06 transfiguration of christ
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TheTransfigurationofChrist
TheTransfigurationofOurLord,andGod,andSaviour,JesusChristWhichtheHolyChurchcelebratesonAugust6
OurLordhadspokentoHisdisciplesmanytimesnotonlyconcerningHis
Passion, Cross, and Death,but also concerning the coming persecutions and
afflictionsthattheythemselveswouldendure.Sincealltheseevilswerenearat
hand,but the enjoyment of good thingswhich they hoped to receive in their
steadwasyettocome,ourSaviourdesiredtogivethemfullassurance,evidentlyandopenly,concerningthatglorywhichispreparedforthosewhoenduretothe
end.Therefore,fulfillingthatwhichHehadpromisedshortlybefore,thatthere
besomestandingherewhichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyseetheSonofman
cominginHisKingdom(Matt.16:28).HetookHisthreeforemostdisciplesand
ascendedMountTabor,whereHewastransfiguredbeforethem.Hisfaceshone
likethesun,andHisclothesbecamewhiteasthelight.Suddenly,togetherwith
thisdreadandmarvellouseffulgenceoflight,thereappearedthosepinnaclesof
theProphets,MosesandElias,who spokewith theLordJesus concerningHis
savingPassion thatwas about to takeplace. StandingbeforeHim as reverent
servants,theyshowedthatHeisLordofboththelivingandthedead,forMoses
cameforthfromHades,havingdiedmanycenturiesbefore,andElias,asitwere
fromheaven,whitherhehadbeentakenupwhileyetalive.Afteralittlewhilea
radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud theyheard that same
voicewhichhadbeenheardattheJordanattheBaptismofChrist,testifyingto
theDivinityofJesusandsaying:This isMybelovedSon, inwhom Iamwell
pleased;hearyeHim(Matt.17:5).
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Sucharethemarvels,trulyworthyofGod,celebratedinthispresentfeast,
which is an image andprefiguring of the future stateof the righteous,whose
splendourtheLordspokeof,saying:Thenshalltherighteousshineforthasthe
sun (Matt.13:43). It isbecauseof this that theKontakionof thisFeast is said
daily (when there isnotagreat feast) in theServiceof theTypica inperpetual
commemoration of the glory thatwillbe the lot of the Saints. According to
tradition, the Lords Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His
Crucifixion; this iswhy theTransfiguration is celebrated fortydaysbefore the
ExaltationoftheCross.
Restfromlabour.Fishallowed.
HOUwasttransfiguredonthemountain,OChristourGod,showingtoThy
disciplesThygloryaseachonecouldendure.Shine forthThouonus,whoaresinnersall,Thy lighteverunending, through theprayersof theTheotokos,
Lightbestower,glorytoThee.T
N themountThouwast transfigured,andThydisciples,asmuchas they
couldbear,beheldThyglory,OChristourGod;thatwhentheyshouldsee
Thee crucified, theywouldknowThyPassion tobewilling,andpreach to the
worldthat Thou,intruth,arttheEffulgenceoftheFather.
O
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Text:TheGreatHorologion1997TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02445IconscourtesyTheHolyTransfigurationMonastery
THEMENAION:2006TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryAllRightsReserved.Nounauthorizedreproductionsallowed.
A SELECTION OF HYMNS FROM
THE MENAION
NOTE
IfthisFeastfallonaSunday,wechantnoneofthehymnsoftheResurrection,
butalloftheFeast.
