD THAT WOULD SOON BECOME THE NEW ISRAEL OF THE NEW COVENANT WITH GOD.
... God so Loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life...
THESE WORDS OF DIVINE REVELATION EXPRESS THE ENTIRE MESSAGE OF ST JOHNS HOLY GOSPEL, AND INDEED, THE ENTIRE SALVATION HISTORY OF MANKIND! ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SAVE AND NOT TO CONDEMN US, WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED FREE WILL
Just as the image of a serpent was the ancient Sacred Weapon that destroyed the deadly poison of the serpents, so THE LIFE-GIVING INSTRUMENT OF
CHRISTS DEATH BECOMES THE WONDROUS WEAPON THAT OVERTHROWS DEATH ITSELF.
by God so that we can choose to either joyfully accept or to tragically reject His Divine Gift of Eternal Life, which will respectively Eternally Bless us or Condemn us due to our wilful rejection of God and all His Goodness. Our Lord dealt with the world in Compassion and Love, and He expects us to do the same. We have been Redeemed by Him, Baptized into His Body, and He expects us to carry on His Mission and Work in the world. Every Christian, be he Orthodox or otherwise, must ask himself or herself this question: Does my life reflect the Life of Christ? Do my attitudes show the Love and Compassion which He had for human beings? Am I willing to take upon myself the responsibility of raising up those who are down-trodden or afflicted? Have I enough Love in my heart to care for those whom society rejects? We would all like to answer, Yes to such questions, and possibly we would so answer without thinking. But stop and consider: Can we claim that we are always compassionate and caring? Can we truly say that we never turn our backs on anyone in pain or trouble, anyone who is suffering, anyone who is crying out for understanding and compassion? If we think long enough, we will probably all realize that we have not always been as Christ-like as our Lord expects us to be. Of course, we can always find excuses for our actions. We can always find a reason why we should not behave lovingly towards someone. We can so quickly see that some particular person does not deserve our concern. We know that God would not want us to have anything to do with those sinners or with that kind of people. In other words, we find it so easy to judge! This is the terrible trap in to which every Christian can so easily fall, and many do, and they can feel so righteous when they do so. But how can this happen? It can happen all too easily through our own consciousness of who we are. As Christians we like to think that we are good people, and when we see ourselves as good people, we immediately contrast others with ourselves. Then, since it is easier to see their faults rather than our own, we judge them, condemn them, and feel justified in doing so. As a result we create our own laws of right and wrong, good and bad, respectability and nonrespectability. We feel that we are doing the right thing by rejecting those who do not measure up to our standards of goodness. But when we behave in such a manner, we are in effect denying the faith, which we have been privileged to receive and to guard. Even worse, we are in reality placing ourselves above God Himself. Our Lord did not judge and condemn even the woman who had committed adultery, and in His refusal to
We are living in a world where we encounter many different situations - situations to which we must react. We see sorrow and grief in those around us; we respond sometimes with sympathy, sometimes with pity, and sometimes with sheer indifference. We see friends and family or strangers beset with difficulties and problems; sometimes we try to help, but at other times we turn away and justify ourselves by saying that it is not our concern. We see men and women who are rejected by others for some reason; sometimes we are willing to defend such a one, but at other times we feel it is more prudent to go along with the wider group. These are choices we all have to make, for we live in human society, in a community where the lives of others will somehow touch us. It would, of course, be wonderful if there were no sorrow or suffering, no pain, no hardship, no worries. It would be wonderful if no one were ever in the position of being judged by others and where we, therefore, did not have to make any decision on how to act. This, however, is not the case. We will never be free from making decisions on how to act towards those around us. We live in the world and we must, therefore, interact with the world and our fellow human beings. For many, this does not present a problem. Many people are content to act according to what is best for their own selves, and in so doing they feel that they are perfectly justified. Why, indeed, should anyone be concerned for those around him? Why not look out for our own interests and let everyone else do the same? This is an easy answer, but the Christian must bear something else in mind, something far more important than his or her own good and wellbeing. The Christian has been given a very unique and powerful example of what his life must be. One of the central tenets of the Orthodox Christian Faith is that God became Man in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He lived on earth among us; He experienced our life in all its joys, sorrows, woes and worries; He saw human suffering and grief, and He reacted to them. He did not turn away from them; He did not pretend that it was not His affair or concern. Time and time again the Gospels tells us that Christ had compassion. Compassion and sympathy the two words mean exactly the same thing: the ability to feel for someone else, the willingness to experience the worries and woes of our fellow human beings, the love which will enable one to reach out to the sorrows and pains of others and to extend to them the Healing Power which our Lord has entrusted to us.
To Live as a Christian
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judge her, He shows us that no one has the right to judge. That prerogative belongs only to God. And our Lord further shows us that God is Compassion, and that His Judgment will be one of Mercy and Love. We can, if we wish, be judgmental of those whom we feel are beneath us, but in doing so, we are in fact saying that we are more righteous than God. God forgives, but I do not. I have heard people say this very thing. I dont approve of this idea of forgiveness; that is just an easy way out. People need to be responsible for their actions. The person who made this statement and this was an actual statement was in effect claiming that she had no need of forgiveness. She was vaunting her own self-righteousness. And this is exactly what we all do when we judge another person. There are no exceptions. We have no right to say, God does not expect me to accept that. Judging, of course, is the most vicious way in which we deny our Lords Love and Compassion. But it is also easy to find excuses for not showing care and concern in situations where they are needed. It takes very little to convince ourselves that we have no responsibility towards others in their difficulties. Christ only expects you to do what you can, someone once said when he was asked to help someone in need. What he really meant was, I am not going to do anything that I dont want to do. A person who thinks in this way may call himself a Christian, but his Christianity is lifeless and useless. Such a faith is no faith; it is nothing but a superficial religion that wants everything to be easy and allows us to have our own way in our dealings with the world around us. This may be the type of religion that is acceptable to the world and to those who want their lives to be
comfortable, but it is not acceptable to our Lord. Our Lord was Incarnate out of His Divine Love towards humanity, and He asks us to show that same love in our lives. If we call ourselves His Disciples and His Followers, we have no choice but to live as He would have us live, in the Power of His Spirit and His Eternal Life. In the Liturgy, immediately before the Anaphora, we proclaim, Let us love one another that with one accord we may confess Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in Unity and undivided. The Christian is expected to live the full Life of Christ into Whom he or she was Baptized. There can be no half-way Christian life. It must be the fullness and totality of what our Lord would have us to be, and then it will be fullness and totality of the Joy and Peace which only He can give. To be a Christian in the modern world is a challenge, and it will become more of a challenge as things change, grow and develop. The future may bring some radical changes to our society and our world, and we may have to meet those changes with solutions and answers which are equally radical. But the Orthodox faith, with its Tradition Enlivened by the Power of the Holy Spirit, is well equipped to face the future. We need remember but one thing: as Followers of the Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, we are given the responsibility and privilege of living His Life to the fullest. We must show ourselves to be His servants and His Presence in a world which is estranged from Him, and we must work and pray that through our efforts our Lord will be able to make that world one with His Eternal Kingdom. Father Vladimir M Tobin St Vladimir Orthodox Church http://www.pravmir.com/to-live-as-a-christian/
The Eternal Wisdom of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos:
On Spiritual Counsel
b The humble are like nightingales that hide in

ravines and spread joy to the souls of mankind with their sweet songs. mustnt despair when we Struggle and continuously see nothing but the slightest progress. We all do nearly nothing - some a little more, some a little less. When Christ sees our little effort He grants us an analogous (SIMILAR OR CORRESPONDING) token and so our nearly nothing becomes valuable and we can see a little progress. For this reason we mustnt despair, but hope in God. in our days, there are many people who upset the Mother Church. Of these, those who are educated have understood Dogma with their minds and not with the spirit of the Holy Fathers. At the same time, those who are unlettered have grabbed hold of Dogma with their teeth, which is why they grind their teeth when they speak about ecclesiastical topics. In this way, greater harm is caused by those in the Church than by those who battle it from without.
b That
b We
which is asked of every Orthodox person is to instill a good uneasiness into the heterodox, that they might understand that they are in delusion. This is so they will not falsely calm their conscience and thus be deprived in this life of the rich Blessings of Orthodoxy and in the Life to come of the even greater and Eternal Blessings of God.
b Unfortunately,
who are possessed by material things are always subjugated to unhappiness and anxiety, for on the one hand they tremble for fear that others may take their possessions away from them, while on the other they tremble for fear that their soul may be taken from them. Now, the miser whose hand is sore from his tight hold on things, also squeezed his own heart, and turned it into stone. In order for him to be healed, he must visit unhappy people, or suffer, so he will be forced to open his hand slowly, slowly, and his heart of stone will also start to soften. It will become a human heart and in this way the Gates of Paradise will also open.
b Those
14.
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Sai nts. And let us commit ourselves and o ne another and our w hole Life to Christ o ur God. Ame n.
14 September 2011 The Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ Also the Feast of the Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Troulo St Agathonikos, St Zotikos, St Theoprpios, St Acindynos, St Severianos, St Zeno & other Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia St Athanasios, Hieromartyr, St Anthusa the Nun & St Charesimos & St Neophytos her servantts of Tarsos - St Evlalia, Virginmartyr of Barcelona St Gorazd of Prague, Bohemia & Moravo-Cilezsk - St Felix of Spain St Bogolep, disciple of St Paisios of Uglich St Isaac I of Optina Monastery
THE LARGEST KNOWN FRAGMENT OF THE TRUE CROSS IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS PRESERVED AT THE HOLY MONASTERY OF XEROPOTAMOU ON MOUNT ATHOS. A HOLE FROM THE NAIL THAT PIERCED OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS RIGHT WRIST IS SURROUNDED BY DIAMONDS AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VERTICAL CROSS BAR
Apolytikion Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross
Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou, ke Evlogison tin Klironomian O

Sou, Nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron doroumenos, ke to son Filatton, dia tou Stavrou Sou Politefma. [3]
Kontakion Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross
Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance, granting Victory over enemies unto our Rulers and through Thy Cross preserving Thine Estate [3]
O Ipsothis en to Stavro ekousios, ti eponimo Sou keni Thou Who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily, on Thy
politia, tous iktirmous Sou Dorise, Hriste O Theos. Evfranon en ti Dinami Sou, tous Pistous Vasilis imon, Nikas horigon aftis, kata ton polemion. Tin sinmmahian ehien tin Sin, Oplon Irinis, Aittiton Tropeon.
Isodikon:
new Commonwealth that bears Thy Name, do Thou bestow Thy Mercies, O Christ our God; gladden in Thy mighty Strength, our Faithful Rulers, granting to them Victories, against all the enemies, and may Thy Help in battle be for them, a Weapon of Peace, and Banner Invincible!
Ipsoute
Kyrion ton Theon imon ke proskinite to ipopodio ton podon aftou, oti Agios esti.
SARKI STAVROTHIS, psalontas
Exalt Save
ye the Lord our God, and Worship at His Footstool; for He is Holy! us, O Son of God, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED IN THE FLESH, who sin to Thee: Alleluia!
Soson imas, Ie Theou, O

Si: Allilouia!
Instead Of The Trisagion Hymn
Ton Stavron Sou proskinoumen,

Sou Anastasin doxazomen.
Despota, ke tin Agian
Thy Cross, O Master, we reverence, and we glorify Thy

Holy Resurrection.
Doxa
Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is tous eonas ton eonon.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the

Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.
Amin Ke tin Agian Sou Anastasin doxazomen Dinamis! Ton Stavron Sou proskinoumen, Despota,
Sou Anastasin doxazomen.
ke tin Agian
Amen And Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify PRIEST Dynamis (Power)! Thy Cross, O Master, we reverence, and we glorify Thy
Holy Resurrection.
Matins Gospel According to St John 12:28-36

