The Orthodox Christian Family is Sacred

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAMILY IS SACRED
"Whether the married couple remains a small dyad standing at the intersection of larger kin groups, or whether they begin a new home and family of their own, what is at stake in terms of the Gospel is the manner in which this foundation of a new locus of love, a home, becomes a place where the Gospel injunctions are fulfilled: to clothe the naked, to instruct the ignorant, to heal the sorrowing, to feed the hungry. The practicing of the fundamental attitudes of Christ on our immediate family is the beginning of our training. The married couple who have fulfilled the blessing of their consecration actually goon together in life to make a home where observers can say: 'Here is a place where indeed the stranger was made welcome, the poor were fed, and the sorrowing were comforted.' It is in this workshop of love that the children of the marriage will also first learn the meaning of the Gospel, from the charity of Christ it engenders all around it...

"...Because marriage in the Orthodox Christian understanding is meant to be a most intimate priestly collaboration of two initiated Christians, to bring a powerful focus of new love into being, and ultimately (if God so wills) to bring new life into the world and thus form a new small church..."  (Father John Anthony McGuckin).

Saint Porphyrios wrote, "What saves and makes for good children is the life of the parents in the home. The parents need to devote themselves to the love of God. They need to become saints in their relations to their children through their mildness, patience, and love. They need to make a new start every day, with a fresh outlook, renewed enthusiasm and love for their children. Generally the parents are to blame for the bad behavior of the children. And their behavior is not improved by reprimands, discipline, or strictness. If the parents do not pursue a life of holiness and if they don't engage in spiritual struggle, they make great mistakes and transmit the faults they have within them. If the parents do not live a holy life and do not display love toward each other, the devil torments the parents with the reactions of the children. Love, harmony and understanding between parents are what are required for the children. This provides a great sense of security and certainty."

Saint John Chrysostom's instruction to fathers on telling stories from the Holy Scripture:

"Tell him this story one evening at supper. Let his mother repeat the same tale; then, when he has heard it often, ask him too, saying: 'Tell me the story,' so that he may be eager to imitate you. And when he has memorized it thou wilt also tell him how it profits him. The soul indeed, as it receives the story within itself thou has elaborated it, is aware that it will benefit."

"Go leading him by hand in church and pay heed particularly when this tale is read aloud. Thou wilt see him rejoice and leap with pleasure because he knows what the other children do not know, as he anticipates the story, recognizes it, and derives great gain from it. And hereafter the episode is fixed in his memory."

Every Orthodox Christian home should have set up a family altar or icon corner ('beautiful corner'). Read the Holy Scripture readings and lives of the Saints of the day. Pray together as a family every day, at least in the morning and evening.

Make a big deal of Feast-Days. Celebrate the Name Day of the children with a celebration. Tell them the story of the Patron Saint's life and explain how to emulate his or her holy and virtuous life as an Orthodox Christian. At the family icon corner make sure to have a holy icon of the child's Saint alongside of the parents' Patron Saint.

Strive to be a holy example within the home, as well as in public, for your children to follow.

According to Saint John Chrysostom, ethical wantonness and social unrest are owed to improper care for children, to neglect for their spiritual cultivation. 'The downfall of society stems from this disregard for children. Many seek the preservation of their estates, but not the preservation of the souls of those in their care.' He does not hesitate to call this indifference toward the cultivation of virtue in the souls of children 'criminal'. By their indifference, as many as infuse their children with tyrannizing passions, with vices which daily kill and their souls, commit infanticide--the murder of their own children."

"Let everything take second place to our care for our children, our bringing them up to the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If from the beginning we teach them to love true wisdom, they will have great wealth and glory than riches can provide. If a child learns a trade, or is highly educated for a lucrative profession, all this is nothing compared to the art of detachment from riches; if you want to make your child rich, teach him this. He is truly rich who does not desire great possessions, or surround himself with wealth, but who requires nothing...Don't think that only monks need to learn the Holy Bible; Children about to go our into the world stand in greater need of Holy Scriptural knowledge." (Homilies on Ephesians, Homily 21).

Be a true Christian family, a family of prayer and worship. "Be holy as I am Holy" says the Lord.

