Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

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

10th Sunday After Pentecost - Tone 1 - 1 August 2010

The Beginning of the Dormition Fast

10th Sunday of St Matthew

The Epileptic Son
Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross;
the 7 Holy Maccabees – St Abim, St Antonios,
St Gurias, St Eleazar, St Eusebonos, St Alimos
& St Marcellos, St Solomonia (their mother)
& St Eleazar (their teacher); St Attios, St Leontios,
St Alexander, St Cindeos, St Mnesithios,
St Kyriakos, St Mineon, St Catanos & St Eucleos – Holy Martyrs of Perge, Pamphylia
RE SURRE CTION A POL YTIK ION – T ONE 1

Tou lithou sfragisthentos ipo ton Ioudeon ke stratioton While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and soldiers stood
filassonton to ahranton Sou Soma, Anestis trimeros, on guard over Thy Body undefiled, Thou rose on the
Sotir, Doroumenos to kosmo tin Zoin. Dia touto e third day, O Saviour, Who grants Life to the world. For
Dinamis ton Ouranon evoon si Zoodota. Doxa ti which cause the Heavenly Powers cried aloud to Thee:
Anastasi Sou, Hriste! Doxa ti Vasilia Sou! Doxa ti O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!
Ikonomia Sou, mone Filanthrope! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy Providence, O
Thou Who alone Loves mankind!
APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou, ke evlogison tin klironomian O Lord, Save Thy People, and Bless Thine Inheritance,
Sou, nikas tis evsevesi kata varvaron doroumenos, ke granting Victory over enemies to our Rulers and
to son filatton, dia tou Stavrou Sou politefma. [3] through Thy Cross preserving Thine Estate [3]
KO NT AKION O F TR AN SFIGUR AT ION - 27 JULY UNTIL 13 AUGUST

Epi tou orous metemorfothis, ke os ehoroun i Mathite Sou, Upon the Mount Thou were Transfigured, and Thy
tin doxan Sou Hriste O Theos etheasanto. Ina otan se Disciples beheld Thy Glory, as far as they were able to
idosi stavoumenon, to me pathos noisosin ekousion to do, O Christ our God; so that when they would see
de kosmo kirixosin oti si iparhis alithos, tou Patros to
Thee Crucified, they would know that Thou Suffered
Apavgasma!
willingly; and thus proclaim to all the world: Thou art
truly the One Who is the Father’s Radiance!
Resurrection Gospel 10 - John 21: 1 – 14 - OU R R ISEN LOR D JESUS SER VES BREAKFAST TO HIS ELEVEN APOSTLES

PROKEIMENON Let thy Mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our Hope on Thee. Rejoice in the Lord, O All Righteous
men!
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 4: 9 - 16
CONCERNING SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD

Brethren: I think that God has displayed us, the Apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a
spectacle to the world, both to Angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are
weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonoured! Until the present hour we both hunger and
thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we Bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we
entreat. We have been regarded as filth of the world – the offscourings of all things until now.
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my Beloved Children, I warn you: For although you might have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many Fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the
Gospel.
Therefore, I urge you: imitate me.
St Paul directed a series of sharp rhetorical questions and
MARK 6:4 Jesus taught us: ‘A prophet is not without
statements to the Corinthians in order to deflate their honour, except in his own country, among his own
arrogance and dangerous pride, because NOTHING relatives, and in his own house.’
JUSTIFIES OUR FALSE BELIEF OR THINKING that we are This meant that EVEN OUR LORD JESUS COULD NOT PERFORM
better than or above anyone else! HIS DIVINE WORKS AMONGST HIS OWN PEOPLE – not
Since irony and sarcasm had proved to be bitter medicine, St because He lacked the Power to do so, but BECAUSE OF
Paul used them with full force, such as in this instance. THE UNBELIEF OF ALL EXCEPT A FEW people of Nazareth.
His three parallel statements: “... we are fools... we are weak... ❃ WHILE DIVINE GRACE IS ALWAYS OFFERED TO ALL
we are dishonoured...” are delivered in a sharp and PEOPLE, ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVED IT IN FAITH AND
stinging series. HUMILITY OBTAIN ITS BENEFITS.
St Paul wanted to emphasise and contrast in no uncertain
MARK 9:35 Christ taught us: “If anyone desires to be
manner THE RELATIVE COMFORT OF THE CORINTHIAN first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
CHRISTIANS WITH THOSE WHO CONSTANTLY STRUGGLED,
MARK 10:31 “... many who are first will be last, and the
WERE PERSECUTED AND WHO WERE DESTITUTE, LIVING last first.”
DAILY LIVES IN A STATE OF INSECURITY AND This was A WARNING AGAINST OUR SELFISH INTEREST AND
UNCERTAINTY – SUCH AS THE HOLY APOSTLES OF DESIRE FOR WORLDLY POWER.
CHRIST.
By using a small child as a model of True Discipleship, our
Lord Jesus underscored THE ESSENTIAL VIRTUES

Dormition Fast Begins Today 10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE EPILEPTIC SON - 1 AUGUST 2010 1
 REQUIRED FOR OUR ETERNAL CITIZENSHIP IN HIS
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:
 HUMILITY,
 DEPENDENCE ON GOD,
 LOWLINESS (MEEKNESS AND SUBMISSIVENESS TO
GOD),
 SIMPLICITY,
 OBEDIENCE AND
 A WILLINGNESS TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED.
In Orthodox Iconography, St Ignatios of Antioch is depicted as
the child Whom Christ held up as our perfect example to
imitate.
ST IGNATIOS WAS ALSO THE YOUNG CHILD WHOSE SMALL PACKED LUNCH CONSISTING OF
FIVE LITTLE BREAD ROLLS AND TWO SARDINES WAS BLESSED AND MULTIPLIED BY
CHRIST IN ORDER TO FEED THE GREAT MULTITUDE OF 5000 FAMILIES – AN ESTIMATE
OF OVER 20,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN!
The Holy Apostles had endured all kinds of humiliation, being
treated like “filth” and instead of fighting back, they
responded with Love towards their persecutors – all for the
Joy of serving Christ our Saviour and to reconcile the
fallen world to God.
St Paul then soothed the hurt of his severe rebuke by
reminding the Corinthians of his Spiritual Fatherhood.

MATTHEW 23:9-10: Christ warned His Apostles: “Do not
call anyone on earth your “father,” for One is your
Father – He Who is in Heaven. And do not be
called “teachers;” for One is your Teacher –
Christ.”
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 17 : 14 - 23
THE EPILEPTIC SON & HIS FATHER - CONCERNING THE LACK OF FAITH
OUR LORD’S WARNING AGAINST CALLING HYPOCRITES
“FATHER” OR “TEACHER,” is not an absolute prohibition
against using such terms or expressions as some people
try to teach us.
❃ THESE SPECIFIC TERMS ARE APPLIED TO PEOPLE MANY
TIMES IN THE NEW COVENANT SCRIPTURES, ALL OF
WHICH USAGES ARE DIVINELY INSPIRED BY GOD – BY
THE WILL OF THE FATHER, THROUGH THE TEACHINGS
AND GUIDANCE OF THE SON AND BY THE ACTIVATION
AND ENABLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The term “Teacher” is used in: JOHN 3:10; ACTS 13:1; 1
CORINTHINAS 12:28; EPHESIANS 4:11 & 2 TIMOTHY 1:11

The term “Father” is used in: LUKE 16:24; 1 CORINTHIANS
4:15 & COLOSSIANS 3 :21
Since the very early days of Christ’s Holy Church, Bishops and
Presbyters (Priests) have been addressed as “Father” –
not because they assume an elevated Rank but because
due to their fatherly care for their Spiritual Flocks, they
lead us to God and they exercise a fatherly authority within
our Christian Community.
The Holy Church of Christ is a Spiritual Family whose maturing
Children need parental guidance.
St Paul – the Apostle to the Gentiles (the non-Hebrews) – and
thus to most Christians – exhorted us to “imitate me”
since he himself CONSTANTLY STRIVED TO IMITATE OUR
SAVIOUR.

At that time, when they had gone to the multitude, a man knelt before Jesus and said: “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he
is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Thy
Disciples but they could not cure him.”
Then Jesus answered and said: “O faithless and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I
bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then the Disciples went to Jesus privately and asked: “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them: “Because of
your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you: if you have faith (as small) as a mustard seed, you will say to that
mountain: ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind
(of demon) does not go out except by Prayer and Fasting.”
Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them: “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of
men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.”
And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
Sickness was often connected to demonic activity in ancient The banishment or exorcism of demons requires utter Faith,
times, as recorded in Holy Scripture. Prayer and Fasting for there is no healing and no Victory in
By kneeling before Christ, the father of the epileptic son Spiritual Warfare without all three conditions.
expressed his humility and desperation due to his own Beginning with the Didache (THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS OF THE HOLY
lack of Faith. APOSTLES OF CHRIST) our Holy Fathers have taught us that both
Although His Disciples also lacked Faith, CHRIST REBUKED the person in need of healing and the person who
THE FATHER FOR BLAMING OTHERS WHEN IT WAS HIS performs the healing (BOTH SPIRITUAL HEALING AND PHYSICAL HEALING
OWN MUCH GREATER LACK OF FAITH THAT HAD BY DIVINE GRACE) must believe, pray and Fast in order to be in
PREVENTED HIS SON’S HEALING. the required and essential state.
❃ WE ARE ALWAYS QUICK TO BLAME OTHERS FOR OUR IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, THREE EXORCISMS ARE PART OF “THE MAKING OF A
MISFORTUNES, WHICH IN TRUTH ARE THE CATECHUMEN” – THE FIRST PART OF THE HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM AND
CHRISMATION.
CONSEQUENCE OF OUR LACK OF FAITH OR OUR OWN EVERY YEAR DURING HOLY WEEK, WE MAY RECEIVE HOLY UNCTION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL
DELIBERATE ACTIONS. AND PHYSICAL HEALING, AFTER HAVING PREPARED OURSELVES WITH REPENTANCE-
❃ BEFORE POINTING ACCUSING FINGERS AT OTHERS, WE
CONFESSION, PRAYERS AND FASTING – ALL OF WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACHIEVED
WITHOUT FAITH IN GOD.
MUST FIRST CLOSELY SCRUTINISE OUR OWN ACTIONS PERSONAL EXORCISMS ARE NEVER UNDERTAKEN BY LAY PEOPLE.
THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF ONLY THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR A BISHOP
OR A PRIEST TO PERFORM – IN VERY RARE CASES – EXORCISMS FOR DEMON
WHATEVER TROUBLES US. POSSESSION.
Our Lord defended His Disciples in front of the gathered crowd THE HOLY FATHER NEVER PERSONALLY CHALLENGES THE FORCES OF EVIL BUT INVOKES
GOD’S DIVINE POWER AND MAJESTY – IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE
and only LATER REBUKED THEM PRIVATELY for their lack SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – TO DO SO.
of Faith, which had prevented them from curing the boy’s
St John Chrysostom believed that Christ’s rebuke was directed
epilepsy.
at His nine Disciples who could not cast out the demon
❃ By dealing with His Disciples strictly but privately, Christ that caused the epilepsy in the young boy, whereas His
teaches us HOW TO CORRECT OTHERS WITHOUT “Pillars of Faith” – St Peter, St James and St John – were
HUMILIATING OR SHAMING THEM IN FRONT OF not included in the rebuke as they had been on Mount
WITNESSES WHO WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULL
SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.
Tabor with Christ at His Transfiguration at the time of the
It is indeed our Christian Duty to correct our stumbling incident.
Brethren, but we must take care to do so without ever While it is not recorded that any Apostle of Christ literally
embarrassing or insulting them. moved a “mountain,” our Holy Church Fathers are clear
that they certainly had the Divine Authority to do so if the
❃ WE MUST ALWAYS GENTLY ENCOURAGE, GUIDE AND
necessity arose and in some rare cases, Saints did cause
TEACH OTHERS GOD’S TRUTH WITH LOVE – WITH
AGAPE! crevices to appear in mountains for specific reasons or
purposes. (SUCH AS THE ESCAPE OF ST ELIZABETH AND THE VERY YOUNG ST
❃ In the same manner, WHEN WE ARE CORRECTED OR JOHN THE BAPTIST & FORERUNNER TO CHRIST.)
TAUGHT, WE MUST ACCEPT THE ENCOURAGEMENT
Furthermore, not everything the Apostles of Christ
AND GUIDANCE OF OTHERS WITH AGAPE,
IMMEDIATELY APPLYING THE NEWLY GAINED accomplished was recorded or even witnessed by others.
KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE TO OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS Beyond the literal meaning, the Divine Promise of moving
AND DEEDS – WITH HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE. “mountains” is also an illustration of the immense Power of
“This kind” of demonic possession referred to all powers of True Faith and fervent Prayer in all areas and experiences
Spiritual Darkness and not simply to those that cause a of life.
particular type of illness. “Whatever we ask, without hesitation and believing in
God’s Power, we shall receive...” WHEN WE REQUEST
SPIRITUALLY PROFITABLE THINGS. (ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE)

