\ 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.
+
ON JANUARY 7TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE SYNAXIS OF SAINT JOHN, THE HOLY GLORIOUS PROPHET, FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST OF THE LORD
On the day following the Holy Feast of Theophany, in accordance with ancient tradition, the Church of Christ convenes her children for the Synaxis of the holy, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. The word synaxis means an assembling or an assembly, in this case, a convocation in church, at which God is hymned and praised and the great John, the Forerunner and Baptist is lauded. Truly it is fitting that, immediately after celebrating the Lord's Baptism, we should gather to glorify by a special commemoration the steward of the Divine Mystery, who placed his hand upon the Master's head.
The Synaxis is the gathering of God's people to listen to Saint John preaching repentance for forgiveness of sins. He was the last of the Old Testament Prophets and the only one able to point to Jesus of Whom some had prophesied saying, "Behold, the Lamb of God." Saint John's diakonia began about two years before Jesus began His. The holy icon portraying him is always next to the holy icon of Jesus Christ on the Iconostasion (icon screen) in Orthodox churches. Saint John's finger is portrayed unusually long in Byzantine icons to express that his principal purpose was to reveal Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. The more significant moment of his ministry was Epiphany. Following his beheading in the prison of Machaeros, his venerable head was buried deep in an unclean place, and soon after reburied by a devout Christian woman at the Mount of Olives. His holy body (holy relics) was buried at the location where he had died in Sevaste. The Evangelist Luke was able to take Saint John's hand to Antioch, where a small church was built. Countless Christian faithful came to venerate and to witness to the numerous wonders and healings also. It remained at that site for 800 years until the Emperor translated it to the Queen city of Constantinople. It was reported that on every anniversary of Saint John's feast day, the holy hand would either be open, meaning it would be a fertile and good year or close, predicting a disastrous year and severe famine.
Although observed in all churches throughout the world, the Synaxis of the Baptist is celebrated with particular solemnity in those dedicated to the Saint. Impressive ceremonies were held on this day at the church alongside the Jordan where Christ was baptized; in Sevaste, where Herod beheaded the Forerunner; in Antioch, where the Baptist's right hand was taken by the holy Evangelist Luke; and in Constantinople, whither the sacred hand was transferred from Antioch. The Forerunner's hand arrived in the Imperial City on the eve of Theophany, so that it seemed the Baptist himself had come to bless the water. The Emperor and all the people rejoiced greatly and returned on the day after Theophany for the Synaxis. We also celebrate the Synaxis of the Great Forerunner and Baptist John with spiritual joy and beseech him to pray the Master Christ to assemble us again with the Church Triumphant (The Heavenly Church) in the temple not made by man's hand, "eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians Ch. 5), where the voices of those who celebrate God's perpetual self-manifestation are forever heard. There Christ reveals Himself clearly to His Saints, sustaining them by the vision of His countenance. May He be glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit by the celestial choirs unto the ages. Amen. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)
______________________
THE DIVINE SERVICES FOR JANUARY 7th:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
______________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George