Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Afric

Archdiocese of Good Hope

ALL GLORY, HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF
AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

4 December 2010
St Barbara, Great Martyr of Heliopolis, Syria

Feast of St Alexander Hotovitzky, New Martyr of Russia – St John of

Damascus – St John of Polybotum, Phrygia – St Juliana of Heliopolis, Syria –
St Gennadios of Novgorod – St Seraphim, Hieromonk of Phanar – The Holy
Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos of St John the Damascene
Apolytikion Of St Barbara – Tone 4
Varvaran tin Agian timisomen; ehthrou gar tas pagidas Barbara the Saintly: let us honour now; for she
sinetripse ke os strouthion erristhi ex afton, voithia ke shattered the snares of the enemy, and like a
opio tou Stavrou i pansemnos. sparrow she freed herself from them, with the
Help and Weapon of the Cross all stately.
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Matins Gospel According to St Matthew 25 : 1 - 13
Be Prepared And Ready At All Times For Only God Knows When Christ Will Return For Our Final Judgement & Eternity
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “... the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to Ten Virgins who took their lamps
and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. And Those who were
foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. And
while the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold! The Bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him!’ And all those
Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish Virgins said to the wise: ‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise Virgins answered and said: ‘No, lest there should not be enough
for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy oil for yourselves.’
“And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready, went in with Him to the Wedding;
and the Door was shut.
“Afterwards the other Virgins came also, saying: ‘Lord! Lord! Open to us!’ But He answered and said: ‘Truly, I
say to you: I do not know you!’
“Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ illustrates the vital Eternal Life, while the Foolish Virgins are those who
necessity of being Spiritually Prepared until the selfishly squander (waste) God’s Divine Gifts on
Second Coming of Christ - the Divine Bridegroom. themselves without giving anything to others –
The Eternal Kingdom of God is often portrayed as Holy thereby condemning themselves to Eternal Death –
Matrimony - similar to the Parable of the Great alienation and exile from God and His infinite
Wedding Banquet, which also proclaims the transfer Goodness.
of God’s Eternal Kingdom from the faithless Our physical death, which is unavoidable due to our
Hebrews to the Gentiles. ( MATTHEW 22 : 1 – 14) human condition, is experienced by both the
The Eternal Kingdom of God is referred to as a joyful virtuous and the sinful people - “...they all
Wedding Banquet with Christ as the awaited slumbered and slept.”
Bridegroom. “...at midnight a cry was heard...” refers to Christ’s
St Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians also used the Second Coming – i.e. His physical Reappearance
analogy of Holy Matrimony for the Eternal Kingdom when all Creation – either with great Joy of
of God. (EPHESIANS 5 : 21 – 33) anticipation or trembling in fear - will see Him in all
In the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast, the repeated His Divine Glory.
sending forth of His Servants with invitations to the The living and the dead virtuous and wicked people will
Great Wedding Banquet clearly shows our Heavenly stand before His Judgement Seat - being separated
Father’s deep desire to have all His people with Him according to their own personal choices throughout
in His Eternal Kingdom. their lifetimes.
The Divine Marriage – i.e. the Divine Union – will be The inability of the Wise Virgins – the Righteous Ones –
consummated at the end of the age when the to share their oil is an illustration of the
Bridegroom – Christ – returns to escort His Holy impossibility of entering Eternal Life without one’s
Bride – His Holy Church – into the Eternal Wedding own Faith and Virtue and the impossibility of
Banquet. changing one’s Spiritual State – whether virtuous or
The reference to Christ’s Holy Church encompasses all wicked – after death.
faithful Christians and other faithful people of God.
L u k e 1 6 : 2 6 – In the account of the Rich Man and
This Parable of the Ten Virgins primarily concerns the Poor Lazaros, St Abraham told the condemned
Virtue of Charity – the Virtue of Unconditional Rich Man : “... between us and you there is
Love/Agape – and Almsgiving since the words “oil” a great gulf fixed, so that those who want
and “Mercy” have the same root in Greek: “Eleos.” to pass from here to you cannot, nor can
The Wise Virgins are those who practise Charity those from there pass to us.”
(unconditional Love/Agape) and Mercy in this The great gulf that separates the virtuous from the
lifetime – who are thereby preparing themselves for wicked is not a geographical divide but the

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 complete separation between virtue and The themes of the Parables of the Great Wedding
wickedness – a separation that cannot be overcome Banquet (Holy Communion) and the Ten Virgins
after death but which – due to the Great Mercy of (Repentance-Confession and Life in Christ –
God – can be rectified through sincere and humble preparing ourselves for Eternal Life) are woven
Repentance-Confession, which leads us to together in the Liturgical Hymns of Holy Week,
Reconciliation with God and mankind. particularly in the Troparion of Holy Monday, Holy
Since we constantly fall from Divine Grace through our Tuesday and Holy Wednesday: “Behold! The
conscious or unconscious sins, we must ceaselessly Bridegroom comes at midnight, and Blessed
rectify all our errors with Divine Assistance through is the servant whom He shall find watching!”
Prayers, Fasting and correct Worship.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 3 : 23- 4 : 5
Sonship (Our Divine Adoption) Through Faith And Holy Baptism
Brethren: Before Faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, kept for the Faith that would afterwards be
revealed. Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be Justified by Faith. But after
Faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through Faith in Christ Jesus. For as
many of you as were Baptised into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all One
in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and Heirs according to the Promise.
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 5 : 24 – 34
The Faith Of The Woman Whom No One Could Heal
At that time our Lord Jesus went with (Jairus, one of the rulers of the Synagogue,) and a great multitude followed
Him and thronged Him.
Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.
She had spent all that she had and was not better, but rather grew worse. And when she heard about Jesus, she
went behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment, for she thought: “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall
be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of
the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that Power had gone out of Him, turned around in
the crowd and asked: “Who touched My clothes?” And His Disciples said to Him: “Thou see the multitude
thronging Thee, yet Thou ask: “Who touched Me?’”
And He looked around to see her who had done so, but the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had
happened to her, went and fell down before Him and told Him the whole Truth. And He said to her: “Daughter,
your Faith has made you well. Go in Peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
The Life & Martyrdom of St Barbara of Heliopolis, Syria
St Barbara’s father, Dioscoros, was a rich and illustrious come to know the Triune God, the Saving Power of
pagan who lived in Heliopolis and devoted himself the Son of God, and the futility of paganism.
to his only child after the death of his wife. Infuriated, Dioscoros nearly struck her with a sword but
Due to St Barbara's extraordinary attractiveness, she fled from him, and as he pursued her, a hill
Dioscoros hid her from the sight of strangers in a suddenly opened up and concealed her in a crevice,
tower, where only her pagan teachers were allowed the other side of which had an entrance leading
to visit but from which she was able to observe the upwards to a cave where St Barbara managed to
splendour of wooded hills, the swiftly flowing rivers, hide herself.
the meadows covered with flowers and the After some time, a shepherd revealed her hiding place
spectacular night skies. and Dioscoros beat his daughter terribly, placed
She began to contemplate the First Cause and Creator her under guard and tried to wear her down with
of such a harmonious and splendid world – and starvation. Then he handed her over to the Prefect,
rejected the soulless idols made by human hands, Martianos for being a confessed Christian.
which could never have created the surrounding St Barbara was most cruelly tortured but at night having
natural beauty. prayed fervently to her Heavenly Bridegroom, our
St Barbara vowed to devote herself to the True God and Saviour Himself appeared and healed her wounds.
a life of virtuous chastity. The executioners subjected the Virgin Martyr to even
Although many suitors wanted to marry her and despite worse torments and public humiliation.
the entreaties of her father, she refused them all In the crowd of witnesses a virtuous Christian, Juliana,
and she warned him that his persistence might end was filled with sympathy and willing to suffer Holy
tragically and separate them forever. Martyrdom for Christ, she loudly denounced the
Dioscoros decided to permit her the freedom to choose torturers until they seized her.
her friends and consequently St Barbara met young Both Holy Martyrs were tortured for a very long time but
Christian maidens who taught her about the Creator the Prayers of St Barbara brought an Angel of God
of the world, the Holy Trinity, and the Divine Logos who covered their nakedness with a splendid robe.
and Son of God. The steadfast Confessors of Christ, St Barbara and St
By Divine Providence, a Priest, disguised as a merchant, Juliana, were beheaded. Dioscoros executed his
arrived from Alexandria and after instructing her in own daughter but the Wrath of God soon punished
the Mysteries of the Christian Faith, before returning both torturers, Martianos and Dioscoros who were
to Egypt, he Baptized St Barbara. all killed after being struck by lightning.
A luxurious bathhouse was being built at her home with Many pious Orthodox Christians chant the Troparion of
two windows installed on the south side. St Barbara each day, in remembrance of the Divine
Taking advantage of Dioscoros’ absence, St Barbara Promise of our Holy Saviour to St Barbara that
requested a third window, thereby forming a trinity those who remembered her and her sufferings
of light and on one of the walls she traced a cross would be preserved from sudden, unexpected
with her finger. (It became deeply etched into the death, and would not depart this life without benefit
marble, as if carved by an iron instrument and of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
eventually her footprints too were imprinted on the May her memory and that of St Juliana be Eternal!
stone steps of the bathhouse and the water had
great Healing Powers.)
When Dioscoros returned and queried the change to his
building plans, St Barbara explained that she had

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 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 EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD,
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.

28th Sunday After Pentecost - Tone 3 5 December 2010

10th Sunday of St Luke – The Bowed Woman

Feast of S t S avv a th e S a n cti fie d – St Diogenes – St Philotheos of

Karyes, Mount Athos – S Nektarios of Bitolya & Mount Athos –
Monastic Martyrs of Karyes, Mount Athos - St Gurias of Kazan – St Anastasios the Fuller of Salona,
Dalmatia – St Cyrion & St Zachariah (his son) of Egypt – St Crispina of Thacora or Tagora, North
Africa.
Resurrection Apolytikion - Tone 3
Evfrenestho ta Ourania, agaliastho ta epigia, oti epiise Let the Heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, for
Kratos en Vrahioni Aftou O Kyrios. Epatise to the Lord has shown Strength with His Arm; He has
Thanato ton Thanaton. Prototokos ton nekron trampled down Death by Death; He has become the
egeneto. Ek kilias Adou errisato imas ke pareshe to First-born of the dead; from the womb of Hades He
kosmo to Mega Eleos. has delivered us, and to the world He has granted
Great Mercy.
Apolytikia Of St Savva The Sanctified
Tes ton Dakrion Sou roes, tis erimou to agonon Thy Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by Thee the
egeorgisas, ke tis ek vathou stenagmis, is ekaton Crown of Incorruption, in that he contested fro
tous ponous ekarpoforisas. Ke gegonas fostir, ti Thee, our Immortal God. Since he possessed Thy
ikoumeni lampon tis thavmasin, Ioanni patir imon Power, he defeated the tyrants, dashing the
Osie. Presveve Hristo to Theo, sothine tas psihas demons’ powerless displays of defiance. O Christ
imon. God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls.
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
R e s ur re ctio n G os pe l 6 : Luke 24 : 35 - 53
Prokeimenon : Sing praises to our God! Sing praises to our King! Clap your hands, all you nations!
The E pi stle o f S t P aul to the G al ati a ns 5 : 2 2 – 6 : 2
War Against The Flesh & Do Good To Everyone
Brethren: the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness,
Self0control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions
and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying
one another.
Brethren: if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are Spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of Gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.
This Sacred Lesson commemorates all Holy Monks and instead of indulging our own flawed and destructive
it reminds us, AS STRUGGLING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, desires and whims that do not benefit anyone at all.
WHOM WE STRIVE TO IMITATE AND FAITHFULLY WITHOUT HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE – TWO INSEPARABLE
FOLLOW – OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST VIRTUES – WE CANNOT EXPECT TO MAKE EVEN THE
WHO IS THE SON OF GOD – BEING GUIDED AND SLIGHTEST PROGRESS FOR ONLY BY WORKING IN
ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR DIVINE HARMONY AND UNITY WITH GOD AND WITH ONE
COMFORTER, ADVOCATE AND HELPER WHO GRANTS ANOTHER, CAN WE ACHIEVE THEOSIS – SPIRITUAL
US HIS DIVINE GIFTS OF VIRTUE – such as Love, Joy, PERFECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE.
Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, BEING ENLIGHTENED BY CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST ONE ANOTHER,
As developing, maturing and faithful Christians we are especially when anyone of us stumbles or falls along
reminded that THROUGH OUR HOLY BAPTISM WE the way.
HAVE ABANDONED OUR FORMER SELVES – “THE OLD However, WHEN CORRECTING OUR FALLEN OR
MAN” – who were ruled and dominated by our STUMBLING BRETHREN, WE MUST ALWAYS DO SO
passions or vices and selfish desires but now, WITH HUMBLE AGAPE OR LOVE – “... a spirit of
HAVING BEEN REGENERATED IN CHRIST, OUR ONLY Gentleness...” and never with a sense of criticism or
DESIRE TO BECOME LIKE HIM THROUGH HUMILITY condemnation because the next time we ourselves
AND WILLING OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN ALL ASPECTS may fall even harder than any of our fellow sinners:
OF LIFE. “Today my brother, tomorrow me!” (ST JOHN OF
TO WALK IN THE (HOLY) SPIRIT IS TO LIVE EVERY KRONSTADT)
MOMENT “IN THE (HOLY) SPIRIT,” BEING CONSTANTLY TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER CORRECTION WITH
AWARE OF OUR HOLY MISSION DURING THIS “GENTLENESS” IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT OF GOD.
PREPARATORY PERIOD OF LIFE ON EARTH AND St Paul admonishes us to BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S
MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FULFIL GOD’S DIVINE WILL BURDENS AND TO BEAR OUR OWN BURDENS AS WELL

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 because we are Called to initiate True Care-giving in BURDENS TO OTHERS!
our Holy Church and NEVER TO BE NEEDLESS
The Ho ly G o s pe l A cc o rd in g to S t L uk e 1 3 : 1 0 – 1 7
CHRIST HEALS A BOWED WOMAN ON THE SABBATH

At that time Jesus was teaching in one of the Synagogues. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of
infirmity for eighteen years, and was bent over and who could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw
her, He called her to Him and said to her: “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His Hands
on her, and immediately she was made straight, and Glorified God.
But the ruler of the Synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath: and he said to
the crowd: “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on
the Sabbath Day.”
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath loosen his ox or donkey
from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom
Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the
glorious things that were done by Him.
According to certain traditions that the Scribes and Greek expression is literally translated “ten and eight
Pharisees had built up around the Mosaic Law, years.”
healing was considered to be “work,” and thus was St Ambrose and St Theophylact regarded “ten” as a
forbidden on the Sabbath. reference to the Ten Commandments while “eight”
They believed that they served God by zealously keeping signified Divine Grace for the Day of the General
these peripheral traditions, but this legalism made Resurrection is often called “the Eighth Day.”
them insensitive to God’s Mercy. Thus humanity is uplifted by Faith in Christ Who fulfils
When our Lord said: Think of it!” He directs us to a both the Divine Law – the Ten Commandments –
Spiritual meaning for the “Eighteen years” for the and Divine Grace.
The Love of God for All Mankind
Dear Brethren,
GOD LOVES NOTHING MORE THAN of our Lord Jesus Christ Who prepared her for His
MANKIND, AND HE DESPISES AND REJECTS NOTHING Divine Grace.
MORE THAN HYPOCRISY. When He had finished His Sermon, our Lord “... called
➤ OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, IS UTTER LOVE her to Him and said to her: ‘Woman, you are
AND MERCY FOR ALL HUMANITY; ONLY HYPOCRITES
loosed from your infirmity.’ And He laid His
ARE SEVERELY SCOLDED AND CONDEMNED BY HIM.
Hands on her, and immediately she was made
All repentant sinners who seek His Forgiveness are
straight, and Glorified God.”
joyfully and freely pardoned by His infinite Goodness,
Love and Mercy; but OUR LORD JESUS SEVERELY
✽ Christ beheld not only her physical appearance. HE
WAS ESPECIALLY AWARE OF AND RESPONSIVE TO
DENOUNCES HYPOCRITES, WHO PRETEND TO BE
HER HUMBLE SOUL, WHICH WAS BOWED IN SUCH
FILLED WITH CONSIDERATION FOR THE WELFARE OF
DEEP AND SINCERE REPENTANCE.
OTHERS - and on one occasion He even threatened
He then “... laid His Hands on her...” - BESTOWING HIS
them with whips for having desecrated His Father’s DIVINE, SANCTIFYING AND REGENERATING POWER
Holy Temple. UPON HER – INSTANTLY RESTORING HER TO COMPLETE
In today’s Sacred Lesson we hear of A LONG-SUFFERING PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AS ONLY
BOWED WOMAN WHO, DESPITE HER PHYSICAL PAIN OUR CREATOR HIMSELF CAN DO!
AND DISCOMFORT, WENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE Behold, dear Christians, how the Love of God is
SABBATH DAY - i.e. Saturday, the Hebrew day of rest. manifested and poured out upon us!
WE SHOULD IMITATE HER GOODNESS AND PIETY OF SOUL ✽ NO OBSTACLE CAN COME BETWEEN GOD AND THOSE
BY CONSISTENTLY ATTENDING HOLY SERVICES EVERY
WHO SEEK HIS DIVINE HELP - not even the
SUNDAY AND FEAST DAY
➤ TO OFFER OUR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND customary “restrictions” of the Sabbath Day,
WORSHIP, AND because THE LAW, THE COMMANDMENTS, AND
➤ TO HEAR GOD’S DIVINE AND PERFECT TRUTH EVEN THE SABBATH, WERE CREATED FOR US
(HOLY SCRIPTURE) AND HUMAN BEINGS – but WE WERE NOT CREATED FOR
➤ THE INSPIRED PREACHING OF GOD'S WORD (THE THEM!
SERMON WHICH CLARIFIES THE SACRED LESSONS) ✽ In fact, GOD'S VERY LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS ARE
✽ MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, OUR CLOSE EMBODIMENTS OF HIS DIVINE LOVE FOR ALL
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ENABLES US TO ENDURE HUMAN BEINGS and the same should apply to our
AND TO OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES OF EARTHLY man-made laws and customs, which should be for
LIFE.
our own good, not for our enslavement —
➤ THUS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF GOD’S otherwise such laws are unrighteous and
LIMITLESS PROVIDENCE AND BLESSINGS. inhuman.
For these reasons alone, the Bowed Woman hobbled ➤ LAWS ARE MADE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE
WICKED, SELF-SERVING PEOPLE FROM
along to the Synagogue every Sabbath Day (and, no
PERFORMING THEIR DEEDS OF DARKNESS.
doubt on other days as well) — this poor creature who ✽ GOOD PEOPLE - RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE - NEED NO LAWS.
was so wracked with spinal disease that she could not "It must be remembered, of course, that laws are
straighten herself and had difficulty walking.
made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers
SHE WENT TO THE PLACE OF WORSHIP – INTO THE
PRESENCE OF GOD - TO FIND CONSOLATION AND
and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for
STRENGTH TO BEAR HER AFFLICTIONS — yet on that those who are not religious or spiritual, for men
Sabbath Day SHE RECEIVED FAR MORE THAN SHE who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
EVER EXPECTED OR HOPED FOR: SHE WAS for the immoral, for sexual perverts … for those
COMPLETELY HEALED OF THE CRIPPLING ILLNESS that … who do anything else contrary to the True
had troubled her for eighteen very long, agonizing Teaching..." of God. (1 TIMOTHY 1:9-10).
years! ✽ For all good souls – especially FOR FAITHFUL
✽ GOD HEALS US ALL FROM OUR CRIPPLING SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANS – TRUE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST - THERE
DISEASES IN HIS OWN TIME - SOMETIMES EXISTS BUT ONE LAW - THE LAW OF LOVE!
ACCORDING TO OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND ➤ THE LAW OF LOVE IS POSITIVE
ALWAYS WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT OR DESERVE ➤ AND NOT ONLY FORBIDS WICKEDNESS
IT! ➤ BUT IT ENCOURAGES POSITIVE ACTS OF
GOODNESS.
We can imagine her standing bent over in a quiet corner
➤ NOTHING CAN RESIST GOD’S LAW OF LOVE.
of the Synagogue, beseeching the Mercy of God and ✽ HOWEVER, THERE IS MUCH THAT WOULD KEEP US
listening with Humility and Repentance to the Sermon FROM GOD’S DIVINE GOODNESS:

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 ➤ First and foremost is HYPOCRISY, WHICH IS THE
TERRIBLE SIN OF PRETENDING TO BE UPRIGHT
AND GOOD, WHILE IN TRUTH, BEING PUTRID
AND CORRUPT!
In other words, HYPOCRITES GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT
THEY ARE SOMETHING WHICH, IN REALITY, THEY ARE
NOT.
➤ HYPOCRITES ARE DISHONEST, CONNIVING LIARS.
➤ HYPOCRITES PRETEND TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENTS, BUT ONLY
SO THAT THEY MIGHT FRUSTRATE AND
CONFUSE THE GOOD.
➤ HYPOCRITES TRY TO CONVINCE OTHERS THAT THEY
ARE “GUARDIANS” OF THE DIVINE LAW, who
fight for the preservation of human law, while
IN TRUTH THEIR ONLY DESIRE IS TO UPROOT,
BURN, AND DESTROY THE VERY FOUNDATIONS
OF SOCIETY.
➤ HYPOCRITES DO NOT CARE if others lose their
lives, if injustice appears as truth, if innocent
people are crucified, if venerable institutions
are demolished - and the fact that the Devil is
dancing as he beholds all this only delights
the hypocrite!
If the “ruler of the Synagogue...” had been able to, he
would have had both our Lord Jesus and the Bowed
Woman stoned to death for the sake of preserving the
Sabbath Day’s rest, which he held in higher esteem
that God’s Divine Love!
HE WAS INDIFFERENT TO AND UNAFFECTED BY THE
MIRACULOUS HEALING, WHICH HE HAD ACTUALLY
WITNESSED!
The Bowed Woman must have been a regular worshipper
at that particular Synagogue, and within the small
Hebrew Community, everyone would have known one
another.
However, THE LETHAL VICE OF HATRED AND ENVY
OVERWHELMED THE RULER, WHICH STIFLED ANY
COMPASSION OR MERCY HE MAY HAVE HAD FOR THE
SUFFERING WOMAN.
HYPOCRISY CRUSHED ALL HIS NATURAL WONDER,
AMAZEMENT AND PRAISE FOR GOD’S GREAT MERCY,
which had been revealed right before them all by
Christ’s Great Act of Love.
HIS DUPLICITY WAS SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED THAT HE
SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED ONLY WITH THE
VIOLATION OF GOD'S SABBATH DAY - WHILE
REJECTING GOD'S CHRIST!
Although the members of that Synagogue were deceived
by his self-righteousness - by thinking they knew the
ruler well - OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST LOOKED INTO
THE VERY DEPTHS OF HIS SOUL AND EXPOSED HIM AS
A HYPOCRITE – an impostor, liar and deceiver who
pretended to be good and pious yet was WICKED AND
UNGODLY.
Unfortunately, dear Brethren, we have many such
hypocrites amongst us.
Consequently, WE MUST BE CONSTANTLY ALERT AND
AWARE OF SUCH DANGEROUS HYPOCRITES as they may
convince us of being virtuous while inwardly THEY ARE
WICKED AND DESTRUCTIVE.
➤ HYPOCRITES ARE MASTERS AT HIDING THE TRUTH
FROM OTHERS.
➤ HYPOCRITES COVER THEMSELVES WITH THE CLOAK OF
GOODNESS AND WARM FRIENDSHIP WITH A
WILLINGNESS TO HELP OR SEEKING HELP FROM
THEIR VICTIMS – AND ALL THE WHILE WATCHING
AND WAITING FOR THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMIT THEIR EVIL DEEDS OR TO PLANT THEIR
WICKED SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION, DISTRUST OR
DISBELIEF.
➤ Words of good advice or Truth go unheeded and
deeds of kindness are snatched up with both
greedy, self-indulgent hands but WITHOUT ANY
SENSE OF GRATITUDE OR OBLIGATION TO GOD OR
THEIR FELLOW SINNERS.
Suffering in a One-Storey Universe – By Father Stephen – “Glory to God for All Things!”
For those who wrestle with the inherent difficulties of
giving thanks for all things – I hope this reflection will
be helpful.
The comment which occasioned these thoughts:
“...I think the lines separating suffering FOR Christ/for His
Sake and the suffering in life as is common to ALL
(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 28th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST LUKE – THE BOWED WOMAN – 5 DECEMBER 2010
➤ HYPOCRITES LOUDLY AND PROUDLY PREACH AND
SCOLD OTHERS CONCERNING GOD’S LAWS,
COMMANDMENTS, AND TEACHINGS, YET THEY
MOCK THEIR OWN WORDS AND NEVER APPLY ANY
OF THEM TO THEMSELVES.
➤ HYPOCRITES CONSTANTLY JUSTIFY THEIR OWN
MALICIOUSNESS AND DECEPTIONS, WHILE
ATTACKING OTHERS BY POINTING ACCUSATORY
FINGERS IN ALL DIRECTIONS EXCEPT TOWARDS
THEIR OWN SOULS.
THE FALSE AND OFTEN RIDICULOUS, INAPPROPRIATE ACCUSATIONS OF SUCH
HYPOCRITES CLEARLY EXPOSE THE CONDITION OF THEIR OWN POLLUTED AND
WARPED SOULS FOR THEY USUALLY BLAME OTHERS FOR EVERYTHING OF WHICH
THEY THEMSELVES ARE GUILTY!
✽ No one denies THE VALUE OF GOD’S LAWS, HIS DIVINE
COMMANDMENTS, OR THE HOLY CANONS OF HIS
HOLY CHURCH, yet these merely exist FOR OUR
SAKE and not the other way round!
➤ What good does it do to preach the
Commandment "Thou shall not kill", when
WE RELENTLESSLY MURDER OUR FELLOW
SINNERS WITH OUR CRUEL AND LETHAL
WORDS AND ACTIONS?
➤ What good is it to argue over the Holy Canons,
when WE CONSISTENTLY HARM OR EVEN TRY
TO DESTROY THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST –
I.E. THE MEMBERS – THE FAITHFUL - OF
CHRIST’S HOLY BODY - WITH OUR UNKIND,
TACTLESS OR APATHETIC WORDS AND DEEDS?
HYPOCRITES SHOUT THE LOUDEST CONCERNING THESE
THINGS BUT THEY NEITHER KNOW NOR RESPECT THEM
THEMSELVES. They pay empty, useless “lip service” to
them – always quick to point them out to others and
preaching meaningless words, which they neither
believe nor live by.
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST LOVED AND STILL LOVES ALL
SINNERS, THE TIRED, THE SICK AND THE HUMBLE. HE
EVEN LOVES HYPOCRITES, BUT HE REJECTS THEIR
HYPOCRISY!
✽ HYPOCRITES HATE CHRIST, FOR DIVINE, PURE
LOVE AND HYPOCRISY CANNOT CO-EXIST FOR
THEY ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE!
Let us truthfully Love and respect God and one another
by honouring the New Sabbath Day, (WHICH IS NOW
RESURRECTION DAY/PASCHA OR OUR LORD’S DAY – SUNDAY), with genuine
and sincere worship, praise and thanksgiving to God
and by doing good deeds of Charity/Love, Kindness
and Mercy to our fellow sinners, thereby
substantiating or VERIFYING OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE –
TRUE AGAPE.
IF WE ONLY “GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS” OF WORSHIP,
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING WITHOUT HEARTFELT
COMMITMENT TO AND LOVE OF GOD, OR GRUDGINGLY
FULFIL THE REQUIRED ACTS OF MERCY for others so
as to receive recognition, flattery, fame or fortune, -
IT EXPOSES THE REALITY OF OUR SPIRITUAL
CONDITION – THE DEPTH OF OUR WICKEDNESS - IT
REVEALS OUR DEADLY AND HYPOCRITICAL HATRED OF
AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND OUR FELLOW
SINNERS - IT CLEARLY DECLARES OUR DISREGARD FOR
GOD AND ALL HIS LAWS, COMMANDMENTS AND
TEACHINGS, DESPITE OUR LOFTY, POMPOUS WORDS TO
THE CONTRARY - HYPOCRISY CLEARLY EXPOSES US AS
LIARS!
✽ THE DIVINE LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS AS WELL AS
THE HOLY CANONS OF THE CHURCH ARE LAWS OF
DIVINE AND PURE LOVE.
Therefore let us LEARN TO LOVE GOD AND TO LOVE ONE
ANOTHER AS MUCH AS GOD LOVES US – EVEN THOUGH
WE ARE SUCH OBSTINATE SINNERS!
LET US LOVE AND THEREBY GAIN ETERNAL LIFE AND
SALVATION!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: "ORTHODOX SERMONS" – “27TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -
CHRIST STILL LOVES SINNERS” BY REV. GEORGE DIMOPOULOS
http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/sermons_g_dimopoul
os.htm#_Toc44633674
men have become blurred….if I suffer persecution or
if I am treated unjustly for naming Christ or for
Righteousness sake then I partake/share in Christ’s
Sufferings and would have joyful reason to Thank
God for it…Yet for the Christian NOT ALL suffering
experienced is FOR Christ’s Sake…the vast majority
5
 (if not all) of my sufferings and trials while living my
life as an American Christian has nothing at all to do
with my being a Christian but is the common ‘stuff’
of life….there is a difference.. is there not?”
As I thought about this very excellent question – I began
to see the familiar pattern of secular thought which
marks the “default position” of our culture – for
believers and un-believers alike.
Secularism does not disbelieve in God, but it divides the
world into separate spheres: we inhabit a natural
“non-God” arena – but God may be “accessed” in
Prayer, etc.
In earlier writings I have described this construct as a
“Two-Storey Universe:” God dwells in Heaven (or
somewhere) while we live here in a world which works
according to its own laws, etc. Transcendent meaning
and all things “religious” are thus exiled to certain
moments, or certain spaces, or to events of a certain
nature. Things that are not so exiled are just “the stuff
of life.”
In such a scenario, suffering takes on a “two-storey”
character. THERE ARE SPECIFICALLY DIFFICULT
THINGS TO BE BORNE FOR CHRIST’S SAKE –
PERSECUTION AND OTHER HEROIC RELIGIOUS ACTS –
BUT THERE IS ALSO SUFFERING THAT IS JUST THE
“STUFF OF LIFE”: CANCER, TSUNAMIS, EARTHQUAKES,
BEING LOST IN A BAD ECONOMY, THE DEATH OF A
CHILD OR A SPOUSE, ETC.
This division of the world in which some suffering is “for
Christ’s sake” while other suffering carries no
particular meaning at all, partakes of the same
problems raised by the two-storey model in every
other area it touches.
One part of our life is capable of transcendence while
most of our lives collapse into the banality of “stuff.”
Thus most of life is meaningless and absurd. It also
seems to me, that the islands of transcendence which
we posit in such a massive sea of absurdity, run the
risk of a constantly shrinking shoreline. Transcendent
meaning has not only been diminished, but stands on
the edge of extinction.
I will offer a few observations:
1. EITHER CHRIST’S PASCHA (HIS DEATH AND
RESURRECTION) CONTAINED ALL OF EXISTENCE
(INCLUDING ALL SUFFERING) OR IT CONTAINED
NOTHING.
2. EITHER CHRIST’S PASCHA HAS FILLED EVERYTHING
WITH TRANSCENDENCE OR IT HAS FILLED
NOTHING.
3. EVERY EVENT, EVERY PARTICLE OF EXISTENCE IS “FOR
CHRIST’S SAKE,” OR NOTHING IS “FOR HIS SAKE.”
THIS “ALL OR NOTHING” APPROACH TO CHRIST AND HIS
PASCHA LIES AT THE VERY HEART OF THE GOSPEL AND
ALONE REPRESENTS THE FULLNESS OF LIFE IN
CHRIST.
“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten
of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for
our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the Chastisement of our Peace was
upon Him; and with His Stripes we are Healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD
hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (ISAIAH 53:4-
6).
St Paul’s description of CHRIST’S SAVING WORK IS
EXPRESSED IN COSMIC, ALL-ENCOMPASSING TERMS.
In Romans 8 he describes the “whole” Creation as
GROANING IN TRAVAIL AWAITING THE FREEDOM THAT
COMES IN CHRIST.
In the first chapter of Ephesians, St. Paul speaks in
unmistakable terms: “Having made known unto
us the mystery of his will, according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness
of times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth; even in him…” (EPHESIANS 1:9-11).
One of the great Theological aphorisms of the Fathers is
that of St Gregory the Theologian, who, addressing
the Doctrine of Christ’s Humanity, said: “That which
is not assumed is not Saved.” His point was that
(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 28th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – 10TH OF ST LUKE – THE BOWED WOMAN – 5 DECEMBER 2010
6
OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FACT THAT HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE WHOLE
OF HUMAN NATURE.
In the same manner, ALL OF CREATION WOULD HAVE NO
HOPE WERE IT NOT FOR THE FACT THAT THE CREATOR
ASSUMED CREATION.
The two-storey approach to the world also creates a two-
storey approach to our Salvation.
THOSE ACTS WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANCE AND
TRANSCENDENCE ARE ULTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH
HUMAN CHOICE. THUS CHRIST DIES FOR OUR SINS (OUR
WRONG CHOICES AND ACTIONS). ACTIONS WHICH ARE NOT
“WRONG” THUS HAVE NO NEED OF REDEMPTION.
Cancer caused by our choice to smoke, might thus be
seen as a redeemable suffering – but the mindless,
meaningless suffering of a childhood cancer cannot
partake of that Redemption - is simply absurd within
a two-storey universe.
I would readily grant that the suffering and evil which we
encounter within the Created Order has the character
of absurdity – but this is also part of its very character.
If “all things are being gathered together in Christ,”
then even absurdity is being gathered into Him – and
in that Union, ceases to be absurd.
The Orthodox approach to THE SAVING ACTION OF CHRIST
HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY ALL-ENCOMPASSING
APPROACH. THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD is not
unique to Christ’s Death on the Cross (AS PAYMENT FOR SIN),
but BEGINS WITH HIS INCARNATION, WHEN THE
CREATOR UNITES HIMSELF TO CREATION. That same
Creator is crucified on the Cross, and WITHIN HIM ALL
CREATION IS CRUCIFIED. The same CHRIST TAKES ALL
OF CREATION WITH HIM IN HADES AND RAISES IT
TOGETHER WITH HIM IN THE RESURRECTION: “That
which is not assumed is not saved.”
ALL IS ASSUMED.
THE ROLE OF THE HUMAN WILL (IN ITS ACCEPTANCE OF
CHRIST) IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT IN OUR SALVATION –
BUT OUR WILL CHOOSES OR REJECTS WHAT CHRIST
HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED.
✽ THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THOSE CHOICES ARE
KNOWN TO GOD ALONE. However, God’s Will is
clear: He is “...not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to
Repentance” (2 PETER 3:9).
The Great Mystery of the Suffering of Christ cannot be
confined to a forensic account in which His Death is
simply a Payment for sin.
Holy Scripture and our Church Fathers’ understanding of
Christ is far more cosmic.
Evil is inherently absurd and meaningless (for God is the
only source of good and meaning is always relative to
Him).
✽ However, CHRIST HAS TAKEN THAT ABSURDITY INTO
HIMSELF AND ULTIMATELY TRANSFORMS IT.
It is THE INCARNATION, CRUCIFIXION, DESCENT INTO
HADES AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST that MAKE
THANKSGIVING POSSIBLE – INCLUDING THANKSGIVING
FOR ALL THINGS.
✽ CHRIST IS THE EUCHARIST (THANKSGIVING) OF THE
WORLD AND EVERY ACT OF THANKSGIVING FINDS
ITS FULFILLMENT IN HIM.
THE CREATED WORLD IS NOT BROKEN INTO SACRED AND
PROFANE: “Heaven and earth are full of Thy
Glory,” the Angels sing in Isaiah’s Great Vision.
✽ THE GLORY THEY BEHOLD IS NOTHING OTHER THAN
THE LIFE OF CHRIST WHICH IS OFFERED “...on behalf
of all and for all...” for which I give Thanks!
On Knowing God
The Orthodox “Experience,” if I can use such a phrase, is
the confirmation in the Heart of the Truth we have
received as we grow in Grace and in Purity of Heart.
But the Truth of the Faith must be confirmed in such a
living manner or it simply becomes an historical item
and the Church would be a collection of antiquarians
and not the Living Temple of God, for my knowledge
of God is also my Life in God.
Life, Light, Truth, Knowledge - all of these have
something of a synonymous character.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “SUFFERING IN A ONE-STOREY UNIVERSE – BY
FATHER STEPHEN – “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!”
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.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
EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

