Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Sacred Lessons
By the Grace of God 17 September 2023
th
Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed 16 Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
By Marguerite Paizis Taking up our Cross
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
Holy Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa

[email protected]
or download directly from
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574

Re-edited & Published - 06 September 2023

Resurrection Gospel 5 – Luke 24 : 1 – 12

Galatians 2: 16 - 20
Mark 8 : 34 – 9 :1

20. 15AP –AFTER EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS – 17 SEPT 2023

 • After our Repose, it shall be too late to rectify our errors or
Repent our sins for God grants each of us a specific lifespan in
which to fulfil His Will for our Eternal Salvation.
R ESURREC TION G OSPEL 4: LU KE 24:1 – 12
• The Purpose of this short lifespan is to prepare ourselves for
The Holy Myrrhbearers Witness & proclaim the Empty Tomb of our Resurrected Lord
Eternity by making every effort to regain our Likeness to God
Τῇ μιᾷ τῶν Σαββάτων, ὄρθρου On the first morning after in Whose Image and Likeness He created us.
βαθέος, ἦλθον Γυναῖκες ἐπὶ τὸ Sabbath, at dawn, the Women • Doing so makes us worthy Citizens and Co-Heirs with Christ of
His Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
Μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν went to the Sepulchre taking
✳ “...And He said to them: “Truly, I say to you: there are some
ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. with them the aromatic spices standing here who shalt not taste Death until they see the
they had prepared. Kingdom of God present with Power!”
Εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον They found the stone rolled away • These words referred to His three closest Holy Apostles, St James,
ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ from the Sepulchre. and St Simon Peter and St John, His Beloved Disciple, who soon
thereafter beheld our Lord Jesus Christ in all His Divine Glory
Μνημείου· καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ entering, they did not see the
on Mount Tabor.
εὗρον τὸ Σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου Body of Lord Jesus.
• They were able to behold God’s Divine Glory - the extreme
᾿Ιησοῦ. Brightness of the Uncreated, Divine Energy and Light - only as
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι And, while they were perplexed much as they were able to bear.
αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου, καὶ ἰδοὺ δύο about this, behold! two Men • Christ’s Transfiguration confirmed the Divine Truth of both the
Ἂνδρες ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν stood by them in dazzling Old and New Covenant Prophecies and Teachings.
ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. Garments. • Our Divine Saviour also referred to the Faithful Disciples of Christ
in every generation who shall Experience the Presence and Love
Ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν, καὶ As they were frightened, and of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν bowed their faces to the
γῆν, εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· “Τί ground, they said to them:
ζητεῖτε τὸν Ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν “Why do you seek the Living
νεκρῶν? Οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ among the dead? He is not T H E I NSP IRE D W ISDOM OF OU R H OLY F ATH ERS

ἠγέρθη· here, but is Risen!

Elder Ambrosios Lazaris: “…Our Lord God does not have any limits.
“Μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι “Remember how He spoke to you With a Touch He puts everything right. If we make a mistake, our
ὦν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων· ‘Ὅτι when He was still in Galilee, Guardian Angel is troubled and leaves us alone. But if we apologise
δεῖ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἁνθρώπου saying: ‘The Son of Man must and Repent from the depth of our soul, he quickly returns.”
παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας be delivered into the hands of
Elder Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “…Essentially we are not going through
ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ sinful men, and be crucified, a crisis of institutions today, but rather a crisis of the human being
σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ Τρίτῃ and the Third Day Rise at all levels of society, politics, economic, the arts and the sciences,
Ἡμέρᾳ Ἀναστῆναι.’” again.’” as well as in every form of administration. In other words, the
Καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν Ῥημάτων And they remembered His Words, crisis is to be found at the human, ontological level!”
Αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ and returning from the Elder Cleopa Ilie: “… Do you become enraged and spout bad
τοῦ Μνημείου, ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα Se[ulchre they told all these language or make gestures, as if you were a wild monster? If you
πάντα τοῖς Ἔνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς things to the Eleven and to all take care of yourself, with reasonable thoughts, you shall rein in
λοιποῖς. the rest. your anger, just as a whip tames a feisty colt. In this manner, you
shall control your tongue and avoid all obscene gestures and
Ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, behaviour.”
᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου, καὶ Mary, the Mother of James, and
αἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον the other women with them,

