A Homily on the Consolation of the Mother of God: On the Beneficial Effect of the Temple of God on the Soul of Man (Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov)

A Homily on the Consolation of the Mother of God

On the Beneficial Effect of the Temple of God on the Soul of Man

By Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Dear brothers and sisters, it is with indescribable joy and delight that we have just glorified the Intercessor of the Christian race, the Most-Blessed Virgin Mary, who was vouchsafed to be the Mother of our Incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. The Most Holy Virgin Mary, as you know, was given to the Temple of God as a three-year-old Maiden, where She remained until Her maturity. In the Temple of God, under the guidance of pious priests and other righteous men and women, as well as invisible instructors – the Angels of God and the Lord Himself, She acquired those spiritual and moral qualities that made Her the Mother of the incarnate Son of God.

Homily Two for the Entrance of the Theotokos (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

By St. John of Kronstadt

Let us truly praise Mary the Child of God,
whom long ago the assembly of prophets foretold,
speaking of her as jar of manna and Aaron’s rod,
tablet of the Law and uncut mountain.
For she is led today into the Holy of Holies,
there to be brought up to the Lord. 

(Hymn Of Light, Tone 3)

Recently the Church celebrated the glorious Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary from the righteous barren parents Joachim and Anna. Mary, chosen by God from the whole human race, to be the Mother of the Son of God, as the invaluable Treasure of all virtues, as a ripe ear of life, was destined to give to the world the true bread of life - Christ.

Today we celebrate with the Church the feast of Her glorious Entrance into the Temple of God, in the holy city of Jerusalem. Before Her conception and birth, the holy parents, distressed by barrenness, praying to God for the gift of a child, made a vow to dedicate their child to Him, if one were given to them, and when such was given, they would dedicate them to God and solemnly lead them into the temple, accompanied by pure virgins, with burning lamps. The righteous priest, the elder Zechariah, the parent of the Forerunner, led the Holy Virgin into the Holy of Holies, into which no one could enter except the High Priest, where the Ark of the Covenant of God, the miraculous manna, the tablets of stone, and Aaron's rod that had sprouted were kept. Here, in the rooms arranged in the temple, she was educated under the supervision and guidance of the older virgins in literacy, the law of God, prayer and women's handicrafts. A heavenly angel brought her heavenly food and talked with her about the Creator of all that exists and His wondrous dispensation of human salvation. Her education in the temple continued until she was fourteen years old, when, according to Jewish law, it had to end, and the virgins had to leave the temple and settle in the house of their parents or relatives. So the Most Holy Virgin, at the age of fourteen, was taken to the house of her betrothed, the elder Joseph the Righteous, where the glorious Annunciation of the Archangel took place.

November: Day 21: Teaching 1: Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple

 

November: Day 21: Teaching 1:
Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple
 
(Spiritual Pursuits Should Not Be Neglected)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Most Holy Virgin Mary, three years after her birth, was brought into the Temple of Jerusalem, and was brought up there until the fifteenth year of her life. What did she do there? What was her way of life? The Church Fathers have preserved for us an ancient tradition, according to which it is known that the Most Holy Virgin, not averse to needlework, spent most of her time in prayer, reading sacred books, in reflection on what she had read, in spiritual conversations with the elders at the temple.

II. "What a sad occupation," another will say, "to pray, read, think, speak only of spiritual things, how monotonous and tiresome it is. And is it necessary for a man living in society?" No! Spiritual occupations are by no means boring occupations, and in vain do secular people neglect them. First of all, it should be noted that one should not judge matters and things decisively without knowing them well and truly.

The Miracle of Saint Paraskevi in Thermo on November 20th 1918

 

 

In the year 1918, a flu pandemic known as the Spanish Flu broke out throughout Europe and thus extended throughout Greece. In the area of Thermo of Central Greece, the flu pandemic was at its peak.

Every day for about three months, deaths from the flu, as confirmed by the Church’s books, amounted to up to twelve per day. The situation was tragic.

The testimonies of the people who lived through it speak of the shocking experience.

The relatives of the dead did not dare to accompany their loved ones even to their grave, because the disease was contagious.

The priests of that time testify to this. People in general were panicking in the face of the great evil. There was no way to fight it.

Their only hope was in God and Saint Paraskevi. So the priests, together with the residents, decided to bring the icon of Saint Paraskevi to Thermo and process it through the streets.

November: Day 20: Teaching 2: Venerable Gregory the Decapolite

November: Day 20: Teaching 2:
Venerable Gregory the Decapolite
 
(The Failure of Objections to Monasticism)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Gregory, whose memory is celebrated today, was a native of Decapolis in Isauria, and from childhood he loved learning and achieved a broad education, but at the same time, under the influence of a pious home education, he studied and loved the Holy Scriptures even more zealously and, already from the age of eight, piously observed the life that they prescribed. Having reached the age of maturity and avoiding married life, he left his native home and “accepted monasticism.” Without choosing a permanent refuge for himself, Gregory traveled through various countries, and since heretical teachings were widely spread at that time, he actively admonished those who were in error everywhere, confirmed the people in Orthodoxy and consoled those languishing in prison with his visits. This ascetic of holy faith and piety, died peacefully in Constantinople around 820. The Holy Church glorifies him thus: “The Church recognizes you as a bright sun, enlightening everyone with the beauty of virtues and the rays of healing, O Saint of Christ; therefore we celebrate your honorable memory and honor your deeds, all-blessed wise Father Gregory!”

