Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Hon ou r a nd Wo rs hip to the Fat he r, a nd t o t he S on, and to t he H oly S p irit, n ow an d f orever, and u nto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so o ur Mo st Ho ly, Mos t Pu re, M ost B le ss ed a nd Gl oriou s L ady, Mari a, Th eot oko s, yet Ever Virg in, tog eth er wi th a ll th e Sai nts. An d le t us c ommi t ou rse lve s and o ne a noth er a nd ou r who le Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

1 December 2013 23rd Sunday After Pentecost Tone (6) Plagal 2

14th Sunday of St Luke The Blind M an of Jericho

Also the Feast of St Nahum the Holy Prophet of God St Philaret the Merciful of Amnia, Asia Minor St Ananias of Persia St Theoklitos of Lakedemonias

W y miilly am r ffa ur ou yo dy nd an ua ou yo hy sh wiis ew We a aM Mo os stt B Blle es ss se ed dF Fe es sttiiv ve eS Se ea as so on n

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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.
OVEMBER

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!

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Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.
CHRIST

Resurrection Gospel 1: Matthew 28 : 16 - 20

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Prokeimenon Save, O Lord, Thy people, and Bless Thine Inheritance Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, my God. The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 2 : 4 10 TRANSFIGURATION BY DIVINE GRACE
Brethren: God, Who is rich in Mercy, because of His Great Love with which He Loves us, made us alive together with Christ (by Grace you have been Saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the Exceeding Riches of His Grace in His Kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by Grace you have been Saved through Faith - and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good Works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them. The beginning of Gods Holy Rule is OUR REDEMPTION TO ETERNAL TWO UNEQUAL KINGDOMS ARE AT WAR. Each is SPIRITUAL IN NATURE and EACH STAMPS ITS IMAGE ON ITS LIFE and the desires of His devoted subjects are freely, joyously offering THANKSGIVING AND GLORY TO GOD. SUBJECTS AND REQUIRES STRICT OBEDIENCE. Yet THEY ARE COMPLETE OPPOSITES . Their deeds are RIGHTEOUS, which is proper to those who reign THE RULER OF THE LESSER KINGDOM IS A CREATED BEING SATAN. with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His domain is of the air for HE BELONGS NEITHER TO HEAVEN NOT The result of His Divine, Loving and Blessed Rule is Exceeding TO EARTH (having been expelled and banished from the Riches and Kindness, which grants us the PEACE, JOY AND Heavenly Kingdom of Love, Peace and Joy in God). BLISS OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE AND ALL He is THE INVENTOR OF DISOBEDIENCE AND SPIRITUAL REBELLION AGAINST GOOD THINGS. GOD I.E. SIN, WHICH LEADS TO SUFFERING, TORMENT AND D EATH. The only manner whereby we can escape from our fallen The beginning of his domination is SPIRITUAL DEATH - EACH SIN WE state and the enslaving imprisonment of the evil one is by COMMIT CAUSES US TO FALL INTO A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH. our SINCERE REPENTANCE AND AN EAGERNESS TO BE WITH GOD The desires of HIS ENSLAVED SUBJECTS ARE LUSTFUL of the WEAKNESS WHO HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING ESSENTIAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL OF THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND, which are wicked TRESPASSES REDEMPTION: THE UNITY OF DIVINE GRACE, FAITH AND GOOD AGAINST G OD AND OUR NEIGHBOURS. WORKS COMPELLED BY LOVE i.e. unconditional, Holy Love The ultimate result of the evil ones domination and (Agape). enslavement is WRATH AND ETERNAL CONDEMNATION THAT These conditions of our Redemption are not equal for DIVINE CAUSES OUR ETERNAL ALIENATION FROM G OD AND ALL HIS BLESSED GRACE IS UNCREATED AND INFINITE, while OUR FAITH IS LIMITED but GOODNESS. which can GROW EVER STRONGER THROUGH THE CORRECT THE GLORIOUS, LOVING AND B ENEVOLENT KING OF THE OTHER, ETERNAL, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND NURTURING. HEAVENLY KINGDOM IS UNCREATED. GOOD WORKS ARE COMPELLED BY AND FLOW FORTH FROM AUTHENTIC He is GOD THE FATHER Whose Holy Realm is the Heavenly FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD. Places, which HE RULES BY HIS GREAT MERCY AND INFINITE LOVE.

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Good Works alone or done with the wrong attitude or purpose will not gain us any Eternal Spiritual Benefits Heavenly Treasure. DIVINE G RACE, WHICH ENABLES AND COMPELS US TO DO EVERYTHING GOD CALLS US TO DO, IS HIS FREE GIFT and cannot be bought, stolen or taken away from us (except by God

when we fall from His Grace through our unrepented sins.) THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED BY DIVINE GRACE WILL ONLY WANT TO DO GOOD DEEDS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD OUR GOD. WE ARE NOT SAVED BY GOOD WORKS RATHER WE ARE SAVED FOR GOOD WORKS.
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At that time, as our Lord Jesus was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man sat begging beside the road. And, hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: Jesus, Son of David! Have Mercy on me! Those who went before warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more: Son of David! Have Mercy on me! So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked Him: What do you want Me to do for you? He replied: Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said to him: Receive your sight - your Faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus, Glorifying God. And all the people when they saw it gave Praise to God. Once again, St Matthew and St Luke differ in unimportant God we actually have, which made us see Him in a totally details for St Matthew mentioned two blind men, while St different Light altogether. The New Covenant is indeed a Divine Covenant of Great Luke mentions only one. Mercy and Infinite Love! (mp) Nevertheless, it is insignificant to the Sacred Lesson, which is how sincere Faith in God works with Him for our Healing. Our Holy Church Fathers explained this Holy Encounter in its When the Blind Man of Jericho heard that Jesus of Nazareth Spiritual Context: was approaching, he immediately called out to Him, The Blind Man of Jericho symbolises the future generations addressing Him as Son of David, which was a title who would come to True Faith in Christ Jesus the New profoundly associated with the Messiah. Covenant Faith only be hearing the Divine Truth, which And, again, we hear how persistent the Blind Man of Jericho is taught by verbal (Apostolic) Holy Tradition as well as was because he chose to ignore those who usually went Written Holy Tradition (Holy Scripture & God Inspired ahead to clear a path in the midst of the milling, noisy Writings of all our Holy Church Fathers, including the Holy crowds of people. Apostles of Christ. He was told to stop shouting so loudly but his desire for a Future generations of Faithful Disciples of Christ would believe Miraculous Healing was far greater than a need for without seeing our Lord Jesus Christ in Person. dignity or social behaviour. Even though our Lord God Those who tried to silence the Blind Man of Jericho symbolise knows everything about us, including our deepest desires the persecutors and tyrants who in every generation and thoughts even those that we ourselves do not yet have tried to silence Gods Divine Truth His Divine know! He asks us to express our hopes and prayers for Teachings and His Holy Church. our own benefit, since often what we think we want and Consequently, under persecution and in times of great what we truly need might be utterly different. danger, the Holy Church of Christ remains steadfast and Furthermore, by asking this particular Blind Man of Jericho a True to God all the more Confessing our Lord Jesus most obvious question, Christ revealed to the witnesses Christ and being unwavering confident in all His Divine that by freely asking for Divine Mercy with utter Faith and Promises. confidence in God, we may be Blessed by a positive The persecution of the Christian Church has never been more result. violent nor so widespread as now. It also revealed the fact that not only does God hear every Satans willing slaves mindlessly slaughter everyone who stands heartfelt Prayer, but it clearly showed how Kind, Merciful, in their way. They are insanely driven by hatred, anger, Compassionate and Loving He is. frustration and every evil passion invented by the devil who Throughout the preceding centuries, the Hebrews had been taught about a fierce, vengeful, terrifying God Who could destroy His enemies at Will if not obeyed. However, our Lord Jesus Christ, repeatedly showed the people what an infinitely Benevolent Merciful and Loving is making full use of them against God and everything that is Good and Holy on earth. Let us constantly pray for their victims and beseech God for His Great Mercy upon us all. Kyrie eleison! Mp

14th Sunday of St Luke - Life and Light

> In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. OUR SAVIOUR CAME SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND LIGHT. THE LIGHT IN WHICH OUR SAVIOUR DWELLS - BEING ONE OF THE H OLY TRINITY, THAT LIGHT IN WHICH THE HOLY TRINITY DWELLS ETERNALLY - IS THE LIGHT H E CAME TO GIVE TO ALL OF US . He had given us already through the orbs of the sun and the moon the created light of this world. He had given us the material light in the very beginning of Creation. THE ACTIVITY OF OUR LORD G OD BROUGHT DIVINE LIGHT TO A SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND ORDER TO A CHAOTIC WORLD. And so it is that EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR SAVIOUR IS ASSOCIATED WITH LIGHT AND ENLIGHTENMENT. What was our world like before our Lord Jesus came? THE LIGHT OF THE H OLY TRINITY VERY DIMLY ILLUMINED THE SPIRITUALLY DARK WORLD, so THERE WAS A GENERAL HOPE OF SALVATION - a hope of escaping the tyranny of death and corruption, a hope of escaping the drudgery and pointlessness of life that

characterized the existence of mankind before the Coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. THE H OLY PROPHETS OF G OD AND THE RIGHTEOUS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONVEYED - as best as they could and as much as was permitted - THE DIVINE LIGHT OF THE H OLY TRINITY TO THE PEOPLE. They tried to maintain A HOPEFUL EXPECTATION OF THE COMING OF THE M ESSIAH - and even in parts of the world that were unknown to the Holy Prophets, THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF M ESSIANIC EXPECTATION OF THE WISE, THE EDUCATED AND THE PHILOSOPHERS. But to what end? THE IMMORTAL SOULS OF ALL HUMANITY - GOOD AND BAD including the most Righteous Ones of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, and even St John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ - WERE TAKEN INTO THOSE DARK, SHADOWY PLACES OF HADES, where they remained in Expectation of the Coming of the Messiah. SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, INJUSTICE, IMPERFECT UNDERSTANDING LAW OF G OD AND THE IMPERFECT OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF H IS DIVINE WILL FOR US - WERE ALL SCATTERED WHEN OUR SAVIOUR CAME INTO THE WORLD .

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THE G LORY OF THE I NCARNATION AND BIRTH OF THE G ODM AN SCATTERED ALL SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DESPAIR FOR THERE CAN BE NO DARKNESS WHERE OUR LORD J ESUS IS. There can be no sinister shadowiness or obscurity ONLY DIVINE LIGHT CAN EXIST WHERE OUR SAVIOUR J ESUS IS. Wherever He goes - His Words and indeed, H IS VERY PRESENCE ENLIGHTENS AND I LLUMINATES BY GRANTING UNDERSTANDING to all of those whose souls are open and who welcome Him. Therefore, when Christ descended into Hades, like a lightning bolt H E ILLUMINED EVEN THE DARKEST, MOST
DISTANT CORNERS AND LOOSENED THE BONDS OF ALL WHO HAD AWAITED H IM THROUGHOUT THE AGES. H E LOOSENED THEIR SHACKLED SOULS AND LED THEM INTO PARADISE while that hideous dungeon of darkness, HADES, WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED CONQUERED FOREVER and no longer oppressing the good with the

bad souls. Only THOSE WHO REFUSE TO R EPENT THEIR SINS ARE CONDEMNED TO HADES to await our Final Judgement, because THEY HAVE FREELY CHOSEN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DEATH THE OBSCURITY OF STUBBORN, SELF-IMPOSED SINFULNESS AND SELFISHNESS INSTEAD OF CONSTANT REPENTANCE AND LIFE IN THE DIVINE LIGHT of Christ our Lord and Saviour. Brethren: OUR SAVIOUR CAME TO DWELL WITH US SO THAT WE MIGHT PARTICIPATE IN HIS DIVINE LIGHT. It is difficult to accept that so many of us - knowing this Divine Truth persist in our wilful disobedience and rebellion by rejecting all the Goodness and Blessings of the Divine Light! This is exactly what we do when we refuse to Repent we choose to follow the dictates of the evil one who has no real power over us unless we allow it - so WE FREELY CHOOSE TO LIVE IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND MISERY. WE CHOOSE TO CLOSE OUR EYES TO G ODS DIVINE LIGHT, for the works of the devil are works of darkness and destruction. Furthermore, IF WE PERSIST IN COMMITTING ALL THOSE SINFUL WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS COMMITTING ALL OUR SINFUL BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES - UNABATED OR UNCORRECTED then WE ARE WILFULLY BLINDING OURSELVES TO THE DIVINE LIGHT AND TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE! We are obliged to seek Gods Wonderful, Life-giving Light but often, WHEN WE FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS REQUIRED OF US AND COMPELLED BY OUR YEARNING FOR

A very wise man said that ALL CHILDREN ARE BORN PIOUS, which is evident in those who attend Church. Yes, some of them may be noisy and restless, but A CHURCH WITHOUT THE SOUND OF CHILDREN IS A CHURCH WITH NO FUTURE! Children are naturally Pious so THEY WILL ENSURE THAT SOMEBODY BRINGS THEM TO CHURCH, PICKS THEM UP TO KISS THE H OLY I CONS, AND HELPS THEM TO PREPARE FOR H OLY COMMUNION. They stand eagerly with their little arms crossed - waiting to receive that Divine Gift of Light, while WE ADULTS, IN OUR DULLNESS AND JADEDNESS, NO LONGER REGARD THE H OLY THINGS OF G OD LIKE THEY DO WITH DELIGHTED ANTICIPATION. For THESE LITTLE PEOPLE SEE THE ANGELS AND THE SAINTS AND MANY OTHER HOLY THINGS DUE TO THEIR NATURAL PURITY, WHICH WE CAN NO LONGER BEHOLD due to our sin-darkened sight. WE ALL HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THESE CHILDREN - TO CULTIVATE AND TO NURTURE THIS DIVINE G IFT OF PIETY IN THEM SO THAT THEY MAY GROW AND DEVELOP PROPERLY, ACCORDING TO G ODS WILL AND PURPOSE. CHILDREN ARE NOT OUR OWN - just as everything we have belongs to THE HOLY TRINITY WHO MAKES US WORTHY
CARETAKERS OF THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHO ARE OUR CONSOLATION , and thus THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK OUR SELFISH WILL, SO THAT WE DO NOT DO WHATEVER WE WANT. SELF-SACRIFICE AND SELF-DENIAL IS A DIVINE BLESSING

G OD WE CRY OUT TO H IM IN PRAYER, BY FASTING, BY AVOIDING AND DISCARDING OUR FORMER HABITS, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR, AS WELL ARE THOSE WHO LEAD US ASTRAY, OUR SO -CALLED FRIENDS WILL PROBABLY
SCOFF AND MOCK US IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO DISCOURAGE US : You?! You want to be a Christian now! You who

are the worst among us the biggest supporter of our lifestyle and you are going to leave us and pretend to be such a Holy Christian! You are an idiot and a hypocrite! You are deceiving yourself! There is nothing better than what we already have! I N EVERY WAY POSSIBLE THEY WILL TRY TO SILENCE OUR CRIES AND PLEADINGS TO OUR SAVIOUR FOR H IS DIVINE LIGHT AND G REAT M ERCY. THEY WILL TRY EVERY MEANS TO PREVENT US FROM ATTAINING HIS DIVINE LOVE AND COMPASSION. THIS PERSECUTORS AND DENIGRATORS OF DIVINE TRUTH AND LOVE WILL DISCOURAGE OR MISLEAD THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND away from the Divine Healing and Enlightenment that we are able to receive. THE DETERMINATION OF THE BLIND MAN OF J ERICHO IS AN EXAMPLE TO US because THE MORE OTHERS TRIED TO SILENCE HIM - TO MUZZLE HIM - THE LOUDER HE CRIED, beseeching our Saviour to have Mercy on him. H OW MANY OF US WOULD DO LIKEWISE IN ORDER TO RECEIVED ETERNAL SALVATION? H OW MANY OF US WOULD CALL OUT TO OUR LORD TO H EAL OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, LET ALONE PHYSICAL BLINDNESS. Our greatest responsibility is to Enlighten and properly guide all children, and especially our own.

because instead of unbridled self-indulgence, we are COMPELLED BY UNSELFISH LOVE OF OTHERS . And when we ungrudgingly and unselfishly accept our Sacred Responsibilities, then THE NURTURING OF CHILDREN BECOMES A SURER WAY TO SALVATION AND PARADISE than by becoming Monastics, for one can always leave the Monastic Life, but PARENTHOOD CAN NEVER BE FORSAKEN. Consequently, THE CULTIVATION OF THE DIVINE G IFT OF PIETY IN OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO US ALL. As parents, we usually ensure that everything concerning our children is organised or somehow gets done every day of the week. YET WE FORGET TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN INTO OUR ARMS AND CARRY THEM TO THE I CON CORNER, AND ENSURE THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR AGE - THEY ARE ABLE TO RECITE SOME PRAYERS, AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ANTIDORON THAT WE HAVE SAVED FOR THEM, AND SIPS OF HOLY WATER. IF WE DO NOT TEACH CHILDREN ALL ASPECTS OF H OLY ORTHODOX WORSHIP - WE BLIND WE MAIM - THEM !! We must OPEN CHILDREN'S EYES TO THE BEAUTY AND TRUTH OF ORTHODOXY AND THE G RACE OF THE HOLY M YSTERIES FROM VERY, VERY YOUNG FOR WHEN WE TEACH THEM BY OUR OWN EXAMPLE TO PRAY, TO FAST, TO CONFESS AND TO PARTAKE OF H OLY COMMUNION, WE RESPECT AND SPIRITUALLY N OURISH THEM . THEY WILL BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT ORTHODOXY, which is internal and wells forth from the soul of those who seek Jesus Christ and His Salvation, IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE. Otherwise we convey to them a fatal message due to our own lack of Faith and Worship. It is vitally important - whether we are raising children or not - to BE GOOD EXAMPLES BOTH HERE IN CHURCH AND OUTSIDE because those types of people who tried to silence the Blind Man of Jericho will always try to silence us. DUE TO THEIR OWN SHORTCOMINGS AND LACK OF FAITH,
SUCH PEOPLE CONSTANTLY TRY TO DISCOURAGE US AND PREVENT US FROM SEEKING THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND SALVATION OF J ESUS CHRIST, the Son of David, the

Incarnate Messiah, Whose Birth we are preparing ourselves to celebrate. My beloved Brethren, AS FAITHFUL, STRUGGLING CHRISTIANS, WE MUST ALWAYS WALK ALONG THE N ARROW PATH OF LIGHT - THE WAY OF I LLUMINATION THAT POURS FORTH FROM THE KEEPING THE DIVINE COMMANDMENTS.

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Wise men have cautioned us : Do not despair; do not grieve, when - for a time - your children whom you have raised in the fear of God, step away from His Way. Have Patience, just as God had Patience with us. Have Patience, and they will come back, because they will see that there is nothing else. And if they are wise, and if they are people of Understanding, they will understand that they need to come back to Jesus Christ. We must ALWAYS LIVE AND ACT LIKE CHILDREN OF LIGHT always walking in the Way of Light. WE HAVE TO BE LIKE THE BLIND MAN OF J ERICHO WHO LIVED IN CONSTANT H OPE AND EXPECTATION OF DIVINE SALVATION. If anyone tries to silence us - if anyone tries to prevent us from living as Christians - then we must be all the more louder. For OUR SAVIOUR CAME HIMSELF TO BRING US H IS DIVINE SALVATION. The world had no need of another Philosopher; the world had no need of another ethical system; the world had no need of another Teacher founding another school.

THE WORLD HAD NEED OF SALVATION, AND OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST BROUGHT H IS DIVINE SALVATION TO ALL THOSE WHO SEEK H IM . He came for those who KEEP OUR ORTHODOX CONFESSION OF FAITH DESPITE ANYTHING THAT TRIES TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM US. He came for those who KEEP ORTHODOXY AS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING IN THE WORLD for those who KEEP IT, EXPRESS IT AND LIVE IT. For in this Way OUR PATH WILL BE STRAIGHT, AND WE WILL MAINTAIN A H OLY PATH THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL FOLLOW. We will leave A PRICELESS LEGACY - THE G REATEST I NHERITANCE THAT ANY LOVING PARENT CAN LEAVE A CHILD, WHICH IS THE ETERNAL SALVATION IN CHRIST J ESUS OUR LORD the priceless, Eternal Salvation of our Lord Who is the Son and Incarnate Word of God the Father Who is worshipped and glorified together with the Holy Spirit - our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has Saved us. > Amen. Amen. Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: 14TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE LIGHT AND LIFE SERMONS OF ARCHPRIEST ANTHONY B. GAVALAS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 2/15 DECEMBER 2002 HTTP://GNISIOS.NAROD.RU/ABG021202.HTML

Orthodox Catechism

- On A New Heaven And A New Earth

ACCORDING TO ST SYMEON THE N EW THEOLOGIAN, ALL IMAGES RELATING TO PARADISE, be they rooms or mansions, woods or fields, rivers or lakes, birds or flowers, ARE ONLY DIFFERENT SYMBOLS OF THE BLESSING WHOSE CENTRE IS NONE OTHER THAN CHRIST H IMSELF. St Gregory of Nyssa advances similar idea of G OD AS THE SOLE AND I NTEGRAL DELIGHT OF THE KINGDOM OF H EAVEN. He Himself substitutes all transient delights of mortal life: ..While we carry on our present life in many different ways, there are many things in which we participate, such as time, air, place, food and drink, clothing, sun, lamplight, and many other necessities of life, of which none is God. The Blessedness which we await, however, does not need any of these, but the Divine Nature will become everything for us and will replace everything, distributing itself appropriately for every need of that Life... Thus, according to St Gregory and to certain other Holy Fathers of the Church, THE FINAL OUTCOME OF OUR HISTORY IS GOING TO BE G LORIOUS AND M AGNIFICENT. AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF ALL AND THE LAST J UDGMENT, EVERYTHING WILL BE CENTRED AROUND G OD, AND NOTHING WILL REMAIN OUTSIDE H IM . THE WHOLE COSMOS WILL BE CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED, TRANSFIGURED AND I LLUMINED. G OD WILL BE ALL IN ALL, AND CHRIST WILL REIGN IN THE SOULS OF THE PEOPLE WHOM H E HAS REDEEMED. THIS IS THE FINAL VICTORY OF G OOD over evil, Christ over Antichrist, Light over darkness, Paradise over Hell. This is THE FINAL ANNIHILATION OF DEATH: Then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in Victory. O Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?.. But thanks be to God, Who grants us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-57).
A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH BY BISHOP HILARION ALFEVYEV
HTTP://ORTHODOXEUROPE.ORG/PAGE/10/1.ASPX#54 ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ORTHODOX CATECHISM

PARADISE IS NOT A PLACE, IT IS RATHER A STATE OF THE SOUL . Just as HADES IS A SUFFERING ON ACCOUNT OF THE IMPOSSIBILITY TO LOVE, PARADISE IS BLISS THAT DERIVES FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF LOVE AND LIGHT. Those who have been United to Christ participate completely and integrally in Paradise. The Greek word Paradeisos signifies both the Garden of Eden, where primordial man was placed, and THE AGE TO COME, WHERE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED AND SAVED BY CHRIST TASTE ETERNAL BLESSING. It can also be applied to THE FINAL STAGE OF HUMAN HISTORY, WHEN ALL CREATION WILL BE TRANSFORMED, AND G OD WILL BE ALL IN ALL. The Blessing of Paradise in Christian Tradition is also called: the Kingdom of Heaven, the Life of the Age to come, the Eighth Day, a New Heaven, the Heavenly Jerusalem. There are many descriptions of Paradise in Hagiographic and Patristic Literature, some of them are very picturesque, and include trees, fruit, birds, villages, and so on. Certain Byzantine Saints, such as ST ANDREW THE FOOL FOR CHRIST AND ST THEODORA, were ...caught up to the Third Heaven... and, upon their return, DESCRIBED WHAT THEY SAW there. (2 CORINTHIANS 12:2) Their biographers, however, emphasize that HUMAN WORDS CAN EXPLAIN THE EXPERIENCE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DIVINE ONLY TO A LIMITED DEGREE. The concept of Paradise, as that of Hades, must be detached from the material images with which it is usually connected. Moreover, the idea of many rooms ought not to be understood too literally: the rooms are not places, but rather DIFFERENT DEGREES OF CLOSENESS TO G OD.
(CF. JOHN 14:2)

As St Basil explained: SOME WILL BE HONOURED BY GOD WITH GREATER PRIVILEGES, SOME WITH LESSER, for star differs from star in glory. (CF. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:41). And as there are ...many rooms... with the Father,
SOME PEOPLE WILL REPOSE IN A MORE SUPREME AND EXALTED STATE, AND SOME IN A LOWER STATE .

On Prayer
Prayer is most important for an Orthodox Way of Life. There are two types of Prayer: for Gods Divine Assistance, giving thanks to God, always remembering that everything comes from our Most Benevolent God. This attitude is essential to avoid pride. Prayer should focus on the Spiritual and not on the material. With Spiritual Help God will grant whatever is necessary in material matters. In everything whether good or bad we must give Thanks to God. Prayer should not be based on our desires or our personal inspiration. We must pray because it is necessary for our Salvation to do so.

It is absolutely scandalous to say: I dont feel like praying. It is an offence to God, a true blasphemy. Prayers must be an absolute, unchanging Daily Rule for it really is a matter of Life and Death... we must treat Prayer like breathing, which is absolutely essential to staying alive - we need to do it at all times. We must maintain a Daily Rule of Prayer at all costs.

ELDER SERGEI OF VANVES http://orthodoxwayoflife.blogspot.com

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Ho nou r and W orsh ip t o t he Fat he r, a nd to t he Son, an d to th e Ho ly Sp irit, now an d for ever, and u nto t he Ages o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so our Mos t Ho ly, Mos t Pu re, M ost Bl es sed an d Glo ri ous La dy, Maria, T heo tok os, yet Ever Vi rgi n, toget he r with al l the S ain ts. An d le t us c omm it ou rs elve s an d o ne ano the r a nd ou r whole Lif e to C hr ist o ur Go d. Ame n .

4 December 2013 St Barbara the Great Holy M artyr of Heliopolis, Syria

Also the Feast of St Juliana of Heliopolis, Syria St John of Damascus St John of Polybotom, Phrygia St Gennadios of Novgorod St Searaphim the Hieromonk of the Phanar & Neochorion, Constantinople - St Alexander Hotvitzky the New Martyr of Russia

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the Saintly: let us honour now; for she shattered the snares of the enemy, and like a sparrow she freed herself from them, with the Help and Weapon of the Cross all stately.

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I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spyleon Today the

to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi, Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion Neon, O Pro Eonon Theos.

Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Matins Gospel According to St M atthew 25 : 1 FOR O

NLY

13
& ET
ERNITY

GOD KNOWS

BE PREPARED AND READY AT ALL TIMES WHEN CHRIST WILL RETURN FOR OUR FINAL J

UDGEMENT

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to Ten Virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. And Those who were foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. And while the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold! The Bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him! And all those Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish Virgins said to the wise: Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise Virgins answered and said: No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy oil for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready, went in with Him to the Wedding; and the Door was shut. Afterwards the other Virgins came also, saying: Lord! Lord! Open to us! But He answered and said: Truly, I say to you: I do not know you! Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ illustrates THE VITAL NECESSITY thereby condemning themselves to Eternal Death OF BEING SPIRITUALLY P REPARED until the Second Coming of alienation and exile from God and His infinite Goodness. Christ - the Divine Bridegroom. OUR PHYSICAL DEATH, WHICH IS UNAVOIDABLE DUE TO OUR HUMAN CONDITION, IS EXPERIENCED BY BOTH THE VIRTUOUS AND THE SINFUL THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD IS OFTEN PORTRAYED AS HOLY PEOPLE - ...they all slumbered and slept. MATRIMONY - similar to the Parable of the Great Wedding ...at midnight a cry was heard... refers to Christs Second Banquet, WHICH ALSO PROCLAIMS THE TRANSFER OF GODS Coming i.e. HIS PHYSICAL REAPPEARANCE WHEN ALL CREATION ETERNAL KINGDOM FROM THE FAITHLESS HEBREWS TO THE G ENTILES. ( MATTHEW 22 : 1 14) EITHER WITH GREAT JOY OF ANTICIPATION OR TREMBLING IN FEAR THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD IS REFERRED TO AS A JOYFUL WEDDING WILL SEE HIM IN ALL HIS DIVINE GLORY. BANQUET WITH CHRIST AS THE AWAITED BRIDEGROOM . The living and the dead virtuous and wicked people will stand St Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians also used the analogy before His Judgement Seat - being SEPARATED ACCORDING of Holy Matrimony for the Eternal Kingdom of God. TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL CHOICES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES. (EPHESIANS 5 : 21 33) The inability of the Wise Virgins the Righteous Ones to In the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast, THE REPEATED share their oil is an illustration of THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ENTERING SENDING FORTH OF HIS SERVANTS WITH INVITATIONS TO THE GREAT ETERNAL LIFE WITHOUT ONES OWN F AITH AND VIRTUE AND THE WEDDING BANQUET CLEARLY SHOWS OUR HEAVENLY F ATHERS DEEP IMPOSSIBILITY OF CHANGING ONES SPIRITUAL STATE WHETHER DESIRE TO HAVE ALL HIS PEOPLE WITH HIM IN HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM. VIRTUOUS OR WICKED AFTER DEATH. THE DIVINE MARRIAGE I.E. THE DIVINE UNION WILL BE CONSUMMATED L U K E 1 6 : 2 6 In the account of the Rich Man and Poor AT THE END OF THE AGE WHEN THE B RIDEGROOM CHRIST RETURNS Lazaros, St Abraham told the condemned Rich Man : ... to escort His Holy Bride His Holy Church into the Eternal between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that Wedding Banquet. those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor The reference to CHRISTS HOLY CHURCH ENCOMPASSES ALL FAITHFUL can those from there pass to us. CHRISTIANS AND OTHER FAITHFUL PEOPLE OF G OD. THE GREAT GULF THAT SEPARATES THE VIRTUOUS FROM THE WICKED IS NOT A THIS PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS PRIMARILY CONCERNS THE VIRTUE OF GEOGRAPHICAL DIVIDE BUT THE COMPLETE SEPARATION BETWEEN CHARITY THE VIRTUE OF U NCONDITIONAL LOVE/A GAPE AND VIRTUE AND WICKEDNESS a separation that cannot be ALMSGIVING since the words oil and Mercy have the overcome after death but which DUE TO THE GREAT M ERCY same root in Greek: Eleos. OF GOD CAN BE RECTIFIED THROUGH SINCERE AND HUMBLE THE WISE VIRGINS ARE THOSE WHO PRACTISE CHARITY (UNCONDITIONAL REPENTANCE-CONFESSION, WHICH LEADS US TO RECONCILIATION LOVE/AGAPE) AND M ERCY IN THIS LIFETIME who are thereby WITH GOD and mankind. preparing themselves for Eternal Life, while THE FOOLISH Since we constantly fall from Divine Grace through our VIRGINS ARE THOSE WHO SELFISHLY SQUANDER (WASTE) GODS conscious or unconscious sins, WE MUST CEASELESSLY RECTIFY DIVINE GIFTS ON THEMSELVES WITHOUT GIVING ANYTHING TO OTHERS

ST BARB

ARA THE

GRE

AT

VIRGI

MAR

TYR OF

HE

LIOPOLIS

, SYRIA

4 DEC

EMBER

2012

5.

