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Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
Parthenou tehthenta is sotirian imon, animnisomen, beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a
pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise sarki anelthin Virgin, let us Faithful Believers hymn and adore. For
en to Stavro ke thanaton ipomine ke egire tous it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the
tethneotas en ti evdoxo Anastasi Aftou. Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own
Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.
APOLYTIKION OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS
Othodoxias O Fostir, Ekklisias to stirigma ke Orthodoxy’s Great Star, Support and Teacher of the
didaskale, ton Monaston i Kalloni, ton Theologon Church, the beauty of the Monks, and invincible
ipermahos aprosmahitos, Grigorie Thavmatourge, Protector of the Theologians, O Gregory, Worker of
Thessalonikis to kafhima, krix tis haritos, iketeve Miracles, the Pride of Thessaloniki, Preacher of Grace,
dia pantos, sothine tas psihas imon. forever dost thou intercede, that our souls may be
saved.
KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria, Os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City in
evharistiria, Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke, All’ thanksgiving Ascribes the Victory for the deliverance
os ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton, Ek pantion me from sufferings. But having Thy Might unassailable,
kindinon eleftheroson Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi Free me from all dangers So that I may cry out to
Animfevte! Thee: “Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
Matins Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 – 35 - OUR RISEN LORD JESUS APPEARS ALONG THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 1 : 10 – 2: 3
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD – IS WITHOUT BEGINNING AND THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING
Brethren: to the Son God says: “Thou, O Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the
Heavens are the Work of Thy Hands. They will perish but Thou remain; and they will all grow old like
a garment; like a cloak Thou will fold them up, and they will be changed but Thou art the same and
Thy years will not fail.”
But to which of the Angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy Footstool.”?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit Salvation?
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away, for if the word spoken
through Angels proved reliable and every transgression and disobedience received a Just Reward, how shall we
escape if we neglect so great a Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken of by our Lord, and was confirmed
to us by those who heard Him.
St Paul used a quotation from Psalm 101:26 – 28 in which God Like us they, too, are intellectual beings who have been
the Father addressed Another Person as “Lord,” which created with free will and they most joyfully and faithfully
meant He, too, is God – i.e. God the Father spoke to God serve God in absolute Obedience.
the Son Who is Co-equal in all Divine Attributes. St Paul admonished (cautioned) against wilful negligence and
The role of certain of God’s Heavenly Hosts – the Angels or carelessness through a gradual drifting away from God’s
Messengers of God – minister – take care of, guide, True Path.
protect and communicate God’s Will – to “those who will He emphasised the fact that if the Hebrews were expected to
inherit Salvation” – i.e. those who are faithful servants and obey the words of created beings like the Heavenly Angels
adopted heirs of God. of God or suffer the consequences, how much more must
In the early years of Christ’s Holy Church, many Hebrews we heed what God Incarnate has taught us through His
believed that the Angels of God mediated the Old Holy Apostles – especially when His Divine Truth has been
Covenant and although they certain served “The Angel of confirmed by many Divine Miracles of the Holy Spirit –
God” – i.e. the Son of God - in His New Covenant with us, factual proof that the Kingdom of God has come!
God’s Holy Angels served our Lord and Saviour in His During the Divine Liturgy, we beseech God for the “... pardon
Humanity. and remission of our sins and transgressions...” and
Furthermore, instead of ruling over mankind, the Heavenly “... a good defence before the dread Judgement Seat
Angels are partners in Divine Service with us. of Christ...” whereby we affirm the Truth of a Just Reward
They are our Guardian Angels who ensure that the Will of God or Divine Retribution – a very real Divine Judgement!
is fulfilled at all times.
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When Jesus saw their Faith, He said to the Paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven you!” But some of the Scribes
were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts: “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive
sins but God alone?”
Immediately, as Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them: “Why do
you reason about these things in your heart? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic: ‘Your sins are
forgiven you...’ or ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk!’? So that you may know that the Son of Man has
the Power to forgive sins...” and turning to the Paralytic He said: “I say to you: Arise! Take up your bed
and go to your house.”
Straight away he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all so that all were amazed and glorified
God, saying: “We never saw anything like this!”
FAITH IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION. Having done so before a multitude of witnesses, HE DREW
FAITH IS ALSO COLLECTIVE AS WELL AS PERSONAL because, THEM TO GOD WHOM THEY GLORIFIED FOR HIS GREAT
as in this particular case, the friends of the paralysed man MERCY.
helped in his healing. The significance of the four friends of the Paralytic is
Three signs of our Lord Jesus’ Divinity are evident: noteworthy for THEY NOT ONLY TOOK THE TROUBLE TO
CARRY HIM TO WHERE OUR LORD WAS BUT THEY DID NOT
✥ HE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF ALL SOULS
ALLOW ANYTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM PRESENTING
✥ HE FORGIVES SINS – A DIVINE POWER THAT BELONGS THEIR FRIEND TO CHRIST FOR HEALING – FULLY
TO GOD ALONE CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD OCCUR.
✥
HE HEALS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD The determination of the Paralytic and his friends was so
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPOSES OF THE impressive that they have been commemorated ever since
INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS TO FORGIVE SINS that day as A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CONFIDENCE AND FAITH
AND THUS SET US FREE FROM ITS DEADLY ENSLAVEMENT. IN GOD.
THE FORGIVING OF SINS IS A GREATER DIVINE POWER THAN IT IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRUE LOVE (AGAPE) FOR ONE
PHYSICAL HEALING for as the Scribes so correctly ANOTHER: DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ASSIST
understood, GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS. AND TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AS WE JOURNEY
Therefore, the “easier task” was for Christ to grant the TOWARDS GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
paralysed man physical healing and although Christ is fully The conniving Scribes and Pharisees was thwarted once again
Divine and has the Authority by His own right to forgive by our Lord Who is All knowing, when He used an
sins, He condescended to those who were gathered there alternative method of healing and forgiving the Paralytic.
at the time by healing the Paralytic. This passage is read on the Second Sunday of Great Lent,
called “Sunday of the Paralytic” and the Commemoration
of St Gregory Palamas.
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28 FEBRUARY 2010
Divine Grace that God offers us and how to become We are being Called to be enfolded by Divine Victory -
worthy of Him. to respond to it with earnest gratitude that will
Afterwards we will behold the Divine Victory in St Mary make Renew our humanity, filled with Joy and
of Egypt as we approach the threshold of Holy responding to the Love of God with joyful tears and
Week. a conscientious commitment to God.
Nevertheless, we must remember that we are now in ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC” BY METROPOLITAN ANTHONY
OF SOUROZH www.metropolit-anthony.orc
the time of Newness - a time when God's Victory is
being revealed to us.
2
THE SOUL IS REFERRED TO AS BEING FEMININE – LIKE THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST
– THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
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28 FEBRUARY 2010
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