Bi-Monthly Magazine

July - August, 2005

3 rd Issue

“I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11: 25)

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

(Troparion, tone 1) it should not trouble us, for the veneration of Mary is based not on folklore, but on Tradition, which complements and in- In giving birth, you preserved your forms us of the true Scripture given by God. virginity! Indeed, Tradition is the living memory In falling asleep, you did not forsake of the Church, a memory which is trans- mitted from generation to generation. the world, o Theotokos! Ever since the time of the Apostles, we keep in our memory the certainty that You were translated to life, 0 Mother Mary, like her Son, has passed through of Life and by your prayers you deliver death and that like Him she has risen. This is why the feast of the Dormition is a sec- our souls from death! ond Pascha, a passage from death to life, according to St John’s Gospel:

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes Him who sent Me, has eter- nal life; he does not come into judgment, but he Church reserves a very special has passed from death to life. (Jn 5:24) T place among the saints for Mary, the In the Tradition of our faith we also Most-Holy Mother of God. Through her, keep the vision of Mary’s ascent to heaven the Son of God became the Son of man. with the body. We call this mystery the Her virgin womb is more spacious than “Assumption.” Like her Son, who as- the heavens, we say in our hymns, be- cended to the Father, so Mary was taken cause it has contained God. The infinite, by angels and transported into heaven limitless God has allowed Himself to be with her body. contained in the womb of a mother. The There were witnesses to the Ascension body of the Most-Holy Virgin was the of Christ, the Apostles and the Mother of physical envelope, which assisted the In- God; but there is no proof of Mary’s as- carnation. cent into heaven. However, the Fathers of This is why the liturgical year, which is the Church have always venerated Mary the image of the life of Christ, is also cir- as being glorified in her body. Their holy cumscribed by two events in the life of consciences dictated to them the following Mary, her birth and her death. In fact, the revelation: she who contained God in her first feast of the liturgical year is the Na- womb is a virgin before, during and after tivity of the Virgin (8th September) and her childbirth. ends with the last feast of the church year, Her ever-virgin body has served as a the Dormition, celebrated on the 15th Au- vessel for the Incarnation. It is from her gust. To mark the significance of this day, most-pure flesh that Christ’s body was it is preceded by a two-week fast, 1st-14th made. She, just like her Son, was not tar- August, a period of preparation needed to nished by corruption, for she remained glorify this event. What event then do we sinless. Can we then assume that this is commemorate at the Dormition? the Immaculate Conception? (the Roman Catholic teaching about the Virgin Mary). The Memory of the Church As Orthodox Christians we do not say that Mary was conceived without sin. She We have no historical documentation was born from the lineage of David and about Mary’s death; no scriptural text bears the mark of sin, which weighs on all mentions her end. Only the apocryphal humanity ever since the fall of our first gospels contain a detailed account of the parents (Adam and Eve). She is not apart Virgin’s death, placing it at Jerusalem. It is from fallen humanity; who Christ wanted these writings that inspired the icon and to save. But we venerate Mary as the one the liturgical text of this feast. who, because of her faithfulness to God, But these accounts, very late in origin committed no sins, through her holy life, the Church has not accepted as canonical,

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The Dormition of the Mother of God made possible God’s coming on the Immaculate Lady. are all gathered around Mary’s earth. Because of her sanctity, Mary The composition of the icon is tomb? Soon after Pentecost, they was able to receive the Holy Spirit interesting: it has two axes, which scattered throughout the whole and to conceive the Son of God, be- bisect each other and form a cross. world to evangelise the nations. So cause the power of the Most High The body of Mary is the horizontal they could not have been present overshadowed her (Lk 1:35). axis, which shows us her death and that day. Answer: This is true; his- Through the Incarnation, Mary is burial. torically, it is not possible. The apoc- bound to the Holy Trinity: the fruit Christ, standing, is the vertical ryphal writings provide the answer. of her womb is the Son of the Father, axis, which indicates to us the tri- The Apostles were miraculously conceived of the Holy Spirit. umph over death. Christ is risen, He brought to the burial of the Virgin We can legitimately ask why the is the victor over death. The child He Mary. On some icons of the Dor- Word of God took so long to de- holds in his arms is Mary, newly- mition, you can see the Apostles car- scend to earth and become incarnate born in heaven. She enters into the ried by angels on small clouds, gath- in order to save fallen humanity. But glory of Her Son. ered from the ends of the earth to only after the middle of the sixth The Dormition icon expresses the assist at the burial of the Mother of millennium after Adam’s sin did He hope o f the Savior. find on earth a virgin pure not only These marvelous accounts, often in body, but also in spirit. There express a truth which the Church would only once be such a wants to teach us. This is why woman, unique in her spiri- both the Liturgy and the tual and bodily purity, who icon have used and illus- was worthy to become the trated these texts. church and the temple of the What is the meaning of Holy Spirit. this image? The Apostles assembled on the icon rep- The Icon of the Feast resent, the consensus of the Apostolic college (gathering Having looked at the theo- together of all the Church) logical meaning of the feast, about the veneration which let us study the icon, which the Church renders to the expresses the same theology Mother of God. Their pres- in images. “What do we see ence around Mary’s body is on the icon?” not so much a historical Mary is lying down, event as the expression of a asleep in death. Her Son, the conciliar act. Lord Jesus Christ, appears These same apocryphal behind the bier (coffin). His accounts, in parallel to the appearance is bright and He life of Jesus, tell us that St is surrounded by a halo of Thomas arrived late and glory. In His hands, He did not assist at the burial. holds the soul of His He asked to see and to mother. every Christian who waits for the touch the body of Mary, just as he A mandorla is spread above hour of death as the passage into had once asked to touch Jesus, out of Christ’s head. Its presence indicates life, because of the victory of the great love and faith. When the tomb the celestial world to which Mary Resurrected Christ. Each death is a was opened, the Apostles saw that it now belongs. new and personal Pascha. was empty. The Apostles, gathered around As we contemplate the Dor- This story about St Thomas is the body of the Virgin, seem dis- mition of our Most-Holy Mother of closely imitating St John’s Gospel. tressed as they bow in sorrow. The God we may have certain unan- We are able to see that, since the first bishops of the Church, among swered questions arising in our time of the Apostles, the Tradition of them St James, the brother of the mind, perhaps similar to the ones the Church remembers the glorifica- Lord, are also present at the burial of which follow, hopefully we can pro- tion into heaven of the body of the Mother of God. St Peter presides vide answers to some of these: Mary. at the funeral and leads the bier of Question: How is it that the Apostles We can ask ourselves, in support

