Beloved Clergy and Parishioners in the Lord, Grace and Peace be with you.
THE SUNDAY OF HOLY PENTECOST
The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles [§ 3].
2 1While the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all with one accord in the same place. 2And suddenly there came to be a sound out of the heaven, like as of a violent wind borne along, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues, as if of fire, being distributed; and it sat upon each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, even as the Spirit was giving them to utter. 5And there were Jews abiding in Jerusalem, pious men, from every nation of those under the heaven. 6And the report of this having arisen, the multitude came together and was confounded, because they were hearing, each one of them, speaking in his own dialect. 7And they were all amazed and wondering, saying to one another, “Behold, all these who are speaking are Galilæans, are they not? 8“And how do we each hear in our own dialect in which we were born? 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those who dwell in Mesopotamia, also Judæa and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, 10“also Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are in the region of Cyrene, and the Romans, both Jews and proselytes, who sojourn here, 11“Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the magnificent works of God.”
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John [§ 27].
7 37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus was standing and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. 38“The one who believeth in Me, even as the Scripture said—rivers of living water shall flow out of his belly.” 39But this He said concerning the Spirit, Whom those who believe in Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40Many therefore of the crowd, having heard the utterance, were saying, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” But others were saying, “The Christ is not coming out of Galilee, is He? 42“Hath not the Scripture said that of the seed of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David was, the Christ is coming?” 43Therefore a division occurred in the crowd on account of Him. 44And some of them were wishing to lay hold of Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did ye not bring Him?” 46The officers answered, “Never did a man so speak as this Man.” 47Then the Pharisees answered them, “Ye have not also been deceived, have ye? 48“Not one of the rulers believe in Him or of the Pharisees, doth he? 49“But this people who knoweth not the law are accursed!” 50Nicodemos (the one who came by night to Him, being one of them) saith to them, 51“Our law doth not judge the man, unless it should first hear him, and know from the man himself what he doeth, doth it?” 52They answered and said to him, “Thou art not also of Galilee, art thou? Search and look, for a prophet hath not been raised out of Galilee.”...
8 12Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; the one who followeth Me in no wise shall walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of the life.”
MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK that is, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians [§ 229]. Brethren:
5 8Be walking as children of light— 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth— 10proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. 11And cease having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things which are reproved are made manifest by the light; for all which is made manifest is light. 14Wherefore, He saith, “Rouse thyself, thou who sleepest, and arise from the dead, and the Christ shall shine on thee [cf. Is. 9:2, 26:19, 52:1, 60:1, 2].”
15Be taking heed then how exactly ye walk, not as unwise ones, but as wise ones, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17On this account cease becoming foolish, but become as ones understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And cease being drunk with wine, in which is prodigality, but keep on being filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting in your heart to the Lord.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew [§ 75]. The Lord said:
18 10“Be taking heed that ye do not ever despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in the heavens their angels continually behold the face of My Father Who is in the heavens. 11“For the Son of Man came to save that which hath been lost. 12“What think ye? If there should belong to any man a hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, doth he not leave the ninety-nine upon the mountains, and go and seek that which is gone astray? 13“And if he should happen to find it, verily I say to you, that he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14“Thus it is not the will of your Father Who is in the heavens that one of these little ones should perish. 15“But if thy brother should commit a sin against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he hear thee, thou didst gain thy brother. 16“But if he hear thee not, take along with thee one or two more, that ‘at the mouth of two witnesses, or three, every word might be made to stand [cf. Deut. 19:15].’ 17“And if he take no heed of them, tell it to the Church. But if also he taketh no heed of the Church, let him be to thee even as the heathen and the tax collector. 18“Verily I say to you, whatsoever ye shall bind on the earth shall have been bound in the heavens, and whatsoever ye shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in the heavens. 19“Again I say to you, that if two of you should agree on the earth concerning any matter—whatsoever they ask for themselves—it shall come to pass for them from My Father Who is in the heavens. 20“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Because of all the events of Pentecost and Monday of the Holy Spirit, we did not have time to dedicate to making a full sermon, so we have a Homily from St. John Chrysostom below. I just want to add one very important point, which we should all take to heart, which I know we all do. Christ says in the Gospel we read above, “But if also he taketh no heed of the Church, let him be to thee even as the heathen and the tax collector.” This statement, among many other statements about the Church, indicates the absolute authority that the Church has by virtue of Him Who dwells in it, that is, the Holy Spirit, and by virtue of Whose body it is, that is Christ’s. We celebrate the birthday, one may say, of the New Testament Church. Let us give great thanks to God that by His mercy we are members of His Body. Amen.
