Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and
unto the Ages of ages.
Remembering also our
Virgin, toge ther wi th all
our God. Ame n.
Worship to the Father, and to the So n, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
Ame n.
Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, ye t Ever
the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our w hole Life to Christ

1 June 2011
Apodosis (Leave-Taking) of Holy Pascha
Also the Feast of St Justin the Philosopher & his Fellow Martyrs of Rome : St Chariton
& St Charito, St Evelpistos, St Hirax, St Peonos, St Valerian & St Justos of Rome – St
Dionysios the Abbot of Glushetsk Monastery, Vologda - St Agapitos the Unmercenary Physician of Kiev Near
Caves – St Shio the New, St David, St Gabriel & St Paul, Hieromartyrs of the David-Gareji Monastery, Georgia -
St Wistan of Mercia
Apolytikion Of Holy Pascha
✞Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton ✞ Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death
patistas, ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! trampling upon Death, and has bestowed Life to
those in the tombs!
Ipakoi of Holy Pascha – Tone 4
Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton Arriving before dawn, Mary’s companions found the
lithon apokilisthenta tou mnimatos, ikouon ek tou stone rolled away from the Tomb and heard these
Angelou: ton en foti aidio iparhonta, meta nekron ti words from the Angel: Who do you seek as Man
zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana; among the dead, the One Who exists in Eternal
damete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios, Light? Behold, the burial shrouds; go in haste and
thanatosas ton Thanaton; oti iparhi Theou Ios tou preach to the world that the Lord has Risen, having
Sozontos to genos ton anthropon. put Death to death; and that He is the Son of God
Who Saves the human race.
Kontakion – For Holy Pascha – Until Ascension Day
I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal
dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and
Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the
irinin doroumenos, o tis pesousi parehon Anastasin. Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to
Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One
Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.
Instead Of The Agios O Theos
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, have
Allilouia! [3] put on Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
ke is tous eonas ton eonon. Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! You have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe.
As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, have
Allilouia!
put on Christ: Alleluia
The Acts of the Apostles 18 : 22 – 28
St Paul Instructs St Apollos in Ephesos
When St Paul had landed at Caesarea and gone up and greeted the Church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent
some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the
Disciples.
Now a certain Hebrew named Apollos – born in Alexandria, who was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures - went to
Ephesos. He had been instructed in the Way of our Lord; and being fervent of spirit, he spoke and taught accurately
the Things of the Lord, although he knew only the Baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the Synagogue.
When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately. And
when he desired to cross to Achaia, the Brethren wrote, exhorting the Disciples to received him and when he arrived,
he greatly helped those who had believed through Grace; for he vigorously refuted the Hebrews publicly, showing
from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
TWO OUTSTANDING QUALITIES CHARACTERISED ST APOLLOS: AND PRIVATELY ASIDE TO DO SO – AND THEN URGED OTHER
HE WAS FERVENT IN SPIRIT AND HE WAS HUMBLE. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO WELCOME HIM WITH LOVE AS
A fervent person can be useful to God even if he is not yet WELL.
well taught – and although St Apollos was not yet in Ephesos, a large, magnificent city, was the capital of the
the Holy Church of Christ, yet HE BOLDLY PREACHED Roman Province of Asia Minor. St Paul remained
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE. there for at least two years and three months.
HIS HUMILITY WAS EVIDENT WHEN HE SUBMITTED TO Due to the great influence of Ephesos on the region, Holy
CORRECTION by St Aquila and St Priscilla, two modest Churches of Christ were founded in almost every
tent makers, and THE FACT THAT A WOMAN GUIDED AND neighbouring city and town during that time and the
TAUGHT SUCH AN EDUCATED MAN WAS REMARKABLE SINCE Seven Holy Churches mentioned in the Book of the
MOST MEN OF HIS CULTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN OFFENDED.
ST AQUILA AND ST PRISCILLA DISPLAYED GREAT DECENCY,
Apocalypse – the Revelation of Jesus Christ - (2:3) are
CONSIDERATION AND WISDOM FOR THEY DID NOT CORRECT all in that area.
ST APOLLOS PUBLICLY, BUT INSTEAD TOOK HIM QUIETLY

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 The Holy Gospel According to St John 12 : 36 – 47
We Must Become Sons Of Light
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light,
lest Darkness overtake you. He who walks in Darkness does not know where he is going. While you
have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become Sons of Light.”
These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. And although He had done so many Signs before
them, they did not believe in Him, so that the word of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord,
who has believed our report? And to whom has the Arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, let
they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”
These things Isaiah said when he saw His Glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless, even among the Rulers many believed
in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue; for they
loved the praises of men more than the Praise of God.
Then Jesus cried out and said: “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him Who sent Me. And he who
sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come as a Light into the world, that whoever believes in Me
should not abide in Darkness. And if anyone hears My Words and does not believe, I do not judge him;
for I did not come to Judge the world, but to Save the world...”
✽ “The Light” REFERS TO CHRIST. HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IS A VILE REJECTION OF GOD’S
Our Lord’s Divine Sacred Lesson of today has several ORDER FOR CREATION AND THESE PERVERSIONS ARE SINS
AGAINST NATURE AND THEREFORE SPIRITUAL
facets of meaning:
DEVASTATING.
➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD SOON BE COMPLETING HIS
PUBLIC MINISTRY. “Error” means “delusion.”
➤ OUR LIVES ARE VERY LIMITED – we have only a very short Consequently, what is meant by the words “... (God) has
time to Repent and believe in Christ before our blinded...” is that GOD HAS PERMITTED THEIR OWN SELF-
own death. CHOSEN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
➤ THE SECOND COMING OR REAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST OUR (Compare Exodus 8: 15 – 32 With Exodus 10: 20 – 27)
LORD WILL OCCUR IN A VERY SHORT WHILE COMPARED So they did not become Spiritually Blind because God
TO ETERNITY! spoke through St Isaiah, but rather St Isaiah spoke out
➤ In other words: OUR PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE – cautioned them - because HE FORESAW THEIR
ETERNITY - THE FINAL DAY AND OUR JUDGEMENT BY DANGEROUS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
CHRIST - WILL END VERY SOON - BUT ETERNITY IS ST ISAIAH, THE HOLY PROPHET OF GOD, SAW CHRIST’S GLORY
FOREVER – IT IS INFINITE – NEVER ENDING – AND CIRCA 700 BC AND SPOKE OF HIM ON NUMEROUS
UNCHANGEABLE – I.E. WE CANNOT REPENT OR CHANGE OCCASIONS throughout his lengthy, Inspired Prophecy.
OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AT ALL FOR CHRIST’S
I s a i a h 6 : 1 “... I saw the Lord sitting on a Throne,
JUDGEMENT IS F I N A L.
According to St John Chrysostom, ST ISAIAH’S PROPHECY high and lifted up. The House was full of His
DID NOT MEAN THAT GOD CAUSES SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN Glory...”
THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL. The Rulers, according to St John Chrysostom, were in
This is a figure of speech that was common to Holy reality, the worst of slaves in that THEY WERE ENSLAVED
BY THE OPINIONS OF MEN, WHICH KEPT THEM FROM
Scripture revealing God as GRANTING US OUR FREE WILL
LEADING AS GOD WOULD HAVE WANTED THEM TO LEAD.
TO CHOOSE – LEAVING US UP TO OUR OWN SINFUL DEVICES
AND SELF-INDULGENT DESIRES.
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT JUDGE WITH
FAVOURITISM OR PARTIALITY.
R o m a n 1 : 2 4 – 2 6 “... God also gave them up to
➤ He has spoken the Words of Life – Divine Words of
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to
Love, Forgiveness, Repentance, Virtue and
dishonour their bodies among themselves, who
Mercy.
exchanged the Truth of God for the lie, and
➤ His Words will be the unbending Standard whereby
worshipped and served the creature rather than
all humanity will be Judged on the Last Day –
the Creator, Who is Blessed forever. Amen. For
at the start of Eternity.
this reason God gave them up to vile passions.
For even their women exchanged the natural use
for what is against nature.”
Saint Silouan On Love
THE SOUL CANNOT KNOW PEACE UNLESS SHE PRAYS FOR HER heart, for, in the Words of the Lord, out of the heart
ENEMIES. THE SOUL THAT HAS LEARNT BY GOD'S GRACE TO proceed evil thoughts - or good thoughts.
PRAY, FEELS LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR EVERY CREATED THE GOOD PERSON BELIEVES THAT THOSE WHO HAVE STRAYED
THING, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR MANKIND, for whom the FROM THE TRUTH BRING DESTRUCTION on themselves
Lord suffered on the Cross, and His Soul was heavy for and are therefore to be pitied. But of course those who
every one of us. have not learnt the Love of the Holy Spirit will not pray
OUR LORD TAUGHT US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES. WITHOUT THE
for their enemies. THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNT LOVE FROM
GRACE OF GOD WE CANNOT LOVE OUR ENEMIES. ONLY THE
THE HOLY SPIRIT SORROW ALL THEIR LIFE OVER THOSE
HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES LOVE, and then even devils arouse WHO ARE NOT SAVED, AND SHED ABUNDANT TEARS FOR
our pity because they have fallen from good, and lost OTHERS, AND THE GRACE OF GOD GIVES THEM STRENGTH
Humility in God. TO LOVE THEIR ENEMIES.
I beseech you, put this to the test: when someone affronts People who do not know God, or who go against Him, are
you or brings dishonour on your head, or takes what is to be pitied; the heart sorrows for them and the eye
yours, or persecutes the Church, pray to the Lord, weeps. BOTH PARADISE AND TORMENT ARE CLEARLY
saying: "O Lord, we are all Thy creatures. Have pity VISIBLE TO US: WE KNOW THIS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
on Thy servants and turn their hearts to Repentance," And did not the Lord Himself say, "The Kingdom of
and you will be aware of Grace in your soul. God is within you"?
TO BEGIN WITH, CONSTRAIN YOUR HEART TO LOVE ENEMIES, THUS ETERNAL LIFE HAS ITS BEGINNING HERE IN THIS LIFE;
AND THE LORD, SEEING YOUR GOOD WILL, WILL HELP YOU AND IT IS HERE THAT WE SOW THE SEEDS OF ETERNAL
IN ALL THINGS, AND EXPERIENCE ITSELF WILL SHOW YOU TORMENT.
THE WAY. Where there is pride there cannot be Grace, and if we lose
But those who think with malice of their enemies have not Grace we also lose both Love of God and assurance in
God's Love within them, and they do not know God. Prayer. The soul is then tormented by evil thoughts
IF YOU PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES, PEACE WILL COME TO YOU; and does not understand that she must humble herself
BUT WHEN YOU CAN LOVE YOUR ENEMIES - KNOW THAT A
and Love her enemies, for there is no other way to
GREAT MEASURE OF THE GRACE OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU -
ALTHOUGH NOT PERFECT GRACE AS YET, BUT SUFFICIENT please God.
FOR SALVATION. O Lord, grant me tears to shed for myself, and for the
Whereas if we revile our enemies, it means there is an evil whole universe, that the nations may know Thee and
spirit living in us - bringing evil thoughts into our live eternally with Thee and the Gift of Thy humble
Holy Spirit, that we may apprehend Thy Glory.

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 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the So n, and to the H oly Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet Ever Virgin,
together with all the Sai nts. And let us commit ourselves and one another and o ur whole Life to Christ our Go d.
Amen.

2 June 2011
Our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven - Ascension Thursday
Also the Feast of St Nicephoros of Constantinople – St Constantine, New Martyr – Georgian Holy
Martyrs of Persia – St John the New of Sochi – St Juliana of Vyazma – St Barlaam of Kutin – St
Erasmos of Ochrid - Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Kiev-Bratsk – St Dodo of St David Gareji
Monastery, Georgia

Apolytikion of the Ascension

Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, Haropiisas tous Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God, after Thou
Mathitas, ti epangelia tou Agiou Pnevmatos, filled the Disciples with Joy, by promising to send
vaveothenton afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios tou them the Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them and
Theou, O Litrotis tou kosmou. established their Faith, that Thou art the Son of
God, the Redeemer of the world.
Kontakion of the Ascension of Christ our Saviour - TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas When Thou had fulfilled the Dispensation for our sake,
tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, and united things on earth with the Things in
oudamothen horizomenos, alla menon adiastatos, Heaven, Thou were taken up thither in Glory, O
ke voon tis agaposi se. EGO IMI METH IMON, KE OUDIS Christ our god, going not away from any place, but
KATH IMON. continuing inseparable, and to the m who Love
Thee, crying out: I AM WITH YOU AND THERE IS,
THEREFORE, NONE AGAINST YOU.
Ascension Matins Holy Gospel According to St Mark 16 : 9 – 20
Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Appears, Grants His Great Commission, and Ascends to Heaven
At that time, when our Lord Jesus had Risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out
of whom He had cast seven demons. And she went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and
wept. Yet when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country. And they went and told it to the
others but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the Eleven as they sat at table; and He rebuked
their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had Risen. And
He said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is
Baptised will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be Condemned. And these Signs will follow
those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will
take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means harm them and they will lay
hands on the sick and they will recover.”
So then, after our Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the Right Hand of God.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the
accompanying Signs. Amen.
Although two early manuscripts did not contain these “To the end of the Age” DOES NOT BY ANY MEANS SUGGEST
verses as part of St Mark’s Holy Gospel, nearly all the THAT WE WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD AT THE END OF
other manuscripts ever discovered do include them. THIS WORLD FOR HE IS WITH US NOW, AND FOREVER, AND
THEY ARE CANONISED SCRIPTURE AND ARE THEREFORE FOR ALL ETERNITY – “... unto the Ages of Ages.”
CONSIDERED BY CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH TO BE DIVINELY “New tongues” refers to the DIVINELY GRANTED GIFT OF
INSPIRED, AUTHORITATIVE AND GENUINE. SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES – totally foreign to our
It is evident that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S RESURRECTED personal abilities – i.e. NOT ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE THAT
BODY TRANSCENDS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL SPACE AND TIME, WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY OTHERS.
BUT APPEARANCE AS WELL because He appeared to St Speaking in tongues is THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
Luke and St Cleopas along the road to Emmaus in CLEARLY AND PRECISELY, WITHOUT ANY INTERPRETATION
“another form,” which is why they did not recognise NECESSARY, WHILE CONVEYING GOD’S DIVINE TRUTH TO
Him at all, despite being in close proximity and OTHERS BY SPREADING HIS HOLY GOSPEL amongst all
discussion with Him for most of that day, Nations of this earth – which is granted to us ONLY BY
ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL, OUR RESURRECTED LORD IS DIVINE GRACE!
SOMETIMES RECOGNISABLE TO HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES, To “take up serpents” primarily refers to OUR CONSTANT
WHILE AT OTHER TIMES, HE IS NOT. SPIRITUAL WARFARE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS DEMONS
✽ THE GREAT COMMISSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO FROM WHICH OUR SAVIOUR HAS PROMISED TO DELIVER US.
ALL HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES – HIS This would also include certain physical protection as well
FINAL COMMANDMENT AS GOD INCARNATE AT THAT – similar to when St Paul was bitten by a poisonous
TIME – IS TO BE LIVED OUT IN HIS HOLY CHURCH UNTIL serpent and suffered no harm and when St Barsabas
HIS REAPPEARANCE ON THE EIGHTH DAY AT HIS FINAL
JUDGEMENT. Justus was forced by pagans to swallow poison yet he
also survived. (ACTS 28: 3 – 6 ; ACTS 1 :23)
✽ MAKING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST cannot be achieved
Nevertheless, while Divine Grace does protect us from
through human endeavour but ONLY BY THE GRACE,
both physical and Spiritual Harm, WE ARE STRICTLY
WILL AND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD. FORBIDDEN TO TEST GOD BY DELIBERATELY COMMITTING
✽ THE POWER OF RESURRECTION was not only for our Lord HARMFUL ACTS AGAINST OURSELVES. (DEUTERONOMY 6:16;
MATTHEW 4:7)
Jesus Christ Himself, but IS GRANTED TO ALL
FAITHFUL BELIEVERS FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND HOLY The Ascension of Christ is celebrated 40 days after the
MISSION ON EARTH – WHICH LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE IN Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and fulfils the
CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. type given when St Elijah ascended into Heaven in a
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS PRESENT IN EACH BELIEVER “fiery chariot.” (4 KINGS 2:11)
AND IN ALWAYS IN HIS HOLY CHURCH – His Holy Body Ascension marks the completion of the Incarnate Son of
– both personally and in the Holy Spirit, for neither God’s Glorification and Lordship over all Creation.
can be separated from the other – and the Holy At His Incarnation, Christ brought His Divine Nature to our
Trinity is Eternally United and Harmonious. human nature.

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In the Divine Mystery of Ascension, our Saviour conveys St John Chrysostom - and many other Holy Church Fathers
our human nature to His Divine Kingdom where He - has taught us that the Garment of Salvation is Christ
Eternally reigns in His Glorified Body with God the Himself. St Paul taught us that in Holy Baptism we
Father and God the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity Whom “...PUT ON CHRIST.” (GALATIANS 3:27)
are worshipped ceaselessly by the whole Angelic P s a l m 2 3 : 7 – 1 0 : “Lift up the Gates, O you Rulers.
Heavenly Realm. And be lifted up, you Everlasting Doors. And the
At Vespers of Ascension we chant: “The Angels were King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of
amazed at seeing a Man so exalted...” Glory? The Lord is Strong and Mighty. The
In some Holy Icons of the Ascension, Christ’s white robes Lord is Powerful in Battle. Lift up the Gates, O
are tented red to indicate the shedding of His Blood you Rulers, and be lifted up, you Everlasting
for the Redemption of the entire universe and the Doors and the King of Glory shall enter! Who is
Mysterious and Glorious Ascent of that Life-giving this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the
Blood into Heaven. King of Glory!”
I s a i a h 6 3 : 1 – 3 “Who is this Who comes from Edom These words are proclaimed as the Priest knocks on the
with red garments from Bozrah, so beautiful in door of the Church on Holy Pascha morning (i.e. Friday
His Apparel, with force of strength? ‘I speak of night) – signalling our Triumphant Entry into the
Righteousness and Saving Judgement.’ Why art Kingdom of Heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ’s
Thy Garments red and Thy Apparel as one who Glorious Resurrection.
treads in a winepress? ‘I Am full of the treading This same action also occurs at the Holy Consecration of a
of Grapes, and there is no man with Me among new church building throughout the Orthodox
the Nations. I trampled them in My anger, and Christian world.
crushed them like earth, and brought down their
blood to the ground...’”
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 1 : 1 – 12
Passover to Pentecost
The former account I made, O Theophilos, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which He was
taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given Commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen – to
whom He had also presented Himself alive after His Suffering, by many infallible Proofs – being seen by them during
forty days and speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And, being assembled together with them,
He Commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which...” He said: “...
you have heard from Me; for John truly Baptised with water, but you shall be Baptised with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now.”
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?”
And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His own
Authority. But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now, when He had spoken these Things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a Cloud received Him out of their
sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as He went up, behold, two Men stood by them in white
apparel, who also said: “O Men of Galilee: why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who was
taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called ‘Olivet,’ which is near Jerusalem – a Sabbath Day’s journey.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 24 : 36 – 53
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying: “If Thou art the King of the Jews, save
Thyself!” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “This is the King of the
Jews!” And one of the criminals who were hanging beside Him blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou art the Christ, save
Thyself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying: “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done
nothing wrong.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when Thou come into Thy Kingdom.” And Jesus
said to him: “Truly, I say to you: today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was
darkened, and the Veil of the Temple was ripped in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud Voice, He said:
“Father, into Thy Hands I commit My Spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the Centurion
saw what had happened, he Glorified God, saying: “Certainly this was a Righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who
had gathered together for that sight – seeing what had been done – beat their breasts and returned. But all His
acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now behold: there was a man named Joseph – a Council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their
decision and deed. He was from Arimathea – a city of the Hebrews – who himself was also waiting for the Kingdom of
God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Then he took It down, wrapped It in linen, and laid It
in a Tomb that was hewn out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.
St Gregory Palamas – On Ascension
"(Our Lord Jesus Christ) was separated from (His After His Ascension, His Disciples did not see Him with
Disciples) in the Body (although as God He was their bodily eyes but with the eyes of their souls, yet
always with them) and - as He had promised them - they worshipped Him. (LUKE 24:52)
He was taken up and sat at the right hand side of God Let us do the same, then, and like them, stay in Peace
the Father with our human flesh. (for Jerusalem means ‘Peace,’) keeping Peace within
As He had lived, died, Resurrected and Ascended, so too ourselves and with one another.
do we live, die and are Resurrected. Let each of us go into our own ‘Upper Room’ - our mind -
Not all of us, however, will attain to the Ascension, but and stay there praying, and let us Purify ourselves
only those who believe that Life is Christ, and to die from passionate and base thoughts. (ACTS 1:13)
for Him is gain and those who, before they died, In this way we shall not miss the Coming of the Divine
crucified their sin through Repentance and a Way of Comforter – God the Holy Spirit - and we shall
Life according to His Holy Gospel. (PHILIPPIANS 1:21) worship God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
After the Resurrection of all humanity, they alone will be in spirit and Truth - now and forever and unto the
caught up in the Clouds to meet our Lord in the air. Ages of ages.
(CF. I THESSALONIANS 4:17) Amen."
A Cloud also received our Lord as He Ascended, as St (THE HOMILIES VOL. 2, HOMILY TWENTY-TWO PARAS. 16-17; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY
PRESS PGS. 10-11):
Luke related in his Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
(ACTS 1:9)

4. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) Ascension of our Resurrected Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ 2 June 2011
 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 forever, and unto the Ages of ages.
Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mo st Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet E ver Virgi n, toge ther with all
the Saints. And le t us commit o urselves and one ano ther and o ur
whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
th
7 After Pascha Tone (6) Plagal 2
5 June 2011
Sunday of the Holy Fathers -
The 318 Holy Church Fathers of the First
Ecumenical Council
Also the Feast of St Dorotheos, Hieromartyr of Tyre
– St Nicandros, St Marcian, St Hyperechios, St
Apollonios, St Leonidas, St Arios, St Gorgias, St
Pambo, St Selenia and St Irene of Egypt – St Mark the New Martyr of Chios – St Christophoros & St Konon of
Rome – St Igor of Kiev, Translation of Holy Relics - St Constantine of Kiev – St Theodore of Novgorod, brother
of St Alexander Nevsky – St Bassianos & St Jonah, Monks of Solovki Transfiguration Monastery – St Theodore,
Wonderworker & Hermit of Jordan – St anubios the Confessor & Anchorite of Egypt - St Peter of Kosovo – the
Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Igor

Apolytikion of the Resurrection - Tone (6) Plagal 2

Angelike Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes
apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa
to ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilefsas ton Adin, mi
pirasthis ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno, Doroumenos
tin Zoin. O Anastas ek to nekron, Kyrie, Doxa Si.
Apolytikion of the Ascension
Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,
Haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia tou
Agiou Pnevmatos, vaveothenton afton dia tis
Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios tou Theou, O Litrotis
tou kosmou.
Apolytikion Of The 4th Ecumenical Council – Tone (8) Plagal 4
Iperdedoxasmenos i Hriste O Theos imon, O fostiras epi
gis, tous Pateras imon themeliosas, ke di afton, pros
tin alithinin pistin pantas imas odigisas,
Poliefsplahne Doxa Si!
Kontakion of the Ascension of Christ our Saviour -
The Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the
guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the
Tomb seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led Hades
captive, yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who art
the Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman. Glory
to Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the dead!
Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God, after Thou
filled the Disciples with Joy, by promising to send
them the Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them and
established their Faith, that Thou art the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world.
Supremely praised art Thou, O Christ our God, Who
established on earth, our Fathers as Luminaries; and
through them, to the True Faith all of us Thou has
Guided, O Most Compassionate One: Glory to Thee!
TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas When Thou had fulfilled the Dispensation for our sake,
tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, and united things on earth with the Things in Heaven,
oudamothen horizomenos, alla menon adiastatos, Thou were taken up thither in Glory, O Christ our god,
ke voon tis agaposi se. EGO IMI METH IMON, KE going not away from any place, but continuing
OUDIS KATH IMON. inseparable, and to the m who Love Thee, crying out:
I AM WITH YOU AND THERE IS, THEREFORE, NONE
AGAINST YOU.
Matins Resurrection Gospel 10 : John 21 : 1 – 14
Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Serves Breakfast To His Eleven Apostles
Prokeimenon
Thou art Blessed, O Lord, God of Forefathers.
For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 20 : 16 – 18 & 28 – 36
St Paul’s Farewell Address
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at
Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. From Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called for the Elders of the
Church. And when they had gone to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in
what manner I always lived amongst you, serving the Lord with all Humility, with many tears and trials...
“... Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the Flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you Overseers, to
shepherd the Church of God, which He purchases with His own Blood.
“For I know this: that after my departure savage Wolves will come in you, not sparing the Flock. Also from among
yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the Disciples after themselves.
“Therefore, watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone – night and day – with tears.
So now, Brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
Inheritance among all those who are Sanctified.
“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold, or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my
necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way – by labouring like this – that you
must support the weak.

