Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF
AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD.
AMEN.

2nd Sunday of Great Lent Tone (5) Plagal 1

28 February 2010

Sunday of St Gregory Palamas – Sunday of the Paralytic (& his

four friends)
Feast of St Basil the Confessor; St John Cassian the Confessor; St
Kyranna the New Martyr of Thessalonika

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek
Parthenou tehthenta is sotirian imon, animnisomen,
pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise sarki anelthin
en to Stavro ke thanaton ipomine ke egire tous
tethneotas en ti evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.
APOLYTIKION OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS
The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a
Virgin, let us Faithful Believers hymn and adore. For
it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the
Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own
Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.

Othodoxias O Fostir, Ekklisias to stirigma ke
didaskale, ton Monaston i Kalloni, ton Theologon
ipermahos aprosmahitos, Grigorie Thavmatourge,
Thessalonikis to kafhima, krix tis haritos, iketeve
dia pantos, sothine tas psihas imon.
KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
Orthodoxy’s Great Star, Support and Teacher of the
Church, the beauty of the Monks, and invincible
Protector of the Theologians, O Gregory, Worker of
Miracles, the Pride of Thessaloniki, Preacher of Grace,
forever dost thou intercede, that our souls may be
saved.

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria, Os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City in
evharistiria, Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke, All’ thanksgiving Ascribes the Victory for the deliverance
os ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton, Ek pantion me from sufferings. But having Thy Might unassailable,
kindinon eleftheroson Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi Free me from all dangers So that I may cry out to
Animfevte! Thee: “Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
Matins Gospel 5 : Luke 24 : 12 – 35 - OUR RISEN LORD JESUS APPEARS ALONG THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 1 : 10 – 2: 3
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD – IS WITHOUT BEGINNING AND THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING

Brethren: to the Son God says: “Thou, O Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the
Heavens are the Work of Thy Hands. They will perish but Thou remain; and they will all grow old like
a garment; like a cloak Thou will fold them up, and they will be changed but Thou art the same and
Thy years will not fail.”
But to which of the Angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy Footstool.”?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit Salvation?
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away, for if the word spoken
through Angels proved reliable and every transgression and disobedience received a Just Reward, how shall we
escape if we neglect so great a Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken of by our Lord, and was confirmed
to us by those who heard Him.
St Paul used a quotation from Psalm 101:26 – 28 in which God Like us they, too, are intellectual beings who have been
the Father addressed Another Person as “Lord,” which created with free will and they most joyfully and faithfully
meant He, too, is God – i.e. God the Father spoke to God serve God in absolute Obedience.
the Son Who is Co-equal in all Divine Attributes. St Paul admonished (cautioned) against wilful negligence and
The role of certain of God’s Heavenly Hosts – the Angels or carelessness through a gradual drifting away from God’s
Messengers of God – minister – take care of, guide, True Path.
protect and communicate God’s Will – to “those who will He emphasised the fact that if the Hebrews were expected to
inherit Salvation” – i.e. those who are faithful servants and obey the words of created beings like the Heavenly Angels
adopted heirs of God. of God or suffer the consequences, how much more must
In the early years of Christ’s Holy Church, many Hebrews we heed what God Incarnate has taught us through His
believed that the Angels of God mediated the Old Holy Apostles – especially when His Divine Truth has been
Covenant and although they certain served “The Angel of confirmed by many Divine Miracles of the Holy Spirit –
God” – i.e. the Son of God - in His New Covenant with us, factual proof that the Kingdom of God has come!
God’s Holy Angels served our Lord and Saviour in His During the Divine Liturgy, we beseech God for the “... pardon
Humanity. and remission of our sins and transgressions...” and
Furthermore, instead of ruling over mankind, the Heavenly “... a good defence before the dread Judgement Seat
Angels are partners in Divine Service with us. of Christ...” whereby we affirm the Truth of a Just Reward
They are our Guardian Angels who ensure that the Will of God or Divine Retribution – a very real Divine Judgement!
is fulfilled at all times.

The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 2 : 1 – 12

CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR HEALS A PARALYTIC (PRESENTED BEFORE HIM BY FOUR FRIENDS ) BY THE FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS
At that time, our Lord Jesus entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house and
immediately many gathered together so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.
And while He preached the Word to them, they came to Him, bringing a Paralytic who was carried by four men. But
when they could not come close to Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof above where He was so
that, when they had broken through, they could let down the bed upon which the paralysed man lay.