St. John Chrysostom, “Second Homily on Holy Pentecost” (Patrologia Graeca [PG] 50 col. 463):
“Great indeed, and beyond the power of man's tongue to describe, are the gifts this day bestowed on us by a most loving God. And because of this we all rejoice together; and rejoicing give praise to the Lord. For today we celebrate a great public festival as well as a feast day. For as in the course of the year the seasons and the solstices succeed each other, so in the Church one feast succeeds another, and brings us all together. But recently we celebrated the feast of the Cross, the Passion, the Resurrection, then the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ to heaven. Today we have reached the very summit, the capital (metropolis) itself of the feasts, to the very maturing (coming to fruition) of the promise of the Lord: If I go not, He said, the Paraclete will not come to you, but if I go I will send him to you [Jn. xvi. 7].
Behold His solicitude for us. Consider His unspeakable kindness. Previous to these present days He had ascended into heaven, taking possession of His royal throne, and receiving back His place at the right of the Father. Today He bestows on us this Descent of the Holy Spirit, and through Him imparts to us a thousand other gifts of heaven. For of all the gifts which contain within them our soul's salvation, which of them has not been given us by the ministry of the Spirit? Through Him we are freed from slavery, called to freedom, made children of God through His adoption, and above all we have been, if I may say so, remade, putting off the heavy and fetid burden of our sins. Through Him we see before us the choirs of priests, through Him we have the help of our schools of instructors. From this source come the gifts of revelations, the graces of healing, and all the other gifts with which the Spirit adorns the Church of God. This is what Paul proclaims in the words: All these things one and the same Spirit worketh, distributing them to each one according as He wills (I Cor. xii. 11). According as He wills, he says; not according as He is commanded. Distributing, not distributed; showing Himself the Author of these gifts, not as subject to another 's authority. And the power which Paul testifies that the Father possesses, the same He attributes to the Holy Spirit. And as He says of the Father: It is the same God who worketh all in all (v. 6), so does he also say of the Holy Spirit: All these things one and the same Spirit worketh, distributing to each one according as He wills (xii. 11). Behold here the fulness of authority. Where the Nature is one, there can be no doubt that the same also is the Dominion: and being equal in dignity, Their power and authority is also one.
Through Him we obtain forgiveness of sin; through Him are we made clean of every stain. Through the gift of Him we have been changed from men into angels, those among us who co-operate with His grace: not actually changing our nature, but, what is more wonderful, while remaining in the nature of men we show forth a manner of life that is worthy of angels.
Such then is the power of the Spirit. And just as material fire, applied to the soft clay, changes it to hard pottery, so the fire of the Holy Spirit, when it penetrates our soul, though it should find it softer than the clay, yet it will make it more unyielding than iron. And the soul that a little while ago was stained with the mire of sin, is all at once more splendid than the sun.
It is this that the blessed Paul teaches us, when he cries: Do not err: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liars with mankind (homosexuals), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God (I Cor. vi. 9, 10). And when he had recounted almost every kind of unworthiness, and had taught us that those who made themselves the slaves of these would be strangers to the kingdom of heaven, he goes on to say: And this some of you were; but you are washed, you are sanctified (I Cor. vi. 11). How? In what manner? For it is this we must know. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (vi. 11). See here then, Beloved Brethren, the power of the Holy Spirit. See how it is the Spirit wipes away all this iniquity, and uplifts to the highest dignity those who before had been betrayed by their own sins.
