The Spirit of Mammon: (+ Finance Seminar)

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You have put all things in subjection under his feet. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue.

But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. Do not trouble the Teacher. And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Children are released at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

High School Students are invited to join Mr. Parish Council positions open: Daniel if you would like to nominate someone for these openings. As we plan a balanced budget for the coming year we would ask that you again make a commitment pledge for the upcoming year. There is a letter and attached pledge card in the vestibule, please take one and prayerfully make your pledge for the up coming year.

Mary Orthodox Church, Southside, Pittsburgh. This is a service retreat , we will be helping with the annual Thanksgiving dinner preparation for needy families in the city. Vladyka Melchesidek will be joining us. Divine Liturgy will be served for the Feast Day at 9am with a brunch to follow. After serving we will visit the market district. Depart 7am- Return 7pm Bring cash for late lunch.

Paul White, Nikolai Emelianow, Mark. Michael and the Synaxsis of the Archangels- 9: See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. I beg You, do not torment me! For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.

And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.

And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you. And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

God loves a cheerful giver! We are looking for donations toward new signs for the Parish…. Thursday, Decemeber 17th, St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Monastery from Belarus will be visiting our parish. Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke.

Troparion — Tone 5 St. Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke 1st c. Martyr Marinus the Elder at Anazarbus 4th c. Julian the Hermit, of Mesopotamia 4th c. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. This salutation by my own hand — Paul. Grace be with you. A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Relax and enjoy a beautiful autumn day in the country with fellowship, food and refreshment! See Karen or Marge for details. We also need volunteers to help on the 24th with waiting tables, bussing tables, clean up and tear down. Make it a day of service to your parish, Liturgy begins at 8am and we end the day with vespers at 5pm. Mary Orthodox Church, Southside, Pgh.

Leave 7am- Return 7pm. The comic genius of Monty Python often shows it face when interjecting the present into the past. The charming Arthurian legend of the transmission of Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake is demolished with the prosaic treatment of modern rationalism. Thus the Labor party can make her sound like a raging Leftist revolutionary. It is Monty Python in reality.

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But the point raised by the quote is, strangely, quite germane. Where does executive power come from? I am part of a hierarchical Church. But executive power itself is vested in the hierarchy who serve the Tradition. In point of fact, the Tradition has executive power, and the Tradition is from God. This contrast between the modern concept of governing and the traditional concept represents a deep division in the understanding of human life. Reason allowed for standardization.

Standardization allowed for greater central control. Life was transformed into an engine of prosperity and efficiency. Tradition became an obstacle to be removed. Traditional societies are extremely messy. They do things in a manner that evolved for a great variety of reasons. But just as measurements varied even within a single country, so institutions varied.

Local courts and customs, even local laws might vary. The effect was a deep decentralization of life. To live in a village was quite distinctly to live in a particular village and not in a village in general. Obviously such complete decentralization made efficiencies impossible. The great exemplar of modernity in the 18th century was the state of Prussia in modern Germany. It was the first state to successfully make centralization and standardization a dominant feature in its life. It became the ideal of every monarch.

Even in Russia, the Tsar began to envy the Germans. Various Tsars introduced rationalizations into the highly traditional Russian life. Everyone knew where they stood. And those goals were directed towards war. Historically, the Tsars imported Germans to help with this project. Of course, rationality brings tremendous benefits. Imagine how efficient it would be if the size and shape of people could be standardized. Clothes would not need to come in various sizes. The price of clothing would drop and no one would need be naked.

One size fits all! They differ widely and dramatically; we treasure that difference. The rationality of the Prussian state produced an extremely powerful war machine. It eventually made possible the military success of Germany and Hitler. When Germany was developing a ruthlessly efficient army in preparation for the First World War, Generals in France were still insisting that their soldiers wear their traditional bright red pants.