The Judgement Of This World - The Holy Cross Of Christ
At that time our Lord Jesus said: Father, Glorify Thy Name. Then a Voice came from Heaven, saying: I have both Glorified it and will Glorify it again. Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said: An Angel has spoken to Him. Jesus answered and said: This Voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the Judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And when I Am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Myself. This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him:, We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever; and how can Thou say: The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? Then Jesus said to them: A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become sons of Light.
15.
THE FATHERS NAME IS AN EXTENSION OF HIS PERSON AND THE SON WORKED FOR THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. Therefore HIS DEATH WAS OFFERED UP TO COMPLETE THAT PURPOSE AND TO SHOW THE FATHERS LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE. The Divine Voice assured us that THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT HUMILIATION BUT GLORIFICATION THROUGH THE FULFILMENT OF GODS PLAN FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD. LIFTED UP IS A REFERENCE TO the lifting up of Christ upon the Cross, HIS CRUCIFIXION, WHICH IS HIS GLORIFICATION AND WHICH LEADS TO THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE. At the same time this Event, was A JUDGEMENT ON THE UNBELIEVING WORLD OF DARKNESS AND THE ABOLITION OF THE POWER OF THE RULER OF THIS WORLD WHO IS SATAN. WE LIVE IN A STATE OF TENSION BETWEEN THE VICTORY WON AND THAT WHICH IS YET TO BE WON. [1 JOHN 2:13, 1
JOHN 5:4-5]
These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. In a Vespers Hymn for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we sing: Lifted high upon the Cross, O Master, with Thyself Thou hast raised up Adam and the whole of fallen nature. Therefore, exalting Thine Undefiled Cross, O Thou Who Lovest mankind, we ask Thee for Thy Strength from Above, crying: O God Most High, in Thy Mercy Save those who honour the Sacred Life-giving and Divine Exaltation of Thy Cross. The theme of JESUS CHRIST AS THE LIGHT receives renewed emphasis. The crowd wanted to know the Identity of the Son of Man, but JESUS CHRIST CHALLENGED THEM TO COME TO THE
LIGHT WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO BECOME CHILDREN OF LIGHT. [NICENE CREED] IN UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE PARTAKE OF HIS LIGHT, BECOMING CHILDREN OF LIGHT.
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:18-24

The Message Of The Cross Is Foolishness To The World, But To Christians It Is The Power Of God
Brethren: the Message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being Saved it is the Power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where are the wise? Where are the Scribes? Where are the disputers of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the Wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the Foolishness of the Message preached to Save those who believe. For Jews request a Sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ Crucified: to the Jews a Stumbling Block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are Called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. The Message of the Cross .. [is]... Foolishness to To those who request a Sign the Church offers One: THE HOLY LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS unbelievers because as St John Chrysostom answers:
IT IS A MARK OF THOSE WHO PERISH NOT TO RECOGNISE THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO SALVATION. WE WHO BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST MUST NOT BE DISCOURAGED WHEN THOSE OUTSIDE OF HIM MOCK, for so did once even CHRIST! THE HOLY CROSS IS TO BE ADORED, FOR WHEREVER THE SIGN OF THE CROSS MAY BE, THERE JESUS CHRIST WILL BE. SINCE CHRIST IS THE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD THE FATHER - THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHERS GLORY, THE SUBSTANTIAL AND PERFECT IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD WHERE HE IS, THERE IS THE UNCREATED AND SAVING GRACE OF GOD. [HEBREWS 1:3] THE HOLY, LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, RESTORES MANKIND TO IMMORTALITY AND STIRS UP DESIRE FOR THE THINGS.
St Paul himself.
BEING SAVED - present tense - refers to THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE HOLY CROSS TRANSFORMS US WITH THE POWER OF GOD.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 19:6-11;
13-20;
25 -28, 30-35
We Remember The Crucifixion Of Our Lord And Saviour, Jesus Christ
At that time, when the Chief Priests and Officers saw Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them: You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him. And the Jews answered him: We have a Law, and according to our Law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. Therefore, when Pilate heard those words, he was all the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and asked Jesus: From where art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him: Art Thou not speaking to me?! Dost Thou not know that I have power to crucify Thee, and power to release Thee? And Jesus answered: Thou could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given thee from Above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. When Pilate therefore heard those words, he took Jesus out and sat down in the Judgement Seat in a place that is called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the Sixth Hour, so he said to the Jews: Behold your King! But they cried out: Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate asked them: Shall I crucify your King? And the Chief Priests answered: We have no king but Caesar! So he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His Cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him - one on either side, and Jesus in the centre. Pilate wrote a title and put it on the Cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His mothers sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His Mother, and the Disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His Mother, Woman, behold thy son! and from that hour that Disciple took her to his own home. Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, and so that the bodies should not remain on the crosses on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a High Day), the Jews asked Pilate for their legs to be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his Testimony is True; and he knows that he is telling the Truth, so that you may believe.
THE JEWISH LEADERS CONVICTED JESUS CHRIST ON A [FALSE] CHARGE OF BLASPHEMY: He made Himself the Son of ALMIGHTY GOD [THE HOLY TRINITY] CONTROLS ALL POWER.
God. What they missed, of course, was the Gospel:
With all Romes force, and with all the relentless persistence of the Jewish authorities, THEIR POWER WAS
PERMITTED ONLY BY GOD.
JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY CLAIMS TO BE, BUT INDEED IS THE SON OF GOD!
THE ONE WHO DELIVERED JESUS CHRIST TO PONTIUS PILATE WAS, according to many interpreters, THE HIGH PRIEST
16.
The Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ our Lord & Saviour
14 September 2011
CAIAPHAS; HOWEVER, THE PHRASE MAY EVEN REFER TO JUDAS ISCARIOT. THE JEWISH LEADERS APPLIED HARD POLITICAL PRESSURE ON PONTIUS PILATE TO GAIN THEIR OWN SINISTER ENDS.
Confronted with the choice between Jesus Christ and Caesar PONTIUS PILATE CHOSE HIS EMPEROR, TIBERIUS CAESAR who reigned during the years 14 - 37.
PREPARATION DAY IS THE DAY BEFORE PASSOVER.
CRUCIFIXION WAS THE METHOD OF EXECUTION used by the Romans in capital punishment INVOLVING REBELLIOUS SLAVES AND THE WORST POSSIBLE CRIMINALS. IN CALLING THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS WOMAN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST USED A TERM OF DIGNITY AND AFFECTION. Note THREE IMPORTANT TRUTHS concerning His Mother.
The Synoptic Gospels [Of St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke & St John] date THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST ON
FRIDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE PASSOVER. Ironically the Jewish leadership REJECTED THE KING OF THE JEWS AND ACCEPTED TIBERIUS CAESAR, A FOREIGN KING
In saying to the Disciple whom [He] Loved - St John the Evangelist - behold thy Mother:
1. CHRIST SYMBOLICALLY ESTABLISHED THE THEOTOKOS ROLE AS THE MOTHER OF ALL FAITHFUL DISCIPLES - OF THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. IF THE THEOTOKOS HAD HAD OTHER CHILDREN, JESUS CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE PLACED HER UNDER THE CARE OF ST JOHN. THE CHURCHS TEACHING CONCERNING THE THEOTOKOS ETERNAL VIRGINITY IS RATIFIED BY CHRISTS ACTION
2.
who ruled Palestine as a result of conquest.

IN THEIR BLIND HATRED FOR JESUS CHRIST, THEY DENIED THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THEIR NATIONS HOPES. 3.
The Universal Exaltation of the Precious, Lifegiving Holy Cross of Christ

The pagan Roman Emperors tried to completely eradicate from human history the Holy Sites where our Lord Jesus Christ Suffered and was Resurrected for the Salvation of all mankind. Emperor Hadrian (117-138) gave orders to cover the area of Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ with its surrounding garden under tons of rock and soil, so that a temple in honour of the pagan goddess Venus and a huge statue of Jupiter could be erected over the site. Pagans gathered there in great multitudes and offered sacrifices and worship to their man-made idols and mythical gods until eventually, after 300 years, by Divine Providence, the Most Holy of Christian Sites Golgotha, the Holy Sepulchre (Tomb) and the cave wherein the Precious, Life-giving Holy Cross was hidden, were excavated and revealed for all to venerate. This became possible under the Roman Emperor, St Constantine the Great (306-337) after his victorious battles in 312 against Emperor Maxentius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire, and Emperor Licinius, ruler the Eastern Roman Empire. By 323 Emperor Constantine the Great was the sole ruler of the vast Roman Empire. In 313 he had issued the Edict of Milan, whereby the Christian Faith was legalized thus bringing the terrible persecutions against the Faithful in the Western Roman Empire to an end. However, his co-ruler, Emperor Licinius, although having signed the Edict of Milan to oblige Emperor Constantine, fanatically continued to encourage the merciless persecutions of Christians. Only after his conclusive defeat was the 313 Edict of Milan honoured in the Eastern Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine had gained victory in three consecutive wars against his co-rulers due to the Divine Grace of the One, Living and True God after a Miraculous Sign of the Cross had appeared in the sky with the words inscribed beneath it: "By This you shall conquer!" Ardently desiring to find the Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified, St Constantine sent his mother, the pious Empress St Helen to Jerusalem, with a letter addressed to St Macarios, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Although the Holy Empress St Helen was already in her declining years, she set about completing the Sacred Task with much enthusiasm, issuing orders to destroy all pagan temples and idolatrous statues in Jerusalem. In her determined search for the Precious Holy Cross of Christ, she and her servants questioned innumerable Christians and Jews, but for a long time their quest remained unsuccessful. Finally, someone directed St Helen to a certain elderly Hebrew by the name of Jude who when he saw that her request was sincere and honourable revealed the location of the Holy Sites to her and also explained that the cave wherein the Holy Cross had been hidden centuries before was buried beneath the pagan temple of Venus. The demolition of the pagan temple began immediately and, while ceaselessly praying for Divine Assistance, the ground was soon excavated and the Tomb of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ was uncovered. In a deep cave, which was a short distance from the Tomb, they found three crosses (THE CROSS BARS), the board with the inscription ordered by Pontius Pilate stating Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews and four nails that had pierced our Lord's Wrists and Feet. In order to discern which of the three crosses our Saviour had been crucified on, St Makarios the Patriarch of Jerusalem touched a corpse with each of the cross bars. As soon as the Life-giving Cross of Christ touched the dead person, he returned to life! And everyone who witnessed that great Miracle knew that at last the Holy Cross of our Saviour had indeed been found! Word spread like wild fire and thousands of faithful Christians hurried to Jerusalem to see and to venerate the Precious Holy Cross of our Lord. Due to the great multitude who packed the area, they beseeched St Makarios to elevate it so that everyone might behold it and reverently venerate it. So it was in 326 when for many tireless hours of jubilation and exaltation the Patriarch of Jerusalem and other Spiritual Leaders of the Holy Church held up as high as they could the Sanctified Cross of our Lord, while the entire congregation prayed over and over again with such Joy and Thanksgiving: Kyrie eleison! Lord have Mercy! and prostrated themselves before such a wonderful sight. During the Exaltation of the Life-giving Holy Cross various Divine Miracles occurred such as that of a terminally ill woman who was instantly healed by the shadow of the elevated Cross - and the Hebrew Elder named Jude (whose family had for generations kept the secret of the location of the Holy Sites) and many other Hebrews and pagans believed in Christ and accepted Holy Baptism. Jude received the name Kyriakos and later was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem. During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363) he accepted a martyr's death for Christ. The Holy Empress St Helen journeyed to as many of the Holy Sites as possible that were connected to the earthly Life of our Lord and Saviour, and also of His Ever Blessed Mother, our Lady Theotokos - and at each Holy Site she had churches and chapels built eventually more than 80 churches were established throughout the Holy Land - from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where our Lord had so often prayed, and where He had prayed so fervently before His Passion, and on the top of the Mount of Olives where Christ had finally ascended to Heaven forty days after His Glorious Resurrection. St Helen took part of the Life-giving Wood and nails with her to Constantinople, and Emperor Constantine had ordered a majestic and spacious church to be constructed over the entire Holy Site in honour of the Passion and Glorious Resurrection of Christ, which included Golgotha, the stone slab of the Unnailing, the Holy Tomb of the Resurrection and the cave wherein in the crosses were hidden.
14 September 2011
17
The great Temple of the Resurrection was constructed in approximately ten years. Sadly, in 327, St Helen reposed in peace before the Consecration of the Holy Church of the Resurrection, which was celebrated on 13 September, 335. The following day, 14 September 335, the Festal Celebration of the Exaltation of the Venerable and Lifegiving Holy Cross was established. Another memorable Event connected to the Holy Cross of our Lord is also commemorated today. Having been in the possession of the Persians for fourteen years, the Precious Holy Cross was returned to the Holy Church in Jerusalem on 14 September. During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Phocas (602610) the Persian Emperor Khozroes II - in a war against the Greeks - had defeated the Greek army, plundered Jerusalem and seized the Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and had also captured the Holy Patriarch, Zachariah (609-633). After Emperor Heraclius (610-641), who by the Grace of God had defeated Khozroes and made peace with his successor and son, Syroes, the Holy Cross was returned to the Christians. With great solemnity the Precious Holy Cross was transferred to Jerusalem whereupon Emperor Heraclius, adorned in his elaborate Imperial Crown The killing of a dragon by the Sword of God is a type of the Victory of the Cross over Satan. The Cross is the Weapon of God: it is His Sword. It is the most powerful Weapon in the Universe because it is made in the Image and Likeness of Christ: it is made out of Humility and Meekness. The Cross of Christ is offered to us as an indestructible Weapon. However, it will be our Weapon only insofar as it becomes our own Cross. That is to say, insofar as we clothe ourselves in the Humility and Meekness of Christ. If we do not know how to do it yet, then the Liturgical Texts of today will give us the answer. The Holy Cross of Christ is composed of three types of wood: Cypress, Cedar, and Pine. The Cypress is a tall tree in the shape of a sword, growing mainly in the Mediterranean world where its shade protects us from the blazing heat of the sun. It also protects us from the wind, and when the wind blows, it moves like a willow and it sings like those who mourn and weep. The Cypress tree represents Compassion. Like a Cypress, Compassion offers protection to those in need. And like a Cypress, Compassion makes us care for those around us, by sharing in their sufferings and afflictions. Compassion is our Spiritual Sword. It is both defensive and offensive, like the Fiery Sword at the Gates of the Garden of Eden. To evil deeds we respond with acts of Compassion. And each act of Compassion that we do in a day will repel evil. The Cedar is well-known for its qualities of resistance to all types of weather. It is particularly resistant to rot and decay. Moreover, it is aromatic: it smells wonderfully pleasant. The Cedar tree represents Faith. Faith is the sweet-smelling incense we offer to God Who in return sends upon us His Holy Spirit. Faith is our Spiritual Shield against all enemies: it protects us from corruption, rot and decay in all circumstances of afflictions and tribulations. The pine is a soft wood. It is a very simple wood. If it is not cared for, it rots easily. It is commonly used for building shelters and houses and, as a veneer, it creates beauty. The Pine tree represents charity. Like the Pine, Charity is soft and tender. It is simple: Charity repels fear and anxiety, and through Charity Truth and Sincerity flourish.
and Royal Purple Robes carried the Cross of Christ into the Holy Temple of the Resurrection, accompanied by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zacharias. At the gates at the foot of the steps leading upwards to Golgotha, the Emperor suddenly unable to proceed another step further! Patriarch Zacharias, perceiving the cause of his obstruction, quietly explained to the Emperor that an Angel of our Lord was blocking his way and that he was to remove all his luxurious Royal Vestments, including his shoes. Then, wearing the simplest, most modest of clothing and walking barefoot, the great Emperor was able without further hindrance to ascend the steps, since Christ Who had borne that very same Cross for the Salvation of the entire world had made His way to Golgotha in absolute Humility. In a Sermon on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Life-giving Cross of Christ, St Andrew of Crete stated: "The Cross is exalted, and everything True gathers together! The Cross is exalted, and the city makes solemn, and the people celebrate the Feast."
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AMERICA THE UNIVERSAL EXALTATION OF THE PRECIOUS LIFE-GIVING CROSS WWW.OCA.ORG
The Way of the Holy Cross of Christ