ALL OUR ERRORS WITH DIVINE ASSISTANCE THROUGH PRAYERS, FASTING AND CORRECT WORSHIP. The themes of the Parables of the Great Wedding Banquet (Holy Communion) and the Ten Virgins (RepentanceConfession and Life in Christ preparing ourselves for Eternal Life) are woven together in the Liturgical Hymns of

Holy Week, particularly in the Troparion of Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday: Behold! The Bridegroom comes at midnight, and Blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching!

Prokeimenon Psalm 67 Tone 4 God is wonderful in His Saints. Bless God in the Congregations! The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 3 : 23- 4 : 5
SO
NSHIP

(OUR DIVI

NE

ADOPTIO

) THRO

UGH

FAITH A

ND

HOL

BAPTIS

Brethren: Before Faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, kept for the Faith that would afterwards be revealed. Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be Justified by Faith. But after Faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through Faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all One in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christs, then you are Abrahams seed, and Heirs according to the Promise.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M ark 5 : 24 34

TH
E

FAITH

OF THE

WOM

AN W HOM NO ONE COULD HEAL

At that time our Lord Jesus went with (Jairus, one of the rulers of the Synagogue,) and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was not better, but rather grew worse. And when she heard about Jesus, she went behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment, for she thought: If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. Immediately the fountain of her blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that Power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and asked: Who touched My clothes? And His Disciples said to Him: Thou see the multitude thronging Thee, yet Thou ask: Who touched Me? And He looked around to see her who had done so, but the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, went and fell down before Him and told Him the whole Truth. And He said to her: Daughter, your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of your affliction.

Homily on the F east of St Barbara the Great Virgin Martyr of Heliopolis, Syria
Beloved, we gather today to celebrate the Feast of St Barbara who lived between the third and fourth centuries. It is amazing how - over the centuries until today we continue to Commemorate this and other Saints who lived in ancient times - and one wonders about the secret of such people who are so memorable that the whole world has continued to honour them for so long. Their secret is that they were witnesses to Christ against paganism. St Barbara was killed by the hand of her own father who cut off her head because he was a pagan and she refused to follow his errors. She remained steadfast in her Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ the God-Man. She adamantly refused to renounce Him, and preferred to give her life as the price for our True Confession and Faith. This type of Holy Martyrdom is the Holy Martyrdom of blood and although it is perhaps not demanded of us these days, it might one day be demanded of us. However, what is demanded of us today is Holy Martyrdom of another kind, which is called White Martyrdom. Some may think that there is no more paganism today and from one perspective, that is true. But from another - if you think about it - you will find that paganism still abounds. Before us are new pagan gods that are worshipped in every corner of the world and especially in Lebanon, for people worship money, authority and worldly glory. They also worship lust, decadent lifestyles, deceptive entertainment and many other vices that lead to moral and Spiritual Death. Our children who are very young and those who are in colleges are exposed to so many temptations. They stay out late, attending questionable parties. They drink alcohol and take drugs. They no longer respect either themselves nor others and they benefit nothing from all that! Instead they lose consciousness and focus - and they might eventually lose their entire future! Beloved, today we must be ever watchful of this deadly new paganism and resist it by every means possible. We must become White Martyrs, which means that we must be extremely aware and watchful over our Spiritual Life and not allow the temptations of material life overpower us and conquer our minds and souls. If we are immersed in a life of leisure and luxury and neglect our Life of Prayer and Spiritual Watchfulness, what will become of our children? Of course, they will soon drift off the Right Path and will become enslaved to the idols of the world. Life in Christ makes us immune to the evil one. Life in Christ makes us peaceful and loving of all people - not wanting to stir up problems and enmities. Life in Christ makes us obliging and helpful to others in need. Do you have extensive wealth? That is not a problem for wealth is not an evil in itself- as long as we know that earthly wealth and possessions will not bring us happiness. We must all be wise and know how to use it: give to those in need, undertake projects useful to others - to society in general Rid yourself of any power that material things may have over you so that you will be strong and defeat this fading world. Do you know what the Purpose of this life is, my Beloved, and why God created us in this life? The Purpose of this life is for us to become Saints. God created us so that we can strive, seek and find our Beloved Saviour through the smoke and wreckage of this fallen world. And we must possess sound Spiritual Vision in order to search for Divine Things and hold on to them tightly, and not let anything distract us from our True Purpose, which is the striving for Eternal Life. May our Lord Jesus Christ Bless you with His Divine Grace so that you will become Victorious Martyrs. Amen
METROPOLITAN EPHREM ON THE FEAST OF ST BARBARA VESPERS CHURCH OF ST BARBARA IN RAS MASQU, SYRIA 3 DECEMBER 2010.THE ARABIC ORIGINAL CAN BE FOUND HERE. HTTP://ARABORTHODOXY.BLOGSPOT.COM/2010/12/MET-EPHREMON-FEAST-OF-ST-BARBARA.HTML

6.

ST BARBARA

THE

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ARTYR OF

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, SYRIA

4 D

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Gl ory, Hono ur a nd Wo rsh ip to t he Fat he r, and to t he Son, a nd to th e Holy Spi rit, now a n d for ever, and u nto t he Ages o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so ou r Mo st Holy, M ost Pu re, M ost Bl es sed a nd G lorio us Lady, Ma ri a, Theot oko s, ye t Ev er Virg in, toge the r w it h a ll t he S ai nts. And l et us c ommi t o urselv es an d o n e anot he r an d ou r who le L ife t o Ch ri st ou r God. Am en .

5 December 2013 St Savva the Sanctified of Cappadocia

Also the Feast of St Diogenis St Gurios of Kazan St Anastasiof the Fuller of Salona, Dalmatia St Cyrion (Karion) & St Zacharia, his son, of Egypt St Nektarios of Bitolya & Mount Athos St Philotheos of Karyes of Mount Athos The Holy Monastic Martyrs of Karyes St Crispina of Tagora, Africa
FEST
AL

AP

OLYTIKION

ST SAVVA

THE

SANC

TIFIED

TONE (8) P

LAGAL

Tes

ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon egeorgisas; ke tis ek vathous stenagmis, is ekaton tous ponous ekarpoforisas; ke gagonas Fostir, tis ikoumenis, lambon tis thavmasi, Savva Patir imon Osie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon.
AL

With

the rivers of Thy tears, Thou changed the barren desert into fertile land; and with the sighs from Thy depths, Thou made Thy Labours produce a hundredfold; and Thou became a Bright Star, shining on the earth with Thy Miracles. O Savvas our Father Righteous: Intercede with Christ our God, for our souls to be Saved!
(8) PL
AGAL

FEST

KO

NTAKION

- ST SA

VVAS THE

SA

NCTIFIED

TO

NE

Os apo vrefous to Theo thisia amomos, prosevehthis di

aretis, Savva Makarie, to Se prin gennithine epistameno, ehrimatisas Osion egkallopisma, polistis te tis erimou exietpenos. Dio krazo Si. Heris Pater aidime.

O Blessed Savvas, Thou was offered from Thine infancy

through Thy Great Virtue as a Pure and Spotless Sacrifice to God, Who before Thy Birth, verily foreknew Thee; wherefore Thou was an Adornment of the Righteous Saints, an All-praised Founder of cities in the wilderness. Hence, I cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Father of Great Renown!

KO

NTAKION OF THE

NATI

VITY

CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Prokeimenon The Saints shall rejoice in Glory Sing unto the Lord a New Song. The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 5 : 22 6 : 2
WAR AGAINST THE FLESH & DO GOOD TO EVER YONE

Brethren: the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren: if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of Gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ. WITHOUT HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TWO INSEPARABLE VIRTUES WE This Sacred Lesson commemorates all Holy Monks and it CANNOT EXPECT TO MAKE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST PROGRESS FOR reminds us, AS STRUGGLING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WHOM WE
STRIVE TO IMITATE AND FAITHFULLY FOLLOW OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE SON OF GOD BEING GUIDED AND ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR DIVINE COMFORTER, ADVOCATE AND HELPER WHO GRANTS US HIS DIVINE GIFTS OF VIRTUE such as Love, Joy, Peace, ONLY BY WORKING IN HARMONY AND UNITY WITH GOD AND WITH ONE ANOTHER, CAN WE ACHIEVE THEOSIS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE. BEING ENLIGHTENED BY CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST ONE ANOTHER, especially when

Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. As developing, maturing and faithful Christians we are reminded that THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM WE HAVE ABANDONED OUR FORMER SELVES THE OLD MAN who were ruled and dominated by our passions or vices and selfish desires but now, HAVING BEEN REGENERATED IN
CHRIST, OUR ONLY DESIRE TO BECOME LIKE HIM THROUGH HUMILITY AND WILLING OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE. TO WALK IN THE (HOLY) SPIRIT IS TO LIVE EVERY MOMENT IN THE (HOLY) SPIRIT, BEING CONSTANTLY AWARE OF OUR HOLY MISSION DURING THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD OF LIFE ON EARTH AND MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FULFIL GODS DIVINE WILL

anyone of us stumbles or falls along the way. However, WHEN CORRECTING OUR FALLEN OR STUMBLING
BRETHREN, WE MUST ALWAYS DO SO WITH HUMBLE AGAPE OR LOVE ... a spirit of Gentleness... and never with a

sense of criticism or condemnation because the next time we ourselves may fall even harder than any of our fellow sinners: Today my brother, tomorrow me! (ST JOHN
OF KRONSTADT)

TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER CORRECTION WITH GENTLENESS IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT OF GOD. St Paul admonishes us to BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS AND TO BEAR OUR OWN BURDENS AS WELL because we are Called to initiate True Care-giving in our Holy Church and NEVER TO BE NEEDLESS BURDENS TO OTHERS!

instead of indulging our own flawed and destructive desires and whims that do not benefit anyone at all.

T he Holy Gospel A ccor ding to St M athew 11 : 27 30

WE RE
ST

ASSUR

ED

& CONFIDE

NT I N

CHRIST

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son Wills to reveal Him.

A V V A S

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Come to Me, all you who labour and who are heavily laden, and I will grant you rest. Take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am Gentle and Lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My Yoke is easy and My Burden is light. THE YOKE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR FREE AND WILLING St Theophylact explained to us that GOD HAS HIDDEN HIS DIVINE SUBMISSION TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS MYSTERIES FROM THE WISE AND ERUDITE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD not REQUIRED OF US AS WORTHY FUTURE CITIZENS. out of any malice towards His creatures but rather A Yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and because of their unworthiness, for they chose to trust their responsibilities, but IN CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, HIS YOKE IS EASY, own fallen, warped and limited wisdom and judgement BECAUSE DIVINE POWER WORKS IN EACH OF US. (2 KINGS 12: 1 11; JEREMIAH 34: 1-11; WISDOM OF SIRACH 40:1) instead of Gods Perfect and Absolute Wisdom and Furthermore, THE ULTIMATE REWARD IS INFINITELY GREATER THAN ANY Knowledge. EFFORT MANKIND PUTS FORTH. Furthermore, IT IS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND THAT GOD The term Gentle is literally translated Meek. WITHHOLDS DIVINE REVELATION FROM THOSE WHO WOULD SCORN IT
IN ORDER THAT THEY DO NOT RECEIVE EVEN WORSE ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AT THEIR FINAL JUDGEMENT.

St Savvas the Sanctified

St Paul in his Epistle addressed to the Hebrews spoke in a special manner of THOSE PIOUS MEN WHO WITH SUCH GREAT FAITH AND ZEAL RENOUNCED THE WORLD AND ALL WORLDLY CARE IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL M ARTYRDOM AND TO ACHIEVE THEIR MORAL PERFECTION IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, J ESUS CHRIST. THEY LIVED THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE H OLY G OSPEL and considered everything else ... as rubbish, in order that they may gain Christ. (PHILIPPIANS 3 : 8 ) THESE H OLY MEN AND WOMEN PASSED THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL FIRE OF ASCETICISM AND THROUGH THE CLEANSING G RACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THEY ACHIEVED THE CLEANSING AND SANCTIFICATION OF THEIR BODY AND SOUL: They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground... (HEBREWS 11 : 37-38) Amongst the numerous Saints of our Holy Orthodox Church we distinguish (set apart) the Holy Ascetics, Anchorites and Hermits who struggled in the Spiritual Stadium of conquering the vices and sin itself. ST PAUL PRAISED THE HEROIC SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES OF THE SAINTS AND ENCOURAGED US TO IMITATE THEM : Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Martyrs, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (HEBREWS 12:1) A distinguished personality of the Orthodox Monastic Life, who decorates our Holy Church is St Savvas the Sanctified. ST SAVVAS WHO WAS CALLED SANCTIFIED DUE TO HIS H OLY LIFE, LIVED DURING THE 6TH CENTURY . He had been born in the village of Montalaski in Cappadocia and AT A VERY YOUNG AGE HE DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE M ONASTIC LIFE. In order to achieve even more Victories against the evil one and to gain more Holy Virtues the young Athlete of Christ sought a Spiritual Father to guide and teach him. H E BECAME A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF ST EUTHYMIOS THE G REAT WHO WAS RENOWNED NOT ONLY FOR THE PURITY
OF HIS LIFE BUT ALSO FOR HIS SKILLS IN GUIDING THE FAITHFUL TO THEIR SALVATION. ST SAVVAS STRANGLED ALL SIGNS OF PRIDE THROUGH HUMBLE OBEDIENCE, CEASELESS PRAYER AND ACTS OF PIETY AND H OLINESS. H E WILLINGLY ACCEPTED NOT ONLY SPIRITUAL G UIDANCE BUT ALSO CRITICISM AND HAD ABSOLUTE TRUST IN HIS SPIRITUAL FATHER, IMITATING HIM WITH AN UNDIMINISHED INTEREST IN ALL HIS H OLY VIRTUES . ST SAVVAS WAS EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH HIS WORDS AND HE WATCHED THE EXPRESSION OF HIS SPIRITUAL FATHER AND IMITATED HIS DEVOUTNESS.

of Orthodox Monasticism within which many found Love, Peace, Faith and Prayer. Although St Savvas had renounced worldly cares, HE
REMAINED CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEMS HUMANITY AND THE SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES of his OF

era

drew much of his attention. The rebellion of the Samaritans of Palestine enraged the Byzantine Emperor who brought catastrophe upon many of the villages. Starvation ruled over all Palestine and AT THE AGE OF 80, ST SAVVAS STRUGGLED LIKE A YOUNG MAN TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND TO RELIEVE THEIR SUFFERINGS. H E ORDERED THE M ONKS OF HIS M ONASTERY TO FULFIL
PHILANTHROPIC WORKS AND EVEN SOUGHT AN AUDIENCE WITH THE EMPEROR IN CONSTANTINOPLE TO REQUEST HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH THE NECESSARY HOSPITALS AND INNS, AS WELL AS TO RESTORE THE DESTROYED CHURCH BUILDINGS.

So it was that one of the greatest Ascetic Monks of the desert became an effective Social Worker of his time. WHEN THE HERESY OF M ONOPHYSITISM AROSE AND CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS, ST SAVVAS WENT AGAIN TO APPEAL TO THE EMPEROR TO STOP THE PERSECUTIONS AGAINST THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND LATER HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE J USTIFICATION OF THE TRUE FAITH IN 518. Throughout his life, St Savvas proved to be a good Soldier of Christ who Struggled with unceasing Asceticism, Fasting and Prayer and who gave practical advice and solutions to the social, moral and ecclesiastical problems of his time. ST SAVVAS WAS TRULY A H OLY LIGHT OF ASCETICISM , PRAYER, LOVE AND EVERY OTHER VIRTUE, WHO SHONE THROUGH HIS CHRIST-LIKE LIFE AND WAS AN ETERNAL EXAMPLE FOR ALL M ONKS AND N UNS. [CF MATTHEW 5: 1416]

After St Euthymios reposed in Peace, St Savvas became the leader of many Monks who had begged him to be their Shepherd and guide them in Spiritual Life and Asceticism. ST SAVVAS ESTABLISHED THE WELL KNOWN M ONASTERY OF LAVRA IN PALESTINE, which became the centre

In our self-indulgent and egocentric world, we have alienated ourselves from God and our neighbour. St Savvas has remained our Spiritual Oasis where we who thirst can find the Spiritual Refreshment of the Divine Comfort and WE CAN LEARN TO IMITATE THIS H OLY PROTOTYPE. Holy Scripture proclaims: ... the Righteous will live forever... so for this reason ST SAVVAS IS G LORIFIED BY OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST WITHIN H IS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND HIS MEMORY REMAINS WITH US FOREVER. As Orthodox Christians struggling Disciples of Christ St Savvas the Sanctified holds a special place in our heart for HE IS OUR PRIDE AND OUR SUPPORTER TO WHOM WE TURN FOR H ELP AND COMFORT. With Faith and Piety, let us call upon St Savvas and with Repentance let us kneel before his Holy Icon in sincere Humility and Repentance to beseech the Lord our God to forgive all our trespasses. Let us beseech St Savvas as OUR H OLY M EDIATOR TO OUR LORD, as THE H OLY PROTECTOR OF OUR CHILDREN, and THE PHYSICIAN OF OUR HEALTH, as our COMFORTER IN OUR TIMES OF SORROW and as our H ELPER IN ALL OUR DIFFICULTIES AND STRUGGLES OF DAILY LIFE. Amen
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ST SAVVAS (2010) BY METROPOLITAN PANTELEIMON OF ANTINOES & KALYMNOS GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICAhttp://www.orthodox-mitropolitan-of-antinoespanteleimon.com

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Hon ou r a nd Wo rs hip to the Fa the r, a nd to the Son, and to th e Holy Sp irit, n ow an d f orever, an d unto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so our Mos t Ho ly, Mos t Pu re, M ost Bl es sed an d Glo ri ou s L ady, Mari a, Th eot oko s, ye t Eve r Virgin, toge the r w ith al l th e S ain ts. And le t u s c ommi t o urselv es and on e an ot her an d ou r wh ole Li fe t o Chr ist o ur Go d. Ame n .

6 December 2013 St Nicholas the Wonderworker of M yra

Also the Feast of St Maximos of Kiev

FESTAL APOLYTIKION OF ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYR A

TONE 4

Kanona

Pisteos ke Ikona praotitos, engratias didaskalon anedixe Se ti Pimni Sou i ton pragmaton Alithia. Dia touto ekomiso ti tapinosi ta ipsila, ti ptohia ta piousia. Pater Ierarha Nikolae, Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon.

As

Rule of the Faith and picture of Gentleness, and Teacher of Temperance Thou were exhibited to Thy Flock, by the Truth of the Evidence. Thus Thou acquired the Lofty through Humility, the abundant through Poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas: Intercede with Christ our God, so that our souls may be Saved!

FESTAL KO NTAKIO N OF ST NICHO LAS THE WOND ERWORKDER OF MYRA

En

tis Myris Agie, irourgos anedihthis; tou Hristou gar Osie, to Evangelion plirosas, ethikas tin Psihin Sou iper laou Sou, esosas tous athoous, ek tou Thanatou: dia touto Igiasthis, os Megas Mistis Theou tis Haritos
KO N LORD J CH

Saintly One, (St. Nicholas) in Myra Thou proved Thyself

a Priest; for in fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, O Venerable One, Thou laid down Thy life for Thy people and Saved the innocent from Death. For this Thou were Sanctified as One learned in Divine Grace.
RIST

FEST

AL

NTAKION

ATIVITY OF OUR

ESUS

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all beings, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Prokeimenon Psalm 115 Tone (7) Varys-Grave Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us? The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 13: 17 21
HOLY LIFE
IN

CHRIST

OUR

LORD

Brethren: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with Joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably. But I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you sooner. Now may the God of Peace Who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead - that Great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every Good Work to do His Will, working in you what is well pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen. His concluding Blessing noted THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE DIVINE AND We must ALWAYS OBEY AND RESPECT OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS who are consecrated and Sanctified members of the Holy MOST SACRED BLOOD OF CHRIST WHICH IS REALISED IN HIS Priesthood of Christ our Lord. GLORIOUS RESURRECTION AS CHRIST OFFERS HIS MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD IN THE ETERNAL SANCTUARY and thereby inaugurates a OUR HOLY CHURCH F ATHERS ARE PART OF THE ETERNAL SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD OF CHRISTS HOLY CHURCH WHO WILL BE HELD New, ... Everlasting (Eternal) Covenant, which makes us ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY AT THE GREAT Complete in every Good Work to do His Will... as WE JUDGEMENT OF OUR LORD. CO-OPERATE WITH GOD IN ALL THINGS and so are able to St Paul, as one of our Holy Church Fathers, asked all Christians progress towards Holy Sainthood Holy Perfection or for their Prayers so that he might live an exemplary life Theosis i.e. the Regeneration of our original created according to Gods Will and not be tempted by the evil state. one into committing any sins or worse leading others into wickedness or blasphemy.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St L uke 6 : 17 23

OUR L ORD JESUS C HRIST DELIVERS HIS SERMO N O N T HE PLAI N CONC ERNING T HE BEATITUDES

At that time, our Lord Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His Disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who went to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented by unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for Power went out from Him and healed them all. Then He lifted up His Eyes towards His Disciples and said: Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall be comforted. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Mans sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for Joy! For indeed your Reward is great in Heaven...

ST NIC

HOLAS THE

OND ERWORKER OF

MYR

6 DECE

MBER

2013

In the age of the Old Covenant a select few were chosen to hear God directly. (REFER EXODUS 19: 3 13) IN THE AGE OF THE NEW COVENANT G OD INCARNATE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES AND ALL THOSE WHO SEEK DIVINE TRUTH. Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to us with His own Divine Authority and WE, AS HIS DISCIPLES, DO NOT DISCUSS OR DEBATE BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT HE REVEALS AND TEACHES US CONCERNING GODS TRUTH READY AND EAGER TO FULFIL WHATEVER IS REQUIRED FROM US. THIS IS OUR HOLY MISSION AND PURPOSE ON EARTH DURING THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY. The term Blessed indicates HEAVENLY, SPIRITUAL EXALTATION RATHER THAN EARTHLY HAPPINESS OR PROSPERITY. In Hebrew, poor means both THE MATERIALLY POOR AND GODS FAITHFUL PEOPLE. The poor in spirit, are THOSE WHO HAVE THE HEART OF THE POOR, THE SAME ATTITUDE AS THE POOR, AND WHO ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD. Those who hunger ... and thirst for Righteousness REGARD THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM AS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF LIFE. THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS CRAVING AND YEARNING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND G OOD A SPIRITUAL HUNGER THAT IS FAR MORE COMPELLING THAN A DESIRE FOR FOOD. Those who weep... refers to THOSE WHO ARE DISTRESSED BY THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS LIFE, ESPECIALLY BY THE MISERY OF SO MANY OTHERS, THE STATE OF THE FALLEN WORLD, AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL SINS. (REFER JOHN 11:35... LUKE 19:41 & LUKE 7 : 36 38) ALL THESE ARE COMFORTED BY THE POWER OF GOD BOTH IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE AGE TO COME.

HOLY SORROW IS PART OF OUR REPENTANCE, CONVERSION AND VIRTUOUS ACTION. HOLY SORROW OR JOYFUL MOURNING IS THE FIRST-FRUIT THE INITIAL RESULT OF INFINITE OR ETERNAL BLISS/JOY, which is completely different from ungodly sorrow an inconsolable sadness that leads to despair utter hopelessness. (REFER TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7 : 10 ) THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL IS WHEN WE COMMIT OUR LIVES ENTIRELY TO CHRIST WHEN WE LIVE IN CHRIST AND NEVER COMPROMISE OUR FAITH no matter what the circumstances or threats against us. This Sermon on the Plain is similar but not as extensive as Christs profound Sermon on the Mount. (MATTHEW 5 7) OUR LORD JESUS REPEATED MANY OF HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS OVER THE PERIOD OF THREE YEARS HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY TO THE HEBREWS AND G ENTILES, WHICH WERE LATER SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BY HIS DIVINELY INSPIRED APOSTLES AND FAITHFUL DISCIPLES. St John the Divine Apostle, Evangelist and Theologian wrote of three Passover Feasts that occurred between Theophany the Revelation of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of our Lord in the River Jordan by St John the Baptist and His Passion the New Covenant Pascha which shows us that our Lords earthly Divine Mission the direct Teaching by God Incarnate Himself lasted only three short years! This short section of the Holy Gospel according to St Luke is read on Feast Days commemorating our Holy Hierarchs, Hieromartyrs and Monks.

St Nicholas the Wonderworker of M yra > In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Divine Truth so that we will have a solid basis for a
Holy Spirit! St Nicholas lived at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth centuries, yet we have carefully preserved his memory because he lived such an extraordinary Life, acquiring great power of spirit and drawing so near to God through his ardent Faith that God granted him Wonderworking Powers. Holy Tradition is a living memory supported and fertilized by our sincere Prayers raised to the Holy Saints of God and our memory of St Nicholas is so alive that we turn to him every day and most of our Prayers are answered. He appears to us through his presence and his Miraculous Myrrh-streaming Holy Relics. The Holy Myrrh is collected annually and pilgrims visiting Bari anoint themselves with it. His Festal Apolytikion describes the Life of St Nicholas as a Rule of Faith and Model of Meekness, which are Christian Virtues that the fallen world lacks and so fails to understand. Competition, self-indulgence and greed rule the world yet if everyone struggled to show consideration and kindness to each other it might become a justifiable, comprehensible, and perhaps even beneficial world. Greed instigates conflict and a desire to weaken and defeat others so there is no hope of Meekness, which is the manifestation of Inner Humility, expressed externally through a total lack of irritability, anger, or spite. We can control our actions and emotions through an act of will but this is not Meekness derived from an inner condition of spirit. It is not the external manifestation of an inner condition of our Humility. In Humility God is central to our being and thus we discover our own best qualities, establish good relationships and never cause harm to others. St Nicholas is our Model of meekness because he was a Rule of Faith, so if our life is based on Faith, then our Inner Humility and Meekness become a natural manifestation of this Faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us such clear Commandments whereby we must live and preserve the Orthodox Faith - not subjecting it to distortion, nor introducing any commentaries or corrections arising from human ingenuity into it! We must preserve the Perfection and Purity of His happy, peaceful, and quiet life, whereby our endeavours do not conflict with others. St Nicholas lived by this Faith. However, there have always existed those who try to change, destroy, or introduce sinful human ideas into this Pure and Holy Faith, which is the Divine Revelation and Teaching of God Himself! The history of the Church is a constant Struggle for the Purity of Faith, and St Nicholas was an active Protector of the Orthodox Faith. In 325, at Nicaea, at the First Ecumenical Council, he fought against the heresy of Arius, who tried to introduce human philosophical sophistry into the Orthodox Christian Faith, which would have destroyed the very foundation of our Faith. Consequently, St Nicholas became an example of how to preserve the Divine Truth so that it serves as the foundation and norm of our daily Life in Christ. Perceiving our Faith with the modern mind and through the prism of modern knowledge, we must not destroy it by introducing sinful human sophistry
[LITERALISM].