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The Dormition of the Mother of God of this affirmation, why have there “Wisdom has built her house” (Mid-Pentecost matins, canon, ode 5, troparion) never been any relics of the Mother (Prov 9: 1-11) of God. In fact, the veneration of The Reading from relics was practiced by Christians God chose a people, Israel. From from the earliest days of the Church. among this people, a tribe was set the New Testament apart, the tribe of Judah. A king And yet we find no mention of relics (Lk 10:38-42; 11:27-28) of Mary. There was in Constantin- from the house of Judah was ople a center of pilgrimage where elected, David, the ancestor of the the belt and the veil of the Virgin Lord. From generation to genera- The Gospel read at the Divine Lit- were venerated, but these were not tion, the descendants of David have urgy of the Dormition is the same her body. This confirms what the prepared the coming of Christ. that is read at all the feasts of the Orthodox conscience has always Through the generations of right- Virgin. kept in its memory, that Mary as- eous persons in the Old Testament, It begins with the episode of cended to heaven with her body. the Wisdom of God has built its Martha and Mary’s receiving Jesus. Question: On some icons, one sees a house. The account does not refer to the person bent over in front of the bier; This house is the human nature Mother of God. But the answer Jesus and an angel cuts off his hands with of the Virgin Mary, who, because of gives to Martha, “Mary has chosen the a sword. What does this mean? her purity, is able to become the good portion, which shall not be taken Answer: This too is a detail found in dwelling of God. away from her,” applies directly to the apocryphal accounts. Athonios, a the Virgin Mary. For, in receiving fanatical Jew, tried to turn over the the Word, the incarnate Word, Mary The Wisdom of God has built coffin in order to profane the Vir- has freely chosen to accept the gift its house in you, 0 Virgin, and gin’s body. This episode has been of God. became incarnate in its myste- preserved on the icon not for the rious descent. From among all To this passage about Martha sake of remembering an anecdote, generations you were the pure and Mary, the Church has added the but because of the significance as- Elect One to become the dwell- exclamation of woman in the crowd: cribed to it by Tradition. ing-place of the pure Word. “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and Athonios’ cut-off hands represent the breasts that you sucked!” With the sanction placed by the Church God acts in the world and pre- these words, she recognises the against any indiscretion or disre- pares the salvation of fallen hu- greatness of Mary’s motherhood. spectful curiosity about the Marian manity. From covenant to cove- But Jesus doesn’t glorify His mother mystery experienced by the Theoto- nant, from Noah to Abraham, from simply for being a mother, He sees kos. Moses to David, from Solomon to in her vocation and free choice. In-

the holy ancestors of God, Joachim deed, she listens to God’s word and The Services of the Feast and Anna, God has established a keeps it in her heart (Lk 2: 19 and

relationship with humanity. 51). Let us recall the feast of the En- According to a plan of divine This Gospel testimony teaches us trance of the Mother of God into the economy, through history, the Wis- that we must glorify the Mother of Temple, celebrated on 21st Novem- dom of God has built a dwelling God not merely for her motherhood ber. Mary enters the “Holy of Ho- which can receive it. The person of to Christ, but above all because she lies” and takes the place of the Ark Mary is the fulfillment of the Old carried out God’s will, because she of the Covenant, under the wings of Testament; in her Christ establishes kept His word in her heart, like the the cherubim angels. In our hymns, the New Testament. The passage seed that is sown on good soil and we call her “The living Ark of the from the one to the other is accom- bears fruit in sanctity. Jesus exalts presence of God.” As the Old Testa- plished in her body (the vessel of His mother, who freely responded ment ark once contained the Tables God) through the Incarnation. to God with her total obedience and of the Law, so the body of the Most- Your womb, 0 Mother of God, faithfulness. Holy Virgin, through her giving has become the holy table on which birth, contains the Word of God Christ our God, the heavenly The Troparion of the Feast made flesh. bread, has rested. With the Troparion of the Feast, we Whoever eats of it will not die, The Reading from express our belief in the resurrection according to the promise of the the Old Testament of the Virgin. The bonds of death Lord, who fills the whole universe. were unable to hold the one who

