Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Sacred Lessons
3 September 2023
By the Grace of God 14th Sunday After Pentecost –13th Sunday of St Matthew
The Wicked Tenants

Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed

By Marguerite Paizis
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
Holy Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa

marguerite.paizis@gmail.com
or download directly from
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574

Re-edited & Published - 04 September 2023

Resurrection Gospel 2 – Mark 16 : 1 – 8

1 Corinthians 16 : 13 – 24
Matthew 21 : 33 – 42

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 St John Chrysostom: “… the Most Precious Holy Blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ, of which we Partake, Refreshes our immortal soul and grants us
Great Strength. When we worthily Partake of Holy Communion, it
R ESURREC TION G OSPEL 2: M ARK 16:1 - 8 drives the demons far away and brings God’s Holy Angels and the King
The Holy Myrrhbearers witness the Empty Tomb of the Angels closer to us. This Divine Blood is the Salvation of our soul,
for our soul is Washed and Adorned with It, making our mind brighter
Διαγενομένου τοῦ Σαββάτου, And when the Sabbath was past, than fire and more gleaming than gold…”
Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ, καὶ Μαρία Mary Magdalene, Mary the St Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “… the Holy Church of Christ is a Sacred
ἡ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη, Mother of James, and Salome Hospital and everyone who enters wants to be Cured. This Hospital is a
ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα, ἵνα bought spices, with which to Healing Centre. The difference between It and other hospitals is that in
ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν τὸν᾿Ιησοῦν. anoint Jesus. the Sacred Hospital of Christ, even at an autopsy, there is Hope…”

Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς Σαββάτων And very early in the morning, on St Gregory the Theologian: “… Venerate the Icons of the Saints because
ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ Μνημεῖον, the first day of the week, they they were Crucified with our Lord. Make the Sign of the Cross and
recall their share in Christ’s Sufferings. Venerate also their Holy Bodies
ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. went to the Tomb when the sun
and any Holy Relics of theirs, for the Grace of God has not been
had risen. separated from them, just as Divinity did not depart from the Precious
Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· “Τίς And they said among themselves: Body of our Lord Jesus Christ at the time of His Life-giving Death…”
ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς “How shalt we roll away the St Dimitri of Rostov: “… Do you really want to defeat pride, which is
θύρας τοῦ Μνημείου? stone from the door of the enough by itself to deprive you of the Kingdom of Heaven? This is what
Tomb?” you have to do: Love Silence. Live in obscurity, concealing your Good
Works and Spiritual Labours from other people. Bear the Chastisement
Καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι, θεωροῦσιν, ὅτι And when they looked up, they saw of others, their shaming, their mockery and their contempt without
ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος - ἦν γὰρ that the stone had been rolled complaint. As also the blows from God, which are for your
μέγας σφόδρα. away - for it was very large. Edification…”

Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ Μνημεῖον,
εἶδον Νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν
τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον
στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ
ἐξεθαμβήθησαν.
Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· “Μὴ
ἐκθαμβεῖσθε·
᾿Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν
ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη! Οὐκ
ἔστιν ὧδε· Ἵδε! ὁ τόπος ὅπου
ἔθηκαν Αὐτόν.
”Ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε - εἴπατε τοῖς
Μαθηταῖς Αὐτοῦ - καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ
- ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν
Γαλιλαίαν· Ἐκεῖ Αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε,
καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν.”
And entering the Tomb, they saw a
Young Man clothed in a long
white robe sitting on the right
side; and they were alarmed.
He said to them: “Do not be
alarmed.
“Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you seek,
Who was crucified, is Risen! He
is not here. Behold the place
where they laid Him.
“But go - tell His Disciples - and
Peter - for He is going before you
into Galilee. There you shalt see
Him, as He said to you.”
Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis, Abbot, St Grigoriou Monastery: “…In
the Communal Worship of the Church, the Faithful converse with God,
Glorify God and Thank God, but only in the Divine Liturgy do we
Embrace and Communicate with our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ…”
St John Chrysostom: “…do you want me to tell you whose work people
are doing when they leave before the end of the Divine Liturgy and do
not participate in the Dismissal Prayers of Thanksgiving? What I am
going to say may be harsh but I have to say it: When Judas Iscariot was
present at Christ’s Last Supper, he stood up and departed while the
other Faithful Apostles remained seated at the Table. These people are
thus imitating the Betrayer of Christ, Judas Iscariot!”