But if Charity is not kept active through deeds of Love, like the Pine it rots easily. Charity is our Spiritual Helmet. It is that which crowns our Spiritual Weaponry and Armour with beauty. Being protected by the Helmet of Charity, the Shield of Faith and the Sword of Compassion, Humility and Meekness will grow in us like the vine that is protected from the weeds and the beasts by a strong fence. We are like the strong City of Isaiah - a city surrounded by walls: Satan will not hurt us, unless we allow him to do so. Being constantly Spiritually Watchful is like putting a sentinel on our city walls to spy on the enemy. It is knowing our weaknesses. It is strengthening the weak places in us through which the enemy may invade. It is fixing the weak links in our fences. There are usually two types of temptations that threaten us. If we do not prevent future damage, we will die! The first temptation is discouragement. We are tempted to give up our Spiritual Struggle. This is because we expect to see results, which is caused by some form of self-esteem - that is self-love. It drags us into despondency, which is Spiritual Death. The second temptation is being overly self-confident, trusting too much in our own strength and forgetting that the necessary Spiritual Weapons are Gods Weapons, not ours. This fosters pride, and when something wrong happens and it happens all the time we become despondent, which is Spiritual Death. This is ceaseless Spiritual Warfare. We have three invincible Spiritual Weapons: Compassion, Faith and Charity (Love). The material goods of the world wear out when they are used. On the contrary, Compassion, Faith and Love become more and more efficient the more we use them. Ever eaten, never consumed as the Priest says while dividing the Holy Body of Christ before Communion. Next to these three weapons, you have two tireless Sentinels: Fasting and Prayer. Fasting will strengthen Endurance, Patience, and Vigilance. Prayer will strengthen the Presence of God. Fasting and Prayer together will keep away the enemy!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS BY FATHER ROMAN OF ST VLADIMIR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH http://halifaxorthodox.org/sermon15.html
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of

18.
Alexandria & All Africa
14 September 2011
Archdiocese of Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Wors hip to the Fathe r, and to the So n, and to the H oly 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, ye t Ever Virgin, toge the r wi th all the Sai nts. And let us commit ourselves and one anothe r and o ur w hole Life to Christ our God. Ame n.
18 September 2011 14th Sunday After Pentecost Tone (5) Plagal
Also the Feast of St Evmenios of Gortyna St Ariadne of Phrygia St Sophia of Egypt St Irene of Egypt St Castor of Egypt St Bidzina, Great Martyr & Prince of Georgia St Elizibar & St Shalva of Georgia St Euphrosyne of Suzdal St Hilarion of Optina Monastery Translation of the Holy Icon Staro Rus of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos in Triumph to Russia - The Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos The Healer
Apolytikion of the Resurrection - Tone
Ton
sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin en to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous tethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.
The Word,
Who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a Virgin, let us Faithful believers hymn and adore. For it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.
Apolytikion Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross
Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou, ke Evlogison tin Klironomian O

Sou, Nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron doroumenos, ke to son Filatton, dia tou Stavrou Sou Politefma. [3]
Kontakion Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross
Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance, granting Victory over enemies unto our Rulers and through Thy Cross preserving Thine Estate [3] Who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily, on Thy new Commonwealth that bears Thy Name, do Thou bestow Thy Mercies, O Christ our God; gladden in Thy mighty Strength, our Faithful Rulers, granting to them Victories, against all the enemies, and may Thy Help in battle be for them, a Weapon of Peace, and Banner Invincible!
Ipsothis en to Stavro ekousios, ti eponimo Sou keni politia, tous iktirmous Sou Dorise, Hriste O Theos. Evfranon en ti Dinami Sou, tous Pistous Vasilis imon, Nikas horigon aftis, kata ton polemion. Tin sinmmahian ehien tin Sin, Oplon Irinis, Aittiton Tropeon.
Thou
Matins Resurrection Gospel 3 : Mark 16:9 - 20

The Risen Christ Appears To His Apostles & Disciples Before His Ascension
Prokeimenon
How manifold art Thy Works, O Lord! Thou hast created them all in Wisdom. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 2 : 16 20
The Source of Faith is our Lord Jesus Christ
Brethren: we know that we are not Justified by the Works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ. We have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be Justified by Faith in Christ and not by the Works of the Law, because by the Works of the Law no one shall be Justified. But if - while we seek to be Justified by Christ - we ourselves are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore a Minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things that I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the Life that I now live in the flesh, I live by Faith in the Son of God, Who Loved me and gave Himself for me. also we have access by Faith to this Divine 2 Justification & the New Covenant: Grace in which we stand, and rejoice in Hope When orthodox Christians approach the Doctrine of the Glory of God. (ROMANS 5:1-2) (TEACHING) of Salvation, the discussion centres around IT IS GOD WHO INITIATES OR MAKES THE NEW COVENANT IN THE NEW COVENANT.
JUSTIFICATION - BEING OR BECOMING RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN GOD IS PART OF BEING BROUGHT INTO A HOLY COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. US.
While Israel was under the Old Covenant, in which Salvation came through Faith as revealed in the Law, THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS UNDER THE NEW
COVENANT AND SALVATION COMES THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CHRIST WHO FULFILS THE OLD COVENANT LAW. WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US, LEADING US TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER.
Justification by Faith is Dynamic, not Static:
Rather than Justification as a legal acquittal before God, Orthodox Faithful see Justification by Faith as A
HOLY COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, CENTRED IN OUR UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS. (ROMANS 6:1 6)
Justification and Gods Mercy:
Orthodoxy emphasises IT IS FIRST GODS MERCY NOT OUR FAITH THAT SAVES US: ... having been Justified by Faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom
For Orthodox Christians, FAITH IS LIVING, DYNAMIC AND CONTINUOUS. It is never static nor merely point in time. Faith is not something a Christian exercises only at one critical moment, expecting it to cover all the rest of his or her life. TRUE FAITH IS not just a decision it is A WAY OF LIFE! Thus, the Orthodox Christian sees Salvation in at least three aspects: 1. I HAVE BEEN SAVED, being Joined to Christ in Holy Baptism 2. I AM BEING SAVED, by growing in Christ through the Sacramental Life the Holy Mysteries of the Holy Church
14 t h Sunday After Pentecost After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross 18 September 2011
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3. I WILL BE SAVED, by the Great Mercy and Love of God at the Final Judgement on the Eighth Day the beginning of Eternity. Justification by Faith, although not the major New Testament Doctrine for Orthodox Christians as it is for Protestants, poses no problem. However, Justification by Faith ALONE is unacceptable because it contradicts Holy Scripture that states: ... mankind is Justified by Works, and not by Faith only... (JAMES 2:24) We are ... Justified by Faith apart from the deeds of the Law... but NOWHERE DOES HOLY SCRIPTURE PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED ... by Faith alone! (ROMANS 3:28) On the contrary, ... Faith by itself if it does not have Works is dead! (James 2:17) As Christians we are no longer under the demands of the Old Covenant Law, for Christ has fulfilled the Law. (ROMANS 3:20 GALATIANS 2:21; 3:5 & 24)
BY GODS GREAT MERCY, WE ARE BROUGHT INTO A NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM and those who
CHRISTS FAITH IS SEEN IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE ON EARTH
not in only a few of His crucial Works or Miracles. The term by Christ should be IN Christ. JUSTIFICATION IS not merely legal but ACTUAL effected by our real, personal Union with Christ in His Glorified human Nature. The fact that we could be found to be sinners, shows
THIS HOLY UNION NEVER TAKES AWAY OUR FREE WILL
and explains how some early Christians defected to Judaism. Those things that I destroyed are THE WORKS OF THE
LAW, WHICH ST PAUL DESTROYED BY PROVING THEIR INEFFECTIVENESS FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION.
The real transgressor is one who tries to reinstitute the Old Covenant Jewish Law. We die ...through the Law, not bypassing or dishonouring it, but BY RECOGNISING THAT IT IS HOLY
THAT WE DESERVE ITS CONSEQUENCE, WHICH IS DEATH!
believe are granted Entrance into His Eternal Kingdom by His Divine Grace.
THROUGH GODS MERCY WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AND EMPOWERED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH THE GOD THE SON, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER FOR GOOD WORKS OR GOOD DEEDS OF RIGHTEOUS THAT BRING GLORY TO HIM.
Faith in Jesus Christ is grammatically parallel to the Works of the Law and should be translated the Faith of Jesus Christ, which is THE HOLY GOSPEL.
AS THE SOURCE OF WORKS IS THE LAW, SO THE SOURCE OF FAITH IS CHRIST and it is THE FAITH OF CHRIST HIS BELIEFS, HIS TEACHING, HIS TRUST, HIS OBEDIENCE THAT JUSTIFIES US and not our Faith as such.
We voluntarily die ...to the Law through our death with Christ THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM. Being crucified with Christ through our Holy Baptism, WE COME ALIVE TO THE LAW OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which Perfects the intention of the Old Covenant Law. There is no contradiction between Divine Law and the Holy Gospel of God. THE LAW IS ...Holy and Just and Good, yet it is weak and obsolete, for it is FULFILLED IN THE HOLY GOSPEL IN CHRIST HIMSELF. (ROMANS 7:12 ROMANS 8:3
HEBREWS 8:13)
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 8 : 34 - 9 : 1

