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 AUGUST 25th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF THE HOLY APOSTLES BARTHOLOMEW AND TITUS
Today is the commemoration of the translation of Saint Bartholomew's holy relics, while his main feast falls on June 11th. When this Great Apostle was crucified in Ourbanopolis in Armenia, Christians took his body and buried it in a leaden coffin. When numerous miracles had been wrought over the Apostle's grave, especially healings of the sick - which led to an increase in the number of Christians - the pagans took the coffin containing Bartholomew's holy relics and cast it into the sea. At the same time, they threw in four other coffins with the holy relics of four Martyrs: Papian, Lucian, Gregory and Acacius. By God's Providence, the coffins did not sink, but floated, carried by the waves, to various places: Acacius's to the city of Askalon, Gregory's to Calabria, Lucian's to Messina, Papian's to another place in Sicily and Bartholomew's to the island of Lipara. By some mysterious revelation, the Bishop of Lipara, Agathon, learned of the approach to Lipara of the holy relics of Saint Bartholomew. Agathon, with his clergy and people, went out to the shore and awaited the coffin with great joy. On the occasion, many of the sick were healed by the holy Apostle's holy relics. They were placed in the church of Saint Bartholomew and lay there until the time of Theophilus the Iconoclast (about 839 A.D.), then, when the Moslems threatened the Liparites, the Apostle's holy relics were taken to the town of Benevento. Thus God glorified His Apostle by miracles, both during his lifetime and after his death.
THE HOLY APOSTLE TITUS
One of the Seventy Apostles, he was born in Crete and educated in Greek philosophy and poetry. Led by a dream he read the Prophet Isaiah and came to doubt all Hellenic (Greek) learning. Hearing of Christ the Lord, he went to Jerusalem with some other Cretans, and himself heard the words of the Savior and saw His mighty works. His youthful heart clave utterly to Christ. He was later baptized by the holy Apostle Paul, whom he served in the works of the Gospel as a son serves his father. Saint Paul loved Titus so greatly that he sometimes called him his son (Titus 1:4), and sometimes his brother (II Corinthians 12:18). Titus travelled widely with the great Apostle of the people, and was by him made bishop of Crete. At the time of Saint Paul's suffering in Rome, Titus was there, and buried the body of his teacher and spiritual father. He then returned to Crete, where he had great success in baptizing the pagans and wisely governed the Church to great old age. He entered into rest at the age of ninety-four. (Source: The Prologue from Ochrid)
The Book of Titus
Author - The greeting (1:1) and Holy Tradition both affirm that Saint Paul is the author.
Date - A.D. 63-65. The circumstances, content, and organization of Titus are similar to those of 1 Timothy. The two books were probably written about the same time. Saint Paul's work with Titus on Crete does not fit into the time covered by the Book of Acts, so it probably occurred after Saint Paul's release from his first imprisonment in Rome.
Major Theme - Overseeing the Church according to the True faith. As the Church grew, it naturally developed theology and structure and encountered heresy and sub-Christian behavior among its members, as had been prophesied. Saint Paul here advises Titus as he faces these issues.
Background - Titus was a Gentile converted to Christ by Saint Paul (1:4). After Saint Paul was released from prison in Rome about AD 63, he and Titus visited Crete (1:5). When Saint Paul moved on, he appointed Titus as Apostolic overseer (episcopos) there. After Saint Paul left Titus in charge of consolidating and organizing the Church on the island of Crete, he found theological problems there similar to those being confronted by Saint Timothy in Asia Minor: elements of Judaism binding Christians, and early gnosticism. But the native culture of Crete was more vicious than those found in Asia Minor. Further, whereas the holy Apostle Timothy was restoring order in established Churches, Titus was establishing order in young Churches.
FROM THE BOOK OF TITUS - 2:11-15
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you."
"...To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work" (1:15-16).
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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