Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

Tone 4 7 April 2019

45 Sunday After Pentecost – 8 of Triodion
th th

4 Sunday of Lent – St John Klimakos

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Also the Feast of St Calliopios & St Aquilinos - St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow & Enlightener of North
America - St George the Confessor, Bishop of Mytilene – St Daniel, Abbot of Pereslavl-Zalessky – St
Calliopios of Perge, Pamphylia – St Rufinos the Deacon, St Aquilina & 200 Faithful Soldiers of Sinope
– St Serapion the Sindonite of Egypt

RESURRECTION GOSPEL 1 - MATTHEW 28: 16 - 20

HYMNS OF THE SMALL ENTRANCE

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION – TONE 4

To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from
Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection that
apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon. had cast away the Condemnation of their Forefather,
Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O Theos, they spoke exultingly to the Apostles: Death is no
doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos. more! Christ-God is Risen, granting to the world Great
Mercy.
TRIODION APOLYTIKION – ST JOHN KLIMAKOS – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Tes ton dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon egeorgisas, With the rivers of Thy tears Thou made the barren
ke tis ek vathous stenagmis, is ekaton tous ponous desert bloom; and with Thy sighs from deep within,
ekarpoforisas, ke gegonas foster ti ikoumeni, lampoon tis Thou made Thy Labours bear their Fruit a
Thavmasin. Ioanni Patir imon Osie, presveve Hristo to hundredfold; and Thou became a Star, Illuminating
Theo, sothine tas psihas imon. the world by Thy Miracles, O John, our devout Father.
Intercede with Christ our God, for the Salvation of our
soul.
SEASONAL KONTAKION – EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Ti Ipermaho Stratigo ta Nikitiria, os litrothisa ton dinon To Thee, O Theotokos, Invincible Defender, having been
Efharistiria, anagrafo Si i Polis Sou Theotoke. All’ os Delivered from peril, I, Thy City, dedicate the Victory
ehousa to Kratos aprosmahiton, ek pantion me kindinon Festival as a Thanksgiving Offering. In Thine
eleftheroson, ina krazo Si: ✞Here Nimfi Animfevte! Irresistible Might, keep me Free from all Trials, so that
I may call out to Thee: “Hail, O Unwedded Bride!”
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 103/104 – TONE 4

Magnified shalt be Thy Work, O Lord; all things Thou hast made in Wisdom
Bless, O my soul, the Lord. O my God, Thou art exceedingly Magnified!
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE HEBREWS 6 : 13 – 20
Brethren: when God made a Promise to Abraham, because He could Swear by no one greater, He Swore by Himself,
saying: ‘Surely Blessing I will Bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.’
And so after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the Promise, for mankind indeed swears by the greater,
and an Oath for Confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the Heir of Promise the immutability of His Counsel, Confirmed It by
an Oath, so that by two immutable Things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong Consolation,
who have fled for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us.
This Hope we have as an Anchor of the soul – both sure and steadfast – and which enter the Presence behind the Veil,
where the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the Order of
Melchizedek.
✶ T HE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO ST ABRAHAM CONCERNED a ALWAYS BE TRUTHFUL AND SINCERE IN ALL OUR DEALINGS AND
son who would be born to him and his equally elderly CIRCUMSTANCES.
and barren wife, St Sarah – AN HEIR THROUGH WHOM GOD ✶“Behind the Veil” is a reference to THE HEAVENLY ALTAR,
WOULD GREATLY MULTIPLY HIS FAMILY. WHICH IS SERVED BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
✶The “two immutable Things” refer to GOD’S DIVINE WHO IS OUR ONE AND ONLY MOST HIGH PRIEST OF THE
PROMISE AND GOD’S DIVINE OATH. ETERNAL HOLY PRIESTHOOD ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF
An Oath is and always should be an utterly sincere, MELCHIZEDEK – an ancient King and Priest of the Old
trustworthy and totally dependable Vow or Promise Covenant whose Holy Priesthood was equally Eternal.
that is absolutely Holy or Sacred. Only after Christ’s Harrowing of Hades, were the Old
AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WE NEVER SWEAR OATHS OR MAKE VOWS Covenant Righteous set free to rest in Peace in God’s
UNLESS WE INTEND TO UPHOLD THEM AT ALL COSTS, EVEN UNTO re-opened .Paradise, together with all His New
DEATH! Covenant Saints, Righteous and Faithful, until the
Instead we are instructed: “ Let your ‘yes’ be yes and Eighth Day – the Day of the General Resurrection of all
your ‘no’ be no!” which is a severe exhortation to mankind and Final Judgement Day of all Creation.

45TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-8TH OF TRIODION-4TH OF LENT-ST JOHN KLIMAKOS 7 APRIL 201 9 1
 TH E HOL Y GOSPEL ACC ORDING TO ST MARK 9 : 17 – 31
At that time, one of the multitude said to our Lord Jesus Christ: “Teacher, I brought Thee my son who has a mute spirit.
And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I
spoke to Thy Disciples, that they could cast it out, but they could not.” He answered him and said: “O faithless
generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
And they brought him to Him. And when he saw Jesus, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the
ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father: “How long has this been happening to
him?” And he said: “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy
him. But if Thou can do anything, have Compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him: “If you can believe - all
things are possible to him who believes.” And immediately the father of the child cried out with tears: “Lord, I
believe! Help my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirits, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb
spirit: I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more!” And the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly,
and went out of him. And he became as though dead, so that many said: “he is dead!” And Jesus took him by the
hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
And when He had gone into the house, His Disciples asked Him privately: “Why could we not cast it out?” And He said to
them: “This kind can come out by nothing but Prayer and Fasting.”
And they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His
Disciples: “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men who will kill Him. “And after He is dead, He
will rise the Third Day.”
According to St Matthew’s account of this incident, THE “The flesh” (sarx) is not synonymous with our “body”
DESPERATE FATHER OF THE EPILEPTIC BOY HAD KNELT DOWN (soma) – ST PAUL WAS CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
BEFORE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH REVEALED HIS LUSTS OF THE FLESH rather than the destruction of our
HUMILITY AND SUBMISSION BEFORE SUCH A POWERFUL TEACHER body.
AND HOLY PERSON, EVEN THOUGH HE LACKED PERSONAL FAITH  GALATIANS 6 : 1 “Brethren: if (anyone) is overtaken in
IN GOD. any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such
Although His Disciples also were lacking in their absolute a (person) in a spirit of Gentleness, considering
Faith in God, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST REBUKED NOT ONLY yourself lest you also be tempted.”
THEM AND ALL THOSE WHO WITNESSED THE INCIDENT, BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER CORRECTION WITH THE BLESSED VIRTUE
THE FATHER OF THE YOUNG BOY, WHICH PREVENTED THE OF GENTLENESS IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT FROM GOD.
HEALING OF HIS BELOVED SON. St John Chrysostom taught us that THIS REBUKE OF CHRIST
✶ Although OUR LORD JESUS DEFENDED THE ABILITIES OF HIS WAS ACTUALLY DIRECTED AT THE NINE DISCIPLES WHO COULD
DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES BEFORE THE GATHERED MULTITUDE, NOT CAST OUT THE DEMON that caused the young boy’s
HE LATER REBUKED THEM IN PRIVATE for their weak Faith epileptic fits, WHEREAS THE “PILLARS OF FAITH,” ST PETER, ST
and trust in the Divine Mercy and Power of Almighty JAMES AND ST JOHN, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE REBUKE,
God. since they had been on Mount Tabor with our Lord
Christ thereby teaches us that Jesus Christ, where they had witnessed His Glorious

WHEN WE CORRECT OTHERS, WE MUST NOT HUMILIATE OR Transfiguration.
EMBARRASS THEM, ESPECIALLY BEFORE WITNESSES WHO MAY “THIS KIND...” of evil spirit – DEMONIC POSSESSION THAT CAUSES
NOT UNDERSTAND ONE’S CONCERN OR LOVING MOTIVATION NOT ONLY SPIRITUAL ILLNESS BUT ALSO PHYSICAL
FOR CORRECTING THOSE WHO ARE STUMBLING OR WHO HAVE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GREAT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE that
ALREADY FALLEN. occurs during demonic attacks – IS A REFERENCE TO ALL

EVERYTHING WE DO TO ENCOURAGE, ASSIST, GUIDE OR TEACH (LIMITED) POWERS OF DARKNESS – OF EVIL - and not simply
OTHERS MUST ALWAYS – WITHOUT FAIL – BE DONE WITH to those that can cause a particular type of physical
AGAPE – UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. illness.

FURTHERMORE, THOSE WHO ARE BEING CORRECTED MUST THE BANISHMENT OF DEMONS REQUIRES STRONG, UNSHAKABLE
FAITH, SINCERE AND HUMBLE PRAYER AND BOTH SPIRITUAL AND
ACCEPT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
PHYSICAL FASTING, FOR THERE IS NO HEALING AND NO VICTORY
WITH UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE WELL
IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT ALL THREE!
INTENTIONED ACT OF LOVE.
Beginning with the Didache – the earliest writings of the

Besides that, WHENEVER WE ARE CORRECTED BY OUR FELLOW Holy Apostle s – our Holy Church Fathers have taught
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE APPLY us that BOTH THE PERSON WHO IS IN NEED OF HEALING AND THE
SUCH CORRECTIONS TO OUR BEHAVIOUR OR PRACTISES.
PERSON WHO PERFORMS THE HEALING, MUST HAVE UNWAVERING
OTHERWISE NONE OF US WOULD MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD, must constantly Pray for Divine
PROGRESS AT ALL! Assistance and Grace and Fast properly.
This is all part of our Spiritual Journey – learning to Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed His approaching Death
ACCEPT GOOD ADVICE FROM OTHERS WITH ALL DUE HUMILITY
and Resurrection for a second time to show that HE
AND OBEDIENCE. TO DO OTHERWISE IS TO SHOW A LACK OF
FULFILLED HIS PASSION FREELY AND NOT ACCORDING TO THE
THESE TWO IMPORTANT VIRTUES AND CAN MEAN THAT WE HAVE
DICTATES OF THOSE SEEKING HIS DESTRUCTION.
FALLEN INTO THE VICES OF PRIDE, ARROGANCE AND
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE
DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD.
WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, ACCEPTED HIS ULTIMATE
✶ THE DISCIPLINE OF OUR HOLY CHURCH IS BASED ON OUR MUTUAL BLOOD SACRIFICE WILLINGLY AND FREELY OUT OF GOD’S
CORRECTION IN THREE EXPANDING STAGES.
INFINITE LOVE OF MANKIND for it was the final and

SIN AND CORRECTION ARE TO REMAIN PRIVATE unless the greatest of all Blood Sacrifices for mankind’s Salvation
offender stubbornly refuses to Repent and rejects – the greatest Blood Sacrifice that Redeemed all
correction. mankind so that NEVER AGAIN WOULD WE HAVE TO OFFER

ALL CORRECTION OF OUR ERRORS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN DONE TEMPORARY BLOOD SACRIFICES FOR THE ATONEMENT OF OUR
WITH GREAT CARE AND HUMILITY, WITH THE PRIMARY
CONTINUOUS SINS.
CONCERN BEING THE SALVATION OF THE OFFENDER.
NOW ACCORDING TO OUR NEW COVENANT WITH GOD – A

CORRECTION OF OUR ERRORS IS ESSENTIAL SO THAT WE DO NOT BLOODLESS COVENANT – WE CONSTANTLY MAKE OUR
DRAW OTHERS INTO SIN AS WELL:
OFFERINGS OF THANKSGIVING, PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN THE
 1 CORINTHIANS 5 : 5 “... deliver such a one to Satan DIVINE LITURGY SERVICE OF HOLY EUCHARIST – continuously
for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit Repenting our sins and joyfully accepting the
may be Saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus.” ongoing Forgiveness of Christ our Saviour, which
This means that IN THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST WE ARE grants us Eternal Life in His Divine Kingdom of Love,
PROTECTED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF SATAN. Peace and Joy.
HOWEVER, THIS HOLY PROTECTION WILL BE REMOVED FROM US BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT SIN, WE MUST CONTINUE TO
THROUGH EXCOMMUNICATION IN THE HOPE THAT AS SOON AS WE
REPENT AND BESEECH GOD’S DIVINE FORGIVENESS SO THAT
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S DIVINE AND
WHEN OUR TIME COMES TO LEAVE THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD OF
MERCIFUL RULE OVER US AND THE DESTRUCTIVE, WICKED AND TEMPORARY LIFE, WE SHALL BE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE –
DEVASTATING ENSLAVEMENT OF SATAN WE WILL QUICKLY
a state of True Repentance – rather than in a state of
REPENT our sins of Spiritual Disobedience and Spiritual Death and Alienation from God – a state of
Rebellion against God and return to the Sacred Fold unrepentance, disobedience and sin!
of Christ our Saviour.
Just like so many of us today, THE DISCIPLES DID NOT FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE FULL TRUTH AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST’S

2 45TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-8TH OF TRIODION-4TH OF LENT-ST JOHN KLIMAKOS 7 APRIL 201 9
 CLEAR WORDS YET THEY DID NOT USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND
OUT WHAT EVERYTHING WOULD MEAN TO THEM.
Similarly, many of us today, could not bother to SEEK
DIVINE TRUTH AND UNDERSTANDING, which is granted to us
once we honestly begin our Spiritual Journey.
THE MORE WE SEEK DIVINE TRUTH WITH A SPIRITUAL YEARNING FOR
A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, THE MORE HE
GRANTS US HIS KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING!
45TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 8TH OF TRIODION – 4TH OF GREAT LENT – ST JOHN KLIMAKOS
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved, concerning evil spirits, our Lord Jesus
Christ told His Apostles “... This kind can come forth
by nothing, but by Prayer and Fasting...” which was
a new aspect of Fasting. (M A R K 9 : 2 9 )

Fasting is acceptable to God when it is preceded by
the Great Virtue of Mercy for it prepares a Reward
in Heaven when it is foreign to hypocrisy and
vainglory.

Fasting works when it is joined with another great
Virtue—Prayer – for it not only tames the passions
of the flesh – of our human body, but it enters into
Battle against the spirits of evil, and conquers
them.

Fasting, which is actually a bodily Podvig [Ascetical
Labour], works or cooperates with Prayer in our
Spiritual Warfare against evil spirits, and the
bodiless spirits submit to the Power that Fasting
and Prayer has over them.

