September 1 - Indiction (Ecclesiastical New Year)

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 SEPTEMBER 1ST OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES THE BEGINNING OF THE INDICTION, THAT IS, THE CHURCH NEW YEAR

The Holy Church of God celebrates on September 1st the Indiction. The Hebrews of old observed March as the beginning of the year, but for the Romans the beginning of the year was September, even though they previously observed the 1st of January. According to Archbishop Gregory of Taormina, when Julius Caesar defeated Anthony it was in the month of September. Being made exceedingly proud by this triumph he transferred the Roman custom of celebrating in January to September. "Indiction" is a Latin word meaning "to proclaim," which in The Great Synaxaristes is given the signification of orismos, that is, a decree or edict, which more specifically was a tax imposed by the emperor in order to meet the needs of the empire. A chronological unit or cycle of fifteen years was introduced into the calendar at Rome on the 12th of May in the first year of Julius Caesar, though in Antioch it was reckoned from the 1st of September. It was regularized on a yearly basis by Diocletian (ca. 240-316) with a five-year cycle. It was in 312 A.D., when Constantine (ca. 285-337) beheld the sign of the Cross in the sky and gained the victory over the Western autocrat Maxentius (ca. 279-312), that the official indiction of the inhabited world was initiated with a 15-year cycle starting in September of that year, which also agreed with the fiscal and calendar years, which coincided (1st of September-31th of August). The Feast of the Indiction was enacted by the Holy Fathers at the First Ecumenical Synod of Nicaea. Gradually, the word "indiction" acquired a chronological definition that it maintained after losing its determination of fiscal boundaries. Indiction-dating became mandatory after Justinian I's novel 47 of 537. The first day of the indiction was not identical in the various traditions. The Greek or Constantinopolitan Indiction began on the 1st of September; the Bedan or Caesarean or Constantinian Indiction began on the 24th of September; and the Sienese Indiction began on the 8th of September.

The hymnographers of the Church composed hymns for the Christians. We ask the Logos/Word, Who made all things in wisdom and appointed the seasons and times for our salvation, "to bless the crown of the year, preserving the multitude of the Orthodox Christians in peace, through the prayers of the Theotokos and of all the Saints" (Vespers, Mode Plagal Two). The faithful (Christian believers) also entreat Christ God, Who wisely renewed all that He brought into existence, for forgiveness of sins and setting aright the work of their hands, victory over their adversaries, the setting of heretics, the fertility of the earth, and seasonable weather.

The month of September was also the time to gather the summer fruits and prepare for winter. On the first day of the Seventh Month, the Hebrews kept the Feast of Trumpets: "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month, on the first say of the month, ye shall have a rest, a memorial of trumpets: it shall be to you a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall offer a whole-burnt-offering to the Lord" (Leviticus 23:24-25). (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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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

August 29 - The Commemoration of the Beheading of the Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

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 29th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE BEHEADING OF THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS PROPHET, FORERUNNER, AND BAPTIST JOHN

Saint John the Great Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, was the son of the High Priest Zachariah and Elizabeth. On August 29th we remember the severing of his precious head, for which reason we keep this day as a strict fast day. Saint John Chrysostom urges us to give heed carefully:  "Let us hearken therefore, as many as suffer ill, living in virtue, at the hands of wicked men. For then too God induced that even he in the wilderness, he in the leather girdle, in the garment of hair, the Prophet, the man greater than all the Prophets, who had no superior among those born of women, should actually be murdered, and that by an immodest damsel, and a corrupt harlot, and all in vindicating the laws of God. These things then let us consider, and bear all nobly, whatever we may suffer."

The Evangelist Mark informs us that "Herod himself sent forth and laid hold of John, and bound him in the prison for Herodias' sake, the wife of Philip his brother; for he married her. For John kept on saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother.' But Herodias was holding it against him and kept on wishing to kill him, but had not been able; for Herod was fearing John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and he kept on preserving him. And after he heard him, he was doing many things, and was hearing him gladly (Mark 6:17-20)." 

The Evangelist Luke informs us that "Herod was reproved not only on account of Herodias. We read, therefore: 'But Herod the Tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and for all the evils which Herod did, added also this above all, he even shut up John in the prison (Luke 3:19-20).

Herodias decided to put an end to Herod's fear. Saint Gregory Palamas says "she persuaded him to murder John without just cause, in accordance with her own opinion, or rather, her deceit. Full of spite and murderous feelings, she was looking for an opportunity to put into effect her fanatical hatred of the Baptist and Prophet. The Evangelist Mark says that 'an opportune day' arrived; that is, it was convenient for a murderous scheme to be set in motion during the celebration of the birthday of Herod. Herodias' daughter, Salome, came in among them all, dispatched by her mother for this purpose. She danced and pleased everyone, including Herod. Given that she was Herodias' daughter, and had been sent in by her, how could she fail either to dance shamelessly or to please Herod? Her brazen dancing so captivated the pleasure-loving king that he said to the girl, 'Ask me whatsoever thou want, and I will give it to you' (Mark 6:22). He also swore to her, saying, 'Whatsoever you shall ask me, I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom' (Mark 6:23)."

