FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

How Can We Be Saved?

Many people sometimes say: “How can we be saved? We are worldly people, sinners; all our lives we bustle about and sin: cares and concerns have overwhelmed us.” It is sad, brethren, to hear such words from an Orthodox Christian. Pagans who lived before the coming of Jesus Christ into the world, who did not know His teaching, had not been baptized into the Orthodox faith, and had not partaken of the Holy Mysteries, might have spoken in this way. But we, the beloved children of Christ, ought neither to think nor to speak thus, for the path to salvation has been shown to us. It is spoken of, for example, in the Gospel that you heard today during the Liturgy. Let us read it once more and reflect upon what we have read: 

 

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I also will confess before My Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before men, him I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32–33).

Do you hear? The Lord requires of the one who seeks salvation that he be His confessor before men. But what does this mean? To understand this, listen to how the Holy Apostle Paul speaks of the same thing: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9). This, first of all, is what it means to be a confessor of Christ: not only to believe in Him in your soul, but also openly to declare with your lips that you believe in Him; not to conceal your faith from others, not to be ashamed of it, but boldly and openly to show yourself to be a Christian. We speak plainly and fearlessly that our earthly fatherland is Orthodox Russia. In the same plain and fearless manner, confess that you believe also in another Fatherland—the Heavenly One—and that you walk under the protection of the Lord who is in heaven. Yet this alone is not enough to be a true confessor of Jesus Christ. He Himself said elsewhere: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Therefore verbal confession alone is not enough for the Lord—He also expects from us confession in deed, so that all our actions may accord with His will, and so that we may likewise openly and boldly show ourselves everywhere and always to be Christians by our deeds. Judge for yourselves: if one of you had a son who praised his father with words but offended him by his actions, would not his father say to him, “My son, your affectionate words are not enough for me; prove by your deeds that you love me”? So too we say: “We are an Orthodox people; we are not Jews or Tatars,” but we must demonstrate by our deeds that we are an Orthodox people, enlightened by the light of Christ’s gospel. A living example for us in this regard is the holy confessors of Christ. They lived long ago, in those centuries when the Church of Christ was still persecuted by pagan emperors. These pagan emperors searched everywhere for Christians and brought them before their tribunals. “Who are you?” they asked the Christian. “What is your name?” “I am a Christian,” the holy champion of the faith of Christ courageously replied, and fearlessly went to the most cruel tortures and to death itself for his Orthodox faith. This is what it means to be a confessor of Christ.

Prologue in Sermons: June 3

To Those Who Cannot Get Along in One Place and Are Looking for Something New

June 3

(The Teaching of Saint Ephraim on the Impropriety of a Monk Moving from Place to Place)
 
By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are many, very many people in the world who live by the proverb, “It is better where we are not,” and who continually move from one place to another. In most cases, this is not praiseworthy. What most often compels us to change our place of residence? General dissatisfaction with life, laziness, the pursuit of gain, an inability to get along with others, or, finally, envy of our neighbors. All these are blameworthy motives. Only pressing necessity can justify the desire to change one's place. Therefore, if you wish to leave where you now live, first examine whether your motives are pure and whether necessity truly compels you to do so. Reflect carefully, reflect as a Christian; and if your motives are indeed pure and necessity genuinely requires it, then go. But if not, it is better to remain where you are, for otherwise you will not avoid sin, and you certainly will not receive God's blessing or happiness in a new place.