Fasting works against evil spirits due to its powerful
influence upon our own spirit/soul, because when
our selfish, demanding flesh/body is disciplined
and controlled by Fasting, it brings Freedom,
Strength, Sobriety, Purity, and Refinement to the
human soul.
Our spirit can withstand its unseen enemies only when it
is in such a state.
 PSALM 34:13 – St David the Royal Psalmist wrote:
“...When they (the demons) troubled me, I put on
sackcloth. And I humbled my soul with Fasting,
and my Prayer shall return to my bosom.”
Fasting gives our mind sobriety, while Prayer is the
Weapon our mind uses to drive away the invisible
adversary.
Fasting humbles our soul, and frees us from the
callousness and inflatedness brought on by satiety;
while the Prayers of those who Fast, becomes
especially strong and powerful for such Prayer is not
just external, but comes from our very soul - from the
depths of our heart while our Fasting directs and
carries our Prayer to God Himself.
The dark, evil spirits committed two serious crimes:
1. Their first crime caused their Expulsion from the Hosts
of Holy Angels.
2. Their second crime was the cause of their Irrevocable
Eternal Banishment from the Heavenly Realm
They lifted their heels against God in Heaven, after their
leader and instigator, Satan, blinded by conceit,
wanted to become ‘equal’ to God.
For their crime they were cast out of Heaven to the Earth
below, where they envied the Blessedness of newly-
created mankind.
They committed yet another crime – the seduction or
temptation of mankind, which lures us into
committing sins that causes us Spiritual Death –
alienation from God and all His Goodness.
This grievous sin of the demons caused God’s Grace to
entirely depart from them leaving them to their own
wickedness, which they continue to invent and use
against us.
Consequently, no good thought nor feeling will ever
come to the outcast angels, who are entirely
submerged in evil, desire evil, and invent evil.
Scorched with an unquenchable thirst for evil, they seek
satisfaction from their wickedness but are never
satiated.
Created as “Light-Bearing Angels”, they were cast down
lower than all the beasts of the earth due to their
crimes against God and mankind.
God told Satan after he had tempted Adam and Eve into
Disobedience “...Because thou hast done this thou
art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast
45TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-8TH OF TRIODION-4TH OF LENT-ST JOHN KLIMAKOS 7 APRIL 201 9
However, because GOD NEVER FORCES ANYTHING ON US –
having granted us free will to choose for ourselves
which Spiritual Path we take towards Eternity – IT IS UP
TO US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LEARN HIS DIVINE AND
ABSOLUTE TRUTH concerning everything to do with the
Purpose of this temporary life and Eternity – the Age to
come which is never ending and a very conscious
state – more consciously aware than at present!!
of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life...” ( G E N E S I S
3:14)
The bodiless spirits are condemned to thoughts and
feelings that are only earthly and passionate - their
life and treasure is in them, and having lost the ability
to do anything spiritual, spirits are completely
engrossed in fleshly works.
Spirits who live a mental life are demoted from the Hosts
of Spirits - Heavenly Angels - to a fleshly state, and are
ranked lower than all creatures of the Earth who
normally act according to the laws of their created
nature, while the fallen spirits’ nature is foreign and
humiliating, for they neither want nor are able to act
correctly but are continually abusive.
This sinful materiality of the Fallen Angels is affected by
our Fasting, which frees us from fleshly desires.
When Fallen Angels approach those who are Fasting, the
material domination that they desire is absent and
they are unable to tempt us because they cannot
arouse the flesh that has been restrained by Fasting.
Our mind and heart will not be easily tempted, for they
have Spiritual Vigour due to our Fasting and Prayers.
Confronted by such Spiritual Resistance and Strength,,
the arrogant demons depart and seek other weaker,
unsuspecting souls who will submit to them.
Despite the fact that Satan crawls upon his belly and
eats dust, the desire of being like God is stronger than
ever, so he perpetually seeks people to worship him
and be enslaved by him.
He audaciously showed the Son of God “...all the
Kingdoms of the world in a moment of time...” and
promised to give Him (our Divine Creator!)
all “...power...” over them and “... the glory of them...”
while demanding to be worshipped in return. ( L U K E
4:5-7)
Until the end of days, the evil one will never cease
tempting, deceiving and misguiding those who follow
our Lord Jesus Christ with the marvellous beauty and
things of this world.
 J A M E S 4 : 7 St James urged us to “... Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.”
 E P H E S I A N S 6 : 1 6 - St Paul encouraged us : “... Above
all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith you
shall be able to quench all the Fiery Darts of the
wicked.”
Let us raise our eyes to Eternity through the Power of
Faith, to the Unspeakable Blessedness that awaits the
Righteous in Eternity.
Likewise let us observe the equally Unspeakable
Torments that await the Evil Serpent’s unrepentant
and stubborn followers.
Such Contemplation is possible when our body and soul
is maintained and sustained by Fasting and Prayer,
for - with Pure Prayer that is only acquired through
Fasting - we cleave to our Lord, and become “...one
spirit ...” with Him. (1 C O R I N T H I A N S 6 : 1 7 )
As St John Chrysostom explained “...The Serpent (Satan)
crawls continually upon the ground as he was
sentenced to do from on High... If you wish be to safe
from his poisonous bite, let your mind and heart be
always above the Earth....” for then we are able to
resist his temptations and thereby repel him.
Our Holy Fathers, who see everything to a far different
degree that we can, teach us that : “...From the
moment they caused mankind to be Exiled from
Paradise and separated from God through
Disobedience, the devil and his demons received
the freedom to mentally stir any person’s rational
nature, both day and night.”
Very similar to those torments and tearing of the youth’s
body by the evil spirit, of which we are reminded
today, are the sufferings of souls who wilfully submit
3
 to the influence and domination of the evil one, and
who accepts as ‘truth’ his murderous lies, which cause
us to Spiritually Perish – usually hiding behind a
façade of ‘truth’ to more easily deceive and destroy
us.
 1 P E T E R 5 : 8 – 9 – St Peter urged us to : “...be sober, be
vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like
a roaring lion, walks about, seeking those whom
he may devour – whoever Steadfastly resists in
the Faith.”
The demons mostly use our own sinful thoughts and
fantasies against us, yet they are repelled by those
who resist them, and they are only able to persuade,
mislead, torment, and destroy those who do not
recognize nor acknowledge them, who enter into
conversations with them, and who entrust and
enslave themselves to them.
The evil one, crawling about on his belly, is incapable of
Pure Spiritual Thought - vividly depicting this
transitory world with all its allurements and pleasures,
while entering into discussions and conversations with
souls so as to convince them that only he can make
all their desires and fantasies a reality!
They try to tempt us with offers of riches, of satisfaction, of
satiety, and of delight in all fleshly corruption.
As St Basil the Great expresses it, “...the devil not only
invented a passion for fleshly impurities (corruption),
but since he was created as a bodiless spirit, he
gave birth to them.”
He presents all this as a ‘fantasy,’ but also provides illicit
ways to realize these forbidden, wicked delusions.
He casts us into sorrow, depression, and despair.
In other words —he tirelessly plots our destruction in
seemingly decent as well as indecent ways - by
obvious sin or by sin hidden behind a good façade,
and by dangling his terrible hook, baited with
delusions of pleasure or the smallest drop of “truth’ in
front of us!
 1 J O H N 5 : 4 – St John the Beloved Theologian wrote:
“...This is the Victory that overcomes the world -
even our Faith...”
Faith is our Weapon of Victory over the world and over
the fallen angels.
Who has looked with Faith towards Eternity proclaimed
by God’s Word and not cooled to the world’s quickly-
passing beauty?
What True Disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ would want to
trample upon His All-Holy Commandments for the
sake of fleeting, sinful pleasures, which seem so
alluring before being tasted, yet which is vile and
deadly?
What power over the Disciples of Christ has the
enchanting sight of temporary benefits and fleeting
pleasures, or even the horror of devastating
calamities, to which the evil spirits draw our attention
in order to cause deep depression, anxiety, stress and
despair – utter hopelessness - when the magnificence
of Eternity are impressed upon our soul by the Word of
God – Divine Truth - before which all earthly marvels
seem so pale, insipid and insignificant?
 1 J O H N 2 : 1 3 – When St John the Theologian
proclaimed “... the Victory that overcomes the
world (is) our Faith...” he saluted the True Disciples
of Christ who have overcome the world by their
Victory over the evil one and his minions.
“... I write to you, young men, because you have
overcome the wicked one ...” St John the Theologian
was referring to those Faithful Disciples of Christ who
are Renewed, Encouraged and Strengthened by
Divine Grace.
When we, as Servants or Disciples of Christ show Courage
and Constancy in our ceaseless Spiritual
Struggle/Warfare against the evil spirits as we should,
Divine Grace descends into our soul and grants us
Spiritual Victory over our adversaries.
 P S A L M 1 0 2 : 5 “... (their) youth shall be Renewed like
the eagle’s ...” for we become as youthful as when
we were created. This agelessness was lost by us
and replaced with an incurable agedness, when
we initially fell from the Divine Grace of Paradise.
 1 J O H N 2 : 1 5 – 1 7 – “ . . . Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man loves
4 45TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-8TH OF TRIODION-4TH OF LENT-ST JOHN KLIMAKOS 7 APRIL 201 9
the world, the Love of the Father is not in him. For
all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of
the Father, but is of the world. And the world
passes away, and the lust thereof: but he who
fulfils the Will of God abides forever .”
Beloved Brethren! Why should we not also be Victors over
the world and over its wicked prince?
People who were exactly like us have overcome them all
– despite the weakness of our flesh and human
condition!
Not only valiant men have been Victorious over them, but
also frail Elders, weak women, and small, innocent
children have won the Spiritual Battle, leaving us with
no acceptable excuse for not also doing so!
The same world with all its allurements and tragedies
confronted and challenged them, while the same
invisible venomous serpents crawled around them,
applying every sly trick to taunt their soul and cause
them to Fall.
However, their heart and soul was raised upwards and
they continuously guarded themselves – body and
soul – with Fasting and Prayers, thereby controlling
the impulse for earthly pleasures and granting their
soul Sobriety and Peace by means of constant
Vigilance and Watchfulness that defeated the
multifarious snares of the devil!
By unburdening our body and soul with Fasting and with
pure and constant Prayer, we cleave to our Lord and
receive His Divine Assistance that also Enlivens our
Faith and grants us Spiritual Strength to obtain
decisive Victory over the world and the evil spirits.
 R O M A N S 1 0 : 1 7 – “...Faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God.”
 H E B R E W S 1 1 : 1 – 3 - “...Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... By
Faith we understand...”
 1 J O H N 5 : 1 3 – 1 5 – “...These things I have written to
you who believe in the Name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have Eternal Life,
and that you may continue to believe in the
Name of the Son of God. This is the Confidence
that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His Will, He hears us, and if we
know that He hears us... we know that we have
the Petition that we have asked of Him...” St John
the Theologian regarded such Faith as being the
Confidence that we have in God, and from his
own Holy Experience, he teaches us that Spiritual
Confidence is attained through our Prayers that
are heard [by God].
 H E B R E W S 1 1 : 2 7 “... By Faith (St Moses) forsook Egypt...
for he endured as though seeing Him (God) Who
is invisible...” Likewise, the Righteous always think
and act as if seeing our invisible God through
such unshakable, deep Faith.
Naturally, the fallen world hides from view at the Sight or
Presence of God! The transitory world becomes as if
non-existent, and the prince of the world – the evil one
- has no mortal support in his Spiritual Warfare
against God’s Faithful Disciples.
 1 P E T E R 5 : 8 – 9 – St Peter urged us to always “...be
Sober (and) Vigilant because our adversary, the
devil, walks about like a (ravenous), roaring lion,
seeking those whom he may devour. (So we
must) resist him, (by being) Steadfast in the
Faith...”
 E P H E S I A N S 6 : 1 6 – “... taking the Shield of Faith with
which (we) will be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked one...”
This is True Faith that is active and Living each moment
by the Grace of God.
Only Ascetical Labourers of Christ are capable of such
profound, Steadfast Faith, for they have prepared
themselves for our ceaseless Spiritual War against the
evil spirits by forgiving their neighbours’ sins - through
Mercy and Humility - and they have properly entered
the Great Battle by bearing the mighty Weapons of
Fasting and Prayer.
Amen.
S T . I GNATIUS (B RIANCHANINOV )
HTTP :// ORTHOCHRIS TIAN . COM /34542
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

Tone (5) Plagal 1 14 April 2019

46 Sunday After Pentecost – 9 of Triodion
th th

5 Sunday of Great Lent – St Mary of Egypt

th

Also the Feast of St Aristarchos, St Pudens & St Trophimos of the 70 Holy Apostles of Christ – St Thomais
of Alexandria, Egypt – St Martin the Confessor & Archbishop/Pope of Rome – St Anthony, St John & St
Eustathios of Vilnius, Lithuania – St Ardalion the Actor – St Azades the Eunuch & 1000 Holy Martyrs of Persia – The Holy Icon of
Theotokos & Christ of Vilnius, Lithuania

R ESUR REC TION G OSPEL 2 - M AR K 16 : 1 - 8

H Y MNS OF THE S MALL EN TR ANCE

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION - TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek Parthenou The
Tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, Pisti, ke
Proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise sarki anelthin en to Stavro
ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous tethneotas en ti
Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou.
TRIODION APOLYTIKION – ST MARY OF EGYPT- TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of a
Virgin, let us faithful believers hymn and adore. For it
was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in the
Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own
Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.

En Si Miter akrivos diesothi to kat’ ikona; lavousa gar ton
Stavron, ikolouthiasas to Hriste, ke prattousa edidaskes,
iperoran men sarkos, parerhete gar; epimilisthe de
psihis, pragmatos athanatou; dio ke meta Angelo
sinagallete, Osia Maria, to pnevma Sou.
SEASONAL APOLYTIKION – THEOTOKOS
In Thee, O Mother, was preserved, intact what was in
God’s Image; for after taking up the Cross, Thou
followed Christ our Lord, and by Thy actions Thou
taught us to overlook the flesh, for it perishes and to
care for the soul, which is Immortal; wherefore, O
Holy Mary, Thy spirit rejoices, along with the Angels.

Prostasia ton Hristianon akateskhinte, mesitia pros ton O Protector of the Christians unashamed, Mediator to the
Piitin ametathete, mi Paridis, amartolon Deiseon fonas, Creator Immovable: despise not, the pleading voices of
alla profthason os Agathi, is tin voithian imon, ton those in sin, but hasten O Good One, to the aid of all
Pistos kravgazonton Si: Tahinon is Presvian, ke who in Faith cry out to Thee: hasten Thine
spefson is ikesian, i prostatevousa ai, Theotoke, ton Intercession, and present Thy Supplication, O
Timonton Se. Theotokos who always protects those who honour
Thee!
RETURN TO THE SERVICE BOOK - TRISAGION HYMN 
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 11/12 – TONE (5) PLAGAL
Thou shalt guard us, O Lord; Thou shalt preserve us from this generation forever.
Save me, O Lord, for the Holy Man has ceased; the truthful are diminished from among the sons of mankind.
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE HEBREWS 9: 11 -14
TH E HEA VENLY HOLY SANC TUARY & THE D IVINE LITURGY
Brethren: Christ came as High Priest of the Good Things to come – with the Greater and Most Perfect Tabernacle Not
Made With Hands – that is, not of this Creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He
entered the Most Holy Place once, for all – having obtained Eternal Redemption.
For, if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of heifers, sprinkled upon the unclean Sanctifies for the purifying of
the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ - Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to
God - Cleanse our conscience from dead works, to Serve the Living God?!
In contrast to the Old Covenant Hebrew High Priest, CHRIST Because we continue to use our God-given free will to
OUR SAVIOUR IS OUR ONLY HIGH PRIEST OF GOD’S NEW indulge our wilful and selfish flesh rather than to obey
COVENANT. the Spiritual Guidance of our Holy Conscience – the
Christ entered the Heavenly Sanctuary “once for all” – i.e. little Remnant or Voice of God within us – WE MUST
HIS ONE PERFECT AND ULTIMATE BLOOD SACRIFICE COVERS CONSTANTLY STRIVE AND STRUGGLE TO RESIST TEMPTATION
ALL THE SINS COMMITTED BY ALL HUMAN BEINGS FOR ALL TIME – AND RESOLVE OUR SINS AS SOON AS WE FALL INTO A STATE OF
THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY AND FOREVER! SPIRITUAL DEATH by means of sincere Repentance and
 Christ was our High Priest – THE DIVINE, PERFECT OFFERER a determined effort to return to Spiritual Life and so
– WHO OFFERED HIS OWN PERFECT, SINLESS BLOOD – THE continue our Spiritual Journey in the Divine Footsteps
DIVINE PERFECT OFFERING – WHICH IS ABLE TO HEAL THE of our Lord and Saviour.
ENTIRE CORRUPTION OF ALL HUMANITY FOR ALL TIME AND  NO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS IN CHRIST IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT
NEEDS NEVER BE REPEATED EVER AGAIN! CONSTANT WATCHFULNESS AND STRUGGLE.
His Most Precious Blood Offering RESTORES EACH AND EVERY Those who erroneously believe that the mere acceptance
ONE OF US HUMAN BEINGS – throughout history – TO OUR of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour will
PROPER, FORMER SACRED RELATIONSHIP WITH ALMIGHTY GOD. guarantee us Eternal Life are seriously deceiving
CHRIST’S SACRIFICE PURIFIES – CLEANSES our conscience – and themselves because that implies that our Struggle for
REINSTATES US AS HOLY OR SANCTIFIED BEINGS who are Theosis (Spiritual Perfection) has been achieved.
DRAWN CLOSER TO ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH CORRECT However, OUR SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE
LITURGICAL WORSHIP – “serve the Living God” – together PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY IS AN ONGOING
with our COMMITMENT TO CONSTANT REPENTANCE of our SACRED MISSION THAT IS ONLY ENDED AT OUR VERY LAST
habitual sins. BREATH.

46AP – 9 T H
TRIODION – 4 T H
LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT – 14 APRIL 2019 5
Christ our Lord emphasised the fact that FAITH WITHOUT The “DEAD WORKS” that St Paul often cautions us against is a
GOOD WORKS AND SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE DOES NOT BENEFIT reference to all human activity in and of this fallen
ANYONE and is actually be mere lip-service – AN EMPTY age when we participate in acts of mortality,
TYPE OF FAITH WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANCE! immorality and corruption – EVERYTHING THAT ALIENATES
LIFE IN CHRIST MEANS A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO ALL FACETS AND EXILES US FROM THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND GRACE OF OUR
OF CHRISTIAN FAITH AND WORSHIP – not simply a few LOVING AND BENEVOLENT GOD.
selected portions of the whole Faith according to the Liturgically speaking, “dead works” include the actions of
luke-warm manner we choose to follow Him. OLD COVENANT TYPE OF WORSHIP, WHICH ARE NO LONGER
A GENUINE LIFE IN CHRIST IS our most determined effort - A REQUIRED OF US AS CHRIST HAS FULFILLED EVERYTHING
DEDICATED OR SACRED COMMITMENT TO GOD, which is REQUIRED OF THOSE OLD LAWS.
compelled by our utter Love for Almighty God and a  OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD REQUIRES US TO FULFIL HIS NEW
desire to please Him in all ways possible: “Let it be COVENANT: TO LOVE GOD with all our mind, with all
according Thy Will, O Lord!” our heart, with all our strength and with all our
Tragically, in this day and age, a large majority of our soul, AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS MUCH AS HE LOVES US
fellow sinners have been deceived by false teachings – unconditionally and completely, without
of Spiritual Wolves who lead God’s Lost Sheep even exception! and this includes all the Ten
further astray and then consume them with their lies Commandments as well!
and duplicity – luring them with baited hooks that  THE NEW COVENANT OF GOD IS A COVENANT OF ETERNAL
have a miniscule drop of Truth – just enough to entice LOVE – and so WE WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO EVERY
them – and by telling them whatever they want to WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED COMPELLED AND FULFILLED
hear – pleasing or pleasuring people rather than WITH AGAPE – DIVINE LOVE – a difficult Sacred Task To
OBEYING THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD – which REQUIRES what achieve until our very last breath!
they lack – LOVE, HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD!
HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MARK 10: 32 – 45
OUR LORD’S THIRD PROPH ECY CONCERNING HIS PASSION
At that time, they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus had gone before them; and they were amazed.
And as they followed, they were afraid, for He had taken the Twelve aside again and had begun to tell them the
things that would happen to Him.
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests, and to the Scribes.
And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him and spit on Him,
and kill Him. And the third day He will Rise again.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Him and asked: “Teacher, we want Thee to do for us whatever we
ask.” He said to them: “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him: “Grant us that we may sit - one on
Thy right hand side and the other on Thy left - in Thy Glory.” Jesus said to them: “You do not know what you ask.
Are you able to drink from the Cup from which I drink, and be Baptised with the Baptism with which I Am
Baptised?” They answered: “We are able.” Jesus said to them: “You will indeed drink the Cup from which I drink,
and with the Baptism with which I Am Baptised you will be Baptised. But to sit on My right hand side and on My
left is not Mine to grant, since it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
And when the ten heard about it, they were greatly displeased with James and John. Jesus called them to Himself and
said to them: “You know that those who are considered Rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; for whoever desires to become great
among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desire to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to Serve and to give His Life as a Ransom for many.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Revelations of His approaching Glorious Day of Holy Pentecost – from the beginning to
Passion were intended to encourage and strengthen the end of their Holy Gospel Mission on earth.
His Holy Apostles and Faithful Disciples for the Although our Lord Jesus Christ told the two Apostles that
terrifying Events with which they would all too soon be the places of Great Honour in the Eternal Kingdom of
confronted. God are not His to grant, it does not mean that He has
 THE DIVINE PROPHECIES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALSO no Divine Authority, but rather that SUCH DIVINE FAVOURS
CONFIRM THE TRUTH AND REALITY THAT HE APPROACHED ARE NOT HIS TO GRANT ARBITRARILY TO ANYONE.
HIS TERRIBLE PASSION ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL AND Instead HE WOULD GRANT THEM TO THOSE FOR WHOM ALMIGHTY
HIS OWN TIMING. GOD HAS PREPARED THEM: BY THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER,
Our Lord Jesus pointed out that ANY QUEST FOR TEMPORAL THROUGH GOD THE WORD AND SON, AND BY THE ACTION AND
POWER AND GLORY IS UNFITTING FOR A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF ABILITIES MADE POSSIBLE BY GOD THE HOLY LIFE-GIVING
CHRIST and it only exposes an earthly SPIRIT.
misunderstanding of the Eternal Kingdom of God. With regard to being seated as equals to Christ – on His
St Matthew noted that “the Mother of Zebedee’s sons” right and left hand side – in God’s Eternal, Heavenly
actually asked for the great Honour for her beloved Kingdom, St John Chrysostom taught us that NO ONE –
sons to be seated on either side of Christ in His Eternal NO ORDINARY HUMAN BEING - COULD POSSIBLY OCCUPY SUCH
Glory, but THE FACT THAT OUR SAVIOUR USED THE PLURAL AN ELEVATED DIVINE POSITION!
TERM “YOU” SHOWS THAT HE KNEW WHO REALLY SOUGHT THIS However, according to the Depiction of our God-Inspired
DIVINE FAVOUR FROM HIM. Holy Icons, THE HIGHEST PLACES OF HONOUR THAT HAVE BEEN
However, a True Disciple of Christ should BE READY TO GRANTED TO HUMAN BEINGS BELONG TO THE EVER BLESSED, ALL
SACRIFICE EVEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IF THEY PREVENT US PURE AND MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS (THE MOST BLESSED
FROM FULFILLING OUR SACRED DUTY TO GOD OR IF THEY AMONGST ALL WOMEN) AND ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND
IMPEDE OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN CHRIST JESUS. FORERUNNER TO CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR (THE GREATEST HOLY
Our Lord Jesus referred to His Crucifixion as a “Cup,” and PROPHET EVER BORN OF WOMEN) – BUT THEY ARE NEVER SEATED
His Death as “Baptism.” AND THEY STAND IN PERFECT HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE AT

His unjust Crucifixion like a common criminal was EITHER SIDE OF OUR ENTHRONED LORD AND MASTER, JESUS
regarded as a “Cup” since HE DRANK OF IT CHRIST – having dedicated their entire earthly lives to
VOLUNTARILY – FREELY AND WILLINGLY FOR THE the Service of Almighty God with all due Humility and
ETERNAL BENEFIT OR SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND Obedience, as well as many other Virtues as well – THE
FOREVER. TWO MOST PERFECT HUMAN ROLE MODELS WE COULD EVER WISH

his Death was regarded as “Baptism” since HE WAS TO IMITATE – TOGETHER WITH OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.
FULLY IMMERSED IN IT, WHILE IT CLEANSED THE ENTIRE The phrase “for many,” is an Aramaic expression
HUMAN RACE AND RENEWED THE ENTIRE CREATION. meaning “for all.”
Furthermore, THE PROPHECY OF CHRIST CONCERNING ST JOHN K INDL Y N OTE : T HERE ARE N O ‘S A L U TATIONS ’ TO OU R L ADY
AND ST JAMES participating in the same Cup and T HEOTOKOS THIS COMIN G F R IDAY .
Baptism SHOWS HIS DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR FUTURE H OWEVER , ENSU RE THAT Y OU HA VE Y OU R H OL Y W EEK B OOK
PERSECUTION, SUFFERING AND HOLY MARTYRDOM for their FOR NEX T WEEK ! – START ING P AL M S U NDAY N IGH T .

