December 4 - Holy Great-Martyr Barbara (Part II)

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.

+

THE HOLY LIFE OF THE GREAT-MARTYR BARBARA (Part II)

A priest from Heliopolis from Alexandria, disguised as a merchant. Learning of this, Barbara sent for him. He secretly instructed her in the knowledge of the One Almighty God, the Creator of All Things, and in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus Barbara attained what her heart had ardently desired for so long. After teaching her the mysteries of the holy faith, the priest baptized her in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then departed for his own country. Saint Barbara's heart burned even hotter with love for God after she was enlightened by Baptism. She exercised herself continually in prayer, and fasting, laboring for her Lord, to Whom she betrothed herself, vowing to preserve her virginity undefiled.

By that time construction had begun on the bathhouse. One day the holy virgin came down from the tower to examine it. Seeing that the structure had only two windows, she said to the builders, "Why have you installed just two windows? Would the building not be more beautiful and better lit with three?"

"Your father ordered us to install two windows, on the south side," answered the laborers.

But Barbara insisted that a third window be added, to represent the Holy Trinity. When the builders objected, fearing difficulties with her father, she insisted, "I shall answer for you to my father. Only do as I say." So a third window was added to the bathhouse in accordance with her instructions.

Now the bath was built, as was said, beside a pool, which was surrounded by a wall of marble. One memorable day, Saint Barbara traced the Holy Cross upon the east side of the wall, and her finger left a mark in the stone as if the marble had been engraved with a chisel. Her virginal footprints remained imprinted in the stone floor of the bath; from them water began to flow, which later became a source of healing for the faithful.

The bathhouse, the marble wall on which the cross was traced, the pool, and the footsteps of the Saint all survived intact until the time of the blessed Symeon Metaphrastes, who revised the account of the passion of Saint Barbara written by Saint John of Damascus. He writes the following: "The pool exists today and heals every disease for those who love Christ. If someone were to compare it with the streams of Jordan or the Pool of Siloam or the Sheep's Pool, he would not sin against truth, for numerous miracles are wrought at Saint Barbara's pool by the power of Christ."

Returning to her tower, Saint Barbara, continued with her usual prayers and fasts, immersing her mind completely in meditation on the Divinity. Presently Dioscorus returned from his journey. After inspecting everything in his house, he went to the newly completed bath. He became angry with the builders and servants, demanding to know why they had disobeyed his orders and installed a third window. They protested, "It was not our notion, but your daughter's. She forced us to disobey you!"

Dioscorus called for Barbara at once and asked her why she had a third window installed in the bathhouse. The Saint replied, "Three windows are better than two. I believe, father, that you wanted the bath lit by two windows to symbolize the sun and the moon, which lighten the heavens. But I prefer three because the unapproachable, ineffable, unwaning Light that illumines every man that comes into the world (John, Chapter 1) shines forever from a triple source."

Barbara's father was amazed by her strange, novel words, which he failed to comprehend. Then father and daughter moved closer to the pool, near the place in the wall where the Saint had inscribed the cross with her finger. Dioscorus asked. "How can the light of three windows illumine every man, as you said?"

"Hear me, father," said the Saint, "and try to understand my words. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the three hypostases of the God Who is one in trinity. They abide in unapproachable Light and illumine and give life to all creation. I had the workers install the three windows in the bathhouse so that one might represent the Father, another the Son, and the third the Holy Spirit. Now even the walls on our bath glorify the Name of the Most Holy Trinity." Then she pointed to the cross inscribed in the marble, and said, "I have traced here the emblem of the Son of God, Who by the gracious will of the Father and the operation of the Holy Spirit became incarnate of the pure Virgin for our salvation. He voluntarily suffered upon a Cross such as the one you see. By depicting the Cross here I have driven away all the power of the demons."

