Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

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

2 February 2010

The Presentation/Meeting of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ

APOLYTIKION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST: TONE 1:
1

Here Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene; ek sou gar anetilen O Rejoice, O Full of Grace, Virgin Theotokos, because from
Illios tis dikeosinis, Hristo O Theos imon, fotizon tous en Thee has risen the Only Sun of Justice: Christ our
skoti. Efrenou ke si Presvita dikee, dexamenos en Angales God, Lighting those in darkness. Rejoice as well, O
ton eleftherotin ton psihon imon, harisomenon imin ke tin Elder Righteous, having held in thine arms the
Anastasin. Liberator of our souls, Who grants also Resurrection
to us.
KONTAKION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST - - TONE 1

O Mitran Parthenikin Agiasas to toko Sou, ke hiras tou Thy Birth Sanctified a Virgin’s Womb and properly
Symeon evlogisas os eprepe, profthasas ke nin esosas Blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and
imas Hriste O Theos. All’ irinefson en polemis to Saved us O Christ, our God, give Peace to Thy
politevma, ke krateoson Vasilis ous igapisas, O monos Commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen
filanthropos those in authority, whom Thou Love, as the Only
Lover of mankind.
Matins Gospel According to St Luke 2 : 22 – 40
THE SONG OF ST SYMEON THE RIGHTEOUS ELDER

Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Symeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the
Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
So he came by the Holy Spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to
the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and Blessed God and said: “O Lord, now Thou art letting Thy
servant depart in Peace according to Thy Word; for my eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast prepared
before the face of all peoples: a Light to bring Revelation to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy People, Israel.”
St Symeon was one of the Seventy learned scholars who were However, the Holy Spirit informed him that it was truly to be a
especially chosen to translate all the Sacred Scriptures Virgin who would give Birth to our Saviour – the Messiah –
from Hebrew into Hellenistic Greek, which was the the Consolation of Israel.
language of the known world at the time, because the To prove the Truth of His Words, God kept St Symeon alive
Hebrew nation had almost lost the ability to read or speak until the day he personally witnessed the Presentation of
Hebrew. Lord Jesus Christ as a 40 day old Infant.
This precise translation of the ancient Hebrew Scripture is His words of intense gratitude and relief are repeated at every
known as the “Septuagint” – LXX - and was begun in the Vespers Service.
third century before Christ and was completed circa 132 After having Presented the Infant Christ to God at the Temple
BC. according to the Mosaic Law, St Symeon reposed in the
This is Old Covenant Holy Scripture that Christ and His Lord at the very advanced age of approximately 325
Apostles knew, used and quoted – and it is still the Holy years!!
Scripture of the Eastern Orthodox Church – according the St Symeon knew all about the Ever Blessed Theotokos,
Greek Rite – i.e. the Greek Orthodox Church, which was having watched her grow up in the Holy Temple and
the original Christian Church that began on the Day of knowing the special circumstances of her situation and
Pentecost, at the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, commitment to the Glory, Honour and Worship of God
when the many great Divine Gifts were bestowed upon through her absolute Humility and Obedience.
Christ’s Faithful Apostles and Disciples. To those who might scoff at these facts of Divine Truth, let us
St Symeon has been given the task of translating the Book of remind them:
Isaiah and when he came across the word “Virgin,” he ❃ WITH GOD ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND EVERYTHING IS
presumed it to be an error and was about to change it to ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE!
“young woman.”
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 7 : 7 – 17
THE RULES OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD

Brethren: here mortal men receive Tithes, but There He receives them, of Whom it is witnessed that He lives. Even Levi,
who receives Tithes, paid Tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when
Melchizedek met him.
Therefore, if Perfection were through the Levitical Priesthood (for under it the people received the Law,) what further need
was there that another Priest should rise according to the Order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the
Order of Aaron?
For the Priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the Law. For He of Whom these Things are spoken
belongs to another Tribe, from which no man has officiated at the Altar.
For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which Tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning Prieshood. And it is yet
far more evident, if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another Priest Who has come, not according to the law
of a fleshly commandment, but according to the Power of an endless Life.
For He testifies: “Thou art a Priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek.”
Persecuted Christians were encouraged NOT TO APOSTASISE BY RENOUNCING ANY ASPECT OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
TO JUDAISM because the founding Father of CHRIST’S FAITH – I.E. BY COMMITTING APOSTASY – WE RENOUNCE
HOLY PRIESTHOOD, Melchizedek, IS SUPERIOR TO THE CHRIST HIMSELF!
HAVING VOWED SACRED ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST – THE NEW
OLD COVENANT PRIESTHOOD OF LEVI.
COVENANT WITH GOD – WE CANNOT RETURN TO OUR OLD
WAYS –WE CANNOT RETURN TO THE OLD COVENANT
EITHER!

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THAT WOULD BE A DENIAL OF OUR CHRISTIANITY!
The importance of the Tithe was due to the desire to enter into
the ministrations of a Priesthood being fulfilled when such
Liturgical Offerings were made.
Throughout the Old Covenant, Hebrews showed their
continuing desire for God’s Divine Priesthood by
continuing to give a tenth of all they received.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW COVENANT, MONETARY TITHING IS
UNNECESSARY because FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
FREELY SHARE ALL THEIR BLESSINGS with others who are
less fortunate than themselves and THEY SUPPORT THE
HOLY PRIESTHOOD IN THEIR ENDEAVOURS AND
ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS WITHOUT HESITATION.
This is according to the Teaching and Commandments of our
Lord Jesus Christ Who told us to GIVE TO OTHERS AS
FREELY AS WE OURSELVES FREELY AND ABUNDANTLY
RECEIVE FROM GOD.
Furthermore, A CHRISTIAN’S GENEROSITY IS A REFLECTION
AND EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR GOD AND FELLOW
MANKIND.
In addition to financial and material support of the Holy Church
of Christ, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE GIVE AS MUCH OF
OUR PRECIOUS PERSONAL TIME AS POSSIBLE TO SERVE
GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND IN CORPORATE –
COMMUNAL – WORSHIP AS WELL.
The tithing standpoint in the Orthodox Church is further
covered by the Forty- day Fast during Great Lent during
which the money saved by eating much less is granted to
the poor.
THESE ASPECTS ARE ALL ESSENTIAL TO BEING FAITHFUL
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – to do otherwise means that we are
neither committed to God nor do we care for the Spiritual
Welfare of others or ourselves.
The Sacred Rules of Christ’s Holy Priesthood are also
superior to the Old Covenant Priesthood and Eternally
effective.
Priesthood is so intertwined with a Covenant that is the
Priesthood is changed in any manner at all, so is the
Covenant – and THE NEW COVENANT IS ETERNAL AND
UNCHANGING – JUST LIKE THE HOLY TRINITY!

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 2 : 22 – 40

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS PRESENTED TO GOD – ACCORDING TO THE LAW - AT HIS HOLY TEMPLE
TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM

At that time, when the days of Mary’s purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought the Child
to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male who opens the womb shall
be called Holy to the Lord...”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: “... a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons...”
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Symeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the
Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
So he came by the Holy Spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to
the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and Blessed God and said: “O Lord, now Thou art letting Thy
servant depart in Peace according to Thy Word; for my eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast prepared
before the face of all peoples: a Light to bring Revelation to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy People, Israel.”
And Joseph and His Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Then Simon blessed them, and said to Mary, His Mother: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in
Israel, and for a Sign that will be spoken against, (yes, a sword will pierce through thine own soul also), so that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Now there was one, Hannah, a Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the Tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had
lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty6four years, who did
not depart from the Temple, but served God with Fastings and Prayers night and day. And coming in that instant, she
gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for Redemption in Jerusalem.
So when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city,
Nazareth.
And the Child grew and became strong in Spirit, filled with Wisdom; and the Grace of God was upon Him.
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, being absolutely Obedient to 90:16, in which GOD MAKES A PROMISE TO THE ONE WHO
God in all things, had completed everything that was LOVES HIM: “With length of days I will satisfy him, and
required of her according to the Purification Rites of the show him My Salvation.” (PSALM 90:16)
Old Covenant Law, after which both she and her Our Hymns of the Feast of the Presentation of Christ
Righteous Guardian, St Joseph the Betrothed, took the COMPARE ST SYMEON’S RECEPTION OF CHRIST TO ST
Infant 40 day old Christ to the Holy Temple to be ISAIAH’S RECEPTION OF THE BURNING COAL FROM THE
Presented to God. ANGEL:
ISAIAH 6: 6 – 7: “... one of the Seraphim was sent to me. He had
There were specific requirements for sacrificial offerings for
every different occasion and circumstance, and being less a live coal in his hand, which he took with tongs from the
wealthy than others, St Joseph and the All Holy Theotokos Altar. He touched my mouth, and said: ‘Behold, this has
offered either “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.” touched your lips. Your lawlessness is taken away, and
LEVITICUS 12 2 – 8: “...If a woman conceived and bore a male child,
your sin in cleansed.’”
IN BOTH CASES, A PROPHET RECEIVES THE LIFE-GIVING FIRE
she shall be unclean seven days; she shall be unclean as OF THE OFFERING – ST ISAIAH RECEIVED THE TYPE, WHILE
in the days of her menstrual isolation. Then on the eight ST SYMEON RECEIVED THE FULFILMENT.
day, the flesh of (a son’s) foreskin shall be circumcised. The Canticle of St Symeon is chanted daily at Vespers.
She will continue in the blood of her uncleanness thirty- Since Salvation has been born into the world, all peoples – all
three days. She is not to touch any Hallowed Thing, nor humanity – can embrace death (without fear), for
come into the Sanctuary, until the days of her Purification CHRISTIAN DEATH OR REPOSE IN CHRIST IS NO LONGER
are fulfilled... When the days of her Purification are FRIGHTFUL BUT IS INSTEAD A GATEWAY TO ETERNAL
fulfilled, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to PEACE. (PHILIPPIANS 1:23)
the Priest a lamb of the first year as a whole burnt offering, St Hannah the Prophetess had been widowed very early in
and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the life and had dedicated herself to the Lord by serving Him
door of the Tabernacle of Testimony. Then (the Priest) faithfully in His Holy Temple.
shall bring it before the Lord and make Atonement for her, She, too, would have been well acquainted with the Ever
and it will cleanse her from her flow of blood. This is the Blessed Virgin Mary, no doubt having guided and nurtured
Law for her who bore a male or female. But if she is the young virgins who had been dedicated to God and
unable to afford a lamb, she may bring two who lived at the Temple until puberty.
turtledoves or two young pigeons – one as a whole Being so devout and pious, she was granted the Divine Gift of
burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So the Prophesy and she immediately recognised the Infant as
Priest shall make Atonement for her and she will be being the long-awaited Messiah.
clean.” St Hannah proclaimed the Good Tidings of the Coming of the
ST SYMEON REPRESENTED ALL HUMANITY WHO AWAITED Messiah to all who had ears to hear.
“THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL” and he fulfilled Psalm

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 The Presentation of our Lord & Saviour at the Temple
Today we celebrate the Great Feast of the Presentation
(or Meeting) of our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, in the Temple, as we prepare for the Great
and Holy Lenten Fast, keeping in mind this week,
Sunday’s Parable of the Prodigal Son.
During the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, our
Holy Church blesses candles and votive lamps in
honour of our Lord being revealed to us as the True
Light of the world through the fulfilment of the
requirements of Mosaic Law of the Old Covenant
with God.
That Sacred Law required the firstborn male infant of a
family to be presented at the Temple in Jerusalem as
well as either a young lamb and pigeon or turtledove,
or two turtledoves or two young pigeons to be
offered to God for the forgiveness of sins.
When our Lord Jesus was presented at the Temple, the
very old St Symeon the God6bearer took the 40 day
old Infant in his arms and thus fulfilled a Divine
Prophecy that was made to him by an Angel of God
who told him so many years previously that he would
live to see the Christ of God – the Messiah 6 before
his death. This Prophecy was made to him as one of
the faithful, trusted and erudite translators of the
Septuagint, which is the translation of Hebrew
Scripture into Hellenistic Greek for the Hellenized
Hebrews who lived in Alexandria more than 200
years before Christ.
St Symeon had been assigned the translation of a portion
of the Prophecy of Isaiah and when he came to the
words of the Prophecy: “Behold a VIRGIN shall be
with child and bear a Son, and shall call His Name
Emmanuel,” he debated with himself that it was
impossible for a virgin to conceive a child so it must
have been an error in the original text 6 not fully
appreciating the Divine Truth that ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
So he decided to change the word “virgin” to “young
woman” in his translation to make it more believable
and acceptable in his own mind.
However, an Angel of God appeared before him and
spoke to his heart, compelling him to change the
term “young woman” back to the original “Virgin.”
(ISAIAH 7:14)
As a result of St Symeon’s sceptism regarding a Virgin
Birth, God promised him that he would not die until
he saw the Christ 6 the One promised by this Divine
Prophecy – for himself.
That is the reason for his joyful and thankful
exclamation when our Lord Jesus was presented at
the Temple – the Joyous Proclamation that is
repeated at every Vespers Service : “O Lord, now let
Thy servant depart in Peace, according to Thy
Word; for my eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which
Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
a Light to Enlighten the Gentiles and the Glory of
Thy People, Israel!” (LUKE 2:29-32)
Through this Holy Feast, we see how God unfailingly
fulfils His Promises to mankind for their Salvation.
We see this same fulfilment of our Salvation in the
Lenten Preparatory Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Sacred Lesson of the Prodigal Son is one with which
we are all familiar: a younger, inexperienced son
wants his inheritance even before his father’s death.
As soon as he is granted it, he immediately sets off for a
distant, foreign land where he soon squanders his
entire inheritance.
When he is completely destitute and desperate, he
becomes humble and appreciative of all his former
Blessings.
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Only then is he prepared to make the effort to return to
his loving father’s care and protection.
In his newfound Humility, he was willing to return under
any circumstances to that loving care of his father 6
even if it meant giving up his relationship to his
father and being treated like an employee instead of
a beloved son.
Nevertheless, his overjoyed father, in his abundant love
for his son, ordered a feast to be held in his honour
since he had been saved from his recent debauched,
and decadent life that had caused him Spiritual
Death and alienation from all that was good.
It is an example of the amazing parental patience and
love for a wilful child who fails to do what is right
and it is also an example of God’s infinite Patience
and unceasing, unconditional Love for us even when
we have sinned.
God is always there for us, ready to embrace us when we
return to Him in Repentance.
“He who has no patience with us when we sin does not
Love us... Patience, forgiveness and joy are the
three greatest characteristics of Divine Love…
Without these three characteristics Love is not Love.
If you refer to anything else as ‘love’ it will be like
calling a goat or a pig a ‘sheep.’” ST NIKOLAI VELIMIROVIC
The father of the Parable had two sons: one who asked
for his inheritance and the other who stayed with
him.
These two sons are examples of the Spiritual Man and
the Fleshly Man. This is the same dual nature that
exists in every human being!
Our Spiritual Nature urges us to live according to God’s
Commandments 6 by the “law of the mind” 6 while
the Fleshly Nature demands to live according to the
law of the flesh – our physical demands. (ROMANS 7:22- 7:22-23)
Our Spiritual Nature cannot live apart from God while
our Fleshly Nature – by its selfish demands 6
alienates us from God.
The elder son remained with his father, which shows us
that our Spiritual Nature is older and more mature
than our immature, self6centred fleshly nature.
In the Book of Genesis, we learn that God first said: “Let
Us make man in Our Image.” (GENESIS 1:26).
This Image of God is Spiritual.
After saying this, God created man’s fleshly body from
clay or earth. (GENESIS 2:7)
The body created from earth is not sinful in nature.
However, it is through the flesh created from earth
that man is led into sin.
The youngest son asked for his portion of the
inheritance and therefore raises an important
question for us: “What is ours?”
God created all of Creation and it is entirely His.
When we live in God’s Presence according to His Laws, all
that is His is ours as well.
Our Lord illustrated this when He said: “All things that
the Father has are mine.” (JOHN 16:15)
This young man separated or alienated himself from his
father or sinned against his father when he asked for
his portion of the Inheritance because he wanted that
which was not his at the time.
The best we can ever hope for – or deserve to have 6 in
our lives is the same as that with which we came into
the world.
As it says in our Funeral Service: “Earth you are, and
unto earth shall you return.”
However, God does not leave us naked when we sin or
separate ourselves from Him.
God’s Love and Compassion for us was clearly evident
when Adam was expelled from Paradise. God did not
2 FEBRUARY 2010 3.
 send Adam and Eve away naked but clothed them in
the skins of animals. (GENESIS
(GENESIS 3:21)
The young man wasted his days with riotous living in a
“far country.”
All those of us who alienate ourselves from God through
our wilful, unrepented sins, waste our days in a “far
country” – far away from the Goodness of God 6 as
King David the Psalmist wrote: “Therefore their days
did he consume in vanity...” (PSALM 77/78:33)
During his dissipation, the young man became like a
plant that had been severed from its roots: without
roots a plant quickly uses up its resources and
withers and dies.
In a very short time he was left without any resources at
all, and suffered the pangs of Spiritual Death.
The same happens to us when we turn away from God.
Unless we are as fortunate as the Prodigal Son and come
to our senses before it is too late, we will realise that
we are Spiritually Bankrupt and suffering a Spiritual
Death!
At first the destitute young man, not wanting to
surrender his so6called “freedom,” tried to remedy
his circumstances by going to work for another man
– feeding his herds of pigs.
But as he worked in the fetid conditions, his hunger6
pangs overwhelmed him. Envying the herds for their
meagre rations, he suddenly grasped the reality of
his life.
This further illustrates the degree of corruption he had
sustained for he would even have partaken of that
which is devoid of any nourishment or benefit,
rather than end his miserable enslavement.
Only through living with God and following His
Directions and Communing with Him are we
Spiritually Nourished and benefitted.
King David described the wretched circumstances of the
Prodigal Son: “The enemy has persecuted my soul;
he has smitten my life down to the pit; he has laid
me in the darkness, like men who have been long
dead.” (PSALM 142/143:3)
At last his desperation brought the young man to
Repentance and “...he came to himself” as our
Blessed Father Theophylact described the transition
that occurred in him.
The young man changed his mind 6 he completely
changed the way he thought and his whole attitude!
He finally acknowledged his dependence upon his loving
father and made the decision to return to him.
He recognised and humbly admitted the error of his
ways that caused such a terrible separation from all
that was truly good in his life.
He was more than willing to accept the consequences of
his actions and made his heartfelt confession: “I
have sinned against Heaven and before you and
am no longer worthy to be called your son!”
This is how we, too, should approach our own personal
Repentance when we go for Confession.
His father was loving and compassionate father. He was
very patient with his impulsive young son.
The image of the Prodigal’s father is the same as that of
our True Father Who is in Heaven – our Lord God
Himself.
When we repent like this young man repented, our Lord
Jesus Christ told us: “There is Joy in the presence
of the Angels of God over every sinner who
repents.” (LUKE 15:7-
15:7-10)
St James the Holy Apostle of Christ described the results
of Repentance: “Draw near to God, and He will
draw near to you.” (JAMES 4:8)
When the Prodigal Son returned to his patiently waiting
father in Repentance and Humility, his father
4 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR AT THE TEMPLE
rejoiced and celebrated his beloved son’s
homecoming with a great feast.
The happy father ordered his servants to dress his son
in the best robe and to place a ring upon his finger,
denoting his reinstatement as his son and heir.
The best robe is symbolic of our Holy Baptism when we
“... put on Christ.”
Furthermore, our Repentance6Confession is a renewal of
our Holy Baptism – a renewal of our putting on
Christ because it is our Spiritual Restoration each
time we do so – returning from Spiritual Death
through our sins to Spiritual Life through our
Repentance6Confession.
“As many as have been Baptised into Christ, have put
on Christ.” (GALATIANS
(GALATIANS 3:27)
During the festivities of the homecoming celebration, the
elder, mature brother returns from working in his
father’s fields.
He was understandably upset and offended that his
wayward brother’s return deserved such a great
celebration since he was the one who remained with
his father and continued working for him. He even
mentioned the fact that his father had never
celebrated or feasted with him and his friends.
Nevertheless, his devoted father tried to console him by
explaining the enormity of the occasion: “My son,
your brother, was dead and is alive again! He was lost
but now is found!”
When the elder son stubbornly refused to participate in
the celebrations, the father tried to persuade him to
join them by reminding him: “You are always with
me, and all that I have is yours.”
These are words of comfort and instruction to the
Righteous, assuring them that everything comes
from the Father.
We are reminded of what our Lord told us when He said:
“All things that the Father has are Mine.. ” and
because we are co6Heirs with Christ to God’s
Kingdom by adoption through our Holy Baptism, we
too will Inherit Everlasting Life. (JOHN 16:15)
So, my dear Brethren in Christ, we see how God keeps
His Promises of our Salvation just as He did for the
Righteous St Symeon the God6bearer and through
the Repentance of the Prodigal Son.
My Prayer for each of you is that you may see your own
Salvation through the realisation and
acknowledgement of your separation from God
through sin, and by completely changing your mind,
your attitude and by repenting your sins, that all that
is God’s might be yours just as our Lord Jesus Christ
promised us. Amen.
EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP: “THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR AT THE TEMPLE”
- BY FATHER MILAN MEDAKOVIC - THE SAINT
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN RESOURCES
SAINT GREGORY PALAMAS OUTREACH-
FOR MENTAL
OUTREACH-
HEALTH –
www.saintgregoryoutreach.org
FAITH is the Foundation of the Holy Church.
For it was not of the person, but of THE FAITH of St
Peter of which it was said: ‘... the gates of Hell shall
not prevail:’ certainly, it is THE CONFESSION OF
FAITH that has vanquished the powers of Hell.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ROCK.
He did not deny THE GRACE OF HIS NAME to St Peter
because he borrowed the constancy and solidity of
his Faith from the Rock – ‘... thy Rock is thy Faith,
and Faith is the Foundation of the Church. If thou
art a Rock, thou shalt be in the Church, for the
Church is built upon the Rock ... THE PROFESSION
OF FAITH IS CHRIST JESUS.’
ST AMBROSE
2 FEBRUARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