Who is there then who does not rightly grieve over and deplore the blasphemy of those who seek to take away the dignity of the Holy Spirit, who like persons out of their mind are not restrained from this ingratitude by remembrance of the greatness of His gifts? Nay, they are not ashamed to work against all that relates to their own salvation, rejecting Him, endeavouring as far as they care to take from Him the dignity of Lord, and reduce Him to the rank of creature. Of these I would like to ask one question. You, for what reason do you war so bitterly against the majesty of the Holy Spirit, or rather, against your own salvation? Do you not want your minds to take in what Christ said to His Disciples: Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? (Mt. xxviii. 19).
Here you can behold equality in dignity; here you see the most perfect accord. Here you behold the Undivided Trinity. Do you see anywhere a difference, a diminution or change? What are you presuming to add to the words of the Lord? Do you not know that in human affairs anyone who should attempt this, who had gone so far in madness as to add or to detract something from the letters of a king, who is one of our own kind, and a sharer of our common nature, he would suffer the supreme penalty, and nothing could deliver him from his merited punishment? And if such danger threatens you in human affairs, what pardon will they receive who have gone so far in their presumption that they try to corrupt the words of the common Saviour of all mankind, and will not deign to listen to the words of Paul - in whom Christ Himself spoke - as he cries out to us in a clear voice: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God path prepared for them that love him (I Cor. ii. 9).
If then eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to imagine what good things are prepared for those who love God, from where, O Blessed Paul, shall we be able to come to the knowledge of these things? Listen a moment and you will hear him answer. He goes on then to add: But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit (ii. 10). Nor does he stop there, but, so that he may show the greatness of the Spirit's power, and how He is of the same nature as the Father and the Son, he continues: For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (ii. 10). Then desiring to implant in our souls a precise knowledge, by means of human examples, he adds: For what man knoweth the things of man, but the spirit of man that is in him? So the things also that are of God no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God (ii. 11). You see here the most complete teaching. Just as the things that are in the mind of a man, he says, cannot be known by another, and he alone knows his own secrets, so the things which are in the mind of God no one knows but the Spirit of God: a perfect and wholly becoming illustration of the dignity of the Spirit. For the illustration he employs conveys to us, as it were, that it cannot happen that the things a man has in his mind are unknown to him, and so in exactly the same way the Holy Spirit knows the things of God.
But it cannot be denied that in these words the blessed Apostle comes down on those who, because of their own notion, and against their own salvation, show themselves as opposing the dignity of the Spirit, and striving as far as in them lies to lower Him to the rank of creature. But while these, led by the spirit of contumacy, show themselves as enemies of Sacred Scripture, we, accepting the divine teachings as coming down from heaven, offer them fitting reverence, and with upright faith proclaim the exact knowledge of the truth.
But what has been said will suffix against those who dare to teach whai is cont to the words of the Holy Spirit. But for our own part, it is our duty to say a few words to your Charity with regard to the cause of these so precious gifts which the Lord bestowed on us, not immediately following His Ascension, but after allowing some days to pass, so that the Disciples might recover themselves, when He sent down the grace of the Spirit. Nor was this done lightly, and without reason. For mankind did not know how to value the wondrous good things in its hands, nor how to honour, sufficiently, what seemed so great and pleasing, unless they had first experienced their contraries. For example - for this must be put dearly - he who has a sound healthy body neither sees, nor can he know accurately, how great a good is the health he enjoys, unless through a sudden illness he also learns what sickness is. And he who sees the day again does not think anything of a lamp, until the dark of night comes on. So the experience of contrary things teaches us clearly the value of what we now enjoy.