Following Christ our Lord
At that time when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His Disciples also, He said to them: Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospels will Save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul! Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the Glory of His Father with the Holy Angels. And He said to them; Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God present with Power! and sufferings without complaint, and fulfilling all V THE CROSS was the most dreaded instrument of our commitments to the best of our ability, Roman punishment, used to execute the worst confident in the Knowledge that by Divine Grace we type of criminals and enemies of the Roman will accomplish even the most impossible deeds for Empire. the benefit of others as well as ourselves. However, IT HAS BECOME A GREAT SIGN OF ETERNAL V From our Holy Baptism and Chrismation until we VICTORY OVER EVIL and SYMBOLIC OF THE EXTREME SUFFERING OF CHRIST AND HIS VOLUNTARY, SUPREME draw our last breath on earth, WE CRUCIFY AND FINAL BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF THE OUR FLESH our physical desires and SALVATION OF ALL HUMANITY THROUGHOUT ALL AGES. demands - THROUGH CONTINUOUS WATCHFULNESS, V Thus THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST THE EMPTY SELF-EXAMINATIONS AND CORRECTIONS CROSS SYMBOLISES FOR ALL FAITHFUL REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION, FOLLOWED BY HOLY
CHRISTIANS THE ALL POWERFUL MIGHT OF GOD, OUR RESURRECTION ON THE DAY OF THE FINAL JUDGEMENT AND ALSO THE HOLY MARTYRDOM OF THOSE WHO SUFFER FOR THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTION TO CHRIST OUR LORD. WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LOVE OF GOD AND HIS HOLY GOSPEL. EUCHARIST/COMMUNION.
In this manner, WE BECOME SANCTIFIED MADE HOLY

THROUGH OUR GROWING AND MATURING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. SPIRITUAL PROGRESS REQUIRES DAILY PRAYERS, CONTEMPLATION, WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING by means of THE GUIDANCE OF OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND OUR FAITHFUL LIFE IN CHRIST by OBEDIENTLY FULFILLING ALL REQUIREMENTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH GOD THE SON, BEING ENABLED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Correct and essential self-denial is neither a punishment nor an end in itself but A MEANS OF
RESISTING AND OVERCOMING OUR WEAKNESS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH the temptations of this fallen world THAT DRAW US AWAY FROM GOD AND ALL HIS DIVINE GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS.
Self-denial of Temptations
physical
US
desires
and
Spiritual
AND MORE
The central paradox of Life in Christ or Christian living is that IN GRASPING FOR TEMPORAL THINGS WORLDLY
THINGS WE LOSE THE PRICELESS ETERNAL THINGS
the sake of Eternal Life in Gods Heavenly Kingdom. Through Self-denial, WE TRAIN OUR IMMORTAL SOULS TO DOMINATE OUR WEAK, DEMANDING FLESH our physical bodies so that we may rise to greater Spiritual Heights and SLOWLY BECOME FITTING,
WORTHY CITIZENS OF GODS ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE.
MAKES SPIRITUAL BEINGS for
STRONGER
By taking up our personal Crosses, we accept our Sacred Calling and Mission by accepting lifes pains
that are essential for Eternal Life. However, BY SACRIFICING EVERYTHING OF THIS TEMPORARY WORLD, WE GAIN ETERNAL RICHES that are far beyond our understanding or imagination. 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 2 : 9 ... it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of mankind the Things that God has prepared for those who Love Him! The vital question: What will a man give in exchange for his soul? emphasises THE UTTER
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FOOLISHNESS OF TRYING TO ACCUMULATE WORLDLY WEALTH AND POWER, OR BY GAINING THE USELESS FLATTERY, DECEPTIVE GLORY AND FALSE HONOUR OF HUMAN SOCIETY FOR NONE OF THESE CAN REDEEM OUR FALLEN SOUL, NOR BENEFIT US IN ETERNITY! Furthermore, TO EXCHANGE OUR IMMORTAL SOULS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MERELY TEMPORARY, FLEETING AND OF NO ETERNAL VALUE, IS TOTALLY STUPID AND SENSELESSLY, DEVASTATINGLY RECKLESS!
TO MOUNT TABOR WHERE THEY WOULD WITNESS HIS GLORIOUS TRANSFIGURATION.
St Peter, St John and St James actually saw our Lord Jesus Christ in all His Glory as the Eternal Son of God, which enabled them to understand the Reason, Purpose and Truth of His Passion, His Death on the Cross and His Glorious Resurrection, followed by His Ascension into Heaven.
THOSE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALSO REFERRED TO OTHERS OF EVERY GENERATION TO COME WHO WILL EXPERIENCE THE VERY PRESENCE OF GODS ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
V When Christ said: ...there are some standing

here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God present with Power... HE WAS REFERRING TO THE THREE OF
HIS HOLY APOSTLES WHO WOULD ACCOMPANY HIM
Faith in Christ, Not in Works

Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews Sermon delivered September 21, 2008 There is a story about a Monk who despaired of the Righteousness apart from Christ can do them Cross God had given him and complained of it good. constantly. How often do we think, "I did a good deed yesterday, I God finally relented and offered him a chance to select don't need to pray today; I went to Liturgy last a different Cross. week, I can probably skip Liturgy this week; I He led the Monk into a room filled with several Crosses Confess to God in my personal Prayer, I don't need from which to pick. to go to the Sacrament of Confession with the The Monk was appalled at what he saw: huge Crosses, Priest; I received Holy Communion last year during bloody Crosses, Crosses with nails. Holy Week so I'm all set until next year." He wandered through the room and finally spied a Even worse may be: "I did something good for lovely small silver Cross tucked away in a corner. someone or I attended Liturgy or I received He picked this Cross and held it up saying, "I'll take this Communion, so now I can sin a little bit. I deserve Cross!" it or I earned it." God simply replied, "That is the Cross you already That is how too many people approach dieting or had!" Fasting. We should ask ourselves: Do I embrace the Cross God Unfortunately, what we're doing is taking our has given me? Or do I try to take my Salvation - or Spiritual Life into our own hands instead of as St. Paul says, my Justification - into my own placing our trust in the Lord. hands? In order to be made Righteous by the Faith of Am I trying to get to Heaven without God's Help or Christ, we must seek to imitate as best we can, Guidance? the absolute trust in and Obedience towards In today's Gospel Lesson our Lord Jesus says: God the Father. "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him Bargaining with God using our righteous actions as deny himself, and take up his Cross and leverage is making the same mistake that the follow Me" ancient Judaizers did: Placing our faith in our works Like the Monk we may not want the Cross we've been rather than in God. given, or we may think we know a better way than To think or try to become Righteous before God the Way our Lord Jesus is leading us. in order to get to Heaven without living in the This relates to St. Paul's words from today's Epistle Life of His Church, the Body of Christ, is to be Lesson where he says: "A man is not Justified by ashamed of Christ and His Words! (MARK 8:38). the Works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus The Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, Christ" (GALATIANS 2:16-20) who lived in the 19th century, expresses the attitude Let us take a closer look at this verse. and disposition we should have towards God: Whenever we hear the word "Justify" in Holy Scripture, we should think of the more accurate translation O God, grant me to greet the coming day in Peace. "Righteous." Help in all things So to be Justified is to be made Righteous, which to rely upon Thy Holy Will. means to act in an upright, moral, virtuous way. In every hour of the day When we hear "Works of the Law" we should think of reveal Thy Will to me. the Mosaic Law, the Tablets of the Law given to Bless my dealings Moses by God. (EXODUS 20FF). with all who surround me This Law gave Commandments for life that instructed and teach me the Israelites on how to relate to God and to each to treat all who come to me throughout the day other. with peace of soul and firm conviction This Law revealed the difference between good and evil that Thy Will governs all things. and functioned as a tutor that would lead them to In all my words and deeds the MessiahJesus Christ. (GALATIANS 3:24). guide my thoughts and feelings. In this particular verse "Faith in Christ" should be In unforeseen events translated "Faith of Christ." let me not forget The Faith of Christ is the absolute Trust and Obedience that all things are under Thy Care. our Lord Jesus placed in God the Father, which He Teach me to act firmly and wisely demonstrated throughout His Life, especially without embittering or embarrassing others. leading up to and including His Crucifixion and Grant me Strength Death. to bear the fatigue of the coming day Reflected in many of his Epistles, St. Paul addressed the with all that it shall bring. problem of Judaizers in the early Church. Direct my will, Judaizers were those Christians who demanded that teach me to pray, new followers of Christ must be circumcised and pray Thyself in me. follow the strict Jewish Dietary Laws. Amen So how does all of the above relate to us more than Hopefully, we can now understand better that 2,000 years later? to lose our life for Christ and the Gospel We no longer have the problem of Judaizers but we still is expressed when we deny ourselves from have the problem of people thinking that their what we want or what we think is best
21.
That taking up our Cross is to be crucified with Christ. And finally, that to place our complete trust in God is to have the faith of Christ. (Mark 8:34-35). Thus, most profoundly: "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (GALATIANS 2:20). Glory to God for All Things During this Afterfeast of the Holy Cross it seems worthwhile to continue with thoughts on the Instrument of our Salvation. In a short work, The Beginning of the Day, (I believe it was a special printing and is not generally available), Metropolitan Kallistos Ware notes this about the Cross and its connection with the whole of Creation: [The] created order in its entirety participated in the Saviors Passion: the earth shook, the rocks were split, the whole cosmos shuddered (MATTHEW.
27:51)
FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS IS THE PASTOR OF ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. FR. ANDREWS IS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF MINNESOTA EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CLERGY ASSOCIATION (MEOCCA), AND A VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN WITH THE ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles8/andrews-faith-inchrist-not-in-works.php
- The Cross & the Cosmos In such a fashion St. Paul can say that the ...world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Frequently our own thoughts about the Things of God are too restricted, too limited. The Cross is diminished to an execution role in a very narrow atonement theory - the Incarnation reduced to a stage entrance. These Great Mysteries of God manifest among us - are the Gate and Ladder, the Entrance into the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Gods Entrance into our world. This is true not only of the Cross of Golgotha, but ultimately in every Cross that participates in its reality. A believers making of the Sign of the Cross, with Faith, participates in this Reality (and so the demons flee). Christ has promised that we would have Life more abundant. By this is not meant that we will be rich or have more material things (for these are not the True Life). But the Kingdom is an endless abundance that enters our heart and world, shattering the narrowness of opaque minds and opening to us the Fullness of Life in Christ. The Reality presented to us in the Cross (as with all Things of God) is never comprehended in rational theory. It pushes us beyond the limits of our own poorly defined rationality and towards the greater rationality of the Truth of Things. As noted by St. Gregory of Nyssa: ...only wonder grasps anything. To approach the Cross with wonder is to begin the Journey that it makes possible. The Life that we refer to as Salvation belongs to this world of wonder despite the banalities of much Christian conversation on the topic. It is not surprising that Silence is among the most important Tools in our Spiritual Life. O, Sweet Wonder!
FATHER STEPHENS BLOG OF 17 SEPTEMBER 2010 THE CROSS & THE COSMOS THIS IS A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BLOGSITE, WHICH HAS MANY PROFOUND TEACHINGS, COMMENTARIES AND QUOTATIONS TRUE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR THE SERIOUS ORTHODOX DISCIPLE http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/09/
In the words of St Ephrem the Syrian, humans were silent, so the stones cried out. As the old English poem The Dream of the Rood expresses it: All creation wept. This all embracing participation in the Death of God incarnate is memorably expressed in the Praises or Enkomia sung in the evening of Good Friday or early in the morning on Holy Saturday: Come, and with the whole creation let us offer a funeral hymn to the Creator. The whole earth quaked with fear, O Lord, and the Daystar hid its rays, when Thy great Light was hidden in the earth. The sun and moon grew dark together, O Saviour, like faithful servants clothed in black robes of mourning. O hills and valleys, exclaims the Holy Virgin, the multitude of mankind and all creation, weep and lament with me, the Mother of God. Most remarkably of all in what is truly an amazing statement, it is affirmed: the whole Creation was altered by Thy Passion: for all things suffered with Thee, knowing, O Lord, that Thou holdest all in unity. Do we reflect sufficiently, I wonder, upon the environmental implications of our Lords Incarnation - upon the way in which our Lord Jesus is ecologically inclusive, embedded in the soil like us, containing within His Humanity what has been termed the whole evolving earth story? Do we allow properly for the fact that our Saviour came to Redeem, not only the human race, but the fullness of Creation? Do we keep constantly in mind that we are not Saved from but with the world?
Abba Ammonas On Love "Love never hates anyone, never reproves anyone, never condemns anyone, never grieves anyone, never abhors anyone
- neither faithful nor infidel nor stranger nor sinner nor fornicator, nor anyone impure -but instead it is precisely sinners, and weak and negligent souls that it Loves more, and feels pain for them and grieves and laments. Love feels sympathy for the wicked and sinners, more than for the good - imitating Christ Who called sinners, and ate and drank with them. For this reason, showing what real Love is, He taught us by saying, `Become good and merciful like your Father in Heaven,' and as God rains on bad and good and makes the sun to rise on the Just and unjust alike, so also the one who has real Love has compassion, and prays for everyone."
St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
Fear of torment is the way of a slave, desire of Reward in the Heavenly Kingdom is the way of a hireling,
but God's Way is that of a son, through Love.
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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the H oly Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet Ever Virgin, toge ther with all the Sai nts. And le t us commi t ourselves and one another and our w hole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
23 September 2011 Conception of St John the Baptist & Forerunner Also the Feast of St Rhais (iraida) of Alexandria St Xanthippe & St Polyxene of Spain St Nicholas the New Martyr St John the New Martyr of Epiros St Andrew, St Peter, St Antoninos & St John of Syracuse - the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Slovenka
Apolytikion of the Conception of St John the Baptist Tone 4
I proin ou tiktousa, stira efranthiti.
Idou gar sinelaves Iliou lihnon safos, fotizin ton mellonta, pasan tin ikoumenin, avlepsia nosousan. Horeve Zaharia, ekvoon parrisia: Profitis tou Ipsistou, estin O Mellon tiktesthe!
Rejoice,
O Barren One, who had not given birth; for behold Thou hast conceived clearly the one who is the Dawn of the Sun Who was about to Illuminate the whole Universe, blighted with blindness. Shout with Joy, O Zacharias, crying in favour: Verily, the one to be born is a Prophet of the High!
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.
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!
The Epistle of St Paul to the
Galatians 4:22-27
Like Isaac, John Was A Child Of Promise, Born To Barren Parents In Their Old Age
Brethren, it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through Promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two Covenants: the one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar - for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children - but the Jerusalem Above is free, which is the Mother of us all. For it is written: Rejoice, O barren - You who do not bear! Break forth and shout - You who are not in labour! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband. Now we, Brethren, as Isaac was, are Children of Promise. But, as he was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does Scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be Heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, Brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the Free. By saying that Abrahams two sons and related events are conversion to the Divine Truth and Enlightenment of symbolic St Paul was not implying that they are not Christs Holy Gospel. historical facts. He asserted or confirmed that OLD She who has a husband refers to (old) Israel - the COVENANT HISTORY IS ANNOUNCING SOMETHING FAR Hebrew nation. GREATER THAN ITSELF. Sarah was a type of Mary, the Ever Blessed Theotokos, Hagar and Mount Sinai symbolise earthly Jerusalem because Sarahs son Isaac was born through a and the Hebrew who was under the Law of God THE Promise - Gods Promise - the announcement of OLD COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND, THE DIVINE which was delivered to her by an Angel of God most PURPOSE OF WHICH WAS TO PREPARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE probably ARCHANGEL GABRIEL WHO ALWAYS ANNOUNCES ISRAEL FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH the Incarnation of the Son of God, Who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Being enslaved to others and bearing an illegitimate child, Hagar also represented those who were outside the Holy Covenant with God the Gentiles and/or pagans who were enslaved by sin either wilfully or involuntarily. Sarah, a free woman who was (legally) married according to the Old Covenant and in the Sight of God, symbolised the Heavenly Jerusalem - the Holy Church of Christ and the New Covenant with God which is a natural continuation of our human Spiritual Progress towards Eternity.
BY CONTINUOUSLY REPENTING OUR SINS AND LEARNING TO AVOID TEMPTATIONS, WE FAITHFULLY FOLLOW AND IMITATE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS TAUGHT US DIVINE TRUTH, WHICH ENABLES US TO SLOWLY REGAIN OUR LIKENESS TO GOD AND THUS BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS IN HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE. GODS GOOD NEWS TO US THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
St John Chrysostom wrote that Isaac ...was the issue of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that was dead. His conception was not by the flesh, nor his birth by the seed, for the womb was dead both through age and barrenness. But the Word of God fashioned him ... He who was not according to the flesh was more honourable than he that was born after the flesh. Therefore let it not disturb you that you were not born after the flesh. For from the very reason that you are not so born, you are most of all Abrahams Kindred.
THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION, WE HAVE BECOME THE ADOPTED HEIRS TO GODS HEAVENLY KINGDOM WE ARE THE NEW ISRAEL THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD.
The desolate are those in the Church, especially the Gentiles - the Christians many of whom had formerly stumbled about in Spiritual Darkness until their
A bondwoman was a slave who may have been captured as a spoil of battle when the victorious armies took possession of whatever they wanted from those they had killed or defeated.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WERE ENSLAVED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN UNPAYABLE DEBT OWED TO SOMEONE ELSE.
The Conception of St John the Baptist 23 September 2011
23.
NO ONLY THE DEBTOR BUT THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY WOULD BE ENSLAVED BY THOSE TO WHOM THE DEBT WAS OWED AND THEY COULD BE SOLD TO OTHERS OR WORK FOR THE CREDITOR UNTIL THE DEBT HAD BEEN PAID. SLAVES HAD NO RIGHTS and could be bought or sold, taken
or left behind. They were regarded as being less important than the livestock and were barely more significant than mere household utensils. Women, generally, existed according to the will and desires of men, who seldom treated them with equal respect, mercy or kindness. Even the role of the so-called freewomen was to serve the male population, to bear and nurture children for the next generation, while taking care of all the household duties and the much valued livestock. Women were expected to anticipate and to fulfil all requirements of the male population, without disturbing or interfering with their enjoyment of life. Women would never dare to speak directly to any man unless they were addressed first. Then, with the permission of a male relative, perhaps they would be
allowed to respond, but usually everything would be addressed through a male relative. It was most dangerous in so many aspects for any woman to be seen conversing with a man in public, unless she was in the strict custody of a male relative.
JESUS CHRIST LIBERATED WOMEN, INSTRUCTING MEN TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AND SONS TO RESPECT THEIR MOTHERS.
He spoke to women publicly and openly, allowing them to sit and listen to what He had to say. When He taught us to Love thy neighbour as thyself He meant that each of us was to TREAT EVERYONE ELSE
WITH THE EXACT SAME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND RESPECT THAT HE GRANTED TO ALL OF US - REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, GENDER OR FAITH! JESUS CHRIST MADE EVERY WOMAN A TRULY FREEWOMAN THROUGH HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS, LOVE, GRACE, GIFTS, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND HEAVENLY PROMISE. ST PAUL CONTINUOUSLY REMINDED ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS OF OUR TRUE FREEDOM IN CHRIST JESUS THE TRUE FREEDOM OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE/AGAPE.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 1:5 - 25

