G re e k O r t ho d o x Pa t r iar c ha te o f Ale x an d r ia & Al l A fr ic a

A rc h d io ce s e o f Go od H o p e
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the So n,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and forev er, and unto the Ages of
ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mos t Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, toge ther with
all the Saints. And let us commit o urselves and o ne another
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

3 April 2011
th
4 Sunday of Great Lent Tone 4

Sunday of St John Klimakos

(of the Ladder of Divine Ascent)

Also the Feast of St Nicetas, the Confessor & Abbot of Medikion Monastery – St
Joseph the Hymnographer - St Theodosia, Virginmartyr of Tyre – St Irene – St
Illyrikos of Mount Myrsinon, Peloponnesos – St Elpidephoros, St Dios, St
Bithonios & St Galykos, Holy Martyrs – the Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Lady
Theotokos of the Unfading Bloom

R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n - TONE 4
To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from
Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection, and
apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather,
elegon: Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no
Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos! more: Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world
Great Mercy!
Apolytikia of St John Klimakos
Tes ton dakrion sou roes, tis erimou to agonon Thy Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by Thee the
egeorgisas, ke tis ek vathou stenagmis, is ekaton Crown of Incorruption, in that he contested fro Thee,
tous ponous ekarpoforisas. Ke gegonas fostir, ti our Immortal God. Since he possessed Thy Power,
ikoumeni lampon tis thavmasin, Ioanni patir imon he defeated the tyrants, dashing the demons’
Osie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, sothine tas psihas powerless displays of defiance. O Christ God, at his
imon. fervent entreaties, save our souls.
Kontakion to the Blessed Theotokos
Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria Unto Thee,
Os litrothisa ton dinon evharistiria O Theotokos Invincible Champion,
Anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke Thy City in thanksgiving
All’ os ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton Ascribes the Victory for the deliverance from sufferings.
Ek pantion me kindinon eleftheroson But having Thy Might unassailable,
Ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi Animfevte! Free me from all dangers
So that I may cry out to Thee:
“Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 1 – M a t t h e w 2 8 : 1 6 – 2 0 The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ
Prokeimenon
The Lord will grant Strength to His People.
Offer to the Lord, O Sons of God, Offer to the Lord Sacrifice and Praise!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 6 : 13 – 20
The Lord our God Confirms His Divine Promise by a Sacred Oath
Brethren: when God made a Promise to Abraham, because He could Swear by no one greater, He Swore by Himself,
saying: ‘Surely Blessing I will Bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.’
And so after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the Promise, for mankind indeed swears by the greater, and an
Oath for Confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the Heir of Promise the immutability of His Counsel, Confirmed It by
an Oath, so that by two immutable Things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong Consolation,
who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us.
This Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul – both sure and steadfast – and which enter the Presence behind the Veil,
where the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the Order of
Melchizedek.
T he Promise that God made to St Abraham concerned “Behind the Veil” is a reference to the Heavenly Altar,
a son who would be born to him and his equally which is served by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
elderly and barren wife, St Sarah – an heir through Christ Who is our one and only Most High Priest of
whom God would greatly multiply his family. the Eternal Holy Priesthood according to the Order
The “two immutable Things” refer to God’s Divine of Melchizedek – an ancient King and Priest of the
Promise and God’s Divine Oath. Old Covenant whose Holy Priesthood was equally
Eternal.
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 9 : 17 – 31
O Faithless Generation!
At that time, one of the crowd said to our Lord Jesus Christ: “Teacher, I brought Thee my son who has a mute spirit.
And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I
spoke to Thy Disciples, that they could cast it out, but they could not.”

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He answered him and said: “O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with
you? Bring him to Me.”
And they brought him to Him. And when he saw Jesus, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground
and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father: “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said: “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.
But if Thou can do anything, have Compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” And immediately the father
of the child cried out with tears: “Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirits, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb
spirit: I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more!” And the spirit cried out, convulsed him
greatly, and went out of him. And he became as though dead, so that many said: “He is dead!”
And Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
And when He had gone into the house, His Disciples asked Him privately: “Why could we not cast it out?” And He said to
them: “This kind can come out by nothing but Prayer and Fasting.”
Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His
Disciples: “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men who will kill Him. And after He is
dead, He will rise the Third Day.”
But they did not understand His Words, and were afraid to question Him.
In ancient times, mental and physical illness was often Rebellion against God and return to the Sacred Fold
regarded as being connected to demonic activity, of Christ our Saviour.
which in Truth it often can be. “The flesh” (sarx) is not synonymous with our “body”
According to St Matthew’s account of this incident, the (soma) – St Paul was calling for the destruction of
desperate father of the epileptic boy had knelt down the lusts of the flesh rather than the destruction of
before our Lord Jesus Christ, which revealed his our body.
Humility before such a powerful Teacher and Holy Galatians 6 : 1 “Brethren: if (anyone) is overtaken in any
Person, even though he lacked person Faith in God. trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a
Although His Disciples also were lacking in their (person) in a spirit of Gentleness, considering
absolute Faith in God, our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked yourself lest you also be tempted.”
not only them and all those who witnessed the To be able to administer correction with the Blessed
incident, but also the father of the young boy, which Virtue of Gentleness is a Spiritual Gift from God.
prevent the healing of his beloved son – and St John Chrysostom taught us that this Rebuke of Christ
although He defended the abilities of His Disciples was actually directed at the nine Disciples who could
and Apostles before the gathered multitude, He later not cast out the demon that caused the young boy’s
rebuked them in private for their weak Faith and epileptic fits, whereas the “Pillars of Faith,” St Peter,
trust in the Divine Mercy and Power of Almighty God. St James and St John, were not included in the
Christ thereby teaches us that when we correct others, Rebuke, since they had been on Mount Tabor with
we must not do so in order to humiliate or our Lord Jesus Christ, where they had witnessed His
embarrass them, especially before witnesses who Glorious Transfiguration.
may not understand one’s concern or loving “This kind...” of evil spirit – demonic possession that
motivation for correcting those who are stumbling or causes not only Spiritual Illness but also physical
who have already fallen. manifestations of the great Spiritual Struggle that
Everything we do to encourage, assist, guide or teach occurs during demonic attacks – is a reference to all
others must always – without fail – be done with (limited) powers of darkness – of evil and not simply
Agape – unconditional Love – and must be accepted to those that can cause a particular type of physical
by the one being corrected with the same illness.
understanding and appreciation of such well- The banishment of demons requires STRONG,
intentioned Agape. UNSHAKABLE FAITH, SINCERE AND HUMBLE PRAYER
Furthermore, whenever we are corrected by our fellow AND BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL FASTING, for
Disciples of Christ, we must ensure that we apply there is NO HEALING AND NO VICTORY IN SPIRITUAL
WARFARE WITHOUT ALL THREE!
such corrections to our behaviour or practises.
Otherwise none of us would make any Spiritual Beginning with the Didache – the earliest writings of the
Progress at all! Holy Apostles – our Holy Church Fathers have taught
This is all part of our Spiritual Journey – learning to us that both the person who is in need of healing
accept good advice from others with all due Humility and the person who performs the healing, must have
and Obedience. To do otherwise is to show a lack of unwavering Faith in Almighty God, must constantly
these two important Virtues and can mean that we Pray for Divine Assistance and Grace and Fast
have fallen into the opposite vices of pride, properly.
arrogance and disobedience to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed His approaching Death
The Discipline of our Holy Church is based on our and Resurrection for a second time to show that He
mutual correction in three expanding stages. fulfilled His Passion freely and not according to the
Sin and correction are to remain private unless the dictates of those seeking His destruction.
offender stubbornly refuses to Repent and rejects Our Lord Jesus Christ, in absolute Obedience to the
correction. Divine Will of our Heavenly Father, accepted His
All correction of our errors is only possible when done ultimate Blood Sacrifice willingly and freely out of
with great care and Humility, with the highest God’s infinite Love of mankind for it was the final
concern being the Salvation of the offender. and greatest of all Blood Sacrifices for mankind’s
Correction of our errors must always be done in order Salvation – the greatest Blood Sacrifice that
that our sins do not spread to others as well. Redeemed all mankind so that never again would we
1 Corinthians 5 : 5 “... deliver such a one to Satan for have to offer temporary blood sacrifices for the
the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be atonement of our continuous sins.
Saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus.” Now according to our New Covenant with God – a
This means that in the Holy Church of Christ we are Bloodless Covenant – we constantly make our
Protected from the destructive power of Satan but Offerings of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship in the
this Holy Protection will be removed from us through Divine Liturgy Service of Holy Eucharist –
Excommunication in the hope that as soon as we continuously Repenting our sins and joyfully
experience the difference between God’s Divine and accepting the ongoing Forgiveness of Christ our
Merciful Rule over us and the destructive, wicked and Saviour, which grants us Eternal Life in His Divine
devastating enslavement of Satan we will quickly Kingdom of Love, Peace and Joy.
BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT SIN, WE MUST
Repent our sins of Spiritual Disobedience and CONTINUE TO REPENT AND BESEECH GOD’S DIVINE