November: Day 20: Teaching 1: Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople

November: Day 20: Teaching 1:
Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople
 
(Lessons From His Life:
a. About the Importance of Patristic Writings;
b. About the Origin of the Trisagion Hymn; and
c. About Reverent Participation in Religious Processions)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople, whose memory is celebrated on this day, was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom and during his episcopacy lived in the same room with this great Father of the Church. One night, approaching the door of Saint John's cell, Proclus saw that Saint Chrysostom was writing, and behind him stood a venerable man who was whispering something in his ear. Proclus was amazed at this, knowing that no one could enter where Saint John was without Saint Proclus himself introducing whomever was needed to his teacher. This continued for three nights, and all this time Saint Proclus constantly saw this man whispering something in John's ear. Finally, Saint Proclus told his teacher about this, and when he received the answer that no one was with Saint John that night, and that he had not spoken with anyone, then Saint Proclus, having described the appearance of this man, looked at the icon of the Holy Apostle Paul, hanging on the wall near the table where Saint John Chrysostom wrote his commentaries on the epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul and exclaimed: “This is the one who spoke with you, I saw him at night!” Then both recognized that the Holy Apostle Paul had appeared to them, and they thanked God - Saint Chrysostom for the secret inspiration and instruction from Paul, and Proclus for the vision that he was granted.

November: Day 19: Holy Martyr Barlaam of Antioch

November: Day 19: 

Holy Martyr Barlaam of Antioch
 
("Brethren, Be Vigilant, Stand Firm in the Faith." - 1 Cor. 16:13)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Barlaam, whose memory is celebrated today, was a native of Antioch. For confessing the name of Christ he was subjected to cruel tortures and by all means they tried to force him to offer sacrifice to idols, since Barlaam was already an old man of advanced years, who enjoyed special respect in Christian society, and therefore the example of his betrayal of the Christian faith could strongly affect others. But no torture could force Saint Barlaam to change his faith and confession of the name of Christ. In order to make the Holy Confessor an involuntary participant in idolatry, the torturers forced him to stretch out his hand over a flaming altar and put hot coals with frankincense and myrrh into it. The feeling of pain and the slightest weakening of patience could easily force the Holy Confessor to drop the incense placed in his hand on the altar and thus give his enemies a reason to say that he was betraying the Christian faith and honoring pagan gods. But Saint Barlaam was so firm and strong in his faith that the pain from the burning of his hand could not force him to change its direction. He held the coals in his hand until the burnt compositions of his fingers began to fall off. In this feat of self-sacrifice for the sake of truth and justice, the Holy Martyr Barlaam, having his right hand instead as the altar of the Lord, as Saint Basil the Great (in his homily on the Holy Martyr Barlaam), offered himself as a burnt offering and showed an example of such firmness of faith, which in his time not only had a beneficial strengthening effect on Christians persecuted by the pagans, but also aroused respect in the persecutors themselves for the Christian faith and Christian society, which had in its midst men so strong in spirit and unshakable in their convictions about the truth of Christ.

November: Day 18: Holy Martyrs Romanos and the Child Barulas

November: Day 18:
Holy Martyrs Romanos and the Child Barulas
 
(Lessons From Their Lives:
a. Heavenly Truth is Revealed to Infants, and
b. An Exhortation to Take Care of the Upbringing of Children in the Spirit of Holy Faith)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyrs Romanos and the child Barulas, whose memory is now being celebrated, suffered under Maximian, at the beginning of the fourth century. When Maximian raised a persecution of against the Christians, Romanos, meeting the eparch Asclepiades, who was going to an idol festival with a crowd of people, began to persuade everyone to abandon the idols and turn to Christ. The eparch gave orders to torture him. Saint Romanos, seeing the youth Barulas during the torture, said to the eparch: “This child, although small, is wiser than you, for he knows the true God.” Then Asclepiades, having given the order to strangle Saint Romanos, asked the child: “Whom do you honor as God?” “Jesus Christ,” the child answered. “Why do you honor Him?” “Because He is the true God, and your gods are demons.”

November: Day 17: Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea

November: Day 17:
Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea
 
(Lessons From His Life:
a. About the Motivation to Read the Word of God, and
b. About Prudent Caution)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The now glorified Saint Gregory, who before his baptism was called Theodore, came from a noble family in Neocaesarea. He was brought up in paganism, but received a good education, and having become acquainted with Origen, the teacher of the Alexandrian school, he was enlightened by Christian teaching and devoted himself with all his soul to "reading and studying the Holy Scriptures." Then secular activity ceased to attract him, he fell in love with the desert and withdrew, putting aside care for everything worldly and striving for communion with the one God. The ascetic life of Saint Gregory did not remain unknown and he, although he hid, moved from one desert to another, though against his will he was ordained in absentia as Bishop of the Neocaesarean Church. Then he no longer resisted the general election, realizing in his soul that it was not without the will of God that he was called to this difficult service, to which he devoted himself with all his strength, and the Lord helped him and glorified him with the gift of miracles, for which he received the names of "Wonderworker" and "second Moses." Thus, he acted successfully in his pastoral field, which in the beginning of his receiving the title of Bishop of Neocaesarea had were no more than 17 Christians in this large city, and after his death the entire city consisted of Christians, with the exception of 17 pagans.

Homily One on the Ninth Sunday of Luke (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily One on the Ninth Sunday of Luke  
(26th Sunday After Pentecost)

On the Foolish Rich Man
Luke 12:16–21

By St. John of Kronstadt 

In the Gospel read today, my brethren, you heard the Savior’s parable about the foolish rich man, who, having received from the most generous God a multitude of fruits of the earth, wanted to use them solely for his own pleasure and did not think of sharing them with his neighbors in need; who dreamed that he would live in this world for many years, and did not think that perhaps that very night his soul would be torn from his body and would be caught up for judgment before God, the impartial Judge of our life. The Lord Jesus Christ, who uttered this parable, offered the following moral teaching to the people listening to Him:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you" (Luke 12:22–31).

