Jesus' Triumph Over Satan (St. Matthew 4:1-11)

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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JESUS' TRIUMPH OVER SATAN (St. Matthew 4:1-11)

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up. Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' Jesus said to him, 'It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' Then the devil left Him, and behold, Angels came and ministered to Him" (St. Matthew 4:1-11).

When one reads the above passage from the gospel one cannot but be convinced of Satan's existence. There are those, unfortunately, that deny the existence of the Evil One and/or evil all around us. It is a great mistake to believe that there is no evil and that all of it is just a myth. Thinking in this unrealistic way we mistakenly are convinced also that one cannot be influenced by evil and/or become a willing instrument of evil ourselves. 

Our Merciful God has given us a free will and, therefore, we are free to either do good or to do evil, the choice is up the individual to make. It is true that along with that awesome responsibility comes accountability. There is definitely, however, Divine Justice and Judgment Day for everyone when everything will be revealed before God all that we have done: thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is the Almighty God Who will then decide where we are to spend eternity, heaven or hell. No one can escape God's Divine judgment.

"The devil challenges Jesus' relationship to the Father. If You are the Son of God calls into question the Father's declaration of Jesus' sonship at His baptism (3:17). The devil wants Jesus to abuse His Divine powers, to act independently, detaching His will from the will of the Father. In His Divine Nature, the Son shares one will with the Father and the Spirit. He can do nothing of Himself (St. John 5:30). He has no operation that is distinct from His Father's. But in His humanity He possesses "free will" and at times must choose to remain in communion with His Father, to be obedient to the divine will.

By rejecting the first temptation, Jesus rejects a kingdom based on materialism, earthly well-being, the "bread which perishes" (see John 6:1-40). He teaches us not to love ease and comfort, to accept willingly the struggle necessary to purify us from evil. While Adam and Eve disregarded the Divine word given them, subordinating their souls to the passions of the body (Genesis 3), the New Adam conquers all temptations, that He might give our nature power to conquer the Adversary (Satan).

Satan puts God's power of protection to the test. Will Jesus depend on spectacular signs and self-aggrandizement, or will He humbly submit to persecution, humiliations, and death according to the Father's will?

 God's Kingdom is not one of earthly power and possessions. In the devil's offering of "the kingdoms of the world", Jesus was being asked to choose worldly power over the Kingdom of God. The devil is "the ruler of this world" (St. John 12:31; 16:11), "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), because the whole world is in his power (1 John 5:19).

Jesus refuses to take a road that would lead Him away from the path of suffering and death for the redemption of the world, Jesus says simply, "away with you, Satan"--a command rather than a rebuke.

So all of us, without any exception, should be constantly vigilant so that we do not fall into temptation and become his victim and lose our soul and salvation. By turning to the Divinely inspired Holy Scripture we learn how to confront Evil One and his demons. The attention of the Christian should be given to our Redeemer Christ and to follow willingly and obediently the path to the Kingdom that He has shown us. We must not ever lose sight of Him Who saved us from evil and death. Instead, glorify Him and imitate Him in everything.

"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 

"Put on the Whole Armor of God..." (Eph 6:10-17)

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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"PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD..." (Ephesians 6:10-17)

All Orthodox Christians understand that one must struggle spiritually, unceasingly, and with determination in order to acquire a healthy spiritual life. Saint Paul explains what we need to do when he writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

"All who stand for good must wage a constant battle with the forces of evil. For the demons still have power in the world (v.12) until Christ comes again in glory. This is clearly acknowledged in the prayers at the conclusion of Orthodox baptism. Christians fight back with God's arms, that is, His uncreated divine energy, given to us (1:19-23; 3:16-21) and actively used by us. The Christian has "put on" (4:24) at baptism all of the qualities listed as armor in vv. 14-17. These qualities must be exercised in the conflict of growth: no struggle, no deification (theosis). (Source: Orthodox Study Bible pg. 451)   