6 February 2010
Saturday of the Souls

Feast of St Photios the Great of Constantinople – Equal to the Apostles; St Bukolos

of Smyrna; St Barsonuphios & St John of Egypt; St Theodosios of Chernigov;
St Vedast of Arras

APOLYTIKION 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 – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
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 doulon Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your
Sou, entha ouk esti ponos, ou lipi, ou stenagmos, alla servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no grieving,
zoi atelevtitos. but life everlasting.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 7 : 26 – 8 : 2
CHRIST OUR ONLY HIGH PRIEST & THE ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT

Brethren: such a High Priest was fitting for us, Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and Who has
become higher than the heavens; Who does not need daily – as those High Priests – to offer up sacrifices, first for His
own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
For the Law appoints as High Priests men who have weaknesses, but the Word of the Oath, which came after the Law,
appoints the Son Who has been Perfected forever.
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: we have such a High Priest, Who is seated at the right hand of the
Throne of the Majesty in Heaven, a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the True Tabernacle which the Lord erected, and
not man.
“Majesty” is a Biblical Name for God the Father and a High Consequently, our High Priest never needs to make any
Priest Who sat at the right hand of God the Father would sacrificial offerings for the forgiveness of sin – certainly not
have to be both Divine and human: Jesus Christ. His own and neither for mankind because His personal,
The New Covenant solves all the problems and overcomes all willing Offering of His own Body and Blood on the Cross,
the obstacles that the Hebrew Mosaic Law could not. was the final and ultimate Sacrifice of all times.
Both the Old and the New Covenants come from God but Such a Perfect and fulfilling Blood Sacrifice paid the ransom
require our willing co-operating and commitment. for all mankind for all ages – for all time.
The Old Covenant was external to mankind and could not Thus, there is no need to ever repeat another blood sacrifice
solve the root of our problem: sin and death. for the forgiveness of sins.
It could not reunite and reintegrate our souls and it had to be Instead, at every Divine Liturgy, as our Lord and Saviour
learnt through the teaching of other human beings with taught us to do, we offer to God gifts of bread and wine,
equally limited human understanding and knowledge. which He has granted us, as a bloodless offering for the
The Old Covenant was heeded or obeyed through fearful forgiveness of our sins and for our Eternal Life.
compliance and gave us imperfect forgiveness. We were By the descent of the Holy Spirit these bloodless offerings
taught that God was a vengeful God Who cruelly punished become Divine – Mysteriously they become the Body and
all wrong-doers so He had to be obeyed! Blood of Christ, which is partaken of by all faithful
Christ taught us everything we know about the New Covenant, Disciples of Christ in the Holy Mystery of Eucharist –
but most important of all, He revealed the infinite Love and Thanksgiving.
Compassion of God and His desire for us to willingly and In this manner, our bodies, which become Holy Temples for
through our devotion and Love for Him, to obey and to the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity, and our immortal, Eternal
fulfil His Divine Will and Purpose for all mankind. souls, are repeatedly and continuously being Sanctified
God never forces His Will on us but patiently waits for us to and prepared for God’s Eternal Kingdom and our Eternal
realise His Providence and the Eternal Benefits He offers Life.
us. It is up to us to accept or reject them. The Old Covenant appointed human beings who had the
The New Covenant is internal and heals our fallen human same ability to commit sin as everyone else so they had to
nature. It unifies our inner man – and our heart and mind constantly offer sin sacrifices for themselves as well as the
are united with our Creator. people.
Divine Knowledge is grasped by us through the Action of the However, the New Covenant with God, which we received
Holy Spirit Who enables us to do all things that are after the Incarnation of the Son of God and which came
impossible without God. into practise on the Day of Pentecost at the descent of the
The New Covenant is heeded and obeyed through our willing Holy Spirit, has the most Pure and Perfect High Priest –
co-operation or synergy with God and grants us our Lord Jesus Christ – Who is completely sinless and
forgiveness of all sins and consequently Spiritual and Who makes it possible for us to enter God’s Everlasting
Eternal Life. Kingdom as worthy and Holy citizens.
Our New Covenant with Almighty God requires an Eternal, The New Covenant with God has been revealed and
Perfect High Priest Whose personal attributes are Divine explained to us by God Himself so that there is no doubt,
and Everlasting. nor human error when it comes to understanding or
Our one and Only High Priest – the True and Only Head of explaining God’s Divine Will and His Purpose for all
our Holy Church - our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ – mankind: Christ our Saviour has shown us by His
the Only Begotten Son of God the Father. Example how to live on earth and to Love God and our
The Divine Nature of Christ has elevated and purified and fellow man, and He has taught us correctly how to prepare
restored our fallen human nature and in God Incarnate, for Eternal Life and He has revealed God’s Divine Truth to
that human nature became sinless. us.

[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) SATURDAY OF THE SOULS 6 FEBRUARY 2010 5.

We have no more valid excuses for rebelling against, ignoring horrors of being exiled and alienated from everything that
or disobeying God’s Divine Will and Purpose! is Good – Eternal Condemnation and Eternal Death!
It is now entirely up to us whether we enjoy Eternal Life in
God’s Heavenly Kingdom or suffer the indescribable
The Holy Gospel According to St John 10 : 9 – 16
THE HOLY HIERARCHS OF OUR CHURCH WERE GOOD SHEPHERDS TO OUR LORD’S FLOCK
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and
out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come so that they
may have Life, and so that they may have it more abundantly.
“I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the Sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the Shepherd,
one who does not own the Sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the Sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the
Sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the Sheep.
“I Am the Good Shepherd; and I know My Sheep, and Am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know
the Father; and I lay down My Life for the Sheep. And other Sheep I have, which are not of this Fold, them also I
must bring, and they will hear My Voice; and there will be one Flock and one Shepherd.
THE ONLY WAY ANYONE CAN ENTER THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM Now, with our New Covenant, WE, TOO MUST FAITHFULLY
OF GOD IS THROUGH HIS DIVINE GRACE –THE GREAT OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS WITH JOYFUL AND LOVING
MERCY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. HEARTS - EAGERLY FOLLOWING AND IMITATING CHRIST.
Our correct Spiritual Preparation for Eternity – which takes our Then, just as He has a close affiliation with God the Father,
entire lifetime to achieve - requires an intimate, loving and WE, TOO, AS GOD’S ADOPTED HEIRS, WILL ENJOY A
faithful relationship with God. UNIQUE BOND WITH THE HOLY TRINITY AND, KNOWING
THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THIS LIFE ON EARTH IS OUR GOD SO INTIMATELY, WE WILL NOT BE DECEIVED OR LED
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY!! ASTRAY BY THE UNGODLY.
Christ is not only the means of entering His Divine Kingdom, Christ cautions us about THOSE WHO GO THROUGH THE
which begins at our Holy Baptism and Chrismation, but He MOTIONS WITHOUT COMMITTING THEMSELVES
is also OUR “GOOD SHEPHERD” WHO CAREFULLY COMPLETELY AND CONSCIOUSLY TO THEIR SACRED
WATCHES OVER US AND PROTECTS US FROM THE DUTIES. They are like MERCENARIES WHOSE ONLY
DEVASTATING TEMPTATION of the evil one whose only CONCERN IS SELFISH AND INCONSIDERATE, DESERTING
THEIR DUTIES AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OR EFFORT
obsessive craving is our destruction. – ALWAYS READY WITH EXCUSES!
Satan is the most terrible liar, thief, heretic, warmonger, and OUR SAVIOUR KNOWS EACH SOUL BETTER THAN WE KNOW
destroyer, ceaselessly waiting for opportunities to pounce OURSELVES AND NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM HIS DIVINE
upon unwary sinners, striving to lure and entrap the weak SIGHT.
with his toxic hooks that are often baited with a tiny drop of HIS LOVE IS SO INTENSE AND INFINITE that He offered Himself
truth. for the sake of the Salvation of all mankind, and THERE
CHRIST CAME ESPECIALLY TO TEACH US HOW TO FULFIL OUR ARE MANY OTHERS WHO LOVE AND OBEY GOD AND WHO
SHORT STAY ON EARTH AS HE INTENDED US TO DO WHEN WILL ALSO BE SAFELY GATHERED INTO HIS ETERNAL
HE CREATED US, which prepares us for Eternity that KINGDOM OF LOVE AND PEACE.
follows.
THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD OBEDIENTLY FULFILLED EVERY
LAW OF THE OLD COVENANT AS AN EXAMPLE TO US!

Saturday, the Day of Souls

SINCE THE EARLY YEARS OF OUR HOLY CHURCH, SATURDAYS
HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO THE REPOSED SOULS OF THE
FAITHFUL.
Christians have always taken care to remain close to
their loved ones who have fallen asleep in Christ,
with Memorial Services and charitable deeds for the
sake of their Salvation.
Usually on Saturdays, the loving relatives visit their
resting places in the cemetery – which means the
place of rest or sleep – certainly not the place of the
dead!
AFTER DEATH, OUR IMMORTAL SOULS REPOSE PEACEFULLY
WHILE OUR BODIES RETURN TO THE EARTH FROM
WHENCE THEY CAME, UNTIL THE EIGHTH DAY – THE
GREAT DAY OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT – WHEN EVERY
HUMAN BEING WHO EVER EXISTED WILL BE
RESURRECTED TO STAND BEFORE THE DREAD
JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST OUR LORD, TO FACE THE
ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS
AND DEEDS.
There are several reasons for Saturday being the specific
day of souls and the most likely explanation is that
Saturday was the Sabbath – the day that God set
aside for mankind to rest from his labours and give
thanks, glory and worship to God Who Blesses us
with all the necessities of life.
There are two “Saturday of the Souls” – one before
Meatfare or Judgement Sunday of the Triodion Period
– the week before the beginning of Great Lent 6 and
the other before Pentecost Sunday.
In fact, every Saturday we should reflect on the following
Truths:
❃ OUR WORLD IS BOTH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE. We are
able to experience the visible world of physical
matter through our senses of touch, sight, smell,
hearing and taste. The invisible world is not
always evident to us because we need our
Spiritual Abilities to perceive it, to understand it
and to experience it and while we are limited by
our physical bodies, we are not able to fully grasp
the significance of it. Once our temporary bodies
and immortal souls have parted, we will be
completely enlightened and able to understand
all things that presently seem only like vague
images in a steamed up mirror or window. Our
souls are conscious and aware of everything and
our individual personalities and characters stay
the same as before our repose.
❃ OUR HOLY CHURCH MAINTAINS A CONTINUOUS
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CHURCH MILITANT –
THOSE STILL STRUGGLING TO PREPARE THEMSELVES
FOR ETERNITY – AND THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT –
THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN THE LORD AND
WHO PEACEFULLY AWAIT THE FINAL JUDGEMENT.
The Saints and the Righteous Ones continue their
Intercessory Prayers for those of us who strive daily
to be good and faithful Disciples of Christ.
WHATEVER CHARACTERISTICS WE HAVE ON EARTH ARE
CONTINUED IN THE AFTERLIFE SO THOSE WHO ARE
CLOSE TO GOD WILL REMAIN CLOSE TO HIM, CONTINUING
THEIR SPIRITUAL LABOURS IN HIS HEAVENLY VINEYARD.
❃ In the midst of the hustle and bustle of our busy
lives, WE MUST NEVER FORGET OUR FORTHCOMING
DEATH AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE LIVE EVERY
DAY AS THOUGH IT WAS THE LAST FOR US. We must
do whatever we can to prepare ourselves for
Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. We
cannot wait “until we grow old” before attending
to our Sacred Relationship with God, for life is
but a blink and no one knows when our time will
be up!!
NEVER WASTE ANY TIME ON TRIVIALITIES OR PETTINESS FOR
WE HAVE ONLY THIS SHORT TIME IN WHICH TO IDENTIFY
OUR ERRORS, CONFESS AND REPENT OUR SINS, AND GIVE
AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO NURTURING, DEVELOPING
AND IMPROVING OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION.
MP

6 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) SATURDAY OF THE SOULS 6 FEBRUARY 2010

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

3rd Sunday of Triodion Tone 2 7 February 2010

Meatfare/Judgement Sunday

Feast of St Parthenios of Lampsakos; St Luke the Righteous of Greece;

St Savvas of Kalymnos; St Theopemptos & his fellow Martyrs; St
George of Crete; St Richard the West Saxon of Lucca
RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE 2

Ote katilthes pros ton thanaton, i zoi i athanatos, tote ton When Thou condescended to death, O Life Immortal, Thou
adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis theotitos. Ote de ke tous slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy Divinity.
tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pase e When also Thou raised up the dead from the
dinamis ton epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried
Theos imon, Doxa Si! aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!
KONTAKION OF MEATFARE SUNDAY – TONE 1

Otan elthis O Theos, epi gis meta doxis, ke tremosi ta O God, when Thou come upon the earth in Glory, the whole
simpanta, potamos de tou piros, ipo tou vimatos elki, ke world will tremble. A River of Fire will bring all before
vivli anigonte, ke ta kripta dimosievonte, tote rise me, Thy Judgement Seat and the Books will be opened, and
ek tou piros tou asovestou, ke axioson, ek dexion sou me everything in secret will become public. At that time,
stine, Krita dikeotate. deliver me from the Fire that never dies, and enable me
to stand by Your right Hand, O Judge Most Just.
Resurrection Gospel 2 : Mark 16 : 1 – 8 – THE EMPTY TOMB
The Lord is my Strength and my Praise.
The Lord chastising has chastised me; but He has not delivered me over to Death.
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 8 : 8 – 9 : 2
ST PAUL EXHORTS US TO REMAIN STEADFAST AND DETERMINED IN OUR FAITH AND OUR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

Brethren: I speak not by commandment, but to test the sincerity of your Love by the diligence of others. For you know the
Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His poverty you
might become rich.
And in this I advise you: it is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but
now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also might be a completion
out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to
what one does not have.
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you be burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance
might supply their lack, that their abundance also might supply your lack – that there might be equality. As it is written:
“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Both thanks be to God Who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted the
exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. And we have sent with him the Brother whose
praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel
with us with this Gift, which is administered by us to the Glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, avoiding
this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish Gift which is administered by us – providing honourable things, not only in
the Sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
And we have sent with them our Brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent,
because of the great confidence that we have in you.
If anyone enquires about Titus: he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Of if our Brethren are enquired about,
they are messengers of the churches, the Glory of Christ. Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of
your Love and of our boasting on your behalf.
Now, concerning the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about
which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
St Paul wrote to all the churches in Asia Minor with sincere and had not been affected by famine and who were able to donate
heartfelt encouragement to continue their Christian much needed food and funding.
endeavours and not to be discouraged by anything. St Paul and his co-workers had taken on the responsibility of
This applied to their Spiritual Commitments as well as their ensuring that all the relief funds and food were received and
physical duties to one another. properly and honestly distributed amongst the starving
His exhortation was not only to motivate our Christian Brethren – masses.
and ourselves today – not to weaken or neglect our Spiritual St Paul used every opportunity to remind all Christians – including
Development and progress, but also to continue our works of us – of our Sacred Commitments to God and our sincerity of
charity for those who suffer destitution, hunger and neglect. Faith.
At the time, there was a terrible drought and famine throughout He reminds us of the significance and magnitude of Christian
Judea and the surrounding regions. Unity, the Messianic Age that is in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
The Christian Community of Jerusalem had appealed for help to Christ, and the undeniable effects of Pentecost – the Descent
all the other Christian Communities throughout Asia Minor who and Action of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples of Christ – that
continue and mature in His Holy Church.
[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 3RD SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY 7 FEBRARY 2010 7.
St Paul had instructed the Christian Communities of Corinth and
Galatia to contribute systematically to the relief fund and St
Titus ensured that they had done so.
Although St Paul had told the Macedonian Christians how
exemplary the Corinthians had been, he had his doubts.
Certain Corinthians who were not fully committed to the Christian
Faith felt pressured by St Paul’s urging and accused him of
being “crafty” or getting his way “by cunning” tactics, when, in
order to appeal to their sense of charity – of their Love of
others - St Paul had mentioned the relief fund contribution of
the much poorer Christian Communities of Macedonia to the
proud, wealthy Corinthians who then delighted St Paul with
their liberality – i.e. their generous donations.
The “poverty” of Christ was a reference to the fact that as Almighty
God, He had emptied Himself of His Majesty – His Eternal,
Heavenly Glory - in order to become Incarnate – i.e. He
willingly took on our human form with its limitations and
weaknesses so as to live amongst His creatures on earth and
to teach and guide us directly and personally.
Thus Christ took on “poverty” so that we would be Spiritually
Enriched through His Divine Wisdom and Teachings, and even
become co-heirs of the Infinite Wealth of God’s Heavenly
Kingdom through our adoption by Holy Baptism and
Chrismation.
Furthermore, our fallen human nature was restored to Divine
Grace by the Son of God’s Incarnation and physical Ascension
into Heaven, being seated in the position of greatest honour –
at the right hand side of God the Father.
GOD DID NOT HAVE TO BE INCARNATED, TO SUFFER AND TO DIE
ON OUR BEHALF BECAUSE HE DID NOT OWE US HIS DIVINE
SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL REDEMPTION AT ALL!
God is absolute, 100% LOVE, so due to His infinite Love of
mankind – homo sapiens - whom He had created in His own
Image and Likeness and whom He wanted to be restored to
the state in which He had made us, He became Man so that
He could teach us directly and by His own Perfect Example,
and so that He could offer Himself as the Ultimate, Pure and
Final Blood Sacrifice for the Salvation and Redemption of all
humanity forever.
In addition, as Man, Christ was able to enter Hades where all souls
were imprisoned – the good and the bad. Then, in His
Resurrected State and as the Son of God, our Lord smashed
open the gates of Hades and set the Repentant and the
Righteous souls free so that they could rest in Paradise until
His Second Coming on Judgement Day.
This was the most excellent proof of God’s Love for us so in return
for the insurmountable Debt that we can never fully repay, and
as proof of our devotion to and Love of God, we offer
everything we have – everything He has abundantly granted
us – to Him and to His Holy Church – i.e. to His Faithful people
– to those who serve God and to those who suffer any
deprivation or affliction.
The quotation “He who gathered much...“ is from the Book of
Exodus, describing Divine Providence. (EXODUS 16:18)
While travelling through the wilderness the Hebrews received
Manna from God – i.e. Heavenly Bread – because they were
hungry and did not have enough food to nourish everyone.
However, God ensured that no one received more than others and
there was always enough Manna each day.
The Manna (meaning: “What is it?”) could not be kept for the
following day and had to be eaten immediately, developing
their trust and confidence in God’s Benevolence and
Providence.
After the Hebrews had settled in the Promised Land and harvested
their first crops, the Manna disappeared, never to be seen
again.
IT IS OUR CHRISTIAN DUTY TO COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITY ALL COMMITMENTS WE UNDERTAKE - IN PARTICULAR,
FOR GOD AND MANKIND.
AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS WE MUST LIVE UP TO THE TRUTH OF
CHRIST: WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WE MUST BE COMPLETELY
RELIABLE, HONEST AND DEDICATED, CAREFUL NEVER TO
DISAPPOINT, FAIL OR BETRAY THE TRUST OF OTHERS.
SINCERE LOVE OF GOD AND HUMANITY COMPELS US TO JOYFULLY
AND WILLINGLY ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 25: 31 – 46

