Beloved faithful at St. Luke's,

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Today is the last day to officially greet you with the powerful proclamation, "Christ is Risen!", words announcing to all mankind the joyous news that Light has burst forth into darkness, and Life has forever destroyed death. Today thus comes to a conclusion our annual paschal celeration in commemoration of our risen Lord Jesus Christ's forty-day sojourn among us after his life-giving resurrection. This day is known in the Church as the Leavetaking of Pascha... yet as we all know, the joy of Holy Pascha shall never leave us! "Christ is Risen!" "Truly He is Risen!"

As a reminder, tonight at 6:30 pm, we will celebrate the Evening Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the Holy Ascension. All are encouraged to come and participate in the celebration of this Great Feast Day! In addition to our usual preparations, (that is, praying the pre-communion prayers, being at peace with others, etc.), remember to fast completely from all food and drink following a light mid-day meal in order to receive Holy Communion.

Please allow me this opportunity to share one last reflection on the Holy Resurrection of Christ to rightly conclude the 2006 Pascha season. This excerpt comes from St. Gregory Nazianzus' First Oration on Holy Pascha...

Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him. But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us - you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world. Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

How can we do this? America no longer uses the word "orphan" within its borders. Here, we now refer to the children whose parents are dead, gone, or otherwise unable to care for them, as "foster children". These are our orphans in distress.

Foster parents live the spirit of the above verse as they incorporate foster children into their families, manifesting godly love in a way that these children and their biological families may not otherwise ever know.

When a debilitating crisis hits a family, foster parents take the children into their home while the biological parents recover, make the changes they need to make, or until an adoptive family is chosen. The basic parenting principle is the same as with your own children: you love them as your own while preparing them to leave. But the time frame is much shorter, perhaps 18 months rather than 18 years. Within foster care there are various options to choose from, such as length of stay, age range, gender, and specific medical conditions. The length of stay options include Respite Care (from a few hours to a couple of weeks), Emergency Shelter Homes (up to 30 days), and Long Term Placements (indefinite stay).

As a Foster Home Licensing Worker for the County of Orange, I am privileged to work with Orange County foster parents on a daily basis. These "angels" humbly give of themselves for the sake of the children. This is a powerful way to share God's Love! As a member of the St. Luke's parish family, I want you to be aware of this opportunity. Many of us have experienced the pain of victimization, abuse, and broken families. I believe that ultimately, St. Luke's has proven itself to be a place of healing. And there comes a time when one is ready to reach out and help another heal. If you love children and would like to help hurting families, consider becoming a foster parent; find out more about your options, and talk with your family and friends about it. How wonderful would it be if a team of families here at St. Luke's decided to foster together as their ministry?!

Yes, Orange County has families that need help too. There may even be one in your neighborhood. And no, this is not the only way to love your neighbor. But consider if it might be yours.

Feel free to contact me with any questions at brian.timothy@ssa.ocgov.com

Sincerely, Brian Timothy

brian.timothy@ssa.ocgov.com

Additional Resources:

The Child SHARE Program "helps build congregation-based teams of foster parents, adoptive parents, respite (part-time) families, baby-sitters, volunteers, and `special friends' who can make a profound difference for a child...". Find out more at www.childshare.org or 1-877-957-4452.

A group of Orthodox priests and laity started the Guadalupe Home for Boys in Yucaipa, which grew into the Trinity Foster Family Agency. Trinity FFA can be found at www.trinitycfs.org

Christ is Risen!

The following was received today from our parishioner Betty Kurkjian. I think it may be of interest...

www.armeniacards.com

Dear All:

During his trips to Armenia as part of the responsibilities of his previous employment, our son, Bob, visited an orphanage and discovered the unique and beautiful hand-embroidered greeting cards the older children make there. The sale of these cards helps support the orphanage. When he first brought me packets of the cards, I was delighted and surprised to see the fine workmanship--intricately embroidered designs on paper. I had certainly never seen such a product.

As many of you know, I really like fine stationery, so I began to use these greeting cards, and found that everyone who received one was equally as pleased as I. Recently, at a baby shower, the card received no less attention than did the cute little baby items. The grandma-to-be even plans to frame the card.

Needless to say, I have a nice supply--one for every occasion, and some that can be used for any occasion. If you live in my area, I will be glad to give you a personal showing.