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 • This rhetorical but immensely important question emphasises the πρὸς τοὺς Ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. who told these things to the
utter foolishness of trying to accumulate worldly possessions Apostles.
and power.
Καὶἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ And to them their words seemed
• Nothing of this material, temporary world can Redeem our fallen
soul nor benefit us in the Life to come.
λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ like idle tales, and they did not
 “…For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous
ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. believe them.
and sinful generation, the Son of Man shalt also be ashamed of Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος, ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ Peter rose up and ran to the
him when He enters the Glory of His Father with the Holy τὸ Μνημεῖον· καὶ παρακύψας Sepulchre, and stooping down,
Angels.”
βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα· he saw the Linen Cloths lying
• Those who are ashamed of our Lord and His Divine Truth reveal καὶ ἀπῆλθε, πρὸς ἑαυτόν by themselves, and he
their True Spiritual State!
θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός. departed, marvelling to himself
• By rejecting or denying Divine Truth, we serve the evil one, who
at what had happened.
hates Divine Truth.
• Those who are Spiritually Blind and wilfully disobedient reject,
mock or renounce Absolute Truth because it exposes the depth  “…On the first morning after Sabbath, at dawn, the Women went to
of their sin. the Sepulchre taking with them the aromatic spices they had
prepared.
• To be ashamed of or embarrassed by our Lord Jesus Christ and
His Divine Truth exposes the depth of self-delusion and sin as • “…the first morning after Sabbath…” refers to Sunday, which was the
well as the rejection of Truth. first (working) day of the week.
• The desire to please our fellow sinners, shames, condemns and • A Sabbath Day also meant a Great Feast Day, when the Faithful
exiles us from Divine Goodness, Love and Truth. gathered together to Worship God and normal heavy labours were
forbidden.
• The Eternal, Divine Son and Word of God shall visibly and
physically Reappear as the Glorified Son of Man – our Lord • According to the New Covenant, Sunday is dedicated to the gathering
Jesus Christ – on the Eighth Day. together to Worship and offer our Thanksgiving to God, Whose
Resurrection we Glorify and Commemorate. Hard labour is
• All Creation shall clearly behold our Lord Jesus in all His Divine avoided and instead we ought to fulfil Good Deeds of Mercy to
Glory – just as St Peter, St John and St James had witnessed at others.
His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
• As our Lord God rested from His Work of Creation on the original
• Our Lord shall be accompanied by all His Heavenly Hosts and all Sabbath Day of Rest, so too did our Lord Jesus Chrsit rest from
His Saints. His Work of the New Creation on the Sabbath day. Thus He gave
• Our own thoughts, words and deeds shall Judge us – either the Sabbath Day its ultimate meaning, while fulfilling the Law,
Blessing us and Justifying us, or Condemning us to Outer even in Death. [Genesis 2: 1 – 3]
Darkness. • One of our Matins Hymns states: “… This is the Most Blessed Sabbath
• Our Loving Lord God shall Redeem His Faithful Flock according to on which Christ sleeps in order to Rise on the Third Day…”
their worthy thoughts, words and deeds. • “… at dawn…” means at or before the rising of the sun.
• We have been provided with every means possible to enable our • The word “Mnima” is actually translated as “Sepulchre,” but the more
Entry into God’s Heavenly Kingdom – the most important common word “Tafo,” meaning “Tomb,” is often used instead.
Divine Gift being that of Unconditional Love for God and for
each other. • The Entombment and Resurrection of Christ fulfilled the Image of
His Nativity in a Cave (which stabled livestock) in Bethlehem, and
• Our Final Judgement shall be according to what we thought, said revealed the Ultimate Purpose of His First Salvific Appearance in
and did concerning the Lord our God and our fellow creatures our midst on Earth.
– great and small alike!
• “…the Women…” refers to the eight “Holy Myrrh-bearers:”
• After our Departure or Repose when our body and soul are 1. Our Lady, Theotokos who was obliquely referred to as “the
separated, we shall fully comprehend Divine Truth and how we
Mother of St Joses,” and St James, the sons of Her legal
relate to It. Guardian, St Joseph the Betrothed and his late wife, Salome,
(who was the sister of St Anna, the mother of our Lady.)

