By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Jesus Christ on the Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorated the people's rest in the Promised Land after the labors of their wanderings, was a feast of the Law, since at that time special attention was given to its reading. In the prophecy of Zechariah it symbolically signified the time when all nations would gather in Jerusalem to worship the true God. On the last day of this feast, according to custom, there took place a symbolic pouring out of water from the Pool of Siloam (this water is mentioned in the same chapter of Zechariah and also by Ezekiel), which flowed beneath the Temple Mount, while the words of the Prophet Isaiah were sung: “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (cf. Isaiah 55:1).
It was probably in reference to this meaning of the feast and its ceremonies that the Lord, appearing on that day in the assembly of the people, proclaimed: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (cf. John 7:37). And comparing Himself to the Temple from beneath which living water flows, He applies the same image to those who believe in Him. Just as He pours forth living water, so those who believe in His name, having received the Spirit, will not only possess this water within themselves, in their own hearts, but will also pour it out for others, spreading everywhere the light of the knowledge of God.
The divine voice fell silent. Once again discussions and disputes about Jesus arose. Some saw in Him a prophet; others, the Messiah Himself. At the same time, certain people argued that the Messiah, being the Son of David, ought to come not from Galilee but from Judea, specifically from Bethlehem. They also claimed that no prophets had ever come from Galilee. There were even some who wished to seize Him. Yet the Temple officers, who had been sent by the Sanhedrin for this very purpose, returned after the feast without accomplishing their mission, declaring that they could not arrest Him because “never has any man spoken like this Man.”
Finally, even within the Sanhedrin itself, while discussing these events, a division arose that would only further inflame Christ's enemies against Him. Having heard the report of the officers with indignation, they replied:
"Have you also been deceived? Has any one of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him? As for this crowd that does not know the Law, it is accursed" (cf. John 7:47–49).
At this point Nicodemos dared to remark to the members of the Sanhedrin that they were acting unjustly by passing judgment upon a Man whose deeds they had not properly examined and whom they had not even heard.
"But what is there to investigate?" the others replied. "No prophet has ever arisen out of Galilee," forgetting in the darkness of their minds that Elijah, Jonah, and perhaps even Nahum had come from that region.
And with mockery they said to him:
"Are you also from Galilee, that you take the side of this Galilean?"
Thus, without undertaking any further examination of the matter, they resolved to expel from the synagogue anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ chose His disciples from among poor and uneducated people; some were fishermen who earned their living by their trade. The Lord commanded them to preach His word throughout the whole world. They were to convert both Jews and Gentiles, to speak with the learned and the wise, with powerful and noble men. The task entrusted to them was difficult. It could not be accomplished without God's help. And this help had been promised to them by Jesus Christ, who commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. He promised them the gift of working miracles, the knowledge of languages, and His continual presence with believers. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18–20). After these words the Lord ascended into heaven. His disciples returned to Jerusalem, where they remained in the upper room on Mount Zion, continually praying and joyfully awaiting with hope the promised Comforter, the Holy Spirit. With them were the Mother of Jesus, certain women who had believed in the Lord, and other faithful followers.
The day of Pentecost was approaching. This feast was celebrated solemnly in Jerusalem on the fiftieth day after Passover. It commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Homes and synagogues were adorned with branches of trees, and great crowds came to Jerusalem from all parts of the world. The Gospel narrative tells us that the Apostles were praying with one accord in the upper room on Mount Zion when suddenly, at the third hour of the day — which corresponds to about nine o'clock in the morning according to our reckoning — there came a great sound from heaven, like the rushing of a mighty wind. The Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, descended upon each of those who were praying. They were all filled with divine power and wisdom. Suddenly they received a great gift from above, the knowledge of languages, which would enable them to preach the gospel to all nations.
Hearing the sound, a multitude gathered around the house where the Apostles were staying. Among them were many foreigners and many Jews who lived in distant lands and had come to Jerusalem for the feast. The Apostles went out to them and began speaking to each person in his own native language, proclaiming the mighty works of God. Everyone was astonished. Then Peter stood up and explained the prophecies that had foretold the coming of Jesus Christ. He declared that these prophecies had now been fulfilled: that Christ had been born, crucified, and raised from the dead, and that He had now poured out His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Those who heard this were deeply moved in heart and asked:
"What shall we do?"
Peter answered:
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is given to you and to all whom the Lord shall call. Save yourselves from this crooked generation" (cf. Acts 2:37–40).
On that day about three thousand people were converted to Christ and received baptism. They lived together with the Apostles, held all things in common, and continually devoted themselves to prayer and the breaking of bread, that is, they celebrated the Mystery of the Eucharist instituted by the Lord.
The Holy Church solemnly commemorates the Descent of the Holy Spirit. This feast is called the Day of Pentecost and also the Feast of the Holy Trinity. Churches and homes are decorated with branches and flowers in remembrance of the fact that the Jews celebrated the giving of the Law beneath green booths and leafy shelters. In glorification of the new grace poured out upon the Apostles, the Church sings:
"Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made the fishermen wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them drew the whole world into Your net. O Lover of mankind, glory to You!"
The phrase "drew the whole world into Your net" means that He brought the whole world to the true faith. The image of drawing into a net is used because the Apostles had been fishermen, and the Lord had told them: "I will make you fishers of men."
