2015 December Sacred Lessons

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos yet
Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our
whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
4 December 2015
St Barbara, Great Virgin Martyr of Heliopolis, Syria
Also the Feast of St John of Damascus St Alexander Hotovitsky, New Holy Martyr of Russia
St Julian of Heliopolis, Syria St John of Polybotum, Phrygia St Gennadios of Novgorod
St Seraphim, Hieromartyr of the Phanar, Constantinople
FESTAL APOLYTIKION OF ST BARBARA TONE 4
Varvaran
Barbara
tin Agian Timisomen; ehthrou gar tas pagidas

sinetripse ke os strouthion erristhi ex afton, voithia ke opio
tou Stavrou i pansemnos.
the Saintly: let us honour now; for she

shattered the snares of the enemy, and like a
sparrow she freed herself from them, with the Help
and Weapon of the Cross all stately.
SEASONAL KONTAKION - EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
I Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete Today the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably
apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa;
Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta
apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon.
to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good

cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the
Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be
made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.
FESTAL MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
ST MATTHEW 25 : 1 13
THE TEN VIRGINS - BEING PREPARED
AT ALL TIMES
At that time, our Lord Jesus told this Parable: ... the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to Ten Virgins who took their
lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were
foolish, took their lamps, but took no oil with them. The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered, and slept. In the middle of the night a cry was heard: Behold!
The Bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him! All those Virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish Virgins said to the wise: Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. Answering, the wise
Virgins said: No, lest there should not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell, and buy oil for
yourselves.
While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came. And those who were ready, went in with Him to the Wedding, and the
Door was shut. Afterwards the other Virgins came also, saying: Lord! Lord! Open to us! He answered and said:
Truly, I say to you: I do not know you!
Watch, therefore, for you know neither the Day nor the Hour in which the Son of Man will come!
THE WISE VIRGINS ARE THOSE WHO PRACTICE CHARITY AND MERCY
Our Lord Jesus Christs Parable of the Ten Virgins
illustrates and teaches us clearly THE NEED FOR ALWAYS
IN THIS PREPARATORY LIFESPAN, WHILE THE FOOLISH VIRGINS
BEING SPIRITUALLY PREPARED ... while the Bridegroom
ARE THOSE WHO SQUANDER ON THEMSELVES THE DIVINE GIFTS
(Christ) was delayed while we await His Glorious
THAT GOD HAS GRANTED TO US ALL i.e. they are selfish
Reappearance at the end of time on the Eighth Day.
and self-indulgent - desiring instant gratification without
considering
others
or
their
future
NO ONE BUT GOD THE FATHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN HE WILL
requirements.
REAPPEAR IN ALL HIS DIVINE GLORY TO JUDGE THE LIVING
The fact that ALL THE VIRGINS SLUMBERED AND SLEPT, means
AND DEAD of Earth, so we must ensure that we are
that WE ALL EVENTUALLY DIE hopefully Reposing in
as ready as possible.
Christ.
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD ALSO REFERS TO THOSE WHO ARE IN A
In this temporary world, THE VIRTUOUS WILL DIE ALONGSIDE
STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE (HAVING REPENTED-CONFESSED) AND
THOSE WHO ARE WICKED.
SPIRITUAL DEATH (HAVING UNREPENTED AND UNCONFESSED
T
HE
CRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT INDICATES THE SECOND
SINS THAT ARE STUBBORNLY IGNORED OR DENIED.)
COMING OR MORE CORRECTLY, HIS REAPPEARANCE IN ALL HIS
We do know that WE WILL ALL DEFINITELY DIE therefore, as
DIVINE GLORY WHEN BOTH VIRTUOUS AND WICKED WILL BE
our Holy Church Fathers urge us we KEEP THE
RESURRECTED FOR OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT.
REMEMBRANCE OF DEATH IN MIND AT ALL TIMES, to compel
THE INABILITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS TO SHARE THEIR OIL WITH OTHERS
us to FULFIL ALL OUR SACRED TASKS AND MISSIONS that are
should not be interpreted as being mean or a lack of
necessary for our Entrance into the Divine, Heavenly
kindness and generosity.
Kingdom of Love.
It IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS OFTEN PORTRAYED AS A MARRIAGE
1. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ENTERING HEAVEN WITHOUT HAVING
BANQUET, WITH CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR AS THE AWAITED
FAITH AND VIRTUE
BRIDEGROOM AND HIS HOLY CHURCH AS HIS SPOTLESS, PURE
2. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF CHANGING ONES STATE of Virtue or
BRIDE.
lack of it AFTER DEATH ( as revealed in the case
THIS DIVINE MYSTICAL MARRIAGE WILL BE CONSUMMATED AT THE
of Poor Lazaros (the Beggar) and the Rich
END OF THE AGES when the Bridegroom returns to escort
Man.)
His Beloved Bride to the Eternal Wedding Banquet.
This cautionary Parable of our Lord is read during Holy
This Parable is primarily about THE VIRTUE OF CHARITY
Week and on the Feast Days of Great Virgin Martyrs
(LOVE) AND ALMSGIVING, as the words OIL and MERCY
and Nuns (Monastic Virgins).
have the same root in Greek (ELEON).
FESTAL PROKEIMENON
PSALM
67 TONE 4
God is wonderful in His Saints.

In the Congregations Bless God!
ST BARBARA
THE
GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR
OF
HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA
4 DECEMBER 2015
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
GALATIANS 3 : 23 4 : 5
TO THE
OUR ADOPTION AS CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST THROUGH OUR FAITH AND HOLY BAPTISM
Brethren: before Faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law kept for the Faith that would afterward be revealed.
Therefore, the Law was our Tutor - to bring us to Christ, so that we might be Justified by Faith. After Faith has come,
we are no longer under a Tutor.
You are all sons of God through Faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female. You are all one in
Christ Jesus. If you are Christs then you are Abrahams seed, and Heirs according to the Promise.
I say that the Heir as long as he is a child does not differ at all from a slave, although he is master of all, but is under
Guardians and Stewards until the time appointed by the Father. Even so, we when we were children were in bondage
under the elements of the world. When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son Born of a Woman, Born
under the Law - to Redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the Adoption as sons.
Faith IN Christ is also Faith OF Christ because TWO FAITHS
(The Repentant Thief, St Demas, was the first to enter Paradise since
ARE COOPERATING together: first and foremost, the faith
the banishment of Adam and Eve.)
of Christ, and secondarily, the Faith in Christ of those
THOSE WHO STUBBORNLY REJECTED HIM, REMAIN IN HADES where
who believe.
they suffer the hideous Foretaste of the vileness and
Although THE PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT with God had
torment of Eternal Alienation from God,
complete Faith in God, they COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN
OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS ONE OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND
THE FAITH OF CHRIST FOR OUR SAVIOUR HAD NOT YET APPEARED
ALLEGIANCE to Him and through our Holy Baptism
TO THEM.
WE HAVE BECOME ADOPTED HEIRS OF GOD CO-HEIRS
THE HOLY TRINITY IS OMNIPRESENT - ever-present there has
WITH CHRIST TO THE ETERNAL HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF
never been a time or place when God the Father, the
GOD.
Son and the Holy Spirit was not present!
Not only have WE BEEN BAPTISED into Christianity into the
The only time WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE GOD WAS WHEN CHRIST
Christian Faith, but WE HAVE VESTED OURSELVES WITH
the Word and Son of God became Man BECAME
CHRIST WE HAVE PUT ON CHRIST we have taken on
INCARNATE took on physical matter a human body.
our Sacred Mission TO BECOME CHRIST-LIKE TO IMITATE
(St Abraham also saw the Holy Trinity as three identical Men
CHRIST Himself and thereby REGAIN OUR LOST LIKENESS TO
Angels, Whom he addressed as Lord as one Being.)
GOD
THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE ON EARTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VITAL
According to our New Covenant with Almighty God, THERE
PREPARATORY PERIOD FOR ETERNITY.
IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOCIAL STATUS, ETHNICITY OR
Because Gods Love of us is infinite and absolute, He
GENDER because WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD!
provided mankind with a set of TEN COMMANDMENTS OR
SAVING FAITH AND BEING BAPTISED ARE INTERWOVEN we
LAWS that GUIDE US TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE AND PROTECT US
cannot claim to have one without the other!
For as many of you as were Baptised into Christ have
FROM FALLING INTO A STATE OF PERMANENT SPIRITUAL DEATH.
put on Christ, is our ancient Baptism Hymn that is
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OR MOSAIC LAW prepared the
chanted during the Procession of the Newly
Hebrew Nation for the Coming of God. They STILL APPLY
Regenerated into the assembly the Holy Church of
TO US, THE NEW ISRAEL THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD.
Christ.
WITH GODS NEW COVENANT, CHRIST REVEALED THE TRUE NATURE
WE SHARE ONE HUMAN NATURE IN CHRIST.
OF OUR MOST MERCIFUL, LOVING AND BENEVOLENT GOD TO
US AND TAUGHT US THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE, which the
Therefore, assessing people according to our own
ancient people of God only understood instinctively at
opinion, attitude, value, gender or ethnicity is
first and then through the Teachings of the Holy
forbidden in Christs Holy Church,
Prophets of God.
If we are genuinely trying to imitate Christ we must do so
AT THE HARROWING OF HADES AFTER HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS IN
without fail: He never discriminated against anyone
HIS HUMAN NATURE, CHRIST - IN HIS DIVINE, ALMIGHTY
so how dare we do so!
NATURE - SMASHED OPEN THE IMPRISONING DOORS OF HADES,
ANY DISCRIMINATION, BIGOTRY, INTOLERANCE OR PREJUDICE WILL
AND FREED ALL HUMANITY FROM THE ENSLAVING POWER OF EVIL
CAUSE US SERIOUS SPIRITUAL CONDEMNATION, which HAVING ALREADY RE-OPENED PARADISE to THE FAITHFUL
unless we quickly correct ourselves with sincere
where they could REPOSE IN PEACE UNTIL THE GENERAL
Repentance - will affect our Eternity!
RESURRECTION AND OUR FINAL JUDGEMENT.
We are all one in nature and equal in dignity.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING
HEALING
OF
ST VERONICA
WHO HAD
TO
ST MARK 5 : 24 34
HAEMORRHAGED
FOR
12
YEAR S
At that time, many people followed Jesus, and thronged Him. And there was a certain Woman who had had a flow of blood
for twelve years, and had suffered much from many Physicians. And she had spent all that she had and was not better,
but rather, grew worse.
When she heard that about Jesus, she went behind Him in the crowd and touched His garments. She had thought: If only I
may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. And immediately the source of her bleeding dried up, and she felt in her
body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus - instantly knowing in Himself that Power had gone out of Him turned around in the crowd and asked: Who touched My clothes? And His Disciples said to Him: Thou see the
multitude thronging Thee, and Thou ask: Who touched Me?
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. The Woman fearing and trembling knowing what had
happened to her, went and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. He said to her: Daughter, your faith
has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of your affliction.
AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH IS BY THE WILL OF GOD
RISKED FURTHER SHAME AND HUMILIATION

CONVICTION THAT ONLY CHRIST COULD HEAL HER.
ALONE AND BEING OF THE SAME DIVINE ESSENCE AS GOD THE

FATHER, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST POSSESSES THAT SAME
DIVINE AUTHORITY.
THE HEALING OF THAT WOMAN, ST VERONICA, DEMONSTRATED
OUR LORD JESUS POWER TO CLEANSE US FROM OUR SINS AND
TO HEAL ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS THE SPIRITUAL AND THE
PHYSICAL.
EVERYTHING THAT IS TOUCHED BY GOD BECOMES SANCTIFIED

HOLY AND WILL PASS THAT SANCTIFICATION ONTO THE
FAITHFUL.
So THE INSTANT ST VERONICA SOFTLY TOUCHED THE ROBES OF
CHRIST SHE WAS HEALED AND GOD KNEW HER SINCERE FAITH
IN HIM.
DIVINE ENERGY OR POWER WENT FROM CHRIST TO ST VERONICA
AND HE WANTED HER TO OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE HER FAITH
IN HIM SO THAT OTHERS WOULD LEARN FROM HER AND
GLORIFY GOD.
Therefore He loudly enquired Who touched My
garment? which astonished His Disciples since the
SUCH A DEGREE OF MISERY AND DESPERATION THAT SHE
ST BARBARA
THE
GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR
THE
It was a risk that she was willing to take after all what
more could she lose? People had already taken
everything she had, but now GOD WOULD GRANT HER
WHAT SHE REALLY NEEDED!
According to the Old Covenant Laws, any type of

haemorrhaging caused ceremonial defilement,
which imposed religious and social restrictions
upon the sufferers for ANY CONTACT WITH BLOOD WAS
STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
This wretched suffering woman regarded herself as
being unclean and had followed all the
requirements as a social outcast but SHE HAD REACHED
2.
IN
OF
HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA
4 DECEMBER 2015
large crowd shoved and pushed one another to get

closer to Christ and many would have brushed
against Him or certainly touched His garments.
Although on His way to save the daughter of Jairus a
ruler of the Synagogue OUR LORD JESUS TOOK HIS
TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEALED WOMAN AND TO TEACH
BOTH HER AND ALL THOSE WHO WITNESSED IT HIS DIVINE
TRUTH:
First He granted her Good cheer because of THE PROOF
AND CONSEQUENCES OF HER SINCERE FAITH.
Then He corrected her thinking for SHE COULD NEITHER
HIDE HER ACTIONS FROM HIM FROM GOD NOR WAS SHE
EXCLUDED FROM HIM BECAUSE OF HER AFFLICTION.
ST BARBARA
THE
THE
ONLY GOD CAN SAVE OR REDEEM US!
GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR
ONLY THROUGH OUR
LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, ARE WE GENUINELY FREED

FROM SUFFERING AND BONDAGE TO SIN!
GREAT HOLY VIRGIN MARTYR
St Barbara was the only daughter of Dioscoros, a highborn

and early widowed pagan who was despotic - holding
sway over his subjects and demanding unquestioning
obedience.
He loved his daughter, Barbara, more than anything in the
world, but being a narrow-minded pagan, he only cared
for her earthly well-being.
St Barbara lived in the town of Heliopolis of Phoenicia
(Northern part of the Holy Land) at the end of the
3rd and the beginning of the 4th century.
Dioscoros was afraid that if Barbara, who was both
intelligent and beautiful, mixed with people around her,
she would make friends with those of lower standing
than hers, so he built a splendid house with a high
tower into which he shut her - surrounding her with all
possible physical comforts, a host of attendants, pagan
idols for worship and a bathroom with two windows.
Alone in her tower, young Barbara found consolation by
sitting at the windows and enjoying the natural beauty
of the earth below, during the day, and the bright,
starry sky above, at night.
She saw the range of hills stretching out to the far horizon,
emerald green valleys, and white clouds floating across
the blue dome of the sky, and she sensed the aroma of
wild flowers and herbs.
After sunset Barbara watched billions of lights appearing
one after another in the dark sky, and her innocent soul
was exulted with rapture and a burning desire to learn
about the One Who created such heavenly beauty.
Her pagan tutors failed to provide satisfactory, sensible
answers to her innumerable questions and her
profound contemplation of Creation.
St Barbaras mind was soon opened by the Grace of God,
and, although she had no human teacher to fulfil her
desire for Knowledge of God, she knew, with all her
being, that there is only One True, Living God and
Creator, Who is All Merciful, All-Wise and Omnipotent
the True Creator and Giver of Life!
It was that Almighty God, Whom young St Barbara aspired
to know.
When she came of age, her father decided that she should
be married to a suitable and worthy man.
There were innumerable suitors for her hand in marriage,
but each one was gently but firmly rejected by St
Barbara.
Thinking that her long seclusion had made his daughter so
withdrawn and unsociable, her father allowed her to
leave the confines of the high tower so that she could
meet other people, and finally accept a suitable
husband in marriage.
By Divine Providence, St Barbara met some Christian
maidens who all spoke to her about the Almighty GodCreator of all and, especially, about our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Chris.
Her pure and eager soul immediately understood that she
had finally found the One True, Living God and the True
Faith that she had dreamed of and yearned for all those
years.
Her heart was aflame with Love for our Lord Jesus Christ,
His Divine Commandments and His Teachings, and
while her father was absent for a long period, she had a
third window cut in the bath room of her tower,
symbolising the Holy Trinity.
St Barbara traced a Cross with her finger on one of the
walls, which mystically became etched deep in the
marble as if carved by a chisel.
A spring of fresh water gushed forth from the floor, which
later granted healing to many.
ST BARBARA
And finally, HE REVEALED HER FAITH PUBLICALLY SO THAT THE

WITNESSES MIGHT FOLLOW HER GOOD EXAMPLE.
Our Holy Church Fathers believed that St Veronica
symbolises human nature in general because ALL
HUMANITY CONSTANTLY SUFFERS AND IS SUBJECT TO DEATH,
WHICH WAS SYMBOLISED BY HER HAEMORRHAGING.
The Physicians who could not heal her symbolise the
various religions of the world, AS WELL AS THE OLD
COVENANT LAW, WHICH ARE UNABLE TO GRANT LIFE TO
HUMANITY THEY CANNOT SAVE US
OF
HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA
Finally, having so joyfully received the True Faith in Christ,

St Barbara was secretly Baptised.
When Dioscoros returned to his home, he was astonished
to see that the tower had three windows instead of the
two that he had ordered - and, to his utter shock, he
saw the Cross etched into the marble wall.
He fiercely interrogated St Barbara who had no desire to
conceal her Christian Faith from him and she told him
that the three windows symbolized the Holy Trinity
Almighty God - and that she had drawn the Cross on
the wall in remembrance of our Saviours Salvific
crucifixion.
Infuriated to the point of insanity, Dioscoros beat his
daughter brutally, but by the Grace of God she managed
to escape and ran out into the surrounding hills.
The deranged tyrant chased after St Barbara with his sword
but a fissure in the earth had opened up and hidden
her.
When she returned to her home the next day, Dioscoros
had her locked up for several days without any food or
drink.
Then her father handed her over to Marcian, the Governor
of the city, having denounced her as a Christian and
giving the authorities his full permission to do whatever
they wanted to her who was no longer a daughter of his.
Enchanted by St Barbaras beauty, Marcian initially spoke
kindly to her, trying to persuade her to recant her Faith
by making a sacrifice to the gods, but she resolutely
refused to do so and bravely confessed her unwavering
Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour of all
humanity!
Her courageous audacity insulted and infuriated the
Governor who immediately handed her over to the
executioners for brutal and hideous tortures.
Neither the public humiliation of being stripped naked, nor
the degradation of being beaten with bull whips until
her entire flesh was covered in bloody wounds, broke St
Barbaras strong spirit.
She remained in a constant state of deep Prayer to God in
Whom she set all her Hope and Trust, while our Lord
kept her in His Divine Grace so that she was able to
endure her martyrdom.
When the executioners became too exhausted to continue
their gruesome tortures, they cast the young Virgin
Martyr into a dungeon.
Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to St Barbara,
accompanied by many of His Holy Angels, and He
Healed her excruciating wounds and promised her a
Great Reward in Heaven.
The next morning her persecutors were dumbfounded to
see her Healed, but even such an obvious Divine Miracle
could not Enlighten their Spiritually Dead souls, and
they shrugged it off by ascribing it all to their pagan
gods made of material, lifeless and powerless as they
were!!
Once again the Governor again tried to persuade her to
worship the pagan idols, but she remained as steadfast
as ever.
Consequently, St Barbara was subjected to further, worse
tortures, throughout which she maintained her Spiritual
Strength and physical Endurance due to her ceaseless,
Fervent Prayers.
Having realised that nothing would make the Faithful
Disciples of Christ disavow their Lord or their Faith, the
Governor ordered them to be beheaded by sword.
To add to the public humiliation of St Barbara, she was
dragged naked to the place of execution.
OF
HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA
4 DECEMBER 2015
However our Loving Lord preserved the Purity and Dignity

of His Beloved Virgin Martyr by causing a blinding
Heavenly Light to be wrapped over her entire body like
an extraordinary garment that hid her from all lusting
pagan eyes.
Before being Perfected by sword, St Barbara besought God
to deliver from sudden death all those who
remembered her Holy Martyrdom and asked for her
Intercessory Prayers and Assistance, and she heard His
Words of confirmation and agreement.
A certain woman St Juliana - had witnessed St Barbaras
Prayer to God and His affirmation, and she loudly
condemned the Roman authorities for their hideous
cruelty.
Immediately, St Juliana was seized and
executed by soldiers.
St Barbara was beheaded by her own father, Dioscoros, who
had become demonically vicious and possessed.
That very same day, an extremely severe lightning bolt
struck Dioscoros house, and both him and the
Governor, Marcian, were completely incinerated.
St Barbara suffered in 306, and her Wonderworking Relics

were reverently preserved by the Greek Church for
several centuries.
In 1108, the Greek Empress, Barbara, married the Kiev
Prince, Sviatopolk, son of Iziaslavl. She had taken the
Holy Relics of St Barbara with her, and they were
reverently placed in the gold domed Monastery of St.
Michael in Kiev.
Greatly Glorified in the Kingdom of Christ, St Barbara has
appeared many times throughout the ages to
innumerable Faithful Christians. Sometimes St Barbara
is seen alone and at other times she is beheld
accompanying our Most Holy Lady, Theotokos.
May her memory be Eternal and may St Barbara ceaselessly
Intercede with Christ for the sake of our Salvation.
HTTP://WWW.FATHERALEXANDER.ORG/BOOKLETS/ENGLISH/SAINTS_NOV
_DEC.HTM#N10
PRAYER IS THE TEST OF EVERYTHING - SHOULD WE PRAY FROM BOOKS, OR USE OUR OWN WORDS?
Many Believers have developed a great love for the Prayers

found in our Prayer Books, which have collections of
Prayers, written at different times in history for
different situations, times of day and needs.
In the Orthodox Church, one of the Most Beloved Prayer
Books is the Old Testament Book of Psalms, which offer
a way of framing life's varying experiences -- good and
bad -- in Prayer - using very poetic and profound
language.
So important is the Book of Psalms that they are used in
every Worship Service and Rule of Prayer.
Written Prayers can be a Font of Wisdom and Comfort.
There are those, however, that do not feel that written
Prayers completely fit their personal "voice."
For these people, spontaneous Prayer is an important part
of their personal Devotions.
There is nothing wrong with spontaneous Prayer.
The only caution with spontaneous Prayer is that the
content of such Prayers must not contradict the Beliefs
and practices of the Orthodox Faith.
For example, we would not pray that, after we die, God
would reincarnate us as a better person, since we do not
believe in reincarnation.
The Orthodox Christian approach to written and
spontaneous Prayers is one of balance.
Our written Prayers are truly a Treasury of Christian
Spiritual Insight, Nurture and Guidance.
But at the same time even our Prayer Books instruct us to
"...take time to pray to God in your own words..."
There is a place for both types of Prayer, written and
spontaneous, and each complements the other.
In the Holy Gospels, our Lord Jesus cautions us: "...when
you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen
do. For they think that they will be heard for their
many words. (MATTHEW 6:7)
WHY
THE
UPS
Based on this verse, some Christian groups teach that God

is not pleased by written Prayers; instead, they say, all
Prayer should be spontaneous.
This teaching, however, does not make sense when we see
that two verses later, our Lord Jesus gives His Disciples
a specific Prayer to use: "In this manner, therefore,
pray: Our Father Who art in Heaven... (MATTHEW 6:9-113)
The issue that our Lord Jesus addressed is not written
Prayer versus spontaneous Prayer, but rather the how
we approach Prayer.
In Matthew 6, He also taught us: "...when you pray, go into
your room, and when you have shut your door, pray
to your Father Who is in the Secret Place; and your
Father Who sees in secret will Reward you openly."
The Saints taught us that there is a double meaning to the
words: "...go into your room..."
1. keep a low profile when you pray. Do not use Prayer to
show off to others.
2. shut out distractions when you pray. We have to pay
attention when we pray. We cannot simply rattle off
the words of our Prayers with our minds wandering
to other things -- our schedules, a song on the radio,
a conversation happening beside us, the big play of
last night's game. We must focus on what we are
saying.
Whether we are praying using words from a Prayer Book or
in our own words, the key is that we put in the effort to
do it right.
No one likes the feeling of being in a conversation, knowing
that the other person is not paying attention.
If we would try not to act like this with another human
being, then we should also put the effort in with God.
Quite simply, He deserves nothing less.
BY FR. ANDREW JARMUS
SAINT NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
AND
Why is it that we go through periods of happiness followed

by despondency?
This seems to happen especially after some Joyous Event.
It happens even to those who have everything: a good
home, good job, many friends, and all the means to
enjoy any kind of entertainment or even exotic
vacations.
Why do we still experience sadness in our lives when we are
Blessed with so much?
St Theophan the Recluse reminds us that our various types
of hobbies and entertainment can give rise to such
feelings: ...Amusements, especially pleasant ones, give
rise to depression, because while they are not sinful,
they are unable to make our heart content...
Most of us seek satisfaction from entertainment, sports,
hobbies, etc.
Yet these are merely temporary pleasures that give us
fleeting contentment that is soon followed by
disappointment when it ends, which does not help us
with the angst of life and death - and the unknown
future.
They only distract us from the reality of our ultimate
end our final destination.
Deep within everyone is a search for something
essential that such worldly activities cannot
provide, so we continue to yearn for that special
4.
ST BARBARA
THE
GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR
OF
DOWNS?
Fulfilment that all the activities, all the riches, all the
friends, all the processions of this world cannot grant
us.
True Joy and Spiritual Contentment only comes from a
profound, intimate Relationship with the Lord our God.
He, alone, is our Purpose. Our aim is to be United with Him
for Eternity. With Him there is no Death.
This is the Divine Truth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ.
This is the Way of His Life, His Teaching, Crucifixion, and
Resurrection. He showed us Divine Truth and He Called
us to follow Him to Live in Him.
As long as we continue to seek Union with God, to do our
best to fulfil His Commandments and Teachings, to
remain humble and to seek His Forgiveness and Mercy
for all our sins, we will receive True Happiness that
does not come and go, and which cannot be taken away
from us or disappoint us.
St Theophan said: Do not forget God. Thank Him for
every comfort and Blessing... God is asking for your
heart once and for all... for without God we are never
satisfied...
ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE: THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM/2011/09/WHY-UPS-ANDDOWNS.HTML
HELIOPOLIS, SYRIA
4 DECEMBER 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever,
and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole
Life to Christ our God. Amen.
St Savva the Sanctified of Cappadocia
5 December 2015
Also the Feast of St Diogenos St Gurias of Kazan St Anastasios the Fuller of Salona,
Dalmatia St Karion (Cyrion) and St Zachariah, his son, of Sketis, Egypt St Nektarios of
Bitylya & Mount Athos St Philotheos of Karyes, Mount Athos the Holy Monastic Martyrs
of Karyes, Mount Athos St Crispina of Thacora (Tagora), Africa
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST SAVVA
Tes
THE
TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
With
ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon

egeorgisas; ke tis ek vathous stenagmis, is ekaton
tous ponous ekarpoforisas; ke gagonas Fostir, tis
ikoumenis, lambon tis thavmasi, Savva Patir imon
Osie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine tas psihas
imon.
FESTAL KONTAKION - ST SAVVAS
SANCTIFIED
the rivers of Thy tears, Thou changed the barren

desert into fertile land; and with the sighs from Thy
depths, Thou made Thy Labours produce a
hundredfold;
and Thou became a Bright Star,
shining on the earth with Thy Miracles. O Savvas our
Father Righteous: Intercede with Christ our God, for
our souls to be Saved!
SANCTIFIED - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
THE
Os apo vrefous to Theo thisia amomos, prosevehthis di O Blessed Savvas, Thou was offered from
Thine infancy
through Thy Great Virtue as a Pure and Spotless
Sacrifice to God, Who before Thy Birth, verily
foreknew Thee; wherefore Thou was an Adornment of
the Righteous Saints, an All-praised Founder of cities
in the wilderness. Hence, I cry to Thee: Rejoice, O
Father of Great Renown!
aretis, Savva Makarie, to Se prin gennithine

epistameno, ehrimatisas Osion egkallopisma, polistis
te tis erimou exietpenos. Dio krazo Si. Heris Pater
aidime.
SEASONAL KONTAKION - NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to

spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas
gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.
Today
the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all

being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
ST LUKE 6 : 17 22
TO
OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS SERMON
ON THE
PLAIN
At that time, our Lord Jesus went down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His Disciples and a great
multitude of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who went to hear Him
and be Healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were Healed. And
the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for Power went out of Him and Healed them all.
And He lifted His Eyes towards His Disciples, and said: Blessed art you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed
are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of
Mans sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Behold! your Reward is great in Heaven.
PROKEIMENON PSALM 149 TONE (7) VARYS-GRAVE
The Saints shall rejoice in Glory

Sing unto the Lord a New Song.
THE EPISTLE
OF
BATTLE
ST PAUL
TO THE
AGAINST THE FLESH
GALATIANS 5 : 22 6 : 2
& DO GOOD
TO EVERYONE
Brethren: the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Selfcontrol. Against such there is no law. Those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Brethren: if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.
This
Sacred Lesson commemorates all Holy Monks

and it reminds us, AS STRUGGLING DISCIPLES OF
CHRIST, Whom we STRIVE TO IMITATE AND FAITHFULLY
FOLLOW OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST Who is
THE SON OF GOD being GUIDED AND ENABLED BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT OUR DIVINE COMFORTER, ADVOCATE AND
HELPER WHO GRANTS US HIS DIVINE GIFTS OF VIRTUE
SUCH AS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS,
GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELFCONTROL.
As developing, maturing and Faithful Christians we are
reminded that THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM WE HAVE
ABANDONED OUR FORMER SELVES the Old Man who
were ruled and dominated by our passions or vices
and selfish desires.
ST SAVVAS
HAVING BEEN REGENERATED IN CHRIST, OUR ONLY DESIRE TO

BECOME LIKE HIM THROUGH HUMILITY AND WILLING
OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.
To walk in the (Holy) Spirit is to Live every moment ...in
the (Holy) Spirit... being CONSTANTLY AWARE OF OUR
HOLY MISSION DURING THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD of life on
Earth and MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FULFIL GODS DIVINE
WILL instead of indulging our own flawed and
destructive desires and whims that do not benefit
anyone at all.
Without
Humility and Obedience two inseparable

Virtues we cannot expect to make even the
slightest progress for ONLY BY WORKING IN HARMONY
AND UNITY WITH GOD AND WITH ONE ANOTHER, CAN WE
ACHIEVE THEOSIS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND ETERNAL
LIFE.
THE
SANCTIFIED
5 DECEMBER 2015
Being Enlightened by Christ and the Holy Spirit, we

should ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST ONE ANOTHER, especially
when anyone of us stumbles or falls along the way.
However, WHEN CORRECTING our fallen or stumbling
Brethren, we must ALWAYS DO SO WITH HUMBLE AGAPE OR
LOVE ... A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS... AND NEVER WITH A SENSE
OF CRITICISM OR CONDEMNATION because the next time
we ourselves may fall even harder than any of our
FAITHFUL DISCIPLES
OF
fellow sinners: Today my Brother, tomorrow me! (ST

