ON JUNE 22, 2019 HIS EMINENCE ELPIDOPHOROS WILL BE INSTALLED AS ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN MANHATTAN. ALL FAITHFUL ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION FOLLOWING AT THE NY HILTON HOTEL. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BUY A TABLE FOR TEN COSTING $2,500. EACH TICKET COSTS $250. ALL MONIES WILL GO TOWARD THE RESTORATION OF THE ST. NICHOLAS SHRINE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.
WE ARE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR JOURNAL ENTRIES SINCE WE ARE STILL RECEIVING THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND BLESSINGS!
THE GREEK DANCE CLASS ON WEDNESDAY HAS CONCLUDED FOR THE SUMMER AND WILL RESUME ON SPETEMBER 4, 2019.
BIBLE STUDY ON THURSDAY WILL BE IN SESSION DURING MOST OF THE SUMMER. PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OR ASK ANYONE AT THE CANDLE STAND FOR INFORMATION.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN THIS YEAR'S STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
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ASCENSION THURSDAY!
This past Thursday as you well know was the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven taking His rightful place at the right hand of God. This is a great mystery; however it all started with Jesus' Death and Resurrection and the promise He made to His Disciples. In John 16:16-20 Jesus says, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father." What does this very cryptic message mean, and what does it say about Jesus and His ministry? Was He going to leave them alone to fend for themselves, or was something greater to happen to them after His Resurrection?
Very Reverend Georges Florovsky, an Orthodox priest of the 20th century was a very prolific writer and wonderful theologian of the 20th Century states that, "In the Ascension resides the meaning and the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection."
" . . . He had the power to arise, why did He allow what that had happened to take place at all? Why did He take upon Himself disgrace, blasphemy and wounds? In the eyes of all Jerusalem, amidst the vast crowds assembled for the Great Feast, He was condemned and suffered a shameful death. And now He enters not into the Holy City, neither to the people which beheld His shame and death, nor to the High Priests and elders, nor to Pilate—so that He might make their crime obvious and smite their pride. Instead, He sends His disciples away to remote Galilee and appears to them there. Even much earlier the disciples wondered, 'How is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?' (John 14:22). Their wonder continues, and even on the day of His glorious Ascension the Apostles question the Lord, 'Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' (Acts 1:6). They still did not comprehend the meaning of His Resurrection, they did not understand what it meant that He was 'ascending' to the Father. Their eyes were opened but later, when 'the promise of the Father had been fulfilled.'"
Fr. Georges goes on to say that, "The very existence of the Church is the fruit of the Ascension. It is in the Church that man’s nature is truly ascended to the Divine heights. 'And gave Him to be Head over all things' (Ephesians 1:22). Saint John Chrysostom comments: 'Amazing! Look again, whither He has raised the Church. As though He were lifting it up by some engine, He has raised it up to a vast height, and set it on yonder throne; for where the Head is, there is the body also. There is no interval of separation between the Head and the body; for were there a separation, then would the one no longer be a body, nor would the other any longer be a Head.' The whole race of men is to follow Christ, even in His ultimate exaltation, 'to follow in His train.' Within the Church, through an acquisition of the Spirit in the fellowship of Sacraments, the Ascension continues still, and will continue until the measure is full. 'Only then shall the Head be filled up, when the body is rendered perfect, when we are knit together and united,' concludes Saint John Chrysostom.
The Ascension is a sign and token of the Second Coming. 'This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven' (Acts 1:11). The mystery of God’s Providence will be accomplished in the Return of the Risen Lord. In the fulfillment of time, Christ’s kingly power will be revealed and spread over the whole of faithful mankind. Christ bequeathes the Kingdom to the whole of the faithful. 'And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as My Father has appointed unto me. That ye may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel' (Luke 22:29-30). Those who followed Him faithfully will sit with Him on their thrones on the day of His coming. 'To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne' (Rev. 3:21). Salvation will be consummated in the Glory. 'Conceive to yourself the throne, the royal throne, conceive the immensity of the privilege. This, at least if we chose, might more avail to startle us, yea, even than hell itself' (Saint John Chrysostom).
We should tremble more at the thought of that abundant Glory which is appointed unto the redeemed, than at the thought of the eternal darkness. 'Think near Whom Thy Head is seated....' Or rather, Who is the Head. In very truth, 'wondrous and terrible is Thy divine ascension from the mountain, O Giver of Life.' A terrible and wondrous height is the King’s throne. In face of this height all flesh stands silent, in awe and trembling. 'He has Himself descended to the lowest depths of humiliation, and raised up man to the height of exaltation.'" End
Christ would not leave His Apostles and Disciples defenseless. That is why He bestows upon them the gift of the Grace of the Holy Spirit. With this Blessing and Power they too will " Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. . . " I hope and pray that His Ascension enlightens all of you and that next Sunday your eyes will be opened to this wonderful event of Holy Pentecost. A free gift from He who loves us more then we love ourselves. AMEN!