VESPERS
ThereisnoreadingfromthePsalter.ForLord,Ihavecried,weallowforsixversesandchantthefollowingStichera,repeatingthefirsttwo:
FourthTone.ByCosmastheMonkEFORE ThyCross,O Lord, amountainbecame like untoHeaven, and a
cloud spread out like a tabernacle.WhenThouwast transfigured and the
Fatherbarewitness toThee,PeterwithJamesandJohnwerepresent, for they
were tobeseenwithTheeat the timeofThybetrayal;so thathavingseenThy
wonders,theymightnotbeafraidatThysufferings,whichmaywebecounted
worthytoworshipinpeace,forThygreatmercyssake.(Twice)
B
EFORE ThyCross,O Lord, Thou didst take the disciples up into a highmountain,andThouwasttransfiguredbeforethem,illuminatingthemwith
the rays of Thy power. For in Thy love forman on one hand, and in Thine
authority on the other, Thou hastwilled to show them the splendour of the
Resurrection. Do Thou grant that we too in peace may be counted worthy
thereof,OGod,sinceThouartmercifulandtheFriendofman.(Twice)
B
hen Thouwast transfigured upon a highmountain,O Saviour, having
withTheethechiefdisciples,Thoudidstshineforthwithglory,tosignify
that theywhobecame eminent on theheight of virtues, shall alsobedeemed
worthy of divine glory. AndwhenMoses and Elias spakewith Christ, they
showedthatHeistheLordofthelivingandthedead,andtheGodthatspakeof
oldthroughtheLawandtheProphets.AndthevoiceoftheFatherbarewitness
unto Him from a bright cloud, saying: Hear ye Him, Who by His Cross
despoilethHades,andgrantethuntothedeadlifeeverlasting.
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HEmountainonce shrouded ingloom and smoke isnowhonourableand
holy,whereonThy feethavestood,OLord.Forthemysteryhidbefore the
ageshath in these lasttimesbeenmademanifestbyThydreadTransfiguration
unto Peter,John andJames. Since they could not endure the radiance of Thy
countenanceand thebrightnessofThygarments, theywerebornedown to the
groundupontheirfaces;andseizedwithamazement,theymarveledastheysaw
MosesandEliasspeakingwithTheeofthethingsthatshouldbefallThee.Anda
voicefromheavenbarewitness,say in:This isMybelovedSon, inWhomIam
wellpleased;hearyeHim.ItisHethatgranteththeworldgreatmercy.
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Glory:bothnow.PlagalofSecondTone.ByAnatoliusREFIGURINGThyResurrection,OChristGod,Thoudidst takeThy three
disciples,Peter,James,andJohn,anddidstascenduponTabor.Andwhen
Thouwasttransfigured,OSaviour,theMountofTaborwascoveredwithlight.
Thy disciples cast themselves upon the ground,OWord, for they could not
endure to lookon the form thatnonemaybehold.TheAngelsministeredwith
fear and trembling, the heavens shuddered and the earth quaked,beholding
uponearththeLordofGlory.
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FortheEntreaty.SecondToneHRIST, theLight thatwasbefore the sun,goethabout incarnateupon the
earth;andbefore theCross,accomplishing inamannerworthyofGodall
thingspertainingtoHisdreaddispensation,Hemysticallyrevealeththeimageof
theTrinitytodayuponMountTabor.Forhavingtakenasidethethreepreferreddisciples,Peter,James,andJohn,HeledthemupwithHim;andconcealingfora
while the flesh He had assumed, He was transfigured before them, openly
revealingthemajestyoftheoriginalbeauty,andnotyetinfull,butonlyasthey
wereable toreceive,havingbodilyeyes.Forwhilegiving them fullassurance,
Healsosparedthem, lestatthesighttheyshould losetheirvery lives.AndHe
brought forward themosteminentof theProphets,evenMosesandElias,who
also,asfaras in them lay,barewitness toHisDivinity,andthatHe is the true
Effulgence of the Fathers Essence, the Lord of the loving and the dead.
Wherefore,acloudcompassedthemroundaboutlikeatent;andfromabove,thevoiceoftheFatherresoundedoutofthecloud,bearingwitnessandsaying:This
is My beloved Son, Whom I changelessly begat from the womb before the
morningstar;HimhaveIsenttosavethemthatbebaptizeduntotheFather,and
theSon,andtheHolySpirit,andwhofaithfullyconfessthattheoneDominionof
theGodhead is indivisible.HearyeHim.DoThouThyself, therefore,OChrist
God, Thou Friend of man, make us also to shine with the light of thine
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unapproachable glory, and show us forth asworthy heirs of Thy Kingdom,
whichhathnoend;forThouartsupremelygood.
FortheAposticha,thefollowingStichera:
e thatoncespake in figuresuntoMosesonMountSinai:saying, IamHeWho Is, todaywas transfigured uponMount Taborbefore the disciples.
