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.

The Empirical Theologians and the Contemplative Thinkers

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

I see the way in which empirical theologians (the saints) theologize and the way in which philosophical thinkers theologize and I understand the great difference between them. Empirical theologians are the Theoptic saints (Prophets, Apostles, Saints), while contemplative theologians are those who reason on dogmatic issues that refer to God, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Saints. And so the difference between them is abyssal.

I will cite two examples that will make this clear, and they refer to the way the Fathers theologized at the First Ecumenical Synod in contrast to the philosopher Arius.

Father Eusebios Giannakakis: "At the Proskomide I Chat With Saint John the Theologian"

Thirty to forty people worked daily at the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Aigaleia, who had to be paid every Saturday. In addition to the cost of building materials, a significant amount of money was needed for the workers’ insurance. The Monastery had no income or movable or immovable property, yet the work proceeded without interruption. During the reconstruction, the Brotherhood literally experienced a miracle. His Eminence told the faithful: “If you want to see a miracle today, see how this Monastery is being built. It is a prolonged miracle.”

The main factor in this miracle was Father Eusebios (+ 1995), who had entrusted the Monastery to the protection and intercession of Saint John the Theologian. He had amazing optimism and faith. Where the sisters saw darkness, he saw light. Where they saw narrowness and difficulty, he saw spaciousness. Knowing the magnitude of the work, they were timid, but the Elder, seeing with the eyes of his pure soul the protection and providence of God surrounding them, supported them with prophetic words:

Homily Two on the Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov)

Homily Two on the Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

By Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

(Delivered in 1961)

"If we love one another, God abides in us" (1 John 4:12)

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Today, dear brothers and sisters, we honor the memory of one of the great Apostles of Christ, a pillar of the Christian Church, a zealous preacher of Christ's teachings, who wrote for us the Holy Gospel, three Epistles and the Apocalypse, the wise and loving Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, recalling the day of his death.

He was the closest and most beloved disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, or, as the Church hymn puts it, the friend and confidant of Christ. What made this Apostle so different from the Lord's other disciples, and how did he earn such special favor and affection from Jesus Christ?

September: Day 26: Teaching 2: The Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

 

September: Day 26: Teaching 2:
The Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
 
(Lessons to Follow From His Life: 
a. Zeal for the Salvation of Others; 
b. Love for the Lord and Others; 
c. Virginity)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, celebrated today, was the son of the Galilean fisherman Zebedee and his wife Salome. Before his conversion to Christ, he was a disciple of Saint John the Baptist and, together with Saint Andrew, followed the Lord at the direction of the Forerunner, as he himself recounts in the first chapter of his Gospel, without, however, indicating his own name. During the Lord's earthly life, John, along with Saint Peter and his brother James, was among the Lord's three beloved disciples: he was honored to witness the appearance of Divine glory on Mount Tabor, was present at the resurrection of Jairus's daughter; at the Secret Supper, the Lord revealed Judas the traitor to him. Filled with love for the heavenly Teacher, John followed the Lord to the trial and stood at the Lord's cross with a few persons, His relatives according to the flesh. In his dying moments, the Lord entrusted him with the care of His Most Pure Mother. Appearing to him after the Resurrection at Lake Tiberias, the Lord hinted at his long life and peaceful end. Fulfilling his sacred duty to guard the Most Pure Mother of the Lord, John lived in Jerusalem until her Dormition. Here he was tried and scourged before the Sanhedrin; he left Jerusalem only once, to join Peter in bringing the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans baptized by the deacon Philip.

Prologue in Sermons: September 26

 

On How We Should Treat Perishing Sinners

September 26

(Homily on the Young Man Whom John the Theologian Saved)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

When we encounter perishing sinners, it often happens thus: some of us pay them not the slightest attention; others regard them with contempt and derision; a third group, at times, even looks upon their demise with malicious glee; while the fourth, although they finally address them with a salvific word, more often convey a harsh rebuke, which generally leads only to mutual dissatisfaction between the reprovers and the reproved. What do you think, brethren? Should we treat perishing sinners in this way or not? Certainly not! We should act in an entirely opposite manner. "How so?" you may ask. To this question, let the example that follows provide the answer.