St Nicholas taught us all this, as do all our Holy Church Fathers. This is indeed relevant to us today, for so many people are incapable of seeing the Foundation of their Life the norm of their being - in the Pure Faith, which is the most marvellous Source of Divine Wisdom. Therefore the Church, including its Clergy, bears an enormous responsibility to help each succeeding generation accept this Model of Faith and make it the Foundation of their Life. We must remain faithful to that Source of Divine Wisdom and communicate the meaning of the Faith in clear, comprehensible, and convincing words, so that it is not be perceived simply as a legacy of the past but as the Holy Foundation of Life in Christ. We pray to St Nicholas that he Enlightens us and helps us to build a life of Meekness, Spiritual Strength, and Humility on the Immutable Rock of the Rule of Faith. Amen.
HOW TO FORM OUR LIVES ON THE BASIS OF FAITH: ON ST. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER PATRIARCH KIRILL OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA DELIVERED ON 19 DECEMBER 2009, IN THE IVERON CATHEDRAL OF THE FORMER NIKOLO-PERERVINSKY MONASTERY IN MOSCOW. [TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN] http://www.pravmir.com/st-nicholas-the-wonderworker-or-how-to-formour-lives-on-the-basis-of-fai

10.

ST NICHO

LAS THE

WO

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6 D

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2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Gl ory, Hono ur a nd Wo rsh ip to t he Fat he r, and to t he Son, a nd to th e Holy Spi rit, n ow an d for ever, and u nto t he Ages o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing a lso ou r M ost Holy, Mos t P ure, Mo st Ble ss ed an d Gl oriou s L ady, Mari a, T heo tok os, y et Ever Vi rgi n, tog eth er w it h a ll the Sa int s. A nd let us co mmit ou rs elv es and one a noth er and ou r wh ol e Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

24th Sunday After Pentecost 8 December 2013 Tone (7) Varys/Plagal Forefeast of the Conception of Ever Blessed Virgin Mary 10th Sunday of St L uke T he Bowed Woman
Also the Feast of St Patapios of Thebes St Cyril of Chelma Hill & Enlightener of the Chudian People St Cephas, St Apollos, St Tychikos, St Epaphroditos, St Caesar, St Onesiphoros of the 70 Apostles of Christ 62 Hieromartyrs & 300 Holy Martyrs of Africa St Anthusa of Rome

RESURRECTIO

APO

LYTIKION

TO

NE

(7) V

ARYS

/GR

AVE

Katelisas

to Stavro Sou ton Thanaton. Ineoxas to listi ton Paradison. Ton Myroforon ton thrinon metevales ke tis sis Apostolis kirittin epetaxas, oti Anestis, Hriste O Theos, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos.

By

Thy Cross Thou destroyed Death; Thou opened Paradise to the Thief; Thou changed the funeral lament of the Myrrh-Bearers, and Commanded them to announce to Thine Apostles that Thou had Risen from the dead, O Christ our God, Who bestows on the world Great Mercy!

FEST

AL

KO

NTAKION

EVER BLESS

ED

THEOTO

KOS

Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.

Resurrection Gospel 2: M ark 16:1 - 8

THE HOLY M YRRHBEARERS WITN ESS THE EMPTY TO MB O F O UR RISEN LORD JES US CHRIST

Prokeimenon Psalm 28 - Tone 7 The Lord will grant Strength to His People. Bring unto the Lord, ye sons of God; bring unto the Lord Glory and Honour! The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 2 : 14 22
CHRIST
IS THE

ME

ANS OF OUR

NITY

Brethren: Christ is our Peace, Who has made both one, and Who has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His Flesh the enmity that is: the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances, so as to create in Himself One New Man from the two, thus making Peace and that He might Reconcile them both to God in One Body through the Cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached Peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near, for through Him we both have access by One Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigner, but fellow Citizens with the Saints and Members of the Household of God, having been built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being fitted together, grows into a Holy Temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are being built together for a Dwelling Place of God in the Spirit. MANKINDS BROKENNESS WAS TWOFOLD: NOW THAT THIS WALL IS BROKEN DOWN BY CHRIST, BOTH G ENTILES AND HEBREWS ARE R ECONCILED AND U NITED AS ONE FAITH IN OUR People were separated from each other i.e. GENTILE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WAS SEPARATED FROM HEBREW and mankind was SEPARATED FROM G OD. THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST, which is humanity Unified and THE DIVINE HEALING IS LIKEWISE TWOFOLD: Renewed through our Union with the Incarnate Son of The Creation of a Unified humanity THE HOLY CHURCH OF God, IS BUILT ON A F OUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST AS WELL AS HIS CHRIST HOLY APOSTLES AND HOLY PROPHETS. FROM THIS FOUNDATION COME HOLY SCRIPTURE AND ALL TRUE and THE RAISING OF THIS UNIFIED HUMANITY TO G OD. THE INCARNATION of the Eternal Son of God ACCOMPLISHED THE DOCTRINE (TEACHING). THE DIVINE GIFTS OF G OD ARE A CONTINUING REALITY in the Holy CREATION OF U NIFIED HUMANITY, while HIS DEATH AND Church of Christ AND THE SPIRITUAL BUILDING IS THE ONE, RESURRECTION ACCOMPLISHED THE RAISING OF U NIFIED HUMANITY HOLY, CATHOLIC (UNIVERSAL) O RTHODOX CHURCH, which is TO GOD. intended FOR OUR HOLY UNIFICATION WITH GOD AND ONE THE DIVINE TRINITY ALWAYS ACT TOGETHER IN PERFECT U NISON: THE ANOTHER. WILL OF GOD THE FATHER THROUGH GOD THE WORD & ETERNAL S ON BY THE ENERGY AND A CTION OF G OD THE HOLY Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica SPIRIT. Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. The middle wall of separation refers to the barrier in the If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, Temple that separated the Courtyard of the Gentiles then that is what our life is like. If our attention is from the Courtyard of the Hebrews, which manifested turned to the circumstances in which we live, we THE LIMITATIONS OF THE OLD COVENANT that DID NOT HEAL are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can HUMANITYS SELF- ALIENATION BUT ACTUALLY INCREASED HUMAN have neither peace nor tranquillity HOSTILITY.

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The Holy Gospel A ccording to St L uke 13 : 10 - 17 A BOWED WOMAN IS HEALED ON THE SABBATH
At that time, our Lord Jesus was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold: there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her: Woman, you are loosened from your infirmity. And He laid His Hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and Glorified God. But the Ruler of the Synagogue responded with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd: There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be Healed on them, and not on the Sabbath Day! The Lord then answered him and said: Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loosen his x or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound think of it: for eighteen years be loosened from this bond on the Sabbath? And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the Glorious Things that were done by Him. As the Greek expression is literally ... ten and eight ACCORDING TO CERTAIN TRADITIONS THAT THE S CRIBES AND years... both St Ambrose and St Theophylact PHARISEES HAD BUILT UP AROUND THE MOSAIC LAW, HEALING WAS CONSIDERED WORK, AND THUS WAS NOT PERMISSIBLE ON THE believed that ten symbolises THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD and eight symbolises DIVINE GRACE, for THE SABBATH. They believed that they served God by zealously keeping DAY OF RESURRECTION IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE EIGHTH these peripheral traditions but SUCH LEGALISM ACTUALLY DAY. MADE THEM INSENSITIVE TO G ODS G REAT M ERCY AND INFINITE Thus HUMANITY IS LIFTED UP BY FAITH IN CHRIST Who has fulfilled GRACE. both the Law of the Old Covenant and Divine Grace. Our Holy Church Fathers see our Lords words ... think of it...! as A COMMANDMENT THAT DIRECTS US TO A SPIRITUAL MEANING FOR THE ... EIGHTEEN YEARS...

The Bowed Woman Healed on the Sabbath

woman, who for eighteen years could not straighten herself, was Healed by the Divine Power of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This account, related by St Luke in his Holy Gospel, reminds us of the Miraculous Healing that takes place with every person who encounters Christ. The circumstances of many people are so difficult and unhappy that over the years, they gradually buckle under the weight of their responsibilities. This is the burden of earthly cares, experiences, and insoluble problems that is the heavy cross that has been placed upon our shoulders. Our heavy burdens that weigh us down may be caused by sickness or various trials that have befallen us or due to our unrepented sins or unresolved problems with which we lack the strength to cope. We bend under the weight of all these problems and we may begin to feel that there is no resolution or hope. Some of us may break down into utter despair or some may cling all the tighter to God in the hope and expectation of eventual Divine Deliverance. Until she was Healed by Christ, the Bowed Woman saw only the patch of ground under her feet. In just the same way, we often do not see that which is above us, or even that which is on the same level with us - only seeing that which is under our feet. Immersed in earthly affairs and worries, we forget that there exists something infinitely greater and more beautiful - the whole world with its expanses of land and sea; the sky with its luminaries and stars; and, finally, the Heavenly Kingdom, to which we are all called, for an Abode has been prepared therein for each one of us. BY ATTENDING CHURCH, WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND TO EXPERIENCE THIS HIGHER, OTHER REALITY IN OUR OWN LIVING EXPERIENCE. The Holy Church of Christ helps us to Spiritually Straighten ourselves, to forget earthly concerns and to contemplate the Heavenly Kingdom - to turn away from the material world here and now, and to turn towards the Spiritual World there. By Healing the Bowed Woman, OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST demonstrated what He expects of each one of us. He EXPECTS US TO STAND BEFORE H IM AT OUR FULL HEIGHT, SO THAT WE GROW, as St Paul expressed it: ... unto the measure of the stature of the Fullness of Christ... and so that we straighten up, spread our wings, and draw in a deep breath.
(EPHESIANS 4:13)

OUR LORD WISHES US TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR LOFTY, H EAVENLY CALLING - TO BE CHILDREN OF G OD, TO BE INHABITANTS OF THE H EAVENLY CITY, OF THE J ERUSALEM ON HIGH. It often happens that people of Faith bend under the weight of their own sins. It sometimes also happens that they are bowed down to the earth under the burden of their Repentance for the sins they have committed. Their experience of remorse for what they have done does not give them the strength to correct themselves; it does not inspire them towards the Ascetic Struggle of moral self-improvement, towards the fulfilment of Gods Commandments, towards active Virtue. It only casts them down into a despondency even greater than that which they experienced before recognizing their sins. A Spiritual Error lies at the root of such repentance. OUR LORD DOES NOT WANT US TO BUCKLE UNDER THE
WEIGHT OF OUR FEELINGS OF PERSONAL UNWORTHINESS OR GUILT. WHEN WE APPROACH THE H OLY CHALICE WE CONFESS OUR FAITH SINCERELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THE LORD HAS COME ...TO SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.

If we do not have such a belief, then we cannot worthily partake of Holy Communion. If we consider even a single person to be worse than ourselves, this means that we are not yet ripe for an Encounter with Christ. But - in recognizing ourselves as sinners, and in seeing the whole Abyss of wickedness that lies within us - WE SHOULD NEVER THEREFORE SURRENDER TO DESPONDENCY AND DESPAIR. We should remember that, as St Isaac the Syrian said, NO HUMAN SIN NO MATTER HOW GRIEVOUS CAN OVERPOWER THE M ERCY OF G OD. All our sins taken together, in the words of St Isaac, ... are like a handful of sand thrown into the ocean of Gods Mercy, where it dissolves and disappears without a trace! The Holy Church grants us the opportunity to focus not on ourselves, but on God; to reorient our attention - away from ourselves and our own circumstances - towards the Heavenly Kingdom of Love. Regardless of all of our innumerable sins and of our inability to rise to the level at which Christians should live and regardless of the fact that we are unable to fulfil Christs Commandments, which, so it seems to us, exceed human strength WE
STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUAL

12.

24TH SUND

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SPIRITUAL RENEWAL here, in the Holy Church of Christ, THROUGH THE H OLY M YSTERY OF COMMUNION OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, THROUGH PRAYER, AND THROUGH THE DIVINE SERVICES AND ALL THE H OLY MYSTERIES. The Holy Church grants us a Renewed Strength that enables us to grow spiritually, to advance from strength to Strength, to straighten ourselves more and more, becoming ever less mindful of the earth and turning all the more to Heaven. THE CLOSER WE COME TO G OD, THE MORE WE PERCEIVE OUR OWN SINFULNESS - YET THE PERCEPTION OF G ODS PRESENCE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASES IN US AND COMPELS US TOWARDS CONSTANT REPENTANCE AND SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE.
A FE
AST OF

Consequently REPENTANCE BECOMES A J OY - like recovery after a long illness, like straightening up after many years of being deformed and crooked. Let us walk together with Christ and with one another on the Straight Path - not halting for a day, an hour, or a minute! Let us ascend to the Habitations of the Heavenly Kingdom, where a place awaits each one of us - if only we will prove ourselves worthy of God!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: STRAIGHTENING OURSELVES TO OUR FULL HEIGHT BY METROPOLITAN HILARION (ALFEYEV) 8 DECEMBER 2001- RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN)

HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/STRAIGHTENING-OURSELVES-TO-OUR-FULLHEIGHT/2012

The Holy Icon of the Nativity of our L ord & Saviour, J esus C hrist
LI
GHT

THE

AY OF

RECR

EATION OF THE WORLD

Originally celebrated together with Theophany on 6 January, the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was established by the early Christian Church in 354 on 25 December. According to St Gregory of Nazianzos, ... THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY IS THE RE-CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE RESTORATION OF HUMAN NATURE FALLEN IN SIN. THE I CONOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF THE NATIVITY HAS ITS SCRIPTURAL BASIS IN THE TESTIMONIES OF THE HOLY G OSPELS OF ST MATTHEW AND ST LUKE. On the Icon of the Nativity, the focus is placed on THREE DOGMATIC ASPECTS OF THE I NCARNATION AND N ATIVITY OF THE SON OF G OD: 1. G OD IN DESCENDING MOTION KENOSIS 2. THE M IRACLE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH (THE CREATURE GIVES BIRTH TO H ER CREATOR) 3. H UMAN DEIFICATION. The scenes are divided into three parts: THE TOP PORTION DEPICTS THE PROPHETIC AND THEOPHANIC ASPECT: To the left are the Angels praising God, in the centre is the Radius (the Star) and the mountains (the rocks) To the right the Angel proclaims the Nativity to the Shepherds on the field. THE CENTRAL PORTION DEPICTS THE MYSTERIOUS APPEARANCE: To the left are the Magi bringing gifts In the centre is the Christ Child, the Virgin, the Cave (the manger) and the ox and ass (or horse) To the right are the Shepherds. THE BOTTOM PORTION DEPICTS THE HUMAN ASPECT: To the left is St Joseph the Betrothed seated meditatively on a rock. In the centre is the evil one disguised as a shepherd (Thyrros) To the right are the Midwives, St Salome and St Zelemi, bathing the New Born Christ. Other Symbolic details: ] T HE R AY OF L IGHT DIVINE REVELATION OF THE H OLY TRINITY: The Ray descending from the single radius-circle at the top of the Icon signifies the ONE UNIQUE N ATURE OF G OD, THE LIGHT, and coming from THE STAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE ELEMENTS DESCRIBING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE THREE DIVINE PERSONS OF THE ONE G ODHEAD IN THE FELLOWSHIP OR ECONOMY OF OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. The Iconographic depiction of the Star suggests that THIS IS BEYOND MERELY A COSMIC PHENOMENON for the Star is sent by God to announce the Supernatural Birth of the Heavenly King to the Magi and also to guide them to His Birthplace. ] T HE M OUN TAI N : An austere mountain suggests an INHOSPITABLE WORLD THAT IS HOSTILE AFTER THE FALl of our first parents, Adam and Eve and their descendants. The sharp rocks, also illustrated as steps seem to be united with the sky, indicating THE DESCENT OF G OD TO MANKIND BUT ALSO THE ASCENT OF MANKIND TO G OD

both becoming possible with the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. And the whole world rejoices: Today, Heaven and earth joined together, today Christ is Born, today God descended on earth and man rose up to Heaven... (NATIVITY VESPERS) ] T HE A NGELS are represented IN THEIR DUAL WORK: DOXOLOGY AND PROCLAMATION OF THE G OOD TIDINGS. Some Angels (the group on the left) are moving towards the Source of Light while ceaselessly praising God. The Angel on the right leans towards the Shepherds, proclaiming to them the Nativity of the King of Israel. THE ANGELIC PRESENCE TESTIFIES TO THE DEITY OF THE CHRIST CHILD. ] T HE C HRIST C HILD is depicted either asleep or awake, looking towards His Mother. His swaddling cloths resemble burial cloths, His Arms are crossed over His Chest in the Sign of the Cross, and the Manger resembles a Casket signifying His later Tomb. All these representations foreshadow our Saviours Death and Descent into Hades: ... the Light shone into the Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not... for Christ Rose from the dead as God Almighty. ] T HE V IRGI N is depicted sitting beside the Christ Child, half resting on a kind of bed used by the Hebrews when they travelled, and coloured red, signifying a Royal bed and the great Honour of the Mother of God. This Iconographic depiction affirms THE TRUTH OF THE SUPERNATURAL (PAINLESS) BIRTH-GIVING OF A VIRGIN to our Saviour Jesus Christ, a Truth that also emphasises THE DEITY OF THE CHRIST CHILD. THE THREE ASTERISKS OR STARS ON THE FOREHEAD AND SHOULDERS OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS SYMBOLISES HER M YSTERIOUS PERPETUAL VIRGINITY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO CHRIST. Her facial expression is one of profound meditation in anticipation of the suffering She would endure as the Mother of Him Who was to suffer such unjust public humiliation, torture and death on the Cross for the Salvation of all mankind: ... and Mary kept all these things in Her heart. [LUKE 2:19] OUR M OST PURE LADY WAS THE HIGHEST GIFT THAT MANKIND WAS EVER ABLE TO OFFER OUR CREATOR: What shall we offer Thee, O Christ? For Thou hast appeared on earth as Man for our sake. Of all the creatures made by Thee, each offers Thee Thanksgiving. The Angels offer Thee the Hymn; the Heavens, the Star; the Magi, their gifts; the Shepherds, their wonder; the Earth, her Cave; the Wilderness, the Manger; and we offer Thee a Virgin Mother, O God, Who was before the Ages: Have Mercy on us! ] T HE C AVE THE S TABL E & THE M ANGER : The Birthplace of the Son of God was not an Inn but a cave stable for animals. The Holy Gospels do not mention the Cave, but the Iconographic depiction is grounded in Holy Tradition and Liturgical Texts.

THE UNI

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HOL

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LORD -14 SEPT

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2012

13

THE OPENING OF THE DARK CAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF SHARP ROCKS SYMBOLISES THE FALLEN COSMOS the fallen world overwhelmed by sin through the disobedience of mankind, the depths of Darkness, which only the Divine Light the Sun of Righteousness scattered by His Nativity. THE CAVE AND THE MANGER ARE PROOF OF THE PROFOUND H UMILITY OF OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST. THE OX AND THE ASS are mentioned in the Holy Gospel and their presence along with the Christ Child suggests the fulfilling of THE PROPHECY OF ST I SAIAH the Holy Prophet of God: The ox knows his Master and the ass his Lords crib, but Israel does not know Me, My People know Me not! (Isaiah 1:3) The presence of the animals symbolises THE SACRIFICIAL BULLOCK AND THE ASS UPON WHICH OUR DIVINE KING WOULD TRIUMPHANTLY ENTER J ERUSALEM before facing His Great Passion. (Some Russian Icons depict a horse instead of an ass.) The Shepherds are depicted listening to the Joyous Message of the Angels. One of them appears to add his voice to the Choir of Angels. In the middle of everyday activities THE SHEPHERDS WERE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THE G LAD TIDINGS OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, BEING PARADOXICALLY THROUGH THEIR SIMPLICITY CLOSER TO THE H EAVENLY WORLD. THE SHEPHERDS REPRESENT THE FIRST SONS OF I SRAEL (Gods Chosen People) TO WORSHIP THE CHRIST CHILD. They also symbolise THE BEGINNING OF THE HOLY CHURCH AMONG THE H EBREWS, WHILE THE MAGI REPRESENT THE CHURCH OF THE G ENTILES . THE M AGI ARE USUALLY DEPICTED RIDING HORSES OR CARRYING THEIR GIFTS of gold, incense and myrrh, foreshadowing the Holy Myrrh-bearers who would go to our Lords Tomb at Holy Pascha. G OLD IS FOR THE KING OF KINGS; I NCENSE IS FOR THE G OD OF THE UNIVERSE; M YRRH IS FOR OUR CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR: By the Myrrh, they pre-imagine Thy mortal state, by Royal Gold, Thy Majesty, and by the Incense, Thy Divine Nature. (NATIVITY
MATINS)

DIFFICULTY IN ACCEPTING THE OF G ODS DIVINE MYSTERIES.

SUPERNATURAL REALITY

In the person of St Joseph the Betrothed, the Icon reveals not only his personal drama, but THE DRAMA OF ALL MANKIND, COMPREHENDING THE MYSTERY, NOT THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH, BUT BY THE LIMITED MIND OR RATIONALITY OF HUMAN BEINGS. A storm of doubtful thoughts rolled within the prudent Joseph, for he looked upon Thee, Unwedded, and he feared a stolen union, O Blameless One. But on learning that Thy Childbearing was of the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia!
(AKATHIST HYMN OF THE ANNUNCIATION: KONTAKION 4)

THE M AGI ARE portrayed as men OF THREE DIFFERENT AGES, proving that this Divine Revelation is granted to all mankind regardless of their physical age and ACCORDING TO THEIR SPIRITUAL LEVEL AND COMPREHENSION OF THE DIVINE M YSTERIES. THE M AGI REPRESENT THE PAGAN NATIONS that were outside the Chosen People of God and although they were learned men, they went very long way to meet and Glorify the True King and God. The presence of the Magi reveals that THE H OLY CHURCH RECEIVES AND SANCTIFIES
HUMAN KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT LEADS TO THE TRUTH OF THE FAITH THE TRUE, DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF G OD. THE ELDERLY RIGHTEOUS ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED IS depicted in either the left or right corner, towards the bottom of the Icon, SEATED IN DEEP CONTEMPLATION, SEPARATED FROM THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY which is designed to highlight

THE STRANGE OLD MAN CLAD IN A FUR COAT, leaning towards St Joseph the Betrothed IS THE DECEIVER, SATAN, WHO DISGUISED HIMSELF AS A SHEPHERD, IN ORDER TO HARASS ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED BY WHISPERING TREACHEROUS SUGGESTIONS TO HIM . The scene is inspired by the Apocryphal Gospel of St James which stated that THE WICKED ONE SPOKE THROUGH THE SHEPHERD, THYRROS: As the rod (THAT IS BENT OR BROKEN, WHICH SYMBOLISES HIS FORMER POWERS) will not be able to give offspring, so an old man like you cannot conceive an infant, and a Virgin cannot bear a Child... The two Midwives, Salome and Zelemi, bathing the New Born Christ is also based on the Apocryphal Gospels of St Jacob and St Matthew, which mention the presence of the two women who were summoned by St Joseph the Betrothed to attend the Virgin Birth. [They were probably St Josephs two daughters. mp] The Infant Christ being bathed sparked some controversy and discussion based on the following reasons: The Bathing of Christ does not belong to the Canonical Gospel; the CHILD WAS TOTALLY CLEAN AND DID NOT REQUIRE WASHING and OUR LADY THEOTOKOS HAD A SUPERNATURAL BIRTH (WITHOUT ANY PAIN OR SUFFERING) SO THE PRESENCE OF M IDWIVES WAS UNNECESSARY. The arguments favouring the Bathing scene were that not having been mentioned in the Canonical Gospel was no reason to exclude it for THE ENTRY INTO THE TEMPLE OF THE VIRGIN MARY IS ALSO NOT MENTIONED IN THE N EW TESTAMENT BUT IS ACCEPTED BY THE H OLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. Furthermore, OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST, THROUGH THE CUSTOM OF BATHING, HAD VOLUNTARILY
AGREED TO FOLLOW HUMAN CUSTOMS AS HE WOULD UNDERGO CIRCUMCISION AND BAPTISM , WHICH HE DID NOT NEED. N ONE OF THE H OLY ECUMENICAL COUNCILS OPPOSED THE SCENE and during the Iconoclastic period when many

the Truth that Holy Scripture and the Holy Church teach: CHRIST IS BORN OF THE VIRGIN M ARY, AND ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED WAS NOT HIS BIOLOGICAL FATHER. ST J OSEPH WAS ABOUT 84 YEARS OF AGE WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN BY DIVINE I NSPIRATION AND THE TEMPLE PRIESTS TO BE THE HONOURABLE PROTECTOR AND G UARDIAN OF HIS NIECE, THE YOUNG VIRGIN M ARY, WHO HAD TAKEN A SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY. His halo symbolises his rightful position amongst the Righteous Ones of God. St Joseph appears to be worried or puzzled a state of turmoil caused no doubt by the Virginal Birth of our Lord Jesus. ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED ALSO SYMBOLISES EVERY MAN WHO IS WEAK IN FAITH, WHOSE MIND CANNOT EXCEED THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS G REAT REALITY, AND THE

iconographic scenes were questioned, the bathing scene did not pose a problem. Even after Iconoclasm, when the Iconographic representations became a means of expressing Dogma, no objections arose concerning this particular scene. THE BATHING OF CHRIST SUGGESTS THAT THE M OST HIGH G OD VOLUNTARILY SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO HUMAN HABITS AND CUSTOMS, THIS BEING ALSO A TRUE TESTIMONY TO THE I NCARNATION OF OUR LORD WHO WILLINGLY BECAME JUST AS ONE OF HIS PEOPLE. THE BATHING OF CHRIST FORESHADOWS THAT OF H IS BAPTISM IN THE RIVER J ORDAN at the beginning of His public Ministry thirty years later.
FOR THE COMPLETE, DETAILED ARTICLE PLEASE GO TO: HTTP://ORTHODOXWORD.WORDPRESS.COM/2010/12/

14.

24TH SUND

AY

FTER

PE

NTECOST

10TH

OF

ST LUKE TH

BOW

ED

WOM

AN

8 D

ECEMBER

2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Hon ou r an d Wo rsh ip to the Fat he r, a nd t o t he S on, a nd to t he Ho ly S pirit, now a nd foreve r, and u nto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing a lso ou r M ost Ho ly, Mo st P ure, Mo st Bl es sed an d G loriou s Lady, Maria, Th eoto kos, ye t Ever Vi rgin, t ogeth er w ith a ll t he Sa in ts. An d le t us c omm it ou rs elve s an d one anot he r and o ur wh ol e Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

9 December 2013 C onception of the E ver Blessed V irgin Theotokos

Also the Feast of St Hannah the Holy Prophetess & Mother of St Samuel, the Holy Prophet of God St Sophronios of Cyprus St Stephen the New Light of Constantinople St Anthimos, Fool for Christ of Mount Athos

FE STAL APOL YTIKIO N

OF THE

CO NC EPTIO N

OF THE

EVER BL ESS ED VIR GI N THE OTOK OS

Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte; tou Ioakim gar ke Today the bonds of barrenness are loosened;
tis Annis, i sakouson O Theos, par elpida tekin aftous, safos ipiskhnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi, O aperigraptos vrotos gegonos, di Angelou kelefsas voise afti: Here Keharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou!

for God hearing the Prayers of Joachim and Anna - clearly promised them that they would bear - against all hope - the God-Bearer from whom was born the Omnipotent Himself, as a mortal Man, Who ordered the Angel to cry out unto Her: Hail, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee!

KO

NTAKION

ATIVITY OF OUR

LORD JESU

CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spyleon to aprito prosagi, Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi, Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion Neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no one can approach, Angels with Shepherds Glorify, and Magi journey by a Star. For unto us is Born a New Child - the Pre-Eternal God.
AL
MIGHTY

The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 4 : 22 27

SL
AVERY TO

SIN & SO

NSHIP TO

GOD

Brethren: It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman. And he who was of the bond woman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman, 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 while 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 labout! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband! through age and infertility. But THE WORD OF GOD By saying that ABRAHAMS TWO SONS (ISMAEL & ISAAC) AND RELATED EVENTS ARE SYMBOLIC ALLEGOREO, ST PAUL DID FASHIONED HIM... NOT IMPLY THAT THEY ARE NOT HISTORICAL. HE WHO WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH (ST ISAAC) WAS MORE Rather he asserted that OLD C OVENANT HISTORY ANNOUNCED HONOURABLE THAN HE WHO WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH (ISHMAEL). SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN ITSELF it announced the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God, our Lord St Isaac was t h e l e g i t i m a t e c h i l d o f A b r a h a m a n d Jesus Christ, and the resultant Eternal Salvation of all Sarah , a nd th eir Holy State of M arr iag e , mankind. acc ording to t he Will a nd D iv in e P rom is e o f HAGAR AND MOUNT SINAI SYMBOLISE THE EARTHLY J ERUSALEM AND THE HEBREW NATION who were under the Divine Law of G o d , while Ishmael - although the first born son of God, which prepared them through Self-Discipline and Abraham -was the illegitimate child of Abraham and the Obedience to God for the coming of the Messiah. slave, Hagar, being born out of legal and Holy Wedlock ST SARAH, THE WIFE OF THE ANCIENT PATRIARCH, ST ABRAHAM, WAS according to the demands of the flesh and against the Will THE FREE WOMAN, WHO SYMBOLISED THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM the Eternal City of God to which we should all aspire of God in a state of sinful disobedience to the Will of i.e. His Holy Church through which we enter Gods God. Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom. Consequently, Hagar and Ishmael were banished from the THE DESOLATE REFERS TO MEMBERS OF HIS HOLY BODY HIS HOLY household and sent off to fend for themselves elsewhere. CHURCH ESPECIALLY THE NON-HEBREWS, THE GENTILES. Therefore, let it not disturb you (Baptised Christians) that SHE WHO HAS NO HUSBAND, REFERS TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL you were not born after the flesh. For from the very before, the Old Covenant Israel the Hebrews - and reason that you are not so born, are you most of all now, the New Covenant Israel THE CHRISTIANS who Abrahams kindred. ARE CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST our Lord to Gods Eternal Kingdom. During Holy Baptism Christians become t h e a d o p t e d Furthermore, ST SARAH WAS A TYPE OF - SIMILAR TO - OUR EVER c hi ld re n of D ivi n e L ight o f God and thu s BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS BECAUSE HER SON WAS ALSO BORN C o - h e i r s w i t h C h r i s t Rightful Heirs to Gods THROUGH A DIVINE PROMISE - according to the Will of God the Father. Eternal Kingdom of Love, Peace and Bliss according to As St John Chrysostom explained, S T ISAAC ... was the the Divine Promise and Will of God, b u t o n l y i f w e issue of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that perso na lly c hoo se t o ac c ept it for our se lv es. was dead. HIS CONCEPTION WAS NOT BY THE FLESH, NOR HIS
BIRTH BY THE SEED,

for the womb was dead both

ESUS

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... No one having lit a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore, take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be granted; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.

