February: Day 2: Teaching 4: The Reception of the Lord

February: Day 2: Teaching 4:
The Reception of the Lord
 
(On the Motivations for our Precise Fulfillment of God’s Law)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Evangelist Luke, describing the Reception of Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple, which is now celebrated (Luke 2:22-39), says that at this event the earthly parents of the Savior did everything as was prescribed in the Old Testament law of God. They went to Jerusalem with the newborn Jesus Christ when, after His birth, the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, that is, forty days (Lev. 12:1-4); they brought this firstborn of theirs to the Jerusalem Temple to present or dedicate Him to the Lord, because in the law of the Lord it was prescribed that every male child who opens the womb, or the firstborn, should be dedicated to the Lord (Ex. 13:2). Then, again according to the law of God, they sacrificed two young pigeons (Lev. 12:8). In short, it was only when they returned from Jerusalem to their city of Nazareth that they had done everything according to the law of the Lord. So respected did they respect the law of God and so strove to fulfill it in everything!

April: Day 9: Teaching 1: Venerable Martyr Vadim

April: Day 9: Teaching 1:
Venerable Martyr Vadim
 
(You Must Listen To the Voice of Your Conscience)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Venerable Martyr Vadim, whose memory is celebrated today, lived in the 4th century in a Persian city during the reign of King Shapur. Having built a monastery outside the city at his own expense, he lived there. At that time, the sun and fire were worshiped in Persia. Shapur began to persecute Christians. Many of them were imprisoned, including Vadim. Unfortunately, not all of them were firm in their faith; some renounced their faith. Among those who renounced was a certain Prince Nersan. Shapur demanded that Nersan kill Vadim as proof of his sincere renunciation. Nersan agreed, but as soon as he raised his hand with the sword, his conscience began to speak in him, he trembled, and his hand dropped. But Nersan did not listen to the voice of conscience, again raised his trembling hand with the sword and, although not once, beheaded the monk, who fearlessly accepted a martyr's death.
 

The Image of our Society and the Church (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

  

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Various antisocial behaviors that provoke us all as well as the social sentiment of justice are published daily. Violent behavior from person to person cannot be justified, but neither can the image of our society, which we have shaped in our own way, be forgotten.

I think the issue that the Church must address as quickly as possible is the secularization not only of society, but also of the very nature of ecclesiastical life. I say this because a society that receives various influences, due to globalization, is constantly changing and is being de-ecclesiastical or de-religious by the various traditional models it has. This cannot be stopped in secular ways, and this also affects the members of the Church.

Homily for the Epistle Reading of the Second Sunday After Pentecost - On the Conscience (St. Luke of Simferopol)

Homily for the Epistle Reading of the Second Sunday After Pentecost

Romans 2:9-11

On the Conscience

By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered in 1954)

I want you to delve deeper into the apostolic reading from the 2nd chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans: “Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:9-11).

Oh, how it is necessary for us to remember these words of blessed Paul: after all, he reminds us that punishment awaits us for every evil deed, and for a life full of evil deeds, eternal anguish and sorrow awaits in the kingdom of darkness; and for all the good that we do - eternal glory and honor in the kingdom of eternal light, for God will reward everyone according to his deeds.