Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Sacred Lessons
9 July 2023
By the Grace of God 5th Sunday After Pentecost – 5th Sunday of St Matthew –
[The Gadarene Demoniacs]

Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed

By
Marguerite Paizis
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Po Box 28348
Sunridge Park
6008
Republic of South Africa
marguerite.paizis@gmail.com
or download directly from
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574

Re-edited & Published - 26 June 2023

Gospel 5 – Luke 24 : 13 - 35
Romans 10 : 1 - 10
Matthew 8 : 28 – 9 : 1

24. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS

 R ESURREC TION G OSPEL 5 : LU KE 24 : 13 - 35
• Those citizens were even in a worse state of Spiritual Death than
Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Appears along the road to Emmaus the two Demoniacs, for they Eternally Condemned
themselves to being Exiled from God forever, unless they
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, δύο ἐξ αὐτῶν At that time, two of them were
Repented and received His Divine Covenant of Salvation and
ἦσαν πορευόμενοι ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ travelling that same day to a Everlasting Life.
ἡμέρᾳ εἰς κώμην ἀπέχουσαν village, which was seven miles  “…And He got into a boat, crossed over, and returned to His own
σταδίους ἑξήκοντα ἀπὸ from Jerusalem, called Emmaus. city.”
Ἱερουσαλήμ, ᾗ ὄνομα Ἐμμαούς, • Our Lord Jesus and His Apostles returned to Capernaum, without
Καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡμίλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους And they discussed all these things engaging in any conversation or discussions with the people.
περὶ πάντων τῶν συμβεβηκότων that had happened. • Only the men who had been fully restored to their former good
τούτων. health wanted to stay with Him. However, according to the
other Gospel accounts, our Divine Saviour told them to stay in
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὁμιλεῖν αὐτοὺς And while they conversed and their city and spread the Word of the New Covenant of Love to
καὶ συζητεῖν, καί Αὐτὸς ὁ reasoned, Jesus Himself drew their family and friends.
Ἰησοῦς ἐγγίσας συνεπορεύετο near and went with them. • Those whose hearts and souls were opened to the Divine Truth
αὐτοῖς· and who were willing to Repent their sins, would indeed be
Saved.
Οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν ἐκρατοῦντο Their eyes were restrained, so that
• Although our Lord God always waits with infinite Patience and
τοῦ μὴ ἐπιγνῶναι Αὐτόν. they did not recognise Him. Love for us to return to Him, He never forces His Divine
Εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· “Τίνες οἱ He said to them: “What kind of Presence on us.
λόγοι οὗτοι οὓς ἀντιβάλλετε conversation is this that you • If we remain Spiritually Blind and stubbornly unrepentant, He and
πρὸς ἀλλήλους περιπατοῦντες, have with one another as you all His Heavenly Hosts shall and do depart from us, leaving us
to our own self-destruction and self-condemnation.
καὶ ἐστὲ σκυθρωποί?” walk and are so sorrowful?”
Ἀποκριθείς δὲ ὁ εἷς, ᾧ ὄνομα The one whose name was Cleopas St John/Ivan of Valaam
Κλεόπας, εἶπε πρὸς Αὐτόν· “Σὺ answered and said to Him: “Art
μόνος παροικεῖς ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, Prayer is the most difficult Spiritual Task, and – to our last breath – is
Thou the only Stranger in
accompanied by powerful and strenuous Spiritual Warfare. At
καὶ οὐκ ἔγνως τὰ γενόμενα ἐν Jerusalem, and does Thou not times, however, our All Merciful Lord God grants those who Pray
αὐτῇ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις? know the things that have some Divine Consolation so that they Prayers shall not exhaust
happened there in these days?” them.

Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· “Ποῖα?” And He said to them: “What
things?”
Οἱ δὲ εἶπον Αὐτῷ· “Τὰ περὶ Ἰησοῦ They said to Him: “The things
τοῦ Ναζωραίου, ὃς ἐγένετο ἀνὴρ concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
Προφήτης Δυνατὸς ἐν Ἔργῳ καὶ Who was a Prophet, Mighty in
Λόγῳ ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Deeds and Word before God and
παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ· ὅπως τε all the people; and how the Chief
παρέδωκαν αὐτὸν οἱ Ἀρχιερεῖς Priests and our Rulers delivered
καὶ οἱ Ἂρχοντες ἡμῶν εἰς κρῖμα Him to be condemned to death,
θανάτου, καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν Αὐτόν· and crucified Him.
Ἡμεῖς δὲ ἠλπίζομεν ὅτι Αὐτός “We were hoping that it was He
ἐστιν ὁ μέλλων Λυτροῦσθαι τὸν Who was going to Deliver Israel.
Ἰσραήλ.
It is infinitely Good for us to practise the “Jesus Prayer.” [O Lord, Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on me, a sinner!”] which our Holy Fathers
refer to as being “… the Queen of the Virtues…” because it attracts
other Holy Virtues to our immortal soul. But the more sublime the
Prayer, the more effort it requires.
At work and when with other people, we must try to stand before God
in our mind. In other words: we must keep the Memory of God,
the feeling that God is present.
We know we are really praying when we feel Warmth and Contrition
in our heart, when we feel we are of no consequence and we cry
to the Lord: “O Lord Jesus Christ, have Mercy on me, sinner that I
am!” or use other words with which we are more comfortable.
We must not tremble and lose heart when we fall, but must get up ,
straighten ourselves and continue on our Way…

2. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 23.
 properly by learning to dominate the selfish whims and desires
of our mortal flesh.
• The demons were so completely terrified of their final destination,
Ἀλλά γε οὖν σὺν πᾶσι τούτοις “Besides all this, today is the Third

they did whatever they could to delay or avoid their Eternal Τρίτην ταύτην Ἡμέραν ἄγει Day since these things happened.
Exile: “…permit us to go away in the herd of swine…” because Σήμερον, ἀφ' οὗ ταῦτα ἐγένετο.
they knew those herds were forbidden to God’s Chosen People. Ἀλλὰ καὶ Γυναῖκές τινες ἐξ ἡμῶν “However, some Women of our
• Our Lord did not argue nor debate with the demons, but ἐξέστησαν ἡμᾶς, γενόμεναι company, astonished us, having
commanded them with one word, “Go!” whereupon they
ὂρθριαι ἐπὶ τὸ Μνημεῖον, καὶ μὴ gone earlier to the Tomb, and
immediately left the men whom they had possessed for so long
and entered the poor animals. εὑροῦσαι τὸ Σῶμα Αὐτοῦ, when they did not find His Body,

• The instant the demons took possession of the swine “…The

ἦλθον λέγουσαι καὶ ὀπτασίαν they beheld a Vision of Angels
whole herd ran frantically down the steep place into the sea, Ἀγγέλων ἑωρακέναι, οἳ who said He is alive!
and perished…” λέγουσιν Αὐτὸν Ζῆν!