OUR LORD J

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St L uke 8 : 16 21

CA
UTIONED

US THAT W

MU

ST

TA

KE

REAT

CARE H

OW

WE HEAR!

THE CO NCEPTION

OF OUR

E VER BLESSED VIRGIN T HEOTOKOS

BY

ST A NNA & ST JOAC HIM

9 DECE MBER 2013

15

Then His Mother and Brothers went to Him, and could not approach Him due to the crowd. And they told Him: Thy Mother and Thy Brethren are standing outside, wishing to see Thee. And He answered: My Mother and My Brethren are those who hear the Word of God and fulfil It. MOST PEOPLE INCLUDING HIS MOTHERS FAMILY MEMBERS such as His HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM ... IS NOT BY (EARTHLY/WORLDLY/HUMAN) cousins, uncles and aunts - our Lords Brethren or NATURE BUT BY VIRTUE, as St John Chrysostom explained. Brothers and Sisters DID NOT YET FULLY COMPREHEND CHRISTS This incident was similar to when a woman from the midst of DIVINE IDENTITY AND U NIVERSAL MISSION. the crowd shouted praises to His Mother who had Our Lord by no means denied His family connections nor did brought Him to life and thus Blessed our world: HE He ever insult or embarrass them. CORRECTED HER NOT BY DENOUNCING OR INSULTING HIS EVER BLESSED, ALL HOLY MOTHER BUT BY EMPHASISING HER UTTER Rather, such as in this instance, H E POINTED HIS DISCIPLES AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS TO OUR ETERNAL SPIRITUAL FAMILY, WHICH IS HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD WHICH WAS OF EVEN GREATER SPIRITUAL VALUE AND WORTH THAN HER EVER VIRGIN MOTHERHOOD. BASED ON OUR HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD THE (LUKE 11: 27-28) FATHER, WHICH IS FULFILLED THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL T HE DEGREE TO WHICH WE ARE ESPECIALLY BLESSED BY GOD DEPENDS ON ENLIGHTENMENT, KNOWLEDGE AND U NDERSTANDING THAT WE THE DEGREE OF OUR HEARING THE WORD THE DIVINE TRUTH OF RECEIVE FROM CHRIST, AND WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY TO OUR GOD AND KEEPING IT APPLYING IT IN ALL ITS ASPECTS TO OUR OWN WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS, BY BEING A CTIVATED AND ENABLED PERSONAL LIFE WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS. BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. Furthermore, Christ corrected and guided them all ... to the right idea concerning Himself... that THE HOLY FAMILY OF "She who was barren bore the Theotokos, nurturer of our life." (KONTAKION ON THE BIRTH OF THE THEOTOKOS) St Anna, the Ancestor of God, is the Precious Vessel A solution had to come from Heaven, which was the chosen by the Holy Spirit - the Good and Blessed rightful reward of evil works and Eternal Death, or Tree that is the standard of natural development, Forbearance and GraceSalvation and Liberation. which our Lord Himself confirmed: Are grapes But there was no Salvation in the ancient world. Men harvested from thorns, or figs from thistles?" lived in the shadow of ancestral sin, in the Darkness (MATTHEW 7:16) of Curse, the dark threat of disintegration and Every good tree brings forth good fruit, but the bad tree Death unable to enjoy Grace and the Joy which brings forth bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear that Grace brings generously to all of us. unsound fruit, nor can an unsound tree bear St Anna, by the Grace of God, dispelled the disgrace of sound fruit and St Anna is the Good Tree and her her barrenness, and also the disgrace of the Curse lovely and Most Sweet Fruit is our Panagia - the upon those living before Christ. That is why the most beautiful fruit of human production. (MATTHEW Kontakion on the Feast of the Nativity of our 7.18). Theotokos says: Joachim and Anna were freed of What St Luke said of the parents of St John the the disgrace of childlessness, while Adam and Eve Forerunner pertains also to St Anna and St Joachim: were freed of the corruption of Death through Thy They were both Righteous before God, walking in Holy Birth. all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, My dear Brethren, the Blessing of God caused the barren Blameless. (LUKE 1.6) St Anna to bear Fruit, in order to open the Path for St Anna was Virtuous in the Sight of God, and, of the Grace of God to bear Fruit and for the Fragrant course, her Life was pure. She always walked in Flower of Salvation to blossom in the field of His accordance with the Will and the soul-nurturing Creature made of dust, which was poisoned by sin. commandments of the Almighty. That connection between the Fertility of the barren St St Anna, who bore the All-Holy Theotokos - she who Anna, and the pre-Christian world which was barren was barren and without creative power, whose of Grace is also made by the Sacred Hymnographer womb was opened in advanced age by the Lord, to in a Troparion of the Vespers Service: Today transform the disgrace of barrenness to the Joy of a barren gates are opened and a Sacred Virgin Gate unique Fertility - was a descendant of the Tribe of comes forth. Today Grace begins to bear Fruit. David. St Anna and St Joachim lived a Godly Life and strictly Her parents, the Priest, Mathan, and Anna, were Pious observed the Divine Commandments. Yet, and God-fearing and lived in Bethlehem. Mathan was unfortunately, for many years the couple remained a Priest at the time of Cleopatra and the Persian childless and accepted the shame of childlessness King Soporos, before Herod Antipater, and had with Patience and Faith, having placed their Hope in three daughters: Maria who lived in Bethlehem and God, to Whom, despite their advanced age, they bore the Midwife, St Salome; Sophia who also lived continued to pray for offspring. in Bethlehem and bore St Elizabeth; and St Anna And God heard their Prayers and sent to St Anna an who lived in Galilee and bore our Lady Theotokos. Angel who announced to her the Will of God, which This Great Honour was bestowed upon her by God as a was precisely to answer her desire for a child. She reward for her Piety and her charitable works for was then 58 years of age and Joachim was 69. orphans, widows and the destitute. Excited and joyful, St Anna shouted: The Lord my God The name Anna means Grace, and when the lives! Whether the child I bear be a girl or a boy, I Archangel Gabriel greeted the Virgin Mary at the will bring it as an Offering to my God, to serve Annunciation, he gave her the epithet Full of Him all its life! Grace: Hail, Thou who art Full of Grace: the Lord And indeed she conceived, and when our Lady is with Thee! (LUKE 1:28) Theotokos reached the age of three, Her Mother As a Daughter of Grace, the Virgin Mary had bestowed brought Herlike a three-year-old heiferto the upon her that element, which is lacking in the Old Temple of God, ...to be nourished by the Angels ... Testament: Grace. as the Sacred Hymnographer tells us. The Old Covenant represents the Age of Law and the The reversal of the barrenness of St Anna was the Fruit New Covenant represents the Era of Grace, since it is of Prayer. It was impossible for her to conceive and the Gospel of the Grace of God and all Faithful give birth at such an advanced age, yet ...what is ...are not under the Law, but under Grace. (ACTS 20:24 impossible with men is possible with God. (LUKE 18:27) & ROMANS 6:15). In this life, as well, many things seem impossible to us. That is why when our Panagia reacted to the words of When in a state of powerlessness we can only be the Archangel with modesty and simplicity, the delivered by prayer and humility before the Lord Great Archangel Gabriel hastened to explain to Her: and if it be His Divine Will, a Miracle will occur. Do not fear, Mary, for Thou hast found Grace The barren earth will bear fruit, and God will send down with God. (LUKE 1:30) the rain of His Grace, to soften our hearts so that And so this Maiden, Full of Grace, was born of a Mother the seeds of soul-saving success in Christ may take whose name means Grace, which was not granted root. to St Anna by accident, nor was it by chance that St Let us therefore invoke St Anna, who will transform our Anna bore the Theotokos, for she was elderly and worries into Joy, our indolence into barren so she could not conceive. The field of her cheerfulness, our sadness into unending female nature was barren, dry and infertile. No seed Joyfulness and Exultation. could take root and grow within it. A HOMILY PREACHED BY VERY REVEREND FATHER. CHERUBIM APOSTOLOU The field of the barren St Anna resembles the field of ELDER OF THE SKETE OF SAINT ANNA - MOUNT ATHOS -(FEAST OF ST. ANNA, the pre-Christian world that had grown old in 2005 http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/09/homily-reversal-ofsinfulness since the Law of God was not observed.
barrenness-of-saint.html

The

C onception

of

the

Ever

Blessed

T heotokos

by

St

Joachim

&

St

Anna

16. T H E C O N C E P T I O N

O F OUR

E VER BLESSED VIRGIN T HEOTOKOS

BY

ST ANNA & ST JOACHIM

9 DECEMBER 2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Gl ory, H onou r an d Wo rs hi p t o t he Fat he r, a nd to th e S on, and to th e Ho ly Spi rit, now an d f oreve r, and u nto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing a ls o ou r Mos t Holy, Mos t Pu re, Mos t Ble ss ed a nd Glo ri ou s Lady, Mari a, The otok os, ye t Ever Vi rgi n, toge the r wi th al l th e Sa int s. An d l et u s c omm it o urselv es and one anot he r an d ou r wh ol e Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

12 December 2013 St Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trimythous

Also the Feast of St John of Zichnon - St Therapon the Abbot of Monza Monastery St Alexander the Hieromartyr of Jerusalem St Synetos of Rome St John the Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia
FEST
AL

AP

OLYTIKION OF

ST SP

YRIDON

TR

YMITHOUS

TONE 1

Tis

Synodou tis protis anedihthis Ipermahos, ke Thavmatourgos Theofore, Spyridon Patir imon; dio nekra Si en tafo prosfonis, ke ofin is hrisoun metevales; ke en to melpin tas Agias Sou ehas, Angelous eskhes sillitougountas Si Ierotate. Doxa to Se Doxasanti Hristo! Doxa to Se Stefanosanti! Doxa to Energounti dia Sou, pasin Iamata!

At

the first of the Synods, Thou emerged as the Champion, and Wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Spyridon. Wherefore, Thou addressed Thy dead daughter in the grave, and a serpent Thou changed into gold. And while chanting in Service Thy Sacred Prayers, Thou had Angels celebrating, O Most Holy One. Glory to Christ Who Glorified Thee! Glory to Him Who Crowned Thee! Glory to the One Who works through Thee, Healings for everyone!

FESTA

KONT

AKION OF

ST SP

YRIDON

TONE 2

To potho

Hristou, trothis Ierotate, ton noun Pterothis, ti egli tou Pnevmatos, Praktiki Theoria, tin Praxin efres Theolipte, Thisiastirion Thion Genomenos, etoumenos pasi Thian Ellampsin.
N
ATIVITY OF OUR

Wounded

by Thy Love for Christ, O Holy One, Thy mind is granted Wings by the Radiance of the Spirit, Thou put the practice of Theory into Deeds, becoming a Sacred Altar, O Chosen by God, and praying for the Divine Illumination of all.

KO

NTAKION

LORD JESU

CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Matins Gospel: John 10 : 1 9

CHRIST IS O UR O NL Y LORD A ND SAVIOUR T HROUG H W HOM W E ENTER T HE KIN GDOM OF HEA VE N

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: Most assuredly, I say to you: he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the Door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep. To him the Doorkeeper opens, and the Sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own Sheep, he goes before them; and the Sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. J esus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again: Most assuredly, I say to you: I Am the Door of the Sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the Sheep did not hear them. I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Festal Prokeimenon Psalm 149 Tone 7 : The Saints shall rejoice in Glory. Sing to the Lord a New Song! The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 5 : 8 19
WE
MUST LIVE IN T HE

DIVI NE LI GHT

O F OUR

LORD J ESUS CHRIST

Brethren: You were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as Children of Light (for the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness, Righteousness and Truth), finding out what is acceptable to our Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of those things that are done by them in secrete. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light, for whatever reveals is Light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you Light! See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St John 10 : 9 16

OUR L ORD & S AVIOUR, J ESUS CHRIST, IS T HE GOOD SHEP HERD

Our Lord Jesus said: I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come so that they may have Life and that they may have it more abundantly. I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the Sheep. But a hireling he who is not the Shepherd, one who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the Sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the Sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the Sheep. I Am the Good Shepherd; and I know My Sheep, and Am known by My Sheep. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My Life for the Sheep. And other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My Voice; and there will be One Flock and One Shepherd.

ST SPYRIDO

N THE

WO

NDERWORKER OF

TRIMYT

HOUS

12 DECE

MBER

2013

17

St Spyridon the Wonderworking Bishop of Trimythous

St Spyridon was born in Asha, Cyprus. He was a shepherd who was renowned for his great Piety. He was married and had one daughter, Irene, and upon the death of his wife, St Spyridon and his daughter entered the Monastic Life. St Spyridon was eventually elected Bishop of Trimythous in the district of Larnaca. He participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 and was instrumental in countering the heretical arguments of Arius and his followers. St Spyridon converted a pagan Philosopher to Christianity by using a potsherd (or some say it was a clay brick) to illustrate how one single entity could be composed of three unique entities (fire, water and clay), which was a metaphor of the Christine Doctrine of the Holy Trinity: Three Divine Persons in one Divine Godhead. As soon as St Spyridon had finished speaking, the clay shard (or brick) miraculously burst into flame, water dripped on the ground and only clay dust remained in his hand. After the First Ecumenical Council, St Spyridon returned to his Diocese in Trimythous and later, although he had fallen into disfavour during the persecutions of the Christians by Emperor Maximinos, he reposed in Peace in the Lord at a ripe old age. His biography was recorded by the Hagiographer Symeon Metaphrastes and Church Historians, Sozomen and Soctrates Scholastikos. When the Arabs captured Cyprus, St Spyridons Holy Relics were to be disinterred and taken to Constantinople and when they opened the casket, St Spyridon was found to be incorrupted and holding a sprig of Basil, the Royal Herb which were taken as a Sign of Divine Confirmation of his Sanctity. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Turks, so once again St Spyridons Holy Relics were transferred this time to the island of Corfu by Kaoheretis the Corfiote Monk, where they remain to this day. Every year on Palm Sunday and on other special Feast Days, St Spyridons Holy Relics are carried in Procession for the veneration of the Faithful. All musical orchestras, including the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, participate in these ceremonial events. The right hand of St Spyridon, however, is located in Rome. Just as he did during his life, out of his great kindness St. Spyridon continues to help people who pray to him. Here is a story sent to the editors of Eskom-Vera from Olga of the town of Syktyvkara. My husband and I lived with our three children in a crowded two-room apartment. When a fourth little one appeared in the world, it became clear that six people could not live there and we had to look for a larger place. The matter could not be put off, time was running out, and we still couldnt find a suitable apartment. Then Olga began ordering Moliebens to St Spyridon in the local church, remembering that he helps with finding living space. She ordered one Molieben , but nothing changed, and then a second, with the same result. Then suddenly a friend - a very good man - out of nowhere gave Olga a small Icon of St Spyridon of Trimythous, for the children. I heard that St. Spyridon helps children, he said. It was as if the Saint wanted to send a mysterious message through this friend, as if to say: Dont be despondent - its in the works, although you dont see it yet. Soon we found an apartmentfour rooms, a large St Spyridon is the Patron Saint of Potters due to the Miracle of the potsherd or brick, and the island of Corfu where he is referred to as St Spyridon, the Keeper of the City. The people had besought St Spyridon to intercede with God during a deadly plague and they were subsequently Delivered. A deep scratch on one of the fortification stones of the old citadel Paleo Friourio is believed by the islanders to be the mark of the deadly plagues fury at being expelled, which is pointed out to visitors to this day. St Spyridon is also believed to have saved Corfu during the second great siege, which occurred in 1716 when the Turkish army and naval force, led by Sultan Achmet II, gathered in Butrinto, opposite Corfu. On 8 July, the Turkish fleet, carrying 33,000 men sailed to Corfu from Butrinto and established a beachhead in Ipsos. The same day the Venetian fleet encountered the Turkish fleet off the channel of Corfu and defeated it in the ensuing battle. On 19 July, the Turkish army reached the hills and laid siege to the city. After repeated failures and heavy fighting, the Turks were finally forced to raise the siege that had lasted 22 days. Rumours spread among the Turks that their soldiers saw St Spyridon as a Monk, threatening them with a lit torch, which increased their panic and fear. That victory over the Turks was therefore attributed not only to the leadership of Count Schulenburg who commanded the stubborn defence of Corfu against the Turks, but also to the Miraculous Intervention of St Spyridon. After the victorious outcome of the battle, Venice honoured Count Schulenburg and the Corfiotes for successfully defending the island. The great Composer, Vivaldi, was commissioned to write an opera Juditha Triumphans in celebration of the Victory. Recognising St Spyridons role in the defence of Corfu, Venice legislated the annual Litany of St Spyridon on 11 August as a Commemoration of the event. The Orthodox Church Commemorates St Spyridon on 12 December. May his memory be Eternal!
WWW.ORTHODOX-MITROPOLITAN-OF-ANTINOES-PANTELEIMON.COM/.../SERMONS

How St Spyridon Helped a Family

kitchen, and an entrance room just as large! And it was not expensive because it was on the first floor, but that also turned out to be a good thing: our four little foot-stompers could now stomp around as much as they like without disturbing the neighbours. From the apartment windows the church where Olga ordered the Moliebens to St Spyridon could be seen. And what is even more amazing is that twenty years ago this apartment was a childrens room where the children from the surrounding yards would come to pass the rainy summer days playing checkers and table tennis This is the childrens room that the kind Godpleasing, children-loving St Spyridon spotted for Olgas family. They moved right before the New Year. Theres no need to say how joyful they all were. And St Spyridon looks at them from the Icon as if to say, Never despair, but be joyful, for the Lord is near! Elena
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/50595.HTM

Grigoryan

25

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> Glory

to God for His Great Mercy!

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ST SP

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Gl ory, Hono ur a nd Wo rsh ip to t he Fat he r, and to t he Son, a nd to th e Holy Spi rit, now a n d for ever, and u nto t he Ages o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so ou r Mo st Holy, M ost Pu re, M ost Bl es sed a nd G lorio us Lady, Ma ri a, Theot oko s, ye t Ev er Virg in, toge the r w it h a ll t he S ai nts. And l et us c ommi t o urselv es an d o n e anot he r an d ou r who le L ife t o Ch ri st ou r God. Am en .

15 December 2013 Sunday After Pentecost Tone (8) Plagal 4 25 11th Sunday of St Luke The Great Banquet Sunday of the Holy F orefathers of our Lord Jesus Christ
th

The Feast of St Aaron the Righteous Priest, St Benjamin the Righteous, St Deborah the Righteous, St Ezra, St Isaac the Righteous, St Jacob the Righteous, St Judith, St Miram, St Nathan & St Nehemiah the Holy Prophets of God, St Noah the Righteous, St Rebecca the Righteous, St Sarah, St Solomon the Holy Prophet of God St Susanna St Eleftherios the Bishop of Illyria & St Evantia, his mother & St Karibos the Eparch St Paul of Latros St Stephen the Confessor of Surozha, Crimea St Tryphon of Pechenga & his Disciple, St Jonah St Eleftherios Cubicularios of Constantinople St Pardos the Hermit of Palestine St Hilarion the New Holy Martyr of Vereiya St Nektarios of Bitel, Bulgaria
RESURRECTIO
N

APO

LYTIKION

TONE (8) PLA

GAL

Ex

Ipsous katilthes O Efsplaghnos, tafin katedexo triimeron, ina imas eleftherosis ton pathon. I Zoi ke i Anastasis imon, Kyrie, > Doxa Si!
OF THE

Thou descended from on High, O Tender-hearted One;

Thou endured the three-days burial, so that Thou might free us from our passions, O our Life and Resurrection: > Glory to Thee!
2

FESTAL APOL YTIKION

A NCESTORS O F CHRIST T O

NE

En Pisti tous Propatoras edikeosas, tin ex ethnon diafton In Faith the Forefathers Thou has justified by producing
Promnistefsamenos Ekklisian. Kafhonte en Doxi i Agii, oti ek spermatos afton, iparhi karpos efkeleis, i asporos tekousa Se. Tes afton ikesies Hriste O Theos, Soson ta psihas imon.
FEST
AL

through them, the Church from the Nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed came forth Noble Fruit - the One Who gave Thee Birth without seed. Through their intercessions, O Christ our God, Save our souls!
LAGAL

AP

OLYTIKION

OF ST ELEFT

HERIOS

TONE (5) P

Ieron

podiri katakosmoumenos, ke ematon tis rithris epistazomenos, to Despoti Sou Hristo Makar anedrames, Eleftherie Sofe, kathereta tou Satan. Dio mi pafsi Presvevon iper ton Pisti Timonton, tin Makarian Sou Athlisin.
AL

Being

adorned with a Priests gown that reached the ground, and immersed in the streams of Martyrs Blood, Thou hastened to Christ Thy Lord, O Eleftherios, the Blessed and Wise One, Destroyer of Satan. Hence, do not cease Interceding for those who honour in Faith Thy Blessed Martyrdom.
TONE 3

FEST

KO

NTAKION OF THE

FOR

EFEAST OF THE

ATIVITY

Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.

Resurrection Gospel 3:

Mark 16:9 - 20

T HE R I SEN C HR I ST A PPEAR S T O H I S A POSTLES & D I SCI PLES B EFOR E H I S A SCENSI ON

Prokeimenon Psalm 115 Tone (7) Varys/Grave Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. What shall we render unto the Lord for all His Benefits toward us? The Second Epistle of St Timothy 1 : 8 18
TH
E

OWER OF

GOD

IS

ST TIMOTH

GIFT

My Child, Timothy: Do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the Power of God, Who has Saved us and called us with a Holy Calling not according to our works, but according to His own Purpose and Grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the Appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who has abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel to which I was appointed a Preacher, an Apostle, and a Teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words, which you have heard from me, in Faith and Love, which are in Christ Jesus. That Good Thing that was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellos and Hermogenes. The Lord grants Mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find Mercy from the Lord in that Day and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesos. OUR SALVATION AND CALLING ARE BASED ON GODS GRACE AND St Barnabas (5: 6-7) explained that Christ our Saviour LOVE and not on anything we have done to merit ...submitted to Suffering so that He might break the Gods Favour. (REFER EPHESIANS 2: 8-10 & TITOS 3 : 5-6) power of Death and demonstrate the Resurrection

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from the dead thus it was necessary for Him to be manifested in the Flesh. Furthermore, our Lord ...submitted so that He might fulfil the Divine Promise to the Holy Fathers and, while He was preparing the New People for Himself and while He was still alive on earth, to prove that after He has brought about the Resurrection, He will Judge. St Pauls expression ... the pattern of sound words... refers to the oral or verbal Apostolic Tradition ... which you have heard... which holds the same

weight or significance as the written Apostolic Tradition. (REFER TO 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 & 2 THESSALONIANS 2: 5) Whether oral or written, Holy Tradition is rooted in Christ Jesus and kept or preserved ... by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. The reference to St Onesiphoros might have meant that he had reposed, for the Holy Church of Christ has never hesitated to pray for Her departed so that they may find Divine Mercy on the Day of the Lord. The first Lord referred to God the Son, while the second Lord referred to God the Father.
ES

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St L uke 14 : 16 24 & St M atthew 22 : 14

GODS GREAT BA
NQUET

&

OUR

EXCUS

THAT EXILE & ALIE

NATE

OURSE

LVES

At that time, our Lord Jesus said to a Ruler of the Pharisees: A certain Man gave a Great Supper, and invited many, and sent His Servant at supper time to say to those who had been invited: Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one accord began to make excuses! The first said to Him: I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go to inspect it. I ask Thee to have me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask Thee to have me excused. Still another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot attend. So that Servant returned and reported these things to His Master. Then the Master of the House, being angry, said to His Servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. And the Servant said: Master, it is done as Thou commanded, and still there is room. And the Master said to His Servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that My House may be filled. For I say to Thee: none of those who were invited shall taste My Supper!... ... for many are Called but few are Chosen! This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ consists of TWO ASPECTS, ] Alas! EACH OF US HAS ONLY A SPECIFIC MEASURE OF LIFESPAN IN ILLUSTRATING BOTH THE FIRST AND S ECOND COMING OF CHRIST, WHICH TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ETERNITY . ] IF WE DO NOT BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS FOR HIS ETERNAL Who is the Servant sent by God the Father TO GATHER MANY TO PARTAKE OF HIS HOLY EUCHARIST, WHICH GRANTS US KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY N O W - WE CANNOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE HIS G REAT MERCY AND ABUNDANT SALVATION THROUGH THE REPENTANCE AND THE FORGIVENESS OR REMISSION OF SIN AND THUS ETERNAL LIFE. BLESSINGS FOREVER! ST AMROSE SAW THE THREE EXCUSES THAT REJECTED GODS DIVINE The term Supper indicates an evening meal OUR ESSENTIAL NOURISHMENT BEFORE RESTING OR SLEEPING. INVITATION AS REPRESENTING THE GENTILE, THE PAGAN, THE OLD COVENANT HEBREW AND THE HERETIC. In other words: WE ALL NEED TO PARTAKE OF HOLY COMMUNION/EUCHARIST AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE ARE These are all DEVOTED TO THEIR EARTHLY WEALTH the ...piece of ground... PROPERLY SPIRITUALLY NOURISHED AND PREPARED FOR ETERNAL LIFE IN GODS DIVINE KINGDOM before we repose in Peace in The five yoke of oxen represent A PREFERENCE AND Christ and while we await His Final Judgement. ENSLAVEMENT TO MANS INTERPRETATION OF THE FIVE OLD THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO WERE INVITED by Almighty God to partake of COVENANT B OOKS OF LAW IN ORDER TO REJECT G ODS NEW COVENANT OF SALVATION. the Great Mercy of His Divine Eucharist WERE THE HEBREWS. AFTERWARDS HIS DIVINE INVITATION WAS OFFERED TO EVERYONE ELSE TO The excuse of having married a wife, is the HERETICAL ESPOUSAL OF ERROR BY THOSE WHO REJECT THE WILL AND LOVE ALL HUMAN BEINGS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THROUGHOUT THE OF GOD IN FAVOUR OF THEIR OWN EARTHLY, SELFISH DESIRES. AGES. ST THEOPHYLACT MORE GENERALLY ASSOCIATED THE EXCUSES WITH THOSE Now AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST EAGERLY PARTAKE OF HOLY COMMUNION EVERY TIME WE ATTEND THE DIVINE LITURGY WITHOUT WHO ARE DEVOTED TO ALL EARTHLY MATTERS ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO OUR FIVE SENSES TO ALL FLESHLY PLEASURES I.E MAKING EXCUSES to reject Gods Divine Banquet of PHYSICAL INDULGENCE. Thanksgiving, Salvation and Eternal Life. Our Holy Church Fathers regard THE THREE EXCUSES that Christ The reference to those in the streets and lanes indicate the GENTILES AND PAGANS WHO ACCEPTED CHRIST AFTER THE FAITHLESS mentioned as NOT ONLY HAVING A LITERAL MEANING BUT ALSO A HEBREWS REJECTED HIM, AND THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTLY OUTSIDE PROFOUND SPIRITUAL M EANING! THE CHURCH WHO OFTEN REPLACE THOSE FROM WITHIN HIS HOLY Far too many of us are so attached to and obsessed with our CHURCH WHO HAVE REJECTED THEIR HOLY BAPTISM AND VOWS OF worldly cares and favourite past times that WE HAVE NO TIME ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST. NOR INCLINATION TO ACCEPT GODS DIVINE INVITATION for our Salvation and Eternal Life in His Heavenly Kingdom. ] GOD HAS C ALLED ALL MANKIND TO HIS HOLY SERVICE BUT VERY FEW FAR TOO MANY OF US USE EVERY SELF-JUSTIFYING EXCUSE TO REJECT HIS RESPOND SINCERELY AND FAITHFULLY, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE USE GREAT AND WONDERFUL INVITATION TO HIS HEAVENLY BANQUET AT ALL THE EXCUSES THAT SATAN CAN INVENT, TO AVOID AND EACH DIVINE LITURGY! ALIENATE THEMSELVES FROM GOD. Too many of us think that we can ignore God and all our Sacred Commitments to Him until a later stage of life when it might suit us better! > In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: two weeks before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, our Holy Orthodox Church reminds us that the Great Feast is approaching and She prepares us to greet it worthily. On this first preparatory week before the Feast, we commemorate all the Saints who lived before the Nativity of Christ the Old Covenant Prophets and all the Pious people who with profound Faith awaited the Coming of our Saviour, which is why this week is called The Week of the Forefathers . By this Commemoration, our Holy Church takes us mentally to the Old Covenant times to the times that led up to the Appearance of the GodPromised Redeemer, and, in order to encourage

