St. LukeDiocese Orthodox Christian Church of the South, Orthodox Church in America The Rev. Father Basil Henry, Priest 1415 Woodstock Ave. • Anniston, Alabama • www.stlukeanniston.org/ basilncana@yahoo.com • (256) 235-3893 June 12, 2011 • 8th Sunday of Pascha • holy Pentecost
Ven. Onuphrius the Great (4th c.) and Ven. Peter of Mt. Athos (734). Finding of the Relics (1649) and the second glorification (1909) of Rt. Blv. Anna of Kashin. Ven. Arsenius, Abbot of Konevits (1447). Ven. Onuphry, Abbot of Mal’sk (Pskov—1492). Ven. Bassian and Jonah of Pertomsk (Solovétsky Monastery—1561). Ven. Onuphry and Auxenty of Vologdá (15th-16th c.). Ven. Stephen of Komel’, Abbot of Ozérsk Monastery (Vologdá—1542). Ven. John, Andrew, Heraclemon, and Theophilus, Hermits, of Egypt (4th c.).
Announcements
We were blessed this past week to be visited by a host of Orthodox clergy. Foremost His
Grace, Bishop Mark of Baltimore, accompanied by Fr. Alexander Fecanin, our dean, and Fr. Ignatius Crockett, a long-time friend of many of us. Fr. Alexander and Fr. Ignatius are from St. Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham. Bishop Mark is among those being considered as bishop of our diocese.
This week Fr. David Balmer, priest of St. Raphael Orthodox Church in Inverness, Fla. visited us for several days. Fr. David attended seminary with Fr. Basil and chose to spend a portion of his much deserved vacation with us. Mon, 6/13
This Week’s Scripture, Service and Fasting Schedule Tues, 6/14 Wed, 6/15 Thurs, 6/16 Fri, 6/17 Sat, 6/18
Sun, 6/19
Fast Free week No Services
No Services
Bible Study 4 p.m.
No Services
No Services
Ephes. 5:9-19
Romans 1:1-7,13-17
Romans 1:18-27
Romans 1:28-2:9
Romans 2:14-29
Romans 1:7-12
Hebrews 11:33-12:2
Matt. 18:10-20
Matt. 4:25-5:13
Matt. 5:20-26
Matt. 5:27-32
Matt. 5:33-41
Matt. 5:42-48
Matt. 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Prophet Elisha
St. Augustine of Hippo
Ven. Moses of Optina
St. Botolph, patron saint of Boston
St. Alena of Brussels
Sunday of All Saints
Day of the Holy Spirit
Great Vespers Divine Liturgy 4 p.m. 10 a.m.
Service times are subject to change. Please check with Fr. Basil if in any doubt.
Great Vespers “Lord, I Call”
Pentecost (Tone 1)
Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
world. On bended knee I will worship Thy invincible might. In the evening, in the morning, and at noontime—at all times I will bless Thee, O Lord.
We celebrate the feast of Pentecost and the coming of O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people! the Spirit, the appointed day of the promise, the ful- In Thy courts, O Lord, we faithful bend the knees of fillment of hope. How majestic and great is the mys- soul and body; with songs we proclaim Thee, eternal tery! Therefore we cry aloud to Thee: “Glory to Thee, Father and co-eternal Son, and Thee, all-holy and coO Lord and Creator of all!” eternal Spirit, Who sanctify and enlighten our souls. The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.
We celebrate the feast of Pentecost…
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice!
Thou didst renew Thy Disciples, O Christ, by giving them the gift of foreign tongues, that through them they might preach of Thee, the immortal Word and God, Who give great mercy to our souls. Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer!
The Holy Spirit provides all things: He pours forth prophecies, He leads priests to perfection, He teaches unschooled people wisdom, He reveals fishermen as theologians, He confirms the Church. O Comforter, one in essence and enthroned with the Father and the Son, glory to Thee!
Pentecost (Tone 2)
If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is propitiation.
We have seen the True Light. We have received the heavenly Spirit. We have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, Who hast saved us.
Let us praise in song the consubstantial Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For this was the preaching of all the Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs.
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, O people, let us worship the Godhead in three persons: the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit. For the Father timelessly begot the Son, co-ëternal and coenthroned with Him; and the Holy Spirit was in the Father and is glorified with the Son. We worship one Power, one Essence, one Godhead, and we say: “Holy God, Thou didst create all things through Thy Son with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. Holy Mighty, through Thee we know the Father; through Thee the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the world. Holy Immortal, Comforting Spirit, Thou proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee!”