JOHN OF KRONSTADT)
To be able to administer correction with Gentleness is a

Spiritual Gift of God.
St Paul admonishes us to BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS AND TO
BEAR OUR OWN BURDENS AS WELL because we are Called to
initiate True Care-giving in our Holy Church and NEVER
TO BE NEEDLESS BURDENS TO OTHERS!
TO
CHRIST REST ASSURED & CONFIDENT
IN
HIM
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son
except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son Wills to reveal
Him.
Come to Me, all who labour and who are heavily laden, and I will grant you rest. Take My Yoke upon you, and learn
from Me, for I Am Gentle and Lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My Yoke is easy and My
Burden is light.
THE YOKE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR FREE AND WILLING
St Theophylact explained to us that GOD HAS HIDDEN HIS
DIVINE MYSTERIES FROM THE WISE AND ERUDITE PEOPLE OF THE
WORLD not out of any malice towards His creatures
but rather BECAUSE OF THEIR UNWORTHINESS, for they
chose to trust their own fallen, warped and limited

wisdom and judgement instead of Gods Perfect and
Absolute Wisdom and Knowledge.
Furthermore, IT IS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND THAT GOD

WITHHOLDS DIVINE REVELATION FROM THOSE WHO WOULD
SCORN IT IN ORDER THAT THEY DO NOT RECEIVE EVEN
WORSE ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AT THEIR FINAL
JUDGEMENT.
ST LUKE
OF
SIMFEROPOL WATCH
AND
OUR LORD DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO NEITHER WORK, EAT, NOR

DRINK.
We can drink wine but not to drunkenness.
We can eat everything that the Lord has given us as food
but we should never overeat.
For those who have gorged themselves and become
overcome with wine will not BE WATCHFUL AND PRAY IN
FULFILMENT OF OUR LORDS COMMANDMENTS. (CF. MATTHEW
26:41)
They will sleep for a long time and, when they awaken, they
will once again be overwhelmed by mundane cares and
give themselves over to gluttony and drunkenness.
WATCHING AND PRAYING DOES NOT MEAN NEVER SLEEPING, BUT
RATHER MEANS ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE HOUR OF DEATH THE HOUR OF THE DREAD JUDGMENT.
DEATH FINDS US QUITE SUDDENLY, when we are not thinking
about preparing for this Dread Hour.
How can this be avoided if we are always living in vain
cares?
Of course, we cannot pray continuously, but we should
ALWAYS BE VIGILANT AND PRAYERFULLY DISPOSED.
Our Lord has raised up great Teachers of Vigilance, Fasting,
and Prayer as examples that INCOMPARABLY MORE IS
POSSIBLE FOR US, WHICH THE SAINTS HAVE ATTAINED.
SUCH FASTING IS POSSIBLE AS WE WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED;
SUCH PRAYER AS WE HAVE NEVER HEARD; AND SUCH
VIGILANCE AS SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE!
Among the many Righteous that our Lord has raised up, ST
SAVVAS THE SANCTIFIED SHINES ESPECIALLY BRIGHTLY,
BEING GREAT IN ALL MONASTIC LABOURS OF ASCETICISM.
He founded the Lavra near Jerusalem, which for many
centuries served as the model of Monastic Life.
The Labour of Prayer in the Monastery of St Savvas was so
intense that we can scarcely imagine it.
The Monks performed the Jesus Prayer fifteen hundred
times with many full prostrations.
THE PRAYER OF ST SAVVAS HIMSELF WAS UNUSUALLY POWERFUL MANY EXAMPLES OF HIS PRAYERFUL H ELP ARE KNOWN FROM
HIS LIFE.
Once, during Great Lent he was with one of his Disciples in
the wild Judean desert, where many lions roamed.
His Disciple, weary from much Fasting, fell asleep while St
Savvas prayed nearby.
Suddenly an enormous, ravenous lion approached the
sleeping Disciple but AS ST SAVVAS BESOUGHT GOD WITH
HIS FERVENT PRAYERS, THE LION RETREATED with a wild
roar and disappeared into the desert.
One of his great Labours that witnessed to his perfect
fearlessness before the powerful Rulers of this
world occurred shortly before his Repose in
Christ.
The Fourth Ecumenical Council, had condemned the
heresy of Monophysitism that had been taught by
Archimandrite Eutyches, who proclaimed that our
6.
ST SAVVAS
THE
SUBMISSION TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS

REQUIRED OF US AS WORTHY FUTURE CITIZENS.
A Yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and

responsibilities, but IN CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, HIS YOKE IS
EASY, BECAUSE DIVINE POWER WORKS IN EACH OF US.
(2 KINGS 12: 1
11; JEREMIAH 34: 1-11; WISDOM OF SIRACH 40:1)
Furthermore, THE ULTIMATE REWARD IS INFINITELY GREATER

THAN ANY EFFORT MANKIND PUTS FORTH.
The term Gentle is literally translated Meek.
PRAY ON ST SAVVAS
THE
SANCTIFIED
Lord Jesus Christs humanity had been absorbed by His

Divinity and that He should not be considered GodMan but only God.
Many people refused to accept the Councils decision
against the heresy, considering that false doctrine to be
correct.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent a delegation to Emperor
Anastasios with a letter requesting that he put an end
to the heresy.
Among his delegation was St Savvas, and when the Emperor
had read the letter, he asked: And who here is Savvas?
Due to his threadbare, patched garments, St Savvas had not
been admitted into the court, but having been
summoned, ST SAVVAS ASTONISHED THE EMPEROR BY THE
PROFOUND DIGNITY OF HIS APPEARANCE
OBVIOUS H UMILITY AND POVERTY.
DESPITE
HIS
Having made a deep bow before St Savvas, Emperor

Anastasios promised to fulfill all that the Patriarch of
Jerusalem had requested.
The Emperor, however, soon broke his promise by
appointing the heretic, Severos, to the See of Antioch,
and ousting Patriarch Kosmas of Jerusalem, sending
him into exile and appointing Archbishop John, as his
successor, but when the Archbishop refused to have
Communion with the heretical Severos - forbidding him
to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Emperor Anastasios was enraged.
After the completion of the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch John,
St Savvas, and St Theodore went onto the Ambo and
declared an Anathema against Severos and Emperor
Anastasios.
Furthermore, ST SAVVAS GREATNESS OF SOUL, FEARLESSNESS,
AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH COMPELLED THEM TO CONFESS
THE TRUTH!
The Emperor ordered all three Ascetic Strugglers to be
seized, imprisoned, and exiled, but our Lord prevented
this by cutting short the life of Anastasios, whose
successor immediately put an end to the Monophysite
heresy, and freed the three Holy Ascetics.
ST SAVVAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE ASCETIC STRUGGLES OF
PRAYERFUL VIGILANCE AND FASTING.
For five days he ate nothing. On Saturday and Sunday he
went to the Monastery but ate only a very small portion.
In his cave HE WOVE BASKETS, CONTEMPLATED AND PRAYED,
THEREBY FULFILLING CHRISTS PRECEPT OF NOT ALLOWING
OUR
HEARTS
BE
OVERCHARGED
WITH
SURFEITING,
DRUNKENNESS, AND THE CARES OF THIS LIFE.
WHEN OUR LORD BROUGHT AN END TO HIS HOLY DAYS, ST
SAVVA APPEARED BEFORE HIM IN BRILLIANT LIGHT, so let
us IMITATE THIS HOLY ASCETIC STRUGGLER AND STRIVE IN
PRAYER, VIGILANCE, AND FASTING, RENOUNCING ALL OUR
WORLDLY CARES!
(PREACHED ON 18 DECEMBER 1947)
SANCTIFIED
5 DECEMBER 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever, and unto the
Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed
and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin,
together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves
and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God.
Amen.
10 t h
6 December 2015
Tone 2
th
27 Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday of St Luke - The Bowed Woman
Also the Feast of St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Archbishop of Myra, Lycia - St Maximos, Metropolitan of Kiev
RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION TONE 2
Ote katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote ton When
Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,

Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of Thy
Divinity. When also Thou raised up the dead from the
subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heaven cried
aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory to Thee!
Adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous

tethneotas ek ton katahthonion
anestisas, pase e
Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Hriste, O
Theos imon, Doxa Si!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION - ST NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER OF MYRA
As
Kanona
Pisteos ke Ikona praotitos, engratias didaskalon

anedixe Se ti Pimni Sou i ton pragmaton Alithia. Dia
touto ekomiso ti tapinosi ta ipsila, ti ptohia ta piousia.
Pater Ierarha Nikolae, Presveve Hristo to Theo, Sothine
tas psihas imon.
SEASONAL KONTAKION
EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
OF THE
Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to spyleon

to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi,
Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di imas gar egenniti,
Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.
TONE 4
Rule of the Faith and picture of Gentleness, and

Teacher of Temperance Thou were exhibited to Thy
Flock, by the Truth of the Evidence. Thus Thou
acquired the Lofty through Humility, the abundant
through Poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas:
Intercede with Christ our God, so that our souls may
be Saved!
Today

beings, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no
man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give Glory,
and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is Born a
young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
RESURRECTION GOSPEL 5 LUKE 24 : 12 35
OUR
RISEN
LORD JESUS CHRIST APPEARS
ALONG THE ROAD TO
EMMAUS
Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.

What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us?
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
HOLY LIFE
TO THE
IN
CHRIST
HEBREWS 13 : 17 21
OUR
LORD
Brethren: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive. They watch out for your souls, as those who must give
account. Let them do so with Joy and not with grief - for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us. We are
confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably. I especially urge you to do this, so
that I may be restored to you sooner.
May the God of Peace Who brought up from the dead that Great ...Shepherd of the Sheep... ...through the Blood of the
Everlasting Covenant... - our Lord Jesus - make you complete in every Good Work to do His Will, working in you what
is well pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory forever and ever.
Amen.
We must ALWAYS OBEY AND RESPECT OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
His concluding Blessing noted THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE DIVINE
who are consecrated and Sanctified members of the
AND MOST SACRED BLOOD OF CHRIST WHICH IS REALISED IN HIS
Holy Priesthood of Christ our Lord.
GLORIOUS RESURRECTION AS CHRIST OFFERS HIS MOST
OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS ARE PART OF THE ETERNAL SPIRITUAL
PRECIOUS BLOOD IN THE ETERNAL SANCTUARY and thereby
FATHERHOOD OF CHRISTS HOLY CHURCH WHO WILL BE HELD
inaugurates a New, ... Everlasting (Eternal)
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY AT THE GREAT
Covenant, which makes us Complete in every Good
JUDGEMENT OF OUR LORD.
Work to do His Will... as WE CO-OPERATE WITH GOD IN ALL
St Paul, as one of our Holy Church Fathers, asked all
THINGS and so are able to progress towards Holy
Christians for their Prayers so that he might live an
Sainthood Holy Perfection or Theosis i.e. the
Regeneration of our original created state.
exemplary life according to Gods Will and not be
tempted by the evil one into committing any sins or
worse leading others into wickedness or blasphemy.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HEALS
THE
TO
ST LUKE 13 : 10 - 17
BOWED WOMAN
ON THE
SABBATH
At that time, our Lord was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold: there was a woman who had a
spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself. Seeing her, Jesus called her
to Him, and said to Her: Woman: you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His Hands on her. And
immediately she was made straight, and she Glorified God.
Indignantly, the Ruler of the Synagogue responded, for Jesus had Healed on the Sabbath. He said to the crowd: There are
six days on which to work. On them come and be Healed, and not on the Sabbath Day! Answering him, the Lord said:
Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to
water it? So ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham - whom Satan has bound think of it: for
eighteen years be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 10TH
OF
ST LUKE THE BOWED WOMAN ST NICHOLAS 6 DECEMBER 2015
And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the Glorious
Things that were done by Him.
According to certain traditions that the Pharisees and the
that position in order TO UNDERSTAND THE SUFFERING THAT
Scribes had built up around the Mosaic Law, Healing
SHE HAD SO PATIENTLY ENDURED.
was considered to be work. Therefore, EVEN HEALING
Furthermore, our Holy Church Fathers regard this Divine
WAS NOT PERMISSIBLE ON THE SABBATH DAY.
Commandment ... think of it!... as directing our
These self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes believed that
attention to a profound Spiritual Meaning of the ...
they served God by zealously keeping and enforcing
eighteen years.
these peripheral traditions.
The Greek expression is literally ten and eight years.
However, SUCH LEGALISM ACTUALLY MADE THEM INSENSITIVE TO
St Ambrose and St Theophylact understood this as
GODS GREAT MERCY.
representing the Ten Commandments and the Eighth
When our Compassionate Lord Jesus Christ told the
Day, which is the beginning of Eternity and the
people especially those who criticised Him for
General Resurrection of all mankind by Divine Grace.
Healing the Bowed Woman on the Sabbath to ...
Consequently, all mankind is uplifted by Faith in Christ
think of it! He was commanding them to CONSIDER
Who fulfils both the entire Mosaic Law and Divine
HOW IT FELT TO SUFFER FOR SO LONG to put themselves in
Grace.
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 10TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE THE BOWED WOMAN
Ascetic Labour of moral self-perfection, to the
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
fulfilment of the Divine Commandments, and to Active
Spirit...
Virtue, but only plunges them into even greater
A woman who for eighteen years could not lift herself up
despondency than that which they had experienced
was Healed by the Divine Power of our Lord Saviour.
before they acknowledged their sins.
This incident, narrated by the Evangelist and Holy Apostle,
In such repentance there lies a great Spiritual Error.
St Luke, reminds us of the Miraculous Healing that
Our Lord certainly does not want us to become bowed
takes place with every person who encounters Christ on
down (nor crushed) under the weight of our own
the Path of Life.
unworthiness.
The life of many of us in this world is such that gradually,
Having sincerely Confessed our sins, we are able to
over the years, we bow down under the weight of the
approach the Holy Chalice with heartfelt, humble Faith
burdens laid upon us.
that our Lord Jesus Christ came ...to save sinners, of
They can be burdens of earthly concerns, experiences, and
whom I am the chief!
intractable problems.
They can be the crosses that we carry on our shoulders illness that befalls us, trials that overtake us.
They can be sins with which we do not have the strength to
cope.
We are bowed down under the weight of all these
circumstances.
Sometimes it seems to us that, apart from this difficult
earthly situation in which we find ourselves, nothing
else exists on Earth!
The Bowed Woman - until our Lord Healed her - saw only
the patch of ground beneath her feet.
In just the same way, we often are incapable of seeing
anything that is higher than us, or even that which is on
the same level with us, but rather see only that which is
under our feet.
BOWED DOWN TO THE EARTH, WE DO NOT SEE HEAVEN.
Being immersed in earthly affairs and concerns, we forget
that, apart from that tiny parcel of land that has been
given to us for an inheritance, there also exists
something infinitely greater and more beautiful - an
entire world with its expanses of earth and sea, the sky
with its heavenly bodies and stars and, finally, the
Heavenly Kingdom, to which we are all Called, for a
Habitation has been prepared for each one of us
therein.
BY ATTENDING CHURCH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
INTO CONTACT WITH THIS H IGHER, OTHER REALITY IN OUR
OWN LIVING EXPERIENCE.
The Holy Church of Christ helps us to be Spiritually
Strengthened - to forget about the Earth, and to
remember Heaven, turning us away from the material
and the temporary here and now for She Unites us
to the Spiritual and the Eternal there!
By Healing the Bowed Woman, our Lord Jesus Christ shows
us what He wants from each of us.
He wants us to stand before Him at our full height He
wants us to grow ...unto the measure of the Stature of
the Fullness of Christ. (EPHESIANS 4:13)
He wants us to straighten up, stretch out our wings, and
breathe deeply.
Our Lord wants us to remember our Lofty and Heavenly
Calling - to be Children of God, to be inhabitants of the
Heavenly City, the Jerusalem on High.
Faithful Disciples of Christ often become bowed down
under the weight of their own sins, which is soon
resolved by sincere Repentance.
However, there are times when Faithful Christians become
bowed down overwhelmed by the sheer weight of
their contrite Repentance for the sins they have
committed.
Their experience of Repentance for what they have done
does not grant them Spiritual Strength towards
correction, nor does it
Inspire them towards the
8. 2 7 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T 1 0 T H
OF
IF WE HAVE NOT CONFESSED OUR SINS, PREPARING OURSELVES
BEFOREHAND AND BEING FILLED WITH GRATITUDE, LOVE

AND H UMILITY BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, WE CANNOT
WORTHILY RECEIVE H OLY COMMUNION!
Furthermore, if we regard even one person as being worse

than ourselves, it means that we are not yet ripe for an
Encounter with Christ.
By truly recognizing ourselves as the worst of sinners - by
seeing the whole Abyss of evil wherein we have fallen
and then Repenting our sins with sincere tears of
contrition, we should never become despondent nor
despairing. (i.e. hopeless!)
St Isaac the Syrian
taught us to always remember that
NO HUMAN SIN NOT EVEN THE MOST SEVERE CAN

OVERPOWER THE GREAT MERCY OF GOD, FOR ALL OUR
SINS TAKEN TOGETHER, ARE MERELY LIKE A HANDFUL OF
SAND TOSSED INTO THE INFINITE OCEAN OF GODS
GREAT MERCY, WHERE IT DISSOLVES AND DISAPPEARS
WITHOUT A TRACE!
The Holy Church of Christ grants us the opportunity to

FOCUS ON GOD - not on ourselves - to redirect our
attention away from ourselves and our own life
situation, to the Heavenly Kingdom, with which we can
commune.
In spite of all our sins, and our inability to rise to the level
at which we Christians should live - in spite of being
incapable of fulfilling Christs Commandments and
Teachings that seem to exceed our human abilities WE
ARE CONSTANTLY SPIRITUALLY RENEWED IN CHURCH,
THROUGH
HER HOLY MYSTERIES OF REPENTANCECONFESSION, COMMUNION OF THE B ODY AND B LOOD OF
CHRIST, AND HOLY UNCTION, AS WELL AS THROUGH
PRAYERS, AND THROUGH THE DIVINE SERVICES.
The Church grants us renewed Strength to grow spiritually to ascend from strength to Strength, becoming more
and more upright, and becoming less mindful of earthly
matters by appealing more often to Heaven.
The closer we draw to God, the more alert we are to our
own sinfulness, and the more we are compelled to
Repent thereby drawing even more closer to God and
experiencing the indescribable Joy, Peace and Love of
Gods Divine Grace and Presence!
Repentance becomes a joyful Spiritual Experience - like
recovery to complete health after a long, drawn out
illness like being able to stand up straight and ease
our aching backs after so many years of being bowed
down.
Let us continue our Journey in the Divine Company of
Christ, and with one another - ascending to the
Heavenly Kingdom, where those who are worthy are
joyfully awaited! Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP-METROPOLITAN HILARION (ALFEYEV) 7 DECEMBER 2014
HTTP://WWW.PRAVMIR.COM/STRENGTHENING-SPIRITUALLY-HEALING-BOWED-WOMAN/
PRAYER IS THE TEST OF EVERYTHING THE JESUS PRAYER (OR PRAYER
One of the most important Prayers in the Orthodox

Christian Faith is the "Jesus Prayer."
It is neither long nor complicated:
"O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on me, a

sinner."
Some make it even shorter: "Lord, Jesus Christ, have
Mercy on me."
But the shortest form is Kyrie eleison! - Lord, have
Mercy!
The Jesus Prayer became famous in Monasteries through
the movement known as "Hesychasm", or the Way of
"Stillness."
The idea of Hesychasm is that it is only when we have
stilled our hearts and bodies that we can be fully open
to the Life-Giving Presence of God.
The body must be stilled from its obsessions, compulsions
and addictions, and the heart must be stilled of its
wandering here and there looking for something to
keep it occupied, entertained and satisfied.
The Jesus Prayer is used as the Refrain of a Prayerful
Meditation.
Through continued use, practitioners find themselves
saying it automatically, much in the same way that we
sometimes find a tune running through our minds
without our conscious effort.
AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL, PRACTICE OF THE JESUS PRAYER LEADS
TO AN INTIMATE ENCOUNTER WITH GOD THROUGH A VISION
OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "UNCREATED LIGHT."
Shortly before His Crucifixion, our Lord Jesus Christ took
three of His Apostles St Peter, St James and St John to
the top of Mount Tabor.
There, they beheld the garments of our Lord become
blindingly pure white, while He Himself began to shine
with a Most Resplendent Light that was almost too
much for them to bear. (SEE MATTHEW 17:1-9; MARK .9:2-13;
LUKE 9:28-36)
That Uncreated Light was the manifestation of our Lord

Jesus Christs Divinity, which is the same Divine Light
that various advanced practitioners of the Jesus Prayer
and/or Hesychasm experience.
Although this may seem very impressive and perhaps even
desirable, it is not what we usually experience - nor
what we do not experience - that matters when reciting
the Jesus Prayer or any other Prayer.
WHAT
REALLY MATTERS IS THAT WE PRAY WITH AN

AWARENESS OF WHAT OUR WORDS REALLY MEAN, AND
THAT WE TRY TO STAY AS ATTENTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO THE
WORDS WE ARE SAYING WHILE WE PRAY.
The most important words of the Jesus Prayer is the Divine

Name of our Saviour.
The Saints have taught us that the very mention of Name of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, burns, scatters and
defeats demons!
Our Lord Jesus Christ is God speaking for Himself.
Almighty God is never far away nor remote from us.
Our Lord God Loves us so much that He came to be one of
us, through His Only-Begotten Son, and He allows us to
relate to His Son by referring to Him as our Lord
Jesus."
Repetition of the Name of our ... Lord, Jesus Christ, Son
of God... is a very powerful Tool in our Spiritual Life
and as a most powerful Weapon in the ceaseless
Spiritual Warfare, as we battle and struggle against the
temptations and sins of the evil one, until our final
breath.
ST NICHOLAS
THE
27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 10TH
OF
HEART)
Christ.]
Also important in the Jesus Prayer is the Call for God's
Great Mercy.
We confess that we are broken we are sinful so we pray
using words from the Holy Gospels: "...have Mercy on
me."
No one is worthy of God's Grace.
There are no necessary requirements that entitle us " to
God's Blessings.
THE INFINITE, ABUNDANT BLESSINGS WE RECEIVE FROM GOD

ARE SOLELY BASED ON H IS GREAT MERCY.
Divine Mercy and Love is the starting point our whole Life!
If God were not Merciful, we would not even exist!
The Jesus Prayer became so important and so beloved, that
it eventually made its way into every Worship Service in
a couple of different forms.
The best know of these forms is the response to the
Fervent Prayers, Supplications, Litanies and Petitions:
"Lord, have Mercy!" (Kyrie eleison!)
"Lord, have Mercy" is a compact form of the Jesus Prayer.
Whether we are singing it in worship, or saying it quietly in
personal Prayer, the Jesus Prayer is a Jewel of our
Spiritual Tradition.
As mentioned before, our Prayers do not necessarily have
to be long in order to be effective.
However,
WE MUST SAY EACH WORD OF THE JESUS PRAYER

WITH ABSOLUTE AWARENESS, ATTENTION AND A
SINCERITY OF HEART - AGAIN AND AGAIN - and we will
soon experience Divine Providence and Gods Very

Presence in every aspect of our daily life!
This Prayer is also referred to as the Prayer of the Heart because
we can repeat every word with every heart beat throughout the
day no matter with what we are occupied!
Eventually, we will be able to continue our outer life while ceaselessly
praying this Wonderful Prayer in our Inner Being.
BY FR. ANDREW JARMUS
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP
Donate
WONDERWORKER
St Nicholas was born (circa 270) in the region of Lycia

(southern Asia Minor), in the city of Patara.
His parents, Theophanes and Nonna, were both pious
Christians, and having been childless until his arrival,
they Consecrated Nicholas to God at his birth.
(Nicholas means 'Conqueror of nations').
His birth was considered as an answer to their Prayers especially those that were prayed during his mothers
long illness, for she was immediately healed after giving
birth to him.
St Nicholas always remembered his parents' Love and
Devotion to God, and he promised to come to the aid of
those who remembered them in their Prayers.
OF THE
This wonderful Prayer allows us to approach the Lord our

God in a very direct manner.
We do not simply say:, Somebody - Whoever is out there hear my Prayer.
We specifically say: "O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God..."
hear my Prayer.
The Name "Jesus" or Joshua means: "the Lord is
Salvation."
As we call on the Name of our Lord Jesus, we call upon Him
as "Lord" -- "Lord, Jesus Christ..."
"Lord" is a title of honour.
In times past, someone who was a Lord had authority over
people under him.
To address Christ as our Lord is to put ourselves with
Humility and Obedience, under His Divine Authority.
Our Saviour, Jesus, is the Lord of our Life.
We perpetually strive to follow His Teachings and
Commandments - to do whatever He wants us to do
and we base our Life in Christ on the Way of Life that
He has shown us by His own Perfect Example.
In short, if Jesus Christ is our Lord, He is in charge of our
Life.
[At our Holy Baptism, we put on Christ so that we now Live in
OF
MYRA
Many Signs of St Nicholas' future glory as 'Wonderworker'

(Thaumatourgos), were apparent since his earliest
childhood.
As an infant in the Baptismal Font, St Nicholas stood on his
feet for three hours in honour of the Holy Trinity.
He began to Fast from his earliest infancy - not accepting
milk from his mother until after the conclusion of
Evening Prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays.
From a very young age St Nicholas had studied the Church's
Sacred Scriptures. He thrived on reading Divine Texts,
and earned a reputation as a devoted youth who often
remained in the church, reading the Holy Scripture until
late into the night.
His devout lifestyle soon drew the attention of the local

Bishop who was St Nicholas' uncle (his father's brother),
who was also named Nicholas.
Seeing his nephew's fervour for Christian Life, Bishop
Nicholas of Patara tonsured him Reader, and later
ordained him Deacon, and then Priest.
At Father Nicholas' Ordination, the elderly Bishop Nicholas
remarked: 'I see, Brethren, a new sun rising above the
Earth and manifesting in himself a Gracious Consolation
for the afflicted.
Blessed is the Flock that will be worthy to have him as its
Priest, because this one will shepherd well the souls of
those who have gone astray, will Nourish them on the
pasturage of Piety, and will be a Merciful Helper in
misfortune and tribulation.'
The newly-ordained Father Nicholas' special charge as
assistant to the Bishop of Patara was the instruction of
the Faithfula unique and uncommon role for such a
young age.
St Nicholas approached his Duties as Priest and Teacher of
the Faith with the same fervour his uncle had witnessed
in him during his childhood.
Despite his youthfulness, many of the Faithful considered
him an Elder, and his ability to respond to questions of
Faith with Love and Wisdom, earned him the deep
respect of those in the city.
St Nicholas was noted in particular for the fervency of his
Prayers and his kind-hearted nature, as well as his
attention to charitable work that characterised his
Priestly Ministry.
Following the injunction of Christ, Father Nicholas sold his
possessions and, after his parents Repose a few years
after his Ordination, distributed his inheritance to the
poor, destitute and afflicted.
One of his most well-known acts of selflessness as a young
Priest, was Father Nicholas reaction to the intentions of
a formerly wealthy businessman of Patara who had lost
his entire earthly fortune.
In his desperation, the man had decided to sacrifice the
honour and virtue of his three young daughters to
prostitution, in order to raise funds for the family.
Through the Prayers of the young girls and by means of a
Divine Revelation, St Nicholas learnt of the impending
disastrous plan, and, under cover of darkness that
night, he secretly visited their home and, enclosing
300 coins in a stocking (or handkerchief), the Saint
gently tossed his gift through an opened window.
Although they were unaware of the identity of their
generous Benefactor, but convinced of the good
intentions of the gesture, the father was able to use the
funds as a fitting dowry for his eldest daughter to be
honourably married.
As each young daughter reached marriageable age, the
mysterious dowries would appear, enabling the father
to make suitable marriages for them.
Father Nicholas requested permission to make a Pilgrimage
to Jerusalem - to visit the Sites.
During his voyage by ship, a great storm arose, which had
been predicted by St Nicholas when he beheld a vision
of the evil one boarding.
St Nicholas warned the crew to take care, so they were
prepared when the storm struck, and while he fervently
prayed for the salvation of the ship and all those
aboard, the storm abated and the waters were calmed.
Arriving in the Holy Land, St Nicholas made his Pilgrimage
to all the Holy Sites in Jerusalem and spent time at
Golgotha where Christ had been crucified.
Overcome by the Reality of where the Incarnate Son of God
had been, St Nicholas wanted to retreat into the desert
to live in Solitude, but was stopped by a Divine Voice,
which forbade him from doing so, and urged him to
return home. He obeyed - although still longing for
quiet and the Solitary Life.
He entered the Monastic Community of Holy Zion in Lycia
(which had earlier been founded by his uncle).
Yet again, our Lord made known to him that this was
not to be his Path: This [Monastery] is not the
Vineyard in which Thou shall bring forth the
Fruit I expect of Thee. Return to the world, and
there Glorify My Name.
Eagerly obeying the Divine Commandment, St
Nicholas left the Brotherhood of Holy Zion and
returned to Myra.
10. 2 7 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T 1 0 T H
OF
Shortly after his return, the elderly Archbishop Reposed

and there was a debate as to who should succeed him.
The local Synod wanted the new Archbishop to be revealed
by God rather than being an individual chosen by men.
One of their oldest Bishops beheld a Vision of the Illumined
Christ, Who indicated that he should keep watch inside
the church, for the one who was first to enter it that
nightwho was named Nicholas was the one who
should be elected as Archbishop.
Obediently, the elderly Bishop entered the church and
waited and as soon as Father Nicholas arrived, the
Bishop asked him who he was.
God's Chosen One replied: 'My name is Nicholas, Master,
and I am Thy servant.'
The Bishop took St Nicholas immediately to the other
Bishops and exclaimed: 'Brethren, receive your Shepherd
whom the Holy Spirit Himself Anointed and to whom He
entrusted the care of your souls! He was not appointed
by an assembly of men but by God Himself! Now we
have the one whom we desired, and have found and
accepted the one we sought. Under his Rule and
instruction we will not lack the Hope that we will stand
before God in the Day of His Appearing and Revelation.
St Nicholas was Consecrated to the Episcopacy during a
tumultuous time, during which the persecutions under
Emperor Diocletian (284-305) effected that region
deeply, and for a time, Bishop Nicholas was imprisoned
with other Christians for refusing to bow down and
worship the idols of the imperial cult. He was
remembered later for the exhortations he delivered to
his fellow prisoners, urging them to Endure with Joy all
that the Lord laid before them, whether chains, bonds,
torture or even death.
Bishop Nicholas' imprisonment came to an end with the
ascension of Emperor Constantine to the throne in the
early fourth century, and returning to his Flock he
resumed his Episcopal Work.
He was a Great Ascetic who was gentle, compassionate and
loving, but his kind-hearted spirit was also zealous, and
with the new Spiritual Freedom under the peace of
Emperor Constantine (following the 'Edict of Milan' in
312), he went to all the pagan temples throughout Myra
and had all the shrines and idols destroyed.
In 325, a great Council of Bishops was held the largest in
the history of the Churchin the city of Nicaea under
the patronage of Emperor Constantine, who had
converted to Christianity, since his Miraculous Vision of
the Life-giving Cross at Milvian Bridge.
This was the First Ecumenical Council, which was attended
by over 300 Bishops, who established various Canons
of Order for the growing Church, affirmed the Faith,
and combated heresy.
In particular, the heretical teachings of Arius, a Presbyter of
Alexandria, were addressed and condemned by the
Council, which formulated a Statement/Creed of Faith
that, with later refinements at Constantinople in 381,
became the (Nicene) Creed of the Church.
St Nicholas was a participant at this Council, and is
particularly remembered for his zealous battle against
Arius.
Having verbally fought against Arius, Bishop Nicholas, in a
fit of vehemence (some said he was displeased with
Arius' 'constant arguing'), struck him on the cheek,
which shocked the Council members, especially as the
Canons forbade Clergy from striking any one at all, yet
they were uncertain of how to react, particularly as it
concerned a Hierarch whom they all knew and
respected.
The Council decided to deprive St Nicholas of his Episcopal
Emblems (his Omophorion and the Holy Gospel), and
placed him under guard. However, a short time later,
several of the assembled Hierarchs reported having
experienced a common Vision: our Lord and His All
Pure Mother returned his Episcopal Emblems to St
Nicholas, instructing the Holy Fathers that he was not to
be punished, for he had acted '...not out of passion, but
extreme Love and Piety.' This was taken as a Sign that
the extreme behaviour of St Nicholas was nonetheless
pleasing to God and he was thus restored to the
fullness of his Episcopal Office.
HTTP
://WWW.P
RAVOSLAVIE
.RU/ENGLISH/46645.H
TM

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos
yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and
our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
St Anna & St Joachims Conception
9 December 2015
Also the Feast of St Hannah, Righteous Mother of St Samuel the Holy Prophet of God St
Sophronios, Archbishop & Wonderworker of Cyprus - St Stephen the New Light of
Constantinople St Anthimos, Hieromonk & Fool for Christ of Mount Athos
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST
ANNA
& ST JOACHIMS CONCEPTION
TONE2
Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte; tou Ioakim gar ke tis Today
the bonds of barrenness are loosened; for God hearing the Prayers of Joachim and Anna - clearly
promised them that they would bear - against all hope
- the God-Bearer from whom was born the Omnipotent
Himself, as a mortal Man, Who ordered the Angel to
cry out unto Her: Hail, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with
Thee!
Annis, i sakouson O Theos, par elpida tekin aftous, safos

ipiskhnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi, O aperigraptos
vrotos gegonos, di Angelou kelefsas voise afti: Here
Keharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou!
FESTAL KONTAKION ST ANNA & ST JOACHIMS CONCEPTION TONE 2
Eortazi
simeron, i ikoumeni, tin tis Annis sillipsin,

gegenimenin en Theo; ke gar afti apekiise, tin iper
logon, ton Logon kiisasan.
Today
the world rejoices in the conception of Anna,

wrought by God. For she bore the One who beyond
comprehension conceived the Logos.
The Saints shall rejoice in Glory!