Please check-out the website Bob has developed to market the cards: Armeniacards.com. For just a little more than the cost of a typical Hallmark card, you can purchase cards that will delight the recipients as well as support a most worthy cause.

Do pass this on you your friends and family members.

Many thanks, Betty K.

From Bob...

As some of you know, I have been working on getting a small business off the ground to help support Zatik orphanage in Armenia. The result is www.armeniacards.com.

45% of all purchases go back to the orphanage and once you see these incredible, handmade cards, I think you will agree that they are well worth the money. They make great gifts too. After doing a little scouting, I found cards of significantly lower quality and design for much more money in high-end paper shops here in DC and LA.

Take a look at the website (and please let me know if you find any errors). We can also make custom cards, based on your design or just your ideas. No card is exactly like the another, since each one is handmade.

Please pass along this message as you see fit and help support Zatik.

Communiqué of a Fellowship of Orthodox Bishops

Concerning the "Da Vinci Code," and the "Gospel of Judas."

May 16, 2006

A fellowship of Orthodox Bishops was hosted by His Grace Joseph, bishop of Los Angeles and all the West (Antiochian Orthodox Church) on May 16, 2006, in the presence of bishops Serapion, (Coptic Orthodox Church), C. Eugene, (Syrian Orthodox Church), Moushegh (Armenian apostolic Church), Hovnan (Armenian Church). During the fellowship, the topics of "Da Vinci Code," and the "Gospel of Judas," were discussed. In conclusion to the discussion, it was decided that this fellowship communiqué be distributed among the Faithful.

We as Orthodox bishops caution our faithful about the movie "Da Vinci Code," which falsifies the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ. Based on fiction and falsehood, this movie tries to discredit the fundamentals of our Christian Orthodox faith, and to attack the authenticity of the New Testament.

Also we caution our faithful about the "Gospel of Judas." This "gospel," better entitled the Judas Document, is neither "good news" (the meaning of "gospel") nor was it written by Judas Iscariot—nor is it even particularly "new." This ancient manuscript was roundly condemned and refuted by the early Church Fathers.

In the midst of the media's relentless avalanche of anti-Christian propaganda concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, we are confident that you are standing firm in your Orthodox faith. Battling for our Apostolic Faith, which bears the Truth of Who Jesus Christ is, we must remain undismayed by attacks that the media launches against the accuracy and veracity of the four Gospels.

Christ is Risen!

The Feast of Mid-Pentecost Service tonight! The Evening Divine Liturgy in celebration of this beautiful feast will begin tonight at 6:30 pm. In order to receive Holy Communion, fast completely after having had a light mid-day meal. A non-lenten pot-luck meal will be shared in the Fellowship Hall afterwards. Bring something to share.

Hymns from tonight's service…

There is come now the middle of those days which commence with Christ God's saving Rising and which are sealed by Pentecost, that divine day. Illuminated by both the feasts and joining both, it is radiant and also is now rendered majestic, mani festing and showing the presence of the great glory of the Ascension of our Master, Christ.

The bountiful pouring forth of the Divine Spirit upon all is now at hand, as the Scripture saith. This is proclaimed by the mid-point of the blest period after Christ God's death and His burial and rising, when He gave His disciples His unfailing and true promise, which revealed and showed forth most clearly the coming of the Comforter.

As we come together on the Mid-feast between Thy Resurrection and the divine coming of Thy Holy Spirit, O Christ, we praise the mysteries of Thy wonders. Wherefore, on this day do Thou send down Thy great mercy unto us.

More pictures posted: Recent photos of many Ladies of St. Luke's enjoying the annual Prayer Sister Luncheon have been posted on our yahoogroup site. This was a beautiful gathering!

Update from our Parish Council Chairman…

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ Is Risen !

The parish elected 4 wonderful new council members this year. We welcomed Bernadeen Scholl, Sheryle Kelishes, Jim Juroe and Michael Savage. Each new member brings enthusiasm and a willingness to do what is needed to keep St. Luke's running as smoothly as possible.

I wanted to take a few moments to keep everyone updated on projects, tasks etc. that your council has been working on since the beginning of 2006.

The first major project this year was to treat the Church and the hall for termite infestation. The Church itself was spot treated in a few areas but the hall and Sunday school buildings needed to be completely tented. Needless to say, it was quite an inconvenience for Father Michael and Anna for a few days. It appears that the majority of the termite damage was to the benches that are located between the hall and the school building. The men's club agreed to try and repair the damaged wood etc. Unfortunately, the damage is such that the benches will need to be replaced. Those replacements should occur in the near future.