1. which showed that although the huge herds of swine were
destroyed by the demons, the two men, even when
Καὶ ἀπῆλθόν τινες τῶν σὺν ἡμῖν “And some of those who were with
possessed by such cruel spirits, had been Divine Protected ἐπὶ τὸ Μνημεῖον, καὶ εὗρον us went to the Tomb and found it
by the Grace of God, for mankind is Beloved by our Lord. οὕτω καθὼς καὶ αἱ Γυναῖκες just as the Women had said.
2. It reinforced the Old Covenant Laws that forbade the Judeans εἶπον·
to farm and consume such livestock, which was harmful to
“Αὐτὸν δὲ οὐκ εἶδον.” “Him they did not see.”
their health on several levels.
3. The appalling destruction of so many animals clearly Καὶ Αὐτὸς εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· “Ὦ And He said to them: “O foolish
demonstrated the incomparable Value of mankind, whose ἀνόητοι καὶ βραδεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ ones, and slow of heart to
Salvation is worth every sacrifice. τοῦ Πιστεύειν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς believe in everything spoken by
4. Every sin causes destruction, affliction and sorrow.
ἐλάλησαν οἱ Προφῆται! the Prophets!
 Those who kept them fled, and went into the city and told
everything - and what had happened to the demoniacs. And “Οὐχὶ ταῦτα ἔδει παθεῖν τὸν “Ought not the Christ to have
behold! All the citizens went out to meet Jesus. And beholding Χριστὸν καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν suffered these things and to
Him, they begged Him to depart from their region. Δόξαν Αὐτοῦ?” enter into His Glory?”
Obviously those who were in charge of the huge herds of swine
•
had “… fled…” in terror of what they had witnessed and also
Καὶ ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ Μωσέως καὶ And beginning with Moses and all
because they would be mercilessly punished by the owners of ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν Προφητῶν, the Prophets, He explained to
those swine, whose profitable income had been lost. διηρμήνευεν αὐτοῖς ἐν πάσαις them all the Scriptures
• They also reported “…what had happened to the demoniacs…” but ταῖς Γραφαῖς τὰ περὶ Ἑαυτοῦ. concerning Himself.
it seemed that the Miraculous Recovery of the two demoniacs Καὶ ἤγγισαν εἰς τὴν κώμην οὗ And drawing near to the village
was of little or no importance to those concerned.
ἐπορεύοντο, καὶ Αὐτὸς where they were going, He
• As these reports quickly spread throughout the city, “…All the προσεποιεῖτο ποῤῥωτέρω indicated that He would have
citizens went out to meet Jesus…” but this Divine Encounter
was vastly opposed to that of St Photini and the citizens of
πορεύεσθαι. gone further.
Sychar, Samaria, who welcomed Christ, begged Him to stay Καὶ παρεβιάσαντο Αὐτόν, And they constrained Him, saying:
with them, and joyfully received His New Covenant of Love
λέγοντες· “Μεῖνον μεθ' ἡμῶν, “Abide with us, for it is nearly
that granted them Eternal Life.
ὅτι πρὸς ἑσπέραν ἐστὶ καὶ evening, and the day is far
• Instead of being joyful and relieved that two human beings – two
of their own people - were Miraculously Healed from the
κέκλικεν ἡ ἡμέρα.” spent.”
torments of demon possession, which had frightened everyone Καὶ εἰσῆλθε τοῦ μεῖναι σὺν αὐτοῖς. And He went in to stay with them.
for so long, “…they begged Him to depart from their region…”
thereby not only rejecting our Lord, but rejecting His New
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ κατακλιθῆναι And as He sat at the table with
Covenant, Eternal Salvation and Eternal Life. Αὐτὸν μετ' αὐτῶν, λαβὼν τὸν them, He took bread, Blessed it
ἄρτον Εὐλόγησε, καὶ κλάσας
22. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 3.
 ἐπεδίδου αὐτοῖς. and broke it, and gave it to Consequence of their Disobedience and Rebellion against the
them. Will of God our Heavenly Father.
Αὐτῶν δὲ διηνοίχθησαν οἱ • The demons immediate concern when they saw Christ was for
ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν Their eyes were opened and they
themselves - “…Hast Thou come there to torment us before the
Αὐτόν· recognised Him. Time?’
Καὶ αὐτὸς ἄφαντος ἐγένετο ἀπ' And He vanished from their sight. • They were shocked to see our Lord Jesus, because they thought
their temporary power over us was being terminated “… before
αὐτῶν. the Time…” of the Last Judgement.
Καὶ εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους· “Οὐχὶ ἡ And they said to one another: “Did  “…At a distance from them there was a herd of many swine
καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν ἐν not our hearts burn within us grazing. The demons begged Him, saying: “If Thou cast us out,
ἡμῖν, ὡς ἐλάλει ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, while He spoke with us on the permit us to go away in the herd of swine.” And He said to
them: “Go!” When they had gone out, they went into the herd of
καὶ ὡς διήνοιγεν ἡμῖν τὰς road, and while He opened the
swine. And behold! The whole herd ran frantically down the
Γραφάς? Scriptures to us?”
steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
Καὶ ἀναστάντες αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ, And they arose that very hour and • Although the malicious wickedness of the evil one and his demons
ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, returned to Jerusalem, and can overwhelm us, they can do nothing at all unless
καὶ εὗρον συνηθροισμένους found the Eleven and those who permitted to do so by our Lord God.
τοὺς Ἔνδεκα καὶ τοὺς σὺν were with them gathered • The temptations of the evil one and his demons are merely
αὐτοῖς, λέγοντας, “Ὄτι ἠγέρθη ὁ together, saying: “The Lord is thoughts or suggestions that cause us to commit sins.