Sunday of the Holy F orefathers & Those who are Called to the Great Banquet

us to morally Purify ourselves, She sets before us a whole host of Great Forefathers who shone so brightly due to their God-pleasing Life. All the Holy Forefathers lived by Hope in the Redeemer Who would come and they continually expressed their Faith in Him. But while a small number of Pious people awaited the Coming of Christ our Saviour on earth and accepted Him as our Lord, a large portion of the Chosen People of God the Old Covenant Israel did not accept Christ as our Saviour and they rejected Gods Voice and Care for their Salvation, thereby depriving themselves of Eternal Blessed Life, of which we read today in the New Covenant Holy Gospels. The Holy Evangelist, St Luke, related how our Lord Jesus Christ reclined at a Feast given by one of

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the leaders of the Pharisees, and how one of the others who sat there commented: Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God! (LUKE
14:15)

Our Lord then replied by narrating to him and to all those present at that meal the Parable of the Great Banquet, which we heard today. According to our Holy Church Fathers, the Good Master of the House Who invites everyone to His Great Banquet is God our Heavenly Father Who continually Calls us invites us all to His Great Supper in the Kingdom of Heaven, which is prepared for us since the Creation of the world and inherited through our acceptance of Faith in our Divine Redeemer, Christ our Saviour, and which will be revealed towards the end of this world. The Servant Who delivers the Divine Invitation is His Eternal, Only Begotten Son Who willingly accepted the form of a servant for the sake of the Salvation of all humanity and Who Calls us: Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I will grant you rest. (MATTHEW
11:28)

This Parable of our Lord relates very closely to the Hebrew contemporaries of our Lord Jesus Christ, who over the course of so many centuries had been prepared by the Action of Divine Providence to receive our Saviour and enter Christs Holy Church, and who due to their stubborn unbelief, their obsession with mundane cares and sinful pleasures, refused the Divine Invitation to the Wedding Banquet of the Son of God and did not enter the Bosom of His Holy Church. The Bridegroom Himself Christ our Lord (Whose Bride is the Holy Church) and His Friends, the Holy Apostles and Prophets, had Called them to the Path of Repentance and Salvation in Christ Jesus. After those who had been Called were shown to be unworthy of the Great Wedding Banquet, Gods Servant then invited, at His Fathers behest, all the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame, which are those who have natural faults but who respond with great eagerness to the Divine Invitation to follow our Lord and to acquire the Heavenly Kingdom, as St Paul said: ... for you see your Calling, Brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many might, not many noble, are Called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things that are despised has God chosen. Yea, and thing that are not, to bring to nought things that are, so that no flesh should glory in His Presence. (1
CORINTHIANS 1: 26 29)

We can understand the poor and wretched people as being those who are imperfect in the moral and spiritual sense; people who are sunk in error and vice, not gifted by nature with Virtues, and who nevertheless responded to their Lords Call to Repentance, and who will enter first into the Kingdom of God. Although this Parable is very closely related to our Lord Jesus Christs contemporaries, it is also closely related to every one of us. If we only listen to the voice of our conscience, each of us will find an image of our own Relationship with Christs Holy Church and to our own Eternal Salvation. From this Parable we see that the first to be invited to the Great Supper are those who are involved in lawful labours and who enjoy innocent familial joys which are not an insult to Gods Goodness, because the Lord Himself gave the Commandment to labour and to have a wife. However, the fate of these people, although involved with lawful labour and innocent pleasures, ended

rather regrettably for by refusing to partake of the Eternal Royal Feast they would finally perish. Those who refused to accept the Divine Invitation to the Great Banquet were not condemned for their honest labour nor for enjoying family life, but because amidst their mundane care and worries, they were haughty and arrogant about their honoured positions. They were passionately attached to their labours, their trades and their joys to such an extent that they forgot or simply ignored their Sacred Duty of Obedience to and Worship of our Lord God by disdaining His Divine Invitation to His Great Life-giving Banquet! Dear Brethren: there are such people among us who possess obvious good qualities, merits and Virtues, but who spend their time in various labours and occupations, entertaining themselves with pleasures and joys but in their preoccupation with these insignificant matters, they completely forget about God and our obligations to Him. Proudly trusting in their self-righteousness, they consider themselves to have no need of Gods Great Mercy, Gifts or Grace and they resolutely refuse to struggle with Self-denial and Obedience to God. Furthermore, they remain Spiritually Blind and Deaf to every Call to Repentance and Salvation! Attachment to earthly things, to delights, riches and the pleasures of this age - as well as attachment to specific people all deafen us to the Call to the Kingdom of God; and like those who were Called invited by God such people will expect to be excused! Those who have been Called but who refuse to attend will not taste our Lords Great Banquet. They will not delight in the Eternal Blessedness that they have so casually renounced! During their earthly life they will not obtain anything for Eternal Life in the Habitations of our Heavenly Father. For the Divine Gifts of God the Holy Spirit: ... Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance... are essential for opening the Heavenly Gates to us and leading us into the Heavenly Chambers. These wonderful Divine Gifts are unknown and inaccessible to those who live according to the dictates of their flesh those who live only for earthly pleasures those who live without a thought of Heaven or of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and His Divine Commandments. Consequently, without having obvious heavy sins nor evil deeds that might trouble the soul, the lover of the world and its pleasures surrender and thus enslave themselves to their worldly cares and joys. They forget about God and finally are given over to Eternal Spiritual Death: ... for he who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption! (GALATIANS
6:8)

The second group of people who were Called from the roads and byways are those who are less gifted and capable but who turn out to be far more responsive so that Gods Calling is crowned with success sooner than for those who are selfrighteous and self-indulgent. The poor in spirit are aware of their nothingness, their moral paucity and inability to gain their own Salvation through their own weak efforts. These people hunger and thirst after Righteousness and they fervently respond to the Calling of God to His Kingdom to a Life in Christ and from among them come the best guests at the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. All great people who render benefit to the Holy Church through their Labours all great Priests and Teachers, the Holy Martyrs who by their

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death sealed their unconquerable Love for Christ, the Holy Ascetics, and all the Saints of God came from among those who were Called the poor in spirit, the humble of heart and mind; and they now triumph at the Great Banquet of the Meek Lamb. Entering the Hosts of Gods Chosen are many people who are poorly endowed with mental and moral gifts the lame, the blind, and many who abused and wasted their God-given Gifts on wicked and shameful deeds, but who then Repented with all their heart. These Repentant souls then healed their sinful wounds and put on the bright, beautiful Wedding Garments. We are convinced of this by the many Saints who, after such wicked, sinful lifestyles became Pure and Righteous in the Sight of God such as St Mary of Egypt and St Moses the Black. Brethren: we are also Called to the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us therefore be attentive to Gods Voice remembering that there is an end to our earthly existence, that the time will come when Gods In December 2004 a Moslem Saudi Arabian man related the following incredible Miracle he had experienced and which changed his life (this story appeared throughout Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine, and all neighbouring countries. Some years ago, this man married a Moslem woman who was very rich, but sterile. As the years passed, and despite all their efforts they remained childless. The man's parents suggested to him that he marry a second woman, while upholding his initial marriage (as the local laws permit up to four concurrent marriages). Being exhausted, worried, and downhearted, he did not accept his parents' advice but rather chose to vacation with his wife in Syria, where they hired a limousine with a driver who would serve as tour guide for all their site-seeing excursions throughout Syria. The driver soon noticed that the couple seemed to be very sad so he cautiously asked them why they appeared to be so unhappy--was it perhaps because he was not conducting the tour to their satisfaction? The couple confided that the source of their unhappiness was their inability to have children. The Moslem driver then told them that in Syria the Orthodox Christians, have a Monastery named Panagia Saidnaya (Our Lady) where many childless couples pray before Her Miracle-Working Icon and are given a small piece of the wick from the vigil lamp that hangs there, which they must eat, whereupon the Mary of the Christians according to their Faith, grants them their wish. Encouraged by his words, the Saudi Arabian asked the driver to take them immediately to the "Saidnaya" Monastery of "The Lady of the Christians" promising the driver that if they indeed had a child, then the husband would return and give him 20,000 U.S. dollars, and the monastery 80,000. So they went to the Monastery and did as they were instructed, and soon after returning home, his wife became pregnant and in due time gave birth to a charming baby boy - truly a miracle of Our Lady Theotokos! The Saudi Arabian man returned to Syria to uphold the promises he had made, so he called the same driver and asked to be picked up at the Damascus airport. But the driver was cunning and wicked and he persuaded two of his friends to go to the airport with him to pick up the rich Saudi Arabian man, to take his money and kill him. So they fetched the man at the airport and he, not realizing that they had planned to kill him, told the friends of the driver that he would also give them 10,000 US dollars each. However, the driver deviated from the route to the

Great Mercy, which now Calls us to Repentance and correction, will give place to Gods Righteous Judgement and Wrath: Behold! Now is the accepted time! Behold! Now is the Day of Salvation! (2 CORINTHIANS 6 : 2) Let us Cleanse ourselves by Repentance and be corrected, in order to greet the Feast of the Nativity of Christ with a pure conscience and Spiritual Joy; and from a fullness of Joy and feeling, let us chant to the Divine Child born in Bethlehem: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, Peace, Good Will towards men! (LUKE 2:14) Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON ON THE 28TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS. ON THOSE WHO WERE CALLED TO THE WEDDING FEAST. BY ARCHIMANDRITE KIRILL (PAVLOV) RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 23 DECEMBER 2006 HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/50588.HTM

PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE SUFFERING PERSECUTION AND DEVASTATING WARFARE, ESPECIALLY OUR CHRISTIAN BRETHREN.

Miracles of our E ver Blessed L ady Theotokos in Syria:

Monastery and went to a deserted place, where they proceeded to slay the Saudi Arabian by cutting off his head and dismembering other parts (hands and legs) of his body. They put the body parts in the trunk of the car and after taking his money, watch, and anything of value that he had, they looked for a deserted place to discard the remains. On the National highway, their car broke down and stopped in the middle of the road, so the three men got out to determine why the engine had stalled. A passerby stopped to help them but they pretended not to need any help. But as the motorist was leaving, he noticed blood dripping from the rear of the vehicle and he called the police to investigate, because the scene and the three men looked suspicious. The police arrived, and saw the blood under the car and on the pavement, so they ordered the trunk to be opened. As the trunk opened, the Saudi Arabian man lifted himself out - obviously and amazingly alive and in good health, exclaiming: "Just now this Panagia finished stitching my neck, right here... and he showed them the area of his Adam's Apple, ...after first stitching together the rest of my body!" Seeing this unbelievable sight, the three criminals immediately lost their minds, and after being handcuffed, they were taken to an asylum for the insane, all the while ranting and raving that it was impossible that the man whom they beheaded and dissected could still be alive! The Saudi Arabian underwent a thorough examination by medical doctors who confirmed that the stitching was very recent, thereby validating the Miraculous Event. The stitches were, and still are, very obvious. He has continuously confessed that the Panagia had rejoined his body and resurrected him with the Help of Her Son. Immediately after this, the Saudi Arabian called his relatives to Syria and they all went together to the Monastery of Panagia Saidnaya to offer Prayers, Praises, and Glorification, and they donated $800,000US to the All Holy Lady Theotokos. As he relates this overwhelming Miracle that stunned the entire Middle East, he says: "When I was a Moslem..." thus indicating he and his family are no longer Moslems. Let us never neglect to pray to our Lady Theotokos for Her Protection against all evil, witnessing to others who do not revere or pray to Gods Most Holy And Ever Pure Mother, that She is indeed our Protectress in times of need.
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/64087.HTM

22.

25TH SUND AY AFTER PENTECOST 11TH

OF

ST LUKE SUNDAY

OF THE

HOLY FOREFATHERS 15 D ECEMBER 2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All G lory, Hon ou r and W orshi p to th e Fat he r, and t o the S on, an d to th e Holy Spi rit, n ow an d fo reve r, an d unt o th e Age s of ag es. Am en. Remem ber ing al so o ur Mos t Holy, M ost Pu re, Mo st B le sse d a nd G loriou s Lady, Ma ri a, The otok os, ye t Eve r Virg in, toge th er wi th a ll t he S ain ts. A nd l et us c omm it o ur se lves an d on e an oth er an d ou r wh ole Li fe t o Ch ri st our God. Amen .

17 December 2013 St Daniel the Holy Prophet of God & the Three Holy Youths: St Anananias, St Azarios & St M isael
Also the Feast of St Daniel the Confessor of Spain and Egypt St Dionysios of Zakynthos & Aegina St Avakum, Deacon of Serbia St Paisios, New Martyr of Annunciation Monastery, Trnava, Serbia
FEST
AL

AP

OLYTIKION OF

ST DA

NIEL

TO

NE

Megala

ta tis Pisteos katorthomata! En ti pigi tis flogos, os epi idatos anapafseos, i Agii Tris, Pedes igallonto, ke O Profitis Daniil, leonton pimin, os provaton ediknito. Tes afton ikesies Hriste O Theos, soson tas psihas imon!

Great

are the accomplishments of Faith. In the fountain of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters. And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a Shepherd to the lions, as though they were sheep. Through their Prayers O Christ our God, Save our souls.
Tone 3

FEST

AL

KO

NTAKION OF

ST D

ANIEL

&

THE THR EE

HOL

Y YOUTHS

Katharthisa

Pnevmati, i kathara Sou kardia, Profitias gegone, fainotatis dohion. Vlepis gar os enestota ta makran onta, leontas, apofimis de vilithis en lakko. Dia touto Se Timomen, Profita Makar, Daniil Endoxe.

Since

Thy pure and hallowed heart had been made pure by the Spirit, it became His Dwelling-place and clearest Prophecy's Vessel; for Thou beheld things far off as near and present, and when cast into the den, Thou muzzled lions; for which cause, O Blessed Prophet, Glorious Daniel, we all revere Thee in Faith.
U
NTIL

FEST

AL

KO

NTAKION

FORE

FEAST OF

ATIVITY

- 25 N

OVEMB ER

24 DECE

MBER

- ADVENT

Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.

Matins Gospel Luke

OUR LORDS
ADMONITION AGAI NST

11 : 47 12: 1
PRIDE
AND

HARISAIC

HYP

OCRISY

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the Prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore, the Wisdom of God also said, I will send them Prophets and Apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the blood of all the Prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. Woe to you Lawyers! For you have taken away the Key of Knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered. And as He said these things to them, the Scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to crossexamine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, so that they might accuse Him. In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His Disciples first of all: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy!

The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11 : 33 12: 2

TH
E

FAITH

OF

CERTAI

ISR

AELITES

&

THE

PERFE

CTION OF

FAITH

Brethren: ... time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah - also of David and Samuel and the Prophets who, through Faith, subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; women received their dead raised to Life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted and slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made Perfect apart from us. Therefore, we also since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who, for the Joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENT ECOST 11TH

OF

ST LUKE SUND AY

OF T HE

HOLY FOREFATHERS 15 DECEMBER 2013

23

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M ark 9 : 33 41

TH
E

WA

OF HOL

DISCIPLE

SHIP

At that time, our Lord Jesus went to Capernaum. And when He was in the house, He asked them: What was it that you disputed amongst yourselves on the road? But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed amongst themselves who would be the greatest. And Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them: If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His Arms, He said to them: Whoever receives one of these little children in My Name, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him Who sent Me. Now John answered Him, saying: Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Thy Name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us. But Jesus said: Do not forbid him, for no one who works a Miracle in My Name can soon afterwards speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My Name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his Reward.

The Holy Prophet, St Daniel & the Three Holy Youths: St Ananias, St Azarias & St Misael
All four of these great Saints were of the Royal Tribe of Judah. When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed and plundered Jerusalem, St Daniel, still a young boy, was enslaved together with the Hebrew King Jehoiachim and countless other Israelites. An account of his life, sufferings and prophecies are detailed in the Book of Daniel. Completely devoted to God, St Daniel, from his early youth received the Divine Gift of Discernment. His fame among the Hebrews in Babylon began when he denounced two lecherous unrighteous Elders Hebrew Judges and saved the chaste St Susanna from an unjust death. However, his fame among the Babylonians began from the day he deciphered and interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, for which the King made St Daniel a Prince of his court. When the King had set up a golden idol on the Plain of Dura, the Three Holy Youths refused to worship it, and for that they were cast into a fiery furnace. But an Angel of God appeared in the furnace and cooled the fire so that the Holy Youths were able to walk in the furnace unharmed while they sang hymns of praise to Almighty God: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers! (DANIEL 3:26) The King witnessed this Great Miracle and was amazed to such an extent that he allowed them to come out of the furnace whereupon he bestowed great honours upon them. In the time of King Behshazzar, while the King was eating and drinking with his guests at a banquet from the Consecrated Vessels stolen from the Temple in Jerusalem, a mysterious invisible Hand wrote three words on the wall: Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, but no one except St Daniel could interpret those words and that night King Belshazzar was killed. Twice St Daniel was thrown into the lions den because of his unwavering Faith in the One Living God and both times our Lord Saved him and kept him alive. St Daniel beheld the Lord our God on a Throne with His Heavenly Hosts. He was able to see the Holy Angels of God, discern the future of certain people and of kingdoms, and also of the entire human race. Furthermore, St Daniel prophesied the time of the Coming of the Great Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ. According to St Cyril of Alexandria, St Daniel and the Three Holy Youths lived to ripe old age in Babylon but were eventually beheaded for their Faith in God. As the executioners beheaded St Ananias, St Azarias stretched out his cloak and caught his head, after which St Misael caught St Azarias head and St Daniel caught St Misaels head. An Angel of God translated their bodies to Mount Gebal, Judea, and place them under a rock. These four God-pleasing Saints arose at the time of the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ and appeared to many before falling asleep once again. St Daniel is numbered among the four Great Holy Prophets of God St Isaiah, St Jeremiah, St Ezekiel & St Daniel having lived and prophesied 500 years before Christ. Bodily Purity s primarily attained by Fasting, and, through bodily Purity, Spiritual Purity is also attained. Abstinence from food, according to St Ephraim the Syrian, means: ... not to desire or ask for various foods, either sweet or costly; not to eat anything outside the designated time; not to succumb to the spirit of gluttony; not to excite hunger in oneself by looking at good food; and not to desire at one moment one kind of food and at another moment, another kind of food. Great is the fallacy that Fasting and Lenten foods harm the health of the body. It is a known fact that the Ascetics lived the longest and were least prone to disease. St Daniel and the Three Holy Youths in Babylon offer us an Example of this, for when the King ordered his Eunuch to feed them food from the Royal table and to give them good wine to drink, St Daniel told the Eunuch that they did not want to accept the royal food and wine but only wanted vegetables (for St Daniel avoided eating food sprinkled with the blood of the idolatrous sacrifices.) The Eunuch, fearing that the Youths would be weakened by Fasting food, related his fear to St Daniel who suggested that he taste the food so that he would realise that the Fasting Food would certainly not weaken them at all. St Daniel suggested that the Eunuch should nourish the other youths at the Royal Court with food from the Kings table but feed the four of them only on pulse for the course of ten days, and then make a comparison. The Eunuch heeded the advice of St Daniel and did what he suggested. After ten days, the faces of the Ascetics were more radiant and their bodies were stronger than those of the Babylonian youths who ate and drank from the Kings table.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A SERMON BY ST NIKOLAI VELIMIROVICH HTTP://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM/2011/12/HOLY-PROPHET-DANIEL-ANDTHREE-YOUTHS.HTML

As the daylight shines upon us, O Christ Our God, the True Light, let the luminous senses and the bright thoughts shine within us, and do not let the darkness of passions hover over us, that mindfully we may praise Thee with David saying: My eyes have awaken before the morning watch, that I might meditate on Thy sayings." Hear our voices according to Thy Great Mercy, and Deliver us, O Lord our God, through Thy Compassion. [OUR THOUGHTS DETERMINE OUR LIVES]
24.
ST DA
NIEL THE

HO

LY

PROP

HET OF

GOD &

THE

TH

REE

HO

LY

OUTHS

17 D

ECEMBER

2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All G lo ry, Honou r a nd Worsh ip to the Fat he r, an d to t he So n, an d to t he Ho ly S pirit, n ow an d fo reve r, and u nto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so o ur M ost H oly, Mo st P ure, Mos t Bl es sed and Glo rio us Lady, Maria, Th eot oko s, ye t Ever Virg in, toge the r w ith a ll th e S ai nts. And l et us co mmi t o urse lves a nd one anot he r a nd ou r w hol e Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

Forefeast of the Nativity

20 December 2013

St Ignatios the God-Bearing Wonderworker of Antioch

Also the Feast of St Ignatios the Archimandrite of Kiev Caves St Philogonios of Antioch St Daniel II of Serbia St John of Kronstadt St John the New Martyr of Thasos

FEST

AL

AP

OLYTIKION OF THE

FOREF

EAST OF THE

NATI

VITY

Etimazou

Vithleem, inikte pasin i Edem; eftrepizou Efratha, oti to Xilon tis Zois, en to Spileo exinthisen ek dis Parthenou; Paradisos ke gar, i ekinis gastir, edihthi noitos, en O to Thion fiton; ex ou faontes zisomen, ouhi de os O Adam tethnixometha. Hristos gennate, tin prin pesousan, Anastison Ikona.

Make

ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden opened up to all; and prepare, O Ephratha, because the very Tree of Life, has blossomed forth in the Cave from the Virgin; for it has come about, that Her Womb has become a Spiritual Paradise, where grew the Divine Plant; from which, if we eat, we shall Live and not die as Adam did. Christ is Born to Resurrect the Image that had fallen!

FEST

AL

AP

OLYTIKION OF

ST IGNATIOS

OF

NTIOCH

TONE 4

Ke Tropon metohos, ke Thronon diadohos, ton Apostolon As a Sharer of the Ways and a Successor to the Throne
genomenos, tin praxin efres Theopnevste, is theorias epivasin. Dia touto ton Logon tis Alithias Orthotomon, ke ti Pisti enithlisas mehris ematos; Ieromartis Ignatie: Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon. 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 by blood; O Hieromartyr Ignatios: Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be Saved!

KO

NTAKION OF

ST IGNATIOS

OF

ANTIO

CH

TONE 3

Ton

lampron agonon Sou, i fotoforos imera, prokiritti apasi, ton ek Parthenou tehthenta. Toutou gar dipson ek pothou katarifise, espefsas ipo thirion analothine: dia touto Theoforos, prosigorefthis, Ignatie Endoxe!

The

Divine and Brilliant Day of Thine illustrious Contests proclaims to all mankind Him Who was born of a Virgin; for it was for Him that Thou thirsted to delight in, and hastened to be devoured by beasts in Thy longing. Hence, O Glorious Ignatios, the Name God-bearer was rightly given to Thee!
3

KO

NTAKION OF THE

FOR

EFEAST OF THE

ATIVITY

TO

NE

Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.

Festal Prokeimenon
Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Saints. What shall we render unto the Lord for all His Benefits towards us?

The First Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy 4 : 4 8 & 16

ORTHOD
OX

DOCTRI

NE

, OR

THOD OX

SPIRITUA

LITY

Timothy my son: every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with Thanksgiving, for it is Sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer. If you instruct the Brethren in these things, you will be a good Minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of Faith and of the good Doctrine that you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives tales, and exercise yourself towards Godliness. For bodily exercise profits little, but Godliness is profitable for all things, having Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come... ...Take heed to yourself and to the Doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing so you will Save both yourself and those who hear you. A Word of God in the New Testament can also be Gods Although sexual abstinence and Fasting are important creative Will, while in the Old Testament it is a Blessing factors in Spiritual Discipline, we control our passions using Gods Divine Name. not because the material world is evil but because In addition, the Word of God can refer to the Holy Gospel we are corrupt and tend to sin. of Christ itself or a special Message from God. Sex and food are not unclean but wilful disobedience, an The Son is the ultimate reference fro every other Word of unthankful disposition and uncontrolled desires are. God. The Purpose of the Holy Church of Christ is to bring the whole world back to Almighty God. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether the Word refers to The Word Logos of God is the Eternal Son of God. Christ Himself or words concerning Him. To spread the Word of God is to spread Christ Himself the Divine Truth of God.

THE UNI

VERSAL

EXA

LTATION OF THE

HOL

CR

OSS OF

CHRIST

OUR

LORD -14 SEPT

EMB ER

2012

25

The Greek word Rema is identically translated as Word whether it refers to the Holy Gospel of Christ, a Message from God, or an Act of God. Words of Faith means speech consonant with the Gospel. Doctrine or Teaching is the content of the Holy Gospel. Thus the rich and manifold speech concerning Salvation serves our Communion with Christ, the Word of God.
TH
E

He is the Reason why these words are vital and powerful. Using words without the Word is vain. St Paul was no stranger to physical exercise and its benefits, but he preferred Spiritual Exercise, for it leads to Eternal Life.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M ark 10 : 24 32

D
ANGER OF

EART

HLY

RICHE

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! 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 . And His Disciples were greatly astonished by His Words, saying among themselves: Who then can be Saved? And Jesus looked at them and said: With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. And Peter began to say to Him: See, we have left everything to Follow Thee. And Jesus answered: Truly, I say to you: there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or fathers or mothers, or wife or children, or lands, for My sake and the Gospels who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the Age to come, Eternal Life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. At that time, they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the Twelve Apostles aside again, and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him...

St Ignatios the God-Bearing Hieromartyr of Antioch

St Ignatios of Antioch was born in 35 and passed away in 107. He was the child whom Christ took in His Arms and said to His Disciples: Whoever receives one of these little children in My Name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him Who sent Me. (MARK 9 : 37) St Ignatios did not die of natural causes but during the rule of Emperor Trajan (98 117) he was deported from Syria to Rome and martyred in the Arena by being ripped apart by hungry lions. St Ignatios was the third Bishop of Antioch after St Simon Peter the Holy Apostle of Christ (37 68) and St Evodios (67 68). St Ignatios was one of our Apostolic Fathers, having been a Disciple of St John the Beloved Apostle, Theologian and Evangelist. The journey to Rome took them along the coastal rout of that era, along the coast of Asia Minor to the North as far as Cilicia and Pamphylia. Ignatios, who is also called Theophoros to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of Smyrna, or rather, who has, as his own Bishop, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: wishes abundance of happiness. Having obtained good proof that Thy mind is fixed in God as upon an immoveable rock, I loudly Glorify His Name that I have been thought worthy to behold Thy blameless face, which may I ever enjoy in God! I entreat Thee, by the Grace with which Thou art clothed, to press forward in Thy course, and to exhort all that they may be Saved. Maintain Thy position with all care, both in the flesh and spirit. Have a regard to preserve Unity, for nothing is better. Bear with all, even as the Lord does with Thee. Support all in Love, as also Thou doest. Give Thyself to Prayer without ceasing. Implore additional understanding to what Thou already hast. Be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to every man separately, as God enables Thee. Bear the infirmities of all, as being a Perfect Athlete in the Christian Life where the Labour is great and the gain is all the more. If Thou Love the good Disciples, no thanks are due to Thee on that account; but rather seek by Meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks of disease by gentle applications. Be in all things "wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove." For this purpose Thou art composed of both They then continued on land and stayed at Philadelphia for some time. The detours and sojourns were probably attributable to other obligations of the escorting guards. In Smyrna, they boarded another ship, which stopped at Troas and the Greek Neapolis next to Philippi. During the prolonged stay in Smyrna, the Bishops of Ephesos, Magnesia and Tralles were able to visit St Ignatios along with delegation of their Christian Communities, each one of whom received a letter from the Holy Church Father addressed to their Communities. The main themes of St Ignatios various letters concerned warnings against heresies, especially docetism; the Unity of the Theology of the Trinitarian Monotheism (One Divine Godhead) and the Theology of and his longing for Holy Martyrdom.
HTTP://SYRORTHODOXCHURCH.COM/ENGLISH-DATEIEN/ST_IGNATIUS.HTML

St Ignatios E pistle to St Polycarp of Smyrna

flesh and spirit, that Thou may deal tenderly with those evils that present themselves visibly before Thee. And with respect to those that are not seen, pray that God would reveal them unto Thee, in order that Thou may be wanting in nothing, but may abound in every Gift. The times call for Thee, as pilots do for the winds, and as those who sail on tempest tossed seas, seek for the safe haven so that both Thou and those under Thy care may attain to God. Be sober as an Athlete of God: the Prize set before Thee is Immortality and Eternal Life, of which Thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be worthy, and my bonds also, which Thou hast Loved. Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but who teach strange doctrines, fill Thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil that is beaten. It is the part of a Noble Athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may bear with us. Be ever more zealous than what Thou art. Weigh carefully the times. Look for Him Who is above all time, Eternal and Invisible, yet Who became visible for our sakes; Impalpable and Impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and Who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes...
HTTP://WWW.MONACHOS.NET/CONTENT/PATRISTICS/TEXTS/665IGNATIUS-OF-ANTIOCH-EPISTLE-TO-POLYCARP

26

ST IGNATIOS

THE

GOD BEARI

NG

HIERO

MARTYR OF

NTIOCH

20 DECE

MBER

2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Gl ory, H onou r an d Wo rs hi p t o t he Fat he r, a nd to th e S on, and to th e Ho ly Spi ri t, now and foreve r, an d unt o th e Age s of ag es. Am en. Remem bering al so o ur M ost Holy, Mo st P ure, Mos t Bl es se d an d Glo ri ou s La dy, Maria, Theot oko s, yet Eve r Vi rgin, toge the r wi th al l t he S ain ts. An d l et u s comm it o u rse lve s and o ne a noth er and o ur w hol e Li fe to C hris t ou r God. Am en .

