SUNDAY OF HOLY PENTECOST

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

Jesus Christ on the Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorated the people's rest in the Promised Land after the labors of their wanderings, was a feast of the Law, since at that time special attention was given to its reading. In the prophecy of Zechariah it symbolically signified the time when all nations would gather in Jerusalem to worship the true God. On the last day of this feast, according to custom, there took place a symbolic pouring out of water from the Pool of Siloam (this water is mentioned in the same chapter of Zechariah and also by Ezekiel), which flowed beneath the Temple Mount, while the words of the Prophet Isaiah were sung: “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (cf. Isaiah 55:1).

It was probably in reference to this meaning of the feast and its ceremonies that the Lord, appearing on that day in the assembly of the people, proclaimed: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (cf. John 7:37). And comparing Himself to the Temple from beneath which living water flows, He applies the same image to those who believe in Him. Just as He pours forth living water, so those who believe in His name, having received the Spirit, will not only possess this water within themselves, in their own hearts, but will also pour it out for others, spreading everywhere the light of the knowledge of God.

Homily One on the Second Day of Pentecost (St. Justin Popovich)

Homily One on the Second Day of Pentecost 

By St. Justin Popovich

(Delivered in 1965 at the Ćelije Monastery)

Behold the treasury of all blessings, and the treasury of all divine and heavenly powers, and of that Kingdom of God upon earth. For the Church of Christ on earth is indeed the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God for me and for you; and the King ought to reign both in my soul and in yours. If the Lord Christ and His Holy Spirit reign within us, then neither sin nor evil nor the devil will reign. Then we shall be able to overcome everything that separates us from God and the Lord, everything that separates us from Eternal Life, Eternal Truth, and Eternal Righteousness.

The Church of Christ in this world is full of angels, full of Eternal Truth, the Eternal Righteousness of God, and the Eternal Life of God. How does she look upon the sinner? Just as the Lord said in the Holy Gospel: she looks upon the sinner as upon a sick man, and upon sin as our disease, the most terrible and dreadful disease. Yet nothing is easier than conquering sin; nothing is easier than being healed of this most terrible illness. How? Through the Holy Spirit and the Lord Christ.

Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

 

1. Saint Justin was from Flavia Neapolis in Syria, the son of Priscus, son of Bacchius. He came to Rome during the reign of Emperor Antoninus. Opposing the error of idolatry, he presented written defenses on behalf of the faith and confession in Christ, by which he demonstrated the truth and power of this faith, while overthrowing the errors of paganism on the basis of Holy Scripture. Because he was envied by the philosopher Crescens, he was put to death, though only after first enduring many tortures. Saint Justin, because of the purity and holiness of his life, and having reached the highest summit of virtue and become completely filled with every kind of divine and human wisdom, left behind writings for all the faithful that are full of every wisdom and benefit. For they offer the knowledge of God to all who study them.

2. The Service of the day does not focus only on Saint Justin the Philosopher and Martyr. Since other martyrs also suffered together with him — such as Saints Justin (another martyr of the same name), Chariton, Charito, Evelpistus, Hierax, Peon, and Valerian — the hymns refer generally to all of them, and only to a small extent to Saint Justin the Philosopher alone. Yet Justin holds a unique place among them all, since he is "the founder of the first Christian theological school and a new and striking presence in the Church." This is because, although "part of his theological thought did not become part of the Tradition of the Church, the Church had no difficulty understanding and honoring him, since Justin the teacher, though only a layman, became a martyr of her faith, and because he was the first who, even without complete success, seriously attempted, with boldness and prudence, to set Christian truth in dialogue with philosophical thought, especially Platonism" (Stylianos Papadopoulos).

June: Day 1: Teaching 3: Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk

 

June: Day 1: Teaching 3:
Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk
 
(According to the Gospel, what should our charity be like?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today the memory of the Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk is celebrated. The Venerable Dionysius, known in the world as Dmitri, was born in the vicinity of Vologda in the year 1362. Who his parents were and how the first years of his life passed are unknown. Information about the Saint begins from the time of his monastic tonsure by Dionysius of the Holy Mountain, abbot of the Monastery of the Savior on Kamenny Island in Lake Kubenskoye. Dionysius remained in that monastery for nine years, and afterward sought a more secluded place and withdrew to the Glushitsa River. After some time, other ascetics began to gather around him and settled near his cell.

Seeing the increase of the brotherhood, Dionysius asked Bishop Gregory of Rostov for a blessing to establish a monastery. “Your desire is praiseworthy,” said the bishop, “for the Lord Himself taught: ‘Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20).”

Greek Customs and Traditions Associated with the Monday of the Holy Spirit

The Monday of the Holy Spirit (Δευτέρα του Αγίου Πνεύματος) is one of the most beloved feast days of the Greek springtime. Throughout Greece, the feast combines liturgical celebration with customs rooted in traditions from Byzantine and Ottoman times, local village life, Pontic customs, and in some cases even practices that some believe preserve echoes of ancient Greek communal festivals. While the feast is centered on the worship of the Holy Spirit and participation in the Divine Liturgy, it is also marked by pilgrimages, fairs, dances, athletic competitions, horse races, communal meals, and unique local celebrations.