May: Day 25: Teaching 3: On the Birthday of Her Imperial Majesty, the Most Pious Sovereign Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

May: Day 25: Teaching 3:
On the Birthday of Her Imperial Majesty, the Most Pious Sovereign Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
 
(How Should the Gift of Life Be Used?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today our national Church gratefully commemorates and celebrates the birth of our Most Pious Sovereign Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and prays to the Lord that He may grant her many years in health and unchanging prosperity. The gift of life, beloved brethren, is immeasurably great for every individual person, as the gift of rational and free life, to which immortality has been promised, as a gift accompanied throughout a man’s life by countless sweet blessings from the Creator, especially in the life of a Christian. But the gift of the life of the Empress, the Mother of the Russian people, who lightens the heavy burden of rule borne by her sovereign husband the Emperor — the gift, I say, of life, precious for her, is also precious for the whole people, because her life has brought and continues to bring many blessings to the entire nation. Therefore it would be great ingratitude on our part before God and before the sacred person of the Empress not to celebrate this day with hymns of thanksgiving and praises to the Lord flowing from the grateful hearts of the great Russian people.

Nominal Christians: A Homily on the Epistle Reading for the Fifth Sunday After Pascha

By Presbyter Nikolaos Gonidakis,
Priest of the Holy Church of the Prophet Elijah, Nees Pagases, Volos

Today our Holy Church presents to us the unceasing and rapid spread of the gospel, according to the Apostolic reading (Acts 11:19–30), my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

A sorrowful event, the death by stoning of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, became the occasion for the faithful to break the bonds that had confined the teaching of Christ to Judea and for its universal journey to begin.

After this murder took place, the persecution of the first believers “flared up,” with the result that they decided to leave Jerusalem and spread beyond their limited boundaries.

Thus the joyful message now reached Phoenicia, present-day Lebanon, a coastal region, the island of Cyprus, and Antioch, a historic city of the Middle East.

At first, they preached only to the Jews. But upon entering Antioch, some from Cyprus and Cyrene began speaking also to the Greeks of the region, with the result that many of them rejected idols and joined the Christian community.

Prologue in Sermons: April 28

 

 

To Those Who Trade

April 28

(A word from the the Leimonarion about a monk who sold head coverings.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are honest merchants who have in their hearts the fear of God and therefore do not deceive buyers, and who trade only for their livelihood. And there are dishonest merchants, people of gain, who think only of one thing — how to deceive those who buy. For the correction of the latter we propose the following account.

Prologue in Sermons: April 25

The Reasons for Spiritual Laziness in Us

April 25

(A Word from the Paterikon)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Once a hermit was conversing with a brother about spiritual benefit. During the conversation, the listener grew heavily drowsy, so much so that he could not even raise his eyes. But when the speaker changed the subject and began to speak idle things, the drowsy one immediately came to himself, rejoiced, and began to listen attentively to the idle talk (Prol. Apr. 25).

We have related this brief story to you, brethren, because, in our opinion, it applies more closely than to anyone else to Christians of today — and not only to some, but to very many. Indeed, let us look at ourselves impartially. Here comes the Lord’s Feast; the church bells summon to church; conscience also commands us to go there; but how difficult it is, for example, to rise for Matins! All your infirmities will rise up here, and despondency and a certain kind of discontent will weigh you down.

Prologue in Sermons: April 19

Our Firmness in the Faith Causes Even our Enemies to Respect Us

April 19

(A word from the Paterikon about the widow whom the prince had mercy on because of the humility of her son.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Why is it, brethren, that it often happens that even many good Christians avoid us, do not fulfill our requests, and despise us? It often happens because good Christians see in us bad Christians who do not keep the commandments of God; they see us limping on both knees. But if we were to live differently, if we showed before all our firm faith and a life according to faith, then things would be different.

April: Day 18: Teaching 1: Venerable John, Disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis

April: Day 18: Teaching 1:
Venerable John, Disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis
 
(On How We Can Participate in Spreading Truth and Goodness)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable John, commemorated today by the Church, was a disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis (whose memory is kept on November 20). From his youth he loved the ascetic life, came to Gregory, and struggled under his guidance. Venerable John and Gregory lived in the 9th century, during the iconoclastic heresy. Both of them left their place of safety and came to Constantinople, where the heresy was especially strong, in order to strengthen the faithful in Orthodoxy. There Saint Gregory soon reposed; but John continued his ascetic labors until his own death, which occurred in the year 820.