Havingtakenonthenatureofman,HeshowedinHimselftheoriginalbeautyof
its image.AndbringingMosesandElias intoHispresenceaswitnessesof this
grace,Hemadethempartakersofthegladness,foretellingHisdeparturebythe
Cross,andHissavingResurrection.
H
Verse:Thineare theheavens,andThine is theearth; theworld and the fullness thereofhastThoufounded.
AVID,theancestorofGod,forseeingintheSpiritThycominguntomenin
the flesh,OOnlybegottenSon, fromafar callethout:TaborandHermon
shall rejoice inThyName.ForwhenThouwentestup into thismountainwith
ThydisciplesO Saviour,Thouwast transfigured,making thenature thatwas
darkenedinAdamtoshinelikelightningonceagain,andtransformingitintothe
gloryandbrightnessofThyDivinity.Wherefore,wecryuntoThee:OCreatorof
all,Lord,glorybetoThee.
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Verse:TaborandHermonshallrejoiceinThyName.HENtheforemostApostlessawtheuncontainablefloodofThylightupon
the Mount of the Transfiguration, O beginningless Christ, and ThyGodheaduntowhichnomanmayapproach, theywerechangedwithadivine
ecstasy;andwhen thebright cloud shoneupon them roundabout, theyheard
theFathersvoiceconfirmingthemysteryofThineassumptionofmansnature.
For even after Thine incarnation, Thou art One, the onlybegotten Son and
Saviouroftheworld.
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Glory;bothnow. PlagalofSecondToneODAYuponMountTabor,OLord,ThouhastshownthegloryofThydivine
formuntoThypreferreddisciples,Peter,John,andJames.FortheysawThygarmentsflashinglikethelightandThycountenancebrighterthanthesun;and
sincetheycouldnotbearto lookuponThineunendurableradiance,theyfellto
theground, innowiseableto liftuptheirgaze.Fortheyheardavoicebearing
witness fromonhigh:This isMybelovedSon,Who is come into theworld to
saveman.
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MATINS
AftertheFirstReadingfromthePsalter,thefollowingSessionalHymn:FourthTone.Josephwasamazed
LEARLYshowingtheexchange*thatAdamsmortalraceshallmake*withThy glory at Thy dread * and second coming on the earth, * Thouwast
transfigured,OSaviour,uponMountTabor. *Elias great in zeal * andMoses
spakewithThee.*ThoudidstcallThythreedisciplestoThyself,*whosawThy
glory,O ourMaster, * andwere amazed atThydazzling light.OThouWho
shonestThylightuponthem,*grantoursoulslightnowalso.
Glory;bothnow.RepeattheSameAftertheSecondReadingfromthePsalter,thefollowingSessionalHymn:
SameMelodyIGHonTaborsholymount*Thouwasttransfigured,OChristGod;*and
acloudofbrilliantlight*andspreadoutlikeatent,*andwithThyglory,it
coveredThythreeApostles.*Hence,theylookedtotheground,*notbearingto
beholdthegreatbrightnessof*theunapproachable*splendourandgloryofThy
countenance,*OSaviourJesus,ourTimelessLord.*OThouWhoshonestThy
lightuponthem,*grantoursoulslightnowalso.
Glory;bothnow.RepeattheSameOIKOS
RISE,yesluggards,wallownotforeverontheground;yethoughts,which
bendmy soul toward the earth,bestir yourselves, andmount up to the
heightofdivineascent.LetusruntoPeterandthesonsofZebedee,andletusgo
withthemtoMountTabor,thatwiththemwemayseethegloryofourGodand
hearHis voice; forwhen they had heard it from on high, they preached the
EffulgenceoftheFather.
SYNAXARION OnthesixthofthismonthwecommemoratethedivineTransfigurationofourLordandGod
andSaviourJesusChrist.
VersesTaborwasglorifiedaboveearthseveryregion
WhenitlookeduponGodsnatureshininginglory.
OnthesixthChristtransformedHisformasaman.
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On thisdaywecommemorate theHolyMartyredChildrenJustusandPastorofAlcalade
HenaresinSpain,thebrethren,whoweretorturedandbeheadedunderDiocletian.