St Johns Approaching Birth Is Announced To His Father, Zacharias
At that time, there was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both Righteous before God, walking blameless in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as Priest before God in the Order of his Division, according to the custom of the Priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the Hour of incense. Then an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your Prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have Joy and Gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb. And he will turn many of the Children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just, to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said to the Angel: How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. And the Angel answered and said to him: I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these Glad Tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own time. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he lingered so long in the Temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months saying, Thus has the Lord dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people. ST LUKE WAS THE ONLY EVANGELIST WHO PROVIDED would have a son who must be named John, which INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF ST JOHN means the Grace of God.
THE BAPTIST, FORERUNNER TO JESUS CHRIST.
St Zacharias and St Elizabeth were a Righteous couple of a Priestly Lineage, living always to fulfil Gods Will. St Elizabeth, like other women of the Old Covenant, such as Sarah, Rebecca, Hannah and others, was barren and beyond the age or possibility of child-bearing. And since she had been unable to produce any living children, she was socially disgraced because in those times infertility was unacceptable - it was a reproach among people. Each Priest who served at the Holy Temple was assigned to a specific division of the Temple. There were 24 Divisions in all and each Priest served a week at a time by rotation. The responsibilities of the Priests in each Division were decided by lot.
ST ZACHARIAS HAD OFTEN PRAYED FOR A SON AND NOW, FINALLY, IN HIS LATE YEARS OF LIFE, HIS PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AS ALWAYS, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD ALONE AND FOR HIS DIVINE PURPOSE, which we seldom
ARCHANGEL GABRIEL DESCRIBED THE CHARACTER AND ROLE OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST y HE WOULD LIVE AN ASCETIC LIFE AS A PROPHET y HE WOULD PREPARE THE JEWISH NATION FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH. ST ELIJAH WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PROPHETS OF ISRAEL and HE WAS EXPECTED TO REAPPEAR from Heaven in order TO ANOINT THE MESSIAH. ST ZACHARIAS INDICATED A LACK OF FAITH IN GOD BY QUESTIONING what Archangel Gabriel announced.
When Abram had heard Gods Promise of a son announced by the Angel, he believed in the Lord - without any hesitation or doubt, with total trust and Faith in the Lord. However, ST ZACHARIAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR HIS UNBELIEF by losing his ability to speak until eight days after the birth of his son, John.
THIS PUNISHMENT OF ST ZACHARIAS CONFIRMATION OF THE TRUTH of ALSO A SIGN AND
understand until much later or quite often, never understand! The Archangel Gabriel, the Bearer of Good News, promised, on behalf of God, that St Zacharias and St Elizabeth St John the Forerunner and Baptist did not merely, in the words of the Scripture, choose the good before knowing evil, but while yet unborn - before knowing the world - he surpassed it. Then once he was born he delighted and amazed everyone by reason of the Miraculous Events surrounding him, because it says, 'The Hand of the
Archangel Gabriels Announcement of the Forerunner to Christ our Saviour and the last but greatest of all the Old Covenant Prophets of God.
St. Gregory Palamas

Lord was with him', working Wonders again as it had in earlier times. Once this Divine Child - this Living Instrument of Grace from his mother's womb - had been conceived, he was moved by Grace to rejoice in the Holy Spirit. In the same way, after being born, he grew and waxed strong in the Spirit." (ISAIAH 7:16 LXX & LUKE. 1:66 ), (ST GREGORY
PALAMAS: THE HOMILIES VOL. 2; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS)
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The Conception of St John the Baptist 23 September 2011
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. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, ye t Ever Virgin, toge ther with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our w hole Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.
24 September 2011 St Thekla the Great & Holy Protomartyr of Iconium Equal to the Apostles Also the Feast of St Silouan of Mount Athos - the Synaxis of All Saints of Alaska St Peter the Aleut - St Juvenal, Protomartyr of America - St Nicander the Hermit of Pskov - St Galakteon the Monk-Martyr of Vologda - St Copres of Palestine - St Abraius the Abbot of Mirozh, Pskov - St Vladislav King & Martyr of Serbia - St Dorothy of Kasin - St Simon, St David & St Stephen of Serbia - St Abraham, Builder & Abbot of our Saviours Transfiguration Monastery in Pskov - the Appearances of the Mirozh Icon & the Myrtidiotissa Icon (Of the Myrtle Tree) of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos.
Apolytikion of St Thekla the Great Protomartyr of Iconium Tone 4
I amnos Sou, Iisou, krazi megali ti foni: Se Nimfie mou Thy

potho, ke Se Zitousa athlo, ke sistavroume, ke sinthaptome to Vaptismo Sou. Ke Pasho dia Se, os Vasilefso sin Si. Ke thnisko iper Sou, ina ke ziso en Si. All os thisian amomon, prosdehou tin meta pothou tithisan Si. Aftis Presvies, os eleimon, soson tas psihas imon.
Kontakion of St Thekla the Great Protomartyr of Iconium
Lamb, O Lord Jesus, cries to Thee with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I Love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy Baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her Intercessions, since Thou art great in Mercy.
Tis Parthenias to kalli exelampsas, tou Martiou Stefano

kekosmise, Apostolin Pistevi Parthene os Endoxos. Ke tou piros men tin floga, is droson metevales, tou tavrou de tonthimon, prosehi Sou imerosas, os Protoathlos.
Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Glorious Virgin, Thou wast entrusted with an Apostolate, while shining brightly with Virginal Beauty and adorned with Crowns of Martyrdom. And, O Thekla, Thou also subdued the bull's fury and changed the fire to Dew by Thine Entreaties, O First Contestant among all womankind. 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!

