The Church’s Holy Tradition guides Her in the interpretation of Holy Scripture
The Bible can only be understood through the Church, for the Holy Scriptures came forth from the Church. The reformers dumped the papacy only to replace that institution with themselves as the ultimate authority. Since reason and logic ruled, there was no room for the intuitive, noetic nature of the heart. Thus, the interpretation of the Bible became a debatable subject between believers, ending in new denominations proliferating like rabbits.
The Bible is the written account of the first Christians experience with God, and was a living, oral tradition inspired by the Holy Spirit, and put down in written form. To think that it is therefore open to personal interpretation, apart from the Church from which it sprang, is the cause of over forty thousand different denominations today!
The Orthodox Church has kept the early teachings and liturgical traditions precisely because she has refused to interpret Scripture apart from that which was always taught. Her Divine services connect us to the early Church precisely because they are the same liturgical services used by the early Church.
Orthodoxy is increasingly becoming known in the West, and more and more people are being drawn to Her. But we don’t convert people to Orthodoxy by words and debate, but by the example of our lives. Judging others can not be a part of our witness to the truth of Orthodoxy. Giving witness to the transformational power of the Church is what convicts others of the truth of our faith.
We must pray for friends and loved ones who do not know the truth of Orthodoxy, yet we should also give thanks for those who know Jesus Christ. For we Orthodox, it is a joy to have God as our Father, while an extra benefit to have the Church as our Mother. But lest we forget, it is of no value whatsoever to be Orthodox if we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and if we do not truly love our neighbor.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Friday August 28, 2020 / August 15, 2020
12th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Fast. Fish Allowed
The Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Icon of Sophia, the Wisdom of God (Novgorod).
Reverence list of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God: “Kievo-Pechersk” (1073), “Ovinovsk” (1425), “Pskov-Pechersk” (1472), “Semigorodnaya” (15th c.) and “Piukhtitsk” (16th c.).
“Mosdok” (13th c.), “Atskursk” (1st. c.), “Tsilkansk” (4th c.), “Vlakhernsk” (Georgia), “Vladimirsko-Rostovsky” (12th c.), Gaenatsky (13th c.), “Bakhchisaraysk”, “Chukhlomsk” (14th c.), “Surdegsk” (1530), “Tupichevsk” (17th c.) Icons of the Mother of God.
Venerable Macarius the Roman, abbot (1550), and his disciple St. Chariton.
New Hieromartyr Andrew (Voliansky) priest.
St. Christos of Ioannina (Greek).
St. Stephen, elder of Vyatka (1890).
New Martyrs Priest Paul Szwajko and Presbytera Joanna, of Graboviec (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 1:39-49
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
Luke 1:56
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Philippians 2:5-11
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 11:27-28
Keeping the Word
27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Greetings on the beautiful feast of the Dormition. We get to celebrate two feasts as we are Greek Orthodox. It was a joy to see your morning offering in my email this morning. I was afraid you would stop doing it. Your writing is inspiring and helps me go deeper into my faith. Thank you for all you and your monks and all monasteries do for our troubled world.
Agree!!
Christ is in our midst!
This is wonderful. Thank you, Father.
“…we don’t convert people to Orthodoxy by words and debate, but by the example of our lives.”
This quote is the truth that has made my family and friends ask about Orthodoxy. One good friend told me just two weeks ago, “I have to ask more because I’ve seen the peace you’ve gained AND because not once have you tried to convert me.”
When I began my journey into Orthodoxy I took your advice which you have via the story of your parents. You said, “I prayed that I would be an ideal son…” I too began to pray that I would be an ideal husband, Father, son, brother, and neighbor. This was what made my wife say, “I too believe the Orthodox Church is THE Church.” Otherwise it would have only been yet another “thing” I was trying.
It reminds me also of Fr Michael Oleksa’s story of “Roger’s church.” I spoke with Fr Michael yesterday morning on the phone and one thing he shared me the story of a Pentecostal man named Roger who came to Alaska and built it own church just outside of the village boundaries. Everyone called it, “Roger’s church” because it was he and his family who attended and he preached whatever he personally thought of verses; often disregarding the previous or next verse and certainly always disregarding the Holy Traditions. Some younger people started attending “Roger’s church” and the village elders said, “We must do something! We must prove how Roger is wrong!” Fr Michael told them, “No!” He said, “Do not argue with Roger. That is what he does. Simply continue in the Faith and continue to love your children and grandchildren. The Roger’s will come and go. The Church will remain.”
Sure enough years later Roger did leave and everyone came back to the Orthodox Church. “Roger’s church” is just an empty building now.
Glory to God!
Father bless.
Father bless!
Thank you for your daily homilies.
Even in the early history of the Church, the Apostles and the early Christians we’re attacked for their teachings by those who thought they knew better. Yet, today, their words still survive for they spoke the truth. We hear little to nothing of those who persecuted them.
Though the silent majority does not always rise to the occasion, people are grateful for your words, for you speak the truth and what you write is rooted spiritual and Scriptural teachings. Those that rail against your blogs are but a sign that you have hit the mark. The evil one tries to fight back with sticks against the stone foundation of Our Lord.
Your writing is an inspiration and a welcome start to our day. As long as the Lord blesses us with your presence, please continue your instruction, guidance, and observations. It helps so many that are mired in the tribulations of our daily world.
In Christ
Couldn’t agree more! These daily homilies are the super food for the soul!
All I can say from what I have lived and what I have just read here, is “Thankyou God for the Orthodox Church..”
Amen Amen Amen!
We love reading your daily blog as we live two hours from any Orthodox church. It has been a special time for us during the pandemic. Thank you for your wisdom and lessons learned.
By the way, we were delighted to hear from you regarding the recovery status of your friend, Father Seraphim Cardoza, for whom you had requested prayers. We are curious about the status of Father Moses Berry, for whom you also requested prayers.
May God continue to bless and keep you safe and well. May God bless the monks with you and all the pilgrims who visit.