...Burning with rage, Dioscorus forgot the love for his child implanted in his heart by nature, and drew his sword, intending to run it through her. Barbara took flight, and he pursued her with a weapon in hand. The wolf had almost caught up to Christ's spotless lamb when suddenly Barbara found her way blocked by a cliff, as though by a wall. Not knowing how else to escape her father, or rather her persecutor, she turned to her only refuge, God, lifting up the eyes of her soul and body and begging His help. The Lord did not tarry in sending His handmaiden assistance: He commanded the cliff to part, as once the mountain had done for the Protomartyr Thecla when she was fleeing the shameless youths. The face of the cliff opened, and the holy virgin Barbara entered the cleft, after which the rock closed behind her, permitting her to ascend unharmed to the top of the mountain. There the Saint found a cave, in which she hid.

...Dioscorus soon found the cave where his daughter had taken refuge. He seized her and threw her to the ground, then beat and kicked her mercilessly. Taking hold of her hair, he dragged her home along a stony trail. Barbara was locked in a very small, dark hut. Seals were placed upon the windows and doors, and a watch was set. The guards were ordered to afflict the Saint with hunger and thirst. Thereupon Dioscorus went to the Governor, Martianus, and told him that his daughter had rejected the gods and now believed in the Crucified One. He requested the Governor to threaten Barbara with tortures so that she would return to her ancestral faith. Martianus agreed, and Dioscorus handed her over to him.

...The Governor marveled at the maiden's loveliness and was amazed by her noble bearing...He entreated her not to disgrace her family or to ruin the blossom of her youth and ended with this warning: "Have pity on yourself, fair maiden, and be quick to offer sacrifice with us to the gods...but if you do not obey me, I shall be compelled to put you to torture."

The Governor became enraged with her defiance and her disrespect to the pagan gods. He commanded that Barbara be stripped naked. Then the persecutor ordered that she be stretched out upon the ground and lashed with leather straps until the earth was dyed red with her blood. After the flogging, the Saint's wounds were rubbed with sackcloth and scraped with shards to increase her pain. The Governor then had the Saint confined in a dungeon until he could devise some crueler torture. Barbara called out in her prison cell to her beloved Bridegroom, Christ the Lord, beseeching Him not to abandon her. Then suddenly the King of Glory, Barbara's incorruptible Bridegroom, appeared in unspeakable Majesty. Oh, how the Saint rejoiced in spirit when she beheld Him! The sweet Lord said, "Take courage, My bride, and fear not, for I am with you. I stand watch over you, looking down on your contest, and will ease your pain. I have prepared an everlasting reward for you in the bridal chamber of heaven. Endure till the end, that you may enjoy the Eternal Blessings of My Kingdom.!"

...Jesus healed her wounds, permitting no trace of them to remain on her body. Then He disappeared, leaving her filled with a sense of ineffable spiritual gladness. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)

(To be continued)

_____________________

DIVINE SERVICE FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT BARBARA ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4:

Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
_________________________

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

+++

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

+Father George

December 4 - Holy Great-Martyr Barbara (Part I)

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 NOVEMBER 4th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY GREAT-MARTYR BARBARA

During the reign of the impious pagan Roman emperor Maximian, there lived in the East, near Heliopolis, a wealthy, renowned nobleman named Dioscoros, by ancestry and faith a Hellene (Greek). He had a daughter named Barbara, his only child, over whom he kept watch as the apple of his eye. The maiden was exceedingly beautiful, and no girl or woman in the country could compare with her. Thinking baseborn, common folk unworthy to behold his daughter's fair countenance, Dioscoros built a lofty tower in which were lovely rooms. There Barbara remained, with well-bred governess and maidservants. By that time her mother was already dead. While living in the tower, the maiden found consolation in looking out over the hills and valleys created by God, at the splendor of the heavens, and the majesty of the earth. One day, while gazing into the sky, she began to reflect on the brilliance of the sun, the moon in its course, and the luster of the stars. Suddenly she asked the governesses and servants living with her, "Who made these things?" Then, regarding the beauty of the earth, its green fields, gardens, and vineyards, the hills and streams, she asked again, "Whose hand created all this?"

