Translation from the Book

Ὁ Θεός στήν ἱστορία τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, Βοήθημα Κατωτέρου Κατηχητικοῦ Γ΄,

ἐκδ. «Χριστιανική Ἐλπίς» Ὀρθόδοξη Ἀδελφότητα, Θεσσαλονίκη 2016, σσ. 60-65

  What would you like to be when you grow up? I’m sure you have heard this question plenty of times. Honestly, what kind of life do you dream of having? What do you value most and would like to acquire? People usually go after fame, riches, knowledge and beauty. Can anyone possess all these things together? Today, we will learn about a young girl who had everything people admire. She lived in Alexandria, in Egypt, near the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century AD.
  Katherine was beautiful, rich and intelligent. She was born in a noble and highly esteemed family, that offered her a superior education. From a young age she knew by heart texts written by ancient Greek and Latin poets and philosophers. She had studied the ancient rhetoricians, while she herself was very eloquent. Also, her knowledge in medicine was outstanding.
  The city of Alexandria was amazed by Katherine’s qualities and talents. Everyone admired her beauty, wealth, nobility and knowledge. Who would be the lucky man to have the wise and beautiful Katherine as his wife? Many young men, who were themselves rich, educated and noble, had asked for her hand in marriage. She was the most sought-after bride in Alexandria.
  Katherine, however, loved Jesus Christ with all her heart and she wanted to dedicate all her life to Him. Who else could have as much beauty, riches, nobility and wisdom as our Lord Jesus Christ? Therefore, she was extremely happy to be converted from an idolater to a Christian.
  She lived in difficult times, however; the times when Christians were persecuted for their faith. An imperial decree was sent to Alexandria: Everybody had to offer a sacrifice to the idols. Should anyone refuse to do so, would be severely punished. What did Katherine do? Did she offer the sacrifice? Of course not! Katherine worshipped the one and only God, Lord Jesus Christ. She bravely confessed her faith in Christ.
  Emperor Maximian was informed about it and felt sorry for her. Lord Konstas’ famous daughter, known to everybody for her knowledge and wisdom, would be so imprudent as to look down on his imperial decree and insult the official sacrifice of the state in such a way!
  He decided to try every possible means in order to alter her decision. During a visit to Alexandria, he invited fifty (some sources claim a hundred and fifty) wise rhetoricians to converse with her, and convince her to renounce her Christian faith. He was sure that their arguments would manage to change Katherine’s faith. The outcome, however, was the opposite. A unique fight took place, not with weapons but with words. Who were the two armies? On one side, stood the fifty most intelligent and wise of Alexandria, on the other, a young girl. Even so, wise Katherine was not afraid; she was speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit! She left all her fifty adversaries speechless! She proved that it was incredibly silly to worship idols, created by people, as gods. There is only one true God, who became a man to save us. He is Lord Jesus Christ and He does not have any need of animal sacrifices, but He only wants us to follow His commandments.
  Katherine won against her adversaries. They had nothing to say to defend their false gods. They acknowledged that the young Christian’s faith was true. They believed in Christ and asked to be baptized.
    You can understand how angry the emperor was. He ordered that they should all die. All the fifty of them became martyrs for Christ!
The emperor ordered for Katherine to be imprisoned and whipped. He was determined to torture her until she would yield and deny her faith. Katherine, however, remained stable, she did not deny Christ. She was ready to endure the worst of tortures for His love.
  In prison, she received an unexpected visitor. Suddenly, the door of her prison opened and in comes the empress, Faustina. Why had she come to prison? Faustina had heard about Katherine, this wise young girl, everyone in Alexandria admired. She had also learned about her debate with the rhetoricians and was greatly impressed. She was moved by the tortures Katherine had endured in prison as well. She admired her courage and patience. For these reasons, she wanted to meet her herself. So, she was now, right in front of her.
  Katherine did not throw away this chance. So, what if she was in a dark and dreadful prison. She talked to Faustina about Lord Jesus Christ, whom she loved and believed. The result? Alexandria was astonished with the news: The empress became a Christian! Along with her, thanks to Katherine, the prison guard Porfyrios and 200 soldiers became Christians as well!
  The emperor raged like an untamed beast! He ordered that his wife, Porfyrios and the 200 soldiers should be killed. All of them became martyrs for believing in Christ!
  He ordered to tie Katherine on a wheel with sharp iron spikes. Every turn would tear her skin. God, however, performed a miracle: Katherine remained unharmed from the wheel. The emperor saw that nothing could make the young Christian girl deny her faith, so he ordered to cut off her head. It was the 25th of November. On her feast day we celebrate Saint Faustina, Saint Porfyrios, and the 200 soldier martyrs, too.

