Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE 1 DECEMBER 2019

24 SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

T H

FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD

14TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE
THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO

The Feast of St Naum, Holy Prophet of God – St Philaret the Merciful of Amnia– St Theklitos,
Archbishop of Lacedemonia – St Ananias of Persia – St Botolph of Iken – St Ananias & St Solochon,
Archbishops of Ephesos

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P R OKE IME NON – P SALM 115/116 – T ONE (7) V ARYS -G R AV E

Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Holy One.
What shall we give back to the Lord for all He rendered to us?
T H E E PISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E H EBRE WS 13 : 17 – 21
Brethren: obey your Leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your soul, as men who will have to
give account. Let them do so Joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we
are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to
do this in order that I may be restored to you sooner.
Now, may the God of Peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, by the
Blood of the Eternal Covenant, equip you with everything good so that you may do His Will, working in you that
which is pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory unto the Ages of ages.
Amen.
✶ “... obey your Leaders and submit to them...”
THOSE WHO GUIDE US in Divine Truth and Life, ARE

As Faithful Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must TEMPTED BY THE EVIL ONE FAR WORSE THAN US.
ALWAYS OBEY AND RESPECT OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
Therefore, WE MUST PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL
who are Consecrated and Sanctified Members of STRENGTH, COURAGE AND ENDURANCE so that they can
God’s Holy Priesthood. FULFIL THEIR SACRED TASKS EFFICIENTLY AND CORRECTLY
✶ “...they are keeping watch over your soul...” AT ALL TIMES.

OUR BISHOPS AND PRIESTS are Ordained Members of the ✶ “... the God of Peace...” is also THE GOD OF UNCONDITIONAL,
Eternal Spiritual Fatherhood of Christ’s Holy INFINITE LOVE (AGAPE.)
Church who WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
The Old Covenant Prophets and the people had
EARTHLY MINISTRY AT THE GREAT JUDGEMENT OF OUR believed in an All Powerful God Who would
LORD. avenge His displeasure – an intensively strong,

OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND TEACHERS who Guide us in powerful Deity Who became Wrathful and Who
our Lord’s Divine Truth ALSO HELP US TO LEARN, would direly punish all offenders.
UNDERSTAND AND LIVE ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR
That was the only way people understood the most
HEAVENLY FATHER so that we might acquire Spiritual powerful Kings (and Almighty God) to be – OBEYED
Perfection. THROUGH FEAR OF SEVERE RETRIBUTION.
✶ “... as men who will have to give account...”
However, GOD INCARNATE REVEALED HIS DIVINE TRUTH.

THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD, OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS, TEACHERS
OUR TRIUNE LORD GOD – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is
AND GODPARENTS WILL ALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for the LOVE ITSELF.
welfare of not only their own immortal soul but
Our Lord God is LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, PROVIDENTIAL,
especially for those for whom they are responsible. ALL MERCIFUL AND ALL GOOD AND LIFE-GIVING.

EACH OF US WILL ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
Our Lord is NOT ONLY LOVE BUT ALSO GOODNESS ITSELF.
DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD AND TO THOSE WHO ARE
He CREATED EVERYTHING FROM NOTHINGNESS WITH LOVE,
AUTHORISED BY HIM TO LEAD US AND TEACH US. GOODNESS AND BEAUTY – HOLY PERFECTION.
✶ “...Let them do so Joyfully, and not sadly
All that is wicked, evil, destructive, devastating,

We must constantly strive to BE FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF harmful, ugly, etc are the hideous inventions of the
CHRIST BY PAYING ATTENTION TO AND OBEYING OUR evil one.
SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND TEACHERS so that they do not
EVERYTHING GOD GRANTS US IS PERFECTLY GOOD AND
have to worry about our Spiritual Welfare. MERCIFUL.

WHEN WE REPENT OUR SINS AND STRUGGLE AGAINST ALL
WHEN NECESSARY OUR LORD PERMITS US TO BE TESTED BY THE
TEMPTATION, BOTH THE HEAVENLY HOSTS, THE CHURCH TEMPTATIONS of the evil one so that we will draw
TRIUMPHANT AND THE CHURCH MILITANT REJOICE with closer to Him and become Spiritually Stronger.
us.
WITHOUT OUR MOST GRACIOUS LORD GOD THERE IS NO LOVE,
✶ “...Pray for us, for ... a clear conscience... to act JOY AND PEACE.
honourably in all things. ✶ “...Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus...”

ST PAUL, as one of our Holy Church Fathers, ASKED ALL
ONLY OUR ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL AND LIVING LORD GOD CAN
CHRISTIANS FOR THEIR PRAYERS SO THAT HE MIGHT LIVE AN GRANT LIFE according to His Divine Love.
EXEMPLARY LIFE ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL and not be
St Paul emphasises the Divine Truth concerning THE
tempted by the evil one into committing any sins GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
or worse – leading others into wickedness or
blasphemy.

24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – FOREFEAST – 1 DECEMBER 2019 1.

OUR LORD JESUS (IN HIS HUMAN NATURE) WAS THE FIRST TO BE
ETERNALLY RESURRECTED, which He showed us by His
11 Resurrection Appearances.

According to our New Covenant with God, DEATH NO
LONGER HOLDS US CAPTIVE.

IN ORDER TO ENTER ETERNITY, OUR PHYSICAL BODY IS
SEPARATED FROM OUR IMMORTAL SOUL and returned to
the earth whence it originated.

WHEN WE ARE RESURRECTED ON THE EIGHTH DAY, just like
our Lord Jesus Christ, OUR IMMORTAL SOUL WILL BE RE-
UNITED WITH A NEW BODY that will exist forever.

ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH DEPENDS ON THE CHOICES
WE NOW MAKE AND ON WHETHER OR NOT WE REPENT OUR
SINS.
✶ “...by the Blood of the Eternal Covenant, equip you with
everything good so that you may do His Will...”

THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE DIVINE AND MOST SACRED BLOOD OF
CHRIST IS REALISED IN HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION.

As our Lord Jesus CHRIST OFFERS HIS MOST PRECIOUS
BLOOD IN THE ETERNAL SANCTUARY, He inaugurates A
NEW, “... EVERLASTING (ETERNAL) COVENANT...”

GOD’S NEW COVENANT EQUIPS US WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS
GOOD AND WORTHY – that enables us TO FULFIL OUR
SACRED TASKS ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE WILL.

ONLY BY VOLUNTARILY AND EAGERLY CO-OPERATING WITH GOD
IN ALL THINGS ARE WE ABLE TO PROGRESS TOWARDS HOLY
SAINTHOOD – to ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL PERFECTION OR
THEOSIS, which is the Regeneration and Restoration
of our original created Spiritual State.

The two inseparable Holy Virtues of HUMILITY AND
OBEDIENCE ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HEALS
At that time, as our Lord Jesus was leaving Jericho, a certain Blind Man sat by the roadside begging. Hearing a
multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried
out: “Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy on me!” And those who went before Jesus warned him to be quiet.
He cried out all the more: “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to
Him. When he approached, He asked him: “What do you want Me to do for you?” He replied: “Lord, grant that I
may receive sight.” And Jesus said to him: “Receive thy sight. Thy Faith has made thee well.” And immediately he
received his sight, and followed Him, Glorifying God.
And all the people, having beheld it, praised God.
✶ “... a certain Blind Man sat ... begging...”

St Matthew mentioned “two blind men” in his Holy
Gospel Account of this Divine Miracle of our Lord.

However, such SMALL DETAILS ARE UNIMPORTANT COMPARED
TO THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS.
✶ “...They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing
by...”
Although the Blind Man of Jericho was told that “Jesus of
Nazareth” was going past them, he immediately
had Faith in His ability to Heal him of his
blindness.
✶ “... Jesus, Son of David! Have Mercy on me!”

He called out to Christ, using A UNIQUE, SACRED TITLE
THAT IS STRICTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG-AWAITED
MESSIAH OF GOD.
✶ “...those who went before Jesus warned him to be
quiet..” either OUT OF RESPECT for our Lord Jesus
Christ, if they were His Faithful Disciples, OR TO KEEP ✶ “...What do you want Me to do for you?...” initially seems
HIS ERRONEOUSLY PERCEIVED “BLASPHEMY” SILENT, if they
were His opponents or simply ignorant of Christ’s
True Identity.

Those who tried to silence the Blind Man of Jericho
signify THE PERSECUTORS AND TYRANTS WHO – IN EVERY
GENERATION – TRY TO SILENCE THE DIVINE TRUTH AND
WORSHIP OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST.
✶ “...he cried out all the more...” because the Blind Man of
Jericho SO DESPERATELY WANTED CHRIST TO HEAL HIM OF
HIS PHYSICAL BLINDNESS.

HE KNEW THAT ONLY OUR LORD JESUS COULD GRANT HIM SIGHT
to see.

HIS HEART AND SOUL RESPONDED SO JOYFULLY AND HOPEFULLY
TO HIS DIVINE PRESENCE because HE WAS NOT
SPIRITUALLY BLIND like our Lord’s opponents.

WHEN PERSECUTED, THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST – I.E. ALL
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS – CONFESS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ALL THE MORE AS OUR FAITH IN GOD DEEPENS AND IS
FIRMLY ESTABLISHED FOREVER!
✶ “...Jesus commanded him to be brought to Him...”
PROGRESS, for without them, we cannot acquire any
of the other essential Holy Virtues.

DUE TO OUR SPIRITUAL INEXPERIENCE AND IMMATURITY, IT IS
IMPERATIVE TO HUMBLY OBEY OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS who
Shepherd us towards Eternity, Salvation and
Eternal Life.
✶ “...working in you that which is pleasing in His Sight,
through Jesus Christ...”

WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THEOSIS BY OURSELVES.

We need to HUMBLY AND OBEDIENTLY FOLLOW AND
IMPLEMENT THE DIVINE TRUTH of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ

ALL ASPECTS OF AN ACTIVE, FULLY PARTICIPATING LIFE IN
CHRIST IN HIS HOLY CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL –
1. correct, ORTHODOX WORSHIP
2. regular participation in all His Salvific HOLY
MYSTERIES, beginning with BAPTISM and
CHRISMATION
3. Regular REPENTANCE-CONFESSION
4. Regular HOLY EUCHARIST
5. constant PRAYERS,
6. FASTING
7. APPLYING ALL DIVINE TRUTH – Teachings and
Commandments - TO OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND
DEEDS.

THE TRUE PATH HAS BEEN LAID OUT CLEARLY FOR US TO
FOLLOW. It is thus neither complicated nor difficult
when we do so with sincere Humility and
Obedience.
R D ING TO S T LU KE 18 : 35 – 43
A BLIND MAN OF JERICHO

Despite all the clamour and cacophony that
surrounded Him, OUR LORD IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED
TO THE BLIND MAN’S HEARTFELT SUPPLICATION.

This reveals, once again, that OUR LORD JESUS IS INDEED
GOD-MAN, WHO OPERATES ON BOTH A PHYSICAL AND
SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
There were always so many crippled, blind and afflicted people
begging for alms while others tried to sell whatever they
had to offer, who were crowded together along the roads
leading into and out of the cities and large towns.
Often forerunners were needed to clear a pathway through
the tightly packed multitude in order to progress into or
out of these tightly congested areas that were veritable
pedestrian ‘traffic jams’ or ‘gridlocks.’

His Disciples had seen and heard that particular Blind
Man of Jericho, so THEY COULD QUICKLY FETCH HIM AND
PRESENT HIM TO OUR LORD.
to be a rather superfluous question, yet it IS HIGHLY
SIGNIFICANT.

Our Lord God often asks us to explain WHAT
SPECIFICALLY WE WANT FROM HIM, because all too
often, WHAT WE THINK WE WANT, MIGHT NOT BE TO OUR
ADVANTAGE NOR OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT.

OUR PRAYERS for His Divine Mercy OUGHT TO ALWAYS BE
ACCORDING TO OUR LORD GOD’S WILL AND WISDOM.

ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE DO
NEED – exactly what is of SPIRITUAL BENEFIT to us –
what is ETERNALLY SALVIFIC for us.

WITHOUT FAIL GOD HEARS EVERY PRAYER AND PETITION – even
those that remain unexpressed.

We do not always understand nor realise when He
has answered us.

SOMETIMES OUR PRAYERS TAKE LONGER TO BE FULFILLED
BECAUSE WE LACK SOMETHING CRUCIAL to our Spiritual
Growth or Welfare.

All too often WHAT WE THINK WE NEED MAY MERELY DISGUISE
OR PREVENT SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS FAR MORE ESSENTIAL
FOR OUR BENEFIT OR THAT OF MANY OTHERS .

2. 24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – FOREFEAST – 1 DECEMBER 2019

Until we GRASP THE TRUTH OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND
ATTITUDE, we may have to ENDURE our current state
WITH PATIENCE, REPENTANCE AND CONTEMPLATION.

ONLY WITH GOD’S WISDOM AND HELP CAN WE BEGIN TO
PERCEIVE WHAT WE TRULY NEED FROM HIM.
✶ “...Lord, grant that I may receive sight....” was his
immediate response.

THE TITLE “LORD,” IS RESERVED FOR GOD ALONE.

The Blind Man of Jericho instinctively knew that
CHRIST JESUS IS INDEED OUR LORD GOD FOR WHOM
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE – especially Miraculous
Healing of both body and soul.

Although our Lord knows the deepest desires and
secrets of every soul – even before we have
acknowledged or expressed them – HE WANTS US TO
FREELY AND CONFIDENTLY REQUEST HIS GREAT MERCY.
✶ “...Thy Faith has made thee well...” once again reveals
how PERSONAL FAITH CO-OPERATES AND IS ESSENTIAL TO
DIVINE HEALING.

Although our Divine Creator can do whatever He
Wills, HE NEVER FORCES HIS WILL UPON US, BUT WAITS FOR
US TO BE RECEPTIVE AND WILLING TO RECEIVE HIS LOVE
AND GRACE.

According to our Holy Fathers the Blind Man of
Jericho symbolised those FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO
WOULD BECOME FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ONLY BY
HEARING OF OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR - but without the
Benefit of seeing Him in Person.
 JOHN 20:29 -- after His Glorious Resurrection Our Lord
Jesus Christ had said to St Thomas: “Thomas,
24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – FOREFEAST -
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved we have now entered the Holy Forefeast
of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The Sacred Lesson of this 14th Sunday of St Luke concerns
the Blind Man of Jericho whose physical blindness
was an affliction that prevented him from enjoying
the perceptible light and beauty of God’s great and
glorious Creation.
It was a heavy Cross for the Blind Man of Jericho to bear
because he was also forced to beg from his fellow
citizens in order to sustain his wretched life.
Nevertheless, his humbled state and Faith in Christ
gained him both his sight and his Eternal Salvation.
While the packed and noisy throngs of people and
animals slowly proceeded past him, he became
aware of a change in the noise and atmosphere, and
when he heard that “Jesus of Nazareth” was
approaching, he began to call out to Him loudly,
‘“Jesus, Son of David! Have Mercy on me!”
His persistent calls were addressed to “Jesus, Son of
David!” – not merely to “Jesus of Nazareth,” which
revealed his belief in our Lord as being the True,
Divine Messiah Whom everyone had anticipated for
so many long and difficult centuries.
He called out again and again to the Eternal, Incarnate
Son of God – not merely to the perceived “Son” of
Joseph the well-known Carpenter, or the brilliant
Enlightened and Inspired Rabbi/Teacher of Nazareth,
of Whom so many had spoken and marvelled.
His loud, continuous calls for Divine Mercy could be
heard above all the other raucous noises, which
began to annoy and embarrass some people who
tried make him stop.
He ignored them and shouted even louder and louder,
beseeching the Redemption and Salvation of our
Divine Physician.
His sincere Humility and Faith attracted the attention of
our Lord Jesus Christ, Who asked His Disciples to bring
him to Him.
When the Blind Man of Jericho stood before our Lord,
Christ asked him ““What do you want Me to do for
you?”
Initially, this seemingly absurd question seemed rather
superfluous, but, as usual, there was far more to our
Lord’s words than first comprehended.
Obviously, the Blind Man wanted to receive the Divine
Gift of Sight, but often what we ask for and what we
truly need – or want – can be vastly different!
And so, acknowledging the Blind Man’s abject Faith in
Him, and knowing the depth of his Spiritual
24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – FOREFEAST – 1 DECEMBER 2019
because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed!”

FAITH IN CHRIST SUCH AS THAT OF ST THOMAS IS indeed
“BLESSED” for It
1. IS NEITHER DOUBTFUL OF NOR RESISTANT TO DIVINE TRUTH
2. REVEALS THOSE WHO DESPERATELY DESIRE PERFECT TRUTH.
3. teaches Christ’s “... Passion and Resurrection to
all...”
4. BRINGS “...the hearts of Believers to Knowledge...”
✶ “...followed Him, Glorifying God. And all the people...
praised God..”.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH OUR LORD GOD TRANSFORMS US BODY
AND SOUL.

We are OVERWHELMED BY HIS DIVINE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE
that is beyond description, COMPELLING US to do
whatever we can TO REMAIN IN HIS DIVINE PRESENCE.

WE OFFER THANKSGIVING, GLORIFICATION AND PRAISES TO
OUR LORD GOD BY STRIVING EVERY MOMENT OF EACH DAY
TO FULFIL HIS DIVINE WILL by obeying all His
Commandments and by applying all His
Teachings to our thoughts, words and deeds.

It is perfectly natural to YEARN FOR THE DIVINE PRESENCE
OF OUR LORD GOD.

HE HAS PROVIDED US WITH EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE to remain
in His Divine Presence.

IT IS UP TO US TO SUSTAIN OUR CLOSE, INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER – ALWAYS WITH AGAPE!
14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO
Perception and how he would spend the rest of his
lifespan, our Compassionate, Loving Lord bestowed
the Divine Gift of physical sight upon him.
According to our Holy Fathers, there is a profound aspect
of this Divine Miracle.
The Faith of the Blind Man of Jericho caused him to
Repent his sins as soon as he had felt the very
Presence of our Lord, and he realised that indeed He
was our Divine Messiah.
The grievous sinful passions subject us to a state of
Spiritual Death and Blindness.
The longer we delay our Repentance, the more we
become Spiritually Blinded, imprisoned and enslaved
due to the loss of our free will.
We all need to become humbled by our Spiritual
Destitution so that we are compelled, urged and
encouraged to beg for Divine Mercy and Forgiveness.
We all need to Repent our sins - to seek the Restoration of
our healthy Spiritual Sight and Welfare by means of
the Holy Mystery of Repentance-Confession so that we
may receive God’s Divine Forgiveness under the
Epitrachelion of our Spiritual Physician, Christ and His
Ordained Priests.
Such debilitating Spiritual Blindness need not be either
general nor absolute even in the reality of our
corrupted, contemporary lifestyle and worldly society.
It is still possible for any of us to live as the “...offspring of
the Divine Light...” - as worthy adopted Children of
God and Co-Heirs with Christ of our Heavenly Father’s
Eternal Kingdom of Love.
Holiness is as active and powerful today as it ever was,
for it clearly shows us the Path and the Life of Divine
Light in Christ.
None of us needs to stumble about in the Spiritual
Darkness and Blindness of ignorance, vainglory and
disobedience.
We must strive to imitate those who are honoured as
exceptional examples of Holiness and Faith, such as
Saint Porphyrios Kavsokalyvitis.
Although he lost his physical sight, he truly Lived in the
Divine Light of our Lord Jesus Christ, - in the Glory of
the Divine ‘Cloud of unknowing’.
Despite his eyes having become blind that great Saint of
Athens had acquired excellent Spiritual Sight to such
an extent, that, as another of our beloved Holy Fathers
of the last century, Saint Païsios the Athonite, put it, he
was able to see what was happening to individual
people, and to those in the world generally, as if he
were watching colour television.
3.
Another exemplary Holy Father is Saint Iakovos Tsalikis,
who was Abbot of the Monastery of Saint David, on the
island of Evia.
That Holy Ascetic of Evia had acquired such excellent
physical and Spiritual Sight, that, during the Divine
Liturgy he beheld not only the visible aspects, but also
the invisible.
These three Worthy Holy Fathers of our own era are Proof
that Spiritual Blindness and Darkness will not prevail,
but that the Divine Light of God’s Truth and Reality is
Eternal and All Powerful.
These modern Saints are our Source of Inspiration, not
only for us to strive to imitate their Way of Life, but to
also imitate and be encouraged by their ceaseless
Spiritual Struggle for the Cleansing of our thoughts,
T H E E TE R NAL
S T N ICH OL AS V EL IMIR OVIC H
There has been a steep rise in the vanity of mankind with
regard to clothing.
If we have nothing else with which to praise and admire
ourselves, we boast with our wardrobe (i.e. with our
fashionable, trendy clothing.)
Those who genuinely possess something more worthy
that clothing, do not become proud and arrogant.
Just as gold is not to be found upon the surface of the
Earth, so our Spiritual Worth is not immediately
obvious to each other.
S T J OH N OF K R ONSTAD T
What is a Pure Heart? What are the features that
distinguish it? A Pure Heart is humble, restrained,
innocent, true, noble and good. It is not mistrustful,
grasping, envious, cunning nor sinful.
E LDE R TH AD DEU S V ITOVNIC
The Holy Fear of God is not the animalistic fear of this
world. Such fear is of this world, and we have to
Struggle to Transform it into the Holy Fear of God.
Human fear (terror) comes from Hades.
Our lifespan is filled with all types of fear. We fear what
tomorrow will bring and what the future holds in store
for us. That is brutish fear. (Holy Fear is compelled by
our Love for God Whom we never want to disappoint.)
S T AM PH IL OC H IOS M AKRIS OF P ATM OS
The Divine Protection of our Lord God cripples the
temptations and grievous passions.
D IM ITR IOS P ANAGOP OULOS
How can God have Mercy on us when we do not have
Compassion for each other? Unfortunately, there are
far too many of us who use our Prayer Ropes to pray,
saying: “O Lord, Jesus Christ, have Mercy on me!” so
many times each 24 hours, yet have not Mercy for
each other. Being Merciful is a great Holy Virtue – as
long as it occurs in the right manner.
S T P AISIOS THE AT H ONITE
The Holy Life of parents informs and shapes the soul of
their children so that they are naturally Obedient,
and will grow up in Piety and without psychological
problems. Children are fond of their parents, as are
parent of their children – both in this short lifespan
and in the next – Eternal Life – where they will Rejoice
together again.
S T P OR PHY R IOS OF K AVSOKALY V IA
Prayers for others – provided it is simple and motivated by
profound Love – is selfless and has great Spiritual
Benefits. It Blesses those who pray and brings them
the Divine Grace of God.
S T N ICH OL AS V EL IMIR OVIC
Pessimism and misanthropy are serious ailments from
which most people suffer.
S T S E R AP H IM OF S AR OV
Those who suffer illness and afflictions with Patience and
Gratitude to God, are Crowned as Martyrs and
Strivers.
S T J OH N OF K R ONSTAD T
When we sin and our conscience is heavily burdened
and weighed down by guilt that gnaws away at us,
we must immediately go to our Spiritual Father and
lay down the heavy load of sins before him in sincere
4 24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 14TH OF ST LUKE – THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO – FOREFEAST – 1 DECEMBER 2019
words and deeds – for the Purification and Perfection
of our mortal body and our immortal soul.
As the Great and Holy Feast of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ draws near, may our Prayers and
Supplications grant us the ability to behold Christ’s
Nativity with healthy and clear physical and Spiritual
Sight.
And may St Porphyrios, St Païsios and St Iakovos continue
to Intercede with Christ on our behalf for His Great
Mercy and our Eternal Salvation.
Amen
PROTOPRESBYTER NIKOLAOS PATSALOS
HTTPS://PEMPTOUSIA.COM/2017/12/14TH-SUNDAY-OF-LUKE-PHYSICAL-OR-
SPIRITUAL-BLINDNESS/
, I NSP IR ED W ISD OM OF OU R H OLY FA THE R S
Repentance-Confessions, which is the only, Eternal
and effective Cure.
We must never – not for a moment – imagine that we can
be Saved by our own efforts or endeavours!
S T E PH R AIM THE S Y R IAN
Blessed are those who have acquired Love (Agape) for
they depart to God with this in their possession and He
will thus recognise them as His own and welcome
them into His Bosom.
In other words, those who have Laboured with Love will
Live with the Heavenly Angels and Reign with Christ
our Lord, for the Word of God came into our world
with Love.
Love opened Paradise to us and Love is the Ascent to
Heaven.
We were enemies of God but we have been Reconciled
with Him through Love.
Because God is Love Itself, those who dwell in Love, Dwell
in God.
S T J OH N C HRY SOSTOM
An outburst of anger is a kind of wicked pleasure. It
tyrannises the soul even more than pleasure because
it turns the whole of its healthy state upside down.
S T N EKTAR IOS OF P E NTAP OL IS
Reverence is Righteousness towards God, a Power that
increases the Honour we owe Him, a proper idea of
God, and an Honourable attitude towards Him. We
should strive to acquire such Holy Reverence for it is
the beginning and end of all the Holy Virtues.
Reverence is Wisdom and a priceless Treasure that is
unspent.
S T I GNATIOS B R IANC H ANINOV
God does not need our Prayers for He knows what we
need even before we beseech him. He most
generously grants His Great Mercy even to those who
have not sought it. Therefore, it is us who need Prayer
because our Prayers Unite us to God and without
Prayer we are separated and alienated from our
Lord, so the more we pray to Him, the closer we draw
to Him.
E LDE R P HILOTHE OS Z E RV AKOS
If – so far – God has not destroyed us, annihilated us nor
requited us as our innumerable, unrepented sins
deserve, it is because He is infinitely Merciful, Long-
suffering and Compassionate. He awaits our
Repentance and our Spiritual Return to Him. And this
is only because, in the wilderness and in the cities,
there as still a few Faithful people who constantly
pray for the Salvation of the entire world – for all
mankind. Our Lord God Saves the rest of us for the
sake of His few Faithful Disciples and Servants.
The Nativity Fast begins on 28 November and ends on 6
January. Fasting includes Prayers, acts of kindness,
Repentance, avoiding selfish indulgences by strict self-
discipline and self-denial. The Spiritual Fast is to be
observed every day throughout the year. The physical
Fast/Self Denial/Discipline is observed every Wednesday
and Friday and during all prescribed periods of the
Liturgical Year. All Holy Services are to be attended and
the essential Holy Mysteries to be partaken.
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
4 DECEMBER 2019
ST BARBARA
THE GREAT HOLY MARTYR OF HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA

Also the Feast of St Juliana of Heliopolis, Syria - St John of Damascus – St Seraphim Bishop & Hieromartyr of
Phanar – St Alexander Hotovitsky the Presbyter & Holy Martyr – St John, Bishop of Polybotum, Phrygia – St
Gennadios, Archbishop of Novgorod – The Damascene Icon of our Lady, Theotokos

PROKEIMENON – PSALM 67 – TONE 4

Wondrous is God in His Saints!
In the churches Bless God!
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW 25 : 1 – 13
At that time, our Lord Jesus told us this Parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to Ten Virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who
were foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them. The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While
the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold! The Bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him!’ Then all those Virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish Virgins said to the wise: ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are
going out.’ Answering, the wise Virgins said: ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather
to those who sell and buy oil for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who
were ready, went in with Him to the Wedding; and the Door was shut.
“Afterwards the other Virgins came also, saying: ‘Lord! Lord! Open to us!’ He answered them: ‘Truly, I say to you: I
do not know you!’
“Watch, therefore, for you know neither the Day nor the Hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
✶ "... this Parable...” illustrates THE NEED FOR BEING
TO DO SO ROBS US OF OUR MOST SACRED INHERITANCE that is
SPIRITUALLY PREPARED FOR ETERNITY. essential to the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit and

God has granted each and every human being a Eternal Life.
specific amount of time in which to PREPARE ✶ “...Five of them were wise, and five were foolish...”
OURSELVES FOR ETERNITY.
The Wise Virgins are those who LOVE GOD AND ALL

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WASTE ANY OF THIS ALLOTTED TIME. MANKIND.

WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR IMMORTAL SOUL so that it 1. THEIR SINCERE PIETY AND DEVOTION IS EXPRESSED BY THEIR
dominates the selfishness of our flesh. ACTS OF CHARITY AND MERCY TO EVERYONE, WITHOUT

We are created as INTELLECTUAL BEINGS WITH BODY AND EXCEPTION.
SOUL. 2. THEY HAVE STRIVEN FOR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, BY

We have been granted FREE WILL TO MAKE OUR OWN STRUGGLING AGAINST TEMPTATION.
CHOICES BUT THESE WILL HAVE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES. 3. THEY ARE PROPERLY PREPARED FOR ETERNAL LIFE AS WORTHY

So we need to BECOME SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED in order CITIZENS AND CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST.
to MAKE THE CORRECT, MOST SPIRITUALLY BENEFICIAL
The Foolish Virgins are those who PRIDE THEMSELVES ON
CHOICES. THEIR CHASTITY BUT WHO ACTUALLY CONDEMN

ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH DEPENDS ON WHAT WE THEMSELVES DUE TO THEIR LACK OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
CHOOSE to think, to speak and to do now in this FOR GOD AND OTHERS.
present existence of preparation. 1. They have SQUANDERED THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND
✶ “... the Kingdom of Heaven is likened...” GIFTS OF GOD ON THEMSELVES.

In order for mankind to understand what His Eternal 2. According to St Theophylact, although the Foolish
Kingdom of Love is like, OUR LORD USED MUNDANE Virgins are Chaste, THEY WILL BE CAST OUT WITH THE
TERMS TO WHICH WE COULD RELATE. FORNICATORS BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF LOVE,

The Eternal Heavenly Kingdom of God was OFTEN COMPASSION AND MERCY.
PORTRAYED AS A SACRED MARRIAGE BETWEEN OUR LORD 3. THEY LACK MERCY BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERCOME BY GREED,
JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY EGOISM AND SELFISHNESS.
FATHER, AS THE DIVINE BRIDEGROOM AND HIS ALL HOLY 4. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN.
CHURCH AS HIS BRIDE. 5. Although they have prevailed against physical

THE MARRIAGE – THE ETERNAL UNITY – WILL BE CONSUMMATED passions, THEY ARE OVERCOME BY THEIR GREED AND SELF-
AT THE END OF TIME when Christ the Eternal INDULGENCE.
Bridegroom returns to escort His All Holy Bride into ✶ “...The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps....” –
the Eternal Wedding Banquet, in His Heavenly implies that THEY HAD PREPARED THEMSELVES for a long
Kingdom of Love. wait before the Coming of the Divine Bridegroom.
On the Eight Day – the beginning of Eternity – our Lord Jesus
The word “ELEOS” MEANS BOTH OIL AND MERCY.
Christ will visibly Reappear to all Creation, which will be
Therefore, the Wise Virgins had fulfilled all the
Finally Judged by Him. essential Acts of Love and Mercy and were ready
He will then lead the Righteous into Eternal Life in our to welcome the Reappearance of our Lord Jesus
Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Love, while those who have Christ.
condemned themselves, will suffer the Eternal Death of
On the contrary, the Foolish Virgins had not prepared
themselves correctly as mentioned previously.
Outer Darkness – an Eternity without God and all His

Unless we SUSTAIN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST CORRECTLY,
Goodness and Love.
our Lamps of Faith will become dim and even go
✶ “... Ten Virgins ... went out to meet the Bridegroom...” out, leaving us in Spiritual Darkness and Death.