Love of Christ, which they would endure after the

6 46 T H
SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-9TH TRIODION-5TH OF LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT- 14 APRIL 2019
 46 T H
SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 9 T H
OF TRIODION – 5
✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved: The Holy Archangel of God, St Raphael
told St Tobit : “...Prayer is good with Fasting and
almsgiving...” (T O B I T 1 2 : 8 )
Such a Great Work is Fasting! It is good, for it is the only
Door through which us sinners can depart from our
‘Fleshly State’ and enter into the Saving Pasture of
Repentance - and together with Humility and
Obedience, Fasting and Prayer is the only way we
can remain in that Salvific State!
Fasting and Prayer is a great good, but not only for us
sinners - it is also a great good for the Righteous – for it
is an effective Weapon in our hands that does not
abandon us throughout the whole course of our
earthly sojourn, for thereby we restrain, control and
maintain ourselves in Purity and Sanctity.
The Foundation of our Fasting is Mercy, and by placing
Fasting as the Steadfast Foundation of our Prayers,
through our Prayers with Faith, we obtain whatever
we ask of our Lord God.
 J A M E S 5 : 1 5 – “... the Prayer of Faith will Save the sick,
and our Lord will raise them up, and if they have
committed sins, they will be forgiven...”
 M A R K 1 1 : 2 4 - “... whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you will receive them and you
will have them...”
As St Mark the Ascetic wisely pointed out, because our
flesh is taken from the Earth, its qualities are like the
earth’s, for it needs cultivation, nurturing and
maintenance.
Seeds that are sown in uncultivated fields will wither and
die, without bringing forth any fruits.
Likewise, our Prayers will remain unproductive and
fruitless if our flesh is not prepared for it – i.e. if our
heart and soul is not prepared by Fasting.
Entertainment and aggravated thoughts, coldness, a
hardened heart, vain and sinful fantasies that
continually arise in the imagination, all destroy the
Prayers of those who are sated.
The opposite is also true, for if a field is carefully
cultivated, but not sown with good seed, weeds will
grow prolifically instead.
Similarly, in the heart of those who have Fasted - if they
are satisfied with only their physical Asceticism, and
do not guard their mind with Spiritual Labours –
Prayer and Contemplation - the choking ‘weeds’ of
conceit and high-mindedness will grow thickly and
strongly within them – stifling their Faith and
degrading any Good Deeds they may perform.
High-mindedness and conceit in those who Fast harshly
and over-zealously are always combined with
contempt and judgment of neighbours - with a
particular inclination to being ‘scandalized - which
finally, due to that self-delusion and pride, causes
their own destruction.
Fasting is a Powerful Weapon - for when it is left to its own
devices - when it is turned from a Spiritually Beneficial
Weapon into a lifetime goal, or an ambitious aim - it
becomes the over-zealous Ascetic’s instrument of
suicide!
That is how the Pharisees Fasted, for they fasted intensely
but to their own detriment.
 M A T T H E W 9 : 1 4 – The Disciples of St John the Baptist
asked our Lord Jesus Christ: “Why do we and the
Pharisees Fast often but Thy Disciples do not
Fast.”
 I S A I A H 5 8 : 5 – 9 “... I did not choose this Fast, and such
a day for a man to humble his soul, nor if you
should bow your neck like a ring and spread
sackcloth and ashes under yourself, could you
thus call such a Fast acceptable. I did not
choose such as Fast...” says the Lord our God.
“Rather, loosen every bond of wrong-doing, untie the
knots of violent dealings, cancel the debts of the
oppressed, and tear apart every unjust contract.
“Break your bread for the hungry, and bring the
homeless poor into your house. If you see a naked
man, clothe him, nor shalt you disregard your
offspring in your own household.
46AP – 9 T H
TRIODION – 4 T H
LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT – 14 APRIL 2019
T H
OF GREAT LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT
“Then your Light shall break forth as the morning, and
your healing shall spring forth quickly. Your
Righteousness shall go before you, and the Glory of
God shall cover you.
“Then you shall cry out, and God will hear you. While
you are still speaking, He will say: ‘Behold! I Am
here!’
“If you remove your fetters and the pointing of the
finger, and the word of grumbling... your Light shalt
rise up in the Darkness and your Darkness shall be
like midday...”
It is thus obviously essential that Fasting is preceded and
accompanied by Acts of Mercy and Love, for our Lord
assured us that when our Ascetic Endeavours are
combined with Mercy and Love, our Prayers will be
immediately heard by God, and we will then be
worthy of Blessed Visitations of His Divine Grace.
Everywhere, the Holy Spirit lays down the Law of Uniting
Fasting with Prayer.
 J O E L 2 : 1 2 - 1 5 – Through St Joel, His Holy Prophet, our
Lord urges and encourages us sinners to
continuously Repent our sins and to “... turn to Me
with all your heart, with Fasting and Weeping,
and with mourning – rend your heart, not your
garments!
“ Return to the Lord your God, for He is Merciful and
Compassionate, Longsuffering and rich in Mercy
and forgives those who Repent evils. Who knows if
He will return and change His mind – if He will leave
a Blessing, even an Offering and a Libation to the
Lord our God. Sound the Trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a
Fast! Call a solemn Assembly!
The Repentant Ninevites revealed the Great Power of
Fasting and Prayer.
God had already passed sentence upon them which St
Jonah the Holy Prophet of God had announced to
them, and then had already gone a distance from the
city and watched it intently, waiting at every hour for
the fulfilment of the terrible prophecy.
However, the Ninevites had recourse to Repentance and
they had proven their sincerity by abandoning their
evil ways and by their intense Fasting and Prayers—
 J O N A H 3 : 1 0 - “...And God saw their works - that they
had turned from their evil ways, and God had a
change of heart about the evil that He had said
He would do to them, and He did not do it.”
 L U K E 5 : 3 5 - Our Lord Jesus Christ explained that that
Fasting would become the common Ascetical
Labour of all His Disciples: “...the days will come,
when the (Heavenly) Bridegroom shall be taken
away from them, and then shall they Fast in those
days. (after our Lord Ascended into heaven)
How could our Lord Jesus’ Disciples not Fast on Earth?
How can we not weep, nor clothe ourselves with
Garments of Grief, when our Most Priceless Treasure –
our only Treasure - is far from us, or when the Path to
Him has so many difficulties to overcome, while being
flanked by robbers who terrify us by their numbers,
their persistence and their viciousness!
All God’s Saints spent their lifespan Fasting and Praying.
St Hannah the Holy Prophetess of God, daughter of
Phanuel, never left the Temple and served God with
her Fasting and Prayers every day and night (cf. L U K E
2 : 3 7 ).
The great St Judith of the Old Covenant, dedicated all
the days of her widowhood to Fasting and Praying
whereby she acquired a Living Faith in God through
Prayer.
 P S A L M 3 4 : 1 3 “... With Fasting I covered my soul ... I
humbled my soul with Fasting ...” as St David, the
Royal Psalmist described how well this Ascetical
Labour counteracts the self-satisfaction and
tendency to be puffed up, which comes from
satiety!
 P S A L M 3 4 : 1 6 - Through Fasting, “...My Prayer shall
be returned to my bosom...” for without it, Prayer
is the sorry victim of mental distraction,
inseparable from satiety.
Amongst the Signs of God’s True Servants, St Paul
included abiding in Fasting and Prayer.
7
 2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 5 “... He Who has prepared us for
this very thing is God, Who also granted us the
Holy Spirit as a Guarantee...”
 ROMANS 12:12 “...rejoicing in Hope, Patient in
tribulation, continuing steadfastly in Prayer...”
 C O L O S S I A N S 4 : 2 - “... Continue earnestly in Prayer,
being Vigilant in it, with Thanksgiving...”
As for himself, St Paul testified that he spent his earthly life
in constant Ascetical Labours, deprivations, and
sorrows.
He recalled the hunger and thirst that they had to endure
during various circumstances, and the voluntary,
continuous Fasting whereby he tamed, controlled
and disciplined his body (cf. 2 Cor. 1:27; 1 Cor. 9:27).
St Luke wrote about the Holy Apostles, their Assembly in
Jerusalem, the Ascension into Heaven of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and about our Lady, Theotokos, and
other women Disciples who had so loyally followed
our Lord during His earthly Sojourn, specifically
mentioning that “...These all continued with one
accord in Prayer and Supplication. “ (A C T S . 1 : 1 4 ).
It is clearly evident that these Faithful Disciples and
Apostles of Christ prayed long and ceaselessly, which
is impossible to achieve without Fasting.
Such was the Apostolic Way of Life in Christ, as well as
that of the Holy Martyrs, the Saints, the Righteous and
all Faithful Disciples of Christ throughout all ages,
which shows clearly that our own Life in Christ is
irrefutably bound together with Unceasing Prayer
and continual Fasting.
Mercy and Love for our Brethren, and for those who love
us and those who hate us, is Divine - higher than
human nature - for it is the emulation of the
uncompromising, unconditional Divine Love that
comes from our Lord God Himself.
The Saints not only showed Compassion for all those with
spiritual and physical needs, and they not only
forgave all wrongs, even the most serious offences —
they gladly laid down their Life for the Salvation of
their neighbours, and of their enemies.
When there were important matters to be resolved or
when confronted by great sorrows and difficulties to
be endured, the Faithful Disciples increased their
Fasting and their Prayers.
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is our Perfect Example
of Fasting and Prayers for before going forth to
Preach, to Heal and to Save mankind, He went into
the desert, where He remained in Fasting and Prayer
for forty days and forty nights.
Our Blessed Holy Father, St Theophylact explained: “...He
Fasted because it was His Good Will to show us that
Fasting is a Great Weapon against temptations, and
against the demons. Just as a surfeit of food is the
beginning of any sin, so restraint is the beginning of
any Virtue.”
God the Holy Spirit is our Divine Guide to the Ascetical
Labour of Fasting and Ascetical Warfare against the
devil and his demons.
Before our Lord chose His Twelve Apostles, who were
destined to catch [the Nations of] the universe in [in
the Nets of] Faith and Salvation,
 LUKE 6:12 - “... He went out to the mountain to pray,
and continued all night in Prayer to God...” as the
Advocate for all mankind, thereby teaching us
that before choosing a candidate for any Spiritual
Ministry, we ought to pray so that God may reveal
the one best suited for the task.
 JOHN 11:42 - Before He resurrected St Lazaros, our Lord
“... lifted up His Eyes and said: ‘Father, I thank
Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I know that
Thou always hears Me, but because of the
people who are standing by, I said this, that they
may believe that Thou sent me...’ showing that His
Divine Will was one with our Heavenly Father’s
and that His human Will was also freely subject in
every way to the Father’s Divine Will, Christ prayed
aloud for the sake of the people.
Likewise, before choosing His Apostles, our Lord had no
need to pray, yet he remained in Prayer all night,
teaching us through His own actions, that we ought to
8 46 T H
SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-9TH TRIODION-5TH OF LENT – ST MARY OF EGYPT- 14 APRIL 2019
do the same, while showing us that God hears our
brief Prayers as well.
Before any important event it is beneficial and necessary
to pray especially long and intensely.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ taught us to accept
every misfortune with Faith, self-denial and humble
obedience to God’s Will.
Our Lord Jesus showed us how to fortify our weak human
nature so that temptations might not overwhelm and
defeat us.
We need Spiritual Strength and the Divine Peace, which
Prayer brings, so as to overcome temptations and to
conquer Satan’s sorrow, hopelessness, and despair.
Our Prayers Strengthen our Faith in times of affliction
and sorrow. In addition, we must first Repent and
Cleanse ourselves so that we may receive Grace-
filled Consolation through our Prayers and preserve
our Purity through Fasting.
The Spiritual State to which Fasting and Prayer brings us
makes us especially capable of receiving Divine
Benefactions and Revelations. Thus St Cornelius the
Centurion’s Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting were
known to God, which brought him the greatest good -
Knowledge of Christ.
The Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostles while they were
Fasting and Praying that He had chosen St Paul and
St Barnabos to preach Christianity to the pagans.
There are uncountable proofs and examples of just what
Divine Revelations all God-pleasers are granted when
they renounce matter through Fasting. By Pure Prayer,
with naked minds unsullied by any fantasies, not
distracted by any extraneous thoughts, they stand in
deep Reverence and Peace before our invisible and
inscrutable Lord God.
Beloved Brethren! Having come to know the significance
and Power of Spiritual Weapons—Alms, Fasting, and
Prayer—let us hasten to gird ourselves with these
Weapons. Let us acquire Mercy, and array ourselves
in Kindness. (C F . C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 1 2 )
May our outstanding character trait - the continually
outstanding feature of our conduct - be Mercy - never
seeking Righteousness without Mercy.
Mercy that proceeds from corrupted human nature is
contrary to Righteousness while Mercy that pours from
the Divine Commandments, although abundant, is in
unbroken Union with God’s Righteousness, and serves
as its expression. (C F . P S . 8 4 : 1 1 – 1 4 ; 8 8 : 1 5 )
Let us humble our flesh/body with self-denial and
discipline - not only during the prescribed Fasts but at
all other times, partaking nourishment sensibly - for
the maintenance of our physical strength and health.
When our body has laboured for our soul through
Fasting, and made our soul ‘Angelic’ in its Kindness,
we then give our body ‘wings’ through Prayer -
thereby acquiring the Blessed Habit of quickly and
frequently turning to God and beseeching His Divine
Blessings and Grace upon all our endeavours.
Our Lord God is our Divine Helper and Guide, so by
raising our thoughts constantly to God, we gradually
clear our moral path of all iniquity—not only the
crude, but even the subtle, hidden iniquity in our
thoughts and emotions.
Those who call out to God for help would never do so for
anything that was vicious - and we would first ensure
that our requests are worthy of our Divine King’s gaze,
which penetrates the inner recesses of our heart, and
sees both the visible and invisible with equal clarity!
When we perpetually turn to God we are painfully aware
that we Live in the All-seeing Sight of God, and being
everywhere present, He sees every deed, and every
intention of our soul!
The ultimate result of such a conviction and sense of
being always in the Sight and Presence of God is our
Spiritual Progress, which our All Merciful Lord grants
for the Glory, Honour and Worship of the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for our Eternal Salvation.
Amen.
ST. IGNATIUS (BRIANCHANINOV)
TRANSLATED BY NUN CORNELIA (REES)
HTTP://ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM/34598.HTML
4/9/2011
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most
Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And
let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

20 April 2019
Saturday of the Raising of St Lazaros
Also the Feast of St Theodore Trichinas (“Haircloth wearer), Holy Ascetic Hermit of
Constantinople – St Zacchaeus, Holy Apostle of Christ – St Athanasios of Great Meteora – St
Alexander, Abbot of Oshevensk Dormition Monastery & Enlightener of the Kargopol Region
– St Gabriel the Child Martyr of Bialystok, Poland – St Gregory, Patriarch of Antioch – St
Anastasios the Sinaite & Patriarch of Antioch – St Anastasios, Abbot of Mount Sinai
Monastery – St Betran & St Theotimos, Bishops of Lesser Scythia – St Nicholai of Zhicha – St
Joseph of Serbia
HOLY WEEK BOOKS ARE ESSENTIAL FROM TOMORROW, PALM SUNDAY
UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY - HOLY PASCHA

FIRST TRIODION ANTIPHON – TONE 2

Evlogi, i psihi mou , ton Kyrion, ke panta ta entos mou to Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me, Bless
Onoma to Agion Aftou His Holy Name.
✞ Tes Presvies tis Theotkou, Soter, Soson imas. ✞ Through the Intercessions of Theotokos, O Saviour,
Save us!
Evlogi, i psihi mou, ton Kyrion, ke mi epilanthanou pasas Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His
tas antapodosis aftou.✶ Rewards.✶
Kyrios en to Ourano ptimase ton Thronon aftou, ke i The Lord prepared His Throne in Heaven, and His
Vasilia aftou panton despozi.✶ Kingdom Rules over all.✶
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin ✶ Amen ✶
SECOND TRIODION ANTIPHON – TONE 2

Eni, i pshi mou, ton Kyrion. Eneso Kyrion en ti Zoi mou. Praise the Lord, O my soul! I shall praise the Lord while I
Psalo to Theo mou eos iparho. live! I shall sing to my God as long as I live!
✞ Soson imas Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron, ✞ Save us, O Son of God, Risen from the dead, as we
psallontas Si, Allilouia. sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Makarios ou O Theos Iakov voithos Aftou, i Elpis aftou epi Blessed is he whose Help is the God of Jacob – whose
Kyrion ton Theon aftou.✶ Hope is in the Lord our God. ✶
Vasilefsi Kyrios is ton eona, O Theos Sou, Sion, is genean The Lord shalt Reign forever – your God, O Zion, from
ke genean.✶ generation to generation. ✶
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin Amen
“O MONOGENIS IIOS KE LOGOS TOU THEOU...” 
THIRD TRIODION ANTIPHON – TONE 1
( CHANTED WITH THE TRIODION APOLYTIKION )

Afti i imera, in epiisen O Kyrios. Agalliasometha ke This is the day our Lord made – let us greatly rejoice and
evfranthomen en afti.✶ be glad therein.✶
Enesatosan afton i Ourani ke i Gi, Thalassa ke panta ta Let Heaven and Earth praise Him – the seas and
erponta en afti.✶ everything that moves therein. ✶
SMALL ENTRANCE HYMNS

TRIODION APOLYTIKION - SATURDAY OF ST LAZAROS – TONE 1

Tin kinin Anastasin pro tou Sou Pathos pistoumenos,
ek nekron igiras ton Lazaron Hriste O Theos, othen
ke imis, os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis Simvola ferontes, Si to
Niki ti tou Thanatou voomen: “Osanna en tis
Ipsistis, Evlogimenos O erhomenos en Onomati
Kyriou.
O Christ our God, before Thy Passion, Thou raised Lazaros
from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all.
Therefore, we carry the Symbols of Victory as did the
Youths, and we cry out to Thee, the Victor over Death:
"Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!"

TRIODION KONTAKION OF SATURDAY OF ST LAZAROS - TONE 2

I panton Hara, Hristos i Alithia, to Fos i Zoi, tou kosmou i Christ, the Joy of all, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the
Anastasis, tis en gi pefanerote, ti Aftou Agathotiti, ke Resurrection of the world, in His Goodness, appeared
gegone Tipos tis Anastaseos, tis pasi Parehon Thian to those on Earth; and He became the Model of the
afesin. Resurrection, by granting Divine Remission to all.

SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – 20 APRIL 2019 9

 INSTEAD OF THE TRISAGION HYMN:

Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! As many as have been Baptised into Christ, have put on
[3] Christ: Alleluia! [3]
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! Have put on Christ: Alleluia!
Dynamis! Power/Strength
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! As many as have been Baptised into Christ, have put on
Christ: Alleluia!
TRIODION - PROKEIMENON – ST LAZAROS SATURDAY-PSALM 26 - TONE 3

The Lord is my Light and my Saviour!

The Lord is the Defender of my Life...!
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE HEBREWS 12 : 28 – 13 : 8
TH E PURITY OF THE C HRISTIAN C OMMUNITY
Brethren: Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have Grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear. For our God is a Consuming Fire.
Let Brotherly Love continue. Do not forget to welcome strangers, for by doing so some have unwittingly hosted Angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body
also. Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled - but fornicators and adulterers God will Judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness - be content with the things that you have. For Christ Himself has said; “I will
never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can mankind
do to me?”
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose Faith you follow, considering the
outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
 ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CREATED CAN BE SHAKEN AND THE HOSPITALITY OF ABRAHAM THE ANCIENT PATRIARCH IS A GOOD
EVEN DESTROYED – THE TEMPORAL, IMPERMANENT AND EXAMPLE TO US: he never ate a meal unless he had
IMPERFECT. others with whom to share it.
THE FINAL CONSUMMATION OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD IS
UNSHAKABLE AND INDESTRUCTIBLE AND ENDURES FOREVER – FOR The day came when he hosted three very special Visitors –
ALL ETERNITY AND EVERYTHING OF ETERNITY IS EVERLASTING, the Holy Trinity – at the Oaks of Mamre - where They left
UNCHANGEABLE AND IMPERISHABLE. Their three wooden Staffs/Rods of Cypress, Cedar and
Pine imbedded in the sand, which grew into a most
That is why we must prepare ourselves throughout this
lifetime to BECOME WORTHY SPIRITUAL CITIZENS OF GOD’S unique Tree. (GENESIS 18 : 1 – 8 & 19: 1 – 3)
When King Solomon was building his first great Temple in
ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY – BY MEANS OF
Jerusalem centuries later, the Trinity Tree was cut down
ALL THE SPIRITUAL TOOLS WITH WHICH CHRIST OUR LORD AND
but the wood was never used and merely thrown aside,
SAVIOUR HAS PROVIDED US – ALL HIS DIVINE COMMANDMENTS until the Crucifixion of Christ when He was forced to carry
AND TEACHINGS. the heavy cross-bar (not the whole cross) as part of His
 ETERNAL LIFE IS CONTINUOUS EUCHARISTIC (THANKSGIVING) public humiliation and punishment, before being nailed
DIVINE LITURGY. at the wrists to it.
 “Grace” is a reference to OUR SINCERE AND PROFOUND The cross-bar was then fastened to the upright pole which
GRATITUDE THAT COMPELS US TO SERVE GOD AND TO was secured in a hole in the rock on Golgotha – which
WORSHIP HIM IN AN ACCEPTABLE MANNER, with proper still exists to this day. MP
“Reverence and Godly Fear.”
(D IVINE G RACE THAT EN ABLES US TO DO THE W ILL OF G OD WITH ✶ St Paul urged us to APPLY ALL THE DIVINE COMMANDMENTS
HUMBLE O BEDIENCE IS BEST OWED ON US BY G OD THE H OLY AND TEACHINGS of Christ our Lord and Saviour, to our
S PIRIT . mp) daily life, treating others with Compassion, Kindness
and Respect, just as we would like to be treated
 PRACTICAL BROTHERLY LOVE IS TO BE SHOWN TOWARDS ALL ourselves.
FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – and
ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE LOWLY, THE POWERLESS, AND ALL
 Furthermore, we must always remember that OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE TRUTH NEVER CHANGE AND ARE ALWAYS
VICTIMS OF CRUELTY AND INJUSTICE.
APPLICABLE TO THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITy.
✶ “Strangers” are travellers (visitors) IN NEED OF CHRISTIAN
HOSPITALITY.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 11: 1 – 45
OUR LORD JESUS C HRIST IS THE RESURREC TION AND THE LIFE
At that time, a certain man was sick - Lazaros of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister, Martha. It was that Martha
who had anointed our Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His Feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazaros, was sick.
Therefore, the sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying: “Lord, behold: he whom Thou Love, is sick.” When Jesus heard
that, He said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God so that the Son of God may be Glorified
through it.”
Jesus Loved Martha and her sister, and Lazaros, so when He heard that Lazaros was sick, He stayed two more days in
the place where He was. Then He said to His Disciples: “Let us go to Judea again.” The Disciples said to Him:
“Rabbi, lately the Hebrews sought to stone Thee, and art Thou going there again?” And Jesus answered: “Are there
not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this
world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the Light is not in him.”
These things He said, and after that He said to them: “Our Friend, Lazaros, sleeps, but I go so that I may wake him
up.” And His Disciples said: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought
that He spoke of taking rest in sleep. So Jesus told them plainly: “Lazaros is dead, and I Am glad for your sakes
that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” And Thomas, who was called “the
Twin,” said to his fellow Disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
Jesus went, and found that Lazaros had already been in the tomb for four days.
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, and many of the Judeans had joined the women around Martha
and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him - while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to
Jesus: “Lord, if Thou had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, I know that whatever Thou ask
of God, God will grant Thee.” Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him: “I know that he

10 SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – 20 APRIL 2019

 will rise again in the Resurrection at the Last Day.” Jesus said to her: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life: he who
believes in me, although he may die, he shall Live. And whoever Lives and believes in Me, shall never die. Do
you believe this?” She said to Him: “Yes, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ – the Son of God Who is to come into
the world.”
And having said these things, Martha went her way, and secretly called Mary, her sister, saying: “The Teacher has
come and is calling for you.” As soon as Mary heard that, she quickly arose and went to Him.
Jesus had not yet gone into the town, but was in the place where Martha had met Him. When the Judeans, who were
with her in the house, comforting her, saw that Mary had quickly arisen and gone out, they followed her, saying:
“She is going to the tomb to weep there.”And when Mary arrived where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at
His Feet, saying to Him: “O Lord, if Thou had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Judeans who had come with her, weeping, He groaned in Spirit and was
troubled. And He said: “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him: “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. And the
Judeans said; “See how He loved him!” Some of them said: “Could not this Man Who opened the eyes of the blind,
also have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus, again groaning within Himself, went to the tomb, which was a cave, and a stone lay against it. And Jesus said:
“Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him: “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for
he has been dead four days!” Jesus said to her: “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the
Glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the cave where the dead man was lying.
Jesus lifted up His Eyes and said: “O Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I know that Thou always
hears Me, but because of the people who are standing by, I say this, so that they may believe that Thou sent
Me.” And when Jesus had said these things, He cried with a loud Voice: “Lazaros! Come forth!” And he who had
died came out, bound hand and foot with grave-cloths, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. And Jesus said to
them: “Loosen him, and let him go.”
And many of the Judeans who had gone to Mary, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in Him...
✶ THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS after being four days dead, about the body for three days, but AFTER FOUR DAYS,
and already in a state of decomposition, IS THE RESUSCITATION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
SEVENTH SIGN OF THE DIVINE IDENTITY AND SERVICE OF OUR According to Judaic tradition, mourning began,
LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, according to the Holy obviously, on the day of the person’s Repose.
Gospel of St John, the Beloved Apostle, Evangelist and Weeping and wailing went on for three days.
Theologian. Lamentations lasted one week, followed by general
THIS SIGN SEALED THE JUDEAN AUTHORITIES’ DECISION TO EXECUTE mourning over the next 30 days.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST under the unjust and false guise ✶ As before, when St Martha had complained about St
of blasphemy. Mary not helping her with serving and taking care of
This Miraculous Event is celebrated Liturgically on their guests, THE TWO SISTERS REACTED DIFFERENTLY to the
“Saturday of the Raising of St Lazaros” – the day before arrival of our Lord Jesus.
“Palm Sunday,” and at the end of Great Lent. ST MARTHA, BEING INCLINED TO ACTIVE SERVICE, RUSHED OUT TO
Next week is Holy Week, which consists of a very strict Fast MEET HIM, WHILE ST MARY REMAINED SEATED IN MOURNING
and daily Holy Services throughout the week, until Pascha UNTIL SHE WAS SUMMONED BY CHRIST. It was traditional to
Sunday, all of which should be attended. (Holy Week Books sit while mourning and receiving other mourners.
are essential.) ALTHOUGH ST MARTHA HAD GREAT FAITH, HER STATEMENTS
The Paschal period continues until Wednesday before INDICATED A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING OUR
Ascension Thursday. mp SAVIOUR, for SHE DID NOT SEE HIM AS THE INCARNATE,
ETERNAL SON OF GOD, YET SHE BELIEVED THAT HE ONLY
✶ “Bethany” is situated on the Eastern slope of the Mount NEEDED TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT TO EFFECT HER BROTHER’S
of Olives – about two miles from Jerusalem. HEALING.
✶ “Lazaros” is the same as “Eleazar” – literally translated ✶ By saying:”... whatever Thou ask of God, God will grant
as “God Helps.” Thee..” also shows her lack of understanding that OUR
✶ “This sickness is not unto death...” was a message of LORD JESUS ACTUALLY POSSESSES FULL DIVINE AUTHORITY AND
comfort that was sent to St Mary and St Martha of POWER TO ACT AS HE WILLS.
Bethany, to strengthen them so that when St Lazaros ✶✶Our Lord Jesus then declared: “I Am the Resurrection
died, they might have confidence in our Lord’s Words. and the Life,” in order to correct her
✶ “The Son of God” being “Glorified” must not be misunderstanding by CLEARLY IDENTIFYING HIMSELF – HIS
understood to be the cause of St Lazaros dying. DIVINE NATURE – to her.
Instead, it indicates that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE FURTHERMORE, HE DECLARED HIS DIVINE AUTHORITY TO RAISE THE
GLORIFIED AS A RESULT OF HIS DEATH (which occurred from DEAD “...at the Last Day...” as St Martha had
a physical illness) AND ST LAZAROS BEING RAISED FROM THE mentioned, as well as HERE AND NOW in this world.
DEAD AND RESTORED TO LIFE, FOUR DAYS LATER.
Such is the power of His Words that ST MARTHA WAS
Our Saviour delayed His return to Bethany in order that St IMMEDIATELY LED TO HER GREAT CONFESSION OF FAITH: “Yes,
Lazaros would be dead and buried long enough so Lord, I believe...!
that DECOMPOSITION WOULD HAVE BEGUN AND THAT THERE
WOULD NEVER BE ANY DOUBT OF THE GREAT DIVINE MIRACLE
✶✶✶ EVERY TIME WE HEAR OR READ OUR SAVIOUR’S WORDS: “Do
OUR LORD PERFORMED. you believe?” – and even though at the time they
✶✶ THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF OUR LORD GOD WOULD BE CLEARLY were addressed directly to others – WE MUST
SEEN BY ALL EYE-WITNESSES.
TRUTHFULLY RESPOND – BODY AND SOUL, MIND
Future generations could not argue that St Lazaros had merely AND HEART. – WITH OUR OWN PERSONAL CONFESSION OF
been comatose, and not dead and decomposing! FAITH!
✶ “Our Friend, Lazaros, sleeps...” reveals that GOD IS IN ✶ Having been summoned, St Mary of Bethesda went to
CONTROL OF ALL CREATION. Christ and, FALLING DOWN BEFORE HIM, SHE MADE THE SAME
✶✶ Furthermore, after the proof of His own physical STATEMENT AS ST MARTHA: “Lord, if Thou had been
Resurrection, OUR LORD HAS TAUGHT US THAT WE NO LONGER here...”
“DIE” BUT RATHER WE “FALL ASLEEP” OR “REPOSE,” UNTIL OUR WHILE OUR COMPASSIONATE LORD ENGAGED ST MARTHA WITH
RESURRECTION ON THE EIGHTH DAY – the Day of WORDS, HE USED DEEDS TO COMFORT ST MARY.
Judgement and the beginning of Eternal Life or ✶ St John emphasised, very simply that our Lord “Jesus
Death. wept.”
✶ The words of St Thomas: “Let us also go that we may die Weeping is a natural human response to sadness or
with Him,” is AN UNWITTING PROPHECY OF THEIR ON FUTURE tragedy – and IT CLEARLY SHOWED HIS OWN PERSONAL
MARTYRDOM. HEARTACHE, COMPASSION AND SORROW FOR HIS BELOVED
✶✶ It also illustrates THE PATH THAT ALL FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF FRIENDS.
CHRIST MUST TAKE – so that we may DAILY “DIE” TO THE At Compline on St Lazaros Saturday, one of the Hymns
WORLD IN ORDER TO FOLLOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. states: “Shedding tears by Thy own choice, Thou hast
St Lazaros had been dead and entombed for four days. granted us proof of Thy heartfelt Love..”
There was a Rabbinical opinion that the soul lingered
SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – 20 APRIL 2019 11
✶ Our Divine Saviour also “...groaned in the Spirit and
was troubled...” which clearly demonstrates our Lord
Jesus RESPONDING IN HIS HUMAN NATURE TO MANKIND’S WEAK
FAITH AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONFIDENCE IN THE
POWER OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD.
Once St Mary and St Martha lost the legal protection of their
only male relative, they would lose everything else and
be cast out to fend for themselves, unless they were
wealthy and influential enough to avoid the usual
dreadful conditions brought upon defenceless women
and children at that time!
Hence, THE PROTECTION AND CARE OF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS IS ONE OF
OUR MOST SACRED TASKS AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, TO THIS
VERY DAY. mp
✶ ALTHOUGH ST MARTHA’S FAITH HAD DEEPENED, SHE STILL DID
NOT UNDERSTAND CHRIST’S DIVINE WILL AND POWER OVER ALL
CREATION – HEAVEN AND EARTH.
✶ The spices and oil – myrrh – used to anoint a corpse
would only disguise the stench of decomposition for a
very short while, and our Lord knew that ALL THE
WITNESSES WOULD BE AWARE OF THE ODOUR OF DEATH, WHICH
IS THE REASON HE HAD WAITED FOUR DAYS before arriving in
Bethesda to Resurrect St Lazaros.
✶✶ THERE WOULD BE NO DOUBT AT ALL, THAT ST LAZAROS HAS
REALLY BEEN DEAD AND BURIED, FOR NO ONE HAS EVER COME
BACK TO LIFE AFTER DECOMPOSITION HAS BEGUN.
Many Icons depict the WITNESSES COVERING THEIR NOSES,
THEREBY ILLUSTRATING THE REALITY OF ST LAZAROS’
CORRUPTED FLESH, AND THE FACT THAT MANY DID NOT BELIEVE
AND WERE SHOCKED THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST COULD
ACTUALLY RAISE SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN DEAD FOR FOUR DAYS
and whose body would have begun to decompose.
✶ To show exactly how OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S WILL WAS
ONE WITH GOD THE FATHER AND THAT HIS HUMAN WILL WAS
FREELY SUBJECT IN EVERY WAY TO OUR HEAVEN FATHER’S WILL,
He prayed aloud for the sake of the people who
witnessed everything that occurred.
✶ And then our Redeemer called out to St Lazaros to
“Come forth!” – NOT IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER, BUT
BY HIS OWN DIVINE AUTHORITY.
S ATU RD AY OF TH E
Strictly speaking, Great Lent ends on Friday after the fifth
Sunday of Lent - the end of the Forty Day period –
while “The Passion of Christ” is from “Palm Sunday” at
the end of Lent until His Resurrection on Pascha
Sunday - i.e. the first six days of Holy Week.
St Lazaros Saturday has a very special place in the
Liturgical Calendar, for it is neither included in the
Forty Days of Lenten Penitence, nor is it included in
Holy Week – Holy Monday to Holy Friday. Together
with Palm Sunday, it forms a short, Joyous Prelude to
the days of grief and sorrow that follow.
A topographical link unites it to Palm Sunday, for Bethany
is the place of St Lazaros’ Raising from Death, as well
as being the point of departure for our Lord Jesus’
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem.
St Lazaros’ Raising has very deep meanings because it is
mysteriously linked to the Resurrection of Christ - like
prophesy in action. The Raising of St Lazaros at the
threshold of Holy Pascha is the precursor of Christ’s
Victory over Death, in the same way as St John the
Forerunner and Baptist, on the threshold of
Theophany, was the precursor of the Divine Messiah
Who was about to be revealed.
“...When Thou didst wish….O my Saviour, to establish
the Truth of Thy Glorious Resurrection, Thou didst
Deliver Lazaros from Hades….’ implies that the
Raising of St Lazaros was a striking anticipation, and
confirmation of the Divine Truth – preliminary proof
of Christ’s Divine Power over life and death.
“...Through Lazaros, O Death, Christ has released thy
captives….Before Thy Death, Thou hast shaken the
power of Death...” There is a certain link between this
Victory of Christ’s over Death, and His Triumphal Entry
into Jerusalem which is celebrated tomorrow.
“O Death, where is thy victory?…We offer Him the Palms
of Triumphant Victory… Like the children, we carry
Tokens of Victory and Acclaim Thee, Who art the
Conqueror of Death!”
The Raising of St Lazaros announces the General
Resurrection of all mankind, which is a Consequence
12 SATURDAY OF THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – 20 APRIL 2019
✶✶✶ This proves that ALTHOUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME
FROM – WAS SENT BY – GOD THE FATHER, HE ALSO FULLY
POSSESSES DIVINE AUTHORITY, BEING THE SECOND PERSON OF
THE HOLY TRINITY AND THUS CO-EQUAL IN ALL AUTHORITY AND
POWER AS THE OTHER TWO PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY,
God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
✶ ST LAZAROS AROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WALKED OUT OF HIS
TOMB STILL BOUND IN HIS RESTRICTING BURIAL WRAPPINGS
and shroud, which is regarded by our Holy
Fathers as an indication that HE WOULD LATER USE
THEM AGAIN WHEN HE EVENTUALLY REPOSED IN CHRIST, TO
AWAIT THE GENERAL RESURRECTION ON THE EIGHTH DAY.

WHEN OUR SAVIOUR RESURRECTED, HE HAD NO NEED FOR HIS
BURIAL WRAPPINGS, WHICH WERE LEFT ABANDONED IN THE
TOMB, WITH THE INNER FACE CLOTH BEING NEATLY
FOLDED.

Unlike the Miraculous Resuscitation of St Lazaros, THE
RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TRANSFIGURED
OUR HUMAN NATURE, which He had assumed at His
Incarnation, and thus CHRIST, IN HIS HUMAN NATURE,
WOULD NEVER DIE AGAIN.