Κύριος ὄντως, καὶ ὤφθη Risen indeed, and has Appeared • It is our own choice whether or not we pay attention to
Σίμωνι!” to Simon!” temptations and act accordingly. The more often we reject or
resist temptations, the Spiritually Stronger we become and
Καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐξηγοῦντο τὰ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, And they related all the things that the closer we draw to God.
καὶ ὡς ἐγνώσθη αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ had happened along the road, • The demons cannot force us to commit sins, but they do use
κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου. and how He was known to them our grievous passions and personal weaknesses against us,
by the breaking of bread. thereby luring us into Spiritual Death. However, by
immediately Repenting and Confessing our transgressions,
we are Restored to Spiritual Life and are able to Spiritually
Progress.
 “…two of them were travelling that same day to a village, which • “… a herd of many swine…” showed how the Gadarenes disobeyed
was seven miles from Jerusalem, called Emmaus …” the Old Covenant Laws because they not only prospered from
• These two Faithful Disciples of Christ were St Cleophas and St these large herds of swine, but they also consumed them,
Luke. despite the serious afflictions caused by various veterinary
• St Cleopas was the younger brother of St Joseph the Betrothed, diseases of those times.
and thus also an ‘uncle’ of Theotokos. He was one of our • “…The demons begged Him…” because they wanted to take
Lord’s 70 Apostles and his son was St Symon “the Zealot.” advantage of God’s Great Mercy since they fully understood
• St Luke “the Beloved Physician” was from Antioch, Syria, and was how powerless they were.
an Iconographer and later, one of Christ’s Evangelists, who • Satan and his fallen angels – the demons – no longer belong to
was a close friend of our Lady, Theotokos and the other Heaven, nor Earth. However, they are permitted to hover
Disciples. He was one of the 70 Holy Apostles of Christ, and about and tempt us, if God so Wills.
had accompanied St Paul on several of his Missionary Journeys. • The painful, negative effects of temptations and sin ought to
• It was customary for authors of the Holy Gospels and other compel us to Repent, and to Strive more resolutely for the
writings not to name themselves, but the other Faithful acquisition of Spiritual Perfection, which is the reason and
Disciples knew who they were. Purpose of our existence.
• Every test, trial or tribulation we endure and overcome makes us
Spiritually Stronger and draws us closer to our Lord God.
Without the temptations our immortal soul would not develop
4. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5 TH
MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 21.
 • He knew exactly what had caused these wretched men to become
afflicted and possessed by demons, whom only He could Save
and Restore to good physical and spiritual health.
• The fact that they emerged “…out of the tombs…” meant that the
only place where they could find shelter, was amongst the
dead, since they themselves were Spiritually Dead.
• They had no family nor friends to see to their needs. They had
been exiled from all human kindness or concern, and banished
to the tombs outside the city – a solitary ‘place of the dead,’
which people often avoided due to their misguided
superstitions.
• On the contrary, a ‘cemetery’ actually means a place where the
Reposed or Departed sleep or rest until the General
Resurrection on the Eighth Day of our Final Judgement.
• Christ taught us about our immortal soul and Sanctified body,
which shall become Reunited and Resurrected into Eternity, in
an altered form, just like His own Resurrection. Therefore, we
no longer fear Death, which has no more power over us.
• The Demoniacs were “…exceedingly fierce, so that no one could
pass that way…” without being accosted, which terrorised all
the citizens.
 “… They cried out, saying: ‘What have we to do with Thee, Jesus,
Son of God? Hast Thou come there to torment us before the
Time?’
• The demons immediately recognised and addressed our Lord
Jesus as the Eternal, Only Begotten Word and “…Son of God…”
our Heavenly Father.
• They know the dire Consequences of their wicked Rebellion
against God, Who has allowed them to remain around –
although belonging neither to Heaven nor to Earth – in order to
test mankind’s Faith so that we might draw closer to God.
• Everything that is evil and destructive has been invented by the
evil one, because such things are unnatural and alien to the
Love of God.
• However, when we are confronted by trials and tribulations, we
usually realise that without the Love and Providence of our
Lord God, we are utterly miserable, powerless and vulnerable
to every danger and threat that surrounds us.
• When Christ comes in all His Majestic Divine Glory to Judge the
living and the dead, Satan and all his demons, as well as his
slaves, shall be exiled forever to “the Outer Darkness,” “the
Abyss,” or “Hell,” which is an Eternal Spiritual State
completely exiled from all God’s Divine Light, Goodness and
Love.
• This is so hideously horrific that even the evil one and his
demons are terrified, because it is the worst, irrevocable
20. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS
 “…And they discussed all these things that had happened. And
while they conversed and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near
and went with them. Their eyes were restrained, so that they
did not recognise Him…”
• “… they discussed all these things that had happened…” the
previous week concerning our Lord Jesus Christ – His betrayal,
His unjust, illegal arrest trial and crucifixion, and then, earlier
that day, the Myrrhbearers’ Proclamation of His Resurrection –
all as He had foretold.
• The unjustified arrest, trials, scourging and crucifixion of our Lord
Jesus Christ broke every law known to mankind. Yet it all
fulfilled the ancient Prophecies concerning our Divine
Messiah/Saviour.
• “…while they conversed and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near
and went with them…” – Usually fellow travellers would join in
conversations while they walked along the roads to the distant
villages and cities, so they were not surprised by His
Appearance, accepting Him as merely another Man going in the
same direction.
• Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Appeared while they were trying to
make sense of everything that had occurred, for they were still
rather perplexed and confused by it all.
• When we sincerely seek Divine Truth, it shall be granted to us, so
that we can fulfil our Sacred Tasks as we Strive for Spiritual
Perfection.
• “…Their eyes were restrained, so that they did not recognise
Him…” Although they were not expecting to see our Lord
Jesus and might have been too deeply engrossed in their
conversation, they must have looked at Him when they spoke
to Him and when He explained everything to them, yet did not
recognise Him at all.
• Our Resurrected Lord Appeared in an altered Form, but He always
Identifies Himself.
• His Eleven Resurrection Gospels concerning His Appearances to
His Faithful Disciples, teaches us that we, too, shall be
Resurrected in an altered form, forever connected to our
Beloved family and friends by our Agape – Unconditional,
Perfect Love.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ did not suddenly Appear next to them, but
behind them and then “…drew near…” and accompanied them
for the rest of the day.
• HeAppeared to them in a “…veiled manner…” which
demonstrates His great Compassion and concern for the
emotions of His Disciples.