The Divine Liturgy on this feast is distinctive because it is immediately followed by Great Vespers with the three kneeling prayers.
The day following Pentecost is called the Feast of the Holy Spirit. It is a continuation of the same great celebration.
On the Custom of Decorating Churches and Homes on the Feast of the Holy Trinity
As we commemorate today the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, we have the custom of decorating God's churches and our homes with grasses, flowers, and green branches. We stand in church holding green branches from trees and fragrant flowers, and everywhere, in the streets, public squares, and homes, we see the same decorations of flowers and branches.
Where did this custom come from? How was it established in our Church, and why is it still observed today? Nothing in our Orthodox Church is done without purpose. If we reflect deeply on the meaning and significance of this pious custom, we will see that it was not established in ancient times without reason. It is true that this custom is found neither in Holy Scripture nor in the Church Typikon. Yet there are many pious customs of the Orthodox Church that are established neither by Scripture nor by Church canons and regulations, but have been handed down from generation to generation through Tradition. Among these customs is the practice of adorning churches and homes on Pentecost with green branches, grasses, and flowers. This custom originates from apostolic times and has been sanctified by the example of the holy men of the earliest Christian centuries. Blessed Augustine already bears witness to it in the fifth century. Such is the antiquity of this custom.
Let us therefore consider the origins of this pious practice and its meaning and significance. First of all, the custom of adorning churches and homes on Pentecost comes from the example of the Patriarchal Church. Thus Abraham, at the Oak of Mamre, saw three travelers and invited them to rest with him, offering them generous hospitality. According to the understanding of the God-bearing Fathers, it was the Lord Himself, in three Persons, who appeared to Abraham in the form of those three travelers. From ancient times, therefore, the Persons of the Holy Trinity have been depicted in icons as three travelers being entertained by Abraham beneath the shade of one of the trees of Mamre. Decorating churches and homes with leafy branches and flowers on Pentecost is done in remembrance of the appearance of the Holy Trinity to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. The churches and homes of Orthodox Christians thus become an image of Abraham's tent, where beneath the shade of the oak the three Divine Visitors rested. Therefore, when we look upon the plants and grasses surrounding us in church and at home during this feast, our thoughts are carried back to the appearance of the Triune God to Abraham. Give reverent thanks to the Lord God, who reveals Himself to us in forms accessible to our senses and who draws so near to us sinners with such condescension — that a man like ourselves was able to converse with God face to face! At the same time, strive to cultivate within yourselves the same disposition that Abraham had when he welcomed the Lord. Seek to imitate his unwavering faith in God, his profound humility, his love for others, and his other virtues. In this way you will become like Abraham, who received the Lord into his home, and you will attract upon yourselves God's blessing and love just as he did.
We find another example of this custom in the Old Testament Church. The Jews decorated their synagogues and homes on Pentecost in remembrance of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, when all of nature was clothed in greenery. In addition, during their wanderings in the wilderness, the Israelites lived in shelters made of branches. The Ten Commandments given at Sinai remain binding and necessary for us Christians as well. Therefore the pious custom of the Old Testament Church of decorating homes and places of worship with plants could easily be retained in the Christian Church, especially since the Upper Room on Mount Zion, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost, was itself, according to Old Testament custom, adorned with branches and flowers. It was not by chance that the Apostles and the first Christians preserved this custom in the Christian Church. It has come down to us in essentially the same form in which it existed during apostolic times.
We find yet another Old Testament basis for decorating our homes with grasses and flowers on Pentecost. On that feast, the Law prescribed that the first fruits of the harvest, which in Palestine was already ending by that time, should be offered to God in thanksgiving. Likewise, in the Christian Church the custom has been preserved of bringing the first fresh shoots of trees and spring flowers into the church. This beautiful custom testifies to our desire to offer God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the renewal of nature in the springtime.
The Church's liturgical books do not prescribe a special feast dedicated to the renewal of visible nature. Yet Pentecost falls at a season when plant life appears in renewed vigor and freshness. Therefore the remembrance of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles naturally leads us to think about the action of that same Spirit in visible creation. Just as in the beginning, at the creation of the world, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2), imparting His life-giving power to the unformed matter of creation, so also in the created world everything that grows and lives does so by the power of that same All-Holy Spirit. As the Psalmist says: "You send forth Your Spirit, and they are created; and You renew the face of the earth" (Psalm 103:30). Therefore the custom of decorating churches and homes on Pentecost with tender green branches and flowers expresses more eloquently than words our praise and thanksgiving to the Spirit of God, who renews the face of the earth. Whenever we look at these branches and flowers, let us remember that through them we offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving worthy of the God who renews nature after the long sleep of winter.
Finally, the custom of adorning homes with branches and flowers on Pentecost has a moral meaning for us as well. These flowers and branches point to ourselves and to the spiritual condition that we should possess in our lives. Look at the flowers. They are green, blooming, and fragrant. Such should be the life of every Christian. A Christian should flourish and be adorned with good and godly deeds. Just as flowers attract everyone's gaze through their beauty and fragrance, so faith, piety, and love draw people's hearts toward themselves. Our lives should shine and blossom with virtues, becoming an example for others and bringing glory to God. As the Savior said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Therefore, brothers and sisters, as you hold fragrant flowers in your hands during this feast, strive to acquire some virtue that you may not yet possess.