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 FORGIVENESS SO THAT WHEN OUR TIME COMES TO
LEAVE THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD OF TEMPORARY
LIFE, WE SHALL BE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE – a
state of True Repentance – rather than in a state of
Spiritual Death and Alienation from God – a state of
unrepentance, disobedience and sin!
Just like so many of us today, the Disciples did not fully
understand the full Truth and significance of Christ’s
clear words yet they did not use the opportunity to
find out what everything would mean to them.
Similarly, many of us today, could not bother to seek
Divine Truth and Understanding, which is granted to
us once we honestly begin our Spiritual Journey.
Fourth Sunday of Great Lent – St John Klimakos – of the Ladder (of Divine Ascent)
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, today is the
Fourth Sunday of the Great and Holy Fast.
This Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St John Klimakos or
St John of the Ladder.
St John was a Monk of St Catherine’s Monastery on
Mount Sinai.
As a Monk of Sinai, he lived a Spiritual Life and he
captured his profound Spiritual Experience in a book
entitled: “The Ladder of Divine Ascent.”
In this book, he describes the Spiritual Life and how to
grow closer to Almighty God through 30 steps or
rungs of a Spiritual Ladder.
Through each of these 30 steps, a soul is transfigured
into Continual Communion with God.
The Spiritual Growth that is achieved by the application
of each Spiritual Step is, however, only achieved
through God’s Mercy, constant Prayer and correct
Fasting.
In today’s Sacred Lesson, we learn of Christ our God’s
Mercy and Healing and their relationship to Prayer
and Fasting.
In this Holy Gospel Lesson, we hear how a desperate
and loving father presented his epileptic son to our
Lord Jesus Christ for Healing from demonic
possession.
The first thing that confronts us is the very real existence
of evil spirits, fallen angels or demons.
We would all like to deny their existence.
We would prefer to dismiss their actions as simply
physical or mental illness.
Mental illness certainly does exist, but it is different from
the Spiritual Illness that is described in this particular
Gospel incident.
The possession of the soul by demons is a sickness of
the soul, which separates and alienates the afflicted
person from God and from other people.
The intention of the demons is to convince us that they
do not exist or that they have the same power as
God.
The prince of the demons is Lucifer or Satan himself. He
is the prince and the inventor of lies and everything
evil and foreign to the Goodness and Love of God.
If we believe the lie that there is no such thing as evil or
demons, then it becomes easier for us to think that
we do not need God!
The other lie that the devil wants us to believe is that he
is an evil god who is equal to Almighty God.
All too often we hear of good and evil being equal, which
is the deceptive and dangerous belief of “the ying
and the yang.”
When we accept these lies, we deny the Divine and
infinite Power of God and we separate ourselves
from Him and our fellow mankind.
Through this tragic and dangerous separation from God
and others, our soul becomes sick and in the most
severe cases, such affected people begin to behave
very differently, which is sometimes mistaken as a
form of mental illness.
And that is what we hear of in today’s Sacred Lesson.
The father wanted to believe that his son’s Spiritual
Illness was something other than demon possession.
In a way, the father preferred to believe that his son’s
trouble was a mere ailment visited upon him by God
– a type of “Divine Punishment.”
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The more we seek Divine Truth with a Spiritual Yearning
for a close Relationship with Almighty God, the more
He grants us His Knowledge and Understanding!
However, because God never forces anything on us –
having granted us free will to choose for ourselves
which Spiritual Path we take towards Eternity – it is
up to us to make every effort to learn His Divine and
Absolute Truth concerning everything to do with the
Purpose of this temporary life and Eternity – the Age
to come which is never ending and a very conscious
state – more consciously aware than at present!!
Nevertheless, that type of belief is actually a complete
denial of the Love and Providence of our Most
Merciful Lord God.
How could anyone who truly Loves God and knows His
boundless Divine Love for us human beings possibly
attribute such destructive evil to Him?!
This is a terrible denial of our Loving and Life-giving
God!
All the evil inventions, deceptions and lies of Satan and
his fallen angels or demons have been self- inflicted
through the misuse of our own free will.
Everything that God has created is good and beneficial
for us and this is confirmed in the Holy Book of
Genesis - when God created our world for us He
approved of its beauty and goodness: “... and God
saw that it was good.” (GENESIS 1:10-31)
Consequently, our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked not only
the father of the young boy and the gathered crowd,
but later, in private, also His Disciples.
We must never forget that everything God has created
for our benefit and our survival during this life is
good and natural, and anything that is not good, that
is wicked, deceptive, harmful or destructive has
nothing to do with God but with the evil one and our
own co-operation with him and his demons.
As St James the Apostle explained: “... in many things
we offend all. If any man offend not in word,
the same is a perfect man, and able also to
bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in
the horses' mouths, that they may obey us;
and we turn about their whole body.” (JAMES 3:2-3)
Thus, although any kind of reprimand may seem
offensive to us – it is an essential means of returning
us to the correct Path of Life and if we receive such a
justifiable reprimand from anyone, we should – with
all Humility and Obedience – accept it with gratitude
and apply it seriously to ourselves.
St Nikolaj Velimirovic said: “There is nothing that
melts the ice of unbelief as readily as tears.”
These tears occur when we can no longer endure the
pain of not trusting in God.
We often hear this in the cry: “O God help me!” when we
at the point of despair.
It is at this point of despair that God can enter into our
lives. This is when God can help us to have belief
and Faith in Him.
St Nikolaj Velimirovic further commented: “… man
cannot even come to Faith without God’s Help.
Man can only come to some slight belief …But
the path from some measure of belief to True
Faith is long indeed, and no man can follow
this Path without God’s guiding Hand.”
When the young boy was healed, our Lord forbade the
demon from entering him again.
This is a clear indication that our sinful behaviour is
often ingrained in us – like a stubborn stain on our
soul, caused by our own habitual surrender to the
temptations of the demons.
This is Christ’s admonishment to us that we are not
return to our sinful habits once we have truly
Repented them.
Our Lord Jesus Christ often reminded the repentant –
and thus us as well - that once we have removed a
particular kind of sin from our lives, we must be very
3 March 2011 3.
 careful not to add even more deadly sins to our
souls:
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he
goes through dry places, seeking rest, and
finds non. Then he says: ‘I will return to my
house from whence I came.’ And when he
comes, he finds it empty, swept and put in
order. Then he goes and takes with him seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and
they enter and dwell there; and the last stat of
that person is worse than the first.” (MATTHEW 12:43-
45)
With these two serious reminders, our Lord cautions us
that we must be continually diligent in the conduct of
our lives – to resist all temptations and not to sin – to
repent immediately when we fall from Divine Grace
and find ourselves in a state of Spiritual Death so
that we may prevent the devastating and fatal
sickness of our soul.
With regard to the weak Faith of Christ’s Disciples and
their inability to exorcise the demon, St Nikolaj
Velimirovic pointed out: “…their Faith had
become weaker, either from worldly fear or
from pride, so the Power that had been granted
to them (BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) had also become
weakened...” and thus ineffectual.
WHEN WE BECOME COMPLACENT – SMUG OR SELF-SATISFIED – WE LOSE
GOD’S DIVINE GRACE AND WE ARE UNABLE TO FULFIL OUR SACRED
TASKS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
Our Lord then provides us with the Prescription for
healing - Prayer and Fasting - to regain and to
The Eternal Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
St Gregory
... if we are dominated by passionate emotions, then we
certainly stand in need of the physical suffering that
comes from Fasting, Vigils and similar things, if we are
to apply ourselves to Prayer.
This suffering alone mortifies the body's inclination to sin,
and moderates and weakens the thoughts that
provoke violent passions.
Moreover, it is this which brings about within us the start
of Holy Compunction, through which both the stain of
past faults is done away and the Divine Favour
restore the Divine Gifts, which are granted to us by
God.
This same Sacred Medication is provided for us by the
Holy Church of Christ so that we are able to regain or
strengthen our weakening or drifting Faith and
return to a continuous Communion with God.
St Peter Chrysologos of Ravenna referred to Prayer and
Fasting as follows:
“Prayer knocks at the door; Fasting obtains; Mercy
receives. Prayer, Mercy and Fasting: these three
are one, and they give life to each other.
Fasting is the soul of Prayer and Mercy is the
Lifeblood of Fasting.”
Fasting is a method of quenching the passions through
abstinence – self-denial or self-discipline.
Fasting is not only the abstinence from food but the
abstinence from loose living.
Fasting is a self-discipline that allows us to knock at the
Lord's Door through Prayer and receive His Mercy
that restores us to a continual Communion with Him.
So, my dear Brethren in Christ, my Prayer for you is that
you may take your Spiritual Medicine of Fasting -
that you may be able to pray to restore and grow in
your Faith - so that you may receive our Lord’s Mercy
and enjoy continual Communion with Him.
Amen
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST JOHN
KLIMAKOS” BY REVEREND FATHER MILAN MEDAKOVIC
http://www.saintgregorypalamas.com/2010/02/fourth-sunday-of-
great-lent-sunday-of.html
Palamas
especially attracted, and which disposes one towards
Prayer.
For '...God will not despise a contrite heart', as David
says. (PSALM 50/51:19)
And God heals in no more certain way than through
suffering.
This is why our Lord taught us in the Holy Gospels that
Prayer can do great things when combined with
Fasting. (MARK 9:29) (THE TRIADS)

St Seraphim of Sarov
"The people who, in spite of the bonds of sin which fetter
them and hinder them (by constraint and by inciting
them to new sins), come to Him, our Saviour, with
Perfect Repentance for having tormenting Him,
despising the strength of the fetters of sin and forcing
themselves to break their bonds.
Such repentant sinners at last actually appear before the
Face of God, having been made whiter than snow by
His Divine Grace.
Such repentant souls were once seen by the Holy Seer of
Mysteries, St John the Theologian, as being '...clothed
in White Robes...' that is, in Robes of Justification,
and with '...palms in their hands...' signifying
Victory, and they were singing to God a wonderful
song: ‘Alleluia!’ And no one could imitate the beauty
of their song.
Of them an Angel of God said: 'These are they who have
come out of great tribulation and have washed
their Robes, and have made them white in the
Blood of the Lamb' (REVELATION 7:9-14).
They were washed with their sufferings and cleansed white
in the Communion of the Immaculate and Life-giving
Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Most Pure and
Spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, Who was slain before all
ages by His own Will for the Salvation of the world." (THE
LITTLE RUSSIAN PHILOKALIA VOL. 1; ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA BROTHERHOOD PGS.
94-95):

St Ambrose
"If you offer Fasting with Humility and with Mercy, your bones, as St Isaiah said, ‘...shall be fat, and you shall be like a
well-watered garden.’ So, then, your soul shall grow fat and its Virtues also by the Spiritual Richness of Fasting;
and your Fruits shall be multiplied by the fertility of your mind, so that there may be in you the inebriation of
Soberness, like that cup of which the Prophet says: 'Your cup which inebriates, how excellent it is!' (ISAIAH 58:11 -
PSALM 23:5 LXX - THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. X; EERDMANS PG. 461):

St Athanasios
"Behold my Brothers, how much a Fast can do, and in
what manner the Law commands us to Fast. It is
required that not only with the body should we Fast,
but with the soul.
Now the soul is humbled when it does not follow wicked
opinions, but feeds on becoming Virtues. For Virtues
and vices are the food of the soul and it can eat either
of these two meats, and incline to either of the two,
according to its own will.
If it is bent toward Virtue, it will be Nourished by Virtues,
by Righteousness, by Temperance, by Meekness and
by Fortitude.
Such was the case with our Lord, Who said: 'My Food is
to do the Will of My Father Who is in Heaven' But
if it is not thus with the soul, and it inclines
downwards, it is then nourished by nothing but sin."
(JOHN 4:34 - THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. IV;
EERDMANS PG. 508):

4. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 4th Sunday of Great Lent – Sunday of St John Klimakos 3 March 2011
 G re e k O r t h o d o x P a t r i a r c h a t e o f A l e x a n d r i a & A l l A f r i c a
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Fathe r, and to the Son, and to the Hol y Spi rit, now and forever,
and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet
Ever Virgi n, toge the r with all the Saints. And let us com mit ourselves and o ne ano the r and our whole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Tone (5) Plagal 1 10 April 2011

Sunday of St Mary of Egypt

Also the Feast of St Terentios , St Pompeios, St Afrikanos, St Maximos, St Zenos,

St Alexander, St Theodore, St Theodore, St Makarios, & 40 Fellow Holy Martyrs
of Carthage - St James the Presbyter, St Abdikos & St Azadanes the Deacons of
Persia – the Holy Mothers & Martyrs of Kvabtakhevi Monastery, Georgia

R e s u r r e c t i o n A p o l y t i k i o n - TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a
Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin Virgin, let us Faithful Believers hymn and adore. For
en to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the
tethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou. Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own
Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.
A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t M a r y O f E g y p t - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
En Si Miter akrivos diesothi to kat’ ikona; lavousa gar In Thee, O Mother, was preserved, intact what was in
ton Stavron, ikolouthiasas to Hriste, ke prattousa God’s Image; for after taking up the Cross, Thou
edidaskes, iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar; followed Christ our Lord, and by Thy actions Thou
epimilisthe de psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio ke taught us to overlook the flesh, for it perishes and to
meta Angelo sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou. care for the soul, which is Immortal; wherefore, O
Holy Mary, Thy spirit rejoices, along with the Angels.
Kontakion of the Ever Blessed Theotokos
Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protector of the Christians unashamed, Mediator to
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon the Creator Immovable: despise not, the pleading
fonas, alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the
ton Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke aid of all who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten Thine
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O
timonton Se. Theotokos Who always Protects those who honour
Thee!
R e s u r r e c t i o n G o s p e l 2 - Mark 16 : 1 – 8
The Holy Myrrhbearers witness the Empty Tomb of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Prokeimenon
Pray to the Lord our God and render Thanks to Him!
God is known in Judea; His Name is great in Israel!
St Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews 9 : 11 – 14
The Heavenly Sanctuary and the Divine Liturgy
Brethren: Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come, with the greater and more Perfect Tabernacle not
made with hands – that is: not of this Creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He
entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained Eternal Redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats,
and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, Sanctifies for the Purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the
Blood of Christ - Who through the Eternal Spirit, offered Himself, without spot, to God – cleanse your conscience from
dead works to Serve the Living God?
In contrast to the Old Covenant Hebrew High Priest, together with our commitment to constant
Christ our Saviour is our High Priest of God’s New Repentance of our habitual sins.
Covenant. Because we continue to use our God-given free will to
Christ entered the Heavenly Sanctuary “once for all” – indulge our wilful and selfish flesh rather than to
i.e. His One Perfect and Ultimate Blood Sacrifice obey the Spiritual Guidance of our Holy Conscience
covers all the sins committed by all human beings – the little Remnant or Voice of God within us – we
for all time – throughout human history and forever! must constantly strive and struggle to resist
Christ was our High Priest – the Divine Offerer – Who temptation and resolve our sins as soon as we fall
offered His own Perfect, Sinless Blood – the Divine into a state of Spiritual Death by means of sincere
Offering – which is able to heal the entire corruption Repentance and a determined effort to return to
of all humanity for all time and needs never be Spiritual Life and so continue our Spiritual Journey
repeated ever again! in the Divine Footsteps of our Lord and Saviour.
His Most Precious Blood Offering restores each and No Spiritual Progress in Christ is possible without
every one of us human beings – throughout history constant Watchfulness and Struggle.
– to our proper, former Sacred Relationship with Those who erroneously believe that the mere
Almighty God. acceptance of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord
Christ’s Sacrifice Purifies – cleanses our conscience – and Saviour ensures us Eternal Life are seriously
and reinstates us as Holy or Sanctified Beings who deceiving themselves because that implies that our
are drawn closer to Almighty God through our Struggle for Theosis (Spiritual Perfection) has been
correct Liturgical Worship – “serve the Living God” – achieved.

DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED 5th Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt 10 April 2011 5.
However, our Spiritual Struggle during this preparatory pleasuring people rather than obeying the Divine
period before Eternity is an ongoing Sacred Mission Will of God – which requires what they lack – Love,
that is only ended at our very last breath. Humility and Obedience to God!
Christ our Lord emphasised the fact that Faith without The “dead works” that St Paul often cautions us against
Good Works and Spiritual Struggle would not is a reference to all human activity in and of this
benefit anyone and would actually be mere lip- fallen age when we participate in acts of mortality
service – and empty type of faith without any and corruption – everything that alienates and exiles
substance! us from the Divine Presence and Grace of our
Life in Christ means a personal commitment to all Loving and Benevolent God.
facets of Christian Faith and Worship – not simply a Liturgically speaking, “dead works” include the actions
few selected portions of the whole Faith according of Old Covenant type of worship, which are no
to the luke-warm manner we choose to follow Him. longer required of us as Christ has fulfilled
A genuine Life in Christ is our most determined effort - everything required of those Old Laws.
a dedicated or Sacred Commitment to God, which Our commitment to God requires us to fulfil His New
is compelled by our utter Love for Almighty God and Covenant: To Love God with all our mind, with all
a desire to please Him in all ways possible: “Let it our heart, with all our strength and with all our soul,
be according Thy Will, O Lord!” and to Love one another as much as He Loves us –
Tragically, in this day and age, a large majority of our unconditionally and completely, without exception!
fellow sinners have been deceived by false And this covers all the Ten Commandments as well!
teachings of Spiritual Wolves who lead God’s Lost The New Covenant of God is a Covenant of Eternal Love
Sheep even further astray and then consume them – and so we will be Judged according to every word,
with their lies and duplicity – luring them with thought and deed compelled and fulfilled with
baited hooks that have a miniscule drop of Divine Agape – Divine Love – a difficult Sacred Task to
Truth – just enough to entice them – and by telling achieve until our very last breath!
them whatever they want to hear – pleasing or
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 10 : 32 - 45
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Third Prophecy Concerning His Passion
At that time, they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus had gone before them; and they were amazed.
And as they followed, they were afraid. And He took the Twelve aside again and began to tell them the things
that would happen to Him.
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests, and to the
Scribes; and they will condemn Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Him and asked: “Teacher, we want Thee to do for us whatever
we ask.” And He said to them: “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him: “Grant us that we
may sit, one on Thy right hand side and the other on Thy left, in Thy Glory.” And Jesus said to them: “You do
not know what you ask. Are you able to drink from the Cup that I drink, and be Baptised with the Baptism
with which I Am Baptised?” And they answered: “We are able.”
And Jesus said to them: “You will indeed drink the Cup from which I drink, and with the Baptism with which I
Am Baptised you will be Baptised; but to sit on My right hand side and on My left is not Mine to grant, since
it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
And when the ten heard about it, they were greatly displeased with James and John. And Jesus called them to
Himself and said to them: “You know that those who are considered Rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; for whoever
desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be
slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to Serve and to give His Life as a
Ransom for many.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s predictions of His approaching Furthermore, the Prophecy of Christ concerning St John
Passion were intended to encourage and strengthen and St James participating in the same Cup and
His Holy Apostles and faithful Disciples for the Baptism shows His Divine Knowledge of their future
terrifying Events with which they would all too soon persecution, suffering and Holy Martyrdom for their
be confronted. Love of Christ, which they would endure after the
The Divine Prophecies of our Lord Jesus Christ also Glorious Day of Holy Pentecost – from the
confirm the Truth and Reality that He approached beginning to the end of their Holy Gospel Mission
His terrible Passion according to His own Will and on earth.
His own timing. When our Lord Jesus Christ told the two Apostles that
Our Lord Jesus pointed out that any quest for temporal the places of Great Honour in the Eternal Kingdom
power and glory is unfitting for a Faithful Disciple of of God are not His to grant, does not mean that He
Christ and it only exposes an earthly has no Divine Authority, but rather that such Divine
misunderstanding of the Eternal Kingdom of God. Favours are not His to grant arbitrarily to anyone.
St Matthew noted that “the mother of Zebedee’s sons” Instead He would grant them to those for whom
actually asked for this great honour for her beloved Almighty God has prepared them: by the Will of
sons to be seated on either side of Christ in His God the Father, through God the Word and Son,
Eternal Glory, but the fact that our Saviour used the and by the action and ability of God the Holy Life-
plural term “you” shows that He knew who really giving Spirit.
sought this Divine Favour from Him. With regard to being seated as Equals to Christ – on His
However, a True Disciple of Christ should be ready to right and left hand side – in God’s Eternal, Heavenly
sacrifice even family relationships if they prevent us Kingdom, St John Chrysostom taught us that no
from fulfilling our Sacred Duty to God or if they one – no human being - could possibly occupy such
impede our Spiritual Growth in Christ Jesus. an elevated Divine Position!
Our Lord Jesus referred to His Crucifixion as a “Cup,” However, according to the depiction of our God-
and His Death as “Baptism.” Inspired Holy Icons, the highest places of honour
His unjust Crucifixion like a common criminal was that have been granted to human beings belong to
regarded as a “Cup” since He drank of it voluntarily the Ever Blessed, All Pure and Most Holy Theotokos
– freely and willingly for the Eternal Benefit or (the Most Blessed amongst all women) and St John
Salvation of all mankind forever. the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ our Saviour
His Death was regarded as “Baptism” since he was fully (the greatest Holy Prophet ever born of women) –
immersed in it, while it cleansed the entire human but they are never seated and they stand in all
race and renewed the entire Creation. Humility and Obedience at either side of our

6. DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED 5th Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt 10 April 2011
 Enthroned Lord and Master, Jesus Christ – having
dedicated their entire earthly lives to the Service of
Almighty God with all due Humility and Obedience,
as well as many other Virtues as well – the two most
Fifth Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt
Why is it that much is said and written about the
sufferings of Holy Men and Holy Women?
Because the Saints, alone, are considered Victors.
Can anyone be a Victor without conflict, pain and
suffering?
In ordinary earthly combat, no one can be considered
victorious nor heroic who has not been in combat
tortured much or suffered greatly.
The more so in Spiritual Combat where the Truth is
known and where self-boasting not only does not
help at all but, indeed, hinders it.
Those who do not engage in Spiritual Warfare for the
sake of Christ our Lord - either with the world, with
the devil or with one’s self - cannot be counted
among the Holy Soldiers of Christ and therefore
cannot be one of Christ’s Co-Victors.
T h e F u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e G r e a t P r o p h e c y : “Like a Lamb led to the Slaughter” (ISAIAH 53:7)
Throughout the many centuries of time the discerning
Prophet St Isaiah foresaw the Awesome Sacrifice on
Golgotha.
From afar he saw our Lord Jesus Christ led to the
slaughter as a lamb is led
to the slaughter.
A lamb permits itself to be led
to the slaughter just the
same as it is led to the
pasture to graze:
defenceless, without fear
and without malice.
Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ
was led to the slaughter
without defence, without
fear and without malice.
He neither said: “O Men, do
not do this!” nor did He
ask: “Why are you doing this to Me?”
He never condemned anyone for doing so, nor did he
protest or become angry.
He harboured no evil thoughts or adverse emotions
against His unjust judges and accusers, and when
His Most Precious Blood ran over His Beloved Face
from the painful, cruel crown of thorns that had
been pressed into his scalp, he remained silent.
When His Face was spat upon, He was silent.
When His Cross became so heavy along the way to
Golgotha, He endured His agony and when the
excruciating, indescribable pain and suffering of His
Crucifixion became unbearable, He did not
complain.
And, finally, as He took His final breath, He directed His
gaze Heavenwards for the Source of His great
Strength is Heavenly, not earthly.
The Source of His Consolation is in God and not in
mankind.
His True Homeland is the Heavenly Eternal Kingdom
and not a temporary, earthly kingdom.
“One Thing is Needful” - Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, 1893-
Last Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, we heard
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ Who taught us:
"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by
Prayer and Fasting.” (MARK 9 : 29)
What did He mean by "this kind’?
If you recall, dear Brethren in Christ, we were told about
a youth who was possessed by an evil spirit who
caused him to have epileptic seizures, which
sometimes made him fall into fire or water, nearly
killing him, as his father explained when he
presented him to Christ, Who later cautioned His
frustrated Disciples in private: ‘This kind can come
forth by nothing, but by Prayer and Fasting."
DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED 5th Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt
perfect human role models we could ever wish to
imitate – together with our Lord and Saviour.
The phrase “for many,” is an Aramaic expression
meaning “for all.”
St Mary of Egypt spoke about her savage Spiritual
Combat to St Zosimos the Elder:
“...For the first seventeen years in this wilderness I
struggled with my deranged sexual desires as
though with fierce beasts.
“I desired to eat meat and fish, which I had in
abundance in Egypt.
“I also desired to drink wine and here, I did not have
even water to drink.
“I desired to hear lustful songs.
“I cried and beat my breasts.
“I prayed to the All-Pure Mother of God to banish such
thoughts from me.
“When I had sufficiently cried and beat my breasts, it
was then that I saw a Light encompassing me on
all sides and a certain Miraculous Peace filled me.”
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the
sin of the world” (JOHN 1:29).
This was the first cry of St John the Baptist when he
beheld our Lord Jesus Christ approaching him on
the great Day of
Theophany.
And behold how on
Golgotha that Prophecy
has been fulfilled.
Behold, how, under the
weight of the all the sins
of the entire world, the
Lamb of God lay
slaughtered and lifeless.
O Brethren, this is a
most Costly Sacrifice -
even for all our sins!
The Most Precious
Blood of this Sinless and Meek Lamb was destined
for all times and all generations - from the first to
the last person on earth.
Christ suffered the agony of His Crucifixion for the sake
of our sins - even those of the present day.
Our Saviour also wept in the Garden of Gethsemane for
all our wickedness, all our weakness and all our
sinfulness. He offered His Precious Blood for our
Salvation!
Brethren: let us not despise this indescribable costly
Ransom whereby we have been Eternally
Redeemed!
Because of these Great Sacrifices of Christ our God, we,
indeed, have some worth as human beings because
without His Most Pure Sacrificial Offering – or if we
disavow – rejected His Great Sacrifice - our worth,
by itself alone, is less than nothing!
We will merely be like smoke without a flame or a cloud
without Light.
O Lord, unequaled in Mercy, have mercy on us
wretched sinners!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: WRITTEN BY ST. NIKOLAJ VELIMIROVIC IN “THE PROLOG
FROM OHRID”
1893-1978)
This is the kind of evil spirit that had taken possession of
the young boy, causing him to suffer epileptic
seizures in its attempt to harm or even kill him - by
falling down, sometimes into fire or water – a most
frightening and stressful experience for all
concerned.
Consequently, neither the suffering youth nor his family
had any peace, rest or good quality of life.
Our Lord Jesus Christ pointed out that such an evil spirit
would not “come forth” unless we Pray and Fast in
all sincerity and Humility, since being united with
God in deep Prayer – entering His very Divine
Presence – combined with the Humility of proper
Fasting – not only physical self-discipline but
10 April 2011 7.
 especially Spiritual Discipline – expels the darkness
and filth of any wickedness or evil presence with us
and those for whom we Pray.
By observing the fallen world that surrounds us in every
aspect these days, we can begin to understand
exactly what “this kind” of evil spirit or Spiritual
Warfare really means!
Every desperate suicide exposes the dark, hopeless state
of despair and lack of Faith in and Knowledge of the
Providence, Beneficence and Love of God and
Eternal Life in Christ.
Despair that drives people to do the most terrible things
to themselves and to one another is the invention of
the evil one.
Despair – complete lack of any hope at all – is a state of
insanity or deep depression and misery, which is
unnatural to our creation.
Such extreme frustration, anger and destructive rage is
caused by the absence of a close Relationship with
God through constant, sincere and humble Prayer,
and regular Fasting – the physical and Spiritual
Discipline that humbles our flesh and returns our
souls to its natural state of Spiritual Life in Christ.
Pride, jealously, greed, arrogance, selfishness and self-
indulgence, etc. cause everyone to suffer the
consequences of such unbridled, uncontrolled
excesses – murder, robbery, physical and mental
abuse, rape, enslavement, torture and every type of
abuse or cruelty... the list is endless!
The horrific greed and lust for material wealth,
possessions and power overwhelms our world today
and is quickly destroying even this most beautiful
planet with which we have been so Blessed.
It is precisely “this kind” of destructive evil spirit that we
so willingly accommodate and which dominates and
enslaves us – those who voluntarily co-operate with it
- and the innocent victims who are forced to suffer
the consequences!
We are currently in the period of “Spiritual Spring.”
If a farmer is late in sowing, then there will be no harvest
and, therefore, no bread.
Likewise, if we late in acquiring sobriety, attention to the
condition of our inner being, our heart and soul,
then we will be left without any Spiritual
Nourishment, and we will experience a deep,
gnawing Spiritual Hunger.
And when we suffer from our toxic passions - if we
recognise the cause and reason for our Spiritual
Afflictions, only then will we begin to understand that
no one – especially us – can eradicate these
poisonous passions except our Lord God Who
created us!!
However, in order for this to happen, we need to prepare
ourselves both spiritually and physically - and this
special preparation consists of proper Fasting and
sincere, humble Prayer.
During this fifth week, when we cried: "O Lord, before I
perish to the end, Save me," when the Canon of St
Andrew of Crete was being read, which exposes and
overturns our heart and reveals to us such passions;
it is possible to beseech our Lord: "O God, forgive
me, heal me, grant me Thine Everlasting Light;
rant me Life, because maybe I have only one
year left to live, and maybe not even that; I
might be going to Thee right now."
We are all going into Eternity; and we are granted this
preparatory period to examine ourselves so that we
might acquire the essential Virtues for Eternal Life.
Some of us have a completely erroneous concept of
what True Fasting means.
Certain food restrictions may be a small part of Fasting,
yet True Fasting is far more than that: it is when we
examine ourselves deep within our souls and reject
everything that is unnecessary for Eternal Life,
maintaining and preserving only what is essential to
our Life in Christ.
Prayer is the Spiritual State whereby our soul enters the
Very Presence of God and His Divine Peace by
ceaselessly communicating with Him in
Thanksgiving for His Abundant Blessings, in Praise,
8. DONATIONS MOST GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED 5th Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt
Honour and Worship and by submitting our personal
Petitions for His Divine and Great Mercy.
Today is a great comfort to us for right before our
Spiritual Sight, we behold St Mary of Egypt, who had
been a most debauched and depraved sinner but
who, through her profound and complete
Repentance became one of our most classic
examples of Christianity.
Having followed a crowd of Pilgrims from Alexandria to
Jerusalem, St Mary arrived at the Holy Church of the
Resurrection but she was prevented from crossing
the threshold by an invisible force.
Almost everyone had entered, but she was rooted to the
spot and each time she tried to enter, something
pushed her away, until finally, she understood that
something Divinely Powerful refused her entry.
In frustration and desperation, she looked up and saw a
beautiful Holy Icon of our Ever Blessed Theotokos
holding with the Christ Child.
Immediately her conscience awoke from its suppressed
slumber and she learnt, by Divine Grace, everything
concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.
Her awoken conscience recalled all her innumerable
sins, and she fell upon her knees before our
Heavenly Queen and wept with tears of True
Repentance: "Forgive me! Help me!"
All at once, as if lifted by a strong gust of wind, she was
carried into the Holy Church, where she fell down
before the Life-giving Cross of our Lord, and in that
instant she received a great hunger and thirst for
Purity, Chastity, Poverty and Obedience to God.
She was overwhelmed by the indescribable Joy, Peace
and Love that filled her together with the wonderful
lightness of a clear and re-awoken conscience.
Having received Divine Forgiveness, St Mary of Egypt
immediately set off for the Jordan River, where she
disappeared for almost forty years into the
wilderness, living seventeen years in sobriety of body
and soul, many times having lain face down upon
the ground in a state of humble Prayer for many long
days and nights, in a determined effort to conquer
and totally destroy all lustful, carnal longings and
temptations – the demonic residue of “this kind” of
evil spirit.
Afterwards, for seventeen more years she ceaselessly
Praised and Glorified God’s Divine Grace and Mercy,
having become like an earthly Angel of God.
Therefore, this Sunday of St Mary of Egypt, which our
Holy Church puts before us, is a comfort and a joy
for we realise that there is no Repentant sinner
whom the Lord would not forgive!
Brethren: without doubt every one of us will be laid to
rest in a grave and our soul will pass over into
Eternity. Yet do we ever really think about what kind
of Eternity we shall have? And that is why the Holy
Church of Christ continually Calls everyone of us to
Repentance!
St Mary could not cross the threshold of the Holy Church
of the Resurrection because an invisible Power
prevented her from doing so.
Let us examine ourselves intensely for a similar
experience is happening to us right now! We must
expose and remove the frightening obstacles that
block our Path to Christ. Our slumbering conscience
– the little Voice of God within us – is trying to warn
us that we are resisting, or something evil is
enabling our resistance to, the Divine Love, Grace
and Mercy of Almighty God!
Like St Mary, we must fall upon our knees before the our
Lord Jesus Christ and His All Holy Mother in abject
Repentance, crying: “O Lord, help me to Follow
Thee! Help me to be Humble, Obedient and filled
with True Love for God and my fellow sinners!”
We will experience a Bright Spiritual Springtime, the
instant we truly Repent with all Humility, Obedience
and the Love of God, and we will clearly hear our
Lord Jesus Christ say: "Peace be unto you!"
May His Divine Love and Peace rest in you always.
EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP:
www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermons_archbishop_andrei.htm
10 April 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spiri t, now and foreve r, and unto the Ages of
ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, M aria, Theo tokos, yet Ever Virgi n, to gether wi th
all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