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“And remember the Words of our Lord Jesus – that He said: ‘It is more Blessed to give than to receive.’”
And when Paul had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
St Paul wanted to be together with the other Holy COMMEMORATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN A
Apostles of Christ in Jerusalem for the Feast of Holy COMMUNAL MANNER.
Pentecost, since A LITURGICAL CALENDAR BASED ON At that time, the Holy Church of Christ was alive and
SACRED FEAST DAYS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBSERVED BY developing in Ephesos and had already established
THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. a permanent pattern of Sacramental Leadership
Consequently, ALL FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – TRUE with Elders (Presbyters) and Overseers (Bishops).
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FESTAL However, the threat of false teachers and various
CALENDAR OF MAJOR FEASTS, FASTS AND heresies arose from both within and without the
CELEBRATIONS.
Holy Church.
A c t s 1 8 : 2 1 : St Paul told his Holy Flock: “I must by all
Furthermore, THE FATAL THREAT OF SUCH FALSE
means keep this coming Feast in Jerusalem; but I TEACHERS AND HERESIES CONTINUES TO THIS DAY,
will return again to you – God Willing.” CAUSING SO MANY SOULS TO BECOME PLUNGED IN DEEP,
THE SINCERE WORDS “GOD WILLING,” UNDERSCORED ST DARK SPIRITUAL DEATH CAUSED BY ALIENATION FROM
PAUL’S CONSTANT RELIANCE ON GOD AND HIS GOD AND UNREPENTED SINS.
CONTINUAL DEVOUT SUBMISSION OF HIS OWN PLANS AND ✽ Therefore, we must LEARN TRUE HUMILITY AND
FREE WILL TO THE WILL OF ALMIGHTY GOD. OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD AND
J a m e s 4 : 1 3 - 1 7 “... you who say: ‘Today or tomorrow FOLLOW ONLY WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT US – not the
we will go to such and such a city, spend a year lies, deceptions and heresies that other less
there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas intelligent beings try to convince us of, which
you do not know what will happen tomorrow. misguide and condemn us.
For what is your life? It is even a vapour that There is so much Divine Truth available to us
appears for a little time and then vanishes away. these days that we have absolutely no excuse for
Instead you ought to say: ‘ If the Lord Wills, “doing our own thing.”
we shall live and do this and that...’ But now you ✽ WITHOUT THE INSEPARABLE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY AND
boast in your own arrogance. All such OBEDIENCE, WE CANNOT MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL
boasting is evil. Therefore, to those who know PROGRESS AND WILL REMAIN IGNORANT, SELFISH
to do good and who do not do so, to them it AND IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH DUE TO OUR
ALIENATION FROM ALMIGHTY GOD WHO MAKES
is sin!” EVERYTHING THAT IS TRULY GOOD POSSIBLE FOR
The budding Christian Liturgical Calendar revealed THE US.
DEEP DESIRE OF THE HOLY APOSTLES AND FAITHFUL
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO GATHER TOGETHER IN
REMEMBRANCE OF THE GREAT CHRISTIAN FEASTS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIPPING GOD AND THE
The Holy Gospel According to St John 17 : 1 – 13
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Prayer for Himself & for His Holy Apostles
At that time, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His Eyes to Heaven, and said: “O Father, the Hour has come. Glorify
Thy Son, that Thy Son also may Glorify Thee, as Thou hast given Him Authority over all flesh, that He
should give Eternal Life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is Eternal Life: that they may
know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent.
“I have Glorified Thee on the earth. I have finished the Work, which Thou hast given Me to do. And now, O
Father, Glorify Me together with Thyself, with the Glory that I had with Thee before the world was. I
have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou hast given Me out of the world. They were Thine.
Thou gave them to Me, and they have kept Thy Word. Now they have known that all things, which Thou
hast given Me, are from Thee. For I have given to them the Words that Thou hast given Me; and they
have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from Thee; and they have believed that
Thou sent Me.
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine.
And all Mine art Thine, and Thine art Mine, and I Am Glorified in them.
“Now I Am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. O Holy Father, keep
through Thy Name, those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be One as we are One.
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name. Those whom Thou gave Me I have kept; and
none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to
Thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My Joy fulfilled in themselves...”
THE PRAYER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, is ➤ The expression “Glorify” refers to THE REDEMPTION
often referred to as “the High Priestly Prayer” OF ALL CREATION THAT WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED
because it CONTAINS THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF A THROUGH OUR LORD’S CRUCIFIXION (THE FINAL, ULTIMATE
AND MOST PURE BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR SINS AND ETERNAL LIFE) AND
PRAYER THAT ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRIESTS OFFER TO
THE LORD OUR GOD BEFORE A (BLOODLESS) SACRIFICE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION (THE HARROWING OF HADES),
OR OFFERING IS OFFERED TO HIM: which was THE DIVINE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE
➤ GLORIFICATION of Almighty God DIVINE WORD AND SON OF GOD WAS SENT BY GOD
THE FATHER INTO THE SIN ENSLAVED AND
➤ REMEMBRANCE of God’s Divine Works DARKENED WORLD.
➤ INTERCESSION on behalf of others ➤ IN HIS DIVINE REDEMPTION, GOD THE FATHER
➤ A DECLARATION of the Holy Offering Itself AND GOD THE SON ARE GLORIFIED.
This particular passage of New Covenant Holy Scripture ➤ FOR THAT REASON THE CROSS OF CHRIST - which
is read on the Seventh Sunday After Holy Pascha in was a hideous form of execution with its
remembrance of the 318 Holy Church Fathers of the excruciating suffering and death - IS NOW
First Ecumenical Council, which had been convened GLORIFIED IN HIS HOLY CHURCH AS “LIFE-GIVING”
in Nicaea in 325 in order to condemn and correct AND A “WEAPON OF PEACE.”
the heresy of Arianism (which taught that the Son of God was ➤ THE (EMPTY) HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST HAS BECOME A
VICTORIOUS EMBLEM OF DIVINE GOODNESS:
created by God the Father and thus there was a time when the Son
and Word of God did not exist!) RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE:
➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S ACTUAL WORDS BEAR ➤ The Holy Cross of Christ CONQUERS ALL SINFUL
WITNESS TO HIS TRUE, ABSOLUTE AND ETERNAL ENSLAVEMENT, ALIENATION FROM GOD.
DIVINITY, AS WELL AS HIS ETERNAL FILIAL ➤ The Holy Cross of Christ is OUR SANCTIFIED
RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER. BADGE OR EMBLEM OF HONOUR whereby we
This Divine Testimony alone is more than sufficient to strive to live each moment of the day, for it
dismiss any form of heretical Arianism. REMINDS US OF THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF OUR
“The Hour has come,” signifies that CHRIST IS LORD LORD AND SAVIOUR IN WHOM WE LIVE and it
OVER TIME: “He voluntarily Willed to ascend the INFORMS OTHERS OF OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE.
Cross in the Flesh...” (HYMN OF SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY)

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 ➤ The Holy Cross of Christ is THE MOST POWERFUL
FORM OF DIVINE PROTECTION, which repels
and rejects Satan and his evil schemes.
➤ The Holy Cross of Christ is ALL WE NEED.
TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST DO NOT WEAR “EVIL EYES” OR ANY OTHER SO-CALLED
“GOOD LUCK CHARMS!”
SUCH PAGAN TALISMANS, AMULETS OR TRINKETS EXPOSE DEEP-SEATED
SUPERSTITIONS, WHICH REVEAL A LACK OF FAITH IN GOD - THE DENIAL OF
GOD’S INFINITE POWER AND LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL THREATS AND
WICKEDNESS AGAINST US.
TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WEAR THE (EMPTY) CROSS ONLY AGAINST THEIR HEARTS
(NOT AS MERE ORNAMENTATION SUCH AS EAR-RINGS, ETC) AND N E V E R
TOGETHER WITH ANY SUPERSTITIOUS “LUCKY CHARMS!”
BELIEF IN ANYTHING ELSE IS A REVERSION TO PAGANISM – THE REJECTION OF OUR
ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!
THE SO-CALLED “PEACE SIGN” IS IN FACT THE CURSE OF
SATAN: A CLOVEN HOOF AND A BROKEN, UPSIDE DOWN
CROSS – DECLARING THE WEARER AS A SLAVE OF SATAN
THAT MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS BY TRUE DISCIPLES
OF CHRIST.
➤ KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONLY TRUE GOD IS FAR MORE THAN
INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING. IT IS
PARTICIPATION OF CHRIST’S DIVINE LIFE AND BEING
IN COMMUNION WITH HIM.
Consequently, ETERNAL LIFE IS AN ONGOING, LOVING
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine Work can never be
separated from Who He is.
➤ “I have Glorified Thee on the earth. I have
finished the Work, which Thou hast given
Me to do...” is a statement that every Faithful
Disciple of Christ should be able to make at the
end of life – no matter how long or short our
Life in Christ has been!
➤ “...the men whom Thou hast given Me...” are
THE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST THROUGH WHOM
THE WORD OF GOD COMES DOWN THROUGH THE
AGES – CAREFULLY PRESERVED – TO US, WHICH IS
KNOWN AS OUR “APOSTOLIC TRADITION” – THE TRUE
TEACHINGS OF THE SON OF GOD, OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST HIMSELF.
➤ St Isaiah prophesied that IN THE DAYS OF THE
MESSIAH, THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NAME OF GOD
WOULD BE REVEALED. (ISAIAH 52:6)
According to the Old Covenant, THE EXPRESSION “the
Name” WAS MOST REVERENTLY USED instead of God’s
actual Name, “Yahweh,” which was considered as
being FAR TOO SACRED TO PRONOUNCE.
➤ THE FULLER REVELATION OF THE DIVINE NAME WAS
GRANTED TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, FOR HE MANIFESTED THE
DIVINE NAME NOT ONLY BY DECLARING GOD THE
The Seventh Sunday of Pascha: Christian Dogma and Defending
Today is the Seventh Sunday of Holy Pascha – when all
Orthodox Christians commemorate our Holy Church
Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, which had
been held in the city of Nicea in 325.
At this gathering of Bishops, the Alexandrian Priest,
Arius, and the heresy of Arianism were officially
condemned. (Arius and his followers falsely taught
that our Lord Jesus Christ was created by God and
thus was inferior to Him.)
MEMBERS OF THIS REVERED COUNCIL SOUGHT TO PROTECT
THE ORTHODOX DOCTRINE AND EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST
AS BEING, "Light of Light, True God of True God,
Begotten, not made, of One Essence with the
Father, by Whom all things were made." (NICENE
CREED)
It is a matter of record that THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC
AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH HAS ALWAYS CONCERNED
HERSELF WITH DOCTRINE, ARTICULATING AND DEFINING
AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE THE DIVINELY REVEALED
TRUTHS ABOUT GOD AND MANKIND.
Modern religious thought, however, has a dislike for
True Dogma, and frequently accuses the Holy
Church of dividing people with her strict adherence
to her Teachings; for her Condemnation of what is
wrong - heterodox; and for the willingness of her
members to die for the Truth.
The Holy Church of Christ is condemned for “living in
the past,” and there are those who say that she is
not prepared to meet modern crises and to offer
people the solution to their problems.
Individuals tell us to adjust ourselves to our
surroundings, accept the least common
denominator of Dogma, and change our morality
and ethics to fit changing social conditions.
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FATHER, BUT BY BEING THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD
ON EARTH AND BY SHARING THE DIVINE NAME WITH
HIM!
➤ OUR LORD JESUS FIRST PRAYED FOR HIMSELF AND THEN
FOR HIS HOLY APOSTLES WHO WERE GRANTED TO
HIM BY GOD THE FATHER – AS WELL AS ALL THE
SOULS WHO BELIEVE IN HIM THROUGHOUT THE
AGES.
➤ The reference to “the world” means the fallen
world consisting of ALL THOSE WHO LIVE
ACCORDING TO THE DESIRES OF THEIR BODY –
THE FLESH – which is used against us
through the temptation – the wiles and
deceptions - of Satan.
THE PHYSICAL WORLD AND ALL THAT IS IN IT - WHICH GOD
CREATED - IS ALL GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL - AND WE – AS
EARTHLY INTELLECTUAL BEINGS - HAVE BEEN ORDAINED
B Y G O D T O P R E S E R V E A N D N U R T U R E I T , YET THROUGH OUR
SINFUL DESIRES OF GREED AND SELFISH INDULGENCE, WE HAVE ALMOST
DESTROYED IT BEYOND RECOVERY!
➤ The fallen world consists of ALL WHO ARE IN
REBELLION AGAINST THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD
AND WHO PREFER SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND
BLINDNESS TO HIS DIVINE, LIFE-GIVING LIGHT
AND SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT.
✽ The term “Holy Father” is echoed in THE EUCHARIST
PRAYER OF DIDACHE: “We give Thee Thanks, O
Holy Father, for Thy Holy Name, which
Thou has made to dwell in our hearts...”
(DIDACHE 10:2)
✽ The lost “son of Perdition” (Destruction) is Judas
Iscariot to whom Old Testament Prophesy
alluded. (PSALM 40:10; PSALM 108:2 – 13; ZECHARIAH 11: 12-13)
➤ JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE SON OF PERDITION WHO
BETRAYED CHRIST, EPITIMISES ALL WHO FALL
AWAY, RENOUNCE REBEL AGAINST OR BETRAY
GOD - ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST DAYS, WHICH IS
NOW!
According to St Paul in his Second Epistle to the
Thessalonians, THE SON OF PERDITION IS “THE
ANTICHRIST” who is the manifestation of everything
that is ungodly, evil and destructive but WHO WILL BE
COMPLETELY DEFEATED AND BANISHED TO HELL –
TOGETHER WITH ALL WHO ARE WILLINGLY ENSLAVED BY
HIM - BY CHRIST ALMIGHTY AT THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
OF ALL CREATION. (2 THESSALONIANS 2:3)
Defending God's Truth
✽ THESE CONDEMNATIONS AND CRITICISMS COME FROM
AN IMPERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE,
OF WHAT MANKIND IS AND OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO
OUR CREATOR.
The assumption is that we live in a world that is totally
different to the world into which our Lord Jesus
Christ was born and lived His earthly Life.
It is said that possibly the Holy Church was the answer
for the state of the world in the last days of the
pagan Roman Empire, but that now we face a
different situation; that Spiritual Humanity must
have a new, “up-to-date, twentieth century solution”
to our problems.
This, of course, represents a very superficial view of
humanity and the problems of life - of our destiny.
Many stress that we are making progress - with the
great “god of scientific discovery” as our guide; that
we no longer have need of Christ’s Holy Church nor
of her God (as He has been traditionally
understood), because we have learnt to depend
on and have confidence in ourselves!
It takes little investigation, however, to discover that
THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL TODAY ARE NOT AT
ALL DIFFERENT FROM THE PROBLEMS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL SO MANY CENTURIES AGO.
Each person who was ministered to by our Lord - as
recorded in the Holy Gospels - has his or her
parallel in today’s “modern society.”
✽ Our Holy Church teaches us that THERE IS AN
ABSOLUTE, ALMIGHTY, GOOD, JUST AND LOVING
GOD, WHO REVEALED HIS TRUTH TO HIS CHOSEN
PEOPLE.
THAT DIVINE TRUTH HAS BEEN CAREFULLY AND
METICULOUSLY PRESERVED IN CHRIST'S HOLY CHURCH,
WHICH HE HIMSELF ESTABLISHED, AND THAT TRUTH
DOES NOT CHANGE – IT IS CHANGELESS AND ETERNAL!
✽ GOD'S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS OF ALL MANKIND IS "You are the Light of the world. A city that is set
LOVE: LOVE OF GOD AND ONE'S FELLOW MAN. on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men
His Eternal and Holy Church offers that Divine Gift of light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but
unconditional Love (Agape) to a suffering world, on a candlestick and it gives light to all who
and there are probably very few fair-minded are in the house. Let your Light so shine
individuals who would deny that IF WE HAD LOVE WE before men, that they may see your Good
WOULD NOT HAVE WARS, CRIME, STRIFE, DECEPTION, Works and Glorify your Father Who is in
HATRED AND ALL THAT GOES ALONG WITH SUCH
DESTRUCTIVE WICKEDNESS.
Heaven." (MATTHEW 5: 14-16)
GOD PROVED HIS LOVE BY GIVING HIMSELF FOR ALL With these words, our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us
MANKIND, and in our terms for He even allowed His that - AS MEMBERS OF HIS HOLY CHURCH - WE ARE THE
human Life to be taken by His own creatures. LIGHT OF THE WORLD -- without the Church and His
This is THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF LOVE. Divine Light, everything remains in darkness –
THE ACCEPTANCE OF AND DEDICATION TO THAT SACRIFICE Spiritual Darkness of Sin and ignorance.
IS THE CHURCH'S REASON FOR BEING AND IT COMPELS OUR GOOD EXAMPLE MUST ILLUMINE THOSE AROUND US. If
OUR HOLY CHURCH TO METICULOUSLY AND MOST we have God's Love for mankind in our hearts, we
CAREFULLY GUARD – IN ALL ITS PERFECT PURITY – THE
DEPOSIT OF TRUE FAITH LEFT BY OUR LORD DURING HIS
will be the most dynamic force possible for WE
INFLUENCE AND AFFECT EVERYONE WITH WHOM WE
BRIEF EARTHLY STAY.
COME INTO CONTACT.
This is why all Faithful Disciples of Christ – the Holy
And in order to accomplish our Sacred Mission, we
Church of Christ - condemns and will continue to
might not even have to open our mouths for those
condemn all novelties and man-made concepts
who see us "... may see your Good Works and
(such as Arianism) that detract from the Divine
Glorify God..."
Person of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and
If we are to bring Love to the world -- which is our
His Divine Mission.
Sacred Task -- we must begin in our own home.
✽ THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS
SUMMED UP IN THE PRECIOUS DOCUMENT LEFT TO ✽ The first step towards the realization of our Destiny
US BY THE FIRST TWO ECUMENICAL COUNCILS OF is HUMILITY - AWARENESS THAT WE ARE MEMBERS
THE CHURCH, which we call THE NICENE CREED, OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST – STRIVING
AGAINST ANY FORM OF SELF-SATISFACTION OR SELF-
and which we reaffirm each time we celebrate,
PRIDE, SELF-JUSTIFICATION OR A SENSE OF
in the Divine Liturgy, that Supreme Mystery of SUPERIORITY - AND ACCEPTING, ACKNOWLEDGING
God's Love for mankind. AND APPRECIATING OUR DEPENDENCE UPON ONE
This is the only "least common denominator" for the ANOTHER.
Christian Church. ✽ There must be A HUMBLE ACCEPTANCE OF AND
✽ WE CANNOT DENY OR DOUBT ANY ONE OF ITS TRUTHS. OBEDIENCE TOTHE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST AND
The forces of the enemy are at work to destroy HER PERFECTION FOR SHE TEACHES NO ERROR. THE
HOLY SPIRIT, WHO DESCENDED AT PENTECOST IS
the foundation of the Holy Church of Christ, for
THE GUARANTEE OF THAT.
IN CHANGING EVEN ONE OF THE CHURCH'S ✽ WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WITH ONE
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES, WE RUN THE ACCORD WE MAY CONFESS: "Father, Son and
RISK OF DENYING ALL OF THEM. Holy Spirit, the Trinity, One in Essence and
✽ THE SACRED TASK OF EVERY FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN IN
Undivided."
THIS DAY AND AGE IS TO DECLARE – UNFLINCHINGLY
- THAT WE ACCEPT THE TRUTH OF GOD, which was
✽ THE CHURCH IS ONE, AND THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY
SPIRIT ARE ONE, just as our Lord Jesus Christ
delivered to His Holy Saints; that it is the
prayed: "O Holy Father, keep them in Thy
Guiding Principle of our life; that we are wholly
Name, those whom Thou hast given Me:
dedicated to it, no matter how attractive the
that they may be One as We are One."
world and all its pomp may be at times.
WE CHRISTIANS – AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST - MUST LIVE IN (JOHN 17:11).
AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE, FOR THAT IS WHAT OUR LORD ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ARCHBISHOP DMITRI OF DALLAS AND THE SOUTH - THE
DAWN - PUBLICATION OF THE DIOCESE OF THE SOUTH ORTHODOX CHURCH IN
HAS TAUGHT US TO DO. AMERICA - MAY 1998
WE MUST SHOW BY OUR PERSONAL EXAMPLE THAT GOD'S http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/dmitri
SOLUTION TO ALL OUR PROBLEMS IS AS WORKABLE NOW _dogma.htm
AS IT EVER WAS.
WE MUST TEACH OTHERS, BUT WE MUST FIRST LEARN OUR
OWN SACRED LESSON and we must always remember
the words of our Lord:
Eternal Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
St Leo the Great
"David's Lord was made David's Son, and from True Godhead for the performance of Mighty
the Fruit of the Promised Branch sprang One Works and True Manhood for the Endurance
without fault, the two-fold Nature coming of sufferings." (THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND
SERIES VOL. XII; EERDMANS PG. 172)
together in one Person, that by one and the
same Conception and Birth might spring our
Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom was present both
St Maximos the Confessor
"'The long-suffering man abounds in “'And this is Eternal Life, that they might
Understanding', because he endures know Thee - the only True God, and
everything to the end and, while awaiting that Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent'” (CF. ROM.
6:22 JOHN 17:3 & THE PHILOKALIA VOL. 2 - EDITED BY PALMER, SHERRARD
end, patiently bears his distress. (PROVERBS 14:29) AND WARE; FABER AND FABER PG. 103):
“The end, as St Paul says, is Everlasting Life.
St John of Kronstadt
"If you are fond of dressing elegantly, or when "...in our day Christ as the Truth has been
you put on your clothes, think of the abolished: we take Christ's Teaching - but
Incorruptible Garment of Righteousness in abolish Christ.
which our souls should be arrayed, or of “We want Truth the easy way. This is to abolish
Jesus Christ Who is our Spiritual Raiment, as Truth, for Christ the Teacher is more
it is said: 'For as many of you as have important than the Teaching...
been Baptized into Christ, have put on “Truth is not a sum of statements, not a
Christ.’” (GALATIANS 3:27) definition, not a system of concepts, but Life.

8. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 7 t h S u n d a y A f t e r P a s c h a - 3 1 8 H o l y C h u r c h F a t h e r s : 1st Ecumenical Council – 5 J u n e 2 0 1 1

 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the So n, and to the Hol y 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, T heotokos, yet Ever Virgin,
together wi th all the Sai nts. And le t us commit o urselves and one another and o ur w hole Life to Christ o ur God.
Amen.

8 June 2011

St Theodore Stratelates (The Commander)

(Translation of Holy Relics)

Also the Feast of St Theodore of Rostove & Suzdal – St Basil & St

Constantine of Yaroslav (Discovery of Holy Relics) – St Ephraim of
Antioch - St Zosimos of Phoenicia, Syria – St John of Kronstadt
(Glorification in 1990) – St Theodore of Kvelta – Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady
Theotokos of Yaroslav - Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of White Lake

Apolytikion St Theodore Stratelates (Commander)

Stratologia Alithi Athlofore, tou Ouraniou Stratigos A most Graceful and eminent General, in the True
Vasileos, perkallis gegenise Theodore; oplis gar tis Armies of the King of Heaven, Thou became, O
Pisteos, paretxo emfronos, ke kateholothrefsas ton triumphant Theodore; because Thou fought
demonon ta stifi, ke nikiforos ofthis Athlitits; othen courageous with the weapons of Faith, and Thou
se Pisti, e Makarizomen. completely vanquished the hordes of the demons;
and as victorious Contender Thou emerged; whence
with Faith, we Bless Thee Eternally.
Kontakion of St Theodore Stratelates
Andria psihis, tin Pistin oplisamenos, ke rima Theou, With courage of soul, and armed with Faith, Thou took
os loghin hirisamenos, ton ehthron katetrosas, ton in hand the Word of god as though a spear and put
Martiron kleos Theodore. Sin aftis Hristo to Theo, Thy foe to flight, O Thou Great Boast of Martyrs,
presvevon mi pavsi iper panton imon. Theodore. Now, together with the, O Saint, do not
cease entreating Christ our God for all of us.
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 23 : 1 – 11
St Paul’s Trial Before the Sanhedrin
At that time, Paul, looking earnestly at the Council, said: “Men and Brethren: I have lived in all good conscience before
God until this day.” And the High Priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Then Paul said to him: “God will strike you, you white-washed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law, and
yet you command me to be struck contrary to the Law!” And those who stood by said: “Do you revile God’s High
Priest?” And Paul said: “I did not know, Brethren, that he was the High Priest; for it is written: ‘You shall not
speak evil of a Ruler of your people.’”
And when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other, Pharisees, he cried out in the Council: “Men and
Brethren: I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the Hope and Resurrection of the dead, I am being
judged!” And having said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was
divided. For Sadducees say that there is no Resurrection – and no Angel or spirit; yet the Pharisees confess both.
Then there arose a loud outcry. And the Scribes of the Pharisee’s party arose and protested, saying: “We find no evil in
this man; but if a spirit or an Angel has spoke to him, let us not fight against God!”
Now when there arose a great dissention, the Commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them,
commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and take him into the barracks.
And the following night the Lord stood by him and said: “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified for Me
in Jerusalem, so thou must also bear witness at Rome.”
THIS COUNCIL WAS THE HEBREW SANHEDRIN – THE HIGHEST Thus, even if anyone does not like the personality or
JEWISH GOVERNING BODY. the actions of a Priest or Bishop, WE MUST ALWAYS
Ananias was the High Priest during the years 47 – 59. RESPECT THE HOLY OFFICE TO WHICH HE HAS BEEN
He was a hard-hearted and violent man who was ORDAINED – FOR GOD ALONE IS HIS JUDGE AND JURY!
(KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF AND NEVER ENCOURAGE OTHERS
later assassinated by his own people at the start of INTO REBELLION AGAINST GOD OR HIS HOLY SHEPHERDS!)
the Hebrew war against the Roman Empire in the ✽ All too often people are offended by Priests or
year 70. Bishops – either because THEY ARE THEMSELVES
ST PAUL HAD THUS FAR SAID NOTHING OFFENSIVE to the GUILTY OF SOMETHING WHICH THE PRIEST OR
Hebrews, so - according to St John Chrysostom - BISHOP HAS TRIED TO CORRECT by steering them
THE ORDER TO “STRIKE HIM ON THE MOUTH” WAS back to the Divine Path and Life in Christ, or
“SHAMELESS AND WITHOUT JUSTIFIABLE CAUSE!”
ST PAUL ACCUSED ANANIAS OF THE ULTIMATE HYPOCRISY: because for whatever personal reason they
HIS VIOLATION OF MOSAIC LAW WHILE POSING AS ONE dislike the man – and then THEY USE THEIR OWN
WHO JUDGED ACCORDING TO THAT HOLY LAW. SELF-JUSTIFIED EXCUSES TO REJECT THE HOLY
Nevertheless, ST PAUL SHOWED GREAT RESPECT FOR THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AND EVEN GOD HIMSELF – AND
HOLY OFFICE OF THE HIGH PRIEST (ESPECIALLY OUR THEY DRAG OTHERS DOWN WITH THEM !
ONE TRUE HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST) EVEN THOUGH ➤ THIS IS A FAR GREATER AND MORE DEVASTATING
THIS PARTICULAR OFFICIAL, THE WICKED ANANIAS, WAS “CRIME” THAN THE SUPPOSED ERROR OF OUR HOLY
A CONTEMPTIBLE PERSON. SHEPHERD!
✽ We must NEVER DISRESPECT THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD OF ➤ When we are corrected by our fellow Brethren in
GOD. Christ – and especially by the Holy Priesthood –
WE MUST APPLY THEIR ADVICE TO OURSELVES
➤ THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD IS SANCTIFIED BY GOD and IMMEDIATELY WITH ALL HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE
➤ ONCE THE ORDAINED PRIEST HAS BEEN VESTED IN
HIS LITURGICAL ROBES, HE IS UNDER THE TO GOD - for to do otherwise exposes OUR DEEP-
SEATED SPIRITUAL OBSTINACY AND WILFUL, PROUD
DIRECT AUTHORITY OF ALMIGHTY GOD and
EGO THAT ALIENATES US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
➤ as such MUST BE TREATED WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS.
– REGARDLESS OF HIS CHARACTER.