 “…He said to them: ‘What kind of conversation is this that you
have with one another as you walk and are so sorrowful?’”
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 5.
 • Although our Lord Jesus Christ knows all our thoughts, words and
deeds – even those hidden from others – He wanted His
Disciples to explain everything in their own words.
• Sometimes, when relating an unusual experience, we get a better
perception of what occurred and are thus able to deal with it.
• All His Faithful Apostles and Disciples were profoundly heart-
broken and traumatised by the past week’s Extraordinary
Events, that caused such indescribable, unjustified, brutal
humiliation, torture and Death of our Divine Saviour.
• They had failed to grasp His Words when He had tried to reassure
them of His Glorious Resurrection that would occur “on the
Third Day,” and were thus overwhelmed by their intense grief.
 “…The one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him:
‘Art Thou the only Stranger in Jerusalem, and does Thou not
know the things that have happened there in these days?’ And
He said to them: ‘What things?’…”
• These words expressed the incredulity of St Cleopas who could
not understand how anyone could have been in Jerusalem for
the Passover and NOT have been aware of the tragic Events of
Christ’s Passion.
• For centuries the Old Covenant Faithful congregated in Jerusalem
to Commemorate the Annual Feast of Passover/Pascha, which
required great multitudes of sacrificial lambs for the Blood
Offerings for the Forgiveness of sin of the Celebrant High
Priests and for all the people.
The Old Covenant Passover/Pascha Blood Offerings had been
fulfilled forever and are now replaced by the New Covenant
Pascha and the bloodless Offerings at each Holy
Eucharist/Communion, for the Forgiveness of our habitual sins
so that eventually we may worthily receive Eternal Life in God
our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Love.
• The atrocious scourging and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ –
“the Lamb of God” – was the Ultimate, Most Perfect and Final
Blood Sacrifice for the Forgiveness of our Ancestral sin.
• Our Loving God has provided us with every means possible to
acquire Agape – Unconditional Love - Spiritual Perfection,
Theosis or Deification as He intended us to become when He
created us in His Divine Image and Likeness.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Divine and Eternal High Priest Who
voluntarily Offered Himself as the Final, Great Blood Offering
of the Old Covenant.
He now offers His Bloodless, Life-giving Body and Blood of the
Holy Eucharist/Communion of the New Covenant that
Regenerates, Restores and Reconciles us, body and soul, with
our Triune Almighty God.
• Our Lord Jesus encouraged St Cleopas and St Luke to tell Him
everything from their own understanding and perspective that
6. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS
 “At that time, when Jesus went into the country of the Gergesenes,
two demoniacs met Him, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly
fierce, so that no one could pass that way
• St Matthew noted that our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles had
gone into “… the country of the Gergesenes…”
• There was a small village of Gergesa, situated further inland from
the shore, but, more likely, he referred to the larger city of
Gadara, which was situated on the Eastern shore of the Lake
of Tiberius, or ‘the Lake/Sea of Galilee.’
• This area is known as ‘the Golan Heights’ – an area of much
contemporary strategic importance and conflict.
• Although St Matthew used the term ‘Gergesene,’ St Mark and St
Luke referred to the region as “Gadarene”, which is more
correct, since the city of Gadara was situated along the shore.
[Mark 5: 1 – 20 & Luke 8: 16 – 39]
• Whether there was one or two demoniacs is unimportant. The
Sacred Lesson we learn from this Encounter is significant for
our own Spiritual Welfare and Progress.
• This area was a region of Galilee where many Old Covenant
Faithful lived among Gentiles and thus many of them had
apostatised through intermarriage.
• Consequently, much of the local wealth was due to raising large
herds of swine [pigs], which had always been very strictly
forbidden according to the Old Covenant Health Laws.
Deuteronomy 14:7 – 8: “… those that chew the cud or have cloven
hooves, you shalt not eat… the camel, the hare, and the rabbit, for
they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves. They are
unclean for you. Also swine are unclean for you because they have
cloven hooves, yet do not chew the cud. You shall not eat their
flesh, nor touch their dead carcasses…”
Many of the dietary and health Laws and rituals were instituted by
the Ancient Patriarchs in order to maintain the welfare of the
Israelites while they sojourned in the Wilderness for 40 years
before finally settling in the Promised Land.
Furthermore, due to the hot climate, food quickly decomposed
and became harmful or toxic. So many of the ancient health
Laws needed to be observed.
• Our Lord Jesus was confronted by “…two demoniacs …” but,
being Lord of all Creation, He was never intimidated by any
demoniac – those possessed by demons – because He sees
every one of us clearly, and knows exactly every detail of our
existence.
• Furthermore, God is Love, and being the Personification of
unconditional, Divine Love, He has Compassion for all His
creatures.
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 19.

Καὶ ἰδοὺ! Ἔκραξαν λέγοντες· “Τί And behold!
ἡμῖν καὶ Σοί, Ἰησοῦ υἱὲ τοῦ
Θεοῦ? Ἦλθες ὧδε πρὸ καιροῦ
βασανίσαι ἡμᾶς?”
Ἦν δὲ μακρὰν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ἀγέλη
χοίρων πολλῶν βοσκομένη.
Οἱ δὲ δαίμονες παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν
λέγοντες· “Εἰ ἐκβάλλεις ἡμᾶς,
ἐπίτρεψον ἡμῖν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν
ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων.”
Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· “Ὑπάγετε!”
Οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὴν
ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων.
Καὶ ἰδοὺ! Ὥρμησεν πᾶσα ἡ ἀγέλη
τῶν χοίρων κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ
εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἀπέθανον
ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν.
Οἱ δὲ βόσκοντες ἔφυγον, καὶ
ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὴν πόλιν
ἀπήγγειλαν πάντα, καὶ τὰ τῶν
δαιμονιζομένων.
Καὶ ἰδοὺ! Πᾶσα ἡ πόλις ἐξῆλθεν
εἰς συνάντησιν τῷ Ἰησοῦ.
Καὶ ἰδόντες Αὐτὸν, παρεκάλεσαν
ὅπως μεταβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων
αὐτῶν.
Καὶ ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον διεπέρασεν
καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν.
 This passage is read on the 5
Sunday of St Matthew - “The Gergesene Demoniacs.”
