Homily for the Resurrection of the Lord (St. Cleopa of Sihastria)

Homily for the Resurrection of the Lord 

By St. Cleopa of Sihastria

"Christ has risen from the dead, being the firstfruits (of the resurrection) of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20)

"Christ is risen!"

Beloved faithful,

Today we celebrate the feast of feasts and the festival of festivals. Today there is spiritual joy everywhere in the Christian world. Today our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ has illumined all things by His Resurrection. Heaven and earth rightly rejoice, for the light of the Lord’s Resurrection has filled heaven and earth and Hades with light, and those who were held in the bonds of death He has brought, through the descent of the Savior into Hades, to eternal joy with the hope of the resurrection. Today Christ, our life, has laid a new foundation for the human race by His Resurrection and has crowned all the glorious miracles He performed on earth.

Today is the day of the Resurrection of the Lord, the victory of reconciliation, the overthrow of war, the destruction of death, and the defeat of the devil. Today it is fitting for us to repeat the words of the Orophet Isaiah: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (Hosea 13:14; 1 Cor. 15:55). Today the Lord Jesus Christ has shattered the bronze gates and has even changed the very name of death, for it is no longer called death, but "sleep." Before the coming of Christ and the dispensation of the Cross, even the very name of death was greatly feared. For the first man, after he was created by God, was threatened with death: "From the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat; for in the day you eat of it, you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:17).

Prologue in Sermons: March 19

Against Grudges

March 19

(A Discourse of Anastasios, Abbot of Sinai, "On Not Having Anger")

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many people, harboring resentment against their neighbor, pay little attention to the fact that resentment greatly harms the salvation of their soul. While bearing ill will against their brothers, they at the same time pray to God, go to church, receive the Holy Mysteries, give alms, and do other good works — and they think that this is as it should be: that resentment is one thing and good works another, and that one does not interfere with the other. But they are mistaken.

The Lord does not accept even the prayers of those who hold evil in their hearts; He rejects their almsgiving and does not forgive them, until they uproot the evil from their heart and are reconciled with their neighbor. Let us hear how Saint Anastasios, Abbot of Sinai, teaches about this in his discourse "On Not Having Anger."

Homily Two for Cheesefare Sunday (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily Two for Cheesefare Sunday 

By St. John of Kronstadt

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt. 6:14).

This present Sunday is called among the Orthodox Russian people “Forgiveness Sunday,” from the good and pious custom of asking one another’s forgiveness before the Great Fast and preparation for Holy Communion. This custom has taken firm root from the command of the Savior, who in today’s Gospel enjoins us to forgive one another’s sins, if we desire that our Heavenly Father also forgive our sins — He whom we grieve and anger without number every day and every hour.

Since beginning tomorrow the Great Fast commences, and we all, according to Christian custom, intend to cast off from ourselves the heavy burden of sins; and since this casting off of the sinful burden requires some self-denial on our part and some spiritual skill, the Lord teaches us what exactly is required from us so that our sins may be forgiven completely, without remainder — what we must relinquish on our part, given that the Lord God, on His part, is always ready to have mercy and to save repentant sinners. Namely, He says that what is required of us is simplicity and freedom from malice, absence of anger, forgetting of offenses, friendliness, love toward enemies.

Holy Martyr Nikephoros in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Nikephoros lived in the time of the emperors Valerian and Gallienus and was a simple layman. He also had a Christian friend, a presbyter of the Church named Saprikios, who, through demonic influence, came to hate Saint Nikephoros and harbored resentment against him. When Saprikios was arrested by the pagans and endured many tortures for the faith of Christ, Saint Nikephoros sent intermediaries to him, asking for forgiveness, but Saprikios would not listen to them.

Then Saint Nikephoros saw that Saprikios was being led to the place where his head would be cut off, so he ran and fell at his feet, begging for forgiveness. And although he reminded him of the laws of Christ concerning reconciliation among people, Saprikios would not relent. Saprikios had passed through many tortures and the hour was approaching for him to receive the crown and the rewards from Christ. Yet even when only a short time remained before his beheading, he would not grant forgiveness. For this reason, he was stripped of God’s help and said to the executioners: “Leave me, and I will sacrifice to the gods.”