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With agape in His Divine Service,

+Father George

The Divine Ascension of our Lord

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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THE DIVINE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
By His Eminence Metropolitan of Nafpaktos HIEROTHEOS

At His Ascension, Christ had the wounds of the Cross on His Body and he is on the Throne of the Father with these. Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite collected Patristic passages in which one can see why Christ after His Resurrection left on His Body the wounds made by the nails and the spear, while He could have healed them. He gave five reasons. First, to adorn and beautify His body. Just as the windows in houses are a decoration, because they transmit the light of the sun, so it is too with the Body of Christ (Saint Gregory Palamas). Second, He left the wounds open for Thomas to feel them and to theologize about the Resurrection, to confess that He is God and man. Third, to show the great love which He has for man because He suffered and in fact boasts about these marks of the Cross. Fourth, He left the holes open so that we may take shelter in them in time of trial and be covered, just as the pigeon runs to its nest when it is pursued by a hawk. Fifth, He left the wounds for the Jews to see and recognize on the Day of Judgment. In the Book of Revelation, it says characteristically: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him" (Revelation 1:7).

To this question of the Angels Christ answers: I speak of righteousness and saving judgment...I am full of trodden grape, and of the nations, there is not a man with Me; I trampled them in My fury, and dashed them in pieces as earth, and brought down their blood to the earth" (Isaiah 63:1-3).

The preaching of the Gospel is righteousness, and the way of salvation is saving judgment. Christ further assures the Angels that He alone has conquered death and the devil, without the help of anyone else. Clearly here the Divinity of Christ is also being pointed out, among other things, because as God He shattered death and by His blood gave life to men. (Source: The Feasts of the Lord)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Our Risen Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Homily on the Feast of the Ascension of Lord

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
By Holy Hierarch Innocent (Borisov)

Our path, brothers and sisters, by which we, too, can attain the heights of holy glory, is the same path by which our Lord ascended in glory; that is, the way of the Cross, the way of purification, self-denial, the way of exterior and interior sufferings. Will we remember this? And in remembering it, will we travel Christ's path to Heaven?

If the Mount Tabor of earthly happiness uplifts you, brothers and sisters, over everything earthly, and brings you closer to Heaven, then remain upon it! The ascended Lord blesses your heights. Only take care not to fall into slumber on that Mountain Tabor, and when Moses and Elias speak of the cross on which you must crucify your "old man." Don't start muttering about building not one, but three tabernacles for that man. Remember, that the way to Heaven is not from Tabor, but from Olivet; and to get to Olivet you have to go through Gethsemane and Golgotha.

The Lord's path should be the path of each and every one of us. The Lord suffered for all of us equally; the Heavens have opened also to all of us equally. Thus, I ask each and every one of you: can we point to very many things in our lives and say that they were done, or not done, by us because we are predestined for Heaven; because, someday, we should be with our Lord in Heaven? Have we abstained at least once from sin, have we done even one good deed with the thought that the Lord sees us from the Heavens? However small this question may seem, there could scarcely be found amongst us people who answer it in the affirmative. What is the meaning of our faith in the Ascended Lord? Do we believe in Him, or not? If we believe in Him, then where are our works? If we do not believe in Him, then why do we bear His Name? Whoever truly believes in His heavenly calling cannot be earthly; if He has this conviction it will of necessity be the source which inspires all his thoughts and feelings, his whole life, and all his relationships. In all the circumstances of his life, and in every situation, the True Christian remembers that he is an heir to Heaven, the co-inheritor of Christ, and he acts in accordance with his calling. In looking at his life, any such person can see that he does not live so much for the present and temporal as for the future and eternal; that his heart is somewhere far away, not in this world, and that his life is hidden in the heights, in God. This is how Christians once seemed to the pagans.

But is there very much of this in us, brothers and sisters? Is there at least something unearthly, Heavenly, and Christ-like in us? If there is, then we are like the Apostles and can return to our own homes from the Mount of Olives with joy. The blessing of the ascended Lord belongs to us in this case, just as does the promise of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit descends, it will not pass by those who belong to Christ.

Otherwise, the Angel's reproach against the Apostles at the Lord's Ascension applies to us with even greater force. I say, with greater force, for to them was said, "Why stand ye gazing into heaven? (Acts 1:11) only because they, out of their love and zeal, gazed for a long time at the heavens which received their Lord and Teacher. Something else needs to be said to us: Sons of men, why stand ye gazing not at heaven, but at the earth? Turn your eyes to Heaven, and behold our Savior, Who has long been looking at you. Enter upon the path to Heaven which long lay before you; cast off the crushing weight of sin that you may travel it lightly, receive the cross into your hands and go to your Savior while He blesses you for this path, before the doors of Heaven close. Meanwhile, the Angels, both Heavenly and earthly, invite you to the habitations of the Heavenly Father.