Sing into the Lord a New Song!
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
SLAVERY
TO SIN
TO THE
& SONSHIP
GALATIANS 4 : 22 27
TO
ALMIGHTY GOD
Brethren: It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman. But he who was
of the bond woman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman, through Promise - which things are
symbolic. These are the two Covenants - the one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar for
this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem, which now is - and is in bondage with her children.
The Jerusalem Above is free, which is the Mother of us all. For it is written: Rejoice, O Barren you who do not bear!
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labour! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a
husband!
As St John Chrysostom explained, ST ISAAC ... was the
By saying that ABRAHAMS TWO SONS (ISMAEL & ISAAC) AND
RELATED EVENTS ARE SYMBOLIC ALLEGOREO, ST PAUL DID
issue of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that
NOT IMPLY THAT THEY ARE NOT HISTORICAL.
was dead. HIS CONCEPTION WAS NOT BY THE FLESH, NOR HIS
BIRTH BY THE SEED, for the womb was dead both
Rather he asserted that OLD COVENANT HISTORY ANNOUNCED
SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN ITSELF it announced the
through age and infertility. But THE WORD OF GOD
Incarnation of the Son and Word of God, our Lord
FASHIONED HIM...
Jesus Christ, and the resultant Eternal Salvation of all
HE WHO WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH (ST ISAAC) WAS MORE
mankind.
HONOURABLE THAN HE WHO WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH
HAGAR AND MOUNT SINAI SYMBOLISE THE EARTHLY JERUSALEM
(ISHMAEL).
AND THE HEBREW NATION who were under the Divine Law
St Isaac was the legitimate child of Abraham and Sarah, and their
Holy State of Marriage, according to the Will and Divine
of God, which prepared them through Self-Discipline
Promise of God, while Ishmael - although the first born son
and Obedience to God for the coming of the Messiah.
of Abraham -was the illegitimate child of Abraham and the
ST SARAH, THE WIFE OF THE ANCIENT PATRIARCH, ST ABRAHAM, WAS
slave, Hagar, being born out of legal and Holy Wedlock
THE FREE WOMAN, WHO SYMBOLISED THE HEAVENLY
according to the demands of the flesh and against the Will of
JERUSALEM the Eternal City of God to which we should
God in a state of sinful disobedience to the Will of God.
all aspire i.e. His Holy Church through which we
Consequently, Hagar and Ishmael were banished from the
household and sent off to fend for themselves elsewhere.
enter Gods Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom.
THE DESOLATE REFERS TO MEMBERS OF HIS HOLY BODY HIS HOLY
Therefore, let it not disturb you (Baptised Christians) that
CHURCH ESPECIALLY THE NON-HEBREWS, THE GENTILES.
you were not born after the flesh. For from the very
SHE WHO HAS NO HUSBAND, REFERS TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL
reason that you are not so born, are you most of all
before, the Old Covenant Israel the Hebrews - and
Abrahams kindred.
now, the New Covenant Israel THE CHRISTIANS who
During Holy Baptism Christians become t h e a d o p t e d c h i l d r e n
ARE CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST our Lord to Gods Eternal
of Divine Light of God and thus Co-heirs
Kingdom.
w i t h C h r i s t Rightful Heirs to Gods Eternal Kingdom of
Love, Peace and Bliss according to the Divine Promise and Will
Furthermore, ST SARAH WAS A TYPE OF - SIMILAR TO - OUR EVER
of God, b u t o n l y i f w e p e r s o n a l l y c h o o s e t o a c c e p t
BLESSED LADY THEOTOKOS BECAUSE HER SON WAS ALSO BORN
it
for
ourselves.
THROUGH A DIVINE PROMISE - according to the Will of God
the Father.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAUTIONS
TO
ST LUKE 8 : 16 - 21
US TO TAKE GREAT CARE HOW WE HEAR!
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: ... No one having lit a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but sets
it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor
anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
Watch how you hear! Whoever has, to him more will be granted, and whoever does not have, even what he seems to
have will be taken from him.
His Mother and His Brethren went to Him, and could not approach Him due to the crowd. And they told Him: Thy Mother
and Thy Brethren are standing outside, wishing to see Thee. Answering, He said to them: My Mother and My
Brethren are those who hear the Word of God and fulfil It.
ST ANNA & ST JOACHIMS CONCEPTION
9 DECEMBER 2015
11
MOST PEOPLE INCLUDING HIS MOTHERS FAMILY MEMBERS such

as His cousins, uncles and aunts - our Lords Brethren
or Brothers and Sisters DID NOT YET FULLY COMPREHEND
CHRISTS DIVINE IDENTITY AND UNIVERSAL MISSION.
OUR LORD BY NO MEANS DENIED HIS FAMILY CONNECTIONS NOR DID
HE EVER INSULT OR EMBARRASS THEM.
HIS DISCIPLES AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS ARE OUR ETERNAL
SPIRITUAL FAMILY, WHICH IS BASED ON OUR HUMILITY AND
OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.
THE DIVINE WILL IS ONLY FULFILLED THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL
ENLIGHTENMENT, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
RECEIVE FROM CHRIST, AND WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY TO
OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS, BY BEING ACTIVATED AND
ENABLED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Furthermore, Christ corrected and guided them all ... to
the right idea concerning Himself... that THE HOLY
FAMILY OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM ... IS NOT BY
ST JOHN MAXIMOVITCH THE CONCEPTION
The
OF THE
EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
idea of the complete sinlessness of our Lady

Theotokos DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO SACRED
SCRIPTURE. ONLY THE SINLESSNESS OF CHRIST OUR
LORD IS REPEATEDLY MENTIONED:
1 TIMOTHY 2 :5 - ...One Mediator between God and
man - the Man, Jesus Christ
1 JOHN 3 : 5 - ... in Him is no sin...
1 PETER 2 : 22 - ...Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in His Mouth.
HEBREWS 4 :15 - ...One Who has been in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2 CORINTHIANS 5 : 21 - ...He made Him Who knew no
sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the
Righteousness of God in Him.
With regard to all other sinful mankind, it is written: ...
who is pure of defilement? No one who has lived a
single day of his life on earth! (JOB 14:4).
...God commends His own Love toward us in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for usIf, while we
were enemies, we were Reconciled to God through the
Death of His Son, much more, being Reconciled, shall
we be Saved by His Life. (ROMANS 5:8-10).
This
concept also CONTRADICTS SACRED TRADITION,

which is contained in numerous Patristic Writings
that mention the Exalted Sanctity of the Virgin from
Her very Birth, as well as HER CLEANSING BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT AT HER CONCEPTION OF CHRIST, but not
at Her own conception by St Anna and St Joachim:
ST B ASIL THE GREAT: ...There is none without stain before
Thee, even though his life be but a day, save Thou
alone, Jesus Christ our God, Who appeared on Earth
without sin, and through Whom we all trust to obtain
Mercy and remission of sins. (THIRD PRAYER OF VESPERS OF
PENTECOST.)
ST GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN: ...But when Christ came

through a Pure, Virginal, Unwedded, God-fearing,
Undefiled Mother without wedlock and without father,
and inasmuch as it befitted Him to be born, He
Purified the female nature, rejected the bitter Eve and
overthrew the laws of the flesh. (IN PRAISE OF VIRGINITY).
Even though St Basil and St John Chrysostom taught this,
She was not regarded as being unable to sin, but SHE
FAITHFULLY STRUGGLED TO CONTINUE TAKING CARE OF HER
SALVATION BY OVERCOMING ALL TEMPTATIONS. (ST JOHN
CHRYSOSTOM, COMMENTARY
160).
ON
JOHN, HOMILY 85 & ST BASIL
THE
GREAT, EPISTLE
THE IDEA THAT THE MOTHER OF GOD WAS PURIFIED BEFORE

HER BIRTH, so that from Her might be born the Pure
Christ, IS MEANINGLESS - because IF THE PURE CHRIST
COULD BE BORN ONLY IF THE VIRGIN MIGHT BE BORN
PURE, it would be necessary that H ER PARENTS ALSO
SHOULD BE PURE OF ANCESTRAL SIN, and they again
would have to be born of purified parents, and
going further in this way, one would have to come
to the conclusion that Christ could not have become
Incarnate unless all His Ancestors in the flesh, right
up to Adam inclusive, had been Purified beforehand
of Ancestral Sin.
But then THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED FOR THE
INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL, ONLY B EGOTTEN
SON OF GOD, BECAUSE HE CAME IN ORDER TO
ANNIHILATE SIN.
The idea that our Lady Theotokos was preserved

from Ancestral Sin, like the erroneous belief
that She was preserved by Gods Grace from
personal sins, MAKES GOD UNMERCIFUL AND
12.
(EARTHLY/WORLDLY/HUMAN) NATURE BUT BY VIRTUE, as St

John Chrysostom explained.
This incident was similar to when a woman from the
midst of the crowd shouted praises to His Mother who
had brought Him to life and thus Blessed our world.
HE CORRECTED HER NOT BY DENOUNCING OR INSULTING HIS
EVER BLESSED, ALL HOLY MOTHER BUT BY EMPHASISING HER
UTTER HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD WHICH WAS OF
EVEN GREATER SPIRITUAL VALUE AND WORTH THAN HER EVER
VIRGIN MOTHERHOOD. (LUKE 11: 27-28)
THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE ARE ESPECIALLY BLESSED BY GOD
DEPENDS ON THE DEGREE OF OUR HEARING THE WORD THE
DIVINE TRUTH OF GOD AND KEEPING IT APPLYING IT IN ALL
ITS ASPECTS TO OUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE WORDS, THOUGHTS
AND DEEDS.
BY
ST ANNA & ST JOACHIM
- because if God could preserve Her from sin

and Purify Her before Her birth, why does He not
Purify others before their birth, but rather leaves us
all with the ability to commit sin? Similarly, God
would then Save us despite our free will
predetermining the Salvation of certain people even
before birth!
The erroneous idea of our Blessed Ladys Immaculate
Conception, which seemingly exalts Her, in Reality
COMPLETELY DENIES ALL H ER VIRTUES H ER AMAZING
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD THAT CHRIST HELD
UP AS OUR MOST SHINING, PERFECT EXAMPLE.
After all, if the Ever Blessed Theotokos - even in the womb
- could not freely choose or reject anything good or
evil, being preserved by Gods Grace from every
impurity, and then by Divine Grace was preserved from
sin even after Her birth - of what does Her merit
consist? If She was sinless by Divine Grace i.e. unable
to sin why then would God Glorify Her Great Virtues,
for which we all have to strive and Struggle?!
If - without any effort or any inclination towards sin - She
remained Pure, why is She Crowned and more highly
Exalted than any other creature of God?
THERE IS NO VICTORY WITHOUT ADVERSITY OR STRUGGLE!
The Righteousness and Sanctity of the Ever Blessed Virgin
were manifested in the Reality that She, being
...human, with passions like us... SO LOVED GOD AND
GAVE H ERSELF ENTIRELY OVER TO H IM, THAT BY HER PURITY
SHE WAS EXALTED ABOVE THE HUMAN RACE AND EVEN THE
HEAVENLY HOSTS!
Having been foreknown and forechosen, She was
vouchsafed to be PURIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO
OVERSHADOWED H ER, AND CONCEIVED OUR SAVIOUR OF ALL
MANKIND.
Consequently, THE IDEA OF HER BEING SINLESS DENIES ALL HER
SPIRITUAL FEATS AND HER GREAT VICTORY OVER
TEMPTATIONS, WHICH CONTINUOUSLY ASSAULTED H ER and
demotes Her to being merely a blind instrument of
Gods Providence!
Such erroneous ideas denigrate Her Great Spiritual
Struggles, which She so joyfully undertook since Her
very early childhood and which She continued,
unabated, until She drew Her final breath!
OUR B ELOVED LADY THEOTOKOS HAS BEEN GLORIFIED AND
EXALTED BY GOD HIMSELF, DUE TO HER EXEMPLARY LIFE OF
HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE - WHOM WE ARE ALL EXHORTED
AND URGED TO IMITATE AS BEST AS WE CAN.
COLOSSIANS 2:8 - Brethren, beware lest anyone cheat
you through Philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to
Christ!
Such an empty deceit is the very idea of the Immaculate
Conception by St Anna and St Joachim of the Ever
Blessed, All Holy and Pure, Virgin Mary, which at first
sight appears to exalt, but in actual fact maligns Her!
Like every lie, it is a poisonous seed of the father of lies the evil one - who has deceived and misled so many into
blaspheming God and insulting His Most Faithful and
Humble Handmaiden. (JOHN 8:44)
Certain senseless ones in their opinion about the Holy
Ever-Virgin have striven and are striving to put Her in
place of God! (ST EPIPHANIOS - AGAINST THE ANTIDIKOMARIONITES)
As Orthodox Disciples of Christ, we must reject all
heretical teachings and ideas that are contrary to Divine
Truth and Teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
UNJUST
HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/73378.HTM
ST ANNA & ST JOACHIMS CONCEPTION
9 DECEMBER 2015

1 2 December 2015
St Spyridon the Great Wonderworker of Tremythous
Also the Feast of St Therapon, Abbot of the Monastery of St Adrian, Monza St Alexander,
Bishop & Hieromartyr of Jerusalem St Synetos the Reader of Rome St John, Abbot of
Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST SPYRIDON
Tis
At
Synodou tis protis anedihthis Ipermahos, ke

Thavmatourgos Theofore, Spyridon Patir imon; dio
nekra Si en tafo prosfonis, ke ofin is hrisoun
metevales; ke en to melpin tas Agias Sou ehas,
Angelous eskhes sillitougountas Si Ierotate. Doxa to Se
Doxasanti Hristo! Doxa to Se Stefanosanti! Doxa to
Energounti dia Sou, pasin Iamata!
TONE 1
the first of the Synods, Thou emerged as the

Champion, and Wonder-worker, our God-bearing
Father Spyridon. Wherefore, Thou addressed Thy
dead daughter in the grave, and a serpent Thou
changed into gold. And while chanting in Service Thy
Sacred Prayers, Thou had Angels celebrating, O Most
Holy One. Glory to Christ Who Glorified Thee! Glory
to Him Who Crowned Thee! Glory to the One Who
works through Thee, Healings for everyone!
FESTAL KONTAKION ST SPYRIDON TONE 2
To potho Hristou, trothis Ierotate,
Wounded by Thy Love for Christ, O Holy One, Thy mind
ton noun Pterothis, ti

egli tou Pnevmatos, Praktiki Theoria, tin Praxin efres
Theolipte, Thisiastirion Thion Genomenos, etoumenos
pasi Thian Ellampsin.
SEASONAL KONTAKION
is granted Wings by the Radiance of the Spirit, Thou

put the practice of Theory into Deeds, becoming a
Sacred Altar, O Chosen by God, and praying for the
Divine Illumination of all.
OF THE
Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo

ethete apotekin aporritos.
Horeve, i ikoumeni,
akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon,
voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon
Theon.
Today
the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth

Ineffably to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of
good cheer, O Earth and its people: glorify Him with
the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will was to be
made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal
God.
FESTAL MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 10 : 1 9

THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEPFOLD
At that time, our Lord said to the Judeans who went to Him: Truly, truly, I say to you: he who does not enter the Door
to the Sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a Thief and a Robber. He who enters by the Door is the
Shepherd of the Sheep. To him the Doorkeeper opens, and the Sheep hear His Voice. And He Calls His own Sheep
by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own Sheep, He goes before them. And the Sheep follow
Him, for they know His Voice. Yet they will by no means follow a Stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not
know the voice of Strangers.
Although Jesus used this illustration, they did not understand the things that He spoke to them. Again Jesus said to them:
Truly, truly, I say unto you: I Am the Door of the Sheepfold. All who ever came before Me are Thieves and
Robbers, but the Sheep did not hear them. I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in
and will go out, and will find pasture...
The Saints shalt Rejoice in Glory!

Sing unto the Lord a New Song!
THE EPISTLE
WE
OF
MUST LIVE IN THE
ST PAUL
TO THE
EPHESIANS
DIVINE LIGHT & TRUTH
OF OUR
5 : 8 19
LORD JESUS CHRIST
Brethren: ...walk as Children of Light for the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness, Righteousness and Truth, finding out
what is acceptable to our Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness, but rather expose them.
Those things that are done by them in secret are shameful even to speak.
All things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light. Whatever makes manifest is Light. Therefore He says: Awake,
you who sleep! Arise from the Dead and Christ Will give you Light! See then that you walk circumspectly - not as fools
but as Wise - Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the Will
of our Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation. But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one
another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Odes, sing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Everything that is regarded as reasonable or acceptable
We must seek, root out and confess our sins and sincerely
by this fallen world, we, as Discples of Christ must
Repent.
judge according to what the Lord our God says is True
We need to self-examine ourselves at the end of every
i.e. judge all things by means of Divine Truth the
day and especially before partaking of the Holy
Teachings and Commandments of Christ.
Mysteries of Unction, Confession and Eucharist, which
Besides separating ourselves from Spiritual Darkness, we
we require on a regular basis in order to keep
are also to expose it to the Divine Light of Gods Truth.
making good, healthy Spiritual Progress.
However, we, ourselves, must first come out of hiding in
Verse 14 : Awake, you who sleep... is an ancient, very
Spiritual Darkness and ignorance in order to be
early Baptism Hymn.
exposed and Illuminated by Divine Light and Truth.
ST SPYRIDON
THE
WONDERWORKER
OF
TREMITHOUS
12 DECEMBER 2015
13
The Holy Mystery of Baptism Illuminates our newly

Regenerated, Renewed and Reborn (Cleansed)
immortal soul.
Consequently, we are urged to ... walk in the Light of
our Holy Baptism.
Throughout our Life in Christ we are encouraged to
always keep in mind our Holy Baptism everything
that it has granted us and everything that it means for
our Eternal Salvation and to remember always our
inevitable Death, after which we cannot change or
correct anything at all, and thus the Spiritual State in
which we Repose, we shall spend all Eternity.
So we must never forget that this short, preparatory
lifespan is meant for our ceaseless Spiritual Battle
against the evil one working every day for our
Spiritual Welfare and Progress towards a Blessed
Eternal Life in Gods Kingdom of Agape.
Our Sacred Goal is not to abandon this world, but to keep
ourselves in Christ, salvaging as much as we can from
our habitually sinful state.
Faithful Christians renounce the wickedness of this world
not the beautiful, perfect Creation of God.
Repentance grants us a wonderful surge of True Life and

Joy. A distinctive spirit a kind of Spiritual Elation
energises both Spiritual Darkness and Light.
For those in Spiritual Darkness, this spirit is similar to
drunkenness artificial and temporary.
For those in Spiritual Light and Life, this Spiritual Elation is
the very Presence of the Holy Spirit and our Joy is the
New Covenant worship of the Holy Trinity, the Holy
Eucharist Thanksgiving to God the Father, through
God the Son, by the Power and Energy of God the Holy
Spirit.
Those who become drunk with alcohol totter and sway,
but those who are inebriated with the Holy Spirit are
rooted joyfully, peacefully and lovingly in Christ Jesus
and most gloriously sober!
Quoting Holy Scripture and singing Hymns or chanting
Psalms has no Spiritual Benefit nor value if there is no
True Humility and Obedience to God if there is no
humble, willing and eager submission and the Holy
Fear of God.

CHRIST
IS THE
DOOR &
TO
THE
ST JOHN 10: 9 16
GOOD SHEPHERD
At that time, our Lord said: I Am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and will go out, and
will find Pasture. The Thief does not come, except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have Life -and more abundantly.
I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the Sheep. The Hireling - who is not the Shepherd,
who does not own the Sheep - sees the Wolf coming, and leaves the Sheep, and flees. And the Wolf catches, and
scatters the Sheep. The Hireling flees, for he is a hireling, and does not care about the Sheep.
I Am the Good Shepherd, and I know Mine, and Am known by Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the
Father. And My Life I lay down for the Sheep. And other Sheep I have, which are not of this Fold - them also I must
bring. And they will hear My Voice. And there will be one Flock - one Shepherd.
The ultimate Thief is Satan, who always spreads lies and
Passion and fulfilled all that was required by God for
encourages heresies and blasphemy among the
the Redemption and Reconciliation of all humanity.
People of God both the Old Israel and the New Israel
The Other Sheep of our Lord were the Gentiles the
- luring away the deceived, ignorant leaders and
pagans and non Judaic Tribes who would be brought
people.
together into One Holy Flock with the Judeans, under
Life means that we live by Divine Grace on Earth during
one Holy Shepherd.
this short, preparatory period before we enter Eternity.
Consequently, the Holy Church of Christ transcends all
The more abundant Life refers to Eternal Life in Gods
ethnic or racial lines.
Heavenly Kingdom of Love Agape.
It has been the Orthodox Christian Teaching since the
Our Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself as our Good
beginning that there be one Bishop serving a city, a
Shepherd, for we are His reason-endowed Sheep
principle that was affirmed in every generation.
(CANON 8 OF 1 NICEA)
His Holy Flock.
St Ignatios wrote a cautionary Epistle to a second century
He is the Divine Door the Divine Entrance into His
Church that held separate Divine Liturgies for the
Heavenly Kingdom of Eternal Love.
Hebrew and the Gentile Christians, saying: Be careful
Christ is the Fulfilment of all Holy Scripture all Divinely
to observe a single Eucharist, for there is ONE Flesh
Inspired Holy Prophecy concerning our Divine
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and ONE Cup of His Blood
Saviour.
that makes us one, and ONE Altar, just as there is
Our Lord is the Eternal, Only Begotten Word and Son of
ONE Bishop... this is in line with Gods Will!
God, Who obviously knows God the Father and His
Our Lord Jesus stated clearly: I lay down My Life...
Heavenly Father knows His Eternal Son Who became
which obviously meant that He VOLUNTARILY laid
Incarnate for the sake of our Salvation.
down His Life for us i.e. He offered Himself as the
As our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ knows every human
Ultimate, Most Perfect and Fulfilling Sacrifice for all
being, and those of us who have put on Christ also
sins of all humanity for all time!
know and recognise Him as our Lord and Saviour.
Our Lord NEVER sets anything apart from the Divine Will
Furthermore, we know His beautiful Voice because we
of God the Father everything is and must be done
know His Word His Divine Truth His Teachings and
according to the Will of God the Father, through God
Commandments. Thus we should not be misguided
the Son, by the Power and Energy of God the Holy
nor deceived by the evil ones lies and deceptions.
Spirit.
Our Lord Jesus Christ offered His Life for the sake of our
Just as our Lord Jesus Christ laid down His Life for us, so,
Eternal Salvation.
too, must we lay our lives down for Him and for our
He was the Offerer and the Offering of the Ultimate, Most
fellow human beings.
Perfect and Fulfilling Blood Sacrifice of all time, which
By the end of the ages, there will only be One Shepherd
makes it no longer necessary for blood sacrifices for
our Lord Jesus Christ and one Holy Flock His Holy
the forgiveness of sins.
Church.
However, we still need to constantly pluck out and Repent
He pointed out that He has other Holy Flocks as well,
our sins, which are continuous and habitual, which is
which are those who would eventually accept His
why our Salvation is a continuous Spiritual Process
Divine
Truth
His
True
Teachings
and
until we draw our final breath.
Commandments and strive to fulfil them to the best
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His Life for the sake of His
of their ability.
Beloved Flock, which fulfilled the Prophecy of His
ST SERAPHIM
OF
In spite of our sinfulness, in spite of the Darkness

surrounding our soul, the Grace of the Holy Spirit,
conferred by Baptism in the Name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, still shines in our
heart with the Inextinguishable Light of Christ
and when the sinner turns to the Way of
14.
ST SPYRIDON
THE
WONDERWORKER
SAROV
Repentance the Light smoothes away every trace of

the sins committed, clothing the former sinner in the
Garments of Incorruption, spun of the Grace of the
Holy Spirit...
OF
TREMITHOUS
12 DECEMBER 2015

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,
Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
Tone 3
1 3 December 2015
th
nd
28 Sunday After Pentecost 2 Before Nativity
Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers
The Feast of St Aaron the Righteous Priest, St Benjamin, St Deborah, St Ezra, St Isaac, St
Jacob, St Judith, St Miriam, St Nathan the Holy Prophet, St Nehemiah the Holy
Prophet, St Noah, St Rebecca, St Sarah, St Solomon the Holy Prophet & St Susanna of
the Holy Myrrhbearers St Thyrsos, St Leucios and St Callinikos of Apollonia St
Apollonios, St Philemon, St Arianos & St Theotychos of Alexandria St Hilarion of
Suzdal & Yuriev
Evfrenestho
Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for
ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise

Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to Thanato
ton Thanaton.Prototokos ton nekron egeneto. Ek kilias
Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to kosmo to Mega Eleos.
FESTAL APOLYTIKION
the Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has

trampled down Death by Death; He has become
the First-born of the dead; from the womb of
Hades He has delivered us, and to the world He
has granted Great Mercy.
ANCESTORS OF CHRIST
OF THE
TONE
En Pisti tous Propatoras edikeosas, tin ex ethnon diafton In Faith the Forefathers Thou has justified by producing
Promnistefsamenos Ekklisian. Kafhonte en Doxi i
Agii, oti ek spermatos afton, iparhi karpos efkeleis, i
asporos tekousa Se. Tes afton ikesies Hriste O Theos,
Soson ta psihas imon.
through them, the Church from the Nations. The

Saints boast in glory that from their seed came forth
Noble Fruit - the One Who gave Thee Birth without
seed. Through their intercessions, O Christ our God,
Save our souls!
ADVENT KONTAKION - EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS

Horeve, i ikoumeni,
Theon.
Today

good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with
the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to
be made manifest as a young Child the Pre-Eternal
God.
RESURRECTION GOSPEL 6: LUKE 24:35 - 53

OUR LORD JESUS APPEARS TO THE APOSTLES & ASCENDS TO HEAVEN
PROKEIMENON HYMN OF THE THREE HOLY YOUTHS TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our Forefathers!