September: Day 25: Teaching 2: Saint Sergius, Wonderworker of Radonezh

 

September: Day 25: Teaching 2:
Saint Sergius, Wonderworker of Radonezh
 
(Against Irascibility)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. We would not err, brethren, if we say that the esteemed Venerable Sergius is the teacher of many Christian virtues.

This time, we will point out his extraordinary control over all the impulses of his heart, thanks to which he suppressed all manifestations of irascibility. Once severely insulted by his elder brother, Stephen, he immediately left his monastery, where his brother wanted to be the leader, and showed no sign of irascibility or irritation. Yet we often indulge in irascibility.

Prologue in Sermons: September 25

Those Who Distort the Words of Church Prayers Will Be Condemned

September 25

(How During a Terrible Earthquake a Youth Was Caught Up Into the Air)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

When reading Church prayers, many of you either add to them what is not appropriate, or mispronounce the words contained within them, distorting their meaning. This, brethren, is not good. How dangerous and pernicious is such carelessness in the use of prayers received by the Holy Church, mostly from holy men? Listen to the following account.

References to Saint Thekla in the Writings of Gregory of Nyssa

Saint Thekla, to whom a famous martyrium near Seleucia was dedicated in the time of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, was celebrated in the early Church as an archetypical virgin and martyr. In the two places where she is mentioned in Gregory of Nyssa's writings, this is how she is presented.

1. Homily 14 on the Song of Songs

(A commentary on Song of Songs 5:13, which reads: "His jaws are like bowls of spice pouring forth perfumes. His lips are lilies, dropping abundant myrrh.")

For the myrrh that flows from the mouth and fills the receptive soul is an image for the mortification of the body, since it is often observed that in the improper usage of the inspired text the term 'myrrh' signifies death. Therefore the pure and perfect eye, which makes of the jaw a bowl that pours and gushes perfumes out of itself, this eye blossoms with lilies in the form of words that proceed from the mouth of those who have been beautified by the divine radiance; for so does the text identify those who are pure and who breathe out the perfume of virtue, from whom there is unendingly distilled the drop of myrrh that fills the mind of its recipients — that is to say, disdain for the material life, which appears when everything that people work for in this life becomes inoperative and dead on account of their desire for transcendent goods.

Homily for the Commemoration of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Thekla (Fr. Daniel Sysoev)

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint Thekla

By Fr. Daniel Sysoev

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

I congratulate you all on the feast day of the Holy Protomartyr Thekla, Equal-to-the-Apostles! If we look at the history of the Church, we see that there were saints who were once highly venerated, but later became less so. This applies to Saint Thekla. The entire ancient Church, right up until the 15th century (now she is highly venerated only in Syria), held her in high esteem. Yet many Orthodox Christians don't even know her life, which is remarkable. 

Saint Thekla was from Asia Minor and lived in the city of Iconium, near Antalya, now Konya (fifty kilometers from Antalya). Saint Thekla was an ordinary pagan, a young woman of nineteen, betrothed to a pagan youth. At that time, the Apostle Paul was passing through the city, preaching the holy gospel. He went to preach in a high-rise building called an insula (Latin for "insula" — literally translated as "island" — in ancient Roman architecture, a multi-story residential building with rooms and apartments). At that time, cities already had high-rise buildings inhabited by the less wealthy. Saint Thekla lived in a mansion next to this "khrushchevka" building, where the Apostle Paul celebrated the Liturgy in one of the apartments.

Prologue in Sermons: September 24

What is Needed to Ensure That Family and Friends Remain Inseparable From Us Even After Death?

