Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF
AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

3rd Sunday of Great Lent Tone (6) Plagal 2 7 March 2010

Sunday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Feast of St Ephraim the Hieromartyr; St Basileos;St Evgenios; St Etherios; St

Elpidios; St Laurentios
APOLYTIKION OF THE RESURRECTION – TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Angelike Dinamis epi to mnima sou ke i filassontes
apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa to
ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilevsas ton Adin, mi pirasthis
ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno, Doroumenos tin Zoin. O
Anastas ek to nekron, Kyrie, Doxa Si.
The Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the guards
became as dead men, and Mary stood by the Tomb
seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led captive Hades,
yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who art the
Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman. Glory to
Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the dead!

APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY CROSS – TONE 1

Soson, Kyrie, ton laon Sou, ke evlogison tin klironomian
Sou, nikas tis Vasilevsi kata varvaron doroumenos, ke
to son filaton, dia tou Stavrou Sou politevma.
KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
Save, O Save, O Lord, Thy people and Bless Thine
Inheritance, granting victories to their rulers over the
enemy and guarding Thy Commonwealth by the Might
of Thy Cross.

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City
efharistiria anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke all’ os in thanksgiving ascribes the Victory for the
ehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton ek pantion me deliverance from sufferings. But having Thy Might
kindinon eleftheroson ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi unassailable, free me from all dangers so that I may
Animfevte! cry out to Thee: “Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
HYMN INSTEAD OF THE TRISAGION:
TRISAGION

Ton Stavron Sou Proskinoumen, Despota, ke tin Agian Thy Cross, O Master, we Reverence, and we Glorify Thy
Sou Anastasin Doxazomen Holy Resurrection
Resurrection Gospel 6: Luke 24:35 – 53 - OUR LORD JESUS APPEARS TO THE APOSTLES & ASCENDS TO HEAVEN
Save Thy People, O Lord, and Bless Thine Inheritance. I will appeal to Thee, O Lord our God!
St Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews 4: 14 – 5: 6
OUR HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST, OFFERED HIMSELF ON THE CROSS AS THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS

Brethren: since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the Heavens – Jesus, the Son of God – let us
hold fast our Confession, for we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was
in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore, come boldly to the Throne of Grace so that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of
need.
For every High Priest taken from among men is appointed for mankind in things pertaining to God, so that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray
since he himself is also subject to weakness and because of this he is required, as for the people, so also for
himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honour to himself but he who is Called by God, just
as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He Who said to Him: “Thou art My Son;
today I have Begotten Thee.” As He also says in another place: “Thou art a Priest forever, according to the
Order of Melchizedek.”
In order to qualify as a Priest according to the Old Jesus Christ was the only human being ever to be
Covenant with God, men had to be selected from completely sinless, despite being exposed to all our
among mankind – i.e. they were completely human usual temptations and weaknesses. (Although He is
beings. God and therefore absolutely Divinely Pure and Good,
They were appointed for mankind and specifically for He was also completely Human and therefore subject
Liturgical Service – to offer sacrifices and to have to our own natural weaknesses, but He never gave in
compassion for their fellow sinners. to any temptation of the evil one.)
They also had to be Called by God. In other words, they His Ultimate Blood Sacrifice was of Himself – His own
had to be totally dedicated to their Sacred sinless and pure Flesh and Blood – the Unsurpassed
Commitments and Duties. Sacrifice of all time, which took place only once but
In the Aaronic Priesthood, a Priest identified himself with which was effective for all time for all human beings
humanity and had sympathy for his fellow sinners throughout the ages until Eternity!
because he was just as guilty of sin as all the other There never had to be any sin offerings to God by anyone
people. else ever again! From now on we have Bloodless
However, the specific Blood Sacrifices that were offered to Sacrifices for the Forgiveness of our sins and for
God consisted of offerings of various animals. Everlasting Life.: Repentance-Confession and Holy
Our Lord Jesus Christ assumed (took on) and fulfilled Communion.
(accomplished or completed) all the requirements of Therefore the Perfect Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ
the Old Covenant Priesthood and just like continues in His Holy Church until the end of times.
Melchizedek, He is forever both our High Priest and Consequently, it is imperative that every time we
our King. participate in the Divine Liturgy, we must partake of

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 Holy Communion, having prepared ourselves through ✥ FASTING IS A SEPARATE, IMPORTANT COMMITMENT
our personal Repentance-Confession beforehand. THAT WE KEEP EVER WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY PLUS
The only time we do not partake of Holy Communion is if ALL FASTS REQUIRED.
we are bleeding due to any reason – both men and
women, boys and girls.
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 8 : 34 – 9 : 1
OUR
OUR LORD JESUS EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF THE CROSS IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER

At that time, when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His Disciples also, He said to them:
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the
Gospel’s will Save it.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in
the Glory of His Father with the Holy Angels.”
And He said to them: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste
death until they see the Kingdom of God present with Power.”
After St Peter’s Confession of Faith, our Lord Jesus whatever is required by God for the well-being and
injected a new, solemn tone into His Divine Ministry by development of our souls – for the Salvation of our
speaking about suffering and by teaching the people souls.
and His Faithful Disciples the cost of Christian In other words, while we are still alive in this life – while we
Discipleship: self-denial, carrying one’s cross are still body and soul – we must make every effort to
(symbolic of personal suffering) and Obedience to cultivate, improve and nurture our immortal souls by
Christ our God. voluntarily and joyfully obeying all Divine
By saying “... Let him deny himself, and take up his Commandments that prepare us for Eternal Life with
cross...” our Lord Jesus means that His Faithful God rather than being condemned to Eternal Death
Followers – True Disciples of Christ – should separate and Outer Darkness, forever alienated from God –
themselves from their sins and from the inclination of exiled forever from God’s Love – all His Goodness,
their hearts towards evil by crucifying the flesh with its Peace and Great Joy.
passions and self-indulgent desires. (GENESIS 8:21; GALATIANS “The Kingdom of God present with Power” is connected
5: 24) to our Lord’s previous words concerning His
Desiring to save our lives means to base our earthly life on Reappearance to all Creation in all His Glory.
self, (a selfish attitude) which is the opposite of self- His Faithful Apostles had experienced a foretaste of that
denial and which consequently results in the loss of indescribable Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ at His
Eternal Life, while to “lose” our life is to accept Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, which anticipated the
suffering and personal sacrifice of the sake of our Lord forthcoming Revelatory Day of God’s Great Power: the
God and His Everlasting Kingdom, which grants us Resurrection of Christ and the Day of Pentecost when
Salvation. the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven, as well as the
Christian Discipleship is costly because it requires us to future Consummation of the Eternal Kingdom of
give up all claims to everything that the temporary, Heaven.
corrupt world holds dear to itself.
The word “soul” (psyche)may also be translated as “Life”
and it can refer to our Spiritual Nature or our whole
human being.
There is nothing more valuable to us than our immortal
souls! Therefore, we must always strive to do
The Three-Bar Cross
THROUGH THE CROSS CAME OUR SALVATION so we are constantly
reminded that Christ died for us, and that He rose from the dead.
THE HOLY ICON OF OUR CRUCIFIED LORD REMINDS US OF THIS.

On the Cross is depicted our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Note that HE DOES NOT WEAR A CROWN OF THORNS, and that HIS
FEET ARE NAILED WITH TWO NAILS.
Behind the body of Christ, on either side, are A LANCE (WHICH
PIERCED HIM) AND A SPONGE (WHICH WAS SOAKED WITH GALL
AND OFFERED TO CHRIST TO DRINK) ON A POLE MADE OF REED
OR CANE.
On the Body of Christ is depicted BLOOD AND WATER FLOWING
FORTH FROM HIS SIDE.
Below the Feet of Christ are four (Slavonic) letters meaning: "THE
PLACE OF THE SKULL BECAME PARADISE."
HIDDEN IN A CAVE UNDER THE EARTH IS “…THE SKULL OF ADAM.”
We are thus reminded that Adam our Forefather lost Paradise
through the Tree from which he wrongly partook; CHRIST IS THE
NEW ADAM, BRINGING US SALVATION AND PARADISE THROUGH
THE TREE OF THE CROSS.
The city of Jerusalem is depicted in the background, for HE WAS
CRUCIFIED OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS.

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 THE TOP BAR IS THE TITLE-BOARD WHICH PILATE ORDERED TO BE HUNG IN MOCKERY OVER CHRIST’S HEAD
ON THE CROSS.

On this board was inscribed: "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS" IN

HEBREW, GREEK, AND LATIN (ABBREVIATED TO THE GREEK INITIALS ‘INBI’
OR THE LATIN INITIALS ‘INRI’ IN THE WESTERN TRADITION).
This is REPLACED WITH THE CHRISTIAN INSCRIPTION: "KING OF GLORY" –
below the knees of the Angels.
On the title6board is inscribed the initials 'IC XC', being THE FIRST AND LAST
LETTERS OF CHRIST’S NAME IN GREEK.
In addition, just above Christ's arms we see the inscription: ‘NIKA’, which in
Greek means: "HE CONQUERS" OR "HE IS VICTORIOUS."
Frequently, we see these last two inscriptions together: 'IC XC NIKA',
meaning: "JESUS CHRIST IS VICTORIOUS" or “JESUS CHRIST CONQUERS”
(Christ conquers all death, destruction and sin that was invented by the evil one).

THE MIDDLE BAR IS THAT ON WHICH THE LORD'S HANDS (WRISTS) WERE NAILED.
On either top corner we see the depiction of THE SUN (LEFT) AND THE MOON (RIGHT), for "THE SUN HID ITS
LIGHT, AND THE MOON TURNED TO BLOOD." (JOEL 2:31)
THE INSCRIPTION: "SON OF GOD" IS PLACED ON BOTH SIDES OF CHRIST'S HEAD.
BELOW HIS ARMS is the inscription: "BEFORE THY CROSS WE BOW DOWN, O MASTER, AND THY HOLY
RESURRECTION, WE GLORIFY."
THE HALO OF CHRIST IS INSCRIBED WITH THREE GREEK LETTERS MEANING "THE BEING" OR "HE WHO IS", to
remind us that CHRIST IS THE SAME GOD WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF WITH THOSE WORDS TO MOSES IN
THE OLD COVENANT.

THE SLANTED BOTTOM BAR IS THE FOOT-REST.

There is some question of whether it was actually on the Cross of Christ,
but it is acknowledged to be A NECESSARY ATTRIBUTE OF THE
CROSS, WORTHY OF VENERATION AND PROPHETICALLY ALLUDED
TO IN THE WORDS [LET US] WORSHIP THE FOOTSTOOL OF HIS
FEET... (PSALM 98:5).

IN PRAYERS FOR THE NINTH HOUR, THE CHURCH LIKENS THE HOLY
CROSS TO A TYPE OF BALANCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:

"Between two thieves Thy Cross did prove to be a Balance of

Righteousness: Wherefore one of them was dragged down to Hades by
the weight of his blasphemy whereas the other was lightened of his
transgressions unto the comprehension of Theology. O Christ God,
glory to Thee!”

The meaning of this Prayer is as follows:
THE CROSS OF CHRIST SYMBOLIZED A SCALE OF
JUSTICE BETWEEN THE TWO THIEVES –
UNREPENTED SIN & REPENTED, CONFESSED
SIN: for one thief sank down to Hades 6
DRAGGED DOWN BY HIS SHAMELESS,
BLASPHEMOUS WORDS AND DEEDS, while the
other thief – “THE WISE THIEF” - BECAUSE HE
REPENTED AND CONFESSED HIS SINS,
ASCENDED INTO PARADISE, BECOMING THE
FIRST SOUL TO REST IN PEACE IN PARADISE,
AWAITING THE GENERAL RESURRECTION AND
FINAL JUDGEMENT OF CHRIST WHO SHALL
Why do we wear a Cross?
In pre6Christian times, the cross was the instrument of a
shameful and horrible death.
The ancient Romans invented it and used it everywhere
in order to intimidate the nations whom they had
subjugated.
Everyone regarded this form of cruelest execution 6
shameful, humiliating and excruciating crucifixion 6
with abject horror and revulsion.
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 3RD SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
COME AGAIN TO JUDGE HIS ENTIRE
CREATION.
Our Holy Church Fathers depicted the unrepentant
thief who was CONDEMNED TO HADES BY THE
HEAVY WEIGHT OF HIS UNREPENTED
BLASPHEMOUS WORDS, THOUGHTS AND
DEEDS AND BY THE JUST JUDGEMENT OF GOD
(THE LOWER END OF THE BAR), and the Wise
Thief whom Christ permitted to rest in Paradise
due to his SINCERE REPENTANCE-CONFESSION
AND HIS PRAISE OF GOD (THE UPPER END).
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “LIVING ORTHODOXY” - VOLUME IV, NO. 3; MAY-JUNE
1982 - COPYRIGHT © 1986 - 2006, RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE
NATIVITY OF CHRIST (OLD RITE)
www.churchofthenativity.net
However, a remarkable change transpired with respect
to the Cross after our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified
on it.
Our Lord suffered and died on the Cross. He willingly
accepted indescribably horrible sufferings upon
Himself in order to Save us from our destructive and
enslaving sins.
The Holy Cross of Christ became a Sacred Symbol of
God’s Great Glory, such as no other man6made
object has ever done!
7 MARCH 2010
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 The Holy Cross became the most powerful Sign of our
Salvation, through which we receive the Divine Grace
of Almighty God.
The Holy Cross is the foremost and greatest Christian
Holy Implement.
When our Priests Bless water by the immersion of the
Cross, the ordinary water becomes Sanctified or
Holy by the Grace of God.
When we wear the Cross upon our chest, our body is
constantly touched by It, and from this touch our
bodies also are Sanctified and protected from all
kinds of danger by Divine Grace.
In Godless countries, faithful Christians 6 our
courageous brothers and sisters in Christ – devoutly
wear their Crosses at great risk, yet they are unafraid
of confessing their True Faith in Christ.
Christians are always being persecuted by the ungodly
and evil ones – even to this day – so we must
constantly pray for them, beseeching God’s Grace
and Strength upon them so that they never weaken
and remain steadfast and faithful.
We must never regard or treat the Holy Cross as merely
some kind of jewelry or cheap trinket.
St John Maximovitch - On the Exaltation of the Precious Cross
Before the time of Christ, the cross was an instrument of
punishment; it evoked fear and aversion.
But AFTER CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS IT BECAME THE
INSTRUMENT OF OUR SALVATION.
THROUGH THE CROSS, CHRIST DESTROYED THE DEVIL;
FROM THE CROSS HE DESCENDED INTO HADES AND,
HAVING LIBERATED THOSE LANGUISHING THERE, LED
THEM INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS IS TERRIFYING TO DEMONS AND, AS
THE SIGN OF CHRIST, IT IS HONORED BY CHRISTIANS.
"O Lord, Save Thy people and Bless Thine Inheritance.
Grant Victory unto Orthodox Christians over their
adversaries, and by the Virtue of Thy Cross,
preserve Thy Community."
The beginning of this Prayer is taken from Psalm 21.
In the Old Testament the word "people" designated only
those who confessed the True Faith – people who
were faithful to God.
"Inheritance" referred to everything that properly
belonged to God 6 God's Property, which in the New
Testament is the Church of Christ.
In praying for the Salvation of God's people (the
Christians), both from Eternal Torments and from
earthly calamities, WE BESEECH THE LORD TO BLESS, TO
SEND DOWN GRACE, HIS GOOD GIFTS UPON THE WHOLE
CHURCH AS WELL, AND INWARDLY STRENGTHEN HER.
The Petition for granting "Victory to Kings" (GRANT VICTORY TO
ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS OVER THEIR ADVERSARIES) (IE: TO THE BEARERS OF
SUPREME AUTHORITY), has its basis in Psalm 143:10, and
A portion of the last Prayer of St Macrina - recorded by St Gregory of Nyssa
Thou, O Lord, hast freed us from the fear of Death.
Thou hast made the end of this life the beginning to us of
True Life.
For a season Thou rests our bodies in sleep and awakens
them again at the last trump.
Thou grants our earth (OUR PHYSICAL BODY), which Thou has
fashioned with Thy Hands, to the earth to keep in safety.
One day Thou will take again what Thou has given,
transfiguring our mortal and unsightly remains with
Immortality and Grace.
Thou has Saved us from the Curse and from sin, having
become both for our sakes. Thou has broken the heads
of the dragon who had seized us with his jaws, in the
yawning gulf of disobedience.
Thou has shown us the Way of Resurrection,
having broken the Gates of Hades, and
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The Holy Cross of Christ must always adorn our soul
and not our clothing or our earlobes!
We are constantly reminded that we are Orthodox
Christians, who are Called by God to strive daily to
live according to our True Faith, which is founded on
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ’s Sufferings on
the Cross for our sake!
The Holy Cross is our “Badge of Honour” and must be
worn at all time as a constant reminder of how
Blessed we are to be adopted Heirs of God’s Eternal
Kingdom!
Furthermore, it identifies us to others – making it even
more imperative to imitate our Saviour every
moment of our lives, for to do otherwise is to shame
and condemn ourselves!
Let us therefore make every effort live up to the
significance of Christ’s Holy Cross, beseeching Divine
Grace that enables us to do the humanly impossible!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “WHY DO WE WEAR A CROSS?” “PARISH LIFE” - SEPTEMBER
1994 - http:/www.stjohndc.org/feasts/9409a.htmp
recalls the VICTORIES OF KING DAVID ACHIEVED BY
GOD'S POWER, and likewise the VICTORIES GRANTED
EMPEROR CONSTANTINE THROUGH THE CROSS OF THE
LORD.
This Appearance of THE CROSS MADE EMPERORS WHO HAD
FORMERLY PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS INTO DEFENDERS
OF THE CHURCH from Her external enemies, into
"External Bishops," to use the expression of the Holy
Emperor Constantine.
THE CHURCH, INWARDLY STRENGTHENED AND OUTWARDLY
PROTECTED BY GOD'S GRACE, IS, FOR ORTHODOX
CHRISTIANS, "THE CITY OF GOD."
HEAVENLY JERUSALEM has its beginning.
Various calamities have shaken the world, entire Nations
have disappeared, cities and states have perished,
but THE CHURCH, IN SPITE OF PERSECUTIONS AND EVEN
INTERNAL CONFLICTS, STANDS INVINCIBLE; for “... the
Gates of Hell shall not prevail against Her!” (MATTHEW
16:18)
Today, when world leaders try in vain to establish order
on earth, THE ONLY DEPENDABLE INSTRUMENT OF
PEACE IS THAT ABOUT WHICH THE CHURCH SINGS:
"The Cross is the Guardian of the whole world; the
Cross is the Beauty of the Church, the Cross is the
Might of kings; the Cross is the Confirmation of the
Faithful, the Cross is the Glory of Angels and the
wounding of demons." (EXAPOSTILARION OF THE EXALTATION OF THE
CROSS)
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE EXALTATION OF THE PRECIOUS CROSS” BY ST JOHN
MAXIMOVITCH (FROM A SERMON ON THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS BY ST JOHN OF
SHANGHAI AND SAN FRANCISCO)
brought to nought him who had the power of death --
the devil.
Thou has granted a Sign in the Symbol of the Holy Cross to
those who fear Thee, to destroy the adversary and to
Save our Life.
O God Eternal, to Whom I have been attached from my
mother's womb, Whom my soul has Loved with all its
strength, to Whom I have dedicated both my flesh and
my soul from my youth up until now -- do Thou grant me
an Angel of Light to conduct me to the Place of
Refreshment, where the Water of Rest is, in the Bosom
of the Holy Fathers...
7 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

9 March 2010
The Feast of the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste

Also of St Caesarios the Physcian & brother of St Gregory the Theologian

APOLYTIKION OF THE 40 HOLY MARTYRS

Tas algidonas ton Agion, as iper sou epathon, disopithiti Be entreated, O Lord, by the sufferings endured for Thee
Kyrie, ke pasas imon tas odinas, iase filanthrope, by the Saints, and we pray Thee: heal all our pain.
deometha.
APOLYTIKION OF THE RESURRECTION – KONTAKION – TONE 1

Tou Gavriil fthegxamenou Si Parthene to here, Sin ti foni As Gabriel proclaimed to
esarkouto O ton olon Despotis, en Si ti Agia Kivoto, os
efi O Dikeos David. Edihthis platitera ton Ouranon,
Vastasasa ton ktiston Sou. Doxa to enikisanti en Si!
Doxa to proelthonti ek Sou! Doxa to elevtherosanti imas
dia tou tokou Sou!
KONTAKION OF THE 40 HOLY MARTYRS – (6) PLAGAL 2
Thee, O Virgin: Hail! With that
cry the Lord of all became Incarnate in Thee, the Holy
Tabernacle, as prophesied by the Righteous David:
Thou hast manifested Thyself more spacious than the
heavens, in that Thou hast borne Thy Creator. Glory
to Him Who abode in Thee! Glory to Him Who came
forth from Thee! Glory to Him Who through Thy Birth-
giving hath set us free!

