Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Sacred Lessons
14 May 2023
5th Sunday of Pascha – Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

By the Grace of God

Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed
By
Marguerite Paizis
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Po Box 28348
Sunridge Park
6008
Republic of South Africa
marguerite.paizis@gmail.com
or download directly from Resurrection Gospel 4 John 20 : 1 – 10
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574
Acts 11 : 19 – 30
John 4 : 5 – 42
Re-edited & Published - 16 May 2023

36. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

 RESURRECTION GOSPEL 7: JOHN 20:1 - 10 For only when we do not belong to ourselves do we become like Him
St Peter & St John Witness The Empty Tomb Of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Who through Love has Reconciled us to Himself.
Τῇ μιᾷ τῶν Σαββάτων Μαρία ἡ On the first day of the week Mary No one achieves this unless we persuade our immortal soul not to be
distracted by the false glitter of this life.
Μαγδαληνὴ ἔρχεται πρωῒ Magdalene went to the Tomb
σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης εἰς τὸ early, while it was still dark, and  Free will is the power of a deiform soul to direct itself by deliberate
Μνημεῖον͵ καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον saw that the stone had been choice towards whatever it decides.
ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ Μνημείου. taken away from the Tomb. Let us ensure that our soul directs itself deliberately only towards
what is Good, so that we always consume our remembrance of evil
Τρέχει οὖν καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς Then she ran and went to Simon with Good Thoughts.
Σίμωνα Πέτρον καὶ πρὸς τὸν Peter, and to the other Disciple,
ἄλλον Μαθητὴν ὃν Ἐφίλει ὁ whom Jesus Loved, and said to  The Light of True Knowledge is the power to discriminate without
Ἰησοῦς͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς͵ them: “They have taken away error between good and evil.
“Ἦραν τὸν Κύριον ἐκ τοῦ Then the Path of Righteousness leads our intellect upward towards
the Lord out of the Tomb, and we
the Sun of Righteousness and brings it into the boundless
Μνημείου͵ καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ do not know where they have Illumination of Spiritual Knowledge, so that henceforth it shall
ἔθηκαν Αὐτόν.” laid Him!” grow more and more confident in its quest for Love.
Ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος Peter went out, and the other With an incensive power free from anger we should snatch
μαθητής͵ καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὸ Righteousness from the hands of those who dare to outrage it,
Disciple, and they hastened to since the aspiration for Holiness triumphs not by hating others,
Μνημεῖον.
the Tomb. but by convincing them of their faults.
Τρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ· καὶ ὁ They ran together, and the other
 Spiritual Discourse fully satisfies our intellectual perception, because
ἄλλος Μαθητὴς προέδραμεν Disciple outran Peter and got to it comes from God through the Energy of Love.
τάχιον τοῦ Πέτρου καὶ ἦλθεν the Tomb first, and, stooping It is on account of this that the intellect continues undisturbed in its
πρῶτος εἰς τὸ Μνημεῖον͵καὶ down, he looked in and saw the concentration on Theology.
παρακύψας βλέπει κείμενα τὰ Linen Cloths lying there, but did It does not suffer then from the emptiness, which produces a state of
Ὀθόνια͵ οὐ μέντοι εἰσῆλθεν. anxiety, since in its Contemplation, it is filled to the degree that
not enter.
the Energy of Love desires.
Ἔρχεται οὖν καὶ Σίμων Πέτρος Simon Peter also arrived after him, So it is right always to wait, with a Faith Energised by Love, for the
ἀκολουθῶν αὐτῷ͵ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν and he went into the Tomb. Illumination that shall enable us to speak.
εἰς τὸ Μνημεῖον· For nothing is so destitute as a mind philosophising about God when
it is without Him.
Καὶ θεωρεῖ τὰ Ὀθόνια κείμενα͵καὶ And he saw the linen Cloths lying
τὸ Σουδάριον͵ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς there, and the Facecloth that had The unilluminated should not embark on Spiritual Speculations nor,
Κεφαλῆς Αὐτοῦ͵ οὐ μετὰ τῶν been around His Head, not lying on the other hand, should anyone try to speak while the Light of
ὀθονίων κείμενον ἀλλὰ χωρὶς with the linen Cloths, but folded the Holy Spirit is shining richly upon us.
For where there is emptiness, ignorance is also to be found, but where
ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον. together in a place by itself.
there is Richness of the Holy Spirit, no speech is possible.
Τότε οὖν εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ὁ ἄλλος Then the other Disciple, who got to At such a time the soul is drunk with the Love of God and, with voice
μαθητὴς ὁ ἐλθὼν πρῶτος εἰς τὸ there first, also went into the silent, delights in His Glory.
Μνημεῖον͵ We should, therefore, watch for the middle point between these two
Tomb.
extremes before we begin to speak of God.
Καὶ εἶδεν καὶ ἐπίστευσεν· And he saw and believed. This balance confers a certain Harmony on our words Glorifying God.
As we speak and teach, our Faith is Nourished by the Richness of
the Illumination and so, because of our Love, we are the first to
Οὐδέπω γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τὴν Γραφὴν - For as yet they did not know the taste the Fruits of Knowledge.
ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν For it is written: “… The farmer who does the work should be the first
Scripture - for He must
Ἀναστῆναι. to eat of the produce…” [2 Timothy 2:6]
Resurrect from the dead.
Ἀπῆλθον οὖν πάλιν πρὸς αὑτοὺς οἱ
2. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 35.
 The Testimony of St Photini had begun their Spiritual Progress,
because she convinced them to meet our Lord Jesus and as soon
as they saw Him and spoke to Him, their sincere hearts and souls
responded warmly to Him: “… they asked Him to stay with
them…”
Over the next two days He Blessed them with His Divine Presence,
Enlightening them with His Divine Love and Truth that
Transformed them and filled them with such intensive Joy, Love
and Peace that mere words cannot begin to describe.
Their sincere conversion was evident when they confessed to St
Photini “… we have heard Him ourselves and we know that He is
Truly the Saviour or the world – the Christ!”
Faith is so much more than merely trusting or believing. It is the
total, absolute Conviction/unwavering certainty of our heart and
soul that our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed our Divine Saviour, our
Lord God, Who is both the Divine, Eternal Son of God our Heavenly
Father, and also, having become Incarnate, the All Holy Son of Man
– the Christ/Anointed One of God.
ST DIODOCHOS OF PHOTIKI ON SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE & DISCRIMINATION
 All spiritual Contemplation should be governed by Faith, Hope and
Love, but most all by Love.
Faith and Hope teach us to be detached from visible delights, but
Love Unites the soul with the Excellence of God, searching out the
Invisible by means of intellectual perception.
 Only God is Good by Nature. But with God’s Help we can become
good through careful attention to our way of Life.
We transform ourselves into what we are not when our immortal soul,
by devoting our attention to True Delight, Unites ourselves to God,
in so far as our energised power desires this.
For it is written: “… be Good and Merciful as is your Father in
Heaven.” [Luke 6:36 & Matthew 5 :48]
 Evil does not exist by nature, nor is anyone naturally evil, for God
created nothing that was not good.
When in the desire of their heart people conceive and give form to
what in reality has no existence, then what they desire begins to
exist.
We should, therefore, turn our attention away from the inclination to
evil and concentrate on the Remembrance of God, for Good, which
exists by nature, is more powerful than our inclination to evil.
The one has existence while the other has not – except when we give
it existence through our actions.
 All mankind is created in God’s Image, but to be in His Likeness is
granted only to those who through Great Love have brought their
own freedom into subjection to God.
34. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Μαθηταί. Then the Disciples returned to
their own homes.
 “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the Tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been
taken away from the Tomb …”
• “ the first day of the week…” was the day after the Sabbath Day of
Rest, which is Sunday.
• Sunday is also termed “The Lord’s Day” because it is dedicated to
the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – “The
Living Monument” of our New Covenant Faith according to St
Athanasios.
• On Sunday we rest from all unnecessary, mundane labours in
order to gather together in communal Prayer and Worship,
which Spiritually Nurtures, prepares and Strengthens us for the
week. Being dedicated to the Glory, Honour and Worship of
our Lord God, Labours of Love – Acts of Kindness and
Compassion - ought to be fulfilled whereby we express our
Love for God and our fellow mankind.
• Sunday, which begins at sunset on Saturday, is by no means the
New Covenant “Sabbath” because the Resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ Transformed time, marking Sunday as both the
first day of the week - symbolising the first day of Creation -
and “the Eighth Day” - the beginning of Eternity when the
General Resurrection and Final Judgement shall occur.
• Although Saturday was the Old Covenant Sabbath Day of rest, it is
now the New Covenant Memorial Day when during the Holy
Services we Commemorate the Church Triumphant consisting
of all our beloved Reposed Brethren in Christ.
• While contemplating our own eventual Repose, we prepare
ourselves physically and spiritually for the Holy Mystery of
Communion/Eucharist by Fasting, Self-examination,
Repentance and Prayer.
• Since so few attend the Saturday Holy Services, the Trisagion for
the Reposed usually is held immediately after the completion
of the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
• St Mary of Magdala was a mature, pious and independently
wealthy woman who became a close companion of our Lady
and the other Faithful Disciples of Christ.
Because she was profoundly Faithful to the Old Covenant, the evil
one had mistaken her for the Mother of the anticipated Great
Messiah, and had possessed her with seven demonic spirits,
that were exorcised by Christ.
Being older and more courageous than the other Disciples, she
seems to have acted as their spokesman.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 3.
 • Magdala was an ancient Judean city on the shore of the Sea of
Galilee, 3 miles north of Tiberias..
 “…Then she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other Disciple,
whom Jesus Loved, and said to them: “They have taken away
the Lord out of the Tomb, and we do not know where they have
laid Him!”
• According to St John, St Mary of Magdala reported the Empty
Tomb to St Simon Peter and St John the Beloved Disciple, who
immediately reacted by running to the Sacred Site.
• Her words “… They have taken away our Lord … we do not know
where they have laid Him!” implies St Mary Magdalene’s failure
to comprehend our Lord’s Glorious Resurrection.