"All things were made by the gods," the women replied.

"Which gods?" asked the maiden.

The servants answered, "The gold, silver, and wooden gods that your father keeps in his palace and worships. These are the gods that made everything you see."

Doubting the truth of this, Barbara said to herself, "The gods my father reveres were made by the hands of men: those of gold and silver by smiths, those of stone by sculptors, and the ones of wood by carvers. How can gods which have themselves been fashioned, that can neither walk nor move their hands, have created the luminous expanse of the sky and this beautiful earth?"

As she pondered on this, she gazed up into the sky by day and night, hoping to come to know the Creator through His creation. Then one night, after staring into the heavens for a long time, her soul filled with longing to know who created its wondrous beauty, expanse, and splendor, the Divine Light of grace suddenly shone within her, opening the eyes of her mind to know the one invisible, unfathomable God, Who made heaven and earth in His wisdom. She said to herself, "He alone is God Who was not formed by the hands of man, but is self-existent, and made all things by His hand. He alone is God Who stretched out the expanse of the heavens and sends down from on high the rays of the sun, the light of the moon, and the glow of the stars to illumine the whole world; while below He adorns the earth with various trees and flowers, and waters it with streams and springs. He alone is God Who upholds orders, and gives life to all things, caring for everything that exists!"

In this way Barbara came to know the Creator by His creation, and in the words of Prophet and king David were fulfilled: "I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands" (Psalm 142). Such meditations kindled the fire of divine love in her heart, and the flame of desire for God burned fiercely in her soul by day and night. Her one thought, her one desire was to come to know as fully as possible the Creator of all things. She had no human teacher to reveal to her the mysteries of the holy faith and guide her to the path of salvation, for her father Dioscoros kept close watch to ensure that only the servants had access to her; but she had as a wise teacher and guide the Holy Spirit Himself, Who invisibly instructed her by the secret inspiration of His grace, communicating to her mind the knowledge of the Truth. Like a sparrow sitting alone upon a house-top, (Psalm 10), the maiden remained in her tower, her thoughts ever turned toward heaven. Her heart was attached to nothing earthly; neither gold, nor costly pearls or jewels, nor fine apparel, nor any other sort of feminine adornment. She never considered marriage, since her mind was fixed upon the one God and she was held fast by love for Him...

...Dioscoros, her father, however, continued to press her, in spite of the many reasons she gave for her refusal to marry, and finally she was forced to declare, "Father, if you compel me to marry or even speak of this matter again, I shall kill myself, and you will lose your only child."

Horrified, Dioscoros desisted for the while, hoping that time would bring her to reconsider and that he would not need to compel her to obey him. Then the notion came to him of taking a long journey to attend to some business. He believed that Barbara would miss him and that when he returned it would be easier to persuade her to do as he wished. Before going away, Dioscorus gave orders for a splendid bathhouse to be built by the pool in his garden. Two windows were to be set in the south wall of the building. Dioscorus also left instructions with his daughter's attendants to permit her to come down from the tower and go wherever she wished, for he imagined that if Barbara began to converse with many people and see that other maidens willingly agreed to marriage, she would herself desire to be joined to a husband.

Free to come and go, and speak with whomever she wished, Barbara made the acquaintance of several Christian maidens. From them she first heard of Jesus Christ. The name of Christ caused her to rejoice in spirit and she asked them to tell her more concerning the Savior. They told her all they could of the Lord's ineffable Divinity, His Incarnation from the Most Pure Virgin Mary, His voluntary Passion and Resurrection, the Judgment to come, Eternal torments prepared for idolaters, and the endless joy that awaits faithful Christians in the heavenly Kingdom. Barbara's heart was filled with delight as they spoke, and afire with love for Christ, she longed to be baptized. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)

(To be continued)

_____________________

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

+++

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

+Father George

December 2 - Holy Prophet Habakkuk

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 DECEMBER 2nd OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY PROPHET HABAKKUK

The Holy Prophet Habakkuk belonged to the Tribe of Simeon. He was born in the kingdom of Judah and was the son of Asaphat. Because of his virtuous life, God granted him the gift of prophecy, and he foretold the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the enslavement of the Jews. When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Chaldea, attacked Jerusalem, Habakkuk fled to the land of Ishmaelites. After capturing the city, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his own land. Habakkuk then went back to Judah and became a farmer.

