2015 - February Sacred Lessons

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos
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.
1 February 2015
1 s t Sunday of Triodion
Tone 1
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Forefeast of the Meeting of our Lord
Also the Feast of St Tryphon of Campsada, Near Apamea, Syria St Perpetua, St
Saturos and the Catechumans St Saturos, St Revocatos, St Feliciata, St Saturninos
and St Secundulos of Carthage St Peter the Hermit of Galatia, Near Antioch, Syria
St Vendemianos, Hermit of Bithynia St Brigid of Ireland St Tryphon of Rostov St
Seririol of Wales St Basil of Thessalonika St Anastasiou of Nafplion St Timothy
the Confessor
RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION TONE 1
While the stone was sealed by the Judeans, and soldiers
Tou
lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton

filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros,
Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e
Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota.
Doxa ti
Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti
Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope!
stood on guard over Thine Undefiled Body, Thou rose

on the Third Day, O Saviour Who gives Life to the
world. For which cause the Heavenly Powers cried
aloud to Thee: O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy
Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory
to Thy Providence, O Thou Who alone Loves mankind!
FOREFEAST - THE MEETING OF CHRIST -
Ouranios
Horos, Ouranion apsidon, prokipsas epi Gis, ke

feromenon vlepon, os vrefos ipomxion, pros Naon ton
prototokon, pasis Ktiseos, ipo Mitros apirandrou,
proeortion, nin Sin imin melodousi, friktos eistameni.
TONE 1
The
Choir of Heavens Hosts, from the Vaults of the

Heavens, bends forward to Earth and beholds as an
Infant, the First Born of all Creation being carried in
the embrace of His Holy Virgin Mother into the
Temple. And with us they Sign today a Fore-festal
Anthem, in awe and astonishment.
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST TRYPHON TONE 4
O Martys Sou Kyrie, en ti Athlisi aftou, to stefos ekomisato Thy
Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by Thee the

Crown of Incorruption, in that he contested for Thee,,
our Immortal God. Since he possessed Thy Power, he
defeated the tyrants, dashing the demonspowerless
displays of defiance. O Christ God, at his fervent
Entreaties, Save our soul!
tis aftharsias, ek Sou tou Theou imon. Ehon gar tin

ishin Sou, tous tyrannous kathilen.
Ethrafse ke
demonon, ta anishira thrasi, aftou es ikesies Hriste,
Soson tas psihas imon.
FESTAL KONTAKION FOREFEAST -
Os
agkalas simeron, Pisti kardias, efaplountes dexasthe,

katharotato
logismo,
epidimounta
to
Kyrion,
proeortious enesis prosadontes.
MEETING
OF THE
LORD TONE 4
With
our heart instead of our arms today, O Believers,

with most Pure and Righteous thoughts, let us receive
in our embrace he Lord and Master Who comes to us,
and let us offer our Fore-Festal Hymns of Praise.
PROKEIMENON TONE 4
Tis Agiis tis en ti Gi atou ethavmastosen O Kyrios, panta ta To the Saints on His Earth, in them the Lord magnified all
thelimata aftou en aftis.
His Will.
En ekklisies Evlogite ton Theon, Kyrion ek Pigon Israil.

THE
EPISTLE OF
GOD LOVES
ST PAUL
AND
Bless
God in the congregations, the Lord from the

Fountains of Israel.
TO THE
PROTECTS
ROMANS 8 : 28 39
US SO WHOM SHALL WE FEAR?
Brethren, we know that in everything God works for Good with those who Love Him, who are Called according to His
Purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the Image of His Son, in order that He
might be the First Born among many Brethren. And those whom He predestined He also Called; and those whom He
Justified He also Glorified.
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He Who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for
us all, will He not also grant us all things with Him?
Who shall bring any charge against Gods Elect? It is God Who Justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus Who died,
yes, Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right Hand of God, Who indeed Intercedes for us? Who shall separate
us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written: For Thy sake, we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as Sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him Who Loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor Powers, nor Height, nor Depth, nor anything
else in all Creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Holy Scripture and the experience of mankind bear
more often than not, something Good arises to comfort
witness to the fact that ... all things work together for
and Strengthen us.
Good to those who Love God...
Almighty God as Creator, obviously has foreknowledge of
Although we will always have to endure setbacks and
all things
difficulties, God turns them into light affliction and
2 C O R I N T H I A N S 4 : 1 7 - 1 8 . . . for our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
1ST TRIODION 16TH LUKE THE PUBLICAN &
THE
PHARISEE- FOREFEAST- MEETING-1 FEBRUARY 2015
more exceeding an Eternal weight of Glory. While we

do not look at the things that are seen, but at the
things that are not seen. For the things that are seen
are temporary, but the things that are unseen are
Eternal.
2 C O R I N T H I A N S 1 2 : 9 - 1 0 . . . He said to me: My Grace
is sufficient for you, for My Strength is make Perfect
in weakness. Therefore, most gladly, I will rather
boast in my infirmities, that the Power of Christ may
rest upon me. Therefore i take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses,
for Christs sake. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.
The term Predestined must not be understood as
overpowering our free will, for free will to make our
own choices in this temporary life is a Gift granted to
us by God.
Nor does the term apply to individuals.
Rather, Predestined or Preordained means that God
has a specific Calling for His People from even before
the Creation of all things visible and invisible.
ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS said: God does not will evil to be
done, nor does He force Virtue.
Based on His Foreknowledge, God assures or predestines

that those who will choose to Love Him will be ...
conformed to the Image of His Son... i.e. they will be
Glorified.
The verses 31 39 (What then shall we say... nor height
nor depth...) summarise all that preceded in St Pauls
Epistle to the Romans
Because of Gods infinite Love for us, His Victory over sin
and death, and our Life in His Eternal Kingdom, we
can withstand all assaults of the fallen world and the
evil one, and arise from these constant attacks as ...
more than conquerors... for we conquer sin not by
our own weak human strength, but only through
Gods Great Mercy and Divine Grace.
Angels, Principalities and Powers are the incorporeal
spirit beings of various Angelic Ranks.
While nothing external can ... separate us from the Love
of God... we can choose to reject Him by our own free
will. (God forbid!!)
Nevertheless, even those who remain in Eternal Rebellion
against the Lord our God are still Love by Him, for
even our wilful rejection of God cannot take away His
Love for us.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING

THE ARROGANT,
SELF-RIGHTEOUS
TO
PHARISEE &
ST LUKE 18 ; 10 14
THE
REPENTANT,
HUMBLE
PUBLICAN
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: Two men went up to the Temple to pray one was a Pharisee and the other a
Tax Collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men
extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this Tax Collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I
possess. And the Tax Collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to Heaven, but beat his
breast, saying: O God, be Merciful to me, a sinner!
I tell you this man went down to his house Justified rather than the other: for everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
T HE P HARISEE WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED AND A CAREFUL
F URTHERMORE, THE REFRAIN L ORD, HAVE M ERCY KYRIE
OBSERVER OF THE O LD C OVENANT L AW , WHEREAS THE T AX
E LEISON PERMEATES ORTHODOX C HRISTIAN W ORSHIP
C OLLECTOR (P UBLICAN ) WAS DESPISED AS A TREACHEROUS
AND P RAYER .
SINNER who collaborated with the occupying Roman
T O BE JUSTIFIED MEANS TO BE F ORGIVEN AND SET RIGHT
forces, betraying and cheating his own Hebrew
BY G OD , FOR INWARD H UMILITY IS TRULY B LESSED
people.
WHILE ARROGANCE AND PRIDE IN OUTWARD DEEDS IS
The practises of the Pharisee were worthy examples to
CONDEMNED .
follow. H IS GOOD DEEDS (F ASTING AND GIVING T ITHES)
Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Creator and our Judge so
ARE INDEED THE PRIMARY W EAPONS AGAINST THE PASSIONS
whatever He teaches us or cautions us against, we
OF LUST AND GREED ( ADULTERY AND EXTORTION ).
must PAY VERY CAREFUL ATTENTION AND STRIVE TO APPLY HIS
DIVINE PRINCIPLES TO OUR OWN WORDS, THOUGHTS AND
However, WITHOUT A HUMBLE AND REPENTANT HEART , THESE
OUTWARD PRACTISES ARE WORTHLESS AND LEAD ONLY TO
DEEDS, FOR THESE WILL JUDGE US consequently, they will
PRIDE AND JUDGEMENT OF OTHERS .
either Condemn us or Bless us.
It is noteworthy that the Pharisee ... prayed thus with
Our Saviour has given us all the Spiritual Tools necessary
himself... for G OD IS ABSENT WHERE THERE IS PRIDE ,
indeed, vital for our Eternal Salvation.
BOASTING AND ARROGANCE .
However, it is entirely up to our own choice our own free
will whether we will receive Eternal Life in Gods
On the contrary: THE P UBLICAN OR TAX C OLLECTOR SHOWS
BY HIS ENTIRE POSTURE A SINCERE AWARENESS OF THE
Heavenly Kingdom, or be Eternally alienated and
exiled from God and all His Wonderful Goodness.
SINFUL STATE OF HIS SOUL .
He stands ... afar off... with eyes downcast not daring
Because of Gods infinite Love for us, WHILE WE ARE STILL IN
THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY, OUR ERRORS ARE
to look Heavenwards.
His heartfelt Prayer of Contrition O God, be Merciful to
ABLE TO BE CORRECTED THROUGH HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE,
me, a sinner is the foundation of the Orthodox Jesus
WHICH LEADS US TO SINCERE REPENTANCE AND ETERNAL LIFE.
Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God: have MERCY
May we all root out our sins and through constant
ON ME, A SINNER!
Watchfulness and Prayer grow ever closer to the
Loving Embrace and Presence of our Lord God.
1ST SUNDAY OF TRIODION THE PUBLICAN & THE PHARISEE- HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN PANTELEIMON OF ANTINOES
It was very characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ to use
Our Lord described the Pharisees as doing ... all their
examples taken from daily life in order to teach His
deeds to be seen by men; for they make their
Divine Truth.
phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they
In that way, He helped those who believed in Him to apply
love the place of honour at Feasts and the best seats
His Divine Truth to themselves.
in the Synagogues, and salutations in the
In the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, our Lord
marketplace, and being called Rabbi by men...
(MATTHEW 23: 5-7)
used two vastly different types of men who both went
The Pharisees separated themselves from the rest of the
up to the Temple to pray. He also mentioned a
people, believing they were be Justified in the Sight of
significant point the difference in their religious and
God.
social status.
The Publican the Tax Collector on the other hand,
The one man was a self-righteous Pharisee, and the other
belonged to a group of Hebrews who were bitterly
was a despised Publican.
despised by rich and poor alike, for they collected taxes
In those days there were various religious groups, most of
from their own Nation for their Roman oppressors.
whom were the Pharisees, who were very strict
Furthermore, most if not all Publicans imposed heavy
observers of the Law of Moses.
surcharges, which went into their own pockets, and
There were also the Sadducees, who believed that there is
which were a crushing burden for the people to bear.
no Resurrection or Life after death; there were the
Publicans were hated - not only for their greedy corruption,
Ninevenes, who were dedicated to God and there were
but because they collaborated with the Romans who
the Essenes, who were Ascetics.
occupied their land.
The Pharisees boasted that they literally followed the Law
When the Pharisee entered the Temple, he stood where
of Moses. They wore distinctive garments and could be
everyone could see him and then proceeded to pray to
easily recognised in a crowd.
himself he did not turn to God but to his pride, which
2
THE
meant that in the Sight of God, his public displays of

piety were vain and futile.
Although the Pharisee performed all the required actions
according to the Law of Moses, they were not according
the Law of God.
The law of mankind is vastly different to the Law of God.
The law of mankind is seldom the Fruit of Love, whereas
the Law of God is LOVE Agape unconditional Love!
God is Love and whosoever dwells in Love, dwells in God
and God dwells in them.
The Pharisee avoided confronting or acknowledging the
reality of his inner condition, and he did everything to
circumvent exposing himself to Divine Justice.
Appointing himself as his own judge, he readily assured
himself of a favourable verdict and believed he had
escaped Condemnation.
In this way, his self-satisfaction, which gave him a sense of
justification at all times, was never disturbed nor
troubled.
As a result, in his arrogant self-righteousness, the Pharisee
set himself above all other men, and dared to boast
before God of his good deeds, which became empty
gestures!
In deciding his own justice, the Pharisee generally
condemned his fellow mankind, accusing them of being
extortionist, unjust, adulterers, etc specifically
targeting the humble, repentant Publican who ...stood
afar off.
The Pharisees personal condemnation of that particular
Publican was the cause of his own down-fall and
Condemnation in the Sight of God!
When we turn against our fellow mankind without mercy,
without understanding, and without Love, we call down
upon ourselves Divine Condemnation, for the Lord our
God turns His Sight away from those who refuse mercy,
compassion, kindness and Love to our fellow sinners.
The actions of the Pharisee might have been correct
according to the Law of Moses according to the letter
of the Law but they were unable to Justify him in the
Sight of God for they were not done in the Spirit of the
Law, which is unconditional Love Agape.
His actions were empty gestures because they were the
work and fruit of pride, self-satisfaction and selfrighteousness.
The Pharisee was not interested nor concerned with Divine
Justice and he only went to the Temple not to pray
with Love of God, but to make a display of his piety in
front of the other people in the erroneous belief that
God was obliged to reward him!
We can make no bigger mistake than to believe in our own
sense of justice and sinlessness.
Such pride and vanity blinds us by not allowing us to
realise the depth of our sinfulness nor to understand
fully that without the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ our
Saviour, we cannot expect to be Saved to be granted
Eternal Life.
Far too many of us refuse to face the reality of our own
sinfulness, and we choose to see only the sins of others,
and we condemn them accordingly.
(The sins we see so clearly in others, or of which we may
accuse them, are all too often a reflection of our own
wickedness! Thus before condemning others, we must
turn our examination internally and pluck out our
own evil!)
We then smugly dare to believe that we are Justified in the
Sight of God, merely because we keep some of His
Divine Laws.
However, let us consider Gods Supreme Law:
If we truly Love our Lord Jesus Christ, then every moment
of the day we will strive to be His Faithful, Obedient
Disciples, for He urged us: If you Love Me, you will
keep My Commandments... (and apply all His
Teachings to ourselves.) [JOHN 14:5]
As Faithful Orthodox Christians, we continually strive to
imitate the Life of Christ, (for we have put on Christ at
our Holy Baptism, and thus we should Live in Christ.)
Due to our weak human condition, we keep on falling into

temptation and sin, but immediately, recognising our
Spiritual Condition, we must Repent and return to
Spiritual Life in Christ.
Nobody, except God, is Perfect. And He, in His Great Love
for mankind gave us every means possible for our
Eternal Salvation.
He has provided us with all the Weapons necessary to
overcome our enemy the evil one, who desires our
destruction.
Two of the greatest Holy Weapons of God are the Holy
Mysteries of Eucharist and Repentance-Confession.
The realisation of our sins leads us to Repentance, and
Repentance leads us to Confession.
The Holy Mystery of Confession with our Spiritual Father
guiding us and Interceding with God on our behalf,
grants us the Divine Grace of the Forgiveness of sins by
Almighty God.
No matter how many sins we have committed, and no
matter how terrible they are, through our sincere
contrition, we are led to True Repentance and
Confession whereby the pages of our Book of Life
are wiped clean and we are Spiritually Renewed and
Restored to Life in Christ.
It was this Divine Forgiveness that was granted to the
humble, penitent Publican who besought Gods
Forgiveness.
Acknowledging the depth of his wickedness he did not dare
to ... lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast,
crying: God, be Merciful to me, a sinner!
This Repentant Publican neither looked at nor judged any
of the others who were present at the Temple, for he
was consumed by sorrow for his own sins and besought
Gods Great Mercy.
Christ revealed that the Repentant, humble Publican, rather
than the self-righteous, arrogant Pharisee, received
Divine Grace and Justification.
Todays Sacred Lesson has many things to teach us.
We as Orthodox Christians, must fully understand that
when we wish to pray, we must approach the Lord our
God with a most humble and contrite heart and we
must have Love for all our fellow mankind.
Furthermore, and most important of all, we must have
mercy and forgive one another, if we hope to receive
Divine Mercy and Forgiveness from God.
Our Lord always hears the Prayers of those who are
genuinely humble and remorseful.
Those who possess the Virtues of Humility and Obedience,
imitate Christ Who humbled Himself ... even unto
Death on the Cross... (PHILIPPIANS 2:8)
Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us how to pray correctly
and today we observe how NOT to pray - for we cannot
approach God with an attitude of boastfulness, pride
and condemnation of our fellow sinners.
Boastful, condemning prayers cause us to blaspheme in the
Presence of God and we shall certainly lose any Spiritual
Reward or Benefit, resulting in our Spiritual Death and
Denunciation.
We have been severely cautioned by our Loving Saviour,
Who instructed us: ... when you pray, you must not be
like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in
the Synagogues and at the street corners, so that they
may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you: they have
received their reward. But, when you pray, go into
your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father
(in Heaven) Who is in secret; and your Father Who
sees in secret will reward you. (MATTHEW 6: 5-6)
With this significant Parable of the Publican and the
Pharisee, our Lord Jesus Christ wants to teach us
exactly how important it is for us, when we pray, to put
aside all distractive thoughts, problems and worldly
cares, and to concentrate our attention on God alone.
IF YOU LOVE, ITS ALWAYS

Father Joachim, Why is it so difficult to pray for
contemporary people?
Modern man wants to be distracted and entertained. He
doesnt want to sacrifice, or to givehes concerned
only with what pleases himself or others..
ABOUT OTHERS - PART 4

Prayer is about God, not about us.
Prayer is a conscious Awareness that God is present.
We dont make God present.
God is always present! He is present here, right now and
we have to be aware of thatHes here with us.
THE
HTTP://AMPHILOCHIOS.BLOGSPOT.COM/2013/02/SUNDAY-OF-PUBLICAN-ANDPHARISEE.HTM
3.
Thats what Prayer isliving in the Presence of God speaking to God with your soul, your Lifeeverything is
focused on Him.
Lets say you are giving this interview in a big hall with
hundreds of people. You cant see everybody because
the light is on the stage, but you know people are out
there on their seats.
And a man you just met a month ago and were madly in
love with (i.e. you thought about him all the time) says
he wants to come to the interview. You say: No way!
You cant be there because Ill be thinking about you
throughout the interview. Ill be nervous and think about
how I look, what am I doing, etc. Its because your life
is focused on him.
Thats the kind of Relationship we have to develop with
God. But we dont. Instead, we focus on ourselves or
someone other than God.
Father Joachim, Honour, morality, and dignity are ever
decreasing and devaluating nowadays. We can
constantly hear: You must be aggressive, selfish,
individual, and take everything you can from life.
How should Christians react to whats going on? What
must parents do to preserve in their childrens basic
values, which are so often destroyed in a world
without God?
Again we come back to Christ. He said: You have to be in
the world, but not of the world.
You cannot have the values of the world if you want to be a
Christian.
The Christian is the opposite of the worlds view.
The world according to Spiritual Life is the state of
mankind after the Fall of Adamthe Spiritual Condition
mankind is in after Adams Fall - our Spiritual Life or
Spiritual Reality.
Since the Fall, mankind has suffered terribly because we do
not understand the Message of the Gospelit is
difficult for us for we only understand our own
selfishness.
The Holy Gospel of Christ tells us that it does not have a
value system of the world.
Therefore, as Christians (Faithful Disciples of Christ) we
cannot live as the world lives; if we do, were not
Christian!
The Holy Gospel gives quite a different view, but we dont
know it and we dont keep the values of the Gospel.
Therefore we become lost - and think: Why should I help a
stranger in the street who doesnt work, or who drinks?
I work all the time, so why should I give money to those
who I know are going to use it for alcohol or drugs?!
The Truth is:
Why should God allow you to live when you never do what
He tells you?
Why should God allow you to wake up in the morning,
when you Love no one but yourself?
He does everything for us for our benefit - because He
Loves us unconditionally!
Love reaches beyond everyones behaviour to what they
truly are!
And that is what Love is all about!
We only consider what happens to us - how we will benefit
for thats how we judge everything.
When we dont know God, when we dont have a
Relationship with Him. Instead we make ourselves
god. (We consider ourselves as being the centre of the
universe!)
It doesnt matter what God says because we do not even
know Him, His Divine Commandments or His True
Teachings.
All that matters is what we like or dont like whatever we
accept or reject!
Some people say: I dont believe in God! Who cares about
with whom I sleep? What difference does it make as
long as I dont hurt anybody? I smoke; I use drugs, I
drink, I fornicatewho cares? I dont bother anybody but
myself! I pay my bills and taxes, so whats wrong with
that?
I (i.e. Ego) is the completeness of my existence.
I am not in a relationship with anybody except
myself. I do not rely on God and I do not know
anything about GodI only do my own thing.
4.
THE
This Godless, uncaring, egocentric attitude all ends up in

wars, broken families, hatred, and running from one
flawed relationship to another.
Peoples lives are full of emptiness.
We cannot accept the values of the world if we want to be
Christian.
Our Lord told us: Love your enemy.
How can you kill your enemy if you Love him?
We believe that possessions are far more important and
necessary than people.
We believe that wealth is more essential than serving and
caring for our fellow mankind.
Each person has become his own god.
This lifespan is all about Relationship!
However, there are no Relationships between people or God
these days.
If your mother tells you that she needs financial assistance,
you would gladly help her, wont you? But if a stranger
requests any type of help, how do you react? You would
immediately ask: Dont you work? Dont you have a
place to live? Correct?
You wouldnt immediately be helpful because you dont
have any relationship with that person.
However, when we do have a Relationship with others and
with God, our entire lifestyle is different.
The reason for immorality, depravity, greed, murder, selfdestruction, and all the other overwhelming vices and
for not taking good care of our suffering world is due to
the fact that we are not in that special Relationship with
Creation and our Creator!
Father Joachim, what do you think of all the current
discussions about doing away with Confession before
Communion?
If we did not sin, we would have no need for RepentanceConfession.
People complain: Why do I have to go to Confession? and
the reason is that we all need to change our lifestyles
we all need to be conscious of how far we are from God,
and we all need to be aware that our primary
Relationship is not with God.
Consequently, by not Loving God with our whole mind,
heart, soul and Strength, we are perpetually sinning (we
are in a perpetual state of Spiritual Death!)
As we approach Confession, we say: I desire to be better,
for I am broken! I need Healing! I need Cleansing!
Confession is not just telling the Priest some of your sins.
Confession is our immediate Connection with Christ in a
special way. He is present He is there to hear our
Confession and to help us straighten our Path and
correct our Spiritual Drift.
We stand humbly before our Lord Jesus Christ and declare:
Lord, here I am again. I tried but I forgot. I struggled
against temptation but I surrendered to sin. Forgive me
so I can return to Thee.
You go to your spouse and ask for help, to which the
response is usually positive and helpful.
A wife tells her husband: Im really not feeling well... Can
you buy the groceries tomorrow after work..? and he
answers: Yes, sure! But when he returns the next
evening she realises that he forgot! He didnt want to
forget - he just had so much to do that he forgot to go
to the store. He apologises sincerely to his wife for his
negligence and failure to fulfil her request, which tells
her how much he Loves her thats Confession.
Father Joachim, Why is forgiveness a real problem for
human beings sometimes?
Because of pride: You did it to me, why should I forgive
you? You hurt me, lied to meyou didnt think about
me, you thought about yourself. Im angry at you, I
wont forgive you!
` (...TO BE CONTINUED ...)
ST THEOPHAN
THE
RECLUSE
Keep both eyes open. This is the measure of Humility: if a man is

humble he never thinks that he has been treated worse than
he deserves. He stands so low in his own estimation that no
one, however hard they try, can think more poorly of him than
he thinks himself. This is the whole secret of the matter.

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos 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 F e b r u a r y 2015
The Meeting/Presentation of our Lord
Also the Feast of St Gabriel the New Martyr St Jordan, the New Martyr St
Agathadoros of Cappadocia
FIRST FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 2
Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter Soson imas!
By
the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour,

Save us!
Exirevxato i kardia mou Logon Agathon. Lego ego

ta Erga mou to Vasili
My heart overflows with a Good Word; I tell my

works to the King.
STIHOS 1
VERSE 1:
I glossa mou kalamos grammateos oxigrafou

Oreos kalli para tous vious ton Anthropon, exehithi
STIHOS 2
STIHOS 3
VERSE 2:
VERSE 3:
Grace was poured out on Thy Lips.
Haris en hilesi Sou
Dia touto evlogise se O Theos is ton eona.
STIHOS 4
My tongue is the pen of a scrivener.

