• This Vital Question concerning our Faith is asked and answered

during the Holy Service of the Making of a Catechumen, which

occurs at the beginning of the Holy Mystery of Baptism and
Chrismation.
• The former Blind Man’s response: “Who is He… that I may Believe
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
in Him…” affirmed his ready and eager Spiritual State that had
been Awakened - not only when he received his physical sight,
Archdiocese of Good Hope
but also as his Spiritual Insight had increased while being
interrogated by his fellow citizens and the Pharisees at the
Synagogue.

Sacred Lessons
• Our Lord Jesus always identifies Himself when we are profoundly
Blessed to Encounter Him: “…Thou hast both seen Him and He
Who is speaking to Thee, is He…”
• With wonderful clear eyesight and Spiritual Insight, the former
Blind Man was overwhelmed by Love, Peace and Joy that
surpasses all possible description or explanation, which utterly
Transformed his entire Life, as he Confessed: “ O Lord, I
Believe!” 21 May 2023
• From that moment onwards, the former Blind Man and all those
who fully Understand and Acknowledge how Great indeed was 6th Sunday of Pascha – Sunday of the Blind Man
the Divine Miracle and He Who had granted him eyes, “… Feast of St Constantine & St Helena
Worshipped Him…” for when we become Spiritually Awakened
and Illuminated, our heart and soul is naturally compelled to
Worship, Honour and Glorify the Lord our God Who grants us
His infinite, unconditional Love and Great Mercy.
• The Appearance/Coming of God Incarnate into our world brought
Divine Judgement to us – not because He came to Judge us but
because of our accountability to God.
• All those who see Him and who hear Him but who do not believe
or who reject His Divine Truth are Judged and Condemned by
their own faithlessness!

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 Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20: 11 – 18
Republic of South Africa
marguerite.paizis@gmail.com or download directly from
Acts 26 : 1 & 12 – 20
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574 John 9 : 1 - 38
Re-edited & Published - 23 May 2023

28. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS

 Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20: 11 – 18  Isaiah 35 : 5 “… the eyes of the blind shalt be opened, and the
R ESURRREC TION G OSPE L 8: JO H N 20:11-18 ears of the deaf shalt hear… the lame shalt leap like deer and
Our Risen Lord Jesus Speaks To St Mary Magdalene the tonue of the dumb shalt speak clearly…”

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία εἱστήκει
πρὸς τὸ Μνημεῖον κλαίουσα
ἔξω.
Ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιεν παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ
μνημεῖον͵καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο
Ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς
καθεζομένους - ἕνα πρὸς τῇ
κεφαλῇ καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν
- ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ Σῶμα τοῦ
Ἰησοῦ.
Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· “Γύναι͵
τί κλαίεις?”
Λέγει αὐτοῖς· “Ὅτι ἦραν τὸν
Κύριόν μου͵ καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ
ἔθηκαν Αὐτόν.”
Ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ When she said this, she turned
ὀπίσω͵ καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν around and saw Jesus standing
ἑστῶτα͵καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι Ἰησοῦς there, and did not know that it
ἐστιν. was Jesus.
Λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς͵ “Γύναι͵ τί Jesus said to her: “Woman, why art
κλαίεις? Τίνα ζητεῖς?” Thou
Ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ Κηπουρός
ἐστιν λέγει Αὐτῷ͵ “Κύριε͵ εἰ Σὺ
ἐβάστασας Αὐτόν͵ εἰπέ μοι ποῦ
ἔθηκας Αὐτόν. Κἀγὼ Αὐτὸν
ἀρῶ.”
Λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· “Μαρία!”.
Στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ
Ἑβραϊστί͵ “Ραββουνὶ!” (ὃ
λέγεται “Διδάσκαλε!”).
Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁἸησοῦς͵ “Μή Μου
ἅπτου͵ οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα
πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα· Πορεύου δὲ
πρὸς τοὺς Ἀδελφούς Μου καὶ
At that time, Mary stood weeping
outside the Tomb.
As she wept she stooped down and
looked into the Tomb, and saw
two Angels in white sitting - one
at the head and the other at the
feet - where the Body of Jesus
had lain.
And they asked her: “Woman, why
art Thou weeping?”
She replied: “Because they have
taken away my Lord, and I do
not know where they have laid
Him.”
weeping? Whom art
Thou seeking?”
Supposing Him to be the Gardener,
she said to Him: “Sir, if Thou
hast carried Him away, tell me
where Thou hast laid Him. I shall
take Him away.”
Jesus said to her: “Mary!”
Turning around, she said to Him in
Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which is to
say: “Teacher!”).
Jesus said to her: “Do not cling to
Me, for I have not yet Ascended
to My Father. Go to My
Brethren and tell them: ‘I am
 Isaiah 42: 6 – 7 “… I, the Lord God, Called Thee in Righteousness,
and shalt hold Thy Hand. I shalt Strengthen Thee, and grant
Thee as the Covenant of a Race, as the Light of the Gentiles, to
open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners who are bound,
and those who sit in Darkness… I Am the Lord God. This is My
Name. I shall not give My Glory to another, nor My Praise to
carved images!”
 The Divine Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ is not shared with
anyone created by Him, nor with anything mankind makes
from elements also created by Him, whether human beings
or their carved images, who try to claim personal credit for
things that Almighty God Alone does.
 Psalm 145/146: 8 “… the Lord Restores those who are broken
down. The Lord grants Wisdom to the Blind…”
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who Created us, is our only Divine
Helper, Liberator, Restorer, Wisdom and Keeper/Protector for
no earthly creature can provide any of these since all Creation
is subject to Death and corruption.
 “…Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when He had
found him, He said to him: “Do you believe in the Son of
God?” He answered and said: “Who is He, O Lord, that I may
believe in Him?” Jesus said to him: “You have both seen Him
and He Who is speaking to you it is He.” He said: “O Lord: I
believe!” And he worshipped Him…”
• Our Lord Jesus, knowing that “… they had cast him out…” and
also the Spiritual Awakening of the former Blind Man’s heart
and soul, “… found him…” Christ went directly to him and put
a most significant question to him: “… Dost thou Believe in the
Son of God…”
• “…the Son of God…” refers to the Eternal, Only Begotten Word and
Son of God our Heavenly Father - the Advent of Whom the
ancient Holy Prophets had spoken and prophesied as the Great
Divine Messiah.
• The Messianic Title “Son of Man” refers to Christ as being God
Incarnate, for He is God-Man, due to His unmingled Divine and
human Natures Who was anticipated as coming from the Royal
Tribe of King David. Having been Incarnated from the Royal
Lineage of our Lady, Theotokos, He fulfilled all the Divinely
Inspired Prophecies concerning His Sacred Identity.
Therefore His reference to “…the Son of God…” pertained to
•
Himself as the long awaited Divine Messiah/Saviour Whom the
former Blind Man was beginning to acknowledge since when he
had stated: “… If He were not from God, He could do nothing!”

2. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 27.
 faithfully believed that St Moses had received the Divine Law of
the Old Covenant from the Lord our God, but they refused to
accept the obvious Evidence that the Divine Healer Who Alone -
by using His Saliva and clay - had created eyes for the Blind
Man, and therefore must be the Great Messiah/Saviour – the
Christ/Anointed One of God.
• The New Covenant is a Sacred Covenant of Love that continues
from the Old Covenant, which prepared God’s People for the
Advent of Christ and His Divine Teachings of Agape/Divine
Love.
• Both Old and New Covenants concern the Repentance, Spiritual
Welfare and Perfection of mankind.
 “…The man answered them: “Why, this is a marvellous thing! – for
you do not know where He is from – and He has opened my
eyes! We know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is
a Worshipper of God and does His Will, He hears him. Since the
world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the
eyes of one who was born blind. If He were not from God, He
could do nothing!”