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9.
It is always easy to identify and accuse others of their “both” meant THE BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION OF
faults rather than to TURN SUCH THOUGHTS INWARDS THE DEAD AND THE BELIEF IN THE INVISIBLE REALM OF
AND CORRECT OUR OWN (MIRRORED) SINS – ANGELS AND SPIRITS.
REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION. ✽ ST PAUL RECEIVED DIVINE COMFORT FROM OUR LORD
As St John of Kronstadt always sadly lamented when JESUS CHRIST when he was confronted by the
seeing the blatant sins of others: “Today my impending wicked plot on his life by his
Brother – tomorrow me!” enemies - and as a Prophecy of both his
Knowing that his interrogators would not hear him Inspired Preaching of Divine Truth and his
impartially, ST PAUL INTENTIONALLY DIVIDED THE subsequent Holy Martyrdom in Rome.
COUNCIL AGAINST ITSELF BY MENTIONING THE HEART OF HIS WITNESSING IN ROME WAS AN OBLIQUE REFERENCE TO
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: THE RESURRECTION OF THE HIS EVENTUAL HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR THE SAKE OF
DEAD. CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR AND THE TRUTH OF HIS HOLY
GOSPEL.
The words: “... the Pharisees confess both...” was used
by St Paul although three things were mentioned,
because, according to St John Chrysostom, “Angel”
and “spirit” referred to one entity or concept, so
The Holy Gospel According to St John 16: 15 – 23
Our Lord Jesus Christ Reveals His Approaching Death, Resurrection and Ascension
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “...All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that he will take of
Mine and declare it to you. A little while, and you will not see Me; and again, a little while, and you will
see Me, because I go to the Father.”
Then some of His Disciples said among themselves: “What is this that He says to us: ‘A little while, and you will not
see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me...’ and “... because I go to the Father...’?” They said,
therefore: “What is this that He says: ‘... a little while...’? We do not know what He is saying!”
Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them: “Are you inquiring among yourselves about
what I said: “... a little while, and you will see Me?’ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and
lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into Joy.
“A woman - when she is in labour - has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she have given
birth to her child, she no longer remembers the anguish for Joy that a human being has been born into
the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and
your Joy no one will take from you.
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Truly, I say to you: whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He
will grant you...”
The first “... little while...” refers to our Lord Jesus DURING THE 40 DAYS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, OUR LORD
Christ’s illegal arrest, trial, punishment, crucifixion JESUS CHRIST SPOKE CLEARLY AND “PLAINLY ABOUT
THE FATHER,” BECAUSE HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES
and death, followed by His reverent burial by St THEN REALISED THAT HE CERTAINLY WAS GOD
Nikodemos and St Joseph of Arimathea. INCARNATE AND WERE MORE RECEPTIVE TO HIS
The second “... little while...” is the period of His TEACHINGS AND DIVINE REVELATIONS, which - once
Burial in the Tomb, His Harrowing of Hades and His the Holy Spirit had descended upon them at
Glorious Resurrection. Pentecost - they were granted full Understanding
Christ’s reference to how a mother “... no longer and profound Wisdom.
remembers the anguish for Joy...” does not Furthermore, AS PROMISED BY OUR LORD, HIS FAITHFUL
imply that the Faithful Disciples of Christ are to DISCIPLES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GRANTED THE ABILITY TO
forget all about His dreadful Passion and ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS IN HIS MOST HOLY AND
POWERFUL NAME, IN ORDER TO CONVEY GOD’S HOLY
Crucifixion.
GOSPEL TO OTHERS – and to this day, BY THE EXACT
Instead WE MUST REMEMBER EVERYTHING IN THE GLORIOUS
SAME GRACE OF GOD, HIS DIVINE TRUTH IS SHARED
LIGHT OF CHRIST’S VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION, WHICH
WITH ALL THOSE WHO SEEK IT.
TRANSFIGURES OUR PERCEPTION OF SUFFERINGS.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S VICTORY ALLOWS US TO “rejoice
in anguish” BECAUSE OF THE INFINITELY GREATER
GOOD THAT COMES FROM IT: OUR OWN FUTURE
RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE! (REFER TO ROMANS 5:3-5 &
PHILIPPIANS 3:10)

St Theodore Stratelates – Translation of Holy Relics

The preciousness of Holy Martyrdom depends upon the
life that a Christian abandons and then accepts
great suffering for Christ's sake.
St Theodore was a Roman Commander in the army of
Emperor Licinius, and, being in Imperial favour,
was elected Mayor of the flourishing town of
Heraclea, Crete.
However St Theodore scorned his youthful and
handsome appearance, military rank and the good
graces of the Emperor – preferring to accept
instead horrible tortures for the sake of Christ.
At first, St Theodore was flogged and received six-
hundred lashes on his stomach. After this, he was
crucified and pierced with many lances, before,
finally being beheaded by sword.
Such terrible punishment had been inflicted upon St
Theodore Stratelates because he Loved Christ the
Lord above all else in this world and he had
expressed his abhorrence of the stupidity of the
idolatry of the superstitious pagans by smashing all
the silver and gold idols and distributing the pieces
of precious metal amongst the poor.
He converted many to Christ and even tried to persuade
Emperor Licinius himself to reject useless idolatry
and to accept the Only True, Eternal and Living
God.
Throughout his tortures, St Theodore said constantly
prayed: "Glory to Thee my God! Glory to Thee!”
Finally on 8 February 319 at 15:00 St Theodore entered
into the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom of Christ.
St. Theodore is the Protector of Soldiers who call upon
him for assistance and his Miracle-working Relics
were eventually translated from Euchaita - where he
had been buried according to his will by his faithful
servant, Varos - and interred in the Holy Church of
Blachernae, Constantinople.
St Anastasios of Sinai recorded the Miracle of St
Theodore Statelates’ Holy Icon: When the Saracens
conquered Damascus, a group of Saracens took up
residence with their wives and children in a church
dedicated to St Theodore Stratelates in Karsat, a
town near Damascus.
Noticing a wall icon depicting St Theodore, one of the
Saracens shot an arrow into the face of the Saint
and immediately blood began to flow from it!
Shortly afterwards the entire group of ungodly Saracens
persished there.
St Anastasios had visited the church and seen the Holy
Icon of St Theodore Statelates with it’s traces of
congealed blood still clearly visible!

10. DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) St Theodore Stratelates (Commander) 8 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Wors hip to the Fathe r, and to the So n, and to the Holy Spirit, 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 Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commi t ourselves and o ne ano ther and
our w hole Life to Christ o ur God. Ame n.

10 June 2011

Apodosis of the Ascension of Christ our Lord

Also the Feast of S t B a r t h o l o m e w & S t B a r n a b a s , H o l y A p o s t l e s o f

C h r i s t o u r S a v i o u r ( F e a s t T r a n s f e r r e d ) - St Metrophanes Chi Sung,
Hieromartyr & all the Holy Martyrs of the Chinese Boxer Rising (Feast
Transferred) – St Alexander & St Antonina (Translation of Holy Relics) – St
Timothy Hieromartyr of Prusa – St Silvanos, Schemamonk of Kiev Far Caves
– St Basil of Ryazan ((Finding of Holy Relics) – St John Maximovitch,
Wonderworker of Tobolsk & All Siberia – St Alexander & St Antonina the
Virgin Martyr of Constantinople – St Theophanes of Antioch – St Bassian of
Lodi, Lombardy - Synaxis of the Saints of Ryzan – Synaxis of the Saints of
Siberia – St Pansemnas of Antioch

Apolytikion Of The Ascension Of Christ – Tone 4

Anelifthis en Doxi Hriste O Theos imon, haropiisas tous Thou Ascended in Glory: O Christ Jesus, our God:
Mathitas, ti Epangelia tou Agiou Pnevmatos, cheering up the Disciples by the Promise of the Holy
veveothenton afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Ios tou Spirit; by assuring them through Thy Divine
Theou, O Litrotis tou kosmou. Blessings that Thou art indeed the Son of God, and
the world’s Redeemer.
Apolytikion of the Holy Apostles of Christ – Tone 3
Apostoli Agii, presvefsate to eleimoni Theo, ina O Holy Apostles, Intercede with our Merciful God to
ptesmaton afesin, paraskhi tes psihes imon. grant our souls forgiveness of sins!
Kontakion Of The Ascension Of Christ Our God - Tone Plagal 2:
Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas Having fulfilled the dispensation for us, and uniting the
tis Ouraniis, Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon; earthly with the Heavenly, Thou Ascended in Glory, O
oudamothen horizomenos alla menon adiastatos, ke Christ our God; being in no way separated, but
voon tis agaposi se: Ego imi meth imon, ke oudis remaining inseparable, and calling out to those who
kath imon. Love Thee: I Am with you and no one can be against
you!
Ascension Matins Holy Gospel According to St Mark 16 : 9 – 20
Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Appears, Grants His Great Commission, and Ascends to Heaven
At that time, when our Lord Jesus had Risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out
of whom He had cast seven demons. And she went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and
wept. Yet when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country. And they went and told it to the
others but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the Eleven as they sat at table; and He rebuked
their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had Risen. And
He said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is
Baptised will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be Condemned. And these Signs will follow
those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will
take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means harm them and they will lay
hands on the sick and they will recover.”
So then, after our Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the Right Hand of God.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word through the
accompanying Signs. Amen.
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 1 : 1 – 12
Passover to Pentecost
The former account I made, O Theophilos, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day on which He was
taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given Commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen – to
whom He had also presented Himself alive after His Suffering, by many infallible Proofs – being seen by them during
forty days and speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And, being assembled together with them,
He Commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which...” He said: “...
you have heard from Me; for John truly Baptised with water, but you shall be Baptised with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now.”
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?”
And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His own
Authority. But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now, when He had spoken these Things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a Cloud received Him out of their
sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as He went up, behold, two Men stood by them in white
apparel, who also said: “O Men of Galilee: why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who was
taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called ‘Olivet,’ which is near Jerusalem – a Sabbath Day’s journey.

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 The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 24 : 36 – 53
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying: “If Thou art the King of the Jews, save
Thyself!” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “This is the King of the
Jews!” And one of the criminals who were hanging beside Him blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou art the Christ, save
Thyself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying: “Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done
nothing wrong.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when Thou come into Thy Kingdom.” And Jesus
said to him: “Truly, I say to you: today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was
darkened, and the Veil of the Temple was ripped in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud Voice, He said:
“Father, into Thy Hands I commit My Spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the Centurion
saw what had happened, he Glorified God, saying: “Certainly this was a Righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who
had gathered together for that sight – seeing what had been done – beat their breasts and returned. But all His
acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now behold: there was a man named Joseph – a Council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their
decision and deed. He was from Arimathea – a city of the Hebrews – who himself was also waiting for the Kingdom of
God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Then he took It down, wrapped It in linen, and laid It
in a Tomb that was hewn out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.
Hiding from God and God’s Hiddenness – by Father Stephen
I have written a number of times about the “hiddenness” This Mystery comes to rest in the human heart: “Blessed
of God, which is a very important aspect of how He are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
makes Himself known (although I know that is a ✽ WE DO NOT SEE GOD BECAUSE HE IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT
paradox!). – WE SEE HIM EVERYWHERE PRESENT BECAUSE OUR
✽ HIS “HIDDENNESS” BOTH PROTECTS OUR FREEDOM AND HEARTS ARE MADE PURE.
REMOVES COMPULSION FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ➤ A SIN-DARKENED HEARTS DOES NOT REVEAL GOD TO US
GOD. – IT DISTORTS OUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD, OF
There can be no compulsion where there is Love. PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY OF GOD.
I found a small verse from the writings of St. Ephraim the ➤ THUS THE DARKENED HEART OFTEN PROJECTS ITS OWN
DARKNESS ONTO A CONCEPT OF GOD AND TEACHES
Syrian that offers some thoughts: FALSELY.
O Lord, Thy Symbols art everywhere, ✽ IT IS IN THIS DARKNESS OF THE HEART THAT WE FIND
yet Thou art hidden from everywhere. OURSELVES “HIDING” FROM GOD.
Although Thy Symbol is on High It is instructive that in the narrative of Adam and Eve in the
yet height does not perceive that Thou art; Garden of Eden, following their sin (of Disobedience
although Thy Symbol is in the depth, to God), they tried to hide from God.
it does not comprehend Who Thou art; GOD DOES NOT HIDE FROM THEM, BUT RATHER SEEKS THEM
although Thy Symbol is in the sea, OUT, CALLING THEM BY NAME. THEIR RESPONSE IS A
Thou art hidden from the sea; DISTORTION OF THE FACTS.
although Thy Symbol is on dry land, WE SINNERS HIDE WITHIN OUR LIES.
it is not aware what Thou art. ✽ GOD SEEKS US AND CALLS US BY NAME!
Blessed is the Hidden One shining out! ➤ GOD DOES NOT HIDE FROM US IN ORDER TO
CONDEMN US – THE “HIDDENNESS” OF GOD IS A
St. Ephraim’s use of the word “Symbol” is in its ancient HIDDENNESS IN HIS DIVINE LIGHT.
sense: something that makes present that which ➤ And so HE DRAWS US FORTH FROM THE DARKNESS
it represents. It is not something which stands in AND INTO THE LIGHT THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM –
place of that which is absent (the more modern EVERYWHERE PRESENT.
definition). Blessed is the Hidden One shining out!
St Ephraim celebrates THE MYSTERY OF THE GOD WHO IS ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: FATHER STEPHEN’S BLOG “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS” –
“EVERYWHERE PRESENT AND FILLING ALL THINGS,” IS ALSO 3 MAY 2011
THE HIDDEN ONE, AND YET ALSO THE ONE WHO IS “SHINING http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/hiding-
OUT.” from-god-and-gods-hiddenness/
A Word From The Desert
A Brother whom another Brother had wronged came to The Wise Elder responded: "Brother, let us pray."
see Abba Sisoes and said to him, "My Brother has hurt Then he stood up and prayed aloud: "O God, we no
me and I want to avenge myself." longer need Thee to care for us, since we do justice
The old man pleaded with him saying, "No, my Child, for ourselves."
leave vengeance to God." Hearing these terrible words, the humbled Monk fell at the
The Monk said to him, "I shall not rest until I have Elder’s feet, saying: "I will no longer seek justice from
avenged myself." my Brother! Forgive me, Abba!"
St Seraphim of Sarov
Prayer, Fasting, Vigils, and all other Christian As for Fasts, Vigils, Prayer and Almsgiving, and other Good
practices -however good they may be in themselves - Works done in the Name of Christ, they are only the
certainly do not constitute the Aim of our Christian means of Acquiring the Holy Spirit of God.
Life: they are but the indispensable means of Note well that it is only Good Works done in the Name
attaining that aim. of Christ that bring us the Fruits of the Holy
For the True Aim of the Christian Life is the Spirit.
Acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.
Alexandar Kalomiros - Against False Union, 1959
In order for us to understand the Saints and Fathers of the even minutely tasting that which the Saints - who
[Orthodox] Church, it is not sufficient to merely read wrote these books through their personal experience -
them. tasted.
The Saints spoke and wrote after having lived the In order to understand the Saints essentially, not
Mysteries of God. They personally experienced intellectually, we must have the proper Experience
the Mysteries. for all that they say; we must have tasted - at
In order for us to understand them, we too must have least in part - of the same things as they have.
progressed to a certain degree of initiation into We must have lived in the Fervent Environment of
the Mysteries of God by personally tasting, Orthodoxy; we must have grown in it…
smelling, and seeing. A Whole New World must be born in Westerners’ hearts in
We can read the books of the Saints and become very well order for them to understand something of Orthodoxy.
versed in them with a ‘cerebral’ knowledge without http://wordfromthedesert.squarespace.com/

12. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) Apodosis of the Ascension 10 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
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. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet Ever
Virgin, to gether wi th all the Sai nts. And le t us commi t ourselves and o ne another and our w hole Life to
Christ our God. Amen.

Remembrance of Judgement Day 11 June 2011

Saturday of the Souls

Also the Feast of St Bartholomew & St Barnabas of the Seventy Apostles of Christ
our Lord – St Barnabas of Vetluga – St Ephraim of Novy Torg, Transfer of Holy
Relics – Commemoration of the Appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a Monk on
Mount Athos and the Revelation of the Hymn “Axion Estin...” (It is Truly Meet...) – the
Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos, Axion Estin, Karyes Monastery,
Mount Athos – St Metrophanes Chi Sung & the Holy Martyrs of the Boxer Rising

Apolytikion of Saturday of the Souls

O vathi sofias filanthropos panta ikonomon, ke to
simferon pasin aponemon, mone Dimiourge,
anapafson Kyrie, tas psihas ton doulon Sou; en si
gar tin elpida anethento, to Piiti ke Plasti ke Theo
imon.
Kontakion of Saturday of the Souls
O Thou Who with profound Wisdom and Love for
mankind, order all things, and grant to all what is to
their profit, Only Creator: grant rest, O Lord, to the
souls of Thy servants; for they set their every hope in
Thee, the Maker and Creator and God of us all.

Meta ton Agion anapafson, Hriste, tas psihas ton Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your
doulon Sou, entha ouk esti ponos, ou lipi, ou servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no
stenagmos, alla zoi atelevtitos. grieving, but life everlasting.
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4 : 13 – 17
Participation in Christ’s Return
Brethren: I do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have
no Hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the Coming of the Lord will by no
means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the Voice of an Archangel, and with the Trumpet of
God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with our Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE CLEAREST NEW TESTAMENT 3. “... the Resurrection of the dead...”
PASSAGES ON THE SECOND COMING OR PHYSICAL THE REAPPEARANCE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR
REAPPEARANCE OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR – GREATEST JOY AND DIVINE COMFORT – I.E. THE JOYOUS
OUR FINAL AND ONLY DIVINE JUDGE! HOPE AND EXPECTATION OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS AND
THE DIDACHE – the writings of the Holy Apostles – LISTS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – while it is regarded
THREE SIGNS THAT WILL HERALD THE RETURN OF OUR as a dreadful and much feared threat to the
LORD JESUS CHRIST:
ungodly and unrepentant sinners, including Satan
1. “...the Sign spread out in the heavens...” –
and his demons.
Christ and all His Heavenly Hosts
2. “... the Sign of the Trumpet...”
The Holy Gospel According
According to St John 21 : 14 - 25
The Third Appearance of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ - His Divine Commission
At that time, it was then the third time our Lord Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was Raised from the dead.
And when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah: do you Love Me more than
these?” He said to Him: “Yes, Lord; Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Feed My Lambs.”
Jesus said to him again – a second time – “Simon, son of Jonah: do you Love Me?” And he said to Him: “Yes, Lord,
Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Tend My Sheep.”
He said to him the third time: “Simon, son of Jonah: do you love Me?” And Peter was grieved because He asked
him for the third time: “Do you love Me.” And he said to Him: “Lord, Thou know all things – Thou know that I
love Thee.” And Jesus said to him: “Feed My Sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were younger, you
girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands
and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”
This he spoke, signifying by what death he would Glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him: “Follow Me.”
And, turning around, Peter saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, who also had leant upon His Breast at the
Supper, and had asked: “Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?” And Peter – seeing him – said to Jesus: “And
Lord, what about that man?” And Jesus said to him: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to
you? You follow Me!”
Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he
would not die, but: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This is the Disciple who testifies of these Things, and wrote these Things; and we know that his Testimony is True.
And there are also many other Things that Jesus did, which – if they were written one by one – I suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the Books that would be written.
Amen.
The fact that our Lord Jesus Christ singled out St Peter such a passionate and impulsive character –
has a twofold significance: HAD TO BE THE FIRST TO CONFESS HIS LOVE FOR
1. ST PETER WAS THE LEADER OR SPOKESMAN OUR RESURRECTED LORD AND SAVIOUR.
AMONG THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST and – being

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 2. ST PETER HAD DENIED CHRIST THREE TIMES after
His arrest – despite having been adamant that
he would never betray or deny him. KNOWING
THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF EVERYONE HE
CREATES, CHRIST KNEW WHAT MOTIVATED ST
PETER. Consequently, DUE TO HIS INFINITE
DIVINE LOVE AND GREAT MERCY, OUR LORD
RESTORED HIS DIVINE GRACE UPON ST PETER
WITH HIS THREEFOLD CONFESSION OF LOVE.
✽ It is important to note that the first two times our
Lord Jesus inquired of St Peter: “Do you Love
Me?” HE USED A FORM OF THE WORD “AGAPE,”
WHICH DENOTES THE HIGHEST FORM OF
SACRIFICIAL AND SELF-EMPTYING LOVE – THE KIND
OF LOVE THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAS FOR ALL HUMAN
BEINGS – AND WHICH WE CAN DEVELOP ONLY
THROUGH MATURING IN GOD’S DIVINE GRACE.
However, each time ST PETER WAS UNABLE TO CLAIM SUCH
A LOFTY LOVE and when he answered: “Lord, Thou
know that I love Thee,” he used the term “PHILO,”
which is A LESSER FORM OF LOVE – MERELY AKIN TO
BROTHERLY AFFECTION.
Then, WHEN OUR LORD ASKED ST PETER FOR THE THIRD
TIME WHETHER HE loved HIM, HE USED THE TERM
“PHILO” – THEREBY CONDESCENDING TO ST PETER’S
HUMAN WEAKNESS AND ACCEPTING WHATEVER LOVE ST
PETER WAS ABLE TO OFFER HIM AT THAT STAGE OF HIS
LIFE.
Nevertheless, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CERTAINLY KNEW
THAT ST PETER AND ALL THE OTHER HOLY APOSTLES
AND DISCIPLES WOULD DEVELOP A DIVINELY GRACIOUS
AGAPE FOR HIM – INDEED FOR GOD – BECAUSE ST PETER
AND MOST OF THEM ACCEPTED HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR
HIS SAKE – for the sake of their absolute Faith and
Trust in God’s Divine Truth and Eternal Life.
Of course ST PETER – in his lack of profound
Understanding at that time – WAS “GRIEVED” – both
by the fact that our Lord Jesus had to condescend
to his basic level of love and that this was a clear –
although gentle – reference to his previous three
denials of Christ.
When our Lord said: “... when you are old, you will
stretch out your hands and another will gird
you and carry you where you do not wish to
go,” He prophesied for the second time St Peter’s
eventual martyrdom under Emperor Nero, circa 67,
in Rome – when St Peter would be crucified upside
down.
The “...Disciple whom Jesus Loved...” is AN OBLIQUE
REFERENCE TO ST JOHN – THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN,
EVANGELIST AND APOSTLE OF CHRIST WHO RECORDED
THIS PARTICULAR EVENT and who was the only Holy
Apostle to survive the cruel persecutions against all
Our Spiritual Elders’ Words of Wisdom – On Prayer
My will for you is to never cease praying.
My hope of you is to understand that - if there is a
Protection extending over human society, over our
country - this is the Power of Prayer.
Do not execute a Prayer of routine, but put your heart
in motion, fill yourself with the Shiver of Prayer.
I am convinced that many of you are praying; I too
was praying, and believed – before they placed me
in prison – that I knew how to pray.
There, (in gulag), I discovered that I do not know how
to pray...
If the Shiver of Faith does not penetrate you from the
head to the soles of your feet, you are not in True
Prayer.
It is not easy. But if you persist, the Lord will help you
and grant you the Grace of Prayer. And this Grace
is only given as and when you ask It.
The Grace of Prayer is gained through great effort and
persistence.
One thing is truthful!
My Beloved: know that our Relationship with God is not a joke! Know that this whole world with all its ‘civilization’ is a fad.
You close your eyes forever (when you die) and will no longer know about ‘civilization’ or man’s endeavours to the Moon or Mars,
and so on …
All are shadows/hollows; only one Thing is Truthful:
Truthful: our Relationship with Christ, the Immortality of our soul and what awaits us
beyond death - either an Eternal Torment
Torment or the Eternal Life.
http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/category/orthodox-saints-and-church-fathers/father-george-calciu/page/2/
14. (ALL DONATIONS ARE MOST GRATEFULLY RECEIVED)
Christians until his Repose in Christ at the age of
approximately 101 – circa 98 – 108 AD.
His longevity was marvelled at by THE EARLY CHRISTIANS
who THOUGHT HE WOULD LIVE UNTIL THE SECOND
COMING – the Reappearance of our Lord.
✽ However, ST JOHN THE DIVINE HIMSELF CORRECTED
THIS FALSE ASSUMPTION BY CLARIFYING THE TRUTH
THAT OUR LORD JESUS “... DID NOT SAY TO HIM
THAT HE WOULD NOT DIE...”
THE USE OF THE WORD “WE” INDICATED THAT ST JOHN THE
EVANGELIST, HAD AN ASSISTANT – and according to
Holy Tradition, that faithful Scribe was named
“Prochoros,” who is often depicted in many of the
Icons of St John writing down his words and
Teachings.
✽ ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING AND CONFIRMING THAT HIS
HOLY GOSPEL CONTAINS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S EARTHLY LIFE, ST
JOHN THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN AND EVANGELIST
WROTE HIS HOLY BOOK TO BRING ALL WHO READ IT
CAREFULLY TO TRUE FAITH IN GOD.
✽ WHILE THE HOLY GOSPELS OF ST MATTHEW, ST MARK
AND ST LUKE CONTAIN MANY MORE DIVINE
MIRACLES AND PARABLES, THOSE TOO ARE FAR
FROM EXHAUSTIVE – i.e. they are only a few of the
rich Spiritual and Divine Treasure that Christ
bestowed upon all His Faithful Disciples
throughout all ages.
Therefore, TO RESTRICT ONESELF MERELY TO THE WRITTEN
WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, RESTRICTS
ONESELF TO A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE WHOLE
DIVINE TRUTH OF ALMIGHTY GOD, which consists of so
much more: the VERBAL TEACHINGS OF CHRIST OUR
GOD – HOLY TRADITION - THAT WAS GRANTED BY GOD
TO CHRIST’S APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES and which have
been CAREFULLY PRESERVED AND PASSED ON to us
THROUGH THE GOD-INSPIRED WRITINGS, HYMNS AND
TEACHINGS OF ALL OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND
MOTHERS throughout the ages.
✽ Consequently, by reminding us “...there are also
many other Things that Jesus did...” ST
JOHN NOT ONLY EMPHASISES THE DIVINE HOLINESS
OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN, BUT ALSO POINTS TO THE
ONGOING GOD-INSPIRED HOLY TRADITION WITHIN
CHRIST’S VERY MUCH ALIVE – NURTURING AND
GROWING - BODY – HIS HOLY CHURCH.
THAT IS THE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN G OD ’S ABSO L UTE , PE R FE CT AND
D I VI NE TR UTH TH AT UNI TE S US WI TH G OD AND O NE ANO TH ER I N
TR UE AG APE , WH I CH R E SUL TS I N JO YO US E TE R NAL L I FE - AND THE
WEAK, FLAWED AND MISGUIDED IDEAS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF HUMAN EGO
AND ARROGANCE THAT CAUSE SO MUCH CONFUSION, CONFLICT, DISUNITY AND
ALIENATION FROM GOD AND ONE ANOTHER – SPIRITUAL DEATH!
Our Savior had said: “From John the Baptist on, the
Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force
(conquest)!” And this is “our conquest” – to ask
with persistence for the Grace that only the Lord
can grant.
Now, I would like to address a word to the
Theologians and advise them: learn how to pray,
so then you may teach others!
As long as you do not know how to pray, it is in vain
to say to your Spiritual Children “Pray!”
When the Priest will know how to pray, he will
transmit this flow of Power to his Spiritual
Child.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP - FRAGMENTS FROM A SPEECH GIVEN IN
BUCHAREST, 1998, TO ASCOR – ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX
COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ROMANIA AND TRANSLATED FROM ROMANIAN BY
EC)
NOTE: FR. GEORGE CALCIU REPOSED IN 2006 AT THE AGE OF 81, HAVING
SPENT UNJUSTLY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF HIS LIFE IN THE DIABOLIC PRISONS
OF COMMUNIST ROMANIA, ONLY BECAUSE HE CONFESSED THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH. FROM THESE EXPERIENCES IN PRISON, HE EMERGED AS A WITNESS TO
GOD’S LOVE, FORGIVENESS, AND ABILITY TO RESURRECT MAN FROM THE DEATH
OF HIS SOUL.
Father George Calciu
Saturday of the Souls 11 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, 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 Ever Virgi n, toge the r with all the Saints. And let us commit o urselves and one another and o ur
whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

