"O Forerunner, thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou wast granted to baptize in running waters Him who was proclaimed."

In This Issue

• Informative

• Father's Letter

• President's Message

• Guidelines to Receive Holy Communion

• Saint Marina the Great Martyr

• St. Makarios the Great

Click Here to view the calendar

PANGARI
August 2  - George Moustakis
August 9  - Loretta Siotka
August 16 - Anastasia Spirakis
August 23 - E. Timothy Vaughan
August 30 - George Karukas

COFFEE HOUR
August 2 - Takis & Michele

     Michelos & Family
August 9 - Nick & Deborah

     Katsanos
August 16 - Amy Castanes &

     Brook Elliott
August 23 - Angie Karukas &

     Linda Moustakis
August 30 - Karen Karukas

PROSFORON
August 2  - Nina Smith
August 9  - Tim Groza
August 16 - Susie Andriotis
August 23 - Angie Karukas
August 30 - Tammy Merisotis

SUNDAY GREETERS
August 2  - George & Linda

     Moustakis
August 9  - Tim Groza & Stella

     Mislitchi
August 16 - Dorothy Radomsky &

     Anna Kouis
August 23 - E. Timothy & Mary

     Vaughan
August 30 - Loretta Siotka &

     Teodora Rotis

MEALS ON WHEELS
August 9  - Elaine Karavan / Anna

     Kouis
August 10 - Linda Moustakis /

     Dena Platingos
August 11 - Mary & E. Timothy

     Vaughan
August 12 - Kalla Szostek / Maria

     Veselinovich
August 13 - Demitrios Tselides /

     John Popa

If you are unable to attend on the day you are assigned, please contact Linda Moustakis at 238-1473 as soon as possible.

THEE HOLY NOOK Offers imported Greek items including hand painted ceramic tiles and jewelry boxes, greeting cards, beautiful icon bracelets, pure olive oil soap, Greek coffee, "brikia" and delicious halva, as well as "A Voyage in Greek Cooking," St. John's parish cookbook. Please stop by, or you may contact Adrianne Finn at 903-1901. If you don't see what you're looking for, ask a Board member.

THE LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS INVITES you to the first of its Holy Myrrhbearers Culture Series, "Moldava, Romania & Princess Ileana/Mother Alexandra." Our presenters will be Stella Mislitchi & Teodora Rotis. This event will be held on Wednesday, August 5th at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall ~ Coffee Room, and we will serve Romanian (Fasting) Desserts. Please R.S.V.P. to Anna Kouis at 347-2868 or Loretta Siotka at 399-8955 no later than August 3rd. There is no fee for this event, but your free-will donations will gratefully be accepted

HOSPITAL VISITS: If someone from your family is sick or in the hospital and desires a visitation, please notify Fr. Konstantine at 843-448-3773.

CASA: CITIZENS AGAINST SPOUSE ABUSE

Violence Breaks Up Families... and Ruins Lives
 

Due the economy, CASA funding has been cut. The safe houses are in need of groceries-- especially food cards from any grocery store, in any amount, will be greatly appreciated. Please keep bringing your unwanted items to church. The CASA thrift store will sell items the victims cannot use in order to pay for housing and other expenses for the abused. Thank you for your generosity.

FISH FRY FOR YANO

Please help us make this event a HUGE success!
 

If you have a business or store in which you can display the enclosed flyer, please do so. Also, public bulletin boards, etc. If you have an e-mail contact list and would like to send out a digital flyer, you can download it here and then send it out as an attachment. You may also contact the office at office@stjohn-mb.org, and one can be e-mailed directly to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for supporting this event.

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS

If you are a college student, or the parent of a college student, please contact the office to provide the student's name, what college they will be attending, and what their major is.

