"Put on the Whole Armor of God..."

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 6:11).

The wisest and most rational decision that one can make is to always be ready and to be on the alert. None of us can predict the future and what the future has in store for us. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to be on the ready. Saint Paul the Holy Apostle advises of that when he says, "...put on the whole armor of God...stand your ground!” and "stand FIRM, having the belt of truth around your waist, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having fitted shoes on your feet so as to be ready in the gospel of peace. Above all, take up the shield of faith which will enable you to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word (spoken) by God. Pray at all times in (the) spirit of intercessions and requests: never get tired of this and persevere in your requests…” (Ephesians 6:14-18).  

As your priest, I persevere in my requests to our Lord to protect all of you from this virus but also, from all danger. It is never out of sight out of mind. Although the church is practically empty when I am conducting the divine services, I feel your presence. I have never thought of the church ever empty. Our Loving and Life-Giving God is always there, the Angels are always there, the Theotokos is always there, the Saints of our Holy Church are there, and all the righteous men and women of God are there. The church is always full.

What all of us are going through now is extremely stressful and hard for all of us to believe. We should know, however, that it is through adversity that we are made strong. The world has known all kinds of adversities over the many centuries, i.e., slavery, local wars, world worlds, pandemics, epidemics, communism, fascism, totalitarianism, atheism, globalism, etc., and yet the world survived, overcame and moved on.  People are resilient and the human spirit is powerful and unyielding. Above all, however, always oversees His creation and He will never allow man to destroy it. 

Hopefully, mankind will pause and learn the valuable lessons that come out of adversity. One very valuable lesson is to talk less and listen more. In Byzantine iconography, the ears depicted on the Saint are always larger than the mouth. The nous must descend to the heart. "Be still and know that I am God." The airwaves are full of noise, sound, and the result is a cacophony and not a symphony. With all the electronic devices used by young and old alike today, the person has lost his stillness and inner peace. Worst yet, he has lost the voice of God. Contemporary man has lost the ability to communicate with each other and as a result, feels lonely and alone.

We, as humans, need to allow God to speak to us. We need to listen to Him. God desires to guide us and to lead us to salvation. Today we rely on the GPS to find our way to our destination otherwise we may lose our way. As Orthodox Christians, we need not rely on some kind of an instrument made by man but on our God and Savior Jesus Christ to guide us and to lead us to heaven.

While in quarantine and secluded to our home, we must use this precious time to spend more time in prayer. Seeking God's wisdom and inspiration. The Holy Spirit, the Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth is the only one that can teach us how to pray and pray correctly.  Seek the Divine Grace of the Holy Spirit and you will never either become lost or be alienated from God.

"Thy will be done..." We pray the Lord's Prayer. What that means is that we are willing to freely surrender ourselves to our Creator. We trust Him totally and we believe that He loves us unconditionally. There is no doubt, there is no confusion, there is no reluctance, there is no resistance to our spiritual relationship with God. The Almighty God has given a free will to decide for ourselves. He does not force either Himself or His Divine Will on man. Man is a free soul to do as he wills. If he believes in God, it is only because he himself decides and desires to believe and not because of any force or coercion. Forced belief would have no value and would not be true faith. Instead of being children of God, we would be slaves of God. We would be mere puppets and nothing more. How then could we pray, "Our Father..."?

Our Lord Jesus Christ is in our midst! Our Faith is an unbelievable blessing and leads to the Kingdom of God. Stay strong and keep your sights always on our Savior and you will never go wrong. As an Orthodox Christian, you have been blessed with awesome spiritual potential. It is up to you to discover your spiritual potential and treasure and to use it not only for yourself but to help your fellow man. 

You should know after 20 years how much I love you all and always pray for you. Be careful and think seriously before you act. Pray for guidance from our Lord and never lose hope. Christ is in our midst indeed!

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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

Let Us Pray to the Lord

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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LET US PRAY TO THE LORD...

PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me. (Prostration)

Instead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience, and love. (Prostration)

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother (or sister). Prostration

For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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PRAYER OF MANASSES, KING OF JUDA

O Lord, Almighty, the God of our Fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous seed; Who created the heaven and the earth with all their adornment; Who shut up the abyss and sealed it with Your awesome and glorious Name; Whom all things dread and before whose power they tremble, because the Majesty of Your glory is unbearable and the threat of Your anger against the sinners unendurable; yet the mercy of Your promise is both,

immeasurable and unfathomable, for Your are the Lord Most High, compassionate, long-suffering and All-Merciful, and relent on the wickedness of man.

You, Lord, in the multitude of Your goodness promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in Your infinite compassion appointed repentance for sinners that they may be saved. Therefore, Lord, the God of the powers, You have not appointed repentance for the righteous, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who have not sinned against You, but You appointed repentance for me the sinner, for I have committed more sins than the grains of the sand of the sea. My transgressions have multiplied, Lord; my transgressions have multiplied, and I am not worthy to look up and see the height of the sky from the multitude of my iniquities, being weighted down by many iron chains, so that I cannot raise my head; there is no respite

left for me because I provoked Your anger and committed evil before You not having done Your will and not having kept Your commandments. And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Your goodness. I have sinned and I acknowledge my transgressions; but I beg and ask of Your:  Forgive me, Lord, forgive me and do not destroy me with my transgressions; do not be angry with me forever and keep my evils in me, and do not condemn me to the depths of the earth; for You are God, the God of those who repent; and in me You shall show all Your goodness; for even though I am unworthy, You shall praise You without ceasing all the days of my life.  For every heavenly power sings Your praises, and Yours is the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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THE FOLLOWING PRAYER OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT

Lord, Lord, Who has delivered us from every arrow that flies by day, deliver us from anything that lurks about in darkness. Accept the lifting of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Make us worthy to traverse the time of night blamelessly, untouched by evil and redeem us from every disturbance and fear caused by the devil. Grant contrition to our souls and concern to our minds about the accounting at Your awesome and just Judgment. Nail down our bodies with Your gear, and deaden our earthly members, so that even in the quiet of our slumber we may be enlightened by the contemplation of Your ordinances.

Keep away from us every indecent fantasy and harmful desire. Awaken us in the time of prayer rooted in the faith, and thriving in Your instructions; through the good will and goodness of Your Only-Begotten Son with Whom You are blessed, together with Your All-Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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PSALM 4

When I called on You, You heard me, O God of my righteousness! You relieved me when I was in distress; have pity on me and hear my prayer. O You, sons of men, how long will you be slow of heart? Why do you love vanity and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has done wondrous things for His holy one; the Lord will hear me when I cry unto Him. Be angry but sin not; meditate on your beds what you say in your hearts. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. Many say: Who will show us anything good? The Light of Your countenance has shone upon us, O Lord; You have put gladness in my heart. They have been well satisfied with the abundance of wheat, wine and olive oil. I will both lie down in peace and sleep. For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell secure.

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A PRAYER TO THE HOLY TRINITY

The Father is my Hope; the Son is my Refuge; the Holy Spirit is my Protector; All-Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

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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

Realizing the Value of Having a Church and the Importance of Receiving the Sacraments

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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REALIZING THE VALUE OF HAVING A CHURCH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING THE MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)

There is a saying that we do not know what we have until we lose it. Thanks to the coronavirus crisis and experience. We all view life and life's priorities very differently. It is almost common among people to want to take everything for granted. Things such as life, husband, wife, children, relatives, friends, co-workers, health, church, sacraments, opportunities, jobs, country, home, and even the many blessings bestowed by God. Unfortunately, it takes a horrific virus such as this to come to our senses and to the realization of who we are, how long we are to live on earth and to finally appreciate what we have been given by God.

For all of our life, we've had the blessing and the privilege to have a place of worship where we assemble to praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to receive His Holy Body and Precious Blood. However, over many years, worship, and Holy Communion, have been marginalized and reduced to habit or routine. It is only now, and through this tragic experience, when the faithful of the local parish are no longer able to worship in their church and/or receive the sacraments that we come to the realization of its great importance.  