2 Dormition Fast Begins Today 10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE EPILEPTIC SON - 1 AUGUST 2010
Our Lord Jesus Christ predicted and informed His Disciples of
His approaching Passion and Resurrection for a second
time in order to emphasise the Truth that HE APPROACHED
HIS SUFFERING, DEATH AND RESURRECTION FREELY –
ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL AND ACCORDING TO HIS
OWN TIME – that it would not be fulfilled against His Will
O Faithless & Perverse Generation!
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was approached by
a man whose son was demon9possessed.
ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NO REAL POWER OVER US, DEMONS
ALWAYS TRY TO DESTROY OR HURT US, and, as usual
THEY TRIED IN VAIN TO CAUSE THE DEATH OF THE
YOUNG BOY BY MAKING HIM FALL into either water or
fire while being convulsed by epileptic fits.
His distraught father watched over him as much as
possible but he lived with the constant fear that his
son would eventually suffer terrible wounds or even
death.
He had presented his boy to the Disciples of Christ, yet
they had not been able to cast out the demon that
took cruel advantage of the poor child’s illness.
When the father saw Christ (WHO HAD RETURNED WITH THREE OF HIS
APOSTLES FROM MOUNT TABOR WHERE THEY HAD WITNESSED
he fell upon his knees before our Lord,
TRANSFIGURATION,)
beseeching His Great Mercy and bitterly complaining
against the inability of His Disciples to cure his son.
The poor father had watched the suffering of his beloved
son for so many years that his Faith had obviously
worn rather thin by then – especially when the
Disciples seemed to have failed 9 and ALTHOUGH HE
DID BELIEVE THAT CHRIST COULD HELP THEM, HE
NEEDED CHRIST’S REASSURANCE – HE NEEDED GOD TO
STRENGTHEN HIS FAITH.
What a tragedy is unbelief!
What worse Spiritual Shackle can the devil fasten around
a Christian’s neck than unbelief?
THERE IS NO GREATER SLAVERY THAN THE SLAVERY AND
IMPRISONMENT OF FAITHLESSNESS!
To have no Faith is to have no True Hope! No True Life!
TO LIVE WITHOUT FAITH IN GOD IS THE VERY
CONTRADICTION OF CHRISTIANITY! After all, we are
defined by the title “Believers” or “the Faithful!”
FAITHLESSNESS IS SPIRITUAL DEATH, SPIRITUAL DARKNESS
AND SPIRITUAL EXILE FROM GOD – the saddest state of
hopelessness and despair!
This was the increasing Spiritual Condition of the father
of the epileptic boy – HE FELT HELPLESS AND READY
TO SURRENDER TO THE TRICKS OF THE DEMONS.
OUR LORD’S RESPONSE TO THE FATHER’S WANING FAITH IS
REMARKABLE FOR IT WAS A REFLECTION OF SO MANY
SOULS WHO HAD WITNESSED HIS DIVINE MIRACLES AND
HEARD HIS DIVINE TEACHINGS, YET THEY STILL
DOUBTED AND REJECTED HIM AS OUR TRUE MESSIAH –
our True Lord and Saviour Who came to serve us in
our hour of need – to teach us His Divine Truth
directly and without any errors or false
interpretations, and Who would all too soon willingly
shed His Most Immaculate, Sinless and All Pure Blood
as the ultimate Ransom for our Eternal Salvation!
No wonder OUR LORD CRIED OUT IN FRUSTRATION TO ALL
WHO GATHERED ABOUT HIM – NOT JUST
ANGUISHED FATHER: “...O faithless and perverse
generation! How long shall I be with you? How
long shall I bear with you?”
The continuous frustration of doubters, scoffers,
mockers and unbelievers must have made our
Beloved Saviour yearn to return from Whence He had
come – the loving Presence of His Father in His
Eternal Kingdom of Peace and Love!
WHAT AN ABOMINATION IS UNBELIEF OR LACK OF FAITH IN
GOD FOR IT MAKES US RESEMBLE THE DEMONS
THEMSELVES, who may have a little more knowledge
than we do at present, but without any Faith in God
and all the goodness, the Joy and the Blessings that
come with such Faith!
Dormition Fast Begins Today 10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE EPILEPTIC SON - 1 AUGUST 2010
but according to the Divine Plan FOR THE SALVATION OF
ALL MANKIND since before Creation – from Eternity.
Faith that is committed and unshakable pleases our Lord
God 9 together with all His Heavenly Hosts 9 to the
greatest degree and they all marvel and rejoice with
us.
Christ expressed His amazement when confronted by
unexpected, deep Faith such as that of the Roman
Centurion and St Veronica (WHO HAD RISKED DIRE SOCIAL SCANDAL
AND PUNISHMENT BY TOUCHING CHRIST’S GARMENTS SO AS TO RECEIVE A CURE
AFTER SUFFERING TWELVE LONG YEARS OF HAEMORRHAGING.)
The unbelief of that “faithless generation” was also
described by our Saviour as being “perverted!”
Such a description in a case of immorality or the like
would be expected but WHAT DOES UNBELIEF HAVE TO
DO WITH BEING PERVERTED?
If we were privy to a similar encounter, would we refer
to someone as being “perverted?” Would we not
HIS
rather consider such people as being either faithless,
stupid or ignorant?
❃ Our Saviour regards our lack of Faith as being
perverted because FAITH IN GOD IS NATURAL TO
OUR HUMAN NATURE! IT IS OUR ONLY TRULY
NATURAL STATE.
❃ St. Symeon the New Theologian taught us that
“...Faith is a pre-eminent characteristic of our
nature, even though it is also subject to our
individual power of free will” (PHILOKALIA, VOL. 4, P. 16)
FAITH IS NATURAL!
Therefore unbelief is indeed a perverted state since it
simply is against our human nature!
 UNBELIEF – THE REJECTION OF FAITH IN GOD – IS AN
INVENTION OF THE EVIL ONE who seeks our
destruction through our alienation from God and
all His Goodness!
THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WERE UNABLE TO CAST OUT THE
DEMON EVEN THOUGH OUR LORD HAD GRANTED THEM
HIS POWER TO EXORCISE EVIL, DUE TO A NUMBER OF
FACTORS:
 THE FATHER’S UNBELIEF – Spiritual Doubt 9 had
become deeply rooted through the years of
anxiety and suffering, which WORKED AGAINST –
REJECTED - THE HEALING POWERS OF GOD.
GOD CAN DO ANYTHING BUT HE NEVER EVER FORCES HIMSELF OR HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE
WHO DOUBT OR REJECT THEM.
Our Lord Jesus had bestowed very few of His Divine
Miracles upon the people of Nazareth due to their
unbelief.
 NOT ALL DEMONS ARE EQUAL in Strength And
Persistence.
 THE BOY HAD SUFFERED EPILEPSY AND BEEN POSSESSED
SINCE HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD so THE DEMONS WERE
FIRMLY ENTRENCHED, AND TIGHTENED THEIR GRIP
ON THE BOY AND HIS FATHER AS THEIR FAITH GREW
LESS AND LESS, AND AS THEIR DOUBTS AND FEARS
ENSLAVED AND WEAKENED THEM.
SATAN AND HIS DEMONS HAVE NO SPECIAL POWERS OR MAGIC TRICKS TO USE AGAINST US.
THE INSTEAD THEY CLOSELY AND INTENSELY WATCH US AND THEN USE OUR OWN
WEAKNESSES AND ERRORS AGAINST US.
 LONG ESTABLISHED DEMONS CAN ONLY BE ERADICATED
THROUGH INTENSE, POWERFUL AND FERVENT
PRAYERS AND FASTING.
FERVENT PRAYERS - AND ESPECIALLY THE DIVINE NAMES OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY
TRINITY - BURN AND REPEL THE EVIL ONES WHILE SELF-DENIAL AND DISCIPLINE
MAKES US SPIRITUALLY STRONGER AND MORE RESISTENT TO THEIR TEMPTATIONS
AND DECEPTIONS.
 THE DISCIPLES’ LACK OF SUFFICIENT AND COMMITTED
FAITH also became an obstacle that prevented the
exorcism of the arrogant and stubborn demon.
When His Disciples sought an explanation of their failure
to heal the epileptic boy, our Lord Jesus immediately
answered: “Because of your unbelief!”
❃ DESPITE HAVING SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN CLOSE
CONTACT WITH CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES STILL
NEEDED TO FULLY COMMIT THEMSELVES TO HIM AS
MESSIAH, GOD INCARNATE AND SAVIOUR – NOT AS
3
 SOMEONE WHOM THEY REGARDED AS AN
OBVIOUSLY HOLY AND MOST WISE PROPHET OR
TEACHER.
Our Lord Who sees into the darkest corners of our soul
could see the lurking doubts within them SINCE THEY
WERE NOT YET UTTERLY DEDICATED TO AND
CONVINCED OF HIS DIVINE TRUTH AND HIS DIVINE
IDENTITY.
They – like so many of us – were merely “going through
the motions” 9 without a thorough acceptance of,
dependence on and commitment to Christ.
❃ OUR LORD TRIED TO MAKE US UNDERSTAND THE
AMAZING POWER OF FAITH THAT MAKES EVEN THE
MOST IMPOSSIBLE THINGS HAPPEN:
❃ FAITH CHANGES LIVES COMPLETELY.
❃ FAITH CONQUERS AND CRUSHES EVIL.
❃ FAITH LEADS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS.
❃ FAITH IS THE CATALYST OF DIVINE MIRACLES.
❃ FAITH UNLEASES GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IN OUR
LIVES BECAUSE IT OPENS US UP TO AND UNITES
US WITH GOD HIMSELF!
❃ THE FAITHFUL BELIEVERS ARE GRANTED THE INFINITE
AND ETERNAL RESOURCES OF OUR LORD, while,
sadly, those without Faith – the unbelievers 9
have only their own meagre, temporary and
unsatisfactory resources.
Father Raphael is an Elder of the Valaam Monastery in
Northern Russia who had been severely persecuted
by the Communists in the USSR.
He, and a number of other Hermit Monks, who had been
driven from the Monastery into the forests, were
being chased and shot at by soldiers in helicopters.
They were pursued right up to the very edge of a high,
dangerous cliff that overlooked an extremely deep
gorge.
The Communists thought that they had finally trapped
the Monks, but as they approached them, ALL THE
FAITHFUL MONKS SLOWLY MADE THE SIGN OF THE
CROSS OVER THE GORGE BEFORE WALKING STRAIGHT
ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE - ON NOTHING BUT THIN
AIR!
DUE TO THEIR ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD, THEY IMITATED ST
PETER who had walked on water towards Christ, but
THEY NEVER DOUBTED AT ALL, NOR DID THEY SINK – OR
RATHER, DROP DOWN!!
When the Communists arrived at the cliff edge and did
not see their hunted prey, they naturally assumed
that the Monks had fallen to death at the bottom of
the deep gorge.
❃ BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND WITH MORE THAN A LITTLE
FAITH, THE HOLY MONKS HAD INDEED “MOVED
MOUNTAINS” THROUGH THE ENORMOUS POWER OF
TRUE FAITH!
Fortunately, most of us will never face such a life9
threatening situation yet WE ALL NEED THE POWER OF
The Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
One afternoon I went to visit Elder Paisios (of Mount
Athos). At the fence of his cell stood a man who was
approximately thirty years of age, waiting for him to
open the gate.
When I arrived, Father Paisios opened his window and
asked who it was and when I identified myself and
told him that the young man also wished to see him,
he told me to tell him to leave.
The man begged Elder Paisios to let him in but the Holy
Father replied: “Go, because you upset me as you
only trust your own way of thinking and do not
listen to what I tell you! Why do you waste your time
by coming here?”
He refused to open the gate until the young man had
departed and then he explained to me: “He is a real
burden! He does not listen to my words. He comes,
asks questions and leaves; after a short while, he
4 Dormition Fast Begins Today 10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE EPILEPTIC SON - 1 AUGUST 2010
FAITH EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE IN ORDER TO OVERCOME
OUR OWN AFFLICTIONS AND TEMPTATIONS OF EVIL.
❃ TO INCREASE OUR FAITH:
1. WE MUST UNDERSTAND that THE EXERCISE OF FAITH IS
SOMETHING DYNAMIC NOT STATIC.
 EXERCISING FAITH IS EXERCISING LOVE.
 Faith and Love is EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR GOOD
WORDS, GOOD THOUGHTS AND GOOD DEEDS.
 Faith and Love must be perpetually worked on,
and thoroughly embraced! THE MORE WE USE
OUR FAITH AND LOVE, THE STRONGER THESE
VIRTUES GROW WITHIN US – LEADING TO ALL
THE OTHER VIRTUES.
 Faith is a Work itself. And just as you cannot live
on old Love, you cannot live on old Faith!
ONLY PRESENT LOVE AND PRESENT FAITH WILL
HELP US NOW!
 Belief builds on itself. TRUE FAITH AND ABSOLUTE
BELIEF IN GOD NEVER FAILS OR DISAPPOINTS!
2. WE MUST UNDERSTAND that LIVING IN THE CHURCH
DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT WE BELIEVE.
 We must LIVE UP TO OUR TITLE “Believer,” or
“Faithful,” or “Christian.”
 We must ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SEVERE
CONSEQUENCES suffered by this faithless
father and the faithless Hebrews and learn
from their poor example.
 We must ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR SAVIOUR’S
WORDS to the Faithful Roman Centurion: “...
many shall come from East and West, and
recline at the table with Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven;
but the sons of the Kingdom shall be cast
out into Outer Darkness...” (MATTHEW 8:11-12)
3. WE MUST INCREASE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD OUR
GOD.
St. Mark the Ascetic wrote: “He who does not know the
Truth cannot truly have Faith; for by nature
Knowledge proceeds Faith” (PHILOKALIA, VOL. 1, P. 118).
 IF WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND DEVELOP
FAITH, WE MUST DEVELOP A CLOSE, INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE
CORRECT WORSHIP AND TRUE TEACHINGS OF
CHRIST AND HIS HOLY CHURCH.
 WHEN WE KNOW GOD WE WILL TRUST HIM
COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT FAIL.
ONLY BY DEVELOPING A VERY CLOSE, INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WILL OUR
KNOWLEDGE OF HIM BE INCREASED BY HIM – AND THE CLOSER WE BECOME TO GOD
THE MORE OUR DEVOTION AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE HIM INCREASES, UNTIL WE
CONSTANTLY YEARN ONLY FOR HIS LOVING PRESENCE!
May God grant us all True Faith with which it is possible
to serve and to please Him!
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: FATHER JOSIAH TRENHAM – ST ANDREW ORTHODOX CHURCH,
RIVERSIDE, USA
http://www.saintandrew.net/works.html
returns and asks me the same things over and over
again! This happens because he always listens to his
own thoughts; therefore, he forgets what I tell him,
or he does not understand a word!”
Another young man who relied completely on his own
thoughts and who was led astray was told by Father
Paisios: “Do not listen to your thoughts, because you
will end up losing your mind.
“Be careful; you have a good machine, but its wheel faces
the wrong direction. You have to turn it to the right
direction, to where the good thoughts are.
“Only you, yourself can do this – along with the Help of
God. No one else can do it for you, as you are free
and self-dependent.
“You turn the wheel, and your Spiritual Father will
show you the direction.”
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ELDER PAISIOS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN” BY HIEROMONK
CHRISTODOULOS – A HOLY MOUNTAIN MONK
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

6 August 2010
The Transfiguration of Christ our Lord & Saviour
I SODI KON O F THE T R A N S F I G U R A T I O N ISODIKON :

Oti para Si Pigi Zoix, Kyrie, en to Foti Forwith Thee is the Fountain of Life;
Sou opsometha Fos. Soson imas, Ie in Thy Light we shall see Light!
Theou, O en to Orei to Thavor Save us, O Son of God Who was
Metamorfothis, psalontas Si: Transfigured on Mount Tabor, as
Allilouia! we sing to Thee: Alleluia!
APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST OUR GOD – TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE

Metemorfothis en to Ori, Hriste O Theos, dixas tis Mathites Thou were Transfigured upon the Mountain, O Christ our
Sou, tin Doxan Sou kathos idinanto; lampson ke imin God, showing to Thy Disciples Thy Glory as far as
tis amartolis, to Fos Sou to Aidion, Presvies tis they could understand; shine upon us sinners as well,
Theotokou, Fotodota doxa Si! Thine Everlasting Light, by the Intercessions of the
Theotokos, O Giver of Light, Glory to Thee!
KONTAKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION –( 27 JULY UNTIL 13 AUGUST

Epi tou Orous Metemorfothis, ke os ehoroun i Mathite Sou, Upon the Mount Thou were Transfigured, and Thy
tin Doxan Sou Hriste O Theos etheasanto. Ina otan se Disciples beheld Thy Glory, as far as they were able to
idosi Stavoumenon, to me Pathos noisosin ekousion to do, O Christ our God; so that when they would see Thee
de kosmo kirixosin oti Si Iparhis Alithos, tou Patros to Crucified, they would know that Thou Suffered
Apavgasma! willingly; and thus proclaim to all the world: Thou art
truly the One Who is the Father’s Radiance!
The Matins Gospel – Luke 9 : 28 – 36
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST
At that time, it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up on
the Mountain to pray.
As He prayed, the appearance of His Face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold! Two men
talked with Him. They were Moses and Elijah who appeared in Glory and spoke of His Decease, which He was about to
accomplish at Jerusalem.
But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His Glory and the two men
who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus: “Master, it is good for
us to be here; and let us make three Tabernacles: one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he
said.
While he was saying this, a Cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the Cloud. And a
Voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”
When the Voice ceased, Jesus was found alone, but they kept quiet, and they told no one in those days any of the Things
they had witnessed.
❃ THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST WAS A THEOPHANY – A 3. THE TRANSFIGURATION NOT ONLY PROCLAIMS CHRIST’S
DIVINE SONSHIP, BUT FORESHADOWS HIS FUTURE
MANIFESTATION OF GOD – i.e. God makes it possible
GLORY WHEN HE, AS THE TRUE MESSIAH, WILL USHER
for human beings to witness His Divine Presence. IN THE LONG-AWAITED ETERNAL KINGDOM OF
 The Transfiguration of Christ was especially A HEAVEN.
MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINITY OF OUR LORD The bright Cloud recalls Temple Worship and the shining
AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH THE
Cloud that went before the Israelites during their 40 year
DISPLAY OF HIS UNCREATED, DIVINE ENERGY,
long trek through the wilderness before settling down in
which made His Face change and even His robes the earthly Promised Land.
to shine so brightly.  THE BRIGHT CLOUD IS A VISIBLE SIGN OF GOD’S
This Magnificent Event was THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT GOD EXTRAORDINARY PRESENCE AT THAT TIME.
WAS REVEALED TO HUMAN BEINGS IN HIS GLORY and the 4. ST MOSES REPRESENTS THE DIVINE LAW OF GOD – THE
Orthodox Church celebrates it as A MAJOR FEAST DAY of COMMANDMENTS OF GOD – AND ALL THOSE WHO HAD
the Liturgical Year. ALREADY DIED, WHILE ST ELIJAH REPRESENTS THE
SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION REVEAL OUR HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD AND – since he did not
LORD JESUS CHRIST AS TRULY MESSIAH AND GOD personally experience mortal death himself – ALL
INCARNATE. THOSE WHO ARE TRULY ALIVE IN CHRIST.
1. BECAUSE GOD IS LIGHT – UNCREATED LIGHT – THE  Their presence at the Transfiguration of Christ shows
BRIGHT CLOUD, THE SHINING OF OUR LORD’S FACE AS us that THE LAW AND THE HOLY PROPHETS – THE
BLINDINGLY BRIGHT AS THE SUN, AND EVEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD – ALL BEAR WITNESS TO
GLISTENING WHITENESS OF HIS ROBE ALL EXPRESS JESUS CHRIST AS THE TRUE MESSIAH – the True
AND EXHIBIT HIS DIVINITY. Saviour – Who fulfilled the entire Old Covenant.
 In some Holy Icons this Divine Light is shown to be  The presence of St Moses and St Elijah also manifests
beyond white – a bluish white, an ineffable colour, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
indicating its Spiritual Qualities and Origin.  BOTH HOLY MEN WERE RECOGNISABLE and spoke
2. THE FATHER BEARS WITNESS FROM HEAVEN CONCERNING with our Lord Jesus and
HIS DIVINE SON.
 HIS DISCIPLES WERE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND Christ’s
 He did not say: “This has become My Beloved Son...” words “...Elijah has come already...” which referred
but states emphatically: “THIS IS MY BELOVED to St John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ our
SON...” indicating that HIS DIVINE GLORY IS Saviour.
CHRIST’S BY HIS OWN DIVINE NATURE.
 THE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING OR SIGHT OF THE
 FROM ETERNITY – infinitely before our Lord Jesus’
HOLY APOSTLES who accompanied our Lord
Baptism and Transfiguration - HE IS THE WORD Jesus to Mount Tabor and witnessed His
AND SON OF GOD THE FATHER, FULLY SHARING IN
THE DIVINE ESSENCE AND ALL THE DIVINE Transfiguration WAS OPENED to the fact that St
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD THE FATHER FOR OUR LORD Malachi’s Prophecy referred to someone special –
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD OF GOD. St John the Baptist – having come “...in the spirit

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST ON MOUNT TABOR 6 AUGUST 2010