Once, at the time of harvest, Habakkuk prepared soup for those working in the fields. Taking some of the soup and bread, which he placed on a platter, he said to his servants, "I shall take food to the reapers. If I do not return soon for more, continue taking it to them yourselves."

He left the house, and on the way, was met by an Angel of the Lord, who commanded him to take the meal to Daniel, who was in the lion's den in Babylon (Daniel, Chapter 14). Habakkuk replied, "My lord, I do not know the way to Babylon. Seizing him by the hair, the Angel lifted and carried him through the air. He set Habakkuk down before the lions' den in Babylon, which was 1,300 miles away. Habakkuk called out, "Daniel, take the food I have brought you."

Daniel cried, "O God, Thou did not forget me; Thou never forsake them that love Thee!" Then he arose and ate, and the Angel of the Lord straightway returned Habakkuk to his house in the land of Judah.

Prophet Habakkuk also prophesied concerning the return of the Jews from Babylon, the birth of Christ, and the end of the dispensation of the ancient Law. Two years before his people came back from captivity, he died and was burned in the village where he had lived.

_______________

ON THE SAME DAY - THE PASSION OF THE HOLY MARTYR MYROPE

The holy virgin Myrope was born to Christian parents in the city of Ephesus. Enlightened in Holy Baptism after her father's death and reared by her mother in the fear of God, she frequently visited the sepulcher of one of the daughters of the holy Apostle Philip, the holy Martyr Hermione, from whose holy relics gushed healing myrrh. Myrope would take the oil from the grave of Saint Hermione, give it to the sick, and they would be healed.

In those days the Roman Empire was ruled by Decius, a persecutor of the Christians. Taking her daughter, Myrope's mother departed for Chios, where she owned land she had inherited. There she took refuge with her daughter in a house on her property and devoted herself to prayer. About that time Prince Numerianus came to the island and arrested the blessed Isidore, a pious Christian soldier. Since Isidore refused to renounce Christ and would not worship the pagan idols, the Prince subjected him to various tortures and had him beheaded. Saint Isidore's holy relics were thrown into a thicket to be consumed by wild animals and birds, and a watch was set to prevent the Christians from taking them but moved by divine zeal, the holy virgin Myrope came secretly by night with her servants and succeeded in removing the body. After sensing it reverently, she buried it in a suitable place.

Learning that Isidore's corpse had been stolen, the Prince had the guards clapped in irons and questioned under torture. Then they were forced to search the island for the body. They were told if it was not found within a stated number of days, they would be beheaded. Saint Myrope saw what was done to the guards, and feeling pity for them, said to herself, "It will not go well with me before the judgment of God if these men are tortured and beheaded because of what I have done. My soul will be delivered to torment if I am the cause of their death." Unable to remain silent any longer, she cried out, "I took the body while you were sleeping!"

The soldiers immediately dragged her off to Prince Numerianus and announced, "Lord, this woman stole the corpse!" "Is this true?" the Prince asked Myrope. "It is," the Saint replied. Numerianus demanded, "How did you dare do this wretch?" "I did it because I hate your unbelief, and spit upon it!" she declared.

The haughty Prince was enraged by her boldness and commanded that she be beaten mercilessly with a stave. After she had been flogged for a long time, she was dragged by the hair throughout the island. Every part of her body was tortured, and she was left scarcely alive. Finally, she was cast into prison.