Elder Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “… post-modern people have forgotten that
their ontological constitution [nature of existence] is God-like. They do
not Live in Repentance. They do not Strive to attain a Virtuous
Condition. Consequently, they do not want to have a Family, they do
not understand the Contribution of Monasticism, they do not Love their
Spiritual Homeland, they do not want to be Governed, but neither can
they govern themselves properly…”

Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ταχύ, ἔφυγον ἀπὸ And they went out quickly and fled
τοῦ Μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς from the Tomb, trembling and

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St Nektarios of Pentapolis & Aegina: “… We have weaknesses, grievous
passions and fault deeply rooted within us, many of which are
inherited. None of them can be cut off by fitful efforts, nor by fretting
and deep sorrow, but only with Patience, Persistence, Fortitude, Care
and Attention…”
St Ivan of Valaam Monastery: “… We know we are really praying when
we feel Warmth and Contrition in our heart. When we feel we are of no
consequence and we cry out to our Lord: ‘O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
God, have Mercy on me, a sinner!’ or use other relevant and meaningful
words…”
Elder Ephraim of Vatopaidi Monastery: “… Who were the wealthy who
were made hungry? Those who handled their riches badly, who did not
Live in Repentance, exercising the Holy Virtues, but selfishly satisfying
all their hedonistic passions. And who are those who shall not lack
anything Good? Those who call upon our Lord’s Name, who Live in
Repentance and observe all God’s Divine Commandments…”
St Isaac the Syrian: “… Humble people consider themselves sinful, good
for nothing and contemptible. Yet they are able to touch snakes as if
they were mere locusts. When they approach others, the people pay
attention to them as if they were our Lord Himself. Even the wickedness
of demons withers before those who are truly Humble. This is the
Majesty of Humility and its great Power, which the Saints receive…”
St Dimitri of Rostov: “… Remember your innumerable sins and be
devastated by them. Read and wonder at the superhuman
achievements of God’s Holy Saints. Cultivate inner self-condemnation.
Avoid praise as much as you would avoid fire. Finally, always bear in
mind the Dread Judgement Seat of our Lord Jesus Christ where all the
proud and arrogant shalt be brought low forever…”
St Hieronymos of Aegina: “… Other people shall tell you whatever it is
they know. They live their own life. They know about it and that is
what they talk about. They do not live your Life. They do not know
about it and they do not Love it. So, given that they do not speak your
‘language,’ why do you want them to speak to you?”
St Paisios of Mount Athos: “… The affection and love of parents are
necessary condition for the Spiritual Balance of their children. These
days there is a vital shortage of affection and interest on the part of
parents, with regard to their children…”
Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos: “… Those who observe real,
uncompromising Obedience do not only Benefit and Thrive, but they
also Experience Miracles of Spiritual Progress, a Spiritual Change. They
gradually emerge from the machinations in which they have been
trapped – from a variety of unhealthy condition – they act more freely,
they are relieved and go from Grace to Grace, from one Experience of
the Holy Life to another, from Joy to Joy…”
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τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις· amazed.
Καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο And they said nothing to anyone,
γάρ. for they were afraid.
 “On the first morning after Sabbath, at dawn, the Women went to the
Sepulchre taking the aromatic spices they had prepared with
them…”
• Sunday is the first day of the week, after the Sabbath Day of Rest on
Saturday.
• Sunday is “the Lord’s Day” according to the New Covenant. Hence we
celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ by
dedicating Sunday to communal Worship of our Triune Lord God
and also by fulfilling good deeds for others who are in need.
• Saturdays – Sabbath Day - are Memorial Days on which we remember
those who have Reposed in Christ.
• Sunday begins at sunset on Saturday evening, so the first Holy Service
of Vespers for Sunday/Resurrection of Christ is conducted, and we
prepare ourselves by Fasting, Self-Examination and Repentance-
Confession in order to Partake of the Holy Mystery of
Eucharist/Communion the next day.
• We have to arrange a mutually suitable appointment with our Spiritual
Father for the Holy Mystery of Repentance-Confession, which can
also be on any weekday.
• The Russian/Slavic Orthodox Church strictly requires those who wish
to Partake of Holy Communion, to Repent-Confess to the Spiritual
Father or Priest during the Service of Matins before the Divine
Liturgy.
• More thorough Repentance-Confession must also be mutually
arranged with the Spiritual Father Confessor.
• The Holy Myrrhbearers hastened to the Tomb of Christ as soon as the
first light of dawn appeared on Sunday, which shows their urgency
to Anoint the Body of our Lord, despite the persecution of all His
Disciples.
 “…They found the stone rolled away from the Sepulchre. and entering,
they did not see the Body of Lord Jesus …” –
• The Eight Holy Myrrhbearers “…found the stone rolled away…” which
had occurred after the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
• The huge stone that had firmly sealed the entrance to Christ’s Tomb
had been “… rolled away…” either by an ‘earthquake’ or by Angelic
Power, in order to reveal the Empty Tomb, certainly not to release
our Resurrected Lord God Who had already departed from there.
• The Holy Myrrhbearers immediately entered the Empty Tomb and thus
witnessed the absence of ‘…the Body of Lord Jesus…” and the
abandoned Shroud and aloe-hardened burial wrappings.
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 • Usually the Old Covenant Faithful carefully avoided contact with
everything concerning death, for it was regarded as being ‘unclean,’
and thus forbidden, for health reasons.
• Those who prepared corpses and tombs were not allowed to
participate in communal Prayers and Worship for specific periods
afterwards.
 “…And, while they were perplexed about this, behold! two Men stood by
them in dazzling Garments…”
• Naturally the Holy Myrrhbearers were profoundly shocked and
confused to find only the discarded shroud and burial clothes
inside, as would anyone who expected to see the Precious Body of
Christ, which had been so securely sealed inside the stone-carved
Tomb.