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FEBRUARY 2010 1.
When Jesus saw their Faith, He said to the Paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven you!” But some of the Scribes
were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts: “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive
sins but God alone?”
Immediately, as Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them: “Why do
you reason about these things in your heart? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic: ‘Your sins are
forgiven you...’ or ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk!’? So that you may know that the Son of Man has
the Power to forgive sins...” and turning to the Paralytic He said: “I say to you: Arise! Take up your bed
and go to your house.”
Straight away he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all so that all were amazed and glorified
God, saying: “We never saw anything like this!”
FAITH IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION. Having done so before a multitude of witnesses, HE DREW
FAITH IS ALSO COLLECTIVE AS WELL AS PERSONAL because, THEM TO GOD WHOM THEY GLORIFIED FOR HIS GREAT
as in this particular case, the friends of the paralysed man MERCY.
helped in his healing. The significance of the four friends of the Paralytic is
Three signs of our Lord Jesus’ Divinity are evident: noteworthy for THEY NOT ONLY TOOK THE TROUBLE TO
CARRY HIM TO WHERE OUR LORD WAS BUT THEY DID NOT
✥ HE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF ALL SOULS
ALLOW ANYTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM PRESENTING
✥ HE FORGIVES SINS – A DIVINE POWER THAT BELONGS THEIR FRIEND TO CHRIST FOR HEALING – FULLY
TO GOD ALONE CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD OCCUR.
✥
HE HEALS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD The determination of the Paralytic and his friends was so
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPOSES OF THE impressive that they have been commemorated ever since
INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS TO FORGIVE SINS that day as A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CONFIDENCE AND FAITH
AND THUS SET US FREE FROM ITS DEADLY ENSLAVEMENT. IN GOD.
THE FORGIVING OF SINS IS A GREATER DIVINE POWER THAN IT IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRUE LOVE (AGAPE) FOR ONE
PHYSICAL HEALING for as the Scribes so correctly ANOTHER: DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ASSIST
understood, GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS. AND TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AS WE JOURNEY
Therefore, the “easier task” was for Christ to grant the TOWARDS GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
paralysed man physical healing and although Christ is fully The conniving Scribes and Pharisees was thwarted once again
Divine and has the Authority by His own right to forgive by our Lord Who is All knowing, when He used an
sins, He condescended to those who were gathered there alternative method of healing and forgiving the Paralytic.
at the time by healing the Paralytic. This passage is read on the Second Sunday of Great Lent,
called “Sunday of the Paralytic” and the Commemoration
of St Gregory Palamas.

Sunday of the Paralytic (and his friends)