The Orthodox Christian seeks the guidance and inspiration of God the Holy Spirit in order to learn how to pray correctly and properly. There are many wonderful Orthodox Prayer Books that one can purchase at the St. Andrew Bookstore or even online. In the meantime here are a few prayers that should help you to begin a prayer discipline:

The Third Prayer of Orthros (Matins)

From the early morning watch, our spirit rises to You, For Your commandments are for us as the light of life. Teach us, O God, Your righteousness, Your commandments, and Your judgments. Enlighten the eyes of our mind, that we may never slumber in sinfulness unto death. Cast out every darkness from our heart, And grant to us the Sun of Righteousness. Keep our life safe from evil influence And preserve in it the Seal of the Holy Spirit. Guide our steps on the road of peace. Give us this dawn and this day To raise up our morning prayers in gladness to You. For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, Of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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A Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

Blessed are You, O Lord Almighty, You have illumined the day with the light of the sun And the night you have brightened with the rays of the fiery moon; You have made us worthy to go through this day And to approach the beginning of the night. Hear our petitions and those of all Your people, And forgive us all our voluntary and involuntary sins. Receive our evening prayers, And send down upon the people of Your inheritance The multitude of Your mercy and compassionate love. Encompass us with Your holy Angels. Arm us with the weapons of your righteousness. Outline us with the mark of Your Truth. Guard us by Your power. Deliver us from every circumstance and influence of the adversary (Satan). Grant us once again, O Lord, that this present evening together with the approaching night, and all the days of our life, Will be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless and without any scandalous imaginations, We pray for this through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos and all the Saints who have pleased You through the ages. Amen.

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O Christ our God, At all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, You are worshipped and glorified; You are long-suffering, Most Merciful, Most compassionate, You love the righteous and have mercy upon the sinners; You call everyone to salvation through the promise of future blessings; Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour And direct our life toward Your Commandments. Sanctify our souls; make our bodies chaste; Correct our thoughts; purify our intentions; And deliver us from every grief and pain that comes from evil. Encompass us by Your holy Angels, So that guarded and guided by them We may attain to the unity of the faith

And to the knowledge of Your inapproachable glory, For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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"O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER!"

 The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

With sincere agape in Christ,

+Father George

Spiritual Warfare

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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SPIRITUAL WARFARE

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering is experienced by your brotherhood in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

"The devil and his angels (demons) explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. The enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin. He arouses our tongues to speak evil about others, and urges our hands to injure them. He sets forth profits to be earned by shady and immoral means and holds out earthly honors and false values to be preferred to heavenly ones. When he is unable to tempt us, he brings forth a threat of persecution so that fear may cause us to betray the faith. Thus we must always be alert for his many-faceted attacks, ready to resist him at every turn" (Orthodox Study Bible page 558).

Spiritual warfare is about bringing our thoughts into obedience to Christ. But we must do this gently, recognizing that our flesh is weak, but must nevertheless be trained, like children. Saint Isaac the Syrian says it never goes away so long as we are still in the body...Struggles with the passions are not really about the passions. Spiritual warfare is about our attention. When our attention wanders from Our Creator, from the awareness of God's nearness, and from the continual contemplation and prayer to God in our hearts, then the passions, the flashy red poisonous berries, get our attention.

"...Saint Paul says I am sure of better things for you, things that accompany salvation. Warfare is our lot so long as we live in the evil age.  But as Saint Paul also says, OUR WARFARE is not against flesh and blood, it's not against other people no matter how evil they seem to be. Our warfare is against our own thoughts (logismoi) and fears, or despondent tendencies. We each have our unique battles to fight, our own unseen martyrdom.

Since we are constantly under attack from the Evil One we must turn to prayer. You call out to God in prayer, not only in your mind and heart but with your body too. Cross yourself when you pray. Get out of bed and do prostrations (metanoies) as you pray. Light a candle before an icon, burn some incense and pray. Pray with your mind, heart, and body. Beg God to have mercy as you pray. The Jesus Prayer ("The Prayer of the Heart") is most appropriate.