12 June 2011
Holy Pentecost
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
& the Beginning of our Holy Church of Christ

Also the Feast of St Onouphrios & St Peter of Mount Athos - St Anna of

Kashin – St Arsenios of Konevits, Novgorod – St Onuphrios of Malsk, Pskov -
St Bassianos & St Jonah of Pertomsk, Solovki - St Onuphrios & St Auxentios
of Vologda - St Stephen of Ozersk Monastery, Vologda - – St John Tornike of
Mount Athos – St Onuphrios the Great of Thebaid Desert, Egypt – St Timohty
the Desert Dweller, St John, St Heraclemon, St Charalambos, St Theophilos & St
Andrew - Holy Hermits of Egypt

2nd Antiphon Of Pentecost – Psalm 19 - Tone 2

EkouseSou Kyrios en imera thlipseos, iperaspise Sou to TheLord hear you in the day of trouble: the Name of the
Onoma tou Theou Iakov. God of Jacob shield you.
✞Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia! ✞Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Exapostile Si voithian ex Agiou, ke ek Sion antilavito Sou. May He send you Help from the sanctuary: and support you
out of Zion.
✞Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia! ✞Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Mnisthii pasis thisias Sou, ke to olokavtoma Sou pianato May He remember your every sacrifice: and accept your
Burnt Offering.
✞Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: Allilouia! ✞Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Isodikon Of Pentecost
✞Ipsothiti, Kyrie, en ti Dinami Sou.
Asomen ke psaloumen ✞Be exalted, O Lord, in Thy Power: we shall sing and
tas Dinastias Sou. Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, chant Thy Mighty Deeds. Good Paraclete, Save us
psallontas Si Allilouia! who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Apolytikion Of Pentecost
✞Evlogitos i Hriste O Theos imon, O Pansofous tous aliis ✞Blessed art Thou, Christ our God, Who has filled the
anadixas, katapempsas aftis to Pnevma to Agion, ke di Fishermen with Wisdom by sending down the Holy
Afton tin ikoumenin saginefsas, Filanthrope: Doxa Si! Spirit upon them, and Who, through them, has united
the world: Glory to Thee, O Lover of Mankind!
Kontakion – Tone (8) Plagal 4 - Until The Apodosis Before All Saints Sunday
Ote katavas tas glossas sinehee, diemerizen ethni O When the Most High came down and confused the
Ipsisto. Ote tou Piros tas Glossas dienimen is enotita tongues, He parted the Nations; when He divided out
panta ekalese. Ke simfonos Doxazomen to Panagion the Tongues of Fire, He Called all to Unity. And with one
Pnevma! voice we Glorify the All-holy Spirit!
Baptism Hymn – Instead Of The “Agios O Theos...”
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allelouia ✞As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have put
on Christ: Alleluia!
Hymn To Theotokos –Tone Varys/Grave - Instead Of “Axion Estin”
Mi tis fthoras diapira kioforisasa ke pantehnimoni Logo Conceiving without knowing corruption, lending Thy flesh to
sarka danisasa, Miter Apirandre, Parthene Theotoke, the Word, the Deviser of all, O Mother knowing no man;
dohion tou astektou, horion tou apirou plastourgou Virgin Theotokos, Vessel of the Uncontainable, Space for
Sou, Se Megalinomen! Thine Infinite Creator, we magnify Thee!
Matins Gospel According to St John 20: 19 – 23
Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, Appears to Ten of His Disciples and Bestows His Divine Authority on Them
At that time, the same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples
were assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with
you!” When He had said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they saw
the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again: “Peace to you! As the Father has Sent Me, I also Send you.” And when He had said
this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they
are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Prokeimenon:
Their sound has gone out into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God!
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 2 : 1 - 11
The Disciples Receive The Holy Spirit From The Risen Christ
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a
Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and It filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared before them divided Tongues, as of Fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Hebrews, devout men, from every nation under Heaven. And when this Sound
occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own
language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another: "Look! Are not all these who speak
Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes
and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Hebrews and proselytes, Cretans and
Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the Wonderful Works of God!"
The Holy Gospel According to St John 7: 37 – 52; 8:12
Our Lord Jesus Christ Promises The Holy Spirit To His Disciples
On the last day, that Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to
Me and drink. He who believes in Me - as the Scripture has said - out of his heart will flow rivers of
Living Water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the
Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet Glorified.
Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said: “Truly this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is
the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ
comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands upon Him. Then the officers came to the Chief
Priests and Pharisees, who said to them: "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered: "No man
ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them: "Are you also deceived? Have any of the
Rulers of the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed." Nikodemos
(he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them), said to them: "Does our Law judge a man before it
hears him and knows what he is doing?" They answered and said to him: "Are you also from Galilee?
Search and look, for no Prophet has arisen out of Galilee."
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I Am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in
Darkness, but have the Light of Life."
Sunday of Pentecost - The Vespers Prayers
After the Proemial Psalm, the Great Litany and the singing of "Lord, I have cried" the following Prayers are read.
The Priest and the whole Congregation kneel.
Prayer 1
O Pure and Blameless Lord, Who is without beginning, Accept us, who kneel down before Thee and cry out: we
invisible and incomprehensible, unchangeable, have sinned.
immeasurable, and unbounded, Who is without evil From birth - from the womb of our mother - we are
and Who alone is Immortal; Who dwells in the Thine, O Lord - Thou art our God.
Unapproachable Light; Maker of Heaven and earth But as our life passes in vanity, we have therefore been
and the seas and all that was created therein; Who stripped of Thine Aid, and have become silent.
grants to all their Petitions even before asking: to Yet do we trust in Thy Compassion and cry unto Thee:
Thee we pray and of Thee we ask, O Philanthropic Remember not the sins of our youth and ignorance;
Master, the Father of our Lord and God and Saviour cleanse us of our secret sins.
Jesus Christ, Who for us men and for our Salvation Reject us not in our old age, nor forsake us when our
came down from Heaven and was Incarnate of the strength fails.
Holy Spirit and of the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Noble Before we return to the earth, prepare us to return to
Theotokos; Who first taught by Word, and then Thee.
testified by Deed while bearing the Saving Passion, Measure our lawlessness with a Measure of Thy
teaching us - Thine unworthy, sinful, and miserable Generosity, and erect against our many
servants - to offer Thee our Supplications with bent transgressions a bottomless Abyss of these
head and knee, for our sins and human ignorance. Generosities.
Wherefore, O Most Merciful and Philanthropic Lord, hear Look down from the height of Thy Holiness upon Thy
us on whatever day we call upon Thee - and people who stand and await Abundant Mercy from
especially on this Day of Pentecost, whereon - after Thee.
our Lord Jesus Christ had Ascended into Heaven Visit us with Thy Goodness and Deliver us from the
and sat at Thy right Hand, O God and Father - He force of Satan and preserve our Life with Thy Holy
sent down the Holy Spirit to His Disciples, the Holy and Solemn Laws.
Apostles, Who alighted on each of them and filled Commit Thy People unto a Faithful Guardian Angel.
them all with His Inexhaustible and Divine Grace; Gather us all unto Thy Kingdom.
and they spoke in strange tongues - prophesying Forgive those who put their trust in Thee, relinquish us
Thy Great Deeds. and them from sin.
Hear us who beseech Thee, and remember us - Purify us by the Operation of Thy Holy Spirit and
wretched and condemned. remove from us the wiles of the adversary.
Deliver us from the (sinful) captivity of our souls by Thy
Loving Intercession.
Additional Prayer:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Almighty Master, Who Arm us with the Weapons of Thy Truth.
Illumines the day with the light of the sun and the Envelop us with Thy Righteousness.
night with the glow of the moon; Who has made us Preserve us by Thy Power, and Deliver us from every
worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near oppression and from every conspiracy of the
to the onset of the night; hear our Petitions and cunning one.
those of all Thy people. Grant us that this evening and the approaching night
Forgive us all our sins - both voluntary and involuntary - and all the days of our life may be Perfect, Holy,
and accept our Evening Supplications and send Peaceful, Sinless, without doubt and vain
down the multitude of Thy Mercies and imaginings, by the Intercessions of the Holy
Compassions upon Thy People. Theotokos and all the Saints who have done Thy
Protect us with Thy Holy Angels. Will from the beginning of time.
Prayer 2
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who resides with us in that through them all mankind may receive
this life, and Who grants mankind the world, and in Knowledge of God and be Enlightened by the Light
Thine inalienable Rule bestows the True Gift of the of the Spirit - being emancipated from seduction as
Holy Spirit - this Blessing Thou hast sent down from darkness - and by their Supernatural Action,
more fully to Thy Disciples and Apostles and hast learning to believe in the Son of God and to >
dispensed into their mouths the Fire of Tongues, so

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 Praise Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit as
one Godhead, Power and Authority.
Wherefore, O Splendour of the Father, the Likeness of
his Essence, His immutable and unchangeable
Nature: Thou art the Fountain of Salvation and
Grace.
Open my lips - sinner that I am - and teach me how
and for what I should pray; for Thou knows the
multitude of my sins - yet the enormity thereof is
overcome by Thine unbounded Compassion.
Behold, I come and stand before Thee in fear and
dismay, casting my soul's despair into the depth of
Thy Mercy.
Ordain my life, O Thou Who rules the whole Creation
with ineffable Wisdom.
O Tranquil Haven to those who are caught in the rages
of winter, make known to me the Way in which I
should walk.
Grant to my thoughts the Spirit of Thy Wisdom, and
bestow upon my ignorance the Spirit of Thy
Understanding.
Overshadow my acts with the Spirit of Thy Fear; a Just
Spirit Renew Thou within me, and by Thy Sovereign
Spirit Strengthen my unstable mind, that I may be
worthy each day to do Thy Commandments - being
Guided by Thy Righteous Spirit into that which is
Profitable - ever mindful of Thy Glorified (Second)
Coming, when we shall all be obliged to give an
account for our deeds.
Additional Prayer:
O Lord, Lord, Thou Who hast delivered us from every
arrow (obstacle) that comes by day: Save us from
everything that walks in darkness, and accept the
lifting up of our hands as an Evening Offering.
Consider us worthy to pass the night blamelessly and to
experience no evil.
Deliver us from Satan.
Free us from all confusion and fear.
Prayer 3
O Christ our God, the Ever-flowing Spring, Life-Giving,
Illuminating, Creative Power, Co-Eternal with the
Father, Who Divinely Achieved the Deed of Saving
mankind, and Who tore apart the indestructible
bonds of Death, Who broke asunder the bolts of
Hades, and trod down the multitude of evil spirits,
offering Thyself as a Blameless Sacrifice and
offering us Thy Pure, Spotless and Sinless Body:
Who, by this Fearsome, Inscrutable Divine Service
grants us Life Everlasting.
O Thou Who descended into Hades, and demolished
the Eternal Bars, revealing an Ascent to those who
were in the Lower Abode; Who with the Lure of
Divine Wisdom enticed the dragon - the head of
subtle evil - and with Thy boundless Power bound
him in Abysmal Hell, in Inextinguishable Fire, and
Extreme Darkness.
O Great Wisdom of the despairing! Overcomer of
misfortunes - eminent Helper, Who came and lit the
Way for those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of Death; Thou art the Lord of Everlasting
Glory, the Beloved Son of the Most High Father,
Eternal Light of Eternal Light, Thou Sun of Truth!
Hear us who beseech Thee, and lay to rest the souls of
Thy Servants - of those who have died heretofore,
and those of our Fathers and Brothers and other
kinsmen in flesh and all others through Faith - for
whom we now celebrate this Memorial; for Thou
hast Power over all, and in Thy Hands all the
boundaries of the earth are held.
O Almighty Master, God of our Fathers, Lord of Mercy
and Creator of all the nations of mankind - the
living and the dead - and of all nature - animate
and inanimate - Who appeared and resided here on
earth and again departed into the other world - Who
sets the years for the living and appoints the time
for the dead, Who brings down to Hades and raises
to Bliss; Who binds with weakness and looses with
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Let me not be led astray by the corrupting pleasures of
this world, but Strengthen me to delight in the
Treasures to come. For Thou, O Master, said:
"Whatever you ask in My Name you shall
receive..." from God the Father Co-Eternal with
Thee.
Therefore, I a sinner, implore Thy Goodness on the Day
of the Descent of Thy Holy Spirit.
Grant my Request for Salvation: yea, O Good Lord, Who
grants all riches and Benevolence; for Thou art He -
the Merciful and Pitying One Who grants us more
than we ask - Who has become a Partaker with us in
the Flesh, yet Without Sin.
Thou art He Who, for His Love for mankind, has
Compassion for those who bend their knee before
Thee, having become an Offering for our sins.
Grant, O Lord, Thy Compassion to Thy people, and
incline Thine Ear to us from Thy Holy Heaven.
Sanctify us by the Saving Might of Thy right Hand.
Cover us with the Shelter of Thy Wings and turn not
away from the Work of Thy Hands.
Against Thee only do we sin, yet Thee only do we serve.
We know not how to bow to a strange god, nor how to
reach out to a different god.
Pardon our iniquities, O Master, and - accepting our
requests on bended knee - extend to us all a
helping Hand, and accept the Prayers of all as
fragrant Incense acceptable to Thy Most Righteous
Kingdom.
Grant our souls Great Joy, and our thoughts concern
for our accountability at Thy Just and Terrible
Judgment.
Transfix our flesh with Thy Fear, and mitigate our
members while on earth, that in the tranquillity of
sleep we may be Enlightened by the Meditation of
Thy Precepts. (Teachings)
Drive from us every evil fancy and lasciviousness.
Elevate us during our Prayers, strengthened in Faith
and enriched by Thy Commandments.
Power; Who arranges the present as is meet and
Who directs the future towards usefulness, Who
consoles with the Hope of Resurrection those who
feel the sting of Death - for Thou art the Master of
all - our God and our Saviour - O Hope of all the
boundaries of the earth and of those who are away
on the seas; O Thou Who on this Last and Great
Day of Salvation - the Day of the Feast of
Pentecost - hast revealed to us the Mystery of
the Holy Trinity, Consubstantial and Co-
Eternal, Indivisible and Immiscible, Who sent
down the Holy and Life-Giving Spirit in the
form of Tongues of Fire on His Holy Apostles,
revealing them as Proclaimers of our God-fearing
Faith, making of them True Confessors and
Preachers of the Word of God, Who makes us
worthy, so that our propitiatory Prayers of this All-
Perfect Day of Salvation be acceptable for those
who are imprisoned in Hades, and Who grants
those imprisoned therein a Great Hope in receiving
from Thee Consolation and Relief of their confining
grief.
Hear us - disconsolate and wretched - who beseech
Thee, and grant Rest to the souls who have formerly
departed, and let them repose in a Resplendent
Place - a Place of Verdure and Coolness - where
there are no ills nor sorrow nor sighs.
And array their souls in the Tabernacles of the
Righteous, and make them worthy of Peace and
Repose; for it is not the dead who praise Thee, O
Lord, nor do those who are in Hades venture to
offer Thee Confession, but we - the living - Bless
Thee and Supplicate Thee, O Lord, and offer unto
Thee Prayers of Purification and Sacrifices for their
souls' sake.
17.
 Additional Prayer:
O Great Eternal God, Holy and Loving toward mankind, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Children, Blood
Who makes us worthy to stand at this Hour before Relatives, and Kinsfolk, and all those who have
Thine Unapproachable Glory, praising and gone to their final rest with the Hope of
Glorifying Thy Wonders: forgive us, unworthy Resurrection and Life Everlasting.
sinners, and grant us Grace that from a humble and Inscribe their names in the Book of Life; in the Bosoms
contrite heart we may offer Thee the Thrice-Holy of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in the Land of the
Glorification and Gratitude for Thy Great Gifts which Living, the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Paradise of
Thou granted - and still steadfastly grants to us. Delight - leading all into Thy Holy Dwelling Places
Remember, O Lord, our weakness and destroy us not in by Thy Radiant Angels - and raise their bodies on
our iniquities; but in accordance with our Humility the Day that Thou hast Appointed - according to
show us Thy Great Mercy, that being delivered from Thine unfailing Holy Promises; for there is no death,
the darkness of sin, we may walk in the Day of O Lord, to Thy departing servants who cast off their
Truth, equipped with the Armour of Light, and freed bodies and come to Thee, O God, but a transition
from all the evil attacks of the wicked one - from sorrowful things to pleasant and benign, to
Glorifying Thee in all things, O Only True God and Repose and Joy.
Lover of mankind. And if they have sinned (in any respect) against Thee,
For in Truth, O Master and Creator of all, Thine is the forgive them, and be Thou Compassionate to them
Great and Original Mystery - the temporary death of and us; for there is none without stain before Thee,
Thy Creatures, and their Restoration thereafter unto even though our life be but a day - save Thou
Eternal Repose. alone, Jesus Christ our God, Who appeared on
In all things we acknowledge Thy Favour, at our earth without sin, and because of Thee we all trust
Entrance into this world and at our departure, O in attaining Thy Mercy and the Remission of sins.
Thou Who by Thy unfailing Promises offers us the Therefore, O God, through Thy Grace and Love of
Hope of Everlasting Life, Resurrection, and mankind, weaken, remit and forgive our sins and
Incorruptible Life, which shall be ours to enjoy at theirs; overlook both our voluntary and involuntary
Thy Second Coming; for Thou, O Lord Christ, art offences, which we have committed either wilfully or
the Fountain of our Resurrection, the Mankind- through ignorance, openly or in secret whether by
Loving and Incorruptible Judge of the deceased and word, deed, or thought and all our wrathful dealings
those worthy of Reward. which we have committed during our lifetime.
Thou hast assumed, with Utmost Condescension, our As for those who have preceded us, grant them
flesh and blood, and through Thine undying Love Emancipation and Repose.
for us, did not dismiss Thy Suffering - willingly To those of us who are here, Bless us, and grant us and
submitting to torture - so that, having been all Thy People a Blessed and Peaceful End to this
tempted, Thou, as Promised, became the Helper to life.
those who are tempted, Elevating us to Thy At Thy Fearsome and Dreadful Coming open to us Thy
Dispassion. fathomless Love of mankind, making us worthy of
Wherefore, O Master, accept our Prayers and Thy Kingdom.
Supplications, and grant Repose to our Fathers,
Additional Prayer:
O Thou Most Exalted God, Who alone possesses rule the night, Who on this Day vouchsafed us
Immortality, Who dwells in the Unapproachable sinners as worthy through Confession to present
Light, Who in Wisdom brings into being all Creation, ourselves before Thy Sight and to offer to Thee our
who separated the light and the darkness, setting Evening Prayers.
the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to
Additional Prayer:
O Philanthropic God, set our Prayers like Incense before Grant that being Enlightened by the Teachings of Thy
Thee, and receive them as a sweet Fragrance. Commandments, we will rise up in Spiritual Joy to
Grant that this evening and the approaching night may Glorify Thy Goodness - offering for Thy Compassion
be Peaceful and Serene for us. Petitions and Supplications for our sins and those of
Clothe us with the Armour of Light, and deliver us from all people, for which Thou, through the Intercessions
nightly fears and from everything that walks in of the Holy Theotokos, visits upon us with Mercy!
darkness. Amen
Vouchsafe that the slumber, which Thou grants us for ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP : FROM MISSIONARY LEAFLET # E5 - 2001 HOLY TRINITY
ORTHODOX MISSION - 466 FOOTHILL BLVD, BOX 397, LA CANADA, CA 91011 -
rest from our weakness, be also free from every EDITOR: BISHOP ALEXANDER (MILEANT)
satanic vision.
Yea, O Master, Who provides Good Things for all, grant
that in our lodgings, amid the night, we may with
fervour recall Thy Most Holy Name.
The Feast of Pentecost
The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old
led to the confusion of tongues.
Now the Glory of the Knowledge of God brings them Wisdom.
There God condemned the impious for their transgression.
Here Christ has Enlightened the Fishermen by the Spirit.
There disharmony was brought about for punishment.
Now Harmony is Renewed for the Salvation of our souls.
Holy Pentecost is a very rich Feast – one that is filled with So it is in the Life of the Church and in Creation today:
meaning (as is appropriate). But all of the meaning Where God speaks, Renewed Life comes forth. All of
takes as its Source the Gift to Creation of the “Lord Creation groans and travails, awaiting the final Great
and Giver of Life” - God the Holy Spirit. Word that will signal the Renewal of all things.
Just as we are told in Genesis: “In the beginning God For now, we see that Promise foreshadowed by trees in
created the heavens and the earth. The earth was Church and by the green Vestments on the Priests and
without form, and void; and darkness was on the by the Joy of our hearts.
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP FROM FATHER STEPHEN’S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BLOG
“GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!”
hovering over the face of the waters...” http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/category/end-of-time/
With a Word, God speaks, and where the Holy Spirit
hovers, life comes forth.