At midnight, while the Saint was praying, a Light shone in the cell and a Choir of Angels singing the Thrice-Holy Hymns appeared to her. In their midst stood Saint Isidoros, who looked down and greeted the virgin, "Peace be unto you! Your prayers have reached God. You shall join our company and receive your crown."

As soon as Saint Isidore said this, the holy Martyr Myrope joyfully surrendered her spirit into God's hands. The prison filled with ineffable fragrance, which amazed the guards and cause them to tremble with fear. One of them went to a Presbyter, related everything to him, accepted Holy Baptism, and was later deemed worthy of a martyric death. The Christians took the body of Saint Myrope and buried it in an honorable place, giving glory to God. (Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)

______________________

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

+++

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)

The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Nativity Fast: [Nov 15 - Dec 24]: Repentance, Fasting and Prayer (Part II)

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.

+

THE NATIVITY FAST (November 15 - December 24): REPENTANCE, FASTING, AND PRAYER (Part II)

On Prayer

Prayer is a universal phenomenon, the fundamental and inseparable element of every religion and every personal piety...The believer not only believes that the infinite and invisible God exists, but that He also reveals Himself to people. It is through this revelation (apocalypse) of God that it becomes possible for man to have a personal communion with God. When, therefore, the believer prays, he or she speaks directly to God and becomes aware of a communion with Him. Consequently, prayer presupposes faith in the reality and the presence of God, and means primarily that living relationship between man and God, which is nothing less than a direct and real spiritual contact and personal conversation between persons, between an "I" and a "You".  The person who prays is the "I" and the God Who is addressed in prayer is the "You."

"...Prayer, as the mystery of the unity of man with God, is truly an incomprehensible miracle of miracles which can become a daily experience in the soul of the pious believer who prays with attention and sincerity. Saint John Chrysostomos emphasizes that prayer is the most powerful thing in the life of a person, and nothing can be compared with prayer. Prayer is the unique and priceless gift of the Creator to man, because it is through this most important Divine gift of prayer that the creature is raised up to the Creator and the finite human person is empowered to converse with the infinite God and Creator.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has taught us to pray in this manner:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our transgressions as we forgive those who transgress against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the Evil One.

This is the Lord's Prayer, which our Lord Himself taught His Disciples to say when they asked Him: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). The Lord's Prayer is the foundation of all prayers and supplications.

"...We should from the start confess that prayer is essentially a daring and dangerous undertaking for man. When a person conscientiously attempts to encounter the Living God and converse with Him, admittedly such a person is actually undertaking an awesome adventure! Every encounter with God is also a crisis, an ultimate event, because truly "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). When we seek to enter into the presence of God through prayer, we are actually approaching Divine fire, which at the same time both attracts us and repels us. During the time, of prayer we are required to place ourselves without reservation, but with humility, contrition and love, before this Divine fire and to become like that biblical bush that burned but was not consumed (cf. Exodus 3:2). This daring undertaking means that we must remove from our old selves everything that separates us from God, that we may rediscover our life anew and regenerated in Christ God.

"...As Saint John Chrysostomos and many other Holy Fathers of the Church remind us, the difficulties and the obstacles we encounter in prayer come primarily from Satan, who seeks to distort and to falsify prayer, thus making it often unenlightened and useless. Satan can be defeated by the persons, who turn to God in prayer, and seek conscientiously to do His Will in their life and in the world. We all know, of course, from personal experience, how the bodily and mental passions and the wily machinations of fantasy create constant difficulties and obstacles in our efforts to pray. When we say passions, we mean those sinful desires, through which Satan seeks to ensnare us, to cause us to neglect our duties, to betray our spiritual nature and to commit sin. All of the passions, both the bodily and the mental, have their root in selfishness, in the love of self, in egotism (pride). It is impossible to hope for any ascent upon the ladder of spiritual prayer if we do not undertake a determined and persistent struggle against these passions. The way toward prayer is always a moral and spiritual way, which presupposes discipline of the will and of the whole personality. The vision of God and the purity of the heart are inseparable realities. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