Thou art more beautiful than the sons of men;
VERSE 4:
Therefore, God has Blessed thee forever
SECOND FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 2
Soson imas Ie Theou, O
O Son of God, C A R R I E D
EN AGKALES TOU DIKEOU

S Y M E O N V A S T A H T H I S , psallontas Si: Allilouia!
THE
Perizose tin rinfean Sou epi ton miron Sou, dinate,

ti oreotiti Sou ke to kalli Sou.
IN THE ARMS OF SYMEON

R I G H T E O U S , Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Gird Thy sword upon Thy Thigh, O Mighty One; in

Thy Splendour and Thy Beauty.
STIHOS 1
VERSE 1
Ke entine ke katevodou ke Vasileve eneken Alithias

ke Praotitos ke Dikeosinis.
STIHOS 2
3 Ta veli Sou ikonimena, dinate Lai ipokato Sou

pessounte. En kardia ton ehthron tou Vasileos.
STIHOS
O Thronos Sou, O Theos, is ton eona tou eonos;

Ravdos Evthititos i Ravdos tis Vasilias Sou.
STIHOS 4
And stretch Thou bow; and grant prosperity; and

reign because of Truth, gentleness and Righteousness.
V E R S E 2:
Thine arrows are sharp, O Mighty One, (the people

shall fall under Thee), in the heart of the Kings
enemies.
V E R S E 3:
Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever;

Royal Sceptre is a Sceptre of Uprightness.
V E R S E 4:
Thy
THIRD FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION - TONE 1

STIHOS 1
Akouson Thigater, ke ide, ke klinon to ous Sou.
Hearken, O Daughter, and consider, and incline

thine ear:
VERSE 1:
Here
Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene. Ek Sou gar

anetilen O Ilios tis Dikeosinis, Hristos O Theos imon,
Fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke Si Presvita Dikee,
dexamenos en agkales ton Eleftherotin ton psihon imon,
harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin.
STIHOS 2
To Prosopon Sou litanefsousin i plousii tou laou.
Hail,
O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our
God, granting Light to those in darkness. Be glad also,
O Thou Righteous Elder, for Thou hast received in
Thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who bestows
upon us Resurrection.
2:
Even the rich among the people shall entreat
Thy Favour
VERSE
Mnisthisome tou Onomatos Sou en pasi genea

ke genea.
STIHOS 3
3:
They shall remember Thy Name from
generation to generation.
VERSE
FESTAL ISODIKON PRESENTATION/MEETING TONE 2
Egnorise
Kyrios to Sotirion Aftou enantion panton ton

Ethnon. Soson imas, Iie Theou, O en Agkales tou
Dikeou Symeon Vastahthis, psallontas Si: Allilouia!
The Lord has declared His Salvation; He has revealed His

Righteousness in the presence of the Nations. O Son
of God, Who was borne in the arms of Symeon the
Righteous, Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 1
Here,
Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene. Ek sou gar

Fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke Si, presvita dikee,
dexamenos en agkales ton Eleftherotin ton psihon imon
harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin. (3)
Hail,
O Lady Full of Grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for

Christ our God, the Sun of Righteousness has risen
from Thee and He Illumined those in darkness. And
Thou, O Righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in
Thine Embrace the One Who Liberates our soul and
bestows on us Resurrection. (3)
FESTAL KONTAKION MEETING/PRESENTATION - ST ROMANOS
Mitran Parthenikin Agiasas to Toko Sou ke hiras tou

Symeon Evlogisas, os eprepe, profthasas ke nin esosas
imas, Hriste O Theos. All irinefson en polemis to
plitevma ke krateoson Vasilis, ous igapisas, O Monos
Filanthropos.
THE MEETING/PRESENTATION
OF
CHRIST
THE
MELODIST - TONE 1
Thou
AT THE
Who has Sanctified by Thy Birth a Virgin Womb

and fittingly Blessed the hands of Symeon, Thou art
come, O Christ our God, and on this day has Saved us
Grant Peace to Thy Commonwealth in times of Battle,
and Strengthen the Orthodox People whom Thou has
Loved, O Thou Who alone Loves mankind.
TEMPLE
2 FEBRUARY 2015
INSTEAD
OF
THE AXION ESTIN HYMN MEETING/PRESENTATION - TONE 3
Theotoke,
i Elpis panton ton Hristianon, Skepe, frouri,

filatte tou elpizontas is Se.
En Nomo, Skia ke Grammati tipon katidomen i Pisti.

arsen to tin Mitran dianigon Agion Theo.
prototokon
Logon,
Patros
anarhou
Prototokoumenon Mitri apirandro Megalinomen.
Pan
Dio
Iion,
O Theotokos, Hope of all Christians, Protect, watch over

and guard all those who put their hope in Thee.
In
MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING

ST SYMEONS MEETING
OF
the shadow and letter of the Law, let us, the Faithful,
discern a figure: every male child who opens the womb
shall be Sanctified to God. Therefore the Firstborn
Word and Son of the Father without beginning - the
Firstborn Child of a Mother who had not known man we Magnify
TO
ST LUKE 2 : 25 32
CHRIST & HIS HYMN
OF
DEEP GRATITUDE
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Symeon, who was Just and Devout, and who was awaiting 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 Lords Christ.
And he went, by the 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:
Now Thou art letting Thy servant depart, O Master, 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!
FESTAL PROKEIMENON MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 3
My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

For He has regarded the low estate of His Handmaiden. For behold: henceforth all generations will call me Blessed.
THE EPISTLE
TH
OF ST
RULES OF
PAUL
THE
TO THE HEBREWS 7 : 7
ETERNAL PRIESTLY ORDERS
17
Brethren: beyond all contradiction the lesser is Blessed by the Better. And here mortal men receive Tithes, but there He
receives them, of Whom it is witnessed that He Lives.
Even Levi, who received Tithes, paid Tithes through Abraham. 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 for another Priest to arise according to the Order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the Order of
Aaron?
Or 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 Priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchezedek, there arises another Priest Who has come not according
to the Law of a fleshly Commandment, but according to the Power of Life Everlasting. For He testifies: Thou art a
Priest forever, according to the Order of Melchezedek.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE

OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS DEDICATION TO GOD AT
2:22-40
THE
TEMP
LE
At that time, when the days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they took Jesus 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 written 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 Lords Christ. And he went, by the 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: Now Thou art letting Thy servant O Master, 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 the Mother of Jesus marvelled at those things that were spoken of Him.
And Symeon 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, which will be spoken against, (yes, a sword will pierce through Thine own soul also!), so that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
And Anna - a Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the Tribe of Asher - who was of a great age, and who had lived with a
husband seven years from her virginity; and who was a widow of about eighty-four years, and who did not leave the
Temple, but served God with Fastings and Prayers night and day. And entering in that instant, she gave Thanks to the
Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for Redemption in Jerusalem. And 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 MEETING (PRESENTATION) OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AT THE TEMPLE
Todays Great Feast the Meeting (or Presentation) of our
The Great Library of Alexandriaestablished during the
reign of Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphios (circa 283
Lord - marks the celebration of one of the twelve Great
246 B.C.) and originally organized by a student of
Feasts of the Orthodox Liturgical Year.
Aristotlecontained
an
innumerable
cache
of
We celebrate the Fortieth Day of His (Incarnate) Life when
manuscripts, written works, and scrolls from around
our Lord and Saviour was presented, according to the
the world.
Old Covenant Law, in the Temple of Jerusalem and
In order to ensure everything possible was included in their
received by the ancient Elder, St Symeon. (LUKE 2: 5 32)
library, the Alexandrians would require all citizens
The Nunc Dimittis or Song of Symeon is a recorded
and even foreign travellers through Egyptto hand in
response of this very old, frail servant of God as he
their own scrolls for copying so that they could be
finally beheld the Divinely Promised Incarnate Lord of
added to the library.
Glory for the very first time.
It was during this period that the Scriptures of the Jewish
In that wonderful moment, he knew his life was at long last
people were first translated into Greekthe lingua
complete for he had fulfilled his Purpose.
franca of the worldin order to be included in their
Interestingly enough, there is a significant back-story to
already-impressive collection.
this Presentation of Christ, and to St Symeons
To facilitate having the Holy Scriptures accurately
response.
translated, Ptolemy II summoned seventy of the most
6
OF
CHRIST
AT THE
TEMPLE
2 FEBRUARY 2015
erudite Scribes from Palestine to Alexandria, who were

familiar with both languages and who possessed an
intimate knowledge of the Holy Scriptures themselves.
Initially, the Pentateuch (the Five Books of Moses) was
translated, with the rest of the scrolls to follow in
succeeding generations.
In an event that was no doubt guided by the Holy Spirit (as
Justin Martyr, St Augustine, and others attest), all
Seventy Scribes translated identical copies of the Books
from Hebrew into Greek.
After its completion, this Greek edition of the Scriptures
was called the Septuagint (Seventy), in recognition and
acknowledgement of the Seventy Scribes who fulfilled
that great endeavour.
The use of the Septuagint (abbreviated LXX) spread
throughout the Greek-speaking world, and became the
eminent and most widely-used edition of what we now
call the Old Testamenta term first coined by Melito
of Sardis in the second century (A.D.).
The Septuagint was so commonly used at the time of both
Christ and His Apostles that the overwhelming majority
of their references to Holy Scripture came from this
translation, with many of the Parables, stories, and
other wise Teachings of both Christ and His Apostles
being taken directly from it.
There are several key Messianic Passages in the Epistle to
the Hebrews, for example, that would be rendered
nonsensical were St Paul not quoting the Septuagint.
The Greek Old Testament was the Divine Scripture for the
early Apostolic Churchprior to the completion and
worldwide distribution of the New Testamentand has
been received as the Old Testament for the Eastern
Orthodox Church ever since.
Most Protestant scholars still assert that there was a silent
era, absent of Divine Prophecy, between the end of
their augmented Canonbeginning with the time of
Ezra and lasting until the time of the Apostlesbut
Orthodox Christians believe that God continued to
speak to His People, that Prophets still arose (such as St
John the Baptist & Forerunner and St Anna the
Prophetess), and that the writings of this so-called
inter-testamental period are True Scripture, along with
the rest of the Old Testament.
So where does St Symeon fit into all of this?
According to Church Tradition, St Symeon was one of the
Scribes called upon to assist in this translation of the
Scriptures into Greek.
More specifically, he was one of the Scribes who helped
translate the Prophecy of St Isaiah.
While translating his scroll, St Symeon came across the text:
Behold, a Virgin (Almah) shall conceive in the
womb, and shall bring forth a Son... (ISAIAH 7:14).
Although possible, he found it difficult to believe that
Virgin was the correct word, given the impossibility of
a Virginal Conception.
As he was about to translate the word Virgin to young
woman, St Gabriel the Archangel appeared to him and
told St Symeon that the word was in Truth Virgin, and
IF YOU LOVE, ITS ALWAYS
Father Joachim, it is really difficult at times to forgive...
we can forgive inside our heart, but we dont want to
see this person every day.
That is not Forgiveness!
Its like saying, I dont go to Church, because God is in my
heart.
If a man is starving to death and I dont give him any food,
do I Love him? No! Its like saying: Dont worry, I love
you in my heart! Dont die, its okay!
We have to ask for Forgiveness and not be proud.
Our pride is always the problem the biggest stumbling
block.
If others ask us to forgive them and we refuse, we look like
a fool, and if others do not ask us for forgiveness they
will look like fools too.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: If you do not forgive your
Brother, neither will I forgive you!
Sometimes its even more difficult for older people to
forgive quickly; they insist that their age gives them
the privilege not to ask for forgiveness.
It is because they know nothing about loving others. They
are saying, What about me?
OF
CHRIST
furthermore that he would live long enough to witness

the Prophesy being fulfilled he would behold the
infant Messiah Who would be born to a Pure and
Spotless Virgin.
And so, St Symeon obeyed the Angel, and wrote the word
Virgin in his Greek translation and went on to live for
almost another 200 years until the Meeting of Christ at
the Temple in Jerusalem!
When our Lady Theotokos and her legal Guardian, St
Joseph the Betrothed, brought our Lord Jesus to the
Temple a 40 day old Infant, St Symeon was there to
receive Him exactly as St Gabriel the Archangel had
foretold him!
Having watched the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary grow up in
the Temple and knowing all about Her Sacred Vow of
Chastity and the God-chosen Guardianship of St Joseph
the Betrothed, St Symeon immediately recognised Him
as indeed the long-awaited and True of Israel Who was
in fact, ... born of a Virgin!
In his overwhelming Joy and Thanksgiving for being
granted the ability to witness the Fulfilment of the
ancient Prophecy, St Symeon responded appropriately:
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in Peace,
according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy
Salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence
of all peoples, a Light for Revelation to the Gentiles,
and for Glory to Thy People Israel.
And Joseph and His Mother marvelled at those things that
were spoken about Him; and Simeon Blessed them and
said to Mary his mother, Behold! This Child is set 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), that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed. (LUKE 2:2935)
St Symeon knew he could now Repose in Peace, as all had
taken place according to the Word given to him by the
Archangel Gabriel.
And according to Orthodox Tradition, St Symeon, one of
the Septuagint Translators of the Old Testament,
Reposed in Peace the next day.
The Feast of the Meeting or Presentation of Christ is not
only a reminder of the faithfulness of all those Faithful
Believers who helped preserve our Holy Scriptures down
through the ages, but also of the Joy and Reverence that
should fill our heart as we behold the Lord of Glory.
As members of the Body of Christ, we are connected in and
through Christ with one another in the Mystery of the
Eucharist, and when we partake of His Body and Blood,
we are Transformed anew into His Likeness.
Let this Reception of Christpresented by and of and
through Himself for the Life of the worldbe for us Joy
and Peace, just as it was for the Elder Symeon.
For it is in this Reception of Christ, Who was Incarnate of
the Ever-Virgin Mary for our Salvation, that our Life in
Christ can be fulfilled.
GABE MARTINI ON BEHALF
OF
ALL - 2014
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/68122.HTM
ABOUT OTHERS
- PART 5
Is there any difference between Russian and American

Orthodox Christians?
No, theres no difference - mankind is mankind everywhere.
And the reason is that we are all human beings. Being
Russian or American or German has nothing to do with
it.
Are we Orthodox? That is the question.
There are many Russians and other Nationalities who arent
Orthodox - they only refer to themselves as being
Orthodox - but in Truth they are not Orthodox
Christians (for they do not Live in Christ they are not
His Faithful Disciples)
If we do not live the Holy Gospel of Christ and if we do not
give what we are supposed to give to Christ and to our
neighbours our Brethren we cannot claim to be
Orthodox Christians.
It does not matter of whether you wear a cross around your
neck or dress like I doif we do not Love - if we do not
see and accept our Brothers and Sisters as they are and
if we do not forgive our enemies we are not Orthodox
Christians.
AT THE
TEMPLE
2 FEBRUARY 2015
Instead we are arrogant, self-righteous and hypocritical

Pharisees!
It is an insurmountable problem if we do not know how to
Love unconditionally.
Our very existence is all about Love! Love is all there is!
Even the Beatles sang about it!
Abba Dorotheos wrote that Love is the bridle for
irritation. Irritation is a big problem too.
That is not to say, becasue you Love, youll never be
irritated. It means that if you try to Love but you are
proud, full of self-love, everything will irritate you.
Love never causes us to be irritated; its love of self that
causes all destruction.
What is real Beauty?
Beauty is anything of Gods Creation. Beauty is all about
God, not mankind.
If someone is beautiful, its because he or she shows you
God - not because they are physically desirable.
Physical desire is not Beautyits lust. Its what can I get
from that? You dont value what you see as beautiful,
you want to possess it, take it to yourself because it
pleases you.
But real Beauty makes you see something greater than
yourself and something greater than a personyou see
God in all that.
When you go out to the countryside and you see a beautiful
forest, you dont say: I want to buy it, cut down all the
trees and have it to myself! You say: Glory to God! Its
just so incredible!
However, there are some people who say: I have to own it! I
want no one to see it but me! Thats not beauty, thats
greed.
Usually when we see a beautiful woman walking down the
street, we dont think: Glory to God! What a wonder
God is! We think: How can I get her come to me?
A woman dresses beautifully, so that someone might say,
Oh, she looks good and I want her! Its not about how
she is reflecting Gods Beautyshe is trying to attract
someone to want her.
We forgot what its all aboutits all about God.
Theres nothing other than God - this world is nothingits
only God.
Even in Church, women are often afraid of age, of getting
older.
I look at them and say: My dear, soon it will all be over!
This is simply corruption! Just let it happen.
Covering your face with all that junk is not going to stop
you from dying. Clean up the inside, dont worry about
the outsideits a wreck, its over with.
Older men flirt with young girls! I say to them: Whats
wrong with you people? Its so ridiculous!
We have a man in our Parish who was very good looking
when he was young physically fit and attractive.
Now hes almost sixty and he sits with young girls in the
cafeteria.
He sees himself as a sixteen years old boy.
One of those ladies, a very sweet and good girl, said to him:
Youre so cute, I like older men.
He was crushedshe sees him as an old man.
That man was suffering.
Of course he was! All his life he was trying to be desirable,
trying to find the value, get pleasure, but not
Relationship.
He has a wonderful wife, but he doesnt see it.
Some young girls and women in middle age try to be
attractive, young, and beautiful, and they always
think about their appearance. There is a whole
industry that increases this kind of vanitybotox,
plastic surgery to changes lips and noses, etc.
No wonder! We cant walk to the city without seeing all
these commercialsfaces, bodies, and beauty.
Its just ridiculous, but people dont understand that.
Ill tell you a funny story: I was giving a talk in Canada to a
gathering of young professionals.
Those
who
ran
the
programme
were
TV
commentators; they presented the news, and are
very well known in Canada. There were film
people, actors and actresses, rich people.
8
OF
CHRIST
And there was a young man in good shape; he is a football

star in his country. He had a girlfriend with him. He was
about twenty-seven and she was about twenty-one.
The girl was wearing a very short dress, her ar
ms exposed; but it was a dress, as I understood later. She
was told that this is not appropriate for Church, but she
said, They told me not to wear pants and to wear a
dress, so Im wearing a dress!
It was funny, because she was so obscene and didnt see it.
She didnt see how inappropriate it was to come to the
Church dressed like that - she came to display herself
and be noticed.
And there were other women with makeup all over their
faces. Everyone looked at them, but they didnt get that
they were ridiculous at that moment.
Its a big problempeople who are afraid of death.
BUT THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID OF DEATH BECAUSE THEY
DONT HAVE LIFE NOW THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY
CONNECTION TO LIFE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST!
They have no Relationship with God and their fellow
mankind. So they panic: I have nothing to give, Im
physically old, Im dying and then what?
How must we react to the situation in Syria, where we can
see numerous murders, tortures, kidnappings of
Christians, destruction of Holy Shrines? Its a huge,
painful wound on Christian hearts all over the globe.
It is a huge problem, but it is a political problem. It
signifies the fatal illness of modern day society!
I have very strong feelings on Nationalism and war. I think
Nationalism is not a good thing.
Today, whether we like it or not, we live in a global reality.
How much you are paid at work, whether or not you
have electricity in your house, whether or not youre
going to eat or drink today or tomorrowall depends
on the economy across the world. Not just in Russia.
Russia doesnt control the world - it doesnt control
itselfwe all are part of it.
And therefore we live in a world of reality, but we dont
think about it.
The reason that Syria is under attack now is because of
money, the economy, and power. Its because one group
wants to control oil and people to get what they want.
Its not about religion or God. These people dont even
know Who God is.
We put ourselves in that situation by playing control
games.
Christians must always feel joy in their souls, always be
joyful. But there are so many problems, sorrows, grief
in the world and in our personal lives.
Absolutelywe always must be joyful and grateful.
Gods Presence is Joy. The main Sign of Christianity is Joy.
Why would you not be overjoyed if you are connected
to God?
So, we must always keep strong hope in our hearts?
Hope is the understanding of the Promise that God will
come.
God promised us - and if we obediently fulfil all that He
commanded, and if we Love each other, we will all
have Eternal Life in His Heavenly Kingdom.
And then we will realize that Hope in our Life our Life in
Christ.
CHRISTINA POLYAKOVA SPOKE WITH ARCHIMANDRITE JOACHIM
PARR - EDITED BY ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH68135.HTM
ST THEOPHAN
THE
RECLUSE
To make progress in Prayer and to escape from illusion, selfdenial is needed, which teaches us that nothing should be sought
in Prayer except attention. The work of Prayer will become more
simple and easy. Temptations will also become less strong,
although they always accompany any endeavour. St Nil Sorski
and other Holy Fathers tell us that powerful temptations coming
from the devil - temptations far beyond our strength - attack us if
we seek to experience in ourselves the Fruits of Prayer of the heart
prematurely. We seek these Fruits too soon because unknown to ourselves - we suffer from an exaggerated
opinion of our own abilities, and from conceit masquerading
as zeal.
AT THE
TEMPLE
2 FEBRUARY 2015

3 F e b r u a r y 2015
Afterfeast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple
Synaxis St Symeon the God Receiver & St Hannah the
Prophetess
Also the Feast of St Roman of Uglich, son of Prince Vladimir and Princess Photina of
Uglich St Azariah the Holy Prophet of God St Papias, St Diodoros & St Claudinos of
Perge, Pamphylia - St Adrianos, St Euboulos & St Blaise of Caesarea, Cappadocia St
Symeon the Bishop of Tver & Polotsk St Jacob, Archbishop of Serbia St John, St
Nicholas & St Stamatios, New Martyrs St Nicholas of Japan
FESTAL APOLYTIKION THE MEETING/PRESENTATION
Here,

Fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke Si, Presvita Dikee,
dexamenos en agkales ton eleftherotin ton psihon
imon harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin.
OF OUR
LORD TONE1
Hail,
O Lady Full of Grace, O Virgin Theotokos, for

Christ our God, the Sun of Righteousness has risen
from Thee and He Illumined those in darkness. And
Thou, O Righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving
in Thine Embrace the One Who Liberates our soul
and bestows on us Resurrection.
FESTAL KONTAKION - THE MEETING/PRESENTATION OF CHRIST - TONE 1
O Mitran Parthenikin Agiasas to Toko Sou, ke hiras tou
Thy
Birth Sanctified a Virgins Womb and properly

Blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and
Saved us O Christ, our God, grant Peace to Thy
Commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen
those in authority, whom Thou Love, as the Only
Lover of mankind.
Symeon Evlogisas os eprepe, profthasas ke nin esosas

imas Hriste O Theos. All irinefson en polemis to
politevma, ke krateoson Vasilis ous igapisas, O Monos
Filanthropos
FESTAL PROKEIMENON: TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE
The
THE EPISTLE
Righteous shall be glad in the Lord.

Hear my voice, O God.
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
IS OUR
HEBREWS 9 : 11 - 14
ONLY HIGH PRIEST
Brethren: Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come, with the Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle no
made by hands that is: not of this Creation.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the Most High Place once for all, having
obtained Eternal Redemption. For, if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the
unclean Sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the
Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, Cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living
God?
In contrast to the Old Covenant High Priest of the
with God and draws us close to God through our
Hebrews, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the
proper Worship of and Obedience to Him.
exclusive High Priest of the New Covenant.
Dead works are all activities in and of this age that
He entered the Heavenly Sanctuary once, for all i.e.
participate in mortality and corruption and
His ultimate Blood Sacrifice was for the sake of all
especially in sin that alienates us from Almighty
humanity for all ages and being the Most Perfect
God.
Blood Offering to Almighty God no other Blood
Furthermore dead works pertain to the Old
Offerings are ever again required from us for the
Covenant worship (which was only for the Purpose
Forgiveness of sin.
of Preparing us for the Messianic Age.)
Christs Most Precious and Perfect Blood Offering upon
The term Eternal Spirit refers to the Third Person of
the Cross Heals all corrupted humanity, Restores
the Holy Trinity God the Eternal Holy Spirit.
us Pure and Holy - to our proper Relationship
TO
ST LUKE 2 : 25 - 38
OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS PRESENTATION
AT THE
TEMPLE
At that time, 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 Lords Christ.
And he went 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: Lord, now let Thou
Thy servant depart in Peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast
prepared before the face of all people a Light to bring Revelation to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy People,
Israel!
And Joseph and His Mother marvelled at those things that were spoken of Him. And Symeon 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.
And there was one, Hannah, a Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the Tribe of Asher. She was of a great age,
and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about 84 years,
SYNAXIS ST SYMEON
THE
GOD RECEIVER & ST ANNA
THE
PROPHETESS 3 FEBRUARY 2015
who did not leave the Temple, and served God with Fastings and Prayers, night and day. And, entering in that
instant, she gave Thanks to our Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for Redemption in Jerusalem.
St Symeon had lived for approximately 325 years
when he finally met our long awaited Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
Many years before, in Alexandria, Egypt, the Hebrew
leaders realised that their people no longer could
read or speak Hebrew as the worlds language at
that time was Greek.
So they called together 70 of the most erudite Scholars
and Priests to carefully translate the ancient
Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.
(This is the Septuagint Bible that we Orthodox
Christians use with all its Holy Books intact, from
which our Lord Jesus Christ read and quoted.)
St Symeon received the Book of Isaiah which
prophesied that a VIRGIN would bear the Messiah
the Saviour of the world. Obviously he thought it
must be a mistake and was about to translate the
word VIRGIN as young woman.
However, God immediately intervened by sending His
Archangel Gabriel the Bearer of Good Tidings
to explain to St Symeon that it certainly was to be a
VIRGIN who would bear the Christ Child and, in
fact, God would keep him alive until he personally
witnessed the Divine Truth for himself.
St Symeon and St Hannah both resided at the Temple
of Jerusalem and they had watched the young
Virgin Theotokos as She grew from an
extraordinary three year old girl to a pubescent
teenager being a perfect role model for all the
other young maidens (and boys) who had been
WHO REALLY WAS ST SYMEON
THE
GOD-RECEIVER? ST NIKODEMOS
There are many commentaries on St Symeon the GodReceiver.