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The Dormition of the Mother of God gave birth to the Source of Life. She who conceived the Word of God in virginity does not remain a prisoner in the tomb, for corruption could not attain the Mother of life. The Mother of God is in heaven and yet she is al- ways present with us. It is from this presence that stem all the manifestations, appearances and miracles of the Virgin. For she appears to saints, weeps with sinners, comforts the afflicted, protects the poor, heals the sick, converts unbelievers, puts an end to wars and epidem- ics. This concern for us originates in the mystery of the cross, when Jesus spoke the following words to his mother: “Woman, behold your son,” as He pointed to St John the Apostle (Jn 19:26-27). On that day, together with the beloved disciple, we Prayer is the Fruit of Spiritual Labor all received Mary as our mother. Mary’s mission, which she accepted at the foot of the cross, has never been forgotten; she is our protec- We praise, thank and beseech the Lord with various tion and remains so until our final breath. thoughts, reflections and petitions; but the name “mental prayer” is attached particularly to the Jesus Prayer. This is not to say that such prayer doesn’t have to come from the heart. Consisting of prayerful repetition of the words Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner the

Jesus Prayer is founded on Holy Scripture. It is origi-

nally inspired by the prayer of the publican: God be merciful

to me a sinner (Luke 18:13) and the words of St. Paul: ... that

at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and every

tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... (Phil. 2:10-11).

The Jesus Prayer and Spiritual Life

With the Jesus Prayer, We progress and grow in the knowledge of God. We feel the Lord reigning in our hearts and giving new meaning to our thoughts and deeds. He transfigures our lives into a constant glorification of His goodness. Our very existence is filled with a strong and ineffable love for God, for all of mankind, and indeed for the whole of creation. The Jesus Prayer guides us to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is like finding ourselves at the center of an Orthodox Church, protected by the imposing figure of the Pantocrator in the dome, Who dominates and rules over the Church and our personal lives. As the Church is the place where we receive the Lord within us through the Mystery of Holy Communion, so with the Jesus Prayer we commune with the Lord, keeping our lives Christ-centered and focused on God. The Jesus Prayer is most relevant for contemporary society. Every believer, in any predicament, can reach out for the power of the name of Jesus. The prayer is simple and accessible to all: no prior study or knowledge is needed to pro- (Source: The Incarnate God: The Feasts of Jesus Christ and gress in its practice. By so doing we participate in a precious the Virgin Mary, Volume 2,Translated by Paul Meyendorff, tradition inherited from the Fathers of the Church. St. John Published by St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, New Climacus teaches, “Strike your adversary with the name of

York, 2002.) Jesus; there is no more powerful weapon on earth or in the heavens.”

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The Jesus Prayer

The blind man who was begging on the road as the Lord ter and mother.” (Matt. 12:50) was approaching Jericho is a model for every person who la- The Jesus Prayer in our Daily Lives bors with the Jesus Prayer. We find ourselves blind on life’s road, our intellect darkened and ignorant of the love of God. In It seems that society today is trying to convince us that the spite of our darkness however, we sense the Lord’s presence, purpose of our life is the enjoyment of material goods and and as the blind man we cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, pleasures. We must contend against the temptations of the have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38). many different idols that face us every day. As seen through the eyes of the Church, contemporary society appears at The Jesus Prayer and Holy Scripture times as enslaving us, confining the infinite greatness of the image of God inherent in man. When we persist in the practice of the Jesus Prayer, we Even so, whoever truly desires can strive to acquire the come to see the Lord as the light of the world. He comes to take grace of the Holy Spirit and reclaim the image and likeness us out of the darkness, filling us with His light and life. In Him of God (Gen. 1:26) in which man was originally created. By was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). the grace of God, we must try to find a quiet time during the The Jesus Prayer presents us with the possibility of becom- day when we can practice the Jesus Prayer, keeping our mind ing like the blind man, who after receiving his sight, followed the focused on the words of the prayer, and rejecting every other Lord and glorified Him. thought and idea. This is not easy. It requires great effort, pa- In time of prayer, we inevitably find ourselves caught tience and persistence. Every time our mind is carried away by up in a spiritual struggle. Our thoughts often become occupied the multitude of life’s cares, vain thoughts, or remembrances of with worldly affairs and obligations, sometimes with the idea past sins, we must not be disappointed. Rather, we must that our efforts are totally wasted. However, in spite of all this, dismiss these things with courage and faith, bringing our we must persist like the blind man in calling out the name of mind back to the name of Jesus. Jesus, since we know that the only way to Christ is through the We should know that the enemy will certainly try to struggle of prayer. deceive the beginner, in the hope that he will become disillu- Indeed, we must continue with discipline and patience, sioned and abandon the struggle for prayer. courageously despising any and all hindrances like the blind However, we do not despair, but on the contrary we con- man: he cried all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” tinue with greater persistence, and slowly we feel within us the And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to comfort of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, we should try to extend him; and when he came near, He asked him, “What do you this work of prayer to the whole of our everyday life. Every want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my moment and hour, whatever we are doing, we can find the sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your opportunity to say the Jesus Prayer. In this way, we will not be faith has made you well." And immediately he received his carried away by the cares of this age nor forget the ultimate sight and followed Him, glorifying God... (Luke 18:39-43). purpose of life. Rather, our main work will be our salvation and sanctification, and we will see the various affairs of this life as The Jesus Prayer and the Mother of God work of a secondary nature.