In one of the Psalms we read: “Those who have
sown with tears will reap with Joy...”
During our preparation for Great Lent in the last few
weeks, we have observed all that is ugly and
unworthy in us, which is mirrored in the Parables
we have heard.
If we have humbly stood before the Judgement of God
and of our conscience, then we have truly “sown
with tears” our own Salvation.
And yet, there is still time, because even when we
enter into the Spiritual Harvest, God grants us a
respite.
As we progress towards the Kingdom of God, towards
the Day of the Resurrection, we still can - at every
moment, against the background of Salvation, in
the face His Divine Victory - turn to God with
gratitude and yet, broken-heartedness, and say: “O
Lord! I am perhaps the worker of the Eleventh
Hour, but receive me as Thou promised to do!”
Last week we commemorated the Triumph of
Orthodoxy, the day when the Holy Church of Christ
proclaimed the legitimacy and justification of
writing1 Holy Icons of Christ – the Incarnate Son of
God.
It was not a declaration about art; it was a deeply
Theological Proclamation of the Incarnation.
The Old Covenant forbade any Icons of God because,
being an infinite, unfathomable Mystery, we could
not depict Him in any shape or form.
He was not mentioned by Name except the Mysterious
Name that only the High Priest knew or could utter
with much fear and reverence.
However, according to the New Covenant, and having
experienced physical contact withour Incarnate
God – Jesus Christ – Who has dwelt amongst us and
Who continues to dwell amongst us, although
invisible at present, His human Face can be
represented in Holy Icons.
In the New Covenant, God has a human Name: Jesus
Christ, and He has a human Face that can be
depicted on Holy Icons, which are thus
proclamations of our certainty that God became
Man to achieve ultimate, tragic and glorious
Solidarity with us, to be one of us so that, through
Him, we may become of the Children of God.
He became Man so that we may become gods, as Holy
Scripture states.
1
I.E. PAINTING HOLY ICONS
And so we have begun to rejoice by preparing for this
wonderful Miracle, this great Wonder of the
Incarnation - softly, in an almost inaudible way, as
the Church chanted the Canon of the Resurrection:
Christ is risen from the dead! -— because it is
not a promise for the future!
It is a certainty of the present - opened like a door for
us to enter through Christ the Door, as He called
Himself, into Eternity.
And today we commemorate St Gregory Palamas, one
of the great Saints of Orthodoxy.
Against heresy and doubt, with the experience of the
Ascetics and of all believers, he proclaimed that
the Grace of God is not a created Gift.
The Grace of God is God Himself, communicating
directly with us so that we are imbued with His
Divine Presence when we willingly receive Him and
open our hearts and souls to Him.
Consequently we become transparent or at least
translucent with His Divine Light so that we
become embryonic but ever-increasingly partakers
of His Divine Nature.
This is not simply a Promise; this is a certainty that has
transpired with thousands and thousands of Saints
who have become partakers of the Divine Nature –
a clear revelation and certainty of what we are
called to be and to become.
And today is one more step that brings us into the Joy,
the Glory of Easter.
In a week’s time we venerate the Holy Cross of Christ.
The Cross, which was a terrifying instrument of
excruciating punishment for criminals and
dissidents of the Roman Empire, has now become a
Sign of Victory and Salvation, because it signifies
God’s Infinite, all-embracing Love.
The Holy Cross is as tragically Victorious as God is.
The Holy Cross of Christ is awe-inspiring - the quiet,
Joyful Light of which we sing in Vespers.
Let us prepare ourselves for the Vision of the Holy
Cross so that we might look at it and see it asthe
Sign of Divine Love with the renewed certainty of
our possible Salvation.
As the Choir chants the Canon of the Resurrection
more loudly, let us contemplate how step by step
God leads us towards the Victory He has won, and
which He wants to share with us.
Let us pay close attention to the teachings of St
Gregory Palamas who revealed how to receive the