Look: among your flowers there may be a forget-me-not. As you admire it, do not forget the Lord God and the Mother of God, who loves you, protects you, and prays to God on your behalf. Perhaps you have a lily. Looking upon it, remember God's command not to be overly concerned with adornment and outward appearance, but rather to keep your heart pure and undefiled from vanity and impurity. Perhaps you have cornflowers; let them remind you that sin must not reign within us, but that the spirit should rule over the flesh and its passions.
In the same way, reflect upon the other flowers and seek in them lessons of faith and morality. Every green branch with its fragrant leaves should teach us about the abundant and life-giving fruits of virtue. A dry and lifeless branch, on the other hand, should remind us of the sad image of the sinner who bears no living fruits of virtue and is spiritually dead.
Observe also how trees, deprived of the sun's influence during winter and affected by the cold, appear to die, standing bare and leafless. The same condition exists in the soul of a sinner. Without the life-giving breath of the Spirit of God, the soul dies spiritually. Then, although the soul may appear outwardly to live, think, feel, and act, its actions without the cooperation of God's Spirit are dead and lifeless, producing no fruits of virtue. By contrast, the person in whom the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit shines forth bears beautiful fruits of virtue, each more attractive and excellent than the last. According to the Apostle, these fruits are: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
Therefore let us strive to attract the grace of the Holy Spirit. How? Through a pious and blameless life, through faith, prayer, humility, and every other good virtue. Thus, by reflecting upon the branches and flowers brought for this feast, each of us can learn lessons that lead to growth in faith and godliness.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have seen where the pious custom of decorating our churches and homes with flowers and branches on Pentecost came from and how it reached us. Therefore let us preserve it. But at the same time let us draw from it lessons of faith and morality. Then this custom will truly benefit our souls and help us grow in virtue, preparing us for the life to come.
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"If Anyone Thirsts, Let Him Come to Me and Drink"
"On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink'" (John 7:37). These are the words of the Gospel read today.
That final day of the Jewish eight-day Feast of Tabernacles foreshadowed the present feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and upon all Christians. On that day, the high priest, accompanied by priests and the people, solemnly went out from the Temple in Jerusalem to the Pool of Siloam. Drawing water in a golden vessel, he brought it into the Temple and poured it upon the altar.
This water symbolized the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon humanity when the Messiah Christ would come into the world. While the high priest was performing this ritual of pouring out water, Jesus Christ, the true Messiah long awaited by the world, stood in a prominent place within the Temple and proclaimed with a loud voice to the Jews:
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37).
In other words: If any of you sincerely longs and thirsts for the coming of the Messiah in order to receive from Him the abundant grace of the Holy Spirit, behold, I am that Messiah whom you await. Come to Me, and draw from Me, as from an inexhaustible fountain, as much grace as you desire. Open wide the thirsty mouth of your soul and drink as much as you wish.
These same words the Lord addresses to us today: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
To whom among us does the loving Lord direct these remarkable words? Who are the thirsty ones whom He calls to Himself?
First, they are those sorrowful and afflicted people who suffer from extreme poverty, homelessness, mistreatment by others, family conflicts, illness, separation from loved ones, or any other kind of misfortune, and who long for relief and consolation. Lift up your downcast heads, you sufferers of this life! Incline your weary ears to the Lord's invitation. He calls you to Himself. Draw near to Him, fall before Him in tearful prayer, tell Him your grief and sorrow, and, laying aside all complaints about your fate, place all your hope in Him. Then you will truly drink of the grace flowing from His loving heart. He Himself will comfort your soul, give you peace, and soothe your wounded heart that thirsts for consolation. Be assured of this by His unfailing words: "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Second, the thirsty ones whom the Savior calls today are those among us who are burdened by sins and passions and sincerely desire to repent, cleanse their souls, and quiet their consciences. Why do you delay, O sinful souls seeking repentance? You hear the sweet voice of the Merciful Savior: "If anyone thirsts" for the forgiveness of sins, "let him come to Me and drink" the grace of pardon. He has long been calling you to Himself. He has long awaited your sincere repentance. Rise up, take courage, and come to Him today with a broken and humble heart. Confess all your sins before His minister, the priest, and you will surely receive from Him the grace of mercy and forgiveness. Without doubt He will cleanse your soul and calm your troubled conscience. For our loving Savior receives every sinner with love and forgives every penitent, no matter how great the sins may be. As He Himself declared: "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13).
Third, the thirsty are those Christians who find within themselves little that is truly good — neither sufficient love for God and neighbor, nor fervor in prayer, nor meekness and humility, nor a firm resolve to flee sin and live according to God's commandments. Seeing this poverty within themselves, they are dissatisfied with their spiritual condition and thirst to live as true Christians. They long to kindle love for God and neighbor in their hearts, to love prayer, to flee every sin, and to become established in virtue.
