Prologue in Sermons: October 4

Where to Find Patience in Sorrows

October 4

(From the Discourse on Andrew, in which Christ spoke to him in a vision, concerning foolishness for Christ’s sake and eternal life.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In order that we may more often remember that our homeland is in Heaven and become less attached to earthly things, that we may become accustomed to humility, and that we may prepare ourselves worthily for the Kingdom of Heaven, we have been appointed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven by a sorrowful path. “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), Jesus Christ teaches us. “And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), says the Apostle Paul.

But in order for this sorrowful path to have value in the eyes of God, it is necessary that we walk it with patience. And where shall we find it? First, from the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in a poor cave and was laid not in a cradle, but in a manger. Immediately after His Birth, they sought to kill Him, and He had to flee to a foreign and distant land. Throughout His life, He had nowhere to lay His head. For countless acts of kindness, He was repaid with evil alone. They mocked Him, reviled Him, spoke evil against Him, beat Him, spat in His face, and finally crucified Him between criminals. Let us more often picture Him who for our sake became poor, took the form of a servant, was weighed down by slanders, was filled to the depths of His soul with sorrow for our sins, was covered with wounds, crushed by insults, crucified, abandoned by all, and all this because of our sins—and then, seeing how insignificant our sorrows are compared with the Sorrows of the Savior, we will become less despondent and less weakened by them, and the struggle that lies before us will seem light to us.

THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PASCHA - SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

The Healing of the Man Born Blind

Once, when Jesus was in Jerusalem, performing miracles and preaching His teaching, His enemies became so enraged that they wanted to stone Him. But He departed from them and, as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.

His disciples asked Him: “Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be revealed in him.”

The Lord had compassion on the unfortunate blind man. Spitting on the ground, He made clay, anointed the blind man’s eyes with it, and said to him: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” This was a spring at the foot of Mount Zion. The blind man went, washed, and received his sight. This miracle filled everyone with amazement. Some said, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”

Others said, “It is he.” Others said, “He only resembles him.” But he himself said, “I am the one.”

They began asking the man born blind how he had received his sight. He answered: “The Man called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes, and told me to wash in the pool of Siloam. I washed, and now I see.” They brought him to the Pharisees, and it should be noted that this miracle had been performed on the Sabbath day. In response to the Pharisees’ questions, the healed young man again recounted the story of his miraculous healing. Then a dispute arose among the Pharisees concerning Jesus. Some said: “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others objected: “How can a sinful man perform such miracles?” They asked the healed man: “What do you say about Him?” “I think He is a prophet,” he answered.

Prologue in Sermons: May 19

How to Ease Your Sorrow When You Suffer Unjust Offenses

May 19

(The death of the Right-Believing Prince Ivan, in monasticism Ignatius, the Wonderworker of Vologda.)
 
By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There seems to be nothing more difficult than preserving good cheer when we endure an offense, and especially when we suffer undeservedly. The heart seems ready to tear apart: “Can it really be,” we say, “that God does not see that we suffer unjustly? Will He really not punish our enemy? And why does the latter triumph? Where is justice?” And by this we usually add another sorrow to the one already oppressing us: for anger torments the heart, malice toward the enemy takes away the last peace, and indeed the sufferings become unbearable.

But what is to be done, you will say? How can one act otherwise? The devil, who hates good, once implanted in the heart of the great prince Ivan Vasilyevich hatred against his brother Andrey Vasilyevich of Uglich and his children Ivan and Dmitry. He ordered them to be sent in chains to Pereslavl; afterwards they were taken to Belozersk, then to Vologda, and there they remained in prison in chains for many years. One of these persecuted ones, the right-believing Prince Ivan, arming himself with courage, not only himself endured the undeserved heavy punishment without complaint, but had such strength that he also exhorted his brother Dmitry and said to him:

Prologue in Sermons: April 15

Both Sorrow and Joy Can Serve for Salvation

April 15

(A Word from the Paterikon about two monks who took wives.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In the Prologue we read: “Two monks once fell into a grievous sin. But after some time they repented and said: 'Well then, what profit did we gain by leaving the angelic life and falling into a defiled way of living? Does not eternal torment await us for this? Let us go again into the desert and repent. The Lord will receive our repentance.' Having said this, they went to a monastery, confessed their sin to a spiritual father, and he imposed a penance upon them. He commanded them to remain shut in seclusion for a whole year and sent them there only bread and water, to both in equal measure. A year passed, the time of the penance was completed, and it was revealed to the elders of the monastery that the monks had been forgiven. Opening the cells where they had been confined, the fathers brought them out. And what was seen? One monk was very thin and pale and came out in despondency, while the other was joyful, his face radiant, and he was rejoicing. The fathers were amazed at such a contrast, especially since, as we have said, the monks received the same food in equal measure. And so they first asked the sorrowful brother: 'How did you spend your time in your cell?' The monk answered: 'I thought about the evil I had done and pictured to myself the torment of hell into which I ought to go.' They asked the rejoicing monk: 'And you, what did you think about in your cell?' He said: 'I glorified God, Who rescued me from a defiled life and brought me back again to the angelic state, and, praising God, I rejoiced.' Then the elders said: 'The repentance of both was pleasing to God, for He forgave them both.'”

Prologue in Sermons: April 5

 

Sorrows Are Beneficial for a Christian

April 5

(A word about a woman who prayed to God, to whom no misfortune had come.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Why is it, brothers, that in times of sorrow we for the most part lose heart, give ourselves over to despondency, and let our hands fall? It is because we do not understand that sorrows also serve for our salvation and for our blessedness, if they are endured with hope in God, with devotion to Him, and with humility. Look at the example of the saints of God. Since they knew well that sorrows are necessary and beneficial for the salvation of the soul, not only did they not lose heart when they were in sorrows, but even when they did not have them, one could say, they themselves sought them out, looked for them, and asked God for them.

Homily for the Second Sunday Evening of Great Lent (St. Sergius Mechev)

Homily for the Second Sunday Evening of Great Lent 

By St. Sergius Mechev

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

Repentance is above all reconciliation with oneself, and through this reconciliation with God and with people. About this I have already spoken to you, and now I want to give an example of external repentance — such repentance when outwardly there is real repentance, but inwardly it is a repentance that does not bear the knowledge of one’s sin and the striving, through the endurance of sorrows, to cleanse oneself from this sin.

In the times of the ancient Church there lived a certain steward (oikonomos), by the name of Theophilos. He lived in holiness, managed the church property righteously, and was loved by everyone for his kindness. To everyone he was a consolation in sorrow. When the bishop died, the people began to ask Theophilos to occupy the episcopal throne, but Theophilos refused. “I know my sins and therefore am unworthy of this rank; I cannot be a bishop,” he said, shedding tears and falling at the feet of the Metropolitan who wished to consecrate him as bishop. For a long time he lay at the feet of the hierarch, weeping and asking that the burden not be laid upon him. The Metropolitan gave him three days to think everything over well. After three days the same thing happened again: Theophilos stubbornly refused the episcopal rank. Then the Metropolitan appointed another bishop for the citizens, and Theophilos again remained steward. Here, it would seem, is an example of true repentance. A man recognizes his sins and refuses the episcopal rank in reconciliation with God and with men.

Prologue in Sermons: February 4

 

A Monk Must Not Leave the Monastery in Which He Lives

February 4

(A Discourse on Silence and Humility, and On Not Falling Into Despair)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Some of the monks, unfortunately, have become accustomed to leaving the monasteries in which they live and moving from place to place. There, they say, the abbot is strict; here, the brethren are quarrelsome; there, the labors are beyond one’s strength; and here, they do not struggle as we would like. And such men run off—partly out of laziness, partly out of pride, partly out of their innate inability to get along—from their own monastery to another, and from that one to a third, and so on. Is this good? 

 

No, it is bad. Bad, first of all, because wandering is forbidden by the Savior Himself, who says: “Do not go from house to house” (Luke 10:7), and “Into whatever town you enter, remain there” (Matt. 10:11). And bad, secondly, because examples sometimes point to the most disastrous consequences for monks who leave the monasteries in which the Lord has ordained them to dwell. For the instruction of such wanderers, we present one such example.

Conversation of Father John of Kronstadt With the Shepherds (June 21, 1904 in Sarapul)

Bishop Andrew of Ufa with St. John of Kronstadt

They write from Sarapul:

“The venerable Fr. John Sergeev of Kronstadt, accompanied by His Grace Mikhei, vicar bishop of Sarapul, arrived in Sarapul on Sunday, June 20, and was met at the pier by an enormous crowd of people who had come from many villages and factories, by the clergy (up to 40 persons), representatives of the local municipal and zemstvo self-governments, and other institutions. After disembarking at the pier, the highly respected pastor, accompanied by His Grace Mikhei and a vast multitude of people, proceeded to the cathedral, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Bishop Mikhei, with the concelebration of 24 local priests and priests invited from the district.