Pasan Stratian tou kosmou katalipontes, to en Ouranis O Forty Champions of the Lord, you abandoned the armies
Despoti prosekollithite, Athloforie Kyriou Tessarakonta; of the world and attached yourselves to the Master in
dia piros gar ke idatos, dielthontes makarii, epaxios Heaven. Having gone through fire and water, O
ekomisasthe, Doxan ek ton Ouranon, ke Stefanon Blessed Ones, you worthily won Glory from Heaven
plithin. and a multitude of Crowns.
Matins Gospel According to St Luke 21 : 12 - 19
DIVINE GRACE DURING PERSECUTIONS
PERSECUTIONS

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “... Before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you,
delivering you up to the Synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before Kings and Rulers for My Name’s sake.
But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and
Wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And
you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
By your Patience possess your souls.”
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 12: 1 – 10
PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO GOD’S CHASTENING AS WELL ARE HIS DIVINE PROMISES

Brethren: since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the Race that is set before us, looking to Jesus Christ, the Author and
Finisher of our Faith, Who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
For consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, let you become weary and discouraged in your
souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation that speaks
to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, not be discouraged when you are rebuked by
Him; for whom the Lord Loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if
you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be
in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but
He for our profit so that we may be partakers of His Holiness.
This entire passage (beginning with Hebrews 10:19), is a ✽ In Corporate Worship i.e. worshipping together in church
progressive discourse imploring us to SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM ✽ By Faith i.e. personal Belief and Commitment to God
FIRST. ✽ In order to show gratitude to God i.e. taking time to
Under the New Covenant, we can ascend to this Heavenly Place appreciate all our Blessings and to thank God with
in Worship and in Prayer. Prayers, Fasting and faithfully Worshipping and
Christians experience this Heavenly dimension fundamentally in practising His Commandments.
the Divine Liturgy. The content of this worship includes remembering the departed
We ascend to that place where we are surrounded by a great Righteous or the Faithful Christians who now repose.
“Cloud of Witnesses.” “The Cloud of Witnesses” includes not only the Old Testament
This is not a physical place but a Spiritual Place, inhabited by Saints mentioned before, but also the Saints and the Holy
God, the Angels, and “the spirits of Just men made Perfect.” Martyrs of the Lord in all ages. [Throughout the ages/time]
Here, the Communion of the Saints is established in the New If they made it, so can we.
Testament/Covenant. We persevere by
“…Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come…” ✽ Getting rid of sin, the weight that keeps us from heeding
[Hebrews 9:11-12] means that Christ came to the greater the Truth
and more Perfect Tabernacle, obtaining Redemption for us. ✽ Setting as our Destination the Heavenly City, running the
This Tabernacle is the same Spiritual, Holy Place that we enter Race of Faith
with Christ by virtue of our Union with him. ✽ Keeping our attention focussed upon Jesus Christ our
This is done fundamentally Lord and King.

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE FEAST OF THE 40 HOLY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE 9 MARCH 2010 5.
 The Spiritual Race that we are involved in throughout life, is
not a sprint but a Marathon of Endurance because it
begins with our Holy Baptism and only ends when we
fully enter the Age to come: i.e. Eternity.
Christ is both the Author or Initiator/Originator and Finisher
or Perfecter of Faith.
His Joy is to do God’s Will and He endured the Cross – the
unspeakable horror of His Crucifixion – voluntarily
accepting Humiliation, terrible suffering and finally Death
because of His infinite Love for all mankind.
Christ served all humanity, throughout all the ages,
completely and faithfully so that we would be set free
from enslavement to sin and death.
✽ He made it possible for us to progress beyond this life
and the grave.
✽ He made it possible for us to enter His Divine, Eternal
and Heavenly Kingdom.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 20: 1 – 16
THE FIRST & THE LAST TO
TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD
✽ He makes it possible for us to follow His Perfect
Example of Faith and Service to Almighty God : He
has shown us and taught us how to Worship, Pray,
Fast and respect God and all His creatures.
✽ He also gives us the abilities to endure, to understand
and to persevere, no matter what difficulties seem to
hinder our Spiritual Progress.
IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT AND THE
CONSTANT EFFORT NECESSARY FOR OUR SPIRITUAL
DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE.
Unpleasant circumstances, which tempt us to complain, may
be “the Disciplining of the Lord.”
If the loving discipline of our human fathers brought us to
respect them, how much more deserving of respect is
the Discipline of the “Father of the spirits” – our Creator
Whose Breath gives us Life.

At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “...the Kingdom of Heaven is like a Landowner Who went out early in the
morning to hire labourers for His Vineyard. Now when He had agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day,
He sent them into His Vineyard. And He went out about the Third Hour, and saw others standing idle in the
marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the Vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they
went.
“Again He went out about the Sixth and the Ninth Hour and did likewise. And about the Eleventh Hour He went out
and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to
Him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the Vineyard, and whatever is right you will
receive.’
So when evening had come the Owner of the Vineyard said to His Steward, ‘Call the labourers and give them their
wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came were hired about the Eleventh Hour, they each
received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise
received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the Landowner, saying,
‘These last men have worked only one hour, and Thou made them equal to us who have borne the burden and
the heat of the day.’
But He answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I Am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with Me for a
denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not
lawful for Me to do what I wish with My own Things? Or is your eye evil because I Am Good?’
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are Called but few chosen.
Our Lord Jesus described a startling reversal of positions. Christ warns the early comers not to be proud of their long
In this Parable: Service, nor must they question those who are Called at
✽ The Vineyard is the Life God gives us in the world the Eleventh Hour, in case they themselves lose all.
✽ The Day is the time of our labouring, the here and now Christ teaches the latecomers that IT IS POSSIBLE EVEN IN A
✽ The Labourers are those He Calls to fulfil His SHORT TIME TO RECOVER EVERYTHING THEY HAVE LOST.
Commandments In His Ministry this Parable applies to the Pharisees and
✽ Early in the morning, the Third, Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh sinners, while in the early Church it applied to Jews and
Hours refers to the different ages of those who draw Gentiles.
near to God: those who from earliest youth, from St John Chrysostom’s famous Easter Sermon is based on this
mature age, or from very old age hold to Virtue. Parable. For him the Reward is the Lord’s Rich Banquet
God’s Generosity provides equal access to and enjoyment of of the Holy Easter Eucharist.
rewards in the Life of the Kingdom for both early and late
comers.
The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
Forty Christian soldiers who had openly confessed were Furthermore, THE SPIRITUAL ENDURANCE OF THE HOLY
condemned by the Roman Prefect to be exposed MARTYS SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US TO PERSEVERE
TO THE END (I.E., THROUGHOUT THE FORTY DAYS OF
naked upon a frozen pond near Sebaste on a bitterly THE FAST) IN ORDER TO ATTAIN HEAVENLY REWARDS.
cold night so that they might freeze to death. A PRAYER MENTIONING THE FORTY HOLY MARTYRS OF
One man eventually yielded and accepted the warm SEBASTE IS INCLUDED IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX
BETROTHAL & MARRIAGE SERVICE AT THE "CROWNING"
baths near the lake that had been prepared to tempt OF THE COUPLE, WHICH REMINDS THEM OF THE
them into surrendering. SPIRITUAL CROWNS THAT AWAIT THEM IN HEAVEN IF
At that moment a Supernatural Light illuminated the THEY REMAIN AS ENDURINGLY FAITHFUL TO CHRIST AS

others, and witnessing it, one of the guards THESE HOLY SAINTS:

immediately proclaimed himself a Christian, threw ST HESYCHIOS, ST MELITON, ST HERACLIOS, ST SMARAGDOS,

off his garments, and placed himself beside the ST DOMNOS, ST EUNOIKOS, ST VALENS, ST VIVIANOS,
thirty6nine suffering Soldiers of Christ. ST CLAUDIOS, ST PRISKOS, ST THEODOULOS,
ST EUTHYCHIOS, ST JOHN, ST XANTHESAS, ST HELIANOS,
At daybreak, the frozen bodies of the confessors, many ST SISINIOS, ST CYRION, ST ANGIOS, ST AETIOS,
of which still showed slight signs of life, were burnt ST FLAVIOS, ST AKAKIOS, ST EKDITIOS, ST LYUSIMAHOS,
ST ALEXANDER, ST ELIAS, ST CANDIDOS,
and the ashes cast into a river. Faithful Christians
ST THEOPHILOS, ST DOMETIAN, ST GAIUS,
quickly collected the precious Sanctified Relics, ST GORGONIOS, ST LEONTIOS, ST ATHANASIOS,
which were subsequently distributed throughout ST CYRIL, ST SACERDON, ST NICHOLAS, ST VALAERIOS,
ST PHILOCTIMON, ST SEVERIAN, ST HUDION, AND
many cities.
ST AGLAIOS.
In this way veneration of the Forty Holy Martyrs of
Sebaste became widespread, and numerous churches May their memories be Eternal!
were erected in their honour.
THIS FEAST ALWAYS OCCURS DURING GREAT LENT AND
THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN THE NUMBER 40 BEING BOTH
THAT OF THE HOLY MARTYRS AND THE DAYS OF GREAT
LENT.

6 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE FEAST OF THE 40 HOLY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE 9 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH
ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

4th Sunday of Great Lent Tone (7) Varys/Grave 14 March 2010

Sunday of St John Klimakos (of the Ladder of Divine Ascent)

The Healing of the Epileptic Son
Feast of St Benedict the Ascetic of Nursia; St Eushimenos of Lampsakos
APOLYTIKION OF THE RESURRECTION – TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE

Katelisas to Stavro Sou ton thanaton. Ineoxas to listi ton By Thy Cross Thou destroyed Death; Thou opened
Paradison. Ton Miroforon ton thrinon metevales ke tis Paradise to the Thief; Thou changed the funeral wail
sis Apostolis kirittin epetaxas, oti Anestis, Hriste O of the Myrrh6bearing Women, and Commanded them
Theos, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos.
to announce to Thine Apostles that Thou had Risen
from the dead, O Christ our God, Who bestows on the
world Great Mercy!
APOLYTIKION OF ST JOHN KLIMAKOS

Tes ton dakrion sou roes, tis erimou to agonon
egeorgisas, ke tis ek vathous stenagmis, is ekaton tous
ponous ekarpoforisas; ke gegonas fostir, ti ikoumeni
lambon tis thavmasin, Ioanni Patir imon Osie; presveve
Hristo to Theo, sothine tas psihas imon.
KONTAKION TO THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS
With the rivers of thy tears, thou changed the barren
desert into fertile land, and with the sighs from thy
depths, thou hast made thy labours produce a
hundredfold; and thou became a bright star, shining
on the earth with thy miracles, O John our Father
Righteous; intercede with Christ our God, for our
souls to be saved.

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta nikitiria os litrothisa ton dinon Unto Thee, O Theotokos Invincible Champion, Thy City in
evharistiria anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke all’ os thanksgiving ascribes the Victory for the deliverance
ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton ek pantion me kindinon from sufferings. But having Thy Might unassailable,
eleftheroson ina krazo Si, Here Nimfi Animfevte!
free me from all dangers so that I may cry out to Thee:
“Hail! O Bride Ever Virgin!”
Resurrection Gospel 7: John 20:1 – 10: ST PETER & ST JOHN WITNESS THE EMPTY TOMB OF OUR RISEN LORD & SAVIOUR
The Lord will give Strength unto His people. The Lord will Bless His people with Peace.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 6: 13 - 20
ALMIGHTY GOD HAS PROMISED A STEADFAST HOPE: HE CONFIRMS THE PROMISE BY AN OATH
Brethren, when God made a Promise to Abraham, because He could swear to no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying,
“Surely Blessing I will Bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he
obtained the Promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an Oath for confirmation is for them an end of all
dispute.
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the Heirs of Promise the immutability of His Counsel, confirmed it by
an Oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us.
This Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the Veil, where
the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the Order of
Melchizedek.
The Divine Promise that was made to St Abraham the ancient ✽ However IT WAS AN IMPERFECT WAY TO WORSHIP GOD
Patriarch, was that of a son - an heir through whom God BECAUSE THE PRIEST COULD ONLY APPROACH GOD
would greatly multiply mankind. ONCE A YEAR AND THE PEOPLE COULD NOT DRAW
The two immutable [unchangeable] things referred to are CLOSE TO GOD.
GOD’S DIVINE PROMISE AND GOD’S DIVINE OATH. ✽ CHRIST, THROUGH HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE RESOLVED
OUR ALIENATION FROM GOD AND NOW WE ARE ABLE
“Behind the Veil” refers to Heaven.
TO APPROACH HIM ANY TIME, ANY DAY THROUGH OUR
The Mosaic Tabernacle was a copy of the Heavenly Altar LITURGICAL SERVICES AND FAITHFUL PRACTISES.
and the most important detail was the Inner Veil, the Christ assumes and fulfils the Old Covenant Priesthood just
Second Veil that separated the Holy Place, the Holy like Melchizedek because
Sanctuary, from the Most Holy Place, the Holiest of all, ➤ HE IS BOTH PRIEST AND KING.
which contained the Ark of the Covenant and into which ➤ HE HAS NO SIN,
only the High Priest could enter. ➤ HIS DIVINE SACRIFICE IS OF HIMSELF AND
The Inner Veil formed the locus of the Liturgical practice of the ➤ HIS PERFECT PRIESTHOOD CONTINUES IN THE
Old Covenant. CHURCH TO THIS DAY. IT IS ETERNAL!

The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 9: 17 - 31

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TELLS
TELLS US THAT FASTING & PRAYER ARE ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL LIFE

At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling and saying: “Teacher, I brought Thee my son, who has a mute spirit. And
wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to
Thy Disciples, so that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
He answered him and said: “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?
Bring Him to Me.”
Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell upon the ground
and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father:“How long has this been happening to him?” And he
said: “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if Thou
can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him: “If thou can believe, all things are possible to

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 him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears: “Lord, I believe! Help my
unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit,
I command thee, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and
came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said: “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and
lifted him up, and he arose.
And when He had come into the house, His Disciples asked Him privately: “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to
them: “This kind can come out by nothing but Prayer and Fasting.”
Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is loyal to His own people and seeing
His Disciples arguing with the cynical Scribes, He
questioned the Scribes, not His Disciples, as to what the
discussion was about.
He wished the Scribes to explain their faithlessness.
✽ THE TERM “FAITHLESS GENERATION” APPLIES TO ALL
WHO DOUBT GOD’S MIRACLES PERFORMED THROUGH
HIS SERVANTS OR DIRECTLY BY GOD HIMSELF.
The father’s comment: “… if Thou can do anything…” was
prompted by Christ’s Disciples’ inability to cast out the
demon.
Whatever Christ’s Disciples could or could not do reflected
upon our Lord Himself because the people expected His
Disciples to have Strength of Faith through Christ.
IF WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH CHRIST – BY CALLING
OURSELVES “CHRISTIANS” – WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL
TO LIVE IN CLOSE IMITATION OF CHRIST AT ALL TIMES - TO
BE GOOD MODELS FOR OTHERS TO RESPECT AND IMITATE
IN TURN.
✽ WE MUST ALWAYS BE A CREDIT TO OUR LORD THROUGH
EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED!
“ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE” BECAUSE OF GOD’S POWER
THAT IS RELEASED THROUGH FAITH.
Our Lord Jesus Christ sought to elicit faith from the child’s
father by saying to him and to each of us: If thou can
believe…!
➤ Faith in God is to BELIEVE AND TRUST IN HIM
COMPLETELY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND
ABSOLUTELY.
➤ Faith in God is to KNOW THAT HE MAKES EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE – EVEN THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE!
➤ Faith in God is to HAVE NO FEAR OR WORRY.
➤ Faith in God gives us SERENITY AND PEACE.
✽ THE PRESENCE OF DOUBT DOES NOT IMPLY THE ABSENCE
OF FAITH. CHRIST HONOURS WHATEVER FAITH WE DO
HAVE AND HE WILL INCREASE THAT FAITH WHEN WE
SINCERELY DESIRE HIM!
Our Faith deepens and grows more intense as we develop a
healthy Spiritual Relationship with God through daily
worship and practises.
✽ PRAYER AND FASTING ARE ESSENTIAL EXPRESSIONS OF
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
The inclusion of the words “and Fasting” is quite appropriate,
although a number of ancient manuscripts lack it.
✽ PRAYER IS A CONSTANT NECESSITY. IT IS AS IMPORTANT
AS BREATHING – IT KEEPS US ALIVE.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent: The Healing of the Epileptic Son
What leaps out at me when I read today’s Sacred Lesson
in its Lenten context were the words: “...Then the
spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out
of him. And he became as one dead, so that many
said: “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand
and lifted him up, and he arose.”
Can you see THE IMAGERY OF THE RESURRECTION?
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TOOK HOLD OF THE SON’S HAND
JUST AS HE TOOK HOLD OF ADAM AND EVE BY THE
HAND AND RAISED THEM UP FROM THE IMPRISONMENT
OF HADES.
This Sacred Lessons teaches us that THE DEATH AND
RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOUR WAS not merely a
“religious story,” but rather, it is A SPIRITUAL
REALITY THAT IS ACTIVE IN THE DAILY LIVES OF ALL
WHO HAVE UNITED THEMSELVES TO CHRIST OUR GOD.
Today’s Sacred Lesson follows last Sunday’s Gospel of
the Holy Cross, when OUR LORD JESUS COMMANDED
THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM TO DENY THEMSELVES
AND TO TAKE UP THEIR PERSONAL CROSS IN ORDER TO
FIND THEMSELVES AND TRULY LIVE!
Christ told His perplexed Disciples that CERTAIN KINDS
OF EVIL SPIRITS “... CANNOT BE CAST OUR EXCEPT BY
PRAYER AND FASTING.”
When we recall His Commandment to take up our cross
in order to follow Him, it becomes much clearer and
obvious that PRAYER AND FASTING IS HOW WE TAKE
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✽ FASTING TAKES CONSCIOUS EFFORT AND SHOULD MAKE
US AWARE OF OUR THOUGHTS, OUR WORDS AND OUR
ACTIONS. Therefore with prayer and fasting, WE
BECOME SPIRITUALLY STRONGER, WATCHFUL, ALERT
AND REPENTANT, resulting in an improvement of our
relationship with God and our fellow human beings.
They passed through Galilee quietly because Christ “did not
want anyone to know it” so that He could spend some
private time with His Disciples whom He needed to
instruct and teach.
The verbal Instructions and Teachings of Christ have been
carefully preserved and passed down to us through the
Holy Fathers and especially through the Apostolic
Tradition.
In other words, NOT EVERYTHING WAS WRITTEN INTO HOLY
SCRIPTURE - MUCH MORE DIVINE REVELATION AND
KNOWLEDGE WAS TAUGHT BY CHRIST DIRECTLY TO HIS
APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES WHO THEN TAUGHT IT
CAREFULLY TO OTHERS.
✽ This is why IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP HOLY TRADITION AND
TEACHING PURE AND NOT TO INSTIL OUR OWN
THOUGHTS AND INTERPRETATIONS UPON GOD’S
TRUTH.
THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVIDENT IN THE
WRITINGS OF OUR HOLY OLD TESTAMENT AND CHURCH
FATHERS BECAUSE GOD’S TRUTH REMAINS INTACT AND
TRUTHFUL, NO MATTER WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN.
GOD’S TRUTH BEING ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, IS TIMELESS AND
AGELESS, whereas man’s opinion, being imperfect and
faulty, changes according to each one’s ideas and
according to the popular beliefs, practises and customs of
the era.
GOD TRUTH ENDURES FOREVER AND IS APPLICABLE TO ALL
NATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
GOD’S TRUTH BEING PERFECT NEVER CHANGES OR REQUIRES
IMPROVEMENT. The least bit of alteration to God’s Divine
Truth makes it imperfect and therefore it becomes man’s
flawed opinion.
For this exact reason, Christ, when questioned by Pontius
Pilate, asked the question “What is truth?” Because He
knew that in reality, THERE IS ONLY GOD’S TRUTH and
not the millions of different opinions and ideas of mankind
that draw us away from God through our egoism and
selfishness.
UP OUR CROSS SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW HIM
FAITHFULLY.
What was the deaf and dumb spirit that could not be
cast out except by taking up our cross or by Prayer
and Fasting? It is THE SPIRIT OF DEATH AND
CORRUPTION!
In biblical terms, TO BE DUMB IS TO BE MORE THAN JUST
BEING UNABLE TO SPEAK. IT MEANT BEING UNABLE TO
PRAISE THE LORD OUR GOD, AND THIS IS THE SAME AS
BEING DEAD as King David the Psalmist wrote: “The
dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who do
down into silence.”
And, TO BE DEAF, IN BIBLICAL TERMS IS MUCH MORE THAN
A LOSS OF HEARING. IT MEANS THAT ONE CANNOT OR
WILL NOT HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD; AND THIS IS
THE WAY THAT LEADS TO SPIRITUAL DEATH, as our
Lord said to Israel through His Holy Prophet, Moses:
“Listen, O Israel, to the Statutes and Ordinances
that I teach you, so that you may live, and go in
and take possession of the land, which the Lord,
the God of your Fathers, has granted you.”
THE WORDS OF GOD ARE COMMANDMENTS UTTERED BY HIS
WORD, WHO IS CHRIST BY WHOM ALL THINGS WERE
CREATED AND WHOSE FIRST COMMANDMENT WAS “LET
THERE BE LIGHT!”
❃ THE WORDS OF GOD ARE LIFE-CREATING.
14 MARCH 2010
TO BE DEAF TO HIS DIVINE WORDS – TO HEAR HIS
DIVINE COMMANDMENTS BUT NOT TO KEEP
(OBEY) THEM IS TO RENOUNCE SPIRITUAL LIFE
AND TO CHOOSE INSTEAD SPIRITUAL DEATH.
Are we human beings then not similar to the Epileptic
son in today’s Holy Gospel Lesson?
WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAF BECAUSE WE DO NOT HEAR OR
KEEP THE DIVINE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST; AND
SPIRITUALLY DUMB BECAUSE WE SING OUR OWN PRAISES
BUT NOT THE PRAISES OF GOD?
WE HEAR WHATEVER WE CHOOSE OR WANT TO HEAR; we
listen to words spoken by those we love, like or
desire.
WE SPEAK WORDS OF PRAISE TO THOSE WE LIKE AND
WHATEVER WE LIKE OR LOVE, WE LIVE FOR.
If the fallen world chooses not to hear the Word of God
nor to observe it, and if it does not praise the Lord
our God, it is because THE FALLEN WORLD DOES NOT
LOVE GOD!
We are possessed by a deaf and dumb spirit.
WE ARE POSSESSED BY DEATH FOR WE ARE SPIRITUALLY
DEAD, even though we live on this side of our tomb.
And BECAUSE WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, WE HAVE NO
STRENGTH AND NO POWER TO IDENTIFY, LOCATE OR
CAST OUT THE SPIRIT OF DEATH THAT POSSESSES US.
WHEN WE PRACTISE THE LENTEN DISCIPLINES OF PRAYER
AND FASTING, we do much more than simply “...give
something up for Lent,” as though God were a
whimsical God Who is not happy unless we are
unhappy.
We take up our personal cross eagerly and willingly and
WE THEREBY UNITE OURSELVES WITH THE CROSS OF
OUR MOST BELOVED CHRIST WHEREBY THE HORDES OF
DEMONS ARE DRIVEN BACK AND REPELLED, THE
TYRANNY OF THE EVIL ONE IS DESTROYED, AND BY
WHICH WE ARE GRANTED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH THAT
ENABLES US TO BE VICTORIOUS OVER OUR INVISIBLE
ENEMIES – those dark spirits that make every effort
to alienate and separate us from God and to lead us
to Spiritual Destruction and Death.
❃ THE OBJECTIVE OF PRAYER AND FASTING IS TO UNITE
OURSELVES TO THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF
CHRIST by which He casts out the deaf and dumb
spirit of death that possesses us.
❃ THROUGH PRAYER WE SPEAK DIVINE WORDS TO GOD;
THROUGH FASTING WE RENOUNCE DECEPTIVE
WORDS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE FALLEN WORLD.
❃ THROUGH ALMSGIVING WE HEED THE COMMANDMENTS
OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR.
WHEN WE DIRECT OUR WILL TO CHOOSE THE CROSS OF
CHRIST over the indolent (idle) comforts of physical
pleasures, WE STRETCH OUT OUR ARMS TO OUR
SAVIOUR SO THAT HE CAN TAKE US BY THE HAND AND
RAISE US UP FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
IN THE GLORY OF HIS HOLY RESURRECTION.
Sunday of St John of the Ladder of Divine Ascent
More than once, Brethren, the fact has been mentioned
that on each Sunday in the Great Fast (i.e. Great Lent)
there are other commemorations besides that of the
Resurrection.
Thus, on this day, the Church glorifies the Righteous St
John Klimakos (of the Ladder), one of the greatest
Ascetics of whom the Holy Church, when referring to
them, called them "earthly Angels” and “Heavenly
men."
These great Ascetics were extraordinary people.
They commanded the elements; wild beasts willingly and
readily obeyed them. For them, there were no
maladies they could not cure.
They walked on the waters as on dry land; all the
elements of the world were subject to them, because
THEY LIVED IN GOD AND HAD THE POWER OF DIVINE
GRACE TO OVERCOME THE LAWS OF TERRESTRIAL
NATURE.
One such Ascetic was St John of the Ladder.
He was surnamed "of the Ladder" (Klimakos) because he
wrote an immortal work: “The Ladder of Divine
Ascent."
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Taking up our cross i.e. the Ascetic Disciplines of Prayer,
Fasting and Charitable Deeds, we become like the
Holy Myrrh6bearers who prepared spices and
ointments with which to anoint the Body of Christ in
His Tomb.
Together with them WE MAY THEN DRAW NEAR TO THE
STILLNESS OF CHRIST’S EMPTY TOMB – to arrive at the
Midnight Hour of Holy Pascha and to discover that
the heavy stone has been rolled away.
❃ SPACE AND TIME OPENS INTO PARADISE IN THE
RESURRECTION of the Bridegroom (Christ) Who
comes at Midnight when THE OLD WORLD PASSES
AWAY AND THE NEW WORLD DAWNS AT THE START
OF THE EIGHTH DAY – THE DAY THAT KNOWS NO
EVENING BECAUSE IT IS THE DAY OF RESURRECTION!
It is THE HOLY PASCHA OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO
HAS DESTROYED DEATH BY HIS OWN DEATH AND WHO
HAS GRANTED LIFE TO THOSE IN THE TOMBS.
(THIS ISALSO A REFERENCE TO THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD – THE UNREPENTANT SINNERS –
AND NOT ONLY THOSE WHO REST IN PEACE AS REPENTANT SINNERS – THOSE WHO
ENJOY SPIRITUAL LIFE IN CHRIST.)
Christ our Lord and Saviour has cast out the deaf and
dumb spirit of death and raised up Adam who had
fallen from Divine Grace. (CHRIST RAISED UP AND SET FREE ALL
MANKIND FROM OUR FALL FROM DIVINE GRACE AND THE CONSEQUENT
IMPRISONMENT AND EXILE OF SIN.)
When we take up the Ascetic Disciplines of Great Lent,
we also take up our cross and become like the
distraught father of the Epileptic Son – WE PRESENT
OUR WEAK AND AILING SOUL AND BODY TO THE RISEN
BRIDEGROOM, OUR SAVIOUR, IN THE HOPE AND
ANTICIPATION OF DELIVERANCE FROM THE SPIRIT OF
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION – CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL
RESTORE US TO OUR FORMER STATE IN THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION.
In this hope and expectation, let us ENCOURAGE ONE
ANOTHER TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF THE FAST.
Let us help and encourage one another to KEEP THE
SPIRIT OF THE FAST BY PRACTISING LOVE [CHARITY OR AGAPE]
towards one another, SO THAT OUR SPIRITUAL
HEARING MAY BE OPENED AND RECEPTIVE TO THE
WORD OF THE HOLY GOSPEL PROCLAIMED AT HOLY
PASCHA: “Christ is Risen!”
WE WILL WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRITUAL SIGHT THE TRUE
SPLENDOUR OF CHRIST’S GREAT BEAUTY AND WE WILL
BE OVERWHELMED BY OUR LOVE OF GOD,
SPONTANEOUSLY PRAISING, BY THE POWER OF HIS
DIVINE GRACE, HIM WHO DESTROYED DEATH BY HIS
DEATH, AND WHO RAISED US FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH
TO SPIRITUAL LIFE – ETERNAL LIFE - IN THE LOVE OF
GOD THE FATHER AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT” BY REVEREND PAUL WESCHE, ST
HERMAN’S ORTHODOX CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS, USA: www.sthermansmpls.org
In this work, he taught how, by means of Thirty Steps,
the Christian gradually ascends from this (fallen)
worldly life to the heights of Supreme Spiritual
Perfection.
One Virtue leads to another, as we rise higher and
higher, one step at a time, until finally, through
enduring great and persistent Spiritual Struggles, by
the Divine Grace of God, we will reach that ultimate
Spiritual Height where the Crown of Virtues,
Christian Love, is awarded to humble, victorious
souls.
St John wrote his enduring Spiritual Work especially for
Monastics, but in the past his "Ladder of Divine
Ascent" was always favourite reading for those who
strove zealously to live piously, even though they
were neither Monks nor Priests.
LIKE ALL DIVINELY INSPIRED TEACHINGS, IT IS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF DIVINE WISDOM AND
TEACHING FOR ALL WHO SEEK GOD’S PERFECT TRUTH. (MP)
Therein St John Klimakos clearly instructs us on how we
may advance from one Spiritual Step to the next.
Always remember, O Christian soul, that this Spiritual
Ascent to such Virtuous Heights is indispensable for
14 MARCH 2010
9

