My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
SEPTEMBER 23rd--THE HOLY FEAST-DAY OF THE CONCEPTION OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AND FORERUNNER
By Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
On this day the mercy, miracles and wisdom of God are celebrated: His mercy toward the devout and righteous parents of Saint John, the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth, who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracles, that of John's conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; His wisdom, in the dispensation of man's salvation.
God had an especially great intention for Saint John: namely, that he be the Prophet and Forerunner of Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. Through His Angels, God announced the births of Isaac to the childless Sarah, Samson to the childless wife of Manoah, and John the Forerunner to the childless Zacharias and Elizabeth. All of these were those for whom H had special intentions, and He foretold their birth through His Angels.
How could children be born of aged parents? If someone desires to understand this, he should not ask men about it, for men do not know, nor should he study natural law, for this is beyond natural law. Rather, he should turn his gaze upon the power of the Almighty God, Who created the whole world from nothing, and Who needed no parents - old or young - for the creation of the first man, Adam.
Instead of being curious, let us give thanks to God, Who often reveals His power, mercy and wisdom to us in ways that are beyond natural law-in which we would be imprisoned without these special miracles of God, and would fail into despair and forgetfulness of God.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Feast. Fourth Tone
Sing now, O barren one who did not bear before, for you have indeed conceived the burning lamp of the Sun; and he will illumine all the world afflicted with spiritual blindness. Dance, O Zacharias, and now openly cry out: "The one who is to be born is a Prophet of the Most High God."
Kontakion Hymn. First Tone
Great Zacharias now doth rejoice with resplendence; Elizabeth his glorious yoke-mate exulteth; for she hath conceived divine John the Forerunner worthily, whom the great Archangel had announced with rejoicing, whom, as it is meet, we men revere as a sacred initiate of Grace Divine.
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COME WORSHIP WITH US AND HONOR THE GREAT PROPHET AND FORERUNNER OF GOD, SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST!
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DIVINE SERVICES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at the Holy Dormition of the Theotokos Chapel in New Carlisle:
Orthros: 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George