• Although St John did not mention the other seven Holy Myrrh-
bearers, including our Lady, Theotokos, St Mary Magdalene’s
use of the word “…we…” indicated that they had also been
present and had witnessed the opened, Empty Tomb and heard
the Glorious Annunciation of the Angel that Christ is Risen.
• Being shocked and confused by their Extraordinary Experience, the
Holy Myrrhbearers could not fully perceive the Glorious
Tidings of the Holy Angel of God, nor comprehend everything
they had seen.
 “…Peter went out, and the other Disciple, and they hastened to the
Tomb. They ran together, and the other Disciple outran Peter
and got to the Tomb first, and, stooping down, he looked in and
saw the Linen Cloths lying there, but did not enter. simon Peter
also arrived after him, and he went into the Tomb…”
• The immediate reaction of these two Apostles who had been our
Lord’s closest and most Faithful Disciples is remarkable, for
they did not hesitate, doubt nor question the words of St Mary
Magdalene.
• The other Disciples, however, failed to believe the Myrrhbearing
Women for which they would later be admonished by our
Resurrected Lord Jesus.
• These were hardworking Fishermen, not erudite Scholars of Holy
Scripture, so only after they become Empowered by God the
Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, could they fully comprehend
their Marvellous Experiences and all the Teachings of Christ.
• “… the other Disciple…” was St John the Evangelist and Apostle,
who grew up close to our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom he was
utterly devoted. He was younger than St Simon Peter so he
arrived at the Tomb before him.
• However, either out of awe or fear, or respect for Judaic Law, he
did not enter the Tomb initially. But the Wonder and Joy of
our Lord’s Resurrection made him brave enough to enter as a
fourth Witness of Almighty God’s Divine Truth.
4. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
in Christ and the New Covenant of Love that has lasted
throughout the centuries.
• After the Resurrection and especially after Pentecost, they brought
millions of souls to Faith in Christ
• These Samaritans were amongst the first to recognise and to
acknowledge our Lord Jesus as the Divine Saviour of the world.
• This clearly demonstrates that His Holy Gospel is for all people of
every Nation throughout the entire world.
• It is interesting to note that many Judeans expected the Great
Messiah to forcibly conquer the Roman Empire and re-establish
the former earthly state of Israel. Yet the despised Samaritans
only awaited Christ our Lord for the Divine Salvation and
Spiritual Knowledge He grants us.
• “I have sent you to Reap that for which you did not Labour. Others
Laboured and you have entered into their Labour…” explains
the vast difference between the Old Covenant Prophets of God
and the New Covenant Holy Apostles of Christ.
• The Holy Prophets preached ‘a terrifying, vengeful and angry’ God
Who would not tolerate any disobedience or rebellion, in order
for the people to be submissive to His Divine Will for they
would never have accepted a God of infinite Love and Great
Mercy Whom our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to us.
• Thus “…the fear of God…” was definitely a terrifying emotion that
scared everyone into trembling submission.
• However, the Eternal, Only Begotten Son and Word of God our
Heavenly Father Himself revealed the Divine Truth that God is
the Personification of Divine, Perfect and Unconditional Love,
and we, as His adopted Children and Co-Heirs, eagerly and
willingly Strive constantly to fulfil His Divine Will.
• God’s Holy Apostles were sent by Him to all Nations throughout
the known world in order to Enlighten and share that infinite
Divine Love of our All Merciful and Benevolent God Who never
forces His Will upon us, but waits patiently for us to warmly
welcome Him and to joyfully receive His Divine Bountiful Gifts.
• When we share our Knowledge of God with others, we too enter
into the Spiritual Labours of the ancient Holy Prophets of God
and Holy Apostles of Christ our Divine Saviour.
 Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the
Words of the Woman, testifying that “He told me all that I ever
did.” When the Samaritans went to Him, they asked Him to stay
with them – and He stayed there two days. And many more
believed because of His Word. They said to the Woman: “It is no
longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard
Him ourselves, and we know that this is Truly the Saviour of the
world, the Christ!”
The citizens of Sychar were the first great multitude to accept our
Lord Jesus as our Divine Saviour.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 33.
 consisting of “… the Lost Sheep…” of God’s Chosen People and
pagan Gentiles who had intermarried.
• “… the Fields are already white for Harvesting…” also refers to
readiness of the entire world to receive the New Covenant of
Love that would spread quickly due to the infrastructure of the
vast Roman Empire and the common language of Hellenistic
Greek.
• After Pentecost, God the Holy Spirit granted the Divine Gift of
Languages to make it possible for “… all Nations…”
to receive and understand the New Covenant Faith.
• As we get closer to the Ages of ages, the evil one works harder to
deceive, misguide and destroy us before we can Acquire
Spiritual Perfection in the Likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 “…He Who Reaps receives Wages, and gathers Fruit for Eternal
Life, so that the Sower may Rejoice together with the Reaper!
For here the saying holds True, for One Sows, Another Reaps. I
sent you to Reap that for which you did not Labour. Others
Laboured and you have entered into their Labour.
• “…He Who Reaps receives Wages, and gathers Fruit for Eternal
Life…” refers to our Lord Jesus Christ Who accomplished His
Sacred Mission on Earth before returning to His Heavenly
Father Who Glorifies Him.
• It also refers to His Holy Apostles and their Ordained Successors,
as well as all the Saints and Holy Martyrs who received Crowns
of Glorious Victory for all their Spiritual Accomplishments that
brought mankind to the New Covenant Faith.
• Furthermore, each of us, as committed Disciples of Christ, ought
to Sow good Spiritual Seeds so that God can receive the
Glory of our Spiritual Labours – a Heavenly Harvest.
• When our thoughts, words and deeds are according to His Divine
Truth, we shall attract and draw others to a Life in Christ
whereby we receive Salvation and Eternal Life.
• St John Chrysostom believed that “...One Sows, another Reaps...”
referred to the Holy Prophets of the Old Covenant who
prepared and guided God’s Chosen People throughout the
centuries before the Coming of Christ, and Christ’s Holy
Apostles who shared the Love and Divine Truth of the New
Covenant with “…all Nations…” as Commanded by our Lord
God.
• The Holy Prophets sowed the Seeds of Faith in preparation for the
Advent of the Messiah, yet they neither witnessed it nor reaped
the Spiritual Fruit of their Holy Labours until after the Death
and Resurrection of Christ.
• The Holy Apostles witnessed and Experienced the Presence of God
Incarnate in a very personal manner, and although they had not
prepared the Judeans for the Advent of Christ, they had been
able to draw many of them and innumerable Gentiles to Faith
32. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
• St Peter, true to his impulsive character, boldly entered the Tomb,
and saw the abandoned shroud and burial cloths.
“…And he saw the linen Cloths lying there, and the Facecloth that
had been around His Head, not lying with the linen Cloths, but
folded together in a place by itself. Then the other Disciple, who
got to there first, also went into the Tomb. And he saw and
believed….”
• St Simon Peter was the first to witness the discarded “…fine
linen…” shroud and burial cloths. St John was the second
reliable Witness who testified to these Sacred Items, which are
the only Sacred Relics of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• As St Gregory Palamas pointed out, the hardened ‘shell’ of the
funeral wrappings of Christ, were left like an ‘empty cocoon’,
because “…100 pounds of Bitter Aloes…” coating the linen
strips would have hardened them in no time into a solid
‘casket’ making it impossible to remove Christ’s Body without
damaging them.
• Mysteriously, the Face Cloth that was always placed over the face
of a corpse before being wrapped with treated linen strips, was
neatly folded and placed to one side.
• It would be humanly impossible to remove the Facecloth or
Soudarion without tearing the Burial Cloths apart.
• Furthermore, the fact that the Cloth was neatly folded and laid to
one side of the burial shelf, clearly indicates a Great Divine
Mystery or Miracle had occurred.
• This obviously indicated that our Lord Jesus’ Body was Truly
Resurrected and not stolen by grave-robbers, nor anyone else,
as St Mary Magdalene had at first thought.
• After Christ’s Resurrection in His human Nature, His burial shroud
and wrappings would never be needed again.
• This was unlike St Lazaros who emerged from his tomb with his
burial wrappings intact after being four days dead and
beginning to decompose, thereby indicating that he would
eventually Repose again before being Resurrected into Eternal
Life.
• A further Divine Mystery that continues to intrigue mankind, are
the imprinted 3D Images on the Shroud and Facecloth of our
severely scourged and crucified Lord Jesus Christ, which has
survived for over 2,000 years, testifying to the Truth and
Reality of our Incarnate Lord God, Whose Resurrection
confirmed our own eventual Resurrection.
• Although Faith and Agape can only arise from our immortal soul,
and should never be based on Divine Miracles and Wonders,
this Unique Sacred Image does confirm our Orthodox Faith.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 5.
 • Both St Simon Peter and St John “… saw and Believed…” that
Christ had truly Resurrected from the dead as He had told
them before His Passion.
• Belief is more than accepting the Divine Truth. It is KNOWING
without any doubt that everything our Lord God has taught
and revealed to us is indeed the Absolute Truth and Reality.
“…For as yet they did not know the Scripture - for He must
Resurrect from the dead. Then the Disciples returned to their
own homes….”
• The fact that St Simon Peter and St John “… as yet … did not know
the Scripture…” concerning the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ and everything it meant to all mankind, their Absolute
Belief in our Lord Jesus as our Divine Messiah/Saviour, was
completely confirmed by their entire being - ‘heart and soul.’
• Belief means complete Trust in God. It is a Spiritual Surrender of
our entire being – body and soul – to the Divine Will of our
Almighty, Triune Lord God. Belief is a profound, personal
acceptance of God’s Divine Truth, acknowledging that only He
knows what is Good and Eternally Beneficial to us. It is eagerly
and Faithfully following wherever He may lead us, without
having any doubts or fears - KNOWING implicitly that He alone
shall Guide, Protect and Sustain us in every circumstance we
experience in this short, preparatory lifespan.
• St Simon Peter and St John were no doubt overwhelmed by their
Love and Joy at seeing the Empty Tomb with the discarded
burial cloths.