• The “…two Men … in dazzling Garments…” were two Holy Angels of
God who were there to announce the Resurrection of Christ as well
as to comfort and reassure the Holy Myrrhbearers.
• Obviously, their extraordinary appearance and presence at the Empty
Tomb further “…perplexed…” and scared most of the Faithful
Women, with the exception of our Lady, Theotokos.
• Although the details of this Encounter according to the four
Evangelists may differ slightly with regard to whether one or two
Angels appeared, the Joyous, Glorious Proclamation of our Lord’s
Resurrection was the focal point.
• Their “… dazzling garments…” signified that these “…Men…” were in
fact Holy Angels of God who shone with His Divine Light.
 “…As they were frightened, and bowed their faces to the ground, they
said to them: “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is
not here, but is Risen!”
• The Holy Myrrhbearers “…were frightened, and bowed their faces to
the ground…” because, again, we would all react similarly at the
sight of Holy Angels where we would least expect them to be.
• The Women’s prostrations before the Holy Angels of God also
expressed their Humility and Reverence for God and His Holy
Angels/Messengers.
• The Holy Angels know the Divine Nature of the Son of God, Who is
Immortal and Eternal, yet did not comprehend the Incarnate Nature
of our Lord Jesus Christ as “the Son of Man” so they said: “…Why
do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but is
Risen!”
• However, the Eternal Son and Word of God became Incarnate – “the
Son of Man[kind]” - by taking on the human nature – Flesh and Blood
- of the Ever Blessed, All Holy Virgin Mary, by the Power and
Energy of God the Holy Spirit.
• His two Natures, Divine and Human, remained unmingled/separated -
in order to Live in our midst, suffering the same conditions as us –
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• According to St John Chrysostom, the quotation: “The Stone that
Builders rejected...” illustrates two causes of our Spiritual
Destruction:
1. Those who fall on (or stumble over) the Stone suffer the
Consequences of our unrepented sins while yet in this life,
2. whereas those on whom the Stone falls are the unrepentant
sinners who shall suffer utter destruction at the Final
Judgement.
• While we are still alive in this world, God, in His Great Mercy, offers us
every opportunity and every means possible with which to rectify
our Spiritual Darkness or Spiritual Death through our personal
Repentance-Confession and His Forgiveness of our sins.
• Therefore, in this present human condition, our Lord Jesus Christ is
our “Stumbling Block” – bringing us to our knees so that we may
realise the errors of our ways and quickly correct them by seeking
Divine Forgiveness and striving all the harder to follow His Guiding
Footsteps towards Eternal Life.
• However, if we stubbornly and arrogantly refuse to acknowledge our
sins, and reject God’s Offer of Remission of Sins through
Repentance-Confession, we will most certainly reap our own Bitter
Harvest – Eternal Death in Outer Darkness – Eternal Exile or
Banishment from the Divine Light and Love of God.
T H E I NSP IRE D W ISDOM OF OU R H OLY F ATH ERS
Elder Ambrosios Lazaris: “…When we ask something from our Lord in
Prayer, we must always say at the end: ‘… provided it is for the Benefit
of my soul...’ Because this is a Sign of Humility and Submission of God’s
Will, whatever we ask of the Lord with our whole heart, He shall grant
it, and we should always Glorify Him with our thoughts, words and
deeds…”
St Porphyrios Kavsokalyvitis: “… do not be interested in whether people
Love you. Concern yourself with whether you truly Love Christ and our
fellow sinners. That is the only Way for our soul to be filled…”
Elder Moses of Mount Athos: “… Pain is also a Path leading to God. We
should never forget that. If we seek a painless, pleasure-filled life, we
are left with no Struggle, and, in the end, no Joy. If we wish to erase
pain from our life, we behave fitfully and sometimes shall experience
even greater pain and distress! According to our Holy Father, it is
better to have an affliction that Saves us that having constant good
health that Condemns us to Punishment. Joy and Patience on the part
of Believers who suffer sickness, gains them a Martyr’s Crown. The
Greatest Miracle is to Live with Christ…”
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 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified outside the city gates of
Jerusalem – just as the sacrificial animals were slaughtered
outside the city walls, outside and away from the Holy Temple
of God.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified by Roman (foreign)
Executioners and not by His own countrymen, the Israelites. The
Judean Priests feared losing their material wealth and powerful
social status, so they aligned themselves with the Roman
oppressors, using the Roman laws to accomplish their wicked
schemes and persecute the Faithful Disciples of Christ
throughout the immense Roman Empire.
“…’When therefore the Lord of the Vineyard comes, what shall He do to
those Tenants?’ They said to Him: “He shall put those wretches to a
miserable death, and let out the Vineyard to other Tenants who
shall give His the Fruits in their Seasons.”
• Our Lord Jesus Christ addressed this important question to the
hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees, to make them consider the
Righteous outcome of this Divine Parable.
• He often used this method in order to encourage his erudite enemies
 “…Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying:
to think carefully about the results of selfish, disobedient and
greedy human behaviour, much of which often applied to them and
their own circumstances.
• Inevitably their response was severe and unmerciful, which revealed
their own unkind and unjust attitude towards others. This was
often in sharp contrast to the infinite Loving Kindness and Great
Mercy of our Lord God towards all mankind.
