Homily Two for the Twelfth Sunday of Matthew - Eternal Life (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

 Homily for the Twelfth Sunday of Matthew

Eternal Life

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

A young man, as today's Gospel reading told us, approached Christ and asked him what he must do to obtain eternal life. Christ initially pointed out to him the observance of the commandments, which He Himself gave to Moses, and then urged him to sell his existing possessions and give the money he will collect to the poor and thus acquire treasures in heaven. This is because, as He said, it is very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.

Second Homily on Meatfare Sunday and the Last Judgment (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)

 

By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

"I was sick and you visited Me" (Matthew 25:36).

At the Last Judgment, our Lord Jesus Christ will say to those standing at His right hand: "Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Who are these fortunate ones whom Jesus Christ will invite with such love to the Kingdom of Heaven? There will be many of them, and among them there will be those who visit the sick. Yes, listeners, because we visit the sick, Jesus Christ will receive us into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Homily Three for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

 By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered on February 24, 1952)

Like two wings, our two deepest aspirations lift us above all creation: the desire for immortality and the desire for truth. From time immemorial, ever since the thinking human race has existed, people have been tormented by the oppressive question: What is happening on earth? Why do evil people prosper, while kind, meek, quiet people are persecuted and suffer? There was no answer to this question, but there will be - it will be when the Lord and God will begin His terrible and righteous judgment.

First Homily on Meatfare Sunday and the Last Judgment (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)

By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

"Then he will also say to those on the left side: Depart from Me, you cursed, into eternal fire" (Matt. 25:41).

This is what Jesus Christ at His Last Judgment will say to the people standing on the left hand: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into eternal fire. For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and you did not receive Me; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me." Then they will answer Him: "Lord! When did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not serve you?" Then He will say to them in answer: "Truly I say to you, because you did not do this to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." This is what Jesus Christ will say, and they will go into eternal torment (see Matt. 25:41-46).

Great Wednesday - Destruction of Society Is Preceded By Godlessness and Depravity

By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin (1807-1869)

You, Christian listeners, heard the Gospel reading at the Liturgy yesterday. Do you remember what Christ said to His disciples as though incidentally: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another" (Mt. 24:9-10)?

What time did He mean? The time before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and ultimately before the end of the world and Doomsday. Who will be hated by all the nations? The apostles of Christ, their successors, pastors, the Church teachers, and Orthodox Christians all together will be hated. For Whose name’s sake will they be hated? For His name, for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And who will betray and hate each other? The same people who will come to hate the apostles and their successors. First they will hate them, and then will come to hate one another.

Saint Basil the New (+ 944) - with some critical notes

St. Basil the New (Feast Day - March 26)

Venerable Basil the New[1] left the world in his youth, and struggled in a desolate place in Asia Minor where he lived as a grazer. Once, courtiers of the Roman Emperor were passing by and saw him dressed in rags, and were alarmed by his strange appearance. Suspicious of the holy ascetic, they captured him and brought him to the city, where the Arab eunuch Samonas who was a parakoimomenos questioned him. When asked who he was, the Saint merely said that he was a stranger in the land.

They subjected the monk to terrible tortures, but he endured it in silence, not wishing to reveal the details of his ascetic life to them. Samonas lost his patience and asked Saint Basil, “Impious one, how long will you hide, who are you, and from where do you come?”

Homily for Meatfare Sunday (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 Homily for Meatfare Sunday

 

Eternal Life for Orthodox Christians

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

"Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you..." (Matt. 25:34)

While sinners (the unrepentant) listening to today's passage are occupied by fear and terror, the righteous (the repentant) feel jubilation because they hear the Gospel of their heavenly and eternal marriage. The saints here on earth have become engaged with the Bridegroom Christ, but then in the Second Coming they will enjoy their marriage. This means that for the saints the Kingdom of Heaven, Paradise, eternal life is not only a state of the future age, it is not beyond time, but a present reality. This great and fundamental truth about Christianity we will seek to present right now as much as we can.

Meatfare Sunday (Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos)

 

By Archimandrite Epiphanios Theodoropoulos

The third week of the Triodion begins with "Meatfare Sunday". It is called this, because after this Sunday we do not partake of meat. Meatfare Sunday is the last day we can eat meat. From this day forward until Easter the consuming of meat is forbidden, unless of course someone is ill.