5
 and power of Elijah...” rather than referring to St testifying to Christ’s Divine Sonship, AND THE HOLY
Elijah himself. (MALACHI 4:5-6; LUKE 1:17) SPIRIT WAS PRESENT IN THE FORM OF THE DAZZLING,
5. Finally, THE HOLY TRINITY WAS MANIFESTED (revealed) on BLINDINGLY BRIGHT UNCREATED LIGHT that
Mount Tabor when CHRIST WAS TRANSFIGURED, GOD surrounded our Lord Jesus and overshadowed the
THE FATHER SPOKE to the Apostles from Heaven, whole Mountain.
The Second Epistle of St Peter 1 : 10 – 19
PAR TAK E R S O F TH E DI VI NE NATUR E & THE TR UTH O F TH E APO STO L I C TE STIMO NIE S & TE ACH I NG S

Brethren: be even more diligent to make your Call and Election sure, for is you do these things you will never stumble; for
so an Entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For this reason, I will not be negligent in reminding you always of these Things, although you know and are established in
the present Truth.
Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this “tent,” to stir you up by reminding you – knowing that shortly I must put off
my “tent,” just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
Furthermore, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my repose. For we did not
follow cunningly devised fables when we made know to you the Power and the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but
were eye9witnesses of His Majesty. For He received from God the Father Honour and Glory when such a Voice came to
Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased!” And we heard this Voice, which
came from Heaven when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain.
And so we have the Prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a Light that shines in a dark place, until the
Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.
The primary Truth with which St Peter dealt (which he only PERMITTED INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF OUR TRIUNE
indirectly touched upon to this particular point in time) was GOD – AND WHO LIVED TO TELL OTHERS LATER!
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AND HIS EVERLASTING What St Peter informed us of with regard to THE SECOND
KINGDOM – an Eternal Kingdom of Love, ruled by God our COMING OF CHRIST IS THE COMMON APOSTOLIC
Most Merciful and Divine Benefactor. TRADITION, WHICH IS REINFORCED BY THE EYEWITNESS
TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST.
During a long journey or war, people were sheltered in tents –
temporary structures . ❃ THE TRUTH OF CHRIST IS NOT AN ELABORATE SCHEME OF
Therefore, AS LONG AS OUR SOULS ARE HOUSED IN OUR FABLES – fabricated lies or mere imaginings such as
PHYSICAL BODIES, WE ALSO LIVE IN “TENTS,” TEMPORARY the Gnostics propounded.
SHELTERS. ❃ IN ALL THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCOUNTS, THE
This expression bears witness to THE LONG, ARDUOUS TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
JOURNEY OF LIFE AND TO THE ONGOING BATTLE – GENUINE PROOF AND THE FORETASTE OF THE
SPIRITUAL WARFARE – AGAINST OUR ENEMY FORCES WHO SECOND COMING – THE GLORIOUS REAPPEARANCE IN
TRY BY ALL DEVIOUS MEANS TO PREVENT OUR SPIRITUAL HIS PHYSICAL FORM – OF CHRIST IN ALL HIS DIVINE
PROGRESS DURING THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE GLORY.
ETERNITY.
ST PETER HAD BEEN AN EYE-WITNESS TO THE MAJESTY OF
❃ THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES BOTH CONFIRMS
ALL PROPHECIES – THE “PROPHETIC WORD” –
CHRIST IN MANY WAYS AND ON MANY OCCASIONS AND
CONCERNING THE SECOND GLORIOUS COMING OF
EVENTUALLY, ON MOUNT TABOR, HE WAS ONE OF THE CHRIST AND SHOWS US HOW TO CORRECTLY
THREE ESPECIALLY CHOSEN APOSTLES WHO WERE INTERPRET THE DIVINELY INSPIRED PROPHECIES OF
THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 17 : 1 – 9
THE TR ANS FI G UR ATI O N O F O UR L O RD & SAVI O UR , JE SUS CH R I ST ON MO UNT TABO R

At that time, after six days, Jesus led Peter, James and his brother, John, up a high mountain by themselves; and He was
Transfigured before them. His Face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the Light. And behold!
Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it is good for us to be here! If Thou so wish, let us make three tabernacles (shelters): one for
Thee, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” And while he was still speaking, behold! A bright Cloud overshadowed them; and
suddenly a Voice came out of the Cloud, saying: “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased. Hear Him!”
And when the Disciples heard It, they fell upon their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus went and touched them, saying:
“Arise, and do not be afraid.”
When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Then, as they went down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them: “Tell no one the Vision until the Son of Man is Risen
from the dead!”
A HIGH MOUNTAIN IS OFTEN THE PLACE OF DIVINE REVELATION – ❃ IN THE LITURGICAL CYCLE, THE FEAST OF THE
especially in Holy Scripture: TRANSFIGURATION IS CELEBRATED FORTY DAYS BEFORE
GENESIS 22:2 - God tested the Faith of Abraham when He THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS,
commanded him: “Take now your beloved son, Isaac, thereby showing THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRIST’S
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer GLORY AND HIS HOLY CROSS.
him there as a Whole Burnt Offering on one of the ❃ CHRIST’S TERRIBLE PASSION IS A FULFILMENT OF THE OLD
Mountains I tell you.” COVENANT PASSOVER AND IS THE TRUE EXODUS – i.e.
EXODUS 19:3 – “... Moses went up to the Mountain of God, and departure – from Spiritual Enslavement into the True
God Called to him from the Mountain...” Freedom of God’s wonderful Eternal Salvation.
EXODUS 19: 23 – “... Moses said to God: ‘The people cannot come ❃ THE REVELATION OF DIVINE POWER AT THE
up to Mount Sinai; for Thou solemnly charged us, saying: “Set TRANSFIGURATION CONFIRMED THE TRUTH THAT OUR
bounds around the Mountain and Sanctify It!”’” LORD’S APPROACHING DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION WAS NOT
ISAIAH 2:3 – “Many Gentiles shall travel and say: ‘Come, let us go IMPOSED ON HIM BY ANY HUMAN FORCES, BUT WAS A
up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of VOLUNTARY OFFERING OF GOD’S DIVINE LOVE for all
Jacob. He will proclaim His Way to us, and we shall walk in Creation, especially His favourite human beings, since no
It.’ For the Law of the Lord shall go forth from Zion, and the arresting soldier would have withstood such Divine Power
Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” and Glory if it had been attempted against the Will of God!
2 PETER 1:18 – “... we heard this Voice, which came from Heaven, In the Kontakion Hymn of the Transfiguration we sing: “Thy
when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain.” Disciples beheld Thy Glory as far as they could bear it, so
Christ’s Death is intimately connected to the Glory of the that when they saw Thee Crucified, they would
Transfiguration, for Christ is Glorified through His (physical) understand that Thy Suffering was voluntary.”
Death.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST ON MOUNT TABOR 6 AUGUST 2010

6
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT,
NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA,
BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT
OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

11th Sunday After Pentecost – Tone 2

8 August 2010

11th Sunday of St Matthew - The Unmerciful Servant

Feast of St Emilianos of Cyzikos; St Myronos the Wonderworker of Crete; St Triandaphyllos of Stara, Zagora,
Magnesia (Thessaly); St Anastasios New Martyr of Thessalonika; St Gregory, Iconographer of the Caves; St
Zosimas and Sabbatios of Solovki (first & second translation of Relics); St Eleutherios, StLeonides and the Martyred
Infants of Constantinople; St Gregory of Sinai & Mount Athos; St Euthymios Abbot of St John the Baptist
Monastery, Davit-Gareji; St Zosimas of Tuman; Ten Egyptian Ascetics; Two Martyrs of Tyre; and The Miracle-
working Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos of Tolga
RE SURRE CTION A POL YTIK ION – T ONE 2

Ote katilthes pros ton thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote ton When Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,
adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy
tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pase e Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the
Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried
O Theos imon, Doxa Si! aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!

APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST OUR GOD – TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE

Metemorfothis en to Ori, Hriste O Theos, dixas tis Mathites Thou were Transfigured upon the Mountain, O Christ our
Sou, tin Doxan Sou kathos idinanto; lampson ke imin God, showing to Thy Disciples Thy Glory as far as
tis amartolis, to Fos Sou to Aidion, Presvies tis they could understand; shine upon us sinners as well,
Theotokou, Fotodota doxa Si! Thine Everlasting Light, by the Intercessions of the
Theotokos, O Giver of Light, Glory to Thee!
KONTAKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION –( 27 JULY UNTIL 13 AUGUST

Epi tou Orous Metemorfothis, ke os ehoroun i Mathite Sou,
tin Doxan Sou Hriste O Theos etheasanto. Ina otan se
idosi Stavoumenon, to me Pathos noisosin ekousion to
de kosmo kirixosin oti Si Iparhis Alithos, tou Patros to
Apavgasma!
Resurrection Gospel 11 – John 21 : 14 – 25
Upon the Mount Thou were Transfigured, and Thy
Disciples beheld Thy Glory, as far as they were able to
do, O Christ our God; so that when they would see Thee
Crucified, they would know that Thou Suffered
willingly; and thus proclaim to all the world: Thou art
truly the One Who is the Father’s Radiance!
Our Lord Jesus Restores And Commissions St Peter

PROKEIMENON The Lord is my Strength and my Glory! The Lord has punished me severely, but he has not delivered me to death!
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 9: 2 - 12
THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF ST PAUL’S RIGHTS
Brethren, you are the Seal of my Apostleship in the Lord and my defence to those who examine me is this: Do we have no
right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other Apostles, the brothers of
the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and
does not drink of the milk of the flock?
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the Law say the same also? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “You
shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.”
Is it oxen that God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written,
so that he who ploughs shall plough in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
If we have sown Spiritual Things for you, is it a great matter if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this
right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless: we have not used this right, but we endure all things lest we hinder the Gospel of Christ.
The authenticity of St Paul’s Holy Apostleship was under The Provision for the physical, earthly welfare of the Holy
attack by various people causing him to defend himself. Priesthood was made by God according to His Old
❃ THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CLERGY IS USUALLY Covenant with the Hebrews and St Paul reminded the
CERTIFIED BY THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE HOLY Corinthians that CHRISTIAN PRIESTS MUST BE SIMILARLY
FLOCK – THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS. SUPPORTED AND PROVIDED FOR.
❃ THE CLERGY OF CHRIST’S CHURCH NEEDS THE MATERIAL All too often the people ignore the necessities of the Holy
SUPPORT OF THE LAITY in order for our Spiritual Priesthood in the mistaken and erroneous belief that “the
Fathers to be free from earthly, mundane concerns in Church” will take care of the Clergy!
order to sow Spiritual Seeds in the Holy Vineyard of ❃ However: WE ARE THE CHURCH AND IT IS OUR SACRED
God. DUTY TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD AT ALL TIMES.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 18 : 23 – 35
FORGIVENESS & MERCY

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain King who wanted to settle accounts with his
servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousands Talents,
but as he was unable to pay, his Master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had,
and that payment be made.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 11TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT – 8 AUGUST 2010
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“The servant, therefore, fell down before him, saying: ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
So the Master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on
him and took him by the throat, saying: ‘Pay me what you owe me!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and
begged him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ But he refused and had him thrown
into prison until he should pay the debt.
“So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and went to tell their Master all that had
occurred.
“Then his Master, after he had called him, said to him: ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you
begged me! Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
“And his Master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
“So My Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
This Parable illustrates THE NEED FOR UNLIMITED,  The children represent our deeds.
UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS.  CONSEQUENTLY, OUR BODY AND OUR DEEDS ARE
“Ten thousand Talents” is an impossible sum, more than any GIVEN OVER TO SPIRITUAL SLAVERY – TO SATAN –
labourer could have earned in several lifetimes! SO THAT OUR SOUL MIGHT POSSIBLY BE SAVED.
“A hundred Denarii” is a significant amount from an earthly  This refers to THE DESTRUCTION not of the body but
perspective at that time – ABOUT THREE MONTHS’ WAGES OF THE DEVASTATING LUSTS OF THE FLESH.
– YET IT WAS A PITTANCE COMPARED TO THE DEBT THE 1 CORINTHIANS 5:5 : “... deliver such a one to Satan for the
WICKED SERVANT OWED HIS MASTER. destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be
❃ GOD IN HIS GREAT MERCY NOT ONLY WITHHOLDS THE Saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus.”
PUNISHMENT THAT WE TRULY DESERVE, BUT HE ALSO ❃ IN THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST WE ARE BLESSED WITH
FORGIVES US OUR ENTIRE DEBT, WHICH WE COULD GOD’S DIVINE PROTECTION FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE
NEVER HAVE REPAID, AS WELL. POWER OF SATAN.
❃ Therefore, because our Most Loving and Benevolent God  However, IN SERIOUS CASES OF SPIRITUAL
is so infinitely Merciful and Forgiving, WE IN TURN ARE REBELLION, THIS DIVINE PROTECTION IS REMOVED
REQUIRED TO GRANT THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS TO THROUGH EXCOMMUNICATION IN THE HOPE THAT,
THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. having experienced the difference between God’s
Certain Holy Fathers have a Spiritual Interpretation of the Divine, Nurturing and Loving Rule and Satan’s evil
punishment described by our Lord Jesus: and destructive rule, THE OFFENDER MAY REPENT
 The man represents the soul HIS SINS AND SUBSEQUENTLY BE SAVED.
 The wife represents the body
The Power of Forgiveness
The world around us is full of hatred and turmoil, and Creation that MY LOVE DOES NOT FALTER, that MY
however close we may feel to one another, however LOVE REMAINS WHOLE, that IT BELONGS TO YOU
UNRESERVEDLY; IT WAS MY JOY, it has become
much we perceive a momentary peace in our hearts,
crucifixion.
– how near we are always to a moment when peace “It was OUR COMMON LIFE, It has now become the
breaks down, when tensions become stronger than moment WHEN I AM ON THE CROSS and you have
our sense of oneness and when strife sets in. brought me to it.
And at those moments we must learn something which “You have been shouting "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
is AT THE VERY CORE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MEN “You have been walking around this Cross saying ‘If Thou
art the Son of God, come down from the Cross!’
AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
“You are responsible for it and yet My Last Word is:
❃ WE MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE . "Forgive, Father, he does not know what he is
And we do not achieve it because we expect forgiveness doing. Forgive Father, she does not know what she
to be at first what it can only be at last : is doing."
 THE JOY OF RECONCILIATION, And God takes upon Himself, by forgiving us 9 by
 THE JOY THAT IS BORN FROM THE DISCOVERY THAT
witnessing that His Love remains unshaken 9 HE
DARKNESS IS CONQUERED BY LIGHT,
 THAT JOY HAS SET IN WHERE BITTERNESS AND TAKES UPON HIMSELF FINAL SOLIDARITY WITH US.
SADNESS WERE. He says to us: I CALLED YOU INTO BEING, TO SHARE ALL
But this is not where forgiveness begins and it is not our MY LIFE. You have renounced it and rejected it. Then
I SHALL SHARE ALL YOUR LIFE. I CALLED YOU INTO
victory.
ETERNITY AND BLISS; you have opened up a depth of
❃ THIS IS A GIFT OF MERCY BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN Hell, I WILL WALK INTO THIS HELL. I WILL BECOME MAN
FORGIVENESS, which begins at the moment WHEN AND SHARE ALL THE LIMITATIONS, ALL THE FINITUDES,
OFFENDED, HUMILIATED, BETRAYED, WE CAN SAY IN ALL THE CRUELTY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION WHICH
OUR HEARTS OR ALOUD TO THE PERSON WHO HAS YOU HAVE CREATED. I WILL SHARE IT TO THE LAST, TO
DONE THIS: THE VERY POINT WHERE YOUR BETRAYAL MEANS THE
LOSS OF GOD, AND THE LOSS OF LIFE.
“Whatever you have done, I Love you enough to take
on all the consequences of your frailty, all the “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me!" is the
consequences of the evil which is stronger than cry of Him Who has Willed to share with us
your good will, and I will bear these consequences everything, even our loss of God, because He wants
because my Love does hot falter!” to share all that is our life, because of Love, and
 THIS IS WHAT GOD DOES TO US. because of Faith; because not only does He Love us,
 THIS IS WHAT ABSOLUTION IS WHEN WE RECEIVE IT
IN THE HOLY MYSTERY OR PENANCE, AFTER OUR
but He has Faith in us, that all that will not be in
CONFESSION. vain.
❃ FORGIVENESS IS NOT GIVEN TO US BY GOD BECAUSE WE That is TRUE FORGIVENESS.
HAVE ALREADY CHANGED, NEITHER DOES HE That is the kind of Forgiveness to which we are Called,
FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE SHALL CHANGE.
each of us with regard to one another 9 indeed not
WE MAY CHANGE as a result of forgiveness IF WE ONLY
to this extent, not to this depth and magnitude; but
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ALL MEANS, but GOD DOES NOT
we are Called to say: “However cold your heart has
WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE CHANGED TO FORGIVE, otherwise
become to me, mine is warm enough for both. We
no one would be forgiven. cannot share Blessedness, I will share hell with you,
When we receive Absolution, when we are granted and not only the hell which others have created for
Forgiveness from God, it always means that God you, no, the very hell which is in your heart for me to
says: I KNOW all the depth of YOUR FAULTS, I know live in.”
UNLESS WE CAN SAY THIS, WE CANNOT SAY THAT WE BEGIN
all YOUR BETRAYALS, I know HOW FAR FROM ME YOU
ARE, I know that YOUR HEART HAS GROWN COLD AND OUR WAY TO FORGIVENESS.
YOUR MIND DARKENED, I know that YOUR WILL IS NOT
STRONG and yet, I witness before the whole of