For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us!
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
SPIRITUALITY
TO THE
IN THE
COLOSSIANS 3 : 4 11
HOLY CHURCH
OF
CHRIST
Brethren: when Christ, Who is our Life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory. Put to death your members
that are on Earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these
sins, the Wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived
in them! Now you are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the Old Man with his deeds, and have put on the New Man who is
Renewed in Knowledge according to the Image of Him Who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Judean,
circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythians, slave nor free, but all and in all is Christ.
Church Fathers and our Spiritual Teachers
1. True Mysticism in Christs Holy Church:
concerning our daily Life in Christ Jesus.
As Christians Struggling Disciples of Christ we have
received our Lord Jesus Exalted Resurrection Life
The easy part of Orthodox (True Teaching) Christianity is
through Holy Baptism.
our Preparation for Holy Baptism.
Consequently, we need to seek the ultimate and
However, the degree and seriousness of our
Spiritual Glories of the Age to come i.e. Eternity
personal Commitment and Sacred (unbreakable)
or - our ultimate Goal - Eternal Life in Gods
Allegiance to Christ is clearly and significantly
Heavenly Kingdom, for which we need to
revealed by how much effort we make to attend
prepare ourselves during this short lifespan on
Holy Services, regularly partake of the essential
Earth!
Holy Mysteries and to what degree if at all - we
We must forever remember our Holy Baptism and
apply the Teachings and Divine Commandments
everything that it actually means!!
of Almighty God, which is Life in Christ, to all
We must never forget all the effort we made while
aspects of our personal life.
preparing ourselves for Holy Baptism (i.e. those
As genuine Orthodox Christians, every facet of our being
who have converted from Protestantism)
word, thought and deed is freely and eagerly
Always be aware of everything that we have been
done with sincere Humility and Obedience to the
taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy
Will of God!
28TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST FOREFEAST
OF
N A T I V I T Y 2 N D S U N D A Y B E F O R E N A T I V I T Y - H O L Y F O R E F A T H E R S 1 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 15
Our willingness to follow Christ should always be

compelled by a profound Love of God and our
fellow Pilgrims with whom we Struggle side by side as
we all proceed towards Eternity.
As Faithful Disciples of Christ, we ceaselessly and
consciously strive to imitate our Lord by applying
His Divine Teachings and Commandments to every
word, thought and deed, so that we may slowly and
surely regain our lost Likeness to God and become
worthy Citizens of His Eternal Kingdom.
We must live according to Christs Glorious
Resurrection for we shall all be likewise
Resurrected on the Eighth Day - His Great,
Impartial and Final Judgement Day and the
beginning of Eternity - and have to give an
account for every word, thought and deed from
our first breath of life to our last!
Everything we accomplish during this short Preparatory
Period of Earthly Life, should be achieved through
True Life in Christ so that we are able to face our
Final Judgement in Peace and with Confidence and without fear of Eternal Condemnation and
Spiritual Exile from God through unrepented sins and
a tragic lack of Agape True, Unconditional and
Divine Love!
2. True Asceticism in Christs Holy Church:
As Baptised Christians, we are becoming in practice
what we are already in spirit.
Our Salvation b e g i n s with Holy Baptism and is
c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t o u r l i f e s p a n by
means of a Faithful and proper Life in Christ.
As we died with Christ through our Holy Baptism, so
now too, we must Struggle every moment of the
day to root out and destroy all our old sinful and
disintegrating passions that cause us to fall into
temporary Spiritual Death.
TO
Our subsequent determined efforts of Repentance Save

us and return us to Spiritual Life in Christ.
Due to our weak human nature and self-indulgent habits,
we regularly fall into a state of Spiritual Death.
Each time we surrender ourselves to the enemies
temptations and distractions we turn away from God.
However, our Ever Loving and Gracious Lord has
granted us the means to return again and again to
Spiritual Life in Christ through immediate and
ceaseless Repentance-Confession.
Furthermore, the closer our Relationship to God
becomes through our Spiritual Struggles, the more
ferociously the enemy will attack us.
Nevertheless, we need never despair, for through
Humility and Obedience, we grow ever stronger due
to the Great Mercy of God Who enables us to
achieve even the most impossible things!
Thus, we should unfailingly Glorify God and offer our
Prayers of Thanksgiving for all our experiences
good or bad because every little obstacle makes
us Spiritually Stronger and draws us closer to God.
As we were raised with Christ, so we must choose the
Virtuous, Unifying desires of the New Man the
New Redeemed human being that we are
becoming in the Holy Body of Christ through
our voluntary Obedience to His Holy Church and
everything She requires of us!
To try to do anything else according to our own flawed concepts will
most certainly not have the same final Spiritual Results and
Eternal Achievements.
The New Man - our Renewed Being - steadily grows
from one stage of Perfection to another, as we slowly
but surely regain our lost Divine Likeness - truly
becoming the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ until,
having achieved Theosis, we will remain Eternally
as the Holy Image of God Who created us as His own
Perfect Image and Likeness.
ST LUKE 14 : 16 24 & ST MATTHEW 22: 14
GODS GREAT, MYSTICAL BANQUET &
THE
EXCUSES
THAT
EXILE & ALIENATE
US
At that time, our Lord Jesus told this Parable: A certain Man gave a Great Dinner, and invited many, and sent His
Servant at the Hour of the Dinner to say to those who had been invited: Come, for now all things are ready. And
with one accord, they all made excuses!
The first said to Him: I have bought a piece of land, and I must go to inspect it. I ask Thee to have me excused. And
another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask Thee to have me excused. And
another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot attend. And that Servant returned and reported these
things to His Master.
Being angry the Master of the House, said to His Servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and
bring the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. And the Servant said: Lord, it is done as Thou
commanded, and still there is place. And the Master said to His Servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, so that My House may be filled. For I say to Thee - none of those who were invited shall
taste My Dinner...
...many are Called - few are Chosen!
This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ consists of TWO
INVITATION for our Salvation and Eternal Life in His
ASPECTS, ILLUSTRATING BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND COMING
Heavenly Kingdom.
OF CHRIST, Who is the Servant sent by God the Father
FAR TOO MANY OF US USE EVERY SELF-JUSTIFYING
EXCUSE TO
TO GATHER MANY TO PARTAKE OF HIS HOLY EUCHARIST, WHICH
REJECT HIS GREAT AND WONDERFUL INVITATION TO HIS
GRANTS US SALVATION THROUGH THE REPENTANCE AND THE
HEAVENLY BANQUET AT EACH DIVINE LITURGY!
FORGIVENESS OR REMISSION OF SIN AND THUS ETERNAL LIFE.
Too many of us think that we can ignore God and all our
The term Supper indicates an evening meal OUR
Sacred Commitments to Him until a later stage of life
when it might suit us better!
ESSENTIAL NOURISHMENT BEFORE RESTING OR SLEEPING.
In other words: WE ALL NEED TO PARTAKE OF HOLY
Alas! EACH OF US HAS ONLY A SPECIFIC MEASURE OF LIFESPAN
IN WHICH TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ETERNITY .
COMMUNION/EUCHARIST AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE
ARE PROPERLY SPIRITUALLY NOURISHED AND PREPARED FOR
IF WE DO NOT BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS FOR HIS ETERNAL
KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY N O W - WE CANNOT
ETERNAL LIFE IN GODS DIVINE KINGDOM before we
repose in Peace in Christ and while we await His Final
EXPECT TO RECEIVE HIS GREAT MERCY AND ABUNDANT
BLESSINGS FOREVER!
Judgement.
THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO WERE INVITED by Almighty God to
ST AMBROSE SAW THE THREE EXCUSES THAT REJECTED GODS DIVINE
INVITATION AS REPRESENTING THE GENTILE, THE PAGAN, THE
partake of the Great Mercy of His Divine Eucharist
WERE THE HEBREWS.
OLD COVENANT HEBREW AND THE HERETIC.
AFTERWARDS HIS DIVINE INVITATION WAS OFFERED TO EVERYONE
These are all DEVOTED TO THEIR EARTHLY WEALTH the
ELSE TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND
...piece of ground...
THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
The five yoke of oxen represent A PREFERENCE AND
Now AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST EAGERLY PARTAKE OF HOLY
ENSLAVEMENT TO MANS INTERPRETATION OF THE FIVE OLD
COMMUNION EVERY TIME WE ATTEND THE DIVINE LITURGY
COVENANT BOOKS OF LAW IN ORDER TO REJECT GODS NEW
COVENANT OF SALVATION.
WITHOUT MAKING EXCUSES to reject Gods Divine Banquet
of Thanksgiving, Salvation and Eternal Life.
The excuse of having married a wife, is the
HERETICAL ESPOUSAL OF ERROR BY THOSE WHO REJECT THE
Our Holy Church Fathers regard THE THREE EXCUSES that
Christ mentioned as NOT ONLY HAVING A LITERAL MEANING
WILL AND LOVE OF GOD IN FAVOUR OF THEIR OWN
EARTHLY, SELFISH DESIRES.
BUT ALSO A PROFOUND SPIRITUAL MEANING!
Far too many of us are so attached to and obsessed with
ST THEOPHYLACT MORE GENERALLY ASSOCIATED THE EXCUSES WITH
THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTED TO ALL EARTHLY MATTERS
our worldly cares and favourite past times that WE
HAVE NO TIME NOR INCLINATION TO ACCEPT GODS DIVINE
16. 2 8 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T F O R E F E A S T
OF
NATIVITY 2ND SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY-HOLY FOREFATHERS 13 DECEMBER 2015
ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO OUR FIVE SENSES

PLEASURES I.E PHYSICAL INDULGENCE.
TO ALL FLESHLY
The reference to those in the streets and lanes indicate

the GENTILES AND PAGANS WHO ACCEPTED CHRIST AFTER THE
FAITHLESS HEBREWS REJECTED HIM, AND THOSE WHO ARE
PRESENTLY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WHO OFTEN REPLACE THOSE
OF THE
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
Dear Brothers and Sisters: two weeks before the Feast of
the Nativity of Christ, our Holy Orthodox Church
reminds us that the Feast is approaching and prepares
us to greet it worthily.
On this First Preparatory Week before the Feast, the Church
remembers the Saints who lived before the Birth of
Christthe Old Covenant Prophets and all the pious
people who with Faith awaited the Coming of our
Saviour, which is why this week is called the Week of
the Holy Forefathers.
By this remembrance, the Church takes us mentally to Old
Covenant times that led up to the Appearance of the
God-Promised Redeemer; and in order to encourage us
to morally Purify ourselves, it sets before us a whole
host of great Forefathers who shone with their Godpleasing Life.
All the Forefathers lived by Hope in the Redeemer Who
would come, and they continually expressed their Faith
in Him.
But while a small number of Pious people awaited the
Coming of Christ the Saviour on Earth, and accepted
Him, a large portion of the God-Chosen People of Israel
did not accept Christ as our Saviour. They rejected
Gods Voice and Care for their Salvation, and deprived
themselves of Eternal Blessed Life.
St Luke, the Holy Evangelist, wrote how our Lord Jesus
Christ reclined at a Feast given by one the Leaders of
the Pharisees, and how one of them had commented:
Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of
God! (LUKE 14:15)
Responding to those words, our Lord narrated the Parable
of the Great Banquet or Supper, as we heard today.
GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CONTINUALLY CALLS US TO HIS
GREAT SUPPER IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, which was
PREPARED FOR US EVEN BEFORE THE CREATION of the world
which we INHERITED THROUGH THE ACCEPTANCE OF
FAITH IN OUR REDEEMER, CHRIST THE SAVIOUR - and WHICH
WILL BE REVEALED TOWARD THE END OF THIS WORLD.
According to the Holy Fathers interpretation, the Servant
refers to the Only-Begotten Son of God, Who accepted
the form of a servant for the sake of our Salvation, and
Who always Calls us: Come unto Me, all you who
labour and are heavily laden, and I will grant you
rest. (MATTHEW 11:28).
This Parable relates to the Jews and pagans who were
contemporaries of our Lord Jesus Christ, and those who
over the course of many centuries had been prepared
by the Action of Divine Providence to receive our
Saviour and enter Christs Holy Church.
But, due to their stubborn unbelief, and because of the
attraction of mundane cares and sinful pleasures, they
refused to attend the Wedding Banquet of the Son of
God, for they did not enter the Bosom of His Holy
Church.
The Divine Bridegroom Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, His
Holy Bride i.e. His Holy Church - and His Beloved
Friends - the Holy Apostles and Prophets -had Called
them to the Path of Repentance and Salvation in Christ
Jesus.
After those who had been Called (Invited) were shown to be
unworthy of the Wedding Feast, Gods Servant invited at His Masters behest - all those who were poor,
crippled, lame, and blind, and who responded with
Thanksgiving to the Divine Invitation to enter the Feast
and become worthy participants in the Great Supper.
Although these worthy participants have all kinds of
imperfections, they respond to Gods Divine Invitation
with sincere, profound eagerness and they willingly
follow our Lord and thereby acquire the Heavenly
Kingdom: For you see your Calling, Brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are Called.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak
OF
FROM WITHIN HIS HOLY CHURCH WHO HAVE REJECTED THEIR

HOLY BAPTISM AND VOWS OF ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST.
GOD HAS CALLED ALL MANKIND TO HIS HOLY SERVICE BUT VERY
FEW RESPOND SINCERELY AND FAITHFULLY, BECAUSE MOST
PEOPLE USE ALL THE EXCUSES THAT SATAN CAN INVENT, TO
AVOID AND ALIENATE THEMSELVES FROM GOD.
NATIVITY SUNDAY
OF THE
HOLY FOREFATHERS
things of the world to confound the things that are

mighty.
And base things of the world, and things that are despised,
has God chosen - yea, and things that are not - to bring
to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in
His Presence. (1 CORINTHIANS 1:2629).
THE POOR AND WRETCHED ARE THOSE WHO ARE IMPERFECT IN
THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL SENSE those who are sunk in
error and vice, not gifted by nature with Virtues, BUT
WHO, NEVERTHELESS, RESPOND TO OUR LORDS CALL TO
REPENTANCE, AND WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO ENTER THE
KINGDOM OF GOD.
Although THIS PARABLE was very closely related to Jesus
Christs contemporaries, it IS ALSO APPLIES TO ALL OF US.
If we listen to the Voice of our Conscience, each of us will
find an Image of our own Relationship to Christs
Church and to our own Eternal Salvation.
Those who were first invited, were involved in lawful
labours and enjoying innocent familial joyswhich did
not insult Gods Goodness, because the Lord Himself
commanded mankind to labour, and to marry.
Nevertheless, the fate of those who were involved in lawful
labour and innocent pleasures, finished very
regrettably, for by their voluntary non- participation in
the Eternal Royal Feast, they perished!
Although they were not condemned for labouring and
enjoying family life, amidst their mundane cares and
concerns, they were haughty about their honoured
circumstances.
They were far too obsessed and distracted by their labours,
their business, and their pleasures that they completely
forgot about or ignored their Sacred Duty of Obedience
and Worship by refusing the Divine Invitation to Gods
Great Supper.
There are many among us, dear Brethren, who possess
obvious good qualities, merits, and Virtues, but they
spend their time in various labours and entertaining
themselves with innocent pleasures, while they
completely forget about God and our Sacred Obligations
to Him.
Proudly hoping in their Righteousness, they cegard
themselves as having no need of Gods Mercy, Gifts, and
Graces - they resolutely refuse works of Self-denial and
Obedience to God, and remain deaf to every Call to
Salvation!
Attachment to earthly things - to delights, riches, and the
pleasures of this age or attachment to specific people of
the opposite gender - deafen us to our Call to the
Kingdom of God and we respond: I ask Thee to have
me excused.
Those who ignore our Calling our Divine Invitation - will
not taste our Lord s Supper. They will not delight in
the Eternal Blessedness that they themselves
renounced!
During their earthly sojourn they will not obtain anything
for Eternal Life in the Habitations of the Heavenly
Father:
... Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering,
Gentleness,
Goodness,
Faith,
Meekness,
Temperance... (GALATIANS 5:22:23)
These are the essential Virtues that open the Heavenly
Gates to us, which lead into the Heavenly Chambers.
These Virtues comprise the Divine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
and are unknown and inaccessible to those who live
according to the dictates of the flesh - those who live
only for this material world - without a thought of
Eternal Life, or of our Lord Jesus Christ and His
Commandments and Teachings.
Therefore, without showing any heavy sins - any evil
deeds that might trouble their souls those who are
egocentric and self-indulgent surrender to worldly cares
and pleasures, forgetting entirely about God, and being
enslaved by Eternal Death: For he who sows to his
flesh will of the flesh reap corruptions, but he who
sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap Everlasting
Life. (GALATIANS. 6:8).
N A T I V I T Y 2 N D S U N D A Y B E F O R E N A T I V I T Y - H O L Y F O R E F A T H E R S 1 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 17
Those whom the Servant of God Called from the roads and
byways were less gifted and even more incapable, yet
they, too are responsive and eager to accept the Divine
Invitation.
Consequently, their Calling is crowned with Divine
Blessedness instead of those who were haughty, selfjustifying and self-righteous.
As Christ so clearly explained, those who are poor in spirit,
aware of their nothingness, their moral paucity and
inability to gain their own Salvation through their own
efforts, who hunger and thirst after Righteousness, with
their fervency, eagerly answer the Call to Christs
Kingdom, to Christian Life.
These are the best guests at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
of God Who takes away the sins of the world!
All those who render Benefit to the Church through their
labours, all great Priests and Teachers of the Holy
Orthodox Church of Christ, the Holy Martyrs who by
their death sealed their Unconquerable Love for Christ,
the Holy Ascetics - men and women - and all the Saints
came from those who were Called and who
immediately, joyfully responded those who are poor
in spirit and humble of mind - who now triumph at the
Wedding Feast of the Meek Lamb of God.
The Hosts of Gods Chosen consist of many people who are
poorly endowed with mental and moral giftsthe lame,
the blind, and many of those who abused and wasted
their God-given Gifts on wicked and shameful deeds,
but then Repented with all their heart, Healed their
PRAYER
IS THE
TEST
OF
IS A
OF
AS
SILENCE
are the moments at night before they go to sleep, when

all they are left with is silence and their thoughts.
And yet, God often talks to us, not in thunder claps and
lightning flashes, but in the still Small Voice whispering
in our heart. (FOR MORE ON THIS, SEE 1 KINGS 19:11-13)
The Saints instruct us that as we say our Prayers, we should
take time to stop and sit quietly, just being present with
God.
The Monastic Fathers and Mothers of our Church say that
Prayer is like a flying bird.
When a bird is in the air, it beats its wings until it has
reached a certain height.
At that point, it stops beating its wings and glides along.
The words of our Prayers are our Spiritual Wings.
There will come a point while praying where words are no
longer necessary - we can stop talking and glide in
silence - allowing God's Presence to keep us aloft.
Prayer is a Conversation. It is a two-way dynamic.
As we all know, its hard to say we have had a
"conversation" with someone, if one has monopolized
the time, without giving the other the chance to offer
any input.
In order for Prayer to be truly Beneficial to us, in addition
to talking to God we also need to listen to what He has
to say to us.
BY FR. ANDREW JARMUS -SAINT NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH - ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP
PREREQUISITE
"Our soul is made to live in the

St Theophan the Recluse said: Before we can make the soul
appeal to God ..., she first must be made to turn
everything to the Glory of God; to attribute to Him our
every activity, large and small.
And whenever we begin something we should pray: "O
Lord, Bless us" and at the completion any task we
should pray: "Glory to Thee O Lord!"
We do this not just with our tongue but from our heart with
real feeling.
When we fall into any kind of sin we should pray: "Lord
have mercy on me a sinner."
St Theophan urges us:"...do this as often as possible, always
trying in every way to be sure that each appeal comes
from the heart.... and this persistent repetition will end
by forming in you the habit of Conscious
Conversation with God."
This act of continually humbling ourselves by
calling on our Creator places us in
submission, helping to repress our proud ego.
St Paisios the Elder expressed the kind of
Humility that is necessary when we pray for
18. 2 8 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T F O R E F E A S T
ARCHIMANDRITE KIRILL (PAVLOV) (DECEMBER 23, 2006)

HTTP://WWW.PRAVOSLAVIE.RU/ENGLISH/50588.HTM
EVERYTHING - PRAYER
God is always trying to get our attention.

He wants us to turn to Him, to listen to Him, to open
ourselves to a Relationship with Him.
God does not force Himself on us, but He is always making
ovations towards us, waiting for us to respond with
loving attentiveness towards Him.
If we pay attention - , if we listen attentively - we will hear
God speaking to us.
Prayer is as much about listening to God as it is speaking
to Him.
In fact, listening to God is even more important than
talking to God.
One way that we listen to God in our Prayers is through the
reading of Holy Scripture and other Inspired, Orthodox
Spiritual Writings.
In our Private Devotions, we can select a passage, read it,
and then take some time to think about what we have
read.
As we think about the passage, we try to be aware of
specific sentences, phrases or words that grab our
attention.
Some people will write down their observations in a journal
for future discussion with their Spiritual Father or
Teacher.
The second means of listening to God in Prayer is through
silence.
Silence is something that many of us are not comfortable
with. We fill our days with the noise of iPods, TV,
radios. For some people, the time that they dread most
HUMILITY
sinful wounds, and put on the bright Wedding

Garments, and partake so joyfully of the Great Divine
Banquet.
This is clearly evident from so many Saints who contritely
and sincerely Repented their wicked, sinful lives and,
being Cleansed and Healed by God, became Pure and
Righteous Holy Examples for us to imitate such as St
Mary of Egypt or St Moses the Black.
Brothers and Sisters! We are also Called to the Kingdom of
Heaven!
Let us therefore be attentive to Gods Voice and let us be
ever watchful and alert, listening very carefully so that
we fulfil whatever is required of us- remembering that
our time is limited and there is an end to our earthly
existence.
All too soon the time will come when Gods Great Mercy,
which now Calls us to Repentance and correction, will
become His Righteous Judgment! Behold! now is the
accepted time!
Behold! Now is the Day of
Salvation! (2 CORINTHIANS 6:2)
Let us Cleanse ourselves by Repentance and be corrected,
in order to greet the Feast of the Nativity of Christ with
a Pure Conscience and Spiritual Joy.
And with Fullness of Joy let us chant to the Divine Child
born in Bethlehem: Glory to God in the highest! And on
Earth Peace, Good Will toward men!
Amen.
FOR
TRUE PRAYER
mountainous world of God."

others with contrition: "...only if one considers, from
humble-mindedness, that one is the cause of
everything that befalls one's neighbour."
We also need to pray for our enemies, for those who hate
us as our Lord Jesus Christ said: Truly, I say to you,
Love your enemies, Bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be
Sons of your Father in Heaven; for He makes His sun
rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
Just and on the unjust. (MATTHEW 5:44-45)
Whenever we find ourselves judging or condemning others
it is an act of pride. We should immediately do as our
Lord Jesus commands us and pray for them.
St Theophan said: "Our soul is made to live in the
mountainous world of God. That is where it should
always dwell, both in thought and in heart. But the
weight of worldly thoughts and passions attracts it and
draws it downwards.
Prayer demands a pure heart - one that is free of hatred,
feelings of guilt from sin, and all forms of pride.
NATIVITY 2ND SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY-HOLY FOREFATHERS 13 DECEMBER 2015

Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole
Life to Christ our God. Amen.
1 5 December 2015
St Eleftherios, Bishop & Hieromartry, of Illyria
Also the Feast of St Anthea, mother of St Eleftherios & St Caribos the Eparch of Illyria St Paul
of Latros St Stephen the Confessor & Archbishop of Surrentium (Sourozh) St Tryphon the
Abbot & St Jonah, his Disciple, of Pechenga (Kolsk) St Pardos the Hermit of Palestine St
Hilarion, Archbishop of Vereiya St Nektarios of Bitel
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST ELEFTHERIOS
Ieron
TONE (5) PLAGAL 1
Being
podiri katakosmoumenos, ke ematon tis rithris

epistazomenos, to Despoti Sou Hristo Makar
anedrames, Eleftherie Sofe, kathereta tou Satan. Dio
mi pafsi Presvevon iper ton Pisti Timonton, tin
Makarian Sou Athisin.
SEASONAL KONTAKION
ILLYRIA
OF
adorned with a Priests gown that reached the

ground, and immersed in the streams of Martyrs
Blood, Thou hastened to Christ Thy Lord, O
Eleftherios, the Blessed and Wise One, Destroyer of
Satan. Hence, do not cease Interceding for those who
honour in Faith Thy Blessed Martyrdom.
OF THE
Today

Horeve, i ikoumeni,
Theon.

God.
Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Saints.

What shall we render unto the Lord for all His Benefits toward us?
THE SECOND EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL TO ST TIMOTHY 1 : 8 18
ST TIMOTHYS GIFT
IS THE
POWER
OF
GOD
Timothy, my Son: ... do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. But share in the sufferings
for the Gospel according to the Power of God, Who has Saved us and Called us with a Holy Calling not according to
our works, but according to His own Purpose and Grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began and
now been revealed by the Appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who has abolished Death, and brought Life and
Immortality to Light through the Gospel to which I was appointed as a Preacher, and Apostle and a Teacher of the
Gentiles.
For this reason, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words you have heard from me in Faith and Love, which are in Christ Jesus. That good
thing that was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. This you know, that all those in Asia have
turned away from me, among whom are Phygellos and Hermogenes.
The Lord grant Mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains. But
when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find
Mercy from the Lord in that Day. And how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesos, you know very well.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TRANSCENDS
THE
TO
ST MARK 2 : 23 3 : 5
SABBATH DAY & HEALS
WITHERED
ARM
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and, as they went, His Disciples began to
pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him: Look! Why do they - on the Sabbath - do what is unlawful?
And He said to them: Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry? he and those who were
with him how he went into the House of God in the days of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate the Showbread,
which is not lawful to eat except for the Priests and also gave some to those who were with him?
And He said to them: The Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath! Therefore, the Lord is the
Son of Man and also of the Sabbath.
And He entered the Synagogue again. And there was a man who had a withered hand. And they watched Him closely if
He would Heal him on the Sabbath - so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man with the withered hand:
Step forward. And He said to them: Is it Lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or evil ? to save life or to kill?
They were silent.
And when He had looked around at them - being grieved by the hardness of their hearts - He said to the man: Stretch out
your hand. And he stretched it out - and his hand was restored - as whole as the other.
ST ELEFTHERIOS, HIEROMARTYR
"From a Good Tree comes Good Fruit. This wonderful Saint

had noble and greatly eminent parents. St Eleftherios
was born in Rome, where his father was an Imperial
Proconsul. His mother, S Anthia heard the Gospel from
the great Apostle, St Paul and was Baptized by him.
Having been left a widow early, she entrusted her only
son for study and service to St Anicetos the Bishop of
Rome. (PROLOGUE BY ST NICHOLAS)
Seeing how St Eleftherios was Gifted by God and Illumined
by the Grace of God, the Bishop ordained him a Deacon
OF
ILLYRIA
at the age of fifteen, a Priest at the age of eighteen, and

a Bishop at the age of twenty.
St Eleftherios' God-given Wisdom made up for what he
lacked in years, and this Chosen One of God was
appointed Bishop of Illyria with his seat in Valona
(Avlona), Albania.
The Good Shepherd guarded his Flock well and increased
their number day by day.
ST ELEFTHERIOS HIEROMARTYR
OF ILLYRIA
15 DECEMBER 2015
19
In 120, Emperor Hadrian, a persecutor of Christians, sent

the Commander, Felix, with soldiers to seize St
Eleftherios and take him to Rome.
When the fierce Commander Felix arrived in Valona and
entered the church, he saw and heard the Holy Hierarch
of God and in that very instant his heart changed, and
he became a Christian.
St Eleftherios Baptized Felix and joyfully departed for Rome
with him - as if he were going to a Feast and not to his
unjust trial, brutal torture and untimely death.
Emperor Hadrian subjected the noble St Eleftherios to the
most excruciating torture: flogging, roasting on an iron
plate, boiling in pitch, and burning in a fiery furnace.
However, St Eleftherios was Miraculously Delivered from all
these hideous tortures by God's Power.
Having witnessed the Martyrdom of St Eleftherios and
particularly noticing his Miraculous Endurance and
unshakable Faith in the One True Living God, the
Roman Eparch, Caribos believed in Christ and boldly
declared himself to be Christian, whereupon he, too,
was immediately arrested and subjected to brutal
sufferings at the hands of the executioners before
Reposing in Christ when he was eventually beheaded by
sword.
The same fate was endured by St Felix who, together with
St Eleftherios, was beheaded by and thus were they
Spiritually Perfected.
As St Anthia stood over the martyred body of her Beloved
son, St Eleftherios, she was also beheaded by sword.
Their bodies were translated to Valona, where even today St
Eleftherios Glorifies the Name of our Lord and Saviour,
PRAYER
IS THE
TEST
OF
Jesus Christ by the many Divine Miracles that occur

through his Intercessory Prayers.
For centuries Orthodox Christians have considered St
Eleutherios and St Anthia to be the Holy Patron Saints
of expectant mothers and safe childbirth.
Their fame as Wonder Workers, the fact that they were
mother and son, and the implications of their names
contributed to this belief, for Eleftherios is a variant of
the word Freedom in Greek while Anthia is similar
to Anthos which is Flower.
Furthermore, St Eleutherios is regarded as the Holy
Protector of the oppressed, prisoners and all those
undergoing any kind of trial.
In addition, these two Saints, like St Kyprianos and St
Justina, repel and defeat all demonic influences.
Orthodox Christians who lived during the oppression of
the Ottoman Empire regarded St Eleutherios as their
Holy Helper and Champion in their quest for
independence.
In Albania where the previous Communist regime had
banned the Orthodox Faith and all religion officially
declaring that there was no God in their country! these
Miracle Working Saints became the Patron Saints of the
Orthodox Christian Resistance - particularly amongst
the Greek Epirote minority in the south of Albania.
May their memories be Eternal and may they ceaselessly
Intercede with the Lord our God for our Eternal
Salvation.
HTTP://FULL-OF-GRACE-AND-TRUTH.BLOGSPOT.CO.ZA/2008/12/STSELEUTHERIOS-HIEROMARTYR-AND-HIS.HTML
EVERYTHING - A CALL
Sometimes we think that if our Spiritual Life is not feeling

right, that our Prayers are somehow not working.
Regardless of how we feel, any time is an appropriate time
for us to pray.
We start from where we are, emotionally and spiritually.
We approach God as we are, trusting knowing - that He is
always ready, willing and able to overlook our faults,
doubts and wounds and to lift us above them.
At the same time, we must take care never to assume that
we are doing good enough in our Life, and that we can
excuse ourselves from Prayer.
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not Call us to only be good
enough!
He Called us to be Perfect!
Our Spiritual Struggle for that Perfection is a life-long
Endeavour.
Furthermore, it is an undertaking a Sacred Commitment that we cannot achieve ourselves!
Our Spiritual Perfection can be accomplished by the Will of
God the Father, through God the Son and by the Power
and Energy of God the Holy Spirit!
CONTEMPLATING
THE
NATIVITY
St Ephraim the Syrian wrote: The Lord of David and Son

of David hid His Glory in swaddling clothes. His
swaddling clothes gave a Robe of Glory to human
beings.
Soon we will celebrate the most Incredible Event when God
became Man and yet remained God! He came in a most
humble way, delivered in a stable and wrapped in
swaddling clothes. Yet this simple beginning gave to all
mankind Robes of Glory!
What is that Robe of Glory?
In today's world it is hard to focus on the true meaning of
this Mystical Event with all the parties and the mad gift
giving, Santa Clause and the unending sports games on
TV.
We are distracted more than ever by modern technology
and popular essential gadgets that fill our heads with
all kinds of visuals and information. We no longer
complain about not having a television but not having
one that is big enough.
So how do we make the Great Event of our Lords Nativity
relevant and significant to everyone?
When we think of this Robe of Glory that He gave us,
we must first think of His dual Nature and the
way He entered and departed our world in abject
Humility!
His Robe was not made of golden threads. His
Nativity and subsequent Life had nothing to do
with material wealth.
20.
TO
PRAYER
And only through our Prayers are we able to intimately

Encounter and Communicate with our Triune God!
In the Divine Liturgy, we are invited to "... lift up our
hearts..." and "... give Thanks to the Lord..." which sum
up the very centre of our human existence.
When we lift up our heart to God, Glorifying Him for all
that He does for us - both known and unknown - the
Image of God - Who is the Creator, Saviour and
Sanctifier of our Life - shines within us, and through us
into the sin darkened world.
"Prayer is the test of everything! Prayer is also the
Source of everything! Prayer is the driving Force of
everything! Prayer is also the Director of everything!
If Prayer is right, everything is right. For Prayer will not
allow anything to go wrong." (ST THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE)
BY FATHER ANDREW JARMUS
EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD & SAVIOUR
He lived very simply and with a most pure heart that

constantly Glorified God and shone so brightly for all to
see.
We must begin our Contemplation of the Nativity of Christ
with total Humility admitting and acknowledging our
weaknesses, our ways that deviate from everything He
taught and demonstrated to us.
We must acknowledge our pride and Repent our hidden
sins, by Cleansing and Healing our inner state, declaring
our lack of that Robe of Glory that He granted all
mankind - striving at all times to imitate His Humility
in all our words, thoughts and deeds.
We must also remember His infinite Love for all His
Children and by acknowledging and understanding
His Divine Love for us, we are joyfully Embraced by
Him.
Elated by His Love, we rest assured in His Divine
Providence, knowing that He guides us towards His
Perfection and that He holds for us a Robe of Glory.
Let us rejoice in anticipation of His Glory that awaits us,
and let us recognize our Lord Jesus Christ as God
Incarnate.
Let us for a short while put on that Robe of Glory and
truly experience His Peace, Joy and Love!
Joy to the world! The Lord has come! Glorify Him!
Follow Him! Amen
ST ELEFTHERIOS HIEROMARTYR
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.CO.ZA/SEARCH/LABEL/NATIVITY
OF
ILLYRIA
15 DECEMBER 2015

17 December 2015
St Daniel the Holy Prophet of God & the 3 Holy Youths St Ananias
(Shadrach), St Azarias (Abednego) & St Misael (Meshach)
Also the Feast of St Stephen (Daniel) the Confessor of Spain St Dionysios of Aegina &
Zakynthos St Avvakum (Habakkuk) the Deacon of Serbia St Paisios the Igumen of
Annunciation Monastery & New Holy Martyr of Trnava, Serbia
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST DANIEL &
Megala ta tis Pisteos katorthomata!
En ti pigi
os epi idatos anapafseos, i Agii Tris, Pedes
ke O Profitis Daniil, leonton pimin, os
ediknito. Tes afton ikesies Hriste O Theos,
psihas imon!
THE
3 HOLY YOUTHS
TONE 2
Great are the accomplishments of Faith. In the fountain
tis flogos,
igallonto,
provaton
soson tas
of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as though

they were resting by the waters. And the Prophet
Daniel showed himself to be a Shepherd to the lions,
as though they were sheep. Through their Prayers O
Christ our God, Save our souls.
FESTAL KONTAKION ST DANIEL & 3 HOLY YOUTHS TONE 3
Katharthisa
Since Thy pure and hallowed heart had been made pure
Pnevmati, i kathara Sou kardia, Profitias

gegone, fainotatis dohion. Vlepis gar os enestota ta
makran onta, leontas, apofimis de vilithis en lakko.
Dia touto Se Timomen, Profita Makar, Daniil Endoxe.
SEASONAL KONTAKION
by the Spirit, it became His Dwelling-place and

clearest Prophecy's Vessel; for Thou beheld things
far off as near and present, and when cast into the
den, Thou muzzled lions; for which cause, O Blessed
Prophet, Glorious Daniel, we all revere Thee in Faith.
OF THE

Horeve, i ikoumeni,
Theon.
Today

God.