St Joseph the Hymnographer, in the Orthros (Matins)
Canon for the Feast Day, identified St Symeon as a
Ministering Priest of the Great Temple in Jerusalem:
O Blessed Priest: Thou offered up the Sacrifices of
the Law, the Lamb, for Ineffable Mercy, showing
forth beforehand the Blood of our Saviour; and
receiving Him Incarnate, O Symeon, Thou wast
shown to be more Glorious than Moses and all the
Prophets. (SYNAXIS OF THE MEETING, 3 FEBRUARY, ORTHROS
CANON OF THE SAINT, ODE 8, MODE 4)
dedicated to Holy Service at the Temple by their

parents.
They watched in amazement throughout the years as
the young Virgin, having taken an unbreakable
Sacred Vow of Chastity, guided and led her fellow
virgins in a Life of Humility, Obedience, Prayer
and Worship, while fulfilling their various tasks of
spinning, weaving, embroidering and whatever
else was required of them to help refurbish the
Great Temple of Jerusalem.
They also knew about how St Joseph her aged
widowed uncle who had been married to her
mothers sister, Salome - was chosen by Divine Will
to be Her legal Guardian and Protector.
So when St Joseph the Betrothed and his All Pure and
Holy Niece, Mary, went to present the Christ Child
at the Temple, St Symeon and St Hannah were
overjoyed to acknowledge the Truth of the longawaited Messiah.
Those who have a close Relationship with God,
recognise and accept the innumerable Divine
Mysteries that occur for the benefit of the Faithful
without any hesitation, doubt or cynicism.
They KNOW Divine Truth - offering much
Thanksgiving and Glorification to God for His
Great Mercy because they fully understand the
profound significance and impact of such Things.
At every Vespers, the words of St Symeon are
repeated, to remind us that God never disappoints
or fails us.
THE
HAGIORITE
on Luke, Chapter 2) and others, believed that St

Symeon lived long beyond any normal life
expectancy.
This meant that St Symeon the Elder was at least 270
years old when he so joyfully received the Christ
Child in his arms.
There are scholars of genealogies who believe that he
was the son of the Hebrew Patriarch, Hillel, the
father of the famous Gamaliel, who is mentioned in
St Lukes Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
There are others who said that he presided in the first
place over the assembly of the Hebrews.
The inviolate testimony of Sacred Scripture states: ...
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name
was Symeon, and this man was Just and Pious,
waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. And it had been Divinely
Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should
not see death before he should see the Christ of
the Lord. (LUKE 2: 25 26)
St Photios, in his Amphilochia, wrote that St Symeon

was not a Priest, but higher and more than a Priest.
Others maintain that the Venerable St Symeon was one
of the Seventy Translators of the Old Testament
during the time of Ptolemy II i.e. the Septuagint
which was translated from ancient Hebrew into
Greek.
George Kendrinos (Synopsis), Meletios of Athens,
Euthymios, Zygadenos or Zygabenos (Commentary
ST ANNA THE PROPHETESS
St Anna was a Prophetess, which means that she
Some scholars believe that St Anna was eighty-four
foretold the future, not simply in general, but
(i.e. ...fourscore and four years... ) when she met
specifically about the Messiah our Lord Jesus
our Lord Jesus Christ as a 40 day old Infant, but St
Christ. And it seems that she took on this prophetic
Ambrose maintained that St Luke was saying that St
role only after the Meeting/Presentation of our Lord
Anna had been a widow for eighty-four years before
in the Temple, when she went out and spoke to all
the Presentation of our Saviour.
about the Christ Child.
If St. Ambrose is correct, then St Anna would have been
St Anna was a daughter of Phanuel, and Father
extremely old (about one hundred and six years)!
Cornelius aLapide pointed out that Phanuel
Certainly, it is possible that God granted her the special
means the Face of God while Anna means Grace.
Grace of a long life in order that she might see the
For Grace proceeds from the Face and from the Mouth
Christ Child similar to St Symeon the Godof God, and is breathed into the Faithful. The place
Receiver.
where Jacob saw God Face to face, was called by him
St Anna might not have actually lived inside the
Peniel or Phanuel, (GENESIS 32: 30)
Temple, but rather frequented it daily.
She was of the Hebrew Tribe of Aser (or Asher), which
Regarding her Prayers and Fasts whereby she
was among the ten lost Tribes of Israel, who
worshipped God, Father Cornelius aLapide
originally inhabited the western portion of the
responds to a common heresy among the
region of Galilee. [West of Naphtali and North-West
Protestants: Hence is plain the falsehood of the
of Zebulun]
teaching of the heretics, that Fasting is only a
St Luke stated that St Anna was married for seven
mortification of the body, and not worship of God,
years ...from her virginity... which means that she
except in so far as it is understood to mean Prayer;
was probably married at about the age of fifteen
for St. Luke clearly stated that St Anna ...served God
with Fastings and Prayers, night and day.
(which was considered the appropriate age to marry
and bear children). Thus she must have been
HTTP://NEWTHEOLOGICALMOVEMENT.BLOGSPOT.COM/2011/09/FEA
widowed at the age of twenty-two.
ST-OF-PROPHETESS-ANNA-WHO-WAS-SHE.HTML
10.
SYNAXIS ST SYMEON
THE
GOD RECEIVER & ST ANNA, PROPHETESS 3 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever, and
unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos 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 F e b r u a r y 2015
After Feast of the Meeting of our Lord
St Photios the Great of Constantinople
Also the Feast of St Bucolos, Disciple of St John the Beloved Apostle & Theologian and First
Bishop of Smyrna St Barsanuphios the Great & St John the Holy Prophet of God St Dorothy, St
Christina, St Calista & St Theophilos, Virgin Martyrs of Caesarea, Cappadocia St Julian of
Emesa St Fausta, St Evilasios & St Maximos of Cyzikos St Mary & St Martha, Virgin Martyrs of
Egypt St Lycarion of Egypt St Arsenios of Iqalto, Georgia St Amand of Maastrict
FESTAL ANTIPHONS OF THE MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 2
Soson imas Ie Theou, O
EN AGKALES TOU DIKEOU

O Son of God, C A R R I E D I N T H E A R M S O F S Y M E O N
S Y M E O N V A S T A H T H I S , psallontas Si: Allilouia!
T H E R I G H T E O U S , Save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
FESTAL ISODIKON/ENTRANCE HYMN AFTERFEAST MEETING/PRESENTATION- TONE 2
Egnorise
Kyrios to Sotirion aftou enantion panton ton

Ethnon. Soson imas Iie Theou, O en agkales tou Dikeou
Symeon Vastahthis.
Psalonata
Here
Si, Allilouia!
The Lord made known His Salvation in the sight of all the
Gentiles. Save us, O Son of God, Who in the arms of
Righteous Symeon were held.
We sing to Thee, Alleluia!

FESTAL APOLYTIKION THE MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 1

Fotizon tous en skoti. Evfrenou ke Si Presvita Dikee,
dexamenos en agkales ton Eleftherotin ton psihon imon,
harizomenon imin ke tin Anastasin.
Hail,
O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our
God, granting Light to those in darkness. Be glad also,
O Thou Righteous Elder, for Thou hast received in
Thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who bestows
upon us Resurrection
FESTAL KONTAKION ST PHOTIOS TONE 4
Os ton Apostolon omotropos, ke tis Ikoumenis didaskalos, Resembling
the Apostles in Way of Life, O Photios, the

Teacher of the Universe, Intercede with the Master of
all, to grant Peace to the whole world, and Great Mercy
to our soul.
F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N - T H E M E E T I N G / P R E S E N T A T I O N O F C H R I S T - TONE 1
to Despoti ton olon iketeve Photie, irinin ti Ikoumeni

dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to Mega Eleos.
Thy
Mitran Parthenikin Agiasas to Toko Sou, ke hiras tou

imas Hriste O Theos.
All irinefson en polemis to
Filanthropos

Lover of mankind.
FESTAL PROKEIMENON PSALM 48/49 TONE 1
To
Stoma Mou lalisi Sofian ke i meleti tis Kardias Mou

Sinesin.
Akousate
tafta, panta ta Ethni, enotisasthe pantes i

katikountes tin ikoumenin.
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
My Mouth shall speak Wisdom, and the Meditation of My

Heart, Understanding.
Hear this:
TO THE
all you Nations! Hearken, all you inhabitants

of the world!
HEBREWS 7 : 26 8 : 2
Brethren: it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest Holy, Blameless, Unstained, separated from sinners, exalted
above the Heavens. He has no need like those High Priests to offer sacrifices daily first for his own sins, and then
for those of the people.
He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.
Indeed, the Law appoints men in their weakness as High Priests, but the Word of the Oath, which came later than the Law,
appoints a Son Who has been made Perfect forever.
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a High Priest One Who is seated at the right hand of the
Throne of the Majesty in Heaven a Minister in the Sanctuary, and the True Tabernacle, which is set up not by mankind
but by the Lord.
TO
ST JOHN 10 ; 9 16
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: ... I Am the Door; if any one enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and
out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they may have Life, and
have it abundantly.
I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His Life for the Sheep. He who is a hireling and not a
Shepherd, whose own the Sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the Sheep and flees; and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling, and he cares nothing for the Sheep.
I Am the Good Shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me, as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I
lay down My Life for the Sheep.
And I have other Sheep, who are not of this Fold. I must bring them also, and they will heed My Voice. So there shall
be One Flock, One Shepherd.
ST PHOTIOS
THE
GREAT
OF
CONSTANTINOPLE
6 FEBRUARY 2015
11
ST PHOTIOS
THE
GREAT
St Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople, who is referred to

as being ...the Churchs far-gleaming Beacon... lived
during the ninth century, and came from a family of
zealous Christians.
His father Sergios died as a Martyr in defence of Holy Icons.
St Photios received an excellent education and, since his
family was related to the Imperial House, he occupied
the position of First State Secretary in the Senate.
His contemporaries said of him: He so distinguished
himself with knowledge in almost all the secular sciences,
that it rightfully might be possible to take into account
the glory of his age and compare it with the ancients.
Michael, the young successor to the throne, and St Cyril, the
future Enlightener of the Slavs, were taught by St
Photios.
His deep Christian Piety protected St Photios from being
seduced by the charms of court life, for in Truth, with
all his soul, he yearned for Monasticism.
In 857 Bardas, who ruled with Emperor Michael, deposed
Patriarch Ignatios from the See of Constantinople.
The Bishops, knowing the Piety and extensive Knowledge of
St Photios, informed the Emperor that he was a man
worthy to occupy the Archpastoral Throne.
St Photios accepted the proposal with Humility.
He passed through all the Clerical Ranks in six days.
On the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ, he was
consecrated Bishop and elevated to the Patriarchal
Throne.
Soon, however, discord arose within the Church, stirred up
by the removal of Patriarch Ignatios from office.
The Synod of 861 was called to end the unrest, at which the
deposition of Patriarch Ignatios and the installation of
St Photios as Patriarch were confirmed.
Pope Nicholas I, whose envoys were present at this Council,
hoped that by recognizing St Photios as Patriarch he
could subordinate him to his power.
When the new Patriarch proved unsubmissive, Pope
Nicholas anathematized St Photios at a Roman Council.
Until the end of his life, St Photios was a firm opponent of
papal intrigues and designs upon the Orthodox Church
of the East.
In 864, Bulgaria voluntarily converted to Christianity.
The Bulgarian Prince Boris was Baptised by Patriarch
Photios himself.
Later, St Photios sent an Archbishop and Priests to Baptise
the Bulgarian people.
In 865, St Cyril and St Methodios were sent to preach Christ
in the Slavonic language.
However, the partisans of the Pope incited the Bulgarians
against the Orthodox Missionaries.
The calamitous situation in Bulgaria developed because an
invasion by the Germans forced them to seek help in
the West, and the Bulgarian Prince requested the Pope
to send his Bishops.
When they arrived in Bulgaria, the papal legates began to
substitute Latin teachings and customs in place of
Orthodox Belief and practice.
St Photios, as a firm Defender of Truth and Denouncer of
falsehood, wrote an Encyclical informing the Eastern
Bishops of the Popes actions, indicating that the
departure of the Roman Church from Orthodoxy was
not only in ritual, but also in its Confession of Faith.
A council was convened, censuring the arrogance of the
West.
THE MONARCHY
ST PHOTIOS
THE
OF
GREAT
CONSTANTINOPLE
HTTP :// OCA . ORG / SAINTS / LI VES /2015/02/06/100442- ST -P HOT IOS - T HE PATRIARCH - OF - CONSTANTIN OPLE
GOD
THE
FATHER
This Eastern Orthodox Teaching expresses in its doctrinal

tenor the Traditional Teaching, which is considered
Orthodox (True Doctrine/Teaching)
The phrase "...from the Father alone..." arises from the fact
that the Creed itself only has Christs own words
"...from the Father..." so that the word "alone", which
neither St Photios nor the Orthodox Church suggest be
added to the Creed, has been called a "... gloss on the
Creed"... - a clarification, an explanation or
interpretation of its meaning.
There has never been a need, nor ever a suggestion that the
word "alone" be added to the Creed itself.
The Eastern Orthodox Church generally considers the
added Filioque phrase "...from the Father and the Son..."
to be heretical for Procession "from the Father alone" is
"...a main Dogma of the Greek Church." (ORIGINAL CHURCH).
St Photios insisted on the expression "...from the Father"

and excluded "...through the Son..." (Christ as Co-cause
of the Holy Spirit rather than primary cause) with
regard to the Eternal Procession of the Holy Spirit :
"...through the Son" applied only to the temporal
Mission of the Holy Spirit (the sending in time).
St Photios addressed in his entire work on the Filioque
the Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit.... for any addition to
the Creed would complicate and confuse an already
very clear and simple definition of the Ontology of the
Holy Spirit that the Ecumenical Councils already
confirmed.
St Photios' position is a reaffirmation of Orthodox Doctrine
of the Monarchy of God the Father, for the fact that the
Holy Spirit Proceeds from the Father alone is also a
restatement of the Cappadocian Antiochian teaching.
12.
OF
In 867, Basil the Macedonian seized the Imperial Throne,

after murdering Emperor Michael.
St Photios denounced the murderer and would not permit
him to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Therefore, he was removed from the Patriarchal Throne and
locked in a Monastery under guard, and Patriarch
Ignatios was restored to his former position.
The Synod of 869 met to investigate the conduct of St
Photios.
This Council took place with the participation of papal
legates, who demanded that the participants sign a
document (Libellos) condemning St Photios and
recognizing the primacy of the Pope of Rome.
The Eastern Bishops would not agree to this, and argued
with the legates.
Summoned to the Council, St Photios met all the
accusations of the legates with a dignified silence.
Only when the Judges asked him whether he wished to
Repent did he reply: Why do you consider yourselves
Judges?
After long disputes, the opponents of St Photios were
victorious.
Although
their
judgement
was
baseless,
they
anathematized Patriarch Photios and the Bishops who
had defended him.
St Photios was sentenced to imprisonment for seven years,
and by his own testimony, he thanked our Lord for
patiently enduring His Judges.
During this time, the Latin Clergy were expelled from
Bulgaria, and Patriarch Ignatios sent his Bishops there.
In 879, two years after the death of Patriarch Ignatios,
another Council was summoned (many consider it the
Eighth Ecumenical Council), and again St Photios was
acknowledged as the lawful Archpastor of the Church
of Constantinople.
Pope John VIII, who knew St Photios personally, declared
through his envoys that the former papal decisions
about St Photios were annulled.
The Council acknowledged the unalterable character of the
Nicean-Constantinople Creed, rejecting the Latin
distortion (the filioque), and acknowledging the
independence and equality of both Thrones and both
Churches (Western and Eastern).
The Council decided to abolish Latin usages and rituals in
the Bulgarian Church, which had been introduced by the
Roman Clergy, who ended their activities there.
Under Emperor Basils successor, Leo, St Photios again
endured false denunciations, and was accused of
speaking against the Emperor.
Again deposed from his See in 886, St Photios completed
the course of his life in 891, and was laid to rest at the
Monastery of Eremia.
The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates St Photios as a
...Pillar and Foundation of the Church... an ...Inspired
Guide of the Orthodox... and a wise Theologian.
He left behind several works, exposing the errors of the
Latins, refuting soul-destroying heresies, explicating
Holy Scripture, and exploring many aspects of the Faith.
May his memory be Eternal and may he constantly
intercede with our Saviour for the sake of our Eternal
Salvation.
OF
CONSTANTINOPLE
6 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Mary, Theotokos 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.
8 F e b r u a r y 2015
Afterfeast of the Meeting/Presentation
Tone 2
2 n d Sunday of Triodion
17 t h Sunday of St Luke - The Prodigal Son
Also the Feast of St Theodore Stratelates (the Commander) Great Holy
Martyr of Euchaita, Asia Minor St Zachariah the Sickle-Seer, Holy
Prophet of God St Savva II of Serbia
ISODIKON/ENTRANCE HYMN TONE 2
Egnorise
Kyrios to Sotirion Aftou enantion panton ton

Ethnon. Soson imas Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron,
psallontas Si, Allilouia!
The Lord made known His Salvation in the Sight of all the
Gentiles. Save us, O Son God, Who arose from the
dead, as we sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Ote katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote ton
When
Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,

Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy
Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the
subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried
aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!
Adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous

tethneotas ek ton katahthonion
anestisas, pase e
Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O
Theos imon, Doxa Si!
F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N - T H E M E E T I N G / P R E S E N T A T I O N O F C H R I S T - TONE 1

Filanthropos
Thy

Lover of mankind.
RESURRECTION GOSPEL 2: MARK 16:1 - 8

THE HOLY MYRRHBEARERS WITNESS THE EMPTY TOMB OF OUR RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST
RESURRECTION PROKEIMENON PSALM 117 TONE 2
The Lord is my Strength and my Salvation.

The Lord chastened and corrected me, but He did not give me up to Death.
THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
OUR BODY
IS THE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS 6 : 12 20
SANCTIFIED TEMPLE
OF
GOD
Brethren: all things are Lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are Lawful for me, but I will not be
brought under the power of any.
Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them.
Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God has both raise up the Lord, and
will also raise up us by His own Power.
Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them
members of a harlot? God forbid!
Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? For the two, He says, ... shall be one flesh.
But he who is Joined to the Lord is one Spirit.
Flee fornication! Every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own
body.
Do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you
are not your own, for you were bought at a price.
Therefore, Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods.
All things are lawful for me... may be a statement St Paul
By controlling the desires of the flesh i.e. all our physical
made in Corinth sometime earlier perhaps
desires and demands - WE TEACH OUR SOULS TO BE IN
regarding the Mosaic Cleanliness Law which the
CONTROL OF OUR BODIES rather than the other way
Libertines took out of context as their slogan.
around. In such a manner, WE LEARN TO BECOME MORE
SPIRITUAL BEINGS WORTHY CITIZENS OF GODS HEAVENLY,
Consequently, St Paul set the record straight by
ETERNAL KINGDOM.
explaining that WITHOUT DISCIPLINE AND DISCERNMENT
For that reason the Orthodox Church encourages us to
THROUGH OUR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, FREEDOM FROM LAW
abstain from foods, which is the first discipline of the
IS SLAVERY TO SIN!
The Libertines in Corinth as some do today argued
Fast, as well as all the other physical pleasures of life,
that illicit sex adultery and fornication is as
through self-denial by FOCUSSING OUR ATTENTION ON
REPENTANCE, CONFESSION, PRAYERS AND ALMSGIVING
necessary for the body as eating, and that both are
OCCUPYING OURSELVES WITH VIRTUOUS THOUGHTS, WORDS
irrelevant to our Spiritual Life.
AND DEEDS.
However, as St Paul points out very clearly: OUR BODIES
Everything to do with our physical existence is merely
BELONG TO GOD AND EVERYTHING WE SAY, THINK OR DO IN
temporary and will not last, while EVERYTHING
THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY IS MOST
CONCERNING OUR IMMORTAL SOULS LASTS FOREVER AND
RESULTS IN THE TYPE OF ETERNITY WE WILL HAVE.
CERTAINLY RELEVANT TO OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE!
Therefore, DEALING WITH SIN AVOIDING TEMPTATION AND

REPENTING OUR SINS MEANS WE CONTROL OUR BODIES
THROUGH SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-DENIAL OF THE FLESH.
35TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-17TH
OF
ST LUKE 2ND
OF
TRIODION PRODIGAL SON 8 FEBRUARY 2015
13.
FINAL RESULTS OF OUR SPIRITUAL LABOURS IN CHRIST

JESUS.
When St Paul refers to our bodies as members of Christ,

he reminds us of OUR HOLY UNION WITH CHRIST OUR LORD
Fornication and adultery is therefore a sin to be fled from

in horror, for it joins, through our own immorality,
Christ to harlots!
DURING OUR HOLY BAPTISM.
R O M A N S 6 : 3 1 0 : ... our Old Man was crucified

with Him, so that the body of sin might be done
away with, so that we should no longer be slaves
of sin. For he who has died as been freed from
sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that
we shall also Live with Him, knowing that Christ,
having been raised from the dead, dies no more.
Death no longer has dominion over Him, for the
Death that He died, He died to sin once for all;
but the Life that He lives, He Lives to God.
To have died to sin does not mean our human nature has
died. Rather, it means that WE ARE NO LONGER HELD
a state of Repentance, Prayer and Worship of God.

The Holy Spirit dwells within us as His Holy Temple in
order to Guide, Teach, Inspire and Watch over us,
etc.
CAPTIVE BY SIN AND WE ARE NOW IMMOVABLE TOWARDS SIN

JUST LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS DEAD WOULD BE.
ANY FORM OF BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AN

UNFORGIVABLE SIN.
Therefore, if we knowingly commit sins against ourselves,

thus harming or desecrating our Holy Temples our
God-owned bodies it is a sin against God and
especially the Holy Spirit for IN A STATE OF UNREPENTANT
Our freedom from sin is grounded in the Holy Mystery of

Baptism yet ignorance of what happens when we are
Baptised is a great enemy since through such
ignorance, many are defeated in their battle against
wickedness.
WE HAVE MANY IMPROPER DESIRES, BUT WE MUST REPRESS

THEM, BECAUSE WE CAN! (ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM)
WE ARE SANCTIFIED, HOLY TEMPLES OF GOD because OUR
BODIES BELONG TO GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY DWELLS
WITHIN US when we are cleansed from our sins in
SIN, WE EXPEL OR CAUSE GOD TO LEAVE US AS HE CANNOT

BE WHERE THERE IS SPIRITUAL DARKNESS OR DEATH.
We would certainly be extremely offended if someone

were to paint graffiti all over our Parish churches, or
commit other outrages inside or outside the walls of
such hallowed ground, yet we continuously commit
similar outrageous offences to our Sanctified bodies!
St Paul always encourages the Faithful to P R A C T I S E
C E L I B A C Y wherever possible ESPECIALLY IF NOT
MARRIED IN THE SIGHT OF GOD for he knew that CELIBACY
WHAT CHRIST ACCOMPLISHED ON THE CROSS AN ACTUAL

DEATH TO SIN HOLY BAPTISM ACCOMPLISHES IN US: AN
ACTUAL DEATH TO SIN AND OUR LIBERATION FROM ITS
ENSLAVING POWER SINCE OUR BAPTISM INTO CHRIST
GIVES US HIS POWER OVER TEMPTATION AND SIN AN
EXACT LIKENESS TO CHRISTS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
Consequently, OUR HOLY BAPTISM does not merely
stand for this Divine Truth but IS ITSELF OUR
DEATH TO SIN.
Being united with Christ refers to GROWING TOGETHER IN
CHRIST WHICH IMPLIES THE EXPECTATION OF A GOOD
SPIRITUAL HARVEST BEARING OF GOOD FRUIT THE
IS A DIVINE GIFT GRANTED TO THOSE

ALTHOUGH VERY FEW ARE GRANTED IT.
TO
ST LUKE
CONCERNED
15 : 11 32
REPENTANCE & FORGIVENESS
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: A certain Man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his Father: Father,
give me the portion of goods that falls to me. So He divided between them His Livelihood. And not many days
later, the younger son gathered all his possessions together and journeyed to a far country where he wasted his
possessions with prodigal living.
And when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in need. So he went
and joined himself to a citizen of that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly
filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, yet no one gave him anything.
And when he came to himself, he said: How many of my Fathers hired servants have enough bread to eat and to
spare, yet I perish from hunger! I will arise and go to my Father, and I will say to Him: Father, I have sinned
against Heaven and before Thee, and I am no longer worthy to be called Thy son. Make me like one of Thy hired
servants.
And he arose and went to his Father. And when he was still a great way off, his Father saw him and had Compassion,
and ran, and fell upon his neck and kissed him.
And the son said to Him: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee, and I am no longer worthy to be
called Thy son.
But the Father said to his servants: Bring out the best Robe and put it on him, and put a Ring on his hand, and sandals
on his feet. And fetch the Fatted Calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this, My son was Dead and is Alive
again; he was Lost and is Found! and they began to be merry.
Now His older son was in the field. And as he went and drew near to the House he heard music and dancing. So he
called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him: Your Brother has returned, and
because He received him safe and sound, your Father has killed the Fatted Calf.
And he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his Father went out and pleaded with him. So he answered and
said to his Father: Behold, these many years I have been serving Thee; I never transgressed Thy Commandment at
any time; and yet Thou never gave me a young goat, so that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as
this son of Thine returned having devoured Thy Livelihood with harlots Thou killed the Fatted Calf for him.
And He said to him: Son, you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry
and be glad, for your Brother was Dead and is Alive again; and was Lost and is Found.
WILL EVENTUALLY AWAKEN FROM OUR GODLESS STUPOR
THE YOUNGER, IMMATURE SONs request for his portion of
AND REALISE OUR PREDICAMENT, AND YEARN FOR HIS
goods (ousia = essence) from his Father, SIGNIFIES
US HUMAN BEINGS RECEIVING OUR FREE WILL (TO PICK AND
CHOOSE WHICH PATH TO FOLLOW) AND OUR RATIONAL MIND
FROM OUR GRACIOUS LORD GOD.
Just as Adam did in Paradise, THE YOUNGER SON USED THESE
WONDERFUL POSSESSIONS DIVINE GIFTS TO REBEL AGAINST
HIS (HEAVENLY) FATHER.
T H E F A R C O U N T R Y to which the Prodigal Son
journeyed represents A LIFE IN EXILE FROM THE
GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS OF GOD.
WHENEVER WE ARE IN A STATE OF SIN, WE ARE ALIENATED
AND EXILED FROM DIVINE GOODNESS we are a
BLESSINGS AND GOODNESS.
BEING IMMERSED IN THE DARKNESS OF SIN, IS EXISTING
come to ourselves when our sanity is restored -
great distance from God.
HAVING UNITED HIMSELF TO ... A CITIZEN OF

T H A T C O U N T R Y . . . is an oblique reference to THE
EVIL ONE WHO IS OBSESSED WITH OUR DESTRUCTION AND
ALIENATION FROM GOD AND ALL HIS GOODNESS.
SATAN FIRST TEMPTS US INTO A SPIRITUAL DEATH AND THEN
TRIES TO KEEP US THERE AND AWAY FROM GODS
BLESSINGS IN A STATE OF SLAVERY AND IMPRISONMENT.
OF
ST LUKE 2ND
WE RETURN TO THE DIVINE LIGHT AND REGAIN OUR

SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST.
THE PRODIGAL SON ACKNOWLEDGED HIS HOPELESS
CONDITION Spiritual Death and alienation
from God and all His Blessings AND
IMMEDIATELY
PREPARED
HIS
CONFESSION
AND
REPENTANCE.
T H E B R E A D to which the Prodigal Son refers
SYMBOLISES OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Who is known to us
throughout Holy Scripture and especially in the

Holy Eucharist the Divine Liturgy.
However, the evil one cannot destroy us himself and like the Prodigal Son, BY GODS GRACE, WE
14. 3 5 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T - 1 7 T H
OUTSIDE OUR NATURAL HUMAN STATE.

