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.
ON THE DIVINE SERVICES
By Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco
Then, having successfully passed through the toll-houses and bowed down before God, the soul for the course of thirty-seven more days visits the heavenly habitations and the abysses of hell, not knowing yet where it will remain, and only on the fortieth day is its place appointed until the resurrection of the dead. Some souls find themselves (after the forty days) in a condition of foretasting eternal joy and blessedness, and others in fear of the eternal torments which will come in full after the last judgment. Until then changes are possible in the condition of souls, especially through offering for them the Bloodless Sacrifice (commemoration at the Divine Liturgy), and likewise by other prayers. How important commemoration at the Divine Liturgy is may be seen in the following occurrence:
Before the uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Theodosius of Chernigov (+1896), the priest-monk (the renowned Starets Alexis of Goloseyevsky Hermitage, of the Kiev-Caves Lavra, fell asleep in 1916) who was conducting the re-vesting of the holy relics, becoming weary while sitting by the holy relics, dozed off and saw before him the Saint, who told him: "I thank you for laboring with me. I beg you also, when you will serve the Liturgy, to commemorate my parents." And he gave their names (Priest Nikita and Maria). The priest-monk asked the Saint: "How can you, O Saint, ask my prayers, when yourself stand at the heavenly Throne and grant to people God's mercy?"
"Yes, that is true," replied Saint Theodosius, "but the offering at the Divine Liturgy is more powerful than my prayer."
The Divine Services in their composition contain all the dogmatic teaching of the Church and set forth the path to salvation. They present invaluable spiritual wealth. The more fully and precisely they are fulfilled, the more benefit the participants receive from them. Those who perform them carelessly and who shorten them by their laziness rob their flock, depriving them of their very daily bread, stealing from them a most valuable treasure. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)
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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