G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a

A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and fo rever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mari a, Theotokos, ye t
Ever Virgi n, toge the r with all the Sai nts. And let us commit ourselves and one ano the r and our whole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

5 M a rc h 20 11

Saturday of the Ascetics

The Feast of St Conon of Isauria – St Conon the Gardener – St Mark the Faster of
Athens – St George the New Martyr of Rapsai – St Piran the Hermit of Cornwall

Apolytikion Of Our Holy Church Fathers

O Theos ton Pateron imon, O pion ai meth’ imon kata O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to
tin Sin epiikian, mi apostrisis to Eleos Sou af’ imon, Thy Gentleness: take not Thy Mercy from us, but by
alla tes afton ikesies en irini kivernison tin Zoin their entreaties guide our Life in Peace.
imon.
Kontakion Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protector of the Christians unashamed, Mediator to
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon the Creator Immovable: despise not, the pleading
fonas, alla profthason os Agathi, is tin voithian imon, voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the
ton Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke aid of all who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten Thine
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O
timonton Se. Theotokos who always protects those who honour
Thee!
S t P a ul’ s Ep is tle t o t he G al a t ia ns 5 : 2 2 – 6 : 2
The Holy Spirit Enables Us To Live In Christ
Brethren: The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-
control. Against such there is no Law. And those who are Christ’s 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 and envying
each other.
Brethren: if a person is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lets you also be tempted.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.
TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST MEANS TO INVOLVE OUR FAITH AND TO DO THE TRUE LIFE OR GAIN COURAGE TO DO BETTER BY
GOOD DEEDS THAT ARE COMPELLED AND MOTIVATED BY STUDYING THE LIVES AND THE INSPIRED WRITINGS OF OUR
DIVINE LOVE – Agape – for the Glory, Honour and HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND GREAT SAINTS who all
Worship of God. struggled before us, yet who managed to fulfil their
THOSE WHO STOP SHORT OF SUCH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, MISS Sacred Tasks.
THE DIVINE MESSAGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
When St Paul mentions “the flesh,” he usually MEANS
Although Christ broke the restricting bonds of the Old THE DANGEROUS DESIRES OF OUR BODIES THAT TRY TO
Covenant Law, He did so in order that our RULE OR DOMINATE US BY SUPPRESSING THE NATURAL
standards and our ultimate target – should be GOODNESS OF OUR GOD-GIVEN IMMORTAL SOULS .
exalted. In general terms the REFERENCE TO “THE FLESH” CONCERNS
OUR EVIL ACTIONS, OUR DEPRAVED AND SELF-INDULGENT
In other words, we are not longer obliged to follow to WILL, OUR EARTHLY MIND AND OUR SLOTHFUL AND
the letter of the Old Covenant Law every little CARELESS SOUL – ALL THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY UNDER
interpretation and practise like the Hebrews but WE OUR CONTROL AND WHICH ARE NOT PART OF OUR HUMAN
ARE FREE TO AIM EVEN HIGHER AND LIVE IN THE DIVINE NATURE.
SPIRIT OF GOD’S LAW – THE LAW OF UNCONDITIONAL, Consequently, WE MUST EXERCISE OUR FREE WILL FOR THE
UNRESTRICTED LOVE – IMITATING THE GREAT ATTRIBUTES BENEFIT OF OUR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL WELFARE – I.E. WE
AND FINEST EXAMPLE OF OUR LORD JESUS. MUST FORCE OUR SOULS TO DOMINATE THE WEAKNESSES,
TO LIVE IN CHRIST MEANS TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE HOLY DESIRES AND TEMPTATIONS OF OUR BODIES, which the
GIFTS GRANTED TO US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ENABLES US
TO REACH SUCH EXALTED SPIRITUAL HEIGHTS. evil one uses against us.
Thus THE WAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE WAY OF FAITH AND THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY EXPERIENCED and who have
LOVE, WHICH IS EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR WILLING made good progress by developing and improving
SERVICE TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT FAIL. their Knowledge of and Relationship with God, HAVE
Furthermore, as we make our personal Spiritual THE SACRED TASK OF GUIDING, ENCOURAGING AND
Journey through this life, WE MUST CONSTANTLY TEACHING OTHERS less Spiritually Experienced who
EXAMINE OUR OWN SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE, are easily led astray by the demands their flesh and
SO THAT WE CAN CEASELESSLY CORRECT OURSELVES – and the temptation of others.
thus prepare ourselves correctly for Eternal Life. It is of special note that ST PAUL CAUTIONS US TO BE ALERT
We are repeatedly reminded by Christ Himself and by TO OUR OWN EGOS, WHICH PROVOKE US INTO SINS OR VICES
all His Holy Church Fathers that INSTEAD OF WATCHING – WHICH CAUSE US TO FALL EVEN DEEPER INTO SIN.
WHAT OUR FELLOW SINNERS ARE DOING AND POINTING He also advises us to guide or correct our fellow
ACCUSATORY FINGERS AT THEM, WE MUST LOOK TO sinners “in a spirit of Gentleness,” being very
OURSELVES SO AS TO REPAIR OUR OWN DAMAGED OR SOILED
SOULS THROUGH REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND HOLY aware of and humbled by what St John of Kronstadt
COMMUNION. always kept in mind: “Today my Brethren,
At every opportunity, WE MUST COMPARE OURSELVES ONLY TO tomorrow, me!”
CHRIST OUR LORD WHO HAS SHOWN US THE TRUE WAY AND

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We share each others’ burdens throughout this We all need one another because we all face similar
preparatory period because unless we encourage obstacles along the way and only the Grace of God
and assist others, and when we fall, others do and with His Love and that of each other, can we
likewise for us, none of us will progress at all. take each step – one at a time – until the Final Day.
This Journey towards Eternity is a communal
endeavour that cannot be undertaken successfully
as a solo act!
T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t Ma t t he w 6 : 1 – 13
Our Lord Jesus Christ Teaches Us How to Give Alms & How to Pray
At that time our Lord Jesus said: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before others, to be seen
by them. Otherwise you have no Reward from your Father in Heaven. Therefore, when you do
charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the
streets, so that they may have glory from men.
“Assuredly, I say to you: they have their reward!
“And when you do a charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will Himself Reward you
openly.
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the
Synagogues and on the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by others.
“Truly, I say to you: they have their reward!
“But you – when you pray – go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father
Who is in the Secret Place; and your Father Who sees in secret will Reward you openly.
“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard
due to their many words.
“Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows the things you have need of even before you ask
Him.
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
“’Our Father in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power,
and the Glory forever. Amen.’”
Our Lord Jesus Christ presents us with THREE MOST BASIC serve no good purpose nor bear good Spiritual
DISCIPLINES OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, WHICH RELATE DIRECTLY TO Fruit for the Glory, Honour and Worship of God.
DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS :
1. CHARITABLE DEEDS OR ALMSGIVING
Innumerable Prayers, Psalms and Hymns of Christ’s Holy
2. PRAYER Church have been repeated throughout the ages in
3. FASTING the True Worship of God “... in Spirit and Truth.”
The original meaning of “hypocrite” was “actor.” (JOHN 4:23)
HYPOCRITES ARE PLAY-ACTORS WHO PRACTISE PIETY FOR SHOW, ➤ TRUE PRAYER IS NOT TELLING GOD WHAT HE ALREADY
DESIRING TO PLEASE OTHERS RATHER THAN IN HUMBLE KNOWS AND THEN TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO ABOUT
OBEDIENCE TO AND WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD. IT, NOR IS IT APPEARING PIOUS IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
Although they wear masks of compassion, inwardly they ➤ TRUE PRAYER IS HUMBLE – “...GO INTO YOUR ROOM...”
are heartless and uncaring, arrogant and self- ➤ TRUE PRAYER IS PERSONAL – “... PRAY TO YOUR
indulgent. FATHER...”
THEIR REWARD IS THE MOMENTARY SATISFACTION OF EQUALLY ➤ TRUE PRAYER IS SINCERE – “... DO NOT USE VAIN
FALSE FLATTERY AND APPLAUSE OF THEIR FELLOW SINNERS REPETITIONS...”
INSTEAD OF GAINING THE PRICELESS ETERNAL REWARDS OF ✽ THE FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE HOLY TRINITY
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. REVEALS OUR POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
✽ God is unimpressed by what others may think of us, CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, GRANTS US THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF
ADDRESSING GOD “OUR FATHER” BY THE DIVING GRACE OF
nor what we think of ourselves and HE WILL ADOPTION DURING HOLY BAPTISM. (GALATIANS 4: 4-7)
APPROPRIATELY REWARD GENUINE GOOD DEEDS WHEN AS A CHILD OR “SON OF GOD” WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE, TO TRUST
THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY A PURE HEART AND SOUL. AND TO SERVE GOD EXACTLY AS CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US TO
Hypocrites miss THE SANCTITY AND SPIRIT OF TRUE PRAYER, DO BY HIS OWN PERFECT EXAMPLE.
WHICH IS THE MOST INTIMATE, PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH God is not our Heavenly Father simply because He
GOD THAT LEADS US TO THE VISION OF HIS MAJESTIC,
created us.
EVERLASTING GLORY. (1 CORINTHIANS 2:9) HE IS ONLY HEAVENLY FATHER OR DIVINE FATHER TO THOSE WHO
HYPOCRISY BLOCKS OUT SUCH DIVINE COMMUNION WITH GOD AND ARE COMMITTED TO A SAVING AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
SUBSEQUENTLY, ANY TRUE VISION OF DIVINE GLORY. WITH HIM – A HOLY COMMUNION THAT COMES TO US ONLY BY
“Vain repetitions” cannot establish this close THE DIVINE GRACE OF ADOPTION. (REFER JOHN 1 : 13 & ROMANS 8: 14
– 16)
Communion because SUCH MEANINGLESS BABBLE IS ✽ “Daily Bread:” THE WORD “DAILY” IS A MISLEADING
UNNECESSARY BEFORE GOD WHO KNOWS EVERY ONE OF HIS
CREATURES TO THE FULLEST DEGREE – knowing, even
TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD “Epiousios”
before us, whatever we may need or what we may WHICH “above the Essence,” or
MEANS

ask of Him. “Supersubstantial.”

✽ Consequently, WE SHOULD KEEP OUR PRAYERS SIMPLE AND
TO THE POINT – AND ALWAYS PRAY WITH SINCERE
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE.
✽ And WE SHOULD ONLY BESEECH HIS GREAT MERCY FOR
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND ABILITIES TO ENDURE OR TO
OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES THAT CONFRONT US ALONG
OUR DIFFICULT PATH TO ETERNITY – these are the
most valuable Gifts we can ask for because they
directly affect our personal Eternity.

TO PARTAKE OF THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNION WITH
GOD BOTH SILENCE AND WORDS OF PRAYER ARE
NECESSARY, SO WE MUST PRAY CEASELESSLY. (REFER
L UK E 18:1 & 1 THE SSAL O NI ANS 5 : 17 )
✽ Our Lord Jesus does not condemn the use of many
words as such, but HE HAS TAUGHT US THAT OUR
WORDS MUST EXPRESS OUR DESIRE FOR TRUE
COMMUNION WITH GOD AND HE GAVE US SPECIFIC WORDS
TO REPEAT IN PRAYER – HIS “LORD’S PRAYER.”
✽ REPETITION OF TRUE PRAYER IS NOT CONDEMNED but rather
the “vain repetition,” or a meaningless babble
of empty or useless words or sounds, which
“Daily Bread” indicates not merely bread for this day,
for our earthly nourishment – it is THE BREAD OF THE
ETERNAL DAY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR THE SPIRITUAL
NOURISHMENT OF OUR IMMORTAL SOUL.
✽ THIS LIVING, SUPERSUBSTANTIAL BREAD IS CHRIST HIMSELF
so in the Lord’s Prayer we do not merely request
material food for our physical health, but
especially to THE BREAD OF LIFE – OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST – WHO IS OUR SPIRITUAL BREAD OF ETERNAL
LIFE. (JOHN 6 : 27 – 58)
✽ “Forgive us our Debts...” THE REQUEST FOR
DIVINE FORGIVENESS IS EXPRESSED IN PLURAL TERMS,
WHICH ALSO DIRECTS US TO CONSISTENTLY PRAY FOR
THE FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS.
The term “Debt” (or Trespasses/Transgressions) refers
to OUR INNUMERABLE SPIRITUAL DEBTS, WHICH, WITHOUT
THE GREAT MERCY AND LOVE OF GOD, WE COULD NEVER
REPAY!
➤ “Debts” or “Trespasses” mean basically the same
thing – ALL OUR SINS AGAINST GOD, AGAINST OUR
FELLOW SINNERS AND AGAINST OURSELVES.

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 ➤ JUST AS WE SO FERVENTLY BESEECH GOD’S DIVINE
FORGIVENESS FOR ALL OUR PERSONAL SINS, SO, TOO,
SHOULD WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER’S SINS.
➤ THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS TRUE FREEDOM FOR IT
SETS BOTH THE FORGIVER AND THE ONE SEEKING
FORGIVENESS FREE BY GRANTING US A PROFOUND
SENSE OF INTENSE RELIEF FROM THE HEAVY
OPPRESSION OR BURDEN OF GUILT AND BRUISED
EGOS.
Consequently, all those concerned can continue their
Journey of Life with lightened and joyful souls.
God, being All Wise, has taught us this most valuable
Sacred Lesson, which is ANOTHER MAGNIFICENT FACET OF TRUE
LOVE – AGAPE.
➤ However, FORGIVENESS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH
HUMILITY OF SOUL AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
“Lead us not into temptation...” GOD NEVER
TEMPTS ANYONE INTO COMMITTING SIN!
TEMPTATIONS THAT LEAD TO OUR FALL FROM DIVINE GRACE ARE
THE EVIL INVENTIONS OF SATAN who obsessively seeks
the destruction of our souls.
His vile temptations cause us to commit all the sinful
passions of the flesh – TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO THE
DEMANDS OF OUR WEAK FLESH/BODY, THEREBY SUPPRESSING
OUR SOULS’ NATURAL GOODNESS, RESULTING IN OUR
SEPARATION AND ALIENATION FROM GOD AND ALL HIS DIVINE
GOODNESS. (ROMANS 7:5)
➤ Although Satan and his demons have no power
over us unless we co-operate with our
own evil words, thoughts and deeds, GOD
DOES PERMIT US TO BE TEMPTED IN ORDER TO
PROVE TO US HOW STRONG WE CAN BE WHEN WE
TURN TO HIM FOR HIS DIVINE GRACE AND
ASSISTANCE, WHICH MAKES ALL DIFFICULTIES
SURMOUNTABLE AND ENDURABLE.
➤ Furthermore, THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCES OF
TEMPTATIONS, WE GROW EVER CLOSER TO GOD AS
WE COME TO THE REALISATION OF OUR TRUE
DEPENDENCE ON HIS UNFAILING DIVINE GRACE AND
LOVE.
O n R e p e n ta nce
If anyone is devout and Loves God, let him commence
this radiant Fast with Joy!
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into
the School of Repentance.
We who have wallowed long in sin, let us now begin our
Return.
If anyone has strayed since the First Hour, let him today
Repent with zeal.
If anyone has sinned since the Third Hour, let him with
Gratitude embrace the Fast.
If anyone has fled God since the Sixth Hour, let him
have no misgivings about his prompt Return,
because he shall in no way be turned away therefore.
If anyone has indulged the flesh since the Ninth Hour,
let him draw near, Fearing God alone and trusting in
His Mercy.
And if anyone has turned away only at the Eleventh
Hour, let him also not hesitate to turn back with
haste, for the Lord, Who is Longsuffering and full of
Compassion and Mercy, will accept the last even as
the first.
He restores those who Repent at the First Hour, as He
does those who turn back at the Eleventh Hour. And
He shows Mercy upon the last, and cares for the first.
And to the one He gives, and upon the other He
bestows Gifts.
And He both accepts our Confession, and welcomes our
intention, and honours the Contrite of Heart and
rejoices in our Return.
Therefore, enter all of you into the Holiness of your Lord
- Offer your Repentance - both those who are last,
and likewise those who are first.
You rich and poor together: Repent! for today we stand
outside the closed Gates of Paradise!
You sober and you heedless, prostrate yourselves before
your King!
Return to the Lord today - both you who have sinned
with Knowledge and you who have done so in
ignorance!
Your cupboards are full! Empty them for the hungry! The
belly enslaves us - let no one be dominated thereby!
Enter all of you into the Great Fast.
Stripped of Heavenly Wealth by sin, all draw near to
God’s Rich Loving-Kindness!
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➤ WE LEARN HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE THROUGH
SUFFERING, which then teaches us how to gain
other great Virtues leading to Eternal Life in
Christ.
Because we are constantly being tempted by the evil
one WE MUST CEASELESSLY PRAY TO GOD WHO ENABLES US
TO RESIST AND THEREBY TO GROW SPIRITUALLY STRONGER
WITH EACH TREACHEROUS ENCOUNTER, BRINGING US CLOSER
TO GOD. (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13)
✽ WE ALSO BESEECH THE INTERCESSORY PRAYERS OF ALL
THOSE WHO ARE VERY CLOSE TO GOD SUCH AS OUR EVER
BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS AND ALL THE SAINTS, AND
ALL THE HEAVENLY HOSTS, WHO WATCH OVER US, WHO
GUIDE US AND WHO PROTECT US FROM HARM, ACCORDING
TO THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.
✽ At the end of each day, as we do our “Spiritual
Accounting” WE MUST THANK GOD FOR ALL THE
TEMPTATIONS WE STRUGGLED AGAINST SINCE EACH
TEMPTATION WE SUCCEED IN RESISTING OR EACH SIN WE
REPENT IS ANOTHER SMALL STEP CLOSER TO GOD AND
ETERNAL LIFE.
✽ Although we may pray in private every day, IT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE TO GATHER
TOGETHER IN COMMUNAL WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS – the
Lord’s Day – a day dedicated entirely to our
Thanksgiving, Glory, Honour and Worship of
Almighty God Who grants us His infinite Blessing
and Goodness.
WE MUST ALSO GATHER TOGETHER FOR SPECIAL FEAST DAYS,
COMMEMORATING THE GREAT EVENTS OF THE LIFE AND
TEACHINGS OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, THE EVER BLESSED
THEOTOKOS, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND ALL THE SAINTS WHO
COMPRISE THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT.
By remembering these wonderful Lives and Holy People
who have gone before us, we are encouraged and
motivated to follow their good examples.
Let no one despair in his sinfulness, for the Bridegroom
comes at Midnight.
Weep all of you for your iniquities, and draw near to the
Life-giving Cross of our Lord.
Let no one put confidence in the flesh, for the Devil has
deceived us all thereby, and therewith enslaves us to
sin.
By turning from God, we are made captives: We have
called good evil and evil good, and put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter.
And Isaiah, foretelling this, proclaimed: Woe to those
who put darkness for Light, and Light for darkness!
We are embittered, for we are banned from Eden.
We are embittered, but it is we who have mocked God.
We are embittered, for now we shall surely die.
We are embittered, for we have succumbed to the
serpent.
We are embittered, for we are fettered in chains.
We partook of a Forbidden Fruit, and met the Deceiver.
We were entrusted with Paradise, but we chose Hell.
Our eyes were opened to see the nakedness of sin.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver us! O Lord, make haste to
help us!
This is the acceptable time - let us Repent!
This is the Day of Salvation - let us crucify the passions!
The end is at hand and destruction hangs over us!
The end draws nigh - let us come again to our senses!
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand - what First-Fruit
shall we offer?
Let us not delay, lest we remain dead in the grave - sold
under sin! For God desires not the death of the
sinner, but that we should turn from our wickedness
and live!
So, let us choose Life, and Live, for the Mercy of God
endures forever!
To Him be Glory and Dominion Unto the Ages of ages.
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: A SERMON BY REVEREND JOHN PARKER, RECTOR OF HOLY
ASCENSION ORTHODOX CHURCH, MOUNT PLEASANT, SC – MODELLED ON THE
PASCHAL HOMILY OF ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM.
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/02/
5 March 2011 3.
 R e d e e m i ng t he T i me – C o n s ta n t Re me m bra n ce o f Go d
In Ephesians 5, St. Paul speaks about “Redeeming the
time” warning those to whom he wrote that the
“days are evil.”
It is a phrase that has always reminded me of Christ’s
Admonition: “... do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (MATTHEW
6:34).
Both statements are among the most “down to earth”
statements in Holy Scripture. They speak to me
wherever I am on any given day.
Every day has its tasks to be accomplished.
Every moment has something which must
be accomplished or something of
which we must take care.
In the midst of the very normalcy of our
lives, we easily become overwhelmed
with distractions and lose all thought of
God and that is when our day begins to
unravel.
Christians of every sort have the easy habit of lapsing
into a mindless secularism – simple forgetfulness.
We do the things at hand as though such mundane
activities have no need of God.
We wait for “the greater challenge” of the overtly
spiritual, only to discover that when such joyful or
demanding moments do come – we have “... no oil
in our lamps.”
Whatever Joy or Longing we may have had for Christ and
His Kingdom is all too often swallowed up by the
numerous distractions of each day.
It is little wonder that we find Prayer difficult.
The “constant Remembrance of the Name of God” is
a phrase that is often used for the practice of the
Jesus Prayer.
It can also refer to any form of Remembrance practiced
by a Christian in the midst of all things.
E ld e r P a is i os – O n F as t i n g a nd D is ce r n me n t
Two visitors who appeared to be hard, pious people
watched with disapproval as Elder Paisios boiled
some milk, taking great care not to let it overflow or
burn.
Eventually, one of them could not longer control himself
and commented: “Elder Paisios, we are in the first
days of the Great Lent. We have a Strict Fast, and
you are boiling milk to drink?”
The wise Holy Father remained silent. He did not
respond at all and watched the boiling milk carefully,
removing the pot as soon as it began to boil.
Next, he went into his small cell and returned with six
small, rather old, porcelain cups, arranged them in a
row and filled them without wasting a drop of milk.
Then he waited a while for them to cool, while his
visitors watched him in amazement but in complete
silence.
The two pious men observed his actions with obvious
disgust and one could see that they were thinking
A b ba D o ro t he os – On T h e V al ue o f C o m m on P r a ye r
As soon as the Holy Brothers began to chant, a great
and clairvoyant Holy Elder saw a brightly-clad
person exit from the Holy Altar, holding a small
circular vessel with Holy Water and an implement
(“mili”), which he dipped into the vessel and
sprinkled all those present - Blessing them with the
Sign of the Cross.
Some of the seats that were unoccupied he Blessed
while others he sprinkled but without the Sign of the
Cross. And again, when the Holy Service was about
to finish, he saw him exit from the Holy Altar and do
the same thing.
One day the Holy Elder stopped him by falling down at
his feet and entreating him to reveal who he was
and what the meaning was of what he did.
And the Brightly-clad Being said: “I am an Angel of
the Lord. I received the Commandment to
Bless all those who are found in the church at
the start of the Holy Services and those who
remain until their Dismissal, for their
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The repetition of a Psalm verse or other such device has
a Tradition behind it at least as ancient as the
constant Invocation of the Name.
Learning to practice such Remembrance throughout the
course of the day is, without a doubt, the primary
means of “Redeeming the time” and avoiding
“worry for tomorrow.”
It is the means given to us by God and kept in the Holy
Tradition whereby we are slowly Transformed. On
the Holy Mountain (Mount Athos) and
other such Holy Places, the lives of
Monks are generally not spent sitting
in Silent Meditation or in Services of
super-human length. For the vast
majority of the Monks, days are
spent in carrying out Obediences:
washing dishes, chopping wood,
working in a library, labouring in a
garden, taking care of
correspondence...
If such mundane tasks made Prayer impossible, then it
is likely no Monk would be Saved.
Learning to do the tasks of the day while Redeeming the
time is an essential duty of our Spiritual Warfare –
particularly because “the days are evil.”
We live in days in which we are told that mundane tasks
have no connection to God.
This, of course, is simply a lie!
We are taught, by Divine Truth: “And whatsoever you
do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the
Lord Jesus, giving Thanks to God and the
Father by Him” (COLOSSIANS 3:17).
And so we Redeem the time.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “REDEEMING THE TIME” BY FATHER STEPHEN
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/03/page/2/
that because there were six visitors and six little
cups, the Monk therefore was about to blatantly offer
them the boiled milk during these first days of strict
Fasting!
One by one, Elder Paisios took the little cups and placed
them gently on a small wooden tray, carried them
seven meters away and left them on the ground at
the foot of a bush, having place them in a row before
returning to his seat beside his visitors.
He began to make a slow, strange whistling sound with
his mouth while gazing fixedly towards the bushes.
A few minutes later, a viper cautiously appeared,
followed a short while later by five baby snakes – her
children.
Everyone held their breath – riveted by the sight.
The snakes slithered past the stunned audience until
they reached the cups and slowly began to drink
their morning milk...
willingness and their dedication and their
good intentions.”
And the Elder asked him: “And why do you Bless the
seats of some of those who are absent?”
The Angel replied: “Those who are diligent with
good intentions, but due to some need or
sickness, however, are absent with the
Blessing of the Fathers, or those who are
Obeying a certain Commandment, and as a
result they are somewhere completing their
Obedience, all of these I Bless, because,
although they are absent, they are found with
the others who are chanting and worshipping.
And I have received the Commandment not to
Bless those who could have been present but
due to their own negligence are absent, for
these alone have made themselves unworthy!”
Let us take care, my Beloved Brethren, to NEVER LOSE
THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY ANGEL.
5 March 2011
 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f
A le xa nd r ia & All A f r ica
A rc h d i o ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Hono ur and Wors hip to the Father, and to the So n,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and forev er, and unto the Ages of
ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Maria, T heotokos, ye t Ever Virgin, together with
all the Sai nts. And let us commi t ourselves and one ano ther
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

