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.
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ON NOVEMBER 1st OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE LIFE AND MIRACLES OF THE HOLY UNMERCENERY HEALERS AND WONDER-WORKERS COSMAS AND DAMIANOS
Saints Cosmas and Damian (nos) were born in Asia and were brothers according to the flesh. Their father was a pagan, but their mother, whose name was Theodosia, was a Christian. Left a widow after the death of her husband, she regarded her bereavement as offering a fortunate opportunity to serve Christ more fervently and devoted her whole life to the purpose of pleasing God. She became a widow of the sort praised by the Holy Apostle, who said, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day" (1 Timothy, Ch. 5). She taught her beloved children, Cosmas and Damian, to lead a God-pleasing life like hers, instructing them well, rearing them in the Christian faith, acquainting them with the Holy Scripture, and exhorting them to live virtuously. Thus they learned to walk blamelessly in the law of the Lord, and when they reached manhood, they became like two luminaries upon the earth, shining with good deeds. Having received the gift of healing from God, they bestowed the health of soul and body upon the infirm, curing every sickness and disease among the people and expelling evil spirits from the possessed. They helped not only men but beasts (animals) as well, never accepting anything for their services ("un-mercenaries"), for they did not heal other so that they might acquire possessions or enrich themselves with gold and silver, but for God's sake, to make manifest their love for Him by the love they showed for their neighbor. Never did they seek glory for themselves; rather, they sought to stir up men to exalt God, healing infirmities in the name of the Lord. They treated the infirm chiefly by calling upon the name of the Lord, making little use of herbs and accepting no pay or reward. Thus, they fulfilled the Lord's commandment: "Freely ye have received, freely give" (St. Matthew Ch. 10), and were called unmercenary physicians by the faithful.
Having passed their lives in this manner, the Saints peacefully reposed in piety. But it was not only in their lifetime that they were glorified because of their numerous miracles: they continued to work wonders even after their repose. Therefore the Church honors their memory every year on November 1st, for they are our fervent intercessors and the good physicians of our souls and bodies.
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DIVINE SERVICES ON NOVEMBER 1st:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Chapel of Saint Nektarios at Saint Andrew
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George