• As they returned home, they would have discussed their recent
Experiences, trying to comprehend what was still beyond their
grasp, [similar to St Cleophas and St Luke].
The negative photographic Image of Our Lord’s
Face is imprinted upon the inner Face Cloth (and
the Shroud,)
The image of our crucified Lord’s Face is known as
“the Mandylion,’ or ‘Holy Napkin/Facecloth’ and
is sometimes depicted upon the Iconostasis
above the Royal Gates, with two Angels holding
It aloft.
It was the first Holy Icon of our Lord Jesus Christ
and innumerable copies of it are entitled “Not
Made By Hands.”
Faith in Christ’s Resurrection began to take hold in the Disciples’ hearts when
they saw the Empty Tomb and the mysteriously abandoned, empty burial
wrappings – and no doubt, the negative image of our Lord upon the Face Cloth
and Shroud.
The 14 foot long Shroud of Christ and His Holy Facecloth or Napkin was preserved by
the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople, having been transferred from
Jerusalem to Edessa and then to Constantinople. We commemorate the
Translations of these most precious Holy Relics at least twice a year.
6. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
 Our Lord Jesus Christ rejected the temptations of the evil one,
which consisted of temporary, material, corruptible and
Spiritually Unbeneficial things thereby teaching us to reject
all earthly comforts, wealth and possessions including “…
food that perishes…”
 Although Adam disregarded the Divine Word of God in order
to pursue the grievous passions of the flesh, the New Adam,
our Lord Jesus Christ, conquers all devious temptations by
His Divine Word and Truth, thereby granting our human
nature the Power to conquer Satan. (Genesis 3)
 Matthew 6:25-33 “ … do not worry about your life, what you
shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you
shall wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than
clothing. Look at the birds… they neither sow nor reap, nor gather
into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of
more value than them? Which of you by worrying can add one
cubit to his stature? … consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow. They neither toil nor spin, and yet… even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the
grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, shalt He not much more clothe you, O ye of little Faith?...
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all
these things shalt be added to you…”
• “…My Food is to do the Will of Him Who sent Me, and to
accomplish His Work…” These profound Words of our Lord
Jesus Christ ought to apply to each and every one of us who
profess to be His Faithful Disciples for this is the very Sacred
Core of our own Life in Christ.
• By Living in Christ, we ceaselessly Struggle against all distracting
and deceptive temptations and our own grievous passions
while Striving to accomplish and to acquire everything that is
according to the Divine Will of God our Heavenly Father.
• The distractions of our mortal flesh are overcome when we
concentrate on accomplishing the Divine Will of our Lord God.
 “...Do you not say: ‘There are yet four months, then comes the
harvest’? Behold, I tell you: lift up your eyes and see how the
Fields are already white for Harvesting!”
• This Divine Event occurred “…four months …” before the actual,
physical harvesting of the crops of Samaria.
• All His Faithful Disciples are commanded to “Behold!” for we must
pay attention to all those people who surround us, so that we
may share His Holy Gospel with anyone wanting to receive it –
regardless of ethnicity or social status.
• According to St John Chrysostom, Christ wanted His Apostles to
see the approaching multitude of white-clad Samaritans who
were ready and eager to Believe.
• The great multitude of Samaritans were His ripe Spiritual Crop
who would be Redeemed for the Glory of Almighty God,
SACRED LESSONS – 5 P A S C H A L S U N D A Y – T H E S A M A R I T A N W O M A N 31.
TH
 ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 11 : 19 – 30
• As they spent more time with our Lord, they became kinder, The Divine Mission of Christ fulfilled by His Faithful
gentler and more compassionate towards everyone, although
they still had a lot to learn from our Loving Lord God. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις, ἐκείναις, In those days, those who were
 “…Leaving her water jar, the Woman departed to the city, and said διασπαρέντες οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἀπὸ scattered after the persecution
to the people: “Come! Behold a Man Who told me all that I ever τῆς θλίψεως τῆς γενομένης ἐπὶ that arose over Stephen,
did! Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city, and Στεφάνῳ διῆλθον ἕως Φοινίκης travelled as far as Phoenicia,
went to Him…”
καὶ Κύπρου καὶ Ἀντιοχείας͵ Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching
• St Photini “… leaving her water jar…” returned as quickly as she
could to Sychar to tell everyone the Joyful News of the
μηδενὶ λαλοῦντες τὸν λόγον εἰ the Word to no one but the
Appearance of the Great Messiah. μὴ μόνον Ἰουδαίοις. Judeans.
• The abandonment of her precious water jar at the Well, illustrated Ἦσαν δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες Some of them were from Cyprus
how overwhelmed she was by the need to share such a Κύπριοι καὶ Κυρηναῖοι͵ οἵτινες and Cyrene, who, when they
Marvellous Event with her fellow citizens. εἰσελθόντες εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν went to Antioch, spoke to the
• Her need for water was overcome by the great Spiritual Need for ἐλάλουν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς͵ Hellenists, preaching our Lord
Christ’s Living Water. εὐαγγελιζόμενοι τὸν Κύριον Jesus.
• Her rhetorical question “… can this be the Christ…?” was already Ἰησοῦν.
answered and confirmed in her immortal soul, and the
profound Spiritual Transformation that occurs when we Καὶ ἦν χεὶρ Κυρίου μετʼ αὐτῶν͵ And the Hand of the Lord was
Encounter our Lord Jesus Christ, also attracted others to πολύς τε ἀριθμὸς ὁ πιστεύσας with them, and a great number
hasten to meet Him. ἐπέστρεψεν ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον. believed and turned to the Lord.
“…Meanwhile, the Disciples besought Him, saying: “Rabbi, eat.” He
said to them: “I have Food to eat of which you do not know.” Ἠκούσθη δὲ ὁ λόγος εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῆς News of these things was heard by
The Disciples said to one another: “Has anyone brought Him Ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Ἰεροσολύμοις the Church in Jerusalem, and
food?” Jesus said to them: “My Food is to do the Will of Him περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν they sent out Barnabas to go as
Who sent Me, and to accomplish His Work…” Βαρνάβαν ἕως Ἀντιοχείας· far as Antioch.
• When His Disciples offered the food they had purchased to our
Lord He responded: “...I have Food to eat of which you do not
Ὄς παραγενόμενος καὶ ἰδὼν τὴν When he went and saw the Grace
know...” because His physical hunger and thirst was replaced χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐχάρη, of God, he was glad.
by His Great Joy of Redeeming “…the Lost Sheep of the House of
Israel….” – the Samaritans who so eagerly went to meet Him.
Καὶ παρεκάλει πάντας τῇ προθέσει And he encouraged them all that
τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ with Purpose of heart they
• Christ is often misunderstood due to our limited human
experience and knowledge. Κυρίῳ͵ ὅτι ἦν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ should continue with the Lord,
• Through these misunderstandings, our Lord fulfils His Role as our
πλήρης Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ for he was a good man, full of
Divine Saviour by accomplishing the Will of His Heavenly Πίστεως. the Holy spirit and Faith.
Father. Καὶ προσετέθη ὄχλος ἱκανὸς τῷ And a great many people were
• The Redemption of mankind – first His Chosen People and then Κυρίῳ. added to the Lord.
the Gentiles - is His Spiritual Food.
• Our Lord Jesus, by His own Perfect Example, has taught us to
Ἐξῆλθε δὲ εἰς Ταρσὸν ἀναζητῆσαι Barnabas departed for Tarsos to
perform/obey the Divine Will of God throughout our life Σαῦλον͵ seek Saul.
without being distracted by earthly cares such as hunger,
thirst, shelter and comfort.
Καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. And when he had found him, he
took him to Antioch.
 John 6:27 “… Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for the
Food that endures to Everlasting Life, which the Son of Man shall Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν So it was that for a whole year they
give you, because God the Father has set His Seal upon Him…” ὅλον συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ assembled with the Church and
 Matthew 4:4 “… Man shalt not live by bread alone, but by every Ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον taught a great many people.
Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God…” ἱκανόν͵
30. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 7.
Χρηματίσαι τε πρῶτον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ The Disciples in Antioch were the • Only in the Holy Gospel according to St Mark were these most
direct and revealing Words recorded, which our Lord Jesus
τοὺς Μαθητὰς ‘Χριστιανούς.’ first to be called ‘Christians’.
Christ used to identify Himself as the Eternal, Only Begotten
Ἐν ταύταις δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις In those days Prophets went from Son and Word of God our Heavenly Father, being indeed one of
κατῆλθον ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων Jerusalem to Antioch. the Three Persons of the Divine Godhead and Holy Trinity.
προφῆται εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν· • To “…sit at the Right Hand of the Power…” means that our Lord
Jesus Christ certainly shared Divine Authority with God our
Ἀναστὰς δὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν Ὀνόματι One of them, named Agabos, Heavenly Father because He is Enthroned at the Right Hand of
Ἅγαβος ἐσήμανε διὰ τοῦ stood up and showed by the God our Heavenly Father – the highest Honour befitting God
Πνεύματος λιμὸν μέγαν μέλλειν Spirit that there was going to be the Eternal Son of God and Divine Saviour of all mankind.
ἔσεσθαι ἐφʼ ὅλην τὴν a great famine throughout the • This Divine Statement of Christ our Lord was very clearly
οἰκουμένην· ὅστις καὶ ἐγένετο world - which also had understood by the High Priest to be His Proclamation of Divine
ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου Καίσαρος. happened in the days of Equality with God our Heavenly Father – His Rightful Identity.
Claudius Caesar. • He most certainly revealed that HE IS INDEED GOD INCARNATE
yet all those who schemed and plotted against our Lord failed
Τῶν δὲ Μαθητῶν καθὼς εὐπορεῖτό The Disciples - each according to to grasp this Reality and Truth, which brought about the dire
τις ὥρισαν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν εἰς his ability - determined to send yet Salvific Consequences that followed, which surpassed all
διακονίαν πέμψαι τοῖς relief to the Brethren dwelling human understanding.