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) H o l y P e n t e c o s t - The Descent of the Holy Spirit – 12 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worshi p to the Fathe r, and to the So n, 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, Mari a, Theotokos, yet
Ever Virgi n, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit o urselves and one anothe r and o ur w hole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

Holy Trinity Week 13 June 2011

Monday of the Holy Spirit

Also the Feast of St Aquilina of Byblos, Syria – St Triphyllios of Leucosia, Cyprus -

St Andronikos of Moscow, Disciple of St Sergios of Radonezh – St Antonina of
Nicea – St Anna & St John, her son, of Constantinople – St Savva of Moscow – St
James the Ascetic – St Antipatros of Bostra, Arabia – St Anthimos of
Iberia, Georgia

2nd Antiphon Of Pentecost – Psalm 19 - Tone 2

✞Soson imas, Paraklite Agathe, psalontas Si: ✞Good Paraclete, Save us who sing to Thee:
Allilouia! Alleluia!
Isodikon Of Pentecost
✞Ipsothiti, Kyrie, en ti Dinami Sou. Asomen ke ✞Be exalted, O Lord, in Thy Power: we shall sing and
psaloumen tas Dinastias Sou. Soson imas, chant Thy Mighty Deeds. Good Paraclete, Save
Paraklite Agathe, psallontas Si Allilouia! us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Apolytikion Of Pentecost
✞Evlogitos i Hriste O Theos imon, O Pansofous tous ✞Blessed art Thou, Christ our God, Who has filled the
aliis anadixas, katapempsas aftis to Pnevma to Fishermen with Wisdom by sending down the Holy
Agion, ke di Afton tin ikoumenin saginefsas, Spirit upon them, and Who, through them, has
Filanthrope: Doxa Si! united the world: Glory to Thee, O Lover of Mankind!
K o n t a k i o n – OF THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST OUR GOD - TONE PLAGAL 2:

Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta epi gis enosas Having fulfilled the dispensation for us, and uniting the
tis Ouraniis, anelifthis en doxi, Hriste O Theos imon; earthly with the Heavenly, Thou Ascended in Glory,
oudamothen horizomenos alla menon adiastatos, ke O Christ our God; being in no way separated, but
voon tis agaposi se: Ego imi meth imon, ke oudis remaining inseparable, and calling out to those who
kath imon. love Thee: I Am with you and no one can be against
you!
Baptism Hymn – Instead Of The “Agios O Theos...”
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. ✞As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have
Allelouia put on Christ: Alleluia!
Hymn To Theotokos –Tone Varys/Grave - Instead Of “Axion Estin”
Mi tis fthoras diapira kioforisasa ke pantehnimoni Logo Conceiving without knowing corruption, lending Thy
sarka danisasa, Miter Apirandre, Parthene Theotoke, flesh to the Word, the Deviser of all, O Mother
dohion tou astektou, horion tou apirou plastourgou knowing no man; Virgin Theotokos, Vessel of the
Sou, Se Megalinomen! Uncontainable, Space for Thine Infinite Creator, we
magnify Thee!
Matins Gospel - John 20: 19 – 23
Jesus Christ, Our Risen Lord, Appears To Ten Of His Disciples And Bestows His Divine Authority On Them
At that time, the same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples
were assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with
you!” When He had said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. Then the Disciples were glad when they
saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again: “Peace to you! As the Father has Sent Me, I also Send you.” And when He had
said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Prokeimenon
Their sound has gone out into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 5 : 8 - 19
Live In Christ The Light, Expose Darkness, Obey God’s Divine Will And Be Filled With The Holy Spirit
Brethren: you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as Children of Light (for the Fruit of the
Spirit is in all Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth) finding out what is acceptable to our Lord. And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of those
things that are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light, for
whatever makes manifest is Light.
Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will grant you Light.”
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. So do
not be unwise, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is
dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

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✽ WE MUST JUDGE what the fallen world regards as ✽ FOLLOWING REPENTANCE a surge of Joy wells up in our
“reasonable” ON THE BASIS OF GOD’S DIVINE AND soul - A DISTINCTIVE SPIRIT, A KIND OF SPIRITUAL
PERFECT TRUTH. ELATION ENERGISES US.
✽ BESIDES SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM SPIRITUAL THIS JOY COMES FROM OUR RESTORATION TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
DARKNESS, WE MUST ALSO EXPOSE IT TO THE LIGHT For THOSE WHO LIVE IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND
OF GOD’S TRUTH. IGNORANCE, (SPIRITUAL DEATH) THIS SPIRITUAL ELATION
➤ However, IN ORDER TO BE EXPOSED TO DIVINE IS MOCKED as drunkenness, artificial and temporary.
TRUTH OURSELVES, WE HAVE TO COME OUT OF However, FOR TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, SPIRITUAL
HIDING AS WELL. ELATION COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO GRANTS US
➤ In other words: WE MUST REPENT AND CONFESS THE JOY OF THE NEW COVENANT WORSHIP OF THE HOLY
OUR SINS. TRINITY – THE HOLY EUCHARIST – EXPRESSING OUR
The Holy Mystery of Repentance-Confession should be GRATITUDE TO GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH GOD THE
SON INCARNATE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
done by Orthodox Christians before participating in
Those who are inebriated through drinking too much
any of the Holy Mysteries such as Holy Unction, Holy
wine or alcohol totter and sway, being unstable on
Ordination, Holy Baptism (as parents or God-
their feet, but THOSE WHO ARE INEBRIATED WITH THE
parents of the Catechumen), Holy Matrimony and HOLY SPIRIT ARE FIRMLY ROOTED IN OUR LORD JESUS
Holy Eucharist throughout the year, (IF NOT EVERY WEEK CHRIST AND GLORIOUSLY SOBER!
BEFORE PARTAKING OF HOLY COMMUNION, WHICH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
BECAUSE WE CONVENIENTLY “FORGET” OUR SINS DURING THE LONG PERIODS ➤ QUOTING HOLY SCRIPTURE AND SINGING HYMNS CANNOT
BETWEEN REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.) BE SPIRITUAL UNLESS IT IS DONE WITH TRUE
The Hymn in Verse 14 : “Awake you who sleep...” is an HUMILITY, SUBMISSION OR OBEDIENCE TO AND FEAR
early Baptismal Hymn. OF GOD.
THE TERM “FEAR OF GOD” DOES NOT MEAN BEING “TERRIFIED” OF GOD - BUT RATHER
✽ HOLY BAPTISM IS OUR SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION and to A FEAR OF SELF-INFLICTED ALIENATION AND EXCOMMUNICATION FROM GOD
“walk in the Light” is to walk in our Baptism or THROUGH SIN, WHICH PUTS US IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH – A SELF-
IMPOSED EXILE OR DISTANCING FROM THE BENEVOLENCE AND BLESSINGS OF
to ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR DIVINE GRACE AND GOD’S GREAT MERCY.
HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION AND LIVE EACH FOR WHEN WE TRULY LOVE OTHERS, WE NEVER WANT TO DISAPPOINT OR ALIENATE
THEM – WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THEM AND TO PLEASE THEM IN ALL
DAY ACCORDINGLY. THINGS. AND SO IT IS WITH THE LORD OUR GOD WHOM WE LOVE MORE THAN
✽ THE PURPOSE OF THIS SHORT PREPARATORY LIFE IS not ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD!
THUS THE FEAR OF GOD COMES FROM OUR DEEPEST RESPECT AND LOVE FOR GOD AND
to abandon our life in the world, amongst other THE FEAR OF BEING BEREFT OF HIS DIVINE LOVE AND GRACE, WHICH WE CAUSE
struggling sinners, but TO MAINTAIN OURSELVES THROUGH OUR OWN FREE WILL – OUR OWN SELF-INDULGENT AND WICKED
CHOICES.
AND OUR LIFE IN CHRIST AND SALVAGE AS MUCH AS GOD NEVER EVER ABANDONS US – WE ABANDON HIM. AND WHEN WE ARE IN A STATE
POSSIBLE FROM THIS TRAGIC, FALLEN WORLD. OF UNREPENTANT SIN, GOD AND ALL HIS HEAVENLY HOSTS, AS WELL AS ALL THE
➤ As Faithful Disciples of Christ we renounce the SAINTS AND THE RIGHTEOUS, TURN THEIR SIGHT AWAY FROM US, BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT BEAR TO WATCH US COMMITTING EVIL.
fallen world – WE REJECT THE WICKEDNESS THIS IS WHY WE BESEECH THE LORD TO KEEP US IN HIS SIGHT FOREVER – MEANING
THAT SURROUNDS US – NOT GOD’S BEAUTIFUL THAT AS SOON AS WE FALL INTO SIN, WE ARE ABLE TO REPENT AND REGAIN OUR
SPIRITUAL LIFE ONCE MORE.
CREATION.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 18 : 10 – 20
God The Holy Spirit Is In His Holy Church Forever
At that time our Lord Jesus said: “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you,
that in Heaven their Angels always behold the Face of My Father Who is in Heaven. For the Son of Man is
come to Save that which was lost.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them went astray, does he not leave the
ninety nine and go into the mountains to seek the one that went astray? And if he should find it,
assuredly I say unto you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go
astray. Even so it is not the Will of your Father Who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should
perish.
Moreover if your Brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears
you, you have gained your Brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, so
that ‘...by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear
them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen
and a tax collector.
Truly , I say unto you: whatsoever you bind upon earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you
loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth
concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father Who is in Heaven. For
where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I Am there in the midst of them.
✽ Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us that NO ONE SHOULD are gathered…” set forth A CLASSIC FORM OF
DESPISE HUMBLE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEIR CHURCH DISCIPLINE BASED UPON MUTUAL
GUARDIAN ANGELS OCCUPY THE FOREMOST POSITIONS CORRECTION, IN THREE EXPANDING STAGES.
BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD. ➤ SIN AND REPENTANCE ARE PRIVATE unless the
➤ Because they are created beings THESE ANGELS offender refuses to repent. Then the issue may
SEE THE FACE OF GOD, not in His Divine have to be made public and corporate, coming
Essence, but IN HIS DIVINE GLORY, HIS ENERGY, before the whole Church.
according to the measure of their capacity. ➤ ALL DISCIPLINE MUST BE DONE WITH GREAT CARE AND
✽ ONLY THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, BEING HUMILITY BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO BY HYPOCRITICAL
UNCREATED AND PART OF THE GODHEAD, ARE ABLE IN THE WAY WE JUDGE.
TO SEE GOD THE FATHER PERFECTLY. [JOHN 6:46; 11:27; ✽ THE TERM “CHURCH” which occurs only in the Holy
1 CORINTHIANS 2:10]
Gospel according to St Matthew, REFERS TO THE
It is not the Nature of Almighty God, but THE WEAKNESS OF PEOPLE OF GOD, THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH.
MANKIND that REQUIRES THE ANGEL’S ASSISTANCE AND ➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO ESTABLISH A
SERVICE. They are SENT BY GOD FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE CONGREGATION, GATHERED BY HIM AND UNITED
WHO WILL INHERIT DIVINE SALVATION. [HEBREWS 1 :14] WITH HIM, IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
✽ The search for the “Lost Sheep” is A MERCIFUL AND Temporal Rulers have the power of binding, but they bind
LOVING ACT OF GOD TOWARDS EACH PERSON WHO only the body.
GOES ASTRAY and wanders about in the darkness of ✽ GOD, however, BINDS WITH A BOND THAT PERTAINS TO THE
sin. SOUL ITSELF, A POWER THAT GOD HAS NOT EVEN GIVEN
No First Century Palestinian Shepherd would have dared to TO HIS ANGELS.
leave 99 sheep in order to search for 1 in case the ✽ ALMIGHTY GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US: HE HAS A SPECIAL
PRESENCE IN HEAVEN AND IN EVERY CHURCH AS WELL,
wolves came and killed the flock.
THROUGH HIS GRACE AND THE HOLY MYSTERIES -
➤ But ALMIGHTY GOD’S LOVE IS SO GREAT THAT HE SACRAMENTS.
SEEKS EVEN THE ONE WHO STRAYS.
✽ MUTUAL CORRECTION, which sometimes necessitates
✽ Verses 15 – 20: “… if your Brother sins against expulsion from the Community, MAKES THE CHURCH
you…. if he will not hear you, then take with STRONG AND INVINCIBLE THROUGH THE LOVE OF
you one or two more, so that ... every word CHRIST.
may be established... For where two or three

20 (SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) M o n d a y O f T h e H o l y S p i r i t 13 June 2011

 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Ho ly Spirit, now and forever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mos t Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet
Ever Virgin, together with all the Sai nts. And let us commi t ourselves and o ne another and our w hole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

1st Sunday After Pentecost - Tone (8) Plagal 4 19 June 2011

1st Sunday of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday

Also the Feast of St Jude, son of St Joseph the Betrothed, “Brother of our Lord” &
St Judas Thaddeus, Holy Apostles of Christ our Saviour – St Zosimos of Antioch,
Pisidia – St Paisios the Great of Egypt – St Barlaam of Shenkursk – St John the
Solitary of Jerusalem – St Paisios of Hilandar, Bulgaria - St Job of Moscow & All
Russia – St Zenon

Apolytikion Of The Resurrection – Tone (8) Plagal 4

Ex ipsous katilthes O evsplaghnos, 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!
Apolytikion Of All Saints - Tone (8) Plagal 4
Ton en olon to kosmo Martiron Sou, os porfiran ke Thy Church having bedecked Herself with the blood of
visson ta emata, i Ekklisia Sou stolisameni, di all Thy Martyrs in the world, as with the finest linen
afton voa Si, Hriste O Theos: To lao Sou tous and purple robe, through them cries out to Thee, O
iktirmous katapempson, irinin ti politia Sou Dorise, Christ our God: Send down Thy Compassion upon
ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos. Thy people, grant Peace to Thy Commonwealth,
and to our souls Thy Great Mercy.
All Saints Sunday Until 27 July
Os aparhas tis fiseos, to fitourgo tis ktiseos, i ikoumeni Like the First Fruits of Nature, to the Author of all
proferi si Kyrie, tous Theoforou Martirs. Tes afton Creation, the earth’s people offer Thee, O Lord, the
ikesies, en irini vathia tin Ekklisian Sou, dia tis God-bearing Martyrs. Through their Intercessions,
Theotokou, Sintirison Polielee! maintain Thy Church in True and Perfect Peace, and
through the Theotokos, preserve Her, O Most
Merciful!
Matins - Resurrection Gospel 1 – Matthew 28 : 16 – 20
The Great Commission of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ
Prokeimenon – 1st Sunday of St Matthew
God is Marvellous in His Saints!
Bless the Lord in the Congregation!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11 : 33 – 12 : 2
The Faith Of Certain Israelites & The Perfection Of Faith

Brethren: time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the
Prophets, who - through Faith - subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong, became
valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured - not accepting deliverance, so that they might
obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and
imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, tempted, slain with the world. They wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They
wandered in deserts and mountain, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all of 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.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the
sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with Endurance the Race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who - for the Joy that was set before Him - endured the Cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right Hand of the Throne of God.
✽ BY LIVING WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, OBEYING ALL HIS ➤ NOTHING COULD SHAKE THEM LOOSE FROM THEIR
COMMANDMENTS AND LOVING HIM WITH ALL ONE’S UTTER FAITH IN AND LOVE OF ALMIGHTY GOD;
BEING, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE in not even promises of leniency in the midst of
this world because HE GRANTS US THE STRENGTH horrific tortures could make them denounce
TO ENDURE ALL LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES, even the their Faith.
inhumane torture inflicted by others as ✽ STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE CRUELTIES OF MANKIND AND
experienced by the Martyrdom of so many of the THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FALLEN – SPIRITUALLY
Saints throughout the ages. DARKENED - WORLD, IS DUE TO GOD’S GRACE ONLY -
✽ THE UNSURPASSED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND DEPTH OF based upon COMPLETE TRUST IN HIM, Who
THE FAITH OF THE SAINTS IS TO BE MARVELLED AT provides us with all necessary abilities to achieve
AND IMITATED BY US. whatever is required.

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That is why GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS
OF HIS BELOVED FAITHFUL who depend entirely upon
Him to deliver them from all evil.
✽ ONLY THROUGH THE POWER AND GRACE OF
ALMIGHTY GOD IS ANYTHING AND
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE!
➤ CHRIST’S INCARNATION AND ALL THAT HE
ACCOMPLISHED FOR US IN THE FLESH REDEEMED
[SAVED]THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WHO, BY
FAITH, PARTICIPATE IN HIS RESURRECTION AND
HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM.
➤ This entire passage [BEGINNING WITH 10:9] is a
progressive discourse imploring us to SEEK
GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST – BEFORE
ELSE!
➤ Under the New Covenant, we CAN ASCEND TO THIS
HEAVENLY PLACE IN WORSHIP AND PRAYER.
➤ WE EXPERIENCE THIS HEAVENLY DIMENSION
FUNDAMENTALLY IN THE DIVINE LITURGY.
➤ We ascend to that Heavenly Place where WE ARE
SURROUNDED BY A “GREAT CLOUD
WITNESSES.” [THE HEAVENLY HOSTS AND THE SAINTS]
It is not a physical place but A SPIRITUAL CONDITION THAT
IS INHABITED BY ALMIGHTY GOD, THE ANGELS AND “THE
SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.” [THE SAINTS]
IT IS IN THIS SPIRITUAL MYSTERY THAT THE COMMUNION OF
THE SAINTS IS ESTABLISHED IN THE NEW COVENANT [NEW
AGREEMENT/PROMISE OF AND WITH GOD]
The “Cloud of Witnesses” includes not only the Old
Covenant Saints mentioned previously, but also the
Saints and Martyrs of the Lord throughout all the
ages.
✽ ALL THE HOLY SAINTS AND MARTYRS SUCCEEDED –
REACHED SPIRITUAL PERFECTION OR THEOSIS - AND
SO CAN WE!
We persevere by:
❃ Getting rid of sin – the “weight” of which keeps us
from heeding the Truth
❃ Setting the Heavenly City as our Destination –
running the “Race” of Faith
ANYTHING
❃ Keeping our attention focused upon Jesus
Christ our Lord and King.
This Race is not a sprint but A MARATHON OF ENDURANCE -
WHICH DOES NOT END UNTIL WE FULLY ENTER ETERNITY
– “THE AGE TO COME.” [1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 – 27]
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS BOTH THE AUTHOR – THE
INITIATOR - AND FINISHER – PERFECTER – OF FAITH.
OF ➤ HIS JOY WAS TO DO GOD THE FATHER’S WILL.
➤ He “endured the Cross” meaning that HE
VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED HUMILIATION AND
DEATH and THEREFORE WE ARE TO FOLLOW HIS
DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 10: 32-33; 37-38; 19: 27-30
Being Fearless Witnesses To Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Perfect Divine Truth
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father
Who is in Heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in
Heaven...”
“...He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter
more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his Cross and follow after Me, is not
worthy of Me...”
Then Peter said to Him: “See, we have left all and followed Thee. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to
them: “Truly, I say to you, that in the Regeneration - when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His Glory
- you who have followed Me will also sit on Twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel. And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for
My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit Eternal Life.
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
✽ The reference to taking up our Crosses in order to ➤ SPIRITUALLY STUBBORN AND DEAD SINNERS WILL
follow Christ our Lord and Saviour, means that ALWAYS FIND EXCUSES AND TRY TO PREVENT
NOTHING MUST PREVENT US FROM BEING OTHERS FROM OBEYING GOD’S DIVINE WILL
ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL TO OUR LORD GOD. EITHER BY THEIR WORDS, THEIR DEEDS OR
➤ A TRUE AND FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST MUST THEIR ATTITUDES.
ALWAYS BE READY TO OBEY GOD AND EVEN, IF These are the people whom our Lord tells us to ignore
NECESSARY, TO SACRIFICE FAMILY OR FRIENDLY although WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL
RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENMENT AND DELIVERANCE, FOR, IF WE LOVE
DESTRUCTIVE. GOD AND HIS CREATURES, WE DO NOT WISH ANYONE TO
➤ HOLY MARTYRDOM FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FAITH IN BE LEFT OUT OF HIS DIVINE AND EVERLASTING
JESUS CHRIST AND ALMIGHTY GOD, IS A KINGDOM.
FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY of ✽ “Christ Judges by discerning our hearts and
M i c h a h 7 : 5 - 7 : “’...do not trust in friends, nor put souls and not by examining our deeds. So
your hope in those who govern. Beware of your also the Apostles were shaped to exercise
wife and do not tell her anything. For a son Spiritual Judgement concerning Faith, and in
dishonours his father, a daughter will rise up against rebuking error with Virtue.”
her mother, a daughter-in-lay against her mother-in- In other words, GOOD DEEDS ALONE, CANNOT GAIN DIVINE
law; a man’s enemies are all the people of his own BLESSINGS FOR US UNLESS OUR HEARTS AND SOULS
house’ but I will look to the Lord...” ARE AS PURE, AS GOOD AND AS FAITHFUL AS OUR
OUR LORD JESUS – AS THE ALL DIVINE AND ALL KNOWING SON DEEDS - AND VICE VERSA.
OF GOD – KNEW EVERYTHING THAT HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES THE APOSTLES WILL NOT JUDGE WITH EARTHLY
AND APOSTLES WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE IN THE TIME TO JUDGEMENT BUT BY THE WITNESS OF THEIR OWN LIVES.
COME AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE AGES. ✽ SINCE G O D ’ S D V I N E A N D H O L Y K I N G D O M
✽ OUR LORD ENCOURAGES US THROUGH ALL OUR BEGINS WITH THE RESURRECTION OF
DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE C H R I S T , THE AUTHORITY OF JUDGEMENT HAS
➤ even if we are not confronted by terrible Martyrdom ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO THE HOLY APOSTLES AND
WE ARE CONSTANTLY THREATENED BY THEIR SUCCESSORS IN THE JOURNEY OF THE
DESTRUCTIVE, FATAL UNGODLINESS AND SPIRITUAL
CHURCH ON EARTH. (MATTHEW 16:19 JOHN 20:23)
ADVERSITY.
➤ WE MUST DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO OUR ✽ This brings us back to THE HOLY MYSTERY OR
LOVE OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM. SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION whereby
➤ We must not follow the destructive norms of social REPENTANT SINNERS, HAVING REPENTED AND
CONFESSED THEIR SINS BEFORE GOD AND HIS
life but instead TAKE UP OUR CROSSES AND
HOLY PRIESTS (OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS) ARE FORGIVEN
FOLLOW FAITHFULLY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF
THEIR SINS BY MEANS OF DIVINE AUTHORITY
CHRIST WHO IS OUR ONLY JUDGE AND MASTER.
BESTOWED UPON THEM BY GOD.
➤ We must not worry about what our fellow sinners ➤ THROUGH THE HOLY MYSTERY OF CONFESSION A L L
may think or do. And, in fact, we will SHOW OUR REPENTED AND CONFESSED SINS
THEM THE WAY BY OUR OWN HEALTHY, HAPPY AND A R E C O M P L E T E L Y R E M O V E D from the pages
PEACEFUL LIFE IN CHRIST. of our “Books of Life” wherein every word,
✽ THE DULL AND STUBBORNLY IGNORANT WILL thought and deed is recorded by our Holy
REMAIN IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS BY THEIR
Guardian Angels who defend us after death
O W N C H O I C E , but there are SOME WHO WILL
FOLLOW US INTO THE DIVINE LIGHT AND LIFE IN and who help us TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH
CHRIST. GOD.