You may call Donna or Father Konstantine at 448-3773, Monday – Friday from 8:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

You may also e-mail this information to Donna at office@stjohn-mb.org

August 2009

Dear fellow Orthodox Christians of Myrtle Beach,

The end of the summer months usually brings to mind the need to prepare for the upcoming school year, colder temperatures (maybe not so much in South Carolina), and other things of this nature. Though these are important to our day to day lives, this time of year places us in a most sacred time of the Liturgical year. During the month of August alone, we celebrate quite a few major Feast days of the Church.

The biggest Feast Day we celebrate during the month of August is the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord which occurs on August 6th. Second to this would be the obvious celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary. We prepare for these Feasts with a period of strict fasting, which begins on August 1st and ends on the Feast of the Dormition itself – August 15th. Every night during the "Dormition fast", we hold the Service of the Paraklesis to the Mother of God. We also celebrate with much splendor, the Feast of the Transfiguration, even relaxing the fast this day with the allowance of fish because it is the Feast of the Lord. We should note that first we see our goal – to be transfigured "in Christ". Our goal is to become like Christ, to become holy. This holiness is observed in all icons of the Saints by the golden nimbus (halo) shown surrounding their heads. This golden light represents the uncreated light of Christ; that same light which shown forth from Him on Mount Tabor during His Transfiguration. Through an authentic Orthodox Christian life, and through the Grace of God, we too can achieve sanctity; we too can become Saints.

This brings us to the second Feast, that of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Now we see someone who actually achieved holiness. We see she who we honor more than all the Saints, but who was just like us; born just like us. The Church does not subscribe to the false teaching of the "immaculate conception". When it comes down to it, in simple terms, this teaching takes away from the glory of Panagia. If she was born without any spot of sin, then her life of ascetical struggle and unceasing prayer, etc. becomes of no critical importance. However – this is crucial! Her life of struggle, purity, etc. shows us that it is possible for a human being to become holy. She is our foremost example and our foremost intercessor to the Lord.

I touch on these things in an attempt to show why the liturgical life of the Church is of upmost importance. By attending the Service of the Church, we are not acting as mere spectators to some kind of "theater presentation" (may our Lord forbid this!), but we become participants, and co-strugglers on that "long and narrow path" to holiness, to salvation. That salvation in Christ for which we all long for… GRANT THIS O LORD!

In Christ,


Fr. Konstantine Eleftherakis

Dear Parishioners,

The summer is almost gone, and I hope everyone has had a good and prosperous summer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already donated to the medical fund.

The community will be having a fund raiser for Yano Pournaras. As you know by now, Yano is suffering from Stage IV Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. The fund raiser will consist of a fish dinner on August 20th, from 5:30 – 8PM. The cost of the ticket will be $20.00 minimum donation. Should you wish to make an additional donation, they would also be greatly appreciated. You may eat your dinner in the hall, or take it to go. Our prayers go out to the family, and to all the families who have loved ones that are ill.

I would like to inform everyone with school aged children that Catechism, Greek school and dance are right around the corner. Wednesday night Family night will begin on September 9th at 4:30 PM. The schedule may be found on the Church web site. A registration form is included in the August newsletter, and can also be printed from the web site. Should you need any further information, please contact the office or myself.

Please keep in mind that the festival is now sixty (60) days away. As always, volunteers will be needed throughout the week, as well as during the four days of the festival. This year's festival will be held Thursday, September 27th – Sunday, September 30th. Please mark those dates on your calendar.

There has been some confusion about names being left off of the monthly Stewardship list. The Archdiocese requires each family to complete a Stewardship card. The purpose of this card is to be able to put your donations in the proper accounting column. Also, when it is received, it provides a system to put your name and other information into the computer so that your name can appear in the monthly newsletter, as well as on the mailing list and church directory. If you do not fill out the card, your donation could be seen as a general donation and not part of your stewardship. For those of you who have not filled out a pledge card for 2009, please take the time to do so. For those of you that have filled out a pledge card, thank you for your time and donation. As always, should anyone have a question regarding stewardship, please contact me or Sam Stathos.

