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Home , Philotheou monastery, Polycarp

SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH february 23, 2014

judgment sunday

oday’s reading is Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the Last Judgment. It reminds us that while Ttrusting in Christ’s love and mercy, we must not forget His righteous judgment when He comes again in glory. If our hearts remain hardened and unrepentant, we should not expect the Lord to overlook our trans- gressions simply because He is a good and loving God. Although He does not desire the death of a sinner, He also expects us to turn from our wickedness and live (Ezek. 33:11). This same idea is expressed in the prayer read by the priest after the penitent has confessed his or her sins (Slavic practice). The time for repentance and forgiveness is now, in the present life. At the Second Coming, Christ will appear as the righteous Judge, Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:6). Then the time for entreating God’s mercy and forgiveness will have passed. Sin is the absence of love, it is separation and isolation. When Christ comes to judge the world, His criterion for judgment will be love. Christian love entails seeing Christ in other people, our family, our friends, and everyone else we may encounter in our lives. We shall be judged on whether we have loved, or not loved, our neighbor. We show Christian love when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick or in prison. If we did such things for the least of Christ’s brethren, then we also did them for Christ (Mt. 25:40). If we did not do such things for the least of the brethren, neither did we do them for Christ (Mt. 25:45). Today is the last day for eating meat and meat products until Pascha, though eggs and dairy products are permitted every day during the coming week. This limited fasting prepares us gradually for the more intense fasting of Great Lent. Polycarp, of , who was “fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10), was born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to St Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (February 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood.

1510 audubon drive • columbia, missouri, 65201 • tel. 573.817.0050 / fax 573.449.8452 email: [email protected] • web: www.saintlukecolumbia.org at the small entrance we sing

αναστασιμον Ἀπολυτ. Ἦχος β. Resurrectional Apolyt. Mode 2. τε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ hen You descended unto death, O Lord Ὅἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾍδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ Wwho yourself are immortal Life, then did ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τε- You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your θνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶ- Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the σαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον· netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι. crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You. Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. Apolytikion for the Church. Mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστο- he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who Λλον, τὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συν- Tis acknowledged by the Church of Christ * as θέτην τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε the recorder of the , * and the σεμνὸν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνημα- splendid author of the Gospel of Christ. * Let us τιστήν, ἀξίως τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νο- praise with sacred hymns as a physician, * who σημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν heals the infirmities of man, * and the ailments θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύ- of nature, * who cleanses spiritual wounds, and ματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν prays unceasingly for our souls. ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος α´. Kontakion. Mode 1. ταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, hen You come down to the earth, O God, in Ὅκαὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα· ποταμὸς δὲ WYour glory, all things will cower tremulous, τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι and a river of fire will draw before Your Judgment ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται· Seat; the books shall be opened up, and public τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, knowledge will things hidden be. Rescue me, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου με στῆναι, Κριτὰ then, I pray, from unquenchable fire, and count δικαιότατε. me worthy to stand at Your right hand, O You, the most righteous Judge. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading saint paul’s First Letter Matthew 25:31-46 to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2 he Lord said, “When the Son of man comes in rethren, food will not commend us to God. his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no Twill sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be Bbetter off if we do. Only take care lest this gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was and wounding their conscience when it is weak, sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and wel- apostle? Have I not seen our Lord? Are not come you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one seal of my apostleship in the Lord. of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was MEATFARE SUNDAY thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe Today is Meatfare Sunday. According to me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hun- Orthodox tradition, beginning tommorow gry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, we refarin from eating meat products until ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of Pascha. If you are unsure about how to fast, these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” you should speak to your Spiritual Father. announcements , January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