Loving Christ

  Saint Katherine, as we mentioned above, had all those endowments that people are jealous of. What are they? Beauty, wealth, fame, wisdom. All those gifts, however, easily wither and disappear. For how many years can people remain beautiful? Have you ever thought about how many rich people lost their wealth at some point? How many others lost their high positions and fame? How many have seen their knowledge be torn apart by new discoveries?
  So, we do not honor Saint Katherine for her endowments. We venerate her because she loved Christ above all, that was her greatest virtue and the reason why she was honored to be a martyr. This love for Christ was what made her endure such horrible tortures and give her life for her faith. She managed with this love to convert so many idolaters to Christianity! This is why we keep her memory throughout the centuries; there are many girls named after her, we venerate her icon, many churches are dedicated to her. The Holy Monastery of Saint Katherine on mountain Sinai is well-known. Each year, many pious pilgrims visit it.
  The greatest honor, however, for St. Katherine is to try and be like her. Could we reach such a goal? Yes, if the goal of our lives is to love Christ as much as she did. However, in our days there are no persecutions for us to be martyrs for Christ! Is there a way for us to show Him our love? Of course, there is! He told us so Himself: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15). For those we love we are ready to do anything for them, isn’t it so? We happily agree to do what they wish. So, let’s ask Christ plenty of times a day: My Lord:
- Do You like what I am watching right now?
- Do You like what I am listening to?
- Do You like what I am doing?
- Do You like what I am saying?
- Do You like the place I am planning to go to?
- Do You agree with the friends I keep?
  The ones who try to do what Christ wishes are indeed admirable! They do not get carried away by the evil they see around them; they do not pay attention to other people’s behaviour. They love Christ and the only thing that matters is this: to keep His commandments. These are the ones that the angels and Saint Katherine and all the saints are proud of! These are the ones that Christ Himself will celebrate and crown them!

Like Saint Katherine did,
I take as my life’s goal,
any secret or known deed,
to be liked by God!

Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. All rights reserved.

Translation from the Book

Ὁ Θεός στήν ἱστορία τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, Βοήθημα Κατωτέρου Κατηχητικοῦ Γ΄,