• The former Blind Man summarised the entire Reality and Truth
concerning his Miraculous Healing by our Lord Jesus Christ,
which put to shame the arrogant self-righteous Pharisees who
continued to reject and deny the Divine Truth that challenged
them and which exposed their own Spiritual Blindness and
blasphemy.
• His statement: “…God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is a
Worshipper of God and does His Will, He hears him…” shows
how much better than the Pharisees he understood the Sacred
Teachings of the Old Covenant.
• Furthermore it was completely True that “…it has been unheard of
that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind…”
which was an irrefutable Reality, that was clearly proved by
the very presence of the formerly Blind Man and all those who
had known him as a blind beggar.
• His sincere proclamation “...If this Man were not from God, He
could do nothing!” revealed his rapid progression from
knowing nothing about our Lord Jesus Christ to his realisation,
acknowledgement and Confession that that He is indeed the
True Great Messiah:
 “…They answered and said to him: “Thou were completely born in
sins, and thou are teaching us?!” And they cast him out.
• The self-righteous, hypocritical Pharisees could not contradict his
Inspired Logic and Truth so they resorted to personal insult
and injustice.
• The Divine Healing of the Blind Man was one of the Great Signs/
Divine Miracles of our Almighty Saviour, which is exclusively a
prerogative (right) of our Triune Lord God.
26. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς͵ ‘Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς Ascending to My Father and
τὸν Πατέρα Μου καὶ Πατέρα your Father, and to My God
ὑμῶν καὶ Θεόν Μου καὶ Θεὸν and your God.’”
ὑμῶν.’”
Ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Mary Magdalene went and told the
ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς Μαθηταῖς Disciples that she had seen the
ὅτι ἑώρακα τὸν Κύριον͵ καὶ Lord, and that He had spoken
ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ. these things to her.
 This is the first of four post-Resurrection Appearances or Epiphanies
of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by St John the Divine
Evangelist and Beloved Apostle.
Our Lord Jesus also Appeared to ten of the Apostles that same
evening. Eight days later He Appeared to the Eleven Apostles,
including St Thomas and then to seven of the Apostles as they
were fishing in the Sea of Galilee.
This Encounter between our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and
“Mary” is reminiscent of the Song of Solomon 3: 1 – 4, which
teaches us that through His Resurrection, Christ Jesus takes His
New Covenant Holy Church as His Eternal Bride. Thus He is the
Divine Bridegroom and His Holy Church is His Bride.
 “Mary stood outside the Sepulchre weeping. As she wept she
stooped down and looked into the Tomb…”
• Although this account mentions only the name “…Mary…” which
could have referred to three of the Eight Holy Myrrhbearers,
including the All Holy, Ever Blessed Mother of our Lord, and
because our Lady Theotokos preferred to remain in the
background, it is accepted that St John referred to St Mary of
Magdala, as did the other Evangelists.
• St Mary Magdalene was the first of the Faithful Disciples, (together
with our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos) to see the Risen Christ.
• She was a close and constant companion of our Lady, being
extremely Pious and Faithful, and thus later became known as
“the Apostle to the Apostles.”
• The Holy Myrrhbearers already knew that Christ’s Tomb was
empty and that He had Resurrected. But St Mary Magdalene
(and possibly Theotokos) returned to the Empty Tomb because
she could not fully grasp what they had been told by the Angel
of God.
• She bent down and peered inside the Empty Tomb because she
still could not accept the fact that our Lord no longer Reposed
there. She had to assure herself of His Resurrection.
• The Holy Myrrhbearers wept because they thought they would
never again see our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 3.
 “… and saw two Angels in white sitting - one at the head and the
other at the feet - where the Body of Jesus had lain…”
• According to St John’s Gospel account, there were two Angels of
God, seated on either side of the burial slab upon which our
Divine Saviour had been laid to rest.
• Their radiant white garments lit up the inside of the Tomb to
clearly show the absence of our Resurrected Christ.
 “…they asked her: “Woman, why art thou weeping?” She said … “…
they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they
have laid Him.”
• The Angels did not address St Mary of Magdala by name but rather
by the common address “Woman.”
• They questioned her sorrowful weeping, despite the Glorious
Resurrection of our Lord as He had promised and foretold.
• St Mary confessed that she suspected His enemies had removed
and hidden His Precious Body elsewhere, and she was
determined to find Him.
 The Song of Songs/Solomon 3: 1-4- “…I sought Him Whom my
soul Loves. I sought Him, but did not find Him. I called Him, but
He did not hear me. I shall rise now and go about the city. In the
marketplaces and in the streets I shalt seek Him whom my soul
 “…He replied: “I have told you already, yet you do not listen. Why
Loves. I sought Him but did not find Him. The Watchmen who do
their rounds in the city found me and I said to them: “Hast thou
seen Him Whom my soul Loves?” Scarcely had I departed from
them, when I found Him Whom my soul Loves. I held Him and
would not let Him go…”
 “… the Watchmen…” signify the Holy Prophets of God, the
Apostles of Christ and the Evangelists who proclaim the
Divine Word of God and bear witness to the Incarnate,
Eternal Word and Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
 The Holy Church of Christ highly honours and cherishes their
Sacred Writings – the Holy Scriptures, which is our Sacred
Written Tradition, while the Verbal Teachings and
Commandments of Christ, that are carefully preserved and
passed down intact to future generations, by His Holy
Apostles and their successors, is our Sacred Verbal/Spoken
Tradition.
 Both Sacred Traditions are inseparable and essential parts of
our priceless, Eternal Spiritual Heritage whereby we Perfect
our immortal soul in order to become worthy Citizens and
Co-Heirs of God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
 “…the marketplaces and the streets…” symbolise the fallen
world [and Spiritual Death], which consists of all the wrong
places [and wrong means] in which to seek the Lord our God,
for our Triune, Almighty God and Life in Christ can only be
found in His One, Holy, Catholic/Universal and Apostolic
Church.
4. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
• This man’s honest and simple response to everyone – even those
who were far better educated than him – proclaimed the
Absolute Truth, for he honestly and sincerely testified to
something that neither he nor anyone else could comprehend
or explain.
• However, he steadfastly emphasised what he most certainly did
know, which he could positively confirm: “… I was blind. Now
I see!”
• By confirming what we do most definitely know – in utter Truth
and without any doubt – is foundational to witnessing our True
Faith to others.
• Having created perfectly healthy eyes for the man born without
eyes, our Loving, Compassionate Lord Jesus bestowed upon
him both physical and Spiritual Sight – for God alone opens
our heart and soul by His Divine Illumination.
• All Healings had to be confirmed by the Priests, followed by
various Ritual Cleansings, Sacrifices, etc. This is the only full
account of a Miraculous, Divine Healing being examined and
questioned by Judean authorities – “… What did He do to thee?
How did He open thine eyes?”
do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His
Disciples?” They reviled him, and said: “Thou art His Disciple!
We art Moses’ Disciples! We know that God spoke to Moses. As
for this Fellow – we do not know where He is from.”
• “… I have told you already, yet you do not listen…” shows the
increasing frustration and awareness of the former Blind Man.
• The Pharisees refused to accept his simple, straightforward and
honest Testimony. They rejected the Truth because they
wanted to hear an explanation that would fit in with their own
flawed perceptions and beliefs, which is typical of those who
refuse to accept Reality and Truth that exposes their own lack
of Faith or personal defects.
• “…Do you want to become His Disciples?…” might not have been
actual sarcasm but a growing, personal perception.
• The response “… you are His Disciple! We are Moses’ Disciples!...”
reveals their total lack of Understanding of what our Lord
Jesus taught His Faithful Disciples, who were initially Old
Covenant Judeans/Israelites.