It goes without saying that the small old cathedral was far from able to contain the entire mass of people who wished to be present in the church where the most beloved and most popular clergyman in our vast Mother Russia was praying. The majority of the worshippers crowded the square adjoining the cathedral, waiting for the exit and blessing of Fr. John of Kronstadt, the dearly beloved 'batiushka' to all.

During the divine service Fr. John delivered two sermons, and in the second he touched upon the military events in the Far East. While he was in the cathedral, several telegrams were handed to him through his cell-attendants. These telegrams were evidently petitions for the granting of health and healing. After reading the telegrams, the venerable batiushka reverently lifted his eyes to heaven; his lips were whispering, and his hands holding the telegrams were laid upon the altar. The moment was deeply moving: hearts were softened, tears welled up in the eyes. One sensed a special solemnity and the communion of the great intercessor for the Russian people with the Giver of blessings, the Lord God, taking place in the modest Russian church of a remote provincial town, amid a vast, but for the most part simple and unlearned crowd.

After the conclusion of the service, Fr. John departed from the church through the side doors to the chambers of His Grace Mikhei, his personal friend, of which the people in the church were informed. As is known, His Grace Mikhei had formerly served in the navy, holding the rank of captain of the second rank, had lived for a long time in Kronstadt, and owed his transition to his present ministry entirely to the influence of Fr. John.

On Monday, the 21st, the distinguished guest served the Liturgy in the church of the men’s monastery; on the following day, the 22nd, in the women’s monastery; and on the 23rd he departed on the same steamship.”

Supplement to the Vyatka Provincial Gazette (1904).

Conversation of Father John of Kronstadt With the Shepherds 

(June 21, 1904 in Sarapul)

By Bishop Andrew of Ufa (Ukhtomsky)

God granted me to be a witness and a participant in a wondrous conversation which our great shepherd and man of prayer, Father John of Kronstadt, held with other shepherds of the Church of Christ. This took place on June 21, 1904, in the city of Sarapul, where batiushka had arrived at the invitation of His Grace, the Bishop of Sarapul, Mikhei. The local clergy from the surrounding area gathered in the hall of the local Theological School in expectation of the invited batiushka. When he appeared in the doorway of the hall, all those present greeted the dear guest with the singing: “Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together…” Batiushka first went into the school chapel, venerated the holy altar, and then returned to the hall and invited everyone to sit around the table. Thus began his wondrous conversation with those assembled.

Prologue in Sermons: November 29

 

On Sorrowful Reflections

November 29*

(Sermon of John Chrysostom on Eternal Torment and the Kingdom of Heaven; and on Always Keeping the Day of Departure in Mind)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The word of God sometimes commands us to have sorrowful thoughts. For example, the Lord says: "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12). Or the wise son of Sirach teaches: "In all your works remember your last end" (Sirach 7:40). Why then does the word of God command us to have such sorrowful thoughts: sometimes about sins, sometimes about death? Brethren, it commands us so that through these sorrowful thoughts in this life we may be saved from eternal sorrows in the life to come. We will not reveal this truth to you ourselves, but let the ecumenical teacher, Saint John Chrysostom, reveal it and prove it to you. Listen to him.

Prologue in Sermons: November 15

 

Even Sorrows Are Beneficial

November 15

(A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In one of the Church teachings, the Prologue (August 7) says, among other things: “Let us not be indignant, but rejoice in sorrows; for they are medicines useful for our wounds, and although on the one hand they are bitter, on the other they are sweet... Let us be grateful to God for sorrows; for He does not send them without reason, but rather He does through them what is useful to our souls.” Is this true, brethren, what is said in the Prologue about sorrows? Is it true that they are medicines useful for our wounds? Is it true that they are, on the one hand, bitter, and on the other sweet? Is it true, finally, that God does not send them without reason, but rather He does through them what is useful to our souls? Yes, all this is absolutely true, brethren, as we will now prove to you from the words of the ecumenical teacher Saint John Chrysostom.

Prologue in Sermons: October 12

Against the Two False Beliefs of Sinners, Fallen Into the Depths of Evil

October 12*

(The Teaching of the Holy Father Theodore, Abbot of the Studion, Not to Despair of God’s Mercy For the Sake of One’s Sins)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Sinners who have sunk to the depths of evil, when it comes to their responsibility before God, generally reason in two ways: some say, "God won't forgive us anyway, and so we must perish together." Others, on the contrary, judge, "God is merciful. He forgives everyone, and He will forgive us." And they make no effort to correct themselves. What do you think, brethren: is this way of thinking just or unjust? No, know that neither is just. And we will prove this to them by our actions.