Old Testament Readings
Pentecost
The 4th book of Moses called Numbers (11:16-17, 24-29)
For Thy name’s sake have I waited upon Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
And the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and placed them round about the tent. Then the
We have seen the True Light…
In the Prophets, O our Savior, Thou didst proclaim to us the way of salvation. In the Apostles, the grace of Thy Spirit shone forth. From the beginning and ever after, Thou art God, our God before the ages. In Thy courts I will praise Thee, the Savior of the
~3~
LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, forbid them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” The Prophecy of Joel (2:23-32)
“Be glad, O sons of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD, your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. “The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit. “And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that all who call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
The Prophecy of Ezekiel (36:24-28)
For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Aposticha
Pentecost (Tone 6)
The nations did not know the power of the Holy Spirit, which came upon Thine Apostles, O Lord, so they mistook the foreign tongues for drunkenness. But we are strengthened by the Apostles, so we ceaselessly pray to Thee, O good God Who lovest mankind: “Do not take Thy Holy Spirit from us!” Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right Spirit within me!
The coming of the Holy Spirit filled Thine Apostles, O Lord, and made them speak in foreign tongues. To the faithless this wonder was but drunkenness, but to the faithful it brings salvation. We pray to Thee, O good God Who lovest mankind: “Make us worthy of such enlightenment!” Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me!
O heavenly King, O Comforter, O Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present, fillest all things; O Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One!
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old led to the confusion of tongues. Now the glory of the knowledge of God brings them wisdom. There God condemned the impious for their transgression. Here Christ has enlightened the fishermen by the Spirit. There disharmony was brought about for punishment. Now harmony is renewed for the salvation of our souls.
~4~
Troparia
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God! Thou hast revealed the fishermen to be most wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou hast caught the whole world in Thy net. Glory to Thee, O Lover of mankind! (3x)
I
Sunday of Holy Pentecost
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Pentecost is one of the Orthodox Great Feasts and is considered to be the highest ranking Great Feast of the Lord, second in rank only to Pascha (Easter). The service is celebrated with an All-night Vigil on the eve of the feast day, and the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast itself. Orthodox temples are often decorated with greenery and flowers on this feast day, and the celebration is intentionally similar to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the Mosaic Law. The feast itself lasts three days. The first day is known as “Trinity Sunday”; the second day is known as “Spirit Monday” (or “Monday of the Holy Spirit”); and the third day, Tuesday, is called the “Third Day of the Trinity”..” The Afterfeast of Pentecost lasts for one week, during which fasting is not permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, the liturgical color used at Pentecost is green, and the clergy and faithful carry flowers and green branches in their hands during the services.
up until the preparation for the next Great Lent are named for the day after Pentecost on which they occur (for example, the 13th Tuesday After Pentecost). The Second Monday after Pentecost is the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast (which continues until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29). Theologically, Orthodox do not consider Pentecost to be the “birthday” of the Church; they see the Church as having existed before the creation of the world (cf. The Shepherd of Hermas)
An extraordinary service called the Kneeling Prayer, is observed on the night of Pentecost. This is a Vespers service to which are added three sets of long poetical prayers, the composition of Saint Basil the Great, during which everyone makes a full prostration, touching their foreheads to the floor (prostrations in church having been forbidden from the day of Pascha (Easter) up to this point). All of the remaining days of the ecclesiastical year, ~5~
The Orthodox icon of the feast depicts the Twelve Apostles seated in a semicircle (sometimes the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) is shown sitting in the center of them). At the top of the icon, the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, is descending upon them. At the bottom is an allegorical figure, called Kosmos, which symbolizes the world. Although Kosmos is crowned with earthly glory he sits in the darkness caused by the ignorance of God. He is holding a towel on which have been placed 12 scrolls, representing the teaching of the Twelve Apostles.
Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom First Festal Antiphon
Third Antiphon
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the fir- In Thy strength the King rejoices, O Lord, and exults mament proclaims His handiwork. greatly in Thy salvation. Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God; Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit; through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, Glory to Thee!
