Accordingly here in the book of Revelation (Apocalypse) He says the seven stars are the bishops of the seven churches (the word Angel in this context is the bishop.) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches in Asia Minor. After explaining these two points, He does not explain the rest of the book of Revelation. He does not explain it, but he gives the key to Saint John to enable him to interpret the visions. Saint John then passes this same key to every reader in the Church throughout the centuries. So, my friends, the Lord gives the key to Saint John, and through him, to all of us. However, even if we happen to hold the key of interpretation, (and you can see how emphatic I am on this matter) we have an entire book before us with a plethora of images. How will explain all these even if we are holding the key of interpretation? It is not enough if the reader, the interpreter, does not have the spirit of God. Nor only the book of Revelation, but every word of the Lord remains sealed the seven seals in the absence of the Holy Spirit.

The One - the Lord Jesus Christ - Who appeared to Saint John told him to "write what you see to the seven churches." These are seven historical, actual churches of Asia Minor. Obviously, they were not the only churches in Asia Minor, nor were they the greatest or largest of the churches compared to those established by the Holy Apostles. There were churches like the church of Jerusalem, Antioch, or Rome, or Corinth, but initially, these seven churches were in the visual spectrum of Saint John the Evangelist whose home base was Ephesus.

What we have here is a wonderful reference to the Holy Triune God.

Saint Andrew of Caesarea writes on this verse, "Grace to you and peace from the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, explaining that "the One Who Is" refers to the Father." "The One Who was" reminds us of some key verses of Saint in his Gospel where he says, "In the beginning was the Logos/Word" (John 1:1)-in the beginning of the creation that is. So, this "Who was" refers to the Son. And "the One Who is coming" refers to the Paraclete/tos or the Holy Spirit. Who came and stays in the Church and sanctifies the children of God through Holy Baptism.

Holy icons of the Feast of the Dormition (koimisis) of the Mother of God depict Christ in Glory, surrounded by a mandoria, looking at the body of His Mother stretched on a litter, which is a richly draped bier. The Virgin is clad in her red blued garments. We see Christ holding, in His arms, a small figure of a child clothed in white and crowned with a halo; it is the all-luminous soul of Mary, represented as a newborn infant, that He has just taken to Himself.

Emilianos (Emilian) the Confessor, Bishop of Kyzikos (Cyzicus), underwent much hardship and exile and affliction for the sake of the Orthodox veneration of the sacred icons. He endured the ferocious reign of that beastly minded lion, Emperor Leo V the Armenian, who reigned from 813 A.D. until 820 A.D. This emperor restored iconoclasm (the destruction of holy icons) after he was crowned in Hagia Sophia by Patriarch Nikephoros I (806 A.D. - 815). Predictably, Leo disposed of the Patriarch by deposing him and appointing in his place the iconoclast Theodores I Kassiteras (815-821 A.D.), John VII Grammatikos had prepared the iconoclasts for the council with mostly arguments from Hieria (754 A.D.). The 815 A.D. Council called the holy icons spurious and ordered their destruction.

Priest (inaudibly): Holy God, Who rests among the holy ones, praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy hymn, glorified by the Cherubim and worshipped by all the heavenly powers; Who has brought all thing out of non-existence into being and created man in You image and likeness, adorning him with all Your gifts; Who gives wisdom and understanding to those who ask, and do not reject the sinner, but have established repentance for our salvation; Who has enabled us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before the glory of Your holy altar, and to offer You due worship and praise: Master, accept the Thrice-Holy Hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us in Your goodness.