What is Truth?

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

+

WHAT IS TRUTH?

"So you are a king? Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king...for this I was born...to bear witness to the truth... 'Pilate said, 'What is truth?'...But Jesus gave no answer" (John 18:37; 19:7).

A Christian will see that the question, "What is truth?' is phrased incorrectly. Truth is not a concept: It is a person. Pilate was not open to a discussion as to the meaning of truth. He had his own definition. It was for him whatever he wanted it to be. Like many alive in our time, truth can be anything or everything, a way of imposing one's will onto others. It's not objective, an indisputable philosophical or ethical term that cannot be questioned. Truth today is a sincere and meaningful as a salesperson's pitch for his product. Pilate portrays the irony of our Lord's words, 'I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.' By his question, 'What is truth?' This Jew rejected by His own people and brought to be executed -- He claims to have the truth? How odd. To him Jesus is a fanatic, a lunatic, or a fool. A cunning revolutionary would not have entered Jerusalem without warriors; he would have hidden and chosen an opportune time for attack. He appeared too intelligent to be out of His mind. Is He such a fool as not to throw Himself on the ground and plead, beg and whine for His life? So he sent Him to be beaten mercilessly to placate the troublesome Jewish leaders demanding His death. Surely they will realize how ridiculous is their claim that He is a threat to Roman authority, the trumped up justification for turning Him in as a criminal.

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," says the Lord. Truth is the way through life. Truth does not appear to a person complete and transparent. It cannot just be contained in a doctrine. It cannot be contained in a book. Even the Bible doesn't describe it an as idea. Truth is worked out by living. One is born and set on a course towards infinity. What happens on the way affirms, challenges, contradicts and verifies the truth about God in Christ and the relationship with self. At times some are forced to deal with lies, as it was in the last century under communism. A system base on falsehood, run on mistrust and deception. Solzhenitsyn wrote that the only way to overthrow such a government was: "Do not lie; do not surrender to the lie; do not spread lies." Today's world rejects Christian truth and morals, replacing them with ka modern version Pilate's conclusion, claiming there is no truth, because there is no God. Be a god for yourself, the world says, and create your own truths. Jesus Christ as Truth must be found and followed in our time by each who is eager to follow the Way and share Life that He offers along with the peace that He gives "not as the world gives."

Christian Truth is not objective. He was not a philosopher like Socrates sharing wisdom among his devotees or even a rabbi instructing pupils from the Bible. The peripatetic Son of God "has nowhere to lay His head." Constantly on the move from the right hand of the Father to an through the womb of the Theotokos and into the world of His time, He was ever challenging the conventions, confusing the authorities and astounding the despondent, ever gathering disciples and bounding them to Himself in the Upper Room and more securely on the Cross and beyond the tomb. The truth cannot be understood or contained in one's mind alone or in the heart alone, not at any one moment it, or rather He, needs always to be born within our souls, developing and expanding as we open ourselves to His Truth on our own way through life and beyond. (Source: Orthodox Church in America)

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

September 8 - The Holy Nativity of the Ever-Virgin Mary

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 SEPTEMBER 8th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY NATIVITY OF THE EVER VIRGIN MARY

Mary (Mariam), the Theotokos and the child of God, whose nativity the Church commemorates on September 8th, was born of her aged parents Joachim and Anna. Saint Andrew of Crete (660-740 A.D.) chants, "O Bride of the Father, immaculate Mother of the Son, and holy and resplendent temple of the Holy Spirit; O most chaste of all creation, most suitable to His ultimate purpose, on this account the universe was created, and by thy birth was the eternal will of the Creator fulfilled."

What was God's ultimate purpose for us and how did her birth fulfill the eternal will? It is our unification with God our divinization. Suffice it to add these thoughtful words of Saint Ambrose (339-397 A.D.), Bishop of Milan: "Unless man were redeemed, it would avail him nothing to be born."

Saint Andrew of Crete also comments, "This day is for us the beginning of all holy days. It is the door of kindness and truth." He adds: "Let both the barren and mothers dance for joy; make bold and leap up in gladness, O ye childless: for the barren and childless woman brings forth the Theotokos, who is to deliver Eve from her pains in travail and Adam from the curse" (Genesis 3:16-19).