We see, brethren, that during the persecution of the holy icons by the iconoclast emperor (Leo the Armenian), Venerable John left his safe solitude and went to the capital of the Greek Empire in order to strengthen the faint-hearted and those wavering in the truth of the Orthodox teaching concerning the veneration of holy icons. Thus clearly he understood his moral duty to teach others the truth and a virtuous life.

The example of Venerable John reminds us also, brethren, of our duty to take part in spreading truth and goodness among our neighbors and among all who have departed from truth and piety.

Prologue in Sermons: April 2

Weapons Against Enemies

April 2

(A Word from the Leimonarion about robbers who took things from an elder.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

“Do not be overcome by evil,” says the Apostle, “but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). What do these words indicate? That fire is not extinguished with oil; that is, evil cannot be stopped or cut off by evil, and that the evil we suffer from our enemies and offenders can be stopped and overcome only by good.

What, then, are the means by which we overcome evil with good?

The first means is to do some good to your enemy. Once robbers came to an elder and said to him: “Whatever you have in your cell, we will take.” And they took everything, forgetting one sackcloth. The elder took this sackcloth, ran after them, and, handing it to them, said in turn: “My children, you forgot this also.” This act so touched the robbers that they returned to the elder everything they had taken, repented, and said: “Truly, this man is a man of God” (Prologue, April 2).

The second means is to humble oneself before the enemy. Two bishops quarreled with each other. One of them was rich, the other poor. The rich one sought an opportunity to harm the poor one. The poor bishop, learning of this, said to his clergy: “We shall conquer him.” The clergy answered: “Who can stand against him, master?” “Wait and you will see,” said the poor bishop. And so, when the rich bishop was walking surrounded by a multitude of people, the poor bishop fell at his feet with all his clergy and cried out: “Forgive us, master, we are your servants!” The other, struck by this, himself fell at the feet of the poor bishop and said: “You are my master and father!” And from that time there was great love between them (Leimonarion, ch. 208).

Prologue in Sermons: March 23

What Does Complete Renunciation of the World Consist In?

March 23

(A word about a merchant who entered the monastic rank and was saved.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

I ask you, brethren, what must one do in order to renounce the world completely? What will you say to this? You will say: “One must go into monasticism.” That is true, brethren, I agree with you, but still, in my opinion, this alone is not enough; something more is required. What is it?

Once the Venerable Paphnutios prayed to God that He would show him to whom he was comparable. And the Lord revealed this to him. He heard a voice saying to him: “You are like a merchant seeking good pearls. Arise, then, do not be slothful, and you will find one like yourself.” Paphnutios left his cell and met a certain man from Alexandria, very rich and at the same time pious and merciful. This man conducted great trade with the Thebaid and had three ships transporting his goods. Everything that he gained from his trade he gave to the poor, and his servants followed him carrying food for them as well. Seeing this, Paphnutios exclaimed: “What does this mean, my friend?” The pious merchant replied: “These are the fruits of my trade, offered to God through the hands of the righteous.” Paphnutios said: “And when will you receive the monastic name?” “I will try to do so,” answered the merchant. Paphnutios continued: “How long will you carry on earthly trade and forget the heavenly? The latter is higher than the former. Leave all earthly things now and follow the Savior, and soon you will depart entirely to Him.” After this, the pious merchant gave all his possessions to the poor, keeping nothing for himself, went to the mountain where two monks had died before him, and there, shutting himself in a cave, he soon left his earthly body and became a citizen of heaven.

Prologue in Sermons: March 5

Against Those Who Love to Move from Place to Place

March 5

(From the homilies of Saint John Chrysostom on those who say that it is impossible to be saved in the world.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

“One is well off where one is not,” says a popular proverb, reproaching those who are dissatisfied with their situation. Sadly, nothing is so widespread among us as this dissatisfaction. It seems to us that if only we changed our place, we would become incomparably happier; if our way of life were altered as we wish, we would become far better — more God-fearing, more holy.