OUR LORDS ADMONITION
AGAINST
TO
ST LUKE 11 : 47 12 : 1
PHARISAIC PRIDE & HYPOCRISY
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said to the Judeans who went to Him: Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the
Prophets, and your fathers killed them. You bear witness that you approve of the deeds of your Fathers; for they
indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore, the Wisdom of God said: I will send them Prophets and
Apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the blood of all the Prophets, which was shed from the
foundation of the world, may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah who
perished between the Altar and the Temple. Yes! I say to you: it shall be required of this generation!
Woe to you Lawyers! For you have taken away the Key of Knowledge! You did not enter in yourselves, and those who
were entering, you hindered.
As He said these things to them, the Scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him
about many things - lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, so that they might
accuse Him. In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude had gathered together, trampling one another, He first
began to say to His Disciples: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy!
The example of Leaders can be extremely influential
OUR LORD DESPISES INTENSELY ANYONE WHO IS A HYPOCRITE!
upon the people, so THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE GOD WILL
Time and again He severely cautions those who are
HINDER OTHERS FROM FINDING HIM AND FOLLOWING HIM AS
hypocrites to immediately Repent and strive to gain
WELL.
the Blessed Virtues as mentioned before.
THEY WILL ALL BE MISGUIDED AND DECEIVED, REMAINING IN
For these serious and essential reasons, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO
SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND DEATH.
REGULARLY SELF-EXAMINE OUR OWN HEARTS AND SOULS,
Consequently, ALL LEADERS SHOULD BE STRIVE TO BE THE
plucking out and eradicating through sincere
BEST EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD, SO
Repentance-Confession any signs of hypocrisy,
THAT THEY MAY BE HELD UP AS A HIGHER STANDARD FOR US
deception or dishonesty unbefitting a Disciple of
TO IMITATE.
Christ.
Furthermore, THOSE WHO ARE GRANTED HOLY AUTHORITY TO
This is also the reason for finding A REALLY WISE SPIRITUAL
TEACH, GUIDE, PROTECT AND LEAD GODS HOLY FLOCK, WILL BE
FATHER WHO WILL GUIDE AND TEACH US CORRECTLY A
MORE SEVERELY JUDGED THAN THOSE WHO ARE UNDER THEIR
SPIRITUAL FATHER OR TEACHER WHOM WE WILL LOVE AND OBEY
LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE.
FOR THE ETERNAL BENEFIT OF OUR IMMORTAL SOUL.
Whether we are leaders of our Church or Community, or
We must always remember that WE GUIDE, TEACH AND LEAD
merely one of Christs Holy Flock, WE MUST ALL STRIVE TO
OTHERS IN THE DIVINE TRUTH AND COMMANDMENTS OF
MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY, HONESTY,
ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH THE EXAMPLE OUR OWN WORTHY AND
SINCERITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS, WHICH ARE WORTHY
CORRECT WORSHIP AND LIFE IN CHRIST.
ATTRIBUTES OF ANY FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.
Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of His Saints.

What shall we render unto the Lord for all His Benefits toward us?
ST DANIEL
THE
HOLY PROPHET &
THE
THREE HOLY YOUTHS
1 7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 21
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
HEBREWS 11 : 33 12 : 2
TO THE
THE FAITH OF CERTAIN ISRAELITES & THE PERFECTION OF FAITH
Brethren: all the Saints, through Faith - subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the
mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong,
became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead Raised to life again.
Others were tortured - not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Others had trials of
mockings and scourgings, of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, tempted, slain with
the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the
world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountain, in dens and caves of the Earth.
And all of these having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith did not receive the Promise - God having provided
something better for us so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that
so easily ensnares us, and let us run with Endurance the Race that is set before us, looking unto the Author and
Finisher of our Faith, Jesus. Who - for the Joy that was set before Him - endured the Cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right Hand of the Throne of God.
THE WAY
OF
TO
ST MARK 9 : 33 41
HOLY DISCIPLESHIP
At that time, our Lord Jesus went to Capernaum. And when He was in the house, He asked them: What was it that you
disputed amongst yourselves on the road? They kept silent. Amongst themselves on the road they had disputed who
would be the greatest. And sitting down, He called the Twelve, and said to them: If anyone desires to be first, he shall
be last, and servant of all. And taking a little child, He set him in their midst, and He took him in His Arms, and said
to them: Whoever receives one of these little children in My Name, receives Me. And whoever receives Me, receives
not Me, but Him Who sent Me.
Answering Him, John said: Teacher, we saw casting out demons in Thy Name someone who does not follow us. And we
forbade him because he does not follow us Jesus said: Do not forbid him. No one who works a Miracle in My Name
can soon afterwards speak evil of Me. He who is not against us is on our side. Whoever gives you a cup of water to
drink in My Name, for you belong to Christ, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his Reward.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HIS DISCIPLES HAD
Name of Christ, although not being one of Christs
Disciples) as being regretful his conscience having
BEEN DEBATING amongst themselves, but He wanted
them to know that He knew what they were thinking
been pricked by what our Lord had said about being
and TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THEM AN IMPORTANT
the greatest or the least.
SACRED LESSON THE SIMPLE HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE OF A
St Ambrose, on the other hand, saw St John as expecting
LITTLE CHILD.
FULL OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST TO ACCOMPANY SUCH BLESSINGS
THEIR DEBATE INDICATED A SELFISH INTEREST IN WORLDLY POWER
AND POWER IN GODS NAME.
AND INFLUENCE, which is nothing to do with Christs Holy
In either interpretation, Christs response shows that THOSE
Apostles the Holy Shepherds of His Faithful Flock.
WHO ACT IN GOOD FAITH ARE NOT EXCLUDED FROM HIS HOLY
FLOCK, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY NUMBERED AMONGST
USING THE LITTLE CHILD AS HIS PERFECT MODEL OF TRUE
HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES.
DISCIPLESHIP, OUR LORD EMPHASISED THE DIVINE VIRTUES
St Theophylact commented: See how Divine Grace is at
THAT ARE REQUIRED by us for Entrance into His Divine
work even in those who are not His Disciples.
Kingdom of Heavenly Love: HUMILITY, DEPENDENCE
IT IS THE WORK OF CHRIST TO GATHER THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
OR
TRUSTWORTHINESS,
LOWLINESS,
SIMPLICITY,
while those who scatter them are in direct opposition
OBEDIENCE, A WILINESS TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY AND
to Him.
TO BE LOVED.
Those who work in opposition to Christ are different to
those who work in Good Faith towards His Divine
THAT LITTLE CHILD WAS IN FACT ST IGNATIOS OF ANTIOCH, WHOSE
Purpose but who are not yet United to the Holy Flock of
UNSHAKABLE FAITH, EVEN AS A SMALL CHILD, COMPELLED HIM TO
Christs Holy Church.
OFFER HIS SMALL FOOD PARCEL OF TWO SARDINES AND FIVE LITTLE
BREAD ROLLS, which his mother has packed for him, in order TO
ONLY GOOD DEEDS THAT ARE DONE FOR CHRISTS SAKE BRING
FEED THE 5,000 FAMILIES (= approximately 15-20,000
FORTH GOOD FRUIT.
PEOPLE!!)and which, indeed, did feed the great multitude WITH 12
Thus DEEDS THAT ARE DONE FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE EVEN IF
BASKETS OF LEFTOVERS to be distributed amongst them all for
THEY ARE GOOD ARE ...DEEDS THAT SCATTER ABROAD!
their homeward journey!
St Theophylact considered St Johns comments
(regarding the one who had cast out demons in the
ST DANIEL
THE
HOLY PROPHET
OF
St Daniel, St Ananias, St Azaria & St Misael were of the

Royal Tribe of Judah, and lived 500 years before the
Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed and plundered Jerusalem,
the young St Daniel was carried away into slavery
together with King Jehoiachim and innumerable other
Israelites.
From his earliest years, St Daniel had been devoted to God
Who granted him the Gift of Discernment, and he was
able to save the chaste Susanna from an unjust death
when he exposed and denounced two lecherous,
unrighteous Judaic Judges.
His fame among the Babylonians began the day he
deciphered the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, for
which he was made a Prince of the Kings court.
When a golden idol on the Plain of Dura was erected, the
Three Holy Youths refused to worship so they were
arrested and cast into a fiery furnace.
However, an Angel of God appeared inside the furnace with
them and cooled the flames so that they were able to
walk around while singing and praising the One, True
and Living God: Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our
Fathers...! (DANIEL 3 : 26)
The King witnessed this Great Divine Miracle and
was astounded to such a degree that he
released them and bestowed great honours
upon them.
During the reign of King Belshazzar, at a lavish
banquet where they ate and drank from
consecrated Liturgical Vessels that had been
22.
ST DANIEL
THE
HOLY PROPHET &
THE
GOD &
THE
THREE HOLY YOUTHS
looted from the Temple in Jerusalem, an invisible Hand

wrote three words on the wall for all to see: Mene,
Tekel, Uphasin.
No one was able to interpret these words except St Daniel
and that very night, King Belshazzar was murdered.
St Daniel was thrown into the lions den twice because of
his unwavering Faith in the One, True and Living God,
and by Divine Grace he remained unharmed.
St Daniel beheld God enthroned and surrounded by the
Heavenly Hosts. He saw His Angels and he discerned
the future of certain people, of Kingdoms, and of the
whole human race.
But most important of all, St Daniel prophesied the Coming
of our Lord and Saviour on Earth.
According to St Cyril of Alexandria, St Daniel the Holy
Prophet of God and the Three Holy Youths live to ripe
old age in Babylon but were eventually beheaded for
their Faith in our Lord God.
At their beheading, St Azaria stretched out his cloak and
caught St Ananias head. St Misael then did the same
with the head of St Azaria, and finally, St Daniel did the
same with St Misaels head.
An Angel of God translated their Holy Relics to Mount
Gebal, Judea and placed them under a rock. These four
God-Pleasers arose at the time of Christs Crucifixion
and appeared to many before they again fell asleep.
May their memories be Eternal, and may they ceaselessly
Intercede with the Lord our God for our Eternal
Salvation.
HTTP://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM
THREE HOLY YOUTHS
17 DECEMBER 2015

Tone 4
2 0 December 2015
th

Sunday Before the Nativity of Jesus Christ our Saviour
Sunday of the Holy Ancestors of our Lord
Also the Feast of St Ignatios the God-Bearer of Antioch St Philogonios of Antioch St John
the New Martyr of Thasos St Daniel II of Serbia St John of Kronstadt
To
When
fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou

Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin
apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon.
Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O Theos,
doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos.
the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from

the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection that
had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather,
they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no
more! Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world Great
Mercy.
FESTAL APOLYTIKION FOREFEAST
Etimazou
NATIVITY
Make ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden opened up to all;
Vithleem, inikte pasin i Edem;

eftrepizou
Efratha, oti to Xilon tis Zois, en to Spileo exinthisen ek
dis Parthenou; Paradisos ke gar, i ekinis gastir, edihthi
noitos, en O to Thion fiton; ex ou faontes zisomen, ouhi
de os O Adam tethnixometha. Hristos gennate, tin prin
pesousan, Anastison Ikona.
and
prepare, O Ephratha, because the very Tree of Life, has
blossomed forth in the Cave from the Virgin; for it has
come about, that Her Womb has become a Spiritual
Paradise, where grew the Divine Plant; from which, if
we eat, we shall Live and not die as Adam did. Christ
is Born to Resurrect the Image that had fallen!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST DANIEL &
Megala ta tis Pisteos katorthomata!
3 HOLY YOUTHS
THE
Great
En ti pigi tis flogos, os

epi idatos anapafseos, i Agii Tris, Pedes igallonto, ke O
Profitis Daniil, leonton pimin, os provaton ediknito. Tes
afton ikesies Hriste O Theos, soson tas psihas imon!
SEASONAL KONTAKION
OF THE
indeed are Faiths accomplishments! The Three

Holy Youths stood exultingly in the fountain of fire as
if beside the still waters of rest. And Daniel the
Prophet appeared like a shepherd in the den of lions.
At their entreaties, O Christ God, Save our souls!
OF THE
I Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo ethete Today the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth Ineffably
apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, akoutisthisa;
Doxason meta Angelon ke ton Pimenon, voilithenta
apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton Pro Eonon Theon
to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good cheer,

O Earth and its people: Glorify Him with the Angels and
the Shepherds, Whose Will it was to be made manifest
as a young Child the Pre-Eternal God.
RESURRECTION GOSPEL 7 : JOHN 20 : 1 10

ST PETER & ST JOHN WITNESS
PROKEIMENON HYMN
OF THE
THE EMPTY
TOMB
3 HOLY YOUTHS TONE 4
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our Fathers!

For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us.
THE EPISTLE
THE FAITH
OF THE
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
OLD COVENANT JUDEANS
HEBREWS 11 : 9 10 & 32 40
FROM
ST ABRAHAM
TO
ST JOSEPH
THE
BETROTHED
Brethren: Through Faith Abraham dwelt in the Land of Promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the Heirs with him of the same Promise. He waited for the City that has Foundations, whose Builder and Maker
is God.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David
and Samuel and the Prophets: who through Faith subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises,
stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life
again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Others had
trials mockings and scourgings - yes, of chains and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they
were tempted and they were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and in goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. In deserts They wandered - and mountains, dens
and caves of Earth.
And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise God having provided
something better for us so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
THE GENEALOGY
OF OUR
TO
ST MATTHEW 1 : 1 - 25
LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING
TO THE FLESH
The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob
and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab
begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the King.
ST DANIEL
THE
HOLY PROPHET &
THE
THREE HOLY YOUTHS
1 7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 23
David the King begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Rehoboam; Rehoboam begot Abijah,
and Abijah begot Asa.
Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Joran, and Joran begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and
Ahaz begot Hezekiah.
Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about
the time they were carried away to Babylon.
After they were taken to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud
begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.
Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar; Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan
begot Jacob. Jacob begot Joseph the (Betrothed) Husband of Mary (Miriam) of Whom was born Jesus Who is called
Christ.
All the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; from David until the captivity in Babylon were
fourteen generations. And from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she
was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a Just man, and not wanting to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away secretly.
While he considered these things, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying: Joseph, son of David: do not be
afraid to take Mary as your wife. That which is Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son,
and Thou shalt name Him Jesus. He will Save His People from their sins.
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: Behold, the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name ,Immanuel, which is translated: God with
us.
Having been woken from sleep Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his Wife, and did not
know Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son. And he called His Name Jesus.
St Paul explained to the Galatians: ... the Scripture,
THE NAME JESUS OR JOSHUA MEANS O LORD SAVE US,
foreseeing that God would Justify the Gentiles by
WHICH REFERS TO OUR LORDS DIVINE ROLE AS THE SAVIOUR
OF ALL MANKIND.
Faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham
beforehand, saying: In Thee all the Nations shall
THE TITLE CHRIST MEANS ANOINTED ONE, OR MESSIAH,
WHICH MEANS THE ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY
be Blessed. (GALATIANS 3:8)
So it was that THE HOLY SPIRIT PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF
SPIRIT.
J O H N 1 : 3 3 : St John the Baptist and Forerunner to
CHRIST CENTURIES BEFORE to St Abraham, the ancient
Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel.
Christ said: I did not know Him, but He Who
sent me to Baptise with water said to me: Upon
Furthermore, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WHOM ST ABRAHAM
Whom you see the (HOLY) Spirit descending, and
BEHELD in a Vision was no created being He WAS
remaining on Him, is He Who Baptises with the
TRULY THE SON AND WORD OF GOD.
Holy Spirit.
St Athanasios the Great taught that OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, THE SON AND WORD OF GOD, WAS REFERRED TO AS
THE FACT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REMAINED UPON CHRIST OUR
SAVIOUR WAS A DIVINE SIGN THAT HE POSSESSES THE HOLY
AN ANGEL (MESSENGER OF GOD) BECAUSE HE ALONE
SPIRIT IN HIS FULLNESS FROM ALL ETERNITY i.e. THERE
REVEALS THE FATHER.
HAS NEVER BEEN A MOMENT WHEN THE SON OF GOD WAS NOT
In other words, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS GOD THE
UNITED WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR TOGETHER WITH GOD
FATHER to us AS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY WHO,
THE FATHER THEY ARE CO-ETERNAL.
BEING ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE, IS INCAPABLE
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not receive the Holy Spirit at
OF ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR DESTRUCTIVE (which are the
His Baptism by St John the Baptist. Instead, THE
inventions of the evil one who typifies hatred,
everything wicked, deceitful and destructive.)
VISION THAT ST JOHN THE BAPTIST EXPERIENCED REVEALED
G E N E S I S 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: ...
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ALWAYS
BEEN WITH CHRIST.
your seed shall be like the dust of the earth;
Although ONLY GOD THE SON (THE SECOND DIVINE PERSON OF
you shall spread abroad to the west and to the
THE HOLY TRINITY THE GODHEAD)
WAS INCARNATED
east, to the north and to the south; and in you
and in your seed all the Tribes of the earth
(BECAME MAN AND THUS PHYSICAL AND VISIBLE TO US) GOD
THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN PERFECT
shall be Blessed.
JEWISH GENEALOGY NORMALLY INCLUDED ONLY MALE RELATIVES
HARMONY IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR ETERNAL
SO THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES SUCH AS TAMAR,
SALVATION.
RAHAB, RUTH AND BATHSHEBA WAS MOST UNUSUAL,
THE HOLY TRINITY ALWAYS WORKS IN PERFECT UNISON AS
ONE GOD.
OUR LORD WAS INCARNATE AS A HEBREW, FROM THE LINEAGE OF
ST ABRAHAM, the Father or Patriarch of all Hebrews,
AND OF ST DAVID, ISRAELS GREATEST KING AND PROTOTYPE
OF OUR ROYAL MESSIAH.
THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST according to the Holy Gospel of
St Matthew REVEALS THAT THE SON OF GOD IDENTIFIES SO
DEEPLY WITH OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT HE TOOK IT UPON
HIMSELF AND HAS BECOME PART OF IT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR
SALVATION.
THE ANCESTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INCLUDES Righteous
and wicked people, faithful Kings and murderers,
Jews and Gentiles, royalty and peasants A
COMPLETE CROSS-SECTION OF HUMANITY.
ST MATTHEWS GENEALOGY OF CHRIST DESCENDS FROM ST
ABRAHAM to whom God Promised to Bless all tribes
of the earth in Abraham, which was fulfilled in
his greatest Descendent, Jesus Christ.
ST LUKE, on the contrary, LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN
ASCENDING ORDER FROM CHRIST ALL THE WAY BACK TO
ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 38)
G E N E S I S 1 2 : 3 God said to Abram: ... I will
Bless those who Bless Thee and curse those
who curse Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of
the earth shall be Blessed.
THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH THE PROPHETS and He spoke
through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God who wrote
this Holy Book of Genesis.
24. 2 9 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T S U N D A Y
BEFORE THE
ESPECIALLY SINCE EACH OF THEM WAS EITHER A GENTILE OR A

SINFUL HEBREW.
HENCE,
THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE
GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE CALLING OF

GENTILES INTO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN GODS

ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND ANTICIPATED THE VERY
SPECIAL PLACE OF THE EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY VIRGIN
THEOTOKOS IN HIS DIVINE PLAN.
By means of Anointing by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of
God, St David the Psalmist was consecrated King of
Israel and THROUGH HIS PSALMS, ST DAVID WAS REVEALED
AS A GREAT AND HOLY PROPHET OF GOD.
Consequently, ST DAVID THE PSALMIST, KING AND HOLY
PROPHET FORESHADOWED THE ROYAL AND PROPHETIC
NATURE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (PSALM 109)
In addition, as a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST
DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION,
REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, which
encourages us - for EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS
REGENERATION OR
GRANTED
THE
POSSIBILITY
OF
RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE GRACE of our Most Loving
and Merciful God THROUGH OUR WILLING AND HEARTFELT
REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.
St Joseph the Betrothed is named as our Lord Jesus
immediate predecessor since according to the Old
NATIVITY THE HOLY FOREFATHERS 20 DECEMBER 2015
THE
Covenant, MARRIAGE LAWS CONFER HEREDITARY RIGHTS

ON ADOPTED AS WELL AS BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN.
THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WAS ALSO DESCENDED FROM
KING DAVID, as was her aunt Salome, (THE SISTER OF ST
ANNA AND THE LATE WIFE OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED) since,
according to Hebrew Laws of the time, BETROTHALS
WERE ARRANGED FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE.
DIVINE CONCEPTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

FULFILLED THE PROPHECY OF ST ISAIAH THAT SPECIFICALLY A
VIRGIN NOT A YOUNG WOMAN! WOULD CONCEIVE AND
BEAR A SON WHO WAS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO
EXISTENCE BUT WHO IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD WHO USED
HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE!
BOTH THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINAL CONCEPTION BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND THE NAME Immanuel MEANING God with
us DECLARES AND CONFIRMS THE DIVINITY THE DIVINE
NATURE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
Finally: when ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IN OBEDIENCE TO
GOD ... took to him his wife, and did not know Her
until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son... IT
DID NOT MEAN THAT THE BETROTHAL OR MARRIAGE WAS EVER
CONSUMMATED, NOR DOES THE EXPRESSION FIRSTBORN SON
MEAN THAT OUR ALL HOLY LADY EVER BORE ANY OTHER
CHILDREN FOR SHE KEPT HER MOST SACRED VOW OF
CHASTITY UNTIL SHE REPOSED IN PEACE many years later.
For the same reason,
THE TEMPLE PRIESTS HAD CONSENTED

TO HER BETROTHAL TO HER AGED UNCLE WHO WAS ACTUALLY
HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR OF HER VOW OF
CHASTITY.
The term of whom is feminine in Greek, REFERRING ONLY
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SO OUR LORD IS SHOWN TO
HAVE BEEN BORN ONLY OF HER AND NOT BEGOTTEN OF ST
JOSEPH THE BETROTHED.
THE ANCESTORS WERE ARRANGED IN THREE GROUPS OF FOURTEEN
GENERATIONS
since fourteen is the numerical
equivalent of the consonants in the name David,

underlining Christs descent from St David.
It also shows the division of the leadership of the
Hebrews, being under Judges until St David, under
Kings until Babylon and under Priests until Christ.
In Holy Scripture the word until which is sometimes

translated as to, is often used to express a situation
that actually continues after the event:
M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0 Christ instructed His Apostles
to go forth and Baptise and Teach all nations ...
to observe all Things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I Am with you always, even TO the
end of the Age.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST AT
THE END OF THE WORLD FOR HE IS ALWAYS ETERNALLY PRESENT AND NEVER ABSENT, NO MATTER WHERE OR
HOW WE ARE!
G E N E S I S 8 : 7 - Noah ... sent out a Raven, which
kept going to and fro, UNTIL the waters dried
up from the earth.
D E U T E R O N O M Y 3 4 : 6 When Moses has died
God ... buried him in a valley in the Land of
Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his
grave TO this day.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED CONSISTED

OF A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS OF
THE LAW.
H O S E A 6 : 6 ... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and

the Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt
Offerings...
ST JOSEPHS NATURAL COMPASSION AND MERCY WAS EVIDENT
FROM HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO EXPOSE THE YOUNG VIRGINS
ASSUMED SIN, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS OBLIGED BY MOSAIC LAW
TO DO SO.
THE TERM HUSBAND AND WIFE APPLIED TO ALL BETROTHED
COUPLES even before the Marriage had been
Sanctified by God and consummated.
THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH REFERS TO ST JOSEPH AS THE
BETROTHED, EMPHASISING THE TRUTH OF THE ALL HOLY AND
ALL PURE, EVER VIRGINITY OF THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS
(WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE ASTOUNDED
MIDWIVES WHO ATTENDED TO THE YOUNG VIRGIN BEFORE, DURING
AND AFTER THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST.)
E S T H E R 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin
... had raised the daughter of Abigail, his
fathers brother, and her name was Esther; and
when her parents died, he brought her up to be
his wife, and she was beautiful.
Mordecais relation to Esther was that of both guardian
and Betrothed husband - a necessary social and
legal arrangement, which was not unusual at the
time.
This was similar to THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ST
JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND THE EVER VIRGIN MARY, IN
WHICH
THERE WAS
NO
SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP,
as
demonstrated as well by Esthers virginity and
chastity.
THE TERM FIRSTBORN SON, DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE BLESSED
VIRGIN HAD OTHER CHILDREN, BUT ONLY THAT NO CHILD WAS
BORN TO HER BEFORE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Traditionally, the firstborn son was the primary heir and
recipient of Blessings and OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE
FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION, AND THEREFORE THE
FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD.
Christ was the first to be physically Resurrected - so He
returned to show to confirm, to ratify - that Divine Truth
to His Faithful Apostles and Disciples for 40 days before
His Glorious Ascension returning to His former invisible
state and majestic position, seated at the right hand side
of God the Father the Most Honourable position as Coequal, Co-eternal and Co-essential. mp
In the Orthodox Holy Icons of the Nativity of Christ, HIS
SWADDLING CLOTHES ARE DEPICTED AS BURIAL WRAPPINGS,
AFFIRMING THAT ONE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING WAS TO
ENDURE DEATH.
THE MANGER WAS IN A CAVE WHERE DOMESTIC ANIMALS WERE
STABLED AT NIGHT THUS FULFILLING THE PROPHECY OF ST
ISAIAH: The ox knows its Owner and the donkey its
Masters crib. (ISAIAH 1:3)
AN ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD DISPELLED ST JOSEPHS FALSE

ASSUMPTIONS BY ANNOUNCING THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE
AND ILLOGICAL BUT DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH: THE
VIRGINS CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD BY THE
POWER AND ENERGY OF THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT.
BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED CHRISTS DIVINITY AND ONLY
A DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE AS ADEQUATE
EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE.
ACCORDING
St Matthew repeatedly used the expression: ...that it

might be fulfilled which was spoken... which
UNDERSCORES
THE
DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD
throughout human history and which demonstrates
THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS
WITH GOD, INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW
CREATION.
29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUNDAY BEFORE
THE
NATIVITY
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit...
Genealogies do not mean the same to us as they did for the
ancient people, so the first part of this mornings
reading may be tedious to modern ears.
Most people will remember the list of strange names and
forget the ending - probably because a majority check
out somewhere around Amminadab if not before.
29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SUNDAY
BEFORE THE
TO OLD COVENANT LAW, THE FATHER NAMES HIS

Thus the Archangel, St Gabriel, told St Joseph
the Betrothed what to name his All Pure Wards
Child.
Likewise, was St Zachariah the High Priest informed of
the name of his son, St John the Baptist and
Forerunner to Christ.
CHILD.
OF
CHRIST
OUR
SAVIOUR- SUNDAY
OF THE
HOLY ANCESTORS
By the time we get to the Great Event of the Nativity of

Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour - most of us are a
little glassy-eyed.
However, we need to understand a little about the
Genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His
Incarnation.
Both St Matthew and St Luke included the genealogies of
our Lord Jesus in their Gospels although they differ
from one another, which is of no concern.
25
Genealogies were useful for a variety of reasons, so it was

not unusual for people to have more than one family
tree compiled to cover their bases.
Significant things like inheritance, land ownership, and
vocation were at stake, so they had to prove their
lineage!
Since the point was to establish an Ancestral Link rather
than to list all the family names exhaustively, they were
not as interested in correctly listing all the names
perhaps as exactly as we might do these days.
Considering the enormity of most Middle Eastern families
that would be ridiculous or impossible anyway.
St Matthews Genealogy emphasized our Lord Jesus as
being the Son of David, so he began with King David,
the Royal Psalmist and then continued with St Abraham
although St Abraham lived before St David!
St Matthews predominately Judaic audience would be
looking for that precise connection, and his aim was to
convince them that our Lord Jesus was truly the longawaited Messiah Who had the essential Davidic Sonship.
St Luke emphasized our Lords human Nature, beginning
with St Joseph the Betrothed who was the Righteous
Guardian and Protector of the Ever Virgin Mary and our
Lord Jesus Christ, but who was regarded officially as
His earthly Father according to Mosaic Law - and he
ended his Genealogy with Adam to be more universal in
his message, which for his predominately Greek
audience would be more significant.
In his Genealogy of our Lord, St Luke pointed also to our
Lords Divine Nature, when he ended with the
declaration: ...the Son of Adam, the Son of God.
(The title Son of Adam can also be seen as the Son of Man,
being the Incarnate Son of God and Theotokos. Mp)
Both Genealogies are essential for our understanding of the
Incarnation of the Eternal, Only Begotten Word and Son
of God the Father.
These two Genealogies complement one another, for our
Lord Jesus is indeed the Son of God and the Son of
David possessing both a Divine and a human Nature,
unmingled and unconfused.
According to His human Nature, our Lord Jesus Christ was
specifically Judaic, according to the Faith of His All Pure
and Ever Blessed Holy Mother, while according to His
Divine Nature as the Eternal Son of God, He is Almighty
God one of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.
However, the real, significant and Greatest Event of all is
that the Eternal Word and Son of God was born at all
He became Incarnate and lived amongst His own
Creation!
If the Son of God had not been born in the flesh, then He
could not have been the Son of David.
The Genealogy of Christ whether that of St Matthew of of
St Luke - tells us most clearly that our Lord Jesus was a
real, live human Being with grandparents, uncles, aunts,
and probably hundreds of cousins.
Holy Tradition tells us that our Lord Jesus had halfbrothers and sisters since St Joseph the Betrothed was
a widower and had children from a previous marriage
to the aunt of our Lady Theotokos.
(St Joseph & Salomes children were in fact cousins of our Lady
Theotokos and Her Son, who became by Mosaic Law their
children and brethren. mp)
ST HESYCHIOS -
"ON WATCHFULNESS
AND
Some of our Lords relatives were Righteous and some were

scoundrels. At least one of them was a prostitute. Just
like most families with their black sheep!.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was a human Being with an all-tootypical human family, which tells us another very
important aspect: even scoundrels and sinners are
included because this is our human condition that is far
from perfect!
Every human being has the Image of God - whether we are
righteous or sinners we all have that in common.
Human nature does not become evil because we do evil
things. Impossible! What God has called very good
will always remain very good.
That Divinely Created very good human nature we share
in common is what our Saviour willingly took upon
himself our human nature - yet He still remained
Perfect God and Perfect Man!
Even more - He took upon Himself our suffering and sins
and bore the burden of our diseases as well and still
remained Perfect God and Perfect Man!
This is a Very Great Mystery!
He took upon Himself the whole of the human condition
from birth to death and beyond - and remained fully
God and fully Man!
He took upon Himself all that we are in order to Heal all
that we are. Why? Because He Loves us!
At Vespers on Saturday night we usually chant a
Prokeimenon that says: The Lord is King! He has
clothed Himself with Majesty! The Lord has put on
His Apparel and has girded Himself with Strength.
What is this Majesty? What is His apparel? It is
human nature. Human nature is Majestic! It is
beautiful! It is the Crown of Gods Creation! It is filled
with God as is everything He has created.
The fact that we have soiled, distorted and even destroyed
His beautiful Creation is not Gods fault - it is entirely
our own fault!!
What we discover as we embark on the Interior Spiritual
Journey is that no matter what we do, or think, or feel,
underneath it all is human nature that sparkles with the
Light of God.
It is the Foundation of our being - the Truth of who we are.
Those of us who - through Meditation and Prayer - at long
last see our own essential goodness, understand the
core Truth about ourselves and our neighbours.
The Son of God reveals this to us in the Example of His own
human-Divine Life.
Here is another Great and Strange Mystery: we too - even
though we are created - share this human-Divine
Connection.
In Him Divinity is by Nature, whereas it is granted to us, His
creatures, by Divine Grace.
The Incarnation of the Eternal Son of God reveals all this
and more.
This week, in the Holy Services and Hymns, we will explore
this Unfathomable Mystery.
I hope and pray that you will join us.
Amen.
SERMON PREACHED BY FATHER ANTONY HUGHES ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER
19, 2010
HTTP://WWW.STMARYORTHODOXCHURCH.ORG
HOLINESS" - FOUR WAYS
Watchfulness is a Spiritual Method, which, if sedulously

practised over a long period, completely frees us with
God's Help from impassioned thoughts, impassioned
words and evil actions.
It leads, in so far as this is possible, to a sure Knowledge of
the inapprehensible God, and helps us to penetrate the
Divine and Hidden Mysteries.
It enables us to fulfill every Divine Commandment in the
Old and New Testaments and bestows upon us every
Blessing of the Age to come...
Watchfulness is a continual fixing of thought at the
entrance to the heart...
There are four different kinds of Watchfulness:
TO
PRACTICE WATCHFULNESS
1. CLOSELY OBSERVE EVERY MENTAL IMAGE OR PROVOCATION;

for only by means of mental images can Satan
fabricate an evil thought and insinuate this into the
spirit in order to lead it astray.
2. FREE THE HEART FROM ALL THOUGHTS, KEEPING IT
PROFOUNDLY SILENT AND STILL, AND IN PRAYER.
3. CONTINUALLY AND HUMBLY CALL UPON OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST FOR HELP.
4. ALWAYS HAVE THE THOUGHT OF DEATH IN MIND.
These types of Watchfulness, my Child, act like
Doorkeepers and bar entry to evil thoughts...
PHILOKALIA, VOL 1, P. 162-165
ARCHIMANDRITE EMILIANOS ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE
We are caught up in a Struggle between Darkness and light,

between corruption and incorruption, between Death
and Life, and thus between Hell and God.
In such a predicament, we Fall and rise, and falls again.
And this is why, even though Christ presented Himself
living, He also established within the Church the Holy
26. 2 9 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T S U N D A Y
BEFORE THE
Mystery of Repentance and Confession so that

we can constantly enjoy the right to assume,
to make our own, the Life of God.