4th Sunday of Triodion Tone (8) Plagal 4 6 M a r c h 2 01 1

S u nd a y o f F or g ive ne s s – C he e s e f are
( E xp uls i o n f r o m P ar ad i s e )

Also the Feast of - the 42 Holy Martyrs of Ammoria, Phrygia: St Constantine, St Aetitos, St Theophilos, St
Theodore, St Melissenos, St Callistos, St Basoes & others with them – the Uncovering of the Holy Cross and
Nails by St Helen the Empress - St Conon the Hieromartyr & his son,, St Conon the Deacon, Holy Martyrs of
Iconium – St Arcadios of Cyprus – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Theotokos of “the Blessed Heaven,
Archangel Cathedral, the Kremlin, Moscow – the Miracle-Working Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady
Theotokos of the Czestochowa Monastery, Petrov Province

Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone (8) Plagal 4

Ex ipsous katilthes O Efsplaghnos, tafin katedexo Thou descended from on High, O Tender-hearted One;
triimeron, ina imas elevtherosis ton pathon. I Zoi ke Thou endured the Three-Days’ Burial, so that Thou
i Anastasis imon, Kyrie, ✞ Doxa Si! might free us from our passions, O our Life and
Resurrection: ✞ Glory to Thee!
Kontakion of Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday
Tis Sofias Odige, froniseos horige, ton afronon pedefta, O Guide to Wisdom, Provider of Prudence, Disciplinarian
ke ptohon iperaspista, stirixon, sinetison tin kardian of fools, and defender of the poor, fortify and
mou, Despota, Si didou mi logon, O tou Patros discipline my heart, O Master; grant me a Word, O
Logos. Idou gar ta hili mou, ou mi koliso en to Word of the Father, for behold, I will not hinder my
krazin Si. ELEIMON, ELEISON ME TON PARAPESONTA. lips from crying to Thee: O MERCIFUL LORD! HAVE
MERCY ON ME WHO HAS FALLEN!
Matins Gospel 8 - John 20 : 11 – 18 Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Speaks to St Mary of Magdala
P r o ke i me n on
Sing Praises to our God! Sing Praises to our King!
Clap your hands, all you Nations!
T h e E p is tle o f S t Pa ul to t he R o m an s 13 : 11 – 14 : 4
Today is the Day!
Brethren: you know what Hour it is, that now is exact time to awaken out of sleep, for now our Salvation is nearer than
when we first believed.
The night is far spent, the Day is at hand! Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of
Light. Let us walk properly, as in the Day – not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and
envy - but put on our Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh – to fulfil its lusts.
Receive those who are weak in the Faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things, for one believes he may eat all things,
yet he who is weak, eats only vegetables.
And let those who eat not despise those who do not eat, and let those who do not eat, not judge those who do eat; for
God has received them.
Who are you to judge Another’s servant? Before his own Master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for
God is able to make him stand.
WE ONLY HAVE A VERY SHORT LIFESPAN IN WHICH TO PREPARE IMITATE AND TO FOLLOW CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR in Whom
AND DEVELOP OUR IMMORTAL SOULS FOR ETERNITY.
we Live since our Holy Baptism.
Therefore, St Paul reminds us that we cannot waste GOD GRANTS US INNUMERABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPENTANCE
another minute of such precious time because THE and a complete change of heart and attitude that
TIME OF OUR REPENTANCE AND SALVATION IS NOW!
brings us closer to Him and enriches our lives - in
It is time to wake up from our sin-induced stupor – to
this world and the next - beyond our simple
arise from our slovenly bed of ignorance,
understanding or perception.
negligence and Spiritual Death – and immediately
We must clearly understand that EVERY WORD, THOUGHT
set off on our Life’s Journey towards Eternal Life AND DEED HAS A CONSEQUENCE – NOT MERELY NOW BUT
and God’s Heavenly Kingdom. CERTAINLY LATER.
WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO NOW – IN THIS MOMENT OF OUR However, WITH THE GUIDANCE AND GRACE OF GOD WE CAN
EXISTENCE AND IN EVERY OTHER MOMENT OF EVERY DAY OF CONSTANTLY IMPROVE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND
THE REST OF OUR LIFE – WILL AFFECT OUR ETERNITY– our WITH OUR FELLOW STRUGGLERS who are on the exact
own Eternal Life with God or Eternal Death in exile – same Journey of Life – even though many do not
a total absence of God and all His Goodness! grasp the reality and purpose of our existence.
AS LONG AS WE ARE STILL IN THIS EXISTENCE, WE CAN CHANGE WE HAVE COME FROM GOD – BEING CREATED BY HIM IN HIS
OUR COURSE BY SINCERE REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND A DIVINE IMAGE AND LIKENESS – AND WE HAVE A NATURAL
CONCERTED, DETERMINATION TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO INCLINATION TO RETURN TO GOD BY REGAINING OUR LOST

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Great Lent Begins Tomorrow
 LIKENESS TO HIM, which makes us worthy citizens and We are CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
co-Heirs of His Eternal Kingdom. and are able to CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON OUR
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CAST OFF OUR “WORKS OF DARKNESS” – SPIRITUAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT.
“put on the
THE FILTH AND DESTRUCTION OF SIN – IS TO AND THE CLOSER WE GET TO GOD, THE MORE SPIRITUAL
Armour of Light” – i.e. through our Holy Baptism STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE WE WILL BE GRANTED.
WE PUT ON CHRIST WHO IS DIVINE, UNCREATED LIGHT. With serenity of soul and the unconditional Divine Love
WE CONTINUOUSLY CLEANSE AND SANCTIFY OURSELVES WITH THE of God in our hearts, we help each other in every
HOLY MYSTERIES OF HIS HOLY CHURCH – and in this way necessary, never judging anyone else except
manner we are able to slowly but surely take one ourselves.
tiny step at a time, closer to our Ultimate As St Paul reminds us: God is our only Judge and we
Destination. are all His Faithful servants!
WE CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS
Anyone who would dare to point an accusatory finger at
who are striving just as eagerly and determinedly as
a fellow sinner, should immediately Repent for we
ourselves.
are told by Christ: “Judge not lest you be Judged!”
So whenever we weaken, or stumble and fall, WITH THE which means that whatever we do to others will
LOVING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF ALL OUR
FAITHFUL BRETHREN AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, AND come back to us a hundred times more!
ESPECIALLY BY THE GRACE OF OUR MOST LOVING GOD, WE Consequently, during the next weeks of Great Lent, we
ARE ABLE TO RISE UP AGAIN, AND SET OFF ONCE MORE,
with should make every effort possible to think, to say
joyful and enthusiastic hearts and souls. and to do only those things that can Spiritually
With the Love and Strength granted to us by God, WE Benefit us and each other – so that our words,
NEED NOT WORRY FOR AN INSTANT ABOUT ANY OF OUR
thoughts and deeds become great Blessings rather
PHYSICAL NEEDS.
than dreadful curses for us!!
T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t Ma t t he w 6 : 1 4 – 2 1
Christ our Lord & Saviour Teaches Us About Forgiveness & Fasting
At that time our Lord Jesus Christ said: “... if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your
trespasses!
“Furthermore, when you Fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance, for they disfigure their
faces so that they may appear to others to be Fasting.
Truly, I say to you: they have their reward!
But you: when you Fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to others to be
Fasting, except to your Father Who is in the Secret Place; and your Father Who sees in secret will Reward
you openly.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in
and steal; but lay up for yourselves Treasure in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!”
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INSISTS ON MUTUAL FORGIVENESS personal state throughout the Fast and the rest of
BETWEEN US HUMAN BEINGS AS A PRECONDITION OF the year, without any discernible difference that
GOD’S DIVINE FORGIVENESS AND GREAT MERCY.
THOSE WHO DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS WILL NOT BE others might notice.
FORGI VEN BY GOD EI THER! (There is no “Ash Wednesday” in Orthodox Christianity!)
This is an absolutely clear Teaching of Christ Who will FASTING IS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THE GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP OF GOD
be our Final and Only Judge before Whom all – AND NOT TO BE SEEN BY THOSE AROUND US.
Creation will stand! So we will not be able to plead Fasting is also not merely the abstinence from certain
ignorance! foods but consists mainly of A STRICT SELF-DENIAL AND
This Divine Teaching is vital to our Eternity and is SELF-DISCIPLINE IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE so as to escape
repeated often, such as in Christ’s Parable of the the physical control and damage caused by our
Unforgiving Servant, passions and self-indulgence.
IF WE HOPE FOR DIVINE FORGIVENESS AND MERCY FROM
GOD, WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FORGIVE AND We have TO STRENGTHEN OUR IMMORTAL SOULS so that we
BE MERCIFUL TO OUR FELLOW SINNERS! are able TO CORRECTLY CONTROL OUR PHYSICAL AND
Whatever we desire to be granted by God for ourselves, MENTAL DESIRES AND DEMANDS and even dominate and
we must grant to one another and when we find conquer the weaknesses of our bodies.
ourselves in dire straits, WE MUST SEARCH WITHIN OUR WE ONLY HAVE THIS LIFE-SPAN IN WHICH TO STRENGTHEN AND
OWN HEARTS, MINDS AND SOULS TO FIND AND ROOT OUT DEVELOP OUR IMMORTAL SOUL, WHICH CANNOT DO SO ONCE
WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM MAKING PROPER SPIRITUAL IT IS SEPARATED FROM OUR BODY.
PROGRESS! On the eve of Great Lent we sing: “Let us abstain from
Most tragedies in life are caused by people who are passions as we abstain from food!”
selfish and arrogant – who are unforgiving and St John Chrysostom admonished us: “What good is it
merciless towards others. if we abstain from eating birds and fish but
Once again, the Sacred Lesson is “Do unto others bite and devour our Brethren?”
what you would like done to you ..!!” ✽ DURING EVERY FASTING PERIOD, WE MUST MAKE EVERY
✽ PUTTING ON A SAD FACE OR APPEARANCE TO SHOW OFF OR EFFORT TO BE THE MOST PERFECT DISCIPLES OF
TO BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU ARE “SACRIFICING” CHRIST, SO THAT EVENTUALLY WE GROW INTO SUCH
WHILE FASTING, ONLY BRINGS YOU SHAME AND GOOD HABITS THAT IT BECOMES NATURAL TO US - and
DISCREDIT FOR IT EXPOSES YOUR FAST AS A MERE with less effort or struggle.
EMPTY GESTURE THAT WILL NOT BENEFIT YOU IN THE
SLIGHTEST DEGREE!
By attaching ourselves to material but temporary
OUR LORD JESUS REJECTED AND DESPISED NOTHING ELSE BUT treasures of this world, we cut ourselves off from
HYPOCRITES! the everlasting True and Most Priceless Treasures of
Those who Fast correctly – by not only fulfilling the self- Heaven.
denial of the flesh but also of the spirit – experience We become slaves to earthly things rather than being
the Divine Compassion of God which dispels any Truly Free in Christ Jesus.
difficulty or physical discomfort. ✽ THE FOCAL POINT OF GENUINE DISCIPLESHIP CONCERNS
In other words: IF WE FAST PROPERLY IN BOTH A SPIRITUAL DISENTANGLING OURSELVES FROM THE CHAINS AND
AND PHYSICAL MANNER – WITH ALL THE RIGHT MOTIVATION SHACKLES OF INSIGNIFICANT, FLEETING EARTHLY
AND PURPOSE - WE WILL BE GREATLY BLESSED WITH THE POSSESSIONS AND SOCIAL STATUS AND ATTACHING
LOVING PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD. OURSELVES INSTEAD TO OUR LOVING AND MOST
BENEVOLENT LORD GOD WHO IS OUR TRUE ETERNAL
During the Fasts of our Holy Church, the Hymns call all
TREASURE!
Faithful Christians to wash and to anoint themselves
– i.e. to maintain a good, healthy and clean

6. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 4 t h S u n d a y o f T r i o d i o n – S u n d a y o f Forgiveness/ C h e e s e f a r e - 6 March 2011

 F or g ive ne s s S un d a y
We are now moving from the "Strange Land" (THE
REFERENCE IS TO THE STATE MENTIONED IN THE PSALM "BY THE WATERS OF
BABYLON")into the Land of Glory, to meet our Living
God, as Children of His Kingdom.
For us, the church building is now an image of our
situation: we stand in semi-darkness, and see the
Glorious Light of God, His own Dwelling Place - the
Holy Altar - filled with the Light of His Glory.
We know that Christ brought His Divine Light into the
world – (a fallen world, darkened by sin) - that He is
the True Light, and that we are Children of the
Divine Light.
Now we are hurrying to move out of the darkness into
the dusk, and from the dusk into the bright shining
Glory of the Uncreated Divine Light.
In any journey, when we have just left a familiar place,
we are still filled with familiar feelings, memories,
and impressions, which gradually begin to fade,
until nothing is left but our focus on moving
towards our destination.
This is why the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
is read during the first week of Lent.
For one last time, we reflect on ourselves. For one last
time we shake the dust from our feet. For one last
time we remember the wrongs of former years.
Before approaching the Triumph of Orthodoxy, an
occasion on which we remember that God is
Victorious, that He came to bring Truth into the
world, to bring True Life to our fallen world – True
Life abundantly. (John 10: 10)
He also brought us His True Joy and Divine Love
(Agape) as well.
So now we turn one last time towards our inner selves
and to one another to ask forgiveness of each
other.
We beseech God and our fellow sinners to loosen us
from the bonds of our unworthiness – the bonds of
sinful acts and neglect that shackle and fetter us -
the bonds caused by everything unworthy, cruel and
sinful we did to others, as well as to God and
ourselves.
We seek forgiveness for all the things that we should
have done but which we ignored or neglected to do
– things that could have brought happiness,
comfort, courage, hope, and compassion to others
– all the good deeds and words that would have
expressed our worthiness of God's Faith in us…
Therefore, over the course of this coming week, let us
reflect upon ourselves one last time.
Let us look at one another, and become reconciled to
each other.
Peace and Reconciliation does not mean that our
problems have ceased to exist.
Christ came into the world in order to Reconcile the
world to Him - and in Himself, with God - and we
know at what cost He did so: helpless, wounded,
defenceless, He offered Himself up to us by
allowing us to do whatever we wanted to do so that
having committed such ultimate evil against such
absolute Innocence and Truth, we would see that
His Divine Love is unwavering - that His Divine
Love is there in times of joy and in times of piercing
pain and deepest sorrow - that His infinite Divine
Love remains Good and Pure, no matter what our
own motives or Spiritual Condition may be.
God is Absolute Love that is the same forever,
unchanging, indiscriminating and unconditional.
This is the example which we can, and which we must
follow, if we want to be Christ's own.
Forgiveness begins at the moment we see each other’s
pain – the moment we swallow our pride and bury
our arrogance – so that we can either seek
forgiveness or grant forgiveness to each other.
And because we are wounded... because we may even
be “the victim” – whether we are guilty or innocent
victims – we can turn to God - from the depths of
our pain and suffering, our shame, and sometimes
even our deep despair - and ask Him to forgive
(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 4 t h o f T r i o d i o n – S u n d a y o f Forgiveness/ C h e e s e f a r e
Great Lent Begins Tomorrow
those who have hurt us because they do not fully
realise what they have actually done – the far
reaching consequences of their thoughtless and
cruel actions.
If everyone really understood the end result of such
unkind, thoughtless words and deeds – how such
wickedness not only harms the victims but also
everyone else involved, and that it will come back to
haunt us a hundred times greater - we might think
twice before doing so again.
Christ has taught us to carry our hurts and sorrows just
as He carried His heavy Cross - even unto death for
– through constant Prayer and by the Grace of God -
we receive His Power to forgive - just as He forgives
us all our Repented sins.
Thus, let us enter into Great Lent, as though moving
out of utter blinding darkness into dusky semi-
darkness, and then from the dusk into the Divine
Light, with great Joy and Light in our hearts, having
shaken the dust from our feet, loosening and
casting off all of the entanglements that captivate
us – the dangerous snares of greed, envy, terror,
fear, misunderstanding, self-absorption - for we are
imprisoned by such sinful entrapments but now the
Lord our God Calls each and every one of us to be
free at last!
By His Divine Light we will realise how step-by-step, we
are crossing, as it were, a great sea, from the shore
of utter Spiritual Darkness and semi-darkness, into
the clarity and True Freedom of His Divine Light.
Along the way we will encounter His Crucifixion and
witness God’s Divine Love in Its tragic Perfection.
Then, at the end of our Spiritual Journey the Splendid
Day of Holy Pascha will dawn, overwhelming us with
inexpressible Joy - the Great Divine Mystery and
Miracle of Christ’s Glorious Resurrection!
We must steadfastly follow every step of the way in the
Holy Footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to
personally experience and witness His Great and
Holy Passion and His Entombment, waiting in great
anticipation for the Brilliant Light of His
Resurrection.
Let us humbly support one another in this Journey of
Mutual Forgiveness and Love, and let us remember
that on the Difficult Path of life, at critical moments,
those from whom we had expected little or nothing
- those whom we may have regarded as strangers
or even enemies - may extend gestures or acts of
kindness or generosity to us, having seen our need,
our hurt or our sorrow.
Therefore, let us open our hearts and eyes, and let us
be ready to see the goodness that surrounds us
and respond to it accordingly.
Let us first approach the Holy Icon of our Lord Jesus
Christ, our God and our Saviour, Who paid the
heaviest price ever for the Power to forgive.
Let us turn to our Ever Blessed, All Pure Lady
Theotokos who gave up Her Only-begotten Son for
our Salvation.
If She could forgive everyone who persecuted Her and
Her Beloved Son and Lord, who could deny us
forgiveness?
Then let us turn to one another – granting and
receiving sincere forgiveness.
And while we move about, let us already hear from afar
the approaching joyous Hymn of the Resurrection,
that becomes louder at the half-way mark of our
Lenten Journey, as we bow down before the Holy
Cross.
Finally, at the dawning of Holy Pascha we will fill all our
churches and indeed, the entire world with the
sound of our Hymns of Victorious Resurrection!
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE
BEGINNING OF GREAT LENT, 1986, BY HIS EMINENCE, METROPOLITAN ANTHONY
OF SOUROZH
http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/feasts/fasts/grlent/e_Surozhsk.htm
- 6 March 2011 7.
 Growing in the Divine Grace & Knowledge of Christ
Knowledge of Christ is not static, but dynamic.
It is a state that continuously develops and grows.
We grow in Knowing Christ.
We are constantly changing, evolving towards a
maturity – a more refined state – a more subtle
form of Spiritual Existence.
St Peter wrote in his Second Book addressed to all
faithful Disciples of Christ: “...grow in the Grace
and Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
He did not merely mean we must gain knowledge but
rather that WE MUST GROW IN THE GRACE AND
KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.
ANYONE CAN GAIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LIMITED KNOWLEDGE BY SIMPLY READING
SOMETHING BUT IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT MORE EFFORT AND IS A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT MATTER T O G R O W I N DIVINE GRACE AND DIVINE
K N O W L E D G E – SOMETHING THAT I S G R A N T E D B Y T H E H O L Y
S P I R I T TO THOSE WITH PURE INTENTIONS AND A SINCERE LOVE AND DESIRE
FOR A CLOSE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FOR HIS GLORY, HONOUR
AND WORSHIP.
Spiritual Growth in terms of real Life in Christ requires
overcoming any limit to time or status – to grow
continuously, regardless of any “age factor.”
St Ignatios, the Great Hieromartyr of Antioch at the turn
of the first century, being at the end of his life,
declared: “... now I begin to be a Disciple of
Christ!”
WE CONTINUE OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH UP TO THE VERY LAST
MOMENT WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO ETERNITY – UP TO THE
VERY MOMENT OF OUR REPOSE IN CHRIST!
There is a fascination in the Spiritual Growth process
because the more we know our Lord, the more we
want to know Him even better and the more we
search for our next step or subsequent Spiritual
Stage.
The second important element in the process of
growing IN the Knowledge of Christ is the idea of
Spiritual Maturity.
Contrary to what happens to our natural age-growth,
THERE IS NO CLEARLY DEFINABLE AGE OF SPIRITUAL
MATURITY IN KNOWING CHRIST.
We are maturing, yet we are still growing. We
unceasingly grow because CHRIST IS OUR PROTOTYPE –
HE IS THE PERFECT STANDARD OR MODEL OF SPIRITUAL
MATURITY.
St Paul expressed this splendid concept with a striking
image: “We, beholding the Glory of our Lord,
are being changed into His Likeness from one
degree of Glory to another.” (2 CORINTHIANS 3 : 18)
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CONTINUOUS TRANSFORMATION FROM
GLORY TO GLORY as we behold the Perfect Image of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ – as we deepen
our perception of Him. ( A S T H E H O L Y S P I R I T E N A B L E S
US TO DO!)
Therefore, THERE IS NO END OR NO DEFINITIVE STATE TO OUR
SPIRITUAL MATURITY, which is reached with every little
step, get continually, ceaselessly grows and
develops.
WE ENJOY THE FRUITS OF OUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN KNOWING
CHRIST AND AT THE SAME TIME WE SEE THE UNLIMITED
POSSIBILITIES OF GROWING MORE AND MORE – THE
WONDERFUL, UNRESTRICTED POSSIBILITY OF SPIRITUAL
TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSPOSITION INTO A HIGHER,
INCREASINGLY ENRICHING, FULFILLING, SOPHISTICATED AND
REFINED REALM OF TRUE REALITY OR SPIRITUAL
EXPERIENCE!
Spiritual Growth in Christ has another important aspect.
St Peter referred to growing “... IN THE GRACE AND
KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD...”
ENHANCEMENT OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE GOES HAND IN HAND
WITH AN ENHANCEMENT OF DIVINE GRACE, which is a Free
Gift of God – a Free Divine Gift granted to us by God
the Holy Spirit as our ILLUMINATION AND INNER
STRENGTH, as Divine Joy and the uplifting of our
heart.
Thus, OUR GROWTH IN KNOWLEDGE IS ACCOMPANIED BY OUR
GROWTH IN DIVINE GRACE – an inundation or
permeation of our existence with this indescribable
and most wonderful Divine Gift, which is referred to
as “the Grace of God.”
THIS IS THE VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY KNOWLEDGE
AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST, GRANTED TO US BY DIVINE
GRACE.
DIVINE KNOWLEDGE – ASIDE FROM BEING SUPERIOR AS TO VALUE
IN OUR LIFE IN CHRIST – IS INSEPARABLY ASSOCIATED WITH
THE PRICELESS ELEMENT OF DIVINE GRACE, which grants
8. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 4 t h S u n d a y o f T r i o d i o n – S u n d a y o f Forgiveness/ C h e e s e f a r e -
A TOTALLY NEW DIMENSION TO OUR ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING
OF KNOWLEDGE.
Growing in Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ is A CONTINUOUS (PERPETUAL) PROCESS wherein
the synergetic principle appears fully developed.
THE FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OFFERS HIS OR HER FREE WILL,
INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY AND EMOTIONAL POWER TO GOD
WHO THEN GRANTS US HIS SUPERNATURAL GIFT OF DIVINE
GRACE – the mysterious Regenerating Energy that
Renews and Refashions our entire being – providing
it to us constantly through many channels –
ESPECIALLY THROUGH HIS HOLY MYSTERIES OF HIS HOLY
CHURCH.
WE CANNOT BENEFIT AT ALL UNLESS WE COMMIT OURSELVES ENTIRELY TO THE
CONSTANT PARTAKING OF GOD’S DIVINE MYSTERIES, FASTING, PRAYER AND
COMMUNAL WORSHIP.
NEITHER CAN WE REGARD OURSELVES AS TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WHO RECEIVE
HIS DIVINE GRACE ACCORDING TO THE DEPTH OF OUR TRUE
HUMILITY,OBEDIENCE AND WORSHIP OF GOD, UNLESS WE FULFIL OUR
SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS WITH A CONSCOUS, COMPELLING AND PROFOUND
LOVE OF GOD.
Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ
ultimately means to BECOME A CHRIST-LIKE PERSON!
Our Holy Church Fathers used a variety of words and
expressions to indicate THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF A TRUE
BELIEVER:
Hristadelfos – OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF CHRIST
Hristeponymos – CALLED BY THE NAME OF CHRIST
Hristogonos – A CHILD OF CHRIST
Hristodidaktos – TAUGHT BY CHRIST
Hristodochos – A RECEIVER OF CHRIST
Hristoeides – AFTER THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST
Hristokinetos – MOVED BY CHRIST
Hristokletos – CALLED BY CHRIST
Hristolatres – A WORSHIPPER OF CHRIST
Hristoleptos – POSSESSED BY CHRIST
Hristomathes – A STUDENT OF THE THINGS OF CHRIST
(DISCIPLE OF CHRIST)
Hristomakar – BLESSED BY CHRIST
Hristomimetos – AN IMITATOR OF CHRIST
Hristomorfos – ONE IN CHRIST’S LIKENESS
Hristonomos – GOVERNED BY CHRIST
Hristoprepes – IN A MANNER BEFITTING CHRIST.
The number and variety of these names show how
impossible it is to describe adequately the state of
the man or woman who grows in the Lord’s
Knowledge and Grace.
Growing in the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ is obviously a Spiritual State that is
completely without limits - open to every human
being who seeks the Absolute Truth of God!
TO GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND GRACE OF GOD IS THE
ENTIRE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE – AND ESPECIALLY
FOR THIS SHORT, PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE
ETERNITY.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST” BY BISHOP
DEMETRIOS TRAKATELLIS – GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA –
www.goarch.org
St Maximos The Confessor
"Just as the thought of fire does not warm the body,
so FAITH WITHOUT LOVE DOES NOT ACTUALIZE THE LIGHT
OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE SOUL."
Saint Peter The Damascene
"WE ALL RECEIVE GOD'S BLESSINGS EQUALLY. But some of us,
receiving God's Fire, that is, His Word, become soft
like beeswax, while the others like clay become
hard as stone.
And if we do not want Him, HE DOES NOT FORCE ANY OF US,
but like the sun HE SENDS HIS RAYS AND ILLUMINATES
THE WHOLE WORLD, and those who want to see God,
see Him, whereas those who do not want to see
Him, are not forced by Him. And NO ONE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PRIVATION OF LIGHT EXCEPT THOSE
WHO DO NOT WANT TO HAVE IT.
God created the sun and the eye. MAN IS FREE TO RECEIVE
THE SUN'S LIGHT OR NOT.
The same is true here: GOD SENDS THE LIGHT OF
KNOWLEDGE LIKE RAYS TO ALL, BUT HE ALSO GAVE US FAITH
LIKE AN EYE.
THOSE WHO WANT TO RECEIVE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH FAITH,
MAINTAIN IT BY THEIR GOOD WORKS – their sincere words
and deeds - AND SO GOD GRANTS THEM MORE
WILLINGNESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND POWER."
GREAT LENT BEG INS TOMORROW W ITH CLEAN M ONDAY - ONLY
UNPREPARED FRU IT & VEG ETABLES AND WATER TO BE
EATEN – jus t as God provides for us!
6 March 2011
 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Honour and Worshi p to the Fathe r, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most
Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Eve r
Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit
ourselves and o ne another and o ur w hole Life to C hrist
our God. Ame n.