6 December 2010

Feast of St Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra -

St Nicholas the New of Asia Minor – St Maximos of Kiev

Apolytikion Of St Nicholas The Wonderworker Of Myra – Tone 4

Kanona pisteos ke ikona praotitos, engratias didaskalon As Rule of the Faith and picture of gentleness, and
anedixe se ti pimni sou i ton pragmaton alithia. Dia teacher of temperance thou were exhibited to thy
touto ekomiso ti tapinosi ta ipsila, ti ptohia ta piousia. flock, by the Truth of the evidence. Thus thou
Pater Ierarha Nikolae, presveve Hristo to Theo, acquired the lofty through humility, the abundant
sothine tas psihas imon. through poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas:
intercede with Christ our God, so that our souls
may be saved!
Kontakion Of St Nicholas The Wonderworkder Of Myra
En tis Myris Agie, irourgos anedihthis; tou Hristou gar Saintly One, (St. Nicholas) in Myra thou proved thyself
Osie, to Evangelion plirosas, ethikas tin Psihin Sou a Priest; for in fulfilling the Gospel of Christ,
iper laou Sou, esosas tous athoous, ek tou thanatou: Venerable One, thou laid down thy life for thy
dia touto igiasthis, os megas mistis Theou tis Haritos people and saved the innocent from death. For this
thou were Sanctified as One learned in Divine
Grace.
Kontakion Of The Ever Blessed Theotokos - The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 13: 17 – 21
Holy Life in Christ our Lord
Brethren: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must
give account. Let them do so with Joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably.
But I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you sooner.
Now may the God of Peace Who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead 0 that Great Shepherd of the Sheep –
through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every Good Work to do His Will, working
in you what is well pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory forever and ever.
Amen.
We must always obey and respect our Holy Church Fathers His concluding Blessing noted the sufficiency of the Divine
who are consecrated and Sanctified members of the and Most Sacred Blood of Christ which is realised in
Holy Priesthood of Christ our Lord. His Glorious Resurrection as Christ offers His Most
Our Holy Church Fathers are part of the Eternal Spiritual Precious Blood in the Eternal Sanctuary and thereby
Fatherhood of Christ’s Holy Church who will be held inaugurates a New, “... Everlasting (Eternal) Covenant,”
accountable for their earthly ministry at the Great which makes us “Complete in every Good Work to
Judgement of our Lord. do His Will...” as we co0operate with God in all
St Paul, as one of our Holy Church Fathers, asked all things and so are able to progress towards Holy
Christians for their Prayers so that he might live an Sainthood – Holy Perfection or Theosis – i.e. the
exemplary life according to God’s Will and not be Regeneration of our original created state.
tempted by the evil one into committing any sins or
worse – leading others into wickedness or blasphemy.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 6 : 17 – 23
Our Lord Jesus Christ Delivers His Sermon On The Plain Concerning The Beatitudes
At that time, our Lord Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His Disciples and a
great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who went to
hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented by unclean spirits. And they
were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for Power went out from Him and healed them all.
Then He lifted up His Eyes towards His Disciples and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of
God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall
be comforted. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for Joy! For indeed your Reward
is great in Heaven...”
In the age of the Old Covenant a select few were chosen PURPOSE ON EARTH DURING THIS PREPARATORY
to hear God directly. (REFER EXODUS 19: 3 – 13) PERIOD BEFORE ETERNITY.
IN THE AGE OF THE NEW COVENANT GOD INCARNATE The term “Blessed” indicates HEAVENLY, SPIRITUAL
SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES AND EXALTATION RATHER THAN EARTHLY HAPPINESS OR
ALL THOSE WHO SEEK DIVINE TRUTH. PROSPERITY.
Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to us with His own Divine In Hebrew, “poor” means both THE MATERIALLY POOR AND
Authority and WE, AS HIS DISCIPLES, DO NOT DISCUSS GOD’S FAITHFUL PEOPLE.
OR DEBATE BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT HE “The poor in spirit,” are THOSE WHO HAVE THE HEART OF
REVEALS AND TEACHES US CONCERNING GOD’S TRUTH THE POOR, THE SAME ATTITUDE AS THE POOR, AND
– READY AND EAGER TO FULFIL WHATEVER IS WHO ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD.
REQUIRED FROM US. THIS IS OUR HOLY MISSION AND “Those who hunger ...” and thirst for Righteousness
REGARD THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL

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7
 KINGDOM AS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF
LIFE. They have a TREMENDOUS CRAVING AND
YEARNING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD – A
SPIRITUAL HUNGER THAT IS FAR MORE COMPELLING
THAN A DESIRE FOR FOOD.
“Those who weep...” refers to THOSE WHO ARE
DISTRESSED BY THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS LIFE,
ESPECIALLY BY THE MISERY OF SO MANY OTHERS, THE
STATE OF THE FALLEN WORLD, AND THEIR OWN
PERSONAL SINS. (REFER JOHN 11:35... LUKE 19:41 & LUKE 7 : 36 – 38)
ALL THESE ARE COMFORTED BY THE POWER OF GOD BOTH
IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE AGE TO COME.
HOLY SORROW IS PART OF OUR REPENTANCE, CONVERSION
AND VIRTUOUS ACTION.
HOLY SORROW OR JOYFUL MOURNING IS THE FIRSTFRUIT –
THE INITIAL RESULT – OF INFINITE OR ETERNAL
BLISS/JOY, which is completely different from ungodly
sorrow – an inconsolable sadness that leads to despair
– utter hopelessness. (REFER TO 2 CORINTHIANS 7 : 10 )
THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL IS WHEN WE COMMIT
OUR LIVES ENTIRELY TO CHRIST – when we LIVE IN
CHRIST and NEVER COMPROMISE OUR FAITH no matter
what the circumstances or threats against us.
St Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra
St Nicholas was born in the city of Patara in the region of
Lycia - the only son of pious parents Theophanes and
Nonna, who had vowed to dedicate him to God.
As the Fruit of the Prayers of his parents, from the very day
of his birth, St Nicholas was revealed as a
Wonderworker when after giving birth his mother was
immediately restored to good health.
St Nicholas began a life of Fasting from infancy. On
Wednesdays and Fridays he refused milk from his
mother until after his parents had finished their
Evening Prayers.
During childhood St Nicholas thrived on the study of
Divine Scripture - remaining in church all day, and
praying and reading throughout the night - a worthy
Dwelling Place of the Holy Spirit indeed.
Bishop Nicholas of Patara rejoiced at his nephew’s
Spiritual Accomplishment and Deep Piety and
ordained him as Reader, and then elevated him to the
Priesthood, making him his assistant and entrusting
him to teach and guide Christ’s Holy Flock.
St Nicholas was fervent of spirit, and in his proficiency of
Faith he was like an Elder, who aroused the wonder
and deep respect of believers, tirelessly and
unceasingly working and praying, always
compassionate, kind and generous to all who sought
his help.
A formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom St Nicholas had
saved from great sin, had three grown daughters. Due
to their utter destitution and starvation he was
tempted to prostitute them to raise money for food.
As soon as St Nicholas heard of their dire circumstances
and the father’s wicked intention, he went to their
home in the dead of night and threw a small pouch of
gold coins through the window, resulting in
honourable marriages for the daughters and saving
the family from Spiritual Destruction.
All St Nicholas’ Acts of Love/Charity were bestowed secretly
and anonymously – only for the Glory of God.
When the Bishop of Patara went on Pilgrimage to the Holy
Places in Jerusalem, he entrusted his Holy Flock to St
Nicholas, who fulfilled this Obedience carefully and
with Love and when the Bishop returned, St Nicholas
asked his Blessing for his own Pilgrimage to the Holy
Land.
During his journey, St Nicholas had a Vision: he saw the
evil one aboard their ship, intending to sink it and
drown all the passengers. As foreseen, a frightening
storm arose but at the supplications of the despairing
Pilgrims, he calmed the waves of the sea by his
Intercessory Prayers and miraculously healed one of
the sailors who had been seriously injured after falling
from the high mast.
When St Nicholas reached Jerusalem he went to Golgotha,
and gave Thanks to our Saviour before setting off to
visit all the Holy Sites, where he joyfully worshipped
and praised God. One night, on Mount Zion, the
locked doors of a church opened by themselves, to
admit the great Pilgrim.
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8
This “Sermon on the Plain” is similar but not as extensive
as Christ’s profound “Sermon on the Mount.” (Matthew
5 – 7)
OUR LORD JESUS REPEATED MANY OF HIS DIVINE
TEACHINGS OVER THE PERIOD OF THREE YEARS – HIS
PUBLIC MINISTRY TO THE HEBREWS AND GENTILES,
WHICH WERE LATER SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
BY HIS DIVINELY INSPIRED APOSTLES AND FAITHFUL
DISCIPLES.
St John the Divine Apostle, Evangelist and Theologian
wrote of three Passover Feasts that occurred between
Theophany – the Revelation of the Holy Trinity at the
Baptism of our Lord in the River Jordan by St John the
Baptist – and His Passion – the New Covenant Pascha –
which shows us that our Lord’s earthly Divine Mission
– the direct Teaching by God Incarnate Himself –
lasted only three short years!
This short section of the Holy Gospel according to St Luke
is read on Feast Days commemorating our Holy
Hierarchs, Hieromartyrs and Monks.
While visiting the Holy Places of Christ’s earthly Life, St
Nicholas decided to withdraw into the desert, but a
Divine Voice urged him to return to Lycia. Yearning for
Silence, the Saint entered the Holy Zion Monastery,
which had been founded by his uncle, but once again
our Lord’s Voice compelled him to follow another Path:
"Nicholas, this is not the Vineyard where you
shall bear Fruit for Me. Return to the world, and
Glorify My Name there." So he left Patara and went
to Myra in Lycia.
Upon the death of Archbishop John, St Nicholas was
chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the Bishops of
the Council proclaimed that the new Archbishop
should be revealed by God, not chosen by men.
An elderly Bishop had a Vision of a radiant Man, Who told
him that the one who first entered the church that
night should be made Archbishop and he would be
named ‘Nicholas.’ So he went to the church early that
night to await the first arrival and St Nicholas -
always the first to arrive at church - was asked by the
elderly Bishop: "What is your name, child?" and God's
Chosen One replied: "My name is Nicholas, Master,
and I am your servant."
After his Consecration as Archbishop, St Nicholas
remained a great Ascetic - an image of True
Gentleness, Kindness and Love, which was a great
Blessing for the Lycian Church during the persecution
of Christians under Emperor Diocletian (284-305).
St Nicholas was imprisoned together with other Christians
for refusing to worship the pagan idols and he
sustained them and exhorted them to endure the
fetters, punishment and torture, while our Lord
preserved him unharmed.
Upon the appointment of St Constantine the Great ( as
Emperor of the Roman/Byzantine Empire, St Nicholas
was joyfully restored to his Flock as their devoted
Spiritual Father, Guide, Teacher and Intercessor.
Despite his great gentleness of spirit and Purity of Heart,
St Nicholas was a zealous and ardent Warrior of the
Church of Christ. By conquering the evil spirits, he
shattered idols of the pagan temples and shrines into
dust throughout the city of Myra and its surroundings
merely by his Prayers and the Invocation of the Divine
Power and Name of our Living God.
In 325 St Nicholas participated in the First Ecumenical
Council, which proclaimed the Nicean Symbol of Faith.
Together with St Sylvester of Rome, St Alexander of
Alexandria, St Spyridon of Trimythontos and other
Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Council, St Nicholas
opposed the heretic Arius.
He worked innumerable Miracles, and struggled many
long years at his Holy Labour of Love. Through his
Prayers and deeds he saves many from life-threatening
events, captivity and imprisonment.
Having reached old age, St Nicholas peacefully fell asleep
in the Lord. His Venerable Relics were preserved
incorrupt in the local cathedral church and flowed with
curative myrrh, from which many received healing.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP:
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=103484
 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 EVER, AND
UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

9 December 2010

The Conception of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary

By St Anna & St Zacharias

Also the Feast of St Hannah the Prophetess, mother of St Samuel the Holy
Prophet of God – St Sophronios of Cyprus – St Stephen the New Light of Constantinople – St Narses of
Persia – St Anthimos Hieromonk & Fool for Christ of Mount Athos – the Appearance of the Holy
Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos the Unexpected Joy –Commemoration of the Consecration of the Holy
Church of St John Chrysostomos, Cyprus

Apolytikion Of The Conception Of The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary – Tone 4:

Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte; tou Ioakim gar ke Today the bonds of barrenness are loosed away; for
tis Annis, i sakouson O Theos, par elpida tekin aftous, God hearing the prayers of Joachim and Anna,
safos ipiskhnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi, o clearly promised them they would bear, against
aperigraptos vrotos gegonos, di Angelou kelefsas voise all hope, the God-Bearer; from whom was born
afti: Here Keharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou! the Uncircumcised Himself, as a mortal Man, Who
ordered the Angel to cry out unto her: Rejoice, O
Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee!
Kontakion Of St Anna – Righteous Mother Of The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary & Theotokos – Tone 2
Eortazi simeron, i ikoumeni, tin tis Annis sillipsin, Today the world rejoices in the conception of Anna,
gegenimenin en Theo; ke gar afti apekiise, tin iper wrought by God. For she bore the One who beyond
logon, ton Logon kiisasan. comprehension conceived the Logos.
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 4:22-27
An Allegory of Slavery And Sonship
Brethren, it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was
of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through Promise, which things are
symbolic. For these are the two Covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar -
for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children - but the Jerusalem Above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O Barren, you
who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labour! For the desolate have many more children,
than she who has a husband.”
By saying that Abraham’s “two sons” and related events and St Sarah were both extremely old and far
were “symbolic” [allegoreo] St Paul did not imply that beyond childbearing age and furthermore, ST
they were not historical events. SARAH HAD ALWAYS BEEN BARREN OR
To be more precise he affirmed that OLD TESTAMENT INFERTILE – UNABLE TO BEAR ANY CHILDREN
HISTORY ANNOUNCED SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN NATURALLY.
ITSELF. ➤ “His conception was not by the flesh, nor his birth
❖ “Hagar” and “Mount Sinai” symbolise earthly by the seed, for the womb was dead both
Jerusalem and the Hebrews who live according to through age and barrenness....” which bears
the Divine Laws of St Moses – i.e THOSE WHO ARE out the Truth that WITH ALMIGHTY GOD EVEN
COMMITTED TO MOSAIC LAW OR OLD COVENANT THE MOST ILLOGICAL, UNLIKELY OR IMPOSSIBLE
LAW. IS FEASIBLE BY DIVINE WILL AND DIVINE
❖ Sarah, the “freewoman” symbolises the Heavenly POWER!
Jerusalem that is THE CHURCH OF CHRIST – I.E. ➤ “...But the Word of God fashioned him ...“ - ONLY
WE WHO ARE GRANTED COMPLETE SPIRITUAL GOD MAKES SUCH A MIRACLE POSSIBLE
FREEDOM IN CHRIST JESUS. BECAUSE HE IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING
“The desolate” are those in the Church of Christ, especially IN EXISTENCE AND SIMPLY BY HIS DIVINE WORD
SOMETHING IS CREATED OR RESTORED
the Gentiles [non Jews] - i.e. THE SPIRITUALLY
ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINE WILL AND POWER..
BARREN WHO ARE NOW SPIRITUALLY FRUITFUL.
“She who has a husband” refers to Israel – the Chosen ➤ “…he that was not according to the flesh was
People of God – i.e. A LEGITIMATE, GODLY more honourable than he that was born after
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. the flesh…. “ ALTHOUGH ISHMAEL WAS THE
FIRST BORN OF ST ABRAHAM, HE WAS
Sarah is a type of Theotokos since her son, Isaac, was
ILLEGITIMATE AND HAD NO CLAIM UPON HIS
BORN THROUGH A DIVINE PROMISE – ACCORDING TO
THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD. FATHER, being the result of the adulterous,
In commenting on verse 23, “… he of the freewoman…” unlawful union of St Abraham and his slave
St John Chrysostom taught us : woman, Hagar.
ISAAC, HOWEVER, BEING BORN BY THE WILL OF GOD TO ST
➤ Isaac “...was the issue of bodies that were dead,
ABRAHAM AND ST SARAH WHO WERE LAWFULLY
and of a womb that was dead.“ St Abraham

THE CONCEPTION OF THE EVER VIRGIN MARY BY ST ANNA & ST JOACHIM – 9 DECEMBER 2010
9
 MARRIED IN GOD’S SIGHT, WAS THEREFORE
LEGITIMATE, CONSIDERED MORE HONOURABLE THAN
ISHMAEL AND WAS THE ACKNOWLEDGED HEIR TO THE
FATHER.
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BONE OF BITTER CONTENTION BETWEEN JEWISH, CHRISTIAN
AND ISLAMIC FAITHFUL BECAUSE THE MOSLEMS BELIEVE THAT ISHMAEL, WHO IS
THEIR FOREFATHER, BEING THE FIRST BORN OF ST ABRAHAM, IS THE LEGAL HEIR.
THE PROMISED LAND OF PALESTINE IS THE INHERITANCE OVER WHICH THE JEWS
AND MOSLEMS HAVE FOUGHT BITTERLY EVER SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE
ISLAMIC FAITH.
“…therefore let it not disturb you that you were not born
after the flesh. For from the very reason that you
are not so born, are you most of all abraham’s
kindred.”
St Paul tells ALL CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY THE GENTILES,
that THROUGH OUR FAITH IN GOD, AND OUR SPIRITUAL
REBIRTH AND ADOPTION AT HOLY BAPTISM AND
CHRISMATION, WE TOO ARE THE MIRACULOUS
CHILDREN OF ST ABRAHAM.
WE ARE NOT HIS HEIRS THROUGH BIOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS, BUT SPIRITUALLY, THROUGH THE WILL
AND GRACE OF GOD, JUST AS ISAAC WAS CONCEIVED BY
GOD’S GRACIOUS WILL.

The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 8:16-21

Jesus Christ Warns Us To Listen Carefully & He Reveals His True Family
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “No one - when he has lit a lamp - covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed,
but sets it on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not
be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not
have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by
some, who said, “Thy mother and Thy brothers are standing outside, desiring to see Thee.” But He answered and
said to them: “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.”
TAKING “HEED” TO HEAR JESUS CHRIST, THE WORD OF AND WHO STRUGGLED TO APPLY THEM TO EVERY
GOD, BRINGS LIGHT WITHIN THE SOUL. ASPECT OF LIFE.
Spiritual Light must not be covered or hidden but allowed His “brothers” were either His legal “step-brothers” or
to shine forth because THE MORE WE PERMIT GOD’S cousins who were the sons of St Joseph the Betrothed
LIGHT TO SHINE, THE MORE DIVINE LIGHT WE RECEIVE. and his late wife, Salome, (sister of St Anna) or they
Jesus Christ warns us to listen very carefully to His were other close male relatives.
Instructions and Commandments and then carry them The fact that our Lord handed over the care of His Beloved
out accordingly because ONLY THROUGH FAITHFUL Mother to St John the Apostle and Theologian and his
OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN ALL MATTERS CAN WE BE family instead of anyone else, highlights the fact that
ASSURED OF A PLACE IN HEAVEN there were no other biological male siblings whose
St Luke does not report the reason why Jesus Christ’s responsibility it would have been to care for their
Family wanted to see Him because it was of no mother (and any unmarried sisters.)
significance. Our kind, compassionate and loving Lord would never
However, THE STATEMENT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS have insulted others by commissioning His Beloved
OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE: He declares quite clearly Apostle instead of them to protect Her.
that HIS FAMILY IS A SPIRITUAL FAMILY CONSISTING OF In addition, when Christ said to St John: “Behold, thy
ALL WHO HEAR AND OBEY GOD’S WILL OR
Mother!” HE DECLARED TO EACH OF US, THROUGHOUT
COMMANDMENTS.
THE AGES, THAT THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS IS
He most certainly was not denigrating or insulting His THE HOLY MOTHER OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE!
Righteous Relatives who lived their entire lives in Finally: IF WE FULFIL EVERY ASPECT OF CHRIST’S
humble Obedience to God. TEACHINGS WITH HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD,
OUR LORD JESUS USED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH AS WE, TOO, BECOME WORTHY ADOPTED SIBLINGS OF
MUCH DIVINE TRUTH AS POSSIBLE TO ALL THOSE WHO CHRIST AND THUS CO-HEIRS TO THE ETERNAL
LISTENED CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTOOD HIS WORDS – KINGDOM OF GOD THE FATHER.