According to St Theophylact this teaches us NOT TO ✶ “...they all slumbered and slept...” refers to SPIRITUAL
ONLY STRIVE FOR ONE HOLY VIRTUE SUCH AS CHASTITY BUT DEATH AND PEACEFUL, RIGHTEOUS REPOSE.
TO STRIVE FOR ALL THE OTHER HOLY VIRTUES AS WELL.
Whether Saint or sinner, WE ALL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A

WE CANNOT ‘PICK AND CHOOSE’ WHATEVER SUITS US from the PHYSICAL DEATH – the separation of body and soul.
Divine Commandments and Teachings while
WHEN WE NEGLECT OUR SACRED DUTIES WE FALL INTO A
neglecting or ignoring all the other Divine Truth. SPIRITUAL SLUMBER OF STAGNATION - MAKING NO

S T BA R BAR A THE GR EAT H OLY M AR TY R OF H EL IOP OL IS , S Y R IA 4 D ECE MBER 2019 5

 SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AT ALL - and might even suffer a
Foretaste of Hades and Hell.

WHEN WE FULFIL ALL OUR SACRED TASKS AND COMMITMENTS,
WE WILL REPOSE IN PEACE IN PARADISE, awaiting our
Final Judgement.
✶ "... At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold! The
Bridegroom is coming!

Our Lord Jesus will Reappear suddenly - on the
Eighth Day, WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.

ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN He will
Reappear to Judge all Creation.

We must ALWAYS BE PREPARED to the best of our ability for
we can NEVER LOWER OUR GUARD against the wicked
machinations of the evil one.

Extremely loud Heavenly Trumpets will startle us into
awakening – suddenly and without any warning!

ALL MANKIND WILL BE RESURRECTED and both the Living
and the dead – the Righteous and the wicked - will
stand BEFORE THE AWESOME JUDGEMENT SEAT OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
✶ “...all those Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps..” -

OUR SOUL IS OUR SPIRITUAL LAMP WHICH IS LIT AND SUSTAINED
BY THE SACRED OIL OF THE HOLY VIRTUES – especially
Agape – Perfect, Divine Love.

The wicks of lamps need to be trimmed in order to
glow brightly. Likewise, WE NEED TO TAKE GOOD CARE
OF OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE IN ORDER TO SHINE BRIGHTLY
WITH HOLY RIGHTEOUSNESS, as worthy Disciples of
Christ and subsequently, as worthy Citizens of
God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
✶ “...go ... to those who sell and buy oil for yourselves...”

The inability of the Righteous to share their Sacred Oil
DOES NOT INDICATE THEIR LACK OF GENEROSITY.

It is an illustration of THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF
1. ENTERING THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM WITHOUT ONE’S OWN
PERSONAL FAITH AND HOLY VIRTUE.
2. CHANGING ONE’S SPIRITUAL STATE – Spiritual Life or
Spiritual Death – after our Repose

St Theophylact pointed out: “... the Virgins were truly
foolish when they went to purchase oil when there
was no longer any time left ...” to fulfill their
Sacred Tasks.

WE CANNOT NEGLECT OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE UNTIL IT SUITS US.

BY FULFILLING OUR LIFE IN CHRIST, WE BECOME FREE TO ENJOY
ALL HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND BLESSINGS – both now
and in Eternity.

St Theophylact continued: “...Our neighbours’ Virtue
scarcely suffices for their own Defence, and
certainly not for us as well, for each shall be
deemed Righteous (or sinful) by our own deeds
and not by those of our neighbours...”

THE FOOLISH VIRGINS REGRETTED NOT HAVING ACQUIRED THE
HOLY VIRTUE OF LOVE , which draws the other Holy
Virtues to us.

They suddenly realised – but too late! - that ONLY BY
BEING MERCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING TO OTHERS
– especially the poor, the destitute and the needy –
CAN WE WELCOME THE DIVINE BRIDEGROOM AND ENTER
HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE WITH HIM.

We must fulfil all our Sacred Tasks and Commitments
before we Repose for AFTERWARDS OUR SPIRITUAL
STATE CANNOT BE ALTERED.

ALL CHOICES MADE IN THIS SHORT EXISTENCE EITHER
ETERNALLY CONDEMN US OR BLESS AND JUSTIFY US.
✶ “...the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready,
went in with Him ... and the Door was shut...”

ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS WHEN
1. we shall Repose
2. our Lord Jesus Christ will Reappear to Judge all
Creation.

WE ARE REPEATEDLY URGED NOT TO WASTE ANY OF THIS
PRECIOUS LIFESPAN on self-indulgent distractions that
have no Spiritual Benefit to any of us.

Everything is according to God’s Will so WE MUST ALWAYS
BE READY for Him to Call us or to Judge us.
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO
Brethren: before Faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law – kept for the Faith that would afterward be
revealed. Therefore, the Law was our Tutor - to bring us to Christ, so that we might be Justified by Faith. After Faith
has come, we are no longer under a Tutor.
You are all sons of God through Faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on
Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female. You are all
one in Christ Jesus.
If you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, and Heirs according to the Promise. I say that the Heir – as long as he
is a child – does not differ at all from a slave, although he is master of all, but is under Guardians and Stewards
until the time appointed by the Father. Even so, we – when we were children – were in bondage under the
6 S T B AR BAR A THE G R E AT H OLY M AR TYR

We must USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY to trim the wicks of our
Lamps and keep the Bright Light of Faith shining
by doing whatever is required of us in order to
remain in the Life and Presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

We must CEASELESSLY SUSTAIN OUR LIFE IN CHRIST with
Prayer, Fasting, Worship and regular partaking of
the essential Holy Mysteries.

IF WE DO NOT ACQUIRE PERFECT, DIVINE LOVE for God and
each other, THE DOOR TO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM WILL
BE SHUT – PREVENTING US FROM RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE.

We need to KNOW THE HEAVENLY LANGUAGE OF LOVE, OF
PRAYER, OF DIVINE PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING, OF
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER.

We need to develop AN ANGELIC, HEAVENLY LIFESTYLE
while we are still on Earth, which QUALIFIES US FOR
WORTHY ETERNAL CITIZENSHIP.

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us very clearly that ONLY
OUR FAITH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR GOD AND EACH
OTHER - REVEALED BY OUR THINKING, SPEAKING AND DOING
GOOD – WILL GRANT US ENTRANCE INTO HIS ETERNAL
KINGDOM OF LOVE.

WHATEVER WE DO TO EACH OTHER IS RETURNED TO US “A
HUNDREDFOLD” – whether good or evil.
✶ “...I do not know you!’...” are THE MOST TERRIFYING WORDS
WE WILL EVER HEAR!

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us very clearly that
WHOEVER DENIED HIM (by thoughts, words and
deeds) WOULD ALSO BE DENIED BY HIM!

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ‘DOOR’ whereby we
can become worthy Citizens and Co-Heirs of our
Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Eternal Love.

ONLY BY LIVING IN CHRIST, CAN WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

If we do not ACQUIRE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD
GOD, BY FULFILLING HIS DIVINE WILL WITH SINCERE
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, we cannot expect to
receive Eternal Life of Blissful Peace, Joy and Love.

Our Lord God is indeed Love Itself, but He requires us
to MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY
PERFECTED AND SANCTIFIED.
✶ “...Watch, therefore, for you know neither the Day nor
the Hour...”

We need to BE PERPETUALLY WATCHFUL AND ALERT so that
we might REPENT ALL SINS AND AVOID FURTHER
TEMPTATIONS, delusions and distractions that
alienate us from God and from each other.

ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS “... THE DAY...” AND
“...THE HOUR...” of the end of time – the Eighth Day
upon which our Lord Jesus Christ will Reappear in
all His Divine Magnificence and Glory, to Judge
His entire Creation.

THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THIS TEMPORARY EXISTENCE IS FOR US
TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY PERFECTED AND SANCTIFIED – to
regain our Divine Likeness as God originally
created us.

DIVINE LIKENESS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE FULFIL
EVERYTHING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US AND
COMMANDED US TO DO.

When we fail to Live in Christ, according to His Divine
Truth, WE FAIL TO FULFIL THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, AND WE WASTE THIS PRECIOUS, LIMITED PERIOD OF
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION.

We must thereby strive TO ACQUIRE AND SUSTAIN OURSELVES
IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, closely United with God
and with each other with unconditional, self-
sacrificing Love.

WHEN WE ARE SELF-INDULGENT AND DISOBEDIENT TO GOD, OUR
IMMORTAL SOUL BECOMES “FLESHY” AND ENSLAVED to the
desires of our mind and body, UNABLE TO ASCEND TO
ANY SPIRITUAL HEIGHTS AND RETURN TO GOD whence we
originated.

WE ONLY HAVE NOW TO REPENT AND REUNITE WITH OUR LORD
GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER.
TH E GALATIANS 3 : 23 - 4 : 5
OF H EL IOP OL IS , S YR IA 4 D EC EM BER 2019
 elements of the world. When the Fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son – Born of a Woman, Born under
the Law - to Redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the Adoption as sons.
✶ “...before Faith...we were kept ... by the Law...”

THE NATURAL LAWS FOLLOWED BY THE OLD COVENANT LAWS,
KEPT MANKIND AND CREATION IN RELATIVE ORDER.

NATURAL LAW STILL APPLIES to those who have never
heard of our Lord God WHEREBY THEY WILL BE JUDGED. ✶

THE OLD COVENANT LAWS WERE given to God’s Chosen
People of Israel in order TO KEEP THEM MORAL AND
HEALTHY, ACCORDING TO THE WILL AND LOVE OF GOD, in
preparation for the First Coming/Appearance of
the Great Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ and His
New Covenant of Love.
These Laws were Sacred Laws pertaining to the correct
Worship of our Living Lord God and for the sustaining of
good physical health of His Chosen People, especially while
sojourning for 40 years in the wilderness before being
allowed entry into the Promised Land.
The Israelites were given time to increase in numbers and
strengthen their Faith in our Living, Providential and
Almighty God Who grants mankind everything necessary
to sustain life.
Steadfast Faith in God is essential to avoid the entrapment of
paganism, apostasy and denial of Divine Truth.
The evil one uses our ignorance and various weaknesses
against us.

The Old Covenant Faith was exclusively for God’s
Chosen People, whereas HIS NEW COVENANT IS FOR
ALL MANKIND WHO FREELY CHOOSE TO FOLLOW CHRIST’S
DIVINE TRUTH.
✶ “...kept for the Faith ...” Although THE PEOPLE OF THE OLD
COVENANT WITH GOD had complete Faith in God,
they COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FAITH OF CHRIST for
our Saviour had not yet appeared to them.

THE NEW COVENANT IS A BLOODLESS FAITH OF LOVE, for GOD
IS REVEALED AS not only Providential and Almighty
by also INFINITELY LOVING, COMPASSIONATE AND ALL
MERCIFUL.

THE NEW COVENANT IS A CONTINUATION OF THE OLD
COVENANT that was completely fulfilled by our Lord
Jesus Christ Who is the “NEW ADAM,” and thus THE
PERFECT MAN WHO TEACHES US BY HIS OWN PERFECT
EXAMPLE AND DIVINE TRUTH.

THE OLD COVENANT FAITH PREPARED GOD’S PEOPLE FOR HIS
NEW COVENANT that GOD INCARNATE – our Lord Jesus
Christ – HAS GRANTED US.
✶ “...the Law was our Tutor - to bring us to Christ...”

Because God’s Love of us is infinite and absolute, He
provided us with a set of TEN COMMANDMENTS OR
LAWS THAT GUIDE US TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE AND PROTECT
US FROM FALLING INTO A STATE OF PERMANENT SPIRITUAL
DEATH.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS or Mosaic Law that prepared
the Hebrew Nation for the Coming of God STILL
APPLY TO US, THE NEW ISRAEL – THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF
GOD.

The Ten Commandments TEACH US OBEDIENCE to the
Will of God.

WITHOUT HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE, WE CANNOT MAKE ANY
SPIRITUAL PROGRESS NOR ENJOY SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.

Those who keep THE DIVINE COMMANDMENTS given by
God to Moses, which forever apply to us as Faithful
Disciples, BRINGS US CLOSER TO GOD.
✶ “... that we might be Justified by Faith...”

THE TEN DIVINE COMMANDMENTS, THE DIVINE REVELATIONS
AND TEACHINGS OF CHRIST OUR LORD, ARE ALL ASPECTS OF
ABSOLUTE, PERFECT DIVINE TRUTH, which is vital to our
Salvation.

THESE LAWS ARE ETERNAL

THEY INSTRUCT AND GUIDE US to Love God with all our
mind, heart, strength and soul, as well as how to
Love each other as God Loves us!

FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALSO FAITH OF CHRIST BECAUSE TWO
FAITHS ARE COOPERATING TOGETHER:
1. Faith OF Christ is HIS PERFECT, DIVINE TRUTH AND
COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR
HEAVENLY FATHER.
2. Faith IN Christ is those who BELIEVE IN HIM AND
VOLUNTARILY FULFIL AND OBEY ALL HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHINGS.
✶ “... we are no longer under a Tutor...”

WE NO LONGER LIVE ACCORDING TO THE OLD COVENANT LAW
concerning all CLEANSING AND HEALTH RITUALS
PERTAINING TO OUR PHYSICAL WELFARE.
S T BA R BAR A THE GR EAT H OLY M AR TY R
✶ We “...are all sons of God...”

We are THE ADOPTED CHILDREN (‘SONS’) OF OUR LORD GOD
THROUGH THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF BAPTISM AND
CHRISMATION.
We “...have put on Christ...” like OUR OWN GARMENT OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS.

WE HAVE MADE THE MOST SACRED VOWS OF ALLEGIANCE TO
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST as our Divine Saviour.

We now “...LIVE IN CHRIST...” by APPLYING EVERYTHING
HE HAS TAUGHT US TO OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS.

During this short lifespan, WE ARE “THE CHURCH MILITANT”
- perpetually BATTLING INCESSANT SPIRITUAL WARFARE
AGAINST THE EVIL ONE.

OUR LIFE IN CHRIST CONSISTS OF CONTINUOUS REPENTANCE-
CONFESSION in order to Cleanse ourselves, to make
good Spiritual Progress and be physically and
Spiritually Healthy and Strong.

FAITH IN CHRIST IS A PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND
ALLEGIANCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD.

Not only have we been Baptised into the Christian
Faith, but WE HAVE VESTED OURSELVES WITH CHRIST AND
ACCEPTED OUR SACRED MISSION OF BECOMING CHRIST-
LIKE BY IMITATING HIM - thereby regaining our lost
Likeness to God

SAVING FAITH AND BEING BAPTISED ARE INTERWOVEN – we
cannot claim to have one without the other!
✶ “For as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have
put on Christ,” is our ANCIENT BAPTISM HYMN that is
chanted during the Procession of the Newly
Regenerated into the assembly – the Holy Church
of Christ.
✶ “..There is neither...” DISCRIMINATION, SEPARATION NOR
ANY TYPE OF DISTINCTION

As Disciples of Christ we are all BRETHREN IN CHRIST.

WE SHARE ONE HUMAN NATURE IN CHRIST.

Therefore, ASSESSING PEOPLE ACCORDING TO OUR OWN
OPINION, ATTITUDE, VALUE, GENDER OR ETHNICITY IS
FORBIDDEN in Christ’s Holy Church,

If we are genuinely trying to IMITATE CHRIST we must do
so without fail: HE NEVER DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
ANYONE so how dare we do so!

ANY DISCRIMINATION, BIGOTRY, INTOLERANCE OR PREJUDICE
WILL CAUSE US SERIOUS SPIRITUAL CONDEMNATION, which
- unless we quickly correct ourselves with sincere
Repentance - will affect our Eternity!
✶ We are “...one in Christ ...” being UNITED, LIVING TOGETHER
AS EQUALS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.

WE ARE ALL
1. ONE IN NATURE AND EQUAL IN DIGNITY.
2. SANCTIFIED MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST – His Holy
Church.
3. HABITUAL SINNERS WHO HAVE TO SPIRITUALLY STRIVE AND
STRUGGLE.
4. JOURNEYING TOWARDS ETERNITY
5. ENCOURAGING, ASSISTING AND GUIDING EACH OTHER
ALONG THE WAY – always with Love/Agape – so as
to make good Spiritual Progress.
✶ “...Heirs according to the Promise...” WE HAVE BECOME
CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST to our Heavenly Father’s
Eternal Kingdom of Love.

Due to our Spiritual Inexperience and Immaturity WE
ARE UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND DISCIPLINE OF OUR TRIUNE
LORD GOD.

Like small children, OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS
NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED while we are taught how to
become Good Citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom.

SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE are the Divine Promises
given to all mankind.

THESE ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY BESTOWED UPON US, for God
wants us to come to Him freely, compelled our
sincere Love for Him.
✶ “...God sent forth His Son...” SO WE WERE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY SEE HIM, SPEAK TO HIM, AND LEARN HIS DIVINE
TRUTH DIRECTLY FROM HIM.

THE HOLY TRINITY IS OMNIPRESENT - ever-present.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME OR PLACE WHEN GOD THE
FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT PRESENT!

THE PURPOSE of our Life on earth is A VITAL PREPARATORY
PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY.
✶ “...Born of a Woman, Born under the Law...” THE
ANCIENT PROPHECIES of God’s Holy Prophets WERE
–
FULFILLED when the Ever Blessed, All Pure and Holy
Virgin Mary gave Birth to our Lord Jesus Christ.
OF H EL IOP OL IS , S Y R IA 4 D ECE MBER 2019 7

HER LINEAGE WAS ROYAL - PROCEEDING FROM KING DAVID,
AT THE HARROWING OF HADES after His Death on the Cross
the Divinely Ordained King of the Israelites. in His human Nature, CHRIST - in His Divine,

WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE GOD since our Lord Jesus Christ – Almighty Nature - SMASHED OPEN THE IMPRISONING
the Eternal Word and Son of God – became “... THE DOORS OF HADES, AND FREED ALL HUMANITY from the
SON OF MAN(KIND)” – INCARNATE – GOD-MAN. enslaving power of evil.

Having taken on our human nature, in addition to His
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS RE-OPENED PARADISE where His
Divine Nature, OUR LORD JESUS CAN BE PORTRAYED AND Faithful People Repose in Peace until the General
DEPICTED ON HOLY ICONS. Resurrection and our Final Judgement.

Our Lord Jesus was BORN UNDER THE OLD COVENANT LAW,The Repentant Thief, St Demas, was the first to enter Paradise
WHICH HE FAITHFULLY FULFILLED.
since the banishment of Adam and Eve.
✶ “...to Redeem those who were under the Law...”

THOSE WHO STUBBORNLY REJECTED HIM, REMAIN IN HADES

With God’s New Covenant, CHRIST REVEALED THE TRUE
where they suffer the hideous Foretaste of the
NATURE OF our Most Merciful, Loving and
vileness and torment of Eternal Alienation from
Benevolent GOD TO US AND TAUGHT US HOW TO ACQUIRE
God.
ETERNAL LIFE, which the ancient people of God only
understood instinctively at first and then through
the Teachings of the Holy Prophets of God.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MARK 5 : 24 - 34
At that time, many people followed our Lord Jesus, and thronged Him. And there was a certain Woman who had had
a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered much from many Physicians. And she had spent all that she had
and was not better, but rather, grew worse.
When she heard that about Jesus, she went behind Him in the crowd and touched His garments. For she had thought:
“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” And immediately the source of her bleeding dried up, and
she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus - instantly knowing in Himself that Power had
gone out of Him - turned around in the crowd and asked: “Who touched My clothes?” And His Disciples said to Him:
“Thou see the multitude thronging Thee, and Thou ask: ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see her who
had done this thing.
The Woman – fearing and trembling – knowing what had happened to her, went and fell down before Him and told
Him the whole Truth. He said to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of
your affliction.”
✶ ”... a certain Woman...” is known to us today as ST she had, but now God would grant her what she really
VERONICA. needed!
✶ ”... for twelve years...” SHE HAD SUFFERED THE CHRONIC ✶ “...instantly knowing ... that Power had gone out of
AFFLICTION AND VARIOUS ‘TREATMENTS’ - for more than a Him...”
decade.
HIS DIVINE ENERGY OR POWER WENT DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST

SHE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY UTTERLY DESPERATE AND
TO ST VERONICA.
DETERMINED TO SEEK A CURE.

The Enabling Power and Authority bestowed by Christ
✶ ”... she had spent all that she had...” on every type of
treatment by PHYSICIANS AND CHARLATANS who HAD on His Apostles worked indirectly through them.
IMPOVERISHED HER YET COULD NOT HEAL HER.
✶ “...Who touched My clothes?...” seemed to be A PECULIAR
QUESTION UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
✶ ”... If only I may touch His garment...” SHE
INSTINCTIVELY KNEW THAT BY MERELY COMING INTO

However, our Lord WANTED ST VERONICA TO OPENLY
CONTACT WITH OUR LORD, SHE WOULD BE HEALED. ACKNOWLEDGE HER FAITH in Him SO THAT OTHERS WOULD

This REVEALED THE DEPTH OF HER FAITH IN THE MESSIAH of LEARN FROM HER AND GLORIFY GOD.
Whom she had heard. ✶ “... fearing and trembling...” SHE KNEW THE

EVERYTHING THAT IS TOUCHED BY GOD BECOMES SANCTIFIED CONSEQUENCES OF BREAKING THE JUDAIC LAWS of being
and transfers that Sanctification – Cleansing and ‘unclean,’ and thus a ‘social outcast,’ WHICH WERE
Healing - onto the Faithful. SEVERE AND BRUTAL.

THE INSTANT ST VERONICA SOFTLY TOUCHED THE ROBES OF ✶ St Veronica “... fell down before Him and told Him the
CHRIST SHE WAS HEALED. whole Truth...” which obviously TOOK IMMENSE

Our Lord God immediately knew her sincere Faith in COURAGE.
Him.
HER GREAT SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND BRAVERY WAS COMPELLED

AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH IS BY THE WILL OF GOD BY HER EXTREME GRATITUDE for being completely
ALONE for being of the same Divine Essence as God
Healed by God.
the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ possesses that
✶ “...Daughter, thy Faith has made thee well...” OUR LORD
same Divine Authority.
ADDRESSED HER AS ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

The Healing of St Veronica, DEMONSTRATED OUR LORD
JESUS’ POWER TO CLEANSE US FROM OUR SINS AND TO HEAL
HE PUBLICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND PRAISED HER FAITH so
ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS – THE SPIRITUAL AND THE PHYSICAL. that the witnesses might FOLLOW HER GOOD EXAMPLE.
According to the Old Covenant Laws, any type of
Our Holy Church Fathers believed that ST VERONICA
SYMBOLISES HUMAN NATURE IN GENERAL because ALL
haemorrhaging caused ceremonial defilement, which
HUMANITY CONSTANTLY SUFFERS AND IS SUBJECT TO DEATH,
imposed religious and social restrictions upon the
sufferers for any contact with blood was strictly which was symbolised by her haemorrhaging.
prohibited and avoided at all costs.
THE PHYSICIANS WHO COULD NOT HEAL HER SYMBOLISE THE
VARIOUS IMPERFECT RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD, AS WELL AS
This wretched suffering woman was thus regarded as being
THE OLD COVENANT LAW, WHICH ARE UNABLE TO GRANT
‘unclean’ so she had followed all the requirements as a
‘social outcast.’ LIFE TO HUMANITY – THEY CANNOT SAVE US
However, she had reached such a degree of misery and
O NLY GOD CAN SAVE OR REDEEM US!
desperation that she risked further shame and humiliation
ONLY THROUGH OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, ARE WE
in the conviction that only Christ could Heal her. GENUINELY FREED AND DELIVERED FROM SUFFERING AND
BONDAGE TO SIN!
It was a risk that she was willing to take – after all what
more could she lose? People had already taken everything
S T J OH N C HRY SOSTOM – O N T HE BR ID EGR OOM & THE TE N V IR GINS
... Our Lord Jesus Christ portrayed the Faithful entering In Holy Scripture, that Light-giving Oil signifies God the
into the Kingdom of Heaven under the image of Holy Spirit.
“...Virgins...”, thereby extolling virginity (Chastity) - not Therefore the Oil that keeps the Lamps shining so brightly
only bodily, but, mainly, Spiritual Chastity, True signifies the Spiritual Ardour of the Faithful who are
Confession of our Christian Faith and a Life according filled with the Divine Grace of God the Holy Spirit, Who
to Faith, in opposition to heresy, theomachy and communicates His Rich Gifts of Faith, Love,
negligence regarding the Salvation of one's soul. Compassion and other Holy Virtues to us, which are
The Gift of Virginity, the Purity of Holiness, is like a brightly expressed by our Life in Christ and, in particular, by
shining Lamp; while Philanthropy, kind-heartedness, the unconditional Love and caring for all our
helping of the poor and needy is like Oil that keeps neighbours...
the Lamp alight.

8 S T B AR BAR A THE G R E AT H OLY M AR TYR OF H EL IOP OL IS , S YR IA 4 D EC EM BER 2019

0
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
5 D ECE MBE R 2019

ST SAVVAS THE SANCTIFIED OF PALESTINE

FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD

Also the Feast of St Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan – St Anastasios the Fuller of Salona, Dalmatia – St Karion/Cyrion & St
Zacharia of Sketis, Egypt – St Nektarios of Bitolya & Mount Athos – St Philotheos the Holy Ascetic of Karyes, Mount Athos
– All Martyred Monks of Karyes, Mount Athos – St Crispina of Tagora, Africa

M ATINS - H OLY G OSPEL A CC ORD ING TO S T L UKE 6 : 17 – 23

At that time, our Lord Jesus went down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His Disciples
and a great multitude of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and
Sidon, who went to hear Him and be Healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean
spirits. And they were Healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for Power went out of Him and Healed
them all.
And He lifted His Eyes towards His Disciples, and said: “Blessed art you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as
evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for Joy! Behold! your Reward is great in Heaven....”
✶ Our Lord “... Jesus... stood on a level place...” ALSO TO THOSE WHO “... HUNGER AND THIRST FOR

Our Divine Saviour’s “Sermon on the Plain” is similar in RIGHTEOUSNESS...”
content to His “Sermon on the Mount,” although not
THOSE WHO Spiritually Hunger and Thirst REGARD OUR
as extensive. LORD GOD, HIS DIVINE TRUTH AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM

Our Lord often repeated many of His Teachings over AS BEING FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN
a period of three years – the length of His Public THIS TEMPORARY, PREPARATORY WORLD.
Ministry.
They DESPERATELY CRAVE EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD,
✶ “...a great multitude ... from all over Judea and CORRECT AND WORTHY in the Sight of God.
Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,
They PROFOUNDLY YEARN TO BE WITH GOD AND LIVE
who went to hear Him and be Healed...” FAITHFULLY IN CHRIST, applying all His Divine Truth

The Chosen People of God as well as many others, to their thoughts, words and deeds.
from all over the Judean region, flocked TO HEAR
Their craving and yearning is like those who would
THE DIVINE TRUTH OF OUR LORD. do anything for a little nourishment to stave off
✶ “... Power went out of Him and Healed them all...” their hunger and thirst.

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Pagans and unbelievers depend on fleeting, material
INCARNATE. things to satisfy their desires but THOSE WHO ARE

THEY WERE ALL HEALED to varying degrees – both FAITHFUL TO GOD ARE FREED FROM SUCH USELESS
physically and spiritually. DEPENDENCE.

WE CANNOT ENCOUNTER CHRIST OUR LORD WITHOUT BEING ✶ “...Blessed are you who weep now...”
TRANSFORMED TO SOME EXTENT.
Our tears of pain, sorrow and suffering will become
✶ “...He lifted His Eyes towards His Disciples...” tears of Joy as long as we REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR

CHRIST’S TEACHINGS ARE DELIVERED WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY FAITH AND EVER HOPEFUL OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND
AND TRUTH. INFINITE LOVE.

HE SPEAKS HIS DIVINE TRUTH DIRECTLY to His Faithful
Everything in this short lifespan does eventually pass.
Disciples and those who are willing to hear and NOTHING LASTS FOREVER HERE.
apply it to themselves.
ONLY THE HOLY VIRTUES – AND ESPECIALLY LOVE – GRANTS US

His Disciples and Apostles NEITHER DISCUSSED NOR ALL OUR LORD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE.
DEBATED HIS DIVINE TRUTH. ✶ "... Blessed are you when men hate you... for the Son of

THEY LISTENED CAREFULLY TO EVERY SACRED WORD. Man’s sake...”

ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT YET FULLY COMPREHEND EVERY
WHEN WE STRIVE TO FAITHFULLY FULFIL OUR SACRED CALLING -
ASPECT OF HIS DIVINE TRUTH, after the Descent of God the Will of our Heavenly Father and the Divine
the Holy Spirit, THEY WOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND AND Teachings and Commandments of our Lord Jesus
RECEIVE EVEN MORE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE that enables us Christ - ANY FORM OR DEGREE OF PERSECUTION BLESSES US
all to fulfil the Divine Mission of God to all RATHER THAN DESTROYS US.
mankind.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE WHO are jealous, envious or
✶ “...Blessed art you who are poor...” simply evil enough to WANT TO DISRUPT OR DISCREDIT

The term “Blessed” in this context indicates HEAVENLY, OUR SINCERE LABOURS OF LOVE for the Glory, Honour
SPIRITUAL EXALTATION rather than earthly happiness and Worship of God.
or prosperity. ✶ “...Rejoice in that day and leap for Joy!...”

In Hebrew to be “poor” means THOSE WHO ARE
Although such mean, nasty behaviour and attitude is
MATERIALLY IMPOVERISHED AND THOSE WHO ARE TRULY hurtful and damaging, we must BE ENCOURAGED TO
FAITHFUL AMONG GOD’S CHOSEN NATION. CONTINUE OUR LABOURS OF LOVE FOR GOD AND OUR

Those who are “...poor in spirit...” signifies those who FELLOW SINNERS.
have THE HUMBLED HEART AND ATTITUDE OF THE
THE SACRED FRUIT/HARVEST OF OUR LABOURS OF LOVE SPEAK
DESTITUTE WHO ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON THE FOR THEMSELVES!
PROVIDENCE AND GOOD WILL OF OUR LORD GOD.
If the evil one and his slaves are trying so hard to

Those who possess such genuine Humility, Obedience discourage us and prevent us from fulfilling our
and Gratitude will INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S Divine Calling to serve our Lord God, WE MUST BE
HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE. SUCCEEDING.
✶ “... Blessed art you who hunger now, for you shalt be
THE MORE WE ACCOMPLISH for the Glory, Honour and
filled...” Worship of God, THE GREATER THE TEMPTATIONS used

This refers NOT ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE STARVING from to derail us!
lack of food due to their dire circumstances, BUT
Therefore, we must REJOICE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY!
ST SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED OF PALESTINE 5 DECEMBER 9.
 P R OKE IME NON – P SALM 115

Precious in the Sight of our Lord is the death of His Holy One.
What shall I give in return to our Lord for all He has rendered unto me?
T H E EP ISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E G AL ATIANS 5 : 22 – 6 : 2
BATTLE AGAINST THE FLESH & DO GOOD TO EVERYONE
Brethren: the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-
control. Against such there is no law. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.
✶ “...the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace,
When we depart this life, WE WILL REMAIN IN AN
Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, IRREVOCABLE ETERNAL SPIRITUAL STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
Gentleness, Self-control...” OR DEATH!