anyone who genuinely wishes to advance and
improve his or her soul towards Eternal Life in the
Age to come.
A stone that is thrown upwards, ascends until the
moment the propelling force ceases to be effectual.
As long as the propelling force controls the stone, it will
move higher and higher in its ascent, overcoming the
dominant force of earth’s gravity.
But when that activating force is spent, the stone cannot
remain suspended in the air, so it begins to fall,
being pulled downwards due to the physical laws of
terrestrial gravity, and the further it falls, the greater
the speed of its fall.
In our Spiritual Life it is similar, because the continuous
force of Spiritual and Ascetical Labours propels the
faithful Christian gradually Heavenwards.
Our Lord Jesus Christ encouraged us by instructing us:
"Strive to enter in through the Narrow Gate,"
thereby meaning that every faithful Disciple of Christ
ought to live as much as possible like the Ascetics.
We must constantly take strive to improve and develop
our immortal souls by controlling the demands of
our flesh – our human body.
We must constantly direct ourselves along the Christian
Path, which was laid out for us by our Lord Jesus,
and we must perpetually purge our soul of all filth
and impurity through a daily self6examination 6
Spiritual Watchfulness 6 that leads us to continuous
Repentance and Confession.
Nevertheless: WHEN AUTHENTIC DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
WHO ARE TRYING TO ASCEND HEAVENWARDS UPON
THIS LADDER OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION THROUGH
PERSONAL STRUGGLES AND ASCETIC LABOURS, CEASE
OUR DAILY LABORS AND ASCETIC TOIL, OUR SOULS WILL
NOT REMAIN IN A BLESSED CONDITION BUT, LIKE THE
STONE, WILL RAPIDLY PLUNGE DOWNWARDS UNTIL,
FINALLY, IF WE DO NOT COME TO OUR SENSES
IMMEDIATELY, IT WILL CAST US DOWN INTO THE VERY
ABYSS OF HELL!
Most of us all too easily choose to ignore or we forget
that THE PATH OF CHRISTIANITY IS INDEED AN
ASCETICAL LABOUR.
Last Sunday, we heard how our Lord Jesus Christ most
emphatically declared: "HE WHO WOULD COME AFTER
ME: LET HIM TAKE UP HIS CROSS, DENY HIMSELF, AND
FOLLOW ME."
Therefore, WE MUST BE THOSE WHO TAKE UP OUR
PERSONAL CROSSES - AND OUR LIVES, LIKEWISE, MUST BE
ASCETIC LABOURS OF BEARING THOSE CROSSES, WHICH
ARE UNIQUE FOR EACH SOUL.
The outward circumstance of our life – whether we are
Monks, Priests or laity6 is of no consequence.
If we do not force ourselves to strive Heavenwards, then,
most definitely we will fall all the more lower and
lower into the deepest, most terrible pits of Spiritual
Death, unless we acknowledge our downfall and
immediately return to God through sincere
Repentance.
The evil one confuses our thoughts and deceives us with
his deadly, poisoned darts.
St John Klimakos: On Repentance
❃ Repentance is the Renewal of Baptism.
Repentance is a Contract with God for a Second Life.
A Penitent is a buyer of Humility.
Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
Repentance is the daughter of Hope and the Renunciation
of despair.
A Penitent is an undisgraced convict.
Repentance is Reconciliation with our Lord by the practice
of Good Deeds that are contrary to our sins.
Repentance is the Purification of our Conscience.
Repentance is the voluntary Endurance of all Spiritual
Afflictions.
A Penitent is the inflict of his own punishments.
Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a
PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) 4TH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – SUNDAY OF ST JOHN KLIMAKOS (OF THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT)
10
SATAN ALWAYS BAITS HIS TOXIC HOOKS WITH A MINISCULE DROP OF TRUTH, WHICH, AS
SOON AS WE ACCEPT IT, WILL DRAG US FURTHER TOWARDS ETERNAL CONDEMNATION
AND PERMANENT SPIRITUAL EXILE! (MP)
For example, when a Priest visited a family during a Fast
and they most cordially offered him Fasting Food (i.e.
food prepared according to the Rules of Fasting), yet
felt obliged to point out to him: "For YOU, Father,
Fasting Food, of course!" but then they proceeded to
enjoy themselves with non6Fasting fare!
One of our Holy Hierarchs responded to a similar
incident: "Yes, I am certainly Orthodox Christian!
But WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION NOT TO KEEP THE
FASTS?"
❃ ALL THE FASTS OF THE HOLY CHURCH - ALL THE
ORDINANCES - ARE MANDATORY FOR EVERY
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN.
Such devout Ascetics as St John of the Ladder, and those
like him, Fasted much more rigorously than the
Church prescribes; but this was a matter of their own
Spiritual Ardour 6their personal Ascetic Labour.
❃ OUR HOLY CHURCH DOES NOT EXPECT OR REQUIRE THE
SAME SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND DEDICATION OF
EVERYONE, BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME
SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
EACH ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN MAKES THEIR OWN PERSONAL JOURNEY IN CHRIST TOWARDS
ETERNAL LIFE AND HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM – IN HUMBLE OBEDIENCE TO ALL HIS
COMMANDMENTS (HOLY SCRIPTURE) AND TEACHINGS (VERBAL TEACHINGS OF CHRIST
TAUGHT TO US BY TRUE APOSTOLIC TRADITION).
HOWEVER, WE STRIVE AND JOURNEY TOGETHER BUT ACCORDING TO OUR OWN PERSONAL
STRENGTH AND ABILITY. THUS THE SPIRITUALLY STRONGER AND MORE EXPERIENCED
GUIDE, ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST THE SPIRITUALLY WEAKER AND IMMATURE
CHRISTIANS ALONG GOD’S DIVINE PATH. (MP)
Nevertheless: OUR HOLY CHURCH DOES REQUIRE OF EVERY
ORTHODOX THE KEEPING OF THOSE FASTS THAT SHE
HAS ESTABLISHED.
A mother who was concerned about how she might
arrange the best possible Marriage for her young
daughter consulted St Seraphim of Sarov for his wise
advice and he responded: "BEFORE ALL ELSE, ENSURE
THAT HE, WHOM YOUR DAUGHTER CHOOSES AS HER
COMPANION FOR LIFE, KEEPS THE FASTS. IF HE DOES
NOT, THEN HE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN, WHATEVER HE MAY
CONSIDER HIMSELF TO BE."
Take careful note of HOW ST SERAPHIM OF SAROV SPOKE
OF THE FASTS: ONE OF OUR GREATEST SAINTS 6 far
better than we 6 KNEW EXACTLY WHAT ORTHODOXY
TRULY IS!
Let us REMEMBER THIS.
St John Klimakos precisely described the Ladder of
Spiritual Ascent so let us not forget that EACH OF US,
AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS, MUST STRUGGLE DAILY TO
ASCEND RUNG BY RUNG HEAVENWARDS!
Although the great Ascetics ascended like swiftly6flying
eagles, WE ONLY MIGHT MERELY ASCEND ONE RUNG
ALONE!!
In view of that, let us never forget: UNLESS WE EMPLOY
EVERY EFFORT TO CORRECT OURSELVES AND LIVE IN
CHRIST, WE SHALL CEASE OUR SPIRITUAL ASCENSION
AND, MOST ASSUREDLY, WE SHALL FALL VERY QUICKLY,
being dragged by the waiting, persistent, hate6filled
demons into the terrible Abyss of permanent Outer
Darkness – the most extreme distance from God’s
Divine and Loving Light!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUNDAY OF ST JOHN OF THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT” BY
REVEREND MICHALE MARCINOWSKI: ST PHILARET ORTHODOX MISSION CHAPEL,
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS USA: www.saintphilaret.org
striking of our soul into vigorous Awareness!
❃ It is impossible for us who have fallen into the Pit of
Iniquities to ever be drawn out of it unless we sink into
the Abyss of the Humility of the Repentant!
❃ Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up,
but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly,
the Angel who guards you will honour your Patience.
While a wound is still fresh and warm, it is easy to heal; but old,
neglected and festering wounds are difficult to cure, and
require for much treatment, cutting, plastering and
cauterization.
Many Spiritual Wounds from long neglect become incurable, but
with God all things are indeed possible!
14 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH ALL
THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

5th Sunday of Great Lent Tone (8) Plagal 4 21 March 2010

Sunday of St Mary of Egypt:
Feast of St James the Confessor of Studium; St Thomas 1, Patriarch of Constantinople

APOLYTIKION OF THE RESURRECTION – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Ex ipsous katilthes O evsplaghnos, tafin katedexo
triimeron, ina imas elevtherosis ton pathon. I Zoi ke i
Anastasis imon, Kyrie, ✞ Doxa Si!
APOLYTIKION OF ST MARY OF EGYPT - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Thou descended from on High, O Tender6hearted One;
Thou endured the three6days’ burial, so that Thou
might free us from our passions, O our Life and
Resurrection: ✞ Glory to Thee!

En Si Miter akrivos diesothi to kat’ ikona; lavousa gar ton
Stavron, ikolouthiasas to Hriste, ke prattousa
edidaskes, iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar;
epimilisthe de psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio ke
meta Angelo sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou.
KONTAKION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS
In Thee, O Mother, was preserved, intact what was in God’s
Image; for after taking up the Cross, Thou followed
Christ our Lord, and by Thy actions Thou taught us to
overlook the flesh, for it perishes and to care for the
soul, which is Immortal; wherefore, O Holy Mary, Thy
spirit rejoices, along with the Angels.

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon deiseon fonas,
alla profthason os agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton
Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke spefson
is ikesian, i Prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton timonton Se.
Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20:11-18
O Protection of the Christians unashamable, Mediation to
the Creator Immovable, despise not, the pleading
voices of those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the
Help of all of us, who in Faith cry out to Thee: speed
up Thine Intercession, and press on Thy Supplication,
O Theotokos who always Protects all those who honour
Thee!
OUR RISEN LORD JESUS SPEAKS TO ST MARY MAGDALENE

PROKEIMENON: Pray to the Lord our God and render thanks to Him! God is known in Judea; His Name is Great in Israel!
St Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews 9 : 11 – 14
ST PAUL EXPLAINS THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY AND THE DIVINE LITURGY

Brethren: Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come, with the greater and more Perfect Tabernacle, not made
with hands, that is: not of this Creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the
Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained Eternal Redemption. For, if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of
a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, Sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ
Who, through the Eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
serve the Living God?
In constrast to the Old Testament High Priests, our Lord and ❃ CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS NOW POSSIBLE FOR US - THROUGH
Saviour, Jesus Christ is the One and Only, Most Perfect OUR CONTINUOUS REPENTANCE AND WATCHFULNESS
High Priest of the New Covenant/Testament with God. - TO KEEP OUR CONSCIENCES PURE AND HOLY,
MAKING US WORTHY CITIZENS OF HIS HEAVENLY
Our Lord Jesus entered the Heavenly Sanctuary, as both the
KINGDOM.
High Priest (Who offers the Most Important Sacrifice) and
Our dead works are all those useless, wasted activities and
as the actual Blood Sacrifice Himself.
attitudes in and of this age.
This He did only once but His Blood Sacrifice fulfilled any
Dead works are all those things that do not benefit ourselves
further necessity for any other Blood Sacrifices offered for
or others either in this temporary life or in Eternity – our
the Forgiveness of our sins. WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS THAT CAUSE US TO
❃ HIS SACRIFICE IS ETERNAL – IT IS FOR EVERY HUMAN STUMBLE AND FALL along the journey of life and which
BEING FOR ALL TIME FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
PREVENT US FROM MAKING ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS.
HIS ALL PURE SINLESS BODY WAS THE ULTIMATE BLOOD
SACRIFICE THAT HAS HEALED OUR CORRUPT HUMANITY ❃ LITURGICAL DEAD WORKS ARE THE ACTIONS OF ANY OLD
AND RESTORED OUR UNIQUE AND PROPER RELATIONSHIP COVENANT WORSHIP OR PRACTISE.
TO GOD. The reference to the “Eternal Spirit” is proof that THE HOLY
HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD HAS WASHED OUR SOULS CLEAN FROM SPIRIT IS FULLY AND COMPLETELY GOD.
THEIR INHERITED CORRUPTION.

The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 10 : 32 – 45

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REVEALS HIS THIRD PROPHECY OF HIS APPROACHING GREAT PASSION TO HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES
APOSTLES

At that time, they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And
as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the Twelve aside again, and began to tell them the things that would
happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and
to the Scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and
scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. But on the third day He will Rise again.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Him, saying: “Teacher, we want Thee to do for us whatever we ask.”
And He asked them: “What do you want Me to do for you?” So they said to Him: “Grant us that we may sit, one on Thy
right hand, and the other on Thy left, in Thy Glory.”
However, Jesus said to them: “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the Cup that I drink, and be
Baptised with the Baptism that I Am Baptised with?”
They said to Him: “We are able.”

