SIMPLY ORTHODOX. The Power of Words Written by the Very Rev. John Breck October 2009, Article #2* November, 2009 Contents

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1 SIMPLY ORTHODOX The Power of Words Written by the Very Rev. John Breck October 2009, Article #2* A few weeks ago my wife and I pulled into a gas station, and I got out of the car and began filling up. A pickup truck stopped about twenty yards in front of us, and the driver started waving and shouting. He was miffed because he couldn't pull up to the air pump; somebody had parked another pickup too close to it. The driver of the first truck kept waving and yelling something, I thought to one of the other customers, somebody he knew. Finally I saw him glaring straight at me. I called out, "Who are you talking to?" His aggressive response, coupled with a look of combined rage and disdain, was "You!" Then he pointed to the other pickup and yelled, "Is anybody in that truck?" I peered behind the pump I was using, then replied to the guy, "Nobody's in the truck." He uttered an expletive I'd do better not to repeat here, then he made a gesture toward me that was one of hostile dismissal, an intentional put-down both for the driver of the other vehicle and for me. He was mad and wanted me to know it. I finished filling up and was feeling pretty miffed myself. By this time the other truck's driver had returned, he pulled away, and this guy I immediately labelled as a Carolina redneck was busy putting air in his back tire. Rather than get into our car and reasonably, rationally drive off, I walked around the front of his truck and stood a few feet away from him. He looked up and snarled, "What do you want?" My reply, in a normal but none too friendly voice, was "You'd get a more decent answer to a question like that if you'd ask in a civil voice and not just sit in your truck shouting and waving your arms." It wasn't a very bright thing to say, but I was mad and shaking a little. He stood up and said something -- I forget what. I glared at him for a second or two, then turned my back to him and started walking toward my car. The guy yelled out one last time: "Hey, I waved at you! That's the way we do it in South November, 2009 Contents Commemoration of Saints and Feasts in November page 3 Questions and Answers about Orthodoxy Faith and Works page 4 Prayers from the Liturgical Cycle ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS page 4 Orthodox Missionaries INDIA Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple Kontakion - Tone 4 The most pure Temple of the Saviour; the precious Chamber and Virgin; the sacred Treasure of the glory of God, is presented today to the house of the Lord. She brings with her the grace of the Spirit, therefore, the angels of God praise her: "Truly this woman is the abode of heaven." page 6 Simply Orthodox is a monthly newsletter compiled by Spiro Tsipouras, an Orthodox Christian living in Ballarat. Information is sourced from the internet. Please send any suggestions or comments to: spirot@iprimus.com.au or PO Box 534W, Ballarat West, VIC Continued

2 Simply Orthodox Carolina!" By the grace of God I kept my mouth shut, which seemed to make him all the more outraged. He was mumbling something as we drove away. Later on I found out that my wife, overhearing all of this, was sure I was going to get a bullet between the shoulder blades. This guy, after all, was hostile, aggressive, maybe a little drunk, and obviously of the redneck species, the kind that carries a loaded shotgun in the rack behind the driver's seat and a.38 in the glove compartment. A week later I recalled the incident while I was reading Steven Pinker's marvellous book, The Stuff of Thought. That book, which explores the interrelationship between language and human behaviour, got me to thinking about the really fascinating dynamic of that exchange at the gas station. The "guy" started off with an aggressive demand for some information: was there a driver in the truck blocking his path? The arm waving was his attempt not so much to attract my attention as to assert his authority: his right to be mad at the offending truck and to exact information from any available bystander. When I told him the truck was empty, he transferred his aggression to me, the messenger with the bad news. Once I confronted him, the aggression mounted in both of us. I called him on his lack of civility; he reposted with an attempted putdown. When I turned my back on him, I was dismissing his complaint as of no worth. He felt shamed, so he fired back with a self-justification ("Hey, I waved at you!"). When in the following second or two that had no effect -- I kept on walking away from him -- he called on a collectivity to back him up: "That's the way we do it in SC!" If I'd answered what I wanted to, "That's the way rednecks do it in SC!" I may well have gotten that bullet in the back. There's a poorly enforced concealed gun law in this state, and most of its citizens, it seems, are armed to the teeth. "Don't tread on me, buddy!" no matter how uncivil I may get. My own combination of anger, shame and aggression did nothing but compound the situation, to the point that my poor wife was seriously afraid for my life. The guy is probably a very good father and husband, no more of a redneck than me or my neighbours. But whatever, the exchange was fascinating because of what it revealed about the dynamics of a meeting between strangers that's based on hostility and selfjustification, both his and mine. Just maybe, again by the grace of God, I'll learn from this how much language -- meaning attitude as well as words -- can make or break a relationship, between strangers or between friends and lovers. Words have power, as the ancient Hebrews so well knew. It's no accident that the Person of the Holy Trinity who deigned to become incarnate, to take upon himself this very fallen human nature of ours, was the Word of God. With words we can bless or curse, heal or wound. We can reflect the mercy and love of Christ, even in potentially hostile situations, or we can let our nervous system -- our passions -- get the better of us, as I did, and make a bad situation worse. What that brief little encounter at the gas station accomplished, on the positive side of the ledger, was to remind me of and reinforce for me once again a truth so often spoken by a departed friend, colleague and mentor at the St Sergius Institue in Paris, Olivier Clément. A theme that recurred throughout his writing and teaching career is one I, and I suppose most of us, need very much to keep in mind. That is the truth that every human person without exception -- from the holiest monk to the most aggressive gun-toting redneck -- is created in the image of God and is therefore worthy of infinite compassion. * "Life In Christ" Articles Written by the Very Rev. John Breck 2