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28 FEBRUARY 2010
 Divine Grace that God offers us and how to become
worthy of Him.
Afterwards we will behold the Divine Victory in St Mary
of Egypt as we approach the threshold of Holy
Week.
Nevertheless, we must remember that we are now in
the time of Newness - a time when God's Victory is
being revealed to us.
St Gregory Palamas – On Created Grace and Uncreated Grace
St Gregory Palamas wrote: “There is nothing
strange in using the word ‘Grace,’ both for
the created and the Uncreated, and in
speaking of a created Grace distinct from the
created.” (HOMILY 45)
In what sense can we use the same word “Grace”
about fundamentally different realities?
St Gregory Palamas was aware of the many meanings
of the word and he defined the matter thus:
“All that flows from the Holy Spirit towards
those who have been Baptised in the Holy
Spirit according to the Gospel of Grace, and
who have been rendered completely
Spiritual, comes from the Source.
“It all comes from It, and also remains in It.” (Ex
aftis te est ke en afti.)
So the word is the same because the Origin is the
same.
People “... received by the Grace of God, and not
through themselves, what they have
received, for God alone does not possess
their realities through Grace.
“In this context the word ‘Grace’ indicates that it was
granted to them (BY GOD.)
On the Diversity of Divine Charisma/Gifts
Among Western Theologians, all more or less
depended on Augustinian writings against Pelagios
concerning infant Baptism, the Doctrine of Grace
generally has a Soteriological and Juridical
character. (SALVATION & JUDGEMENT)
WE HAVE NEED OF DIVINE GRACE FOR WE CANNOT
SAVE OURSELVES...
The Tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Holy Fathers,
with its insistence on THE ULTIMATE GOAL SET
BEFORE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – DEIFICATION OR
THEOSIS – could not avoid going deeply into the
meaning of the passages of St Paul’s Epistles
concerning the diversity of the Charisma (DIVINE GIFTS),
while plainly maintaining their Soteriological Unity.
St Gregory Palamas too, in dealing with DIVINE GRACE
IN RELATION TO OUR FREE EFFORT TOWARDS GOD ,
recognised that this effort NEVER CAN BE ENOUGH,
FOR THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF THE GIFTS REQUIRED
FOR DIVINE LIFE BECOME ACCESSIBLE IN CHRIST.
“What we receive is never more and a part of
what is given; he who receives the Divine
Energy cannot contain the whole of it.” (HOMILIES)
THE DIVINE EPHIPHANY/THEOPHANY IN JESUS CHRIST IS
THEREFORE LIMITED BY HUMAN CAPACITY TO
RECEIVE IT, AND ALSO BY THE INFINITE VARIETY OF
OUR PERSONAL PATHS TO GOD.
Its personalist quality is one of the essential
characteristics of St Gregory Palamas’ thought:
“The Lord dwells in mankind in many and
various ways according to the worth and
conduct of those who seek Him.
“He appears in a certain way to the practical person, in
another to the contemplative, and in yet another to
the one who is endowed with Vision; the zealous
receive it in one way, and those who have already
become God’s, in another.”
Commenting on the passages concerning the Holy
Spirit in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, St
Gregory Palamas wrote:
“Those who prophesy, those who heal, those
who see, and all those in general who have
Wisdom from Mount Athos: The Soul’s Yearning for God
MY SOUL YEARNS FOR THE LORD.
How could I not seek Thee? For Thou first sought me;
Thou granted me delight in Thy Holy Spirit, and my
soul rejoices for Thou art my God and my Lord.
In the first year of my life in the Monastery MY SOUL
BEHELD GOD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2 ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS)
FEBRUARY 2010 3.
We are being Called to be enfolded by Divine Victory -
to respond to it with earnest gratitude that will
make Renew our humanity, filled with Joy and
responding to the Love of God with joyful tears and
a conscientious commitment to God.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC” BY METROPOLITAN ANTHONY
OF SOUROZH www.metropolit-anthony.orc
“However, all is not alike in what God grants us...
God has said by the mouth of Ezekiel: ‘A new heart
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you; and I will take away your heart of
stone, and give you a heart of flesh... I will
put My Spirit into you.’ (EZEKIEL 36:26; 37:5)
“Do you see the difference between the Gifts?
“The new spirit and the new heart are created
things – that is what St Paul referred to as ‘... a
new creature...’ because it is Recreated and
Renewed by the Coming in Flesh (THE INCARNATION)
of Him Who first created it - (OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) –
whereas the Spirit of God given to the new
heart is the Holy Spirit.” (LETTER TO ST ATHANASIOS)
“There is a created Grace and another Grace
Uncreated... but since the Gift that the Saints
receive and by which they are Deified, is
none other than God Himself, how can you say
that that too is a created Grace?” (AGAINST AKINDYNOS)
Likewise, THE RISEN/RESURRECTED BODY OF CHRIST
WAS CREATED, but it is plain that THE DIVINITY,
WHICH GAVE HIM IMMORTALITY, WAS UNCREATED.
simply received the Grace of the Divine
Spirit, all have Charisms (DIVINE GIFTS), greater or
less great, in their own field.
“Thus St Paul thanks God because he (ST PAUL) speaks
languages better than others, but he who has less,
also has a Gift of God: ‘Seek for the greatest
Charisms...’ wrote St Paul, therefore there must
be lesser Charisms. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:31)
“And indeed, one star differs in glory from another...
yet no star is totally devoid of light.” (1 CORINTHIANS
15:41)
Does that diversity of the Gifts of Grace break the
Unity of Salvation, to that extent?
By no means, for SALVATION ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS
OF CONTACT RE-ESTABLISHED WITH THE LIVING
GOD PRESENT IN COMPLETENESS IN EACH DIVINE
GIFT.
REDEEMING GRACE IS not a divisible object, but CHRIST