κατοικοῦσιν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ in Judea.  Leviticus 24:16 “…Let him who pronounces the Lord’s Name be
Ἀδελφοῖς· surely put to death. Let all the Congregation of Israel stone him
with stones… Let him die when he pronounces the Lord’s Name…”
Ὂ καὶ ἐποίησαν ἀποστείλαντες This they did, and sent it to the • The Name of Almighty God was so immensely Sacred, no one
πρὸς τοὺς Πρεσβυτέρους διὰ Elders by the hands of Barnabas dared mention It, and only alluded to the Lord our God, in
χειρὸς Βαρνάβα καὶ Σαύλου. and Saul. abject fear of being stoned to death for blasphemy.
 The Book of the Acts of the Apostles was written by St Luke ‘the • Our Lord Jesus Christ is Truly Divine for He is the Son of God and
Beloved Physician’ circa 75 – 85 and is actually a continuation of thus one of the three Persons of the Almighty Godhead – the
his Holy Gospel. Holy Trinity – His own use of this Divine Name reveals His True
Kindly refer to previous notes concerning St Luke of the 70 Apostles Unity with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
of Christ.  “…And when His Disciples returned, they marvelled, for He was
During the Paschal Season, the usual Sunday/Resurrection Epistles speaking to a woman. Yet none said: “What seekest Thou?” nor
are replaced by Readings from St Luke’s Acts of the Apostles. “Why art Thou talking to her?”
The Acts of the Apostles describes how the Faithful Disciples of
• When our Lord’s “… Disciples returned, they marvelled…” not only
Christ continued to Fulfil our Divine Saviour’s Sacred Mission of
because our Lord Jesus conversed with a Samaritan, but that
Salvation on Earth, despite suffering appalling persecution from
He spoke with an unaccompanied woman, which was
the misguided Judeans and the ignorant pagans, whose corrupt
potentially scandalous for them both! (See previous notes.)
Priests and religious leaders fought to keep their nefarious
lifestyles, possessions and monetary wealth, while oppressing and • Our Lord Jesus Christ is above all social norms and customs,
impoverishing the people. treating women and children with the highest respect, thereby
showing their value and importance in earthly and Heavenly
 “…In those days, those who were scattered after the persecution Life. (John &;53-8:11; Luke 20-30; Luke 20:11-18 & Luke
that arose over Stephen, travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, 8:1 – 3)
and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one but the Judeans….” • His Disciples were beginning to learn from our Lord’s Good
• “… In those days…” refers to the time following the Resurrection Example so they did not admonish nor question the Samaritan
and Ascension of Christ, and the Descent of God the Holy Spirit Woman for speaking to a Man without having a male relative
on Pentecost Sunday. with her. (Women were always blamed and punished for any
perceived wrongdoing or sins committed by men.)

8. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 29.
 Truth, are thus Empowered and Enabled to Worship our
Triune Lord God with Purity of heart and Truth.
“…The Woman said to Him: “I know that the Messiah is coming –
He Who is called ‘Christ.’ When He comes, He shall Reveal all
things.” Jesus said to her: “I Am He, Who speaks to Thee.”
• Although the Samaritans no longer lived and believed strictly
according to the Old Covenant, they all knew about the Great
Saviour Who had been awaited for so many generations – “I
know that the Messiah is coming…”
• “… He Who is called ‘Christ’…” meant the One Who is Anointed by
Almighty God. All the ancient Kings of Israel were Anointed by
God to rule over and lead the people to God.
• The term “the Christ” or “the Christ of God” identifies our Lord
Jesus Christ as indeed the Only Divinely Anointed Messiah Who
is sent to us by God our Heavenly Father to Liberate us from
sin and to Enlighten and Empower us with Divine Truth.
• For those who did not understand the Holy Scriptures and the
Sacred Prophecies concerning the Great Messiah, He was
expected to be a powerful King or Ruler Who would liberate the
Faithful from the oppressive Roman Empire. But for those who
hoped for a closer Relationship with Almighty God “… He shall
Reveal all Things…” meaning that He shall grant us His Divine
Truth.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ reveals His True, Divine Identity as our
Great Messiah/Saviour by telling St Photini: “I, Who speak to
you, Am He,” which is literally translated: “I AM (Ἐγώ Εἰμι -
“Ego Imi”) GOD Who speaks to Thee.”
• “Ἐγώ Εἰμι” - “I Am” is the Divine Name of God and its use
indicates a Theophany or Divine Revelation of God Himself.
• The use of this Most Holy Name by a mere man would have been
considered as the worst blasphemy ever – punishable by
stoning to death!
•However, because our Lord Jesus Christ is truly Divine – fully God
by Nature – His use of this Divine Name was certainly not
blasphemy, for it revealed His Rightful Divine Unity with God
the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.
 John 8:58 “… they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid
Himself and went out of the Temple, going through the midst of
them and so passed by…”
The outraged Judeans could not harm our Lord Jesus until God
decided the exact right time for His Passion and Death on the
Cross to occur. This again clearly shows us that Almighty God
alone is in control of everything.
 Mark 14:61 - 62 “…the High Priest asked Him, saying to Him:
“Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ Jesus said: “I Am.
And you shalt see the Son of Man sitting at the Right Hand of the
Power, and Coming with the Clouds of Heaven.”
28. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
• “...those who were scattered ...” were the Faithful Disciples of
Christ who had fled from Jerusalem due to “… the persecution
that arose over Stephen …”
• St Stephen was one of Christ’s 70 Apostles who had been selected
as Deacons to serve the needs of the people so that the Holy
Apostles could supervise the ever growing Christian
Communities.
• St Stephen, the Protomartyr, was one of the first seven Deacons
selected who was soon stoned to death by the Judeans for
refusing to renounce his Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• St Luke mentions the early Christian Communities/Churches that
were established in “…Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch…” which
shows us how our Faith had already spread throughout the
Roman Empire.
• “…preaching the Word to no one but the Judeans…” by no means
implies discrimination against others, but rather that as our
Lord Jesus Christ had initially only preached to “… the Lost
Sheep of the House of Israel…” the first Disciples continued to
do so as well, until later, when more Gentiles sought His Divine
Love, Truth and Life.
• The Old Covenant Israel was supposed to have led the rest of
mankind to God, but because they failed to fulfil the Teachings
and Commandments of God and His Holy Prophets, Christ and
His Apostles began to Enlighten all other Nations with His
Divine Truth and Love according to His Divine Commandment
to “… make Disciples of all Nations…”
• To be a ‘Disciple of Christ’ means being under the Discipline of
our Lord Jesus Christ – applying all His Divine Truth to our
thoughts, words and deeds.
 “…Some of them were from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they
went to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching our Lord
Jesus. And the Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great
number believed and turned to the Lord…”
• The New Covenant Faith had quickly spread to “…Cyprus and
Cyrene…” as well as to many regions throughout the vast
Roman Empire.
• Cyrene was a Hellenistic city in the province of Cyrenaica in
Eastern Libya, Northern Africa. During the reign of Ptolemy
Soter (323 – 285 BC) 100,000 Judeans had been forced to settle
in and around Cyrene, which eventually became an early centre
of the New Covenant Faith.
• Antioch was also a Hellenistic city, founded circa 300 BC by
Seleukos, which became one of the most important regions
during the Hellenistic Period. It was a centre of Hellenistic
Judaism and, being part of a Pentarchy, became “… the cradle
of Christianity …” having played a significant role in the early
Christian Church.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 9.
 • “...Hellenists...” referred to the Hellenes – the Gentile or Pagan
Greek people – not the Greek speaking Judeans
 “…And the Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number
believed and turned to the Lord. News of these things was
heard by the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas
to go as far as Antioch…”
• “… the Hand of the Lord was with them…” confirms that ONLY by
the Grace of Almighty God can we Believe and be “… turned to
the Lord.”
• Belief and Faith arises from deep within us – from our immortal
soul – but we also need to willingly and Faithfully co-operate
with our Lord God, for He never forces His Divine Will and Love
upon us.
• Every day our Lord offers us His Divine Goodness, which we either
accept or reject by means of our thoughts, words and deeds.
• The Evangelisation of the Gentiles caused a significant amount of
conflict in the early Church.
• Even though Christ had Commanded His Holy Apostles to preach
His Holy Gospel universally – “...to all Nations...” – it took a
while for this to be put properly into practice.
• The “… Church in Jerusalem…” consisted of St Simon Peter and
the other Holy Apostles of Christ who fulfilled their Sacred
Mission in the region, as well as setting off from there on their
different Missionary Journeys throughout the Roman Empire.
• Much debate arose over what requirements from the Old Covenant
Law – if any – the Gentile Christians would have to follow.
• The Holy Church of Christ in Antioch was instrumental in bringing
vast numbers of Gentiles to our Lord Jesus Christ
• The fact that St Barnabas was sent to Antioch implies Two
significant Truths
1. Holy Apostles of Christ were sent forth to preach the Holy
Gospel of Christ but they never worked independently nor
in isolation from the Body of the Holy Church.
2. The Holy Church of Antioch needed the Seal of Holy Apostolic
Authority in order to become integrated into the Universal
Church of Christ.
 “…When he went and saw the Grace of God, he was glad. And he
encouraged them all that with Purpose of heart they should
continue with the Lord, for he was a good man, full of the Holy
spirit and Faith. And a great many people were added to the
Lord.
• When St Barnabas “… saw the Grace of God, he was glad…”
because any Spiritual Father or Teacher, seeing others eagerly
and willingly becoming Disciples of our Lord Jesus and growing
in Faith, is indeed, the greatest Joy, because it is the Sacred
10. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Pentecost, which inaugurated the Worship of our New
Covenant with Almighty God.
• “… neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem shalt you Worship
the Father…” because as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us God’s
Omnipresence – the Divine Presence of Almighty God - fills all
places and all things, which we might not be able to see, but
certainly shall perceive as and when we have a close, intimate
Relationship with Him.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ refers to the Samaritans - and to all who
have apostasied from the True Faith - “...you worship what you
do not know. We worship what we know, for Salvation is of the
Judeans…”
• The New Covenant of God is the continuation of our Sacred
Relationship with and Worship of Almighty God.