September 24

(How a Certain Abbot Prayed to God for his Monks, So That They Would Enter Paradise With Him.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Having family and friends here on earth, we would, of course, wish not to be separated from them even after death. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case. When the Lord comes to judgment, He will separate some from others and say to some, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;” but to others, “ Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” And some will go to the Kingdom of Heaven, and others into everlasting torment (Matthew 25:32–41, 46). It may well be that we too will be separated from our family and friends. It may well be that they will go to the Kingdom of Heaven, and we into everlasting torment, or vice versa. A terrible fate! But is there no way to avoid it?

Holy New Martyr John the Former Hagarene as a Model for our Lives

St. John of Konitsa (Feast Day - September 23)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Holy New Martyr John lived in the 18th and early 19th centuries AD. He was born in Konitsa, Epirus, to Muslim parents. His father was a Dervish and held the rank of Sheikh. At the age of twenty, he also entered the religious order of the Dervishes. After living for several years in Ioannina, he then went to Vrachori in Aetolia, today's Agrinio, and lived in a house called the Musallim Serai.

We do not know the processes that took place in his inner world and contributed to his life being completely transformed and changed. That is, he suddenly threw off the garments of a Dervish, dressed like a Christian and went to Ithaca, where he was baptized and took the name John. Then he returned to Aetolia, and specifically to the village of Mahalas. There he married and practiced the profession of a field guard. His father, when he learned of these events, sent people to convince him to return to Islam. John chased them away and was then arrested by Muselimi of Vrachori. He confessed his faith in Christ with boldness and courage and, despite the inhuman torture, remained steadfast and unwavering. Then, because they could not bend his brave spirit, they beheaded him on September 23, 1814, and thus he delivered his holy soul into the hands of Christ, whom he loved deeply. The Christians buried his sacred tabernacle on a farm in Vrachori. Later, his sacred relics were brought back, which were deposited in the crypt of the Sacred Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos Prousos in Evrytania, and were discovered on January 4, 1974.

Father Vaseilios Gontikakis: "The Archon of the Holy Mountain" (+ 2025)

By Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani

The “Archon of the Holy Mountain,” the great scholar and spiritual man, Father Vasileios Gontikakis, former abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita and former abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Iviron, has passed away. We are obliged to write a few lines in memory of the renowned elder Father Vasileios, because I personally had the blessing of knowing him since my student years.

Father Vaseilios was a rare personality. A hieromonk of genuine deep faith, complete devotion to monastic ideals, with a holy life, with a rich education, both secular and Christian. It is undeniable that he contributed greatly to the flourishing of monastic life in the Athonite State, especially for the reestablishment of coenobitic life. The elder himself, Father Vaseilios, constitutes a serious chapter in the history of monastic life on Mount Athos.

At the beginning of the 1960s, when he had already become a monk and was with Saint Paisios, one day the professor, his father in the flesh, Konstantinos from Heraklion, Crete, came to visit him and when he saw him outside the Skete chopping wood, he said to him: “My son, this is why I had you educated, to come here, to chop wood”? Then, the monk Father Vaseilios replied: “Yes, father, I chop wood, because I have not yet learned humility!"

Eulogy for the Blessed Elder Vasileios of Iviron by the Current Abbot of Iviron Archimandrite Nathanael

Our revered Elder,

You have always liked the doxastikon of the Vespers of Great Saturday: 

 

"And God blessed the seventh day; for this is the blessed Sabbath; this is the day of rest, on which the Only Begotten Son of God rested from all his works through the economy of death, honoring the Sabbath in the flesh."

Today we are honoring your own Sabbath, your own rest and the rest from all works. Normally, respecting your wish, we should not have said anything but in silence and prayer to surrender your tabernacle to the earth and to send you forward to eternity. However, in obedience to dear brothers, I will dare to utter a few unskillful words.