The First Oil of November

By Elias Liamis, Culture Unit Advisor

November is the month of the first oil. In the countries of the Mediterranean and especially in our land [Greece], in the land where God chose to bless the best oil in the world, this month has always been a period of joy but also of anxiety, as the juice of the olive has always been the determining factor of the well-being of whole communities in the Greek countryside, often exclusively. Who would have thought that a time would come when oil would be considered a luxury item?

In many parts of our country, the olive picking always began with consecration and always ended with the offering of the first pitcher with the new oil to the church. Beginning and ending with the presence of the divine, the picking of olives has always been a mystery, starting with a stick that shakes the olive trees and ending with the taping of the jars, filled with the steaming juice.

In Crete, as soon as the landowner delivered the first oil, the priest would come out and preach from the sacred bema how so-and-so had finished harvesting and whoever wants could go and collect what's left, because the olive groves are free. This harvesting is reminiscent of Papadiamantis' "The Gleaner" or Ruth from the Old Testament. It is an age-old tradition, an idiosyncratic charity, to leave the last fruit on the estate with the olive trees for those who have none.

November: Day 16: Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

 

November: Day 16:
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
 
(Jesus Christ Draws Everyone to Himself)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Evangelist Matthew, whose memory is celebrated today, was first a publican, i.e. a tax collector, and was converted by Jesus Christ Himself. Walking along the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the Lord saw him sitting at the tax collection point and said to him: "Follow Me." Matthew joyfully followed the Lord and, having gathered other publicans, arranged a feast for the Lord in his house. When the proud Pharisees began to say to the disciples: "Why does Jesus Christ eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" The Lord answered: "It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Matthew was among the 12 disciples of the Lord. Eight years after the ascension of the Lord, he wrote the Gospel for the Jews who had converted to Christ. Wanting to prove that Jesus Christ is the One about whom the prophets predicted, the Holy Evangelist Matthew, in his Gospel, constantly cites Old Testament prophecies and shows how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. According to tradition, Saint Matthew's subsequent life is known to have been spent preaching in Media, Persia, Parthia and India.

The Sarantaleiturgo of Christmas (Forty Consecutive Days of the Divine Liturgy on Behalf of the Reposed)

The Sarantaleiturgo is forty consecutive Divine Liturgies that start from November 15th and end on December 25th, Christmas Day. Every morning the priest recites thousands of names of the deceased, or as many have been submitted to him, during the Divine Liturgy. It is especially for those Christians who did not live a pious and devoted life close to the Church, and perhaps encountered death with no time for repentance. Since the Orthodox Church firmly believes there is no repentance in Hades, it is up to the persistent appeal of the Church to help those lost souls find rest and salvation, whether we offer alms in their name or have their names commemorated by priests during the bloodless sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy.

Below is a story told by Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou that highlights the importance of this practice of celebrating forty consecutive liturgies during the Nativity season, which is the traditional period to do them:

November: Day 15: Teaching 1: Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus

The Gothic warrior makes an oath before the graves of Sts Gurias, Samonas and Habibus (18th cent.).

 

November: Day 15: Teaching 1:
Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus
 
(Lessons From the Miracle They Performed:
a. It is Necessary to Fulfill the Given Legal Oath,
b. To Love Your Wives, and
c. Not to Lose Heart in Misfortunes, But to Turn to God in Prayer With Tears)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus, who suffered for their loyalty to Christ during the reign of Diocletian in the city of Edessa, are revered as patrons and protectors of wives in cases of family troubles and misfortunes, as a result of one of their miracles.

One of the warriors of the Greek emperor, a Goth, while staying in the house of the pious widow Sophia, a resident of the city of Edessa, married her daughter, the beautiful Euphemia, while he was already married, i.e., he committed the grave sin of adultery.

When he was leaving with Euphemia for his homeland, Sophia, at the grave of the Holy Martyrs now being glorified, took an oath from him that he would not do any harm to her daughter, but would love and protect her.

Saint Gregory Palamas, the Fourth Hierarch and the Fourth Theologian

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The determination of the commemoration of Saint Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of Great Lent as a continuation of the Sunday of Orthodoxy shows his great value, and this is what this text will refer to.

We are familiar with the feast of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, the three-sunned luminaries of the Deity. We are also familiar with the ecclesiastical tradition that three saints have the title of Theologian: John the Theologian, Gregory the Theologian and Symeon the New Theologian. In the consciousness of the Church, Saint Gregory Palamas is counted as a fourth, belonging with the Three Hierarchs as well as with the Three Theologians. In texts he is characterized as a Theologian. The fact that we can speak of Four Hierarchs and Four Theologians shows the great value of Saint Gregory Palamas.

November: Day 14: Teaching 2: Birthday of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna

November: Day 14: Teaching 2:
Birthday of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna*
 
(The Purpose of Man)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Brightly celebrating today, brethren, the birth of the Most Pious Empress Maria Feodorovna, now widowed, we have an excellent opportunity to reflect on the purpose for which we were all born into the world.

II. a) Our first purpose lies in ourselves. "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy" (Lev. 19:2): that is what it consists of. Every creature in the world is obliged first of all to be what it was created to be; and therefore every man is obliged first of all to be a man. God has given you certain powers, certain abilities, certain laws: our first duty is to preserve these powers, abilities, and laws in the very form in which we received them from the hands of the Creator, in all their purity, integrity, and undamaged, and then to use these powers and abilities, to develop them, to perfect them, in a word, to live and act in no other way than according to those laws that are inscribed in our conscience and heart. Then we will truly be men, we will be what we should be, according to the intention of our Creator. And this observance of purity and innocence by us, this life and activity according to moral laws, will be our holiness (1 Thess. 4:3).

