The Prophetic Voice of Saint Justin Popovich on the Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Synod

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

With the year 2025 there has dawned a special feature, because we celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Synod in Nicaea, Bithynia, in 325 AD, which confronted the heresy of Arius and his followers who maintained that Christ is not God, but the first formation of creation. Thus, the 318 God-bearing Fathers compiled the first articles of faith, the so-called “Symbol of Faith”, the well-known “Creed”, which was supplemented and completed by the Second Ecumenical Synod in the year 381 in Constantinople.

For this anniversary of the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Synod, Theological Conferences have been and will be held, and speeches will be given to present its entire theological work.

On this occasion, I would like to present the basic thoughts of a text by Saint Justin Popovich the New Confessor, which he wrote in 1925, that is, one hundred years ago, when even then they were celebrating the 1,600th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Synod, and which is still relevant today with the new anniversary of 1700 years.

Holy New Martyr Angelis in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Reverent, a lover of silence, a lover of worship services and pious, Angelis practiced the profession of doctor in Argos. In a religious discussion with a Frenchman, he defended the Christian faith and agreed to duel without a weapon with the Frenchman, who was armed. The Frenchman cowered in front of Angelis' faith and Angelis was officially declared the winner. After this victory, Angelis decided to be martyred for Christ. He therefore abandoned medicine and locked himself in the attic of his house. Suddenly, however, for unknown reasons, on Lazarus Saturday in the year 1813, he denied Christ and became a Muslim. Because he created an incident in a cafe in Nafplio, while he was in a state of intoxication, the authorities exiled him to Chios. There, repentant, he showered the churches with tears of repentance every day and prayed. He also gave the Turks excuses, seeking martyrdom. Once he entered a customs house and confessed that he was a Christian. The Turks beat him mercilessly and locked him in irons in the prison of the Castle of Chios. Because he remained steadfast in his Christian confession, he was beheaded on December 3, 1813.

Prologue in Sermons: December 3

The Redemption from the Prisons of Debtors Holds Great Value in the Eyes of God

December 3

(Commemoration of the Venerable Theodoulos the Eparch)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Among other works of physical mercy, one can also include the redemption of insolvent debtors from prison or the general easing of their lot. The value of this deed in the eyes of God can be seen in the following incident, which occurred in the life of Venerable Theodoulus, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates on the third day of December.

Saint Porphyrios Traveled Back in Time

1. Experiencing the Events at Jacob's Well

I remember one of his last Divine Liturgies (before he even went blind).

It was the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman and he came out to read the Holy Gospel (John, Chapter 4 verses 5-42). His face was shining and his voice had changed.

The way he recited the Gospel passage, which was also extensive, made a great impression on the entire congregation. It had touched us all. The Saint seemed to have no contact with the present and leaned on the pillar of the Beautiful Gate so as not to fall.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy we approached him and said to him “Elder, what a beautiful Gospel that was today!”

"Never A Woman Priest. Never!" (Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)

One night when I happened to take Elder Porphyrios to Tourkovounia, we sat outside his house until late and he talked to me about various spiritual topics, some of which I understood and others not.

I remember him telling me that we should tell everything in confession and not to just anyone, but only to the priest who is a spiritual father.

He then told me the following:

“A woman was talking to someone else about confession. She revealed to her that she doesn’t go to a priest, but to a woman who gathers many women and confesses them. As soon as I heard this, I said to her:

'Hey, bring her here, so we can save her.'