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11
So Jesus said to them: “You will indeed drink the Cup that I drink, and with the Baptism that I Am Baptised with, you
will be Baptised; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, for it is for those for whom it is
prepared.”
And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and
said to them: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be great among you
shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served but to serve and to give His Life as a Ransom for many.”
In this passage, our Lord Jesus gave a more detailed
disclosure concerning the forthcoming Events of His
terrible Passion and Glorious Resurrection, including His
being handed over to the Gentiles – the Romans. - by the
Hebrews
❃ Of course, ALL CHRIST’S DIVINE PREDICTIONS ARE
FULFILLED.
Our Lord Jesus warned His Apostles that they did not realise
exactly what they were asking Him for because HE DID
NOT PROMISE ANYONE A VISIBLE KINGDOM ON EARTH
NOR AN IMMEDIATE VICTORIOUS AND GLORIOUS
CONSUMMATION.
Instead HE ALWAYS WARNED THEM OF THE TOILS, THE
STRUGGLES, THE CONFLICTS AND THE SUFFERING THAT
THEY WERE TO ENDURE FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR
CHRISTIAN FAITH.
The “Cup” and the “Baptism” of which our Lord Jesus spoke
were references to the tremendous Suffering and then
Death that first He and then in the ensuing centuries all His
Holy Martyrs were to experience.
Nevertheless, HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES, WHO WERE STILL
SPIRITUALLY IGNORANT, DID NOT GRASP THE REALITY
AND TRUTH OF HIS WORDS OF WARNING but they soon
experienced everything He told them – in the Reality of the
Persecutions and the Holy Eucharist as well as our
Spiritual Death and Resurrection we all experience in the
Sacrament or Mystery of Holy Baptism.
❃ THE PLACES OF HONOUR IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN ARE BESTOWED BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
UPON SPECIFIC, SANCTIFIED AND WORTHY SOULS.
Even before the Creation, Almighty God knew exactly what
free choices we would each make and where we will
spend Eternity.
Therefore, He prepared the Most Honoured Places for those
who are absolutely exemplary and for that reason, our
Lord Jesus Christ could not promise those Places of
Honour to anyone else.
“O Lord, open Thou my lips. and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise"
Today, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, commemorates St Mary
of Egypt whose story has been referred to as being
"...an icon in words of the Theological Truth of
Repentance." (SISTER BCNEDICTA WARD).
We have heard this story many times. It is a simple one:
the sinful woman becomes the penitent, and the least
worthy is revealed as God's Chosen Treasure.
It offers us familiar words about the Power of Faith, and
familiar inspiration in the heroic actions of St Mary
of Egypt herself.
But it is, above all, a disturbing story because it haunts
us far more often than it comforts us.
Let us therefore explore where the heart of this story
lies, and why it is given to us especially to remember
on this Fifth Sunday of Great Lent each year.
Three Stories
1. The Life of St Mary of Egypt:
The Life of St Mary of Egypt is really three separate
stories: St Mary's Life, St Zosimas the Hieromonk1,
and their combined Spiritual Experience.
St Mary's story was related by her to St Zosimas the
Hieromonk when he found her wandering about in
the desert.
She had been a wanton harlot since her early youth when
she was driven not by the desire or need of money,
but "..out of insatiable desire" of the flesh.
One day she saw the crowds of Pilgrims preparing to go
to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation
1
A HIEROMONK IS A MONK WHO HAS BEEN ORDAINED INTO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.
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12
God Loves each and every one of His creatures but HUMAN
BEINGS ARE HIS MOST BELOVED. [THAT IS WHY SATAN & HIS DEMONS
HATE US SO OBSESSIVELY!]
❃ THE CHOICES WE FREELY MAKE IN LIFE WILL DECIDE
WHERE WE SPEND ETERNITY AFTER THIS VERY BRIEF,
TEMPORARY EXISTENCE.
❃ THE CLOSER OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN THIS LIFE, THE
BETTER OUR CHANCES ARE TO BE CLOSE TO HIM IN
ETERNITY.
❃ EVERY EFFORT WE MAKE ACCORDING TO OUR LOVE OF
GOD AND OUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF OUR FELLOW
SINNERS, WILL CERTAINLY DETERMINE OUR ETERNAL
DESTINATION.
Service is characteristic of True Greatness and our Perfect
Model to imitate is our Lord Jesus Christ for – as Incarnate
God - He is the Perfect Man and Servant of God and
mankind.
❃ THE RANSOM THAT CHRIST PAID FOR US CONCERNS OUR
RELEASE FROM THE PERMANENT BONDAGE AND
DEATH OF SIN.
The insurmountable cost of that Great Ransom that can never
ever be repaid by us, was His terrible Suffering – the
indescribable cruelty of the scourgings, the mocking, the
spitting and public humiliation of being stripped naked,
and finally, after being excruciatingly nailed through His
Ankles and Wrists upon the cross, the slow suffocation
and drowning in fluids accumulated in the lungs!!!
VERY LITTLE THOUGHT IS GIVEN TO EXACTLY WHAT OUR MOST INNOCENT AND PURE LORD
SUFFERED DURING HIS INDESCRIBABLY PASSION – THE PUBLIC CONDEMNATION,
TORTURE AND EXECUTION THAT BROKE EVERY LAW KNOWN TO MANKIND!
THE SCOURGING ALONE COULD HAVE KILLED ANY NORMAL PERSON – FOR IT WAS
DELIVERED OVER AND BEYOND THE ALLOWABLE LIMITS, AND THE INTERNAL, NOT TO
MENTION THE EXTERNAL, INJURIES WERE UTTERLY APPALLING!
NEVERTHELSS, THE SON OF GOD DECIDED THE EXACT TIME THAT HE WOULD DIE – IT WAS
NOT DEPENDENT UPON THE CRUEL TORTURES OF WICKED MEN OR DEMONS!
CHRIST COULD NOT HAVE ENTERED HADES AND SET THE RIGHTEOUS AND REPENTANT
SOULS FREE FROM SATAN’S BONDAGE UNLESS HE DID SO IN HIS HUMAN STATE.
STATE
THEN ONCE HE GAINED ENTRY HE SMASHED OPEN THE GATES OF HADES AND ALLOWED
THE GOOD SOULS TO PROCEED TO PARADISE WHERE THEY PEACEFULLY AND REPOSE
UNTIL THE GENERAL RESURRECTION AND JUDGEMENT OF ALL CREATION.
THESE ARE THE TRUE FACTS WHICH WE CONTEMPLATE THROUGHOUT HOLY WEEK AND
FINALLY CELEBRATE MOST JOYFULLY ON HOLY PASCHA AND EVERY SUNDAY.
St Mary of Egypt
of the Holy Cross and because it sounded like “fun”
to her, she decided to accompany them.
She blatantly informed her fellow6travellers: "I have a
body that will serve as both fare and food for me!"
So she boarded the ship together with all the others and
the trip was an eventful one, as Mary indulged
herself in the outer limits of lust and passion with
her willing companions. She “…even managed to
tempt those who were not so willing,” she admitted to
St Zosimas.
In Jerusalem, on the day of the Feast, Mary set off with
the pious Pilgrims for the Holy Church of the
Resurrection, being drawn along by the energy of
the crowds who hoped to venerate the True Cross.
However, something mysterious and life6changing
occurred at the doors of the Holy Church: at the
threshold, Mary was driven back "by some kind of
force,” and no matter how hard she tried she could
not enter the Holy Site, while all those around her
went in with no difficulty at all.
Suddenly she understood clearly: it was her own sinful
condition that barred her entrance 6 the depravity of
her life that kept her captive outside the Holy Place.
Praying fervently to the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, (of
whom she had recently heard so much) with her
heart open and clear, she begged forgiveness and
permission to enter the church.
"A great terror and stupor came over me, and I trembled
all over, but when I came to the door. which until then
had been closed to me, it was as if all the force that
5TH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT 21 MARCH 2010
 had previously prevented me from entering now
allowed me to go in.
“So I was admitted without hindrance, and went into the
Holy of Holies and I was found worthy to worship the
Mystery of the Precious and Life-giving Wood of the
Cross.
“Thus, I understood the Promises of God and realized how
God receives those who Repent!”
Guided by a Vision of the All Holy and Pure Theotokos,
Mary set off immediately for the desert beyond the
Jordan River, where her Vision informed her, she
would find rest.
On the way, she stopped at a church built on the river
banks. She had washed herself in the Jordan River,
thereby receiving her Baptism, and afterwards she
partook of the Holy Eucharist in that church, all the
while utterly alone.
From there, she went to the desert, being led by the
Vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her New Life in
Christ began.
A powerful story, indeed! Here was a woman of true
courage 6 who had the courage to know herself.
She lived in Perfect Freedom and Perfect Love that few of
us could ever match.
Prior to her Conversion, she had embraced life with her
whole heart, with her whole body, with her whole self
6 with the sheer power of her love for life (not for
money, she had said, but for the love of it).
Once an early Bishop of the Church had seen such a
harlot in Antioch, and had lamented to his Priests: "If
only we would adorn our souls for the Lord with half
the care this woman has shown in adorning herself
for Satan!" (BISHOP NONNOS: FROM THE LIFE OF ST PELAGIA).
Mary knew and understood herself in a manner that few
of us could match. Hers was a life of total honesty, in
the sense of that old adage, "…to thine own self be
true…." and IT WAS IN FACT HER VERY HONESTY THAT
BROUGHT HER TO HER CONVERSION.
Mary had hesitated at the doors of the church 6 the first
time in her life she had ever hesitated before doing
exactly what she desired and at that moment, HER
HONESTY ENABLED HER TO SEE BEYOND HERSELF.
And there, BEYOND HERSELF, SHE FOUND GOD. HER
CONVERSION WAS IMMEDIATE; BUT SO, TOO, WAS THE
GRACE THAT ANSWERS GENUINE REPENTANCE, FOR IN
THAT SINGLE MOMENT MARY WAS BOTH CHANGED IN
HERSELF, AND FOUND WORTHY IN THE EYES OF THE
LORD.
Her response was entirely in character: WITH PERFECT
FREEDOM AND PERFECT LOVE, MARY TURNED THE
WHOLE OF HERSELF TO GOD - HER HEART, HER BODY,
HER VERY LIFE.
WITH COURAGE that had once enabled her to lead her life
of sin WITH CLEAR SELF-UNDERSTANDING, SHE NOW
LIVED HER LIFE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
The desert became her home, the place where she found
her rest.
Her Conversion and life of solitude were unknown to any
other living being, until AFTER FORTY-EIGHT YEARS, BY
THE GRACE OF GOD, THE HIEROMONK ST ZOSIMAS
FOUND HER.
2. St Zosimas the Hieromonk
St Zosimas' story is, alas, far more akin to our own lives,
for we are all too glad to dissociate ourselves from
the young Mary and her sinfulness.
Here we are, in Church on Sunday, in our ordinariness.
We have our homes and families, our spouses and
children, our work, our Life in the Church and in the
Community. We try to be good Christians, to lead
good lives. Even though we know our weaknesses,
we know (faithfully) that, at least, we have nothing as
spectacular as St Mary's former life of debauchery
for which to repent. [OR SO WE CONVINCE OURSELVES!]
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Who among us could truly identify with her story, either
the degree of her wickedness, or the degree of her
Repentance 6 for who among us would drop
everything and turn to a life of ceaseless and solitary
Prayer?
And this is exactly why we are so much like St Zosimas.
St Zosimas was a Priest and a Monk: sincere, devoted,
and earnest. He sought to live a good Christian Life,
and he did.
Since his early childhood he had pursued the Monastic
Vocation, with Piety and Discipline and from early
on had achieved an enviable Sanctity.
It would be difficult to imagine a life more different than
St Mary's former life had been: the life of the
Monastery as opposed to the life of the city streets.
Nevertheless, at the age of 53, St Zosimas came to a
crisis in his life.
He began to be tormented by the idea that he had
attained perfection in everything and needed no
further teaching from others. And so, as he himself
said, he began to wonder if there was anyone “… on
earth capable of affording me (Spiritual) Benefit or
passing on to me anything new - some kind of
Spiritual Achievement of which I either do not know
or in which I have not succeeded as a Monk?"
St Zosimas had become A PRISONER TO HIS OWN OPINION
OF HIMSELF. HE BEGAN TO DECEIVE HIMSELF about who
he was, the life he lived and why he lived it in that
way.
❃ HE DID NOT KNOW HIMSELF HONESTLY, AND SO HE
BECAME CAPTIVE TO HIS OWN LIFE.
How far from the freedom with which St Mary had lived,
and loved, and lived again!
However, THE LORD FELT COMPASSION FOR ST ZOSIMAS,
AND SPOKE TO HIM IN A VISION, telling him to go to
the desert beyond the Jordan River, “ …so that you
may know how many and varied are the Ways to
Salvation.”
St Zosimas set off from the Monastery, fully expecting to
find a great and Holy Monk who would become his
Teacher.
He walked for twenty days into the deepest and most
desolate part of the desert, where no sign of life
could be found until he met St Mary of Egypt.
The encounter was both terrifying and wonderful for
when he first saw her, he could not decide whether
she was an apparition, a demon or an animal, so he
crossed himself repeatedly to protect himself from
the machinations of the devil, until with a jolt of
awareness, he realised she was a woman!
St Mary was naked; her skin was blackened by years of
harsh desert sun; she was emaciated from her
perpetual Fasting: her hair was short and snow white;
and she fled from him as quickly as she could.
St Zosimas knew that there, in that utter wilderness, in
that most strange and frightening creature, HE HAD
AT LAST MET SOMETHING HE HAD NEVER BEFORE
KNOWN: THE NAKED POWER AND PRESENCE OF GOD.
And thus ST ZOSIMAS, A GOOD SERVANT OF GOD, FOUND
SALVATION AND TRUTH WHERE HE HAD LEAST
EXPECTED IT: IN THE LIFE OF A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN
AS UNASHAMEDLY SINFUL AS HE HAD BEEN EARNEST IN
HIS LIFE OF DEVOTION.
Furthermore, ST MARY AND NOT ST ZOIMAS WAS THE ONE
IN WHOM DIVINE GRACE WAS FOUND.
Like the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican, St
Zosimas' story is above all A PLEA FOR HUMILITY IN
OUR LIVES 6 for fighting against the complacency
(both spiritual and social) which is the constant
danger for us as we seek to LIVE THE LIFE OF FAITH. It
reminds us vividly that APPEARANCES AND ACTIONS
DECEIVE, THAT ONLY GOD KNOWS THE INTENTIONS OF
THE HEART, and that THE MOMENT WE THINK WE HAVE
21 MARCH 2010
13
 ACCOMPLISHED TRUE CHRISTIAN LIVING WE HAVE LOST
OUR WAY!!
At such moments, THE PENITENT SINNER BECOMES OUR
GUIDE AND OUR HOPE.
3. Their Spiritual Experience Together
And so we come to the account of St Mary of Egypt and
St Zosimas together 6 of GIVING GIFTS TO ONE
ANOTHER.
FROM THE MOMENT THEY MET, THEIR LIVES WERE FOUND
TO BE REVERSED: ST MARY, THE SINFUL WOMAN,
BECAME TEACHER AND GIVER OF GRACE; ST ZOSIMAS,
THE VENERABLE PRIEST AND MONK, BECAME DISCIPLE
AND SUPPLIANT.
When St Zosimas first found St Mary, she fled from him
while he ran after her, begging for an audience, until
finally, she stopped.
He did not know who she was, and she had never met
him before but, by Divine Inspiration, she knew him
even before he had spoken to her, and addressed
him by name: "Father Zosimas, forgive me."
The Hieromonk was struck with dread: was she an
Angel?
St Mary, for her part, was alarmed because of her
nakedness and modesty, so she begged him to lend
her his cloak so that she could stand before him.
It was not simply that she knew his name: with no word
from him to explain who he was or why he had come,
St Mary knew everything about him, thus she asked
for his Blessing, reminding him that this was his
proper Role and recalling his years of Priestly
Service: “… these words threw St Zosimas into
greater dread, and he trembled and was covered with
a sweat of death.”
At last, breathing with difficulty, he said to her: “O
Mother in the Spirit, it is plain from this Insight
that all your life you have dwelt with God and have
nearly died to the world... But since Grace is
recognized not by Office but by Gifts of the Spirit,
Bless me, for God's Sake, and Pray for me out of
the kindness of your heart." And so St Mary gave the
Blessing.
Eventually, with great difficulty, St Zosimas extracted her
story from her.
He was alternately terrified and wonderstruck as he
watched and listened to her.
SHE KNEW ABOUT HIM 6 about his life as a Hieromonk
and the Monastery in which he lived, and SHE
CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD IT ALL BETTER THAN HE DID.
WHEN SHE PRAYED SHE LEVITATED and although she had
been completely illiterate and had been neither
taught nor guided in Christianity or Judaism, having
entered the desert as soon as she converted, she
freely and accurately quoted Scriptural passages to
illustrate or explain her Teachings and Life in Christ.
The magnitude of her story that St Zosimas drew out
from her (much against her will) consisted of details
of her former life and her amazing Conversion.
St Zosimas questioned her closely on the difficulties and
struggles of her desert life through all those many
years alone.
St Mary was as utterly honest with him in the telling as
she had been in her living. Not only was she blunt
about her harlotry, she was also poignantly
forthright about her life in the desert: how hard it
had been, the suffering from extreme cold and heat,
hunger and thirst; temptation, longing for company
and comfort; and yet her determination to live out
her Repentance in a manner befitting her sin.
She did not see 6 although St Zosimas could 6 that SHE
HAD ATTAINED A DEGREE OF SANCTITY THAT COULD
ONLY BE MEASURED BY THE DEGREE OF SINFULNESS SHE
HAD KNOWN. For unlike him, SHE HAD NO ILLUSIONS
ABOUT HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SHE KNEW ONLY
THE TRUTH OF GOD, AND HER ABSOLUTE LOVE FOR HIM.
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14
She asked St Zosimas for a special favour because SHE
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE LORD HAD SENT HIM FOR A
SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
SHE ASKED HIM TO RETURN TO HIS MONASTERY WITHOUT
TELLING ANYONE ABOUT HER EXISTENCE AND TO
RETURN TO HER THE FOLLOWING YEAR ON HOLY
THURSDAY, THE NIGHT OF THE LAST SUPPER, SO THAT
SHE MIGHT PARTAKE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST 6 of
which she had been deprived since her Conversion so
many years before.
Reluctantly, St Zosimas departed from St Mary, having
become her devoted disciple. Her presence and story
had Spiritually Renewed and Inspired him, granting
him the Spiritual Life he had lost in the complacency
of the Monastery.
A year later, he joyfully returned at the appointed time,
yearning for her Holy Presence and as she
approached him by walking on the water in order to
cross the Jordan River, he was awestruck.
He knelt down to reverence her but she reproved him:
“What are you doing, Father Zosimas - you who
are a Priest of God and carrying the Holy
Mysteries?'
At once he obeyed her and resumed his Priestly Duties
with fumbling fervour. Then, St Mary “… received the
Life6Giving Gifts of the Holy Mystery, groaning and
weeping with her hands held up to Heaven, and
crying out: 'Lord now let your servant depart in
peace, according to your word: for my eyes have
seen your salvation!’” 2
When they parted company, St Zosimas had promised St
Mary to return again the following year at the same
time.
However when the day arrived, St Zosimas found his
beloved Spiritual Guide reposed in Christ, with her
name and instructions to him written in the sand
beside her body – and so he learnt that she had died
within an hour of receiving Holy Eucharist the
previous year – after the fulfillment of her Hope.
He also learnt for the first time her name: she had signed
herself "Mary the sinner."
Grieving, yet marvelling, St Zosimas buried the Holy
Saint, having been helped to dig the grave in the hard
desert sand by a wild lion that had come to venerate
her Sanctified Body
…MUCH TO THE INITIAL TERROR OF ST ZOSIMAS, UNTIL HE WITNESSED THE LION’S SERENE
AND DEVOTED INTENTION AND PURPOSE – AND AFTER ST ZOSIMAS HAD BURIED ST
MARY IT CALMLY WALKED AWAY.
AFTER RETURNING MOURNFULLY TO HIS MONASTERY, ST ZOSIMAS CONFIDED IN HIS
TRUSTED DISCIPLE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY RECORDED THE ENTIRE ACCOUNT OF ST
MARY OF EGYPT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL FAITHFUL, STRUGGLING CHRISTIANS.
This is an amazing account in which the sinner knew the
heart of the Saintly Monk and in which a humble
woman bestowed Blessings upon the worthy Priest
because he had witnessed and acknowedged that her
own Gifts of the Holy Spirit exceeded the Ranks of
Ecclesiastical Office.
Furthermore it was a wonderful account in which such
SANCTITY WAS FOUND TO A GREATER DEGREE OUTSIDE
THE HOLY MONASTERY THAN WITHIN IT AND IN WHICH
THE DESERT, THE USUAL PLACE OF DEATH, BECAME
INSTEAD THE HOLY PLACE OF LIFE; IN WHICH THE PEACE
OF GOD'S KINGDOM WAS RESTORED WHEN THE LION
AND THE MAN BECAME PARTNERS IN PIETY AND
REVERENCE.
It is such a breathtaking story that it should move and
motivate us accordingly.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “”ORTHODOXY AND THE WORLD – RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
WEBSITE” – “ ON ST MARY OF EGYPT” BY PROFESSOR SUSAN ASHBROOK HARVY,
Ph.D – APRIL 2009 – www.pravmir.com
2
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF ST SYMEON THE GOD-RECEIVER WHOM GOD KEPT ALIVE FOR
OVER 300 YEARS SO THAT HE WOULD WITNESS THE MESSIAH BORN OF A VIRGIN AS
PROPHESIED SO MANY CENTURIES BEFORE!
21 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

25 March 2010
The Annunciation
[FISH IS PERMISSABLE TODAY]

Also the Feast of St Senuphios the Confessor

APOLYTIKION OF THE ANNUNCIATION – TONE 4

Simeron tis Sotirias imon to kefaleon, ke tou ap eonos
Mistiriou i fanerosis; O Ios tou Theou, Ios tis
Parthenou ginete, ke Gavriil tin Harin evangelizete.
Dio ke imis sin afto, ti Theotoko voisomen: Here
Keharitomeni! O Kyrios meta sou!
KONTAKION – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Today is the Crown of our Salvation, and the Revelation
of the Mystery planned from Eternity: the Son of God
becomes the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel announces the
Grace. Wherefore, let us along with him cry out, to
the Theotokos: Hail! O Full of Grace! The Lord is with
Thee!

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria, os litrothisa ton dinon To Thee, O Theotokos, Invincible Defender, having been
Efharisiria, anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke. All’ os delivered from peril, I, Thy City, dedicate the Victory
ehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton, ek pantion me kindinon Festival as a Thanks Offering. In Thine Irresistible
eleftheroson, ina krazo Si. Here Nimfi Animfevte!
Might, keep me safe from all trials, so that I may call
out to Thee: “Hail, O Unwedded Bride!”
The Matins Gospel According to St Luke 1: 39 – 49 & 56
ST ELIZABETH PRAISES THE EVER BLESSED, ALL PURE VIRGIN MARY, & THEOTOKOS (MOTHER OF GOD) WHO EXALTS GOD: THE MAGNIFICAT

At that time, Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zachariah
and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leapt in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art Thou among
women, and Blessed in the Fruit of Thy Womb! “But why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to
me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of Thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for Joy. Blessed is
she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the lowly
state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me Blessed. For He Who is mighty has done great
things for me, and Holy is His Name!”
The Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary’s faithful response to Archangel ✽ The title “Theotokos” [the Mother of God (INCARNATE)],
Gabriel’s Announcement makes her the highest Model of given to the Virgin Mary by the Church, was
Obedience to God. derived from the Truth of this Confession.
✽ The Incarnation of the Son of God is not only the Work Because the One Who was in her Blessed, Pure Womb is
of the Holy Trinity, but also the Work of the Will God, the world is freed from enslavement to sin.
and the absolute Faith of the Virgin. The passage from verses 46 - 56 is called the Magnificat,
Therefore, the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary is honoured not only which is the first word of this hymn in Latin.
because God chose her, or because she bore the Son of The Magnificat is a remarkable Hymn of Praise to God
God in the Flesh, but also because she freely chose to which comes from the heart of the Ever Blessed Virgin
believe and to obey God completely and without any Mary, who was probably only 14 - 16 years old at the time.
hesitation or question. It also comes from the heart of St Hannah, who was of a more
“The babe” who would become known as St John the Baptist, mature age at the time, and who first uttered this Inspired
Forerunner to Christ, was in his sixth month of gestation. Prayer and which had been prayed by expectant Jewish
He “leaped in her womb” as a joyous response to the mothers for centuries. [1 SAMUEL 2:1-10]
Presence of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in St Mary’s From this New Testament passage we learn:
Womb. Christian believers for all time will honour or venerate the
✽ The Ever Blessed Theotokos receives veneration from Virgin Mary, for “all generations will call me Blessed.”
both Angels and humans. ✽ IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY HOLY
Archangel Gabriel and St Elizabeth both called her “Blessed” SCRIPTURE AND NOT BLESS THE MOTHER OF
✽ She is the most perfect Model of womanhood. GOD.
No other woman has ever received the Glory given to her, Identity between the Theotokos and Israel is implicit here as
either in Holy Scripture or throughout Church History. the Israel of God, the Church, receives “His Mercy.”
She is confessed as “the Mother of my Lord” by St Elizabeth The Reign of God is over our “hearts,” Kings and Rulers, the
because this was no mere man that the Theotokos poor and the rich, and the Faithful of God – i.e. over all
carried in her Blessed Womb. Creation!
PROKEIMENON My soul magnifies the Lord. For He hasregarded the humility of His handmaiden.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 2: 11- 18
CHRIST BECAME HUMAN SO THAT HE COULD BE OUR HIGH PRIEST

Brethren: both He Who Sanctifies, and they who are being Sanctified, are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to
call them Brethren, saying: “I will declare Thy Name to My Brethren; in the midst of the Church will I praise Thee.”
And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Behold I and My children, whom God has given Me.”
Therefore because the children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, so that through
Death, He might destroy him who had the power of death 6 that is to say, the devil 6 and release those who, through
the fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to the Angels: but H does
give aid to the seed of Abraham.