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Oh, how much we wish to be able to say: “The wounds
which you have dealt on me are healed; the distress
is over! Peace, Peace Divine has come!
However, that comes after the Agony of the Garden of
Gethsemane!
It comes after the Betrayal or the Crucifixion!
It comes after the death on the Cross, after the
dereliction that kills, after three days when we lie
numb and dead in the tomb!
It comes when Resurrection comes!
❃ THEN WE WHO HAVE FORGIVEN, ARE RISEN IN SUCH A
MANNER THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE LIFE, LIFE
WITH ABUNDANCE, LIFE ETERNAL - NOT BEFORE!
And so, here we are, in a Life where nothing is unspoiled
by tension, by strife, by coldness, by darkening, by
hatred, by dividedness.
Here we are, given an Example by God Himself and
indeed also a great Spiritual Challenge and
opportunity.
❃ Live in “hell” 9 walk into it. IF YOU WALK INTO IT WITH
A LOVE THAT DOES NOT HESITATE TO DIE THEN
HELL WILL CEASE TO BE HELL.
When Christ descended into Hades 9 into the place
where God is completely absent 9 when He
descended into it as a Man Who had accepted losing
God in order to remain with mankind, He brought
into it the Fullness of His Godhead and Hades
became no longer the terrible place where God is not
present!
HADES IS WHERE WE BEWAIL OUR TREASON,
LOVELESSNESS – it is not somewhere from which God
has turned away.
The Wisdom of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
❉ WHILE VISITING A CITY, Father Paisios was approached
by a woman holding a baby in her arms who
claimed to be ill and in need of financial
assistance.
He immediately sympathised with her problem but as he
had very little money on him, he gave her 500
drachmas and begged her forgiveness, explaining
that he had nothing else with him.
However, he offered to give her his address so that she
could write to him and let him have her own address
in return. He told her that once he returned to
Mount Athos he would try to collect some money to
send to her.
She accepted the little scrap of paper with Father Paisios’
postal address carefully written upon it and he felt
that she had been touched by his kind offer.
Sometime later, he received a letter from the woman but
she had not supplied her own address. Instead she
had enclosed the 500 drachma note Father Paisios
has given her and she begged him to forgive her for
putting him in such a difficult situation, thanking
him profusely for his kindness.
Father Paisios believed that if we develop positive
thoughts – even in the case of conniving beggars or
“con artists” who are professional liars and thieves 9
we will never be losers because GOD WHO KNOWS OUR
DEEPEST INTENTIONS, WILL CERTAINLY DO US JUSTICE.
❉ A JOURNALIST WHO HAD A NEGATIVE
towards most aspects of life visited Father
Paisios.
When he began questioning the Holy Elder concerning
various matters, Father Paisios became distressed by
his way of thinking..
The reporter asked him why he stayed in the peace and
quiet of Mount Athos “being carefree” instead of
going out into the world to help those who have so
many serious problems.
Elder Paisios tried to explain to the cynical man: “Your
mind ‘machine’ is a broken one and produces only
negative thoughts. You misunderstand everything
you see or hear. You see me living here and ask me
(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 11TH OF ST MATTHEW – THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT – 8 AUGUST 2010
And what if we have no Love, how can we afford to be in
such a place?
If we have no Love that says: "I will share with you
dereliction, the Fall, Hades or even godlessness," then
we must be prepared to admit: “I am just like you, so
how can I judge you?" and humbly stay together
where we are helpless, broken, fearful, defeated
together, until, through Repentance9Confession we
return to God by beseeching Him: "HELP US BECAUSE
WE HAVE LOST LOVE AND WE HAVE LOST LIFE!"
How wonderful it is to be able 9 at any moment 9 to turn
to our Almighty, All Merciful God Who can Absolve
and Forgive because He has chosen to be with us,
even though we wilfully refused or proved unable to
be with Him.
What joy it is to know with absolute certainty that we
can even after stumbling 9 even in our personal
weaknesses 9 do the same with each other.
❃ WE CAN ANNIHILATE OUR PERSONAL “HELL” BY
CHANGING IT THROUGH LOVE TO A PLACE OF
REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION, A PLACE OF
LIFE IN CHRIST INSTEAD OF A PLACE OF DEATH
WITHOUT GOD!
Glory be to God for revealing His Truth to us and for
granting us His Power and Strength to recreate a
Heaven where formerly we had caused a “hell!”
Amen!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ON FORGIVENESS” METROPOLITAN ANTHONY OF SOUROZH
http://www.metropolit-nthony.orc.ru/eng/eng_130.htm
OUR
why I am not going out into the world, yet if I did go
to live in the world, you would then say that it is
unsuitable for a Monk and you would suggest that I
should return to the quietude of my cell.
For this reason, I will only tell you one thing:
REPAIR YOUR BROKEN MIND-MACHINE and bear in
mind the old saying: ‘Traffic lights are made for
noisy streets, whereas LIGHTHOUSES ARE MADE
FOR DESERTED ROCKY MOUNTAINS!”
❉ ONE OF THE MONKS WHO RESIDED ON MOUNT ATHOS
considered himself to be a living Saint and
deluded himself that there was nobody else in
the world like him.
Some Monks who knew him well, asked Father Paisios if
they should take him to see a Psychiatrist.
The wise Holy Father replied: “These kind of people
cannot be benefitted by Doctors; the Monk will only
make a fool of himself in front of laymen. The Doctor
will prescribe some pills, which might be of some help
in case of a serious condition, but just for a short
period of time.
Someone else should put the medicine in his food and
show him Spiritual Love and try to collect his
thoughts.
His problem is a Spiritual Problem. It is rooted in his
ego and his excessive love and trust in his own way
of thinking.
There is nothing worse than to listen to and to trust
one’s own thoughts!”
At that point, Father Paisios stopped speaking and took
ATTITUDE
aside one of the Monks. He then related stories of
three people who nearly destroyed their lives by
trusting their own way of thinking:
 A young man who was obsessed with the belief that
he had the smallest head in the world had visited
Father Paisios.
He actually believed his head was the size of an orange
so Father Paisios tried to assure him that his head
had a normal size and, as a matter of fact, he even
told him, it was a little bigger than that of the Elder.
Yet the young man was still not convinced, so he asked
him: “Would you like me to bring a string to measure
9
 our heads. Then you will see for yourself that what I
tell you is true and not what your thoughts tell you?”
He accepted Father Paisios’ suggestions and the Elder
found a piece of string with which to measure both
their heads.
“I found out that his head was bigger than mine by one
inch. But still he was unconvinced, so I gave the
string to him to measure for himself and although he
also found his head to be a little bigger than mine, he
insisted that it was not true!
“His mind was stuck in his thought, which told him that
his head was very small!
The frustrated Elder scolded the young man for his
unbelief and lack of trust in others and then asked
him to leave.
 Another man claimed to hear a bird constantly
singing in one of his ears.
He told everyone about it and he complained that he
could not find peace of mind due to the loud
chirping of the bird.
His relatives did not believe him, since they could not
see any bird in his ear although he repeatedly tried
to convince them.
His family decided to consult a Doctor who was a friend
of theirs. He suggested that first they buy a bird in a
cage and then call him to visit them.
After they had bought the bird, they invited the Doctor
for a visit and when he arrived, they gave it to him.
The relatives then told the man that the Doctor had
come to examine the cause of the singing in his ear
and while tactfully holding the bird in his hand, the
Doctor questioned the patient concerning his
perceived malady.
The Doctor pretended to examine the man’s ear and then
he exclaimed: “Well, of course, there it is! A very
small bird stuck inside your ear, making you suffer!
Hold on for a moment while I remove it!”
And the Doctor pretended to extricate the little bird
from the man’s ear and when the man was asked if
he heard anything further, he happily exclaimed: “No!
The singing has stopped! Thank you for coming
Doctor, for this little bird was driving me crazy and
everyone made such fun of me because they did not
believe a word I said!”
 Sixty years previously on Mount Athos, a certain
Monk developed the delusion that he had become
a Saint and he would say: “I do not need to receive
Holy Communion as Christ Himself is in me!”
He wanted to become a Holy Martyr so he tried to kill
himself until his brother Monks locked him up in a
room with someone to care for him.
On being Concerned about Inward Things & Not Surrendering to Excessive Cares
❃ ALWAYS BE HEEDFUL to the cunning tricks of the evil
ones and BE SOBER OF MIND!
When the evil ones see us in a good Spiritual State, WITH
TEARS PERFORMING OUR PRAYERS, AND FULFILLING
ACTS OF VIRTUE, they try to distract us with thoughts
of certain things we “have to do right now” – in the
attempt to disrupt our Spiritual Progress and Welfare
by making us believe that such matters are
indispensable and more urgent than our Sacred
Duties!
They try to divert us with all kinds of “urgent actions”
COMPELLING US TO STORE UP EXCESS MATERIAL
POSSESSIONS OR INDULGING OURSELVES, OFFERING
EVERY PRETEXT TO DISTURB US AND TO CAUSE US
INTENSE ANXIETY.
The evil ones do this so that WE LOSE OUR SPIRITUAL
FREEDOM WITH GOD BY NEGLECTING OUR TEARFUL
CONTRITION OF WEEPING FOR OUR SINS.
We must RECOGNISE THEIR DECEPTIONS AND ALWAYS BE
SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL in case they manage to
deceive us in some way, for it is impossible to look
at the sky with one eye and with the other eye to
look at the earth!
In other words: WE CANNOT SIMULTANEOUSLY BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOUL AND THE BODY.
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10
His concerned Brothers were always very careful not to
give him any spoon or knife with which he could try
to “become a Martyr,” according to his own
perceptions, out of his Love of Christ, and they
always ensured that his food was ready to be eaten
without having to use any sharp item.
One day there was a celebration at the Monastery and all
the Monks were offered sardines for their lunch.
They also gave the deluded Monk a closed tin of sardines
which he somehow managed to open up and with the
sharp edge of the tin he tried to cut his throat.
He began to scream from the unbearable pain he had
caused himself and the Monk who was entrusted
with his welfare immediately ran into his room and
found him bleeding!
When asked what he had done, the Monk replied: “I want
to become a Martyr so that I will be Crowned with the
Laurel of Martyrdom!”
The caretaker gently removed the tin from his hands and
tried to explain to him: “You cannot become a Martyr
because you cannot stand the pain. You thought you
would die instantly by using the sharp tin to cut your
throat.
“According to God’s Will, your Martyrdom is what I am
about to do to you right now!”
After bandaging his neck to stop the bleeding, the caring
Monk took his leather belt and began to beat the
deluded Monk very hard, causing him to yell out
from the pain inflicted upon him, saying: “You wish
to become a Martyr! Then I shall beat you to death!”
Very quickly the delusional Monk cried out: “No! I do not
wish to become a Martyr anymore! Stop! I am
hurting!”
Thus HE GRADUALLY BECAME AWARE OF HIS OWN
SPIRITUAL WRETCHEDNESS AND, BEING HUMILIATED, HE
WAS CURED.
Elder Paisios had narrated these three incidents to the
Monk who had brought along his fellow Monk, who
thought he was a Saint, in order to indicate how
destructive it is to trust our own thoughts.
“When laymen listen and believe in their own thoughts,
they lose their minds, whereas Monks [OR DEVOUT
CHIRIANTS] are filled with illusions.
“A Monk should not take tranquillizers; his Medication is
Humility and Repentance.
“This Monk lacks both these Virtues but when these fill
his soul again, all his problems will be solved.”
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ELDER PAISIOS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN” BY PRIESTMONK
CHRISTODOULOS, A HOLY MOUNTAIN MONK
❃ As a Fountain cannot in one current gush forth sweet
and bitter water, so IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO
SERVE BOTH GOD AND OUR FELLOW MANKIND, AND
TO BE DISTRACTED BY OUR PHYSICAL DEMANDS OR
DESIRES.
It is impossible to serve both mammon and to please
God at one and the same time.
It is impossible because we will hate or reject the one
and love the other like a slave serving two masters
who cannot really love both of them simultaneously!
(EVEN THOUGH WE ARE DELUDED INTO BELIEVING THAT WE CAN!!)
In this way we should REMAIN FOCUSSED UPON NOTHING
ELSE EXCEPT OUR IMMORTAL CREATOR – TO SERVE HIM
ALONE, TO USE THIS LITTLE TIME WE HAVE FOR HIM
ALONE AND TO HAVE HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS
DIVINE KINGDOM OF LOVE.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “LITTLE RUSSIAN PHILOKALIA” VOL 4: ST PAISIOS VELICHKOVSKY
St Hesychios the Priest
While we are being strengthened in Christ Jesus and beginning to
move forward in Steadfast Watchfulness, He at first appears
in our intellect like a Torch which, carried in the hand of the
intellect, guides us along the tracks of the mind; then He
appears like a full moon, circling the heart's firmament; then
He appears to us like the sun, radiating Justice, clearly
revealing Himself in the full Light of Spiritual Vision. "ON
WATCHFULNESS AND HOLINESS" PHILOKALIA (VOL. 1)
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF
AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

12th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 3 15 August 2010

The Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

RE SURRE CTION A POL YTIK ION – TO NE 3

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.
APOLYTIKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS & EVER VIRGIN MARY
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
First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He has
delivered us, and to the world He has granted Great
Mercy.

En ti Gennisi tin Parthenian efilaxas. En ti Kimisi ton
kosmon ou katelipes Theotoke. Metestis pros tin Zoin,
Mirtir iparhousa tis Zois. Ke tes Presvies tes ses
litromeni, ek Thanatou tas psihas imon.
KONTAKION OF THE DORMITIION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
In giving Birth, O Theotokos, Thou has retained Thy
Virginity, and in Falling Asleep, Thou has not forsaken
the world. Thou who art the Mother of Life has passed
over into Life, and by Thy Prayers Thou delivers our
souls from Death. Wherefore, by Thine Intercessions,
deliver our souls from Death

Tin en presvies akimiton Theotokon, ke prostasies The Theotokos who is incessant in Her Intercessions, and
ametatheton elpida, tafos ke nekrosis ouk ekratisen; os immovable Hope in her Protection, tomb and the state
gar zois Mitera, pros tin Zoin metestisen, O Mitran of death could not hold; for being the Mother of Life, to
ikisas Aiparthenon. the Life He carried, He Who dwelt in a Womb Ever
Virgin.
Resurrection Gospel 1 - Matthew 28 : 16 – 20 - T H E GREAT COMMISSION

PROKEIMENON Sing Praises to our God, sing praises to our King! Clap your hands, all you Nations!
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 15 : 1 - 11
WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION
Brethren: I declare to you the Gospel that I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also
you are Saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and
that he was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas,
then by the Twelve.
After that He was seen by over five hundred Brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some
have fallen asleep.
After that He was seen by James, then by all the Apostles. Then, last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born out of
due time.
For I am the least of the Apostles, who am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But
by the Grace of God I am what I am, and His Grace towards me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than
they all, yet not I, but the Grace of God, which was with me.
Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
St Paul reassured the Corinthians – and us – that THE HOLY Christ our Lord delivers us from this present evil age, to enter
GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS GENUINE, ABSOLUTE, PERFECT & the Age to come. And this Divine Deliverance is
DIVINE TRUTH GRANTED TO US BY GOD HIMSELF - AND accomplished according to the Will of God the Father,
NOT MERELY AN INVENTION OF HUMAN IMAGINATION! through His Incarnate Son, with the Help and Activation of
In verses 3 & 4: “... Christ died for us....” was part of an early the Holy Spirit.
Creed of Faith or Catechism. The Son of God, our Lord Jesus, in His incarnate or human
PSALM 15/16:9-12 – “...My Heart was glad, and My Tongue Nature, co-operates with the Divine Will.
rejoiced exceedingly; My Flesh also shall dwell in The Divine Will of God the Father is first fulfilled by our Lord
Hope. For Thou will not abandon My Soul to Hades Jesus Who shows us by His Perfect Example so that we,
nor allow Thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou made too, might with all Humility and Obedience, fulfil It – “... on
known to Me the Ways of Life; Thou will fill Me with earth, as it is in Heaven...”
Gladness in Thy Presence; at Thy right Hand are 1 JOHN 2:2 – “... the Word of Life ... was manifested, and we
pleasures forevermore.” have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you, that
This Psalm was prayed by our Lord Jesus to His Father in you also may have Fellowship with us; and truly your
Heaven, in order to teach His Holy Church – i.e. us – how Fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus
to PRAY RIGHTEOUSLY AND NOT WITH DECEITFUL LIPS – Christ.”
INSINCERITY OR THOUGHTLESSLY – FOR THE LORD OUR
GOD HEARS THOSE WHO PRAY IN TRUTH AND WITH
Contrary to heretics, who claim Communion directly with God
SINCERITY and HE ENABLES US TO SEE ALL THINGS in the through “spiritual” (non-material) means, St John the
same manner whereby our Lord sees them. Theologian taught us about Communion with God through
We are able to pass the test in the Furnace of OBEDIENCE TO the Incarnate Son for the Holy Eucharist is the physicality
OUR LORD’S WORDS. We are able to HOPE IN THE LORD of Christ, which is repulsive to heretics!
IN THE FACE OF ANY ADVERSITY and WE WILL The Divinity of our Lord Jesus was revealed in His earthly Life,
EXPERIENCE HIS DIVINE PROTECTION from all our especially His Teaching and His Divine Miracles.
enemies, such as Satan and his demons. 1 JOHN 4:10 – “In this is Love – not that we Loved God, but
And, finally, we will be satisfied and overjoyed to behold our that He Loved us and sent His son to be the
Lord’s Face – to PERSONALLY WITNESS OUR BELOVED Propitiation for our sins...”
LORD’S GLORY! The expression: “God is Love” describes His Relationship to
GALATIANS 1:4 – “... our Lord Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us as our Heavenly Father. It is not a description of Who
our sins so that He might deliver us from this present evil God is, at all!
age, according to the Will of our God and Father...” Because His Only Begotten Son willingly offered Himself as
the Ultimate Sacrificial Offering of all time so that we