VersesLeavingteacherandschoolbooks,ThylittleMartyrs
Runwithjoytothetestoftheirfaith,OSaviour.
On thisdaywe commemorate theholyMartyredChildrenJustusandPastorofAlcalade
HenaresinSpain,thebrethren,whoweretorturedandbeheadedunderDiocletian.
OnthisdaywecommemoratetheholyNewMartyrEudociaandfourotherVirginMartyrs
nearSarov,whowereslainbytheatheistsintheyear1919.
UntoChristGodbegloryanddominionuntotheages.Amen.
EXAPOSTILARION
ThirdTone.TheOriginalMelodyCHANGELESSLightoftheLightof*ThineunbegottenBegetter,today,O
Word,havewenow seen * inThyLightsmanifestation * theFatherand
HolySpirit*asLightonTabor,*guidingwithlightallcreation.(Thrice)ForthePraisesweallowforfourversesandchantthefollowingStichera,repeatingthefirstone:
FourthTone.ThouwhowastcalledfromonhighEFOREThyvenrableCrossandwillingPassion,*takingthedivinedisciples
whomThouhadstpreferred,*OMaster,Thouwentestupwiththem*intoMountTabor,*wishingtoshowthemThygloryopenly.*Andastheyalllooked
onThee transfiguredwondrously * and shining forthbrighter than the sun, *
theycastthemselvesdown,*beingamazedatThymightandsovereignty;*and
theycriedout:ThouarttheTimelesslight*andtheFathersEffulgence,though
Thou,OChrist,*ofThineownwill,withoutchange,artmademanifestnow in
theflesh.(Twice)THOUWhoartGodtheWordbeforetheages,*Who,aswithagarment,
coverest Thyselfwith light, * Thouwast transfiguredbefore Thy three *
electdisciples, *asThou,OWord, shonestbrighter than the sun. *Mosesand
EliasstoodoneithersideofThee,*makingitplainthatThouarttheLord*both
ofthelivingandthedead;andtheygreatlyglorified*Thytendermercy,Thine
ineffable * dispensation for us, and Thy very great * condescension,whereby
Thou*hastsavedalltheworldoncelostinsins.
O
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HOUWhowastbornofavirgincloudaforetime*andbecamest fleshand
didst ascendMount Tabors height, * Thouwast transfigured thereon,O
Lord*anddidstencompass*Thyselfaboutwithabrilliantcloudoflight.*Then
as Thy disciples stood with Thee, there came the voice * of Thy Begetter,
proclaimingThee*HisownbelovdSon,*trulyofoneessenceandone throne
withHim.*AndPeter,awestruck,criedaloudtoThee:*Itisgoodtobehere,O
mostmerciful*BenefactorandSaviour,*andinwonderknewnotwhathesaid.
Glory;bothnow.PlagalofFourthTone.ByByzasHRIST tookPeter,James, andJohn, into ahighmountain apart, andwas
transfigured before them; and His face did shine as the sun, and His
radiancewaswhite as the light.And there appearedMoses and Elias talking
withHim.Andabrightcloudovershadowed them,andbehold,avoiceoutof
thecloud,whichsaid:ThisisMybelovedSon,inWhomIamwellpleased;hear
yeHim.
TheGreatDoxologyandtheremainderofMatins.Andthebrethrenareanointedwithholyoil.
LetusliftuptheeyesofourunderstandingtotheWordWhonowsits,withHis
Body,abovethevaultsofheaven.AndHeWhosits indivinesplendouronthe
righthandofmajestyuttersthesewordstousasiffromafar,Ifanyonewantsto
stand in the presence of this glory, let him imitateMe as far asHe can, and
followthewayandmanneroflifeItaughtonearth.
SaintGregoryPalamasHomilyThirtyfive(18)AnotherontheTransfigurationoftheLord.