16 April 2011

St Lazaros Saturday

Also the Feast of S t Agape, St Irene and St Chione the

Virgin Martyr Sisters of Thessalonika – St Leonidas, St
Charissa, St Nike, St Galina, St Calista (Kalida or Calisa)
St Nunekhia, St Basilissa, St Irene & St Theodora of
Corinth - St Christopher Monk-Martyr of Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos – St Nicetas
Hieromartyr – The Ilyin-Chernigov Weeping Icon of our Lady Theotokos – the Holy Icon of
our Lady Theotokos of Tambov

A p o l y t i k i o n O f S a t u r d a y O f T h e R a i s i n g O f S t L a z a r o s – TONE 1
Tin kinin ananstasin pro tou sou pathos pistoumenos, O Christ our God, before Thy Passion, Thou raised
ek nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos, othen Lazaros from the dead to confirm the common
ke imis, os i Pedes, ta tis nikis simvola ferontes, si to Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the
niki ti tou thanatou voomen. Osan na en tis ipsistis, Symbols of Victory as did the Youths, and we cry out
evlogimenos O erhoemenos en Onomati Kyriou. to Thee, the Victor over Death: "Hosanna in the
Highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of
the Lord!"
Kontakion Of Saturday Of The Raising Of St Lazaros - TONE 2
I panton Hara, Hristos i Alithia, to Fos i Zoi , tou Christ, the Joy of all, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the
kosmou i Anastasis, tis en gi pefanerote, ti aftou Resurrection of the world, in His Goodness,
agathotiti, ke gegone tipos tis Anastaseos, tis pasi appeared to those on earth; and He became the
parehon thian afesin. pattern of the Resurrection, by granting Divine
Remission to all.
Instead of the Trisagion Hymn:
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many as have been Baptised into Christ, have put
Allilouia! [3] on Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
ke is tous eonas ton eonon. Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! Have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many as have been Baptised into Christ, have put
Allilouia!
on Christ: Alleluia!
St Paul’s Epistle t the Hebrews 12 : 28 – 13 : 8
The Purity of Christian Community
Brethren: Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have Grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and Godly Fear. For our God is a Consuming Fire.
Let brotherly Love continue. Do not forget to welcome strangers, for by doing so some have unwittingly hosted Angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the Body also.
Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will Judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with the things that you have. For Christ Himself has said; “I will
never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can
mankind do to me?”
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose Faith you follow, considering the
outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Only those things that are created can be shaken and “Grace” is a reference to our sincere and profound
even destroyed – the temporal, impermanent and gratitude that compels us to serve God and to
imperfect. worship Him in an acceptable manner, with proper
The final Consummation of the Eternal Kingdom of God “Reverence and Godly Fear.”
is unshakable and indestructible and endures forever Practical Brotherly Love is to be shown towards all fellow
– for all Eternity and everything of Eternity is Christians and Disciples of Christ – and especially
everlasting, unchangeable and imperishable. towards the lowly, the powerless, and all victims of
That is why we must prepare ourselves throughout this cruelty and injustice.
lifetime to become fitting or worthy Spiritual Citizens “Strangers” are travellers in need of Christian Hospitality.
of God’s Eternal Kingdom of Love, Peace and Joy – The Hospitality of Abraham the ancient Patriarch is a
by means of all the Spiritual Tools with which Christ good example to us: he never ate a meal unless he
our Lord and Saviour has provided us – all His Divine had others with whom to share it. The day came
Commandments and Teachings. when he hosted three very special Visitors – the Holy
Eternal Life is continuous Eucharistic (Thanksgiving) Trinity – at the Oaks of Mamre, where they left their
Divine Liturgy. three staffs of cypress, cedar and pine imbedded in

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 the earth, which grew into a most unique Tree. upright pole which was secured in a hole in the rock
(GENESIS 18 : 1 – 8 & 19: 1 – 3)
on Golgotha. After His Death, the cross-bar was
(When Solomon was building his first great Temple in taken down, Christ was unnailed but according to
Jerusalem centuries later, the Trinity Tree was cut Hebrew custom, every drop of blood was buried with
down but the wood was never used and merely the mortal remains, so the cross-bar and nails would
thrown aside, until the Crucifixion of Christ when He also have been included in our Lord’s Tomb and
was forced to carry the heavy cross-bar as part of His later removed and preserved by the Faithful
public humiliation and punishment, before being Christians after His Glorious Resurrection.)
nailed at the wrists to it. It was then fastened to the
The Holy Gospel According to St John 11 : 1 – 45
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life
At that time, a certain man was sick: Lazaros of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister, Martha. It was that Martha who
had anointed our Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His Feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazaros, was sick.
Therefore, the sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying: “Lord, behold: he whom Thou Love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God so that the Son of
God may be Glorified through it.”
Now Jesus Loved Martha and her sister, and Lazaros, so when He heard that Lazaros was sick, He stayed two more days
in the place where He was. Then after this, He said to His Disciples: “Let us go to Judea again.”
The Disciples said to Him: “Rabbi, lately the Hebrews sought to stone Thee, and art Thou going there again?” And
Jesus answered: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,
because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the Light is
not in him.”
These things He said, and after that He said to them: “Our friend, Lazaros, sleeps, but I go so that I may wake
him up.” And His Disciples said: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they
thought that He spoke of taking rest in sleep. So Jesus told them plainly: “Lazaros is dead. And I Am glad for
your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” And Thomas,
who was called “the Twin,” said to his fellow Disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
So when Jesus went, He found that Lazaros had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Hebrews had joined the women around
Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. And Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was
coming, went to meet Him, but Mary sat in the house.
And Martha said to Jesus: “Lord, if thou had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, I know that
whatever Thou ask of God, God will grant Thee.” Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said
to Him: “I know that he will rise again in the Resurrection at the Last Day.” Jesus said to her: “I Am the
Resurrection and the Life: he who believes in me, although he may die, he shall Live. And whoever lives
and believes in Me, shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him: “Yes, Lord, I believe that Thou art
the Christ – the Son of God Who is to come into the world.”
And having said these things, Martha went her way, and secretly called Mary, her sister, saying: “The Teacher has come
and is calling for you.” And as soon as Mary heard that, she quickly arose and went to Him.
Now Jesus had not yet gone into the town, but was in the place where Martha had met Him. When the Hebrews, who
were with her in the house, comforting her, saw that Mary had quickly arisen and gone out, they followed her, saying:
“She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
And when Mary arrived where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His Feet, saying to Him: “O Lord, if Thou had
been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Hebrews who had
come with her, weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said: “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him: “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
And the Hebrews said; “See how He Loved him!” And some of them said: “Could not this Man Who opened the eyes of
the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” And Jesus, again groaning within Himself, went to the tomb, which
was a cave, and a stone lay against it. And Jesus said: “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was
dead, said to Him: “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days!” Jesus said to her: “Did I
not say to you that if you would believe you would see the Glory of God?”
Then they took away the stone from the cave where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His Eyes and said: “O
Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I know that Thou always hears Me, but because of the
people who are standing by, I say this, so that they may believe that Thou sent Me.”
Now when Jesus had said these things, He cried with a loud Voice: “Lazaros! Come forth!” and he who had died
came out, bound hand and foot with grave-cloths, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. And Jesus said to them:
“Loosen him, and let him go.”
And many of the Hebrews who had gone to Mary, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in Him, but some of
them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus had done.
Lazaros Saturday
Great is this Holy Day! Our Lord Jesus Christ alone is Sinful thoughts arise and cause sinful emotions, words
the "Conqueror of Death"! No one else would dare and deeds, but if our soul is alert and watchful for
to make such a claim, for He alone is, was, and will such enemies, it immediately returns to our Lord in
be our Saviour and our Lord of Eternal Life! Repentance, and He will stretch out His Hand to us
During His historical Evangelistic Life He proved this in and say: “Arise!” And Spiritual Life returns to its
three instances: the Resurrection of the daughter of joyous flow. But when we do not catch ourselves in
Jairus who had just died, the son of the widow of time and sin enters more deeply into our soul, we
Nain who was about to be buried, and St Lazaros suffer Spiritual Death and turmoil, for death is not
who had been entombed for four days. the cause but the consequence of sin - and Christ is
Christ’s Victory over Death is absolute and thus Death is the only Conqueror Who restores us to Life!
no longer something for us to fear, for now we ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP:
http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermons_archbishop_andre
merely repose in peace until the Final Day of i.htm#_Toc45953439
Resurrection and Judgement! (UNLESS WE ARE UNREPENTANT
SINNERS WHO HAVE REJECTED GOD’S DIVINE MERCY!)
Besides physical death, which is visible to everyone,
there is also mental or Spiritual Death, which
usually goes unnoticed but which is experienced by
those who are Spiritually Dead.