These are THE DIVINE GIFTS OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO
Our Lord Jesus Christ has made this Truth very clear!
THEREBY ENABLES US TO STRIVE AND STRUGGLE ✶ “...Let us not become conceited, provoking one another,
CEASELESSLY. envying one another...”

These Divine Gifts help us TO DEAL WITH THE DAILY
WE MUST
PROBLEMS AND SPIRITUAL CONTESTS that confront us 1. CEASELESSLY STRIVE TO REMAIN IN SPIRITUAL LIFE BY
all. IMMEDIATELY REPENTING EVERY TRANSGRESSION and

THEY PROMOTE, NURTURE AND SUSTAIN OUR SACRED avoid falling into a state of Spiritual Death!!
RELATIONSHIP with God and with each other. 2. ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO STAY CLOSE TO OUR LORD BY

THE ONLY GIFT and Fruit of the Holy Spirit that WE MEANS OF OUR SPIRITUAL ENDEAVOURS.
REQUIRE FOR OUR ETERNAL LIFE – as well as a 3. AVOID PROVOKING EACH OTHER,
successful, temporary, preparatory lifespan - IS 4. NOR DO ANYTHING THAT WILL ENDANGER OUR BRETHREN in
LOVE, FOR LOVE OR AGAPE NEVER FAILS!! Christ who might be discouraged,

We must strive with all our might to ACQUIRE TRUE AGAPE disheartened or disturbed BY OUR CARELESS,
- to become worthy citizens of the Heavenly INCONSIDERATE WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS!
Kingdom of Love. ✶ “...restore ... in a spirit of Gentleness...lest you also be

OUR ENTIRE JUDGEMENT IS BASED ON THAT UNCONDITIONAL, tempted...”
HOLY, DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE LOVE of God and our
GENTLY GUIDE AND CORRECT ONE ANOTHER – ALWAYS WITH
fellow mankind, for whatever we do for them will LOVE, KINDNESS AND COMPASSION.
be done for us a hundredfold.
We must always TREAT OTHERS AS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE

Thus IT BENEFITS US IMMENSELY if we do acquire Divine TREATED.
Agape and treat one another with pure, virtuous
As St John of Kronstadt always said, as he wept with
heart and soul! Compassion and Love for those who suffered any

THEOSIS, DEIFICATION OR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION IS ONLY miserable state: “Today, my Brethren, tomorrow
POSSIBLY BY THE ACQUISITION OF THAT DIVINE, PERFECT me!”
AGAPE.
We must ALWAYS SET A GOOD EXAMPLE AS DISCIPLES OF
✶ “...Against such there is no law...” because IT IS OUR CHRIST so that others will react positively and do so
NATURAL, CREATED STATE TO BE LOVING AND VIRTUOUS. as well.

If we ACQUIRE LOVE AND ALL HOLY VIRTUES, we will REGAIN
We must first ENSURE OUR OWN SPIRITUAL STATE IS HEALTHY
OUR DIVINE LIKENESS. before we can correct or teach anyone else.

Since the Fall, WE NEED LAWS TO CONTROL OUR SINFUL
ALL OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS ARE LIKE PEBBLES
INCLINATIONS that alienate and harm our THROWN INTO A STILL POND, CAUSING THE WATER TO
Relationships with God and each other. RIPPLE. WE NEVER KNOW WHAT EFFECT THOSE RIPPLES WILL
✶ “...those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its HAVE ON OTHER THINGS OF WHICH WE ARE UNAWARE!
passions and desires...” ✶ “...Bear one another’s burdens...”

Having “...put on Christ ...”and now Living in Christ, 1. never be a ‘burden’ to others by taking advantage
wet STRUGGLE EVEN HARDER TO RESIST ALL TEMPTATIONS of their good nature, generosity or kindness.
AND CONSISTENTLY REPENT OUR SINS. 2. the needs of others are more important and

We need TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN OUR IMMORTAL SOUL necessary than our own.
SO AS TO CONTROL OUR WILFUL, SELFISH AND ARROGANT 3. never expect any reciprocation nor reward
FLESH, because we all need TO RETURN TO GOD WHO 4. never count the cost – nor “keep score”
CREATED US AS HIS PERFECT CREATURES OF LOVE. 5. for the Love our Beloved Saviour, in Whose Image

We must CONTROL THE DEMANDS OF OUR UNDISCIPLINED and Likeness He created us.
FLESH OR WE WILL DEVELOP A ‘FLESHY’ SOUL 6. for the Love of our fellow sinners and sufferers

A FLESHY SOUL IS DOMINATED AND CONTROLLED BY OUR 7. with unconditional Love, Compassion and Mercy.
PHYSICAL PASSIONS THAT STIFLE AND DEADEN OUR 8. whenever we see a need – even before they are
CONSCIENCE and, consequently, alienate us from expressed – fulfil them as best as we can.
God and all His Divine Goodness and Love. ✶ “... fulfil the Law of Christ...”

A fleshy soul means that we are SPIRITUALLY DEAD!
EVERYTHING WE DO, MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE
✶ “ ... Live in the Spirit... walk in the Spirit...” TRUTH, Teachings and Commandments of our Lord

As Faithful Disciples, we now LIVE IN CHRIST ACCORDING Jesus Christ.
TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER BY THE ENABLING
God’s Abundant Providence must be shared with
POWER AND ENERGY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. others.

GOD PROVIDES US WITH EVERYTHING NECESSARY to regain our
Small Acts of Love often have great Spiritual Benefits
Divine Likeness. We must MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO to all concerned.
FULFIL THIS MOST SACRED TASK.
Love and Acts of Charity are freely granted to us by

UNLESS WE TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE AND EXPOSE OUR SINS, God so we must just as freely share them with each
eradicating them through a concerted effort of other.
Repentance-Confession, WE CANNOT RETURN TO OUR
Everything we possess has been ‘loaned’ to us by God.
NATURAL SPIRITUAL STATE.
Nothing “belongs’ to us.

We must NURTURE, PROTECT AND INCREASE OUR SPIRITUAL
We ‘deserve’ nothing.
LIFE UNTIL OUR LAST BREATH.
We express our deep Gratitude to God by fulfilling His
Divine Will eagerly and always with Love.

10 ST SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED OF PALESTINE 5 DECEMBER

 T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son
except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son Wills to
reveal Him.
“Come to Me, all who labour and who are heavily laden, and I will grant you rest. Take My Yoke upon you, and
learn from Me, for I Am Gentle and Lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My Yoke is easy and
My Burden is light.”
✶ ”... All things ... by My Father...” OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, Who is the Co-Eternal, Only Begotten Son
and Word of our Heavenly Father, ALWAYS ACTS
STRICTLY ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.

The Holy Trinity exists in PERFECT LOVE, UNITY AND
HARMONY.

THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER COMES TO US THROUGH GOD
THE SON, and WE ARE ABLE TO FULFIL HIS DIVINE WILL BY
THE POWER AND ENERGY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

As Faithful Disciples of Christ, WE MUST SIMILARLY ALWAYS
STRIVE TO FULFIL THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, WHICH CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US TO DO – “... Thy
Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven ...”

EVERYTHING THAT IS GOD-PLEASING IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN
WE CO-OPERATE WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOSE POWER
AND ENERGY ENABLE US TO DO SO – even endeavours
and feats that are normally impossible for us to
accomplish.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS BESTOWED DIVINE GIFTS AND
REVEALED DIVINE TRUTH TO MANKIND ACCORDING TO THE
WILL OF OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.

GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SENT HIS BELOVED SON TO US SO
THAT WE MIGHT LEARN DIRECTLY FROM HIM how to
regain our Divine Likeness with which He
originally created us, but which was lost when
Adam fell from Divine Grace through ✶ “...Come to Me... I will grant you rest...” When we
disobedience by breaking God’s one Law.

ONLY BY LIVING IN CHRIST – according to His Divine Truth
– His Teachings and Commandments - ARE WE ABLE
TO BECOME SANCTIFIED, RESTORED, REGENERATED,
ILLUMINATED AND GRANTED ETERNAL LIFE.

Thus “...ALL (GOOD) THINGS...” ARE ACCORDING TO THE
DIVINE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
✶ “...no one knows...” God the Father and God the Son,
or God the Holy Spirit – ONLY THEY KNOW EACH OTHER!

St Theophylact explained to us that GOD HAS HIDDEN HIS
DIVINE MYSTERIES FROM THE WISE AND ERUDITE PEOPLE OF
THE WORLD BECAUSE OF OUR UNWORTHINESS, for we
chose to trust our own fallen, warped and limited
wisdom and judgement instead of God’s Perfect
and Absolute Wisdom and Knowledge.

Furthermore, IT IS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND THAT GOD
WITHHOLDS DIVINE REVELATION FROM THOSE WHO WOULD
SCORN IT – in order that they do not receive even
worse Eternal Condemnation at their Final
Judgement.

EVERYTHING CONCERNING THE ETERNAL, ALMIGHTY GODHEAD
ARE DIVINE MYSTERIES, WHICH ARE FAR BEYOND HUMAN
COMPREHENSION.

NO CREATURE – INCLUDING MANKIND – CAN POSSIBLY FULLY
KNOW OR UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD.

WE CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS NOT, by using our
limited human conception and comprehension.

CERTAIN DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF ALMIGHTY GOD HAVE BEEN
REVEALED TO US BY CHRIST, for He alone can grant us
the Absolute, Pure Divine Truth – the REAL TRUTH.

Instead of being a ‘wrathful, vengeful” God, we now
know that ALMIGHTY GOD IS LOVE ITSELF AND THAT
EVERYTHING CONCERNING OUR LORD GOD IS GOOD,
BENEFICIAL AND PROVIDENTIAL FOR ALL CREATION.

OUR LORD OF LOVE CANNOT, WILL NOT AND DOES NOT DO
ANYTHING THAT IS EVIL, DESTRUCTIVE OR DECEPTIVE.

ALL WICKEDNESS AND UNGODLINESS IS THE INVENTION OF THE
EVIL ONE who became jealous, rebelled against our
Lord God, was permanently banished from
Heaven, obsessively hates mankind whom God
Loves, and perpetually seeks our destruction,
Spiritual Death and Alienation from God, just like
him and his demons.
✶ “...the one to whom the Son Wills to reveal Him...”
refers to those SANCTIFIED, DEIFIED AND SPIRITUALLY
PERFECTED SAINTS who have reached the very
heights of Spiritual Life in Christ, such as our Ever
As St Paul proclaimed to the Corinthians, “... Love
ST SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED OF PALESTINE
R D ING TO S T M ATTHE W 11 : 27 – 30
Blessed Lady, Theotokos and St John the Beloved
Apostle and Theologian.

Our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned THOSE WHO ARE “...PURE
OF HEART...” WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE VERY
PRESENCE OF GOD – “... SHALL SEE GOD.”

ST JOHN THE BELOVED APOSTLE AND THEOLOGIAN WAS
GRANTED KNOWLEDGE OF GOD BY CHRIST OUR LORD SO
THAT HE COULD RECORD IT FOR THE SAKE OF MANKIND’S
ETERNAL SALVATION.

However, ONLY A VERY LIMITED PORTION OF CHRIST’S
REVELATIONS ARE RECORDED AND PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD
BY MANKIND.

The Book of Christ’s Revelation is never read during
THE HOLY SERVICES AND WE ARE DISCOURAGED FROM
TRYING TO INTERPRET THEM in case we fall into serious
error and become misguided. Thus ST JOHN WROTE
A DIRE WARNING AT THE END OF REVELATION –
ADMONISHING US NOT TO DISTORT ITS MESSAGE IN ANY
MANNER AT ALL, FOR TO DO SO IS TO THREATEN OUR VERY
SALVATION!

We must rather FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE DIVINE TRUTH
OF CHRIST, which WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY GRASP AND TO
APPLY THEM TO OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS so that
we can MAKE SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AND DEEPEN OUR
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER.
strive to Live in Christ, WE ARE PROVIDED WITH EVERYTHING
THAT IS NECESSARY FOR DAILY LIVING AND FOR OUR SALVATION.

ASSURED BY OUR FAITH IN GOD, WE NEED ONLY TO TAKE UP OUR
CROSS AND FOLLOW OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR WHO LEADS US
TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE in His Kingdom of Love.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY about what we need to do
because OUR LORD JESUS HAS TAUGHT US AND PROVIDED
EVERYTHING THAT IS ESSENTIAL to making our Journey
to Eternity successfully and safely.
✶ “...Take My Yoke upon you...” means that we
VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT TO THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR
HEAVENLY FATHER, MOTIVATED BY OUR LOVE OF GOD AND
OUR FELLOW MANKIND.

Although “...a yoke...” might be regarded as a sign of
difficult circumstances and responsibilities, THE
YOKE OF CHRIST IS INDEED EASILY BEARABLE FOR THE
POWER AND ENERGY OF GOD WORKS IN EACH OF US.

A yoke keeps two equally matched beings together so
that their combined strength is used to the fullest
extent.

Likewise, WHEN WE ARE “YOKED” TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN
MARRIAGE, GOD PUTS US WITH EACH OTHER SO THAT WE
CAN COMBINE OUR EFFORTS AND FULFIL OUR TASKS TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

CHRISTIANITY IS A COMMUNAL FAITH AS WE ARE MEMBERS OF
CHRIST’S BODY – HIS HOLY CHURCH – who have to WORK
TOGETHER WITH LOVE AND CO-OPERATION IN MUTUAL
ENDEAVOURS, STRIVINGS AND SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES.

WE CANNOT MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS WITHOUT UNITY,
HARMONY AND COMBINED EFFORTS WITHIN HIS HOLY
CHURCH.

ETERNAL SALVATION CANNOT BE ACHIEVED BY OURSELVES
ALONE. This preparatory period is not an individual
Journey but CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED INSEPARABLY
WITH OUR FELLOW DISCIPLES AND ALL MANKIND – Saints
and sinners together.
✶ “...learn from Me...” OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR MOST
PERFECT ROLE MODEL WHOM WE OUGHT TO IMITATE WITH
OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS, AS HE HAS TAUGHT US.

HE IS THE MOST PERFECT “...SON OF MAN...” IN WHOSE IMAGE
AND LIKENESS HE CREATED US.

In order to regain our created Divine Likeness, WE
MUST ACQUIRE THE PERFECT ATTRIBUTES OF HIS HUMAN
NATURE, BEGINNING WITH THE HOLY VIRTUES OF
GENTLENESS AND MEEKNESS – vital aspects of Divine
Love/Agape.
never fails...” and IT ATTRACTS EVEN MORE GOODNESS
5 DECEMBER 11.
 AND LOVE, WHICH ARE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF OUR
CREATION AND OUR CREATOR.
✶ “...you will find rest for your soul...” when we
Live in Christ, for WE RECEIVE INDESCRIBABLE PEACE,
St Savvas was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, of pious
and noble Christian parents.
When he was eight years of age, he entered the nearby
Plavian Monastery.
Being extremely Gifted he quickly learnt to read and
write, and eventually became an erudite scholar of
the Holy Scriptures.
At the age of 18 he travelled to Jerusalem, where he
entered the Monastery of St Euthymios the Great.
After a short while St Euthymios sent him to St Theoktistos
who was the Abbot of a nearby Monastery which had
strict Coenobitic Rules.
After the death of his Holy Elder, St Theoktistos, his
successor Blessed St Savvas who had requested
permission to seclude himself in a cave.
On Saturdays, however, he left his Hermitage and
returned to the Monastery to participate in all the
Divine Services and eat with his Brethren.
When St Euthymios fell asleep in the Lord (+ 473), St
Savvas withdrew from the Lavra and moved to
another cave that was situated close to the Monastery
of St Gerasimos of Jordan.
After several years, many disciples seeking the Monastic
Life gathered in the vicinity of the cave of St Savvas,
from whom they learnt much.
T H E E TE R NAL , I
S T M AX IM OS THE C ONF ESSOR
The Divine Word advises us to offer Gifts to God in order to
show us His Infinite Goodness – as if He had not given
us anything beforehand, and was receiving our
Offerings as gifts, and attributing them entirely to us.
In this manner, He shows us that His Goodness towards us
is great, infinite and inexpressible, since He accepts
our Offerings, which in Truth are actually His, but
which we are able to offer to Him as though they were
our own. He says that He ‘owes’ us – as if everything
were not His at all!
E LDE R TH AD DEU S V ITOVNIC
The Holy Fear of God exists when we Love Him with all
our heart and soul, and when we Struggle against all
temptations that might offend or distress Him – not
only through our actions, but also through our
thoughts. We try to please Him with everything we
think, say and do, for this is the Holy Fear of God – that
we might fail to fulfil His Divine Will.
S T N ICH OL AS V EL IMIR OVIC
Our invisible, persistent and obsessive enemy, the evil
one, is intensely gleeful when we are vainglorious,
and he encourages us and lures us into committing
all kinds of trivia and pointless actions for no other
reason than to captivate our mind – thereby causing
us to forget the real reason why we are here and now
during this short lifespan before Eternity.
S T J OH N C HRY SOSTOM
The Narrow Path welcomes those who sorrow, who sigh
and who carry no excess material possessions with
them except that which can be carried along this
Path – i.e. the Holy Virtues of Charity/Love,
Philanthropy, Kindness, Compassion, Mercy and
Understanding.
For if we bear these burdens, we will easily be able to
enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Therefore, since our future is utterly unknowable, we
must store up in advance – in Heaven! – the
contributions of Love concerning our neighbours and
fellow sinners, so that if we ever stray from whatever is
Righteous, we will receive Forgiveness from our
Heavenly Father, which is stored away in a Sacred,
Heavenly Treasury.
We must consistently strive to become disciplined and
generous, ceaselessly being Spiritually Watchful and
12 ST SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED OF PALESTINE
LOVE AND JOY FROM GOD WHEN WE ARE IN A BLISSFUL
STATE OF DIVINE GRACE.

BY LIVING ACCORDING TO CHRIST’S SPIRITUAL RULE, GOD
PROVIDES US WITH EVERY NECESSITY SO THAT OUR NATURAL
IMPULSES ARE REDIRECTED TOWARDS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL –
Divine Righteousness in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
S T S AV V AS TH E S ANCTIF IE D
As the number of Monks increased, a Lavra was
established.
A Mysterious Pillar of Uncreated Fire had appeared
before St Savvas while he was walking one day, and
there he found a spacious cave in the form of a
Church.
St Savvas established several Monasteries throughout the
region and many Divine Miracles occurred through
his Intercessory Prayers.
He composed the first Monastic Rule of Church Services,
which are referred to as the “Jerusalem Typikon”,
which were accepted by all the Palestinian
Monasteries.
St Savvas the Sanctified finally Reposed in Peace in Christ,
at the age of 94.
His Sanctified body was found to be incorrupt when his
tomb was opened in 548, and many Divine Miracles
have continually occurred through his Intercessory
Prayers on our behalf.
Later His Holy Relics were reverently transferred from
Jerusalem to Constantinople, where they remained
until the malicious, marauding Crusaders Stole them
in 1204 and carried them to Venice.
In 1965, the precious Holy Relics of our Beloved Holy
Father, St Savvas the Sanctified, were returned to his
Monastery in Palestine.
NSP IR ED W ISD OM OF OU R H OLY FA THE R S
Repentant, so that we do not condemn ourselves to
the unbearable consignment to Hell.
S T THE OPH AN THE R E CLU SE
War against the grievous passions is unavoidable,
because they never willingly give up the illegitimate
control they have gained over our body and soul.
S T N EKTAR IOS OF P E NTAP OL IS
Cowardice is a grievous passion of a sickly soul that is
overwhelmed by worldly fear. It is pusillanimity,
(faintheartedness or fearfulness), lack of boldness, the
lack of courage, the instability of soul in dread of
imminent disasters. It makes free people slaves, and
turns those who it has fettered into traitors. It is
timidity in the face of possible danger, a lack of moral
fibre, a feebleness of mind and a proclivity towards
disgraceful works.
S T BA SIL THE G RE AT
Any Joy that arises at the Command of our Lord, to the
Glory of God, is Joy in our Lord!
E LDE R P HILOTHE OS Z E RV AKOS
It is the Will of God that we be United and bound together
by the bond of genuine, True, Pure, guileless and
sincere Christian Love.
It is a disgrace and a lie to pray to our Lord for the Peace
of the whole world yet be separated from one
another!
S T THE OPH AN THE R E CLU SE
We should always be warm towards our Lord God and
everything that is Divine but remain cold and
detached from everything that is secular and sinful.
A R CH IMANDR ITE E PH R AIM , OF V ATOP ED I
Little, innocent children sense the Grace of God the Holy
Spirit. This is why certain Saints did care for games
even while very young – not as much as their
contemporaries. Instead they stood out through their
introversion and seriousness, similar to the outlook of
our Holy Elders. This was the case of St Athanasios the
Athonite and also of Elder Sophrony who fell asleep in
our Lord in 1993. When he was still in his infancy, he
was Visited b the Divine, Uncreated and Immaterial
Light.
5 DECEMBER
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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 DECEMBER 2019
ST NICHOLAS
THE WONDER WORKING ARCHBISHOP OF MYRA, LYCIA
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD

Also the Feast of St Maximos, Metropolitan of Kiev

M ATINS – G OSPEL ACC OR D ING TO S T JO H N 10 : 1 – 9

At that time, our Lord said to the Judeans who went to Him: “Truly, truly, I say to you: he who does
not enter the Door to the Sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a Thief and a Robber. He
who enters by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep. To him the Doorkeeper opens, and the Sheep
hear His Voice. And He Calls His own Sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own
Sheep, He goes before them. And the Sheep follow Him, for they know His Voice. Yet they will by no means
follow a Stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of Strangers.”
Although Jesus used this illustration, they did not understand the things that He spoke to them. Again Jesus said to
them: “Truly, truly, I say unto you: I Am the Door of the Sheepfold. All who ever came before Me are Thieves and
Robbers, but the Sheep did not hear them. I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go
in and will go out, and will find pasture...”
✶ “... I say unto you...” This passage is A CONTINUATION OF ✶ “...the Shepherd of the Sheep...” is either OUR LORD JESUS
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S CONVERSATION WITH THE SELF- CHRIST Whom our Heavenly Father sent to lead His
RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES, which occurred at the end of the Lost Sheep back to the Spiritual Safety of True
eight-day Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) in Jerusalem Faith, or HIS ORDAINED BISHOPS AND PRIESTS who
during the last year of His earthly Life when He taught HUMBLY AND OBEDIENTLY OBEY THE WILL OF OUR
His people in the Temple, which attracted much HEAVENLY FATHER BY TAKING GOOD SPIRITUAL CARE OF
attention. HIS HOLY FLOCK.
Some of the people believed Him to be our Great
True and Faithful Shepherds of God LEAD, GUIDE AND
Messiah/Saviour while others thought He was insane, PROTECT HIS HOLY FLOCK ACCORDING TO CHRIST’S
but certain zealots such as the Sadducees and TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS, WHICH GRANT US
Pharisees - regarded Him as a threat. ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
Our Lord Jesus Christ contrasted their self-serving
True and Faithful Shepherds ACQUIRE BY THE GRACE OF
leadership with HIS OWN HUMBLE, OBEDIENT, SELF- GOD, A CHRIST-LIKE COMPASSION AND SINCERE LOVE FOR
SACRIFICING AND SALVIFIC TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE. EACH OF THE HOLY FLOCK.
✶ "...enter through the Door to the Sheepfold...” In return, THE FAITHFUL RESPOND TO SUCH WORTHY PRIESTS

The Door is CHRIST OUR LORD AND BISHOPS, TRUSTING THEM IMPLICITLY as True

The Sheepfold is GOD’S HOLY TEMPLE OR CHURCH. Shepherds who act on behalf of our Lord Jesus
We can only Experience the Presence of God by Christ for the Benefit of our immortal soul,
properly entering the Safety and Protection of His Salvation and Eternal Life.
Holy Temple/Church – His Holy Sheepfold – which St Ignatios of Antioch stated that “... where the Bishop is
shows us the Path of Righteousness we all need to present, there the people shalt gather...” for THE
follow. RESPONSE OF THE FAITHFUL CAN BE A FAR BETTER INDICATOR of
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES THAT GOD REQUIRES TO BE who is indeed a True Shepherd of Christ’s Holy Flock
CORRECTLY FULFILLED by Bishops, Priests, Clergy and than the claims of any leaders or sycophants.
laity.
In other words, THE AMOUNT OF ENDURING SPIRITUAL FRUIT
THE JUDEAN PRIESTS AND LEADERS OF HIS FAITHFUL FLOCK CLEARLY SHOWS THE EXTENT OF ALL LABOURS OF LOVE for
HAD FAILED TO SHEPHERD – TO GUIDE AND PROTECT – HIS the Glory, Honour and Worship of our Lord God.
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY LACKED LOVE AND COMPASSION, ✶ “...the Sheep hear His Voice...” for having grown close
due to their arrogance, deceit and pride. to God, WE WILL RECOGNISE HIS DIVINE TRUTH, which
On the contrary, OUR LORD JESUS WHO IS LOVE, POSSESSED we strive to fulfill every day to our thoughts, words
AND LIVED BY ALL THE HOLY VIRTUES. and deeds.

According to St John Chrysostom, “...the Door...” is Furthermore, OUR IMMORTAL SOUL REACTS IMMEDIATELY TO
GOD’S WORD – HIS DIVINE TRUTH - meaning both THE THE VOICE OF OUR LORD, and we are instantly filled
HOLY SCRIPTURES AND HIMSELF, since HOLY SCRIPTURE with overwhelming, indescribable Love, Joy and
REVEALS GOD THE WORD Who is the Eternal Son of God Peace.
our Heavenly Father – i.e. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ✶ “...He Calls His own Sheep by name and leads them...”
✶ “...a Thief and a Robber...” refers to those who try to OUR LORD ADDRESSES US DIRECTLY BY OUR BAPTISMAL
lead “... some other way...” that is NEITHER IN CHRIST NAME, and if we immediately respond, He will lead
NOR ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. us towards His Eternal Kingdom of Love.
Heretics, false teachers, or self-ordained ‘prophets,’
AS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS THE MOST INTIMATE
‘priests’ and leaders who pick and choose from KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY PERSON HE CREATED, SO ALSO TRUE
Holy Scripture in order to deceive or control AND FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS OF HIS HOLY FLOCK – HIS HOLY
people, and use their gatherings to become CHURCH – STRIVE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE
extremely wealthy, are Spiritual Thieves and FAITHFUL PERSONALLY – i.e. by name.
Robbers, for not only do they impoverish the
True and Faithful Shepherds ENDEAVOUR TO UNDERSTAND
people financially, but they also impoverish EACH PERSON’S CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS, FROM THE
and disillusion them by confusing and GREATEST TO THE VERY LEAST OF THE HOLY FLOCK.
misleading them with all kinds of false ✶ ”... He goes before them...” has several meanings.
promises and performances, which
CHRIST ALWAYS SHOWS US WHAT TO DO AND CONFIRMS HIS
blaspheme. DIVINE TRUTH BY HIS OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLE, thereby
They cause great despair and loss of Faith in our Lord leading us along His Righteous Path.
God when their false claims are not delivered! CHRIST WAS THE FIRST TO BE RESURRECTED and showed
Himself to us in order to confirm that Glorious Hope

ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYRA, LYCIA 6 DECEMBER 13

 and Truth of our own eventual Resurrection in
Eternity.

Likewise, HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES, SAINTS AND ORDAINED
CLERGY LEAD HIS FLOCK, BY TEACHING, GUIDING,
CORRECTING, AND DEMONSTRATING BY THEIR OWN GOOD
EXAMPLES HOW TO LIVE IN CHRIST IN PREPARATION FOR
OUR RESURRECTION INTO ETERNAL LIFE.
✶ “...by no means follow a Stranger...” The deceptions
and temptations of the evil one might be avoided if
we UNDERSTAND GOD’S DIVINE TRUTH AND STRIVE TO LIVE IN
CHRISt.
Those of us who are still very Spiritually Immature and
Inexperienced, have OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS to GUIDE
US CORRECTLY, AS WELL AS THE NURTURING AND
PROTECTION OF OUR HOLY CHURCH AND ALL HER HOLY
MYSTERIES.
Because of our habitual inclination towards sin, WE ALL
NEED TO PRAY, FAST, AND REGULARLY PARTAKE OF THE
ESSENTIAL HOLY MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCE-CONFESSION
AND HOLY EUCHARIST.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT TRUE SHEPHERDS OF CHRIST’S HOLY
FLOCK USE ALL KINDS OF DECEPTIVE, DECEITFUL METHODS
TO CONTROL, ROB AND MANIPULATE God’s People,
thereby ULTIMATELY DESTROYING THEIR IMMORTAL SOUL.
✶”...I Am the Door of the Sheepfold...” Our Lord Jesus
Christ makes this very clear statement, for HE IS THE
ONLY MEANS OF ENTRY INTO HIS HOLY CHURCH AND
ETERNAL LIFE.

HIS HOLY CHURCH IS OUR SPIRITUAL SHEEPFOLD – our
Spiritual Sanctuary where we are Healed,
F E STAL P R OKEIME NON – P
Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Holy One.
What shall I give back to the Lord for all He rendered to me?
T H E E PISTLE OF S T
Brethren: obey your Leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your soul, as men who will have to
give account. Let them do so Joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, to
ensure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to
do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
May the God of Peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, by the Blood
of the Eternal Covenant, equip you with everything Good so that you may do His Will, working in you that which is
pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory unto the Ages of ages.
Amen.
✶ “...obey your Leaders and submit to them...”

As Faithful Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we
must ALWAYS OBEY AND RESPECT OUR HOLY CHURCH
FATHERS who are Consecrated and Sanctified
Members of His Holy Priesthood.
✶ “...they are keeping watch over your soul, as men who
will have to give account...”

OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS are Members of the Eternal
Spiritual Fatherhood of Christ’s Holy Church who
WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for their earthly Ministry
at the Great Judgement of Our Lord.
✶ “...Let them do so Joyfully, and not sadly...”

Like any loving parent, our Holy Fathers are joyful
WHEN WE ARE HUMBLY OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF OUR
HEAVENLY FATHER AND FULFIL THE DIVINE TEACHINGS
OF OUR LORD.
✶ “... Pray for us, to ... have a clear conscience ... to act
honourably in all things...”