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Our Transfiguration in Christ1Who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvellous light (I Peter 2:9)
TheLordJesusChrist is,as theChurchconfesses intheCreed,LightofLight,
trueGodoftrueGod.HeisbegottenoftheFatherbeforeallages.Beforethe
lightcreated for thisworld in thisage,2before theProphetMosescould lifthis
pen andwrite, therewas evening and therewasmorning,DayOne3Christ
eternallyshinesforthasuncreatedLightofLight.Whenwechant,Christhathtoday transformed * the quenched and darkened nature of Adam onMount
Tabor;*andmakingittoshine,Hehathdeifieditwondrously,4weconfess,in
HisTransfiguration, thegiftandsourceofourTransfiguration. Ifwesowill,all
1TheGospelnarrativesoftheTransfigurationofourLordandGodandSaviourJesusChrist
are found in SaintMatthew 17: 19; SaintMark 9: 210 and Saint Luke 9: 2836. The Lords
TransfigurationoccurredFortydaysbeforeHisCrucifixion.TheChurchwaits to celebrate the
LordsTransfigurationuntilFortyDaysbeforetheFeastoftheExaltationoftheVenerableCross
onSeptember14/27;otherwisewewouldbecelebratingtheFeastoftheTransfigurationduring
theGreat Fast. SaintJohndoes not include the Transfiguration ofChrist in hisGospel, eventhoughhewaspresentwithSaintPeterandhisbrotherSaintJames,because,Afterexamining
theGospelsofMatthew,Mark,andLukefrombeginningtoend,Johnconfirmedthattheyhad
recordedthetruth1 asSaintSophroniusnarrates,sotherewasnoneedtoreiterate,32yearsafter
theLordsAscension,whattheyhadwritten.2 Gen.1:35.
3 Cf.SaintBasilHexaemeron1:6
4HolyTransfigurationAugust6,SmallVespers:Aposticha,Menaion,p.39.
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thedaysofour livesasOrthodoxChristians couldbeaprayer tobedeemed
worthyoftheglorythattranscendethlight.5Wefindconsolationinthepromise
thatGodgivesprayertohimwhoprays(ISam.2:9LXX).
SaintsMosesandEliasfoundtheglorythattranscendethlight inthatday
when the prophecy, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy Name6 was
fulfilled inChristsTransfiguration. SinceChristpromisedHisdisciples, of a
truth,therebesomestandinghere,whichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyseethe
KingdomofGod7theglorythattranscendethlight,theKingdomofGod,was
mademanifestonMountTabor.Could the regular lightofday illuminate the
ProphetsMoses,whohasnobody,andElias,who,asitwere,wascaughtupinto
heaven?TheuncreatedLight,GodHimselfinHisDivineEnergies,providedthat
illumination. Is this light the radiance of the Divine Essence? The Prophet
Jeremias assures us that this cannotbe the case, Forwho has stood in the
substanceandessenceofGod?8 InHisTransfigurationChristmadethenature
thatwasdarkenedinAdamtoshinelikelightningonceagain,andtransform[ed]it into the glory of thebrightness of [His]Divinity.9 Butwhen thedisciples
entered into the bright cloud they could not bear to look upon Thine
unendurable radiance, they fell to the ground, in nowise able to liftup their
gaze10Noman has seen the Divine Essence any time,11butwe can make
known and praise the beneficent [energies] of the Godhead.12 The Divine
5 SmallVespers:Glory,Menaion,p.39.Or,asSaintSeraphimofSarovsays,Thetrueaimofour
ChristianlifeconsistsintheacquisitionoftheHolySpiritofGod.AWonderful
Revelation
to
the
World.tr.TheHolyTransfigurationMonastery.6 Ps.88:12(LXX).ThistextisaProphesyofChrist,cf.Aposticha,2ndStichera.Feastofthe
TransfigurationofChrist.
7 Luke9:27.St.Markwrites,VerilyIsayuntoyou,Thattherebesomeofthemthatstandhere,
whichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyhaveseentheKingdomofGodcomewithpower(Mk
9:1).
8Jer.23:18LXXAlexandriniantext.
9 Aposticha,SecondStichera.[VirtualParishEditor]
10 Aposticha,Glory.
11Jn.1:18a.ThisistheunrevealedoftheGodhead...isbeyondmindandmatterandthereisnotraceofthosewhohavepenetratedtoItshiddeninfinitudeOntheDivineNames1:2,3;St.DionysiustheAreopagitetr.JamesParker18971899.12On theDivineNames1:4,Parker,p.5.The textreads,makeknownandpraise thebeneficentprogressionsoftheGodhead.Wehavesubstituted,fromthevocabularyofSaintBasiltheGreat
andlaterSaints,thetermenergiesbecausethereisnochangewhatsoeverinthemeaningofthe
two terms, progressions and energies. The latter terminology is what the Church has
consistentlyusedsinceSaintBasilstime.