Christians who are tormented by this saving thirst for holiness and virtue, listen carefully! Is it not especially you whom the Savior calls to Himself today in order to satisfy your spiritual thirst? Open wide the thirsty mouth of your soul and hasten to the Life-Giving Fountain, the Sweetest Jesus. Through communion in His Body and Blood, drink from Him the abundant waters of the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will strengthen your weak powers for every good work. He will inflame your heart with love for God and neighbor. He will kindle within you the spirit of constant prayer and grant you strength to overcome every sin.
Therefore, all who thirst for consolation amid life's sorrows, all who thirst for the cleansing of sins, all who thirst for holiness and virtue — come to your Savior, who now calls you to Himself. Receive from Him, through your tearful prayers, the grace of consolation in your afflictions; through sincere repentance, the grace of forgiveness for your sins; and through Holy Communion, the grace of sanctification, strength, and love for virtue.
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37).
Love for God's Truth
God's Law commands us to preserve truthfulness in all our words and actions, never lying or deceiving under any circumstances. Truth, when established within human society, strengthens its well-being. It gives rise to mutual trust, nourishes love, and, by inspiring people to work together in harmony, brings success to all our endeavors.
If we all strove to live truthfully, avoiding lies and deception, our lives would be more peaceful, secure, and tranquil. Nothing causes as much evil among people as falsehood. Deceit, cunning, and dishonest gain undermine the common welfare. Everyone suffers because of them — the honest laborer and the dishonest profiteer alike.
Those who resort to dishonesty in order to gain advantages usually fall into even greater misfortunes. Once exposed, they lose honor, trust, and often their social standing, upon which their livelihood may depend. Thus the path of falsehood, deceit, cunning, and fraud is a direct road to poverty and ruin.
Even when some people seem to increase their prosperity through dishonest means, it never lasts long. What is easily acquired is easily lost. Ill-gotten gains perish badly. The tears of those who have been wronged by unjust people rise to the righteous God and call down His judgment upon human injustice.
Can a person's prosperity truly endure when God's anger rests upon it, when it lacks His blessing?
Sadly, many fail to recognize the evident signs of God's displeasure toward falsehood. Despite its destructive consequences, many people continue to serve unrighteousness. To lie, deceive, or conceal the truth — especially when some advantage may be gained — is often not even considered sinful. And if it is regarded as a sin, it is thought to be only a small and pardonable one.
Such careless attitudes toward wrongdoing allow sinful inclinations to become firmly rooted in the soul, eventually growing into powerful passions that a person can no longer control.
The danger is especially great when someone grows up surrounded by examples of lying, deception, and cunning, becoming accustomed to such behavior from an early age, with no one to correct these bad habits. It is difficult to straighten a tree once it has grown crooked.
In the same way, the habit of living dishonestly, of lying and deceiving, once rooted in the soul, becomes like a second nature. Therefore, if we wish to guard ourselves from hypocrisy and deceit, if we desire to stand firmly on the path of truth, we must correct every inclination to depart from the truth at its very beginning.
Our God is Absolute Truth. Everything that departs from truth is displeasing to Him. No circumstance can justify a lie before the face of God. Only unconditional truth receives God's approval.
How carefully we must preserve the truth and avoid every lie, even in situations that seem excusable, is shown by the following example from the life of Saint Anthimos, Bishop of Nicomedia.
Saint Anthimos lived during the reign of Diocletian, the fierce persecutor of Christians. During that time the persecutors especially sought out bishops and church leaders in order to deprive Christians of their shepherds and teachers.
By a special inspiration from God, Saint Anthimos temporarily left the city and hid in a nearby village. From there he sent letters and messages of encouragement to Christians who had been arrested, imprisoned, and brought to trial, strengthening them for the coming struggle of martyrdom. This became known to the emperor, who sent soldiers to search for him.
After a long search, the soldiers, exhausted from their efforts, stopped in the very village where Anthimos was living. There they encountered the Saint himself and asked him:
"Where is Anthimos, the teacher of the Christians, hiding?"
Realizing that the hour of his martyrdom had arrived, Saint Anthimos replied:
"Come into my house and rest yourselves. Then I will tell you where the man you seek is hiding."
The Saint welcomed the soldiers into his home, prepared a meal for them, and treated them with sincere kindness and hospitality. After they had eaten, Saint Anthimos stood before them and said that he himself was Bishop Anthimos, the man they had been sent to arrest.
"Take me and lead me to those who sent you."
The soldiers were deeply moved by the generosity, gentleness, and goodwill of the elderly bishop who had welcomed and entertained them so sincerely. They urged him to flee and promised to report to the authorities that they had been unable to find him.
"No," replied the Saint. "It is a great sin before God to violate the truth. It is wrong to deceive anyone, and especially one's ruler. It is sinful to allow falsehood in the fulfillment of duty. Carry out your duty honestly. You are not guilty for obeying the orders that have been given to you."
With these words he set out for the city. And what occupied him on his journey toward death? All along the road he spoke with the soldiers about the Christian faith. He instructed them so effectively that he baptized them in a river on the way, making them children of grace and beloved of God. When brought before his persecutor, Saint Anthimos fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. After enduring terrible tortures, he was finally beheaded with the sword. Therefore, Christians, guard the truth as the apple of your eye. Never betray it under any circumstances.