September: Day 23: Teaching 2: The Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

September: Day 23: Teaching 2:
The Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
 
(On How To Imitate Saint John the Baptist)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. At first glance, it seems rather strange that John, who was to precede the grace available to all mankind, is raised and spends most of his life in the wilderness. The forerunner of the Savior, who dined with tax collectors, observes such a strict fast. Yet this was necessary for John to prepare for his high calling. Living in the wilderness, he maintained a more profound communion with God. Here, he does not witness the depraved customs of the world; immoral examples could not become ordinary for him, and as a representative of the law, he confronts them with utmost severity. Having become accustomed to feeding on locusts and wild honey in the wilderness, he, appearing among the people, has no need for human assistance, and as an independent figure, he openly preaches and gains credibility through his preaching. Finally, when this hermit, whom no one knew, clearly and openly points to Christ the Savior, does he not make it evident that his knowledge of Christ was acquired not through human teaching, but through divine revelation? On the other hand, this very extraordinary life of John bears edifying traits for those who follow the most ordinary path.

Prologue in Sermons: September 23

On How Best to Act for One Who Wishes to Convert a Sinner From the Error of His Ways

September 23*

(On How Not to Condemn, But to Have Mercy on Sinners)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

One of the works of spiritual mercy is to convert a sinner from the error of his way. This is a great and saving work for us. The Apostle James says: "Brethren, if anyone among you errs from the way of truth, and someone converts him, let him know that he who converts a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). But, although great in the eyes of God and saving for us, this work, unfortunately, falls short of its goal for many of us. Thus, we see many who undertake to convert sinners to the path of truth, but few actually convert them; many undertake to teach them goodness, but few actually learn it; many, finally, even exert all their strength to divert those who have strayed from sin, but for very few who make the effort, their efforts are crowned with success. Why is this so? Because many begin this work in the wrong place, conduct it in the wrong way, and approach sinners from the wrong angle. For the work of converting sinners to be salvific for them and beneficial for us, those who convert must first learn where to begin, then how to conduct it, and what attitude to adopt in relation to sinners. And only then, undoubtedly, will the work of converting them to the path of truth be salvific for them and beneficial for us. But you will, of course, ask: from whom should we learn, and how should we teach sinners? We answer: from whomever you wish - from the Lord Jesus Christ, or from His Saints.

Prologue in Sermons: September 22

In the Special Ways of God's Providence in our Lives, We Must See a Call to Repentance and Correction

September 22

(From the Words of Saint John the Merciful about Saint Peter the Tax Collector)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens, brethren, that we are guilty of many deeds for which, it would seem, we should pay dearly in this life, both before God and before men. Sometimes a person has sinned and thinks that inevitable disaster awaits him for his sin and that the consequences of his sin must be terrible for him. Meanwhile, you see, everything somehow passes without a hitch, and there are no dire consequences. And this happens not once or twice, but, one might say, a thousand times in our lives. What is this, if not an act of God's special mercy and indulgence toward us sinners, so as to turn us to repentance and the correction of our lives? But is this how we view it? Do we care for the riches of God's goodness, meekness, and longsuffering? Do we strive to grasp the fact that they lead us to repentance (Rom. 2:4)? Alas, brethren, in reality it turns out quite differently! Having been delivered from misfortune for one sin, we begin to think that God is merciful, that another sin will pass just as unpunished, and a third, and so on — and so we continue to sin. Wise people, however, act differently: seeing God's special indulgence and mercy toward them, they immediately repent and begin to correct their lives. Let us learn from one of them in this regard.

Archimandrite Vasileios Gontikakis, a Prominent Athonite Figure and Author, Has Reposed

On September 17, 2025, the former abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, Archimandrite Vasileios Gontikakis, passed away at the age of 90. Hospitalized in Thessaloniki since August 27th, after falling and suffering a spinal injury at his monastery before Vespers on the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Elder Vasileios gave up his spirit to God. On September 18, the funeral service took place, when he was buried in the cemetery of the Monastery of Iviron.

