sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anthony the Great, Resurrection of Jesus

The Witness Newsletter of the of the Holy Ascension 209 S. Lehigh Ave. Frackville, PA 17931

V. Rev. James M. Jadick - Rector - 570.874.3162 Mr. John Malinchok - Council President - 570.590.2669

July / August 2020

We have been informed that the cost for the blue Parish News table covers has been donated. All other sets are still available. Parish Council Meetings We are planning to hold a meeting in July & August. Thank You The date is to be determined. We will follow all of - Our thanks to Mike Weremedic, John Malinchok, the directives of the CDC for proper interaction in a Keysock and John Ruschak for cleaning the public setting. parking lot and cutting the grass./weeds! Great !

Parish Education Bulletin & Candle Listing Each you receive a separate insert with your The new contact person for the offerings of weekly weekly bulletin. THIS is a very important part of our bulletins, candles and newsletters is Cheryl parish education program. I sincerely hope that you Ruschack. You can contact Cheryl at 570-617-3559 take the time to read it and learn something new each week. As always, if you have any questions regarding what you have read, please feel free to contact me!

Holy Days in July & August Transfiguration of Our Lord Transfiguration - August 6th Dormition Fast - August 1 thru 14. Forty days before He was delivered to an Dormition of the - August 15th ignominious death for our sins, our Lord revealed to three of His disciples the glory of His .

New Table Coverings “And after six days taketh Peter, James, and The table coverings have arrived and are John his and bringeth them up into a high absolutely beautiful! The other sets are now being mountain apart; and was transfigured before them: made. We waited to be sure that the measurements and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment were correct before work began on the remaining was white as the light” (Matt. 17:1-2). This was the sets. Unfortunately, they have been delayed due to event to which our Lord was referring when He said, the world wide spread of the virus. If anyone would “There be some standing here which shall not taste like to support this project they are welcome to make of death till they see the Son of man coming in His a donation to help cover the costs. Each set costs Kingdom” (Matt. 16:28). By this means the faith of approximately $1300. the disciples was strengthened and prepared for the trial of our Lord’s approaching passion and death; We have obtained the burgundy covers to place on and they were able to see in it not mere human the Altar, Chalice/Paten, Litiya Tray and Grave of suffering, but the entirely voluntary passion of the Our Lord when they are not in use. These 4 covers Son of God. cost approximately $500. If anyone wishes to offer to cover this cost please feel free to do so. 1 The disciples saw also and Elijah talking with seemed that time itself stood in the contemplation of our Lord, and thereby they understood that He was the Divine Light. The awed apostles fell to the not Himself Elijah or another of the prophets, as ground. The ended. Together with Jesus some thought, but someone much greater: He Who they came down from the mountain and by could call upon the Law and the Prophets to be His morning were back in . witnesses, since He was the fulfillment of both. not only preached His to the The three parables of the feast concern the people, but also educated and enlightened His appearance of God to Moses and Elijah on Mount disciples. And gradually He revealed Himself to Sinai, and it is indeed appropriate that the greatest them as the not only of Israel, but of all God-seers of the should be present mankind, as the King of the eternal spiritual at the glorification of the Lord in His , kingdom. The Messiah’s words that He would be seeing for the first time His humanity, even as the tortured in evoked awe and fear in the disciples were seeing for the first time His Divinity. disciples. A vision of the crucified Messiah might have evoked the feeling of despair in Christ’s The Transfiguration is the visual manifestation of disciples, the thought that everything was God’s Kingdom on earth. Shortly before His irrevocably lost. The mystery of could suffering on the cross, Jesus Christ, taking along have appeared to them as a defeat, as the with Him three of His disciples – John, James, and Messiah’s powerlessness. At a time of despondency Peter, – left Capernaum and went north towards and doubt, the three apostles’ witness to the Mount Tabor, which rose like a citadel above the hills Transfiguration was to strengthen the faith of the of . The disciples were silent, having a other disciples. presentiment that a mystery would be revealed to them. Mystic events take place in silence. The What constitutes the mystery of ? It human word bears the same relation to attracts people not so much by its delicate and as a wave to the depth of the ocean. sophisticated intellectualism, nor by the brilliant oratory of its preachers, nor yet by the beauty of its On Mt.Tabor saw the divine rites. Christianity revealed to the human a new Transfiguration of Christ, the manifestation of His world, an eternal world, a world of divine light – that majesty and glory. The Saviour’s face became like which not a single religion or philosophical system lightning, His raiment – white as snow. He stood could give. encircled by shining brilliance, as though amid the rays of the sun. Two prophets – Moses and Elias – “And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and appeared before the Saviour and conversed with James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high Him. Interpreters of Holy Scripture say that they mountain apart from themselves: and He was talked of the on Golgotha, of Christ’s transfigured before them. And His raiment became forthcoming suffering, of the fact that mankind’s sins shining, exceedingly white as snow; so as no fuller would be redeemed by the blood of the Son of God on earth can white them. And there appeared unto and Saviour. them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus” (:24).