Mon., Feb. 24, 1st & 2nd Finding of the Head of St. J. the Baptist, Orth. / Div. Liturgy, 8:30am Saturday, March 1, Saturday of the Souls, Div. Liturgy, 9am Saturday, March 1, Great Vespers, 5pm philoptochos 2014 stewardship Gift cards: The next deadline to order cards will Have you returned your 2014 Stewardship be March 9. See Ronni or Karen to place an order. card? We need the blessing of your financial sup- dinner dance port - please return your card today. ronald mcdonald house Thank you to all who helped support, organize and operate our annual Dinner Dance! Please consider signing up to cook a meal for the families at Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. food bank Meals must be prepared at the House or in a restau- On Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 6 - 8 p.m, a group from rant kitchen. Please see sign-up sheet in Narthex. St. Luke will visit the Food Bank to help package saturday of the souls food. If you would like to join us, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. If you Commemoration forms for Saturday of the have any questions please see Arita Travlos. Souls (2/22, 3/1, 3/8) are in the Narthex. Submit- ted forms should include the FIRST FULL NAME sunday of orthodoxy of deceased Orthodox whom you wish On Sunday, March 9 we will have a procession of to be commemorated. Holy in commemoration of the Sunday of give a month towards our future Orthodoxy. Children who woud like to participate in the procession should bring an from home. As we did in 2013, we would again like to offer fam- A Pan-Orthodox Vespers service will be celebrated ilies and individuals the opportunity to help offset at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Lou- our additional mortgage payment with a donation is at 4:30pm. of $640. If you would like to sponsor one month lenten potluck for 2014, please contact Fr. . Last year 11 months were covered by your generous gifts! Please join us on March 9 for a community Lenten new books available for purchase Pot Luck. Bring a Lenten dish (no meat and no dairy) to share after Divine services. The following new books are available for pur- family night chase: Pocket Prayer Book ($11), Repentance and Confession ($9), Be Ready: An Approach to the Mys- Our next Family Night will be March 9. Regis- tery of Death ($9), Do not Judge: Understanding the tration forms are available in the Narthex. Vice of Passing Judgment ($9). See Presvytera for any of these items. synaxarion The holy Apostle John the Theologian was still circled the saint but did not touch him, coming to- alive at this time. St Polycarp was especially close gether over his head in the shape of a vault. Seeing to St John, and sometimes accompanied him on his that the fire did him no harm, the pagans stabbed apostolic journeys. him with a dagger. So much blood flowed from this Shortly before his death, St Bucolus expressed wound that it extinguished the flames. The body of his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. the hieromartyr Polycarp was then cremated. The When St Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up what the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. St Poly- remained of his holy relics, and each year they cel- carp guided his flock with apostolic zeal, and he ebrated the day of his martyrdom. was also greatly loved by the clergy. St Ignatius the A story has been preserved about St Polycarp by God-Bearer of (December 20) also had a his , St of Lyons, which high regard for him. Setting out for where cites in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (V, execution awaited him, he wrote to St Polycarp, 20): “This age is in need of you if it is to reach God, just “I was still very young when I saw you in Asia as pilots need winds, and as a storm-tossed sailor Minor at Polycarp’s,” writes St Irenaeus to his friend needs a port.” Florinus, “but I would still be able to point out the The emperor (161-180) came place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, to the Roman throne and started up a most fierce and be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in persecution against Christians. The pagans de- life, his outward appearance, his speaking to peo- manded that the judge search for St Polycarp, “the ple, his companionable wandering with John, and father of all the Christians” and “the seducer of all how he himself related, together with other eyewit- A .” nesses of the Lord, those things that he remem- During this time St Polycarp, at the persistent bered from the words of others. He also told what urging of his flock, stayed in a small village not far he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings from Smyrna. When the soldiers came for him, he and miracles.... went out to them and invited them in to eat. He Through the mercy of God to me, I then already asked for time to pray, in order to prepare himself listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down for martyrdom. His suffering and death are record- his words, not on tablets, but in the