November: Day 14: Teaching 1: Holy Apostle Philip

 

 

November: Day 14: Teaching 1:
Holy Apostle Philip
 
(Lessons From the Life of the Holy Apostle Philip:
a. We Must Obey the Voice of God Calling Us to Salvation;
b. We Must Firmly and Decisively Leave Everything and Follow Jesus Christ; and
c. We Must Try to Bring our Neighbors to Christ)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Apostle Philip, whose memory is celebrated today, was one of the Twelve Apostles, born in Bethsaida. He was one of those people who ardently desired the speedy appearance of the Savior in the world. Having heard about John the Baptist, the Holy Apostle Philip left his parents' home and became one of the closest disciples of the Forerunner. With delight he learned from Saint John that the expected Messiah had already come. When the Savior, after baptism and forty days of fasting in the desert, went out to preach, He met the Holy Apostle Philip and said to him: "Come, follow Me" (John 1:43). The Holy Apostle Philip unquestioningly followed the Lord, brought his friend Nathanael to Him and from that moment became His constant follower and zealous disciple. The Holy Apostle Philip was crucified head down for his zealous preaching of the gospel. The fast before the feast of the Nativity of Christ, beginning on November 15, is named after Saint Philip.

The Neptic and Social Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Saint John Chrysostom is one of the great Fathers of the Church and to this day his words are quite relevant. The timelessness of his words is not only due to the great gifts he had, his rhetorical skill, his wit, his philosophical, sociological knowledge, etc., but mainly to his sanctified life. After all, in his writings he himself spoke about the distinction and the difference between the thinker-philosopher and the prophet. The thinker-philosopher speaks from his mind, while the prophet reports to the people the revelations given by the Holy Spirit. Many study the social teaching of the Holy Father, record his pedagogical views, are excited by his missionary activity, are surprised by his unparalleled courage against unjust relegation and exile, stand in awe of his rhetorical gift and his action as a preacher, etc. Certainly, all these aspects are found in the teaching and work of Saint John Chrysostom. There have been many ecclesiastical men in history who had these amazing qualities, however, what is of great importance is that the words of Saint John Chrysostom are an outgrowth of his deep spirituality.

November: Day 13: Saint John Chrysostom

November: Day 13:
Saint John Chrysostom
 
(On Zeal for the Fulfillment of the Duties of a Christian and Citizen)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint John Chrysostom, whose memory is celebrated today, was born in Syrian Antioch in the year 347 A.D. His father, Secundus, was a military leader. His mother, Anthusa, was left a widow at the age of 22 and devoted her cares and all her wealth to raising her son under the guidance of the best teachers. In 369 John was baptized and became a Reader in the Antiochian Church. After the death of his mother, he withdrew to the desert, but when the harsh life in the desert ruined his health, he returned to Antioch. Here, in the rank of Deacon, and then Priest, John served for the benefit of the Church: he cared for the poor, denounced the vices of the Antiochians, calmed popular unrest and saved the Antiochian people from the punishment that threatened them from Emperor Theodosius the Great for overthrowing the royal statues. In 397, Emperor Arcadius elevated John to the rank of Archbishop of Constantinople. Here the Saint demonstrated even greater zeal as a Christian shepherd. He led the life of a strict monk, cared for the poor, boldly exposed the vices of society, not sparing the highest officials, tirelessly preached, explaining the Holy Scriptures, instituted religious processions, sent preachers of the word of God to the pagans, composed prayers, set forth the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great in an abbreviated form, and generally very zealously fulfilled the duties of an archshepherd.

"Whoever is Kind to the Poor Lends to the Lord": The Simple Faith of Saint John the Merciful

 

By Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

If you have read the life of Saint John the Merciful - which I urge you to read for the umpteenth time - you will see that when Saint John the Merciful was young (he was around 17-18 years old at the time) he saw a vision from God, he saw a princess who told him:

"If you conquer me, I will lead you to the King's throne. For I am the King's best daughter. And if you succeed and get me as your life partner, I will make you king too!"

And when he asked her: "Who are you?" she told him that she was empathy, mercy, compassion.

So the Saint entered this struggle, as a young child, and put himself to the test: "It appears this is how things are?" he said.

November: Day 12: Saint John the Merciful

November: Day 12:
Saint John the Merciful
 
(On the Motivations for Works of Mercy)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint John, Patriarch of Alexandria, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates today, devoted himself entirely to the work of almsgiving, which he provided to all the poor and those who accidentally fell into need. Therefore, Saint John among the choir of the saints has the special distinctive title of "the Merciful."

Having become the Patriarch of Alexandria, Saint John said to the stewards of the church: "Go through the whole city and write down for me my masters." The stewards asked: "Who are your masters, lord?" He answered: "Those whom you call the poor and needy, for they can grant me entrance into the eternal dwellings and provide assistance for salvation." The will of the Saint was fulfilled and a permanent allowance was assigned to all the poor.