• Eventually, their words did come true, for not only was the great city
of Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans in 70, but God also granted
His Sacred Vineyard – His Holy Church – to Gentiles – to His
Faithful Disciples who Live in Christ - according to God’s New
Eternal Covenant of Unconditional Love.
 “…Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The
very Stone that the Builders rejected has become the Cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing, and it was Marvellous in our sight!’ ”
• “…The Stone…” is a reference to Christ Who was rejected by “…the
Builders…” meaning the Nation of Israel – His own People.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ is most certainly the Eternal Chief Cornerstone
in Whom we truly Live and upon whom the True Faith and
Teachings of God is solidly established and shall remain so for all
Eternity!
• This is exactly by the Will of God the Father, through His Beloved Son’s
Teachings and Sacrifice and by the Activation and Wisdom of the
Holy Spirit – which is indeed, most marvellous of all!
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heat, cold, hunger, thirst, tiredness, pain, sorrow, etc – with one
exception: He remained absolutely sinless.
• Christ our Lord God is Unconditional Love and Goodness. Therefore,
our concupiscence – our inclination to sin – is beyond/contrary to
His Perfect human and Divine Natures.
• He is Perfect Man, Whom we ought to strive to emulate with our
thoughts, words and deeds, because that was His intention for us
when He created us.
• The Resurrection of Christ proves that
1. everything He taught His Apostles and Disciples is the absolute
Truth,
2. like Him, we shall also be Resurrected on the Eighth Day, the
General Resurrection,
3. those who have Departed this lifespan have “Fallen Asleep,” or
“Reposed,” and are not ‘dead and gone forever’ as non-believers
claim.
• The Proclamation of Great Joy - “He is Risen!” – heralded the New
Dispensation that has resounded throughout the world,
transforming Creation and the Faithful Life of generations of
mankind.
‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and
be crucified, and the Third Day Rise again.’”…”
• The Angel reminded them of what our Lord Jesus had told them by
repeating His exact Words concerning His Passion and
Resurrection.
• This confirmed the Reality and Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ’s
Resurrection, and proved that it was not a cruel deception carried
out by His enemies.
• The words spoken by the Angel or Angels at the Empty Tomb might
differ slightly according to the Gospels of St Matthew, St Luke and
St Mark, but they served the same Purpose - to dispel any doubts
by confirming the Resurrection of Christ thereby comforting,
encouraging and reminding the Faithful Disciples of our Lord’s
Words and Instructions.
• Our Lord’s Resurrection truly did occur on “…on the Third Day …”
1. The first day was Friday when Christ was crucified and died before
sundown.
2. The second day was Saturday, the Sabbath, on which our Lord
Reposed in the Tomb.
3. The Third Day, which began at sundown on Saturday, is Sunday,
“the Lord’s Day,” the Day of Resurrection and the first day of
the week.
• A Hymn of St John of Damascus states: “The Angel cried to the Lady
Full of Grace: ‘Rejoice, O Pure Virgin! Thy Son is Risen from His
Three days in the Tomb!”
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 “…And they remembered His Words, and - returning from the
Sepulchre - they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the
others…”
• The Angels of God helped the Holy Myrrhbearers to recall everything
our Lord had said, which dispelled their mind-numbing shock at
seeing the Empty Tomb and the Angels, and intensified their great
Joy.
• The Holy Angels are Messengers of God, who are sent to assist us as
we Struggle against temptations and sins, and Strive to acquire
Spiritual Life and Perfection.
• Each of us has at least two Guardian Angels who are our constant
Companions, guiding, assisting and leading us [when we pay attention
and are Spiritually Watchful.]
• The Holy Myrrhbearers “… told all these things to the Eleven and to
all the others...” which implies that the Faithful Followers of our
Lord Jesus Christ were far more numerous than the Eleven
Apostles. [Acts 1:14-15]
 “…It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the Mother of James, and the
other women with them, who told these things to the Apostles…”
• These were the Eight Holy Myrrhbearers:
 Our Ever Blessed Lady, Theotokos
 St Mary of Magdala
 St Joanna, wife of Chuza, a Steward of Herod
 St Salome, daughter of St Joseph the Betrothed [and his late wife,
Salome, sister of St Anna], mother of St John the Beloved Disciple
and St James ‘the Lesser.’
 St Mary, wife of St Cleophas/Alphaeus
 St Susanna, another daughter of St Joseph the Betrothed and his
late wife, Salome.
 St Mary of Bethany, sister of St Lazaros ‘Four Days Dead’
 St Martha of Bethany, sister of St Lazaros
• Due to the natural Humility of the All Holy Theotokos, She preferred
to remain in the background, and was thus referred to in an
obscure manner by the Evangelists who respected and revered Her.
• When the Temple Priests Betrothed Her to Her elderly uncle, St Joseph
the Betrothed, to protect Her Sacred Vow of Chastity and Devout
Service to God, the adult children of St Joseph and his late wife,
Salome, [her cousins] were referred to as Her ‘sons and daughters.’
• St Mary of Magdala was a Devout, mature, independently wealthy and
socially influential woman who became a close companion of
Theotokos.