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) THE DORMITION OF THE EVER BLESSED, ALL PURE THEOTOKOS & VIRGIN MARY – 15 AUGUST 2010
11
 sinful, fallen human beings might Live through and in Him, St Paul had received his Gospel directly from our Risen Lord
we must also give ourselves entirely to God and to the Jesus, which is confirmed by his interactions with the other
service of one another – assisting, encouraging and Holy Apostles of Christ as well as the Spiritual Fruits of his
advising each other as we journey through this short labours – spreading the Holy Gospel through teaching and
preparatory period of earthly life towards Eternity. living as an example of Life in Christ.
The enormity and indescribably significance of God’s Love for It is impossible to decipher what he learnt and where he learnt
us is evident from everything He does for us – and even to God’s Truth since his True Gospel forms a seamless
allow His Beloved Son to suffer the humiliation and whole.
degradation of earthly life and everything we did to Him – “To receive” designates the passing on of Holy Tradition. (1
CORINTHIANS 11:2, 23; GALATIANS 1:9; PHILIPPIANS 4:9; 1 THESSALONIANS 2 : 13;
and still do! 4:1)
Yet, instead of unceasing gratitude for all our Divine Blessings, St Paul listed those who would testify to the Truth of the
we continue in Spiritual Rebellion and Disobedience, self- Resurrection, from the first witnesses to St Paul himself.
indulgence and arrogant pride!
St Paul delivered an Apostolic Tradition of our Lord Jesus
Christ’s Resurrection, which is unchanging and sufficient
for Salvation.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10:38-42 & 12:27
ST MARY & ST MARTHA OF BETHANY (SISTERS OF ST LAZAROS) & THE BLESSEDNESS OF HUMBLE OBEDIENCE

At that time, Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a
sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ Feet and heard His Word.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said: “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has
left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her: “Martha, Martha! Thou art worried and troubled about many things, but one this is
needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her!”
... And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him: “Blessed
is the womb that Bore Thee, and the breasts that nursed Thee!”
But He said: “More than that: Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
St Mary and St Martha were the sisters of St Lazaros whom our others, WE MUST OFFER OUR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING TO
Lord Jesus had raised from the dead, having been entombed GOD WHO HAS DEEMED US WORTHY TO DO SUCH THINGS.
for four days. St Mary had quickly weighed up her priorities, which was to
CHRIST DID NOT REBUKE ST MARTHA FOR SERVING, BUT RATHER carefully listen to the wonderful Words of Christ so that SHE
FOR COMPLAINING AND FOR BEING DISTRACTED, WORRIED WOULD BE FULLY EQUIPPED TO CARRY OUT ALL HIS
AND TROUBLED BY SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. COMMANDMENTS WHENEVER REQUIRED.
ALL TOO OFTEN WE ALLOW THE MUNDANE THINGS OF LIFE TO She was one of those Faithful Disciples of Christ who lived in
DISTRACT US FROM OUR TRUE PATH AND SACRED DUTIES – Humility and Obedience to God.
and more often than not these are only our excuses to avoid Distractions that take us away from God are evil deceptions of the
fulfilling our Christian Duty to the worship and service of God wicked ones who use our personal weakness against us.
and the Love and care of others. We must always PAY FULL ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD SO
IF WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO SOMETHING, WE MUST COMPLETE AS TO BE PREPARED WITH ALL HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO
OUR TASKS WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR COMPLAINT. Otherwise FULFIL WHATEVER IS REQUIRED OF US.
we defeat the entire purpose of our actions – especially if they One of the most important Sacred Lessons of Christ our Saviour
are supposed to be our good deeds of the day! concerns His reply to the woman in the crowd who tried to
Whatever we undertake to do – be it for God and His Holy Church compliment His Mother for having such a wonderful Son:
or for the welfare of others – we must never dare to complain. ❃ THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS WAS EVEN MORE BLESSED
WE MUST THANK GOD AT ALL TIMES – NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT DUE TO HER PERPETUAL, UNCEASING HUMILITY AND
OUR TASK MAY PROVE TO BE. OBEDIENCE TO GOD – EVER SINCE HER VERY EARLY
Anything worthwhile doing usually takes a lot more effort so CHILDHOOD – RATHER THAN THE FACT THAT SHE HAD
instead of complaining and looking for useless sympathy from BORNE OUR GOD INCARNATE AND SAVIOUR.

The Feast of the Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos

In Orthodoxy, as in the language of Holy Scripture, death
is often referred to as "sleeping" or "falling asleep"
(κοίµησις – KIMISIS AND THEREFORE κοιµητήριον –KIMITIRION – IE.
CEMETERY - A PLACE OF SLEEP).
A prominent example of this is the name of this Feast –
the DORMITION of the Ever Blessed Theotokos (and
also that of St Anna, her Righteous Mother.)
The All Pure Virgin Mary, having spent her life after the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples of
Christ on the glorious day of Pentecost following the
Ascension of Christ, supporting and serving the
nascent Church.
Ever since the Crucifixion of Christ our Blessed Lady had
resided with the family of St John the Divine
Apostles and Theologian in Jerusalem.
When the Archangel Gabriel revealed to her that her
repose would occur three days later, she summoned
the Holy Apostles of Christ who were scattered
throughout the world and miraculously, with the
exception of St Thomas, who was in India, they were
all transported to Jerusalem immediately, being with
her during the time before and at her repose in
Christ.
St Thomas arrived three days after her Dormition, and
being distraught at having missed his last farewell to
her, asked to see her entombed body so that he
could pay his last respects to her.
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary had been buried in Little
Gethsemane, according to her request to be laid to
rest with her Righteous parents, St Joachim and St
Anna.
After having kept careful vigil with hymns and Prayers
for three days so that no one could desecrate the
tomb, the Apostles unsealed the tomb and were
confronted by a most sweet fragrance of Sanctity.
However, after descending the steps down into the tomb,
they saw that her mortal body was no longer there!
It had completely disappeared!
At her repose the Apostles saw Christ, accompanied by a
host of Heavenly Angels receive her soul and
although there were no witnesses inside the tomb,
they knew that He had also taken her body to
Paradise, reuniting them, as a foretaste of the
General Resurrection to come.
The Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos is
sometimes referred to as the "Summer Pascha," or
the "Pascha of the Theotokos," since her peaceful
Dormition is linked to her Passage to Heaven in
anticipation of the General Resurrection, and follows
the Path created by Christ in His Resurrection.
Furthermore, the Dormition Fast preceding the Feast is
similar to that of Great Lent.
The Dormition of the Ever Blessed Theotokos is
celebrated on 15 August.

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 “Dormition” and “Assumption” are different terms for
our All Pure Lady’s departure from this temporary
world, although beliefs differ slightly.
The Orthodox Church teaches that the Ever Blessed
Theotokos died a natural death, like any other
human being; that her soul was received by Christ
upon her death; and that her body was resurrected
on the third day after her repose, at which time she
was taken up, soul and body reunited, into Heaven in
anticipation of the General Resurrection. Her tomb
was found to be empty on the third day.
Bishop Kallistos (Ware) teaches us that “...Orthodox
Tradition is clear and unwavering in regard to the
central point [OF THE DORMITION]: the Holy Virgin
underwent, as did her Son, a physical death, but her
body — like His — was afterwards raised from the
dead and she was taken up into Heaven, in her body
as well as in her soul.
“She has passed beyond death and Judgement, and lives
wholly in the Age to Come. The Resurrection of the
Body ... has in her case been anticipated and is
already an accomplished fact.
“That does not mean, however, that she is dissociated
from the rest of humanity and placed in a wholly
different category: for we all hope to share one day in
that same glory of the Resurrection of the Body which
she enjoys even now.”[2]
Our Orthodox belief regarding the Dormition is
expressed in the Liturgical texts of 15 August, which
is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox
Church, and is maintained by all pious Orthodox
Christians.
However, this belief has never been formally defined as
Dogma by the Orthodox Church nor made a
precondition of Holy Baptism.
In some places, the Rite of the "Burial of the Theotokos"
is celebrated at the Dormition, during the All9Night
Vigil.
The Order of the Service is based on the Service of the
Burial of Christ on Great and Holy Saturday.
An Epitaphios of the Theotokos, a richly embroidered
cloth Icon portraying her lying in state is used,
together with specially composed Hymns of
Lamentation, which are sung in conjunction with
Psalm 118.
The Epitaphios is placed on a bier, and carried in
procession in the same way as the Epitaphios of
Christ is during Holy Week.
This practice began in Jerusalem, and from there it was
carried to Russia, where it was followed in various
Dormition Cathedrals, in particular that of Moscow.
The practice slowly spread among the Russian Orthodox,
although it is not by any means a standard Service in
all Parishes, or even most Cathedrals or Monasteries.
In Jerusalem, the Service is chanted during the Vigil of
the Dormition.
The Holy Icon of the Panagia Ierosolymitissa
Panagia Ierosolymitissa
(Ιεροσολυµίτισσα 9 Most
Holy Lady of Jerusalem) is a
very popular Icon of the
Ever Blessed Theotokos
because it overlooks her
empty tomb at the
Sepulchre of the Mother of
God in Gethsemane,
Blessing the numerous
Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem.
According to Holy
Tradition this Miraculous
Icon was written by the
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In some Russian churches and Monasteries, it is served
on the third day after the Dormition.
The Feast of the Dormition has a one9day Forefeast and
8 days of Afterfeast.
The feast is framed and accentuated by three Feasts in
honour of Jesus Christ, known as the "Three Feasts
of the Saviour in August."
These are: the Procession of the Cross (1 August), the
Transfiguration (6 August), and the Icon of Christ
"Not Made by Hand" – the Mandylion, the Holy Cloth
or Napkin of Christ (the first Holy Icon of Christ
from His Tomb) (16 August).
The Holy Icon of the Dormition depicts the Ever Blessed
Theotokos lying on her funeral bier, surrounded by
the Twelve Apostles. In the centre of the Icon, our
Lord Jesus Christ is depicted in a mandorla,
swaddling the pure soul of the Ever Blessed Virgin
Mary and a red Seraph is depicted above His Head.
On either side of Christ are depicted the Hieromartyrs St
Dionysius the Areopagite and St Ignatius the God9
Bearer who, according to Sacred Tradition, are
responsible for transmitting the account of the
Dormition.
The Dormition tradition is associated with various
places, most notably with Jerusalem, where the
Blessed Virgin Mary’s Tomb and the Basilica of the
Dormition is located at the foot of the Mount of
Olives, and Ephesos, where the House of the Blessed
Virgin Mary is located, and also with Constantinople[..
The first four Christian centuries are silent regarding the
end of the Blessed Ever Virgin Mary's life, although it
is asserted, without surviving documentation, that
the Feast of the Dormition was observed in
Jerusalem shortly after the Council of Ephesos.[3]
At the point in the later fifth century when the earliest
Dormition traditions surfaced in manuscripts,
Stephen Shoemaker has found three distinct
narrative traditions describing the end of the Blessed
Panagia’s life and he has characterised them as the
"Palm of the Tree of Life" narratives, the "Bethlehem"
narratives, and the "Coptic" narratives — aside from a
handful of atypical narratives.
➤ DURING THE DORMITION FAST, THE SMALL AND GREAT SUPPLICATORY CANONS –
PARAKLESIS - ARE CHANTED ON ALTERNATE EVENINGS
➤ IF 1AUGUST FALLS BETWEEN MONDAY AND FRIDAY, THE CYCLE BEGINS WITH THE
SMALL SUPPLICATORY CANON.
➤ IF 1AUGUST FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THE CYCLE BEGINS WITH THE GREAT
SUPPLICATORY CANON.
➤ BISHOP KALLISTOS (WARE) OF DIOKLEIA, IN: FESTAL MENAION (LONDON: FABER AND
FABER, 1969), P. 64.
➤ A FAIRLY REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAINSTREAM ORTHODOX TEACHING IS
OFFERED BY SOPHIA FOTOPOULOU: "THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS" "WE
HAVE NO HISTORICAL DATA TO INDICATE HOW LONG THE MOTHER OF GOD
REMAINED ON EARTH AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST INTO HEAVEN, NOR
WHEN, WHERE, OR HOW SHE DIED, FOR THE GOSPELS SAY NOTHING OF THIS.
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FEAST OF THE DORMITION IS TO BE FOUND IN A
SACRED TRADITION OF THE CHURCH DATING FROM APOSTOLIC TIMES,
APOCRYPHAL WRITINGS, THE CONSTANT FAITH OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD, AND
THE UNANIMOUS OPINION OF THE HOLY FATHERS AND DOCTORS OF THE
CHURCH OF THE FIRST THOUSAND YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY.".
➤ STEPHEN J. SHOEMAKER, 2003. ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF THE VIRGIN MARY'S
DORMITION AND ASSUMPTION (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS).
The underground tomb of the Most Holy Virgin Mary is
situated in the Kidron Valley, in the foothills of the
Mount of Olives, where our Saviour often prayed
with His Disciples.
It is attributed to the Blessed Theotokos since the Holy
Apostles buried the Most9Pure body of the Mother of
God at this location.
Her Holy Icon remains there as an endless Spring of
Blessings for all faithful Christians, venerated as the
Panagia Ieroslimiti (The All Holy One of Jerusalem).
Revelation of the Holy Theotokos to a Nun named
Tatiana from the Holy Monastery of St Mary
Magdalene, circa 1870.
13
In 1870, there lived a Monastic Iconographer called
Tatiana.
One night, a Lady appeared to her in a Vision saying:
"Sister Tatiana, I have come so that you can paint
me."
Tatiana replied: "Let it be, Blessed Sister; however, I am
an Iconographer and not a painter."
The lady responded: "... well then, you should paint me
using your iconographic style."
Sister Tatiana was upset by the boldness of this Lady's
response and when she said: "I do not have any wood
to use," the Lady presented her with the necessary
piece of material.
In Obedience to her special Guest, the Holy Sister began
her work and as she glanced at her Visitor, Sister
Tatiana noticed her appearance
transfigured right before her eyes –
the Lady’s mantle turned golden
and her face glowed brightly!
As the transfiguration disturbed Sister
Tatiana, the Blessed Lady softly
spoke to her: "O Blessed Tatiana,
you are the only person, after the
Apostles and the Evangelist Luke, to
have this opportunity to write an
Icon of me again."
Sister Tatiana then realised that she
was in the presence of our Holy Mother the Ever
Blessed Theotokos.
In shock she awoke from her Vision and immediately
went to inform her Mother Superior.
The Abbess did not believe her story so she told her to
go back to sleep and the following day she could
write an Icon of the Panagia with her Blessing.
Sister Tatiana returned to her cell but before entering,
she saw a bright Light shining through the doorway,
so once again she hastened to the Abbess in order to
take her to her cell to witness this strange Light and
to understand that Sister Tatiana had not lied about
her Vision.
Together they returned to Sister Tatiana's cell from
which issued forth a most Heavenly Fragrance and a
Light so bright that at first they did not realise that
both came from an Icon of the Ever Blessed Virgin
Mary that hung upon the wall of the cell!
The Mysterious and Miraculous Appearance of the Holy
Icon shocked both the Abbess and Sister Tatiana but
our Holy Mother, the Ever Blessed Theotokos
appeared once again to instruct them: "Now take me
from here to my home in Gethsemane of Jerusalem."
And this is exactly what the Abbess and Sister Tatiana
did immediately.
In Iconography, this is termed "Acheiropoieto" 9 Christians as they pass through the street.
meaning “an Image not painted by (human) hands” 9
and the Holy Icon of the All Holy One of Jerusalem is
currently located exactly where our Ever Blessed
Lady Theotokos wanted it to be 9 in her "home" 9 her
final resting place at her Holy Tomb in Gethsemane.
The name "Ierosolymitissa" has since been adopted and is
extremely Miraculous.
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In January 2000, the Holy Icon was flown from
Gethsemane to the Metropolitan area of Kitiou to
celebrate 2000 years since the Birth of Christ and a
formal procession was held in the afternoon at the
Metropolitan Church of the Sotiros.
The Apodosis of the Dormition of the Most-Holy
Mother of God in Jerusalem
The Dormition of the Mother of God is called the Pascha
of the Theotokos and is especially celebrated in the
Holy Land.
During the three days preceding the Dormition, a
Procession of the Cross is performed from Little
Gethsemane throughout the Old City of Jerusalem to
the Sepulchre of the Most9Holy Mother of God.
This tradition came down through Tradition, according
to which three days before Her Blessed Repose, the
Most9Holy Virgin was informed of
this Event by Archangel Gabriel.
The Heavenly Messenger gave Her
a palm frond from Eden, which
Holy Apostle St John the
Theologian carried before her
funerary bier in the procession.
All the Apostles were miraculously
gathered by Divine Intervention at
the deathbed of the Most9Holy
Virgin.
Receiving a final earthly Blessing
and bidding farewell to Her, they fulfilled Her will to
bury Her in Gethsemane near the tomb of Her Holy
Parents, St Joachim and St Anna.
In honour of these events, an ancient Tradition has taken
hold in Jerusalem of repeating this Procession of the
Cross with the Shroud of the Theotokos, which bears
a two9sided Icon with a silver oklad [covering frame].
This Shroud is kept throughout the year in Gethsemane
directly across from the Church of the Resurrection
of Christ. And only during the Dormition period does
this Miracle9working Shroud pass into a special
canopy at the Sepulchre of the Mother of God.
Believers venerate it as they pass through the canopy on
their knees.
From 25 August until 5 September, the 48 steps of the
Church of the Dormition, are lit by candles, which is
a remarkable scene.
The Apodosis of the Dormition is also the time when
worshippers bid farewell to the Shroud.
Once again a multitude of Nuns gather from all over
Jerusalem to lead the Procession.
There are representatives of all the Orthodox
Monasteries of the Holy Land: Greek, Romanian and
Russian Nuns who are all united in their Love for the
Most9Holy Theotokos.
The Procession of the Cross continues for over an hour,
while His Holiness Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem
and All Palestine and his Clergymen Bless Faithful
The Procession ends in the courtyard of the Church of
the Resurrection of Christ under the Paschal peal of
bells from the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre.
.
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND
EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF
GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER
AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