When Saint Nikephoros saw this, he surrendered himself to the executioners and confessed Christ with boldness. Then, by the command of the tyrant, they cut off his head, and thus the Saint swiftly received the rewards of love, which he strove to put into practice for the sake of Christ, the Giver of love.

Homily on the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (Righteous Alexei Mechev)

Homily on the Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost*

By Righteous Alexei Mechev

(Delivered on August 10, 1914)

One slave owed the king 10 thousand talents (about 26 million rubles). The king forgave the slave this debt. But the slave turned out to be extremely angry and ungrateful: one of his companions owed him a hundred denarii (21 rubles 50 kopecks), and he did not want to forgive him or wait for the debt to be paid, and for this he was forever imprisoned.

Friends! The Heavenly Father acts with us, sinners, in the same way as this generous and merciful King. But we often, like this evil slave, do not want to forgive anything to our neighbor, and for that we will be severely punished.

Forgiving others for their guilt is necessary for our salvation. After all, we are all sinners without exception. Each of us has offended God many thousands of times. We are consoled by the paternal indulgence and mercy of God and hope for forgiveness. And it is truly given to us. God Himself offers it to us. But He set conditions, and if we do not fulfill these conditions, then, despite God's mercy, we die in sin.

June: Day 9: Teaching 2: Venerable Cyril of White Lake

June: Day 9: Teaching 2:
Venerable Cyril of White Lake

(On the Means of Achieving Christian Peace Among People)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. There was in the Monastery of the Venerable Cyril of White Lake, commemorated today, a monk named Theodotus, who, without knowing why, began to hate his abbot, and in this hatred he became so embittered that he could not only look at him with indifference, but also hated hearing his voice. No matter how much the other monks admonished him, no matter how much they proved that Venerable Cyril was worthy of all their love and even reverence, Theodotus could not or would not be healed of his illness. Finally, unable to bear the abbot, he decided to leave the monastery and went to Venerable Cyril to tell him about it. Venerable Cyril knew the reason for his departure, knew of his malice against him, and yet received him with fatherly love and affection. Theodotus was ashamed of the venerable gray hair of his superior and did not know what to say to him. Then the insightful Cyril, taking him by the hand, instead of any reproaches and censure, said: "Beloved brother in Christ! All were deceived and sinned, considering me a good man; you alone judged truly, having learned my sins and malice. But I trust in the mercy of my Lord, that He will help me to correct myself, and you forgive me my annoyances and insults and pray for me to Him Who does not want the death of a sinner." The monk, deeply struck by the humility of the elder, fell at his feet and with tears admitted that he hated him in vain, asking for forgiveness. From that time on, Theodotus found peace in his soul and began to love his mentor more than anyone else.

April: Day 8: Teaching 1: Venerable Niphon, Bishop of Novgorod

April: Day 8: Teaching 1:
Venerable Niphon, Bishop of Novgorod
 
(On Christian Peace With One’s Neighbors and the Means To Achieve It)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Niphon, whose memory is celebrated today, in the world Niketas, was brought up in a pious family, from childhood showed a pious disposition and, after the death of his parents, while still young, decided to devote himself to the service of God. Having sold his property for the benefit of the poor, he took monastic vows in the Kiev Caves Monastery, under Abbot Timothy. Here he soon acquired from those who saw his ascetic life that respect which he later enjoyed from both princes and people.

In order to thoroughly study the canons and customs of the Church, he traveled to the East. Upon his return from there, already known for his experience, wisdom and firmness of piety, he was chosen by the prince, brethren and people and consecrated in Kiev in 1131 as Bishop of Novgorod. He declared himself in the episcopal field, among other things, as a "reconciler of princes". Thus, in 1135, Bishop Niphon, with his admonitions, imbued with humility and love, stopped the discord that had arisen between the people of Kiev, Chernigov and Novgorod, who were already preparing to act against each other. Venerable Niphon died in Kiev, where he had arrived to meet the new Metropolitan, and was buried in the Kiev Caves Monastery, after a prophetic dream about this.