Together with Christ three apostles – Peter, James, and John – ascended Mt. Tabor, where the Lord’s Transfiguration took place. It was accompanied by the appearance of the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elias. They spoke with Christ about His imminent departure from earth to rejoin . then speaks of how all of them were overshadowed by a bright cloud, out of which a voice issued, saying: “This is My beloved Son; hear Him.”

The Lord did not ascend the mountain alone, but took three disciples with Him. On Mt Tabor their eyes were opened to a different, spiritual world, and The three apostles experienced the manifestation of they were able to see the Light which transfigured the Divine Light as a great and incomparable joy. It Christ. After that the Saviour spoke for the first time 2 about His martyric end and . At that time promised to all who “hear the word of God and keep the apostles did not understand Him, because in it” (Lk11.27–28). accordance with Jewish tradition they saw Christ as a future earthly king and liberator from foreign The services of the feast repeat the main theme, domination. Christ, however, was preparing for His that the Mother of Life has “passed over into the suffering on the cross and the humiliation of heavenly joy, into the divine gladness and unending Golgotha, and He showed His Transfiguration to the delight” of the Kingdom of her Son (Vesperal hymn). three disciples, so that they would be able to bear The Old Testament readings, as well as the gospel witness to His divine nature and voluntary readings for the Vigil and the , are agreement to torment on the cross. exactly the same as those for the feast of the ’s nativity and her into the Temple. The of the Transfiguration is revealed in its Thus, at the Vigil we again hear Mary say: “My soul symbols. The mountain is a silent, solitary place magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my which makes it easier to engage in prayer and helps Saviour” (Lk 1.47). At the Divine Liturgy we hear the us unite our restless mind with God. The name letter to the Philippians where Paul speaks of “Tabor” translates as purity or light. Whoever comes the self-emptying of Christ who condescends to to an awareness of his actions and repents of what human servitude and ignoble death in order to be he has committed is freed of spiritual uncleanliness “highly exalted by God his Father” (Phil 2.5–11). And and is able to see the divine uncreated Light. once again we hear in the Gospel that Mary’s Christian teaching sees the spiritual blessedness belongs to all who “hear the word of precisely in the attempt to acquire this Light and God and keep it” (Lk 11.27–28). deify human nature. oca.org

Dormition of the Theotokos

The feast of the Dormition or Falling-asleep of the Theotokos is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, preceded by a two-week fast. This feast, which is also sometimes called the Assumption, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ’s mother. It proclaims that Mary has been “assumed” by God into the heavenly kingdom of Christ in the fullness of her spiritual and bodily existence. Thus, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos is As with the nativity of the Virgin and the feast of her the celebration of the fact that all men are “highly entrance to the temple, there are no biblical or exalted” in the blessedness of the victorious Christ, historical sources for this feast. The Tradition of the and that this high exaltation has already been Church is that Mary died as all people die, not accomplished in Mary the Theotokos. The feast of “voluntarily” as her Son, but by the necessity of her the Dormition is the sign, the guarantee, and the mortal human nature which is indivisibly bound up celebration that Mary’s fate is, the destiny of all with the corruption of this world. those of “low estate” whose magnify the Lord, whose spirits rejoice in God the Saviour, whose lives The Orthodox Church teaches that Mary is without are totally dedicated to hearing and keeping the personal sins. In the Gospel of the feast, however, in Word of God which is given to men in Mary’s child, the liturgical services and in the Dormition , the the Saviour and of the world. Church proclaims as well that Mary truly needed to be saved by Christ as all human persons are saved Finally it must be stressed that, in all of the feasts of from the trials, sufferings and death of this world; the Virgin Mother of God in the Church, the and that having truly died, she was raised up by her Orthodox celebrate facts of their own Son as the Mother of Life and participates already in lives in Christ and the . What happens to the eternal life of paradise which is prepared and 3 Mary happens to all who imitate her holy life of The Saviour Himself gave us His portrait. Moved to humility, obedience, and love. With her all people compassion, He wiped His sacred face with a towel will be “blessed” to be “more honorable than the and miraculously depicted His face on this towel for cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the sick prince Abgar. When the sick prince prayed the seraphim” if they follow her example. All will before this icon of the Saviour, that had not been have Christ born in them by the Holy Spirit. All will made with hands, he was healed of his illness. become temples of the living God. All will share in the eternal life of His Kingdom who live the life that When praying before an icon, we must remember Mary lived. that the icon is not God Himself or a saint of God, but only the depiction of God or His saint. Therefore, we must not pray to the icon, but to God or the saint who is depicted on it.