3 November 2009 Selection of Saints and Feasts Commemorated in November (for a more complete list see references at end) November 10 th : Our Venerable Father Arsenius of Cappadocia, the Wonderworker (1924) Cappadocia (in eastern Turkey) is virtually devoid of of Christians now, but in 1840, When St Arsenius was born there, there were still vital Orthodox communities. He became a monk and was sent to his his native town, Farasa, to serve the the people. He became known as a mighty intercessor before God, praying for all who came to him, Muslims as well as Christians. His countless miracles of healing became known throughout Cappadocia; those who could not come to see him would sometimes send articles of clothing for him to pray over. He became known as Hadjiefendis, a Muslim term of honour for pilgrims, because he made pilgrimage to the Holy Land every ten years on foot. He never accepted any gifts in return for his prayers and healings, saying "Our faith is not for sale!" He concealed his holiness as much as he could beneath a rough and sharp-tempered exterior. If anyone expressed admiration for him, he would reply "So you think I'm a saint? I'm only a sinner worse than you. Don't you see that I even lose my temper? The miracles you see are done by Christ. I do no more than lift up my hands and pray to him." But as the Scriptures say, the prayers of a righteous man avail much, and when St Arsenius lifted up his hands, wonders often followed. He lived in a small cell with an earthen floor, fasted often and was in the habit of shutting himself in his cell for at least two whole days every week to devote himself entirely to prayer. Father Arsenius predicted the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor before it happened, and organized his flock for departure. When the expulsion order came in 1924, the aged Saint led his faithful on a 400-mile journey across Turkey on foot. He had foretold that he would only live forty days after reaching Greece, and this came to pass. His last words were "The soul, the soul, take care of it more than the flesh, which will return to earth and be eaten by worms!" Two days later, on November 10, 1924, he died in peace and the age of eighty-three. Since 1970, many apparitions and miracles have occurred near his holy relics, which reside in the Monastery of Souroti near Thessalonica. He was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in November 18 th : Holy New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus (1750), and Daniel, whom he converted Anastasius and his sister were Greek peasants living in Epirus under Ottoman rule. One day a band of Turks came through their village, led by Musa, the son of the local Pasha (Governor). Musa was struck by the beauty of Anastasius' sister and tried to seize her, but Anastasius threw himself at the Turks and fought them off long enough for his sister to escape. Musa's father had Anastasius arrested and brought before him and, impressed by his courage, attempted to convert him to Islam by many means: threats, beatings, and offers of worldly honour; but Anastasius held firm and was cast into prison. Musa was moved by the way that Anastasius bore all these trials and temptations, and wanted to know more about the Faith that sustained him. Going secretly to Anastasius' prison cell, he peered in and saw two young men of shining appearance with the prisoner. They vanished as soon as Musa entered. Anastasius told Musa that these were angels who guard and aid every Christian, especially when they suffer for Christ. He also explained in a simple way the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which enables His followers to set little value upon worldly things. Musa, deeply moved, threw himself at Anastasius' feet and asked to become a Christian. Anastasius told him to wait until the proper time, because his conversion would cause his father to persecute all the Christians under his power. A few days later, in 1750, Anastasius was beheaded by order of the Pasha. Soon after this, Musa visited the tomb of a holy Martyr and was granted a vision of Anastasius, Continued on page 5 3

4 Simply Orthodox Questions and Answers about Orthodoxy (from OCA website) Faith and Works QUESTION: I have been raised to believe that grace is all that is necessary for salvation... no works. But having read the verse from James that you quoted about faith without works being dead, it now makes sense that works go with faith. But how many works are necessary for salvation? ANSWER: There is no "required amount" of works that are necessary for salvation. What is crucial is that, if we indeed have faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, that we manifest or reveal our faith in how we live and how we treat others. Read Matthew 25:31-46, in which we find the parable of the sheep and goats. In this parable, Christ reveals that which He will ask of us when He judges us, as well as that which He expects from those who call themselves by His name. He asks if we have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, given drink to the thirsty, ministered to the sick and imprisoned -- and, of utmost importance, whether we have discerned His very image in those around us, especially the "least of the brethren." If we fail to put our faith into action through such works of mercy, our faith is purely intellectual, "lip service," so to speak. Simply stated, if we accept Christ as the Son of the Living God and the Saviour of the world, yet we fail to bring His love to others around us, then we are liars. Hence, faith without such good works is dead, and it is precisely on our willingness to put our faith into action that our eternal salvation hinges, as Christ reveals in Matthew 25. Do you have a question on the Orthodox Faith, Christianity? Contact Fr. John Matusiak at info@oca.org Prayers from the Liturgical Cycle of the Church THE FIRST CANON OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS NINTH ODE The Angels, beholding the Entrance of the all-pure one, were overtaken by surprise, how the Virgin hath entered into the Holy of Holies. Since thou art a living temple of God, O Theotokos, no impure hand shall touch thee. But the lips of believers, let them ceaselessly laud thee, crying unto thee joyfully with the voice of the angels: Verily, O undefiled Virgin, thou art more exalted than all creatures. The Angels, beholding the Entrance Having attained the most resplendent, pure beauty of thy soul, O pure Theotokos, and the grace of God having been cast upon thee from heaven, thou shalt ever lighten with the eternal Light those who joyfully cry: O undefiled Virgin, verily, thou art more exalted than all creatures. 4