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit
ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
2 4 December 2015
Forefeast Eve of the Nativity of Christ our Lord
& Saviour The Adoration of the Shepherds
Also the Feast of St Eugenia Virgin-Martyr, her father, St Philip the Prefect,
her servants, St Protos & St Hycinthos, St Basilla & St Claudia of Rome St
Nicholas the Monk of Bulgaria St Antiochos of Galatia & St Savvas
Monastery
FESTAL APOLYTIKION FOREFEAST
OF
NATIVITY
TONE 3
Apegrafeto pote sin to presviti Iosif os ek Spermatos David Mary,
once with aged Joseph, went to be enrolled in

Bethlehem, for they were of Davids Lineage; and she
bore in her Womb the Fruit that had not been sown.
The time for the Birth was at hand, and there was no
room at the inn; but the Cave proved a fair Palace for
the Queen. Christ is Born so that He may raise up
again the Image that before was fallen!
en Vithlehem i Mariam kioforousa tin asporon

kioforian. Epesti de keros O tis Geniseos ke topos in
oudis to katalimati; al os terpnon Palation to Spyleon ti
Vasilidi ediknito. Hristos Gennate, tin prin pesousan
anastison Ikona.
FESTAL KONTAKION
- NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
I Parthenos simeron, ton iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Spileon, Today

being, and the earth offers a Cave to Him Whom no
Young Child, the Pre-Eternal God.
to aprosito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon Doxologousi.

Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi.
Di imas gar
egennithi, Pedion Neon, O Pro Eonon Theos.
THE EPISTLE
ST PAUL
OF
THE SUPREME
TO THE
REVELATION OF THE
HEBREWS 1 ; 1 12
ETERNAL SON
OF
GOD.
Brethren: ...at various times and in various ways God Who spoke in time past to the Fathers by the Prophets - has in these
Last Days, spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed Heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds.
Being the Brightness of His Glory and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His Power,
when He had by Himself Cleansed our sins, He sat down at the right Hand of the Majesty on High, having become so
much better than the Angels, as He has by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than them.
To which of the Angels did He ever say: Thou art My Son; Today I have Begotten Thee. And again: I will be to Him a
Father, and He shall be to Me a Son.
When He again brings the Firstborn into the world, He says: Worship Him all the Angels of God. And of the Angels, He
says: Who makes His Angels Spirits and His Ministers a Flame of Fire. To the Son He says: Thy Throne, O God, is
forever and ever. A Sceptre of Righteousness is the Sceptre of Thy Kingdom. Thou hast Loved Righteousness and
hated lawlessness. Therefore, God Thy God with the Oil of Gladness has Anointed Thee more than Thy
companions.
And: Thou, in the beginning, O Lord, laid the Foundation of the Earth, and the Work of Thy Hands art the Heavens.
They will perish, but Thou remain. And all will grow old like a garment, and like a cloak Thou will fold them up,
and they will be changed. Thou art the same, and Thy years will not fail.
HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES AND CO-HEIRS, having been
THE NEW COVENANT IS SUPERIOR TO THE OLD COVENANT, which
is incomplete and preparatory, whereas the New
adopted by Baptism HOPE TO BE WORTHY HEIRS OF THE
Covenant is complete and final.
WHOLE UNIVERSE.
BY MEANS OF THE NEW COVENANT MANKIND IS ABLE TO ENTER
The first half of Verse 3 ... being the Brightness of His
INTO THE HEAVENLY REALM THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS
Glory... purged our sins... is quoted verbatim in the
CHRIST and we are glorified.
Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great.
In time past... and ...to the Fathers... are contrasted
THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY EXPRESSES THE SONS DIVINE
with ...in these days... and ...to us...
NATURE His Divine Origin from the Father beyond
IN OLD COVENANT TIMES GOD SPOKE CONSTANTLY THROUGH THE
time and without change.
HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, leading His
Thus, the Nicene Creed speaks of Christ being Light of
People into greater Truth Divine Truth.
Light, True God of True God...
NOW GOD SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO US THROUGH HIS INCARNATE SON.
As the sun does not exist without radiating light, so THE
The Fathers are the leaders of Israel and
FATHER DOES NOT EXIST WITHOUT HIS SON.
representatives of all THE SPIRITUAL ANCESTORS OF THE
Thus THE SON REFLECTS HIS FATHERS GLORY IN THIS WORLD.
NEW ISRAEL OF THE NEW COVENANT THE HOLY CHURCH OF
THE UNAPPROACHABLE LIGHT OF DIVINITY, THE DIVINE
CHRIST.
ENERGY IS APPROACHABLE ONLY IN THE INCARNATE SON
... through Whom also He made the worlds... and ...
OF GOD.
upholding all things by the Word of His Power...
GODS BRIGHTNESS although it has been experienced in
reveal THE SON OF GOD ACTING IN THE WORLD.
the Burning Bush, known only to Israel and spoken
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CREATED THE UNIVERSE, ACCORDING
It
TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER AND BY THE POWER

AND ENERGY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT and therefore
SUSTAINS CREATION AND HAS AUTHORITY OVER IT ALL.
is natural and obvious that THE SON OF GOD as both
Divine and Human IS THE HEIR of all things.
of by the Holy Prophets of God, IS ESPECIALLY REVEALED

IN CHRISTS NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM, HIS TRANSFIGURATION
ON MOUNT TABOR, AND AT HIS RESURRECTION.
THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON (HYPOSTASIS) EXPRESSES

THE SONS PERSON AS BEING DISTINCT FROM THAT OF THE
FATHER.
If the sons of Abraham hoped to be Heirs of the

Promised Land, THE SONS OF CHRIST - I.E. US WHO ARE
FOREFEAST
OF THE
NATIVITY EVE
OF
THE NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND
SAVIOUR 24 DECEMBER 2015
27
GOD THE SON IS THE PERFECT AND ETERNAL ICON OF GOD THE
FATHER, so the personal distinction of GOD AS HOLY
TRINITY, IS KNOWN ONLY THROUGH HIM.
NO ONE KNOWS GOD THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH GOD THE

SON.
Having conquered sin and Death, the Son ... sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty on High... a
reference to God the Father SHOWING CHRISTS
EXALTATION AS MAN SON OF MAN.
Having become so much better than the Angels...
with regard to their role according to the Old
Covenant, REFERS TO CHRISTS HUMAN NATURE not to
His Divine Nature.
The Name Christ inherited is an open Declaration that
THIS MAN IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD.
In Hebrews St Paul wrote Son, and in his Epistle to the
Philippians, he wrote Lord.
Much of first century Judaic Faith erroneously believed
that Angels were present at Creation and had
mediated the Old Covenant.
By using the Rabbinic method of demonstration, St Paul
- in his Epistle to the Hebrews - proves to lovers of
Judaism that EVEN THE OLD COVENANT ARGUES FOR THE
SUPERIORITY OF GOD THE SON.
CHRIST IS INDEED SUPERIOR TO HIS ANGELS, although they

were considered as being sons of God, whereas
our Lord Jesus is the Only Begotten, Eternal,
Word and Son of God the Father.
Christ is recognised and acknowledged as Gods
Eternal Son at His Baptism by St John and at His
Transfiguration on Mount Tabor and it is His Divine
Enthronement in Heaven after His Ascension that
settles the matter.
Begotten is a reference to THE SON IN HIS DIVINE, ETERNAL

NATURE.
The Nicene Creed states that our Lord Jesus Christ is ...
Begotten, not made... HE IS BEGOTTEN FROM THE
FATHER BEFORE ALL TIME.
Today is Eternity.
There never was a time that God the Son did not exist.
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of God the
Father in that HE IS HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN, ETERNAL
SON.
2. Our Lord is also THE FIRSTBORN OF CREATION, in that HE
IS THE IMAGE OR ICON WHEREBY CREATION WAS MADE
AND TOWARDS WHICH CREATION IS TO MOVE.
3. Our Lord is THE FIRSTBORN OF MANKIND because He is
THE PERFECT MODEL FOR OUR CREATION AND THE GOAL
OF OUR EXISTENCE.
THE HEAVENLY ANGELS OR HOSTS WORSHIP OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST BECAUSE HE IS DIVINE BY NATURE.
PSALM 44 ... Thy Throne, O God... celebrates a
ROYAL ENTHRONEMENT AND WEDDING.
THE GROOM IS A KING WHO HAS CONQUERED FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS and is called god (elohim)
although the King is distinct from God.
This celebration is fulfilled with the Messianic
Enthronement and Wedding in the Kingdom of God.
The Old Covenant gave the title god to Moses, Samuel,
descendents of David, and Angels, but it is primarily
the Messiah Who embodies this title.
Here, God the Father addresses His Son as God.
In verses 10 12 quotation from Psalm 101:26-28, God
the Father addresses Another as Lord, i.e. as
God.

CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND
SAVIOUR
TO
IS
ST LUKE 2 : 1 20
BORN
IN
BETHLEHEM
In those days, it came to pass that a Decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This
Census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. And all went to be registered everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the House and Lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his Betrothed Wife, who was with Child.
While they were there, the days were completed for Her to be delivered. And She brought forth Her Firstborn Son, and
wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them at the inn.
And there were Shepherds in the same country, living out in the fields, keeping watch by night over their flocks. And,
behold! An Angel of the Lord stood before them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were greatly
afraid. And the Angel said to them: Do not be afraid! Behold! I bring to you Good Tidings of Great Joy, which will
be to all people. For there is born to you this day a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this
will be the Sign to you: you will find an Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of Heavenly Hosts, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the
Highest! And on Earth, Peace, and towards all men, Good Will! And when the Angels had departed into Heaven, the
Shepherds said to one another: Let us go to Bethlehem and see this Thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has
made known to us. And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger. Having
beheld Him, they made widely known what had been told to them concerning that Child. And all those who heard it
marvelled at those things that were told to them by the Shepherds.
Mary kept all those Things, pondering them in Her heart.
And the Shepherds returned, Glorifying and Praising God for all the Things that they had heard and seen as it had been
told to them.
affirming that one Purpose of His Coming was to
God uses earthly Rulers to accomplish His Divine Will.
endure Death.
This census the first ever done enabled our Lord Jesus
The manger or feeding trough into which He was so
Christ to be born in Bethlehem, thereby fulfilling he
tenderly laid by our Lady Theotokos was in a cave
Prophecy of St Micah, the ancient Prophet of God.
(MICAH 5:1)
that sheltered livestock, thus fulfilling the Prophecy of
In the Hymn by St Cassiane that is chanted during
St Isaiah: The Ox knows its Owner, and the Donkey
Vespers of the Nativity, Augustus Caesar who ruled as
its Masters Crib. (ISAIAH 1:3)
the only Emperor over many scattered cities was an
The humble Shepherds who kept watch over the Flocks at
image of our one Lord gathering the scattered
Shepherds Field were chosen to be the first to hear
pagans of the world.
the Annunciation of the Nativity of our Lord and
Our Lord Jesus Christ being registered in the fallen world
Saviour, as they symbolised The Good Shepherd.
enables the Faithful to be registered in the Name of
(JOHN 10:11)
God.
Unlike the self-righteous, arrogant Pharisees, the
The term Firstborn does not imply that our Lady
Shepherds were without guile and possessed the most
Theotokos has additional children but only that no
simple, pure Faith.
child had been born to Her before our Lord Jesus
The Divine Message that was delivered to the Shepherds
Christ.
was confirmed by the multitude the Heavenly Hosts
The firstborn son was traditionally the primary heir to
thereby fulfilling the Law whereby every word is
worldly possessions and recipient of special Blessings
established and confirmed by two or three witnesses.
(DEUTERONOMY 19:15)
of the Father, according to the Old Covenant Laws
Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our Peace Personified,
and Traditions.
Who has come to Earth.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Firstborn over all Creation ,
In Him mankind is no longer estranged from Almighty
and thus is the Firstborn from the dead. (COLOSSIANS 1 :
God. (EPHESIANS 2: 14 16)
15 18)
In Orthodox Christian Icons of the Nativity, our Saviours
swaddling clothes are depicted as burial wrappings,
28. F O R E F E A S T
OF THE
NATIVITY EVE
OF
THE NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND
The Shepherds are also images of the Bishops and

Presbyters of the Holy Church of Christ who proclaim
our Lord and Saviour to the world.
St Ambrose taught us that our Lady Theotokos own Faith
was strengthened and confirmed by the News that
THE TWELVE DAYS
OF
CHRISTMAS
The Twelve Days of Christmas are a festive period linking

together two Great Feasts of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ His Nativity and Theophany.
During this period one celebration leads into the other.
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ is a three day
celebration.
The formal title of the first day is The Nativity According
to the Flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
which celebrates not only the Birth of our Lord Jesus,
but also the Adoration of the humble Shepherds of
Bethlehem, and the arrival of the Three Magi.
The second day is referred to as the Synaxis of the Ever
Blessed Theotokos, which commemorates the Role of
the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary in His Incarnation.
The third day is simply referred to as the Third Day of the
Nativity, which is also the Feast Day of St Stephen, the
Archdeacon and Protomartyr.
On 29 December, the Slaughter of the 14,000 Holy
Innocents is commemorated.
The Afterfeast of the Nativity continues until 31 December,
which is the Apodosis or Leave-taking of the Nativity.
The following Saturday is commemorated with special
readings from the First Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy
6: 11 16 and the Holy Gospel According to St Matthew
12: 15-21, during the Divine Liturgy.
Sunday
After
Nativity
has
its
own
Liturgical
Commemoration in honour of the Righteous Ones: St
Joseph the Betrothed, St David the King, Prophet and
Psalmist, and St James the Just, the Brother of the
Lord.
GOD
BECOMES
THE NEW LIFE BROUGHT
NATIVITY EVE
OF
EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
1 January is the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord,

which is the centre of the Festal Period.
Although it is another significant Feast Day of our Lord
Jesus Christ, it is not ranked as a Great Feast.
On 1 January, we also Commemorate St Basil the Great, and
celebrate with his Divine Liturgy.
2 January begins the Forefeast of Theophany.
On 5 January, the Eve of Theophany, we observe a very
strict Fast, refraining from eating anything until the
first star appears in the night sky.
This day is known as Paramoni or Preparation and
follows the same general outline as the Eve of the
Nativity.
The Royal Hours are celebrated in the morning, followed
immediately by the Vespers Service combined with the
Divine Liturgy of St Basil.
At the conclusion of the Holy Services, the Great Blessing of
Waters is performed in commemoration of our Lords
Baptism by St John, His Holy Forerunner, in the River
Jordan.
There are certain parallels between the Hymns of Paramoni
and those of Good and Holy Friday, showing that,
according to Orthodox Theology, the steps that our
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ took into the Jordan
River were the first steps on the Way to the Golgotha
and His Crucifixion.
That night an All Night Vigil is served fro the Feast of
Theophany the following morning.
JOHN SANIDOPOULOS MYSTAGOGY 2009
HTTP://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM
THE NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OF
ALL TIME
Everything that mankind is, and everything that is of

mankind perfectly lives, works, thinks, feels, is human,
Immortal, Divine, and Eternal only and solely in the GodMan and through the God-Man.
Only through the God-Man Christ is mankind Divine Majesty
and the highest value next to God in all worlds.
For this reason God became Man, and has remained the
God-Man for all Eternity.
With the God-Man Christ, all that is God's has become
mankind's, human, ours, so that each of us individually
and all of us assembled together in the Divine-human
Body of Christ - the Church - might become god-men,
having attained "...to the Perfect Man, to the measure of
the stature of the Fullness of Christ" (EPHESIANS 4:12-13).
There is no historical event that can compare to this Event
God becomes Man!
Therefore the Great Holy Feast of the Nativity of the GodMan, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the greatest and most
important day in the history of all the world in which
mankind moves and lives.
Truly this is a Great Joy!
Truly, it is the only True Joy - the only Eternal Joy - of all
human beings in all Creation!
CHRIST IS BORN! - A NATIVITY EPISTLE of ARCHIMANDRITE JUSTIN POPOVICH
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.CO.ZA
TO US BY OUR
The Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ - the

Incarnation of the Eternal, Only Begotten Son of God brought to all people a New Life.
His Nativity was the Renewal of all mankind.
The Nativity of Christ our Saviour was a Cosmic Event
unparalleled in the history of mankind and henceforth
the Life of mankind was forever different!
Metropolitan Anthony offered an insight into this New Life:
It is not said in vain, Brethren, that Christ brought New
Life to Earth.
We see how He turned our human soul around completely.
He changed our human nature, as it were.
Before, we all tried to accumulate wealth - now we have
begun to share it or give it away.
Before we all feared imprisonment and torments, now the
Holy Apostles exultantly thank God for such trial!
OF THE
IN THE
MAN! - THE GREATEST DAY
God is Born on Earth, and moreover He is Born as a

Man: Perfect God and Perfect Man--the Unique God-Man.
And He has forever remained as the God-Man - both on
Earth and in Heaven.
Indeed, the God-Man is the first Perfect Man on Earth.
Perfect Man? Yes, because only in the God-Man is mankind
without sin, without evil, without death, totally filled with
God, and thereby with all Divine Perfections.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to Earth as the God-Man to
show us the Way of Life God has determined for us - to
be United with Him Eternally.
Our Aim must be to become like Him is all respects and
Unite with Him.
Mankind is only truly human when completely United with
God - in everything and every way completely living in
God, thinking in God, feeling in God, acting in God, being
Virtuous in God, being immortal in God, being Eternal in
God.
Only and solely in God is mankind human - a true human
being, a perfect human being, a human being in whom
all the Fullness of the Godhead lives.
The Life of mankind?
Only and solely as the Divine Life in the God-Man does our
Life become and forever remain sinless, Immortal, Godlike, Holy, Perfect, Eternal.
FOREFEAST
She received from the Shepherds who went to worship

and adore the long-awaited Messiah, commenting: If
the Ever Blessed Virgin Herself learnt from the
Shepherds, why do so many refuse to learn from the
Presbyters of the Holy Church?
LORD JESUS CHRIST'S NATIVITY
Before, we all feared afflictions, now we are told: My

Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers
temptations!" (JAMES 1:2).
On Earth, as before, there is injustice, and sickness, and
poverty, and all kinds of offences, and the more time
passes, the more of this there will be, as our Lord
predicted, as well as His Holy Apostles St Peter, St Jude,
St Paul and St John.
But the souls of Christians were neither overwhelmed nor
crushed by all these afflictions. They came to know
another Blessedness - inner and Spiritual Blessedness and if they grieved about anything, then it was only
about their falls into sin - and the sins of their
neighbours.
The Nativity of our Saviour was the beginning of a New Life
as recorded in the Holy Scriptures of the New Covenant.
This New Life did not begin with a statement of earthly
wealth, but began in totally Humility and Poverty.
OUR
LORD
AND
29
In Bethlehem, God was born as Man in a stable!

Was this because He could not have been Born elsewhere?
Of course not! God could have chosen the wealthiest
palace if that was what He desired.
But He came to bring to Earth a Divine Economy - and
chose the humblest of places.
He came to uplift mankind beyond earthly riches - to
enable us to return to a Blessed Life in His Eternal
Kingdom.
Look what happens according to the customs of the New
Life.
He to Whom all the houses, all the towns, and the whole
universe belong, deprives Himself of the last human
dwellings and takes up His Abode together with beasts committing Himself to an irrational manger instead of
the Throne of Cherubim.
O people! Is it for you to Struggle and torment each other
for preference in honour, cleanliness and comfort, when
God is satisfied with a cave used to stable livestock!
Man! You murmured about your poverty - you looked with
an envious eye at the rich and famous - you lamented
the poverty of your own hut and you grieved for being
accounted as simple folk.
Go down yet lower in your station in life, and you will be
accounted worthy to be with God!
You considered it a great honour to approach the doorstep
of a Lord, but look how easily you can obtain a dwelling
equal to God's House!
You look at palaces with desire because Kings live in them
or have lived in them.
Look rather at the humble stall where the Incarnate Son of
God lay resting and you will see the beginning of the
New Teaching, of the New Life, of the New Customs!
If you follow Christ in this way, no place will be too
crowded for you.
If everyone takes to heart the Image of Christ's Life, then
there will always be plenty of room and no offence for
anyone.
This New Life that was brought by this New Birth, was one
not according to the desires of this world, but was to
welcome us into a Home that is much greater - the
House of God.
God became Man so we could rejoin with Him in His House.
His Birth United His Divine Being with our human being so
we could become Divine.
So, to what are we Called in this New Home?
...And so, the New Life in Christ consists of willingly
renouncing worldly goods and not grieving when they
are taken away by force.
Perhaps you cannot direct your mind this way at once. But
to the extent that you willingly deprive yourself of
earthly enjoyments - however reluctantly - Fast, offend
yourself by giving to the poor or giving way to others, do
not become angry or take revenge for oppression, but
bear offences in silence to the extent that you crucify
the Old Man in yourself -- to this extent will a New Fount
of Grace-Filled Life flow out of your heart.
"He who believes in Me..." says our Lord, "...out of his belly
shall flow Rivers of Living Water. (JOHN 7:38).
It is no longer either riches, or health, or glory, or the
destruction of enemies that will make you rejoice, but TAKE HEED
HOW YOU
HEAR
We must take heed how we hear the Holy Gospel!

Our Lord urged us to hear with our heart rather than our
ears, for our Inner Life affects the Word of God - either
killing It, or making It live and thrive. So whoever wants
to hear the Word well, must understand It, and hold It
fast in an honest and good heart.
We must prepare our heart inwardly so that the Word may
safely take root there, finding in our heart Faithfulness
to God and Truthfulness in word and promise.
RESTING ASSURED
just as a farmer rejoices over a ripening field, or a

hunter over a lot of wild fowl fluttering about, or an
artist over the beauty of a sunset -- so you will rejoice
over Prayer, Spiritual Reading and the opportunity to be
kind to your neighbour - either by giving, or consoling
those who are grieving, calming those who are angry, or
bringing a villain to his senses.
The impious Jews did not want to accept this New Life they wanted earthly happiness, and the destruction of
enemies, and human glory, and vain riches.
It is the same thing that their foolish pupils want even now Europeans of various Nationalities - and many here in
Russia.
They have forgotten Christ they have come to hate
Christ's Abasement, and they love the treasures of the
land of Egypt - not like the great Moses but "...like the
ancient foolish people in the wilderness." (HEBREWS 11:26)
The celebration of the Nativity of Christ our Saviour is a
Call to let go of the attachments we have to the
pleasures of this world so that we can gain a much
Greater Joy.
This seems so far removed from how we celebrate this
Event today.
We are busy making our lists - making sure everyone knows
the worldly item we most desire in hopes that we might
receive it as a gift.
We are busy sorting through advertisement to find the best
deals on the many purchases we will make.
We are decorating our surroundings with images of Santa,
reindeer, snowmen and possibly a few Angels, but
mostly with worldly symbols.
It seems we have forgotten what the Great Feast of the
Nativity is really about!
The Great Feast of the Nativity opens for us a New Path to
Eternal Life.
Christ God taught us, Brethren, to teach others not to seek
for rights, but to renounce them - not to demand equality
with the gentry, but self-abasement - not to fight, but to
give way - not to commit crimes, but to bear offences.
This is how the manifest Sun of Righteousness "...hath
given us Light and Understanding" has opened for us
the Path to Eternal and Blessed Life! (1 JOHN 5:20)
This is what all Righteousness in human society is based
on!
How are we to celebrate? Rejoice in His Glory and the Gift
we have received - to join with God for Eternal Life in
His Kingdom! Let us give Thanks and Glorify God!
Father Anthony concluded: ...Then let us, Brethren, Glorify
our Lord Who has appeared! Rejoice in His Nativity!
Nothing will take this Joy away from us - neither poverty,
nor offences, nor labour.
Day and night He has Blessed all this, and Magnified it, and
Sanctified it with Himself in the town of Bethlehem.
Let us learn from this and ascribe to Him - Who has Loved
us and Blessed us so abundantly - together with the
Father and the Holy Spirit all Glory, Honour and
Worship, now and forever.
Amen.
SERMON ON THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
BY METROPOLITAN ANTHONY BLOOM, 1906
THE
HOLY GOSPEL!
It is absolutely impossible that anyone can understand

what we hear of the Word of God, if we are not
completely honest before God and have not determined
to surrender our life, our responsibilities, our interests,
our money, our future, and our own honour and lay
them at Gods Feet.
ELDER MATTHEW THE POOR
AND CONFIDENT IN THE
Lay all your cares before God, Who cares for us.
Do not become faint-hearted, and do not distress
yourselves.
Our Lord Who searches out the hidden depths of our
soul, knows our desires too, and has the Power to
fulfil them as He knows best.
LORD
OUR
GOD
For our part, we must ask of God, and not lose our courage.
We must not think that, since the longing we have is Holy,
we have a right to complain when our Prayers seem
not to have been heard.
God fulfils our longings in Ways that we do not know,
so be at peace then, and call upon God.
ST NEKTARIOS OF AEGINA
30. F O R E F E A S T
OF THE
NATIVITY EVE
OF
THE NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND

2 5 December 2015
Nativity of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ
ADORATION
OF THE
MAGI
Also the Feast of St Melchior, St Gaspar & St Balthasar, the Three Wise Magi St Jonah
the Monkmartyr, 50 Fellow Monks, and 65 Martyrs of St Tryphon of Pechenga
Monastery
FESTAL ISODIKON
Ek gastros pro eosforou egennisa Se.
Omose Kyrios ke ou
metamelithisete. Si ierefs is ton eona, kata tin taxin
Melihisedek. Soson imas, Ie Theou, O EK PARTHENOU
TEHTHIS, psallontas Si allilouia!
OF THE
NATIVITY
Out of the womb, before the Morning Star have I Begotten

Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not repent: Thou
art a Priest forever, after the Order of Melchezedek.
Save us, O Son of God, BORN OF THE VIRGIN, who sing to
Thee: Alleluia!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
TONE 4
I Gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetile to kosmo to Fos Thy
Nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the Light of

Knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the
worshippers of the stars were by a Star instructed to
worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know
Thee as Orient from on High. O Lord, Glory to Thee!
to tis gnoseos. En afti gar it is astris latrevontes, ipo

asters edidaskonto, Se prokinin, ton Ilion tis Dikeosinis,
ke Se ginoskin ex ipsous anatolin. Kyrie, Doxa Si.
FESTAL KONTAKION NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST TONE 3


