The Spiritual Journey of the Christmas Fast

By Bishop Maximos of Melitene

The Christmas fast opens before us as a mystagogical gate, inviting the soul to a deeper communion with the divine mystery of the Incarnation. During this period, man is called to awaken from the lethargy of everyday life and turn towards his inner purification. “Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

The preparation for the reception of the divine infant requires inner silence. The heart becomes a manger that welcomes the divine mystery, while the soul, like a snowy branch bending towards the earth, bows before the magnitude of the miracle. In the ecclesiastical tradition, fasting is not simply a dietary restriction, but a spiritual exercise that purifies the nous and elevates the soul.

During this period, the ecclesiastical hymn reminds us: “Christ is born, glorify Him; Christ from heaven, go to meet Him” (Christmas Katavasies). The anticipation of the divine birth transforms our inner world. The days roll by like grains of sand in an ancient hourglass, measuring the course towards the great feast.

November: Day 19: Teaching 2: Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph

November: Day 19: Teaching 2:
Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph
 
(The Christian Faith is an Invaluable Treasure)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today we commemorate the Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph, Prince of India. Christianity in India was founded by the Apostle Thomas, who suffered martyrdom there. However, due to a shortage of teachers, Christianity in India began to weaken after Thomas, and then, through the efforts of kings, it was completely eradicated. King Abenner was especially zealous in persecuting Christian teachers, priests, and monks. Some Christians voluntarily submitted to martyrdom, others fled to the deserts, and some even fell away from the faith. 

The king had a son, Joasaph. He gathered his wise men and asked them what fate awaited his son. The wise men replied that Joasaph would be the most powerful of all kings. One of the wise men added, "I think he will accept the Christian faith, which you persecute." Abenner was saddened by this prediction and, to prevent its fulfillment, wanted to raise his son in complete seclusion, so that no thought of Christianity could penetrate him. 

Saint Barlaam of Antioch in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The martyr Barlaam was from Antioch in Syria. Being old in age, because of his confession of faith in Christ, he was led before the ruler. And because he would not be persuaded to sacrifice to idols, they beat him with rods and pulled out his nails. Then they led him to the altar and forcibly stretched out his hand, putting fire and incense on it. For the ruler thought that if he threw the coals together with the incense on the altar, it would be seen that he was offering a sacrifice to the gods. But he stood unyielding and motionless - thus showing that his right hand has greater strength than bronze and iron - until the fire ate through his flesh and fell to the ground, piercing his hand. Thus he preferred to have his hand burned, rather than, even slightly moved, to appear to have thrown incense on the altar. After this, his soul was delivered into the hands of God with a brave and firm mind. This martyr was honored with praise by both the divine Chrysostom and the great Basil.

If we modern Christians do not particularly know the Holy Martyr Barlaam, the holy choir of the Fathers of our Church knows him very well. It is no coincidence that not simple ecclesiastical writers and synaxarists, but ecumenical Fathers and Teachers of the caliber of Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom dedicated discourses and encomiums to him. What does this mean? That those with the illumination of the Holy Spirit who also possessed the depth of their thoughts, discerned that such personalities as Saint Barlaam should not go unnoticed. They must be highlighted, so that they constitute examples and guiding luminous signs in the firmament of the Church. And rightly so: Saint Barlaam proved to be, according to the Holy Hymnographer, “more firm than a man, and more powerful than bronze, and more mighty than iron.” And this because the mindset of his soul and intellect was “firm and vigorous and unwaverable.” What we emphasized about Saint Plato: the body may be dissolved, but if the soul remains strong, then man remains victorious. "Every bond of the flesh and the harmony of your limbs was dissolved; yet the tone of your soul remained unbroken."

Prologue in Sermons: November 19

True Happiness Is Not On Earth, But In Heaven

November 19

(On our Venerable Father Joasaph the Hermit, Son of Abenner, King of India)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

That there is an afterlife can be proven by the fact that nothing earthly can satisfy us, and that no one here can say of themselves that they are completely happy. Indeed, even if you take all the wealth, all the honor and glory in the world, you will still not be satisfied and will always think of some greater, unknown happiness. But does this happiness exist? Obviously, it does; for otherwise, such a deep and constant desire for it would not be implanted within us. But where is it? As you see, it is not on earth — so that means it is in heaven, with God. Yes, brethren, if we would more often delve into the insignificance of all earthly things and, at the same time, into the desires of our immortal spirit, we would soon be convinced that there is an afterlife and that in it alone we can find true happiness and peace.

The Christmas Fast

George Arabatzoglou, 
Reader of the Archdiocese of Athens – Church of Saint Luke in Patision

Another blessed period of fasting begins, of spiritual struggle and effort to turn our minds to God, each with his own strength and spiritual “philotimo” and always in consultation with their spiritual father.

This fast begins on November 15 and lasts until December 24, while on December 25, when we celebrate the birth of our Christ, we break the fast from everything regardless of the day. During this period of forty days of Christmas, we abstain from meat and dairy products, while we can eat fish all days of the week except Wednesday and Friday.

The fish is consumed until December 17th and in some exceptional cases, mainly in the countryside, the consumption of fish is completed on December 12th, however this is an exception and is not included in the official "fasting calendar" of our Church, which is provided for by the sacred Rudder.