• Christ never rejected any aspect of the Old Covenant Laws, but
rather fulfilled all Sacred Requirements and summarised all the
Divine Commandments by Teaching us to Love God with all our
mind, heart, strength and soul, and to Love one another as
much as God Loves us and as much as we Love ourselves.
• Although they knew that “…God spoke to Moses…” they did “… not
know where He [the Miraculous Healer] is from…” They
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 25.
 meaning he was an adult who was responsible for his own
words and deeds.
 “…They called again the man who was formerly blind, and said to
him: “Give God the Glory! We know that this Man is a sinner!”
• Many self-righteous Pharisees could not behold the Glory of God
due to their wicked personal prejudices against Christ and
various other good people.
• When Christ was not present, the Pharisees dared to accuse Him
by declaring “… we know this Man [our Lord Jesus Christ] is a
sinner!” Yet when He had asked them Face to face: “...which of
you convicts Me of sin?” they had all evaded the vital question.
• By now, many of the self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes knew
that only our Lord Jesus was capable of performing such
Extraordinary Great, Divine Miracles, but - due to their own
personal insecurity, fears and nefarious schemes, they were
unwilling to accept or acknowledge the Truth that He was
indeed the Great Divine Messiah.
• Those who rejected the Truth concerning our Lord Jesus Christ,
stubbornly ignored or disputed all the ancient Prophecies and
Sacred Scriptural Texts and Teachings that confirmed this
Reality.
• Despite all the glaring, overwhelming Evidence that confronted
them, those opposed to Christ chose to remain Spiritually
Blind and Dead by rejecting or denying Him.
• “...Give God the Glory...” was a Sacred Oath Formula, which was
always used before testifying at a hearing or Court of Law,
thereby implying that the person’s testimony was most
certainly Truthful and by no means deceptive or false.
• The formerly Blind Man most certainly gave God the Glory for the
more he was questioned by the hypocrites and doubters, the
more fervent his Faith in Christ became, while the self-
righteous Pharisees lapsed deeper and deeper into Spiritual
Darkness and Death.
 “…He replied: “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One
thing I do know is that although I was blind, now I see!” They
questioned him again: “”What did He do to thee? How did He
open thine eyes?”
• The Healed Blind Man is a model of Christian Witness.
• He did not judge, criticise nor condemn our Lord Jesus, by saying:
“…Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know…”
• He adamantly emphasised the Truth: “…One thing I do know is
that although I was blind, now I see!”
• Most people do not bear witness to the Reality and Truth of our
Lord Jesus Christ since they fear they shall be asked questions
that they shall not be able to answer or explain.
24. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
 As Faithful Disciples of Christ, we “…put on Christ…” during
the Holy Mystery of Baptism and then “…Live in Christ…”
while striving to be Saved – striving to acquire Divine Love
and Spiritual Perfection/Theosis/Deification.
 This means we spend the rest of our lifespan Striving to regain
our Divine Likeness and Eternal Life, which we have lost due
to our inclination to sin.
 “…When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there, and did not know that it was Jesus …”
• Once again, our Resurrected Lord was not immediately recognised
by His Faithful Disciples, possibly due to His Resurrected Form.
• It might also have been due to the fact that women did not usually
speak nor look directly at unfamiliar men, especially when
there was no protective male relative present.
 “…To her Jesus said: “Woman, why art thou weeping? Whom art
thou seeking?”
• Similar to St Cleopas and St Luke, our Lord wants St Mary to
explain her sorrow and incredulity, even though He knows
exactly our unexpressed thoughts.
• The term “Woman,” which our Lord Jesus used, was a Sacred Title
in Holy Scripture that conveyed a deep respect and distinction,
for Christ treated not only His Beloved Mother, but all
women with the greatest respect and honour.
• In those days females were regarded in general as either equal to
or less significant than livestock. They were often bought and
sold for the benefit of families through marriage contracts and
thus were expected not only to cultivate food, fulfil all
household requirements but also to bear as many children as
possible – preferably male children – in order to increase and
sustain the generations.
• According to the New Covenant of Christ, women are to be
respected, honoured and treated as equals to men, although
they fulfil different roles in the family and Church.
 “…Supposing Him to be the Gardener, she said to Him: “Sir, if thou
hast carried Him away, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I
shall take Him away.”
• The Tomb of Christ was situated in a beautiful, cultivated garden,
which belonged to St Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy,
influential member of the Sanhedrin who was a secret Disciple
of our Lord. It had recently been carved out of rock, as a burial
place for St Joseph and/or his family, which he immediately
donated to Christ. Even the huge, heavy stone to seal the
entrance, showed the significance of the site and tomb.
• St Mary did not know if the Precious Body of Christ has been
removed and interred elsewhere, which sometimes happened
when a tomb was not prepared beforehand, and an unexpected
death occurred.
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 5.
 • St Mary of Magdala was a mature, independently wealthy and
influential woman who had the means of doing as she said.
“…To her Jesus said:: “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in
Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which is to say: “Teacher”).
• Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ addressed St Mary by her name,
and instantly she recognised Him, addressing him respectfully
as “Rabboni” or “Teacher.”
• “Rabboni” is an affectionate term in Hebrew, meaning “My Dear
Teacher.”
• When we are profoundly Blessed to Encounter our Divine Lord and
Saviour, He addresses us by our Baptismal Name, for every
one of us is completely known to Him – all our thoughts, words
and deeds!
• When we ceaselessly strive for a Close, Intimate Relationship with
our Lord, even His Voice alone, makes us profoundly Joyful
and filled with overwhelming Love and the deepest Yearning
to remain with Him forever.
• During the long periods between Holy Prophets of God, the
“Rabbi” or “Teacher” of the Faith was highly respected by
the Old Covenant Faithful, for these Holy Fathers continued to
prepare and guide the Chosen People of God towards their
ultimate Goal.
• Those who were unable to participate in communal Prayers and
Worship at the Great Temple in Jerusalem gathered together,
especially on Sabbath Days, in Synagogues, where the Sacred
Prayers and Scriptures were taught, studied and read.
• Together with the New Covenant Israel, the Faithful People of God
shall all be Saved according to the Will of God the Father,
through the Teachings and Commandments of Christ, by the
Grace and Power and Energy of God the Holy Spirit.
• St John the Baptist was the last and greatest Holy Prophet of God
for he was the Forerunner of Christ who taught the People to
Repent their sins in order to make good Spiritual Progress
according to the Old Covenant that Christ fulfilled and then
according to the New Covenant of Love that He has taught and
commanded us to fulfil.
• St John the Baptised announced the Coming of the Great Messiah
to those held captive in Hades. So when Christ smashed open
the Gates of Hades, the Righteous were ready to be set free and
led to the reopened Paradise to Repose in Peace until the
General Resurrection on the Eighth Day, when the Final
Judgement shall occur.
 “…To her Jesus said: “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet
Ascended to My Father; but go to My Brethren and tell them: ‘I
Am Ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God
and your God.’”
6. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
The Judeans did not believe him - that he had been blind and
now could see….”
• The worse the Spiritual Blindness of the hypocritical Pharisees
became, the more the former Blind Man was drawn to Faith in
Christ. He began to realise, with clarity of Spiritual Sight, that
our Lord Jesus was indeed Someone Extraordinary, like “… a
Prophet…” of God Who could certainly perform Divine Miracles
according to the Will of God.
• Being unable to accept that such a unique Divine Miracle had
occurred, the Pharisees then questioned the fact that the man
had been blind from birth, and tried to deny or denigrate the
Divine Miracle as being fraudulent.
 “…They called the parents of him who had received his sight. And
they asked them: “Is this your son who you say was born blind?
