The Ethos of Orthodoxy - passing on of the baton to the next generation...
Baptism and Christmation
Baptism and Christmation of baby Gregory, September 29, 2012 at the Holy Martyr St. Eleftherios makeshift chapel.
THE RIGHTEOUS ELIZABETH
SEPTEMBER 5
reference: www.oca.org
The Righteous Elizabeth was the mother of the holy Prophet,
Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. She was descended from the lineage of
Aaron, and St Elizabeth was the sister of St Anna, the mother of the Most Holy
Theotokos. The righteous spouses, "walking in all the commandments of the
Lord (Luke 1:6), suffered barrenness, which in those times was considered a
punishment from God.
When Elizabeth gave birth to a son, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit she announced that his name was John, although no one in their family had this name.
They asked Zachariah (who had been rendered mute) what the child's name was, and he wrote the name John down on a tablet. Immediately the gift of speech returned to him, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, he began to prophesy about his son as the Forerunner of the Lord.
When King Herod heard from the Magi about the birth of the Messiah, he decided to kill all the infants up to two years old at Bethlehem and the surrounding area, hoping that the new-born Messiah would be among them.
Herod knew about John's unusual birth and he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was the foretold King of the Jews. But Elizabeth hid herself and the infant in the hills. The murderers searched everywhere for John. Elizabeth, when she saw her pursuers, began to implore God for their safety, and immediately the hill opened up and concealed her and the infant from their pursuers.
In these tragic days St Zachariah was taking his turn at the services in the Temple. Soldiers sent by Herod tried in vain to learn from him the whereabouts of his son. Then, by command of Herod, they murdered this holy prophet, having stabbed him between the temple and the altar (MT 23: 35). Elizabeth died forty days after her husband, and St John, preserved by the Lord, dwelt in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to the nation of Israel.
On the Greek calendar, Sts Zachariah and Elizabeth are also commemorated on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist.
When Elizabeth gave birth to a son, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit she announced that his name was John, although no one in their family had this name.
They asked Zachariah (who had been rendered mute) what the child's name was, and he wrote the name John down on a tablet. Immediately the gift of speech returned to him, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, he began to prophesy about his son as the Forerunner of the Lord.
When King Herod heard from the Magi about the birth of the Messiah, he decided to kill all the infants up to two years old at Bethlehem and the surrounding area, hoping that the new-born Messiah would be among them.
Herod knew about John's unusual birth and he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was the foretold King of the Jews. But Elizabeth hid herself and the infant in the hills. The murderers searched everywhere for John. Elizabeth, when she saw her pursuers, began to implore God for their safety, and immediately the hill opened up and concealed her and the infant from their pursuers.
In these tragic days St Zachariah was taking his turn at the services in the Temple. Soldiers sent by Herod tried in vain to learn from him the whereabouts of his son. Then, by command of Herod, they murdered this holy prophet, having stabbed him between the temple and the altar (MT 23: 35). Elizabeth died forty days after her husband, and St John, preserved by the Lord, dwelt in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to the nation of Israel.
On the Greek calendar, Sts Zachariah and Elizabeth are also commemorated on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist.
reference: www.oca.org
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| Sophia E. Farenas Holy Martyr St. Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines |
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
SEPTEMBER 14
Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantinethe Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, thehardships of a journey to Jerusalem in searchof the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by theEmperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where thesaving Passion had been suffered. Thevenerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealingthe Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Ofthese, it was believed that one must be that ofour Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. Atthe inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishopof Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Crossof our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius ofJerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerableCross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in themagnificent church built by Saint Helen, untilthe year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross totheir own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.
Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.
go to link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5TAPHedR8k
go to link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5TAPHedR8k
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