Father George Calciu - On The Meaning Of Suffering

People have died In my arms and in the arms of others
who were a thousand times more worthy than me -
the sinner.
Nevertheless, even if I say what good or evil I did I would
still be bragging. So, I find it very difficult to talk about
these things.
My life in (Communist) Romania, was full of events for
better and for worse.
I do not accuse or blame anyone - all these were sent by
God to exercise my soul.
When asked if my suffering in prison helped me somehow,
I answered: no, but I’m the result of this suffering.
If I do something, if I am anything, if you see something in
me, know that it is due to suffering.
WITHOUT SUFFERING, I HAVE NOTHING!
Perhaps the most difficult of all questions concerns
suffering, because it is the most inexplicable.
Why is suffering necessary?
I have experienced suffering that enriched my soul and I
believe that such suffering was necessary for me.
However, it is very difficult for others to accept this
principle.
When we were in prison (concentration camps), we asked
each other: Why such pain? Why us? Of all the
millions of Romanians, why were we chosen to
suffer? What is the purpose?
And God did not seem to enlighten us at all.
Every day we cried out to God, beseeching Him to lessen
our pain yet He seemed to permit us even more
suffering.
Even after being liberated, I held within me this sign of the
pain, which seemed to mark my whole life thereafter.
After my second imprisonment, I immigrated to the West
and travelled through every country in Europe and
America to speak about what happened under
Communism.
I was compelled to break the silence and to tell the world
about the suffering of my country - the injustice, the
oppression of Communism, the destruction of
churches and of human beings...
In my wanderings I eventually arrived at a Catholic
Monastery where I spent the night in its library.
Among the many books I saw a small booklet with
Christian apothegms (PROFOUND SAYINGS) and opening its
pages at random, I read a reflection of Paul Claudel,
a famous French writer: “Christ did not come into
the world to eliminate suffering, Christ has not
even come into the world to explain it. Rather,
He came to fill human suffering with His
Presence! “
Suddenly I understood that in times of tears, or when we
rebel or cry out “God, what are You doing to us?! HE
IS (PRESENT) WITHIN US MORE THAN EVER - DESPITE
ALL OUR SINS AND ALL OUR INFIRMITIES - HE FILLS
OUR SUFFERING WITH HIS PRESENCE.
Then I understood exactly the deep meaning of this pain:
GOD IS PRESENT IN US!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP :
http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/category/orthodox-saints-
and-church-fathers/father-george-calciu/page/2/

THE CONCEPTION OF THE EVER VIRGIN MARY BY ST ANNA & ST JOACHIM – 9 DECEMBER 2010
10
 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 EVER,
AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

29th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 4 12 December 2010

Sunday of the Holy Ancestors of Christ According to the Flesh

Also the Feast of St Spyridon the Wonderworker of Tremyhos – St

Therapon, Abbot of Monza Monastery – St Alexander of Jerusalem – St
Synetos of Rome, St John, Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery

Resurrection Apolytikion - Tone 4

To fedron tis Anastaseos Kirigma ek tou Angelou
Mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie ke tin Progonikin
apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene
elegon: Eskilefte O Thanatos, igerthi Hristos O
Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to Mega Eleos!
Apolytikion Of The Ancestors Of Christ – Tone 2
En pisti tous Propatoras edikeosas, tin ex ethnon
diafton Pomnistefsamenos Ekklisian. Kafhonte en
doxi i Agii, oti ek spermatos afton, iparhi karpos
efkeleis, i asporos tekousa se. Tes afton ikesies
Hriste O Theos, soson ta psihas imon.
Apolytikion Of St Spyridon Of Trymithous – Tone 1
Tis sinodou tis protis anedihthis ipermahos, ke
Thavmatourgos Theofore, Spyridon Patir imon; dio
nekra si en tafo prosfonis, ke ofin is hrisoun
metevales; ke en to melpin tas Agias sou ehas,
Angelous eskhes sillitougountas si ierotate. Doxa to se
doxasanti Hristo, Doxa to se stefanosanti, Doxa to
energounti dia sou, pasin iamata.
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, O Pro Aionon Theos.
When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learnt from
the Angels the Glad Tidings of the Resurrection, and
had cast away the Condemnation of their
Forefather, they spoke exultingly to the Apostles:
Death is no more: Christ-God is Risen, granting to
the world Great Mercy!
In Faith the Forefathers Thou has justified by
producing through them, the Church from the
Nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their
seed came forth Noble Fruit - the One Who gave
Thee Birth without seed. Through their
intercessions, O Christ our God, Save our souls!
At the first of the Synods, thou emerged as the
Champion, and Wonder-worker, our God-bearing
Father Spyridon. Wherefore, thou addressed thy
dead daughter in the grave, and a serpent thou
changed into gold. And while chanting in service
thy sacred prayers, thou had Angels celebrating, O
Most Holy One. Glory to Christ Who glorified thee,
glory to Him Who crowned thee, glory to the One
Who works through thee, healings for everyone!
Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom
no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds
give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For
unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal
God.

Resurrection Gospel 7 : John 20 : 1 – 10 ST PETER & ST JOHN WITNESS THE EMPTY TOMB OF OUR RISEN LORD JESUS CHRIST

Prokeimenon : Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our Forefathers. For Thou hast always dealt Righteously with us.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians 5 : 8 – 19
We must live in the Divine Light of our Lord Jesus Christ
Brethren: You were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as Children of Light (for the Fruit of the
Spirit is in all Goodness, Righteousness and Truth), finding out what is acceptable to our Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to
speak of those things that are done by them in secrete.
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light, for whatever reveals is Light. Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you Light!”
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which
is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...
We must judge whatever the world considers as being However, before we are able to do so, we must first
“reasonable” according to Divine Truth – the Perfect expose and correct our own sins and errors.
and Absolute Truth of our Lord God. We must seek out from the depths of our soul all our
Besides separating ourselves from the darkness of sin sins which we must then repent – reject and
and Spiritual Ignorance, we are obliged to expose all renounce – and Confess.
deceptions and lies in the Light of Christ.
J o h n 3 : 1 9 – 2 1 – “... this is the Condemnation,
that the Light has come into the world, but

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – THE HOLY ANCESTORS – 12 DECEMBER 2010
11
 men loved darkness rather than Light, to full Orthodox Worship after a period of humble
because their deeds were evil. For everyone penance.
practising evil hates the Light and does not Nevertheless, SUCH ‘SECOND CONVERSIONS’ ARE
come to the Light, lest his deeds be DIFFICULT AND RARE – SO THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN AS
exposed. But he who practises the Truth A MOST SERIOUS WARNING TO ALL STRUGGLING
comes to the Light so that his deeds may DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
be clearly seen, that they have been done in
H e b r e w s 1 0 : 3 2 - “... recall the former days in
God.” which, after you were Illuminated, you
Orthodox Christians do this before Holy Baptism – endured a great Struggle with sufferings...”
especially as Godparents and parents of small To “walk in the Light” means that we live every
children, and before partaking of Holy Eucharist or moment of our lives IN CHRIST – we live as though
Holy Unction. newly Baptised or Divinely Enlightened – according
We unload our Spiritual Baggage and lessen our Final to the Will of God alone and not according our own
Judgement with regular self-examination and - limited and flawed understanding or our own selfish,
especially - with the Holy Mystery of Repentance- self-indulgent manner.
Confession, which permanently removes our The Sacred Goal or Purpose of Orthodox Christianity is
repented and confessed sins. not to abandon God’s beautiful created world but
“Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead, and rather to maintain ourselves IN CHRIST – to salvage
Christ will give you Light!” This is an early as much as possible from this fallen, corrupt world
Baptismal Hymn. of human ego and greed.
Holy Baptism is Divine Illumination – “...Christ will Faithful Disciples of Christ renounce the wickedness of
give you Light...” the fallen human condition – the fallen world of the

A c t s 2 6 : 1 8 – Christ told St Paul at his Calling: “... flesh – not the beautiful Creation of God.
rise and stand on your feet; for I have After we have genuinely repented and Confessed we
appeared to you for this Purpose: to make experience a wonderful surge of Spiritual Joy and
you a Minister and Witness both of the Life.
A distinctive spirit – a kind of euphoria or elation
Things which you have seen and of the
energises both the darkness of sin and Spiritual
Things that I will yet reveal to you.”
Light.

2 C o r i n t h i a n s 4 : 6 – “It is the God Who
Those who exist in a state of Spiritual Death or darkness
Commanded Light to shine out of darkness,
experience a type of intoxication that is artificial,
Who has shone in our hearts to give the
deceptive and temporary, while those who live in
Light of Knowledge of the Glory of God in
Spiritual Light – the Divine Light of God – experience
the Face of Jesus Christ.”
the very Presence of the Holy Spirit and the True Joy

H e b r e w s 6 : 4 – “It is impossible for those who
of our New Covenant with Almighty God – the
were once Enlightened, and have tasted the
everlasting reality of the Glory, Honour and Worship
Heavenly Gift, and have become Partakers
of the Holy Trinity – the True Joy and Reality of the
of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the Good
Holy Eucharist – the Eternal Thanksgiving and Union
Word of God, and the Powers of the Ages to
with God: to God the Father, through God the Son
come, if they fall away, to Renew them
Incarnate and in the Holy Spirit.
again to Repentance, since they crucify Those who are inebriated by alcohol or drugs totter and
again for themselves the Son of God, and sway and keep craving something that never satisfies
put Him to an open shame.” but only destroys.
This refers to those who have apostatized – those who Those who are inebriated with the Holy Spirit are rooted
after being Baptised, have rejected Christ and His in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and are gloriously sober
Saving Power. and Redeemed Eternally.
Certain Holy Fathers believed that apostasy was such a Being able to quote Holy Scripture chapter and verse or
grave or grievous sin that Repentance is impossible singing Hymns are not at all Spiritual.
for such souls. Our thoughts, words and deeds must constantly spring
However, Christ’s Holy Church maintains the belief that forth from a heartfelt virtuous state of Humility,
those who have apostatized but, realising their Obedience and a Fear of God – a humble state of
serious error, have sincerely repented, may return deepest Love of and respect for Almighty God.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 14: 16 – 24
Worldly Entanglements And Poor Excuses!
At that time, our Lord Jesus said to a certain Pharisee: “A certain Man gave a Great Supper and invited many, and
sent His servant at supper time to tell those who were invited: “Come, for all Things are now ready!” But
they all – with one accord – began to make excuses.
“The first said to him: ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’
Another said: ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’
Still another said: ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
“So that servant went and reported these things to his Master. Then the Master of the House, being angry, said
to His servant: ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and fetch the poor and the maimed, the
lame and the blind.’ And the servant said: ‘Master, it is done as Thou Commanded, and still there is room.’
So the Master said to His servant: ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in so that
My House may be filled. For I say to you: none of those who were invited shall taste My Supper!’”
This Parable of our Lord Jesus Christ is applicable on The first people to be invited by God to His Eternal
two levels, ILLUSTRATING BOTH THE FIRST AND Mystical Supper were initially the Hebrews and then,
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. later, ALL MANKIND WITHOUT DISTINCTION.
THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD – AS THE “SERVANT” OF Our Holy Church Fathers regarded the three types of
GOD THE FATHER – IS SENT TO CALL HIS CHOSEN excuses as having both A LITERAL AND SPIRITUAL
PEOPLE who were the Hebrews – the Old Covenant MEANING.
Nation of Israel – most of whom made excuses to All too many of us are so entangled by the attractions
reject His Divine Calling – and then the New and cares of the physical world - which are fleeting,
Covenant Israel – Hebrews and Gentiles who chose of no benefit, and often destructive - WE IGNORE OR
to accept His Divine Invitation – His Divine Calling TO REJECT OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE WHICH IS
PARTAKE OF THE DIVINE LIFE-GIVING MYSTERIES OF ETERNALLY BENEFICIAL, FULFILLING AND SALVIFIC.
THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. St Ambrose saw the three types of excuses as
The term “Supper” indicates evening – the end of day or representing THE GENTILE, THE HEBREW AND THE
THE END OF THE AGES. HERETIC.

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – THE HOLY ANCESTORS – 12 DECEMBER 2010
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 ➤ THE GENTILE’S DEVOTION TO EARTHLY
POSSESSIONS AND STATUS is represented by
the “piece of ground,”
➤ THE HEBREW’S ENSLAVEMENT TO THE FIVE
BOOKS OF THE LAW is represented by the
“five yoke of oxen,”
➤ and THE HERETIC’S ESPOUSAL OF ERROR is
represented by blaming or using someone
else - “ a wife...” – as an excuse for
rejecting or avoiding God.
St Theophylact generally regarded these excuses as
those of PEOPLE WHO WERE ENSLAVED AND
DOMINATED BY THEIR FIVE SENSES AND THUS WERE
DEVOTED TO EARTHLY MATTERS AND ALL SELF-
INDULGENT PLEASURES OF THE FLESH.
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers is commemorated on the
Sunday that falls between 11 – 17 December - two
Sundays before the Nativity of Christ our Lord and
Saviour (western “Christmas.”)
The Righteous Ancestors of Christ according to the flesh
are remembered on this Sunday of the Nativity Fast,
which we began on 15 November and which lasts
until 25 December – the Nativity.
These are all our great Holy Church Fathers and Mothers
- including all the Holy Prophets of the Old
Covenant: beginning with Adam, St Abraham the
ancient Patriarch, the Righteous St Sarah, St Isaac
and St Jacob, the Holy Prophets St Elias and St
Daniel... and concluding with St Zechariah (Zachary)
Father Stephen’s “Glory to God for All Things – The Forefathers of Christ”
Among the greatest blasphemies ever constructed by
humankind was that of Nazi Germany.
Not satisfied with their political dominance, they also
sought a religious dominance as well. The notion of
an “Aryan Christ” was perhaps the depths of their
theological blasphemies mirrored in their
dehumanization and murder of the Jews.
At many points in the past two millennia, the
relationship between Christians and Jews has hit low
points – with the Jews almost universally at the short
end of the stick.
But to seek to create a Christ who Himself was not a Jew
is (for a Christian) the worst of insults.
The Second Sunday Before the Nativity, in Orthodox
Tradition, is set aside as the Sunday of the Holy
Forefathers in which the Church remembers all those
who are of the Ancestry of Christ.
These are the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh,
who lived before the Law and under the Law,
especially the Patriarch Abraham, to whom God said,
“In thy seed shall all of the nations of the earth
be blessed.” (GENESIS 12:3, 22:18)
In this modern century it also stands as a stark reminder
that Christ was a Jew and as He said, “Salvation is
of the Jews.” (JOHN 4:22)
There is a tendency (seen at its worst in Germany of the
1930′s and 40′s) to divorce Christ from His history, to
treat Him as though He simply appeared on earth,
full-grown. This same tendency diminishes the role
of His Mother in the events of our Salvation, contrary
to the Witness of Holy Scripture.
For most of the Christian Church divorced from the
Fullness of Orthodox Tradition, the Saints are only
those of the New Testament, the Old Testament
having been relegated to a questionable status (not
questionable as Scripture, per se, but often divorced
from its proper role in the story of Salvation).
Many Christians, on the popular level, distance
themselves from the Old Testament saying, “I
believe in the God of the New Testament.” This last
statement is, although unknown to many, a heresy
(Marcionism).
The theological maxim: “the Law of praying is the Law
of believing,” is again manifested in its proper
manner in Orthodox worship.
There, the Ancestors of Christ are remembered in a
singular way, understanding that the Plan of our
(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – THE HOLY ANCESTORS
Those whom CHRIST CALLS from the “streets and
lanes” and those from “the highways and
hedges” indicate THE GENTILES WHO SO WILLINGLY
AND JOYFULLY ACCEPTED HIM AFTER THE FAITHLESS
HEBREWS HAD REJECTED HIM AND ALSO THOSE WHO
WERE OUTSIDE HIS HOLY CHURCH BUT WHO NOW
REPLACE THOSE WITHIN IT WHO HAVE REJECTED
THEIR OWN HOLY BAPTISM THROUGH APOSTASY,
SPIRITUAL REBELLION AND OUTRIGHT DISREGARD
FOR GOD’S HOLY TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS.
the Holy Prophet of God and father of St John the
Baptist, St Joachim and St Anna, the aged
Righteous parents of our Lady Theotokos, St John
the Baptist, Forerunner to Christ and the last but
greatest of all Holy Prophets as confirmed by Christ
Himself - and, finally, Christ’s earthly Mother - our
Most Holy, All Pure Virgin Mary and Ever Blessed
Theotokos.
They lived before and under the Law of God, given to St
Moses - and especially St Abraham – the ancient
Patriarch to whom God Promised:, "In thy seed
shall all of the nations of the earth be Blessed"
(GENESIS 12:3, 22:18)
Salvation stretches through the whole of human
history (indeed it is prophesied in Genesis).
Added to this is the Orthodox custom of celebrating Old
Testament Saints, many with their own singular
Feast Day (Churches are named for them as well).
Unless the Church actually incorporates the whole life of
the people of God into its own worship Life, its
people will begin to think that those prior to the New
Testament have some lesser value – occasionally to
a disastrous conclusion.
It is true that for Christians, the New Testament is the
means for reading the Old (a neglected practice by
those who practice a number of the so-called
historical approaches).
We must learn to see in the Old Testament the shadow
of the New Testament and in so doing, not to
despise the shadow because it was yet looking for its
fulfilment.
To despise the shadow is to despise the image is to
despise the very reality itself.
Related to a theme I have touched on several times
lately – to preach the Fullness of the Gospel of Christ
– the Christian story must not be truncated in any
manner.
Thus to remember the Ancestors of Christ is to
remember that the Gospel of Christ, the Salvation
accomplished on the Cross, is a Divine Work, taken
up by generations who preserved the Torah, who
observed the Law, who suffered under Egyptian,
Philistine, Babylonian, Persian, Alexandrian and
numerous other oppressors as well as struggling
against their own temptations (no less than we must
ourselves).
There is a great line of Faithfulness that runs throughout
those generations, despite any lapses, that finds its
culmination for Christians in the Theotokos, the One
Whom all generations will call Blessed.
She recapitulates the whole of human history that had
gone before, and unlike the primordial Ancestor Eve,
she responds to the initiative of God with, “Behold
the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done unto
me according to Thy Word.”
And thus the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us,
Full of Grace and Truth.
But let us tell the whole story so that the Fullness of the
Mercy of God might be remembered and the full
Company of His Faithful Children might be recalled.
May they be Blessed forever.
– 12 DECEMBER 2010
13
Today, as we celebrate the Memorial of the Forefathers,
let us the Faithful raise a Hymn to Christ the
Redeemer, the Lord Who magnifies them among all
the nations, and faithfully performs extraordinary
Wonders, as He is Mighty and Powerful; and He
showed forth from them a Rod of Power for us,
Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit – Blessed Theophanios (Theodoropoulos)
 TRUE LOVE IS LIKE THE FLAME OF A CANDLE.
However many candles we light from the flame,
the initial flame remains unaffected. It doesn’t
lessen at all. And every freshly lit candle has as
much flame as the others do.
 I WANT WHOEVER IS NEAR ME TO FEEL THAT HE HAS
ROOM TO BREATHE, not that he is suffocated. I
don’t call anyone to me. I don’t hold onto
anyone. I don’t chase anyone away. Whoever
wants comes, whoever wants stays, whoever
wants leaves. I don’t consider anyone a
supporter or a follower.
 I AM NOT AFRAID OF DEATH. Not, of course, because
of my works, but because I believe in God’s
mercy.
 SPEAK MORE TO GOD ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN THAN
TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD…. The soul of
teenagers is in a state of an explosion of
freedom. For this reason they have a hard time
accepting various counsels (ADVICE). So, rather
than counselling them continuously and re-
proaching them now and again, leave the
situation to Christ, to the Panaghia (GREEK WORD
MEANING “ALL-HOLY” - THE MOST BELOVED TERM OF ENDEARMENT FOR
THE MOTHER OF GOD) and to the Saints, asking them to
bring them to reason.
 DON’T BE NEGLECTFUL OF PRAYER! At table, in the
morning, afternoon and evening. In particular we
must not miss Small Compline for any reason,
tired though we may be. It’s a question of self-
sacrifice and, in particular, of Love. When a
beloved person calls us very late at night, how
are we able to speak sometimes for a few hours,
despite our fatigue, without being put out, and
being rather pleased?
 DEAL WITH YOUR CHILDREN AS WITH COLTS,
SOMETIMES TIGHTENING AND OTHER TIMES
LOOSENING THE BIT. When the colt kicks, without
abandoning the bit, we loosen it, otherwise it will
break. When, however, it is peaceful, then we
tighten the bit and take the colt where we like.
 PARENTS SHOULD LOVE THEIR CHILDREN AS THEIR
CHILDREN AND NOT AS THEIR IDOLS. That is to
say, we should love our children as they are and
not how we would like them to be - to be like us.
 WHOEVER FEARS GOD DOESN’T FEAR ANYTHING ELSE.
 I AM IN PAIN AND AGONIZE OVER THE PATH OF THE
GREEK PEOPLE who are constantly being de-
Hellenized, de-Christianized, de-colorized and
cut off from their roots, and are losing their
identity.
 IN MARRIAGE, ABSTENTION SOLELY OUT OF LOVE FOR
GOD IS PERFECT, “THE GREATEST.”(ELDER EPIPHANIOS
USES TERMINOLOGY FROM THE GRADING SYSTEM AT SCHOOL TO MAKE HIS
When
POINT. “THE GREATEST” IS AN “A,” “VERY GOOD,” IS A “B,” ETC).
the couple comes together, not obstructing the
procreation of children, it is at the level of “very
good.” And when they abstain solely to avoid the
procreation of children, they are on the level of
“good.” In any case all of these categories are
above average and are only legitimate with the
presupposition that they have been agreed upon
by both spouses and not just one. Otherwise it is
a sin.
 GOD APPOINTED THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD TO
HIS SON AND NOT TO US…. We must first look at
our soul and if we can, let’s help five or six
people around us.
 WHEN WE ARE FREE, WE HAVE RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. When we marry, we have few
rights and very many responsibilities. When,
however, we have children, we do not have any
rights at all, but only responsibilities.
(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) 29TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – THE HOLY ANCESTORS
14
Pure Mary the Child of God Who alone knew no
man, from Whom the Flower, Christ, came forth,
blossoming Life for all and pleasure without cost,
and Eternal Life.
(STICHERA ON LORD I CALL FOR THE SUNDAY OF THE HOLY ANCESTORS, TONE 8)
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/the-forefathers-of-christ
 WHY DO THEY PUT RUBBER TIRES WITH INNER TUBES
ON CARS? So that they give in, to collapse a little
with every little stone or pothole on the road, and
in this way they pass obstacles. If the wheels
were firm and unyielding, the car wouldn’t be
able to move forward. It would fall apart after a
short distance because of the vibration from the
small inconsistencies of terrain. The same thing
happens with yielding to others in the family. In
this way many problems are surpassed and
continuous spiritual progress is assured.
 WHEN PEOPLE TREAT US UNJUSTLY, GOD JUSTIFIES
US.
 [GOD ALLOWS VIRTUOUS PEOPLE TO SUFFER] so that
we might be Purified from even the slightest
traces of our passions and so that we might
receive an even greater Crown in Heaven. Fur-
thermore, as He allowed His Beloved Son to
suffer and to die on the Cross, what can we say
about those people who, as Holy as they may be,
have filth and stains from sin?
 SADNESS PURIFIES US. We are truly human in
sadness. In Joy we are changed – we become
someone else. In sadness we become that which
we truly are. And this is the way, par excellence,
that we approach God. We sense our weakness.
Many times, when we experience glory and joy,
we may feel that we are the “eye of the earth” or,
if you prefer, the centre of the Universe: “I am,
and nobody else!”
 IN PAIN AND SADNESS WE FEEL LIKE AN
INSIGNIFICANT ANT IN THE UNIVERSE – we feel
completely dependent, and we seek the Help and
Companionship of God. Those of us who have
passed through pains, either psychical or
physical, know that we never prayed as hard and
with such quality and length, as we did when we
were in that bed of pain or when some heavy
psychical sadness tested us. Meanwhile, when we
have everything, we forget Prayer and Fasting,
and many essential Things so it is for this reason
that God allows us to experience pain.
 DON’T SIT, GLUED TO THE TELEVISION…. GUARD
YOURSELVES FROM THE MEANS OF MASS
SPIRITUAL BLINDING.
 WE DIDN’T COME HERE [TO THE MONASTERY] MAINLY
FOR HANDIWORK, OR FOR THE GARDENS OR FOR
THE BUILDINGS. For even without these things
we can save our soul. We came here primarily for
the soul. And in order to save the soul, we must
PASS THE DAY WITHOUT SIN, WITH MEEKNESS,
WITH PRAYERS AND WITH THE HOLY CANON (IN THIS
CASE, THE DAILY RULE OF PRAYER, READING, PROSTRATIONS, AND SO ON,
THAT A MONK PRACTISES IN HIS ROOM).
 I SACRIFICED EVERYTHING EVEN BEFORE I HAD
ANYTHING. I sacrificed a place at the University as
a Professor. I sacrificed the position of First
Secretary of the Holy Synod. I sacrificed the
position of Director of a Missionary Brotherhood.
I sacrificed the position of Protopresbyter of a
large church. I sacrificed Episcopal Thrones ( THE
POSITION OF BISHOP)…. All I have is a little Epilrahili
(LITERALLY TRANSLATED FROM GREEK AS: “UPON THE NECK” - THE STOLE
THAT THE PRIEST OR BISHOP WEARS AROUND HIS NECK WHEN
PERFORMING THE HOLY MYSTERIES) so as to confess ten
souls. Nothing else!
 THERE IS NO GREATER SATISFACTION FOR ME THAN TO
REMAIN FOR HOURS IN THE SEAT OF THE
CONFESSIONAL AND TO RECONCILE MAN TO GOD.
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: ELDER EPIPHANIOS IN “PRECIOUS VESSELS OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT” - PROTECTING VEIL PRESS -
http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/
– 12 DECEMBER 2010
 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 EVER,
AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

15 December 2010
St Eleutherios, Hieromartyr of Illyria & St Anthia, his mother

Also the Feast of St Susannah the Deaconness – St Paul of Latros –

St Stephen the Confessor of Surrentium (Sourozh) – St Tryphon &
St Jonah, his disciple, of Pechenga (Kolsk) Monastery – St Eleutherios of
Constantinople – St Pardos the Hermit of Palestine – St Hilarion, Hieromartyr of Vereiya – St
Nektarios of Bitel

Apolytikion Of St Eleutherios – Tone (5) Plagal 1

Ieron podiri katakosmoumenos, ke ematon tis rithris Being adorned with a Priest’s gown that reached the
epistazomenos, to Despoti Sou Hristo Makar ground, and immersed in the streams of Martyr’s
anedrames, Eleftherie Sofe, kathereta tou Satan. Blood, Thou hastened to Christ Thy Lord, O
Dio mi pafsi Presvevon iper ton Pisti Timonton, tin Eleutherios, the Blessed and Wise One, Destroyer of
Makarian Sou Athlisin. Satan. Hence, do not cease Interceding for those
who honour in Faith Thy Blessed Martyrdom.
K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s - Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For
unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal
God.
The Second Epistle of St Paul to St Timothy 1 : 8 - 18
St Timothy’s Gift – The Power of God
To Timothy, a Beloved Son: ... Do not be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner, but share
with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the Power of God, Who has Saved us and Called us with a
Holy Calling, not according to our works, but according to His own Purpose and Grace, which was granted to us
by Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who
has abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to Light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a
Preacher, an Apostle, and a Teacher of the Gentiles.
For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words, which you have heard from me, in Faith and Love, which are in Christ Jesus.
That Good Thing that was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us.
This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellos and Hermogenes. The
Lord grant Mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my
chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.
The Lord grant to him that he may find Mercy from the Lord in that Day – and you know very well how many ways
he ministered to me at Ephesos.
✽ As faithful Disciples of Christ we must NEVER BE Even before God created the invisible and visible
EMBARRASSED BY OR ASHAMED OF ANYTHING Universe, He provided everything necessary for our
CONCERNING OUR BELOVED LORD JESUS CHRIST, Salvation and Calling, which are based solely on His
ALMIGHTY GOD OR OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH. Divine Grace and Love and not on anything we have
Furthermore, we must BE READY TO SUFFER AND done or can do to merit God’s Love and infinite
ENDURE THE INSULTS AND INJURIES INFLICTED UPON
Benevolence.
US FOR OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, CONFIDENT IN THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD MAKES EVERYTHING

E p h e s i a n s 2 : 8 – 1 0 “... by Grace you have been
POSSIBLE FOR US TO ACHIEVE – SINCE WITHOUT HIM, Saved through Faith, and that not of
WE ARE LESS THAN NOTHING! yourselves; it is the Gift of God, not of
✽ WE MUST LIVE EVERY DAY IN CHRIST AND ONLY works, lest anyone should boast. For we
CONCERN OURSELVES WITH OUR INNER, are His Workmanship, created in Christ
SPIRITUAL CONDITION, FOREVER CLOSELY Jesus for Good Works, which God prepared
EXAMINING OUR SPIRITUAL DEPTHS – BEING beforehand so that we should walk in (live
CONSTANTLY ALERT AND WATCHFUL - AND
by) them.”
IMMEDIATELY PLUCKING OUT AND ERADICATING
ALL ERRORS AND SINS THROUGH REGULAR

T i t u s 3 : 5 - 6 “... not by Works of Righteousness,
REPENTANCE-CONFESSION, FASTING, PRAYER AND which we have done, but according to His
HOLY COMMUNION. Mercy He Saved us, through the Washing of
✽ OUR HOLY CALLING IS TO FULFIL - to the best of our Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy
ability and by the Grace of God – EVERYTHING Spirit, Whom He poured out on us
ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT abundantly through Jesus Christ our
AND PROGRESS - “... according to His own Saviour.”
Purpose and Grace.”