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15
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His Brethren, so that He might become a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in
Things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being
tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
❃ CHRIST WAS PERFECT EVEN BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION ✽ ONLY OUR BELOVED LORD JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO
BUT HE VOLUNTARILY TOOK ON HUMAN NATURE THAT FREE US FROM THIS BONDAGE OR SLAVERY OF SIN
COULD BE SAVED AND PERFECTED ONLY BY THE AND DEATH.
SUFFERING OF DEATH. “It behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His Brethren”
Christ is the pioneering Captain of the Narrow path to God in means that even Christ was tempted because for
His Suffering for our sins, death, and descent into Hades, WHATEVER IS NOT ASSUMED [TAKEN ON] IS NOT HEALED, AND
His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven where He WHAT IS UNITED TO ALMIGHTY GOD IS SAVED.
has regained His rightful Position – at the place of Honour ✽ The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is like us in His human
next to our Heavenly Father. Nature but WE DO NOT BECOME LIKE HIM IN HIS DIVINE
In Salvation we take on Christ’s Way of Suffering. NATURE. This is impossible because WE CANNOT
❃ OUR PERFECTION – THEOSIS - REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL BECOME A PART OF THE GODHEAD. However, WE
GROWTH THAT IS MANIFESTED IN SUFFERING. CAN BECOME GOD-LIKE IN OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION
❃ In the Incarnation of Christ, GOD DID NOT COME IN ✽ OUR PERSONAL GOAL IN LIFE IS TO REACH THEOSIS –
APPEARANCE ONLY. HE TRULY ASSUMED [TOOK ON] SPIRITUAL PERFECTION!
HUMAN FLESH AND BLOOD from the Ever Blessed St Paul wrote about Christ as Ultimate Sacrifice to Christ as
Virgin Mary, Theotokos, and became the same as we High Priest without transition because HE IS BOTH THE
are - EXCEPT FOR THE ABILITY TO SIN – so that He DIVINE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING AND THE DIVINE OFFERER,
could really enter the state of Death and thereby the High Priest.
bring us – all humanity – Salvation. ✽ CHRIST IS MERCIFUL ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOM HE
❃ CHRIST DESTROYED THE DEVIL’S POWER BY USING SERVES AND FAITHFUL IN HIS SACRED MINISTRY TO
SATAN’S STRONGEST WEAPON – DEATH – AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD.
HIM. Christians are “Holy Brethren”
There is a relationship between sin and death: each one leads ✽ TO BE “IN CHRIST” IS A HEAVENLY CALLING THAT
SEPARATES THOSE IN CHRIST FROM THOSE WHO
to the other. HAVE IGNORED OR REFUSED HIS CALL.
✽ SIN CAUSES DEATH – ESPECIALLY SPIRITUAL DEATH –
✽ As Apostle and High Priest, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
AND THE FEAR OF DEATH LEADS PEOPLE TO SIN and BOTH GOD’S DIVINE REPRESENTATIVE TO MANKIND
thereby into bondage or slavery to Satan who certainly AND ALSO MANKIND’S MEDIATOR BEFORE ALMIGHTY
does not want any souls returning to our Almighty GOD. In Him, the Offices of Prophet and Priest are
Creator to Whom they belong. combined.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 1 : 24 – 38
THE COMING BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS ANNOUNCED TO HIS MOTHER, THE EVER VIRGIN MARY

At that time, Zachariah’s wife, Elizabeth, conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus has the Lord dealt with me
in the days wherein He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.”
And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a
man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin’s Name was Mary. And the Angel came in with
her, and said, “Hail, thou who art highly favoured! The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!” And when
she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the Angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for Thou has found favour with God. And behold, Thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His Name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest;
and the Lord God shall give to Him the Throne of His father, David. And He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever;
and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”
Then said Mary to the Angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” And the Angel answered and said to her, “The
Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Thing
which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in
her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it unto me according to Thy Word.” And the Angel departed from her.
The name “Mary,” “Maria,” or “Miriam” literally means “the ✽ EVEN MORE RELEVANT IS HER ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO
Exalted One.” GOD, as pointed out by Christ Himself.
✽ The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary was Betrothed, by the Will According to St Luke’s description of her, she is praised in the
of God, to St Joseph who was of Royal Lineage. He Orthodox Church as being surrounded with Divine Grace
was of the “House” or family of David the ancient King and shining with Holiness.
who had been Anointed by Almighty God. Verses 31 – 33 “ and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
He was an elderly relative of the Ever Blessed Theotokos and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His Name Jesus …” is
whom the Priests at the Temple had chosen – by Divine an amazingly accurate description of the long-awaited
Inspiration and through a miraculous Sign - to protect her Messiah!
because she had taken a Sacred Vow Of Chastity. “Holy Spirit” and “Power of the Highest” are synonymous.
✽ THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF ACTUAL MARRIAGE AND IT This is a case of repetition for emphasis.
WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED. ✽ “HOLY ONE” IS A MESSIANIC TITLE and the fact that Christ
✽ ST JOSEPH IS ENTITLED “THE BETROTHED” BECAUSE IT was to be born of the Ever Virgin Mary demonstrates
WAS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT HE WAS INDEED THE His truly Divine Nature.
EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS’ GUARDIAN.
✽ Note in particular the reference to THE HOLY TRINITY: GOD
Women had to be married as soon as they reached puberty, THE FATHER (THE HIGHEST), THE SON, AND THE HOLY
especially if they had no immediate family to protect and SPIRIT.
care for them. ✽ THE BLESSED THEOTOKOS’ FAITHFUL RESPONSE MAKES
St Luke twice mentions the fact that the Ever Blessed HER THE HIGHEST AND MOST PERFECT MODEL OF
Theotokos was a Virgin. HUMAN OBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD.
✽ SHE WAS PURE AND VIRGINAL BEFORE, DURING AND ✽ THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS NOT ONLY THE
AFTER THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. And she DIVINE WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY, BUT IT IS ALSO
maintained her virginity and chastity throughout THE WORK OF THE WILL AND FAITH OF THE EVER
VIRGIN MARY.
her life.
Therefore SHE IS HONOURED NOT ONLY BECAUSE GOD CHOSE
“Highly favoured” [CHARITOU] can also be translated as “Full of HER, OR BECAUSE SHE BORE THE SON OF GOD IN THE
Grace.” FLESH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE SHE FREELY AND WILLINGLY
✽ THE YOUNG THEOTOKOS WAS GREETED WITH AN EXALTED CHOSE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY GOD WITHOUT QUESTION
SALUTATION BECAUSE AS THE MOTHER OF THE OR HESITATION!
INCARNATED CHRIST, SHE IS THE MOST BLESSED
WOMAN OF ALL TIME.
Christ became Man by the Ever Blessed, All Pure Virgin Mary in order that by the same manner in which the disobedience caused
by the serpent took its beginning, by this way should it also take its destruction! For Eve, being a virgin and incorrupt, conceived
the word spoken of the serpent, and brought forth disobedience and Death, but Mary the Virgin, receiving Faith and Grace, when
the Archangel Gabriel brought Her the Good News... answered: “Be it unto me according to Thy Word!”

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 St John of Kronstadt: The Annunciation - The Beginning of Salvation
The Mystery that transpired upon this day awes not only
the human mind; it likewise astonishes all Angelic,
exalted minds.
They, too, are amazed at how God, Who is without
beginning 6 Who is uncontainable, unapproachable 6
could lower Himself to the status of a servant and
become a human being, without ceasing to be God 6
and without in any way diminishing His Divine Glory.
How could the Virgin contain within Her Most6Pure
Womb the Unbearable Fire of Divinity and remain
unscathed 6 and, throughout all ages to come, be the
Mother of God6Incarnate?
So great, so marvelous, fraught with such Divine
Providence, is this Mystery of the Annunciation to
the Most Holy Virgin by the Archangel Gabriel 6 and
the Incarnation of the Son of God from Her!
Rejoice, O ye who are earth6born! Rejoice, especially, ye
faithful Christian souls! But rejoice with trepidation
in the face of the magnitude of this Mystery, being
encompassed by the filthiness of sin!
With pure hearts and lips, magnify the Mother of God,
Who is magnified and exalted above all creatures,
Angels and men! Who is magnified by God Himself,
the Creator of all 6 and remember that the Mystery of
the Incarnation of the Son of God, and of His
becoming Man, was accomplished for our Salvation
from sin, from the Curse that was rightfully
pronounced upon us by God, in the beginning, by
reason of our sins, and from temporal and Eternal
Death.
With Peace and Joy, receive the Lord Who comes to us in
order to establish upon earth, in our hearts and in
our souls, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of
Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit (ROMANS
4:17) 6 and come to hate Divinely6detested sin,
impurity, incontinence, pride, hardness of heart, lack
of mercy, self6love, satisfaction of [THE CRAVINGS/DESIRES OF]
the flesh, and all unrighteousness.
Christ descended to earth in order to raise us up to
Heaven (AKATHIST TO THE MOTHER OF GOD, KONTAKION 8).
Let us, therefore, being nailed down to the earth by the
passions of life, incline our heads towards Heaven,
towards which our Lord Jesus Christ desires to raise
us all up, and lift up the eyes of our heart.
Lift up your heart!
Long enough have we crept along the ground, like
worms, in our thoughts and in our hearts.
It is true that we are insignificant worms, according to
our sins, although our souls have been created in the
Image of God, which we have disfigured by our sins,
and which we must invariably re6instate through
sincere penitence while we yet live.
It is necessary that this Image of God, like the sun,
shines forth within us as it did in the beginning,
when Adam and Eve alone had been created.
St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan – On the Annunciation
The Mysteries of God are unsearchable, as is especially
declared in the prophetical words : What man is he
who can know the Counsel (ADVICE) of God, or who can
think what the Will of the Lord is?
Nevertheless, some things have been revealed to us. And
hence we may gather, from the Words and Works of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, that there was a
Special Purpose of God in the fact that she who was
chosen to bring forth our Lord was espoused to a
man.
Why did the Power of the Highest not overshadow her
before she was so espoused? Perhaps it was lest any
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS & VIRGIN MARY
It is for this Purpose that we have been given life and it
is for this Reason that our life continues on 6 that we
are joined to God's Church and participate in Her
Divine Services, Mysteries and Fasts.
Behold: how the Image of the Ever6Virgin Mother of God
gleams! Yet, She is also human!
What exalted Her to such incomparable heights?
What made Her so glorious and so great 6 loftier than
the Cherubim and more glorious than the Seraphim?
It was the three supreme Virtues: Humility, Purity and a
fiery Love for God 66 a Love that is alien to earthly,
to external love.
She Herself confessed that the Lord looked upon the
Humility of His hand6maiden. (LUKE 1:48)
O Christian, you too must begin to Love, and implant
deep within your heart that Humility that is Divinely6
pleasing.
Acquire also, though exerted labours lasting your entire
life, a purity of heart 6 do so by means of Fasting,
Prayer, Meditation upon God, Tears, and especially by
a frequent and worthy Communion of the Holy
Mysteries of Christ.
Begin, also, to Love God, our Creator and Saviour, with
all your heart, and prefer nothing that is of this
world to His Holy Love.
Meditate always upon Him and His Wondrous Works.
Live Him and breathe Him.
Nourish your soul with Him.
Cover yourself with Him.
Purify yourself, Enlighten yourself, Sanctify yourself,
Establish yourself, Adorn yourself, Praise yourself,
Console yourself through Him.
By means of Christ, vanquish temptations and
impositions of foes – both visible and invisible.
Whatever you do, do everything with thoughts of our
Lord God in mind and for His sake.
Wherever you might be, be everywhere with God, as,
being everywhere, He is always with us and He fills
all things. [TROPARION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT]
If you grow to Love God in such a manner, then in you
also shall the Lord be magnified 6 and the Lord shall
magnify you, as our Holy Church declares on His
behalf: “… those who Glorify Me, I shall likewise
Glorify.” ("THE EPISTLE OF TARASIOS, THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, TO
POPE ADRIAN OF ROME." (THE RUDDER)], PART 1, CHAPTER 36, 1787 EDITION).
Learn, O Christian, to hate, to humiliate, to annihilate
every sin within yourself 6 and the Lord of Glory
shall be magnified in you and you shall be great
before God and mankind.
Learn to Love Humility 6 and the Lord will exalt you.
Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE ANNUNCIATION – THE BEGINNING OF SALVATION” BY ST
JOHN OF KRONSTADT - TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY G. SPRUKSTS, FROM THE
RUSSIAN TEXT APPEARING IN CHAPTER 1 – “SOLNTSE PRAVDY”
might blasphemously say that the Holy One was
conceived in fornication!
And the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her.
Let us learn from this All Holy and Pure Virgin how to
bear ourselves : let us learn by her devout utterance
and, above all, let us learn by the Holy Mystery to be
timid, to avoid the advances of men, and to shrink
from men's addresses.
If only our women would learn from the Example of such
modesty as presented to us by her!
She upon whom the stare of men had never been fixed
was alone when addressed by the Angel of God.
25 MARCH 2010 17.
There was neither companion nor witness present so
that what occurred might not be debased in gossip.
And the Archangel saluted her.
The Message of God to the Holy Virgin was a Mystery so
great that it should not be uttered by the mouths of
human beings but only by an Angel of God.
For the first time on earth the words were announced:
“The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee!”
And the Holy Maiden heard and believed.
Bishop Alexander Mileant – On the Annunciation
During Her first year in the house of St Joseph the
Betrothed, about six months after the appearance of
Archangel Gabriel to St Zacharias, as the birth of the
last and greatest Holy Prophet of God, St John the
Baptist, was approaching, the same Holy Bearer of
Good Tidings, Archangel Gabriel, was sent by God to
the town of Nazareth to the Holy Virgin with the
Joyous News that the Lord had chosen Her to become
the Mother of the Savior of the world. (LUKE 1:8-25),
The Archangel, having appeared before Her, greeted the
Holy Virgin with the words: "Rejoice, O Blessed One!
(LITERALLY, "FILLED WITH GRACE") The Lord is with Thee! Blessed
art Thou amongst women!"
The young Virgin Mary was puzzled by his words and
was unsure what this Greeting was supposed to
mean.
The Archangel continued by saying to Her: "Fear not,
Mary, for Thou hast found favour with God. And
therefore, Thou wilt bear a Son and shalt name Him
Jesus. He shall be great and shall be known as the
Son of the Most-High, and to His Kingdom there
shall be no end."
Still puzzled, All Holy Mary asked the Angel: "How can
that be, since I know not a man?" to which the
Archangel explained that this would be accomplished
by the Power of the Omnipotent God: "The Holy
The Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
St Maximos the Confessor said: In souls (with Christ6
like Way of Life) Christ always desires to be born in a
Mystical Manner, becoming Incarnate in those who
attain Salvation and king the soul that give Birth to
Him a Virgin Mother...
Those who already live and move and have their being in
Christ have annulled in themselves that which is
imbalanced and disunited.
I am amazed that there are some who are extremely
doubtful whether the Holy Virgin should be referred
to as the Mother of God or not, for if our Lord Jesus
Christ is God, then surely the Holy Virgin who gave
Him Birth must be (Incarnate) God’s Mother!
[ST CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA]
Why did God allow the Fall of man, His Beloved
Creation and that Crown of all His earthly creatures?
To this question we must reply thus:
If mankind was not allowed to Fall, then he could not be
created in the Image and Likeness of God.
He could not be granted Free Will, which is an
inseparable feature of the Image of God; but he
would have to be subject to the law of necessity, like
the soulless Creation – the sky, the sun, the stars, the
circle of the earth, and all the elements – or like the
irrational animals.
But then there would have been no King over the
creatures of the earth, no rational Hymn Singer of
God’s Goodness, Wisdom, Creative Almightiness and
Providence!
18 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS & VIRGIN MARY
At length she said: “Behold the Handmaiden of the
Lord! Let it be unto me according to Thy Word.”
Here is an example of Lowliness!
Here is a pattern of True Devotion!
At the very moment she was chosen to be the Mother of
our Lord, she declared herself to be His Handmaid.
The knowledge that the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary was
chosen to this high Vocation wrought in her only an
act of Humility.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “THE ANNUNCIATION” BY ST AMBROSE OF MILAN – EXCERPT
FROM AN ANGLICAN BREVIARY: www.orthodox.net
Spirit shall come upon Thee, and the Power of the
Most-High shall Overshadow Thee; therefore,
accordingly, that Holy One which shall be born of
Thee shall be called the Son of God. Your relative,
Elizabeth, not having had any offspring until her very
old age, shall soon give birth to a son; for with God
nothing shall be impossible."
Then the Ever Blessed Mary humbly answered: "Behold
the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to
thy word!" (Luke 1:26638).
Immediately, the Holy Spirit descended upon Her, and
She Conceived the Word of God.
Thus, in the most modest circumstances the Greatest
Miracle in the history of all mankind happened!
Here the Infinite joined the finite!
The Light, unapproachable to Angels, descended into the
Virgin's Womb!
In discussing this Angelic Appearance, the Holy Fathers
of the Church underline the Wisdom of the young
Virgin Mary, for she was most careful not to accept
Archangel Gabriel's Message in haste, remembering
what happened to Eve when she believed the serpent.
Although God chose the Virgin Mary to be the Mother
of our Savior, He wanted Her voluntary consent
because He never overpowers (FORCES) or disregards
the Gift of Free Will that He bestowed upon us.
Then we would have had no way to show our
faithfulness and devotion to our Creator – to express
our self6sacrificing Love of God.
Then there would have been no exploits in battle, no
merits and no Incorruptible Crowns of Victory!
There would have been no Eternal Blessedness, which is
the Reward for Faithfulness and Devotion to God!
And there would have been no Eternal Repose after our
labours and struggles of our earthly Pilgrimage!
[ST JOHN OF KRONSTADT]
Man, having received as his lot an exhausting Fast and
Sorrows, was given over to illnesses, sufferings, and
the other bitter things of life, as if to a kind of bridle.
Because he did not sensibly restrain himself in that life
which was free of labours and sorrows in Paradise,
he is given over to misfortunes, so that by sufferings
he might heal himself of the disease that same upon
him in the midst of Blessedness. [ST CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA]
Let us not ask the Master of Heaven and earth for
perishable goods, for it is madness to choose bad
lead instead of precious Gold, to scorn Pearls in
order to gather up worthless shells!
Yet, it is madness not to ask for the most useful and
necessary things that we could have!
[ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM]
WE MUST BESEECH GOD FOR SPIRITUAL TREASURES THAT ENABLE AND STRENGTHEN US
FOR THE DURATION OF OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY TOWARDS HIS HEAVENLY, ETERNAL
KINGDOM – NOT WORTHLESS MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT ARE OF NO SPIRITUAL
BENEFIT WHATSOEVER! (MP)
25 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN,
TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

5th Salutations 26 March 2010

The Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel – the Heavenly Herald of Good News

Also the Feast of St Stephen the Confessor; the 26 Holy Martyrs of Crimea; St Ireneaus
Hieromartyr of Hungary
APOLYTIKION OF ARCHANGEL GABRIEL: TONE 4;

Ton Ouranion Stration Arhistratigi, diopoumen imis i
anaxii, ina tes imon deisesi tihisite imas, Skepi ton
Pterigon, tis ailou imon Doxis, frourountes imas
prospiptontas, ektenos ke noontas: Ek ton kindinon
litrosasthe imas, os Taxiarhe, ton ano Dinameon.
KONTAKION OF ARCHANGEL GABRIEL – TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
O Great Leaders of the Heavenly Armies, we implore Thee,
although being unworthy, with Thine earnest Prayers to
fortify us, with the Shelter of the Wings of Thy Spiritual
Glory, guarding us as we fall before Thee, and fervently
cry: Redeem from dangers all of us, as the
Commanders of the Heavenly Powers.