Forefeast of Nativity

22 December 2013 Tone 1 Sunday Before Nativity Holy A ncestors The Genealogy of Christ According to the Flesh

Also the Feast of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions & Great Holy Virgin Martyr, St Chrysogonos her Teacher, St Theodota & St Evodos her eldest son as well as two more sons, St Eutychianos & 120 Holy Martyrs
RESURRECTIO
N

APO

LYTIKION

TONE 1

Tou

lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros, Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope!

While

the stone was sealed by the Judeans, and soldiers stood on guard over Thine Undefiled Body, Thou rose on the Third Day, O Saviour Who gives Life to the world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves mankind!

TH

FOR

EFEAST

OF TH

ATIVITY

OF CHRIST

TONE 4

Etimazou

Vithleem, inikte pasin i Edem; eftrepisou Efratha, oti to xilon tis Zois, en to Spileo exinthisen ek ti Parthenou; Paradisos ke gar, i ekinis Gastir, edihthi noitos, en O to thion fiton; ex ou fagontes zisomen, ouhi de os O Adam tethnixometha. Hristos Gennate, tin prin pesousan, anastison ikona.

Be

ready, Bethlehem! Eden has opened Ephratha to all! Prepare yourself, for now, behold! The Tree of Life has blossomed forth from the Holy Virgin in the cave. Her Womb has proved a True Spiritual Paradise, wherein the Divine and Saving Tree is found, and as we eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam. For Christ is Born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.

APOL

YTIKION

OF ST D

ANI EL

& THE THRE

HO

LY

OUTHS

Megala

ta tis Pisteos katorthomata! En ti pigi tis flogos, os epi idatos anapafseos, i Agii Tris, Pedes igallonto, ke O Profitis Daniil, leonton pimin, os provaton ediknito. Tes afton ikesies Hriste O Theos, soson tas psihas imon!
OVEMBER

Great

indeed are Faiths accomplishments! The Three Holy Youths stood exultingly in the fountain of fire as if beside the still waters of rest. And Daniel the Prophet appeared like a shepherd in the den of lions. At their entreaties, O Christ God, Save our souls! the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.

25 N

NTIL

24 DE

CEMBER

- AD

VENT

Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.

Today

Resurrection Gospel 4:
THE HOLY M YRRHBEARERS
WITNESS THE

Luke 24:1 12
OF OUR

EMPTY TOMB

RESUR RECTED LORD

Prokeimenon : Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our Fathers. For Thou has always dealt Righteously with us. The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11 : 9 10 & 32 - 40
TH
E

FAITH

OF THE

OLD CO

VENANT

HEBREWS

FROM

ST ABRAHAM

TO

ST JOSE

PH THE

BETROT

HED

Brethren: Through Faith Abraham dwelt in the Land of Promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same Promise; for he waited for the City that has Foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the Prophets: who through Faith subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; and women received their dead raised to Life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had trials mockings and scourgings - yes, of chains and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted and they were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented or whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise God having provided something better for us so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.

26TH SUNDAY AFTER PENT ECOST SUNDAY

OF THE

HOLY ANC ESTORS (GENEALO GY) 2 2 DECEMBER 2013

27

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M atthew 1 : 1 25

TH
E

GE

NEALOGY

OF O

UR

LORD A

ND

SA

VIOUR

, JE

SUS

CH

RIST

, AC

CORDING

TO THE FLES

The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the King. David the King begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Rehoboam; Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Joran, and Joran begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. After they were taken to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar; Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the (Betrothed) Husband of Mary (Miriam) of Whom was born Jesus Who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; from David until the captivity in Babylon were fourteen generations; and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a Just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly, but while he thought about these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: Joseph, son of David: do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit. And She will bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He will Save His People from their sins. So all this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: Behold, the Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel, which is translated: God with us. Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know until she had brought forth her Firstborn Son. And he called His Name Jesus. THE NAME J ESUS OR JOSHUA MEANS O LORD SAVE US, WHICH G E N E S I S 1 2 : 3 God said to Abram: ... I will REFERS TO OUR LORDS DIVINE ROLE AS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL Bless those who Bless Thee and curse those who MANKIND. curse Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of the THE TITLE CHRIST MEANS ANOINTED O NE, OR MESSIAH, WHICH earth shall be Blessed. MEANS THE O NE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH THE PROPHETS and He spoke J O H N 1 : 3 3 : St John the Baptist and Forerunner to through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God who wrote Christ said: I did not know Him, but He Who sent this Holy Book of Genesis. me to Baptise with water said to me: Upon St Paul explained to the Galatians: ... the Scripture, Whom you see the (HOLY) Spirit descending, and foreseeing that God would Justify the Gentiles by remaining on Him, is He Who Baptises with the Faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham Holy Spirit. beforehand, saying: In Thee all the Nations shall be THE FACT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REMAINED UPON CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR Blessed. (GALATIANS 3:8) WAS A DIVINE SIGN THAT HE POSSESSES THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS So it was that THE HOLY SPIRIT PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF FULLNESS FROM ALL ETERNITY i.e. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CHRIST CENTURIES BEFORE to St Abraham, the ancient MOMENT WHEN THE SON OF GOD WAS NOT UNITED WITH GOD Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel. THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR TOGETHER WITH GOD THE FATHER THEY ARE Furthermore, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WHOM ST ABRAHAM CO-ETERNAL. BEHELD in a Vision was no created being He WAS TRULY Our Lord Jesus Christ did not receive the Holy Spirit at His THE SON AND WORD OF GOD. Baptism by St John the Baptist. Instead, THE VISION THAT St Athanasios the Great taught that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST EXPERIENCED REVEALED THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH THE SON AND W ORD OF GOD, WAS REFERRED TO AS AN ANGEL THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH CHRIST. (MESSENGER OF G OD) BECAUSE HE ALONE REVEALS THE FATHER. Although ONLY GOD THE SON (THE SECOND D IVINE PERSON OF THE In other words, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS G OD THE FATHER HOLY TRINITY THE GODHEAD) WAS INCARNATED (BECAME MAN to us AS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY WHO, BEING AND THUS PHYSICAL AND VISIBLE TO US) GOD THE FATHER AND THE ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE, IS INCAPABLE OF HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN PERFECT HARMONY IN OUR LORD JESUS ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR DESTRUCTIVE (which are the CHRIST FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. inventions of the evil one who typifies hatred, ] THE HOLY TRINITY ALWAYS WORKS IN PERFECT UNISON AS ONE everything wicked, deceitful and destructive.) GOD. G E N E S I S 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: ... OUR LORD WAS INCARNATE AS A HEBREW, FROM THE LINEAGE OF ST your seed shall be like the dust of the earth; you ABRAHAM, the Father or Patriarch of all Hebrews, AND OF shall spread abroad to the west and to the east, ST DAVID, ISRAELS GREATEST KING AND PROTOTYPE OF OUR to the north and to the south; and in you and in ROYAL MESSIAH. your seed all the Tribes of the earth shall be THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST according to the Holy Gospel of St Blessed. Matthew REVEALS THAT THE SON OF GOD IDENTIFIES SO DEEPLY JEWISH GENEALOGY NORMALLY INCLUDED ONLY MALE RELATIVES SO WITH OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF AND THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES SUCH AS TAMAR, RAHAB, RUTH HAS BECOME PART OF IT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SALVATION. AND BATHSHEBA WAS MOST UNUSUAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE EACH OF THE ANCESTRY OF OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST INCLUDES Righteous THEM WAS EITHER A GENTILE OR A SINFUL HEBREW. and wicked people, faithful Kings and murderers, Jews HENCE, THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE G RACIOUS and Gentiles, royalty and peasants A COMPLETE CROSSMERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE CALLING OF G ENTILES SECTION OF HUMANITY. INTO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ST MATTHEWS GENEALOGY OF CHRIST DESCENDS FROM ST ] IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN GODS ABRAHAM to whom God Promised to Bless all tribes ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND ANTICIPATED THE VERY of the earth in Abraham, which was fulfilled in his SPECIAL PLACE OF THE EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY VIRGIN greatest Descendent, Jesus Christ. THEOTOKOS IN HIS DIVINE PLAN. ST LUKE, on the contrary, LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN By means of Anointing by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of ASCENDING ORDER FROM CHRIST ALL THE WAY BACK TO God, St David the Psalmist was consecrated King of ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 38)

28.

26TH SUND AY AFTER PENTECOST SUNDAY

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HOLY ANCEST ORS (GENEALOGY) 22 DECEMBER 2013

Israel and THROUGH HIS PSALMS, ST DAVID WAS REVEALED AS A GREAT AND HOLY PROPHET OF GOD. Consequently, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST, KING AND HOLY PROPHET FORESHADOWED THE ROYAL AND P ROPHETIC NATURE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (PSALM 109) In addition, as a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION, R EPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, which encourages us - for EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS GRANTED THE POSSIBILITY OF R EGENERATION OR RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE GRACE of our Most Loving and Merciful God THROUGH OUR WILLING AND HEARTFELT REPENTANCE-CONFESSION. St Joseph the Betrothed is named as our Lord Jesus immediate predecessor since according to the Old Covenant, MARRIAGE LAWS CONFER HEREDITARY RIGHTS ON ADOPTED AS WELL AS BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN. THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS ALSO DESCENDED FROM KING DAVID, as was her aunt Salome, (THE SISTER OF ST ANNA AND THE LATE WIFE OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED) since, according to Hebrew Laws of the time, BETROTHALS WERE ARRANGED FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE. For the same reason, THE T EMPLE PRIESTS HAD CONSENTED TO HER BETROTHAL TO HER AGED UNCLE WHO WAS ACTUALLY HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR OF HER VOW OF CHASTITY. The term of whom is feminine in Greek, REFERRING ONLY TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SO OUR LORD IS SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN BORN ONLY OF HER AND NOT BEGOTTEN OF S T JOSEPH THE BETROTHED. THE ANCESTORS WERE ARRANGED IN THREE GROUPS OF FOURTEEN GENERATIONS since fourteen is the numerical equivalent of the consonants in the name David, underlining Christs descent from St David. It also shows the division of the leadership of the Hebrews, being under Judges until St David, under Kings until Babylon and under Priests until Christ. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED CONSISTED OF A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW. H O S E A 6 : 6 ... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and the Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt Offerings... ST JOSEPHS NATURAL COMPASSION AND MERCY WAS EVIDENT FROM HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO EXPOSE THE YOUNG VIRGINS ASSUMED SIN, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS OBLIGED BY MOSAIC LAW TO DO SO . THE TERM HUSBAND AND WIFE APPLIED TO ALL BETROTHED COUPLES even before the Marriage had been Sanctified by God and consummated. THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH REFERS TO ST JOSEPH AS THE BETROTHED, EMPHASISING THE T RUTH OF THE ALL HOLY AND ALL PURE, EVER VIRGINITY OF THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE ASTOUNDED MIDWIVES WHO ATTENDED TO THE YOUNG VIRGIN BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST.) E S T H E R 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin ... had raised the daughter of Abihail, his fathers brother, and her name was Esther; and when her parents died, he brought her up to be his wife, and she was beautiful. Mordecais relation to Esther was that of both guardian and Betrothed husband - a necessary social and legal arrangement, which was not unusual at the time. This was similar to THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND THE EVER VIRGIN MARY, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP, as demonstrated as well by Esthers virginity and chastity. ] AN ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD DISPELLED ST JOSEPHS FALSE
ASSUMPTIONS BY ANNOUNCING THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE AND ILLOGICAL BUT DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH: THE VIRGINS CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD BY THE POWER AND ENERGY OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT.

BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED CHRISTS DIVINITY AND ONLY A DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE AS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE. St Matthew repeatedly used the expression: ...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken... which UNDERSCORES THE DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD throughout human history and which demonstrates THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS WITH GOD, INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION. THE DIVINE C ONCEPTION OF OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH THAT SPECIFICALLY A VIRGIN NOT A YOUNG WOMAN! WOULD CONCEIVE AND B EAR A SON WHO WAS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO EXISTENCE BUT WHO IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD WHO USED HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE! BOTH THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINAL CONCEPTION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE NAME Immanuel MEANING God with us DECLARES AND CONFIRMS THE DIVINITY THE DIVINE NATURE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. Finally: when ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD ... took to him his wife, and did not know Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son... IT DID NOT MEAN THAT THE BETROTHAL OR MARRIAGE WAS EVER CONSUMMATED, NOR DOES THE EXPRESSION FIRSTBORN SON MEAN THAT OUR ALL HOLY LADY EVER BORE ANY OTHER CHILDREN FOR SHE KEPT HER MOST SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY UNTIL SHE REPOSED IN PEACE many years later. In Holy Scripture the word until which is sometimes translated as to, is often used to express a situation that actually continues after the event: M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0 Christ instructed His Apostles to go forth and Baptise and Teach all nations ... to observe all Things that I have commanded you; and lo, I Am with you always, even TO the end of the Age. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST AT THE END OF THE WORLD FOR HE IS ALWAYS ETERNALLY PRESENT AND NEVER ABSENT, NO MATTER WHERE OR HOW WE ARE! G E N E S I S 8 : 7 - Noah ... sent out a Raven, which kept going to and fro, UNTIL the waters dried up from the earth. D E U T E R O N O M Y 3 4 : 6 When Moses has died God ... buried him in a valley in the Land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave TO this day. ] THE TERM FIRSTBORN SON, DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE BLESSED VIRGIN HAD OTHER CHILDREN, BUT ONLY THAT NO CHILD WAS BORN TO HER BEFORE OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST. Traditionally, the firstborn son was the primary heir and recipient of Blessings and OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION, AND THEREFORE THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD. Christ was the first to be physically Resurrected - so He returned to show to confirm, to ratify - that Divine Truth to His Faithful Apostles and Disciples for 40 days before His Glorious Ascension returning to His former invisible state and majestic position, seated at the right hand side of God the Father the Most Honourable position as Co-equal, Co-eternal and Co-essential. mp In the Orthodox Holy Icons of the Nativity of Christ, HIS SWADDLING CLOTHES ARE DEPICTED AS BURIAL WRAPPINGS, AFFIRMING THAT ONE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING WAS TO ENDURE DEATH. THE MANGER WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CAVE WHERE DOMESTIC ANIMALS WERE STABLED AT NIGHT THUS FULFILLING THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH: The ox knows its Owner and the donkey its Masters crib. (ISAIAH 1:3) human flesh and form, and, as the God-Man, He would live amongst mankind. Even the Name Emmanuel that was mentioned by the Holy Archangel, St Gabriel, means God is with us We cannot know how God became Man how He became Incarnate, for our human mind cannot understand the immense depth of such a Great Divine Mystery! In other words: we cannot understand how God was Incarnated as Perfect Man and simultaneously His human Nature received the Fullness of the Deity
HOLY ANCESTORS (GENEALO GY) 2 2 DECEMBER 2013

Sunday Before the Nativity of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ
Through the Old Covenants Prophesies, the Lord Almighty prepared mankind to receive the Messiah, Who would be the Eternal Word and Son of God Incarnate, Who would dwell amongst us and teach us His Divine Truth. God promised St Moses that He would built His Tent amongst the people of Israel and that He would be their God and they would be His People. (LEVITICUS 26: 1112)

The Holy Prophet of God, St Isaiah, more than any other Holy Prophet, foretold that God would take up
26TH SUNDAY AFTER PENT ECOST SUND AY
OF THE

29

within It without the two Natures being confused or mingled or mixed! God the Word and Son took up all of our human nature, but without the ability or inclination to sin (like us.) His human Nature received all the Hypostasis of God the Son and Word, while at the same time, remaining inseparable from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and filling all Creation with His Divine Presence, which is not partial but the whole God the whole Trinity - in all Creation. Thus Emmanuel refers to this Omnipresence (All Presence) of the Word of God it declares that God is indeed with us at all times and everywhere. The Omnipresence and dwelling of God amongst us is the Omnipresence of our Eternal Salvation and the Source of Gods Gifts and Graces Chrismata. The Presence of God the Word in our human history was a Divine Offering of Redemption, which mankind so desperately desired and needed but could not attain on our own. God the Word and Son, with His Incarnation, brought the Heavenly Kingdom of God to us and is extended in Eternity. God had to come in a physical, visible manner to Enlighten our mind through His Divine Teachings and by His Perfect Example. With the Sanctification of human nature, Christ could free us from the bondage of our sinful passions. Our mind and heart would be Cleansed from the stain of sin and we would be set free from the tyranny of guilt and Death itself. With the Incarnation of the Eternal Son of God, our Relationship with God the Father has been Restored and we are all worthy to become by Divine Grace, sons of God. The Incarnation of the Word of God reopened Paradise and ended the authority and rule of Satan over fallen mankind. Furthermore, the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem, Judea, had to take place in order that His later Blood Sacrifice on Golgotha be realised. After the Fall from Grace of the First-created, humanity was completely enslaved to sinful passions. Peoples hearts were inclined towards evil from their youth - and human nature was so badly disfigured and corrupted by their sinfulness and disobedience, that God the Holy Spirit could not dwell amongst us. However, Christs final and ultimate Blood Sacrifice paid the Ransom for our everlasting Redemption. Consequently, all those who believe in Christ and His Holy Name have been set free from the slavery of sin and we are able to become His Friends and CoHeirs of His Heavenly Kingdom of Love. The Omnipresence of our Lord within the Holy Orthodox Church is Eternal.

Emmanuel, the Son of God and the Son of the Ever Virgin Mary, is forever within our Holy Church and He grants to all His Faithful Orthodox Disciples Eternal Salvation. How many times did our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Call the men of His time - and still continues Calling all of us - to accept His Divine Teaching His Divine Truth? The Great Feast Day of our Lords Nativity is at hand. How many of us have prepared ourselves accordingly to receive to welcome Christ within our heart? We have all been so busy with cleaning our home, running about shopping, buying new clothes and gifts, preparing for the material, temporary Christmas festivities... Yet, despite all these activities, how many of us have prepared the inner part of our soul to receive the Heavenly Infant of Bethlehem? How many of us have turned our thoughts towards our human Brethren who truly have need of our support and compassion? How many of us have forgiven those who have trespassed against us? How many of us have properly partaken of the Holy Mysteries of Confession to Cleanse our soul from our daily sins? How many families suffer during this Festive Season due to destructive, self-indulgent behaviour of close relatives drinking, drugging, gambling, fornicating, unpaid bills and ever-increasing debts... And all these overwhelming problems are due to personal greed that blinds thoughts, enslaves hearts and destroys the joy and harmony of family life. How much pain do those self-indulgences inflict on those closest to us those whom we profess to love so much? How many people prefer to stay at home to play their games, watch television, movies or unsavoury types of entertainment or gamble or shop - instead of attending the Holy Services at Church? Christ our Saviour is borne in the hearts of mankind when we open our heart to Him and joyfully invite Him with True Faith and Love. Christ is born and we are Reborn! Beloved: on the occasion of the Great Feast of the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God, let us decorate our soul with True Faith and Good Deeds, so that we are worthy to invite and welcome the All Holy Emmanuel to dwell with us to be most essential to our personal lifestyle so that we, in turn, may become worthy Living Temples of His Divine Love. Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS BY HIS EMINENCE, METROPOLITAN PANTELEIMON OF ANTINOES ORTHODOX NEWSLETTER OF ST THEODORE, LANHAM 23 DECEMBER 2012

The Eternal, God-Inspired Wisdom of our Holy Church F athers Father Oleg of Mount Athos: St Symeon the New Theologian "All day he suffered in his heart reflecting on how to
Entreat God fervently each day with these words: 'God and Lord of all, Master of everything that has breath and soul, Who alone can cure me, hear my Prayer, abject as I am: Root out of me and destroy through the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit the serpent that dwells in me. Make me worthy - poor though I am and bereft of Virtue - of falling with tears at the feet of my Spiritual Father. Move his Holy soul to have Mercy on me; and. Lord, bestow Humility on my heart and give me such thoughts as befit a sinner who has resolved to Repent before Thee. Do not abandon forever a soul who has once submitted and has confessed to Thee, that has chosen and honoured Thee above all my world. Thou knowest that I wish to be Saved, even if my bad habits hinder me. But to Thee, O Lord, are possible all things that are impossible to men.' (CF. LUKE 18:27). come to the Truth .... Truth can come when you are not going anywhere - it can be heard when you hear nothing. You can see it when you see nothing. You can know it when you know nothing. The man rings the bells and the melodious sound spreads to a far district. Then he strikes the bell one last time and comes down from the bell tower. And the sound for a long time remains floating in the air, gradually dying away in the distance.

St John of Kronstadt
Say inwardly, from your whole heart: " The Lord is everything to me; I myself am nothing; I am powerless, I am infirm." " For without Me ye can do nothing, " says the Lord Himself, for it might be added: " I Am everything to you." Be heartily convinced of this every moment of your life, and have recourse to the Lord absolutely in everything, trusting to obtain from Him everything necessary for your Salvation, and even for this temporal life.
H OLY ANCESTORS ( GENEALOGY) 22 DECEMBER 2013

30.

26TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUNDAY

OF T HE

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Ho nou r and Wo rs hip to th e F ath er, an d to t he Son, an d to the Holy Sp irit, n ow and fo reve r, and u nto th e Ag es of age s. Amen. Remem bering al so o ur Mo st Ho ly, Mos t Pu re, Mo st B le sse d a nd Glo riou s La dy, Mari a, Th eot oko s, yet Ev er Vi rgi n, tog eth er w ith al l the Sa in ts. An d l et us com mit o ur se lves and one a not he r an d ou r who le L ife t o C hri st o ur God. Ame n .

Nativity of Christ our Saviour

25 December 2013

Ch r i s t i s Bo r n ! Glorify Him!
FEST
AL

ISODIKO

N OF THE

ATIVITY

Ek gastros pro eosforou egennisa Se.

Omose Kyrios ke ou metamelithisete. Si ierefs is ton eona, kata tin taxin Melihisedek. Soson imas, Ie Theou, O EK PARTHENOU TEHTHIS, psallontas Si allilouia!
AL

Out

of the womb, before the Morning Star have I Begotten Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not repent: Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order of Melchezedek. Save us, O Son of God, BORN OF THE VIRGIN, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
4

FEST

AP

OLYTIKION OF THE

NA

TIVITY OF

CHRIST TO

NE

Gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetile to kosmo to Fos to tis gnoseos. En afti gar it is astris latrevontes, ipo asters edidaskonto, Se prokinin, ton Ilion tis Dikeosinis, ke Se ginoskin ex ipsous anatolin. >Kyrie, Doxa Si. (3)
AL

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the Light of

Knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a Star instructed to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee as Orient from on High. >O Lord, Glory to Thee! (3)

FEST

KO

NTAKION

- N

ATIVITY OF

CHRIST - TO

NE

Parthenos simeron, ton iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spileon, to aprosito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi. Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi. Di imas gar egennithi, Pedion Neon, O Pro Eonon Theos.
OF T HE

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a Young Child, the Pre-Eternal God. Christ, have put

INSTEAD

AGIOS O THEOS...

Osi

is Hriston Allelouia!
TH
E

Evaptisthite,

Hriston

enedisasthe:

As many of you as were Baptised into

on Christ: Alleluia!
GOD O
UR

Festal M atins Gospel M atthew 1: 18 - 25

R
EVELATION

THE INC

ARNATED

SON

OF

LORD A

ND

SAVIO

UR

, JES

US

CHRIST

At that time, the Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is Conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He will Save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: "Behold, the Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel," which is translated:"God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took unto him his wife, and did not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His Name Jesus unwillingness to expose the young Virgin Marys presumed ] ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHEDS RIGHTEOUSNESS the Righteousness of Mercy, which TRANSCENDED THE LAW is evident from his sin.

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UNDER MOSAIC LAW, BETROTHAL INVOLVED ALMOST THE SAME SACRED COMMITMENT AS MARRIAGE and the elderly St Joseph the Betrothed could not help but suspect a violation of Divine Law when he realised his Betrothed niece had Conceived - despite her Sacred Vow of Chastity. ALTHOUGH HE WAS OBLIGED BY LAW TO REPORT HER "MISCONDUCT" S T JOSEPH DECIDED "TO PUT HER AWAY SECRETLY" WHICH WOULD PREVENT HER FROM BEING EXPOSED TO PUBLIC SCANDAL AND SPECULATION. Furthermore, THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES WOULD HAVE STONED HER TO DEATH FOR HAVING BROKEN A SACRED VOW AND MOSAIC LAW CONCERNING IMMORALITY. ] A HOLY MESSENGER OR "A NGEL OF THE LORD" DISPELLED THE FALSE REASONING OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED BY ANNOUNCING THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE: THE C ONCEPTION OF THE ALL PURE AND MOST BLESSED VIRGIN WAS BY THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT (ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.) ] SINCE BEING BORN OF A VIRGIN PROVES OUR LORD JESUS DIVINITY, ONLY THE REVELATION OF ALMIGHTY GOD, in this case "a IS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF THIS MIRACULOUS dream" CONCEPTION. Holy Scripture refers to Betrothed couples as "husband" and "wife" before the actual marriage. Just as Rachel was called the "wife of Jacob" before Marriage, because of her Betrothal, so St Joseph the Betrothed was referred to as the "husband" of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and she was known as the "wife" of Joseph the Carpenter. ] THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS - HAVING GROWN UP IN THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM HAD TAKEN A MOST SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY and had refused to be married to any man since her only desire was to serve the Lord Her God. Therefore THE TEMPLE PRIESTS who had watched over this extraordinarily devout little girl RESPECTED BOTH HER DEDICATION TO GOD AND THE SANCTITY OF HER VOW OF CHASTITY. AS AN ORPHAN, SHE HAD NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF HER AND TO PROTECT HER, which left the Priests in a difficult predicament, for when girls reached puberty, they had to leave the Temple precincts and enter Marriage so as to produce as many children as possible. THE PRIESTS BESOUGHT G OD FOR A SOLUTION AND EVENTUALLY BY A DIVINE MIRACLE HER AGED UNCLE who had been married to Her aunt, Salome, WAS CHOSEN AS HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND RIGHTEOUS PROTECTOR. As required by Mosaic Law, ALL SPOUSES HAD TO BE OF THE SAME TRIBE AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN ELDERLY RELATIVE WAS BOTH LEGALLY AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. G E N E S I S 2 9 : 2 1 Then Jacob said to Laban: Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed. D E U T E R O N O M Y 2 0 : 7 "Has anyone become Betrothed to a woman but not yet married her? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another will marry her. D E U T E R O N O M Y 2 2 : 2 3 - 2 4 If there is a young woman, a virgin already Betrothed, and a man meets her in the town and lies with her, you shall bring both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death - the young woman because she did not cry for help in the town and the man because he violated his neighbours wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

In the Orthodox Church, S T JOSEPH IS REMEMBERED AS "THE BETROTHED" - HIGHLIGHTING THE ALL PURE, M OST HOLY THEOTOKOS EVER-VIRGINITY. ("THE UNWED BRIDE") So all this was done that it might be fulfilled is the first of St Matthews repeated use of the expression: "...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken." ] THE FULFILMENT OF THESE PROPHECIES NOT ONLY UNDERSCORES THE INTERVENTION OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN OUR HISTORY BUT ALSO INDICATES HIS BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION THE NEW ISRAEL. ] THE CONCEPTION OF JESUS CHRIST FULFILS THE PROPHECY as recorded in the septuagint where we are told that A "VIRGIN" (PARTHENOS) WOULD CONCEIVE AND "BEAR A SON." Why do we question or ponder this amazing and acceptable Divine Truth? Our Creator can do things far beyond any human imagination or understanding because He is Almighty God and Creator of all things visible and invisible - yet so many people try to disprove or reject this Divine Truth. The Virgin Birth of the Messiah, as well as Her continued Virginity is a Divine Mystery as are all Gods Infinite Wonders - and only God knows!! Her continued Virginity would have been noted and confirmed by the Midwives whom St Joseph had requested to assist the young Theotokos something so unique was noted and remembered.. To doubt or to reject the Miraculous Conception and Birth of Christ Who is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, is to doubt or reject the unknown and indescribable Majesty and Might of our Living and Glorious Creator God. To relegate Christ as mere human being is blasphemy against God and refutes His two Natures human and Divine which were necessary for His Divine Mission amongst His creatures the Salvation of fallen mankind and the conquering of sin and Death. ] HE WHO IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO EXISTENCE, BUT THE ETERNAL SON OF ALMIGHTY GOD, USING HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE. ] THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE NAME OF THE INCARNATE SON, "EMMANUEL I.E: GOD WITH US," - ARE CLEAR INDICATIONS OF OUR LORD JESUS DIVINITY. I S A I A H 7 : 1 4 Therefore the Lord Himself will give Thee a Sign. Look, the Virgin is with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel God with us. The words: ... Joseph took unto him his wife, and did not know her until she had brought forth her Firstborn Son does not imply that St Joseph the Betrothed consummated the Betrothal after the Birth of Jesus Christ. ] THEIR BETROTHAL WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS ST JOSEPH HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND P ROTECTOR BUT HE RESPECTED AND HONOURED HER SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY, HER PURE NATURE AND PIOUS CHARACTER. ] THE TERM "FIRSTBORN" NOT ONLY MEANS HAVING BEEN BORN FIRST BUT ALSO APPLIED TO THE FIRST BORN SON no matter how many other female children born before or after the heir. Furthermore, according to the Old Covenant Tradition, IT DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE WERE OTHER SIBLINGS. In the case of our Lord Jesus and the Ever Blessed Theotokos, THOSE WHO WERE REFERRED TO AS BEING EITHER BROTHERS OR SISTERS USUALLY MEANT COUSINS, AUNTS OR UNCLES CLOSE RELATIVES BUT NOT NECESSARILY BIOLOGICAL SIBLINGS.