The holy icon is a sacred book. In a sacred book we reverently read the words of God, and on a holy icon we reverently behold the holy faces which, like the Word of God, lift up our mind to God and His , and inflame our heart with love for our Creator and Saviour.

Questions: What is the church? What is its outside appearance like? How is the church divided inside? What is the ? Where are the Royal Doors? What is the Holy Table and what is celebrated on it? What is the most important Divine Service? What is commemorated at the Divine Liturgy? What is the Mystery of Holy Communion? Who instituted this Mystery? How should we In this sense everything that is praised and glorified conduct ourselves in church? in Mary is a sign of what is offered to all persons in the life of the Church. It is for this reason that Mary, How God is Portrayed in the Holy . with the divine child Jesus within her, is called in the God is an invisible Spirit. However, He appeared to Orthodox Tradition the Image of the Church. For the holy men in a visible image. Therefore, we depict assembly of the saved is those in whom Christ God in the icons in the form in which He appeared. dwells. We depict the Most-holy in the form of three It is the custom in some churches to bless flowers sitting at a table. This is because the Lord on the feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos once appeared to in the form of three oca.org angels. In order to represent more clearly the spirituality of the angels that appeared to Abraham, we represent them with wings.

God the Son is represented in the form in which he appeared when he came down from for our Icons and became man: an infant in the arms of In the church on the iconostasis, along the walls, the Mother of God, teaching the people and working and at home in the corners are the holy icons, , transfigured, suffering on the Cross, lying before which we say our prayers. in the , resurrecting and ascending.

An icon or image is what we call the representation God the Holy Spirit is represented in the form of a of God Himself, the Mother of God, the angels, or dove, as He revealed Himself at the time of the the saints. This representation is consecrated with of the Saviour in the Jordan by John the Holy Water and prayer. Through this blessing the Baptist; and in the form of tongues of fire, as He Grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to the icon, and descended visibly on the holy Apostles on the fiftieth we reverence the icon as being holy. There are day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. icons, through which the Grace of God that abides in them is revealed even by miracles, for instance in Questions: If God is an invisible Spirit, how can He the healing of the sick. be depicted in the holy icons in a visible form? How 4 do we depict the All-holy Trinity in the holy icons, sent them to people to relate or to announce His will. and why do we depict Him in this way? How do we The word "" means "messenger." depict God the Father, , and God the Holy Spirit in the holy icons, and why do we depict Every Christian is granted by God at his Baptism a Them in this way? Guardian Angel who invisibly protects him during all his earthly life from misfortunes and dangers; he Others Besides God Who Are Depicted in the warns against sin, guards us at the terrible hour of Holy Icons death, and does not depart after death. Besides God we depict in the holy icons the Mother The angels are depicted in icons in the form of of God, the holy angels and holy people. We should handsome youths, as a sign of their spiritual beauty. pray to them not as to God, but as being close to Their wings show that they speedily fulfill the will of God, as having pleased God. Him by their holy life. Out of love for us they Questions: When were the holy angels created? pray for us before God, What are angels? What powers and abilities did God and we should ask for grant them? Can the holy angels sin? When did t h e i r h e l p a n d angels appear visibly and what does the word intercession because "angel" mean? How do we call the holy angels that the Lord for their sake God gives us at Baptism? Why are the holy angels will more speedily hear depicted in the form of youths and with wings? our sinful prayers.