Arhistratigi Theou, Litourgi Thias Doxis, tin anthropon Chief Captains of God, Ministers of Divine Glory, Guides of
odigi, ke Arhigi Asomaton, to simferon imin etisasthe, mankind and Princes of the Bodiless Powers, intercede
ke to Mega Eleos, os ton Asomaton Arhistratigi. [2] for what is for our good and for Great Mercy, as Chief
Captains of the Bodiless Powers. [2]
PROKEIMENON Who makest Thine Angels spirit? Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 2: 2 - 10
THE PLACE OF ANGELS IN RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST

Brethren, if the word spoken through Angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a Just
Reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with Signs and Wonders, with various
Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own Will? For He has not put the world to come, of which we
speak, in subjection to Angels.
But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the Son of Man that Thou takes
care of Him? Thou has made Him with Glory and Honour, and set Him over the Works of Thy Hands. Thou has put all
things in subjection under His Feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put
under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him.
But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour,
that He, by the Grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things and by
Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings.
Verses 1-4 “... for if the word spoken through Angels proved ✽ CHRIST’S HUMILIATION IS THE ONLY MEANS OF
steadfast …. God also bearing witness both with Signs REDEEMING MORTAL MAN
and Wonders….” is AN ADMONITION AGAINST WILFUL ✽ CHRIST’S HUMILIATION RE-ESTABLISHES MAN’S GOD-
NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS BY A SLOW PROCESS INTENDED DOMINION OVER ALL CREATION, INCLUDING
OF ATTRITION, A “DRIFT”. THE ANGELS!
“If” and “how” suggest a conditional statement or question. IF This Epistle applies the discussion in Psalm 8 about man to
ISRAEL WAS TO OBEY THE WORDS OF CREATED ANGELS Jesus Christ, the perfect Man:
OR SUFFER PUNISHMENT, HOW MUCH MORE MUST WE “For Thou hath made Him little less than God [Elohim]” and is
HEED WHAT GOD INCARNATE [JESUS CHRIST] HAS SAID quoting from the Septuagint, which reads “Angels” instead
THROUGH HIS APOSTLES - especially when the Word has of God.
been “confirmed” by many “Miracles” of the Holy Spirit, “MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS” REFERS TO THE
proof that the Kingdom of God has come upon us. INCARNATION, THE SON BECOMING MAN. [PSALM 8:4 PHILIPPIANS
When we ask in the Liturgy for “Pardon and Remission of our 2:5 -11]

sins and transgressions” and a “Good Defence before the Christ’s “Suffering” and “Death” has highly exalted Him.
Dread Judgement Seat of Christ,” WE AFFIRM THAT THERE The Cross, which should have brought shame and reproach,
IS A “JUST REWARD” OR RETRIBUTION, A VERY REAL has brought Christ “Glory” and “Honour.”
JUDGEMENT! ALL OF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT GOD OWED TO
The Hebrews expected the Messiah to be an earthly, MANKIND.
conquering King - a political success story, not a failure. ✽ It is BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
They would naturally ask if Jesus Christ is superior to the ✽ It is GOD’S GIFT TO HUMANITY.
Angels - indeed, a Divine Being as portrayed in Chapter 1 “Taste death” means to experience death fully, to know death
of the Epistle to the Hebrews - why did He die, especially intimately – a personal experience.
in such a degrading way? St Paul answers in his Epistle ✽ CHRIST’S DEATH WAS A REAL DEATH.
to the Hebrews: ✽ CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE, FOR THE WHOLE WORLD,
NOT ONLY FOR THE FAITHFUL.
✽ CHRIST’S HUMILIATION IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 10:16-21
THE ARCHANGELS WAR AGAINST SATAN IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

The Lord said: “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent
Me.” Then the Seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Thy Name.” And He said
to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample upon serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not
rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.”
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden
these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy
Sight.”

(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) THE SYNAXIS OF ARCHANGEL GABRIEL 26 MARCH 2010

19
❃ DIVINE JUDGEMENT IS MORE SEVERE AGAINST THOSE
WHO WITNESS JESUS CHRIST’S “MIGHTY WORKS” OR
HEAR HIS WORD BUT REJECT IT, as in the case of the
Galilean cities.
“I saw Satan fall ... From Heaven” is probably a reference by
Jesus Christ to Isaiah 14:12-15: “How thou art fallen from
heaven, o day star, son of dawn! How thou art cut down to
the ground, thou who laid the nations low! Thou said in thy
heart, ‘I will ascend to Heaven; I will raise my throne
above the stars of God; I will sit on the Mount of
Assembly on the Heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the
tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’
but thou art brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the
pit.”
NOTE THE FIVE “I WILL’S” in the passage that demonstrates
THE FALSE PRIDE AND EGOTISTICAL ATTITUDE OF SATAN.
Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel
Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a
commemoration of the Holy One who participated in
the Events of the Feast.
So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel,
who brought the Good News of the Conception of
Christ our Lord and Saviour to the Ever Blessed, All
Pure Virgin Mary, who became the Theotokos.
THE HERALD OF THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD IS
ONE OF THE SEVEN GREAT ANGELS WHO STAND BEFORE
THE THRONE OF GOD.
He revealed to St Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner,
St John the Baptist, and identified himself with the
announcement: 'I am Gabriel who stands in the
Presence of God' (LUKE 1:19)
His name, Gabriel, signifies “Man of God.”
Concerning the Annunciation, the Holy Church Fathers
believed that an Angel with such a name was sent to
signify Who He was and of what Nature He was, Who
would be Born of the Most Pure Virgin. [I.E. OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST]
He would be the Man of God, the God6Man 6 the strong
and mighty God Incarnate.
Others have found that it was this same Archangel
Gabriel who announced the Conception of the Virgin
Mary to St Joachim and St Anna, and that it was he
Archangel Gabriel was chosen by the Lord to announce
the Incarnation of the Son of God to the Virgin Mary
for the Eternal Salvation of all mankind.
Therefore, on the day after the Feast of the
Annunciation, the day on which the All6Pure Virgin is
Glorified, we give thanks to our Lord God and we
venerate His Holy Messenger St Gabriel the Archangel
who contributed to the Mystery of our Salvation.
St Gabriel, the Holy Arhistrategos 6 Leader of the
Heavenly Hosts 6 is a faithful servant of Almighty
God.
He announced the future Incarnation of the Son of God
to those of the Old Covenant and he inspired the
Holy Prophet of God, St Moses to write the
Pentateuch (the first five Books of the Old
Testament).
Archangel Gabriel announced the coming tribulations of
the Chosen People to the Prophet of God, St Daniel,
and he appeared to St Anna with the joyful news that
she would give birth to a daughter 6 the Ever Blessed
Virgin Mary. (DANIEL 8:16, 9:21-24)
St Gabriel remained with the Holy Virgin Mary while She
was a small child in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem,
and he watched over Her throughout Her earthly life.
St. Gregory Palamas - The Triads
Natural perfection is itself a Gift of God, even though Knowledge is not only
a Gift of God, but a state of Perfection of the rational nature. However,
this state, since it is not supernatural, is not a deifying Gift, because the
Deifying Gift is supernatural.
Otherwise all men and Angels without exception would be more or less
20 (PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS)
BECAUSE HE PURSUED HIS OWN WILL, SATAN IS BOTH FALLEN
FROM HEAVEN, AND DEFEATED AND DETHRONED from his
demonic lordship over the world BY THE MINISTRY OF
CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES.
SATAN DOES NOT BELONG IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH AND TRIES TO PREVENT OUR SOULS
FROM RETURNING TO OUR CREATOR IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM – THE NATURAL
DESTINATION FOR OUR GOD-GIVEN SOULS. (MP)
✽ THE JOY OF DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT IN AUTHORITY OVER
DEMONIC POWER, BUT IN THE CITIZENSHIP OF GOD’S
KINGDOM.
“These Things” are THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM
MANIFESTED THROUGH THE WORDS AND WORKS OF
JESUS CHRIST.
They ARE RECEIVED BY “babes” - PEOPLE OF SIMPLE AND
OPEN HEARTS - RATHER THAN BY THE SCRIBES AND
PHARISEES, the “wise and prudent.”
who taught St Moses the Patriarch in the wilderness
to write the Book of Genesis.
The Holy Fathers believe the Archangel Gabriel belongs
to the Foremost and Highest Order of the Heavenly
Powers, the Seraphim, since the Seraphim stand
closest to God.
And so he is one of the Seven Seraphim who are closest
to God.
The names of these Seven Archangels are: St Michael, St
Gabriel, St Raphael, St Uriel, St Selathiel, St Jegudiel
and St Barachiel.
Some would add St Jeremiel to this number.
Each has his own particular designated Service to God,
but all are equal in honour.
God not send St Michael the Archangel because his
Service to God is the suppression and rejection of
enemies of God's Truth, while St Gabriel's Service to
God is the Annunciation of the Salvation of the
human race.
“THE PROLOGUE “OF OCHRID
ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL IS THE HOLY MESSENGER WHO CONVEYS GOD’S TRUTH TO
HUMAN BEINGS ACCORDING TO GOD’S DIVINE WILL – FOR OUR SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
AND ETERNAL SALVATION.
HE ALWAYS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF CLEARLY SO THAT THERE IS NO MISTAKING THE DIVINE
TRUTH OF HIS MESSAGES.
HIS HOLY ICON IS ALWAYS DEPICTED ON THE SOUTH DOOR OF THE ICONOSTASION IN
ORTHODOX CHURCHES. (MP)
He appeared to St Zachariah the Priest, foretelling him of
the birth of his son who would be the Forerunner of
our Lord, St John the Baptist.
God sent him to St Joseph the Betrothed in a dream, to
reveal to him the True Mystery of the Incarnation of
the Son of God from the All6Pure Virgin Mary, and
warned him of the wicked intentions of Herod,
ordering him to flee into Egypt with the Divine
Infant, Jesus Christ, and His Mother, the All Pure,
Ever Virgin Mary.
When our Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the Garden of
Gethsemane before His Passion, Archangel Gabriel
was sent by God the Father to strengthen and
encourage Him.
After the Crucifixion and Entombment of Christ the Holy
Myrrh6Bearing Women heard joyous news of Christ's
Resurrection from Archangel Gabriel at the Empty
Tomb. (MATTHEW 28:1-7, MARK 16:1-8).
Mindful of the many Appearances of Archangel Gabriel
and of his zealous fulfilment of God's Will, and
confessing his Intercession for Christians before the
Lord, the Orthodox Church calls upon its Children to
pray to St Gabriel with Faith and Love.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ORTHODOX FEASTS & SAINTS – ORTHODOX CHURCH OF
AMERICA – www.oca.org
gods, and the race of demons would be imperfect gods or demi-gods.
Thus, whatever the state in which the rational nature attains perfection,
whether it is a knowledge, a constitution, a natural perfection of body
and soul, whether it comes from within them or from outside a man, it
can truly make perfect those rational beings who possess it, but it
cannot make them gods!
THE SYNAXIS OF ARCHANGEL GABRIEL 26 MARCH 2010
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES.
AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

27 March 2010
St Lazaros Saturday
The Feast of St Matrona of Thessalonika; St Philetos & St Lydia; St Paul of Corinth;
St Rupert of Worms & Salzburg
APOLYTIKION OF PALM SUNDAY

Tin kinin Anastasi pro tou Sou pathous pistoumenos, ek
nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos; othen ke imis
o i pedes, ta tis nikis simvia ferontes, si to nikiti tou
thanatou voomen; Osanna en tis ipsistis, Evlogimenos O
erhomenos en Onomati Kyriou.
APOLYTIKION OF SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – TONE 1
Of the common Resurrection before Thy Passion assuring
us, from the dead Thou raised Lazaros, O Christ our
God; therefore we also, like the children, carrying
symbols of Victory, to Thee the Victor over Death, we
cry: Hosannah in the Highest! Blessed is He Who comes
in the Name of the Lord!

Tin kinin ananstasin pro tou sou pathos pistoumenos, ek
nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos, othen ke
imis, os i Pedes, ta tis nikis simvola ferontes, si to niki ti
tou thanatou voomen. Osan na en tis ipsistis,
evlogimenos O erhoemenos en Onomati Kyriou.
KONTAKION OF SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS - TONE 2
O Christ our God, before Thy Passion, Thou raised
Lazaros from the dead to confirm the common
Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the Symbols of
Victory as did the Youths, and we cry out to Thee, the
Victor over Death: "Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is
He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!"

I panton Hara, Hristos i Alithia, to Fos i Zoi , tou kosmou i Christ, the Joy of all, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the
Anastasis, tis en gi pefanerote, ti aftou agathotiti, ke Resurrection of the world, in His Goodness, appeared to
gegone tipos tis Anastaseos, tis pasi parehon thian those on earth; and He became the pattern of the
afesin. Resurrection, by granting Divine Remission to all.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 12: 28 – 13 : 8
THE PURITY OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY & REMEBERING OUR HOLY SPIRITUAL FATHERS – THE BISHOPS & PRIESTS

Brethren: Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have Grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear. For God is a consuming Fire.
Let brotherly Love continue.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained Angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body
also.
Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have, for He Himself has said: “I will
never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can mankind do to me?”
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose Faith follow, considering the
outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
All that is created can be “shaken” – the temporal, the but also followed and obeyed as being Models of
impermanent, the imperfect – but not the Final Christian Life.
Consummation of the Eternal Kingdom of God , which The Faith of our Holy Church Fathers is the Orthodox Faith
is unshakable. that they teach and live by.
In God’s Eternal Kingdom, Life is a Eucharistic Liturgy. Orthodox Christian Faith does not disappoint us and since
“Grace” is our personal gratitude that leads us to the our Lord Jesus Christ is God and never ever changes,
Service of Almighty God whereby we worship Him in His Holy Gospel does not ever change either.
an acceptable manner and with proper Reverence and If Christians in the past attained the Eternal Kingdom of
Godly Fear. (THE MOST SINCERE, DEEPEST RESPECT FOR GOD THAT IS God through their Faith (and their deeds), so can we.
ROOTED IN OUR LOVE FOR HIM.)
Thus the Holy Church of Christ always strives to maintain
Practical Brotherly Love is to e shown towards all the Purity and Truth of Her Doctrine/Teaching –
Christians but especially for the lowly, the powerless without any changes for as soon as we change Divine
and the victims of injustice and cruelty. Perfection by one atom, it is no longer True and Pure
“Strangers” refers to travellers who may be in need of and Perfect!!
hospitality. We must always beware of our own personal
St Abraham and St Sarah’s Hospitality is recalled as a interpretations of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition
good example of what is possible as depicted in the because our concepts and opinions are ego based
Holy Icon of the Holy Trinity at the Oaks of Mamre. and thus flawed. Therefore, we must always be
(GENESIS 18 : 1 – 8; 19: 1 – 3)
“Prisoners” are to be prayed for and assisted whenever Obedient and Humble in our acceptance of Divine
possible, for all those who are in the Body of Christ our Truth that is conveyed to us throughout the ages by
God – His Holy Church – are members of one another. the Holy Orthodox Church and Her Holy Fathers, who
(1 CORINTHIAN 12: 12 – 27) trace their line of Ordination into the Holy Priesthood of
“Those who rule...” over us are especially our Spiritual Christ unbroken all the way to the Holy Apostles of
Leaders of the Holy Sacraments/Mysteries – the Christ and to our Lord Himself. [THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE
Ordained Bishops and the Priests who are our APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION!]

Spiritual Fathers. Who are not only to be prayed for

The Holy Gospel According to St John 11 : 1 – 45
At that time a certain man was sick – Lazaros of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister, Martha. It was that Mary
who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazaros was sick.
Therefore, the sisters sent to Him, saying: “Lord, behold, he whom Thou Love is sick.”

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When Jesus heard that, He said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God so that the Son of God
may be Glorified through it.”
Now Jesus Loved Martha and her sister and Lazaros, so when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in
the place where He was. Then, after this, He said to the Disciples: “Let us go to Judea again.”
The Disciples said to Him: “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone Thee, and Thou art going there again?”
Jesus answered: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble because
he sees the Light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the Light is not in him.”
These things He said, and after that He said to them: “Our friend, Lazaros sleeps, but I go so that I may wake him
up.”
Then His Disciples said: “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought He
spoke of taking rest in sleep.
Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazaros is dead. And I Am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you
may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.”
Then Thomas, who is called “the Twin,” said to his fellow Disciples: “Let us also go so that we may die with Him!”
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around
Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet Him, while Mary sat in the house.
Now Martha said to Jesus: “Lord, if Thou had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that
whatever Thou ask of God, God will grant Thee.”
Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise again.” And Martha said to Him: “I know that he will rise again in the
Resurrection at the Last Day.”
Jesus said to her: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, although he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him: “Yes, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, Who is to come into the world.”And
when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary, her sister, saying: “The Teacher has
come and is calling for you.”As soon as she heard that Mary arose quickly and went to Him.
Now Jesus had not yet gone into the town but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with
Mary in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that she rose up quickly and went out, they followed her,
saying: “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
Then, when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His Feet, saying to Him: “Lord, if Thou
had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Therefore, when Jesus daw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the Spirit and was
troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him: “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said: “See how He Loved him!” And some of them said: “Could not this Man Who opened the eyes of
the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, went to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone lay against it. So Jesus said:
“Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him: “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four
days!”
Jesus said to her: “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the Glory of God?”
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His Eyes and said:
“O Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I know that Thou always hears Me, but because of
the people who are standing by I said this, so that they may believe that Thou sent Me.”
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice: “Lazaros, come forth!” And he who had died came
out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. So Jesus said to them:
“Loosen him, and let him go.”
Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in Him.
The Miraculous Resurrection or Resuscitation of St causes,) and his being raised from the dead four days
Lazaros is the 7th Sign in St John’s Holy Gospel and it later when his body had already begun to decompose ,
was the Sign that sealed the Jewish authorities’ which proves that HE WAS NOT SIMPLY IN A DEEP
decision to put our Lord Jesus to death. COMA BUT ACTUALLY COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD
This wonderful Event is celebrated liturgically on Lazaros BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE SO THAT NOT EVEN WITH
Saturday or Saturday of the Raising of St Lazaros, MODERN TECHNOLOGY, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE TO RESUSCITATE ST LAZAROS!
which is the day before Palm Sunday.
However, this was not the ultimate Resurrection that we
On Friday – yesterday – Great Lent ended. But we still
will all experience on the Last Day of the Final
continue to Fast although today and tomorrow – Palm
Judgement when the living and the dead will be
Sunday - are joyous days before the beginning of
brought before the Awesome Throne of our Lord.
Holy Week, which begins tomorrow evening.
Our Lord Jesus Christ delayed His return to Bethany to
Bethany is on the Eastern slope of the Mount of Olives,
ensure that St Lazaros would be dead and
about 2 miles from Jerusalem.
decomposing long enough so that NO ONE COULD
“Lazaros” is the same name as “Eleazar” and it literally POSSIBLY DOUBT THE GLORIOUS, DIVINE MIRACLE
means “God Helps.” AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO
“This sickness is not unto death but for the Glory of God so WITNESS THE GREAT MERCY AND MIGHT OF ALMIGHTY
that the Son of God may be Glorified through it,” was GOD.
the Message that was sent back to St Mary & St The term “sleeps” is a reference to the temporary state we
Martha in order to strengthen them in their grief when enter at the end of our lifetime until WE ARE
St Lazaros died as Christ knew he would. He wanted AWAKENED BY THE EXTRAORDINARY REAPPEARANCE
them to have trust and confidence in His Words. OF CHRIST – the Incarnate Son of God - with all the
However, they did not grasp His True Meaning as Heavenly Hosts, TO BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO OUR
evident from their later words that caused our Lord to EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED. (SEE ALSO ACTS 7:60; 1
COR 11:30; 15:6)
groan inwardly. A CEMETERY IS A PLACE OF REST OR SLEEP NOT A PLACE OF THE DEAD AND IT
The Son of God being Glorified must not be understood as SHOULD GIVE US COMFORT THAT OUR LOVED ONES ARE RESTING IN PEACE
UNTIL WE ARE ALL REUNITED ON THE LAST DAY – THE EIGHTH DAY – THE DAY OF
being the cause of St Lazaros dying. Instead, it ETERNITY & THE DAY OF THE FINAL JUDGEMENT.
indicates that Christ would be Glorified as a result of FOR THAT REASON WE COMMEMORATE OUR REPOSED FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
CONTINUING OUR PRAYERS FOR THEM AND FOR ONE ANOTHER.
the death of St Lazaros (which occurred due to natural