The Second Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy 3 : 10 15

Our Loyalty to Holy Tradition & Divine Truth is our Defence Against Apostasy
Timothy my son: you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, Purpose of Life, Faith, Longsuffering, Love, Perseverance, persecutions and afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra what persecutions I endured! And out of them all, the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to Live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. And evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. However, you must continue in the Things which you have learnt and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learnt them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for Salvation through Faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE ERA OF THE LAST DAYS SINCE THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD since the Birth of our SELF-INDULGENCE, and LACK OF LOVE, LACK OF MERCY AND LACK OF COMPASSION for anyone else!
R E AD MATTH E W 24; MARK 13; 2 THE SSAL O NI ANS 2; 2 PETE R 2; RO MANS 1:28-32; MATTHE W 7:15-27; 1 COR I NTH IANS 5:1-5; 1 TI TUS 4: 1 11 & G E NE SI S 4:16-24
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Holy Church of Christ has always been aware of the persecutions and perils of this final age of mankind but OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND
OUR HOLY FATHERS HAVE TAUGHT US NOT TO DISTRESS OURSELVES OR WASTE THIS VALUABLE PRESENT TIME NOW! TODAY! THIS MOMENT! - by being preoccupied with
Knowing exactly what we are to endure and how difficult and destructive life on earth was to become, OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST WARNED US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE NOW!
the future that only God the Father knows about and can control. Life throughout the ages has suffered varying degrees of catastrophe and devastation, and OUR LORD JESUS DID
WARN US THAT BEFORE HIS REAPPEARANCE ON EARTH FOR HIS FINAL JUDGEMENT, EVERYTHING WOULD BE THE WORST IT HAS EVER BEEN FOR ALL CREATION. GREAT SPIRITUAL DECAY AND IMMORALITY HAS ALREADY TAKEN ROOT even from within His Holy Church and similar to the prominent men of Cains city, THE OFFENDERS OF GOD DELIBERATELY REJECT GODS LAW AND SOCIAL MORALS BECAUSE OF THEIR UNCONTROLLED GREED AND
IF WE ALL BEGIN TO HUMBLE OURSELVES SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY AND EAGERLY OBEY ALL FACETS OF GODS COMMANDMENTS, AS A UNIVERSAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY WE WILL BE STRENGTHENED AND UNITED IN HIS DIVINE LOVE.
Equipped and protected by Almighty God and His entire Heavenly Host, WE WILL BE READY AND ABLE TO
CONFRONT ANY ENEMIES OF HIS HOLY KINGDOM ON EARTH.
AS TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO PRESERVE, TO SHARE AND TO PROTECT HIS DIVINE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES, AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE ARE CALLED TO OFFER OUR LIVES PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY IN ORDER TO DO SO.
St Thekla the Great Protomartyr of Iconium
24 September 2011
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The Life in Christ of St Paul exhibited what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us: IN THIS FALLEN WORLD, GODLINESS
ELICITS PERSECUTION FROM THE GODLESS AND GODHATERS.
ALL THE UNCONDITIONAL BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS OF GODS DIVINE LOVE AND THE WONDERFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERFECTION AND GOODNESS.
(HATRED IS ALWAYS IRRATIONAL AND UNREASONABLE - AND CONSEQUENTLY DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE! IT IS EVERYTHING THAT IS GODLESS AND SATANIC!)
John 15:20: Our Lord Jesus Christ said: Remember the Word that 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. The rebellion of the fallen world against God reveals several aspects: while UNION WITH CHRIST BRING US LOVE, TRUTH AND PEACE, IT ALSO BRING US PERSECUTION, because the fallen world of Godless people the enemies of God hate His Divine Love and Truth (AND EVEN OUR
HUMAN CONCEPT OF LOVE AND TRUTH!)
SO OUR ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND LOVING LORD JESUS CHRIST IS HATED AND REJECTED WITHOUT REASON OR CAUSE!
Having exhorted and encouraged St Timothy with the example of his own steadfastness his own faithfulness, dedication and commitment to Christ and His Holy Gospel - St Paul then reminded St Timothy of HIS TRAINING as St Pauls disciple, which CONSISTED OF
A COMBINATION OF BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN TEACHINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS. (DOCTRINE) ONLY A PART OF THAT HOLY TRADITION CONSISTED OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, which was, of course, the Old
THE FALLEN WORLD HATES CHRIST; THEREFORE IT WILL ALSO HATE ALL THOSE WHO TRY TO IMITATE HIM WHO TRY TO BECOME CHRISTLIKE THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR LIFE IN CHRIST THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS. THE FALLEN WORLD HATES OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE IT NEITHER KNOWS NOR DESIRES TO KNOW GOD THE FATHER. (THE REJECTION OF GOD AND ALL HIS GOODNESS IS
A DIRECT INFLUENCE OF AND SUBJECTION TO SATAN!)
Testament since the New Testament had not yet been compiled.
MOST OF OUR SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT AND INSTRUCTION COMES FROM OUR GOD-INSPIRED VERBAL TRADITION, which has been so METICULOUSLY AND TRUTHFULLY PRESERVED and then MOST VIGILANTLY PASSED DOWN TO US UNCHANGED from the time of
Christ and His Holy Apostles!

R E AD MATTH E W 28:16-20; 1 CO RI NTHI ANS 11:2; 2 THE SSAL O NI ANS 2: 15 & 3:6
THE FALLEN WORLDS HATRED FOR CHRIST JESUS IS IRRATIONAL AND UNREASONABLE BECAUSE OUR SAVIOUR HAS BROUGHT US PERFECT, TRUE LOVE AND HIS GREAT MERCY by Teaching, Guiding and
Enlightening us revealing through His Example
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 4 : 22 30

Many Profess Their Wonder And Belief In God But Very Few Truly Worship And Obey Him!
At that time, all bore witness to (our Lord Jesus Christ) and marvelled at the Gracious Words which proceeded out of His Mouth. And they said: Is this not Josephs Son? He said to them: You will surely say this Proverb to Me: Physician, heal Thyself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also her in Thy Country. Then He said: Indeed, I say to you: no Prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly: many widows were in Israel in the day of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up for three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent, except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel at the time of Elisha the Prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. And all those in the Synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and they rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him up to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, so that they might throw Him down over the cliff! Then, passing through the midst of them, He went His Way. REJECTION like that of the Hebrews in the Synagogue of Divine Commandment to all Creation: You shall not Nazareth, ALL TOO FREQUENTLY OCCURS IN THOSE WHO tempt the Lord your God! ENCOUNTER OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE J o h n 9 : 1 6 : ...some of the Pharisees said: This Man is TRUTH. not from God, because He does not keep the L u k e 1 1 : 1 4 - 1 6 : Christ ... was casting out a demon, and it Sabbath! Others said: How can a man who is a was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, sinner do such Signs (Miracles)? And there was a the mute spoke; and the multitudes marvelled, but division among them. some of them said: He casts out demons by Just as the Pharisees chose to ignore the Miraculous Beelzebub, the ruler of demons! Others, testing Him, Healings by Christ and only focussed on His perceived sought from Him a Sign from Heaven... violation of the Sabbath, MOST PEOPLE CANNOT WITNESS The unqualified ignorance and Spiritual Blindness of THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH THE BLINDING DARKNESS OF such people is extremely ridiculous and dangerous, for THEIR OWN SINFUL PREJUDICES AND SELFONLY GOD CAN EXPEL OR EXORCISE EVIL THAT HAS NO PART OF HIM (OR US HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE BEEN CREATED IN HIS
LIKENESS AND IMAGE!)
RIGHTEOUSNESS!
All aspects of evil and its resultant destruction of goodness are inventions of Satan.
SUCH HIDEOUSNESS CERTAINLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BEAUTY AND PERFECTION OF GODS DIVINE CREATION, BUT GOD ALONE CAN ERADICATE AND BANISH IT FROM US.
When our Lord Jesus was rejected in his own country, it fulfilled every rejection of the Old Covenant Prophets of God such as St Elijah and St Elisha. Furthermore, it foreshadowed the rejection of Christ by the whole Hebrew nation at His public Trial before Pontius Pilate. Nevertheless, OUR SAVIOUR WILLINGLY ACCEPTED HIS DEATH
SENTENCE ACCORDING TO HIS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHERS DIVINE WILL and not according to
Beelzebub is an imaginary pagan god that was derided (MOCKED) by the Hebrews as the lord of the flies, meaning, in this particular context, Satan.
GENUINE DIVINE SIGNS OR MIRACLES ARE NEVER GRANTED TO THOSE WHOSE MOTIVES ARE MERELY TO TEST THE LORD OUR GOD.
At the Temptation of Christ, the evil one tried to deceive our Lord Jesus by quoting Holy Scripture to Him - to convince Him to worship him and to reject God.
WITHOUT FAIL LUCIFER BAITS HIS POISONOUS HOOK WITH A MINISCULE DROP OF TRUTH, which he always distorts and
takes out of context in order to coax us into submission to his will in his ceaseless obsession to destroy us. However, CHRIST IS TRUTH ITSELF and He repeated His
the misled and unjust will of the Hebrew leaders. This particular Event in Nazareth clearly demonstrated that the Hour of His Great Passion had not yet come, and was only possible by Divine Will. Thus, although the angry mob had hustled Christ all the way to the high cliff edge so that they could push Him over it, to be killed on the rocks far below, He simply passed through their midst and continued His Journey. This amazing account, without a doubt is witness to the Truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly God Who controls all time and Creation!
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St Thekla the Great Protomartyr of Iconium
24 September 2011
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, to gether with all the S aints. And let us commit o urselves and one another and our w hole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
25 September 2011 15th Sunday After Pentecost Tone (6) Plagal 2
1st Sunday of St Luke: The Miraculous Catch The Feast of St Sergios , Wonderworker of Radonezh St Euphrosyne & St Paphnoutios, her father, & 546 Holy Martyrs of Alexandria St Euphrosyne of Suzdal St Herman of Kazan, first translation of Holy Relics St Arsenios the Great of Georgia
Apolytikion of the Resurrection Tone (6) Plagal 2
Angelike
Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa to ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilefsas ton Adin, mi pirasthis ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno, Doroumenos tin Zoin. O Anastas ek to nekron, Kyrie, Doxa Si.
The
Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the Tomb seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led Hades captive, yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who art the Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman. Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the dead!
Apolytkion of St Mary of Egypt Tone (8) Plagal 4
En Si Miter, akrivos, diesothi to kat inkona.
Lavousa gar ton Stavron, ikoiouthisas to Hristo, ke prattousa edidaskes, iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar; epimelisthe de psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio ke meta Angelon sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou.
In Thee, O Mother, is preserved undistorted what was

made in the Image of God; for taking up the Cross, Thou followed Christ and taught by Thy Example, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Mary, Thy spirit rejoices with the Angels 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!

Resurrection Gospel 4: Luke 24:1 12

The Myrrhbearers Find The Tomb Empty
Prokeimenon
O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance. I appeal to Thee, O Lord our God
The Second Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4 : 6 15
The Power of the Holy Apostles of Christ
Brethren: It is the God Who Commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to grant us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the Power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed always carrying about in the body the Dying of our Lord Jesus, that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to Death for Christs sake, that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then Death is working in us, but Life in you. And since we have the same spirit of Faith, according to what is written: I believe and therefore I spoke... we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sake, that Grace, having spread through the many, may cause Thanksgiving to abound to the Glory of God. St Paul emphasises the importance of preaching and free will who are able to understand and put into teaching in order to Glorify the Lord our God practice what God teaches us. and not to gain any recognition or praise for ourselves. However, we must never forget that it is God alone Who God our Creator has Enlightened us with His Divine has granted us intelligence and the ability to do Knowledge and Wisdom according to the Will of God things that His other creatures are unable to do the Father, through God the Son and by the enabling and so we have the Sacred Commitment of taking action of God the Holy Spirit. care of and nurturing this extraordinary planet We, as mere creatures of God, having been made from and all things on and in it. the earth, are thus earthen vessels wherein The Divine Treasure is the Glorious Light in our Lord Almighty God has placed His Divine Treasures Jesus Christ Who has come to teach us His Divine everything that makes us in His Likeness and Image. Truth in order to guide us, help us and teach us i.e Consequently, out of all Creation, only we humans and to prepare us for Eternal Life in His Kingdom by the Heavenly Hosts are intellectual beings with helping us to regain our lost Divine Likeness.
15 t h Sunday After Pe ntecost 1 s t of St Luke The Mir ac ulous C atch - 25 September 2011 27.
As we mature spiritually, Gods Divine Light of Truth shines from within us and through us so that others are able to realise that the Power and Wisdom is Divine and certainly not human. This preparatory period before Eternity is certainly not easy for anyone and it is even more difficult for those of us who have chosen to live in Christ and to follow faithfully in His Divine Footsteps. God has never broken any Divine Promise to us, and Christ has never lied or deceived us it is impossible for Him to do so because He is 100% Pure and Absolute Truth. Thus, although He has prepared us for many great difficulties and sufferings even Holy Martyrdom our Journey is one of Victory over evil and such
trials and tribulations reveal both the Power of God and even more His Divine Grace. So despite our being perplexed... persecuted... struck down... and everything else that we suffer in this temporary existence, God never abandons us and due to His infinite Love for us, He always eases, comforts and strengthens us so that we may continue to fulfil our allocated number of days. Through constant Prayer, we grow closer to God Who is ever present always watching over us unless we wilfully commit sin. Then He turns His Loving Sight away from us until we have repented and returned to His Divine Grace.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 5 : 1 11