THE FINAL JUDGEMENT OF OUR DEEDS

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, the
He will sit on the Throne of His Glory. All the Nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one
from another, as a Shepherd divides His Sheep from the goats.
“And He will set the Sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand:
‘Come, you Blessed of My Father: inherit the Kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world: for I was
hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked
and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the Righteous will answer Him: ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and fed Thee? or thirsty and gave Thee drink?
When did we see Thee a Stranger and took Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee? Or when did we see Thee sick, or in
prison, and went to Thee?’
“And the King will answer and say to them: ‘Assuredly, I say to you: inasmuch as you did so for one of the least of these
My Brethren, you did so for Me!’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the Everlasting Fire prepared for the
devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave Me no food! I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink! I was a
stranger and you did not take Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me!’
“Then they also will answer Him: ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in
prison, and did not minister to Thee?’
“And He will answer them: ‘Assuredly, I say to you: inasmuch as you did not do so to one of the lease of these, you did not
do so for Me!’
“And these will go away into Everlasting Punishment, but the Righteous into Eternal Life.”
This is THE MAJESTIC CLIMAX OF CHRIST’S DIVINE REVELATION TO CALL AND HIS COMMANDMENTS AND ARE AS GENTLE,
HIS DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES REGARDING HUMANITY’S FINAL COMPASSIONATE AND AS PRODUCTIVE AS HE IS.
DAYS on earth before His Reappearance in all His Glory when “The goats” indicate the STUBBORN, OBSTINATE, UNRIGHTEOUS
He will Judge all Creation, separating the good from the PEOPLE WHO DISOBEY AND REBEL AGAINST GOD, LIVING
wicked. PRECARIOUSLY ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN IDEAS AND
This is not simply a Parable but A DIVINE TRUTH OF THE AWESOME DESIRES, ENDANGERING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.
UNIVERSAL JUDGEMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE TO FACE. The term “inherit” is used with regard to close family members,
Since His Crucifixion was fast approaching, CHRIST PERMITTED especially SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO HAVE THE RIGHT OF
HIS APOSTLES AND CLOSEST DISCIPLES AN INSIGHT OF HIS INHERITANCE. AS THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD THROUGH
DIVINE GLORY UPON THE JUDGEMENT SEAT WITH THE ENTIRE HOLY BAPTISM, CHRISTIANS ARE THE RIGHTFUL HEIRS TO
WORLD BEFORE HIM. GOD’S KINGDOM.
The standard of JUDGEMENT IS UNCALCULATED MERCY TOWARDS Christ commanded us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS MUCH AS WE
OTHERS AND THE WORKS PRODUCED BY FAITH were LOVE OURSELVES and this means to SEE OUR BELOVED LORD
emphasised because SAVING FAITH ALWAYS PRODUCES JESUS IN EVERYONE FOR WE ARE ALL MADE IN HIS PERFECT
RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. IMAGE AND LIKENESS.
THE ETERNAL FIRE OF HELL WAS PREPARED FOR SATAN AND HIS
❃ OUR ACTIONS REFLECT OUR TRUE INNER STATE.
FALLEN ANGELS, THE DEMONS, RATHER THAN FOR MANKIND.
“The least” is a reference to all those who are POOR, DESTITUTE,
However, THROUGH OUR OWN WICKED CHOICES AND
NEEDY AND AFFLICTED and their needs that our Saviour
UNREPENTED ACTIONS DURING THIS PREPARATORY TIME ON
described includes both PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL EARTH, WE WILL SUFFER THE SAME ETERNAL CONDEMNATION
NECESSITIES OF LIFE. AND PUNISHMENT!
Consequently, THE HUNGRY OR THE THIRSTY ARE NOT ONLY ❃ THIS DIVINE TRUTH IS CLEARLY GIVEN TO US BY GOD HIMSELF
THOSE WHO NEED FOOD AND DRINK BUT ALSO THOSE WHO AND IT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT MERE SCARE TACTICS TO
NEED SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT – THOSE WHO YEARN FOR THE FORCE US TO OBEY GOD, FOR HE WANTS US TO COME TO
HOPE OF CHRIST’S HOLY GOSPEL. HIM BECAUSE WE TRULY LOVE HIM AND REALLY DESIRE A
Our Saviour used the term “Sheep” to illustrate THE RIGHTEOUS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
people for they ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD – THEY FOLLOW HIS
8 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 3RD SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY 7 FEBRARY 2010
❃ THE THOUGHT OF BEING PERMANENTLY ALIENATED FROM
GOD’S DIVINE LOVE IS SO EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATING
AND FRIGHTENING, WE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REPENT
OUR SINS AND RETURN TO THE JOY AND PEACE OF GOD’S
HEAVENLY FOLD.
Sunday of the Last Judgement: Reflections on Christian Fear of God
“When Thou shalt come, O Righteous Judge, to execute Just
Judgement, seated on Thy Throne of Glory, a River of
Fire will draw all men amazed before Thy Judgement
Seat; the Powers of Heaven will stand beside Thee, and
in fear mankind will be Judged according to the deeds
that each has done. Then spare us, O Christ, in Thy
Compassion, with Faith we entreat Thee, and count us
worthy of Thy Blessings with those who are Saved.”
(VESPERAL STICHERON FROM THE TRIODION)
O HOW DREADFUL IS THAT TERRIBLE DAY ON WHICH THE JUST
JUDGEMENT OF OUR LORD SHALL COME! IT SHALL COME
SUDDENLY AT A TIME UNKNOWN BY ANYONE EXCEPT GOD
THE FATHER AND ITS FORCE SHALL BE INSTANTANEOUS.
No ear shall be spared the Trumpet’s resounding call to the
Divine Tribunal, NOR SHALL ANY EARTHLY STRENGTH BE
FIT ENOUGH OR ABLE TO WITHSTAND IT.
“Behold, there comes a Day of the Lord Almighty, and who
shall endure the Fear of His Presence? For it is a Day of
Wrath; the Furnace shall burn, and THE JUDGE SHALL SIT
AND GIVE TO EACH THE DUE RETURN FOR HIS WORKS.”
(EXAPOSTEILARION OF MATINS)
Fear is an emotion often mentioned in the Holy Services of
this preparatory Sunday before the beginning of the
Great Lenten Fast: FEAR OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT; FEAR
OF THE DIVINE JUSTICE OF GOD; FEAR OF THE JUST
PUNISHMENT AWAITING SINFUL, UNREPENTANT PEOPLE.
We encounter an intense emotion that MANY IN THIS
MODERN WORLD ARE LOATHE TO ADDRESS OR EVEN TO
DISCUSS, MUCH LESS PONDER AND STILL LESS, CHERISH.
Yet it is this very emotion of fear that pours forth in
abundance from the Hymns and Prayers of the Divine
Services celebrated today – Meatfare or Judgement
Sunday 6 which deserves our fair and full attention.
“The Lord comes to Judge: who can endure the Sight of Him?
Tremble, my wretched soul, tremble and prepare for
your departure.” (MATINS CANON –CANTICLE 7)
Last night during Vespers we would have heard:
“When the Thrones are set up and the books are opened, and
God sits in Judgement, Oh what fear there will be! When
the Angels stand trembling in Thy Presence and the River
of Fire flows before Thee, what shall we do then, who
are guilty of many sins? When we hear Him call the
Blessed of His Father into the Kingdom, but send the
sinners to their Eternal Punishment, who shall endure
His fearful Condemnation?” (VERSPERS TROPARION)
Why this dwelling in – even exalting of 6 AN EMOTION THAT
SEEMS SO FOREIGN, SO STRANGE AND BITTER TO THE
CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS MIND?
In a world where the Love and Mercy of God are Righteously
and properly emphasised, but in which fear and dread
are seen as negative psychological or social motivators,
their emphasis in the Holy Rites of the Church can strike
the contemporary audience as strange, out of place and
dated.
Yet it is perhaps THIS VERY DISTANCING OF THE MODERN
MIND FROM A TRUE AND SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY
UNDERSTANDING OF FEAR THAT MAKES ITS EMPHASIS IN
THE HOLY CHURCH OF SUCH IMPORTANCE.
In the Sundays preceding Sunday of Forgiveness
(Cheesefare), we are gradually, yet firmly, reminded of
OUR HUMAN ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR A
PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN TRINITY.
In the account of Zacchaeus on the last Sunday before the
Triodion, WE WERE EXHORTED TO THAT SAME SENSE OF
LONGING AND DESIRE FOR UNION WITH CHRIST that drove
the short Zacchaeus to his tree6top.
We are reminded that UNLESS A SOUL ACTIVELY SEARCHES
FOR GOD, IT WILL DEVISE WAYS TO GROW EVER FURTHER
FROM HIM (IE A SOUL CONTROLLED & DOMINATED BY THE FLESH!)
On the first Sunday of the Triodion 6 of the Publican and the
Pharisee 6 we are exhorted to HUMILITY: BOTH TOWARDS
GOD AND OUR FELLOW MAN, for AS WE BEHAVE TOWARDS
THE LEAST OF THESE, SO WE DO TO CHRIST OUR LORD.
(MATTHEW 25:3-
25:3-46)
[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 3RD SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY
On the contrary, TO REJECT GOD IS TO REJECT EVERYTHING THAT
IS GOOD AND ALTHOUGH IT IS OUR OWN DECISION TO MAKE,
WE SHOULD DO SO WISELY AND WITH ALL DUE
CONSIDERATION FOR THE CONSEQUENCES!
FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO BE PURE AND TO LEAD
US TO TRUE THEOSIS (PERFECTION OR DEIFICATION), WE MUST BE
HUMBLE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE!
WE MUST ALSO ASCERTAIN THE SINFUL STATE THAT ALIENATES
US FROM GOD AND YEARN FOR RECONCILIATION WITH HIM
THROUGH SINCERE REPENTANCE.
The Sacred Lesson of the foolish, immature Prodigal Son
and the patient, ever longing Father is set before us as
an example of ALL HUMANITY (THE SON) AND A DIVINE TYPE
(THE FATHER). (LUKE 15:11 – 32)
ONLY WHEN WE, THE PRODIGALS, RECOGNISE TO WHAT DEGREE
WE, TOO, HAVE SQUANDERED ALL OUR DIVINE GIFTS AND
WALLOW IN THE FILTHY MIRE OF OUR SINFUL PASSIONS AND
IMPULSIVE, SELFISH AND DESTRUCTIVE INDULGENCES, CAN
A DEEP SENSE OF OUR SPIRITUAL EXILE FROM GOD ARISE IN
OUR HEARTS – AN AWARENESS AND AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT COMBINED WITH HUMILITY AND
LONGING, IS NECESSARY FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
CLOSER TO CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son is referred to by a certain Church
Father as “the return from exile,” which is THE STATE OF
FALLEN HUMAN LIFE RETURNING TO TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST
AFTER REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.
WE DO NOT EXIST IN PERFECTION, BUT IN EXILE OF BODY AND
SOUL, just like the Israelites in Babylon. And, like them,
we eventually arrive at that state of being in which OUR
INNERMOST BEING CRIES OUT: “By the waters of Babylon
we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion... how
shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (PSALM
136 LXX)
And so THE PREPARATORY SUNDAYS OF THE TRIODION TEACH
US THE NECESSARY ATTITUDES FOR OUR LIFE IN CHRIST
OUR GOD: YEARNING FOR GOD, HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE,
AN AWARENESS OF OUR SPIRITUAL EXILE AND PERPETUAL
HOPE IN OUR SAVIOUR.
Today, being Sunday of the Last Judgement (MEATFARE SUNDAY),
the essential attitude is FEAR OF OUR UNPREPARED,
UNREPENTANT SPIRITUAL CONDITION AS WE STAND BEFORE
THE AWESOME JUDGEMENT SEAT: “Fear and trembling
beyond all description are there; for the Lord will come
and try the works of every man. And who will not
mourn for himself?“ (MATINS CANON – FIFTH CANTICLE)
Time and again in the Hymnography of today we are called
to BE FEARFUL BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD; to REMEMBER
WITH FEAR OUR APPOINTED JUDGEMENT; to
ACKNOWLEDGE IN FEAR THE SINFUL STATE OF OUR SOULS.
Words and terminology that cause our discomfort and
trepidation abound in the texts: TERROR, JUDGEMENT,
ETERNAL FIRE, TORMENT, PAIN, SUFFERING AND HELL –
ETERNAL DEATH AND OUTER DARKNESS...
“I lament and weep when I think of the Eternal Fire, the
Outer Darkness and the nether world, the dread Worm
and the gnashing of teeth, and the unceasing anguish
that shall befall those who have sinned without
measure, by their wickedness arousing Thee to anger,
O Supreme in Love. And among them in misery am I
first....!” (VESPERS – STICHERA)
Why this seemingly morbid accent on fear, with its
connected imagery of death and suffering?
Perhaps the answer is best intimated as follows: “Terror
seizes me when I think of the Unquenchable Fire, of
the bitter Worm, the gnashing of teeth, and soul-
destroying Hell; yet I do not turn in True Compunction,
O Lord, Lord, before the end, strengthen Thy Fear
within me.”
So we begin to see a framework within which THESE
EXHORTATIONS TO FEAR TAKE THEIR APPROPRIATE
APPEARANCE AND PLACE.
Through the Wisdom of the Church in Her Texts and
Hymns, we are called to EMBRACE FEAR AS A HEALTHY
AND LIFE-GIVING SOURCE OF COMPUNCTION AND SPUR TO
TRUE REPENTANCE.
With our fallen and sin6stained perceptions, WE OFTEN FALL
INTO THE DEADLY TRAP OF FOCUSING UPON GOD’S LOVE
AND COMPASSION TO THE EXCLUSION OF HIS JUSTICE.
Seeing first6hand the outstretched Arms and inviting
Embrace of the Father, WE BLINDLY FORGET TO WORK
7 FEBRARY 2010 9.
 TOWARDS THE AMENDMENT OF OUR SINFUL WAYS, TO
PASSIONATELY BEG FOR FORGIVENESS AND MERCY – TO
TRULY HEED ST PAUL’S CAUTIONARY ADVICE TO WORK OUT
OUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. (PHILIPPIANS 2: 12)
Even the Prodigal Son feared his Father, and the Father
granted him Life.
Thus THE FEAR TO WHICH WE ARE SO POIGNANTLY CALLED ON
THIS HOLY DAY IS A FEAR THAT LEADS US TO
COMPUNCTION (REMORSE OR REGRET), AND COMPUNCTION TO
HUMILITY, AND HUMILITY TO REPENTANCE, AND
REPENTANCE TO ETERNAL LIFE.
We are not called to fear simply to be scared, but TO BE
PROMPTED INTO LIFE-SAVING ACTION: “When we hear
Him called the Blessed of His Father into the Kingdom,
but send the sinners to their punishment, who shall
endure His fearful Condemnation? But O Saviour Who
alone Loves mankind, before the end comes, turn me
back through Repentance and have Mercy on me!”
Let us BE TURNED TO TRUE REPENTANCE. Let us CALL UPON
THE GREAT WISDOM OF GOD’S HOLY CHURCH, WHO
THROUGH HER HYMNS AND PRAYERS REMINDS US OF THE
COSMIC AND ULTIMATE REALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR
SPIRITUAL STATE.
The Law of God – Book 3 - Christian Life
GENUINE GOOD CHRISTIAN LIFE MAY BE LED ONLY BY THOSE
WHO HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST AND WHO STRIVE TO LIVE
BY THIS FAITH; THAT IS, THOSE WHO BY THEIR GOOD
WORKS FULFIL THE WILL OF GOD.
Good Works are expressions of our Love, and Love –
AGAPE 6 is the foundation of all Christian Life.
God is Love; and he who dwells in Love dwells in God,
and God in him. For God so Loved the world, that
He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have
Everlasting Life (John 4:16; 3:16)
Thus GOD BY THIS ACT REVEALED HIS LOVE TO MANKIND.
Love that is unaccompanied by Good Works is not True
Love, but is merely lip service. That is why the Word
of God says, Faith without works is dead! (JAMES 2:20).
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: “Not everyone who
says to Me: ‘ Lord, Lord!’ shall enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven...” for we are His Workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for Good Works, which God
ordained (INTENDED) that we should fulfil. (MATTHEW 7:21;
7:21;
EPHESIANS 2: 10)
Furthermore WE HAVE RECEIVED SPECIAL GIFTS FROM GOD
FOR THE DISCERNMENT OF GOOD DEEDS, WHICH ARE
THE INTERNAL LAW OF GOD OR CONSCIENCE, AND THE
EXTERNAL LAW OF GOD, OR HIS COMMANDMENTS.
The term “conscience” denotes OUR INTERNAL, SPIRITUAL
STRENGTH, OR THE MANIFESTATION OF OUR SOUL. The
conscience, as the Internal Law of God 6"Voice of
God" 6 is present in every person.
OUR CONSCIENCE IS THE INTERNAL VOICE OF GOD WHO
TELLS US WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS EVIL, WHAT IS
PROPER AND WHAT IS IMPROPER, WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS
AND WHAT IS NOT.
IT COMPELS US TO DO GOOD AND TO SHUN EVIL.
FOR EVERY GOOD THOUGHT, WORD OR DEED WE ARE
REWARDED WITH INTERNAL PEACE AND CALM –
SPIRITUAL LIFE.
HOWEVER, FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG, INCORRECT,
IMPROPER, OR EVIL, OUR CONSCIENCE JUDGES AND
PUNISHES US UNTIL WE REPENT AND RETURN TO
SPIRITUAL LIFE.
BY ACTING AGAINST OUR NATURAL GOODNESS WITH
WHICH WE ARE CREATED, WE EXPERIENCE AND SUFFER
PAINFUL SPIRITUAL CONFLICT, BEING TORMENTED BY
UNREPENTED SINS THAT CAUSE A SPIRITUAL DEATH,
WHICH, MIGHT BE QUICKLY REMEDIED THROUGH
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE.
BEING OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, OUR CONSCIENCE
REQUIRES A CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPROVEMENT ALONG WITH OUR OTHER SPIRITUAL
FACULTIES SUCH AS OUR MIND, OUR HEART AND OUR
FREE WILL.
THOSE WHO WISH TO BE REMINDED CONSTANTLY OF DEATH AND GOD’S JUDGEMENT, BUT WHO ALSO SURRENDER TO MATERIAL
CARES AND DISTRACTIONS, ARE LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO SWIM AND AT THE SAME TIME CLAP HIS HANDS! (ST JOHN KLIMAKOS)
10 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 3RD SUNDAY OF THE TRIODION: MEATFARE/JUDGEMENT SUNDAY
And standing before these realities, let us WITH FEAR AND
TREMBLING TURN TO GOD WITH REPENTANT HEARTS,
FILLED WITH HIS LOVE, AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE
BATTLE FOR OUR SALVATION.
“How shall it be in that hour and fearful Day, when the
Judge shall sit on His Dread Throne! The books shall be
opened and men’s actions shall be examined, and the
secrets of darkness shall be made public. Angels shall
hasten to and fro, gathering all Nations. Come ye and
hearken: Kings and Princes, slaves and free, sinners and
Righteous, rich and poor; for the Judge comes to pass
sentence on the whole inhabited earth. And who shall
bear to stand before His Face in the presence of Angels as
they call us to account for our actions and our
thoughts, whether by night or by day? How shall it be
then in that hour!”
“But before the end is here, make haste, make haste, O my
soul and cry: ‘O God Who only art Compassionate, turn
me back and Save me!”
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT: REFLECTIONS ON THE CHRISTIAN
FEAR OF GOD” BY MC STEENBURG – MONACHOS.NET
OUR MIND, HEART, AND FREE WILL HAVE BECOME
DARKENED THROUGH SIN EVER SINCE THE FALL OF
ADAM AND EVE.
SINCE THEN THE DIVINE VOICE WITHIN OUR CONSCIENCE
HAS BEEN WEAKENED AS WE HAVE BECOME SPIRITUALLY
DEAFENED, AND HAS PROVED INSUFFICIENT AS THE
MANIFESTATION (OR EXPRESSION) OF OUR SPIRITUAL
STRENGTH.
IF WE DO NOT DEVELOP OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, THEN
THE INTERNAL VOICE OF OUR CONSCIENCE FALLS
ASLEEP BY DEGREES AND EVENTUALLY EXPIRES,
LEAVING US WITHOUT ANY CONSCIENCE AT ALL –
TOTALLY ALIENATED FROM GOD AND EVERYTHING
GOOD – A SOCIOPATH!
Therefore it is clearly evident that THE INTERNAL LAW OF
CONSCIENCE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US, for even in
Paradise God revealed His Will to the first people.
TO EXIST IN AN INNOCENT, RIGHTEOUS STATE, IT IS
NECESSARY FOR US TO ALSO HAVE THE EXTERNAL LAW
OF GOD - HIS DIVINE COMMANDMENTS - AND IT IS EVEN
MORE CRUCIAL SINCE OUR FALL FROM DIVINE GRACE.
TO MAINTAIN OUR SOULS IN "FEAR OF (OUR)
CONSCIENCE," BY OBEYING OR FOLLOWING THE DIVINE
GUIDELINES FOR A GOOD LIFE.
This Divine Law was given in its simplest form in Old
Testament times, when Moses received the Law on
Mount Sinai, when the most important Ten
Commandments were written on two stone tablets.
However, these Commandments were made more
profound and exalted in our Saviour’s Sermon on the
Mount, in His nine points known as the Beatitudes.
Our Lord Jesus also emphatically confirmed the
continuous teaching, fulfilment and observance of
the Old Testament Ten Commandments: “Do not
think that I have come to destroy the Law, or the
Prophets: l have not come to destroy but to fulfil!”
(MATTHEW 5:17)
WHEN ASKED WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE
OUR LORD CLEARLY COMMANDED US TO “... KEEP THE
COMMANDMENTS!” (MATTHEW 19:16-
19:16-17)
The Incarnated Son of God taught us that THESE DIVINE
COMMANDMENTS, WHICH HE HAS EXPLAINED AND
CLARIFIED FOR US, MUST BE KEPT TO A HIGH DEGREE OF
PERFECTION AND HE SEVERELY WARNED US AGAINST
ANY TRANSGRESSION OF GOD’S LAW – WHETHER BY
WORD, THOUGHT OR DEED!
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE WE MUST STRIVE
CONSTANTLY FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION – LONGING
AND CEASELESSLY COMPELLED BY OUR DEEPEST LOVE
TO PLEASE AND OBEY GOD IN ALL ASPECTS !
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE LAW OF GOD – BOOK 2 – CHRISTIAN LIFE – BY BISHOP
ALEXANDER MILEANT – HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY – 1993/2003
7 FEBRARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER,
AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF
GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER
AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