"...It becomes very clear then that our prayer must be grounded in our real and authentic life. And yet our sins should not stop us from prayer. We should be ashamed of our sins, but they should not keep us from our prayers. If our life is contrary to our prayers, or if our prayer is not related consistently with our real life, then, unfortunately, we must say that our prayer is inauthentic, only an empty shell, a dead and false form. Still, we must approach God with prayer and give Him the opportunity to forgive our sins. From this perspective of personal ethics and spiritual life, prayer has indeed, difficulties and serious demands. Prayer is also something possible and achievable and certainly most beautiful and sacred, something which by nature the spiritual person fervently seeks and often achieves with the grace and blessing of God. Amen. (Source: An Anthology of Orthodox Prayers by Father Peter A. Chamberas)

____________________

The Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life, Give me not a spirit of laziness, of aimless curiosity, A spirit of lust for power over others and of vain talk.

Rather, grace me, Your servant, With the spirit of purity, humility, patience and love.

Yes, O Lord King, Grant me discernment to see my own faults, And not to judge and condemn my fellow human beings.

For You are Blessed unto the ages. Amen.

_________________________

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

+++

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

+Father George

The Nativity Fast [Nov 15 - Dec 24]: Repentance, Fasting and Prayer (Part 1)

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.

+

THE NATIVITY FAST (November 15-December 24): REPENTANCE, FASTING, AND PRAYER

On Fasting

Saint John Chrysostomos writes:

Do you fast?

Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eyes and the ears and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ears fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from fowl and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers and sisters? May He Who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility, have mercy on us and save us.

Also,

"The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbor. Because of this Saint Paul utters the fearful saying, 'If you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another (Galatians 5:15). You have not fixed your teeth in his flesh, but you have harmed in a thousand ways yourself and him and many others, for in slandering your neighbor, you have made him who listens to the slander worse...Besides this, you have struck at the common welfare of the Church herself, for all those who hear you will to only accuse the supposed sinner, but the entire Christian community..."

_______________

Fasting is more than abstaining from eating certain foods, it is actually the struggle between flesh and spirit (soul) that takes place within a Christian believer.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk writes that "every Christian hast two births, the old and fleshly, and the spiritual and new, and each is opposed to the other. The fleshly birth is flesh and the spiritual birth is spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).

Because each of these births is opposed to the other then from this arises a conflict and a struggle between a Christian's flesh and spirit. "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh" (Galatians 5:17). The flesh desires to kill the spirit, and the spirit the flesh. The flesh desires to bring the spirit to submission, and the spirit the flesh. The flesh desires to rule the spirit, and the spirit the flesh...

"...The flesh desires to fornicate and to commit adultery, but the spirit is repelled by it and desires to be chaste...the flesh desires to be malicious, to flatter, to lie, to be crafty, to deceive, and to be hypocritical, but the spirit hates this and desires to be truthful and to be straightforward in all dealings. The flesh desires to hate a man, but the spirit desires to love him...The flesh desires to wander, to be drunk, and to arrange banquets and feasts, but the spirit turns away from this and desires to live either moderately or to fast.

The flesh desires to seek glory, honor, and riches in this world, but the spirit scorns all this and strives only for eternal blessings, and so on...A Christian should live not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit, and should subjugate the flesh to the spirit, according to the Apostolic injunction, "walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). And this is "to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24) "...Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). "Walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Let us not allow sin to reign in us, but let us live for Christ "Who died for us, and arose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Beloved Christians, let us see whether we have this warfare, whether we take part in this saving struggle, whether we walk in the newness of life, whether we oppose the inclinations and desires of the flesh, and whether we do not allow sin to reign over us and to rule us. For only those who have "crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" are Christians. What use is it to be called Christians, yet not truly be Christians? It is not the name of Christian that shows the True Christian, but the struggle against the flesh and against every sin. We must not permit the flesh everything it demands. It demands food, it demands drink, it demands clothing, it demands rest, and more: let us give what is needful, but when it desires what is contrary to the will of god and to his law let us not permit it, that we may be Christians not only in name but also in fact. (Source: Journey to Heaven. Counsels on the particular duties of every Christian by Saint Tikhon of Zaconsk)

____________________

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

+++

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

+Father George

The Nativity Fast: Repentance, Fasting and Prayer

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.

