Acts 19:1-8 (Epistle)
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
John 14:1-11 (Gospel)
1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
Venerable Isaac, Founder of Dalmátos Monastery at Constantinople
Saint Isaac lived during the IV century, received the monastic tonsure and pursued ascetic labors in the desert. During the reign of Emperor Valens (364-378), a zealous adherent of the Arian heresy, there was a persecution of the Orthodox, and churches were closed and destroyed.
Hearing of the persecution, Saint Isaac left the wilderness and went to Constantinople to console and encourage the Orthodox, and to fight against the heretics. At that time, barbarian Goths along the Danube River were making war against the Empire. They seized Thrace and advanced toward Constantinople.
When Emperor Valens was leaving the capital with his soldiers, Saint Isaac cried out, “Emperor, reopen the churches of the Orthodox, and then the Lord will aid you!” But the Emperor, disdaining the Saint's words, continued confidently on his way. The Saint repeated his request and prophecy three times. The angry Emperor ordered Saint Isaac to be thrown into a deep ravine, filled with thorns and mud, from which it was impossible to escape.
Saint Isaac remained alive by God’s help, and when he emerged he overtook the Emperor and said, “You wanted to destroy me, but three Angels pulled me from the mire. Hear me, reopen the churches for the Orthodox and you shall defeat the enemy. If you do not heed me, then you shall not return. You will be captured and burnt alive.” The Emperor was astonished at the Saint's boldness and ordered his attendants Saturninus and Victor to seize him and hold him in prison until his return.
Saint Isaac’s prophecy was soon fulfilled. The Goths defeated and pursued the Greek army. The Emperor and his Arian generals took refuge in a barn filled with straw, and the attackers set it ablaze. After news of the Emperor's death was received in Constantinople, Saint Isaac was released and honored as a prophet.
Then the holy Emperor Theodosios the Great (379-395) came to the throne. On the advice of Saturninus and Victor, he summoned the Elder, treating him with great respect. Obeying his instructions, he banished the Arians from Constantinople and restored the churches to the Orthodox. Saint Isaac wanted to return to his desert, but Saturninus and Victor begged him not to leave the city, but to remain and protect it by his prayers.
Saturninus built a monastery for Saint Isaac in Constantinople, where monks gathered around him. Saint Isaac was the Monastery’s Igoumen and spiritual guide. He also nourished laypeople, and helped many of the poor and suffering.
When he had reached an advanced age, Saint Isaac made Saint Dalmátos (August 3) Igoumen. The Monastery was later named for Dalmátos.
Saint Isaac reposed in the year 383, and his memory is also celebrated on March 22.
The Monastery of Saint Isaac in Saint Petersburg is dedicated to this Saint.
Sermon on the Apostolic reading for the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (Acts 20: 16-18, 28-36)
Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios †
For this particular reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Apostle Paul imparting his spiritual legacy upon the presbyters of Ephesus in an emotional farewell address at the seaside town of Miletus. Our Church, in its wisdom has chosen this passage as the one to be read today, in honor of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Synod. This is because the Holy Fathers have taken to heart these words of St. Paul in how they lived, and we commemorate this faithfulness today.
The Apostle had remained in Ephesus for three years straight, working to found one of the largest Churches in Asia. At the conclusion of his third Apostolic Tour, he set sail for Jerusalem, to celebrate Pentecost there. On the way, he stopped at the coastal city of Miletus. While there, he invited the presbyters of the neighboring Church of Ephesus for a meeting. St. Paul knew that this would be the last time he would see them, and so he wanted to strengthen them in their difficult pastoral and missionary work, as well as say goodbye to the Church he had labored for, for so long.
St. Paul, in his address, told the Presbyters who had longed to meet him: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you Overseers, to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood “(verse 28). With these words, he is calling the Presbyters to a deeper vigilance: To look after themselves, and the people who are in their care. Let us examine this passage more closely:
First, “Take heed to yourselves” is a reminder that they should be a model of faith and a pure life. That they put into action what St. Paul had preached day and night for three years (verse 31). The shepherds of the Church need to be aware of how they themselves live, because a Gospel centered life will inspire other Christians to follow, and in so doing all will grow spiritually.
Second, the shepherds of the Church need to watch their flock carefully, which the Holy Spirit has entrusted to them. The people need to be taught the correct doctrines of the faith. They need to be protected from people who prowl like wolves, leading believers away from the Church with wicked words and ways. St. Paul was deeply concerned about this, because he knew that after his departure, these “wolves” would seek to prey upon the faithful of Ephesus. He realized that some of these deceivers would be among the Ephesians themselves! This is why the shepherd must always be interested in the salvation of his people, the Church of Christ. Because, as St. Paul points out, Christ gave His Precious Blood for His Church (see verse 28).
How much care is needed, my brothers and sisters, for all of us to avoid falling into the mouth of the wolf-devil and his helpers. In a variety of ways, they attempt to cut us off from the One Holy Church of Christ. Either by twisting the doctrines of faith or with anti-Christian ideas, they seek to divide us and to distract Christians from realizing where their Salvation lies. Christ, as we heard in today’s Gospel reading, prayed on Gethsemane for those who believe “to remain united” (John 17:11). This is what the Apostle Paul sought: that the faithful be united with Christ as one. The goal of the “wolves” is to separate us, and take people for themselves.
At the conclusion of the Apostolic Reading, the writer of Acts presents a very moving scene: After St. Paul finishes speaking, he entrusts his spiritual children to the protection of God (see verse 32) and he knelt down (and all the Presbyters with him), praying for them all (see verse 36).
With such excellent examples to guide us, let us do our best to remain faithful to the Church. May we all trust ourselves and each other to Christ, Almighty and merciful God, praying for the Church with all the power of our souls. Amen.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 5/26: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday 5/27: no services or events
Wednesday 5/28: no services or events
Thursday 5/29: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Friday 5/30: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Saturday 5/31: Catechumen Class 4:30 p.m.; Great Vespers 6 p.m.
Sunday 6/1: Divine Liturgy 9:15 a.m.
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Christ the Savior Orthodox Church is located in Southbury, Connecticut, and is part of the New England Diocese of the Orthodox Church of America.
Mailing address: Christ the Savior Church, 1070 Roxbury Road, Southbury, CT 06488
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Fr. Moses Locke can be reached at frmoseslocke@gmail.com