This particular Encounter and Divine Miracle of our Lord Jesus Christ
is also recorded in the Holy Gospels according to St Mark and St
Luke. [Mark 5: 1 – 20 & Luke 8: 26 – 39]
They cried out,
saying: “What have we to do with
Thee, Jesus, Son of God? Hast
Thou come there to torment us
before the Time?”
At a distance from them there was
a herd of many swine grazing.
The demons begged Him, saying: “If
Thou cast us out, permit us to go
away in the herd of swine.”
And He said to them: “Go!”
When they had gone out, they went
into the herd of swine.
And behold! The whole herd ran
frantically down the steep place
into the sea, and perished in the
water.
Those who kept them fled, and
went into the city and told
everything - and what had
happened to the the demoniacs.
And behold!: All the citizens went
out to meet Jesus.
And beholding Him, they begged
Him to depart from their region.
And He got into a boat, crossed
over, and returned to His own
city.
th
Sunday After Pentecost, which is the 5th
had happened during this highly significant Festal Season, by
prompting them with His question: “…What things?” [Refer to
abovementioned note.]
 “…They said to Him: ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
Who was a Prophet, Mighty in Deeds and Word before God and
all the people; and how the Chief Priests and our Rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him….”
• Their words “…Jesus of Nazareth… a Prophet, Mighty in Deeds and
Word before God and all the people…” described how the Old
Covenant Faithful identified and or regarded our Lord Jesus
Christ.
• His Disciples as well as “… all the people…” recognised our
Saviour as ‘… a Prophet…” of God because of what He taught
them and how well He always spoke and acted.
St Cleopas, being a brother of St Joseph the Betrothed, would have
known Christ since His early childhood, as did several other
Apostles and Disciples who grew up with Him in Judea and
Galilee.
Many of them were present and witnessed the Divine Miracles He
performed. They saw how our Loving, Kind and Compassionate
Lord treated all men, women and children – without any
discrimination at all.
• All the Faithful Disciples of Christ knew that the “…the Chief
Priests and our Rulers delivered Him to be condemned to
death, and crucified Him…”
• Everyone knew that “…the Chief Priests and our Rulers…” were
entirely responsible for the Death of our Lord – not the Judean
people who were falsely led by them.
• The people believed and trusted these religious and secular
leaders, rather than our Lord Himself, because they thought
they knew ‘the Truth.’
• To this very day, this is the infinite difference between DIVINE
TRUTH and mankind’s opinion.
• The Judean enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ who paid Judas
Iscariot to betray Him, were “… the Chief Priests, Captains of
the Temple and the Elders…” [Luke 22:52]
They were corrupt, greedy and self-serving – enriching and
empowering themselves at the cost of the people by using their
influential positions in society and at the Temple, instead of
serving Almighty God and the needs of His Faithful People.
(Similar to so many self-appointed miscreants these days, who
claim to be ’Christian,’ but only misuse our Lord’s Sacred Name
to deceive the people and enrich themselves.)
• The “Rulers” were
 The Tetrarch of Galilee, Herod Antipas, the self-entitled ‘King,’
whose family had rejected the Old Covenant Faith and
accepted Roman authority. In 39 AD he was stripped of all

18. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 7.
 titles and possessions, and exiled to Spain, where he died -
miserable and destitute.
 The fifth Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who served
under the Roman Emperor Tiberius from 26 – 37 AD.
• The unjustified and utterly illegal arrest, trial and crucifixion of
our Lord Jesus Christ was eventually reported by St Mary of
Magdala to the Emperor in Rome. As a consequence, both
Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate were stripped of all their
titles, wealth and possessions before being exiled to Spain,
where they suffered a wretched, impoverished existence until
they finally perished.
• Crucifixion was the cruellest execution for the worst criminals in
the Roman Empire. Everyone was shocked, therefore, when
Christ our Lord was condemned to scourging and crucifixion.
• The Judean Priests and leaders used the Romans to execute our
Lord in this most terrible, brutal manner, which showed the
depth of their hatred and depravity.
 “…We were hoping that it was He Who was going to Deliver
Israel….”
• At that stage the Old Covenant Judeans still regarded our Lord
Jesus as a Great Holy Prophet of God Who would Redeem Israel
and liberate the people from the oppressive domination of the
Roman Empire.
Their hopes were probably of a nationalistic (political and worldly)
sense rather than the Spiritual Reality and Truth concerning all
mankind’s Eternal Salvation.
• By Living in Christ Jesus, we are certainly Strengthened and
Empowered to overcome all worldly and spiritual obstacles that
threaten to overwhelm us.
• The first Passover/Pascha was prior to the Old Covenant Israel –
the Chosen People of God – being Delivered/liberated from the
enslavement and oppressive life in Egypt when they were led
by Holy Prophets of God to “the Promised Land of milk and
honey.”
• The second Pascha Delivers us - who are the New Covenant ‘Israel’,
the Faithful Disciples of God - from the enslavement and
oppressive worldly life of temptations and sins to the Promised
Land of our Heavenly Father’s Eternal Kingdom of Love.
 “…Besides all this, today is the Third Day since these things
happened. However, some Women of our company, astonished
us, having gone earlier to the Tomb, and when they did not find
His Body, they beheld a Vision of Angels who said He is alive! …”
• ‘The Third Day’ after the Crucifixion of Christ was also the first
day of the week, which is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, which is
dedicated to God and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
8. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS
• Those who strictly abided by the Old Covenant Laws, became
legalistic, spiritual hypocrites because without Love, our efforts
are doomed to failure.
 “…Faith based on Righteousness says ‘Do not say in your heart
‘Who shall Ascend into Heaven?’” That is to bring Christ down.
Or ‘Who shall descend into the Abyss?’ That is, to bring Christ
up from the dead. But what does it say? The Word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart. That is, the Word of Faith, which
we preach. For, if you Confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord,
and Believe in your heart that God Raised Him from the dead,
you shall be Saved.
• This Confession of Faith and Belief are more than simply mental
acknowledgement or the realisation that something is actually
True.
• Rather this all embracing Faith refers to our complete trust and
belief in our Lord Jesus Christ, which is expressed by our
Spiritual Commitment to Life in Christ whereby we apply all
His Divine Truth, Teachings and Commandments to every
aspect of our thoughts, words and deeds.
• “Faith based on Righteousness” means that we freely and sincerely
offer ourselves entirely to God by Living in Christ – Striving to
keep our thoughts, words and deeds according to His Divine
Will.
• None of this is at all possible without the Empowerment and
Divine Grace bestowed on us by God the Holy Spirit.