F E E D I N G S W I N E could rightly be called Jewish Skid
Row, because IN SUCH A STATE OF DEBAUCHERY AND
SELF-INDULGENCE,
WHICH
RESULTED
IN
COMPLETE
DESTITUTION BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL THE
PRODIGAL SON COULD NOT POSSIBLY SINK MUCH LOWER.
. . . W H E N H E C A M E T O H I M S E L F . . . As soon as we
OF
your feet with the Preparation of the Gospel of

Peace...
...HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND ... RAN...
Although it was considered undignified and unfitting

behaviour for a mature man or elderly person to run,
I S A I A H 6 1 : 1 0 ... they shall have exceeding Gladness

in the Lord. Let my soul rejoice exceedingly in
the Lord, for He clothed me with the Garment of
Salvation and the Tunic of Gladness. He put a
Mitre around me like a Bridegroom and adorned
me with Ornaments like a Bride. As the earth
causes its flower to grow, and a s a garden its
seeds, so shall the Lord cause Righteousness to
rise up, and exceeding Joy before all the
Gentiles.
St John Chrysostom and all our Holy Church Fathers have
taught us that THE GARMENT OF SALVATION IS CHRIST
HIMSELF.
This explains why St Paul taught us that in Holy Baptism

we PUT ON CHRIST.
G A L A T I A N S 3 : 2 7 For as many of you as were Baptised
into Christ have put on Christ.
St Paul directly relates our SAVING FAITH AND BEING
BAPTISED by connecting them as OUR MOST
PRECIOUS AND INTIMATE BLESSINGS FROM GOD.
This particular verse is the ancient Hymn CHANTED
CHRISTIANS FIGHT AGAINST ALL EVIL ARMED WITH DIVINE
THE FATHER EXPRESSED HIS LOVE AND EAGERNESS TO WELCOME

THE RETURN OF HIS LOST CHILD BY RUNNING TO HIM AND
EMBRACING HIM WARMLY.
THIS SELF-HUMILIATION FOR THE SAKE OF HIS LOST SON
INDICATES THE MANNER WHEREBY OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, THROUGH HIS SON AND OUR LORD JESUS
CHRISTS SACRIFICE, ACTIVELY AND PATIENTLY AWAITS
AND JOYOUSLY WELCOMES ALL THOSE WHO RETURN
SAFELY TO HIS LOVING EMBRACE.
T H E R O B E signifies RIGHTEOUSNESS GRANTED TO US BY OUR
HOLY BAPTISM.
AT ALL CHRISTIAN BAPTISMS DURING THE PROCESSION

OF THE NEWLY REGENERATED INTO THE ASSEMBLY.
T H E S I G N E T R I N G signifies FAMILY IDENTITY OUR
ADOPTION AT HOLY BAPTISM AS A CHILD OF GOD AND COHEIR WITH CHRIST TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHERS KINGDOM.
H A G G A I 2 : 2 3 ... In that day, says the Lord

Almighty, I shall take you, Zerubbabel, My
servant, son of Shealtiel... and shall make you
like a Signet Ring; for I have chosen you.
OFFICIAL ROYAL ACTS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD WERE
AUTHENTICATED BY THE USE OF A MONARCHS SIGNET
RING so by designating Zerubbabel as His
Signet, the Lord was, in effect, stating that HE
WOULD BE ACTING AS GODS VICE-REGENT, CHARGED
WITH CARRYING OUT HIS SUPREME RULE AND DIVINE
WILL.
On a deeper level: this is a strong Messianic

Prophecy. When our soul becomes peaceful...
then she (our soul) will receive Christ like a
Signet Ring upon her, for she is the Image of
God. Then she will be according to that
Image, because Heavenly is the Heavenly
Man. And we need to bear the Image of the
Heavenly One, that is, Peace ... I wish the Lord
Jesus may say to you: Put Me as a Seal upon
your arm. May Peace glow in your heart,
Christ in your Works, and may there be
formed in you Wisdom and Justice and
Redemption. ( S T A M B R O S E O F M I L A N )
T H E S A N D A L S signify how WE ARE EQUIPPED TO WALK THE
PATH OF RIGHTEOUS.
WE ARE ABLE to
constantly to be used in the conflict we face as

we proceed ever closer to God and His
Heavenly Kingdom.
WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE CAN BE NO DEIFICATION
THEOSIS OR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

T H E F A T T E D C A L F is more closely translated
as the
wheat-fed bull-calf or Bull-calf formed from
wheat, which is a male calf that has been raised
on wheat in preparation FOR USE AS A SACRIFICIAL
OFFERING.
As the Reconciliation of the Prodigal Son was not

complete without the sacrifice of the calf, so
too OUR RECONCILIATION WITH GOD IS ACCOMPLISHED
AND PERFECTED - NOT BY OUR REPENTANCE ALONE BUT
BY CHRIST HAVING OFFERED HIMSELF AS THE ULTIMATE,
FINAL AND MOST PUREST OFFERING OF ALL.
The festive dining on an animal offering formed from

wheat is a clear reference to our Partaking of the
Holy Eucharist THUS OUR RECONCILIATION WITH GOD IS
THROUGH REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND HOLY EUCHARIST
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ETERNAL LIFE.
Consequently, BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS ARE
FULFILLED AT THE MARRIAGE OF CHRIST THE HEAVENLY
BRIDEGROOM AND HIS BRIDE, THE HOLY CHURCH.
T H E R E S E N T F U L O L D E R B R O T H E R signifies THE
HARDHEARTEDNESS OF THE PHARISEES AND ALL SELFRIGHTEOUS, STUBBORN AND UNREPENTANT SINNERS to
whom Christ related this Parable.

GOD REQUIRES HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE TO REJOICE WHENEVER
EVEN THE MOST GUILTY PERSON RETURNS TO GOD
THROUGH SINCERE REPENTANCE-CONFESSION. (ST CYRIL
OF ALEXANDRIA)
The eldest sons FAILURE TO RECOGNISE HIS OWN SINS

LEADS TO
ATTITUDE.
HIS
SELF-RIGHTEOUS
AND
MERCILESS
Contrast this with the contrition of the Prodigal Son:

The one who seems to himself to be Righteous, who
does not see the beam in his own eye, becomes
angry when Forgiveness is granted to one who
Confesses his sins and begs for Mercy. ( S T A M B R O S E
OF MILAN)
The older sons INGRATITUDE IS ALSO APPARENT IN HIS

ACCUSATION: ... Thou never gave me a young
goat...
Meanwhile HIS LOVING FATHER HAS GRANTED HIM
EVERYTHING HE HAS!
about and desire what we think we

are lacking in material possessions and wealth WHEN
WE ALWAYS COMPLAIN
WE SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST

GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR ALL HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
WHEN WE LEARN TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOUNDLESS BLESSINGS AND
EXPRESS THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR HIS GREAT MERCY IN ALL
THINGS, WE WILL NEVER BE DISSATISFIED WITH ANYTHING IN
THIS LIFE.
Instead WE WILL BE OVERJOYED BY HOW MUCH GOD HAS GRANTED
US EACH AND EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY no matter how
follow in the Footsteps of our

Saviour, according to His Holy Gospel BY THE
WILL OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF

GOD THE SON, AND ACTIVATED, INSPIRED AND ENABLED
BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ARMOUR, WHICH IS GODS UNCREATED DIVINE ENERGY,

GIVEN TO US AT HOLY BAPTISM AND USED BY US
THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES AS WE BATTLE IN SPIRITUAL
WARFARE EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY.
AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WE HAVE PUT ON all the
qualities bestowed upon us AS SPIRITUAL ARMOUR:
TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND FAITH, which are
others may try to tempt us

discontentment and ingratitude!
into
state
of
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND THANK GOD CONSTANTLY!
E P H E S I A N S 6 : 1 4 - 1 5 ... Stand therefore, having

Girded yourself with Truth, having put on the
Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod
SECOND SUNDAY
OF THE
TRIODION THE PRODIGAL SON
If anyone is a Prodigal like me, take courage and turn back;

for the Gates of Gods Mercies are opened to all.
On this day we celebrate the Sunday of the Prodigal Son,
dedicated as the Second Service of the Triodion by the
Divine Fathers for the following reason.
There are those who recognize much in themselves that is
unbecoming - who live a life of great dissipation from
their youth, whose lives are full of drunkenness and
immorality, who - having fallen thus into the depths of
evil - become despondent, which gives birth to pride.
35TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-17TH
OF
ST LUKE 2ND
The arrogant vice of pride prevents those who have fallen

into habitual, blinding wickedness from having any
desire to seek possession of any of the Virtues.
Being Spiritually Blind, they cannot see their need for
Repentance and so they remain imprisoned and bound
by their sins, falling ever deeper into evil.
Having a Fatherly Love for even these tragic, selfdestructive and stubborn individuals, and desiring to
lead them out of their despair, our Holy Church Fathers
prescribed this Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ for the
Second Preparatory Sunday before Great Lent in order
OF
15.
to rip out the passion of despair by the roots and to

lead us all to a recognition of our need for the Holy
Virtues.
Furthermore, this Parable reveals the abundance and depth
of Gods Compassion for us sinners and Prodigals. It
clearly shows us His Infinite Goodness and Love for all
mankind.
There is no sin that cannot be overcome by His Divine Love
for us.
There are two types of adopted Children of God: those who
are Righteous and Obedient to Him, and those who are
sinful due to their wilful and rebellious attitude.
The eldest son who is wise and Spiritually Mature, abides
forever in Gods Blessings, by faithfully following His
Commandments and remaining always close to Him.
However, the young, Spiritually Immature son, being
tempted into a sinful lifestyle, renounces his
Relationship to God through his own shameful deeds.
He wastes all Gods Blessings and Love - and by his own
fatal choices alienates himself from all Divine Goodness
and Truth.
Having completely abandoned his Heavenly Father, after
Whose Image he is created, and having followed an evil
demon, he has willingly enslaved himself to the evil one,
but soon realises that none of his desires are at all
fulfilling or satisfying, for wickedness and corruption
never fulfils nor benefits our immortal soul.
Sinful pleasures are addictive, harmful and destructive.
In fact, all worldly temptations may be compared to the
discarded husks that are fed to swine, which at first
seem to be tasty, but which are actually tasteless and
dry.
Finally, the Prodigal Son recognises the reality of his
circumstances a Spiritual Famine for he is starving
from the lack of Virtue and Love in his life - and he
suddenly regains his senses, which compels him to
return to the Blessings of a Good and Loving
Relationship with God.
He can barely wait to confess and to seek forgiveness:
Father, I have sinned before Heaven and before
Thee, and I am not worthy to be called Thy son!
Our Heavenly Father, Who ever patiently waits for our
return, is overjoyed when the Prodigal is seen
WHO
ARE WE AND WHAT
Being Sunday of the Prodigal Son, we are called to examine

our Spiritual Condition and to establish our true
identity.
Who are we?
The Father in this Parable is identified as our Heavenly
Father, but what role do we occupy?
The Lord our God has already granted us part of His Estate,
which we received as Divine Gifts: life, good weather
conditions that bring forth the fruits of the Earth,
peaceful times, the seasons, our family, friends and
acquaintances, and so many other Great Blessings.
Yet we squander and waste our Divine Inheritance just like
the Prodigal Son.
More often than not, we thoughtlessly grab the abundant
and rich Blessings that our Lord grants us taking it all
for granted and never showing our appreciation for any
of it demanding more than our fair share and greedily
seizing and destroying even the following generations
Inheritance, thereby behaving most disrespectfully and
dishonourably towards our Heavenly Father.
Most of us neither offer Thanksgiving to God by making the
Sign of the Cross, reciting the Lords Prayer nor any
Thanksgiving Prayer before and after we eat a meal.
We mindlessly disregard the fact that without Gods
Providence, there would be nothing to for us to eat.
We think it is entirely up to us to be able to buy clothes and
groceries, to educate and nurture our children, to travel
anywhere by any means of transport, to have gainful
employment that pays our financial affairs, etc we do
not give a thought to God Whose Abundant Blessings
make our comfortable lifestyles possible.
We consider this as normal life without a thought of
Divine Providence.
Yet we also know perfectly well that such good
circumstances do not last forever, nor do they
haphazardly occur.
TH
TH
16 3 5 S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T - 1 7
OF
ST LUKE 2ND
approaching in the distance, and He runs to welcome

His Repentant Child, warmly embracing and kissing him
with His Divine Fatherly Love.
His servants are ordered to dress the Prodigal Son in
special garments, which symbolise our Holy Baptism,
and to put a signet ring on his finger, which symbolises
the Divine Grace of the All Holy, Life-giving Spirit.
He has sandals put on his feet, not so much as a protection
from some serpent or scorpion that might sting him on
his Path to God, but rather as a means of crushing the
heads of those evil demons.
Finally, in a tremendous display of Joy, the Fatted Calf is
slaughtered in honour of his return, symbolising the
Ultimate Sacrifice of Gods Only-Begotten Son, and the
Repentant sinner partakes of the Holy Eucharist for the
Forgiveness of sins and Eternal Life.
The elder son the Faithful Righteous - expresses his
amazement at his Fathers limitless Mercy for the
Prodigal Son, but the Great Lover of mankind exhorts
him to silence with Loving, kind words of reassurance :
Thou art ever with Me, and it was meet that We
should make merry and be glad, for My son was
formerly dead in his sin and is alive again, having
Repented of the foolish things he has done. He was
lost, since he was far from Me in his licentious habits,
and he was found by Me, suffering in My Compassion
and Calling him back in My Mercy.
This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ is applicable to every
one of us as well, which is why our Holy Church Fathers
have prescribed it for today.
We who have sinned to a greater or lesser degree just like
the Prodigal Son - are encouraged to seek and root out
all our despair and fear caused by our wilful sins,
through our sincere Repentance, Confession and Good
Deeds.
For this is a great Aid and a Powerful Weapon against the
perpetual assaults of the tireless adversary.
In Thine ineffable Love for mankind, O Christ our God, have
Mercy on us.
Amen.
HTTPS://ORTHODOXWORD.WORDPRESS.COM/2011/02/19/SUNDAY
-OF-THE-PRODIGAL-SON/
ROLE
DO WE OCCUPY?
We all have an idea of how some of our ancestors had to

struggle daily to survive. They could not simply have
opened a refrigerator for a cold bottle of milk for there
were no modern inventions such as refrigerators, cars,
or cell phones, which we take so much for granted these
days!
Many of us actually lived through such difficult times of
air raids that bombed whole sections of the cities,
killing and maiming untold numbers of civilians.
Rationing was extremely strict and food had to be divided
amongst several hungry people!
During such times everyone remembers God and we call
unceasingly upon Him for His Protection against harm,
for His Divine Providence in our hunger and destitution.
We are so grateful for whatever small Blessings we receive
and we thank God and others for them. But, we quickly
forget our misfortunes and most importantly of all, we
soon forget about God and His Abundant Blessings and we become Prodigals - squandering everything and
expecting to receive more, whether we deserve them or
not!
We need to Repent and return to our Heavenly Father - to
confess our sins and beseech His Forgiveness and this
we must do during Great Lent.
We must pray more, observe the Fast and attend all the
Divine Services, for it is a time of Repentance and
Union with God.
We must fall to our knees and Confess: Lord, I have sinned
against Heaven and in Thy Sight, and no longer worthy
to be called Thy Child, but accept me as a hired servant!
for even our Heavenly Fathers hired servants live well
in His Divine and Loving Presence.
TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN.
HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/SERMON-ON-THE-SUNDAY-OFTHE-PRODIGAL-SON
OF

10 F e b r u a r y 2015
St Charalambos the Great Hieromartyr
Also the Feast of St Porphyrios, St Vaptos & 3 Female Holy Martyrs of Thessaly Synaxis of the
Holy Hierarchs of Novgorod: St Joachim, First Bishop of Novgorod, St Luke, St Theodore, St
Herman, St Arcadios, St John, St Gabriel, Bishops of Novgorod - St Martyrios, St Anthony, St
Basil, St Moses, St Symeon, St Euthymios, St Aphthonios & St Anna of Novgorod St Prochoros
of Kiev Near Caves Monastery St Longinos of Koryzhemsk, Vologda St Ennatha, St
Valentina & St Paula, Virgin Martyrs of Palestine St John Chimcimeli the Philosopher of
Georgia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST CHARALAMBOS -
TONE 4
Os Stilos aklonitos, tis Ekklisias Hristou, ke lihnos aifotos Thou
became a firm Pillar in the Church of Christ, O

Wise Haralambos; a Lamp of Everlasting Light to the
world: Well known to the world through Thy Holy
Martyrdom, thou dispelled the dark night of idolatry.
Boldly intercede with Christ God so that He may Save
our souls.
tis ikoumenis sofe, edihthis Haralambes; elampsas en

to kosmo, dia tou Martiriou, elisas ton idolon, tin
skotomenan makar. Dio en parrisia Hristo, presveve
sothine imas
FESTAL KONTAKION ST CHARALAMBOS
Thisavron
TONE 4
Thou
politimon i Ekklisia, tin sin haran kektite,

iromartis athlita, tropeofore Haralambes. Dio ke heri
ton Ktistin doxazousa.
rose from the East like a star, O Hieromartyr

Haralambos, and Enlightened the Faithful with the
brightness of thy Miracles. Therefore we honour thy
Holy Contest.
FESTAL KONTAKION THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
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.
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 Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry
out to Thee: hurry Thine Intercession, and present
Thy Supplication, O Theotokos who always protects
all those who honour Thee!
MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING

TH
PERSEC
UTION
OF
THE
TO ST LUKE 21 : 12
UNGODLY, FALLEN WORLD
19
At that time our Lord said to His Disciples: Beware of men, for they will lay their hands on you and persecute you,
delivering you to the Synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before Kings and Governors for My Names
sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your mind, not to meditate beforehand
how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and Wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or
contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they
will put to death; you will be hated by all for My Names sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your
Endurance you will gain your lives.
ST PAULS SECOND EPISTLE

TRANSMITTING
THE
TO
ST TIMOTHY 2 : 1 10
FAITH, STRENGTHENING OTHERS, DISCIPLINE & SUFFERING
Timothy my Son: be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
You therefore must endure hardship as a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with
the affairs of this life, so that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in
athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the Rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to
partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord grant you Understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the Seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my Gospel, for which I suffer
trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TEACHES
TO
ST JOHN 15 : 17 - 16: 2
US ABOUT
UNION & COMMUNION
WITH
HIM
At that time our Lord Jesus said: ... These Things I Command you, so that you Love one another. If the world hates you,
you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world the world hates you.
Remember the Word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his Master. If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My
Names sake, because they do not know Him Who sent Me.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
He who hates Me, hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the Works that no one else did, they would
have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated Me and My Father.
But this happened that the Word might be fulfilled, which is written in their Law: They hated Me without cause.
And when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send you FROM THE FATHER the Spirit of Truth Who PROCEEDS FROM
THE FATHER, He will Testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the
beginning.
These Things I have spoken to you so that you should not be made to stumble.
ST CHARALAMBOS
THE
GREAT HIEROMARTYR
10 FEBRUARY 2015
17.
They will put you out of the Synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God
Service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.
THE WAY
OF THE
MARTYR FATHER VASSILIOS PAPAVASSILIOU
St Charalambos was a Priest who died as a Hieromartyr in

the early third century.
He lived in a time when Christians were severely persecuted
by the pagan authorities.
Like so many before and after him, he embraced suffering
and death in the Name of Christ by openly and
fearlessly proclaiming Christ as God and Saviour, and
refusing to compromise his Faith by honouring the
pagan gods.
As St Paul wrote to St Timothy, he shared ...in suffering like
a Good Soldier of Christ.
The Soldiers main concern is pleasing his Commanding
Officer; and in his desire to do this, he shuns all worldly
affairs.
As Soldiers of Christ, we are Called to do the same.
I have often heard Christians complaining that they always
find themselves too busy and exhausted for religious
devotion.
But I think that this is more of an illusion than a reality.
We all find time for the things that we really care about and
consider to be important.
The only question therefore is do we care enough and do
we consider our Faith to be important enough to which
to dedicate even a small amount of time and energy?
Being Good Soldiers of Christ, then, must begin with getting
our priorities right.
Do we spend more time, energy and money on giving our
children all the material goods they want than on giving
them the Spiritual Nurturing they need?
Do we think that a lie-in on Sunday morning is more
important than hearing the Sacred Lesson of the Holy
Gospel of Christ our Lord and Saviour?
Do we consider breakfast to be more important than Holy
Communion?
We may not all be Called to become Martyrs like St
Charalambos or great Ascetics like St Zenon, whose
memory we also keep today, but we can all make
sacrifices.
THE ETERNAL, INSPIRED WISDOM