St Paul, as one of our Holy Church Fathers, asked all
Christians for their Prayers so that he might LIVE
AN EXEMPLARY LIFE ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL AND NOT
BE TEMPTED.

THOSE WHO STRIVE AND STRUGGLE THE HARDEST ARE THE
MOST TEMPTED by the evil one into committing
sins or – even worse – leading others into
wickedness, heresy or blasphemy.
✶ “...to act honourably in all things...” IS MOST IMPORTANT
for all of us, and especially those who Guide and
Teach others.

Not only must our Bishops, Priests, Deacons,
Teachers and all who Serve our Lord act
honourably, but WE TOO MUST DO SO IN IMITATION OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ALL HIS RIGHTEOUS.
✶ “.... I urge you the more earnestly to do this...” – i.e. to
Obey those who have Spiritual Authority over us.

UNLESS WE HUMBLY OBEY THE DIVINE TRUTH – the
Teachings and Commandments of our Lord God
– AND FULFIL ALL OUR SACRED COMMITMENTS in His
14. ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYRA, LYCIA
Cleansed, Restored, Regenerated, Illuminated,
Enlightened, Guided, Taught and Reborn.

THE SON OF GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MANKIND’S REDEEMER AND
SAVIOUR WHO SUSTAINS HIS PEOPLE.

DURING OUR BAPTISM WE “...PUT ON CHRIST...” AS OUR
GARMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS so for the rest of our
lifespan we ought to LIVE IN CHRIST BY STRIVING
AND STRUGGLING TO FULFIL EVERYTHING HE HAS TAUGHT
AND COMMANDED US TO DO.
BY LIVING IN CHRIST, WE ENJOY A WONDERFUL FREEDOM
because we simply follow the Path upon which
Christ leads us, having shown us exactly how to do
so.
✶ “... all who ever came before Me...” is not a reference to
St Moses nor any of God’s Holy Prophets of the Old
Covenant, but to THOSE WHO CLAIMED OR CLAIM TO BE
EITHER THE GREAT MESSIAH OR PROPHETS – both before
and after Christ.

After St John the Baptist Forerunner , and our Lord
Jesus Christ, THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY SO-CALLED, SELF-
PROCLAIMED “PROPHETS”

OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR HAS REVEALED AND TAUGHT HIS DIVINE
TRUTH TO MANKIND.

All we must do is LEARN AND UNDERSTAND DIVINE TRUTH so
that we might APPLY IT TO OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND
DEEDs, thereby preparing ourselves as Good and
Worthy Citizens of God’s Heavenly Kingdom of
Love.
SALM 115/116 - T ONE (7) V ARYS /G R AV E
P AUL TO TH E H EBRE WS 13 : 17 – 21
Holy Church, WE CANNOT CONSIDER OURSELVES AS
BEING FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

Arrogance, vainglory and disobedience cause
disunity in the Holy Body of Christ – i.e. in His Holy
Church – and we become Spiritual Wolves who
devour our Brethren!

Thus THE MOST ESSENTIAL HOLY VIRTUES WE FIRST NEED TO
ACQUIRE ARE HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE – the two
Inseparable Divine Virtues that lead to the
Acquisition of Love and all the other essential
Sacred Virtues.
✶ “... the God of Peace...” is our Heavenly Father and
also our Triune Lord God.

Almighty God grants everything that is Loving,
Peaceful and Joyful.

He is not the “Wrathful and Vengeful” God of Whom
the ancient Prophets spoke in order to scare the
people into Obedience.
✶ “... Who brought again from the dead...” is a reference
to THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS
HUMAN NATURE, whereby He again taught us by
His own Example, that WE, TOO, SHALL BE
RESURRECTED – BODY AND SOUL - INTO ETERNITY.
Although sin and death are the inventions of the evil one,
our Lord permits them to test us and to allow us to leave
this moral existence and enter Eternity. .
When we Repose, our body and soul separate and return
whence they originated – the body to the earth and the
immortal soul to Paradise or Hades until the Eight Day –
our General Resurrection (in body and soul) and our Final
Judgement.
✶ “ ... the Great Shepherd of the Sheep...” refers to OUR
LORD JESUS WHO TEACHES US HIS DIVINE TRUTH that
keeps us going along His Path of Righteousness.

WE ARE GOD’S INTELLECTUALLY ENDOWED SHEEP who
freely choose to Faithfully follow Christ to Eternal
Life.
6 DECEMBER
Our Lord mentioned both “Sheep” and “Goats,” meaning
those who are meek, humble and Obedient to our
Heavenly Father’s Will and those who stubbornly
follow their own path, independent of Divine Will and
Truth.
✶ “...the Blood of the Eternal Covenant...”

The voluntary Passion of our Lord Jesus – everything,
including His Crucifixion - was THE ULTIMATE
BLOOD OFFERING for the Atonement of all
mankind’s sins forever.

HE WAS BOTH THE OFFERER (OUR ETERNAL, DIVINE, HIGH
PRIEST) AND THE OFFERING (THE MOST PURE AND
PERFECT BLOOD SACRIFICE) that surpassed and
fulfilled forever the necessity of blood sacrifices
for the Forgiveness of sin.

THE NEW COVENANT IS A BLOODLESS, ETERNAL COVENANT.

During the Holy Mystery of Eucharist. THE MATERIAL
ELEMENTS of bread and wine offerings ARE
TRANSUBSTANTIATED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE
PRECIOUS, LIFE-GIVING BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
THAT CLEANSES, HEALS AND SANCTIFIES OUR BODY AND
SOUL.

This is THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE DIVINE AND MOST SACRED
BLOOD OF CHRIST WHICH IS REALISED IN HIS GLORIOUS
RESURRECTION.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST OFFERS HIS MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD
IN THE ETERNAL SANCTUARY - thereby inaugurating
A NEW, “... Everlasting (Eternal) Covenant...”
✶ “...equip you with everything Good so that you may do
His Will..”

CHRIST HAS PROVIDED US WITH ALL THE DIVINE WISDOM AND
KNOWLEDGE THAT IS VITAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
that leads to our Spiritual Perfection in His Divine
Likeness.
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO
At that time our Lord Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of His Disciples and a great multitude of people
from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be Healed of their
diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were Cured. And all the crowd sought to touch Him, for
Power went forth from Him and Healed them all.
And He lifted up His Eyes to His Disciples, and said: “Blessed art the Poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed art
the Hungry now, for you shall be filled. Blessed art the weeping, for they shalt laugh. Blessed art you who are
hated by men, and when they reject you and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the
Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for Joy, for behold, your Reward is Great in Heaven.”
✶ “...our Lord Jesus stood on a level place...”

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S “SERMON ON THE PLAIN” - “...level
place...” - IS SIMILAR IN CONTENT TO HIS PROFOUND
“SERMON ON THE MOUNT.” (MATTHEW 5 :3 – 11)

OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR’S DIVINE TEACHINGS WERE REPEATED to
many different gatherings OVER THE PERIOD OF HIS
THREE YEAR PUBLIC MISSION.

During the Era of the Old Covenant, ONLY A SELECT FEW
PEOPLE WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO HEAR HIS WORDS
DIRECTLY.

THE HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD THEN INTERPRETED GOD’S WORDS
IN A MANNER THAT HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD
UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT - to Enlighten and Guide
them - to Spiritually Discipline and prepare them
for Eternal Salvation..

In this ERA OF THE NEW COVENANT, GOD INCARNATE
ADDRESSES GREAT MULTITUDES OF ALL DIFFERENT HUMAN
BEINGS OF MANY NATIONS AND VARYING SOCIAL STATUS.

St Ambrose of Milan explained that the Eternal Son
and Word of God BROUGHT ISRAEL TO GOD FROM THEIR
EGYPTIAN BONDAGE, WHICH PREFIGURED HIS INCARNATION
WHEREBY HE BRINGS US – HIS HOLY CHURCH – TO GOD AS
OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

The Children of Israel were to be a Holy Nation with a
Holy Priesthood, which is fulfilled according to the
New Covenant by our Lord Jesus Christ’s Holy
Orthodox Church. (EXODUS 19:6 & 1 PETER 2: 4 – 10)
✶ “...His Disciples and a great multitude ... from all Judea
...Jerusalem ...the coast of Tyre and Sidon... came
to hear Him...”

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to us BY HIS OWN DIVINE
AUTHORITY, as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.

AS HIS DISCIPLES, WE DO NOT DISCUSS NOR DEBATE BUT LISTEN
CAREFULLY to what He reveals and teaches us
concerning His Divine Truth.

We ought to BE READY AND EAGER TO FULFIL WHATEVER IS
REQUIRED FROM US.
✶ “...working in you that which is pleasing in His Sight,
through Jesus Christ...”

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS AND ENABLES US to fulfil
everything according to the Will of our Heavenly
Father, which is necessary for our Theosis.

WHEN WE CHOOSE TO CO-OPERATE WITH GOD, BY FULFILLING
HIS DIVINE WILL, WE SPIRITUALLY PROGRESS TOWARDS
OUR CREATED STATE.
The two inseparable Holy Virtues of Humility and Obedience
are essential to our Spiritual Growth and Progress, for
without them, we cannot acquire any of the other
essential Holy Virtues.
Due to our Spiritual Inexperience and immaturity, it is
imperative to willingly obey our Spiritual Fathers and
Teachers who teach, encourage, correct and guide us
towards Eternity, Salvation and Eternal Life.
We cannot achieve Theosis by ourselves
We need to be willing to follow the proper Teachings and
Commandments – the Divine Truth - of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ , as well as all aspects of an active,
fully participating Life in Christ in His Holy Church – i.e.
correct Orthodox Worship and regular participation in
all His Salvific Holy Mysteries, beginning with Baptism
and Chrismation – including constant Prayers, Spiritual
Contemplation, Fasting and living every moment
accordingly.
The True Path has been laid out clearly for us to follow. It
is thus neither complicated nor difficult when we do so
with sincere Humility and Obedience and a desire for
Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
R D ING TO S T LU KE 6 : 17 – 23

THE FULFILMENT OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S WILL IS OUR
HOLY MISSION AND PURPOSE during this preparatory
period before Eternity.

The Divine Will of our Loving, Heavenly Father
concerns OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

He has shown us and provided us with every means
possible to BE SPIRITUALLY RECONCILED WITH GOD AND
EACH OTHER IN SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND LOVE.
✶ “...to be Healed of ...diseases. And ... unclean spirits...”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is OUR ALMIGHTY CREATOR THROUGH
WHOM ALL LIFE AND GOODNESS IS GRANTED.

ANY ENCOUNTER WITH HIM OR CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OR
ANYTHING SANCTIFIED BY HIM, RECEIVE DIVINE HEALINGS
AND SPIRITUAL RESTORATION, REGENERATION AND
TRANSFORMATION.
✶ “... Power went out from Him and Healed them all...”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is THE DIVINE SOURCE AND POWER
THAT CAUSES EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD and Spiritually
Beneficial for all mankind.

THROUGH HIM WE RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS AND EMPOWERMENT
OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
✶ “... He lifted up His Eyes towards His Disciples...”

OUR LORD LOOKS DIRECTLY AT EACH OF US– seeing our
hidden heart and soul.

HE SPEAKS TO OUR VERY BEING.

HIS DISCIPLES ARE ALL THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO BE UNDER
HIS DIVINE DISCIPLINE – to Faithfully follow and fulfil
His Divine Teachings and Commandments by
LIVING IN CHRIST.

This means APPLYING HIS DIVINE TRUTH TO OUR THOUGHTS,
OUR WORDS AND OUR DEEDS.
✶ “... Blessed art the poor... the hungry... the weeping ...”
is a SERIES OF DIVINE REVELATIONS AND TEACHINGS that
are referred to as “THE BEATITUDES.”

A more detailed list of Blessings were recorded by St
Matthew, which were initially addressed to the
Hebrew Judeans – God’s Chosen People of Israel.

ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYRA, LYCIA 6 DECEMBER 15


Christ explains clearly that EVERYTHING WE EXPERIENCE IN
THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY HAS ETERNAL
CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF US.

These Blessings refer to HEAVENLY, SPIRITUAL EXALTATION
rather than the fleeting, worldly type of happiness
or material prosperity.
✶ “...the poor... “ refers to BOTH THE MATERIALLY POOR AND
GOD’S FAITHFUL PEOPLE.

It also refers to those who are “... poor in spirit,”
meaning those who have THE HEART AND ATTITUDE OF
THE POOR AND DESTITUTE WHO ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT
ON GOD’S LOVE, COMPASSION AND GREAT MERCY.
✶ “ ... yours is the Kingdom of God...”

those who ACCEPT WITHOUT COMPLAINT DIFFICULTIES AND
BLESSINGS WITH EQUAL GRATITUDE TO GOD, have BECOME
WORTHY CITIZENS AND CO-HEIRS with Christ to our
Heavenly Father’s Eternal Kingdom of Love.
✶ “...the hungry now...” refers to both A PHYSICAL AND
SPIRITUAL HUNGER AND THIRST.

Our body needs physical sustenance to survive while
OUR IMMORTAL SOUL YEARNS FOR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
THAT GRANTS US ETERNAL LIFE.

FOOD AND DRINK ARE TEMPORARY SUSTENANCE necessary for
the health of our body.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PROVIDES US WITH HIS LIVING WATER
TO QUENCH OUR SPIRITUAL THIRST for Divine Truth AND
HIS PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
TO GRANT US HEALING, CLEANSING AND ETERNAL LIFE –
for the Eternal Sustenance of our immortal soul.

IT IS NATURAL FOR US TO YEARN FOR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
that Reunites us with God forever.
S T P AISIOS – R
In general terms, Saint Païsios set the greatest store in the
Spiritual Struggle, on Repentance and Unceasing
Prayer. Through Repentance he received Revelations
from Heaven.
He repeatedly emphasised that Monastic Life is a Life of
continual Repentance and Prayer.
He likened Monastics to ‘wireless operators’ whose Aim is
to communicate with God in order to help those who
have first Cleansed themselves of the grievous
passions, which are like atmospheric interference that
disrupts our good, clear communication with our
Lord.
This is why he urged us to ask God only for the ability to
Repent our sins, for we are Spiritually Cleansed –
washed clean – by the Divine Soap of Repentance
and Prayer.
Our deep, heartfelt sighs of contrition and sincere
Repentant Prayers are worth far more than two
buckets of tears.
The beginning of the Work of Prayer is our honest, self-
examination and acknowledgement of our sins.
When we lack an awareness of our personal sins, we
cannot - and will not - beseech our Lord God for His
Divine Mercy.
Pray is helped by our sense of sinfulness and a
willingness to Repent, which requires self-knowledge
and awareness of all our weaknesses.
We need to consider everything that God has granted us
and how we respond to His abundant Providence,
Love and Mercy.
All Monastics ceaselessly contemplate these significant
aspects, for they regard everything that is good and
Blessed as Divine Gifts from God - and that only our
sins are our own, for which we need to be truly
contrite and Repentant.
Before we begin to count the knots on our komboskini, we
ought to weigh up our innumerable sins against
God’s infinite Blessings. The awareness of Divine
Grace helps us to recite the Jesus Prayer from the
heart and soul.
Through genuine Repentance we acquire Humility and
Obedience, which is the very Source of the Prayer of
the heart. Prayer requires proper Spiritual Preparation
just like all the essential Holy Mysteries.
We need the Spiritual Nourishment of Holy Scripture, the
Inspired Writings of our Holy Fathers and the full
participation of Holy Services and communal worship
in Church.
St Paisios encouraged Monastics and laity alike not to
neglect their Prayers and Repentance for we will then
suffer and Struggle needlessly.
We ought to avoid excessive talking and find
contentment and Peace in Silence, Contemplation
16 ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYRA, LYCIA

When we thirst for Righteousness, we REGARD BEING IN
THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF LIFE.

We DEVELOP A TREMENDOUS CRAVING FOR WHATEVER IS RIGHT
AND GOOD – A SPIRITUAL HUNGER THAT IS FAR MORE
COMPELLING THAN ANY DESIRE FOR FOOD.
✶ “... shalt be filled..” is A DIVINE PROMISE upon which we
can completely depend!

BY FULFILLING THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE WILL
BE COMPLETELY FULFILLED – and overwhelmed by
Joy, Peace and Love that is beyond any human
description!
✶ “...the weeping now...” refers to THOSE WHO ARE DISTRESSED
BY THE SUFFERINGS of this life, especially BY THE MISERABLE
STATE OF THE FALLEN WORLD, AND OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS.
(REFER JOHN 11:35... LUKE 19:41 & LUKE 7 : 36 – 38)
✶ “... shalt laugh...” and Rejoice WHEN WE WITNESS THE GREAT
MERCY, COMPASSION AND LOVE OF OUR LORD GOD.

OUR TEARS OF SORROW BECOME TEARS OF JOY AND GRATITUDE.

ALL WHO SUFFER AND SORROW ARE CERTAINLY COMFORTED BY
THE POWER OF GOD both in this world and in the Age
to come.

HOLY SORROW IS PART OF OUR REPENTANCE, CONVERSION AND
VIRTUOUS ACTION.

HOLY SORROW OR JOYFUL MOURNING IS THE FIRST-FRUIT – THE
INITIAL RESULT – OF INFINITE OR ETERNAL BLISS/JOY,
which is completely different from ungodly sorrow
– an inconsolable sadness that leads to despair –
utter hopelessness. (REFER TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7 : 10 )
EP ENTANC E & P R AYER
and Prayer. This is how we communicate with our
Lord and remain in His Divine Presence.
Every moment is priceless and fleeting. We must use our
limited time to our best advantage.
The Sign of the Cross and the Prayer of the heart are the
Most Powerful Weapons against the temptations and
wicked schemes of the evil one.
St Paisios believed that the Acquisition of Unceasing
Prayer helps us to divest ourselves of our habitual sins
that keep us in a state of Spiritual Death and decline.
He used the Psalter a great deal in his Prayers -
regarding it as “...a lightning bolt against the devil.”
Another important aspect of our Spiritual Struggle
concerns the unrestricted Love for all our Neighbours
– for all our fellow sinners.
He consistently reminded us of the dignity of each other
and cautioned us against neglecting our Sacred
Tasks of Love for God and mankind - despite our
other Spiritual Efforts.
Unless we take care of one another and are self-
sacrificing, all our other Spiritual Deeds will be
useless, empty gestures.
St Paisios Loved our Lord Jesus Christ and His All Pure and
Holy Mother so much, which was expressed by his
unconditional Love for his fellow mankind, and
throughout his life, no matter how tired or ill he
became, he always sacrificed himself - completely
ignoring his own needs, his rest or his health.
When other people were suffering he would have
willingly died to help them.
Our Holy Father taught us not to worry about our
problems, for it reveals a lack of Faith, yet when we
worry about our Brethren it shows “... the pain of
Love...” and “...our Lord God grants us great Comfort
(when we feel the pain of others) - otherwise we could
not bear the intensity of such Spiritual Suffering...” He
urged us to always pray for the Reposed souls since
they cannot do anything to help themselves.
Like him, we should pray every day to Christ and His
Saints for their Intercessory Prayers on their behalf,
and also pray constantly for the Glory and Unity of the
Church.
While praying, he received Enlightenment concerning all
types of problems, and his close Relationship with our
Most Holy Lady, Theotokos, was characterized by his
deep devotion and Love, which he inspired in all who
spoke to him....
ALEXANDROS CHRISTODOULOU, THEOLOGIAN
HTTPS://PEMPTOUSIA.COM/2019/11/REPENTANCE-AND-PRAYER-ACCORDING-TO-
SAINT-PAISIOS/
6 DECEMBER
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
TONE 1 15 DECEMBER 2019
25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS
10TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE
THE GREAT BANQUET

The Feast of St Eleftherios, Bishop & Hieromartyr of Illyria, St Evanthia, his Righteous Mother & St Caribos
the Eparch of Illyria – St Paul of Latros – St Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh, Crimea – St
Tryphon & St Jonah, his disciple, of Pechanga & Kola – St Eleftherios Cubicularios of Constantinople – St
Pardos the Roman Hermit of Palestine – St Hilarion, Archbishop & Hieromartyr of Vereiya – St Nektarios of
Bitel, Bulgaria

R ESUR REC TION G OSPEL 4 - LU KE 24 : 1 - 12

P R OKE IME NON – P SALM 115 – T ONE (7) V ARY S /GR AVE

Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of His Holy One.
What shall I give in return to our Lord for all He has rendered unto me?
S EC OND E P ISTL E OF S T P AUL TO S T T IM OTHY 1 : 8 – 18
Timothy, my Son: ... do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. But share in the sufferings
for the Gospel according to the Power of God, Who has Saved us and Called us with a Holy Calling – not according
to our works, but according to His own Purpose and Grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began
and now been revealed by the Appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who has abolished Death, and brought Life
and Immortality to Light through the Gospel to which I was appointed as a Preacher, and Apostle and a Teacher of
the Gentiles.
For this reason, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. I know Whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words you have heard from me in Faith and Love, which are in Christ Jesus. That good
Thing that was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us.
This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellos and Hermogenes. The
Lord grant Mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains.
So when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may
find Mercy from the Lord in that Day. And how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesos, you know very well.
✶ “... Timothy, my Son...” – St Paul addressed St Timothy as
We are not only Saved, being Saved and Hope to be
HIS SPIRITUAL SON whom he had taught, Baptised Saved, but are also CALLED BY GOD TO FULFILL THE
and ordained as Bishop (Overseer) of the Church WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
and Christian Community of Ephesos where he ✶ “... according to His own Purpose and Grace...”
was eventually martyred by the pagans.
OUR SALVATION AND CALLING ARE BASED ON THE GRACE AND

St Timothy had accompanied St Paul on many of his LOVE OF GOD – not for anything that we have done
Missionary Journeys and continued to assist St to merit God’s Favour.
Paul whenever necessary.
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY
✶ “... do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord...” FATHER RESTORES us to our created state of Agape
refers to THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST – to THE ENTIRE and Spiritual Perfection in His Image and Likeness.
DIVINE TRUTH OF OUR LORD’S SACRED TEACHINGS, ✶ “...given to us in Christ Jesus before time began...”
REVELATIONS AND COMMANDMENTS.  E P H E S I A N S 2 : 8 - 1 0 : “... by Grace (we) have been

We ought NEVER BE ASHAMED TO SPEAK THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Saved through Faith, and that not of (ourselves) –
We should BE ASHAMED TO LIE AND DECEIVE by it is the Gift of God, not of works... for we are His
avoiding the Truth. Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good

As Christ’s Disciples, WE OUGHT TO STRIVE TO THINK, TO Works, which God prepared beforehand so that
SPEAK AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO DIVINE TRUTH. we should walk in them...”
✶ “...share in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the WE CAN ONLY GET FROM ONE KINGDOM TO THE NEXT BY THE UNITY
Power of God...” OF DIVINE GRACE, TRUE FAITH AND GOOD “WORKS” (Labours

Life in Christ consists of SELF-SACRIFICE, SELF-DENIAL AND of Love, especially concerning each other.)
SELF DISCIPLINE. Not that these are equal, for DIVINE GRACE IS UNCREATED AND

WE ARE EMPOWERED AND ENERGISED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT INFINITE, WHEREAS OUR PERSONAL FAITH IN GOD IS LIMITED,
to fulfil the Divine Will of our Heavenly Father. but can certainly grow and increase, while GOOD

OUR LORD JESUS NEVER PROMISED US A TROUBLE-FREE WORKS FLOW FORTH FROM AUTHENTIC FAITH IN GOD.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TO ETERNAL LIFE. GOOD WORKS CANNOT BY ANY MEANS “EARN” US THIS PRICELESS

THE MORE WE STRUGGLE, THE CLOSER WE DRAW TO OUR LOVING TREASURE, for IT IS A PURE, DIVINE GIFT OF GOD. However,
AND COMPASSIONATE LORD GOD THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS DIVINE GRACE DO GOOD WORKS –

BY THE POWER AND GRACE OF OUR LORD GOD WE CAN ACHIEVE LABOURS OF LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS.
AND ENDURE EVERYTHING. WE ARE NOT SAVED BY GOOD WORKS BUT FOR GOOD WORKS,

WE SHARE EACH OTHER’S SORROW AND JOY, compelled by which God offers us every day. It is up to us whether
our unconditional Love of God and one another. we choose to accept these and to fulfil them to the

WE CANNOT MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS ALONE – by our best of our ability, or reject or ignore them.
own puny efforts – but by means of the  T I T O S 3 : 5 - 6 “...not by Works of Righteousness, which
encouragement, Guidance, Love and support of we have done, but according to His Mercy He
the Holy Church of Christ and each other. Saved us, through the Washing of Regeneration
✶ “... Saved us and Called us with a Holy Calling...” and Renewing of the Holy Spirit Whom He poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our

25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-HOLY FOREFATHERS-11TH OF ST LUKE-GREAT BANQUET-15 DECEMBER 2019 17

 Saviour, that having been Justified by His Grace,
we should become Heir according to the Hope of
Eternal Life...”

THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION FORM A
UNITY IN OUR SALVATION, throughout the New
Covenant.
 JOHN 3:5 - Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that WE
ARE BORN FROM ABOVE THROUGH “...(Baptism) Water
and the (Holy) Spirit...”
 ACTS 2:38 - St Peter preached OUR SALVATION IN
CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR THROUGH BEING
BAPTISED AND BY RECEIVING “... the Gift of the Holy
Spirit...” – CHRISMATION.
St Paul called mankind to the “...Washing of the Water...”
(Holy Baptism) and to our “... Renewing of the Holy
Spirit.” (Chrismation).
✶ WITHOUT RECEIVING HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION, WE
CANNOT PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND HIS
HOLY CHURCH, being unable to partake of the essential,
Life-giving Holy Mysteries including regular
REPENTANCE-CONFESSION, HOLY EUCHARIST AND HOLY
UNCTION, which ARE ALL NECESSARY FOR US TO BECOME
WORTHY CITIZENS OF GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, TO
BE GRANTED ETERNAL LIFE AND TO STRIVE PROPERLY TO REGAIN
OUR LIKENESS TO GOD AS HE CREATED US.
✶ “...brought Life and Immortality to Light through the
Gospel...”

THE NEW COVENANT OF CHRIST GRANTS US ETERNAL LIFE,
which begins NOW, at this present moment, when
we COMMIT TO THE DIVINE TRUTH BY APPLYING IT TO OUR
THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS.

St Barnabas pointed out that our Lord Jesus Christ
“...submitted (to Suffering and Death) so that He
might break the power of Death and
demonstrate the Resurrection from the dead
(which we, too, will experience). Thus it was
necessary for Him to be manifested (revealed to
us) in the Flesh. Also, (our Lord Jesus submitted)
so that He might fulfil the Promise to the Fathers
and, while He was preparing the New People for
Himself, and while He was still on Earth, to prove
that after He has brought about the Resurrection
(of all mankind), He will Judge...”
✶ “...I was appointed as a Preacher... Apostle and a
Teacher of the Gentiles...”

As GOD APPOINTED ST PAUL TO FULFIL THESE VARIOUS SACRED
ROLES IN ORDER TO ENLIGHTEN MANKIND – to Restore
and Reconcile us all to God – HE ALSO CALLS EACH OF
US TO FULFIL VARIOUS SIGNIFICANT ROLES, despite our
sinful state.

AS WE GROW IN CHRIST, WE SLOWLY BECOME SPIRITUALLY
PERFECTED.

OUR LIFE IN CHRIST HAS MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS to fulfil
according to whatever God requires of us FOR THE
SPIRITUAL BENEFIT OF EACH OTHER.
✶ “...I know Whom I have believed...”

ANY ENCOUNTER WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS SO
MARVELLOUSLY TRANSFORMING, there is never any
doubt at all.

TO BE IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF OUR LORD IS TO BE
OVERWHELMED BY A SUPERNATURAL LOVE, PEACE AND JOY
that is FAR BEYOND ANY HUMAN COMPREHENSION OR
DESCRIPTION.

Only those who have been so wonderfully Blessed will
understand what this means, for one is UTTERLY
TRANSFORMED BY HIS DIVINE LOVE FOREVER – BODY AND
SOUL!

THE YEARNING TO BE WITH OUR LORD GOD BECOMES FAR MORE
INTENSE, and we always want to do whatever is
necessary to remain in His Divine Presence
forever.
✶ “...Hold fast the pattern of sound words ... in Faith and
Love... in Christ Jesus...” refers to the ORAL
APOSTOLIC TRADITION – the verbal Teachings of our
Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Apostles.

These were NOT RECORDED IN HOLY SCRIPTURE.

THE ORAL TRADITION WAS VERY CAREFULLY AND CORRECTLY
PRESERVED BY THE HOLY APOSTLES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS
throughout the ages.
18 25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – FOREFATHERS – 11TH

VERBAL TEACHING IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT to all who wish
to convert and to Faithful Disciples of Christ who
need regular Spiritual Nourishment and
Sustenance.

ORAL APOSTOLIC TRADITION IS AS ESSENTIAL AS OUR WRITTEN
APOSTOLIC TRADITION.

OUR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH CANNOT HAVE ONLY
WRITTEN TRADITION – ONLY HOLY SCRIPTURE - WITHOUT
THE SACRED ORAL TRADITION.

Verbal Teaching is essential to the proper
understanding of all Holy Scripture and the
Teachings of our Holy Fathers.
✶ “...keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us...” refers to
THE VERY CAREFUL PRESERVATION, INTERPRETATION AND
TEACHING OF DIVINE TRUTH BY THE POWER AND GRACE OF
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT Who dwells within our heart
and soul when we are Repentant, Humble and
Obedient to the Will of our Heavenly Father.

OUR ENTIRE HOLY TRADITION IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND PRESERVED IN TRUTH BY GOD THE HOLY
SPIRIT.

In order for a Faithful Disciple of Christ TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND HOLY SCRIPTURE AND TO PROPERLY AND
FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE HOLY SERVICES AND HOLY
MYSTERIES, IT IS VITAL TO BE CORRECTLY INSTRUCTED in
all aspects of our Life in Christ so that there is no
misunderstanding nor heretical interpretation of
all Things Holy.
✶ “...all those in Asia have turned away from me...” refers
to those who avoided, rejected or denounced St
Paul. because
1. HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED, IMPRISONED AND CHAINED, AND
CONDEMNED TO DEATH as a Christian.
2. HE HAD NO HOPE FOR ACQUITTAL as had occurred the
first time he had been arrested and
imprisoned.
3. THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE PERSECUTED due to any
association with him.
4. SOME OF THEM HAD LOST THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST when
confronted by any threat of persecution or
adversity.
5. SOME MIGHT HAVE BETRAYED OR DENOUNCED HIM to the
Roman authorities.
✶ “...The Lord grant Mercy to the household of
Onesiphoros, ... he often refreshed me ...was not
ashamed ... sought me out zealously... found me...”

St Onesiphoros was a MOST FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST –
ONE OF HIS 70 HOLY APOSTLES.

