Raising of Lazarus
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
SAINT PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS (Ephesians 3:14-21)
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from Who His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within u, to Him be Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
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TODAY'S SYNAXARION:
On September 30th our Holy Orthodox Christian Church commemorates, honors and entreats the holy intercessions of the following Saints, Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Ascetics, Teachers, of every righteous spirit made perfect in Our Holy Orthodox Christian faith: Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop of Great Armenia; Saint Mardonios and St. Stratonikos the holy Martyrs.
+By the holy intercessions of Your Saints, Holy Martyrs and Holy Fathers, O Christ Our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
SAINT GREGORY THE ENLIGHTENER, BISHOP OF ARMENIA. Saint Gregory was of noble family, kin to the imperial house of Persia (to king Artaban) and Armenia (king Khosrov). When these two houses made war between themselves, Saint Gregory withdrew to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he first came into contact with the Christian faith, received baptism and married. He had two sons of this marriage, Rostanes and Aristanes, and dedicated them both to Armenia and entered the service of king Tiridates. Saint Gregory served his king faithfully, and the king loved him, but, when he discovered that Saint Gregory was a Christian, he was greatly enraged and put pressure on him to reject the Christian faith and worship idols. Having no success whatever at this, Tiridates put Saint Gregory to harsh torture and, after cruel torment, threw him into a deep pit filled with every kind of poisonous reptile, meaning thus to kill him. But God, Who is All-Seeing, preserved St. Gregory alive in that pit for fourteen whole years. Tiridates continued the persecution of Christians in his kingdom, and attacked a women's monastery of thirty-seven nuns with their Egoumenissa (Abbes, Gaiane). When he had slain them with terrible tortures, Tiridates went made and was like a monstrous wild boar. A man appeared to the king's sister in a dream and told her that her mad brother would not be restored to sanity until Saint Gregory was taken out of the pit. This being done, St. Gregory healed and baptized Tiridates. Then St. Gregory, at the king's desire, became Bishop of Armenia and, with the king's help and, above all, God's help, enlightened the whole of Armenia and the surrounding area with the Christian faith. Saint Gregory finished his life of great toil in old age, in about 335 A.D. In his place, his son Aristanes was consecrated bishop, and he continued his father's work. Aristanes was one of the 318 holy Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council.
TODAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURAL READINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING:
Holy Epistle Lesson: I Corinthians 16:13-24
Holy Gospel Lesson: St. Matthew 24:42-47
FROM THE HOLY VOICE OF THE HOLY ASCETICS AND HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH:
Memorial to a monk who joyfully died and who never judged anyone in his life.
"This monk was lazy, careless, and lacking in his prayer life; but throughout his life, he did not judge anyone. While dying, he was happy. When the brethren asked him how is it that with so many sins, you die happy? He replied, 'I now see Angels who are showing me a letter with my numerous sins. I said to them, 'Our Lord said: "Judge not and you will not be judged" (St. Luke 6:37). I have never judged anyone, and I hope in the mercy of God that He will not judge me.' And the Angels tore up the paper. Upon hearing this, the monks were astonished and learned from it."
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Please note: Since so very few Orthodox Christians ever think or discuss the miracles of God in their lives I felt it necessary to bring to your attention some of the countless miracles recorded in the Old and New Testaments. Also, remember the following admonition, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time". (Jesus' warning to his disciples in the Gospel of Saint Mark Chapter 13 verses 22-23).
List of Bible Miracles---Miracles recorded in the Old Testament:
Creation of the world
The great flood
The confusion of languages (tongues)
The fire on Abraham's sacrifice
The conception of Isaac by Abraham and Sarah
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorah
Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt
The closing of the wombs of Abimelech's household
The opening of Hagar's eyes
The conception of Jacob and Esau
The opening of Rachel's womb and birth of Joseph
The opening of Manoah's wifes womb who bore Sampson
The opening of Hannah's womb and the birth of Samuel
The opening of the Shunamite's womans womb and gave birth to a son (the name is not known)
Prophet Elisha's miracle of raising the son of the Shunamites woman who had die.
[Please note: We read in the Holy Bible that there were six sons miraculously conceived and born. Physical laws were suspended as their mothers were touched by the power of God. We also read that there is a seventh son who was to be miraculously conceived. He is hallowed and sanctified, set apart for God Himself.]
The flaming bush
God's Ten Commandments to Israel
The transformation of Moses' rod and a serpent
Mose's leprosy
The plagues in Egypt
The pillar of cloud and fire
Passage through the Red Sea
Sweetening the waters of Marah
Manna and Quails
The transfiguration of the face of Moses
Water from the rock
Aaron's rod buds
Balaam's donkey speaks
The Jordan River divided
The sun and the moon stand still
Sampson's strength
Elijah is fed by ravens
Increases the widow's meal and oil
Raises the widow's son
Rain in answer to Elijah's prayer
The deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
Of Daniel
Jonah in the belly of the great fish
The conception of Saint John the Baptist by Zacharias and Elizabeth
The conception of the Virgin Mary by Joachim and Anna
(The above miracles are just some of them but not all)
List of Bible Miracles---Miracles recorded in the New Testament:
The Annunciation to the Ever-Virgin Mary
The Incarnation of the Logos (Word)
The Birth of Christ the Messiah
Star of Bethlehem appears and leads Wisemen to Christ
Jesus Turns water into wine
Jesus drives out an evil spirit
Jesus heals Peter's Mother-In-Law
Jesus Heals many sick at Evening
First miraculous catch of fish
Jesus cleanses a man with Leprosy
Jesus heals a Centurion's servant
Jesus heals a Paralytic
Jesus heals a man's withered hand
Jesus raises a widow's son in Nain
Jesus calms a storm
Jesus casts demons into a herd of pigs
Jesus heals a woman in the crowd with an issue of blood
Jesus raises Jairus' daughter to life
Jesus heals two blind men
Jesus heals a man unable to speak
Jesus heals an invalid at Bethesda
Jesus feeds 5.000
Jesus walks on water
Jesus heals many sick in Gennesaret
Jesus heals a Gentile woman's demon-possessed daughter
Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man
Jesus feeds 4.000
Jesus heals a blind man at Bethesda
Jesus heals a man born blind
Jesus heals of boy with a demon
Miraculous Temple Tax in a fish's mouth
Jesus heals a blind, mute demoniac
Jesus heals a crippled woman
Jesus heals Ten Lepers
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
Jesus restores sight to Bartimaeus
Jesus withers the Fig tree
Jesus heals a servant's severed ear
Second miraculous catch of fish
Jesus passes unseen through the crowd
The healing of Malcus
The Transfiguration of Christ
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The appearance of the Resurrected Christ to the disciples through closed doors
The Ascension of Jesus Christ
St. Peter the holy Apostle and the healing of the paralytic Aeneas at Lydda
The resurrection of Tabitha
The Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit "as of a rushing mighty wind" (Acts 2:2).
The divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of the Apostles
The Reception of the Holy Spirit
The Founding of the Church of Christ
The miraculous ability to speak and/or understand foreign languages (tongues)
Inspiration of Scripture by God
The exorcism of the slave girl by St. Paul
The release from jail of Sts. Paul and Silas
The healing from the viper which
St. Paul was struck in Malta
Please note: These of course are not all the miracles performed either by Our Lord Jesus Christ or the Holy Apostles. Also, the many, many miracles that have taken place within our Holy Orthodox Church throughout its two thousand year history.
We have witnessed a number of miracles at our Saint Andrew parish as well. Let us all truly thank the Almighty God, our Mother of God, Saint Andrew and Saint Nektarios for their constant blessings and protection.
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George