All the world will worship Thee and Glorify Thee. Glorify the Lord with Triumphal Hymns, all you lands.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 4:4-7
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Brethren, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to Redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive the Adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an Heir of God through Christ. His Son" refers to CHRIST AS GOD BY NATURE the Son of God. ] SINCE J ESUS CHRIST WAS "BORN UNDER THE LAW " HE COULD REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE ALSO UNDER THE LAW HIS FELLOW HEBREWS, ] THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD, IS "BORN OF A WOMAN," AND SO ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. THE MOST BLESSED MARY IS RIGHTLY CALLED THEOTOKOS MOTHER OF G OD OR BEARER OF GOD. GOD "REDEEMS THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW" IN ORDER TO FULFIL HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND CONSEQUENTLY, GOD PAID THE

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RANSOM, AS IT WERE, TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN VOW. ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT OWE ANYONE ANYTHING AND H E CERTAINLY DOES NOT OWE US SALVATION ! ] JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW AS AN INFANT BY BEING CIRCUMCISED on the eighth day and He was Presented in the Temple 40 Days after His Birth. Both of these Events are remembered in the Liturgical Cycle of the Orthodox Church. THE HOLY CEREMONIES OF THE EIGHT DAY BLESSING OF THE NEWBORN AND THE 40 DAY CHURCHING OF THE MOTHER ARE PERFORMED TO THIS DAY IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. After these special Services, THE HOLY MYSTERY OF B APTISM AND CHRISMATION IS CELEBRATED A FEW MONTHS LATER. OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST - THE SON OF G OD IS GOD DIVINE BY NATURE. WE BECOME SONS (OR DAUGHTERS) OF GOD BY A DOPTION WHEN WE ARE BAPTISED IN THE NAME OF THE T RIUNE GOD THE HOLY TRINITY. WE CANNOT BECOME MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD BY NATURE because WE ARE HUMAN BY NATURE. BUT WE DO BECOME MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY BY HIS GRACE. Through our Divine Adoption (Holy Baptism and Chrismation) WE BECOME EVERYTHING GOD IS, EXCEPT IN NATURE WE REMAIN HUMAN BEINGS.
(ST CASPAR, ST ME LCHIOR,
A ND

However, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY OUR PERMANENT STATE DUE TO OF OUR DESIRE FOR WORLDLY THINGS [ I.E. THINGS OF THE FLESH, THE PASSIONS] and that CONCUPISCENCE PREVENTS US FROM ATTAINING THEOSIS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION. IT TAKES DEDICATION AND EFFORT ON OUR PART TO ATTAIN SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, DEIFICATION OR THEOSIS LIKENESS TO GOD! We have the possibility through the Grace of God, but IT DEPENDS ON OUR LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS. Because WE ARE GIVEN "NEW LIFE" our Adoption by God is also referred to as "New Birth" WE ARE SPIRITUALLY R EBORN RENEWED IN CHRIST! EVERY TIME WE PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF R EPENTANCE CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST, WE ENJOY A REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ADOPTION AND THEREFORE OUR NEW LIFE IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. THE ONGOING GROWTH INTO A DOPTION, BEING "AN H EIR OF GOD," IS CALLED D EIFICATION. THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE BECOMING BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHAT HE IS BY NATURE. ] EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY: "SPIRIT, SON AND FATHER" IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION. THEREFORE TO BECOME SONS OF GOD BY GRACE, ONE MUST BELIEVE IN AND KNOW THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M atthew 2 : 1 - 12

ST BALT HAZAR)
T HE

GENTILE M AGI JOURNEYED FRO M AF AR TO WORSHIP T HE CHRIST CHILD

At that time, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem, enquiring: "Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people together, he questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. So they told him: "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet: But you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Wise Men, determined from them what time the Star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem saying: "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, so that I may go and worship Him also." When they had heard the King, they departed. And behold! The Star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it stood over where the young Child was. And when they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great Joy. And when they had entered the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being Divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. ST MATTHEW AND S T LUKE PLACED THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST IN THE REIGN ] THE MESSIAH WAS expected to fulfil three crucial roles held OF KING HEROD THE G REAT WHO WAS THE KING OF JUDEA 37 4 by various people of the Old Covenant: PROPHET, BC. PRIEST AND KING. Only our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all three Holy Offices Herod was under Roman rule and although he was a great perfectly: builder, he was a dreadfully cruel ruler. Due to his ignorance of the Messiah - and indeed of > CHRIST JESUS IS TH E TRU E PR OPH ET anything concerning God - as well as his obsessive fear D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 5 1 8 The Lord your God of being deposed, Herod summoned the Hebrew will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your leaders to enlighten him, and later instructed the Magi to Brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you report back to him. asked from the Lord your God in Horeb in the day ] An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob indicated that THE of the Assembly, saying: Let us not hear again the MESSIAH WOULD APPEAR WHEN A G ENTILE KING RULED i.e. Voice of the Lord our God, nor let us see this Great not of the Hebrew Tribe of Judah. Fire any more, lest we die. Then the Lord said to G E N E S I S 4 9 : 1 0 The Sceptre shall not depart from me: What they have spoken is good. I will raise up Judah, nor a Lawgiver from his loins, until Shiloh for them a Prophet like you from among their comes; and to Him shall be the Expectation of the Brethren, and I will put My Word in His Mouth, and Nations... He shall speak to them all I command Him... This Prophecy relates to Christ in numerous ways since H E It was first necessary for THE HEBREWS to be tested so as to fear WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS THE DIVINE LAWGIVER the lord and not to sin, for they WERE TOO SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE EVERY LAW OR COMMANDMENT OF GOD THE FATHER IMPERCEPTIVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER PROPHET. WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US, INCLUDING THE M OSAIC LAW, IS Consequently, THEY FAILED THE TEST AND DIED IN THE DESERT BECAUSE GIVEN IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST. THEY REFUSED TO OBEY MOSES. As HEROD WAS A G ENTILE who called himself King of FORTY YEARS LATER HE SPOKE TO THEM CONCERNING THE GREAT PROPHET Judea, the Coming of the Messiah Gods Christ TO COME, USING THE W ORDS OF GOD FROM THEIR MEETING ON was certainly at hand. MOUNT SINAI. L U K E 1 : 2 0 - The Angel of God told St Zacharias: THE NEW GENERATION WAS READY TO HEAR THE PROPHECY and learnt Behold! You will be mute and unable to speak that He would be similar to St Moses, BECAUSE THE SHORTuntil the day these Things take place, because you TERM PROPHECIES OF MOSES HAD ALL OCCURRED, HIS LONG-TERM did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in PROPHECIES THEREFORE WERE TO BE BELIEVED. their own time. THIS WAS THE MARK OF A TRUE PROPHET OF G OD and the same ST ZACHARIAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR HIS LACK OF FAITH, yet this would apply to THE G REAT PROPHET WHO WOULD TELL THEM also served as proof that ARCHANGEL GABRIELS ALL THAT GOD THE FATHER COMMANDED HIM. (BY THE WILL OF THE FATHER, THROUGH THE SON...) ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE ALWAYS TRUE G ODS TRUTH. Furthermore THE SILENCING OF THE HIGH PRIEST REVEALED A DEEPER MYSTERY.

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 That indicated that HE IS THE W ORD OF GOD MADE FLESH THE MAGI KNEW THIS PROPHESY, and when they saw His Star, INCARNATE - FOR NO OTHER PROPHET, INCLUDING MOSES, WOULD EVER SPEAK IN SUCH A MANNER. they faithfully followed it all the way to Him. BEING BORN UNDER THIS WONDROUS STAR fulfilled the prophecy While all previous Prophets were ordinary human beings, THE GREAT PROPHET WOULD BE GOD INCARNATE. of the Psalms and SHOWS ALL CREATION PARTICIPATING IN So it was that St Isaiah foretold how THE PEOPLE WOULD BE THE INCARNATION of the Son of God. TAUGHT DIRECTLY BY G OD HIMSELF. P S A L M 1 0 9 : 3 ... with Thee is the beginning in the Day of Thy Power, in the brightness of Thy Saints; I > JESUS CHR IST IS OUR T RUE KIN G have Begotten Thee from the Womb before the I S A I A H 9 : 6 Great shall be His Government, and morning star... of His Peace there shall be no end. His Peace shall Psalm 109 is a Prophecy concerning THE MELCHIZEDEK be upon the Throne of David and over His PRIESTHOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which explains Kingdom, to order and establish It with the True Meaning of the Nativity. Righteousness and Judgement, from that time CHRIST IS THE S ON OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, AND forward, and unto Ages of Ages. The Zeal of the ALSO THE LORD OF KING DAVID ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINITY. Lord of Hosts shall perform this. P S A L M 1 8 : 2 The Heavens declare the Glory of M I C A H 5 : 1 . . . O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah, God; the firmament shows the Creation of His although you are fewest in number among the Hands... thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth Psalm 18 reveals God the Word the End becoming to Me the One to be Ruler of Israel, Whose goings Man in the Womb of the Most Holy Mother of God. forth were from the beginning, even from Eternity. For on His Nativity, ALL CREATION BORE WITNESS TO THE ] JESUS CHR IST IS OUR T RUE HI GH PR IES T GLORY OF GOD REVEALED IN HIS INCARNATION. P S A L M 1 0 9 : 4 - The Lord swore, and will not repent: In His Birth from the Womb of the Blessed Virgin, CHRIST WAS Thou art a Priest forever according to the Order of LIKENED TO THE SUN RISING FROM THE EAST, TO A B RIDEGROOM Melchezedek. COMING FROM HIS CHAMBER, AND TO A STRONG A THLETE Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father, OUR DIVINE READY TO RUN A G REAT RACE, BRINGING SALVATION OF THE AND ETERNAL HIGH P RIEST RULES AND REIGNS OVER ALL THINGS, WORLD. INCLUDING HIS ENEMIES, AND LEADS HIS HOLY CHURCH IN P S A L M 1 4 8 : 3 Praise the Lord from the Heavens; HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF THE ALMIGHTY HOLY TRINITY. praise Him in the Highest; praise Him, all you His H E B R E W S 4 : 1 4 Seeing then that we have a Great Angels; praise Him, all your His Hosts; Praise Him, High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens sun and moon; Praise Him all you stars and Light... Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Psalms 148 150 are THE PRAISES LAUDS which form the Confession. conclusion to the Psalter, and which EXHORT ALL The expression passed through the Heavens refers to CREATION TO P RAISE THE MOST BLESSED HOLY T RINITY. THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS SEEN IN The climax of the Psalter is when ALL HUMANITY AND CREATION THE CONTEXT OF THE SON OF GOD IS SEATED AT THE HIGHEST EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CALLED UPON PLACE OF HONOUR EQUALLY DIVINE - AT THE RIGHT HAND OF TO MAKE THIS DOXOLOGY TO GOD THE F ATHER, AND THE SON GOD THE FATHER. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR ONE, TRUE AND LIVING GOD OUR ALMIGHTY LORD AND C REATOR HAS ACCOMPLISHED HIS DIVINE ALMIGHTY. WORK ON EARTH AND HAS ENTERED INTO HIS SABBATH REST. THE NATIVITY STAR WAS A SIGN OF THE MESSIAH HIMSELF, SIGNIFYING L U K E 8 : 1 5 - God reveals His Truth to those ... who, THE LIGHT HE WAS TO SHED UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, having heard the Word with a noble and good THROUGHOUT TIME. heart, keep it and bear Fruit with Patience. 2 K I N G S 2 2 The water of Jericho was unusable until Christ warned us against believing for a short while and Elisha quoted God Who said: "... I have healed then returning to our sinful, ungodly ways. these waters; from them there shall no longer be HAVING BEEN TAUGHT GODS TRUTH, WHICH WE THEN REJECT, WE death or barrenness... So the water was healed by CONDEMN OURSELVES for we cannot plead ignorance! the word Elisha spoke, and so it remains to this THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE TEMPLE IN J ERUSALEM WERE THE POLITICAL AND day. RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE HEBREWS, including the High Priest, Just as our Lord God healed the waters of Jericho, so THE who alone could enter the Holiest Place of all YET THEY HAD INCARNATE SON OF GOD BRINGS RENEWAL OR REGENERATION TO NO IDEA THAT THE MESSIAH HAD ALREADY BEEN BORN. (HEBREWS 9:7) ALL DAMAGED CREATION. THE SCRIBES - important officials - KNEW THAT THE M ESSIAH WAS TO BE J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 0 ... thus said the Lord: When 70 BORN AND WHERE H E WOULD BE B ORN, HOWEVER, THEY HAD NO years are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I will visit DIVINE REVELATION THAT HE HAD ALREADY ARRIVED. you and confirm My Words to you, to return your St Matthew, who wrote for Jewish Christians, cited the Gentile people to this place. Magi as the first worshippers of our Lord Jesus Christ. St Jeremiah spoke historically for THERE WAS A RETURN OF St Luke, who wrote for Gentile Christians, cited the Jewish EXILES UNDER CYRUS AFTER 70 YEARS , and poor the Righteous Shepherds from surrounding fields Mystically for CHRIST CHOSE 70 MEN AS HERALDS OF HIS HOLY as the first worshippers. (LUKE 2:8-17) GOSPEL. THEY LIVED A GODLY LIFE OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, ] OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS DIVINE MISSION TO THE GENTILES WAS SUFFERED M ARTYRDOM AND SPREAD THE KINGDOM OF GOD, ANTICIPATED BY THE "WISE MEN" OR MAGI , who journeyed WHICH IS OUR TRUE RETURN FROM SPIRITUAL EXILE IN THE FALLEN all the way "from the East" outside Israel, from Persia WORLD. and elsewhere. J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 4 : I will appear to you... is a THEY WERE ERUDITE SCHOLARS of the time and in the Old Prophecy of the Incarnation of God the Son when Testament, BALAAM WAS ONE OF THEIR G ENTILE GOD APPEARED TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FLESH IN HIS PREDECESSORS WHO ALSO ANTICIPATED THE MESSIAH. ( READ NUMBERS 23; 24] HUMAN, VISIBLE NATURE. THE WORSHIP OF OUR LORD BY THE M AGI IS SYMBOLIC OF THE The Hebrew Shepherds were the first to worship and CHURCH, THE TRUE ISRAEL, WHEREBY MEMBERSHIP IS adore Christ, having done so shortly after His Birth, at DETERMINED BY FAITH AND NOT BY ETHNIC LINEAGE. the dark cave as OUR SAVIOUR WAS SENT INITIALLY FOR N U M B E R S 2 4 : 1 7 Barlaam prophesied: I will show OLD COVENANT ISRAEL. Him, but not now; I Bless Him, but He is not near. A THE MAGI - THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE GENTILES - arrived in Star shall rise out of Jacob; And a Man shall rise out Bethlehem much later, after the Holy Family had of Israel. He shall break in pieces the rulers of Moab moved into a house, WORSHIPPED G OD AS THE NEW and plunder all the sons of Seth. COVENANT ISRAEL. THE "STAR" SIGNIFIED THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPORTANCE OF THE THE MAGI HONOURED CHRIST AS OUR GREATEST AND ONLY KING WITH NATIVITY OF THE CHRIST CHILD. In ancient times an SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY GIFTS: unusually bright star signified a God or a Deified King. Gold is for the King of Ages. Frankincense is for the God CHRIST IS THE S TAR AND THE M AN WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD of All. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One Who shall ...out of Jacob... and ... out of Israel. be three days dead. (COMPLINE HYMN OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST)

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Hon ou r a nd Wo rs hi p to th e F ath er, an d to th e So n, a nd to t he H oly Spi rit, now and fo reve r, and u nto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so ou r Mo st Ho ly, Most Pu re, Mo st Bl es sed an d Glo rio us Lad y, Mari a, The oto kos, y et Ever Vi rgin, toget he r wit h a ll t he S ain ts. A nd let us c omm it ou rselv es and o n e ano the r a nd o ur wh ol e Life to Ch ri st ou r God. A men .

26 December 2013 Second Day of the Nativity - Synaxis of the E ver Blessed Theotokos The Slaughter of the Holy Innocents
Also the Feast of St Euthymios the Hieromartyr of Sardis St Constantine of Synnada St Evarestos of the Studion Monastery St Nicodemos of Tishmana, Macedonia St Constantine the Russian of Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos St Isaac II of Optina Monastery

C h r i s t i s Bo r n ! Wor ship Him!

FEST
AL

ISODIKO

N OF THE

ATIVITY

Ek gastros pro eosforou egennisa Se.

Omose Kyrios ke ou metamelithisete. Si ierefs is ton eona, kata tin taxin Melihisedek. Soson imas, Ie Theou, O EK PARTHENOU TEHTHIS, psallontas Si allilouia!
AL

Out

of the womb, before the Morning Star have I Begotten Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not repent: Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order of Melchezedek. Save us, O Son of God, BORN OF THE VIRGIN, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
4

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Gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetile to kosmo to Fos to tis gnoseos. En afti gar it is astris latrevontes, ipo asters edidaskonto, Se prokinin, ton Ilion tis Dikeosinis, ke Se ginoskin ex ipsous anatolin. >Kyrie, Doxa Si. (3)
AL

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the Light of

Knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a Star instructed to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee as Orient from on High. >O Lord, Glory to Thee! (3)
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Parthenos simeron, ton iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spileon, to aprosito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi. Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi. Di imas gar egennithi, Pedion Neon, O Pro Eonon Theos.
OF T HE

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a Young Child, the Pre-Eternal God. Christ, have put

INSTEAD

AGIOS O THEOS...

Osi

is Hriston Allelouia!

Evaptisthite,

Hriston

enedisasthe:

As many of you as were Baptised into

on Christ: Alleluia!

Festal Prokeimenon Luke 1 Tone 3 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour! For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 2 : 11 - 18
WHY GOD BECA
ME

AN

Brethren: both He Who Sanctifies and those are being Sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them Brethren, saying: I will declare Thy Name to My Brethren; in the midst of the Assembly I will sing Praise to Thee. And again: I will put My trust in Him. And yet again: Here Am I and the Children whom God has given Me. Inasmuch then as the Children have partaken of Flesh and Blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through Death He might destroy him who had the power of death that is, the devil and release those who through fear of Death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to Angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore in all things He had to be made like His Brethren, so that He might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. The expression ... to make ... Perfect through sufferings... BLESSED, ALL PURE VIRGIN MARY our All Holy Lady DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT THERE WAS ANY IMPERFECTION IN CHRIST Theotokos and HE BECAME THE SAME AS WE ARE SO THAT H E BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. COULD TRULY ENTER DEATH ENTER HADES AND THUS IN HIS Instead, HE VOLUNTARILY TOOK ON OUR HUMAN NATURE ... all of DIVINE NATURE BRING US TO ETERNAL SALVATION. one.. nature WHICH CAN BE SAVED AND PERFECTED ONLY BY CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR DESTROYED THE EVIL ONES POWER BY USING SATANS STRONGEST WEAPON DEATH AGAINST HIM. THE SUFFERING OF DEATH. CHRIST IS THE PIONEERING C APTAIN OR GUIDE OF THE NARROW PATH There is a relationship a connection between sin and death for each leads to the other. TO GOD in His Suffering for our sins, Death, Descent into Hades, Resurrection and Ascension. SIN CAUSES DEATH BOTH SPIRITUAL DEATH AND PHYSICAL DEATH AND THE FEAR OF DEATH LEADS TO SIN AND THUS TO BONDAGE OR IN SALVATION, WE TAKE ON CHRISTS WAY OF SUFFERINGS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION REQUIRES SPIRITUAL GROWTH THAT IS SPIRITUAL ENSLAVEMENT. (ROMANS 5:12) MANIFESTED (REVEALED) IN SUFFERING. CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR SET US FREE FROM THAT FATAL IN THE INCARNATION, GOD DID NOT COME IN APPEARANCE ONLY; H E BONDAGE OF SIN AND DEATH . TRULY ASSUMED OUR HUMAN FLESH AND BLOOD FROM THE EVER

NATIVITY

OF OUR

LORD & SAVIO

UR

, JES

US

CHRIST

25 DE

CEMB ER

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35

CHRIST GRANTS US TRUE FREEDOM AND ETERNAL LIFE FILLED WITH ALL HIS GOODNESS AND G REAT BLESSINGS . Our Lord has to ... be made like His Brethren... in all things... even to the point of being tempted because WHATEVER IS NOT ASSUMED BY HIM CANNOT BE HEALED BY HIM. And WHATEVER IS UNITED TO G OD IS SAVED. The Son of God is like us in His human Nature but WE DO NOT BECOME LIKE HIM IN HIS DIVINE NATURE.
TH
E

St Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews moved without transition from CHRIST AS SACRIFICE to CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST, BECAUSE HE IS BOTH THE OFFERER of the ultimate Blood Sacrifice for our sins AND THE OFFERING the actual Blood Sacrifice THAT ENDS ALL FURTHER NECESSITY FOR BLOOD OFFERINGS FOR OUR SINS. OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST IS MERCIFUL on behalf of those whom He serves AND F AITHFUL in His Ministry to God.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M atthew 2 : 13 23

H
OLY

FAMIL

SEEKS RE

FUGE IN

EGYPT BEFOR

E THE

SLA

UGHTER OF THE

HO

LY

INNOC

ENTS

At that time, when they had departed, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise, take the Young Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the Young Child to destroy Him. When he arise, he took the Young Child and His Mother by night and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: Out of Egypt I Called My Son. Then Herod was exceedingly angry when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had determined from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiahs the Prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. And when Herod was dead, behold: an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: Arise! Take the Young Child and His Mother, and go to the Land of Israel, for those who sought the Young Childs Life are dead. And he arose and took the Young Child and His Mother, and went into the Land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And they went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.

St J ohn of Kronstadt T he Nativity of C hrist is at hand

Beloved: the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is now at hand. Let us take care to meet it in Christian manner Spiritually. I already know how you intend to meet it: you will soon be going to the market place, where you will concern yourselves and prattle about much, about the manifold pleasures of the table; or you will take care only to adorn your body with festive clothing. But as for the ... one thing needful... about how to sweeten your soul for the coming Feast with Spiritual Food, or about how to adorn your soul with Luminous thoughts in short: how to meet and spend the Feast worthily this rarely comes to anyones mind. Food is always with us and our clothing is always with us but our Lords Nativity Feast is not always with us; so let us concern ourselves not with food and clothing but rather with preparing ourselves to meet our Most Pure Heavenly King. Let us concern ourselves with Commemorating this Great Feast Spiritually and Worthily. We have long since been singing: Christ is Born! which we sing in order to fathom beforehand the Great Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son and God that is: why the Son of God descended to earth; why He was Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, becoming Man without ceasing to be God. And to what end? For what Purpose? ...God descended to earth so that He might raise us all to Heaven... So let us keep this Divine Truth in mind and drive it deep into our heart never forgetting that the Eternal Son of God descended to earth in order to Save us from sin and Eternal Death and to raise us to Heaven that is: to raise us where there is Eternal Life and Eternal Blessedness. Since our Lord Jesus Christ descended to us in order to raise us up to Heaven, then we should ascend thereto beforehand in our thoughts and heartfelt desires, gradually turning our soul away from everything that binds us to the earth that binds us to this country of exile in which there are so many temptations, afflictions, sicknesses and sorrows with all its brevity, where we see only sin, allurements and death with all its horror! Thus, even before the Joyful Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us adorn our soul with sobriety and purity of heart so that as He appears from Heaven we might all worthily Commemorate His Holy Birth. We must be attentive to ourselves for Christ is born on earth. We must raise our thoughts and hearts from earth to God and joyfully sing of the Great Mystery of the wonderful, Joyous Nativity of the God Man. And when we celebrate this Feast with such good thoughts and with such a good disposition of heart, then we will indeed Joyfully and worthily meet our Lord in a Faithful Christian manner that benefits our immortal soul. Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST IS AT HAND BY ST JOHN OF KRONSTADT RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/THE-NATIVITYOF-CHRIST-IS-AT-HAND/

St Gregory of Nyssa
True Perfection is not to avoid a wicked life because we fear punishment, like slaves - not to do good because we expect repayment, as if cashing in on the Virtuous Life by enforcing some business deal. On the contrary, disregarding all those good things that we do hope for and which God has promised us, we regard falling from Gods Friendship as the only dreadful thing, and we consider becoming Gods Friend the only truly worthwhile thing.

St John of Kronstadt
Say inwardly, from your whole heart: " The Lord is everything to me; I myself am nothing; I am powerless, I am infirm." ... for without Me you can do nothing," says the Lord Himself, for it might be added: " I Am everything to you." Be heartily convinced of this every moment of your life, and have recourse to the Lord absolutely in everything, trusting to obtain from Him everything necessary for your Salvation, and even for this temporal life.

36.

SECOND DA Y

OF THE

NATIVITY

OF

CHRIST

OUR

SA VIOUR SY NAXIS

OF OUR

LAD Y THEOTOKOS 26 DECE MBER 2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All G lo ry, Hono ur a nd Wo rsh ip t o th e Fa the r, an d to the Son, a nd t o th e Holy S p irit, now and foreve r, an d unto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing a lso ou r Mos t Ho ly, Mo st Pu re, M ost B les se d a nd Glo ri ous L ad y, Maria, The oto kos, ye t Ever Vi rgi n, tog eth er w it h a ll the Sa int s. A nd let us co mmi t ou rs elv es and on e a noth er and ou r wh ol e L if e to Chr is t ou r God. Am en .

Third Day of the Nativity 27 December 2013 St Stephen, the Archdeacon & Protomartyr
Also the Feast of St Theodore Graptos (the Scribe) (& the Branded) Confessor St Theodore of Constantinople - The Wonder-working, All Merciful Kykko Icon of the Ever Blessed Virgin Theotokos

FEST

AL

ISODIKO

N OF THE

ATIVITY

Soson imas, Ie Theou, O ek Parthenou tehthis, psallontas Save us, O Son of God, Born of the Virgin, who sing
Si Allilouia!
FEST
AL

to Thee: Alleluia!
NA
TIVITY OF

AP

OLYTIKION OF THE

CHRIST

OUR

SA

VIOUR

I gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetele to kosmo, to

Fos to tis gnoseos. En afti gar i tis astris latrevontes, ipo asteros edi daskonto, se proskinin, ton Ilion tis dikeosinis, ke se ginoskin ex ipsous anatolin. Kyrie Doxa Si!
FEST
AL

Thy

Nativity, O Christ our God, has given rise to the Light of Knowledge in the world; for they who worshipped the Star learnt therefrom to worship Thee, O Sun of Justice, and to know that from the East of the Highest Thou came. O Lord: Glory to Thee!
TONE 4

AP

OLYTIKION OF

ST STEP

HEN THE

PROT

OMARTYR

Vasilion

diadima, estefthi si korifi, ex athlon on ipeminas, iper Hristou tou Theou, martiron Protoathle Stefane. Si gar tin Ioudeon, apelegxas manian, ides Sou ton Sotira, tou Patros dexiothen. Afton oun ekdisopi ai, iper ton psihon imon.
NATI
VITY OF

With

a Royal Diadem, thy sacred head was crowned, for the struggles thou endured because of Christ our God, O Stephen, among Martyrs the First Champion; for refuting the madness of the angry Judean, thou saw thy Saviour at the right of the Father. Him thou constantly beseech for the souls of all of us. Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

KO

NTAKION OF THE

CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos.
GION

Today the

TRISA

YMN

INSTE

AD

OF THE

GIOS

O THE

OS

...

Osi is Hriston evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe.

Allelouia

As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have put

on Christ: Alleluia!

Festal Prokeimenon: His Voice has gone out into all the earth! The Heavens declare the Glory of God! The Acts of the A postles According to St Luke
EVANGELISM
AND

6 : 8 7 : 5 & 47 60
HEN

ARTYRDOM

ST STEP

In those days, Stephen, full of Faith and Power, did great Wonders and Signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. But they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. So they secretly induced men to say: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. And they stirred up the people, the Elders, and the Scribes; and they went to him, seized him and took him to the Council. They also set up false witnesses who said: This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this Holy Place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs, which Moses delivered to us. And all who sat in the Council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an Angel. Then the High Priest said: Are these things so? And Stephen said: Brethren and Fathers, listen: the God of Glory appeared to our Father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him: Get out of your country and from your relatives, and go to a land that I will show you. Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, God promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him... ... but Solomon built God a House. However, the Most High does not dwell in Temples made by hands, as the Prophet says: Heaven is My Throne and earth is My Footstool. What House will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the Place of My Rest? Has My Hand not made all these things? You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the Coming of the Just One, of Whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the Law by the Direction of Angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right Hand of God, and said: Behold! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right Hand of God!