And because of this, after His coming the Disciples began to enjoy countless good things, and while He was with them the time passed most pleasantly, for all the people of Palestine looked up to them, as to wondrous luminaries, when they began raising the dead to life, healing lepers, casting out devils, healing the sick, and doing many other wonderful things. Therefore because they were so admired, and so famous, for this reason He permits them to be deprived of the great power which had assisted them, so that when they were deprived of it they would then learn how much the presence of its goodness had bestowed on them; and when they had come to see how great was the grace they had enjoyed, they would then with greater eagerness receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For He consoled them when they were grieving, and when they were filled with sorrow and mourning for the loss of their Master, He shone down upon them with the beams of His own light; He raised up those who were almost prostrate, scattered the darkness of their grief, and ended their uncertainty.
For when they had heard the voice of the Lord saying: Go, teach all nations, they were at a loss and did not know whither each one should turn, and in what part of the world each one should preach the word of God. The Holy Spirit came in the form of tongues, and He assigned to each one of them the region of the world where each should teach, making known to them by means of the given tongue, as though by a written tablet, the limits of the realm entrusted to them, and of their teaching.
For this cause the Holy Spirit came in the form of tongues, but not for this cause alone, but to recall the past to our minds. For when of old men, filled with pride, had sought to build a tower to reach the heavens, through the division of their tongues God put an end to the evil purpose of their common speech (Gen. xi.). Because of this the Holy Spirit descends upon them now in the form of fiery tongues, that by this means He may join together the divided world. So there then took place something new and wondrous: for as in times past tongues divided the world, and changed an evil accord into division, so now tongues join the world together, and bring together in harmony those that before were divided.
And so He appeared in the form of tongues, and of tongues of fire, because the thorn of sin in us has grown into a forest. For as land, which though rich and fertile is left uncultivated, will bring forth a large crop of thorns, so is our nature which, though created good, and suited to the cultivation of the crop of virtue, because it had never felt the plough of reverential love of God, nor received the seed of the knowledge of God, had brought forth impiety as though it were thorns and other useless growth. And as, as often happens, through the dense growth of thorns and unprofitable weeds the face of the earth is not even seen, so the purity and nobility of our soul did not appear until the husbandman of the nature of man had come, and, touching it with the fire of the Spirit, cleansed and prepared it, that it might be ready to receive the good seed.
Such as these and many more besides are the good things we have received through His Coming. And since this is so, I beseech you, because of the dignity of the good things that have been heaped upon us, let you celebrate this feast, not simply-adorning the city; but by beautifying your souls; not by decking out the Forum in rich tapestries, but by making our own souls joyous with the garment of virtue, that in this way we shall be enabled, both to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, and thereafter to gather in Its fruits.
What is the fruit of the Spirit? Let us hear Paul speaking. The fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace (Gal. v. 22). What precision of speech, what harmony of teaching! He places charity (love) first; then recounts what follows. He establishes what is the root; then shows us the fruit. He lays down the foundation; then leads on to the edifice. He begins with the fountain; and at once goes on to the streams. For a foundation cannot be laid for joy, if we value our own health and happiness before that of others, our own welfare above that of our neighbour. This will not come to pass until the rule of charity (love) prevails. Charity is the root, the fount, the mother of all good. And as a root she sends forth countless branches of virtues, as a fount she gives birth to many streams, and as a mother she embraces within her folds those who have recourse to her. And this the blessed Paul clearly understood, and called it the fulfilment of the Law: Love, therefore, is the fulfilment of the law (Rom. xiii. 10). Indeed the Lord of all has placed before us, as a true indication, and a sign worth of belief, that a man has proved himself His disciple, no other token than that demanded by charity, when He said to us: By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you love one another (Jn. xiii. 35).