Saint Andrew of Crete prays in the name of all of us who sin before God: "Take my heavy sinful burden away from me and give me tears of repentance!" We must shed tears of repentance because there are only two kinds of water which can wash away the filth of sin: the water of baptism and the tears of repentance. Furthermore, as Saint John Climacus asserts: "Greater than baptism itself is the fountain of tears after baptism, even though it is somewhat audacious to say so. For baptism is the washing away of evils that were in us before, but sins committed after baptism are washed away by tears. As baptism is received in infancy, we have all defiled it, but we cleanse it anew with tears. And if God in His love for mankind had not given us tears, those being saved would be few indeed and hard to find."

When we turn our attention to Jesus, then Jesus fights our battles. One of the desert Holy Fathers said that trying to confront our own wicked thoughts is like trying to drive off wild dogs by throwing biscuits at them. We end up feeding the very thing we are trying to drive away. But if we turn our attention to Christ as the priest says during the Divine Liturgy "let us be attentive", to the One Who saves, to the One Who made us and loves us and calls us to Himself, then the barking of the dogs (demons) fades away into the background. Then, Christ, Himself fights with us the spiritual battles, and we return to our natural place as worshippers of God, as those whose minds and hearts are attending to the one thing needful. (Source: Pravmir)

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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

January 18- Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria

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 S298 AHALL BE.

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ON JANUARY 18TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR HOLY FATHER ATHANASIUS THE GREAT OF ALEXANDRIA

Our Holy Father among the Saints Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled "Athanasios"; from Greek, "immortal") was a bishop of Alexandria and major theological writer in the 4th century. He is also called Athanasius the Great and (by the Coptic church) Athanasius the Apostolic. He was born in 298 A.D. and fell asleep in the Lord on May 2, 373 A.D. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is January 18th.

He was born to pagan parents. When he was in school he saw a group of Christians acting out services and when he asked to join them, they refused. From then on he declared himself Christian. The Patriarch at that time, Pope Alexander, predicted that he would eventually hold a great position.

Before reaching the age of 20, Athanasius wrote a treatise entitled On the Incarnation, affirming and explaining that Jesus Christ was both God and Man. In about 319 A.D., when Athanasius was a deacon, a presbyter named Arius began teaching that there was a time before God the Father begat Jesus when the latter did not exist. Athanasius responded that the Father's begetting of the Son, or uttering of the Logos/Word, was an eternal relationship between them, was an eternal relationship between them, not an event that took place within time. Thus began catholic Christianity's fight against the heresy of Arianism.

Saint Athanasius fought consistently against Arianism all his life. As a deacon, he accompanied Alexander of Alexandria to the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., which produced the Nicene Creed and anathematized Arius and his followers. The Coptic church maintains a tradition that Athanasius was the main author of the Nicene Creed, and has therefore given him the title of Defender of the Faith.

On May 9, 328 A.D., he succeeded Alexander as bishop of Alexandria, becoming the 20th Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria, a position which he held for 45 years, 16 of which he spent in exile. As a result of rises and falls in Arianism's influence, he was banished from Alexandria only to be later restored on at least five separate occasions, perhaps as many as seven. This gave rise to the expression Athanasius contra mundus, et mundum contra Athanasium or "While the world is set against Athanasius, Athanasius is equally set against the world." During some of his exiles, he spent time with the Desert Fathers, monks, and hermits who lived in remote areas of Egypt.

Saint Athanasius is also the first person to identify the same 27 books of the New Testament that are in use today; up until his Paschal letter, various similar lists were in use. However, his list was the one that was eventually ratified by a series of synods and came to be universally recognized as the New Testament Canon.

He also wrote a biography of Anthony the Great that later served as an inspiration to Christian monasteries in both the East and the West. The Athanasian Creed is traditionally ascribed to him, though it is likely not his work.

Saint Athanasius was also the first to introduce the 40-day Lent to the Greek Orthodox Churches in Egypt through his writing of Festal Letter XII around 337 A.D.