The Mother of God provides us with an excellent example of Conclusion how we should pursue our lives of prayer. The Church teaches us that from her infancy she was All these things are achieved within the context of our par- offered and dedicated by her parents to a life of service to God. ticipation in the life of the Church, and ideally under the She strove to protect herself from vain and worldly thoughts, guidance of a spiritual father. focusing rather on prayer. Her life was entirely dedicated to the All this may seem difficult, but it is not. In the beginning, glorification of God. With her entire being she pursued the pres- our only contribution is our good intention and willingness to ence of the Lord, and thus struggled to keep her soul and body persevere; and from then on the grace of God will give us the pure. power and wisdom to continue our struggle. Her dedication and commitment to a life of prayer led ulti- “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is mately to her humble acceptance of the will of God, and she was in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God made worthy of becoming the Mother of our Lord and Savior. has come and has given us understanding, to know Him As St. Symeon the New Theologian writes, “Each believer Who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, who labors spiritually with the Jesus Prayer and attempts to and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from cleanse his soul of everything sinful and unnecessary, and turns idols” (I John 5:I9-2I). his mind with yearning to the love of God, becomes a place ready for the Lord’s advent and birth ... The Lord allows him Pray unceasingly... (I Thess. 5:17) to conceive and give birth to Him in his heart, to have Him con- stantly abiding within him. For whosoever shall do the will of (Source: The Jesus Prayer by a monk of Mount Athos, my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sis- Pan Orthodox Publications- Edinburgh Minneapolis)

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Hieromonk Christos prayed for his executioners n August of 1823 the Turkish military unit at who sat crosswise at the foot of the cross and told him I to appeal to Christ to save him. As they continued to loannina undertook to carry out the devious plan taunt him, the Martyr grew weaker. contrived by Sultan Mahmut II to exterminate the One Turk pierced his side with a saber and imme- Christians of that town. The Turks were informed diately Christos surrendered his blessed soul into the that a certain Hieromonk named Christos was com- hands of God, from Whom he received the undying forting and encouraging the subjugated Greeks by crown of a Martyr. preaching the Kingdom of Christ. Therefore, he was The frenzy of the infidels did not cease at this point. arrested and brought before the court of the cadi. The Some gypsies coated the martyred body with tar and Hieromonk was asked concern- burned him completely to ashes (in ing his faith in the Lord Christ, imitation of Nero who used the bod- which he confessed, proclaiming ies of Christians as lamps in his His nativity, the incarnation fore- garden, inviting gladiators and told by the prophets, His death, eunuchs to his macabre feast!) resurrection, and Kingdom, which will have no end. After-wards he was questioned about Mohammed, and remained silent. The cadi then *This account was written by the Honorable F. rent his garments and ordered Poukeville, Ambassador of France. that Christos be beaten with rods and condemned him to death by crucifixion. At the time when the Mar- tyr was delivered into the hands of the executioners, the Orthodox Church was cele- brating the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (15th August). On this joyous feast day, they wished to mock the holy Passion of Christ and embitter the Christians by reviling the sacraments of their holy faith. They placed on the Martyr's head a crown of thorns. The priest of the Most High God was then dragged down the streets of loannina amidst the shouts and jeers of a wild Turkish mob, who believed they were ridiculing Christos by calling him Christ. Finally he was led up to the area of the plane trees at the Kalou Tzesme, the customary site of executions, a veritable (Source: New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke Golgotha. translated by Leonidas J. Papadopoulos, Georgia Lizar- Once there, the Hieromonk was stripped and spat dos and others. St. Nectarios Press Seattle. Washington upon. He was placed upon a cross where they drove 1985) nails into his hands and feet. Then Christos was hung on the cross, sanctifying the wood by his pure blood.