22 (SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1 s t Sunday After Pentecost – 1 s t Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday - 19 June 2011
✽ On the contrary: ALL OUR UNREPENTED SINS ARE
A L S O R E C O R D E D B Y T H E D E M O N S WHO WILL
LOUDLY ACCUSE US OF THEM AND TRY TO CLAIM OUR
SOULS FOR ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND EVER
LASTING SPIRITUAL DEATH IN OUTER DARKNESS –
EXTREME AND PERMANENT – ETERNAL EXILE FROM
GOD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD, PEACEFUL
AND LOVING!
✽ WHATEVER GOOD WE DO IN THIS LIFE FOR
THE SAKE OF OUR LOVE OF GOD AND HIS
CREATURES, BRINGS US ABUNDANT
B L E S S I N G S AND HELPS US TO PROGRESS
TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE.
Whoever Denies Me Before Men, Him I Will Also Deny Before My Father Who Is In Heaven
By St
At last, dear Brethren, Peace has been restored to
the Church and - although the pessimists thought it
improbable and the pagans impossible -
we have recovered our liberty …
Was it something unheard of that had hap-
pened - something beyond expectation -
that made people recklessly break their
Oath to Christ, as if a situation had
arisen, which they had not bargained for?
Was it not foretold by the Prophets before
Christ came - and by His Apostles since?
Were they not Inspired by the Holy Spirit to
predict that the Just would always be oppressed
and ill-treated by the Gentiles?
...Could a servant of God stand there and speak –
and renounce Christ, whereas it was the world
and the devil he had renounced before?
...It is Christ Who must not be left - it is giving up
one’s Salvation and one’s Eternal Home that
must be feared …
Let no one deceive himself - let none be misled.
Only the Lord can grant Mercy.
Sins committed against God can be cancelled by
Him alone Who bore our sins and suffered for us -
by Him Whom God delivered up for our sins.
Mankind cannot be above God, nor can the servant
- by any indulgence of his own - remit or condone
the graver sort of crime committed against our
Lord - for that would make the lapsed soul liable to
this further charge - that he knows not the words of
the Prophet: ‘Cursed be the one who puts his
hope in mankind!’
It is our Lord we must pray to - it is our Lord we must
win over by our Repentance; for He has said He will
deny anyone who denies Him - and He alone
has received all Power of Judgment from His
Heavenly Father …
But let none, my dear Brethren - let none - besmirch
the fair name of the Martyrs.
Let none rob them of the Glory of their Crown!
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) – On All Saints Sunday
OUR ALL-SEEING LORD ADDRESSED (THE ABOVEMENTIONED WORDS)
TO ALL HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES THROUGHOUT THE AGES
WITHOUT EXCEPTION – INCLUDING EACH OF US IN HIS HOLY
CHURCH, WHO HAVE NUMBERED OURSELVES AMONGST HIS
DISCIPLES THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM.
As lightening flashes from one edge of the skies to the
other without losing any of its brilliance, so has our
Lord’s Truth reached us through the centuries -
proclaimed with all Power and clarity in His Holy
Gospels.
✽ OUR LORD’S DISCIPLES ARE not only those who call
themselves ‘Christians’ in His Name - not only
those who took Sacred Vows of Allegiance to Him –
but THOSE WHO TRULY CONFESS HIM AS THEIR
ABSOLUTE LORD, MASTER AND ETERNAL KING, BY
EAGERLY FULFILLING ALL HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS AND
COMMANDMENTS.
THEIR CONFESSION IS MADE WITH ALL THEIR MIND, HEART,
WORD, DEED, AND THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. Shame, timidity,
and wavering are alien to their Confession of True
Faith in God, WHICH REQUIRES DECISIVE SELF-DENIAL
AND WHICH IS TRIUMPHANT – being made before all
mankind, before Angels, Saints, and even the fallen
angels - before the entire Heaven and earth: “...for
(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1 s t Sunday After Pentecost – 1 s t Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday
✽ God, being not only Just but also Merciful and Loving,
grants to even the very last repentant sinner His
Great Blessings – T H E V E R Y L A S T R E P E N T A N T
S I N N E R R E C E I V E S AS MANY BLESSINGS AND
LOVE AS THE FIRST TO ENTER ETERNAL LIFE WITH
GOD.
➤ W E A R E A L L E Q U A L BEFORE THE LORD OUR
GOD BUT I T I S E N T I R E L Y U P T O O U R
OWN EFFORTS AND DECISIONS – OUR
O W N F R E E W I L L - WHETHER WE WISH TO
LIVE ETERNALLY IN THE SIGHT AND LOVE OF
GOD OR WHETHER WE REJECT HIM AND ALL HIS
ABUNDANT, INFINITE LOVE AND BLESSINGS.
Cyprian of Carthage
The Strength and Parity (CONSISTENCY) of their Faith
stands unimpaired: nothing can be said or
done against Christ by one whose whole
Hope and Faith - whose whole Strength
and Glory - abides in Christ...
A [lapsed] person who - in spite of personal
sin - also presumed secretly to join the rest in
receiving of the Sacrifice offered by the
Bishop, was unable to eat - or even handle
our Lord’s Sacred Body - for when he opened
his hands, he found he was holding nothing
but ashes.
By this one example it was made manifest that our Lord
removes Himself from those who deny Him, and
that what is received brings no Blessing to the
unworthy, since the Holy One has fled and the
Saving Grace is turned to ashes …
Let each of you - I entreat you, Brethren - confess your
sins - while you who have sinned are still in this
world - while your Confession can still be heard -
while Penance and Forgiveness granted
through our Priests are pleasing to God.
Let us return to our Lord with our whole heart and
- expressing our Repentance in deep sorrow -
implore God for His Mercy.
Let our souls bow before Him - let our sorrow be
offered to Him in satisfaction (HUMILITY & REPENTANCE) - let
all our hopes rest in Him.
He Himself has told us how to ask... (JOEL 2:12)
But those among you, my Brethren, who are responsive
to the Fear of God and who - despite your fall - are
conscious of your plight, let the sight of your sins
move you to Penance and Sorrow; acknowledge
how grievously your conscience reproaches you
- open your soul to the realization of your crime
- neither despairing of God’s Mercy nor yet
claiming instant pardon.
While God, in His Fatherly Affection is ever Forgiving and
Kind - in His Majesty as Judge, He deserves our
fear. (ST CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE: “ THE LAPSED”)
we are made a spectacle to the world, and to
Angels, and to men ...” (1 CORINTHIANS 4:9)
THE APOSTLES WERE NEITHER ASHAMED NOR AFRAID TO
CONFESS THE GOD-MAN WHO WAS PUNISHED WITH A
SHAMEFUL EXECUTION, HAVING BEEN SENTENCED BY
ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL JUDGES. So they, too, were
neither ashamed nor afraid to confess before any
ecclesiastical and civil judges - before the powerful
and wise of the earth, before tyrants and torturers -
even though faced with horrific torture and execution -
with violent death.
OUR HOLY MARTYRS MADE THEIR FAITHFUL CONFESSION TO OUR
LORD BY OFFERING THEIR LIVES AND PROCLAIMING THEIR
TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINE TRUTH - TO THE TRUE
KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP OF GOD - BEFORE THE ENTIRE
WORLD.
MONASTIC SAINTS CONFESSED OUR LORD WITH UNSEEN
MARTYRDOM AND CONSTANT SELF-DENIAL THROUGHOUT
THEIR LIVES - UNITING HEAVEN AND EARTH BY
COMMUNICATING AND PARTAKING OF HEAVEN THROUGH
THEIR COMMUNION WITH HEAVENLY HOSTS WHILE YET IN
THEIR EARTHLY HABITATIONS.
The Pleasers of God who labour in the world confess the
Lord by their disdain and complete disregard for
worldly principles: “These are in the world, yet
they are not of the world.” (JOHN 17:11, 16).
- 19 June 2011 23
✽ CONFESSION WITH RESOLUTE AND TOTAL DENIAL OF THE
WORLD AND OF SELF IS THE SIGN OF ALL THE SAINTS.
WHOEVER CONFESSES OUR LORD DURING THIS LIFE AS HE
TAUGHT US - whoever proves through personal lifestyle
the Confession of our Lord as God - WILL BE
CONFESSED AS HIS TRUE DISCIPLE BY CHRIST - NOT ONLY
BEFORE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, BUT BEFORE GOD THE
FATHER.
✽ CHRIST’S CONFESSION OF A PERSON BEFORE HIS FATHER
LEADS THAT SOUL INTO A MOST INTIMATE UNITY WITH
ALMIGHTY GOD. (CF. JOHN 14:20)
When we confess God in a way that is pleasing to and as
prescribed by Him, it is a Sign that GOD HAS CHOSEN US
and THE FRUIT OF OUR GOOD WILL IS THE EVENTUAL
INCLUSION AMONGST THE HOLY RANKS OF THE CHOSEN.
Weak, ambiguous and secret or private confession is
unacceptable, being unworthy of God since WE MUST
CONFESS OUR FAITH BEFORE GOD AND OUR FELLOW
SINNERS WITH OUR LIPS AND WORDS – FULFILLING AND
LIVING OUR CONFESSION WITH DEEDS AND DAILY LIFE.
✽ WE MUST NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST’S DIVINITY AND
SOVEREIGNTY BUT ALSO HIS TRUE TEACHINGS AND
COMMANDMENTS BY CONSTANTLY LIVING THEM -
contrary to the customs of society, which are sinful,
betraying and trading Agape – Divine and Holy
Love of God - for carnal love.
Social customs are contrary to Life in Christ, which is
subjected to the hatred and mockery of the arrogant,
fallen world.
➤ Consequently THOSE WHO ARE WEAK AND
UNCONFIRMED IN TRUE FAITH QUICKLY SURRENDER
TO A BETRAYAL AND DENIAL OF OUR LORD’S TRUE
TEACHINGS AND LIFE, THEREBY EXCLUDING OR
EXCOMMUNICATING THEMSELVES FROM THE HOLY
RANKS OF GOD’S FAITHFUL FLOCK.
✽ OUR LORD’S TRUE DISCIPLES ARE CONFIRMED IN THEIR
FAITHFULNESS TO GOD AND HIS TEACHINGS.
Dependency upon society is not as strong as dependency
on family so it is easier to refuse to submit to the
demands of society than to refuse to submit to the
demands of family, which are aided by the laws of
nature.
✽ WHEN THESE DEMANDS ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE LAW OF
GOD, THEN THAT TRUE LAW OF GOD AIDS THEM.
Servants of Christ often find themselves perplexed by
conflicting demands - not knowing which of them are
pleasing to God. OUR LORD JESUS RESOLVES SUCH
PERPLEXITY BY CLEARLY WARNING US THAT THOSE WHO
PREFER THE WILL OF PARENTS OR ANY OTHER RELATIVE OR
FRIEND OVER THE WILL OF GOD OR THOSE WHO PREFER
THEIR WAY OF THINKING AND PHILOSOPHY OVER HIS DIVINE
TRUTH – OR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PLEASE OTHERS
RATHER THAN PLEASING AND OBEYING GOD, IS UNWORTHY
OF CHRIST AND ALL DIVINE BLESSINGS!
Difficulties and hindrances to Confession of Christ that
work against us from outside are insignificant when
compared with the difficulties and hindrances that are
within us.
SIN LURKS WITHIN OUR MIND, HEART, AND BODY – AND
DIRECTLY OPPOSES OUR FULFILLING HIS COMMANDMENTS.
Our natural goodness - when damaged by sin - makes
Confession difficult by endeavouring to mix our fallen
nature into it so that our Confession of Christ is
ruined.
SIN REPELS THE ALL-PERFECT SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST, WHICH
CANNOT TOLERATE SUCH IMPURITY, and it demands firm
recognition of the corruption of fallen nature.
5:4; 2:16, 21)
Although it is possible to withdraw from society, or from
relatives and friends, we cannot withdraw from
ourselves – we cannot hide from our own flawed
nature nor escape from it.
Thus IN ORDER TO BE FREED FROM SLAVERY TO OUR FALLEN
NATURE, CHRIST COMMANDS US TO DENY ITS PERSISTENT
DEMANDS AND TEMPTATIONS BY NAILING OUR MIND’S
ACTIVITY AND OUR HEART’S ATTRACTIONS TO THE DIVINE
COMMANDMENTS OF THE HOLY GOSPELS. For those who
are Christ’s Disciples, have crucified their flesh with its
desires – NAILING DOWN ALL OUR SINFUL HABITS that will
destroy us. (GALATIANS 5:24):
THE HOLY PROPHET, ST DAVID PRAYED TO GOD TO BE GRANTED
THE STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO SO CRUCIFY HIS SINS:
“...Nail down my flesh with the Fear of Thee...”
meaning HIS CARNAL MIND AND WILL - HIS SINFUL HABITS
– NEEDED TO BE IMMOBILISED AND
POWERLESS. (PSALM 118:120)
24 (SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1 s t Sunday After Pentecost – 1 s t Of St Matthew – All Saints Sunday
“Establish for Thy servant Thine Oracle [WORD] unto
Fear of Thee so that I might be steadily guided
in my seen and unseen activity by Thy Word.
(PSALM 118:38)
“He who mortifies his fallen nature with the Sword
of Christ’s Teaching — whosoever shall lose his
life for My Sake and the Gospel’s, shall save it,”
said our Lord. (MARK. 8:35; MATTHEW. 10:39).
On the contrary, THOSE WHO ACT ACCORDING TO THE
REASONING AND ATTRACTIONS OF THEIR FALLEN NATURE,
mistakenly accepting them as good ARE UNWORTHY OF
CHRIST AND ALL HIS ETERNAL BLESSINGS – as Christ
Himself warns us repeatedly! (MATTHEW 10:38–39).
✽ After hearing the (abovementioned) terrible, impartial,
and resolute sentence from the Mouth of God and
to explain the fate of God’s Faithful Disciples in
both time and Eternity, His Holy Church has
advised us to CONTEMPLATE ST PETER’S QUESTION:
“... what shall we have ...?” AND CHRIST’S DIVINE
PROMISE OF GREAT HONOUR TO HIS FAITHFUL
APOSTLES. (MATTHEW 19:27)
As Jesus Christ our Saviour is the only Eternal King of
Israel – i.e. of all Christians and the New Spiritual
Israel, consisting of all nations that will finally inhabit
the Promised Land of Heaven - IT IS NATURAL THAT HIS
HOLY APOSTLES, THROUGH WHOM ALL NATIONS SUBMITTED
TO HIM, SHOULD BECOME THE LEADERS AND JUDGES OF
THIS NEW ISRAEL, THE ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY NATION OF
GOD.
✽ EARTHLY LIFE IS A PREPARATORY PERIOD OF PERSECUTION
AND A CONSTANT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE since we
humans are subjected to a temporary sojourn of
suffering FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND REBELLION
AGAINST GOD’S COMMANDMENTS. It is a place and
time of persecution because the prince of this
fallen world - as the enemy of God’s Faithful Flock
- and his terrible reign of sin, cruelly and
ceaselessly persecutes and oppresses us.
WE ARE SUBJECTED TO THE INNUMERABLE TORMENTS OF INNER
AND OUTER SIN BECAUSE THE EVIL ONES OBSESSIVELY
SEEK OUR DESTRUCTION, UNREMITTINGLY WORKING
AGAINST US WITH THEIR FRENZIED HATRED AND
INCREDIBLE CRAFTINESS.
Furthermore those who have willingly enslaved themselves
to the demons as their Spiritually Blind, wretched
instruments of wickedness also work against us by
USING OUR OWN HUMAN WEAKNESSES AND PASSIONS
AGAINST US.
So - even in this temporary exile from Paradise - CHRIST’S
DISCIPLES RECEIVE A HUNDREDFOLD MORE BLESSINGS
THAN ANYTHING THEY HAVE FORSAKEN FOR THE LOVE OF
GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR WE RECEIVE THE
DIVINE GRACE OF THE ALL-HOLY SPIRIT, WHO GRANTS US
HIS CONSOLATION AND JOY.
✽ GOD’S EXQUISITE AND PRICELESS SPIRITUAL WEALTH AND
GLORY IS BEYOND ALL THE MATERIAL RICHES AND
FALSE GLORY OF THE FALLEN WORLD and the Saints
who have attained such Divine Treasure regard all
sinful and fleshly pleasures as disgusting filth,
filled with deathly bitterness. To them all worldly
possessions, fame and glory are like bleached
tombs that might appear attractive from afar but
which are filled with the stink and decay of
corruption from close up and within.
Consequently ANY SOUL CORRUPTED BY SPIRITUAL DEATH –
(GALATIANS
I.E. UNREPENTED SIN THAT CAUSES ALIENATION FROM GOD
- IS ALREADY LIKE A DEAD AND ROTTING CORPSE.
✽ DIVINE GRACE ACCOMPANIES REPENTANT SOULS INTO
ETERNAL LIFE THAT WE ACQUIRE HERE THROUGH
CONSTANT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES AND IS OUR WITNESS
BEFORE GOD WHEN WE APPEARS BEFORE HIM AT OUR
JUDGEMENT.
DIVINE GRACE BESTOWS upon God’s Faithful Flock His
INDESCRIBABLE, ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY DELIGHTS OF
EVERLASTING LIFE. (MATTHEW. 19:29) May we all be granted
the unfathomable, boundless Mercy of Christ, Who has
Redeemed us through Himself by having Confessed
Him without fail.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/35501.htm
RENDERED
- 19 June 2011
 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 forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, ye t Ever Virgin,
together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and o ne ano ther and o ur whole Life to Christ o ur God.
Amen.

24 June 2011
Nativity of St John the Baptist & Forerunner
Also the Feast of St Panyiotes, New Martyr of Caesaria – St John & St James , the Youths of Meniugi,
Novgorod – St Anthony the Abbot of Dymsk Monastery, Novgorod – St Athanasios of Paros the Great
Theologian & Teacher

A POL YT IKION O F THE NA TI VIT Y O F ST JOH N THE BAP TI ST – T ONE 4

Profita ke Prodrome tis parousias Hristou, axios O Prophet & Forerunner of the coming of Christ, to
effimise se ouk efporoument imis, i potho timontes praise Thee worthily we find no proper means, we
se; stirosis gar tekousis, ke patros afonia, lelinte ti who cherish Thy Memory. For the barrenness of the
endoxo ke septi sou gennisi, ke sarkosis Iou tou Bearer, and lack of speech of the Father, both were
Theou, Kosmo kirittete. loosened, in Thy Birth the Sacred and Glorified; and
the Incarnation of the Son of God was proclaimed to
the world.
A POL YT IKION O F ST M ARK THE A PO STLE & E VA NGELI ST – TON E 3

Apostole Agie, ke evangelista Marke, presveve to O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, Intercede with our
eleimoni Theo, ina ptesmaton afesin, parashi tes Merciful God to grant remission of sins to our souls.
psihes imon.
KO NT AKION O F THE EVE R BLESSED THEOT OKO S

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon to 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, Aid of all who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up
ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O
ton timonton Se. Theotokos who forever protects all those who
honour Thee!
Matins Gospel : Luke 1: 24 – 25; 57 – 68; 76, 80
THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION & BIRTH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
At that time, after those days, Zachariah’s wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying: “Thus the
Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbours and relatives
heard how the Lord had shown great Mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
So it was, on the eighth day, that they went to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of
his father, Zacharias but his mother said: “No! He shall be called John.” So they said to her: “There is no one among
your relatives who is called by this name.” Then they made signs to his father – what he would have him called.
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote: “His name is John.” So they all marvelled.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all
who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those
who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What kind of child will this be?” And the Hand of the Lord was
with him.
Now his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for
He has Visited and Redeemed His People... And you, child, will be called ‘The Prophet of the Highest;’ for
you will go before the Face of the Lord to prepare His Ways...”
...So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel
“Elizabeth Conceived:” THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION ❃ THE SILENCING OF THE HIGH PRIEST ALSO REVEALED A
OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER TO CHRIST DEEPER MYSTERY: THE MESSIAH WAS EXPECTED TO
OUR SAVIOUR is Liturgically celebrated on 24 FULFIL THREE CRUCIAL ROLES HELD BY VARIOUS
PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT: THE HOLY OFFICES
September, CONFIRMING THE SANCTITY OF MARITAL
OF PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING
RELATIONS FOR THOSE PAST THEIR CHILDBEARING
YEARS. ❃ ONLY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED ALL THREE
HOLY OFFICES PERFECTLY.
“Hid herself:” SINCE THE TIME OF MALACHI, GOD HAD CIRCUMCISION WAS A SIGN OF ISRAEL’S (BLOOD) COVENANT
NOT SENT A GREAT PROPHET TO ISRAEL.
WITH GOD and the means whereby a male became
1 M a c c a b e e s 9 : 2 7 : “There was great perplexity in
a member of God’s Community.
Israel, such as had not been seen since the days
G e n e s i s 1 7 : 1 0 - 1 4 ( & L e v i t i c u s 1 2 : 3 ) : “This is the
when the Prophets ceased to be seen in their
Covenant you shall keep; between Me and you
midst.”
THIS SILENCING OF THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD SERVED and your seed after you throughout their
TO HEIGHTEN THE ANTICIPATION OF THE MESSIAH AND generations: every male child among you shall
TO MAKE IT ALL THE MORE EVIDENT WHEN HE CAME. be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in
❃ AS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE LAST AND GREATEST the flesh of your foreskin. It shall be a Sign of
HOLY PROPHET OF GOD WHO PREPARED THE WAY the Covenant between Me and you. A child of
FOR CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, HE WAS KEPT HIDDEN
UNTIL CHRIST – THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD – WAS eight days old shall be circumcised by you –
CONCEIVED. every male child throughout your genealogy; he
Only then ST JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS REVEALED THROUGH who is born in your house, and he who is bought
HIS FIRST PROPHETIC ACT OF LEAPING WITH JOY INSIDE with your money must be circumcised; and My
ST ELIZABETH’S WOMB. Covenant shall be in your flesh for an
When ST ZACHARIAS WAS STRUCK DUMB DUE TO HIS LACK Everlasting Covenant. And the uncircumcised
OF FAITH, it also served as PROOF THAT ST GABRIEL male child(‘s) ...soul shall be cut off from his
THE ARCHANGEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS TRUE.
people for he has broken My Covenant.”

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Nativity Of St John The Baptist & Forerunner 24 June 2010 25
❃ THE NEW COVENANT WITH GOD IS A BLOODLESS ROLE OF HIS OWN SON AS “PROPHET OF THE
COVENANT AND HOLY BAPTISM OF BOTH MALE AND HIGHEST.”
FEMALE IS OUR “NEW CIRCUMCISION.” Since the age of approximately two years, as a
The name “John” means “Grace of God,” and by consequence of the terrible “Slaughter of the
insisting on the name God had chosen for her son, Innocents,” St John the Baptist lived in the desert
St Elizabeth affirmed the Truth of St John’s Divine on his own.
Calling and Mission. (REFER GENESIS 17:5; 15; 32:28) His mother had died soon after their escape and his
When St Zacharias assented to God’s Will, his speech father had been murdered in the Temple of
was restored and just as the prophecy was restored Jerusalem by the soldiers of King Herod.
at the Incarnation of Christ, so St Zacharias, as Due to the Will of God and by His Divine Providence
High Priest, could speak again now that our and Grace, St John reached adulthood safely and
Saviour Jesus Christ and His Forerunner, St John without the influence or contamination of human
the Baptist, had come into the world. wickedness, which made him Spiritually Pure – able
❃ It is of particular significance that ST ZACHARIAS to resist temptation by having grown so “strong in
IMMEDIATELY DECLARED CHRIST – “THE LORD GOD spirit.”
OF ISRAEL” – AND THEN REVEALED THE ESSENTIAL
The Epistle of St Paul to Romans 13 : 11 – 14 : 4
Be Spiritually Awakened, Alert & Prepared - And Put On The Armour Of Light.
Brethren, ... do this knowing the time: that now it is high time to awake 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.
Put on the 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, but he who is weak eats
only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge
him who eats; for God has received him.
Who are you to judge Another’s servant? To his own Master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for
God is able to make him stand.
❃ EXPECTATION OF FUTURE “SALVATION” THROUGH THE ➤ WE ARE ALL GOD’S SERVANTS WHOM ONLY GOD CAN
GLORIOUS COMING OF CHRIST MOTIVATES US TO JUDGE.
VIGILANCE AND PROPER CONDUCT. ➤ WE WILL BE JUDGED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE like
“The night” is this life under the influence of evil powers those we dare to criticise, so therefore TAKE
– while “the day” is the Glorious Coming or rather, GREAT CARE NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS.
the Reappearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. ➤ Instead LOOK CLOSELY AT YOURSELF AND CORRECT
❃ INORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, THERE ARE CERTAIN YOUR OWN FLAWS.
THINGS THAT CANNOT BE COMPROMISED BUT THERE ➤ THROUGH CONSTANT WATCHFULNESS OF OURSELVES
ARE ALSO GREY AREAS. AND CORRECTION OF OUR OWN ERRORS, WE
GOD IS GRACIOUS AND ALLOWS DIVERSITY IN “DOUBTFUL WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY STRONGER AND LESS
THINGS” [PERSONAL OPINIONS - NOT GOD’S TRUTH] – BUT NOT CRITICAL OF OTHERS.
MATTERS INVOLVING CHRISTIAN DOGMA. ➤ ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF
WE MUST CONDUCT OR BEHAVE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO HIS CREATURES AND HE WILL DECIDE WHO
CHRISTIAN TEACHING, HAVING “PUT ON CHRIST” AT OUR HAS ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.
HOLY BAPTISM. The two examples of flexible areas in this reference
❃ THE CROSSES WE WEAR ARE A REMINDER concern food restrictions and the observance of
TO US, AND OTHERS, OF THE RISEN CHRIST Liturgical Calendars, thing that the Spiritually Weak
WHOM WE ARE STRIVING TO IMITATE EVERY
might try to use to judge others or to divide the
D A Y O F O U R L I V E S . We must STRUGGLE TO LIVE UP
TO THE CHRISTIAN IDEALS HE PRESENTED TO US. Church.
THOSE “WEAK IN THE FAITH” ARE CHRISTIANS OF IMMATURE In both cases, we are commanded to BE FLEXIBLE WITH
CONSCIENCE AND WISDOM who may attach primary OTHERS JUST AS GOD HIMSELF IS WITH US!
importance to secondary matters, such as foods ✽ DURING ANY PERIOD OF FASTING THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR WE SHOULD NOT ONLY FOCUS ON THE
and religious festivals. [MANY PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS OF OUR PHYSICAL SELF-DENIAL BUT
RITUALS RATHER THAN THE COMPLETE, WHOLE FAITH, MAKING THEIR EFFORTS
EMPTY GESTURES INSTEAD OF MEANINGFUL WORSHIP OF GOD.] PARTICULARLY ON THE SPIRITUAL FAST
❃ We must NEVER JUDGE OTHERS BECAUSE WE CONCERNING OUR IMMORTAL SOUL – RESISTING
H A V E N O A U T H O R I T Y or right to do so, being ALL TEMPTATIONS OF SIN.
wretched sinners ourselves.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 1 : 1 – 25; 57 – 68; 76; 80
The Prophecy, Conception & Nativity of St John the Baptist, Forerunner & Last Great Prophet of God
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things that have been fulfilled among us, just
as those who, from the beginning, were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, delivered them to us, it seemed
good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account,
most excellent Theophilos, so that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
There was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Division of Abijah. His wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both Righteous before God, walking in all
the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren,
and they were both well advanced in years.
So it was, that while he was serving as Priest before God in the Order of his Division, according to the custom of the
Priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the
people was praying outside at the Hour of Incense.
Then an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense. And when Zacharias saw
him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
Prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you
will have Joy an Gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s
womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the
spirit and power of Elijah, ‘...to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children...’ and the disobedient to the
Wisdom of the Just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And Zacharias said to the Angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
And the Angel answered and said to him: “I am Gabriel who stands in the Presence of God, and was sent to
speak to you and bring you these Glad Tidings. But, behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the
day these things take place, because you did not believe my words that will be fulfilled in their own time.”