But is this really so? Would we truly change for the better if our dreams came true? Would we really become more God-fearing and holier? Hardly. Let Saint John Chrysostom speak to us about this.

“Place will not save us,” he says, “if we do not do the will of God. Neither an honorable rank nor a holy place brings any benefit to the one who does not keep the commandments of God. What rank could be higher than that with which Adam was honored before his fall? And what place is better than Paradise, from which he was expelled?

March: Day 2: Teaching 1: Holy Hieromartyr Theodotos, Bishop of Kyrenia

 

March: Day 2: Teaching 1:
Holy Hieromartyr Theodotos, Bishop of Kyrenia

 
 (An Example of a Godly Life is the Best Sermon)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Theodotos, whose memory is celebrated today, preached the teaching of Christ (at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth century) on the island of Cyprus, where he was appointed bishop in the city of Kyrenia. By his word and by the example of his own life he powerfully influenced the pagans and converted many of them to Christ.

When, under Licinius, a persecution of Christians broke out, the governor of the city ordered the Christian bishop to be brought to trial. Theodotos himself appeared before him and said:

“Here is the one whom you summon to judgment. I do not hide myself, but have come of my own accord to bear witness to the true God.”

In response to these words the governor ordered Theodotos to be subjected to the most cruel tortures. He was beaten with straps, torn with sharp iron instruments, and laid upon iron heated in the fire. Theodotos endured all these torments with wondrous patience and only prayed to God to strengthen him and all the persecuted Christians.

Prologue in Sermons: January 21

How One Should Speak with Simple, Illiterate People about the Salvation of the Soul

January 21

(From the Instruction of Saint Basil on Virtue.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are many simple, illiterate people who are not acquainted either with the Scriptures or with the power contained in them. How, brethren, should you — the educated — relate to such people, and how should you instruct them? You may say: “This is not our concern; this pertains to you, the spiritual shepherds.” No, that is not true. “For teachers alone are not sufficient for the instruction of everyone individually, but God desires that each person instruct and edify another,” says the blessed Theophylact. And the Apostle Paul teaches: “Therefore comfort one another and edify one another” (1 Thess. 5:11). And Chrysostom adds: “Even if we correct everything in ourselves, yet do not benefit our neighbor, we shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

What then, you will say, should we do? This is what: when you speak with a simple person about the salvation of the soul, speak with him as simply as possible, and all will be well. “But what should we say to him?” you will object again. Say whatever the Lord places upon your heart.

Prologue in Sermons: January 15

Careful Reflection on the Things We See in the World Can Give Us Lessons That Are Saving For Us

January 15

(Instruction on the Heavenly Kingdom and on Eternal Punishment)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Holy Fathers teach that the whole visible world which we see is, as it were, a book from which we may learn how to build the salvation of our soul. “Just as the author of a book,” teaches Saint Tikhon of Voronezh, “brings forth words from his own mind and writes them on paper, and in this way composes a book, and as it were makes something out of nothing; so the wise and almighty Creator created everything that He had in His divine mind and that He willed, and composed, as it were, a book consisting of two pages, that is, heaven and earth” (Spiritual Treasury, part 1, “The World”). “Every thing and all the creations of God,” writes Saint Basil the Great, “are the same as letters by which we read.” Thus, brethren, the Holy Fathers teach. Let us attend to this teaching and try to understand: how does the world serve as a book for us? How are we to read this book, and how are we to draw from it lessons for our salvation? To resolve these questions, let us turn directly to the matter.