On this day the Church brings before our memory the fearsome Second Coming of the Lord.

"This Is How My Thoughts Perceive Judgment Will Take Place" (St. Paisios the Athonite)

Saint Paisios the Athonite was asked:

- Elder, how will the Last Judgment take place?

- On the Day of Judgment, each person’s state will be revealed in an instant and each one will move on to where he deserves to be. Each person will observe his own wretched state like on a TV screen, as well as the other’s state. He will see himself reflected against the other and will bow his head in shame and thus move on to the place that he deserves.*

The Vision of Sophiani Which Took Place in Constantinople in 1607

A Beneficial Narration Describing the Vision of Sophiani

(To be read on the 6th of August)

In an area near Constantinople, called Abydos, there lived an orthodox and pious Christian together with his virtuous and God-loving wife Sophiani in the year 1607.

One day Sophiani became ill and was bed-ridden for twenty days without being able to even lift her head. At dawn on the 3rd of August she lifted her hands to heaven and seemed to have expired. All her relatives prepared her for burial and were unable to be consoled by anyone. But they found that beneath her left breast she was still warm, so they stopped the preparations until she was completely dead.

Meanwhile, her sister according to the flesh came, named Anna, and in her pain and despair she took cold water and sprinkled it over Sophiani, which helped her to revive. Sophiani then said to her sister: "It would have been better if you had not come, my sister, because you have caused me more harm and death by coming back to this temporary life, for your voice lifted me out of that bright Paradise and the inexpressible glory of God that I enjoyed. When you saw me dead, O miserable one, you should have rejoiced more and thanked God, rather than seeing me now restored to life."

Narration of the Vision of a Certain John Which is Altogether Beneficial

Narration of the Vision of a Certain John Which is Altogether Beneficial

(To be read on November 23rd)

Verses

In his sleep he beheld with his soul the fearsome Judge,
Rather fear came, with what was seen while awake.

A man received a divine warning during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, in the year 330, whose name was John, who was known to the emperor through the craft he was employed in. Originally he lived a wicked and unseemly life, without ever considering that there is a hell. But God, who always sees well towards our benefit, appeared to him in a vision, and corrected his conduct.

Homily on the Second Coming of Christ (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov)

By St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

"The Son of man shall come in His glory." (Mt. 25:31)

Beloved brethren! Not long ago, we beheld our Lord Jesus Christ born in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in the cradle, having taken upon Himself with His humanity all human weakness other than sin. Not long ago, we beheld Him persecuted by Herod, fleeing from the murderer’s sword to Egypt, returning to Judea, not daring to remain there, moving to Nazareth—a poor and unimportant town in inglorious Galilee, receiving baptism on the level of those who needed baptism, preaching repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. We beheld this not long ago, and we are preparing ourselves for a new, utterly astounding sight. In order to become worthy of this sight to the extent possible for humans, we intend to pre-purify our spiritual eyes — our mind and heart — through the podvig of fasting. We intend to refine through the podvig of fasting our own flesh, so that this veil which covers our spiritual nature would not be excessively thick and impenetrable, not prevent us from beholding with the required purity, faith, and contrition our Savior Who is crucified for us, Who has destroyed on the cross the wall of division between us and God (cf. Eph. 2:14). And a terrifying, most formidable sight also awaits us: the second coming to earth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can behold the first coming in pious remembrance, while the second coming has been represented to us by the Word of God in a picture of graphic eloquence and power. This picture can salvifically shake our souls with fear of God, arouse us from our deep negligence over our eternal lot, as from a lethargic sleep brought upon us by our fleshly life. "The Son of man shall come in His glory."

