News & Events
Fri 12th Mar 2010
13 Therefore the Lord said:
" Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden."
15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD,
And their works are in the dark;
They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"
16 Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
" He did not make me"?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
" He has no understanding"?
Future Recovery of Wisdom
17 Is it not yet a very little while
Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD,
And the poor among men shall rejoice
In the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing,
The scornful one is consumed,
And all who watch for iniquity are cut off--
21 Who make a man an offender by a word,
And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
And turn aside the just by empty words.
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
" Jacob shall not now be ashamed,
Nor shall his face now grow pale;
23 But when he sees his children,
The work of My hands, in his midst,
They will hallow My name,
And hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
And fear the God of Israel.
Promises to Abram
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatterleads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
Saint of the Day
One of the most beloved Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church is St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 AD), who was the Abbot at St Mamas Monastery in Constantinople. He is one of three great Fathers whom the Church has officially granted the title of "Theologian", because he is one of a few, in the history of Christianity, to 'know' God. The other two Theologians are St John the Evangelist, and St Gregory of Nazianzus (390 AD).
St Symeon was born in Galatia in Paphlagonia (Asia Minor) in 949 AD. His parents, Basal and Theophana, were Byzantine provincial nobles. St Symeon received only the basics of a primary Greek school education until he was about eleven years old. He finished his secondary education at the age of 14 in the court of the two brother emperors Basil and Constantine Porphyrogenetes. At 14, he met St Symeon the Studite, who became his spiritual father and who led him into the life of asceticism and prayer.
Although he wanted to enter the famous monastery of the Stoudion at the age of 14, his spiritual father had him wait until he turned 27. During this period of preparation, St Symeon's elder continued to counsel and guide him, preparing him gradually for the monastic life even in the midst of worldly cares. St Symeon occupied himself with the management of a patrician's household and possibly entered the service of his emperor as a diplomat and a senator. While 'busy in the world' he also strove to live a monk's life in the evenings, spending his time in night vigils and reading the spiritual works of Mark the Hermit and Diadochus of Photike. One of his elder's advice was, "if you desire to have always a soul-saving guidance, pay heed to your conscience and without fail do what it will instil in you".
There are many books, in English, on the wealth of work by St Symeon. These include "Symeon the New Theologian, the Discourses" translated by C. J. deCatanzaro for Paulist Press; "The First-Created Man, Seven Homilies" translated by Fr Seraphim Rose for St Herman of Alaska Brotherhood; and "St Symeon the New Theologian, Life-Spirituality-Doctrine, in the Light of Christ" by Archbishop Basil Krivocheine for SVS Press. His writings grew out of his preaching and from the spiritual direction given to those under his charge. He is a writer sharing his experiences in prayer and the Triune. The monks of Mount Athos eagerly read his works today, in this Century's spiritual renewal. His works are also being discovered by the Roman monasteries, as they start to comprehend to wealth and beauty of his writings and personal experience.
St Symeon's words still speak to us today, even though he lived a thousand years ago. Of special note is his emphasises to return to the essence or spirit of the early Orthodox Church, and not merely depend on or shelter under the outward forms of Church life. His burning conviction is that the Christian life must be more than just a routine or habit, but rather it should be a personal experience of the living Christ.
St Symeon urges both monks and baptised laity back to a living spiritual experience of the Triune, calling himself the "enthusiastic zealot" who has personal, mystical experiences. His spiritual emphases is, however, misused by many 'charismatic Christians' and others today who claim to have "gifts of the Holy Spirit", which are probably emotional or 'scholastic' rather than spiritual. The following is a quote from St Symeon on Spirituality, "Do not say that it is impossible to receive the Spirit of God. Do not say that it is possible to be made whole without Him. Do not say that one can possess Him without knowing it. Do not say that God does not manifest Himself to man. Do not say that men cannot perceive the divine light, or that it is impossible in this age! Never is it found to be impossible, my friends. On the contrary, it is entirely possible when one desires it" (Hymn 27, 125-132).
St Symeon the New Theologian died in 1022 AD.
Dismissal Hymn (Third Tone)
Having received the divine radiance in your soul, Father Symeon, you showed yourself a most brilliant luminary in the world. You scattered its dark madness and convinced all men to seek what they lost, the grace of the Holy Spirit. Beseech Christ our God that He may grant unto to us His great mercy.
Kontakion (Third Tone)
You become a Theologian of the Transcendent and Incomprehensible Trinity, and shined with the Triune Light, O inspired one. You were endowed from on high with wise speech, and poured forth streams of Theology. Drinking from them, we cry to you, "Rejoice, righteous, godly-minded Symeon". (read more)
Also celebrating:Theophanes the Confessor
Gregory Dialogos, Bishop of Rome
His Eminence
In the Sunday edition of the Kathimerini newspaper of Athens (30 – 8 – 09), the distinguished … (read more)
VEMA
The Greek Australian Vema — available now online in Greek and English.
(click here to read this month's edition)
Youth Events
What is happening in your area. Young people in the Church and the things they like to do. Youth groups, lectures, bible studies, retreats, camps, concerts and lots more…
Ask Father
Can I have two sponsors (godparents) for my child?
(read the answer to this question and more)