Due to her Righteous Life and devotion to our Lord God, Satan had
mistaken her for the one who would bear the Great Messiah and
demonically possessed her. Christ subsequently exorcised her and
she continued to Faithfully fulfil the Will of our Heavenly Father..
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• Our Lord God is Omipresent – He is ever present, and never deserts us.
We, however, turn ourselves away from His Loving Sight whenever
we commit sins against God, against each other and against
ourselves.
 “When the Season of Harvest drew near, He sent His Servants to the
Tenants to get His Harvest. And the Tenants took His Servants and
beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again He send other
Servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them…”
• Each “Servant” sent by the Landowner represents the Old Covenant
Prophets of God who were sent by God to bring the Nation of Israel
back to God because they kept drifting away, following their own
selfish desires or being lured by innumerable temptations of the
evil one and his demons.
• The “wicked Tenants” were not only those entrusted with the Spiritual
Welfare of God’s People, but also the people themselves who
committed sins against God and each other.
• This verse refers to the Martyrdom of God’s Holy Prophets throughout
the ages before the First Appearance of the Great Messiah.
• Until St John the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ appeared from the
Wilderness to urge the People to Repent their sins “ … for the
Kingdom of God is at hand…” there was a very long period when
there were no more Holy Prophets of God to correct the Nation of
Israel.
 Afterwards He sent His Son to them, saying: ‘They shall respect My
Son.’ When the Tenants saw the Son, they said to themselves: ‘This
is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and have His Inheritance.’ And
they took Him and cast Him out of the Vineyard, and killed Him. “
• “The Son,” signified our Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Beloved Only-
begotten Son of God.
• “His Inheritance” signifies the Faithful People of the Old and New
Covenants, which His enemies wanted to keep under their own
destructive control.
• Some of – but not all – the Judean Priests and Synagogue leaders
refused to accept our Lord as the Great Messiah for various
erroneous and selfish reasons, so they forced the Faithful to reject
Him as well.
• These days, many self-appointed religious leaders continue to reject
our Lord Jesus Christ and His Divine Truth. Instead they lure the
people away from God by means of their own false ideas and
schemes in order to gain material wealth and power.
• When the Son is “...cast out of the Vineyard and killed ...” for His
Inheritance by the wicked Vinedressers/Tenants, it may be
understood on two levels:
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 Being Faithfully Courageous and outspoken, St Mary of Magdala,
Ὅταν οὖν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος τοῦ “When therefore the Lord of the became the ‘spokesman’ for the female Disciples and was thus
Ἀμπελῶνος, τί ποιήσει τοῖς Vineyard comes, what shall He worthily entitled ‘Equal to the Apostles.’
Γεωργοῖς ἐκείνοις?” do to those Tenants?” She travelled to Rome where she confronted the Roman Emperor and
reported the illegal activities of Herod Agrippa and Pontius Pilate in
Λέγουσιν Αὐτῷ· “Κακοὺς κακῶς They said to Him: “He shall put Palestine, who were then stripped of all their enriching power and
ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν those wretches to a miserable status and sent into exile in Spain.
Ἀμπελῶνα ἐκδώσεται ἄλλοις death, and let out the Vineyard to  “…to them their words seemed like idle tales, and they did not believe
Γεωργοῖς, οἵτινες ἀποδώσουσιν other Tenants who shall give His them…”
αὐτῷ τοὺς καρποὺς ἐν τοῖς the Fruits in their Seasons.” • The Holy Myrrhbearers had expected the disbelief of the Apostles and
Καιροῖς αὐτῶν.” other [male] Disciples, which is why some of the Holy Women were
reluctant to recount what had happened at the Empty Tomb of
Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Jesus said to them: “Have you Christ.
“Οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς never read in the Scriptures: • Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ soon rebuked His Apostles and
Γραφαῖς, λίθον ὃν ‘The very Stone that the Disciples for having either disregarded the Joyful Proclamation of
ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ Builders rejected has become His Resurrection, or had so quickly forgotten His Words of Divine
οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη the Cornerstone. This was the Truth.
εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· Παρὰ Lord’s doing, and it was • When the self-serving enemies of Christ heard the reports of what had
Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστι happened at the Tomb from the terrified soldiers who had stood
Marvellous in our sight!’ ”
guard there, they tried to bribe them to keep silent.
Θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς
ἡμῶν!’” • The deluded Priests and Scribes certainly did not want anyone to know
about Christ’s Resurrection, which confirmed His Words to them.
They tried to stifle the Divine Truth and mislead anyone who dared
to believe, by falsely claiming that His Disciples had stolen and
 “…There was a Householder who planted a Vineyard, and set a Hedge hidden His Body.
around it, and dug a Wine Press in it, and built a Tower, and let it
• In those days, women were seldom treated with respect by men so it
out to Tenants, and went into a Far Country.
was understandable that they would be reluctant to try to explain
what had happened, except for St Mary Magdalene who was
• The “…certain Householder…” represents God our Heavenly Father. confident, outspoken and fearless.