• The Resurrection of Christ is the Divine Confirmation of
everything that our Lord Jesus Taught us, Revealed to us and
demonstrated by His own Words and Deeds.
• His Resurrection from the dead, [according to His human Nature]
clearly showed us that we too shall eventually be Resurrected
into Eternal Life, according to the Will of God our Heavenly
Father.
T HE H OLY G OSPE L A CCORD ING TO S T M ATTHE W 8 : 28 – 9 : 1
The Two Gergesene Demoniacs
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ At that time, when Jesus went into
Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν the country of the Gergesenes,
Γεργεσηνῶν ὑπήντησαν Αὐτῷ two demoniacs met Him, coming
δύο δαιμονιζόμενοι ἐκ τῶν out of the tombs, exceedingly
μνημείων ἐξερχόμενοι, χαλεποὶ fierce, so that no one could pass
λίαν, ὥστε μὴ ἰσχύειν τινὰ that way.
παρελθεῖν διὰ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐκείνης.
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 17.
 • The Old Covenant Laws prepared the Chosen People of God – the
Nation of Israel – for the New Covenant of Love, which is
bestowed upon mankind by the Eternal, Only Begotten Word
and Son of God our Heavenly Father.
• God the Eternal Son became Incarnate - became “the Son of Man”
so as to Live - visibly and physically - with us while
Enlightening us directly, according to the Divine Will of God
our Heavenly Father.
• Before our Lord Jesus Christ Appeared in His human Nature, His
Holy Prophets had to convey the Will of God our Heavenly
Father to His Chosen People, using terms that could be
understood.
• Consequently, they lived in real fear of our Almighty Lord God
Who they thought would be terrifyingly vengeful, merciless,
wrathful/angry and cruel like every other powerful ruler of
those times.
• Those who truly Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ as God Incarnate,
shall certainly follow Him as His Faithful Disciples, who, with
Humility and Obedience, Struggle and Strive to become like
Him, in Whose Image and Likeness He created us.
 “…For Moses wrote that the Righteousness that is based on the
Law, shalt a man Live by…”
• The Way of the Law and the Way of Faith are contrasted.
• Although mere Obedience to the Law has always failed, True and
proper Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as our Divine Saviour
bestows Eternal Salvation upon His Faithful Disciples.
1. True Faith never doubts but trusts implicitly in our Lord Jesus
Christ as God Incarnate.
2. True Faith draws us closer to Almighty God, with Whom we
may be Blessed to have an intimate Relationship that is
utterly Life-giving and indeed, Spiritually Transforming.
3. True Faith actually does Transform our entire being – body and
soul – sometimes despite our sinful state!
• Through His own Divine Revelations and Way of Life, our Divine
Saviour has taught us about God’s True Love/Agape that is
unconditional and all embracing.
• He revealed to us the Divine Truth that our Almighty God is
indeed the Personification of Love and Goodness.
• Thus our New Covenant with God is firmly based on Agape –
Perfect Divine and Unconditional Love, which never fails!
• Nevertheless, we still need to be Humble and Obedient to the
Divine Laws that were given to St Moses, because only by
Loving God and Loving each other, can we acquire Holy Virtues
whereby we regain our Divine Likeness.
16. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS
• The Sabbath Day of rest is Saturday on which our Lord rested in
His Tomb. Thus we Commemorate the Church Triumphant on
Saturdays, while preparing ourselves – the Church Militant -
by Fasting and self-examination and/or Repentance-Confession
in order to partake of Holy Communion/Eucharist on Sunday,
which begins with the Resurrection Vespers at sunset.
• The Eight Holy Myrrhbearing Women, were led by our Lady,
Theotokos, who, being naturally humble, preferred staying in
the background. Thus, if She is mentioned, it was always in an
obscure manner. St Mary Magdalene, a mature, wealthy,
courageous and independent woman, was a close companion of
our Lady. The other Women were related to St Joseph the
Betrothed and his late wife, St Salome (daughters and sister in
law.)
• The Apostles and Disciples were understandably “…astonished…”
when St Mary of Magda told them what they had Experienced
and witnessed at the Empty Tomb.
 “…And some of those who were with us went to the Tomb and
found it just as the Women had said. Him they did not see...”
• Most of the men refused to believe the Women, except St Simon
Peter and St John the Beloved Disciple, who immediately ran to
the Empty Tomb and confirmed what the Holy Myrrhbearers
had told them.
• St Simon Peter had stood outside the Empty Tomb, peering to see
what was inside, until impulsively he entered, and also
persuaded St John to do so as well, whereupon they both saw
the abandoned linen Shroud, burial wrappings and inner face
cloth – the Mandylion – folded neatly and placed to one side,
(with an Image of our Lord’s Face clearly imprinted, as similarly, was the
entire Image of His Crucified Body imprinted on the 14 foot long Burial
Shroud.)
 “…He said to them: ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in
everything spoken by the Prophets…”
• These “…foolish ones…” were two lifelong Old Covenant Faithful
Judeans who had grown up hearing, reading and being
instructed by the Divinely Inspired words of the Holy Prophets
of God, who had been sent to Guide and prepare God’s Chosen
People for the Coming of our Great Divine Messiah.
• They had also been immeasurably Blessed by being close Disciples
of our Lord Jesus for so many years, witnessing first hand His
Divine Truth, yet they remained sceptical or doubtful about
Identity and Truth concerning our Great Divine Saviour.
• We cannot imagine how frustrated our infinitely Patient and
Loving Lord God must have been when those who had spent so
much time with Him - hearing, seeing and learning His Divine
Truth directly from Him, yet still unable to grasp it and
sincerely Believe.
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 9.
 “…Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter
into His Glory?...”
• The term “…the Christ…” refers to the Anointed One of God Who
is our Divine Messiah/Saviour Who was awaited for so many
centuries by the Old Covenant Israelites according to the Divine
Promise of our Lord God.
• He was the Ultimate, most perfect Sacrificial ‘Lamb of God’ Who
…“suffered these things…” in order to “…enter into His
Glory….”
• The Glory of Almighty God is the Salvation of His beloved
mankind when we Repent our sins and Live according to and in
imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, thereby becoming His
worthy Co-Heirs as the adopted Children of our Heavenly
Father.