The Saint was originally buried in Alexandria. His holy body was later transferred to Italy. Pope Shenouda III restored the holy relics of Saint Athanasius to Egypt on 15 May 1973, after his historic visit to the Vatican and meeting with Pope Paul VI. The holy relics of Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria are currently preserved under the new Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Deir El-Anba Rowais, Abbassiya, Cairo, Egypt.

The following is a Troparion (hymn) to Saint Athanasius sung in some Orthodox churches:

Holy Father Athanasius, like a pillar of orthodoxy you refuted the heretical nonsense of Arius by insisting that the Father and the Son are equal in essence. O Venerable Father, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

(Source: Orthodox Wiki)

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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

January 17 - Life of Our Holy Monastic Father Anthony the Great

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 17th JANUARY WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF OUR MOST HOLY MONASTIC FATHER ANTHONY THE GREAT

The venerable Anthony the Great was born in Egypt of noble parents known for their piety. He was brought up at home and had no dealings with outsiders.  

When our Saint was about twenty years old, his parents died, leaving him in charge of the house and his sister. He did not alter his habit of attending church frequently, and while listening to the Holy Scripture, often meditated on how the Apostles renounced everything to follow the Savior. He kept turning over in his mind how, in the book of Acts, many had sold their possessions and "brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles" feet to provide for the poor (Acts Ch.4). One day, while reflecting on the earnest faith of the first Christians and the "hope which" was "laid up for" them "in heaven", he went to church and heard Christ's words to the rich young man: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow Me: and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (Matthew Ch. 3). Anthony considered this an admonition directed to him personally by the Savior and straightway sold his inheritance. The proceeds were considerable, and the poor received nearly all since Anthony kept back only a small sum for his sister, who was young and sickly. He committed his sister to the care of virgins whose character and way of life were well known to him, with the understanding that they would betroth her to Christ and rear her in piety. Then, free of the world and its snares, he devoted himself to a life of asceticism.  

In those days there were as yet few monasteries in Egypt, and no solitary had penetrated the trackless desert, but whoever wished to serve Christ and save himself retired to some solitary place near his own village to practice virtue. Near the settlement where Anthony lived, there was an old recluse who had retired from the world in his youth. Anthony was edified by him, decided to emulate his way of life, and began withdrawing to various isolated locations nearby.  Whenever he heard of other solitaries, he sought them out as a bee seeks flowers, and finding them, never left until he had collected the sweet nectar of edification.

Having made a good beginning, the blessed one daily intensified his labors. He toiled at his handicraft, basket-weaving, in obedience to Saint Paul, who said, "If any will not work, neither should he eat" (Matthew Ch. 6). With his earnings, he bought bread for the poor. From the Holy Scripture, he knew how much it behooves us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians Ch. 5); therefore, he sent up continuous entreaty to the Lord. So deeply impressed in his mind were the words of the Gospel that his memory served him instead of books.

Anthony's evident holiness quickly won him the love of the ascetics whom he visited. He observed and imitated the virtues of each. From one he learned self-restraint, from another how to console the brethren, from another meekness, from another how to keep vigil, from another to heed holy books with the utmost attention, from another how to fast, from another to sleep on bare earth, from another patience, and form another humility. Having derived as much profit as possible from all the monks in the region, Anthony finally secluded himself in a cell and applied himself wholeheartedly to putting into practice what he had seen. So doing, he soon became well-known in the vicinity, and the neighbors and other monks began visiting him frequently. The elderly regarded him as a beloved son, the young as an esteemed brother, and all agreed that he had early attained a high level of sanctity.

Anthony's success incited the envy of the hater of Christians, the devil, who devised schemes to prevent our Saint from achieving salvation. Satan called to the blessed one's remembrance his former possessions, care of his sister, and nobility of origin, as well as various tasty foods and other vain pleasures of the world. He also pointed out the difficulty of attaining virtue, the arduousness of the path to holiness, the frailty of the body, and the long struggle that lay ahead.