How then does he now see?” His parents answered them, and
said: “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
How he now sees, we do not know. Who has opened his eyes, we
do not know. He is of age - ask him. He shall speak for
himself.”
• The parents of the former Blind Man were summoned in the
nefarious hope that they would testify to the ‘fraudulence’ of
the Great Divine Miracle. However, they also made very simple,
truthful statements: “this is our son… born blind… now sees…
we do not know… “
• They then said: “He is of age – ask Him. He shall speak for
himself…” which implied that he was over the age of 13, and
was certainly the only Witness and material Evidence that
could Testify to the Reality and Truth of such an Amazing
Divine Miracle.
 “…His parents said these things because they feared the Judeans.
For the Judeans had agreed already that anyone who Confessed
that He is the Christ, would be put out of the Synagogue.
Therefore, his parents said: “Ask him. He is of age.”
• Many of the people “… feared the Judeans…” who enforced their
own erroneous beliefs on others in order to maintain their
influential, social status.
• Each Synagogue were under the jurisdiction of the Temple Priests,
some of whom plotted against our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus “…
anyone who Confessed that He is the Christ, would be put out of
the Synagogue…” and socially shunned.
• Families were supported and sustained by their Communities, so
the threat of being ostracised was frightening.
• According to the Old Covenant Faith, (especially in ancient times)
when boys reached the age of 13, they were regarded as adults
who had to take responsibility for the care and support of
themselves as well as the welfare of their families. Hence the
parents of the former Blind Man said: “… he is of age…”
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 23.
 • His astonished ‘neighbours’ debated “.. is this not he who sat and
begged … it is.. he is like him…” to which the former Blind
Man replied “I am he!”
• The only way the Blind Man could contribute to the welfare of his
family was to beg for money and/or food. So he became a
familiar sight to many of his ‘neighbours’ – his fellow citizens.
• When they enquired: “... how were thine eyes opened?” he simply
and honestly related exactly what had happened.
• All he knew was that “… a Man called ‘Jesus’…” had granted him
eyes with which to see everything around him. At this stage,
he had no idea Who our Lord Jesus was.
• “… They took him… to the Pharisees…” who taught Judaism in the
Synagogues and were thus highly respected by the people.
 It was a Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay and opened his
eyes. The Pharisees also asked him again how he had received
his sight. He said to them: “He put clay on my eyes, and I
washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said: “This Man is not
from God because He does not keep the Sabbath!” Others said:
“How can anyone who is a sinner do such Signs?” And there
was a division among them…”
• The debate continued between the sceptical, Spiritually Blind
Pharisees and those who were more perceptive, concerning the
Divine Miraculous Healing of the Blind Man, because, instead of
Glorifying God for His Great Mercy, the self-righteous Pharisees
focussed their attention on the fact that it had taken place on
the Sabbath Day.
• The Sabbath Day was more important to them than the Great
Divine Miracle of the creation of eyes from Christ’s Saliva and
clay, which granted the Blind Man sight.
• Just as the hypocritical Pharisees had ignored the Healing of the
Paralytic and focused only on the ‘violation of the Sabbath’, so
too on this occasion, when they falsely accused our Divine
Saviour by declaring: “...This Man is not from God ...”
• Not all Pharisees were so blindly judgement, for they correctly
realised “How can anyone who is a sinner do such Signs?”
• All the Divine Miracles performed by our Lord Jesus Christ were
directly done by His own Divine Authority and Power, whereas
Miracles performed by His Holy Prophets and Apostles, were
only possible because of the Divine Will, Authority and Power
of our Lord God, which was bestowed upon them.
• “…there was a division among …” those who rejected or ignored
Christ and His Divine Miracles and those who were wise
enough to realise these were of great significance.
 “…They said to the Blind Man again: “What dost thou say about
Him because He opened thine eyes?” He said: “He is a Prophet.”
22. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
• Our Lord did not rebuke St Mary Magdalene for a lack of Faith
as He did with His other Apostles and Disciples. He always
treated women with kindness, gentleness, honour and respect,
which was vastly different to the attitude of men then and even
now.
• “…do not cling to Me…” did not mean that our Lord Jesus Christ
prohibited St Mary Magdalene or His Beloved Mother to touch
His Resurrected Flesh, for He even invited St Thomas to touch
Him and inspect His crucifixion Wounds. [although St Thomas
did not actually do so, but Confessed his Faith in Christ
instead.]
• During the Holy Mystery of Communion/Eucharist, we actually
Partake of His Glorified, Life-giving Body and Blood, which
Cleanses us and grants us Eternal Life in His Heavenly
Kingdom of Love.
• In this instance, our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ instructed St
Mary Magdalene to understand and accept that His Life is not
merely continuing in the same State as before.
• He shall not remain with us as He did in the past in His Incarnate,
human Nature and Form, physically and visibly Living in our
midst while He taught us about Divine Love.
• He was about to Ascend to His Heavenly Father, where in His
Glorified State as the Eternal Word and Son of God and as the
Incarnate Son of Man, He is Enthroned at the right hand side
of God our Heavenly Father.
• Being the Glorified Second Person of the Holy Trinity – of the One
Godhead – our Lord Jesus Christ is Enthroned in the Most
Honourable Position, being seated at the right hand side of our
Heavenly Father.
• By stating “…My Father and your Father … My God and your
God…” our Lord affirms and assures us that we share the
same Almighty God and Heavenly Father through our Sacred
Allegiance to Christ our Divine Saviour and Lord God.
• During the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation, we
become the Adopted Children of God and Co-Heirs with
Christ of His Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
• However, as our sinful state is merely in remission and we are still
inclined to commit sins, our Salvation is an ongoing Sacred
Endeavour until we take our final breath.
• Throughout our lifespan we are Blessed with Spiritual Life when
we Live in Christ and Repent our habitual sins, but we also
continuously fall into Spiritual Death when we surrender to
temptations or grievous passions.
• The Divine Purpose for our own unique lifespan is to regain our
lost Divine Likeness - to become “Christ-like” in thought,
word and deed!
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 7.
 • This is only possible when we ceaselessly Struggle against all
temptations and reject sin, while Striving to acquire Divine
Love by seeking and attaining the essential Holy Virtues
through Life in Christ.
• Life in Christ means that we humbly and willingly obey all the
Teachings and Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• This can only be accomplished when we are Humble and
Obedient to all the Teachings and Practises of His Holy
Church, consisting of both Written and Verbal Sacred
Tradition.
 “Mary Magdalene … told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord,
and that He had spoken these things to her...”
• Being a more mature and confident woman, St Mary of Magdala
was not afraid nor wary of proclaiming the Resurrection, the
Appearance and the Message of our Lord to His Disciples.
• The other Holy Myrrhbearers knew their Experience at the Empty
Tomb and the Proclamation of the Glorious Resurrection would
be received with scepticism and outright scorn so they had
either kept silent or had only told their closest relatives.
• St Simon Peter and St John the Beloved Disciple of Christ were
the only two Apostles who immediately believed the Holy
Myrrhbearers and rushed to the Empty Tomb to personally
witness the Truth of their words.
T H E A CTS OF THE APOSTLES ACCOR D ING TO
26 : 1 & 12 – 20
Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, In those days, King Agrippa said to
Ἀγρίππας ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τὸν Paul: “Thou hast permission to
Παῦλον ἔφη· “Ἐπιτρέπεταί Σοι speak for Thyself.”
ὑπὲρ σεαυτοῦ λέγειν.”