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What is our souls to be sick, and frequently Blood, we have no life in us (John Holy Confession? our bodies too. When we are sick, 6:53), and that "Those who eat My we go to a doctor to be healed. Be- Flesh and drink My Blood abide in oly Confession is one of the great cause our souls are sick through sin, Me, and I in them" (John 6:56). Our we go to the 'spiritual hospital' - the Lord invites us to be united with Sacraments or Mysteries, as it is Church - to be healed by the Great Him at every Divine Liturgy by re- known in the Orthodox Church. Fre- Physician Himself, through His ceiving Holy Communion - His quent participation in this Sacra- priests, by means of His Holy Sacra- Body and Blood. ment offers a superb opportunity for ment of Confession. It is a truly awesome and an spiritual growth, since it helps us to After His Resurrection, Our Lord amazing privilege to be united with face and overcome our temptations imparted the Holy Spirit onto His the Lord by partaking of His Holy and sins. Apostles, and gave to them His di- Gifts, and so we must not approach There are four parts to Confes- vine power and authority to forgive casually, frivolously, or without ade- sion: (1) Examination of our actions sins: "If you forgive the sins of any, quate preparation. We prepare our- and thoughts to discern how we they are forgiven them; if you retain selves by prayerfully trying to the sins of any, they are re- cleanse ourselves of our sins, so that have sinned; (2) Repentance for our tained" (John 20:23). This power has we might be suitable temples for the sins; (3) Confessing these sins to been passed on ever since then by Lord to dwell in, for He wishes that God in the presence of the priest the laying-on-of-hands (Ordination/ we will allow Him to make His who is our Father Confessor; and (4) Consecration) in an unbroken line home in our hearts and bodies: Absolution - the pronouncing of the from the Apostles (the first bishops), "Listen! I am standing at the door, forgiveness of our sins by the priest to each new bishop. The bishops in knocking; if you hear my voice and while his stole (epitrahili) is over our turn delegate this apostolic power to open the door, I will come in to you head. Sometimes this Sacrament is forgive sins to each priest when he is and eat with you, and you with called the Sacrament of Repentance ordained but, in particular, when me" (Revelation 3:20). or Reconciliation or Penance. appointing the priest as Father Con- We are cleansed by sincere re- fessor (as is the practice in the Greek pentance, by Holy Confession, by Why Do We Go to Orthodox Church). fasting, by saying the Prayers Before Confession? When we are sick, we go to a and After Holy Communion, and by doctor. Our Father Confessor is our prayerfully approaching the Holy The Apostle and Evangelist, St John spiritual doctor, who not only grants Gifts, consciously aware that we are the Theologian, writes in his First us forgiveness of our sins in the partaking of Christ's Body and Epistle (1 John 1:6-10): "If we say we Blood and becoming united with Lord's name, but also can provide have no sin, we deceive ourselves, Him. The Lord offers us a priceless valuable treatment for the illnesses and the truth is not in us. If we con- gift - Himself! This is the best gift in fess our sins, He is faithful and just of our soul by means of spiritual the world - there is nothing better! to forgive us our sins..." We are con- guidance. He asks of us that we be willing to stantly breaking our communion accept His gift of Himself, that He with God, with our fellow human Confession and offers to us at His great Banquet beings and with God's whole crea- Holy Communion Feast, and to properly prepare our- tion by our sins. Therefore, we go to selves to become living temples of Holy Confession in order to be for- While there is enormous benefit to His Divine Presence. given, and to restore the state of rec- be received from the Sacrament of St Paul cautions us about receiv- onciliation that we were granted Holy Confession in and of itself, in ing Holy Communion in an unwor- through our Baptism - in other practice, it is closely associated with thy manner (carelessly or without words, to restore our Baptismal pu- the preparation for receiving an- adequate preparation), saying: rity. During the earthly ministry of other great Sacrament - Holy Com- “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, munion - the "Medicine of Immortal- drinks the cup of the Lord in an unwor- He was constantly healing people, ity", as St Ignatius of Antioch calls it. thy manner will be answerable for the sometimes by declaring that their Our Lord Himself tells us that if we body and blood of the Lord. Examine sins were forgiven. Our sins cause do not eat His Body and drink His yourselves, and only then eat of the

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The Mystery Of Confession bread and drink of the cup. For all who when they go to Confession. Occa- eat and drink without discerning the sionally, a person may be a teenager Father Confessors in body, eat and drink judgment against or even an adult when they have Melbourne, Victoria themselves. For this reason many of you their first Confession; they too, will are weak and ill, and some have benefit from learning what Holy (The following Father Confessors know English but are more fluent died.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). Confession is and how best to pre- in Greek) pare for it. For an adult convert to Very Rev. Fr Methodios Livanos First Confession Orthodoxy, their first Holy Confes- (Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Preston) sion will be heard soon after their When children are baptized in the Very Rev. Fr Panagiotis Styli- Baptism and/or Chrismation and Orthodox Church as infants, and anopoulos (St. Dimitrios, Ascot their reception into the Orthodox raised in the Church, their parents, Vale) Church. grandparents and godparents have Rev. Fr Stylianos Aivaliotis just as much responsibility to feed Rev. Fr Spyridon Vandoros (St. Nek- the children's souls as they have to How Frequently Should tarios, Fawkner) feed their bodies. One of the most We Go to Confession? Rev. Fr Nicholas Lilimbakis (The vital sources of this spiritual nour- Transfiguration of Our Lord, ishment is bringing the children to The answer to this question is inter- Thomastown) the Divine Liturgy and Holy Com- related with the similar question - Rev. Fr Eleftherios Tatsis (Holy munion at least every Sunday. A how frequently should we receive Monastery of Panagia Kamariani, person does not need to understand Holy Communion? Unfortunately, Red Hill) how Holy Communion provides due to historical circumstances, Rev. Fr Athanasios Triantafyllou (St. nourishment for it to be effective, some believe that receiving Holy Vasilios, Brunswick) any more than it is necessary to un- Communion just a few times a year Rev. Fr Synesios Frangos (St. derstand the process of digestion for is sufficient. They have forgotten, Paraskeve, St. John the Merciful, and regular food to be effective. If people however, that receiving Holy Com- St. Barbara, St Albans) do not eat - whether a child or adult munion is the fulfilment and end- Rev. Fr Kyriakos Stavrou (St. An- - they become weak, malnourished purpose of every Divine Liturgy drew, Sunshine) and may die. Likewise, our souls and, that it is the means par excel- Rev. Fr Antonios Krinas (St. become weak, withered and may die lence of achieving the goal of Ortho- Panteleimon, Dandenong) without spiritual food. Children dox spiritual life - 'if we do not eat Rev. Fr Eustathios Papadopoulos who attend Divine Liturgy every His Body and drink His Blood, we (The Presentation of Our Lord, week since infancy learn at a very have no life in us' (cf. John 6:53). Coburg) early age that receiving Holy Com- The goal and purpose of the Or- Rev. Fr Alexandros Korlos (St. munion is something truly special, thodox Christian life is to be united Nicholas, Yarraville) and they look forward to it with ea- with the Lord, which can occur only ger anticipation. as we become increasingly like Him, (The following Father Confessors When children are seven or eight little by little by His Grace. Ideally are fluent in English) years old, they have reached what is then, we should receive Holy Com- Very Rev. Fr Iakovos Tsigounis (St. called 'the age of discretion', that is, munion at every Divine Liturgy and, Anargyroi, Oakleigh) they know the difference between perhaps, Confess before each Lit- Very Rev. Fr Vasilios Christofis (Sts. right and wrong, and are able to urgy! In practice, however, the Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, East take responsibility for their actions. Church advises us to receive the Sac- Bentleigh) Therefore, for children actively raments 'frequently' and always un- Very Rev. Fr Elias Kentrotis (St. raised in the Church and regularly der spiritual guidance. Haralambos, Templestowe) attending Divine Liturgy and receiv- The best way, then, of ascertain- Rev. Fr Chris Dimolianis (St. ing Holy Communion, around this ing the frequency that we should Eustathios, South Melbourne) age is good for children to start go- receive the Sacraments of Holy Con- ing to Holy Confession and fasting fession and Communion is to simply before receiving Holy Communion. discuss it with our Father Confessor. In preparation for their first Confes- The more our strengths and weak- sion, it would help if children were nesses are known, the more guid- instructed about what sin, repen- ance can be given as to how much tance, Holy Confession and forgive- 'medicine' is required for healing, ness are, and what to do and say renewal, and growth.