He had been elected as BISHOP OF COLOPHON IN ASIA
MINOR AND LATER OF CORINTH.

HE WENT TO GREAT TROUBLE TO FIND ST PAUL who was
imprisoned in one of the many prisons in Rome.

HE THEN TOOK GOOD CARE OF ST PAUL UNTIL HIS MARTYRDOM
IN PARIUM, on the shores of the Hellespont, close to
Ephesos.

HE FULFILLED ALL HIS SACRED TASKS EXACTLY AS OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST COMMANDED US ALL TO DO.
St Onesiphoros had gone to Rome to take care of the physical
and Spiritual Needs of St Paul while he awaited his
execution. Visitors were allowed access to prisoners in
those days, and if not, the guards were easily bribed.
Some of them were secret Christians or sympathetic
towards obviously good people who were victimised by the
pagans and corrupt authorities.
✶ “...The Lord grant to him that he may find Mercy from
the Lord...”

“THE FIRST “LORD” MEANS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON
OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WHO IS THE SECOND
“LORD” THAT ST PAUL MENTIONED.

THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST HAS ALWAYS PRAYED FOR THE
SOULS OF THE REPOSED, beseeching God to grant
them His Great Mercy, especially at our Final
Judgement.

We ought to ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE REPOSED
AND CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEM as much as we ought
to pray for each other.

UNSELFISH PRAYERS SPIRITUALLY BENEFIT NOT ONLY THOSE FOR
WHOM WE PRAY, BUT ALSO OURSELVES.

DIVINE LOVE – AGAPE – COMPELS US TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE
UNCONDITIONALLY!
ST LUKE – GREAT BANQUET – 15 DECEMBER 2019
 T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO R D ING TO S T LU KE 14 : 16 – 24
At that time, our Lord Jesus told this Parable: “A certain Man gave a Great Supper, and invited many, and sent His
Servant at the Hour of the Supper to say to those who had been invited: ‘Come, for now all things are ready.’ And
with one accord, they all made excuses!
“The first said to Him: ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go to inspect it. I ask Thee to have me excused.’
And another said: ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask Thee to have me
excused.’ And another said: ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot attend.’
“And that Servant returned and reported these things to His Master. Being angry the Master of the House, said to His
Servant: ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring the poor and the maimed and the lame
and the blind.’ And the Servant said: ‘Lord, it is done as Thou commanded, and still there is place.’ And the
Master said to His Servant: ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that My
House may be filled. For I say to Thee - none of those who were invited shall taste My Supper...”
✶ “...our Lord Jesus told this Parable...” which consists of
WE ONLY HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED FROM ETERNAL
TWO ASPECTS, ILLUSTRATING BOTH HIS FIRST AND SECOND CONDEMNATION AND DEATH – this ONE, VERY BRIEF
COMING/APPEARANCE. LIFESPAN!
✶ “... a certain Man...” signifies GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. We cannot afford to waste a moment but must make every
✶ “... a Great Supper...” which was A GREAT FESTAL BANQUET thought, word and deed worthwhile.
OR FESTIVE WEDDING FEAST. God has provided us with everything necessary for our

The Great Supper signifies THE HOLY MYSTERY OF Spiritual Welfare and Journey towards Eternity. It only
EUCHARIST/COMMUNION that grants us takes our personal commitment to Strive and Struggle
1. SPIRITUAL CLEANSING, moment by moment until our last breath.
2. REBIRTH,
3. RESTORATION,
According to our Holy Church Fathers THESE THREE
EXCUSES HAVE BOTH A LITERAL AND PROFOUND SPIRITUAL
4. RECONCILIATION,
5. ETERNAL LIFE AND MEANING!
6. IMMORTALITY AS
Far too many of us are so attached to and obsessed
7. CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST AND with our worldly cares and favourite past times
8. ADOPTED CHILDREN OF THE DIVINE LIGHT, OUR that
HEAVENLY FATHER. 1. WE HAVE NO TIME NOR INCLINATION TO ACCEPT GOD’S
✶ “... invited many...” signifies all HIS CHOSEN NATION OF DIVINE INVITATION for our Salvation and Eternal
ISRAEL who had received THE OLD COVENANT with Life in His Heavenly Kingdom.
God. 2. WE USE EVERY NONSENSICAL, AND ‘SELF-JUSTIFYING’
EXCUSE to reject His Great and Wonderful
✶ “... sent His Servant at the Hour of the Supper...” signifies
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO IS SENT BY OUR HEAVENLY
Invitation to His Heavenly Banquet at each
FATHER TO CALL HIS PEOPLE when the time was Divine Liturgy!
exactly right. 3. WE THINK WE CAN IGNORE GOD AND ALL OUR SACRED

IT TOOK MANY CENTURIES for the Old Covenant Nation of COMMITMENTS to Him so as to ‘enjoy’ the fleeting,
Israel TO BE PREPARED FOR THE APPEARANCE OF THE unbeneficial temptations of the world.
GREAT SAVIOUR. 4. WE THINK WE CAN LEAVE OUR ETERNAL SALVATION AND

OUR ETERNAL SALVATION DEPENDS ON SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST UNTIL ‘LATER’ – ‘when it
1. REPENTANCE of our sins might suit us better!’
2. THE WILLINGNESS AND DESIRE TO OBEY the Will of our
St Theophylact associated these excuses with THOSE
WHO ARE DEVOTED TO ALL EARTHLY MATTERS – ESPECIALLY
Heavenly Father
PERTAINING TO OUR FIVE SENSES – to all fleshly
3. THE FULFILMENT OF ALL GOD’S TEACHINGS AND
COMMANDMENTS with our thoughts, words and pleasures – to physical indulgence.
deeds.
St Ambrose saw these three excuses as representing

The term ‘Supper’ indicates AN EVENING MEAL – our 1. the Gentile,
ESSENTIAL NOURISHMENT BEFORE RESTING from our
2. the pagan,
physical labours. 3. the Old Covenant Hebrew and the heretic.

It is likewise Spiritually Vital to PARTAKE OF THE HOLY ✶ “...I have bought a piece of land...” – refers to those who
MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND HOLY are DEVOTED TO AND OBSESSED WITH THEIR EARTHLY
WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS.
COMMUNION/EUCHARIST AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE so that
we are PROPERLY SPIRITUALLY SUSTAINED AND PREPARED ✶ “...I have bought five yoke of oxen ...” signifies those who
FOR ETERNAL LIFE in God’s Divine Kingdom.
have A PREFERENCE FOR AND ENSLAVEMENT TO MANKIND’S
INTERPRETATION OF THE FIVE OLD COVENANT BOOKS OF

We need Spiritual Nourishment to DEVELOP A HEALTHY,
STRONG IMMORTAL SOUL THAT DOMINATES AND CONTROLS
LAW IN ORDER TO REJECT GOD’S NEW COVENANT OF LOVE
AND SALVATION.
THE SELFISH DEMANDS OF OUR MORTAL FLESH before we
Repose in Peace in Christ and await His Final ✶ “...I have married a wife...” is THE HERETICAL ESPOUSAL OF
ERROR BY THOSE WHO REJECT THE WILL AND LOVE OF GOD
Judgement.
in favour of their own earthly, selfish desires.
As Faithful Disciples of Christ we must correctly prepare ✶ “...‘Go ... into the streets and lanes ... bring the poor ...the
ourselves beforehand to partake of Holy Communion maimed ... the lame ...the blind...’
every time we attend the Divine Liturgy. 1. THE GENTILES AND PAGANS who accepted Christ after
There are no justifiable excuses for rejecting or failing to the faithless Hebrew Judeans rejected Him.
partake of God’s Divine Banquet of Thanksgiving, Salvation 2. all THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTLY OUTSIDE THE HOLY CHURCH
and Eternal Life, except hatred of others, the refusal to OF CHRIST - those who will joyfully find our Lord
Repent, or haemorrhaging of any kind. Jesus Christ and His Divine Truth in our
✶ “... now all Things are ready...” refers to THIS PRESENT ERA Orthodox Christian Faith
“THE LAST DAYS” OR “THE MESSIANIC AGE.” 3. THOSE WHO HUMBLY AND OBEDIENTLY SEEK THE KINGDOM
MANKIND WAS INDEED READY TO RECEIVE GOD’S DIVINE TRUTH. OF GOD AND FULFIL HIS DIVINE TRUTH AND LOVE
1. HELLENISTIC GREEK was spoken or understood by 4. THOSE WHO REPLACE THE APOSTATISERS who have
most Nations throughout the Roman Empire. rejected their Holy Baptism and Sacred Vows of
2. After the Descent of God the Holy Spirit on the Day Allegiance to Christ.
of Pentecost, ALL MANKIND COULD RECEIVE CHRIST’S 5. THOSE WHO ARE SORROWFUL AND SUFFERING who seek
HOLY GOSPEL IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. the Comfort and Healing of our Lord God
3. TRAVEL WAS RELATIVELY EASY AND SAFE throughout the 6. THOSE WHO MADE NO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AND RECEIVED
known world NO SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE ELSEWHERE
4. HELLENISTIC PHILOSOPHY made it possible for people 7. THOSE WHO WERE SPIRITUALLY BLIND BUT NOW RECEIVE
to think beyond the mundane aspects of life WONDERFUL ENLIGHTENMENT in Christ’s Holy
such as fishing, farming, sailing, etc. Church.
5. Mankind was ready for God’s NEW COVENANT OF ✶ “...compel them to come in, so that My House may be
LOVE AND ETERNAL SALVATION. filled...”
✶ “...they all made excuses...” because THEY ALL FAILED TO
THE CALLING, THE PRESENCE AND ANY ENCOUNTER WITH
PERCEIVE THE VITAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT GREAT SUPPER. CHRIST OUR LORD SPIRITUALLY TRANSFORMS US.

THE DIVINE LOVE WE RECEIVE FROM GOD COMPELS US TO SEEK
HIS PRESENCE FOREVER by Striving to Humbly and

25TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-HOLY FOREFATHERS-11TH OF ST LUKE-GREAT BANQUET-15 DECEMBER 2019 19

 Obediently fulfil the Will of our Heavenly Father as
our Lord Jesus taught us and showed us by His
own Perfect Example.

WE WORSHIP OUR LORD BY CONGREGATING OR GATHERING
TOGETHER .

We thus FILL THE HOLY TEMPLE – THE HOUSE OF OUR LORD
GOD WITH MUTUAL LOVE, DEVOTION, PRAISE AND
THANKSGIVING.
✶ “...none of those who were invited shall taste My
Supper...”
25 T H
S U NDAY AF TE R P ENTEC OST
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, often used Parables
in order to make His People understand the Divine
Truth that He revealed.
His Sacred Lesson for today concerns an image from
daily life in order to reveal the importance of our
participation in His Great Supper – His Divine Banquet,
which is the Holy Mystery of Eucharist – to which we
are all invited due to the infinite Love of our Heavenly
Father.
Our Lord has set before us a Wonderful, Festive, Great
Banquet to which we are invited – the Marvellous,
Life-sustaining Holy Eucharist - to which St David, the Our Lord has invited us to His Great Divine Banquet that
Royal Psalmist and Holy Prophet of God referred: “...
Thou prepare a Table before me in the presence of
my enemies. Thou Anoint my head with oil. My cup
runneth over. Surely Goodness and Mercy shalt
follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in
the House of the Lord forever...” [PSALM 22/23]
It is the Great Banquet to which the Divine Lamb of God
invites us - “Come! All is prepared!” – everything is
ready for our Eternal Salvation!
During the Holy Mystery of the Divine Eucharist the
extreme Love of God is expressed, for He “...desires
that all mankind will be Saved and to come to the
Knowledge of Truth...” (1ΤIMOTHY 2:4).
The special characteristic of God’s Love for mankind
concerns Offering and Sacrifice – for those who Love,
sacrifice everything for others, while those who lack
Love cannot and will not sacrifice anything at all.
Our Lord Jesus Christ Loved to the ultimate degree.
Consequently, He offered Himself as the Most Perfect
Blood Sacrifice “...for the Life and Salvation of the
world.”
St John the Beloved Theologian explained the infinite
magnitude of our Lord’s Divine Love by proclaiming:
“... God so Loved the world, that He gave His Only
Begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall
not perish, but have Eternal Life.” (JOHN 3:15-16).
Our Divine Saviour invites all who call upon His Sacred
Name to His Great Supper - He Who is broken but not
divided - He Who is eaten but never consumed.
We are too often distracted by worldly cares or by vain
goals and sinful desires, we ignore or forget the
Fountain of Life. So many of us have surrendered our
heart and soul to the worshipping of the ‘ golden bull’
of Mammon – enslaved and captivated by the love of
money and corruptible, fleeting material riches and
pleasures instead of desiring only the Eternal, Most
Precious Treasures of our Heavenly Father.
Our heart and soul has been enticed, lured and
captivated by the strangling tentacles of pleasures
and carnal sins of the flesh while depriving ourselves
of the Precious Life Sustaining Holy Communion.
As St Paul severely cautioned us, we cannot drink from
both the Lord’s Chalice and the cup of demons!
Our Holy Communion with our Divine Saviour, grants us
not only the forgiveness of our sins but also Eternal
Life in His Kingdom of Love. So when we do not
partake regularly of Holy Communion we are
susceptible to and indeed suffer from the negative
results of Spiritual Death.
Our Lord has assured us that: “... unless you eat the
Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you
have no Life in you...” (JOHN 6:53).
Consequently, if we do not partake of the Precious Body
and Blood of Christ during the Holy Mystery of
Eucharist, we deprive ourselves of the Indwelling of
God Who grants us Eternal Life and Resurrection.
(JOHN 6:54)
Having been Renewed, Regenerated and Reborn in
Christ Jesus, we ought to ceaselessly strive to Live in
Christ within the Sacramental Life of His Holy Orthodox
Church - according to His Divine Truth, by partaking
not only of the Life-giving Holy Communion of the
20 25 T H
SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – FOREFATHERS – 11

OUR LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE LORD GOD HAS CALLED ALL
MANKIND TO HIS HOLY SERVICE yet very few respond
sincerely and faithfully.

SADLY, MOST PEOPLE USE ALL THE EXCUSES THAT SATAN CAN
INVENT, TO AVOID AND ALIENATE THEMSELVES FROM GOD.

THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO REJECT GOD’S NEW DIVINE COVENANT
OF LOVE WILL VOLUNTARILY CONDEMN THEMSELVES TO
ETERNAL EXILE – to “the Outer Darkness” which is
prepared for the evil one and all unrepentant
sinners.
– 11 T H
OF S T LU KE – THE GR EAT S U PP ER
Chalice, but also in communion with one another as
Members of the Body of Christ – His Holy Universal
Church.
As Faithful Disciples of Christ, we are painfully aware of
all the problems of our fellow mankind, so we pray
constantly to God on their behalf.
We cannot be indifferent to the needs of our neighbours
for our Love of God and for each other should compel
us to share our Blessed Abundance generously –
especially with those who are most needy, destitute
and impoverished.
Spiritually Nourishes and Sustains us by granting us
Forgiveness of sins and Eternal Life, of which we can
joyfully and thankfully partake during every Divine
Liturgy.
However, so many of our Brethren in Christ try to justify
themselves for rejecting that Divine Invitation by
making all the excuses that the evil one provides!
With all these excuses and so many worldly distractions to
tempt us, there is less partaking of Holy Communion
during the Divine Liturgy. Many of us have become
Spiritually Slothful. We have become uncaring and
neglectful of our Life in Christ.
Some only attend Church briefly on the Great Feasts of
Holy Pascha, the Nativity of Christ and the Dormition
of our Lady, Theotokos, while during the year we
might decide to drift into Church towards the end of
the Holy Services, as though this fulfils our Spiritual
Commitments to God and ourselves!
The Holy Mystery of Communion/Eucharist is not to be
approached casually nor without due physical and
Spiritual Preparation, for it is not only to be partaken
of on selected Feast Days but every Sunday
(Resurrection Day) and – whenever possible - during
the weeks’ Divine Liturgies.
Our Heavenly Father has invited all of us – His Sanctified,
adopted Children and Co-Heirs with Christ - to
participate in His Great Banquet that Spiritually
Nourishes and Sustains us. Otherwise our soul
becomes weak and ill - unable to resist the grievous
passions, making it impossible for us to rise, victorious
in the Stadium of Holy Virtues.
Of the Seven Holy Mysteries, four are obligatory to every
one of us:
1. Baptism, whereby we become Sanctified Members of
the Mystical Body of Christ – His Holy Universal
Church.
2. Holy Chrismation whereby we receive the Gift of the
Holy Spirit Who makes everything possible for us.
3. Repentance-Confession whereby we receive
Forgiveness of sins committed since our Baptism so
that we maintain a Healthy Spiritual Life and
make good Spiritual Progress.
4. Communion/Eucharist whereby we are Spiritual
Nourished and Sustained with Indwelling of Christ
our Lord Who grants us Cleansing, Forgiveness
and Eternal Life.
Partaking of Holy Communion requires proper
preparation, for we should always approach the Holy
Chalice with the Fear of God, Faith and Love.
Self examination is the beginning of Repentance, for only
by seeing our Spiritual Condition, can we
acknowledge our sins and Repent.
As we approach the Glorious Feasts of our Lord’s Nativity
– and a little later, Theophany - let us offer our
contrite tears of Repentance and Love to the Divine
Infant, and let us all worthily partake of God’s Great
Supper and continue to Live in Christ – making
concerted efforts to Repent every sin as it occurs, by
the Cleansing Grace of God the Holy Spirit. Amen
METROPOLITAN PANTELEIMON (LAMPADARIOS) OF ANTINOES
T H
ST LUKE – GREAT BANQUET – 15 DECEMBER 2019
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
TONE 2 22 DECEMBER 2019

26TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY - OF THE HOLY ANCESTORS

Also the Feast of St Daniel, Holy Prophet of God & the Three Holy Youths – St Anastasia the Deliverer
from Potions and Great Holy Martyr, St Chrysogonos, St Theodota, St Evodias, St Eutychianos & 120
fellow Martyrs

RESURRECTION GOSPEL 5 – LUKE 24 : 12 - 35

P R OKE IME NON – TH E P RAYE R OF A ZAR IAH – T ONE 4

Bless Thou, O Lord, God of our Fathers

For Righteous art Thou in all Thou did for us.
T H E E PISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E H EBRE WS 11 : 9 – 10 & 32 – 40
Brethren: Through Faith Abraham dwelt in the Land of Promise, as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the Heirs with him of the same Promise. He waited
for the City that has Foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. And what more shall I
say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel
and the Prophets: who through Faith subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the
mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Others had trials
mockings and scourgings - yes, of chains and imprisonments.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted and they were slain with the sword. They wandered
about in sheepskins and in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. In
deserts They wandered - and mountains, dens and caves of Earth.
And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise – God having provided
something better for us – so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
✶ “...Through Faith Abraham dwelt in the Land of
The Old Covenant Saints and Martyrs preferred to
Promise...” suffer RATHER THAN SURRENDER TO THE TEMPTATIONS OF

THE FAITH OF THE ANCIENT PATRIARCHS, St Abraham, St THE UNGODLY.
Isaac and St Jacob WAS SO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED THAT
Despite all persecution, sorrow and suffering, THEY
THEY WAITED PATIENTLY for our Lord God to tell them REMAINED STEADFASTLY LOYAL AND FAITHFUL TO OUR
when they could settle down permanently in the ALMIGHTY LORD GOD.
Promised Land of Israel. ✶ “...all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through
✶ “...the Heirs with him of the same Promise...” Faith, did not receive the Promise...”

ONLY ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
THEY WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY REWARDED but had to sojourn
COULD the Great City of JERUSALEM (the City of Holy in Hades until Christ had been crucified.
Peace) AND THE TEMPLE of God then BE ESTABLISHED.
THESE ANCIENT SAINTS ENTERED PARADISE AFTER OUR LORD

THE FAITH OF THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WAS TRULY JESUS CHRIST HAD ACCOMPLISHED HIS EARTHLY MISSION
AMAZING, for they did not have all the Spiritual and had Harrowed Hades.
Benefits and Knowledge that we enjoy today,
THE RIGHTEOUS RESTED IN A SECTION OF HADES known as
which confirms and even proves Divine Truth. “in the Bosom of Abraham.”
✶ “...through Faith subdued Kingdoms, worked
After death, all the souls went to Hades, but the
Righteousness, obtained Promises... were made Righteous were separated from the wicked, and
strong... valiant ...” were aware of each others’ state.

THEIR FAITH WAS STEADFAST AND UNWAVERING, despite their ✶ “...they should not be made Perfect apart from us....”
difficult circumstances and terrible persecution
OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR’S ONE ULTIMATE, PERFECT BLOOD
they were forced to endure. SACRIFICIAL OFFERING FULFILS WHAT ALL THE OLD

THEIR FAITH WAS FIRMLY SEATED DEEP WITHIN THEIR SOUL – COVENANT SACRIFICES WERE UNABLE TO DO,
that marvellous, natural Faith in God with which
THE SINS OF THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS WERE ALSO FORGIVEN
we were created. BY GOD and thus THEY WERE ABLE TO ENTER OUR LORD

THEIR ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD OUR GOD ENABLED GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE AS THEY HAD BEEN PROMISED BY
THEM TO ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE VICTORIES over those who HIM.
sought to destroy them.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER TO CHRIST ALSO

That clearly proves that GOD LOVES US AND IS ALWAYS PREACHED THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH TO THOSE IN
WITH US – DELIVERING US from the evil one, GRANTING HADES.
US EVERYTHING WE NEED in good times and in times of
Because THE LOCUS OF LIFE IS OUR BLOOD – our mortal life
adversity. – WE OFFER IT TO GOD WHO IS LIFE, and THEREBY WE
✶ “...Women received their dead raised to life again ...” ESTABLISH A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM by Living in

This testifies to THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLD Christ Jesus Whom we have “put on” during our
COVENANT SAINTS AND OUR ALMIGHTY LORD GOD, Who Holy Baptism.
makes everything possible for us – even restoring
Consequently, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S INCARNATION AND
life to those who had been killed. EVERYTHING THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR US IN HIS FLESH
✶ “...not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain REDEEMED THE OLD COVENANT SAINTS OF THE OLD ISRAEL
a better Resurrection...” AS WELL AS US WHO ARE THE NEW COVENANT ISRAEL – i.e.

30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018 21
 all those who by their Faithful Struggles and
THEY GUIDE US, INTERCEDE FOR US AND WATCH OVER US,
Labours participate in His Glorious Resurrection encouraging and supporting us every step of the
and His Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom of Agape. Way along the Narrow Path of Righteousness that

The CHURCH TRIUMPHANT – those who have gone before leads us to Eternal Life.
us – IS THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, WHO CONTINUE
THIS SHORT PREPARATORY LIFESPAN IS not a fast sprint but a
TO PRAY FOR US – THE CHURCH MILITANT. MARATHON that takes all our concerted effort to
successfully and victoriously complete
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO R D ING TO S T M ATTHE W 1 : 1 - 25
The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab;
Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the King.
David the King begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Rehoboam; Rehoboam begot
Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.
Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Joran, and Joran begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz,
and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.
Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. After they were taken to
Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud begot Eliakim,
and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar;
Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.
Jacob begot Joseph the (Betrothed) Husband of Mary (Miriam) of Whom was born Jesus Who is called Christ.
All the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; from David until the captivity in Babylon were
fourteen generations. And from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a Just man, and not wanting to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away secretly. While he considered these things, behold! an Angel of the
Lord appeared to him, saying: “Joseph, son of David: do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. That which is
Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt name Him ‘ Jesus.’ He will Save
His People from their sins.”
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Behold, the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name ,Immanuel,’” which is translated: “God
with us.”
Having been woken from sleep Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his Wife, and did
not know Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son. And he called His Name ‘Jesus.’
✶ “...The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of royalty and peasants – A COMPLETE CROSS-SECTION OF
David, the Son of Abraham ...” HUMANITY.

This is THE ROYAL LINEAGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ST MATTHEW’S GENEALOGY OF CHRIST DESCENDS FROM ST
ACCORDING TO HIS INCARNATION from His Ever Blessed ABRAHAM in whom God Promised to Bless all Tribes
Mother, our Lady, Theotokos. of the Earth, which was fulfilled in his greatest

The name “Jesus” or “Joshua” means “O Lord Save Descendent, Jesus Christ.
us,” which refers to our Lord’s Divine Role as THE
ST LUKE LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN ASCENDING ORDER – FROM
SAVIOUR OF ALL MANKIND. CHRIST ALL THE WAY BACK TO ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 – 38)

The title “Christ” means “Anointed One,” or “Messiah,”  G E N E S I S 1 2 : 3 – God said to Abram: “... I will Bless
which means THE ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY those who Bless Thee and curse those who curse
SPIRIT. Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of the earth shall
 J O H N 1 : 3 3 : St John the Baptist and Forerunner of be Blessed.”
Christ said: “I did not know Him, but He Who sent
THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHETS and He
me to Baptise with water said to me: ‘Upon Whom spoke through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God
you see the (Holy) Spirit descending, and who wrote this Holy Book of Genesis.
remaining on Him, is He Who Baptises with the  G A L A T I A N S 3 : 8 - St Paul explained to the Galatians: “...
Holy Spirit.’” the Scripture, foreseeing that God would Justify

The fact that the Holy Spirit remained upon Christ our the Gentiles by Faith, preached the Gospel to
Saviour was a Divine Sign that Abraham beforehand, saying: ‘In Thee all the
1. HE POSSESSES THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS FULLNESS FROM ALL Nations shall be Blessed.’
ETERNITY
THE HOLY SPIRIT PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST
2. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MOMENT WHEN THE SON OF GOD CENTURIES BEFORE TO ST ABRAHAM, the ancient
WAS NOT UNITED WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel.
3. FOR TOGETHER WITH GOD THE FATHER THEY ARE CO-
THE “ANGEL OF THE LORD” (Messenger Of God) Whom St
ETERNAL. Abraham beheld in a Vision was no created being
4. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST DID NOT RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT – He WAS TRULY THE SON AND WORD OF GOD.
AT HIS BAPTISM by St John the Baptist.
St Athanasios the Great taught that OUR LORD JESUS

The Divine Vision that St John the Baptist experienced CHRIST, BEING THE SON AND WORD OF GOD, WAS “...an
revealed the Absolute Truth that THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS Angel because He alone reveals the Father.”
ALWAYS BEEN WITH CHRIST.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS GOD THE FATHER TO US

Although only God the Son (the Second Divine Person of 1. AS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY WHO,
the Holy Trinity – the Godhead) was Incarnated 2. BEING ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE,
(became Man and thus physical and visible to us) GOD THE 3. IS INCAPABLE OF ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR DESTRUCTIVE
FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN PERFECT The evil one who typifies hatred, everything wicked, deceitful
HARMONY IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR ETERNAL and destructive, invented everything negative, harmful
SALVATION. and destructive due to his irrevocable fallen nature and

THE HOLY TRINITY ALWAYS WORKS IN PERFECT UNISON AS ONE his obsessive hatred and jealousy of God and mankind.
GOD.

OUR LORD WAS INCARNATE AS A HEBREW JUDEAN, FROM THE
G E N E S I S 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: “... your
LINEAGE OF ST ABRAHAM, the Father or Patriarch of all
seed shall be like the dust of the Earth; you shall
Hebrews, and of St David, Israel’s greatest King spread abroad to the West and to the East, to the
and Prototype of our Royal Messiah. North and to the South; and in you and in your

The Genealogy of Christ according to the Holy Gospel seed all the Tribes of the earth shall be Blessed.”
of St Matthew reveals that THE SON OF GOD IDENTIFIES
Jewish genealogy normally included only male
SO DEEPLY WITH OUR HUMAN NATURE that He took it
relatives so THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES such as
upon Himself and HAS BECOME PART OF IT FOR THE SAKE Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba WAS MOST
UNUSUAL, especially since each of them was either
OF OUR SALVATION.

THE ANCESTRY (according to His Incarnation) OF OUR LORD a gentile or a sinful Hebrew.
THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE GRACIOUS
JESUS CHRIST INCLUDES RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED PEOPLE,
faithful Kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, MERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE CALLING OF
GENTILES into the Church of Christ.
22. 30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018

IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN GOD’S
ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND ANTICIPATED THE VERY
SPECIAL PLACE OF THE EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY
VIRGIN THEOTOKOS IN HIS DIVINE PLAN.

BY MEANS OF ANOINTING by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of
God, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST WAS CONSECRATED KING OF
ISRAEL AND THROUGH HIS PSALMS, was revealed as a
great and Holy Prophet of God.

Consequently, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST, KING AND HOLY
PROPHET FORESHADOWED THE ROYAL AND PROPHETIC
NATURE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (PSALM 109)

Although a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST DAVID
IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION, REPENTANCE
AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

THIS ENCOURAGES US BECAUSE EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS
GRANTED THE POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION OR
RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE GRACE OF OUR MOST LOVING
AND MERCIFUL GOD THROUGH SINCERE AND HONEST
REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.

THE ANCESTORS WERE ARRANGED IN THREE GROUPS OF
FOURTEEN GENERATIONS.

IT ALSO SHOWED THE DIVISION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
HEBREWS, being under Judges until St David, under
Kings until Babylon and under Priests until Christ.
✶ “...His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph...”
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary had made a Sacred Vow of
Chastity, which was highly respected by the Temple
Priests who had watched over Her since She had been
dedicated to God at the age of three. When She reached
puberty She should have been married so as to produce
strong, healthy offspring to increase the Old Covenant
Nation of Israel.
A suitable, reliable and trusted Guardian was sought for Her
from the same Royal Tribe.
By Divine Inspiration all the worthy candidates handed in
their staffs, which were kept for 40 days in the Holy of
Holies. When nothing seemed to have occurred to help
their selection, the Priests returned all the staffs to
their owners, except the staff of St Joseph, the
Carpenter, who was Her aged uncle whose late wife was
Salome, a sister of St Anna.
As they handed his staff back to him, it burst into white
blossoms, indicating God’s Will that St Joseph was the
only worthy Guardian and Protector of our All Holy Lady.

SHE HAD GROWN UP AT THE TEMPLE AND WAS ORPHANED SO THE
TEMPLE PRIESTS HAD TO CHOOSE A WORTHY “HUSBAND” TO
PROTECT HER.

ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IS NAMED AS OUR LORD JESUS’
IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR - since, according to the Old
Covenant, MARRIAGE LAWS CONFERRED HEREDITARY
RIGHTS ON ADOPTED AS WELL AS BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN.

THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS ALSO DESCENDED FROM
KING DAVID, since BETROTHALS WERE STRICTLY ARRANGED
FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE.

For the same reason, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD,
THE TEMPLE PRIESTS HAD CONSENTED TO HER BETROTHAL
TO HER AGED UNCLE.
✶ "... before they came together, She was found with Child
of the Holy Spirit....

BEING LEGALLY BETROTHED ST JOSEPH BECAME THE EVER
BLESSED, ALL HOLY VIRGIN MARY’S MOST HONOURABLE
GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR BUT NEVER HER HUSBAND.