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to nights declares knowledge.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not O Savior, save us! withheld the request of his lips. Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God… their words to the ends of the universe. For Thou dost meet him with goodly blessings; Thou Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head. O Savior, save us! Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God… Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise Your power! Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us! Troparia
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Second Festal Antiphon
The Lord answer you in the day of trouble; the name of Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God! Thou hast revealed the fishermen to be most wise, by sending down the God of Jacob protect you! upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou Refrain: O Gracious Comforter, save us who sing hast caught the whole world in Thy net. Glory to Thee, to Thee: “Alleluia!” O Lover of mankind! May He send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
Kontakia
Refrain: O Gracious Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: “Alleluia!”
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
When the Most High came down, and confused the May He remember all your offerings, and fulfill all tongues, He divided the nations. But when He distribyour plans! uted the tongues of fire, He called all to unity. Therefore, with one voice we glorify the Holy Spirit. Refrain: O Gracious Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: “Alleluia!” Trisagion
Pentecost Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spir(Instead of Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal…) it, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put “Only Begotten Son” on Christ. Alleluia. ~6~
Prokeimenon
Gospel Reading
Pentecost (Tone 8)
Sunday of the
Holy Fathers
The Gospel according to St. John (John 7:37-52; 8:12) Their sound is gone forth into all the earth, and their On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus sayings to the ends of the world. stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let Vs: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the fir- him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, mament proclaimeth His handiwork. as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about Epistle Reading the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to Sunday of the Holy Fathers receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, beThe Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) cause Jesus was not yet glorified. In those days when the day of Pentecost was fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilleans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Alleluia Verses
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then went back to the chief priest and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.”
Pentecost (Tone 1) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of Vs: By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made; the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkand all their host by the Spirit of His mouth. ness, but will have the light of life.” Vs: The Lord looks down from Heaven and beholds Theotokion the sons of men. Pentecost
Rejoice, O Queen, glory of mothers and virgins! No tongue, however sweet or fluent, is eloquent enough to praise thee worthily. Every mind is overawed by thy childbearing. Therefore, with one voice, we glorify thee. ~7~
T
Holy Prophet Elisha (Elisseus)
The Holy Prophet Elisha lived in the ninth century before the Birth of Christ, and was a native of the village of Abelmaum, near Jordan. By the command of the Lord he was called to prophetic service by the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). When it became time for the Prophet Elias to be taken up to Heaven, he said to Elisha, “Ask what shall I do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of the grace of God: “Let there be a double portion of your spirit upon me.” The Prophet Elias said, “You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I am taken from you, then so shall it be for you; but if you don’t see me, it wilt not be” (4 [2] Kings 2: 12). As they went along the way talking, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and separated them both. Elisha cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horse!” (4 Kings 2: 12). Picking up the mantle of his teacher which fell from the sky, Elisha received the power and prophetic gift of Elias. He spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six Israelite kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not tremble before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48: 13 [“Sirach” is called “Ecclesiasticus” in Catholic Bibles ]).
raised back to life by the prophet. The Syrian militarycommander Namaan was healed from leprosy but the prophet’s servant Gehazi was afflicted since he disobeyed the prophet and took money from Namaan on the sly. Elisha predicted to the Israelite king Joash the victory over his enemies, and by the power of his prayer he worked many other miracles (4 Kings 3-13). The holy Prophet Elisha died in old age at Samaria. “In his life he worked miracles, and at death his works were marvellous” (Sir. 48: 15). A year after his death, a corpse was thrown into the prophet’s grave. As soon as the dead man touched Elisha’s bones, he came to life and stood up (4 Kings 13: 20-21). The Prophet Elisha and his teacher, the Prophet Elias, left no books behind them, since their prophetic preaching was oral. Jesus, son of Sirach, praised both great prophets (Sir. 48:1-15).
The holy prophet worked numerous miracles. He divided the waters of the Jordan, having struck it with the mantle of the Prophet Elias; he made the waters of a Jericho spring fit for drinking; he saved the armies of the kings of Israel and Judah that stood in an arid wilderness by bringing forth abundant water by his prayer; he delivered a poor widow from death by starvation through a miraculous increase of oil in a vessel. The Shunamite woman showing hospitality to the prophet was gladdened by the birth of a son through his prayer, and when the child died, he was
John of Damascus composed a canon in honor of the Prophet Elisha, and at Constantinople a church was built in his honor. Julian the Apostate (361-363) gave orders to burn the relics of the Prophet Elisha, Abdia (Obadiah) and John the Forerunner, but the holy relics were preserved by believers, and part of them were transferred to Alexandria. In the twentieth century, the humble priest Nicholas Planas had a great veneration for the Prophet Elisha, and was accounted worthy to see him in visions.