ST PHILARET:
Some people by the word freedom understand the ability

to do whatever they want ...
People who have all the more allowed themselves to
become ensnared into the slavery to sins, passions, and
defilements more often than others, appear as zealots
of external freedom wanting to broaden the laws as
much as possible. But such people use external freedom
only to more severely burden themselves with inner
slavery.
True Freedom is the active ability of those who are not
enslaved to sin, who are not pricked by a condemning
conscience, to choose the better in the light of God's
truth, and to bring it into actuality with the help of the
gracious power of God. - St. Philaret
We can give up some of our possessions for the needy; we

can dedicate some of our time to Prayer and religious
devotion, to Spiritual Learning and development.
St Paul also gives us the example of the athlete: No one is
crowned without competing according to the Rules.
In the time of St Paul, winning athletes received a crown as
a token of their victory.
As so the Kontakion of St Charalambos begins: O TrophyBearing Athlete and Holy Martyr Charalambos...
Christ also offers us a Crown of Victory: ...Be faithful
even to the point of death... ...and I will give you the
Crown of Life.
To win that Crown, we must Live according to Gods
Commandments.
However little time and energy we may feel we have to
dedicate to God, we can always strive to keep His
Commandments and do His Will.
Perhaps we could treat people at work better, or try harder
to give our children a good Christian upbringing; to be a
better example to our families, friends and colleagues;
to reflect on the things we have done wrong and ask for
Gods Forgiveness, and to seek Reconciliation with
those we have wronged or who have wronged us.
By making these small sacrifices and meditations for the
Love of Christ and for our Salvation, we begin to take
up the Way of the Martyr: a Way of Self-denial, Spiritual
Devotion and Humility.
St Charalambos was flesh and blood like us just another
human being and it is that fact which should inspire
us today and give us hope.
The fact that he is a Glorious Saint, Martyr and
Wonderworker of Christ is a reminder of what is
possible for us if we try harder and put God before all
else.
By his Prayers, may we too become Good Soldiers of Christ,
that we may also receive from Him the Crown of Eternal
Life.
Amen.
HTTP :// WWW . THYATEIRA . ORG . UK
OF OUR
HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
it off, too. Guard yourselves from this means of mass

blinding.
ST ISAAC
THE
SYRIAN
Just as the sun's rays are sometimes hidden from the Earth
by thick cloud, so for a while a person may be deprived
of Spiritual Comfort and of Grace's Brightness.
This is caused by the cloud of the passions.
Then, all of a sudden, without that person being aware, it is
all given back.
Just as the surface of the Earth rejoices at the rays of the
sun when they break through the clouds, so the words
of Prayer are able to break through to drive the thick
cloud of the passions away from the soul.
THE LITTLE RUSSIAN PHILOKALIA:
ST ISAAC
THE
SYRIAN
A handful of sand, thrown into the sea, is what sinning is,

when compared to Gods Providence and Mercy. Just
like an abundant source of water is not impeded by a
handful of dust, so the Creators Mercy is not defeated
by the sins of His Creation.
ST PAISIOS
THE
ELDER
OF
MOUNT ATHOS
We must not aimlessly waste the Fruit - the inner core of

our power - and then leave the shells for God.
The many cares of life sap the marrow of our heart and
leave nothing for Christ.
If you notice that your mind constantly wanders off to
various chores that you have to do, you must realize
that you are not doing well spiritually, and this should
alarm you because you have distanced yourself from
God. You must realize that you are closer to material
things than you are to God, closer to Creation than to
the Creator.
ELDER EPIPHANIOS
Faith is the beginning of Love; the end of Love is

Knowledge of God.
Patience gives birth to Hope; Good Hope will Glorify.
Those who keep their flesh in strict subjection will
reach Passionlessness. Those who feed their flesh
will suffer from it.
Solitude with Love Purifies the heart. Withdrawal from
others with anger agitates the heart.
It is better to be among thousands with Love, than to
hide alone in caves with hatred.
Those who transgress Gods Law, dishonour Him, but
those who obey His Law, Glorify our Creator.
Where sin enters, there too enters ignorance; but the
hearts of the Righteous are filled with Knowledge.
Better Poverty with Knowledge than riches with
ignorance.
The highest adornment of the head is the crown; the
highest adornment of the heart is knowledge of
God.
He who prays often will escape temptation; but
thoughts will trouble the heart of the careless.
Don't glue yourself to the television. Don't forget that the

button is not only used to turn it on, but for us to turn
18.
ST CHARALAMBOS
THE
GREAT HIEROMARTYR
10 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,
Theotokos 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.
14 F e b r u a r y 2015
Saturday of the Souls
(Before Meatfare/Judgement Sunday)
Also the Feast of St Auxentios of Bithynia St Cyril, Equal to the Apostles &
Enlightener of the Slavs St Isaac the Recluse of Kiev Near Caves
Monastery 12 Byzantine Greeks of the Dormition Cathedral, Kiev Far
Caves Monastery & Lavra St Michael & St Theodore of Chernigov,
Translation of Holy Relics - St Maron the Hermit of Syria St Abraham,
Bishop of Carres, Mesopotania St Hilarion the New Hiero-Schema Monk
of Georgia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION SATURDAY OF THE SOULS
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.
FESTAL KONTAKION SATURDAY
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.
OF THE
Meta
ton Agion Anapafson, Hriste, tas psihas ton

doulon Sou, entha ouk esti ponos, ou lipi, ou
stenagmos, alla Zoi Atelevtitos.
SOULS TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Grant Rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of

Thy servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no
grieving, but Life Everlasting.
FESTAL PROKEIMENON TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
Their souls shall dwell among Good Things.

To Thee, O Lord, I cry;
O my God, may Thou not pass over me in silence; may Thee never be silent to me, or
else I would become like those who do down into the Pit!
St PAULS FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS 4 : 13 18

TH
OSE
WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN CH
RIST
S RETURN
Brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who
have no Hope, for, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who
sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the Coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout,
with the Voice of an Archangel and the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
T HIS IS ONE OF THE CLEAREST PASSAGES OF N EW
1. The Sign spread out IN THE H EAVENS OUR L ORD
C OVENANT S CRIPTURE CONCERNING THE S ECOND
J ESUS C HRIST AND H IS H EAVENLY H OSTS
C OMING OR R EAPPEARANCE OF C HRIST OUR L ORD AND
2. The Sign of THE T RUMPET OF GOD
S AVIOUR .
3. T HE R ESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
F AITHFUL DISCIPLES OF C HRIST NEVER DIE BUT REPOSE IN
FOR those of us who constantly and faithfully Struggle
PEACE IN CHRIST.
THE R IGHTEOUS D ISCIPLES OF C HRIST H IS
ORTHODOX C HRISTIANS REFER TO DEPARTED SOULS AS
G LORIOUS S ECOND C OMING IS OUR GREATEST J OY AND
HAVING FALLEN ASLEEP - for at our Resurrection,
C OMFORT .
we will once again be awakened ready for our
F OR THE UNGODLY AND THE DISOBEDIENT those who are
Final Judgement and (hopefully) Eternal Life in
stubbornly unrepentant IT IS A GREAT THREAT FOR
Gods Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
THEY FEAR H IS D IVINE J UDGEMENT , which - although
The first century document, written by Christs Holy
they might choose to vehemently deny it - IS A
Apostles The Didache - lists THREE SIGNS THAT
REALITY FOR ALL C REATION WHETHER ONE BELIEVES IT
WILL MARK THE R ETURN OF OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST :
OR NOT !
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 21: 8 9 ; 25 27 & 33 36
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WARNS US ABOUT FORTHCOMING EVENTS PRECEDING HIS GLORIOUS RETURN
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: Take heed that you are not deceived, for many will come in My Name, saying:
I am He... and ...the time has drawn near. Therefore do not go after them.
But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but
the end will not come immediately....
... and there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; mens hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those
thing that are coming on the earth, for the Powers of the Heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud with Power and Great Glory...
...Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away.
And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the
face of the whole earth.
SATURDAY
OF THE
SOULS
14 FEBRUARY 2015
19.
Watch, therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
O UR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST WARNS US AGAINST THE MANY
FALSE PROPHETS AND FAKE SAVIOURS who will
pretend to be Him or who will try to mislead us by
claiming to be sent to guide us by the Lord our
God.
All self-appointed, false prophets of doom and gloom
will bring us to despair a hopeless state of
Spiritual Death alienation from God and all His
Blessings.
T HE L AST OF THE H OLY PROPHETS OF GOD WAS ST JOHN
THE B APTIST W HO PREPARED THE H EBREW N ATION FOR
THE C OMING OF THE G REAT M ESSIAH OUR L ORD
J ESUS C HRIST .
Throughout the centuries, PEOPLE HAVE ANTICIPATED
C HRIST S S ECOND C OMING I . E . H IS VISIBLE
R EAPPEARANCE - ALMOST TO THE POINT OF NOT
LIVING THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO THE W ILL OF G OD .
Although C HRIST has prepared us for a difficult life as
Christians, He IS OUR SOLID R OCK OF H OPE AND WE
MUST LEARN TO TRUST G OD IMPLICITLY WITHOUT ANY
QUESTION OR DOUBT .
W E MUST CONTINUE TO PRAY , TO R EPENT AND TO WORSHIP
G OD CEASELESSLY THEREBY ENJOYING A FULFILLED
L IFE IN C HRIST and we must not waste any
precious time on ridiculous distractions or
deceptions of the self proclaimed DOOMSDAY
PROPHETS who can only CONFUSE US AND DRAW US
RAPIDLY INTO S PIRITUAL D ARKNESS AND E XILE .
In other words: WE MUST STEADFASTLY CONCENTRATE ON
OUR L IFE IN C HRIST BY S TRUGGLING DAILY FOR
S PIRITUAL P ERFECTION IN IMITATION OF OUR L ORD
AND S AVIOUR so that no matter what happens to us,
WE WILL BE AS PREPARED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO FACE
H IS AWESOME
JUDGEMENT S EAT in due time,
because O NLY GOD THE F ATHER KNOWS WHEN THAT
WILL BE !
We must MAKE EVERY EFFORT AND USE EVERY MOMENT OF
EACH
DAY
TO
IMPROVE
OURSELVES
AND
OUR
R ELATIONSHIP WITH GOD .
We must BE ALERT AND WATCHFUL because the evil one
takes
every
SATURDAY
opportunity
OF THE
to
manipulate
THERE WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE NO MISTAKING IT FOR

ANYTHING ELSE AND THE WHOLE OF C REATION WILL
FULLY EXPERIENCE IT .
So, we must not waste our time with nonsense and

dangerous deceptions but CONTINUE OUR S PIRITUAL
J OURNEY UNINTERRUPTED - FOCUSED UPON OUR O NE
T RUE AND L IVING G OD A LMIGHTY .
and
SOULS FATHER PETER PREBLE- ST MICHAEL ORTHODOX CHURCH
On Saturday of the Souls, according to the order

instituted by our Holy Church Fathers, we call to
remembrance all those who have Reposed since the
beginning of the ages in Faith and in the Hope of
the Resurrection and Eternal Life.
The present Commemoration of the Dead is based on
the Reality that many of our beloved family and
friends died under such circumstances that Funeral
Prayers and normal Memorial Services could not be
offered for them.
Either in a foreign land or on the seas, on inaccessible
mountains, or in gulfs or precipices, through
starvation or disease, in wars, in fires, or during
earthquakes, and in so many other ways perhaps in
poverty or in need, our known and unknown
Brothers and Sisters in Christ did not enjoy the
chanting and necessary Spiritual Care.
Therefore, our Holy Church Fathers moved by their
Love for humanity appointed the present
Commemoration to take place in Church
everywhere throughout the world, having received
this Sacred Instruction from the Holy Apostles, so
that all those who have died through various
mishaps, persecutions or accidents may be
remembered together, for the Benefit of their
immortal soul, for there is Great Profit to our soul
from these Memorials in the Holy Church of Christ.
This is the first reason for the Commemoration of
those who have Reposed.
The second reason, is that since our Holy Church
Fathers have placed the Memory of Christs Second
Appearance on the following day - Sunday of the
Final Judgement (or Meatfare Sunday - they
appropriately Commemorate the souls today as it
were, propitiating the Fearful Judge, Who cannot be
deceived, to apply His usual Loving Compassion and
to appoint them to the Promised Delight.
Furthermore, next Sunday Cheesefare or Forgiveness
Sunday - is dedicated to Adam and Eves Exile from
Paradise, after which a New Life is considered to
begin for ourselves.
20.
misdirect our attention by tempting and diverting

us with his evil tricks.
Every little step closer to Theosis is worth every
drop of sweat or tears.
Our heartfelt Love for God and all His beautiful
Creation motivates us to greater Spiritual
Heights and the closer we get to God the more
confident and assured we become since WE BEGIN
TO
UNDERSTAND
THAT
WITH
G OD S GRACIOUS
P ROVIDENCE AND P ROTECTION, NOTHING NEED BE
FEARED .
In fact THE ONLY FEAR WE SHOULD HAVE IS ONE OF FAILURE
TO GROW AND TO PROGRESS AND THE FEAR OF
DISAPPOINTING OUR M OST B ENEVOLENT AND L OVING
H EAVENLY F ATHER Who grants us everything we
could possible require.
We should ALSO FEAR FAILING OUR FELLOW SINNERS IN
OUR MUTUAL QUEST FOR SANCTIFICATION AND ETERNAL
L IFE in Gods Heavenly Kingdom.
So MANY NATURAL DISASTERS ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN
GREED AND ERROR , certainly not due to Divine
Wrath.
And even when catastrophe strikes that is beyond any
human influence, WE MAY REST ASSURED IN THE
G REAT M ERCY AND I NFINITE L OVE OF G OD .
Why worry? GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING !
W ORRY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN AND SHOULD
DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO DO - WHICH WILL AFFECT OUR ETERNITY ALL
THE T HINGS THAT C HRIST HAS TAUGHT US .
Finally: WHEN C HRIST DOES RETURN IN ALL H IS GLORY ,
SATURDAY
OF THE
Before this New Beginning, the present Memorial

Service acts as a serious warning to us all, which
should frighten us enough to consider and to
meditate on our own inevitable death.
Consequently, it should encourage us to proceed more
diligently in our Spiritual Struggles throughout
Great Lent.
After our Falling Asleep, the Judgement shall follow by
our Great and Only Judge, Who cannot be bribed!
We always remember the souls of the Reposed on the
Sabbath, for the Sabbath (Saturday) is the Day of
rest. (In Hebrew, Sabbath means Rest.)
As the Hebrews have this day for their physical rest when they pause from all labour and professional
dealings - we Christians Commemorate the Repose
of those who have preceded us on Saturdays by
conducting Memorial Services, with Koliva - boiled,
decorated wheat, which is Blessed at Church.
In addition, we give alms to the poor and destitute, and
we perform various Works of Mercy in
remembrance of our loved ones who are no longer
with us.
This is of Great Benefit to the departed souls, and since
the Orthodox Church does not celebrate the Divine
Liturgy on weekdays during Great Lent whereby the
Reposed are commemorated, the second, third and
fourth Saturdays of the Great Lenten Fast are
designated as Saturdays of the Souls.
There are many proofs that the souls of the departed
are greatly benefitted by what is done on their
behalf.
St Makarios the Egyptian once saw a dry skull of a
pagan lying by the roadside, and he asked it: Do
you ever have any kind of Consolation in Hades?
And the skull answered: Yes, Father, especially
when you pray for the sake of the dead abundant is the Comfort that we then enjoy!
St Makarios was overjoyed to hear those words, for he
always prayed for the Reposed and wished to be
assured of the results of his Intercessory Prayers.
St Gregory the Dialogist, Saved the Roman Emperor,
Trajan, through his Prayers, although he was
SOULS
14 FEBRUARY 2015
forbidden by God to ever pray like that again on

behalf of such an impious non-Christian who
was abhorred by God!
St Theodora the Empress, by the Prayers of Holy
Men and Confessors, Saved her husband, the
wicked iconoclast, Emperor Theophilos, from
the Everlasting Torments.
In his Funeral Oration to his brother, Caesarios, St
Gregory the Theologian recommended Alms on
behalf of the Reposed as being a good means of
Commemoration.
St John Chrysostom, in his Commentary on
Philippians, encouraged us to: ...think of ways
to Benefit the Departed. Let us give them what
Help we can, namely Almsgiving and Offerings.
For truly this brings them great advantage and
very much gain and Benefit.
The custom of the Priest Commemorating those
Reposed in Faith over the Awesome Mysteries,
has not been without Purpose nor arbitrarily
ordained and delivered to Gods Church by His
All Wise Disciples...
He also advised us: ... in making arrangements when
you dispose of your property, together with your
children and relatives, let your will also include the
Name of your Judge as a Joint Heir, and let not
the mention of the poor be absent...!
St Athanasios the Great taught us that ... even if
one has died and dissolved into the air, do not
decline to provide oil and candles at the grave,
and to plead with Christ our God for they are
acceptable to God and bring great recompense;
if the deceased was a sinner, that you may lose
his sins; if Righteous, that it may add to his
Reward.
If one is a stranger without means, having no one
to take care of these matters, God, being
Righteous
and
Compassionate,
will
proportionately measure out to him His Great
Mercy, as He knows best.
Moreover, he who offers such Services for the
dead also partakes of the Reward, because he
has shown Love and concern for the Salvation of
his neighbour.
It is as when one anoints a friend with perfumes, he
receives the sweet aroma first.
As for those who do not fulfil the wills and
testaments of the deceased concerning these
matter, they will positively be Condemned!
Until the Second Appearance of Christ, whatever is
done for the souls of the dead is Beneficial, as our
Holy Church Fathers say, particularly to those who
had done some small good deeds when they were
among the living.
Even if the Divine Scriptures declare certain things as
needed for the chastening of the majority, yet, as a
Rule, Gods Love for mankind prevails. For if the
balance of good and shameful deeds is even, Gods
Love for mankind prevails.
If the Scale is weighed down a little by evil deeds, again,
His Exceeding Goodness prevails.
In the other Life, everyone will be acquainted even
with those whom they have never seen before, as St
John Chrysostom said, deducing this from the
Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazaros.
All will recognise each other, but not from any bodily
characteristics, for all shall be one age, and traits
from birth will be absent.
Rather, we shall recognise each other through the
souls Spiritual Sight, as St Gregory the Theologian
said in his Funeral Oration to his brother, Caesarios:
...Then I shall see Caesarios, beaming with Joy and
Glorious, such as you have often appeared to me in
my dreams, O Most Beloved of Brothers.
St Athanasios the Great stated in his Homily on the
Dead that ...until the time of the Universal
Resurrection, it has been granted to the Saints
to recognise each other and revel together,
while the sinners, on the other hand, have been
deprived even of this.
Regarding the Holy Martyrs they are capable of
observing our actions and even of visiting us.
Then all shall know one another when the
SATURDAY
OF THE
SOULS
hidden secrets of every person shall be

revealed.
We should know that, for the time being, the souls of
the Righteous dwell in certain places set aside for
them, and the souls of the sinners in their own
location.
The Righteous rejoice in their Hope, but the sinners
already grieve in expectation of future sufferings!
Therefore, according to St Paul who told the
Hebrews, the Saints have not yet received the
Promised Blessings: ... God having provided
something better for us, that they should not be
made Perfect apart from us... (HEBREWS 11 :40)
We should also know that not all who have suffered
death by various accidents - such as falling down
from precipices, being burnt in fires, being drowned
at sea, or perishing due to starvation, poison, frost,
and so on - have had such an end as a result of
Gods Command. For these are Gods Judgements some occur with His Approval, others by His
Permission, while still others occur as a warning, a
threat, or a chastisement.
By Foreknowledge God knows and is aware of
everything, and everything occurs by His Will, as
with the sparrows about which the Holy Gospels
speak.
God does not order that one man for example is to
die by drowning, while another is to die normally
one as an old man and the other as an infant. But
once and for all, He determined with some
exceptions the general times and various kinds of
death in mankind.
Within these constraints do the various means of death
occur, without God determining them precisely
from the beginning - only knowing them.
However, in relation to the lifespan of each and every
person, Gods Will plans the time and manner of
each ones death.
St Basil the Great spoke of the limits of mankinds
life, although he was alluding to Gods Word: ...
for earth you are, and to earth you shall
return... (GENESIS 3 : 19)
St Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians, wrote: ...
for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
manner, eats and drinks Judgement to himself,
not discerning the Lords Body. For this reason
many are weak and sick among you, and many
sleep... (1 CORINTHIANS 11:29-30)
By using the term sleep, St Paul referred to death.
St David the Royal Psalmist, wrote: Do not take me
away in the midst of my days. Thy years art
throughout all generations... (PSALM 101:25)
He also wrote: ... Thou hast made my days a few
spans, and my existence is nothing in Thy
Sight... (PSALM 38:6)
St Solomon, the Great Holy King, cautioned: ... Son,
honour Thy Father, that thy may live many
years, and not die before Thy time...! (ECCLESIASTES
3: 5-6)
Our Lord Himself, speaking to Elphas the Temainte,
said: ... for I will accept him, lest I deal with
Thee according to Thy folly; because Thou hast
not spoken of Me what is right, as My Servant,
Job, has...
Hence, it is evident that there is no set term of life or,
if there is, it is whatever God Wills, for as He so
wishes, He adds to or deletes from the lifespan of
this or that individual, administering all things for
our Benefit. And when He so Wills, God arranges
both the place and the time of our Repose.
According to St Athanasios the Great, the term of
each persons lifespan is set by the Will and
Counsel of Almighty God: ...through the depths
of Thy Judgements shalt Thou care for all, O
Christ...
According to St Basil the Great, death comes as soon
as the term of life has been fulfilled; by the
words term of life, Gods Will is meant. For if
the term of life had already been determined,
then for what do we need God, or even a
Physician?
And why do we pray for our
children?
14 FEBRUARY 2015
21.
Baptised infants who die enjoy the Bliss of Paradise;

those who are not yet Baptised and those of the
heathen shall go neither to the Place of Bliss nor to
Hades.
When the soul has separated from the body, it no
longer has any concern for earthly things, but is
continually concerned with Spiritual Matters of the
next Eternal Life.
We celebrate the First Memorial Service on the Third
Day after death, because by the Third Day, the
Reposed persons appearance is altered.
We serve the Second Memorial Service on the Ninth
Day after death, because by this day the entire
body is dissolved or decomposed, except for the
heart.
We serve the Third Memorial Service on the Fortieth
Day, for by this day the heart has deteriorated
(and the soul will now Repose either in Peace in
SELF-CONTROL
TO
WWW.FRPETERPREBLE.COM/2013/03/SATURDAY-OF-THEDEAD.HTML
OUR
PASSIONS
3. The control over our natural appetite so that it doesn't

move toward the passionsthis is the third
dispassion
4. The complete removal from the mind of perceptible
imagesthis leads to a fourth dispassion. No
longer having them in the mind, they can no
longer enter the subconsciousness to move an
appetite to a passion.
5. We must reach a state where we can receive images of
things without creating any passion within us. This
happens when through them their Divine Logoi
become transparent. Only after this does the mind
Unite with God in a state higher than Prayer.
LIFTS US TO SEE THE INFINITE IN THINGS OF THIS WORLD
"Self-control freely exercised by a Believer isn't a

restraint from the Ascent to God, but the departure
from evil things. The Purpose is to keep him from
total submersion in the world."
Between the time of Creation and the present time there
has been a shift in the proper use of things created.
Originally food was given to us to eat, but it became
something that was seen as a pleasure for the body.
Our passions transform what was useful for our
Ascendence to God into a chain which binds us to
the earthly world.
Father Dimitru Staniloae said: The world of things and
of persons is thus meant to be a Ladder to God, the
support in the Ascent to Him.
But by the passions man takes this brilliant depth, this
transparence, which reaches infinite, from the
world.
Instead of freeing mankind in the world, things turned
him into their slave.
His passions for pleasures change their intended
purpose.
SELF-CONTROL
The Act of Fasting is a conscious Act to Glorify God and
His Creation as it helps us overcome our actions
based on our passions and bodily desires for
pleasure. It is an Act that restrains our egoism and
heightens our Spiritual Appetite.
Fasting demands will-power and the reestablishment of
THE DOMINATION OF THE SOUL OVER THE BODY.
Fasting is seen by our Church Fathers as the primary
means of overcoming our passions for by mastering
or controlling our basic passions we can then
master the others.
According to Father Dimitru Staniloae, Self-control from
gluttony is what makes restraint from the other
passions possible...
Fasting is the antidote against this pathological
extension of our appetites and our egoism.
It is the humble return of the ego to itself, but by its
transparency it sees God and is filled with a Life
consistent with God.
This is the growth of spirit in mankind, from Divine
Spirit....
Because man's egoism wants to grow without God,
without loving relationships with his fellow
22.
O Master Christ, set the souls of Thy departed servants

in the Tabernacles of Thy Righteous, and have
Mercy on us and Save us, as Thou art the Only
Immortal One.
Amen
OVERCOME
Fasting deals specifically with the passion of gluttony.