ἐκδ. «Χριστιανική Ἐλπίς» Ὀρθόδοξη Ἀδελφότητα, Θεσσαλονίκη 2016, σσ. 48-53

  This time, children, I think we’d better meet in our Parish Church. You too, I believe, will be glad to be shown around the house of our God, which is also our house. As each one of us is totally familiar with our home spaces, furniture and position of various things, likewise the children of God would know how to make their way in the house of their Father. So come along today, to get to know a little better the house of our father God, which is also our common home!
  Before we start visiting each place separately, I want you to look around the church building and admire the beauty, grandeur, order and harmony we can see here!  It is clear that the believers apparently decorate the house of God with lots of love! You may wonder. What’s this all for? It’s because we want the house of God to be beautiful, distinctive, clean and tidy, since this is where all the faithful meet on Sundays and Feast Days and even God Himself is here waiting for us with Angels and His saints!
  Let us now start our tour! In the first place we need to bear in mind that every time we come to the church building, as soon as we arrive at the entrance, we stop redundant talks and games and we get our mind on God.
  Stepping through the entrance, the space we first encounter is called narthex or pronaos.  From the narthex, in the past, the catechumens, that is those preparing for baptism but still unbaptized, watched the Divine Liturgy. Today it is the space where the candle counters are placed for us to get our candles. The persons appointed to be responsible for peace and order inside the church, usually, stand there. In the narthex, we also find the Icon Stands, namely wooden or marble iconostasia, with the sacred icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary, who being our hosts, welcome us to this house. The icons of patron Saint of the church and other saints are also seen here. We venerate these as soon as we enter the narthex. Near the iconostasia there are the church candle stands (Manoualia) where we light our candles.    
  Have you ever truly wondered why we light candles? See how a candle melts as it burns. This is how the longing to be with Christ must always burn in our souls. This also tells us that our soul must be pure like pure wax and filled with the light of Christ.
  In some churches the narthex is a separate space, while in others it is the back of the church building. Passing through the narthex, we enter the main church building (Nave), which ends where the Sanctuary begins. It is here, in the Nave, where all the faithful stand to participate in Church worship. Look here, the seats and the stacidia, gentlemen’s ones on the right side and ladies’ on the left. There is a separate place for women usually found in the upper part of the building.
  Look here, this is the Bishop’s throne! This is where the bishop, stands when we have the honour of having him in our church. The bishop is the father of all believers and he is the one who continues the work of Jesus Christ. This is why there is always the icon of Christ enthroned as King and Bishop at the back of Bishop’s throne, therefore it is here where the priest starts incensing.
  Now look at the pulpit. Either from the pulpit or in front of the Royal Doors the Gospel is read and a sermon is given to explain the message of Gospel reading.
  Before we move on, I’d like you again to take a look around you. Notice how the walls are decorated with some icons telling the story of Christ’s life and others depicting saints of our Church. Just as we have the photos of our loved ones at home, so too we have icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary and many of our saints, in the church.
  Now I want you to raise your head and look upwards.  What is there at the highest point of the church building? That is the Dome! What can we see inside the Dome? Our Almighty (Pantokrator) Christ surrounded by Prophets and Evangelists. His eyes look steadily down on earth telling us that nothing escapes His eyes!
  We have now arrived in front of the Iconostasis (Templon screen), which separates the church Nave from the Holy Altar, where only the priest and those men who have some ministry, usually the Altar Server, who takes care of order and cleanliness of church, are allowed entrance. Access is also allowed to children who minister the priests. These children have the special blessing of God, as long as they serve with care and reverence.
  The iconostasis includes three doors: the central double doors called the Royal Doors, and two single ones, one at the north side and another one at the south side of the Church building. Here, in the iconostasis, there is a number of icons. Did you know that there is a particular positioning for most of these icons?  Here's what I mean: In every church, while looking at the iconostasis, you will see the icon of Christ on the right of the Royal Doors whereas on the left there is always the icon of Theotokos, the Virgin Mary. Have you noticed what is there next to the icon of Christ? You found it: It’s the icon of Saint John the Forerunner. And next to Panagia? That is correct! It is the icon of the Church patron Saint! Now look at the icons on the two side doors which depict the two archangels, Gabriel on south side door and Michael on north side door.
  Now, children, let us reverently stop and take a look into the Holy Altar. What do we see in the center? The Holy Altar Table. This is the most sacred point of all. It is here where during the Divine Liturgy the greatest of all miracles takes place. Gifts of Bread (prosforo) and wine (nama), offered by the faithful, are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ!
  On the Holy Altar Table we can see the Gospel Book, which is read at every Divine Liturgy, as well as the Holy Cross used by the priest for our blessing. Behind the Gospel Book there is the tabernacle. It is a small consecrated box, hermetically sealed, in which the Body and Blood of our Christ from the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday is treasured. From this metal bread case the priest takes and gives Holy Communion to someone who is dying or finds himself in dire need of Holy Communion.
  Behind the Altar Table there is always the Big Crucifix. The Table of Preparation (Prothesis or Proskomide) is located on the left of the Holy Altar table within a wall niche. This is where the priest prepares the Offerings of bread and wine which will become the Body and Blood of Christ.
  Some other sacred utensils and objects found inside the Sanctuary are:
   a) the censer: an ornamental container where we put incense charcoal burner and fragrant incense cones on it, thus resembling the prayer ascending to heaven,
   b) exapteryga - six-winged angels: these are metal disks on poles, representing angels with six wings, indicating how fast the angels carry out God's will.
  When we get out of the church building, we will face the church bell tower. The bells call the faithful to the church every time the Divine Liturgy or some other service is performed.
  The church is the believer’s second home. That’s why, we take great care to keep it clean, both inside and outside. It’s worth pointing out that when we play with friends in the court, we must carefully watch our words and behavior, since the courtyard is the outer space of the house of God.
  Thinking through this, dear children, our whole life is closely connected with church. Forty days after our birth we were taken there by our parents for our forty-day blessing. Additionally, it is in the church that we were baptized and became Christians.
  It is the church where the faithful participates in the Divine Liturgy, Holy Unction and Confession. In here we celebrate and live the joys of the major Christian Feasts. Moreover, it is the church the believer will turn to in order to pray and gain strength while coping with hard times of life. Here he gets married and shares the joy of his marriage with relatives and the whole local church. Here he rejoices in the baptism of his children. Here he will finally be brought for his funeral service. Here he will hold a memorial service for his loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord. You can now see the way our Church embraces our whole life! Let us therefore come to the church with reverence and love, in order to be filled with the grace and blessing of God.