Saint Gregory Palamas asks, "What did the impudent girl do? She went to her mother, the same who taught her how to leap and writhe in that unseemly way. The daughter also told the mother for instruction, for we read: 'And she went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for myself?' And she said, '"The head of John the Baptist." And she came in straightway with haste to the king, and she asked for herself, saying that "at once, give me upon a platter the head of John the Baptist" (Mark 6:24-25). How did Herod act? We read that 'though the king became very sad, he did not wish to reject her. And straightway the king sent off a guardsman, and commanded his head to be brought. And he went forth and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head upon a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother" (Mark 6:26-28).

Continuing, Saint Gregory says, "John the Baptist and herald left the peaceful wilderness. He was sent by the Lord to give His people knowledge of salvation and to rebuke the disobedient, which is why he was beheaded by them on this day. It was not fitting that he should die a natural death. For dying naturally is the sentence of Adam's transgression which was not binding upon the minister of the commandment. Indeed, he was one who obeyed God even from his mother's womb. The saints should lay down their lives for the sake of virtue and godliness, as the Lord commanded, so a violent death for the sake of what is good is more appropriate for them. This is why the Lord experienced such death. It was necessary for Saint John's death to herald the death of Christ, such that he should go before the Lord, in accordance with his father's prophecy concerning him that those who sat in the darkness of Hades might run to obtain blessed eternal life in Christ: 'And thou, little child, shall be called a Prophet of the Highest; for you shall go "before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways," to give knowledge of salvation to His people in remission of their sins, through the bowels of compassion of our God in which the Dayspring from on high visited us, "to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death," in order to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:76-79).

According to the hymns that we chant this day, Saint John, as the Voice of the Logos/Word, and His Prophet and Messenger, went into the nethermost depths, where he cried aloud to the dead and captive to exalt the Giver or Life and Deliverer. Saint John, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, exclaimed in Hades: "Lift up your gates; for the King of Glory shall enter in." So herald to those in the depths of Hades the Kingdom of God." Hence, as foretold by his father, "John was the first to preach Christ, the Life and the Dayspring from on High, to those that sat in darkness and the shadow of death."

Saint Mark writes: "After John's disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse; and they laid it in a sepulchre. And the holy Apostles were gathered together to Jesus, and related to Him all things, both as much as they did and as much as they taught. Saint Hilary of Poitiers explains that "the times of the law being now at an end, and buried together with John. John's disciples then came--from the laws to the Gospel--and told the Lord what had happened. And so the law being ended, the Logos/Word of God, embarking on a ship, enters the Church, and passes over into a desert place; He abandons His associates with Israel to enter into hearts yet empty of the knowledge of God."

Saint Mark continues, telling us that "the crowds saw them going, and many recognized Him, and ran together there on foot from all the cities, and went before them, and came together with Him. And Jesus, after He came out, saw a great crowd and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH DIVINE LITURGY AT 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
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Four "Orders" in Church Government



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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THE FOUR "ORDERS" IN CHURCH GOVERNMENT

The New Testament reaches that all four "orders" which form the government of the Church--laity, deacons, presbyters, and bishops--are necessary to the proper functioning of the body of Christ. All four are visible in Saint Paul's First Letter (Epistle) to Timothy.

1. The laity are called "saints" (Romans 1:7; 2 Co 1:1; 1 Timothy 5:10), the "faithful" (Eph 1:1), and "brethren" (Col 1:2). The laity (Greek laos) are the people of God the "priesthood" (1 Pt 2:4-10). Technically, the term "laity" includes the clergy, though in our day the word usually refers to those in the Church who are not ordained. It is from among the laity that that the other three orders emerge.

2. The deacons, literally "servants," are ordained to serve the Church and must meet high qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8-13). The holy Apostles were the first to take on the service tasks of deacons, and when the workload became too great they called for "seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). Besides serving the material needs of the people, deacons occupy a crucial role in the liturgical life of the Church.

3. The presbyters, or elders, are visible throughout the New Testament. Their ministry from the start was to "rule," "labor in the word," and teach True "Doctrine" (1 Ti 5:17) in the local congregation. Saint Paul "appointed elders (presbyters) in every church" (Acts 14:23) and later instructed his apostolic apprentice, Titus, to do the same in Crete (Titus 1:5). From the word "presbyter" came the shorter form "prest," which finally became "priest." In no way is the ordained Christian priesthood seen as a throwback to or a reenacting of the Old Testament priesthood. Rather, joined to Christ Who is our High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 5:6, 10), the Orthodox priest is likewise a minister of a New Covenant that supersedes the old.