• “The Vineyard” refers to God’s Chosen People who are the Sanctified  “…Peter rose up and ran to the Sepulchre, and stooping down, he saw
Members of His Holy Church. the Linen Cloths lying by themselves, and he departed, marvelling
• The “Hedge” refers to the Divine Truth that God commanded us and to himself at what had happened…”
that Christ taught us, which Protects us and Guides us towards • Only St Peter - and St John, the Beloved Disciple - immediately believed
Eternal Life. the Joyful Proclamation of the Resurrection and “…ran to the
• The “Wine Press” signifies the daily difficulties that confront us, and Sepulchre…” in their eagerness to see the Empty Tomb.
how we react by thought, word and deed. • Although habitually impulsive, St Peter did not enter the Tomb due to
• The Tower signifies all God’s Holy Prophets, our Holy Fathers, Holy the Old Covenant Laws regarding death, until “…stooping down he
Elders, Saints, Bishops and Priests who keep watch over our saw the Linen Cloths…” which verified our Lord’s Resurrection.
Spiritual Welfare. • The fine linen Shroud and burial cloths had been discarded and left in
• The “Tenants” signify the Old Covenant leaders of Israel who were the Tomb because due to our Lord’s Resurrection they would never
entrusted to care for God’s Chosen People, to Guide, Teach and be needed again.
prepare them for the Coming of the Great Messiah. • On the contrary, when St Lazaros was brought back to life by our Lord
• Our Heavenly Father “… went into a Far Country…” means that He left Jesus Christ, he emerged still wrapped in his burial shroud and
the care of His Chosen People to His Holy Prophets, the Temple binding cloths, thereby signifying that many years later, he would
Priests and the Judean Leaders. once again Repose until our General Resurrection on the Eighth
Day.

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• There is a vast difference between being resuscitated and Resurrected
– one is temporary while the other is Eternal.
• It was forbidden for the Old Covenant Faithful to come into contact
T H E H OLY G OSPEL ACCO RD ING TO S T M ATTHE W 21: 34 -36
with anything pertaining to death and burial, for they would
13th Sunday of St Matthew – The Wicked Tenants/Vinedressers
subsequently be forbidden to participate in communal Prayers and
Worship. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τὴν παραβολὴν At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ
• Those who through necessity had to attend to the dead, were ταύτην· narrated this Parable:
considered “unclean” for certain periods of time, after which they
had to undergo specific Sacred Cleansing Rituals, “Ἄνθρωπος τις ἦν Οἰκοδεσπότης, “…There was a Householder who
• Many Old Covenant Laws concerned the health and welfare of God’s ὅστις ἐφύτευσεν Ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ planted a Vineyard, and set a
People, especially while they sojourned for so many years in the Φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε, καὶ Hedge around it, and dug a
wilderness before settling down in the Promised Land. ὤρυξεν ἐν αὐτῷ ληνὸν καὶ Wine Press in it, and built a
• Obviously, both St Simon Peter and St John marvelled and ᾠκοδόμησεν Πύργον, καὶ Tower, and let it out to Tenants,
contemplated “… what had happened.” ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν Γεωργοῖς, καὶ and went into a Far Country.
• However, fifty days later, on Pentecost Sunday, when God the Holy ἀπεδήμησεν.
Spirit descended upon them, they would become fully Enlightened
by the Knowledge and Understanding that would be poured into
Ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ Καιρὸς τῶν “When the Season of Harvest drew
them by the Divine Grace of God. Καρπῶν, ἀπέστειλε τοὺς near, He sent His Servants to
Only by means of the Divine Grace of God the Holy Spirit, are we able to δούλους Αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς the Tenants to get His Harvest.
comprehend His infinite Love and Great Mercy, and thereby are Γεωργοὺς λαβεῖν τοὺς Καρποὺς
Empowered and Enabled to Guide and Enlighten others who ‘hunger Αὐτοῦ.
and thirst’ for His Divine, Absolute Truth.
Καὶ λαβόντες οἱ Γεωργοὶ τοὺς And the Tenants took His Servants
Δούλους Αὐτοῦ ὃν μὲν ἔδειραν, and beat one, killed another,
ὃν δὲ ἀπέκτειναν, ὃν δὲ and stoned another.
ἐλιθοβόλησαν.
T H E F IRST EP ISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E C ORINTH IANS 16:13-24
Πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους Δούλους Again He send other Servants,
πλείονας τῶν πρώτων.
Ἀδελφοί, γρηγορεῖτε, στήκετε ἐν τῇ Brethren, be Watchful, stand firm more than the first.
Πίστει, ἀνδρίζεσθε, in our Faith, be Courageous, be Καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὡσαύτως. And they did the same to them.
κραταιοῦσθε· Strong. Ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς Afterwards He sent His Son to
Πάντα ὑμῶν ἐν Ἀγάπῃ γενέσθω. Let all that you do be done with αὐτοὺς τὸν Υἱὸν Αὐτοῦ λέγων·
them, saying: ‘They shall
Love.
‘Ἐντραπήσονται τὸν Υἱόν
respect My Son.’
Μου.’
Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, Ἀδελφοί· As you all know, Brethren, the
Οἱ δὲ Γεωργοὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Υἱὸν “When the Tenants saw the Son,
Οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι household of Stephanas was the
εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· ‘Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ they said to themselves: ‘This is
ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας καὶ εἰς first converts in Achaia, and
Κληρονόμος· Δεῦτε, the Heir. Come, let us kill Him
Διακονίαν τοῖς Ἁγίοις ἔταξαν they have devoted themselves to
ἀποκτείνωμεν Αὐτὸν καὶ and have His Inheritance.’
ἑαυτούς· the Service of the Saints.
κατάσχωμεν τὴν Κληρονομίαν
Ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς Ὑποτάσσησθε τοῖς I urge you to be subject to such Αὐτοῦ.
τοιούτοις καὶ παντὶ τῷ men, and to every fellow Worker
Καὶ λαβόντες Αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω And they took Him and cast Him
συνεργοῦντι καὶ κοπιῶντι. and Labourer.
τοῦ Ἀμπελῶνος καὶ ἀπέκτειναν. out of the Vineyard, and killed
Χαίρω δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ Παρουσίᾳ I Rejoice at the coming of Him.
Στεφανᾶ καὶ Φορτουνάτου καὶ Stephanas and Fortunatos and

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 Claudios in 49 – 50, and who had resided in Corinth for a while Ἀχαϊκοῦ, ὅτι τὸ ὑμέτερον Achaikos for they have made up
before moving to Ephesos (ACTS 18:2 & 26)
ὑστέρημα οὗτοι ἀνεπλήρωσαν· for your absence.
• St Paul conveyed the greetings and Love of other Christians
Communities whom he had visited, which Encouraged and Ἀνέπαυσαν γὰρ τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ For they Refreshed my spirit as
Strengthened everyone who endured Spiritual Struggles and many τὸ ὑμῶν. well as yours.
kinds of daily persecution, difficulties and temptations.
Ἐπιγινώσκετε οὖν τοὺς τοιούτους. Acknowledge such men.
• Being Eastern Orthodox Christians, we are Sanctified Members of one,
United, Universal Spiritual Family, for we are all “Brethren in Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Greetings to you from the churches
Christ,” who are the adopted Children of God and Co-Heirs with Ἀσίας. of Asia.
Christ of His Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom through our Holy
Baptism and Chrismation. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἐν Κυρίῳ πολλὰ Many greetings to you in the Lord
Ἀκύλας καὶ Πρίσκιλλα σὺν τῇ are sent to you from Aquila and
• Being Brethren in Christ we greet each other with the “Holy Kiss” –
κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίᾳ. Priscilla, together with the
cheek to cheek – as a Sign of our Holy Unity, Love and Harmony.
church in their house.
• Our Journey towards Eternity can never be fulfilled on our own. We
must link our arms and all our efforts, so that we can Encourage Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ Ἀδελφοὶ Greetings to you from all the
and Strengthen, urge and exhort each other in order for us all to πάντες. Brethren.
arrive safely at our desired Destination – Eternal Life in the
Heavenly Kingdom of Divine Love. Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι G reetings to you all with a Holy
• St Paul usually dictated his Epistles to a trustworthy Scribe but his Ἁγίῳ. Kiss.
closing signature proves that he was indeed the author of this
Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ - This greeting is written by my own
particular Epistle.
Παύλου. hand – Paul.
 “....Ifanyone has no Love for our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
anathema!” Εἴ τις οὐ Φιλεῖ τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν If anyone has no Love for our Lord
• This is an extremely serious warning from St Paul because he knows Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἤτω ἀνάθεμα Jesus Christ, let him be
that those who neglect their Spiritual Welfare, especially Orthodox μαραν αθά. anathema!
Christians, shall Eternally Condemn themselves to Eternal Death - Ἡ Χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
“Outer Darkness” - which is an irreparable Sentence of Eternal
Spiritual Exile from God and all His Divine Love and Goodness! Χριστοῦθ μεθʼ ὑμῶν. be with you!
• We only have this very short lifespan in which to acquire Divine Ἡ Ἀγάπη μου μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν My Love be with you all in Christ
Likeness to Christ – Spiritual Perfection with which God originally ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Jesus.
created us.
Ἀμήν. Amen
• At the very moment when our body and soul separate, we shall realise,
too late to Repent, the extreme errors of our selfish, ungodly sins!
So let us do everything possible right now to correct ourselves and  “Brethren, be Watchful, stand firm in our Faith, be Courageous, be
return to the Righteous Path that our Lord Jesus Christ has shown Strong. Let all that you do be done with Love….”
us. • As Faithful Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must always be
 “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you! My Love be with you 1. “...Watchful…” – Spiritually alert to all temptations that use our
all in Christ Jesus. Amen” grievous passions and personal weaknesses against us, causing us
to fall into sin – Spiritual Death.
• St Paul ended his Epistle with the Apostolic Blessing that is bestowed Our Path towards Eternity is more often than not, very difficult for
on the Faithful Disciples of Christ since the beginning. many reasons, so St Paul exhorts, urges and encourages us to face
• Only by the Grace and Love of God are we able to fulfil the Will of God every moment of the day being Spiritually Watchful for the snares,
the Father, through the Teachings and Commandments of God the deceptions, lies and deceits of the evil one.