Red trousers are France! The rationality of the modern project did not stop with armies. It gradually came into almost every area of life, including the Churches. One manifestation of this standardization was the production of catechisms. The Reformers wrote small tracts with detailed organization of doctrine, capable of memorization and rapid reproduction. They were extremely effective and efficient tools for the instruction of the population. The Orthodox eventually developed one of their own as well. These developments might seem to be innocuous or even as real improvements.

But they represent a shift in the center of gravity for human life. Traditional ways of thinking, living and interacting are organic rather than purely rational. Just as the standardization of human size and shape would actually diminish humanity and human experience, so the rationalization of every area of life does the same. A catechism tends to state succinctly things that should be stated at great length, or not even stated at all.

They produce a form of knowledge, but not the form that is called Tradition. We do not learn Tradition; we are formed in Tradition. In the West, generations of children were drilled in their catechisms. Completion of the catechism was then greeted with the sacrament of Confirmation. The result was a rational Christian. The unintended result was a dull, moralistic, overly rational Church sermons became dry treatises that often lasted two hours.

A predictable reaction occurred. Deeply emotional revivals such as the First and Second Great Awakenings in America, the Methodist movement, and various Pietist groups on the Continent, all sought a return to something that was actually felt and not simply thought.

There is no catechism that could capture or communicate the fervor of a Methodist brush arbor revival. Of course, those emotional reactions precursors of modern Evangelicalism were often accompanied with a decline in doctrinal instruction. Western Christianity was fractured. Traditional forms of living are simply human forms of living. We are capable of assimilating highly rationalized life-styles and customs. But we love what is truly human. These are components of our lives that indicate that, though we are capable of the rational, we transcend it and prefer to live above it.

We are several hundred years into the Modern Project. Much that was once traditional has been erased and replaced by rationalized structures. The pendulum has swung many times, with rationalization and reaction producing wave after wave of change and disruption. One result of this process is the disruption of childhood and adolescence. Human beings actually learn by tradition. There is no other way. Rationalized traditions have the inherent weakness of theory. On paper, this new math ought to be a great improvement.

Of course, only a generation of children can actually prove whether it is so. And, modernity being what it is, another change will have been set in place before that generation has passed. The Church is similar. Almost no modern Christian worships in a manner similar to his grandparents unless he is Orthodox. We chanted and had bells, etc.

One Sunday, a young Catholic couple visited, looking to explore a bit. I was dismayed, wondering what more I could do. When I questioned them more closely, they told me that they preferred a service with guitars. The presence and life of Tradition are essential to humanity. We are an adaptable species, meaning we can tolerate a tremendous amount of nonsense. But there is a reason why there is a Christianity that has remained largely unchanged, or, at most, has evolved rather than having been reformed. It is simply the continuation of a very human way of believing. Human beings live best and become more fully what they are meant to be when they are actually allowed to be human.

The march of modernity continues apace. It is increasingly sweeping traditions aside. Apostle Philip of the 70 - One of the 7 deacons. Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council. Leo of Optina Synaxis of the Optina elders. Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.

Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. And He presented him to his mother.

It is a phrase that is heard frequently in Orthodox services: The following excerpt is from his book, St. Prayer for the whole world, for all Adam, in many instances distracts the monk from putting himself at the service of individuals. One may question whether this withdrawing from individual service means refusal of the concrete for the sake of the abstract? Not at all, for the whole Adam is not an abstraction but the most concrete fullness of the human being. The ontological unity of humanity is such that every separate individual overcoming evil in himself inflicts such a defeat on cosmic evil that its consequences have a beneficial effect on the destinies of the whole world.

On the other hand, the nature of cosmic evil is such that, vanquished in certain humanhypostases [persons] it suffers a defeat in the significance and extent of which are quite disproportionate to the number of individuals concerned. A single saint is an extraordinarily precious phenomenon for all mankind. By the mere fact of their existence — unknown, maybe, to the world but known to God — the saints draw down on the world, on all humanity, a great benediction from God.