Prologue in Sermons: October 10

Great Righteous People Are Not Safe From Sins, 

and Great Sinners Should Not Despair of Salvation

October 10

(On Our Venerable Father James the Faster)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many people go to extremes in their judgments of their moral state. Some, considering themselves completely established in goodness, believe they are safe from this or that sin; others, on the contrary, considering themselves the greatest sinners, believe that God will never forgive them. Both are mistaken. No one should consider themselves safe from sin, and no one should despair of salvation. This is evident from the following story.

Prologue in Sermons: September 20

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

September 20

(Commemoration of the Holy Great Martyr Eustathios)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

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

Prologue in Sermons: September 6

There is No Sin That Can Overcome the Mercy of God

September 6

(The Story of our Venerable Father David, Who Was Formerly a Robber)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev 

Although, fortunately, it is rare, there are still people who, knowing the multitude of sins behind them, think that God will not forgive them, and, thinking so, they fall deeper and deeper into the depths of evil and do not care about their salvation. Brethren! This sin, called the sin of despair, is the most serious of all sins and inevitably leads a person to final destruction. No matter how sinful someone is, no one ought to ever despair of his salvation and ought to rather quickly resort to God with repentance. Your sinful wounds are grievous, but the Lord Jesus Christ is strong to heal the wounds of the whole world. Your sins are countless, but God's mercy to repentant sinners is endless. Believe me, many of the wicked who turned to God became servants of God and were honored with the gift of miracles during their lifetime. Many of the harlots and other great but repentant sinners are now blessed there, in the abodes of the Heavenly Father! Not wishing to tire your attention, from the many examples that could confirm the truth of my words, I will point out to you the one that our Venerable Father David represents to us.

June: Day 29: Teaching 1: Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul

 

 

June: Day 29: Teaching 1:
Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul

(How Should We Endure the Troubles, Misfortunes and Sorrows That Befall Us?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today is a feast in honor of the Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul.

The Apostle Peter (Cephas, Simon) was a fisherman from Bethsaida, brother of the Apostle Andrew, called to the apostleship by Jesus Christ Himself. After the ascension of the Lord, he was the first of the apostles to begin preaching the risen Lord in Jerusalem, suffered much for this from the Jews and even suffered imprisonment, from where he was miraculously saved by an angel. Then he preached the gospel in Samaria, Syria, Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Asia and Egypt. He was an apostle primarily to the Jews. He completed his evangelistic feat in Rome, where during Nero's persecution, around the year 67, he was crucified on a cross, upside down, since he did not want to resemble his Divine Teacher in the manner of his suffering.

The Appearance of Saint Anastasios Gordios to a Woman With Depression

There are countless testimonies, as the humble Levite of Christ, Father Panagiotis Tsiolis, says, of people who bowed reverently to kiss the head of the great Saint Anastasios Gordios and found the healing they were seeking. Even demons are terrified at the sight of the most fragrant sacred relics of this great man.

As a priest, although I had heard from the elders about Saint Anastasios, I did not know how much boldness he had before God and how miraculous he is. I realized this as a young and inexperienced priest, shortly after celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the katholikon of the former Sacred Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Trovato.

Specifically, shortly after the dismissal, a woman from Agrinio approached me, who had come up to meet some of her relatives.

June: Day 2: Holy Great Martyr John the New of Suceava

June: Day 2:
Holy Great Martyr John the New of Suceava
 
(Nature and Human Life Teach Gratitude to God)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Great Martyr John the New, whose memory is celebrated today, is called "of Suceava" because his relics are in the city of Suceava, the Moldavian Whalachian capital, in Austria. Saint John lived in Trebizond and was engaged in trade. Trade affairs did not prevent him from being a good Christian. He loved to study the word of God, and this directed his life and work to everything holy and pleasing to God. Once, when he was traveling on a ship with goods, the captain of the ship, who was, in all likelihood, of the Catholic faith, entering into disputes with him about the faith, could not dispute and decided to destroy him out of hatred. Upon arriving with the ship at the city of Akkerman, he presented himself to the city governor, a Muslim, and informed him about John, stating that he wished to renounce Christianity and embrace Mohammedanism. The mayor summoned John and offered him to accept Mohammedanism, but John said: "God forbid that I should ever renounce Christ!" The mayor began to threaten him with executioners, but John answered: "Chop, burn, hang, beat, torture me as best you can; I am ready to endure everything out of love for my Christ." Then the executioners began to beat him with briar sticks, so that his body flew in pieces through the air, and the blood flowed in streams, but John "thanked God for having granted him the ability to wash away his sins with his own blood." Finally, they tied him by the legs to the tail of a horse and dragged him through the streets of the city. There they laughed at him and cut off his head. The Holy Martyr died on June 2, 1492.* At night, lighted lamps and three angels were seen over John's body, singing and censing, and it was buried. After 70 years, the holy relics of the Great Martyr John were transferred to Suceava, to the Moldavian-Valakh city.