It is worthy of note that About the Saints the first icons of the On the icons also we represent holy people or the Mother of God painted saints of God. We call them by this name because by the of the when they lived on earth, they pleased God by their Lord, St. Luke, have righteous life. And now, dwelling in Heaven with been preserved down God, they pray for to our time. There is a tradition that when the Mother us to God and of God saw Her portrait, she said, "The Grace of My help us who live Son will dwell with this icon." We pray to the Mother on earth. of God because She is closest of all to God, and at the same time, She is also close to us. Because of The saints have Her motherly love and Her prayers God forgives us different titles: many things and helps us in many ways. She is a prophets, great and compassionate intercessor for all of us! apostles, , hierarchs, holy Questions: Besides God, who is depicted in the holy , icons? How should we pray to the Mother of God, unmercenaries, the holy angels and holy people? Who painted the blessed ones, first icon of the Mother of God? Why do we pray to and the righteous. the Mother of God more than to the other saints? The prophets are the saints of God The Holy Angels w h o , b y t h e In the beginning when neither the world nor men inspiration of the existed yet, God created the holy angels. Angels H o l y S p i r i t , are bodiless spirits, therefore invisible and immortal. foretold the The Lord God granted to them loftier powers and future, primarily abilities than to mankind. Their mind is more perfect about the Savior. than ours. They always fulfill the will of God. They They lived before are without sin, and now they are so filled with the the coming of the Grace of God in doing good, that they do not desire Savior. in any way to sin. The apostles were the closest disciples of Jesus Many times the angels have appeared in visible Christ, whom He sent during His earthly life to form, taking on a physical appearance, when God preach. After the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them, they preached the Christian faith in all lands. 5 At first there were twelve of them, and later, seventy The hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the more. Theologian, and are called ecumenical teachers, teachers of the entire Two of the apostles, Christian Church. Peter and Paul, are called leaders of the Holy monks and are righteous people who apostles, because abandoned the life of the world in society and t h e y l a b o r e d i n pleased God by preserving their virginity (not preaching the faith of entering into marriage), by and prayer, and Christ more than the dwelling in the wilderness or in . Some others. Four of the examples are Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of apostles, Matthew, Sarov, St. Anastasia, and others. Mark, Luke, and John the Theologian, Holy monks that endured suffering for Christ are who wrote the called Martyrs. , are called Evangelists. Unmercenaries are saints who served their neighbors with the unmercenary healing of illnesses; Saints who spread that is, without payment they healed illnesses, both the Christian faith in physical and spiritual. They include Cosmas and various places like Damian, the Great and Healer Panteleimon, the apostles, are and others. called Equal-to-the- A p o s t l e s , a s f o r The Righteous led a righteous life that was pleasing e x a m p l e , M a r y to God, living as we do in the world, with a family, as Magdalene, the first woman-martyr , the for example, and Anna and others. pious monarchs Constantine and Helen, the pious The first righteous people on the earth were the Russian prince Vladimir, Saint Nina, the Enlightener patriarchs of the human race, who are called of Georgia, and others. forefathers. They include Adam, and Abraham.

The martyrs are those Christians who accepted Questions: Who are depicted in the holy icons, apart terrible tortures and even death for their faith in from God and the Mother of God and the holy Jesus Christ. If they died in peace, that is, not as an angels? What names do they have? Whom do we immediate result of their sufferings for Christ, then call prophets, apostles, martyrs, hierarchs, holy we call them confessors. monks, unmercenaries and righteous? The first to suffer for the Holy Faith after especially terrible sufferings for faith in Christ were Archdeacon About Haloes on the Icons Stephen and St. Thecla, and therefore they are called the first martyrs. Around the heads of the Saviour, the Mother of God and the holy saints of God, in the icons and pictures Those who died for the Holy Faith after especially of them there is depicted a radiance or a circle of cruel tortures, such as not all the martyrs were light which is called a subjected to, are called great martyrs, as for halo. example, holy Great Martyr George, and the holy Great Martyrs Barbara and Catherine. In the halo of the Saviour there are The confessors on whose faces the persecutors three letters: Ο ΩH, branded or tattooed blasphemous words are called which translated from branded. Greek into English mean "Being," or "He Hierarchs are and prelates who pleased Who Is," for God God by a righteous life, such as St. Nicholas the alone always exists. Wonderworker, St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, and others. Over the head of the Mother of God are Hierarchs and priests who suffered persecution for placed the letters: Christ are called hieromartyrs. ΜΡ ΘV. These are 6 the first and last letters of the Greek words which Law of Close Encounters - The probability of mean "Mary, Mother of God." meeting someone you know increases dramatically A halo is the depiction of the shining of light and when you are with someone you don't want to be glory of God which transfigure a man who is united seen with. with God. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of This invisible shining of the light of God in the saints meeting someone you know increases dramatically sometimes becomes visible for people around them. when you are with someone you don't want to be Thus, for example, the holy Prophet Moses had to seen with. hide his face with a veil so that people would not be blinded by the light that proceeded from his face. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is Also the face of St. Seraphim of Sarov shone like inversely proportional to the reach. the sun during his talk with Nicholas Motovilov about the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. Motovilov himself Law of the Theater - At any event, the people wrote that it was not possible for him to look at the whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always face of St. Seraphim. arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet Thus the Lord glorified His holy saints, who shine and who leave early before the end of the with the light of His glory even here on earth. performance is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs “The Law of God” Book 1 or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the By Seraphim Slobodskoy. performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.