9 Ma rc h 2 0 11

 T he 4 0 H ol y Ma r t yrs o f
S e b as te :
St Cyrion (Quirio), St Candidos, St
Domnos, St Hesychios, St Heraklios,
St Smaragdos, St Eunokios
(Eunikos), St Valens, St Vivianos
(Vicratios) – St Claudios, St Eutychios, St Priskos, St John, St
Xanthios, St Helianos, St Sisinios, St Aggias, St Aetios, St
Flavios, St Akakios, St Ekdikios, St Lysimachos, St Alexander,
St Elias, St Gorgonios, St Theophilos, St Dometianos, St
Gaius, St Leontios, St Athanasios, St Cyril, St Sacerdon, St Nicholas, St Valerianos, St
Phioktimon, St Severianos, St Chudion, St Aglaios, St Meliton.
A l s o t h e F e a s t o f S t U r p a s i a n o s o f N i c o m e d i a – S t C a e s a r i o s , (brother of St Gregory the
Theologian) – S t T a r a s i o s o f L i c o n i u m – T h e A l b a z i n H o l y I c o n o f o u r E v e r B l e s s e d L a d y
Theotokos “the Word Made Flesh” 

Apolytikion Of The 40 Holy Martyrs

Tas Algidonas ton Agion, as iper Sou epathon, Be Entreated, O Lord, by the Sufferings endured for
disopithiti Kyrie, ke pasas imon tas odinas, iase Thee by Thy Saints, and we pray Thee: heal all our
Filanthrope, deometha. pain.
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati
✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit
Tas Algidonas ton Agion, as iper Sou epathon,
disopithiti Kyrie, ke pasas imon tas odinas, iase
Be Entreated, O Lord, by the Sufferings endured for
Filanthrope, deometha. Thee by Thy Saints, and we pray Thee: heal all our
pain.
Theotokion
Tou Gavriil fthegxamenou Si Parthene to here, Sin ti foni As Gabriel proclaimed to Thee, O Virgin: Hail! With that
esarkouto O ton olon Despotis, en Si ti Agia Kivoto, cry the Lord of all became Incarnate in Thee, the Holy
os efi O Dikeos David. Edihthis platitera ton Tabernacle, as prophesied by the Righteous David:
Ouranon, Vastasasa ton ktiston Sou. Doxa to Thou hast manifested Thyself more spacious than the
enikisanti en Si! Doxa to proelthonti ek Sou! Doxa to heavens, in that Thou hast borne Thy Creator. Glory
elevtherosanti imas dia tou tokou Sou! to Him Who abode in Thee! Glory to Him Who came
forth from Thee! Glory to Him Who through Thy
Birth-giving hath set us free!
Kontakion Of The 40 Holy Martyrs – (6) Plagal 2
Pasan Stratian tou kosmou katalipontes, to en Ouranis O Forty Champions of the Lord, you abandoned the
Despoti prosekollithite, Athloforie Kyriou armies of the world and attached yourselves to the
Tessarakonta; dia piros gar ke idatos, dielthontes Master in Heaven. Having gone through fire and
makarii, epaxios ekomisasthe, Doxan ek ton water, O Blessed Ones, you worthily won Glory from
Ouranon, ke Stefanon plithin. Heaven and a multitude of Crowns.
M a t i ns G os p e l L u ke 21 : 12 – 19
Difficulties Confronted by Faithful Disciples of Christ
At that time, our Lord Jesus said; “... before all these things, people will lay their hands on you and persecute
you, delivering you up to the Synagogues and prisons. You will be taken before Kings and Rulers for My
Name’s sake, but it will turn out for you as an opportunity for Testimony. Therefore settle it in your
heart not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and Wisdom that
all you adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and
brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for
My Name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
By your Patience possess your souls!”
T h e E p is tle o f S t Pa ul to t he H e bre ws 12: 1 – 1 0
PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO GOD’S CHASTENING AS WELL ARE HIS DIVINE PROMISES
Brethren: 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 to Jesus Christ,
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.

(DONATIONS ARE MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED ) The 4 0 H o l y M a r t y r s O f S e b a s t e 9 March 2011 9.

 For consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and
discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted against bloodshed - striving against sin. And you have
forgotten the Exhortation that speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord.
Do not be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord Loves He Chastens, and
scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure Chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a Father does not chasten?
But if you are without Chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more readily be
in subjection to the Father of spirits and Live? For they indeed - for a few days - chastened us as seemed best to
them, but He Chastens us for our Profit so that we may be Partakers of His Holiness.
This entire passage (beginning with Hebrews 10:19), is
a progressive discourse imploring us to SEEK ➤ GETTING RID OF SIN, THE WEIGHT THAT KEEPS US FROM
HEEDING THE TRUTH
GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST.
➤ SETTING THE HEAVENLY CITY AS OUR DESTINATION,
✽ UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, WE CAN ASCEND TO THIS RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH
HEAVENLY PLACE IN WORSHIP AND IN PRAYER. ➤ KEEPING OUR ATTENTION FOCUSSED UPON JESUS
➤ FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST EXPERIENCE THIS CHRIST OUR LORD AND KING.
HEAVENLY DIMENSION FUNDAMENTALLY IN THE
DIVINE LITURGY.
✽ THE SPIRITUAL RACE that we are involved in

➤ We ascend to that Holy State where WE ARE
SURROUNDED BY A GREAT “CLOUD OF WITNESSES.”
➤ This is not a physical place but A SPIRITUAL STATE,
IN THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS
HOLY HEAVENLY HOSTS OF ANGELS AND “THE
SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.”
➤ Here, T H E C O M M U N I O N O F T H E S A I N T S is
established in the New Testament/Covenant.
throughout this temporary existence IS A
MARATHON OF ENDURANCE NOT A SPRINT because
IT BEGINS WITH OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND
ONLY ENDS WHEN WE FULLY ENTER THE
A G E T O C O M E : i.e. Eternity.
CHRIST IS BOTH THE AUTHOR OR INITIATOR/ORIGINATOR AND
FINISHER OR PERFECTER OF FAITH.
HIS JOY IS TO DO GOD’S WILL and He endured the Cross

“…Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things – the unspeakable horror of His Crucifixion –
to come…” means that Christ came to the voluntarily accepting Humiliation, terrible
greater and more Perfect Tabernacle, obtaining suffering and finally Death BECAUSE OF HIS
INFINITE LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND.
Redemption for us. [HEBREWS 9:11-12] ✽ CHRIST SERVES ALL HUMANITY, THROUGHOUT ALL
✽ THIS PERFECT TABERNACLE IS THE SAME SPIRITUAL, HOLY
THE AGES, COMPLETELY AND FAITHFULLY SO
STATE THAT WE ENTER WITH CHRIST BY VIRTUE OF OUR
THAT WE CAN BE SET FREE FROM ENSLAVEMENT
UNION WITH HIM:
TO SIN AND DEATH.
➤ IN CORPORATE WORSHIP OF GOD i.e. ➤ He made it possible for us TO PROGRESS BEYOND
worshipping together in church THIS LIFE AND THE GRAVE.
➤ BY FAITH IN GOD i.e. personal Belief and ➤ He made it possible for us TO ENTER HIS DIVINE,
Commitment to God ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
➤ IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD i.e. taking time to ➤ He makes it possible for us TO FOLLOW HIS
appreciate all our Blessings and to thank PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FAITH AND SERVICE TO
ALMIGHTY GOD : H E H A S S H O W N U S A N D
God with Prayers, Fasting and faithfully
TAUGHT US HOW TO WORSHIP, PRAY,
Worshipping and LIVING His
FAST AND RESPECT GOD AND ALL
Commandments in every aspect of our Life. HIS CREATURES.
✽ WORSHIP OF GOD INCLUDES C O M M E M O R A T I O N O F T H E
➤ He also grants us THE ABILITIES TO ENDURE, TO
DEPARTED RIGHTEOUS OR THE FAITHFUL
CHRISTIANS WHO NOW REPOSE PEACEFULLY UNDERSTAND AND TO PERSEVERE, no matter
IN CHRIST. what difficulties seem to hinder our Spiritual
“THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES” INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE OLD Progress.
TESTAMENT SAINTS MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT ALSO THE IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT AN D
SAINTS AND THE HOLY MARTYRS OF THE LORD IN ALL AGES. THE CONSTANT EFFORT NECESSARY FOR
[THROUGHOUT THE AGES/TIME]
OUR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND
All the Holy Saints and Martyrs of the Church are held WELFARE .
up as guiding Lights who encourage us to imitate Unpleasant circumstances, which tempt us to
their steadfast Faith in God since they overcame all complain, may be “the Disciplining of the Lord.”
obstacles that confronted them – both personal and If the loving discipline of our human fathers caused
those caused by others. us to respect them, HOW MUCH MORE
Therefore, because they succeeded in their Spiritual DESERVING OF RESPECT IS THE DISCIPLINE
Journey of Life, so can every one of us – no matter OF THE “FATHER OF THE SPIRITS” – OUR
our status or circumstances! CREATOR WHOSE BREATH GIVES US LIFE.
By Divine Grace and personal commitments, we will
persevere by:
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 20: 1 – 16
The First & The Last To Enter The Kingdom Of God
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “...the Kingdom of Heaven is like a Landowner Who went out early in
the morning to hire Labourers for His Vineyard. Now when He had agreed with the Labourers on one
denarius a day, He sent them into His Vineyard. And He went out about the Third Hour, and saw others
standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them: ‘You also go into the Vineyard, and whatever is right
I will give you.’ So they went.
“Again He went out about the Sixth and the Ninth Hour and did likewise. And about the Eleventh Hour He
went out and found others standing idle, and said to them: ‘Why have you been standing here idle all
day?’ They said to Him: ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them: ‘You also go into the Vineyard, and
whatever is right you will receive.’
So when evening had come the Owner of the Vineyard said to His Steward: ‘Call the Labourers and give
them their Wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those who had been hired about the
Eleventh Hour came, they each received a denarius. And when the first came, they supposed that they
would receive more; yet they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they
complained against the Landowner, saying: ‘These last Labourers have worked only one hour, and Thou
made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
And He answered one of them saying: ‘Friend, I Am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with Me for a
denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it
not lawful for Me to do what I wish with My own Things? Or is your eye evil because I Am Good?’
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are Called but few chosen.

10. (DONATIONS ARE MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED ) The 4 0 H o l y M a r t y r s O f S e b a s t e 9 March 2011

Our Lord Jesus described a startling reversal of positions.
➤ “The Vineyard” is the earthly life God grants us in
this temporary existence.
➤ “The Day” is the unique time and duration of our
personal Spiritual Labouring – the present,
preparatory period here and now allotted to each
individual..
➤ “The Labourers” are the immortal souls and earthly
bodies of all mankind whom God Calls –without
exception - to fulfil His Divine Commandments.
➤ “Early in the morning... the Third... Sixth...
Ninth... and Eleventh Hour...” refers to the
different ages of those who draw near to God:
those who from earliest youth, from mature age, or
from very old age sincerely Repent and strive to
achieve Virtue.
➤ “One denarius a day” is the Divine Grace and Great
Mercy of God that we receive each day we Live in
Christ.
Our Most Loving and Benevolent God freely grants us all
His Divine Providence, yet we are also able to receive
even more of His Great Mercy and Grace as we strive
for a closer, more Perfect Relationship with Him
through our conscious, humble and obedient Spiritual
Labours every moment of every day as we struggle to
Live IN Christ... to follow faithfully in His Divine and
Perfect Footsteps.
This Holy Lesson teaches us about how much time, effort
and commitment we must invest in preparing our
immortal souls for Eternity by living according to God’s
Divine Instructions and Teachings.
G r o w in g i n t he K no w le d ge o f C hr is t – ( Pa r t 5 ) - K n o w le d ge B e c o me s W i t ne s s
Knowledge of Christ, constantly supported and nurtured
by the Grace of God, grows quietly but steadily and
becomes a unique and precious characteristic of an
authentic Christian.
As we grow and mature, we reach a new stage where the
Experience of Knowledge and Grace of Christ needs to
be expressed or articulated in various forms.
Knowledge nurtured by Divine Grace is transformed into
an Energy that takes shape in our personal life and
begins to pour out, radiating, flowing and affecting
those with whom we come into contact.
From the phase of growing in Divine Grace and
Knowledge, we pass into the phase of “going.”
This is an explosive or subtle spreading of the Experience
of Knowing Christ our Lord.
And Experience of Divine Grace and Knowledge is of such
magnitude, It cannot be contained within the confines
of an individual soul because It reaches out - like an
amazing Spiritual Embryo that grows until It needs to
be born – to be brought forth into our world – It needs
to be shared with everyone else!
The spread of the New Covenant Faith among early
Christians was amazing for its decisive Missionary
Role, which was fulfilled by simple, ordinary human
beings such as fishermen, farmers, slaves, merchants,
sailors, soldiers, mothers, daughters, sons, fathers,
and even children – regardless of social norms or
status, education or illiteracy!
Knowing Christ and growing in His Divine Wisdom and
Grace, we all share our Christian Experience and we
speak openly about our Life in Christ wherever we go
or whatever our circumstances – and that is how it has
been since the very beginning!
Even without speaking we let our Knowledge of Christ, our
Holy Communion with Almighty God be visible through
the manner of our daily lives.
A genuine Knowledge of Christ and True Experience of His
Divine Grace is a mobile Entity – it has a most Blessed
Contagious Nature and thus it can be and is actually
transmitted in a thousand different ways BY THE
GRACE OF GOD – verbal or non-verbal, written or
unwritten, taught or untaught.
On the other hand, uniquely selected people like Christ’s
Holy Apostles were entrusted by God with the Precise
and Authentic formulation of His Revealed Divine Truth
and the Universal Proclamation of His Holy Gospel.
(Donations Are Gratefully Acccepted) The 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
Every moment is precious and every effort we make will be
judged accordingly so even those who at the very last
moment willingly and sincerely Repent so as to Follow
our Lord Jesus Christ, will be granted God’s Great
Divine Mercy – “one Denarius.”
God’s Generosity provides equal access to old and new
Faithful Disciples of Christ to the Bliss of Divine
Rewards in the Eternal Life of His Heavenly Kingdom of
Love.
✽ Consequently OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SEVERELY WARNS US
AGAINST PRIDE IN OUR LENGTH OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO
GOD, NOR MUST WE EVER BE TEMPTED TO JUDGE ANYONE
WHO IS CALLED AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, FOR WE SHALL BE
CONDEMNED AND LOSE EVERYTHING WE WOULD HAVE
GAINED!
Christ reveals the Great Mercy and infinite Divine Love of
God by teaching us that EVEN THOSE WHO REPENT AT THE
LAST MOMENT AND STRIVE FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION IN
CHRIST – BY APPLYING HIS HOLY TEACHINGS AND
COMMANDMENTS TO OUR DAILY LIVES - ARE ABLE TO RECOVER
EVERYTHING LOST TO US THROUGH OUR SINS.
In Christ’s Holy Ministry this particular Parable applied to
the sanctimonious, arrogant Pharisees and
unrepentant sinners, while in the early Church it
applied to the Hebrews who were opposed to of
judgemental towards the newly converted Gentiles.
St John Chrysostom’s famous Easter Sermon is based on
this Parable. For him the Reward is the Lord’s Rich
Banquet of the Holy Easter Eucharist – our wonderful
Spiritual Reward at the end of our Lenten Fast and
Holy Week – the Renewal of our Commitment to
Almighty God.
These Holy Apostles were compelled by a profound need
to communicate our New Covenant Faith with Its
Knowledge and Grace of Christ to every human being
throughout the known world, and nothing prevented
them from their Spiritual Struggles.
This extraordinary yearning and urge was so strong that St
Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “”Woe to me if I do
not Preach the Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
There is, however, a delicate and sensitive issue involved
in the Evangelisation of this contemporary world of
ours.
The articulation and Proclamation of Divine Truth that was
revealed to us by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
and which was directly experienced by His Faithful
Disciples throughout the ages cannot be done in an
impulsive or forceful manner!
A familiar yet sad and negative sight is that of different
fanatics who grab people in the subway or on the
street, telling them to repent immediately and to
confess Christ on the spot!
This is most certainly NOT the Way of Christ’s Holy Church
nor part of Her Priceless Spiritual Experience! Neither
is it the Way of Orthodoxy (TRUE TEACHING) nor what is
required of us as Faithful Disciples of Christ!
The necessary Transformation of personal Knowledge of
Christ into an articulate, well-formulated
communication and Sacred Teaching is controlled by
Humility, Obedience, Discernment and Discretion – by
a Spiritual Maturity, a deep Love for God and all our
fellow mankind and a profound respect for others – for
their free will to decide for themselves whether they
choose to Follow Christ or not!
The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Christ – the need
to spread the Experience of Growing in the Divine
Grace and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus is not a
matter of using a specific or exclusive language.
It is a matter of the content, spirit, subtlety and
suggestiveness of the language used.
Sometimes it could be a different manner of
communication – a silence, a non-verbal contact.
St John Chrysostom, commenting on a passage of St
Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians, wrote: “...
thanks be to God Who, through us, spreads the
Fragrance of the Knowledge of Him
everywhere...” – rightly observing that this imagery is
absolutely fitting. (2 CORINTHIANS 2:14)
9 March 2011 11.
We transmit the wonderful Divine Knowledge of God like a
delicate fragrance, which is supremely pleasant and
attractive to others as soon as they catch the first waft
of such an exquisite Holy Aroma, even though they
may not know its original Source! (OUR IMMORTAL SOUL
NATURALLY REACTS TO DIVINE TRUTH AND INSTINCTIVELY YEARNS FOR MORE AND
MORE!)
In his insightful book, “Stories of God,” R M Rilke presents
a number of unusual accounts in which God plays an
absolutely unique role. This, however, is not made
immediately evident throughout the narrative from
which, sometimes, even the Name of God is absent.
Only when a story is finished, the subtle, short
comments offered by the narrator or his audience
reveal the Truth of God’s Divine Role in the events
previously presented.
The author was a brilliant poet and knew very well the
tremendous power of language when used
handsomely and suggestively.
Likewise, it is the beauty, suggestiveness and vibrant
experience that are important in conveying the
Knowledge of Christ and it is the necessity of
authentically communicating God’s Truth that is utterly
essential.
A most unique Gift has been granted to us by God: to
really know our Lord Jesus Christ “... in Whom are
T h e F or t y H ol y Ma r t yr s o f Se bas te
In the year 313 St Constantine the Great issued an Edict
granting Christians religious freedom, and officially
recognizing Christianity as equal with paganism under
the law. But his co-ruler, Licinios, was a pagan who
wanted nothing less than the eradication of all
Christianity in his part of the Roman Empire, which
resulted in the two rulers going to war against each
other.
As his army prepared for battle against the forces of
Emperor Constantine, Licinios ordered the rooting out
and removal of any Christians from the ranks, using
the threat of mutiny as an excuse to have them
executed.
One of his Military Commanders of that time in the
Armenian city of Sebaste was Agricola, a zealous
champion of idolatry who commanded a company of
forty brave Christian soldiers from Cappadocia who
had distinguished themselves in many tough battles.
When these soldiers refused to make offerings to the
pagan gods, Agricola imprisoned them and they kept
themselves occupied with constant Prayers and
Psalmody until once night when they heard a
mysterious Voice telling them to persevere throughout
their Martyrdom until the end, when they would be
Saved.
The next morning the Forty Soldiers were presented
before their Commander Agricola who tried to
persuade them to renounce Christ by praising their
great valour and their amazing strength - assuring
them of the respect and favour of their Emperor,
Licinios. But none of them were coerced into
paganism and apostasy.
Seven days later, Licinios arrived at Sebaste and the brave
soldiers went on trial.
Unanimously they stood their ground and their spokesman
informed the gathering: "Take not only our
military insignia, but also our lives, since
nothing is more precious to us than Christ God!"
So Licinios ordered them to be stoned to death, but to the
astonishment of all witnesses, the stones missed the
Martyrs and struck those who had thrown them. A
large rock that had been thrown by Licinios hit
Agricola in the face, smashing his teeth.
The torturers immediately realized that the soldiers were
protected by an invisible Power so they were returned
to prison where they spent the night in Prayer, again
hearing the comforting Voice of our Lord saying: "He
who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he
live! Be brave and fear not, for you shall obtain
Imperishable Crowns."
The following day the Judge repeated their interrogation
in front of the torturer, but the soldiers remained
unyielding.
12. (DONATIONS ARE MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED ) The 4 0 H o l y M a r t y r s O f S e b a s t e
hidden all the Treasures...” of Divine Wisdom and
Knowledge. (COLOSSIANS 2:3)
This wonderful Divine Gift is accompanied by a superb
perspective : We can all grow in the Grace and
Knowledge of Christ. We can all be continuously
Transformed from glory to Glory – to mature and to
reach “...the Measure of the Stature and Fullness
of Christ.” (EPHESIANS 4 : 13)
Growing the Divine Grace and Knowledge of Christ leads
us to the necessity of communicating and sharing our
personal Spiritual Experience to others.
It compels us to proclaim the Divine Truth of His Holy
Gospel in its powerful and convincing natural Beauty.
Any means – whether verbal or non-verbal – can be
fruitfully used by us all – by all Faithful Disciples of
Christ – to convey the Life-giving Message of our Most
Benevolent and Merciful God.
However, the most important aspect of our True Faith is to
ensure that this Divine Message is always conveyed,
preserved and taught with absolute Truth, intact,
whole and vibrant in its ineffable Holy Splendour – just
as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ revealed It to us!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST” BY HIS GRACE,
BISHOP DEMETRIOS TRAKATELLIS, GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA.
www.goarch.org
It was winter, and there was a severe frost. The soldiers
were lined up before being throw into a freezing lake
and guards along the edge prevented them from
getting out. In order to break the will of the Martyrs, a
warm bath-house was set up on the shore and during
the first hour of the long night, when the cold had
become unbearable, one of the soldiers made a dash
for its comfort, but no sooner had he stepped over the
threshold, when he fell down dead.
Suddenly, during the third hour, our Lord sent Consolation
to the Martyrs. A bright Light shone down on them, the
ice melted away, and the water in the lake became
warm. All the guards were asleep, except for Aglaius,
who was keeping watch. He saw a radiant Crown had
appeared over the head of each brave Martyr and,
counting 39 Crowns, Aglaius realized that the soldier
who fled had lost his glorious Crown.
Aglaius then woke up the other guards, took off his
uniform and said to them: "I too am a Christian!"
and he joined the Martyrs. Standing in the water he
prayed, "Lord God, I believe in Thee, in Whom
these soldiers believe. Add me to their number,
and make me worthy to suffer with Thy
servants." Then a fortieth Crown appeared over his
head.
In the morning, the torturers saw with surprise that the
Martyrs were still alive, and their guard Aglaius was
glorifying Christ together with them. So they ordered
the soldiers out of the water and broke their legs.
During this horrible execution the mother of the
youngest of the soldiers, Meliton, pleaded with her son
to persevere until death.
As the soldiers died in abject agony, the torturers threw
their bodies on a cart that set off to a furnace to be
burnt and as young Meliton was still breathing, they
left him behind but his mother picked him up and
carried him on her shoulders while following behind
the cart until he too drew his final breath. His mother
then put him on the cart with the other Holy Martyrs.
After being burnt, the charred bones were thrown into
deep water so that the Christians could not gather
them for burial but three days later the Holy Martyrs
appeared in a Vision to St Peter, Bishop of Sebaste,
requesting him to bury their relics, which were found
in the exact spot they revealed to him.
Together with several of his Clergy St Peter of Sebaste
gathered up their Holy Relics by night and buried them
with all due reverence and honour.
May the memory of the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste be
forever!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “FEASTS AND SAINTS” – THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AMERICA
– www.oca.org
9 March 2011
 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Ho nour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the H oly
Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Sai nts. And let us
commit ourselves and o ne another and our w hole Life to Christ o ur God. Ame n.