THIS SIGNIFICANT TRUTH CONFIRMS
1. THE EVER VIRGINITY AND ALL PURITY OF OUR LADY,
THEOTOKOS.
2. SHE KEPT HER SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY UNTIL HER
DORMITION.
3. SHE HAD NO OTHER OFFSPRING.
4. THE INCARNATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS BY THE
CONCEPTION OF HER ALL PURE FLESH AND THE POWER
AND ENERGY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
5. CHRIST WAS CONCEIVED – BECAME INCARNATE - “...
WITHOUT (HUMAN) SEED.”
✶ “...Joseph, her husband, being a Just man... not
wanting to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away secretly...”

St Joseph was forever entitled “the Betrothed” since HE
NEVER CONSUMMATED HIS LEGAL BETROTHAL OR MARRIAGE
to the Ever Virgin Mary.

Betrothal and Marriage were very seriously respected.

Being Betrothed, THEY COULD LAWFULLY LIVE IN THE SAME
HOUSE WITHOUT ANY SCANDAL NOR SUSPICION, which is
why the Temple Priests Betrothed them.
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018

OTHER YOUNG VIRGINS who had followed Her Example of
Chastity ALSO LIVED WITH THEM AND KEPT HER COMPANY
while St Joseph was away tending to his carpentry
business.

St Joseph was completely honest and sincere – A
RIGHTEOUS MAN CHOSEN BY GOD TO PROTECT BOTH
THEOTOKOS AND CHRIST.

ST JOSEPH WAS TEMPTED BY THE EVIL ONE into thinking that
he had been deceived by the Temple Priests and
the Blessed Virgin.
Women were always punished for the sins of men and She
would have been publically exposed, humiliated and even
stoned to death for “fornication.” Obviously, the kind-
hearted St Joseph did not want to subject Her to any
scandal or punishment for She was such a sweet and good
Child of God.
✶ “...an Angel of the Lord appeared to him...”

Although not identified, this Holy Messenger of God
might have been ST GABRIEL – THE HOLY ARCHANGEL
WHO ALWAYS BRINGS ‘GOOD TIDINGS’ to mankind.

HE ANNOUNCES EPIC DIVINE PROCLAMATIONS AND
REVELATIONS, CONFIRMING THE DIVINE TRUTH OF OUR
LORD GOD so that we fully comprehend and
appreciate His Great Mercy and Love.

HIS DIVINE MESSAGE FULLY ENLIGHTENED ST JOSEPH THE
BETROTHED who from that moment onwards,
accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as not only his
Beloved Son but also his Divine Messiah.

The Angelic Message dispelled any false assumptions
by announcing THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE AND
ILLOGICAL BUT DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH - THE
VIRGIN’S CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD – by the
Power and Energy of the Life-Giving Holy Spirit.

BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED
1. CHRIST’S DIVINITY.
2. ONLY A DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE AS
ADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE.
3. underscores THE DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD
THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY
4. which demonstrates THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE
OLD AND NEW COVENANTS WITH GOD,
5. indicating THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION.

THE DIVINE CONCEPTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
FULFILLED THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH
1. that specifically A VIRGIN – NOT A “YOUNG WOMAN!” –
WOULD CONCEIVE AND
2. BEAR A SON WHO WAS
1. NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO EXISTENCE BUT
2. WHO IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD
3. WHO USED HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE!
✶ “...Joseph, son of David: do not be afraid to take Mary
as Thy Wife...”

St Joseph the Betrothed is addressed as A ROYAL
DESCENDENT OF KING DAVID – A WORTHY GUARDIAN AND
PROTECTOR OF PANAGIA AND OUR LORD JESUS.

HE WAS ASSURED THAT THE EVER BLESSED MARY IS INDEED
UTTERLY CHASTE AND PURE OF HEART.

The terms “Wife” and “Husband” APPLIED TO ALL
BETROTHED COUPLES EVEN BEFORE THE MARRIAGE HAD
BEEN SANCTIFIED BY GOD AND CONSUMMATED.

THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS HONOURABLY ENTITLED ST
JOSEPH AS “THE BETROTHED,” EMPHASISING THE TRUTH OF
THE ALL PURE VIRGINITY OF THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS –
before, during and after the Birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

THIS DIVINE TRUTH WAS MARVELLED AT AND DEFINITELY
CONFIRMED BY THE TWO ASTOUNDED MIDWIVES who
attended to the young Virgin before, during and
after the Nativity of Christ.

E S T H E R 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin “ ...
had raised the daughter of Abigail, his father’s
brother, and her name was Esther; and when her
parents died, he brought her up to be his wife,
and she was beautiful.”

MORDECAI’S RELATIONSHIP TO ESTHER WAS THAT OF BOTH
GUARDIAN AND BETROTHED ‘husband’ - A NECESSARY
SOCIAL AND LEGAL ARRANGEMENT, which was not
unusual in those days in order to protect young
virgins’ chastity.

THIS WAS SIMILAR TO THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ST
JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND HIS VERY YOUNG NIECE, THE
23
 EVER VIRGIN MARY, in which there was no physical
nor sexual relationship.

ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED REMAINED THE RIGHTEOUS
GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR of his beloved niece and
Her Divine Son – BUT NEVER CONSUMMATED HIS
MARRIAGE and thus never had any offspring.
He and his late wife, Salome had been Blessed with several
children - St James, St Joses, St Jude, St Salome, and
St Mary - who are mentioned in the Holy Gospels as
Christ’s Holy Apostles and Myrrhbearers. These were
thus the older cousins of our Lady, Theotokos, who
became Her legal “children” due to Her Betrothal to St
Joseph.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED CONSISTED
OF A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS
OF THE LAW.
 H O S E A 6 : 6 “... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and the
Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt
Offerings...”

ST JOSEPH’S NATURAL COMPASSION AND MERCY WAS EVIDENT
from his unwillingness to expose the young Virgin’s
assumed sin, even though he was obliged by
Mosaic Law to do so.
✶ “...That which is Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit...” -
REFERRING ONLY TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

HIS WORDS CONFIRM THAT OUR LORD IS BORN ONLY OF OUR
LADY, THEOTOKOS - and certainly not begotten of St
Joseph The Betrothed – nor any other human
being!
✶ “...Thou shalt name Him ‘ Jesus’...”

Traditionally, the fathers always named their sons.

Our Lord’s Name is “Joshua” in Hebrew and “Jesus” in
Greek, meaning “He Who Saves,” or “Saviour.”

When a boy is named “Joshua” he is actually named
“Joshua Son of Nun” or “Joshua Navi” to
emphasise that he is not our Lord – our Divine
Saviour.

ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HIS
ARCHANGEL TOLD ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED WHAT TO
NAME HIS ALL PURE WARD’S DIVINE CHILD.

This was similar to St Zachariah the High Priest when
he was told the name of his son, St John the Baptist
and Forerunner to Christ.
✶ “...All this was done so that it might be fulfilled...”

EVERYTHING - since the Miraculous Conception and
Nativity of both St John the Baptist and Forerunner,
and our Ever Blessed Lady, Theotokos – OCCURRED
ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER – FOR
THE SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND AND FOR THE FULFILMENT
OF THE OLD COVENANT.

OUR LORD JESUS INDEED FULFILLED EVERY REQUIREMENT OF
THE OLD COVENANT THAT PREPARED HIS PEOPLE FOR HIS
NEW COVENANT OF LOVE AND ETERNAL LIFE.
✶ “ ... the Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son... they
shall call ... ‘Immanuel”...”

BOTH THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINAL CONCEPTION BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND THE NAME “IMMANUEL” –
1. MEANING “GOD WITH US”
2. DECLARES AND CONFIRMS THE ETERNAL DIVINITY – THE
DIVINE NATURE – OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS
CHRIST.

Our Lord Jesus Christ
1. is both THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF
MAN(KIND).
2. HAS TWO SEPARATE, UNMINGLED NATURES – DIVINE AND
HUMAN.
3. REMAINED OMNIPRESENT both in Heaven and on
Earth - even while present, physically, in our
midst.
4. Was Resurrected in His Body and Soul
5. APPEARED TO MANY RELIABLE, HONEST WITNESSES FOR 40
DAYS.
6. ASCENDED IN HIS VISIBLE, PHYSICAL RESURRECTED BODY
INTO HEAVEN to resume His Divine Reign
together with our Heavenly Father and God the
Holy Spirit.

ONLY IN HIS HUMAN NATURE COULD HE FULLY EXPERIENCE OUR
HUMAN CONDITION, suffer, be humiliated and die.

HIS PRECIOUS BODY RESTED IN THE TOMB WHILE HIS SOUL
ENTERED HADES.
S T S YM EON THE
If we wish to preserve our Spiritual Peace, we have to get rid of any despondency and strive to acquire a Spirit of Love
and Joy. We must make every effort to avoid criticising others and try to empathise with others for all our
weaknesses and failures.
24. 30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY– HOLY ANCESTORS- 23 DECEMBER 2018

IN HIS ALMIGHTY DIVINE NATURE, HE SMASHED THE GATES OF
HADES, AND SET FREE THE RIGHTEOUS - leading them
into Paradise to Repose in Peace until the General
Resurrection and Final Judgement.
✶ “...Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded
him...”

St Joseph the Betrothed was naturally Humble and
Obedient to the Will of our Heavenly Father.

He fulfilled all his Sacred Tasks and Commitments,
taking very good care of both Theotokos and
Christ.
✶ “...did not know Her until She had brought forth Her
Firstborn Son...”

THESE WORDS ARE ALL TOO OFTEN COMPLETELY WRONGLY
INTERPRETED BY HERETICS WHO DENY THE SIGNIFICANCE
AND TRUTH CONCERNING OUR LADY’S CHASTITY AND EVER
VIRGINAL STATUS.
1. The Betrothal was not a Sanctified Marriage, so
WAS CERTAINLY NOT CONSUMMATED.
2. ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED WAS OVER 80 YEARS OF AGE
WHILE PANAGIA WAS A VERY YOUNG TEENAGER.
3. AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, SHE CONTINUED A LIFE OF
PURITY AND CHASTITY in utter dedication and
devotion to our Lord God in all things until Her
Dormition many years later.
4. SHE WAS BORN TO BECOME THE ALL HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
INCARNATE.
5. BEING SANCTIFIED AND DEIFIED – Spiritually Perfected
as the All Pure and Holy Mother of God and by
Her own Spiritual Endeavours - SHE CONTINUES
TO SERVE OUR LORD GOD AND ALL MANKIND.
6. SHE HAS BEEN ELEVATED BY GOD AS BEING EVEN MORE
GLORIOUS AND HONOURABLE THAN THE CHERUBIM AND
SERAPHIM – the Highest Ranks of Heavenly Hosts!
7. HER HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF OUR
HEAVENLY FATHER IS OUR MOST PERFECT AND
ENCOURAGING EXAMPLE to imitate to the best of
our ability!

In Holy Scripture the word “until” which is sometimes
translated as “to,” is often used to express a
situation that actually continues after the event:
 M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0 – Christ instructed His Apostles to GO
FORTH INTO THE WORLD:
1. TO MAKE the people His FAITHFUL DISCIPLES,
2. TO TEACH THEM EVERYTHING He has taught and
revealed to us
3. TO BAPTISE ALL NATIONS in the Name of our Triune
God
4. TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS that Christ has commanded
us;

Our Lord has Promised us: “... I Am with you always,
even TO the end of the Age.”

This does not mean that we are separated from Christ
at the end of the world for HE IS ALWAYS –
ETERNALLY - PRESENT - GOD IS NEVER ABSENT, no
matter where or how we are!

The term “...Firstborn Son...” DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE
BLESSED VIRGIN HAD OTHER CHILDREN, BUT ONLY THAT NO
CHILD WAS BORN TO HER BEFORE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Traditionally, THE FIRSTBORN SON WAS THE PRIMARY HEIR
AND RECIPIENT OF BLESSINGS.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN
1. OVER ALL CREATION, and
2. FROM THE DEAD – being the first “Man” to be
(Eternally) Resurrected.
Christ was the first to be physically Resurrected - so He
returned to show – to confirm, to ratify - that Divine
Truth to His Faithful Apostles and Disciples for 40 days
before His Glorious Ascension – returning to His former
invisible State and Majestic Position, seated at the
Right Hand Side
of God the Father
– the Most
Honourable
position as Co-
Equal, Co-Eternal
and Co-Essential.
NE W T HE OL OGIAN
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
25 DECEMBER 2019

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

M ATINS H OLY G OSPE L AC CORD ING TO S T M ATTHE W 1 : 18 - 25

P R OKE IME NON - P SALM 65 – TO NE (8) P L AGAL 4

All the world will worship Thee and Glorify Thee. Let them sing to Thy Name.
Glorify the Lord with Triumphal Hymns, all you lands
T H E E PISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E G AL ATIANS 4 : 4 – 7
Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, Born of a Woman, Born under the Law, to Redeem those
who were under the Law, so that we might receive Adoption as Sons. For, as we are Sons, God has sent the Spirit of
His Son into our heart, crying: “Abba! Father!” Therefore we are no longer slaves but Sons. If Sons, also Heirs of God
through Christ.
✶ ”... when the time had fully come...” – i.e. WHEN MANKIND
Born into the Royal Tribe of King David, OUR LORD
WAS READY TO RECEIVE GOD AND HIS DIVINE TRUTH because FULFILLED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND PROPHESIES OF THE
they wanted Eternal Salvation. OLD COVENANT.

Although everything is according to the Divine Will of
THE NEW COVENANT OF LOVE – a bloodless Covenant - IS
our Heavenly Father, HE NEVER FORCES US TO OBEY THE CONTINUATION OF OR SEQUEL TO THE OLD COVENANt.
HIM.
THE OLD COVENANT PREPARED GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE for the

HIS DIVINE PLANS ARE ETERNAL AND NEVER CHANGING. Coming of the Messiah and His Divine Truth BY

OUR LORD GOD IS LOVE itself which can only be FREELY TEACHING THEM SELF-DISCIPLINE, REPENTANCE, HUMILITY
GIVEN AND RECEIVED. AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD.

We need to DEVELOP OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH
THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS ALL MANKIND – not merely a
EACH OTHER. select few – A NEW HOLY COVENANT OF LOVE, PEACE,

WE NEED ENLIGHTENMENT AND SPIRITUAL PREPARATION so as MERCY, COMPASSION AND ETERNAL SALVATION.
to become worthy Citizens and Co-Heirs with Christ
THE OLD COVENANT USED TEMPORARY, MATERIAL ELEMENTS
to our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Love. WHICH WERE IMPERFECT for Healing and

HE GRANTED US FREE WILL AS INTELLECTUAL BEINGS WHO CAN Reconciliation whereas THE NEW COVENANT IS AN ALL
CHOOSE between good and evil – beneficial and POWERFUL SPIRITUAL COVENANT BASED ON
unbeneficial – worldly or spiritual - Eternal Life or UNCONDITIONAL, DIVINE LOVE AND MERCY.
Eternal Death.
Since our Lord Jesus was "born under the Law" HE

THIS IS THE FINAL ERA BEFORE ETERNITY. It is the Messianic COULD REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE ALSO UNDER THE LAW –
Age or the Last Days before the end of time as we His fellow Hebrews, according to the flesh.
perceive it and the beginning of Eternity – the
Our Lord initially REDEEMED HIS LOST SHEEP and
Eighth Day. thereby FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM.
✶ “...God sent forth His Son, Born of a Woman, Born under
GOD PAID THE RANSOM, AS IT WERE, TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING
the Law...” TO HIS OWN VOW.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is THE ETERNAL, ONLY BEGOTTEN
ALMIGHTY GOD CERTAINLY DOES NOT OWE US SALVATION !
SON AND WORD OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW FAITHFULLY -

He has TWO UNMINGLED, SEPARATE NATURES – DIVINE AND being Circumcised on the eighth day, being
HUMAN. Presented in the Temple 40 Days after His Birth and

He is both THE ETERNAL THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF when He was 13 years old.
MAN(KIND), due to His Incarnation – according to THESE SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL EVENTS in our Lord’s earthly
His Maternal Flesh and Blood. Life ARE CELEBRATED IN THE LITURGICAL CYCLE of the

HIS MOTHER, THE MOST BLESSED, EVER VIRGIN MARY IS Orthodox Church.
RIGHTLY, WORTHILY AND UNIQUELY ENTITLES “THEOTOKOS”
The Holy Ceremonies of “THE EIGHT DAY BLESSING” of the
– the Mother or Bearer of God (Incarnate.) Newborn and the “40 DAY CHURCHING OF THE

HER VIRGIN BIRTH WAS PROPHESIED BY ST ISAIAH AND TESTIFIED MOTHER” ARE PERFORMED TO THIS DAY IN THE ORTHODOX
TO BY MANY RELIABLE, HONEST WITNESSES. CHURCH.

ST SYMEON THE GOD RECEIVER was one of the erudite ✶ “...receive Adoption as Sons...” refers to THE HOLY MYSTERY
translators of the ancient Hebrew Scriptures into OF BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION a few months after birth or
Greek – The Septuagint. even later in life, WHEREBY WE BECOME THE ADOPTED

He HAD DOUBTED THE VIRGIN BIRTH and WAS KEPT ALIVE CHILDREN OF GOD.
UNTIL HE RECEIVED IN HIS AGED ARMS THE CHRIST CHILD
Our Lord Jesus Christ is THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD
FROM THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY whom he had FOR HE IS DIVINE BY NATURE.
watched growing up in the Temple, FULLY AWARE OF
WE BECOME
HER MOST SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY AND THE SPECIAL 1. SONS (OR DAUGHTERS) OF GOD BY ADOPTION
CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER BETROTHAL TO ST JOSEPH. 2. MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY BY HIS DIVINE GRACE.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2019 25
 3. LIKE GOD – i.e. we REGAIN OUR DIVINE LIKENESS as He
IT TAKES DEDICATION AND EFFORT on our part to attain
created us. Spiritual Perfection, Deification or Theosis –

Because of our created, human nature WE CANNOT Likeness to God!
BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ONE, DIVINE GODHEAD
WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, but it
✶ “...God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our heart, depends on our Love and Obedience to Almighty
crying: “Abba! Father!” God and His Commandments.

Just like our Lord Jesus Christ, GOD THE FATHER IS NOW
Because WE ARE GIVEN "NEW LIFE" our Adoption by God is
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. also referred to as "New Birth" for WE ARE SPIRITUALLY

OUR LOVE FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER COMPELS US TO REBORN – RENEWED IN CHRIST!
WILLINGLY, EAGERLY AND HUMBLY STRIVE TO FULFIL HIS
EVERY TIME WE PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF
DIVINE WILL in all circumstances. REPENTANCE CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST, WE ENJOY A

THE HOLY “FEAR OF GOD” IS OUR FEAR OF FAILING TO DO SO REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ADOPTION - of our New Life or
and thus ‘DISAPPOINTING’ OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO Rebirth in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
LOVES US AND WHOM WE LOVE WITH ALL OUR BEING. ✶ “...also Heirs of God through Christ...”

BY LIVING IN CHRIST WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL THE WILL OF OUR
WE ARE POTENTIAL CO-HEIRS WITH OUR LORD JESUS TO THE
HEAVENLY FATHER - BY FOLLOWING EXACTLY HIS GOOD ETERNAL, HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE of our Heavenly
EXAMPLE as the most Obedient and Loving Son of Father.
God.
We need to ACQUIRE THE HOLY VIRTUES – ESPECIALLY LOVE –

SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY OUR in order to become worthy Citizens and Co-Heirs.
PERMANENT STATE due to of our desire for worldly
This short preparatory lifespan is A PERIOD OF CEASELESS
things, the selfish demands of the flesh, the SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE, REPENTANCE AND LIFE IN CHRIST.
grievous passions.
OUR ONLY PURPOSE IS TO ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL PERFECTION – to
✶ “...we are no longer slaves...” to our SELFISH DESIRES AND regain our Divine Likeness with which we were
GRIEVOUS PASSIONS. created.

LIFE IN CHRIST IS TRUE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM for His Divine
The ongoing growth into Adoption is DEIFICATION OR
Truth loosens the shackles of temptation, sin and THEOSIS.
death.
ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE BECOME WHAT OUR DIVINE

Before the Holy Mystery of Baptism, WE RENOUNCED THE SAVIOUR IS BY NATURE – Spiritually Perfect.
EVIL ONE AND ALL HIS WICKEDNESS.
EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY IS INVOLVED in

Although WE ARE CLEANSED, REGENERATED AND RECONCILED this Process of our Spiritual Transformation.
BY OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION, we are still
TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD BY GRACE, WE MUST BELIEVE IN
NEGATIVELY INFLUENCED BY ANCESTRAL SIN to varying AND KNOW God the Father, the Son and the Holy
degrees. Spirit.

OUR HABITUAL SINS AND THE INCLINATION TO SIN PREVENTS US
A CLOSE AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TRIUNE LORD
FROM ATTAINING THEOSIS – Spiritual Perfection. GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO R D ING TO S T M ATTHE W 2 : 1 – 12
After our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold! Magi from the East went to
Jerusalem, saying: "Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His Star in the East and have
come to worship Him." Having heard, Herod the King was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he gathered
all the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to question them as to where the Christ was to be born. They
told him: "In Bethlehem of Judea.” For thus it is written by the Prophet: “...And you, O Bethlehem, in the Land of
Judah, are not the least among the Rulers of Judah. Out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Magi, determined from them what time the Star had
appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem saying: "Go, search carefully for the Child. When you have found Him,
bring back word to me, so that I may go and worship Him also." When they had heard the King, they departed.
And behold! The Star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it stood over where the Child was.
Beholding the Star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great Joy. And when they had entered the house, they saw the
young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures,
they presented gifts to Him - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being Divinely warned in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
✶ “...in the days of Herod the King...” their time. (Of noble birth but not ‘kings, ’ as some

ST MATTHEW AND ST LUKE PLACED THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST erroneously claimed.)
DURING THE REIGN OF “KING HEROD THE GREAT” (37 – 4

According to Old Covenant Scripture, BALAAM - one of
BC ) their predecessors – HAD ANTICIPATED THE GREAT

Herod ENTITLED HIMSELF AS “KING,.” but was actually MESSIAH. (NUMBERS 24:2 – 3; 5 – 9; & 17 – 18)
only A TETRARCH GOVERNOR OF JUDEA UNDER THE
The Holy Icon of the Nativity of Christ depicts these
DOMINATION AND RULE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE – i.e. one
three Magi as being YOUNG, MIDDLE-AGED AND
of four Co-Governors of that region. ELDERLY, RIDING UPON HORSES (not camels!)

Although renowned for being ‘ a great builder,’ HEROD
THEY REPRESENT THE DIFFERENT AGES OF MANKIND AND
WAS DREADFULLY CRUEL AND DANGEROUSLY PARANOID. PREFIGURE THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST whose Holy

An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob indicated that THE Membership is determined by FAITH AND NOT BY
MESSIAH WOULD APPEAR WHEN A GENTILE KING RULED – ETHNIC LINEAGE.
i.e. not of the Hebrew Tribe of Judah.
The Adoration of the Magi - St Melchior, St Caspar and St

As HEROD WAS A GENTILE WHO NAMED HIMSELF “KING OF
Balthasar – is commemorated on 25 December together
JUDEA,” the Coming of the Messiah – God’s Christ –
with the Faithful Shepherds who were the first to
was certainly at hand.
worship our New Born Divine King and Saviour.
 G E N E S I S 4 9 : 1 0 – “The Sceptre shall not depart from
The Shepherds adored Christ soon after His Birth, while the
Judah, nor a Lawgiver from his loins, until Shiloh
Holy Family were still in the cave where the animals were
comes; and to Him shall be the Expectation of the
sheltered, but the Magi arrived more than a year later
Nations...”
after they had moved to a house in Bethlehem.

THIS PROPHECY RELATED TO CHRIST in numerous ways
since ✶ “...He Who has been born King of the Jews..”
1. HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD
THE MAGI WERE THE FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LORD JESUS
2. HE IS THE DIVINE LAWGIVER because EVERY LAW OR CHRIST AS OUR GREAT DIVINE KING - of all mankind –
COMMANDMENT OF GOD THE FATHER which has been not only of an elite Nation of Judeans.
given to us, including the Mosaic Law, IS GIVEN IN It seems so extraordinary that HIS OWN PEOPLE - with so
AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
many brilliant Scholars of Holy Scripture - FAILED TO
UNDERSTAND THIS ULTIMATE TRUTH!
✶ “...Magi from the East went to Jerusalem...”

THESE THREE MAGI OR WISE MEN CAME FROM PERSIA and ✶ “... we have seen His Star in the East and have come to
were THE MOST ERUDITE, ARISTOCRATIC SCHOLARS of Worship Him...”

THAT SUPERNATURALLY BRIGHT STAR PROCLAIMED THE BIRTH
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE ENTIRE CREATION.

26. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2019

To the ancient pagans, A BRIGHT OR UNUSUAL STAR OR
COMET SIGNIFIED A “GOD” OR A DEIFIED KING.
 NUMBERS 24:17 – “... I will show Him, but not now; I Bless
Him, but He is not near. A Star shall rise out of
Jacob, and a Man shalt rise out of Israel...”

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS “THE STAR” AND THE MAN WHO
ROSE FROM THE DEAD – “... out of Jacob... out of Israel”

THE MAGI HAD STUDIED THIS PROPHECY and when they saw
that strange Bright Star, THEY FOLLOWED IT ALL THE
WAY TO THE HOUSE IN BETHLEHEM where He resided.

THEY CAME TO WORSHIP AND ADORE HIM!

This Uniquely Bright Star FULFILLED THE PROPHECY OF ST
DAVID the Royal Psalmist and Prophet of God.
 PSALM 109:3 “... with Thee is the beginning in the Day of
Thy Power, in the Brightness of Thy Saints. I have
Begotten Thee from the Womb before the Morning
Star...”

This is a Prophecy concerning THE MELCHIZEDEK
PRIESTHOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which explains
the True Meaning of the Nativity.

It reveals GOD THE WORD BECOMING MAN (INCARNATE) IN
THE WOMB OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD.

On the Day of His Nativity, ALL CREATION BORE WITNESS TO
THE GLORY OF GOD REVEALED IN HIS INCARNATION.
 PSALM 18:2 “... the Heavens declare the Glory of God;
the firmament shows the Creation of His Hands...”

In His Birth from the Womb of the Blessed Virgin,
CHRIST WAS LIKENED TO THE SUN RISING FROM THE EAST.
 PSALM 148:3 “... Praise Him, O sun and moon! Praise
Him, O all ye stars and light!...”

These words show that THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE – ALL
CREATION – PARTICIPATED IN OUR LORD’S INCARNATION.

Psalms 148 – 150 are THE PRAISES – LAUDS - which
EXHORT ALL CREATION TO PRAISE THE MOST BLESSED HOLY
TRINITY.

ALL HUMANITY AND CREATION – everywhere and in all
circumstances – are called upon to GLORIFY GOD
THE FATHER, AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR
ONE, TRUE AND LIVING GOD ALMIGHTY.

THE NATIVITY STAR WAS A SIGN OF THE MESSIAH HIMSELF,
SIGNIFYING THE LIGHT HE WAS TO SHED UPON THE WHOLE
WORLD, THROUGHOUT TIME.
✶ “...Having heard, Herod the King was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him...”

HEROD WAS WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS FAR MORE
POWERFUL THAN HIM - Who would replace him as the
self-appointed, despotic ‘King’ of Judea.

THE HEBREW LEADERS WERE DISTURBED by such news –
EITHER DUE TO SELF-SERVING MOTIVES OR CONCERN FOR A
‘HERETICAL USURPER.’

Whatever the motives or concerns, THE PERSECUTION AND
CONTROVERSIES AGAINST OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR BEGAN!
✶ “...he gathered all the Chief Priests and Scribes ... to
question them...”

HEROD KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE GREAT MESSIAH AND HE
OBSESSIVELY FEARED BEING DEPOSED.

THE CHIEF PRIESTS WERE THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS
LEADERS of the Hebrew Judeans and THE SCRIBES
WERE HIGH CABINET OFFICERS.
✶ “...They told him: "In Bethlehem of Judea.”

THEY KNEW WHERE THE GREAT MESSIAH WAS TO BE BORN, BUT
despite all the Signs being in place and obvious to
some, such as the Gentile Magi, THEY HAD NO IDEA
THAT HE HAD FINALLY APPEARED on Earth as Promised.

OUR LORD REFUSED TO PROVE HIMSELF IN A SPECTACULAR
MANNER for SIGNS ARE NEVER GRANTED TO THOSE WHOSE
MOTIVES WERE TO TEST THE LORD OUR GOD.

We should NEVER INTENTIONALLY TRY TO TEST OR PROVE
GOD’S DIVINE PROVIDENCE OR PROTECTION.

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO DEMAND SIGNS FROM GOD TO PROVE HIS
DIVINE TRUTH. This only exposes the depth of our
own arrogance and pride that condemns us
forever!
✶ “...O Bethlehem, ... Out of you shall come a Ruler Who
will shepherd My people Israel.” (MICAH 5: 1 – 3)

This is one of the Inspired Prophesies of the Old
Covenant which are read on the Eve of the
Nativity of our Lord, concerning our Lord Jesus
Christ and His New Covenant of Love and
Salvation.
 2 K I N G S 2 2 – The water of Jericho was unusable until
Elisha quoted God Who said: "’... I have healed
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
these waters; from them there shall no longer be
death or barrenness...’ So the water was Healed
by the word Elisha spoke, and so it remains to this
day.”

Just as our Lord God healed the waters of Jericho, so
THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD BRINGS RENEWAL OR
REGENERATION TO ALL DAMAGED CREATION.
 J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 0 “... thus said the Lord: “When 70 years
are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I will Visit
you and confirm My Words to you, to return your
people to this place.”

St Jeremiah spoke historically and mystically for
1. THERE WAS A RETURN OF EXILES AFTER 70 YEARS .under
Cyrus
2. CHRIST CHOSE 70 APOSTLES as Heralds of His Holy
Gospel

All His Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples lived A
GODLY LIFE OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.

They SUFFERED PERSECUTION AND MARTYRDOM BUT SPREAD
THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.

OUR OWN LIFE IN CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE SALVATION IS OUR
TRUE RETURN FROM SPIRITUAL EXILE in the fallen world.
 J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 4 : “I will appear to you...” is a
Prophecy of the Incarnation - when GOD APPEARED
TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FLESH – IN HIS HUMAN,
VISIBLE NATURE.
✶ “...Herod ... . secretly called the Magi, determined from
them what time the Star had appeared. And he
sent them to Bethlehem...”

HEROD “SECRETLY” INTERROGATED THE MAGI – without
letting the Hebrew Leaders know about them and
what they told him. (Only God knows how different
everything might have been if they had known!)

HIS DEVIOUSNESS WAS SELF-SERVING AND OBSESSIVE because
he perceived only a potential enemy – certainly
not our Divine Saviour!
✶ “’... search carefully for the Child. When you have found
Him, bring back word ... so that I may go and
worship Him also...”