13th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 4 22 August 2010

13th Sunday of St Matthew – The Wicked Vinedressers
Feast of St Agathonikos, Zotikos, Theoprepios, Acindynos, Severian, Zeno & other Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia;
St Athanasios, St Anthusa of Seleucia, Syria and her faithful servants, St Charisimos and St Neophytos; St Evlalia &
St Felix of Barcelona; St Gorazd of Prague, Bohemia and Moravo-Cilezsk; St Bogolep, Disciple of St Paisios of
Uglich; St Isaac 1 of Optina and the Holy Icon of the Mother of God of Georgia
RE SURRE CTION A POL YTIK ION IHO S ∆ - TON E 4

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

En ti Gennisi tin Parthenian efilaxas. En ti Kimisi ton In giving Birth, O Theotokos, Thou has retained Thy
kosmon ou katelipes Theotoke. Metestis pros tin Zoin, Virginity, and in Falling Asleep, Thou has not forsaken
Mirtir iparhousa tis Zois. Ke tes Presvies tes ses the world. Thou who art the Mother of Life has passed
litromeni, ek Thanatou tas psihas imon. over into Life, and by Thy Prayers Thou delivers our
souls from Death. Wherefore, by Thine Intercessions,
deliver our souls from Death
KONTAKION OF THE DORMITIION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS

Tin en presvies akimiton Theotokon, ke prostasies The Theotokos who is incessant in Her Intercessions, and
ametatheton elpida, tafos ke nekrosis ouk ekratisen; os immovable Hope in her Protection, tomb and the state
gar zois Mitera, pros tin Zoin metestisen, O Mitran of death could not hold; for being the Mother of Life, to
ikisas Aiparthenon. the Life He carried, He Who dwelt in a Womb Ever
Virgin.
Resurrection Gospel 2: Mark 16:1 – 8 THE EMPTY TOMB

PROKEIMENON How manifold art Thy works, O Lord! Thou hast created them all in Wisdom! Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians 16 : 13 - 24
ST PAUL’S FINAL EXHORTATIONS
Brethren: Watch, stand fast in the Faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with Love.
I urge you, Brethren – you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the First9fruits of Achaia, and that they have
devoted themselves to the Ministry of the Saints – that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labours
with us.
I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatos, and Achaikos, for what was lacking on your part, they supplied. For
they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
All the Brethren greet you. Greet one another with a Holy Kiss.
The salutations with my own hand – Paul.
If anyone does not Love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema!
O Lord, come!
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
My Love be with you all in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
We are cheered on and encouraged by the entire Church Having endured many problems with certain members of the
Triumphant – by all those who have gone before us – not Corinthian Christian Community, St Paul still loved his
the least of whom is St Paul Himself. Disciples and tried to encourage them to continue their
We must never cease being Spiritually Watchful and alert so Spiritual Journeys in Christ.
that we may remain on the Path of Righteousness laid St Aquila and St Priscilla were Hebrews who had been among
before us by our Lord Jesus Christ – by God Incarnate those expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudios in 49-50.
Himself! They had settled in Corinth for a while before moving to
Whatever we think, whatever we say and whatever we do Ephesos.
must always be done with Agape – Pure Love. St Paul usually dictated his letters to a personal Scribe and in
The people whom St Paul mentioned conveyed St Paul’s this case the proof that he had indeed composed this
Epistles to the various churches. Epistle is in his closing salutations.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 21 : 33 - 42
THE WICKED VINEDRESSERS – THE REJECTION & PERSECUTION OF GOD’S MESSENGERS

At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “Hear another Parable: There was a certain Landowner Who planted a Vineyard and
set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And He leased it to Vinedressers and went into a Far
Country.
“Now when Vintage-time drew near, He sent His Servants to the Vinedressers, so that they might receive its Fruit. But
the Vinedressers took His Servants, beat one, killed one and stone another.
“Again He sent other Servants – more than the first – and they did likewise to them.
“Then, last of all, He sent His Son to them, saying: ‘They will respect My Son.’ But when the Vinedressers saw the Son,
they said amongst themselves: ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and seize His Inheritance.’
“So they took Him and cast Him out of the Vineyard and killed Him.
“Therefore, when the Owner of the Vineyard returns, what will He do to those Vinedressers?’

