The Orthodox Christian's Life is a Life of Piety

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS LIFE IS A LIFE OF PIETY
From the works of Platon, Bishop of Kostroma

Force yourself to get up early and at a definite time. Do not sleep for more than seven hours, unless you have a special reason. As soon as you wake up, direct your thoughts to God and piously cross yourself, thinking of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ, Who died on the Cross for the sake of our salvation.

Get up from your bed at once, get dressed and do not pamper yourself. While dressing remember that you are in the presence of the Lord and your Guardian Angel, think of the fall of Adam who, because of sin, deprived himself of the covering of innocence, and beg Lord Jesus Christ for the blessing of being adopted by Him. Then start immediately your morning prayers, kneeling, pray carefully with reverence and deepest humility, as ought to be done under the watchful regard of the Almighty; and ask Him for Faith, Hope, Love and a blessing for the coming day; and also for strength to humbly accept His will and bear all burdens, difficulties, misfortunes, disasters, sorrows, and illnesses of body and mind, because of our love for Jesus Christ. Make a firm resolution to do everything for the Lord, to receive everything from His Fatherly Hand, and make a special resolution to do some particular good, and to avoid some particular evil. Every morning spend at least quarter of an hour on a brief meditation on the truths of faith, meditating especially on the incomprehensible mystery of Christ's assumption of our flesh, and on His awesome Second Coming, and on Hell and Paradise. Thank the Lord for protecting you during the night and thank Him that you are still alive, not having died in your sins...

"...Remember that God sees you everywhere, sees all your actions, doings, feelings, thoughts and desires, and will generously reward you for all your good deeds. Do not begin anything without praying to God, because the things we do or say without prayer, later prove to be either sinful or harmful and display us through our deeds in a way unknown to us. Our Lord Himself said: "Without me you can do nothing."  

At dinner picture to yourself the image of our Heavenly Father opening His hand, in order to feed you; never omit your prayer before you eat, and leave some of your food for the poor. After dinner consider yourself one of the five thousand who were miraculously fed by Jesus Christ; thank Him from your heart and pray that He not leave you without heavenly food His word and His Most Precious Body and Blood. If you wish for spiritual peaceful life, give yourself to God. You will not find any spiritual peace until you are satisfied with God alone, loving Him only. Always and in everything think of God and His Holy Love for us sinners. In everything try to fulfill God's will and to please God alone; do and suffer everything for God. Do not care to be respected and loved by people in their sins. Keep a vigilant watch over our feelings, thoughts, motions of your heart and your passions; give consideration to nothing trivial where your personal salvation is concerned.

When you think of God multiply your prayers so that God will remember you when you forget Him. In everything may your teacher be our Lord Jesus Christ, looking upon Him with the eye of your mind ask yourself more often: in this case, what would Jesus Christ have thought, said, or done? Be meek, quiet, humble, be silent and endure by the example of Jesus. He will not lay a cross upon you, which you are not able to carry. He Himself will help you carry your cross. Do not expect to acquire any one virtue without any sorrow and pains of the soul.

Beg God to give you grace to fulfill in the best way possible His holiest Commandments even though they may seem difficult for you. When you have fulfilled any one of God's Commandments, await temptation, for love for Christ is tested by our conquering the obstacles. Do not dwell in idleness even for a short time, but always remain in labor and be occupied, because he who does not labor does not deserve the name of man. Isolate yourself, by the example of Jesus, Who, drawing Himself away from others, prayed to the Heavenly Father...Every thought, which withdraws you further away from God, especially filthy thoughts of the flesh, banish from your heart, as quickly as possible, as you would cast from your clothes a spark of fire that fell burning on them. When such a thought appears, pray hard: God forgive me, God do not leave me, deliver me from temptations, or the like. But amidst temptations do not be troubled. He Who gives you the circumstance of a battle will also give your strength for victory...

"...Say nothing without thought. Bear it firmly in mind that time is short and that man must give an account of every [word uttered.] Listen more than speak, [for] in verbosity you will not escape sin. Do not be curious about news (for) it diverts the spirit. If by words you are helpful to someone, acknowledge it in God's grace. When you are alone, examine yourself whether you have become worse than before, whether you have committed any sins which you did not do before. If you did sin, immediately beg God's forgiveness with humbleness and a contrite heart, and trust His Mercy, hastening to repent before your spiritual father; because every sin left without repentance is a sin unto death. And if you do not repent with a contrite heart the sin you have committed, you will fall into that sin again...