4th Sunday of Triodion Tone 3 14 February 2010

GREAT LENT BEGINS FROM TOMORROW – CLEAN MONDAY

Sunday of Foregiveness (Cheesefare)

The Feast of St Auxentios of the Mountain; St Abraam and St Marinos; St Cyril Equal to the Apostles &
Teacher of the Slavs; St Nicholas the New Martyr of Corinth
RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE 3

Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise Kratos Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for the
en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Thanto ton Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has
thanaton. Prototokos ton nekron egeneto. Ek kilias Adou trampled down Death by Death; He has become the
errisato imas ke pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos. First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He
has delivered us, and to the world He has vouchsafed
Great Mercy.
KONTAKION – TONE PLAGAL 2

Tis Sofias odige, froniseos horige, ton afronon pedefta, ke
ton ptohon iperaspista, stirixon sinetison tin kardian
mou Despota. Si didou mi logon, O tou Patros Logos.
Idou gar ta hili mou, ou mi koliso en to krazin Si.
Eleimon, eleison me ton parapesonta.
KONTAKION OF ST AUXENTIOS OF THE MOUNTAIN–
MOUNTAIN– TONE 2
O Wisdom’s Guiding Star, of prudence Provider,
Instructor of the foolish ones, and the Defender of the
poor: Support and grant understanding, O Master, to
my heart. Grant me words, O Thou Who are the
Father’s Word; for behold I shall not hold back from
crying out to Thee: O Compassionate One, have
mercy on me having gone astray!

Katarrifisas Theofron tis egkratias, ke tas orexis tis sarkos Since thou took great delight in Abstinence, O Godly-
halinosas, ofthis ti pisti sou avxanomenos, ke os fiton en minded One, and since thou bridled the desires of the
meo tou Paradisou exinthissas, Auxentie Pater Ierotate. flesh, thou ever increased in Faith; and thou
blossomed forth like the Tree in the midst of Paradise,
O Most Sacred Father Auxentios.
Resurrection Gospel 3 : Mark 16 : 9 – 20 : THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARS TO HIS APOSTLES & DISCIPLES BEFORE HIS ASCENSION
PROKEIMENON: Sing Praises to our God, sing praises to our King! Clap your hands all you Nations!
St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 13 : 11 – 14 : 4
THE DAY OF OUR SALVATION IS AT HAND - ST PAUL EXHORTS US TO AWAKEN AND PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT

Brethren: you know that it is now 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. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh
to fulfil its lusts.
Receive one who is 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. Do not allow him who eats to 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 OUR FUTURE SALVATION THROUGH THE them to receive His Divine Wisdom, they could then
GLORIOUS COMING OR REAPPEARANCE OF OUR LORD teach others God’s Truth – even concerning the True
JESUS CHRIST MOTIVATES US TO GREATER VIGILANCE Person of the Son of God Who is our Lord Jesus.
AND PROPER CONDUCT. ❃ DIVINE GRACE AND THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
St Paul warned us to IMMEDIATELY BEGIN OUR SPIRITUAL ENABLE OUR SOULS TO FUNCTION METICULOUSLY
STRUGGLE TO PREPARE FOR ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE – AS GOD INTENDED.
THERE IS NOT A MOMENT TO BE WASTED! ❃ THE MORE OUR SOULS OPERATE IN HUMBLE
The “night” is a reference to A SPIRITUALLY DARKENED, OBEDIENCE TO GOD, THE MORE THE HINDRANCES
CORRUPT AND DECEPTIVE EXISTENCE WITHOUT THE OR IMPEDIMENT OF OUR FLESH – OUR PHYSICAL
DIVINE LIGHT OF ALMIGHTY GOD - UNDER THE DESIRES – ARE DISCIPLINED AND GUIDED
INFLUENCE AND SLAVERY OF EVIL POWERS. TOWARDS GOODNESS – TOWARDS GOD AND
The “day” is THE GLORIOUS COMING OR REAPPEARANCE ETERNAL LIFE.
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, WHO HAS NEVER LEFT In Orthodox Christianity THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT
US. Due to our physical and sinful state we are unable CANNOT BE COMPROMISED AT ALL. However, there
to see Christ our Lord at present but WE ARE ABLE TO are also “grey areas.”
EXPERIENCE A SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AND INTIMACY God is Gracious and allows diversity in doubtful things –
WITH HIM THROUGH THE HOLY MYSTERIES AND those MATTERS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE OR CONCERN
DURING PRAYER. CHRISTIAN DOGMA.
OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, WILL REAPPEAR IN ALL HIS
GLORY – AS THE TRUE AND ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF
Those people who are weak in Faith are Christians of
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER - so that even the ungodly
immature Conscience and Wisdom who may attach
shall see Him! Indeed, ALL CREATION WILL SEE HIM primary importance to secondary matters, such as
AND KNOW EXACTLY WHO HE IS! foods and religious festivals. They have not yet
AT HIS TRANSFIGURATION, CHRIST REVEALED HIMSELF IN grasped THE FULL EXTENT OF TRUE ORTHODOX
ALL HIS DIVINE GLORY TO THREE OF HIS CHOSEN CHRISTIANITY which IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE
APOSTLES SO THAT THEY WOULD RECOGNISE HIS SIMPLE, OBVIOUS PRACTICES.
DIVINE TRUTH AND REALITY. ❃ BEWARE OF CONFUSING HUMAN CUSTOMS AND
Although at the time, they were stunned by the Wondrous SUPERSTITIONS WITH TRUE, CHRISTIAN FAITH
Event and neither grasped nor understood the THAT CHRIST TAUGHT US.
tremendous significance of what they had seen, after ❃ WILLINGLY AND GRATEFULLY ACCEPT THE GUIDANCE
the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit enabled AND TEACHINGS OF THOSE WHO ARE MORE

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 4TH SUNDAY OF TRIODION – SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS – CHEESEFARE 14 FEBRUARY 2010 11
 KNOWLEDGEABLE AND MORE EXPERIENCED IN
TRUE FAITH – OUR ORDAINED PRIESTS & BISHOPS
OF THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION - AND THOSE
WHO TEACH BY THE GRACE OF GOD (like St Paul).
❃ ONLY THROUGH HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE WILL WE
MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AT ALL.
❃ DURING ANY FAST, THE SPIRITUAL FAST IS MOST
IMPORTANT – RESISTING ALL SPIRITUAL VICES -
while SIMULTANEOUSLY DENYING THE PLEASURES
AND DEMANDS OF THE FLESH. THUS WE GAIN
CONTROL OVER OUR BODIES AND SOULS.
This is essential SELF-DISCIPLINE or SELF-DENIAL.
❃ FASTING AND PRAYER TRAIN AND DISCIPLINE OUR
SOULS, WHICH IN TURN, CONTROL THE DEMANDS
AND DESIRES OF THE FLESH – AND NOT THE
OTHER WAY AROUND!
AS WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WE BECOME CLOSER TO GOD –
SLOWLY REGAINING OUR DIVINE LIKENESS, WHICH IS
LOST DUE TO SIN.
CHRISTIANS MUST FAST ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSONAL
STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS AND HEALTH/MEDICAL
REQUIREMENTS.
Not everyone can nor should they try to undertake an
Ascetic Fast – a strict Fast – especially without the
advice or guidance of a Spiritual Father. To do so
often leads to dangerous Spiritual Pride!
❃ However, EACH OF US IS CAPABLE OF OBSERVING
THE SPIRITUAL FAST – BEING AWARE OF AND
RESISTING GRIEVOUS SINS such as PRIDE, GREED,
LUST, ANGER, GLUTTONY, ENVY AND SLOTH – i.e.
laziness that keeps us from doing our Sacred
Duties to God, humanity and all Creation.
❃ NEVER CRITICISE OR JUDGE ANYONE who might not be
well-informed or Spiritually Experienced enough to
fulfil certain practises or requirements of
Orthodoxy.
❃ ALWAYS DIRECT ANY DISPARAGEMENT INWARDS AND
FASTIDIOUSLY SCRUTINIZE YOUR OWN HEART AND
SOUL FOR THE FLAWS YOU SO EASILY DETECT IN
OTHERS – AND IMMEDIATELY ERADICATE THEM
WITH PRAYER AND REPENTANCE.
St John of Kronstadt constantly wept at the sight of fallen
human behaviour because he sincerely believed:
“TODAY, MY BRETHREN; TOMORROW ME!” And HE
WOULD BESEECH DIVINE FORGIVENESS FOR ALL HIS
OWN SINS THAT WERE REFLECTED OR MIRRORED BY
OTHERS.
❃ IF WE CONCENTRATE ON OUR OWN SPIRITUAL
CONDITION AND PROGRESS, WE WILL NEITHER
HAVE THE TIME NOR THE INCLINATION TO DARE TO
JUDGE OTHERS.
❃ GOD ALONE JUDGES AND ENABLES EACH OF US TO
FULFIL OUR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN CHOICES!

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 6 : 14 – 21

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST COMMANDS US TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER AND TO FAST IN TRUTH

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... if you forgive (others) their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive (others) their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
“Furthermore, when you Fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their
faces so that they may appear to others to be Fasting. Assuredly, I say to you: they have their reward! But
you - when you Fast - anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to others to be
Fasting, except to your Father Who is in the Secret Place; and your Father Who sees in secret, will reward you
openly.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and
steal, but lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also!”
❃ OUR LORD INSISTS ON MUTUAL FORGIVENESS SPIRITUAL JOY OVERSHADOWS ANY SENSE OF
BETWEEN ALL PEOPLE AS A PRECONDITION OF GOD’S DISTRESS OR DEPRIVATION.
FORGIVENESS: THOSE WHO DO NOT FORGIVE ARE NOT During Fasts, the Hymns of Orthodoxy call the Faithful to
FORGIVEN! “wash and anoint” themselves, for WE MUST ALWAYS
This Divine Teaching is repeated again and again, and our LOOK OUR BEST – ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF
Lord ended the Parable of the Unforgiving Servants GOD!
with almost the same warning. Fasting is not the mere abstinence from certain foods.
THE ERRONEOUS, DEADLY BELIEF OR OPINION THAT EVEN ❃ PHYSICAL FASTING WORKS TOGETHER WITH
UNFORGIVING CHRISTIANS ARE FORGIVEN BY OUR SPIRITUAL FASTING OR SELF-DENIAL: IT IS A
MERCIFUL AND LOVING GOD IS CONTRADICTED BY LIBERATION FROM OUR VOLUNTARY
CHRIST OUR GOD HIMSELF! ENSLAVEMENT TO SINFUL PASSIONS.
❃ THE MORAL ACTIONS OF FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – ❃ FASTING IS ALWAYS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND
PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY FORGIVE OTHERS - IS CERTAINLY NOT TO IMPRESS ANYONE ELSE! (NOR
BOUND OR COMBINED WITH THE INFINITE AND IS IT A FORM OF PENANCE OR PUNISHMENT!!)
DIVINE LOVE OF GOD. By attaching ourselves to our worldly possessions – our
STUBBORN, WILFUL UNFORGIVENESS OF OTHERS IS treasures on earth – WE CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM
OUTRIGHT DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD WHEREBY WE THE HEAVENLY TREASURES. We become slaves to
PURPOSELY ALIENATE OURSELVES FROM GOD AND materialism and NOT FREE IN CHRIST!
REJECT HIS DIVINE MERCY AND FORGIVENESS FOR
OURSELVES!
The heart of TRUE DISCIPLESHIP lies in disentangling
PUTTING ON A “SAD COUNTENANCE” (face/appearance) ourselves from the chains of earthly things and
ATTACHING OURSELVES TO ALMIGHTY GOD – OUR
while Fasting SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT SEE how we are TRUE AND ONLY TREASURE!
“suffering!” due to our “Self-denial and Discipline,” is Although we may have need of certain material things we
AN ARROGANT EXTERNAL DISPLAY AND A MOCKERY
must only USE THEM ACCORDING TO GOD’S DIVINE
OF A SACRED COMMITMENT! And we should never
WILL AND PURPOSE.
forget HOW MUCH OUR LORD JESUS DEEPLY DESPISED ❃ GOD ALWAYS GRANTS US MORE THAN WE NEED SO
ANY FORM OF HYPOCRISY!
THAT WE CAN AND MUST SHARE OUR ABUNDANCE
❃ WHEN WE WILLINGLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY FAST, WITH OTHERS LESS BLESSED OR MORE NEEDY.
THE COMPASSION OF GOD VANQUISHES ANY
PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT WE MAY EXPERIENCE AND

Sunday of Forgiveness & Cheesefare Week

Today is known as “Sunday of Forgiveness” due to
the prescribed Sacred Lesson of OUR LORD AND
SAVIOUR, WHO TAUGHT US TO FORGIVE THE
TRESPASSES OF THOSE WHO HAVE TRESPASSED
AGAINST US SO THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
MIGHT ALSO FORGIVE US OUR OWN INNUMERABLE
TRANSGRESSIONS, WHICH WE HAVE NOT ONLY
COMMITTED AGAINST OTHERS AND OURSELVES, BUT
ESPECIALLY AGAINST GOD.
Since ancient times, PIOUS CHRISTIANS ASKED FOR
AND GRANTED EACH OTHER FORGIVENESS ON THIS
SPECIAL SUNDAY – the last Sunday before Great
Lent, which begins tomorrow – AND THROUGHOUT
THE ENSUING WEEK – the first week of the Great
Lenten Fast.
This is a truly beautiful Christian custom, for WHO
DOES NOT SIN AGAINST NEIGHBOUR IN WORD, DEED
OR THOUGHT?
❃ SEEKING FORGIVENESS FROM THOSE BEFORE WHOM
WE ARE REALLY GUILTY, EXPOSES OTHERS WHO
STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO MAKE PEACE.
❃ A REFUSAL TO RECONCILE AND/OR TO FORGIVE
REVEALS A TRAGIC LACK OF FAITH, SPIRITUAL
OBSTINACY, PRIDE, CONCEIT, A REMEMBRANCE
OF EVIL, DISOBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY GOSPEL OF
CHRIST, AN UNYIELDING RESISTANCE TO GOD
AND AN IMPLIED PACT WITH THE EVIL ONE!
We are all Children of our Heavenly Father by His
Divine Grace, members of Christ our God,
member of One Holy Body of His Church – of His