In addition, when the hall was tented, the gas company had to shut the gas off to the building to prevent explosion etc. When the tent was removed, the gas company found what they believed was a gas leak somewhere under the concrete between the bar b que area and the hall. We had several professionals come out and assess the situation. Fortunately, the repairs were relatively minor and were completed in a few days.

The last 2 council's have been working on ways to improve the appearance and explore various ways to expand or make the existing restrooms more user friendly. Many roadblocks were uncovered which included building code update requirements, permits, etc. We believe we are in the final phases of the planning and work should begin in the near future.

The medical building is beginning to get back to normal. We lost several long term tenants which resulted in 3 vacant suites. The suites needed refurbishing which included repairs, new carpets, paint etc. One of the units has been leased and we have several interested parties in the remaining units.

A youth advisory committee was developed to address any issues concerning the youth of our parish. The committee has met either in person, via e-mail etc. on many occasions. The committee will lend guidance to any volunteer or staff youth director. The committee is currently addressing ways to best serve our youth which now includes finding a replacement for our youth director who has recently resigned the position.

As you can see, we are off to a productive start for 2006. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact myself or any member of the council. Feedback is always appreciated.

In Christ, Nick Barson

Christ is Risen!

Have you ever wondered about the Artos (the large loaf of sweet bread) that is blessed on Holy Pascha, then blessed again on Bright Saturday at Vespers, and at last distributed for the faithful to partake of following the Divine Liturgy on Thomas Sunday? The following is a very good explanation...

In the Orthodox Church, it is the custom for a single loaf of blessed sweet bread (in Greek "Artos") to lie before the Iconostasis throughout Bright Week, in memory of the Risen Christ, before it is shared among the whole congregation. Depicted atop the Artos are either the symbol of Christ's victory over death, the Cross, surrounded by a crown of thorns, or an icon of the Resurrection of Christ. On the first day of Pascha, during the midnight Liturgy, after the Prayer Before the Ambo, the Artos is blessed by a special prayer and sprinkling with Holy Water. Throughout Bright Week, at the end of the weekday Liturgies, the Artos is carried around the church in solemn procession. On the Saturday of Bright Week it is blessed again and distributed to the congregation (sometimes this is done after Sunday Liturgy on St. Thomas Sunday).

The significance of the Artos is that it serves to remind all Christians of the events connected with the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. While still living on earth, the Lord called Himself the Bread of Life, saying: I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and He who believes in Me shall never thirst (John 6:35). After His Resurrection, more than once Jesus appeared to His disciples, ate before them and blessed their own food. For example, as evening fell on the first day of His Resurrection, He was recognized in Emmaus by two of His disciples as He blessed and broke bread (Luke 24:13-35).

On the 40th day after His Resurrection, the Lord ascended into heaven, and His disciples and followers found comfort in their memories of the Lord: they recalled His every word, His every step and His every action. When they met for common prayer, they would partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, remembering the Last Supper. When they sat down to an ordinary meal, they would leave a place at the head of the table empty for the invisibly present Lord and would lay bread at that place.

Remembering this custom of the Apostles', the Fathers of the Church made it their custom to put out the Artos at the Paschal Feast in memory of the appearances of the Risen Lord to His disciples, and also in memory of the fact that the Lord Who suffered and was resurrected for our salvation has made Himself the true Bread of Life and is invisibly present in His church always (Matt. 28:20).

Whereas special Paschal breads, called in Russian "kulichi" or "kulachi" are broken and eaten on the first day of Pascha, the Artos is kept whole throughout the entire Bright Week as a reminder of the presence of the Risen Savior in the midst of those who believe in Him, and is only divided and distributed on Saturday. In this way Bright Week begins and ends with the eating of especially baked and blessed bread.

The Artos may also be compared to the unleavened bread of the Old Testament, of which ancient Israel, delivered from their captivity in the land of Egypt, ate during the week of the Passover (Ex. 12:15-20). As Cyril, Bishop of Turov, who lived during the 12th Century in Russia, said in a sermon for the Sunday after Pascha: Even as the Jews bore the unleavened bread upon their heads out of Egypt through the desert (Ex. 12:34) until they had crossed the Red Sea, after which they dedicated the bread to God, divided it amongst all their host, and having all eaten thereof, became... terrible to their enemies; even so do we, saved by our Resurrected Lord from the captivity of that Pharaoh of the mind, the Devil, bear forth the blessed bread the Artos from the day of the Resurrection of Christ and, finally, having dedicated this bread to God, we eat of it and preserve it to the health of body and soul.