Τότε ὁ Παῦλος ἀπελογεῖτο, Then Paul made his defence,
ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα: “Ἐν οἷς καὶ stretching out his hand: “I
πορευόμενος εἰς τὴν Δαμασκὸν
journeyed to Damascus with the
μετʼ ἐξουσίας καὶ ἐπιτροπῆς τῆς authority and commission of the
παρὰ τῶν Ἀρχιερέων. Chief Priests.
Ἡμέρας μέσης κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν “At midday, along the way, I saw O
εἶδον, Βασιλεῦ, Οὐρανόθεν King, a Light from Heaven,
ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπρότητα τοῦ ἡλίου
brighter than the sun, shining
8. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
connected with the Feast of Tabernacles. [Refer to previous
notes ]
• The fact that the Pool of Siloam was such a distance from the
Temple, and yet the Blind Man made his way there, revealed
the depth of his Faith in God and his desire to be able to see,
which he had never dared hope for.
• This proves that only our Almighty and Merciful God makes
everything possible for us - even things that are indeed
impossible to achieve such as granting sight to this man who
had no eyes at all!
• “…Siloam…” meaning “Sent” symbolises Christ Who is sent to us
by God our Heavenly Father to Regenerate, Reunite and Save
us.
• Just as the Healing of the Blind Man confirms Christ’s Righteous
Proclamation of being the (Divine) Light of the World, so too,
His use of the Pool of Siloam confirmed Him as being the True
and Divine Purification of the Holy Temple and all who
Worship in it with True Faith in God.
• The Blind Man immediately “… went and washed and came back,
seeing…” He did not hesitate for even a second, but trusted
implicitly in our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom he did know at that
time. His absolute Humble Obedience to Christ granted the
Blind Man his uniquely superb Divine Miracle, for he did not
rush off to the Temple Priests or to his family but immediately
made his way back to where Christ awaited him.
• Whenever a Divine Miracle occurs, it concerns a mutual co-
operation between a person and God. When we co-operate
without any hesitation, trusting implicitly in the Lord our
God, we shall be Greatly Blessed with His Divine Grace.
• Sometimes, despite our Spiritual State at that precise moment,
S T L U KE
God bestows His Divine Grace upon us, which immediately
Transforms us, and although He never forces His Will upon us,
He does know the very depths of our being and how we shall
react afterwards.
“…The neighbours and those who previously had seen that he was
blind said: “Is this not he who sat and begged?” Some said: “It is
he!” Others said: “He is like him!” He said: “I am he!” They said
to him: “How were thine eyes opened?” He answered, and said:
“A Man called ‘Jesus’ made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said
to me: ‘Go to the Pool of Siloam and wash.’ I went and washed - I
received sight.” They asked him: “Where is He?” He replied: “I
do not know.” They took him who formerly was blind to the
Pharisees…”
• St John provides us with a detailed account of the reaction of
others to such a Great Divine Miracle and the former Blind
Man’s growing Faith in Christ.
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 21.
• The unprecedented Divine Healing of the man born without eyes περιλάμψαν με Φῶς καὶ τοὺς around me and those who
confirms our Lord Jesus Christ’s Truthful Proclamation that He σὺν ἐμοὶ πορευομένους. journeyed with me.
is “…the Light of the world..”.
• As St Irenaeos pointed out, the mixture of clay and the Saliva of
Πάντων δὲ καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς “All of us having fallen to the
Christ our Almighty Lord and Creator, which He used to create τὴν γῆν, ἤκουσα Φωνὴν ground, I heard a Voice saying to
eyes for the Blind Man, was like His original Creation of λαλοῦσαν πρός με καὶ λέγουσαν me in Hebrew dialect: ‘Saul,
mankind – Adam - from a mound of clay into which He had τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ· ‘Σαοὺλ Saul! Why dost Thou persecute
breathed Life. (Genesis 2:7) Σαούλ! Τί με διώκεις? Σκληρόν Me? It hurts Thee to kick
 Genesis 2:7 “… God formed mankind out of a mound of clay from Σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν!’ against the goads!’
the ground, and breathed the Breath of Life into his face, and
man became a Living soul…” Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον· ‘Τίς εἶ, Κύριε?’ “I said: ‘Who art Thou, O Lord?’
 Our Divine Creator, God the Eternal Son of our God our Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ‘Ἐγώ Εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν “He said: ‘I Am Jesus Whom Thou
Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, formed Adam’s body by
making a ‘… mound of clay…” and then God the Life-giving
Σὺ διώκεις. art persecuting.
Holy Spirit breathed Life and Divine Grace into him, making ‘Ἀλλὰ ἀνάστηθι καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ “’But rise and stand upon Thy feet.
him an intellectual human being with an immortal soul. τοὺς πόδας σου·
 At every conception there is a Mysterious, inexplicable flash of
Light, which is the precise moment that God the Holy Spirit Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὤφθην Σοι, “’I have Appeared to Thee for this
breathes Life and Grace into us who are God’s Beloved προχειρίσασθαί Σε ὑπηρέτην Purpose, to appoint Thee to
creatures. καὶ μάρτυρα ὧν τε εἶδες ὧν τε serve and bear witness to the
 That Breath of Life is our immortal soul that yearns to return ὀφθήσομαί Σοι· Ἐξαιρούμενός Things in which Thou hast seen
to God whence it originated.
 Our immortal soul needs to be Perfected, which is only
Σε ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν Ἐθνῶν Me and to those in which I shalt
possible while united to our physical mortal body. After - εἰς οὓς ἐγώ Σε ἀποστέλλω Appear to Thee, Delivering
their separation, the soul seeks Reunion with God, whereas ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ Thee from the people and from
the body returns to the Earth, until we are Resurrected into ἐπιστρέψαι ἀπὸ Σκότους εἰς the Gentiles – to whom I send
Eternity, as Christ showed us by His own [Incarnate] Φῶς καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Thee to open their eyes, that
Resurrection.
 After His Resurrection, Christ breathed upon His Apostles,
Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, τοῦ they may turn from Darkness
thereby enable them to receive God the Holy Spirit and His λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν to Light, and from the power of
Essential Divine Gifts, which Enabled and Empowered them ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς Satan to God, that they may
to fulfil His Divine Salvific Mission, even while being Ἡγιασμένοις Πίστει τῇ εἰς receive Forgiveness of sins, and
Spiritually Perfected themselves. [John 20:22] Ἐμέ.’ a place among those who are
 At the beginning of the Holy Mystery of Baptism, at the Sanctified by Faith in Me.’
“Making of a Catechumen,” the Priest breathes upon the
candidate, making the Sign of the Cross, which marks the Ὅθεν, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, οὐκ “Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was
beginning of our Life in Christ as His Faithful Disciples. ἐγενόμην ἀπειθὴς τῇ Οὐρανίῳ not disobedient to the Heavenly
 Mankind failed to keep the Divine Grace of God the Holy Spirit ὀπτασίᾳ· ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Vision, but declared first to those
but through His Resurrection, our Lord Jesus abundantly
Δαμασκῷ πρῶτον καὶ at Damascus, then at Jerusalem
granted His Disciples the Life-giving Grace of God the Holy
Spirit. It is our Great Responsibility as Faithful Disciples, to Ἱεροσολύμοις, εἰς πᾶσάν τὴν and throughout all th e country
Strive to think, speak and act according to the Divine Grace χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ τοῖς of Judea, and also to the Gentiles,
of God. ἔθνεσιν ἀπαγγέλλω Μετανοεῖν that they should Repent and turn
• Christ reveals His Divine Nature by restoring a tiny part of καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, to God, and perform deeds
Creation by using the same material with which He had created ἄξια τῆς Μετανοίας ἔργα worthy of their Repentance.”
mankind at the beginning of our existence. πράσσοντας.”
• “ … the Pool of Siloam ...” was situated on the outskirts of
Jerusalem, a considerable distance from the Temple, and
provided the water that was essential to the Holy Rites
20. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 9.