12 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 4TH SUNDAY OF TRIODION – SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS – CHEESEFARE 14 FEBRUARY 2010
 Precious and Sacred Body – and members of one
another.
GOD IS ABSOLUTE LOVE and 6 more than any whole
burnt offerings or sacrifices 6 HE REQUIRES
MUTUAL LOVE – AGAPE – FROM US 6 Love that is
Long6suffering and Kind, that does not envy, that
does not make a vain display of itself, that does
not boast, that does not behave unseemly, that
does not seek its own and that is not easily
provoked; that does not think anything evil nor
rejoices over iniquity, but which rejoices in the
Truth.
TRUE LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS; BELIEVES ALL THINGS;
HOPES ALL THINGS; ENDURES ALL THINGS AND
NEVER FAILS. (JOHN 4: 8-
8-22; 1 CORINTHIANS 13: 4-
4-8)
The entire Law of God consists of two vital
Commandments: LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOUR!
EVEN WITH ALL THAT, THE HUMAN HEART IS
EXTREMELY SELFISH, IMPATIENT, SELF-WILLED,
MALICIOUS AND NEVER FORGETS EVIL.
We are quickly angered or offended, whether due to
real or imaginary transgressions given or taken:
by offensive, unpleasant or harsh words, bad,
ambiguous, malicious, prideful glances or even
presumed thoughts and attitudes, which more
often than not are completely wrong or
misinterpreted through our own miserable
circumstances.
Our Lord Who sees every hidden corner of our hearts
and souls, commented: “... from within, out of
the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, wantonness,
an evil eye (I.E. SEEING THINGS WITH THE DISTORTED, CORRUPT AND
EVIL VIEW OF ONE’S OWN WICKED, DEBAUCHED STATE); blasphemy,
pride, foolishness...” (MARK 7 : 21 – 22)
However, God has provided us with strong remedies
against such destructive, noxious maladies:
➤ DIVINE BENEVOLENCE AND THE ALL POWERFUL
GRACE OF GOD;
➤ and to defeat every evil invented by our
terrible adversary: THE GREAT, HEALING
VIRTUES such as MEEKNESS, ABSENCE OF
MALICE, ACTS OF CONCESSION, PATIENCE
AND LONGSUFFERING.
OUR LORD JESUS PROMISED US THAT IF WE FORGAVE
THE TRANSGRESSION OF OUR FELLOW SINNERS, WE
WOULD RECEIVE IN TURN, THE DIVINE FORGIVENESS
OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS GREAT MERCY
ON THE DAY OF THE GREAT JUDGEMENT, WHICH
ALSO INCLUDED ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS IN GOD’S
ETERNAL KINGDOM, for “...the meek shall inherit
the earth.” (MATTHEW
MATTHEW 5: 8 – 6)
❃ IRRECONCILABLE MALICE WILL BEAR THE FULL
FORCE OF THE JUST AND FEARFUL JUDGEMENT
OF GOD AND ACCORDINGLY ETERNAL TORMENT!
Evidence of Divine Punishment – even here – of those
who are spiteful and incompatible is shown in
the following account:
In the Lavra Monastery of Kiev Caves, many centuries
ago, there were two Monks: a Hieromonk, Titos
and a Deacon, Evagrios
Having lived for years in peace and friendship,
something caused bitter enmity and hatred
between them, which continued for a long time
afterwards, and, without reconciling, they had
dared to offer the Bloodless Sacrifice before God.
(I.E. THE HOLY EUCHARIST)
No matter how much their Brethren advised them to
forgive one another and reunite in peace and
harmony, they remained incompatible.
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 4TH SUNDAY OF TRIODION – SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS – CHEESEFARE
Eventually the Hieromonk, Titos, became gravely ill
and, having lost all hope in life he wept bitterly
over his sin of unforgiveness.
So he sent a message to his Brother Monk, Evagrios,
beseeching his forgiveness, but Evagrios
emphatically refused to comply and cursed him
harshly!
The Brethren, regretting such great conflict and
anger, forcibly took him to the dying Hieromonk.
As soon as Titos saw his former friend, he asked the
other Monks to help him from his bed.
Then in sincere Humility, he fell down before
Evagrios and tearfully begged his forgiveness.
By this stage Evagrios had become so cynical and
embittered by the poisonous sin of unforgiveness
that he turned his back on Titos and shouted
aloud: “Neither in this life, nor in the future one
do I wish to be reconciled with him!”
Suddenly, Evagrios, who was being restrained by the
other Monks in case he attacked the dying
Hieromonk, was torn from their hands and fell
to the ground but when the Monks went to assist
him, they were shocked to find him not only dead
but as cold as though he had been dead for a
long time!
Their astonishment increased when the Hieromonk
Titos suddenly stood up and appeared in
excellent health as though he had never been so
deadly ill before!
In fear of such strange occurrences, the Monks
surrounded Hieromonk Titos, asking him to
explain everything they had all just witnessed.
So he told them: “Being in a state of grave illness,
while I, the sinner, was angry at my Brother, I saw
the Angels step away from me, weeping for the
perdition of my soul while the unclean spirits
rejoiced gleefully.
“Therefore, more than anything else I sincerely
desired to be reconciled with him but as soon as
he arrived here and I bowed down before him,
when he began to curse me, I saw a certain
terrible Angel smite him with his spear, and the
hapless one tumbled to ground dead; then the
same Angel stretched out his hand to me and
raised me up from my deathbed!”
The Monks wept mournfully over the dreadful death
of Evagrios and, FROM THAT TIME FORTH, THEY
WATCHED MOST CAREFULLY AND DILIGENTLY OVER
THEMSELVES, ENSURING THAT THE SUN NEVER SET
UPON ANY ANGER!
Brethren! THE REMEMBRANCE OF EVIL (UNFORGIVENESS,
IS A DEADLY VICE TOO
REVENGE, HATRED, BITTERNESS, ETC)
HORRIBLE TO FULLY PERCEIVE – TO COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND - AND, AS MUCH AS IT IS LOATHSOME
FOR GOD, IT IS ALSO PERNICIOUS (DESTRUCTIVE) TO
SOCIETY.
WE HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS
OF GOD SO MEEKNESS AND BENEVOLENCE SHOULD
BE OUR UNCHANGING ATTRIBUTES.
❃ GOD MOST JOYFULLY GRANTS ALL REPENTANT
SINNERS HIS GREAT MERCY, FOR HE IS
INFINITELY AND FOREVER TOLERANT,
FORGIVING AND PATIENT REGARDLESS OF HOW
SINFUL WE HAVE BEEN – AS LONG AS WE, IN
TURN, HAVE FORGIVEN OTHERS JUST AS
LOVINGLY AND WILLINGLY.
Nevertheless, THOSE WHO OBSTINATELY CONTINUE TO
REMEMBER EVIL AND WHO REFUSE TO FORGIVE,
FORSAKE OR ABANDON THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS
OF GOD WITHIN THEM.
IN THEIR SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DEATH, THEY
BECOME GROTESQUE FIENDS RATHER THAN DIVINE
IMAGES!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS & CHEESEFARE WEEK” BY ST
JOHN OF KRONSTADT
KRONSTADT – www.roca-
www.roca-sobor.org/library
14 FEBRUARY 2010 13
 Sunday of Forgiveness/Cheesefare
Today’s theme refers to the expulsion of Adam from
Paradise due to the misuse of his freedom by
being persuaded by the evil one to disobey the
only Commandment – not to eat the Fruit of the
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil – and
thinking that he would know more that God!
Our Hymnology refers to the tragic condition of the
exiled Adam 6 weeping sorrowfully and working
hard to survive.
The Sacred Lesson refers to Prayer, Fasting,
Almsgiving and all Good Works for the Glory of
The Covering of the Soul
OUR SOUL REFLECTS ITS INNERMOST CONDITION AND,
ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT SEE IT OURSELVES, THERE
ARE CERTAIN HOLY ONES WHO, IN THEIR PURITY OF
SOUL, HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL
SIGHT.
There was a Hieromonk who was greatly respected
for being a Faster, a Solitary and a man of Prayer.
When St Andrew the Fool6for6Christ met him, he saw
that he was arrayed in some sort of dark fog, and
that a snake with an inscription: “snake of
avarice,” was curled around his neck. Such was
the Spiritual Condition of the Hieromonk’s soul!
Yet no one else could see it.
(St Andrew spoke to the Hieromonk in private and
he humbly repented and confessed.)
THE HEAVENLY INHABITANTS ARE EVEN MORE
ENLIGHTENED THAN ANY HUMAN BEING AND THEY
CLEARLY SEE OUR SOULS. SO, ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT
THINK THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS OUR REAL
SPIRITUAL CONDITION, WE ARE IN FACT OBSERVED
BY COUNTLESS SPIRITUAL BEINGS!
We, too, are able to determine our Spiritual State – to
a certain degree 6 due to our incorruptible judge:
the Voice of God within us, which is our
conscience.
ALTHOUGH OUR CONSCIENCE MIGHT BECOME
SUPPRESSED AND MUFFLED BY OUR SINS, IT IS ABLE
TO FREE ITSELF FROM THOSE SHACKLES AND TO
RAISE ITS VOICE OF PROTEST AGAINST OUR
SHAMELESSNESS, UNTIL WE HEED IT AND CORRECT
OUR SPIRITUAL DARKNESS BY REPENTING AND
CONFESSING OUR WICKEDNESS.
In those who are innocent, the Voice of their
conscience is always clearly heard.
OUR CONSCIENCE BRINGS OUR ATTENTION TO THE
OPINIONS OR VIEWPOINTS OF THE HEAVENLY
INHABITANTS WHO ADVISE US, PROTECT US AND
GUIDE US SAFELY THROUGH LIFE.
If we are pure in everything before God and
mankind, the testimony of our conscience shines
the Divine Light of God on our soul and we are
seen by our Heavenly Witnesses as brightly
shining Lights.
WHENEVER OUR CONSCIENCE REPROACHES US AND
WARNS US OF OUR IMPURITIES AND ERRORS, OUR
SOULS APPEAR DARKENED like a light6bulb
covered with thick dust – THE LIGHT STILL SHINES
DEEP WITHIN BUT IS BLURRED BY THE GRIME OF SIN
COVERING IT.
GUARDIAN ANGELS ARE CLOSER TO US THAN ANYONE
ELSE AND THEY KNOW IMMEDIATELY WHO IS
SPIRITUALLY BRIGHT OR DIM. THEY CONSTANTLY
MONITOR OUR INNERMOST ATTITUDE TO DISCERN
IF IT IS A PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY CONDITION.
Besides all the Heavenly Hosts, the Righteous and the
Saints, there are dark powers who are invisible to
us yet they also watch the state of our souls very
intently.
WHILE WE ARE IN A BLESSED STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE,
BEING CLOSE TO GOD THROUGH REPENTANCE AND
WATCHFULNESS, BY STRIVING FAITHFULLY TO OBEY
HIM IN ALL THINGS, AND ESPECIALLY WHILE
PRAYING, THE EVIL POWERS – THE DEMONS OR
FALLEN ANGELS – ARE UNABLE TO APPROACH US,
NOR CAN THEY WATCH US BECAUSE THE DIVINE
LIGHT WITHIN US BURNS THEM, BLINDS THEM AND
REPELS THEM.
14 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 4TH SUNDAY OF TRIODION – SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS – CHEESEFARE
God that are to be done secretly so that only God
knows.
The Infinite Condescension of God towards our
human weakness is constantly emphasised by
Christ 6 in our Lord’s Prayer and throughout this
last week, leading up to Forgiveness or
Cheesefare Sunday, which implies the gradual
transition from eating meat to the strict Fast of
Great Lent, which begins tomorrow – Clean
Monday.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: WWW.GOARCH.ORG
Nevertheless, THE MOMENT SOULS BEGIN TO DIM DUE
TO THE ONSET OF SPIRITUAL DEATH CAUSED BY SIN,
THEY WATCH FEVERISHLY AND AS SOON AS THE
SLIGHTEST OPPORTUNITY ARISES, THEY VICIOUSLY
ATTACK WITH THEIR DEADLY WEAPONS SUCH AS
DEROGATORY THOUGHTS, PASSIONATE DESIRES
AND DISCONCERTING, DISRUPTIVE EMOTIONS.
These hideous demons hunt in packs and exist in a
turbulent realm that is neither of Heaven nor
earth.
THEY PERSISTENTLY WAIT AND WATCH FOR ANY
CHANCE TO HARM OUR BODIES AND SOULS,
RALLYING ALL THEIR DESTRUCTIVE WILES –
RELENTLESSLY TRYING TO BRING US TO UTTER
DESPAIR SO THAT WE MIGHT SELF-DESTRUCT AND
ABANDON GOD.
THEY ARE UTTERLY OBSESSED WITH SOULS THAT ARE
CONSISTENTLY FILLED WITH DIVINE LIGHT,
sometimes boldly creeping close enough to
disturb or disrupt our focus.
A young man asked a certain magician, Cyprianos,
for a “magic potion” to captivate the favour of a
lovely young Christian, Justina, whom he desired,
although she never noticed him at all.
Several times Cyprianos sent demons to her in an
effort to kindle a reciprocal passion in her for the
youth but whenever they approached her home,
they were forced away and scorched by a bright
Light from within the house: St Justina was
enveloped with pure Light like a protective Cloud
that hid her from their wicked gaze.
There is no better example of a brightly shining soul
than that of A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN WHO IS PURE
IN CONSCIENCE AND DEVOTED TO THE LORD GOD!
WHEN THE CONSCIENCE IS PURE, THE FEAR OF GOD FILLS
THE SOUL AND KEEPS IT INVIOLABLE. THEN GOD
Who is everywhere present and Who fills all
things, VISITS AND DWELLS WITHIN THAT LOVELY
SOUL, CAUSING HIS DIVINE LIGHT TO BRIGHTLY
SHINE FORTH LIKE A SMALL STAR!
IF IT HAS MAINTAINED THE PURITY AND BRIGHTNESS OF
SPIRITUAL LIFE THEN UPON ITS DEPARTURE FROM
THE BODY, THE SOUL CROSSES OVER AND UNITES
WITH THE UNCREATD DIVINE LIGHT OF GOD BY
MEANS OF THAT VERY SAME BRIGHTNESS.
While St Anthony was conversing with his disciples,
he saw a band of Light that rose up to Heaven,
and discerning what it was, he told them: “It is St
Ammon ascending into Heaven with the Holy
Angels escorting him.”
BE ZEALOUS ABOUT THIS: DO NOT GO BY OUTER
APPEARANCES FOR IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING ELSE WITHIN, AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE IN REALITY! Of course, WE MIGHT BE BETTER
THAN WE APPEAR TO BE.
St Basil the Great said: “The body is ours and
besides this body, what we have, beginning with
our clothing, is that which surrounds us. But,
what are we? We are soul with a spirit.”
So, after disengaging from all that is outside us and
from our body, we must ENTER WITHIN, AND
EXAMINE EVERYTHING BEFORE DECIDING IN WHAT
SPIRITUAL CONDITION WE TRULY ARE.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: THE SPIRITUAL LIFE - THE COVERING OF THE SOUL – BY
ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE
14 FEBRUARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF
AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD.
AMEN.

1st Sunday of Great Lent Tone 4 21 February 2010

Sunday of Orthodoxy – The Triumph of Orthodoxy

Feast of St Timothy the Righteous; St Eustathios of Antioch; St Zacharias of

Jerusalem; St John III of Constantinople
APOLYTIKION OF THE RESURRECTION – TONE 4

To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou Mathouse e When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from
tou Kyriou mathitrie ke tin Progonikin apofasin the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection, and
aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon: Eskilefte O had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather,
thanatos, igerthi Hristos O Theos, doroumenos to kosmo they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no
to Mega Eleos! more: Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world
Great Mercy!

APOLYTIKION OF THE FEAST OF THE TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY MANDYLION – NOT MADE BY HANDS - TONE 2

Tin ahranton Ikona Sou proskinoumen agathe, etoumeni
sighorisin ton ptesmaton imon, Hriste O Theos. Voulisi
gar iidokisas sarki, anelthin en to Styavro, ina risi ous
eplasas ek tis doulias tou ehthrou. Othen evharistos
voomen Si. Haras eplirosas ta panta O Sotir imon,
paragenomenos is to sose ton kosmon.
KONTAKION TO THE EVER BLESSED
BLESSED THEOTOKOS
We venerate Thy Most Pure Image, O Good One, and ask
forgiveness of our transgression, O Christ God. Of Thy
own Will Thou were pleased to ascend the Cross in the
Flesh to deliver Thy creatures from bondage to the
enemy. Therefore, with thanksgiving, we cry aloud to
Thee: Thou has filled all with Joy, O our Saviour, by
coming to Save the world!

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria Os litrothisa ton dinon
evharistiria Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke All’ os
ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton Ek pantion me
kindinon eleftheroson Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi
Animfevte!
Resurrection Gospel 4 : Luke 24 : 1 – 12
Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City
in thanksgiving Ascribes the Victory for the
deliverance from sufferings. But having Thy Might
unassailable, Free me from all dangers So that I may
cry out to Thee: “Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
THE HOLY MYRRH-
MYRRH-BEARERS FIND OUR LORD HAS RISEN & HIS TOMB IS EMPTY

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers. For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11:24 – 26; 32 – 40
THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
CHURCH IS THE SUFFERINGS OF HER SAINTS

Brethren, by Faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, esteeming the Reproach of Christ
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the Reward.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and 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, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens
and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise, God having provided
something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
The Saints and the faithful people of God who lived in old The temptations of Satan and the world today try to confuse us
Covenant times, before the Coming [Incarnation] of the and make us doubt and question, but when we recognise the
Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, accepted God’s Divine and deceptions for what they are, they can no longer bewilder us.
Perfect Truth simply through the Faith [trust] of their immortal We must simply trust in God because everything and anything is
souls. always possible with Him and we can rest assured that He
They did not have the enormous amount of factual proof that always takes the very best care of us because He is All
Christians enjoy today. Wise, Gracious and Merciful.
They simply accepted God and His Commandments and Only God knows what is best for us and we must always
instructions that were given to them through the Holy depend on Him to Guide and Protect us, no matter what
Prophets, who received them from the Holy Spirit. happens to us.
They knew God instinctively and their Faith was greater than Only by the Power of Almighty God is it possible to do the
those who rely on facts to convince them of God’s Truth. impossible and throughout the ages God has given His
This is why Christ said that those who do not have proof yet Faithful People the incredible abilities to achieve whatever
believe are even more Blessed. was necessary.
St Paul stressed this aspect of Faith because he wanted us to God works through our deep Faith in Him and this is evident with
realise that not only do we have Inspired Faith in our souls, all who rely upon His Grace and Mercy.
but we also have so much concrete proof of God’s Truth and We are astounded by His Miracles when we become aware of
Reality! them.

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – ORTHODOX SUNDAY - THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY 21 FEBRUARY 2010
15
God performs His Wonders all the time, ever moment of the day
but we do not recognise or acknowledge them.
All too often we accept them as our own achievements – as
though we could do wonderful things all on our own!
The faithful servants of God do not accept the tempting offers of
the world. Instead they look to the future – to Eternity – for
which this present existence prepares us.
Worldly comforts and possessions are temporary whereas Life in
Christ is Eternal and the greatest objective to aim for.
Throughout time God’s faithful people knew they had to endure
whatever life dealt them so that they would be Spiritually
Prepared for Eternal Life.
The prospect of Eternal Life encourages us to face anything, and
absolute Faith in God makes it possible.
No matter what terrible tortures the Holy Martyrs had to endure,
God made it mysteriously possible and bearable for them –
their bodies may have suffered unspeakable horrors, but
their souls remained inviolate and comforted by God.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 1 : 43 – 51
CHRIST OUR LORD REVEALS THAT HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES SHALL SEE HEAVENLY EVENTS
Throughout life – the problems, the pain, the suffering and the
heartbreak - God carries us, protects us and makes it all
tolerable and viable.
The Promises or Covenants of God are for all mankind,
throughout the ages.
Until Christ descended into Hades and broke open the Gates of
Hades, it was not possible for the Righteous to rest in peace.
Now, with the Hope and Promise of His Resurrection, we are
comforted and confident that we are able to continue our
Journey to Eternal Life.
Christ revealed so much to us regarding the Mystery of Life After
Death.
Our personal relationship with God and our Spiritual Health will
decide whether we will have Eternal Life or Eternal Death.
As long as we draw breath in this world, we have the opportunity
to develop our Spiritual Well-Being and deepen our Love and
Devotion to Almighty God.
It might take a great deal of daily effort but the final results of our
Spiritual Striving are worth every second indeed!

At that time, the following day, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him: “Follow Me.”
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him: “We have found Him
of Whom Moses in the Law, and also the Prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to
him: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him: “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, and said of him: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael
said to Him: “How dost Thou know me?” Jesus answered and said to him: “Before Philip called you, when you were
under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the
King of Israel!”
Jesus answered and said to him: “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see
greater things than these.” And He said to him: “Most assuredly, I say to you: hereafter you shall see Heaven open,
and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
When our Lord Jesus Christ says “Follow Me” WE ARE NATHANAEL WAS OVERJOYED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LORD
WILLINGLY AND JOYFULLY COMPELLED TO OBEY JESUS AS THE TRUE MESSIAH for Whom they had waited
THROUGH OUR LOVE OF GOD. so long.
WHEN CHRIST CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM, OUR LIVES ARE In ancient Jewish thought THE SON OF MAN IS A MYSTERIOUS
INSTANTLY CHANGED AND WE ARE NEVER THE SAME BEING OF HEAVENLY ORIGIN, WHO IS TO USHER IN THE
AGAIN! KINGDOM OF GOD. OUR LORD JESUS IS INDEED THIS ONE.
Our Struggles are greater and the Spiritual Warfare more In Old Testament Prophecy, ST JACOB DREAMT OF A LADDER
evident, but the results are astonishing, exciting and truly CONNECTING EARTH AND HEAVEN, upon which the Angels
worthwhile! of God were ascending and descending.
St Philip immediately obeyed because he recognised our Lord ✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN, IS “JACOB’S
Jesus as the long awaited Messiah or Christ. He LADDER.”
acknowledged the Divine Presence of Christ and his Love ✽ CHRIST IS THE MEANS OF MANKIND’S ACCESS TO GOD.
for God compelled him, not only to obey but also to share ✽ HE IS THE FINAL AND FULLEST REVELATION OF GOD.
his Joy in His Calling with Nathanael (who later became ✽ IN HIS INCARNATION, GOD AND MANKIND ARE UNITED.
known as “St Bartholomew.”) ✽ IN THE TEACHINGS AND MIRACLES OF CHRIST’S PUBLIC
Nathanael’s first reaction was to doubt that the Messiah could MINISTRY, THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH IS
INAUGURATED.
come from Nazareth because Holy Scripture prophesied
that He was to come from the Royal Line of David, from
✽ HIS HOLY CROSS, SET UP ON EARTH LIKE JACOB’S
LADDER, REACHES INTO HEAVEN.
Bethlehem – which indeed He was, although that fact was ✽ THROUGH HIS RESURRECTION, ASCENSION AND
unknown to most people at the time. EXALTATION AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE
CHRIST OUR LORD AND CREATOR SEES INTO THE INNERMOST FATHER, HUMAN NATURE IS RAISED INTO HEAVEN.
CORNERS OF OUR SOULS. NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM HIM ✽ AND THROUGH HIS SECOND COMING, [HIS VISIBLE RETURN
and as Nathanael approached Him, CHRIST REVEALED SO ALL HUMANITY CAN SEE HIM] ALL THINGS WILL BE
HIS PURITY OF HEART by saying: “…in whom is no deceit!” RECONCILED TO GOD.
This statement took Nathanael by surprise, which ✽ IN CHRIST, HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE JOINED.
instigated his question, “How dost Thou know me?” Despite all the Miraculous Wonders human beings have
The reply of Christ revealed His Divinity because ONLY GOD witnessed and experienced in this life, Christ has told us
KNEW his whereabouts just before St Philip went to fetch on more than one occasion, that there are even greater
him. and more wonderful Things to behold in Eternal Life – in
the Life to come.
Sunday of Orthodoxy – the First Sunday of Great Lent
TODAY IS SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY OR THE TRIUMPH OF US AND BLESSES US IN ALL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND
ORTHODOXY because our Holy Orthodox Church ENDEAVOURS, no matter how unimportant they may
solemnly recalls its VICTORY OVER THE ICONOCLAST see to others.
HERESY AND OTHER HERESIES, and we gratefully OUR FAITH GRANTS US STRENGTH, GOOD CHEER AND
COMMEMORATE ALL WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE CONSOLATION. IT HEALS, PURIFIES AND SAVES US.
DIVINE TRUTH OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH IN Our Orthodox Faith is also dear to us because IT IS THE
WORD, WRITING, TEACHING, SUFFERING AND GODLY TRUE FAITH OF OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS and for
LIVING.
its sake the Holy Apostles of Christ laboured
This Feast is a significant reminder to each of us that IT
IS OUR SACRED DUTY TO STAND FIRM IN OUR constantly and endured all manner of suffering.
ORTHODOX FAITH AND TO MOST CAREFULLY PRESERVE The faithful Holy Martyrs and Priesthood struggled and
IT PURE AND TRUTHFUL FOREVER - ACCORDING TO suffered persecution; Spiritual Champions shed their
GOD’S DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH EXCLUSIVELY!
tears and their blood for our Faith.
For us ORTHODOXY IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS TREASURE: IT IS ALL THIS WONDERFUL CLOUD OF WITNESSES TO GOD’S
many of us were born and raised Orthodox. Many of DIVINE TRUTH WHOSE LEGACY WE HAVE INHERITED,
us converted to Orthodoxy due to its purity and AND WHICH WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESERVE IN
TRUTH, ENSURING IT IS PASSED ON TO THE FOLLOWING
Divine Truth. THE MOST RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT GENERATIONS IN THAT SAME PURE STATE AS THE HOLY
EVENTS OF OUR LIFE ARE CONNECTED TO ORTHODOXY APOSTLES RECEIVED IT FROM CHRIST OUR LORD AND
AND OUR HOLY FAITH CONSTANTLY HELPS US, GUIDES