Whoever begins to compromise the truth for personal gain or selfish advantage will gradually and almost imperceptibly reach a dreadful condition in which, blinded in mind and hardened in heart, he tramples upon the truth without fear. Such a person becomes guilty before both human judgment and the judgment of God, storing up for himself the wrath of God, which is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness (cf. Romans 1:18).
The Light of Christ
"I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12), says the Savior of the world concerning Himself. There was a time when this Light visibly shone upon the earth, illuminating minds with His life-giving word, penetrating the hardest hearts, healing the sick, and raising the dead. There was a time when this Light shone on Mount Tabor like the sun, and on Golgotha it was hidden from the eyes of the world, turning day into deep night. "The earth trembled and the sun was darkened, O Savior, when You, O Christ, the Unwaning Light, descended bodily into the tomb," sings the Church.
Since that time this Unwaning Light is no longer visible to bodily eyes, yet it continues to shine and to act life-givingly within the human race. Wherever Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is present, there is divine light. But where on earth is our Lord Jesus Christ present? He is wherever two or three gather together and pray in His name. He Himself says: "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).
And where does this happen? In the church of God. Yes, during the divine services Jesus Christ is present with us in the church. Therefore it is here above all that the divine light shines. Here, more than anywhere else, His light can dawn upon us. Here, more than anywhere else, we can partake of His ineffable glory. The divine light shines here, and we experience its radiance. That is why it feels so good and comforting to be in God's house.
Therefore, Christian, always — and especially when your heart is burdened by sorrow, when troubles threaten you, when doubts and perplexities trouble your mind, when poverty and hardship weigh upon you, when despondency and weariness overtake you — hasten to the house of God. There your soul will find rest. There you will find peace. There you will feel comfort. Only remember from whom this comfort comes, from whom this joyful and calming light shines. Do not forget Jesus Christ. Without thoughts of the Sweetest Jesus, nothing in the church will truly gladden you, and nothing will bring you peace.
Furthermore, just as the sun not only shines by itself but also gives its light to lesser heavenly bodies such as the moon and stars, so our Lord Jesus Christ, the Unwaning Light, not only shines Himself but also imparts His light to others, especially to the shepherds of the Church. "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), Jesus Christ said to the Apostles and to their successors, the shepherds of the Church. The shepherds of the Church, having received grace from God, enlighten us through Holy Baptism, teach us the truths of the Gospel, and guide us toward eternal salvation throughout every stage of our lives. It is our duty to listen to our spiritual shepherds and to trust their guidance.
Finally, the light of Christ can also be reflected in all of us. Live with one another in love and harmony, and you will live in the divine light. "He who loves his brother abides in the light," says the beloved disciple of Christ (1 John 2:10). God's blessing rests upon those who live together in peace and love. Even an observer rejoices when he sees people living in harmony with one another. How much greater, then, must be the joy that they themselves experience!
Sadly, such families and such people are rare. Many of us bear the name of Christians and are called children of the Light, yet we are unworthy of such a lofty title. This is true of all who hate their neighbors. "He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness" (1 John 2:11), says the Apostle John the Theologian. Yet the sin of hatred toward one's neighbor is one of the most common and frequently repeated sins among us. And how many forms does this sin take? Do not envy, slander, speak maliciously, murder - and countless other evils all spring from the same root of hatred? Yes, these sins hold great power over the human race.
Love for one's neighbor is inseparably connected with love for God. According to the Apostle, the person who does not love his brother cannot love God (see 1 John 4:20). It is therefore clear that all who hate their neighbors remain in darkness. What a fearful truth!
What then must we do in order to become children of the Light? What remedy shall we choose? Spiritual illnesses, like bodily illnesses, are often healed by remedies opposite to the disease itself. Therefore this illness of hatred can and must be cured in the same way. If hatred for our neighbor causes us to remain in darkness, then love — the virtue completely opposed to hatred — can place us in the light. Love is the beginning and soul of all virtues. Therefore whoever possesses love will do everything necessary to remain in the light. He will fulfill the whole law, because, as the Apostle Paul says, "Love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10). And whoever fulfills the law of Christ is a child of God by grace and therefore a child of the divine Light.
O Christ our King, Holy Light, You have turned those who sing to You in faith from the darkness of ignorance. Enlighten us with the light of Your countenance, and grant us Your peace, as we cry to You from the darkness of sin.
The Salvation of a Sinner by the Grace of God
"I have now been a priest in this village for three years," writes a certain shepherd, "and it has been a year since I became acquainted with a gentleman about whom I wish to speak. In the year 186..., during the summer, a young man of about twenty-five years of age came to our village and settled in a neat little house standing on a hill and surrounded by a dark, impassable forest. This house had first belonged to a landowner, then had passed into the possession of the peasants, and now had been sold to the newly arrived gentleman. The peasants, as they called him, at first never went anywhere; then, about two weeks later, I saw him in church. His appearance was of the sort that catches one's attention at first glance and arouses curiosity in everyone who sees him. Despite his youth, his face was worn, wrinkles lay here and there in deep folds, and involuntarily spoke of a youth that had not passed without upheavals and storms. He began to attend our church frequently, and not only on feast days; even on weekdays one could see him praying somewhere in a corner by the faint flickering of a lamp. He always arrived early, left late, and every time kissed the cross with a certain special reverence and received the antidoron from me. The appearance of such a gentleman, who had come from I knew not where, for I knew not what reason, and who, as people said, intended to remain among us forever, together with his unsociable manner and especially his piety — all this interested me greatly, and I resolved somehow to make his acquaintance. Yet becoming acquainted with him proved rather difficult.