26 (SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Nativity Of St John The Baptist & Forerunner 24 June 2010
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he lingered so long in the Temple. But when he came out, he
could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple, for he beckoned to them and
remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his
own house.
Now, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying: “Thus the Lord has
dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
...Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbours and relatives
heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
So it was, on the eighth day, that they went to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of
his father, Zacharias. His mother answered: “No! He shall be called John.” But they said to her: “There is no one
among your relatives who is called by this name.” So they made signs to his father – what he would have him
called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying: “His name is John.” So they all marvelled.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all
who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those
who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What kind of child will this be?”
And the Hand of the Lord was with him. Now his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has Visited and Redeemed His People...
...And you, child, will be called the Prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the Face of the Lord to
prepare His ways...”
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to
Israel.
AS EYEWITNESSES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS There were 24 Divisions in all, each serving a week at a
DISCIPLES LISTENED TO HIS HOLY GOSPEL (GOOD NEWS) time by rotation. The responsibilities of the Priests
AND SAW HIS DIVINE MIRACLES FIRSTHAND.
in each Division were decided by drawing lots.
As St Luke himself was not one of the original Disciples ST ZACHARIAS AND ST ELIZABETH HAD CONTINUOUSLY
of our Lord Jesus, HIS HOLY GOSPEL IS ANCHORED ON PRAYED FOR A SON and at last their Prayers were
THE TRUE TESTIMONY OF THESE ORIGINAL WITNESSES.
ST LUKE ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO THEOPHILOS, A
answered when St Gabriel, the Archangel of God,
PROMINENT GENTILE, WHO HAD RECEIVED CHRISTIAN was sent to announce the coming of their son who
INSTRUCTION. However, nothing else is known of would always be remembered as St John the
him. Baptist & Forerunner to Christ our Lord. (THE NAME
“JOHN” MEANS “THE GRACE OF GOD.”)
St Luke’s Holy Gospel is written as AN ORDERLY ACCOUNT ✽ THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL’S DESCRIPTION OF THE
so as to provide greater certainty CONCERNING THE CHARACTER AND ROLE OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IS
DETAILS OF OUR LORD’S HOLY MINISTRY. AS AN ASCETIC PROPHET OF GOD who was to
ST LUKE WAS ON THE ONLY EVANGELIST WHO PROVIDED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF ST prepare the Hebrew Nation for the long-awaited
JOHN THE BAPTIST. Coming of the Messiah.
✽ ST ZACHARIAS AND ST ELIZABETH WERE The Hebrews expected St Elijah, one of the greatest
ACKNOWLEDGED AS BEING A RIGHTEOUS COUPLE OF Prophets of Israel, to reappear from Heaven in
PRIESTLY LINEAGE, WHO LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES order to anoint the Messiah.
IN THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S WILL.
ST ZACHARIA’S QUESTION: “How shall I know this?”
Nevertheless, ST ELIZABETH WAS BARREN, like so many INDICATED A SLIGHT LACK OF FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISE
other significant women mentioned in Holy AND HIS SUBSEQUENT MUTENESS SERVED BOTH AS A
Scripture. (SUCH AS SARAH - GENESIS 16:1; REBECCA – GENESIS 25:21; DISCIPLINE FOR HIS UNBELIEF AND AS A SIGN OF THE
HANNAH 1 SAMUEL 1:2). DIVINE TRUTH OF ST GABRIEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
INFERTILITY WAS REGARDED AS A “PUBLIC REPROACH” and CIRCUMCISION WAS A MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL whereby a
it was viewed very negatively because a woman’s male child was initiated into the Covenant Nation of
most important role in family life was to produce as God.
many living children as possible to continue the AFTER CHRIST - ACCORDING TO THE NEW BLOODLESS
family name and to contribute to the welfare of the COVENANT - CIRCUMCISION WAS REPLACED BY THE
family. TONSURING IN THE HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM.
ACCORDING TO OUR NEW, BLOODLESS COVENANT WITH GOD, TONSURING IS THE
BARREN WOMEN WERE USUALLY DENIGRATED AND BLOODLESS “NEW CIRCUMCISION ” WHEREBY WE OFFER A TINY PORTION OF
INSULTED, being regarded as parasites rather than OURSELVES – HAIR – TO GOD AS OUR AFFIRMATION OF ABSOLUTE FAITH IN OUR
TRIUNE, ALMIGHTY GOD.
valuable contributors to society.
EACH PRIEST WHO SERVED GOD AT THE TEMPLE OF ✽ THE SONG OF ST ZACHARIAS (“THE BENEDICTOS”,) WAS A
PROPHETIC HYMN OF PRAISE TO GOD WHO IS
JERUSALEM WAS ASSIGNED TO A DIVISION. [1 CHRONICLES
23:3-6; 28:13]
BLESSED FOR HIS GRACIOUS AND REDEEMING ACTS
AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN FULFILMENT OF THE
MESSIANIC PROMISES.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos – On Theology
✽ THEOLOGY IS THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH IS APPREHEND- THOSE WHO STRUGGLE PATRISTICALLY BECOME EMPIRICAL
ED BY PURE, HUMBLE AND SPIRITUALLY (THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION) THEOLOGIANS
REGENERATED SOULS, and not the beautiful THROUGH THE VISITATION OF THE GRACE OF THE HOLY
words of the mind, which are crafted with SPIRIT.
ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AN EXTERNAL EDUCATION, IN
literary art and expressed by the legal or worldly ADDITION TO THE INTERNAL ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE
spirit. SOUL, MAY DESCRIBE THE DIVINE MYSTERIES AND
Just as a beautiful statue cannot talk, MANUFACTURED INTERPRET THEM CORRECTLY, AS DID MANY HOLY
WORDS ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK TO THE SOUL OF A FATHERS.
PERSON, except if the listener is very worldly, and If, however, one does not become spiritually related to
pleased simply by charming conversation. the Holy Fathers and wants to take up translating or
THEOLOGY THAT IS TAUGHT LIKE A SCIENCE USUALLY EX- writing, he will wrong both the Holy Fathers and
AMINES THINGS HISTORICALLY AND, CONSEQUENTLY, himself, as well as the people, with his spiritual
THINGS ARE UNDERSTOOD EXTERNALLY.
cloudiness.
Since Patristic Ascesis and Inner Experience are
Neither is it right for someone to theologize using
absent, this kind of Theology is full of uncertainty
someone else’s theology, because he will resemble
and questions.
an impotent man who adopts others’ children,
For, WITH THE MIND WE CANNOT GRASP THE DIVINE
ENERGIES IF WE DO NOT FIRST PRACTICE ASCESIS AND
presents them as his own and pretends to be the
LIVE THE DIVINE ENERGIES, THAT THE GRACE OF GOD father of a large family.
MIGHT BE ENERGIZED WITHIN US. ✽ OUR HOLY FATHERS TOOK THE DIVINE WORD OR
Those who think that they can come to know the Mys- PERSONAL EXPERIENCES FROM THEIR HEART; THEY
WERE THE RESULT OF SPIRITUAL BATTLES AGAINST
teries of God through external scientific theory, EVIL AND THE FIRE OF TEMPTATIONS, WHICH THEY
resemble the fool who wants to see Paradise with a CONFESSED HUMBLY OR, OUT OF LOVE, WROTE
telescope. DOWN IN ORDER TO HELP US.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Nativity Of St John The Baptist & Forerunner 24 June 2010 27
THEY NEVER KEPT THIS LOVE FOR THEMSELVES,
ACKNOWLEDGING, LIKEWISE, THAT HUMILITY AND ALL
THE DIVINE GIFTS ARE OF GOD.
Those who present the Gifts of God as their own are the
most insolent and most unjust of the world, for they
wrong God and, even more, their own souls.
In this way they cause themselves to be deprived of
Divine Grace so that they won’t be judged as being
more ungrateful and so they won’t be destroyed
due to their great vainglory.
THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL TOWARDS GOD FOR EVERYTHING
AND CONSTANTLY ATTEND TO THEMSELVES HUMBLY AND
LOOK AFTER GOD’S CREATURES AND CREATION WITH
KINDNESS, THEOLOGIZE AND THUS BECOME THE MOST
FAITHFUL THEOLOGIANS, EVEN IF ILLITERATE.
They are like the illiterate shepherds who observe the
weather in the countryside, day and night, and
become good Meteorologists.
THOSE WHO LIVE SIMPLY - WITH KINDNESS AND GOOD
THOUGHTS, AND HAVE ACQUIRED INNER SIMPLICITY AND
PURITY - REGARD THE SUPERNATURAL VERY SIMPLY, AS
NATURAL, FOR EVERYTHING IS SIMPLE TO GOD.
God does not use greater Power for the Supernatural
and less for the natural, but the same Power for
everything.
✽ OUR LORD GOD IS VERY SIMPLE AND HIS SON REVEALED
IT TO US ON EARTH WITH HIS HOLY SIMPLICITY.
➤ WHEN PURITY COMES TO US - AND SIMPLICITY WITH
ITS FERVENT FAITH AND DEVOTION ARRIVES AS
WELL - THEN THE HOLY TRINITY TAKES UP HIS
ABODE WITHIN US.
➤ WITH THIS DIVINE ENLIGHTENMENT WE EASILY FIND
THE KEYS TO DIVINE MEANINGS, SO AS TO
INTERPRET THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN A VERY SIM-
PLE AND NATURAL WAY - without causing an
intellectual headache.
DEPENDING ON THE PURITY OR GUILE THAT WE POSSESS,
analogous interpretations are made, and WE ARE
BENEFITED OR HARMED ACCORDINGLY.
WE MAY OFTEN CAUSE HARM DUE TO OUR INEXPERIENCE,
EVEN IF ACTING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
For example: a person does not know that white wine
also exists apart from red, and pours red paint into
it to seemingly make it better, and, in this way, poi-
sons people.
So even IF WE ARE NOT INEXPERIENCED OR DECEITFUL, BUT
WORK ONLY FROM HUMAN JUSTICE AND LOGIC, WE WILL
ONCE AGAIN WRONG THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, and, as
a result, HARM OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
➤ WITH HUMAN LOGIC AND JUSTICE we also hear the
complaints of THE LABOURERS OF THE FIRST
AND THIRD HOUR in the Gospel Parable, who
BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE UNJUSTLY TREATED.
(MATTHEW 20: 1 – 16)
✽ GOD, HOWEVER, THE BEHOLDER OF THE HEARTS OF MEN
- with the subtlety of His Divine Justice - also
REWARDED THE LABOURERS OF THE ELEVENTH
HOUR FOR THE ANGUISH THEY SUFFERED BEFORE
FINDING WORK.
God would have even given to the labourers of the
Eleventh Hour a greater Reward, out of His Divine
Righteousness, full of Mercy and Love, because THE
Orthodox Holy Tradition - the Divine Truth of God – And the Heart
“He who possesses in Truth the Word of Jesus can hear even its silence.”
St Ignatius of Antioch (To the Ephesians, XV, 2)
The faculty of hearing the silence of our Lord Jesus,
attributed by St Ignatios to those who in Truth
possess His Word, echoes the reiterated appeal of
Christ to His hearers: “He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!”
The Words of (DIVINE) Revelation have then a margin of
silence that cannot be picked up by the ears of
those who are outside.
St Basil (THE GREAT) moves in the same direction when he
says, in his passage on the Traditions: “There is
also a form of silence - namely the obscurity
used by the Scripture, in order to make it
difficult to gain Understanding of the
Teachings - for the profit of readers.”
This silence of the Scriptures could not be detached
from them: it is transmitted by the Church with the
Words of the Revelation, as the very condition of
their reception.
If it could be opposed to the words (always on the
horizontal plane, where they express the revealed
28 (SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Nativity Of St John The Baptist & Forerunner
POOR ONES SUFFERED GREATLY IN SOUL AND WERE
MORE FATIGUED THAN THOSE, WHO, FOR MORE HOURS,
WERE EXHAUSTED PHYSICALLY.
But we - wretched people that we are - cannot fit God’s
Divine Justice into our limited mind - just as HIS
INFINITE KINDNESS CANNOT FIT INSIDE OUR LIMITED
LOVE.
Therefore, GOD’S LOVE WAS LIMITED to giving everyone
the same agreed Reward, SO AS NOT TO SCANDALIZE
MORE THOSE WHO LOVED THEMSELVES MORE THAN
THEIR FELLOWMEN.
If He told them: “I am not doing you wrong; we agreed
on this amount…”. He meant that: “I Am a Boss
with Noble Love and Divine Justice which you
cannot understand” and not: “I Am Boss and I take
no one into consideration.”
For GOD IS OUR FATHER AND WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, and all
people know of His Fatherly Love - HE WAS
CRUCIFIED IN ORDER TO REDEEM AND RESTORE US TO
PARADISE.
If we could go out of ourselves – i.e. ERADICATE OUR
SELF LOVE – SELFISH LOVE - WE WOULD also escape from
the gravity of the earth and SEE EVERYTHING IN
REALITY - WITH A DIVINE EYE, CLEARLY AND
PROFOUNDLY.
✽ That is why IT IS NECESSARY FOR US to leave the
world for the Desert - TO STRUGGLE WITH
HUMILITY, REPENTANCE AND PRAYER - TO ABANDON
OUR PASSIONS – TO REMOVE OUR SPIRITUAL “RUST”
AND BECOME A GOOD CONDUCTOR IN ORDER TO
RECEIVE DIVINE GRACE AND BECOME TRUE
THEOLOGIANS.
If we don’t remove the rust from our spiritual cables, we
will constantly be short-circuited - full of worldly
theories, doubts and questions.
Then WE CEASE TO THEOLOGIZE, being found in a
condition of worldliness and ONLY ABLE TO SPEAK
HISTORICALLY, OR EXAMINE THINGS LEGALLY AND
MATHEMATICALLY.
In other words: we will examine how many nails were
used to crucify Christ and how many soldiers were
present when He was crucified without proceeding
to THE ESSENCE OF THINGS: that CHRIST WAS CRUCI-
FIED FOR OUR OWN SINS, IN ORDER TO REDEEM US, AND
HE SUFFERED MORE THAN ALL THE HOLY MARTYRS PUT
TOGETHER!
✽ ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HELPED HIS HOLY
MARTYRS WITH HIS DIVINE POWER, HE DID NOT
EMPLOY HIS DIVINE POWER FOR HIMSELF AT ALL
AND SUFFERED TERRIBLE PAINS OUT OF LOVE,
having both of His two hands and His two legs
pierced with nails.
Whether they crucified His two Legs with one or two
nails has no importance, inasmuch as both were
nailed and HE SUFFERED THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN SO
THAT HE MIGHT SWEETEN US AGAIN IN PARADISE,
ETERNALLY CLOSE TO HIM, AS OUR LOVING FATHER.
EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP: TAKEN FROM “THE EPISTLES OF ELDER PAISIOS” – THE
ORTHODOX WORD - http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2010/06/
Truth), this silence, which accompanies the words,
implies no kind of insufficiency or lack of fullness of
the Revelation, nor the necessity to add to it
anything whatever.
It signifies that the revealed Mystery, to be truly
received as fullness, demands a conversion towards
the vertical plane, in order that one may be able to
“comprehend with all the Saints” not only what
is the “breadth and length” of the Revelation, but
also its “depth” and its “height.” (EPHESIANS 3:18)
VLADIMIR LOSSKY, TRADITION AND TRADITIONS
ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH A CONSTANT, CONCERTED STRUGGLE FOR
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE,
OBEDIENCE WHICH ATTRACTS OTHER DIVINE VIRTUES - AND WITH THE
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH – HOLY TRADITION - I.E. ALL CHRIST’S
VERBAL TEACHINGS, HYMNS AND SACRED, GOD-INSPIRED WRITINGS OF OUR HOLY
FATHERS AND MOTHERS - CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S PERFECT TRUTH.
TRUTH.
THUS IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO BE CONTINUOUSLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT BY THOSE
WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BECOME FAITHFUL,
FULFILLED DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
CHRIST
BEFORE CONVERSION TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, WE MUST REGULARLY ATTEND ALL HOLY
HOLY
SERVICES AND CLASSES IN ORDER TO REALISE THE DEPTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING
IN CHRIST – AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO SO, ESPECIALLY AFTER BAPTISM INTO
ORTHODOXY. FOR TO MAKE LESS EFFORT IS AN INEXCUSABLE INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GOD
AND WILL CAUSE ETERNAL CONDEMNATION
CONDEMNATION UNLESS QUICKLY AND SINCERELY
CORRECTED.
24 June 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mo st Pure, Most
Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos, ye t
Ever Virgi n, to gether with all the Saints. And let us
commit ourselves and one ano the r and our whole Life
to Christ o ur God. Ame n.

2nd Sunday After Pentecost

Tone 1 26 June 2011

2nd Sunday of St Matthew:

Fishers of Men

All Saints of Mount Athos,

Russia, Georgia, Palestine &
North America

Also the Feast of St David, Monk-Martyr &

Almond Tree-Dweller of Thessalonika – St John
of the Goths, Crimea - St Tikhon of Luchov, Kostroma, translation of Relics - St Dionysios of Suzdal – The Appearance of the
Tikhvin Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos – the Meramts Holy Icon of our Lady – the Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos
of Seven Lakes – the Wonderworking “Roman” Holy Icon of our Lady Theotokos of Lydda - Roman”
Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone 1
Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and soldiers
filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros, stood on guard over Thy Body undefiled, Thou rose
Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e on the third day, O Saviour, Who grants Life to the
Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried
Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy
Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope! Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom!
Glory to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves
mankind!
Kontakion Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon to 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 Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed
presvian, ke spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication,
Theotoke, ton timonton se. O Theotokos who always protects all those who
honour Thee!
Resurrection Gospel 2 : Mark 16 : 1 – 8
The Holy Myrrhbearers Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ

Prokeimenon
Have mercy on us, O Lord, as we have set our Hope on Thee!
Rejoice in the Lord, all Righteous men!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Romans 2 : 10 - 16
Our Conscience Will Judge Us First Before The Final Judgement Of Christ Our Lord And Saviour
Brethren: Glory, Honour and Peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Hebrew first and also to the Greek.
For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without Law will also perish without Law, and
as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law (for not the hearers of the Law are Just in the
Sight of God, but the doers of the Law will be Justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do
the things in the Law, these, although not having the Law, as a law to themselves, who show the Work of the Law
written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts
accusing or else excusing them) in the Day when God will Judge the secrets of mankind by Jesus Christ, according
to my Gospel.
✽ Even as believing Christians, WE MUST NOT TAKE THE thinking that there is no Divine
OUTCOME OF GOD’S FINAL JUDGEMENT FOR Judgement!
GRANTED! ✽ ACCORDING TO IMPENITENT HEARTS:
In every Divine Liturgy Orthodox Christians pray: “For a THOSE WHO ARE UNREPENTANT - STUBBORN AND IN A
good Defence before the dread Judgement STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH - DESPISE GOD’S
Seat of Christ, let us pray to the Lord... Lord INFINITE GOODNESS AND WILL RECEIVE THE
ETERNAL CONDEMNATION OF GOD AT THE FINAL
have mercy!” JUDGEMENT.
St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (2:2-16) describes God’s REPENTANT SOULS WHO ARE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL
Judgement, showing how WE CAN PREPARE LIFE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S INFINITE
OURSELVES for It. PATIENCE AND BLESSINGS, ABIDING IN CHRIST AND
✽ GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT will be: PRACTISING DAILY REPENTANCE, WHICH PRODUCES
✽ ACCORDING TO GOD’S TRUTH: SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE before our Lord at the
NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD Who sees everything Final Judgement – WILL BE REWARDED WITH
and Who knows the Truth about every human ETERNAL LIFE.
✽ ACCORDING TO OUR DEEDS:
being.
“Doing good” is not an attempt at gaining special
Our greatest deception is the belief that
merits with our Lord. Rather it means ENJOYING
anything can be “secret” or “hidden” and THE UNITY OF INTENTIONS WITH ACTIONS – i.e. FAITH

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2 n d Sunday After Pentecost – 2 n d Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 June 2011 29.
 WITH WORKS – TRUE FAITH MOTIVATES AND DO THAT IS CONTRARY OR AGAINST OUR TRUE,
COMPELS US TO DO GOOD DEEDS AT ALL TIMES, PERFECTLY CREATED HUMAN NATURE.
WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. Therefore, even Gentiles – those who are not under the
Even unbelievers are rewarded for their good Old or New Covenant with God – have a natural,
deeds, apart from Spiritual Understanding. internal Divine Law within them – their conscience –
“DOING GOOD” MEANS WHATEVER WE DO IS according to which they, too, will be judged.
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE GLORY, HONOUR AND
Melchizedek, Job and the Ninevites are Old Testament
WORSHIP OF GOD and never for our own
examples of non-Hebrews who were judged to be
glorification or to receive the FLATTERY AND
Righteous.
COMPLIMENTS OF OTHERS, which can CAUSE OUR
SPIRITUAL DEATH THROUGH VANITY, GREED, ETC.
Hebrews had TWO LAWS OF GOD – THE LAW OF MOSES (THE
OLD COVENANT LAW) AND THE NATURAL DIVINE LAW OF
By humbly seeking only the Glory of God through THEIR CONSCIENCE – AND THEY – JUST LIKE US OF THE
our good deeds, we receive the Eternal Reward NEW COVENANT LAW – WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
of Immortality – Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly BOTH BEFORE GOD.
Kingdom of Everlasting Love/Agape. ✽ THOSE WHO ARE CONDEMNED HAVE FREELY CHOSEN TO
✽ GOOD DEEDS MAY BENEFIT OTHERS BUT THEY WILL NOT REJECT GOD.
BENEFIT US AT ALL UNLESS WE SEEK FIRST THE ➤ There is no automatic, fated Eternal
KINGDOM OF GOD. Condemnation: GOD’S JUST JUDGEMENT IS
Therefore, if we only commit ourselves to doing any BASED ON OUR PERSONAL EXERCISE OF OUR
good deeds so that others will praise us and FREE WILL.
admire us, that TEMPORARY GLORY BECOMES AN ➤ ALTHOUGH SIN IMPAIRS OUR POWERS, IT DOES NOT
DESTROY GOD’S DIVINE IMAGE IN US OR OUR
ACCUSATION AGAINST US, THE CONSEQUENCES OF
FREE WILL TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR
WHICH WILL WEIGH HEAVILY AGAINST US IN
REJECT GOD’S WILL.
ETERNITY!
GOOD INTENTIONS ALONE, OR FAITH WITHOUT WORKS, ✽ Due to our sinful state, WE HAVE LOST OUR LIKENESS
WILL NOT SAVE OUR SOULS FROM CONDEMNATION! TO GOD, WHICH IS WHY OUR ENTIRE LIFE ON EARTH
SHOULD BE SPENT TRYING TO REGAIN THAT GOD-
Simply to hear but not to do is false faith – faith LIKE STATE.
without any foundation or reality. ON THE EIGHTH DAY – THE DAY OF FINAL JUDGEMENT – WE
✽ THOSE WHO HAVE TRUE FAITH are the doers of God’s WILL NOT BE JUDGED DIRECTLY BY GOD THE FATHER
Truth and they CEASELESSLY PRACTISE VIRTUE WHOM WE CANNOT SEE, BUT BY HIS INCARNATE SON
FROM PURE AND REPENTANT HEARTS. WHOM WE CAN AND DO SEE: our Lord and Saviour,
“By nature” – i.e. BY OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT IS CREATED Jesus Christ, Who will Judge us ON THE BASIS OF THE
AND ENLIVENED BY GOD, WE ARE INSPIRED BY AND CO- LIGHT THAT HE HIMSELF GRANTED EACH OF US AND OUR
OPERATE WITH GOD’S DIVINE GRACE. Therefore GOOD RESPONSE to His Divine Light.
DEEDS ARE NATURAL TO US while wicked deeds are The “secrets of men” are all the “thoughts and intents
contrary to our human, intellectual nature! of the heart.”
✽ Because we all fail sooner or later, WE ALWAYS NEED
GOD’S DIVINE MERCY.
✽ THE PRESENCE OF DIVINE LAW – THE LAW OF GOD –
WITHIN OUR CONSCIENCE CONDEMNS ANYTHING WE
The Holy Gospel of St Matthew 4: 18 – 23
Our Lord Jesus Christ Calls His First Apostles
At that time, our Lord Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his
brother, casing a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make
you Fishers of Men.”
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in the boat with
Zebedee their father, mending their nets.
He called to them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all
kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
THESE FIRST DISCIPLES OR APOSTLES OF CHRIST OUR Miracles, which shows that THEY MISUNDERSTOOD
SAVIOUR had already heard the preaching of St John THE TRUE NATURE OF HIS DIVINE, ETERNAL KINGDOM OF
the Baptist and WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT OUR LORD HEAVEN.
“IMMEDIATELY.” THE ARROGANCE AND SELFISHNESS THAT MOTIVATES MOST PEOPLE IS CLEARLY
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ILLITERATE AND UNEDUCATED IN THE EVIDENT: ONCE THEY REALISED THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM CHRIST –
“WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” – THEIR IMMEDIATE DESIRE FOR INSTANT BUT
HEBREW FAITH, THESE HUMBLE FISHERMEN WHOM OUR TEMPORARY GRATIFICATION -THEN THEY BEGAN TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT
LORD JESUS CALLED TO FOLLOW HIM WOULD SOON BE HE TRIED TO TEACH THEM AND BESTOW UPON THEM – PRICELESS, EVERLASTING
REVEALED AS THE WISEST OF ALL, THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL TREASURES OF ETERNAL LIFE!
DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THAT GLORIOUS DAY It also clearly demonstrated OUR LORD’S CONCESSION TO
OF PENTECOST. GRANT CREDIBILITY TO WHAT HE TAUGHT AND
The crowds of people did not swarm to our Lord Jesus REVEALED to the fickle multitudes of that time.
when He commanded Repentance but only when
He began to heal the people and perform His Divine
Second Sunday After Pentecost – Becoming Fishers of Men
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: in today’s Holy OBEDIENT TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND TAKE UP
Gospel we hear our Lord say: “Follow Me and I THE WAY OF THE CROSS.
will make you Fishers of men.” As our Lord said to His Disciples: “If anyone will
Our Lord said this to Call His Apostles. This is not just come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
the Apostles’ Call - IT IS OUR OWN CALL TO SERVE GOD up his Cross, and follow Me.” (MATTHEW 16:24).
AS WELL! It also means that WE MUST BE ONE AS THE SON IS WITH
What this Statement says is that IF WE FOLLOW OUR LORD HIS FATHER.
JESUS CHRIST WE WILL BRING OTHERS TO HIM. Our Lord prayed for this at His Passion saying: “Holy
WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS TEMPORARY PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE Father, keep - through Thine own Name -
ETERNITY AND IT IS OUR SACRED DUTY AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TO GUIDE,
ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEOSIS – PERFECTION AND
those whom Thou hast given Me, that they
ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND SPIRITUAL may be One, as we are... I in Thee, and Thou
BLISS.
OUR SALVATION IS AN ONGOING, CONTINUOUS PROCESS THAT IS COMPLETED WHEN in Me, that they may be made Perfect in One;
WE DRAW OUR LAST BREATH – HAVING BEGUN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AS and that the world may know that Thou hast
ADULT & CHILDREN CATECHUMENS BEFORE OUR BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION
(CONVERTS) AND AT BAPTISM AS INFANTS. sent Me, and hast Loved them, as Thou hast
✽ FOLLOWING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST MEANS THAT WE Loved Me.” (JOHN 17:11 & 17:23)
MUST STRUGGLE EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY TO IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ONE WITH GOD AS THE FATHER, THE
LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE SAME MANNER THAT HE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE, WE MUST BE FIRST
LIVED HIS. THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE TO BE BE OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF GOD.

