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 JUNE 29th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL.
The Life of Saint Paul the Holy Apostle
Saint Paul, the Holy Apostle, before his apostolate, was called Saul. He was a Jew by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin. He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia. His prominent parents, who lived first in Rome but later moved to Tarsus of Cilicia, held the coveted rank of Roman citizens. This is why Saint Paul was also a Roman citizen himself. Mention is made of a daughter in the family. Saul was likewise a kinsman of the holy First-Martyr Stefanos (Stephen) and (probably with him) was sent to Jerusalem by his parents to study the Law of Moses. Saul became a pupil of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. His friend and comrade in his studies was Barnabas, who later became an Apostle of Christ. When Barnabus became a Christian he prayed to God, persistently and with tears, that He enlighten Saul's understanding and turn his heart. Now Saul studied primarily the law of his fathers, becoming a great proponent of it. He, moreover, joined the party of the Pharisees (strict zealots of their heritage, ostentatious in their piety).
When the First-Martyr Stephen was being stoned by the Jews, Saul not only failed to show any pity for one of his own stood who was being put to death, though innocent but even approved the murder and stood guard over the garments of the Jews who were casting stones at Saint Stefanos (Stephen). Afterward, having requested authority from the chief priests and elders of the Jews, he attacked the Church (the community of believers) with even greater rage. He entered into private homes, arresting men and women whom he sent to prison. Not satisfied with persecuting the faithful in Jerusalem, and continuing to breathe in threats and murder against the Disciples of Christ, he set out for Damascus, one hundred and twenty miles away. He had letters from the high priest to the synagogues, that even in Damascus he might see out any-one-man or woman--who believed in Christ and have such persons arrested and brought back to Jerusalem. This took place during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (A.D. 14-37).
But then Saul drew near to Damascus, a light, powerful and blinding, suddenly flashed around him from heaven, so that he fell to the ground. He "heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' And he said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest, but rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what is needful for thee to do" (Acts 9:4-6). In Saint Paul's later summation before King Agrippa, he describes further this saving experience: "At midday, in the way, I saw, O king, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those traveling with me. And after all of us fell down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are Thou, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest. But rise up and stand on thy feet; for I appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a servant and a witness both of what thou dist see and of what I shall appear to thee in visions, taking thee out for Myself from the people and the nations, to whom now I send thee forth, to open their eyes, in order to turn them about from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith that is in Me" (Acts 26:13-18).
Saul arose from the ground. Though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. His bodily eyes were blind, but he began to see with the eyes of his soul. Saul's companions and aides led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. He remained in this city for three days, unable to see anything with his bodily eyes. In his repentance, he neither ate nor drank anything. But he did give himself over to continual prayer that the Lord might reveal to him His will.
There lived in Damascus the holy Apostle Ananias. The Lord appeared to him in a vision and said, "Ananias," And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a Tarsian, by the name Saul; for behold, he prayeth" (Acts 9:10-11). The Lord added that Saul also had seen Ananias in a vision. He beheld how Ananias came in and laid his hand on him so that he might recover his sight. Thus Christ directed Ananias to enlighten the eyes of Saul's body by touching them, and those of his soul by Holy Baptism. "But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, how many bad things he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all those who call upon Thy Name." But the Lord said to him, 'Go thy way, for this one is a vessel of election to Me, to bear My name before the nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel. For I will show him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:13-16).
Ananias went away and entered into the house, where he laid his hands upon him and said, "Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to thee in the way in which thou are wert coming, hath sent me forth, in order that thou mightest recover sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:18). Straightway, as if scales fell from Saul's eyes, he both recovered sight forthwith and rose up and was baptized. He also received food and was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the Disciples in Damascus. Forthwith, he began proclaiming Christ in the synagogues; that this Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were amazed, and were saying about Saul, "This is the one, is it not, who ravaged those who called upon this name in Jerusalem, and had come here for this, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" (Acts 9:21).
Saul, filled with holy zeal, grew increasingly stronger in the Faith and brought to consternation the Jews who live in Damascus, proving to them that Jesus is the promised Messiah. The Jews then blazed up in anger against him. They conspired to murder him; so they set a watch on the city's gates, day and night, lest he should elude them. But the Disciples of Christ, who were in Damascus with Ananias, learning of those Jews who had resolved to kill Saul, took him. Then, at night, the Christians let him down in a basket through the window of a house that was built into the city wall. On leaving Damascus, Saul did not immediately go to Jerusalem. He first went to Arabia, as he writes in his Epistle to the Galatians but again returned to Damascus. Then after three years he went to Jerusalem to visit the holy Apostle Peter, and remained with him fifteen days; but of the other Apostles I saw none, except Iakovos (James) the brother of the Lord" (Galatians 1d;15-19). (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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DIVINE SERVICES TOMORROW JUNE 29th:
Orthros (Matins) ................................................9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy....................................................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