Discourse on the Holy Spirit
By Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani
By Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani
In God there are three persons or hypostases, distinguished from each other - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Holy Trinity has their own hypostatic characteristic, namely: the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten and the Holy Spirit is proceeding. And the three persons "in the one divinity" coexist, exist and surround each other. As Saint Damascene says, we have one divinity "in three perfect hypostases distinctly united and inseparably divided." This is the most sacred mystery of the Holy Trinity.
In particular, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, is called, Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Light and life, Living Source, Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Paraclete (Comforter). It is that Person, the Holy Spirit, who directs the Church and deifies man by grace. It is the Paraclete, who helps man wounded by sin, supports him in his spiritual recovery and contributes to his salvation.
The power of the Holy Spirit is great. He comes, descends and gathers us around the Holy Table. He forms the institution of the Church. Saint Chrysostom writes: "If the Spirit is not present, there is no Church; but if the Church is constituted, it is evident that the Spirit is present." During the celebration of ordination but also of the Divine Eucharist, the power of the Holy Spirit is the one that overshadows these Holy Mysteries but also all the other mysteries. The dynamism of the Holy Spirit makes the unskilled and illiterate fishermen to be Apostles of the world. This Holy Spirit creates the martyrs. He illuminates the Saints and God-bearing Fathers of the Church. He gives the feeling of communion and unity of faithful Christians. This Holy Spirit confirms the feeling and experience of the continuous presence of God in our lives. This Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, is the great supporter and encourager in the journey of life, in our pain and difficulties.
That is why the classic opening invocation of every rite and prayer is extremely important. We ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, to inspire us and to be constantly in our being. It is the prayer: "Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within in us and cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O Good One."
Perhaps, we could take a little leave from our littleness to contemplate these great holy and sacred things.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