His Resurrection Appearances proved that WE, TOO,
WOULD EVENTUALLY BE RESURRECTED ETERNALLY IN BODY
AND SOUL.
The fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was not initially recognised
by His closest family and friends until He identified or
revealed Himself, makes me think that perhaps He
looked slightly different, but similar to His former
Appearance. After all, one does not expect to see
Someone so clearly after His Departure from this life. mp
✶ THIS SEVENTH SIGN – THE RAISING OF ST LAZAROS – NOT ONLY
PREPARED HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST’S
RESURRECTION BUT - according to the words of a Hymn,
it also “... confirmed the Universal Resurrection...” of
all mankind, thereby proving that OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, THE INCARNATE, ETERNAL WORD AND SON OF GOD,
HAS THE POWER TO FULFIL THE DIVINE PROMISE given to St
Ezekiel that all those who had died will one day rise
again. (EZEKIEL 37 : 1 – 3)
R AISING OF S T L AZAR OS
of our Divine Saviour’s Resurrection: ‘O Christ, when
Thou brought back Lazaros to life from amongst the
dead, Thou established the Principle of Universal
Resurrection… Thou didst Raise him, Thou, the Giver
of Life, thus confirming the Resurrection of the
world… Through Thy Friend as Intermediary Thou
predicted the Deliverance of mankind from
corruption...”
St Lazaros Saturday is, in a way, the Feast of all the
Reposed for it grants us an opportunity to confirm and
give precision to our Faith in the Resurrection.
St Martha’s Faith was insufficient in two ways, for she
thought of her brother’s Resurrection in terms of the
future, as she could not comprehend it, except in
relation to a general Law, whereas our Lord Jesus
indicated that our Resurrection is an actual fact
because He Himself is (and does not bring about)
Resurrection and Life.
We live forever through and in Christ, for our Life is bound
up with His Personal Presence, and is thereby
manifested. Thus, if we seek to unite ourselves in spirit
with the Reposed whom we Love, we must never try to
revive them in our imagination, but through our Lord
Jesus Christ we shall find them and be reunited by
our mutual Love for each other.
The Raising of St Lazaros is a wonderful illustration of
Christological Dogma, which shows us how, in the
Person of our Lord, human and Divine Natures are
United – without confusion: ‘O Christ, by Thy presence
at the tomb of Lazaros Thou hast confirmed our faith
in Thy two natures…’ For He not only experienced our
emotions and wept but He also has Authority over Life
and Death!’
Finally, us sinners are granted Hope that although
Spiritually Dead, we can return to Spiritual Life
through Repentance.
(https://pemptousia.com/)
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the Ages of ages.
Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together
with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

Palm Sunday 21 April 2019

OUR LORD’S TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
47TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - 10TH OF TRIODION - 6TH OF GREAT LENT

Holy Week Books are essential for this week

Also the Feast of St Januarios, Bishop of Benevento, St Proculos, St Sossios & St Faustos, the Deacons, St Desiderios the
Reader, St Eutychios & St Akution of Pozzuoli – St Alexandrias the Queen – St Anastasios I of Antioch - St Theodore & St
Philippa, his mother, St Dioscoros, St Socrates & St Dionysios of Perge, Pamphylia – St Isaac, St Apollos & St Quadratos
of Nicomedia – St Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople

FIRST FESTAL ANTIPHON – PALM SUNDAY – PSALM 114/115 - TONE 2

Igapisa, oti isakousete Kyrios tis fonis tis deiseos mou. I have Loved, because the Lord shall hear the voice of my
Alalaxate to Theo en foni Agalliaseos. Supplication. Shout to God with the voice of Rejoicing!
✞ Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, Soson imas. Through the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O
Saviour, Save us.
Perieshon me odines Thanatou, kindini Adou evrosan me. The pains of Death surrounded me; the dangers of Hades
✶ found me. ✶
Thlipsin ke odinin evron, Le to Onoma Kyrious I found affliction and grief. Then I called upon the Lord’s
epekalesamin. ✶ Name. ✶
Evapestiso enopion Kyriou, en Hora Zonton. ✶ I shall be well pleasing before the Lord in the Land of the
Living. ✶
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin ✶ Amen ✶
SECOND FESTAL ANTIPHON – PSALM 115/116 – PALM SUNDAY TONE 2

Epitefsa, dio elalisa. Ego de etapinothin sfodra. I believed, therefore I spoke. I was greatly humbled.
Soson imas, Iie Theou, O epi polou onou kathesthis, Save us, O Son of God, Who was seated on a donkey’s
psalontas Si, Allilouia! colt, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Ti antapodoso to Kyrio peri panton, on antapedoke mi? ✶ What shall I render to the Lord for everything He has
granted me? ✶
Potirion Sotiriou lipsome ke to Onoma Kyriou epikalesome. I will take up the Cup of Salvation. And call upon the
✶ Name of the Lord. ✶
Si Thiso Thisian eneseos, ke to Onoma Kyriou epikalesome. I will offer a Sacrifice of Praise. ✶
✶
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin Amen
THIRD FESTAL ANTIPHON – PSALM 117/118 – PALM SUNDAY-TONE 1

Exomologisethe to Kyrio, oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; for His Mercy
Eleos Aftou. endures foreve.
Tin kinin Anastasin pro tou Sou Pathous Pistoumenos, To confirm the General Resurrection before Thy
ek nekron igiras ton Lazaron, Hriste O Theos. Othen Passion, Thou Resurrected Lazaros from the dead, O
ke imis os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis simvola ferontes, Si to Christ our God. Therefore, imitating the Children,
Nikiti tou Thanatou voomen. Osanna en tis Ipsistis, carrying the Symbols of Victory, we cry to Thee, the
Evlogimenos O erhomenos, en Onomati Kyriou. Victor over Death: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed
art Thou Who comes in the Name of the Lord!
Ipato di Ikos Israil oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos Let the House of Israel say that He is Good, for His Mercy
Aftou.✶ endures forever. ✶
Ipato di Ikos Aaron oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos Let the House of Aaron say that He is Good, for His Mercy
Aftou. ✶ endures forever. ✶
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 Ipatosan dip antes i fovoumeni ton Kyrion oti Agathos, oti Let all who Fear the Lord say that He is Good, for His
is ton eona to Eleos Aftou. ✶ Mercy endures forever. ✶
ISODIKON – SMALL ENTRANCE HYMNS – T O N E 2

 Evlogimenos O erhomenos en Onomati Kyriou. Theos  Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. God
Kyrios ke epefanen imin. Soson imas, Iie Theou, O epi is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Save us, O
polou onou kathesthis, psallontas Si, Allelouia! Son of God, Who sat upon a donkey’s colt, who sing to
Thee: Alleluia!
FESTAL APOLYTIKION – PALM SUNDAY – T O N E 1

Tin Kinin Anastasin pro tou Sou Pathous Pistoumenos, ek To confirm the General Resurrection before Thy Passion,
nekron igiras ton Lazaron, Hriste O Theos. Othen ke Thou Resurrected Lazaros from the dead, O Christ our
imis os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis simvola ferontes, Si to Nikiti God. Therefore, imitating the children, carrying the
tou Thanatou Voomen. Osanna en tis Ipsistis, Symbols of Victory, we cry out to Thee the Victor over
Evlogimenos O erhomenos, en Onomati Kyriou. Death: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed art Thou Who
comes in the Name of the Lord.
TRIODION APOLYTIKION – PALM SUNDAY – TONE 4

Sintafentes Si dia tou Vaptismatos, Hriste O Theos imon, tis We were buried with Thee through Baptism, O Christ our
Athanatou Zois ixiothimen ti Anastasi Sou, ke God, and thus by Thy Resurrection, we have been
animnountes krazomen. Osanna en tis Ipsistis, granted Immortal Life, and extolling Thee, we cry
Evlogimenos O erhomenos, en Onomati Kyriou. aloud: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed art Thou Who
comes in the Name of the Lord.
TRIODION KONTAKION – PALM SUNDAY – TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

To Throno en Ourano, to polo epi tis Gis, epohoumenos In Heaven upon the throne, on Earth upon the colt, Thou
Hriste O Theos, ton Angelon tin enesin, ke ton Pedon were carried, O Christ our God; and the Praise of the
animnisin prosedexo voonton Si. Evlogimenos i O Angels, and the Hymns of the children, Thou received
erhomenos, ton Adam anakalesasthe. as they cried to Thee: Blessed art Thou, Who came to
Call Adam again.
PALM SUNDAY MATINS GOSPEL: MATTHEW 21: 1 – 11 & 15 - 17
At that time, when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two Disciples,
saying to them: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with
her. Loosen then and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say: “The Lord has need
of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, Thy King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, a foal of a donkey.”
So the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on
them, and set Him on them. A very great multitude spread their clothes upon the road; others cut down branches
from the trees and spread them upon the road. The multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out,
saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: “Who is this?” And the multitudes said: “This is
Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee!” But when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the Wonderful Things that
He did, and the children crying out in the Temple and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,
and said to Him: “Dost Thou hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them: “Yes. Have you never read: “Out
of the mouth of babes and nursing infants Thou has perfected praise”?
And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is The Orthodox Christian Church – “the New Jerusalem” - is truly
celebrated on “Palm Sunday.” the All Pure Bride of Christ Who is the Divine Bridegroom. mp
Jewish Nationalism had led to the expectation of a St Matthew recorded in his Holy Gospel that there was A
political Messiah to liberate them from Roman COLT AS WELL AS A DONKEY and our Holy Church Fathers
oppression and rule, by the re-establishment of King regard the two animals as REPRESENTING THE FAITHFUL
David’s Kingdom. HEBREWS AND THE GENTILES WHO ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER IN
In utter Humility, our Lord Jesus emphasised the fact that THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
He had not come to establish an earthly Kingdom At Vespers of Palm Sunday we sing: “Thy riding upon a
because He did not enter Jerusalem on a horse or in foal prefigured how the untamed and uninstructed
a chariot like a conquering hero but instead He Gentiles would pass from unbelief to Faith.”
entered on a donkey – a real sign of His Humility and Those people who spread their clothes upon the ground
Peace. (SEE THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 LXX) before our Lord Jesus Christ, did so as a spontaneous
 CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HOLY CITY gesture of reverence to a great King and it is
DECLARED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF Spiritually Interpreted as OUR NEED TO LAY DOWN OUR
ALMIGHTY GOD. FLESH AND INDEED, OUR VERY LIVES, FOR CHRIST.
 IT WAS ALSO A DIVINE PROMISE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”
FINAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM comes from Psalm 117:25-26, which was associated
TOGETHER WITH ALL FAITHFUL BELIEVERS AND OF HIS with MESSIANIC EXPECTATION.
ACCEPTING THE NEW JERUSALEM AS HIS PURE BRIDE. (SEE
THE REVELATION OF CHRIST – THE APOCALYPSE 21:2)
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 117/118 – PALM SUNDAY
Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; for His Mercy endures forever.
THE EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS 4 : 4 – 9
Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say: Rejoice! Let all men know your Forbearance.
Our Lord is at hand! Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by Prayer and Supplication, with
Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the Peace of God, which surpasses all Understanding,
will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Finally, Brethren: whatever is True, whatever is Honourable, whatever is Just, whatever is Pure, whatever is Lovely,
whatever is Gracious – if there is any Excellence, if there is anything worthy of Praise, think of these Things.
What you have learnt,. and received, and heard, and seen in me – do. And the God of Peace will be with you.
This passage is read ON PALM SUNDAY, THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY Therefore, WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DAILY PRESSURES AND
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO JERUSALEM, WHICH IS THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE BY OUR FAITH in Christ Who is always
START OF HIS SALVIFIC PASSION. with us, BY REFUSING TO WORRY OR BE ANXIOUS about any
✶ “Our Lord is at hand!” actually means that OUR LORD IS thing, BY PRAYERS and by ALWAYS BEING GRATEFUL TO GOD
ALWAYS PRESENT WITH US, AS HE PROMISED. for His Great Mercy, Love and Blessings, and by

14 47AP-10 T H
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 CONTEMPLATION OF HIS COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHINGS Our ultimate Aim is to REPENT OUR SINFUL HABITS so that we
WHICH WE APPLY TO OURSELVES AND OUR LIFESTYLE, so that WE may ACQUIRE TRUTH, NOBILITY, JUSTICE, PURITY, LOVELINESS,
MAY ACQUIRE ALL THE NECESSARY AND INDEED, ESSENTIAL GOODNESS – EVERYTHING THAT IS VIRTUOUS AND TRULY
HOLY VIRTUES SO THAT WE REGAIN OUR LIKENESS TO OUR PRAISEWORTHY, which make us WORTHY CITIZENS of God’s
CREATOR WHO MADE US IN HIS LIKENESS AND IMAGE. Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 12: 1 – 18
TH E ANOINTING & THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
At that time, six days before the Passover, our Lord Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazaros was who had been dead and
whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served but Lazaros was one of
those who sat at the table with Him.
Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the Feet of Jesus and wiped Them with her hair. And the
house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. And one of His Disciples - Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would
betray Him - said: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said
- not that he cared for the poor - but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what
was put in it. Jesus said: “Leave her alone; she has kept this for the Day of My Burial. For the poor you have with
you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Now a great many of the Judeans knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but so that they
might also see Lazaros whom He had raised from the dead.
However, the Chief Priests plotted to put Lazaros to death also, because on account of him, many of the Judeans had
gone away and believed in Jesus.
The next day a great multitude who had gone to the Feast - when they heard that Jesus was going to Jerusalem - took
branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of
the Lord! The King of Israel!” And Jesus - when He had found a young donkey - sat upon it, as it is written: “Fear not,
Daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting upon a donkey’s colt.”
His Disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was Glorified, then they remembered that these
things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Therefore, those who were with Him
when He called Lazaros out of his tomb, and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For that reason the people
also met Him because they heard that He had done that Sign.
✶ THIS WAS THE THIRD PASSOVER THAT IS MENTIONED BY ST JOHN that BY EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE HE TRIED TO SAVE JUDAS
THE DIVINE THEOLOGIAN IN HIS HOLY GOSPEL and it is the ISCARIOT: Christ fulfilled Judas Iscariot’s lust for
setting for the final week of our Lord and Saviour’s money by entrusting him with their limited funds
earthly Ministry, which is narrated in careful detail. and He allowed him to exercise Apostolic
 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD ALREADY BEEN GLORIFIED Authority.
THROUGH HIS SIGNS (DIVINE MIRACLES) AND WORDS, AND
OUR LORD ALSO WASHED THE FEET OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, just as
IT REMAINED FOR HIM TO BE ULTIMATELY GLORIFIED He did to each of His other Disciples, and HE
THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. ALLOWED JUDAS ISCARIOT TO PARTAKE OF THEIR LAST
✶ THE OTHER DISCIPLES HAD MADE THE SAME SORT OF COMMENT AS SUPPER - FROM THE SAME TABLE OF HIS MYSTICAL SUPPER –
JUDAS ISCARIOT concerning the expensive oil of THE VERY FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST/COMMUNION.
spikenard BUT WITH VERY DIFFERENT MOTIVES to his.
YET, DESPITE ALL THAT, JUDAS ISCARIOT NEVER OVERCAME HIS
At the house of Simon the Leper – (the one grateful leper TERRIBLE GREED AND SELFISHNESS.
in a group of ten whom our Lord Jesus had healed) –
WHEN JUDAS ISCARIOT IS REFERRED TO AS BEING “ONE OF THE
a woman also used very expensive fragrant oil with TWELVE,” IT EMPHASISES THE DEPTH AND EXTENT OF HIS
which to anoint His Head and although the Disciples FATAL BETRAYAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO
protested at the extravagance, OUR LORD ACCEPTED THAT ACCEPTED HIM INTO THE INNER SANCTUM OF HIS EARTHLY
ANOINTING AS AN HONOUR FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD NEWLY MINISTRY.
DISCOVERED FAITH IN HIM. It proves and emphasises HOW SHOCKING, DEVASTATING AND
✶ HE ALSO ACCEPTED HER LOVING GESTURE AS A SIGN OF HIS DANGEROUS THOUGHTLESS, SELF-SERVING MOTIVES REALLY ARE
APPROACHING BURIAL. (MATTHEW 26:6 - 13) – BOTH TOWARDS GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS!
Nevertheless, according to St John Chrysostom, His Trust is a Priceless, Irreplaceable Gift we give to one another.
Disciples were not wrong in principle because MERCY If that trust is broken or damaged, it can never be repaired or
SHOWN TO THE POOR IS MORE FITTING THAN OUTWARD SIGNS regained.
OR GESTURES SHOWN EVEN TO GOD. (MATTHEW 25:40; JAMES Consequently, if we break the trust of others – whether in us or in
1:27) others - we will be severely Judged due to the inestimable
However, the Disciples did not understand that ONCE SUCH and irreparable damage and hurt it causes everyone
A GIFT HAD BEEN GIVEN, IT WAS A GREATER MERCY TO ACCEPT concerned!
IT WITH LOVE – AGAPE. Therefore, without fail treat the Wonderful Gift of Trust with the

St John Chrysostom explained: “If anyone had asked utmost respect and care – and never for a moment think
Christ before the woman did this, He would not that lies, deception, theft, etc will remain a hidden secret!
have approved it. But after she had done it, He Sooner or later, God will expose our wickedness to the Bright
looked only to the motive itself. For after the Light of His Divine Truth for the whole Universe to behold!
fragrant oil had been poured, what good was a Always be absolutely trustworthy to others as you would like them
rebuke? to be to you!!

“Likewise, if you see anyone providing a Sacred Exposure of our sins is far more devastating and shameful than
Vessel or Ornament for the walls of a church, do we can begin to understand – so we must ensure that we
not spoil his zeal. But IF BEFOREHAND HE ASKS ABOUT remain Steadfastly Righteous and Trustworthy through
IT, COMMAND HIM TO GIVE INSTEAD TO THE POOR.” constant Prayers for Guidance and Spiritual Assistance!

JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS MOTIVATED BY HIS INSATIABLE GREED
✶✶ BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SINS WHEN YOU COMMIT THEM OR ARE TEMPTED TO
WHILE THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE MOTIVATED BY THEIR
DO SO, rather than when you Repent them and Confess them
VIRTUE OF CHARITY/LOVE.
before God and His Holy Priesthood. mp

The fact that our Lord Jesus put such a greedy thief
like Judas Iscariot in charge of the money, shows
47 T H
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OF GREAT LENT – PALM SUNDAY

✞ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit...
Dearly Beloved Brethren in Christ, Palm Sunday is a
‘moveable’ Feast that falls on the Sunday before
Sunday of Holy Pascha, Commemorating our Lord
Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem –
significantly Great Event that is recorded in all four
Canonical Gospels. (M ARK 11:1–11, M ATT HEW 21:1–11,
L UKE 19:28–44, AND J OHN 12:12–19)
On “Palm Sunday” palm-leaf crosses are Blessed and
distributed amongst the Congregation.
Due to the difficulty of procuring palm leaves for today’s
Joyful Celebration in countries with colder climates,
boughs of box, yew, willow, or other indigenous trees
are used - so this Sunday is often referred to by the
names of those trees – “Yew Sunday,” or by the
general term “Branch Sunday.”