The Holy Virgin Mary was born of her aged parents, Joachim and Anna. Her father was of the Tribe of David and her mother of the Tribe of Aaron, and so she was of royal blood from her father and priestly blood from her mother. By this, she foreshadowed Him Who would be born of her as King and High Priest. Her parents were already old and had no children, and, because of this, were ashamed before men and humble before God. In their old age with the gift of a child, as He had once given joy to the aged Abraham and Sarah, giving them their son Isaac. God, Almighty and All-seeing, gave them a joy far exceeding all their expectations and their wildest dreams, for He gave them not just a daughter, but the Mother of God; He illumined them not only with temporal joy but with Eternal. God gave them just one daughter, who later gave them just one grandson -- but what a daughter and what a grandson! Mary full of grace, blessed among women, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Altar of the Living God, Table of Living Bread, Ark of God's Holy things, Tree of the Most Delicious Fruit, Glory of the human race, praise of womanhood, Fount of virginity and purity -- this was the daughter given by God to Joachim and Anna. Born in Nazareth, she was after three years taken to the Temple in Jerusalem, whence she returned again to Nazareth and shortly afterwards heard the tidings of the holy Archangel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, from her Most Pure and virginal body. (The Prologue from Ochrid)

The Patriarchs and Prophets Prophesy

In the hymns of this feast, Saint Stephen of the holy city chants that Eve declares her daughter and descendant blessed, "For unto me is born deliverance, through which I shall be set free from the bonds of Hades."

Old Testament types clearly manifest the Virgin Mary; for, "She is the fountain of life that gushes forth from the flinty rock (Exodus 17:6); she is the Bush (Exodus 3:2) springing from barren ground and burning with the immaterial fire that cleanses and enlightens our souls". Saint John of Damascus adds to this, chanting, "Inspired by God, the Divine Choir(the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament) spoke of thee in prophecy as the Mountain (Daniel 2:45), the Gate of heaven(Ezekiel 44:2), and the spiritual Ladder (Genesis 28:12-17): for out of thee was hewn a stone, not cut by the hand of man; and thou art the gate through which passed the Lord of Wonders, the God of our fathers." And, "The East gate (Ez. 44:1-3), newly born, awaits the entrance of the Great Priest."

A Name Destined for Greatness

What is the etymology of the name, and what is its significance? There have been numerous explanations put forward as to the meaning of the Virgin's name, in contrast to those of her parents. It is nearly unanimous that her parent Joachim's name (in Hebrew Jehoiakim) was understood to mean "the Lord's restoration" or "may the Lord raise up"; whereas Anna's name means "grace." Their names are indicative of their characteristics and qualities. But the name Mariam or Miriam has been translated as" "Hope," "Myrrh of the Seas," "Star of the Seas" (Jerome), "Illuminated," "Beloved one," "Lady," "Lady of the Sea," "Drop of the Sea," "Exalted," "Highness," "Excellency," "One who surpasses" or "One who dominates." Some translators give the name the meaning of a "bitter sea," but this explanation has met with certain obstacles in Hebrew grammar, for it places the adjective after the noun, and the meaning seems to go against the positive attributes which are ascribed to the Virgin Mary. The interpretation preferred by Saint John of Damascus is "Lady" ("Kyria"), thus he writes, "Accordingly it was grace (for this is the interpretation of Anna) that bore the Lady and Mistress (in Greek, Despina), for that is the meaning of the name Mary: for she became truly the Mistress of all creation, since she was vouchsafed to be the Mother of the Creator."

The Infant Mary

According to the Protoevangelion, a charming incident relating Mary's first steps is recounted, wherein she displays miraculously precocity. The child grew and increased in strength daily. When Mary was about nine months old, Anna set her on the ground to see whether her daughter could stand. Mary indeed walked seven steps and came again to her mother. Anna then picked her up.

Anna had made her daughter's bedchamber into a holy place, a sanctuary, permitting nothing common or unclean to pass through Mary. Anna then invited certain undefiled maidens of the daughters of Israel and they attended to Mary also, by carrying her about.