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energies,oractions,oftheLorddoenterintooursoulsandbodiessothatthere
still are those who appear like Saint Stephen the First Martyr who gave
testimony ofChristbefore a council ofJews And all that sat in the council,
lookingsteadfastlyonhim,sawhisfaceasithadbeenthefaceofanangel(Acts
6:15).
In theMatins for the Feast of the Transfiguration, both of the Sessional
Hymns close with the prayer, Grant our souls light now also13 and the
TroparionoftheFeastpraysforusall,ShineforthThouonuswhoaresinners
all Thy light ever unending. Howmight we gain this uncreated light, this
deifyingpower;howisitthatwe,asOrthodoxChristians,areabletoshareGod
allGodsLightwithHim?
Since it isalwaysbest tobeginat thebeginning, letusacton theadviceof
Saint Isaac the Syrianwhen hewrites, Of every goodwroughtwithin you
noetically and in secret, be certain that baptism and faith have been the
mediatorswherebyyoureceived it;throughtheseyouwerecalledbyourLordJesusChristtoHisgoodlabours,toWhomwiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritbe
glory, honour, thanksgiving and worship unto the ages. Amen.14 Saint
Dionysius has a special word for the Baptismal Mystery; that word is
Enlightenment.15 InMystery of Enlightenmentwe receive theuncreated and
lifegiving light of the Father, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit.We are
N. B. Saint Dionysius the Areopagite and Damariswerebaptizedby Saint Paul after his
Sermonon theAreopagus (cf.Acts17:1634).TheOrthodoxChurch is the oneChurchof the
Creed.SaintJohnChrysostomteachesOneLordOneFaith,OneBaptism,OneChurch(cf.Eph.
4: 5, 6), and the Church has consistently maintained the ineffable distinction between the
unknowable,imparticipatableDivineEssenceandtheknowable,participatableDivineEnergies,
given this controlling premise: For, with regard to things Divine, the unions overrule the
distinctions andprecede them, and arenone the lessunified, even after the selfcentered and
unifieddistinction.(OntheDivineNames2:11,Parker,p.26.)Thereisnoviolationofthedivineunity(Deut.6:4Hear,OIsrael,TheLordourGodisoneLord.).
13Matins,SessionalHymns,TheMenaionp.43.14TheAsceticalHomiliesofSaintIsaactheSyrian1984TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02145,p.9AllRightsReserved.Unauthorizedreproductionprohibited.15OntheEcclesticalHierarchy2.1,Parker,pp.75f.St.DionysiusspeaksofholyBaptismasIllumination,ofthebirthinGod,p.75,and,atleast60timesthroughouthiswritings,asthe
Divinegiftoflight;OntheDivineNames2:11,Parkerp.26wheretheoftrepeatedphrasegiftoflightappearsforthefirsttime.
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bathedinthelight16oftheLordWhoseFather,whileHehungontheCrossfor
usmenandforoursalvation,wrappedthevisibleworldindarkness.17
InthethreeimmersionsofOrthodoxBaptism,twothingsarerevealedtoand
withintheChristian:FirstheisBaptizedintotheDivineNameoftheFatherand
ofTheSonandoftheHolySpirit.InthepowerofthatNameheisgivenanew
name(Rev.2:17),hisBaptismalname.Second,inthissametripleimmersion,he
participates in the threedaydeathandburialofChrist afterHisdeathon the
Crossforusmenand foroursalvation.Heemerges from theBaptismal font
RiseninChrist,thenheisSealedwiththeHolySpirit,afterwhichheistonsured
in the name of theHoly Trinity and offers his shorn locks toGod as a first
offeringtoHim.TheChristiandoesthisasanewcreature.18Finally,aspurged
of all his sins, andwith awell ofwater springing up into everlasting life19
bubblingupwithinhim,hepartakesof theBody andBloodofOurLordand
GodJesusChrist in theknowledge that Exceptye eat the fleshof theSonof
man,anddrinkHisblood,yehavenolifeinyou.20 BornanewofwaterandoftheSpirit 21 inGod,namedanew,andhavingbeen enabled totasteand see
that the Lord is good22 in themystery of the Body and Blood ofChrist, the
ChristianisnowenabledtodwellinGodand,inHisdivineenergies,whichare
God Himself, God desires to dwell in him forevermore. In this way is all
prophecyfulfilled:HediedourdeaththatwemightliveHislife.