HIMSELF WHO GIVES HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO US.
Here is a characteristic passage dealing with St
Gregory Palamas’ teaching concerning the Divine
Energies:
“Everyone worthy of it participates differently in
the Great Gift of the Holy Spirit.
“This corresponds to the degree of personal
purity, mingling with the harmony of that
Beauty.
“But even he who has but little and that little
obscure compared to the endowments of
others... also unites himself to the whole of
the very Divine Light, for it divides without
dividing Itself after the manner of bodies...
“That unique Light belongs indeed to the unique
Christ.” (AGAINST AKINDYNOS)
IT EQUALLY BELONGS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ALSO
APPEARS IN COMPLETENESS IN ITS
MANIFESTATIONS. (HOMILY 24)
The Unity of Salvation and the diversity of Charisms
are thus preserved in a personalist conception of
Redemption.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “A STUDY OF GREGORY PALAMAS – CHRIST & DEIFIED
HUMANITY” BY JOHN MEYENDORFF – ST VALDIMIR’S SEMINARY PRESS
THE LORD LOVES US GREATLY: THIS I KNOW BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT Whom the Lord granted me in His
singular Mercy.
I am an old man, preparing for death, and I WRITE OF
TRUTH FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Spirit of Christ Whom I have from the Lord desires
the Salvation of all, that ALL SHOULD KNOW GOD.
28
The Lord granted the (REPENTANT) Thief Paradise;
WILL HE GRANT PARADISE TO EVERY
SINNER.
With my sins I am odious and unclean, but I TURNED
TO GOD FOR FORGIVENESS, AND HE GRANTED ME
NOT FORGIVENESS ALONE BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT I KNEW GOD.
Do you see God’s Love for us? And who shall describe
His Mercy?
O my Brethren! On my knees I beg you to BELIEVE IN
GOD – BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A HOLY SPIRIT WHO
BEARS WITNESS TO HIM IN EVERY CHURCH AND IN
MY SOUL!
✥ THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LOVE; AND THE SOULS OF ALL
THE HOLY WHO DWELL IN HEAVEN OVERFLOW
WITH THIS LOVE.
✥ AND ON EARTH THIS SAME HOLY SPIRIT IS IN THE
SOULS OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD!
ALL HEAVEN BEHOLDS THE EARTH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AND HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND CARRIES THEM TO
GOD.
My soul knows that the Lord is Merciful, but His Mercy
surpasses portrayal.
OUR LORD IS EXCEEDINGLY MEEK AND LOWLY, AND
WHEN THE SOUL PERCEIVES HIM SHE2 IS ALL
TRANSFORMED INTO LOVE TOWARDS GOD AND HER
NEIGHBOUR, AND BECOMES MEEK AND LOWLY
HERSELF.
✥ But IF WE LOSE DIVINE GRACE WE WILL WEEP LIKE
ADAM DRIVEN FROM PARADISE!
Adam wept and the whole desert heard his sobbing;
his tears were bitter with affliction and he wept
(bitter tears) for many years.
In similar manner THE SOUL WHO HAS KNOWN AND
LOST THE GRACE OF GOD YEARNS FOR GOD and
cries: “O how my soul yearns after God, and I
seek Him in tears!”
THE GRACE OF GOD GIVES US STRENGTH TO LOVE THE
BELOVED; AND THE SOUL IS DRAWN TO PRAY
UNCEASINGLY AND CANNOT EVEN, FOR A MOMENT,
FORGET THE LORD.
My soul languishes on earth and longs for the things of
Heaven.
✥ THE LORD CAME DOWN TO EARTH TO RAISE US TO
WHERE HE HIMSELF DWELLS WITH HIS MOST
HOLY MOTHER, WHO SERVED HIM ON EARTH
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SALVATION, AND WITH
ALL THE DISCIPLES AND THE FOLLOWERS OF
OUR LORD.
THE LORD CALLS US THITHER, IN SPITE OF OUR SINS!
There shall we behold the Holy Apostles in Glory for
THUS these words he utters from the fullness of Faith and
(REPENTANT) Love.
What more could the soul seek on earth?
Here is a Great Miracle: THE SOUL SUDDENLY KNOWS
HER CREATOR AND HIS LOVE!
✥ WHEN THE SOUL SEES HOW MEEK AND HUMBLE OUR
LORD IS, SHE HERSELF IS THOROUGHLY
HUMBLED, AND DESIRES NOTHING SO MUCH AS
THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST.
And however long the soul might live on earth, she will
ALWAYS DESIRE AND SEEK THIS HUMILITY which
passes all comprehension, which she cannot forget.
IF THE LORD HAS LEFT US IGNORANT OF THE ORDERING
OF MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD, THEN IT MEANS IT
IS NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO KNOW: we cannot
encompass all Creation without our minds.
However, THE CREATOR HIMSELF OF HEAVEN AND
EARTH AND EVERY CREATED THING GRANTS US
KNOWLEDGE OF HIM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN THIS SAME HOLY SPIRIT WE KNOW THE EVER
BLESSED THEOTOKOS, THE HOLY ANGELS AND THE
SAINTS, AND OUR SPIRIT BURNS WITH LOVE FOR
THEM.
Quite the opposite are THOSE WHO WILL NOT LOVE
THEIR ENEMIES and consequently they CANNOT
COME TO KNOW OUR LORD AND THE SWEETNESS OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
✥ THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US TO LOVE OUR
ENEMIES, SO THAT THE SOUL PITIES THEM AS IF
THEY WERE HER OWN CHILDREN.
PEOPLE WHO DESIRE THE DESTRUCTION, THE TORMENT
IN HELL-FIRE, OF THEIR ENEMIES, OR OF THE
ENEMIES OF THE HOLY CHURCH HAVE NOT LEARNT
FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT THE LOVE OF GOD, FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNT THE LOVE OF GOD WILL
SHED TEARS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.
You say that so-and-so is an evil-doer and you hope he
burns in Hell-Fire.
But I ask you: SUPPOSING THAT GOD WERE TO GIVE
YOU A FAIR PLACE IN PARADISE AND YOU SAW SUCH
PEOPLE SUFFERING THE TORTURES OF HELL,
WOULD YOU REALLY EVEN THEN NOT FEEL PITY FOR
THEM, WHOEVER THEY MIGHT BE, EVEN ENEMIES OF
THE CHURCH?
✥ THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HEARTS OF STONE IN
PARADISE WHICH REQUIRES HUMILITY AND LOVE
OF GOD THAT PITIES ALL HUMAN BEINGS, FOR
THE GRACE OF GOD IS NOT IN THOSE WHO DO
NOT LOVE THEIR ENEMIES!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “WISDOM FROM MOUNT ATHOS” – STARETZ SILOUAN (1866
– 1938) – COMPILED BY ARCHIMANDRITE SOPHRONY; TRANSLATED BY ROSEMARY
EDMONDS; PUBLISHED BY ST VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY PRESS