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Power and Energy of God the 2. “…stand firm in Faith…” by not allowing any outside influences
Life-giving Holy Spirit. distract nor deceive us into blasphemy, doubt or the neglect or
• “Amen” means “So be it” “Truly” “Indeed” and “Verily.” rejection of our True Faith in the Divine Truth that Christ taught
us.

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 When we are firmly rooted in our True Faith – in the Divine Truth of
our Lord Jesus Christ – nothing shall uproot us nor convince,
deceive or misguide us.
3. “…Courageous…” Knowing that God watches over us, and by the
Grace of our Loving God are we able to achieve whatever is
impossible on our own, we become Spiritually Courageous and
Confident.
When we hold on tightly to our Saviour - and everything He has
taught us and commanded us - God the Holy Spirit grants us
extraordinary Courage to Faithfully Follow Christ and fulfil the
Divine Will of our Heavenly Father.
4. “…Strong...” At our weakest moments, our Lord shall grant us the
Strength to endure whatever obstacles, dangers or threats that
confront us.
When we implicitly trust God with all our being – body and soul – we
are extraordinarily Strong !
By totally focussing on our Lord Jesus Christ everything becomes
possible to achieve – even those things that are ordinarily
impossible or inconceivable!
Our best example of this is when St Peter walked on water while he
focussed his full attention on Christ but the instant he thought
about the stormy circumstances that surrounded them, he sank
beneath the waves!
5. “… with Love…” means that our thoughts, words and deeds must
be motivated and fulfilled by Holy, Unconditional Agape – the
Divine Love of Christ, which we ceaselessly Strive to acquire, for
to do so means we are acquiring Theosis or Spiritual Perfection,
thereby receiving Eternal Life in God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
• These Holy Attributes made it possible for the Faithful Disciples of
Christ to remain Steadfast in Christ even when they were forced to
endure indescribably tortures and persecution.
 “…As you all know, Brethren, the household of Stephanas was the first
converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the Service
of the Saints…”
• St Paul reminded the Christian Community of Corinth that “… the first
converts in Achaia…” was the entire “… household of [St]
Stephen…” who were devoted to fulfilling their Sacred Duties to our
Lord Jesus Christ and all His Faithful Disciples.
• Gatherings were held in various homes of the Faithful Disciples before
the Church grew far too large to accommodate everyone, and thus
Holy Temples were established wherever necessary.
• The term “Saints” referred to those who strove ceaselessly and
Faithfully to maintain their Life in Christ during those most
difficult years when persecution of Christians was caused by not
only the misguided and ignorant Judeans, but also by the Roman
Empire authorities and pagan society.
• Achaia was a Province of the vast Roman Empire, consisting of the
Peloponnese, Attica, Boeotia, Euboea, the Cyclades and parts of
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Phthiotis, Aetolia-Acarnania and Phocis. In the north it bordered
on the Provinces of Epiros Vetos and Macedonia, having been
annexed by the Roman Empire in 146 BC, after the defeat of
Corinth. Initially it was part of the Roman Province of Macedonia,
but eventually became a separate Roman Province, which, being a
Senatorial Province, free from the Military forces, became most
prestigious and sought after for Roman Senators to govern.
 “…I urge you to be subject to such men, and to every fellow Worker
and Labourer…”
• St Paul urged the Corinthians to pay attention to all those Faithful
Disciples of Christ, as well as all those who Faithfully fulfilled the
Divine Commandments and Teachings of our Lord.
• The early Church flourished due to the dedication and unwavering
Faith of those Faithful Disciples who so courageously did whatever
was required of them, in the Divine Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• We, too, are urged to learn about the Lives of all Christ’s Saints, who
are our best Spiritual Examples, whom we ought to emulate with
our thoughts, words and deeds.
 “…I Rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatos and Achaikos
for they have made up for your absence. For they Refreshed my
spirit as well as yours. Acknowledge such men…”
• “Stephanas, Fortunatos, and Achaikos” were the couriers of the Epistle
that St Paul answered in his First Epistle to the Corinthians,[
Chapters 7 – 15.]
• These three Faithful Disciples of Christ conveyed encouraging news
concerning not only the survival but especially of the ever-
increasing growth of the Christian Church throughout the known
world.
• They also preached and discussed the Holy Gospel of Christ to the
Corinthians, assuring them of our Saviour’s Divine Truth and
Reality, which would have “... Refreshed...” the weak or wavering
spirits of some of the Corinthians - several of whom had begun to
drift back to their former habits and lifestyle.
• Not only must we acknowledge such men… but we must also apply
their own good characteristics and unwavering Faith to our own.
• St Paul’s displeasure and disappointment with certain of the
Corinthian Christian Community did not, however, affect his Love
and Joy for the others who remained firmly rooted and Steadfast in
their Faith in Christ Jesus.
“…Greetings to you from the churches of Asia. Many greetings to you
in the Lord are sent to you from Aquila and Priscilla, together with
the church in their house. Greetings to you from all the Brethren.
Greetings to you all with a Holy Kiss. This greeting is written by my
own hand – Paul.”
• “…Aquila and Priscilla…” were Hebrew Christians who had been
among those who had been expelled from Rome by Emperor
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