Prologue in Sermons: October 11

We Must Read the Word of God, Even If We Do Not Understand Much of It

October 11

(On the Holy Apostle Philip, One of the Seven Deacons)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians today are almost entirely ignorant of the word of God. They've read and studied everything secular a thousand times, but have never once picked up the Bible. You ask: why don't they read it? They answer: because they don't understand much of it. But that's no excuse, brethren! They don't understand the word of God because they never read it. If they read it diligently, then, over time, even the incomprehensible would become clear to them, and the dark would become bright.

A monk, coming to his spiritual father, said: "Father! I will stop reading the word of God." "Why so?" asked the elder. "Because I don't understand what is being read," replied the monk. "Child," the elder then said to him, "sheep, when they find fertile pasture, greedily seize the grass and swallow it without chewing, trying only to grab as much as possible; and then, having eaten their fill, they chew it. So you too, while you have the time and opportunity, read the divine books as much as possible without laziness, and the dark will become clear to you. For either through practice you will understand the incomprehensible, or you will learn from the fathers and teachers of the Church, or, finally, if there is no one to explain it to you, the Lord Himself will enlighten you" (Prologue, February 4).

Saints Eulampios and Eulampia, Siblings With a Common Bond of Living Faith

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

On the feast of the Holy Great Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, three days ago (October 7), we emphasized, based on the hymns of their service, that their common faith in Christ was what united them and not some physical bond. Today, with the commemoration of Saints Eulampios and Eulampia, our Church comes to emphasize that the unity of these Saints is certainly due to their common faith – this is the essential element – but it is also “strengthened” by two other elements: their autadelphia (siblinghood or brotherhood), which functioned in them as philadelphia (a love between siblings or brotherly love), and their homonymy (bearing the same name). In other words, these Saints were beloved siblings and had the same name. “Philadelphia held together by homonymy,” according to the hymnographer, who, of course, immediately hurries to clarify that it was not this brotherly love, or their sameness, but their faith in Christ that gave them the strength to remain steadfast in martyrdom and become saints. For this faith made them live with purity of life and transcendence of passions, that is, it was a living faith, which is why they were so visibly strengthened by the grace of God. “Philadelphia held together by homonymy, and purity blended with dispassion, safely preserved the strength of mind; for wherever God is desired, the entire world is despised."

Prologue in Sermons: October 10

Great Righteous People Are Not Safe From Sins, 

and Great Sinners Should Not Despair of Salvation

October 10

(On Our Venerable Father James the Faster)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many people go to extremes in their judgments of their moral state. Some, considering themselves completely established in goodness, believe they are safe from this or that sin; others, on the contrary, considering themselves the greatest sinners, believe that God will never forgive them. Both are mistaken. No one should consider themselves safe from sin, and no one should despair of salvation. This is evident from the following story.

Saint Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos - The Messinian and New "Cyril and Methodios" of Africa

By Archimandrite Philip Hamargias,
Chancellor of the Sacred Metropolis of Messinia

The presence of saints in the world, according to the late Professor John Fountoulis, is “proof of the work of the Church, of the energy of the Holy Spirit in the world.”

Thus, the presence of saints in an ecclesial community is the confirmation of the above statement, starting from a local level, which, however, through the Eucharistic communion of the faithful, the Church, transcends the limited limits and extends to the entire Body of the Church.

The Church, therefore, by honoring and exalting saints, challenges and invites each of us, by presenting to us the saints of every era, even the era we are living in, to experience holiness, according to the model of their lives, so that we may become genuine imitators of them, as they are of Christ, and confirming, through our lived experience, that holiness is not a species destined to disappear, nor a fossilized symbol, but a living reality and that each of us can participate in it.

Abraham, the Knight of Faith

Rembrandt van Rijn, The Sacrifice of Abraham, 1634 (Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg)

By Yuri Ruban,
PhD in History, PhD in Theology

A journey through the pages of the Orthodox calendar takes us far back – almost two thousand years before the birth of Christ. On October 9/22, the commemoration of "the righteous Abraham the Patriarch and his nephew Lot" is recorded. The story of Abraham inaugurates the history of God's people and is found in the first book of the Bible.

"And the Lord said to Abraham: 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great'" (Gen. 12:1-2). Here lies a turning point in the spiritual history of humanity.

The Hymnography for the Holy Apostle James, the son of Alphaeus

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

“Saint James was the brother of the Apostle Matthew, the tax collector and evangelist. This Apostle went out to preach, inflamed by divine zeal, and destroyed all the temples of idols, while he also performed many miracles: healing diseases and casting out evil spirits. That is why the multitude of nations called him the “divine seed”. Thus, after he had traveled throughout most of the world as a lover of Christ, Whose passion and death he envied, he was nailed to a cross and thus gave up his spirit to God.”