November: Day 11: Teaching 2: Venerable Theodore the Studite

November: Day 11: Teaching 2:
Venerable Theodore the Studite
 
(Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Saints)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Theodore the Studite, whose memory is now celebrated, lived in the eighth century, when a persecution of venerators of holy icons, instigated by the Emperor Constantine Kopronymos, prevailed in the Greek Empire. As soon as iconoclasm began, Theodore's parents distributed their property to the poor and took monastic vows; Theodore soon followed their example. Venerable Theodore led the strictest way of life. Although he was brought up amidst all the comforts of life, since his parents were rich people, he found in himself enough fortitude to subject himself to all the privations that other monks experienced. He prayed constantly, worked for the brethren, and observed strict fasts. Patriarch Tarasios of Constantinople ordained Theodore a priest, and in 794 the brethren begged him to govern the monastery where he lived. In 789, Constantine VI began to reign. The new emperor wished to dissolve his marriage and marry his relative Theodota. Since such an act was not permitted by the statutes of the Church, Patriarch Tarasios refused to give his blessing for the wedding. When the wedding took place, Tarasios first tried to dissolve the marriage, but due to the emperor’s threats to begin iconoclasm again, he did not dare to do anything. Theodore did not act in this way. He excommunicated the emperor. Constantine, thinking to win Theodore over to his side, sent him rich gifts, but Theodore did not accept them. Constantine, irritated by this, sent Theodore and ten monks with him to Thessaloniki. However, Theodore’s firmness found many imitators among the clergy, and even Pope Leo III in a letter to Theodore approved of his courage and patience.

November: Day 11: Teaching 1: Holy Martyr Vincent

November: Day 11: Teaching 1:
Holy Martyr Vincent
 
(The Purpose of the Human Body)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyr Vincent, whose memory is celebrated today, was a native of Spain, a deacon in Augustopolis and was martyred in the 4th century, under Diocletian. "Spare yourself," said the torturer to him. "I pity you, and I would like to see you in honor and glory, and not in dishonor and torture." The Saint replied that he was not afraid of any torture. Then the torturer ordered that he be subjected to various tortures. These tortures were cruel and prolonged: having nailed the confessor to the cross, they inflicted merciless blows on him, and when his body was lacerated, his limbs broken, his sinews pulled out, they threw him into prison and laid him on sharp shards of glass. The martyr endured all this with unperturbed patience and unearthly exultation; but the tormentor's rage was not appeased and he invented an even more cruel torture: Vincent was placed on a red-hot iron grate, and in the midst of these torments he departed to the One Whom he loved, glorified and sang all his life until the last minute. His body, given over to the beasts as prey, but remaining untouched, because neither beasts nor birds touched it, was thrown into the sea, but, washed ashore by the waves, was taken by the Christian guards, who buried it in a small church outside the city. At present, the incorruptible relics of the Saint are in Rome in the church named after him, in the suburban Abbey of the Three Fountains.

The Grandson of Turkolefteri, Who Had Been Converted by Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian

By Despina Stefanidou

Kyriakos Syros [pictured above] is the grandson of the fearsome and terrifying Turkolefteri [or Eleutherios the Turk].*

Before he was baptized Eleutherios, he was a Turkish soldier and together with others of his group went to loot a church where Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian officiated.

The Saint perceived them coming and with the power of his prayer "marbled" them, made them a "statue" for an example and punishment.

Soon after he released them.

The grandfather of Kyriakos repented, converted, was baptized a Christian and was named Eleutherios.

But because Islam is a religion of "peace and love" his life was now in danger and being hunted he left Turkey, came to Greece and lived in the area of Giannitsa.

November: Day 10: Holy Martyr Orestes

 

 

November: Day 10:
Holy Martyr Orestes
 
(Are We Worthy of the Title of Christians?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Orestes, whose memory is celebrated today, together with the Apostles Erastus, Olympas and Rodion, was a physician of Tyana in Cappadocia and suffered much during the persecution under Diocletian. He was tortured with ropes and sinews, so that his whole body was one continuous wound. For seven days they tormented him with hunger and thirst, then they drove twenty nails into his heels and, having tied him to a horse, they drove it with him through fields and sharp stones. And for the steadfastness of his faith during all these sufferings he acquired eternal blessedness, about which he himself testified when he appeared exultant to Saint Dimitri of Rostov, who was writing at that time about his martyrdom, and he himself supplemented the stories about himself, declaring that he “suffered more torment for Christ” than was known to his biographer, and he also showed his wounds with which he was wounded fifteen centuries prior.

The relics of the Holy Martyr Orestes were thrown into the river, but Christians managed to retrieve them from there and buried them on a mountain near Tyana.

An Analysis of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Elder Philotheos Zervakos)

Eighth Sunday of Luke

An Analysis of the Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

By Archimandrite Philotheos Zervakos

All people, because of the transgression and disobedience of our forefathers, have inherited the curse and eternal condemnation, and have fallen from the heavenly Jerusalem to this temporal country, which is full of sorrows and distresses, of pains and calamities, which are brought upon us by the robbers, the invisible demons, who hurt us every day. Wounds are the sins inflicted on us by pride, envy, jealousy, malice, criticism, backbiting, slander, infidelities, fornications, adulteries, thefts, injustices and in general every sin committed by man, with the help of the wicked demon, because he is the one who injures us, who hurts us.

God gave us prudence, wisdom and discernment, but because we do not pay attention and care, we receive the wounds and injuries from the demons and as sinners we fall down half dead. And if we die from the wounds and injuries inflicted upon us by wicked, marauding demons, then we die eternal death, we are condemned to eternal hell.

Homily One on the Eighth Sunday of Luke (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily One on the Eighth Sunday of Luke  
(25th Sunday After Pentecost)

On the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25–37

By St. John of Kronstadt

In the Gospel read today (Luke 10:25–37), our Savior God answered a very important question for all of us: what must we do to inherit eternal life? This question was put to the Lord by a certain Jewish lawyer, who asked: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Lord pointed him to the law given to the Jews by God through Moses: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He answered and said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him: “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live,” that is, forever. But he, wanting to justify himself, that is, considering himself, like the other Pharisees, a righteous man who fulfilled the law as he understood it, one-sidedly, incorrectly, asked Jesus: "And who is my neighbor?" believing that only a Jew should be considered a neighbor, and not every person.