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST ELEFTHERIOS, HIEROMARTYR OF ILLYRIA & ST ANTHIA, HIS MOTHER – 15 DECEMBER 2010
15
“The Washing of Regeneration” is our Holy Baptism ✽ “The pattern of sound words,” means the oral
and the “Renewing of the Holy Spirit,” is our Apostolic Tradition or Teaching of God’s Truth,
Chrismation, which form A UNITY IN OUR SALVATION, which is as important as the written Apostolic
THROUGHOUT THE NEW COVENANT. Tradition, which came about from the verbal or
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that WE ARE BORN FROM oral Teachings of Christ and His Apostles.
ABOVE THROUGH “WATER AND THE (HOLY) SPIRIT.” ✽ Whether oral or written, Holy Tradition or Teaching is
Consequently, WE ARE ALL CALLED TO HOLY BAPTISM rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ from Whom it
AND HOLY CHRISMATION, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING originated, and it is kept intact, unchanged and
OF ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.
carefully preserved and protected by “... the
✽ Our Lord Jesus Christ “... submitted (to suffering) so Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
that He might break the power of Death and ✽ From St Paul’s words, it appears that
demonstrate the Resurrection from the dead –
“Onesiphoros” had died. The Holy Church of
thus it was necessary for Him to be manifested
Christ has always prayed for Her departed souls,
(revealed) in the flesh. Christ also submitted so
that they might “find Mercy” from God at our
that he might fulfil the Promise to the Fathers
Final Judgement.
and, while he was preparing the New People for
Himself and while He was still on earth, to
prove that after He has brought about
Resurrection, He will Judge.” (BARNABAS 5: 6-7)
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 2 : 23 : 3 - 5
Our Lord Jesus Christ Transcends the Holy Sabbath
A t that time, our Lord Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went, His Disciples began to
pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him: “Look! Why do they do what is not lawful on the
Sabbath?” And He said to them: “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry – he
and those with him: how he went into the House of God, in the days of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate the
Showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the Priests, and also gave some to those who were with
him?”
And He said to them: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man
is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
And our Lord Jesus entered the Synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched
Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man
who had the withered hand: “Step forward.” Then He said to them: “Is is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or
to do evil? To save life or to take it?” But they kept silent.
And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the
man: “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him – how they might destroy
Him.
Feast Days were also referred to as Sabbath Days and Consequently, even Divine Miracles were scorned by
according to the Holy Gospel account of St Luke, this these self-righteous people who believed that they
incident fell on a Feast Day or a “Second Sabbath.” alone served God correctly by zealously practising
According to St Ambrose, the term “Second Sabbath” these peripheral traditions or customs.
served as an image of the New Covenant and the However such rigid legalism made them insensitive to
Eternal Resurrection: the first Sabbath indicating the God’s Divine Mercy and Compassion.
Mosaic Law, and the second indicating the Holy Our “hardness of ... heart” is a grave sin against the
Gospel of Christ that followed it. Love of God and against our fellow sinners who are
Under the New Covenant the food that was “not lawful” denied acts of mercy and compassion due to our
for anyone but the Priests to eat is now freely given own wickedness and error.
to all Faithful Christians by “the Lord of the Rather than surrender to such wickedness, Christ our
Sabbath”- our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Saviour healed the man’s withered hand and without
King David prefigured this when he gave the a doubt changed his life and that of his family
“Showbread... to those with him.” forever.
According to certain traditions that the Scribes and
Pharisees had instituted concerning the Law, healing
was considered to be work or labour!
St Eleutherios the Holy Hieromartyr of Illyria
St Eleutherios was born in Rome, where his father was suddenly his heart changed, and he became a
an Imperial Proconsul. His mother, Anthia, heard the Christian.
Gospel from the great Apostle St Paul and was St Eleutherios Baptized Felix and departed for Rome with
Baptized by him. Having been left a widow early, she him, returning joyfully as if he were going to a feast
entrusted her only son for study and service to and not to trial and torture.
Aniketos the Bishop of Rome. The Emperor subjected the noble St Eleutherios to harsh
Seeing how St Eleutherios was gifted by God and torture: flogging, roasting on an iron bed, boiling in
Illumined by the Grace of God, the Bishop Ordained pitch, and burning in a fiery furnace.
him a Deacon at the age of fifteen, a Priest at the However,St Eleutherios was delivered from all these
age of eighteen, and a Bishop at the age of twenty. deadly tortures by God's Power.
St Eleutherios' God-given Wisdom made up for what he Witnessing all this, Caribus the Roman Eparch declared
lacked in years, and this Chosen One of God was that he also was a Christian and was also tortured
appointed Bishop of Illyria with his seat in Valona and then beheaded, as was Blessed St Felix.
(Avlona), Albania. Finally, the executioners beheaded St Eleutherios and
The Good Shepherd guarded his Flock well and as his mother, St Anthia, stood over the body of her
increased their number day by day. martyred son, she too was beheaded.
Emperor Hadrian, a persecutor of Christians, sent the Their bodies were translated to Valona, where to this day
Commander Felix with soldiers to seize St St Eleutherios Glorifies the Name of Christ with many
Eleutherios and take him to Rome. Miracles.
When the raging Felix arrived in Valona and entered the St Eleutherios was martyred during the reign of
church, he saw and heard the Holy Hierarch of God; Hadrian in the year 120.
May their memories be Eternal!

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST ELEFTHERIOS, HIEROMARTYR OF ILLYRIA & ST ANTHIA, HIS MOTHER – 15 DECEMBER 2010
16
 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 EVER,
AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

17 December 2010
St Daniel, Holy Prophet of God & St Ananias, St Azarios,
& St Misael, the Three Holy Youths,

Also the Feast of St Dionysios of Zakynthos & Aegina -

St Daniel the Confessor of Spain and Egypt – St Avakum, Deacon
of Serbia – St Paisios, New Martyr of Annunciation Monastery,
Trnava, Serbia
Apolytikion of St Daniel – Tone 2
Great are the accomplishments of Faith. In the
fountain of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as
though they were resting by the waters. And the
Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a Shepherd to
the lions, as though they were sheep. Through their
Prayers O Christ our God, Save our souls.

Kontakion of St Daniel & the three Holy youths – Tone 3

Since Thy pure and hallowed heart had been made
pure by the Spirit, it became His Dwelling-place and
clearest Prophecy's Vessel; for Thou beheld things
far off as near and present, and when cast into the
den, Thou muzzled lions; for which cause, O
Blessed Prophet, Glorious Daniel, we all revere Thee
in Faith.
K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s - Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Matins Gospel – Luke 11 : 47 – 12: 1
Our Lord’s admonition against Pharisaic Pride and Hypocrisy
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the Prophets, and your fathers killed
them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed
them, and you build their tombs. Therefore, the Wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them Prophets
and Apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ that the blood of all the Prophets which
was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation.
“Woe to you Lawyers! For you have taken away the Key of Knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves,
and those who were entering in you hindered.”
And as He said these things to them, the Scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-
examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, so that
they might accuse Him.
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another,
He began to say to His Disciples first of all: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy!”
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11 : 33 – 12: 2
The Faith of Certain Israelites & the Perfection of Faith
Brethren: ... time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah - also of David and Samuel and
the Prophets – who, through Faith, subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the
mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong,
became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; women received their dead raised to Life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had
trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted and slain with the sword. They wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered
in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise, God having provided
something better for us, that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
Therefore, we also – since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of Witnesses – let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the
Author and Finisher of our Faith, Who, for the Joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 9 : 33 – 41
The Way Of Holy Discipleship
At that time, our Lord Jesus went to Capernaum. And when He was in the house, He asked them: “What was it that
you disputed amongst yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed
amongst themselves who would be the greatest.

(ALL DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST DANIEL THE HOLY PROPHET OF GOD & THE THREE HOLY YOUTHS – 17 DECEMBER 2010
17
 And Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and
servant of all.”
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His Arms, He said to them:
“Whoever receives one of these little children in My Name, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives
not Me but Him Who sent Me.”
Now John answered Him, saying: “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Thy
Name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” But Jesus said: “Do not forbid him, for no one
who works a Miracle in My Name can soon afterwards speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is
on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My Name, because you belong to Christ,
assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his Reward.”
The Holy Prophet St Daniel & the Three Holy Youths: St Ananias, St Azarias and St Misael
(THE ORIGINAL HEBREW NAMES FOR SHADRACH, MESHACK & ABEDNEGO)
All four were of the Royal Tribe of Judah. who blasphemed such a Powerful God would be “...
When King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed and plundered destroyed, and their houses plundered, because
Jerusalem, St Daniel, as a boy, was carried away into there is no other god who can deliver in this way!”
slavery together with the Jewish King Jehoiachim In the time of King Belshazzar, during a great banquet
and countless other Israelites. when the king was eating and drinking with his
An account of his life, his sufferings and his Divinely guests from Consecrated Vessels plundered from the
Inspired Prophecies can be found in detail in the Old Temple of Jerusalem, an invisible Hand wrote three
Testament Book of Daniel. words on the wall: “Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” (DANIEL
Completely devoted to God, St. Daniel from his early 5:25-28).

youth received the Divine Gift of great Discernment.
His fame among the Hebrews in Babylon began when he
denounced two lecherous and unrighteous Elders
who were Jewish Judges, and saved the chaste
Susanna from an unjust death.
However, his fame among the Babylonians began from
the day he interpreted the dream of King
Nebuchadnezzar, for which St Daniel was installed as
a Prince at his court.
The King had a golden idol made and set up on the
Plain of Dura, which he then ordered everyone to
bow down and worship whenever they heard “the
sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-
stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony
and every kind of music...”
All the people, including the Hebrews, obeyed the pagan
King and fell down to worship the golden idol,
terrified of being “... cast into the burning, fiery
furnace...” except St Ananias, St Azarias and St
Misael who adamantly refused to worship anything
besides the one True, Living and Almighty God.
They were arrested and thrown into the furnace and
immediately an Angel of God appeared with them
and cooled the flames while the Divinely Protected
and unharmed Holy Youths walked around inside the
furnace, continuing to loudly sing their Hymns of
Praise to God: “ Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our
Fathers!” (REFER DANIEL 3:26 - 90).
The King personally witnessed this Divine Miracle. He
was shocked to hear them singing, and then he saw
“...four men untied and walking in the midst of the
fire, yet they are not destroyed and the Vision of
the fourth is like the Son of God!”
As the most powerful officials of the land watched, the
King called out to the Three Holy Youths by name
and ordered them to get out of the furnace.
When everyone saw that not a hair had been singed nor
their clothing scorched by the intense heat of the
furnace, “... nor was the smell of fire on them...” the
King acknowledged the True Magnificence and Great
Power of their living God by decreeing that anyone
The Eternal Wisdom of our Holy Church Fathers
 In answer to the essential question: “WHAT SHALL I DO
IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD?” St Anthony the Great of
Egypt replied: “Do what I tell you, which is this:
wherever you go, keep God in mind; whatever
you do, follow the example of Holy Scripture;
wherever you are, stay there and do not move
away in a hurry. If you keep to these guide-
lines, you will be Saved.”
 THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ENCOUNTER ARE A “LIVING
DIAGNOSIS” THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. When I lie,
it is clear that something is wrong. The inside of me
and the outside of me do not match – I have no
No one was able to interpret these words except St
Daniel, the Holy Prophet of God.
“Mene; God has measured your kingdom and
finished it. Tekel: He weighed you on the
Scales but you were found lacking. Upharsin:
You kingdom has been divided and given to
the Medes and Persians.”
That same night, King Belshazzar was executed.
St Daniel was twice thrown into the lions' den because of
his unwavering Faith in the One, Living God, and
both times the Lord saved him and kept him alive.
St Daniel beheld God on a Throne with the Heavenly
Hosts. He saw Angels of God and Discerned the
future of certain people, of kingdoms, and of the
whole human race. He prophesied the time of the
Coming of our Saviour on earth.
According to St Cyril of Alexandria, St Daniel and the
Three Holy Youths lived to old age in Babylon but
were eventually beheaded for their True Faith.
As the executioners beheaded St Ananias, St Azarias
stretched out his cloak and caught his head before it
fell to the ground and following his example, St
Misael caught St Azarias' head and St Daniel caught
St Misael's head.
An Angel of the God translated their bodies to Judea, to
Mount Gebal, and placed them under a rock.
According to Holy Tradition, these four God-pleasers
arose at the time of the Death of our Lord Christ,
appeared to many and again reposed in peace until
the General Resurrection.
St Daniel is numbered among the four great Holy
Prophets of God (St Isaiah, St Jeremiah, St Ezekiel
and St Daniel).
St Daniel, the Holy Prophet of God lived and prophesied
five hundred years before the Nativity of Christ our
Lord and Saviour.
May their memories be Eternal!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “PROLOGUE FROM OCHRID”
http://www.rocor.org.au/?page_id=925
integrity. OUR LIES ARE A REFUSAL TO LIVE IN THE
TRUTH.
The failure to Love is equally a diagnosis and evidence
of the disordered condition of our lives. Christ’s
teaching in Luke 6 makes the point that THE LOVE
AND FORGIVENESS THAT ARE ASKED OF US ARE
COMMANDMENTS TO BE LIKE GOD.
(FATHER STEPHEN “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS”
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2009/12/

(SPONSORED BY DIMITRI PAIZIS) ST DANIEL THE HOLY PROPHET OF GOD & THE THREE HOLY YOUTHS – 17 DECEMBER 2010
18
 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 EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA,
BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

19 December 2010
th
30 Sunday After Pentecost Tone (5) Plagal 1
Sunday Before the Nativity of Christ our Saviour –
The Genealogy of Christ According to the Flesh

The Righteous Ancestors of Christ according to the Flesh: St Aaron the Righteous Priest – St Benjamin the
Righteous – St Deborah the Righteous – St Ezra the Righteous – St Isaac the Righteous – St Jacob the
Righteous – St Judith the Righteous – St Miriam the Righteous – St Nathan the Holy Prophet of
God – St Nehemiah the Holy Prophet – St Noah the Righteous – St Rebecca the Righteous – St
Sarah the Righteous – St Solomon, King & Holy Prophet – St Susanna the Righteous
Also the Feast of St Boniface the Merciful of Tarsos, Cilicia – St Eutychios of Thessalonika – St Gregentios
of Ethiopia – St Aglaia the Righteous of Rome – St Elias, Wonderworker of Murom, Kiev Near Caves
– St Elias, St Probus & St Ares of Egypt, Holy Martyrs of Cilicia – St Polyeuktos of Caesarea,
Cappadocia – St Timothy the Deacon of Mauretania – St Boniface the Merciful of Ferentino – St
Gregory of Omirits – St George the Scribe & St Savva of Khakhuli

Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone(5) Plagal 1

Ton sinanarhon Logon Patri ke Pnevmati, ton ek The Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit has no
Parthenou tehthenta is Sotirian imon, animnisomen, beginning, and Who, for our Salvation, was born of
Pisti, ke proskinisomen. Oti ivdokise Sarki anelthin a Virgin, let us Faithful believers hymn and adore.
en to Stavro ke Thanaton ipomine ke egire tous For it was His Good Pleasure to ascend the Cross in
tethneotas en ti Evdoxo Anastasi Aftou. the Flesh, and to Suffer Death, and through His own
Glorious Resurrection to raise the dead.
K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s - Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20:11-18 - OUR RISEN LORD JESUS SPEAKS TO ST MARY MAGDALENE

Prokeimenon : Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our Forefathers. For Thou has always dealt Righteously with
us.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 11 : 9 – 10 & 32 - 40
The Faith Of The Old Covenant Hebrews – From St Abraham The Patriarch To St Joseph The Betrothed
Brethren: Through Faith Abraham dwelt in the Land of Promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same Promise; for he waited for the City that has Foundations, whose Builder and
Maker is God.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of
David and Samuel and the Prophets: who through Faith subdued kingdoms, worked Righteousness, obtained
Promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; and women received
their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better Resurrection. Still others had trials
mockings and scourgings, yes, of chains and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were
tempted and they were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, tormented – or whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and
caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a Good Testimony through Faith, did not receive the Promise – God having provided
something better for us – so that they should not be made Perfect apart from us.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 1 : 1 – 25
The Genealogy Of Our Lord And Saviour, Jesus Christ, According To The Flesh
The Book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.
Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the King.

SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – THE GENEALOGY OF OUR LORD– 19 DECEMBER 2010 19.
David the King begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Rehoboam; Rehoboam begot
Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.
Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Joran, and Joran begot Uzziah.
Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.
Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.
Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
After they were taken to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.
Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.
Eliud begot Eleazar; Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the (Betrothed)
Husband of Mary (Miriam) of Whom was born Jesus Who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; from David until the captivity in Babylon were
fourteen generations; and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His Mother, Mary, was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
secretly, but while he thought about these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying:
“Joseph, son of David: do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is Conceived in Her is of the Holy
Spirit. And She will bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He will Save His People from their
sins.”
So all this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Behold, the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel,” which is translated:
“God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did
not know until she had brought forth her Firstborn Son. And he called His Name Jesus.
THE NAME “JESUS” OR “JOSHUA” MEANS “O LORD SAVE St Paul explained to the Galatians: “... the Scripture,
US,” WHICH REFERS TO OUR LORD’S DIVINE ROLE AS foreseeing that God would Justify the Gentiles by
THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MANKIND. Faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand,
THE TITLE “CHRIST” MEANS “ANOINTED ONE,” OR
saying: ‘In Thee all the Nations shall be Blessed.’
“MESSIAH,” WHICH MEANS THE ONE WHO IS FILLED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Galatians 3:8)

J o h n 1 : 3 3 : St John the Baptist and Forerunner to Christ So it was that the Holy Spirit preached the Holy Gospel of
said: “I did not know Him, but He Who sent Christ centuries before to St Abraham, the ancient
me to Baptise with water said to me: ‘Upon Patriarch of the Old Covenant Israel.
Whom you see the (HOLY) Spirit descending, Furthermore, the “Angel of the Lord” Whom St Abraham
and remaining on Him, is He Who Baptises beheld in a Vision was no created being – He was truly
with the Holy Spirit.’” the Son and Word of God.
THE FACT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REMAINED UPON CHRIST St Athanasios the Great taught that our Lord Jesus Christ,
OUR SAVIOUR WAS A DIVINE SIGN THAT HE POSSESSES the Son and Word of God, was referred to as “an Angel
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS FULLNESS FROM ALL ETERNITY (Messenger of God) because He alone reveals the
– i.e. there has never been a moment when the Son Father.”
of God was not united with God the Holy Spirit for In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals God the
together with God the Father they are co-Eternal. Father to us as A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not receive the Holy Spirit at His WHO, BEING ABSOLUTE GOODNESS, TRUTH AND LOVE,
Baptism by St John the Baptist. Instead, the Vision IS INCAPABLE OF ANYTHING EVIL, CRUEL OR
that St John the Baptist experienced revealed the DESTRUCTIVE (which are the inventions of the evil one
Absolute Truth that THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ALWAYS who typifies hatred, everything wicked, deceitful and
BEEN WITH CHRIST. destructive.)
Although ONLY GOD THE SON (THE SECOND DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY
G e n e s i s 2 8 : 1 4 - The Lord God told St Jacob: “...
TRINITY – THE GODHEAD) WAS INCARNATED (BECAME MAN AND THUS your seed shall be like the dust of the earth;
PHYSICAL AND VISIBLE TO US) GOD THE FATHER AND THE HOLY you shall spread abroad to the west and to
SPIRIT WORK IN PERFECT HARMONY IN OUR LORD the east, to the north and to the south; and
JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. in you and in your seed all the Tribes of the
✽ THE HOLY TRINITY ALWAYS WORKS IN PERFECT UNISON earth shall be Blessed.”
AS ONE GOD. JEWISH GENEALOGY NORMALLY INCLUDED ONLY MALE
Our Lord was Incarnate as a Hebrew, from the lineage of RELATIVES SO THE MENTION OF FEMALE RELATIVES
St Abraham, the Father or Patriarch of all Hebrews, SUCH AS TAMAR, RAHAB, RUTH AND BATHSHEBA WAS
and of St David, Israel’s greatest King and Prototype of MOST UNUSUAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE EACH OF THEM WAS
our Royal Messiah. EITHER A GENTILE OR A SINNER.
The Genealogy of Christ according to the Holy Gospel of St HENCE, THE INCLUSION OF THESE WOMEN CONFIRMED THE
Matthew reveals that THE SON OF GOD IDENTIFIES SO GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD AND PREFIGURED THE
DEEPLY WITH OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT HE TOOK IT CALLING OF GENTILES INTO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
UPON HIMSELF AND HAS BECOME PART OF IT FOR THE ✽ IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN
SAKE OF OUR SALVATION. IN GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN OF SALVATION AND
THE ANCESTRY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INCLUDES ANTICIPATED THE VERY SPECIAL PLACE OF THE
Righteous and wicked people, faithful Kings and EVER BLESSED AND ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS
IN HIS DIVINE PLAN.
murderers, Jews and Gentiles, royalty and peasants –
A COMPLETE CROSS-SECTION OF HUMANITY. By means of Anointing by St Samuel the Holy Prophet of
➤ ST MATTHEW’S GENEALOGY OF CHRIST DESCENDS God, St David the Psalmist was consecrated King of
FROM ST ABRAHAM to whom God Promised to Israel and through his Psalms, St David was revealed
Bless all tribes of the earth in Abraham, which was as a great and Holy Prophet of God.
fulfilled in his greatest Descendent, Jesus Christ. Consequently, St David the Psalmist, King and Holy
➤ ST LUKE, on the contrary, LISTED HIS GENEALOGY IN Prophet foreshadowed the Royal and Prophetic Nature
ASCENDING ORDER – FROM CHRIST ALL THE WAY of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Psalm 109)_
BACK TO ADAM. (LUKE 3 : 23 – 38) In addition, as a wicked adulterer and murderer, ST DAVID

G e n e s i s 1 2 : 3 – God said to Abram: “... I will Bless IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SINCERE CONTRITION,
those who Bless Thee and curse those who REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, which
curse Thee; and in Thee all the Tribes of the encourages us - for EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS IS
earth shall be Blessed.” GRANTED THE POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION OR
The Holy Spirit spoke through the Prophets and He spoke RESTORATION BY THE DIVINE GRACE of our Most
through St Moses the Holy Prophet of God who wrote Loving and Merciful God THROUGH OUR WILLING AND
this Holy Book of Genesis. HEARTFELT REPENTANCE-CONFESSION.

20. SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – THE GENEALOGY OF OUR LORD– 19 DECEMBER 2010
St Joseph the Betrothed is named as our Lord Jesus’
immediate predecessor since according to the Old
Covenant, MARRIAGE LAWS CONFER HEREDITARY
RIGHTS ON ADOPTED AS WELL AS BIOLOGICAL
CHILDREN.
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary was also descended from
King David, as was her aunt Salome, (THE SISTER OF ST ANNA
AND THE LATE WIFE OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED) since, according to
Hebrew Laws of the time, BETROTHALS WERE
ARRANGED FROM WITHIN THE SAME TRIBE.
For the same reason, the Temple Priests had consented to
her Betrothal to her aged uncle who was actually her
legal guardian and protector of her Vow of Chastity.
The term “of whom” is feminine in Greek, REFERRING
ONLY TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. So OUR LORD IS
SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN BORN ONLY OF HER AND NOT
BEGOTTEN OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED.
The Ancestors were arranged in three groups of fourteen
generations since fourteen is the numerical equivalent
of the consonants in the name “David,” underlining
Christ’s descent from St David.
It also shows the division of the leadership of the Hebrews,
being under Judges until St David, under Kings until
Babylon and under Priests until Christ.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED
CONSISTED OF A MERCIFUL NATURE THAT
TRANSCENDED THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW.

H o s e a 6 : 6 “... I desire Mercy not sacrifice, and the
Knowledge of God more than Whole Burnt
Offerings...”
St Joseph’s natural compassion and mercy was evident
from his unwillingness to expose the young Virgin’s
assumed sin, even though he was obliged by Mosaic
Law to do so.
The term “husband” and “wife” applied to all Betrothed
couples even before the Marriage had been Sanctified
by God and consummated.
THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH REFERS TO ST JOSEPH AS
“THE BETROTHED,” EMPHASISING THE TRUTH OF THE
ALL HOLY AND ALL PURE, EVER VIRGINITY OF THE
BLESSED THEOTOKOS (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE
ASTOUNDED MIDWIVES WHO ATTENDED TO THE YOUNG VIRGIN BEFORE, DURING
AND AFTER THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST.)

E s t h e r 2 : 7 Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin “ ...
had raised the daughter of Abihail, his
father’s brother, and her name was Esther;
and when her parents died, he brought her
up to be his wife, and she was beautiful.”
Mordecai’s relation to Esther was that of both guardian
and husband, a necessary social and legal
arrangement, which was not unusual at the time.
This was similar to THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED AND THE EVER VIRGIN
MARY, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP,
as demonstrated as well by Esther’s virginity and
chastity.
✽ AN ANGEL OR MESSENGER OF GOD DISPELLED ST
JOSEPH’S FALSE ASSUMPTIONS BY ANNOUNCING
THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE AND ILLOGICAL BUT
DIVINE AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH: THE VIRGIN’S
CONCEPTION WAS BY THE WILL OF GOD – BY THE
LIFE-GIVING HOLY SPIRIT.
BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN PROVED CHRIST’S DIVINITY
AND ONLY A DIVINE REVELATION BY GOD COULD SERVE
AS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF SUCH A UNIQUE MIRACLE.
St Matthew repeatedly used the expression: “...that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken...” which
Sunday Before the Nativity of Christ our Saviour – Sunday of the Ancestors
“These all died in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of
them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and Pilgrims on the earth. For those who
say such things declare plainly that they seek a Homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that
country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire
a better, that is, a Heavenly Country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has
prepared a City for them.” (HEBREWS 11:13-16).
ON THE ORTHODOX CALENDAR, THE TWO SUNDAYS
BEFORE THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY ARE SET ASIDE
FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE “FOREFATHERS.”
The first of these Sundays remembers THE RIGHTEOUS
ONES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; the second, THE
ANCESTORS OF CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – THE GENEALOGY OF OUR LORD– 19 DECEMBER 2010
UNDERSCORES THE DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GOD
throughout human history and which demonstrates
the continuity between the Old and New Covenants
with God, indicating the beginning of the New
Creation.
The Divine Conception of our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled
the Prophecy of St Isaiah that specifically a VIRGIN –
not a “young woman!” – would Conceive and Bear a
Son Who was not a new Person coming into existence
but Who is the Eternal Son of God Who used Her
Womb as His Throne!
Both the Mysterious Virginal Conception by the Holy Spirit
and the name “Immanuel” – meaning “God with us” –
declares and confirms the Divinity – the Divine Nature
– of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Finally: when St Joseph the Betrothed in Obedience to
God “... took to him his wife, and did not know
Her until She had brought forth Her Firstborn
Son...” it did not mean that the Betrothal or Marriage
was ever consummated, nor does the expression
“Firstborn Son” mean that our All Holy Lady ever bore
any other children for She kept her Most Sacred Vow of
Chastity until She reposed in Peace many years later.
In Holy Scripture the word “until” which is sometimes
translated as “to,” is often used to express a situation
that actually continues after the event.

M a t t h e w 2 8 : 2 0 – Christ instructed His Apostles to go
forth and Baptise and Teach all nations “... to
observe all Things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I Am with you always, even TO
the end of the Age.”
This does not mean that we are separated from Christ at
the end of the world for HE IS ALWAYS – ETERNALLY -
PRESENT AND NEVER ABSENT, no matter where or how
we are!

G e n e s i s 8 : 7 - Noah “... sent out a raven, which
kept going to and fro, UNTIL the waters dried
up from the earth.”