~8~
The Twelve Apostles By Rev. George Mastrantonis. Continued from last week
Phillip He is the Apostle from Bethsaida who obeyed the call of Jesus and led Nathaneal to Christ. At the feeding of the 5,000 people, Jesus said to Phillip to buy bread, and Phillip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” Phillip on another occasion asked Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father” and Jesus retorted, “Yet you do not know me Phillip?” Phillip the Apostle should not be confused with Phillip, one of the seven Deacons. The Apostle Phillip preached the Gospel in Asia and suffered crucifixion, according to tradition.
Thomas He was called the Twin. On the way to Bethany He offered to die with Jesus. He interrupted the last discourse of Jesus with the question “We know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?”. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ unless he were to touch the wounds of the Risen Lord, but later confessed his faith in Him: “My Lord and My God”—the first to confess so explicitly the Lord’s divinity. According to tradition, Thomas evangelized the Parthians. The Syrian Christians of Malabar called themselves “Christians of St. Thomas” and claimed they were evangelized by the Apostle Thomas, who was martyred and buried at Mylapore near Madras.
James (The Lesser) He was the son of Alphaeus. Was he the Bartholomew Lord’s relative? This is doubted. Was he His name is patronymic, meaning “son of Tolmai”. James the younger (or the “lesser”, Mark. Sometimes he is identified with Nathaneal whom Phil15:40)? There are insufficient reasons to lip led to Christ. According to the historian Eusebius, establish this either. Nothing is known when Pantainus of Alexandria visited India between of him. 150 and 200 A. D., he found there the Gospel according to Matthew left behind by Bartholomew one of Simon the Apostles. According to tradition, Bartholomew was He was called Cananaean and Zealot, flayed to death at Albanapolis in Armenia. two terms of the same Hebrew word. According to the Apocryphal “PasMatthew sion of Simon and Jude”, both of them He was the evangelist who preached and underwent martyrdom was a Jew and a tax-collector in Persia. In the New Testament, Sireferred to as Levi before he mon, one of the brethren of the Lord, was called by Christ, Whom was identified with Simon the Apostle. be followed. He is the author There were many others bearing the of the First Gospel. In his same name in the New Testament. genealogy of Jesus Christ, he emphasizes the Lord’s human Jude nature and origin. Therefore, He is the Apostle referred to in the Gospel as “Judas in Christian symbolism, Mat- of James”, “Judas not the Iscariot”. He also is known as thew has been represented by Thaddaeus or Lebbacus. Jude was the brother of James the figure of man (cf Rev 4:7). (or the son of James RV), the “brethren of the Lord”— The icon of Matthew in the the Lord’s relative. Jude is the author of the Epistle of Orthodox Church is to be found in one of the four tri- Jude. The Apocryphal “Passion of Simon and Jude” deangles which are formed by the arches connected to the picted them in Persia where they preached and underdome of the Church. went martyrdom. ~9~
“man of Kerioth”, a place in South Palestine, implies that Judas Iscariot A selected Apostle, one of the Twelve, he betrayed Judas was from Judea. He was the only one from there, Christ to the Jewish Sanhedrin—the supreme council whereas the other Apostles were from Galilee. After his and highest court of justice in Jerusalem—and kissed suicide the Apostles elected Matthias to replace him as the Lord at the time of the arrest. He later commit- one of the Twelve Apostles. ted suicide. The title “Iscariot”, meaning in the Hebrew
NEW COVENANT APOSTLES HANDED DOWN The Church of Jesus Christ started in Bethlehem with His birth in the manger it was sanctioned in His presence with angels and shepherds worshipping Him. The Church was developed and enriched through Christ’s efforts in Palestine, and was established with His Cross on Golgotha. Finally, after the resurrection of its Lord, the Church flourished in the upper room in Jerusalem with “tongues of fire” of the Holy Spirit guiding the Apostles in triumph. Thus Jesus Christ, the Founder and Lord of the new sacred society, bequeathed his precious endowment to His Church and made it the treasurer of salvation and eternal freedom. The Church of Christ, to which saints and sinners belong, constitutes His Sacred Body forever. It is, indeed, the realm of His Covenant, which the Apostles received from Christ and handed down to us. What is this Covenant? The Lord’s new will of life was wrought by Himself and handed down to all generations for all time. It contains the long-awaited reconciliation between God and man. It is the new covenant through the mercies of God, and empowered by His Son-the incarnate Logos. What is the content Of this covenant, and who is the warrantor who secures its riches to its heirs? Christ and His Gospel are the answer to both questions. In Him man is destined to live anew, crossing again into Eden, the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the New Covenant which the Apostles received and handed down. The new covenant is “good news of a great joy”. Its title was given by the angel proclaiming in Luke 2:10,11 that “to you is born ... a Savior ... Christ the Lord,” in Bethlehem at the incarnation of the Logos. The contents of this covenant were endorsed in Christ’s baptism