30. ((SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2 nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2 n d Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men - 26 June 2011
Obedience to the Will of God means that WE MUST PLACE
GOD IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES.
In other words: WE MUST SURRENDER OUR WILL TO GOD’S
WILL. That is exactly what the Apostles did when
they forsook everything and followed our Lord
Jesus.
As our Lord said: “He who loves father or mother
more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is
not worthy of Me...” (MATTHEW 10:37)
This means that WE MUST LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS.
This is the Great Commandment: “And you shall
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your
mind, and with all your strength.” (MARK 12:30)
✽ TO LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS IS a difficult Path to
follow but, it is also A PATH OF JOY - BECAUSE
THE PATH OF THE CROSS LEADS
RESURRECTION.
Many people look at this Path without seeing the Joy of
the Resurrection at its end.
Saint Paul reminds us of this in his First Epistle to the
Corinthians when he says: “For the Preaching of
the Cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us who are Saved, it is the Power of
God.” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:18)
✽ THE HOLY CROSS LEADS US TO THE RESTORATION OF
OUR LIVES - to that FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED
BY GOD.
When this happens WE BECOME CHANGED. WE ARE AT
PEACE WITH CREATION. This Peace is often referred to
as Serenity.
✽ ACCEPTING THE PATH OF THE CROSS IS SOMETHING WE
DO VOLUNTARILY. While our Lord Calls us to the
Path of Salvation through the Cross, HE LEAVES
US TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE PATH OF SALVATION
AND THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION.
If we choose the Path of Destruction and our hearts are
completely turned to evil, then God leaves us and
Satan becomes our merciless master. This was the
case with Judas when he turned against our Lord
Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver.
Our Lord did not impinge on Judas’ freewill but rather
said to him “That which thou doest, do
quickly!” (JOHN 13:27)
✽ OUR LORD ALLOWS US TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOOD AND
EVIL FREELY.
HIS CALL TO US TO MAKE THIS CHOICE IS “Follow me!” or
“That which thou doest, do quickly.”
In making this significant, life-changing choice WE ALL
TOO OFTEN BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT OUR OWN
IMMEDIATE BUT TEMPORARY WELFARE. WE ARE
SCARED TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO THE INFINITE
AND ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD.
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware – On the Spiritual Guide
in Orthodox Christianity - Part 1 (a)
More important than all possible books if we are
climbing a mountain for the first time, WE NEED TO
FOLLOW A KNOWN ROUTE; AND WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE
WITH US, AS COMPANION AND GUIDE - SOMEONE WHO
HAS BEEN UP BEFORE AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY.
To serve as SUCH A COMPANION AND GUIDE IS PRECISELY
THE ROLE OF THE “ABBA” OR SPIRITUAL FATHER — of
the one whom the Greeks call “Geron” or “Geronta”
and the Russians Starets - a title, which in both
languages, means “Old Man” or “Elder.”
✽ THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE TO A
FATHER IS UNDERLINED from the very first
beginnings of Eastern Christian Monasticism.
It is clearly evident, for example, in the sayings
attributed to St Antony of Egypt:
“I know of Monks who fell after much Toil and lapsed
into madness, because they trusted in their
own works and did not give due heed to the
commandment of him who says, “Ask your
father, and he will tell you.” (DEUTERONOMY 32:7).
“If possible, for every step that a Monk takes, for every
drop of water that he drinks in his cell, he should
entrust the decision to the Old Men, to avoid
making some mistake in what he does.”
(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2 n d Sunday After Pentecost – 2 n d Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men -
However, our Lord Jesus Christ assures us that THESE
CONCERNS ARE UNFOUNDED when He says: “Behold
the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither
do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much
better than they?” (MATTHEW 6:26)
IF WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW CHRIST, then - as the Holy
Gospel says - WE WILL ALSO BECOME FISHERS OF MEN.
This means that as fishermen cast their nets into the
dark depths of the sea for a catch of fish, so will we
- with Christ and His Holy Gospel - catch others
from the spiritual dark depths of this fallen
world.
As Fishers of men we will fulfill the Lord’s Command:
“Go therefore, and teach all Nations, Baptising
them in the Name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit...” (MATTHEW 28:19)
TO THE
All too often we abdicate this responsibility to someone
else. If we do this then WE MUST ASK OURSELVES ARE
WE TRULY FOLLOWING CHRIST.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Follow Me AND I will
make you Fishers of men.”
One of the key ways that we are Fishers of men is
through our personal lifestyle – similar to fishermen
who use lures or bait to attract fish to their hooks or
nets.
AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE ALSO HAVE the vital
responsibility of sharing our True Faith and this
sharing can be as simple as when St Philip said to
St Nathaniel: “Come and see.” (JOHN 1:46)
COME AND SEE WHAT I HAVE FOUND!
COME AND SEE WHAT I HAVE!
COME AND SEE WHAT GIVES ME JOY!
In sharing the Faith, St Paul instructed St Timothy in the
following manner: “Fight the Good Fight of
Faith, lay hold on Eternal Life, where unto
you are also Called, and have professed a
good Confession before many witnesses.” (1
TIMOTHY 6:12)
So my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: my Prayer
for you is that you may FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF
FAITH BY FOLLOWING THE WAY OF THE CROSS OF
CHRIST SO THAT YOU MAY DRAW OTHERS INTO CHRIST’S
DIVINE NET THROUGH YOUR CONFESSION OF HIM before
all others according to the manner whereby you live
your daily lives.
Amen
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SERMON DELIVERED BY FATHER MILAN MEDAKOVIC AT
HOLY TRINITY SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ON THE 2ND SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST 2009 - “VONMEN” -
http://frmilan.wordpress.com/?s=2ND+SUNDAY+AFTER+PENTECOST
THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE is a master-theme
throughout the “Apophthegmata” or “Sayings of
the Desert Fathers”:
The Elders used to say: “If you see a young Monk
climbing up to Heaven by his own will, grasp him
by the feet and throw him down, for this is to his
profit… If a person places his faith in someone
else and surrenders himself to the other in full
submission, he has no need to attend to the
Commandment of God, but he needs only to
SPIRITUAL
entrust his entire will into the hands of his
Father.
“Then he will be blameless before God, for God
requires nothing from beginners so much as
self-stripping through Obedience.”
This figure of the Starets - so prominent in the first
generations of Egyptian Monasticism - has retained
its full significance up to the present day in
Orthodox Christendom.
“There is one thing more important than all
possible books and ideas,” states a Russian
layman of the nineteenth century, the Slavophil Ivan
Kireyevsky, “and that is the example of an
Orthodox Starets, before whom you can lay
each of your thoughts and from whom you
26 June 2011 31.
 can hear - not a more or less valuable private
opinion - but the judgement of the Holy
Fathers.
“God be praised, such Staretsi have not yet
disappeared from our Russia.”
And a Priest of the Russian emigration in the twentieth
century, Father Alexander Elchaninov, writes: “Their
The Spiritual Guide As A “Charismatic “Figure
What entitles someone to act as Spiritual Guide? How
and by whom is he or she appointed?
To this there is a simple answer.
✽ THE ELDER OR STARETS IS ESSENTIALLY A Then, in a free and informal fashion, others begin to go
“CHARISMATIC” AND PROPHETIC FIGURE,
ACCREDITED FOR HER OR HIS TASK BY THE DIRECT
ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SPIRITUAL GUIDES ARE ORDAINED, NOT BY HUMAN HANDS,
BUT BY THE HAND OF GOD.
THEY ARE AN EXPRESSION OF THE CHURCH AS “EVENT” OR
“HAPPENING,” rather than of the Church as
institution.
There is, however, no sharp line of demarcation
between THE PROPHETIC AND THE INSTITUTIONAL
ELEMENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH; EACH GROWS
OUT OF THE OTHER AND IS INTERTWINED WITH IT.
THE MINISTRY OF THE STARETS - ITSELF CHARISMATIC - IS
related to a clearly defined function within the
institutional framework of the Church - THE OFFICE
OF PRIEST-CONFESSOR.
✽ IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION, THE RIGHT TO HEAR
CONFESSIONS IS NOT GRANTED AUTOMATICALLY AT
ORDINATION.
BEFORE ACTING AS CONFESSOR, A PRIEST REQUIRES
AUTHORIZATION FROM HIS BISHOP; and in the Greek
Church, at any rate, only a minority of the Clergy
are so authorized.
Yet, ALTHOUGH THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF CONFESSION
IS CERTAINLY AN APPROPRIATE OCCASION FOR
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, THE MINISTRY OF THE STARETS
IS BY NO MEANS IDENTICAL WITH THAT OF A
CONFESSOR.
✽ THE STARETS GIVES ADVICE - not only at Confession -
but on many other occasions.
Moreover, WHILE THE CONFESSOR MUST ALWAYS BE A
PRIEST, THE STARETS MAY BE A SIMPLE MONK, NOT IN
HOLY ORDERS, OR EVEN A LAYMAN.
THE MINISTRY OF ELDERSHIP MAY ALSO BE EXERCISED BY A
NUN OR A LAYWOMAN, FOR IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION
THERE ARE SPIRITUAL MOTHERS AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL
FATHERS.
THE STARETS, whether Ordained or lay, FREQUENTLY
SPEAKS WITH AN INSIGHT AND AUTHORITY THAT ONLY A
VERY FEW CONFESSOR-PRIESTS POSSESS.
If, however, Spiritual Fathers or Mothers are not
appointed by an Official Act of the Hierarchy, how
then do they come to embark on their Ministry?
SOMETIMES AN EXISTING STARETS WILL DESIGNATE HIS
OWN SUCCESSOR.
In this way, at certain Monastic centres - such as Optina
Monastery in nineteenth-century Russia - there was
established an “Apostolic Succession” of Spiritual
Masters.
In other cases, the Starets emerges spontaneously,
without any act of external authorization.
As Father Alexander Elchaninov says, they are
“recognized as such by the people.”
✽ WITHIN THE CONTINUING LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY, IT BECOMES PLAIN TO THE FAITHFUL,
BELIEVING PEOPLE OF GOD – who are THE TRUE
Elder Leonid Of Optina
If you would be simple-hearted like the Apostles, if
you would not conceal your human
shortcomings, if you would not pretend to be
especially pious, you would walk free from
hypocrisy - that is the Path of Truth and
Righteousness.
While it is easy, not everyone can find it or
understand it.
Elder Silouan Of Mount Athos
When asked: “How should one differentiate between a
genuine Union with God and imagined
experiences of philosophic or pantheistic nature?"
Elder Leonid replied: “By loving enemies..." and
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there rules
32. ((SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 2 nd Sunday After Pentecost – 2 n d Sunday Of St Matthew – Fishers Of Men -
field of action is unlimited… they are
undoubtedly Saints, recognized as such by
the people. I feel that in our tragic days it is
precisely through this means that Faith will
survive and be strengthened in our country.”
GUARDIANS OF HOLY TRADITION — THAT THIS OR
THAT PERSON HAS THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL
FATHERHOOD OR MOTHERHOOD.
to him or her for advice and Spiritual Direction.
It will be noted that the initiative comes, as a rule, not
from the Master but from the Disciples.
IT WOULD BE PERILOUSLY PRESUMPTUOUS FOR SOMEONE TO
SAY IN HIS OWN HEART OR TO OTHERS, “Come and
submit yourselves to me; I am a Starets - I
have the Grace of the Spirit.”
What happens, rather, is that — WITHOUT ANY CLAIMS
BEING MADE BY THE PERSON HIMSELF — OTHERS
APPROACH HIM, SEEKING HIS ADVICE OR ASKING TO
LIVE PERMANENTLY UNDER HIS CARE.
At first, he will probably send them away, telling them
to consult someone else.
✽ EVENTUALLY THE MOMENT COMES WHEN HE NO LONGER
SENDS THEM AWAY BUT ACCEPTS THEIR COMING TO
HIM AS A DISCLOSURE OF THE WILL OF GOD.
THUS IT IS HIS SPIRITUAL CHILDREN WHO REVEAL THE
ELDER TO HIMSELF.
The figure of the Geronta or Starets illustrates the TWO
INTERPENETRATING LEVELS ON WHICH THE EARTHLY
CHURCH EXISTS AND FUNCTIONS.
On the one hand, there is THE EXTERNAL, OFFICIAL AND
HIERARCHICAL LEVEL, WITH ITS GEOGRAPHICAL
ORGANIZATION INTO DIOCESES AND PARISHES, ITS
GREAT CENTRES — Rome, Constantinople, Moscow,
and Canterbury — AND ITS “APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION”
OF BISHOPS.
On the other hand, there is THE INNER, SPIRITUAL AND
“CHARISMATIC” LEVEL, to which the Staretsi primarily
belong.
Here the chief centres are, for the most part, not the
great Primatial and Metropolitan Sees but certain
REMOTE HERMITAGES, IN WHICH THERE SHINE FORTH A
FEW PERSONALITIES RICHLY ENDOWED WITH SPIRITUAL
GIFTS.
✽ MOST STARETSI HAVE POSSESSED NO EXALTED STATUS
IN THE FORMAL HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH; YET
THE INFLUENCE OF A SIMPLE PRIEST-MONK SUCH AS
ST SERAPHIM OF SAROV EXCEEDED THAT OF ANY
PATRIARCH OR BISHOP IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY
ORTHODOXY.
In this fashion, ALONGSIDE THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
OF THE EPISCOPATE, THERE EXISTS ALSO THE
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF THE SAINTS AND SPIRIT-
BEARERS.
✽ BOTH TYPES OF SUCCESSION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE
TRUE FUNCTIONING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, and it
is through their interaction that the Life of the
Church on earth is accomplished.
TO BE C O N T I N U E D .....
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY” – BY
METROPOLITAN KALLISTOS WARE – JUNE 2009 – LECTURE PUBLISHED ON
PRAVMIR.COM :
http://www.pravmir.com/thespiritualguideinorthodoxchristianityparti/
This Path is the shortest Way to Salvation and
attracts the Grace of God.
Unpretentiousness, guilelessness, frankness of
soul - this is what is pleasing to the Lord, Who is
lowly of heart.
As our Lord taught us: “Unless you become like
children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom
of God.” (Matthew 18:13)
unconditionally humble Love for the enemy
and Prayer for the world," which is really hard to
learn - as everyone who has got close to the subject
knows.
26 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the Son, and to the H oly Spirit,
now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria,
Theotokos, ye t Ever Virgi n, toge ther wi th all the Saints. And let us commi t ourselves
and one another and our w hole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

29 June 2011

Apostles’ Feast:
St Peter & St Paul
Holy Apostles of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ

Also the Feast of St Mary, the Righteous Mother of St John-Mark the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, sister of St
Barnabas the Holy Apostle of Christ – the Kasperov Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos
Apolytikion Of St Peter & St Paul – Tone 3:
I ton Apostolon Protothroni, ke tis Ikoumenis Didaskali, Among the Apostles the loftiest, and Teachers of the
to Despoti ton olon Presvefsate, Irinin ti ikoumeni Universe, intercede, O Peter and Paul, with the Master
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos.. of us all, peace to all the world to grant, and to our
souls, the Great Mercy
Kontakion of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon to 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 Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication,
timonton se. O Theotokos who always protects all those who
honour Thee!
Matins Gospel According to St John 21:14 - 25
Our Lord Jesus Restores And Commissions St Peter
The third time Jesus showed Himself to His Disciples after He was raised from the dead, when they had eaten
breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me more than these?” He said
to Him: “Yes, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.”
He said to him again a second time: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you Love Me?” He said to Him:, “Yes Lord; Thou
know that I love Thee.” He said to him: “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time: “Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He asked him a third time: “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, Thou know all
things; Thou know that I Love Thee.” Jesus said to him:, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you: when
you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you
will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would Glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him:
“Follow Me.”
Then Peter, turning around, saw the Disciple whom Jesus Loved following, (who had also leaned on His Breast at the
Supper and asked: “Lord, who is the one who betrays Thee?” ) Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what
about this man?” Jesus said to him: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You
follow Me!”
Then this saying went out among the Brethren that this Disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he
would not die, but: “If I Will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This is the Disciple who testifies to these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his Testimony is True.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose
that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Amen
Prokeimenon:
Their Proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world!
The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the firmament shows the Creation of His Hands!
The Second Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 11 :21 – 12:9
St Paul Defends His Apostleship, Recounting His Sufferings, Visions And Weaknesses
Brethren, to our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold – I speak foolishly – I
am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as a fool – I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
From the Hebrews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was
stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of
waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils
in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness
often, in hunger and thirst, in Fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things that come upon
me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will
boast in the things that concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Blessed
forever, knows that I am not lying.
In Damascus the Governor, under Aretas the King, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring
to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) Feast Of The Holy Apostles Of Christ – St Peter & St Paul - 29 June 2011
33.
I will come to Visions and Revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the
body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the
Third Heaven. And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – how
he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For although I might desire to
boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the Truth.
But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be
exalted above measure by the abundance of the Revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of
Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times
that it might depart from me. And He said to me: "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My Strength is made
perfect in weakness."
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the Power of Christ may rest upon me.
St Paul listed his Hebrew and Christian credentials Unlike his opponents who publicly boasted of their own
according to his opponents’ level of argument. greatness in their Mystical Experiences, ST PAUL
Genealogy was important to the Hebrews and ST REGARDED HIS OWN “THORN IN THE FLESH” AS HAVING
PAUL HAD HIS OWN IMPRESSIVE GENEALOGY AND BEEN BESTOWED UPON HIM IN ORDER TO KEEP HIM
HIS CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE WAS INCOMPARABLE HUMBLE.
WITH ANYONE ELSE – his suffering, his His “thorn” was a chronic physical problem (some have
compassionate, involved concern for others suggested stomach or gastric ulcers or even cancer,
and even his rather extraordinary Missionary which caused intense discomfort and constant pain)
Journeys throughout the known world of the as well as the deluded Christians or stubborn
time and everything he endured since his Israelites with whom he had to daily contend.
Miraculous Conversion. Nevertheless, FOR ST PAUL, HIS HUMBLING PHYSICAL
St Paul’s opponents had probably boasted of their WEAKNESSES - NOT HIS MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES - WERE
THE MEANS WHEREBY THE POWER OF CHRIST REMAINED
Visions and Revelations so ST PAUL MENTIONED WITH HIM.
ONE OF HIS OWN, FOURTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY,
❃ DIVINE GRACE ACCOMPANIES TRUE VIRTUE – ESPECIALLY
WHICH DATED THE EVENT BEFORE HE BEGAN HIS THAT OF OBEDIENCE AND HUMILITY.
MISSIONARY JOURNEYS – HIS DIVINE CALLING BY
CHRIST ALONG THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
St Paul used two Hebrew terms to describe the
Heavenly Realms: “the Third Heaven,” which is
the highest Heaven and “Paradise,” which is
where God is surrounded by the Assembly of
the Just in the City of God.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 16: 13 – 19
St Peter Confesses Our Lord Jesus As The Christ And Is Promised The Keys Of The Kingdom
At that time, when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples: "Whom do men say
that the Son of Man is?" So they said: "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one
of the Prophets."
Jesus asked them: "And Whom do you say that I Am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the Living God." Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood
has not revealed it to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I say you that you are Peter; and
upon this Rock I shall build My Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against It. And I will
give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be
bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loosen on earth, it shall be loosened also in
Heaven.”
“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” is the greatest question we in Matthew 18:17) describing THE TRUE ISRAEL
can ever answer!! WHOSE CITIZENSHIP IS HEAVENLY.
St Peter’s ringing Confession: “THOU ART THE CHRIST, She is THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE DIVINE-HUMAN ORGANISM,
THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!” IS A DIVINELY INSPIRED and to Her comes the Call of our Lord Jesus for the
INSIGHT GIVEN TO HIM BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. whole of mankind TO ABIDE WITH HIM AND IN HIM.
Our Lord Jesus’ Messianic Identity and Divinity, the [EPHESIANS 1:23]

Mystery hidden from Eternity, cannot be truly known
through human intelligence or reasoning, but only
by God’s Revelation. [1 CORINTHIANS 12:3]
The title “Christ” means “the Anointed One” and AS
CHRIST IS TRULY THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, THE
FATHER HAS ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. [ACTS
10:38]
King David wrote: “THEREFORE GOD, THY GOD, HATH
ANOINTED THEE WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE
THAN THY COMPANIONS.” [PSALM 45:7]
St Isaiah, speaking in the Name of the Lord, said: “THE
SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE THE
LORD HATH ANOINTED ME.” [ISAIAH 61:1]
The name “Peter” is a play on the word for “rock” or
“stone” in Aramaic and Greek. (PETROS/PETRA). THE
TERM “ROCK” DID NOT REFER TO ST PETER HIMSELF
BUT TO HIS SINCERE CONFESSION OF FAITH.
✽ THE TRUE ROCK AND FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IS,
OF COURSE, CHRIST HIMSELF.
✽ THE CHURCH RESTS UPON THIS ROCK BY HER
UNCHANGING FAITH AND HER CONFESSION. WITH
THIS FAITH AS THE FOUNDATION, THE GATES OF
HADES, THE POWER OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION,
ARE POWERLESS AGAINST HER.
In the Old Testament, the term “gates” suggested a
fortified city. [GENESIS 22:17; 24:60; ISAIAH 14:31]
✽ Hence, BY SHATTERING THE GATES, CHRIST OPENED
THE STRONGHOLD OF DEATH AND SET THE SOULS OF
THE RIGHTEOUS ONES FREE.
In all the Holy Gospels, the word “church” [EKKLESSIA =
GATHERING] is mentioned twice by our Lord (here and
The expression “Keys of the Kingdom,” clearly implies
A SPECIAL AUTHORITY THAT CHRIST GAVE TO ST PETER
HIMSELF, BUT WHICH WAS NEVER SEPARATED FROM HIS
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
❃ Furthermore, while St Peter was a leader of the
Disciples and of the early Church, ALL THE HOLY
APOSTLES WERE EMPOWERED EQUALLY WITH
CHRIST’S DIVINE AUTHORITY.
Therefore, ST PETER WAS NOT A LEADER OVER THE OTHERS
BUT A LEADER AMONGST THEM, as seen at the Council
of Jerusalem, where Elders or Presbyters [PRIESTS] met
with the Apostles – altogether as equals.
Roman Papal claims in later centuries must not be
confused with the New Testament witness regarding
St Peter, nor should the role of St Peter in the New
Testament be minimised in opposition to those
claims!
✽ “BINDING” AND “LOOSENING” IS A REFERENCE TO THE
TEACHING, SACRAMENTAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
POWERS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES THAT WERE
SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSMITTED TO THE BISHOPS OF
THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST.

34 SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) The Feast Of The Holy Apostles Of Christ – St Peter & St Paul - 29 June 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
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.

29 June 2011

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles of Christ

Also the Feast of St Peter of Ordinsk, Rostov – St Sophronios of Irkutsk,

translation of Relics – St Gelasios of Rimet – St Dinar the Holy Queen of Hereti,
Georgia – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Balikin

Apolytikion of St Peter & St Paul – Tone 3:

I ton Apostolon protothroni, ke tis ikoumenis didaskali, Among the Apostles the loftiest, and Teachers of the
to Despoti ton olon presvefsate, irinin ti ikoumeni Universe, intercede, O Peter and Paul, with the Master
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos.. of us all, peace to all the world to grant, and to our
souls, the Great Mercy
Apolytikion of the Holy Apostles Of Christ - Tone 3
Apostoli Agii, presvefsate to eleimoni Theo, ina O Holy Apostles, Intercede with out Merciful God
ptesmaton afesin, paraskhi tes psihes imon. to grant our souls forgiveness of sins!
Kontakion To The Ever Blessed Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon to 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 Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication,
Timonton Se. O Theotokos who always Protects all those who
honour Thee!
Matins Gospel: John 15: 1- 7
Our Lord Jesus Christ Is The True Vine And We Are His Branches Who Must Bear Good
Spiritual Fruit
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “I Am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every Branch in Me
that does not bear Fruit He takes away; and every Branch that bears Fruit He prunes, that it may bear
more Fruit. You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoke unto you. Abide in Me, and I
in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in Me.
“I Am the Vine, you are the Branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much Fruit; for without Me
you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a Branch and is withered; and they
gather them and throw them into the Fire, and they are burned.
“If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for
you.”
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4: 9 – 16
St Paul Tells Us To Have Wisdom In His Spiritual Fatherhood
Brethren, I think that God has displayed us, the Apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a
spectacle to the world, both to Angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are
weak. But you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured!
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour,
working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We
have been made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things until now.
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the
Gospel. Therefore, I urge you: imitate me!
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 9 : 36 – 10 : 8
Our Lord Is Moved To Compassion For His People & He Chose Twelve Apostles
At that time when our Lord Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved to compassion for them, because they were weary
and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. And when He had called His Twelve Disciples to Him, He gave them
Power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the Tax Collector; James the son of
Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who also
betrayed Him.
These Twelve Jesus sent out and Commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not
enter the city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go,
preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,
cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give…”
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT SEE PEOPLE AS His Compassion means that HE SUFFERS WITH AND FOR
SINNERS TO BE CONDEMNED, BUT RATHER AS LOST ALL THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY LOST.
SHEEP TO BE FOUND AND BROUGHT SAFELY HOME. In his human Nature CHRIST UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT
MEANS FOR US HUMAN BEINGS TO BE LOST AND EXILED

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 FROM THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND GRACE OF HIS
HEAVENLY FATHER.
HE ALWAYS SHARES OUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL
SUFFERING BECAUSE OF HIS INFINITE LOVE FOR US.
✽ THE IMAGERY OF BEING “...LIKE SHEEP HAVING NO
SHEPHERD...” is drawn from the Old Testament
and is an accusation against Jewish Leaders
who - although charged by God with the Sacred
Duty of being Spiritual Shepherds of His Holy
Flock – His Chosen People - acted like ravenous
wolves instead:
N u m b e r s : 2 7 : 1 6 - 1 7 : “Let the Lord - the God of the
spirits of all flesh - appoint someone over the
Congregation, who shall go out before them
and come in before them, who shall lead them
out and bring them in, so that the
Congregation of the Lord may not be like
Sheep without a Shepherd.”
1 K i n g s 2 2 : 1 7 : “... Micah said: ‘I saw all Israel
scattered on the mountains, like sheep that
have no shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These
have no Master; let each one go home in
Peace.’”
E z e k i e l 3 4 : 5 : “So they were scattered, because
there was no Shepherd; and scattered, they
became food for all the Wild Animals.”
✽ THE TERMS “APOSTLES” AND “DISCIPLES” ARE
INTERCHANGEABLE WORDS FOR THE TWELVE
CLOSEST AND MOST FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Greek word for “Disciple” means “learner” or
“student” - and “Apostle” means “one officially
sent on a Mission.”
✽ JESUS CHRIST PERFORMED MIRACLES BY HIS OWN
DIVINE POWER WHEREAS THE APOSTLES WERE
GIVEN POWER TO DO WONDERFUL DEEDS THROUGH
CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MAKES ALL
THINGS POSSIBLE FOR US.
The God-Inspired Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
St Matthew and St Luke added to the Gospel of St Mark
concerning the Power to heal all types of ailments
and diseases.
The names of the Twelve Apostles - not exactly the
same in all the New Testament lists - are arranged
in pairs, which gives an interesting impression of
who may have travelled with whom on this - the
Apostles’ First - Missionary Journey, since St Mark
wrote that they were sent out two by two.
✽ THE DISCIPLES’ MISSION - LIKE THAT OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST - WAS TO PREACH AND TO HEAL.
OUR LORD SENT THEM ONLY TO THE HEBREWS - who were
the initial focus of His earthly Ministry - and SO THAT,
AFTER THE RESURRECTION, THEY COULD NOT BLAME
THE DISCIPLES for “...going to uncircumcised men”
– meaning the Gentiles. [ACTS 11:3]
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAREFULLY PREPARED HIS
DISCIPLES by instructing them:
➤ To BE SINGLE-MINDED AND FOCUSSED UPON THE
SACRED MISSION
➤ GOD’S POWER IS FREELY BESTOWED UPON HIS
FAITHFUL DISCIPLES – WHATEVER WE
ACCOMPLISH IS A DIVINE GIFT FROM ALMIGHTY
GOD – AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR OWN
POWERLESS HUMAN ABILITIES.
➤ He instructed them not to carry any money or
provisions so that they would LEARN TO
DEPEND ON GOD FOR ALL THEIR NEEDS - TO
DEPEND ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE - and TO
PREVENT ANY ACCUSATIONS OF GREED OR
SELFISHNESS.
➤ GOD FREES US FROM WORRYING ABOUT WORLDLY
MATTERS so that WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON
PREACHING HIS DIVINE WORD AND/OR
FULFILLING OUR OWN PERSONAL SACRED
MISSION.

St Seraphim Of Sarov
"You cannot be too gentle or too kind. Shun even When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a
to appear harsh in your treatment of each swamp that nothing in another can equal it!
other. That is why we turn away (from our own
Joy, radiant Joy, streams from the faces of those sins), and make much of the faults of others.
who give and kindles Joy in the hearts of Instead of condemning others, strive to reach
those who receive. Inner Peace.
All condemnation is from the devil. Never Keep silent. Refrain from judgement. This will
condemn each other. We condemn others only raise you above the deadly arrows of slander,
because we avoid knowing ourselves. insult and outrage and will shield your
glowing heart against all evil."
*St Peter of Damascus
“One day, while St Anthony was sitting with a certain 'Or dishonour the same as praise?' 'No, Abba.'
Elder*, a Nun came up and said to the Holy Father: 'Are your enemies the same for you as your
'Abba, I fast six days of the week and I repeat - by friends?' 'No', she replied.
heart - portions of the Old and New Testament At that the wise Elder said to her: 'Go, get to work,
daily.' you have accomplished nothing.’”
To which the Elder replied: 'Does poverty mean the
same to you as abundance?' 'No', she answered.

St John Of Kronstadt
" Love every one in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins, but remember that the Foundation of each
one is the same - the Image of God."

Saint Symeon The New Theologian

"In the Future Life the Christian is not examined to see if he has renounced the whole world for Christ's Love - or if he
has distributed his riches to the poor - or if he Fasted or kept Vigil or prayed - or if he wept and lamented for his
sins - or if he has done any other good in this life - but he is examined attentively if he has any similitude
with Christ, as a son does with his father."

Proverbs 17:9
He who covers over an offence promotes Love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

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