Friday September 13/26 ns 2025 • Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection, Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion, St. Aristeides the Philosopher of Athens ~ Wine and olive oil are permitted ~ Consecration: Heb. 3:1-4; Forefeast: St. John 12:25-36 ~ A WORD ON REPENTANCE BY ST JOHN OF SHANGHAI AND SAN FRANCISCO

Unable to prevail is every hymn that striveth to

comprehend the multitude of Thy many tender mercies;

for if we were to offer unto Thee, O Holy King, odes

equal in number to the sands, we will have done nothing

worthy of that which Thou hast given unto us,

who cry to Thee: Alleluia

Friday September 13

September 26 ns
2025

The Consecration of the

Church of the Resurrection

The Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius

the Centurion

St. Aristeídes the

Philosopher of Athens

EVE OF THE ELEVATION OF THE

PRECIOUS CROSS OF OUR LORD

When the holy Empress Helena found the Cross of our Lord in Jerusalem, she stayed awhile in the Holy City, and built churches in Gethsemane and Bethlehem, and on the Mount of Olives, as well as other places prominent in the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Golgotha, where she found the Honorable Cross, she began the building of an enormous church. The church was designed to encompass the Place of the Skull, where the Lord was crucified, as well as the place where He was buried. The saintly empress wanted to include the place of His suffering and the place of His glory under the same roof. However, Helena reposed in the Lord before this majestic Church was completed. By the time it was completed, Constantine was celebrating the thirtieth year of his reign. Thus, the consecration of the Church and the emperor's jubilee were celebrated on the same day, September 13, 335. A local council of bishops was being held in Tyre at that time. These bishops, and many others, came to Jerusalem for the solemn consecration of the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord. It was then established that this day-a day of victory and triumph for the Church of Christ-be solemnly commemorated every year.

Hebrews 3:1-4 KJV

3 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Saint John 12:25-36 KJV

25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

A WORD ON REPENTANCE
BY
ST JOHN THE WONDERWORKER

OF SHANGHAI
AND SAN FRANCISCO

Repentance is expressed by the Greek word 'metanoia'. In the literal sense, this means a change of mind. In other words, repentance is a change of one's disposition, one's way of thinking: a change of 1's inner self. Repentance is a reconsideration of one's views, and alteration of one's life.

How can this come about? In the same way that a dark room into which a man enters is illumined by the rays of the sun. Looking around the room in the dark, he can make out certain things, but there is a great deal he does not see and does not even suspect is there. Many things are perceived quite differently from what they actually are. He has to move carefully, not knowing what obstacles he might encounter. When, however, the room becomes bright, he can see things clearly and move about freely.

The same thing happens in spiritual life.

When we are immersed in sins, and our mind is occupied solely with worldly cares, we do not notice the state of our soul. We are indifferent to who we are inwardly, and we persist along a false path without being aware of it.

But then a ray of God's light penetrates our soul. And what filth we see in ourselves! How much untruth, how much falsehood! How hideous many of our actions prove to be, which we fancied to be so wonderful. How much untruth, how much falsehood. How hideous many of our actions prove to be, which we fancy to be so wonderful. And it becomes clear to us which is the true path.

If we then recognize our spiritual nothingness, our sinfulness, and — earnestly desire our amendment, we are near to salvation. From the depths of our soul we shall cry out to God: “Have mercy on me O God, have mercy according to Thy great mercy.” “Forgive me and save me, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother.”

Extended Inclusion

HOW THE TRUE FAITH HAS

COME DOWN TO US

and

KNOWING GOD

St. Silouan of the

Holy Mountain Athos

The soul of all peoples always felt

that God exists, even though they

didn't know enough to worship the

true God. The Holy Spirit, however,

taught the Prophets first, then the

Apostles, after them the Holy Fathers

and our bishops and so the true faith

has come down to us. We knew the Lord

through the Holy Spirit. And once

we knew him, our soul became fixed in him.

Know, you peoples, that we were made

in order to glorify God in heaven, and

don't attach yourselves to the earth.

Because God is our Father and He loves

us, His greatly desired children. People

who don't know grace, don't seek it.

People have become attached to the earth

and this is why most of them don't know

that there's nothing earthly which can

compare with the sweetness of the

Holy Spirit.

TO BELIEVE OR TO KNOW

St. Silouan of the

Holy Mountain Athos

To believe that God exists is one thing;

To know God is another. 

The soul that

comes to know God fully, not longer

desires anything else. Nor does it

attach itself to anything on the earth;

and if you put before it a Kingdom,

it would not desire it. For the love

of God gives such sweetness and joy

to the soul that even the life of a king

can no longer give it any sweetness.