But I tell you that when there are no more men of prayer on earth, the world will come to an end and great disasters will befall. They have already started. But they are far from those who distance themselves from them, and very close to those keep the commandments of Christ and have the grace of the Holy Spirit.

In the heavens, all things are moved by the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is on earth too. He lives in our Church. He lives in the Mysteries. He is in the Holy Scriptures. He is in the souls of the faithful.

The Holy Spirit unites all things, and therefore the saints are close to us. And when we pray to them, then the Holy Spirit hears our prayers, and our souls feel that they are praying for us. The saints live by the love of Christ. This love is Divine strength, which created, and now upholds, the world, and this is why their prayer is so pregnant with meaning.

Barsanuphius, for instance, records that in his time the prayers of three men preserved mankind from catastrophe. Thanks to these saints — whom the world does not know of — the course of historical, even of cosmic events, is changed. So then, every saint is a phenomenon of cosmic character, whose significance passes beyond the bounds of earthly history into the sphere of eternity. They are the fruit that preserve the earth. But when the earth ceases to produce saints, the strength that safeguards it from catastrophe will fail.

Tonight, before you go to bed, pray: Daniel and Family, and the Filipos Family.. Hieromartyr Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens 1st c. Uncovering of the Relics of St. Gurias, First Archbishop of Kazan, and St. Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, Prince of Novgorod Martyr Peter of Capetolis 3rd-4th c. Martyrs Domnina and her daughters Berenice and Prosdoce of Syria Martyr Adauctus and his daughter, St. Callisthene, of Ephesus 4th c.

Stephen Stiljianovich of Serbia But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.

For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Daniel would like all of your youth to attend this event if possible. I would like to suggest that dogs are perhaps the greatest things humans have ever accomplished. If my understanding is correct, dogs are essentially gray wolves, or directly descended from a wolf species, beginning somewhere between 60, to , years ago.

At some point they were domesticated by us and used as aids to hunting. It has even been suggested that the domestication of dogs gave us an edge in our competition with Neanderthals. Human beings have domesticated any number of animals, generally for purposes of food.

And it is this process and its result that I mean to laud as among our finest hours. We long ago ceased to be serious hunters, but we kept our dogs. The breeding and development of dogs for companionship seems to be a fairly recent thing. But it is the inner reality of this that interests me: Animals are without sin. God has made Creation subject to death and dissolution for our sake it directs us towards repentance. But creation itself has no sin — it has not broken its essential relationship with God.

The bread that becomes the Body of Christ does not need to first repent of its sins. Repentance belongs to humans alone. Another way of saying this is that various animal species always act in accordance with their nature one of the meanings of sin is to act contrary to our nature. Dogs do dog things. Cats do cat things. Squirrels do squirrel things. Dogs do not gather nuts and climb in trees. When human beings domesticate an animal, they do not give them a new nature. At most, we breed and train in a way to accentuate certain aspects of their nature. But, my marveling and praise is over what we generally like in dogs.

They are wolves and could be made to behave like wolves and be quite dangerous. In some cases, they are still trained for aggressive behavior. But, on the whole, we have chosen very affable traits for development. When we survey the world and creation, there are many things that stand as shameful signs of human occupation. This is particularly the case where the civilizational collapse that we call modernity has had the upper hand. The charm of an English village is the product of a different age.

The mind-numbing banality of an American suburb and its strip malls is the mark of modernity. But then there are dogs.

The Spirit of Mammon

Of course, there is a darker side. I am not alone in writing about animals and men. George MacDonald, perhaps one of the most profound theological minds in British history, was deeply opposed to then growing practice of experimentation on animals. The animals of Narnia are not pets: This is itself part of the depersonalization of the world that often marks our modern lives. My maternal grandfather was a farmer. In the years that I remember best, his farm was given primarily to the raising of cows. It was a modest farm, with a dog or two and always a bevy of cats who lived by catching mice.