Summer passed, and winter too was already drawing to its close... The life-giving rays of the February sun had begun to disturb the icy crust of the earth. Holy Lent had arrived. The church bell sounded mournfully and infrequently, calling sinful souls thirsting for purification to repentance, and these tolls echoed in a particularly moving way within the soul of a true Christian. The Friday of the first week had already come, and I, considerably exhausted after hearing the confessions of my parishioners, was returning home when I learned that I had received a note from the gentleman: 'I ask you, unknown yet respected Father, to honor me with a visit to my residence this evening.' This brief note greatly interested me, and I hastened to visit the unknown gentleman.
At my light knock, the door of the secluded little house opened, and I saw the smiling gentleman standing on the threshold.
'Please come this way, Father, into this room, and I shall join you immediately,' he said to me.
The room into which I entered was small. The walls, covered with violet wallpaper, had grown dark with age; the curtains, drawn over the windows and allowing no light into the room, made the little chamber quite gloomy. In front stood a carved crucifix, and before it lay an open prayer book. On the table beside the sofa there lay a Gospel in Russian translation, several religious journals, a huge artificial skull, and some scattered papers. I walked about the room for a while and then seated myself in an armchair to await the host.
'Good evening, Father,' he finally said as he entered the room and approached me for a blessing.
'Good evening,' I replied, blessing him.
'Please forgive me for troubling you at such an hour. It is already eleven o'clock, and perhaps you had wished to retire for the night...'
'Come now... why such apologies?' I replied. 'As a man, I am very interested to become acquainted with you, for there is no one here with whom one can speak about anything serious. Moreover, as a shepherd, it is my duty to come to you, because perhaps you need me as a shepherd, as a physician of the soul.'
'Exactly so. I need you as a physician... I need your instruction, your warm, sympathetic, pastoral word.'
'I am very, very glad that I may be of service to you! Please tell me everything that lies upon your soul. My task is to share the burdens of my flock, to heal their wounds, and to lead them to the Heavenly Father...'
'Thank you, thank you, Father... Then allow me to ask for your attention and patience as you listen to the story of my short but wicked life. When you know it, it will be easier for you to prescribe the proper remedy for my healing.'
'I am listening.'
'My father,' he began, 'was a small landowner. In the Y... province, in the D... district, he owned a little village. In that village my father had a large house in which he lived constantly, and where I received my first upbringing. My father was always at home, and together with my mother he tried to instill in me the foundations of every good thing and of Christian piety. Both of them loved to tell me various sacred stories, and it often happened that while listening to these stories during the long winter evenings, I would simply fall asleep where I sat. And, my God, what sweet dreams I had then! Everything I heard that evening was reflected in my dreams, and in my truly innocent imagination, as though in a mist, there passed before me the beloved sacred images from my parents' stories. Even now I can see it: the Savior, wearing a crown of thorns and covered with blood, hanging upon the Cross. His eyes are full of love, and He asks the Father to forgive His tormentors: "for they know not what they do!" And the Mother of God — even now I see her — standing by the Cross with a pale face, filled with boundless love for her suffering Son; and what anguish and sorrow are in her eyes! All these dreams filled my soul with an indescribable bliss. I experienced much that is sometimes inaccessible to another person, and a certain unearthly smile would appear upon my face, as my good mother used to say. And how much joy my parents felt as they gazed upon me by my little bed. "He is speaking with the angels," they would say. Quietly and peacefully my life flowed on, and I was an exemplary child. I prayed, and my childhood prayer was sincere, fervent, and warm. Life was good then, and one cannot now remember those childhood days without a joyful trembling of the heart. But that blessed life could not continue forever. When I reached the age of ten, I was enrolled in one of the secondary secular schools.
It was difficult for me to adapt to the new life. In the institution into which I was enrolled, I no longer heard the warm, truly spiritual instruction that had been given to me at every step in my home. At first I was a believer and prayed often. I prayed... but this prayer was frequently the cause of ridicule from my foolish and wicked companions. All the students of that institution, deprived of the supervision of God-fearing parents, were terrible blasphemers, and their biting mockery rained down upon my head because of my piety. Time passed, I had no support, and my desire for prayer gradually began to weaken and finally disappeared altogether — at first because I feared my companions, and later because it became a habit. I joined myself to my companions, and prayer no longer ever entered my mind. Our conversations and discussions were thoroughly opposed to God: mockery of Holy Scripture, of divine services, of the zeal and faith of certain priests and of the people — these were the constant subjects of our conversations. At first all this revolted me; later, time and companionship dulled within me even the last remnant of good — the remains of my upbringing at home. Yet no matter how corrupted I became in that environment, I still had an awareness that by these things I was sinning against God, but I continued to act together with my companions... Sometimes, and this happened very often, I felt a need to pray and even began to pray, but it was no longer the prayer of former days; it was more a mechanical exercise, not warmed by the heart, and I felt that something was lacking within me... Time passed, I entered the final class, and it was then that my fall was completed. The former mockery of religious rites and of people's faith turned into outright ridicule of the entire divine religion.