Joachim Makes a Feast

Mary's first anniversary of her nativity, according to the Protoevangelion, was celebrated by Joachim with a feast to which he invited the priests, scribes, and elders and all the people of Israel.  

Also the Church chants, "What is this sound of feasting that we hear? Joachim and Anna mystically keep festival. 'O Adam and Eve,' they cry, 'rejoice with us today: for if by your transgression you closed the gate of Paradise to those of old, we have now been given a glorious fruit, Mary the child of God, who opens its entrance to us all."

The hymnographer Saint Romanos also chants, "Consequently, the Tribes of Israel heard that Anna had given birth to the pure Virgin, and they all rejoiced with great gladness. Joachim held a great feast and celebrated splendidly the miraculous birth. And when he had summoned to prayer the priests and the Levites, he placed Mary in the midst of all, in order that she be magnified."  (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

___________

DIVINE LITURGY TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M.

__________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

September 5 - The Commemoration of the Holy Prophet Zacharias and Elizabeth

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 SEPTEMBER 5th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE VENERABLE AND HOLY PROPHET ZACHARIAS AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH

Father of Saint John the Baptist and Forerunner, he was the son of Barachias, of the Tribe of Aaron, a high priest in descent from Abia, and held the eighth degree of service in the Temple in Jerusalem. His wife Elizabeth was sister to Saint Anna, the mother of the Holy Mother of God. In the reign of King Herod, the child-slayer, Zacharias was serving one day in the Temple in Jerusalem. An Angel of God appeared to him in the altar, and Zacharias was afraid. But the Angel said to him: 'Fear not, Zacharias' (Luke 1), and informed him that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son in answer to their prayers, for Zacharias and Elizabeth were both old. When Zacharias doubted the words of the heavenly messenger, the Angel told him: 'I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God', and Zacharias was made dumb from that moment, and did not speak until his son was born and he had written on a tablet: 'His name is John.' Then his mouth was opened, and he glorified God. Later, when the Lord Christ was born and Herod began killing the children in Bethlehem, he sent men to find Zacharias's son and kill him, for he had heard of all that had happened to Zacharias and how John was born. Seeing the soldiers, Elizabeth took John in her arms -- he was eighteen months old at that time -- and fled from the house with him to a rocky and desert region. When she saw where the soldiers had driven them, she cried out o the mountain: 'O mountain of God, receive a mother with her child!', and the rock opened and hid the mother and child inside itself. Herod, furious that John had not been killed, ordered that Zacharias be cut down before the altar. Zacharias's blood spilled over the marble and became as hard as stone, remaining thus as a witness to Herod's wickedness. At the place where Elizabeth hid with John, a cave opened and a spring flowed forth, and a fruit-bearing palm grew up by God's power. Forty days after Zacharias's death, blessed Elizabeth also entered into rest. The child John stayed in the wilderness, fed by an Angel of God and guarded by God's Providence, until that day when he appeared by the River Jordan where he called all to repentance as a preparation of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  

FOR CONSIDERATION

It is in vain that men try to find that which God deliberately hides from them. If God had not permitted it, men would never have found gold and silver under the earth, nor power made from steam nor a spark of electric light. In vain did Herod slay many children in Bethlehem in an effort to kill the One, for this One was hidden from the sight and sword of Herod. In vain did Herod seek John -- and here is a mystery. The soldiers hastened after old Elizabeth, who fled with John in her arms, and could not catch her. Herod, in a rage, summoned Zacharias and shouted at him: 'Give me your son John!' But the old priest meekly replied to the king: 'I am in the service of the Lord God of Israel. As for my son John, I do not know where he is.' Maddened with rage, Herod ordered that Zacharias be murdered in place of John. The king's servants went to the Temple and asked Zacharias: 'Where have you hidden your son? Give him to us; the king demands this. If you do not give him to us, you will die yourself.' Zacharias replied: 'You may kill my body, but the Lord will receive my soul.' Zacharias was slain, but Herod was not content with that. The evil king had no peace day or night, being tormented with the foreboding that the new-born King proclaimed by the Magi must be none other than John. But he tried in vain to find hi whom God deliberately concealed from him.