D e u t e r o n o m y 3 4 : 6 – When Moses has died God “...
buried him in a valley in the Land of Moab,
opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his
grave TO this day.”
✽ The term “Firstborn Son,” does not imply that the
Blessed Virgin had other children, but only that no
child was born to Her before our Lord Jesus Christ.
Traditionally, the firstborn son was the primary heir and
recipient of Blessings and our Lord Jesus Christ is the
Firstborn over all Creation, and therefore the Firstborn
from the dead.
HE WAS THE FIRST TO BE PHYSICALLY RESURRECTED AND RETURNED TO SHOW THAT
DIVINE TRUTH TO HIS FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES FOR 40 DAYS BEFORE HIS
GLORIOUS ASCENSION – RETURNING TO HIS FORMER INVISIBLE STATE AND MAJESTIC
POSITION, SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF GOD THE FATHER – THE MOST
HONOURABLE POSITION AS CO-EQUAL, CO-ETERNAL AND CO-ESSENTIAL.
In the Orthodox Holy Icons of the Nativity of Christ, His
swaddling clothes are depicted as burial wrappings,
affirming that one Purpose of His Coming was to
endure Death.
The Manger would have been in a cave where domestic
animals were kept at night thus fulfilling the Prophecy
of St Isaiah: “The ox knows its Owner and the
donkey its Master’s crib.” (ISAIAH 1:3)
The Eastern Church differs from the West in its treatment
of THE SAINTS OF THE OLD COVENANT. They ARE
COMMEMORATED on their Feast Days (WHICH ARE USUALLY
THE DAY UPON WHICH THEY REPOSED IN FAITH, SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE
AND CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND HOLY SITES
INDEED!)
ARE DEDICATED TO THEM.
21.
IN EVERY WAY THEY ARE AS HONOURED AND VENERATED
AS THE NEW COVENANT SAINTS.
There is something of a “historical temptation” in the
modern world, for the modern mind is largely
responsible for the creation of “history,” - not that
stories of the past have not always been told.
But THE TEMPTATION OF HISTORY IS TO VALUE THE PAST
ONLY AS HISTORICAL ARTEFACT.
Things of the past are seen as having value only for what
they have caused in the present – or worse – as
having value only if you are interested in that sort of
thing!
America was one of the first truly “modern” nations. The
story of its founding is the story of the triumph of
ideas.
America is a decision and not an inheritance or an
ethnicity and history is a very tenuous thing in
America.
The knowledge of the young about the past is often non-
existent.
As a modern nation, America looks to the present and
believes that it can create the future (or one of our
controlling myths certainly believes this).
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MODERN NATIONS ARE
COMING TO SEE THE WORLD IN THIS SAME MODERN
WAY.
Europe is daily re-inventing itself with little view to its
past.
The temptation of history is becoming ubiquitous.
I describe history as a “temptation” - because history
does not properly have a place within the Christian
Faith, which may seem a strange statement coming
from an Orthodox Priest.
NO CHURCH IS MORE FIRMLY GROUNDED IN TRADITION
THAN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. BUT TO BE
GROUNDED IN TRADITION IS NOT THE SAME THING AS
BEING GROUNDED IN HISTORY (as Moderns think of
history).
HOLY TRADITION IS NOT THE TYRANNY OF THE PAST OVER
THE PRESENT: HOLY TRADITION IS THE ADHERENCE
TO THE SAME ETERNAL REALITY THROUGHOUT ALL
TIME.
✽ That ETERNAL REALITY FOR CHRISTIANS (AND FOR
ALL CREATION) IS THE END OF THINGS – CHRIST
THE COMING LORD.
✽ Our Faith proclaims that HE WHO WAS BORN OF THE
VIRGIN IS ALSO THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA - THE
BEGINNING AND THE END (REVELATION 1:8).
The Cave of the Nativity of Christ
CHRIST’S NATIVITY OCCURRED IN A CAVE, which served
as a stable which was typical at that time.
However, THE TRADITIONAL ICON OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY
REVEALS THE CAVE IN AN UNMISTAKEABLE MANNER:
IT RESEMBLES THE CAVERN OF HADES INTO WHICH
CHRIST DESCENDED AT HIS DEATH AND IS FRAMED
BY ROCKS SIMILAR TO THOSE DEPICTED IN MOST
ICONS OF CHRIST’S BAPTISM.
A SIMILAR DEPICTION IS EVIDENT ON MOST ICONS OF THE
CRUCIFIXION - BENEATH THE CROSS AND FRAMING A
SKULL.
This iconographic similarity is not accidental: THE CAVE
OF BETHLEHEM IS MEANT TO RESEMBLE THE CAVERN
OF HADES - JUST AS THE CHILD IN SWADDLING
CLOTHES RESEMBLES A BODY WRAPPED FOR BURIAL.
It resembles Hades for the same reason as the framing
rocks of Christ’s Theophany, which point to one and
the same thing: CHRIST’S INCARNATION IS GOD’S
DESCENT INTO OUR WORLD WHERE SIN AND DEATH
REIGN.
THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD IS IMMEDIATELY A
CHALLENGE TO THE DARKNESS OF DEATH AND HELL.
St John made it clear in the Prologue of his Gospel by
referring to CHRIST AS THE “LIGHT OF THE WORLD,”
and by bringing the Divine Light into conflict with the
darkness of sin: “...THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE
DARKNESS and the darkness has not overcome
It.”
Christ’s Nativity has become marked by certain popular
elements but in typical fashion the fallen world
looks no further than the acquisition of
material things – the desires of the flesh.
22. SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST – THE GENEALOGY OF OUR LORD– 19 DECEMBER 2010
➤ It is this same Christ UNTO WHOM ALL THINGS
ARE BEING GATHERED TOGETHER INTO ONE.
(EPHESIANS 1:10)
➤ It is this End of history that is the meaning of all
history – THE MEANING OF ALL THINGS.
➤ It is also this Christ (the End of all things) Who is
THE FOCUS AND CENTRE OF THE FAITHFUL
THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
St Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews, quoted at the beginning,
makes clear that it is THIS VISION OF CHRIST THAT
GRANTS THE SINGLE PURPOSE FOR ALL THE
RIGHTEOUS (INCLUDING THE OLD TESTAMENT
RIGHTEOUS cited by St Paul).
➤ THE HOMELAND THEY SEEK IS NONE OTHER THAN
CHRIST HIMSELF.
➤ And it is this same Seeking that UNITES THE
PEOPLE OF GOD THROUGH ALL TIME IN ONE
SINGLE HOLY TRADITION.
➤ The Seeking of Christ is THE HOLY TRADITION OF
THE CHURCH (or so it can be said).
The temptation of history is to reverse Holy Tradition as
though it were a seeking of the past.
But WHAT UNITES US WITH THE HISTORICAL PAST IS THE
SAME FAITH, THE SAME PURPOSE, THE SAME VISION,
THE SAME LORD.
If the Saints who have come before us directed their
gaze to Christ, then IT IS TO CHRIST THAT OUR OWN
GAZE SHOULD BE FIXED.
THE PREACHING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS not a
proclamation of the past, but THE PROCLAMATION OF
HIM “...Who was, and is, and is to come.”
The same Christ Who died and rose again is the same
Christ Who is COMING AGAIN IN ALL HIS GLORY
(RETURNING OR REAPPEARING IN HIS VISIBLE, HUMAN FORM. )
It is the same Christ Who is GIVEN TO US IN THE HOLY
MYSTERIES OF THE CHURCH.
It is a Theological irony that modernity - whose self-
definition was an opposition to Holy Tradition - is
itself the creator of a history devoid of a future.
MODERNITY DENIES CHRIST AS THE END OF ALL THINGS,
and in so doing RELEGATES ITSELF TO A PLACE IN
HISTORY, BUT NOT TO A PLACE AT THE END.
For THE FAITHFUL, we should DESIRE A BETTER, A
HEAVENLY COUNTRY, so that “...God will not be
ashamed to be called our God, for He has
already prepared such a city for...” US!
THE CHURCH, HOWEVER, SEES THE CAVE OF BETHLEHEM
FOR WHAT IT IS: THE DARKNESS OF THE FALLEN
WORLD – into which no sooner was the Christ Child
born than His Life was in danger.
The wicked King Herod, upon hearing of such a Great
King, immediately sought His Death, and, having
failed in his first scheme, (HAVING REQUESTED THE MAGI TO
REVEAL HIS LOCATION) he turned his frustrated and depraved
wrath on the Holy Innocents of that region – the
murder of all male children under the age of two.
(ROMAN RECORDS ESTIMATED 14,000 BABIES!)
Such is the utter devastating darkness of sin!
✽ Nevertheless, GOD’S DIVINE AND ETERNAL LIGHT
SHINES BRIGHTLY in the darkened cave of worldly
sin and IT CAN NEVER BE EXTINGUISHED!
✽ WE WHO ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST ARE BAPTIZED
INTO HIS DEATH AND WE “RECEIVE THE LIGHT OF
CHRIST!”
✽ AS SANCTIFIED PARTICIPANTS IN THE LIGHT OF
CHRIST IN THIS DARK WORLD WE TOO HAVE
BECOME HOLY LIGHTS SHINING FORTH IN THE
MIDST OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.
✽ OUR GREATEST JOY IS CHRIST - BORN IN THE DARK
CAVE - WHO IS INDEED THE ETERNAL LIGHT IN
THE FALLEN WORLD OF DESTRUCTION THAT CAN
NEVER EVER OVERCOME HIS DIVINE LIGHT OF
LOVE AND EVERLASTING LIFE.
✽ EVERY REVELATION OF CHRIST IS VICTORY OVER SIN
AND DEATH
SO WHAT’S IN THE DARK CAVE?
GOD HIMSELF!!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!” BY FATHER STEPHEN
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/ (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!)
 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 EVER,
AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ our Saviour 20 December 2010

St Ignatios the God-Bearer & Great Hieromartyr of Antioch

Also the Feast of St Philogonos, Hieromartyr of Antioch – St John the New Martyr of Thasos –
St Ignatios, Archimandrite of Kiev Caves – St Daniel of Serbia – St John of Kronstadt –
Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, “Resecuer of the the Drowning– the Miracle-Working
Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos of Novgorod

Apolytikion Of The Forefeast Of The Nativity

Etimazou Vithleem, inikte pasin i Edem; eftrepizou Make ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden opened up to all;
Efratha, oti to xilon tis zois, en to spileo exinthisen and prepare, O Ephratha, because the very Tree of
ek dis Parthenou; Paradisos ke gar, i ekinis Life, has blossomed forth in the cave from the
gastir, edihthi noitos, en o to thion fiton; ex ou Virgin; for it has come about, that her Womb has
faontes zisomen, ouhi de os o Adam become a Spiritual Paradise, where grew the
tethnixometha. Hristos gennate, tin prin Divine Plant; from which, if we eat, we shall Live
pesousan, anastison ikona. and not die as Adam did. Christ is Born to
Resurrect the Image that had fallen!
Apolytikion Of St Ignatios Of Antioch – Tone 4
Ke Tropon metohos, ke Thronon diadohos, ton As a Sharer of the Ways and a Successor to the
Apostolon genomenos, tin praxin efres Throne of the Apostles, O Inspired of God, Thou
Theopnevste, is theorias epivasin. Dia touto ton found Discipline to be a means of Ascent to
logon tis Alithias orthotomon, ke ti Pisti enithlisas Divine Vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided
mehris ematos; Ieromartis Ignatie: Presveve Hristo the Word of Truth, Thou also contested for the
to Theo, sothine tas psihas imon. Faith even by blood; O Hieromartyr Ignatios:
Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be
Saved!
Kontakion Of St Ignatios Of Antioch – Tone 3
Ton lampron agonon Sou, i fotoforos imera, prokiritti The Divine and Brilliant Day of Thine illustrious
apasi, ton ek Parthenou tehthenta. Toutou gar Contests proclaims to all mankind Him Who was
dipson ek pothou katarifise, espefsas ipo thirion born of a Virgin; for it was for Him that Thou
analothine: dia touto Theoforos, prosigorefthis, thirsted to delight in, and hastened to be
Ignatie Endoxe! devoured by beasts in Thy longing. Hence, O
Glorious Ignatios, the Name God-bearer was
rightly given to Thee!
Kontakion Of The Forefeast Of The Nativity – Tone 3
I Parthenos simeron, ton Proeonion Logon, en Spileo Today the Virgin comes to the Cave to give Birth
ethete apotekin aporritos. Horeve, i ikoumeni, Ineffably to the Word Pre-eternal. Hearing this, be
akoutisthisa; Doxason meta Angelon ke ton of good cheer, O Earth and its people: Glorify Him
Pimenon, voilithenta apofthine, Pedion Neon, ton with the Angels and the Shepherds, Whose Will was
Pro Eonon Theon. to be made manifest as a young Child – the Pre-
Eternal God.
The Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews 12 : 17 - 31
The Power of True Faith
Brethren: by Faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the Promises offered up
his only begotten son of whom it was said: “In Isaac your seed shall be Called,” concluding that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
By Faith Isaac Blessed Jacob and Esau concerning Things to come.
By Faith Jacob, when he was dying, Blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his
staff.
By Faith Joseph, when he was dying, mentioned the departure of the Children of Israel, and gave instructions
concerning his bones.
By Faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful
child; and they were not afraid of the King’s command.
By Faith Moses, when he came of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the Reproach of Christ to
be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the Reward.
By Faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured as though seeing Him Who is invisible.
By Faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the Firstborn should touch
them.

(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST IGNATIO S THE GREAT GOD-BEARING HIEROMARTYR OF ANTIO CH – 20 DECEMBER 2010 23.
By Faith they passed through the Red Sea as though on dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were
drowned.
By Faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
By Faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and the Prophets...
St Paul reminds us that all these OLD COVENANT SAINTS HAVE EXPERIENCED LIFE IN CHRIST (and even the
HAD UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD WHEREBY – BY THE historical proof of everything for those who need it!)
GRACE OF GOD – THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ✽ CONSEQUENTLY, WE SHOULD HAVE UNSHAKEABLE
AMAZING AND OFTEN TRULY MIRACULOUS. FAITH IN GOD for so much has been ratified over
ST PAUL WROTE THIS EPISTLE TO ALL THOSE HEBREWS the years and continues to be confirmed or
WHO WERE SUFFERING THE PERSECUTION OF OTHERS
proved and fulfilled – almost daily!
– whether their Roman oppressors or other Hebrews ➤ FAITH IS SIMPLE BUT IT BECOMES A MANY
who stubbornly rejected Christ and the New SPLENDORED ASPECT OF LIFE IN CHRIST.
Covenant with God – AS A REMINDER OF THE ➤ FAITH BECOMES A VENTURESOME ACTION THROUGH
INCREDIBLE FAITH OF THEIR FOREFATHERS. OUR OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE, TRUST AND
Throughout the ages ST PAUL’S REMINDER OF THE CONFIDENCE IN GOD.
STEADFAST FAITH OF THE ANCIENT SAINTS ➤ FAITH TRANSFORMS US FROM THE IMPERMANENCE
ENCOURAGES US AND GUIDES US TOWARDS THE AND DISCOMFORT OF EXISTENCE AND SURVIVAL
DIVINE THINGS THAT OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR HAS TO THE PERMANENT PEACE AND CONSOLATION OF
PROMISED US AND WHICH WE LIVE IN THE HOPE OF GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM OF DIVINE LOVE.
ACHIEVING. St Jacob prefigured the Holy Cross of Christ when he
OUR VISION OF THE AGE TO COME – ETERNITY – KEEPS US venerated the top of the staff of Joseph and when he
FOCUSED and as our Faith deepens and matures, we Blessed Joseph’s sons with his hands crossed.
discover that THE INVISIBLE IS OFTEN MORE REAL
G e n e s i s 4 7 : 3 1 After St Jacob had asked his son, Joseph
THAN THIS TEMPORARY VISIBLE WORLD. to bury him with his Hebrew ancestors rather than in
In the past centuries, MIGHTY WORKS OF FAITH WERE Egypt, because he looked to the Inheritance of the
FULFILLED BY THOSE WHOSE FAITH WAS
world to come, “ ...he said: ‘Swear to me.’ And
UNFULFILLED since THEY DID NOT HAVE EVERYTHING
WE HAVE NOW INHERITED – THE ACTUAL PRESENCE
(Joseph) swore to him. And Israel bowed
OF GOD WHO TAUGHT US DIRECTLY AND WHO himself on the top of his staff.”
CONTINUES TO GUIDE, TEACH AND ENABLE US TO
G e n e s i s 4 8 : 1 4 : “Israel stretched out his right hand
FULFIL OUR HOLY CALLING TO HIS DIVINE SERVICE, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the
AS WELL AS ALL THE WRITTEN AND VERBAL DIVINE younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s
TRUTH OF CHRIST, HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES, head, guiding his hands in Knowledge,
OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS AND MOTHERS WHO (although) Manasseh was the Firstborn.”
The Holy Gospel According to St Mark 9 : 42 – 10 : 1
Holy Discipleship to Christ requires The Eradication Of our Sinful Habits
At that time, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it
would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he was thrown into the sea.
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, for it is better for you to enter into Life maimed, rather than having
two hands and to go to Hell, into the Fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘their Worm does not die and
the Fire is not quenched.’
“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, for it is better for you to enter Life lame, rather than having two
feet and to be cast into Hell, into the Fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘their Worm does not die, and
the Fire is not quenched.’
“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, for it is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God without one
eye, rather than having two eyes and to be cast into Hell Fire – where ‘their Worm does not die, and the Fire
is not quenched.’
“For everyone will be seasoned with Fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt, which is good, but if the
salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? “Have Salt in yourselves, and have Peace with one another.
Then He arose from there and went to the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. And multitudes
gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
✽ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S WARNING IS LOUD AND PROVIDES US WITH HIS HOLY MYSTERIES OF
CLEAR: THOSE WHO DARE TO CORRUPT OR HARM REPENTANCE-CONFESSION AND HOLY EUCHARIST FOR
IN ANY WAY THE PURE AND INNOCENT SOULS – THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR REPENTED SINS WHICH
WHETHER CHILDREN OR ADULTS – WILL RECEIVE RESULTS IN ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.
THE HARSHEST OF ALL ETERNAL CONDEMNATION. Thus IT IS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION
➤ Those who harbour deep, dark perversions in their AGAINST OUR OWN SINS AND TO AVOID THE
soul, must immediately expose them to the TEMPTATION OF OTHERS so that we are able TO
Divine Light through sincere and heartfelt CONTINUE OUR LIFE IN CHRIST - PURIFIED AND
Repentance-Confession, ensuring that they are HUMBLY OBEDIENT TO GOD.
never acted upon or even fantasised! As Disciples of Christ, we are forbidden to mutilate or
➤ Only through constant Prayer, Fasting and partaking harm our bodies, which are the Sanctified Temples
of the Holy Mysteries of Christ’s Holy Church can of God and which belong exclusively to Him alone.
such vicious or harmful inclinations be This also applies to harmful relationships that need to
destroyed. be severed for the Salvation of all concerned.
✽ CHRIST’S EMPHASIS AND REPETITION – THREE TIMES!
L u k e 1 4 : 2 6 - 2 7 – “If anyone comes to Me and does
– OF THE HORRENDOUS CONSEQUENCES OF ANY not hate his father and mother, wife and
FORM OF DEPRAVITY OR IMMORALITY DESCRIBES children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his
THE UNALLEVIATED TORTURE OF ETERNAL DEATH own life also, he cannot be My Disciple. And
OR HELL. whoever does not bear his Cross and come
THESE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS ARE REAL and not simply after Me cannot be My Disciple!”
used to “scare us straight!” This Divine Commandment of Christ is not by any means
GOD IS ABSOLUTE LOVE AND GOODNESS and cannot to be taken literally.
deceive or lie SO EVERYTHING THAT OUR LORD JESUS ✽ Our Lord Jesus cautions us to REJECT OR AVOID ANY
CHRIST TELLS US CAN BE CONFIDENTLY ACCEPTED AS RELATIONSHIP THAT HINDERS OUR DEDICATION
100% PURE, DIVINE TRUTH!! TO GOD AND HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
The imagery such as “your hand... your foot... your ➤ WE MUST “HATE” DESTRUCTIVE AND DEADLY SIN –
eye...” is not to be taken literally since it is simply NOT THOSE WHO COMMIT SUCH SIN!
TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECTING ➤ OUR DEVOTION TO GOD SHOULD BE GREATER AND
WHATEVER LEADS US TO COMMIT SIN – for GOD BEYOND MEASURE MORE IMPORTANT THAN

24. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST IGNATIOS THE GREAT GOD-BEARING HIEROMARTYR OF ANTIOCH – 20 DECEMBER 2010
 ANYTHING ELSE including relationships with
family members or friends.
However, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE NEGLECT OUR
SACRED DUTIES TO OUR FAMILIES OR TO SOCIETY IN
GENERAL.
If we truly Love God with all our mind, with all our heart,
with all our strength and with all our soul, WE WILL
ALSO NATURALLY LOVE ALL HIS CREATION,
ESPECIALLY OUR FELLOW BEING who are struggling
along the same Path towards Eternity.
✽ EVER SINCE OUR HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION,
WE ARE CONSECRATED DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
WHO ARE DEDICATED TO FOLLOWING IN OUR
LORD’S FOOTSTEPS.
✽ GOD-PARENTS AND PARENTS ARE OBLIGED BY A
SACRED COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THE PROPER
EDUCATION OF LITTLE CHILDREN AND TO FULFIL
ALL REQUIREMENTS OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY
TOGETHER – TEACHING BY EXAMPLE, NOT BY
EMPTY, WHIMSICAL GESTURES!!

1 C o r i n t h i a n s 5 : 5 – St Paul warned against THOSE WHO
ARE SEXUALLY PROMISCUOUS, IMMORAL AND
DESTRUCTIVE, AND THOSE WHO COMMIT INCEST
: “... deliver
(FORBIDDEN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS)
such a person to Satan for the destruction of
the flesh so that his spirit may be Saved in the
Day of the Lord Jesus!”
THESE DEADLY SINS ARE ANATHEMA – ABOMINATIONS!
✽ THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST PROTECTS US FROM
THE MUTILATION OF SATAN.

M a t t h e w 1 6 : 1 8 : Our Lord Jesus Christ said to St Peter
“... on this Rock I will build My Church, and
the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
➤ This Rock is not a reference to St Peter, but rather
to the SINCERITY AND STRENGTH OF FAITHFUL
CONFESSION OF CHRIST - “Thou art the Christ
– the Son of the Living God!”
The Gates of Hades – the imprisonment of Death – were
shattered by Christ in His Divine Nature - after His
Crucifixion when - like all Old Covenant souls – He
entered Hades and Death in His human Nature.
At “the Harrowing of Hades” Christ set the souls of the
Righteous free to rest peacefully in His re-opened
Paradise until the General Resurrection and Final
Judgement.
➤ So, too, HIS HOLY CHURCH SHALL NOT BE
PREVENTED FROM HER PROCLAMATION AND
FULFILMENT OF SALVATION.
IN EXTREME CASES OF ANATHEMA OR ABOMINATION THE
HOLY PROTECTION OF THE CHURCH IS REMOVED
THROUGH EXCOMMUNICATION in the hope that,
having experienced the difference between God’s
Rule and Satan’s miserable, deceptive enslavement
the sinner may repent and finally be Saved from
Eternal Spiritual Death and Condemnation.
✽ The reference to “the destruction of the flesh” is
not synonymous with the destruction of the body
– the Sacred, Sanctified Temple of God, but
rather to THE PURGING AND ERADICATION OF
DEADLY LUSTS OF THE FLESH – THE DEPRAVED
AND CRUEL WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS.
St Ignatios the Great Theophoros (God-Bearer) & Hieromartyr of Antioch
St Ignatios - together with St Polycarp, the great
Hieromartyr of Smyrna - was a loyal disciple of St
John the Beloved Apostle of Christ and great
Theologian since early childhood.
St Ignatios became the second elected Bishop of
Antioch, and the successor to St Euodios, one of the
70 Apostles of Christ.
When St Ignatios was a little boy, our Saviour Jesus
Christ had hugged him and told His Disciples:
"Unless you become like little children, you
shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." (
MATTHEW 18 : 3 )
St Ignatios was called “Theophoros” ("God-Bearer"),
because he always kept God in his heart and prayed
unceasingly to Him.
Furthermore, he received this title since he had been
held in the Arms of the incarnate Son of God while
he was a small boy and a faithful Disciple of Christ,
following Him wherever he could.
(DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST IGNATIO S THE GREAT GOD-BEARING HIEROMARTYR OF ANTIO CH – 20 DECEMBER 2010
Although formal Ecclesiastical Excommunication is a
rare occurrence these days, WILFUL AND
UNREPENTANT SINNERS EXCOMMUNICATE
THEMSELVES FROM THE HOLY PROTECTION OF
CHRIST’S CHURCH THROUGH THEIR OWN PERSONAL
STUBBORNNESS AND CHOICE:
✽ SADLY, MANY WHO HAVE CONVERTED FOR ALL THE
WRONG REASONS AND WHO ALSO HAVE NOT BEEN
CORRECTLY GUIDED AND TAUGHT IN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIANITY, COMMIT THE SIN OF APOSTASY IN
VARIOUS WAYS:
➤ by returning to their former practises
➤ by rejecting certain aspects of Orthodoxy
➤ by conforming to Protestant, “New Age,” or other
heretical beliefs and practises.
➤ by not partaking of the Holy Mysteries AND
➤ by not observing Fasting requirements
➤ by advocating the cremation of Sanctified Temples of
God – the bodies of the reposed - and
encouraging or forcing others to do so
➤ by rejecting the Holy Orthodox Church due to a
break-down of personal relationships
➤ BY ENCOURAGING OR FORCING OTHERS TO COMMIT
APOSTASY OR HERESY!!
Which brings us back to Christ’s admonitory words:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to stumble...”
✽ THE LOVE OF GOD IS INFINITE AND
INDISCRIMINATING SO HE PROVIDES US WITH
EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR OUR ETERNAL
SALVATION.
➤ IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO US TO CHOOSE WHAT SORT OF
ETERNITY WE WOULD RATHER HAVE: Eternal Life
and all the Goodness, Peace and Joy of God or
Eternal Death with its unremitting vicious and
excruciating horrors?
➤ HE GRANTS US EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR
REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS while
our Sanctified bodies and souls are still united in
this life SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE ETERNAL
SALVATION – ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST.
✽ THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST ALWAYS KEEPS ITS
DOORS WIDE OPEN – AS BOTH CHURCH MILITANT
AND CHURCH TRIUMPHANT JOYFULLY AND
EXPECTANTLY WAIT TO WELCOME EVERYONE –
ESPECIALLY THE LOST AND THE FALLEN SOULS
who seek the True Love and Comfort of God’s
Eternal Agape.
➤ WE ARE ALL LOST AND FALLEN TO A GREATER OR
LESSER DEGREE for as we journey towards
Eternity, we continuously stumble and we fall,
but we rise again, until the next time...
➤ OUR SACRED JOURNEY IS NOT – CANNOT BE -
ACCOMPLISHED ALONE... we all travel together ...
we all need one another to help and encourage
and guide... to lift up the fallen and steady the
stumbling... to carry and support the infirm or
the weak...until finally, we reach our glorious
Destination.
Both St Ignatios and St Polycarp were guided by St John
the Theologian, who was their Spiritual Father.
As Bishop of Antioch, St Ignatios was zealous and
spared no effort to build up the Church of Christ.
To him is attributed the practice of antiphonal singing
(by two choirs) during Church Services after having
beheld a Vision of the Angels of God in Heaven
alternately singing praises to God.
During the terrible persecution of the Christians, St
Ignatios was an inspired source of Spiritual Strength
for his Holy Flock, who, together with their Holy
Father, were willing to suffer for their deep Faith,
rather than to surrender to the temporary but fatal
temptations of the ungodly.
In 106, after his victory over the Scythians, Emperor
Trajan (98-117) ordered everyone to make offerings
to their pagan gods and to put to death anyone who
refused to bow down and worship the idols.
25.
The following year, Emperor Trajan travelled towards
Antioch where he was informed that the Christian
Bishop – St Ignatios - openly confessed Christ our
Lord and taught the citizens to scorn riches, to lead
virtuous lives and to preserve their virginity and
chastity.
In order to avert the impending slaughter of the
Antiochian Christian Community, St Ignatios
voluntarily presented himself to Emperor Trajan.
However, when the Saint adamantly rejected the
tenacious demands to make the required offerings
to the pagan gods, Trajan ordered him to be taken
to Rome for cruel tortures to “persuade” him to obey
his commandments or be thrown to the wild beasts
as entertainment for the blood-thirsty mob.
To the amazement of all witnesses, St Ignatios joyfully
accepted the sentence imposed upon him and his
readiness for Martyrdom was attested to by those
who accompanied him from Antioch to Rome.
During his journey to Rome, the ship, sailing from
Seleucia, stopped at Smyrna, where St Ignatios was
able to bid farewell to his fellow Disciple and beloved
friend, St Polycarp.
A great multitude of Christian Clergy and Faithful from
many other cities and towns thronged to see St
Ignatios, who urged and encouraged everyone not to
fear death nor to grieve for him.
In his Epistle to the Roman Christians, St Ignatios
besought them to assist him with their Prayers - to
pray that God would strengthen him in his
impending Martyrdom for Christ: "I seek Him Who
died for us; I desire Him Who rose for our
Salvation...
“In me, desire has been nailed to the Cross, and
no flame of material longing is left. Only the
Living Water speaks within me, saying, 'Hasten
to the Father!'"
From Smyrna, St Ignatios went to Troas.
There he heard the most joyful news of the end of the
persecution against Christians in Antioch.
From Troas, St Ignatios sailed to Neapolis (in Macedonia)
and then to Philippi.
On the way to Rome St Ignatios visited several churches,
teaching and guiding the Christians who struggled
and worshipped there.
He wrote seven Epistles: to the churches of Ephesus,
Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and Smyrna.
He also addressed a letter to St Polycarp, who
subsequently mentioned a collection of letters from
St Ignatios in his own Epistle to the Philippians.
Excerpts from the Epistle of St Ignatios to the Ephesians:
I do not command you as if I were someone great, for
even though I be bound in the Name, I am not
yet perfect in Jesus Christ.
For now I only begin to be a Disciple and I speak to
you as to my fellow students.
It was fitting for me to be anointed by you for the
contest (HIS MARTYRDOM) with Faith, Admonition,
Patience and Long-suffering.
And since Love does not suffer me to be silent
concerning you, I have therefore hastened to exhort
you to set yourselves in harmony with the Mind
of God. For Jesus Christ, our inseparable Life,
is the Mind of the Father, even as the Bishops
who are settled in the farthest parts of the earth are
the Mind of Christ...
Hence it is fitting for you to set yourselves in
harmony with the mind of the Bishop, as indeed
you do. For your noble Presbytery, worthy of
God, is attuned to the Bishop, even as the strings
to a lyre.
And thus by means of your accord and harmonious
Love Jesus Christ is sung.
Form yourselves one and all into a Choir so that
blending in concord and taking the keynote of
26. (DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED) ST IGNATIOS THE GREAT GOD-BEARING HIEROMARTYR OF ANTIOCH – 20 DECEMBER 2010
St Irenaeos of Lyons quoted from St Ignatios' Epistle to
the Romans. (AGAINST HERESIES 5:28:4).
All these writings have survived to the present day.
In Rome the Christian Community greeted St Ignatios
with great joy but with profound sorrow. Several
influential Christians hoped to prevent his execution,
but St Ignatios implored them not to do so.
Kneeling down, he prayed together with the Faithful for
the Holy Church of Christ, for Love between the
Brethren, and for an end to the devastating
persecution against Christians.
On 20 December, a pagan festival, St Ignatios was led
into the arena.
He turned to the great expectant multitude and loudly
proclaimed: "Men of Rome, you know that I am
sentenced to death - not because of any crime -
but because of my Love for God, by Whose
Love I am embraced.
“I long to be with Him, and offer myself to him as
a pure loaf, made of fine wheat ground fine by
the teeth of wild beasts."
The ravenous, brutalised lions were released upon him
and they immediately tore St Ignatios to pieces,
leaving only his heart and a few bones.
All along the way to his cruel Martyrdom, St Ignatios had
unceasingly repeated the Divine and Powerful Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ and when he was asked why
he did so, St Ignatios revealed that His Most Beloved
Name was written in his heart, and he Confessed
with his lips Him Whom he always carried within.
When the Saint was devoured by the lions, his heart was
untouched and when they cut open the heart as a
final insult, the pagans were shocked to see an
inscription in gold letters: "Jesus Christ."
After his execution St Ignatios appeared to many of the
Faithful to comfort them while they slept, and some
saw him praying for the citizens of Rome.
Hearing of St Ignatios’ great courage and unwavering
Faith, Emperor Trajan was overwhelmed by deep
respect for him and he ended the persecution
against the Christians.
The Holy Relics of St Ignatios were transferred to Antioch
on 29 January.
In 637 on 1 February 1, St Ignatios’ Holy Relics were
returned to Rome and laid to rest in the church of
San Clemente.
May his memory be Eternal!
God, you may sing in unison with one voice
through Jesus Christ to the Father, that He may
hear you and recognize you through your good
deeds to be members of His Son.
Therefore it is profitable for you to live in blameless
unity, that you may always enjoy communion
with God....
And for the rest of mankind - pray unceasingly -for
there is in them hope of Repentance, that they
may attain unto God and let them also be
instructed by the example of your works.
Confronted by their outbursts of wrath be patient; by
their arrogant words be humble; meet their
revilings with Prayers; where they are in error be
steadfast in Faith; in their violence be gentle.
Be not anxious to retaliate and let our forbearance
prove us as their Brethren.
Endeavour to imitate the Lord, striving to suffer
the greater wrong, being more defrauded,
being set at naught, that no rank weed of the
devil be found in you.
In all purity and sobriety abide in Christ Jesus in
flesh and in spirit.
 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 EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH
GIVER OF GOD, 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.