5 Commemorations cont. who appeared to him encircled in light and urged him to continue on the road to Christ. Musa fled his father's domain to the Peleponnese where he received direction in the Faith from an aged ascetic. He then travelled to Venice to be baptized without fear of reprisal by the Turks. In time he became a monk on Corfu, receiving the monastic name of Daniel. He lived there in asceticism, but the desire grew in him to taste martyrdom for Christ, so he travelled to Constantinople to declare his conversion to the Muslims. But the Christians there dissuaded him, knowing that the conversion of such a prominent Turk would, if it were known, lead to retaliation against Christians. Saint Daniel returned to Corfu, where he founded a church in honour of St Anastasius and reposed in peace. November 25 th : Holy Great Martyr and Most Wise Catherine of Alexandria and those with her (305) "Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine." (Great Horologion) So great November 2009 was St Catherine's eloquence that the fifty orators assigned to debate her recognized their error and, as a body, asked for baptism, for which Maximinus condemned them all to death. The Saint was then subjected to torture on a speciallyconstructed spiked wheel (with which she is usually shown in her icon), but an angel loosed her and miraculously smashed the wheel. Maximinus' own wife and 200 soldiers, seeing her sufferings and the nobility with which she bore them, were moved to profess their faith in Christ and their yearning to be baptized. All of them were put to death. Finally Catherine herself was led outside the walls of Alexandria and, after a prayer of thanksgiving to God, was beheaded. November 26 th : Our Holy Father Alypius the Stylite (~607) He was from Adrianopolis in Bythinia, and took up the ascetical life at a young age. After many spiritual struggles he took up residence on a pillar, where he dwelt for fifty-three years. Crowds came to seek his his intercession and counsel, and in time a women's monastery was was founded near the pillar. At times an unearthly light was seen seen to radiate from the top of the pillar, accompanied by thunder and lightning. He owned nothing, and once threw his only tunic down to a poor man in need, leaving himself completely exposed to the elements until a recluse dwelling nearby saw his condition and came to his help. After fifty-three years, Alypius suffered a stroke which paralyzed half his body, but he continued to live on the pillar for another fourteen years, giving up his soul to God at the age of ninety-nine. For a more detailed list of Saints and Feast day commemorations visit God is Wonderful in His Saints: Orthodox Resources God is glorified in the counsel of saints; He is great and fearful toward all round about Him Psalm 88:8 (LXX) 5

6 Simply Orthodox Orthodox Missionaries Population: 1,129,866,154 Religions: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census) Languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Sanscrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Urdu, Hindustani. India With over one billion people, India is the second most populated country in the world. The Philanthropic Society of the Orthodox Church in India serves the needy and poor by offering ongoing outreach and witness through teaching the truth of Orthodoxy and offering an expression of love by ministering to the physical needs of the people. In 1995, in response to a plea for assistance, OCMC sent its first team there to assist in the ongoing mission outreach by offering seminars on the Faith. Since then, OCMC has sent Missionaries, Mission Teams, and funding through both the Support A Mission Priest (SAMP) program and Agape program. OCMC Helps To Feed Thousands In India April 7, 2003 St. Augustine, FL (OCMC) -- Through its Agape Canister humanitarian aid program the Orthodox Christian Mission Centre has been helping to feed thousands in the slums of Calcutta, India since The Philanthropic Society of the Orthodox Church in India, which is an OCMC Agape Canister program grant recipient, runs two feeding programs. These programs have improved the quality of life and life expectancy for thousands. Homeless children are fed daily and non-perishable food is distributed to impoverished families, the elderly and many disabled people weekly. This ministry helps widows, lepers, the blind and the lame. Both of these feeding programs are seeing increased numbers of people in need. Today, nearly 250 children gather daily in the churchyard to receive milk and biscuits. Boys and girls, ranging in age from six months to sixteen years, partake of the food. Most of the children who depend on this program are homeless or come from very poor homes and the biscuits they receive are likely their only meal of the day (for the full story go to Fr Igor will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Ballarat Saturday November 28 th, 2009 at 10am Contact Spiro or spirot@iprimus.com.au Church Address: 116 Humffray St, BALLARAT Orthodox music, teaching, interviews, features, convert testimonies, conference recordings and much more 6