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – ORTHODOX SUNDAY - THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY 21 FEBRUARY 2010
16
 SAVIOUR – WITHOUT ERROR OR CHANGE,, IN HUMBLE
OBEDIENCE TO GOD - instead of pleasing ourselves
As the descendants of Christ’s faithful Apostles and
Disciples, DO WE STRIVE TO PRESERVE THE ORTHODOX
FAITH AND KEEP TO ITS HOLY GOSPELS?
St Elijah the Holy Prophet of God and great Worker for
the Glory of God complained that the sons of Israel
had abandoned the Holy Covenant of God, drifting
away from It towards the heathen idols.
Yet our Lord revealed to His Holy Prophet that amongst
the Israelites there still were, at that time, 7000
people who had not knelt before Baal. (3 KINGS: 19)
Likewise, no doubt, in our days also there are still some
True Disciples of Christ: “The Lord knows those
who are His.” (2 TIMOTHY 2:19)
We occasionally do meet TRUE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF
THE HOLY CHURCH who ARE OBEDIENT TO HER
DECREES, who HONOUR THEIR SPIRITUAL FATHERS, who
LOVE THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST OUR GOD AND ALL
ITS BEAUTY, who are EAGER TO ATTEND HER DIVINE
SERVICES and who lead A GOOD SPIRITUAL LIFE IN
CHRIST.
THEY RECOGNISE THEIR OWN FAILINGS AND SINCERELY AND
PROMPTLY REPENT THEIR SINS.
But how many such faithful Disciples are there amongst
us?
There appear to be more people “... in whom the weeds
of vanity and passion allow little Fruit to the
influence of the Gospel, or even in whom it is
altogether fruitless, who resist the Truth of God
and His Holy Gospel because of their ever
increasing sins, who renounce the Gifts of God and
repudiate the Grace of God!” (THE SERVICE OF ORTHODOXY)
“I have given birth to sons and have glorified them, yet
they deny Me!” said the Lord our God in ancient
days concerning Israel.
And today, THERE ARE MANY WHO WERE BORN, RAISED
AND GLORIFIED BY OUR LORD IN THE ORTHODOX FAITH
– THE NEW ISRAEL – YET WHO DENY THEIR FAITH, PAY
NO ATTENTION TO THE DIVINE TEACHINGS OF THE
HOLY CHURCH, DO NOT KEEP ITS INJUNCTIONS, DO NOT
LISTEN TO THEIR SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND PRIESTS, AND
WHO REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO THE DIVINE SERVICES
AND THE HOLY CHURCH OF GOD.
How MANY ABANDON THEIR ORTHODOX FAITH in this
world of innumerable creeds and tribes!
THEY BEGIN THEIR APOSTASY WITH THINGS THAT IN THEIR
OPINION HAVE NO IMPORTANCE, judging them to be
“old fashioned,” or “unacceptable to ‘educated’
people.”
They reject praying before and after meals and in the
morning and at night; they refuse to wear a Cross, to
have Holy Icons in their homes or to commemorate
Feast Days.
They refuse to Fast or to partake of Holy Communion.
They seldom attend Church, preferring other self6
indulgent and Spiritually Destructive activities.
They do not Repent, Confess or participate in any of the
Holy Mysteries such as Marriage or Holy Baptism.
Their Sacred Orthodox Faith is renounced and
abandoned, yet in times of anguish, pain and
suffering or upon their death bed they might
remember God’s Great Mercy and His Holy Mysteries,
yet even then, MOST REMAIN STUBBORN AND IN A
STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH!
THEY HAVE READY EXCUSES FOR THEIR LIFE-THREATENING
APOSTASY AND WHEN THEY SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, THEY ARE QUICK TO BLAME
GOD.
✞ CHRIST CAME TO SAVE ALL CREATION AND THE
ORTHODOX FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE
WORLD: “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with
iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children who are
corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord; they
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – ORTHODOX SUNDAY - THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY
have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger!”
(ISAIAH 1:4)
If you do not preserve the Orthodox Faith and the
Commandments of God, DO NOT INSULT GOD OR
HUMILIATE YOURSELVES BY INVENTING FALSE EXCUSES
FOR YOUR SINS!
If you do not honour Holy Tradition, DO NOT MOCK THE
THINGS YOU NEITHER KNOW NOR UNDERSTAND!
If you have rejected the Motherly Care of our Holy
Church, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ACT SINFULLY
AGAINST GOD AND HIS HOLY CHURCH – HIS HOLY
COVENANT - BY BEHAVING LIKE AN INDULGED, RUDE,
ILL-DISCIPLINED, IMMATURE AND REBELLIOUS CHILD!
IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, CONFESS AND REPENT ALL THESE
TERRIBLE SINS AGAINST GOD AND YOURSELF (i.e. your
immortal soul), you will be forgiven and joyfully
embraced by Divine Love – and YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WILL
CERTAINLY IMPROVE!
Holding onto the Holy Orthodox Faith with Love and the
deepest respect, we ought to SHARE ITS JOY AND
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO STUMBLE ABOUT IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.
✞ THE LIGHT OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY is not only for
a small, elite group. IT IS UNIVERSAL AND IT OBEYS
THE GREAT COMMISSION OF OUR DIVINE FOUNDER,
JESUS CHRIST, Who instructed all His faithful
Disciples to “...make Disciples of all the Nations,
Baptising them in the Name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all things that I have Commanded
you...” (MATTHEW 16:15)
We ought to share our Spiritual Wealth with those who
are deprived of these Divine Blessings, who seek and
thirst for them.
Surrounded by a sea of other religions, our Holy Church
is a small island of Salvation.
Some who cannot find comfort and shelter anywhere
else and who have been plunged into the turbulent
waters of life, try to reach the safety and comfort of
our Saviour’s protective, nurturing Harbour.
Are we to remain deaf and blind and insensitive to their
pleas of help and guidance?
May God save us from such a lack of Love! Otherwise,
woe to us “... for we have taken away the Key of
Knowledge; we entered not in ourselves, and those
who were entering in, we hindered.” (Luke 11:52)
St Paul wisely compared our Holy Church to a body, the
life of which is shared by all the members: “... the
whole body, joined and knitted together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective
working by which every part does its share, causes
growth of the body for be edifying of itself in Love.”
(Ephesians 4:16)
All faithful Christians suffer for the Holy Church of
Christ. We all fight against heresies and we all have
accepted the Divine Commission of spreading the
Holy Gospel of Christ.
Although not everyone has the opportunity or the
faculty to preach the Holy gospel, but everyone can
pray for God’s Protection, Guidance and Strength to
conquer all difficulties and threats, and to open the
hearts of the ungodly so that “... He should impart to
them the Word of Truth... unite them to the Holy
Catholic (UNIVERSAL) and Apostolic Church... confirm,
increase and pacify His Church, keeping it forever
invincible.”
Beloved Brethren in Christ: let us devote ourselves to
the Orthodox Faith – not only in word alone, but in
deed and in Truth!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ORTHODOXY SUNDAY” BY THE MOST REVEREND TIKHON,
BISHOPF OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS & OF NORTH AMERICA; SAN FRANCISCO 1903
21 FEBRUARY 2010 17.
 The Triumph of Orthodoxy
It was decreed at the end of the Seventh Ecumenical
Council that on this specific First Sunday of Great
Lent, the Restoration of the Holy Icons would be
commemorated.
In 717, Leo the Isaurian seized control of the Roman
Empire in Constantinople and one of his first acts as
Emperor was to have the Holy Icons removed from
churches due to his erroneous belief that Icons were
idols worshipped by the people.
This belief arose from his misunderstanding and
misinterpretation of the Ten Commandments and
Holy Scripture.
✞ The Ten Commandments states: “...You shall not
make for yourself an idol or a likeness of
anything in Heaven above, or in the earth
beneath, or in the waters under the earth..”.
(EXODUS 20:4)
✞ The Book of Leviticus instructs: “... you shall not
make hand-crafted objects for yourselves;
neither a carved image nor a pillar shall you
rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up a
distinctive stone in your land, to worship it; for I
Am the Lord your God!” (LEVITICUS 26:1)
✞ The Book of the Acts of the Apostles points out: “...
since we are the Offspring of God, we ought not
to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or
silver or stone, something shaped in art and
man’s devising.” (ACTS 17:29)
While these verses of Scripture give the impression that
there should be no images, God seems to give
contradictory instructions for the building of the
Tabernacle and the Temple.
The Book of Exodus records: “... you shall make two
Cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall
make them at the two ends of the Mercy Seat.”
(EXODUS 25:18)
The Fist Book of Kings noted: “... for the door of the
Sanctuary... he carved Cherubim, palm trees and
open flowers on them, and overlaid the figures in
relief with gold...” (1 KINGS 6:32/3 KINGDOMS 6:33-
6:33-34 LXX )
The Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 sorted out this
apparent contradiction in Holy Scriptures by
determining that THE USE OF IMAGES WAS SCRIPTURAL
AND DID NOT CONTRADICT THE LAW OF GOD.
The Holy Fathers further determined that, BECAUSE GOD
HAD TAKEN HUMAN FORM IN THE PERSON OF JESUS
CHRIST, IMAGES OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS WERE
POSSIBLE.
Lastly, they defined THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORSHIP
AND VENERATION OF AN IMAGE OR ICON.
WORSHIP WAS DEFINED AS THAT WHICH IS ONLY GIVEN TO
GOD.
VENERATION, on the other hand, IS A SIGN OF RESPECT OR
LOVE THAT IS GIVEN TO A PERSON.
Thus, WHEN WE VENERATE AN ICON OR KISS IT, WE ARE
SHOWING OUR RESPECT OR LOVE FOR CHRIST OR THE
SAINT DEPICTED ON IT.
One way to think of veneration is if you ever kissed a
photo of a relative or friend due to your love and
respect for that person. That is what is meant by
veneration.
All the Ecumenical Councils defined and confirmed the
Sacred Teaching of the Church due to certain
controversies that arose amongst people.
The first two Councils, in a sense, defined the Teaching
of God in three Persons, while the remaining five
Councils defined the Person of Christ as God and
Man.
In today’s Gospel, we are given the Iconic Image of Christ
in words:
➤ Rabbi - indentifying Him as THE TEACHER OF THE
LAW
➤ Son of God 6 indentifying HIS DIVINITY
King of Israel - indentifying Him as THE RULER OF ALL
BELIEVERS
18 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – ORTHODOX SUNDAY - THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY
Son of Man 6 indentifying HIS HUMANITY
In the Calling of the Apostles we hear two phases that
show belief, Faith and action: “FOLLOW ME” and
"COME AND SEE.”
St Philip and St Nathaniel came to believe in Christ. They
had been searching for the Christ and when they
came into His Presence they believed.
BELIEF IS A THOUGHT PROCESS; IT IS A CONFIRMATION OF
SOMETHING and St Philip and St Nathaniel were
convinced that our Lord Jesus is truly the Christ.
In the case of St Philip, it was an instantaneous
conversion because his heart was prepared and ready
to receive the Christ through his continuous study of
Holy Scripture, so that when he saw our Lord Jesus,
he immediately responded to his own Calling by
Christ to “Follow Me!”
St Nathaniel, on the other hand, experienced a different
type of conversion. He had to be convinced by St
Philip: “Come and see!”
When he met Christ Who knew everything about him, he
utterly certain that our Lord Jesus is truly the Christ
– the Anointed One of God, the Messiah and our
Saviour.
Through these different conversions, we see how we all
come to Christ. A few of us "just know" when it is
time to surrender our lives to God through a sudden,
unique Spiritual Experience and St Philip had such a
Spiritual Experience.
Most of us, however, need to be persuaded and
convinced to turn to God, just like St Nathaniel.
This gradual process of being convinced of Divine Truth
is often referred to as a “Spiritual Awakening.”
THE POINT OF THIS IS NOT HOW WE GET TO GOD, BUT THAT
WE GET TO HIM. It does not matter if it is a sudden
Spiritual Experience or the gradual process of a
Spiritual Awakening that brings us to God.
What does matter is WHAT WE DO ONCE WE REALIZE THAT
WE NEED GOD TO BE IN CONTROL OF OUR LIVES; WHAT
ACTIONS DO WE TAKE?
WE SHOULD REPENT OUR SINS AND SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE
OUR WAY OF THINKING, OUR ATTITUDE AND OUR
ENTIRE OUTLOOK ON LIFE.
WE WILL ACT COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY BEING IN
HARMONY WITH GOD AND HIS CREATION.
We will become serene and have faith knowing that it is
real. And as we experience and witness the Grace of
God in our lives, we will respond accordingly.
Our only True Goal in life should be to have this type of
Faith, which “... comes by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God." (ROMANS 10:17)
The “hearing” to which St Paul referred is THE SPIRITUAL
EXPERIENCE OR AWAKENING THAT BRINGS US CLOSE TO
GOD.
Furthermore, being brought to God by Faith is a Divine
Gift from God, “ ... for by Grace are you Saved
through Faith, and not by yourselves (because) it is
the Gift of God." (EPHESIANS 2:8)
St Paul also cautioned us that THIS GIFT FROM GOD IS NOT
PERMANENT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE
CONTINUALLY WORKED FOR,
as he wrote to St
Timothy: “Fight the Good Fight of Faith, lay hold
on Eternal Life, to which you are also Called, and
have professed a good profession before many
witnesses." (1 TIMOTHY 6:12)
6:12)
St Paul himself declared at the end of his life: “I have
fought a Good Fight, I have finished my Course, I
have kept the Faith." (2 TIMOTHY 4:7)
MAY GOD GRANT YOU A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE OR
AWAKENING THAT BRINGS YOU TO HIM AS YOUR
TEACHER AND KING, GRANTING YOU THE GIFT OF
FAITH. THROUGH YOUR REPENTANCE.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE IRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT...” BY REVEREND MILAN
MDAKOV: ST GREGORY PALAMAS OUTREACH www.saintgregorypalamas.org
21 FEBRUARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL
THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

23 February 2010
Feast of St Polycarp the Great Hieromartyr of Smyrna
Also the Feast of St Proterios Hieromartyr of Alexandria; St Gorgonia, Righteous Sister of St
Gregory the Theologian; St Damianos New Martyr of Mount Athos
APOLYTIKION OF THE HEAVENLY HOSTS

Ton Ouranion Stration Arhistratigi, disopoumen imas ai
imis i anaxii, ina tes imon disesi tihisite imas, skepi ton
pterigon tis ailou imon doxis frourountes imas
prospiptontas, ektenos ke voontas. Ek ton kindinon
litrosasthe imas, os Taxiarhe ton ano Dinameon.
KONTAKION OF THE EVER
EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
O Foremost of the Heavenly Hosts, we who are unworthy,
beseech You that by Your Petitions You encompass us
with the shadow of Your Immaterial Glory, preserving
us who kneel and cry ceaselessly: deliver us from
oppressions, since You are the Princes of the Ranks of
Dominions on High.

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon fonas,
alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton
pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton
timonton se.
APOLYTIKION OF ST POLYCARP HIEROMARTYR OF SMYRNA – TONE 4
O Protection of the Christians Unashamable, Mediation to
the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices
of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Assistance
of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine
Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O
Theotokos who always protects all those who honour
Thee!