"...During an illness, first of all, entrust yourself to God in order to strengthen your spirit in the midst of your misery. Often remember and think of the suffering and the death of Jesus Christ. Ceaselessly say all the prayers you know and can; beg God to forgive you your sins and to give you patience while ill. In all ways, possible abstain from complaining and irritation which are common when ill. Our Lord Jesus Christ underwent, for the sake of our salvation, the most painful illness and sufferings, and what have we done or suffered fro the sake of our salvation?

Go to the divine services in church as often as possible; try especially to be present often at the Divine Liturgy. Sundays and holy days without fail do deeds of piety; always remember that you are in the presence of God, the Angels, and the Saints; the remaining time devote to pious reading and other acts of piety and love. Devote your birthday and Saint's Day especially to pious deeds. Every year and every month examine your conscience rigorously. Go to confession and receive the Holy Sacraments as often as possible. Receive Holy Communion always with sincere hunger and real thirst of your soul, with a contrite heart, with reverence, humbleness, faith, trust, and love. Think of the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ as often as possible, begging Him to veil your sins and receive you into His Kingdom. May the name of Jesus always be on your lips, in your soul and your heart. As often as possible meditate on God's great love to you, glorified and worshipped in the Trinity so that you yourself may love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your thoughts. Doing so, you will lead a peaceful life on this earth and a blessed one in heaven forever. The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [Source: Orthodox Life]

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

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Holy Apostle Iakovos (James), Son of Alphaeus

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ON THE 9th OF OCTOBER, THE HOLY CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY APOSTLE IAKOVOS (JAMES), SON OF ALPHAEUS

Saint Iakovos (James), the Holy Apostle of the Lord, was the son of Alphaeus and brother of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, who was formerly a tax collector. When our Lord Jesus Christ, abiding on earth in the flesh, chose simple and pious men for the dignity of the apostolate, to sent them forth to preach the Gospel throughout the whole world, He also chose this Iakovos (James) and numbered him among the choir of the Apostles as one worthy. Iakovos (James) became one of the Twelve Apostles, an eyewitness, and minister of Christ, the preacher of His mysteries and His follower.

Having received, with the other Holy Apostles, the Holy Spirit, Who descended upon them in the likeness of tongues of fire, he went to the gentiles to preach Christ and guide the erring to the path of salvation. Aflame with the fire of divine zeal, he burned up the thorns of ungodliness, smashed idols to pieces, destroyed their temples, healed diverse illnesses, drove evil spirits out of people, and brought a great multitude of people to Christ, for which deeds he acquired for himself a new name--the "divine seed." For he sowed the seed of the Logos/Word of God in men's hearts, planted faith, and increased piety, for which cause he was called the "divine seed."

Going about to many lands, he sowed the seed of heaven, gathered in the harvest of men's salvation, and ended his earthly course in the steps of Christ: being an emulator of the sufferings of Christ, he surrendered his spirit into the hands of God while nailed to the Cross in Egypt.

Then this "divine seed," the great Apostle of the inhabited world, the herald and lover of Christ, Iakovos (James), was gathered into the heavenly granary with the fruits he bore a hundredfold. And there, delighting in the vision of the countenance of God, he intercedes for us by his supplications, that we too may win such delight.

Holy Apostle Iakovos (James) intercede for us and for our salvation.

In Christ,
+Father George

October is Stewardship Month - Stewardships is Time, Talent, Treasure

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,
Christ is in our midst!

A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven: The Stewardship of Time

"Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

The first long-term Orthodox Christian missionary priest from America to East Africa was sent by Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory in mid-1980s. As he gradually assimilated into the local culture, he found the local concept of time to be a most difficult adjustment, and upon his return to the America, liked to quote the Kenyan who loved to tell him, "White men have watches. We have time." Our brief time on earth is God's gift. As faithful Orthodox Christians, we are accountable for our stewardship of this precious gift. The American scientist, Thomas Edison said, "Time is not a commodity that can be stored for future use. It must be invested hour by hour or else it is gone forever."

"Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow" (Psalm 144:4).

Our lifetime is a small bit of eternity-"...a fleeting shadow..." (Psalm 144)-which we receive as stewards. Time is a precious gift that we dare not waste. Like the three stewards in the Parable of the Talents, one day God will call each one of us to give account of how we have used the time entrusted to us.

"...a time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

There is "a time for every purpose," said a young attorney, "was a gift I got one Christmas from my dad. He gave me a small box with a note inside that said, "Son, this year I will give you 365 hours, one hour every day after dinner. We'll talk about what you want to talk about, go where you want to go, play what you want to play."

The young attorney continued, "My dad not only kept the promise of his gift, but he renewed it every year - and it's the greatest gift I ever had in my life. I am the result of his time."

The most personal, most appreciated and most unique gift that you give is the gift of time - your time. That valuable 24 hours a day that only you can spend. Depending on your profession, your time may be worth hundreds of dollars an hour.  But the time you give to another person and the Church is priceless.

Our children need our time, helping shape their lives by word and by example. The time we give to our children is an investment in their lives that is not wasted.

Spending Time with God

As Christians it is also important to value the time we spend at church, in worship, service and activities. Every member of the Body of Christ plays a role, according to their gifts, in the life of the local church. The Church is not a social club, but rather a place where people of faith gather for worship, fellowship and service.

Most importantly, we gather together in worship, praising and thanking God for the blessings in our lives and hearing His Word. Of the 168 hours in every week with which we have been blessed, we offer back the short time we spend in church on Sunday morning, gathered together as the Body of Christ. We are united in prayer and united in Holy Communion. We become His hands and feet carrying out His work in the world. As we offer ourselves and our time as His Church, we are part of something much greater than we can imagine - much bigger than the project we support, the service we provide, the prayer we offer.

The Great Feast (St. Luke 14)

In the Gospel of Saint Luke we read of the man who planned a great feast and invited many people. When it was time to serve the dinner, they were all too busy - one with his farm, one with his bide, another with his oxen. We can become so busy making a living that we forget to make a life. God gets crowded out of our lives over the most unimportant things.

At first Christ when Jesus was born, there was no room at the inn. And today we still have no room for Jesus. We crowd Him out with so many things.

Resetting our Priorities

Just as we budget our financial resources to reflect our priorities, we can re-set our allocation of time. We are all busy, but not all of that busy time is well-spent. We may need to say no to certain demands on our time, opening our schedule to God's prompting. We can live each day anticipating the opportunities he places in our path to offer our gift of time.

Thank you all for your service to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Church!

With agape,

+Father George

A Proselyte to the Orthodox Christian Faith

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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A PROSELYTE TO THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH

The person wishing to become Orthodox of their own free volition, without any direct or indirect pressure from anyone, should first meet with the priest of the church.  

Conversion to the Holy Orthodox Christian Church from another Christian denomination, or from a non-Christian religion is a serious matter for both the Orthodox Church and for the person seeking to convert to Orthodoxy. It is essentially, a lifetime mutual commitment.

Consequently, the matter should never be taken lightly. Changing one's faith is the most crucial choice in life. Converting to the Orthodox Christian Faith cannot be treated with frivolity and superficiality. It cannot be as a routine or a mechanical procedure conducted like a 'production line.'

Conversion to the Orthodox Church must be a one hundred percent conversion. Past religious loyalties must be left behind and erased from memory if the conversion is true. Otherwise, there will always be an inner conflict taking place in the heart of the newly converted person. Simply put one cannot remain a Roman Catholic or Protestant Christian while he or she claims to be Orthodox. One must free himself from the older religious identity and accept the new one with his whole heart.

For a newly converted person, the challenges are many and difficult. As a 'new' Orthodox Christian your understanding, your mindset, your attitude, your motivation, your way of thinking is much different. One must be willing to adjust and to practice his or her new Faith with sincerity, honesty, and conviction. 