4. The bishop is the "overseer" of the congregation and clergy in a given area. Often the terms "bishop" and "elder" are used interchangeably in the New Testament (Acts 20:17, 28), with the bishop being the leader of the elders. The qualifications for bishop listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9 underscore this role. Nonetheless, the bishopric is a specific office both in the New Testament and in the early Church. The Twelve were the first to hold this office (in Acts 1:20 "office" could literally be translated "bishopric.") and they in turn consecrated other bishops to follow them. For example, Timothy and Titus are clearly of a separate order from that of elder (see 1 Tim 5:17; Titus 1:5). Early records show James (Iakovos) was bishop of Jerusalem by AD 49 and functioned accordingly at the First Council there (Acts 15:13-22). Peter is on record as the first bishop of Antioch prior to AD 53. He was martyred about AD 65.

Perhaps the strongest early reference outside the New Testament to the presence of the four orders in Church Governance occurs in the writings of Saint Ignatius, bishop of Antioch from AD 67-107, the very heart of the New Testament era. To the Church at Philadelphia (see Rev 3:7-13) he writes of "Christians [laity] at one with the bishop and the presbyters and the deacons".

In the Orthodox Church, authority is resident in all four orders, with the bishop providing the center of unity. His authority is not over the Church, but within the Church. He is an icon of Christ, "the shepherd and overseer (episcopos) of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25). Church leadership does not consist of one or more of the orders functioning without the others. Rather, the Church, with Christ AS Head, is conducted like a symphony orchestra, a family, the body of Christ, where all the members in their given offices work together as the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity. (Source: Orthodox Study Bible, p. 1637)

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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

Holding Fast to Our Orthodox Christian Identity

My beloved spiritual children in Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior Jesus Christ,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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HOLDING FAST TO OUR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN IDENTITY

One's identity has always been sacred and something that could never be violated. In recent years, however, there has been a deliberate and consistent attempt to steal one's identity. It is referred to as 'identity theft.' People who have experienced an identity theft feel violated and devastated. Currently, there are many ways or measures for securing one's identity and preventing this breach from taking place.

There is also our religious identity which we should be concerned with and to protect. Looking back historically to the early Church, Christian martyrs were brought before their pagan persecutors they often revealed proudly with the words: "I am a Christian!"

As we know the first Christians had no earthly identity. They were dead to this earthly life and world. They believed that they belonged to God's Kingdom. Instead, they believed that they were "fellow citizens with the Saints and members of the Household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). "... a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Peter 2:9).

Over the centuries the Church faced different and more threatening attacks on the authentic Christian faith and identity from within: heresies and schisms which threaten the very core of true Christian belief, identity, and unity of the Church. Countless men and women sacrificed their very lives rather than betray or compromise their Orthodox Christian faith and identity.  

Orthodox Christians ought to have a strong knowledge of the Faith to practice it, to preserve it, to protect it, and to convey it to future generations. How else can they confess and say openly, "I am an Orthodox Christian, I belong to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Christ." "I am of one mind, one heart, one soul, and one body with all those who belong to Christ and the Church. It is therefore imperative that the Orthodox Christian stand steadfastly opposed to anyone who desires to use Christ's Church for any secular, nationalistic, ideological, or political purpose.

The Holy Orthodox Church is in the world to save it. We need to recall the words of the Holy Scripture: "For God has so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (Saint John 3:16-17).

"Our Holy Orthodox Church can never be identified with this world. It is the presence of God's Kingdom in this world until Christ comes again in glory at the end of the ages to establish God's Kingdom throughout the whole of creation. But the Church is in the world for the sake of the world's life and salvation."

The persecution of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Church has never ceased. We should not be surprised or unaware. It is therefore important to stay alert and vigilant on what is taking place around us and the threats against our Church. All of us without exception must remain steadfast in our faith and be loyal only to Christ God. We cannot become complacent and indifferent to the many threats facing our Church today.  

Our Holy Orthodox Church is a worshiping Church. We rejoice in our liturgical life and devotion. We adore our divine services and Mysteria (Sacraments), our rites and rituals, our inspiring traditions. The liturgical life and worship have preserved the Orthodox Church and the faith of millions of Orthodox Christian believers in the darkest hours of oppression and enslavement from worldly wicked powers over the centuries.

It is not enough to just be alarmed about world conditions and dangers today. World conditions, as all of you know, change quickly and the demands are that humanity must accept those changes if it is to survive. Most of the time people are given another option. Those of us who know world history, know that changes can be good or they can be evil, i.e., communism, fascism, nazism, secularism, etc. Changes that were imposed upon the people of the world at their detriment and loss of freedom. Good changes are the changes in medicine, communication, education, technology, science, transportation, exploration, quality of life, etc.