12 March 2011

S a t ur d a y o f t he S o uls
(First Saturday of Great Lent)
 The Miracle of St Theodore the Tyro/Recruit

Also the Feast of St Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane

– St Phineas the Righteous Grandson of St Aaron the High Priest & son of St
Eleazar the High Priest – St Gregory Dialogos of Rome – St Symeon the New Theologian – The
Wonder Working Holy Icon of Christ “Not Made by Hands” of Lydda  – St Demetrios
Tavdadebuli the Righteous King of Georgia – St Kyrion II the Catholicos of Georgia
Apolytikion of Saturday of the Souls – The Miracle of St Theodore the Tyro/Recruit
Megala ta tis pisteos katothomata! En ti Pigi tis Flogos, Great indeed, are the Faith’s accomplishments! At the
os epi idatos anapafseos, O Agios Martis Theodoros Source of the Flame, as if upon water reposing, the
igalleto; piri gar olokatothis, os artos idis, ti Triadi Holy Martyr Theodore was rejoicing, for by the fire
proinekte. Tes aftou ikesies, Hriste O Theos, soson tas consumed, as sweet-tasting bread, he was offered
psihas imon! to the Trinity. Through his intercessions, O Christ
our God, Save our souls!
Kontakion of Saturday of the Souls – of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hiristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protector of the Christians unashamed, Mediator to
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon the Creator Immovable: despise not, the pleading
fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to
ton Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke the aid of all who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O
timonton se. Theotokos who always protects those who honour
Thee!
St Paul’s Second Letter to St Timothy 2 : 1 – 10
Transmitting the Faith – Strengthening Others in Discipline & Suffering
Timothy my Son: be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among
many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
You therefore must endure hardship as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in Warfare entangles himself with
the affairs of this life, so that he may please Him Who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in
athletics, he is not crowned unless he compete according to the rules.
The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord grant you Understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the Seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my Gospel, for which I suffer
trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained.
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the Elect, so that they also may obtain the Salvation, which is in Christ Jesus
with Eternal Glory.
ST PAUL ESTABLISHED A CLEAR CHAIN OF RELIABLE AND include the ancient Hymns, Psalms and Writings
TRUTHFUL WITNESS TO ORAL TRADITION – THE VERBAL
TEACHINGS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CONVEYED VIA HIS
of our Holy Church Fathers, as well as, of
APOSTLES, THROUGH THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF ALL course, those of Holy Scripture – MUST BE SHARED
OUR ORDAINED HOLY PRIESTHOOD TO US – MOST CAREFULLY WITH ONE ANOTHER SO THAT TOGETHER WE ALL
PRESERVED INTACT AND IN ALL ITS DIVINE TRUTH. JOURNEY ALONG THE SAME PATH OF TRUTH AND
CHRISTIAN TRADITION IS FOR ALL FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TOWARDS ETERNITY. (THESE DIVINE
TEACHINGS CONSIST OF FAR MORE THAN SIMPLY THE BOOKS OF THE HOLY
CHRIST BECAUSE IT IS “CATHOLIC” – i.e. Universal – BIBLE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES AND ACTIVATES US CEASELESSLY!
belonging to the whole Church – to everyone who THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE LIVING BODY OF CHRIST, WHICH IS NEVER
STATIC.)
seeks Divine Truth - so it needs TO BE PASSED DOWN
TO OTHERS UNHINDERED AND UNALTERED IN ANY MANNER. This preparatory period before Eternity is A TIME OF
CONSTANT SPIRITUAL WATCHFULNESS AND WARFARE THAT
This stands in clear contrast to the elitism of the major ENCOURAGES US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT FOR OUR
religions of the first century Roman world, including PERSONAL REPENTANCE AND TO ACHIEVE THE DIVINE
Gnosticism and the various other “mystery” VIRTUES.
religions. We gain Spiritual Strength and Courage from knowing
✽ FAITHFUL MINISTRY REQUIRES STRICT DISCIPLINE: without a doubt that EVERYTHING CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US
OBEDIENC E, SEL F-DENIAL AND STRUGGLE OR IS INDEED AND MOST DEFINITELY TRUE AND BY OPENING OUR
SPIRITUAL WARFARE. EAGER AND WILLING HEARTS TO GOD, HE WILL GRANT US
Our Holy Icons that are held up before us to imitate are UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM THAT NURTURES OUR SOULS
AND COMPELS US TO MAKE AN EVEN GREATER EFFORT.
in this case THE LOYAL SOLDIER OF CHRIST, THE Being focussed on the True Purpose and Meaning of
DISCIPLINED AND FIT ATHLETE AND THE HARD WORKING
FAMER WHO IS ABLE TO ENJOY THE TASTY FRUITS OF HIS this earthly existence, we will CORRECT OUR PRIORITIES
LABOURS. AND CONCENTRATE ON ALL THE GOOD ASPECTS AND
BLESSINGS OF OUR CURRENT LIFE, GLORIFYING,
As Faithful Disciples of Christ we become Spiritually
WORSHIPPING AND EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD AT
Stronger by the Divine Grace of God which is ALL TIMES.
bestowed on us when WE “PUT ON CHRIST” AS OUR
GARMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AT OUR HOLY BAPTISM.
✽ ALL THE DIVINE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST – the written
and
the verbal Teachings of His Holy Church, which

( DONATIONS ARE GRAT EFU LLY REC EIV ED) Saturday of the Souls – Miracle of St Theodore the Tyro – 12 March 2011 13.
 T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t Ma r k 2 : 2 3 – 3 : 5
Our Lord Jesus Christ Transcends the Sabbath
At that time, our Lord Jesus went though the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went, His Disciples began to pluck
the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him: “Look! Why do they do what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” And
He said to them: “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry – he and those
with him? How he went into the House of God in the days of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate the
Showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the Priests, and he also gave some to those who were
with him?”
And Jesus said to them: “The Sabbath was made for mankind, and not mankind for the Sabbath! Therefore,
the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
And He entered the Synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched Him closely – to
see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse Him.
And He said to the man with the withered hand: “Step forward.” Then He said to them: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath
to do good or evil? To save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.
And when He had looked around at them all with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the
man: “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched out his hand and it was restored as whole as his other
hand.
Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
According to the Holy Gospel of St Luke, this particular Sabbath because it was considered to be “work” or
Event occurred on “the second Sabbath after the “labour.”
first,” meaning that it was a Hebrew Feast Day – a They seriously believed that they served God faithfully
Holy Day, similar to the Sabbath Day. by zealously keeping these peripheral traditions.
According to St Ambrose this term serves as an image However such legalism actually caused them to be
of the New Covenant and the Eternal Resurrection: insensitive to God’s Great and Divine Mercy!
the first Sabbath indicating the Divine Law of the So Christ “spelled it out for them,” by asking the direct
Old Covenant with God, while the second Sabbath and clear question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath
indicates the Holy Gospel of the New Covenant that to do good or evil?”
follows it. Instead of being shamed into Repenting their Spiritual
Under the New Covenant with God food that was at one Stubbornness and hard-heartedness, the enemies
“unlawful” for anyone except Priests to eat, is now of Christ began their concerted plotting and
freely granted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ Who is scheming for His unjust punishment and execution!
indeed the “Lord of the Sabbath.” Even when confronted directly by God’s Divine Truth
St David, the ancient Hebrew King and Psalmist, and Power – like the obvious Miracle that happened
prefigured this when he entered the Holy Temple right before them - we, like the callous Scribes and
and not only ate of the Showbread but also shared Pharisees, still choose to live in Spiritual Darkness
it with those who accompanied him. and Death!
According to certain Hebrew traditions (i.e. man-made Sadly, we cause our own Spiritual Destruction, unless
customs or beliefs) that the Scribes and the we wake up and correct ourselves, beseeching
Pharisees had built up around the Mosaic Law of Divine Forgiveness and sincerely Repenting.
the Old Covenant, healing was forbidden on the
S a t ur d a y o f t he S o uls – t he M i rac le o f S t T he o d ore t he T y r o/ Re c r ui t
Today we remember the Miracle of St Theodore the was composed by St John of Damascus, is
Tyro/Recruit and the boiled wheat. chanted.
Fifty years after the death of St Theodore the Tyro, Afterwards Kolyva is Blessed and distributed amongst
Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to the Faithful.
commit an outrage upon the Christians, This Commemoration of St Theodore the Tyro on the
commanded the City Commander of Constantinople First Saturday of Great Lent was prescribed by our
during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the Holy Church Father, Patriarch Nectarios of
food in the marketplaces with the blood of the Constantinople (381-397).
sacrificial animals offered to the pagan idols The Troparion to St Theodore the Tyro is similar to the
throughout the city. Troparion for St Daniel the Holy Prophet of God and
St Theodore appeared in a Vision to Archbishop the Three Holy Youths, which is commemorated on
Eudoxios, beseeching him to advise all the faithful the Sunday before Nativity and on 17 December
Christians not to purchase anything from any of the each year.
marketplaces, and rather to eat boiled wheat The Kontakion to St Theodore the Tyro, who had
sweetened with honey (Kolyva). suffered his Holy Martyrdom by fire, reminds us that
In commemoration of this Holy Visitation, the Orthodox he wore his Faith as his protective breastplate.
(REFER I THESSALONIANS 5:8)
Church honours the Great Martyr St Theodore the
Tyro on the first Saturday of Great Lent every year. St Theodore the Tyro is also commemorated on 17
On Friday evening, during the Divine Liturgy of the February.
EDITED & ADAPTED BY mp: “FEASTS & SAINTS” – ORTHODOX
Presanctified Gifts following the Prayer Behind the CHURCH OF AMERICA – www.oca.org
Ambo, the Canon to St Theodore the Tyro, which
T h e E te r nal W is d o m of o u r H o l y C h ur c h F a t he rs
St John of Karpathos
"To the soul who doubts how she can ever give Birth to Christ through Great Acts of Holiness, these words are said: 'The
Holy Spirit shall come upon you.'
Where the Holy Spirit is present, do not expect any more the sequence and laws of nature and habit.
The Holy Spirit Whom we worship is All-powerful, and in an astonishing manner He brings into existence what
does not as yet exist within us.
The intellect that was previously defeated He now makes Victorious; for the Paraclete Who in Compassion
comes upon us from Above is ‘higher than all' and He raises us above all natural impulses and demonic
passions." (THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 1 EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD ANDWARE; FABER AND FABER PG. 317): (LUKE. 1:35 & (JOHN. 3:31)
St Makarios of Egypt
"... when the soul recognizes - what is indeed the Truth - that all its Good Actions for God's sake, together
with all its Understanding and Knowledge, are to be ascribed to God alone and that everything should be
attributed to Him, then God accepts this as the Greatest Gift that mankind can offer because the
offering that is most precious in His Divine Sight." (THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 3 EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD AND WARE; FABER AND FABER PGS.
339-340):

14. ( DONATIONS ARE GRATE FU LLY RE C EIVED) S a t u r d a y o f t h e S o u l s – M i r a c l e o f S t T h e o d o r e t h e T yr o – 1 2 M ar c h 2 0 1 1

 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the H oly Spiri t, now and forever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mo st Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mari a, Theo tokos, yet
Ever Virgin, toge ther with all the Saints. And let us commi t o urselves and one ano ther and our whole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

1st of Great Lent Tone. 1 1 3 M ar c h 2 01 1

S u nd a y o f t he T r i u mp h o f Or t h od o x y

Also the Feast of St Nicephoros of Constantinople (Translation of Relics) – St

Pouplios , Hieromartyr of Athens - St Sabinos (Abibos) of Egypt – St Afrikanos, St
Publios & St Terence of Carthage – St Alexander of Macedonia – St Christina of
Persia – St Aninas the Presbyter of the Euphrates

Resurrection Apolytikion – TONE 1

Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton While
filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros,
Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e
Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti
Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti
Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope!
K o n t a k i o n o f t h e T r i u m p h o f O r t h o d o x y – TONE 2
Tin ahranton Ikona Sou proskinoumen agathe,
etoumeni sighorisin ton ptesmaton imon, Hriste O
Theos. Voulisi gar iidokisas sarki, anelthin en to
Styavro, ina risi ous eplasas ek tis doulias tou
ehthrou. Othen evharistos voomen Si. Haras
eplirosas ta panta O Sotir imon, paragenomenos is
to sose ton kosmon.
the stone was sealed by the Jews, and soldiers
stood on guard over Thy Body undefiled, Thou rose
on the Third Day, O Saviour, Who grants Life to the
world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried
aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy
Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory
to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves
mankind!
We venerate Thy Most Pure Image, O Good One, and
ask forgiveness of our transgression, O Christ God.
Of Thy own Will Thou were pleased to ascend the
Cross in the Flesh to deliver Thy creatures from
bondage to the enemy. Therefore, with thanksgiving,
we cry aloud to Thee: Thou has filled all with Joy, O
our Saviour, by coming to Save the world!

R e s urre c t i on G os p e l 9 : J o h n 20 : 1 9 – 31
Our Risen Lord Bestows His Authority To Forgive Sins Upon His Apostles
Prokeimenon
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our Fathers!
For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us.
S t P a ul’ s Ep is tle t o t he H e br e w s 11 : 2 4 – 26 & 32 – 4 0
The Power and Hope of True Faith in God
By Faith Moses – when he became of age – refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the Reward...
...and what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak 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
and 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 so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
These verses are self-explanatory. However, DIVINE TRUTH – THE PERFECT AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH
St Paul reminds us how THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS HAD THE OF GOD – CANNOT BE PUT IN A TEST TUBE, DISECTED NOR
MOST AMAZING, UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN GOD, NO MATTER EXAMINED UNDER A MICROSCOPE!
TRUE FAITH COMES FROM DEEP WITHIN OUR SOUL FOR IT IS A
WHAT THEY WERE FORCED TO SUFFER AND ENDURE.
NATURAL RECOGNITION OF AND RESPONSE TO DIVINE TRUTH
We are so greatly Blessed to live in this day and age AND LOVE
when so much human history and Divinely Inspired In other words: it is natural for us to yearn for God and
Writings, personal witnessing, etc is available to His Goodness.
those who seek Divine Truth. DESPITE OR PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS DEEP
SEATED AND SINCERE FAITH OF THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS,
Yet our Faith is possibly much weaker than all those THEY DID NOT “RECEIVE THE PROMISE” OF EITHER RESTING
who went before us because although they only had OR REPOSING IN PEACE IN PARADISE UNTIL THE GENERAL
their deep seated Love of God and steadfast Faith RESURRECTION AND OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT until after
in Him to encourage and to guide them, THEY NEVER Christ’s Death on the Cross – the final and ultimate
DOUBTED NOR “DID THEIR OWN THING” LIKE ALL
Great Blood Sacrifice for our sins and for our
EGOCENTRIC PAGANS OR NON-BELIEVERS DO.
All too often, in the mistaken belief that we are so Eternal Salvation – His Harrowing of Hades and His
clever, we need “proof” before we accept anything Glorious Resurrection.
as being true. The good and the bad all were imprisoned by Death in
Hades until Christ broke open the Gates of Hades

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 1st Sunday of Great Lent – Triumph of Orthodoxy 13 March 2011 15.
 and allowed the Justified immortal souls to rest in SINCE THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, WE NOW ONLY
HAVE THIS LIFETIME IN WHICH TO DEVELOP A CLOSE
Peace in His re-opened Paradise, whence He had RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND TO IMPROVE OUR SPIRITUAL
already sent the soul of the Repentant Thief. STATE.
After the beheading of St John the Baptist – the final As soon as we begin the transition from this life
and greatest Holy Prophet of God – the DEPARTED through death towards Eternity, we no longer have
SOULS HEARD THE PREACHING OF THE FORERUNNER, WHO the opportunity to Repent our sins and to improve
ANNOUNCED AND PREPARED THEM FOR THE COMING OF THE
ONE TRUE MESSIAH. ourselves and our Relationship with God and with
ONLY ONCE DID THE DEPARTED SOULS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO one another.
REPENT THEIR SINS and follow Christ into His Paradise WHATEVER SPIRITUAL STATE WE DEPART THIS LIFE – WHETHER IN
A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST OR SPIRITUAL DEATH
to await the Final Judgement and Eternal Life or IN SIN AND ALIENATION FROM GOD, SO TOO WILL OUR
Condemnation and Eternal Death in exile from God IMMORTAL SOULS EXIST FOR ALL ETERNITY.
and all His Joyful Goodness.
T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t J o hn 1 : 4 3 – 51
Christ Calls St Philip & St Nathaniel (Bartholomew)
At that time, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him: “Follow Me.”
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him: “We have found
Him of Whom Moses in the Law – and also the Prophets – wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And
Nathanael said to him: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him: “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, and said of him: “Behold! An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no
deceit!” Nathanael said to Him: “How dost Thou know me?” And Jesus answered: “Before Philip called you,
when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Nathanael answered and said to Him: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!”
Jesus answered and said to him: “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You
will see greater things than these.” And He said to him: “Truly, I say to you: hereafter you shall see
Heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s first Disciples had been Christ’s Foreknowledge and ability to see into his heart
followers of St John the Baptist. stirred St Nathanael to this sincere Confession of
They were StAndrew, Simon -who is known to us as St Faith.
Peter or St Cephas - St Philip and St Nathanael or St The title “Son of Man,” is that of THE LONG AWAITED
Bartholomew and St John (THE DIVINE, THE THEOLOGIAN, THE MESSIAH THAT HAD A LEVEL OF MYSTERY IN ITS MEANING,
EVANGELIST AND THE GOD-INSPIRED AUTHOR OF THIS HOLY GOSPEL.) INDICATING SOMEONE OF HEAVENLY ORIGIN WHO WOULD
When Christ referred to St Nathanael/Bartholomew as USHER IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD. (REFER DANIEL 7: 13 –
14)
having “no deceit,” it revealed that HE COULD SEE In an Old Testament imagery, St Jacob dreamt of a
DEEP WITHIN HIS SOUL TO A PURE HEART – I.E. CHRIST KNEW
HIM TO BE A PERSON WHO WAS ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD Ladder connecting earth to Heaven, upon which the
AND HONEST WITH OTHERS. Angels of God were ascending and descending.
(Genesis 28: 12 – 15)
Whatever happened “under the fig tree,” is not stated
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THIS EXACT DIVINE LADDER WHO
by St John but St John Chrysostom believed that UNITES US ON EARTH TO HEAVEN, AND THUS IS REALLY THE
THIS WAS THE MEETING PLACE OF ST PHILIP AND ST SON OF MANKIND.
NATHANAEL AND THAT OUR LORD JESUS WAS PRAISING ST
NATHANAEL FOR BEING SO DILIGENT AND CAREFUL IN THEIR
SEARCH FOR THE TRUE MESSIAH.