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Our Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem occurred
about a week before His Glorious Resurrection on Holy
Pascha Sunday.
Our Divine Saviour rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and
the welcoming, exultant citizens lay down their
cloaks, and palm leaves before Him, while singing
“ …Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name
of the Lord. We Bless Thee from the House of the
Lord!” ( PSALMS 118: 25–26)
The donkey was regarded as an animal of Peace, while
the horse was an animal of war, for a King or leader
rode upon a horse when he set off to war and rode
upon a donkey when he wanted to point out he had
come in Peace.
Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as the
Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging King.
In many lands in the ancient Near East, it was customary
to cover in some way the path of those who were
considered to be worthy of the highest honour.
The Old Covenant texts mentioned that Jehu, son of
Jehoshaphat, was welcomed in this manner as well.
(2 KINGS 9:13).
According to the New Testament Gospels our Lord Jesus
Christ was thus honoured.
However, in the Synoptic Gospels it is noted that the
citizens laid down their various garments and bull
rushes upon the road, whereas St John more
specifically mentions palm fronds, which symbolise
great Triumph and Victory in Old Covenant Tradition.
Because of this, the scene of the crowd greeting our Lord
Jesus Christ by waving palms and carpeting His path
ELDER JOSEPH OF VATOPEDI MONASTERY, MOUNT ATHOS – ON HUMILITY
Without question, the Scriptures as a whole, as well as
Patristic Philosophy, are ‘...seasoned with salt...’ as it
were, garlanded with the Good Mother of the Holy
Virtues - the humble outlook, which is particularly
noticeable at the points related to the behaviour and
comportment of those who are Living by the direct
instructions to reach their Destination and striving to
put these into practise through Repentance.
Obedience is a Holy Virtue, and its inseparable
companion Holy Virtue, Humility, is also a very special
and essential Attribute - the character and form of the
soul and of the personality.
If Duty is an inviolable Rule of Life for rational beings,
how much superior to it must be the personal
attributes, the form and the character?
And if, again, Humility were only a human skill and
achievement, which adorns and perfects rational
beings, without it also being Divine, human boldness
would be able to describe it.
But from the moment that True Humility was revealed to
us - that it reaches as far as the Incarnate Word of
God Himself – it became something beyond that
which human thought can conceive, and which can
be understood only with admiration and
astonishment.
Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly instructed us: “...Learn from
My Example, for I Am Meek and Humble in Heart.”
One of our greatest Luminaries - a real Philosopher of
Grace and of the Holy Spirit - Saint Isaac the Syrian,
who continued the authenticity of our Holy Fathers
tried to describe the Humble Outlook: “...I would like
to open my mouth, Brethren, and speak about the
important matter of Humility, and am filled with
Fear, just like someone who knows he is going to
speak about God with his own, human way of
thinking, because it is the Raiment of Divinity. The
Word Incarnate wore it and spoke to us about it.”
With regard to the nature of this Great Holy Virtue, suffice
it to leave the Patristic term as it is, which is that it is
Divine and the Garment of Divinity in its Spiritual
Completion and, therefore, a Gift of the Most Holy
Spirit.
Let us confine ourselves instead to its Attributes and
Energies and, even more so, to how it is acquired and
what it consists of - again, with Fear and on the basis
of the judgment of our Holy Fathers.
Since, in our terminology, we call it “character” and
“person” in rational nature, it is apposite to mention,
16 47AP-10 T H
OF TRIODION- 6 T H
LENT- PALM SUNDAY – 21 APRIL 2019
with them and their cloaks has become symbolic and
important to us as well.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Palm Sunday was marked
by the burning of Jack-‘o’-Lent figures. This was a
straw effigy that would be stoned and abused. Its
burning on Palm Sunday was often supposed to be a
kind of revenge on Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed
Christ – or it could also have represented Winter and
the destruction of which prepares the way for Spring.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week during
which as Orthodox Christians, we relive Christ’s
Passion and then Joyfully celebrate the Great Divine
Mystery of our Salvation through His Death and His
Resurrection on Pascha Sunday.
Palm Sunday is also referred to as “Our Lord’s
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem”, and is one of the
Twelve Great Feasts of the Liturgical Year.
Palm Sunday is excluded from Great Lent, which ends on
the Friday before “Lazaros Saturday.”
However we continue to observe a very strict Fast since
Palm Sunday and Holy Week are considered to be a
separate Fasting Period.
On Saturday of the Raising of St Lazaros, we prepare
woven palm fronds, which are knotted into Crosses in
preparation for the Procession on Palm Sunday.
The Liturgical Vestments and Altar Cloth, etc are
changed to a festive colour – gold in the Greek
Orthodox Tradition and green in the Slavic Orthodox
Tradition.
Amen
H IS E MINENCE , M E TROP OLITAN P ANTE LEIMON OF A NTINOES
HTTPS://PEMPTOUSIA.COM
AND OBEDIENCE
broadly speaking, how it acquires these terms, so that,
from the outset, it is credible and desirable, since
everybody has the right to acquire their real
personality through Humility and Obedience.
In the first place, a Humble Outlook should be within the
context of moral law, whereas, beyond moral law, we
should also look for the more general reason, which
makes it imperative, because it is endorsed by the
New Creation - the Word of God Incarnate - and He
assigns it - not to doing one’s duty, but to our
personality, private life and character.
No doubt the Apostles wished to learn what our Lord
Jesus Christ was like in the most profound depths of
His Being - in His Godly, Inner World - yet they did not
dare to inquire - although they asked so many other
questions, which He answered freely at the right time.
This is why, on His own initiative, He encouraged them to
“...Learn from My Example, for I Am Meek and
Humble in Heart and your soul will find rest.” (MATTHEW
11: 29).
Our Almighty God the Word, by Whom “...all things were
created - in Heaven and on Earth, visible and
invisible - all things were created through Him and
for Him....” is the centre of all personality and, through
His Grace, all personalities find their place. (COLOSSIANS
1:16)
The “...Humility of Heart...” of the Word of God is
characterized as a position of certainty and Stillness.
Since our Lord is the Centre of every personality, it is right
and proper that He be referred to as being indeed,
“...Humble in Heart...” since the whole Authority of His
Dominion is manifested in this position of Stillness and
Certainty.
It is not our purpose here to go into Theological terms
regarding Divine Attributes, but to extol the particular
significance of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Humility, as well
as that of all His followers throughout all ages and in
every period of His Divine Revelation, (which we ought
to strive to acquire as well, in order to make good Spiritual
Progress.mp)
https://pemptousia.com
ST NICHOLAS VELIMIROVIC
God will behave towards us in the same way as we
behave to our Brethren. We will be measured by the
same standard we use to measure others.
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,
Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one another
and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

29 April 2019
Bright Monday
St George the Great Trophy Bearer Holy Martyr
(TRANSFERRED FROM 23 APRIL)

Also the Feast of St Theognis, St Rufus, St Antipater, St Theostichos, St Artemas, St Magnos, St Theodotos, St Thaumasios, St
Philemon, of Cyzikos, Hellespont/Dardanelles – St Memnon the Wonderworker of Egypt – St Diodoros & St
Rhodopianos, Deacon Martyrs of Aphrodisias, Anatolia – St Basil the Bishop of Ostrog, Montenegro, Serbia – St
Nektarios of Optina – The Holy Martyrs of Lazeti – St Endelion the Recluse of Cornwall.

PASCHAL HYMN – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

✞Hristos Anesti, ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patisas, ✞Christ is Risen from the dead; By Death trampling
Ke tis en tis mnimasin, Zoin harisamenos (3) upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the
Tombs.(3)
FIRST PASCHAL ANTIPHON – PSALM 65/66 - TONE 2

Alalazate to Kyrio pasa i Gi. Shout to God, all the Earth!

✞ Tes Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, Soson imas. ✞Through the Intercessions of the Theotokos, O
Saviour, Save us.
Psalate di to Onomati Aftou - dote Doxan en enesi Aftou. ✶ Sing now to His Name – give Glory to His Praise! ✶
Ipate to Theo, Os fovera ta Erga Sou. En to plithi tis Say to God: How fearful at Thy Works; in the magnitude
Dinameos Sou psefsonte Se i ehthri Sou. ✶ of Thy Power, Thine enemies will lie to Thee. ✶
Pasa i Gi proskinisa tosan Si ke psalatosan Si, psalatosan di Let all the Earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee; let
to Onomati Sou. them sing to Thy Name.
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin ✶ Amen ✶
SECOND PASCHAL ANTIPHON – PSALM 66/67 – TONE 2

O Theos ikterise imas ke Evlogise imas. Epifane to May God be Gracious to us, and Bless us; may He cause
prosopon Aftou ef imas, ke eleise imas. His Face to shine upon us.
✞ Soson imas Iie Theou, O A N A S T A S E K N E K R O N ✞ O Son of God, W H O A R O S E F R O M T H E D E A D , Save us
psallontas Si: Allilouia! who sing to Thee: Alleluia
Tou gnosne en ti Gi tin Odon Sou - en pasin Ethnesi to That we may know Thy Way on the Earth - Your Salvation
Sotirion Sou.✶ among the Gentiles. ✶
Exomologisasthosan Si Lai, O Theos - exomologisasthosan Let the Peoples give Thanks to Thee, O God – let all the
Si Lai pantes.✶ Peoples praise Thee✶
Evlogise imas O Theos - ke fovithitosan Afton panta ta May God Bless us – and let all the ends of the Earth fear
perata tis Gis.✶ Him.✶
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin Amen
THIRD PASCHAL ANTIPHON – PSALM 67/88 – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

✞Anastito O Theos, ke diaskorpisthitoan i ehthri aftou, ke ✞Let God Arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let
figetosan apo prosopou aftou i misountes Afton. those who hate Him flee from before His Face.
✞Hristos Anesti, ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patisas, ✞Christ is Risen from the dead; By Death trampling
Ke tis en tis mnimasin, Zoin harisamenos upon Death, And has bestowed Life to those in the
tombs
Os eklipi kapnos eklipetosan, os tikete kiros apo prosopou As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts
piros.✶ before the fire.✶
Outos apolounte i amartoli apo prosopou tou Theou. Kei So shall the sinners perish from the Sight of God. And let
Dikei evfranthitosan.✶ the Righteous be glad.✶
Afti i imera, in epiisen O Kyrios. Agalliasometha ke This is the day the Lord made – let us greatly rejoice and
evfranthomen en afti.✶ be glad therein.✶
SMALL ENTRANCE -ISODIKON – TONE 2

En ekklisies Evlogite ton Theon, Kyrion ek pigon Israil. PRIEST : Bless God in the churches, the Lord of the Springs
✞ Soson imas Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron.... of Israel.

Psallontas Si: Allilouia! ✞ Save us, O Son of God, Who Rose from the dead...
P E O P L E : Who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

BRIGHT MONDAY – ST GEORGE THE GREAT (TRANSFERRED) – 29 APRIL 2019 17

 IPAKOE – TONE 4

Prolavouse ton orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton
lithon apokilisthenta tou mnimatos, ikouon ek tou
Angelou. Ton en Foti edio iparhonta, meta nekron ti
zitite os anthropon? Velpete ta entafia spargana.
Dramete, ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios,
Thanatosas ton Thanaton. Oti iparhi Theou Iios, tou
Sozontos to genos ton anthropon.
FESTAL APOLYTIKION – ST GEORGE THE
When the Women, with Mary, had gone before dawn, and
they found that the stone had been rolled away from
the Sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: “Why do
You seek among the dead, as a mortal Man, the One
Who exits in Everlasting Light? Behold the Grave
Wrappings in the Tomb! Hasten, and to the world
proclaim: the Lord has Risen and put Death to death!
For He is the Son of God Who Saves mankind!
GREAT MARTYR - TONE 4

Os ton ehmaloton eleftherotis, ke ton ptohon iperaspistis, As the One renowned for setting captives free, and for
asthenounton Iatros, Vasileon ipermahos, Tropeofore defending those in Poverty, the Physician of the sick
Megalomartys Georgie, Presveve Histo to Theo, Sothine and Champion of Emperors, O Great and Victorious
tas psihas imon. Martyr George: Intercede with Christ our God,
Beseeching Him to Save our soul.
FESTAL APOLYTIKION – ST ATHANASIOS – TONE 3

Stylos gegonas Orthodoxias, thiis dogmasin ipostirizon, tin Thou became a Pillar of Orthodoxy, strengthening the
ekklisian Irarha Athanasie: to gar Patri ton Ion Church with Divine Dogmas, O Hierarch Athanasios.
Omoousion, anakirixas katishinas Arion. Pater Osie, For by preaching that the Son is One in Essence with
Hriston ton Theon iketeve, dorisasthe imin to Mega
the Father thou put Arius to shame. O Venerable
Eleos.
Father, to Christ our God pray earnestly, entreating
that Great
Mercy be on us bestowed.
PASCHAL KONTAKION – OUR RESURRECTED SAVIOUR – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

I ke en Tafo katilthes Athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin Although Thou went down into the Tomb, O Immortal
dinamin. Ke anestis os Nikitis, Hriste O Theos, gynexi One, Thou brought down the dominion of Hades. And
Myroforis fthegxamenos, “Herete!” Ke tis Sis Apostolis Thou Rose as Victor, O Christ our God. And to the
Irini doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon Anastasin. Myrrhbearers Thou called out: “Hail!” And to Thine
Apostles, Thou granted Peace, O Thou Who to the
fallen granted Resurrection.
INSTEAD OF THE THRICE HOLY HYMN

Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe: Allelilouia! As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on
(3) Christ: Alleluia! (3)
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe: Allelouia! Have put on Christ: Allilouia!
Dynamis! With Power!
Dynamis! With Power!
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe: Allilouia! As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on
Christ: Allilouia!
PROKEIMENON – PSALM 63/64 – TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE

The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall Hope in Him.
Hear my voice, O God, in my Supplication.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 12: 1 – 11
About that time, Herod the King laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the Church. He had James, the brother
of John, killed by sword. And seeing that it pleased the Judeans, he proceeded to arrest Peter. This was during the
Days of Unleavened Bread. When he had had him seized, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads
of soldiers to guard him, intending, after Passover, to take him out to the people. Peter was kept in prison.
Earnest Prayers were made by the Church to God for him. The very night before Herod was to take him out, Peter was
asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Sentries before the door guarded the prison.
And behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared, and a Light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on his side, he awoke him,
saying: “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his wrists. The Angel told him: “Dress Thyself and fasten on Thy feet
Thy sandals.” He did so. And he said to him: “Wrap Thy cloak around Thyself, and follow me.” And he went out,
following him, and did not know whether what was done by the Angel was real, thinking he was seeing a Vision.
When they had passed the first and second guards, they arrived at the iron gate leading into the city – it opened of its
own accord! And they went out and passed on through one street. And immediately the Angel left him. And Peter
came to himself, and said: “Now I am sure that our Lord has sent His Angel, and Rescued me from the hand of
Herod, and from all expectations of the people of Judah.”
✶ HEROD AGRIPPA WHO REIGNED BETWEEN 41 – 44, WAS THE St James was the first of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Twelve
GRANDSON OF KING HEROD THE GREAT, a paranoid and Apostles to be martyred, thereby revealing that BY 44
wicked Tetrarch Ruler of Judea under the authority of THERE WAS ALREADY AN EVER INCREASING POPULAR
the Roman Empire, who was responsible for the PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
terrible Slaughter of the Holy Innocents. ✶ The “...Days of Unleavened Bread...” marked THE
After hearing about St John the Baptist’s remarkable FASTING PERIOD OF PASCHA and thus THE COMMEMORATION
birth to his barren, elderly mother and later, hearing OF OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR’S PASSION AND GLORIOUS
from the three Magi about a Great King Who had RESURRECTION.
been born, HEROD put the two facts together and ✶ THE POWER OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER of the Holy Church of
ORDERED THE WHOLESALE MURDER OF ALL YOUNG BOYS WHO Christ on behalf of Her Leaders IS PROVED BY THE
WERE TWO YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER. MIRACULOUS ANGELIC DELIVERANCE OF ST Peter.
BY DIVINE WILL, ST JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND CHRIST OUR ✶ THE ANGELS ARE FAITHFUL HEAVENLY SERVANTS AND
DIVINE SAVIOUR ESCAPED THE BRUTAL, MERCILESS SLAUGHTER, MESSENGERS OF THE LORD OUR GOD, Who sends them to
AND FULFILLED THEIR SACRED MISSION. help mankind according to His Divine Will,
The period of Herod Agrippa’s reign determine when St Compassion and Love.
James was executed and when St Peter was THEY ACT AS OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS, SPIRITUAL GUIDES, TEACHERS
imprisoned. AND PROTECTORS WHO INTERCEDE ON OUR BEHALF WITH GOD,