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost Resource Page

 

 

20th Sunday After Pentecost

Galatians 1:11-19

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle Reading

Homily for the Epistle Reading on the Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

November: Day 9: Teaching 2: Venerable Matrona

November: Day 9: Teaching 2:
Venerable Matrona
 
(Against the Cruel Treatment of Husbands Towards Their Wives)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Venerable Matrona, who is now commemorated by the Church, lived in the 5th century and was originally from Persia. While still young, her parents gave her in marriage to a nobleman named Dometian. Matrona was distinguished by her piety and led a strict way of life, although she lived in the world. Her husband Dometian did not like this and he began to hinder her at first with reprimands, abuse, and then even beat her. Then Matrona retired to the male Monastery of Venerable Bassian in Constantinople, hoping in this way to more reliably hide from the search by her husband and relatives: she entered the number of the brothers with the name of Babylas.

For some time, the Venerable Matrona lived in the monastery quietly, spending her time in labor and prayer and withdrawing from everyone. But when it was discovered that she was a woman, the Venerable One was forced to leave the monastery.

November: Day 9: Teaching 1: Venerable Onesiphorus of the Kiev Caves

November: Day 9: Teaching 1:
Venerable Onesiphorus of the Kiev Caves
 
(The Sin of Hypocrisy)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. There was in the Monastery of the Caves a man adorned with virtues, named Onesiphorus, who held the rank of priest, whose memory is celebrated today. Blessed Onesiphorus had a spiritual son, a monk and friend, who appeared to be a faster, humble, pious, but secretly ate, drank and made merry. One day he died. No one could come near his body, because of the stench. Horror fell upon everyone, no one dared to bury him. Finally, some decided to bury him in a cave. Then Saint Anthony appeared to Onesiphorus and said: “Why have you laid a wicked man here? Such a one has never been here before. He has defiled the holy place.” Onesiphorus began to weep and said: “Lord, why have you hidden the deeds of this man?” An angel said to him, “In order to show him to all who sin and do not repent.”

The next night they ordered the monk's body to be removed. But Onesiphorus began to pray to God and the monk's body stopped emitting a stench. Thus the sin of hypocrisy, i.e. external piety, was exposed.

Miracle of the Archangel Michael Sinking the Ships of the Saracens

 

The unique fresco refers to the siege of Constantinople in 674-678 under Emperor Constantine Pogonatos by the Saracens, who are depicted as black Arabs.
 
"Then again a large number of Hagarenes gathered by sea and went to Constantinople, during the reign of Constantine, grandson of Heraclius. He also gathered the people together and they went to the Temple of the Commander-in-Chief Michael, which was called that of Eusebius, and they entreated God and the Commander-in-Chief Michael to help them. The next day, the Commander-in-Chief Michael pierced all the ships of the Hagarenes and most of the people drowned; only three ships remained, which turned back."

Homily on the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers (Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov)

Homily on the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers

 

By Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

(Delivered in 1960)

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Dear brothers and sisters, today we solemnly honor all the Heavenly Bodiless Powers headed by the Archangel Michael. From the word of God we know that before the visible material world with its inhabitant, man, the Lord created the invisible, spiritual world, the world of pure incorporeal Angels, who outnumbered people by several times. The Holy Prophet Moses, narrating the creation of the world, says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). By heaven the Holy Fathers interpret it to mean not only the firmament, but also the spiritual, angelic world, the abode of the incorporeal Angels, surpassing man in their strength, power and wisdom, who were created by God, like man, for blessedness, for the glorification of the name of God. They, like the purest and most holy spirits, constantly contemplating the Face of the Heavenly Father, incessantly glorify His ineffable greatness and from the Throne of His grace are sent down to earth into the lower world to the suffering man.

Homily on the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily on the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers

By St. John of Kronstadt

(Delivered on November 8, 1907)

"We unceasingly glorify You, Christ, who wisely united heaven with earth and formed one Church from angels and men" (Stichera at Small Vespers).

We celebrate, beloved brethren, the radiant feast of the lightning-like Archangel Michael and other heavenly Bodiless Powers.

The history of the establishment of this feast by the Church is long and we will not tell it; those who wish to know it, let them read about it in the ecclesiastical book "Cheti-Minei", but now let us talk about the spiritual world of innumerable angels, about their properties, about their rank and about the immeasurable goodness of God, which included us, Orthodox Christians, in this Angelic Council and formed one Church from angels and men; and then about our duty to honor them according to their dignity and imitate them according to their strength, as our future fellow citizens in the heavenly fatherland, about which we earnestly pray to the Lord God, our common Creator.

November: Day 8: Teaching 1: Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers

November: Day 8: Teaching 1:
Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers
 
(Holy Angels Are Sent By God To Help Us and Assist Us in Salvation)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I.  When we talk to Christians on the day dedicated by the Church in honor of the bodiless powers, we consider it superfluous to prove that such bodiless powers, which we usually call angels, really exist. Only a carnal man can doubt their existence, who, like animals, is guided only by the senses, and therefore does not allow what he does not see with his bodily eyes. But whoever does not live according to the flesh, but according to the spirit, as every Christian should live, who does not limit his gaze to the sensual and rises in spirit above the earthly, necessarily assumes and readily believes that between God and man there must be an infinite series of beings who are far superior to us in nature and powers, who are the more spiritual and perfect the nearer they stand to God.  and according to the closest communion with Him, they are the mysteries of His counsels, the first executors of His will. Such are the angels of God, whom the Apostle calls ministering spirits, sent "to serve those who desire to inherit salvation."

Dogmatic Lessons of Father John Romanides (3 of 7)

...continued from part two.