How should one live while on earth? As though it is his last day! Life is precious but brief. It is, therefore, important that we value our life, that we live knowing that it is a God-given gift, that whether we chose to remain single or have a family, life will be appreciated and lived wisely.  Every day of our life has a purpose and each day produces new opportunities for us to do good. What makes our life meaningful is to use a unique opportunity to touch, in a positive way, the life of another human being. In other words to make a difference in another person's life and in the world that we live in.

In the eyes of God, all human beings are important and a part of His Divine plan. When I think of humanity, I think of it as a giant mosaic Byzantine holy icon of Christ. If you have seen a traditional mosaic icon you will recall how colorful, bright, and beautiful it is. The mosaic icon is composed of many small and colorful pieces of glass. Every piece has a specific place and a definite purpose. Every piece is important and necessary in order for the icon to be complete. It doesn't matter whether the piece of glass is green, red, blue, gold, purple, or white. If any piece is missing from the overall icon image, the icon will be incomplete, and the figure on it will suffer.  So, is humanity in the overall plan of the Almighty of God. Every person, every soul, is important, necessary, and valued by God. After all, we believe that we were created in the image and likeness of God, is that not true?

The same applies to our beloved parish. Every one of our members or stewards is important and necessary to form the local parish. Everyone is needed and everyone contributes to the holy mission of the church by giving of himself and/or of his/her talents. Through the Holy Eucharist, we become one with one another, and with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We become His Body and He, the Head.  

The divine services now, due to the coronavirus crisis and threat, are on-air. Live-streaming the divine services is a brand new experience for a priest of fifty years in Christ's service. It is an uncomfortable and most unusual way of serving everyone in the parish. I realize, of course, that none of us has a choice under the present circumstances, however, there is a feeling of profound sadness to deprive all of you of the opportunity to worship and to receive the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Savior Christ.

Now that we all know and realize the importance of having a church and of its sacred mission in the world and in our lives, there is only one other thing that we must do, and that is to thank God.  It is Him that we worship and Him that we glorify. As Saint John Chrysostom said always, "Glory Be To GOD, For All Things!" 

I ask all of you to be prayerful and be patient. When this deadly virus comes to an end we will resume our worship in our beautiful and mystical parish church. May our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ bless each and every one of you and may He keep all of you, safe and in good health.

With sincere agape,

+ Father George 

The Invisible or Unseen Evil Enemy

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

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THE INVISIBLE OR UNSEEN EVIL ENEMY

More and more people refer to the coronavirus as the "invisible enemy." Truly the coronavirus is an invisible enemy that not only threatens but kills. We have come to realize recently how unprepared all of us were and still are. Desperate efforts are being made by the top scientists in the country to invent or discover new vaccines to combat it, while the government is taking draconian measures to protect the populace. Combating the coronavirus is called a war, a war that we need to win.

Christians and humanity, in general, also have an invisible evil enemy, Satan. Holy Scripture calls the invisible or unseen evil spirits "unclean spirits," "spirits of evil," "devils," "demons," "angels of the devil," "angels of Satan." Their chief, the devil, is also called the "tempter."  "Satan," "Beelzebub," "Belial," the "prince of devils," and other names like "Lucifer" (the morning star". The holy Apostle Paul calls them "principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12). The devil is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), and his servants, the fallen angels, are the "spirits of wickedness under the heaven" (Ephesians 6:12).

Our Lord Jesus Christ said that "He was a murderer from the beginning" (St. John 8:44). In the book of Apocalypse (Revelation) of Saint John the Theologian, he is called "the great dragon, that old serpent" (Revelation 12:9).  In the book of the Wisdom of Solomon, it says: "Through the devil's envy death entered the world" (Wis. 2:24). 

Both the coronavirus and the devil and his angels are invisible and bring death to man.   Although the coronavirus brings death to the body i.e., the biological death, the separation of the soul from the body.  Saint Gregory Palamas expounds on what is meant by the death of the soul: "Physical death is when the soul leaves the body and is separated from it. The death of the soul is when God leaves and is separated from God it becomes more ugly and useless than a dead body, but unlike the body it does not disintegrate after death since it is not composite" (Homilies, vol. I, p. 184).