Anthony battled constantly against the vicious attacks and even beatings from demons. The Saint testified that the blows the demons delivered surpassed man's ability to endure, but that the compassionate God, Who never forsakes those that hope in Him, intervened to save him from death.  

Our wondrous holy Father occasionally would descend from his mountain to visit the brethren, and since God had revealed to him that he would soon die, he told them the last time he came down, "I will not see you again in this life. I am a hundred and five years old and am ready to go to my rest." The brethren wept, mourning over the elder as though he had already reposed, but he used the opportunity to exhort them to virtue." "Regard each day as your last, guard your souls form vile thoughts, and emulate the Saints. Keep a distance from the ungodly. Preserve the tradition of the holy Fathers and adhere steadfastly to the pious and blameless faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have learned from the Holy Scripture and in which I have nurtured you."

Saint Anthony did not wish to be glorified by men even after his death, but was determined to meet eternity in seclusion; therefore, after healing the monks farewell, he returned to his beloved dwelling upon the mountain. After several months, he fell ill. Two of his disciples had been living with him for the last fifteen years, serving him in his old age, and he summoned them and explained, "I am about to "go the way of all earth". The Lord has called me, and I am anxious to see heaven...Put your hope in Jesus Christ, trust in His name with your whole heart, and you will see the evil spirits flee. Amend yourselves, and you will certainly be rewarded in heaven. Then he fell asleep in the Lord and was numbered with the Holy Fathers. Obedient to his command, the monks wrapped his body and committed it to the earth. Till this day no one knows where it lies. The Saint's disciples gave the sheepskin and old cloak to Athanasius, who accepted them with pleasure. He counted them his greatest treasures, for whenever he looked at them, he remembered Anthony's face.

Thus did the venerable Saint Anthony live and die. His fame spread throughout the whole world, as did devotion to his memory. He was glorified for his virtuous life and not because he wrote books, was of the most distinguished stock, had received a brilliant education, had mastered the refinements of rhetoric, or had amassed perishable riches. In him was fulfilled the word of the Lord: "Them that honor Me I will honor" (I Kings Ch. 2). The Saint did not live in a populous city where men could observe him, but in the most remote location possible, deep in the desert. Yet the inhabitants of Spain, Africa, Italy, Illyricum, and Old Rome all knew of him, not because Saint Anthony desired it (for he purposely hid on the mountain), but because the Lord wished to utilize him as a lamp to illumine all. Everyone who heard about the elder longed to attain the virtues, and marveling at his life, praised the Heavenly Father, to Whom, with His Only-Begotten Son and All-Holy Spirit, is due honor, glory, thanksgiving, and worship unto the ages. Amen.

Besides those recorded in the Life written by Saint Athanasius the Great, additional edifying stories about the godly Anthony have reached us.

The venerable Saint Anthony, great among the Fathers, overcame every demonic temptation. He regarded the evil spirits as beneath contempt and never succumbed to their tyranny. Frequently he beheld Angels and devils with his physical eyes, witnessing how they concerned themselves with human affairs, each striving to incline men to their side. Being extremely advanced in virtue, he heaped scorn upon the evil spirits and taunted them for having fallen from heaven and become inheritors of eternal hell-fire. Saint Anthony dealt harshly with the adversaries, having attained a high degree of dispassion and the utmost perfection, and become a vessel of the Most Holy Spirit.

Not in vain do we relate this story, brethren, but so that you may be assured of God's goodness and compassion. If He is ready to accept the devil's repentance, then how much more that of man, for whom He allowed His blood to be shed? Are you a sinner? Then repent. Do you consider that you are not a sinner? Then you will be tormented forever in Gehenna, more severely than the demons, not because you have indeed sinned (for we have all transgressed, except God alone), but because you refuse to repent. Beseech the Judge to show mercy before it is too late, for death awaits us all. If you die without repentance, having pleased Satan by iniquities of every sort, you will be hurled into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. If, however, flee sin and please God by repentance and confession before your end, you shall inherit indescribable blessings. Turn to the Merciful Judge and render yourself worthy of exaltation and a dwelling with Angels, where ineffable felicity abounds and there is eternal joy. May this be the lot of us all through Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT ANTHONY THE GREAT:

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 Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

January 14 - Feast of Our Holy Mother Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles

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 14th OF JANUARY, THE HOLY CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR HOLY MOTHER NINA, EQUAL-TO-THE APOSTLES, ENLIGHTENER OF GEORGIA

Nina (better known in Georgia as Nino), our holy Mother, and her missions among the Georgians, also known as the Iberians, were foretold on the day of Pentecost. This land today is situated in western Transcaucasia, bounded by the Black Sea, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. According to Georgian tradition, the holy Apostle Andrew, the First-called and Apostle first preached Christianity in those parts, leaving as his successor Saint Nina.

The Lot of Iberia-Georgia Falls to the Mother of God

Stephen the Hagiorite records the following narrative. After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), the Apostles cast lots that they might determine where each should go and preach the Gospel. The Virgin-Mother also requested a lot for herself, so that she might share in the preaching. Therefore, she said, "I too, desire to take part in the preaching of the Gospel and wish to cast my lot with you to receive the land which God shall show." Then with fear and reverence, they cast for the Theotokos; and her lot fell on the Iberian land. The Most Pure Mother of God then joyfully accepted her lot.

After the day of Pentecost, the Theotokos was planning to set out for Iberia at once, but the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her, restraining her, saying, "Virgin Birth-giver of God, Jesus Christ Who was born of thee, thus commands: 'Thou shall not depart from the land of Judea, that is Jerusalem. The place assigned as thy lot is not Iberia but Macedonia's peninsula, Mount Athos. After some time thou wilt have the work of preaching in the land to which God will guide thee. This place shall be greatly blessed and illuminated in the light of thy countenance.' The Archangel then revealed to her the following about the Iberian land: "The land which fell to thee will be enlightened in the latter days, by another woman, and thy dominion will be established there." These words were fulfilled three centuries later when the Virgin Mary sent Saint Nina, "Equal-to-the-Apostles," whom she blessed and helped in proclaiming the Gospel to the Iberians.

Saint Nina and Her Family

Nina, our holy mother, hailed from Cappadocia. She was the only daughter of pious parents. Her father, Zabulon, was a Roman general and a kinsman of Saint George the Great-Martyr. Zabulon originally came from Cappadocia but was stationed in various places. Nina's mother, Susanna, was also from Cappadocia. Susanna's parents had reposed early and left two children, unprotected by human means. Susanna and her brother Jevenal decided to take the long journey to the holy land and Jerusalem. The two orphans found refuge in the Church of the Resurrection. At length, Juvenal was appointed as a steward (economos) of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ. Susanna went into the service of the most pious Deaconess Niofora (Sara-Niofora) of Bethlehem.

Following the marriage between Zabulon and Susanna, the newlyweds decided to return to their homeland of Cappadocia. This blessed couple gave birth to the blessed Nina, the enlightener of Georgia. When Nina was twelve years old, she accompanied her parents to the holy city of Jerusalem. Her father Zabulon, for the great love which he bore God, decided to become a monk. With the consent of his wife and with the blessing of the bishop, Zabulon took refuge in the wilderness of Jordan, where he remained concealed as a hermit. When he bade farewell to his young daughter, it was a tearful parting. Zabulon commended her to the care of God, the Father, and the Protector of widows and orphans. Zabulon then said to Nina, "Fear nothing, my girl. Be the sister of Lazarus.  If thou wilt love Christ as they did, then His grace shall never depart from thee."

Susanna took her daughter and went to her brother at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Juvenal made Susanna a deaconess, and she served in the Church of the Resurrection, her duties including ministering to the poor and giving assistance to women in need of help. Nina, for her rearing and education, was assigned to the pious Eldress (Gerondisa) Niofora, who knew well Christian truths. Nina was intelligent, quick-witted, and attentive. After two years of study under Niofora's tutelage, the apt Nina, with the grace of God, was well versed in the doctrines and canons of the Faith. Diligent study of the Holy Scripture on a daily basis bore much fruit.