Summary of "An Outline of Orthodox Patristic Dogmatics" by Fr. John Romanides

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The examination of dogmatic issues is divided into four chapters for easier understanding, namely 1) God and the World, 2) the Holy Trinity, 3) Christology, 4) the Church.

1. The Relationship Between God and the World

When one understands the relationship between God and the world, according to the teachings of the Prophets, Apostles and Saints, then one can approach the Triadological and Christological dogma.

The Fathers of the Church do not accept the Platonic view, according to which the world is a copy of archetypal ideas, but they teach that the world is a creation of God. According to the Fathers of the Church, in order to understand the relationship between God and the world, man must have three teachings in mind.

November: Day 7: Venerable Lazarus of Galesion

November: Day 7:
Venerable Lazarus of Galesion

(Sin is the Most Terrible Evil in the World)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Lazarus, whose memory is celebrated today, was distinguished from childhood by his meekness, gentleness, compassion and love for the poor. Throughout his life he distinguished himself by great asceticism. Having made a journey to venerate the shrines in Jerusalem, he spent ten years in the Monastery of Saint Savvas in Palestine; for his virtuous life he was elevated to the rank of priesthood by the Jerusalem Patriarch. According to a special revelation, during his further asceticism already in a completely deserted desert, Lazarus returned to his homeland, to a village in Magnesia. He was recognized by his mother, but did not remain with her, but again secluded himself on an uninhabited mountain in Galesion, near the city of Ephesus, three days' journey from Smyrna to the south. Here one night during prayer Lazarus was struck by a vision of a fiery pillar rising to heaven and surrounded by a multitude of angels singing: "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered!" and, taking this as an order from above, he built a church on this site in the name of the Resurrection of Christ with the assistance of Emperor Constantine Monomachos, who had great respect for him. At the church, Saint Lazarus built a pillar on which he gave himself up to endure the heat and cold, since the pillar had no cover.

November: Day 6: Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn

November: Day 6:
Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn

(Lessons From His Life:
a. We Must Love Our Neighbors and
b. Live As If We Are Preparing To Die Every Day)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn, celebrated today, was descended from wealthy Novgorodians. Even in his youth he felt drawn to the monastic life, avoided children's games, fasted and prayed a lot. His parents wanted to keep him from such a life. But he said to them: "I have read many holy books, and nowhere have I found that parents would advise against anything good for their children. Is not the Kingdom of Heaven, which I seek, more precious than all else?" Then his parents gave him complete freedom and soon they died. After this, Venerable Barlaam gave away almost all his property and went into the desert; then, for greater solitude, he settled in the forest, on the banks of the Volkhov, 10 versts from Novgorod, on a hill called Khutyn. The Saint's solitude did not last long: soon princes, boyars, monks and commoners learned of him and began to come to him for conversation, and he gave everyone the necessary instructions; and many wished to lead a life under his guidance and settled around him. Then a temple was built and cells around it. A monastery appeared. The Saint gave the rest of his property for the benefit of the monastery. He gave the monastery its charter. The charter prescribed to distribute alms to the poor, to feed and quench the thirst of all travelers, and in general to have Christian love for them.

November: Day 5: Teaching 2: Holy Apostle Hermas

November: Day 5: Teaching 2:
Holy Apostle Hermas
 
(The Vision of Saint Hermas of the Church in the Form of a Tower Under Construction and Moral Lessons From This for Believers)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Hermas, whose memory is celebrated today, lived in Rome during the time of the apostles. He was known to the Apostle Paul and is praised by him in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14) as one of the best Christians of Rome. The distinguishing qualities of his soul were the most sincere simplicity of faith and unquestioning submission to the suggestions of God. These qualities of the heart attracted God's special favor to him, and the Lord honored him with special visions and revelations, of which his whole life is composed. Since these wonderful signs of God, edifying in themselves, were accompanied by edifying interpretations, Hermas received the order to write down everything that was revealed to him, for the benefit of the entire Holy Church of God. Hermas fulfilled the order and compiled a book he called "The Shepherd", which, in the early days, was read in the churches along with the apostolic writings.

November: Day 5: Teaching 1: Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod

November: Day 5: Teaching 1:
Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod
 
(On the Path to Salvation)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod, whose memory is celebrated today, known in the world as John, was born in Novgorod in the fourteenth century, and, left an orphan from childhood, was given over to a deacon to be educated. He loved to read the Holy Scriptures more than to play with his childhood friends. One day, a holy fool, Michael of Klopsk, passed by a crowd of boys, among whom was John. The boys pulled his clothes and threw dirt at him; but John took no part in this. Then the holy fool took him in his arms and said: "Study diligently, John. You will be Archbishop of Novgorod." The prediction came true. Having reached the age of maturity, John decided to enter upon the path of salvation, along which he steadfastly followed all his life. Soon he took monastic vows, under the name of Jonah, in the Otensky Monastery, 40 versts from Novgorod, and after the death of Abbot Chariton, he was elected abbot. And when the Novgorod Archbishop Euthymios died, Jonah, renowned for his piety, was elected his successor. Having become the shepherd of Novgorod, Jonah zealously served for the good of the Church, gave everyone equal and fair justice, defended the weak and helped the poor. Saint Jonah ruled the Novgorod flock for 30 years and left behind a good memory. Jonah died in old age, in 1470, and was buried in the Otensky Monastery, in the Church of Saint John the Baptist. His body was subsequently glorified by incorruptibility.