Thank you for your support of the Church and its ministries. As always, I wish everyone well, much health and love in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Respectfully,

George N. Spirakis,
Parish Council President

*Due to the continual questions regarding the preparation and receiving of Holy Communion, this guideline is provided once again for the spiritual benefit of our parishioners and those Orthodox Christians visiting our community.*

We must note from the beginning that only baptized Orthodox Christians (obviously including those who were canonically received into Orthodoxy from other faiths) who are prepared and have a blessing from their spiritual father, may receive Holy Communion. In addition, those Orthodox who are married must have been married in the Orthodox Church by an Orthodox priest to receive Holy Communion. If one was married outside the Orthodox Church, please refrain from receiving Holy Communion.


The Holy Eucharist and the partaking thereof, is the direct way in which we experience union with Christ in this life. The Eucharist is the "medicine of immortality" for our diseased souls. We are encouraged to partake as frequently as possible, in order to feed our souls in the same way in which we run to feed our bodies.

However, the Holy Fathers tell us that approaching Divine Communion without proper preparation is like putting our bare hands into an open flame. For as part of the preparatory prayers for receiving communion tells us: "…Draw nigh with fear, lest thou be seared; It is fire." The Fathers also tell us that receiving the Eucharist without due preparation can actually harm our souls. We see this set forth by the Holy Apostle Paul who exclaims to the Corinthians: "For the one who eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and a considerable number are falling asleep [dying]" (1Cor. 11:30).

The truth is that we would not invite a guest into our homes without first cleaning, putting things in order, etc. How much more then, beloved Orthodox Christians, should we take care to prepare our souls and bodies for the reception of Christ Himself? The following are some guidelines which the Holy Fathers have passed down and the Orthodox Church sets forth for the preparation of the faithful in receiving Holy Communion. We need to take care that we follow these guidelines as much as is humanly possible. As always, our personal preparation must be blessed by our spiritual father. This way, we are being obedient to the Church, and not to our own egos, which tell us, through the instigation of the Evil One, to do what we think is correct, instead of what the Church has given us.
 

1. First and foremost, we must be at peace with everyone and not have any hatred toward any person before we approach for Communion. The Psalms tell us to "not let the sun set on our anger". If we do have something against our neighbor, we must make every attempt to ask forgiveness and reconcile, before we dare to approach the Eucharist.
    

2. In order to approach the body and blood of Christ, we must not have any unconfessed sins that would hold us back from receiving Communion. Basically, if it has been a while since we have received confession, we should not approach the Chalice until we see the priest for confession. He will then direct us as to how often to receive confession and the Eucharist.
    

3. The Holy Orthodox Church, from the days of the Apostles, has set forth times of fasting. Every Wednesday and Friday is a day of fasting in remembrance of a) the betrayal of Christ (Wed.) and b) the crucifixion of Christ (Fri.). In addition, there are ‘periods' of the year when we are to fast. These being the fasting periods for Great and Holy Lent, the fast before Christmas, the Holy Apostles fast, and the fast before the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Aug. 1-14). This does not include ‘specific' days in which we must fast (the Elevation of the Holy Cross, etc.). An Orthodox Christian, who desires to approach the body and blood of Christ on Sunday, should observe (according to the guidance of one's spiritual father) the fast of Wednesdays and Fridays and the various fasting periods of the Liturgical Calendar. The Church teaches that we refrain from eating all animal products (meat, fish, poultry, etc.), dairy products (cheeses, eggs, etc.), and many times oil and wine. Please consult your spiritual father for more personal guidance. Some may not be able to fast as much as others for various reasons or circumstances (i.e. sickness, age, dietary regulations, etc.), but this must be discussed with your spiritual father. Fasting, we should note, does not consist of merely fasting from the above foods, but also involves fasting from all evil deeds, and also from the passions of the body.
    