March: Day 31: Teaching 1: Hieromartyr Hypatios, Bishop of Gangra

March: Day 31: Teaching 1:
Hieromartyr Hypatios, Bishop of Gangra
 
(On Love For Enemies)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Hieromartyr Hypatios, celebrated today, was Bishop of the city of Gangra, in Paphlagonia of Asia, and lived in the 4th century. He was present at the First Ecumenical Synod. For his God-pleasing life he was granted the gift of healing illnesses and casting out demons from people. The heretics destroyed him because he greatly affected them. Once, when the Saint was returning from Constantinople, they rushed at him from a hidden place with sticks and beat him to death. The Saint, like the Lord Himself and the Holy Archdeacon Stephen, prayed for his enemies. The murderers were not discovered and punished by human judgment, but the Lord Himself discovered and punished them with a grave illness, so that they repented and received healing at the grave of the Saint.

Homily on the Sunday of Forgiveness (Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov)

Homily on the Sunday of Forgiveness

On Forgiving Offenses

By Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

(Delivered in 1963)

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

Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, from tomorrow we enter upon the great feat of holy fasting. What is the best way to begin this great feat? The Holy Church guides us on the holy path of fasting and repentance with the Gospel commandment about reconciliation with all our brethren in Christ Jesus, about the remission and forgiveness of all their sins against us. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," says the Lord Himself in the Gospel read today, "but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14:15). This is the first and necessary condition for our reconciliation with God, cleansing and justification from sins.

Without this wholehearted reconciliation with everyone, without this extinguishing of mutual grievances and enmity, one cannot approach the Lord, nor even begin the very path of fasting and repentance. Why? Because, first of all, the Lord our God Himself is the God of peace, and not of discord (cf. 1 Cor. 14:33). How can one appear before His face who harbors enmity and malice in his heart, who does not have peace and love with everyone and holiness? "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).

February: Day 27: Teaching 1: Venerable Titus of the Kiev Caves

February: Day 27: Teaching 1:
Venerable Titus of the Kiev Caves
 
(Lessons From His Life:
a. Friends Should Be Chosen With Caution;
b. One Should Make Peace With One's Neighbor As Soon As Possible; and
c. Always Remember That Death Can Creep Up Unexpectedly)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. At the end of the 12th century, in the Kiev Caves Lavra, as the eyewitness blessed Simon wrote, there lived two brothers in spirit: the priest Titus, whose memory is celebrated today, and the deacon Evagrius; they were friends and loved each other. Such good relations of the monks were unpleasant only to the hater of goodness – the devil. He sowed such enmity and hatred between them that the former friends could not look at each other; with anger in their hearts they prayed and served God. The brethren tried to reconcile them, but they could not. But then God himself admonished the sinner. The priest Titus fell seriously ill and, having no hope of recovery, began to weep bitterly about his sin (i.e. about his hatred of the deacon). Wanting to reconcile with his enemy Evagrius, he called him to him. Evagrius not only did not go to the sick man, but began to slander him again and revile him with offensive reproaches. The brethren of the monastery, seeing Titus dying, forcibly brought the deacon to the bed. The sick man rose with difficulty, fell at Evagrius' feet and said with tears: "Forgive me and bless me." He turned away from the sick man and said: "I do not want to say goodbye to him either in this or the age to come." Having said this, the proud and spiteful Evagrius broke free from the hands of the monks who were holding him. But then something unusual happened - Evagrius fell down lifeless, having been completely healthy until that hour. Malice had so distorted his body that it was impossible to bend his arms, or close his mouth and eyes. And the sick Titus at the same time rose from his bed healthy. "What happened to you?" the brothers asked him.

February: Day 9: Holy Martyr Nikephoros

February: Day 9:
Holy Martyr Nikephoros
 
(On the Need To Make Peace With Enemies)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyr Nikephoros, whose memory is celebrated today, was a layman and was in great friendship with one priest, Saprikios, but due to some circumstances this friendship subsequently not only cooled, but also turned into enmity.