• God the Eternal Son and Word of God our Heavenly Father
voluntarily became Incarnate - “the Son of Man” – so that He
could live in our midst, enduring our weak human conditions,
in order to Teach us Divine Love and Truth before His
unjustified, illegal arrest, trial and sentencing to inhumane
scourging and death by crucifixion.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ, being God and Man, is Glorified by our
Heavenly Father for His Salvific Mission that Saves all mankind
from Eternal Condemnation due to our ancestral sin.
• However, due to our free will, we are continuously tempted into
sin. Therefore, our Salvation is a continuous Spiritual Process
because:
1. We are Saved by the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and
Chrismation.
2. We are being Saved by our ceaseless Struggle against
temptations and sin - by constant self-examination and
Repentance-Confession – and by Striving to Live in
Christ, applying His Divine Teachings to our thoughts,
words and deeds.
3. We Hope to be Saved by acquiring Agape - Spiritual
Perfection/Theosis/Deification through our Life in
Christ.
• When Christ was Resurrected in all His Divine Glory and Power, He
smashed open the Gates of Hades and set the Righteous free,
granting them Peaceful Rest in Paradise, which He has re-
opened.
• The Resurrection of Christ and our own future Resurrection is
how we enter into the Glorified Order of Existence – Eternal
Life in the Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
 “…And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to
them all the Scriptures concerning Himself …”
• After having censured the Disciples for their weakness of Faith
and lack of understanding, for the rest of the day, our Lord
10. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS
• If they had been merely “…ignorant of the Righteousness that
comes from God…” in their rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ
as our Divine Saviour, their self-condemning offences would be
forgivable.
• The Old Covenant Priests and Synagogue leaders established “…
their own…” ideas of Righteousness, rather than the Divine
Righteousness of the Lord our God, which meant submitting to
the Divine Will and Truth of God.
• Consequently, their stubborn, vainglorious Spiritual Blindness,
rather than simple ignorance, caused them to reject Christ to
the point of unjustifiably seeking His Death!
• By “… seeking to establish their own…” egocentric and ambitious
type of worship, while drawing others to follow them in their
deception, those religious leaders are not only self-condemned
but also guilty of misguiding others into Spiritual Disobedience
and Eternal Condemnation.
• They trusted in themselves and their own efforts, rather than God,
by rejecting the Sacred Way of Faith in God when it was
presented to them by God Incarnate Himself!
• These days innumerable man-made ‘churches’ and ‘religions’ are
the most appalling means of ‘making millions’ for the godless
corporations that deceive millions of people who are seeking
Spiritual Truth, Healing and Consolation because “… to God’s
Righteousness [and Divine Truth] they did not submit…”
• When we voluntarily submit our free will to the Divine Will of God
our Heavenly Father, we begin to become Christ-like. We begin
our Sacred Quest to regain our Divine Likeness, which was lost
due to our concupiscence and habitual sins.
• Therefore, our Eternal Salvation requires us to be ceaselessly
Spiritually Watchful, Repentant, Humble and Obedient.
• Throughout our short lifespan we ought to continuously Struggle
against the temptations and grievous passion, while Striving to
acquire the Holy Virtues that lead us to Spiritual Perfection in
Christ.
• This is how we “… submit…” to the Righteousness and Truth of
our Lord God as His Faithful Disciples.
 “…For the end of the Law is Christ, that everyone may be
Justified, who has Faith…”
• Concerning both the Old and New Covenants, our Lord Jesus
Christ has always been the Way of Salvation for God’s Faithful
People – the Old and New ‘Israel.’
• Only those who remain Faithful by Living according to the Divine
Will of our Heavenly Father, shall “…be Justified…”
• St Paul made it very clear that “… everyone … who has Faith…” in
our Lord Jesus Christ, and the New Covenant of Love, shall be
Divinely “…Justified...” when we are Finally Judged by God.
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 15.
 Jesus explained all the Prophecies of the Old Covenant
καρδίᾳ Σου· ‘Τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς shall Ascend into Heaven?’” That
Scriptures that were fulfilled through His Passion and
τὸν Οὐρανόν?’ Τοῦτʼ ἔστι is to bring Christ down. Or ‘Who Resurrection, “… beginning with Moses…”
Χριστὸν καταγαγεῖν· Ἥ ‘Τίς shall descend into the Abyss?’
• The Old Covenant Scriptures are not merely the historical records
καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον?’ That is, to bring Christ up from of the Israelites – the Chosen People of God – but also a means
Τοῦτʼ ἔστι Χριστὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν the dead. of preparing the Faithful People for the Coming of the Great
ἀναγαγεῖν. Messiah/Saviour.
Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει? But what does it say? • The Holy Prophets of God put the “…fear of God…” into the
people by portraying Him as a ‘vengeful’ God Who punished
Ἐγγύς Σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν͵ ἐν τῷ The Word is near you, on your lips those who dared to disobey His Divine Will.
στόματί Σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ and in your heart. That is, the • In ancient times, people were terrified by and thus forced to obey
Σου· Τοῦτʼ ἔστι τὸ Ῥῆμα τῆς Word of Faith, which we preach. the will of very powerful, cruel Rulers who severely punished
Πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν. anyone who dared to rebel. Thus, Almighty God was regarded
as being the most strict and severe of all – Merciful and Just -
Ὅτι ἐὰν Ὁμολογήσῃς ἐν τῷ For, if you Confess with your lips
until He was disobeyed or opposed!
στόματί σου Κύριον Ἰησοῦν͵ that Jesus is Lord, and Believe in
• The ‘fear of God’ was a terrifying anxiety until our Lord Jesus
καὶ Πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου your heart that God Raised Him Christ revealed His infinite Love for all mankind. God IS Love,
ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν ἐκ from the dead, you shall be so anything negative, cruel or evil is absolutely opposed to His
νεκρῶν͵ Σωθήσῃ· Saved. Divine Nature. Now our ‘…Fear of God…’ means that we only
fear or are afraid of disappointing our Heavenly Father Who
Καρδίᾳ γὰρ Πιστεύεται εἰς For a heart that Believes is
Loves us despite our sinfulness and ingratitude.