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 2 . St Mary of Magdala, a mature, financially independent woman • The Cross, the cruellest instrument of torture and execution, now
who was a close companion of Theotokos and the other Holy symbolises the suffering of all Christians in imitation of Christ.
Myrrhbearers.
3 . St Salome, a daughter of St Joseph the Betrothed and his late wife • We nail our sins to His Cross and through our Holy Baptism we die
Salome. She was married to “Zebedee,” and was the mother of to our sins and are Resurrected into Virtuous Life in Christ
St John the Beloved Disciple and St James. • As Disciples of Christ,
4 . St Mary, the wife of St Cleopas Alphaeus. 1. we are under His ‘Divine Discipline’
5 . St Mary of Bethany, the Righteous sister of St Lazaros and St 2. we voluntarily strive to fulfil His Divine Will in all
Martha of Bethany. circumstances.
6 . St Martha of Bethany, the Righteous sister of St Lazaros and St 3. we apply His Divine Truth – His Verbal and Written Teachings
Mary of Bethany. and Commandments - to our thoughts, words and deeds.
7 . St Joanna, the wife of Chouza, a Steward of the Tetrarch • Being Spiritually Regenerated, Restored and Renewed we are
Governor, Herod Antipas. She was the daughter of St Joseph granted a New Life in God’s Kingdom of Love, which begins
the Betrothed and his late wife, Salome. while we are still here.
8 . St Susanna, one of the daughters of St Joseph the Betrothed and
• We ought to practise self-denial and personal sacrifice for the sake
his late wife, Salome.
of our Love of God, His Holy Gospel and for our fellow
Like her other siblings, St Susanna was regarded as being one of
Struggling sinners who accompany us on the long, Narrow Path
the children of her cousin, our Lady Theotokos, (whom the
towards Eternity.
Temple Priests had Betrothed to her elderly Father as Her
Legal Guardian.) • A self-sacrificing Lifestyle is
1. neither a punishment,
• “… the aromatic spices they had prepared…” was the Holy Myrrh,
2. nor is it an end in itself,
which consists of certain herbs and spices blended together with
3. but a means of overcoming the fallen world for the sake of the
olive oil, with which corpses were anointed, before being wrapped
Kingdom of God -
in burial cloths and a shroud, and then sealed in tombs hewn in
4. to crucify the demands of our sinful flesh with its passions
rock or the sun-hardened earth, according to the Old Covenant
and self-indulgent desires.
Laws and rituals.
This was very different to the intricate embalming and burial • These Words of our Divine Saviour refer to
customs of the ancient Egyptians. 1. Holy Martyrdom and persecution for the sake of our Faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ and His Divine Truth.
• The Faith of the Holy Myrrhbearers was stronger than that of the
2. a completely unselfish lifestyle when we Faithfully serve
other Faithful Disciples who had hidden themselves in fear of
God and our fellow mankind in fulfilment of His Divine
being persecuted by the Roman and Judean authorities.
Teachings.
However, their Faith was still imperfect because they prepared for
the ‘corruption’ of our Lord’s Body, which was a natural, mortal • Those who deny God or renounce or neglect their Faith, Condemn
process. themselves to Spiritual Death, which, if unrepented, shall
 “…They found the stone rolled away from the Sepulchre. and become Eternal Condemnation – Eternal Exile from God and all
His Divine Goodness.
entering, they did not see the Body of Lord Jesus…”
 “...For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it. Whoever loses
• Tombs were always very securely sealed to prevent the entry of wild
his life for My sake, and the Gospel’s, shall Save it. For what
animals or grave robbers. The Tomb of Christ had been sealed
shalt it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
and secured by a very large, heavy rock that had been rolled
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
into place with great effort, which could not be easily removed.
• There is nothing more valuable and precious than our immortal
• The huge rock or “stone” had mysteriously rolled aside to reveal the
soul!
Empty Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• We lose the Eternal Treasures when our desire for temporal things
 Matthew 28: 2 “… there was a great earthquake; for an Angel of replaces our need for God.
the Lord descended from Heaven and came, and rolled back the
stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like • By sacrificing or resisting the lures and attractions of this
lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook temporary world, we gain priceless Eternal Riches and
for fear of him, and became like dead men…” Blessings that are far beyond anything we could possibly
imagine!! (1 Corinthians 2 : 9 )

