Welcome HTGOC Parishioners & Guests!

 

My Beloved Ones,

We read in this week’s Gospel of the power of faith to overcome fear. After feeding the Five Thousand, Jesus “…made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds” (Matthew 14:22). Christ left to pray, and by nighttime, the small boat was in a storm. St. Matthew tells us how, “…in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’… But immediately he spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘O man of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:25-32).

Why does the Lord send the Disciples across the Sea alone? While it is not right to say that God tested them, this is a beautiful symbol for our lives. Our Lord knew that there would be a time when He would not be there to walk with His Disciples and so He wanted to show them the need for faith. Like the Twelve, we too are in a ship, traveling to the Kingdom of Heaven. Our captain is also our Lord, who is not physically with us.

When the Disciples see Christ walking on water, they are so full of fear that they can only see negativity, instead of a miracle. This is even more clear when Peter sinks. The Evangelist makes a point to say that Peter sank because “…he saw the wind…” Peter not only doubted, but he was distracted and lost his focus on Christ. Already, Peter had seen many healings, and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes was only hours before. And yet, because of his little faith, Peter did not complete a miraculous walk to Christ.

We too have experienced the storms of life, and we will continue to do so, whether we have the winds of loss, or the waves of sadness. And though Christ will indeed always be there to immediately reach out to save us, it is necessary that we should have more than a little faith, keeping our eyes focused, not on the storm, but on Jesus Christ, who alone has the power to set the bounds of the waves, and to calm them.

 +SEVASTIANOS

Metropolitan of Atlanta


 

 

 Homily for the Ninth Sunday of Matthew - The Internal Problem of Mankind (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

Homily for the Ninth Sunday of Matthew

The Internal Problem of Mankind

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

"Take courage, it is I; be not afraid" (Matt. 14:27)

Sacred Chrysostom, interpreting the event according to which the Apostle Peter, while walking on the waves, then sank, says that Christ at that moment did not stop the wind, but stretched out His hand and caught him, saying "O you of little faith, why did you hesitate?" (Matt. 14:31). In this way, Christ showed that the change in Peter was not caused by the force of the wind, but by his lack of faith. If his faith did not weaken, then he could easily face the wind. That is why Christ took him by the hand and let the wind blow, showing that the wind cannot do any harm when the faith is firm.

According to the holy Fathers, the demons constantly take a stand over the three parts of the soul, that is, the intellectual, incensive and desiring, and irritate them with their furious attacks. They move the intellect to heretical and blasphemous intrusive thoughts, the incensive to actions against those who have harmed them, and the desiring to impure desires.

All of us have experienced this storm of intrusive thoughts, which happens when the devil with his rage and his art has introduced into us an intrusive thought either against God or against our fellow human beings. Perhaps in this matter modern man is more vulnerable, that is why he suffers.

The holy Fathers from their experience have taught us that we must fight against simple intrusive thoughts so that they do not become lingering, against lingering intrusive thoughts so that they do not become impassioned, and against impassioned intrusive thoughts so that they do not become consent, because then sin is active.

There are many ways to get rid of this horrible state of the dynasty of intrusive thoughts, which creates suspicions, imaginations, hatreds, etc. with the result that there will be great turmoil. Intrusive thoughts are either banished by prayer, work, etc., or cut off by contempt of sensible things. Also, intrusive thoughts disappear with perfect trust in God. "He who always dedicates himself to God, gives rest to his mind," as Saint Isaac the Syrian says. Also, in cases when we are struck by a storm of intrusive thoughts, the prayers of the saints help us. Saint John Chrysostom, interpreting the order given by Christ to the Apostles to bless the house they will enter, says: "Many times we have a war in our thoughts and we are disturbed without anyone bothering us and evil desires constantly rise up. This battle is suppressed by the word of the saints, that is, their blessing, and it brings about much peace within us. The moment they say this, every evil memory and every inappropriate intrusive thought immediately leaves our soul."

That is why the "peace be with all" that the officiating Priest says or the blessing of our spiritual father gives brings peace to our soul. He casts off the devil who causes trouble.

When we do not know how to deal with impassioned thoughts and we leave them undisturbed to do their corrupting work, then carnal revolutions come and various sins are committed. Carnal revolution is also a special activity of the devil. That is, as the holy Fathers say, the devil attacks man, sometimes by applying various intrusive thoughts and sometimes by provoking the flesh, so that pleasure may develop, the mind may be attracted and captured and sin may be committed.