We hear your voice, ye blessed dwellers of Heaven, and want to step upon the path of the Lord; only strengthen us and accompany us with your help. Ever more so--Thou Thyself, O Merciful Savior, and Lord do not abandon us who are orphans in spirit and infirm. Look down from the Heavens upon our good intentions and upon our infirmity, watch over us and bless us for Thy path; clothe us with power from on high, and make firm our wavering steps until we come to Thy holy mountain, and unite with Thee. Amen. (Translated by Nun Cornelia (Rees)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Our Resurrected God and Savior,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Homily on the Divine Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Part II)

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON THE HOLY FEAST OF THE ASCENSION (Part II)
By Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Perhaps the rest of Psalm 23 is loftier than the Gospel teaching. The Lord's Gospel offers a way of living upon the earth and tells of that return which the noble Prophet sets out upon. Corporeal burdens do not oppress him and has joined himself to the transcendent powers whose voices proclaim to us that the Lord has advanced to His Throne surrounded by the Angels. While present upon the earth they adjured men to enter when saying: "Lift up your ancient gates and be lifted up ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter" (Psalm 23:7). Because He is present wherever He happens to be and contains everything in Himself, He makes it deserving by receiving it (for not only was He a man among men but had united His own nature with that of the Angels). Therefore the watchmen ask while greeting Him, "Who is the King of Glory?" (Psalm 23:8). They demonstrate their strength and power in warfare because He was about to engage Him Who had taken human nature prisoner and was about to loosen death's bonds; by having destroyed the last enemy (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26), He might restore mankind to freedom and peace.

Similar voices say (the mystery of death) had already been fulfilled, victory was achieved against the foe, the Cross is raised as a trophy and "He Who has made captivity has ascended on high" (Psalm 67:19) Who has given life, kingdom and these good gifts to men) that once again the transcendent gates are opened for Him. Our guards exchange the escort and ask that the transcendent gates are opened for Him in order that He might be again glorified. But He Who has girded Himself with our life's dirty robe is not recognized because His garments were read from the wine vat of human evils" (cf. Isaiah 63:2). Therefore we have the voice of those attending Him repeat: "Who is this the King of Glory?" (Psalm 23:10). No longer do we have the following response, "He Who is strong and mighty in battle," but "the Lord of Hosts Who has obtained rule over all, has recapitulated everything in Himself, holds primacy in everything (cf. Col. 1:18) and restores creation to its pristine state: He is the King of Glory." See how great is the feast which David has instituted since He united His own grace to the joy of the Church. Let us imitate the Prophet as far as possible in love for God, meekness of life and tolerance towards our enemies. In this way, the Prophet's teaching might guide us to obtain citizenship with God in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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"And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (St. Luke 24:50-52). Thus ended our Lord and Savior's time of earthly labor! He suffered much and was greatly glorified. There have never been such sorrows as His sorrows, and there has never been such glory as His Glory. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:8-11).

Shall we ever behold this glory of our Lord? We shall behold it, for, in His last, great prayer, the Lord prayed about this to His Father: "I will, He prayed, that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast has given Me" (St. John 17:24). The Angels appeared to the Holy Apostles after the Lord's Ascension, witnessing that the Lord will come to all of us on the last day in the same appearance as the Holy Apostles beheld him ascending into heaven (cf. Acts 1:2). We shall even participate in the glory of the Ascended Lord, if only we do not make ourselves unworthy, for he ascended into Heaven in order to prepare it to receive all His true followers. "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (St. John 14:2-3). The Holy Apostle Paul testifies that this merciful accommodation on our behalf has not changed at all even after the Ascension, when he says that on the last Day of the Lord's Coming, the faithful "shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17). This means something will happen to the faithful which is similar even in appearance to what happened to the Lord Himself n the Mount of Olives. (Source: Homily on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord by Holy Hierarch Innocent (Borisov)

(To be continued)]

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things! -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Sin of Ingratitude

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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THE SIN OF INGRATITUDE

"Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well" (St. Luke 17:11-19).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to heal all of fallen humanity, yet only a small number received Him in faith and thanksgiving "to give glory to God". Our prayer attitude should always be one of thanksgiving and gratitude as Orthodox Christian believers. Saint John Chrysostomos taught to "always give thanks to God for all things."

According to Professor Joseph W. Hewitt, "Gratitude is not a simple or an early emotion. Child and savage alike are notoriously lacking in it. The Greek, of course, had come to feel both the duty of gratitude and the sin of ingratitude." Seneca gives the ingrate a very low place in the moral scale, ranking him below the homicide, the tyrant, the thief, the adulterer, and the traitor. Xenophon and Aristotle insist on the necessity of gratitude.

We, at Saint Andrew, must learn how very necessary it is to be thankful, to be appreciative, to be grateful first to the Almighty and merciful God, and then to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our parish has been blessed with many good, generous, loving, kind, and compassionate people. People who do not seek any thanks for all that they do and contribute to our church. Most of them want and do remain anonymous.