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OUR IMMORTAL SOULS WILL BE REUNITED WITH OUR BODIES ALTHOUGH IN AN
ALTERED STATE SUCH AS OUR RISEN CHRIST REVEALED AT HIS GLORIOUS
RESURRECTION.
BOTH THE BODY AND THE SOUL ARE SANCTIFIED AND HOLY AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE
TREATED WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT.
When St Thomas said: “Let us also go, so that we may
die with Him,” it was an unwitting Prophecy of his own
and the other apostles ‘ future martyrdom – with the
exception of St John the Divine Theologian, Evangelist
and Beloved Apostle of Christ who lived until
approximately 101 years old.
These words also illustrate the Path that all Faithful
Believers must take – for we die daily to the world for
the sake of following in the Divine Footsteps of our
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
There was a Rabbinical Belief that the soul lingers about
the body for three days, but after the fourth day
resuscitation would be impossible.
Mourning began on the day of a person’s death. Weeping
and wailing lasted three days, lamenting lasted one
week and general mourning lasted 30 days.
NOW WE MOURN AND PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF OUR BELOVED ONES FOR 40 DAYS
WHILE THE SOUL PASSES THROUGH THE VARIOUS AERIAL CUSTOMS HOUSES AS
THE ANGELS AND DEMONS STRUGGLE TO CLAIM THE SOUL FOR PARADISE OR
FOR HADES.
As before with these two sisters, St Mary and St Martha of
Bethany reacted differently to our Lord’s arrival. St
Martha, being inclined to active Service, rushed out to
meet Him while St Mary sat in mourning until she was
called by Him.
The chief mourners remained seated while receiving
condolences from other mourners. (JOB 2:8; EZEKIEL 8:14)
While St Martha possessed great Faith, her statements
indicated a lack of understanding concerning our Lord
Jesus Christ. When she said to Him: “If Thou had
been here...” It revealed her lack of belief that Christ is
Truly God for she felt that He had to be present to
effect His Divine and Miraculous Healings and, by
saying to Him: “Whatever Thou ask of God, God will
give Thee...” she also showed her lack of realisation
that our Lord possesses full Divine Authority to act as
He Wills. HE CAN DO ANYTHING HE WISHES TO DO
AND HE ALWAYS ACTS IN COMPLETE UNISON TO THE
FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE CAN HEAL OR
BRING ABOUT ANY DIVINE MIRACLE FROM WHEREVER
HE IS. HE IS PANTOCRATOR – HE IS THE CREATOR OF
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!
To correct St Martha’s misunderstanding or lack of belief
or knowledge, Christ clearly stated: “I Am the
Resurrection and the Life” meaning that HE HAS
DIVINE AUTHORITY TO RAISE THE DEAD AT THE LAST
DAY – THE 8TH DAY – THE BEGINNING OF OUR
ETERNITY – AS WELL AS HERE ON EARTH.
Saturday of the Raising of St Lazaros
Today we commemorate the Raising of St Lazaros of
Bethany from the dead by our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
Great Lent ended yesterday although we continue our
Fast until Holy Pascha.
Today and tomorrow, Palm Sunday, are days of
celebration before we enter the more sombre
contemplation of Holy and Great Week prior to
the joyous Holy Pascha.
Holy Week begins with the phrase: “Six days before
the Passover (Pascha), Jesus went to Bethany…”
(JOHN 12:1)
His arrival coincided with the Hebrew Passover that
began on the 15th day of the month of Nissan in
commemoration of the freeing of the Hebrew
nation, under the leadership of St Moses the great
Old Covenant Patriarch, from the slavery of the
Egyptians, by means of the Miraculous Acts of
God.
Our Holy Church relates our own Spiritual
Preparation and Redemption to the events of that
week.
Six days before the Passover, a Feast was given for
our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethany, Judea, where He
had rested on His way to Jerusalem.
(PARTLY SPONSORED BY DONATIONS) SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS
Such was the Power of His Words that St Martha was
immediately led to her great Confession of Faith.
Christ asks each of us the question: “DO YOU BELIEVE...?”
And we must not simply say that we do, WE MUST
KNOW THAT WE TRULY DO BELIEVE!
When St Mary approached Christ with identical words that
St Martha had used, Christ engaged her with deeds
instead of words – He raised her brother from the
dead.
St John emphasised the fact that our Lord Jesus wept and
groaned in Spirit – groaned from frustration and wept
in His human State.
Although St Martha’s Faith had increased and progressed,
she still understood neither Christ’s Will nor His Divine
Power.
The spices and oils used to anoint a dead body would only
hold the stench of decomposition at bay for a very
short time and many Icons of the Raising of St Lazaros
depicts bystanders covering their noses to illustrate
the reality of his corrupted flesh and the fact that many
did not believe that our Lord Jesus Christ could indeed
raise the dead (and the decomposed!)
In order to show that His Divine Will was in Perfect Unison
with His Heavenly Father, and that His human Will was
freely subject in every way to the Father’s Will, our
Lord Jesus prayed aloud for the sake of those who
witnessed it.
Christ called St Lazaros forth not in the Name of the
Father, but by His own Divine Authority, which clearly
showed the witnesses that while He came from the
Father, Christ fully possesses Divine Authority Himself.
St Lazaros appeared at the opening of the tomb still bound
in his burial clothes, which indicated that he would
need them again in the future – he would die and be
buried again later.
OUR RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST, HOWEVER, NEVER NEEDING THEM AGAIN, LEFT HIS
BURIAL CLOTHES IN HIS EMPTY TOMB WITH THE FACE CLOTH NEATLY FOLDED
WITH THE IMAGE OF HIS FACE IMPRINTED UPON IT, (THE MANDYLION) AND
PLACED TO ONE SIDE.
THIS ASTOUNDING FACT WAS RECORDED BECAUSE THE FACE CLOTH WAS ALWAYS
PUT ON THE FACE OF A CORPSE BEFORE THE OTHER CLOTHES BOUND THE
BODY.
FURTHERMORE, ST NICODEMOS AND ST JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA HAD USED 100
POUNDS OF BITTER ALOES WHICH MADE THE CLOTHES AS HARD AS ROCK –
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRACT THE FACE CLOTH WITHOUT BREAKING THE
OUTER WRAPPINGS., WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT INTACT!
Christ’s Resurrection transfigured human nature and this
Wondrous Sign – the Raising of St Lazaros, four days
dead, from the tomb – not only prepared the Disciples
to believe in Christ’s Resurrection, but in the words of
the Hymn it also “... Confirmed the universal
resurrection...” proving that our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ has the Divine Power to fulfil the Promise
given to St Ezekiel that all the dead would one day rise
from their graves. (EZEKIEL 13: 1 – 13)
His dear friends, St Lazaros and his sisters, St Mary
and St Martha, were all in attendance.
A short while before our Lord Jesus Christ had raised
St Lazaros from the dead. Christ has brought
him back to life even though St Lazaros’ body
had begun to decompose!
Those who witnessed this most amazing Divine
Miracle either praised God or plotted to kill our
Lord and Saviour. There is no doubt is made a
major impact upon everyone who either saw it
for themselves or who heard about it soon
afterwards.
The Holy Church commemorates this most important
and final great Miracle of Christ as “Saturday of
Lazaros” or “Saturday of the Raising of
Lazaros,” because of the Divine Promise of our
own Resurrection 6 the Universal Resurrection of
all mankind from all ages and all nations – the
believers and the non6believers!
Our Holy Church connects today’s celebration, by
anticipation, with the Triumphant Entry of Christ
into Jerusalem, which we commemorate
tomorrow: “We carry the Symbols of Victory and
cry ‘Hosanna in the Highest!’”
27 MARCH 2010
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 St John Chrysostom On Praying for the Reposed
It is not in vain that it was decreed by the Apostles that the commemoration of the dead should take place during the celebration
of the fearful Mysteries. And they who do these things know that the reposed will be greatly benefitted and greatly helped.
For when an entire people and many Priests stand before God and lift up their hands to Him, and the Awesome Sacrifice of
the Holy Eucharist is on the Holy Altar, how can God not feel Compassion for them and show Mercy upon their souls?
St Philotheos On Watchfulness
There is within us, on the noetic plane3, a [SPIRITUAL] regard to our food, eating and drinking a little as
Warfare tougher than that on the plane of the possible.
senses. ❃ WATCHFULNESS MAY FITTINGLY BE CALLED A PATH
LEADING BOTH TO THE KINGDOM WITHIN US
The Spiritual Worker has to press on with his AND TO THAT WHICH IS TO BE; WHILE NOETIC
intellect towards the Goal in order to enshrine WORK, WHICH TRAINS AND PURIFIES THE
perfectly the Remembrance of God in his heart INTELLECT AND CHANGES IT FROM AN
IMPASSIONED STATE TO A STATE OF
like a precious pearl or gem. (PHILIPPIANS 3:14; MATTHEW DISPASSION, IS LIKE A WINDOW FULL OF LIGHT
13:44 -46)
THROUGH WHICH GOD LOOKS, REVEALING
He has to give up everything, including the body, and HIMSELF TO OUR INTELLECT.
to disdain the present life, if he wishes to possess ❃ WHERE HUMILITY IS COMBINED WITH THE
God alone in his heart. REMEMBRANCE OF GOD THAT IS ESTABLISHED
THROUGH WATCHFULNESS AND ATTENTION,
For THE NOETIC VISION OF GOD CAN BY ITSELF AND ALSO WITH RECURRENT PRAYER INFLEXIBLE
DESTROY THE DEMONIC SPIRITS. (ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM) IN ITS RESISTANCE TO THE ENEMY, THERE IS THE
❃ WHEN ENGAGED IN NOETIC WARFARE, WE SHOULD
PLACE OF GOD, the Heaven of the heart in
THEREFORE DO ALL WE CAN TO CHOOSE A
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FROM DIVINE SCRIPTURE which, because of God’s Presence, no demonic
AND APPLY IT TO OUR INTELLECT LIKE A army dares to make a stand!
HEALING OINTMENT. ❃ NOTHING IS MORE UNSETTLING THAN
FROM DAWN WE SHOULD STAND BRAVELY AND TALKATIVENESS AND MORE PERNICIOUS THAN
UNFLINCHINGLY AT THE GATE OF OUR HEART, WITH AN UNBRIDLED TONGUE, DISRUPTIVE AS IT IS OF
TRUE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD AND UNCEASING THE SOUL’S PROPER STATE.
PRAYER OF JESUS CHRIST IN OUR SOUL; and, For the soul’s chatter destroys what we build each
keeping watch with the intellect, we should day and scatters what we have laboriously
slaughter all sinners of the land. [I.E. RESIST ALL gathered together.
TEMPTATIONS AND DISTRACTIONS] (PSALM 101:8 LXX)
What is more disastrous than this “uncontrollable
Given over in the intensity of our ecstasy to the evil”? (JAMES 3:8)
constant Remembrance of God, we should, for ❃ THE TONGUE HAS TO BE RESTRAINED, CHECKED BY
our Lord’s sake, cut off the heads of the tyrants – FORCE AND MUZZLED, SO TO SPEAK, AND MADE
TO SERVE ONLY WHAT IS NEEDFUL.
i.e. we should DESTROY HOSTILE THOUGHTS AT
Who can describe all the damage that the tongue
THEIR VERY FIRST APPEARANCE. For in Noetic
does to the soul?
Warfare too, there is a certain Divine Practice and THE FIRST GATE OF ENTRY INTO THE NOETIC
order. (HABBAKOUM 3:14 LXX) 4
JERUSALEM – I.E. TO ATTENTIVENESS OF THE
Thus WE SHOULD FORCE OURSELVES TO ACT IN THIS INTELLECT – IS THE DELIBERATE SILENCING OF YOUR
MANNER UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR EATING. TONGUE, even though the intellect itself may not
Afterwards, HAVING THANKED THE LORD WHO SOLELY yet be still.
BY VIRTUE OF HIS COMPASSION PROVIDES US WITH THE SECOND GATE IS BALANCED SELF-CONTROL IN
BOTH SPIRITUAL AND BODILY NOURISHMENT, WE FOOD AND DRINK.
SHOULD DEVOTE OURSELVES TO THE REMEMBRANCE THE THIRD GATE IS CEASELESS MINDFULNESS OF DEATH,
OF DEATH AND TO MEDITATION ON IT. for this purifies intellect and body.
The following morning we should courageously Having once experienced THE BEAUTY OF THIS
resume the same sequence of tasks. MINDFULNESS OF DEATH, I was so wounded and
❃ EVEN IF WE ACT DAILY IN THIS MANNER, WE WILL
ONLY JUST MANAGE, WITH OUR LORD’S DIVINE delighted by it – in spirit, not through the eye –
ASSISTANCE, TO ESCAPE FROM THE DANGEROUS that I wanted to make it my life’s companion; for
NETS OF THE NOETIC ENEMY. I was enraptured by its loveliness and majesty,
When this pattern of SPIRITUAL PRACTICE is firmly ITS HUMILITY AND CONTRITE JOY, by how FULL OF
established in us, IT GIVES BIRTH TO THE TRIAD: REFLECTION it is, how APPREHENSIVE OF THE
FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
JUDGEMENT TO COME, and how AWARE OF LIFE’S
❃ FAITH DISPOSES US TRULY TO FEAR GOD. ANXIETIES.
❃ HOPE, TRANSCENDING SERVILE FEAR, BINDS US TO
It makes LIFE-GIVING, HEALING TEARS to flow from our
THE LOVE OF GOD, since “... Hope does not
bodily eyes, while from our noetic eyes rises A
disappoint,” containing as it does the seed of FOUNT OF WISDOM THAT DELIGHTS THE MIND!
that twofold Love on which hang “... the Law This daughter of Adam – this mindfulness of death –
and the Prophets.” (ROMANS 5:5; MATTHEW 22:40)
I always longed to have as my companion, to
And “... LOVE NEVER FAILS,” ONCE IT HAS BECOME TO
sleep with, to talk with and to enquire what will
THOSE WHO SHARE IN IT THE MOTIVE FOR
FULFILLING THE DIVINE LAW, BOTH IN THE PRESENT happen after the body has been discarded.
LIFE AND IN THE LIFE TO COME. (1 CORINTHIANS 13:8) But unclean forgetfulness, the devil’s murky
It is very rare to find people whose intelligence is in a daughter, has frequently prevented this.
state of Stillness. Let us all, with Love,
❃ Indeed, A STATE OF STILLNESS IS ONLY TO BE hurry to Bethany to see Christ there,
FOUND IN THOSE WHO THROUGH THEIR WHOLE
MANNER OF LIFE STRIVE TO ATTRACT DIVINE weeping for His friend.
GRACE AND BLESSING TO THEMSELVES. He suffers as son of David;
If, then, we seek – by guarding our intellect and by
as Son of God,
Inner Watchfulness – TO ENGAGE IN THE NOETIC
WORK THAT IS THE TRUE PHILOSOPHY IN CHRIST, He redeems the whole world from all the evil of the serpent,
WE MUST BEGIN BY EXERCISING SELF-CONTROL with And on the fourth day,
He raised up Lazaros,
3 taking pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.
UNDERSTOOD BY THE HUMAN MIND – OUR INTELLECT KONTAKIA OF ST ROMANOS THE MELODIST - ON THE RAISING OF LAZAROS
4
THE BOOK OF HABBAKUK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (LXX = THE HOLY SEPTUAGINT)

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 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, YET EVER VIRGIN, TOGETHER WITH
ALL THE SAINTS. AND LET US COMMIT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AND OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST OUR GOD. AMEN.

The Beginning of Holy Week Tone 1 28 March 2010

Palm Sunday – The Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem

Feast of St Hilarion the New Abbot of Pelecete; St Stephen the Wonderworker;
St Herodian of the 70 Apostles of Christ
APOLYTIKIA
APOLYTIKIA OF PALM SUNDAY
SUNDAY – TONE 4

Tin kinin Anastasi pro tou Sou pathous pistoumenos, ek Of the common Resurrection before Thy Passion assuring
nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos; othen ke imis us, from the dead Thou raised Lazaros, O Christ our
o i pedes, ta tis nikis simvia ferontes, si to nikiti tou God; therefore we also, like the children, carrying
thanatou voomen; Osanna en tis ipsistis! Evlogimenos symbols of Victory, to Thee the Victor over Death, we
O erhomenos en Onomati Kyriou. cry: Hosannah in the Highest! Blessed is He Who
comes in the Name of the Lord!
Sindafentes Si di dia tou Baprismatos, Hriste O Theos imon, As by Baptism we are buried with Thee, O Christ our God,
tis Athanatou Zois i xiothimen ti Ananstasi Sou, ke so by Thy Resurrection we are made worthy of Eternal
animnountes krazomen: Osanna en tis Ipsitis! Life; and praising Thee, we cry aloud: Hosanna in the
Evlogimenos O erhomenos, en Onomati Kyriou! Highest! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the
Lord!
KONTAKION OF PALM SUNDAY

To Throno en Ourano, to polo epi tis gis, epohoumenos, In Heaven upon a Throne, on earth upon a colt, being
Hriste, O Theos, ton Angelon, tin enesin, ke ton pedon carried, O Christ our God, Thou accepted the Angels’
animnisin, prosedeho voonton Si: Evlogimenos O praise and the children’s extolling Hymns, as they
erhomenos, ton Adam anakalesasthe.
cried out to Thee: Blessed is He Who comes, fallen
Adam to recall again!
Matins Gospel: Matthew 21: 1 - 11; 15 - 17
THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM BY OUR TRUE MESSIANIC
MESSIANIC KING AND LORD GOD – JESUS CHRIST

At that time, when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two Disciples,
saying to them: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.
Loosen then and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say: “The Lord has need of them,’
and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold,
Thy King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, a foal of a donkey.”
So the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on
them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes upon the road; others cut down branches
from the trees and spread them upon the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried
out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: “Who is this?” So the multitudes said: “This is Jesus,
the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee!”
But when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the Temple and
saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and said to Him: “Dost Thou hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them: “Yes. Have you never read: “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants Thou has
perfected praise”?
Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is Those people who spread their clothes upon the ground before
celebrated by the Holy Church on Palm Sunday. our Lord Jesus Christ, did so as a spontaneous gesture of
By the time of Christ, Jewish Nationalism had led to the reverence to a great King and it is Spiritually Interpreted as
expectation of a political Messiah to deliver them from OUR NEED TO LAY DOWN OUR FLESH AND INDEED, OUR
Roman oppression and rule and to re-establish King VERY LIVES, FOR CHRIST.
David’s Kingdom. “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”
In Humility, our Lord Jesus showed that He had not come to comes from Psalm 117:25-26, which was associated with
establish an earthly Kingdom for He did not ride on a horse MESSIANIC EXPECTATION.
or in a chariot like a conquering hero but instead He It was recited daily for six days during the Feast of
entered Jerusalem upon a donkey – a real sign of Humility Tabernacles, and seven times on the 7th Day as branches
and Peace. (SEE THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 LXX) were waved.
❃ CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HOLY CITY “Hosanna!” means “Save, we pray!”
DECLARED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF At Vespers of Palm Sunday we sing: “Keep the Feast with
ALMIGHTY GOD. the children, and holding branches in your hands, sing
❃ IT WAS ALSO A DIVINE PROMISE OF OUR LORD JESUS ‘Hosanna....’” many Liturgical Hymns of this day
CHRIST’S FINAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HEAVENLY emphasise the perfect Praises of the children, which,
JERUSALEM TOGETHER WITH ALL FAITHFUL BELIEVERS unlike that of adults, were innocent, fitting, unashamed and
AND OF HIS ACCEPTING THE NEW JERUSALEM AS HIS
PURE BRIDE. (SEE THE REVELATION OF CHRIST – THE APOCALYPSE 21:2)
from pure Love.
THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH – “THE NEW JERUSALEM” - IS TRULY THE ALL PURE
❃ WE ARE ALL CALLED TO GLORIFY CHRIST IN THE SAME
BRIDE OF CHRIST WHO IS THE DIVINE BRIDEGROOM) SPIRIT OF UNASHAMED AND PURE LOVE!
St Matthew recorded in his Holy Gospel that there was A COLT In contrast, the adults’ Praises carried earthly expectations and
AS WELL AS A DONKEY and our Holy Church Fathers hidden agendas which, when left unfulfilled, led them to
regard the two animals as REPRESENTING THE FAITHFUL rebel against our Lord Jesus Christ just a mere five days
HEBREWS AND THE GENTILES WHO ARE BROUGHT later!
TOGETHER IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
At Vespers of Palm Sunday we sing: “Thy riding upon a foal
prefigured how the untamed and uninstructed Gentiles
would pass from unbelief to Faith.”

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AS USUAL, THE EVIL ONE ALWAYS USES OUR HUMAN WEAKNESSES AND SELFISH DESIRES
AGAINST US AND AGAINST THE WILL THE GOD.
IN THE CASE OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, THE ENEMIES OF GOD USED THE EARTHLY DESIRES
AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE AS AN EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNJUST AND UNLAWFUL
PUNISHMENT AND EXECUTION OF CHRIST.
HOWEVER, THE LORD OUR GOD, VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED TO THEIR EVIL SCHEMES SO THAT
HE COULD ENTER HADES, SMASH OPEN ITS GATES AND SET THE RIGHTEOUS FREE. FROM
THAT MOMENT ONWARDS, THE RIGHTEOUS WOULD REPOSE IN PEACE IN PARADISE UNTIL
JUDGEMENT DAY.