+

THE NATIVITY FAST: REPENTANCE, FASTING, AND PRAYER

Repentance (Metanoia)

The Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance is a grace-giving rite in which, after the faithful offer repentance of their sins, the remission of sins is bestowed by the mercy of God through the intermediary of a pastor (priest) of the Church, in accordance with the Savior's promise.

In the Mystery of Repentance, the spiritual afflictions of a man are treated, impurities of the soul are removed, and a Christian, having received forgiveness of sins, again becomes innocent and sanctified, just as he came out of the waters of Baptism. The Mysterion of Repentance is sometimes referred to as "the second baptism." Therefore, the Mystery of Repentance is called a "spiritual medicine."

One's sins, which draw a man downward, which dull his mind, heart, and conscience, which blind his spiritual gaze, which make powerless his Christian will-are annihilated and one's living bond with the Church and with the Lord God is restored. Being relieved of the burden of sins, a man (person) again comes to life spiritually and becomes able to strengthen himself and become perfected in the good Christian path.

The Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance consists to two basic actions: (1) the confession of his sins before a priest of the Church by the person coming to the Mystery; and (2) the prayer of forgiving and remitting them, pronounced by the priest.

This Mysterion (Sacrament) is also called the Mysterion of Confession (even though the confession of sins comprises only the first, preliminary part of it), and this indicates the importance of the sincere revelation of one's soul and the manifestation of one's sins.  

Confession--that is, pronouncing aloud--is the expression of "inward repentance," its result, its indicator. And what is repentance (metanoia)? Repentance is not only "awareness" of one's sinfulness or a simple "acknowledgement" of oneself as unworthy (anaxios); it is not contrition or regret (although all these aspects should enter into repentance). Rather, it is an act of one's "will for correction," a desire and firm intention, a resolve, to battle against evil inclinations; and this condition of soul is united with a petition for God's help in the battle against one's evil inclinations. Such a heartfelt and sincere repentance is necessary so that the effect of this Mysterion (Sacrament) might extend not only to the "removal" of sins but so that there might also enter the opened soul a grace-giving "healing" which does not allow the soul again to become immersed in the filth of sin.

The very uttering aloud of one's spiritual afflictions and falls before a spiritual father--the confession of sins--has the significance that by means of it there are overcome (a) pride, the chief source of sins, and (b) the despondency of hopelessness in one's correction and salvation. The manifestation of the sin brings one already near to casting it away from oneself.

Those who approach the Mysterion of Metanoia (Repentance) prepare themselves for it by an effort of prayer, fasting, and entering deeply within themselves, with the aim of uncovering and acknowledging their sinfulness.

The mercy of God goes out to meet the repenting Christian, testifying through the lips of the spiritual father, that the Heavenly Father does not reject one who comes to Him, just as He did not reject the prodigal son and the repentant publican. This testimony consists of the words of the special prayer and the special words of remission which are pronounced by the Priest. (Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

As every Orthodox Christian understands the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Repentance/Confession is absolutely necessary for forgiveness of sins and in preparation of receiving the Divine Eucharist, the Holy and Precious Body, and Blood of our Savior.

None of the Mysteria (Sacraments) of the Church should be ever marginalized or disrespected. They were instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ to save us from sin and death, to reconcile us to God and to establish communion with Him. 

_______________________

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

+++

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

+Father George