• Our Lord affirmed that True Revelation comes from the Old
Covenant Judaism:
• St Athanasios the Great taught us: “The commonwealth of Israel
was the School of the Knowledge of God for all Nations.”
• More importantly, our Lord Jesus Christ testified that the Messiah
Who was prophesied among the Israelites, has risen from the
Judean Nation – from the Sacred House of Israel.
• While the Gift of the Salvation in Christ is for all Nations, it has
come from within Judaism.
• Since Christ has fulfilled all the preparatory Requirements of the
Old Covenant, we have been granted this New Sacred Covenant
of Love whereby we receive Salvation and Eternal Life as
worthy, Sanctified Children of God who become Co-Heirs with
Christ of our Heavenly Fathers Eternal Kingdom of Love.
• Our Spiritual Forefathers, from the Holy Apostles to our present
Holy Fathers, have carefully preserved and Spiritually
Sustained the New Covenant Faith as our Lord Jesus Christ
taught It to us.
• The Teachings, Life and Worship we received from our Lord Jesus
Christ, being the Perfect, Absolute Divine Truth, cannot be
altered to even the slightest degree, for then they are no longer
the Divine Truth granted to us by Almighty God, and of little
Spiritual Benefit to us both now and forever.
 .“God is Spirit, and those who Worship Him must Worship in Spirit
and Truth.”
• Our Lord God is Spirit and thus cannot be confined nor restricted
to any particular time or location. Being Omnipresent our Lord
God is everywhere!
• Those who receive the Divine Gift of God the Holy Spirit, and
Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son and Word
of God the Father, Who revealed and taught us His Divine
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 27.
  Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught and revealed to us
everything that our Heavenly Father has Willed Him to do.
 Our Lord God has thus provided us with all the necessary
Knowledge and means for our Eternal Salvation.
 Nevertheless, there is still much unknown to us, which shall
only be fully revealed immediately after our Repose and at
our Resurrection and Final Judgement.
• St Photini’s perceptive response to Christ revealed her Spiritual
Condition, for she was ready and willing to receive His
Divine Truth and Love.
• Christ’s insight into every human being’s heart, which is
repeatedly mentioned throughout the Holy Gospels,
emphasises His Divine Nature.
• St Photini mentioned one of the differences between the Faith of
the Samaritans, and the Faith of the Judeans: “...Our Fathers
worshipped on this mountain... you say that Jerusalem is the
place where men ought to worship…” the historical argument,
which only our Lord could settle concerning where and how
True Worship of God was to be offered.
• The term “… you say… “ referred to the Judeans who had
preserved and lived strictly according to the Old Covenant
Laws, whereas the Old Covenant Faith of the Samaritans had
been severely distorted and misguided by their intermarriage
with pagans and their religious beliefs.
“…Jesus said to her: “Woman, believe Me: for the Hour is coming
when neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shalt you
Worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. We
Worship what we know, for Salvation is from the Judeans. But
the Hour is coming – and now is – when the True Worshippers
shall Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and thus, for such
the Father seeks to Worship Him…”
• Without answering such an earthly question our Lord Jesus Christ
elevated the discussion to the One Whom we Worship:
Almighty God Himself.
• The Samaritans were a significant portion of “… the Lost Sheep of
the House of Israel…” whom God our Heavenly Father wanted
to Redeem.
• Although the Samaritans had apostasied, they still retained a
certain understanding and remembrance of the Old Covenant
Laws and Teachings, which St Photini understood, making her
receptive to Christ’s Divine Truth.
• “… the Hour is coming…” refers to the Spiritual Enlightenment and
Salvation of the Samaritans, who would soon joyfully accept
the New Covenant of Love from our Lord Jesus Christ and His
Holy Apostles.
• “...the Hour is coming...” also refers to the Death and Resurrection
of Christ and to the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Holy
26. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Fruit of Divine Grace, which requires constant care and
effort.
• We are One, Holy, Universal Orthodox Family who, always with
Agape/Love, share each other’s joys and sorrows as though
they were our own.
• St Barnabas “… Encouraged them all [so] that with Purpose of heart
they should continue with the Lord…” because although it is
relatively easy to ‘convert,’ it requires our total and sincere
Commitment to Live in Christ.
• Our Life in Christ is a Sacred Life of ceaseless Spiritual Struggling
and Striving.
• Our Spiritual Perfection is a lifelong Sacred Process, not an
immediate or instant accomplishment.
• We are all Journeying towards Eternity, and, as Brethren in Christ,
we must always guide and encourage one another along the
Way.
• St Barnabas had been with Christ since he was Called, so he was
truly “…a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and Faith...” which
drew others to our Lord Jesus Christ when they heard his God-
Inspired Words that lit up their heart and spirit – body and
soul.
• Our ‘heart and soul’ naturally responds to the Divine
Presence/Grace of God, whether directly or indirectly, through
His Righteous Ones. [The good are attracted by mutual Agape, while
the wicked are repelled.]
 “…Barnabas departed for Tarsos to seek Saul. And when he had
found him, he took him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole
year they assembled with the Church and taught a great many
people…”
• Tarsos was an important maritime city and also the capital city of
Cilicia, situated on the Cydnos River, which divided it into two.
It was renowned for its Hellenistic culture and had numerous
schools of Philosophers.
It was a free city, exempt from the jurisdiction of Roman
Governors and Roman garrisons, having received its freedom
from the Roman Empire from Caesar Anthony on condition
that it retained its own magistrates and laws, while
acknowledging Roman sovereignty.
• Tarsos was the birthplace and hometown of St Paul.
• “…Saul…” became known as St Paul, the great Apostle to the
Gentiles.
He had been a most zealous Old Covenant Pharisee who
participated in the persecution of the New Covenant
Judeans for being ‘blasphemous apostates.’
 Galatians 1: 13 – 14 “…you have heard of my former conduct in
Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and
tried to destroy It. … I advanced… beyond many of my
SACRED LESSONS – 5 P A S C H A L S U N D A Y – T H E S A M A R I T A N W O M A N 11.
TH
 contemporaries in my own Nation, being more exceedingly zealous
to the Tradition of my Fathers. But when it pleased God, who
separated me from my mother’s womb and Called me through His
Grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might Preach Him among
the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor
did I go up to Jerusalem…”
Shortly after the stoning to death of the Holy Protomartyr, St
Stephen, [and other Faithful Disciples of Christ], as he walked
along the road to Damascus, he was Converted by Christ
Himself Who confronted him, and Transformed him into
one of His greatest Holy Apostles, who brought
innumerable multitudes of immortal souls to God’s New
Covenant of Love.
St Paul “… whether in the body, or out of the body…” was filled
with Divine Knowledge that Transformed him into a
Divinely Inspired Teacher of God’s Truth by the Grace of
Almighty God. [Acts 9 : 3 – 17]
Although ‘Saul’ was indeed deeply Faithful to God, he had been
misguided and wickedly influenced by the enemies of
Christ. Knowing the very depth of his heart and soul, our
Lord Enlightened him with His Divine Truth, and St Paul
himself chose to Fulfil His Divine Mission on Earth.
• The fact that St “...Barnabas departed for Tarsos to seek...” St Paul,
revealed his genuine Humility, for he thereby acknowledged his
own personal limitations, and his true Communion with and
dependence on the other Holy Apostles of Christ.
• The Body of Christ – His Holy Church – functions by means of
Love, Harmony and Unity of its Members, each of us having a
particular, significant Role in Her Sacred Structure. We all
work together to Fulfil the Divine Will of God our Heavenly
Father.
 St Paul and St Barnabas “…for a whole year … assembled with the
Church and taught a great many people…” meaning that they
implemented two key elements of Liturgical Worship:
1. Eucharistic (Thanksgiving) Assembly – Communal Worship
2. Correct/Orthodox Teaching of the Holy Gospel of Christ.
• According to His Great Divine Commission, our Lord Jesus had
Commanded His Apostles to “… teach them to observe [fulfil]
all Things that I have Commanded you…”
• We cannot ‘pick and choose’ but rather must fulfil EVERYTHING
that our Incarnate Lord God has taught and Commanded us to
do, by applying them to our thoughts, words and deeds, for
only thereby might we become Spiritually Perfected and worthy
Citizens of His Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
• It is useless to merely convert or be converted to our Orthodox
Faith without first thoroughly learning all aspects of our Life in
Christ, which consists of innumerable aspects of our daily
Struggles and Strivings.
12. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
• Therefore, St Photini may have been legally married to five
brothers without bearing any male children for the family, and
then had taken up residence with a sixth man to whom she was
not legally married.
• Women had no ‘human rights’ to protect them, and were only
respected and protected when they bore male children to
continue the family lineage.
• Females were treated appallingly and were regarded as little
better than domestic slaves. Although husbands could divorce
their wives, women could not divorce their abusive husbands.
They could never remarry after being divorced, but were
continually abused by men and despised by some women.
• When St Photini confessed “I have no Husband,” she did not try to
make excuses nor justify herself.
• Our Lord reacted to her honesty by saying “ Well said…” He then
revealed His Knowledge of her personal circumstances,
concluding “… This Truthfully Thy spoke…”
• Without being offended, defensive or upset by our Lord’s Words,
St Photini responded: “...I perceive that Thou art a Prophet...”
for she immediately responded to His Divine Presence, and
understood that He was Someone Who was unique - a Holy
Prophet of God Who had an extraordinary insight to her
complicated, personal lifestyle, although the Samaritans did
not accept nor recognise any Prophets after St Moses, the
ancient Patriarch.
• The only Holy Prophet the Samaritans expected was the Great
Messiah of Whom St Moses had foretold.
 D e u t e r o n o m y 1 8 : 1 5 - 1 8 – “...The Lord your God shall raise
up for you a Prophet like me from your Brethren... I shall put My
Word in His Mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I Command
Him...”
 This indicates that He is the Word made Flesh [Incarnate] for
no other Holy Prophet of God, including St Moses, would
ever speak in such a manner!
 The Holy Prophets of God were mere human beings whereas
the Holy Prophet Who was to come would be God Incarnate
– God in the Flesh – a physical, visible God Who would live
in our midst to teach us His Divine Truth and Love.