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 ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ shalt also be ashamed of him • The huge rock sealing the entrance of the Tomb had been moved
Ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται when He enters the Glory of His aside to reveal the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was no longer
αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ Δόξῃ τοῦ Father with the Holy Angels.” entombed there, which terrified the Roman soldiers who had been
guarding the Tomb, by order of the Roman and Judean
Πατρὸς Αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν authorities.
Ἀγγέλων τῶν Ἁγίων.
• The “… great earthquake…” was a Sign of our Lord Jesus Christ’s
Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· “Ἀμὴν λέγω And He said to them: “Truly, I say Glorious Victory over Death and Hades, which foreshadows the
ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε to you: there are some standing General Resurrection of all mankind on the ‘Eighth Day,’ when He
ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ here who shalt not taste Death shall Reappear in all His Divine Majesty to impartially and
Mercifully Judge all Creation.
γεύσωνται Θανάτου ἕως ἂν until they see the Kingdom of
ἴδωσι τὴν Βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ God present with Power!” • The “… Angel of the Lord…” had not “… rolled back the stone from
the door…” to let our Lord exit the Tomb, for in His Divine Glory,
ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν Δυνάμει!” Christ our God is not restricted by time, space or matter. [Refer to
previous note.]
 “...whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take  “…And, while they were perplexed about this, behold! two Men stood
up his Cross, and follow Me ...”
by them in dazzling Garments…”
• Those who willingly Follow our Lord Jesus Christ are those who
• Although the Gospel Accounts of the Empty Tomb may differ
believe and desire to Faithfully Live in Christ.
according to St Matthew and St Luke, the essential details remain
• To Live in Christ means that we are constantly in His Divine most significant.
Presence.
• According to St Luke’s account, which he may have received from our
• We need to be willing and determined to apply all His Teachings Lady, Theotokos, there were “… two Men…in dazzling
and Commandments to our thoughts, words and deeds. garments…” present at the Empty Tomb, who were obviously the
• Our immortal soul responds with overwhelming Love to any Holy Angels of God – God’s Holy Messengers.
Encounter with our Lord God and His Divine Truth. • St Matthew noted the presence of one Holy Angel of God whose
• It is natural for us to yearn for God’s Divine Presence, for our “…countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as
immortal soul, which comes from the Breath of God, yearns to snow …” 
return to Him. • The attention of the Holy Myrrhbearers had been focussed on their
• Life in Christ requires a Life of Self-denial and strict discipline Anointing of our Lord’s tortured and crucified Body.
whereby the acquisition of the Divine Gifts and Holy Virtues • Only Theotokos and St Mary of Magdala, and St John the Beloved
become possible. Disciple had personally witnessed Christ’s Lifeless Body when He
• Without these Divine Gifts and Holy Virtues, we can neither Live in had been removed from the Cross, wrapped in a fine linen shroud
Christ, make any Spiritual Progress nor sustain a Life of Prayer and reverently carried to the Tomb by St Nikodemos and St
and Worship in imitation of our Divine Master. Joseph of Arimathea.
• Self Denial means • Their intense trepidation at what they would see, was overwhelmed
1. controlling the selfish, physical demands of our mortal flesh by the shock of not only seeing that the Tomb was open and
that cause sin and Spiritual Death, which separates us from empty, but also by the sudden appearance of “… two Men… in
God. dazzling garments…” “… who stood by them…”
2. strengthening our immortal soul in order to reject and avoid • These Holy Myrrhbearers were the first reliable, first hand Witnesses
fleshy desires, to Repent our sins and to nurture and who testified to the most Supreme Event in all human history –
sustain our Spiritual Life, which Unites us to God. the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Taking up our Cross means that despite all our responsibilities or • The two Roman soldiers who had Experienced the Miraculous
problems - whatever our situation or circumstances - we can opening of the Empty Tomb also testified to the Resurrection of
still Faithfully follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, but were frantically bribed by the Judean authorities to tell
• Nothing can or should prevent us from Living in Christ – from people that His Disciples had removed His Body from the Tomb.
taking every step and spending each moment of this lifespan One of the soldiers refused to do so and had converted to the
accompanying our Lord Jesus Christ. New Covenant Faith in Christ Jesus.

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 “…As they were frightened, and bowed their faces to the ground, 2. to acquire Love/Agape and other vital Holy Virtues that lead
they said to them: ‘Why do you seek the Living among the dead? to our Spiritual Perfection and Eternal Life.
He is not here, but is Risen!’ …” • He has provided us with every means possible to regain our Divine
• The stunned Holy Myrrhbearers “… were frightened and bowed their Likeness by our immortal soul controlling and resisting the
faces to the ground…” which was the usual response of those who sinful desires of our flesh.
were Humble and Obedient to the Will of our Heavenly Father. • Our immortal soul is Strengthened, Sustained and Maintained by a
• Our Lady, Theotokos, was the Perfect Example of Sacred Humility Steadfast and Faithful Life in Christ and His Holy Church.
and Obedience, which the others would always follow. Her Holy • The New Covenant and Holy Gospel of Christ reveals the True
Perception would have recognised and acknowledged the Angelic Nature of Almighty God
Presence. 1. He is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful
• The Angels of God ask the Holy Myrrhbearers: “Why do you seek the 2. He is self-sacrificing, having voluntarily offered Himself as the
Living among the dead?” meaning that the Tomb, which is the ultimate Blood Sacrifice whereby
resting place of the Reposed, was now empty. 3. He is infinitely, generously Providential granting us Freedom,
Love, Forgiveness and Salvation [even while we are still
• Then to make it perfectly clear to the bewildered and dismayed Holy ungrateful and wilful, habitual sinners.]
Women, the Angels proclaimed: “… He is not here, but is Risen!”
4. His Selfless and most humble Incarnation taught us by
 Matthew 28:5-6 “… the Angel… said to the Women: ‘Do not be revealing His Divine Truth.
afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was Crucified. He is 5. He is the Personification of Divine, Perfect and Almighty Love
not here, for He is Risen as He said…” itself.
• According to the Gospel of St Matthew, the Angel of God referred to
our Lord as “… Jesus Who was Crucified…” which teaches us not
to shy away from His Death, but rather to Glorify His Life-giving
Cross, which become the All Powerful Weapon used by our Divine
Saviour to destroy Death and Hades – the Great Trophy of His T H E H OLY GOSPE L AC C ORD ING TO S T M ARK 8 : 34 – 9 : 1

Glorious, Eternal and Salvific Victory. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s First Prophecy of His Passion