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Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran to him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he called on God, saying: O Lord Jesus: receive my soul! Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice: O Lord, do not charge them with this sin! And when he had said this, he fell asleep. That is why THE COUNCILLORS ...SAW HIS FACE AS THE FACE OF AN After the Glorious Day of PENTECOST WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD DESCENDED UPON AND GRANTED THE FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND ANGEL. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST HIS DIVINE GIFTS, THEY WERE EMPOWERED ST STEPHEN WAS ILLUMINATED AND GLORIFIED BY HIS DEEP FAITH AND TO DO AMAZING AND MIRACULOUS DEEDS ACCORDING TO DIVINE SPIRITUAL POWER. WILL FOR THE RAPID SPREAD OF HIS HOLY GOSPEL THROUGHOUT 2 C O R I N T H I A N S 3 : 1 8 ... we all, with unveiled face, THE WORLD. beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are They were ... full of FAITH AND POWER which CHANGES LIVES being TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, JUST AS BY THE (HOLY) SPIRIT OF THE LORD. RADICALLY and which COMPELS THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO HOLY SERVICE TO FULFIL THEIR SACRED TASKS WITHOUT QUESTION THE WORD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS TRUE LIBERTY OR FREEDOM, OR HESITATION, WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT WHATEVER ENABLING US TO BEHOLD GOD - TO EXPERIENCE HIS GOD WILLS IS ACHIEVED BY HIS DIVINE G RACE AND POWER. INDESCRIBABLE DIVINE PRESENCE, JOY, PEACE AND LOVE. Created in the Image of God, WE THEN SEE HIS U NCREATED Freedmen were Hebrews who had formerly been held captive under the Roman conquerors, and often due IMAGE, THE S ON OF GOD, THE GLORY OF THE LORD THROUGH to rebellion against Roman authority. CHRISTS DEIFIED HUMANITY AND IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The charges of blasphemy were brought against St Stephen because, ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL, THE LITURGY As we behold Him, WE BECOME WHAT WE WERE CREATED BY GOD TO BE. AND LAW OF THE OLD COVENANT WERE FULFILLED BY CHRIST AND WERE THEREFORE OBVIOUSLY CHANGED AND T RANSFORMED. God is infinite so GROWING IN HIS IMAGE AND GLORY HAS NO LIMITS. HEBREWS 7:12 ... the Priesthood being changed, WE SHALL FOREVER SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY AND BE TRANSFORMED of necessity there is also a change of the Law. INTO HIS LIKENESS (which we are trying to regain since our NOT ONLY IS JESUS CHRIST, THE FOUNDER OF THE NEW COVENANT Fall from Divine Grace in Paradise.) PRIESTHOOD, SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE OLD COVENANT, THE RULES OF THE NEW COVENANTS PRIESTLY O RDER ARE ALSO E X O D U S 3 4 : 2 9 3 5 AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH SUPERIOR AND SINCE THE HOLY P RIESTHOOD IS SO INTERTWINED GOD ON MOUNT SINAI, ST MOSES FACE SHONE WITH A WITH THE COVENANT, IF THE PRIESTHOOD IS CHANGED, SO IS THE DIVINE LIGHT to such an overwhelming extent that he COVENANT. had to cover his face with a veil since the amazing To those who refused to accept Christ as the True Messiah, Light frightened the Israelites. such changes were regarded as sacrilegious or ST STEPHEN DID NOT ANSWER THE HIGH PRIEST DIRECTLY but used the profane. charges as the context for his Preaching, whereby, At His unjust and illegal Trial THE CHARGE OR ACCUSATION OF similar to St Peters Sermon on Pentecost, S T STEPHEN FALSE WITNESSES THAT OUR LORD J ESUS CHRIST HAD THREATENED DELIVERED CHRISTS HOLY GOSPEL BASED ON THE OLD TESTAMENT, TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM WERE MISINTERPRETATIONS SHOWING HOW THE HEBREWS CONSISTENTLY MISSED THE PURPOSE OF HIS WORDS: Destroy this Temple, and in three days I OF GODS HOLY COVENANT WITH THEM DUE TO THEIR HARDNESS will raise it up REFERRING TO HIS OWN BODY AND HIS AND STUBBORNNESS OF HEART. PROPHECY OF THE D ESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE, WHICH WAS FULFILLED IN 70 WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED IT AS RETRIBUTION AGAINST A HEBREW REBELLION. (MATTHEW 26:61; JOHN 2:19; LUKE 21: 6 THOSE WHO BECOME ONE WITH CHRIST RECEIVE DIVINE RADIANCE, which is A PREVIEW OF THE GLORY ALL FAITHFUL will share in the Age to come: Eternal Life in Gods Kingdom.
& 20)

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M atthew

THE MISTREATME NT OF GODS HOL Y MESSE NGERS

21 : 33 42

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: Hear another Parable: There was a certain Landowner Who planted a Vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And He leased it to Vinedressers and went into a Far Country. Now when vintage time drew near, He sent His Servants to the Vinedressers, so that they might receive its Fruit. But the Vinedressers took His Servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again, He sent other Servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then, last of all, He sent His Son to them, saying: They will respect My Son. But when the Vinedressers saw the Son, they said amongst themselves: This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and seize His Inheritance. So they took Him and cast Him out of the Vineyard and killed Him. Therefore, when the Owner of the Vineyard comes, what will He do to those Vinedressers? They said to Him: He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His Vineyard to other Vinedressers who will render to Him the Fruits in their seasons. And Jesus said to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The Stone that the Builders rejected has become the chief Cornerstone. This was the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you: the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a Nation bearing the Fruits of it. ] THE SON AND HEIR, IS, OF COURSE, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, ] THE LANDOWNER IS GOD THE FATHER. ] THE VINEYARD IS HIS HOLY CHURCH i.e. all the Faithful JESUS CHRIST. Christians who are struggling Disciples of Christ. ] THE CASTING OUT AND KILLING OF THE SON IS UNDERSTOOD ON ] THE VINEDRESSERS WERE INITIALLY THE OLD COVENANT HEBREW TWO LEVELS: OUR LORD JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED OUTSIDE THE LEADERS who had been entrusted with the care of CITY gates of Jerusalem and HE WAS TORTURED AND EXECUTED BY FOREIGNERS ROMAN SOLDIERS . Gods Chosen Nation. ] LATER, THE VINEDRESSERS WERE THE NEW COVENANT APOSTLES ] THE OTHER VINEDRESSERS ARE THE G ENTILES who joyfully AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WHO FULFILLED THEIR SACRED accept Christianity and who strive to fulfil all their MISSION OF SPREADING THE HOLY GOSPEL throughout commitments and Sacred Duties to God and their the world, and their descendents, all our Bishops fellow mankind. and Priests throughout the centuries. ] THE OLD COVENANT S ERVANTS WERE THE HOLY PROPHETS who guided, exhorted and returned the Hebrew Nation to God. ] THE NEW COVENANT S ERVANTS ARE ALL OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND MOTHERS, SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND T EACHERS WHO LABOUR CEASELESSLY TO PRESERVE GODS TRUTH BY ENLIGHTENING, GUIDING AND TEACHING US.

38.

3RD DAY O F THE NATIVI TY -

S T S T E P H E N , A R C H D E A C O N , H O L Y A P O S T L E & P R O T O M A R T Y R - 27 DECEMBER 2013

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of A lexandria & All Africa

All Glo ry, Ho nou r and W orsh ip to t he Fat he r, a nd to the Son, an d t o t he Ho ly S p irit, n ow a nd fo reve r, a nd unto t he Ag es o f age s. Ame n. Remem ber ing al so ou r Mo st H oly, M ost Pu re, M ost Bl es sed a nd G loriou s Lady, Mari a, T heo toko s, y et Ev er Virgin, toge the r w ith a ll the Sa int s. And le t u s c omm it o urse lves an d o ne ano t her an d o ur w hol e L if e to Chr ist o ur Go d. Ame n .

27th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 2

29 De cember 2013

Sunday A fter the Nativity of C hrist Commemoration of t h e H o l y R i g h t e o u s O n e s : S t D a v i d the K i n g , S t J o se p h the B e tr o the d & S t Jam e s the Just & A de l p ho the o s T h e Sl a u gh t e r o f t h e 1 40 0 0 H o l y I nn o ce n t s o f B e t h le h e m
Also the Feast of St Marcellos the Abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping St Mark the Grave Digger, St Theophilos & St John of the Kiev Near Caves St Theophilos of Luga & Omutch St Thaddeus the Confessor of the Studion Monastery
RESURRECTIO
N

APO

LYTIKION

Ote

TONE 2

katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote ton Adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!
AL

When Thou

FEST

AP

OLYTIKION OF THE

NA

TIVITY OF

CHRIST

OUR

SA

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

I gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetele to kosmo, to

Fos to tis gnoseos. En afti gar i tis astris latrevontes, ipo asteros edi daskonto, se proskinin, ton Ilion tis dikeosinis, ke se ginoskin ex ipsous anatolin. Kyrie Doxa Si!
FEST
AL

Thy

Nativity, O Christ our God, has given rise to the Light of Knowledge in the world; for they who worshipped the Star learnt therefrom to worship Thee, O Sun of Justice, and to know that from the East of the Highest Thou came. O Lord: Glory to Thee!

AP

OLYTIKION

- SU

NDAY

AFT

ER

THE NATI

VITY

Evangelizou Iosif, to David ta Thavmata to Theopatori,

Parthenon ides Kioforisasan; meta Pimenon edoxologisas, meta ton Magon prosekinisas, di Angelou Hrimatisthis. Iketeve Hriston ton Theon, sothine tas psihas imon!
KO
NTAKION OF THE

Pronounce, O Joseph, the Good News of the Miracles to

David the Divine Ancestor. Thou saw a Virgin giving Birth to a Child; with the Shepherds thou offered Glory, with the Wise Men thou worshipped, having received from an Angel a Message. Entreat Christ our God, for the Salvation of our souls!

NATI

VITY OF

CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos.

Today

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.

Resurrection Gospel 5: Luke 24:12 35

OUR RISEN LORD JES US APPE ARS ALO NG THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

Prokeimenon God is Wonderful in His Saints! Bless God in the Congregations! The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 1 : 11 19
TH
E

DI

VINE

CA

LLI NG OF

ST PA

UL

Brethren: ... I make known to you that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not according to man, nor was I taught It, but It came through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy It. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own Nation being more exceedingly zealous for the Traditions of my Fathers. But when it pleased God - Who separated me from my Mothers womb and Called me through His Grace to reveal His Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except James, the Brother of our Lord... Lord began and which will continue until the ] THE TRUE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT TO US ONLY BY HIS TRUE APOSTLES even though many people Eighth Day the Final Day Judgement Day and falsely declare themselves to be Apostles. the beginning of Eternity. TRUE APOSTLES WERE CALLED BY G OD HIMSELF AND WERE Christ calls every human being to follow Him yet very few JOYOUSLY COMPELLED TO FOLLOW HIM to joyously receive His Calling, which completely changes accompany Him so that they could LEARN, WITNESS us, being compelled to faithfully serve Him according to AND EXPERIENCE FIRST-HAND EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE DIVINE MISSION ON EARTH, which our

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His Divine Will by an overwhelming Love of God and for our fellow mankind. APOSTLES ARE CALLED TO DIVINE SERVICE BY DIVINE GRACE BY THE WILL OF G OD and has nothing to do with personal achievements or social status, for we are all equal in the Sight of God. TRUE APOSTLES LEARNT DIVINE TRUTH EITHER BY DIVINE GRACE DIRECTLY FROM GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - OR FROM CHRIST HIMSELF, which they most carefully preserved and protected, and which is PASSED DOWN UNCHANGED TO ALL GENERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AGES OUR APOSTOLIC TRADITION. Absolute Perfection Divine Truth - cannot be altered except by God Himself Who is Eternal and Unchangeable! TRUE APOSTLES ALWAYS BRING GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO GOD ALONE and never seek any earthly rewards for themselves at all. TRUE APOSTLES FORM ONE CHURCH GOVERNMENT maintaining exactly the same Holy Doctrine without exception and working for the Glory, Honour and Worship of Almighty God by Divinely Inspired Agreement reached in Council. TRUE APOSTLES STAND FIRM AND UNITED IN MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE AND ARE CORRECTABLE WHEN MISTAKEN just as St Paul rebuked St Peter for his hypocritical ethnic elitism. As Faithful, Struggling Disciples of Christ, we must always accept constructive criticism, which is offered in a spirit of Agape, being grateful for correction when in danger of being misled or deceived by the evil one who uses all our weaknesses against us. If we are angered by Spiritual Correction, we must question our personal motives, which are usually driven by the vice of pride and arrogance. TRUE APOSTOLIC TRADITION IS FIRMLY GROUNDED IN DIVINE REVELATION AND T RUTH, WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
TH
E

Just as the Twelve Apostles of Christ were CALLED BY OUR LORD HIMSELF, so was St Paul. Just as the Twelve Apostles RECEIVED THE HOLY GOSPEL DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST, so did St Paul. Just as the Twelve Apostles of Christ stood as one FIRMLY AND SOLIDLY UNITED so, too, did St Paul enter their Unity in consensus and mutual submission. HAVING RECEIVED HIS HOLY G OSPEL FROM CHRIST HIMSELF AND IN TOTAL OBEDIENCE TO HIS DIVINE WILL, ST PAUL HAD BEEN BAPTISED AND CHRISMATED BY ST ANANIAS in Damascus and thus had received the Gift of the Seal of the Holy Spirit, which enabled St Paul to become the great Apostle to the Gentiles. ONLY THREE YEARS LATER ST PAUL MET WITH ST PETER AND ST JAMES. the Brother of our Lord, who was in fact our Lords cousin (and Step-brother according to Judaic Law.) St James Love and Devotion to Christ made him worthily entitled Adelphotheos Brother of God. He was in fact cousin to Theotokos and, according to Judaic Law, the (step) brother of our Lord Jesus. He had accompanied the very young Virgin and Christ Child and his elderly, widowed father, St Joseph the Betrothed into exile in Egypt and had immediately agreed to share his earthly inheritance with Him. St James was the most Pious, Humble and Obedient first Bishop of Jerusalem and was eventually Martyred for his absolute Faith in and Service to Christ our Lord and Saviour. The point that St Paul made was that he had not received any Spiritual Instruction or Revelation from anyone not even the other Holy Apostles of Christ. ] ALL ST PAULS KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING WAS BESTOWED UPON HIM BY DIVINE G RACE by the Will of God the Father, through God the Son and by the enable Action of God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Gospel A ccording to St M atthew 2 : 13 - 23

FLIGHT
OF THE

OLY

FA

MILY I NTO

EGYPT

At that time, when the Magi had departed, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise! Take the Young Child and His Mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word. For Herod will seek the Young Child to destroy Him. When he arose, Joseph took the Young Child and His Mother by night and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet: Out of Egypt I called My Son... Then, when Herod saw that he had been deceived by the Magi, he was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah lamentation, weeping and great mourning Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more. Now, when Herod had died, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: Arise, take the Young Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Young Childs life are dead. And Joseph arose, took the Young Child and His Mother, and went into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, so that it was fulfilled, which had been spoken by the Prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene. THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAD ONCE BEFORE SOUGHT REFUGE IN EGYPT DELIVERED OUT OF SPIRITUAL CAPTIVITY AND WHO STRIVE DAILY TO FULFIL GODS WILL. - and just as Joseph of the Old Covenant had saved THE UTTER MERCILESS CRUELTY OF KING HEROD OF JUDEA WAS Gods People by inviting them to Egypt, SO TOO DID ST JOSEPH THE B ETROTHED OF THE NEW COVENANT with God PREFIGURED BY THE STUBBORN PHARAOH OF EGYPT who had commanded the terrible slaughter of all newborn seek refuge and safety for our Lord and Saviour, male children of the Hebrew nation IN AN ATTEMPT TO Jesus Christ. [GENESIS 39 47] DESTROY GODS CHOSEN P EOPLE THE POWER OF ISRAEL. No doubt THE GENEROUS GIFTS OF THE MAGI HAD PARTLY PAID FOR [EXODUS 1: 16 22] THE HOLY FAMILYS JOURNEY INTO AND SOJOURN IN EGYPT. The Holy Prophet of God, St Jeremiah, had recorded the Out of Egypt I called My Son REFERS INITIALLY TO ISRAEL people of Jerusalem being led away into exile. BEING TAKEN OUT OF CAPTIVITY as the expression My Son On the way to their captivity, they passed the tomb of referred to THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL GODS CHOSEN Rachel at Ramah, near Bethlehem, where he heard PEOPLE. THE LAMENTING OF RACHEL FOR ALL THE HOLY INNOCENTS NOW, ACCORDING TO THE NEW COVENANT, OUR LORD JESUS THE MARTYRED CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (BOTH THOSE OF THE OLD CHRIST IS INDEED GODS ONLY ETERNAL AND U NBEGOTTEN T RUE SON, Who was called forth from His temporary exile in Egypt and, BEING ADOPTED CO-H EIRS WITH CHRIST THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM, WE ARE THE NEW COVENANT ISRAEL THE NEWLY CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD WHO HAVE BEEN
COVENANT, AND THOSE OF THE NEW COVENANT.) WHICH SHOWS US THAT THE SAINTS ARE VERY AWARE OF AND HAVE GREAT COMPASSION AND S YMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO STILL STRUGGLE IN THIS EARTHLY LIFE.

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ACCORDING TO HISTORICAL RECORDS, HEROD THE GREAT DIED IN 4 BC, THEREBY CONFIRMING THAT THE CURRENT
CALENDAR YEARS .
(ANNO DOMINI OR AD)

IS INCORRECT BY FOUR

Augustus Ceasar eventually banished Archelaus due to his innumerable cruelty and atrocities (6 AD). GALILEE WAS RULED BY ANOTHER SON OF HEROD HEROD A NTIPAS.

Sunday After the Nativity of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ
Today the Holy Orthodox Church of Christ Commemorates THREE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WHO H IS ROYAL WERE CLOSE TO OUR LORD J ESUS : ANCESTOR, THE H OLY KING AND PROPHET OF G OD, ST DAVID, who foresaw the Coming of Christ in his Psalms; ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED, H IS AGED UNCLE who had been appointed by Temple Priests as THE PIOUS AND TRUSTWORTHY G UARDIAN AND PROTECTOR OF H IS ALL PURE VIRGIN M OTHER, and ST JAMES THE J UST, THE ELDEST SON OF ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED, who had accompanied our Lady Theotokos, the Christ Child and St Joseph the Betrothed on their flight into Egypt, and later became one of Holy Apostles and was Martyred as the First Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem. I T IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE ANGEL OF G OD COMMANDED ST J OSEPH THE BETROTHED TO ... take the Young Child and His Mother into Egypt... because there is no reference or suggestion whatsoever to Christ being the Son of St Joseph the Betrothed nor His Mother being his (St Josephs) wife. Furthermore this having been done, THE PROPHETIC WORDS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE ARE CLEARLY FULFILLED: ... out of Egypt have I called My Son... - God did not call St Joseph the Betrotheds Son out of Egypt. He called His own Eternally Begotten Son. Let us now contemplate THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE N EW BORN CHRIST THE THREE M AGI OR WISE M EN who are actually Commemorated on the Feast Day of the Nativity and who so often are almost overlooked. THE THREE M AGI CAME FROM BABYLON, which was at that time, A RENOWNED CENTRE OF ASTRONOMY. They travelled all that way in order to worship and adore our New Born Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, after having beheld an extraordinary Sign in the sky an inexplicable and extremely Bright Star. In recent times, various Astronomers and other Scientists have tried to identify this Great Sign either as an unexpected Star or comet, or else as being a conjunction of several planets, thereby trying to date the time of Christs Birth. Nevertheless, AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE M AGI FOUND OUR LORD BY FOLLOWING A STAR. First of all, if it had been a Star, would they have been able to follow it by day as well as at night? And above all, we know from Holy Scripture that THE M AGI LOCATED THE CHRIST CHILD BECAUSE THE STAR STOPPED DIRECTLY OVER THE HOUSE WHERE THE H OLY FAMILY WAS RESIDING. The reality and Truth is that NO STAR WOULD SHINE SPECIFICALLY OVER ONE INDIVIDUAL LOCATION! In reality and Truth this was THE UNCREATED LIGHT OF THE H OLY SPIRIT WHO G UIDED THE G ENTILE M AGI TO THE CHRIST CHILD (over an approximate period of two years - according to the Slaughter of the 14,000 Holy Innocents infant boys who were two years or younger . mp) THE WISE M AGI - REALISING THEY WERE TO MEET SOMEONE WHO WAS EXTRAORDINARY A G REAT KING TOOK WITH THEM THE MOST PRICELESS GIFTS POSSIBLE: GOLD, INCENSE AND MYRRH. Gold symbolises the DIVINE KINGSHIP of our Saviour. Incense symbolises His ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD. Myrrh symbolises HIS PROPHETIC NATURE and His TRIUMPH OVER DEATH . These same gifts of the Magi are also significant to our Relationship with our Lord and Saviour and His Holy Church. DO WE GIVE GOLD TO H IS H OLY CHURCH? This means
THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERY PARISH CHURCH TO FLOURISH AND FULFIL ALL H ER SACRED TASKS with regard to God and our

struggling, suffering neighbours and fellow sinners (not for the enriching of the Parish Priest!) At this time of the year, especially, it is good for us to LOOK HONESTLY AT HOW WE INDIVIDUALLY, PERSONALLY SUPPORT THE H OLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. The Magi presented their gift of gold to Christ, which may well have paid for the Flight into Egypt and thereby saved His Life. WHAT GOLD DO WE PRESENT TO CHRIST IN ORDER TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE, ADORATION AND WORSHIP? The Holy Church of Christ should be the heart of our family life and we should freely and generously contribute whatever we can towards the smooth and successful fulfilling of Her Holy Mission not only financially but also by supplying the needs of the Church as well as giving our time to serving God and others in a variety of ways for WE ARE THE CHURCH! mp DO WE PRESENT SWEET SMELLING INCENSE TO OUR LORD J ESUS BY OFFERING OUR LOVE, COMPASSION, MERCY
AND RESPECT TO OUR NEIGHBOURS WITH WHOM WE COME INTO CONTACT EVERY DAY?

This is what the gift of incense means and it is the reason why our Priests cense all the Liturgical Implements and the Holy Icons as well as the Congregation who are images of Christ thereby showing honour and respect for God and for mankind. DO WE HONOUR ONE ANOTHER AND SHOW CONCERN AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER? The Gentile Magi travelled a great distance to honour, adore and worship our Lord, yet we fail to do the same for those who are closest to us. DO WE PRESENT BLESSED M YRRH TO OUR LORD AND OUR FELLOW DISCIPLES? This is not literally Blessed Myrrh but rather OUR MERCIFUL LOVE, PATIENCE AND COMPASSION for all those who surround us and with whom we come into contact, even for a brief moment. The Magi presented the Mercy of Myrrh to our Lord Jesus Christ yet HOW DO WE SHOW MERCY, KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY TO OTHERS WHO ARE LIKE US MADE IN THE IMAGE OF CHRIST H IMSELF? LET US CLOSELY EXAMINE OURSELVES OUR REAL MOTIVES AND OUR REAL ATTITUDE and ACKNOWLEDGE EXACTLY WHAT WE PRESENT TO CHRIST every day or even on Sundays as well as to all whom we see before us and let us honestly ask ourselves: Am I like the Wise Magi? Am I kind, merciful and generous to Christ to Almighty God and to others? FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED AND J UDGED BEFORE THE AWESOME THRONE OF CHRIST ON THE FINAL DAY OF G REAT J UDGEMENT AND THE BEGINNING OF ETERNITY. Let us pray that we are ultimately worthy of His Eternal Blessings and Life. Amen
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ORTHODOX SERMONS DELIVERED AT ST FELIX & ST EDMUND ORTHODOX CHURCH, FELIXSTOW, UK - ORTHODOXNOTES.COM/EBOOKS

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O n t o l o g y [concerning the nature of being or existence] & E t h i c s Salvation offered by the Holy Church of Christ does recognise as Saints, despite the fact that they did not lie in the moral improvement of people, as it is things that are incompatible with the principle of often claimed. morality. The Holy Church has in Her Bosom so many people For example: St Irene blinded her son and the Holy with moral shortcomings, as St Paul wrote to the Prophet Elijah slew 500 pagan priests of their Galatians: If you bite and devour each other, idolatrous god, Baal... beware not to exterminate each other! Based on todays moral criteria, many of the Holy Saints of our Church would have been excluded. In this context, the question of Holiness is asked. THE H OLY CHURCH OF CHRIST CONSECRATES US not on It is thought that the Sanctity is identified with Moral our moral improvement, but ON THE BASIS OF Perfection. Even the Holiness of God is presented in textbooks of REPENTANCE i.e. CONFIRMATION THAT OUR SINFULNESS IS AN ONTOLOGICAL REALITY! Dogmatics as a Moral Perfection. (eg: Andrukos, Tembelas, etc) This explains THE J USTIFICATION OF THE PUBLICAN (the However, it disagrees not only with what Apostle Paul Repentant Tax Collector) and THE CONDEMNATOIN OF wrote in his Epistles, calling Believers Saints, THE MORALLY PERFECT PHARISEES (whom Christ despite what he said about them, as we can see in regarded as arrogant, self-righteous hypocrites.) the example of the Galatians, but also with the ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE ABOVE QUOTATION IS FROM A PAPER WRITTEN BY entire history of our Holy Church. METROPOLITAN JOHN ZIZIULAS ON ONTOLOGY AND ETHICS THE LINK FOR WHICH IS Thus the Byzantine Emperors, such as Constantine FOUND ON HTTP://FRMILOVAN.WORDPRESS.COM/2012/12/ the Great, St Irene of Athens, and so on, we
Dear Brothers and Sisters: be Patient as you wait for the Lords Return. Consider the Farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the Fall and in the Spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen... (James 5:7) We are not supposed to sit around miserably and The Lord our God has put dreams and desires in every discouraged. persons heart. We are supposed to hopeful, positive and full of But most times, there is a season of waiting involved. expectancy! Perhaps we have to wait for a relationship to improve No matter what we are praying for, we must expect or wait to get Married. our circumstances to change in our favour for We have to wait for a promotion or patiently wait to today could be that day which God grants us His recover our health after an illness. Great Mercy and Abundant Blessings. Much of our life is spent waiting for something. As we wait with Patience and expectancy, we open the However, there is a right way to patiently wait and a door of our heart and soul, welcoming God to wrong way of impatience. freely enter. Too often, when circumstances do not occur Our Lord always takes care of us He fights our according to our personal timetable, we become greatest battles and we will see that abundant despondent and discouraged or anxious and Harvest that He has Promised us in every aspect of fretful which is due to our own impatience. Take note: St James did not tell us to be Patient IF we our Life. wait... but rather AS we wait. HTTP://THEINNERKINGDOM.WORDPRESS.COM/2013/08/20/BEPATIENT/#MORE-1738 The fact is that we are all going to wait and we should consider how a Farmer waits PATIENTLY AND EAGERLY. The E ternal, Inspired Wisdom of

On Being Patient

E Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of

E E E

your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for Repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits. The Knowledge of the Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross. Those who follow Christ in Solitary Mourning are greater than those who praise Christ amid the congregation of men. Be persecuted, rather than being a persecutor. Be crucified, rather than being a crucifier. Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly. Be oppressed, rather than zealous. Lay hold of Goodness, rather than Justice. Why do you trouble yourself in a house that is not your own? Let the sight of a dead man be a Teacher for you concerning your Departure from hence. The Lords Day is a Mystery of the Knowledge of the Truth that is not received by flesh and blood, and it Transcends speculations. In this age there is no Eighth Day, nor is there a True Sabbath. For he who said that `God rested on the Seventh Day, signified the rest [of our

E E E

HTTP://THEINNERKINGDOM.WORDPRESS.COM/2008/09/07/QUOTES-BYST-ISAAC-THE-SYRIAN/

St Isaac the Syrian nature] from the course of this life, since the grave is also of a bodily nature and belongs to this world. Six days are accomplished in the husbandry of life by means of keeping the Commandments; the Seventh is spent entirely in the grave; and the Eighth is the departure from it. The Ascetical Homilies, I A small but always persistent Discipline is a great force; for a soft drop falling persistently, hollows out hard rock. Spread your cloak over those who fall into sin, each and every one, and shield them. If zeal had been appropriate for putting humanity right, why did God the Word clothe Himself in the Body, using Gentleness and Humility in order to bring the world back to His Father? O Wonder! The Creator clothed in a human being enters the house of Tax Collectors and prostitutes. Thus the entire Universe, through the Beauty of the sight of Him, was drawn by His Love to the single Confession of God, the Lord of all.

Father Seraphim Rose

When Conversion takes place, the process of Revelation occurs in a very simple manner a person is in need, he suffers, and then, somehow, the other world opens up. The more we suffer and experience difficulties, and the more we become desperate for God, the more His comes to our aid. He reveals Who He is and He shows us the way to freedom...

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