The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your spouse will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold. Forget Newton and Galileo. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 Here are the REAL laws of nature: people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose begins to Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an itch and you'll need to pee. open-faced jam sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when of the carpet or rug. dropped, rolls to the least accessible corner. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if Law of Probability- The probability of being you don't know what you are talking about. watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth always answers. gathers no feet.

Supermarket Law - As soon as you get in the Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing smallest line, the cashier will have to call for help. Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they stop making it. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an one you are in now. appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better.. But don't make an Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed appointment, and you'll stay sick. in water, the telephone rings.

7 Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, to remain here.” He began to struggle in prayer, Founder of in Russia fasting, vigil and physical labor. Every other day, or every third day, he would eat only dry bread and a little water. Sometimes he did not eat for a week. People began to come to the ascetic for his blessing and counsel, and some decided to remain with the saint.

Among Anthony’s first disciples was Saint Nikon (March 23), who tonsured Saint Theodosius of the Caves (May 3) at the in the year 1032. The virtuous life of Saint Anthony illumined the Russian land with the beauty of monasticism. Saint Anthony lovingly received those who yearned for the monastic life. After instructing them how to follow Christ, he asked Saint Nikon to tonsure them. When twelve disciples had gathered about Saint Anthony, the brethren dug a large cave and built a church and cells for the monks within it.

After he appointed Barlaam to guide the brethren, Saint Anthony withdrew from the monastery. He dug a new cave for himself, then Saint Anthony of the Kiev Caves was born in the hid himself within it. There too, monks began to year 983 at Liubech, not far from Chernigov, and settle around him. Afterwards, the saint built a was named Antipas in Baptism. Possessing the small wooden church in honor of the Dormition of fear of God from his youth, he desired to be the Mother of God over the Far Caves. clothed in the monastic schema. When he reached a mature age, he wandered until he At the insistence of Prince Izyaslav, the igumen arrived on Mt. Athos, burning with the desire to Barlaam withdrew to the Dimitriev monastery. emulate the deeds of its holy inhabitants. Here he With the blessing of Saint Anthony and with the received monastic tonsure, and the young monk general agreement of the brethren, the meek and pleased God in every aspect of his spiritual humble Theodosius was chosen as igumen. By struggles on the path of virtue. He particularly this time, the number of brethren had already excelled in humility and obedience, so that all the reached a hundred men. The Kiev Great Prince monks rejoiced to see his holy life. Izyaslav (+ 1078) gave the monks the hill on which the large church and cells were built, with a The igumen saw in Saint Anthony the great future palisade all around. Thus, the renowned ascetic, and inspired by God, he sent him back to monastery over the caves was established. his native land, saying, “Anthony, it is time for you Describing this, the chronicler remarks that while to guide others in holiness. Return to your own many monasteries were built by emperors and Russian land, and be an example for others. May nobles, they could not compare with those which the blessing of the Holy Mountain be with you.” are built with holy prayers and tears, and by Returning to the land of Rus, Anthony began to fasting and vigil. Although Saint Anthony had no make the rounds of the monasteries about Kiev, gold, he built a monastery which became the first but nowhere did he find that strict life which had spiritual center of Rus. drawn him to Mt. Athos. For his holiness of life, God glorified Saint Through the Providence of God, Anthony came to Anthony with the gift of clairvoyance and the hills of Kiev by the banks of the River Dnieper. wonderworking. One example of this occurred The forested area near the village of Berestovo during the construction of the Great Caves reminded him of his beloved Athos. There he church. The Most Holy Theotokos Herself stood found a cave which had been dug out by the before him and Saint Theodosius in the Priest , who later became Metropolitan of Blachernae church in , where they Kiev (October 21). Since he liked the spot, had been miraculously transported without leaving Anthony prayed with tears, “Lord, let the blessing their own monastery. Actually, two angels of Mt. Athos be upon this spot, and strengthen me 8 appeared in Constantinople in their forms (See May 3, the account of the Kiev Caves Icon of the 1834 Ran for legislature again - won. Most Holy Theotokos). Having received gold from the Mother of God, the saints commissioned 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died master architects, who came from Constantinople and his heart was broken. to the Russian land on the command of the to build the church at the 1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in Monastery of the Caves. During this appearance, bed for six months. the Mother of God foretold the impending death of Saint Anthony, which occurred on July 10, 1073. 1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated. Through Divine Providence, the of Saint Anthony remain hidden. 1840 Sought to become elector - defeated. oca.org 1843 Ran for Congress - lost.