25 December 2010

The Feast of the Adoration of the Shepherds & the Magi -

the Commemoration of St Jonah the Holy Monk-Martyr, 50 Monk-
Martyrs & 65 Holy (Lay)Martyrs of St Tryphon of Pechenga Monastery
Isodikon Of The Nativity
Ek Gastros pro eosforou Egennisa Se. Omose Kyrios ke Out of the Womb, before the Morning Star have I
ou metamelithisete. Si Ierefs is ton eona, kata tin Begotten Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not
taxin Melihisedek. repent: Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order of
Melchizidek.
Soson imas, Ie Theou, O ek Parthenou tehthis, Save us, O Son of God, Born of the Virgin, who
psallontas Si Allilouia! sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Apolytikion Of The Nativity:
I Gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetele to kosmo, Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has given rise to the
to Fos to tis Gnoseos. En afti gar i tis astris Light of Knowledge in the world; for they who
latrevontes, ipo Asteros edi daskonto, Se Proskinin, worshipped the Star learnt therefrom to worship
ton Ilion tis Dikeosinis, ke Se Ginoskin ex Ipsous Thee, O Sun of Justice, and to know that from the
anatolin. Kyrie Doxa Si! East of the Highest Thou came. O Lord: Glory to
Thee!
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
Doxologousi, Magi de meta Asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar Egenniti, Pedion Neon, O Pro Aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Instead Of The “Agios O Theos...”
Osi is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe: As many of you as were Baptised into Christ,
Allelouia! have put on Christ: Alleluia!
M at in s G o sp e l: M atthe w 1 : 1 8- 2 5
The Revelation Of The Incarnated Son Of God - Our Lord And Saviour, Jesus Christ
At that time, the Birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was Betrothed to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found with Child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting
to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things,
behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is Conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and
thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He will Save His people from their sins."
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: "Behold, the
Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel," which is translated:"God
with us."
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and took unto him his wife, and
did not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His Name Jesus
✽ ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED’S RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE BETROTHED BY ANNOUNCING THE UTTERLY
the Righteousness of Mercy, which TRANSCENDED UNREASONABLE: THE CONCEPTION OF THE ALL PURE
THE LAW – is evident from his unwillingness to AND MOST BLESSED VIRGIN WAS BY THE LIFE-GIVING
expose the young Virgin Mary’s presumed sin. HOLY SPIRIT (ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD THE
UNDER MOSAIC LAW, BETROTHAL INVOLVED ALMOST FATHER.)
THE SAME COMMITMENT AS MARRIAGE and the ✽ SINCE BEING BORN OF A VIRGIN PROVES OUR LORD
JESUS’ DIVINITY, ONLY THE REVELATION OF ALMIGHTY
elderly St Joseph the Betrothed could not help but
GOD, in this case "a dream" - IS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE
suspect a violation of Divine Law when he realised
OF THIS MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION.
his Betrothed niece had Conceived - despite her
Holy Scripture refers to Betrothed couples as "husband"
Sacred Vow of Chastity.
and "wife" before the actual marriage.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS OBLIGED BY LAW TO REPORT HER
"MISCONDUCT" ST JOSEPH DECIDED "TO PUT HER Just as Rachel was called the "wife of Jacob" before
AWAY SECRETLY" – WHICH WOULD PREVENT HER Marriage, because of her Betrothal, so St Joseph the
FROM BEING EXPOSED TO PUBLIC SCANDAL AND Betrothed was referred to as the "husband" of the
SPECULATION. Blessed Virgin Mary; and she was known as the "wife"
Furthermore, THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES WOULD of Joseph the Carpenter.
HAVE STONED HER TO DEATH for having broken a ✽ THE EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS - HAVING GROWN UP IN
Sacred Vow and Mosaic Law concerning immorality. THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM HAD TAKEN A MOST
✽ A HOLY MESSENGER OR "ANGEL OF THE LORD" SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY and had refused to be
DISPELLED THE FALSE REASONING OF ST JOSEPH

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST –25 DECEMBER 2010
27
 married to any man since her only desire was to
serve the Lord Her God.
Therefore THE TEMPLES PRIESTS who had watched over
this extraordinarily devout little girl RESPECTED
BOTH HER DEDICATION TO GOD AND THE SANCTITY
OF HER VOW OF CHASTITY.
AS AN ORPHAN, SHE HAD NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO
TAKE CARE OF HER AND TO PROTECT HER, which left
the Priests in a difficult predicament, for when girls
reached puberty, they had to leave the Temple
precincts and enter marriage so as to produce as
many children as possible.
THE PRIESTS BESOUGHT GOD FOR A SOLUTION AND
EVENTUALLY BY A DIVINE MIRACLE HER AGED UNCLE
who had been married to her aunt Salome, WAS
CHOSEN AS HER LEGAL GUARDIAN AND RIGHTEOUS
PROTECTOR.
As required by Mosaic Law, ALL SPOUSES HAD TO BE OF
THE SAME TRIBE AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN
ELDERLY RELATIVE WAS BOTH LEGALLY AND
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.

G e n e s i s 2 9 : 2 1 “Then Jacob said to Laban: ‘Give
me my wife that i may go in to her, for my
time is completed.’”

Deuteronomy 20:7 “"Has anyone become
Betrothed to a woman but not yet married
her? He should go back to his house, or he
might die in the battle and another will marry
her.”

Deuteronomy 2 2 : 2 3 - 2 4 “If there is a young
woman, a virgin already Betrothed, and a man
meets her in the town and lies with her, you
shall bring both of them to the gate of that
town and stone them to death - the young
woman because she did not cry for help in the
town and the man because he violated his
neighbour’s wife. So you shall purge the evil
from your midst.”
In the Orthodox Church, ST JOSEPH IS REMEMBERED AS
"THE BETROTHED" - HIGHLIGHTING THE ALL PURE,
MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS’ EVER-VIRGINITY. ("THE
UNWED BRIDE")
“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled“ is the
first of St Matthew’s repeated use of the expression:
"...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken."
✽ THE FULFILMENT OF THESE PROPHECIES NOT ONLY
UNDERSCORES THE INTERVENTION OF ALMIGHTY
GOD IN OUR HISTORY BUT ALSO INDICATES HIS
BEGINNING OF THE NEW CREATION – THE NEW
ISRAEL.
Prokeimenon: All the world will worship Thee and glorify Thee.
lands.
The E pi stle o f S t P aul to the G al ati a ns 4 : 4 -7
We become Sons Of God Through Christ And The Holy Spirit
Brethren, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to
Redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive the Adoption as sons. And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a
slave but a son, and if a son, then an Heir of God through Christ.
“His Son" refers to CHRIST AS GOD BY NATURE – the
Son of God.
✽ THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD, IS "BORN OF A
WOMAN," AND SO THE MOST BLESSED MARY IS
RIGHTLY CALLED “THEOTOKOS” - MOTHER OF
GOD OR BEARER OF GOD.
✽ SINCE JESUS CHRIST WAS "BORN UNDER THE LAW"
HE COULD REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE ALSO
UNDER THE LAW – HIS FELLOW HEBREWS,
according to the flesh.
➤ GOD "REDEEMS THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW"
IN ORDER TO FULFIL HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM
and consequently, god paid the ransom, as it
were, to himself, according to his own vow.
➤ ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT OWE ANYONE ANYTHING
AND HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT OWE US
SALVATION !
✽ JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW as an Infant BY
BEING CIRCUMCISED on the eighth day and He
was PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE 40 DAYS AFTER
HIS BIRTH.
Both of these Events are remembered in the Liturgical
Cycle of the Orthodox Church.
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST - 25 DECEMBER 2010
28
✽ THE CONCEPTION OF JESUS CHRIST FULFILS THE
PROPHECY as recorded in the Septuagint where we are
told that A "VIRGIN" (PARTHENOS) WOULD CONCEIVE
AND "BEAR A SON."
WHY DO WE QUESTION OR PONDER THIS AMAZING AND ACCEPTABLE DIVINE TRUTH?
OUR CREATOR CAN DO THINGS FAR BEYOND ANY HUMAN IMAGINATION OR
UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE HE IS ALMIGHTY GOD AND CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE - YET SO MANY PEOPLE TRY TO DISPROVE OR REJECT THIS
DIVINE TRUTH.
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH, AS WELL AS HER CONTINUED VIRGINITY IS A DIVINE
MYSTERY – AS ARE ALL GOD’S INFINITE WONDERS - AND ONLY GOD KNOWS!!
HER CONTINUED VIRGINITY WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTED AND CONFIRMED BY THE
MIDWIVES WHOM ST JOSEPH HAD REQUESTED TO ASSIST THE YOUNG THEOTOKOS –
SOMETHING SO UNIQUE WAS NOTED AND REMEMBERED..
TO DOUBT OR TO REJECT THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION AND BIRTH OF CHRIST WHO IS
THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD THE FATHER, IS TO DOUBT OR REJECT THE
UNKNOWN AND INDESCRIBABLE MAJESTY AND MIGHT OF OUR LIVING AND
GLORIOUS CREATOR GOD.
TO RELEGATE CHRIST AS MERE HUMAN BEING IS BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD AND REFUTES
HIS TWO NATURES – HUMAN AND DIVINE – WHICH WERE NECESSARY FOR HIS DIVINE
MISSION AMONGST HIS CREATURES – THE SALVATION OF FALLEN MANKIND AND THE
CONQUERING OF SIN AND DEATH.
✽ HE WHO IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS NOT A NEW PERSON
COMING INTO EXISTENCE, BUT THE ETERNAL SON OF
ALMIGHTY GOD, USING HER WOMB AS HIS THRONE.
✽ THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THE NAME OF THE INCARNATE SON, "IMMANUEL” –
I.E: “GOD WITH US," - ARE CLEAR INDICATIONS OF OUR
LORD JESUS’ DIVINITY.

I s a i a h 7 : 1 4 “Therefore the Lord Himself wilt give
Thee a Sign. Look, the Virgin is with Child and
shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Immanuel –
God with us.”
The words: “... Joseph … took unto him his wife, and did
not know her until she had brought forth her
Firstborn Son…” does not imply that St Joseph the
Betrothed consummated the Betrothal after the Birth
of Jesus Christ.
✽ THEIR BETROTHAL WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED
BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS ST JOSEPH HER LEGAL
GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR BUT HE RESPECTED AND
HONOURED HER SACRED VOW OF CHASTITY, HER PURE
NATURE AND PIOUS CHARACTER.
✽ THE TERM "FIRSTBORN" NOT ONLY MEANS HAVING BEEN
BORN FIRST BUT ALSO APPLIED TO THE FIRST BORN
SON – no matter how many other female children born
before or after the heir.
Furthermore, according to the Old Covenant Tradition, IT
DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE WERE OTHER
SIBLINGS.
In the case of our Lord Jesus and the Ever Blessed
Theotokos, THOSE WHO WERE REFERRED TO AS BEING
EITHER “BROTHERS” OR “SISTERS” USUALLY MEANT
COUSINS, AUNTS OR UNCLES – CLOSE RELATIVES – BUT
NOT NECESSARILY BIOLOGICAL SIBLINGS.
Glorify the Lord with triumphal hymns, all you
➤ THE HOLY CEREMONIES OF “THE EIGHT DAY BLESSING”
OF THE NEWBORN AND THE “40 DAY CHURCHING OF
THE MOTHER” ARE PERFORMED TO THIS DAY IN THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH.
➤ After these special Services, THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF
BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION IS CELEBRATED A FEW
MONTHS LATER.
➤ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - THE SON OF GOD IS GOD –
DIVINE - BY NATURE.
➤ WE BECOME SONS (OR DAUGHTERS) OF GOD BY
ADOPTION WHEN WE ARE BAPTISED IN THE NAME
OF THE TRIUNE GOD – THE HOLY TRINITY.
➤ WE CANNOT BECOME MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD BY
NATURE because WE ARE HUMAN BY NATURE. But
we do BECOME MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY BY HIS
GRACE.
➤ Through our Divine Adoption (Holy Baptism and
Chrismation) WE BECOME EVERYTHING GOD IS,
EXCEPT IN NATURE – WE REMAIN HUMAN BEINGS.
However, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY OUR PERMANENT
STATE DUE TO OF OUR DESIRE FOR WORLDLY THINGS [
– and that CONCUPISCENCE
I.E. THINGS OF THE FLESH, THE PASSIONS]
PREVENTS US FROM ATTAINING THEOSIS.
IT TAKES DEDICATION AND EFFORT ON OUR PART TO
ATTAIN SPIRITUAL PERFECTION – THEOSIS!
➤ We have the possibility through the Grace of God,
but IT DEPENDS ON OUR LOVE AND OBEDIENCE
TO ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS.
➤ Because WE ARE GIVEN "NEW LIFE" our Adoption by
God is also referred to as "New Birth" – WE ARE
SPIRITUALLY BORN AGAIN – RENEWED IN
CHRIST!
➤ EVERY TIME WE PARTAKE OF THE HOLY SACRAMENTS
OF REPENTANCE CONFESSION AND EUCHARIST,
WE ENJOY A REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ADOPTION
AND THEREFORE OUR NEW LIFE IN OUR LORD AND
SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
➤ THE ONGOING GROWTH INTO ADOPTION, BEING "AN
HEIR OF GOD," IS CALLED DEIFICATION. This
means that WE ARE BECOMING BY THE GRACE OF
GOD WHAT HE IS BY NATURE.
✽ EACH DIVINE PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY: "SPIRIT,
SON AND FATHER" IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS
OF TRANSFORMATION. Therefore TO BECOME SONS
OF GOD BY GRACE, ONE MUST BELIEVE IN AND
KNOW THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 2 : 1 - 12

(St Caspar, St Melchior, and St Balthazar) the Gentile Magi Journeyed From Afar To Worship The Christ Child
At that time, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, Wise Men from the East
came to Jerusalem, enquiring: "Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in the
East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the Chief
Priests and Scribes of the people together, he questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. So they told
him: "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet: ‘But you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are
not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’"
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Wise Men, determined from them what time the Star appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem saying: "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring
back word to me, so that I may go and worship Him also." When they had heard the King, they departed.
And behold! The Star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it stood over where the young Child was.
And when they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great Joy. And when they had entered the house, they
saw the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their
treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then, being Divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another
way.
ST MATTHEW AND ST LUKE PLACED THE NATIVITY OF the Voice of the Lord our God, nor let us see
CHRIST IN THE REIGN OF KING HEROD THE GREAT this Great Fire any more, lest we die.’ Then
WHO WAS THE KING OF JUDEA 37 – 4 BC. the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken
Herod was under Roman rule and although he was a is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet
great builder, he was a dreadfully cruel ruler. like you from among their Brethren, and I
Due to his ignorance of the Messiah - and indeed of will put My Word in His Mouth, and He shall
anything concerning God - as well as his obsessive speak to them all I command Him...’”
fear of being deposed, Herod summoned the It was first necessary for THE HEBREWS to be tested so as
Hebrew leaders to enlighten him, and later to fear the Lord and not to sin, for they WERE TOO
instructed the Magi to report back to him. SPIRITUALLY IMPERCEPTIVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER
✽ An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob indicated that THE PROPHET.
MESSIAH WOULD APPEAR WHEN A GENTILE KING
Consequently, THEY FAILED THE TEST AND DIED IN THE
RULED – i.e. not of the Hebrew Tribe of Judah. DESERT BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO OBEY MOSES.

G e n e s i s 4 9 : 1 0 – “The Sceptre shall not depart FORTY YEARS LATER HE SPOKE TO THEM CONCERNING THE
from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from his loins, GREAT PROPHET TO COME, USING THE WORDS OF GOD
until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be FROM THEIR MEETING ON MOUNT SINAI.
the Expectation of the Nations...” THE NEW GENERATION WAS READY TO HEAR THE PROPHECY
➤ This Prophecy relates to Christ is numerous ways and learnt that He would be similar to St Moses,
since HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD AND HE BECAUSE THE SHORT-TERM PROPHECIES OF MOSES
IS THE DIVINE LAWGIVER BECAUSE EVERY LAW HAD ALL OCCURRED, HIS LONG-TERM PROPHECIES
OR COMMANDMENT OF GOD THE FATHER WHICH THEREFORE WERE TO BE BELIEVED.
HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US, INCLUDING THE MOSAIC ➤ THIS WAS THE MARK OF A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD and
LAW, IS GIVEN IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD the same would apply to THE GREAT PROPHET WHO
JESUS CHRIST. WOULD TELL THEM ALL THAT GOD THE FATHER
➤ As HEROD WAS A GENTILE who called himself “King COMMANDED HIM. (BY THE WILL OF THE FATHER, THROUGH THE
SON...)
of Judea,” the Coming of the Messiah – God’s
➤ That indicated that HE IS THE WORD OF GOD MADE
Christ – was certainly at hand. FLESH – INCARNATE, FOR NO OTHER PROPHET,

L u k e 1 : 2 0 - The Angel of God told St Zacharias: INCLUDING MOSES, WOULD EVER SPEAK IN SUCH A
“Behold! You will be mute and unable to MANNER.
speak until the day these Things take ➤ While all previous Prophets were ordinary human
place, because you did not believe my beings, THE GREAT PROPHET WOULD BE GOD
words which shall be fulfilled in their own INCARNATE.
time.” ➤ So it was that St Isaiah foretold how THE PEOPLE
➤ ST ZACHARIAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR HIS LACK OF WOULD BE TAUGHT DIRECTLY BY GOD HIMSELF.
FAITH, yet this also served as proof that ✞ JESUS CHRIST IS OUR TRUE KING
ARCHANGEL GABRIEL’S ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE
I s a i a h 9 : 6 – “Great shall be His Government, and
ALWAYS TRUE – GOD’S TRUTH. of His Peace there shall be no end. His Peace
➤ Furthermore THE SILENCING OF THE HIGH PRIEST shall be upon the Throne of David and over
REVEALED A DEEPER MYSTERY.
His Kingdom, to order and establish It with
✽ THE MESSIAH WAS expected to fulfil three crucial Righteousness and Judgement, from that
roles held by various people of the Old
time forward, and unto Ages of Ages. The
Covenant: PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING.
Zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this.”
Only our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all three Holy Offices

M i c a h 5 : 1 “ . . . O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah,
perfectly:
although you are fewest in number among
✞ CHRIST JESUS IS THE TRUE PROPHET the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall

D e u t e r o n o m y 1 8 : 1 5 – 1 8 – “The Lord your God come forth to Me the One to be Ruler of
will raise up for you a Prophet like Me Israel, Whose goings forth were from the
from your Brethren. Him you shall hear, beginning, even from Eternity.”
according to all you asked from the Lord
your God in Horeb in the day of the
Assembly, saying: ‘Let us not hear again

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST –25 DECEMBER 2010
29
✞ JESUS CHRIST IS OUR TRUE HIGH PRIEST

P s a l m 1 0 9 : 4 - “The Lord swore, and will not
repent: Thou art a Priest forever according
to the Order of Melchizidek.”
➤ Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father, OUR
DIVINE AND ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST RULES AND
REIGNS OVER ALL THINGS, INCLUDING HIS
ENEMIES, AND LEADS HIS HOLY CHURCH IN
HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF THE ALMIGHTY HOLY
TRINITY.

H e b r e w s 4 : 1 4 “Seeing then that we have a Great
High Priest Who has passed through the
Heavens – Jesus the Son of God – let us
hold fast our Confession.”
➤ The expression “passed through the Heavens”
refers to THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, WHICH IS SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
SON OF GOD IS SEATED AT THE HIGHEST PLACE
OF HONOUR – EQUALLY DIVINE - AT THE RIGHT
HAND OF GOD THE FATHER.
➤ OUR ALMIGHTY LORD AND CREATOR HAS
ACCOMPLISHED HIS DIVINE WORK ON EARTH
AND HAS ENTERED INTO HIS SABBATH REST.

L u k e 8 : 1 5 - God reveals His Truth to those “... who,
having heard the Word with a noble and
good heart, keep it and bear Fruit with
Patience.”
➤ Christ warned us against believing for a short while
and then returning to our sinful, ungodly ways.
➤ HAVING BEEN TAUGHT GOD’S TRUTH, WHICH WE
THEN REJECT, WE CONDEMN OURSELVES for we
cannot plead “ignorance!”
THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM
WERE THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF
THE HEBREWS, including the High Priest, who alone
could enter the Holiest Place of all YET THEY HAD NO
IDEA THAT THE MESSIAH HAD ALREADY BEEN BORN
(HEBREWS 9:7)
THE SCRIBES - important officials - KNEW THAT THE
MESSIAH WAS TO BE BORN AND WHERE HE WOULD
BE BORN, HOWEVER, THEY HAD NO DIVINE
REVELATION THAT HE HAD ALREADY ARRIVED.
St Matthew, who wrote for Jewish Christians, cited the
Gentile Magi as the first worshippers of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
St Luke, who wrote for Gentile Christians, cited the
Jewish poor – the Righteous Shepherds from
surrounding fields - as the first worshippers. (LUKE 2:8-
17)
✞ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S DIVINE MISSION TO THE
GENTILES WAS ANTICIPATED BY THE "WISE MEN"
OR MAGI, who journeyed all the way "from the
East" – outside Israel, from Persia and
elsewhere.
➤ THEY WERE ERUDITE SCHOLARS of the time and in
the Old Testament, BALAAM WAS ONE OF THEIR
GENTILE PREDECESSORS WHO ALSO
ANTICIPATED THE MESSIAH. ( READ NUMBERS 23; 24]
➤ THE WORSHIP OF THE LORD BY THE MAGI IS
SYMBOLIC OF THE CHURCH, THE TRUE ISRAEL,
whereby MEMBERSHIP IS DETERMINED BY FAITH
AND NOT BY ETHNIC LINEAGE.

N u m b e r s 2 4 : 1 7 Barlaam prophesied: “I will show
Him, but not now; I Bless Him, but He is not
near. A Star shall rise out of Jacob; And a
Man shall rise out of Israel. He shall break
in pieces the rulers of Moab and plunder all the
sons of Seth.”
➤ THE "STAR" SIGNIFIED THE EXTRAORDINARY
IMPORTANCE OF THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST
CHILD. In ancient times an unusually bright star
signified a God or a Deified King.
➤ CHRIST IS THE STAR AND THE MAN WHO ROSE FROM
THE DEAD – “...out of Jacob...” and “... out of
Israel.”
➤ THE MAGI KNEW THIS PROPHESY, and when they saw
His Star, they faithfully followed it all the way to
Him.
➤ BEING BORN UNDER THIS WONDROUS STAR fulfilled
the prophecy of the Psalms and SHOWS ALL
CREATION PARTICIPATING IN THE
INCARNATION of the Son of God.
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD & SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST - 25 DECEMBER 2010
30

P s a l m 1 0 9 : 3 – “... with Thee is the beginning in
the Day of Thy Power, in the brightness of
Thy Saints; I have Begotten Thee from the
Womb before the morning star...”
➤ Psalm 109 is a Prophecy concerning the Melchizedek
Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which explains
the True Meaning of the Nativity.
➤ Christ is the “Son of David” according to the flesh, and
also the Lord of King David according to His
Divinity.

P s a l m 1 8 : 2 – “The Heavens declare the Glory of
God; the firmament shows the Creation of His
Hands...”
➤ Psalm 18 reveals God the Word – “the End” –
becoming Man in the Womb of the Most Holy
Mother of God. For on His Nativity, ALL CREATION
BORE WITNESS TO THE GLORY OF GOD REVEALED
IN HIS INCARNATION.
➤ In His Birth from the Womb of the Blessed Virgin,
CHRIST WAS LIKENED TO THE SUN RISING FROM
THE EAST, TO A BRIDEGROOM COMING FROM HIS
CHAMBER, AND TO A STRONG ATHLETE READY TO
RUN A GREAT RACE, BRINGING SALVATION OF THE
WORLD.

P s a l m 1 4 8 : 3 “Praise the Lord from the Heavens;
praise Him in the Highest; praise Him, all you
His Angels; praise Him, all your His Hosts;
Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him all
you stars and Light...”
➤ Psalms 148 – 150 are THE PRAISES – LAUDS – which
form the conclusion to the Psalter, and which
EXHORT ALL CREATION TO PRAISE THE MOST
BLESSED HOLY TRINITY.
➤ The climax of the Psalter is when ALL HUMANITY AND
CREATION – EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES – ARE CALLED UPON TO MAKE
THIS DOXOLOGY TO GOD THE FATHER, AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR ONE, TRUE AND
LIVING GOD ALMIGHTY.
➤ THE NATIVITY STAR WAS A SIGN OF THE MESSIAH
HIMSELF, signifying THE LIGHT HE WAS TO SHED
UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, THROUGHOUT TIME.

2 K i n g s 2 2 – The water of Jericho was unusable until
Elisha quoted God Who said: "’... I have healed
these waters; from them there shall no longer
be death or barrenness...’ So the water was
healed by the word Elisha spoke, and so it
remains to this day.”
Just as our Lord God healed the waters of Jericho, so THE
INCARNATE SON OF GOD BRINGS RENEWAL OR
REGENERATION TO ALL DAMAGED CREATION.

J e r e m i a h 3 6 : 1 0 “... thus said the Lord: “When 70
years are about to be fulfilled in Babylon, I
will visit you and confirm My Words to you,
to return your people to this place.”
➤ St Jeremiah spoke historically for there was A RETURN
OF EXILES under Cyrus after 70 years, and
➤ Mystically for CHRIST CHOSE 70 MEN AS HERALDS OF
HIS HOLY GOSPEL. They lived A GODLY LIFE OF
OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, SUFFERED MARTYRDOM
AND SPREAD THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHICH IS OUR
TRUE RETURN FROM SPIRITUAL EXILE IN THE
FALLEN WORLD.

