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 DECEMBER 12th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY AND GOD-BEARING FATHER SPYRIDON THE WONDER-WORKER, BISHOP OF TRIMYTHOUS IN CYPRUS
Spyridon, our Holy Father among the Saints, the boast of the inhabited world, and the adornment of the faithful, flourished during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 A.D.). He hailed from the famous island of Cyprus. The Saint's virtue and divine conduct were such that his accomplishments shone forth brightly throughout the inhabited world, leaving no adult Christian who is not acquainted with his life. This is the same God-bearing Holy Father who had taken part in the First Ecumenical Synod (325 A.D.). Who has not heard of his renowned demonstration at Nicaea? But his participation at that First Synod shall be triumphantly recounted later.
Our great Father Spyridon from his youth was simple, open, unpretending, and humble. He always kept as models, worthy of emulation, the blessed Prophet David for meekness, Jacob for being natural and unaffected, and Abraham for his hospitality. He was in the habit of distributing his goods and expending his means on the poor. On account of his virtue and generosity, he inherited an imperishable land, one that was blessed and perpetual, in accordance with the unfailing promise of the Lord Who said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (St. Matthew 5:5), and "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy" (St. Matthew 5:7). By means of transitory wealth, which he held in contempt during his lifetime, he now receives for unending ages the incorruptible treasure, that is, the Christ, the Pearl of great price. He was also enriched by a river of miracles, which were energized in him at all times and places, and from which he was never drained.
Saint Spyridon was sanctified from his mother's womb and was born in Askia, Cyprus. From his youth, he was adorned with all the virtues and loved true simplicity and serenity. Though the holy man started out as a shepherd of sheep, yet he was neither a rustic in character and disposition nor one uncommunicative. Indeed, he diligently conducted his life in an orderly manner. He attended to the needs of the indigent and strangers with such mercy and compassion that he received all with love into his home.
According to the sacred canons, he was lawfully wedded to an honorable and prudent woman with whom he begat children. After her premature death, he continued to comport himself in a venerable and temperate manner, He did not go about seeking pleasure and the desires of the flesh, but instead continued laboring in every virtue. He applied himself conscientiously to the study of the law of God, which further implanted in his soul love for his fellow man, together with moderation, tolerance, and fairness. Consequently, he came to be a true icon and archetype of virtue, having all the virtues exactly impressed in himself, to such a degree that very few can imitate his grace-filled practices and goodwill. When the Great Constantine became Emperor of the Christians, Spyridon the Wonder-Worker of Trimythous, a notable city on the seacoast near Salamis of Cyprus, was universally revealed. His attainment of virtue before his elevation to the episcopacy (was consecrated a bishop) is clearly evinced by the miracles which he performed.
The First Ecumenical Synod was comprised of 318 holy Fathers. The Synod was assembled against Arius the heretic, who kept spreading his blasphemy saying that the Son and Logos/Word of God was not coessential (homoousios) with the Father. Thus, Arius, the heretic was declaring that Jesus is not true God but a creature (ktisma), a Greek word meaning anything that is built. This Synod, rejecting Arius' ontological subordination of the Logos/Word to the Father, defined the Incarnate Logos/Word as coessential.
In the midst of this company of luminaries was the humble-minded Spyridon, whose indwelling of the Holy Spirit and virtue empowered him to surpass the worldly philosophers who were given permission to attend. The Saint asked to speak. Saint Spyridon took up a tile in his hands and went on speaking: "One is God Who made the heaven and the earth, the Creator of all things. The same one created the heavenly powers and fashioned man, so that 'all things came into being through Him, and without Him, not even one thing came into being that hath come to be. And 'by the Logos/Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth (Psalm 32:6).' The Logos/Word made, the heaven and the earth; and the firmament, which He called the heaven (Genesis 1:1, 7-8), and divided the water which was under and above the firmament...
"...Again, we know Him to be coessential with the Father, coequal in dignity, honor, and glory. The Holy Trinity, though One, in essence, is tri-hypostatic, Three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is an ineffable and incomprehensible mystery, and the mind of man is not able to compass or comprehend the greatness of infinite divinity. How is it possible to put the open sea of the incomprehensible Divinity. That you mightest be assured of the Truth of these things, attend to this small and common roof-tile. Though it is not proper that we should liken the uncreated and superessential nature with this created and perishable creation, nevertheless, the eyes are deemed more credible witnesses to us than our ears. For all those of little faith, such as thyself and others who do not believe easily unless they see with their bodily eyes, I shall demonstrate before your very eyes the truth with this here clay tile, which is compounded of three elements though it is one in essence and nature."
After the Saint, inflamed with love for the Trinity, made the sign of the honorable Cross with his right hand, while holding the tile in his left hand, he pronounced: "In the name of the Father," and instantly--lo, thy wonders, O Christ our King! --the fire which had baked the tile flared upward. Then he said, "and of the Son," and at once, the water wherewith it had been mixed ran down. Immediately following, he said, "and of the Holy Spirit," and he opened his hand in which only the clay from which it was made remained. This miracle was especially the philosopher, who was awestruck to the depths of his soul and fell silent. Thus, the Saint put to shame the disputers reputed to be wise. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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DIVINE SERVICES FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 12th:
Orthros at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
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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