In Your own house, O God,
I rejoice in Your arms,
As You endlessly bless me,
with precious gifts and love.
Every Sunday is a miracle,
in Your own holy church!
Bless me with reverence
Immense love and care for
Your own home!

Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. All rights reserved.

Ζητῆστε το στό Βιβλιοπωλεῖο μας "Ἀπολύτρωσις", Γ. Μπακατσέλου 5, τηλ. 2310 274518

ἤ μπεῖτε στό ἠλεκτρονικό μας βιβλιοπωλεῖο https://www.apolytrosis-books.gr/

ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΙΣΟΡΡΟΠΙΑ

Στ. Ν. Σάκκου

  Οἱ διαπροσωπικές μας σχέσεις συνήθως ἐμφανίζονται προβληματικές καί τό πρόβλημα μοιάζει ἄλυτο, καθώς καθημερινά σωρεύονται γύρω καί μέσα μας ἀμέτρητες ἀντιθέσεις καί συγκρούσεις πού διχάζουν. Μία πρόταση γιά τήν ὑπέρβαση τοῦ προβλήματος καί τήν ἁρμονική λειτουργία τῆς κοινωνίας μας προσφέρει ὁ θεόπνευστος λόγος τοῦ ἀποστόλου Παύλου πού ἑρμηνεύεται στό βιβλίο αὐτό: Ρω 15,1-7. 

Βιβλία γιά ὅλες τίς ὧρες τοῦ καλοκαιριοῦ, γιά νά ξεκουράζεσαι καί νά ὠφελεῖσαι...

	Ο ΜΑΡΤΥΡΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΚΑΤΑΚΟΜΒΩΝ  Ὁ Μάρκελλος ἀναλαμβάνει νά ἐξολοθρεύσει τούς χριστιανούς τῆς Ρώμης. Τί γίνεται ὅμως στήν προσπάθειά του νά τούς ἀνακαλύψει; Σελίδες 260, ἔκδοση Γ΄, τιμή 6 € ISBN 978-960-6805-28-8
	ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ ΜΟΥ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ, Σ' ΑΓΑΠΩ                                   Ἑλένης Βασιλείου  Διηγήματα γραμμένα μέ ἀγάπη καί πόνο γιά τήν πολύπαθη καί δοξασμένη Ἑλλάδα παρουσιάζουν τό μεγαλεῖο τῆς πατρίδας μας καί τόν ἡρωισμό τῶν παιδιῶν της. Σελίδες 184, ἔκδοση Β΄, τιμή 6 € ISBN 960-87550-4-2
	ΔΡΟΣΕΡΕΣ ΘΥΜΗΣΕΣ                                   Ἑλένης Βασιλείου  Συλλογή διηγημάτων πού ἀποπνέουν νεανική δροσιά καί χάρη. Σελίδες 164, ἔκδοση Α΄ ISBN 978-960-6805-11-0
	ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΡΠΟΥΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΚΑΚΙΑΣ Σταματίας Καραγεωργίου - Πάπιστα  Ἡ ἱστορία τῆς μικρής ἡρωίδας ἁπλώνεται σάν μωσαϊκό. Κἀθε ψηφίδα κι ἕνα δάκρυ, πού ἐκείνη μετατρέπει σέ δροσοστάλα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ. Μέσα ἀπό τή δική της ἐπώδυνη διαδρομή σκορπᾶ τήν πλούσια εὐωδία τοῦ κόπου της, δείχνοντας ἔτσι τό μονοπάτι γιά τόν ἄλλο οὐρανό, αὐτόν πού κρύβουμε μέσα μας... Σελίδες 508, ἔκδοση Α΄ ISBN 978-960-6805-35-6
	ΜΑΝΑ, Η ΑΓΚΑΛΙΑ ΣΟΥ ΟΥΡΑΝΟΣ                                           Ἑλένης Βασιλείου 27 διηγήματα στά ὁποῖα πρωταγωνιστεῖ ἡ μορφή τῆς μάνας... Σελίδες 164, ἔκδοση Α΄ ISBN 978-960-6805-43-1

Ζητῆστε τα στό Βιβλιοπωλεῖο μας "Ἀπολύτρωσις", Γ. Μπακατσέλου 5, τηλ. 2310 274518