We must however deal with all our passions and
overcome them one by one.
Fasting is the starting point to controlling the others.
It is a fight that we must steadily engage in. By
doing so we will gradually reduce them.
St Maximos outlined four steps for this progress:
1. The stopping of their appearance in sinful deedsthe
obtaining of sinless in deed is the first dispassion
2. Freedom from passionate thoughts caused by
appetites in our consciousness; victory over them
bring us to a second dispassion, without such
thoughts they can't become deeds.
SELF-CONTROL
Paradise to await Judgement Day, or suffer a

foretaste in Hades of Eternal Death.)
The same progression, in reverse order, is made at
birth: by the Third Day after conception, the heart
is formed; by the Ninth Day the flesh is fashioned,
and by the Fortieth Day the full form appears.
SATURDAY
OF THE
Father Dimitru advises: The restraint which Christianity

urges man to exercise is for man's spirit to claim its
rights from the lower impulses which have
overwhelmed him.
By self-control which limits the passions, man
reestablishes the limits and freedom of the spirit in
himself.
But in so doing, he awakens with himself the factor
which sees in the world something else besides
objects to satisfy these passions.
By self control man removes from the world the wave of
darkness and gives it once again the attribute of
making it transparent for the infinite.
So disrespect for the world is not shown in self-control,
but rather the will to discover the entire majesty of
the world; self-control isn't a complete turning away
from the world, to see God, but a turning away from
a world narrow and exaggerated by the passions, to
find a transparent world, which itself becomes a
Mirror of God and a Ladder to Him.
AS
FASTING
creatures, it grows only in appearance and for a little

while.
Through Self-control eating can become an act for
reflecting and thinking about God.
As we contemplate on our food we can seek the Logoi
that is behind its creation.
We can see the beauty in God's Creation and we can
then realize how it was provided for our benefit to
come closer to God.
This is why the Church in Her Wisdom from the earliest
days prescribed Fasting on Wednesday and Fridays
as well as other extended periods for Fasting, such
as the 40 Day Fast of Great Lent.
While it is helpful to follow the programme of Fasting
outlined by the Church, one cannot see it as a "Law"
but as a Aid to help us grow Spiritually.
Fasting is a means to help us overcome our
enslavement by our bodily passions, so we can be
freed for higher Spiritual Growth.
Your personal Rule for Spiritual Growth should
include regular Fasting.
FATHER DIMITRU STANILOAE - ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY
SOULS
14 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,
Theotokos 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.
15 F e b r u a r y 2015
Tone 3
3 r d Sunday of Triodion Final Judgement or
Meatfare Sunday
Also the Feast of St Onesimos of the 70 Apostles of Christ St Paphnutios
the Recluse of Kiev Caves Monastery St Paphnutios of Alexandria St
Euphrosyne of Alexandria St Eusebios the Hermit of Syria St Anthimos
of Chios
Evfrenestho
ta Ourania, agaliastho
ta epigia, oti epiise Kratos en
Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise
to
Thanato
ton
Thanaton.
Prototokos ton nekron egeneto.
Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke
pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos.
FESTAL
Let the Heavens rejoice and let the

earth be glad, for the Lord has
shown Strength with His Arm;
He has trampled down Death by
Death; He has become the Firstborn of the dead;
from the
womb of Hades He has delivered
us, and to the world He has
granted Great Mercy.
KONTAKION FINAL JUDGEMENT SUNDAY TONE 1
Otan
elthis O Theos, epi Gis meta Doxis, ke tremosi ta

simpanta, potamos de tou piros pro tou Vimatos elki, ke
vivli anigonte, k eta kripta dimosievonte, tote Rise me,
ek tou Piros tou asvestou, ke Axioson, ek Dexion Sou me
stine, Krita Dikeotate.
When Thou come down to Earth, O God, in Thy Glory, all

things will cower trembling, and a River of fire will
draw before Thy Judgement Seat; the Books shall be
opened up, and public knowledge will hidden things
become. Deliver me, then, I pray, from Unquenchable
Fire, and count me worthy to stand at Thy right Hand,
O Thou, the Most Righteous Judge.
RESURRECTION GOSPEL 3 MARK 16 : 9 20

O UR R ESU RRECTED L ORD A PPEARS T O H IS A POSTLES & D ISCIPLES B EFORE H I S A SCENSION
PROKEIMENON
Sing Praises to God!
- PSALM 46/47 TONE 3
Sing Praises! Sing Praises to our King, sing Praises!
O clap your hands, all you Nations!

ST PAULS FIRST EPISTLE
Shout to God with the voice of rejoicing!
TO THE
CORINTHIANS 8 : 8 9: 2
LOVE (AGAPE) REIGNS OVER KNOWLEDGE
Brethren: Food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we better nor if we do not eat are we worse. But
beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a Stumbling Block to those who are weak! For is anyone sees you
who have Knowledge eating in an idols temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those
things that are offered to the idols?
And because of your Knowledge shall the weak Brethren perish for whom Christ Died? But when you thus sin against the
Brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ!
Therefore, if food makes my Brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my Brother stumble!
Am I not an Apostle? Am I not Free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? If I am not an Apostle to others, yet doubtless
I am to you, for you are the Seal of my Apostleship in the Lord.
Therefore, IN ORDER TO LIVE IN C HRIST , WE MUST
Whether we Fast from certain foods or not makes no
difference to our Spiritual Welfare, since G OD DOES
CONSTANTLY LOOK TO H IM FOR D IVINE G UIDANCE , OR
NOT J UDGE US ON THE FOOD WE EAT , BUT H E DOES J UDGE
THOSE WHOM H E HAS CALLED TO G UIDE , T EACH AND
US ON WHETHER WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH S ELF - DISCIPLE
A DVISE especially our Holy Church Fathers whose
AND L OVE AND ESPECIALLY HOW TREAT OUR FELLOW
Spiritual Experience is priceless.
SINNERS OR WHETHER WE SIMPLY INDULGE OURSELVES
T HAT IS WHY THE INTERTWINED V IRTUES OF H UMILITY AND
AND WASTE THIS PRECIOUS TIME !
OBEDIENCE ARE SO VITAL TO OUR S PIRITUAL D EVELOPMENT
Therefore, St Paul reminds us that WE MUST ALWAYS BE VERY
AND P ROGRESS .
CAREFUL TO NEITHER OFFEND ONE ANOTHER NOR LEAD
Christ our Saviour died for all human beings He paid
EACH OTHER ASTRAY BY OUR PERSONAL HABITS , IDEAS OR
the ultimate Ransom for the Salvation of all mankind
PREFERENCES .
not for just a select few.
S O IF WE LEAD ANYONE ASTRAY THROUGH OUR OWN MISGUIDED
Throughout this life, WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING TO MAKE GOOD
S PIRITUAL PROGRESS AND IT IS THE S ACRED DUTY OF EVERY
OR ERRONEOUS KNOWLEDGE , WE CAUSE THEM TO SUFFER
F AITHFUL D ISCIPLE OF C HRIST TO ENCOURAGE , TO SUPPORT
S PIRITUAL D EATH i.e. fall into sin, which separates us
AND TO CORRECTLY GUIDE AND TEACH ONE ANOTHER ,
from Gods Divine Grace and Presence THE
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing because ALL TOO
CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH ARE DIRE INDEED !
OFTEN
PEOPLE
ASSUME
THEY
FULLY
UNDERSTAND
Consequently, WHENEVER WE SIN AGAINST EACH OTHER , WE
SOMETHING WHEN THEY ARE IN FACT MISINFORMED OR FAR
SIN AGAINST C HRIST i.e. Almighty God the Holy
LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT THEY REALISE .
Trinity for They always operate in Perfect Unity and
3RD SUNDAY
OF
TRIODION MEATFARE
OR
FINAL JUDGEMENT SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2015
23.
Harmony. (ALWAYS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER,

THROUGH THE SON AND BY MEANS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.)
St Paul teaches us that IF WE DO SOMETHING THAT CAUSES
THE S PIRITUAL D EATH OF ANYONE ELSE , WE MUST ENSURE
THAT WE NEVER DO SO AGAIN IN CASE IT CAUSES MORE
PEOPLE TO FALL INTO WICKEDNESS OR HARM THEM IN SOME
OTHER MANNER
A S A RESULT , THE BURDEN OF THAT SIN WILL BE UPON US WHO
HAVE CAUSED THEIR FALL AND WE WILL BE ETERNALLY
CONDEMNED FOR IT , UNLESS WE QUICKLY REPENT AND
CORRECT OUR ERROR .
F AITHFUL DISCIPLES OF C HRIST WHO LIVE IN C HRIST , ARE
ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY A SELFLESS REGARD FOR THE
BENEFIT OF MANY NEVER FOR THEMSELVES AND
WITHOUT FAIL , FOR THE G LORY , H ONOUR AND W ORSHIP OF
G OD !

DIVINE JUDGEMENT
OF
WORKS
The authenticity of St Pauls Apostleship was often

attacked by the Hebrews, so he often had to defend it:
Am I not an Apostle...?
Similar to the Divine Calling of St Paul by our Lord Jesus
Christ, OTHERS HAVE ALSO BEEN C ALLED BY G OD TO SERVE
H IM , BEING FILLED WITH THE W ISDOM AND K NOWLEDGE
AND EVERYTHING NECESSARY BY THE H OLY S PIRIT W HO
MAKES SUCH W ONDERFUL , G OD -I NSPIRED W ORK POSSIBLE
to be achieved by mere human beings.
T HE AUTHENTICITY OF D IVINE C ALLING IS IN THE S PIRITUAL
F RUIT THAT IS BROUGHT FORTH FOR THE EXCLUSIVE GLORY ,
H ONOUR AND W ORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY G OD .
T HE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE C LERGY of the Holy Church of
Christ our Spiritual Shepherds or Holy Fathers - IS
CERTIFIED BY THE S PIRITUAL C ONDITION OF THE F AITHFU l
the Spiritual Flock of God - the Faithful Congregation
or Laity (people of the Parish).
TO
AT THE
MATTHEW 25 : 31 46
SECOND COMING
OF
CHRIST
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then 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 side,
but the goats on His left. And the King will say to those at His right hand: Come, you Blessed of My Father: inherit
the Kingdom prepared for you from 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.
And the Righteous shall answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give
Thee drink? When did we see Thee, a Stranger, and take Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee? Or when did we see
Thee sick, or in prison, and come to Thee? And the King will answer and say to them: Truly, I say to you:
inasmuch as you did so to one of the least of these My Brethren, you did it to Me.
And He will also say to those at His left: 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.
And they will answer Him, saying: 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, saying: Truly, I say to you: inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you
did not do it to Me. And those will go away into Everlasting Punishment, but the Righteous will go into Eternal
Life.
Thereby we LEARN H UMILITY AND OBEDIENCE to God, which
This is the majestic climax of Christs Discourse
concerning His Second Coming, which is NOT SIMPLY A
is the very first big step closer to Spiritual Perfection
P ARABLE BUT A D IVINE R EVELATION OF THE U NIVERSAL
and Eternal Life.
J UDGEMENT THAT WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE FACED BY ALL
...the least of these... Is a reference to all the poor, the
C REATION .
needy and the destitute of the world in a spiritual
and a physical sense.
Since His Passion was soon to be fulfilled, OUR L ORD J ESUS
RAISED H IS D ISCIPLES TO THE S IGHT OF THE G LORY OF THE
Having been created in the Image and Likeness of God,
WE SHOULD SEE ALL HUMANITY AS A REFLECTED D IVINE
S ON OF M AN ON H IS AWESOME JUDGEMENT S EAT WITH THE
ENTIRE C REATION BEFORE HIM .
I MAGE OF G OD and, as Christ so clearly reminds us :
when we TREAT OTHERS WITH AS MUCH L OVE AS WE
T HE STANDARD OF D IVINE J UDGEMENT IS UNCALCULATED
MERCY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER .
PROFESS TO HAVE FOR G OD , we prove our integrity.
On the contrary, WHEN WE SHOW NEITHER COMPASSION,
T HE W ORKS OR GOOD D EEDS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY T RUE
F AITH ARE EMPHASISED BY C HRIST because SUCH SAVING
KINDNESS NOR ANY DEGREE OF L OVE FOR OTHERS , WE
EXPOSE THE WICKEDNESS THAT LURKS WITHIN OUR HEARTS
F AITH ALWAYS PRODUCES R IGHTEOUS W ORKS GOOD
AND SOULS !
D EEDS COMPELLED BY D IVINE , UNCONDITIONAL , ALL
As much as God Blesses us and as much as we expect to
ENCOMPASSING L OVE TRUE A GAPE .
receive from Him, WE MUST RECIPROCATE BY TREATING
W HATEVER WE DO REFLECTS OUR TRUE I NNER STATE .
EACH OTHER WITH THE SAME CONSIDERATION with all
No matter what lip-service and empty gestures we use to
our love, mercy, respect, etc. do unto others as you
convince others including ourselves of how wellintentioned we are, OUR DEEDS ULTIMATELY EXPOSE THE
wish others to do unto you!
Furthermore, although we should never do anything in
TRUE CONDITION OF OUR SOULS .
the expectation of Reward, WHATEVER WITH WE DO FOR
Consequently, it is essential to our proper Spiritual
ANYONE ELSE WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE OF A GAPE , G OD
Development to LEARN TO BE ABSOLUTELY HONEST WITH
RETURNS TO US A HUNDREDFOLD He grants us a
OURSELVES , WITH GOD AND WITH EVERYONE ELSE .
hundred times more Blessings!
S PIRITUAL W ATCHFULNESS AND CONTINUOUS ( CONSTRUCTIVE)
So whether we do good things or evil things, EVERYTHING
SELF - EXAMINATION ,
WHICH
LEADS
TO
R EPENTANCECOMES BACK A HUNDRED TIMES MORE TO US !
C ONFESSION , TEACHES US TO METICULOUSLY SCRUTINISE
T HOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST are not only those who
OUR OWN PERSONAL WEAKNESSES especially those
suffer physical hunger and thirst, but who YEARN FOR
hidden away in the darkened crevasses of our soul, so
THE E TERNAL H OPE OF THE H OLY G OSPEL OF C HRIST
that, BY THE GRACE OF G OD, WE CAN EXPOSE SUCH
J ESUS .
DEFECTS TO THE D IVINE L IGHT OF G OD S T RUTH AND H EAL
Our Lord used THE ANALOGY OF S HEEP AND G OATS TO
OURSELVES .
DIFFERENTIATE THE R IGHTEOUS AND J USTIFIED FROM THE
T HIS IS THE D A I L Y S P I R I T U A L A C C O U N T I N G that is
UNGODLY AND THE UNREPENTANT .
recommended FOR ALL STRUGGLING D ISCIPLES OF
A S C HRIST IS OUR GOOD S HEPHERD , WE ARE THE REASONC HRIST WHO GENUINELY WISH TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES
E NDOWED F LOCK OR S HEEP OF GOD WHO EAGERLY
and their Relationship with God as well as with their
fellow human beings.
FOLLOW THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE , AND WHO ARE
S PIRITUALLY PRODUCTIVE AND GENTLE CREATURES OF THE
W E WILL KNOW IF WE ARE MAKING ANY PROGRESS WHEN
INSTEAD OF POINTING ACCUSATORY FINGERS ELSEWHERE
L ORD.
The goats are those who remain Spiritually Stubborn
WE IMMEDIATELY TURN THEM INWARDS AND CORRECT OUR
OWN GLARING ERRORS .
and unrighteous for they ignore or refuse to follow the
voice of our Good Shepherd, choosing to risk their
lives by walking along the treacherous and
dangerous precipices of temptation and sin.
24.
3RD SUNDAY
OF
TRIODION MEATFARE
OR
Inheritance suggests family members such as sons and

daughters rather than strangers or servants, for the
R IGHTEOUS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME C HILDREN OF
G OD BY A DOPTION .
G A L A T I A N S 4 : 4 7 : ... When the fullness of the
time had come, God sent forth His Son, Born of a
Woman; Born under the Law, to Redeem those who
were under the Law, that we might receive Adoption
as sons.
Son refers to Christ as God by Nature.
God, then is Born of a Woman, and so THE EVER BLESSED,
A LL P URE , AND E VER V IRGIN MARY IS RIGHTLY ENTITLED
T HEOTOKOS , WHICH MEANS THE M OTHER OF G OD OR THE
B EARER OF G OD .
I.E . G OD I NCARNATE - IN THE FLESH - ( WITHOUT HUMAN SEED,

WITHOUT HUMAN F ATHER ) - AND IN H IS HUMAN N ATURE FOR
IN H IS D IVINE NATURE H IS IS E TERNAL , BEGOTTEN OF GOD THE
FATHER , WITHOUT MOTHER
Since Christ was Born under the Law, He can Redeem
those under the Law. (INITIALLY THE HEBREWS, AND THEN,
LATER, THE GENTILES I.E. ALL HUMANITY)
T HE ONGOING GROWTH INTO DIVINE ADOPTION BEING AN

HEIR OF GOD IS D EIFICATION OR T HEOSIS S PIRITUAL
P ERFECTION.
This means that WE ARE BECOMING , BY D IVINE GRACE, WHAT
G OD IS BY D IVINE N ATURE AND EACH OF THE T HREE
P ERSONS OF THE H OLY T RINITY : F ATHER , S ON AND H OLY
S PIRIT IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF S PIRITUAL
T RANSFORMATION OF HUMANITY .
Therefore TO BECOME S ONS OF G OD BY GRACE , WE MUST
BELIEVE IN AND GET TO KNOW THE F ATHER , AND THE S ON ,
AND THE H OLY S PIRIT .
3RD SUNDAY
OF
TRIODION MEATFARE
Todays Sacred Lesson concerns the Last Judgement.

Our Lord Jesus Christ explained the Truth concerning our
Final Judgement when He Reappears on the Eighth Day
the beginning of our Eternal Life or Eternal Death.
Rather than pointing out that the Righteous will consist of
those who simply believe in God and who lead a good
life - or even those who attend Church every Sunday
and Feast Day - our Lord reveals that it is not solely the
depth of our Faith, but also especially our words,
thoughts and deeds that will determine our Final
Destination.
Our Lord Jesus is more concerned about how we act toward
those around us, and in particular, towards those who
are less fortunate that ourselves.
The most important Sacred Lesson that we must learn (and
constantly practise) concerns not only our Relationship
with God but more specifically, our relationship with
everyone else, because however we treat our
neighbours, likewise do we treat our Lord as well!!
Furthermore, our Saviour has taught us that His True
Disciples true and faithful Christians - are those who
see Christ in everyone, for we are all created in the
Image and Likeness of God.
We are all (or at least we should strive to be) Living Icons of
Christ.
Consequently, when we recognise that Image of Christ in
everyone (including our enemies) we gain another
small step closer to residing in the Mansions of our
Heavenly Father that have been prepared for us.
The next time we are tempted to destroy someones
reputation, break someones heart, show indifference
and even ignorance towards others, or maliciously
gossip or lie, we must remember that our Lord Jesus
Christ warned us that we are doing exactly the same
wicked thing to Him!
Let us never forget that whatever wrongs we commit
against other people will count against ourselves when
our Righteous Judge returns to Judge all Creation!!
We, who regard ourselves as being Christian, are
habitually judgemental - both in and out of the Church yet we do not even pause to consider how our words,
thoughts and deeds our self-righteous attitude reflect on Christ Himself.
In our arrogance, we dare to assume the role of Judge, and
as we judge and condemn others, we simultaneously
make judgements against our Saviour, thereby Eternally
Condemning ourselves!
3RD SUNDAY
OF
Finally: THIS IS THE D IVINE T RUTH CONCERNING ETERNITY !

These are not words of speculation, imagination - or
worse, untruth!
T HIS IS D IVINE R EVELATION!
This is what our human existence is all about!
This is why we have been granted a temporary,
complicated life-time for our Spiritual Preparation!
There is no need for discussion or debate because Christ
our Lord explicitly tells us about Eternity the Ages of
ages:
T HOSE WHO CHOOSE TO REJECT G OD S D IVINE T RUTH WHO
THROUGH THEIR WILFUL REBELLION REJECT H IS D IVINE
C OMMANDMENTS THAT BRING US CLOSE TO H IM ...WILL
GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING P UNISHMENT ... which is
also referred to by Christ as Outer Darkness because
it is UTTER S PIRITUAL EXILE OR A LIENATION FROM GOD
AND ALL H IS G OODNESS A PERPETUAL , UNCHANGEABLE
STATE OF S PIRITUAL D EATH AND E TERNAL S UFFERING THE
ABSOLUTE ABSENCE OF ANYTHING PEACEFUL , PLEASANT ,
JOYOUS OR GOOD !
However, THOSE WHO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT
THE G OOD F IGHT , BY CEASELESSLY STRIVING FOR
S PIRITUAL P ERFECTION AND A C LOSE R ELATIONSHIP WITH
OUR M OST B ELOVED L ORD G OD WILL BECOME WORTHY
C ITIZENS AND C O - HEIRS WITH C HRIST IN G OD S H EAVENLY
K INGDOM OF L OVE , P EACE AND J OY ... THE R IGHTEOUS
WILL GO INTO E TERNAL L IFE.
We only have this short life-span to correct ourselves and
to reach out to God with all Humility and Obedience,
in the confident Hope of Eternal Life and all its
indescribable Goodness and Wonders!
TRIODION MEATFARE
OR
OR
FINAL JUDGEMENT SUNDAY
It is absolutely vital for us to see the Divine Icon of our

Lord Jesus Christ in every other human being no
matter who they are!
Only by seeing Christ in our fellow sinners, will we begin to
truly achieve that greatest Virtue of all Agape that
Perfect, Absolute and Divine Love that is above all
others Love that is totally unconditional and from the
very depth of our soul!
We must ACT as Christians as True Disciples of our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ - which means we must freely
and generously pour out our Love and resources to God
and to our fellow mankind especially to those who are
less Blessed than ourselves.
Great and Holy Lent is a time for Repentance a time for a
most profound change of our very being a time of
complete Renewal of our lifestyle and a Renewal of our
attitude towards the Lord our God and our fellow
strugglers.
Great Lent is also a time to evaluate what we have done up
to now in terms of caring for our neighbours and taking
care of our own Spiritual Growth and Relationship with
God.
Let us all make the best possible use of this Holy Lent while
we steadily progress towards Holy Pascha.
Let us all make every effort to fulfil our Sacred Duties as
Faithful and True Orthodox Christians, rather than
merely going through the various Rituals with empty,
meaningless gestures.
May every day of this wonderful Spiritual Pilgrimage be
Blessed and meaningful for each and every one of us, so
that we may, in due course, experience the utter Great
Joy of Holy Pascha.
Holy Monastery of Axion Estin - 18 / 02 / 2012
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/45000.htm
ST. ISAAC THE SYRIAN
Prepare your heart for your Departure. If you are wise, you
will expect it every hour. Every day say to yourself: See, the
Messenger who comes to fetch me is already at the door.
Why am I sitting idle? I must depart for ever. I cannot come
back again. Go to sleep with these thoughts every night, and
reflect on them throughout the day. And when the time of
Departure comes, go joyfully to meet it, saying, Come in
Peace. I knew you would come, and I have not neglected
anything that could help me on my Journey. HOMILY 65 (7TH
CENTURY)
25.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Our Spiritual Life is one where we continually Struggle
against our "self-opinion and proud mindedness."
It is a Struggle aimed at breaking our will so that we can
dedicate ourselves to God and live in a manner whereby
we only do His Will.
We have to shift from a worldly orientation to one that is
oriented towards God's Kingdom.
Spiritual Life is a shift from a world filled with temptation
and evil to one that is oriented only to doing good.
The task is to tame our intellect and free it so it can be
directed by Divine Grace.
It is an Inner Struggle involving our outer actions.
It is a Battle of grand proportions called Spiritual Warfare.
St Theophan the Recluse tells us that the Spiritual Attacks
we must deal with are soul-related and bodily powers.
1. In the body - the source of passions is pleasing the
flesh...There is sexual lust, gluttony, love of pleasure,
sloth, comfort, adulterous feelings, loquacity, absentmindedness, restlessness, wilfulness in everything,
unseemly
laughter,
idle
talk,
sleepiness,
daydreaming, craving the pleasant and all manner
of pleasing the flesh in lust.
2. In the soul:
a. In the mental part - opinion, exclusive belief in one's
own intellect, criticism, attacking the Mind of
God, doubts, puffing up and arrogance, curiosity,
mental plundering, straying thoughts.
b. In the sensual part - passions that shatter Peace and
tranquillity of heart, or various kinds of
pleasantness and unpleasantness: wrath, envy,
hatred, anger revenge, judgement, contempt,
PART I
vain glory, ambition, pride, boredom, sadness,

sorrow, depression, joy, cheerfulness, fears,
hopes, expectation.
How do we get at the root of these? This is our challenge.
St Theophan the Recluse teaches us that the source of all
these passions is self love.
At their root are pleasure, covetousness and pride.
The way to conquer them is to "...cut off pleasure by selfdirected wrath, covetousness with Unacquisitiveness,
and pride with Humility."
The main challenge is to maintain an Awareness of the
Spiritual Attacks so that we can counteract them.
The main enemy is our thoughts. Our actions are always
preceded by a thought. This is the battle ground.
The pattern of our actions is "...the onrush of thoughts,
contemplation, delight in it, desire, passion, attraction,
resolve, and then the deed."
Therefore, "...all the Ascetic's attention should be directed
inside himselfat thoughts, desires, passions and
attractions.
It should be most of all, incidentally, directed at thoughts, for
the heart and the will are not so mercurial as thoughts;
and passions and desires rarely attack themselvesthey
are most often born of thoughts.
From this we can make a Rule: cut off thoughts and you
will cut off everything."
The battle ground has been identified and next we will deal
with St Theophan's Rules for this Spiritual Warfare.
PATH TO SALVATION, PP 280 - 289
SPIRITUAL WARFARE- PART 2 - PREPARATION

Once we are well aware of our sinfulness (the sign of a
We must think about how we will fight against the
mature seeker of God) we can then seek to anticipate
temptations, or whether it would be better for us to
the Spiritual Battles we will encounter during the
avoid the encounter altogether.
coming day.
When we have a weakness it is often best to predetermine a
Our sinfulness is often triggered by our interactions
way to physically walk away from the situation.
encountered in the activities of our daily life.
As we enter into the trials of the day, we must remember
When we know we will be facing situations where we often
that we do have some important Weapons with which to
find ourselves falling into sinful activities i.e. being
protect ourselves, which will greatly help our
tempted to sin - we need to protect ourselves and
circumstances.
prepare for these Spiritual Battles.
Our powerful Spiritual Weapons consist of the Jesus
St Theophan recommends us to: ... at the beginning of each
Prayer, which we recite constantly throughout the day
day, sit and go over all possible meetings and
or as part of our Daily Rule of Prayer and the Holy
occurrences and all the possible feelings and movements
Life-giving Cross of Christ our Lord and Saviour.
that they could cause."
As we enter the Spiritual Arena of temptation, we must
This can be a routine activity at the end of our Morning
Bless ourselves with the Sign of the Cross and pray: O
Prayers.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on me, a
We should mentally contemplate our entire day and the
sinner."
various situations we are likely to encounter.
By being constantly Spiritually Vigilant or Watchful, and
We must then think about how to deal with those situations
aware of the potential Battles with which we will have to
where we know it will be difficult for us - especially
contend, we are able to change the way we live our daily
situations where we may be tempted by lust or anger.
life, transforming it into the Orthodox Way of Life i.e.
We must predetermine the best approach if temptations do
we will indeed Live in Christ, having put on Christ at
arise.
our Holy Baptism.
As striving Faithful Disciples of Christ, we must become
proactive Spiritual Warriors.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE - PART III AFTERWARDS