Worship of the Almighty God is at the center of Orthodox Christian life and spirituality. Worship is not only an experience of learning but a way that God's mystical grace comes to us touches us and changes us. A newly baptized and/or Chrismated person is expected to attend Sunday Divine Liturgy each week as well as special divine services throughout the year, to adhere to the various and special Orthodox seasons such as Holy and Great Lent, the Apostles Fast, Holy Dormition Fast, the Holy Nativity Fast, and other traditions throughout the ecclesiastical year. 

In the Orthodox Christian Faith, one does not determine and follow their own spiritual path without the advice and guidance of Spiritual Fathers and Mothers. Personal accountability is essential to growth in Christ along with intellectual knowledge and church attendance. In a spirit of love, the spiritual guide watches over the spiritual growth and progress of the spiritual child. The Orthodox priest will help the new member of the Church to participate in the Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance/Confession by teaching him or her how to prepare himself/herself through a spiritual self-examination.

It is imperative that all Orthodox Christians have not only a prayer life/discipline but also, a Mysteriaki Zoee (Sacramental life).  Orthodox Christianity is not a theory but a way of life. Unless one's faith is translated into life, it is simply an illusion or fantasy.

May we all be inspired by God the Holy Spirit to abide by the Divine Commandments of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

With sincere agape,

+Father George

The Sanctification of the Holy Chrism

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE HOLY CHRISM
By Pavlos Menevisoglou

The Holy Chrism is consecrated on Holy Thursday by the Ecumenical Patriarch for use in holy churches for the celebration of the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Holy Chrismation. The Mystery (or Mysterion or Sacrament) of Holy Chrismation is the visible sign of the transmission of gifts of the Holy Spirit upon those entering Orthodoxy. The Holy Chrism is thus a bond that unites all true Orthodox Christians throughout the world.

The Orthodox laity is unfortunately not generally informed about the significance, history, and preparation of the Holy Chrism.

The Sanctification of the Holy Chrism

In the Orthodox Church, the Holy Chrism is sanctified for use in the celebration of the Mystery (Sacrament) of Chrismation. It is a visible sign of the transmission of gifts of the Holy Spirit to those who are baptized.

During the early years of Christianity, the transmission of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the baptized were given by the Holy Apostles through the 'laying of hands." It is stated in the Holy Scripture that, "now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-7).

The use of the Holy Chrism was introduced to the Christian Church from the existing Old Testament practice. It is stated that "The Lord said to Moses, 'Take the finest spices--12 pounds of liquid myrrh, 6 pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 6 pounds of sweet cane, and 12 pounds of cassia (all weighed according to official standard). Add one gallon of olive oil, and make a sacred anointing oil, mixed like perfume" (Exodus 30:22-25).

Over the years of its existence, the Holy Chrism has been known by many names, such as "Oil," "Oil of Thanksgiving," "Oil of Anointing," "Chrism," "Chrism of Thanksgiving," "Chrism from Heavens," "Mystical Chrism," "Myrrh," "Divine Myrrh," "Mystical Myrrh," "Great Myrrh," and "Holy and Great Myrrh." Today, the term generally used is "Holy Myrrh" or "Holy Chrism."

The Holy Chrism is prepared from oil and another fragrant essence, which symbolize the variety of gifts of the Holy Spirit that the chrismated Christian receives. The most ancient list of materials and the aforementioned information "concerning the materials of the myrrh," which are still used today, date from the 8th century. This includes the materials used for the preparation and making of the Holy Chrism. At the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, there is an official list of kinds of fragrances, from which the Holy Chrism is made," which includes 57 kinds of elements.

Information on how Holy Chrism was sanctified during the first centuries of Christianity is not available. The oldest reference is in The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytios. Later, direction concerning the sanctification of the Holy Chrism was included in the Great Prayer Book (Mega Efchologion) and Goar's Euchologion. Constantinople presently uses this course in the preparation of the Holy Chrism. During the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, the Ecumenical Patriarchate made a special effort to revise carefully the prayer book containing the order and service of the sanctification of the Holy Chrism.