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 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Hono ur and Worshi p to the Father, and to the So n, and to the Holy Spiri t, now and
forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorio us Lady, Maria, Theotokos,
yet Ever Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one ano ther and o ur
whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

17 April 2011

Palm Sunday
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Also the Feast of St Symeon the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Persia, St Abdechalas,

Hieromartyr, St Annanias the Presbyter, St Usthazanes, St Phusikos, St Askitrea, St
Azades the Eunuch & other Holy Martyrs of Persia – St Akakios of Melitene – St Zosimos,
Abbot of Solovki – St Alexander, Abbot of Svir ( Uncovering of Holy Relics) – St Adrian of
Corinth – St Agapitos of Rome – St Makarios of Corinth

Apolytikia Of Palm Sunday – TONE 4

Tin kinin Anastasi pro tou Sou pathous pistoumenos, Of the common Resurrection before Thy Passion
ek nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos; assuring us, from the dead Thou raised Lazaros, O
othen ke imis o i pedes, ta tis nikis simvia Christ our God; therefore we also, like the
ferontes, si to nikiti tou thanatou voomen; children, carrying symbols of Victory, to Thee the
Osanna en tis ipsistis! Evlogimenos O Victor over Death, we cry: Hosannah in the
erhomenos en Onomati Kyriou. Highest! Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!
Sindafentes Si di dia tou Baprismatos, Hriste O As by Baptism we are buried with Thee, O Christ our
Theos imon, tis Athanatou Zois i xiothimen ti God, so by Thy Resurrection we are made worthy
Ananstasi Sou, ke animnountes krazomen: of Eternal Life; and praising Thee, we cry aloud:
Osanna en tis Ipsitis! Evlogimenos O Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He Who
erhomenos, en Onomati Kyriou! comes in the Name of the Lord!
Kontakion Of Palm Sunday
To Throno en Ourano, to polo epi tis gis, In Heaven upon a Throne, on earth upon a colt, being
epohoumenos, Hriste, O Theos, ton Angelon, tin carried, O Christ our God, Thou accepted the
enesin, ke ton pedon animnisin, prosedeho Angels’ praise and the children’s extolling Hymns,
voonton Si: Evlogimenos O erhomenos, ton as they cried out to Thee: Blessed is He Who
Adam anakalesasthe. comes, fallen Adam to recall again!
Matins Gospel: Matthew 21: 1 - 11; 15 - 17
The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem By Our True Messianic King And Lord God – Jesus Christ
At that time, when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two Disciples, saying to
them: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.
Loosen then and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say: “The Lord has need of
them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, Thy
King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, a foal of a donkey.”
So the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and
set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes upon the road; others cut down branches from the trees
and spread them upon the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna
to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: “Who is this?” So the multitudes said: “This is Jesus, the
Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee!”
But when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the Temple and
saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and said to Him: “Dost Thou hear what these are saying?” And
Jesus said to them: “Yes. Have you never read: “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants Thou has
perfected praise”?
Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH – “THE NEW JERUSALEM” - IS TRULY
celebrated by the Holy Church on Palm Sunday. THE ALL PURE BRIDE OF CHRIST WHO IS THE DIVINE BRIDEGROOM
By the time of Christ, Jewish Nationalism had led to the St Matthew recorded in his Holy Gospel that there was A
expectation of a political Messiah to deliver them from COLT AS WELL AS A DONKEY and our Holy Church
Roman oppression and rule and to re-establish King Fathers regard the two animals as REPRESENTING THE
David’s Kingdom. FAITHFUL HEBREWS AND THE GENTILES WHO ARE
In utter Humility, our Lord Jesus emphasised the fact that BROUGHT TOGETHER IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
He had not come to establish an earthly Kingdom At Vespers of Palm Sunday we sing: “Thy riding upon a
because He did not enter Jerusalem on a horse or in a foal prefigured how the untamed and
chariot like a conquering hero but instead He entered uninstructed Gentiles would pass from unbelief to
on a donkey – a real sign of His Humility and Peace. (SEE Faith.”
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 LXX) Those people who spread their clothes upon the ground
❃ CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HOLY CITY before our Lord Jesus Christ, did so as a spontaneous
DECLARED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM gesture of reverence to a great King and it is Spiritually
OF ALMIGHTY GOD. Interpreted as OUR NEED TO LAY DOWN OUR FLESH AND
❃ IT WAS ALSO A DIVINE PROMISE OF OUR LORD JESUS INDEED, OUR VERY LIVES, FOR CHRIST.
CHRIST’S FINAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HEAVENLY “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”
JERUSALEM TOGETHER WITH ALL FAITHFUL
comes from Psalm 117:25-26, which was associated
BELIEVERS AND OF HIS ACCEPTING THE NEW
JERUSALEM AS HIS PURE BRIDE. (SEE THE REVELATION OF with MESSIANIC EXPECTATION.
CHRIST – THE APOCALYPSE 21:2)

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It was recited daily for six days during the Feast of
Tabernacles, and seven times on the 7th Day as
branches were waved.
“Hosanna!” means “Save, we pray!”
At Vespers of Palm Sunday we sing: “Keep the Feast with
the children, and holding branches in your
hands, sing ‘Hosanna....’” many Liturgical Hymns of
this day emphasise the perfect Praises of the children,
which, unlike that of adults, were innocent, fitting,
unashamed and from pure Love.
❃ WE ARE ALL CALLED TO GLORIFY CHRIST IN THE SAME
SPIRIT OF UNASHAMED AND PURE LOVE!
In contrast, the adults’ Praises carried earthly expectations
and hidden agendas which, when left unfulfilled, led
them to rebel against our Lord Jesus Christ just a mere
five days later!
AS USUAL, THE EVIL ONE ALWAYS USES OUR HUMAN WEAKNESSES AND
SELFISH DESIRES AGAINST US AND AGAINST THE WILL THE GOD.
IN THE CASE OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, THE ENEMIES OF GOD USED THE
EARTHLY DESIRES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE AS AN EXCUSE
FOR THEIR UNJUST AND UNLAWFUL PUNISHMENT AND EXECUTION OF
CHRIST.
HOWEVER, THE LORD OUR GOD, VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED TO THEIR EVIL
SCHEMES SO THAT HE COULD ENTER HADES, SMASH OPEN ITS GATES
AND SET THE RIGHTEOUS FREE. FROM THAT MOMENT ONWARDS, THE
RIGHTEOUS WOULD REPOSE IN PEACE IN PARADISE UNTIL JUDGEMENT
DAY.

Prokeimenon
Blessed is the Messiah Who comes in the Name of the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good and His Mercy endures forever!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians 4 : 4 – 9
Exhortation For Daily Living – The Secret Of Spiritual Contentment
Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I will say: Rejoice! Let your gladness be known to all mankind!
The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God: and the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, Brethren: whatever things are True, whatever things are Noble, whatever things are Just, whatever things are Pure,
whatever things are Lovely, whatever things are of Good Report, if there is any Virtue and if there is anything Praiseworthy
– meditate on these things.
The things that you learnt and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of Peace will be with you.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 12 : 1 – 18
The Anointing & The Triumphal Entry Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
At that time, six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazaros was who had been dead and whom He had
raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served but Lazaros was one of those who sat at the
table with Him. And Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the Feet of Jesus and wiped Them with
her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. And one of His Disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,
who would betray Him, said: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This
he said - not that he cared for the poor - but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what
was put in it.
But Jesus said: “Leave her alone; she has kept this for the Day of My Burial. For the poor you have with you
always, but Me you do not have always.”
Now a great many of the Hebrews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but so that they might
also see Lazaros whom He had raised from the dead. However, the Chief Priests plotted to put Lazaros to death also,
because on account of him, many of the Hebrews had gone away and believed in Jesus.
The next day a great multitude who had gone to the Feast, when they heard that Jesus was going to Jerusalem, took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the
Lord! The King of Israel!” And Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat upon it, as it is written: “Fear not,
daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting upon a donkey’s colt.” His Disciples did not understand these
things at first; but when Jesus was Glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that
they had done these things to Him. Therefore, the people who were with Him when He called Lazaros out of his tomb,
and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For that reason the people also met Him because they heard that He had
done that Sign.
This was the third Passover that is mentioned by St John fragrant oil had been poured, what good was a
the Divine Theologian in his Holy Gospel and it is the rebuke?
setting for the final week of our Lord and Saviour’s “Likewise, if you see anyone providing a Sacred Vessel or
earthly Ministry, which is narrated in careful detail. Ornament for the walls of a church, do not spoil his
❃ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD ALREADY BEEN zeal. But if beforehand he asks about it, command
GLORIFIED THROUGH HIS SIGNS (DIVINE MIRACLES) him to give instead to the poor.” (ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM)
AND WORDS, AND IT REMAINED FOR HIM TO BE JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS MOTIVATED BY HIS INSATIABLE GREED
ULTIMATELY GLORIFIED THROUGH HIS DEATH AND WHILE THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE MOTIVATED BY
RESURRECTION. THEIR VIRTUE OF CHARITY/LOVE.
The other Disciples had made the same sort of comment The fact that our Lord Jesus put such a greedy thief like
as Judas Iscariot concerning the expensive oil of Judas Iscariot in charge of the money, shows that BY
spikenard but with very different motives to his. EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE HE TRIED TO SAVE JUDAS
At the house of Simon the Leper – (the one grateful leper in ISCARIOT: Christ fulfilled Judas Iscariot’s lust for money
a group of ten whom our Lord Jesus had healed) – a by entrusting him with their limited funds and He
woman also used very expensive fragrant oil with which allowed him to exercise Apostolic Authority.
to anoint His Head and although the Disciples Our Lord also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, just as He
protested at the extravagance, our Lord accepted that did to each of His other Disciples, and HE ALLOWED
anointing as an honour from someone who had newly JUDAS ISCARIOT TO PARTAKE OF THEIR LAST SUPPER -
discovered Faith in Him. FROM THE SAME TABLE OF HIS MYSTICAL SUPPER – THE
He also accepted her loving gesture as a Sign of His VERY FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST/COMMUNION.
approaching Burial. (MATTHEW 26:6 - 13) YET, DESPITE ALL THAT, JUDAS ISCARIOT NEVER OVERCAME
HIS TERRIBLE GREED AND SELFISHNESS.
Nevertheless, according to St John Chrysostom, His
WHEN JUDAS ISCARIOT IS REFERRED TO AS BEING “ONE OF
Disciples were not wrong in principle because MERCY THE TWELVE,” IT EMPHASISES THE DEPTH AND EXTENT
SHOWN TO THE POOR IS MORE FITTING THAN OUTWARD OF HIS FATAL BETRAYAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
SIGNS OR GESTURES SHOWN EVEN TO GOD. (MATTHEW 25:40; WHO ACCEPTED HIM INTO THE INNER SANCTUM OF HIS
JAMES 1:27)
EARTHLY MINISTRY.
However, the Disciples did not understand that ONCE SUCH
A GIFT HAD BEEN GIVEN, IT WAS A GREATER MERCY TO ❃ It proves and emphasises HOW SHOCKING,
ACCEPT IT WITH LOVE – AGAPE. DEVASTATING AND DANGEROUS THOUGHTLESS,
“If anyone had asked Christ before the woman did this, He SELF-SERVING MOTIVES REALLY ARE – BOTH
TOWARDS GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS!
would not have approved it. But after she had done it,
He looked only to the motive itself. For after the