The ceremony was attended by the abbots of the monasteries of Mount Athos, representatives of the Holy Community, representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as the Churches of Greece and Cyprus, along with a large number of spiritual children of Archimandrite Vasileios. He was a major figure of Athonite monasticism, as well as an important scholar and teacher of Orthodox theology.

As Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece said about him: "He was an authentic witness to the Orthodox tradition in the modern world, noble and at the same time courageous in matters concerning the Church and society, a truly free and genuine man."

The current abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Iviron is Archimandrite Nathanael, who succeeded Elder Vasileios.

Homily Two on the Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily Two on the Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord

By St. John of Kronstadt

"Whoever wants to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mark 8:34).

Thus, the Lord also designates that each of us must bear our own cross. He says, "Whoever wants to come after Me... let him take up his cross," referring to the cross of various hardships and sufferings, "and follow Me." Indeed, to attain the Kingdom of God, the cross is necessary for everyone, and without the cross, or in other words, without afflictions, without tribulations, no one can enter the Heavenly Kingdom. The Lord has paved the way to heaven for us with the cross, and by that very cross, we must journey there. "Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22), says the Apostle. "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life" (Matthew 7:14), says the Lord. But why not, one might ask, widen the path to the Heavenly Kingdom, why not make it easier, why not remove various sufferings from it? How many would then be on their way to heaven! The wide path would then seem to be filled with people hastening to the Heavenly Jerusalem, just as it is currently full of those heading to hell. Yet to speak thus is to be ignorant of the essence of the matter, to be ignorant of oneself, to be unaware of what the Kingdom of Heaven truly is. It is an impossible endeavor, brethren, for there to be a wide and smooth path to our heavenly homeland.

Prologue in Sermons: September 21

For the Edification of Those Who Hide Their Sins in Confession

September 21*

(Homily On Repentance)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Unfortunately, there are people who conceal their sins during confession. Some, out of false fear, others out of false shame, others out of pride, and still others, finally, out of sheer ignorance, conceal their iniquities during confession to a priest. Thus, not only do they fail to receive forgiveness for their sins, but they actually double their sins, for they lie before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who receives their confession. In order to divert such individuals from the perilous habit of concealing sins in the future and to teach them to repent openly, sincerely, and without hypocrisy, we will point to a case of how Christians in ancient times sometimes confessed their sins.

September: Day 20: Teaching 2: Holy Right-Believing Prince Michael and Boyar Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernigov

September: Day 20: Teaching 2:
Holy Right-Believing Prince Michael and Boyar Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernigov
 
(Why Do We Live In This World?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On the day of the Wonderworkers of Chernigov, who courageously confessed their Christian faith before the Tatars and sacrificed their lives so as not to be deprived of the Heavenly Kingdom and eternal blessedness with Christ, it will be appropriate now to talk with you, my brethren, about the fact that the salvation of the soul or the attainment of the Kingdom of Heaven is the highest object of all human aspirations.

II. Indeed, why was man created? Why do we live in this world? This is an important question we must ask ourselves as often as possible! Do we really exist merely to be born, live a little, and then die, like other animals? Are we really created to spend our entire lives worrying, fussing, searching, tormenting ourselves, suffering, and then disappearing? No! We were created for blessedness. The search for blessedness is an indelible and unquenchable feeling in man; and that is why we see that every person, both intelligent and foolish, savage and enlightened, old and young — each and every one of them wants good for himself, wants to live better, all seek well-being. And although not all seek in the same way, and not all consider the same thing to be their highest good, there is not a single person in the world who would not want to be prosperous, at least as he understands and perceives it. Thus, the savage wants to be well-fed and contented, and to have what he likes. Thus, the poor want to be rich, the rich want to be honored and celebrated; the official and distinguished want to be famous — and so on. In short, everyone wants to be happy and blessed, according to their own standards.

