Aspasmos Watos-Lent

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Holy Lent - Share Efnouti - الصوم المقدس - شارى افنوتي

Great Canticle - Palm Sunday 2020 Live

His Grace shares with us St. Dorotheos of Gaza on the words of St. Gregory the Theologian

“It is the Day of Resurrection.
Let us offer ourselves as first-fruits.”

These words from a Paschal homily of St. Gregory the Theologian in the 4th century later became part of a Resurrection hymn that was sung in church in the 6th century.

After singing this hymn in the church on the Feast of Resurrection St. Dorotheos of Gaza meditates on the words of the hymn in his own Paschal homily saying:
“The sons of Israel kept the Pascha when they came out of Egypt…Now Pascha, the celebration which St Gregory is encouraging us to keep, is performed by the soul which departs from the spiritual Egypt, that is, from sin. For when the soul passes over from sin to virtue, that is when it celebrates the Pascha of the Lord. As Evagrius has said: ‘the Pascha of the Lord is the passing over from evil to good.’

And thus now today is the Pascha of the Lord, the Day of the Bright Festival, the Day of the Resurrection of Christ Who has nailed sin to the Cross, Who has died and rose—all for our sakes. Let us also offer to the Lord gifts, sacrifices, whole-burnt offerings…
…for after saying, ‘It is the Day of Resurrection’…
…St. Gregory says, ‘Let us offer ourselves as first-fruits [of the Resurrection]’, that is, let us offer ourselves as a sacrifice, let us die to ourselves all the day long, as did all the saints, for the sake of Christ our God Who died for us.

How did they put themselves to death?
“Do not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15), as is said in the Catholic Epistle; but having renounced the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ (1 John 2:16)—that is the love of pleasure, the love of money, and vainglory—they took up the Cross and followed after Christ and crucified the world to themselves and themselves to the world (cf. Gal. 6:14). Concerning this the Apostle says, “those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24). 

This is how the saints put themselves to death.

And how did they offer themselves as sacrifice? By not living for themselves, by subjecting themselves to the commandments of God, and abandoning their own desires for the sake of the commandment to love God and their neighbor
…
Thus, let us also offer ourselves in sacrifice as St. Gregory teaches…”

As we greet each other saying, “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” and as we praise the joyful resurrection hymns throughout the Holy 50 days, let us also keep the spirit of the early fathers like St. Dorotheos of Gaza. 

Just as St. Dorotheos translates the resurrection hymn of his time to life and teaching, let us also apply the spirit of resurrection to our lives by passing over from sin to virtue and no longer living selfishly for ourselves, but rather abandoning our own desires in love of God and neighbor.

That we too—as St. Gregory and St. Dorotheos teach us—may offer ourselves as first-fruits of Christ’s Resurrection.

That we too “may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”

That we too “may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (cf. Phil 3:10-11).

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkYZew63JGZJLHlG1iy55SGL_KbTxa_a

ABBA Give me a WORD

ABBA Give me a WORD: Offering Ourselves as First-fruits of the Resurrection by HG Bishop Basil

His Grace speaks with us about overcoming the difficulty of forgiving. He shares with some words from St. John Chrysostom. 

St. John Chrysostom: “His heart smote him.,” the text says, remember, “for cutting off the corner of the cloak, and he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid.’” What is the meaning of “The Lord forbid”? It means, May the Lord be merciful to me, and if I actually had the intention, may God not allow me to act on it nor permit me to proceed to sin. In other words, since he knew sound values of this are almost beyond human nature and require grace from on high, and that he was halfway to committing murder, he then prays that God would keep his hand unstained. […] “It was not without God’s influence, you see, that he succeeded in prevailing over those frenzied men: the grace of God was found on the inspired man’s lips” 

St. John Chrysostom: “When you see your enemy or have him in mind, forget all those harmful things you suffered or were told; if they still come to mind, put it down to the devil. Recollect, rather, whether he ever said or did anything useful to you; if you turn these things over in your mind, you will promptly dissolve your enmity.

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkYZew63JGZJLHlG1iy55SGL_KbTxa_a

ABBA Give me a WORD: Forgiveness - Overcoming the difficulty of Forgiving by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace speaks to about our conscience and shares with us words from St Dorotheos of Gaza.