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TRUST IS A PRICELESS, IRREPLACEABLE GIFT WE GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER.
IF THAT TRUST IS BROKEN OR DAMAGED, IT CAN NEVER BE REPAIRED OR
REGAINED.
CONSEQUENTLY, IF WE BREAK THE TRUST OF OTHERS – WHETHER IN US OR
IN OTHERS - WE WILL BE SEVERELY JUDGED DUE TO THE INESTIMABLE
AND IRREPARABLE DAMAGE AND HURT IT CAUSES EVERYONE
CONCERNED!
THEREFORE, WITHOUT FAIL TREAT THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF TRUST WITH
THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CARE – AND NEVER FOR A MOMENT THINK
THAT LIES, DECEPTION, THEFT, ETC WILL REMAIN A HIDDEN SECRET!
Palm Sunday – the Beginning of Holy Week
Throughout the entire history of the known world, men have
conquered other men. Rulers have conquered cities.
Emperors have conquered entire nations.
At times, Kings have striven to conquer the entire world.
But there remains one uncharted territory that has eluded
men of power all throughout history.
This unconquered territory is THE HUMAN HEART, AND ITS
SOLE CONQUEROR IS CHRIST OUR KING.
Today we celebrate together one of the Great Feasts of the
Holy Church calendar- the joyous Feast of Palm Sunday.
Today we gather together to celebrate Christ’s Triumphant
Entry into the city of Jerusalem.
Today we celebrate Christ as our King Who enters our own
personal Jerusalem - our hearts and souls!
Today’s Feast Day is a momentary Festival of Joy and
celebration, because tonight we begin the final leg of
our Journey towards Holy Pascha.
Our mood changes from one of Joy this morning to one of
solemnity - almost of sorrow - this evening as we lead
up to the Greatest Sacrifice of all that our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ performed for us on His Cross.
The Feast of Palm Sunday has been celebrated in our Holy
Church since the earliest days of Christianity, but the use
of palm branches in connection with religious
celebrations goes all the way back to ancient and Old
Covenant times.
Oddly enough palm trees did not grow naturally around the
city of Jerusalem, so the people would have to purchase
imported palms branches for such celebrations - in
particular the Old Covenant Feast of Tabernacles, which
was celebrated at the Temple in Jerusalem.
The palm branches were used as a visual means of
proclaiming the Divine Sovereignty of God as the One
True King of the Israelites.
With the expectation of the Great Messiah, and the Events of
Christ’s Sacred Ministry on earth, word travelled quickly
around Judea that our Lord Jesus was the One of Whom
the Holy Prophets had spoken about and Whom
everyone was expecting.
Yesterday we celebrated Christ’s Divine Miracle of raising St
Lazaros from the dead (after four days when
decomposition had already begun!) - one of the
greatest of His Divine Miracles, which foreshadowed
Christ’s Glorious Resurrection - Holy Pascha - which we
will so joyfully celebrate next Sunday.
At that time, everyone was convinced that our Lord Jesus of
Nazareth was indeed the long-awaited Messiah-King
Who would save the Israelites from the oppression of the
occupying Roman Empire.
Our Lord Jesus certainly fulfilled the Holy Prophecy of St
Zachariah, by entering Jerusalem on a humble donkey.
All of Israel had gone to Jerusalem in preparation for the
Great Feast of Pascha – the Hebrew Feast of Holy
Passover - and Christ our True King and Saviour,
entered that Holy City as our Most Glorious Salvific King
Who would Save Israel not from the tyranny of the
Roman Empire, but from the even worse and more
destructive Curse of Death through His own Death and
His Glorious Resurrection – returning to us before His
Ascension into Heaven, to show us that – without a
doubt – we, too, would be Resurrected on that Great and
Final Day of His Judgement.
For Orthodox Christians around the world, we celebrate
these wonderful Holy Events as they happened - not only
in the past, but as they also happen today.
We celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ as our Glorious and Most
Beloved King Who enters our hearts and souls - our own
personal Jerusalem.
However, we must first examine ourselves closely
throughout this Holy Week of our Spiritual Journey - to
see if our Triumphant Lord and King is able to enter?
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SOONER OR LATER, GOD WILL EXPOSE OUR WICKEDNESS TO THE BRIGHT
LIGHT OF HIS DIVINE TRUTH FOR THE WHOLE UNIVERSE TO BEHOLD!
ALWAYS BE ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE
THEM TO BE TO YOU!!
EXPOSURE OF OUR SINS IS FAR MORE DEVASTING AND SHAMEFUL THAN WE
CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND – SO WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN
STEADFASTLY RIGHTEOUS AND TRUSTWORTHY THROUGH CONSTANT
PRAYERS FOR GUIDANCE AND SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE!
❃ BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SINS WHEN YOU COMMIT THEM OR ARE
TEMPTED TO DO SO, RATHER THAN WHEN YOU REPENT THEM AND
CONFESS THEM BEFORE GOD AND HIS HOLY PRIESTHOOD.
We must prepare our hearts and souls to ensure that there
is suitable, fitting and worthy accommodation for Him to
rule as our Lord, Master, Saviour and King!
We must ensure that the doors of our heart and soul are not
locked through the rust and grime of sinful, unrepented
habits.
Furthermore, all too often, although we invite Christ to enter
us, He is unable to do so – because there is already
another dark and unworthy occupant filling us to
capacity — it is ourselves – our self-indulgent and
arrogant egos!
In order to solve this tragic problem we must eradicate the
filth, erosion and darkness of Spiritual Stubbornness,
disobedience and vanity and fill our being with the
sincere humility and Repentance, for only then are we
able to surrender ourselves willingly and eagerly to the
Divine Will of our Loving God.
Only then can we joyfully and expectantly welcome our Lord
God – the Holy Trinity – to dwell within us.
O what great Joy it is to surrender ourselves to the One True
God Who granted us Life!
We are constantly tightly bound, restricted and held captive
by all the temporal things of this short life.
We are prisoners of our own selves, of this fallen world, of
our careers, of money, of the politicians who rule over us
- we are especially slaves to our own unbridled passions!
The only way to find True Peace, to find True Happiness, to
experience True Love is to surrender ourselves to God -
to make Him our only Lord, Master, King and Saviour -
to live in total Communion with Him.
And the manner whereby we turn our heart and soul from
the fallen and dark kingdom of the self – the ego -
towards the Blissful Eternal Kingdom of God is through
CONSTANT DAILY PRAYER, REFLECTION, AND
MEDITATION, FREQUENT HOLY COMMUNION, FREQUENT
CONFESSION, CONSTANT PARTICIPATION IN HOLY
SERVICES, READING AND CONTEMPLATING AND THEN
APPLYING THE SACRED LESSONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE
AND THE GOD-INSPIRED WRITINGS OF OUR HOLY CHURCH
FATHERS AND MOTHERS TO OUR LIFE – I.E. OUR LIFE IN
CHRIST!
So many people complain that they “can’t find time” to
come to Church, they “can’t find time” to pray and read
Holy Scripture, they “can’t find time” to Fast, or go to
Confession and Holy Communion.
The reason they “can’t find time” is because THEY ARE
SLAVES TO THEIR OWN SELF-INDULGENT AND ARROGANT
SELVES - TO THEIR OWN SELF-ABSORBED WILL.
If we don’t have time for God, then why on earth should God
have any time for us?
YET OUR MOST LOVING GOD ALWAYS HAS TIME FOR US.
He is constantly knocking at the door to our hearts and
souls - to our lives - and gently asking us to let Him in.
❃ OUR LORD GOD WANTS TO BE WITH HIS MOST BELOVED
CREATURES - MANKIND – BECAUSE HE REALLY DOES
LOVE US WITHOUT EXCEPTION YET HE NEVER FORCES
US AGAINST OUR WILL AND WAITS WITH INFINITE
PATIENCE FOR US TO TURN TO HIM AND WELCOME
HIM INTO OUR LIVES!
Today, as we receive our little palm crosses at the end of the
Divine Liturgy.
Let us take them to our homes and place them somewhere
where we can always see them.
Let these little palm crosses remind us that our Lord Jesus
Christ is the Eternal King and Saviour of us and our
families, that He is the Eternal King and Lord of our
heart and soul, that He is our Only True Happiness and
Purpose of our lives.
And if we do proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ as our True
King, Master and Saviour, let us always make time for
Him in our daily life!
Let us always be aware and may we never forget - Christ
our Lord is the only One with Whom we hope to be in
Eternity!
17 April 2011 13
Let us always keep in mind that our careers, our education,
our finances, our homes - all of the basic material needs
in our lives - are only temporary – only for use in this
very short, temporary preparatory period before Eternity!
Let us prioritise and place our Lord Jesus Christ – our
Triumphant, Loving and Most Benevolent Eternal King as
the primary concern of our short earthly lives.
Only by committing ourselves to our Life in Christ can we
rest assured of finding True Peace, Love and Joy – even
in this tragic, darkened, confused and complex fallen
world.
Palm Sunday & Hearing the Word of God
I am convinced after years of preaching and listening to
preaching that THE BULK OF SCRIPTURE HAS BECOME
LOST TO OUR EARS. WE HEAR IT, BUT FAIL TO “HEAR” IT.
And I do not mean this merely in the moral sense
Rather, I am
(DOUBTLESS WE FAIL TO BE “DOERS” OF THE WORD).
aware of a kind of dullness, of seeing a very narrow set
of things that become the lens through which we see
and understand.
WE READ AMAZING STATEMENTS AS THOUGH THEY WERE
COMMONPLACE, AND WE MAKE COMMONPLACE THAT
WHICH SHOULD BE UTTERLY ASTOUNDING.
Much of my conviction on this matter has come in the last
12 years or more and my immersion into the Services of
the Orthodox Church. These Services, long and with
ample “Hymnography” that is but a poetic commentary
on the Scriptures and Doctrines that surround any
particular Feast, are probably the richest surviving
engagement with the Word of God to be found in a 21st
century Church. Here no Reformation has occurred and
reduced all Scripture to a “riff” on Justification by Faith,
or a subset of Calvin’s paradigms. Here no
Enlightenment has shown with its darkness of doubt and
obfuscation.
Instead, there is A CONSTANT WONDERMENT AT THE
SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES, AS IF THE HYMNOGRAPHER
WERE DISCOVERING SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME OR
HAD FOUND A RARE GEM TO SHARE TO ANY WILLING TO
LISTEN – AND ALL IN THE FORM OF PRAISE AND
THANKSGIVING TO GOD.
It is true to say that IN ORTHODOXY, “THEOLOGY SINGS.” It is
possible to be lulled into a near trance as the Choir or
Chanter utters Mysteries to God and to miss Treasures
that should truly astound. But CAREFUL ATTENTION IS
ALWAYS REWARDED WITH SOMETHING YOU NEVER
CONSIDERED.
I am further convinced that our modern complacencies have
made us deaf to the form and shape of Holy Scripture so
that we listen like sceptics and frown like Pharisees. In
our modern context MOST PEOPLE HAVE EITHER BEEN
SHAPED BY FUNDAMENTALIST LITERALISM; BY
MODERNIST HISTORICAL CRITICISM; OR BY NEARLY
NOTHING AT ALL. IN EACH CASE THE SCRIPTURES WILL
NOT SING – THEY WILL NOT YIELD UP THEIR TREASURES.
I was struck by a particular case this evening – at the Vigil
for Palm Sunday. The Gospel Account in question was
the Matthean version of Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem:
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to
Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two
Disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite
you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a
colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If any
one says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has
need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.”
This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the
Prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold,
your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted
on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.” The
Disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
they brought the ass and the colt, and put their
garments on them, and He sat thereon.
MODERN HISTORICAL CRITICISM HEARS IN THIS ONLY THE
“FOOLISHNESS” OF ST MATTHEW who has cited the
Prophecy in Zechariah that “...your King is coming to
you…mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of
an ass...” and has crafted his story in precisely that
manner, placing our Lord Jesus astride two animals. The
same critics will note that in other Gospel accounts
Christ is only on a “foal of an ass,” i.e., one animal.
Historical Critics have a field day with such problems (I
WAS FIRST CONFRONTED WITH THIS “DISCREPANCY” IN MY SOPHOMORE
YEAR OF COLLEGE – IT WAS PRESENTED AS IF THE PROFESSOR HAD
NOTICED SOMETHING NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE). Modern
14. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED Palm Sunday – Christ’s Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
Let us with warm and welcoming hearts and souls surrender
ourselves to the Joyous Light and Life of Christ our Lord
and Eternal King, “...shouting, proclaiming and crying:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbaoth! Heaven and
earth are full of Thy Glory! Hosanna in the
Highest! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of
the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!!!
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “PALM SUNDAY” (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermons_different.htm#_Toc70638482
fundamentalists will rush to defend the integrity of the
Gospel Accounts: “Two different eye-witnesses reported
on the same thing and one emphasized one thing and
the other emphasized another.”
BOTH EXPLANATIONS LACK IMAGINATION AND ARE PRECISELY
THE SORT OF BLINDNESS THAT AFFLICTS SO MUCH
MODERN READING OF SCRIPTURE.
Listening to the Hymnody for the Vigil of Palm Sunday, THE
HYMNOGRAPHER, WITHOUT APOLOGY FOR THE
DISCREPANCY, RACES TO IT AND DECLARES: “O
Gracious Lord, Who rides upon the Cherubim, Who art
Praised by the Seraphim, now Thou dost ride like
David on the foal of an ass; the children sing
Hymns worthy of God, while the Priests and
Scribes blaspheme against Thee. By riding an
untamed colt, Thou hast prefigured the Salvation
of the Gentiles, those wild beasts, who will be
brought from unbelief to Faith! Glory to Thee, O
Merciful Christ. Our King and the Lover of mankind!
Here (THE READING HAD BEEN FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST
MATTHEW) the second beast is handled under the Mystery
of the Faith. CHRIST, LORD OF ISRAEL, THE ASS WHO HAS
BEEN TAMED, AND LORD OF THE GENTILES, THE
UNTAMED FOAL, IS THE LORD OF BOTH! Modern critics
might race to cry “foul” (NO PUN INTENDED), but THE
ANCIENT HYMNOGRAPHER HAS COME CLOSER TO THE
HEART OF SCRIPTURE THAN EITHER THE MODERN
SCEPTIC OR THE MODERN LITERALIST WILL EVER KNOW.
THE INSPIRED IMAGINATION OF THE EARLY CHURCH THAT
TOOK THE “APOSTOLIC HYPOTHESIS,” AS ST IRENAEUS
WOULD CALL IT, AND FASHIONED THE FRAMEWORK ON
WHICH THE OLD TESTAMENT WOULD BE READ, IS THE
SAME EARLY CHURCH THAT GAVE US THE HOLY GOSPELS
(DIVINELY INSPIRED INDEED!) and the other Writings of
Scripture. Their treatment of Prophecy is not obvious.
Where is the three day Resurrection prophesied? (ONLY IN
JONAH’S SOJOURN IN THE BELLY OF THE WHALE – NOW THAT IS
INSPIRED INTERPRETATION!)
THE WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVED THAT
EVERYTHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHEN READ
RIGHTLY WOULD YIELD INSIGHT INTO THE MESSIAH AND
THE MYSTERY OF OUR SALVATION.
But their creative insight (AGAIN, I BELIEVE IT IS INSPIRED) is far
removed from the flat-footed nonsense that we hear out
of modern fundamentalist “prophetic” scholars, whose
reading of the Old Testament is almost as poorly
constructed as the 19th century false prophecies of the
book of Mormon! Neither bear any resemblance to the
treatment of Prophecy found in the New Testament.
And thus I return to my original point: WE HAVE
BECOME DEAF. WE LISTEN WITH EARS EITHER HARDENED
BY MODERNIST SCEPTICISM, OR BY A FALSE LITERALISM
THAT HAS SUBSTITUTED DARBYITE NONSENSE FOR THE
APOSTOLIC FAITH, OR REDUCED SCRIPTURE TO DELICATE
HARMONIZATIONS.
NONE OF THEM HAVE THE BOLDNESS AND AUDACITY OF THE
PATRISTIC HYMNOGRAPHERS WHO STOOD IN THE PROPER
LINE OF SUCCESSION, PROCLAIMING THE FAITH AS IT
HAD BEEN TAUGHT AND RECEIVED AND CONTINUING TO
EXPOUND ITS MYSTERIES.
Thank God that somewhere in this modern world, you can
still STAND AND LISTEN TO THE WONDERS OF OUR
SALVATION, SUNG AND UNRAVELED BEFORE THE
UNBELIEVING HEART OF MANKIND.
Glory to God who has so Loved mankind!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “PALM SUNDAY AND HEARING THE WORD OF GOD” BY FATHER
STEPHEN (FREEMAN) – AN ORTHODOX PRIEST FROM EAST TENESEE, USA
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2010/03/
Tonight is the first Service of Holy Week so
Holy Week Books are essential for this entire
week: Our Eternal Gratitude to Father George
Papadeas for his wonderful Labour of Love!
17 April 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the So n, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Mo st Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, T heotokos, ye t Ever
Virgin, to gether with all the Saints. And let us commi t ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ
our God. Ame n.