Day and night the holy maiden kept constant in fervent prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, entreating her and saying, "Vouchsafe me, O Lady, that I might go to the Iberian land, that I might venerate thy beloved Sons' tunic, which thou didst fashion with tine own hands!" It was believed that the tunic was kept in the city of Mitskhera, Iberia by a rabbi named Elioz, who obtained it from the soldier who had won it by lot at the foot of the Cross. The soldiers did not wish to tear Jesus' tunic (χιτών), which "was seamless, woven from the top throughout," so they said, "Let us obtain it by lot for whom it shall be (cf. John 19:23; 24; Luke 23:34). The Panagia or All-Holy Mother of God heard the maiden's supplication and appeared to Nina in her sleep, saying, "Go to Iberia, since thou dost so desire it! Moreover, thou shalt preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people who inhabit that land, for they are unenlightened. Christ shall grant thee an abundance of grace, and I shall also help thee." The humble Nina replied, "I am just a weak maiden. How can I be vouchsafed such an important ministry? How shall I perform such great work?" The Theotokos answered, "Take this cross. It shall be a shield and guard against enemies both visible and invisible. Thou shalt raise up this saving sign of the Faith. By the power of the Cross, thou shalt lead the land of the Iberians to faith and belief in my beloved Son 'Whom willeth all men to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4)." When the holy maiden awakened from her sleep, she beheld that marvelous cross in her hands. Even as in the vision, it was fashioned from vine shoots. With tears, she began kissing the cross. She next cut a portion of her tresses and braided it to the cross.

Saint Nina began boldly and openly preaching the Gospel word. She invited the Iberians, both the idolaters and Jews, to come to repentance and believe in Christ. Her piety, righteousness, prudence, and pure manner of life were known to all so that they willingly heeded her preaching. Man, especially among the Hebrew women, were oftentimes going to her that they might listen to her words and new teaching concerning the Kingdom of God and everlasting salvation. As a result, many of them became secret Christians.

Saint Nina was assured by divine signs that the Kingdom of God and the salvation of the Iberians were near. She did not cease preaching the word of God to the people. In this holy labor, she toiled together with her disciples, especially Sidonia and her father Abiathar. The king's consort, Queen Nana, a gravely ill woman, was harsh and a fanatical devotee of the inanimate idols. She had been responsible for the erection of the statue of the shameless Aphrodite in Iberia. She also condemned the Christians in a private capacity. But the grace of God which heals all sicknesses and weakness and fulfills all that is lacking quickly cured even Nana of her disease.

This came about when Nana the Queen had become extremely ill. The Queen was brought to St. Nina. Nina bade those close to the queen to place on her on the bed of leaves. Saint Nina then knelt down and offered up a fervent prayer, entreating the Lord, the Physician of souls and bodies, to heal the queen. Then the Saint took her cross and placed it n the head of the sick woman. She repeated this on the queen's feet, shoulders, and sides. Thus she traced over the queen the sign of the Cross. After this had been done, the queen rose up from the bed healthy. The queen then gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ and boldly confessed to Saint Nina, the people, and then her husband, that Christ is True God. Nana made Saint Nina her particular and trusted friend and her only confidante.

After her holy mission was completed Saint Nina received a divine revelation of her approaching end. Concerning this, she informed king Mirian by letter. The Saint invoked upon the king and his kingdom the blessing of God and the All-Holy Virgin.  She also supplicated God to send for their protection and fortification the invincible power of the Cross of the Lord. She also wrote: "As a pilgrimage and wayfarer on the earth, I am leaving this world and am going the way of my fathers. I beseech thee, O king, to ask Bishop John to come to me that he might prepare me for the everlasting course because the day of my death approaches." Then in peace, after years of serving an Apostolic ministry, she surrendered her soul into the hands of God. Saint Nina reposed on the 14th day of January, in the year 338 A.D. She was 67 years old. In the year 342 A.D. king Mirian laid the foundation of a church at her grave. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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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