• Our Paschal Apolytikion states: “Christ is Risen from the dead, Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· “…Εἴ τις θέλει At that time, our Lord Jesus said:
trampling down Death by Death, and upon those in the tombs, ὀπίσω Μου ἐλθεῖν, “...whoever desires to come after
bestowing Life!”
ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ Me, let him deny himself, and
• As St Paul pointed out to us: “… if Christ is not Risen, our Faith is ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ take up his Cross, and follow Me.
futile!” [1 Corinthians 15:17]
ἀκολουθείτω Μοι.
 1 Corinthians 1:22 - 25 “… Judeans request a Sign, and Greeks
seek after Wisdom, but we preach Christ Crucified – the Ὄς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ “For whoever desires to save his life
Judeans a Stumbling Block and to the Greeks Foolishness, but to σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· shall lose it.
those who are Called, both Judeans and Greeks, Christ is the
Power of God and the Wisdom of God, because the ‘foolishness’
Ὄς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ “Whoever loses his life for My sake,
of God is Wiser than mankind, and the ‘weakness’ of God is ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν Ἑμοῦ καὶ τοῦ and the Gospel’s, shall Save it.
Stronger than mankind. Εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος Σώσει αὐτήν.
• To those who “… request a Sign…” the Holy Church of Christ offers Τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν “For what shalt it profit a man if he
One – the Holy, Life-giving Cross of Christ, which is to be adored, κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ gains the whole world, and loses
for wherever the Sign may be, there, too, our Lord Jesus Christ is
ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ? his soul?
present.
• Since our Lord Jesus Christ is the Power and the Wisdom of God our Ἢτί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα “Or what shall a man give in
Heavenly Father, the Brightness of our Heavenly Father’s Glory, τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ? exchange for his soul?
the Substantial and Perfect Image of the Invisible God, where He
is, there is the Uncreated, Saving Grace of Almighty God. His Holy
Ὄς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ Με καὶ “For whoever is ashamed of Me and
Cross Restores mankind to Immortality [as we were originally τοὺς Ἐμοὺς Λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ My Words in this adulterous and
created] and stirs up the Holy Desire for Heavenly Things. ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ sinful generation, the Son of Man

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 1. we are Crucified and die with Christ because our old, sinful,  Galatians 6: 14 “…God forbid that I should boast except in the
fallen nature is nailed to and executed by the Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by Whom the world has been
Cross of Christ. crucified to me, and I to the world…”
2. we are Gloriously and Victoriously Resurrected into Salvific
• Throughout the history of the Holy Church of Christ, the Faithful
Life – [a life-long process of Salvation.]
Disciples have “…boasted… in the Cross…” by preaching the All
3. we receive a Restored. Regenerated and Illumined human
Holy, Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
nature that is Reunited and Reconciled with God.
1. We display the Cross in our homes and in all places of Worship
4. we become adopted Children of God, who are Co-Heirs with
and Prayer.
Christ to the Eternal, Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
2. We Venerate the Holy Cross in all our Sacred Services
5. we are Faithful Disciples of Christ who Live according to the
3. We Bless ourselves with the Sign of the Cross, thereby Faithfully
Divine, Eternal Law of God
declaring : “I Worship Thee, O Lord God, with all my mind,
• The New Covenant of God Perfects the intention of the Old with all my heart, with all my strength and with all my soul!”
Covenant Law. 4. We make the Sign of the Cross throughout the Holy Services of
• “...Christ Lives in me...” means that, Worship, and during our Prayers as well as in times of threats,
1. we have Vowed Allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ and His temptations and Repentance.
New Covenant of Love 5. We wear a Cross against our heart, because we are Faithful
2. we have been Baptised and Chrismated, Disciples of Christ who are Struggling against temptations,
3. we now Strive for Spiritual Perfection by Living in Christ as He and constantly trying to Repent our sins, while Striving to
Lives in us – in our thoughts, words and deeds. acquire the Holy Virtues that lead to our Spiritual Perfection in
4. we are Holy, Sanctified Temples of God Who dwells in us, until the Likeness of Christ.
we sin. 6. The Holy Cross of Christ reminds us to become Worthy Children
5. We Strive to fulfil constant and steadfast Repentance, Prayers and Co-Heirs of our Heavenly Father’s Eternal Kingdom of
and Worship. Love.
7. The Holy Cross of Christ is the “Sacred Symbol of Honour” worn
• There is no contradiction between the Old Covenant Law and the
against the heart by Faithful and Steadfast Disciples of our
New Covenant Gospel, for Divine Law - the Eternal Law of God
Lord Jesus Christ, which constantly reminds us of our Holy
- is “... Holy and Just and Good...” (Romans 7:12)
Baptism and Chrismation, as well as our impending
• However, the Old Covenant Law is weak and obsolete for it is Death/Repose.
Fulfilled in the Holy Gospel – in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus  “…Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
Christ, Himself! (Romans 8 : 3 & Hebrews 8 : 13) saying: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
 “...The Life in the flesh, I Live in the Faith of the Son of God, Who men, and be crucified, and the Third Day Rise again.’”
Loves me, and gave Himself for me…” • In order to dispel any doubt, the Angel of God confirmed his
• This ‘… Life in the flesh…” means our individual, personal span of Message by recalling our Lord’s Words.
time and existence in this temporary, preparatory physical and • “…The Son of Man…” refers to the Incarnate, Eternal, Only
spiritual state. Begotten Word and Son of God our Heavenly Father, Who became
• Our mortal body/flesh and immortal soul are inter-dependent Visible to mankind so that He could communicate directly with
during our allotted lifespan. us.
• Our soul cannot develop, strengthen and mature without our body • Only according to His Incarnate, human Nature could Christ
and our human condition. Experience all aspects of our weak human condition, including
• The weak, demanding and selfish desires of our flesh need to be death.
controlled by our immortal soul. • Our Most Pure, Sinless and Divine Saviour had to “… be delivered into
• Our priorities have been corrupted by our sinful inclinations. the hands of sinful men, and be crucified…” so that He – being the
Perfect “Second Adam,” could be Resurrected into Eternal Life as
• Our flesh controls our immortal soul, which becomes weakened “…the First Fruits of Eternal Resurrection…” on “… the Third
and ‘fleshy.’ Day…”
• God grants each of us more than enough time to • The first day was Friday, when Christ was executed by crucifixion,
1. correct our weaknesses and habitual sins by Repentance before sundown. The second day, was Saturday, the Sabbath Day