S u nd a y o f Or t h od o x y – t he G re a t Tr i u mp h
The first Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to our
Orthodox Faith - to the Victory of Truth over error -
of Light over darkness.
For more than 100 years Christianity had been turned
upside down over the question of Holy Icons.
Emperor Leo the Isaurian, a great patriotic Byzantine
Emperor, had noticed the enthusiasm of the youth
of his era for Monastic Life, and had witnessed great
multitudes of his subjects devoting much of their
time to celebrating the Feasts of our Lord and all
the Saints as well as the veneration of Holy Icons.
So deciding that he had been “chosen by God” to enact
a great reformation, in 726 he issued his first Edict,
which ordered the repositioning of Holy Icons in all
churches, so that they might no longer be
venerated by the Faithful.
Three years later another Edict followed, ordering the
removal of the Holy Icons from all churches.
Naturally the Clergy and laity became divided amongst
themselves and many of the Clergy even sided with
the apostasing Emperor.
Those whose responsibility it was to enforce the
Imperial Decree were ignorant and rude. They
provoked many awful atrocities such as the burning
of invaluable manuscripts and the destruction of
priceless works of art, of which any library or
museum of good standing would be justifiably
proud today.
Much blood was shed and all those in favour of the
veneration of Holy Icons suffered cruel persecution
from clergy and laity alike.
The entire nation was divided into two camps, each
trying to destroy the other — Iconodules versus
Iconoclasts.
Emperor Leo's son continued his father's evil tactics, as
did his own sons.
Sometimes they surpassed the merciless crimes of Leo
the Isaurian by having eyes gouged out, cutting off
noses and other despicable and unjust cruelties.
In 787 the Byzantine Throne was occupied by Empress
Irene the Athenian, a widow who acted as Regent
for her young son.
Being an intelligent and faithful Christian, she convened
a Great Synod in Nicaea - the Seventh Ecumenical
Council - which subsequently restored the
veneration of Holy Icons and returned them to all
places of worship, including the homes of the
faithful.
After the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council,
however, the divisions among the people
continued, since some of the successive Emperors
chose to ignore the Decrees of the Council until
Empress Theodora, the wife of Emperor
Theophilos, convened a Great Council in 842 at
Constantinople.
St Methodius the Patriarch of Constantinople was
respected for his profound Inspiration and as a
result the Council were able to restore all the
decisions of the Seventh Ecumenical Council as
obligatory.
On the first Sunday of Great Lent, with all due solemnity
and splendid ceremony, yet with great reverence,
the Holy Icons were restored to all churches and
chapels, as well as in public places and the private
homes of the faithful.
Thus the First Sunday of Great Lent is referred to as
“Sunday of Orthodoxy,” and ever since continues to
be panegyrically celebrated – i.e. it is celebrated to
this day with a lofty oration in praise and
confirmation of the rightful Veneration of Holy Icons
and all Holy Things.
The unity of the nation was once again restored, and
the Holy Church of Christ regained Her much-
needed Peace.

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In the end, as always, the Church Conquered, and the
Righteous Faithful (ορθη) prevailed.
Therefore, it is most essential today to contemplate
certain aspects concerning our One, Holy, Catholic
and Apostolic Church:
What is the Holy Church of Christ?
In the New Testament, and especially in the Epistles of
St Paul, there are many definitions and descriptions
for the Church, but the most frequently used
expression is "the Body of Christ."
Another New Testament expression for the Church is
"the Pillar and Ground of the Truth." (I TIMOTHY
3:15).
Androutsos, a noted Orthodox Theologian, describes
the Church as "that Holy Foundation made by the
Incarnate Word of God for the Salvation and
Sanctification of mankind, bearing His own (DIVINE)
Authority and Authenticity, made up of (PEOPLE)
having one common Faith and sharing the same
(HOLY MYSTERIES), who are divided into laity and clergy
… and the latter, who rule the Church, trace their
beginning in unbroken Succession to the Apostles
and through them to the Lord."
In this definition lies the whole meaning of the Church:
(1) THE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED BY THE LORD, AND AS SUCH IS
DIVINE.
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS TO SAVE AND SANCTIFY ALL
THOSE WHO ARE LED TO CONFESS THEIR FAITH IN
CHRIST AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE GRACE
GRANTED THROUGH THE HOLY CHURCH BY MEANS OF
THE SACRAMENTS (HOLY MYSTERIES)
(3) THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF BOTH CLERGY (THE HOLY
PRIESTHOOD, THE READERS, THE CHOIR, THE TEACHERS, THE ACOLYTES
(ASSISTANTS TO THE PRIEST) AND ALTAR BOYS) AND LAITY.
Is this definition relevant to us today?
Have these Dogmas any practical meaning for the
ordinary person?
We know that today a revolutionary current is blowing,
and an impulse to change everything preoccupies
modern man.
Everything is examined in the same manner; all must
conform to the same measure. For today's people,
nothing is Divine – and if Divine Things do actually
exist, they reason, they should be “modernized” to
conform to contemporary thought and mores (WAY OF
LIFE)!
Many "good Christians" and other honest people view
the Church as a completely human institution - one
that is good and useful - especially insofar as it
keeps the lower elements of society — the common
people — in their place, mostly through Her
Teachings of Heaven and Hell, Rewards and
Punishments.
Moreover, the Church is “good” because She performs
useful social functions: caring for orphans,
operating homes for the elderly, maintaining
parochial schools, etc.
Thus, it is “wise” to invite the Archbishop or Priest to
civic affairs, since this will almost certainly result in
additional votes, more money, and additional
“popularity” with “religious” people for those who
organize such affairs!
The Church is viewed merely as a kind of "Service Club"
which contributes to the overall good of the
Community, and is therefore socially acceptable!
THIS MAKES CHRIST LESS THAN HE IS – IT GROSSLY BELITTLES AND INSULTS GOD! IT
MAKES OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR – THE VERY SON OF GOD THE FATHER - A
MERE HUMAN BEING, WITHOUT ANY DIVINITY, AUTHORITY OR POWER –
WITHOUT THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION AND TRUTH OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
FURTHERMORE, THE PERFECT DIVINE COVENANT WITH GOD AND ALL HIS TRUTH,
TEACHINGS, GUIDANCE AND REVELATIONS BECOME LESS THAN PERFECT IF
EVEN ONE “IOTA OR TITTLE” IS CHANGED – IF GOD’S PERFECT TRUTH IS ALTERED
EVEN TO THE MINUTEST DEGREE, IT IS NO LONGER ABSOLUTE DIVINE
PERFECTION!
HOW DARE ANYONE PUT OUR FLAWED AND LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING BEFORE SUCH PERFECTION AND TRY TO CHANGE IT!!
TO DO SO REVEALS A COMPLETE LACK OF HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND A
VULGAR EGOCENTRIC AND ARROGANT ATTITUDE.
However, dear Brethren, when Christ established His
Holy Church, He did not do so with commercial,
political or social considerations in mind.
The Church exists to fulfil a Spiritual and Faithful
Function.
Certainly there is a social character to the Church; this
is undeniable, but it is not all-important.
(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 1st Sunday of Great Lent – Triumph of Orthodoxy
The primary purpose behind the existence of Christ’s
Holy Church's is the Salvation and Sanctification of
all mankind.
The Clergy are neither Social Workers nor political
servants; rather - according to the inspired words of
St Paul - they are "...servants of Christ and
Stewards of the Mysteries of God."
The Clergy are entrusted Ministers of the Divine Grace
of God and of His Holy Gospel.
If a Priest is excellent in fulfilling his social functions,
due to his being gifted in diplomatic language or
effective communication, but lags behind in his
Sacred Duty as a Good Steward of the Holy
Mysteries of God, then he is not a Priest of Christ –
not of Christ’s Holy and Eternal Priesthood - but a
mere charlatan!
✽ THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A HUMAN INSTITUTION
per se because although She embraces much
that is human, SHE IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIVINE.
➤ She is VIVIFIED (ENLIVENED AND ACTIVATED) BY THE VERY
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, BEING MADE CONTINUOUSLY
ALIVE TO EVERY DIVINE AND PERFECT TRUTH.
If the continued existence and progress of the Church
were dependent upon man, she would long since
have disappeared, since we can easily prove that
her servants and ministers have often been most
unworthy of their Calling.
Moreover, many enemies of Truth have sought to
destroy the Church.
St John Chrysostom said: "HOW MANY HAVE ASSAILED THE
CHURCH, AND YET THE ASSAILANTS HAVE PERISHED WHILE
THE CHURCH HERSELF HAS SOARED BEYOND THE SKY?
“SUCH MIGHT HATH THE CHURCH: WHEN SHE IS ASSAILED, SHE
CONQUERS; WHEN SNARES ARE LAID FOR HER, SHE
PREVAILS; WHEN SHE IS INSULTED, HER PROSPERITY
INCREASES; SHE IS WOUNDED YET SINKS NOT UNDER HER
WOUNDS; TOSSED BY WAVES YET NOT SUBMERGED; VEXED BY
STORMS YET SUFFERS NO SHIPWRECK; SHE WRESTLES AND
IS NOT WORSTED; FIGHTS BUT IS NOT VANQUISHED."
✽ Our Holy Church Fathers have taught us that
WHEREVER THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST EXISTS, THERE
ALSO EXISTS THE HOLY SPIRIT; WHEREVER THE HOLY
SPIRIT EXISTS, THERE ALSO EXISTS THE CHURCH, AND
DIVINE GRACE.
Furthermore, our Holy Fathers characterize the Church
as THE ARK OF SALVATION.
Just as the Ark saved St Noah and those with him from
the cataclysm of the Great Flood, in the same way
THE CHURCH SAVES THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE UNDER HER
WING.
The question remains — from where do we human
beings expect our Salvation? From Heaven or from
earth?
In Whom or in what do we place our Faith or trust? In
God through Christ, or in the fallen, temporary
world?
Is our first love our immortal soul (THAT NEEDS TO RETURN TO GOD
FROM WHEN SHE CAME) or our temporary, earthly body (THAT
NEEDS TO RETURN TO THE EARTH FROM WHENCE IT CAME, UNTIL RESURRECTED
AND ENLIVENED ONCE AGAIN BY GOD) ?
It is certainly True that people today are earthly-minded
– we are mostly friends of the flesh and of the fallen,
fleeting world, rather than friends of God (I.E. WORTHY
CITIZENS AND CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST OF HIS ETERNAL, HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF
AGAPE).
✽ MOST OF US YEARN FOR NOTHING BEYOND FOOD, DRINK,
MINDLESS ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION, AS WELL
AS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN MONETARY WEALTH,
ALL OF WHICH BENEFITS US NOTHING AT ALL FOR
ETERNAL LIFE!
Because we live in the age of automation, we expect the
learning of metaphysical Truth to be as easy as
turning a knob or pressing a button. Yet, IN ORDER
TO COMPREHEND DIVINE TRUTH, WE HAVE TO WORK; WE
HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE.
✽ In Holy Scripture, the Holy Church of Christ (I.E. THE
BODY OF CHRIST OF WHICH MEMBERS – PARTS - CONSIST OF EACH AND
EVERY FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN) is characterized as the
"Light of the world," and the "Salt of the
earth."
➤ SHE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, LEADING AND
GUIDING ALL HUMAN BEINGS TO THEIR INTENDED
SPIRITUAL DESTINY — TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
➤ SHE ALSO PRESERVES AND PROTECTS US FROM MORAL
DECAY, just as salt is used to preserve and
protect food from decaying.
13 March 2011 17.
 ➤ The Church restrains those who work in
factories, among machines, in order that
they may not lose their personalities and
become machines themselves.
➤ She protects those who work in the darkness of
the earth, in mines, lest they lose the Light
of Christ.
Thus the Holy Church of Christ is indestructible and
Eternal!
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us: "...do not fear those
who kill the body but (who) cannot kill the
soul. Fear Him rather Who is able to destroy
both soul and body in Hell" (Matthew 10:28)
CHRIST TAUGHT US THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO FEAR THE KILLING OF OUR SOUL,
WHICH CONFIRMS THE IMMORTALITY OF THE HUMAN SOUL, WHICH IS GRANTED
TO US BY DIVINE GRACE – BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HOWEVER, WE SHOULD FEAR THE JUDGEMENT OUR UNREPENTED SINS WHICH ARE
ALWAYS SEEN BY ALMIGHTY GOD - FOR ONLY HE HAS THE POWER TO JUDGE
OUR SOUL AND ONLY GOD DECIDES WHETHER WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE OR
DEATH.
IF WE TRULY LOVE GOD WE WILL BE IN CONSTANT FEAR OF DISAPPOINTING HIM –
JUST AS WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO NEVER DISAPPOINT OTHERS WHOM WE LOVE.
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – ARE INSTRUCTED TO RESIST
THE TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN, HIS DEMONS AND HIS SERVANTS BUT NOT TO
FEAR HIM FOR HE HAS NO POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER US.
HARM COMES TO THOSE WHO SURRENDER OR CO-OPERATE WITH THE EVIL ONES, NOT
TO THOSE WHO ARE HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD WHO
PROVIDES FOR US AND WHO CONSTANTLY WATCHES OVER US, UNLESS WE
HAVE EXILED OR DISTANCED OURSELVES, THEREBY REJECTING HIS DIVINE
GOODNESS AND MERCY!
Dear Brethren, St Paul severely cautioned us:
"Be on your guard; do not let your minds be
captured by hollow and delusive speculations,
based on traditions of man-made teaching
T h e E te r nal W is d o m of o u r H o l y C h ur c h F a t he rs
St Maximos the Confessor
"There is a single Energy of God and the Saints. They
are Living Icons of Christ, being the same as He is,
by Grace rather than by assimilation." (THE PHILOKALIA
VOL. 2 EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD AND WARE; FABER AND FABER PG. 274):
St Gregory Palamas
"The Disciples worshipped the Most High Lord Who had
come down from Heaven, made the earth into
Heaven and gone up again whence He came,
having United things below with things Above and
formed One Church, at the same time Heavenly and
earthly, to the Glory of His Love for mankind." (HOMILY
TWENTY-ONE PARA. 13, THE HOMILIES VOL. 1; ST.TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS
PG. 271):
St. Cyril of Alexandria
"...the assertion that the Word dwelt in us is a useful
one because it reveals to us a very deep Mystery.
For we were all in Christ.
The common element of humanity is summed up in His
Person, which is also why He was called the Last
Adam: He enriched our common nature with
everything conducive to Joy and Glory just as the
first Adam impoverished it with everything bringing
corruption and gloom.
This is precisely why the Word dwelt in all of us by
dwelling in a single human being, so that through
that One Being Who was 'designated Son of God
in Power according to the Spirit of Holiness'
the whole of humanity might be raised up to His
Status so that the verse, 'I said, you are gods and all
of you sons of the Most High' might through
applying to one of us come to apply to us all."
(COMMENTARY ON JOHN 1:14B, CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: THE EARLY CHURCH
FATHERS BY NORMAN RUSSELL; ROUTLEDGE PGS. 106-107): (ROMANS 1:4)
(PSALM 82:6)
St. Cyril of Alexandria
"...mankind is a rational but at the same time a
composite animal, made up, that is to say, of soul
and this perishable and earthly flesh.
When he was created by God and brought into being,
since he did not possess incorruptibility and
immortality of his own nature (these attributes
belong essentially only to God), he was sealed with
the Spirit of Life, thus acquiring a Relationship with
the Divine Good that transcends nature.
For Scripture says, 'He breathed upon his face the
Breath of Life, and the man became a living
soul'
18. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 1st Sunday of Great Lent – Triumph of Orthodoxy
and centred on the elemental spirits of the
universe and not on Christ."
Remain in the Holy Church of Christ, not as mere,
inadequate "attenders," nor as puerile instruments,
but as active Sanctified and Struggling Members of
the Body of Christ who are full of Life and eager
action.
Participate always in the Sacramental Life of the
Church, in the Mystical Body of Christ.
Outside the Sanctified Environment of the Holy Church,
there is no Salvation for us.
As St Photios warned us: "Whoever leaves the Church
delivers himself up to Satan."
And St John Chrysostom, referring to the circumstances
of Eutropios, who of his own will abandoned the
Sanctuary of the Holy Church and was captured and
executed by the army: "Abide with the Church,
and the Church will not hand you over to the
enemy: but if you flee from the Church, the
Church is not the cause of your capture. If
you are inside the Fold, the wolf cannot get
you; but if you leave, you are liable to find
yourself the prey of the beast."
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY” BY REVEREND GEORGE
DIMOPOULOS – HOLY TRINITY MISSION
http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermon
s_g_dimopoulos.htm#_Toc44633636
But when he was punished for his transgression, he
rightly heard the words, 'You are earth and to
earth you shall return' and was stripped of the
Grace. The Breath of Life, that is, the Holy Spirit
Who says 'I Am the Life', departed from the earthly
flesh and the living being succumbed to Death
through the flesh alone, since the soul was
preserved in its immortality, with the result that it
was to the flesh alone that the words 'You are
earth and to earth you shall return' were
addressed." (COMMENTARY ON JOHN 1:14A, CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: THE
EARLY CHURCH FATHERS BY NORMAN RUSSELL; RUTLEDGE PGS. 104-105):
(GENESIS 2:7 LXX). (GENESIS 3:9 LXX)
St John of Kronstadt
"Both educated and uneducated young men seldom go
to Church, and in general do not attend to their
Spiritual Education, looking upon it as unnecessary
and giving themselves up to worldly vanity.
Attention must be paid to this. It is the fruit of pride!
They consider attendance at Church and Divine Service
as the business of the common people and women,
forgetting that, in the Temple, Angels officiate with
trembling, together with men, and regard this as
their Highest Bliss." (MY LIFE IN CHRIST: PART II, HOLY TRINITY
MONASTERY PGS. 277-278):
St Gregory Palamas
"It is impossible for anyone who stands in God's Holy
Church collecting his thoughts, lifting his mind to
God, occupying his understanding with the sacred
singing from the beginning until the end and
waiting patiently, not to undergo a Divine Change,
in accordance with his attention to God and His
Teachings.
Through this attention a certain warmth is born in the
heart which chases away evil like flies, creates
Spiritual Peace and Comfort in the soul and bestows
Sanctification on the body, according to him who
said, 'My heart was hot within me, while I was
musing the Fire burned'
One of the God-bearing Fathers also taught us: 'Strive
as hard as you can to ensure that your Inner
Labour is according to God's Will, and you
will conquer the outward passions.'
The great St Paul, too, urged us towards this, saying:
'Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the
lust of the flesh'." (HOMILY TWENTY PARA. 15. THE HOMILIES VOL.
1; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS PG. 262): (PSALM 39:3) (GALATIANS 5:16)
13 March 2011
 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the So n, and to the Hol y Spirit, now and fo rever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, T heotokos, yet
Ever Virgin, to gether wi th all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and o ne another and our whole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.
nd
2 Sunday of Great Lent Tone 2 20 March 2011

S u nd a y o f t he P ar al y t ic & o f S t Gr e g or y o f Pa la m as

Also the Feast of the Holy Hieromartyrs of St Savva Monastery: St John, St

Sergios, St Patrick and all the other Holy Fathers – St Euphrosynos of Blue Jay
Lake, Novgorod – St Photini (Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman & her family: St
Viktor (Photinos) & St Joses, her sons, St Anatola, St Phota, St Photis, St Paraskeva,
St Kyriake of Rome, her sisters – St Domnina, daughter of Nero & St Sebasianos
– St Alexandra, St Claudia, St Euphrasia, St Matrona, St Juliana, St Euphemia & St
Theodosia Virgin Martyrs of Amisos – St Nicetas the Confessor of Apollonias, Bithynia – St Cuthbert,
Wonderworker of Britain – St Myron the New Martyr of Crete

R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n – TONE 2
Ote katilthes pros ton thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote When Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,
ton adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy
ke tous tethneotas ek ton katahthonion Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the
anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton Epouranion subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried
ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O Theos imon, Doxa aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!
Si!
Triodion Apolytikion - St Gregory Palamas – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Orthodoxias O Fostir, Ekklisias to Stirigma ke O Beacon of Orthodox Belief, the strong Support of the
Didaskale, ton monaston i kalloni, ton T h e o l o g o n Church and Her Teacher Inspired by God, you are the
Ipermahos aprosmahitos, Grigorie Ornament of Monks, the Unassailable Champion of
Thavmatourge, Thessalonikis to kavhima, kirix tis haritos, Theologians, O Gregory the Wonderworker, and the
iketeve dia pantos sothine tas psihas imon. Boast of Thessalonica, the Messenger of Grace:
Forever earnestly entreat for the Salvation of our
souls. .
Kontakion to the Blessed Theotokos
Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria, Os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City
efharistiria, Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke All’ os in thanksgiving Ascribes the Victory for the
ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton, Ek pantion me deliverance from sufferings. But having Thy Might
kindinon eleftheroson, Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi unassailable, Free me from all dangers So that I may
Animfevte! cry out to Thee: “Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
Resurrection Gospel 10: John 21: 1 - 14
Resurrection
Our Lord Jesus Serves Breakfast To His Eleven Apostles
P r o ke i me n on
O Lord, protect us and preserve us, both now and forever.
Save us, O Lord, for there is not one Godly man left!
S t P a ul’ s Ep is tle t o t he H e br e w s 1 : 10 – 2 : 3
Our Lord Jesus Christ is without Beginning and the Divine Creator of All
Brethren: God the Father said to His Son: “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.”
Yet 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 who are 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.
✽ St Paul has used the quotation from Psalm 101:26- Rather than ruling over humanity, THE HOLY ANGELS OF
28 which concerns GOD THE FATHER ADDRESSING GOD ARE OUR PARTNERS IN OUR HOLY SERVICE TO
ANOTHER – HIS SON – AS “LORD,” AS GOD. GOD.
✽ The Sacred Role of Angels – the Holy Messengers of ➤ THEY ARE OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS WHO GUIDE,
ENLIGHTEN, CAUTION, PROTECT AND WATCH OVER
God – is “...to minister to those who will US AS WE JOURNEY THROUGH THIS EXISTENCE
inherit Salvation.” TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST.
At the beginning of the New Covenant Era, many “... we must give the more earnest heed...” is St
Hebrews believed that the Angels still mediated the Paul’s serious admonition against WILFUL NEGLIGENCE
Old Covenant. AND CARELESSNESS, WHICH IS A SLOW PROCESS OF
➤ THE HOLY ANGELS OF GOD MOST CERTAINLY SERVED THE SPIRITUAL DRIFTING AWAY FROM GOD AND INTO SPIRITUAL
DIVINE ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD THE FATHER EXILE AND SIN.
– I.E. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE INCARNATE SON ➤ Therefore, WE MUST REMAIN ALERT AND SPIRITUALLY
OF GOD WHILE HE LIVED AMONGST US, until His for the evil one always
WATCHFUL AT ALL TIMES
Death on the Cross and His descent into waits for the smallest opportunity to destroy
Hades, where they could not go, having us and our wonderful Relationship with God
nothing to do with Death and Hades. and our fellow struggling sinners.
➤ We must learn to APPLY ALL OUR LORD’S TEACHINGS
AND REVELATIONS TO OUR PERSONAL LIFE.