The most widespread custom is attendance at the Divine Liturgy, especially in churches and monasteries dedicated to the Holy Trinity (Αγία Τριάδα). Since many Trinity chapels are built on mountains and hills, pilgrims often travel long distances, sometimes on foot, to attend the feast. After the services, large communal meals and festivals frequently take place. Roasted lamb, goat, local cheeses, bread, wine, and seasonal foods are shared. In many villages large cauldrons of food are prepared and offered free of charge to all visitors. This custom survives particularly in Epirus, Macedonia, Thessaly, and parts of Thrace.

Throughout rural Greece, the feast is associated with πανηγύρια (village festivals). Families gather, relatives return to their ancestral villages, traditional musicians perform, and local dances continue well into the evening. In many communities this is one of the most important annual social events. 

Prologue in Sermons: June 1

On Not Judging Priests

June 1

(A Homily of Saint John Chrysostom on How One Ought to Honor a Priest)
 
By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In parishes where there are many schismatics among the Orthodox, the schismatics usually do everything possible to separate the Orthodox from the Orthodox Church. To accomplish this, they stir them up against the priests. As soon as they notice the slightest fault in an Orthodox shepherd, they immediately begin proclaiming it everywhere: "Look at the kind of shepherd you have! See what he does and how he lives! How can anyone listen to such a man? How can anyone go to him for confession?" and so on. And simple-minded Orthodox Christians often yield to these evil suggestions against their spiritual fathers, abandon them, flee from the Church, and, becoming schismatics themselves, become slanderers of Christ's priests. Therefore, in order to stop the mouths of these malicious accusers, and to remove you, brethren, from their slanderous suggestions and calumnies against the shepherd, we present to you the following teaching of Saint John Chrysostom concerning how one ought to honor a priest.

Homily for the Sunday of Pentecost (St. Cleopa of Sihastria)

Homily for the Sunday of Pentecost

On the Gift of Speaking in Tongues

By St. Cleopa of Sihastria

"Tongues will cease" (1 Corinthians 13:8)

As much as the mercy and compassion of God will help us today, we shall speak about the cessation of the gift of speaking in tongues in the Church of Christ.

The gift of speaking in tongues was given by God to the Holy Apostles on the Sunday of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, but only for a time, with the purpose of helping the pagan nations more easily convert to Christianity.

Indeed, at the Descent of the Holy Spirit, God spoke to the Jews through the mouths of foreigners. For the Jews from foreign lands, hearing the Apostles speaking in their own languages about the wonderful works of God, believed (Acts 2:11). Concerning the gift of speaking in tongues, the Apostle Paul prophesied that it would cease in the Church (1 Corinthians 13:8), because it was a gift and a sign only for the beginning of Christianity, in order to convert unbelievers more easily (1 Corinthians 14:22–28).

Homily One on Pentecost (St. Justin Popovich)

Homily One on Pentecost 

By St. Justin Popovich

(Delivered in 1965 at the Ćelije Monastery)

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

If it were not for this Day, brothers and sisters, there would be no Christianity; there would be no Holy Apostles, no Holy Martyrs, no Holy Confessors, no Righteous Ones, no Desert Fathers. If it were not for this Day, neither would you exist! If it were not for this glorious and great Day, there would be no Church of Christ in the world. This world would have been and remained an arena of death, a prison of sin, a hell. Man would have ceased to be man and would have become some kind of monstrous distortion.

Today's great and holy Feast, today's great and holy Event — the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the first disciples of Christ — gave being to the Church of Christ. Today is the birthday of the Church of Christ. Today the Church was born through the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles. The Lord was in the world in the flesh, preaching, working miracles, suffering, rising from the dead, and ascending into Heaven. And yet, behold, His disciples fled in fear of the Jews and hid themselves. What happened? Where was His power? Where was His promise: "I give you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy"?¹ They fled, they hid, they were runaways and cowards...

Holy Martyr Hermias of Comana in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. Saint Hermias lived during the reign of Emperor Antoninus, in the city of Comana, and was a soldier. He was advanced in age and had white hair. He was arrested because he confessed his faith in Christ and was brought before the governor Sebastian, who ordered first that his jaws be broken, the skin of his face removed, and his teeth torn out. Then they lit a furnace and threw him into it. Yet he remained unharmed by the fire, so an order was given that he be killed with poisonous potions. He drank the poisons, and when he remained unharmed by them as well, he drew to the faith of Christ the very man who had administered them to him. Because that man confessed Christ as God, they cut off his head. Then they tore out the sinews of the Saint's body and cast him into a red-hot cauldron; afterward they pierced his eyes, and for three days they hung him upside down. Finally, after cutting through his neck, he departed to the Lord.

2. It is natural to see courage and bravery in young people. To see them, however, in people who are old and advanced in years is something marvelous and extraordinary. For the elderly person, seeing his strength abandon him, feels more vulnerable and usually seeks shelter and security. Thus fear becomes a characteristic of old age, increasing along with advancing years.