18 BRIGHT MONDAY – ST GEORGE THE GREAT (TRANSFERRED) – 29 APRIL 2019

 and WHEN WE LEARN TO OBEY THEIR WISE ADVICE AND and WHEN WE LEARN TO OBEY THEIR WISE ADVICE AND
CAUTIONARY WARNINGS AGAINST EVIL AND HARM, WE MAKE CAUTIONARY WARNINGS AGAINST EVIL AND HARM, WE MAKE
GOOD SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. GOOD SPIRITUAL PROGRESS.
Thus WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN OUR RULE OF PRAYER EVERY DAY, Thus WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN OUR RULE OF PRAYER EVERY DAY,
APOLOGISING for stressing them by our careless actions, APOLOGISING for stressing them by our careless actions,
AND THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONSTANT ASSISTANCE. AND THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONSTANT ASSISTANCE.
 THE REALITY AND POWER OF GOD AND HIS HEAVENLY HOSTS  THE REALITY AND POWER OF GOD AND HIS HEAVENLY HOSTS
WHO ACT ON HIS BEHALF, IS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM THIS WHO ACT ON HIS BEHALF, IS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM THIS
EVENT. EVENT.
✶ ST PETER HAD BEEN CHAINED between two guards, AND ✶ ST PETER HAD BEEN CHAINED between two guards, AND
IMPRISONED IN A HIGHLY SECURED STRUCTURE, YET THE ANGEL IMPRISONED IN A HIGHLY SECURED STRUCTURE, YET THE ANGEL
WAS ABLE TO RELEASE HIM AND LEAD HIM TO FREEDOM without WAS ABLE TO RELEASE HIM AND LEAD HIM TO FREEDOM without
raising any alarms or reactions from the soldiers or raising any alarms or reactions from the soldiers or
anyone else who all seemed oblivious to them. anyone else who all seemed oblivious to them.
EVERYTHING BECOMES POSSIBLE BY THE GRACE AND WILL OF GOD, EVERYTHING BECOMES POSSIBLE BY THE GRACE AND WILL OF GOD,
which is clearly evident from the shackles dropping which is clearly evident from the shackles dropping
from St Peter’s wrists and ankles, and the gates from St Peter’s wrists and ankles, and the gates
opening automatically. opening automatically.
ONLY WHEN ST PETER STOOD ALONE IN THE STREET, AWAY FROM ONLY WHEN ST PETER STOOD ALONE IN THE STREET, AWAY FROM
THE PRISON, DID HE UNDERstand that “...the Lord has sent THE PRISON, DID HE UNDERstand that “...the Lord has sent
His Angel to rescue...” him. His Angel to rescue...” him.
✶ ST PETER’S INITIAL CONFUSION AND SUBSEQUENT ✶ ST PETER’S INITIAL CONFUSION AND SUBSEQUENT
UNDERSTANDING SHOW US THAT GOD’S HOLY WORKS ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING SHOW US THAT GOD’S HOLY WORKS ARE NOT
ALWAYS CLEAR TO US WHILE THEY ARE UNFOLDING. ALWAYS CLEAR TO US WHILE THEY ARE UNFOLDING..
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 1 : 18 – 28
No one has ever seen God. The Only Begotten Son, Who is in the Bosom of the Father, has made Him known. And this is
the Testimony of John when the Judeans sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him: “Who art Thou?” And he
Confessed: “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him: “Who then? Art Thou Elijah?” And he said: “I am not.” “Art
Thou a Prophet?” And he replied: “No.” They then said to him: “Who art Thou? Let us have an answer for those who
sent us. What dost Thou say about Thyself?” He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make Straight
the Way of the Lord!’ as the Prophet Isaiah said.”
And they who had been sent, were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him: “Why dost Thou Baptise then,
if Thou be not the Christ, neither Elijah, nor a Prophet?” Answering them, John said: “I Baptise with water. Amongst
you, there is One Whom you do not know. He Who comes after me is preferred before me – Whose sandal I am not
worthy to loosen from His Foot!”
These things occurred in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was Baptising.
✶ “God has never been seen...” because NO CREATURE CAN  I S A I A H 6 : 1 – St Isaiah beheld His Divine Glory: “...I
BEHOLD THE DIVINE NATURE OR ESSENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD saw the Lord sitting on a Throne, High and Lifted up.
AND LIVE: The House was filled with His Glory...”
 E X O D U S 3 3 : 2 0 – “... (Our Lord) said: ‘Thou cannot ✶ “Who art Thou?” is the end of the Theological Prologue.
see My Face! For no man can see My Face and The focus shifts to THE BEGINNING OF CHRIST’S MINISTRY –
live!” THE WITNESS OR TESTIMONY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, the
Thus, St John Chrysostom ,St Gregory of Nyssa and St John Calling of the first Apostles, Christ’s First Sign at Cana,
the Beloved Theologian believed that no one can ever and His Rest at Capernaum.
see the Divine Essence of our Heavenly Father (‘My ✶ ST JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIED TO THE DIVINE LIGHT – “...THE
Face’) either in this temporary world nor in the world CHRIST...” – THE GREAT MESSIAH – to the Scribes and
to come. Pharisees or their spies who were in the midst of the
However, St Athanasios the Great and St John Chrysostom multitude who came to be Baptised by St John.
pointed out that our Lord Jesus Christ “... the Son, is ✶ ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IS INDEED A HOLY PROPHET OF GOD BUT HE
One in Essence with the Father, and therefore fully IS NOT “THE PROPHET” – “the Messiah” Whose
sees and knows the Father’s Essence...” Appearance was foretold by St Moses.
ONLY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS HIMSELF DIVINE, CAN  D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 5 – 1 9 – “... The Lord your God
BEHOLD GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, and will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your
therefore He is the only One Who can “declare” Him – Brethren. Him you shalt hear, according to all you
the Only One Who can teach us about our Triune Lord asked from the Lord your God in Hereb in the Day of
God. the Assembly, saying: ‘Let us not hear again the
HIS REVELATION OF GOD’S DIVINE ENERGIES CAN, HOWEVER, BE Voice of the Lord our God, nor let us see this Great
RECEIVED BY THE FAITHFUL – ONLY IF GOD SO WILLS. Fire any more, lest we die!’ Then the Lord said to
 E X O D U S 3 3 : 2 1 – 2 3 - St Moses beheld “...the Back... me: ‘what they have spoken is Good. I will raise up
“of God. “...And the Lord said (to St Moses) : ‘Here is a for them a Prophet like Thee from among their
Place by Me. Thou shalt stand upon the rock. So it Brethren, and I will put My Word in His Mouth, and
shalt be – while My Glory passes by, that I will put He shalt speak to them all I Command Him.
Thee in the cleft of the rock, and will cover Thee Therefore, whatever man will not listen to whatever
with My Hand while I pass by. Then I will take away the Prophet speaks in My Name, I will require it of
My Hand, and Thou shalt see My Back, but My Face him.”
shalt not be seen.” The Israelites told St Moses “...let us not hear again the
According to St Basil the Great “... a Place...” refers to GOD Voice of the Lord...” after he had received the Tablets
THE HOLY SPIRIT, for He is often referred to as being with the Divine Law inscribed upon them from God on
‘...the Place of those being Sanctified.’ Mount Sinai.
St Moses as well, “...gained some Knowledge of God from MOSES HAD SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE COMING OF A GREAT
the Holy Spirit.” PROPHET but had exhorted his people: “Be of Good
“...My Back...” is a reference to THE MAJESTIC GLORY OF GOD, Courage for God has come to test you, that His Fear
WHICH MANKIND CAN BEHOLD IF THEIR HEART IS TRULY PURE. may be among you so that you do not sin...” for it
ST MOSES BEHELD THE DIVINE GLORY OF GOD TO THE EXTENT TO had been necessary for them to be tested and to fear
WHICH HE WAS CAPABLE, SIMILAR TO THE THREE HOLY the Lord and not sin for THEY WERE TOO SPIRITUALLY DEAF
APOSTLES OF CHRIST on Mount Tabor at the TO HEAR ABOUT YET ANOTHER GREAT PROPHET WHO WOULD
Transfiguration of Christ. DELIVER THEM AND GRANT THEM ETERNAL LIFE.
THE DIVINE GLORY OF OUR LORD GOD IS ALSO HIS DIVINE ENERGY, Unfortunately, THEY FAILED THE TEST AND PERISHED IN THE
WHEREBY MANKIND CAN KNOW GOD – but never His Divine WILDERNESS without reaching the Promised Land DUE TO
Essence, which is far beyond mankind’s THEIR DISREGARD FOR MOSES AND THEIR DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD
understanding and capacity. AND HIS DIVINE COMMANDMENTS.

BRIGHT MONDAY – ST GEORGE THE GREAT (TRANSFERRED) – 29 APRIL 2019 19

LIKEWISE, WE, AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, MUST LIVE IN CHRIST
ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING HE HAS TAUGHT US – ACCORDING
TO HIS DIVINE TRUTH – OR WE, TOO, WILL PERISH WITHOUT
BEHOLDING THE INDESCRIBABLY LOVE, JOY AND PEACE OF OUR
HEAVENLY PROMISED LAND!
FORTY YEARS LATER ST MOSES REVEALED THE COMING OR
APPEARANCE OF THE GREAT SALVIFIC MESSIAH, for on Mount
Sinai, our Lord God had also spoken to him about
mankind’s Salvation, which THE NEW GENERATION OF
ISRAELITES WAS THEN READY TO HEAR.
 D E U T E R O N O M Y 1 8 : 1 8 – 2 2 – On Mount Sinai, our
Lord God told St Moses: “... I will raise up for them a
Prophet like you from among their Brethren, and I
will put My Word in His Mouth and He shall speak to
them all I Command Him. Therefore, whatever man
will not listen to whatever the Prophet speaks in My
Name, I will require of him, but whatever ‘prophet’
speaks impiously in My Name a word that I have not
ordered him to speak, or who speaks in the names
of different ‘gods,’ that ‘prophet’ shalt die.’ Now, if
you should say in your heart: ‘How shalt we know the
Word the Lord has not spoken?’ – whatever word a
‘prophet’ speaks in the Name of our Lord – if the
thing does not happen nor comes to pass, that is
what our Lord has not spoken! The ‘prophet’ spoke
that word impiously! You shalt stay away from him!”
THE GREAT HOLY PROPHET OF GOD would be like St Moses in
that St Moses’ SHORT-TERM PROPHECIES ALL CAME TO PASS –
THEREFORE, HIS LONG-TERM PROPHECIES WERE ALSO TO BE
BELIEVED. This was THE MARK OF A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD –
and the same is True of the Great Divine Prophet Who
Appeared generations later – our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GREAT HOLY PROPHET HAS TOLD US EVERYTHING THAT GOD
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER COMMANDED HIM, which indicates
and confirms that our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly “...
The Word made Flesh...” for NO OTHER HOLY PROPHET OF
GOD, INCLUDING ST MOSES, COULD EVER SPEAK IN SUCH A
DIVINE MANNER!
All the Old Covenant Holy Prophets of God were ordinary
human beings whereas OUR DIVINE HOLY PROPHET IS
ALMIGHTY GOD INCARNATE (in His Physical Form and
Nature as God-Man).
Thus ST ISAIAH ALSO PROPHESIED CONCERNING OUR GREAT DIVINE
PROPHET – prophesising that MANKIND WOULD BE DIRECTLY
“... TAUGHT BY GOD...” – BY GOD INCARNATE.
 I S A I A H 5 4 : 1 3 – “... I will cause all your Children to be
taught by God and your Children to be in Great
Peace...”
 J O H N 6 : 4 5 – “... it is written in the Prophets: ‘... and
they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone
who has heard and learnt from the Father, comes to
Me.”
✶ ST JOHN THE BAPTIST & FORERUNNER to Christ our Divine
Lord and Saviour, is indeed “...the voice of one
crying in the wilderness...” – PROCLAIMING THE COMING
OF OUR ETERNAL SALVATION THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM INTO
CHRIST OUR GOD.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IS THE LAST AND GREATEST OF THE OLD
COVENANT HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD. His Divine Prophecies
connect the Old and New Covenants with Almighty
God.
It was a Holy Tradition of ALL HOLY PROPHETS OF GOD TO CALL
THE PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE OF THEIR SINS.
ST JOHN’S BAPTISM DID NOT GRANT REMISSION OF SINS ONCE AND
FOR ALL, BUT PREFIGURED AND PREPARED THE FAITHFUL FOR THE
HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM OF CHRIST JESUS, WHICH WAS TO
COME.
ST PAISIOS OF MOUNT ATHOS – ON TAXING OUR SINS
When St Paisios was asked whether he Struggled as a
Novice Monk, he said: "Every time something
happened in my Struggle, or if others told me
something, I never allowed things to just roll off
'untaxed."
“This leads to the question, what is the tax? Normally a
tax is an additional cost that is added on to the
goods we buy or services we use. It is an extra
burden that we are obligated to pay.
“If we reverse this and say what is meant by being
untaxed, it implies that there is no extra cost.”
St Paisios explained the idea of ‘a tax’ on his faults and
sins: "'Untaxed' means that we disregard our faults,
20 BRIGHT MONDAY – ST GEORGE THE GREAT (TRANSFERRED) – 29 APRIL 2019
 R O M A N S 6 : 3 – 1 1 – “... How shalt we who died to
sin live any longer in sin? Or do you not know that
as many of us as were Baptised into Christ Jesus
were Baptised into His Death? Therefore we were
Buried with Him through Baptism into Death, th✶ at
just as Christ was Raised from the dead by the Glory
of the Father, even so, we, also, should walk in
Newness of Life. For if we have been United
together in the Likeness of His Death, certainly we
also shall be in the Likeness of His Resurrection,
knowing this – that our old nature was crucified with
Him that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves of sin...”
To have “...died to sin...” does not mean our human
nature has died. Rather, it means that WE ARE NO LONG
HELD CAPTIVE BY OUR SINS for we are to BECOME AS
IMMOVABLE TOWARDS (DISINCLINED TO) SIN AS SOMETHING
THAT IS DEAD WOULD BE.
✶ FREEDOM FROM SIN IS GROUNDED IN THE HOLY MYSTERY OF
BAPTISM. Ignorance of what happens when we are
Baptised is our greatest enemy since through such
ignorance, many are defeated in our ceaseless
Spiritual War against temptation and sin. Holy
Baptism accomplishes in us what our Lord Jesus Christ
accomplished on His Cross – an ACTUAL DEATH TO SIN
AND OUR SPIRITUAL LIBERATION FROM ITS ENSLAVING POWER.
Because OUR HOLY BAPTISM INTO CHRIST GRANTS US POWER OVER
SIN, it is an exact Likeness of His Death.
Holy Baptism does not merely “stand for’ or signify this
Divine Truth – BAPTISM IS ITSELF OUR DEATH TO SIN.
Being ”... United together with Christ...” refers to BEING
PLANTED AND GROWING TOGETHER IN HIM, clearly implying
the expectation of SPIRITUAL FRUIT.
“...in the Likeness of His Death...” means that OUR HOLY
BAPTISM CAUSES A TRUE UNITY WITH CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION
AND DEATH.
“... in the Likeness of His Resurrection...” refers both to
OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST AFTER OUR BAPTISM IN THIS WORLD
AND TO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE AGE TO COME.
✶ ST JOHN THE BAPTIST & FORERUNNER IS THE FIGURE OF THE
DIVINE LAW in that – like the Law, ALTHOUGH HE
DENOUNCED SIN, HE COULD NOT REMIT OR PUT SIN AWAY, but
both St John and the Divine Law point to OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST WHO CAN AND DOES REMIT OUR REPENTED-
CONFESSED SINS.
 L U K E 3 : 1 6 – 1 7 - St John the Baptist said: “... I
indeed Baptise you with water, but One Mightier
than I is coming, Whose sandal strap I am not
worthy of loosening. He will Baptise you with the
Holy Spirit and Fire. His Winnowing Fan is in His
Hand, and He will thoroughly Cleanse His Threshing
Floor, and gather the Wheat into His Barn, but the
chaff He will burn with Unquenchable Fire!”
The “Fire” in the context pertaining to our Holy Baptism
primarily means THE DIVINE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, Who
is granted to the entire world on the Day of Pentecost
when He descended upon the Holy Apostles and
Disciples of Christ. (ACTS 2: 1 – 4)
The “... Unquenchable Fire...” refers to the Dreaded
Judgement of Christ, whereby THE UNREPENTANT AND
FAITHLESS SINNERS WILL SUFFER THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES
OF THEIR REJECTION OF AND ALIENATION FROM ALMIGHTY
GOD, due to their own personal choices.
Thus the term “...Fire...” is a reference to the DIVINE POWER
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT Who both ENLIVENS THE FAITHFUL AND
DESTROYS ALL FAITHLESS AND UNGODLY SINNERS.
and we remain unconcerned about them – we have
just let them ‘roll off.’"
“The tax is the effort we make to examine our own
behaviour, in order to correct ourselves and to learn
how to avoid further sins caused by our weakness.
So, if we do not place a 'tax' on the faults we discover or
that are pointed out to us by others, we have chosen
to merely ignore them, but this leads to our Spiritual
Indifference and we will begin to accept our
weakness and sins a simply being an aspect of our
‘normal’ behaviour!
Consequently, our heart and soul is hardened, and our
conscience is muffled and blinded!
 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and
unto the Ages of ages. Amen. Remembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious
Lady, Maria, Theotokos, yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one
another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

30 April 2019

Bright Tuesday
St Raphael, St Nicholas & St Irene of Lesbos ( T R ANSFER RE D )

Also the Feast of St James Zebedee, Brother of St John the Beloved Apostle & Theologian, “Sons of Thunder” and Holy
Apostle – St Nikita the Recluse of Kiev Caves Monastery & Bishop of Novgorod – St Clementine – St Donatos, Bishop of
Euroae, Epiros – St Argyra the New Holy Martyr of Proussa, Bithynia – S Basil, Bishop & Hieromartyr of Amasea – St
Maimos of Ephesos – St Ignatios Brianchaninov, Bishop

HYMNS OF THE SMALL ENTRANCE

PENTECOSTARION - PASCHAL HYMN – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

✞Hristos Anesti, ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patisas, ✞Christ is Risen from the dead; By Death trampling
Ke tis en tis mnimasin, Zoin harisamenos (3) upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in the
Tombs.(3)
PENTECOSTARION – HYPAKOE – TONE 4

Prolavouse ton Orthron e peri Mariam, ke evrouse ton Before dawn had come, when the Women with Mary, had
lithon apokilisthenta tou Mnimatos, ikouon ek tou found that the stone had been rolled away from the
Angelou: “Ton en Foti aidio iparhonta meta nekron ti Sepulchre, they heard the Angel say: “Why do you seek
zitite os anthropon? Vlepete ta entafia spargana. among the dead, as a mortal man, the One Who exists
Dramete ke to kosmo kirixate, os igerthi O Kyrios, in Everlasting Light? See the grave cloths in the Tomb.
Thanatosas ton Thanaton. Oti iparhi Theou Iios, tou Run and proclaim to the world that the Lord has Risen
sozontos to genos ton anthropon.” and put Death to death; for He is the Son of God Who
Saves mankind.”
PENTECOSTARION – ST RAPHAEL, ST NICHOLAS & ST IRENE OF LESBOS – TONE 4

En Lesvo Athlisantes, iper Hristou tou Theou, aftin igiasate, On the Isle of Lesbos, You competed for Christ our God,
ti ton Lipsanon imon, evresi Makarii. Othen imas which You Sanctified when Your Relics were found and
Timomen, Raphail Theofore, ama Sin Nikolao, ke enshrined there, O Blessed Saints. Wherefore we
Partheno Irini, os Thious imon Prostatas, ke Presvies Honour You as our God-Sent Protectors, O Raphael and
pros Kyrion. Nicholas, our God-bearing Fathers, together with the
Virgin Irene, who Intercede on our behalf with our
Lord.
PENTECOSTARION - KONTAKION – OUR RESURRECTED SAVIOUR – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

I ke en Tafo katilthes Athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin Although Thou went down into the Tomb, O Immortal
dinamin. Ke anestis os Nikitis, Hriste O Theos, gynexi One, Thou brought down the dominion of Hades. And
Myroforis fthegxamenos, “Herete!” Ke tis Sis Apostolis Thou Rose as Victor, O Christ our God. And to the
Irini doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon Anastasin. Myrrhbearers Thou called out: “Hail!” And to Thine
Apostles, Thou granted Peace, O Thou Who to the
fallen granted Resurrection.
INSTEAD OF THE THRICE HOLY HYMN

Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe:

Allelilouia! As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on
(3) Christ: Alleluia! (3)
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
tous Eonas ton eonon. Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amin Amen
Hriston enedisasthe: Allelouia! Have put on Christ: Allilouia!
Dynamis! With Power!
Dynamis! With Power!
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe: Allilouia! As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on
Christ: Allilouia!
PROKEIMENON – ODE IX – TONE 3
My soul Magnifies our Lord, and my spirit Rejoices in God my Saviour!
For He has regarded the lowly estate of His Handmaiden!

