SUNDAY September 15
September 28 ns
2025
2025
† Sunday after the
Elevation of the Cross
† The 3rd Appearance
of the Precious Cross
of the Precious Cross
Great Martyr Nikétas;
St. Bessarion of Lárissa;
St. Symeon, Archbishop
of Thessalonica
St. Bessarion of Lárissa;
St. Symeon, Archbishop
of Thessalonica
Nikétas was a Goth by birth. He was a disciple of Theóphilos, Bishop of the Goths, who participated in the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea 325].
When the Gothic prince Athenarik began to torture Christians, St. Nikétas stood before the prince and denounced him for his paganism and inhumanity. Subsequently harshly tortured, Nikétas confessed his faith in Christ even more strongly, and prayed to God with thanksgiving. His mind was unceasingly raised up to God, and on his breast under his robe he bore an icon of the Most-holy Theotokos with the Pre-eternal Christ Child standing and holding the Cross in His hands.
St. Nikétas carried this icon because the Holy Theotokos had appeared to him and comforted him. Finally, the torturer threw the soldier of Christ into the fire, where the holy martyr breathed his last, but his body remained untouched by the fire. His companion Marianus took his body from the land of the Goths (Wallachia and Bessarabia) to the town of Mopsuestia, in Cilicia. There, he built a church dedicated to St. Nikétas, and placed the miracle-working relics of the martyr in it. Nikétas suffered and was glorified in the year 372.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
The Holy Epistle to the Galatians 2:16-20 KJV
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Holy Gospel of the Divine Liturgy Saint Mark 8:34-9:1 KJV
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
9 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
ON THE WONDROUS VISIT
OF THE SON OF GOD
BY SAINT NIKOLAI VELIMIROVICH
“I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28) KJV.
Brethren, these words are of crucial importance for us. For of all things in this world, this is the most important to know: Is there a God and is there life after death? These words are more precious than all the pearls in the world, more precious than the sun and more precious than the stars, for these words were spoken by Him Who is the most reliable and the most truthful Witness. In truth, these words are the source of the greatest joy for us who are plunged into despair and, after despair, face death. These words witness that there is a God and that there is life after death. I came forth from the Father—before all else, this means that there is a God, from Whom the Lord Jesus came. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father—this means that God is the Father to Whom the Son of God returns. At the same time, both of these quotations mean that eternal life exists and that death does not mean our annihilation. The Lord spoke these words just before His death.
O sweet and wonderful tidings! That which the hearts of all men and nations throughout all ages dimly envisioned, the Lord witnessed as fact, as truth.
And further, these words confirm the unity of the Father and the Son, as well as the divinity of our Lord and Savior. My brethren, God visited us, the Most-high God Himself: the Holy, Mighty and Immortal God. This is the culmination of our comfort and our joy.
O Lord Jesus, Son of God, the True Witness of all that is good and for which our hearts yearn day and night, sanctify us, strengthen us and make us immortal.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
ABOUT KNOWING AND DOING
BY SAINT NIKOLAI VELIMIROVICH
If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye DO them.
happy are ye if ye DO them.
(St. John 13:17) KJV.
OTHODOXY is not a word but a way of life
The most important aspect of this scripture text of our Lord, brethren, is that the Lord does not mitigate knowing, but stresses doing. He does not say to the apostles, "Blessed are you when you know this." Some pagan teachers who viewed salvation only in terms of knowledge spoke in this manner. However, our Lord says, "Blessed are you if you do it." The knowledge of salvation was given to us by the Lord Jesus Himself, and no one is able to attain that knowledge through his own efforts.
CONCERN WITH FACING THE JUDGE
Some of the ancient Greek philosophers said that mankind cannot come to the knowledge of the truth, nor can be saved, until God Himself comes to earth. Our Lord came among men and revealed this knowledge to them. Whosoever receives this knowledge also accepts the obligation to fulfill it. O, how much easier will it be at the judgment for those who never received this knowledge at all, and consequently, did not fulfill it, than for those who received this knowledge and neglected to fulfill it.
O, how much easier it will be at the judgment for unlearned pagans than for the learned Christians.
Our Lord alone showed Himself not only as a Knower, but also as a Doer. His perfect knowledge complimented His perfect doing. Before the eyes of His disciples, He personally fulfilled all of His own commandments. He gave them this commandment and completed this act of humility and love when He washed the feet of His disciples. He then commanded that they should do this to one another. Our Lord did not dwell among men to soil men, but to wash them. He never soiled anyone, but cleansed all who wished to be cleansed. What kind of shame is it for many of us who labor much to wash ourselves and labor twice as much to soil others?
O, my brethren, we muddy our own blood brothers. Even Christ weeps when He sees how we, with the mud of slander, soil those whom He has washed with His own blood. O Lord forgive us! We sin everyday against our own brothers. Make our brothers, O Lord, whom we have soiled, brighter than we in Your kingdom. You are just and You see all.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
Extended Inclusions
HOW THE TRUE FAITH HASCOME DOWN TO USandKNOWING GODSt. Silouan of theHoly Mountain Athos
The soul of all peoples always feltthat God exists, even though theydidn't know enough to worship thetrue God. The Holy Spirit, however,taught the Prophets first, then theApostles, after them the Holy Fathersand our bishops and so the true faithhas come down to us. We knew the Lordthrough the Holy Spirit. And oncewe knew him, our soul became fixed in him.
Know, you peoples, that we were madein order to glorify God in heaven, anddon't attach yourselves to the earth.Because God is our Father and He lovesus, His greatly desired children. Peoplewho don't know grace, don't seek it.
People have become attached to the earthand this is why most of them don't knowthat there's nothing earthly which cancompare with the sweetness of theHoly Spirit.
TO BELIEVE OR TO KNOWSt. Silouan of theHoly Mountain Athos
To believe that God exists is one thing;To know God is another. The soul thatcomes to know God fully, not longerdesires anything else. Nor does itattach itself to anything on the earth;and if you put before it a Kingdom,it would not desire it. For the loveof God gives such sweetness and joyto the soul that even the life of a kingcan no longer give it any sweetness.
Teach me to attain holiness in the fear of Thee
Teach me to attain holiness in the fear of Thee
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