J e r e m i a h 3 6 : 1 4 : “I will appear to you...” is a
Prophecy of the Incarnation of God the Son when
GOD APPEARED TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS
FLESH – IN HIS HUMAN, VISIBLE NATURE.
➤ The Hebrew Shepherds were the first to worship and
adore Christ, having done so shortly after His Birth,
at the dark cave as OUR SAVIOUR WAS SENT
INITIALLY FOR “OLD COVENANT ISRAEL.”
➤ The Magi - the “First Fruits of the Gentiles” -
arrived in Bethlehem much later, after the Holy
Family had moved into a house, as GENTILES
WORSHIPPED GOD AS “THE NEW COVENANT
ISRAEL.”
THE MAGI HONOURED CHRIST OUR GREATEST AND ONLY
KING WITH SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY GIFTS:
“Gold is for the King of Ages. Frankincense is for
the God of All. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal
One Who shall be three days dead.” (COMPLINE HYMN OF
THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST)
 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 EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA,
BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

Sunday After Nativity - Tone (6) Plagal 2 24 December 2010

The Second Day of the Nativity - Synaxis of the Ever

Blessed, All Pure Virgin Theotokos

Feast of St Joseph the Betrothed. St David the Psalmist & King & St James the Just/Adelphotheos
(Brother of our Lord) – St Euthymios, Hieromartyr of Sardis – St Constantine of Synada – St Evarestos of
Studion Monastery – St Nikodemos of Tishmana, Macedonia – St Constantine the Russian Hieromartyr of
Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos – Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos of Vilna – Holy Icon of the
Ever Blessed Theotokos of the Three Joys – Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, the Blessed Womb
– St Isaac ΙΙ Hieromartyr of Optina
Isodikon Of The Nativity
Ek Gastros pro eosforou Egennisa Se. Omose Kyrios ke Out of the Womb, before the Morning Star have I
ou metamelithisete. Si Ierefs is ton eona, kata tin Begotten Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not
taxin Melihisedek. repent: Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order of
Melchizidek.
Soson imas, Ie Theou, O ek Parthenou tehthis, Save us, O Son of God, Born of the Virgin, who
psallontas Si Allilouia! sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone (6) Plagal 2
Angelike Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes The Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the
apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the
to ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilefsas ton Adin, mi Tomb seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led Hades
pirasthis ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno,
captive, yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who
Doroumenos tin Zoin. O Anastas ek to nekron,
Kyrie, Doxa Si. art the Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman.
Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the
dead!
K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s - Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Resurrection Gospel 9 : John 20 : 19 - 31 O UR RI SE N LORD BESTOW S HI S A UTHORI T Y TO FO RGI VE SI N S U PON
HI S A POSTLE S

Prokeimenon God is Marvellous in His Saints! Bless the Lord in the Congregation!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 1 : 11 - 19
God’s Calling & Divine Revelation – Christ’s Personal Calling and Enlightenment
Brethren: I make known to you that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not according to mankind, for I neither
received It from man, nor was I taught It, for It came through the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
And you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism – how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried
to destroy It. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own Nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my Fathers.
But, when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb and Called me through His Grace, to reveal His
Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did
I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the
other Apostles, except James, the Lord’s Brother...
✽ THE TRUE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT BY HIS > St Paul established A CLEAR CHAIN OF HOLY
TRUE HOLY APOSTLES although many others WITNESSES TO ORAL TRADITION – God’s
declare themselves to be Apostles. Absolute Truth, which is verbally and
➤ TRUE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST ARE CALLED BY correctly taught to others.
GOD HIMSELF. ✽ CHRISTIAN HOLY TRADITION IS JOYFULLY AND
➤ TRUE HOLY APOSTLES LEARN GOD’S HOLY GOSPEL BY COMPLETELY ACCEPTED BY THOSE WHO TRULY
DIVINE REVELATION – either directly from our BELIEVE since it is a Catholic – Universal – Divine
Risen Lord Jesus Christ, just like His original Truth, which is an exclusive, essential and vital
Apostles had been taught – or by the Revelation aspect of the whole Church of Christ, and which
of Apostolic Tradition. needs TO BE CORRECTLY TAUGHT TO OTHERS

2 T i m o t h y 2 : 2 “... the Things that you have UNHINDERED OR UNCHANGED.
heard from me among many witnesses, This is in complete contrast to the elitism of major
commit these to Faithful men who will be religions of the first century Roman world and, sadly,
able to teach others also...” in many cases of the heretical man-made pseudo-

2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAX IS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010 31.
 Christian churches of these modern, self-centred and
self-indulgent days.
✽ FAITHFUL MINISTRY OF CHRIST’S HOLY GOSPEL
REQUIRES HUMBLE DISCIPLINE: OBEDIENCE,
SELF-DENIAL AND STRUGGLE.
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST ARE CALLED BY DIVINE
GRACE, not according to their works or a so-
called “proper” background – (and sometimes
despite their own plans or priorities!)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST ALWAYS BRING GLORY,
HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO GOD ALONE – not to
satisfy their own desires and egos, or for any
other purpose.
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST FORM ONE CHURCH
GOVERNMENT
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST MAINTAIN THE SAME
DOCTRINE (TRUE TEACHING OF CHRIST)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST WORK HARMONIOUSLY
AND OBEDIENTLY ACCORDING TO THE
AGREEMENTS OF THE HOLY SYNOD – THE COUNCIL
OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. (i.e. the Holy
Church maintains and obeys the unanimous decisions
and confirmation of the Holy Synod, according to Divine
Inspiration and Will alone.)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST STAND FIRM – ARE
UNCOMPROMISING IN MATTERS CONCERNING
CONSCIENCE BUT ARE HUMBLY CORRECTED WHEN
MISTAKEN OR DECEIVED.
By Divine Grace, True Apostles recognise God’s Truth
rather than man’s flawed opinion or concept, but
might be deceived or misled, and for that reason
alone, everyone must have a Spiritual Father for
Guidance and correction or redirection.
Furthermore, True Apostles accept correction from
others if it justified and truthful just as when St Paul
rebuked St Peter for his hypocritical ethnic elitism.
Apostolic Tradition is grounded in the direct, personal
Divine Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Incarnate Son of God.
✽ JUST AS CHRIST CALLED HIS TWELVE APOSTLES, HE
ALSO LATER CALLED ST PAUL.
✽ JUST AS THE ORIGINAL TWELVE APOSTLES RECEIVED
THE HOLY GOSPEL DIRECTLY FROM OUR LORD, SO
DID ST PAUL.

Acts 9: 3 – 6 – “As (St Paul) journeyed he came near
to Damascus when suddenly a Light shone
around him from Heaven. And he fell to the
ground, hearing a Voice saying to him: ‘Saul!
Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?’ And he
said: ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said: ‘I
Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is
difficult for you to kick against the goads.’
So he, trembling and astonished, said: ‘Lord,
what dost Thou want me to do?’ And the Lord
said to him: ‘Arise, and go into the city, and
you will be told what you must do.’”
Saul had persecuted Christians under the legal structure
of Judaism and as such he was charged to arrest
Jewish Christians, but HE HAD NO AUTHORITY OVER
GENTILE CHRISTIANS.
CHRISTIANITY BECAME KNOWN AS “THE WAY,”
ACCORDING TO CHRIST’S REVELATION THAT HE IS
THE WAY AND THE FACT THAT BY FOLLOWING OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST we do not commit ourselves to
a momentary, brief decision or the mere observance
of outward religious practises but to a whole Way of
Life – WE COMMIT TO A LIFE IN CHRIST!

J o h n 1 4 : 6 – Our Lord told St Peter: “I Am the Way,
the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to
the Father, except through Me.”
The Way we reach God the Father is forever established
in the Person and Work of God the Son Who is the
Truth because He is the unique Revelation of God
the Father.
Christ our Lord is the Life Who became Man so that we
might regain Life, and as He is our Life, not even
death can prevent us from going to Him.
The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 2 : 13 – 23
Flight Into Egypt & the Slaughter of the Innocents
At that time, when the Magi had departed, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Arise,
take the young Child and His Mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the
young Child, to destroy Him.”
32. 2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAXIS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010
On IN CHRIST can we begin to know God the Father, for
only IN CHRIST is the Way to all Divine Truth and all
Life – both earthly and Eternal.
The persecution of individual Christians or the Holy
Church in general is a persecution of Christ or God
Himself because they cannot be separated.
GOADS ARE SPIKES THAT WERE USED TO PROD FARM
ANIMALS INTO ACTION SO THE TERM IS USED AS A
METAPHOR FOR THE DIVINE WISDOM OR PROMPTINGS
(‘POINTED STICKS’) OF GOD.
In this context CHRIST USED THE METAPHOR TO EXPRESS
THE FUTILITY OF ST PAUL TRYING TO FIGHT AGAINST
DIVINE TRUTH.

E c c l e s i a s t e s 1 2 : 1 1 – “The words of the wise are
like pointed sticks (goads), like nails firmly
fastened; they are given from the
collections and abound from them by one
Shepherd.”

M a t t h e w 2 5 : 4 0 – Christ warned us that at the Final
Judgement “... the King will answer and say
to them: ‘Truly, I say to you: inasmuch as
you did it to one of the least of these – My
Brethren – you did it to Me!’”
Our Lord’s Teaching TO SEE HIM IN EVERYONE ELSE IS
THE FULFILMENT OF HIS GREAT COMMANDMENT TO
LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS AS MUCH AS WE KLOVE
OURSELVES BUT ESPECIALLY AS MUCH AS GOD LOVES
US.

E p h e s i a n s 5 : 2 3 – 3 0 – “...the husband is the head of
the wife, as also Christ is Head of the
Church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
Therefore, just as the Church is subject to
Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in
everything. Husbands Love your wives, just as
Christ also Loves the Church and gave
Himself for Her, so that He might Sanctify
and Cleanse Her with the Washing of Water
by the Word, that He might present Her to
Himself, a Glorious Church, not having spot
nor wrinkle, nor any such thing, but that
she should be Holy and without blemish.
So husbands ought to Love their own wives as
their own bodies; he who Loves his wife Loves
himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh,
but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the
Lord does the Church, for we are Members
of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones.”
The analogy of Christ as the Bridegroom and His Holy
Church as the Pure Bride, and the Divine Mystery of
Holy Matrimony, helps us to understand the great
Mystery of His Holy Church
Christ alone is the Divine Head and Leader of the
Church, and, as Man, He is first among equals, but
far superior to us humans in Nature.
We are the Holy Church of Christ – His Sanctified Bride -
who must submit to His Sacrificial Leadership.
In ancient Israel, the Bride would be bathed, dressed
and escorted to the Bridegroom by his friends, in the
Church Holy Baptism is that bathing and dressing –
we “put on Christ” – and Christ Himself escorts us to
the Festal Banquet.
In Orthodoxy Baptised Christians are one humanity and
one flesh IN CHRIST.

Acts 26 : 13 – 18 (also acts 9:1 – 8; 22: 1 – 21)
The various accounts of St Paul’s Calling reveals
that AS LONG AS WE ONLY SEE THINGS FROM OUR
OWN PERSPECTIVE, WE REMAIN SPIRITUALLY
BLIND AND STUBBORNLY IGNORANT.
Thus St Paul was temporarily rendered physically blind
until he truly saw Christ in all His Glory and Truth
and submitted to Holy Baptism – “put on Christ” and
began to LIVE IN CHRIST.
When Joseph arose, he took the young Child and His Mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the
death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt,
I called My son.”
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to
death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to
the time that he had determined from what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in
Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning - Rachel weeping for her Children, refusing to be
comforted, because they are no more.”
Now, when Herod was dead, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: “Arise, take
the young Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s
Life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His Mother, and went into the land of Israel. But when he
heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father, Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. And being
warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Egypt is where the Nation of Israel had once taken The Holy Innocents are regarded as dear little Saints and
refuge and just like the Old Covenant St Joseph had Holy Martyrs of the Church of Christ.
saved God’s people by sheltering them in Egypt, so
J e r e m i a h 3 8 : 1 6 - 1 7 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let your
did St Joseph the Betrothed save the Christ Child voice cease from its bitter weeping and
and His Mother from harm. your eyes from tears, for there is a Reward
It is probable that some of the valuable gifts bestowed for your Works, and they shall return from
on our Lord’s family financed the long journey and the land of their enemies. There shall be an
kept them going until their return to the land of abiding Home for your Children.’”
Israel. Just as St Rachel had been told that her Children would
St James, (the eldest son of St Joseph the Betrothed and return from exile in Babylon, so our Lord Jesus
his late wife, Salome,) accompanied his elderly would return from His temporary exile in Egypt.
father and young cousins to Egypt and he would According to historical records, Herod “the Great,” died
have sought employment to assist with their daily in 4 BC. Therefore THE DATE OF OUR LORD’S
expenses. NATIVITY ON WHICH THE CURRENT CALENDAR IS
Several Holy Icons depict St James carrying the Christ BASED IS SHORT OF FOUR YEARS.
Child upon his shoulders or leading a donkey upon Augustus Caesar banished Herod’s son, Archelaus, for
which the Ever Blessed Theotokos and Her Son rode, his abominable cruelty in the 6th Year of our Lord,
while St Joseph the Betrothed walked alongside. which was revealed to St Joseph the Betrothed by
“Out of Egypt I Called My Son...” is a reference to the the Angel of God so that the Holy Family went to
Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, governed by

H o s e a 1 : 1 “The Word of the Lord that came to another son of Herod the Great – Herod Antipas.
Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of
L u k e 3 : 1 “... in the fifteenth year of the reign of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezehiak, Kings Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor
of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, son of Judea, Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, his
of Joash, King of Israel.” brother, Philip, Tetrarch of Iturea and the
St Theophan explained: “The Word came to Hosea as a reagion of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the
Teacher of God, softly speaking to the disobedient Tetrarch of Abilene...”
and making them return through what he said and Herod ruled Judea from 37 – 4 BC and although he was
did.” a great builder, he was a cruel and paranoid ruler.
In the Old Testament the term “son” often referred to St Luke mentioned Herod to pinpoint the historical date
the entire Nation of Israel – God’s Chosen. of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this particular context, it is a reference to the Christ An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob the Patriarch indicated
Child and His Holy Family, thereby fulfilling this that the Messiah would come when a King ruled who
Divine Calling as the True Son of God Who went was not from the Tribe of Judah and as Herod was
from Egypt – the land of exile – to the land of Israel – indeed a Gentile who called himself “King of Judea,”
the Promised Land. the Coming of Christ – the Messiah – was definitely at
NOW,ACCORDING TO OUR NEW COVENANT WITH GOD, hand.
CHRISTIANS ARE THE NEW ISRAEL WHO HAVE LEFT The Prophecy “He shall be called a Nazarene...” has
SPIRITUAL EXILE (EGYPT) – AND HAVE ENTERED THE not been exactly identified but it has been taken as a
NEW PROMISED LAND OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF reference to “the Rod,” (“Neser”) mentioned in
GOD.
I s a i a h 1 1 : 1 – “There shall come forth a Rod from
The cruelty of Herod was prefigured by Pharaoh who, in the Root of Jesse, and a Flower shall grow
an attempt to destroy the power and strength of out of his Root.”
Israel, demanded the indiscriminate and merciless And to “the Nazarite” (“Nazir”) mentioned in
murder of all new born sons of the Hebrew nation.
J u d g e s 1 3 : 5 – “... Behold! Thou art pregnant and

E x o d u s 1 : 1 6 & 2 2 : “... he said: ‘When you do the shall bear a Son, and no razor shall come
duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women ... if upon His Head, for the Child shall be a
it is a male, then you shall kill him; but if a
Nazirite to God from the Womb; and He
female, let her live...’ So Pharaoh commanded
shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand
all his people, saying: ‘Every male born to the
of the Philistines.”
Hebrews you shall cast into the river, but every
Samson had been “...a Nazirite unto God from the
female you shall save alive.’”
womb...” as had been St Samuel, the Holy Prophet
When the people of Jerusalem were led away to exile,
of God and St John the Baptist.
they passed through Ramah, nearby Bethlehem,

1 K i n g d o m s / 1 S a m u e l 1 : 1 1 – St Hannah “... prayed
where St Rachel, wife of St Jacob, was buried.
a Vow to the Lord God and said: ‘O Lord,
In his Prophecy, St Jeremiah saw St Rachel, even from
my God of Sabaoth, if Thou art looking,
the grave, moved with deep compassion for the
look with favour upon the lowly state of
terrible fate of her descendents.
Thy handmaiden and remember me. I pray
Once again, at the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, St
Thee, grant Thy handmaiden a seed of men,
Rachel wept for her Children, which shows that all
a son, and I will dedicate him before Thee
the Saints reposing in Paradise are aware of and
as a Gift until the day of his death. He will
have compassion for those still alive. They continue
not drink wine, nor intoxicating drink, and
to pray for us and intercede on our behalf with God.
no razor shall come upon his head.’”
For that reason, we beseech their intercessory
The expression “lowly state” is the same phrase that our
Prayers and Spiritual Guidance.
Ever Blessed Lady, the All Pure Virgin Mary prayed.

2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAX IS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010 33.

L u k e 1 : 4 8 : “... He has regarded the lowly state of
His maidservant...”
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary shows her deep and
sincere Humility and Knowledge that God is the
Source of all Divine Grace, and through the
Incarnation, God reigns over all Creation.
St Hannah’s Sacred Vow to God was that her child would
fulfil the Nazirite Vow, which was a type of ancient
Ascetic Vow found initially in the Book of Numbers,
chapter 6.
In each case, as recorded in Holy Scripture, this Sacred
Vow is prescribed before the birth of a unique child
such as St Samson, St Samuel and probably St John
the Baptist.

L u k e 1 : 1 3 – 1 5 – “... the Angel said to him: ‘Do not
be afraid, Zacharias, for your Prayer is
heard; and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear
Sunday After the Nativity of Christ – Flight into Exile & Return to Nazareth
Today we hear of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt and
their return to Nazareth.
There are two Prophecies that parallel this Holy Gospel.
The first is recalled by St Matthew who quoted St Hosea,
the Holy Prophet of God: “Out of Egypt have I
called My Son.” (HOSEA 11:1)
The second is a Prophesy of St Isaiah: “Behold, the Lord
rides upon a Light Cloud, and shall come into
Egypt; and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at
His Presence.” (ISAIAH 19:1)
There were numerous reasons for that flight into Egypt,
the most obvious of which was to preserve the Life of
the very young Jesus Christ, Who was almost two years
of age by then.
The wicked Tetrarch Ruler, “King” Herod was motivated by
jealousy and his own obsessive fear of losing his
position and power over Judea, especially when
hearing from the Magi of such a great King being
born.
Not understanding anything regarding the Coming of the
Messiah, Herod was determined to prevent this new
King from gaining any power, so he ordered the
murder of all male children who were two years of age
and younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding the
region.
In the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, we are reminded of
another flight into Egypt when the Old Testament
Joseph’s brothers resolved to kill him, also motivated
by jealousy and a fear of their birth right being
usurped due to their father, Jacob’s great love for his
young son, Joseph.
When a caravan of traders arrived at the oasis where they
had all rested, the jealous brothers were persuaded to
sell Joseph as a slave.
As a result, Egypt became a refuge for Joseph and later
the whole house of Israel (Jacob).
St Nikolaj Velimirovic pointed out that this journey into
Egypt is demonstrative of Christ coming for the
Salvation of all mankind.
He explained that the Magi initially sought Christ due to
their astrological idol worship since they searched for
Him as a source of Immortality and Truth.
However, Christ reveals to them that the Path of Salvation,
for the Immortal soul and the Truth, is through
suffering.
As a result of the cruel decree of Pharaoh so many
centuries before, the baby Moses was saved by being
drawn out of the reeds where his sister had hidden
him and adopted by the Egyptian Princess.
The Slaughter of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem is
another reminder of the ancient Israelites being led
off into exile in Babylon as recounted in the Book of
Jeremiah and as they passed the tomb of Rachel, she
wept for them.
That terrible slaughter of the Holy Innocents by Herod is
very significant for us today since so many innocent
babies are mercilessly murdered by abortion!
We must be aware and speak openly about this appalling
sin because this does not concern politics but it
concerns the Teaching of Christ and His Holy
Church and our immortal souls.
34. 2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAXIS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010
you a son, and you shall call his name,
John. And you will have Joy and Gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth. For he
will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother’s womb.’”
St Matthew may also have been alluding to certain
passages in which the Messiah was despised, since
the town of Nazareth did not have a good reputation
at all.

J o h n 1 : 4 6 – “... Nathanael said to (St Philip): ‘Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Abortion is the most barbaric and hideous murder of tiny,
blameless, unborn souls who feel everything inflicted
upon them regardless of the lies used to justify such
evil.
As Disciples of our Loving God we must reject and hate
this devastating merciless torture of the Holy
Innocents of our day!
We must love all sinners and embrace them with love and
compassion especially those who have undergone
abortion - and even those who have performed
abortion, for once they realize the gravity and
consequences of their sin, they are able to repent and
regain Divine Grace.
We must be extremely sensitive to such people for we
never know the full extent of their desperation or what
motivated them to kill the little ones.
We must help them to realize that no matter how grave
our sins, God always loves us just as He Loved the
repentant murderers - St Moses and St David.
Our Lord patiently and expectantly waits for us to “regain
our senses” by seeking His Forgiveness through our
sincere repentance.
We must continue to Love those who are not ready to
repent although it certainly does not mean that we
approve of or overlook their behaviour. On this point
we must forever remain perfectly clear.
We all have a most Sacred Duty to provide a healthy,
compassionate and supportive environment that
encourages the nurturing and welfare of all
conceptions, regardless of circumstances. Here again,
we must always be extremely sensitive.
No child has ever been conceived without the Will of God
and each baby has a specific purpose in this life of
ours that only God fully understands.
God’s Love of repentant sinners is completely beyond our
limited human perception and Christ has warned us so
many times NEVER to judge any of our fellow sinners
because our own sins might outweigh those to whom
we point such accusing fingers!
By providing an environment that supports unwed
mothers or unwanted pregnancies, we must be ready
and willing to assist in various ways, such as locating
suitable adoption or foster care services if necessary.
Support is essential for mothers who chooses to keep
their babies and no Christian should be scandalised or
have a negative attitude towards these mothers.
As Disciples of Christ we must deal with such situations in
the same manner as our Loving Lord and Saviour –
with kindness, compassion and unconditional Love!
This is a very complex topic for each situation is unique
and every circumstance needs to be dealt with a
prayerful and God-sensitive heart.
If any of us should face such a situation, we must consult
our Priests – our Spiritual Fathers - for advice and
assistance, no matter how embarrassed we might be.
The most essential aspect concerning a troubled
pregnancy is to always keep in mind – NEVER FORGET
- that WE MUST DO THOSE ALL THINGS THAT
DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE AND WHICH ARE SUPPORTIVE
OF SACRED, GOD-GIVEN LIFE!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: BY FR. MILAN MEDAKOVIC – 2009
http://www.saintgregorypalamas.com/2010/02/sunday-after-nativity.html
 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 EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY,
MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

24 December 2010
2nd Day of the Nativity - Sunday Before Theophany
Tone (6) Plagal 2

Second Day of the Nativity – Flight to Egypt & the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents
Synaxis of the Ever Blessed, All Pure Virgin Theotokos

Feast of St Joseph the Betrothed. St David the Psalmist & King & St James the Just/Adelphotheos
(Brother of our Lord) – St Euthymios, Hieromartyr of Sardis – St Constantine of Synada – St Evarestos of
Studion Monastery – St Nikodemos of Tishmana, Macedonia – St Constantine the Russian Hieromartyr of
Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos – Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos of Vilna – Holy Icon of the
Ever Blessed Theotokos of the Three Joys – Holy Icon of the Ever Blessed Theotokos, the Blessed Womb
– St Isaac ΙΙ Hieromartyr of Optina
Isodikon Of The Nativity
Ek Gastros pro eosforou Egennisa Se. Omose Kyrios ke Out of the Womb, before the Morning Star have I
ou metamelithisete. Si Ierefs is ton eona, kata tin Begotten Thee: the Lord has sworn and will not
taxin Melihisedek. repent: Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order
of Melchizidek.
Soson imas, Ie Theou, O ek Parthenou tehthis, Save us, O Son of God, Born of the Virgin, who
psallontas Si Allilouia! sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Resurrection Apolytikion – Tone (6) Plagal 2
Angelike Dinamis epi to Mnima Sou ke i filassontes The Angelic Powers were in Thy Sepulchre, and the
apenekrothisan. Ke istato Maria en to tafo, zitousa guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the
to ahranton Sou Soma. Eskilefsas ton Adin, mi Tomb seeking Thy Most Pure Body. Thou led Hades
pirasthis ip aftou. Ipintisas ti Partheno,
captive, yet were not tempted thereby: Thou Who
Doroumenos tin Zoin. O Anastas ek to nekron,
Kyrie, Doxa Si. art the Bestower of Life came to meet the Woman.
Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who Rose again from the
dead!
K o n t a k i o n O f T h e E v e r B l e s s e d T h e o t o k o s - Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom no
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ man can approach. Angels with Shepherds give
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For unto us is
Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal God.
Resurrection Gospel 9 : John 20 : 19 - 31 O UR RI SE N LORD BESTOW S HI S A UTHORI T Y TO FO RGI VE SI N S U PON
HI S A POSTLE S

Prokeimenon God is Marvellous in His Saints! Bless the Lord in the Congregation!
The Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 1 : 11 - 19
God’s Calling & Divine Revelation – Christ’s Personal Calling and Enlightenment
Brethren: I make known to you that the Gospel, which was preached by me, is not according to mankind, for I neither
received It from man, nor was I taught It, for It came through the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
And you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism – how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried
to destroy It. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own Nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my Fathers.
But, when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb and Called me through His Grace, to reveal His
Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did
I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the
other Apostles, except James, the Lord’s Brother...
✽ THE TRUE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT BY Apostles had been taught – or by the Revelation
HIS TRUE HOLY APOSTLES although many others of Apostolic Tradition.
declare themselves to be Apostles.
2 T i m o t h y 2 : 2 “... the Things that you have
➤ TRUE HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST ARE CALLED BY heard from me among many witnesses,
GOD HIMSELF. commit these to Faithful men who will be
➤ TRUE HOLY APOSTLES LEARN GOD’S HOLY GOSPEL able to teach others also...”
BY DIVINE REVELATION – either directly from our
> St Paul established A CLEAR CHAIN OF HOLY
Risen Lord Jesus Christ, just like His original
WITNESSES TO ORAL TRADITION – God’s

2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAX IS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010 35.
 Absolute Truth, which is verbally and
correctly taught to others.
✽ CHRISTIAN HOLY TRADITION IS JOYFULLY AND
COMPLETELY ACCEPTED BY THOSE WHO TRULY
BELIEVE since it is a Catholic – Universal –
Divine Truth, which is an exclusive, essential
and vital aspect of the whole Church of Christ,
and which needs TO BE CORRECTLY TAUGHT TO
OTHERS UNHINDERED OR UNCHANGED.
This is in complete contrast to the elitism of major
religions of the first century Roman world and,
sadly, in many cases of the heretical man-made
pseudo-Christian churches of these modern, self-
centred and self-indulgent days.
✽ FAITHFUL MINISTRY OF CHRIST’S HOLY GOSPEL
REQUIRES HUMBLE DISCIPLINE: OBEDIENCE,
SELF-DENIAL AND STRUGGLE.
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST ARE CALLED BY DIVINE
GRACE, not according to their works or a so-
called “proper” background – (and sometimes
despite their own plans or priorities!)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST ALWAYS BRING GLORY,
HONOUR AND WORSHIP TO GOD ALONE – not to
satisfy their own desires and egos, or for any
other purpose.
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST FORM ONE CHURCH
GOVERNMENT
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST MAINTAIN THE SAME
DOCTRINE (TRUE TEACHING OF CHRIST)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST WORK HARMONIOUSLY
AND OBEDIENTLY ACCORDING TO THE
AGREEMENTS OF THE HOLY SYNOD – THE
COUNCIL OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST. (i.e.
the Holy Church maintains and obeys the unanimous
decisions and confirmation of the Holy Synod,
according to Divine Inspiration and Will alone.)
➤ TRUE APOSTLES OF CHRIST STAND FIRM – ARE
UNCOMPROMISING IN MATTERS CONCERNING
CONSCIENCE BUT ARE HUMBLY CORRECTED
WHEN MISTAKEN OR DECEIVED.
By Divine Grace, True Apostles recognise God’s Truth
rather than man’s flawed opinion or concept, but
might be deceived or misled, and for that reason
alone, everyone must have a Spiritual Father for
Guidance and correction or redirection.
Furthermore, True Apostles accept correction from
others if it justified and truthful just as when St Paul
rebuked St Peter for his hypocritical ethnic elitism.
Apostolic Tradition is grounded in the direct, personal
Divine Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Incarnate Son of God.
✽ JUST AS CHRIST CALLED HIS TWELVE APOSTLES, HE
ALSO LATER CALLED ST PAUL.
✽ JUST AS THE ORIGINAL TWELVE APOSTLES RECEIVED
THE HOLY GOSPEL DIRECTLY FROM OUR LORD,
SO DID ST PAUL.