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 on which He Reposed/Rested in the Tomb. The Third Day, which Revelations, His Trust, His Obedience - that Justifies us , not
begins after sundown on Saturday, is the Day of Resurrection. our Faith as such.
• Consequently, we Fast on Wednesdays (when Christ was unjustly • Christ’s Faith is seen in His entire Life on Earth, not in merely a
betrayed and arrested) and on Fridays (when Christ was unjustly few of His crucial Works.
tried, tortured and crucified.) • We are Justified by Christ and in Christ, for our Justification is not
• On Saturdays we Commemorate those who have Reposed, while simply legal but actual.
preparing ourselves with Fasting, Self-Examination, Prayers and • Our Justification and Eternal Life is effected by our real, personal
Repentance-Confession, for the Lord’s Resurrection Day, on Union with Christ in His Glorified human Nature.
Sunday, which we joyfully celebrate, while contemplating our own
Resurrection on the Eighth Day - our Final Judgement.
 “…If, while we seek to be Justified by Christ, we ourselves also are
found to be sinners, is therefore Christ the Minister of sin? God
• Christ’s unjustified arrest, trials, torture and execution by crucifixion forbid! If I build again the things that I destroyed, I make
was the Ultimate, Final and Most Pure Blood Sacrifice for the sins myself a transgressor. I – through the Law – died to the Law,
of all mankind. Thereafter, no more blood sacrifices are required that I might Live in God. With Christ I am crucified.
for our Salvation, but it is essential for us to constantly Repent Nevertheless, I live! Christ Lives in me! …”
our habitual sins, so as to remain in a State of Spiritual Life, while
• Our sinfulness does not reflect upon our Lord Jesus Christ Who is
we Strive to regain our Divine Likeness to Christ.
sinless.
 “…And they remembered His Words, and returning from the
Sepulchre they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the • We are still habitual sinners, which clearly shows that
rest….” 1. our Holy Union with God never takes away our free will
2. some chose to return to Old Covenant Judaism.
• On their return from the Empty Tomb, the Holy Myrrhbearers would
have discussed and assimilated, to the best of their ability, • St Paul “…died to the Law…” in order “…to Live in God...”
everything they had witnessed, and they began to recall the 1. He rejected living according to the imperfect, ineffectual Judaic
Divine Teachings and Commandments of Christ. Laws.
2. He fully committed himself to the New Covenant of Love – to
• These first Holy and Faithful Witnesses to the Empty Tomb Life in Christ.
proclaimed the Resurrection of Christ “… to the Eleven and to all
the rest…” of His Faithful Disciples. • The Judaic Laws had evolved according to the will and
misinterpretations of certain religious zealots over the years.
 “…It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the Mother of James, and
the other women with them, who told these things to the Apostles. • Consequently, the Judaic Laws lost its Sacred Purpose –
And to them their words seemed like idle tales, and they did not 1. REPENTANCE of our habitual sins
believe them…” 2. the acquisition of LOVE of God and each other.
3. had become ineffectual and IMPERFECT.
• St Luke mentions the names of a few of the Eight Holy Myrrhbearers,
4. were RIGIDLY LEGALISTIC, uncompassionate and unmerciful,
again alluding to our Ever Blessed Lady, Theotokos as “… the
which failed to Heal, Restore and Save us from our grievous
Mother of James…” [Refer details above]
passions and sins.
• St James the Just was the eldest son of St Joseph the Betrothed and • Therefore, those who try to reinstate the distorted Judaic Laws
his late wife, Salome. He is also known as “Adelphotheos” – “the transgress against God and His infinite Love, Compassion and
Brother of Christ” because of his absolute devotion to Theotokos Mercy for all mankind.
and Christ.
He had accompanied them to Egypt and is thus depicted on Holy • We die through the Old Covenant Law – not bypassing nor
Icons carrying the Infant Christ upon his shoulders. dishonouring it, but by recognising that - although it is Holy -
He was the first to accept Theotokos and Christ as rightful co-heirs we deserve its Consequence, which is Death.
to St Joseph the Betrothed’s estate, as well as accepting our Lord • “...With Christ I am crucified...” means that we are voluntarily
as the Divine Saviour/Messiah. “dead” according to the Judaic Laws through our Crucifixion
• St Mary of Magdala, being more mature, independently wealthy and and Death together with Christ,
outspoken had proclaimed the Good Tidings of Christ’s • Through the Holy Mystery of Baptism - in the Name of God the
Resurrection to the Apostles and Disciples. Father, Son and Holy Spirit – “…by Fire and Water…”
• The other Women were more reluctant to do so either because they
did not know how to explain everything or they knew the men