The Miraculous Catch
At that time, as the multitude pressed about our Lord Jesus to hear the Word of God, He stood by the lake of Genneraret and saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. So He got into one of the boats, which was Simons, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitude from the boat. When He had finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon replied: Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, at Thy Word I will let down the net. And when they had done so, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they went and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. And when Simon Peter saw it, he knelt down at Jesus Knee, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!And he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon: Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men. And when they had taken their boats to land, they forsook everything and followed Him. The Lake of Gennesaret is also known as the Sea of deep Mystery of the Divine Knowledge of the Son of Galilee, which is about 13 miles long and 7 miles God. wide. In His infinite Wisdom, our Lord draws us to Himself It was traditional practise for a respected Teacher to be by things that are familiar to us and just as He seated before his disciples and audience, who stood drew Wise Magi to Him by means of the extraordinary, before him out of respect. Some early Christian Mysterious Star of Bethlehem, and as He drew Tax Preachers (FOR EXAMPLE, ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM) sat and preached Collectors by means of another Tax Collector, in this while the people stood and listened. instance He initially drew these hardworking yet simple Our Lord Jesus addressed the huge crowds with such Fishermen with a Miraculous Catch in order to Divine Authority and Wisdom, that His faithful Apostles eventually make them Fishers of mankind. (MATTHEW 2:2 MATTHEW 5:29 1 CORINTHIANS 9 : 19 23) and Disciples - as well as others who probably St Peters cry Depart from me... after witnessing our attended initially out of idle curiosity - would stand Lords Divine Power was not a rejection of Him but and listen for as long as necessary because they rather due to suddenly being exposed to the wanted to hear His Words and not to discuss or Divine Light of Christ because, quite obviously, debate. anyone in such circumstances would become painfully In the Old Covenant times, only a select few people aware of their own personal unworthiness. (COMPARE ISAIAH were chosen to hear the Lord our God directly.
(REFER EXODUS 19: 3 13) 6:5 & REVELATION 1 :17)
According to our New Covenant with God, we are able to communicate with Him on a more personal level as demonstrated by God Incarnate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Who addressed the multitudes and individuals Face to face. St Ambrose regarded our Lords request to St Peter (i.e. Simon Peter) to ...launch out into the deep... as being a Spiritual Invitation to give his life over to the In todays Sacred Lesson, we hear how our Lord Jesus Christ came upon several fishermen amongst whom would be forever remembered as three of His Twelve Holy Apostles: St Peter, St James and St John. They had been fishing throughout the night and had caught nothing at all. After spending some time preaching to the gathered multitude, Christ turned His attention to the Fishermen and, at our Lords bidding, they returned to their boats and went out into the depths of the Lake. Instinctively trusting Christ, they once again let down their nets and to their utter amazement they caught an enormous abundance of fish enough to nearly break their nets and to fill two boats to capacity, the weight of which threatened to sink them. Experiencing such a miraculous haul, St Peter realised that our Lord Jesus was no ordinary Preacher or Teacher, but an extremely Powerful Person - and with his usual impulsiveness and
This Miraculous Catch of fish depicts the Holy Apostles of Christ bringing mankind to the Divine Knowledge and Truth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and it fulfils the Holy Prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16: Behold, I will send many Fishermen, and they will fish them... In the Festal Hymn of Pentecost we sing to our Lord Jesus Christ: Through the Fishermen, Thou drew the world into Thy Net. sincerity, he confessed his unworthiness of being in His Presence. Christ responded to St Peters heartfelt public confession by telling him not to worry about it for soon they would be netting or catching mankind instead of fish. It is of particular interest that when our Lord told them to cast their nets once again, St Peter, who was certainly an expert in fishing, disputed the possibility of anything being caught since they had been unsuccessful all night long. Due to his experience as a fisherman he knew it would be a waste of time especially in the bright daylight when the fish would clearly see the old fashioned rope nets. However, perhaps to humour our Lord Jesus out of respect for Him, St Peter obediently lowered the net and immediately it filled with the most bountiful catch they had ever made!
The Miraculous Catch Fishers of Men
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15 t h Sunday After Pentec ost 1 s t of St Luke The Miracul ous Catc h - 25 September 2011
In that instant, our Lord Jesus Christ began to teach His Apostles and Disciple to put their complete trust in Him even when it seemed to be a waste of time, even when it seemed to be foolish, even if they thought they knew better! Their humble Obedience to Christ was immediately rewarded by a huge haul of fish! Christ commands us, equally strongly, to put our trust in Him and to obey His Commandments. Sometimes it may seem illogical to us, and yet we must learn to obey and implicitly trust God. When, for example, illness overwhelms us and we have to bear lengthy bouts of pain and suffering, causing us to lose our courage and begin to worry about matters that we have no control over, we have God to comfort us and to grant us the strength and ability to endure. Our Faith and confidence in Gods Loving Providence enables us to rest in the comfort and assurance of His All Knowing Wisdom - by accepting His Divine Will in all things. Although we may try to accomplish certain things but often fail to do so, we must never cease striving, nor must we become hopeless. Having laboured all night, St Peter and his partners had given up fishing and gone ashore to mend and to prepare their nets for the following night. However, despite their doubts, St Peter had taken his boat out again due to our Lords request to do so and their reward for their Obedience to Christ was far greater than the enormous amount of fish they had netted. Those who are disposed to give up at the first sign of failure or disappointment - especially concerning their Spiritual Endeavours are truly lost when they surrender to their impulsive weakness or hopelessness. Yet those who continue to struggle despite any setbacks or disappointments, will eventually succeed in the end and, concerning our Spiritual Struggles we certainly become much more stronger and more determined the harder we strive and ultimately, we are rewarded beyond our wildest dreams! We must always remember that the Evil One never rests from tempting us nor does he cease his efforts to discourage, deceive or destroy us. He uses all our weaknesses against us so we must never cooperate with him but rather Pray even more fervently for Divine Help and Strength to resist. When St Peter confessed his sinfulness and unworthiness to be in the Powerful Presence of Christ, at that moment, our Lord seemed to be rather unconcerned, telling him not to fear (His Divine Power) for He saw deep into St Peters heart and He knew everything about him already. So it was that our Lord revealed to St Peter and the others that they would soon be fishing for immortal souls rather than fish. God knows His creatures far better than we can imagine and when He Calls us, He knows what we will be able to achieve for His Glory, Honour and Worship. Every one of us has a Sacred Mission to fulfil. Yet it may take many years for us to realise what we need to do. And when God Calls us to His Holy Service quite often despite ourselves our souls are filled to capacity with such a profound, inexpressible Love for Him that we are overjoyed - and driven by that deep Love, we will do whatever is necessary in order to obey His Will! St Bede believed that "The Lord soothes the fears of the unspiritual man so that no man need be fearful in his conscience because of his own past guilt; nor, confounded at the sight of the innocence of others, be discouraged in setting out himself on the Road to Sanctity."
Christ Loves us all and regardless of our past sins and offences, He wants us all to humbly turn to Him and to willingly and freely follow Him. God has absolute dominion over His Creation, and can and does work Miracles. The Old and New Testaments are filled with stories of the Miracles of God as are the Lives of the Saints. The entire history of Christianity is a Divine Miracle itself. Lives that were thought to be lost were in fact Saved. Suffering and distress is transformed into Peace and Abundance. Nations threatened by certain catastrophe are repeatedly Saved by God's Intervention. Generally, such Miracles are the result of fervent Prayer and unwavering Faith, yet such answers to our Prayers are according to the Divine Will of God and correspond with His Plan and Purpose for all mankind - and sometimes for individual souls. We are not necessarily promised Rewards in this life, although Gods Blessings are certainly abundant for whatever we sow now will be reaped in Eternity. Nonetheless, God performs infinite Divine Miracles every day such as when the humble and obedient Fishermen received the Miraculous Catch. Even more He rewarded them by making them His Apostles, which brings us to the next Lesson of today:. "... From now on you will catch men..." as Christ said. St Peter, St James, and St John became His closest Apostles and spent the rest of their lives netting souls for His Holy Church. From an earthly standpoint, this might be a questionable Blessing for these men left a lifestyle of reasonably comfort and through their Love of our Lord accepted the Sacred Mission of bringing whole nations to Gods Truth and Worship. These were simple, unsophisticated, illiterate men who lacked worldly experience, yet our Lord Jesus Christ made them our first Divinely Inspired and Wise Holy Church Fathers. Concerning their great Calling and the beginning of their world-wide Holy Mission that was to impact human history forevermore, St Luke simply stated: ...And when they had taken their boats to land, they forsook everything and followed Him. None of our Lords Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples received any material rewards in this life for their devotion to their Sacred Mission. They all faced different degrees of intense hardship, toil, hatred, violence, and finally death. Persecution and indescribable Martyrdom was the price they paid for their voluntary and humble Obedience to Christ our Lord. However, having been Enlightened with Divine Wisdom and Knowledge by God the Holy Spirit, all Christs Apostles and Disciples willingly and eagerly, out of their intense Love and devotion to Him, fulfilled their Holy Calling. Consequently, all were rewarded with Eternal Life and adorned with Martyr's Crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven. Throughout the ages their memory as Gods Holy Saints and Martyrs is venerated by all Christian Faithful every day - and will continue to be until the end of time. As striving Disciples of Christ we honour each and every Saint, beginning with our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos and St John the Baptist by commemorating and imitating their good examples of absolute fidelity to Christ. Indeed, these first simple Fishermen were Called to catch men in Christ's Holy Net so that they might be Saved. And they continue to catch mankind. St Gregory the Theologian wrote: "These Fishermen are Teachers of the Church, who catch us in the Net of Faith, and, as it were, bring us to the shore to the Land of the Living."
15 t h Sunday After Pe ntecost 1 s t of St Luke The Mir ac ulous C atch - 25 September 2011 29.
We too, as simple Orthodox Christians, are Called to catch mankind for Christ. Consider, for a moment, the state of the world around us. Consider this city we live in, and the cities and towns nearby. Consider the frightful nature of the world, of the overwhelming evil that surrounds us! Consider the huge numbers of confused and frightened people, darting this way and that, like frightened fish in a deep, dark sea. Some of whom - although perhaps not all - would doubtless find Peace and Joy if they could only find Christ in the fullness of Orthodox Christianity. We need only to cast our Nets of Faith into the dark murkiness of the surrounding sea of humanity as Christ bids us to do, and we can catch them for Him. How do we do this? We can do it by means of our own Faithful Life in Christ by showing others the benefits, the joy and the confidence of humble Obedience to God in our daily lifestyle and personal relationships. If we are kind, patient, and generous towards our neighbours, that in itself is the beginning of our witness. If we are models of Christian Piety in our lifestyle praying, keeping the Fasts, regularly attending the Divine Liturgy and Holy Services, and by The New Testament, particularly in the writings of St. John (but in St. Pauls works as well) say much about knowing God. In St. Johns Gospel Christ says, And this is Eternal Life: that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent
(JOHN 17:3).
remaining close to the Church, that too is a witness and will attract a larger catch. Finally, we must never be ashamed of Christ's Holy Church by hiding it from those around us. If neighbours or friends or acquaintances have no religious life, or if they are dissatisfied with their current religion, we can invite them to attend the Divine Liturgy and introduce them to Orthodox Christianity. Some people believe that Orthodoxy is only for Greeks, Russians, Romanians, and so forth. Nothing could be further from the Truth! Orthodox Christianity is not a collection of tribal churches it is the Universal Church - the Holy Church of all mankind. So, let us not be apprehensive in sharing the beauty of Orthodoxy with others. Let each of us strive to follow in the footsteps of St Peter, St James, and St John, by becoming Catchers of souls for Christ. Let each of us also put aside all those things that distract us from our real Purpose in this life - let us leave those things, as the Gospel says, and, like the Apostles, follow Christ.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON BY FATHER JAMES THORNTON, PROTECTION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 20/OCTOBER 3, 1999.
http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/thornton_catchmen.aspx
Knowing What We Dont Know
Thus, knowing God is equated with Salvation itself. On the other hand, we speak of God as incomprehensible and unknowable (for instance, in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom). As Father Thomas Hopko has often said, You cannot know God but you have to know Him to know that. There is, I suggest, an unknowing that is knowing. This, of course, is a paradox, as is almost everything well said in Theology. It is often necessary in the Spiritual Life to not know God in order to rightly know Him. In work with Catechumens (those preparing to be received in the Church), I often spend as much time helping them to unlearn as to learn. The God Whom we seek to know is not the same thing as the God of our understanding, much less the God of our imagination. Knowing God is Eternal Life (now and always). What kind of knowing is Paradise? It is very difficult to find words to describe the kind of knowing that is described in the New Testament. It is certainly not an assembly of facts nor is it the kind of knowing that can be arrived at through reason. Some describe this knowing as something like intuition, but I am not sure that this says enough. There are two words or phrases that occur to me that have something of this sense of knowing. One is the word, nevertheless. The other is the phrase and yet. Both carry a sense of hesitation. Offered one thing (as almost inevitable) and someone responds, Nevertheless. It is a negation that is an affirmation as well. It need not necessarily speak the ground of its affirmation, but it remains. The most famous such nevertheless I can recall is that of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace (BOOK OF DANIEL) who are confronted with the tortuous flames of the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar, being asked to abjure their Faith in the True God. They acknowledged the flames and the threats of the King, but responded with Nevertheless. Despite every comfort to the contrary they would not deny Whom they knew. They knew God more than
they knew fear. There is no long discourse on their knowledge or great refutation of the errors of Babylon. There is the resounding sound of nevertheless! Something of the same hesitation hovers about the phrase and yet. It is often a phrase unspoken, a hesitation of the heart. It is a hesitation that suggests there is something more than has thus far been acknowledged. Its absence in the Garden of Eden is deafening. Confronted by the enticements of the serpent, we are told: ...And when the woman saw that the Tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a Tree to be desired to make one wise, she took the fruit thereof, and ate, and gave also to her husband who ate. (GENESIS 3:6) Yes, the Tree is good for food and pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise and yet... Such a hesitation is the pause that makes sin to vanish and the Knowledge of God possible. In the course of our own lives, how much room is allowed for and yet? Both nevertheless and and yet are negative expressions although both depend upon a positive. We yield all too easily to what we think we know and do not hesitate sufficiently before what we do not know. That hesitation is often a moment of Faithfulness or at least the moment in which Faith can be born. In its negative aspect, it is an emptiness, a kenosis, that allows a True Fullness to appear in its place. It is a hesitation that admits what we do not know while allowing the possibility of Knowledge at the same time. It is the Inner Life of wonder. The content of the Orthodox Christian Faith is not an argument. It is not something to be compared to other things such that we can say, This is better. It is the Continual Life of God lived and known by His people, who through the ages, when confronted by manifold opportunities for more convenient options have been able to say, And yet When pressed by their enemies, even to the point of torture and death, they have affirmed, Nevertheless. And in so doing have preserved the Knowledge of the True and Living God and kept intact the Treasure of Tradition that is nothing other than that True Knowledge. God grant us such Holy Hesitation!
GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS! BY FATHERSTEPHEN
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com
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15 t h Sunday After Pentec ost 1 s t of St Luke The Miracul ous Catc h - 25 September 2011
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the H oly Spiri t, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, ye t Ever Virgin, toge ther with all the Saints. And let us commit o urselves and one another and our w hole Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.
26 September 2011 St John the Beloved Apostle, Evangelist & Theologian The Feast of St Gideon the Righteous St Andrew, First Called Apostle of Christ return of Venerable Skull to Patras & the Holy Consecration of the Holy Church of St Andrew in Patras St Ephraim the Wonderworker of Perekop, Novgorod The arrival of the Iveron Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos in Georgia
Apolytikion of the Resurrection Tone (6) Plagal 2
Apostole
Hristo to Theo igapimene, epitahinon, rise laon anapologiton. Dehete se prospiptonta, O epipesonta to stithi katadexamenos. On iketeve, Theologe, ke epimonon nefos ethnon diaskedase, etoumenos imin irinin, ke to Mega Eleos.
Apostle, speaker of Divinity, the Beloved of Christ God, hasten and deliver thy people powerless in argument; for He on Whose Bosom thou leant accepts thee as an Intercessor. Beseech Him, asking for our Safety and His Great Mercy. 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!