Two Homilies for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)

HOMILY ONE

By St. John of Kronstadt

"I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who will come in glory to judge the living and the dead." (7th article of the Symbol of Faith)

Who says these words? Every Christian does. Well, if every Christian says these words, then, without a doubt, so do I, and each and every one of you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, do you sincerely believe that Jesus Christ, the Righteous Judge of all those born on this earth, will come to judge the living and the dead, who will all be resurrected and receive either eternal blessedness or eternal damnation? Are you ready to meet the Judge of all and to give an answer at the terrible judgment seat of Christ for your every word and deed? Do you have any good deeds? Why do I keep asking? From the lives and deeds of Christians it is evident that they have long forgotten about the Righteous Judge, about the terrible judgment, about eternal life, and that with each passing day they rush toward eternal perdition, which they cannot even imagine. They hurry to receive their consolation here on earth, in order to be deprived of it in eternity, in heaven. They are more concerned with how to kill precious time, how to spend time in a pleasant way; but no one is concerned with how to spend time for the benefit of the soul, no one is concerned about preparing their outside work. Making it fit for themselves in the field (Prov 24:27).

Meatfare Resource Page

Verses

When Thou, O Judge of all, shalt sit to judge the earth,

Mayest Thou judge me, too, worthy to hear Thee say, “Come hither.”

 

Meatfare Week 

 

Reflection for the Monday of Meatfare Week (St. Theophan the Recluse)

 

Tsiknopempti - "Barbecue Thursday" 

 

The Real Origins of Carnival (which has nothing to do with Ancient Paganism)

Homily on Carnival (Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon)

 

The "Blasphemous" and "Impious" Sermon of the "High Priest of Bacchus" Regarding Carnival

 

Greek Metropolitan Takes On Young Man Dressed As Priest At Carnival 

 

Remember Your End, and You Will Never Sin (A Homily of St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

Homily for the Friday of Meatfare (St. Theodore the Studite) 

 

Saturday of Souls Resource Page 

 

 

Meatfare Sunday 

 

Meatfare Sunday: Epistle and Gospel Reading

 

Synaxarion for Meatfare Sunday 

 

Meatfare Sunday (Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos)

 

History of the Third Sunday of the Triodion (Meatfare Sunday) 

 

Concerning the Last Judgement (St. Ephraim the Syrian)

Homily for the Sunday of Meatfare (St. Theodore the Studite) 

 

St. Symeon the New Theologian, Matthew 25, and a Critique of the Social Gospel 

 

The Son of Man Shall Come in His Glory (St. Theophylact of Ochrid) 

 

Homily on Christ's Second Coming (St. Gregory Palamas) 

 

First Homily on Meatfare Sunday and the Last Judgment (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)

 

Second Homily on Meatfare Sunday and the Last Judgment (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)

 

Homily on the Second Coming of Christ (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov) 

 

The Great Judgement (St. Theophan the Recluse) 

 

Homily on the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Two Homilies for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Homily Three for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)  

Homily Four for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Homily Five for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Homily One for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

Homily Two  for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

Homily Three for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

Homily on the Terrible Day of Judgment and the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

The Dread Judgement (St. John Maximovitch) 

 

God Is Fire (A Homily of St. John Maximovitch)

 

The Least of My Brethren (Photis Kontoglou) 

 

"This Is How My Thoughts Perceive Judgment Will Take Place" (St. Paisios the Athonite) 

 

A Homily for Meatfare Sunday: The Love the Lord Seeks on Judgement Day (Fr. George Metallinos)

 

Homily for Meatfare Sunday (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

Chapel of the Second Coming of Christ in Sikinos

 

Complimentary Articles 

 

In What Sense Is God the Judge of Men? (Christos Yannaras) 

 

A Patristic Explanation of the Symbolic Imagery of the Coming Judgement (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos) 

 

The Dreadful Day of Judgment (Metr. Seraphim of Kastoria) 

 

What is the River of Fire? 

 

The Gathering of the Nations for Judgment (St. Nikolai Velimirovich) 

 

Homily On How the Mercy of God Delays the Dreadful Day (St. Nikolai Velimirovich) 

 

Will There Be Salvation For All? (St. Nikolai Velimirovich) 

 

The Teaching of Gregory of Nyssa On the Eternality of Hell 

 

Concerning An Icon of the Last Judgment 

 

A Triptych of the Last Judgment 

 

There Is Nothing Hidden Which Will Not Be Revealed 

 

The Coming Judgment 

 

Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades 

 

Yes, It Is Bitterly Cold, But Paradise Is Sweet! 