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• Our New Covenant Faith is an essential Synergy – the Sacred would regard “… their words …” as “… idle tales, and they did not
Cooperation between our Triune Lord God and us – Divine believe them.”
Will and human will working in Sacred Harmony, Unity, Love  “…Peter rose up and ran to the Sepulchre, and stooping down, he
and Peace. saw the Linen Cloths lying by themselves, and he departed,
• We must be willing to co-operate with our Lord God Who never marvelling to himself at what had happened…”
forces His Divine Will on us. • According to St Luke, only St Simon Peter believed St Mary of
• When we surrender our will with Humility and Obedience to the Magdala’s Joyful Proclamation of Christ’s Resurrection “… and
Divine Will of our Heavenly Father, we shall truly begin our ran to the Sepulchre…”
Spiritual Journey in His Kingdom of Love. • St Luke simply states that St Simon Peter peered into the Empty
• The Source and Fulfilment of True Faith and these Actions are Tomb and “… saw the Linen Cloths lying by themselves…”
through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. whereupon “…he departed, marvelling to himself at what had
happened…”
• We Experience amazing Faith and Actions through our Union with
the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the • According to St John’s more detailed Gospel account, however, both
Holy Spirit in Whose Names and by Whose Power and Authority St Simon Peter and St John the Beloved Apostle had immediately
we are Baptised and Chrismated. believed and rushed off to the Empty Tomb.
• God the Holy Spirit grants us His Power and Energy for the • There is far more to this elementary account according to St Luke’s
ongoing Life of Righteousness in Christ – the wonderful Life of Holy Gospel, which is provided by the Holy Gospel of St John.
Blessing, Great Mercy and infinite Love according to the Will of [Refer to Resurrection Gospel 7: John 20:1 – 10]
God our Heavenly Father.
• The ancient Patriarch Abraham is our Holy Father of Faith and of
the Blessings of God the Holy Spirit. T H E E PISTLE OF S T P AUL TO TH E G AL ATIANS 2 : 16 – 20
• The legalistic ‘Judaizers’, who have based their Righteousness on The Source of Faith is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
the works of the Law, have received Condemnation – not the
Blessings of the Holy Spirit!
Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ Δικαιοῦται Brethren, knowing that a man is
ἄνθρωπος ἐξ Ἔργων Νόμου, not justified by the works of the
• The status conferred by Righteousness is Holy Sonship.
1. We become adopted Children of God through our Union with ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Law, but by the Faith of Jesus
God Incarnate. Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Christ, even we have believed in
2. The Source of Sonship is God – not mankind! Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα Jesus Christ, that we might be
3. Holy Sonship is a Divine Promise – not achieved by human Δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ Πίστεως Justified by the Faith of Christ,
deeds.
Χριστοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐξ Ἔργων and not by the works of the Law.
4. Holy Sonship is acquired only by True Faith according to the
Divine Truth of Christ – not by our own puny efforts nor Νόμου·
selfish desires. Διότι ἐξ Ἔργων Νόμου οὐ Wherefore, by the Works of the
5. The Purpose of Holy Sonship is for us to become like our Lord Δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ. Law no flesh shall be Justified.
Jesus Christ – “godlike” – as He originally created us to be,
and to enter His Heavenly Kingdom of Divine Love/Agape. Εἰ δὲ ζητοῦντες Δικαιωθῆναι ἐν If, while we seek to be Justified by
• God introduced the Works of the Old Covenant Law in order Χριστῷ εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ Christ, we ourselves also are
1. to protect mankind against the evil wiles of the devil and his ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς found to be sinners, is therefore
demons who obsessively hate mankind. ἁμαρτίας διάκονος? Christ the Minister of sin?
2. to protect His People until the time of Divine Sonship when our
Union with the Eternal, Only Begotten Son of God became Μὴ γένοιτο! God forbid!
possible. Εἰ γάρ, ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν If I build again the things that I
• Faith in Christ is parallel to the Works of the Divine Law and can οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν destroyed, I make myself a
be translated as “the Faith of Jesus Christ,” which is the Holy
συνίστημι. transgressor.
Gospel.
• As the Source of Works was the Old Covenant Law, so the Source
of Faith is our Lord Jesus Christ – His Teachings and