It is a custom among some Orthodox Christians to this day to keep the Artos throughout the year and with due reverence and faith to eat of it in time of illness or distress. This is eaten, often together with a drink of Holy Water, which had been blessed at the Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord (Jan. 6th).

Yea, the Time has Come...

Holy Pascha and the Mystery of the Liturgical Present

Thou, O Lord, shall rise up and have pity upon Sion, for it is time to have compassion on her. Yea, the time has come.
(Alleluia verse, Paschal Liturgy)

It is a long and laborious journey that leads to Pascha. Ten weeks, if the pre-Lenten period is taken into account, of fasting, of alms, of lengthened services and expanded vigils. The Psalter has been gone through fifteen times. Genesis and Proverbs have been read aloud in their fullness. The Gospels have been chanted over the grave of Christ and the Acts read in anticipation of His waking therefrom—for that waking shall be the foundation upon which the apostolic preaching will be grounded.

It has been in many ways an arduous journey. The blackness of sin and death have become ever more evident along the way, and in the latter days of Passion Week we have clad temple and priest alike in black garments symbolic of this vision. Sin and death are not avoided in the Lenten walk: they are met head-on, face to face in the overwhelming mystery of their dark reality. 'O my Saviour, why art Thou sleeping?' we asked as Christ was laid in the tomb. Our hope, our expectation, has been born out of the true substance of our world, torn apart by our sins, our lack of love, which cast love Himself into the grave. Where I have sinned, there has He walked.

But now, now at the end of this long anticipation, the time has come for the fulfilment of our hope. On Easter night, after all the lights of the church have been extinguished and true darkness overwhelmed our senses, the faithful leave the church into the cold of midnight. In procession behind the Gospel book they chant, 'Deem us on earth worthy to glorify Thee with a pure heart', circling the church or monastery in slow reverence. The procession at last ends before the doors of the church, firmly closed.

It has all come to this.

The Fast is now complete, the Triodion has been closed. We stand before the doors of the temple with nothing left to offer in preparation. We have fasted—many of us poorly, but such as we were able. We have kept waking vigil. We have even, at this final moment, cast ourselves out of the house of God—a liturgical excommunication of all humankind. There is nothing left for us to do. Only the Lord can transform Lent into Pascha. It is, in the most real way, 'time for the Lord to act'.

Thou, O Lord, shall rise up and have pity upon Sion, for it is time to have compassion on her. Yea, the time has come.

The time has come. Since first we sinned in Eden, not only we but the whole cosmos has groaned for salvation to arise. As we were cast from paradise, so have we longed ever after for return. It is the event for which the whole world longs. And on this night, from the midst of our own fallen lives, we proclaim a mystery beyond comprehension: 'The time has come'.

Can this be so? Can I, who in the past weeks have seen so manifestly the terrible extent of my sin, be the one to proclaim in my own day that now is the time of redemption? Abraham in all his glory did not see this day; how, then, shall I! Yet the Church calls even such as us to attention:

Cast thine eyes about thee, O Sion, and behold! For lo, like divinely radiant luminaries thy children have assembled unto thee from the west, the north, the south and the east, blessing Christ unto the ages.
(Troparion of the Eighth Ode, Paschal Matins Canon)

If we do thus cast our eyes around us to behold, we see a sight of immense wonder. The unfathomable mystery of this day is that it is this day that salvation is come upon the world. Today is the 'auspicious day of the Resurrection', today the 'dawning of the life of all'. Here, in our midst, is the glory of redemption. 'Christ is risen, and life doth reign!'.

The transcendence of sacred, liturgical time is a hard reality to grasp, and it is difficult precisely because the truths it proclaims are so fearful to accept. 'Today I see Thee crucified, O Christ; today I see Thee buried'. If such words are more than mere liturgical poetry, if they relate to us something fundamentally real about our worshipping, liturgical life, then they are terrifying indeed. It is here, in my presence, that the great offering of life is made by the eternal Son. It is before my face that His love is revealed. Now is the time in which these great events of God's economy are wrought, for in the mystery of sacred time we are always in the present. Christ is in our midst, ever and always, and His life is that which is present among us. This may be the source of great awe and wonder in the terrible 'today...' proclamations of the passion and crucifixion, but more terrifying still is the proclamation that 'Today is the day of Resurrection', that 'the Lord's Pascha, that all-venerable Pascha, has dawned for us'. It must be with a spirit of inexpressable awe that we say, in the words of the megalynarion, 'Today the whole creation is glad and rejoices, for Christ is risen and hell has been despoiled'.