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 9

The beginnings of Kosmas were tised, a situation, which he reme- inauspicious enough; he hailed from died and which gave him added Seventeen centuries after t h e a village called Mega Dendron, Ai- momentum in his crusade. When eminent St. tolia, where he was born in 1714, the word of his valiant mis-sionary Paul trav- son of a simple weaver whose wife zeal reached his old monastery, one eled across was extremely devout and who un- of his fellow monks saw fit to make Greece, a doubtedly influenced her son in his public Kosmas’ prophetic gift. solitary choosing of a religious path. He was Some of his prophecies the people man of baptised Konstas and attended pub- of the time could not compre- God lic schools, thereafter to be tutored hend, for Kosmas is not only on crossed by a family friend, Archdeacon record as having predicted that the same Ananias. After spending some time people would be able to converse country as a teacher, Konstas decided to at- with each other even though they from bor- tend a school at the Monastery of were miles apart (the telephone), der to bor- Vatopedi on the Holy Mountain of but he also foresaw in the eight- der, sea to Athos, after which he entered the eenth century that man would de- sea and island to island in a mag- Monastery of Philotheou where he vise a means of flying. nificent religious tour de force which was tonsured a monk and given the Over a period of twenty-five stoked the fires of Christianity and name Kosmas. In rapid succession years of undiminished zeal Kos- the flick-ering hopes of a people he became a deacon and then priest. mas traveled not only throughout strain-ing under the yoke of op- Kosmas had made up his mind Greece and its beautiful islands, pression and despairing of a return to their ancient culture after nearly to do missionary work and he but he even journeyed through three centuries of brutality. This could think of no better place to do neighbouring Albania. His phe- rare specimen of Hellenic Christian- so than in his homeland, particu- nomenal feats in the name of the ity was named Kosmas, a man larly in the remote corners of the rug- Lord included the founding of whose devotion to God and country ged peninsula where the lack of over 400 schools, charitable insti- brought about a resurgence of the churches and flight from persecu- tutions and small churches in ru- Christian spirit of Greece and an- tion had dimmed the light of ral areas where itinerant priests ticipated the revolution, which was Christianity. He was determined could conduct the sacred liturgies to cleanse this proud country of the to revitalise the Christian spirit of as often as possible. Wherever he vermin with which it had too long every isolated village of Greece preached he had a habit of plant- been infested. and to bring back age-old Hellenic ing a cross, as a result of which At a time when the Christian pride and cheer, which the Moslems his crosses dotted the countryside Church had been splintered into had ground into the dust. He pre- and served as reminders to the innovating and renovating factions vailed upon Patriarch Seraphim II passersby that somebody cared which eyed each other with suspi- to give him a carte blanche to what happened to them and that cion, Kosmas was a welcome travel wherever he may be God had not forsaken them. throwback to the days of the origi- needed for whatever period of Kosmas had trampled on cer- nal Apostles who conceived only time necessary for his mission and tain Moslem toes and in the area one Church of Jesus Christ and as a preacher at large was given a of loannina he was arrested on were not so much concerned with Patriarchal blessing to carry out his false charges of conspiracy, found the wording of a sentence as they noble purpose without interference guilty and hanged on the 24th of were with kneeling in prayer. The and with com-plete independence August 1779. On 21st of April likes of Kosmas may be another of action. 1961 he was made a saint of the seventeen centuries in coming be- In some of the more remote vil- Orthodox Christian Church. cause he was not only a priest but a prophet, scholar, patriot and mira- lages, where no priest had been seen for years, Kosmas found cle-worker as well and each of these (Source: Orthodox Saints,Vol 2, adults who had not been bap- to a degree that merited sainthood. by Fr George Poulos)