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 1. was for the Guidance, Repentance and correction of our fallen
Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ Νόμου Νόμῳ For, I, through the Law, died to the state – our corrupted state (i.e. a state of Spiritual Death).
ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ Ζήσω. Law, that I might Live in God. 2. kept the Nation of Israel both physically and spiritually
Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· With Christ I am crucified. healthy.
3. was to PREPARE God’s Chosen for the Coming of the Great
Ζῶ δὲ οὐκέτι ἐγώ! Ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Nevertheless, I live! Christ Lives in Divine Saviour and the New Covenant of Love.
Χριστός! me! 4. The temporary, Old Covenant dietary and ritualistic Laws were
all fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ Who brought us God’s
Ὄ δὲ νῦν Ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν Πίστει The Life in the flesh, I now Live in New Eternal Covenant.
Ζῶ τῇ τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ the Faith of the Son of God, Who • The Ten Commandments of God are still essential to our Sacred
Ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ Loves me, and gave Himself for Relationship with God and each other.
παραδόντος Ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ. me. • We are Justified according to “… the Faith of Jesus Christ…” when
Although it is unclear when St Paul had written his Epistle to the Christian we Live in Christ by applying His Divine Truth to our thoughts,
Communities of the Province of Galatia in Asia Minor, it was also addressed to words and deeds.
the various other churches established by him during his Missionary Journeys • The Source of True Justification is Faith according to our New
in Asia Minor. Covenant with God.
The main theme concerns the True Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ versus the • Faith and Life in Christ is the Fulfilment of God’s New Covenant
false gospels that were being spread by Jewish legaliser who claimed that the with all mankind.
Disciples of Christ were expected to also follow the Old Covenant Laws and
• St Paul, together with all the other Faithful Disciples of Christ,
practises or customs. were Old Covenant Judeans who accepted our Lord Jesus as the
ST Paul subsequently urged the Faithful Disciples of Christ to return to the Great Messiah Who had been Promised to us by our Lord God.
Divine Grace and Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and His New Covenant of St Paul was devoted to serving God – initially through the Old
Unconditional, Divine Love. Covenant Judaic Laws, and then according Divine Truth of our
Lord Jesus Christ and His Divine Covenant of Love.
 “...knowing that a man is not Justified by the works of the Law, but He had zealously persecuted the first Disciples of Christ, although
by the Faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus he never killed anyone himself.
Christ, that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ, and not After his Conversion - when he Encountered our (Resurrected)
by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no flesh Lord Jesus along the road to Damascus - St Paul became the
shall be Justified…” most successful Holy Apostle to the Gentiles, having received
all His Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom directly from God
• St Paul gives the content and Purpose of the True Gospel by
Himself.
contrasting it with the false doctrines of the Judaizers who
insisted on following the Old Covenant Laws to the very • Our New Covenant Faith according to the Divine Revelations,
“…letter of the law.” Teachings and Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ
1. is the only means of our Eternal Justification, Restoration and
• By strictly following “the letter of the Law” instead of “…the
Salvation.
Spirit…” of God’s Laws, the Old Covenant Faithful had drifted
2. Justifies, Sanctifies and Saves our body and soul, which the Old
apart from God because they followed their own Path of
Covenant could not do.
erroneous, flawed human interpretation of Divine Law and
3. ‘crucifies’ our corrupt condition and sustains our New Being in
Commandments – very much as is happening these days.
Christ
• Our Lord Jesus Christ came to redirect His Holy Flock as well as all
• We abandon and renounce our old, fallen, corrupt nature – “the old
mankind, according to the Loving, Merciful, Compassionate and
man” - and take on a Regenerated, New and Sanctified nature
Righteous Laws and Commandments of God our Heavenly
in Christ at our Baptism and Chrismation.
Father.
 “Wherefore, by the Works of the Law no flesh shall be Justified.”
• The Divine Laws are supposed to Spiritually Guide and Benefit us
so that we shall all become Spiritually Perfected and thus be • Works of the Old Covenant Law began with mankind’s actions,
granted Eternal Life. whereas our Christian Faith begins with God’s Divine Actions.
• We are “…not Justified by the Works of the Law…” because the • Every Work of Faith is the combined Action of God and us,
Purpose of the Old Covenant Law

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