Di imas gar
INSTEAD
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe:
OF THE
AGIOS O THEOS...
As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have put on
Allelouia!
Christ: Alleluia!
THE REVELATION
OF THE
TO
INCARNATE SON
OF
GOD
The Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph - before they came together - She
was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, Her husband, being a Just man, and not wanting to make Her a public
example, was minded to put Her away secretly. While he thought about these things, behold! an Angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take unto Thee Mary Thy Wife. That which
is Conceived in Her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He will Save
His People from their sins."
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: "Behold! the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel," which is translated:"God with
us."
Then Joseph, being awoken from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took unto him his Wife, and did
not know Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn Son.
And he called His Name Jesus.
SINCE BEING BORN OF A VIRGIN PROVES OUR LORD JESUS DIVINITY,
ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHEDS RIGHTEOUSNESS the
Righteousness of Mercy, which TRANSCENDED THE LAW
ONLY THE REVELATION OF ALMIGHTY GOD, in this case "a
is evident from his unwillingness to expose the young
dream" - IS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF THIS MIRACULOUS
Virgin Marys presumed sin.
CONCEPTION.
UNDER MOSAIC LAW, BETROTHAL INVOLVED ALMOST THE SAME
Holy Scripture refers to Betrothed couples as "husband"
SACRED COMMITMENT AS MARRIAGE and the elderly St
and "wife" before the actual marriage.
Joseph the Betrothed could not help but suspect a
Just as Rachel was called the "wife of Jacob" before
violation of Divine Law when he realised his Betrothed
Marriage, because of her Betrothal, so St Joseph the
niece had Conceived - despite her Sacred Vow of
Betrothed was referred to as the "husband" of the
Chastity.
Blessed Virgin Mary; and she was known as the "wife"
ALTHOUGH HE WAS OBLIGED BY LAW TO REPORT HER "MISCONDUCT"
of Joseph the Carpenter.
ST JOSEPH DECIDED "TO PUT HER AWAY SECRETLY" WHICH
THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS - HAVING GROWN UP IN THE TEMPLE
WOULD PREVENT HER FROM BEING EXPOSED TO PUBLIC SCANDAL
OF JERUSALEM HAD TAKEN A MOST SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY
AND SPECULATION.
and had refused to be married to any man since her
only desire was to serve the Lord Her God.
Furthermore, THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES WOULD HAVE
STONED HER TO DEATH FOR HAVING BROKEN A SACRED VOW
Therefore THE TEMPLE PRIESTS who had watched over this
extraordinarily devout little girl RESPECTED BOTH HER
AND MOSAIC LAW CONCERNING IMMORALITY.
A HOLY MESSENGER OR "ANGEL OF THE LORD" DISPELLED THE FALSE
DEDICATION TO GOD AND THE SANCTITY OF HER VOW OF
CHASTITY.
REASONING OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED BY ANNOUNCING THE
UTTERLY UNREASONABLE: THE CONCEPTION OF THE ALL PURE
AS AN ORPHAN, SHE HAD NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF
HER AND TO PROTECT HER, which left the Priests in a
AND MOST BLESSED VIRGIN WAS BY THE LIFE-GIVING HOLY
SPIRIT (ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER.)
difficult predicament, for when girls reached puberty,
THE NATIVITY
OF OUR
LORD
AND
SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST 25 DECEMBER 2015
31
they had to leave the Temple precincts and enter

Marriage so as to produce as many children as
possible.
THE PRIESTS BESOUGHT GOD FOR A SOLUTION AND EVENTUALLY BY A
DIVINE MIRACLE HER AGED UNCLE who had been married
to Her aunt, Salome, WAS CHOSEN AS HER LEGAL GUARDIAN
AND RIGHTEOUS PROTECTOR.
As required by Mosaic Law, ALL SPOUSES HAD TO BE OF THE
SAME TRIBE AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN ELDERLY RELATIVE
WAS BOTH LEGALLY AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.
G E N E S I S 2 9 : 2 1 Then Jacob said to Laban: Give me
my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is
completed.
D E U T E R O N O M Y 2 0 : 7 "Has anyone become Betrothed
to a woman but not yet married her? He should go
back to his house, or he might die in the battle and
another will marry her.
DEUTERONOMY
2 2 : 2 3 - 2 4 If there is a young
woman, a virgin already Betrothed, and a man meets
her in the town and lies with her, you shall bring both
of them to the gate of that town and stone them to
death - the young woman because she did not cry for
help in the town and the man because he violated his
neighbours wife. So you shall purge the evil from
your midst.
In the Orthodox Church, ST JOSEPH IS REMEMBERED AS "THE
BETROTHED" - HIGHLIGHTING THE ALL PURE, MOST HOLY
THEOTOKOS EVER-VIRGINITY. ("THE UNWED BRIDE")
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled is the first
of St Matthews repeated use of the expression: "...that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken."
THE FULFILMENT OF THESE PROPHECIES NOT ONLY UNDERSCORES
THE INTERVENTION OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN OUR HISTORY BUT
ALSO INDICATES HIS BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION THE
NEW ISRAEL.
THE CONCEPTION OF JESUS CHRIST FULFILS THE PROPHECY as
recorded in the Septuagint where we are told that A
"VIRGIN" (PARTHENOS) WOULD CONCEIVE AND "BEAR A SON."
Why do we question or ponder this amazing and acceptable Divine
Truth? Our Creator can do things far beyond any human
imagination or understanding because He is Almighty God and
Creator of all things visible and invisible - yet so many people try
to disprove or reject this Divine Truth.
The Virgin Birth of the Messiah, as well as Her continued Virginity is

a Divine Mystery as are all Gods Infinite Wonders - and only
God knows!!
Her continued Virginity would have been noted and confirmed by the
Midwives whom St Joseph had requested to assist the young
Theotokos something so unique was noted and remembered..
To doubt or to reject the Miraculous Conception and Birth of Christ
Who is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, is to doubt or
reject the unknown and indescribable Majesty and Might of our
Living and Glorious Creator God.
To relegate Christ as mere human being is blasphemy against God
and refutes His two Natures human and Divine which were
necessary for His Divine Mission amongst His creatures the
Salvation of fallen mankind and the conquering of sin and Death.
HE WHO IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS NOT A NEW PERSON COMING INTO
EXISTENCE, BUT THE ETERNAL SON OF ALMIGHTY GOD, USING
HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE.
THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE
NAME OF THE INCARNATE SON, "EMMANUEL I.E: GOD WITH
US," - ARE CLEAR INDICATIONS OF OUR LORD JESUS DIVINITY.
I S A I A H 7 : 1 4 Therefore the Lord Himself will give
Thee a Sign. Look, the Virgin is with Child and shall
bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel God
with us.
The words: ... Joseph took unto him his wife, and did
not know her until she had brought forth her Firstborn
Son does not imply that St Joseph the Betrothed
consummated the Betrothal after the Birth of Jesus
Christ.
THEIR BETROTHAL WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED BECAUSE NOT ONLY
WAS ST JOSEPH HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR BUT HE
RESPECTED AND HONOURED HER SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY,
HER PURE NATURE AND PIOUS CHARACTER.
THE TERM "FIRSTBORN" NOT ONLY MEANS HAVING BEEN BORN FIRST
BUT ALSO APPLIED TO THE FIRST BORN SON no matter how
many other female children born before or after the
heir.
Furthermore, according to the Old Covenant Tradition, IT
DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE WERE OTHER SIBLINGS.
In the case of our Lord Jesus and the Ever Blessed
Theotokos, THOSE WHO WERE REFERRED TO AS BEING EITHER
BROTHERS OR SISTERS USUALLY MEANT COUSINS, AUNTS OR
UNCLES CLOSE RELATIVES BUT NOT NECESSARILY BIOLOGICAL
SIBLINGS.
PROKEIMENON- PSALM 65 TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
All the world will worship Thee and Glorify Thee.

Glorify the Lord with Triumphal Hymns, all you lands.
THE EPISTLE
WE
BECOME
OF
SONS
ST PAUL
OF
GOD
TO THE
THROUGH
GALATIANS 4 : 4 7
CHRIST &
THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Brethren, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to
Redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive the Adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba! Father!"
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an Heir of God through Christ.
WE CANNOT BECOME MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD BY NATURE
His Son" refers to CHRIST AS GOD BY NATURE the Son of God.
THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD, IS "BORN OF A WOMAN," AND SO THE
because WE ARE HUMAN BY NATURE. BUT WE DO BECOME
MOST BLESSED MARY IS RIGHTLY CALLED THEOTOKOS MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY BY HIS GRACE.
MOTHER OF GOD OR BEARER OF GOD.
Through our Divine Adoption (Holy Baptism and
SINCE JESUS CHRIST WAS "BORN UNDER THE LAW" HE COULD
Chrismation) WE BECOME EVERYTHING GOD IS, EXCEPT IN
REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE ALSO UNDER THE LAW HIS FELLOW
NATURE WE REMAIN HUMAN BEINGS.
HEBREWS, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
However, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY OUR PERMANENT STATE
GOD "REDEEMS THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW" IN ORDER TO

FULFIL HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND CONSEQUENTLY,
GOD PAID THE RANSOM, AS IT WERE, TO HIMSELF,
ACCORDING TO HIS OWN VOW.
ALMIGHTY
GOD DOES NOT OWE ANYONE ANYTHING AND HE

CERTAINLY DOES NOT OWE US SALVATION !
JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW AS AN INFANT BY BEING
CIRCUMCISED on the eighth day and He was Presented
in the Temple 40 Days after His Birth.
Both of these Events are remembered in the Liturgical
Cycle of the Orthodox Church.
THE HOLY CEREMONIES OF THE EIGHT DAY BLESSING OF THE
NEWBORN AND THE 40 DAY CHURCHING OF THE MOTHER
ARE PERFORMED TO THIS DAY IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH.
After these special Services, THE HOLY MYSTERY OF
BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION IS CELEBRATED A FEW MONTHS
LATER.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - THE SON OF GOD IS GOD DIVINE BY NATURE.
WE BECOME SONS (OR DAUGHTERS) OF GOD BY ADOPTION WHEN
WE ARE BAPTISED IN THE NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD THE
HOLY TRINITY.
32.
THE NATIVITY
OF OUR
LORD
AND
DUE TO OF OUR DESIRE FOR WORLDLY THINGS [ I.E. THINGS OF THE

and that CONCUPISCENCE PREVENTS US
FROM ATTAINING THEOSIS SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
FLESH, THE PASSIONS]
IT
TAKES DEDICATION AND EFFORT ON OUR PART TO ATTAIN

SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, DEIFICATION OR THEOSIS
LIKENESS TO GOD!
We have the possibility through the Grace of God, but

IT DEPENDS ON OUR LOVE AND OBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY
GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS.
Because WE ARE GIVEN "NEW LIFE" our Adoption by God is
also referred to as "New Birth" WE ARE SPIRITUALLY
REBORN RENEWED IN CHRIST!
EVERY TIME WE PARTAKE OF THE HOLY MYSTERIES OF
REPENTANCE CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST, WE ENJOY A
REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ADOPTION AND THEREFORE OUR
NEW LIFE IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
THE ONGOING GROWTH INTO ADOPTION, BEING "AN HEIR OF
GOD," IS CALLED DEIFICATION. THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE
BECOMING BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHAT HE IS BY NATURE.
EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY:
"SPIRIT, SON AND

FATHER"
IS
INVOLVED
IN
THIS
PROCESS
OF
TRANSFORMATION. THEREFORE TO BECOME SONS OF GOD BY
GRACE, ONE MUST BELIEVE IN AND KNOW THE FATHER, THE
SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
TO
THE GENTILE MAGI (ST CASPAR, ST MELCHIOR & ST BALTHAZAR) JOURNEYED
ST MATTHEW 2 : 1 12
FROM A GREAT
DISTANCE
TO WORSHIP THE
NEW BORN KING
After our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold! Magi from the East went to
Jerusalem, saying: "Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His Star in the East and have come to
worship Him."
Having heard, Herod the King was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he gathered all the Chief Priests and Scribes
of the people together to question them as to where the Christ was to be born. They told him: "In Bethlehem of Judea.
For thus it is written by the Prophet: ...And you, O Bethlehem, in the Land of Judah, are not the least among the Rulers
of Judah. Out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Magi, determined from them what time the Star had appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem saying: "Go, search carefully for the Child. When you have found Him, bring back word to me, so that
I may go and worship Him also." When they had heard the King, they departed.
And behold! The Star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it stood over where the Child was. Beholding
the Star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great Joy. And when they had entered the house, they saw the young Child with
Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts
to Him - gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And being Divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another
way.
ST MATTHEW AND ST LUKE PLACED THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST IN THE NEW GENERATION WAS READY TO HEAR THE PROPHECY and
learnt that He would be similar to St Moses, BECAUSE
THE REIGN OF KING HEROD THE GREAT WHO WAS THE KING
THE SHORT-TERM PROPHECIES OF MOSES HAD ALL OCCURRED,
OF JUDEA - I.E. 37 BC 4 BC.
HIS LONG-TERM PROPHECIES THEREFORE WERE TO BE BELIEVED.
Herod was under Roman rule and although he was a
This was the Mark of a True Prophet of God and the same
great builder, he was a dreadfully cruel ruler.
would apply to the Great Prophet Who would tell them
Due to his ignorance of the Messiah - and indeed of
all that God the Father Commanded Him. (BY THE WILL OF
anything concerning God - as well as his obsessive
fear of being deposed, Herod summoned the Hebrew
leaders to enlighten him, and later instructed the
Magi to report back to him.
An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob indicated that THE
MESSIAH WOULD APPEAR WHEN A GENTILE KING RULED i.e.
not of the Hebrew Tribe of Judah.
G E N E S I S 4 9 : 1 0 The Sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor a Lawgiver from his loins, until Shiloh
comes; and to Him shall be the Expectation of
the Nations...
This Prophecy relates to Christ in numerous ways since
HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS THE DIVINE
LAWGIVER BECAUSE EVERY LAW OR COMMANDMENT OF GOD
THE FATHER WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US, INCLUDING THE
MOSAIC LAW, IS GIVEN IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
As HEROD WAS A GENTILE who called himself King of
Judea, the Coming of the Messiah Gods Christ
was certainly at hand.
L U K E 1 : 2 0 - The Angel of God told St Zacharias:
Behold! You will be mute and unable to speak
until the day these Things take place, because
you did not believe my words which shall be
fulfilled in their own time.
St Zacharias was disciplined for his lack of Faith, yet this
also served as proof that Archangel Gabriels
Announcements are always True Gods Truth.
Furthermore the silencing of the High Priest revealed a
deeper Mystery.
THE MESSIAH WAS expected to fulfil three crucial roles held
by various people of the Old Covenant: PROPHET,
PRIEST AND KING.
Only our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all three Holy Offices
perfectly:
CHRIST JESUS IS THE TRUE PROPHET

D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 5 1 8 The Lord your God
will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your
Brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all
you asked from the Lord your God in Horeb in the
day of the Assembly, saying: Let us not hear
again the Voice of the Lord our God, nor let us
see this Great Fire any more, lest we die. Then
the Lord said to me: What they have spoken is
good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you
from among their Brethren, and I will put My
Word in His Mouth, and He shall speak to them
all I command Him...
It was first necessary for THE HEBREWS to be tested so as to
fear the lord and not to sin, for they WERE TOO
SPIRITUALLY IMPERCEPTIVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER PROPHET.
Consequently, THEY FAILED THE TEST AND DIED IN THE DESERT
BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO OBEY MOSES.
FORTY YEARS LATER HE SPOKE TO THEM CONCERNING THE GREAT
PROPHET TO COME, USING THE WORDS OF GOD FROM THEIR
MEETING ON MOUNT SINAI.
THE NATIVITY
OF OUR
LORD
AND
THE FATHER, THROUGH THE SON...)
That indicated that He is the Word of God made Flesh

Incarnate - for no other Prophet, including Moses,
would ever speak in such a manner.
While all previous Prophets were ordinary human beings,
the Great Prophet would be God Incarnate.
So it was that St Isaiah foretold how the people would be
taught directly by God Himself.
JESUS
CHRIST IS OUR TRUE KING

I S A I A H 9 : 6 Great shall be His Government, and
of His Peace there shall be no end. His Peace
shall be upon the Throne of David and over His
Kingdom, to order and establish It with
Righteousness and Judgement, from that time
forward, and unto Ages of Ages. The Zeal of the
Lord of Hosts shall perform this.
M I C A H 5 : 1 . . . O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah,
although you are fewest in number among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come
forth to Me the One to be Ruler of Israel, Whose
goings forth were from the beginning, even from
Eternity.
JESUS
CHRIST IS OUR TRUE HIGH PRIEST

P S A L M 1 0 9 : 4 - The Lord swore, and will not repent:
Thou art a Priest forever according to the Order
of Melchezedek.
Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father, our Divine and
Eternal High Priest rules and reigns over all things,
including His enemies, and leads His Holy Church in
Heavenly Worship of the Almighty Holy Trinity.
H E B R E W S 4 : 1 4 Seeing then that we have a Great
High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens
Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our
Confession.
The expression passed through the Heavens refers to the
Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is seen in the
context of the Son of God is seated at the highest place
of Honour Equally Divine - at the right Hand of God
the Father.
Our Almighty Lord and Creator has accomplished His
Divine Work on earth and has entered into His Sabbath
Rest.
L U K E 8 : 1 5 - God reveals His Truth to those ... who,
having heard the Word with a noble and good
heart, keep it and bear Fruit with Patience.
Christ warned us against believing for a short while and
then returning to our sinful, ungodly ways.
Having been taught Gods Truth, which we then reject, we
Condemn ourselves for we cannot plead ignorance!
THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM WERE THE
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE HEBREWS,
including the High Priest, who alone could enter the
Holiest Place of all YET THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE
MESSIAH HAD ALREADY BEEN BORN. (HEBREWS 9:7)
THE SCRIBES - important officials - KNEW THAT THE MESSIAH
WAS TO BE BORN AND WHERE HE WOULD BE BORN, HOWEVER,
33
THEY HAD NO
ARRIVED.
DIVINE REVELATION THAT HE HAD ALREADY
St Matthew, who wrote for Jewish Christians, cited the

Gentile Magi as the first worshippers of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
St Luke, who wrote for Gentile Christians, cited the Jewish
poor the Righteous Shepherds from surrounding
fields - as the first worshippers. (LUKE 2:8-17)
OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS DIVINE MISSION TO THE GENTILES

"WISE MEN" OR MAGI, who
journeyed all the way "from the East" outside
Israel, from Persia and elsewhere.
They were erudite scholars of the time and in the Old
Testament, Balaam was one of their Gentile
predecessors who also anticipated the Messiah. ( READ
WAS ANTICIPATED BY THE
NUMBERS 23; 24]
The Worship of our Lord by the Magi is symbolic of the

Church, the True Israel, whereby Membership is
determined by Faith and not by ethnic lineage.
N U M B E R S 2 4 : 1 7 Barlaam prophesied: I will show Him,
but not now; I Bless Him, but He is not near. A Star
shall rise out of Jacob; And a Man shall rise out
of Israel. He shall break in pieces the rulers of
Moab and plunder all the sons of Seth.
The "Star" signified the Extraordinary Importance of the
Nativity of the Christ Child.
In ancient times an
unusually bright star signified a God or a Deified King.
Christ is the Star and the Man Who rose from the dead
...out of Jacob... and ... out of Israel.
The Magi knew this Prophesy, and when they saw His Star,
they faithfully followed it all the way to Him.
Being Born under this Wondrous Star fulfilled the prophecy
of the Psalms and shows all Creation participating in
the Incarnation of the Son of God.
P S A L M 1 0 9 : 3 ... with Thee is the beginning in the
Day of Thy Power, in the brightness of Thy Saints;
I have Begotten Thee from the Womb before the
morning star...
Psalm 109 is a Prophecy concerning THE MELCHIZEDEK
PRIESTHOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which explains
the True Meaning of the Nativity.
CHRIST IS THE SON OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, AND
ALSO THE LORD OF KING DAVID ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINITY.
P S A L M 1 8 : 2 The Heavens declare the Glory of
God; the firmament shows the Creation of His
Hands...
Psalm 18 reveals God the Word the End becoming Man
in the Womb of the Most Holy Mother of God. For on
His Nativity, ALL CREATION BORE WITNESS TO THE GLORY OF
GOD REVEALED IN HIS INCARNATION.
In His Birth from the Womb of the Blessed Virgin, Christ
was likened to the sun rising from the East, to a
Bridegroom coming from His Chamber, and to a Strong
Athlete ready to run a Great Race, bringing Salvation of
the world.
P S A L M 1 4 8 : 3 Praise the Lord from the Heavens;

praise Him in the Highest; praise Him, all you His
Angels; praise Him, all your His Hosts; Praise Him,
sun and moon; Praise Him all you stars and
Light...
Psalms 148 150 are The Praises Lauds which form the
conclusion to the Psalter, and which exhort all Creation
to Praise the Most Blessed Holy Trinity.
The climax of the Psalter is when all humanity and Creation
everywhere and in all circumstances are called upon
to make this Doxology to God the Father, and the Son
and the Holy Spirit our One, True and Living God
Almighty.
The Nativity Star was a Sign of the Messiah Himself,
signifying the Light He was to shed upon the whole
world, throughout time.
2 K I N G S 2 2 The water of Jericho was unusable until
Elisha quoted God Who said: "... I have healed
these waters; from them there shall no longer be
death or barrenness... So the water was healed
by the word Elisha spoke, and so it remains to
this day.
Just as our Lord God healed the waters of Jericho, so THE
INCARNATE SON OF GOD BRINGS RENEWAL OR REGENERATION
TO ALL DAMAGED CREATION.
J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 0 ... thus said the Lord: When 70
years are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I will
visit you and confirm My Words to you, to return
your people to this place.
St Jeremiah spoke historically for there was a return of
exiles under Cyrus after 70 years, and
Mystically for Christ chose 70 men as Heralds of His Holy
Gospel. they lived a Godly Life of Obedience to Christ,
suffered Martyrdom and spread the Kingdom of God,
which is our True Return from Spiritual Exile in the
fallen world.
J E R E M I A H 3 6 : 1 4 : I will appear to you... is a
Prophecy of the Incarnation of God the Son when
GOD APPEARED TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FLESH IN
HIS HUMAN, VISIBLE NATURE.
The Hebrew Shepherds were the first to worship and adore
Christ, having done so shortly after His Birth, at the
dark cave as OUR SAVIOUR WAS SENT INITIALLY FOR OLD
COVENANT ISRAEL.
THE MAGI - THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE GENTILES - arrived in
Bethlehem much later, after the Holy Family had moved
into a house, WORSHIPPED GOD AS THE NEW COVENANT
ISRAEL.
THE MAGI HONOURED CHRIST AS OUR GREATEST AND ONLY KING
WITH SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY GIFTS:
Gold is for the King of Ages. Frankincense is for the
God of All. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One Who
shall be three days dead. (COMPLINE HYMN OF THE NATIVITY OF
CHRIST)
REFLECTIONS ON GIFT GIVING
God himself gave the first gifts: the woman to the man,
every tree in the Paradisiacal Garden for their
sustenance, in addition to all the other original Gifts
that God granted Adam and Evethe beautiful Garden,
Light-Bearing Spirits and Bodies, intimate Communion
with their Creator, communication with all other
creatures, etc.
Later, after the Flood, God granted Noah, his family, and all
his descendants meat to eat for food.
At the Dawn of the Messianic Age, we beheld the greatest
Gift ever given, which makes all other previous Gifts of
the Old Covenant mere shadows for God gave Himself
for the Salvation of all mankind, forever!
All previous Gifts and Offerings were imperfect whereas
God Incarnate did what they could not do i.e. Renew
our human nature, die an Unjust Death on our behalf,
Resurrect from the dead, and Ascend in and with our
human nature into Heaven where He is Eternally
Glorified and Enthroned.
Our Saviour did not regard His Equality with God the Father
as being selfishly grasped and exploited for His own
advantage, because His High Estate and His Glory was
for the Benefit and Healing of our human nature and
Salvation.
34.
THE NATIVITY
OF OUR
LORD
AND
The Creator of the Universe, dwelling Unapproachable

Light, emptied Himself of all His Majestic Glory and
assumed on the likeness of His creature, being
absolutely Humble and Obedient even unto Death on a
Cross.
It is precisely because of our Saviours abasement in
becoming Man, and fulfilling His Divine Mission on
Earth that God the Father has highly exalted Him, and in
His human Nature, seated Him on His Heavenly Throne.
St Paul listed the various Spiritual Gifts that God granted us
in order to establish and maintain His Holy Church.
Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates the pattern for Fruitful
Gift-Giving by means of His own Life, and as St Paul also
exhorted:
Do not merely look out for your own
personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ
Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 2:45).
And remember that those who ... freely scattered their Gifts
to the poor, their Righteousness endures forever (2
CORINTHIANS 9:69).
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/66513.htm

Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos yet Ever
Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to
Christ our God. Amen.
2 6 December 2015
2 Day of the Nativity of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ
Synaxis of our Ever Blessed, All Pure Lady, Theotokos
nd
Also the Feast of St Euthymios, Bishop of Hieromartyr of Sardis St Constantine of Synnada

St Evarestos of Studion Monastery St Nicodemos of Tishmana, Macedonia St
Constantine the Russian Hieromartyr of Lavra, Mount Athos - St Isaac II of Optina
Monastery
FESTAL ISODIKON
Ek gastros pro eosforou egennisa Se.
Omose Kyrios ke ou
metamelithisete. Si ierefs is ton eona, kata tin taxin
Melihisedek. Soson imas, Ie Theou, O EK PARTHENOU
TEHTHIS, psallontas Si allilouia!
OF THE
NATIVITY
Out of the womb, before the Morning Star have I Begotten

Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not repent: Thou
art a Priest forever, after the Order of Melchezedek.
Save us, O Son of God, BORN OF THE VIRGIN, who sing to
Thee: Alleluia!
OF
CHRIST
TONE 4


OF
CHRIST TONE 3


Di imas gar
INSTEAD
OF THE
AGIOS O THEOS...
Allelouia!
Christ: Alleluia!
PROKEIMENON MAGNIFICAT TONE 3
My soul Magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!

For He has regarded the low estate of His Handmaiden.
THE EPISTLE
OF
ST PAUL
TO THE
THE SANCTIFICATION OF
OUR
HEBREWS 2 : 11 18
HUMAN NATURE
Brethren: both He Who Sanctifies and those are being Sanctified are all of one. Therefore He is not ashamed to call them
Brethren, saying: I will declare Thy Name to My Brethren; in the midst of the Assembly I will sing Praise to Thee.
And again: I will put My trust in Him. And yet again: Behold: Me and the Children whom God has given Me.
Inasmuch as ...the Children... have partaken of Flesh and Blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through
Death He might destroy him who had the power of death that is, the devil and release those who through fear of
Death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Indeed, He does not give aid to Angels, but to ...the Seed of
Abraham... does He grant aid.
In all things He had to be made like His Brethren, so that He might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make Propitiation for the sins of the people. In that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is
able to aid those who are tempted.
The expression ... to make ... Perfect through
HE COULD TRULY ENTER DEATH ENTER HADES AND THUS
sufferings... DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT THERE WAS ANY
IN HIS DIVINE NATURE BRING US TO ETERNAL SALVATION.
IMPERFECTION IN CHRIST BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR DESTROYED THE EVIL ONES POWER BY USING
Instead, HE VOLUNTARILY TOOK ON OUR HUMAN NATURE ...
SATANS STRONGEST WEAPON DEATH AGAINST HIM.
all of one.. nature WHICH CAN BE SAVED AND
There is a relationship a connection between sin
PERFECTED ONLY BY THE SUFFERING OF DEATH.
and death for each leads to the other.
CHRIST IS THE PIONEERING CAPTAIN OR GUIDE OF THE NARROW
SIN CAUSES DEATH BOTH SPIRITUAL DEATH AND PHYSICAL DEATH
PATH TO GOD in His Suffering for our sins, Death,
AND THE FEAR OF DEATH LEADS TO SIN AND THUS TO BONDAGE
Descent into Hades, Resurrection and Ascension.
OR SPIRITUAL ENSLAVEMENT. (ROMANS 5:12)
CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR SET US FREE FROM THAT FATAL
IN SALVATION, WE TAKE ON CHRISTS WAY OF SUFFERINGS FOR
OUR SPIRITUAL PERFECTION REQUIRES SPIRITUAL GROWTH
BONDAGE OF SIN AND DEATH.
THAT IS MANIFESTED (REVEALED) IN SUFFERING.
CHRIST GRANTS US TRUE FREEDOM AND ETERNAL LIFE FILLED
IN THE INCARNATION, GOD DID NOT COME IN APPEARANCE ONLY;
WITH ALL HIS GOODNESS AND GREAT BLESSINGS.
HE TRULY ASSUMED OUR HUMAN FLESH AND BLOOD FROM THE
Our Lord has to ... be made like His Brethren... in all
EVER BLESSED, ALL PURE VIRGIN MARY our All Holy Lady
things... even to the point of being tempted
Theotokos and HE BECAME THE SAME AS WE ARE SO THAT
THE 2ND DAY
OF THE
NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND
SAVIOUR SYNAXIS
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS 26 DECEMBER 2015
35
Blood Sacrifice for our sins AND THE OFFERING the

actual Blood Sacrifice THAT ENDS ALL FURTHER NECESSITY
FOR BLOOD OFFERINGS FOR OUR SINS.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS MERCIFUL on behalf of those
whom He serves AND FAITHFUL in His Ministry to God.
because WHATEVER IS NOT ASSUMED BY HIM CANNOT BE