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 10

After a year he suffered another set- it with love and then you will not As we approach the feast day of back. He became very melancholic experience any depression or melan- and thought about leaving for an- choly.” Panagia returned to the icon the Dormition of the Theotokos, it is other monastery. One night he left and vanished. Immediately thereaf- only appropriate that we study his monastic cell and went to the ter Ioannis was released from this some of the miracles performed by church to pray. As he was praying terrible temptation and resumed his the Theotokos. I would like to share he looked up and saw a lady coming duties as a monk. His ascetic strug- with you a miracle that I read in a out of the icon of Panagia dressed in gles at the monastery left an indeli- book titled “Εμφανίσεις και ble mark in the hearts and minds of θαύματα της Παναγιάς.” It is a other monks. Ioannis was soon ton- rough translation and I apologise for sured a monk receiving the name the quality of this translation. Ilarion. Moldavia which is the northern Twenty years had passed since part of Rumania is renowned for its that miracle and it wasn’t too long monasteries. In this region there is a that the monk experienced another mountain called Tseachleou which is struggle. One day during the spring similar to Mount Athos in Greece. In of 1933 he left for the forest to col- this monastery there are countless lect wood. As he was working he monks. There is a monastery called injured his leg. The wound was Sihastra which is surrounded by quite severe and gangrene had lush green hills, forests and a lake. formed. Again Father Ilarion turned In this monastery lived a monk to Panagia. “Lady Theotokos have called Ilarion Ionika (1854 - 1934). mercy on me, do not leave me,” he Before he came to this monastery he begged with tears. As he was pray- worked as a shipbuilder at a lake ing in his cell that night, a nun en- called Bistritsa. The incident which tered. “Why are you crying?” she follows caused him to leave the asked. The monk replied, “I hurt world and become a monk. my leg and am in great pain. I know On a cold winter evening, Ioan- that I will die and I am crying be- nis had finished his work and was cause I still have not repented.” The getting ready to leave to go home. nun then looked at his leg, touched As he passed through the forest he it and said, “Do not cry Fr.Ilarion. heard howling noises. All of a sud- Your leg has been healed. You will den wolves appeared and attacked live another year and then you will him. He was fighting with the have eternal rest.” The nun left and wolves for two whole hours. After the monk fell asleep. He woke up two hours he became exhausted and the next morning and was in best turned to Panagia for help and pro- health. He soon realised that the tection. He knelt down and nun was Panagia. He ran to the screamed, “All-Holy Theotokos if Church and retold the miracle to all you let me live, I will leave every- the fathers in the monastery... Fi- thing and become a monk. Immedi- nally, one year later he gave up his ately after he said this bells and monastic clothes. It was Panagia. soul peacefully. voices could be heard. A sledge was She approached him and asked, approaching. The wolves got scared “Why are you crying brother John?” and left. The monk was set free and John replied, “I am bored here and By Kon Bouzikos returned to his house. want to leave from this monastery”. After some time Ioannis aban- Panagia replied, “Why have you (Source: Ιερά Μονή Παράκλητου doned the world and became a become disillusioned in my house. Ωρωπός, Αττική, 1996, σελ. 108-110.) monk in the monastery Sihastria. Be at peace and whatever you do, do

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 11

This monthly (x2) calendar is provided for your information. It aims to give you an insight into the Orthodox Christian Church year of 2005 and hopes to prove useful and beneficial with its indications. The calendar pro- vides you with a day-by-day outlook of the following pieces of information: 1. The Greater Feastdays (†) cele- brated in the Orthodox Christian Church. 2. The main fasting and non-fasting periods in the Church and the strictness of each of these fasts. 3. The schedule of English Divine Liturgies, where these are held and at what time. 4. Main Vespers Services held at each of our Melbourne, VIC Parishes (commence 7p.m.) 5. Public Holi- days and other events held.

GOR- Sat KEILOR, ENGLISH ENGLISH PANAGIA

GEELONG SOUMELA, PANAGIA LITURGY AT LITURGY AT 7.00—8.15pm 7.00—8.15pm MONASTERY, GOEPIKOOS 9.00 – 10.00am 9.00 – 10.00am 1 8 15 22 29

Fri HOLY

OF THE THEOTOKOS ( “OXI” DAY ) DAY ( “OXI” PROTECTION

7 14 21 28

THE THE THE

Thu APOSTLE

ST. NESTOR ST. THOMAS ST. ARTEMIOS GREAT MARTYR GREAT MARTYR 6 13 20 27

THE

Wed ST. DIMITRIOS GREAT MARTYR 5 12 19 26

AT THE

SOUTH Tue ST. LUKE VESPERS: VESPERS:

7.30—8.45pm ASCOT VALE ASCOT VALE MELBOURNE, EVANGELIST ST. DIMITRIOS ST. DIMITRIOS

ST. EUSTATHIOS, ENGLISH LITURGY 4 11 18 25

THE IS THE Mon VESPERS: “PARISH & “PARISH & OAKLEIGH

COMMUNITY AREOPAGITE

ST. DIONYSIOS STS ANARGYRI Mr Theo heodorou heodorou Theo Mr CHURCHES: WHAT DIFFERENCE? Pros & cons analysis” by by analysis” cons & CYC MONTHLY TALK: 31 3 10 17 24