Once we have encountered a Spiritual Battle and have been
able to avert any sinful act, we must immediately give
thanks to our Lord for His Great Mercy.
We must take care not to allow this Experience to make us
jubilant, for it can lead to complacency or a dangerous
sense of self-righteousness and - worse than that - to
the greater sin of vainglory.
We must remain perpetually alert for yet more attacks and
ambushes by our enemies.
We must not share our victories over the temptations with
anyone, but always remain humble and ready for the
next Spiritual Battle.
When we have failed due to succumbing to the temptations,
we must immediately humble ourselves and Repent our
sins beseeching Forgiveness and being determined to do
better.
Furthermore, we must accept the fact that God knows what
is best for us and sometimes it is necessary for our own
Spiritual Benefit to fail. Thus He permits our enemies to
defeat us occasionally.
26.
3RD SUNDAY
OF
TRIODION MEATFARE
OR
However, as long as we remain humble, obedient and

repentant, our Lord will always be Merciful and
Compassionate.
St Theophan the Recluse commented: ... our Lord is like a
mother who leads her child by the hand and does not
abandon him..."
Repeated failures should compel us to engage in greater
Ascetic Labours, seeking new strategies to avoid such
situations.
We must never surrender to despair due to failure. Instead,
seize the opportunity to achieve an even greater victory!
Everyone has a different Task and will face different
Spiritual Battles of differing degrees.
We all have a tendency to sin yet it is different for each of
us, for we ...only need to have the zealous desire to
conquer (ourselves)."
(... to be continued...)
FATHER CHARLES JOINER ORTHODOX WAY OF LIFE - SAINT GEORGE
GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM/2010/03/SPIRITUALWARFARE-III-AFTERWARDS_17.HTML

17 F e b r u a r y 2015
St Theodore the Tyro (the Recruit)
Also the Feast of St Hermogenes of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia St
Theodore the Silent of Kiev Caves Monastery St Mariamne, Righteous Sister of St
Philip the Apostle of Christ St Menas Kallikelados (Well Speaking) of Athens &
Alexandria, Uncovering of Holy Relics St Joseph of Dionysiou Monastery, Mount
Athos St Auxibios of Soli, Cyprus St Theodore the New Martyr of Constantinople
St Theodosios the Bulgarian & St Romanos, his Disciple St Nicholas Kandavron St
Finan of Lindisfarne St Theodore of Atchara, Georgia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST THEODORE
Megala ta tis Pisteos katorthomata!
En ti pigi tis flogos,

os epi idatos anapafseos, O Agios Martis Theodoros
igalleto. Piri gar olokavtothis, os artos idis, ti Triadi
prosinekte. Tes aftou ikesies Hriste O Theos, Soson tas
psihas imon.
THE
TYRO -
TONE 2
Magnificent
art Faiths accomplishments! The Holy

Martyr Theodore greatly rejoiced as he stood in the
fountain of fire as if beside the Still Waters. He was
consumed by fire and offered like sweet bread to the
Trinity. At his Entreaties, O Christ God, Save our
souls.
FESTAL KONTAKION PRODIGAL SON
Tis
Patroas doxis Sou aposkirtisas afronos, en kakis

eskorpisa, on mi paredokas plouton. Othen Si tin tou
Asotou fonin hravgazo. Imarton enopion Sou, Pater
iktirmon. Dexe me metanoounta ke piison me os ena
ton Misthion Sou.
Foolishly
I ran away, from Thy Glory, O Father, and

wasted in sin, all the wealth that Thou granted me.
Therefore, the Prodigals cry I repeat to Thee: I have
sinned, before Thy Compassionate Father. Do accept
me in repentance, AND MAKE ME AGAIN, ONE OF THY
HIRED HANDS.
KONTAKION OF ST THEODORE THE TYRO TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Pistin Hristou osi thoraka, endon lavon en kardia Sou, as Having

enantias dinamis katepatisas, Poliathle, ke
Ournio estefthis, eonios os aittitos.
received the Faith of Christ in Thy heart as a

Breastplate, Thou trampled upon the enemy hosts, O
Much-suffering Champion; and Thou hast been
Crowned Eternally with a Heavenly Crown, since
Thou art invincible.
Stefi
PROKEIMENON:
The
Righteous shall be glad in the Lord.

Hear my voice, O God
ST PAULS SECOND EPISTLE

TRA
NSMITTING THE
TO ST TIMOTHY 2 : 1 10
FAITH, STRENGTHENING OTHERS, DISCIPLINE & SUFFERING
Timothy my Son: be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that Thou hast heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Thou, therefore must endure hardship as a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself
with the affairs of this life, so that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in
athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the Rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to
partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord grant Thee Understanding in all things.
trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained.
THE HOLY GOSPEL

BEWARE OF THE HYPOCRISY
ACCORDING
OF THE
SCRIBES
TO
AND
ST LUKE 20 : 45 21: 4
THE POOR WIDOWS GREAT SACRIFICE
At that time, our Lord Jesus said to His Disciples: Beware of the Scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and who love
greetings in the marketplaces, and the highest seats in the Synagogues, and the chief rooms at Feasts; who devour
widows houses, and for show make long Prayers. These will receive even greater Condemnation!
And He looked up, and beheld the rich casting their Gifts into the Treasury. And He also saw a certain poor widow putting
in thither two mites. And He said: Truly, I say unto you: this poor widow has put in more than them all! For all
these have of their abundance put in offerings of God, but she in her poverty has put in everything she had.
And when He had said these things, He cried: He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
ST THEODORE
St Theodore, the Holy, Glorious Great Martyr came from
Amasia, Pontos, and was a Roman Legionary during the
reign of Emperor Maximian and his appalling
persecution of Christians.
St Theodore the Tyro had been Baptised into Christianity in
his infancy but kept his Faith secret not out of
cowardice, but because he had not yet received a Sign
from God to present himself for Holy Martyrdom.
While his cohort was stationed near the town of Euchaita or
Helenopontos, St Theodore heard that the people of the
ST THEODORE
THE
THE
TYRO
district lived in terror of a terrifying dragon that lurked

in the surrounding forest.
He realised that here was the quest in which God would
show him whether the time had come to offer himself
for Martyrdom, so he went deep into the woods, until
he came upon an abandoned village.
There was only one person left. She was a Christian
Princess named Eusebia, who told St Theodore where
the lair of the monster was located.
Arming himself with the Sign of the Cross, the brave young
soldier set off to find it, and when he was confronted
TYRO (THE RECRUIT) & HOLY MARTYR
17 FEBRUARY 2015
27
by the roaring, fire-spitting beast, he immediately

thrust his spear through its head and killed it.
Convinced by now that by Divine Grace he would be able to
vanquish the Spiritual Dragon - the evil one St
Theodore returned to the Roman camp, ready to
publicly confess his Christian Faith.
The Commander of his Legion had ordered all the soldiers
to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods but St Theodore
steadfastly remained in his tent, and when a squad duly
found him there, he loudly declared: I am a Christian!
I adore and worship only Jesus Christ! He is the only
King Whom I serve, and to Him alone am I willing to
offer sacrifice!
They then plied him with a bombardment of crafty
questions before leaving him to interrogate other
Christian soldiers.
Inflamed with Divine Zeal, St Theodore encouraged his
fellow Christian soldiers to show themselves as being
worthy of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who had Called
them to be His Soldiers of Righteousness in His
Heavenly Army.
That night St Theodore went to the pagan temple and
reduced the altar of Rhea, the mother of the gods to
dust.
He was caught in the act by a pagan verger and taken
without any resistance to the Governor, Publios.
Euchaita was in an uproar when the citizens heard what he
had done.
However, St Theodore calmly replied to all the Governors
questions and accusations, thereby revealing the
absurdity of regarding a lifeless block of marble or
wood as a deity its powerlessness being proved by
the fact that these man-made gods were so easily
reduced to dust or ashes, whereas the One, True,
Almighty and Living God could never be destroyed.
As expected, St Theodore was threatened with dire
torments and death, yet he calmly responded: Your
threats do not frighten me because amid torments, the
Power of Christ will be Joy and Gladness to me.
That night, all alone in his gloomy, stinking dungeon, St
Theodore the Tyro had a Divine Visitation by Christ
Who promised His valiant Martyr that His Divine Grace
would be his ...Food and Drink his Joy and Shield.
Having been so Blessed by the Comfort and Love of Christ,
the Holy Martyr chanted Hymns of Praise and
Thanksgiving, accompanied by Holy Angels, and even
though his cell was securely bolted and barred, the
jailers thought that other Christians had managed to
join him there.
St Theodore refused to eat or drink anything as our Lord
had promised him ...Food from Heaven.
At his second hearing before Publios, the brave Soldier of
Christ was offered a position as High Priest of the
gods which made him laugh scornfully at their attempt
to bribe him into renouncing his Faith and he
adamantly assured the Governor that he was ready to
be cut into pieces for the Love of Christ.
Consequently, he was subjected to the merciless torture of
the executioners who hung him by his heels and
lacerated his naked body with iron claws.

ON FASTING- SELF CONTROL
Fasting deals specifically with the passion of gluttony. We

must however deal with all our passions and overcome
them one by one. Fasting is the starting point to
controlling the others. It is a fight that we must
steadily engage in. By doing so we will gradually reduce
them.
S T M A X I M O S outlines five steps for this progress:
1. The stopping of their appearance in sinful deedsthe
obtaining of sinless in deed is the first dispassion
2. freedom from passionate thoughts caused by appetites in
our consciousness; victory over them bring us to a
second dispassion, without such thoughts they can't
become deeds.
3. The control over our natural appetite so that it doesn't
move toward the passionsthis is the third dispassion
4. The complete removal from the mind of perceptible
imagesthis leads to a fourth dispassion. No longer
having them in the mind, they can no longer enter the
subconsciousness to move an appetite to a passion.
28
ST THEODORE
THE
Nevertheless, the Holy Martyrs indomitable Faith defeated

all their wicked efforts to break him down and force
him to renounce our Lord God.
Fearing that his unwavering Faith would encourage others,
the Governor condemned St Theodore to be burnt to
death.
At the place of execution, St Theodore calmly took off his
clothing, all the while praying to God and beseeching
Him to Strengthen the other Faithful Confessors.
He then walked freely into the crackling flames, which
engulfed him yet let him mysteriously untouched. In
the midst of that triumphal circle of roaring fire, St
Theodore the Tyro gladly surrendered his immortal
soul to Almighty God with heartfelt gratitude.
St Eusebia the pious Princess ransomed his Sanctified body,
which she took to Euchaita, where eventually a church
in his honour was erected, and where innumerable
Pilgrims received Healing of body and soul through his
Intercessory Prayers.
In 361, Emperor Julian the Apostate did his utmost to
restore pagan customs, and knowing that Christians
were accustomed to Sanctify the first week of Lent by
Fasting and Prayer, he instructed the Prefect of
Constantinople to sprinkle all the food in the market
places with the blood of animals that had sacrificed to
the pagan gods, thereby causing everyone to be
contaminated by idolatry.
However, our Lord did not abandon His Faithful Flock, for
He sent St Theodore in a Vision to Patriarch Eudoxios,
to warn the Christians and to instruct them to eat
Kolyva made from boiled wheat.
Thus, by the Grace of God and the intervention of St
Theodore the Tyro, the Faithful Christians were
Delivered from the evil machinations of their enemies.
Every year, on the first Saturday of Great Lent, the Holy
Church of Christ commemorates that Miracle in order
to remind us that Fasting and Temperance have the
Power to Cleanse all stains of sin.
Throughout the ages, St Theodore the Tyro has wrought
many other Miracles by the Will of God for those who
besought him with Faith to intercede on their behalf
and who persevered in Prayer in his church.
There are many accounts of his miraculous appearance,
shining in glory, mounted on his white horse rescuing
a widows only son from being captured by Saracens,
bringing those who were in peril back to safety,
exposing thieves to the Light of Truth and Justice...
In all the Miracles that St Theodore the Tyro wrought by the
Grace and Mercy of Almighty God, he shows us that he
is our Heavenly Protector to whom we can turn for his
intercessory Prayers.
May his memory be Eternal.
ADAPTED FROM THE SYNAXARION: THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS OF THE ORTHODOX
CHURCH, VOL. 3, COMPILED BY HIEROMONK MAKARIOS OF SIMONOS PETRA
AND TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY CHRISTOPHER HOOKWAY (CHALKIDIKE,
GREECE: HOLY CONVENT OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LADY, 2001) PP.
536-539
HTTP://WWW.GOARCH.ORG/SPECIAL/THEODORETYRE/INDEX_HTML
OF OUR
TO
HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
OVERCOME
OUR
PASSIONS
5. We must reach a state where we can receive images of

things without creating any passion within us. This
happens when through them their divine logoi become
transparent. Only after this does the mind unite with
God in a state higher than prayer.
ST. IGNATIUS BRIANCHANINOV:
Learn to have restraint in foodby temperance you will

bring health and strength to the body and vigour to the
mind, so needed for the Work of Salvation
ST. ISAAC
THE
SYRIAN:
Fasting with Discernment is the spacious Dwelling-place of

all Goodness. Whoever is lazy in Fasting brings all
Goodness to wavering, because Fasting was the
Commandment given to our nature from the beginning
as a precaution to eating food, and by breaking the Fast
our first created fell.
ST. AMBROSE
OF
OPTINA:
You must Fast sensibly; try to conduct the coming

Fast judiciously, considering your physical strength.
TYRO (THE RECRUIT) & HOLY MARTYR
17 FEBRUARY 2015

21 F e b r u a r y 2015
Cheesefare Saturday
Saturday of the Holy Ascetics
Also the Feast of St Auxentios of Bithynia St Cyril, Equal of the Apostles & Enlightener of the
Slavs St Isaac the Recluse & Fool for Christ, of Kiev Near Caves Monastery, Translation of
Holy Relics - St Theodore of Chernigov, Translation of Holy Relics St Maron the Hermit of
Syia St Abraham of Charres, Mesopotamia St Hilarion the New Hiero-schema Monk of
Georgia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION HOLY ASCETICS - TONE4
O Theos ton Pateron imon, O pion ai meth imon kata tin O
God of our Father, ever dealing with us according to

Thy Gentleness: take not Thy Mercy from us, but by
their Entreaties, Guide our Life in Peace.
Sin epiikian, mi apostisis to Eleos Sou af imon, alla tes

afton ikesies, en Irini kivernison tin Zoin imon.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION HOLY ASCETICS - TONE(8) PLAGAL 4
Os Evsevias Kirikas, ke asevias fimotra, ton Theoforon ton As

dimon efedrinas, Kyrie, tin ifilion lamponta. En Irini
telia, tes afton ikesies, tous Se Doxazontas ke
Megalinontas, diafilaxon, psallin ke adin Si, Allilouia.
Preachers of True Piety who silenced all impiety, O

Lord, Thou hast made the whole Host of God-bearing
Saints shine forth with splendour upon the world. By
their Prayers and Entreaties, keep all those who extol
and sincerely magnify Thee in Perfect Peace, to chant
and to sing to Thee: Alleluia!
F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N - T H E P R E S E N T A T I O N O F C H R I S T - TONE 1
Thy

Filanthropos

Lover of mankind.
PROKEIMENON:
The
Holy Ones shall boast in Glory...

The High Praise of God shall be in their mouth!
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE GALATIANS 5 : 22 6 : 2
THE ESSENTIAL FRUITS (ACHIEVEMENTS)
OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Brethren: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, SelfControl against which there is no law. And those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. If we Live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, or
envying each other.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual must restore such a one in a Spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS SERMON
ON THE
TO
ST MATTHEW 6 : 1 - 13
PLAIN
THE
BEATITUDES
AND THE
WOES
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: Take heed that you do not do your Charitable Deeds before others to be seen
by them. Otherwise you have no Reward from your Father in Heaven.
Therefore, when you do a Charitable Deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues
and in the streets, so that they may receive the glory from mankind. Truly, I say to you: they have their reward.
But when you do a Charitable Deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your
Charitable Deed may be in secret, and your Father Who sees in secret will Himself Reward you openly.
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the Synagogues, and on the
corners of the streets, so that they be seen by others. Truly, I say to you: they have their reward.
But you when you pray go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father Who is in the
Secret Place; and your Father Who sees in secret will Reward you openly.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their
many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things that you have need of before you
ask Him.
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the
Glory forever. Amen.
BEARING
Our Lord Jesus Christ instructed His Faithful Disciples:
Whoever wants to be My Disciple must deny
themselves and take up their Cross daily, and follow
Me. (LUKE 9:23)
St Theophan the Recluse addressed this Divine
Commandment in a series of his Homilies in 1885.
THE
CROSS
The Lord accomplished our Salvation by His Death on

the Cross; on the Cross He tore up the handwriting
(lists or records) of our sins; through the Cross He
brought upon us Grace-filled Gifs and all Heavenly
Blessings...
Furthermore ...when the personal Cross of each of us is
United with Christs Cross, the Power and Effect of the
CHEESEFARE SATURDAY SATURDAY OF THE HOLY ASCETICS 21 FEBRUARY 2015
29
Holy Cross is transferred to us and becomes, as it

were, a conduit through which ... every Good Gift
and every Perfect Gift... is poured forth upon us from
the Cross of Christ.
The Message is clear that THERE IS MORE TO OUR SALVATION
THAN JUST BELIEVING IN CHRIST, HIS INCARNATION, HIS
CRUCIFIXION AND HIS (AND OUR) RESURRECTION.
In addition to His Holy Life-giving Cross, OUR PERSONAL
CROSS IS EQUALLY ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SALVATION.
St Theophan outlined three kinds of personal Cross: one
being outward, another being inward and a third being
Spiritual.
1.
THE OUTW ARD CROSS INVOL VES TH E TRIAL S AND

TRIBULATION OF OUR LIFETIME:
There are sorrows, misfortunes, the loss of loved ones,
failures at work, every sort of deprivation and loss,
family troubles, adversities related to outward
circumstances, insults, offences, wrongful accusations,
and in general our Earthly lot...
Neither eminence, nor riches, nor glory not any kind of
earthly greatness will Deliver us from them.
St Theophan urges us to make use of these difficulties in
life, which God permits, in accordance with His
Intention for our Salvation, ... so that we would live on
Earth not as someone in his own land, but as a
stranger and a foreigner in a foreign land.
As foreigners, we seek our Return to His Heavenly
Kingdom and in order to understand this, we must
understand the significance of the account of Adam and
Eve in the Book of Genesis, and how they originally
lived in Paradise in Perfect Union with God.
However, THEY DISOBEYED HIS ONE COMMANDMENT AND THUS
SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES of sickness, sorrow and
death and being ousted and banned from Paradise and
all its Blessings.
St Theophan encourages us to ... endure them (our human
condition our trials and tribulations) and do not be
annoyed by them... bear your lot with equanimity.
(calmness and self-control).
These difficulties that we encounter throughout our
lifespan are similar for all mankind, for WE ARE ALL
SUBJECT TO MISFORTUNE AD SORROW, WHICH GOD PERMITS
FOR OUR BENEFIT:
... The Lord wants to wash away some sin, or to lead us
away from a sinful deed, or to cover up a greater sorrow
with a smaller one, or to give us an occasion for Patience
and for demonstrating Faithfulness to the Lord, so as to
show forth the Glory of His Mercy on us later...
If we do not clearly see precisely what God wants to grant
us through sorrow that has overwhelmed us, we must
raise up in our heart the general, non-speculative belief
that everything that comes from our Lord is for our
good, and we must give a shove to our disturbed soul,
for this is what is pleasing to God.
We must endure!
He whom God punishes (or chastises) is like a son to Him!
ENDURING OUR SORROWS WITH FAITH IS WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE
UP AND BEAR OUR PERSONAL CROSS.
By enduring with the Love of God and giving Thanks for all
He grants us, WE BEAR OUR CROSS IN A MANNER THAT WILL
BRING US ETERNAL SALVATION:
... arouse Gratitude
within yourself, humble yourself under the Mighty
Hand of God, Repent and correct your life!
St Theophan explained: There is a Cross upon which

these passions and lusts are crucified. To crucify the
passions means to weaken them, to suppress them,
and to uproot them...
When we fight against the passions, it sometimes seems
as if our hands are nailed, as if we are wearing a
crown of thorns on our head, as if our living heart is
pierced...
He teaches us that THE MAIN CULPRIT IS SELF-LOVE: ... we
have only to turn the knife around and, instead of
satisfying the passions, to strike ourselves with it, to
strike the passions with it - beginning the fight against
them and contradicting them in everything... We must
say to ourselves, who are passionate: I am perishing
on the cross of passions. I must destroy that cross
and set up another the Cross that fights against
passions and we will be crucified on It unto
Salvation! ... we must go courageously to the Cross of
self-crucifixion, through the crucifixion and uprooting
of our passions and lusts. Let us turn away from selfpity and become inflamed with zeal for selfaccusation... for the Holy Cross is the Tree of Life!
3. THE SPIRITUAL CROSS IS DEVOTION TO THE WILL
OF GOD:
It is not enough to crucify the passions. This is only
preparatory for this Step, which involves our OBEDIENCE
TO GODS DIVINE WILL.
We are now ready to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God
and we FOLLOW CHRISTS EXAMPLE in the Garden of
Gethsemane when He prayed: ... not as I Will, but as
Thou Wills...
In His Human Nature, CHRIST BOUND HIS FREE WILL TO THAT
OF GOD HIS FATHER. (MARK 26:39)
I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not
I, but Christ lives in me. (GALATIANS 2:20)
According to St Theophan this is ... the height of Christian
Perfection... It is the beginning of the future state
after the Resurrection, when God will be all in all.
For those who are Perfect Live and Act through God
alone. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:28)
Many have the idea that Christianity is the same as
other kinds of life, but this is not so.
Our Life in Christ begins with Repentance, ripens through
the fight against passions, and is Perfected when the
pure, inner being, immersed in God, is crucified with
Christ.
If Christians do have pleasures they are purely
incidental.
The most distinguishing characteristics of their existence
are sufferings and sickness inward and outward,
voluntary and involuntary.
We must through much tribulation enter into the
Kingdom, and into that which is within it...
If we want Good for ourselves, we must get rid of
pleasures and enter on the Path of the Cross of
Repentance, burn up in the Fire of self-crucifixion, be
tempered in Tears of heartfelt Contrition and we
will then become gold, or silver, or a precious stone
and in due time we will be taken by the Heavenly
Householder as an adornment for His Most Bright and
Most Peaceful Mansions.
ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE: THREE HOMILIES
ORTHODOX WORD NO. 285 (2012)
2. T H E I N W A R D C R O S S I S O U R C O N S T A N T S T R U G G L E
AGAINST OUR PASSIONS.
Those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. (GALATIANS 5:14)

Those who revere the Lord do what is Commanded, and
when they commit sins or disobey Him, they endure
whatever they have to suffer, regarding it as being
their desert.
If you love Knowledge, love also labours, for bare
knowledge puffs a person up.
Knowledge without corresponding practise is still
insecure, even if it is true. All is made firm by
practise.
Those who want to do something but cannot, are - in
the Sight of God Who sees our heart - as though
they have done it. This should be understood as
being so in relation to good and evil deeds alike.
Some think they believe rightly, while not practising
30
OF THE
BEARING
OF THE
CROSS THE
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM/ASCETICISM
OF
ST MARK
THE
ASCETIC
the Commandments; others, while practising them,

expect the Kingdom as a Just Reward. Both sin
against Truth.
We who have been granted the Bath of Eternal Life do
Good Works not for the sake of Reward, but to
preserve the Purity which was granted to us.
Every Good Deed we perform by our own natural
powers - although it removes us further from the
(evil deed) opposed to it - cannot make us Holy
without Divine Grace.
When the mind forgets the Purpose of Piety, then
visible Works of Virtue become useless.
CHEESEFARE SATURDAY SATURDAY OF THE HOLY ASCETICS 21 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos 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.
S T R I CT F A S T
24 F e b r u a r y 2015
T OD A Y
1 s t & 2 n d Finding of the Venerable Head

of St John the Baptist & Forerunner
Also the Feast of St Erasmos of Kiev Near Caves Monastery
St Romanos of Uglich St Cumein, Abbot of Iona Monastery
FESTAL APOLYTIKION OF THE FINDING OF ST JOHN THE
BAPTISTS HEAD TONE 4:
Ek
gis anatilasa, i tou

Prodromou Kefali, aktinas
aflisi, tis aftharsias Pistis
ton
laseon;
Anothen
sinathriszi, tin plithin ton
Angelon, katothen singalite,
ton anthropon ta geni,
omofonon
anapempse,
Doxan Hristo to Theo.
FESTAL KONTAKION
VENERABLE HEAD
OF THE
The
Head of the Forerunner,

having risen from the
Earth, sends out rays of
Incorruption,
for
the
Healing of the Faithful; in
the Heavens it gathers the
Choir of Angels, below are
called together all people
of all races, to send in a
single voice: Glory to
Christ our God!
1ST & 2ND FINDING
OF THE
Profita Theou, ke Prodrome tis Haritos, tin Karan tin Sin, Since
we have obtained Thy head as a Most Sacred Rose

from out of the Earth, O Forerunner of Divine Grace, we
receive sure Healing in every hour, O Prophet of God
the Lord, for again, now as formerly, Thou preach
Repentance to all the world.
os rodon ierotaton, ek tis Gis evrameni, tas iasis pantote

lamvanomen. Ke gar palin os proteron, en kosmo
kirittis tin metanian.
PROKEIMENON PSALM 63 TONE (7) VARYS-GAVE
The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord.