May: Day 29: Teaching 1: Holy Martyr Theodosia of Tyre

 

May: Day 29: Teaching 1:
Holy Martyr Theodosia of Tyre

(Christian Consolation at the Death of Those Dear To Us)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyr Theodosia, who is celebrated today, was born in the city of Tyre and was raised in a pious family. She was 18 years old when the last persecution of Christians began in Caesarea in Palestine. Despite her youth, she already had firm faith in her heart. She fearlessly visited the martyrs for the faith who were languishing in prison, and once, when those who confessed Christ were in the court of the ruler Urban, she approached them, bowed down and begged them to remember her when they would be before God. For this they seized her, scourged her entire body and threw her into the sea. This was in 308.

On the night after her martyrdom, Theodosia appeared in a dream to her parents, in a blaze of glory, and consoled them, persuading them not to grieve for her, who was rejoicing in the Kingdom of God.

The relics of Saint Theodosia were subsequently transferred to Constantinople, and parts of them are located in the West in different places.

II. Saint Theodosia, who appeared after her death in the radiance of glory to console her grieving parents, whom she undoubtedly consoled, reminds us of the truth that a Christian, losing people near and dear to his heart, can have spiritual consolation in his grief.

This is the consolation we receive from the Christian faith.

April: Day 25: Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark

April: Day 25:
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark
 
(On Why the Path to Heaven is a Sorrowful Path)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Mark the Evangelist and one of the Seventy Apostles is celebrated today. He was a Jew by birth. Saint Peter in one of his epistles (1 Peter 5:3) calls Mark his son, from which we can conclude that Mark was Peter's disciple. He was with him in Rome, and there, twelve years after the Ascension of the Lord, he wrote his Gospel. The Holy Apostle Peter sent Mark to preach in different cities and countries.

Mark's last apostolic labor was in Alexandria, where he suffered a martyr's death. Not far from the seashore he built the first Christian church of that nation. The Egyptians, fearing the increase of Christians, decided to kill the Evangelist. They chose for this villainy the feast of the pagan god Serapis; on that very day, April 25, fell the Resurrection of Christ, and the day before Saint Mark had admonished the people not to participate in the sinful, pagan celebration. The pagans broke into the church during the service, led the Saint out and, tying a rope around his neck, dragged him through the city streets with shouts and blows. The Saint's blood stained the sharp stones of the pavement, but he did not cease to pray and repeat: "I thank You, my Savior, that You have granted me to endure suffering for Your sake." Towards evening the Holy Apostle was put in prison. At night an angel appeared to him and said that his name would be written in the Book of Life with the names of the other Apostles, and his memory would be preserved on earth. The Savior Himself then appeared to Saint Mark and said to him: "Peace be with you, my evangelist!"

The Theology of the Darkness From the Sixth Hour Until the Ninth Hour (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

The Theology of the Darkness From the Sixth Hour Until the Ninth Hour

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

(Homily Delivered on Great Friday in the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Nafpaktos in 2019)

The Passion, the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ are events that create great inspiration in those who study and read them. They are events that are not only connected to the life of Christ, but also to our own lives.

The Events of the Crucifixion

When one reads the holy and sacred Gospels, then one sees the Passion of Christ as a whole. On the evening of Great Thursday, Christ was arrested by the Scribes and the Pharisees and throughout the night of Great Thursday, He was brought by Annas to Caiaphas and interrogated, followed by the beatings that Christ suffered, the fall of the Apostle Peter with the denial of Christ and many others. On the morning of Great Friday the Great Sanhedrin of the Jews met, because according to the law they were not supposed to meet during the night. They decided to put Christ to death and led him to Pilate to issue the decision. The relevant interrogation was carried out by Pilate and at about nine o'clock on the morning of Great Friday the condemnatory decision was issued that Christ should be put to death by the Cross.