Facing this storm is done with the power of Christ. The cessation of the wind of intrusive thoughts and peace is not the result of good and pious thoughts, but the arrival of divine Grace. As the tempest of the sea ceased with the entry of Christ into the ship, so also the carnal tempest ceases with the entry of Christ into our heart. Therefore, the Christian uses the spiritual means that Christ Himself indicated, namely prayer and fasting. Mainly he invokes God's help with the short and comprehensive prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

When the Grace of Christ comes into us, then there is a great peace, everything is peaceful. Man experiences deep and inalienable peace. Even those most prone to carnal transgressions, receiving the Grace of Christ, can feel the deep peace of temperance. A drug stops the pain. Much more, divine grace soothes the flesh and soothes the soul.

Everything that has been set forth so far shows us a great truth. Usually, we attack others and go against society. We believe that society is the cause of all the evils that plague us. In difficult times we say that the system, the establishment, the sick society, the bad people are to blame. However, we make a big mistake, because we give society an impersonal meaning and because we see the existence of evil outside of us. The problem is internal. The evil that exists in society is the result of sick people. In other words, sick people make social institutions sick and social institutions make people sick even more.

The problem is not so much the society, the system, the establishment, as the individual. The quest to build society, to change social institutions in the hope that our lives will improve, shows ignorance of the problem. When we have inner peace, then we are not bothered by external stimuli and in this way we help to change society. When we are overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts and passionate situations and have an inner storm, then we suffer and make others suffer as well.

We must make peace, freeing ourselves, with the power of divine Grace, from intrusive thoughts and carnal revolutions and then we will be social people, a source of peace for the world.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 


 

https://youtu.be/HrPN3YQICAc

In the video above the Hellenic Byzantine Choir lead by Protopsaltis Lykourgos Aggelopoulos chant the Megalynaria of the Reception of Christ in a version composed by Peter Lambadarios (1730-1815).

Below is the original Greek text together with an English translation under it:

Ωδή θ’. Εν ή ψάλλονται τα επόμενα Μεγαλυνάρια. (Ήχος γ΄.)

Ακατάληπτον εστί, το τελούμενον εν σοί, και αγγέλοις και βροτοίς, Μητροπάρθενε αγνή.

Αγκαλίζεται χερσίν, ο πρεσβύτης Συμεών, τον του νόμου Ποιητήν, και Δεσπότην του παντός.

Βουληθείς ο Πλαστουργός, ίνα σὠση τον Αδάμ, μήτραν ώκησε την σήν, της Παρθένου και αγνής.

Γένος άπαν των βροτών, μακαρίζει σε Αγνή, και δοξάζει σε πιστώς, ως Μητέρα του Θεού.

Δεύτε, ίδετε Χριστόν, τον Δεσπότην του παντός, όν βαστάζει Συμεών, σήμερον εν τω ναώ.

Επιβλέπεις προς την γην, και ποιείς τρέμειν αυτήν, και πώς γέρων κεκμηκώς, σε κατέχει εν χερσί;

Ζήσας έτη Συμεών, έως είδε τον Χριστόν, και εβόα προς αυτόν· Νυν απόλυσιν ζητώ.

Η λαβίς η μυστική, η τον άνθρακα Χριστόν, συλλαβούσα εν γαστρί, συ υπάρχεις Μαριάμ.

Θέλων ενηνθρώπησας, ο προάναρχος Θεός, και ναώ προσφέρεσαι, τεσσαρακονθήμερος.

Κατελθόντ’ εξ ουρανού, τον Δεσπότην του παντός, υπεδέξατο αυτόν, Συμεών ο ιερεύς.

Λάμπρυνόν μου την ψυχήν, και το φως το αισθητόν, όπως ίδω καθαρώς, και κηρύξω σε Θεόν.

Ο Ειρμός

Εν νόμω σκιά και γράμματι, τύπον κατίδωμεν οι πιστοί· πάν άρσεν το την μήτραν διανοίγον, άγιον Θεω· διό πρωτότοκον Λόγον, Πατρός Ανάρχου Υιόν, πρωτοτοκούμενον Μητρί, απειράνδρω μεγαλύνωμεν.

Μητροπάρθενε αγνή, τί προσφέρεις τω ναώ, νέον βρέφος αποδούσ’ εν αγκάλαις Συμεών;

Εν νόμω σκιά και γράμματι…

Νυν απόλυσιν ζητώ, από σού του Πλαστουργού, ότι είδον σε Χριστέ, το σωτήριόν μου φως.