Time flew by, and I became an openly unbelieving madman. The existence of God, the existence of the soul, the future life beyond the grave — all this I regarded as the product of fantasy, and I wickedly laughed at everything. The Cross, that instrument of our salvation, I cast from myself and looked upon it with contempt. When I stood in church because the authorities required it, how I mocked, how I laughed at the divine service! When the fasting seasons arrived, I deliberately tried to eat foods forbidden during the fasts in order to show complete contempt for the regulations of the Church. Holy icons and the lives of the saints were the principal objects of my ridicule. In a word, during that period I was some kind of monster rather than a human being. Then the time came for the completion of my studies, and it was at that point that I hurled myself with all my strength into the abyss of destruction, dragging many pure and innocent souls down with me...
Yes, for those fallen souls I shall have to give a terrible account before the Lord! I led them into temptation, and Scripture says: "Woe to that man by whom the temptation comes!" (Matthew 18:7).
Our reason is too weak to stop us from sinning when we do not possess the voice of conscience, or rather, when that voice of conscience has been silenced by a sinful life. So it was with me. Having stifled everything holy in my heart, although I tried to be guided in everything by reason, it did not help me, and I was perishing completely. Surrounded by godless companions and women who had lost all shame and conscience, I spent entire nights over bottles of wine, and what did not take place in those noisy, demonic orgies! Time passed, and I became even more depraved, finally sinking into the very depths of vice. It seemed there was nothing more to be said: a man was completely lost, and no human hand could pull me out of that mire. Yet apparently there is no sin that can overcome the mercy of God; apparently the Lord does not desire the death of the sinner, but that he should turn and live (cf. Ezekiel 33:11). If no human being could help me, the Almighty Lord, whom I had denied, helped me. A special action of His Providence turned me onto the true path and called me to moral rebirth.
In a single year my good parents died of cholera. It must have been their fervent prayers before the Throne of the Most High that led to the correction of their wandering son. Upon receiving news of their deaths, I set out for the village to visit their grave. Strange though it may seem: no matter how vulgarized I had become, no matter how I had mocked every sacred feeling known to man, my attachment to my parents still remained. My cold and depraved mind yielded to the voice of the heart, to the desire to visit their grave, and did not mock it. I attribute this to a special action of God's Providence, because this journey back to my homeland became the beginning, or at least the occasion, of my correction.
Having arrived in my native village, I asked the church watchman where the grave of my parents was, and, without even thinking to make the sign of the cross toward the church, I went to the place he indicated. The grave was now only about ten paces away from me; I could already see the fresh mound, but suddenly everything grew dark before my eyes, my head began to spin, and I fell unconscious to the ground. I do not know what happened to me; I only regained consciousness in a room rented by my servant from a peasant. From his account I learned that everyone around me thought I had suffered a stroke, because I lay unconscious, with a flushed face and foam on my lips. The next day I arose completely healthy, and no matter how much I puzzled over it, I could not explain why such an attack had come upon me.
Then, at exactly the same hour, I again went to the grave, but what was my astonishment when the very same thing happened to me as on the previous day! Thinking that I had been afflicted with epilepsy that returned periodically at a certain hour of the day, I remained at home on the third day, but no attack occurred. Yet when, on the following day, I went to the cemetery, the moment I began to approach the grave, the former seizure immediately returned.
When I arose the next morning, I noticed that my servant seemed frightened and afraid of me. Later I learned that he had concluded that there was something ominous in these attacks and that I must be a very great sinner if the Lord would not permit me to approach my parents' grave. How much happier than I he was at that time! He possessed faith in Providence, faith in God, whereas I was a miserable man and refused to acknowledge in all this the hand of God. Nevertheless, these strange attacks frightened me, and I sent for a doctor. The doctor promised to arrive the following day, and while waiting for him I fell asleep.
In the morning I awoke early, and — O my God! — it is dreadful even to remember: I could not move, my tongue would not obey me, I lay completely paralyzed, my whole body burned with fever, my lips were dry, I felt an unbearable thirst, and my spirit utterly failed within me. The doctor arrived, examined me, and prescribed medicine. Treatment began. At first the doctor prescribed remedies without difficulty, but later he would stand for long periods beside my bed, biting his lips, and then one day, after six weeks of treatment, he wrote me a note: 'When dealing with a man, I always speak openly about his illness, no matter how dangerous it may be. Your disease is inexplicable, despite all my efforts to understand it; therefore, seeing no prospect of success from my labors, I leave you to wait until it resolves itself.'
What terror seized me when human help — the only help in which I had placed my hope — abandoned me! Others have hope in higher assistance, but my corrupt mind had rejected it. Time passed, and my illness worsened. Blisters appeared upon my body and turned into festering sores from which came a foul stench, and I did not know what to do. Whole nights I lay awake and found no rest. And what dreadful visions then filled my imagination! I remember one occasion as clearly as if it were yesterday: it seemed to me that I was in a dark, damp, suffocating dungeon. All around was darkness; the stench made it impossible to breathe; groans, cries, and some wild lamentation came from every side. Fear overwhelmed me; a chill ran through my body, I shuddered and opened my eyes. The candle burned dimly. The room was dark. At last I drifted into a light sleep.