There can be no greater blessing in the life of any member of Adam's race, than to be able to say in truth that today 'the time has come'. Our salvation appears before us. That procession by which we earlier departed the church does not end there before the closed doors. The time has come, but those locked doors and that darkness are not the end of the Lenten story. In the culminating moment of all our preparation and anticipation, the doors of the church are re-opened and we return therein to find the house filled with light. What was, moments ago, a dark grave is now the shimmering image of paradise. Or even more, as we say in the Paschal Hours:

How life-giving, how much more beautiful than paradise and truly more resplendent than any royal palace proved Thy grave, the source of our resurrection, O Christ.
(Sticheron at the Hours)

Even beyond the glories of Edenic paradise is the reality of God's Kingdom which on this day has triumphed over death—the final, great foe. The time for God's compassion is at hand, is now, and in our midst and lives the hope of Adam and all our race is accomplished. Nothing greater could ever be longed for or received. So do we all cry out with St John in his homily:

Christ is risen, and thou, O death, art overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead,
Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and dominion
Unto the ages of ages.

Christ is Risen!

Wisdom from the Saints: Fire makes iron impossible to touch, and likewise frequent prayer renders the soul more foreceful in its warfare against the enemy. That is why the demons strive with all their strength to make us slothful in attentivenes to prayer, for they know that prayer is the soul's invincible weapon against them. St. John of Karpathos

Note: 30 really beautiful pictures from the Holy Unction Service with Bishop JOSEPH (on Holy Wednesday) have just been received and added to our yahoogroup site. Be sure to take a peek.

Parish Calendar: tomorrow, Thursday, May 4th - the Men of St. Luke's will be having a BYOM ("Bring your own Meat") BBQ and Meeting at St. Luke's. Drinks and sides will be provided. All men are welcome to come and hopefully, everyone planning to attend has already RSVPed with either Jim Juroe, Fred Khorey or Frank Kouri. If not, please do so today.

Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, May 7th - Ladies Bake Sale after Liturgy. Prayer Sister Luncheon at the Citrus Cafe in Irvine, from 12-3pm.

AND... Bible Bowl Preparation THIS SUNDAY in the St. George room from noon till 2pm. Lunch will be provided. To plan ahead, the final Bible Bowl Preparation will be on Sunday the 21st, the Sunday just before the Parish Life Conference in San Diego, same time and place.

Have a blessed day!

Christ is Risen!

Over 20 Thomas Sunday photos have been posted at our yahoogroup site... enjoy!!!

Here is the sermon from St. John of Kronstadt that was incorporated into Sunday's homily:

What Has the Feast of Pascha Left in Our Souls?

And so, the Feast of Feasts has passed by us: and the Royal Gates in the Lord's temples are shut; and the service is no longer as triumphant as it was during Bright Week. What, then, brethren, has this feast left in our souls? Christian holidays, you see, do not pass before us, one after another, just to leave our souls idle, but in order to discharge us from the cares and affairs of life's concerns; to put it another way: the Lord provides us with holidays in order that we might temporarily put aside thinking about, concerning ourselves with, rejoicing at, grieving over, that which is worldly, earthly, quick to pass; but, instead, that we might meditate upon, concern ourselves with, rejoice at, that which is heavenly and eternal. It was precisely for this reason, as well, that the holiday just past was given us.

The Lord made us worthy of beholding the all-radiant feast of Christ's Resurrection in order that we might see in it the first-fruits of the universal resurrection of all mankind in that last day of the world: Christ rose from the dead, being the first-fruits of those who had died (Cor. 15, 20), says the Word of God. It was for us, you see, that the Lord suffered, died, was buried, and arose: and His death, burial and resurrection is, as it were, our own death, burial and resurrection. It is for this reason that we sang during Mattins of Bright Week: yesterday was I interred with Thee, O Christ; conjointly with Thee do I rise today (Pasch. Can. Ode 3, Trop. 2). Yes, we all of us, invariably, shall rise up; and we all look for, i.e., await, the resurrection of the dead. This is as certain as it is certain that there will be a day tomorrow. Has this ever entered your heads; have you given any thought to this during the holiday? Yet it was necessary to think upon this, without fail. All the great holidays of the Church,—and the Feast of Pascha, in particular,—remind us of our redemption, through Jesus Christ, from the age to come.

