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| Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria (1959-2020) |
Showing posts with label Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria. Show all posts
December 30, 2020
December 29, 2020
The Late Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria, My Friend who was a Friend of the Saints
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| Metr. Seraphim (left) at Name Day of Metr. Hierotheos (right) on 10/4/2019 |
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
The repose of the Metropolitan of Kastoria, Seraphim (+ 12/29/2020), hurt me a lot. I closely followed the progress of his health, and every day I called him at the Hospital to find out about his treatment. Demonstrative as he was, he was overly emotional: “You enslaved me, Elder. I thank you from my heart."
In one of my phone calls he told me that every day at the Hospital he did the sacred Services, Compline and the Supplicatory Canon to the Panagia. In fact, he confided in me that one day a nurse entered the ward, before he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and asked if they had lit incense, because the ward was fragrant. Then he found out that a small box with some relics that he had under his pillow was emitting the fragrance. This shows his love for the sacred relics, that he took them with him to the Hospital. Now that I think about it, I understand that perhaps this fragrance was an indication that God wanted him in the heavenly Divine Liturgy, because he was pleased with his life.
In one of my phone calls he told me that every day at the Hospital he did the sacred Services, Compline and the Supplicatory Canon to the Panagia. In fact, he confided in me that one day a nurse entered the ward, before he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and asked if they had lit incense, because the ward was fragrant. Then he found out that a small box with some relics that he had under his pillow was emitting the fragrance. This shows his love for the sacred relics, that he took them with him to the Hospital. Now that I think about it, I understand that perhaps this fragrance was an indication that God wanted him in the heavenly Divine Liturgy, because he was pleased with his life.
September 7, 2020
The Repose of a Sanctified Clergyman - Archimandrite Photios Georgiou (+ August 23, 2020)
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
Ten days ago, the local Church of Akrites in Kastoria sent to the Kingdom of Heaven a sanctified clergyman of the historic Lechovo, Archimandrite Photios Georgiou.
Who was Papa-Photis?
He was a married clergyman, who was widowed. His presvytera was a holy soul and they created a blessed family. He was a disciple of the late Metropolitan Augoustinos of Florina, from whom he received the gift of the Diaconate and the Priesthood. He served in the neighboring Diocese of Florina, and specifically in the village of Perdika, developing a rich spiritual work close to that untiring worker of the Gospel.
March 13, 2020
"Rational Faith" and Communicable Disease (Metr. Seraphim of Kastoria)
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
There has been particular talk these days about Divine Communion, namely about the Transformation of the Honorable Body and Honorable Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And, of course, various opinions have been heard by people both in the State and in the Church.
To date, the roughly 2,000 year experience of the Church has proved the opposite of what some claim.
March 6, 2020
The Theotokos as a "Star"
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
"With hymns we magnify you, Immaculate One,
who has been magnified by our race.
Beseeching I beseech you, All-Hymned One,
to ever beseech your Son."1
who has been magnified by our race.
Beseeching I beseech you, All-Hymned One,
to ever beseech your Son."1
We once again sing hymns to the Most Holy Theotokos within the atmosphere of the worship of our holy Church, especially within the blessed period of Great Lent, with this wondrous Service of Salutations, which moves and attracts the hearts of Christians.
We sing hymns to our Panagia with all the angelic hosts, together with the Saints, Martyrs and Venerables, for, as Saint Andrew the Bishop of Crete chants, the Panagia is "God after God, who is second to the Holy Trinity."2 All the Saints, said Venerable Ephraim of Katounakia, sing to the person of the Most Holy Theotokos, since she became the Mother of God and the Mother of all people.
November 15, 2019
Fasting: "As Old As Humanity"
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
We have entered the Christmas season preparing, through prayer and fasting according to the tradition of our Holy Church, to celebrate the Nativity of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who today talks about fasting? Who cares about this ancient institution of our Church? Few perhaps, such as clergy, monastics and certain others whom the majority call outdated and backward.