OF OF OF 7TH 7TH LUKE LUKE LUKE LUKE OF THE OF THE

CHRIST) SUNDAY SUNDAY Sun COUNCIL

APOSTLE &

BROTHER OF ECUMENICAL

THE MARTYR) THE 5TH SUNDAY 6TH SUNDAY 2ND SUNDAY HOLY FATHERS (ST KYPRIANOS (ST. JAMES THE

30 2 9 3RD SUNDAY OF 16 23

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 12

Orthodox Christian Calendar 2005: November

AT THE Sat NAMEDAY) GEELONG

STYLIANOS’ RIGHTEOUS (ARCHBISHOP (ARCHBISHOP MONASTERY, 9.00 – 10.00am 9.00 – 10.00am ST. STYLIANOS ENGLISH LITURGY 5 12 19 26 THE THE Fri NAMEDAY NAMEDAY

ST. MINAS DINNER FOR FOR DINNER ARCHBISHOP’S ARCHBISHOP’S ST. CATHERINE GREAT MARTYR GREAT MARTYR RECEPTION CENTRE CENTRE RECEPTION AT ULTIMA ON KEILOR

4 11 18 25 Thu VESPERS: MALVERN ST CATHERINE, 3 10 17 24

OF THE THE OF THE Wed

APOSTLES ST. ANDREW PENTAPOLIS EVANGELIST

ST. MATTHEW FIRST CALLED FIRST CALLED ST. NEKTARIOS

2 9 16 23 30

AT FAST FAST DAY** Tue VESPERS: VESPERS: FAWKNER

7.30—8.45pm ST. ANDREW, CHRISTMAS ARCHANGELS NUNAWADING COMMENCES COMMENCES

ST NEKTARIOS, ST. EUSTATHIOS, ENGLISH LITURGY THE UNMERCENARIES (PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

SOUTH MELBOURNE, **MELBOURNE CUP MICHAEL & GABRIEL MICHAEL & GABRIEL 1 STS KOSMAS & DAMIANOS 8 15 22 29

THE Mon WEST” by OUR LADY OUR APOSTLE VESPERS: MENTONE

ST. PHILLIP TO THE TEMPLE ARCHANGELS, CHRISTIAN “THE

CYC MONTHLY TALK: THEOLOGY OF EAST OF & THEOLOGY THE PRESENTATION OF Very Rev. Elias Kentrotis Kentrotis Elias Rev. Very

7 14 21 28

OF OF OF OF LUKE LUKE LUKE LUKE Sun

VESPERS:THE 7TH SUNDAY 8TH SUNDAY 9TH SUNDAY

NORTH BALWYN 13TH SUNDAY LADY TO THE THE LADY TO TEMPLE, PRESENTATION OF OUR (ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM) 6 13 20 27

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 13

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA

SECOND ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA

C e n t r a l Y o u t h M o n t h l y L e c t u r e s

“Parish & Community Churches: What is the Difference? Pros & Cons Analysis"

presented by Mr Theo Theodorou

Monday, 17th October 2005

at the

Greek Orthodox Church of St. Eustathios 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

Commencing at 7.30pm

For further information telephone: 9696 2488

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 14

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA

SECOND ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA

C e n t r a l Y o u t h M o n t h l y L e c t u r e s

“The Christian Theology of East and West”

presented by Very Rev. Fr. Elias Kentrotis

Monday, 21st November 2005

at the

Greek Orthodox Church of St. Eustathios 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

Commencing at 7.30pm

For further information telephone: 9696 2488

Saint ArseniosNestor the Cappadocian January July 2005, - August page 6 2005 Issue, page 15

SAINT NESTOR IS PUBLISHED BY THE CENTRAL YOUTH COMMITTEE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA SECOND ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA For subscriptions, article contributions and announcements, change of address, comments or queries, contact: The CYC Secretary

Saint Nestor Magazine 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205 Website: Other Contact Details: Phone: (03) 9696 2488 www.goyouth.org.au Fax: (03) 9696 3583 Email: [email protected]

Youth Group Meetings in Victoria

Ascot Vale: St.Dimitrios East Malvern: St.Catherine Templestowe: St.Haralambos Tuesday 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 8.30 p.m. Bentleigh: Sts.Raphael, Nicholas and Fawkner: St.Nektarios Thomastown: Tranfiguration of the Lord Irene Wednesday 7.00 p.m. Thursday 7.30 p.m. Call church Northcote: Axion Estin Monastery Yarraville: St.Nicholas Box Hill: Holy Cross Monday 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 7.30 p.m. Thursday 7 - 8.00 p.m. Nunawading: St.Andrew Brunswick: St.Basil Monday 7.30 p.m. Tuesday 7 - 8.00 p.m. Oakleigh: Sts.Anargyroi, Dandenong: St.Panteleimon Cosmas & Damianos Thursday 7.00 p.m. Tuesday 7.30 p.m. East Keilor: Dormition of the Theotokos South Melbourne: St.Eustathios Sunday 2.00 p.m. Tuesday 7.30 p.m.

Icon of Saint Nestor from the Monastery of Stavronikita (Mount Athos) by Theophan the Cretan