December: Day 7: Teaching 2:
Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
(The Holiness of the Temple of God)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
(The Holiness of the Temple of God)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
I. Saint Ambrose of Milan, who is celebrated today, was the son of the ruler of Gaul and Spain. Even as an infant, Ambrose was already marked by a special incident: one day, while sleeping outdoors, a swarm of bees surrounded the sleeping infant, so much so that they even crawled into his half-open mouth. The swarm however flew away without causing the slightest harm to the child.
After receiving an excellent education, Ambrose was appointed governor of the city of Milan. But his reign was short-lived. At the end of 374, the Bishop of Milan died, and a new bishop had to be elected. Disputes erupted; a crowd of people roared around the church where the bishop-electors had gathered. Ambrose, as a conscientious ruler, considered it his duty to pacify the popular unrest: he began to persuade the people, urging them to conduct the sacred task of electing a bishop peacefully and quietly. He was still speaking when a child's voice suddenly rang out from the hushed crowd: "Ambrose is the bishop!" And in response to this little voice, the entire congregation unanimously exclaimed: "Ambrose is the bishop!" In vain, astonished, perplexed, and frightened by such an unexpected election, Ambrose refused, saying that he had not yet been baptized (at that time, baptism was sometimes postponed until mature years, even old age), that he, as an official, could not abandon his position, that he had not even thought about the episcopacy... The people repeated one thing: "Ambrose is the bishop!" After much hesitation, Ambrose finally agreed to be the bishop.
Having so unexpectedly become a bishop, Ambrose devoted himself entirely to the duties of his high rank and led a strict, ascetic life. He distributed all his property, partly to the poor, partly to the church. Strict with himself, he was also strict with the vices of others, even those in high positions; in his denunciations, he did not spare even emperors. Here is an example.
One day, a popular uprising broke out in Thessaloniki. Emperor Theodosius decided to sternly punish the rebellious city. And the city was punished: on a feast day, armed soldiers unexpectedly attacked the city's inhabitants and began to mercilessly kill them, without distinguishing between the innocent and the guilty. After this murder, Theodosius, unmindful of the gravity of his sin, went to church as usual. But Ambrose barred his entry and said, "You apparently do not even know how grave the murder you have committed is! With what eyes will you contemplate the temple of the common Lord? How will you stretch out your hands, from which the blood of the innocently slain still drips? How will you receive the all-holy body of the Lord with these hands? How will you raise His precious blood to your lips, when the angry word that issued from them has unjustly shed so much blood? Depart and do not add to your former sin with new ones!" The emperor departed, sorrowful and tearful. And only after 8 months of repentance for sin and with the permission of Bishop Ambrose did he enter the temple of God.
II. This is how the ancient Christians valued the sanctity of the temple of God!
a) The temple of God is heaven on earth; it is the dwelling place of God; it is such a holy place, higher and holier than which there is no other place on earth. The temple of God is the sanctuary from which God, the Father of mercies, pours forth the source of grace, and in which believers receive God's saving gifts. Thus, in the temple of God, public service to God is performed, and through prayer we ask for mercy, forgiveness of sins, and salvation from God. In the temple of God, we receive spiritual rebirth in the Mystery of Baptism, spiritual cleansing in the Mystery of Repentance, and spiritual sanctification in the Mystery of Communion. In the temple of God, we hear the word of God and learn to be true Christians. In the temple of God, we receive blessings and guidance for the future life, the afterlife. This is how holy the temple of God is! With what pure and holy thoughts should we therefore enter this sanctuary, with what fear and reverence should we stand in the temple of God! Therefore, the ancient Christians highly valued the sanctity of the temple: any vice, and especially grave sin, did not allow a Christian into the temple of God until he (the Christian) had offered public repentance. As we have seen, the emperors themselves were no exception to this general rule.
b) We Christians frequently violate the sanctity of God's temple with improper behavior, laughter, and conversation. But this insult to the sanctity of the temple is especially noticeable during weddings. Many Christians behave in the most inappropriate manner at this time: they talk about things completely inappropriate for God's temple and the great mystery being celebrated, and they indulge in obscene jokes and remarks about the bride and groom, their ages, appearance, and clothing. Some will not make the sign of the cross even once during the entire wedding ceremony, giving themselves over entirely to idle and vain curiosity. There are also those who dare to laugh almost out loud in front of the open Royal Doors, the iconostasis, and the very throne of God, before which the angels of God mysteriously stand with fear and trembling, covering their faces. If an outsider, a non-believer, were to look at such people, he wouldn't believe they were Christians. No, he would say they were Christ's enemies, who had invaded His temple to vex Him and mock the Christian sanctuary.
III. Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! Let us stand in the temple of God not only during ordinary church services, but also at all other times, with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, lest the wrath of God befall us.
Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