Acts 9: 3 – 6 – “As (St Paul) journeyed he came near
to Damascus when suddenly a Light shone
around him from Heaven. And he fell to the
ground, hearing a Voice saying to him: ‘Saul!
Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?’ And he
said: ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said: ‘I
Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is
difficult for you to kick against the goads.’
So he, trembling and astonished, said: ‘Lord,
what dost Thou want me to do?’ And the Lord
said to him: ‘Arise, and go into the city, and
you will be told what you must do.’”
Saul had persecuted Christians under the legal
structure of Judaism and as such he was charged to
arrest Jewish Christians, but HE HAD NO AUTHORITY
OVER GENTILE CHRISTIANS.
CHRISTIANITY BECAME KNOWN AS “THE WAY,”
ACCORDING TO CHRIST’S REVELATION THAT HE IS
THE WAY AND THE FACT THAT BY FOLLOWING OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST we do not commit ourselves to
a momentary, brief decision or the mere
observance of outward religious practises but to a
whole Way of Life – WE COMMIT TO A LIFE IN
CHRIST!

J o h n 1 4 : 6 – Our Lord told St Peter: “I Am the Way,
the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to
the Father, except through Me.”
36. 2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAXIS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010
The Way we reach God the Father is forever established
in the Person and Work of God the Son Who is the
Truth because He is the unique Revelation of God
the Father.
Christ our Lord is the Life Who became Man so that we
might regain Life, and as He is our Life, not even
death can prevent us from going to Him.
On IN CHRIST can we begin to know God the Father,
for only IN CHRIST is the Way to all Divine Truth and
all Life – both earthly and Eternal.
The persecution of individual Christians or the Holy
Church in general is a persecution of Christ or God
Himself because they cannot be separated.
GOADS ARE SPIKES THAT WERE USED TO PROD FARM
ANIMALS INTO ACTION SO THE TERM IS USED AS A
METAPHOR FOR THE DIVINE WISDOM OR
PROMPTINGS (‘POINTED STICKS’) OF GOD.
In this context CHRIST USED THE METAPHOR TO
EXPRESS THE FUTILITY OF ST PAUL TRYING TO FIGHT
AGAINST DIVINE TRUTH.

E c c l e s i a s t e s 1 2 : 1 1 – “The words of the wise are
like pointed sticks (goads), like nails
firmly fastened; they are given from the
collections and abound from them by one
Shepherd.”

M a t t h e w 2 5 : 4 0 – Christ warned us that at the Final
Judgement “... the King will answer and say
to them: ‘Truly, I say to you: inasmuch as
you did it to one of the least of these – My
Brethren – you did it to Me!’”
Our Lord’s Teaching TO SEE HIM IN EVERYONE ELSE IS
THE FULFILMENT OF HIS GREAT COMMANDMENT TO
LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS AS MUCH AS WE KLOVE
OURSELVES BUT ESPECIALLY AS MUCH AS GOD
LOVES US.

E p h e s i a n s 5 : 2 3 – 3 0 – “...the husband is the head of
the wife, as also Christ is Head of the
Church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
Therefore, just as the Church is subject to
Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands
in everything. Husbands Love your wives, just
as Christ also Loves the Church and gave
Himself for Her, so that He might Sanctify
and Cleanse Her with the Washing of Water
by the Word, that He might present Her to
Himself, a Glorious Church, not having
spot nor wrinkle, nor any such thing, but
that she should be Holy and without
blemish. So husbands ought to Love their
own wives as their own bodies; he who Loves
his wife Loves himself. For no one ever hated
his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes
it, just as the Lord does the Church, for we
are Members of His Body, of His Flesh and
of His Bones.”
The analogy of Christ as the Bridegroom and His Holy
Church as the Pure Bride, and the Divine Mystery of
Holy Matrimony, helps us to understand the great
Mystery of His Holy Church
Christ alone is the Divine Head and Leader of the
Church, and, as Man, He is first among equals, but
far superior to us humans in Nature.
We are the Holy Church of Christ – His Sanctified Bride -
who must submit to His Sacrificial Leadership.
In ancient Israel, the Bride would be bathed, dressed
and escorted to the Bridegroom by his friends, in
the Church Holy Baptism is that bathing and
dressing – we “put on Christ” – and Christ Himself
escorts us to the Festal Banquet.
In Orthodoxy Baptised Christians are one humanity and
one flesh IN CHRIST.

Acts 26 : 13 – 18 (also acts 9:1 – 8; 22: 1 – 21)
The various accounts of St Paul’s Calling reveals
that AS LONG AS WE ONLY SEE THINGS FROM
OUR OWN PERSPECTIVE, WE REMAIN
SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND STUBBORNLY
IGNORANT.
Thus St Paul was temporarily rendered physically blind
until he truly saw Christ in all His Glory and Truth
and submitted to Holy Baptism – “put on Christ”
and began to LIVE IN CHRIST.
 The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 2 : 13 – 23
Flight Into Egypt & the Slaughter of the Innocents
At that time, when the Magi had departed, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Arise,
take the young Child and His Mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the
young Child, to destroy Him.”
When Joseph arose, he took the young Child and His Mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the
death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt,
I called My son.”
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to
death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to
the time that he had determined from what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in
Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning - Rachel weeping for her Children, refusing to be
comforted, because they are no more.”
Now, when Herod was dead, behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying: “Arise, take
the young Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s
Life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His Mother, and went into the land of Israel. But when he
heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father, Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. And being
warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Egypt is where the Nation of Israel had once taken have compassion for those still alive. They continue
refuge and just like the Old Covenant St Joseph had to pray for us and intercede on our behalf with God.
saved God’s people by sheltering them in Egypt, so For that reason, we beseech their intercessory
did St Joseph the Betrothed save the Christ Child Prayers and Spiritual Guidance.
and His Mother from harm. The Holy Innocents are regarded as dear little Saints and
It is probable that some of the valuable gifts bestowed Holy Martyrs of the Church of Christ.
on our Lord’s family financed the long journey and
J e r e m i a h 3 8 : 1 6 - 1 7 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let your
kept them going until their return to the land of voice cease from its bitter weeping and
Israel. your eyes from tears, for there is a Reward
St James, (the eldest son of St Joseph the Betrothed and for your Works, and they shall return from
his late wife, Salome,) accompanied his elderly the land of their enemies. There shall be an
father and young cousins to Egypt and he would abiding Home for your Children.’”
have sought employment to assist with their daily Just as St Rachel had been told that her Children would
expenses. return from exile in Babylon, so our Lord Jesus
Several Holy Icons depict St James carrying the Christ would return from His temporary exile in Egypt.
Child upon his shoulders or leading a donkey upon According to historical records, Herod “the Great,” died
which the Ever Blessed Theotokos and Her Son rode, in 4 BC. Therefore THE DATE OF OUR LORD’S
while St Joseph the Betrothed walked alongside. NATIVITY ON WHICH THE CURRENT CALENDAR IS
“Out of Egypt I Called My Son...” is a reference to the BASED IS SHORT OF FOUR YEARS.
Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Augustus Caesar banished Herod’s son, Archelaus, for

H o s e a 1 : 1 “The Word of the Lord that came to his abominable cruelty in the 6th Year of our Lord,
Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of which was revealed to St Joseph the Betrothed by
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings the Angel of God so that the Holy Family went to
of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, son Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, governed by
of Joash, King of Israel.” another son of Herod the Great – Herod Antipas.
St Theophan explained: “The Word came to Hosea as a
L u k e 3 : 1 “... in the fifteenth year of the reign of
Teacher of God, softly speaking to the disobedient Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor
and making them return through what he said and of Judea, Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, his
did.” brother, Philip, Tetrarch of Ituraea and the
In the Old Testament the term “son” often referred to region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch
the entire Nation of Israel – God’s Chosen. of Abilene...”
In this particular context, it is a reference to the Christ Herod ruled Judea from 37 – 4 BC and although he was
Child and His Holy Family, thereby fulfilling this a great builder, he was a cruel and paranoid ruler.
Divine Calling as the True Son of God Who went St Luke mentioned Herod to pinpoint the historical date
from Egypt – the land of exile – to the land of Israel – of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
the Promised Land. An ancient Prophecy of St Jacob the Patriarch indicated
NOW,ACCORDING TO OUR NEW COVENANT WITH GOD, that the Messiah would come when a King ruled who
CHRISTIANS ARE THE NEW ISRAEL WHO HAVE LEFT was not from the Tribe of Judah and as Herod was
SPIRITUAL EXILE (EGYPT) – AND HAVE ENTERED THE indeed a Gentile who called himself “King of Judea,”
NEW PROMISED LAND OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF the Coming of Christ – the Messiah – was definitely at
GOD. hand.
The cruelty of Herod was prefigured by Pharaoh who, in The Prophecy “He shall be called a Nazarene...” has
an attempt to destroy the power and strength of not been exactly identified but it has been taken as a
Israel, demanded the indiscriminate and merciless reference to “the Rod,” (“Neser”) mentioned in
murder of all new born sons of the Hebrew nation.
I s a i a h 1 1 : 1 – “There shall come forth a Rod from

E x o d u s 1 : 1 6 & 2 2 : “... he said: ‘When you do the the Root of Jesse, and a Flower shall grow
duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women ... if out of his Root.”
it is a male, then you shall kill him; but if a And to “the Nazirite” (“Nazir”) mentioned in
female, let her live...’ So Pharaoh commanded
J u d g e s 1 3 : 5 – “... Behold! Thou art pregnant and
all his people, saying: ‘Every male born to the shall bear a Son, and no razor shall come
Hebrews you shall cast into the river, but every upon His Head, for the Child shall be a
female you shall save alive.’” Nazirite to God from the Womb; and He
When the people of Jerusalem were led away to exile,
shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand
they passed through Ramah, nearby Bethlehem,
of the Philistines.”
where St Rachel, wife of St Jacob, was buried.
Samson had been “...a Nazirite unto God from the
In his Prophecy, St Jeremiah saw St Rachel, even from
womb...” as had been St Samuel, the Holy Prophet
the grave, moved with deep compassion for the
of God and St John the Baptist.
terrible fate of her descendents.

1 K i n g d o m s / 1 S a m u e l 1 : 1 1 – St Hannah “... prayed
Once again, at the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, St
a Vow to the Lord God and said: ‘O Lord,
Rachel wept for her Children, which shows that all
my God of Sabbaoth, if Thou art looking,
the Saints reposing in Paradise are aware of and

2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAX IS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010 37.
 look with favour upon the lowly state of
Thy handmaiden and remember me. I pray
Thee, grant Thy handmaiden a seed of men,
a son, and I will dedicate him before Thee
as a Gift until the day of his death. He will
not drink wine, nor intoxicating drink, and
no razor shall come upon his head.’”
The expression “lowly state” is the same phrase that our
Ever Blessed Lady, the All Pure Virgin Mary prayed.

L u k e 1 : 4 8 : “... He has regarded the lowly state of
His maidservant...”
The Ever Blessed Virgin Mary shows her deep and
sincere Humility and Knowledge that God is the
Source of all Divine Grace, and through the
Incarnation, God reigns over all Creation.
St Hannah’s Sacred Vow to God was that her child would
fulfil the Nazirite Vow, which was a type of ancient
Ascetic Vow found initially in the Book of Numbers,
chapter 6.
In each case, as recorded in Holy Scripture, this Sacred
Vow is prescribed before the birth of a unique child
Sunday After the Nativity of Christ – Flight into Exile & Return to Nazareth
Two Prophecies parallel today’s Sacred Lesson.
The first is recalled by St Matthew who quoted St Hosea,
the Holy Prophet of God: “Out of Egypt have I
called My Son.” (HOSEA 11:1)
The second is a Prophesy of St Isaiah: “Behold, the Lord
rides upon a Light Cloud, and shall come into
Egypt; and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at
His Presence.” (ISAIAH 19:1)
There were numerous reasons for that flight into Egypt,
the most obvious of which was to preserve the Life of
the very young Jesus Christ, Who was almost two years
of age by the time the Magi arrived.
The wicked Tetrarch Ruler, “King” Herod was motivated by
jealousy and an obsessive fear of losing his power over
Judea, especially when hearing from the Magi of such
a great King. Not understanding anything regarding
the Coming of the Messiah, Herod was determined to
prevent this new King from gaining any control, so he
ordered the murder of all male children who were two
years of age and younger in Bethlehem and the
surrounding the region.
The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt is a reminder of another
departure to Egypt when the Old Testament Joseph’s
brothers resolved to kill him, also motivated by
jealousy and a fear of their birth right being usurped
due to the love of Jacob, their father, for his youngest
son, Joseph. But when a caravan of traders arrived at
the oasis where they had all rested, the jealous
brothers were persuaded to sell Joseph as a slave.
As a result, Egypt became a refuge for Joseph and later
the whole house of Israel (Jacob).
St Nikolai Velimirovic pointed out that THIS JOURNEY INTO
EGYPT IS DEMONSTRATIVE OF CHRIST COMING FOR THE
SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND.
He explained that THE MAGI INITIALLY SOUGHT CHRIST DUE
TO THEIR ASTROLOGICAL IDOL WORSHIP since they
searched for Him as a source of Immortality and Truth.
HOWEVER, CHRIST REVEALS TO THEM THAT THE PATH OF
SALVATION, FOR THE IMMORTAL SOUL AND THE TRUTH, IS
THROUGH SUFFERING.
After the cruel decree of Pharaoh so many centuries
before, baby Moses was saved by being drawn out
of the reeds where his sister had hidden him and
adopted by the Egyptian Princess.
The Slaughter of the Holy Innocents is reminder of St
Jeremiah’s account of the Israelites being led to exile
in Babylon and as they passed the tomb of St Rachel,
she wept bitterly from her grave for them.
THAT TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS BY
HEROD IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR US TODAY SINCE SO MANY
INNOCENT BABIES ARE MERCILESSLY MURDERED BY
ABORTION!
We must deal openly with this appalling sin because this
CONCERNS THE TEACHING OF CHRIST AND HIS HOLY
CHURCH AND OUR IMMORTAL SOULS.
ABORTION IS THE MOST BARBARIC AND HIDEOUS MURDER
OF TINY, BLAMELESS, L I V I N G SOULS WHO FEEL
EVERYTHING INFLICTED UPON THEM REGARDLESS OF
THE LIES USED TO JUSTIFY SUCH EVIL PRACTISES!!
38. 2ND DAY OF NATIVITY FEAST – SYNAXIS OF THE EVER BLESSED ALL HOLY VIRGIN THEOTOKOS – 26 DECEMBER 2010
such as St Samson, St Samuel and probably St John
the Baptist.

L u k e 1 : 1 3 – 1 5 – “... the Angel said to him: ‘Do not
be afraid, Zacharias, for your Prayer is
heard; and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear
you a son, and you shall call his name,
John. And you will have Joy and Gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth. For he
will be great in the Sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother’s womb.’”
St Matthew may also have been alluding to certain
passages in which the Messiah was despised, since
the town of Nazareth did not have a good reputation
at all.

J o h n 1 : 4 6 – “... Nathanael said to (St Philip): ‘Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?”
AS DISCIPLES OF OUR LOVING GOD WE MUST REJECT AND HATE
THIS DEVASTATING MERCILESS TORTURE OF THE HOLY
INNOCENTS OF OUR DAY!
We must love all sinners and embrace them with love
and compassion especially those who have
undergone abortion - and even those who have
performed abortion, for once they realize the
gravity and consequences of their sin, they are
able to repent and regain Divine Grace.
We must be extremely sensitive to such people for WE
NEVER KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR DESPERATION OR
WHAT MOTIVATED THEM TO KILL THE LITTLE ONES.
We must help them to realize that no matter how grave
our sins, GOD ALWAYS LOVES US just as He Loved the
repentant murderers - St Moses and St David. HE
PATIENTLY WAITS FOR US TO “REGAIN OUR SENSES” BY
SEEKING HIS FORGIVENESS THROUGH OUR SINCERE
REPENTANCE.
We must CONTINUE TO LOVE THOSE WHO ARE NOT READY TO
REPENT ALTHOUGH IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE
APPROVE OF OR OVERLOOK THEIR BEHAVIOUR. On this
point we must forever remain perfectly clear.
WE ALL HAVE A MOST SACRED DUTY to provide a healthy,
compassionate and supportive environment that
nurtures THE WELFARE OF ALL BABIES AND MOTHERS
REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, but always with
extreme sensitivity, compassion and Love!
EVERY INFANT IS CONCEIVED BY THE WILL AND GRACE OF GOD
FOR EACH IMMORTAL SOUL HAS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE THAT
ONLY GOD KNOWS.
GOD’S LOVE OF REPENTANT SINNERS IS COMPLETELY BEYOND
OUR LIMITED HUMAN PERCEPTION and Christ has
warned us so many times NEVER to judge any of
our fellow sinners because OUR OWN SINS MIGHT
OUTWEIGH THOSE TO WHOM WE POINT SUCH ACCUSING
FINGERS!
By providing an environment that supports unwed
mothers or unwanted pregnancies, we must be ready
and willing to assist with every necessity and
aspect, without comment or criticism!
SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO KEEP
THEIR BABIES AND NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE
SCANDALISED OR HAVE A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS
THESE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
As Disciples of Christ we must TREAT EVERYONE AS CHRIST
WOULD – WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
This is a very complex topic for EACH SITUATION IS UNIQUE
AND EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH A
PRAYERFUL AND GOD-SENSITIVE HEART.
If any of us should face such a situation, WE MUST CONSULT
OUR PRIESTS – OUR SPIRITUAL FATHERS - FOR ADVICE AND
ASSISTANCE, NO MATTER HOW EMBARRASSED OR ASHAMED
WE MIGHT FEEL.
The most essential aspect concerning a troubled
pregnancy is to always keep in mind – NEVER FORGET -
THAT WE MUST DO EVERYTHING THAT DEMONSTRATEA
GOD’S LOVE AND WHICH ARE SUPPORTIVE OF SACRED, GOD-
GIVEN LIFE!
ADAPTED & EDITED BY MP: BY FR. MILAN MEDAKOVIC – 2009
http://www.saintgregorypalamas.com/2010/02/sunday-after-nativity.html
 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
EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
REMEMBERING ALSO OUR MOST HOLY, MOST PURE, MOST BLESSED AND GLORIOUS LADY, MARIA, BIRTH GIVER OF GOD, 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.

4th Day of the Nativity 27 December 2010

St Stephen the Archdeacon & Protomartyr
Also the Feast of St Theodore Graptos (the Scribe) (& “the Branded)
Confessor – St Theodore of Constantinople - The Wonder-working, All
Merciful Kykko Icon of the Ever Blessed Virgin Theotokos

Isodikon Of The Nativity

Soson imas, Ie Theou, O ek Parthenou tehthis, Save us, O Son of God, Born of the Virgin, who sing
psallontas Si Allilouia! to Thee: Alleluia!
Apolytikion Of The Nativity Of Christ Our Saviour
I gennisis Sou Hriste O Theos imon, anetele to kosmo, Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has given rise to the
to Fos to tis gnoseos. En afti gar i tis astris Light of Knowledge in the world; for they who
latrevontes, ipo asteros edi daskonto, se proskinin, worshipped the Star learnt therefrom to worship
ton Ilion tis dikeosinis, ke se ginoskin ex ipsous Thee, O Sun of Justice, and to know that from the
anatolin. Kyrie Doxa Si! East of the Highest Thou came. O Lord: Glory to
Thee!
Apolytikion Of St Stephen The Protomartyr – Tone 4
Vasilion diadima, estefthi si korifi, ex athlon on With a Royal Diadem, thy sacred head was crowned,
ipeminas, iper Hristou tou Theou, martiron for the struggles thou endured because of Christ
Protoathle Stefane. Si gar tin Ioudeon, apelegxas our God, O Stephen, among Martyrs the First
manian, ides Sou ton Sotira, tou Patros dexiothen. Champion; for refuting the madness of the angry
Afton oun ekdisopi ai, iper ton psihon imon. Judean, thou saw thy Saviour at the right of the
Father. Him thou constantly beseech for the souls
of all of us.
Kontakion Of The Nativity Of Christ
I Parthenos simeron, ton Iperousion tikti, ke i gi to Today the Virgin gives Birth to Him Who is above all
spyleon to aprito prosagi. Angeli meta Pimenon being, and the earth offers a cave to Him Whom
doxologousi, Magi de meta asteros odiporousi, di’ no man can approach. Angels with Shepherds
imas gar egenniti, Pedion neon, o pro aionon Theos. give glory, and Magi journey with a Star. For
unto us is Born a young Child: the Pre-Eternal
God.
Trisagion Hymn – Instead Of The “Agios O Theos...”
Osi is Hriston evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. As many of you as were Baptised into Christ, have
Allelouia put on Christ: Alleluia!
The Acts of the Apostles According to St Luke 6 : 8 – 7 : 5 & 47 – 60
Evangelism and Martyrdom Of St Stephen
In those days, Stephen, full of Faith and Power, did great Wonders and Signs among the people. Then there arose some
from what is called “the Synagogue of the Freedmen” (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia),
disputing with Stephen. But they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. So they secretly
induced men to say: “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up
the people, the Elders, and the Scribes; and they went to him, seized him and took him to the Council.
They also set up false witnesses who said: “This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this Holy
Place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the
customs, which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the Council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the
face of an Angel. Then the High Priest said: “Are these things so?”
And Stephen said: “Brethren and Fathers, listen: the God of Glory appeared to our Father Abraham when he was in
Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him: ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and go
to a land that I will show you.’ Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there,
when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance
in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, God promised to give it to him for
a possession, and to his descendants after him...
“... but Solomon built God a House. However, the Most High does not dwell in Temples made by hands, as the Prophet
says: ‘Heaven is My Throne and earth is My Footstool. What House will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is
the Place of My Rest? Has My Hand not made all these things?’
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so do
you. Which of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the Coming of the
Just One, of Whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the Law by the
Direction of Angels, and have not kept it.”
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of
the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right Hand of God, and said:
“Behold! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right Hand of God!”
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran to him with one accord; and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
And they stoned Stephen as he called on God, saying: “O Lord Jesus: receive my soul!” Then he knelt down and cried
out with a loud voice: “O Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY - S T S T E P H E N , A R C H D E A C O N , H O L Y A P O S T L E & P R O T O M A R T Y R - 27 DECEMBER 2010 39.

After the Glorious Day of PENTECOST WHEN THE HOLY
SPIRIT HAD DESCENDED UPON AND GRANTED THE
FAITHFUL APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST HIS
DIVINE GIFTS, THEY WERE EMPOWERED TO DO
AMAZING AND MIRACULOUS DEEDS ACCORDING TO
DIVINE WILL FOR THE RAPID SPREAD OF HIS HOLY
GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
They were “... full of Faith and Power” which
CHANGES LIVES RADICALLY and which COMPELS
THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO HOLY SERVICE TO FULFIL
THEIR SACRED TASKS WITHOUT QUESTION OR
HESITATION, WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT
WHATEVER GOD WILLS IS ACHIEVED BY HIS DIVINE
GRACE AND POWER.
“Freedmen” were Hebrews who had formerly been held
captive under the Roman conquerors, and often due
to rebellion against Roman authority.
The charges of blasphemy were brought against St
Stephen because, ACCORDING TO DIVINE WILL, THE
LITURGY AND LAW OF THE OLD COVENANT WERE
FULFILLED BY CHRIST AND WERE THEREFORE
OBVIOUSLY CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED.
Hebrews 7:12 – “... the Priesthood being changed, of
necessity there is also a change of the Law.”
NOT ONLY IS JESUS CHRIST, THE FOUNDER OF THE NEW
COVENANT PRIESTHOOD, SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE
OLD COVENANT, THE RULES OF THE NEW COVENANT’S
PRIESTLY ORDER ARE ALSO SUPERIOR and SINCE THE
HOLY PRIESTHOOD IS SO INTERTWINED WITH THE
COVENANT, IF THE PRIESTHOOD IS CHANGED, SO IS
THE COVENANT.
To those who refused to accept Christ as the True
Messiah, such changes were regarded as
sacrilegious or profane.
At His unjust and illegal Trial the charge or accusation of
false witnesses that our Lord Jesus Christ had
threatened to destroy the Temple of Jerusalem were
misinterpretations of His words: “Destroy this
Temple, and in three days I will raise it up” –
REFERRING TO HIS OWN BODY AND HIS PROPHECY OF
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE, WHICH WAS
FULFILLED IN 70 WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED IT
AS RETRIBUTION AGAINST A HEBREW REBELLION.
(MATTHEW 26:61; JOHN 2:19; LUKE 21: 6 & 20)
THOSE WHO BECOME ONE WITH CHRIST RECEIVE DIVINE
RADIANCE, which is a preview of the Glory all Faithful
will share in the Age to come: Eternal Life in God’s
Kingdom.
That is why the Councillors “...saw his face as the face of
an Angel.”
ST STEPHEN WAS ILLUMINATED AND GLORIFIED BY HIS
DEEP FAITH AND SPIRITUAL POWER.

2 C o r i n t h i a n s 3 : 1 8 “... we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same Image
from glory to Glory, just as by the (Holy) Spirit
of the Lord.”
THE WORD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS TRUE LIBERTY OR
FREEDOM, ENABLING US TO BEHOLD GOD - TO
EXPERIENCE HIS INDESCRIBABLE DIVINE PRESENCE,
JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.
Created as the Image of God, WE THEN SEE HIS
UNCREATED IMAGE, THE SON OF GOD, THE GLORY OF
THE LORD THROUGH CHRIST’S DEIFIED HUMANITY
AND IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
As we behold Him, WE BECOME WHAT WE WERE CREATED
BY GOD TO BE.
God is infinite so GROWING IN HIS IMAGE AND GLORY HAS
NO LIMITS.
WE SHALL FOREVER SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY AND BE
TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS (which we are
trying to regain since our Fall from Divine Grace in
Paradise.)

E x o d u s 3 4 : 2 9 – 3 5 – AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH
GOD ON MOUNT SINAI, ST MOSES’ FACE SHONE WITH
A DIVINE LIGHT to such an overwhelming extent that
he had to cover his face with a veil since the amazing
Light frightened the Israelites.
ST STEPHEN DID NOT ANSWER THE HIGH PRIEST
DIRECTLY but used the charges as the context for his
Preaching, whereby, similar to St Peter’s Sermon on
Pentecost, ST STEPHEN DELIVERED CHRIST’S HOLY
GOSPEL BASED ON THE OLD TESTAMENT, SHOWING
HOW THE HEBREWS CONSISTENTLY MISSED THE
PURPOSE OF GOD’S HOLY COVENANT WITH THEM DUE
TO THEIR HARDNESS AND STUBBORNNESS OF HEART.

The Holy Gospel According to St Matthew 21 : 33 – 42

The Mistreatment Of God’s Holy Messengers
At that time, our Lord Jesus said: “Hear another Parable: There was a certain Landowner Who planted a Vineyard
and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And He leased it to Vinedressers and
went into a Far Country. Now when vintage time drew near, He sent His Servants to the Vinedressers, so
that they might receive its Fruit. But the Vinedressers took His Servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned
another. Again, He sent other Servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then, last of
all, He sent His Son to them, saying: ‘They will respect My Son.’ But when the Vinedressers saw the Son,
they said amongst themselves: ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and seize His Inheritance.’ So
they took Him and cast Him out of the Vineyard and killed Him.
“Therefore, when the Owner of the Vineyard comes, what will He do to those Vinedressers?”
They said to Him: “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His Vineyard to other Vinedressers who will
render to Him the Fruits in their seasons.”
And Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The Stone that the Builders rejected has
become the chief Cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’? Therefore, I
say to you: the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a Nation bearing the Fruits of it.”
The Landowner is God the Father. The New Covenant Servants are all our Holy Church
The Vineyard is His Holy Church – i.e. all the Faithful Fathers and Mothers, Spiritual Fathers and Teachers
Christians who are struggling Disciples of Christ. who labour ceaselessly to preserve God’s Truth by
The Vinedressers were initially the Old Covenant enlightening, guiding and teaching us.
Hebrew Leaders who had been entrusted with the The Son and Heir, is, of course, our Lord and Saviour,
care of God’s Chosen Nation. Jesus Christ.
Later, these were the New Covenant Apostles and The casting out and killing of the Son is understood on
Disciples of Christ who fulfilled their Sacred Mission two levels: our Lord Jesus was crucified outside the
of spreading the Holy Gospel throughout the world, city gates of Jerusalem and He was tortured and
and their descendents, all our Bishops and Priests executed by foreigners – Roman soldiers.
throughout the centuries. The “other Vinedressers” are the Gentiles who joyfully
The Old Covenant Servants were the Holy Prophets who accept Christianity and who strive to fulfil all their
guided, exhorted and returned the Hebrew Nation to commitments and Sacred Duties to God and their
God. fellow mankind.
Father Stephen – On Good and Evil
I think evil is always small, and that good is infinite. Evil closes itself to God and thus becomes even smaller; Good opens
itself to God and thus becomes infinite. Evil cannot become so large as to fill even the universe. God became so
small that He could fill Hades and then burst it asunder because it could not contain Him. Every good deed will have
eternal remembrance, but even the largest deeds of the evil will be forgotten.

40. 3RD DAY OF THE NATIVITY - S T S T E P H E N , A R C H D E A C O N , H O L Y A P O S T L E & P R O T O M A R T Y R - 27 DECEMBER 2010