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They said to Jesus: “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His Vineyard to other Vinedressers who will
render to Him the Fruits in their seasons.”
And Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The Stone that the builders rejected has become the
Chief Cornerstone. This was our Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes!’”
 The “certain Landowner” represents GOD THE FATHER
 “the Vineyard” refers to GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
 “the Vinedressers” were THE LEADERS OF THE HEBREWS
NATION who were entrusted to care for God’s Chosen.
 Each “Servant” sent by the Landowner represents THE
OLD COVENANT PROPHETS OF GOD who were sent to
bring the Hebrew Nation back to God.
 “The Son,” of course, means OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the
Most Beloved Only-begotten Son of God.
When the Son is cast out of the Vineyard and killed for His
Inheritance by the wicked Vinedressers, it may be
understood on two levels:
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED OUTSIDE THE CITY
GATES OF JERUSALEM – just as the sacrificial animals
were slaughtered outside the city walls, away from the
Holy Temple.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED BY ROMAN
(FOREIGN) EXECUTIONERS and not by His own Hebrew
countrymen.
According to the Gospel account of this Parable by St Luke,
our Lord completed it by saying: “(The Landowner) will
come and destroy those Vinedressers and give the
Vineyard to others...” meaning that GOD WILL GRANT HIS
SACRED VINEYARD – HIS HOLY CHURCH – TO GENTILES –
TO CHRISTIANS OF HIS NEW ETERNAL COVENANT!
 “The Stone” is a reference to CHRIST Who was rejected by
 “the Builders,” meaning THE HEBREW NATION – His own
people.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS MOST CERTAINLY THE ETERNAL
CHIEF CORNERSTONE IN WHOM WE TRULY LIVE AND UPON
WHOM THE TRUE FAITH AND TEACHINGS OF GOD IS
The Parable of the Vineyard & the Wicked Vinedressers
Today's Gospel, interrupting, so to speak, a series of
joyful Readings, is a very terrifying one: the story of
the Vinedressers in the Vineyard who turned out to
be MERCILESS TRAITORS.
And indeed THIS PARABLE REFLECTS THE WHOLE HISTORY
OF THE HUMAN RACE, but in the context of all the
Readings that have gone before, IT ALSO EXPOSES THE
TERRIBLE - IN THE FULL SENSE OF THAT WORD -
INGRATITUDE OF MANKIND TO GOD - INCLUDING EACH
AND EVERYONE OF US!
❃ Despite all God’s Love, all His Miracles 9 despite
everything that He has granted us 9 WE REMAIN
UNMOVED AND SELF-CENTRED; WE THINK ONLY OF
OURSELVES AND WE SELDOM CONSIDER OUR
NEIGHBOURS.
STILL LESS DO WE THINK OF GOD!
Our personal ingratitude, self love, self9indulgence and
self9centredness 9 whatever we desire, whatever
appeals to us, whatever seems necessary to us 9 is
our first concern and interest.
❃ Today's Sacred Lesson reminds us that GOD CREATED
A WHOLE BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL WORLD,
fenced it 9 SECURED IT - WITH HIS MIGHT AND HIS
PROVIDENCE, prepared everything in it so that it
could be THE PLACE OF GOD'S KINGDOM ON EARTH
9 that is THE KINGDOM OF MUTUAL LOVE, THE
KINGDOM OF TRUE JOY.
But we know what we human beings have done to this
wonderful created world of God.
IT HAS BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO
LIVE, where there is bloodshed, where inhuman, cruel
acts are committed every moment of the day and
night, and not only on a world9wide scale, but within
the intimacy of family life, Parish Life and among the
closest of friends!
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION OUR LORD GOD HAS
SENT HIS MESSENGERS: PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS,
ANGELS, PREACHERS, AND THE FORERUNNER (AND GREATEST
PROPHET OF THEM ALL!) UNTIL, FINALLY HE CAME HIMSELF TO
REMIND US THAT THE WORLD WAS CREATED FOR LOVE.
And, just like the Vinedressers had led the Son out of
the Vineyard and killed Him, so, too, mankind tried
to kill the Incarnate Son of God (OUTSIDE JERUSALEM – THE HOLY
PLACE OF WORSHIP)
❃ The term ‘mankind’ refers to us PERSONALLY,
because LIFE IS ENTRUSTED TO US - to make life a
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SOLIDLY ESTABLISHED AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR ALL
ETERNITY!
This is exactly BY THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH
HIS BELOVED SON’S TEACHINGS AND SACRIFICE AND BY
THE ACTIVATION AND WISDOM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT –
which is indeed, MOST MARVELLOUS OF ALL!
According to St John Chrysostom, the quotation: “The Stone
that Builders rejected...” illustrates the two ways of
destruction: Those falling on (stumbling over) the Stone
are people who suffer the consequences of their sins while
yet in this life, whereas those on whom the Stone falls are
the unrepentant sinners who will suffer utter destruction at
the Final Judgement.
WHILE WE ARE STILL ALIVE IN THIS WORLD, GOD, IN HIS GREAT
MERCY, OFFERS US EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND THE
MEANS WITH WHICH TO RECTIFY OUR SPIRITUAL
DARKNESS THROUGH OUR PERSONAL REPENTANCE-
CONFESSION AND HIS FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
Therefore, in this present human condition, CHRIST IS OUR
STUMBLING BLOCK – BRINGING US TO OUR KNEES SO
THAT WE MAY REALISE THE ERRORS OF OUR WAYS AND
QUICKLY CORRECT THEM by SEEKING DIVINE
FORGIVENESS AND STRIVING ALL THE HARDER TO
FOLLOW HIS GUIDING FOOTSTEPS TOWARDS ETERNAL
LIFE.
However, if we stubbornly and arrogantly refuse to
acknowledge our sins, and reject God’s offer of Remission
of Sins through Repentance-Confession, WE WILL MOST
CERTAINLY REAP OUR OWN BITTER HARVEST – Eternal
Death in Outer Darkness – Eternal Exile or Banishment
from the Divine Light and Love of God!!
Triumph of LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, HARMONY,
FAITH AND JOY, but we do not do so, because we
think only of ourselves.
IN RESPONSE TO EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US
- created for us, revealing Himself to us, pouring out
all His Love on us and finally giving us the Life and
Death of His Son - WE RARELY EXPRESS ANY
GRATITUDE OR APPRECIATION by producing anything
good or worthwhile except, occasionally a brief,
insincere and casual ‘thanks’ before INSTANTLY
FORGETTING HIS DIVINE GRACE AND CONTINUING OUR
SELF-INDULGENT LITTLE LIVES.
❃ REMEMBER EVERYTHING we heard during Lent, what
we witnessed on the night of Christ's
Resurrection, what we heard throughout all the
subsequent weeks from all the Saints and WHAT
WE HAVE LEARNT FROM THE TRUE TEACHING OF
CHRIST’S HOLY GOSPEL OF LOVE FOR ALL
HUMANITY.
We must consider all this and then ask ourselves: ‘Am I
not a wicked Vinedresser in the Vineyard of God? Am
I not one of those who rejects Christ every time He
enters my life? Do I not say: Get off my path! Get out
of my life! I want to be the god - the master of my
life! I want to manage everything!’
Thus speaks each of us! Perhaps not so rudely, not so
blasphemously, but IN OUR ACTIONS and WITH OUR
ROTTEN, THOUGHTLESS WORDS.
❃ WE MUST COME TO OUR SENSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
❃ We must realise that WE ARE SAVED BECAUSE GOD
LOVES US; yet not by the Love of God only, but BY
OUR RESPONSE TO THIS LOVE.
If our desire is MERELY TO REAP THE FRUITS OF THE
CROSS, of the Crucifixion, of the days of the Passion,
AND RETURN NOTHING TO GOD, AND GIVE NOTHING TO
OUR NEIGHBOUR FOR WHOM GOD DIED, except a
momentary thought, WE ARE ALIENATED FROM
EVERYTHING THAT GOD ACCOMPLISHED FOR US.
Let us therefore stand before the warning, the reminder
in today's Gospel and face the question:
‘WHERE IS MY GRATITUDE? Do I embody it not only in
words, which are rare enough, but in deeds?’
❃ Let us PASS JUDGEMENT ON OURSELVES (I.E. EXAMINE OUR OWN
PERSONAL SPIRITUAL CONDITION – OUR PERSONAL INGRATITUDE AND
SELFISHNESS) and START A NEW LIFE.
❃ GRATITUDE TO GOD CONSISTS OF BEING A JOY TO HIM,
and TO OUR NEIGHBOUR A SUPPORT, A SERVANT
AND A DELIGHT.
WE MUST LIVE EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE IN HUMBLE, EAGER AND WILLING OBEDIENCE TO
GOD – SEEKING ONLY TO PLEASE HIM BY HUMBLY AND CHEERFULLY - WITHOUT
COMPLAINT OR EXCUSE - FULFILLING OUR SACRED DUTIES OF LOVE TO OUR FELLOW
TRAVELLERS.
The Wisdom of Elder Paisios of Holy Mountain
❉ Father Paisios believed that sometimes when children
behave badly towards their parents or insult
them, they immediately start to be receptive to
Satan’s energies and they become confused.
By cursing or slandering their parents, they give the evil
ones the right to interfere in their life and to control
their actions.
The same thing happens when we accept negative
thoughts about our Elder, Spiritual Father, or our
Brethren.
In such a manner we allow evil to fight against us!
When we trust our negative thoughts, we tend to
disregard the advice of others and we only listen to
those whom we absolutely trust.
In other words we only trust those whose ideas are
similar to ours. Therefore, when we really need help,
we only accept it from those whom we trust the
most.
Medication such as tranquilizers may be of some
assistance to those who have serious conditions –
those who are filled with illusions or who are on the
verge of losing their minds.
If, for example, our mental condition is seriously
deteriorating, we need a certain dose of medication
to stabilize us.
At the same time, we must show such sufferers our Love
for them and try to correct their negative thoughts
and persuade them not to pay attention to their own
destructive, negative ideas.
As our condition improves, the dose of medication
should also be reduced and this should last for a
while.
When our mind moves away from Humility and
Obedience, it escapes into a dangerous fantasy world
and when we take our medication, we stop imagining
things and our fantasies are replaced by reality.
Then we start to feel sleepy, tired, and hungry 9 and
generally speaking, we are physically humbled.
Before we may have imagined that we were incorporeal
Angels, but we are now totally conscious of our
human nature of flesh and bone!
❉ There is no magical therapy that will automatically
cure someone, whose mind has gone astray to do
a constant preoccupation with false thinking.
There are, however, certain steps to follow in order to
recover:
First, and most important, is to realise the state of our
own wretchedness.
After we realise it, the second step is to repent our sins.
We need the Holy Mystery of Confession and we must
never again depend on our own misguided ideas.
Instead we must faithfully follow the instructions of
our Spiritual Father.
Thirdly, after we become aware of our miserable state of
being, we must ceaselessly beseech God for His Great
Mercy through the constantly repeated Prayer of the
heart – the Jesus Prayer: “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
God: have Mercy on me, a sinner!”
On Meekness, Simplicity and Guilelessness - The Ladder of Divine Ascent – St John Klimakos
The morning light precedes the sun, and the precursor
of all Humility is Meekness.
(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 13T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T – 1 3 T H O F S T M A T T H E W – W I C K E D V I N E D R E S S E R S – 2 2 A U G U S T 2 0 1 0
❃ Let us BEGIN TODAY TO BEAR THE FRUITS OF WHAT WE
HAVE LEARNT FROM GOD THROUGH CHRIST.
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYEARD” BY METROPOLITAN
ANTHONY OF SOUROZH - http://www.metropolit-anthony.orc.ru/eng
Christ our Lord and Saviour will indeed help us and His
Divine Grace will return to us.
We can only be cured and Saved through sincere
humbleness, which is the only Miraculous Therapy
known to Father Paisios because “... only Humility
can Save us!”
❉ We are changeable because, although we may try to
cling to our good thoughts, we accept our
negative and devious ideas.
We do whatever and whenever we like for we have free
and independent will.
The same applies to Divine Grace and Spiritual Illusion.
Since we are constantly changing, Divine Grace and
personal Illusion come and go respectively.
If we live in the world of our pride – the world of our
own imagination – we are filled with delusions that
put us in terrible Spiritual Danger.
We must not obey our own inexperienced ideas, which
may try to push us left or right in order to destroy
us, because they often deceive us with false
perceptions that we are virtuous, pleasant, true
Spiritual Strugglers who are talented or even almost
saintly!
However, erroneous ideas can also shatter us with the
conviction of failure and hopelessness, leading to the
worst state of despair!
So it is that our defective thoughts will either create
within us the false belief that we are perfect, which
makes us arrogant and filled with smug self9
satisfaction and pride, or that we are hopeless losers,
filled with deadly despondency!
We must ignore such positive or negative thoughts, and
always confess them to our Spiritual Father whose
experienced advice we must obey.
We must learn to trust our Spiritual Father and those
who guide and teach us Orthodoxy by the Grace of
God for they are, through their Humility and
Obedience to God, are more Spiritually Experienced
than ourselves.
Furthermore we must utterly believe that we are nothing
but a striving soul, constantly beseeching God’s
Great Mercy in our Prayers so that our mind is
cleansed and healed of all sin.
As long as we regard ourselves most humbly and be
ceaselessly Watchful over our own Spiritual
Condition, the Blessings and Divine Grace of God
remains within us and protects us from harm.
However, when we become preoccupied with whatever
others say or do, then immediately Divine Grace
departs from us and leaves us in Spiritual Darkness
and Death (the absence of God!)
Therefore, the most important commitment for us to
fulfil is to preserve a sincere sense of Humility and
thereby invite Divine Grace to permanently remain
within us.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ELDER PAISIOS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN” BY PRIESTMONK
CHRISTODOULOS – HOLY MOUNTAIN’S MONK
Therefore, let us hear in what order the Divine Light
arranges these Virtues, for He says: “Learn of Me,
for I Am meek and humble in heart.” (MATTHEW 11:29)
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So then, before looking at the Sun, we must be Illumined
by the Light, and then we can look with a clear gaze
at the Sun, for it is impossible, absolutely
impossible, to gaze upon the Sun before we have
experienced that Light, as the True Order of the
Virtues teaches us.
IN ORDER TO FOLLOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CORRECTLY, WE NEED THE ILLUMINATION
AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ENABLES US TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S
TRUTH AND CHRIST’S TEACHINGS,
THIS BEGINS WITH OUR BAPTISM & CHRISMATION IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, AND
CONTINUES AS WE REGULARLY PARTAKE OF ALL THE HOLY MYSTERIES.
ONLY WITH THE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE ARE WE ABLE TO FULFIL GOD’S
TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS WITH EAGER, WILLING JOYFULNESS AND ONLY BY
DOING SO CAN WE BEGIN TO GAIN ANY OF THE PRICELESS AND ESSENTIAL VIRTUES
GRANTED BY GOD.
✣ Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which
remains the same in honour and dishonour.
✣ Meekness consists of praying calmly and sincerely
for others even when they cause much turmoil.
✣ Meekness is a Rock overlooking the sea of anger,
which breaks all the waves that dash against it,
yet remains completely unmoved.
✣ Meekness is the Buttress of Patience, the Door, or
rather, the Mother of Love, and the Foundation of
Discernment, for it is said: “The Lord will teach
the meek His Ways.” (PSALM 24:9)
✣ Meekness prepares us for the Forgiveness of sins.
✣ Meekness is boldness in Prayer.
✣ Meekness is an Abode of the Holy Spirit: “But to
Whom shall I look? Even to Him Who is Meek
and Quiet.” (ISAIAH 66:2)
✣ Meekness is the Fellow9worker of Obedience, the
Guide of Brotherhood, a Bridle for the enraged, a
Check to irritation, a Minister of Joy, the
Imitation of Christ, something Proper to Angels,
Shackles for demons and a Shield against
bitterness.
✣ In the heart of the meek the Lord finds rest, but a
turbulent soul is a seat of the devil.
The Wisdom of St Peter of Damaskos
If we refuse to satisfy even the basic needs of the body,
but reject them in order to travel along the Strait and
Narrow Path, how can we ever fall victim to the love
of possessions?
LOVE OF POSSESSIONS CONSISTS NOT MERELY OF OWNING
MANY THINGS, BUT ALSO OUR ATTACHMENT TO THEM,
OR OUR MISUSE OR EXCESSIVE USE OF POSSESSIONS.
For many of the Saints of old, such as St Abraham, St
Job, St David and many others, had extensive
possessions, but they were not attached to them:
THEY REGARDED THEM AS GIFTS FROM GOD AND
SOUGHT TO PLEASE HIM ALL THE MORE THROUGH
THEIR USE OF THEM.
Nevertheless, the Lord, being beyond Perfection and
being Wisdom itself, strikes at the root: for HE URGES
THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM THROUGH
IMITATION OF SUPREME VIRTUE TO RENOUNCE
ONLY MATERIAL GOODS OR POSSESSIONS, BUT
THEIR OWN SOUL – THAT IS TO SAY: THEIR
PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND WILL. (LUKE 14:26)
Because they knew this, THE HOLY FATHERS FLED FROM
THE WORLD, WHICH THEY REGARDED AS A HINDRANCE
TO SPIRITUAL PERFECTION; and NOT ONLY DID THEY
RENOUNCE THE WORLD, BUT ALSO THEIR OWN WILL FOR
THE SAME REASON.
NONE OF THEM EVER DID WHAT HE HIMSELF DESIRED TO
DO.
SOME LIVED IN BODILY OBEDIENCE, SO THAT – IN PLACE OF
CHRIST – THEY WOULD HAVE A SPIRITUAL FATHER
GUIDING THEIR EVERY THOUGHT.
OTHERS, fleeing totally from human society, lived in the
desert and HAD GOD HIMSELF AS THEIR TEACHER, FOR
WHOSE SAKE THEY CHOSE TO UNDERGO A “VOLUNTARY
DEATH.”
OTHERS PURSUED THE “ROYAL WAY” BY LEADING A LIFE OF
SILENCE WITH ONE OR TWO COMPANIONS: these had
one another as Spiritual Counsellors in DOING GOD’S
DIVINE WILL. (“THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT – STEP 1” BY ST JOHN
KLIMAKOS)
And those who, after being subject to a Spiritual Father,
were then appointed by him to take charge of other
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✣ The meek shall inherit the earth, or rather, shall
exercise dominion over it; but bad9tempered
people will be harried out of their land. (MATTHEW 5:5)
✣ A meek soul is a Throne of Simplicity, but an angry
mind is a creator of evil.
✣ A gentle soul retains Words of Wisdom, for the Lord
will Guide the meek in Judgement, or rather, in
Discretion. (PSALM 24:9)
✣ An upright soul is a Fellow9lodger with Humility, but
an evil soul is a daughter of pride.
✣ The soul of the meek is filled with Knowledge, but an
angry mind is a denizen of darkness and
ignorance.
✣ It is impossible to find a true word in the
conversation between those who are angry and
those who are sarcastic because, by unveiling the
heart of the angry, frenzy is exposed and looking
into the soul of the sarcastic, we see dishonesty!
✣ Simplicity is a constant habit of a soul that has
become immune to crafty thinking.
✣ Guile (CRAFTINESS OR SLYNESS) is a science, or rather, a
diabolical deformity, bereft of Truth, and thinks
it can escape the notice of many.
✣ Hypocrisy (DUPLICITY OR INSINCERITY) is a contrary state of
body and soul, interwoven with every kind of
subterfuge (DECEPTION).
✣ Guilelessness is a joyous state of soul, far removed
from all ulterior (HIDDEN) motive.
✣ Honesty is unmeddling thought, sincere character,
frank and unpremeditated speech.
✣ Innocent are those whose soul is in its natural Purity
as it was created, and who make Intercession for
all.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT” BY ST JOHN KIMAKOS –
(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL SERIOUS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST!)
Brethren, and THEY CARRIED OUT THEIR TASK AS IF
THEY WERE THEMSELVES STILL UNDER OBEDIENCE,
keeping the traditions of their own Spiritual Fathers.
Thus ALL THEIR EFFORTS WERE BLESSED BY GOD.
Nowadays, however, whether we are under Obedience or
in authority, WE ARE NOT WILLING TO ABANDON OUR
OWN WILL, AND SO NONE OF US MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL
PROGRESS.
Nevertheless, IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO ESCAPE FROM HUMAN
SOCIETY AND FROM WORLDLY AFFAIRS, and to take the
“Royal Way,” through LIVING THE LIFE OF STILLNESS
with one or two others (WHO OBVIOUSLY MUST BE LIKE-MINDED!),
STUDYING THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST AND ALL
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES DAY AND NIGHT.
THE By this means, through BEING TESTED IN ALL THINGS BY
NOT OUR CONSCIENCE AND APPLICATION, BY READING AND
EVEN BY PRAYER, WE MAY PERHAPS ATTAIN THE FIRST
OWN COMMANDMENT – THE FEAR OF GOD – WHICH COMES
THROUGH FAITH AND THE STUDY OF THE HOLY
SCRIPTURES; and through this WE MAY ACHIEVE
INWARD GRIEF, AND SO ARRIVE AT THE
COMMANDMENT OF WHICH ST PAUL SPOKE: FAITH.
HOPE AND LOVE. (1 CORINTHIANS 13:13)
For THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN GOD FEAR (DIVINE)
CHASTISMENT; and THAT FEAR PROMPTS THEM TO
KEEP THE HOLY COMMANDMENTS, which, in turn, lead
us to ENDURE AFFLICTION; and the endurance of
affliction produces HOPE IN GOD.
SUCH HOPE SEPARATES OUR INTELLECT FROM ALL
MATERIAL ATTACHMENT; AND BEING FREE FROM SUCH
ATTACHMENT, WE WILL POSSESS TRUE LOVE FOR GOD
AND WILL BE SAVED!
THE “FEAR OF GOD” MEANS THAT BECAUSE WE LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR BEING, WE DREAD
DISAPPOINTING HIM THROUGH OUR CARELESS SINS OR DISOBEDIENCE.
IT DOES NOT MEAN A TERRIFIED FEAR OF SOMETHING DANGEROUS OR EVIL!! THAT IS THE
INVENTION OF THE EVIL ONE WHO WANTS US TO SERVE HIM THROUGH FEAR!
GOD IS ABSOLUTE LOVE AND OUR JOY OF BEING IN HIS PRESENCE MOTIVATES US TO STRIVE
ALL THE MORE SO AS NOT TO FAIL IN OUR SACRED DUTIES TO OUR MOST BELOVED
AND INFINITEDLY MERCIFUL GOD – WHICH INCLUDES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE
ANOTHER – UPON WHICH WE WILL BE SEVERELY JUDGED.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE PHILOKALIA” - VOL 3 – “ST PETER OF DAMASCUS”
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

14th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 5 29 August 2010

14th Sunday of St Matthew
The Beheading of St John the Baptist & Forerunner

Feast of St Theopistis of Aegina; St Theodora of Thessaloniki; St Anastasios the New

Martyr of Bulgaria
RE SURRE CTION A POL YTIK ION IHO S PL . A - TONE ( 5) PL AGA L 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a
Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin en Virgin, let us Faithful believers hymn and adore. For it
to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous tethneotas was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the Flesh,
en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou. and to Suffer Death, and through His own Glorious
Resurrection to raise the dead.
A POL YT IKION O F ST J OHN THE BA PTI ST & FORE RUN NER – TO NE 2

Mnimi Dikeou met engomion; si de arkesi i martiria tou
Kyriou Prodrome; anedihthis gar ontos ke Profiton
sevamioteros, oti ke en rithris Vaptise katihiothis ton
kiritomenon. Othen tis Alithias iperathlisas, heron
evingeliso ke tis en Adi: Theo fanerothenta en Sarki,
ton eronta tin amartian tou kosmou, ke parehonta imin
to Mega Eleos.
KONTAKION OF THE NATIVITY OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
The memory of the Just is praised; but for Thee shall
suffice, the Witness of the Lord, O Forerunner; for Thou
hast truly come forth as more honoured than the
Prophets, since Thou proved worthy to Baptise, in the
streams, the one they preached of. Thus, having
contended for the Truth supremely, with Joy Thou
brought the Good News, even to those in Hades: O God
Who did appear in the flesh, and took away the sin of
the world, and grants to all His Great Mercy.

Ioakim ke Anna onidismou ateknias, ke Adam ke Eva ek tis
fthoras tou thanatou ileftherothisan Ahrante, en ti Agia
gennisi Sou. Aftin eortazi ke o laos sou, enohis ton
ptesmaton, litrothis en to krazin si: i stira tikti tin
Theotokon, ke trofon tis zois imon.
Resurrection Gospel 3 - Mark 16:9 – 20 O U R
By thy Holy Nativity, O Most Undefiled One, Joachim and
Anna were freed from the scorn of childlessness, and
Adam and Eve from death’s corruption. This is the
Feast now observed by thy people, who from the guilt
of their errors, were delivered as they cry out to thee:
the barren one bear the Theotokos, and our life’s
Sustainer!
RISEN CHRIST APPEARS TO HIS APOSTLES & DISCIPLES BEFORE HIS ASCENSION

PROKEIMENON O Lord, protect us and preserve us both now and forever. Save us, O Lord, for there is not one godly man left!
Th e Ac ts o f th e A p os t l es A cc o r din g to S t L uk e 1 3 : 2 5 - 3 2
ST PAUL’S TESTIMONY CONCERNING ST JOHN THE BAPTIST & CHRIST OUR LORD & SAVIOUR
Brethren: ... as John was finishing his course, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One
after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’
Men and Brethren, sons of the Family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God: to you the Word of this Salvation
has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices
of the Prophets, which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And although they found no
cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
Now, when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the Tree and laid Him in a
tomb, but God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, who are His Witnesses to the people.
And we declare to you Glad Tidings – that Promise, which was made to the Fathers...
St Paul and his companions were in Antioch, Pisidia on the PSALM 118 : 22-23 “Take away reproach and contempt from
Sabbath Day so they attended the gathering at the Me, for I searched Thy Testimonies. For Rulers sat
Synagogue and after the Readings concerning the Law of and spoke against Me, but Thy Servant meditated on
God and His Holy Prophets, the leaders of the Synagogue Thine Ordinances.”
invited St Paul to address them. With God’s Help and by continual Repentance a blameless
This passage is part of his Homily to them concerning St John Journey with God is possible and this is the way we must
the Baptist and our Resurrected, Ascended Lord and prepare ourselves for our approaching death.
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Christ Himself lived and died in this manner, and through Him
The “family of Abraham” is a reference to the Hebrews, while we who believe are to live and die in this same way too.
“those who fear God,” was a reference to the Gentile ISAIAH 53: 1 – 9 “O Lord, who has believed our report, and
converts – thereby meaning that the Salvation of Christ is to whom was the Arm of the Lord revealed? We
proclaimed for all humanity – throughout all ages. proclaimed His Presence as a Child, as a Root in a
St Paul consistently emphasised the fact that if the Old thirsty land.
Testament Scriptures are properly understood, it becomes “He had no form or Glory, and we saw Him; and He had no
quite clear that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly the long- form or beauty.
awaited Messiah. “But in comparison to all men, His Form was lacking in
Even the rejection and persecution of Christ fulfilled all the honour.
ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah. “He was a Man in suffering and knew how to bear
PSALM 2: 1-2: “Why do the nations rage, and the people sickness.
meditate on vain things? The Kings of the earth set “His Face was turned away, and He was dishonoured and
themselves, and the rulers gather together against the not esteemed.
Lord and against His Anointed ...” “He bears our sins and suffers for us, yet we considered
“The Lord” is God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ is Him to be in pain, suffering, and ill-treated.
“His Anointed,” which is another term for “His Christ.” “But He was wounded because of our lawlessness, and
became sick because of our sins.

