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."
The conviction of the hymnographer – an expression, as we know, of the conscience of the ecclesiastical community – that by approaching and honoring an Apostle we find ourselves before the all-living Christ, that is, that the value of the Apostle lies not in anything of his own, but in the reflection of the light of Christ, is also evident from an observation he makes about Saint James – which he repeats many times – and which at first glance is considered unnecessary and self-evident: we praise the apostle James not because he is the son of Alphaeus, but because he is an Apostle of Christ, consequently a preacher of the incarnation of God in the world: “We praise you with hymns, glorious James, not as the son of Alphaeus, but as an Apostle of Christ and preacher of his ineffable incarnation.” Indeed, the observation is unnecessary and self-evident. But apparently the hymnographer wants us to think about the obvious better. Namely, that the relationship with Christ eliminates all the supposed boasts of man, whether they are racial or social or educational or anything else human. In other words, this “unnecessary” observation is equivalent, we could say, to what the Apostle Paul proclaims: “Christ is all and in all.” Whatever is not Christ, whatever does not reveal His saving presence, has no particular value. And this is certainly the case, because only Christ is the Savior, Who “abides forever.” Everything else serves decay and death.
The above truth makes the hymnographer refer to something else, which comes as a consequence of it: who is the true leader and guide of people. Saint James, as an Apostle and Disciple of Christ, that is, as a reflection of His light, is truly a leader and guide. For he illuminates the people with his word and with his miracles, so that they may find the way to Christ, to the Kingdom of God and their salvation. And this reminder is important, especially today, because many “luminaries” have been unleashed into the world, bringing “lights” and “redemptions”, which in reality bind man in the bonds of the wicked devil. As we said above: any “light” that does not have Christ serves the sin and passions of man. That is, any supposed enlightener and guide of people who does not reveal Christ is a false enlightener, confirming what the Lord has pointed out: “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into the abyss.” The ecclesiastical poet expresses it in the clearest way: “Having acquired truly pedagogical wisdom, you were initiated into things beyond understanding; O divinely inspired one, you enlightened the Greeks with wisdom, becoming a beacon and teacher to the nations, guiding the foolish with words of piety.” That is: You had the true wisdom (Christ) as a teacher, which initiated you into things above the mind, which is why you proved that the wisdom of the idolaters is foolishness, being inspired by God, thus you became a light and teacher of the nations, guiding the foolish with the words of piety.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