But such a one as believes in his resurrection from the dead, the same prepares here for the future life; attempts to live in accordance with the commandments of the Lord; honours the feasts of the Lord; and takes care not to offend against their sanctity through deeds of carnal impurity. And what was done among us, us Orthodox Christians, on this radiant Feast? It is shameful even to speak of it; but it is necessary to do so. Christians, to the great grief of Holy Mother the Church, turned the bright days of Pascha Week into dark days, days deserving of tears and lamentation. So very many celebrated not the feast of Christ's Resurrection, and our own resurrection from dead works, but a feast of demonic resurrection in their souls. The Great Fast was a defeat of, was death for, the devil; because he fled from many souls and died to them, as it were, after their sincere repentance and communion of the Holy Mysteries; but on the feast of Pascha he rose again in not a few souls. How did he arise? Through gluttony, drunkenness, outrage and other vices that drunkenness gives rise to, and to which many Christians gave themselves over. It is thus that Christians love Christ; it is thus that they celebrate the greatest holiday of the year! What benefit is there in such people calling themselves Christians? Many pagans live better lives than that and, without a doubt, are more worthy in God's eyes than are they. Those of other [non-Christian] faiths and those who are not Orthodox, who dwell in our city [Kronstadt] are astonished at such behaviour, and on so great a holiday, and say: there are the Christians, for you; there are the Orthodox, for you! They celebrate like real pagans, and on such a holiday, yet! That is what those of other faiths and those who are not Orthodox say of us. But what does the Lord Himself say of our holidays; or, more precisely—of our observance of them? My soul hateth your festivals, and I cannot bear the great day, saith the Lord, I am surfeited; I will no more pardon your sins (Esaias 1, 14).

Brethren! Whom have we begun to resemble? to what extent have we given ourselves over to forgetfulness? And the word of Scripture is being fulfilled in us in all its force: and man, being in honour, understandeth not; he is compared to senseless cattle and hath become like unto them (Ps. 48; 13, 21). Christ the Lord hath honoured us with His name; He hath washed us with His blood; he hath made of us a chosen people, an holy nation ([I] Pet. 2, 9); while we insolently, madly, have despised God's mercy and dishonour ourselves by all means of dissolute acts. Do not flatter yourselves, brethren: neither thieves, nor murderers, nor fornicators, nor adulterers shall inherit the Kingdom of God (I Cor. 6; 9, 10). Yes, if you do not cease from behaving thus, especially on holy days which, according to the Lord's commandment, should be consecrated and sanctified, then ye will not see the Kingdom of God.

Brethren! it is extremely necessary for us to behave more wisely, and to attend more closely to ourselves, during the feasts of the Lord. The Lord will call us strictly to account for our foolish revelry. It is not according to the flesh, as do those who worship idols; but, rather, according to the spirit, that we should celebrate our holidays; although even bodily celebration, if it occurs together with the spiritual, is permitted and is not hateful to the Lord; but, in that case, it must never exceed the bounds of moderation. God is spirit (John 4, 24; 2 Cor. 3, 17); our soul, redeemed by the Saviour, is spirit: therefore should our holidays be more spiritual than fleshly. Such a one as celebrates only bodily, the same celebrates not unto God, but unto his idol—the belly; or, which is all the same, to the demon of intemperance. God deliver everyone from such feasts! The abundance of material viands is permitted to Christians on holidays to the glory of God, in order that we might eat and drink in moderation, thanking God Who, together with spiritual joy, sends us bodily consolation, also, in the variety and sweetness of the viands and beverages, in order that our joy might not be wanting. But spiritual joy on a holiday must always surpass that of the body; while, with us—it is the opposite.

It is said, in God's commandment: remember the Sabbath day, and sanctify it (Ex. 20, 8); in our language of the New Testament, this means: remember the Day of Resurrection; do not forget its holiness and try to sanctify it yourself by your good deeds.

O Lord! grant that we might always remember Thy commandment concerning how we are to celebrate holy days; that we might keep it holy and be well-pleasing unto Thee with spiritual celebration. Amen.