Matins Holy Gospel According to St John 21 : 1 & 15 25

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Restores St Peter & Commissions His Apostles
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias... The third time our Lord Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was Risen from the dead, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me more than these? He said to Him: Yes, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee. He said to him: Feed My Lambs. He said to him again a second time: Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me? He said to Him:, Yes Lord; Thou know that I Love Thee. He said to him: Tend My sheep. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He asked him a third time: Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, Thou know all things; Thou know that I love Thee. Jesus said to him:, Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him: Follow Me! Then Peter, turning around, saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, (who also had leaned against His Breast at the Supper and had asked: Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?) Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him: If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me! Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? This is the Disciple who testifies to these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his Testimony is True. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen
The first Epistle of St John 4: 12 -19

God Abides in Us
Beloved: No one has seen God at any time. If we Love one another, God abides in us, and His Love has been Perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the Love that God has for us. God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been Perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love, for Perfect Love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. So he who fears has not been made Perfect in Love. We Love God because He first Loved us. St John emphasises the fact that No one has seen The only way we can see God, is in the human God... for we cannot see Almighty God in all Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the His Majesty and Glory - even if we were of the Incarnate Son and Word of God one of the three Persons of the Eternal, Co-Equal Holy Trinity. Spiritual World - although those who have When He was asked about God the Father, He told His risen to great Spiritual Heights have Apostles that anyone who sees Him, sees the experienced the great Joy and Wonder of His Father as well. Divine Uncreated Light.
St John the Bel ove d & Divi ne Apostl e, Evangeli st & The ol ogi an 26 Se pte mber 2011 31.
Thus, the Holy Icon of the Holy Trinity the Hospitality of Abraham depicts the Holy Trinity as three identical Angels Who visited the ancient Patriarch at the Oaks of Mamre. (GENESIS 18) The expression God is Love is not a definition of Who God is, but rather a description of His Relationship to us as our Heavenly Father Who Loves us far beyond our understanding. As our Lord Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son Who sacrificially gave Himself (AS THE SUPREME AND MOST PERFECT OFFERER AND OFFERING) so that we might Live (Eternally) through Him, we must joyfully and willingly give ourselves to God and to one another in that same Perfect, Divine Love Agape. St John reveals to us how we can know whether God Lives in us: If we Love one another unconditionally If we receive His Holy Spirit If we confess our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Son of God If we abide in the Love of God Live in Christ by striving every moment to imitate Him with our words, thoughts and deeds. Gods Great Mercy and Grace His infinite, unconditional Divine Love for us - is proved by the fact that He created us due to and with His Divine Love. And He created us with free will and as intellectual beings because He does force us to be with Him if we do not will it ourselves! Love can never be forced since it is the greatest of free Gifts that God has bestowed on us, which we can grant to others! Even before the Creation, God had a Plan of Great Mercy and Divine Grace for us.
Having exiled excommunicated ourselves from God through sin, His Love for us was so great that He sent His Beloved Only Begotten Son as the propitiation for our sins as our Divine Reconciliation and Redeemer. Through the ultimate and final Blood Sacrifice of Christ, Who was both the Offerer and the Offering, all mankind was Saved from the enslavement of sin and Death caused by the evil one. However, due to our free will, we still have the ability to sin but we also have every opportunity to Repent and return to Divine Grace until we draw our very last breath in this life. The Lord our God is truly Merciful and Gracious because He grants us many opportunities and the means for our Spiritual Renewal through Repentance-Confession and the Holy Mysteries of His Holy Church. Almighty God is a Loving God Who watches over us, guides and protects us from evil and harm. In return, His Faithful Flock humbly and obediently serve Him and worship Him because we are grateful for His Abundant Blessings. Due our devotion to God, we worship and adore Him with deepest and most sincere respect, honour and glory, fearing only our personal failure to fulfil our Sacred Duties to God and our fellow mankind. God does not dominate us by fear or terror like those who are evil and who seek our enslavement and destruction.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 10:25-27 & 21:24-25

Our Lord Jesus Christ & God the Father are One
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: I told you, and you do not believe. The Works that I do in My Fathers Name bear witness of Me. Yet you do not believe because you are not of My Sheep, as I said to you. My Sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me....
The True Testimony of St John the Divine Apostle, Evangelist & Theologian
This is the Disciple who testifies to these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his Testimony is True. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen During the Feast of Dedication, (approximately three Yet we expect to continue enjoying all the Spiritual months after the Feast of Tabernacles, known as the Benefits and Blessings our Lord so generously Festival of Lights -Hannukkah), the Hebrews had bestows upon us whether struggling Disciples of surrounded our Lord Jesus and had demanded to Christ or unrepentant sinners! know: How long dost Thou keep us in doubt? If And when our comfort or enjoyment is disrupted Thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. by illness, tragedy or disaster, we quickly turn And this was His reply to them. to God either in Fervent Supplication, or to Many of them had listened to His Divine Words of point accusatory fingers at Him Who is All Wisdom, Teaching and Guidance, and had witnessed Goodness and Love! many of His Divine Miracles, yet they still doubted We have very little time left to decide whether we Him being the True Messiah for Whom they had wish to be Gods reason-endowed Sheep who waited for so long. hear His Voice and follow wherever He leads us, It might seem strange to us how they could have been in or stubborn, wilful goats that prefer to do their own the very Presence of such Divine Purity and Truth, yet thing, ignoring the Voice of our Divine Shepherd and still refused to accept Him as Gods Anointed wandering off to Spiritual Death and Eternal Saviour. Condemnation. However, we must look to ourselves: how much have St John emphasised the fact that only a small we been taught concerning the Lord our God, selection of our Lord Jesus Christs Divine yet we still seek confirmation or proof before Miracles, Deeds and Teachings were recorded we accept His Divine Truth and begin to fulfil in the Holy Gospels. our necessary commitments as we journey ever Thus, in order to have the complete Divine Truth as closer to Eternity? Christ our Saviour taught us, we must also pay Our lives are filled to capacity with everything worldly but attention to the Hymns, the Writings and the of no Spiritual Benefit to us at all. Teachings of all our God-Inspired Holy Church Consequently, we barely give God a thought and Fathers and Mothers both modern and most of us rarely give any time to Communal ancient. Worship and Prayer not even private Prayer!
32.
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St John the Bel oved & Divine A postle , Evangeli st & Theol ogi an 26 Septe mber 2011

Orthodox Sacred Lessons - September 2011

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Apolytikion of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos -

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

Apolytikion Of St Symeon The Stylite Tone 1

Kontakion of the Indictos:Tone 4

The First Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy 2: 1 7

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So that he may EXPERIENCE LIBERTY FREEDOM In

The Holy Gospel of St Luke 4 : 16 22

among His creatures.

1 September the New Church Year 7520

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Sunday After Pentecost

Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise

Apolytkion of St Babylas the Hieromartyr Tone 4

As a Sharer of the Ways and a Successor to the Throne

Apolytkion of St Mose the God Beholding Prophet

Tou Profiton Sou Moiseos

As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophets Moses, O

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek By

Resurrection Gospel 1 : Matthew 28 : 16 20 Prokeimenon

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12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life -

FALSE FALSE FALSE

Just as our Lord Jesus unfailingly obeyed and fulfilled

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DECIPHER OR DISTINGUISH EXACTLY

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 19 : 16 26

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12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life - 4 September 2011

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12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life -

The Young Rich Man & Eternal Life

Communities were putting everything in common.

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12th Sunday AP - 12th of St Matthew Inheriting Eternal Life - 4 September 2011

I Gennisis Sou Theotoke hara eminise pasi ti ikoumeni,

Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, has brought Joy to all earthly

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva, ek Joachim

First Antiphon Of The Nativity Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos TONE 2

Mnisthiti Kyrie tou David ke pasis tis praotitos aftou...

Lord, remember David and all his meekness...

Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

Behold, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood

Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

Glorious Things are spoken of Thee, O City of God

Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, Save us.

Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas. Doxa

Amin Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

Second Antiphon - Nativity of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

Omose Kyrios to David Alithian ke ou mi athetisi

The Lord swore in Truth to David; and He will not

turn from it.

imas Iie Theou, O EN AGIIS THAVMASTOS psallontas Si: Allilouia!

Ek Karpou tis Kilias Sou thisome epi tou Thronou Sou.

O the Fruit of Thy Body will I set upon Thy Throne

Eki exanatelo Keras to David, itimasa lihnon to Hristo Mou.

The Nativity of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos 8 September 2011

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Amen

Matins Gospel Luke 1 : 39 49 & 56 The Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians 2 : 5 11

To all human beings, GOD THE SON INCARNATE LOOKS

Our Lord Jesus took on our weak human nature because In

already died. Having suffered such indescribable torture and execution,