4. Another part of preparing to receive Communion is the saying of the preparatory prayers before Communion (only a very small part of which are in the Liturgy books in the pews). There are specific prayers to be said the night before receiving Communion and the morning of our participation in the Eucharist. These prayers can be found in various Orthodox prayer books. A book that contains the whole service for Preparation before Communion is the prayer book translated into English by Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston, MA. This book can be purchased by any major Orthodox bookstore (Light-n-Life, etc.) We will make every attempt to stock this book (along with others) in our parish bookstore. Any Orthodox Christian who desires to receive Holy Communion must make every attempt to read as much of the prayers as is possible. By doing this in addition to our other prayers (not instead of them), we are able to have a sense of what mindset we should be approaching Holy Communion with. Traditionally speaking, Orthodox Christians should spend the night before receiving Communion (and Sat. nights in general) with spiritual reading, prayer, etc. If there is Vespers the evening before, attendance at this service is also part of our preparation. If we are physically able to attend (obviously work and school may inhibit some from being able to come, but this is not the case with the majority), and choose not to, we should not receive Holy Communion the following day. We are obliged by the Church to not eat or drink anything from midnight on. If we cannot keep to this, then we should not receive Holy Communion that day. Even if we are receiving only the blessed bread after the Liturgy (antidoron), we should still not eat anything from midnight on.
    

5. On Sunday morning (or the morning of a weekday Liturgy), we must make every effort to come to Church on time. The Fathers teach that anyone who comes to the Church late may not receive the Eucharist. Due to the obvious struggles of modern day life, it is sometimes impossible to get to Church "from the beginning". We should, however, make every effort to be in the Church by the start of the Divine Liturgy. We should be in church standing with attention and prayer during the service. When the Eucharist is presented, if we are prepared, we should approach the chalice in an orderly fashion, with much fear and humility, for we are literally approaching Christ. Women need to wipe off all lipstick before approaching. We must ask ourselves: would we approach Christ with lipstick on if He came into our homes? Well…He is present, fully, at the Eucharist. If one forgets, the priest may discreetly offer you something to wipe it off. Please do not wipe lipstick onto the Communion cloth. It should be noted that when the Holy Chalice is brought forth from the Altar for Holy Communion, the veneration of icons should stop as the Lord is present in front of you in His Precious Body and Blood.

We should, when it is our turn to receive, place the cloth under our chin (not below) and open our mouths. The priest will place the spoon in your mouth. We are then asked to close our mouths onto the spoon. The priest will then remove the spoon. We are asked not to keep our mouths open. We should then wipe our lips on the cloth, handing it to the next person, and to reverently go back to our seats. Though it is custom in the Slavonic churches for one to kiss the Holy Chalice after receiving, we are asked not to do this in order to avoid any accidents involving the Holy Gifts. In some parishes "antidoron" may be available directly after receiving. Technically we should not be receiving antidoron if we have received the Eucharist, hence the name "antidoron", meaning "instead of the gifts". However, it has become customary in America, for whatever reason, for all Orthodox Christians to receive "antidoron" from the priest following the Divine Liturgy. After the Liturgy we should then proceed (either in church or at home) to read the Thanksgiving Prayers after Communion. Again, these are not contained in their entirety in the Liturgy books found in the pews. The prayer book mentioned above (along with various others) contain all the thanksgiving prayers.

The above guidelines have been passed down through the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church, by word and by mouth. These are not necessarily the limit to preparation for Holy Communion, for as we know, no one is ever fully prepared and can always prepare more. We are asked to follow them as closely as possible, always under the guidance of a spiritual father. It is worthy to note that no one is worthy to receive Holy Communion. It is something we cannot explain; a mystery. In saying this, it is important to understand that Holy Communion is a gift, and not a right. We cannot look at Holy Communion as something we "deserve", or as something we are "rewarded with" for saying particular prayers or fasting. It is the selfless gift of Christ to His Holy Orthodox Church. We must pray to Christ to illumine us to have the strength to prepare ourselves, useless as it may seem sometimes, to receive His awesome gift of His very body and blood.