Τοις πριν νεογνών τρυγόνων ζεύγος, δυάς τε ην νεοσσών, ανθ’ ών ο θείος Πρέσβυς, και σώφρων Άννα προφήτις, τω εκ Παρθένου τεχθέντι, και οίω γόνω Πατρός, εν τω ναώ προσιόντι, λειτουργούντες εμεγάλυνον.

Όν οι άνω λειτουργοί, τρόμω λιτανεύουσι, κάτω νυν ο Συμεών, αγκαλίζεται χερσί.

Τοις πριν νεογνών τρυγόνων ζεύγος…

Δόξα Πατρί και Υιώ και Αγίω Πνεύματι.

Η τη φύσει μεν Μονάς, τοις προσώποις δε Τριάς, φύλαττε τους δούλους σου, τους πιστεύοντας εις σε.

Απέδωκάς μοι εβόα Συμεών, του Σωτηρίου σου Χριστέ αγαλλίασιν, απόλαβέ σου τον λάτριν, τον τη σκιά κεκμηκότα, νέον της χάριτος, ιεροκήρυκα μύστην, εν αινέσει μεγαλύνοντα.

Και νυν και αεί, και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων· αμήν.

Θεοτόκε η ελπίς, πάντων των Χριστιανών, σκέπε φρούρει φύλαττε, τους ελπίζοντας εις σέ.

Ιεροπρεπώς ανθωμολογείτο, Άννα υποφητεύουσα, η σώφρων και Οσία, και πρέσβυρα τω Δεσπότη, εν τω ναώ διαρρήδην, την Θεοτόκον δε ανακηρύττουσα, πάσι τοις παρούσιν εμεγάλυνεν.

Ode 9 in Tone 3 From Matins For the Feast of the Presentation of Christ

That which was fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of Angels and mortal men, O Pure Virgin Mother.

Symeon the Elder takes in his arms the Maker of the Law and Master of all.

The Creator, wishing to save Adam, took up His dwelling in thy pure and virgin womb.

All mankind blesses thee, O Pure Virgin, and in faith glorifies thee as Theotokos.

Come ye and behold Christ the Master of all, Whom Symeon carries today in the Temple.

Thou looketh down upon the earth and maketh it tremble: how then can I, aged and weary, hold Thee in mine arms?

Symeon had lived for many years when he beheld Christ and cried aloud to him: "Now do I seek my release."

Mary, thou art the mystic tongs, who hast conceived in thy womb Christ the live Coal.

O God Who wast before all things began, of Thine own will hast Thou become man and art carried, a Child forty days old, into the Temple.

Symeon the Priest received the Lord of all, come down from heaven.

Illuminate my soul and the light of my senses, that I may see Thee in purity: and I will proclaim that Thou art God.

Eirmos

In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the First Born Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the First Born Child of a mother who had not known man.

O Pure Virgin Mother, why dost thou bring into the Temple a Newborn Babe and commit Him into the hands of Symeon?

In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the First Born Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the First Born Child of a mother who had not known man.

From thee, the Creator, I now see release: for I have seen Thee, O Christ, my Salvation and my Light.

Of old the people offered a pair of doves and two young pigeons. In their stead the godly Elder and Anna the Prophetess, sober in spirit, ministered and gave glory to the Child of the Virgin, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, as He was brought into the Temple.

Him Whom the Ministers at the Liturgy on High entreat with trembling, here below Symeon now takes in his arms.

Of old the people offered a pair of doves and two young pigeons. In their stead the godly Elder and Anna the Prophetess, sober in spirit, ministered and gave glory to the Child of the Virgin, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, as He was brought into the Temple.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O Thou by Nature One but in Persons Three, watch over Thy servants who put their faith in Thee.

"Thou hast committed to me the exceeding joy of Thy salvation, O Christ," cried Symeon. "Take Thy servant, who is weary of the shadow, and make him a new preacher of the mystery of Grace, as he magnifies Thee in praise!"

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Theotokos, thou hope of all Christians, protect, watch over and guard all those who put their hope in thee.

Holy Anna, sober in spirit and venerable in years, with reverence confessed the Master freely and openly in the Temple; and proclaiming the Theotokos, she magnified her before all who were present.
 
 
 
 
Protopresbyter Michael A. Platanis, Dean
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
1900 Main Street - Columbia, SC 29201
 
Mailing Address:
 1931 Sumter Street
 803-252-6758 Church Office
 803-403-7557 Cell
 803-254-6197 Facsimile
 NewSmyrna@gmail.com

 


 
 
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