Why is it, however, that these good people of our church are treated by some others with contempt and suspicion? Where is the gratitude? Where is the respect? Where is the love? I can only think that they feel envy rather than gratitude. Envy and even shame that they are not willing to do the same. We can only feel pity for these people.

Feel free to show your gratitude to your fellow parishioners who work so hard and give so much to our parish. Thank the donors, the Sunday School Coordinators, the members of the Parish Council, the Custodian, our Chanters, the heads and members of the Parish Ministries, the Chairman of the Festival and the Committee members, the Church Secretary, and all the people who constantly express their kinds and love to our church. Don't be unkind or ungrateful! An ingrate is a miserable person.

Remember the Divine words of Our Savior, "Where are the Nine?"

In Christ's Divine Resurrection,
+Father George

May 21st - The Holy Feast of Saints Constantine and Helen

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 21st OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY EMPEROR CONSTANTINE THE GREAT AND THE EMPRESS HELEN

Great Vespers (Mega Esperinos)

Doxastikon (Glory)

Today the Church celebrates your reign, and she rejoices mystically, O King. As she rightly honors your all-venerable memory, she sings hymns of praise to you, and she salutes you and says "Rejoice! You zealously emulated Saint Paul, you took up the Cross of Christ, and you crushed the snares of the enemy. Rejoice! Most excellent of rulers, and equal in honor to Apostles. Rejoice! You were the support of the faithful and the rampart of emperors. O blessed Constantine, the adornment of Emperors, never cease interceding with the  Lord on our behalf, for you have great access to Him.

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Aposticha. For the Equals-to-the-Apostles. Mode 2.

You, O holy Constantine, were first of the Christian Emperors to receive the scepter from God. For the saving symbol that was hid beneath the earth did appear in the sky to you. By it you subjected all the nations, bringing them under the Roman rule, having as invincible armor the Life-Giving Cross of the Master, by which you were led to God, O blessed one.

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Truly blessed is your mother's womb, sanctified indeed is the belly of her that carried you; for you did become the Ruler who was loved by the world, crowned by God, O Saint Constantine, the glory of all Kings. You become for orphans and for widows wealth and defense; shelter of the poor and the lowly, truly the reversal of troubles, and the safe return of captive prisoners. Glory.

As a flash of lightning, as a comet from the Far West, your course was diverted from unbelief to faith in the True God, and you were led to sanctify your people and your City. And you saw the Sign of the Cross in the sky, and from there you heard, "Thus when you received the knowledge of the Spirit, and with oil were anointed as priest and King, you reinforced the Church of Christ our God. O father of Orthodox Emperors. Your coffin pours out healings. Constantine, the peer of the Apostles, earnestly intercede on behalf of our souls.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) hymn

Your Apostle among the Rulers, Saint Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of the Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling, not from man. Once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord, who loves humanity.

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Saint Constantine's parents were the Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Empress Helen. Chlorus had further children by another wife, but by Helen, he had only the one, Constantine. Constantine fought two great battles when he came to the throne: one against Maxentius, a tyrant in Rome, and the other against Licinius not far from Byzantium. At the battle against Maxentius, when Constantine was in great anxiety and uncertainty about his chances of success, a shining Cross, surrounded by stars, appeared to him in the sky in full daylight. On the Cross were written words: 'En touto Nika' ('In this Sign, conquer!') The wondering Emperor ordered that a great cross be put together, like the one that had appeared, and be carried before the army. By the power of the Cross, he gained a glorious victory over enemies greatly superior in number. Maxentius drowned himself in the Tiber. Immediately after this, Saint Constantine issued the famous Edict of Milan, in 313 A.D., to put an end to the persecution of Christians. Conquering Byzantium, he built a beautiful capital city on the Bosphorus, which from that time was named Constantinople (or city of Constantine). Constantine fell ill with leprosy. The pagan priests and doctors advised him to bathe in the blood of slaughtered children, which he refused to do. Then the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him and told him to seek out a bishop, Sylvester, who would heal him of the disease. The bishop instructed him in the Christian faith and baptized him, and leprosy vanished from the Emperor's body.

When there was discord in the Church about the troublesome heretic Arius, the Emperor summoned the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in 325 A.D., where the heresy was condemned and Orthodox Christianity confirmed.

Saint Helen, the Emperor's devout mother, was very zealous for the Christian faith. She visited Jerusalem and found the Precious and Holy Cross of the Lord, and built the Church of the Resurrection over Golgotha and many other churches in the Holy Land. This holy woman went to the Lord in 327 A.D., at the age of eighty. Emperor Constantine outlived his mother by ten years and entered into rest at the age of about sixty in 337 A.D., in the city of Nicomedia. His body was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. (Source: Prologue from Ochrid)

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DIVINE SERVICES FOR TUESDAY, MAY 21st:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George