+

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Thus spoke the Lord Jesus to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, and Nicodemus asked in wonder: "How can this be?" That is, how can a man be born again, as today there are many who ask how sensual man can become spiritual? How can a sinner become righteous? How can the grace of God enter into a man and change his outlook and his bodily desires? How can the Holy Spirit enlighten the heart of a man? How can water be turned into wine? We know that, when the Spirit of God descended upon the Apostles, they became different men, new men, men born again. We know from thousands of examples how men of sensual thought and life have become spiritual, regenerated. We know that it happened and happens today, by the action and grace of God the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, it is not for us to ask how it happens. It is enough for us to know that it does, and to strive to have it happen to ourselves. The grace of the Spirit is given to all who seek it and prepare themselves to receive it. There is no harder task than the explaining of spiritual things to those who only think and judge sensually. Saint John Chrysostom, one of the great and holy Fathers of the Church, says: "A soul given over to the passions cannot attain anything great or noble, for it suffers from great blindness, like eyes darkened by glaucoma. It is often the most sensual men who enquire about the greatest divine mysteries. They do not enquire in order to discover the path of their salvation, but to confuse the faithful and mock the Faith, and justify their sinful and passionate lives. Powerless to drag themselves up the first step of the heavenly ladder, they day-dream about the final step. When such men ask you, my brethren, about the deepest mysteries of the regeneration of the soul and the Kingdom of Heaven, set them first to fulfill the Ten fundamental Commandments of God. If they carry this out, then their souls will be open to grasp the Divine Mysteries insofar as that grasping is necessary for their cleansing from sin and the passions, and for their eternal salvation."

O Lord Jesus Christ, Our Gracious and Wise Teacher, help us to understand with our minds and embrace with our hearts that of Thy Wisdom that is necessary for our salvation, and help us to keep ourselves from curiosity. To Thee be Glory and Praise forever. Amen. (Source: The Prologue from Ochrid)

____________________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Turning Our Attention to the Holy Scripture...

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

+

TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURE...

Beware of Willful Negligence

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying:

"What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.  (Hebrews 2:1-9)

Look to Jesus

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnare us, and let us run with endurance the race than is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The Holy Life Summarized

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would e unprofitable for you. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Conclusion

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what he is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:17-21).

Loyalty to Orthodox Doctrine and Worship

"Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:9-16).

"Grace be with you all. Amen" 

___________________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"- Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Miracle of Archangel Michael at Colossae

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.

+

SEPTEMBER 6th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE MIRACLE OF THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AT COLOSSAE

+

In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hieropolis, in a place called Cheretopos, there was a church named for the Archangel Michael, built over a miraculous spring.

This church was built by a certain inhabitant of the city of Laodicia in gratitude to God for healing his mute daughter. The holy Chief Commander Michael appeared to this man in a dream and revealed to him that his daughter would receive the gift of speech after drinking from the water of the spring. The girl actually did receive healing and began to speak. After this miracle, the father and his daughter and all their family were baptized. In fervent gratitude, the father built the church in honor of the holy Chief Commander Michael. Not only did Christians begin to come to the spring for healing, but also pagans. In so doing, many of the pagans turned from their idols and were converted to the faith in Christ.  

And this church of the Chief Commander Michael, a certain pious man by the name of Archippus served for 60 years as church custodian. By his preaching and by his example of his saintly life he brought many pagans to the faith in Christ. With the general malice of that time towards Christians, and especially against Archippus, the pagans thought to destroy the church in order to prevent people from coming to that holy place of healing, and at the same time kill Archippus.