We have previously emphasized: when it comes to the feast of one of the Apostles of the Lord, the ecclesiastical hymnography stands with a special awe and astonishment before him. And with good reason. An Apostle is related par excellence to the Lord, he belongs to those called by Him to be the witnesses of God's revelation, therefore one senses with him the very imprints of Christ and breathes the atmosphere not only of His grace, but also of His historical presence. This is why communion with the Apostles is considered a condition for proper communion with Christ, so it is no coincidence that our Church is characterized among other things as Apostolic. The hymnographer also feels this awe and this astonishment for the Holy Apostle James, the son of Alphaeus, whom we celebrate today, such that in order to speak about him, he begs him to extend his hand to help him and to implore the Lord to shine light in his heart: "Grant me your hand, O God-seer and disciple of Christ, James, so that my heart may be illuminated by your intercessions as I endeavor to rightly celebrate your revered feast."

Saints Andronikos and Athanasia Resource Page

Sts. Andronikos and Athanasia (Feast Day - October 9)

Verses

Andronikos and Athanasia are co-dwellers,
In the world in asceticism as well as in the heavens.

 

Synaxarion of our Venerable Father Andronikos and his Venerable Wife Athanasia

 

Saint Andronikos and His Wife Athanasia

 

October: Day 9: Saints Andronikos and Athanasia 

 

Prologue in Sermons: October 9 

 

Second Teaching of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos 

 

Fifth Teaching of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos 

 

The Church of Saints Andronikos and Athanasia in Frenaros

 

Prologue in Sermons: October 9

What Should the Life of Christian Spouses Be Like?

October 9

(From the Story of the Venerable Father Daniel About Andronikos and His Wife)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Throughout the year, the Holy Church frequently commemorates Christian spouses, that is, husbands and wives who, living their lives together, strove with one another in virtue and were together granted crowns for it. Since the lives of these saints offer valuable lessons regarding how to attain salvation within the context of family life, they should be particularly instructive for us, laypeople.

As an example, I will point you to something from the life of Saints Andronikos and his wife Athanasia.

Patriarchate of Alexandria Canonizes Two New Saints - Saint Sylvestor of Alexandria and Venerable Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos

The canonization of two great figures of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, our Holy Father, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Sylvester, and our Venerable and God-fearing Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, was carried out today by the Sacred Synod of the Second-Throne Patriarchate, which is meeting for the second day in Alexandria, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa.

Saint Sylvester, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, came from the great island of Crete. During his Patriarchate – 1569 to 1590 – the Church of Alexandria was at its peak. He will be commemorated annually on February 19th.

October: Day 8: Teaching 2: Venerable Pelagia of Antioch

 

October: Day 8: Teaching 2:
Venerable Pelagia of Antioch
 
(The Last Judgment)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On the feast day of Saint Pelagia, celebrated today in Church hymns and readings, who was once a great sinner then sincerely repented and died a righteous woman, thanks to the fact that she once listened to the teaching of the Holy Bishop Nonnus about the future judgment, it is most fitting to offer to your attention, my beloved listeners, a sermon by Saint Ephraim the Syrian on the Last Judgment. Perhaps, with the help of God's grace, it will awaken holy feelings in some listeners and at least somewhat shake off our carelessness about the salvation of our souls.

II. "My Christ-loving brethren!" thus begins our Venerable and God-bearing Father Ephraim the Syrian, this great teacher of repentance and tears for our sins before God and men, his wondrous depiction of the Dread Judgment. “Listen to the second and dreadful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I remembered,” he says of himself, “this hour and trembled with great fear, pondering what will then be revealed. Who can describe it? What language can express it? Then the King of kings, rising from His throne of glory, will descend to visit all the inhabitants of the universe and settle accounts with them. When I reflect on this, my limbs are seized with fear, my whole being is overwhelmed, my eyes shed tears, my voice weakens, my lips close, my tongue becomes mute, and my thoughts are taught to be silent. Such great and terrible wonders have not been seen since the beginning of creation, nor shall they be in all generations!

Prologue in Sermons: October 8

The Giving Hand Never Fails

October 8

(From the Discourse on the Merciful Scholastic)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

"Do not harden your heart," says Scripture, "nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs...  You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand" (Deut. 15:7-10). "He who gives to the poor will not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). "I am old," says David, "and have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25). These are immutable truths, for they are confirmed by countless examples of miraculous replenishment for the merciful, distributed by them. I offer you the following one of them.

A Pilgrimage to the Place of Asceticism of the 99 God-Bearing Fathers of Crete

The feast of Saint John the Hermit and the 98 God-bearing Fathers with him is celebrated annually on October 7th at the place of their asceticism and repose, in the village of Azogyres of the province of Selinos in Crete. They chose this place after their arrival from Cyprus, except for Saint John the Hermit, who chose to live in asceticism at Akrotiri of Chania, and became the founder of the Sacred Monastery of Katholico and the Sacred Monastery of Gouverneto.