Because of this, I beseech you, let us all fly to it, and hold fast to it, and with it let us celebrate this festival. For where there is charity the worst faults come to nothing; where there is charity the unruly thoughts of the mind come to an end. For charity, he says, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, is not ambitious (I Cor. xiii. 4, 5). Charity works no evil against a neighbour; where charity rules there is no Cain slaying his brother. Take away the fount of envy, and you have taken away the river of all evil things. Cut off the root and you cut off the fruit with it, at the same time.
I have spoken these words to you because I am more concerned with those who envy than with those who are envied. For it is they above all who suffer most, bringing disaster upon themselves. For those who suffer through envy it is a beginning of the crown of glory, if they will it. See with me how Abel the just is remembered with honour; the manner of his death the occasion of his glory. Even after death he cried out by his blood, and with a clear voice denounces the one who was guilty of his death (Gen. iv. 10). But he who remained received the reward of his deed; living out his life on earth fearful and lamenting. But the other, slain and laid to rest, after his death gave forth even more perfect testimony of his righteousness (Heb. xi. 4). And just as the sin of Cain, even while he lived, made him more unhappy than the dead, so the righteousness of Abel rendered him more perfect after he was dead.
Because of this we too, that we may give greater testimony to ourselves both here and in heaven, that we may with greater joyfulness gather the fruits of this feast, let us cast from us the soiled garments of the soul, and especially let us strip ourselves of the cloak of envy. For though you may think to yourself that you have already gained countless merits, you will be deprived of all of them if this sharp and brutal taint should afflict us.
May it come to pass that we shall all escape it, especially those who this day through the grace of baptism have cast aside the ancient garment of their former sins, and now shine even more brightly than the sun. I exhort you, accordingly, you who this day have been enrolled as sons by adoption, who have clothed themselves in this shining garment, preserve with every care the brightness of soul in which you now stand clothed, and at every turn shut the approach of the devil, that you may be able to gather the more abundantly the joys of the grace the Spirit; one thirty-fold, another sixty-fold, and another a hundredfold: that you may be made worthy to meet with confidence the King of Heaven when He shall come, and shall distribute the good things that are above all speech to those who have brought this present life to a righteous end, in Jesus Christ our Lord to Whom be praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Church / Monastery News:
A N N O U N C E M E N T
On the Feast of Pentecost, His Eminence, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Valentine of Vladimir and Suzdal, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with his Grace, Bishop Gregory of Denver and Colorado in the Cathedral of the Dormition, in Buena Vista, Colorado, along with most of the clergy of the ROAC in America who had gathered for this joyous Feast.
During the service the First Hierarch, Metropolitan Valentine, by order of the Holy Synod, Ukase #47, dated March 7/20, 2004, elevated Bishop Gregory to the rank of Archbishop, with the right to wear the diamond cross on his klobuk.
We thank God for His great care for the Church here in America, in that He has raised a true confessor of the Faith to the rank of Archbishop. Archbishop Gregory stands out in America as a worthy successor of the Bishops who preceded him.
Axios! Axios! Axios!
We should also like to make note that Metropolitan Valentine also awarded Father John Claypool the Gold Cross and bestowed a Gramata on Reader Jerjis Alajaji, Simon George and Savas Tadros.
Also, during the Feast of Pentecost many faithful gathered from all parts of the country, from California to Massachusetts. Many came to celebrate the Feast and to be with the First Hierarch. During this visit of the Metropolitan to America, he was able to award practically all of our clergyman who came to meet him. We had over 50 people pray with us during this Feast. In the near future we will upload the pictures we took to the web site, and if Fr. George is able to find time, we intend to produce a video as well.
Calendar of Events for Upcoming Week:
There is no fasting this week because of the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. The Apostles’ Fast (which was instituted by the Holy Apostles themselves) starts next Monday. During the Apostles’ Fast we do not eat meat, eggs or dairy products, but we are permitted every day fish, wine, and oil, except on Wednesdays and Fridays, which are strict fast days.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
In Christ,
+Archbishop Gregory, and those with me.