August 14, 2019
"O Daughter of Adam and Mother of God"
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
August, the last month of our ecclesiastical year.
During the Byzantine years it was initially dedicated to the Honorable Cross, hence why we celebrate the Procession of the Honorable Cross on the first of the month, the litany in the Queen of Cities, namely Constantinople, and the rite of the Sanctification of the Waters for the avoidance of infectious diseases, as Saint Gregory Palamas informs us in one of his homilies.1
March 15, 2019
Sloth: The Foundation of Wickedness
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The period of Holy and Great Lent which we have once again entered this year by the grace and philanthropy of God, is not only a period of fasting and abstaining from certain foods, but it is primarily a period of fasting from the passions, that they may be changed by the uncreated grace of God into virtues, and be beneficial to both ourselves and our neighbors.
This is why Basil the Great describes true fasting as "being a stranger to vice, controlling the tongue, abstaining from anger, distancing oneself from lust, evil speech, lying, perjury."1
Further, it is a period in which we have to deal with ourselves and experience the forgotten virtue of self-knowledge. If we get to know it, then we will indeed be led to repentance and the vision of God.
March 23, 2018
The Theotokos as the Incense of Intercession
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The Akathist Hymn, which is chanted on the Fifth Friday of Great Lent, remotely reminds us of the reverence of our people for the person of the Panagia. It further reminds us of the salvific intervention of the Theotokos in the Queen of Cities, when in 626 the Avars and the Persians attempted to occupy Constantinople, as well as her continuous miraculous interventions in difficult times.
We would not sing hymns to the Panagia, if the Son and Word of God was not incarnated in her all-immaculate womb. She is not only the mother of Christ, but at the same time our own mother. She offered us the greatest gift, the Savior of our souls. And her Son and God gave her the greatest gift, by taking human nature from her, divinizing and renewing it. This is why in the Christmas Service we chant: "God has appeared to mankind from the Virgin, taking our likeness and deifying our nature."
April 12, 2017
The Despairing Woman (Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria)
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
Interpreting the event mentioned by Matthew the Evangelist, which happened in the house of Simon the leper in the presence of that woman who "came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table,"1 the sacred Chrysostom stands with great admiration for this woman. It is worth following the thought and teaching of this father, especially on Holy and Great Wednesday when our Church commemorates her action.
First, that woman came to Christ not for the sake of physical healing, but to honor Him and to correct her soul: "For neither was she at all afflicted in body, so that for this most especially one might marvel at her."2
Second, she did not come to Christ thinking He was just a simple man. This is why she wipes His feet with the hair of her head, for this part of the body, says the sacred father, is the most honorable of the body. She brought her head towards the feet of Christ. This woman did nothing different from what the thief on the cross did at the last moment of his life. She recognized Him as God. This is why she asked for the forgiveness of her sins. And not only did she receive it, but she also accepted praise from Christ: "Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached, that shall be told also which this woman has done."3
Third, what was the intention of the woman? According to the golden-mouthed John, her intention was great reverence and unspeakable zeal. This is why Christ out of his exceeding condescension allowed the oil to be poured over his head: "For indeed great was her reverence, and unspeakable her zeal; wherefore of this exceeding condescension, He permitted the oil to be poured even on His head."4
We see this reverence and zeal painted on the faces of our Saints: when they approach Christ, when the Panagia and the Saints make entreaty on behalf of the world. "How can I come to you with empty hands," said Saint Paisios to the Panagia, "to ask you for grace for people who are sick and tired? And because I have nothing, I brought you some wild flowers from my garden."
God has no need of these things to hear us. We have need of reverence and zeal to approach God and receive the remission of our many sins.