 Righteous Behaviour – and Communion with our Triune
Lord God in His Holy Church – True Spirituality.
 This passage from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, is read today  Therefore the strongest Spiritual Weapon against the Darkness
because it is the Feast of St Constantine and St Helena, Equals to of unnatural sin, is our own sincere Love for God, which
the Apostles. The usual reading for the 6th Paschal Sunday – consists of our strong, vibrant Relationship with Him, as
well as a good, loving relationship with one another – with
Sunday of the Blind Man – would be Acts 16: 16-34
all mankind.
 St John addressed three false gnostic teaching on Divine Light.
 “In those days, King Agrippa said to Paul: “Thou hast permission to (Their intertwined errors were that Union with God is
speak for Thyself.” indifferent to unnatural sin, that sin did not exist and that
those who were United with God could not commit sin.)
“…King Agrippa…” was Herod Agrippa, who succeeded Herod ‘the
 According to St John Faith must be evidenced by Good Works
Great,’ (who had proclaimed himself as ‘King.’ although merely the
that produced Purity whereby our thoughts, words and
Tetrarch Governor of Judea under the oppressive authority of the
deeds were Truthful, Holy and Righteous.
Roman Empire.
 Our Faith in Christ requires us to constantly Repent and
According to Roman Law, citizens who were accused of any criminal
Confess our sins, thereby being able to worthily receive
offences were allowed to defend themselves by testifying before
Forgiveness and Cleansing through the essential Holy
the court.
Mysteries of Repentance-Confession and Holy
Our Lord God often works through secular leaders, which in the case
Communion/Eucharist – the Precious Life-giving and Life
of St Paul’s arrests and trials, presented him with more
Sustaining Body and Blood of Christ - which Redeems us
opportunities to Testify to the Reality and Truth of the New
and grants us Eternal Life as well.
Covenant of Love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 Sin, although unnatural to God’s Perfect Creation, does exist
St Paul, previously known as ‘Saul,’ had been an extremely zealous
and the Sacred Practise of Repentance-Confession is for our
Old Covenant Faithful who considered it justifiable to persecute
Salvific Growth and Progress towards Righteousness.
even unto stoning to death, those whom he had been encouraged
 As Disciples of Christ, who are all habitual sinners, we must
to believe were appalling blasphemers.
ceaselessly Struggle against the temptations and Strive
for Spiritual Life and Perfection, because our Eternal
T H E H OLY G OSPEL Salvation is a life-long Sacred Process.
6th Paschal Sunday - the Blind Man  Matthew 5:14 “… you are the Light of the world. A city that is set
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO RD ING TO S T J OH N 9 : 1 – 38 on a hill cannot be hidden…”
 Having been Baptised and Chrismated by God’s Holy Mysteries,
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ παράγων ὁ At that time, as our Lord Jesus
we have become the adopted, Sanctified Children of God
Ἰησοῦς εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν passed by, He saw a man who our Heavenly Father. We have become Children of the
ἐκ γενετῆς· was blind from birth. Divine Light, who therefore must be bright, Righteous
Καὶ ἠρώτησαν Αὐτὸν οἱ Μαθηταὶ And His Disciples asked Him: Beacons of Holy Light that shall draw and guide many
other people to Worship, Honour and Glorify our Triune
Αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ‘Ραββί, τίς “Rabbi: who sinned – this man or Lord God.
ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς his parents – that he was born  Philippians 2: 14 -15 “… do all things without complaining and
αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ?’ blind?” disputing, so that you may become blameless and harmless –
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· “Οὔτε οὗτος Jesus answered: “Neither this man Children of God, without fault in the midst of a crooked and
ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, perverse generation, among whom you shine as Lights in the
nor his parents sinned, but that
world, holding fast the Word of Life… “
ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ Ἐργα the Works of God should be
 “…When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made
τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. revealed in him. clay with the saliva. And He Anointed the eyes of the Blind
Ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ Ἔργα τοῦ “I must work the Works of Him Man with the clay. And He said to him: “Go. Wash in the
πέμψαντός Με ἕως Ἡμέρα Pool of Siloam,” (which translated means ‘Sent.’) He went,
Who sent Me while it is Day.
and washed, and returned, seeing…”
ἐστίν· Ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς The Night is coming when no
δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. one can Work.

10. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 19.
  The Feast of Succoth – was an eight-day Autumn Harvest
Festival that commemorated the wandering of the Israelite Ὄταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ὦ, Φῶς Εἰμι “As long as I Am in the world, I
in the wilderness of Sinai, while living in temporary tents τοῦ κόσμου.” Am the Light of the world.”
or tabernacles.
 This was one of the three most important Festivals of the Old
Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσεν χαμαὶ καὶ When He had said these things, He
Covenant, which included numerous sacrifices and ἐποίησε πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ spat on the ground and made
celebrations. πτύσματος. clay with the saliva.
 When the Israelites had finally settled in and around Jerusalem, Καὶ Ἐπέχρισε τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς And He Anointed the eyes of the
the final day of this Great Feast included drawing water
from the Pool of Siloam, which was mixed with wine and
ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ Τυφλοῦ καὶ Blind Man with the clay. And He
poured at the base of the Great Holy Altar, both as a εἶπεν αὐτῷ· “Ὕπαγε νίψαι εἰς said to him: “Go. Wash in the
Purification and in remembrance of the Divine Water that τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ,” Pool of Siloam,” (which
flowed from the Rock that Moses struck with his staff. It (ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται translated means ‘Sent.’)
also included the lighting of huge lamps in the outer court ‘Ἀπεσταλμένος.’)
of the Great Temple. [Exodus 17: 1 – 7]
Ἀπῆλθεν οὖν καὶ ἐνίψατο, καὶ ἦλθε He went, and washed, and
 John 1 : 4 – 9 “… In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of
mankind. And the Light shines in the Darkness, and the βλέπων. returned, seeing.
Darkness did not comprehend…” Οἱ οὖν γείτονες καὶ οἱ θεωροῦντες The neighbours and those who
 Only our Lord God has Life in Himself. Thus, the Word/Logos αὐτὸν τὸ πρότερον ὅτι τυφλὸς previously had seen that he was
Who is God, is the Source of Life, together with God our
ἦν, ἔλεγον· ‘Οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ blind said: “Is this not he who sat
Heavenly Father and God the Life-giving All Holy Spirit.
 By stating “… the Life was the Light of mankind…” St John καθήμενος καὶ προσαιτῶν?” and begged?”
introduced mankind as being Sanctified Receivers of God’s Ἄλλοι ἔλεγον: “ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν!” Some said: “It is he!”
Divine Light.
 By fully participating in the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ἄλλοι δὲ: “ὅτι ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν!” Others said: “He is like him!” He
Who is the Son of God and the Son of Mankind, we become Ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν “ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι!” said: “I am he!”
Sanctified Children of His Divine Light.
 The Divine Uncreated Light of God was beheld by: Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ· “Πῶς They said to him: “How were thine
1. St Moses when he saw the Burning Bush that remained ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί?” eyes opened?”
unconsumed by the Flames. [Exodus 3:2]
2. The entire Nation of Israel at the Red Sea when it parted to
Ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν· He answered, and said: “A Man

allow them to walk safely to the opposite shore. [Exodus “Ἄνθρωπος λεγόμενος ‘Ἰησοῦς’ called ‘Jesus’ made clay, and
13:21] πηλὸν ἐποίησε καὶ ἐπέχρισέ μου anointed my eyes, and said to
3. St Isaiah the Holy Prophet of God in his Heavenly Vision. τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ εἶπέ μοι· me: ‘Go to the Pool of Siloam
[Isaiah 6: 1 – 5] ‘Ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν and wash.’