These 99 Venerable Fathers had a venerable repose, on the same day and at the same time, which was a result of their prayer and asceticism. They all reposed while they were living in asceticism in different caves, at the same time. It was at the time when a hunter fatally shot Saint John the Hermit with an arrow, mistaking him for a wild animal.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Friends of Elder Damaskenos Katrakoules

 

By Fr. Achillios

Many were the divine visions that the late Elder Damaskenos Katrakoules (+ 2001), known as the Pappou and founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Makrinou of Megara, had received from his friends the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. It is a fact that these two Holy Martyrs never ceased to guard and care for him.

He himself, who had tasted successive manifestations of their love, often sought their martyric protection in his various struggles.

Once, as their feast dawned on October 7th, they appeared to him fully alive in his sleep and told him to rise quickly and liturgize for them!

"I bow! It is done! But who are you?" the Elder exclaimed.

"We are Sergius and Bacchus!"

The Occupied Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Ammochostos Awaits Its Freedom

The Sacred Metropolis of Constantia and Ammochostos has made reference to the history and spiritual and cultural value of the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, which is located in the currently occupied village of Agios Sergios in the district of Ammochostos (also known as Famagusta) in Cyprus.

The Sacred Metropolis hopes that we will soon be able to celebrate their memory again and that the bells of freedom will ring in all the currently occupied churches of martyred Cyprus.

The Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus was probably built in the 13th or 14th century, initially in the form of a compact cruciform with a dome and without a narthex. Later, a narthex covered with a blind dome was added to the western side. The walls are constructed of limestone sourced from the nearby ruins of Salamis-Constantia.

Prologue in Sermons: October 7

Consequences of Drunkenness

October 7

(Various Passages of Holy Scripture Cited in the Discourse of Saint Antiochus on Drunkenness)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

To warn us against the destructive passion for wine, the word of God points out the harmful consequences that come from it. “Do not mix with a drunkard,” it says, “for every drunkard will come to poverty” (Prov. 23:20-21). "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine" (Prov. 23:29-30). "Drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:10). "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness, and that day come upon you suddenly" (Luke 21:34). "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Prov. 20:1).

Prologue in Sermons: October 6

House Not Made With Hands

October 6

(Homily on the Holy Apostle Thomas)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

I will tell you the following story from the life of Saint Thomas the Apostle. After the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles cast lots to determine where each would go to preach the word of God. Thomas was assigned Parthia, Media, and India, and he began to prepare for his journey. Meanwhile, at that very time, an Indian merchant named Avan came to Jerusalem, seeking an artist to build a magnificent house for his king. He met the Apostle. Thomas told him that he himself was a skilled builder and set off with him to India. Arriving before the king, Thomas offered his services, and the king, believing him to be a truly skilled artist, entrusted him with the construction of the building and, after indicating the location, gave him a considerable sum of gold and silver for expenses. Taking the money, the Apostle distributed it to the poor, and instead of building a palace, he began to zealously spread the word of God. Some time later, someone told the king, who wanted to know how the work was progressing, that the roof was already under construction. Overjoyed by this news, the king sent Thomas an even greater amount of gold than before. The Apostle distributed this to the poor, but the palace was still not built. Finally, it was revealed to the king that Thomas was deceiving him, and the king, blazing with anger, immediately ordered him to be brought before him and he cried out, "Where is the house you were supposed to build?" The Apostle replied that the house was not here, but that he would see it after death and only then would he take possession of it. The king, seeing Thomas's words as mockery towards himself, ordered him thrown into prison, where he was threatened with a terrible fate. However, in reality, things turned out differently. The king's beloved brother fell dangerously ill and during his illness had the following vision. He was shown the dwellings of the saints and asked to choose the one he particularly liked. When he had selected one of the best and pointed to it, the angel accompanying him told him he could not occupy that dwelling because it had already been prepared for his brother, the king. Coming to his senses, he reported his vision to the king, who, convinced that the Apostle was truly preparing a heavenly dwelling for him, rather than an earthly one, immediately commanded to release him and, falling at his feet, begged his forgiveness. Saint Thomas then instructed him in the Christian faith and baptized him.

The Origin of the Gold-Diamond Cross on the Sacred Skull of the Apostle Thomas

 

Saint Thomas the Apostle is commemorated with honor and splendor by our Church today (October 6th). We in Patmos have the blessing of hosting his honorable and miraculous skull in the Sacred Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. It came to Patmos from the Metochion of Patmos in Chios, dedicated to the Apostle Thomas to protect it from the Genoese who eventually occupied the island (1346-1566) and since then it has been established as a symbol of our homeland.

As is known, when the Apostle Thomas traveled to the region of India as a missionary, he baptized into the faith of Christ the wife and children of the king, and the king, enraged, gave the order for him to be killed by being speared. His sacred relic remained there until the son of Constantine the Great transferred it to Constantinople. In 1204 the relic was transferred to Rome along with other Saints stolen as spoils from the Fourth Crusade. Ephraim the Syrian reports that the relics of the Apostle Thomas were first transferred to Edessa or Antioch in Mesopotamia.