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 14th SEPTEMBER OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES THE GREAT FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF CHRIST
Salvation and Reconciliation Through the Holy Cross
Saint Athanasius the Great attests, "He was crucified before the sun and all creation as witnesses, and before those who put Him to death; and, by His death, has salvation come to all; and all creation has been ransomed. He is the Life of all, and He it is that as a sheep yielded His body in death as a substitute, for the salvation of all, even though the Jews believe it not."
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: for it has been written: "Cursed is everyone who hangeth on a tree" [Galatians 3:13; Deut. 21:23]. "In reality," says Saint John Chrysostom, "the people were subject to another curse, which says, 'Cursed is everyone who continueth not in all the words of this law to do them" [Deut. 27:26]. To this curse, I say, people were subject, for no one had continued in, or was a keeper of, the whole Law; but Christ exchanged this curse for the other, 'Cursed is everyone who hangeth on a tree." As the both he who hangs on a tree, and he who transgressed the law, is curse, and as it was necessary for him who is about to relieve from the curse himself to be from it, but to receive another curse instead of it, therefore Christ took upon Himself such another, and thereby relieved us from the curse. It was like an innocent man's undertaking to die for another sentenced to death, and to rescuing him from punishment. For Christ took upon Himself not the curse of transgression, but the other curse, in order to remove that of others. 'For He did no sin, niether was guile found in his mouth" [cf. Isaiah 53:9; I Peter 2:22). "And as by dying He rescued from death those who were dying, so by taking upon himself the curse, he delivered them from it." Saint Theodore chants: "O Lord, Thy Life-Giving Cross has turned the instrument of the curse [Deut. 21:23] into a seal of blessing."
The Sign of the Holy Cross
Saint Athanasius says, "Behold then what men considered the foolishness of God because of the Cross, has become of all things most honored. For our resurrection is stored up in it, and no longer that of Israel alone; but henceforth all the nations, as the Prophet has foretold, leave their idols and acknowledge the True God, the Father of the Christ. And the illusion of demons is come to naught, and He only Who is really God is worshipped in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Saint Kyril of Alexandria (378-444 A. D.) counsels us, "Let us not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ, but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon thy forehead, that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee, trembling, far away. Make this sign at eating and drinking; at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking; in a word, at every act."
Saint John Chrysostom expounds on signing ourselves with the Cross, saying, "One ought not merely by the fingers to engrave it, but before this to have much faith in the heart. And if in this way thou markest upon thy face, none of the unclean spirits will be able to stand near thee, seeing the blade whereby the devil received his wound, seeing the sword which gave him his mortal stroke. For if we, on seeing the places in which the criminals are beheaded, shudder, think what the devil must endure, seeing the weapon whereby Christ put an end to all his power, and cut off the head of the dragon.
"This therefore do thou engrave upon thy mind, and embrace the salvation of our souls. For this Cross saved and converted the world, drove away error, brought back truth, made earth heaven, fashioned men into angels. Because of this, the devils are no longer terrible, but contemptible; neither is death death, but a sleep; because of this, all that wars against us is cast to the ground and trodden underfoot.
"This Sign, both in the days of our forefathers and now, has opened doors that were shut up; this has healed bites of venomous beasts. For if it opened the gates of Hades, and threw wide the archways of the heavens, and made a new entrance into Paradise, and cut away the nerves of the devil, why marvel, if it prevailed over poisonous drugs, and venomous beasts, and all other such things?"
Saint Paul says, "The word, that of the Cross, to those who are perishing is foolishness; but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God" [cf. I Corinthians 1:18). And "May it not be for me to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" [Galatians 6:14]. "Truly," remarks Saint John Chrysostom, "this symbol is thought despicable; but it is so in the world's reckoning, and among men; in heaven and among the faithful it is the highest glory." "The Cross is not a subject for shame," says Saint John Chrysostom. "I speak of the Cross of Christ. For there is no greater sign of love of God for mankind than the Cross--not heaven, nor sea, nor earth, nor the creation of all things out of nothing, nor all else beside." Elsewhere, he admonishes, "Be not ashamed then by so great blessing, lest Christ be ashamed of thee, when He comes with His Glory, and the sign appears before Him, shining beyond the very sunbeam. For indeed the Cross comes then, uttering a voice by its appearance, and pleading with the whole world for our Lord, and signifying that no part has failed of what pertained to Him...The Cross is our glory, and the sum of all blessings and our confidence, and all our crown. I would that, also with Paul, I were able to say, 'but may it not be for me to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world hath been crucified tome, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14). (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th is a strict fast!
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
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[September 14th 1969-September 14th 2020]
September 14th marks my 51st Anniversary of my ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Presbytera Elaine our children, and grandchildren, humbly thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His many blessings throughout this glorious Diakonia ( Ministry) of our Church.
GLORY BE TO OUR MERCIFUL AND ALMIGHTY GOD!
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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