Satan (Heb., Gk. 'accuser’ or ‘adversary’). In the early books of the Old Testament, the word is used in a general sense to demons an opponent or enemy. The Fourth Gospel includes many references to him by Jesus, as 'the evil one', 'the Father of lies', 'a murderer from the beginning who has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him'. Jesus Himself clearly recognized the existence and power of a kingdom of evil under the control of a supreme personality to whom he referred as 'Satan' or 'Be-el-Zebul'. The Messiah anticipated was to destroy the power and works of Satan (Mark 1:24, 34; 3:11, 15). In the expulsion of devils or exorcism by His disciples during the mission of the Seventy, Jesus saw the overthrow of Satan's power (Luke 10:18). His disciples, too, interpreted Jesus's acts of exorcism as attacks on the power and influence of the devil.

Whether we speak of the coronavirus or the devil, the threat and the outcome is the same, death.  Furthermore, the devil is an even greater power and a greater threat to mankind. He is the Adversary of man who pursues man as a hunter pursues game. Saint Paul writes: "Finally, my brethren, be strong to the Lord, with the strength of His power. Put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to resist the devil's tactics. Truly, our struggle is not against the flesh and blood but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of the darkness and against the evil spiritual forces of the supernatural realms" (Ephesians 6:32-33).

Along with the war that the coronavirus has declared on humanity we, Christians,  think of the unseen warfare waged by the evil one against the human race. Specifically, against the Christian believers who strive to live a holy and virtuous life. The battle against evil is never ending and constant. The Christian must be on his or her guard continuously. Like any warfare, it is a matter of life and death. "Therefore, submit yourselves to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:28).

There is much unbelief today among the people of the earth.  Whoever believes in God and the revealed truth is ignored as narrow-minded and foolish. The believer in God is treated with disdain, suspicion, mentally and psychologically ill; a phanatic. While the atheist is held in high regard. Christians are ridiculed and considered superstitious and out of touch with reality.  A lover of Christian history knows clearly that persecution against Christianity has never ceased and will never cease. The war between good and evil will continue until the Second Coming of Christ.

In every war, there are victims and survivors. We see it true in the war against the coronavirus.  The 'enemy' is real. How each confronts the enemy and how prepared he is up to the individual. One, however, must not underestimate the power of the enemy or of evil. For either one, we need the intervention of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to win. We need to invite Him in our lives.  We need to have strong faith, a strong prayer life, a strong commitment and the willingness to abide by the commandments of God.

Pray for discernment and for enlightenment so as not to fall into temptation. Follow the example of the righteous men and women of God. Genuine spiritual development entails a deepening familiarity with God and with one's own self, acquired through moral choices that a person freely makes in the depths of his heart. Spiritual progress is a product of man's way of relating to himself, to his fellow man, and to God by the good use of his innate moral freedom. This is why Our Lord Christ calls out: "If any man wills to come after Me, let him freely deny himself" (Matthew 16:24).

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

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

+ Father George

Using This Crisis to Your Advantage

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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USING THIS CRISIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

There is this saying that there is  "always something good that comes out of something bad." I am not quite sure that everyone subscribes to this saying, however, I keep thinking of what happened to my parents and family during the civil war in Greece which ensued immediately following World War II. I recall as a child how devastated my family was and the impact that had on all of us.But as some of you who know the story, the bombing of our house eventually led us to America. And instead of the destruction of our family, by the grace of God, the family was saved. Something good coming out of something bad.

I truly believe that good and positive things will come out of this present crisis. Since this is a pandemic that affects the entire world its impact will be long lasting and transforming. There is an opportunity for the human race to change for the good. To accept the premise that humanity has chosen the path of destruction. It is a unique opportunity that mankind will find its way back from disaster and rediscover God.