"When we begin to say, 'What is it if I say just these few words? What does it matter if I eat this morsel? What difference if I poke my nose in here or there? From this way of saying, 'What does this or that matter?' a man takes evil and bitter nourishment and begins presently to despise greater and more serious things and even to tread down his own conscience and so, at last destroying it, bit by bit, he falls into danger and finally becomes completely impervious to the light of conscience.

Therefore, brothers, see to it that we do not neglect little things; see to it that we do not despise them as of no account. There are no 'little things'—for when it is a question of bad habits, it is a question of a malignant ulcer. Let us live circumspectly, let us give heed to trivial matters when they are trivial, lest they .become grave. Doing what is right and what is wrong: both begin from small things and advance to what is great, either good or evil.” St Dorotheos of Gaza (Dorotheos of Gaza: Discourses and Sayings)

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

ABBA Give me a WORD: On the Conscience by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace shares with us words from St. Dorotheos of Gaza and St. Macarius of Egypt about seeking guidance.

St. Dorotheos of Gaza said:
"In the Book of Proverbs it says, 'Those who have no guidance fall like leaves but there is safety in much counsel.'Take a good look at this saying, brothers. Look at what Scripture is teaching us. It assures us that we should not set ourselves up as guide posts, that we should not consider ourselves sagacious, that we should not believe we can direct ourselves. 

We need assistance, we need guidance in addition to God's grace. No one is more wretched, no one is more easily caught unawares, than a man who has no one to guide him along the road to God. It says, 'Those who have no guidance fall like leaves'. Leaves are always green in the beginning, they grow vigorously and are pleasing to look at. Then after a short time they dry up and fall off, and in the end they are blown about by the wind and trodden under foot.

So is the man who is not guided by someone. At first he has great fervor about fasting, keeping vigil, keeping silence, and obedience and other good customs. Then after a short time the fire is extinguished and, not having anyone to guide him and strengthen him and kindle his fire again, he shrivels up and so, becoming disobedient, he falls and finally becomes a tool in the hand of his enemies, who do what they like with him."

St. Macarius of Egypt said:
"When Abba Macarius dwelt in the great desert, he was the only one living as an anchorite, but lower down there was another desert where several brothers dwelt. The old man was surveying the road when he saw Satan drawing near in the likeness of a man and he passed by his dwelling...The old man said to him, 'Where are you off to? 'He said, 'I am going to stir up the memories of the brethren.’..With these words he departed...The old man said, 'Ah, you did not find any friends down there?’ He replied, 'Yes, I have a monk who is a friend down there. He at least obeys me and when he sees me he changes like the wind.’

The old man asked him the name of this monk. 'Theopemtus,’ he replied. With these words he went away. Then Abba Macarius got up and went to the desert below his own...he inquired which was the one on the mountain called Theopemptus, and when he had found out he went to his cell. Theopemptus received him with joy. When he was alone with him the old man asked him, 'How are you getting on?’ Theopemptus replied, 'Thanks to your prayers, all goes well.’ The old man asked: 'Do not your thoughts war against you?’ He replied: 'Up to now, it is all right,’ for he was afraid to admit anything. The old man said to him, 'See how many years I have lived as an ascetic, and am praised by all, and though I am old, the spirit of fornication troubles me.’ Theopemptus said, 'Believe me, Abba, it is the same with me.’ The old man went on admitting that other thoughts still warred against him, until he had brought him to admit them about himself...

He was watching the road once more when he saw the devil, to whom he said, 'Where are you going this time?’ He replied, 'To arouse the memories of the brothers,’ and he went away. When he came back the saint asked him, 'How are the brothers? 'He replied that it had gone badly. The old man asked him why. He replied, 'They are all obdurate, and the worst is the one friend I had who used to obey me. I do not know what has changed him, but not only does he not obey me anymore, but he has become the most obdurate of them all. So I have promised myself not to go down there again at least not for a long time from now.’ When he had said this, he went away leaving the old man, and the saint returned to his cell."

ABBA Give me a WORD: On the Need for Consultation by HG Bishop Gregory

Sunday Homily | 3rd Sunday of Mesore
Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 3:22-35

His Grace mentions 3 points:
1) Remember the danger of not forgiving
2) Ask for grace to forgive and love
3) Ascribe any evil to Satan, not on the person and focus on the good virtues of the person

Sunday Homily

Sunday Homily: Acquiring a Forgiving Heart by HG Bishop Gregory

The official SoundCloud and podcast for the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Youssef.

ABBA Give me a WORD: Forgiveness - Overcoming the difficulty of Forgiving by HG Bishop Gregory

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