depths of my ed in the “Epistle of the Christians of the Church heart. Therefore, I am able to bear witness before of Smyrna to the Other Churches,” one of the most God, that if this blessed and apostolic Elder heard ancient memorials of Christian literature. something similar to your fallacy, he would imme- Having been brought to trial, St Polycarp firmly diately stop up his ears and express his indignation confessed his faith in Christ, and was condemned with his usual phrase: ‘Good God! That Thou hast to be burned alive. The executioners wanted to permitted me to be alive at such a time!’” nail him to a post, but he declared that God would During his life the holy bishop wrote several give him the strength to endure the flames, so they Epistles to the flock and letters to various individu- could merely tie him with ropes. The flames en- als. The only one that has survived to the present day is his Epistle to the Philippians which, St Je- Known for his ascetic life and for the miracles rome testifies, was read in the churches of Asia Mi- he performed, he was truly obedient and kept the nor at divine services. It was written by the saint in injunctions of the Fathers. St Damian reposed response to the request of the Philippians to send in his cell in the year 1280, and a miraculous fra- them some letters of the hieromartyr Ignatius (De- grance issued from his grave for forty days. His Life cember 20) which St Polycarp had in his posses- was written by his friend St Cosmas of Zographou sion. (September 22). Saint Polycarp of Briansk, known the world as Saint Damian of Philotheou was a disciple of St Prince Peter Ivanovich Boryatinsky, a descendant Dometius (August 7). He was from the village of of St Michael, Prince of Chernigov (September Richovon (Merichovon) near Agrapha. He went to 20). This supposition has been put forward be- Mt. Athos when he was quite young, and received cause Boryatinsky is connected with the destiny of the monastic tonsure at Philotheou Monastery. the Briansk Savior Transfiguration monastery. After spending some time there, he withdrew to a The name of Prince Peter Boryatinsky is often hermitage under the guidance of an Elder named encountered in documents of the sixteenth cen- Dometius. tury. Thus, he was among those sent off to wage After three years, he heard a voice telling him to war against the Swedish king at the river Sestra. In go forth and teach. He obeyed these instructions, 1576, he was named voevod at Tula. In 1580, Bory- preaching in many areas of . He urged his atinsky, having been appointed voevod at Kholm, fellow Christians to repent of their sins, to abstain was captured by the Lithuanians under a siege from all vices, to obey God’s commandments, and headed by Panin. Upon his release from captivity to devote themselves to God-pleasing works. under Boris Godinov, Boryatinsky returned home As he was on his way to a village, St Damian was in disgrace. arrested by the Turks and thrown into prison. Af- In 1591 he was named voevod at Tiumen, but ter fifteen days of torture, he was hanged and then after several years he left the world, settled at Bri- thrown into a fire. ansk and received monastic tonsure with the name St Damian received the crown of martyrdom on Polycarp. From his means the monk built a monas- February 23, 1568. tery of the Transfiguration of the Lord and estab- Saint Alexander, Founder of the Monastery of lished in it a Rule of strict ascetical life. St Polycarp the “Unsleeping Ones,” was born in Asia and re- was the first Superior of this monastery. He died ceived his education at Constantinople. He spent and was buried there in 1620 or 1621. some time in military service but, sensing a calling Saint Damian lived in the thirteenth century. to other service, he left the world and receivedmo- He was a hesychast on Mt. Athos, and struggled in nastic tonsure in one of the desert near the skete of monastery, on a moun- Antioch under the guidance of Igumen Elias. tain called Samareia, between the monasteries of Having advanced through all the degrees of mo- and Esphigmenou, and also in one of the nastic obedience, he received a blessing from the caves where the Father of Russian Monasticism, St igumen to dwell in the wilderness. The saint lived Anthony of the Caves (July 10), had lived in asceti- an ascetical life in the wilderness, taking only the cism. Holy Gospel with him. Afterwards, the Lord sum- moned him to preach to pagans. He converted to The Passions of Avarice, Anger, the faith the local city-head Rabbul, who afterwards Sorrow and Sloth - Part 2 prospered in the service of the Church, attaining by St. Nil of Sorskij the rank of bishop and for thirty years he occupied the bishop’s cathedra in the city of . Finally, St Alexander settled not far from the Eu- e have a great struggle to wage against the evil phrates River. Monks gathered around him, attract- spirit of sorrow, which brings the soul into ed by the loftiness of his prayerful asceticism and W despair and perdition. If the sorrow is occasioned spiritual experience. A monastery of 400 monks by other people, we have to suffer it with joy, and eventually sprang up there. pray for those who have saddened us, as I said be- Then the holy igumen in his prayerful zeal de- fore, bearing in mind that whatever befalls us does cided to offer never-ceasing praise to the Lord at so with God’s sanction. Whatever the Lord sends the monastery both by day and by night. For three us, He does only for the benefit and salvation of years the holy abba prayed that God might reveal our soul. It may be that, in the beginning, it doesn’t to him whether it was pleasing