But I always remember my grandfather walking slowly among his cows, like a shepherd or cowherd. These are images that go far beyond a mere utilitarian relationship with animals. These animals have names. Interestingly, one of the primary and early uses of dogs was the sharing of this shepherd role. It is interesting that Christ Himself offered no better image of His relationship with people than to compare Himself to a shepherd. There is something godlike in a proper relationship with animals. Several years back I chose to take all of this seriously. I realized that whatever I did with this animal, the results would be there to praise me or accuse me.

I wanted to be a man with a dog. It has been an intense experience. He is a companion. After my heart attack I had to develop a routine of long walks. His needs forced me to take care of myself. Human beings, at our best, are capable of pets. At our worst, we are capable of cock-fights and faceless, nameless exploitation.

God has clearly given animals to us for food, but He has not given them to us for abuse. It is said that a society can be judged by how it treats its weakest members. I would add to that the treatment of animals. Pets are not necessarily an indulgence in sentiment. They are a movement towards something right and good. Paul White, Nikolas Emelianow, Mark. Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross. Oleg, Prince of Briansk ca.

Monk Martyr Hilarion of St. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: K nowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Enter into the joy of your lord. Look, there you have what is yours. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

The cross is a ubiquitous symbol in our Christianized culture. Everyone from movie stars to the average child can be seen wearing one. We know that Jesus Christ was lifted up on the Roman cross, which was a gruesome and public method of execution. This cross was prefigured by Moses at the parting of the red sea, and the raising up of the cross in the desert to protect the Israelites from threatening snakes. We remember Aaron at the battle with the Amalikites as he keeps his arms raised with his staff in the sign of the cross victory is gained.

This victory is the victory over death, sin and the devil. The symbol of the cross became a cultural icon when St. The Church had already known the power of the cross in the previous centuries. The Cross was real life for many early Christians who were also crucified, like the Lord Jesus.

The Lord went voluntarily to the Cross. He had to die to free us mortals from the power of Death, and the only way was to become death and defeat it from its origin. Bearing our struggles, carrying our pain, patiently waiting. Whoever bears them bravely becomes strong and obedient to God, and whoever enters the path of following the will of God conquers his natural weakness.

On the other hand, whoever does not recognize his own powerlessness is proud and not inclined to submit himself to the will of the Lord. Whoever does not submit to it and hopes only in his own power does not receive the power and help of God and, not having been strengthened in spirit, cannot become patient. But whoever does not endure misfortune and afflictions has not faith, and whoever does not have faith, does not love God. Alexis of Senaki, Concerning Afflictions. This is our cross, to bear patiently all that comes to us in love and with love. May God bless you all.

Holupki Making- Mon October 12 th , Tues. See George Wasko for more info. Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, and Macarius Archippus Arkhipp of Herapolis. Martyr Romulus, and with him many others Hieromartyr Cyril, Bishop of Gortyna 3rd-4th c. David of Hermopolis in Egypt 4th c. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Come to the wedding. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. There are many things to do and see: We will be participating in the clan gathering on Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday offering nut rolls and Coffee and conversation about the Orthodox Faith. Come and See our new Cross…. His Holiness, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, will preside at the liturgical celebration, at which many visiting hierarchs, civil dignitaries, and others will be present.

Sebastian of San Francisco and Jackson. His parents were Serbian immigrants from Sassovae. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Russia for training and formation as a missionary priest. After completing three years of studies at the Saint Petersburg and Kyiv Theological Academies, he was tonsured to monastic rank and ordained to the diaconate in Returning to San Francisco, he served as a deacon at the cathedral and taught in the newly established pastoral school.

On August 16, , he was ordained to the priesthood and assigned to pursue missionary work in California and Washington. In , he was transferred to Alaska, where he served as Dean of the Sitka Deanery. He continued to guide the Serbian Mission through July , when at his own request he returned to missionary work. With the opening of Saint Platon Seminary, Tenafly, NJ in , he served as a member of the faculty and also was involved in numerous conferences and discussions with non-Orthodox Christian confessions.