Prologue in Sermons: September 20

In Times of Misfortune, One Should Not Become Despondent and Despair, But Should Place All Hope in God

September 20

(Commemoration of the Holy Great Martyr Eustathios)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are misfortunes in which we can still, it seems, find help or consolation from people; but there are also those in which people are completely powerless to help or console. In these latter misfortunes, instead of turning to God in prayer for help and placing all hope in Him as the Almighty, we often give in to complete cowardice and, as they say, completely throw up our hands. This is often why many of us, without faith and trust in God, in misfortunes, from cowardice pass to despair and perish. And yet, is there any sorrow in which the Lord cannot console us? Or does He have little love and compassion? Or does He not see our troubles and sorrows? Of His omnipotence and omniscience there is no need to speak, and that He has love and compassion for those in distress is evident from the fact that He Himself calls them to Himself and promises them His help. "Call upon Me," He says, "in the day of your trouble, and I will answer you." Therefore, righteous people do not act like us in adversity: they remain in trust in God, unshakable as a rock, and their trust does not put them to shame. The Lord unexpectedly turns their sorrow into joy and their grief into gladness.

Prologue in Sermons: September 19

Against Anger

September 19

(John Chrysostom on Anger)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Brethren, we often become angry with one another, and this is not good; for in anger we give way to recklessness, and we frequently inflict grievous wounds upon the hearts of our neighbors, we anger God, and we harm our own health. Indeed, how much evil in general comes from anger? We scatter everything, we throw things about, we ruin, and afterwards, we would be glad to gather and restore, but it is already too late, as what has passed is irretrievable! Therefore, we must guard ourselves against anger in every way and learn diligently the virtue of meekness. What then should we do for this? We should more frequently turn to the Saints and learn from them how to shed anger and acquire meekness. The Saints, having served as exemplars of meekness to all during their lives, can always give us life-saving lessons even after their death. Therefore, let us turn to the Saints and take our first lesson from the universal teacher – Saint John Chrysostom.

The Theology of the Cross and the Theology of Glory - (Theologia crucis-Theologia gloriae): Part 4 of 4

...continued from part three.

3. Metropolitan of Pergamon John Zizioulas on the Cross of Golgotha and the Divine Eucharist

The purpose of Creation is the Church. That is, the Father, by creating the world, wanted to transform it into the Church. However, in order for this incorporation of Creation in the Son and the Church to be realized, the free consent of man would have to be ensured. For man is the one who, by nature, as the only free being in Creation, the material Creation, would be used so that Creation could be referred to God. But man, summing up creation, instead of ultimately referring to God, chose to refer to himself; in other words, he deified himself. For this reason, God's entire plan for transforming the world into a Church came up against man's denial and, as Saint Maximus says, God now had to think of another way to save the world and unite it with Himself. This way is the incarnation of the Son within the fallen creation, which means that the Son, and man in general, and all of creation, had to go through the experience of death in order to attain union, that is, the Cross had to intervene. This is why the Church could no longer be realized without going through the Cross of Golgotha.

Prologue in Sermons: September 18

The Alms We Give to the Poor Are Accepted by Christ Himself

September 18

(On Almsgiving: That By Giving to the Poor One Gives to Christ)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Holy Fathers teach this about almsgiving: Chrysostom says: "A man is a great thing, and a merciful man is precious. For far greater is it to feed Christ when hungry than to raise the dead by the name of Jesus: for in the former case you do good to Christ, in the latter He to you" (Homily 16 on I Cor.). And Saint Basil the Great teaches: "Mercy is a great thing: for Christ Himself, who sits in heaven, receives what the poor, lying on earth, receives from your hands" (On the Rich). Is this true? Is it true that by giving alms we do good to Christ? And is it fair that Christ Himself, who sits in heaven, receives from us what the poor, lying on earth, receives from us? Know that all this is absolutely true, brethren, for the deeds themselves speak for the truth of the words of the ecumenical teachers. 

The Theology of the Cross and the Theology of Glory - (Theologia crucis-Theologia gloriae): Part 3 of 4

...continued from part two.