PROKEIMENON: Blessed is the Messiah Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is
Good and His Mercy endures forever!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians 4 : 4 – 9
EXHORTATION FOR DAILY LIVING – THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL CONTENTMENT

Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I will say: Rejoice! Let your gladness be known to all men!
The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God: and the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, Brethren: whatever things are True, whatever things are Noble, whatever things are Just, whatever things are
Pure, whatever things are Lovely, whatever things are of Good Report, if there is any Virtue and if there is anything
Praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
The things that you learnt and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of Peace will be with you.
The Holy Gospel According to St John 12 : 1 – 18
THE ANOINTING & THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

At that time, six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazaros was who had been dead and whom He
had raised from the dead.
There they made Him a supper; and Martha serve but Lazaros was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then
Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the Feet of Jesus and wiped Them with her hair. And
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
But one of His Disciple, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for
three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a
thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
But Jesus said: “Leave her alone; she has kept this for the Day of My Burial. For the poor you have with you always,
but Me you do not have always.”
Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but so that they might
also see Lazaros whom He had raised from the dead. However, the Chief Priests plotted to put Lazaros to death
also, because on account of him, many of the Jews had gone away and believed in Jesus.
The next day a great multitude that had come to the Feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of
the Lord! The King of Israel!”
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat upon it, as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your
King is coming, sitting upon a donkey’s colt.”
His Disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was Glorified, then they remembered that these
things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
Therefore, the people who were with Him when He called Lazaros out of his tomb, and raised him from the dead, bore
witness. For that reason the people also met Him because they heard that He had done that Sign.
This was the third Passover that is mentioned by St his zeal. But if beforehand he asks about it,
John in his Holy Gospel and it is the setting for the command him to give instead to the poor.” (ST JOHN
CHRYSOSTOM)
final week of our Lord & Saviour’s earthly Ministry, JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS MOTIVATED BY HIS INSATIABLE GREED
which is narrated in careful detail. WHILE THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE MOTIVATED BY THEIR
❃ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD ALREADY BEEN GLORIFIED VIRTUE OF CHARITY/LOVE.
THROUGH HIS SIGNS (DIVINE MIRACLES) AND WORDS AND The fact that our Lord Jesus put such a greedy thief like
IT REMAINED FOR HIM TO BE ULTIMATELY GLORIFIED
THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. Judas Iscariot in charge of the money, shows that
BY EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE HE TRIED TO SAVE JUDAS
The other Disciples had said the same sort of thing that
ISCARIOT: He fulfilled Judas Iscariot’s lust for money
Judas Iscariot said concerning the expensive oil of
by entrusting him with their limited funds and He
spikenard but with very different motives.
allowed him to exercise Apostolic Authority.
At the house of Simon the Leper – (the one grateful
Our Lord also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, just as
leper in a group of ten whom our Lord Jesus had
He did to each of His other Disciples, and HE
healed) – a woman also used very expensive ALLOWED JUDAS ISCARIOT TO PARTAKE OF THE LAST
fragrant oil with which to anoint His Head and SUPPER AT THE SAME TABLE OF HIS MYSTICAL SUPPER –
although the Disciples protested at the THE VERY FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST/COMMUNION.
extravagance, our Lord accepted that anointing as YET, DESPITE ALL THAT, JUDAS ISCARIOT NEVER OVERCAME
HIS TERRIBLE GREED AND SELFISHNESS.
an honour from someone who had newly discovered WHEN JUDAS ISCARIOT IS REFERRED TO AS BEING “ONE OF
Faith in Him. THE TWELVE,” IT EMPHASISES THE DEPTH AND EXTENT OF
He also accepted her loving gesture as a Sign of His HIS FATAL BETRAYAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO
ACCEPTED HIM INTO THE INNER SANCTUM OF HIS
approaching Burial. (MATTHEW 26:6 - 13) EARTHLY MINISTRY.
Nevertheless, according to St John Chrysostom, His ❃ It proves and emphasises HOW SHOCKING,
Disciples were not wrong in principle because DEVASTATING AND DANGEROUS THOUGHTLESS, SELF-
MERCY SHOWN TO THE POOR IS MORE FITTING THAN SERVING MOTIVES REALLY ARE – BOTH TOWARDS GOD
OUTWARD SIGNS OR GESTURES SHOWN EVEN TO GOD. AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS!
(MATTHEW 25:40; JAMES 1:27) TRUST IS A PRICELESS, IRREPLACEABLE GIFT WE GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER. IF THAT TRUST IS
However, the Disciples did not understand that ONCE BROKEN OR DAMAGED, IT CAN NEVER BE REPAIRED OR REGAINED.
CONSEQUENTLY, IF WE BREAK THE TRUST OF OTHERS – WHETHER IN US OR IN OTHERS -
SUCH A GIFT HAD BEEN GIVEN, IT WAS A GREATER MERCY WE WILL BE SEVERELY JUDGED DUE TO THE INESTIMABLE AND IRREPARABLE
TO ACCEPT IT WITH LOVE – AGAPE. DAMAGE AND HURT IT CAUSES EVERYONE CONCERNED!
THEREFORE, WITHOUT FAIL TREAT THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF TRUST WITH THE UTMOST
“If anyone had asked Christ before the woman did this, RESPECT AND CARE – AND NEVER FOR A MOMENT THINK THAT LIES, DECEPTION,
He would not have approved it. But after she had THEFT, ETC WILL REMAIN A HIDDEN SECRET!
SOONER OR LATER, GOD WILL EXPOSE OUR WICKEDNESS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF HIS
done it, He looked only to the motive itself. For DIVINE TRUTH FOR THE WHOLE UNIVERSE TO BEHOLD!
ALWAYS BE ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE TO
after the fragrant oil had been poured, what good YOU!!
was a rebuke? EXPOSURE OF OUR SINS IS FAR MORE DEVASTING AND SHAMEFUL THAN WE CAN BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND – SO WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN STEADFASTLY RIGHTEOUS
“Likewise, if you see anyone providing a Sacred Vessel AND TRUSTWORTHY THROUGH CONSTANT PRAYERS FOR GUIDANCE AND SPIRITUAL
ASSISTANCE!
or Ornament for the walls of a church, do not spoil
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BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SINS WHEN YOU COMMIT THEM OR ARE TEMPTED TO DO SO, RATHER PRIESTHOOD.
THAN WHEN YOU REPENT THEM AND CONFESS THEM BEFORE GOD AND HIS HOLY

Palm Sunday
❃ IN HIS INCARNATION, GOD THE WORD DID NOT JOIN ❃ THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING, WE BREAK THE HOLD
HIMSELF TO A MAN. HE HIMSELF BECAME MAN. HE OF GLUTTONY AND LUST ON OUR BODIES; WE BREAK
BECAME ONE WITH OUR HUMANITY AND MADE OUR THE HOLD THAT THE LUST OF THE EYES AND THE PRIDE
HUMANITY PERSONALLY HIS OWN. OF LIFE HAVE ON OUR MIND.
The Holy Church is the Body of Christ. Therefore, the Breaking that hold, we break through the crust of
Liturgical Worship of the Church is not loosely worldly desires that separate us from God to follow
connected to Christ by some kind of pious memory Christ into our soul and into the Spiritual Reality of
of what happened to Him. The Worship of the His Passion.
Church is one with the crucified and risen Body of United to him through Prayer and Fasting, we ascend the
Christ so that when we participate Prayerfully in the Cross with Him to put to death the Old Adam in us
Services of Holy Week, we participate in the Spiritual with all its lusts, its vanity and pride.
Reality of His Passion. Each Lenten season that we give ourselves to these
❃ THE OBJECTIVE OF CHRIST’S PASSION IS TO DESTROY Ascetic Disciplines of the Cross, OUR BODY AND OUR
OUR DEATH BY HIS DEATH.
MIND ARE UNITED TO HIS CRUCIFIED BODY A BIT MORE.
That is our objective when we participate in Christ’s The old Adam in us dies a bit more, and little by little,
Passion through the Services of Holy Week. WE ARE LAID WITH HIM SPIRITUALLY IN THE TOMB OF
We do not come to Holy Week to embark on a OUR HEART.
sentimental journey, recalling piously what happened Thus, EVEN BEFORE OUR PHYSICAL DEATH, WE ARE
GRANTED TO ENTER THE TOMB OF OUR HEART AS INTO
to our Savior in order to titillate our emotions in A BRIDAL CHAMBER, THERE TO UNITE OURSELVES TO
some pious way. CHRIST IN A DEATH LIKE HIS AND SO BE UNITED TO HIM
❃ THE SERVICES OF HOLY WEEK HAVE AS THEIR PURPOSE IN A RESURRECTION LIKE HIS.
THE VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS OF DESTROYING OUR In the Service of Bridegroom Matins, THE CRUCIFIED
DEATH BY UNITING US TO CHRIST IN A DEATH LIKE CHRIST CALLS OUT TO US FROM HIS HOLY
HIS, which means that WE DIE IN CHRIST not by RESURRECTION TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND UNITE
literally killing ourselves, but BY DYING TO THE OURSELVES TO HIM ON THE CROSS OF THE CHURCH’S
OLD ADAM IN US BY VOLUNTARILY TAKING UP THE ASCETIC DISCIPLINES that we may be united to Him in
CROSS OF THE CHURCH’S ASCETIC DISCIPLINES FOR the tomb of our heart as in a Bridal Chamber.
THE SAKE OF CHRIST AND PARTICIPATING
PRAYERFULLY IN THE SACRAMENTAL WORSHIP OF Apart from Prayer and Fasting, I dare say, we will see
THE CHURCH. nothing more than a pious commemoration of a long
❃ WHEN JOINED TO PRAYER, THE FAST BRINGS US ago Event that we may or may not find credible.
MYSTICALLY INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF
❃ THROUGH THE DISCIPLINES OF PRAYER AND FASTING,
CHRIST’S PASSION: this is the reality in which He HOWEVER, WE STEP BEYOND THE VEIL OF THE CHURCH’S
destroys Death by His Death and gives Life to SACRAMENTAL WORSHIP AND INTO THE SPIRITUAL
REALITY THAT TRUE WORSHIP MAKES VISIBLE TO THE
those in the tombs. EYES OF FAITH.
OUR LORD & SAVIOUR GRANTS US LIFE, TOO – LIFE IN CHRIST – WHICH MAKES US
SPIRITUALLY ALIVE SO THAT WE PROCEED JOYOUSLY TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE AFTER IF YOU HAVE KEPT THE FAST, THEN BY NOW YOUR BODY
OUR REPOSE AND FINAL JUDGEMENT. (UNREPENTED SIN MAKES US SPIRITUALLY SHOULD HAVE ACQUIRED AN INNER QUIETUDE THAT
DEAD!) FACILITATES PRAYER.
GOD ENABLES US TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES OF THIS EXISTENCE AND THE NECESSARY
ACTIONS WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO REGAIN OUR DIVINE LIKENESS TO GOD, YOUR MIND SHOULD BE SHARPER, ABLE TO WATCH AND
WHICH WE HAVE LOST DUE TO SPIRITUAL REBELLION, DISOBEDIENCE AND WILFUL LISTEN MORE ACUTELY TO THE SERVICES OF HOLY WEEK
IGNORANCE.
and TO ABSORB DEEP INTO YOUR SOUL, now broken up
AS WE PARTICIPATE PRAYERFULLY IN THE HOLY WEEK
by weeks of Fasting and Prayer, THE SPIRITUAL
SERVICES, WE ENTER THE HOLY CITY WITH CHRIST; we
SUBSTANCE OF HOLY WEEK so that you can stand at
descend with Christ into our soul and we come to AN
INNER PATH THAT LEADS TO THE TOMB OF OUR SOUL. Spiritual Attention in your soul, WATCHING AND
WAITING FOR THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM TO COME
This is our heart, our personal centre, which the Holy
AT MIDNIGHT TO OPEN THE DOORS OF YOUR HEART
Church refers to as “THE BRIDAL CHAMBER” because
AND LEAD YOU out of the world, even as you stand
there CHRIST BECAME SO COMPLETELY ONE WITH US
here in the world, INTO THE JOY AND THE GRACE OF
THAT HE PARTOOK OF OUR DEATH SO THAT HE COULD
HIS RESURRECTION.
DESTROY the devil who held us in the power of Death
Have you not kept the Fast?
and deliver us from the fear of DEATH SO THAT WE
Then TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND BEGIN TO KEEP IT EVEN
COULD BECOME PARTAKERS OF HIS RESURRECTION.
NOW in the short time that remains. For, GOD IS GOOD
For, WE NO LONGER LIVE IN OUR HEART IN UNION WITH
AND GRACIOUS, AND HE WILL RECEIVE THOSE WHO
GOD. WE LIVE OUTSIDE IN THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, THE
COME TO HIM AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR AS AT THE
LUST OF THE EYES AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
FIRST.
❃ AND SO OUR HEART HAS BECOME A TOMB BECAUSE WE
HAVE SEPARATED OURSELVES FROM GOD. And then we can 6 all of us together 6 IN THE
THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH IS FULL OF MALADIES COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS, DRAW NEAR TO THE
AND ANXIETIES OF ALL KINDS. SERVICES OF HOLY WEEK IN THE FEAR OF GOD, IN FAITH
AND LOVE, WAITING ATTENTIVELY FOR THE
These are the weeds and thistles sprung up from the BRIDEGROOM WHO COMES AT MIDNIGHT, IN THE
seeds of disobedience and death that fell to THE DRY EXPECTANT HOPE THAT WE MAY BE UNITED TO HIM IN
GROUND OF OUR SOUL MADE BARREN AND HARD BY HIS RESURRECTION AND BE GRANTED TO BECOME
THE DEPARTURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT when we were COMMUNICANTS OF LIFE ETERNAL.
expelled from the Garden of our heart because of our Amen.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “PALM SUNDAY” ST HERMAN’S ORTHODOX CHURCH
transgression (DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD). www.sthermanmpls.org
And, now, we are closed off from our heart. ITS Thou hast shown Thy Strength in choosing the
ENTRANCE HAS BEEN SEALED BY A STONE MADE THICK humble, for it was a Sign of Poverty for Thee to sit
AND HARD BY OUR SINS AND TRANSGRESSIONS.
on the ass; but as Glorious, Thou dost shake Zion.
Like Pilate, the ruler of this age has set a guard of The cloaks of the Disciples pointed to frugality; but
soldiers in front of it, to keep us from drawing near the song of the children and the throng of people
to it lest we should seek God and live. was a Sign of Thy Strength, as they cry out,
The soldiers guarding our heart are the passions of fear `Hosanna in the Highest,' that is, Save! Thou who
and shame. They are under the command of vanity; art on High, Save the humbled; heeding the palm
and they rise up against us whenever we get too branches, take pity on us. Look upon those who cry
close to our heart. out: `Thou art the Blessed One Who comes to call
But IT IS PRECISELY TO THE TOMB OF OUR HEART THAT THE up Adam.' KONTAKIA OF ROMANOS, ON THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.
LORD IS LEADING US IN THESE SERVICES OF HOLY WEEK.

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 St Philotheos of Sinai – On Watchfulness
IT IS BY MEANS OF THOUGHTS THAT THE SPIRITS OF EVIL
WAGE A SECRET WAR AGAINST THE SOUL.
For since the soul is invisible, these malicious powers
naturally attack it invisibly.
Both sides [OUR SOUL AND OUR ENEMY] muster their forces, devise
stratagems, clash in fearful battle, gain victories and
suffer defeats.
But this NOETIC WARFARE LACKS one feature that is
possessed by visible warfare: THE DECLARATION OF
HOSTILITIES.
SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING, THE ENEMY ATTACKS OUR
INNERMOST HEART, SETS AN AMBUSH THERE, AND TRIES
TO KILL OUR SOUL THROUGH SIN.
The reason for THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE WAGED AGAINST
US IS A CONSTANT ATTEMPT TO PREVENT US FROM
DOING GOD’S DIVINE WILL as we ask to do it when we
pray: ‘...Thy Will be done...’
DIVINE WILL IS GOD’S COMMANDMENTS (WHICH
CONSTANTLY TO KEEP – TO OBEY.)
If with our Lord’s Help THROUGH CAREFUL
WATCHFULNESS WE GUARD OUR INTELLECT FROM
ERROR AND OBSERVE THE ATTACKS OF THE DEMONS
AND THEIR SNARES WOVEN OF DECEPTIVE FANTASY, we
will see from experience that this is the case.
For that reason OUR LORD, FORESEEING THE DEMONS’
INTENTIONS BY HIS DIVINE POWER, SET HIMSELF TO
DEFEAT THEIR PURPOSE BY LAYING DOWN HIS HOLY
COMMANDMENTS AND BY THREATENING ETERNAL
CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO BREAK THEM.
GOD LOVES US SO MUCH HE WANTS US TO REACH THEOSIS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY –
TO REGAIN OUR DIVINE LIKENESS - SO HE HAS GIVEN US THE UNSURPASSED MEANS
OF REACHING THAT ULTIMATE GOAL: HIS TEACHINGS AND HIS HOLY COMMANDMENTS.
NEVERTHELESS, IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO FULFIL THE
VERY PURPOSE OF OUR EXISTENCE – TO RETURN TO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
ONCE WE HAVE IN SOME MEASURE ACQUIRED THE HABIT OF
SELF-CONTROL, AND HAVE LEARNT HOW TO SHUN
VISIBLE SINS BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH THE FIVE
SENSES, WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GUARD OUR HEART
WITH OUR LORD JESUS, TO RECEIVE HIS
ILLUMINATION WITHIN IT, and by means of our
intellect, to TASTE HIS GOODNESS WITH A CERTAIN
ARDENT LONGING.
For WE HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO PURIFY OUR HEART
PRECISELY SO THAT, THROUGH DISPELLING THE CLOUDS
OF EVIL FROM IT BY OUR CONTINUAL ATTENTIVENESS,
WE MAY PERCEIVE THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST – as though in clear sky; and so
that the Principles of His Majesty may shine to some
extent in our intellect.
For THESE PRINCIPLES ARE REVEALED ONLY TO
THOSE WHO PURIFY THEIR MINDS.
❃ WE OUGHT TO MAKE OURSELVES EACH DAY SUCH AS WE
SHOULD BE WHEN WE ARE TO APPEAR BEFORE GOD.
➣ For St Hosea, the Holy Prophet of God, said:
“HOLD FAST TO MERCY AND JUDGEMENT, AND
ALWAYS DRAW CLOSE TO YOUR GOD!” (HOSEA 12:6
LXX)
➣ St Malachi, the Holy Prophet of God, speaking in
God’s Divine Name, declared: “’A SON
HONOURS HIS FATHER, AND A SERVANT HIS
LORD. IF I AM A FATHER, WHERE IS THE
HONOUR DUE TO ME? AND IF I AM LORD,
WHERE IS THE FEAR?’ SO SAYS THE LORD
ALMIGHTY.” [MALACHI 1:6 LXX]
➣ And St Paul exhorted us to “... CLEANSE
OURSELVES FROM ALL POLLUTION OF THE
FLESH AND SPIRIT.” [2 CORINTHIANS 7:1]
➣ Wisdom instructs us to: “GUARD YOUR HEART
WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR ON THIS DEPENDS
THE OUTCOME OF LIFE.” [PROVERBS 4:23]
➣ Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to “...CLEANSE
FIRST THE INSIDE OF THE CUP, SO THAT THE
OUTSIDE MAY ALSO BE CLEAN.” [MATTHEW 23:26]
UNTIMELY TALK SOMETIMES PROVOKES HATRED in those
who listen, sometimes – when they note the folly of
our words – ABUSE AND DERISION.
❃ SOMETIMES IT DEFILES OUR CONSCIENCE, OR ELSE IT
BRINGS UPON US GOD’S CONDEMNATION AND,
WORST OF ALL, CAUSES US TO OFFEND AGAINST THE
HOLY SPIRIT.
❃ IF, WITH OUR LORD’S HELP, WE CLEANSE OUR
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HEART AND UPROOT SIN – STRUGGLING FOR
KNOWLEDGE THAT IS MORE DIVINE AND SEEING IN
OUR INTELLECT THINGS INVISIBLE TO MOST PEOPLE
– WE MUST NOT ON THIS ACCOUNT BE ARROGANT
TOWARDS ANYONE.
For AN ANGEL, BEING INCORPOREAL [BODILESS, INVISIBLE] IS MORE
PURE AND FULL OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE THAN ANY
OTHER CREATED THING.
YET IT WAS AN ANGEL [LUCIFER/SATAN/THE EVIL ONE] WHO, IN
EXALTING HIMSELF, FELL LIKE LIGHTNING FROM
HEAVEN! Thus HIS PRIDE WAS RECKONED BY GOD
AS IMPURITY.
However, those who dig up gold are known to all.
THOSE WHO ARE “...ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE
EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL IN ALL THINGS.” [1 CORINTHIANS
9:25]
For, BOUND AS WE ARE TO THIS WRETCHED FLESH, WHICH
ALWAYS “... DESIRES A WAY THAT OPPOSES THE (HOLY)
SPIRIT...”, WE CANNOT STAND FIRM AGAINST DEMONIC
WE STRIVE PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST INVISIBLE AND MALEVOLENT
POWERS WHEN SATED WITH FOOD,, “... for the
Kingdom of God is not food and drink...” and “...
THE WILL OF THE FLESH IS HOSTILE TO GOD, FOR IT IS
NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, nor indeed can it
be.” [1 CORINTHIANS 9:25; GALATIANS 5:17; ROMANS 14:17; ROMANS 8:7]
It is clear that THE FLESH CANNOT BE SUBJECT TO THE LAW
OF GOD BECAUSE IT IS EARTHLY – it is a compound of
humours, blood and phlegm, and always gravitating
downwards!
Thus OUR FLESH IS ALWAYS ATTACHED TO EARTHLY
THINGS AND IT RELISHES THE CORRUPTING PLEASURES
OF THE PRESENT LIFE. “For the will of the flesh is
death...” and “... THEY WHO ARE IN THE FLESH
CANNOT CONFORM TO GOD’S WILL.” [ROMANS 8: 6 & 8]
❃ GUARDING THE INTELLECT WITH OUR LORD’S HELP
REQUIRES MUCH HUMILITY, FIRST IN RELATION TO GOD
AND THEN IN RELATION TO PEOPLE.
DIVINE ❃ WE OUGHT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO CRUSH AND HUMBLE
OUR HEART.
To achieve this we should SCRUPULOUSLY REMEMBER OUR
FORMER LIFE IN THE WORLD, RECALLING AND
REVIEWING IN DETAIL ALL THE SINS WE HAVE
COMMITTED SINCE CHILDHOOD (EXCEPT CARNAL SINS,
FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF THESE IS HARMFUL.)
THIS NOT ONLY INDUCES HUMILITY BUT ALSO ENGENDERS
TEARS AND MOVES US TO GIVE HEARTFELT THANKS TO
GOD.
PERPETUAL AND VIVID MINDFULNESS OF DEATH HAS THE
SAME EFFECT: it gives birth to grief accompanied by a
certain sweetness and joy, and to watchfulness of
intellect.
In addition, THE DETAILED REMEMBRANCE OF OUR LORD’S
PASSION, THE RECOLLECTION OF WHAT HE SUFFERED,
GREATLY HUMBLES AND ABASHES OUR PRIDE, and this,
too, produces tears.
Finally, TO RECOUNT AND REVIEW ALL THE BLESSINGS WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD IS TRULY HUMBLING, FOR
OUR BATTLE IS AGAINST PROUD DEMONS.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “TEXTS ON WATCHFULNESS” – BY ST PHILOTHEOS OF SINAI -
“THE PHILOKALIA” – VOLUME 3 – COMPILED BY ST NIKODEMOS OF MOUNT ATHOS & ST
MAKARIOS OF CORINTH – TRANSLATED & EDITED BY GEH PALMER, PHILIP SHERRARD &
BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE
“Give us this day our Daily Bread”
We ask that this Bread be given us daily, so that WE WHO
ARE IN CHRIST AND DAILY RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST AS THE
FOOD OF SALVATION MAY NOT, BY FALLING INTO SOME
MORE GRIEVOUS SIN, AND THEN IN ABSTAINING FROM
COMMUNICATION BE WITHHELD FROM THE HEAVENLY
BREAD AND BE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST’S BODY...
Christ Himself warns us, saying: “UNLESS YOU EAT THE
FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU
HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU.”
Therefore, WE ASK THAT OUR BREAD, WHICH IS CHRIST, BE
GIVEN TO US DAILY, SO THAT WE WHO ABIDE AND LIVE
IN CHRIST MAY NOT WITHDRAW FROM HIS
SANCTIFICATION AND FROM HIS BODY.
ST CYPRIANOS OF CARTHAGE
HOLY WEEK BEGINS WITH TONIGHT’S FIRST SERVICE OF
HOLY MATINS – HOLY WEEK BOOKS ARE ESSENTIAL!
28 MARCH 2010