.
24 April 2011

Apolytikion Of Holy Pascha

✞Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato
Thanaton patistas, ke tis en tis
mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos!
Ipakoi – TONE 4
Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton
lithon apokilisthenta tou Mnimatos, ikouon ek tou
Angelou: ton en foti aidio iparhonta, meta nekron ti
zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana;
damete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios,
thanatosas ton thanaton; oti iparhi Theou Ios tou
sozontos to genos ton anthropon.
✞ Christ has Risen from the dead, by
Death trampling upon Death, and
has bestowed Life to those in the
tombs!
Arriving before dawn, Mary’s companions found the
stone rolled away from the Tomb and heard these
words from the Angel: Why do you seek as Man
among the dead, the One Who exists in Eternal Light?
Behold, the burial shrouds! Go in haste and preach to
the world that the Lord has Risen, having put Death to
death! And that He is the Son of God Who Saves the
human race.

Kontakion – For Holy Pascha – Until Ascension Day

I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal
dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and
Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the
irinin doroumenos, o tis pesousi parehon Anastasin. Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to
Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One
Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.
Instead Of The Trisagion (Agios O Theos)
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. ✞As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! [3] have put on Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
ke is tous eonas ton eonon. Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
Amin Amen
✞Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! ✞You have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength!
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. ✞As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! have put on Christ: Alleluia
The Acts of the Holy Apostles of Christ According to St Luke 1 : 1 – 9
From Holy Pascha to Pentecost
The former account I made, O Theophilos, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which He was
taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given Commandments to the Apostles whom He had chosen, to
whom He also presented Himself alive after His Suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty
days, and speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
And, being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the
Promise of the Father, He said: “... which you have heard from Me; for John truly Baptised with water, but
you shall be Baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying: “Lord, will Thou at this time restore the Kingdom to
Israel?” And He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in His
own Authority. But you shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a Cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as He went up, behold, two men in white apparel stood by them,
who said: “Men of Galilee: why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus Who was taken up from you
into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) H o l y P a s c h a – The Glorious Resurrection of Christ our Saviour – 24 April 2011 15.
 The Holy Gospel According to St John 1 : 1 – 17
The Word & Son of God
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things are made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him is Life and the Life is the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not
comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a Witness, to bear witness of the Light, so
that all mankind, through him, might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That
is the True Light which gives Light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and
His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become Children of God, to
those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of mankind,
but of God.
And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory – the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the
Father – full of Grace and Truth.
John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying: “This is He of Whom I said: ‘He Who comes after me is preferred
before me, for He was before me.’”
And of His Fullness we have all received, and Grace for Grace. For the Law was given through Moses, but Grace and
Truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Paschal Vespers Service of Love
The Holy Gospel According to St John 20 : 19 – 25
Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Appears Before His Ten Disciples
Then, the same day, at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the Disciples were
assembled, for fear of the Hebrews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them: “Peace be with you!”
When He had said this, He showed them His Hands and His Side. And the Disciples were glad when they saw our Lord.
And Jesus said to them again: “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had
said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other Disciples therefore said
to him: “We have seen our Lord!” And he said to them: “Unless I see in His Wrists the print of the nails, and put my
finger into His Side, I will not believe.”
The Inspired and Eternal Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
St Gregory the
the Theologian
"Keep the Feast of the Resurrection. Be like St Peter or St John; hasten to the Sepulchre, running together, running
against one another, vying in the Noble Race. And even if you are beaten in speed, win the Victory of Zeal; not
looking into the Tomb, but going in." (CF:JOHN 20: 3 – 4) (THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. VII; EERDMANS PG. 432):
St Peter of Damaskos
"O Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Logos of God, the most will not be astonished when he perceives Thy
tender Name of our Salvation, great is Thy Glory, great boundless Wisdom?
are Thy Works, marvellous are Thy Words, 'sweeter For Thou art the Wisdom of God, the Life of all, the Joy of
also than honey and the honeycomb.' (PSALM 19:10). Angels, the Ineffable Light, the Resurrection of the
Glory to Thee, O Lord, Glory to Thee! dead, the Good Shepherd 'Who gives His Life for the
Who can Glorify and Hymn Thy Coming in the Flesh, Thy Sheep.' (JOHN 10:11)
Goodness, Power, Wisdom, Thy Life in this world and I Hymn Thy Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Burial,
Thy Teaching? Resurrection, Ascension, Thine Enthronement at the
And how is it that Thy Holy Commandments teach us the right Hand of God the Father, the Descent of the Holy
Life of Virtue so naturally and so easily? Who, having Spirit and Thy future Advent, when Thou will come with
understood Thy Commandments and other Sayings, Power and Great, Incomprehensible Glory." (THE PHILOKALIA
VOL. 3; FABER AND FABER PG. 129)
St. Gregory Palamas
"As the evil one procured our twofold death by means of The evil one clothed himself in the serpent to deceive
his single Spiritual Death, so the good Lord healed this man, but the Word of God put on man's nature to trick
twofold Death of ours through His single Bodily Death, the trickster.
and through the one Resurrection of His Body gave us He received this nature in its undeceived and pure state,
a twofold Resurrection. and kept it so to the end, offering it as Firstfruits to the
By means of His bodily Death He destroyed him who had Father for Sanctification from ourselves for ourselves."
(THE HOMILIES VOL. 1; ST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS PG. 197):
power over our souls and bodies in Death, and
rescued us from his tyranny over them both.
St John of Damascus
"The soul of our Lord, when it was Deified, descended into not believe a reproach of their unbelief, so He might
Hades, in order that, just as the Sun of Righteousness become the same to those in Hades: 'That every knee
rose for those upon the earth, so likewise He might should bow to Him, of things in heaven and things in
bring Light to those who sit under the earth in earth and things under the earth'
darkness and shadow of Death - in order that just as And thus after He had freed those who had been bound for
He brought the Message of Peace to those upon the ages, straightway He rose again from the dead,
earth, and of release to the prisoners, and of sight to showing us the Way of Resurrection." (MALACHI 4:2 – ISAIAH 9:2
the blind and became to those who believed the – ISAIAH 61:1-I PETER 3:19 - PHILIPPIANS 2:10). (AN EXACT EXPOSITION OF THE
ORTHODOX FAITH, THE NICENE AND POST NICENE FATHERS: SECOND SERIES VOL. IX;
Author of Everlasting Salvation and to those who did EERDMANS PGS. 72-73):

St Dionysios:
"... in time to come, when we are Incorruptible and
Immortal, when we have come at last to the Blessed
Inheritance of being like Christ, then, as Scripture
says, 'we shall always be with the Lord.'
In Most Holy Contemplation we shall be ever filled with the
Sight of God shining Gloriously around us as once it
shone for the Disciples at the Divine
Transfiguration. We shall have a conceptual Gift of
Light from Him and, somehow, in a way we cannot
know, we shall be United with Him and, our
Understanding carried away, Blessedly happy, we shall
be struck by His Blazing Light. Marvellously, our minds
will be like those in the Heavens Above. We shall be
'equal to Angels and Sons of God, being Sons of
the Resurrection.'”
(I THESSALONIANS 4:17- LUKE 20:36) (PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS: THE
COMPLETE WORKS; PAULIST PRESS PGS. 52-53)

16. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) H o l y P a s c h a – The Glorious Resurrection of Christ our Saviour 24 April 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Hono ur and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Ame n.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and
Glorious Lady, Maria, Theo tokos, yet E ver Virgin, to gether with all the
Saints. And let us com mit ourselves and o ne another and o ur w hole
Life to C hrist o ur Go d. Ame n.

2nd Day of Holy Pascha

Pascha
25 April 2011

St George the Great Holy Martyr & Trophy

Bearer (Transferred from 23 April)
&
St Mark the Holy Apostle & Evangelist

Evangelist

Also the Feast of St Sylvester the Abbot of Obnora Monastery, Disciple & Novice of St Sergios of Radonezh - The Holy Icon of our
Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos of Constantinople
Apolytikion Of Holy Pascha

✞Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patistas, ✞ Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death trampling
ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the
tombs!
A p o l y t i k i o n O f S t G e o r g e T h e G r e a t & V i c t o r i o u s M a r t y r – Tone 4
Os ton ehmaloton Eleftherotis, ke ton ptohon As the Liberator of prisoners, and the Protector of
Iperaspistis, asthenounton Iatros, vaileon Ipermahos, those in poverty, Physician of the sick, and
Tropeofore Megalomartis Georgie, Presveve Hristo to Defender of ruling Kings, O George Triumphant
Theo, Sothine tas psihas imon. Great Martyr, intercede with Christ our God, so that
our souls may be Saved.
Ipakoi – Tone 4
Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton Arriving before dawn, Mary’s companions found the
lithon apokilisthenta tou Mnimatos, ikouon ek tou stone rolled away from the Tomb and heard these
Angelou: ton en foti aidio iparhonta, meta nekron ti words from the Angel: Why do you seek as Man
zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana; among the dead, the One Who exists in Eternal Light?
damete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios, Behold, the burial shrouds! Go in haste and preach to
thanatosas ton thanaton; oti iparhi Theou Ios tou the world that the Lord has Risen, having put Death to
sozontos to genos ton anthropon. death! And that He is the Son of God Who Saves the
human race.
Kontakion – For Holy Pascha – Until Ascension Day
I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal
dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, Ginexi One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and
Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolis Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the
irinin doroumenos, o tis pesousi parehon Anastasin. Myrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to
Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One
Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.
Instead Of The Trisagion (Agios O Theos)
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. ✞As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! [3] have put on Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
ke is tous eonas ton eonon. Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
Amin Amen
✞Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! ✞You have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength!
✞Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. ✞As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! have put on Christ: Alleluia
Matins Gospel Luke 21 : 12 – 19
Our Lord Jesus Christ Reveals Christian Persecution & Struggle as well as the Signs of the End
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “... before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and
persecute you, delivering you up to the Synagogues and prisons.
“You will be brought before Kings and Rulers for My Name’s sake, but it will turn our for you as an occasion
for Testimony.
“Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will grant you a
mouth and Wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to
death. And you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake, but not a hair of your head shall be lost.
“By your Patience possess your souls.”