2. Father John Romanides on the Mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ

The necessary means of perfection for the deified, but also for the hired hands and slaves, is the crucifixion of desires and the uprooting of selfish love through unwavering faith and unconditional obedience to the will of God. Perfection through obedience is valid for the angels before the fall of the devil and demons, since after the fall there is no repentance for them. For humans, obedience is the means of perfection before and after the fall. Obedience, however, is not an end in itself, so that through a servile and exchangeable disposition one may acquire a static, blissful state leading to the perpetuation of a servile or selfish relationship with God. In the stages of the slave and the hired hand, man participates in the perfection of God through the partaking in Christ of the purifying and illuminating grace of the mystery of the Cross, which purifies the passions and the nous and illuminates, sanctifies, justifies and animates the whole man and makes possible, through man's cooperation, obedience unto death to the will of God, through which obedience the grace of God transforms this submissive selfishness into selfless love, and thus man is deified and becomes a friend and co-worker of God, a brother and co-king by the grace of Christ, and an adopted son of the Virgin.

Homily on the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope and Love and their Mother Sophia (Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov)

Homily on the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope and Love and their Mother Sophia 

By Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

(Delivered in 1964)

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Martyrs Faith (Vera), Hope (Nadezhda) and Love (Lyubov) and their mother Sophia, honoring their suffering for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

To understand the nature of the suffering of the Holy Martyrs, it is necessary to recall the time and circumstances in which their martyrdom took place. Saint Sophia lived in the city of Rome, Italy, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Having lost her husband in her youth, she took on the upbringing of her young children — her daughters Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov. Vera was the eldest, twelve years old; Nadezhda was ten; and Lyubov was nine. Being a pious and zealous Christian herself, she strove to instill in her daughters the same spirit of piety, faith, and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Having ample material resources, Saint Sophia devoted herself entirely to Christian philanthropy, helping the poor. Her children, who are generally drawn to good examples, saw in her life a good role model, and so it is not surprising that they were quite pious.

Prologue in Sermons: September 17

The Unskilled Should Not Take Upon Themselves the Title of Teachers and Interpret the Word of God

September 17

(From the Paterikon: On Anger and Repentance)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens that the literate among you, especially those who have lived in the cities for a considerable time and listened to various scholars, return home and assume the title of teachers. They gather the simpletons around them, begin to read to them from the Divine Scriptures, and interpret the words of Holy Scripture as they please, fully confident that they are doing a good deed. That they read from the Divine Scriptures is truly a good deed on their part, but that they interpret the Divine Words in their own way cannot be called a good deed, for often their arbitrary interpretations give rise to superstitions, prejudices, and most destructive errors. Worst of all, when such teachers are confronted with the idea that this or that passage of Scripture has been interpreted incorrectly, they almost never admit their error, and everyone will assume they are right. This stubbornness often leads them to the point of completely separating from the Church and becoming schismatics. In their own destruction, they lead many others to destruction as well. Had they confessed their error, the Lord would have immediately forgiven them, and the Church would have immediately accepted them into communion.

Homily Three on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Homily Three on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

By St. John of Kronstadt

"The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18)

The message of the Cross or the message about the Cross, what is it? It is a message about the salvation of the world perishing in sins through the sufferings and death of the Only Begotten Son of God. It is a message about the infinite love of God for the world, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). It is a message about the infinite truth of God, which demanded an infinite sacrifice for the countless and grave sins of the world and for the infinitely insulted holiness of the Deity by creatures created in the image and likeness of God, for the desecrated most holy laws of God; for the corruption by sin of the animated tabernacles of God, the souls and bodies of men. The message about the Cross, further, is a message about the granting of eternal life to all believers for the sake of Christ who suffered, died, and rose again; a message about the crucifixion of the flesh with its passions and lusts; a message about the mutual love of people for each other; about self-denial for the sake of love for God and neighbor; a message about the patience of sorrows, illnesses, reproaches, slander, persecution, torment for the sake of Christ. This is what the message of the Cross means.