1846 Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job.

Abraham Lincoln Didn't Quit 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress - lost. Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln. If you want to learn about 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state somebody who didn't quit, look no further. Born into - rejected. poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat 1854 Ran for Senate of the United States - lost. throughout his life. He lost eight elections, 1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his twice failed in business and party's national convention - got less than 100 votes. suffered a n e r v o u s breakdown. He could 1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost. have quit many times - but he didn't and because 1860 Elected president of the United States he didn't quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country. Lincoln was a champion and he never gave up. Nails Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. House: His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a 1816 His family was forced out of their home. He nail into the back of the fence. had to work to support them. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the 1818 His mother died. fence. Over the next few , as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered 1831 Failed in business. daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those 1832 Ran for state legislature - lost. nails into the fence. l832 Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his but couldn't get in. temper at all. He told his father about it and he father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail 1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin for each day that he was able to hold his temper. a business and by the end of the year he was The days passed and the young boy was finally able bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life to tell his father that all the nails were gone. paying off this debt. 9 The father took his son by the hand and led him to being and life. To be human and to be a sinner is the fence. He said , "You have done well, my son, contradictory. Rather, to be truly human is to be but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will righteous, pure, truthful, and good. never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a Spiritual life, in this sense, consists of only one knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how thing: not to sin. Not to sin is to be like God and His many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still Son Jesus Christ. It is the goal of human life. there. '" Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; The little boy then understood how powerful his sin is lawlessness. You know that Christ appeared to words were. He looked up at this father and said "I take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has either you. ""Of course I can'" said the father. seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as He It's not always anger, it is your actions in general. is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for There are no "fresh starts" in life. There is no new the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason beginning. Forgiveness comes easy for many the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works people but the scars of the past, they never go of the devil. No one born of God commits sin; for away. Watch what you do today, because God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin sometimes the price isn't worth the reward. because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are children of God, and who are children of the devil; whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother (1 Jn 3.4–10).

Not to sin is the goal of human life. But in fact all Sin people do sin. It is for this reason that the possibility Sin, according to the scriptures is “lawlessness” and to be freed from sin and to overcome sin comes “wrongdoing” (1 Jn 3.4, 5.17). To do wrong and to be through the saving work of Christ, who forgives the unrighteous is to sin. In the the sins of the world. word sin originally meant “missing the mark,” that is, moving in the wrong direction, toward the wrong If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and aims and goals. It means choosing and going in the the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is way of death, and not the way of life. faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we There are many scriptural expressions for sin, all of have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word which presuppose a primordial rightness and is not in us. My little children, writing this to you goodness. The word fall indicates a movement down so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we and away from an original high and lofty state. The have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the word stain reveals that there was once an original righteous; and He is the expiation for our sins, and purity that has been defiled. The word transgression not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole means a movement against that which is primarily world. …by this we may be sure that we are in Him: right. The word guilt reveals innocence. The he who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the words estrangement and alienation indicate that one same way in which He walked (1 Jn 1.8–2.6). was first “at home,” living in a sound and wholesome oca.org condition. The word deviation means that one has gone off his original way.

There are no words for sin which do not reveal in their very utterance that sin is an unnatural state of This Edition of the man, a condition brought about by the destruction, Newsletter was donated by: distortion, and loss of something good which was originally present. Every sin and wickedness exists only because man’s being and life are naturally Catherine Bricker positive and good. Every evil and sin act only as “parasites” on that which is primarily perfect and whole. Thus, in the Orthodox tradition, sin is not Thank You! considered to be a normal and natural part of human 10

11