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) .....Th Sunday After Pentecost ...Th Of St Matthew/Luke - 2011 17.
 The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 12 : 1 – 11
Jerusalem is Shaken by the Persecution of King Herod Agrippa
About that time, Herod the King stretched out his hand to harass some from the Church. And he killed James the
brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Hebrews, he proceeded further to seize Peter
also.
Now it was during the Day of Unleavened Bread, so when he had arrested him, he had him imprisoned and delivered to
four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out before the people after Passover.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant Prayer was offered to God for him by the Church. And when Herod was
about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards
before the door were guarding the prison.
Now behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a Light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and
raised him up, saying: “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his wrists. And the Angel said to him: “Gird yourself
and fasten your sandals;” and he did so. And he said to Peter: “Put on your garment and follow me.”
So he went out, following the Angel, and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he was
seeing a Vision.
When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they got to the iron gate that led to the city, which opened for
them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the Angel departed from Peter.
And when he had come to himself, he said: “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His Angel, and has delivered
me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Hebrews.”
The Holy Gospel According to St John 1 : 18 – 28
St John the Baptist & Forerunner to Christ our Lord & Saviour
No one has seen God at any time. The Only Begotten Son, Who is in the Bosom of the Father, has declared Him.
Now this is the Testimony of John, when the Hebrews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him: “Who are
you?”
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed: “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him: “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said: “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered: “No.” Then they said to him: “Who are you, that we
may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘the voice of one
crying in the wilderness: Make straight the Way of the Lord!’ as the Prophet Isaiah said.”
Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked John: “Why then do you Baptise if you are not the
Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” He answered them: “I Baptise with water, but there stands One among you
Whom you do not know. It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, Whose sandal strap I am not
worthy to loosen.”
These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was Baptising.
St George the Great Holy Martyr & Trophy Bearer
This Glorious and Victorious Saint was born in Cappadocia him from death - to the great astonishment of all the
to wealthy and Virtuous Christian parents, St Gerontios witnesses.
and St Polychronia. After his father suffered Holy When he resurrected a dead man through his Prayers,
Martyrdom for Christ, his mother went to Palestine. many accepted the True Faith of Christ and among
There St George grew up and entered the Roman these was Alexandra, the wife of Emperor Diocletian,
Military, and in his twentieth year he attained the rank Athanasios, the chief pagan priest and several farmers:
of a Tribune in the service of Emperor Diocletian until Glycerios, Valerios, Donatos and Therinos.
the cruel Ruler began a terrible persecution against Finally the merciless Diocletian ordered St George and his
the Christians. own wife, St Alexandra, to be beheaded.
St George presented himself before Diocletian and Blessed St Alexandra died on the scaffold before being
courageously confessed loudly and publically that he, beheaded and St George was beheaded on 23 April
too, was a faithful Christian, whereupon he was seized 303.
and thrown into prison, to suffer indescribable Innumerable Divine Miracles have occurred throughout the
punishments. ages over the grave of St George and he has appeared
At first his feet were fastened in a stockade of wooden countless times - either in Visions or manifested
hobbles and a very heavy stone was placed on his before those who have invoked his name, imploring
chest, slowly crushing his ribs and making it almost his intercessory Prayers.
impossible to breathe. Enflamed with Love for Christ our Lord, it was not difficult
Then St George was tied to a wheel under which was a for this Holy Saint to renounce all worldly things such
board with large sharp nails and he was rotated until as rank, wealth, Imperial honour, friends and
his entire body became one bloody wound. everything else. For his devotion and Love of God, our
After that, they buried him for three days and three nights Lord has already rewarded him with the Eternal
in a lime filled pit with only his head exposed above Treasure of unfading Glory in Heaven and on earth, as
the ground. well as all the Blessing of Eternal Life in His Heavenly
St George was forced to drink a deadly poison concocted Kingdom. Furthermore, our Lord has bestowed upon
by a evil magician. St George the Great Holy Martyr and Trophy-Bearer the
However, while enduring these terrible tortures, St George Power and Authority to assist all those who suffer and
ceaseless prayed to God Who healed him and saved struggle, and who honour him by calling upon his
name, beseeching his intercessory Prayers to God.
St Mark the Apostle & Evangelist
St Mark accompanied St Peter who, in his first Epistle them in the Faith and Love of Christ. His Inspired
referred to him as his “son,” not according to the flesh Preaching was confirmed by many Miracles but when
but according to the spirit. While in Rome with St the heathens accused him of destroying their idolatry,
Peter, the Faithful begged him to record the Divine the Mayor issued an arrest warrant for St Mark, who
Teachings, Miracles and Life of our Lord Jesus Christ. fled to Pentapolis where he continued his Spiritual
Thus, St Mark wrote his Holy Gospel, and St Peter himself Labours.
attested to its Truthfulness. After two years, St Mark returned to Alexandria to the great
St Mark was appointed Bishop of Egypt by St Peter, having joy of all the Faithful, but the pagans seized him,
been sent there as the first Preacher of the Holy bound him tightly and dragged him through the city
Gospel in Africa. Despite the oppression and malice of until, near death, he was imprisoned. The following
paganism, by Divine Grace St Mark succeeded in day, once again he was dragged through the streets,
sowing the first seeds of Christianity throughout Libya, but as St Mark prayed: "Into Thy Hands, O Lord, I give
Ammonicia, Pentapolis and, finally, Alexandria, where up my spirit..." his soul was translated to Heaven.
he established the Holy Church of God, installed His Sanctified Relics have continued to grant healing and
Bishops, Priests and Deacons, firmly establishing his intercessory Prayers are sought by the Faithful.

18. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 2nd Day of Holy Pascha – St George the Great Martyr – 25 April 2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the So n, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen.
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glori ous Lady, Maria,
Theotokos, ye t Ever Virgi n, to gether wi th all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to C hrist o ur God. Amen.

First Friday of Holy Pascha 29 April 2011

The Source of Life
Bright Friday
Also the Feast of St Theognes, St Rufus, St Antipater, St Theostihos, St Artemas, St
Magnos, St Theodotos, St Thumasios & St Philemon, Holy Martyrs of Cyzikos – St memnon the Wonderworker – St Diodoros
& St Rhodopianos the Deacon-Martyrs of Aprodisias, Anatolia - St Basil of Ostrog, Montenegro, Serbia - St John Valaha of
Romania – St Nektarios of Optina - The Holy Martyrs of Lazeti, Georgia - St Endelion the Recluse of Cornwall
Apolytikion Of Holy Pascha
✞Hristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton ✞ Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death
patistas, ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin trampling upon Death, and has bestowed
harisamenos! Life to those in the tombs!
Ipakoi – Tone 4
Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton Arriving before dawn, Mary’s companions found the
lithon apokilisthenta tou mnimatos, ikouon ek tou stone rolled away from the Tomb and heard these
Angelou: ton en foti aidio iparhonta, meta nekron ti words from the Angel: Who do you seek as Man
zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana; among the dead, the One Who exists in Eternal
damete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios,
Light? Behold, the burial shrouds; go in haste and
thanatosas ton thanaton; oti iparhi Theou Ios tou
preach to the world that the Lord has Risen, having
sozontos to genos ton anthropon.
put Death to death; and that He is the Son of God
Who Saves the human race.
Kontakion Of The Source Of Life – Tone (8) Plagal 4
Ex akenotou Sou Pigis Theoharitote, epivravevis mi O Lady Graced by God, Thou reward me by letting
pigazousa ta namata, aenaos tis sis Haritos iper gush forth, beyond reason, the Ever8flowing Waters
Logon. Ton gar Logon os tekousan iper ennian, of Thy Grace from Thy perpetual Spring. I entreat
iketevo Se drosizin me Si Hariti. Ina Krazo Si: Here, Thee, who bore the Logos, in a manner beyond
Idor Sotirion.
comprehension, to refresh me in Thy Grace that I
may cry out, "Hail Redemptive Waters!"
Kontakion – For Holy Pascha – Until Ascension Day
I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal
tin dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and
Ginexi Miroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Thou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the
Apostolis irinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi Myrrh8bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And
parehon Anastasin. to Thine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the
One Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.
Instead Of The Agios O Theos
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! [3] have put on Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
ke is tous eonas ton eonon. Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! Have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ,
Allilouia! have put on Christ: Alleluia
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 3 : 1 – 8
A Lame Man is Healed
Peter and John went up together to the Temple at the Hour of Prayer, the Ninth Hour. And a certain man who had been
lame from his mother’s womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple, which is called ‘Beautiful,’
to ask alms from those who entered the Temple. And seeing Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for
alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said: “Look at us.” And he gave them his attention, expecting to
receive something from them.
And Peter said: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give you: in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received Strength. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered the Temple with them – walking, leaping and
praising God.

(DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 1st Friday of Holy Pascha – The Source of Life 29 April 2011 19.
 The Holy Gospel According to St John 2 : 12 – 22
Our Lord Jesus Christ Cleanses the Temple
At that time, Jesus went down to Capernaum together with His Mother, His Brothers and His Disciples; and they did not
stay there many days.
Now the Passover of the Hebrews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the Temple those who
sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers who were doing business. When He had made a whip of
cords, He drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and
overturned the tables.
And He said to those who sold doves: “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s House a house of
merchandise!”
Then His Disciples remembered that it was written: “Zeal for Thy House has eaten Me up!”
So the Hebrews answered and said to Him: “What Signs dost Thou show to us, since Thou do these things?” Jesus
answered and said to them: “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will Raise it up.” And the Hebrews
said: “It has taken forty six years to build this Temple, and Thou will Raise it up in three days?!”
But He was speaking of the Temple of His Body. Therefore, when He had Risen from the dead, His Disciples
remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesus had spoken.
Bright Week
BRIGHT WEEK OR RENEWAL WEEK IS the name used by the RESPONSORIALLY WITH THE PASCHAL
Eastern Orthodox Church for THE PERIOD OF SEVEN TROPARION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DIVINE
DAYS BEGINNING ON HOLY PASCHA (EASTER SUNDAY) LITURGY, IN PLACE OF PSALM 103 AT THE
AND CONTINUING UP TO (BUT NOT INCLUDING) THE BEGINNING OF VESPERS AND IN PLACE OF THE
FOLLOWING SUNDAY, WHICH IS KNOWN AS “THOMAS SIX PSALMS (I.E., PSALM 3, 37, 69, 87, 102 & 142) AT THE
SUNDAY.” BEGINNING OF MATINS.
THE ENTIRE WEEK FOLLOWING HOLY PASCHA IS SET ASIDE ➤ The Holy Services of Bright Week are all CHANTED
BY ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF JOYFULLY AND NOTHING IS READ.
THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD AND ➤ Normally, the entire Psalter is read during the
SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST – AND IS KNOWN AS THE course of a week (and twice a week during
EIGHTH DAY. Great Lent), but DURING BRIGHT WEEK NO
According to the 66th Canon of the Council in Trullo: PSALMS AT ALL ARE READ.
"...from the Holy Day of the Resurrection of Christ our ➤ EACH OF THE LITTLE HOURS IS REPLACED BY A
God until New Sunday (i.e. Thomas Sunday) for a SPECIAL SERVICE KNOWN AS THE PASCHAL
whole week the Faithful in the Holy Churches should HOURS. THE NORMAL PRAYERS BEFORE
continually be repeating Psalms, Hymns and COMMUNION ARE REPLACED WITH THE PASCHAL
CANON.
Spiritual Songs, rejoicing and celebrating Christ,
➤ THE HYMNS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE CHANTED ON
and attending to the Reading of the Divine SUNDAY OF HOLY PASCHA, WITH THE EXCEPTION
Scriptures and delighting in the Holy Mysteries. OF A FEW PARTS THAT ARE TAKEN FROM THE
“For in this way shall we be exalted with Christ; SUNDAY RESURRECTION OCTOECHOS (the "Book
raised up together with Him. For this reason on the of the Eight Tones").
aforesaid days that by no means there be any horse ➤ EACH DAY HAS A DIFFERENT TONE ASSIGNED TO IT:
races or any other public spectacle". (skipping Tone Seven, the "Grave Tone"):
Liturgical Aspects: Sunday of Pascha (Tone One)
✽ THE ENTIRE WEEK IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE Bright Monday (Tone Two)
CONTINUOUS DAY, AND THE NAME OF EACH DAY OF Bright Tuesday (Tone Three)
THE WEEK IS CALLED "BRIGHT" (e.g., "Bright Bright Wednesday (Tone Four)
Monday"). Bright Thursday (Tone Five)
➤ EVERY SERVICE DURING BRIGHT WEEK IS Bright Friday (Tone Six)
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN AT ANY OTHER
Bright Saturday (Tone Eight)
TIME OF THE YEAR.
➤ Thus only DURING BRIGHT WEEK THE PASCHAL
VERSES (I.E., PSALM VERSES 68:1, 2, 3 & 118:24) ARE SUNG
The Source of Life or The Life-giving Spring
There once was a beautiful church in Constantinople miraculous spring at his own personal expense, and
dedicated to our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos, which the water continued to work miraculous cures for all
had been built in the fifth century by Emperor Leo the the Faithful.
Great in the Seven Towers district. Therefore, it became known as "The Life-Giving
Before becoming Emperor, St Leo was walking in a Spring."
wooded area where he met a blind man who was After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the church was
thirsty and who asked St Leo to help him find some torn down by the Moslems, and the stones were used
water to drink. to build a mosque. Only a small chapel remained at
Although St Leo had agreed to search for water, he was the site of the church. Twenty-five steps led down into
unable to find any until he heard a mysterious voice the chapel, which had a window in the roof to let the
telling him that there was a source of water nearby. light in. The Holy Spring was still there, surrounded by
He continued his search yet found neither a spring nor a a railing.
little stream. After the Greek Revolution in 1821, even this little chapel
Once again he heard the voice directing him but was destroyed and the Life-giving Spring was buried
addressing him rather unexpectedly as "Emperor Leo” under the rubble.
and telling him to go further into the thickest area of Christians later obtained permission to rebuild the chapel,
the forest where he would find the water for which he and work began in July 1833. While workmen were
searched. clearing the ground, they uncovered the foundations
Furthermore, he was instructed to take a little of the of the earlier church so the Sultan allowed them to
cloudy water in his hands and give it to the blind man build not just a chapel, but a new and beautiful church
to drink. Then he was to put some of the clay, which on the foundations of the old one.
was located at the site of the spring, on the blind Construction began on 14 September 1833, and Patriarch
man’s eyes. Constantine II Consecrated it on 2 February 1835,
The voice also said: “Then you shall know who I am." dedicating it to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos.
Obediently St Leo followed all the instructions, and The Turks desecrated and destroyed the church again on
immediately the blind man regained his sight! September 6, 1955.
After St Leo became Emperor of the Byzantine Empire - A smaller church now stands on the site, and the waters of
just as our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos had the Life-Giving Spring continue to work Divine
prophesied – he had a church built over the site of the Miracles.

20. (DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED) 1st Friday of Holy Pascha – The Source of Life 29 April 2011