In accordance with the rubrics followed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the sanctification of the Holy Chrism takes place in the following order:

After the doxology on Palm Sunday, the Patriarch blesses the Archon of the Myrrh who, along with the other Archons, work with him to make the Holy Chrism. They wear a white tunic reaching to the ground. After blessing the Archon of the Myrrh, the Patriarch then places a towel on him.

The next day, on Holy and Great Monday, after the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Patriarch enters the Patriarchal Church of the Great Myrrh, Saint George, where an appropriately decorated sepulcher and the boilers for the Holy Chrism are located. The Patriarch then blesses the beginning of the cycle of the sanctification of the Holy Chrism with a special holy service. Following the blessing, he sprinkles Holy Water on the prepared materials, the utensils to be used, and the copper boilers. Then, holding a lighted candle, he touches each boiler, placing pieces of old charred holy icons in them. Then the Patriarch reads chapters from the Holy Gospel. The readings of the lesson (pericopes) from the New Testament are then continued by those present, including hierarchs, clergy from the Patriarchate, as well as visiting clergy. This order of readings continues all day on Holy and Great Monday, Holy and Great Tuesday, and Holy and Great Wednesday.

On Holy and Great Tuesday, after the Divine Liturgy, a small supplication canon to the Theotokos is sung at the holy sepulchre. Prayers are offered for those who contribute material, money, and effort to prepare the Holy Chrism.

On Holy and Great Wednesday, after the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Patriarch once again comes to the holy sepulcher and, after a brief service, places in the boilers rose oil, musk, and other sweet-smelling oil. On this day, all preparations for making the Holy Chrism are completed.

On Holy and Great Thursday, after Matins (Orthros) at the Patriarchal Chapel of Saint Andrew and after the complete vesting of the Patriarch and the other hierarchs, the procession from the Patriarchal Palaces to the Patriarchal Church begins. The bells ring during the entire procession. During the procession, the Patriarch holds the small myrrh container. The first in order of the hierarchs holds an alabaster containing pre-sanctified Chrism. The other hierarchs hold small silver vases containing Chrism from the prepared materials to be sanctified. Twenty-four archimandrites hold (one on each side) 12 silver containers filled with the Chrism to be sanctified. During the Divine Liturgy, at the appointed time after the exclamation: "And may the mercy of our Great Lord," the Grand Archimandrite exclaims: "Let us attend." The congregation kneels, and the Patriarch sanctifies the Holy Chrism according to the rubrics. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the sanctified Holy Chrism is transferred from the church to the Patriarchal myrrh center in reverse order according to the order of the Procession. It is in the Patriarchal myrrh center that the alabasters and the containers that contain the Holy Chrism are deposited. Following this transfer, the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy takes place. (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)

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

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Mystery (Sacrament) of Chrismation

Beloved in Our Savior Jesus Christ,

THE MYSTERION (SACRAMENT) OF CHRISMATION

The Mystery (Sacrament of Chrismation is performed usually immediately after the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism, comprising together with it a single Church rite. The performer of the Sacrament, the bishop or priest, "anoints the one who has been baptized with the Holy Myrrh, making the sign of the Cross on the various members of the body , while signing each part of the body he pronounces the words, 'the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." This Sacrament is also performed on those who are united to the church from another Christian tradition as one of the means of their being united to the Orthodox Church. The words by which the Sacrament is performed, "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit," indicate its significance and effect. It is (a) the culminating act of being united to the Church, the confirmation or seal of union; and (b) the seal of the grace-given powers which are bestowed on it for strengthening and growth in spiritual life.

Just as it was the holy Apostles who were sent to the baptized Samaritans in order to bring down upon them the Holy Spirit, so also in the Sacrament of Chrismation, the myrrh which is used, according to the decree of the Church, must be sanctified by a bishop, as the highest successor of the Holy Apostles. The sanctification of myrrh occurs in a special solemn sacred rite, with the participation, when possible, of other bishops of the Church.

Apart from the Sacrament of Chrismation, the myrrh is used also in exceptional circumstances.  Thus, at the sanctification of a church, there is performed the signing with the holy myrrh of the holy Altar-table, upon which the Sacrament of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ will be performed, and likewise of the walls of the church. As a special rite, the anointment with holy myrrh is also performed at the accession of the royal throne of Orthodox kings.

With agape,

+Father George