 I s a i a h 5 4 : 1 3 - God also told St Isaiah: “...I shall cause all your
children to be taught by God, and your children to be in Great
Peace....”
 St Isaiah the Holy Prophet of God also prophesied concerning
this Divine Prophet.
 The Chosen People of God would be taught directly by God
Himself – by God Incarnate – i.e. our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 25.
 Grace that not only quenches our Spiritual Thirst for His
Goodness and Blessings, but also Spiritually Nourishes and
Sustains us as we Struggle and Strive to regain our Divine
Likeness with which we were created.
• The Living Water that our Lord Jesus Christ grants us, does indeed
“… become a Spring of Water welling up to Eternal Life…”
because it continuously Nourishes and Sustains us during this
preparatory period before Eternity, so that we may become
Spiritually Perfected, but also continues to do so even
afterwards, for His Divine Truth and Love is Eternal.
• Those of us who “...Hunger and Thirst...” for Divine Truth, Love
and Everlasting Life are Sustained, Regenerated, Refreshed and
Renewed by God and by everything He provides for our
physical and Spiritual Welfare.
• It is natural for our immortal soul to yearn for God Who created
us and gave us Life. This Spiritual Hunger and Thirst is similar
to our physical hunger and thirst that needs to be satisfied.
• Everything concerning this material, physical existence is merely
temporary, whereas the Divine Gifts bestowed on us by our
Lord God are Eternal.
 “…The Woman said to Him: “Lord, give me this Water, that I may
not thirst, nor have to come here to draw.” To her Jesus said:
“Go, fetch Thy husband, and come here.” Answering, the
Woman said: “I have no husband.” To her Jesus said: “Well
said: ‘I have no husband.’ For five husbands hast Thou had and
now he whom Thou hast is not Thy husband. This Truthfully
Thou spoke.”
• The reaction of this hard-working Woman is understandable when
she says: “… Lord, give me this Water, so that I may not thirst,
nor have to come here to draw [water]…” which she had to do
several times every day.
• Before explaining further, our Lord told St Photini to “...fetch Thy
husband...” thereby showing how our Lord respects everyone
equally, for He did not wish to scandalise either this Woman
nor anyone else because it was forbidden (and still is in certain
cultures) for men and women to converse directly, except
through a woman’s close male relative.
• Even before St Photini confessed “… I have no husband…” our
Lord Jesus already knew that she was living in sin, and that she
had had “…five husbands…” and that “… now he whom Thou
hast is not Thy Husband…”
• According to Old Covenant Law, a young childless widow was
expected to marry the brother of her deceased Husband in
order to bear male children to increase the family and continue
its lineage. Consequently, a woman could be sequentially
married to “…five brothers…” and widowed - a subject that
was put to Christ on another occasion concerning whose Wife
would she be considered after her own death.
24. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Furthermore, we all need our Spiritual Fathers and Teachers –
and one another - to continuously Guide, correct and
Encourage us so that we can make good Spiritual Progress
towards the Acquisition of Spiritual Perfection in the Likeness
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Being Disciples of Christ, we need constant ‘Spiritual Nourishment’
and Spiritual Guidance that Encourages and Strengthens us in
our ceaseless Watchfulness/Spiritual Attention, whereby we
can immediately Repent our sins and return to Spiritual Life in
Christ.
Those who have been properly instructed and then continuously
Guided by Spiritual Fathers and Teachers, become good
examples to others, and thereby the Holy Orthodox Church of
Christ flourishes and endures throughout the ages.
The inseparable Holy Virtues of Humility and Obedience are the
very first and most vital to acquire, for only thereby are we
able to enjoy Good Spiritual Progress and Well Being. This
applies to every Faithful Disciple of Christ.
 “...The Disciples in Antioch were the first to be called ‘Christians’…”
• This is more than mere historical Truth. It demonstrates that
Christ’s Commandment to preach His Holy Gospel among the
Gentiles as well - “... to all Nations ...” - was first fully realised
in Antioch, Syria.
• St John Chrysostom commented: “It was (in Antioch) for the first
time that people were accounted worthy of that Name.”
• In order to be truly and worthily entitled “Christian” our thoughts,
words and deeds must be like those of our Lord Jesus Christ
– we must become “Christ-Like!” Therefore, as His Faithful
Disciples, we perpetually Struggle and Strive to become truly
“Christian,” which is a lifelong Process.
 “...In those days Prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch...”
• Although the terms “Saints” and “Prophets” have vastly different
connotations these days, they were commonly used terms at
that time.
• Certain New Covenant Faithful within the Holy Church had
received the Divine Gift of Prophecy, since there has always
been a wonderful Hierarchy of Honour in the Holy Church of
the New Covenant, which continues to this very day – and shall
continue unabated, until Eternity.
 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 2 9 “...Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are
all Teachers? Are all Workers of Miracles?”
• However, their ‘Prophecies’ were more like Divinely Inspired
Perceptions rather than like the Divine Prophecies granted to
the ancient Holy Prophets of God in order to prepare His
Chosen People for the New Covenant of Love by Guiding them
properly to Repentance of their sins so that they would be able
to receive Eternal Salvation.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 13.
 • St John the Forerunner and Baptist was the last and greatest of all
God’s Holy Prophets, for once Christ began His Divine Mission,
and Fulfilled the Old Covenant, the Sacred Nation of Israel
would no longer be Divinely Guided, unless they accepted
God’s New Covenant of Love and Eternal Salvation.
• The Apostolic Work of the Bishops sets the pace for all the rest of
Christ’s Holy Flock.
• When the Oversight is in correct working order, the rest of Church
is free to function at optimal level for the Glory, Honour and
Worship of God.
• Yet, even with all the Divine Gifts in place and operative, there is
something far more excellent – the Love of God, which is the
True Sign of the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 4 : 3 “He who prophesies speaks edification and
exhortation and comfort to mankind.”
 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 4 : 2 9 “Let two or three Prophets speak, and let
the others judge.”
• God is not the Author of confusion - and the Truly Spiritual can
control themselves, since genuine Spirituality is manifested in
preparedness, propriety and order, courtesy and self-
control/discipline.
• When God the Holy Spirit is present, there is Divine Peace and
Understanding.
 E p h e s i a n s 4 : 1 1 “…(Christ) Himself granted some to be Apostles,
some Prophets, some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers,
for the equipping of the Saints for the Work of Ministry, for the
Edifying of the Body of Christ until we all come to the Unity of the
Faith and of the Knowledge of Christ...”
• God the Holy Spirit bestows His Divine Gifts so as to form one
cohesive, harmonious group who are responsible for
equipping – teaching, guiding and preparing others - for the
Sacred Task of Christ’s Holy Ministry.
• Every Faithful Christian has the Sacred Task of guiding, helping
and encouraging one another as we all journey through this
preparatory period of earthly life towards Eternity because -
whether we are believers or not – all humanity will enter
Eternity.
 One of them, named Agabos, stood up and showed by the Spirit
that there was going to be a great famine throughout the world
- which also had happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. The
Disciples - each according to his ability - determined to send
relief to the Brethren dwelling in Judea. This they did, and sent
it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul…”
• St Agabos was one of our Lord Jesus Christ’s 70 Holy Apostles
whom He had sent forth to Preach the New Covenant of Love
while Healing the severely afflicted. He was a resident of
14. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
gave us this well, and drank from it himself – and his sons, and
his livestock?”
• St Photini initially misunderstood our Lord Jesus. She at first
reacted in a practical, mundane manner, but she quickly
grasped our Lord’s Teachings, which revealed the depth of her
intelligence and her own Spiritual Hunger and Thirst for Divine
Truth.
• Our soul responds eagerly and joyfully to Divine Truth, for we
were created to perceive and comprehend it.
• Her knowledge of Holy Scripture and the Teachings of the ancient
Holy Prophets of God is evident from her question: “...Art
Thou greater than our Father, Jacob...?”
• St Photini believed in our Lord God and she quickly realised that
our Lord Jesus is indeed Someone of great significance. She
sensed Him to be a great Holy Prophet of God Who knows
Divine Truth.
• St Jacob the ancient Old Covenant Patriarch was a “…type of
Christ…” because he had received the Vision of the Divine
Ladder, which was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ Whose
Divine Truth connects us from Earth to His Heavenly Kingdom..
 Genesis 28:12 – St Jacob had “...dreamed... a Ladder was set up on
the Earth, and ... reached to Heaven... and Angels of God were
ascending and descending ...”
• The Vision of the Ladder that connects Earth with Heaven refers to
our Ever Blessed Theotokos and Her Divine Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ.
• Her Holy Icon that is usually situated in the Apse of the Church is
called “the Platytera,” meaning “wide,” ”broad” or “[infinitely]
spacious” for it depicts our Divine Saviour in Her Womb.
• Theotokos is the Sacred Ladder that connects Heaven and Earth
through our Lord Jesus Christ for our Eternal Salvation.
 “…Answering, Jesus said to her: “Everyone who drinks of this
water shall thirst again. Whoever drinks of the Water that I shall
give, shalt never ever Thirst again, but shall become a Spring of
Water welling up to Eternal Life.”
• “…Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again …” because
we have a perpetual need for water to sustain us and to quench
our physical thirst.
• Water is the most essential element for life and growth. Without
water all living Creation would cease to exist. The devastating
effects of drought or any lack of water is clearly obvious, yet
most people who have continuous access to clean, running
water, take it for granted and fail to recognise how precious is
every drop of water.
• “…Whoever drinks of the Water that I shall give, shalt never ever
Thirst again…” refers to God’s Divine, Life-giving Truth and
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 23.
 first five Books of the Old Testament Scriptures – the
Pentateuch. They had built their own temple on Mount
Gerizim, which the Israelites had destroyed in 128 BC.
• Not only was it astonishing that our Lord Jesus asked the
Samaritan Woman for a drink of water, but it also went against
moral laws of those days because no honourable man would
dare to directly speak to an unaccompanied woman. [See notes
below.]
 “…Answering, Jesus said to her: “If Thou knew the Gift of God, and
Who it is Who is saying to Thee: ‘Give Me a drink,’ Thou would
have asked Him and He would have given Thee Living Water.”