their preaching of the Holy Gospel; there shall we

see Saintly Monks who wrestled in Fasting to During their earthly life, the Saints are filled with the
humble their souls; there shall we see those who Grace of the Holy Spirit.
assumed folly for Christ’s sake are GLORIFIED After their departure Divine Grace remains in their
BECAUSE THEY OVERCAME THE WORLD.
immortal souls and in their Sanctified bodies.
There ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONQUERED THEMSELVES
WILL BE GLORIFIED, AND ALL THOSE WHO PRAYED
Consequently, that very same Divine Grace is present
FOR THE WORLD AND BORE THE BURDEN OF THE and active in their Sacred Images and Icons!
ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS
WHOLE WORLD’S SORROWS BECAUSE THEIRS WAS
THE LOVE OF CHRIST, AND LOVE CANNOT SUFFER A
SINGLE SOUL TO PERISH.
It is there that the soul would take up her abode; but
NOTHING UNCLEAN SHALL ENTER where those who
come in, arrive by way of great tribulations and
chastening of spirit and many tears; and ONLY
CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT LOST THE GRACE OF
HOLY BAPTISM, ENTER THEREIN WITHOUT
AFFLICTION, and there IN THE HOLY SPIRIT THEY
KNOW OUR LORD.
My soul yearns for God and prays day and night, for
THE NAME OF OUR LORD IS SWEET AND DEAR TO
THE PRAYERFUL SOUL, AND WARMS THE SOUL TO
LOVE GOD.
We live a long time on this earth, and we love the
Beauty of Creation: the sky and the sun, gardens,
sea and river, forest and meadow, music too, and
all the beauty of this world.
But WHEN THE SOUL COMES TO KNOW OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST SHE HAS NO FURTHER DESIRE FOR THE
THINGS OF THE EARTH.
Wondrous are the Works of our Lord: out of the earth
He created mankind, and granted this creature of
the earth to know Him in the Holy Spirit so that
mankind exclaims: “My Lord and my God!” And

2
THE SOUL IS REFERRED TO AS BEING FEMININE – LIKE THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST
– THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
4 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS)
28 FEBRUARY 2010
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5.