This was a most blatant lie! HEROD WAS DESPERATE TO
LOCATE THE CHRIST CHILD AND HAVE HIM KILLED
IMMEDIATELY.

He eventually ordered the unspeakably cruel
“Slaughter of the Innocents” when 14,000 young
boys between the ages of 1 – 2 years were brutally
killed.

He had heard about St John the Baptist and
Forerunner of Christ’s miraculous birth (six months
before the Nativity of our Lord Jesus) and believed
him to be the “Great Messiah.’

To ensure that any threat to his reign was prevented,
Herod condemned all the young sons throughout
the region of Bethlehem to be killed.
✶ “...The Star ...went before them, until it stood over where
the Child was. ... they rejoiced with exceedingly
great Joy...”

THE INTENTIONS OF THE MAGI WERE OBVIOUSLY PURE, which is
why THEY WERE LED BY SUCH A UNIQUE PHENOMENON TO
THE EXACT LOCATION OF OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR.

This proves that WHEN WE SINCERELY YEARN FOR GOD AND
SEEK HIM AND HIS HOLY KINGDOM OF LOVE, HE WILL MAKE
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO SO.

THEIR GREAT JOY AND GRATITUDE SHOWED THE DEPTH OF THEIR
FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD.

THEIR FAITH IN OUR GREAT KING WAS UNWAVERING AND HAD
ENCOURAGED AND SUSTAINED THEM throughout their
long Journey.

The Magi were the “FIRST FRUITS” OF THE NEW ISRAEL –
CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH AND THE NEW COVENANT.

ACCORDING TO HOLY TRADITION, THE MYSTERIOUS STAR WAS
SENT BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO LEAD THE RIGHTEOUS
MAGI TO THE DIVINE INFANT.

IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE UNCREATED LIGHT OF DIVINE GRACE
THAT POINTED TO THE INCARNATED SON OF GOD.

IT WAS NOT A COMET NOR ANYTHING ASTRONOMICAL AS SOME
HAVE DEBATED.
✶ “...when they had entered the house, they saw the
young Child with Mary, His Mother, and fell down
and worshipped Him...”

The Holy Family had moved into A HOUSE IN BETHLEHEM.
25 DECEMBER 2019 27

THE SUPERNATURAL STAR GUIDED THE MAGI to its location,
which once again emphasised the great
inexplicable Mystery.

MORE THAN A YEAR HAD PASSED by the time the Magi were
able to Worship the Infant Christ.

THIS INDICATES THAT OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR CAME FIRST TO HIS
LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL AND THEN TO HIS NEW ISRAEL THAT
INCLUDED ALL MANKIND.
✶ “...when they had opened their treasures, they
presented gifts to Him - gold, frankincense, and
myrrh...”

THE MAGI HONOURED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS OUR
GREATEST AND ONLY KING WITH SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY
GIFTS:

During the Compline of the Feast of the Nativity of
Christ, we sing:
“Gold is for the King of Ages. Frankincense is for the
God of All. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One Who
shall be three days dead.”

These Precious Gifts of the Magi are of particular
significance.

THEY ARE INTERPRETED SYMBOLICALLY in the Liturgy of the
Feast of the Nativity of our Divine Saviour.
1. The gift of gold signifies that OUR LORD JESUS IS THE
KING OF ISRAEL, OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, AND OF
GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF LOVE.
T H E N ATIV ITY OF OU R LO R D
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved Brethren in Christ, today is the Marvellous
Feast of the Nativity of our Divine Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ! – the Birth of the Eternal, Only Begotten
Son and Word of God our Heavenly Father! – the long-
awaited Appearance of God Incarnate!
Let us consider how we have chosen to celebrate this
Great and Holy Feast.
With inspiring eloquence, St John the Beloved Theologian
taught us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (JOHN
1:1)
The Divine Word – our Lord Jesus - is the Eternal Son of
God and we catch a glimpse of the Divine Mystery of
His Incarnation through the beautiful Hymnology of
our Holy, Orthodox Church, which adds to our Verbal
and Written Holy Tradition.
St Joseph the Inspired Hymnographer’s words uplift and
Enlighten us: “The Son of the Father…has Appeared
to us…to give Light to those in Darkness and to
gather the dispersed. Wherefore, the far-famed
Theotokos do we Magnify.”
St John of Damascus reminds us: “...A Most Glorious
Mystery is accomplished today - nature is
Renewed, and God becomes Man. What He was, He
has remained; and what He was not, He has taken
on Himself without suffering, commingling or
division.”
Orthodox Theology is a springboard whereby we can
harness the celebration of this Great Feast to Live a
more fulfilling Life — to Live in the Spirit. (cf. GALATIANS
5:25)
We begin with a central Tenet (Teaching) which has been
Experienced and passed down by our Holy Church
Fathers.
God became Man so that mankind may become God-
like through Divine Grace and receive “... adoption
as sons...”. (CF. EPHESIANS1:5)
The Incarnation of Christ invites us to become Holy and
Sanctified, which is not only to be Experienced by a
small, elite group of people, beyond the grasp of
everyone else! Sanctified Life in Christ is intended for
every human being everywhere!
Orthodox Christianity is neither an ideology, a philosophy
nor a legalistic, rigid set of rules.
Our Lord God is neither an abstract idea, nor a faceless
Person with Whom we have no possibility of
communication, because the Orthodox Faith
preaches a very personal, intimate, close Triune Lord
God – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit — Three Persons in One Divine Godhead and
Kingship.
28. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
2. The gift of frankincense signifies that OUR LORD
JESUS IS GOD, since incense is used in worship,
and ONLY GOD MAY BE WORSHIPPED.
3. The gift of myrrh signifies THE SALVIFIC DEATH AND
ANOINTING OF OUR LORD JESUS Who is both the
Offerer and the Perfect Offering for the
Atonement of mankind.

IN THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, therefore, ARE CONTAINED ALL
THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST'S APPEARANCE.
They point to THE PURPOSE OF HIS APPEARANCE on Earth.
1. HE IS THE ROYAL KING, the Son of David,
2. WHOSE KINGDOM IS ETERNAL.
3. HE IS THE MOST PURE OFFERING - the Lamb of God –
4. Who by HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF
THE FALLEN WORLD.
5. HE IS GOD HIMSELF - the Divine, Eternal and Only
Begotten Son and Word of our Heavenly
Father.
6. He is "...LIGHT OF LIGHT,
7. TRUE GOD OF TRUE GOD;
8. BEGOTTEN, not made (not created!);
9. OF ONE ESSENCE WITH THE FATHER,
10. BY WHOM ALL THINGS WERE MADE;
11. WHO FOR US men AND FOR OUR SALVATION CAME DOWN
FROM HEAVEN..." as the Nicene Creed declares.
The contemplation of the wise men and their gifts is an
integral and lasting part of our Joyful celebration of
Our Lord’s Nativity.
AND S AVIOU R , JE SUS C HR IST
Almighty God reveals Himself to us through the God-Man
(‘Theanthropos’ in Greek) – through our Lord Jesus
Christ Who became Incarnate for our sake.
In a 1990 Sermon delivered by the late Blessed
Archimandrite George - Abbot of the Holy Monastery
of St Gregory of Mount Athos - the Inspired Teachings
of our Holy Church Fathers echoed - “...The
‘Unapproachable’ God becomes approachable.
The ‘Unknown’ God becomes known. The ‘Strange’
God becomes familiar....”
On this Great Feast of the Nativity of our Divine Saviour,
we celebrate the destruction of the barrier that
separated us from God. Yet how do we know that this
barrier has indeed been destroyed?
Through the innumerable Saints of the Holy Church of
Christ who show us and teach us by their own
Spiritual Experiences, we know that we can, indeed,
personally Encounter, Behold and Communicate with
our Lord God.
The renowned 20th century Theologian, Father John
Romanides, explained that “Saint” is the most
honourable title bestowed upon those who, through
(Spiritual) Purification and Illumination, reach a
wonderful state of Glorification [Theosis] –“... sharing
in the Glorifying Energies of God.”
Thus, Orthodox Christianity is a positive Faith that is the
very True and Real Experience of Divine Revelation
(which is utterly Transforming!) and not speculative.
Our Orthodox Faith is the Experience of Communicating
with God through Prayer - especially Noetic Prayer.
Our Life in Christ is actual Communication with God – a
very close and intimate Relationship with God - by
fulfilling His Will, by Fasting (self-denial, self-sacrifice and
self-discipline) by giving alms (helping and caring for all
who are needy to any degree), by being humble and
obedient to God (and to those who Guide and Teach us His
Divine Truth), by Loving God and each other, (with our
thoughts, words and deeds).
Orthodox Christianity is Living a Christ-centred Life of
Humility and Obedience according to all the
Teachings, Guidelines and Worship of His Holy
Church - by participating in all the essential Holy
Mysteries, especially regular partaking of the Holy
Mysteries of Repentance-Confession and Eucharist.
We thereby Experience True Freedom, not the pseudo-
freedom and trappings conferred by the Spiritually
Dead world, for we are not restricted but granted
freedom to really enjoy a fulfilled, challenging Life!
We Live in the Holy Spirit when we cultivate His Divine
Fruits - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and self-control –
all of which is possible because our Lord Jesus Christ
is with us forever! Amen
E VANGEL OS S OTI ROPOUL OS , A RCHON O STIARI OS ,
25 DECEMBER 2019
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
27 DECEMBER 2019

ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR

AFTERFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST OUR LORD
THIRD DAY OF THE NATIVITY

Also the Feast of St Theodore Graptos (the Scribe) (& “the Branded) Confessor – St Theodore of
Constantinople - The Wonder-working, All Merciful Kykko Icon of the Ever Blessed Virgin Theotokos

F E STAL P R OKE IM E NON –N ATIVITY – P SAL M 18/19 – T ONE 4

Into all the Earth His Proclamation went forth and His Words to the ends of the world.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God!
T H E A CTS OF THE AP OSTLE S ACC OR D ING TO S T L U KE 6 : 8 – 7 : 5 & 47 – 60
In those days, Stephen, full of Faith and Power, did great Wonders and Signs among the people. Then there arose
some from what is called “the Synagogue of the Freedmen” (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and
Asia), disputing with Stephen. But they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. So they
secretly induced men to say: “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they
stirred up the people, the Elders, and the Scribes; and they went to him, seized him and took him to the Council.
They also set up false witnesses who said: “This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this Holy
Place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the
customs, which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the Council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the
face of an Angel. Then the High Priest said: “Are these things so?”
And Stephen said: “Brethren and Fathers, listen: the God of Glory appeared to our Father Abraham when he was in
Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him: ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and go to
a land that I will show you.’ Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. From there, when
his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no Inheritance in it, not
even enough to set his foot on...
“...Solomon built God a House. However, the Most High does not dwell in Temples made by hands, as the Prophet says:
‘Heaven is My Throne and earth is My Footstool. What House will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the
Place of My Rest? Has My Hand not made all these things?’
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so do you.
Which of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the Coming of the Just
One, of Whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the Law by the Direction of
Angels, and have not kept it.”
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of
the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right Hand of God, and said:
“Behold! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right Hand of God!”
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran to him with one accord; and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
And they stoned Stephen as he called on God, saying: “O Lord Jesus: receive my soul!” Then he knelt down and cried
out with a loud voice: “O Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
✶ "... Stephen, full of Faith and Power, did great
THEY COULD NOT ARGUE AGAINST THE DIVINE WISDOM AND
Wonders...” KNOWLEDGE GRANTED TO ST STEPHEN by God the Holy

ST STEPHEN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ELECTED DEACONS who Spirit.
assisted the Priests and served the needs of the
SO THEY PLOTTED AGAINST HIM FOR BEING A FAITHFUL
people. DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.

He was A HEBREW JUDEAN who lived in the Hellenic ✶ “...they secretly induced men...” – THEY USED OTHERS TO
Provinces, related to St Paul, and THE ELDEST OF THE ACCUSE ST STEPHEN OF “BLASPHEMY” against Moses –
SEVEN DEACONS, THUS ENTITLED “ARCHDEACON.” the Old Covenant Laws – and God.

Being a devout Disciple of Christ He was EMPOWERED BY
THEY TRIED TO HIDE FROM THE LIGHT OF DIVINE TRUTH,
DIVINE GRACE TO FULFIL HIS SACRED TASKS. (which always exposes everything clearly) -

Only BY THE GRACE OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH THE because THEY HAD NO JUSTIFIABLE CAUSE!
TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST, can we ✶ ‘... Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change
FULFIL THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and do the customs, which Moses delivered to us ...”
“...Great Wonders...”
These charges were brought against St Stephen

HAVING DENOUNCED THE HEBREW LEADERS for persecuting because,
the Holy Prophets of God and especially for 1. IN CHRIST, THE OLD COVENANT LITURGY AND LAW WERE
unjustly and unlawfully crucifying our Lord Jesus FULFILLED,
Christ - the long-awaited Divine Messiah - St 2. ACCORDING TO GOD’S NEW COVENANT, THEY WERE
Stephen was FALSELY CHARGED WITH “BLASPHEMY CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED. (HEBREWS 7:12)
against God and Moses” and CONDEMNED BY THE 3. To those who did not believe in Christ nor accept
SANHEDRIN TO DEATH BY STONING. the New Covenant of God, those changes and
✶ “...the Synagogue of the Freedmen...” consisted of Transformation were regarded as
HEBREW JUDEANS WHO HAD BEEN FORMERLY HELD CAPTIVE blasphemous.
UNDER THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES, often due to their
THE FALSE CHARGE THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD
rebellion against their oppressors. DESTROY THE TEMPLE HAD BEEN LEVELLED AGAINST HIM at
✶ “...they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by His unjust, unlawful Trial BY MEN WHO HAD BEEN
which he spoke...” INSTIGATED, THREATENED AND BRIBED by the Spiritually
Blind leaders of the Judeans. (MATTHEW 26 :61)

3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY– ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR- 27 DECEMBER 2019 29

THEY USED THE MISINTERPRETATIONS OF TWO QUOTATIONS OF SINNERS DOOMED TO ETERNAL DEATH AND SPIRITUAL
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST in order to falsely accuse EXILE.
Him: ✶ “...they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him
 J O H N 2 : 1 9 - “Destroy this Temple, and in Three with their teeth...”
Days I will Raise It up!” thereby referring to His
The Divine Truth always strikes at the heart of THE
own Incarnate Body. ACCUSED who REACT ANGRILY, VIOLENTLY AND
 L U K E 2 1 : 6 & 2 0 - “These things that you see – the MALICIOUSLY WHEN EXPOSED.
days will come in which not one stone shall be
Our Lord had mentioned “... gnashing of the teeth...”
left upon another, that shall not be thrown down! to describe the dreaded Abyss, Outer Darkness,
... when you see Jerusalem surrounded by Spiritual Exile or Hell where DEMONS AND UNREPENTED
armies, then know that its desolation is near!” SINS WILL BITE, STING, CUT AND BURN US FOREVER.

OUR LORD’S DIVINE PROPHECY OF THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF
WE BITE AND DEVOUR EACH OTHER WITH OUR CRUEL WORDS OF
THE TEMPLE AND THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, WAS FULFILLED HATRED, BITTERNESS AND ANGER.
IN THE YEAR 70 when the Romans acted against the ✶ “...being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and
rebellion of the Hebrews. saw the Glory of God...”
✶ “...all ... saw his face as the face of an Angel...”
THOSE WHO ARE FILLED WITH THE DIVINE GRACE OF THE HOLY

THOSE WHO BECAME ONE WITH CHRIST SHINE WITH A DIVINE SPIRIT, BECOME DETACHED FROM THIS MATERIAL WORLD.
RADIANCE that was clearly evident to those who
THEY ARE CARRIED THROUGH THE WORST CRISES OF LIFE BY THE
were present – both friend and foe alike. GRACE OF OUR LORD’S LOVE, COMFORT AND COMPASSION.

This is A PREVIEW OF THE BLISSFUL GLORY that all Faithful
THEY ARE UNAFFECTED BY THE MATERIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Disciples of Christ will share in the Age to come. SURROUNDING THEM, which is why Holy Martyrs were
(2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 & EXODUS 34:29-35) able to endure such terrible torture, yet remain so
✶ “...the High Priest said: “Are these things so?”...” utterly Faithful to the Lord our God.

ST STEPHEN did not answer the High Priest directly, but ✶ “...the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a
USED THE CHARGES AS THE CONTEXT FOR HIS PREACHING OF young man named Saul. And they stoned
THE DIVINE TRUTH OF CHRIST Stephen...”

As with St Peter’s Sermon on the Day of Pentecost, ST
The men took off their cloaks that would impede their
STEPHEN PREACHED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BASED ON THE execution of St Stephen by stoning him to death.
OLD COVENANT SCRIPTURE, showing how THE JUDEANS
“Saul” did not physically participate in the stoning of
CONSISTENTLY MISSED THE DIVINE PURPOSE of God’s St Stephen.
dealings with them, DUE TO THEIR HARD HEARTEDNESS
After his Encounter with our Resurrected Lord Jesus,
AND SPIRITUAL STUBBORNNESS AND BLINDNESS. he became known as “St Paul,” the greatest, most
✶ “...the Most High does not dwell in Temples built by influential of Christ’s Holy Apostles.
hands...”
As the Apostle of the Gentiles, St Paul, a former very

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT – He is present everywhere for He is zealous Hebrew, converted millions of souls to
not restricted to time or place. Christ and His New Covenant of Love.

Temples are for mankind TO GATHER TOGETHER IN ✶ “...“O Lord, do not charge them with this sin!”...”
COMMUNAL WORSHIP OF GOD.
IN PERFECT IMITATION OF OUR CRUCIFIED LORD JESUS, ST

As St John the Damascene explained, our Lord God “... STEPHEN BESOUGHT GOD TO FORGIVE HIS EXECUTIONERS.
being Immaterial and Uncircumscribed, has no
FORGIVENESS IS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF LOVE for it Liberates
“Place” for He is His own Place, filling all things!” both the forgiven and the forgiver.
 JOHN 4:24 “... God is Spirit, and those who worship Him ✶ “..., he fell asleep...” in the Lord because ST STEPHEN WAS
must worship in spirit and Truth.” IN A PERFECT STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE and now Rests in
✶ “...You always resist the Holy Spirit! ...” Peace in Paradise.

THEY WERE SELF-CONDEMNED because of their WILFUL,
Those who have not Repented and who Repose with
SELFISH STUBBORNNESS AND TOTAL LACK OF LOVE, MERCY, “unfinished business” – in a tragic state of Spiritual
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD. Death - will remain alienated from God in Eternal

WE CONDEMN AND ENDANGER OURSELVES IF WE BEHAVE Exile and will suffer the irrevocable foretaste of
LIKEWISE. Hell in Hades.

WITHOUT RECEIVING AND APPLYING THE DIVINE GIFTS OF LOVE
FROM GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE BECOME UNREPENTANT
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO R D ING TO S T M ATTHE W 21: 33 – 42
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke this Parable: “There was a certain Man 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. When harvest time drew near, He sent His servants to
the Vinedressers, that they might receive the Fruit.
And the Vinedressers took His Servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned 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.” When the Vinedressers beheld the Son,
they said among themselves: ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him, and seize His Inheritance!’ “And they took
Him, and cast Him out of the Vineyard, and killed Him.
“Therefore, when the Owner of the Vineyard comes, what will He do to those Vinedressers?”
(The Priests and the Elders) said to Him: “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His Vineyard to other
Vinedressers who will render unto Him the Fruits in their seasons.”
Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “...the Stone that the Builders rejected has become the
Chief Cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is Marvellous in our eyes!’”
✶ “...a certain Man ...” signifies GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. ✶ “...went into a far country...” refers to THE LACK OF HOLY
✶ “...planted a Vineyard...” signifies THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF PROPHETS FOR A VERY LONG TIME before St John the Baptist
GOD of both THE OLD AND NEW ISRAEL. and Forerunner.
✶ “...set a Hedge around it... “ signifies THE TEMPLE OF GOD
WITHOUT THESE DIVINELY INSPIRED HOLY PROPHETS to Guide
THAT GUIDES AND PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE from the evil and Teach them, THE ISRAELITES DRIFTED AWAY FROM
one. GOD and THEIR FAITH BECAME DISTORTED OR LOST
✶ “ ... dug a Winepress in it...” signifies OUR LIFE-LONG ALTOGETHER. These were THE LOST SHEEP OF THE
STRIVINGS AND STRUGGLES for Spiritual Perfection. HOUSE OF ISRAEL, which Christ came initially to Save
✶ “ ... built a Tower...” signifies the essential SPIRITUAL from Eternal Condemnation.
WATCHFULNESS AGAINST ALL TEMPTATIONS AND SPIRITUAL
GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US. WE DRIFT AFAR FROM HIS LOVING
WARFARE waged against God’s Faithful. CARE – we are Spiritually Exiled by sinning and
✶ “...He leased it to Vinedressers...” - THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS remaining unrepentant, slothful and negligent.
OF ISRAEL who were entrusted to Guide, to care and to ✶ “...When harvest time drew near...” refers to THE
prepare God’s People for the Coming of our Divine COMING/APPEARANCE OF the Great Divine Messiah –
Saviour. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - AND HIS SALVIFIC MISSION.

30. 3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY – ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR - 27 DECEMBER 2019
✶ “...He sent His servants...” refers to THE HOLY PROPHETS
WHOM GOD SENT TO PREPARE HIS PEOPLE.

They taught God’s Chosen Nation to REPENT THEIR SINS,
TO DEVELOP STURDY SELF-DISCIPLINE , FAITH AND
OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF OUR LORD.

They were SENT TO CORRECT THE ERRORS OF THE PEOPLE AND
TO GUIDE THEM BACK TO THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL.
✶ “...the Vinedressers .. beat one, killed one, and stoned
another...”

MOST OF GOD’S HOLY PROPHETS WERE PERSECUTED AND KILLED
by those who refused to Obey the Will of God or
rejected Him.
✶ “...last of all, He sent His Son...” - OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

He is THE ETERNAL ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD THE
FATHER, and THE SECOND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY –
OF THE ONE GODHEAD.

This is now THE “MESSIANIC AGE” – “THE LAST DAYS.” –

WE ONLY HAVE THIS PRESENT TIME – NOW! - in which to
BECOME SPIRITUALLY PERFECTED.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS NEW COVENANT OF LOVE IS
THE ONLY WAY TO ACQUIRE ETERNAL LIFE – all the Divine
Blessings and Goodness of Love, Peace and Joy
that is far beyond anything we can begin to
imagine!
✶ “...seize His Inheritance...” signifies ALL HIS FAITHFUL
DISCIPLES THROUGHOUT TIME, AND HIS HEAVENLY
KINGDOM.

WE BECOME CO-HEIRS OF HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM AS GOD’S
ADOPTED CHILDREN through Holy Baptism

WE BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS OF HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM
when we Live in Christ to the very best of our
ability.
✶ “...they took Him, ... cast Him out of the Vineyard, and
killed Him...”

This is to be understood on two levels:
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ was to be EXECUTED BY
CRUCIFIXION OUTSIDE THE CITY GATES OF JERUSALEM.
3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY– THE FEAST OF ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved, let us contemplate the meaning of our
Lord Jesus Christ’s profound Parable of the Vineyard.
The Vineyard signifies God’s Chosen People of Israel - the
Hebrew Nation planted by God for the Purpose of
completing His Sacred Mission of Salvation for all
other Nations of the world.
When we read Chapter Five of the Old Testament Book of
Isaiah we perceive the infinite Love of God for His
Vineyard - the people of Israel.
He appointed Tenants - the Archpriests, Scribes and
Priests - to teach, guide and admonish them, yet they
neglected their Sacred Tasks, were indifferent to His
Sacred Mission and eventually regarded the Divine
Vineyard as being their own possession, causing them
to murder the Holy Prophets, who were the Faithful
Servants of God.
And, even worse, they also plotted against and murdered
the Heir - the Beloved Son of God Himself – our Lord
Jesus Christ - in the most horrific manner – by
crucifixion!
Although some of them acknowledged Him as the rightful
Heir to the Vineyard – to God’s Kingdom of Israel - in
order to rob Him of His Inheritance, they killed Him
outside the Vineyard - outside Jerusalem, at
Golgotha.
Having heard about the dire consequences of the Wicked
Vinedressers, let us learn how to become the very best
Caretakers, Stewards, Tenants or Vinedressers of God’s
earthly, Sacred Vineyard, because our Lord Jesus
Christ has Called each and every one of us to Labour
worthily in His Sacred Vineyard, according to His New
Covenant of Love.
As St Gregory Palamas explained, this means working for
our own Spiritual Benefit by continuously Struggling
and Striving for our Eternal Salvation.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that He is the Divine Vine
and we are the Branches – the Sanctified Members -
who must bear Good Fruit in God’s Holy Vineyard,
which is His Holy, Orthodox Church.
3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY– ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR- 27 DECEMBER 2019
2. THE EXECUTIONERS WERE NOT MEMBERS OF HIS OWN
VINEYARD – NOT OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE but were
foreign soldiers of the oppressive, occupying
Roman Empire.
✶ “...“He will destroy those wicked men miserably...”

The Hebrew Priests and Elders who challenged the
Divine Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, CONVICTED
THEMSELVES BY USING THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES when they
answered His question.
✶ “...lease His Vineyard to other Vinedressers...” signify
those GENTILES OR NON-HEBREWS – the “New Israel” of
the New Covenant with God - WHO ACCEPTED OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST AS DIVINE SAVIOUR, AND HIS
TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS AS DIVINE TRUTH,
which they would Labour and Struggle to fulfil
and obey.
✶ “...the Stone that the Builders rejected has become the
Chief Cornerstone...” signifies OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST WHO FOUNDED AND ESTABLISHED HIS HOLY
CHURCH OF THE NEW COVENANT ON EARTH.
Our Lord added the following warning to the self-
righteous Priests, Elders and Scribes who were plotting
and scheming against Him: “... Whoever falls on that
Stone will be broken; but on whomever It falls, it will
grind him to powder!”

According to St John Chrysostom, this quotation
illustrated the TWO WAYS OF DESTRUCTION:
1. Those who stumble and fall on the Stone, are
THOSE WHO SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF THEIR SINS WHILE
STILL LIVING (but who, through Repentance-
Confession, can still be Saved.)
2. Those on whom the Stone falls are THOSE WHO
REMAIN UNREPENTANT and who will become
‘powder’ in the Final Judgement – i.e. they WILL
SUFFER THE MOST DIRE OF CONSEQUENCES – ETERNAL
DEATH AND EXILE INTO OUTER DARKNESS!
Souls who hasten to Labour willingly in His Life-giving
Vineyard – as the “Vinedressers” or “Tenants” as well
as “the Branches” of the Divine Vine - need to prune off
everything that is superfluous and non-productive
because everything that is unbeneficial and
unproductive prevents the growth of Good Spiritual
Fruit.
For us, these are excessive wealth and possessions,
uncontrolled greed and sensuality, fleeting, self-
serving vain glory, pride and flattery - all the brief
vanities that have no Spiritual Worth at all – as well as
every abominable grievous passion - all sinful
thoughts, words and deeds that injure body and soul.
St Gregory warned us that unless we take the greatest
care in cutting off these life-sapping shoots, we will
never produce any Good Fruit of Eternal Life and
Love.
As Good Tenants of God’s Vineyard, we must carefully
cultivate and nurture His Holy Vines – and as the
Branches of His Vine, we must become heavily laden
with the Holy Virtues.
By partaking of the Holy Chalice we are Strengthened
and Enabled to cultivate the most prolific Vineyard by
cutting off the deceptive pleasures of perceptible
things that lure us into wickedness and Spiritual
Death.
As St Maximos the Confessor pointed out - although the
(ordinary) “...vine makes the wine; the wine causes
inebriation; inebriation brings (wicked) ecstasy,
when well-planted Reason - the Vine (of Christ) - is
cultivated through the Virtues, it grants Knowledge;
Knowledge produces Good (Spiritual) Ecstasy, which
enables our mind to Transcend its connection with
the senses...”.
The Sweetest Fruit of God’s Sacred Vineyard are the two
inseparable Holy Virtues of Humility and Obedience,
which produce, in turn, even more abundant,
nourishing Fruit – the other Holy Virtues that bring us
Spiritual Perfection.
And the more His Holy Vine – the Holy Church of Christ -
prospers, the greater and more Blessed Harvest is
produced for God’s Glory, Honour and Worship.
31.
According to St John of the Ladder, the Sacred Vine
appears differently during the barren Winters of the
grievous passions to the prolific Summers of Holy
Virtues – both of which contribute, by the Grace of
God, to the Good, Abundant Harvest produced by the
Sacred Vine.
When the Blessed Fruit of Humility and Obedience begins
to form within us, any degree of human glory and
praise have little effect on us, and we become more
cautious and hostile towards these temptations, while
ridding ourselves from grievous passions lurking deep
within us, and we will than see only the terrible
D O NOT U NDE RE STIM ATE THE POWE R OF
Let us consider those sins that some people regard as
being merely ‘lesser’ but which – although not mortal
sins - still bear the heavy weight of guilt.
We sometimes fall into these sins through inattention or
ignorance, sometimes through languor and weakness
of will, and, on other occasions deliberately, with our
full knowledge and will.
The greater weight of guilt belongs to the last category.
A sin can be considered ‘lesser’ when compared to a
mortal sin, but must never be regarded lightly or
ignored when we see it isolated and for itself.
Similarly, for example, a lake may be seen as being
small in comparison to a vast expanse of sea, but it
might not be small in itself, since it contains a great
deal of water.
In the same way, a lesser sin seems small in comparison
to a mortal sin, yet, in itself, it is still a great evil, since
great and small sins are both equal transgressions
against Divine Law.
St John the Beloved Apostle and Theologian pointed out
that “... everyone who commits sin, commits
lawlessness also (because) sin is lawlessness...” (1
JOHN 3:4).
St James Adelphotheos taught us that even if we observe
the whole Divine Law but err in only one Law, then we
have broken every Divine Law because “... whoever
keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of It.’ (JAMES 2:10).
How then can we possibly consider our ‘ordinary’ or
‘lesser’ sins to be small and insignificant?
So-called ‘white’ lies, anger, impiety in Church,
resentment or jealousy, idle talk, careless mockery,
and teasing, gossiping, scandal mongering, over
indulgence of the stomach and desires, adorning the
body and accumulating possessions and wealthy and
so many other sins against God, neighbours and
ourselves are all Spiritual Transgressions that break
God’s Laws of Love.
How is it possible for us to describe any of these iniquities
as minor, insignificant sins which, if we felt and saw
their full weight and impact on everything, would
terrify us forever?
By committing any sin – great or small – we Transgress
against the Lord our God, each other and against
ourselves.
In fact, we condemn ourselves by our own unworthy and
bad thoughts, words and deeds.
Unless we Repent-Confess our sins continuously, we will
lose the Blessings of Love, Joy and Peace, Eternal Life
and the Blissful Glory of the Heavenly Kingdom of
Love.
We lose our Sacred Relationship with God and with each
other due to the sins we so thoughtlessly commit.
However, we have so many opportunities to root out those
sins, to Repent and Confess and thereby be Restored
to the Blessed and Joyful Life in Christ.
We deceive ourselves if we believe, for example, that the
venial sin of idle talk is not displeasing to God when
S T J OH N M AX IMOV IC H
When we turn our attention to our mind, we will see a
torrent of successive thoughts and ideas, which are
unrelenting, for they tumble quickly in every direction
and at every moment – wherever we are and
whatever we are thinking, doing or saying! St
Theophan the Recluse teaches us that what we
usually refer to as ‘thought;’ is in reality a turbulence
within our mind – a scattering, a lack of concentration
and attention, caused by the evil one.
32. 3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY – ST STEPHEN, ARCHDEACON & PROTOMARTYR - 27 DECEMBER 2019
weight of our innumerable sins and regard our
achievements as nothing but mere illusion..
By Divine Grace, let us become Spiritually Fruitful, being
firmly rooted in the Divine Stock of Christ and His Holy
Church.
Amen.
A SERMON DELIVERED BY
METROPOLITAN JEREMIAH OF GORTYN & MEGALOPOLIS
ADAPTED AND EDITED BY MP
https://pemptousia.com/
L E SSER SINS – S T N IKODEM OS THE H AGIOR ITE
His Word is so clear: “... for every idle word mankind
may speak, they will give account in the Day of
Judgement, for by your words you will be Justified,
and by your words you will be Condemned...”
(MATTHEW12:36).
And how can we think that we are not contradicting the
Will of God with our unrestrained, mocking laughter,
when our Lord Himself never laughed at nor mocked
anyone because He had Compassion and even wept
for all mankind – and He severely cautioned us :
“...Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn
and weep...” (LUKE 6:25)
St Basil the Great, in his “Digest of the Canonical
Ordinances,” imposed a Penance of exclusion from
Holy Communion for a week for any Monastic who
joked or laughed improperly.
How can we claim that lying and gluttony are not against
the Will of the Lord our God, when St David His Royal
Psalmist and Holy Prophet warned us that all liars will
be destroyed for He “... shall destroy all who speak
falsehood...” and Christ Himself reminded us that all
self-indulgent gluttons will be cursed with starvation :
“... Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger...”
(PSALM 5:7 & LUKE 6:25)
And, in general terms, how can we claim that minor sins
do not deprive us of Holy Virtue and Divine Grace,
when God the Holy Spirit, through the words of the
Book of Ecclesiastes, warns us that “...dead flies will
corrupt the preparation of seasoned olive oil ...”
(ECCLESIASTES10:1)
Our Holy Fathers interpret these words as meaning that
when flies fly over an aromatic ointment they do not
alter nor affect it, but if they fall into it, they sink and
die, thereby spoiling its purity and fragrance.
Similarly, when all sins are quickly Repented in a devout
and virtuous soul, they do not cause much harm, but,
if sins are unrepented and become firmly rooted, our
soul is badly affected – and we become inclined to sin
by our own volition, thereby becoming vitally
deprived of the Purity of Holy Virtue and the Sweet
Fragrance of Divine Grace and we are prevented
from making any Spiritual Progress and being
Perfected.
All sins make us – body and soul - abominable to God
because “...the thoughts of the unrighteous are an
abomination to the Lord, but the words of the Holy
are Sacred...” (PROVERBS 15:28)
Furthermore, if wicked thoughts separate our immortal
soul from the Lord our God, how much further is the
wretched, sinful, unrepentant soul separated,
alienated and exiled from the Love of God? “... For
perverse reasoning separate (us) from God...’ (WISDOM
OF SOLOMON 1:3)
www.agiazoni.gr
ADAPTED AND EDITED BY MP
WWW.PEMPTOUSIA.COM
W OR D S OF L IF E
Our Aim should be striving to remain United to Christ and
acquiring the Purification our immortal soul, for only
by our Purification of heart and soul can we behold
and Experience the infinite Love and Great Mercy of
God. This is achieve principally through the
observation of all God’s Commandments and
Teachings, as well as the regular partaking of the
essential Holy Mysteries.
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto
the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, 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.
TONE 3 29 DECEMBER 2019