• “...if Thou knew the Gift of God...” applies to most of us who fail to
fully understand the Magnitude and Essential Significance of all
God’s Gifts, which He freely grants us – even though we are
stubborn, unrepentant sinners! Only when we fully grasp the
Marvellous Reality and Truth of God’s Divine Gifts, shall we
Struggle and Strive with body and soul to become “Christ-like.”
• “…Who it is …” Although, like St Photini and many others who
Encounter our Lord Jesus, He identifies Himself to us when we
are able to receive such Knowledge and Understanding.
• Our Lord God alone knows us better than we know ourselves and
thus grants us Wisdom, Knowledge and Divine Truth according
to our Spiritual State and Ability. This is evident from the Holy
Gospels that noted the Spiritual Progress of the humble
Fishermen and other Faithful Disciples of Christ who became
our greatest Spiritual Fathers.
• “...Living Water...” in the ordinary, mundane sense, refers to fresh,
flowing water from a stream or spring, rather than from a
stagnant pond or cistern.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ’s “…Living Water…” referred to the Divine
Grace of God the Holy Spirit, which leads us to Eternal Life.
• His Divine Gift of Living Water not only Spiritually Sustains us,
while remaining within us, but is so abundant that it
‘overflows’ from us to others, affecting us all in the best
possible manner.
• God’s Living Water/Divine Grace Sustains us and our Faith – our
Life in Christ, thereby producing an most Fruitful Harvest for
the Glory, Honour and Worship of Almighty God.
• Divine Grace is for the Spiritual Benefit of many, never for one
individual alone.
• Just as God gave this life-sustaining Well to St Jacob and His
People, so too, does our Lord Jesus Christ grant us the Life-
giving Well of God the Holy Spirit to Save us, to sustain us and
to grant us Eternal Life.
 “…The Woman said to Him: “Sir, Thou hast nothing with which to
draw water, and the well is deep. Where dost Thou get that
Living Water? Art Thou greater than our Father, Jacob, who
22. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Jerusalem who fulfilled the Divine Salvific Mission of Christ
until he was eventually martyred in Antioch.
• His prophecy of a great, devastating famine was Divinely Inspired
or by the Grace of God, for St Agabos “…showed by the
Spirit…” that it would soon occur. Only God knows what
future Events shall occur long before they happen. God the
Holy Spirit Enlightens us and grants us Knowledge that is
Beneficial or Salvific to all mankind.
• “...a great famine throughout the world...” did indeed happen
throughout the known world in 44 – 51 – having begun in
Judea and spreading as far as Greece and Italy.
• “...each according to his ability...” is an important Principle and
Practise of our Holy Orthodox Church.
Being Disciples of Christ, we must always voluntarily help our
Holy Church in any manner that is possible for us.
We must not wait to be asked but provide anything that shall
help the Church operate properly.
Whatever needs arise of the Clergy or our Brethren we ought to
immediately try to resolve according to our personal
circumstances.
These necessities may not always require our monetary donations
but also by providing paper, printing, and cleaning equipment,
or time spent sewing, repairing, maintaining, cooking, feeding
and assisting our Parish Priest and others in various ways.
• By serving the needs of our Holy Church, we are serving our Lord
God.
• “… determined to send relief to the Brethren dwelling in Judea…”
implies this happened before the famine had begun in Judea,
and spread further.
• Our Benevolent, Loving God warned His Faithful before this
disaster struck them, so that they could be prepared for the
worst that was to befall everyone.
• “...sent it to the Elders...” - the “… Presbyters…” (the Priests) who
were Ordained by the Holy Apostles and put in charge of the
local Parish churches, which were founded by the Holy
Apostles.
• The ‘Presbyters’ referred to those who were mature, trustworthy
and Spiritually Experienced. They were sometimes referred to
as “… the bearded ones…” which meant they were middle-aged
to elderly men.
• Since those days, the Orders of the Holy Ministry or Holy
Priesthood of Christ consist of the Bishops (the Apostles and their
direct successors), the Presbyters/Priests, and the Deacons.
SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 15.
 THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 4 : 5 – 42 physical effects of our own human condition, with the exception
The Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well of temptation and grievous passions that cause us to commit sin.
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἔρχεται ὁ At that time, our Lord Jesus went  “…It was about the Sixth Hour…”
Ἴησοῦς εἰς πόλιν τῆς Σαμαρείας to a city of Samaria, called • ‘’… the Sixth Hour…” is Midday – 12:00 - the hottest period of the
λεγομένην ‘Συχάρ,’ πλησίον τοῦ ‘Sychar,’ near the field that Jacob day, when most inhabitants of hot, dry areas seek relief from
the heat, resuming their labours and duties when it is cooler.
χωρίου ὃ ἔδωκεν Ἰακὼβ Ἰωσὴφ gave to his son, Joseph.
τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.  “…There came a Woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to
her: “Give Me a drink.” For His Disciples had gone into the city
Ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ πηγὴ τοῦ Ἰακώβ. Jacob’s Well was there. to buy food..”
Ὁ οὖν Ἰησοῦς κεκοπιακὼς ἐκ τῆς Wearied as He was with His • Jacob’s Well provided enough water to sustain all the inhabitants
ὁδοιπορίας ἐκαθέζετο οὕτως ἐπὶ journey, Jesus sat down beside and their livestock in that area for generations.
τῇ πηγῇ· the well. • “…a Woman of Samaria…” had gone “… to draw water…” for the
needs of her household.
Ὤρα ἦν Ὡσεὶ Ἔκτη. It was about the Sixth Hour. • After this Divine Encounter, she is forever Commemorated as one
Ἔρχεται Γυνὴ ἐκ τῆς Σαμαρείας There came a Woman of Samaria to of our great Saints and Holy Martyrs – St Photini/Svetlana.
ἀντλῆσαι ὕδωρ. draw water. She is the earliest Gentile Evangelist, having testified to the First
Appearance of the Great Divine Messiah – our Lord Jesus Christ
Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Δός μοι Jesus said to her: “Give Me a - to the innumerable citizens of Sychar – most of whom
πεῖν.” drink.” became His Faithful Disciples. Together with her two sons and
five daughters (some say ‘Sisters,’) she brought thousands of
Οἱ γὰρ Μαθηταὶ Αὐτοῦ For His Disciples had gone into the souls to Christ. After the Resurrection of Christ she was
ἀπεληλύθεισαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, city to buy food. Baptised with the name of “Photini” (“the Enlightened One.”)
ἵνα τροφὰς ἀγοράσωσι. She and her family went to Carthage to spread the Holy Gospel.
She was eventually martyred with her entire family by order of
Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ The Samaritan Woman said to Him: Emperor Nero. They became Spiritually Perfected when she was
Σαμαρεῖτις· “Πῶς σὺ Ἰουδαῖος “How is it that Thou – a Judean – thrown into a very deep well and her entire family suffered
ὢν παρʼ ἐμοῦ πεῖν αἰτεῖς, οὔσης asks for a drink from me – a various appalling, brutal forms of Martyrdom.
γυναικὸς Σαμαρείτιδος?” woman of Samaria?” We commemorate her memory on 20 March and on the Fifth
Sunday of Holy Pascha.
Οὐ γὰρ συγχρῶνται Ἰουδαῖοι For Judeans had no dealings with • “… Jesus said to her: ‘Give Me a drink…” This was our Lord’s first
Σαμαρείταις. Samaritans. Commandment to the Samarian Woman, which was remarkable
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Jesus answered her: “If Thou knew for several reasons, as noted below.
“Εἰ ᾔδεις τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ the Gift of God, and Who it is • “...His Disciples had gone ...to buy food...” implies that they were
καὶ τίς ἐστιν ὁ λέγων Σοι, ‘δός obedient to Christ by not discriminating against the Samaritans
Who is saying to Thee: ‘Give Me
Μοι πεῖν,’ Σὺ ἂν ᾔτησας Αὐτόν, like the other Judeans who despised and avoided them at all
a drink,’ Thou would have costs because they were regarded as heretical apostates of the
καὶ ἔδωκεν ἄν Σοι Ὕδωρ asked Him and He would have Hebrew Faith.
Ζῶν.” given Thee Living Water.” • It also reminds us that our Lord Jesus Christ and His Disciples
Λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· “Κύριε, οὔτε The Woman said to Him: “Sir, Thou provided their own necessities or bought them rather than
being a needless burden on others.
ἄντλημα ἔχεις, καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐστὶ hast nothing with which to draw  “...The Samaritan Woman said to Him: ‘How is it that Thou – a
βαθύ· πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ Ὕδωρ water, and the well is deep. Judean – asks for a drink from me – a woman of Samaria?’ For
τὸ ζῶν? Where dost Thou get that Living Judeans had no dealings with Samaritans....”
Water? • The Samaritans were a mixed Nation of Judeans and pagans, and
thus were traditional enemies of Israel. Although they also
Μὴ Σὺ μείζων εἶ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν “Art Thou greater than our Father,
worshipped the God of Israel and awaited the Advent or
Ἰακώβ, ὃς ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὸ Jacob, who gave us this well, and Coming of the Messiah – the Christ – they accepted only the

16. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 21.
Καὶ πολλῷ πλείους ἐπίστευσαν διὰ And many more believed because φρέαρ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπιε drank from it himself – and his
τὸν Λόγον Αὐτοῦ. of His Word. καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ sons, and his livestock?”
θρέμματα αὐτοῦ?”