The fool says that there is no God. You see it's not only the coronavirus crisis that the world is facing but also a crisis of faith. Apostazing from God is a worse death than that of the coronavirus. Finding God is life. Individually the struggle to believe in His existence is indispensable for both man and the world. God will never give up on His creation and will always be in control of it. Mankind has proven over and over again that it is very weak and lacks the necessary wisdom to govern the world. We only have to look at history and how humanity for centuries has exploited, abused and corrupted the world as though the world belongs to it. It has deliberately refused to respect and admit that it is God's creation and it is His, and His alone.  All of the above reveals man's denial of God's existence, of man's faithlessness, of man's pride, of man's rebelliousness, of man's arrogance and disobedience.

By the grace of God and His love and compassion for mankind, we will survive this pandemic.  Life as we knew it will not be the same. Priorities will change and mankind that has been humbled by God hopefully will return to Him just as the prodigal son did. Our heavenly Father will embrace, kiss, and rejoice over the return of the one which was lost, dead, and is alive again.  

Let us use this crisis to our advantage to strengthen our faith and obedience to our Divine Creator and God. Let us rely on His Divine wisdom, guidance, and above all to adhere to His Commandments. Instead of surrendering to the world let us surrender willingly to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who calls upon us to follow Him.   

It seems counter-intuitive to some, but crisis can present amazing opportunities to grow spiritually and to learn from our personal mistakes and wrong choices. There is hope indeed for the human race and for a bright future. Humanity can once again find its purpose, direction, and the path to salvation.

 God bless all of you and may He protect us all.

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

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

+ Father George 

The Jesus Prayer (Part II)

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 JESUS PRAYER (Part II)

In Church history we read the following incident: "A soldier called Neokorus, a native of Carthage, was in the Roman garrison guarding Jerusalem at the time when our Lord Jesus Christ suffered His voluntary passion and death for the redemption of the human race. Seeing the miracles worked at the Lord's death and resurrection, Neokorus believed in the Lord and was baptized by the Holy Apostles. After finishing his term of service, Neokorus returned to Carthage and shared the treasure of faith with his whole family...

"The gracious power of the prayer of Jesus is contained in the Divine Name itself of the God-man, our Lord Jesus Christ. Although there is abundant evidence in Holy Scripture proving the greatness of the name of God, yet the importance of this name was explained with special precision by the holy Apostle Peter before the Jewish Sanhedrin when the council asked the Apostle "by what power, or by what name," he had given healing to a man lame from birth.  Then Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, WhomGod raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:7-12). This witness is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle's mouth, tongue, and voice were merely the Spirit's instruments."

Another organ of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle of the Gentiles (St. Paul), gives similar evidence.  "Whosoever, he says, shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Christ Jesus...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" (Phil. 2:5-10).

Seeing the distant future, David, an ancestor of Jesus according to the flesh, sang the greatness of the name of Jesus, and vividly described the effect of this name, the struggle by means of it with the principles of sin, its power to deliver those who pray by it from captivity to the passions and demons, and the triumph of those who win a spiritual victory by the name of Jesus. Let us listen to inspired David! "O Lord our Lord," he cries, "how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth!  For Thy magnificence is lifted high above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, hast Thou perfected praise, because of Thine enemies, to destroy the enemy and avenger" (Pss 8:2). Exactly! The greatness of the name of Jesus is beyond the comprehension of rational creatures of earth and heaven. The comprehension of it is incomprehensibly grasped by child-like simplicity and faith. In this same disinterested spirit, we must approach prayer in the name of Jesus and continue in that prayer. Our perseverance and attention in prayer must be like the constant striving of an infant for his mother's breasts. Then prayer in the name of Jesus will be crowned with complete success, the invisible foes will be defeated, and the enemy and avenger will be finally crushed. The enemy is called the avenger because he tries to take from those who pray (especially at times, not incessantly) after prayer what they have obtained during prayer.  

In order to win a decisive victory unceasing prayer and constant vigilance are indispensable.

[Orthodox Christians must follow the pattern assigned to them by their spiritual father.]

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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