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ACCORDING TO ST LUKE 2 : 14 – 21

In those days, standing with the Eleven, Peter lifted up his voice and addressed them: O Men of Judea and all who
dwell in Jerusalem – let this be known to you, and hearken to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the Third Hour of the day!
However, this is what was spoken of by the Prophet Joel: “...’And in the Last Days it shalt be,’ God declared, ‘that I
will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shalt prophesy., and your youths shalt
behold Visions, and your Elders shalt dream dreams. And on My menservants and My maidservants in those

BRIGHT TUESDAY – ST RAPHAEL, ST NICHOLAS & ST IRENE (TRANSFERRED) 30 APRIL 2019 21

 days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shalt prophesy. And I will show Wonders in the Heavens Above and Signs
upon the Earth beneath - blood and fire, and vapours of smoke. The sun shalt be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the Day of the Lord comes – Great and Manifest!
And it shalt be that whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shalt be Saved...’”
✶ This Sermon of St Peter focussed on TWO PROPHETIC Apostles and the Faithful Disciples of Christ, THE
THEMES: FIRST PART OF ST JOEL’S DIVINELY INSPIRED PROPHECY WAS
1. The Divine Promise of THE DESCENT OF GOD THE HOLY FULFILLED. ( A C T S 2 : 1 7 – 1 9 )
SPIRIT (Who makes everything possible for us.) ✶ THE SECOND PART OF ST JOEL’S PROPHECY WILL BE FINALLY
2. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, which revealed and FULFILLED AT THE REAPPEARANCE OF OUR LORD JESUS
taught us about our own General Resurrection on CHRIST IN ALL HIS MAJESTIC, DIVINE GLORY. ( A C T S 2 :
the Eighth Day when our Final Judgement will 19 – 21)
occur and Eternity begins for us – Eternal Life or ✶ WE MUST NEVER BECOME ANXIOUS NOR CONCERNED ABOUT
Eternal Death. “...THE LAST DAYS...” for we ought to fully trust our
THIS MANNER OF SHOWING THE OLD COVENANT PROPHECIES BEING Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that EVERYTHING HE HAS
FULFILLED IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTRAL MEANS REVEALED TO US, WILL COME TO PASS, ACCORDING TO HIS
WHEREBY THE APOSTLES PREACHED THE HOLY GOSPEL OF DIVINE WILL AND IN HIS OWN TIME.
CHRIST JESUS. However, WE SHOULD CONCERN OURSELVES – EVERY MOMENT OF
This method of Preaching – TEACHING AND ENLIGHTENING THE EVERY DAY – TO FULFIL EVERYTHING THAT IS REQUIRED OF US AS
PEOPLE – LED DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONS’ REPENTANCE, HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES, resting assured that our Lord
BAPTISM AND RECEPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. God will take good care of us – especially when we
✶ ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, when God the Holy Spirit have a close, intimate Relationship with Him.
descended like Tongues of Flames upon the Holy
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN 15 17 – 16 : 2
At that time our Lord Jesus Christ said to His Disciples: “...This I Command you: Love one another! If the world hates
you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; for you
are not of this world, but I Chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
“Remember the Word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his Master!’ If they persecuted Me, they will
persecute you also. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also...’ So all this they will do to you for My Name
sake, for they do not know Him Who sent Me.
“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. He who
hates Me, hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the Works that no one else did, they would not
have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. But it is to fulfil the Word that is written in
their Law: ‘... for they hated Me without a cause.’
“When the Counsellor comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father – even the Spirit of Truth, Who Proceeds from
the Father – He will bear Witness to Me. And you also are Witnesses, for you have been with Me from the
beginning.
“I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the Synagogues. “However, the
Hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering Service to God!”
✶ This passage of the Holy Gospel according to St John
Our Lord Jesus Christ very clearly and concisely
the Beloved Apostle and Theologian is read on tells us that GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PROCEEDS FROM
FEAST DAYS COMMEMORATING A HOLY MARTYR. GOD THE FATHER ALONE!
✶ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CONTINUALLY COMMANDED US TO LOVE
In other words, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT RECEIVES HIS
ONE ANOTHER – unconditionally – JUST AS GOD LOVES US, ETERNAL EXISTENCE ONLY FROM GOD THE FATHER.
even though we are habitual sinners.
In conformity with our Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine
HIS ETERNAL, HEAVENLY KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF AGAPE – Revelation, the Nicene Creed – our Creed of
DIVINE LOVE. Unless we strive to acquire that Faith – confesses our True Belief “...in the Holy
Marvellous, most vital Holy Virtue of Love, we cannot Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who
expect to become worthy Heavenly Citizens! PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER, Who, together
✶ The term “world” is used in several distinct ways in Holy with the Father and the Son, is Worshipped
Scripture. and Glorified...”

In some cases, it refers to ALL THAT IS GLORIOUS,
WHILE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL WORD AND
BEAUTIFUL AND REDEEMABLE IN GOD’S MAGNIFICENT, SON OF GOD IS BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER ALONE,
PERFECT CREATION. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PROCEEDS FROM GOD THE

In others, it refers to THAT WHICH IS FINITE (LIMITED) IN FATHER ALONE.
CONTRAST TO THAT WHICH IS ETERNAL.
Thus, THE SOURCE – THE FOUNTAINHEAD – OF BOTH

In other instances, however, “world” refers to PERSONS OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS GOD
EVERYTHING THAT IS IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD, as THE FATHER.
mentioned in this particular passage. ✶ “Sorrow” refers to “... extreme grief leading to
REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD OUR GOD REVEALS SEVERAL THINGS: despondency or despair...” (total hopelessness)
1. WHILE UNION WITH CHRIST BRINGS US LOVE, TRUTH, AND which is a sinful passion for Faithful Disciples of
PEACE, IT ALSO BRINGS US PERSECUTION, BECAUSE THE Christ, for great is the tyranny of despondency...”
FALLEN WORLD HATES DIVINE LOVE AND TRUTH as St John Chrysostom commented.
2. THE FALLEN WORLD hates our Lord Jesus Christ, so it also
This sin is constantly referred to in the writings of
HATES ALL THOSE OF US WHO STRIVE TO BECOME LIKE HIM - our Holy Desert Fathers.
by Living in Him – by fulfilling all His Divine
When the world persecutes the Faithful, or when
Commandments and Teachings in our daily God seems to be absent the FAITHFUL DISCIPLES
existence. OF CHRIST FIGHT AGAINST DESPONDENCY OR DESPAIR,
3. THE FALLEN WORLD HATES OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE IT and are COMFORTED AND ENCOURAGED BY THE
NEITHER KNOWS NOR DESIRES TO KNOW GOD, OUR DIVINE PRESENCE OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HEAVENLY FATHER, ✶ GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR DIVINE AND LIFE-GIVING
4. HATRED FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, IS “COUNSELLOR,” “COMFORTER,” “PARAKLETE” – OUR DIVINE
UTTERLY UNREASONABLE AND IRRATIONAL, for He brings “ADVOCATE,” OR “HELPER” AS WELL AS “THE SPIRIT OF
us – all mankind – Love and Great Mercy, so He is TRUTH.”
hated WITHOUT CAUSE OR REASON!
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS IN EACH TRUE BELIEVER.
✶ WITH RESPECT TO GOD’S WORKING SALVATION IN THE WORLD, WE ARE CALLED BY GOD TO KNOW HIM – TO NURTURE A
the Eternal Son of God, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HAS CLOSE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
SENT US GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE LIFE-GIVING
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS IN US AND FOR US, especially
“PARAKLETE,” “COUNSELLOR” AND “COMFORTER” – FROM when we do not know how to pray – ENABLING
GOD THE FATHER. US TO PRAY in the Name of the our Lord Jesus
Christ and in the Name of the Holy Trinity.

22 BRIGHT TUESDAY – ST RAPHAEL, ST NICHOLAS & ST IRENE (TRANSFERRED) 30 APRIL 2019


Furthermore GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT GRANTS US WORDS OF
WITNESS OR TESTIMONY WHEN WE SPEAK OF OR TEACH
THE HOLY GOSPEL TO OTHERS.

DURING THE HOLY MYSTERY OF BAPTISM AND
CHRISTMATION, WE ARE GRANTED THE DIVINE GIFT OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH ENABLES US TO FULFIL ALL
OUR SACRED TASKS AND DUTIES ACCORDING TO THE
LOVE AND WILL OF GOD.

We have confidence in THE DOCTRINE (TEACHINGS)
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S HOLY APOSTLES, for GOD
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE DIVINE TEACHER WHO
BROUGHT TO REMEMBRANCE NOT ONLY ALL THE
WORDS. TEACHINGS AND REVELATION OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST, BUT ALSO THE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF
THEIR MEANING AND PURPOSE

WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST for
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR DIVINE INSTRUCTOR
SINCE THE DAY OF PENTECOST when He descended
upon His Holy Apostles – for HE GUIDES US,
TEACHES US AND LEADS US INTO DIVINE TRUTH.

St Ireneaus explained: “... where the Church is,
there is the Holy Spirit and the Fullness of
Divine Grace.”

THROUGH THE DIVINE ILLUMINATION OF GOD THE HOLY
SPIRIT, THE WORLD WILL BE CONVICTED – proven how
wrong it is!
✶ THE WORLD WILL BE CONVICTED AND CONDEMNED CONCERNING:
1. Its SIN - the ultimate of which is THE DENIAL OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST
BRIGHT/RENEWAL WEEK OF HOLY PASCHA
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Bright or Renewal Week begins on Pascha Sunday and
ends on the following Sunday of St Thomas.
It refers to the fact that the Newly Baptised Catechumens
(who were Baptised at Pascha) are Newly Illumined
and Spiritually Brightened, having been Regenerated
and Renewed by Life in Christ, according to which we
all ought to continue applying to the rest of this short,
preparatory lifespan.
In ancient times, all those who had been Baptised at Holy
Pascha wore white garments for the entire week,
which was also referred to as being “White Week.”
The seven days of Bright Week are regarded as being
one complete Paschal Day – a continuous Paschal
Celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Glorious
Resurrection, in anticipation of our own Resurrection
on the Eighth Day.
The 66th Canon of the Ecumenical Council of Trullo states:
“... from the Holy Day of the Resurrection of Christ our
God, until New Sunday – Sunday of St Thomas – for a
whole week the Faithful should continually repeat
the Psalms and Hymns, readings of Holy Scripture
and partaking of the Holy Mysteries at Church, while
rejoicing and celebrating Holy Pascha, for in this
manner shalt we be exalted with Christ – Raised up
with Him. For this reason on the aforesaid days
TRUTH BRINGS US FREEDOM
Our Lord Jesus Christ told us: "If you continue in My
Word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you
will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you
Free." (J O H N 8 : 3 1 - 3 2 )
What is Truth and what does it mean to be Free? What
holds us in Bondage?
Although we might think that we are truly free, we still
worry about sickness, grieve over the loss of those
whom we love, and avoid thinking about our own
demise.
Even more commonly, we fret over the burdens of daily
living - our work routines and commitments, the
demands and needs of family, friends and
acquaintances, our obligations to various
organizations including our Church... and sometimes
we wish that we could escape it all or at the very
least, have some time to ourselves.
Freedom from an oppressive Government is only as small
step towards True Freedom, which is what our Lord
Jesus Christ offers us.
For us to be Truly Free is to be free of the fear of death,
sickness and our daily difficulties.
BRIGHT TUESDAY – ST RAPHAEL, ST NICHOLAS & ST IRENE (TRANSFERRED)
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IT FAILED TO ACCEPT FROM OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST WITH FAITH AND THANKSGIVING
3. JUDGEMENT, FOR ALL WHO REJECTED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
WILL RECEIVE THE SAME ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AS
SATAN has already received being the inventor of
all sin and the cause of Death, as ruler of this
fallen world.
✶ OUR LORD JESUS IS KIND, COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING, SO HE
DOES NOT WANT ANY OF HIS BELOVED DISCIPLES TO BE
DECEIVED, MISGUIDED AND DESTROYED by the evil one
and his wicked machinations, that cause the
weak and ignorant people to carry out his fatal
desires.
THEREFORE, OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR HAS NOT ONLY CAUTIONED US
AGAINST ALL TEMPTATIONS AND WICKEDNESS, BUT ALSO
ENCOURAGED US BY REMINDING US THAT WE ARE NEVER ALONE
FOR WE HAVE FAR MORE LOVE, POWER AND PROTECTION THAN
WE REALISE.
Not only do we have an Almighty Triune God Who Love
us and Who enables us to achieve great things, but
we also have all His Heavenly Hosts and Holy Saints
who constantly intercede on our behalf and who
watch over, comfort and guide us.
Consequently, AS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, WE MUST NEVER BECOME OVERWHELMED NOR DEFEATED
BY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT REST ASSURED IN THE LOVE
OF GOD.
there should by no means be any horse races or any
other public spectacle...”
Furthermore, because of the continuous Paschal
Celebrations, there is no Fasting at all throughout
Bright/Renewal Week.
It is a time of our Spiritual Renewal as Faithful, Orthodox
Disciples of Christ – for all of us, not only for our Newly
Baptised Brethren in Christ.
It is a Blessed opportunity for us to bear Spiritual Fruit and
generate New Holy Virtues for our own personal
Illumination as well.
In the ancient Eastern Roman Empire, especially in
Constantinople, this Bright Paschal Week was
celebrated with extreme pomp and splendour, during
which the Emperor held an enormous banquet for all
the Newly Baptised as well as the poor and destitute
citizens.
On Bright Thursday the Patriarch would host an honorary
dinner for all the Clergy.
Rich gifts were distributed by the Emperor, who made
official visitations to various functions throughout the
area, and prisoners who were charged with “light’
offences were granted their freedom.
These traditions are similarly still conducted these days in
Greece where state officials visit hospitals,
orphanages and military camps, etc.
HTTPS://WWW.JOHNSANIDOPOULOS.COM/
This becomes possible for us , as our Lord Jesus
promised, "...if (we) continue in (His) Word...then
(we) will know the Truth and the Truth will make
(us)Free."
Therefore, our True Freedom is acquired by having
complete Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ - the Divine
Truth of His Incarnation, His Teachings and
Commandments, His Crucifixion, Resurrection,
Ascension, His sending of God the Holy Spirit to
Inspire, Guide, Enlighten and Sustain us, and our full
participation in His Holy Church.
To become Truly Free requires our ongoing Spiritual
Struggles because our human condition is not free of
anxiety and selfish passions.
Saint John Chrysostom pointed out that "...our condition
needs much Endurance; and Endurance is
produced when Doctrines (Teachings) are deeply
rooted.”
True Freedom does not come easily and will not be given
to us.
All the Divine Teachings we receive through God’s Word,
must be deeply rooted in our heart and permeate all
our actions – thoughts, words and deeds.
30 APRIL 2019 23
Quoting Psalm 119 Saint John Chrysostom said: "...do
Thou so fix and join in Me, as by a nail riveted into
Me..." which is the idea of Theosis - our Sacred Union
with Christ - like being nailed to Him, for this is the
Work we must be willing to undertake as it is the
whole Aim of the Orthodox Way of Life – Life in Christ.
St John Chrysostom also explained that our Spiritual
Bondage/Slavery has everything to do with our sins,
and our wickedness is the result of our fears and
anxiety – and because of our fallen condition, we
tend towards self-serving actions, being unable to
love others or God.
We must understand that our sins are our shackles and
the chains that keep us captive and prevent our True
Freedom, for we constantly seek pleasure, thinking
that this is the benefit of our personal free will, and we
become trapped.
Once we fully understand True Freedom as spoken of by
our Lord Jesus Christ, we will realise how our sins
shackle us - imprisoning and enslaving us so that we
THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN ASCETICISM
As Christians, we are always striving, for our Life in Christ
is a continual, ceaseless Spiritual Struggle.
During Great Lent and during all the other prescribed,
essential Fasts, we ought to make an even more
intense effort, with more fervent zeal and a more
methodical Struggle.
Our Spiritual Struggle is defined by a Lenten Hymn of St
Theodore the Studite: ‘Let us set out with Joy upon the
Season of the Fast, and prepare ourselves for
Spiritual Combat. Let us Purify our soul and Cleanse
our flesh; and as we Fast from food, let us also
abstain from every passion. Rejoicing in the Virtues
of the Spirit may we persevere with Love, and so be
allowed to see the solemn Passion of Christ our God,
and with Great Spiritual Gladness, to behold His
Holy Pascha’. [VESPERS - SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE/FORGIVENESS ]
We must first Cleanse our soul – our inner being or
Spiritual Persona.

According to St Peter our soul is “... the hidden person
of the heart.” (1 PETER 3:4)

St Athanasios the Great believed: ‘”..the soul is an
essence, which is intellectual, bodiless,
impassive and immortal...”

St Makarios the Great of Egypt explained: “...Just as
the body consists of many parts but is
considered one person, so there are many parts
to the soul - intellect, conscience, will, and
thoughts, which condemn or defend (us). All of
these are firmly bound together in a single
outlook and are different parts of our soul, for the
soul is one - the inner person...”
When our soul ceases to act in accordance with our
nature, as God created us to do, then we become
Spiritually Sick because sin is an illness of the soul.
According to St Clement of Alexandria, the grievous
passions are “...diseases of the soul...” because they
pollute us and make us Spiritually Unclean and
Corrupted.
St Maximos the Confessor taught us that “... impurity of
the soul is caused when we do not act in
accordance with our (created) nature. This is why
impassioned thoughts are born in us.
“Our soul acts in accordance with her (created) nature
when her passive [susceptible) forces - the incensive
and appetitive - remain unaffected by any stimulus
received from things and from thoughts.”
How we must Cleanse our soul by freeing her from the
dominion of our grievous passions, and to maintain
our soul so that we always act in accordance with our
(created) nature is provided by our Holy Fathers who
relate it to the tripartite division of our soul, which are
the logical, the appetitive, and the incensive - our
thoughts, our emotions, desires or needs and our
actions or our deeds.
St Maximos believed that “...just as the body sins through
things and has the bodily Virtues with which to
chastise it and bring it to its senses, so the nous,
which sins through impassioned notions, has
Spiritual Virtues for its chastisement, so that, seeing
things clearly and without passion, it is prudent
(vigilant or circumspect).”
24 BRIGHT TUESDAY – ST RAPHAEL, ST NICHOLAS & ST IRENE (TRANSFERRED)
have neither the motivation nor endurance to acquire
our True Freedom through our Sacred Union with
Christ Jesus.
Freedom involves Eternal Life, which transcends our
mortality, being based on Love of our Lord God Who
He embraces us with His Divine Love forever-
enabling us to endure everything of this temporary
life-span.
So let us reflect on what is "Truth." Let us lift our notion of
the Truth above everything of this world.
Let us root the Doctrines of our Faith deep within us and
seek ways to Nurture these Roots so they are ever
increasing, for when we find the link between His
Divine Truth, which He revealed and taught us, and
our True Freedom that He promises us, ", we will be
firmly established in our Sacred Union with Him.
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The Virtues with which to Cleanse our soul are
 logical - through reading, Spiritual
Contemplation and Prayer.
 Incensive - with Love that is opposed to hate
 appetitive - through prudence and restraint.

St Clement of Alexandria urged us to “...Rein in the
incensive part of the soul with Love; wither the
appetitive through restraint; and give wings to
the logical through Prayer.”

According to St Thalassios, “... Purification of the soul
means release from the passions. and Freedom
from wicked thoughts.”

St Isaak the Syrian agreed and added that “...this is
achieved by observing God’s Commandments...”
He also pointed out that “...reading and Prayer
Cleanse the Nous; Love and Restraint Purify the
passive elements of the soul.”
We are body and soul together, which constitutes our
Unified and indivisible being.
Salvation is not a matter purely for our immortal soul, but
also concerns our body/flesh, for we are Saved and
are being Saved in our entirety – body and soul – by
means of our continuous Spiritual Struggle that
involves our body and soul operating together.
Our body and soul strives together – not separately, so, if
we are to Purify our soul, we must also Cleanse our
body.

St Theodore urged us to “...Cleanse the flesh...”
because the Purification of our immortal soul and
the Cleansing of our body are inextricably bound
together.

St Cyril of Jerusalem taught us clearly that “... our
soul does not sin by itself, but through (the
words, thoughts and deeds of) our body.”
Obviously, therefore in order to Purify our soul, we must
also Cleanse the body from the stains of sin.

St Maximos the Confessor reminded us that “...sin
makes our body unclean through particular
actions.”
Spiritual Virtues contribute to the Purification of our soul,
while bodily/physical Virtues Cleanse our flesh.
The chief Virtue to which we ought to commit ourselves is
Fasting as prescribed by our Holy Church, together
with Vigils, Hymnody, Psalmody, Prayer and a strict
guard and watchfulness over our (weak) senses.
The spirit of our Life in Christ is Ascetic.

St Symeon the New Theologian cautions us that a
Spiritual Life in Christ without any bodily hardship
– without self-denial, self-discipline or self-control
cannot exist for it would be of no Eternal Spiritual
Benefit!
“...It is impossible to stuff the body to surfeit with food
and, at the same time, to enjoy spiritually the Noetic
and Divine Goodness. The more we indulge our
stomach, the more we deprive ourselves of this -
while the more we discipline the body, the more it is
commensurately filled with Spiritual Nourishment
and Consolation.”
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30 APRIL 2019