HEALED BY HIM.
And WHATEVER IS UNITED TO GOD IS SAVED.
The Son of God is like us in His human Nature but WE DO
NOT BECOME LIKE HIM IN HIS DIVINE NATURE.
St Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews moved without
transition from CHRIST AS SACRIFICE to CHRIST OUR HIGH
PRIEST, BECAUSE HE IS BOTH THE OFFERER of the ultimate
THE FLIGHT
INTO
TO
EGYPT SLAUGHTER
OF THE
14,000 INNOCENTS
When the Magi had departed, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise, take the Child
and His Mother, and flee to Egypt. And stay there until I bring Thee word. Herod will seek the Child to destroy
Him.
Arising, he took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: Out of Egypt I Called My Son.
Then Herod - when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi - was exceedingly angry.
And he sent forth and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its districts - from two years old and
under, according to the time that he had determined from the Magi.
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: ... A voice was heard in Ramah, of lamentation,
weeping and much mourning - Rachel weeping for her Children, and refusing to be comforted, for they are no
more.
After Herod had died, behold! an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: Arise! Take the Child,
and His Mother, and go to the Land of Israel. Those are dead who sought the Childs Life.
He arose, took the Child and His Mother, and entered the Land of Israel.
Hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea, instead of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there.
Being warned in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee, and they went to dwell in a city called Nazareth, that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets: ...He shall be called a Nazarene.
All the time that our Lord was present in His Incarnation
aware and have compassion for those still Struggling
on Earth, He was watched over by the Angelic Hosts of
in this existence.
Almighty God.
The 14,000 Holy Innocents of Bethlehem are certainly
So, obviously, when Herod secretly plotted the murder of
Sanctified, Blessed members of our Venerated Holy
all male infants of Bethlehem and the surrounding
Martyrs, for they, too, perished for the sake of Christ
region, who were two years of age or younger, one of
our Saviour.
the Holy Angels of God who kept watch over the Holy
Just as St Rachel was told that her children would return
Family, warned St Joseph the Betrothed the legal
from exile in Babylon, so too, would our Lord Jesus
Guardian, Protector and Stepfather of our Lady
Christ and His Holy Family return from exile in Egypt.
(JEREMIAH 38:16-17)
Theotokos and Christ - of the impending disaster, and
According to historical records, Herod the Great died in 4
he, being Wise and Righteous, immediately
BC. The date of our Lord Jesus Christs Birth on which
responded and obeyed the Will of God.
our current Year of the Lord or Anno Domini (AD)
Egypt is where the Nation of Israel once took refuge, and
calendar is based, is thus off by 4 or 5 years. (We
as St Joseph the ancient Patriarch of the Old Covenant
should thus add 4 or 5 years to the current year i.e. instead of
had once saved Gods Chosen People by leading
2015 2019/2020.)
them to Egypt in difficult times, so now, too, St Joseph
Augustus Caesar banished Archelaus due to his
the Betrothed sought refuge in Egypt during the
unbridled cruelty in 6 AD.
persecution of Herod and the terrible slaughter of the
That cruelty was Divinely Revealed to St Joseph the
14,000 Holy Innocents, thereby saving our Saviour and
Betrothed, who therefore detoured to Nazareth,
Founder of the New Covenant Israel.
instead of returning to Bethlehem.
The gift of gold that was presented to the New Born King
Nazareth fell under the government of another son of
of the Ages by the Three Magi who had travelled
Herod the Great, named Herod Antipas.
from afar, following the Mysterious, unique and
The source of the Prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus
extraordinary Bright Star that had suddenly appeared
Christ being ... called a Nazarene, is unknown but
from nowhere in the Heavens, paid for the Holy
has been taken as a reference to the Rod (Neser) that
Familys journey and accommodation until their safe
is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, and to the
return.
Nazirite (Nazir) mentioned in the Book of Judges
Out of Israel I Called My Son... refers initially to the Old
(ISAIAH 11:1 & JUDGES 13:5)
Covenant Nation of Israel being led out of captivity in
St Matthew might also have been referring to various
Egypt. (HOSEA 11:1)
passages in which the Messiah was despised, since
In the Old Testament, the term Son, referred to the whole
Nazareth did not have a good reputation, as evident
Nation of Israel, whereas according to the New
from the words of St Bartholomew/Nathaniel when St
Covenant, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ fulfils
Philip went to fetch him and take him to our Saviour.
that Calling as the True, Eternal, Only Begotten Son
of God the Father by coming out of Egypt.
The horrific cruelty of Herod was prefigured by Pharaoh,
who in an attempt to destroy the power of ancient
Israel ordered all their new born sons to be
murdered. (EXODUS 1: 16 22)
The Old Testament Book of Jeremiah recorded how the
people of Jerusalem were led away into exile. (JEREMIAH
38:15)
On their way into captivity, they passed Ramah, which

was nearby Bethlehem, where Rachel, the wife of St
Jacob, the ancient Patriarch, had been buried.
In his Prophecy, St Jeremiah beheld Rachel weeping
bitterly in her grave overwhelmed by her
compassion
and
sorrow
for
her
descendents who were being exiled.
Once again, during the brutal execution of
the 14,000 Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, St
Rachel wept with intense sorrow for all her
beloved children, thereby showing that all
the Righteous souls, Saints and Holy
Martyrs Reposing in Paradise are clearly
36. T H E 2 N D D A Y
OF THE
NATIVITY
OF
CHRIST
OUR
LORD
AND
(JOHN 1 : 46)
THE MAGNIFICAT
My soul Magnifies the Lord, and my spirit Rejoices in God my

Saviour, for He has looked with Favour on the lowliness of
His servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me Blessed, for
the Mighty One has done Great Things for me, and Holy is
His Name!
His Mercy is for those who Fear Him from generation to
generation. He has shown Strength with His Arm. He has
scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He
has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and
lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with Good Things, and sent the rich
away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in
remembrance of his Mercy, according to the Promise He
made to our ancestors - to Abraham and to his
descendants forever.
SAVIOUR SYNAXIS
OF OUR
LADY THEOTOKOS 26 DECEMBER 2015

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. Amen
Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit
ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.
Tone (5) Plagal 1

2 7 December 2015
th
3rd Day of the Nativity Sunday After the Nativity
Sunday of the Holy Righteous St David, Royal Psalmist &
Holy Prophet, St Joseph the Betrothed & his Venerable son,
St James the Just, Adelphotheos
Also the Feast of St Stephen the Archdeacon & Protomartyr St Theodore
Graptus (the Granded), Holy Confessor St Theodore of Constantinople
FESTAL ISODIKON
Soson
imas, Ie Theou, O EK PARTHENOU TEHTHIS,

psallontas Si Allilouia!
NATIVITY
OF THE
Save us, O Son of God, BORN OF THE VIRGIN, who sing

to Thee: Alleluia!
OF
CHRIST
TONE 4


FESTAL APOLYTIKION - ST STEPHEN
THE
PROTOMARTYR TONE 4
Vasilion diadima, estefthi si korifi, ex athlon on ipeminas,
With a Royal Diadem, thy sacred head was crowned, for
iper Hristou tou Theou, martiron Protoathle Stefane. Si

gar tin Ioudeon, apelegxas manian, ides Sou ton Sotira,
tou Patros dexiothen. Afton oun ekdisopi ai, iper ton
psihon imon.
the struggles thou endured because of Christ our God,

O Stephen, among Martyrs the First Champion; for
refuting the madness of the angry Judean, thou saw
thy Saviour at the right of the Father. Him thou
constantly beseech for the souls of all of us.
OF
CHRIST TONE 3


Di imas gar
INSTEAD
AGIOS O THEOS...
OF THE
Allelouia!

Christ: Alleluia!
RESURRRECTION GOSPEL 8: JOHN 20:11-18

OUR RISEN LORD JESUS SPEAKS TO ST MARY MAGDALENE
PROKEIMENON PSALM 18 : TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Their Proclamation went forth into all the Earth...

The Heavens declare the Glory of God!
THE ACTS
OF THE
APOSTLES ACCORDING
EVANGELISM
AND
TO
ST LUKE
6 : 8 7 : 5 & 47 60
MARTYRDOM OF ST STEPHEN
In those days, Stephen, full of Faith and Power, did Great Wonders and Signs among the people.
There arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and those from
Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke.
So they secretly induced men to say: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. They
stirred up the people, and the Elders, and the Scribes, and they went to him, seized him and took him to the Council.
They also set up false witnesses who said: This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this Holy Place
and the Law! We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs, which
Moses delivered to us! And all who sat in the Council, looking steadfastly at him, beheld his face as the face of an
Angel.
The High Priest said: Are these things so? Stephen said: Men, Brethren and Fathers, listen: the God of Glory appeared to
our Father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia - before he dwelt in Haran - and said to him: Get out of Thy land
and from Thy relatives, and go to a land that I will show Thee. Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and
dwelt in Haran. From there, when his Father had died, He moved him to this land wherein you now dwell. And God
gave him no Inheritance in it -not even enough to set his foot on. And even when Abraham had no child, God promised
to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him...
...Solomon built God a House. However, the Most High does not dwell in Temples made by hands, as the Prophet says:
Heaven is My Throne, Earth is My Footstool. What House will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the Place
of My Rest? Has My Hand not made all these things?
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -3RD DAY
OF THE
N A T I V I T Y T H E R I G H T E O U S O N E S S T S T E P H E N P R O T O M A R T Y R 2 7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 537
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your Fathers did, so do you!
Which of the Prophets did your Fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the Coming of the Just One, of
Whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers. You have received the Law by the Direction of Angels, and
have not kept it.
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right Hand of God,
and said: Behold! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right Hand of God! They cried out with
a loud voice, stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him.
And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen.
He called on God, and said: O Lord Jesus: receive my soul! He then knelt down and cried out with a loud voice: O Lord,
do not charge them with this sin! And having said this, he fell asleep.
After the Glorious Day of PENTECOST WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT
THOSE WHO BECOME ONE WITH CHRIST RECEIVE DIVINE
HAD DESCENDED UPON AND GRANTED THE FAITHFUL APOSTLES
RADIANCE, which is A PREVIEW OF THE GLORY ALL
AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST HIS DIVINE GIFTS, THEY WERE
FAITHFUL will share in the Age to come: Eternal Life
EMPOWERED TO DO AMAZING AND MIRACULOUS DEEDS
in Gods Kingdom.
ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL FOR THE RAPID SPREAD OF HIS
That is why THE COUNCILLORS ...SAW HIS FACE AS THE FACE OF
HOLY GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AN ANGEL.
They were ... full of FAITH AND POWER which CHANGES LIVES
ST STEPHEN WAS ILLUMINATED AND GLORIFIED BY HIS DEEP FAITH
RADICALLY and which COMPELS THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO
AND SPIRITUAL POWER.
HOLY SERVICE TO FULFIL THEIR SACRED TASKS WITHOUT
2 C O R I N T H I A N S 3 : 1 8 ... we all, with unveiled face,
QUESTION OR HESITATION, WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT
beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are
WHATEVER GOD WILLS IS ACHIEVED BY HIS DIVINE GRACE AND
being TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO
POWER.
GLORY, JUST AS BY THE (HOLY) SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
Freedmen were Hebrews who had formerly been held
THE WORD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS TRUE LIBERTY OR FREEDOM,
captive under the Roman conquerors, and often due
ENABLING US TO BEHOLD GOD - TO EXPERIENCE HIS
to rebellion against Roman authority.
INDESCRIBABLE DIVINE PRESENCE, JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.
The charges of blasphemy were brought against St
Created in the Image of God, WE THEN SEE HIS UNCREATED
Stephen because, ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL, THE
IMAGE, THE SON OF GOD, THE GLORY OF THE LORD THROUGH
LITURGY AND LAW OF THE OLD COVENANT WERE FULFILLED BY
CHRISTS DEIFIED HUMANITY AND IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY
CHRIST AND WERE THEREFORE OBVIOUSLY CHANGED AND
SPIRIT.
TRANSFORMED.
As we behold Him, WE BECOME WHAT WE WERE CREATED BY GOD
HEBREWS 7:12 ... the Priesthood being changed, of
TO BE.
necessity there is also a change of the Law.
God is infinite so GROWING IN HIS IMAGE AND GLORY HAS NO
NOT ONLY IS JESUS CHRIST, THE FOUNDER OF THE NEW COVENANT
LIMITS.
PRIESTHOOD, SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE OLD COVENANT, THE
WE SHALL FOREVER SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY AND BE TRANSFORMED
RULES OF THE NEW COVENANTS PRIESTLY ORDER ARE ALSO
INTO HIS LIKENESS (which we are trying to regain since
SUPERIOR AND SINCE THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD IS SO INTERTWINED
our Fall from Divine Grace in Paradise.)
WITH THE COVENANT, IF THE PRIESTHOOD IS CHANGED, SO IS
E X O D U S 3 4 : 2 9 3 5 AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
THE COVENANT.
ON MOUNT SINAI, ST MOSES FACE SHONE WITH A DIVINE
To those who refused to accept Christ as the True
LIGHT to such an overwhelming extent that he had
Messiah, such changes were regarded as sacrilegious
to cover his face with a veil since the amazing
or profane.
Light frightened the Israelites.
At His unjust and illegal Trial THE CHARGE OR ACCUSATION OF
ST STEPHEN DID NOT ANSWER THE HIGH PRIEST DIRECTLY but used
FALSE WITNESSES THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD
the charges as the context for his Preaching, whereby,
THREATENED TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM WERE
similar to St Peters Sermon on Pentecost, ST STEPHEN
MISINTERPRETATIONS OF HIS WORDS: Destroy this Temple,
DELIVERED CHRISTS HOLY GOSPEL BASED ON THE OLD
and in three days I will raise it up REFERRING TO HIS
TESTAMENT, SHOWING HOW THE HEBREWS CONSISTENTLY
OWN BODY AND HIS PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
MISSED THE PURPOSE OF GODS HOLY COVENANT WITH THEM
TEMPLE, WHICH WAS FULFILLED IN 70 WHEN THE ROMANS
DUE TO THEIR HARDNESS AND STUBBORNNESS OF HEART.
DESTROYED IT AS RETRIBUTION AGAINST A HEBREW REBELLION.
(MATTHEW 26:61; JOHN 2:19; LUKE 21: 6 & 20)

THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF
TO
OUR
ST MATTHEW 12 : 15 - 21
LORD JESUS CHRIST
At that time, many followed Jesus, and He Healed them all. And He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be
fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet, saying: Behold! My Servant Whom I have chosen My Beloved with
Whom My Soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and Justice to the Gentiles shall He declare. He will
not quarrel nor cry out. Nor will anyone in the streets hear His Voice. A bruised reed He will not break, and
smoking flax He will not quench, until He sends forth to Victory Justice. And in His Name the Gentiles will trust.
Our Lords refusal to fully disclose His Identity as the
1. The growing hostility of the Jewish leaders
Divine Messiah was foreseen by St Isaiah, the Holy
2. The peoples misunderstanding of the Messiah as
Prophet of God.
an earthly, political leader.
ISAIAH 42: 1 4 Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him.
3. Our Lords desire to evoke genuine Faith that is not
Israel is My Chosen. My Soul accepts Him. I put My
based solely on Miraculous Signs and
Spirit upon Him. He will bring forth Judgement to
Wonders.
the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His Voice,
The Servant of God refers first to Christ, and by extension
nor cause His Voice to be heard outside. A bruised
to all those who Faithfully follow Him.
reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not
The Holy Mission of Christ to the Gentiles all non-Jewish
quench; but He will bring forth Judgement in Truth.
people after Pentecost and the Descent of the Holy
He will shine forth and not be broken until He
Spirit Who makes all things possible, was also foreseen
establishes Judgement in the Earth; and in His
by St Isaiah.
Name the Gentiles will hope.
ISAIAH 42: 4 ...He will shine forth and not be broken
The reasons for secrecy include:
until He establishes Judgement in the Earth; and
in His Name the Gentiles will hope...
DIADOCHOS
OF
PHOTIK (C.400-BEFORE 486)
Those who Love God in the depths of their heart, have

already been Loved by God.
In fact, the measure of our Love for God depends upon how
deeply aware we are of Gods Love for us.
When this Awareness is keen it makes whoever possesses it
long to be Enlightened by the Divine Light, and this
longing is so intense that it seems to penetrate our very
bones.
38. 3 0 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T - 3 R D D A Y
OF THE
We lose all consciousness of ourselves and are entirely

Transformed by the Love of God.
We will exist in this life but at the same time we will not
live in it, for although we still inhabit our body, we are
constantly leaving it in spirit because of the Love that
draws us towards God.
Once the Love of God has released us from self-love, the
Flame of Divine Love never ceases to burn in our heart
and we remain United to God by an Irresistible Longing.
NATIVITY THE RIGHTEOUS ONES ST STEPHEN PROTOMARTYR 27 DECEMBER 2015
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 3RD DAY
In
OF THE
NATIVITY SUNDAY AFTER
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today, on this 3rd Day of and Sunday After the Nativity of
our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, we
commemorate the Holy Righteous Ones: St David the
King, Psalmist and Holy Prophet of God, St Joseph the
Betrothed and his Venerable son, St James the Just,
Brother of our Lord.
This is the only Commemoration of St Joseph the Betrothed
in the Orthodox Church.
Much of his Life in the Holy Gospel account is shrouded in
silence.
However, there are many things that Holy Tradition has
told us concerning this Righteous Protector, Guardian
and Step-father not only of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, but also of our Most Pure and Blessed Lady,
Theotokos and ever Virgin Mary.
The Hymnography for this Feast exclaims: O Joseph, tell
Thou the Glad Tidings to David, the Ancestor of God,
for Thou hast seen a Virgin give Birth; with the
Shepherds Thou gave Glory!
With the Magi Thou
worshipped! By an Angel wast Thou instructed!
Entreat Christ God, to Save our souls!
At the time of his Betrothal to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, St
Joseph was about eighty years old, and, according to St
Epiphanios, ...out of all the men in Israel, there was
none to be found more Fitting and Righteous... than St
Joseph the Betrothed.
He was of the same House of David, and Tribe of Judah as
our Lady Theotokos.
He was Her widowed, elderly uncle who had been married
to Her Mothers sister, Salome, and he had led an
irreproachable, trustworthy, and honourable life.
Their Betrothal served as a Sacred Protection of Her Vow of
Chastity, which deceived the devil, who knew the
prophecies concerning a Virgin who was to give Birth
to the Great Saviour of all mankind, and who waited to
discover Who He was.
In the time of Christ, families were very father-centred or
male dominated, so those who had no male protectors
of their families and possessions - such as the orphans
and widows - were usually denied any justice,
compassion or assistance.
Widows, unmarried women and young girls, who had no
close male relatives such as brother, husband or son to
protect them, were usually dispossessed of all their
worldly goods and thrown into the streets to fend for
themselves.
St Jerome pointed out that there was a threefold purpose
accomplished by St Joseph's Betrothal to the Ever
Blessed Virgin.
A quiet, secure anonymity was assured for our Lord Jesus
Christ from His infancy until the appointed moment of
His public Divine Mission.
The Lawful Betrothal served as an impenetrable defence
against any slanderous gossip against the All-Holy
Mother of God.
A trustworthy, wise, loving, Enlightened and compassionate
Guardian was provided for both our Lady Theotokos
and Her Divine Son.
St Joseph and his late wife, Salome, had several children
from his previous marriage: St James, his eldest son
who accompanied them to Egypt (whom we also
Commemorate today), St Simon, St Joses, St Jude, St
Salome (mother of St James the Less/Younger and St John the
Beloved Apostle & Theologian), St Esther and another
daughter (Martha, or Lydia, or Thamar or Assia).
From the book, The Life of the Virgin Mary, we are told that
God ordained the Family Unit as a vital part of human
society. And what a Great Reward and honour awaited
St Joseph and all his house!
One of his sons would be of the inner Twelve Apostles (St
Jude); one would become the first Bishop of Jerusalem (St
James): and his daughter Salome, the Myrrh-bearer
would give birth to the two Apostles - the 'sons of
thunder,' St James and St John.
And let us also not forget that St Joseph's brother, St
Cleopas, was one of the Seventy Apostles.
THE
NATIVITY
THE
RIGHTEOUS ONES
In all things, St Joseph the Betrothed provides us with an

image of Humility, of Righteousness, and of Goodness
of the highest degree.
He nurtured, protected, guided and helped our Lord Jesus
Christ from His infancy, as well as the very young EverVirgin Mary in a way that was so special and unique
that it behoves us to honour him with never silent
Hymns and to call upon his Intercessions with fervent
hearts.
How could our Saviour fail to honour the one who cared for
and Loved Him and His Beloved Mother so much!
Although his hands were hardened by many calluses of a
lifetime of carpentry and hard work, the Just St
Josephs spirit was refined and elevated with the
Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
Although St Joseph had no part in the Conception and
Incarnation of Christ, he was known as the Father of
our Lord, for he humbly and faithfully fulfilled all the
Sacred Duties of a father towards a son.
St Joseph the Betrothed named Him Jesus in Obedience to
the Divine Instructions delivered to Him by the Angel of
God. [MATTHEW 1:25]
He had Him circumcised and made the required offerings at
the Temple.
Accompanied by his eldest son, St James, St Joseph the
Betrothed left everything behind and fled to Egypt with
the Divine Infant and His All Pure Mother and later,
returned them safely - again in Humble Obedience to
the Angelic Instructions.
Finally, St Joseph chose the Nazareth as a safe place of
residence, where he continued his labours as a
Carpenter, teaching and working with his Beloved Son,
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, until he reposed at
the age of 110 - shortly before our Lord Jesus began His
public Ministry.
As he lay dying, St Joseph the Betrothed cried out to the
Lord: Hail, my well-beloved Son! Indeed the agony
and fear of Death has encompassed me. But as soon
as I heard Thy Voice, my soul is at rest. O Jesus of
Nazareth! Jesus my Saviour! Jesus, the Deliverer of
my soul! Jesus, my Protector! Jesus, O sweetest Name
in my mouth, and in the mouth of all Who Love Thee!
As we celebrate the Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us reflect:
Out of Love, our Lord descended from on High - becoming
poor that we might be rich.
Out of Love, He emptied Himself, and took the form of a
servant.
Out of Love, He Reconciled and Healed the nature of
mankind so that we might partake of those Things that
...eye has never seen, nor has ever entered into the
heart of mankind!
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ is a Great, Holy Feast
of the Love of God:
God so Loved the world, that He gave (as the greatest Gift
to all) His Only Begotten Son....
Christ is the answer to all our needs.
Christ is the answer to all of our problems.
Christ is the Life in our Death.
Christ is the Joy in our sorrows.
Christ is the Strength in our weakness.
Out of His great Love, He clothed Himself in flesh to seek
those who were lost.
Without Him, we are lost - our life is Death and our love
remains enclosed within our own small world.
What is it that we are doing or what can we do to repay that
infinite Debt of Love? Love is only repaid by Love.
Let us Love - not in word - but in deed - by placing our Lord
Jesus Christ on the Throne of our heart.
Let us Love one another - not in word - but in deed through a spirit of Kindness and Gentleness, setting
aside the darkness of hatred and bitterness, and
choosing to follow the Way of Christ.
Let us Love one another and show Mercy and Compassion
to each other so that God may find us worthy of His
Love.
Let us Love one another, so that with one heart and one
mouth we may Confess the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
HTTP://STTIKHONSMONASTERY.ORG/STM6.HTML
30TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -3RD DAY
OF THE
N A T I V I T Y T H E R I G H T E O U S O N E S S T S T E P H E N P R O T O M A R T Y R 2 7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 539
ST STEPHEN
OF THE
FIRST SEVEN DEACONS & PROTOMARTYR
St Stephen belonged to the Chorus of the Seven Deacons,

who were commissioned by the Apostles to serve at the
Agape Meals.
Because the number of Christians in the early Church were
constantly increasing, complaints were made by the
Hellenists to the Judeans because their widows and
orphans were neglected in the daily distribution of
food.
The Holy Apostles did not want to abandon or neglect the
preaching of the Holy Gospel in order to serve tables,
and for that reason they told the Christians to choose
seven worthy men, who were ... full of the Holy
Spirit... who were subsequently appointed as Deacons,
ministering in that area to the widows and orphans
and everyone else, as required.
St Stephen was distinguished from the other Deacons for
his zealous Love of Christ for the sake of Whom he
became the first Christian Holy Martyr of that region.
Apart from ministering at the Agape Meals, St Stephen also
preached the Holy Gospel of Christ and by Divine Grace
many Miracles were performed by him.
He was eventually arrested by fanatical Judeans and
ordered to answer to the charges of slander and
blasphemy of St Moses the ancient Patriarch, and
Almighty God.
His defence before the Sanhedrin was a harsh criticism of
their unbelief and the terrible crime they had
committed when they so unjustly accused our Lord
Jesus Christ, had Him so brutally scourged, and then
crucified.
Towards the end of his speech, St Stephen beheld the
Heavens opening and Christ standing in all His
Magnificent Glory at the Right Hand Side of God the
Fathers Heavenly Throne, and when the people heard
him describe what he was seeing, they became selfrighteously enraged and attacked him like ravenous
wolves.
They dragged him outside the city walls and furiously
stoned him to death.
St Stephen remained calm and serene, and before he
Reposed in Christ, he besought our Saviour not to
charge his executioners with their sin of his unjust
murder.
St Stephen had endured many difficulties, temptations and
sacrifices for his Love of Christ and in order to spread
His Divine Truth to all mankind.
He undertook the Sacred Service of the Holy Gospel with
which he was commissioned and exercised great
responsibility, having previously purified his soul of the
passions, and richly accepted the Divine Grace of the All
Holy Spirit.
St Stephen exemplified the character of Orthodox Christian
Missions, which must be preceded by a personal
Mission the personal Struggle for Purification and
THE NEED
FOR
PRAYER
PAISIOS THE ATHONITE)
The unerring Mouth of Christ said: ... Blessed are the Pure
of heart, for they shall see God.
This has be verified constantly throughout the ages,
because there always existed and always will exist
until the Second Coming (Reappearance) of Christ
people like St Stephen the Archdeacon and Protomartyr.
While addressing the Judeans, St Stephen had beheld the
Glory of God, and therefore he could worthily
Theologise unerringly, as well as endure without
complaint and serenely his martyrdom, because both
are identified with the empirical (practical or experiential)
Knowledge of God and organic Communion with Him.
Nobody can endure Martyrdom with only their own
strength no matter how strong a character they
possess because the Testimony and Martyrdom for
Christ is a Divine Fruit of the Vision of God.
(METROPOLITAN HIEROTHEOS OF NAFPAKTOS)
Of course, Spiritual Progress cannot be achieve from one

day to another.
No one can reach the higher stages of Spiritual Life and
taste the Sweetness and Joy of the Living Presence of
God, unless they have previously been tested ... as gold
in a furnace... and endured ... the heat of day and
the frost of night... for the Love of Christ, for ...
without pain, or Praxis or Theoria, the soul cannot be
corrected. (GREAT CANON)
Praxis is the practical Life of Spiritual Struggle and Effort
to Live the Divine Commandments and Teachings, and
the Purification of the passions, while Theoria is the
Vision of the Glory of God.
Patience without self-pity and complaint, coupled with
Glorification and Thanksgiving... is Spiritual Maturity
and puts an individual within the prospect of
Sanctification and Salvation.
EKKLESIASTIKI PAREMVASI TRANSLATED BY JOHN SANIDOPOULOS
HTTP://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM/2013/12/THE-PROTOMARTYR-ANDARCHDEACON-STEPHEN.HTML
TO BE FREE FROM OTHER
Why is it important that Prayer be free from thoughts?

To have True Prayer, our mind must be pure, still and
totally open for an Encounter with our infinitely All
Compassionate God.
When thoughts clutter our mind, our Prayers become
focused on the distractions of the world and our Prayer
time becomes a problem solving session with ourselves.
Our thoughts pollute and distort our Prayers and they
confuse our Relationship with God with our own desires
and needs.
Only a pure, focused and open mind received Divine Grace
that enables us to hear and do His Divine Will instead of
indulging ourselves in our own selfish will.
St Hesychios explained: Those who do not have Prayer that
is free from thoughts, is without a Weapon for Battle.
I understand Prayer to be that which is carried out
unceasingly within the depths of the soul, so that the
enemy, who is secretly fighting against us, may be
vanquished and scorched by our Invocation of Christ.
For we must look with a sharply focused mind so that we
will recognize what has entered into it, and after doing
so, immediately cut off the head of the
snake through refutation, and at the same
time call on our Saviour, Jesus Christ, with
groaning and sorrow.
40. 3 0 T H S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T - 3 R D D A Y
Sanctification, after which it is possible to teach and

guide others worthily.
St Paisios the Elder of Mount Athos ... rejoiced when
anyone told him that they wanted to be a Missionary,
and he taught them how to be a correct Missionary.
He expressed the genuine Orthodox conception of Holy
Mission, considering it necessary to begin the Mission
with ourselves.
We ought to first Sanctify ourselves, before we try to
teach, guide or Sanctify others.
Our personal self is the foundation of our Missionary
Work and if it collapses, the entire Work is in danger.
Therefore, the challenge is for us to receive Divine Grace
and to be Sanctified. From that moment our essential
Holy Mission begins. (HIEROMONK ISAAC: LIFE OF ELDER
OF THE
THOUGHTS & DISTRACTIONS
Through Experience we will come to know God's invisible

Help - then we will see clearly the True Condition of our
heart.
Our Challenge is to have the sobriety of being ever
Watchful and Attentive to the nature of our thoughts
and to dismiss them when we enter into Prayer.
As St Hesychios advised: "...we must look with the sharply
focused eye of the mind..." in Prayer.
The True Purpose of our mind is to enable us to focus on
our Creator and to Discern His Will for us.
As we repeat the Jesus Prayer, our mind will instantly
become focused on God and we will receive His Grace,
which helps us to deter all distracting thoughts.
One of the reasons we pray, is to overcome the domination
of our soul by the thoughts roaming through our
minds, distracting us from an Intimate Relationship
with God.
It is only in Prayer where our distracting thoughts are
subdued, that we find this amazing Relationship with
the Lord our God, which our soul seeks.
HTTP://ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE.BLOGSPOT.CO.ZA
NATIVITY THE RIGHTEOUS ONES ST STEPHEN PROTOMARTYR 27 DECEMBER 2015

2015 December Sacred Lessons

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2015 December Sacred Lessons

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

FESTAL APOLYTIKION OF ST BARBARA TONE 4

tin Agian Timisomen; ehthrou gar tas pagidas

the Saintly: let us honour now; for she

SEASONAL KONTAKION - EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS

to the Word Pre-Eternal. Hearing this, be of good

FESTAL MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING

THE TEN VIRGINS - BEING PREPARED

God is wonderful in His Saints.

GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR

AUTHORITY OVER LIFE AND DEATH IS BY THE WILL OF GOD

RISKED FURTHER SHAME AND HUMILIATION

ALONE AND BEING OF THE SAME DIVINE ESSENCE AS GOD THE

EVERYTHING THAT IS TOUCHED BY GOD BECOMES SANCTIFIED

SUCH A DEGREE OF MISERY AND DESPERATION THAT SHE

GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR

According to the Old Covenant Laws, any type of

large crowd shoved and pushed one another to get

ONLY GOD CAN SAVE OR REDEEM US!

GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR

ONLY THROUGH OUR

LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, ARE WE GENUINELY FREED

GREAT HOLY VIRGIN MARTYR

St Barbara was the only daughter of Dioscoros, a highborn

And finally, HE REVEALED HER FAITH PUBLICALLY SO THAT THE

Finally, having so joyfully received the True Faith in Christ,

However our Loving Lord preserved the Purity and Dignity

St Barbara suffered in 306, and her Wonderworking Relics

Many Believers have developed a great love for the Prayers

Based on this verse, some Christian groups teach that God

Why is it that we go through periods of happiness followed

GREAT VIRGIN MARTYR

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

St Savva the Sanctified of Cappadocia

FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST SAVVA

TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon

the rivers of Thy tears, Thou changed the barren

SANCTIFIED - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

aretis, Savva Makarie, to Se prin gennithine

SEASONAL KONTAKION - NATIVITY OF CHRIST

Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to

the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all

FESTAL MATINS GOSPEL ACCORDING

OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTS SERMON

The Saints shall rejoice in Glory

AGAINST THE FLESH

Sacred Lesson commemorates all Holy Monks

HAVING BEEN REGENERATED IN CHRIST, OUR ONLY DESIRE TO

Humility and Obedience two inseparable

Being Enlightened by Christ and the Holy Spirit, we

fellow sinners: Today my Brother, tomorrow me! (ST

To be able to administer correction with Gentleness is a

CHRIST REST ASSURED & CONFIDENT

chose to trust their own fallen, warped and limited

Furthermore, IT IS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND THAT GOD

OUR LORD DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO NEITHER WORK, EAT, NOR

SUBMISSION TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND EVERYTHING THAT IS

A Yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and

11; JEREMIAH 34: 1-11; WISDOM OF SIRACH 40:1)

Furthermore, THE ULTIMATE REWARD IS INFINITELY GREATER

The term Gentle is literally translated Meek.

Lord Jesus Christs humanity had been absorbed by His