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 2nd Sunday of Great Lent – St Gregory Palamas – the Paralytic & Friends 20 March 2011 19.
 ➤ We must also learn to HEAR THE VOICE OF OUR WHO HELP US ENDURE DIFFICULTIES AND TO RESIST
GUARDIAN ANGELS WHO WORK JUST AS TEMPTATION.
CEASELESSLY TO DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD AND

T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t Ma r k 2 : 1 - 1 2
The Faith of the Paralytic and His Four Friends
At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many
gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the
Word to them.
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near to Him
because of the crowd, they uncovered the rood where He was and when they had broken through, they let down the
bed on which the paralytic lay.
When Jesus saw their Faith, He said to the paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the Scribes were
sitting there and reasoning in their hearts: “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins
except God alone?”
And immediately Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves so 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 to say, ‘Arise! Take up your bed and walk!?” But that you may know that the Son of
Man has Power on earth to forgive sins...” He turned to the paralytic, “...I say to you: Arise! Take up your
bed, and go to your house.”
Immediately 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!”
✽ As shown by the healing of this paralysed man, ➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FORGIVES SINS – A DIVINE
FAITH IS CERTAINLY AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR POWER THAT BELONGS TO GOD ALONE
OUR SALVATION. ➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HEALS COMPLETELY –
PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY – BY THE POWER OF
✽ FAITH IS COLLECTIVE AS WELL AS PERSONAL for THE HIS DIVINE WORD ALONE.
PROFOUND FAITH OF THE PARALYSED MAN’S FRIENDS THE ONE MAIN DIVINE PURPOSE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S
CONTRIBUTED TO HIS MIRACULOUS HEALING. COMING INTO OUR WORLD IS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
✽ This incident revealed THREE CLEAR SIGNS OF OUR LORD AND GRANTING US ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS DIVINE KINGDOM OF
JESUS’ DIVINITY – HIS DIVINE NATURE: LOVE.
➤ OUR LORD JESUS KNOWS THE SECRETS OF ALL HEARTS OUR WILLING REPENTANCE OF OUR PERSONAL SINS IS AN
AND SOULS. CEASELESS STRUGGLE WHEREBY WE ARE SET FREE BY THE
GRACE OF GOD FROM THE BONDAGE AND ENSLAVEMENT OF

1 K i n g d o m s 1 6 : 7 L x x : “The Lord said to THE EVIL ONE WHO ENSNARES AND ENTRAPS US WITH ALL
Samuel: ‘Have no regard for his outward HIS DEVIOUS TEMPTATIONS.
appearance, nor for the maturity of his THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS A FAR GREATER POWER THAN
stature, because I have refused him, for PHYSICAL HEALING, because, as the Scribes correctly

mankind does not see as God sees, for
mankind looks at the outward
appearance, while the Lord sees into the
heart.’”
St Cyprianos believed that GOD’S JUDGEMENT WILL NOT BE
MERELY BASED ON OUTWARD APPEARANCES, BUT WILL
PENETRATE MUCH DEEPER INTO THE HEART AND SOUL OF
EVERYONE FOR GOD CLEARLY SEES THE HEART AND THE
MIND OF EVERY HUMAN BEING, AND HE WILL JUDGE EACH
SOUL ACCORDING TO OUR DEEDS, OUR WORDS AND OUR
THOUGHTS!

2 C h r o n i c l e s 6 : 3 0 L x x : “... hear from
Heaven, Thy Dwelling Place, and forgive
them. And grant to everyone according
to his ways, for Thou know his heart,
since Thou alone know the hearts of the
sons of mankind...”
Second Sunday of Great Lent – Sunday of St Gregory Palamas
Why do we fast? Why do we make sacrifices? Why do we
stand at long Services? Why do we pray?
To those of us who are beginning to doubt and waver
after only two weeks of the Great Lenten Fast, the
Holy Church of Christ brings us an answer today.
This answer is in the person of St Gregory Palamas, the
fourteenth-century Archbishop of Salonica
(Thessalonica) in Greece to whom this Sunday is
dedicated.
To many of you Salonica may seem far away.
Not to me, because exactly twenty-five years ago I lived
and worked there for a year. And as regards St
Gregory Palamas, I saw two things.
Firstly, I noticed how the Feast of St Gregory Palamas is
still celebrated there today, with his Holy Relics
being carried through the city in Procession,
escorted by the Naval and Police Forces.
We may wonder why his earthly remains are still held in
such honour.
Secondly, I went to visit a place up in the hills behind
the town of Kavalla near Salonica.
There is a cave in the rocks, which was the home of St
Gregory Palamas before he was consecrated
Archbishop.
It was in that cave that he spent years Fasting and in
Prayer. And there, not caring for his body, and
instead cultivating and caring for the purity of his
heart and therefore his mind, he received Divine
stated, GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS!
Consequently, it is far easier for Christ to grant physical
healing to those who seek it, but OUR SPIRITUAL
HEALING REQUIRES US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, RECOGNISE
OR IDENTIFY OUR SINS AND THEN EXPOSE THEM TO THE
DIVINE LIGHT OF GOD, SEEKING HIS DIVINE FORGIVENESS.
SIMILARLY, THE FORGIVENESS OF ONE ANOTHER ALSO REQUIRES
THE EXPOSURE TO THE DIVINE LIGHT OF TRUTH SINCE ALL
TOO OFTEN THE SO-CALLED “VICTIM” IS THE INITIAL
OFFENDER AND NEEDS TO RECTIFY DEEP SEATED, HIDDEN
SIN, WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN TRUE HUMILITY AND
OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS SINCERELY SOUGHT.
ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS FULLY DIVINE (GOD) AND
HE POSSESSES COMPLETE DIVINE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE US
OUR SINS, IN THIS INCIDENT HE CONDESCENDED TO THOSE
WHO HAD GATHERED AROUND HIM, BY HEALING THE
PARALYSED MAN IN ORDER TO DRAW THEM ALL CLOSER TO
ALMIGHTY GOD WHOM THEY THEN GLORIFIED FOR HIS GREAT
MERCY.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit whereby he came to know
God.
Now at the same time that St Gregory Palamas lived in
extreme Fasting and Prayer, there also lived a clever
Philosopher – a fellow a Greek or Hellenist - whose
name was Barlaam. He declared that, logically, it
was impossible to know God for indeed God was by
definition unknowable and inaccessible to the
human mind.
On hearing and studying Barlaam's philosophy, St
Gregory Palamas recognized in the so-called “logic”
of Barlaam a blasphemy - a heresy.
He noticed that Barlaam lacked purity of heart and
therefore of mind as well, and that his logic was the
logic of the godless who only trusted in their own
mental powers and imagination - the mental
powers of the created, not of the Creator.
For if Barlaam were right, then all of Christ's Work for us
- from His Conception and Birth as a Man, His
Circumcision, His Presentation in the Temple, His
Baptism, His Crucifixion, His Resurrection, His
Ascension, to His Sending of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost - were futile - they were all in vain!
✽ Unlike Barlaam, St Gregory Palamas believed that
SINCE CHRIST THE CREATOR HAD BECOME MAN AND
PART OF CREATION, HE HAD MADE HUMAN NATURE
POTENTIALLY HOLY - LIKE HIS OWN HUMAN NATURE.
✽ BY SENDING DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE HAD GRANTED US
ALL ACCESS IN OUR HUMAN NATURE TO HOLINESS.

20. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 2nd Sunday of Great Lent – St Gregory Palamas – the Paralytic & Friends 20 March 2011
Just as the Sun is known to us through its energies of
heat and light, so GOD CAN BE KNOWN TO US THROUGH
THE UNCREATED ENERGIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
✽ Quite simply, IF WE REJECT THE INSPIRED TEACHING OF
ST GREGORY PALAMAS ON THIS, WE REJECT ALL THE
WORK OF CHRIST AND THEREFORE ALSO REJECT THE
COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Barlaam's philosophy would mean that we cannot know
God and that there is no purpose in Fasting and
Prayer.
In fact, BARLAAM'S PHILOSOPHY WAS A DENIAL OF GOD and
therefore the foundation-stone of the last century's
atheism and disbelief with all its massacres and
genocides with their hundreds of millions of victims.
Indeed, BARLAAM'S PHILOSOPHY IS THE BASIS OF ALL THOSE
RECENT IDEAS WHICH SAID THAT THERE IS NO GOD, that
man stands alone and lonely at the head of the
Universe, for there is nothing greater than man -
that he quite magically created himself in an empty
and godless Universe.
St Gregory asserted the opposite to Barlaam.
✽ He affirmed that WE CARRY WITHIN OURSELF TWO
TENDENCIES - ONE FOR GOOD, THE OTHER FOR EVIL.
➤ However, THE TENDENCY FOR GOOD CAN ONLY BE
DEVELOPED IN US THROUGH ACQUIRING THE DIVINE
GRACE OF GOD, THE DIVINE ENERGY THAT IS SENT
TO US FROM GOD, ACCESSIBLE INSOFAR AS OUR
HEARTS AND MINDS ARE PURE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE
THAT DIVINE GRACE.
➤ But this DIVINE GRACE, WHICH ENLIGHTENS AND
BRIGHTENS US, CAN ONLY COME TO US IF WE
REPENT - IF WE ACCEPT THE PROCESS OF FASTING
AND PRAYER, TEARS AND SELF-SACRIFICE.
Standing on the Edge
One of the peculiar marks of life in the modern world is
the sense one has of standing on the edge.
We are always (it seems) either standing on the edge of
disaster or on the edge of some great discovery.
Of course, a lot of this is simply the way we market the
world to ourselves. But it is an inherent part of
modernity to constantly look towards the future and
forget the past.
This is not to say that our culture is eschatological – we
are merely oriented towards constant change with
competing visions of light and dark with regard to a
relentless future.
To be properly eschatological (FROM THE GREEK FOR “CONCERNING
THE LAST THINGS”) is to believe that there is an actual
end-point that is the fulfilment of all things – the
Fullness towards which God is drawing His Creation.
To stand on the edge of the future is often experienced
as anxiety.
Like all of modernity, we believe in progress, but the
myth of constant progress towards a Utopian world
has been shattered by the many tragedies of the
20th century.
Like previous centuries it had its wars and its
oppressive regimes. But unlike previous centuries,
we learnt that modern wars and modern regimes
are apocalyptic in the fullness of their nightmares.
We are at least as certain of a bad end as we are of a
good end – and, I suspect, more people expect
things to get a lot worse before they get better - if
they get better.
There are other experiences of standing on the edge.
I think that when we confront God, we find ourselves on
an Edge.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the
Living God!” (HEBREWS 10:31).
It is not that the Living God holds any animosity
towards us, or that He intends us any harm. But the
Divine Light and the Truth that radiates from Him
require Light and Truth to be present in those who
behold Him.
If we have no Light and Truth then His Divine Presence
reveals the darkness and the lies that are present
within us.
Any number of times in my life I have stood at that
Edge.
To some degree, every the occasion of private
Confession is an approach to the Edge - to behold
the Face of God.
(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 2nd Sunday of Great Lent – St Gregory Palamas – the Paralytic & Friends
✽ It is vital for us to understand thatTHE THOUGHTS OF
ST GREGORY PALAMAS, EXPRESSED IN DETAIL IN HIS
WRITINGS, ARE NOT JUST THOUGHTS, not just another
philosophy like Barlaam's, since THEY WERE BASED
ON HIS SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND THEY WERE
DIVINELY INSPIRED.
➤ He was not talking about an idea, but about THE
REALITY WHICH HE HAD EXPERIENCED AS AN
ASCETIC in that cave which you can still visit
today.
And the fact is that it is the Wonder-working Relics of St
Gregory Palamas that are carried in Procession
through the streets of Thessalonica today - not the
Graceless dust of the bones of Barlaam.
➤ THIS IS THE REALITY OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST!
➤ THIS IS THE DIVINE GRACE OF THE ENERGIES OF GOD!
➤ THIS IS HOLINESS, THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, which is not imagined,
nor the fruit of fantasy or the studies of the
mind, but THE REALITY OF GOD KNOWN TO AND
EXPERIENCED BY THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN HEART
AND MIND.
For as Christ declared: “Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see God.”
And this precisely is the Sacred Aim of all True Christian
hearts and minds.
O Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS” BY FATHER
ANDREW – ORTHODOX ENGLAND
http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/sermstgr.htm
“Behold, Child, Christ stands here invisibly before
you receiving your Confession,” the Priest says.
I have stood beside many, many others as they
approached the Edge and I have seen the Wonders
of the Effect of God’s Light and Truth.
I can also recall very profound moments – such as the
time of my Conversion to Orthodoxy.
In some respects, I stood at the Edge for nearly 20
years (and very consciously for at least seven).
In various comments by readers, it is obvious that many
stand at the Edge of Orthodoxy and sometimes for
a long time.
Was I afraid? Yes, I was.
Was I afraid of God? Yes I was. I was afraid of the Truth,
of the Light, of myself, of everything around me.
I can see now that my fear was baseless and that my
waiting so long on the Edge held far more drama
than was necessary. But standing on the Edge can
be like that.
Dostoevsky had a feel for the Edge. The tension that
builds in the character Raskolnikov (Crime and
Punishment) becomes almost unbearable until the
young man at last turns himself in for the murders
he has committed.
And like all the rest of us who murder (at least in our
heart), turning ourselves in, getting past the Edge,
becomes the Path of Salvation just as it was for
Raskolnikov.
While quite young, my own children became aware that
I had difficulty with heights and edges, particularly
while driving. A long, high bridge, or a narrow
mountain switch-back, raced my pulse and pumped
adrenalin throughout my body.
My children invented a little game while we were
travelling. As we approached such a frightful point
in our journey, they would shout in unison: “Over
the edge!”
Without fail, it sent me into paroxysms of terror and I
would respond with even louder shouts of various
empty threats, which they thought was great fun!
To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become like
these little children who so enthusiastically and
fearlessly shout aloud: “Over the edge!”
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS” – FATHER STEPHEN
FREEMAN - http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/
20 March 2011 21.
 T h e E te r nal I ns p i re d W i s d o m o f o ur H ol y Ch u r c h F a t he rs & M ot h e r s
Father George Calciu
When you Commune and leave Church, the Angel bows
before you! You stand before the Angels, because you
are Bearers of Christ! If you do not understand this, I
am not saying that you come to Church in vain, but
that you are not truly penetrated by the Significance of
attending Church - of the fact that you have to be
Saved, of the fact that you did not come into the world
to perish like any other animal. You did not come to
live a life that terminates in death, but you came into
the world with a Sacred Mission. This Mission
possesses a social aspect, but at the same time it is a
Sacred Mission: to spread the Word of God, to be an
Example to all, to exhort others through that which you
do - to do good - because this Saves you too. (“THE
GREAT SUPPER,” ADRIAN AND MIHAELA ULMER (TRANSLATERS), “FATHER GEORGE
CALCIU: INTERVIEWS, HOMILIES, AND TALKS,” SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA
BROTHERHOOD (ED), P. 334)
St Martyrios
Truly Great and Mighty is the Power of God’s Word. For the
Word of God has changed “the offspring of vipers” into
Children of God.
So let us constantly sow it within the hard soil of our heart,
waiting for it to soften it so that the wheat-ear of Life
may sprout up in it. For the Word of God is at the same
time the Seed and the Water; and even though we
have a heart like stone, it will be softened and split up
by the Water of the Holy Spirit, so that it can bring
forth Holy Fruit that is pleasing to God. (THE BOOK OF
PERFECTION, 7TH CENTURY)
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
In order for God and His Saints to help us, we ourselves
must want it and ask for it, otherwise they do not
intervene in our lives.
Christ asked the Paralytic: “Would thou be made whole?”
which shows us that if we do not want His Divine Help,
God respects that. And even if we do not want to go to
Paradise, God does not force us, unless we were
wronged out of ignorance, in which case we are
entitled to His Divine Assistance and Great Mercy.
Otherwise, God does not interfere.
Whenever we ask for Help, God and His Saints grant it to
us. In the blink of an eye, they have already granted
us their help and sometimes even before we have
blinked – for so quickly does God assist us!
Gerontissa (Abbess) Makrina
✣ Keep your mouth as a Church. Keep your mouth pure
with only Prayer in your mouth and on your tongue.
Inside a Holy Church of Christ you find only
Glorification of God. It should be the same with your
mouth - keep your mouth like a Pure and Clean
Virgin, as a Church, to only be used for the Glory of
God and to Glorify God. Keep your mouth like this with
the Jesus Prayer. Keep your mouth clean like a
Church by saying the Prayer. Never, never, ever talk
about another Sister or use your mouth to say Sister
so-and-so did this or that. Always, always, always say
the Prayer. Keep your mouth as a Church, and never
talk about another Sister.
✣ Our First Gift from God is our heart. He gives it to us
free. It is a piece of earth with stones. You must dig
each day and plough each day, removing all the stones
in order to make the earth of your heart ready to yield
a Holy Crop that is a thousand- fold abundant. It takes
hard work every day to work the earth of your heart to
produce a good Holy Crop of sweetest Grapes.
✣ Don’t be Lazy!
✣ If we do not see the Beauty of God in this life then we
will never see it in the next Life. We must see the
Glory of God in the smallest flower.
A Prayer For A Small Child
O Powerful Lord, have Mercy and Save. Do not extinguish
this small flame with death!
This child is like the small flame of a candle, and the winds
of the world are terrible, even to the stars; a weak fire
22. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 2nd Sunday of Great Lent – St Gregory Palamas – the Paralytic & Friends
is banked beneath the ashes and beneath Thy Hand,
the soul of man.
When the water rises and reaches the throat, and the
flame becomes smaller and the fire becomes damp, O
Lord, Save, have Mercy and Alleviate!
Thus, David the Prophet, prayed to Thee, even though he
was a huge torch. And a weak child at the base of
Heaven and from sinful thoughts his head began to
ache. Every wind of malice weakened him. It would
be extinguished quickly from the tumultuous winds, if
you do not Save.
O Divine Helper, hurry!
O Lord, have Mercy and Save us even now, and this small
flame do not extinguish with death!
Through the Prayers, O God, of Thy Favourite Elder, Holy
Saint Simeon, the Wonderful Receiver of God.
Amen
A Prayer of St Tryphon
“O Lord, God of gods and King of kings, the Most Holy of
all Holies, I thank Thee that Thou made me worthy to
complete my mortification without faltering. And
now, I pray to Thee that the hand of the invisible
demon does not touch me; that the demon not drag
me into the Abyss of Destruction.
Rather, let Thy Holy Angels lead me into Thy Beautiful
Dwelling Place and make me an Heir of Thy desired
Kingdom. Receive my soul and hearken to the
Prayers of all those who offer sacrifices to Thee in my
remembrance. Gaze upon them from Thy Holy
Dwelling Place and grant them abundant and
Incorruptible Gifts. For Thou art the Only Good and
Merciful Gift-Giver unto the Ages of ages.
Amen.”
SINCE ST TRYPHON SUFFERED HOLY MARTYRDOM IN NICAEA AND SUBSEQUENTLY MANY
MIRACLES OCCURRED OVER HIS LIFELESS BODY, THE CITIZENS OF NICAEA WANTED
TO BURY HIS MORTAL RELICS IN THEIR CEMETERY. HOWEVER, THE MIRACLE-
WORKING HOLY MARTYR APPEARED IN A VISION AND EXPRESSED HIS DESIRE TO BE
TRANSLATED AND LAID TO REST AT TO HIS VILLAGE, LAMPSACUS, WHERE HE HAD
ONCE TENDED GEESE.
O HOLY SAINT TRYPHON: PRAY TO GOD FOR US!
St John Chrysostom
You carry your snare everywhere and spread your nets in
all places. You allege that you never invited others to
sin. You did not, indeed, by your words, but you have
done so by your dress and your deportment, and
much more effectively than you could, by your voice.
When you have made another sin in his heart, how can
you be innocent? Tell me, whom does this world
condemn? Whom do judges in court punish? Those
who drink poison or those who prepare it and
administer the fatal potion?
You have prepared the abominable cup, you have given
the death-dealing drink, and you are more criminal
than are those who poison the body - you murder not
the body, but the soul.
And it is not to enemies that you do this, nor are you
urged on by any imaginary necessity, nor provoked by
injury -but out of foolish vanity and pride!
Father Philotheos Zervakos
As a Spiritual Father I advise you, whenever you sin, to be
careful not to despair but to run to the Spiritual Doctor
to Confess and seek a Cure: the Mercy of God. The
Lord came into the world to Save not the Righteous -
those who are healthy in soul - but the sinners - those
who are ill. He will receive these with Great Love and
Mercy as He received the Prodigal Son, the Prostitute,
the Thief, the Publican, and millions of sinners who
were Saved by Repentance and Confession.
I leave you this Paternal Counsel: never, never despair
whenever you sin, but have Confidence and Hope in
the Immeasurable Mercy of God. Repent and Confess,
and you will be Saved.
The Grace, Peace, Mercy and Blessings of God, the
Protection and Aid of the Virgin Mary and of all the
Saints, and my Blessing be with you. ( PATERNAL COUNSELS,
V1)
20 March 2011
 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and
forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mari a, Theotokos,
yet Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit o urselves and one ano the r and our
whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

25 March 2011
T h e A n n un c ia t i o n

Also the Feast of the Independence of Greece – St Senuphios the Confessor

Apolytikion Of The Annunciation – Tone 4

Simeron tis Sotirias imon to Today is the Crown of our Salvation, and
kefaleon, ke tou ap eonos the Revelation of the Mystery planned
Mistiriou i fanerosis; O Ios tou from Eternity: the Son of God becomes
Theou, Ios tis Parthenou the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel
ginete, ke Gavriil tin Harin announces the Grace. Wherefore, let
evangelizete. Dio ke imis sin us along with him cry out, to the
afto, ti Theotoko voisomen: Theotokos: Hail! O Full of Grace! The
Here Keharitomeni! O Kyrios Lord is with Thee!
meta sou!

Kontakion – Tone (8) Plagal 4

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria, os litrothisa ton dinon To Thee, O Theotokos, Invincible Defender, having been
Efharisiria, anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke. All’ os delivered from peril, I, Thy City, dedicate the Victory
ehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton, ek pantion me Festival as a Thanks Offering. In Thine Irresistible
kindinon eleftheroson, ina krazo Si. Here Nimfi Might, keep me safe from all trials, so that I may call
Animfevte! out to Thee: “Hail, O Unwedded Bride!”
M a t i ns G os p e l Acc o rd in g t o S t L u ke 1: 3 9 – 49 & 56
St Elizabeth Praises The Ever Blessed, All Pure Virgin Mary, & Theotokos (Mother Of God) Who Exalts
God: The Magnificat
At that time, Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zachariah
and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leapt in her
womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art
Thou among women, and Blessed in the Fruit of Thy Womb! “But why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my
Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of Thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in
my womb for Joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her
from the Lord.”
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the
lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me Blessed. For He Who is mighty
has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name!”
The Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary’s faithful response to ✽ The title “Theotokos” [the Mother of God
Archangel Gabriel’s Announcement makes her the (INCARNATE)], given to the Virgin Mary by the
highest Model of Obedience to God. Church, was derived from the Truth of this
✽ The Incarnation of the Son of God is not only Confession.
the Work of the Holy Trinity, but also the Work Because the One Who was in her Blessed, Pure Womb
of the Will and the absolute Faith of the is God, the world is freed from enslavement to sin.
Virgin. The passage from verses 46 - 56 is called the
Therefore, the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary is honoured Magnificat, which is the first word of this hymn in
not only because God chose her, or because she Latin.
bore the Son of God in the Flesh, but also because The Magnificat is a remarkable Hymn of Praise to
she freely chose to believe and to obey God God which comes from the heart of the Ever
completely and without any hesitation or Blessed Virgin Mary, who was probably only 14 - 16
question. years old at the time.
“The babe” who would become known as St John the It also comes from the heart of St Hannah, who was of
Baptist, Forerunner to Christ, was in his sixth a more mature age at the time, and who first
month of gestation. uttered this Inspired Prayer and which had been
He “leaped in her womb” as a joyous response to the prayed by expectant Jewish mothers for centuries.
Presence of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in St Mary’s [1 SAMUEL 2:1-10]
Womb. From this New Testament passage we learn:
✽ The Ever Blessed Theotokos receives Christian believers for all time will honour or venerate
veneration from both Angels and humans. the Virgin Mary, for “all generations will call me
Archangel Gabriel and St Elizabeth both called her Blessed.”
“Blessed” ✽ IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY
✽ She is the most perfect Model of womanhood. HOLY SCRIPTURE AND NOT BLESS THE
No other woman has ever received the Glory given to MOTHER OF GOD.
her, either in Holy Scripture or throughout Church Identity between the Theotokos and Israel is implicit
History. here as the Israel of God, the Church, receives “His
She is confessed as “the Mother of my Lord” by St Mercy.”
Elizabeth because this was no mere man that The Reign of God is over our “hearts,” Kings and
the Theotokos carried in her Blessed Womb. Rulers, the poor and the rich, and the Faithful of
God – i.e. over all Creation!

(DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) The Annunciation 25 March 2011 23.

 P r o ke i me n on
My soul magnifies the Lord.
For He hasregarded the humility of His handmaiden.
T h e Ep is tle o f S t P a ul t o t he H e bre ws 2 : 11 - 18
Christ Became Human So That He Could Be Our High Priest
Brethren: both He Who Sanctifies, and they who 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 Church will I
praise Thee.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Behold I and My children, whom God
has given Me.”
Therefore because the children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, so that
through Death, He might destroy him who had the power of death - that is to say, the devil - and release those who,
through the fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to the Angels:
but H does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His Brethren, so that He might become 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.
❃ CHRIST WAS PERFECT EVEN BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION BUT HE ✽ ONLY OUR BELOVED LORD JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO FREE US
VOLUNTARILY TOOK ON HUMAN NATURE THAT COULD BE FROM THIS BONDAGE OR SLAVERY OF SIN AND DEATH.
SAVED AND PERFECTED ONLY BY THE SUFFERING OF DEATH. “It behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His
Christ is the pioneering Captain of the Narrow path to Brethren” means that EVEN CHRIST WAS TEMPTED
God in His Suffering for our sins, death, and because for WHATEVER IS NOT ASSUMED [TAKEN ON] IS NOT
descent into Hades, His Resurrection and Ascension HEALED, AND WHAT IS UNITED TO ALMIGHTY GOD IS SAVED.
into Heaven where He has regained His rightful ✽ The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is like us in His
Position – at the place of Honour next to our human Nature but WE DO NOT BECOME LIKE HIM IN HIS
Heavenly Father. DIVINE NATURE. This is impossible because WE
In Salvation we take on Christ’s Way of Suffering. CANNOT BECOME A PART OF THE GODHEAD. However, WE
❃ OUR PERFECTION – THEOSIS - REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL CAN BECOME GOD-LIKE IN OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION
GROWTH THAT IS MANIFESTED IN SUFFERING. ✽ OUR PERSONAL GOAL IN LIFE IS TO REACH THEOSIS –
❃ In the Incarnation of Christ, GOD DID NOT COME IN SPIRITUAL PERFECTION!
APPEARANCE ONLY. HE TRULY ASSUMED [TOOK ON] HUMAN St Paul wrote about Christ as Ultimate Sacrifice to
FLESH AND BLOOD from the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, Christ as High Priest without transition because HE
Theotokos, AND BECAME THE SAME AS WE ARE - EXCEPT IS BOTH THE DIVINE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING AND THE DIVINE
FOR THE ABILITY TO SIN – SO THAT HE COULD REALLY ENTER OFFERER, the High Priest.
THE STATE OF DEATH AND THEREBY BRING US – ALL ✽ CHRIST IS MERCIFUL ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOM HE SERVES
HUMANITY – SALVATION. AND FAITHFUL IN HIS SACRED MINISTRY TO ALMIGHTY GOD.
❃ CHRIST DESTROYED THE DEVIL’S POWER BY USING SATAN’S Christians are “Holy Brethren”
STRONGEST WEAPON – DEATH – AGAINST HIM. ✽ TO BE “IN CHRIST” IS A HEAVENLY CALLING THAT SEPARATES
There is a relationship between sin and death: each THOSE IN CHRIST FROM THOSE WHO HAVE IGNORED OR
REFUSED HIS CALL.
one leads to the other.
✽ As Apostle and High Priest, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
✽ SIN CAUSES DEATH – ESPECIALLY SPIRITUAL DEATH – AND BOTH GOD’S DIVINE REPRESENTATIVE TO MANKIND AND
THE FEAR OF DEATH LEADS PEOPLE TO SIN and thereby ALSO MANKIND’S MEDIATOR BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD. In
into bondage or slavery to Satan who certainly does Him, the Offices of Prophet and Priest are
not want any souls returning to our Almighty combined.
Creator to Whom they belong.
T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t L u ke 1 : 2 4 – 38
The Coming Birth Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Is Announced To His Mother, The Ever Virgin Mary
At that time, Zachariah’s wife, Elizabeth, conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus has the Lord dealt with
me in the days wherein He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.”
And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to
a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin’s Name was Mary. And the Angel came in with
her, and said, “Hail, thou who art highly favoured! The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!” And
when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the Angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for Thou has found favour with God. And behold, Thou shalt conceive in
thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His Name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of
the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to Him the Throne of His father, David. And He shall reign over the House
of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”
Then said Mary to the Angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” And the Angel answered and said to her,
“The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that
Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elizabeth has also
conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing
shall be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it unto me according to Thy Word.” And the Angel departed from
her.

The name “Mary,” “Maria,” or “Miriam” literally means INDEED THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS’
“the Exalted One.” GUARDIAN.
✽ The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary was Betrothed, by the Women had to be married as soon as they reached
Will of God, to St Joseph who was of Royal Lineage. puberty, especially if they had no immediate family
He was of the “House” or family of David the to protect and care for them.
ancient King who had been Anointed by Almighty St Luke twice mentions the fact that the Ever Blessed
God. Theotokos was a Virgin.
He was an elderly relative of the Ever Blessed ✽ SHE WAS PURE AND VIRGINAL BEFORE, DURING AND
Theotokos whom the Priests at the Temple had AFTER THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. And she
chosen – by Divine Inspiration and through a maintained her virginity and chastity
miraculous Sign - to protect her because she had throughout her life.
taken a Sacred Vow Of Chastity. “Highly favoured” [CHARITOU] can also be translated as
✽ THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF ACTUAL MARRIAGE “Full of Grace.”
AND IT WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED. ✽ THE YOUNG THEOTOKOS WAS GREETED WITH AN
✽ ST JOSEPH IS ENTITLED “THE BETROTHED” EXALTED SALUTATION BECAUSE AS THE MOTHER OF
BECAUSE IT WAS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT HE WAS

24 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) The Annunciation 25 March 2011

 THE INCARNATED CHRIST, SHE IS THE MOST
BLESSED WOMAN OF ALL TIME.
✽ EVEN MORE RELEVANT IS HER ABSOLUTE
OBEDIENCE TO GOD, as pointed out by Christ
Himself.
According to St Luke’s description of her, she is praised
in the Orthodox Church as being surrounded with
Divine Grace and shining with Holiness.
Verses 31 – 33 “ and behold, thou shalt conceive in
thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call
His Name Jesus …” is an amazingly accurate
description of the long-awaited Messiah!
“Holy Spirit” and “Power of the Highest” are
synonymous. This is a case of repetition for
emphasis.
The Annunciation
Before Christ there lived many wise men - in Ancient
Greece, in Egypt, in India, in China and in many
other places.
ONE GREEK WAS EVEN SO WISE THAT HE BELIEVED THAT
WE WOULD NEVER COME TO KNOW THE TRUE GOD
UNLESS GOD HIMSELF FIRST BECAME MAN – THUS
FORETELLING THE COMING OF CHRIST.
And TODAY'S FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION IS INDEED
THE FEAST OF THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, as
foreseen by that wise Greek.
This is the Feast of the Conception of Christ that
announced by the Archangel Gabriel and accepted
by the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, and it occurs nine
months before the Nativity of Christ.
✽ THE ANNUNCIATION is - as the Hymns of our Holy
Church inform us - THE CROWN OF OUR
SALVATION - THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING.
This is why in Hellenistic Greek it is known as the
'Evangelismos', which comes from the word
'Evangelion' meaning 'Good News.’
This is certainly the Feast of the Good News - the
joyous Feast of the Holy Gospel.
➤ WITHOUT THIS WONDERFUL HOLY FEAST, THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN NO GOOD NEWS, NO HOLY
GOSPEL OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!
In English it is referred to as “the Annunciation,”
because it is the Holy Feast not of an
announcement, but of the Announcement.
➤ IT IS THE ULTIMATE ANNOUNCEMENT, FOR IT IS
THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOD HAS BECOME
MAN - the Announcement of THE VERY
PRESENCE OF THE WISDOM OF GOD
AMONGST US - not of the wisdom of
mankind such as before the Coming or
Appearance of Christ - but of THE TRUE AND
ABSOLUTE WISDOM OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
✽ THE ANNUNCIATION CHANGED EVERYTHING IN
OUR WORLD HISTORY.
It overshadowed and surpassed all that old human
wisdom of Ancient Greece, of Egypt, India and
China.
However, no matter how Divine this Holy Feast is, it is
also a human Feast.
✽ THE HUMANITY OF THIS HOLY FEAST IS NOT ONLY
DUE TO THE FACT THAT ON THIS WONDERFUL
DAY GOD BECAME INCARNATE – the Eternal Son
of God the Father became a human embryo –
BUT ALSO THAT THE ALL PURE, MOST HOLY AND
EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY BECAME A VERY
SPECIAL – MOST UNIQUE - MOTHER.
Today the Holy Church of Christ is adorned in Blue,
which is the designated colour of our Lady
Theotokos.
✽ On this great and Holy Feast Day, BY SO HUMBLY
AND OBEDIENTLY ACCEPTING THE
ANNUNCIATION OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL -
BY ACCEPTING THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD
WITHOUT HESITATION OR QUESTION - THE EVER
VIRGIN MARY BECAME THE MOST VENERABLE
AND HONOURABLE OF ALL MANKIND – and as we
have been informed by Archangel Gabriel, the
Bearer of God’s Good Tidings, SHE IS EVEN
'...more honourable than the Cherubim and
more glorious beyond compare than the
(DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED)
✽ “HOLY ONE” IS A MESSIANIC TITLE and the fact that
Christ was to be born of the Ever Virgin Mary
demonstrates His truly Divine Nature.
✽ Note in particular the reference to THE HOLY
TRINITY: GOD THE FATHER (THE HIGHEST), THE
SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
✽ THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS’ FAITHFUL RESPONSE
MAKES HER THE HIGHEST AND MOST PERFECT
MODEL OF HUMAN OBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD.
✽ THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS NOT ONLY
THE DIVINE WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY, BUT IT IS
ALSO THE WORK OF THE WILL AND FAITH OF THE
EVER VIRGIN MARY.
Therefore SHE IS HONOURED NOT ONLY BECAUSE GOD
CHOSE HER, OR BECAUSE SHE BORE THE SON OF
GOD IN THE FLESH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE SHE FREELY
AND WILLINGLY CHOSE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY GOD
WITHOUT QUESTION OR HESITATION!
Seraphim' – the highest Orders of God’s
Heavenly Hosts.
➤ IN HER COMPLETE SELF-DENIAL, SELF-
SACRIFICE, HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, SHE
EXCEEDS ALL OTHER INTELLECTUAL BEINGS
– HUMAN AND ANGELIC - THROUGHOUT
HISTORY - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.
➤ SHE IS LINKED WITH ALL ETERNITY AND
SURPASSES ALL HUMANITY WHILE SHE STILL
REMAINS A HUMAN BEING!
➤ In other words, THIS MOST SUPREME WOMAN,
THROUGH HER SELFLESS SACRIFICE –
GENUINE AND PROFOUND HUMILITY AND
OBEDIENCE TO GOD - IS THE TRUE AND
WORTHY HOLY MOTHER OR “BEARER” OF
GOD INCARNATE, which is why we, although
still on earth, commemorate her in Heavenly
blue.
➤ IN ACCEPTING HER CROSS OF SELF-SACRIFICE,
OUR LADY THEOTOKOS ALSO ACCEPTED THE
APPROACHING CROSS OF VICTORY OF HER
SON AND LORD.
This is a very significant Truth and indeed a Spiritual
Law.
✽ FOR EVERY SACRIFICE, FOR EVERY CROSS THAT WE
TAKE ON OURSELVES ACCORDING TO GOD'S
WILL, WE RECEIVE A SPIRITUAL REWARD, which
may not be immediate but will inevitably be
bestowed upon us.
➤ This is Spiritual Law, just as, in the same way, IF
WE FAIL TO MAKE ANY SELF-SACRIFICES AND
REFUSE TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS WHEN GOD
CALLS US, THERE IS ALSO A PRICE TO BE
PAID BY US - THE PRICE OF SPIRITUAL
DEFEAT AND ETERNAL CONDEMNATION!
For example, at this moment, in many parts of the
world, people are at war with one another – they are
slaughtering each other – and this is caused by
their total blindness to, ignorance or rejection of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For WHEN WE ARE BLIND TO, IGNORANT OF OR REJECT
CHRIST, THEN WE ARE ALSO BLIND TO, IGNORANT OF
OR REJECT THE TRUTH AND PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S
HOLY CROSS.
So people continue making war on each other INSTEAD
OF MAKING PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
LEARNING TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, AS CHRIST
HAS TAUGHT US BY HIS PERFECT EXAMPLE.
✽ NO ONE CAN MAKE TRUE PEACE OR CLAIM TO TRULY
LOVE UNLESS THEY POSSESS SELF-SACRIFICE
AND THE TRUE LOVE OF GOD IN THEIR HEARTS.
➤ For AGAPE IS THE SELFLESS AND CHEERFUL
SACRIFICE OF SHARING ALL OUR DIVINE
BLESSINGS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
➤ IF THERE IS NO TRUE CROSS OF SACRIFICE,
THEN THERE IS NO TRUE AND HOLY CROSS
OF VICTORY AND NO TRUE CROSS OF
RESURRECTION!
There is only the constant cycle of hatred, revenge,
unbridled cruelty and devastating war, without any
Victors and ONLY UNTOLD NUMBERS OF DEAD,
SUFFERING, BITTER AND MOURNING SOULS.
The humble, obedient and willing self-sacrifice of our
Ever Blessed Mother of God’s acceptance of bearing
and nourishing God Incarnate – by giving Him her
The Annunciation 25 March 2011 25.
 blood, bones and flesh - and raising Him as Her our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for His Great
Beloved Son, is such that SHE ALONE AMONG ALL Mercy and Forgiveness:
MANKIND CAN UPLIFT US BEYOND THE DREADFUL “O Most Holy Mother of God, Save us!”
CYCLE OF WARFARE AND SHE CAN LEAD US, IF WE Amen.
WISH TO FOLLOW HER, INTO ETERNAL LIFE - TO THE ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ON THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION”
GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. BY FATHER ANDREW – ORTHODOX ENGLAND -
http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/sermanun.htm
And so we beseech Her – our Loving Spiritual Mother –
to Intercede on our behalf with Her Beloved Son,
S t J o h n o f K ro ns t ad t – O n t he B e g i n n i ng o f S al va t i o n
The Divine Mystery that transpired upon this Holy Day of HER DIVINE SERVICES, MYSTERIES AND
the Annunciation awes not only the human mind; it FASTS.
likewise astonishes all Angelic, exalted minds. ✽ BEHOLD: HOW THE IMAGE OF THE EVER-VIRGIN
THEY, TOO, ARE AMAZED AT HOW GOD, WHO IS WITHOUT MOTHER OF GOD GLEAMS!
BEGINNING -- WHO IS UNENCOMPASSABLE, Yet, She is also human....
UNAPPROACHABLE -- HOW HE COULD LOWER What exalted Her to such incomparable heights?
HIMSELF TO THE STATUS OF A MERE SERVANT AND What made Her so glorious and so great -- loftier than
BECOME A MAN, YET WITHOUT CEASING TO BE GOD -- the Cherubim and more glorious than the
AND WITHOUT IN ANY WAY DIMINISHING HIS DIVINE Seraphim?
GLORY! ➤ IT WAS THE THREE SUPREME VIRTUES: HUMILITY,
HOW COULD THE YOUNG HOLY VIRGIN CONTAIN WITHIN PURITY AND A FIERY LOVE FOR GOD -- A LOVE
HER MOST-PURE WOMB THE UNBEARABLE FIRE OF THAT IS ALIEN TO EARTHLY, TO EXTERNAL
DIVINITY AND REMAIN UNSCATHED -- and, LOVE.
throughout all ages, be THE MOTHER OF GOD- She Herself confesses that THE LORD HAS LOOKED
INCARNATE? UPON THE HUMILITY OF HIS HAND-MAIDEN. (LUKE 1: 48)
So great and so marvellous - FRAUGHT WITH SUCH ➤ You, too, O Struggling Christian, must BEGIN TO
DIVINE PROVIDENCE - IS THIS MYSTERY OF THE LOVE, AND IMPLANT DEEP WITHIN YOUR
ANNUNCIATION to the Most Holy Virgin by the HEART THAT HUMILITY THAT IS DIVINELY-
Archangel Gabriel -- AND THE INCARNATION OF THE PLEASING.
SON OF GOD FROM HER! ➤ ACQUIRE ALSO, THROUGH EXERTED LABOURS
Rejoice, O you who are earth-born! THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, A PURITY
Rejoice, especially, you Faithful Christian souls! OF HEART.
Yet rejoice with trepidation in the face of the magnitude ➤ DO SO BY MEANS OF CONSTANT FASTING,
of this Divine Mystery, being encompassed by the PRAYER, MEDITATION UPON GOD, TEARS,
AND ESPECIALLY BY A FREQUENT AND
filthiness of sin!
WORTHY COMMUNION OF THE HOLY
WITH PURE HEARTS AND LIPS, MAGNIFY THE MOTHER OF
MYSTERIES OF CHRIST.
GOD, Who is magnified and exalted above all ➤ BEGIN, ALSO, TO LOVE GOD, OUR CREATOR AND
creatures - Angels and mankind! Who is MAGNIFIED OUR SAVIOUR, WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
BY GOD HIMSELF, THE CREATOR OF ALL! preferring nothing that is in the world to His
✽ And remember that THE MYSTERY OF THE Holy and Divine Love. (Agape)
INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD, AND OF HIS ➤ MEDITATE CEASELESSLY UPON HIM AND UPON
BECOMING MAN, WAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR OUR HIS WONDROUS WORKS - LIVE HIM AND
SALVATION FROM SIN, FROM THE CURSE THAT BREATHE HIM,
WAS RIGHTFULLY PRONOUNCED UPON US BY ➤ NOURISH YOUR SOUL WITH HIM.
GOD, in the beginning, by reason of our sins, ➤ ATTIRE YOURSELF IN HIM.
and from temporal and Eternal Death. ➤ PURIFY YOURSELF, ENLIGHTEN YOURSELF,
WITH PEACE AND JOY, RECEIVE THE LORD, WHO COMES SANCTIFY YOURSELF, ESTABLISH YOURSELF,
TO US IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH UPON EARTH - IN ADORN YOURSELF, PRAISE YOURSELF,
OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR SOULS - THE KINGDOM OF CONSOLE YOURSELF THROUGH CHRIST
HEAVEN, THE KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE ALONE!
AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT -- and come to hate ➤ By means of our Lord Jesus Christ, VANQUISH
Divinely-detested sin, impurity, incontinence, pride, THE TEMPTATIONS AND IMPOSITIONS OF
hardness of heart, lack of mercy, self-love, FOES, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE.
satisfaction of [THE CRAVINGS OF] the flesh, and all ➤ Whatsoever you do, DO EVERYTHING WITH
unrighteousness. (ROMANS 4:17) THOUGHTS OF GOD, AND
✽ CHRIST DESCENDED TO THE EARTH IN FOR HIS SAKE ALONE.
ORDER TO RAISE US UP TO HEAVEN ➤ Wheresoever you might be, BE
(AKATHIST TO THE MOTHER OF GOD, KONTAKION 8). EVERYWHERE WITH HIM, as
Let us, therefore, being nailed down to the HE IS ALWAYS WITH US -
earth by the passions of life, INCLINE OUR BEING EVERYWHERE, AND
HEADS TOWARDS HEAVEN, WHENCE OUR FILLING ALL THINGS.
LORD JESUS CHRIST DESIRES TO RAISE US (TROPARIA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT)
ALL UP, AND LIFT UP THE EYES OF OUR ✽ IF WE COME TO TRULY LOVE THE
HEART. LORD OUR GOD in such a
Lift up your heart! manner, then in us also shall
Long enough have we crept along the ground, the Lord our God be magnified
like worms, in our thoughts and in our -- and HE SHALL MAGNIFY US,
hearts. as our Holy Church teaches us
It is true that WE ARE INSIGNIFICANT WORMS, on His behalf: “...those who
ACCORDING TO OUR SINS, ALTHOUGH OUR Glorify Me, I shall likewise
SOULS HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THE IMAGE Glorify...” ("THE EPISTLE OF TARASIOS,
OF GOD, WHICH WE HAVE DISFIGURED BY OUR SINS, THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, TO POPE ADRIAN OF ROME."
AND WHICH WE MUST INVARIABLY RE-INSTATE KORMCHAYA [KNIGA (THE RUDDER)], PART 1, CHAPTER 36, 1787
EDITION).
THROUGH SINCERE PENITENCE WHILE WE STILL
LIVE.
O Striving Christian, LEARN TO HATE EVERY SIN, TO
HUMILIATE EVERY SIN AND TO ANNIHILATE EVERY
✽ IT IS NECESSARY THAT THIS IMAGE OF GOD, LIKE
SIN WITHIN YOURSELF -- AND THE LORD OF GLORY
THE SUN, SHINES FORTH WITHIN US AS IT DID IN
SHALL BE MAGNIFIED IN YOU, and you shall be great
THE BEGINNING, when Adam and Eve alone had
before God and mankind.
been created.
TRULY LOVE HUMILITY -- AND THE LORD WILL EXALT
➤ IT IS FOR THIS PURPOSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
YOU.
GRANTED LIFE!
➤ IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT OUR LIFE Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY G. SPRUKSTS, FROM THE
CONTINUES ON - THAT WE ARE JOINED TO RUSSIAN TEXT APPEARING IN CHAPTER 1 “THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: ON THE
GOD'S HOLY CHURCH AND PARTICIPATE IN LIFE AND TEACHING OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST”, BY PROTOPRESBYTER ST
JOHN SERGIEV OF KRONSTADT
http://www.stjohndc.org/russian/feasts/e_theotok_annunc_jkronstadt.htm

26 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) The Annunciation 25 March 2011

 G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a
A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and foreve r, and unto the Ages of
ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Mari a, Theo tokos, yet E ver Virgin, toge ther with
all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one ano ther
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

2 7 M arc h 2 0 11
3rd Sunday of Great Lent Tone. 3

S u nd a y o f t he Ve ne r a t io n o f t he H ol y
C r os s

Also the Feast of St Matrona of Thessalonica – St Manuel & St Theodosios of

Simirium – St John the Clairvoyant Anchorite of Egypt – the Holy Icons of
our Lady, the Ever Blessed Theotokos, “the Sweet Kissing” and “ the Akathist”
Akathist

Resurrection Apolytikion - TONE 3

Evfrenestho ta Ourania, Agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for the
Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Lord has shown Strength with His Arm. He has
Thanato ton Thanaton. Prototokos ton nekron trampled down Death by Death. He has become the
egeneto. Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to First-born of the dead. From the womb of Hades He
kosmo to Mega Eleos. has delivered us, and to the world He has granted
Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of The Holy Cross
Soson Kyrie ton Laon Sou, ke Evlogison tin O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine
Klironomian Sou, Nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron Inheritance, granting Victory over enemies to our
doroumenos, ke to Son Filatton, dia tou Stavrou Rulers, and through Thy Cross preserving Thine
Sou Politefma. Inheritance.
R e s urre c t i on G os p e l 1 1 : Jo h n 2 1 : 1 4 – 2 5 O u r L o r d Jesus Restores & Commissions St Peter

P r o ke i me n on
Save Thy People, O Lord and Bless Thine Inheritance!
I will appeal to Thee, O Lord our God.