4. St Peter, St John and St James, the Holy Apostles of Christ, τοῦ Σιλωὰμ καὶ νίψαι·’
on Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus
Christ [Matthew 17: 1 – 5] “Ἀπελθὼν δὲ καὶ νιψάμενος I went and washed - I received
 1 John 1 : 5 - 7 “… This is the Message that we have heard from ἀνέβλεψα.” sight.”
Him and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him there is Εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ· “Ποῦ ἐστιν They asked him: “Where is He?” He
no Darkness at all. If we say that we have Fellowship with ἐκεῖνος?” Λέγει· “Οὐκ οἶδα.” replied: “I do not know.”
Him, and walk in Darkness, we lie and do not practise the Truth.
But if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have Ἄγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς They took him who formerly was
Fellowship with one another and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Φαρισαίους, τὸν ποτε τυφλόν. blind to the Pharisees.
Son, Cleanses us from all sin…”
 According to St John, the Divine Light is the Divine Energy,
Ἦν δὲ Σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλὸν It was a Sabbath when Jesus had
which is manifested [revealed] as Divine Truth – True ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν made the clay and opened his
Doctrine/Teaching – Holy Virtue, and Holiness – True, αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. eyes.

18. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 11.

Πάλιν οὖν ἠρώτων αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ
Φαρισαῖοι πῶς ἀνέβλεψεν.
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· “Πηλὸν
ἐπέθηκέ μου ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς,
καὶ ἐνιψάμην, καὶ βλέπω.”
Ἔλεγον οὖν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων
τινές· “Οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ
ἔστι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ
σάββατον οὐ τηρεῖ.”
Ἄλλοι ἔλεγον· “Πῶς δύναται
ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς τοιαῦτα
σημεῖα ποιεῖν?”
Καὶ σχίσμα ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς.
Λέγουσι τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν· “Σὺ τί
λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ σου
τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς?”
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν “Ὄτι Προφήτης ἐστίν.”
Οὐκ ἐπίστευον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι
περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν καὶ
ἀνέβλεψεν.
Ἔως ὅτου ἐφώνησαν τοὺς γονεῖς
αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος.
Καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτοὺς λέγοντες·
“Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ὑμῶν, ὃν
ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι τυφλὸς
ἐγεννήθη? Πῶς οὖν ἄρτι
βλέπει?”
Ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ γονεῖς
αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον· “Οἴδαμεν ὅτι
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ὅτι
τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη· Πῶς δὲ νῦν
βλέπει οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἢ τίς
ἤνοιξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς
ἡμεῖς οὐκ οἴδαμεν· Αὐτὸς
ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε.”
Αὐτὸσ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λαλήσει. ταῦτα
εἶπον οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι
12. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS
The Pharisees also asked him again
how he had received his sight.
He said to them: “He put clay on
my eyes, and I washed, and I
see.”
Some of the Pharisees said: “This
Man is not from God because He
does not keep the Sabbath!”
Others said: “How can anyone who
is a sinner do such Signs?”
And there was a division among
them.
They said to the Blind Man again:
“What dost thou say about Him
because He opened thine eyes?”
He said: “He is a Prophet.”
The Judeans did not believe him -
that he had been blind and now
could see.
They called the parents of him
who had received his sight.
And they asked them: “Is this your
son who you say was born blind?
How then does he now see?”
His parents answered them, and
said: “We know that this is our
son, and that he was born blind.
How he now sees, we do not
know. Who has opened his eyes,
we do not know. He is of age -
ask him. He shall speak for
himself.”
His parents said these things
because they feared the Judeans.
or permanently Transformed by His Divine, Loving Presence,
despite our own sinful condition.
• “… The Night is coming…” refers to the Darkness of Spiritual
Death caused by sin, which alienates us from God and His
Loving Mercy, and causes the persecution of the Righteous
Faithful “… when no one can Work…”
• The “...Night...” to which our Lord referred meant the time after
our death and the Age to come – Eternity – when there is no
longer any opportunity to express our Faith by Righteous
thoughts, words and deeds.
Our Spiritual Condition of Spiritual Life or Spiritual Death is
irreparable after our Repose, the Consequences of which are
Eternal!
As soon as our mortal body and immortal soul separate at our
Repose or Departure from this world or earthly life, we can no
longer Pray nor Repent or Confess our sins, and all mankind
has to submit to Death and confront the unavoidable Truth
that reveals every thought, word and deed, without
exception or excuse!
• “...Work...” refers to our Spiritual Labours that consists of Faith,
Good Deeds and Repentance. In other words, our Life IN
Christ, whereby we apply His Divine Truth to our own
thoughts, words and deeds.
• “… As long as I Am in the world, I Am the Light of the world …”
because our Lord Jesus Christ truly grants us His Divine Light,
Truth and Love that leads us from the Darkness of unnatural
sin and ignorance, to the Reality of His Eternal, Heavenly
Kingdom of Love.
• God’s New Covenant of Love and Truth Illuminates the entire
world, wherever there are Faithful, Orthodox Disciples Living
in Christ whose thoughts, words and deeds shine forth like
Bright Beacons of Light in the Spiritual Darkness of
wickedness, hatred and devastation.
 John 8:12 “… I Am the Light of the world. He who follows me shalt
not walk in Darkness but have the Light of Life.”
 Our Lord Jesus spoke these words in the context of the Great
Temple Lamps being lit at the conclusion of the Feast of
Tabernacles, thereby declaring Himself to be the Fulfilment
and Divine Object of all celebrations of Light.
 In Holy Scripture, our Lord God the Father is Divine,
Uncreated Light, which is a Sacred Attribute He bestows
upon His Faithful Disciples, to a lesser degree, when we
become His “Children of Light.”
 Our Lord Jesus Christ confirmed His Divine Proclamation by
performing the unique Divine Miracle of creating eyes for
the man who what born blind.
 John 7:2 “…The Feast of Tabernacles was at hand…”
6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 17.
 His Love for mankind. [The people believed that such an Almighty
ἐφοβοῦντο τοὺς Ἰουδαίους·
God would be a terrifying, vengeful, wrathful God rather than an All
Merciful, Good, Compassionate and Loving God, as revealed to us by Ἤδη γὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι For the Judeans had agreed already
our Lord Jesus Christ.] ἵνα, ἐάν τις ὁμολογήσῃ Χριστόν, that anyone who Confessed that
 Deuteronomy 5:9 “…you shall not bow down to them nor serve ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. He is the Christ, would be put
them, for I Am the Lord your God, a jealous God, repaying sins out of the Synagogue.
of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth Διὰ τοῦτο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπον Therefore, his parents said: “Ask
generation of those who hate Me, but showing Mercy to
thousands who Love me and keep My Commandments.
“Ὄτι ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν him. He is of age.”
 According to St John Chrysostom, the “… repaying the sins of ἐρωτήσατε.”
the fathers…” was not universal in application but referred to Ἐφώνησαν οὖν ἐκ δευτέρου τὸν They called again the man who was
certain Israelites who came out of Egypt. For even after they ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἦν τυφλός, καὶ formerly blind, and said to him:
had seen the Divine Signs and Wonders of Almighty God in “Give God the Glory! We know
Egypt, they committed far worse sins than their Forefathers εἶπον αὐτῷ· “Δὸς Δόξαν τῷ
Θεῷ! Ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ that this Man is a sinner!”
who had seen none of those Divine Things.