At the same time, the sacred father of the Church occupies himself with the person of Judah. Much has been written and said about this. The hymnography of our Church describes him as being "ungrateful" and having "wicked jealousy." It presents him as being bound to his anger, stinking with malice and envy, thinking of betrayal with a kiss.5
How did this disciple arrive at this point? The sacred father answers: "Because he grew indolent. For hence arise such changes, as on the other hand, those for the better come from zeal."6
And how did he become like this after having been called by Christ? The response of Saint John Chrysostom is disarming and highly enlightening: "Because God's call is not compulsory, neither does it force the will of them who are not minded to choose virtue, but admonishes indeed, and advises, and does and manages all things, so as to persuade men to become good; but if some endure not, it does not compel. But if you would learn from what cause he became such as he was, you will find him to have been ruined by covetousness."7
Let us stand respectfully before this sinful woman, since the Only Begotten Son and Word of God as a teacher of repentance respected her, that we may be liberated from our overwhelming passions and be anointed with the noetic myrrh of the grace of God so we may enter into the bridal-chamber of His glory.
Notes:
1. Matt. 26:7.
2. St. John Chrysostom, Homily 80 on Matthew.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Holy Wednesday Matins, Praises.
6. St. John Chrysostom, Homily 80 on Matthew.
7. Ibid.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
April 11, 2017
The Oil of Fellowship (Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria)
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
"On Holy and Great Tuesday, we commemorate the Parable of the Ten Virgins in the Holy Gospel."1
In this simple way the sacred Synaxarion indicates what Holy and Great Tuesday is dedicated to. The words of Saint John Chrysostom are both characteristic and moving regarding the Parable of the Ten Virgins: "There were ten virgins, the Gospel says, five who were foolish and five who were prudent. The wise ones had oil; however, since the foolish ones did not, their lamps were extinguished... Virginity is the fire, almsgiving the oil. Therefore, when the fire does not have oil to burn safely and steadily, it is extinguished. Virginity is likewise extinguished when it lacks almsgiving... Who are the dealers of this oil? The poor, the ones who sit in front of the church in order to ask for alms. How much do they sell it for? As much as you want. I do not put a price on it so that you do not qualify the poverty. Buy as much as you can... Give to the poor, so that even if you keep silent (and thousands upon thousands of mouths defend you) almsgiving will take your side and plead on your behalf. Almsgiving is the salvation of the soul."2
April 1, 2017
Interpreting the Name of the Virgin Maria
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
With the ancestral piety of our ancestors as a companion, who over the centuries were connected with God and the Mysteries of our Holy Church, but also harbored a deep respect for the person of the Most Holy Theotokos, we also approach her this evening with the wondrous Kontakion of the Akathist Hymn, which gives rest to all of our souls and animates it like heavenly rain.
In our time in which we base everything on reason, no matter what we have, it will not give us the possibility to communicate with God. Not even our very sinful minds can approach the mystery of mysteries whose name is Theotokos. Only through the vehicle of faith and the inflammation of the heart can we offer the incense of our worship to the God worshiped as Trinity, as well as the required respect and our devotion to the person of the Panagia. Therefore let all the faithful, together with the Archangel Gabriel, approach the Virgin Mary and let us "embrace her", as Saint Romanos the Melodist says in a hymn to the miracle of her Annunciation.
March 31, 2017
The Theotokos as the Living Table
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
"Your womb became a Heavenly Table, bearing the Heavenly Bread - Christ our God. Whoever eats of Him shall not die, O Birth-giver of God, according to the word of the Nourisher of all."1
Blessing the person of the Most Holy Theotokos, which captivates and simultaneously moves the hearts of all of us, especially every Friday night during the joyous Service of Salutations, the God-bearer John of Damascus, repeating the Creed of our Orthodox Church, tells us that the Panagia is the peak and completion of the entire Old Testament. All of the foreshadowings refer to her. The prototypes and prophecies of the Holy Prophets are revealed in her.
March 18, 2017
The Theotokos as the Rectification of Humanity
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The person of the Panagia, much more so her ministry in the unexplainable mystery of the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God, is truly a miracle. How did God become man in the womb of a woman and how did a woman carry God in her immaculate womb and in her warm embrace?