Τῇ τε Γυναικὶ ἔλεγον “Ὄτι οὐκέτι They said to the Woman: “It is no
διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν Πιστεύομεν· longer because of your words Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Answering, Jesus said to her:
Αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν, καὶ that we believe, for we have “Πᾶς ὁ πίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος “Everyone who drinks of this
οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν Ἀληθῶς heard Him ourselves, and we τούτου διψήσει πάλιν· Ὃς δʼ ἂν water shall thirst again. Whoever
ὁ Σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου, ὁ know that this is Truly the πίῃ ἐκ τοῦ Ὕδατος οὗ Ἐγὼ drinks of the Water that I shall
Χριστὀς.” Saviour of the world, the Christ!” δώσω αὐτῷ, οὐ μὴ διψήσει εἰς give, shalt never ever Thirst
τὸν Αἰῶνα, ἀλλὰ τὸ Ὕδωρ ὃ again, but shall become a Spring
 “…our Lord Jesus went to a city of Samaria, called ‘Sychar,’ near δώσω Αὐτῷ, γενήσεται ἐν Αὐτῷ of Water welling up to Eternal
the field that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob’s Well was πηγὴ ὕδατος ἁλλομένου εἰς Ζωὴν Life.”
there…” Αἰώνιον.”
• “…Sychar…” was located along the main road between Jerusalem Λέγει πρὸς Αὐτὸν ἡ Γυνή· “Κύριε, The Woman said to Him: “Lord,
in Judea, through Samaria, to Galilee. δός μοι τοῦτο τὸ Ὕδωρ, ἵνα μὴ give me this Water, that I may
• “...Jacob’s Well...” is not mentioned in the Old Testament although διψῶ μηδὲ ἔρχομαι ἐνθάδε not thirst, nor have to come here
the ancient Patriarch, St Jacob and his family had resided in ἀντλεῖν. to draw.”
that area.
 G e n e s i s 3 3 : 1 9 The ancient Patriarch, St Jacob had “... bought Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Ὕπαγε To her Jesus said: “Go, fetch Thy
the parcel of land... from Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred φώνησον τὸν ἄνδρα σου καὶ husband, and come here.”
male lambs...” ἐλθὲ ἐνθάδε.
• Having bought a small piece of land, St Jacob set up an Altar and Ἀπεκρίθη ἡ γυνὴ καὶ εἶπεν· “Οὐκ Answering, the Woman said: “I
called on our Lord God. Our Holy Church does the same thing ἔχω ἄνδρα.” have no husband.”
whenever required or possible.
Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Καλῶς To her Jesus said: “Well said: ‘I
• Wells and all sources of water have always had great significance
because of their rarity and life-saving value - especially in the
εἶπας ‘ὅτι ἄνδρα οὐκ ἔχω·’ have no husband.’ For five
wilderness and desert regions and on islands. Πέντε γὰρ ἄνδρας ἔσχες, καὶ husbands hast Thou had and
• Therefore, wells and all sources of water symbolise life itself. νῦν ὃν ἔχεις οὐκ ἔστι σου ἀνήρ· now he whom Thou hast is not
 P s a l m 3 5 : 9 – 1 0 – “...They shall be intoxicated with the fatness of Thy husband.
Thy House, and Thou shalt give them drink from the Abundant Τοῦτο Ἀληθὲς εἴρηκας.” “This Truthfully Thou spoke.”
Water of Thy Delight, for with Thee is the Fountain of Life.”
Λέγει Αὐτῷ ἡ Γυνή· “Κύριε, The Woman said to Him: “Lord, I
 P s a l m 4 5 : 4 – “...Their waters roared and were troubled...”
θεωρῶ ὅτι Προφήτης εἶ Σύ. Οἱ perceive that Thou art a Prophet.
 I s a i a h 5 5 : 1 – “... You who are thirsty, go to the water... and
Πατέρες ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ
drink without money and price...” Our Fathers worshipped on this
προσεκύνησαν· Καὶ ὑμεῖς λέγετε mountain. And you say that
• Christ our God never asks us for money but He does ask us to
ὅτι ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐστὶν ὁ Jerusalem is the place where
have Faith, which is far more valuable than anything else.
τόπος ὅπου δεῖ προσκυνεῖν.” men ought to worship.”
• Jacob’s Well has been maintained as a Holy Shrine by the Greek
Orthodox Christian Church to this very day and Pilgrims still Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Γύναι, Jesus said to her: “Woman, believe
drink from it. πίστευσόν μοι ὅτι ἔρχεται Ὣρα Me: for the Hour is coming
• St Philoumenos the New Martyr of Jacob’s Well gave his life for its ὅτε οὔτε ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ οὔτε when neither on this mountain,
protection and preservation in 1979. ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις Προσκυνήσετε nor in Jerusalem, shalt you
 “...Wearied as He was with His journey, Jesus sat down beside the τῷ Πατρί. Worship the Father.
well...”
Due to His human Nature, our Lord Jesus Christ suffered from
hunger, thirst, tiredness, heat and cold, etc. He experienced all the
20. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 17.
Ὑμεῖς Προσκυνεῖτε ὃ οὐκ οἴδατε. “You worship what you do not Ὁ ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· “Ἐγὼ He said to them: “I have Food to
Ἡμεῖς προσκυνοῦμεν ὃ know. We Worship what we βρῶσιν ἔχω φαγεῖν, ἣν ὑμεῖς eat of which you do not know.”
οἴδαμεν· ὅτι ἡ Σωτηρία ἐκ τῶν know, for Salvation is from the οὐκ οἴδατε.
Ἰουδαίων ἐστίν. Judeans. Ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Μαθηταὶ πρὸς The Disciples said to one another:
Ἀλλʼ ἔρχεται Ὥρα - καὶ νῦν ἐστιν - “But the Hour is coming – and now ἀλλήλους· “Μή τις ἤνεγκεν Αὐτῷ “Has anyone brought Him food?”
ὅτε οἱ Ἀληθινοὶ Προσκυνηταὶ is – when the True Worshippers φαγεῖν?”
Προσκυνήσουσι τῷ Πατρὶ ἐν shall Worship the Father in Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Ἐμὸν Jesus said to them: “My Food is to
Πνεύματι καὶ Ἀληθείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ Spirit and Truth and thus, for βρῶμά ἐστιν ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ do the Will of Him Who sent Me,
ὁ Πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς such the Father seeks to Θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός Με καὶ and to accomplish His Work.
Προσκυνοῦντας Αὐτόν. Worship Him. τελειώσω Αὐτοῦ τὸ Ἔργον.
Πνεῦμα ὁ Θεός, καὶ τοὺς “God is Spirit, and those who Οὐχ ὑμεῖς λέγετε ‘ὅτι ἔτι “Do you not say: ‘There are yet
Προσκυνοῦντας Αὐτὸν ἐν Worship Him must Worship in τετράμηνός ἐστι καὶ ὁ θερισμὸς four months, then comes the
Πνεύματι καὶ Ἀληθείᾳ δεῖ Spirit and Truth.” ἔρχεται?” harvest’?
Προσκυνεῖν.”
Ἰδοὺ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐπάρατε τοὺς “Behold, I tell you: lift up your
Λέγει Αὐτῷ ἡ Γυνή· “Οἶδα ὅτι The Woman said to Him: “I know ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν καὶ θεάσασθε eyes and see how the fields are
Μεσσίας ἔρχεται ὁ λεγόμενος that the Messiah is coming – He τὰς χώρας, ὅτι λευκαί εἰσι πρὸς already white for Harvesting!
‘Χριστός·’ Ὄταν ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, Who is called ‘Christ.’ When He Θερισμόν!
ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν πάντα.” comes, He shall Reveal all “He Who Reaps receives Wages,
Ἤδη καὶ ὁ Θερίζων Μισθὸν
things.” and gathers Fruit for Eternal
λαμβάνει καὶ συνάγει Καρπὸν
Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Ἐγώ Εἰμι, Jesus said to her: “I Am He, Who εἰς Ζωὴν Αἰώνιον, ἵνα καὶ ὁ Life, so that the Sower may
ὁ λαλῶν σοι.” speaks to Thee.” Σπείρων ὁμοῦ Χαίρῃ καὶ ὁ Rejoice together with the
Καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἦλθαν οἱ Μαθηταὶ And when His Disciples returned, Θερίζων!” Reaper!”

Αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν ὅτι μετὰ they marvelled, for He was Ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ὁ “For here the saying holds True,
γυναικὸς ἐλάλει· speaking to a woman. Ἀληθινός, ὅτι ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ for One Sows, Another Reaps.
Οὐδεὶς μέντοι εἶπε, “Τί ζητεῖς?” ἤ Yet none said: “What seekest Σπείρων καὶ ἄλλος ὁ Θερίζων.
“Τί λαλεῖς μετʼ αὐτῆς?” Thou?” nor “Why art Thou Ἐγὼ ἀπέστειλα ὑμᾶς Θερίζειν ὃ “I sent you to Reap that for which
talking to her?” οὐχ ὑμεῖς κεκοπιάκατε· Ἄλλοι you did not Labour. Others
κεκοπιάκασι, καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν
Ἀφῆκεν οὖν τὴν ὑδρίαν αὐτῆς ἡ Leaving her water jar, the Woman
κόπον αὐτῶν εἰσεληλύθατε.
Laboured and you have entered
Γυνὴ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, departed to the city, and said to into their Labour.”
καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· the people: “Come! Behold a Ἐκ δὲ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης πολλοὶ Many Samaritans from that city
“Δεῦτε! Ἲδετε Ἄνθρωπον ὃς Man Who told me all that I ever ἐπίστευσαν εἰς Αὐτὸν τῶν believed in Him because of the
εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα! did! Can this be the Christ?” Σαμαρειτῶν διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς Words of the Woman, testifying
Μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός?” Γυναικός, μαρτυρούσης “ὅτι that “He told me all that I ever
Ἐξῆλθον οὖν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ They went out of the city, and went εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα.” did.”
ἤρχοντο πρὸς Αὐτόν. to Him. Ὡς οὖν ἦλθον πρὸς Αὐτὸν οἱ When the Samaritans went to Him,
Ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξὺ ἠρώτων Αὐτὸν οἱ Meanwhile, the Disciples besought Σαμαρεῖται, ἠρώτων Αὐτὸν they asked Him to stay with
Μαθηταὶ λέγοντες· “Ραββί, μεῖναι παρʼ αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἔμεινεν them – and He stayed there two
Him, saying: “Rabbi, eat.”
φάγε.” ἐκεῖ δύο ἡμέρας. days.

18. SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN SACRED LESSONS – 5TH PASCHAL SUNDAY – THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 19.