with His Father’s statement, “Thou art my beloved Son” (3:22). Indeed, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” ( John 3:16). John the Baptist bore witness to Him, and in his admiration for Him proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The signature on this covenant was placed by Christ’s new order of Love at His mystic supper—the new testament—and ratified by His Cross and His last words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Lastly, the eternal seal was placed on this covenant by His triumphal resurrection, assuring the victory and joy of life. This covenant was heralded by the First-called Apostle Andrew in his conviction and exclamation that “we have found the Messiah,” and his brother Peter’s confession, “Thou art the Christ.” His believers and devoted followers are destined to cover the globe in all centuries. His reign is everlasting. This mighty covenant of reconciliation—the New Testament and Will—was handed down to the Church and entrusted to the hands of the eyewitnesses, the Apostles of Christ. They proclaimed the Orthodox faith in the True God and organized the new divine society in local Churches for men to believe and worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One living Triune God. The Apostles are the first golden links in our inherited Faith, which we today so dearly proclaim. The Lord sent them and the faithful accepted and honor them.
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hen entering the temple of God to pray, we should know and remember that we are the children of the Heavenly Father, and have come into His house; therefore we must stand there with son-like feelings of sincere love and gratitude in fervent prayer. Our spirit should cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ [Romans 8:15.]“ St. John of Kronstadt (1829–1908) ~10~
The Trinity This weekly bulletin insert complements the curriculum published by the Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America. This and many other Christian Education resources are available at http://dce.oca.org.
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Pentecost, on June 12 this year, is also the Feast of the Holy Trinity. It's a good day to consider this question: How can God be One and Undivided, as Christians claim, and at the same time be three distinct Persons, as Christians also claim? Part of the answer is that this is how God has shown Himself to be in Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments. The Book of Genesis is one example of this. The second verse of the book says that "the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters" at the time of creation. Then, in 1:26, God says, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." This verse with its plural "our" is what the Gospel writer John is referring to when he writes, "All things were made though Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (1:3). John is describing Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as co-creator with the Father.
So the Bible clearly establishes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the three Persons of the Trinity. Yet some Biblical commentators contend that when God speaks in Genesis about making man "in our image" He is addressing not Christ, but the beings who surround Him in heaven, the members of the heavenly court. This contention doesn't really make sense. The angels and the beings around God are still created by Him. They can bear His image, but they cannot share it as His equals by nature any more than we can. They too are creatures, even though they are privileged to stand before their Maker in heaven. Father Alexander Schmemann, writing about the Creed in "Celebration of Faith" Volume I, gives the other part of the answer. He says that God MUST be a Trinity of Persons: "We believe in one God, but not in a God who is alone, not in a God who is self-centered, not in a God who lives in and for Himself. God is love, Christianity says. But to love is to be turned towards the Other, and at its most exalted, to love is to surrender to Him. The Father, says the Gospel, loves the Son and gives everything to Him. The Son, says the Gospel, loves the Father and gives Himself totally to Him. Finally, the Holy Spirit is this gift of love itself, this love itself as gift, joy, fullness, existence, thirst and quenching of thirst, giving and receiving. And through this love, through this giving, God creates the world, calls each of us into life, makes each of us beloved and bestows His love, His Spirit, so that each can partake of divine Life. Thus we pray to the Spirit: 'Come and abide in us'...And in answer He comes to abide in us, to lead us, as Christ promised, into all truth...to give us eternal life.
TROPARION OF PENTECOST Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, glory to Thee!
This then is the radiant mystery of Christian faith, the mystery of God who is Trinity, the God who is Love."
~11~
Church of St. George in Białystok, Poland on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God
St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston, AL 36207