In these meetings, he was sympathetic and understanding, yet firm in his desire to reveal Orthodox Christianity as the fullness of truth and the Church of Christ. While Archimandrite Sebastian was obviously a candidate for the episcopacy is America, he likewise felt the calling to minister in his ancestral Serbia. In , he requested a release from the North American Mission to serve in Serbia, where he ministered for the remainder of his life. In , he embraced monasticism at the Studenitsa Monastery and then relocated to Russia to study at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy.

After graduation, he was ordained by the Russian Orthodox Church and sent as a missionary to America. Unfortunately, at this most chaotic time in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, it was impossible to secure the written blessing of Patriarch [now Saint] Tikhon of Moscow. Later in , Archimandrite Mardarije returned to Belgrade, where he was assigned as head of the Rakovitsa Monastery and principal of its monastic school. On April 26, , Archimandrite Mardarije was consecrated to the episcopacy in Belgrade.

Prior to his episcopal consecration, he had carried out most of the actual work of organizing the Serbian diocese. He also served as parish priest in Chicago and purchased with his personal funds the land for Saint Sava Monastery in suburban Libertyville. From the moment of his return to America, Bishop Mardarije undertook a wide range of ministries. He did not spare himself, nor did he fear work, although he knew that he was gravely ill with an advancing case of tuberculosis. In , he convened the first National Church Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox American-Canadian Diocese to address a variety of organizational issues.

At a clergy conference held in Youngstown, OH in , he renewed his appeal for all to work for the unity and good of the diocese. His kindness, patience and reluctance to use punitive measures resulted in a great measure of unity within the diocese by the time of his repose on December 12, at the age of 46 years.

Paul White, Maggie, Mark. Followers in His footsteps by your way of life,. Translation of the Relics of Rt. Alexander, Abbot of Svir Daniel, Prince of Moscow Christopher of Palestine 6th c. Fantinus of Calabria 9th c. Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs: Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. I urge you, brethren — you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints — that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.

Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? Leave taking of the feast of the Dormition. In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity. On this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One,. Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos,. Many rich and powerful men would pay dearly to see the Lord or His Most Pure Mother, but God does not appear in riches, but in the humble heart Every one of the poorest men can be humbled and come to know God.

It need neither money nor reputation to come to know God, but only humility. Leavetaking of the Dormition.

The Spirit of Mammon

Martyr Lupus, slave of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica 4th c. Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; that I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. What do I still lack? And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Afterfeast of the Transfiguration. Martyr Anthony of Alexandria. For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,. Against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

Spirit of Mammon 1 of 4. Put God First 2 of 4. Generosity 3 of 4. Generosity 4 of 4. Spirit of Mammon 1 of 4 The number of times Jesus talked about wealth and possessions, stewardship and accountability, far exceeded any discussion on any topic. In fact there's about 10 times the number of references to finances and stewardship and resources, than there are to faith and salvation, and yet all of these go together.

Often the moment we start to talk about money, people freeze - and we will see why Put God First 2 of 4 I've seen too many rich people who had miserable lives to believe that money can really make your life happy. God can make you happy, money can't. Money is just a piece of paper. It's some numbers in the bank. It cannot make your life happy. What it does instead is it tends to create problems.

Generosity 3 of 4 We have seen many people that have had much money and yet they didn't have what money seemed to promise, health and prosperity and every good thing. It seems like it still eludes them, so we looked at that and saw that Jesus taught very specifically about us placing God first. To be generous is to be liberal. It's an attitude of heart that shows up in every area of your life including finances. Generosity 4 of 4 There's something about generosity that creates a very sweet fragrance. When people give and there's nothing in it for themselves, they've just given unexpectedly to you, then there's something sweet about it.

Generosity usually exposes greed. God is love and you can't love without giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving, so the greatest way we express the love of God to people is when we can be generous and kind to them with no agenda. That's when people see God, because that's what God is like.

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