Howmight theChristianorderhis lifesoas topreserveand togrow in the
ineffablegiftofuncreatedlightgrantedtohiminhisholyBaptism?Ourfirstclue
16Someyearsago,intheCathedralParishofSaintNectariosinSeattle,WashingtonwhereFather
NeketasPalassis isRector,FatherNeketaswasadministering themysteryof Illumination to a
lady.TheprayerThat theremay comeupon thiswater thepurifyingoperationof the super
substantialTrinity,letuspraytotheLordhadbeenreadtogetherwithalltheotherprayers.The
candidate forBaptismwasjustabout toenter thewater,butshehesitatedonce,and thenonce
again.FatherNeketasaskedhertogoaheadandstepintotheBaptismalFont.Shereplied,How
canI?Thereisaringoffirearoundit.
AndtoourGodbeglory.
17TheFourthTheologicalOration, St.GregoryNazianzenSelectOrationsofSaintGregoryNazianzen,tr.C.G.Browne,M.A.andJ.E.Swallow,M.A.NPNFSecondSeries,Vol.VIIp.309A;
Wm.BEerdmansPublishingCo.GrandRapidsMI1955.
18 Gal.6:15
19Jn.4:14
20Jn.6:53
21Jn.3:5
22 Ps.33:8LXX
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comes fromEcclesiasticus,He that feareth theLordwill repent fromhisown
heart.23
Blessedisthemanwho,withprayerandfasting,putshimselfintothehands
ofFatherJohntheRomanianwholivedinourtimesasapioneerintheChurchs
struggle against the heresy of Ecumenism. His incorrupt relics await our
venerationintheMonasteryofSaintGeorgeofHozevanestledinthenorthwall
oftheprecipitousravineleadingdownfromtheBrookKedrontotheDeadSea.
WiththeProphetDavidwepray,MystepsdoThoudirectaccordingtoThy
saying24 it may help us to read the following taken from Readings andMeditationsontheDivineScripturebySaintJohninthelightofthefollowingtext:Follow...holiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord25.
ThisisthewilloftheHolySpirit,tobeHisbelovedincontinualreality.TheSpirit
ofGoddoesnotdwellinthosewholiveinrestbecausetheMostGoodGodwishedthat
His beloved servants should not have rest in this life, but rather live in suffering,
difficulties,worries,poverty, andnakedness, in solitude anddebts, in sicknesses and
defamations, inbattlesandcrushingofheart,withsicklybodyand imagedetestedby
others,inastatewhichdoesnotcomparetootherpeoples,andalonely,peaceful,and
quietdwelling,completely invisibletomenandfreeofanythingthatproducesearthly
consolation. Therefore, these peopleweep, and theworld laughs; these sigh,but the
world enjoys; these fast but the world amuses itself. During the day, they wear
themselvesout;and,duringthenight,theypreparefordeprivation.Therearesomewho
offer themselves to weariness voluntarily and also submit to afflictions; some are
persecuted,whileotherswerekilled,andsomehidincellars.Inthemwasfulfilledthe
wordthatsays, Youwillhaveafflictions,butinMeyouwillhavejoy,becausetheLord
knows that theoneswho live in restcannot remain inHis love.Therefore,Christ the
Saviourhaspreventedthesefromrestandsatisfaction.HeWhoseloveismorepowerful
thandeathofthebodywantedtoshowalsoinusthepowerofHislove.Amen.
Saint John the Romanian Save Us.
23Ecclesiasticus( )21:6bLXX
24Ps.118:133LXX
25Heb.12:14
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The Incorrupt Relics of Saint John the Romanianare venerated by his Disciple Fr. Ioanichie.