27AP – SUNDAY AFTER THE NATIVITY

THE SLAUGHTER OF 14,000 HOLY INNOCENTS
FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

Also the Feast of Feast of St David the King, Psalmist & Holy Prophet of God, St Joseph the
Betrothed & his son, St James the Just, Adelphotheos (“Brother” of God) – The 14,000 Holy
Innocents of Bethlehem – St Anastasios of Rome – St Abraamios - St Marcellos, Abbot of the
Monastery of the “Unsleeping” – St Mark the Grave Digger, St Theophilos & St John of Kiev Near
Caves Monastery, Ukraine - St Theophilos of Luga & Omutch – St Thaddeus the Confessor of
Studion

R ESUR REC TION G OSPEL 6 – LU KE 24 : 36 - 53

F E STAL P R OKE IM E NON –P SALM 67/68 – T ONE 4

Wondrous is God in His Saints.

In the Congregation Bless God, the Lord of the Fountains of Israel.
T H E E P ISTL E OF S T P AUL TO TH E G ALATIANS 1 : 11 – 19
Brethren: I certify that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not according to mankind. For I neither received it
from man, nor was I taught it, but It came to me through the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard of my former conduct in Judaism – how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure, and tried to
destroy Her. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own Nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my Fathers. When it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s
womb, and Called me through His Grace, to reveal His Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I
did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before
me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
After three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him for fifteen days. The other Apostles I did
not see, except James, the Brother of our Lord.
✶ “...the Gospel... preached by me, is not according to ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE BRUTAL EXECUTION,
mankind...” HE OBSERVED ST STEPHEN’S MARTYRDOM, which he
The Holy Gospel concerning the Teachings of Divine might have instigated or encouraged.
Truth and Revelation by our Lord Jesus Christ are NOT ✶ “...being more exceedingly zealous for the Traditions of
ACCORDING TO MANKIND’S LIMITED AND FLAWED VERSION OF my Fathers...” implies border-line religious
‘TRUTH.’ fanaticism.
ST PAUL, who had been a devout and extremely zealous
ST PAUL WAS SINCERELY FAITHFUL TO GOD, WHICH IS WHY OUR
Old Covenant Hebrew/Judean PREACHED THE NEW (RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED) LORD JESUS CHRIST
COVENANT HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST – HIS DIVINE TRUTH - to CONFRONTED ST PAUL ALONG THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
God’s Chosen People as well as to the Gentiles, most of He and his fellow Judeans were about to persecute
whom had been pagan idol-worshippers and non- the Faithful Disciples in Damascus.
believers.
ST PAUL HAD BELIEVED THAT HE WAS PROTECTING THE JUDEAN
✶ “...nor was I taught it, but It came to me through the OLD COVENANT FAITH FROM WICKED APOSTATISERS,
Revelation of Jesus Christ...” BLASPHEMERS AND PAGANS who performed the evil

APOSTOLIC TRADITION IS GROUNDED IN DIVINE REVELATION one’s work that was against God’s Divine Laws.
FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. According to Old Covenant Law any Judean who

According to the Will of our Heavenly Father, and by worshipped other ‘gods’ and committed
the Grace of God, ST PAUL RECEIVED THE DIVINE TRUTH blasphemy, was to be cast out, stoned to death or
DIRECTLY FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. executed by other means.

He was then EMPOWERED AND ENABLED BY GOD THE HOLY ✶ “... when it pleased God...” shows that St Paul
SPIRIT TO CORRECTLY PREACH THAT SAME DIVINE TRUTH TO understood perfectly well that EVERYTHING IS
OTHERS WHO SPIRITUALLY HUNGERED AND THIRSTED. ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY

DIVINE REVELATION is never exclusively for one person FATHER WHO ALONE KNOWS WHEN WE WILL BENEFIT THE
but MUST BE SHARED WITH EVERYONE ELSE AS WELL. MOST.

THIS IS HOW GOD’S DIVINE TRUTH WAS ABLE TO SPREAD SO Thus, every human being is CONCEIVED AND BORN AT A
QUICKLY throughout the known world by SPECIFIC TIME, GRANTED A PARTICULAR LIFESPAN DURING
comparatively few Faithful Disciples of Christ. WHICH TO STRUGGLE AND STRIVE TO ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL

DIVINE TRUTH IS ETERNAL – ENDURING FOREVER. PERFECTION BEFORE FINALLY REPOSING UNTIL OUR
✶ “...my former conduct in Judaism – how I persecuted RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGEMENT.
the Church of God beyond measure, and tried to OUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE IS ACCORDING TO THE LOVE, WISDOM
destroy Her....” is ST PAUL’S PUBLIC REPENTANCE- AND GRACE OF GOD.
CONFESSION of his sins against God. ✶ “... separated me from my mother’s womb...” refer not to

IT HAD BEEN PROPHESISED that some Judeans would St Paul’s physical birth but to GOD’S DIVINE CALL TO
persecute our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy APOSTOLIC MINISTRY BEFORE HE WAS BORN.
Church, thinking that they were fulfilling the
As with St Paul, GOD’S INTENTIONS FOR EACH OF US MAY
Divine Will of our Heavenly Father. REMAIN HIDDEN FOR MANY YEARS.

ST PAUL (SAUL THE TENTMAKER) HAD HELD THE CLOAKS OF THE ✶ “...Called me through His Grace, to reveal His Son in me,
JUDEANS WHO HAD STONED ST STEPHEN the Archdeacon so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...”
and Protomartyr to death.

27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – AFTER NATIVITY – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 29 DECEMBER 2019 33

THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE OUR LORD GOD ARE NEW CHOSEN PEOPLE who became FAITHFUL DISCIPLES
GRANTED FULL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HIS OF CHRIST.
DIVINE TRUTH. ✶ “...After three years I went up to Jerusalem to see

BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT KNOWLEDGE IS – AND, INDEED, Peter...”
MUST BE – TAUGHT TO OTHERS, especially those who
AS A TRUE APOSTLE OF CHRIST, ST PAUL SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO
are in Spiritual Darkness. being utterly THE CHURCH AND HER HOLY APOSTLES RATHER THAN
unenlightened with the Divine Truth concerning ELEVATING HIMSELF (by acting independently and
our Triune God. according to his own desires, concepts or actions

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THOSE WHO ARE CALLED DIRECTLY BY as so many do these days.)
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ARE PERSECUTED TO VARYING
St Paul knew that HIS ENCOUNTER WITH OUR LORD JESUS
DEGREES BUT MUST NEVER BECOME DISCOURAGED. CHRIST, HIS INSTRUCTION IN THE HOLY GOSPEL AND HIS

Just as the Twelve Apostles CALL TO APOSTLESHIP WERE EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE.
1. were CALLED BY CHRIST, so was St Paul.
IN ALL PRIVATE REVELATIONS, THE ONLY OTHER WITNESS IS
2. RECEIVED THE HOLY GOSPEL DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST, so ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.
did St Paul.
THE FRUITS OF OUR SACRED LABOURS OF LOVE SPEAK VOLUMES
3. STOOD TOGETHER AS ONE, so too did St Paul enter – proving their authenticity and Truth.
their Apostolic Unity in consensus and mutual
St Paul knew - having confirmed with St Peter - that HE
submission. TAUGHT THE EXACT SAME HOLY GOSPEL AS THE OTHER

WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD BY HIS DIVINE GRACE -.not APOSTLES OF CHRIST.
according to our former or present conduct – ✶ “...The other Apostles I did not see, except James, the
whether good or bad. Brother of our Lord...”
✶ “...I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood...”
This also confirms that ST PAUL WAS NOT INFLUENCED NOR
shows HOW PROFOUNDLY A DIVINE CALLING AFFECTS AND TAUGHT BY ANY OF THE OTHER HOLY APOSTLES who had
TRANSFORMS US. already dispersed throughout the known world,

A DIVINE ENCOUNTER IS SO WONDERFULLY ASTOUNDING – fulfilling their Divine Mission.
TRULY STUNNING! - that WE NEED TIME TO CONTEMPLATE,
ST JAMES WAS THE ELDEST SON OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED
to Glorify and to give Thanks to God for His Great AND HIS LATE WIFE, SALOME (a sister of St Anna, the
Mercy and infinite Love. mother of the Blessed Virgin) and therefore a
A DIVINE CALLING OR ENCOUNTER that COMPLETELY COUSIN OF OUR LADY, THEOTOKOS AND OUR LORD JESUS
TRANSFORMS US, overwhelms our heart and soul with CHRIST.
such AN EXTREME INTENSITY OF DIVINE LOVE, PEACE AND
ST JAMES’ DEEP LOVE FOR AND DEVOTION TO OUR LORD JESUS
JOY, AS WELL AS SO MUCH DIVINE KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH, SINCE HIS BIRTH, ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE REASON FOR HIS
it is UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS OR DESCRIBE. HONOURABLE TITLE AS “... BROTHER OF OUR LORD...”.
OUR ONLY DESIRE IS TO BE VERY QUIET AND STILL so that we
According to some, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ST JOSEPH’S
can remain in that incredibly Marvellous Divine SONS WHO WAS WILLING TO SHARE HIS INHERITANCE WITH
Presence – an all consuming Divine Love for which CHRIST from the moment He was born.
we will always deeply yearn.
The term “brother” also referred to A COUSIN OR CLOSE
IN THAT BRIEF MOMENT, WE ARE TRULY TRANSPORTED INTO MALE RELATIVE
ETERNAL LIFE – INTO ETERNITY!
According to Judaic Law, ADOPTED CHILDREN WERE
✶ “... returned again to Damascus...” where HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS to Paternal
BAPTISED BY ST ANANIAS, ACCORDING TO OUR LORD JESUS inheritances, but often this proved problematic
CHRIST’S INSTRUCTIONS. due to human greed or other motivations.

He had accepted and began to understand THE FULL
St James was also known as ‘... JAMES THE JUST... ‘ who
IMPLICATIONS OF HIS DIVINE CALLING. was THE FIRST BISHOP OF JERUSALEM AND AUTHOR HIS

AFTER HIS HOLY BAPTISM, ST PAUL BEGAN HIS LIFE IN CHRIST, UNIVERSAL EPISTLE.
subsequently converting so many souls into our
New Covenant with God as His ‘New Israel” – GOD’S
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO R D ING TO S T M ATTHE W 2 : 13 – 23
When the Magi had departed, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Arise, take the
Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt. And stay there until I bring Thee word. Herod will seek the Child – to
destroy Him.”
Arising, he took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of
Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt I Called
My Son.”
Then Herod - when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi - was exceedingly angry. And he sent forth and put to
death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its districts - from two years old and under, according to the
time that he had determined from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying:
“... A voice was heard in Ramah, of lamentation, weeping and much mourning - Rachel weeping for her Children,
and refusing to be comforted, for they are no more.”
After Herod had died, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: “Arise! Take the
Child, and His Mother, and go to the Land of Israel. Those are dead who sought the Child’s Life.” He arose, took the
Child and His Mother, and entered the Land of Israel.
Hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea, instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned
in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee, and they went to dwell in a city called ‘Nazareth,’ that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets: “...He shall be called a ‘Nazarene.’”
✶ “...an Angel of the Lord appeared...”
BEING WISE, RIGHTEOUS AND OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF GOD,

During our Lord Jesus Christ’s Presence on Earth, THE ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED,
ANGELIC HEAVENLY HOSTS OF GOD WATCHED OVER HIM, without any hesitation or debate.
SERVING HIM AS THEY DID IN HEAVEN.
ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED HAD HAD A SIMILAR ENCOUNTER
✶ “...“Arise, take the Child and His Mother, ... flee to Egypt WITH THE ARCHANGEL OF GOD before the Nativity of
... stay there until I bring Thee word...” Christ.

Accordingly St Joseph the Betrothed – the legal
HIS INSTANT OBEDIENCE SAVED HIS HOLY FAMILY – and
Guardian of our Lady Theotokos and the Infant especially our Divine Saviour and Founder of the
Christ - was woken up and warned of the New Covenant Israel.
impending disaster even before Herod ordered
THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAD ONCE BEFORE SOUGHT REFUGE IN
the slaughter of the 14,000 infant boys who were EGYPT.
two years or younger throughout the region of
Similarly, ST JOSEPH, THE ANCIENT PATRIARCH OF THE OLD
Bethlehem. COVENANT, HAD SAVED GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
✶ “ ... he took the Child and His Mother by night, and
THE MAGI’S GIFT OF GOLD to the New Born “King of the
departed for Egypt, and remained there until the Ages” PAID FOR THE HOLY FAMILY’S JOURNEY AND
death of Herod...” ACCOMMODATION UNTIL THEIR SAFE RETURN.

34. 27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – AFTER NATIVITY – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 29 DECEMBER 2019
✶ “...“Out of Egypt I Called My Son...” referred initially to
the Old Covenant Nation of Israel who were led out of
captivity in Egypt towards.
 H O S E A 1 1 : 1 - “... for Israel is a child, and I Loved
him, and out of Egypt I have Called his
children..”

The New Covenant application of this passage of the
Holy Gospel according to St Matthew concerns THE
RETURN OF THE HOLY FAMILY FROM EGYPT.

ST MATTHEW DID NOT USE THE SEPTUAGINT VERSION stating
“... his children...” BUT RATHER A HEBREW MANUSCRIPT
THAT HAD USED THE SINGULAR TERM “...MY SON...”

In the Old Testament Scripture, the term “Son,”
referred to THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL.

According to our New Covenant, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR,
JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THAT “CALLING” AS THE TRUE,
ETERNAL, ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD THE FATHER,
COMING OUT OF EXILE IN EGYPT.
✶ "... Herod ... deceived by the Magi - was exceedingly
angry... ... put to death all the male children in
Bethlehem and in all its districts...”

THE INSANE RAGE OF HEROD KNEW NO BOUNDS in its brutality
and unjustified destruction.

THE HORRIFIC CRUELTY OF HEROD WAS PREFIGURED BY
PHARAOH, who – in an attempt to destroy the power
of Israel – ordered all the Hebrews’ new born sons
to be murdered. (EXODUS 1 : 16 – 22)
✶ “...Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the
Prophet...”

The Old Testament Book of Jeremiah recorded how
the people of Jerusalem were led away into exile.
 Jeremiah 38:15 “... A voice of lamentation, weeping
and mourning was heard in Ramah. Rachel
does not wish to cease mourning deeply over her
Children, for they are no more!”

ON THEIR WAY INTO CAPTIVITY, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
PASSED RAMAH, which is near to Bethlehem, where
Rachel, the wife of St Jacob, the ancient Patriarch,
had been buried.

In his Prophecy, ST JEREMIAH BEHELD RACHEL WEEPING
BITTERLY IN HER GRAVE - OVERWHELMED BY HER
COMPASSION AND SORROW FOR HER DESCENDENTS WHO
WERE BEING EXILED.

ONCE AGAIN, DURING THE BRUTAL EXECUTION OF THE 14,000
HOLY INNOCENTS OF BETHLEHEM, ST RACHEL WEPT WITH
INTENSE SORROW for all her beloved children.

This was a precursor to THE INDESCRIBABLE HORROR OF THE
UNBRIDLED SLAUGHTER OF THE 14,000 HOLY INNOCENTS
OF BETHLEHEM shortly after the Birth of our Lord
Jesus Christ.

IT ALSO FORETOLD OF THE APPALLING HOLOCAUST AND OF ALL
THE WARS THAT HAVE CONTINUED UNABATED SINCE 1933
throughout this fallen world, which cause such
terrible suffering to all the young and innocent of
every Nation, scarring and brutalising forever
those who survive.

The sorrowful mourning and weeping of Rachel
clearly shows us that ALL RIGHTEOUS SOULS, SAINTS
AND HOLY MARTYRS REPOSING IN PARADISE ARE VERY
AWARE OF THE LIVING.
T H E D EE PE R M E ANING OF THE N ATIV ITY
Every time we stand before our Lord either in Prayer or in
celebration in Church of an Event from the Life of
Christ, or we are in any other way Experiencing the
Presence of our Lord, two basic things happen, which
are attested to by the Church and the Experience of
the Saints.
Firstly, we feel tremendous Joy when we Experience His
infinite Divine Love for us, which causes us to feel
extremely grateful for His Divine Gifts and the intensity
of our Spiritual Condition that is life-changing – a
Spiritual Transformation.
Secondly, we become painfully aware of our sinful
condition – our thoughts, our words and our actions,
which lead to our Salvation, particularly if this
Experience occurs during the Great Feast Days that
commemorate Events from the Life of Christ.
Indeed, any Event in His Life ought to prompt us into a
more critical attitude towards ourselves, which does
not lead to condemnation but to our Spiritual
Deliverance.
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – AFTER NATIVITY – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 29 DECEMBER 2019

THEY HAVE INTENSE COMPASSION for those still Struggling
in this existence AND ARE ABLE TO OFFER INTERCESSORY
PRAYERS ON OUR BEHALF.

THE 14,000 HOLY INNOCENTS OF BETHLEHEM ARE SANCTIFIED,
BLESSED MEMBERS OF OUR VENERATED HOLY MARTYRS, for
they, too, perished for the sake of Christ our
Saviour.
✶ “...go to the Land of Israel. Those are dead who sought
the Child’s Life...”

Just as St Rachel was told that her Children would
return from exile in Babylon, so too, would OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS HOLY FAMILY RETURNED
FROM EXILE IN EGYPT.

According to historical records, HEROD THE GREAT DIED
IN 4 BC.

THE DATE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S BIRTH on which our
current “Year of the Lord” or “Anno Domini”(AD)
calendar is based, IS THUS OFF BY 4 OR 5 YEARS. (We
should thus add 4 or 5 years to the current year)
✶ “...Hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea,
instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go
there...”

In 6 AD the Roman Emperor, Augustus Caesar,
banished into exile the Tetrarch Governor of
Judea, Archelaus, due to his unbridled cruelty.
✶ “...Being warned in a dream, he turned aside into the
region of Galilee, and they went to dwell in a city
called ‘Nazareth...”

THE WICKED CRUELTY OF ARCHELAUS WAS DIVINELY REVEALED
TO ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED, which made him
detour and settle his Family in Nazareth, instead of
returning to Bethlehem.

Nazareth fell under the rule of another more lenient
son of Herod the Great, named “Herod Antipas.”
✶ “...He shall be called a ‘Nazarene...’”

THE SOURCE OF THIS PROPHECY IS UNKNOWN but has been
taken as a reference to the Rod (Neser) that is
mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, and to the
Nazirite (Nazir) mentioned in the Book of Judges:
 ISAIAH 11:1 “... there shall come forth a Rod from the
Root of Jesse, and a Flower shalt grow out of his
Root...”
 JUDGES 13:5 – “... ... behold Thou art with Child, and
shalt bear a Son. And no razor shall come upon
His Head, for the Child shalt be a Nazirite to God
from the Womb; and He shalt Deliver Israel out of
the hands of the Philistines...”

St Samson was a Nazirite of God from the womb, as
were the Holy Prophets of God, St Samuel and St
John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ. He
began to deliver Israel from the Philistines, which
was carried further by St Samuel, St Saul and St
David the Royal Psalmist.

St Matthew might also have been referring to various
passages in which THE MESSIAH WAS DESPISED, SINCE
NAZARETH DID NOT HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION, according
to the words of St Bartholomew Nathaniel
 JOHN 1 : 46 “... Nathaniel said to (St Philip): “Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?”
OF OUR L OR D AND S AVIOUR , JE SU S CH R IST
Thus, we joyfully Commemorate our Lord’s Incarnation in
order to Experience His infinite Love for us and to
express our deep gratitude for all the wonderful
things He grants us.
In addition, we are Benefitted in a practical way,
because we have an opportunity to examine and
correct ourselves, for - as St Paul said “... the Lord will
not judge us if we pass judgement on ourselves.”
If we are continuously watchful and critical of ourselves,
of our personal Spiritual Condition and Welfare, we
will not be Judged in the afterlife, because we are
already being Judged during this short lifespan!
During this Holy Festive Season of our Lord, we need to
critically examine ourselves so that we can correct
our errors, strengthen our good intentions and strive
to fulfil everything that our Lord has taught us for the
sake of our Salvation – both now and later.
Our Lord has not left anything to chance but has
revealed, taught and guided us in all things as the
Divine Master and Creator of the Universe and our
human history.
35.
Even before He created everything from nothingness, He
planned everything down to the smallest detail, being
motivated by Love.
Everything occurs according to the Will and Divine Plan
of our Heavenly Father.
Therefore, our Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ, became
Incarnate and was born in our midst at the exact time
and place with all the other significant elements that
constituted the Greatest Event of our human history.
All the Saints became Spiritually Perfected by
continuously, acutely and thoroughly examining their
own Spiritual Condition - judging and correcting
themselves according to the Perfect Life of Christ.
As Struggling Disciples of Christ, we ought to imitate our
Lord Jesus to the very best of our ability, replenishing
our deficiencies with Repentance, Humility and
Obedience – all of which constitutes our inner
Spiritual Labours.
Throughout the Liturgical Year, our Holy Orthodox Church
constantly Glorifies our Lord God for His Great
Condescension towards mankind with our Hymns,
while contemplating and studying the more profound
Theological meaning of His Incarnation, His Life, His
Teachings and His Salvific Sacred Mission.
So many of our Holy Elders and Holy Fathers, as well as
certain pious laity, have been Blessed with Divine
Encounters and Spiritual Experience, granting them a
far deeper understanding of all these Marvellous
Divine Events.
When Elder Ephraim Katounakiotis returned from a
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, we had expected him to be
overwhelmed by his Experience of Golgotha and the
Holy Sepulchre of our Lord’s Burial and Resurrection.
Yet, he was far more overwhelmed by the Cave of the
Nativity in Bethlehem, for, as he explained to us: “...‘I
thought I was ‘somebody’ when I was living in my
little hermitage at Katounakia, amongst my meagre
possessions. But when I saw where Christ had been
Born, I became truly crushed in spirit!”.
Despite having been Born in such a humble cave that
was used to stable livestock, then being persecuted
and despised by so many men, our Lord Jesus Christ
had accomplished the greatest Event in mankind’s
history - His Incarnation and our Salvation.
Almighty God became man in total quietude, humility
and obscurity. No one was aware of what was
happening that night, except for a few shepherds
and the Magi in far away Persia.
This Greatest Event transpired in absolute poverty and
Humility. Therefore, whenever we are bothered by
various demands and desires, we should try to place
ourselves in the simple Cave of our Lord’s Nativity.
We should stand before the Eternal, Divine Word’s
Incarnation, and compare our puny actions with
what our Lord God did for us that night!
In this way perhaps we will see the True Condition of our
Spiritual Health and be compelled by our Love of God
to quickly Repent our sins before they become firmly
rooted, and condemn us forever!
When our Lord God became Man His Angelic Choir sang
“ Peace on Earth...” yet He told us: “... I did not come
to bring Peace, but to bring a Sword!”
So why did our Lord bring a Sword while His Angels sang
Hymns of Peace?
Our Lord Jesus Christ was the Divine Peace that came in
to our fallen world and He became Man so that we
would learn to Love Him and to Love each other
He showed us by His own Perfect Life that our
Relationship with our Heavenly Father is not merely
an idea, a mental concept nor fantasy, because True,
Divine Love is nothing like that at all.
We might be devoted to some type of philosophical
ideology, but no one can love it, because it will not
reciprocate our Love.
In the Life of the Church quite the opposite is happening.
Our Christian Faith has nothing at all to do with a
philosophical ideology and the Word of God did not
become any such idea.
The Eternal Word and Son of God became Man – Flesh
and bone and blood.
The Word of God became Incarnated so that we could
Love Him, and when we begin to Love Him with all
36. 27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – AFTER NATIVITY – BEFORE THEOPHANY – 29 DECEMBER 2019
our being, we begin to understand that He has
always Loved us in a manner that is far beyond our
limited human comprehension.
St Paul explained that “...we Love Him, since He first
Loved us..” despite our sinful condition.
This is the Unfathomable Divine Mystery that occurs and
is Experience and Encountered in His Holy, Orthodox
Church.
And for this reason – being the Divine Peace of the world
– of the entire Universe - our Lord Jesus Christ
became the Object of Love and not of Faith.
We ought to Transcend Faith and Hope in order to Love.
St Paul told us that “...eventually Hope and Faith will be
abandoned and only Love will remain....” because
Divine, Pure Love is an Experiential Fact, an Existential
Event which makes us realize that we are truly United
with God.
This is the Sacred Path walked by all those who have
Loved Him until the end of this lifespan and beyond.
St Stephen, the Protomartyr, sealed his Love for our Lord
by imitating Him, and when he was arrested and tried
for preaching about Christ and His Divine Truth, his
face lit up like that of an Angel.
His false accusers condemned him to death by stoning
because that was what the Law of Moses stipulated
for heretics and blasphemers, yet he was filled by the
Indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, and he prayed
ceaselessly - not for himself but for the whole world,
despite his dreadful and very painful predicament.
Thus he imitated Christ until his final breathe – just as He
had prayed for the forgiveness of those who had
persecuted Him, for those who had mocked, scourged
and humiliated Him, for those who had struck Him,
spat upon Him and for those who crucified Him.
Since our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world bringing
us His Divine Peace, Joy and Love, millions of Martyrs
have offered up their lives because of their Faith in
Him and because they truly Loved Him and had
tasted His Divine Love that completely Transformed
them, heart and soul!
When we celebrate the Feast Days of the Saints and Holy
Martyrs, we do not Commemorate only certain major
Events of their Life, but the fact that they had judged
themselves, against the Perfect Example of our Lord’s
Life.
Nor did they did they ever take such important matters
lightly, for they delved very deeply into the true
meaning and condition of their soul, by closely and
sincerely examining and correcting their own
thoughts, words and deeds, while perpetually
contemplating our Lord’s Humility, Obedience,
obscurity, silence and poverty as well as the rejection,
persecution and wretchedness that He endured so
patiently.
Our Lord has taught us through the Life of His Holy
Apostles and Saints, that by the Indwelling of God the
Holy Spirit we are enabled and empowered to
Labour well and produce His Good Fruits, which the
Divine Virtues of “.. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,
Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, and
Self-control...”
When we have acquired these Marvellous Divine Fruits,
we also acquire the Divine Presence of God the Holy
Spirit, who enables us to correctly assess our Spiritual
Condition
The honest assessment of our Spiritual Welfare is critical,
essential and Salvific, for we are thereby encouraged,
compelled and eager to persevere in our Spiritual
Struggles of Repentance with Humility and Obedience
that Transform us and sustain us in a state of Spiritual
Life.
Only when we realise we are in a state of Spiritual
Darkness and Death, will we hasten to seek God’s
Divine Light but if we delude ourselves, we will never
find our Way back to God and thus condemn
ourselves to Eternal Outer Darkness.
Amen
METROPOLITAN ATHANASIOS OF LIMASSOL
ADAPTED AND EDITED BY MP
https://pemptousia.com/2018/12/christmas-deeper-meaning-part-i/