ἤ μπεῖτε στό ἠλεκτρονικό μας βιβλιοπωλεῖο https://www.apolytrosis-books.gr/

   Μέ ἀφορμή διάφορες φῆμες καί δημοσιεύματα πού ἀναφέρονται στόν ρόλο καί στήν ἀνάμειξη κάποιων Ἀδελφοτήτων στίς πρόσφατες ἐθνικές ἐκλογές, θεωροῦμε χρέος μας νά δηλώσουμε τά ἑξῆς:

   Ἡ Ἀδελφότητά μας παραμένει πιστή στίς χριστιανικές ἀξίες, τίς ἀρχές καί τά ἰδανικά, τά ὁποῖα ὑπηρετεῖ μέ πίστη ἀπαρέγκλιτη, καί οὐδέποτε, στήν μακρά ἱστορία της, ἀναμίχθηκε στόν χῶρο τῆς πολιτικῆς. Πρός ἄρση, λοιπόν, ὁποιασδήποτε παρανοήσεως ἐπαναλαμβάνουμε κατηγορηματικά ὅτι αὐτή ἡ πάγια στάση μας ἐξακολουθεῖ νά ἰσχύει σέ σχέση μέ τά πολιτικά δρώμενα στήν Πατρίδα μας: Μιά στάση ἀπόλυτης ἀποστασιοποίησης καί οὐδετερότητας μέ ὅσα συμβαίνουν στήν πολιτική σκηνή. Ὁ ρόλος καί ἡ ἀποστολή μας οὐδεμία σχέση ἔχουν μέ τίς πολιτικές ἐπιλογές τοῦ ἑλληνικοῦ λαοῦ.

  St. Cyril himself gives us the date of his “Catecheses” as fully seventy years after the emperor Probus that is about 347 A.D, providing that he is accurate. The catecheses, or catechetical homilies (lectures), are genuine and are of the greatest interest, both for the history of the Christian faith concerning dogmas, and the true understanding of the liturgy and catechetical methods of the ancient Church.
  Undoubtedly, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem is one of the most important sources we have for how the church celebrated the Divine Liturgy and Mysteries (see Mystagogical Catecheses) during the first few decades after the legalization of Christianity.
  In particular, in these 24 homilies, Saint Cyril instructs new Christians in the days immediately before and after their initiation into the life of the Church. In these homilies we find very strong insistence on the value and efficacy of the mystery of baptism as well as heavy emphasis on the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the mystery of the Divine Communion.
  They include an introductory homily, the “procatechesis”, followed by eighteen instructions delivered in Lent to those who were preparing for baptism, and five “mystagogical” instructions given during Easter week to the same persons after their having been baptized. They contain interesting local references to the finding of the Holy Cross, the position of Golgotha in relation to the walls of the Holy City, to the other holy places, and to the great basilica of the Resurrection built by Constantine in which these conferences were delivered in 348 A.D or 350 A.D. They seem to have been spoken extempore, in the first place, and written down afterwards.
  Briefly, the Catechetical Homilies are among the most valuable remains of Christian antiquity and especially for an Orthodox Christian they speak volumes of the continuity of the authentic faith throughout the centuries. According to Cyril, the faith is to be proved out of Divine Scripture. That is why his text is rich in scriptural references. Also, he gives us the canon of the Scripture according to his understanding (Concerning the Divine Scriptures, Cat 4, 33-37). It is noteworthy that at that time the canon had not been officially defined by the Church. Additionally, St. Cyril gives us an account of the heresies of the time (Concerning Heresies, Cat 6, 12-36).
In particular, the material of the Catechetical Homilies is divided as follows:

Procatechesis

Eighteen Catechetical Homilies to those who are to be Enlightened:

Homily 1. An Introductory Homily to those who had come forward for Baptism
Homily 2. On Repentance and Remission of Sins and Concerning the Adversary
Homily 3. On Baptism
Homily 4. On the Ten Points of Doctrine
Homily 5. On faith
Homilies 6-18. On the Articles of the Creed

And finally,

Five Mystagogical Catecheses:

Homily 1: To the Enlightened
Homily 2: On Baptism
Homily 3: On Chrism
Homily 4: On the Body and Blood of Christ
Homily 5: On the Mysteries. On the Divine Liturgy and Communion.

Saint Cyril’s Catecheses are included in Patrologia Graeca, Volume 33.

Copyright © 2021 by Orthodox Christian Association «ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΕΛΠΙΣ» ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΤΗΤΑ. Used by permission. All rights reserved.