Prologue in Sermons: December 15

To the Young Monks on How One Should Conduct Oneself in Order To Be Saved

December 15
 
(A Teaching From the Sayings of Father Moses, Which He Sent to Abba Poemen)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Young, inexperienced monks often get carried away in their judgments about salvation, giving free rein to their fervent imaginations. Some seek miracles, others interpret the words of God and the writings of the Holy Fathers as they please, and still others engage in fruitless debates about faith with hot-blooded and unreasonable people. And what comes of this? Such monks become like poisoned fish, often going mad or becoming a laughingstock to others. How can we reason with such people, and what can we say to them? We say simply: believe with simplicity of heart, do not be too clever, and you will be saved. They will ask: what should we do then? We answer: here's what.

December: Day 6: Teaching 2: Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra

December: Day 6: Teaching 2:
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
 
(Dangers to People of All Ages and Means of Protection Against Them)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Nicholas, who is celebrated today, both in life and now, was a zealous assistant in navigation. While still a priest, he set sail for Jerusalem to venerate the Holy Sepulchre. Suddenly, a storm arose and the ship began to be swamped by waves. Those sailing with him began to ask him to pray for salvation. He began to pray fervently, and the storm began to subside. The sea soon became completely calm, and everyone's sorrow and fear turned to joy and jubilation.

II. Few of us, brethren, have had or will have to experience the dangers of seafaring; but all of us, without exception, are subject to the dangers of another kind — that of sailing on the sea of life. Yes, in life, as at sea, we are surrounded by dangers everywhere, surrounded in childhood as well as in youth, in manhood as well as in old age.

November: Day 30: Teaching 2: Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

November: Day 30: Teaching 2:
Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
 
(The Call of Believers to Salvation and our Indifference to This Call)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. One day, during the first year of His public ministry to humanity, Jesus Christ was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was then still little known to the world as a Preacher and was just gathering His first followers, His disciples, around Him. Seeing two young brothers, Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — later known as the Apostle Andrew, the First-Called, whose memory is celebrated today — casting their nets into the sea, the Savior, as if in passing, said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The brothers did not question their divine Master about who He was, by what power He commanded them, or where He would lead them, but immediately abandoned their nets and followed the Savior. Walking with them further, Jesus Christ saw two more brothers, James and John, sitting with their father Zebedee in a boat, mending their nets. The Son of God, who sees into the hearts and innermost thoughts of men, called these young men, and they immediately responded with complete readiness to the voice calling them: they left their father, the boat, and the nets and followed Jesus.

Prologue in Sermons: October 26

The Good We Do To Others Turns Into Good For Ourselves

October 26

(On Muschus the Tax Collector, How He Showed Mercy To The Poor Woman and Did Not Touch Her)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The fifth beatitude, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," shows us that those who desire blessedness must be merciful. This commandment can be fulfilled through physical and spiritual works of mercy. Physical works of mercy are: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting one in prison, visiting the sick, welcoming a stranger into one's home and giving rest, and burying the poor dead. Spiritual works of mercy are as follows: teaching the ignorant truth and goodness, giving good and timely advice to one's neighbor in difficulty or unnoticed danger, praying to God for him, comforting the sad, not repaying the evil done to us by others, forgiving offenses from the heart and turning the sinner away from sin. I now intend to say a few words to you about this final act of spiritual mercy, in conjunction with material mercy. As great as a person's misfortune is, brethren, when he stands on the path to destruction, so great is the virtue of the one who saves the perishing. Such a person will save his soul from death and cover the multitude of his 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 16

Everyday Affairs and Needs Do Not Hinder Our Salvation

September 16

(From the Leimonarion: On Dorotheos the Hermit)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev 

He who stops caring about his salvation, becomes lazy about going to church and praying to God at home, always begins to blame his negligence on work. “I am sinful,” such a person usually says, “but there is nothing I can do. And I would be glad sometimes to pray, to think about my salvation, but work has overcome me. I have done one thing, and lo and behold, another is hanging over my shoulders. I have done this, and the third has arrived,” etc. Such a person says this in his own defense, and it turns out, according to him, that one is saved only by sitting with folded hands, that in order to please God, one must be free from all work, not know any worldly occupations, and not bear any labors at all. Let us see if this is really so?