Amen.
 

Marina was born in Southern Anatolia, specifically from Pisidia of Cilicia, at the end of the third century during the reign of Claudius II (268-270). She was the only daughter of noble pagan parents. When she was five years old her mother died (some sources say she died shortly after childbirth), and since her father, Aidesios, was too busy carrying out his duties as a pagan priest to care for her properly, he turned her care over to a woman who happened to be a Christian.

This nanny lived in a small town about fifteen miles from where Marina was born. Away from her father's idols and blasphemous practices her nanny taught her about the Christian Faith. As Marina increased in age, more so did she advance in knowledge, understanding, and compassion. Her faith in the Living God was so great that she desired the difficult path of Martyrdom. She told her father that she wished to become a Christian and to never marry so as to live a life of virginity. Her father despised her for her faith and disowned her as his daughter.

A new governor named Olymbrios was elected for the region and in time began a persecution against all Christians in the area. One day he caught a glimpse of the very beautiful fifteen year old Marina with her nanny. The Imperial Governor Olymbrios, seeing her great beauty, desired her for his wife. When asked her name, homeland, and faith, Marina answered: "My name is Marina; I am the offspring of Pisidia; I call upon the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ." Upon learning that she was a Christian, Olymbrios tried to dissuade her by flatteries, and by threats of torture.

"Nothing Will Separate Me From Christ"

Marina frankly replied to the man: "Have no vain hope for me, O governor, that I might cower before any number of torments. Nothing will separate me from Christ - neither affliction, famine, fire, sword, nor any other harsh tribulation - not even a violent and very painful death. Think not that you will entice me with honors, gold or other wealth, because all these things are perishable and temporal. "The soul, by the grace of God, is immortal and desires eternity. For this reason, we, the Christians, wisely disdain these fleeting luxuries and enjoyments. We endure the sorrow and distress of the day that we might attain to everlasting life and eternal rest after our repose. If you think that I lie, here I am, try me, so you will know by deed the truth. Strike me, slay me, burn me, suffocate or test me with ten thousand torments. As much as you will worsen the punishment, so much more will Christ glorify me in the future life and blessedness. "Many times in this life Christ grants us a small consolation as a pledge of that future exaltation. He draws us out of the depths of the sea, or rescues us from fire, or saves us from other torments, to your shame and condemnation. Therefore, I do not sorrow in this transient life. Readily I give my body to death, for my deathless God and Master, as the Sinless One, out of love for me, was crucified." This rejection infuriated the governor and he put her to harsh torture so all the beauty of her body was disfigured. Not only the public sorrowed and wept and suffered due to her troubles but even the governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these tortures, hid his face in his hands. As broken up and destroyed as her body was, more so was her soul renewed and brighter.

"Great Is Your Faith, Marina"

Unshaken, she prayed with thanksgiving that the Lord count her worthy to be tormented for His love. As they tortured her, the Saint was looking up to heaven, and prayed: "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O My God, I trust in you; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on you be ashamed. Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all day. Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses, for they have been from of old. For I withstand these pains because I confess Your holy name. Send Your mercy and compassion to me so my grief will become joy." As the Saint was chanting and praising the Lord, the soldiers were beating her so severely that her flesh was torn and her blood flew profusely. The Archangel Michael, then, appeared to her and said to her: "Great is your faith, Marina. Have more strength, for it is by your good confession that your soul will survive, and you will gain the holy baptism."

The ruler ordered that Marina be thrown in prison. While she prayed there the Archangel Michael again came to comfort her and healed her of all her wounds. Seeing this the governor was amazed. He told her that he was sure then that she was a great magician. She said: "I am not a magician, but I am a worshipper of Jesus Christ. Now your defiled helpless idols have been exposed."