Hear my voice, O God!
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.
T HE T REASURE IS THE L IGHT OF GOD S G LORY IN C HRIST .
T HIS IS V ICTORIOUS , BUT NOT TROUBLE - FREE C HRISTIANITY .
EARTHEN VESSELS REFERS TO OUR HUMANITY OUR HUMAN
These T RIALS OF L IFE ... SHOW BOTH THE POWER OF GOD AND,
NATURE our mortal, physical bodies that God first
MORE , DISCLOSE H IS G RACE [ ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ]
created from the soil of the earth and which,
B OTH THE EVER BLESSED T HEOTOKOS AND ST JOHN THE
therefore, must be returned to the earth before our
B APTIST WERE THE MOST P ERFECT L IVING EXAMPLES OF
Resurrection into Eternity.
D IVINE GRACE.
As THIS D IVINE L IGHT SHINES IN AND THROUGH US , people
Since very early childhood from about the age of two or
will see that THE POWER IS OF GOD" AND NOT OF
three years S T J OHN THE B APTIST AND F ORERUNNER TO
MANKIND .
C HRIST HAD LIVED IN THE W ILDERNESS - ALL ALONE BUT
L IKE THE E VER BLESSED T HEOTOKOS , ST JOHN THE B APTIST
P ROTECTED AND N URTURED BY D IVINE PROVIDENCE AND
WAS UTTERLY H UMBLE AND O BEDIENT TO G OD AND WAS
THE G RACE OF G OD .
A MOST SUITABLE L IVING T EMPLE FOR THE H OLY
A LL HIS K NOWLEDGE WAS BESTOWED UPON HIM BY GOD
T RINITY .
W HO NOT ONLY PROTECTED HIM FROM ANY HARM, BUT
Thus THE D IVINE L IGHT SHONE FORTH FROM HIM UPON THE
ALSO EQUIPPED HIM WITH ALL THE ESSENTIAL
H EBREW P EOPLE , ENCOURAGING THEM TO HEED HIS
REQUIREMENTS AS THE H OLY F ORERUNNER TO C HRIST
D IVINELY I NSPIRED WORDS AND TO SEEK R EPENTANCE in
AND THE L AST BUT G REATEST H OLY P ROPHET OF G OD .
preparation for the Coming of the long-awaited
Messiah our Saviour.
TO
ST MATTHEW 11:2 15
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST EXPLAINS ST JOHN THE BAPTISTS 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.
1ST & 2ND FINDING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTISTS HEAD
24 FEBRUARY 2015
31.
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!
According to our Holy Church Fathers, St John the Baptist
M ESSIANIC PRETENDERS TRYING TO BRING IN THE K INGDOM
asked Art Thou the Coming One, or do we look for
BY USING MILITARY FORCE AGAINST THE R OMANS .
Another? A MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN ORDER TO
A N ANCIENT PATRISTIC INTERPRETATION IS THAT THE
G UIDE HIS OWN DISCIPLES TO OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST .
K INGDOM I TSELF BREAKS INTO THIS WORLD VIOLENTLY .
It is also possible, according to modern interpretations,
F OR INSTANCE , THROUGH POWERFUL M IRACLES , ALERT AND
that St John thought of the Messiah as Divine Judge
DARING PEOPLE TAKE HOLD OF IT AGGRESSIVELY .
only and was perplexed by His Infinite Mercy.
Whoever is A H EARER AND L OVER OF THE W ORD OF GOD
S T I SAIAH HAD PREDICTED THAT AT THE C OMING OF THE
TAKES THE K INGDOM BY FORCE , EXERTING
ALL
M ESSIAH THE BLIND WOULD SEE, THE LAME WOULD WALK ,
EARNESTNESS AND DESIRE TO ENTER THE R EALITY OF THE
LEPERS WOULD BE CLEANSED AND THE DEAF WOULD HEAR .
K INGDOM .
O UR L ORD J ESUS FULFILLED THE P ROPHECIES OF ST I SAIAH,
For this reason H OLY M ARTYRS SHED THEIR BLOOD , MAKING
BEARING THE F RUIT THAT ONLY THE M ESSIAH CAN
THEIR C ONFESSION OF F AITH , BEING ...made a
PRODUCE !
spectacle to the world, both to Angels and to men.
[1 CORINTHIANS 4:9]
I N TERMS OF THE O LD C OVENANT L AW , S T J OHN THE BAPTIST
T HE K INGDOM OF H EAVEN BELONGS not to the sleeping or
IS THE G REATEST P ROPHET , BUT THE N EW C OVENANT
the lazy, but instead TO ... the violent (who) take it
INAUGURATED BY C HRIST IS OF SUCH INCOMPARABLE VALUE
by force.
THAT EVERYONE WHO SHARES IN IT IS , AS IT WERE, GREATER
T HE IDENTIFICATION BETWEEN ST J OHN THE B APTIST AND
THAN S T J OHN , BECAUSE BY D IVINE G RACE THROUGH F AITH
S T E LIJAH IS QUITE EXPLICIT .
UNDER THE N EW C OVENANT WE BECOME C HILDREN OF G OD
It is not St John who ascribes to himself the role of St Elijah
AND P ARTAKERS OF THE H OLY S PIRIT .
the Prophet, but OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST W HO ASSIGNS
S T JOHN IS HONOURED BECAUSE
HIM THIS PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF SALVATION .
H E IS R IGHTEOUS
S T JOHN THE BAPTIST FULFILLED THE M ISSION OF S T
H E PREPARED THE W AY of the First Coming of our Lord
E LIJAH THE PROPHET AND HIS DESTINY WAS SIMILAR TO S T
and Saviour
E LIJAH S .
H E B APTISED C HRIST .
Y ET S T JOHN IS HONOURED OVER ST ELIJAH , BECAUSE OUR
Suffers violence may mean that THE H EAVENLY K INGDOM
L ORD J ESUS IN COMPARING THE PROPHETS DECLARED:
IS UNDER ATTACK BY OPPONENTS OF S T J OHN THE B APTIST
T HERE HAS NOT RISEN ONE GREATER THAN JOHN .
AND OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST , OR OTHER VIOLENT MEN
THE POWER
Yesterday my Spiritual Father reminded me of a very
simple Truth that has been resonating in my mind all
night and morning.
He said that the place of personal Transfiguration is
where Gods Divine Energies and our personal
Repentance meet.
This equation for Spiritual Formation is neither a
magical formula nor an instantaneous event.
It requires both the discipline of an Ascetic Life and an
abundance of time as we cooperate with Gods Grace.
But this simple equation basically summarizes the Life
of the Orthodox Church.
The Life of the Holy Church of Christ, through Her
Scriptures, Services, Holy Mysteries and Lives of Her
Saints, is aimed at helping us by both developing
personal Repentance and exposing us to Gods Divine
Energies.
I am particularly captivated with Orthodox Christianitys
focus on Repentance.
Frankly, constantly hearing about Repentance when we
first began attending the Orthodox Church irritated
me.
Repentance is not a popular concept in American
Christianity.
It is often associated with the Woe-is-me-Beat-myself-up
mentality of abusive and destructive religion.
It took some time for me to purge that image out of my
head.
But thats not Repentance at all.
Repentance literally means to change ones mind.
Repentance is used during the New Covenant era in a
similar way as our modern phrase, Think about it.
To Repent is to hear an alternative to ones agenda or
course of action, to carefully weigh the consequences
of both, and ultimately to recognize the Wisdom of
the alternative and lay down our own inferior
agenda.
Repentance is not merely changing our mental
perspective but it is the actual Transformation of
our mind and subsequently, our entire life.
When we embrace the superior alternative, it begins to
Transform our values, perspective and behaviour.
32
OF
REPENTANCE
Repentance is a complete shift of our worldview.
St Isaac the Syrian correctly defines Repentance as ...to
be Transformed in the Renewal of the mind.
While it can include remorse or confessing to breaking a
law, Repentance is ultimately the process of
becoming one in heart and mind with Christ.
Therefore, it is something we do throughout the rest of
our life.
So Spiritual Formation in the Orthodox Church is to be
constantly confronted with the Superior Way, Truth
and Life that is Christ himself - to be encouraged and
urged to weigh the consequences of our own selfdestructive patterns of thinking, behaving and
relating in light of the Better Way of Christ, and to
lay down our (flawed) way and to take up our Cross
and follow Christ.
And this entire Process is soaked in Gods Divine
Energies.
... whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken
away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is Freedom. And we, who with
unveiled faces all reflect the Lords Glory, are being
Transformed into His Likeness with ever-increasing
Glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.
(2 CORINTHIANS 3:16-18)
It is this way that the Holy Church of Christ our Saviour

is therapeutic - Healing and Repairing us of our
brokenness and distortion.
It is this way that the Holy Church is like a gym - training
and honing us into Holiness.
JASON ZAHARIADES
http://jzahariades.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/personal-transfiguration
METROPOLITAN KALLISTOS WARE

To Repent is to look not downward at my own shortcomings
but upward at Gods Love; not backward with Selfreproach, but forward with Trustfulness. Repentance is to
see not what I have failed to be but what, by the Grace
of Christ I can yet become.
1ST & 2ND FINDING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTISTS HEAD
24 FEBRUARY 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever,
and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos 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.
28 F e b r u a r y 2015
1 s t Saturday of Great Lent
The Miracle of St Theodore the Great Holy Martyr
of Tyro
Also the Feast of St Basil the Confessor & Companion of St Procopios of Decapolis St
Nicholas, Fool for Christ, of Pskov St Proterios, Hieromartyr & Patriarch of Alexandria St
Nestor, Hieromartyr of Magydos, Pamphylia St Marana, St Kyra and St Domnica, Virgin
Martyrs (Nuns) of Syria St John Cassian the Roman Ascetic St John-Barsanuphios of
Damascus St Theokteristos, Igumen of Pelekete Monastery St Leo of Cappadocia St
Meletios of Kharkov & Akhtyr St Germanos of Dacia Pontica FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST THEODORE
THE
Megala ta tis Pisteos katorthomata!
En ti pigi tis flogos,

os epi idatos anapafseos, O Agios Martys Theodoros
igalleto. Piri gar olokavtothis, os artos idis, ti Triadi
prosinekte. Tes aftou Ikesies Hriste O Theos, Soson tas
psihas imon!
KONTAKION
OF THE
Prostasia
GREAT HOLY MARTYR
OF
TYRO TONE 2
Great
indeed are Faiths accomplishments! The Holy

Martyr Theodore stood exultingly in the fountain of fire
as if beside the still waters of rest. He was consumed
by fire and offered like sweet bread to the Trinity. At
his Entreaty, O Christ God, Save our souls!
EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
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.
Protector of the Christians Unashamable, Mediator to

the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading
voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the
Aid of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed up
Thine Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O
Theotokos who always protects all those who honour
Thee!
PROKEIMENON PSALM 63/64
TONE
(7) VARYS/GRAVE
The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall Hope in Him!
Hear my voice, O God, in my Supplication!
THE SECOND EPISTLE
TRANSMITTING
THE
OF
ST PAUL
TO
ST TIMOTHY 2 : 1 10
FAITH STRENGTHENING OTHERS
IN
DISCIPLINE & SUFFERING
Timothy my Son: be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that Thou hast heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Thou, therefore, must endure hardship
as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in Warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, so that he
may please Him Who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he
competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord grant you Understanding in all things.
trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things
for the sake of the Elect, so that they also may obtain the Salvation, which is in Christ Jesus with Eternal Glory.
St Paul established a clear chain of reliable and truthful
ALL THE DIVINE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST the written and the
witnesses to Oral Tradition the Verbal Teachings of
verbal Teachings of His Holy Church, which
our Lord Jesus Christ conveyed via His Apostles,
include the ancient Hymns, Psalms and Writings of
through the Apostolic Succession of all our Ordained
our Holy Church Fathers, as well as, of course,
Holy Priesthood to us MOST CAREFULLY PRESERVED INTACT
those of Holy Scripture must be shared with one
AND IN ALL ITS DIVINE TRUTH.
another so that together we all Journey along the
Christian Tradition is for all Faithful Disciples of Christ
same Path of Truth and Righteousness towards
because it is Catholic i.e. Universal belonging to
Eternity. (These Divine Teachings consist of far more than
simply the books of the Holy Bible for the Holy Spirit teaches
the whole Church to everyone who seeks Divine
and activates us ceaselessly! The Church of Christ is the
Truth - so it needs to be passed down to others
Living Body of Christ, which is never static.)
unhindered and unaltered in any manner.
THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY IS A TIME OF
This stands in clear contrast to the elitism of the major
CONSTANT SPIRITUAL WATCHFULNESS AND WARFARE THAT
religions of the first century Roman world, including
ENCOURAGES US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT FOR OUR PERSONAL
Gnosticism and the various other mystery religions.
REPENTANCE AND TO ACHIEVE THE DIVINE VIRTUES.
F AITHFUL M INISTRY REQUIR ES STR ICT D ISCIPLINE :
We gain Spiritual Strength and Courage from knowing
O BEDIENCE , S ELF - DENIAL AND S TRUGGLE OR
without a doubt that everything Christ has taught us is
S PIRITUAL W ARFAR E .
indeed and most definitely True and by opening our
Our Holy Icons that are held up before us to imitate, are
eager and willing heart to God, He will grant us
in this case the LOYAL Soldier of Christ, the DISCIPLINED
Understanding and Wisdom that nurtures our souls
AND FIT Athlete and the HARD WORKING Famer who is
and compels us to make an even greater effort.
able to enjoy the tasty Fruits of his Labours.
Being focussed on the True Purpose and meaning of this
As Faithful Disciples of Christ we become Spiritually
earthly existence, we will correct our priorities and
Stronger by THE DIVINE GRACE OF GOD, which IS BESTOWED
CONCENTRATE ON ALL THE GOOD ASPECTS AND BLESSINGS OF
ON US WHEN WE PUT ON CHRIST AS OUR GARMENT OF
OUR
CURRENT
LIFE,
GLORIFYING, WORSHIPPING AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS AT OUR HOLY BAPTISM.
EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD AT ALL TIMES.
1ST SATURDAY
OF
GREAT LENTMIRACLE
OF
ST THEODORE GREAT MARTYR
OF
TYRO &
THE
KOLLYVA - 28 FEBRUARY 2015
33.

THE DEDICATION
IN THE
TEMPLE
ST MARK 2 : 23 - 3 : 5
TO
OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST
At that time, our Lord Jesus went through the grain-fields on the Sabbath; and as they went, His Disciples began to puck
the heads of grain. And the Pharisees sad to Him: Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath? And He
said to them: Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry he and those with him how
he went into the House of God in the days of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate the Showbread, which is not lawful to
eat except for the Priests, and also gave some to those who were with Him?
And He said to them: The Sabbath was made for mankind, and not mankind for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of
Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.
And He entered the Synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hard. So they watched Him closely to see
whether Jesus would Heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had a
withered hand: Stand in the middle. And He said to them: Is it Lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil to
save life or to kill? But they remained silent. And after He had looked around at them in anger, being aggrieved by
the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man: Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out, and his hand was
restored as whole as the other.
And the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him how they might destroy Him.
THE
BEGINNING OF
GREAT
Beloved Brothers & Children in the Lord: The Arena of

the Virtues has opened; those who desire to compete
may enter, girding themselves with the Good Struggle
of Fasting. (TRIODION: CHEESEFARE SUNDAY)
The Arena has always remained open, from the time that
the All Merciful Lord of Glory deemed it worthy to
assume our (human) nature.
Since then, through His Holy Church, He invites every
person to participate in the boundless Gifts of the Grace
of the Holy Spirit, particularly during this Blessed
Period of Holy and Great Lent.
Beloved Children in our Lord: the boundless Goodness of
our God, Who is truly worshipped in the Trinity, created
the human race solely out of Love, in order to render us
to the degree that is possible for human nature
sharers and participants of the Grandeur of His Sacred
Glory.
This is the exclusive Purpose of Life at all times.
Indeed, in order to achieve this Purpose, the Holy, Inspired
Tradition of the Orthodox Church comes to our
support, instructing, interpreting and including the
entire spectrum of Spiritual Life by means of various
Struggles, with which the Faithful must always
courageously advance.
Through the Holy Mystery of Baptism, each Christian
receives the Grace of the Holy Spirit and if we begin to
Love God with all our heart, then this Divine Grace
transmits to us in an incomprehensible manner, the
Wealth of Its Benefits.
Whoever wishes to retain this Experience of Grace, should
strive with great Joy to renounce from the soul the
benefits of the present age in order to acquire the
hidden Wealth of True Life (in Christ.)
To the same degree that our soul advances in this Spiritual
Struggle, the Sacred Gift of Divine Grace reveals our
Lords Goodness concealed in the depth of our soul in
order to become the sure Guide in the manifold
Spiritual Struggle. (ST DIADOCHOS OF PHOTIKE)
This Spiritual Struggle is ongoing for every Faithful Disciple
of Christ. Thus it requires us to start anew each day
each moment!
The time has come for the beginning of Spiritual
Struggle, the Victory over demons, the Armour of
Virtue, the Conduct of Angels, the Boldness before
God... (LAUDS, CHEESEFARE SUNDAY.)
GREAT LENT PRECISELY RESEMBLES A CONSTANT BEGINNING OF
SPIRITUAL REGENERATION AND RENEWAL.
This is why the Hymnographer of the Triodion correctly
orientates us toward its proper content, stating that
bodily Fasting - by renouncing certain foods - cannot
result in Remedy and is even despised by God as false,
unless it is accompanied by Purity that results from
renouncing the Spiritual Passions. (LAUDS: WEDNESDAY OF
CHEESEFARE WEEK)
Of course, focusing the intellect on the Work of Knowing

God, in order to return it from passionate dispersion,
comprises a toilsome and time consuming Labour.
However, it is necessary and definite for our Spiritual
Welfare and social life.
The Way of Virtue appears difficult and extremely
unpleasant to those who undertake the Journey; yet,
not because it is actually like that, but because
human nature has become accustomed to the ease
of pleasure.
34. 1 S T S A T U R D A Y
OF
GREAT LENT MIRACLE
OF
AND
HOLY LENT
For those who have succeeded in reaching the middle of

this Journey, in fact it appears pleasant and effortless.
(ST DIADOCHOS OF PHOTIKE)
Frequently, those who cannot understand the Great Mystery

of this Piety, consider the Orthodox Ascetic Tradition as
negative and as leading to deprivation of creativity, of
original initiative, of enjoyment of lifes pleasure.
However, nothing could be further from the Truth!
All that was created by God was created Very Good and is
offered to us in order to delight in and enjoy so that we
may give continual Glory to our Benefactor.
The Divine Commandments guide us and inform us in the
proper use of these Divine Gifts, so that our body and
soul, together with all the material gifts, may be truly
joyful and beneficial for our life on Earth (and hereafter.)
On the contrary, the arrogant, independent and
contemptuous use of material gifts offered to us by our
Creator, result in entirely different goals to Gods
Expectations - leading us to depression, anxiety and
misfortune, even though appearing to satisfy human
pride momentarily!
Our Saviour, Who is truly Divine and truly human, Who is
incomprehensibly known to the humble and those
capable of receiving His Uncreated Grace the Lord of
Glory and of history, Who directs our soul and our mind
(nous or intelligence), Who contains the Universe in His
Divine Providence from the smallest particle of His
Creation to the most inconceivable aspect of our world
- is Eternally the Way, the Truth and the Life. (JOHN 14:6)
Just as the Hypostatic Source of Life could not possibly be
held by Death, which was crushed through His
Resurrection, so, too, there could not possibly be any
positive human life without participation in the Lifecreating Body of our Risen Christ the Orthodox
Church - and the Divinely Inspired Holy Tradition.
In brief: our Lord reigns forever, while the ideas of the
proud are proved false.
Or, as St Diadochos so wisely expressed it: ... there is
nothing poorer than a mind endeavouring to
philosophise about God without God!
Beloved Children in the Lord: upon entering the Arena of
Holy and Great Lent, we paternally exhort you not to be
afraid or lazy in assuming the most important Task of
your life the Spiritual Arena of Work.
Instead, BE COURAGEOUS AND STRONG, SO THAT YOU MAY
PURIFY YOUR SOUL AND BODY OF ALL SIN, in order to reach
the Eternal and Heavenly Kingdom of God, which is
already granted in this short preparatory life to those
who seek it with sincerity and with all their soul.
May the Grace of God and His Boundless Mercy be with you
all.
Bartholomew of Constantinople - Fervent Supplicant to

God for all - Holy and Great Lent 2011
PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE-NEW ROME & ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

HTTP://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM/2011/02/PATRIARCHAL-CATECHETICALHOMILY-ON.HTML
ST MARK
THE
ASCETIC
If you wish to be Saved and to come to the Knowledge of Truth,

always urge yourself to rise above sensory things and to cling
with Hope to God alone. Thus compelling yourself to turn
inwards, you will meet Principalities and Powers, which wage
war against you by suggestions in thoughts. If you overcome
them by Prayer and remain in Good Hope, you will receive
Divine Grace, which will free you from the Wrath to come.
ST THEODORE GREAT MARTYR
OF
TYRO &
THE
KOLLYVA
28 FEBRUARY 2015

2015 - February Sacred Lessons

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2015 - February Sacred Lessons

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

While the stone was sealed by the Judeans, and soldiers

lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton

stood on guard over Thine Undefiled Body, Thou rose

FOREFEAST - THE MEETING OF CHRIST -

Horos, Ouranion apsidon, prokipsas epi Gis, ke

Choir of Heavens Hosts, from the Vaults of the

FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST TRYPHON TONE 4

O Martys Sou Kyrie, en ti Athlisi aftou, to stefos ekomisato Thy

Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by Thee the

tis aftharsias, ek Sou tou Theou imon. Ehon gar tin

agkalas simeron, Pisti kardias, efaplountes dexasthe,

our heart instead of our arms today, O Believers,

En ekklisies Evlogite ton Theon, Kyrion ek Pigon Israil.

God in the congregations, the Lord from the

US SO WHOM SHALL WE FEAR?

PHARISEE- FOREFEAST- MEETING-1 FEBRUARY 2015

more exceeding an Eternal weight of Glory. While we

Based on His Foreknowledge, God assures or predestines

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING

1ST TRIODION 16TH LUKE THE PUBLICAN &

PHARISEE- FOREFEAST- MEETING-1 FEBRUARY 2015

meant that in the Sight of God, his public displays of

Due to our weak human condition, we keep on falling into

IF YOU LOVE, ITS ALWAYS

ABOUT OTHERS - PART 4

1ST TRIODION 16TH LUKE THE PUBLICAN &

PHARISEE- FOREFEAST- MEETING-1 FEBRUARY 2015

1ST TRIODION 16TH LUKE THE PUBLICAN &

This Godless, uncaring, egocentric attitude all ends up in

Keep both eyes open. This is the measure of Humility: if a man is

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

FIRST FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 2

Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter Soson imas!

the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour,

Exirevxato i kardia mou Logon Agathon. Lego ego

My heart overflows with a Good Word; I tell my

I glossa mou kalamos grammateos oxigrafou

Grace was poured out on Thy Lips.

Haris en hilesi Sou

Dia touto evlogise se O Theos is ton eona.

My tongue is the pen of a scrivener.

Therefore, God has Blessed thee forever

SECOND FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION TONE 2

Soson imas Ie Theou, O

EN AGKALES TOU DIKEOU

Perizose tin rinfean Sou epi ton miron Sou, dinate,

IN THE ARMS OF SYMEON

Gird Thy sword upon Thy Thigh, O Mighty One; in

Ke entine ke katevodou ke Vasileve eneken Alithias

3 Ta veli Sou ikonimena, dinate Lai ipokato Sou

O Thronos Sou, O Theos, is ton eona tou eonos;

And stretch Thou bow; and grant prosperity; and

Thine arrows are sharp, O Mighty One, (the people

Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever;

THIRD FESTAL ANTIPHON MEETING/PRESENTATION - TONE 1

Akouson Thigater, ke ide, ke klinon to ous Sou.

Hearken, O Daughter, and consider, and incline

Keharitomeni Theotoke Parthene. Ek Sou gar

To Prosopon Sou litanefsousin i plousii tou laou.

O Theotokos Virgin Full of Grace: for from Thee

Mnisthisome tou Onomatos Sou en pasi genea