Be strong and unyielding in your convictions, principles, values, and most of all in your faith in Christ. Don't be mislead, don't be deceived, don't be naive, don't be influence by what you are told on T.V. or the internet. The Lord has given us the ability to discern between good and evil. He has given a good mind to think wisely and soundly.  Protect your Orthodox Christian identity with all your might. Live your Orthodox Christian faith daily and make God real in your home.

The Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, was, is, and ever shall be in control of His creation. He will not ever allow a corrupt and faithless people to destroy that which He created with love. Historically we have seen those dictators and tyrants who wished to dominate the world brought His wreath upon themselves instead. All of them failed and will continue to fail. Our Loving God is patient with us and He has given us a free will to act responsibly and wisely. Hopefully, people will choose to worship Him, the Creator, and not the creation (materialism).

In these unpredictable times, we should recall the Divine words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Despite persecution and suffering, Christians can maintain the peace and joy of Jesus Christ Who has "overcome the world" of darkness through His saving work.

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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

August 25 - Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Titus

Holy Apostle Bartholomew

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

A Family That Prays Together...

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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A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER...

Take away from me, O Lord, every destructive pride and give a prudent countenance to my eyes; set a bridle on my tongue, make my ears obedient to Thy Holy Commandments, provide me with patience in afflictions, make my heart wise and strong in forbearance, in goodness, in restraint, in sympathy, in charity, in love, in humility, in peace toward myself and all others, and in rejecting the indolence and slothfulness of the demons in which I once indulged as if they were mere confections.

Grant me the gift of seasoned discretion to be able to discern which thoughts and whose judgments to prefer. Grant me also the ability to discern the machinations of the devil and to reject them and him. And may I cut off altogether my own will so that I may rely upon Thy Providence, hoping to receive from Thee, ho are my Light, my salvation. And I bless, glorify and worship Thee, together with the Father and the Son, with Whom Thou are Co-eternal and Co-existing, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen ( Saint Symeon the New

Theologian)

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Prayer is essential for the Christian believer. "It is obvious to all that without prayer it is entirely impossible to cultivate virtue and to live a virtuous life. For how can anyone be virtuous who does not pray and does not always bow reverently to the Provider and Giver of virtue?" Saint John Chrysostom writes, "Prayer does not only cleanse us from sin, it also protects us from great dangers." This is why the holy Apostle Paul insists and constantly reminds us: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2). In another place he says: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Again he writes in another place: "Praying always with all prayer and supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18). With many such divine words the preeminent Saint Paul exhorts us to live our life in prayer and to nurture constantly our mind with it, because "all human beings have need of prayer just as trees have need of water." As the trees cannot bear fruit unless they drink from their roots abundant water, so also we cannot produce the precious fruit of piety unless we are nurtured by prayer.

Many of our families are secluded and even isolated because of the threat from the pandemic. Orthodox Christians, as others, work from home and the children are taught online or virtually. Parents and children are spending more time together which is a good thing. It is also a valuable opportunity for our Christian families to turn their attention to the Almighty and Loving God in prayer. The children should be taught prayers by their parents and to pray together daily as a family. Children should be encouraged to read the Holy Bible and the virtuous life of their personal and intercessor Saint. Orthodox Christian spiritual life can be strengthened during this most dangerous time. Our children are very frightened by everything they hear about this virus and therefore they need to know that God will protect them and their family and friends. Prayer is God's greatest gift to us.  

Prayer is essential and a unique blessing, honor, and privilege given to mankind. "It is this communion with God that not only defines us as human beings, but also offers to us the victory over Satan, sin and death." Our faith obliges us to thank God, not only when He grants our requests, but always and for all things. Nothing in our life is arbitrary. Everything that happens and everything that does not happen is under the Divine Providence and wisdom of God, and we should be able to accept it with gratitude and humility. 

We find comfort and inspiration in prayer. "...teach us Thy statues, for we know not how to pray fittingly unless Thou, Lord, through Thy Holy Spirit, lead us. Wherefore we pray, if up to this moment we have sinned, in word, or in deed or in thought, deliberately or not, loose, remit, forgive..." "Shine in our hearts the true Sun of Thy Righteousness; enlighten our minds and rule our senses so that, as in the day, walking with grace, in the way of Thy precepts, we may attain to eternal life. For with Thee is the Source of Life, and so, may we be found worthy to delight in Thine unapproachable Light. For Thou are our God, and to Thee we give glory; to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen." (Office of Orthros)

Pray for me as I always pray for you.

With agape in Our Savior Jesus Christ,

+Father George