The ruler was enraged. He ordered to saw her flesh with iron saws, and to cut her skin with knives. When he thought that she was dead, he ordered his soldiers to put her body back in prison until she rotted. Archangel Michael appeared to her again, strengthened her, and repeated what he said to her before. He, then, Crossed her, cured her and disappeared.

The Hammer of Saint Marina

A malicious demon, beholding that his servant, Olymbrios, could not vanquish one young woman and make her fall down before the idols of demons, became desperate and wished to test her himself. Taking on a dark and dragon-like guise, a demon appeared to Marina in the prison to frighten her. Fearlessly Christ's athlete seized him by the hair and, finding a hammer, beat him to the ground, completely humbling him. A great light appeared and illuminated the entire prison. All of Marina's wounds were completely healed and not even a trace of scarring remained on her body. It is for this reason that Saint Marina often holds a hammer and is sometimes depicted beating on a demon in her icons.

Baptized in Water and in Blood

The demented governor tortured her the next day by fire and water but Marina endured it all as if not in her own body. The ruler gave his orders to tie her to a pole and burn her. They did. Then he ordered that they tie her hands and legs, and put her in boiling water. When she was in the water, St. Marina looked up to heaven and said: "O God who dwells in heaven, I ask You to untie me, and to make this water a baptism for me. Dress me with the robe of salvation through it. Take away from me the old man and put on me the new man. Make me, with this baptism, worthy to inherit the life eternal, and make my faith steadfast." A great earthquake then shook the place, Marina's ties were loosened, and she immersed herself in the water three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. She came out of the water praising God. A voice came from heaven, and all the people who were gathered there heard it. The voice said: "You are blessed, Marina. You were baptized, and became worthy of the crown of virginity." Many of those who witnessed these events declared their faith, became Christians and were baptized. The ruler ordered all of them to be killed. They were beheaded, and gained the wreath of martyrdom. It is estimated that they numbered in the thousands. Seeing that he could not overcome the Saint, the wicked governor finally sentenced Marina to death by beheading. She was beheaded at the age of fifteen in the time of Diocletian (284-305), but is numbered with the armies of martyrs, and remains alive in soul and power in heaven and on earth. The sufferings of the Great Martyr Marina were described by an eyewitness of the event, named Theotimos.

Up until the taking of Constantinople by Western crusaders in the year 1204, the relics of the Great Martyr Marina were in the Panteponteia Monastery. According to other sources, they were located in Antioch until the year 908 and from there transferred to Italy. Now they are in Athens, in a church dedicated to the holy Virgin Martyr. Her venerable right hand was transferred to Mount Athos, to the Vatopaidi monastery. However, atop Mt. Langa in Albania overlooking Lake Ochrid, there is a monastery dedicated to St. Marina with a portion of her miraculous relics. Countless miracles have occurred and still occur in this monastery, whose witnesses are not only Christians but many Muslims as well. So much did the Turks have respect for this holy place that they never dared disturb either this holy place or the property of this monastery. At one time a Turk was the guardian of the monastery. Saint Marina is especially invoked for deliverance from demonic possession and cures innumerable diseases including cancer.


Saint Marina As A Role Model For Teenagers

What a role model for Orthodox Christian teenagers today! This young 15 year old was raised a pagan, had a mother that died when she was young, her father shunned her for accepting Christ and desiring virginity, she rejected a life of marital happiness and love to love Christ more, she further rejected all the fame and fortune and worldly comforts associated with nobility, for her strong resolve in following Christ she was tortured brutally, she endured a demonic manifestation courageously, and finally she was killed with a desire to imitate the Saints. Most teenagers today would probably find the early tragedies of Marina's life demoralizing, but her love for Christ overcame all her insecurities and strengthened her against all the temptations every teenage girl faces. She could have lived any type of life she wanted, but she chose a path that brought her supreme joy that no worldly happiness could ever surpass.
And now Saint Marina lives forever and is one of Orthodoxy's most powerful and beloved Saints. She still answers prayers, cures illnesses for the grace she received in enduring bravely for Christ, and is a notable vanquisher of demons. Saint Marina was no damsel in distress, but a true female heroine. Before there was Hollywood female heroines like Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Selene from Underworld, or Alice from Resident Evil, there was Saint Marina the Vanquisher of Demons. Those were all fiction, but her story is real and her miraculous icons and relics are a testimony to this. Her superpower was her faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit. There could be no better female teenage role model, as she imitated herself the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary who it is said also bore Christ at the age Saint Marina was martyred.

