Our Ladies Philoptochos will be hosting a reception following Great Vespers on August 14^th, in honor of our Church’s Feast Day.

Please consider bringing a Lenten food item (no meat, fish, dairy, or egg - oil is okay), ready to be served.  Some ideas include fresh fruit, dips as guacamole or hummus, vegetables (cooked or raw), desserts and beverages. We ask for help with set-up and clean-up.    Please sign up here:    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-57612115-panagia

We will set the tables for the Eve of our church’s Feast day, this Sunday 08/10 after Divine Liturgy. Please come and help. On 08/14 we need a few people to arrange the food items. Please be at the hall by 6pm if you can help.

FOT 2025, Saturday November 8: If you are interested in hosting a table or offering a raffle item kindly sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-57612503-fotladies Paid reservations will open in late September.

Our Philoptochos meetings will take place on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 except there is a holiday conflict. The September meeting is on Monday, September 8 at 6:30.

Agape fellowship Hosting Sign Up for 2025-2025 is ready. Please look at your calendars and volunteer for a Sunday https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-57762908-fellowship

THE THREE FRIENDS

The Apostle Paul addresses the Church of the Corinthians and teaches the value of our lives and deeds in light of eternity. Each person’s works will be revealed, for the Day of Judgment is made manifest through fire, which tests and reveals them. If our deeds are of pure gold, they will remain untouched and unaltered. But if they are counterfeit and corrupted, they will be consumed, and their ugliness will be laid bare.

Human deeds
The sacred Chrysostom uses a marvelous analogy to illustrate the true worth of human deeds on earth: “We resemble actors on a stage – one plays a glorious king, another a wealthy ruler, another a great sage. All this during the course of the play. But when the curtain falls, the actor retreats backstage, sheds his false persona, and becomes once again what he truly is: a simple laborer who dons a disguise to earn his daily bread.”

So, it is with us: we step onto the stage of this life, and one plays the strong man, another the saint, another the wise one. But when death brings down the curtain of life, then the true face of each person is revealed. Then each is judged by his deeds, by how he stood before God, his fellow man, and himself.

The mindset of our age disorients us from the perspective of the end. For ultimately, what we are living has an end, which at thesame time marks the beginning of eternity. The spirit of the age sways us into a life that is earthly and false. It makes the temporary seem permanent, the imperfect appear perfect, the counterfeit shine like gold. It prevents us from understanding that we are walking a path with a beginning and an end, which, at some point, intersects with another path: one that has a beginning, but no end. And so, whatever we do, good or bad, lacks true perspective. Or if it does
have perspective, it is shaped by a transactional mindset toward God. But good deeds alone are not enough. Other works are needed to open the gates of Paradise.

Papoulakos on good works
Papoulakos, when speaking to the people about the kind of deeds that withstand the trial of fire, used a vivid parable: “A manhad three friends, for whom he had sacrificed much. One day, however, he himself was accused, dragged to court, and faced the danger of condemnation. Of the three friends, the first remained cold and indifferent, unmoved by his friend’s crisis. The second felt pity,came as far as the courthouse door, but was not allowed to enter, and left. The third, however, fought for his friend’s salvation. He appeared as a witness in his defense and succeeded in securing his acquittal.”

“Each of us,” said Papoulakos, “has three friends in this life, and we sacrifice ourselves for them. The first is our wealth, the second is our family, and the third is the works of our love. But when the curtain of this life falls and we appear before the tribunal of the Righteous Judge, our first friend – our wealth – remains cold and indifferent to our fate. The second – our relatives and friends – come as far as our grave, but unable to go any further, they depart and forget us. And the third remains, if, of course, we have such a friend.

It is the works of our love, not merely our good deeds, those done out of kindness or sympathy because our conscience prompts us, but those that spring from a loving heart. Deeds done for our suffering fellow human being, for the orphan, the unfortunate, the wronged, the weary, the disheartened, for the one in whose face we saw God Himself.”

This is the true meaning of good works. They are the ones that, because they are pure as gold, will endure the fire of trial and will testify on our behalf at the hour of Judgment. Whoever possesses such provisions can await the fall of life’s curtain undisturbed. Whoever does not possess them, let him do whateverhe can to acquire them, while there is still time. Amen!

 Archimandrite E. Oik.

The VOICE OF THE LORD - www.apostoliki-diakonia.gr

A weekly pamphlet of Orthodox faith and life of the "Apostolic Ministry of the Church of Greece"

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