Δικαιοσύνην͵ στόματι δὲ Justified, and with lips that  “…And drawing near to the village where they were going, He
ὁμολογεῖται εἰς Σωτηρίαν. Confess, is Saved. indicated that He would have gone further. And they
constrained Him, saying: “Abide with us, for it is nearly evening,
and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them…”
 “…my heart’s desire and Prayer to God for them is that they may
be Saved for I bear them witness that they have a Zeal for God, • Our Lord Jesus Christ never forces Himself on us.
but it is not Enlightened…” • He waits for us to welcome Him with warm, loving heart, or He
• Although St Paul’s “…heart’s desire and Prayer to God…” ‘…knocks at the door…’ of our heart, and waits patiently for us
concerned the Eternal Salvation of the Old Covenant Faithful, to invite Him in.
their “… Zeal for God…” was not based on Divine Truth but • And if we choose not to welcome Him, He shall leave us until we
rather according to human interpretation. realise we are utterly bereft and destitute without His Divine
• The ancient Holy Prophets of God had been Divinely Inspired to Love.
Guide, Teach and prepare the Faithful Nation of Israel for the  “…And as He sat at the table with them, He took bread, Blessed it
Coming of the Divine Messiah Who would lead them to God’s and broke it, and gave it to them…”
Eternal Kingdom of Love. However, over the centuries, flawed
• Our Lord Jesus prayed and broke bread with them in the same
human ideas, ignorance and personal ambitions had distorted
manner as He had done before – especially during His Last
and corrupted the Faith.
Supper with them.
• Furthermore, the influential leaders, such as the Pharisees and
• Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Actions and the Experience of sharing
Scribes, believed their own erroneous interpretations of Holy
their supper with Him imaged the Holy Eucharist - Holy
Scripture, and thus refused to acknowledge our Lord Jesus
Communion – as He had taught them before His Passion.
Christ as the long-awaited Great, Divine Messiah.
• The original Institution of the Holy Mystery of Eucharist at the
• This same misguided and egocentric wickedness has continued
“Last Supper’ is solemnly Commemorated every year on Holy
unabated to this very day, which lures mankind into delusion
Thursday, as well as at every Divine Liturgy throughout the
and self-condemning sin.
year.
“…For, being ignorant of the Righteousness that comes from God,
and seeking to establish their own, to God’s Righteousness they
did not submit…”
14. S A C R E D L E S S O N S - 5 A P - 5 M A T T H E W - G E R G E S E N E D E M O N I A C S
TH
SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 11.
 • When we become Faithful Disciples of Christ, we shall imitate Him • Despite the sun having already set, St Cleophas and St Luke
with our thoughts, words and deeds, doing everything in all returned as quickly as they could to Jerusalem – a seven mile
circumstances according to His Divine Truth and Teachings. journey that had taken them several hours before.
 “…Their eyes were opened and they recognised Him. And He • People seldom travelled after dark for fear of robbers or other
vanished from their sight…” dangers but the overwhelming Joy of these two Faithful
• Only at that precise moment, did St Cleopas and St Luke suddenly Disciples compelled them to return to the other Disciples, who
recognise our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. had gathered in Jerusalem, to confirm the Good News of the
Holy Myrrhbearers by narrating their own Marvellous
• God knows exactly when we are ready and able to receive His Encounter with our Resurrected Lord Jesus.
Divine Truth and Reality.
• Although the Apostles and Disciples were hiding away from the
• Only then - according to the Will of our Heavenly Father - shall Judean and Roman authorities, they located “the Eleven”
God bestow these on us by the Grace and Power of God the Apostles of Christ who had not yet elected another Apostle to
Holy Spirit. replace Judas Iscariot.
 “…And they said to one another: “Did not our hearts burn within us
• “Simon” or “Symeon” was a family or surname of St Cleopas, for
while He spoke with us on the road, and while He opened the
many people were known by more than one name.
Scriptures to us?”
• When the Holy Scriptures are taught correctly and received with
sincere Faith in God, we shall Experience the inescapable Effect
of hearing the Divine Truth, which Spiritually Transforms and
Uplifts us to another Mysterious Level of Devotion. T H E E PISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E R OM ANS 10: 1 – 10
• This was indeed the Divine Effect when Christ Enlightened not
only His Faithful Disciples, but also the Old Covenant Priests Ἀδελφοί͵ ἡ μὲν Εὐδοκία τῆς ἐμῆς Brethren, my heart’s desire and
whose hearts and souls were receptive to His Divine Truth and καρδίας καὶ ἡ Δέησις πρὸς τὸν Prayer to God for them is that
Love. Θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν εἰς Σωτηρίαν. they may be Saved.
•This Heart Burning is truly the Spiritual Conviction that the Sacred Μαρτυρῶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὅτι Ζῆλον For I bear them witness that they
Words and Promises are Absolutely True!
Θεοῦ ἔχουσιν͵ ἀλλʼ οὐ κατʼ
 2 Titus 2:15: “… Be diligent to present yourself Approved to Ἐπίγνωσιν·
have a Zeal for God, but it is not
God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly Enlightened.
dividing the Word of Truth…” Ἀγνοοῦντες γὰρ τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ For, being ignorant of the
This last phrase of this verse is quoted in an Orthodox Liturgical Δικαιοσύνην͵καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν
Prayer for our Ordained Bishops. Righteousness that comes from
ζητοῦντες στῆσαι͵ τῇ
At each Holy Eucharist, as we continue to Partake of our Lord’s God, and seeking to establish
• Δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐχ
Life-giving Supper, our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ comes to their own, to God’s
ὑπετάγησαν·
open our eyes to His Mystical Presence, whereupon our hearts Righteousness they did not
ought to “…Burn….” with the depth and warmth of His submit.
Divine Love.
• Any Encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ Spiritually
Τέλος γὰρ Νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς For the end of the Law is Christ,
Transforms us with indescribable and immeasurable Love, Joy Δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ that everyone may be Justified,
and Peace that compels us to do everything possible to fulfil Πιστεύοντι. who has Faith.
His Divine Will in all circumstances. Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει τὴν For Moses wrote that the
 “…And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and Δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ τοῦ Νόμου Righteousness that is based on
found the Eleven and those who were with them gathered
together, saying: “The Lord is Risen indeed, and has Appeared to
ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται the Law, shalt a man Live by.
Simon! And they related all the things that had happened along ἐν αὐτῇ.
the road, and how He was known to them by the breaking of Ἡ δὲ ἐκ Πίστεως Δικαιοσύνη Faith based on Righteousness says
bread…” οὕτως λέγει· “Μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ “Do not say in your heart ‘Who

12. SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS SACRED LESSONS - 5AP - 5TH MATTHEW - GERGESENE DEMONIACS 13.