Tin klisin tis ergis sou, episfragisas sofe, elea katakarpos Thou sealed the Call with Thy Works, O Most Wise, as Most
ofthis en iko Theou, Polikarpe endoxe; si gar os Fruitful Olive Tree, Thou were seen in the House of God,
Ierarhis, ke sterros Athloforos trefis tin Ekklisian, logiki O Glorious Polycarp; because as a Hierarch, and a Most
efkarpia, presvevon Ieromartis, iper ton psihon imon. Steadfast Victor, the whole Church Thou nourished with
Spiritual Abundance, as Thou intercedes, O
Hieromartyr, for our souls.
KONTAKION OF ST POLYCARP HIEROMARTYR OF SMYRNA – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Karpous tous logikous, to Kyrio prosferon, Polikarpe sofe, Through Godly Virtues, Thou brought forth for the Lord
areton di entheon, edihtis axiotheos, ierarha makarie. God much Spiritual Fruit, O Thou Most Blessed
Othen smeron, i fotisthentes sis logis, animnoumen sou, Hierarch, and so proved worthy of God Thy Lord, O
tin axiepenon mnimin, doxazontes Kyrion. Wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have all
been Enlightened through thy Holy Words extol Thy
praiseworthy Memory and Glorify Christ the Lord
Third Epistle of St John 1 - 15
GENUINE CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP VESUS FALSE, EGOCENTRIC AND DESTRUCTIVE LEADERSHIP

To the beloved Gaius whom I Love in Truth: Beloved: I pray that you may prosper in all thins and be in health, just as your
soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when Brethren came and testified of the Truth that is in you, just as you walk in
the Truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth.
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the Brethren and for strangers who have borne witness of your Love before
the Church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well., because they went
forth for His Name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
We, therefore, ought to receive such, so that we may become fellow Workers for the Truth.
I wrote to the Church but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre6eminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I
come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with the,
he himself does not receive the Brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
Beloved: do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God but he who does evil has not seen God.
Demetrios has a good testimony from all, and from the Truth Itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our
testimony is True.
I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall
speak face to face.
Peace to you. Our Friends greet you. Greet the Friends by name.
One of the churches under St John’s supervision was Gaius who was addressed by St John might not have been the
experiencing a jurisdictional dispute and Evangelists who same Gaius mentioned by St Paul in his Epistles to the
had been sent out by St John (THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN AND BELOVED Romans and the Corinthians. (3 JOHN 1; ROMANS 16:23; 1
APOSTLE OF CHRIST) had reported back to their home church – CORINTHIANS 1 :14-15)

possibly in Ephesos – testifying that Gaius who was full of
Love (Agape) and loyalty, had liberally supported their
Mission, while Diotrephes who was apparently either the
Bishop or aspiring to be so, had vigorously opposed them
and lorded over the local church instead of leading it. He
was resistant to Apostolic Oversight (SUPERVISION) and
forbade the welcoming of Missionaries who had been sent
by St John.
Demetrios might have been another Missionary whom St John
intended to send that way and who would also be in need
of Christian Hospitality. Thus St John wrote to Diotrephes’
church although he did not trust Diotrephes with his
Epistle.
Truth for St John was not a Doctrine or thought but a faithful
Christian’s manner of life and like all good fathers, St John
found his greatest pleasure in seeing his Spiritual Children
walking in God’s Divine Truth.
The “strangers” to whom St John referred were most likely the
Missionaries sent by St John but unknown to the other
churches.
The Missionaries were sent forth for the specific purpose of
preaching the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One way we may all participate in the Holy Ministry of Christ is
to give material help to those with Spiritual Gifts for all
donors or sponsors become co-workers in Spiritual
Things. (MATTHEW 10:41)

[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE FEAST OF ST POLYCARP – GREAT HIEROMARTYR OF SMYRNA 23 FEBRUARY 2010 19.
The name “Diotrephes” means “nursed or nourished by Zeus.” representative or messenger of St John and possibly the
Early Christians kept their original names after Baptism. one who carried this particular Epistle to Gaius.
This man, Diotrephes, loved being preeminent (SUPREME, ABOVE ALL The treacherous threats of damage caused by pride is clearly
OTHERS). He did not like being the first among equals but evident from the concern of St John who warns us to
wanted to be peerless (UNEQUALLED AND UNIQUE) and he always walk in the Divine Truth of God with utter Humility
possessed a sinful passion of personal aggrandizement and Obedience to God and His Holy Priesthood.
(enhancement), which resulted in blatant insubordination Any egocentric arrogance or self- magnification must quickly
to St John. He slandered the of the last of the Twelve be ripped out by sincere Repentance and Confession.
Holy Apostles of Christ by refusing to accept him as either Only constant Prayer and humble Obedience to God keeps us
a Holy Apostle or as a Presbyter (PRIEST). on the True Path of Righteousness, slowing making our
Consequently, by rejecting St John’s Missionaries he rejected way towards God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and as faithful
St John himself and he also disdained the Apostolic, Orthodox Christians, we are all struggling along towards
universality of the Holy Church of Christ by setting himself the same Divine Destination.
up as a petty tyrant. Our intense Love of God, our Beloved Brethren in Christ and
Demetrios was either a member of Diotrephes’ church, one of all Creation compels us to help and encourage each other
emissaries already sent by St John or yet another with Love, kindness, generosity and everything that will
help us all to arrive safely.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 12: 24-26; 35 – 36
DYING TO THIS WORLD & BECOMING SONS OF LIGHT

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Most assuredly, I say to you: unless a grain of wheat falls into the
ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose
it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for Eternal Life. If anyone serves Me, let him
follow Me; and where I Am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will
honour.”
Then Jesus said to them: “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.
The image of the grain of wheat dying in order to bear fruit in His Kingdom through our immediate Repentance-
signifies that Christ died in order to give us Eternal Life in Confession, each time we fall from His Grace.
His Heavenly Kingdom God is 100% Pure Love so He most certainly does not want
This is a Principle of Self Sacrifice that applies to all those sinners to suffer physical harm or permanent Spiritual
who faithfully and devoutly follow the Way of Christ. Death resulting in Eternal Condemnation and Punishment.
The Theme of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Divine Light Instead God allows us to suffer the consequences of our errors
receives renewed emphasis. now, on earth, so that we have the opportunity to realise
The gathered crowd wanted to know the Identity of the Son of how worthless our existence is without God and then, of
Man but our Lord Jesus challenged them to come to the our own free will, we can choose whether we wish to return
(Divine) Light (OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) while there is still time and to His Loving Embrace or continue to reject Him.
in that manner to become Children of Light. Everyone has until their last heartbeat and physical death to
We must faithfully follow Christ our Saviour’s Perfect Example return to God – to enter His Heavenly, Eternal Kingdom of
so that we may improve our Spiritual Condition while we Peace, Love and inexpressible Joy.
still live because this is the one and only opportunity we Christ continually warns us not to walk in the darkness of sin
will ever have to become the adopted Children of Almighty and ignorance where we shall certainly be lost and in
God Who is Uncreated Light - as Christ Himself is Divine mortal and Spiritual Danger.
“Light of Light.” Spiritual Darkness and Death are due to being exiled very,
Being united with Christ through Holy Baptism, Holy very far from the Divine Light and Love of God.
Chrismation and regular Holy Communion, we become The further we drift away from Him, the darker and more dead
Children of that Divine Light of Almighty God. our souls become – causing a subtle but deadly
However, it is an ongoing process and we must work diligently deterioration of our circumstances.
and faithfully to maintain our Spiritual Well Being and However, while we are still in this earthly existence, we can
Spiritual Life in His Kingdom. certainly return to His Divine Light and all the Goodness
As soon as we commit wilful sins, we alienate or and Blessings He bestows upon us.
excommunicate ourselves from God’s Heavenly Kingdom Christ is our Shining, Guiding Divine Light - our Divine Beacon
that begins here on earth in this life. Who keeps us on the right Path and helps us to see the
Nevertheless, our Benevolent, All Merciful, and All Knowing many traps and pitfalls the evil one sets for us.
God has made provision for our continuous errors by Keep your eyes constantly focused on God’s Divine Light and
granting us the means to re-establish our favoured status you will have nothing to fear, for He always steers us on
the right course.
St Polycarp – Great Hieromartyr of Smyrna
This Apostolic and Prophetic Saint, was a model of Faith Although the Proconsul referred to the Christians, St
and Truth. Polycarp, looking towards the screaming the heathen
He had been a Disciple of St John the Evangelist and was masses, waved his hand towards them and declared:
the successor to St Bucolos and Teacher of St "Away with the atheists!"
Irenaeos. The Proconsul then ordered him to blaspheme against
He was very old when the fifth persecution was Christ but he responded: "I have served Christ for
conducted against the Christians under Marcus eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in
nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has
Aurelius.
Saved me?"
The soldiers who had been sent to seek and arrest St
Enraged by his words the Proconsul commanded him to
Polycarp were astonished when he offered them food
be cast into the fire, and thus he was Martyred, circa
and drink after their long journey. He then asked
163.
them to grant him an hour for Prayer.
As he stood and prayed in a state of Divine Grace for two ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: SAINTS, FEASTS & READING - BY GREEK ORTHODOX
hours, his captors realised that they had arrested a ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA: www.goarch.org

most venerable man.

However, at his own insistence, they presented him
before the Proconsul of Smyrna at the stadium who
loudly commanded him to “...swear by the fortune of
Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists!'"
20 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE FEAST OF ST POLYCARP – GREAT HIEROMARTYR OF SMYRNA 23 FEBRUARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE
AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER
VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST
OUR GOD. AMEN.

24 February 2010

The First & Second Finding of St John the Baptist’s Head

A VERY STRICT FAST TODAY

APOLYTIKION OF THE FINDING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD – TONE 4:

Ek gis anatilasa, i tou Prodromou Kefali, aktinas aflisi, tis The Head of the Forerunner, having risen from the earth,
aftharsias pistis ton laseon; anothen sinathriszi, tin sends out rays of Incorruption, for the healing of the
plithin ton Angelon, katothen singalite, ton anthropon Faithful; in the Heavens it gathers the Choir of Angels,
ta geni, omofonon anapempse, doxan Hristo to Theo. below are called together all people of all races, to send
in a single voice: Glory to Christ our God!
KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon fonas, the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading voices
alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the Help
pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is presvian, ke spefson of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up Thine
is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton timonton se. Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication, O
Theotokos who always protects all those who honour
Thee!
The Second Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4 : 6 - 15
LIKE ST PAUL, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST FACED DEATH SO THAT HE MIGHT SHOW FORTH THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

Brethren, it is the God Who commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to give the
Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen
vessels, so that the excellence of the Power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, so
that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are already delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the Life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but Life in you. And since we have the same spirit of Faith,
according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing
that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that Grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to
the Glory of God.
The “Treasure” is the Light of God’s Glory in Christ and This is Victorious, but not trouble-free Christianity.
“earthen vessels” refers to our humanity – our mortal, These Trials of Life “show both the Power of God and,
physical bodies that God first created from the soil of more, disclose His Grace” [ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM]
the earth and which, therefore, must be returned to the St John the Baptist was the most perfect living example of
earth before our Resurrection into Eternity. Divine Grace because since very early childhood –
As this Divine Light shines in and through us, people will since the age of two or three years - he had lived in
see that “the Power” is “of God" and not of mankind. the Wilderness, all alone but protected and nurtured by
Like the Ever Blessed Theotokos, St John was utterly Divine Providence and the Grace of God.
Obedient to God and was a most suitable living All his Knowledge was bestowed upon him by God Who
Temple for the Holy Trinity. Thus the Divine Light not only protected him from any harm, but also
shone forth from him upon the Hebrew people, equipped him with all the essential requirements as
encouraging them to heed his Divinely Inspired words the Holy Forerunner to Christ and the last but greatest
and to seek Repentance in preparation for the Coming Holy Prophet of God.
of the long-awaited Messiah – our Saviour.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 11: 2 – 15
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST EXPLAINS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST’S MISSION TO US

At that time, when John had heard in prison about the Works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples who asked Him:
“Art Thou the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus answered them: “Go and tell John the things that you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk; the
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to
them. And Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?
Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I
say to you: and more than a Prophet! For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My Messenger
before Thy Face, who will prepare Thy Way before Thee.’
“Assuredly, I say to you: among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but
he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until
now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all Prophets and the Law
prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST & 2ND FINDING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD 24 FEBRUARY 2010
21
According to the Church Fathers, St John the Baptist
asked this most important question in order to guide
his own disciples to our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is also possible, according to modern interpretations,
that St John thought of the Messiah as Divine Judge
only and was perplexed by His Infinite Mercy.
St Isaiah predicted that at the Coming of the Messiah the
blind would see, the lame would walk, lepers would be
cleansed and the deaf would hear.
Our Lord Jesus fulfilled the Prophecies of St Isaiah,
bearing the Fruit that only the Messiah can produce!
In terms of the Old Testament Law, St John the Baptist is
the greatest Prophet, but the New Covenant
inaugurated by Christ is of such incomparable value
that everyone who shares in it is, as it were, greater
than St John, because by Grace through Faith under
the New Covenant we become Children of God and
Partakers of the Holy Spirit.
St John is honoured because
✽ He is Righteous
✽ He prepared the Way of the first Coming of our Lord
and Saviour
✽ He Baptised Christ.
“Suffers violence” may mean that the Heavenly Kingdom is
under attack by opponents of St John the Baptist and
The Mystery of Repentance & Holy Communion
WHAT USE CAN YOU MAKE OF THE KNOWLEDGE YOU
HAVE GAINED?
✞ FIRST OF ALL, YOU SHOULD JUDGE YOURSELF IN ALL
YOUR SHORTCOMINGS, WITHOUT MAKING ANY
EXCUSES OR JUSTIFICATIONS.
At the Presanctified Liturgy, after the hymn “O Lord,
I have cried to Thee!” the Reader recites: “O let
not my heart be inclined to any evil thing; let
me not be involved in ungodly works!”
This suggests WE MUST CONSTANTLY BESEECH GOD’S
DIVINE ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT US FROM SINFUL
CRAFTINESS THAT EXCUSES OR IGNORES OUR
ERRORS, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DO NOT REPENT
CANNOT BEGIN SELF-CORRECTION.
WE MUST ALWAYS JUDGE OURSELVES WITHOUT PITY so
that we get to a point where we sincerely confess:
I am guilty!
✞ ONLY BY OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PERSONAL
GUILT CAN WE THEN EXPERIENCE THE FEAR OF
DIVINE JUDGEMENT.
If our conscience accuses us then God Himself will
not excuse us! And God knows everything about
us!
✞ IF WE ARE GUILTY OF SIN, WE ARE CONDEMNED.
AND IF CONDEMNED THEN WE ARE SENTENCED
TO A FITTING RETRIBUTION WHICH WILL BEFALL
US SOONER OR LATER, AND WHICH ALREADY
HANGS OVER US IN THE SIGHT OF GOD!
Our Most Gracious God grants us THE HOPE OF
FORGIVENESS OF SINS WHEN WE REPENT WITH
CONTRITION AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE to avoid
committing the same past sins and not bring
Eternal Condemnation upon ourselves.
We must not be passionless – indifferent or
unconcerned 6 seekers of our flaws; WE MUST
MOURN THEM AND EARNESTLY REGRET THAT WE
COMMITTED SUCH TRANSGRESSIONS, WHETHER
AGAINST GOD, OUR NEIGHBOURS OR OURSELVES.
✞ SPIRITUAL MOURNING BEGETS THE HUMBLE
RESOLUTION TO FLEE SUCH OFFENCES, WHILE
KNOWLEDGE ALONE, ALTHOUGH IT IS
ACCOMPANIED BY THE INTENTION OF BEING
CAUTIOUS, LEADS US TO PRIDE!
Begin your Spiritual Healing from this moment on.
If something angers you, DECIDE THE BEST WAY TO
CORRECT YOURSELF AND TO PREVENT SUCH A
GRIEVOUS VICE RE-OCCURRING.
And, WITH EACH SINFUL HABIT, DO LIKEWISE.
By noting down your habitual shortcomings, you can
PLAN THE DEFEAT OF EACH TEMPTATION EVEN
BEFORE IT OCCURS SO THAT YOU CAN QUICKLY
ANNIHILATE IT BEFORE IT TAKES HOLD.
This will be your first general and completely
corrective Confession. Put a lot of effort into
exposing all your flaws by the Love of God and
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 1ST & 2ND FINDING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD
22
our Lord Jesus Christ, or other violent men –
messianic pretenders trying to bring in the Kingdom by
using military force against the Romans.
An ancient Patristic interpretation is that the Kingdom Itself
breaks into this world “violently.” For instance, through
powerful Miracles, alert and daring people take hold of
it aggressively.
Whoever is a hearer and lover of the Word of God takes
the Kingdom “by force,” exerting all earnestness and
desire to enter the Reality of the Kingdom. For this
Holy Martyrs shed their blood, making their Confession
of Faith, being “made a spectacle to the world, both to
Angels and to men.” [1 CORINTHIANS4:9]
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs not to the sleeping or the
lazy. Rather, “the violent take it by force.”
The identification between St John the Baptist and St
Elijah is quite explicit.
It is not St John who ascribes to himself the role of St
Elijah the Prophet, but our Lord Jesus Christ Who
assigns him this place in the History of Salvation.
St John the Baptist fulfilled the Mission of St Elijah the
Prophet and his destiny was similar to St Elijah’s.
Yet St John is honoured over St Elijah, because our Lord
Jesus in comparing the Prophets said, “there has not
risen one greater than John.”
you will see what control you acquire over
yourself, how powerfully you begin to restrain
yourselves with the awareness that this way of
Repentance6Confession is the right and only way
to eradicate personal sin.
Together with mourning for our sins and resolving
not to commit them again, it is vital to add
diligent Prayers to our Lord so that He will grant
us His Help and Strength to oppose them, for
without constant Prayers, we can achieve almost
nothing!
Once we have done all this, it is time for the Holy
Mystery of Confession and after receiving
Absolution for our sins at Confession, we will be
ready to receive Holy Communion with cleansed
hearts and souls, thereby receiving the complete
and full Spiritual Benefits of Holy Eucharist.
When we are sincerely repentant and are firmly
resolved to make amends, our Lord comes to us
in His Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) and enters
into us and He will be with us and we will be with
Him: O how great and unutterable is the Grace of
God the All Beneficent !
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE SPIRITUAL LIFE – REPENTANCE & COMMUNION”
COMMUNION” BY
ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE
Self-examination at the end of every day – a Spiritual
Accounting – is essential to good Spiritual Health
because we learn day by day to expose more and
more of our hidden, denied sins to the Divine Light of
Truth.
Not only do we learn how to confess truthfully and more
sincerely each time, and thereby become honest and
sincere human beings and faithful Christians but we
also prepare ourselves for the Aerial Toll-houses that
we will all experience immediately after death.
There are twenty Aerial Toll-houses which we have to
endure – a frightening experience for the unprepared
and ignorant souls!
At each Spiritual Toll-house the demons try to convict our
souls to Eternal Condemnation and Death by
screaming terrifying accusations of all our unrepented
and unconfessed sins, while our Guardian Angels -
Holy Advocates and Guides whom God sends to
protect and guide His faithful servants - try to defend
us by rebuffing the allegations with our good deeds
and repented, confessed sins.
In certain cases of sudden death, our Guardian Angels
might even return us to life – ONLY IF IT IS THE WILL OF
GOD!
BY THE GRACE OF GOD: MARGUERITE PAIZIS, UNWORTHY ARCHONDISSA &
ORTHODOX TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE
24 FEBRUARY 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

2nd Sunday of Great Lent Tone (5) Plagal 1 28 February 2010

Sunday of St Gregory Palamas – Sunday of the Paralytic (& his four friends)
Feast of St Basil the Confessor; St John Cassian the Confessor; St Kyranna the New
Martyr of Thessalonika

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

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

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

KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS

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

Brethren: to the Son God says: “Thou, O Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the Heavens are
the Work of Thy Hands. They will perish but Thou remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak
Thou will fold them up, and they will be changed but Thou art the same and Thy years will not fail.”
But to which of the Angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy Footstool.”? Are they
not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit Salvation?
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away, for if the word spoken
through Angels proved reliable and every transgression and disobedience received a Just Reward, how shall we escape
if we neglect so great a Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken of by our Lord, and was confirmed to us by
those who heard Him.
St Paul used a quotation from Psalm 101:26 – 28 in which God Like us they, too, are intellectual beings who have been
the Father addressed Another Person as “Lord,” which created with free will and they most joyfully and faithfully
meant He, too, is God – i.e. God the Father spoke to God serve God in absolute Obedience.
the Son Who is Co-equal in all Divine Attributes. St Paul admonished (cautioned) against wilful negligence and
The role of certain of God’s Heavenly Hosts – the Angels or carelessness through a gradual drifting away from God’s
Messengers of God – minister – take care of, guide, True Path.
protect and communicate God’s Will – to “those who will He emphasised the fact that if the Hebrews were expected to
inherit Salvation” – i.e. those who are faithful servants and obey the words of created beings like the Heavenly Angels
adopted heirs of God. of God or suffer the consequences, how much more must
In the early years of Christ’s Holy Church, many Hebrews we heed what God Incarnate has taught us through His
believed that the Angels of God mediated the Old Holy Apostles – especially when His Divine Truth has been
Covenant and although they certain served “The Angel of confirmed by many Divine Miracles of the Holy Spirit –
God” – i.e. the Son of God - in His New Covenant with us, factual proof that the Kingdom of God has come!
God’s Holy Angels served our Lord and Saviour in His During the Divine Liturgy, we beseech God for the “... pardon
Humanity. and remission of our sins and transgressions...” and
Furthermore, instead of ruling over mankind, the Heavenly “... a good defence before the dread Judgement Seat of
Angels are partners in Divine Service with us. Christ...” whereby we affirm the Truth of a Just Reward or
They are our Guardian Angels who ensure that the Will of God Divine Retribution – a very real Divine Judgement!
is fulfilled at all times.
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 2 : 1 – 12
CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR HEALS A PARALYTIC (PRESENTED BEFORE HIM BY FOUR FRIENDS ) BY THE FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS

At that time, our Lord Jesus entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house and
immediately many gathered together so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.
And while He preached the Word to them, they came to Him, bringing a Paralytic who was carried by four men. But when
they could not come close to Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof above where He was so that, when
they had broken through, they could let down the bed upon which the paralysed man lay.
When Jesus saw their Faith, He said to the Paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven you!” But some of the Scribes were
sitting there and reasoning in their hearts: “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but
God alone?”
[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS) 28 FEBRUARY 2010 23.
Immediately, as Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them: “Why do you
reason about these things in your heart? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic: ‘Your sins are forgiven you...’ or
‘Arise, take up your bed and walk!’? So that you may know that the Son of Man has the Power to forgive sins...” and
turning to the Paralytic He said: “I say to you: Arise! Take up your bed and go to your house.”
Straight away he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all so that all were amazed and glorified
God, saying: “We never saw anything like this!”
FAITH IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR SALVATION.
FAITH IS ALSO COLLECTIVE AS WELL AS PERSONAL because,
as in this particular case, the friends of the paralysed man
helped in his healing.
Three signs of our Lord Jesus’ Divinity are evident:
✥ HE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF ALL SOULS
✥ HE FORGIVES SINS – A DIVINE POWER THAT BELONGS
TO GOD ALONE
✥
HE HEALS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPOSES OF THE
INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS TO FORGIVE SINS
AND THUS SET US FREE FROM ITS DEADLY ENSLAVEMENT.
THE FORGIVING OF SINS IS A GREATER DIVINE POWER THAN
PHYSICAL HEALING for as the Scribes so correctly
understood, GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS.
Therefore, the “easier task” was for Christ to grant the
paralysed man physical healing and although Christ is fully
Divine and has the Authority by His own right to forgive
sins, He condescended to those who were gathered there
at the time by healing the Paralytic.
Having done so before a multitude of witnesses, HE DREW
THEM TO GOD WHOM THEY GLORIFIED FOR HIS GREAT
MERCY.
Sunday of the Paralytic (and his friends)
In one of the Psalms we read: “Those who have sown
with tears will reap with Joy...”
During our preparation for Great Lent in the last few
weeks, we have observed all that is ugly and
unworthy in us, which is mirrored in the Parables we
have heard.
If we have humbly stood before the Judgement of God
and of our conscience, then we have truly “sown with
tears” our own Salvation.
And yet, there is still time, because even when we enter
into the Spiritual Harvest, God grants us a respite.
As we progress towards the Kingdom of God, towards
the Day of the Resurrection, we still can 6 at every
moment, against the background of Salvation, in the
face His Divine Victory 6 turn to God with gratitude
and yet, broken6heartedness, and say: “O Lord! I am
perhaps the worker of the Eleventh Hour, but receive
me as Thou promised to do!”
Last week we commemorated the Triumph of Orthodoxy,
the day when the Holy Church of Christ proclaimed
the legitimacy and justification of writing1 Holy Icons
of Christ – the Incarnate Son of God.
It was not a declaration about art; it was a deeply
Theological Proclamation of the Incarnation.
The Old Covenant forbade any Icons of God because,
being an infinite, unfathomable Mystery, we could
not depict Him in any shape or form.
He was not mentioned by Name except the Mysterious
Name that only the High Priest knew or could utter
with much fear and reverence.
However, according to the New Covenant, and having
experienced physical contact with our Incarnate God
– Jesus Christ – Who has dwelt amongst us and Who
continues to dwell amongst us, although invisible at
present, His human Face can be represented in Holy
Icons.
In the New Covenant, God has a human Name: Jesus
Christ, and He has a human Face that can be depicted
on Holy Icons, which are thus proclamations of our
certainty that God became Man to achieve ultimate,
tragic and glorious Solidarity with us, to be one of us
1
I.E. PAINTING HOLY ICONS
24 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS)
The significance of the four friends of the Paralytic is
noteworthy for THEY NOT ONLY TOOK THE TROUBLE TO
CARRY HIM TO WHERE OUR LORD WAS BUT THEY DID NOT
ALLOW ANYTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM PRESENTING
THEIR FRIEND TO CHRIST FOR HEALING – FULLY
CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD OCCUR.
The determination of the Paralytic and his friends was so
impressive that they have been commemorated ever since
that day as A GOOD EXAMPLE OF CONFIDENCE AND FAITH
IN GOD.
IT IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRUE LOVE (AGAPE) FOR ONE
ANOTHER: DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ASSIST
AND TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AS WE JOURNEY
TOWARDS GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
The conniving Scribes and Pharisees was thwarted once again
by our Lord Who is All knowing, when He used an
alternative method of healing and forgiving the Paralytic.
This passage is read on the Second Sunday of Great Lent,
called “Sunday of the Paralytic” and the Commemoration
of St Gregory Palamas.
so that, through Him, we may become of the Children
of God.
He became Man so that we may become gods, as Holy
Scripture states.
And so we have begun to rejoice by preparing for this
wonderful Miracle, this great Wonder of the
Incarnation 6 softly, in an almost inaudible way, as
the Church chanted the Canon of the Resurrection:
Christ is risen from the dead! 6— because it is not a
promise for the future!
It is a certainty of the present 6 opened like a door for us
to enter through Christ the Door, as He called
Himself, into Eternity.
And today we commemorate St Gregory Palamas, one of
the great Saints of Orthodoxy.
Against heresy and doubt, with the experience of the
Ascetics and of all believers, he proclaimed that the
Grace of God is not a created Gift.
The Grace of God is God Himself, communicating
directly with us so that we are imbued with His
Divine Presence when we willingly receive Him and
open our hearts and souls to Him.
Consequently we become transparent or at least
translucent with His Divine Light so that we become
embryonic but ever6increasingly partakers of His
Divine Nature.
This is not simply a Promise; this is a certainty that has
transpired with thousands and thousands of Saints
who have become partakers of the Divine Nature –a
clear revelation and certainty of what we are called to
be and to become.
And today is one more step that brings us into the Joy,
the Glory of Easter.
In a week’s time we venerate the Holy Cross of Christ.
The Cross, which was a terrifying instrument of
excruciating punishment for criminals and dissidents
of the Roman Empire, has now become a Sign of
Victory and Salvation, because it signifies God’s
Infinite, all6embracing Love.
The Holy Cross is as tragically Victorious as God is.
The Holy Cross of Christ is awe6inspiring 6 the quiet,
Joyful Light of which we sing in Vespers.
Let us prepare ourselves for the Vision of the Holy Cross
so that we might look at it and see it asthe Sign of
28 FEBRUARY 2010
 Divine Love with the renewed certainty of our
possible Salvation.
As the Choir chants the Canon of the Resurrection more
loudly, let us contemplate how step by step God
leads us towards the Victory He has won, and which
He wants to share with us.
Let us pay close attention to the teachings of St Gregory
Palamas who revealed how to receive the Divine
Grace that God offers us and how to become worthy
of Him.
Afterwards we will behold the Divine Victory in St Mary
of Egypt as we approach the threshold of Holy Week.
St Gregory Palamas – On Created Grace and Uncreated Grace
St Gregory Palamas wrote: “There is nothing strange in
using the word ‘Grace,’ both for the created and the
Uncreated, and in speaking of a created Grace
distinct from the created.” (HOMILY 45)
In what sense can we use the same word “Grace” about
fundamentally different realities?
St Gregory Palamas was aware of the many meanings of
the word and he defined the matter thus:
“All that flows from the Holy Spirit towards those who
have been Baptised in the Holy Spirit according to
the Gospel of Grace, and who have been rendered
completely Spiritual, comes from the Source.
“It all comes from It, and also remains in It.” (Ex aftis te
est ke en afti.)
So the word is the same because the Origin is the same.
People “... received by the Grace of God, and not
through themselves, what they have received, for
God alone does not possess their realities through
Grace.
“In this context the word ‘Grace’ indicates that it was
granted to them (BY GOD.)
On the Diversity of Divine Charisma/Gifts
Among Western Theologians, all more or less depended
on Augustinian writings against Pelagios concerning
infant Baptism, the Doctrine of Grace generally has a
Soteriological and Juridical character. (SALVATION &
JUDGEMENT)
WE HAVE NEED OF DIVINE GRACE FOR WE CANNOT SAVE
OURSELVES...
The Tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Holy Fathers, with
its insistence on THE ULTIMATE GOAL SET BEFORE
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – DEIFICATION OR THEOSIS –
could not avoid going deeply into the meaning of the
passages of St Paul’s Epistles concerning the
diversity of the Charisma (DIVINE GIFTS), while plainly
maintaining their Soteriological Unity.
St Gregory Palamas too, in dealing with DIVINE GRACE IN
RELATION TO OUR FREE EFFORT TOWARDS GOD,
recognised that this effort NEVER CAN BE ENOUGH,
FOR THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF THE GIFTS REQUIRED FOR
DIVINE LIFE BECOME ACCESSIBLE IN CHRIST.
“What we receive is never more and a part of what is
given; he who receives the Divine Energy cannot
contain the whole of it.” (HOMILIES)
THE DIVINE EPHIPHANY/THEOPHANY IN JESUS CHRIST IS
THEREFORE LIMITED BY HUMAN CAPACITY TO RECEIVE
IT, AND ALSO BY THE INFINITE VARIETY OF OUR
PERSONAL PATHS TO GOD.
Its personalist quality is one of the essential
characteristics of St Gregory Palamas’ thought:
“The Lord dwells in mankind in many and various
ways according to the worth and conduct of those
who seek Him.
“He appears in a certain way to the practical person, in
another to the contemplative, and in yet another to
the one who is endowed with Vision; the zealous
receive it in one way, and those who have already
become God’s, in another.”
Commenting on the passages concerning the Holy Spirit
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “A STUDY OF GREGORY PALAMAS – CHRIST &
in the First
DEIFIED Epistle
HUMANITY” toMEYENDORFF
BY JOHN the Corinthians,
– ST VALDIMIR’S SEMINARY
PRESS
Palamas wrote:
[PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS)
Nevertheless, we must remember that we are now in the
time of Newness 6 a time when God's Victory is being
revealed to us.
We are being Called to be enfolded by Divine Victory 6
to respond to it with earnest gratitude that will make
Renew our humanity, filled with Joy and responding
to the Love of God with joyful tears and a
conscientious commitment to God.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC” BY METROPOLITAN ANTHONY OF
SOUROZH www.metropolit-anthony.orc
“However, all is not alike in what God grants us...
God has said by the mouth of Ezekiel: ‘A new heart will I
give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and
I will take away your heart of stone, and give you a
heart of flesh... I will put My Spirit into you.’
(EZEKIEL 36:26; 37:5)
“Do you see the difference between the Gifts?
“The new spirit and the new heart are created things –
that is what St Paul referred to as ‘... a new
creature...’ because it is Recreated and Renewed by
the Coming in Flesh (THE INCARNATION) of Him Who first
created it - (OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) – whereas the Spirit of
God given to the new heart is the Holy Spirit.” (LETTER
TO ST ATHANASIOS)
“There is a created Grace and another Grace
Uncreated... but since the Gift that the Saints receive
and by which they are Deified, is none other than
God Himself, how can you say that that too is a
created Grace?” (AGAINST AKINDYNOS)
Likewise, THE RISEN/RESURRECTED BODY OF CHRIST WAS
CREATED, but it is plain that THE DIVINITY, WHICH
GAVE HIM IMMORTALITY, WAS UNCREATED.
“Those who prophesy, those who heal, those who see,
and all those in general who have simply received
the Grace of the Divine Spirit, all have Charisms
(DIVINE GIFTS), greater or less great, in their own field.
“Thus St Paul thanks God because he (ST PAUL) speaks
languages better than others, but he who has less,
also has a Gift of God: ‘Seek for the greatest
Charisms...’ wrote St Paul, therefore there must be
lesser Charisms. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:31)
“And indeed, one star differs in glory from another... yet
no star is totally devoid of light.” (1 CORINTHIANS 15:41)
Does that diversity of the Gifts of Grace break the Unity
of Salvation, to that extent?
By no means, for SALVATION ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS OF
CONTACT RE-ESTABLISHED WITH THE LIVING GOD
PRESENT IN COMPLETENESS IN EACH DIVINE GIFT.
REDEEMING GRACE IS not a divisible object, but CHRIST
HIMSELF WHO GIVES HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO US.
Here is a characteristic passage dealing with St Gregory
Palamas’ teaching concerning the Divine Energies:
“Everyone worthy of it participates differently in the
Great Gift of the Holy Spirit.
“This corresponds to the degree of personal purity,
mingling with the harmony of that Beauty.
“But even he who has but little and that little obscure
compared to the endowments of others... also unites
himself to the whole of the very Divine Light, for it
divides without dividing Itself after the manner of
bodies...
“That unique Light belongs indeed to the unique
Christ.” (AGAINST AKINDYNOS)
IT EQUALLY BELONGS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ALSO
APPEARS IN COMPLETENESS IN ITS MANIFESTATIONS.
(HOMILY 24)
THE UNITY OF SALVATION AND THE DIVERSITY OF
CHARISMS ARE THUS PRESERVED IN A PERSONALIST
CONCEPTION OF REDEMPTION.
St Gregory
28 FEBRUARY 2010 25.
 Wisdom from Mount Athos: The Soul’s Yearning for God
MY SOUL YEARNS FOR THE LORD.
How could I not seek Thee? For Thou first sought me;
Thou granted me delight in Thy Holy Spirit, and my
soul rejoices for Thou art my God and my Lord.
In the first year of my life in the Monastery MY SOUL
BEHELD GOD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE LORD LOVES US GREATLY: THIS I KNOW BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT Whom the Lord granted me in His singular
Mercy.
I am an old man, preparing for death, and I WRITE OF
TRUTH FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Spirit of Christ Whom I have from the Lord desires
the Salvation of all, that ALL SHOULD KNOW GOD.
The Lord granted the (REPENTANT) Thief Paradise; THUS WILL
HE GRANT PARADISE TO EVERY (REPENTANT)
With my sins I am odious and unclean, but I TURNED TO
GOD FOR FORGIVENESS, AND HE GRANTED ME NOT
FORGIVENESS ALONE BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IN THE
HOLY SPIRIT I KNEW GOD.
Do you see God’s Love for us? And who shall describe
His Mercy?
O my Brethren! On my knees I beg you to BELIEVE IN GOD
– BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A HOLY SPIRIT WHO BEARS
WITNESS TO HIM IN EVERY CHURCH AND IN MY SOUL!
✥ THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LOVE; AND THE SOULS OF ALL THE
HOLY WHO DWELL IN HEAVEN OVERFLOW WITH THIS
LOVE.
✥ AND ON EARTH THIS SAME HOLY SPIRIT IS IN THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD!
ALL HEAVEN BEHOLDS THE EARTH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND
HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND CARRIES THEM TO GOD.
My soul knows that the Lord is Merciful, but His Mercy
surpasses portrayal.
OUR LORD IS EXCEEDINGLY MEEK AND LOWLY, AND WHEN
THE SOUL PERCEIVES HIM SHE2 IS ALL TRANSFORMED
INTO LOVE TOWARDS GOD AND HER NEIGHBOUR, AND
BECOMES MEEK AND LOWLY HERSELF.
✥ But IF WE LOSE DIVINE GRACE WE WILL WEEP LIKE ADAM
DRIVEN FROM PARADISE!
Adam wept and the whole desert heard his sobbing; his
tears were bitter with affliction and he wept (bitter
tears) for many years.
In similar manner THE SOUL WHO HAS KNOWN AND LOST
THE GRACE OF GOD YEARNS FOR GOD and cries: “O
how my soul yearns after God, and I seek Him in
tears!”
THE GRACE OF GOD GIVES US STRENGTH TO LOVE THE
BELOVED; AND THE SOUL IS DRAWN TO PRAY
UNCEASINGLY AND CANNOT EVEN, FOR A MOMENT,
FORGET THE LORD.
My soul languishes on earth and longs for the things of
Heaven.
✥ THE LORD CAME DOWN TO EARTH TO RAISE US TO
WHERE HE HIMSELF DWELLS WITH HIS MOST HOLY
MOTHER, WHO SERVED HIM ON EARTH FOR THE
SAKE OF OUR SALVATION, AND WITH ALL THE
DISCIPLES AND THE FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD.
THE LORD CALLS US THITHER, IN SPITE OF OUR SINS!
There shall we behold the Holy Apostles in Glory for
their preaching of the Holy Gospel; there shall we see
Saintly Monks who wrestled in Fasting to humble
their souls; there shall we see those who assumed
folly for Christ’s sake are GLORIFIED BECAUSE THEY
OVERCAME THE WORLD.
There ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONQUERED THEMSELVES
WILL BE GLORIFIED, AND ALL THOSE WHO PRAYED FOR
THE WORLD AND BORE THE BURDEN OF THE WHOLE
WORLD’S SORROWS BECAUSE THEIRS WAS THE LOVE OF
CHRIST, AND LOVE CANNOT SUFFER A SINGLE SOUL TO
PERISH.
It is there that the soul would take up her abode; but
NOTHING UNCLEAN SHALL ENTER where those who
come in, arrive by way of great tribulations and
chastening of spirit and many tears; and ONLY
CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT LOST THE GRACE OF HOLY
2
THE SOUL IS REFERRED TO AS BEING FEMININE – LIKE THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST –
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
26 [PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 2ND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS & OF THE PARALYTIC (& FRIENDS)
BAPTISM, ENTER THEREIN WITHOUT AFFLICTION, and
there IN THE HOLY SPIRIT THEY KNOW OUR LORD.
My soul yearns for God and prays day and night, for THE
NAME OF OUR LORD IS SWEET AND DEAR TO THE
PRAYERFUL SOUL, AND WARMS THE SOUL TO LOVE GOD.
We live a long time on this earth, and we love the Beauty
of Creation: the sky and the sun, gardens, sea and
river, forest and meadow, music too, and all the
beauty of this world.
But WHEN THE SOUL COMES TO KNOW OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST SHE HAS NO FURTHER DESIRE FOR THE THINGS
OF THE EARTH.
Wondrous are the Works of our Lord: out of the earth
He created mankind, and granted this creature of the
SINNER. earth to know Him in the Holy Spirit so that mankind
exclaims: “My Lord and my God!” And these words
he utters from the fullness of Faith and Love.
What more could the soul seek on earth?
Here is a Great Miracle: THE SOUL SUDDENLY KNOWS HER
CREATOR AND HIS LOVE!
✥ WHEN THE SOUL SEES HOW MEEK AND HUMBLE OUR
LORD IS, SHE HERSELF IS THOROUGHLY HUMBLED,
AND DESIRES NOTHING SO MUCH AS THE HUMILITY
OF CHRIST.
And however long the soul might live on earth, she will
ALWAYS DESIRE AND SEEK THIS HUMILITY which passes
all comprehension, which she cannot forget.
IF THE LORD HAS LEFT US IGNORANT OF THE ORDERING OF
MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD, THEN IT MEANS IT IS NOT
NECESSARY FOR US TO KNOW: we cannot encompass
all Creation without our minds.
However, THE CREATOR HIMSELF OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
AND EVERY CREATED THING GRANTS US KNOWLEDGE
OF HIM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN THIS SAME HOLY SPIRIT WE KNOW THE EVER BLESSED
THEOTOKOS, THE HOLY ANGELS AND THE SAINTS, AND
OUR SPIRIT BURNS WITH LOVE FOR THEM.
Quite the opposite are THOSE WHO WILL NOT LOVE THEIR
ENEMIES and consequently they CANNOT COME TO
KNOW OUR LORD AND THE SWEETNESS OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
✥ THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES, SO
THAT THE SOUL PITIES THEM AS IF THEY WERE HER
OWN CHILDREN.
PEOPLE WHO DESIRE THE DESTRUCTION, THE TORMENT IN
HELL-FIRE, OF THEIR ENEMIES, OR OF THE ENEMIES OF
THE HOLY CHURCH HAVE NOT LEARNT FROM THE HOLY
SPIRIT THE LOVE OF GOD, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
LEARNT THE LOVE OF GOD WILL SHED TEARS FOR THE
WHOLE WORLD.
You say that so6and6so is an evil6doer and you hope he
burns in Hell6Fire.
But I ask you: SUPPOSING THAT GOD WERE TO GIVE YOU A
FAIR PLACE IN PARADISE AND YOU SAW SUCH PEOPLE
SUFFERING THE TORTURES OF HELL, WOULD YOU
REALLY EVEN THEN NOT FEEL PITY FOR THEM, WHOEVER
THEY MIGHT BE, EVEN ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH?
✥ THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HEARTS OF STONE IN PARADISE
WHICH REQUIRES HUMILITY AND LOVE OF GOD
THAT PITIES ALL HUMAN BEINGS, FOR THE GRACE
OF GOD IS NOT IN THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE THEIR
ENEMIES!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “WISDOM FROM MOUNT ATHOS” – STARETZ SILOUAN (1866 –
1938) – COMPILED BY ARCHIMANDRITE SOPHRONY; TRANSLATED BY ROSEMARY
EDMONDS; PUBLISHED BY ST VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY PRESS
❃ During their earthly life, the Saints are filled with the Grace
of the Holy Spirit. After their departure Divine Grace
remains in their immortal souls and in their Sanctified
bodies. Consequently, that very same Divine Grace is
present and active in their Sacred Images and Icons!
❃ The Holy Icon is a Song of Triumph and a Revelation for it
is an enduring monument to the Victory of the Saints.
❃ I boldly draw an Image of the Invisible God, not as invisible
but as having become visible for our sakes by
partaking of flesh and blood. I do not draw an image
of the Immortal Godhead but I paint the Image of God
Who became visible in the flesh.
ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS
28 FEBRUARY 2010