 

The Pastoral Problem of Joy

Paradise and Hell In the Orthodox Tradition 

 

Hell And God's Love: An Alternative, Orthodox View 

 

The Three Realities: Death, the Soul, and God the Judge 

 

Is Heaven and Hell Here and Now? 

 

Showing Hospitality to Christ (A Cypriot Folk Tale)

 

Triodion Resource Page

Is Heaven and Hell Here and Now?

By John P. Bougas

The Gospel reading for the Sunday of the Last Judgment is about hell and eternal life, or more generally about the future life, or better on the future existence and non-existence of humanity.

Often we hear that heaven and hell are here and now and we pay for everything here. This is said by people who do not believe in the existence of a future life. However it is also said by religious people and even Christians, who are carried away by the passion for vengeance against others who did something bad to them and they say, "now they are being punished," considering that since they did wrong to them they are paying for it in this life or in their ignorance believe in a punishing and vengeful God.

The Dreadful Day of Judgment

The Dreadful Day[1]

By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria

"Let us proclaim" again today "not only one coming of Christ, but a second also, much better than the one prior, because the first was a demonstration of patience, while the next will bring the reign of the divine kingdom."[2] With these words, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem refers to the Second Coming of the Lord, which our Holy Church makes mention of on the Sunday of Meatfare.

Did Kosmas the Aitolos Say "Curse the Pope" and "The Pope is the Antichrist"?

Fr. Irenaios Delidimos

By John Sanidopoulos

On 14-15 November 2014 at the Monastery of Vlatadon in Thessaloniki, Fr. Irenaios Delidimos gave a revealing speech titled "Saint Kosmas the Aitolos and the Theological Authority of his Works. An Anniversary: 1714-2014." In one section of this speech he analyzed two phrases attributed to St. Kosmas, in which he supposedly said "Curse the Pope" and "The Pope is the Antichrist," among other things.

Fr. Irenaios begins by stating that in the biography of St. Kosmas by Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes, certain passages attributed to St. Kosmas were doubted to be authentic by the Metropolitan. Among these, for example, were passages by St. Kosmas in which he allegedly talks about the origins of Judas Iscariot. However, regarding the phrase "Curse the Pope," the Metropolitan passes it over in silence, although he often made comments throughout his book, especially with passages that made a particular impression on him. It seems like he did not know what to do with it, and perhaps the Metropolitan did not like this passage, because it contradicted the Apostle Paul: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Rom. 12:14).

What Saint Paisios the Athonite Said About the Prophet Elijah

- Elder, I am jealous of a fellow sister nun.

- I know which sister you are jealous of, but I learned that she also is jealous of you! I pray both of you become jealous of the zealous Elijah, and that he will cast jealousy away from both of you, and give you his own divine zeal. Amen.

What is the River of Fire?

By Fr. Demetrios Bokos

The event of the Final Judgement has been proclaimed from ancient times. When the Prophet Daniel was held captive in Babylon, he had an apocalyptic vision where he saw a throne, on which sat the "Ancient of Days", namely the pre-eternal God, clothed in garments white as snow, while the hairs of His head were pure white like wool. His throne and the wheels of His throne emitted flames of fire. And from the throne flowed a fiery river. An innumerable amount of Angels attended Him and stood around Him. Then the books were opened and judgement took place (Dan. 7:9-10).

Homily for Meatfare Sunday (St. Luke of Simferopol)

By St. Luke of Simferopol

For three months [February 1946], the Nuremberg trials have been going on, the terrible trial in which are being prosecuted crimes which the world has never seen, and rightly they should fear, for they know that what remains for them is to be condemned to death. Their final verdict is demanded by the conscience of all the people, of all mankind, for the world was struck by their abominable crimes! Never before were we astonished by such crimes, which cannot be related by the human mind. They have destroyed tens of millons of people—a countless multitude—besides those who were killed on the front. In the military base of Osventsim alone, 5,121,000 people were killed. The whole world is full of resentment, and awaits the hour when the judge will condemn them for their crimes. The conscience of men demands that they be condemned to death, the conscience of men demands that these terrible crimes not remain unpunished.