One Way Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Ministers to Students of Middle and High School

For many years now it has been an established practice for the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, Hierotheos Vlachos, to visit the city’s Gymnasiums and Lyceums (Middle Schools and High Schools) at least twice a year, as well as on other individual occasions, and to discuss with students and teachers issues that concern them. One visit takes place at the beginning of the school year on the occasion of the sanctification of the water services (agiasmos) of the schools. The other occurs during the month of January on the occasion of the cutting of the Vasilopita. This also takes place at other times with individual classes.

During these meetings, His Eminence begins with an example, a saying, or an event drawn from ancient Greek philosophy or from more recent times, and then relates it to the present age, enriching it also with elements from the ecclesiastical tradition. Afterwards he invites the students to ask him questions — “the more difficult, the better,” as he says — and an extensive discussion follows. Many times the discussion exceeds an hour and a half. What follows is a brief summary of the introduction to his talk during his recent visits to the schools, after he had first blessed the Vasilopita. In each school he conveyed a particular message.

The Miracle of Saint Theodore the Recruit With the Kollyva (For Children)

Saint Theodore the Recruit was a Roman soldier who suffered for believing in Christ in Asia Minor at the beginning of the 4th century (about 300 years after Christ), during the rule of the pagan Roman emperor Galerius who persecuted Christians. But many people know about this great Saint because of a miracle that happened after his death.

About 50 years after Saint Theodore’s martyrdom, a Roman emperor named Julian the Apostate ruled in Constantinople. He was the nephew of Saint Constantine the Great. Although he had once been a Christian, Julian turned away from Christ and became a pagan like his ancestors before Constantine.

At the beginning of Great Lent, Julian decided to mock the Christians. He secretly ordered the governor of Constantinople to sprinkle the food in the marketplace with blood from animals that had been sacrificed to pagan gods.

The Apostles had taught Christians not to eat food offered to idols or food mixed with blood (Acts 15:29), and the emperor knew this very well. His evil plan was kept secret and would have succeeded — but God worked a miracle.

Saint Theodore appeared in a dream to the Archbishop of Constantinople, Eudoxios. The Saint told him to warn the Christians not to buy any food from the markets, but instead to prepare food at home called kollyva — boiled wheat mixed with honey.

The Archbishop quickly gathered the Christians, told them about the Saint’s appearance, and gave them his message. When the emperor saw that his plan had failed and the Christians were not deceived, he canceled his order.

To remember this miracle, the Church honors Saint Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent. On the Friday before, after the special Lenten service, prayers are offered to Saint Theodore. On this day, kollyva is blessed in church and shared with everyone.

(Illustrations by Ksenia Naumova)

 

A Sample Sermon for Children at the Presanctified Divine Liturgy

A Sample Sermon for Children at the Presanctified Divine Liturgy 

By His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani

First of all, I want to congratulate you for coming to church today and for standing quietly and reverently here in the house of God.

I will say a few words to you about the Presanctified Divine Liturgy — this special Liturgy — which is celebrated only during this period of Great Lent. The wise Fathers of our Church established the Presanctified Divine Liturgy because during this time we cannot celebrate the regular, bright, and complete Divine Liturgy, as we call it. And this is because this period is penitential — a time of fasting, greater self-restraint, and prayer — a time of more intense spiritual struggles. We say everything in a lower tone of voice, the lights are few, everything is more compunctionate. Whereas when we celebrate the regular Divine Liturgy, everything is bright, joyful, and full of praise.

It is called “Presanctified” because the Precious Gifts — that is, the Bread and the Wine offered on the Holy Altar — have already been changed into the Body and Blood of Christ at the previous Divine Liturgy. That is, they have been sanctified beforehand.

Children and the Nativity Fast

By Fr. George Christodoulos 

 

The Nativity Fast is slightly more relaxed compared to Great Lent, though both last forty days. From November 15 to December 25 the Church has established a fast, which ends immediately after the Christmas Divine Liturgy. We eat fish (except Wednesdays & Fridays) until December 17. The last days of the fast we do not eat fish.

It is worth remembering that Christ himself urges us to fast so that the devil may have no influence over our lives. The purpose of fasting is that it is a weapon to combat our passions, sinful inclinations and bad habits. Everyone in the Church, no matter what age they are, should try their best to be their best. Along with fasting from certain foods, we should also lessen or even eradicate bad habits, such as less cigarettes, less drinking, less junk food, less anger, less judgmentalism, etc. We do this by replacing them with the increase of virtuous living, such as more philanthropy, more patience, more humility, more prayer, more Holy Communion, etc.

Youth and the Church: Who Is To Blame?

By Archimandrite Porphyrios, 

Abbot of the Holy Forerunner in Veria

Just a short while ago, I read another article on a topic that interests many. A respected monk from Mount Athos, who has now passed away, analyzes the subject: Youth and the Church.

Specifically, who or what is to blame for young people not attending Church?

I do not believe that young people do not go to Church. They do, and quite frequently. However, young people have certain expectations, and they express them more intensely than those who have since become set in their ways and indifferent. But that is a discussion for another time.

The text that will follow has been contemplated countless times, and, to tell the truth, each time I was about to write it, I was seized by an indistinct fear. Fear, because what you are about to read is not easily spoken.

A long and severe labor. And behold, now, the outcome. And since we are in Lent, in its second half, on the downward slope, which is also the more difficult part, I ask in advance for the sympathy of our readers.