to Him to estab- seem to bring us any benefit, but later we’ll realize lish such a monastic rule. He received an answer that what God has allowed us to go through has by divine revelation. All the monks were divided been better for us than what we ourselves would into twenty-four watches of prayer. Changing shifts have wanted to happen. each hour, two choirs sang the holy Psalms both So we shouldn’t think in human terms, but day and night, except when divine services were should believe with certainty that the unsleeping celebrated in church. Hence the name “Monastery eye of God sees all things and that nothing happens of Unsleeping Ones,” since the ascetics offered un- without His will. It’s from the wealth of His mercy ceasing praise to God. that these situations and temptations happen to us, St Alexander guided the monastery on the Eu- so that we can earn our heavenly reward through phrates for twelve years. Thereafter, having left the our patience. Because without temptations, no-one experienced Elder Trophimus as igumen, he set has ever been crowned. This is why we should of- off with some chosen brethren through the cities fer glory to God for everything, because He is our bordering on Persia, to preach the Gospel. Having Dispenser and Saviour, as Saint the Syrian arrived at Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine says: “The mouth that glorifies God is acceptable Empire, he also established a monastery there with to God, and grace dwells in the heart which thanks his Rule of unceasing praise. The abba died at a God from its depths”. great old age after fifty years of monastic struggles. His death occurred in the year 430. Besides, we should avoid complaints and judge- ments against those who’ve saddened us and should pray for them, as the same saint says: God puts up with all the weaknesses that people have, but those who continually censure other people won’t go without correction. Though we must have the soul-saving sorrow over the sins we com- mit, with hope in our repentance to God and in the not only to us that these things occur, but also to knowledge that there’s no sin which defeats God’s His , who, throughout the centuries have love for us, since He forgives everyone who repents pleased God and have recognized that He is a lov- sincerely and prays to Him. ing God and Father and that He chastises us with This sorrow is linked to joy (joyful sadness) and His spiritual rod out of love and so that we’ll ac- kindles in people the desire for everything spiritual quire virtues. But after that, there quickly comes an and gives them patience in their trials. “For godly alteration, a of the soul and the mercy grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation of God. without regret, whereas worldly grief produces At the most difficult moment, people have the death”, says Saint Paul (2 Cor. 7, 10). So we should impression that they can’t overcome the pande- seek godly sorrow, because it brings internal repose, monium of their thoughts and passions. All the whereas the grief that proceeds from Satan should virtues seem unattainable and hateful, because of be expelled from our hearts, together with all the the machinations of Satan, but then comes a divine other passions, through prayer, the study of sacred change. Everything seems pleasant and the griev- texts and the receiving of Holy Communion. Grief ous situations are nothing compared to the peace which is not from God and for the love of God is and blessedness of the visitation of divine grace. the cause of all evils, and, unless we free ourselves Besides, they become more open to the virtues, from it, despair will overcome us and our soul will they’re astonished by this spiritual adjustment and be devoid of grace, overwhelmed with sloth and take the decision not to deviate from the path of won’t even want to pray or read our sacred books. the virtues under any circumstances. People also realize that, in His great mercy, God has disposed Sloth these things for their benefit and testing. If sloth is the passion that has a greater hold on us Thus it is that they feel surrounded by the love than the others, we face a stern struggle. This evil of God, that He’s always close to faithful Chris- spirit is terrible. It’s closely related to the spirit of tians and will never allow them to be tried beyond sorrow and particularly defeats those who are liv- their bent, because without God’s permission, the ing alone. When the enormous waves of thoughts spiritual enemy cannot do us any harm whatsoever. and passions rise up against the soul, people feel SInce it’s not up to the will of our soul whether at that moment that they’ll never be redeemed we’re tempted a little or a great deal; it’s God’s will from them. The spiritual enemy visits upon them and His decision. all sorts of thoughts and reflections such as that, if With these experiences, striving Christians be- things are like this today, they’re only going to get come wise through temptations and, when they see worse tomorrow and the day after. these alternations of grace in their soul, persevere So the thought buzzes around their head that resolutely in their various trials. With these, a monk God has abandoned them, that this is happening expresses his love for God, when he bears them because God isn’t looking after them, that this has and gradually makes spiritual progress. Because, happened only to them and never to anyone else. as John of the Ladder saying, nothing brings the But things really aren’t like this at all. Because it’s monk so many crowns as the struggle against sloth, provided it’s undertaken without any loss of time.