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) 1 4 T H SU N DA Y AFT E R P E N TE CO ST – 1 4 T H O F ST M AT T HE W & T H E BE HE AD IN G O F ST J O H N TH E BAP T I ST - 2 9 AU G U ST 2 0 1 0

19
“The chastisement of our Peace was upon Him, and by
His Bruises we are healed.
“All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Man has gone
astray in his way, and the Lord delivered Him over for
our sins.
“Although He was ill-treated, He opened not His Mouth.
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a
lamb is silent before his shearers, so He opened not
His Mouth.
“In His humiliation, His Judgement was taken away, and
who will declare His Generation? For His Life is taken
from the earth, and because of the lawlessness of My
People He was led to death.
“I will appoint evil men for His Burial and rich men for His
Death, because He committed no lawlessness, nor
was deceit found in His Mouth.”
“He had no form nor beauty” is a reference to Christ’s
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: “He sat upon the foal of
an ass; He was despised among the people and humbled
Himself even unto death.” (ST IRENEAUS)
God became dishonoured when our Lord Jesus Christ – the
Son of God the Father – emptied Himself of all His Divine
Th e H ol y G os p e l A c c o rd ing t o S t Ma rk 6 : 14 - 3 0
THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST & FOREFUNNER TO CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR
Majesty and Power to assume – to take on our human
nature and form: “O marvel at the Loving Kindness of the
Word, that for our sakes He is dishonoured, so that we
may be brought to honour!” (ST ATHANASIOS THE GREAT)
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was free from sin, took our
chastisement and granted us His Divine Peace .
“By His Bruises” we are Saved from an Eternity of suffering
and alienation from God.
The Lord – God the Father – delivered Christ – His Beloved
Son – to die for our sins and this is the intense and
essential Message of Hope that St Paul proclaimed in his
Second Epistle to the Corinthians. (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21)
“The Shepherd of Israel, and now of the whole world also..”
became “... the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of
the world.” (St Gregory of Nazianzos; John 1 : 29)
Our Lord Jesus Christ was led to His Death, yet Death could
not hold His Perfect, Sinless Body.
Christ our Lord is the only “human Being” Who is Perfectly
Sinless – “He committed no lawlessness,” and no one
ever accused him as such.

At that time, King Herod heard of Jesus, for His Name had become well known. And he said: “”John the Baptist is risen
from the dead, and therefore these Powers are at work in him!”
Others said: “It is Elijah!” And others said: “It is the Prophet, or like one of the Prophets.” But when Herod heard, he said:
“This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John,
and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother, Philip’s wife; for having married her John had said to
Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Therefore Herodias held it against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not for Herod feared John, knowing that he
as a Just and Holy man, so he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday held a banquet for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief
men of Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with
him, the King said to the girl: “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He also swore to her: “Whatever
you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” So she went out and asked her mother: “What shall I ask?” And
Herodias said: “The head of John the Baptist!” At once she hastened to the King and said: “I want you to give me at
once, the head of John the Baptist – on a platter!”And the King was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and
because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.
Immediately the King sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in
prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
When John’s Disciples heard of it, they went and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. Then the Apostles gathered to
Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.
This King Herod was the son of King Herod who had During the Matins Service we sing: “Thy tongue, which
slaughtered the Innocents – all the infants of Bethlehem constantly speaks of God, has preceded Christ into Death
and the surrounding area who were two years old and and is sent to preach Him to those in Hades.”
younger after Christ had been born – in the expectation of King Herod, with all his wealth and power of authority to
killing the Great King Whom the Magi had travelled so far command soldiers – or anyone – to do his bidding, feared
to worship and honour. St John the Baptist who, as the greatest Ascetic and Holy
Although King Herod was technically a Governor, he was Prophet of God, lived in total poverty – with no home and
popularly called “King.” no possessions except the few skins or camel hair that
Knowing that St John the Baptist had worked no Miracles covered his nakedness.
while living, King Herod believed that St John had been This is a strong testament to the amazing Power of St John’s
raised from the dead. personal Holiness and integrity (truthfulness and honour)
The Beheading of St John the Baptist is commemorated by as well as the people’s perception of St John the Baptist,
the Orthodox Church on 29 August with a day of very strict for they held him in the highest esteem.
Fasting. With the words: “Then the Apostles gathered to Jesus...” St
As part of God’s Divine Plan of Salvation, St John’s Holy Mark picked up where he had left off in verse 13, after
Martyrdom allowed the Coming of the Messiah to be narrating the account of the Beheading of St John the
announced to the souls in Hades, for St John was the Baptist parenthetically.
Forerunner of Christ in Hades as well as on earth.
Th e Be he a din g of S t J oh n th e B ap tis t
St John was very outspoken. To call the religious leaders St John the Baptist continued his Annunciation of the
of his day a bunch of snakes and tell them they were Messiah to all the souls who were imprisoned in
going to Hell took courage. (MATTHEW 3:7-12, LUKE 3:7-9) Hades, making St John the Forerunner to Christ, not
St John did not confine his outspokenness to religious only in earthly life, but also in death, before the
leaders either. Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.
He also publicly criticized Herod the Tetrarch (the son of St John was imprisoned for about a year before his death
the murderer of his Righteous father St Zachariah) and his disciples continued to report some of the
for the incest of marrying his brother Philip’s wife Miracles that our Lord Jesus performed. (MATTHEW 11:2,
LUKE 7:18)
Herodias. (MATTHEW 14:3-4)
St John’s disciples were especially perplexed as to the
This motivated Herod to imprison St John from whence
reason for our Lord Jesus performing these Divine
he continued to Preach and Teach Divine Truth, and
Works and they wondered how it all complied with
his Disciples visited him continuously until Herodias
the Holy Scriptures.
siezed the opportunity to have his head presented
St John knew his place – his role in the Salvation of
on a platter at Herod’s celebratory banquet. (MATTHEW
mankind 9 and he expected that the One Whom he
14:6-11).

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 had announced would be like “a refiner’s fire.”
3:1-2, MATTHEW 3:10-12)
Our Lord Jesus was obviously not doing so which caused
the concern of St John’s disciples.
What about the One Who would go forth from Bethlehem
as a Ruler in Israel? (Micah 5:2)
What about the King coming to Jerusalem riding on a
donkey’s colt? (ZECHARIAH 9:9)
To satisfy St John’s disciples, our Lord Jesus sent an
encoded message to St John that he unstood, but
which his disciples may not have understood.
He said to them, “Go and tell John the things that you
have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, the poor have the Gospel preached to them,
and Blessed is he who is not offended because of
Me.” (LUKE 7:22-23)
St John knew what this meant. Connected to the Day of
God’s Vengeance at the Coming of Messiah, all these
things were supposed to happen. (ISAIAH 35:4-6, 61:1-3)
St John’s disciples had been witnessing Jesus do all
these things, but they may not have made the
connection to what the Holy Prophets had said.
The coded message for St John was simply to inform
him that all things were indeed proceeding as
prophesied and that his disciples should not to be
concerned about the sequence of events.
King Herod Antipas had a lot of respect for St John as a
Holy Prophet of God, and actually paid attention to
much of what he heard him say, but when St John
denounced the unlawful incest of Herod’s marrying
his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, St John incurred
the obsessive wrath of Herodias.
Since Herodias was a granddaughter of Simeon, the High
Priest, her incestuous relationship with Herod
Antipas created a national scandal.
St John’s criticism painted Herodias as a 1st Century
“Jezebel”, which Herodias deeply resented and hated
him for, waiting for an opportunity to kill him,
despite Herod’s fear of Divine Wrath and the reaction
of the devout Hebrews.
Herod acknowledge St John as being not only a Holy
Prophet of God, but also Just and Holy, so being well
aware of her intense hatred, he tried to protect the
Holy Prophet from the wicked intentions of Herodias.
(MARK 6:17-20)
The background to Herod’s illegal, incestuous marriage
to Herodias goes back a generation.
The mother of Herod the Great (Herod Antipas’ father)
came from an eminent Nabatean family, but he later
fought the Nabateans in a war that he won only after
suffering heavy losses.
The Nabateans, in return, enthusiastically provided
auxiliary troops to aid the Roman Governor of Syria
in brutally suppressing the Jewish revolt that
followed Herod the Great’s death. (ABOUT 4 BC).
In order to calm the tensions between the two nations,
Herod Antipas married the daughter of the Nabatean
king (Aretas IV).
However, circa 23, he divorced her in order to marry
Herodias, the wife of his half9brother Philip.
St John the Baptist criticized this marriage as being
incestuous, as reported both by Josephus and the
Holy Gospels, resulting in his imprisonment and
consequent beheading. (MATTHEW 14:3-12; MARK 6:17-29; LUKE 4:19-
20)
Using a disputed border as an excuse, the Nabatean king
attacked Galilee to avenge the insult to his daughter.
(ANTIQUITIES XVIII, V, 1-4).
Emperor Tiberius did not tolerate war between his vassal
states and later sent an army to punish Aretas.
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(MALACHI Before the army commanded by Vitellius reached
Nabatea, Tiberius died and Caius Caligula became
Emperor.
Vitellius, being uncertain of Caligula’s feelings on this
issue, called off the campaign, and because Caligula
did not send him back, Aretas was never “punished.”
According to the ancient historian, Josephus, many
Hebrews felt that Aretas’ destruction of Herod’s
army was the Hand of God as Just Punishment for
Herod’s murder of St John the Baptist. (ANTIQUITIES, XVIII, V,
2).
The banquet had been held at the castle of Machaerus,
which was located Northeast of the Dead Sea, and the
dungeon where St John was imprisoned was a rock9
hewn cave in the cliffs below the banquet hall (Ibid).
After St John was beheaded, his disciples buried his
body while Herodias had his head thrown in the
cesspool of the local garbage dump outside the city.
(MATTHEW 14:12)
St Joanna (the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward) who was
later one of the Myrrh9Bearing Women and who
contributed to the support of our Lord Jesus’
Ministry, retrieved St John’s head during the night
and secretly buried it in the Garden of Gethsemane.
(VELIMIROVIC, PROLOGUE, JUNE 27).
After St John the Baptist’s death, Herod heard of all the
Miracles that our Lord Jesus and His Disciples were
performing and since Christ’s Disciples were
formerly disciples of St John the Baptist, Herod
presumed that St John had risen from the dead and
that was the Source of such unusual Power. (MARK 6:14-
16)
The Power of these Miracles seemed all the more striking
because of their contrast with St John who had not
performed any Miracles that we know of. (JOHN 10:41)
So Herod sought to see our Lord Jesus Christ, but only
did so just before His Crucifixion, when he treated
Christ with utter contempt! ( LUKE 9:9; 23:5-12)
The Epistle Lesson for the Feast of the Beheading of St
John has more to say about this: “Those who dwell in
Jerusalem, and their Rulers, because they did not
know Him (nor even the voices of the Prophets which
are read every Sabbath) have fulfilled them in
condemning Him.” (ACTS 13:27)
Herod Antipas was one of the “Rulers” at Christ’s unjust
Trial.
Herod Antipas neither knew with Whom he was dealing
when he sent Christ back to Pontius Pilate, nor did he
know who St John the Baptist was when he had him
beheaded.(LUKE 23:11)
On the other hand, St John the Baptist knew without a
doubt exactly who Herod Antipas was, yet he
maintained a most humble attitude toward his Ruler.
Even as people were clamouring to exalt him, St John the
Baptist continued to make it very clear to everyone
that he was not worthy even to loosen the sandals of
our True Master – our Lord Jesus Christ. (ACTS 13:25)
Herod Antipas was eventually exiled due to the
insatiable greed of Herodias.
Over the years, she had become increasingly jealous of
the honours bestowed on her brother, Herod Agrippa
and in 39 AD, she finally persuaded Herod Antipas to
go to Rome in order to persuade Emperor Caius
Caligula to bestow similar honours on him.
However, being informed of their intentions, Herod
Agrippa himself went to Rome with evidence that
showed, among other things, Herod Antipas’
stockpile of weapons, which suggested a plot to
revolt against the authority of Rome.
The wicked couple, Herod Antipas and Herodias could
not defend themselves, and were consequently
banished to Gaul for the rest of their lives.
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All their wealth and property was given to Herod
Agrippa. (JOSEPHUS, ANTIQUITIES, XVIII, VII, 1-2)
Thus Herod Antipas, who Christ had referred to as a
“fox,” being infamous for his evil cunning,
manipulation and complete lack of morals, was
outfoxed by his brother9in9law. (LUKE 13:32)
Our Festal Hymns describe many aspects of the
Beheading of St John the Baptist.
On the one hand, Christ had some harsh things to say to
the religious leaders of His day, accusing them of
W is d o m of o ur Ho l y F a t he rs
S t M ak ar i os of Eg yp t – O n S p ir it u al P e rf ec t io n
The Holy Spirit, knowing that the unseen and secret
passions are difficult to get rid of – for they are, as it
were, rooted in our soul – shows us through the
words of St David the Psalmist how to purify
ourselves from them: “Cleanse me from my secret
faults...” (PSALM 19:12)
Through many Prayers and much Faith, and by turning
completely to God, we are able – with the Help of the
Holy Spirit – to conquer our passions.
We must strive ceaselessly against our passions and
keep a very strict watch over ourselves. ( PROVERBS 4:23)
The soul should not be divided in will between good and
evil, but should pursue the good alone; and it must
not try to cultivate dual Fruits of Virtue and Vice, but
being murderers of the Holy Prophets of God, one of
whom was His own aged uncle, St Zechariah, the
Righteous father of St John the Baptist. (MATTHEW 23:35)
On the other hand, Herod Antipas’ murder of St John the
Baptist had dire significance, for he was the last of
the Holy Prophets of God and he received the highest
praise of all – the respect of our Lord Jesus Christ
Who pointed out that he was truly the greatest of all
the Holy Prophets. (MATTHEW 11:11, LUKE 7:28)
“Do not yoke together on your threshing floor
animals of a different species ...” (DEUTERONOMY 22:10
In other words: do not let Virtue and Vice work together
on the threshing floor of your heart, but let Virtue
alone work there.
Besides avoiding the combination of Virtue and Vice
within ourselves, we must devote ourselves single9
mindedly to producing the Fruits of Virtue.
Furthermore, we must also not share our soul between
two spirits – the Spirit of God and the spirit of the
world. We must rather commit our soul exclusively
to the Spirit of God and reap only the Fruits of the
Holy Spirit.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE PHILOKALIA” VOLUME 3 – ST MAKARIOS OF EGYPT – ON
SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

those of Virtue alone.

St Paisios the Elder of Holy Mountain
❉ Father Paisios warned us that when our soul lives
carelessly without watching over her thoughts,
she will consequently fill up with dirty and sly
thoughts.
As a result, we will begin to develop psychological
problems that gradually increase.
Some people, while they are found in such a situation
and come face to face with the problem itself, do not
realise it and thus are unable to humbly confess
their fall to their Spiritual Father.
Instead they seek a “secular” solution and consult a
psychiatrist, who will inevitably prescribe
medication.
Pills will not solve the problem, but will temporarily
cover it.
This is not an effective solution, as once they stop
taking their medication, the problem will surface
again, and the person will suffer the same miserable
condition.
The only solution is to become aware of the problem
and to confess it to a Spiritual Father, and then
humbly follow his advice.
In these sad days, people have lost control over their
lives, and they do not know what they are doing
because they do not wish to be guided; they want to
live undisturbed, to continue following their own
will, which will eventually bring about their total
destruction.
God granted us our freedom and independence to do
whatever we like, but God also gave us the
Knowledge – the ability to realise that we are unable
to achieve anything good by solely relying on
ourselves, for, as our Saviour said: “...apart from Me
you can do nothing,” and “ If then you are not able
to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious
about the rest?” (JOHN 15:5; LUKE 12:26)
Therefore, when we use our freedom and independence
without taking into consideration our human
weakness, we become deceived; we experience and
interpret everything by using our own flawed logic.
Instead of God’s Divine Grace, human logic rules our
life, and our mind is in confusion, which is terrible,
as far as Father Paisios was concerned.
❉ The wise Holy Elder always offered the following
advice to everyone and he insisted that they
follow it:
1. We must become aware of our problem – in other
words, we must be aware of our alienation from
God – and the causes for it!
2. We must repent everything that causes this terrible
sin
3. And we must go with all Humility and sincerity to
Holy Confession.
Father Paisios was painfully aware of the fact that more
than ever people have become complacent recipients
of the devil’s influence and intrusion in their lives
but he assured us that if we strictly and obediently
follow his aforementioned advice we will be safe and
return to Spiritual Life in Christ.
❉ Father Paisios encouraged everyone he met to
maintain good thoughts.
One day, as an example of good thoughts, Father Paisios
read a section of the Old Testament that referred to
the account of King Darios having thrown Daniel into
the den of lions and the next day having gone
himself to see if he was still alive: “’... O, Daniel,
servant of the Living God: has your God Whom you
serve continually been able to deliver you from the
lions?’ Then Daniel answered: ‘O King, live forever!” ...
and the King was exceedingly glad...” (DANIEL 6:14-18)
Father Paisios commented: “If Daniel had thought
negatively, he would have said to Dairos: ‘Shame on
you! Not only did you throw me into the den of lions,
but you have the nerve to ask me how I am!’
“However, Daniel always had positive thoughts, and for
that reason God prevented the lions from devouring
him.”
The same principle applied to the Three Holy Youths
who blamed themselves and glorified God.
“Their positive thoughts were connected to their
Humility! Good and humble thoughts can tame
lions and cool a burning furnace...!”
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “ELDER PAISIOS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN” BY PRIEST MONK
CHRISTODOULOS – HOLY MOUNTAIN’S MONK

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