And just as I was beginning to fall asleep, I suddenly felt someone's hand upon mine. I started, opened my eyes, and — O my God! — what did I see? Standing before me was my mother. I could not imagine how or by what means she had appeared before me. 'But she is dead,' I thought, 'how can she still exist?' Yet my heart beat violently at the sight of my dear mother. She was clothed entirely in white, except for one black stain upon her garment. Her face was sorrowful, and she stood enveloped in a kind of half-light. 'I am your mother,' she began, 'your lawlessness and your dissolute life, full of unbelief and godlessness, have come before the Lord, and He wished to destroy you, to wipe you from the face of the earth. You have not only ruined yourself, but have stained us as well, and this black spot upon my garment is your grievous sins. The Lord, I tell you, wished to strike you down, but your father and I prayed for you before the Throne of the Most High, and He determined to bring you back to Himself — not through mercy, because you would not have understood it, but through severity. He knew that the only thing precious to you in this world was our grave, and therefore He did not permit you to approach it, afflicting you with a supernatural illness, so that you might recognize the higher power you have denied. But still you did not repent! Now the Lord has sent me to you — this is the final means for your correction. You denied God, the future life, and the immortality of the soul; here, then, is proof of life beyond the grave: I have died, yet I have appeared and speak with you. Believe in the God whom you have denied. Remember your mother, who spared no effort in trying to make you a true Christian.'
At these words her face grew even darker, and hollow, sepulchral sobs echoed through the room and shook my soul. 'Once more I implore you,' my mother continued, 'turn to God. You do not believe, and perhaps you think to explain my appearance as a disturbance of your imagination. But know that your explanations are false, and that I stand before you in my spiritual existence. And as proof of this, here is the cross that you rejected. Receive it, or else you will perish. Believe, and your illness will be healed in a miraculous manner. Destruction and eternal hell await you if you reject God!'
Having said this, my mother vanished. I came to myself and found a small cross in my hand, while an indescribable fragrance filled the entire room.
The supernatural appearance of my mother, her pleas and her warnings shook my soul to its very depths. Never, it seems to me, had such a revolution taken place within me. My conscience accused me, my former convictions collapsed, and in a single moment I was completely transformed. A sweet and indescribable feeling arose in my heart. I wished to thank God for His mercy, for His gracious conversion of me. Then I heard someone approaching. I listened, and my servant entered the room carrying a teacup full of water. 'Try this, master; perhaps you'll feel better. It's holy water from the Life-Giving Cross,' my servant said as he handed me the cup. I gladly accepted his offer and, supported by him, drank the water.
Lord! I cannot remember that wondrous moment without tears. Instantly I felt healthy. My limbs obeyed me, my tongue spoke freely, and only a few marks remained where the sores had been. Thus the words of my mother were confirmed.
I rose to my feet, and the very first thing I did was pray before the icon that my servant had brought me. I had possessed none of my own, because I considered such things superstition. Afterward I went to church and prayed there. And how sincere that prayer was, how freely my soul poured itself out before the Lord after its long slavery in the chains of sin and service to Satan! From there I went directly to the precious grave. I kissed it and wept, and those tears washed away my former life; they were the repentance of the prodigal son.
The day of my healing, both spiritual and physical, was the fifteenth day of July, and I always celebrate it as the day of my deliverance. After remaining there for a few more days, I decided to move here, because one of the companions of my wild former life had become an investigating magistrate in that district, and I did not wish to see him. As for returning to society, I will not do so, because it has become hateful to me. I wish to labor here and make amends for my former life. Tomorrow there will be communicants in your church, and perhaps after my confession you will permit me to partake of the Holy, Awesome, and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ, for I have not been deemed worthy of them for ten years. And you must advise me what I should do to atone for my former life.'
For a long time, a very long time, I spoke with this man and gave him much counsel. At last I returned home. 'Glory to You, O Merciful God, who have shown Your light to this man!' I thought as I walked along the road, rejoicing with all my heart at the conversion of a sinful soul to the path of truth."
Heavenly Fire Descended into the Chalice During the Liturgy
Once, when Saint Sergius was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, his disciple Simon saw heavenly fire descend upon the Holy Gifts at the moment of their consecration, and he saw this fire moving across the Holy Altar. Illuminating the entire sanctuary, it seemed to weave itself around the Holy Table, encircling Saint Sergius as he performed the sacred service. And when the Saint was about to receive Holy Communion, the divine fire gathered itself together “like a wondrous veil” and entered into the Holy Chalice. Thus the servant of God partook of this fire “without being consumed, like the bush of old that burned without being consumed...”
Simon was struck with awe at such a vision and stood trembling in silence, but it did not escape Saint Sergius that his disciple had been granted this revelation. After receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ, he stepped away from the Holy Altar and asked Simon:
“Why is your spirit so troubled, my child?”
“I saw the grace of the Holy Spirit working with you, Father,” Simon replied.
“See that you tell no one what you have seen until the Lord calls me from this life,” Saint Sergius commanded him.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