Toward this end they made a confluence of the Lykokaperos and Kufos Rivers and directed its flow against the church. Saint Archippus prayed fervently to the Chief Commander Michael to ward off the danger. Through his prayer the Archangel Michael appeared at the temple, and with a blow of his staff, opened a wide fissure in a rock and commanded the rushing torrents of water to flow into it. The temple remained unharmed. Seeing such an awesome miracle, the pagans fled in terror. Archippus and the Christians glorified God and gave thanks to the holy Archangel Michael for his help. The place where the rivers plunged into the fissure received the name "Chonae", which means "plunging."  (Source: Orthodox Church in America)

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

September 3 - Holy Martyr Vasilissa of Nikomedia

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 SEPTEMBER 3rd OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY MARTYR VASILISSA OF NIKOMEDIA

Vasilissa, the Saint, lived as a Christian when Alexander was governor of Nikomedia in Bithynia of Asia Minor, at the time when there was a persecution against the Christians (303-305 A.D.). When the maiden was nine years old, approaching ten, and resplendent in the bloom of girlhood, she was arrested with other Christians and made to stand before the governor of Bithynia. When the lass was questioned concerning piety, she confessed Christ Who gave her "a mouth of wisdom" (Luke 21:15) well beyond her years. On account of her quick rejoinders, when she spoke her mind wisely and prudently, the governor vented his anger. He ordered that her face be struck, but she gave thanks to God. Not willing to spare Vasilissa because of her youth, he had her stripped and beaten with rods; but she offered up additional thanks to God. This further enraged the governor, who commanded that the executioners stretch out the maiden and increase the number of blows, rendering her whole body one great wound. Afterward, they tore off the skin from the soles of her feet, thereupon she shouted aloud, "O my God, I thank Thee." The vicious governor then ordered that they bore through the ankle joints of the martyr and put an iron pin through them. Next, from the pins, they tied chains from which they raised aloft the holy maiden head downwards. Underneath the blessed one, they released vile smelling smoke from burning sulfur, pitch, bitumen, and lead, with the object that the Lord's athlete might expire quickly, being unable to bear inhaling the smoke. The Saint, however, patiently endured this foul torment with joy, as though she were luxuriating and taking her ease in Paradise; so eager was she to give even more thanks and glory to God.

The governor, seeing that such measures were ineffective, perceived that the tortures were making him a laughingstock. He charged that a furnace be lit and that Vasilissa be cast inside. When the blazing furnace was ready, she made the sign of the Cross and entered therein. Supplied with an abundance of Divine power, she stood for many hours without experiencing the least injury. The prodigious marvel astonished all. The governor then ordered that she be removed, and directed that two huge lions be released against her. The maiden bore everything, praying continually, and remained unharmed by the beasts. Governor Alexander, beholding all things, felt debased in his own eyes and was moved to compunction in his soul. Acknowledging his blunders, he fell at the feet of the holy maiden, saying, "Have mercy on me, servant of the Heavenly King, and pardon me for these torments which I provoked. Make me also a fellow soldier of thy King, since, even as thou sayest, He receives the sinners." Thus, conscious of his own sinfulness, he rightly understood and disowned his ancestral impiety and assented to the teaching of the Gospel. The Saint then gave thanks to the Almighty God, and catechized the governor.  She presented him in the church to the Bishop of Nicomedia, Anthony, who baptized him.

After the Baptism, the governor, now a much altered man, again prostrated himself before the holy Vasilissa, making a heartfelt appeal, saying to her, "Servant of the True God, pray on ;my behalf that I might receive forgiveness for my wicked deeds which I committed against thee, that I may finish my life with a good confession of the Faith." The Saint then prayed for him, and it was as balm to his stricken soul, which he immediately surrendered, glorifying and blessing the God of the Christians. In the company of the bishops, Vasilissa then buried the relics of the governor. Afterward, she went outside the city of Nicomedia, as far as the third signpost, some two miles. She found a rock and stood upon it praying. Then--O the wonder!--water, forthwith, gushed forth from the rock. The holy maiden partook of the water, quenched her thirst, and gave thanks to God. She went a little further, and said, "Lord, receive my spirit in peace." Saint Vasilissa, crowned with the chaplet of True faith, then departed to the Lord deeply joyous and carrying her adornment on her soul, she was translated to those happy and everlasting abodes. Bishop Anthony learned of her repose and interred her august holy relics near that rock from which water came forth and continues to flow until this day. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

________________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George