November: Day 4: Venerable Ioannikios the Great

 

November: Day 4:
Venerable Ioannikios the Great

(The Sin of Envy)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Ioannikios, whose memory is celebrated today, lived in the second half of the 9th century A.D. and spent his early years in the royal service in a military rank. He was at first infected with the Iconoclast heresy, but, exposed by a clairvoyant monk who lived on Mount Olympus, he abandoned the heresy and all the vanity of the world, withdrew to this mountain, and here, through unremitting struggle with his passions, tireless labors, vigilance, and prayer, he attained holiness and became famous as a great ascetic and miracle worker. Many people came to the holy ascetic for edification and to ask him for his holy prayers and intercession before God; many spiritual bounties and blessings were poured out from the Saint. At the very beginning of his asceticism, having met two desert monks, the Venerable Ioannikios received from them, together with a prayerful blessing for the feat, a prophetic warning that towards the end of his life he would be tempted by envious people. This actually happened. On the same Olympus mountain, another ascetic by the name of Epiphanios was engaged in monastic exploits. Hearing about the growing glory of the Venerable Ioannikios, Epiphanios envied him and plotted to destroy him. Once, during a drought, when all the vegetation on the mountain had dried up and there were many dry trees around Ioannikios’ cell, Epiphanios set fire to the dry grass at the bottom of the mountain and the entire mountain quickly burst into flames. The Venerable Ioannikios owed his salvation to God alone: not only did he himself not suffer, but his cell miraculously remained unharmed amidst the flames. The meek and gentle Ioannikios, wanting to know the reason for Epiphanios' anger and to ask his forgiveness if he had sinned against him in any way, went to his ill-wisher. What power of malice is generated by envy! Seeing the Venerable Ioannikios, Epiphanios struck him with his staff, which had a sharp tip, wanting to kill him, but again he was put to shame by God, who saves the righteous from the malice of evil people.

November: Day 3: Holy Martyrs Akepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter and Aethalas the Deacon

November: Day 3:
Holy Martyrs Akepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter and Aethalas the Deacon

(Types of Violations of the Sixth Commandment of God's Law Which Prohibits Murder)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyrs Akepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter and Aethalas the Deacon, whose memory is celebrated today, suffered in the 4th century in the Persian Empire. When King Shapur began a persecution of Christians, the pagan priests first of all sought out bishops and presbyters. When Akepsimas, an 80-year-old elder, was brought before the governor, he said to the Saint:

“I have heard that you are considered the wisest among Christians, but meanwhile you are not at all smarter than senseless children, because you do not worship the sun and fire, which the king himself worships.”

“Your king and you together with him have gone mad, worshiping a creature instead of God,” answered the Saint.

The governor ordered that he be beaten with iron rods.

Homily One on the Fifth Sunday of Luke (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily One on the Fifth Sunday of Luke  
(22nd Sunday After Pentecost)

On the Rich Man and Lazarus

By St. John of Kronstadt

The Gospel read today depicts the fate after the death of the rich and luxurious merry man and the poor sick Lazarus. Especially remarkable and edifying is the conversation of the rich man with the forefather Abraham, whom he saw from hades far away in the heavenly dwellings, and with him the former beggar Lazarus. In general, there is much that is instructive and edifying for us in today's Gospel. Let us, with God's help, compose a discourse on today's Gospel and derive from it spiritual benefit for our souls.

In this Gospel, as in a mirror, sinful humanity is depicted, especially the noble and rich, abundantly endowed by God with earthly gifts; and we can also see ourselves. Listen. The Lord says: "There was a rich man, who was clothed in porphyry and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day." In this verse, you may not quite understand the words "porphyry and fine linen." Porphyry is a precious garment made of purple or crimson fabric, in which ancient kings and nobles usually dressed. Fine linen was also the name given to a precious, golden garment made of fine and delicate yarn gathered from an Indian tree, or, as others say, spun from feathers, which was also called byssus, from the Hebrew language būṣu which means whiteness; however, it was yellowish or purple in color and was precious as gold. This means that the mentioned rich man liked to dress very luxuriously, set feasts and lived to the fullest of his pleasure. But what is especially bad here, will ask our contemporary luxurious merrymakers? God has given us a good means of living: why not live for our own pleasure, when we also have dear friends with whom we can share our time? This is what very, very many people think, say and do now. The pursuit of a merry life, of feasting, of ostentation, of luxurious living conditions is now in great vogue. And in order to live in pleasure, people do not neglect any means: neither large thefts for thousands and tens of thousands, or even hundreds, nor large murders, nor various deceptions and swindles.

Dogmatic Lessons of Father John Romanides (2 of 7)

...continued from part one.

2. Philosophical and Empirical Theology About God

Before reading the summary of the "Outline", an observation should be made, which is one of the most basic teachings of Father John Romanides: that there is a clear difference between the philosophical way of theology of the heretics, and the empirical way of theology of the Fathers.

The Prophets in the Old Testament saw the pre-incarnate Word in the Light, as well as the Triune God, but they had a different terminology, they spoke of God as the Lord of Glory; or they spoke of God as the Angel of the Great Council; or they spoke of God as Yahweh. The Apostles and the Saints saw the incarnate Word in the Light by the Holy Spirit and through Christ they saw the Father, who is identical in image, as happened at the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. That is why in the Old and New Testaments they spoke of God as Light and of three Lights. We see this in Holy Scripture and the ancient tradition of the Church.

Saint Gabriel the Confessor's Provocative Encounter

Nun Ekaterina Embraelindze recalls the following incident that she witnessed with Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ in Georgia:

Once Father Gabriel was sitting next to the chapel, on a chair. At that time a rather beautiful woman arrived, with painted eyes and wearing trousers.

As soon as she saw the Elder, she sat on his lap and began to kiss him:

"Father Gabriel, how beautiful you are! How I like you! I will come back to see you," she told him.

Petrified by our surprise, we asked ourselves: "What could have motivated this girl to such obscene behavior?"