S t P a ul’ s Ep is tle t o t he H e br e w s 4 : 1 4 – 5 : 6
Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Merciful High Priest
Brethren: Seeing that we have a Great High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens – Jesus, the Son of God – let us
hold fast our Confession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but Who
was tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore go boldly to the Throne of Grace, so that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help us in times of
need.
For every High Priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, so that he may offer both
gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is
also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for
sins. And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is Called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also, Christ did not Glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He Who said to Him: “Thou art My Son. Today
I have Begotten Thee.” As He also said to Him: “Thou art a Priest forever according to the Order of
Melchizedek.”
The words “... passed through the Heavens...” is a HIS SACRED MISSION – especially that of His
reference to THE ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN OF Sacrificial Offering. (HE IS THE SACRIFICIAL OFFERER AND THE
CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. SACRIFICIAL OFFERING – THE FINAL AND ULTIMATE BLOOD OFFERING OF THE
OLD COVENANT, AND THE CONTINUOUS BLOODLESS OFFERING OF THE HOLY
It is regarded in this context of THE SON OF GOD EUCHARIST OF THE NEW COVENANT.)
SITTING “... AT THE FIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON In order to qualify as Old Covenant Priests, men were
HIGH.” chosen from among the Levite Tribe of the Hebrews
CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED ALL HIS HOLY WORK – HIS but they were still completely human beings –
DIVINE MISSION – ON EARTH AND HAS ENTERED INTO
sinners just like us.
HIS SABBATH REST.
OLD COVENANT PRIESTS WERE APPOINTED FOR THE
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S EMPATHY WITH SINNERS
SAKE OF OTHER HEBREWS - SPECIFICALLY FOR
RESTS ON HIS HAVING BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY
LITURGICAL SERVICE TO GOD AND TO OFFER
THAT WE ARE tempted by Satan, his demons and SACRIFICES ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AS WELL AS
other human beings who serve his vile purposes. FOR THEMSELVES.
OUR LORD JESUS IS ENTHRONED AT THE RIGHT HAND THE PRIESTS WERE REQUIRED TO BE COMPASSIONATE
SIDE OF GOD THE FATHER – THE PLACE OF GREAT TOWARDS OTHERS AND RECEIVED THEIR SACRED
HONOUR. CALLING FROM GOD.
HE SITS ON A “THRONE OF GRACE” RATHER THAN A In the Aaronic Priesthood, the Priest identified himself
THRONE OF JUDGEMENT – granting His Great Mercy with humanity and had sympathy for his fellow men
and Divine Grace to us – helping and guiding us because HE SINNED AS MUCH AS THEM.
through the difficulties of our life’s Journey. The Blood Sacrifices were vicarious offerings of animals
Priests always stand and never sit while serving that had no spot or blemish upon them.
Almighty God. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ASSUMED AND FULFILLED THE
Consequently, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT POWER AND OLD COVENANT PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE, JUST LIKE
AUTHORITY IN OUR ENTHRONED – SEATED – HIGH MELCHIZEDEK, HE IS BOTH OUR ONE AND ONLY HIGH
PRIEST, FOR HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND FULFILLED

(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 3 r d Sunday of Lent – Veneration of the Holy Cross 27 March 2011 27.
 PRIEST AND KING, WHO IS WITHOUT SIN AND WHO HIS LOVE OF ALL MANKIND IS INFINITE AND
HAS OFFERED AND BEEN OFFERED BY HIMSELF AS INDISCRIMINATE!
THE ULTIMATE BLOOD SACRIFICE – PERFECT MAN, Furthermore, THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST IS
WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH – THE MOST SINLESS ETERNAL.
AND PURE OFFERER AND OFFERING.
T h e H ol y G os p e l Acc o rd i ng t o S t Ma r k 8 : 3 4 – 9 : 1
Our Lord Jesus Christ Explains the True Purpose of our Life
At that time, when our Lord Jesus had called the people to Himself, together with His Disciples, He said to them:
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his Cross and follow me. For whoever
desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and that of the Gospel will save
it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul? Or what will a man
give in exchange for his soul?
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of
Man also will be ashamed when He enters the Glory of His Father with the Holy Angels.”
And He told them: “Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death until they
see the Kingdom of God present with Power.”
✽ THE CROSS, which was the most dreaded and REDEEM OUR FALLEN, UNREPENTANT IMMORTAL
inhumane instrument of Roman torture and SOUL.
execution, HAS BECOME FOR ALL STRUGGLING NOTHING OF THIS TEMPORARY, MATERIAL WORLD
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST A HOLY SYMBOL OF OUR BENEFITS US IN ETERNITY. THEREFORE, WE MUST
SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE AND SUFFERING, IN RESIST THE TEMPTATIONS THAT DISTRACT US AND
IMITATION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS LEAD US ASTRAY AND CAUSE US TO FALL INTO
CHRIST. SPIRITUAL DEATH.
THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS OUR MOST VENERATED ➤ Let us rather take up our heavy Crosses of
“BADGE OF HONOUR” WHEREBY WE LIVE AND DIE IN earthly life and FOLLOW CHRIST OUR
CHRIST. SAVIOUR, WHO LEADS US SAFELY TO OUR
WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LOVE HEAVENLY DESTINATION.
OF GOD AND HIS HOLY GOSPEL and our acceptance ➤ Let us use every minute of our lifespan LIVING
of this part of our Sacred Mission is certainly not a IN CHRIST AND SEEKING ONLY THE
form of punishment, nor is it an end in itself, but SPIRITUAL QUALITIES AND NECESSITIES TO
rather, IT IS A MEANS OF OVERCOMING AND ADVANCE US AND TO BENEFIT US ETERNALLY.
DEFEATING THE FALLEN WORLD FOR THE SAKE OF ➤ Let us CONSTANTLY OFFER THANKSGIVING TO
GOD’S HEAVENLY, ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE, JOY OUR LIVING GOD WHO IS INFINITELY
AND PEACE. MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS AND BENEVOLENT.
Therefore we take up our personal Crosses and Follow ➤ BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS – WHICH
FAR OUTWEIGH ALL THE THINGS YOU MAY
Christ by CRUCIFYING THE DEMANDS AND
THINK YOU WANT OR NEED!
DESTRUCTIVE PASSIONS OF OUR WEAK FLESH – AND
BY SO DOING, WE STRENGTHEN OUR IMMORTAL ➤ Let us MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO IMITATE CHRIST
SOULS AND GRADUALLY BECOME WORTHY, our Lord Who clearly and concisely shows us
SANCTIFIED CITIZENS OF ETERNAL LIFE. that EVERYTHING GOOD IS INDEED POSSIBLE

G a l a t i a n s 5 : 2 4 : “... those who are Christ’s have in this poor, tragic and darkened fallen
crucified the flesh with its passions and world.
desires.” ✽ Finally, those who would “... see the Kingdom of
The central paradox of our Life in Christ is that God present with Power...” was a reference
whenever we try to grasp temporal (earthly) things, to OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S TRANSFIGURATION
we lose the Eternal, Priceless Treasures of Heaven. ON MOUNT TABOR, which three of His closest
However, WHEN WE LEARN SELF-DENIAL AND Apostles witnessed shortly before His Great
REPENTANCE, AND WE SACRIFICE OR RESIST THE Passion and Resurrection.
TEMPTATION OF ALL WORLDLY THINGS, WE GAIN ➤ It is also a reference to THOSE FAITHFUL
UNTOLD AND UNIMAGINABLE ETERNAL RICHES! DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN EVERY GENERATION
“What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” WHO WILL EXPERIENCE THE TRUE PRESENCE
is a most profound question because it emphasises OF GOD’S KINGDOM.
the utter foolishness of trying to ACCUMULATE
WORLDLY POSSESSIONS AND TEMPORARY SOCIAL
STATUS OR POWER – FOR NONE OF THESE CAN
Third Sunday of Great Lent – Veneration of the Holy Cross of Christ our Saviour
Dear Brethren, today is already the Third Sunday of IT REMINDS US HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR DAILY LIVES
Great Lent - Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy IN CHRIST.
Life-giving Cross. Our Sacred Duty is a Cross, and each Cross of the Lord
The Priest decorates the Holy Cross with flowers and is an additional Duty for us.
greenery and places it in the middle of the Soleas ✽ OUR SACRED DUTY IS TO FOLLOW THE EXACT
for Veneration by the Faithful. TEACHING OF OUR LORD.
Respect and reverence for the Holy Cross is as old as "If any man will come after me, let him deny
Christianity itself. himself, and take up his cross, and Follow
St John Chrysostom wrote: "In the middle of the Me."
Holy Fast, the Church takes the Holy and Life- People in our day are not at all willing to bear any type
giving Cross and presents it to the people for of burden – never mind Crosses!
Veneration. Today is the Day of Veneration of Yet they are more than willing when it comes to their
the Holy Cross." “rights” and their demands.
Another of our Holy Church Fathers, St Cyril of In the United Nations, for example, with high-sounding
Jerusalem, wrote: "While the Fast weakens the expressions and empty words, men and women
body and makes it useless for sin, the Pure speak about “the rights of the people” — yet more
and Spiritual Veneration of the Holy Cross lifts often than not, these are the same people who have
never respected anyone else’s “human rights”
up our minds to the Kingdom, which is above
themselves!
us."
✽ THE VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS ALWAYS
But CHRISTIANITY INVOLVES OUR SACRED DUTY.
REMINDS US OF OUR RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST, Christ told us: "Even as the Son of Man came not to
AND OF THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION. be ministered unto, but to minister, and to
The Cross, concerning which our Lord spoke to His give His Life a Ransom for many."
Disciples so descriptively just prior to His Passion, is To someone who was considering becoming one of our
for us THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN DUTY. Lord's Followers, Christ said: "The foxes have

28. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 3 r d Sunday of Lent – Veneration of the Holy Cross 27 March 2011
 holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but
the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head."
✽ WHILE WE CAN AND SHOULD SACRIFICE OUR
PERSONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, WE MUST
NEVER SHIRK OUR SACRED DUTIES.
How often is the opposite the case.
Men so easily forget their duties, while remaining so
adamantly imperative and demanding concerning
their rights.
A good example of the case in point concerns spoilt
and indulged children, who inform their hard-
working parents: "You must send me to college...
to university ... you must pay for my holiday... I
need a car... I need money... Give me... Give me..."
But let parent ask something of their children, and the
response is almost sure to be, "This is my life! It is
none of your business!"
The word "responsibility" does not exist in the
vocabulary of the modern self-indulgent child.
✽ However, OUR ENTIRE LIFE IS A SACRED DUTY, A
HOLY CROSS - THE HOLY CROSS OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS SET US THE MOST
PERFECT EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.
"The Lord ascended His Cross first..." wrote St John
Chrysostom, "...leaving us an Example, a
Pattern for all who would follow."
And here is the curious thing about mankind.
BEING CONVINCED BY THE EVIL ONE THAT THE CROSS
OF CHRIST IS SO HEAVY AND THE PATH IS SO STEEP,
WE INVENT SO MANY EXCUSES AS TO WHY WE
CANNOT ACCEPT IT AND FINALLY, WE REJECT IT!
Yet those who dare to reject the Holy Cross – to reject
or refuse our Sacred Duty of Life in Christ - are
always so eager to accept heavy, harmful secular
and destructive crosses such as smoking, drinking,
gambling, and immorality, which totally and
catastrophically destroy us and those around us all
too soon!
✽ OUR LORD HAS ASSURED US THAT HIS CROSS IS
LIGHT AND THAT IT ELEVATES ALL WHO ARE
WILLING TO CARRY AND TO ACCEPT IT.
Christ calls all who are weary of their secular crosses to
take up His light Yoke: "Take My Yoke upon you,
and learn of Me; for I Am Meek and Lowly in
heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.
For My Yoke is easy, and My Burden is light."
Yet so many still refuse to heed our Lord; they choose
to rather listen to the deceptive words of the world,
which lead them to believe that our Lord's Cross is
so heavy it is unbearable, that our Lord's
Commandments are “too strict,” or that we lose our
freedom in Service to Christ!
And the biggest deception of all is that they would no
longer be able to “enjoy” themselves and that would
make them miserable!
Thus, many such deceived people reject the Holy Cross
of our Saviour and instead suffer worse burdens
that are crushingly heavier and far more destructive!
✽ IT IS CERTAINLY NOT EASY TO BE A FAITHFUL
CHRISTIAN FOR THE TRUE WAY OF THE CROSS
HAS MANY DIFFICULTIES.
YET THE WAY OF THE CROSS LEADS TO THE
RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE, while the way of
the fallen world leads to misery, death and
destruction.
At first secular crosses always seem to offer “a little
harmless pleasure,” but in the bitter dregs of self-
gratification is hidden fatal poison, deceit and pain.
✽ Also, we must remember that WE ARE NOT CALLED
UPON TO TRAVEL THE WAY OF THE CROSS ALONE
P r o t op r e s b y te r Ale x and e r Sc h me m a nn - T he Ve ne ra t i o n o f t he H oly C r os s o f C hr is t
At the Vigil, after the Great Doxology, the Holy Cross is
brought in a solemn Procession to the centre of the
church and remains there for the entire week – with
a special Rite of Veneration following each Service.
It is noteworthy that the theme of the Holy Cross of
Christ, which dominates THE HYMNOLOGY OF THIS
FEAST IS DEVELOPED IN TERMS NOT OF SUFFERING
BUT OF VICTORY AND JOY.
More than that, the Hymns – the Irmi - of the Sunday
Canon are taken from the Paschal Service – “The
(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 3 r d Sunday of Lent – Veneration of the Holy Cross
FOR OUR LORD HIMSELF ACCOMPANIES US
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
Just as St Simon of Cyrene helped our Lord Jesus by
carrying His Cross, SO DOES OUR LORD HELP US
WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED BY OBSTACLES OR
WHEN WE WEAKEN AND STUMBLE.
Our Lord Jesus always assists and enables all those
who eagerly take up their own Crosses and Follow
in His Divine Footsteps.
Those who bear secular crosses, however, are without
Divine Help and without Divine Grace.
Sadly, they have chosen to be alone for they have
wilfully rejected or deserted God and all His
Goodness.
Dear Brethren, THE HOLY CROSS IS SUCH AN
IMMEASURABLY PRECIOUS DIVINE MESSAGE, which
my pen and my words are much too poor to
express.
✽ Therefore, I can only assure you, that IF YOU BEAR
OUR LORD'S HOLY CROSS – IF YOU TAKE UP YOUR
SACRED DUTY EAGERLY AND WILLINGLY - YOU
HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR AT ALL!
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF ACCOMPANIES US.
HE ENCOURAGES, GUIDES AND ASSISTS US EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY AND WHEN WE WEAKEN OR
STUMBLE, HE CARRIES US HIS WARM EMBRACE,
UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY.
St Anthony suffered terribly from the fearsome
temptation of Satan and as soon as it was finally
conquered, he immediately turned to God and
prayed: "O Lord, where were Thou in my hour
of temptation?" And our Lord answered:
"Anthony, I was closer to you at that time
than ever before."
St Luke wrote in His Holy Book of the Acts of the
Apostles that when persecution broke out in
Jerusalem, and the Christians were scattered all
over the Mediterranean world, "... the Hand of the
Lord was with them."
St Peter urges us: "Humble yourselves, therefore,
under the Mighty Hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time: casting all your care
upon Him, for He cares for you."
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: if you are struggling
to bear some sort of worldly cross, get rid of it
quickly because sooner or later it is bound to lead
you to catastrophe.
Do not be deceived — unless you reject your
destructive habits your end is certain destruction –
both spiritual and physical.
CHOOSE RATHER TO VENERATE WITH ALL DUE HUMILITY
AND PIETY THE HONOURABLE WOOD OF THE HOLY
CROSS OF CHRIST, BESEECHING ITS SANCTIFIED
PROTECTION IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND
CERTAINLY HE WHO WAS NAILED TO THAT CROSS
WILL GRANT YOU PERSEVERANCE TO BEAR HIS LIGHT
AND LIFE-GIVING HOLY CROSS WITH JOY, SETTING
YOU FREE FROM THE HEAVY BURDEN OF SIN that
nearly crushed you.
St John Chrysostom teaches us the True Meaning and
Divine Purpose of Christ’s Holy, Life-giving Cross:
“Through the Cross, Redemption and
Regeneration for all things.”
“We adore Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy Holy
Resurrection we praise and glorify!”
Amen
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT: THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND THE
CROSSES OF THE WORLD” – “ORTHODOX SERMONS” BY REVEREND FATHER
GEORGE DIMOPOULOS
http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermons_g_dimopoulos.htm
Day of the Resurrection” – and the Canon of the
Veneration of the Holy Cross is a paraphrase of the
Paschal Canon.
The meaning of all this is clear - we are at Mid – Lent.
On the one hand, the physical and spiritual effort - if it
serious and consistent - begins to be felt. Its
burden becomes heavier and our fatigue becomes
more evident, so we need help and encouragement.
On the other hand, having endured this fatigue, having
climbed the mountain up to this point, we begin to
27 March 2011 29.
 see the end of our Spiritual Pilgrimage, and the
Rays of Holy Pascha increase in their intensity.
Lent is our self–crucifixion, our experience, limited as it
is, of Christ’s Commandment heard in today’s Holy
Gospel Lesson: “If any man would come after
me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and Follow Me.” (MARK 8:34).
However, we cannot take up our Cross and
follow Christ unless we have His Holy
Cross, which He took up in order to
Save us.
It is His Holy Cross - not ours - that Saves
us.
It is His Holy Cross that gives not only
meaning but also Power to others,
which is explained to us in the
Synaxarion: “On this Sunday, the
Third Sunday of Lent, we celebrate
the Veneration of the Honourable –
and Life-Giving Cross, and for this
reason: inasmuch as in the Forty
Days of Fasting we – in a way
crucify ourselves…and become
bitter and despondent and failing,
the Life-Giving Cross is presented ST LOT WATERING THE HOLY
TRINITY TREE - CEDAR, CYPRUS &
to us for Refreshment and PINE – WHICH BECAME THE HOLY
Assurance, for Remembrance of our LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF CHRIST
Lord’s Passion, and for Comfort…”
We are like those travelling a long, difficult path, and
being tired, when seeing a beautiful tree with many
leaves, sit in its shade to rest for a while until they
are rejuvenated, and able to continue their journey.
Similarly, today, in this period of Fasting, which is a
difficult Spiritual Journey, the Life–Giving Cross of
Christ is placed in our midst by our Holy Church
Fathers in order to grant us a little us rest and
refreshment - to lighten our Spiritual Burden and to
encourage us for the remainder of our Spiritual
Journey.
Another example is that of when a great King is about
to visit: at first His Royal Banner and Symbols are
T h e E te r nal , I ns p ir e d W i s d o m o f o ur H ol y Ch u r c h F a t he rs
S t M a x i mo s t he Co n fe s s or
"The Logos has made men equal to the Angels. Not
only did He 'make Peace through the Blood of His
Cross; between things on earth and things in
Heaven' and reduce to impotence the hostile
powers that fill the intermediary region between
Heaven and earth, thereby making the Festal
Assembly of earthly and Heavenly Powers a single
gathering for His distribution of Divine Gifts, with
mankind joining joyfully with the Powers on High in
unanimous Praise of God's Glory, but also, after
fulfilling the Divine Purpose undertaken on our
behalf, when He was taken up with the Body ,which
He had assumed, He united Heaven and earth in
Himself." (The Philokalia Vol. 2; Faber and Faber pg. 287): (COLOSSIANS
1:20)
S t M ar k t he As ce t ic
"He who chooses maltreatment and dishonour for the
sake of Truth is walking on the Apostolic Path; he
has taken up the Cross and is bound in chains. But
when he tries to concentrate his attention on the
heart without accepting these two, his intellect
wanders from the Path and he falls into the
temptations and snares of the devil." (THE PHILOKALIA VOL.
1; FABER AND FABER PG. 140): (CF. MATTHEW. 16:24; ACTS 28:20)
S t Le o t he G re a t
"No Virtues are worthier or more excellent than Merciful
Loving-Kindness and unblemished Chastity.
Let us more especially equip ourselves with these
Weapons, so that, raised from the earth, as it were
on the two Wings of Active Charity and Shining
Purity, we may win a place in Heaven.
And whoever, aided by God's Grace, is filled with this
desire and glories not in himself, but in the Lord,
30. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 3 r d Sunday of Lent – Veneration of the Holy Cross
displayed and a short while later He Himself
appears with much rejoicing and celebration – His
Triumphant Appearance fills all His adoring subjects
with much Joy.
So too shall we see our Great King and Lord, Jesus
Christ, and celebrate His Glorious Victory over
Death, when He appears before us at Holy
Pascha - Resurrection Day.
But before then, we first see His Royal
Banner and Holy Symbol – His Life-giving
Cross - which fills our hearts and souls with
great joy and a yearning anticipation of
meeting our Risen Lord Himself - to glorify
Him for His Great Victory – the heartfelt Joy
of His Glorious Resurrection.
All this in the middle of Great Lent, with its
tears of Repentance and after our
weakening and despondency, we are
spurred on to great effort.
We are comforted by our Lord Jesus as He
leads us up to our Spiritual Jerusalem, to
witness and to suffer the great pangs of
profound grief at His terrible, unjust
Passion, Crucifixion and Burial, only to
rejoice once more at the words of the Holy
Angel at His Tomb: “Christ is Risen!”
The Holy Cross of Christ is the Tree of Life!
It is the Holy Tree that flourished in Paradise
and which is now carefully and reverently placed in
the midst of our Holy Church – in the middle of
Great Lent.
And as we look upon this wonderful Life-giving Cross
of Christ our Saviour, we recall Adam’s Bliss and
how he was deprived of it – and at the same time
we also rejoice in the Knowledge that through this
Most Holy Tree of Life we no longer die but are
granted Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ON THE VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS” BY FATHER
ALEXANDER SCHMEMANN
http://preachersinstitute.com/2010/03/03/on-the-veneration-of-the-holy-cross-fr-
alexander-schmemann/
over his progress, pays due Honour to the Paschal
Mystery.
His threshold the Angel of Destruction does not cross,
for it is marked with the Lamb's Blood and the Sign
of the Cross.
He fears not the plagues of Egypt, and leaves his foes
overwhelmed by the same Waters by which he
himself was Saved.
And so, Dearly Beloved, with minds and bodies Purified
let us embrace the Wondrous Mystery of our
Salvation, and, cleansed from all 'the leaven of
our old wickedness, let us keep' the Lord's
Passover with due observance: so that, the Holy
Spirit guiding us, we may be 'separated' by no
temptations 'from the Love of Christ' Who
bringing Peace by His Blood to all things, has
returned to the loftiness of the Father's Glory, and
yet not forsaken the lowliness of those who serve
Him to Whom is the honour and the glory forever
and ever. Amen." (THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND
SERIES VOL. XII; EERDMANS PG. 168): (CF. EXODUS 12:23). (I CORINTHIAN 5:8)
(ROMANS 7:35),
S t A t ha na s i os
"How can it be other than right to worship the Body of
the Lord, All-Holy and All-Reverend as it is,
announced as it was by the Archangel Gabriel,
formed by the Holy Spirit, and made the Vesture of
the Word? It was at any rate a bodily Hand that the
Word stretched out to raise her who was sick of a
fever - a human Voice that He uttered to raise
Lazarus from the dead and, once again, stretching
out His Hands upon the Cross, He overthrew the
prince of the power of the air, that now works in the
sons of disobedience, and made the way clear for
us into the Heavens." (THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS:
SECOND SERIES; EERDMANS PG. 577): (MARK 1:31): (JOHN 11:43); (EPHESIANS
2:2)
27 March 2011