The God-bearing Damascene, the great dogmatician of our Church, describes it as a miracle. In one of his homilies he writes: "O Virgin full of divine grace, holy temple of God which the Spiritual Solomon, that Prince of Peace, constructed and inhabited; you are not adorned with gold and lifeless stones, but in place of gold you shine with the Spirit. Instead of precious stones you have Christ, 'the pearl of great price', the coal of divinity."1 Thus she became "the rectification of our foremother Eve" with the descent of God to the human race and the ascent of man to God. The new Eve rectifies the erroneous action of our foremother Eve and at the same time lifts the human race from corruption and sin. With particular astonishment at this rectification the sacred hymnographer of the kontakion of the Akathist Hymn chants: "Rejoice the rectification of humanity."
March 10, 2017
The Theotokos as a Harbor
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The popular Salutations Service, that is chanted during the period of Holy and Great Lent, gives us all the opportunity of communicating with Heaven through prayer and seeking divine mercy, of which we have so much need.
If we ought always to pray, if prayer must be our every breath in our lives, this should especially be true during the period of fasting. This is why the God-bearing Fathers of the Church link prayer with fasting, stressing that through fasting, vigil and prayer people receive heavenly graces.1
It also gives us the opportunity to communicate with the Most Holy Theotokos. For us she is the Mother of Christ, as well as our own mother.
March 6, 2017
Asceticism, the Mother of Sanctification
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The philanthropy of God makes us worthy once again this year to go through the blessed period of the Triodion and with His grace and infinite mercy we will enter in a few days the Holy and Great Lent.
Let me once again remind you, as well as myself, of a counterproposal of the Church in the contemporary world and in the consumer society. And this is asceticism.
It has been called the mother of sanctification, a bridle against those things which bring spiritual death, a discipline towards all the members of the body, as well as the elimination of the vile taste of the tree [the Tree of Knowledge], according to the expression of Saint Gregory the Theologian.1
February 19, 2017
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.
July 10, 2016
"I Was Born a Christian, and a Christian I Will Die" (Homily for the Sunday of the Neomartyrs Under the Turks)
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, praising the chorus of Holy Neomartyrs, whose Synaxis our Holy Church celebrates today, says the following in the Service he composed in their honor:
"As noetic luminaries, the divine Neomartyrs of Christ have risen upon us, and without error they lead towards the straight path of salvation by His commandments."1
The Neomartyrs are lumninaries, namely stars, who rose in the firmament of the Church during the terrible winter of slavery.
July 3, 2016
"The Fathers Who Made the Mountain Heavenly"
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
The Second Sunday of Matthew the Evangelist, as it is called in the language of our Church, is dedicated to all those Venerable and God-bearing Fathers who shined in asceticism and athleticism on the Holy Mountain.
Honored at the Sacred Garden of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was given as a "chosen place and mountain of inheritance" to her from her Son and God, are all those who lived in the area, and displayed it with their asceticism, angelic state and the grace given to them by God, to be a second heaven. It is "a second heaven," according to the expression of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite. Honored are Holy Hierarchs, Ascetics, Venerable Martyrs, Confessors and Hesychasts, known and unknown, who "bloomed as evergreen and most-fragrant lilies at the foot of the Mountain, and in its valleys and shores, as tall trees full of leaves," as the sacred hymnographer of their Service chants, Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite.
June 19, 2016
"The Heavens Above Have Opened"
By Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
Saint John Chrysostom, my beloved brethren, speaking of the epidemic of the All-Holy Spirit in the blessed upper room of Zion on the day of Pentecost, states among other things the following:
"Today neither manna nor fire nor rain came down, but a spiritual storm of good things. A heavenly rain came down, not to cause the fruitfulness of the earth, but to convince the human race to offer the fruits of the virtues to the tiller of mankind. And those who received a drop of this rain from heaven immediately forgot themselves and suddenly the whole earth was filled with angels, not heavenly angels, but those who reveal in their human body the virtues of the bodiless powers."1
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