 Ezekiel 18:19-21 “…you say: ‘Why does a son not bear the ἄνθρωπος οὗτος ἁμαρτωλός
wrongdoing of his father? For the son practised Righteous, ἐστιν.”
showed Mercy, kept all My Commandments and did them. Thus
he shall surely Live. But the soul who sins shall die. The son
Ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν· He replied: “Whether He is a sinner

shall not bear the wrongdoing of his father, nor shall the father “Εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα· or not, I do not know. One thing
bear the wrongdoing of his son. The Rightoeusness of a Ἔν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι I do know is that although I was
Righteous man shall be upon himself, and the lawless deeds he βλέπω!” blind, now I see!”
commits, shall be upon himself. But if the lawless man turns
from all the lawless deeds he commits and keeps all My
Εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ πάλιν· “Τί ἐποίησέ They questioned him again:
Commandments, does Righteousness and shows Mercy, he shall σοι? Πῶς ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς “”What did He do to thee? How
surely Live and not die. ὀφθαλμούς? did He open thine eyes?”
• Although suffering can be the direct result of personal sin, this is Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς· “Εἶπον ὑμῖν He replied: “I have told you already,
certainly not always the case. ἤδη, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε· Τί yet you do not listen. Why do you
• The man was born without eyes provided the most amazing πάλιν θέλετε ἀκούειν? Μὴ καὶ want to hear it again? Do you
opportunity for the Divine Works of Almighty God to be ὑμεῖς θέλετε αὐτοῦ Μαθηταὶ want to become His Disciples?”
revealed to everyone concerned – so the man was not blind due
to anyone’s personal sin at all. γενέσθαι?”
 “…I must work the Works of Him Who sent Me while it is Day. The Ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον· “Σὺ They reviled him, and said: “Thou
Night is coming when no one can Work. As long as I Am in the εἶ Μαθητὴσ ἐκείνου! Ἡμεῖς δὲ art His Disciple! We are Moses’
world, I Am the Light of the world.” τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐσμὲν Μαθηταί! Disciples! We know that God
• Our Lord fulfilled all “… the Works of Him Who Sent Me…” by Ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι Μωϋσεῖ spoke to Moses. As for this
fulfilling/accomplishing everything according to God our λελάληκεν ὁ Θεός· Τοῦτον δὲ Fellow – we do not know where
Heavenly Father’s Will. He is from.”
οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν.”
• “… while it is Day…” refers to the time when our God Incarnate
Lived in our midst. He Guided, corrected, Taught, Enlightened Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν The man answered them: “Why, this
and Saved the “…Lost Sheep of the House of Israel…” – and αὐτοῖς· “Ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ is a marvellous thing! – for you
also many pagan Gentiles - with His Divine Truth and Merciful θαυμαστόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ do not know where He is from –
Deeds so that all mankind are able to follow the Righteous Path οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ ἀνέῳξέ and He has opened my eyes! We
to Eternity.
μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς! Οἴδαμεν know that God does not hear
• Although His Public Ministry was a mere three years during which δὲ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ sinners, but if anyone is a
He did innumerable Good, Salvific Deeds, our Incarnate Lord
God must have also greatly affected those who Encountered ἀκούει, ἀλλʼ ἐάν τις θεοσεβὴς ᾖ Worshipper of God and does His
Him throughout His Life as ‘Son of Man,’ for we are fleetingly
16. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 13.
 καὶ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιῇ, Will, He hears him. Since the • As Pascha (Easter) was the Traditional Day for Catechumens to be
τούτου ἀκούει. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος world began it has been unheard received into the Holy Church of Christ, the Sacred Lessons of
the Holy Pascha period – from the Glorious Resurrection of
οὐκ ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις of that anyone opened the eyes
Christ until Pentecost – all reflect a Baptismal Theology.
ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ of one who was born blind. If He
Thus, this Sacred Lesson is read on the Sixth Sunday of Holy
γεγεννημένου· Εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος were not from God, He could do Pascha.
παρὰ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἠδύνατο ποιεῖν nothing!”  “…His Disciples asked Him: “Rabbi: who sinned – this man or his
οὐδέν!” parents – that he was born blind?”
Ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· “Ἐν They answered and said to him: • Mankind is always quick to blame God (or their man-made ‘gods’)
for all misfortune that befalls us. However, most sorrows,
ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννήθης ὅλος, καὶ “Thou were completely born in
afflictions and other personal disasters are directly or
σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς?” sins, and thou art teaching us?!” indirectly caused by our own selfish, greedy and careless
Καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω. And they cast him out. actions or desires.
• Although most natural catastrophes are beyond our control, many
Ἤκουσεν Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἐξέβαλον Jesus heard that they had cast him
that we suffer these days are certainly due to mankind’s
αὐτὸν ἔξω, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν out. And when He had found neglect or insatiable greed that negatively affects all Creation.
εἶπεν αὐτῷ· “Σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς him, He said to him: “Dost thou  Our Lord “…Jesus answered: ‘Neither this man nor his parents
τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ?” believe in the Son of God?” sinned, but that the Works of God should be revealed in him…’
Ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπε· “Καὶ He answered and said: “Who is He, • During the 17th day of his gestation [growth/development] in his
τίς ἐστι, Κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς mother’s womb, the eyes of the Blind Man had not been
O Lord, that I may believe in formed.
αὐτόν?” Him?” • “… the Works of God…” were certainly “… revealed…” when our
Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· “Καὶ Jesus said to him: “Thou hast also Lord Jesus Christ Healed that particular Blind Man’s unique
ἑώρακας αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ λαλῶν seen Him and He Who is type of blindness because it not only brought him to Faith in
μετὰ Σοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν”. speaking to thee it is He.”
Christ our Divine Saviour, but would continue to draw others
when they realised the profound Magnitude of Christ’s Divine
Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· “Πιστεύω, Κύριε!” He said: “O Lord: I believe!” Miracle that granted him sight.
Καὶ προσεκύνησεν Αὐτῷ. And he worshipped Him. • Our Saviour rejected the popular presumption that all troubles
and maladies were the consequence of personal sin or even the
sins of parents.
 This Divine Healing is the sixth Sign of our Lord’s Divine Nature and  Exodus 20:4 – 5 “…You shalt not make for yourselves an idol or
likeness of anything in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath…
True Identity according to St John’s Holy Gospel. You shall not bow down to them or serve them for I, the Lord
your God, Am a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the
 “…as our Lord Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of
birth…” those who hate Me…”
 The images Israelites used in their worship foreshadowed the
• Of all the Divine Miracles recorded throughout Holy Scripture, this Incarnation of the Eternal, Only Begotten Word and Son of
is the only one whereby a person who was born without eyes God our Heavenly Father, Whom we Worship as both ‘Son of
was granted newly created eyes by our Divine Creator and God’ and ‘Son of Man.’ Furthermore, the Holy Icons used in
Saviour. Orthodox Worship and Veneration do not depict God’s
• The Blind Man symbolises all Spiritually Blind humanity for we all Divine Nature but draw attention to His Incarnation as the
need the Spiritual Illumination of our Lord Who is the Divine Perfect, New ‘Adam.’ [the Perfect Man Whom we Strive to imitate
Light that shines brightly, Illuminating and Enlightening the with our thoughts, words and deeds.]
fallen, Spiritually Dead and Darkened world.  Our Lord God is the Personification of Unconditional Perfect,
• This Divine Miracle is an illustration of the Holy Mystery of Divine Love/Agape thus He is without any grievous passion
Baptism, which is also referred to as “Holy Illumination.” yet through His Holy Prophets He condescended to be called
a “… jealous God…” to illustrate the intensity and infinity of
14. 6TH PASCHAL SUNDAY - THE BLIND MAN – SACRED LESSONS 6 T H
P A S C H A L S U N D A Y - T H E B L I N D M A N – S A C R E D L E S S O N S 15.