Nikephoros, however, gradually softened and tried to make peace with Saprikios. Saprikios, on the contrary, did not want to hear about reconciliation.

Meanwhile, at this time, a persecution of Christians began. The priest Saprikios was one of the first to be tortured. He endured them with fortitude, and was finally condemned to death. Having learned of this, Nikephoros hastened to ask forgiveness from the martyr. But although Saprikios had enough spiritual strength to accomplish the feat, at the same time he did not have enough love or humility in his heart to make peace with his enemy. He did not pity or forgive his former friend, who tearfully begged him for reconciliation, who now suffered for him, for Saprikios the martyr, who was depriving himself of the crown of victory through his vindictiveness.

January: Day 25: Teaching 1: Saint Gregory the Theologian

January: Day 25: Teaching 1:
Saint Gregory the Theologian
 
(On Reconciliation With Neighbors)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Gregory, Archbishop of Constantinople, whose memory is celebrated today, was famous for his exalted life. By the desire of the Emperor Theodosius and the people, Gregory was elected to the see of Constantinople and presided over the Second Ecumenical Synod. But when a dispute arose at the Synod over this election, the Holy Hierarch voluntarily resigned the see of Constantinople. “I willingly follow the Prophet Jonah,” said Saint Gregory, renouncing his office, “for the salvation of the ship (that is, the Church) I am ready to sacrifice myself.” After this, Saint Gregory devoted himself to a strict hermit life: he lived among the rocks, near beasts, walked barefoot, wore poor clothes, slept on the bare ground and never lit a fire to warm his body. He left behind many remarkable works, for which, especially for his works on God the Word, the Savior of the world, he was called "the Theologian". Like Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, he is called a Great and Universal Teacher. He died in 389.

Homily One for the Eleventh Sunday of Matthew - Seeing Our Own Sins in the Lives of Others (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered on September 9, 1945)

The Lord Jesus Christ often shakes our hearts with His words and parables, showing us the limits of human wickedness and sinfulness. The behavior of an immensely hard-hearted debtor, to whom the good king forgave a huge debt of ten thousand talents, is deeply outrageous. And what does he do when he receives this grace? Having met a poor man who owes him an insignificant amount of one hundred denarii, he grabs him by the throat and strangles him, despite the fact that from the mouth of the unfortunate man he hears the same words that he himself spoke before the king: “Be patient with me, and I will give everything to you.” But he does not want to endure and puts his debtor in prison (see Matt. 18:23–35). What could be more outrageous?

Homilies on the Litany of Completion of the Divine Liturgy - The Remission of Sins (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

The Litany of Completion of the Divine Liturgy 

 

The Remission of Sins

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

 

One of the requests of the "completions" that we are interpreting in the Sunday sermons of this summer also refers to our day being perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless. This can be realized by Christ's friends with His own Grace and their own synergy. However, this is not done by all of us, that is why we usually taste from the bitter cup of failure. We fail to keep God's commandments, to respond to His love and, of course, then our sorrow is great, the pain is deep.

This is the reason why we feel the need to pray to God to forgive us: "For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord."

Homily Three for the Vespers of Forgiveness (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

 By St. Luke, Archbishop of of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered in 1959 - Cheesefare Sunday)

Every year on this holy evening of Forgiveness Sunday there is great joy for all good Christians and for us, your shepherds, for you come in great numbers to breathe in the divine fragrance of the most important and at the same time the simplest words of Christ: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15).

When a certain scribe asked the Lord Jesus Christ which commandment is the greatest in the Law, He answered him: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind: this is the first and greatest commandment; the second is similar to it: love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39).

Homily Two for the Vespers of Forgiveness (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

By St. Luke, Archbishop of of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered on March 2, 1952 - Cheesefare Sunday)

"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:15).

Oh, what simple, yet profoundly, profoundly correct words! What deep truth in them!

Well, tell me, if a person hates his offender so much that he does not want to forgive him in any way, does he deserve forgiveness from God? Oh no, of course not.