Maybe most young women won't have to go such extreme tortures for their faith, but to be a faithful Christian in our society today will inevitably invite public ridicule, peer pressure, misunderstanding, unflattering stereotypes, insults and all sorts of temptations. Even in the midst of these types of "tortures", the example of Saint Marina can be a model on how to endure and be strong. Young Marina's confident faith and great love for God should serve as an inspiration to look beyond all vanity of this life and focus on that which truly matters.
 

- After a person had turned away from God's commandments and became subject to His condemnation, sin had enslaved him and like a narrow and deep abyss of bitterness, having pervaded inside, captured the soul to its very deepest recesses. Likewise, we can compare the sin within us as a large and leafy tree, whose roots stretch deep into the soil. Thus having entered our soul, sin had overwhelmed it to its deepest recesses, becoming a habit that begins in our childhood and with the years, grows ever stronger leads us toward the vile.

- Sometimes, good intentions are performed for the sake of self-glorification and public acclaim. But before God it is as same as a lie, a theft and similar sins, as it is said: "For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you" (Psalm 53:5). The sly one seeks a gain for himself even in our good deeds. He is very inventive in order to deceive us with worldly desires. When a person becomes attached to someone through physical love, the sin then snares him, binding him with shackles and dragging him down with his heavy burden, not allowing him to gather his strength to return to God. Whatever a person loves in this world is what burdens his mind and will not give him an opportunity to gather his strength and return to God. The level of our physical attachment determines the strength of the passion that wars with us. This is how the whole human race is tested…When a person is caught by his own self-willfulness and begins to love something, this love shackles him and he is incapable of striving totally toward God. Thus, for example, one might love his house, another — wealth, another — highly complex earthly scholarship to secure public acclaim; another loves power while another — fame; another loves entertaining parties, another to spend his time in "wool gathering" and pleasures; another deludes himself with idle thoughts; another, because of ambition seeks to sermonize; another takes pleasure in laziness and idleness while another is attached to elegant apparel; another gives in to earthly concerns; another loves to sleep, or joke, or swear. Whatever attaches a person to the worldly, large or small, it restrains him and does not allow him to collect his strength.

- If you see someone exalting himself and is arrogant about his abilities, know that even if he created great signs and resurrected the dead….he is being robbed by an evil spirit without realizing it. Even if he performs miracles — do not believe him because the sign of a Christian is to hide from others any gifts that God have deemed him worthy to receive. Having the riches of a king, the Christian hides them as though to say: "These are not my riches, someone else put them there." If someone says "What I have acquired is sufficient for me, I don't need any more," — he is already not a Christian but is in a state of delusion and has become an instrument of the devil. Because rapture in God is insatiable, the extent of one's savoring it and partaking of spiritual blessings is the measure by which the hunger for it is increased. Such people have a fervent and unstoppable love for God. The more they succeed and acquire, the more they acknowledge themselves as beggars.

- Like traders sailing on a ship during fair winds and a calm sea fear that sudden strong winds and turbulent waters may place their ship in danger before they reach port, so do Christians, even though they feel benevolent winnowing of the Holy Spirit, , fear that an ill-wind may arouse a turbulence of passions. Consequently, it is essential to take great care in order to reach the tranquil port of eternal life and eternal joy — the cities of Saints, Heavenly Jerusalem and the Churches of the firstborn. (Hebr. 12:23).