Η ΕΡΜΗΝΕΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΙΑΣ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΣ.ΔΥΝΑΤΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ Ο ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΜΕΝΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΣ

ΔΥΝΑΤΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ………..

Ο ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΜΕΝΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΣ

Η ΕΡΜΗΝΕΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΙΑΣ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΣ

Ἡ Θεία Λειτουργία εἶναι ἡ κυριότερη πράξη λατρείας πρὸς τὸν Θεό. Συµπεριλαµβάνει τὴν κοινὴ προσευχὴ στὸ Ναό, τὴν ἀπὸ κοινοῦ ἀκρόαση καὶ ἑρµηνεία τῶν θείων Γραφῶν, δηλαδὴ τὸ θεῖο Κήρυγµα καὶ τὸ σπουδαιότερο, τὴν πραγµατικὴ σταυρικὴ Θυσία τοῦ Σωτῆρα Χριστοῦ.

Aπὸ ὅλα τὰ Ἱ. Μυστήρια τὸ ἱερότερο καὶ ὕψιστο εἶναι ἡ Θεία Λειτουργία, ἡ ὁποία ἀποτελεῖ τὸν πυρῆνα καὶ τὴν κορύφωση ὅλων τῶν ὑπολοίπων.

Γιʼ αὐτὸ καὶ σὲ παλαιότερες ἐποχὲς ὅλα τὰ Μυστήρια τελοῦνταν ἐντὸς καὶ σὲ συνάρθρωση µὲ αὐτήν. Συνήθως διαιρεῖται σὲ τρὶα κύρια µέρη: α) Προσκοµιδή, β) Λειτουργία τῶν Κατηχουµένων καὶ γ) Λειτουργία τῶν Πιστῶν.

A) Προσκοµιδὴ

Εἶναι µιὰ εἰδικὴ ἀκολουθία, κατὰ τὴν ὁποία ὁ λειτουργὸς προετοιµάζει τὰ τίµια δῶρα γιὰ τὴν τέλεση τοῦ Μυστηρίου τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας. Ὁ Ἱερέας, ἀφοῦ «πάρει καιρό», ζητήσει δηλαδὴ τὴν ἐξ ὕψους δύναµη γιὰ νὰ προχωρήσει στὴν τέλεση τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας καὶ ντυθεῖ µὲ τὰ ἱερὰ ἄµφια, νίπτει τὰ χέρια του – σύµβολο τῆς ψυχικῆς καθαρότητας – καὶ προχωρᾷ στὴν ἀκολουθία τῆς Προσκοµιδῆς.

Ἐπιλέγει τὸ καλύτερο πρόσφορο ἀπὸ τὸ ὁποῖο θὰ ἐξάγει τὴν µερίδα ποὺ θὰ µεταβληθεῖ σὲ Σῶµα Χριστοῦ. Τὸ πρόσφορο ἔχει ἰδιαίτερο συµβολισµὸ γιὰ τοὺς πιστούς. Συµβολίζει τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Γιατί, ὅπως τὸ πρόσφορο ἀποτελεῖται ἀπὸ διαφόρους σπόρους, οἱ ὁποῖοι µαζεύτηκαν, ἀλέστηκαν, ζυµώθηκαν καὶ ἔκαναν ἕνα πρᾶγµα, ἔτσι καὶ ὁ Θεὸς θὰ συνάξει τὰ διασκορπισµένα σʼ ὅλη τὴ γῆ παιδιά του στὴν Βασιλεία Του τὴν ἐπουράνια.

Καὶ κάτι ἀκόµη. Μέσα στὰ τίµια ∆ῶρα ὑπάρχει ἡ ἐλπίδα καὶ ἡ ἐγγύηση τῆς Ἀναστάσεως. «Καθὼς ὁ βλαστὸς τῆς ἀµπέλου, ἀφοῦ κατακλιθεῖ στὴ γῆ καρποφορεῖ στὸν καιρό του, καὶ ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σιταριοῦ, ἀφοῦ πέσει στὴ γῆ καὶ διαλυθεῖ, ἀνασταίνεται πολλαπλάσιος... καὶ στὴ συνέχεια (ὡς ἄρτος καὶ οἶνος) γίνονται Σῶµα καὶ Αἷµα Χριστοῦ µὲ τὰ λόγια τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας καὶ τὴ Χάρη τοῦ Ἁγ. Πνεύµατος, ἔτσι καὶ τὰ σώµατά µας ποὺ τρέφονται ἀπὸ τὴν θεία Εὐχαριστία, ἀφοῦ µποῦν στὴ γῆ καὶ διαλυθοῦν, θὰ ἀναστηθοῦν στὸν καιρό τους, χάρη στὸ Λόγο τοῦ Θεοῦ ποὺ χαρίζει σʼαὐτὰ τὴν Ἀνάσταση, πρὸς δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρός» ( Ἅγιος Εἰρηναῖος).

Ἀφαιρεῖ τὸ κεντρικὸ µέρος τοῦ προσφόρου, ποὺ φέρει τὰ ἀρχικὰ γράµµατα ΙΣΧΡ ΝΙΚΑ καὶ τὸ τοποθετεῖ στὸ κέντρο τοῦ δισκαρίου. Αὐτὸ τὸ ἐν εἴδει κύβου τµῆµα τοῦ προσφόρου θὰ ἀποτελέσει στὴ συνέχεια τὸν Ἀµνό, δηλαδὴ τὸ Σῶµα τοῦ Κυρίου, ποὺ ἐτοιµάζεται γιὰ τὴ Θυσία. Κεντᾷ τὸν Ἀµνὸ µὲ τὴν Λόγχη, ὅπως ἐκέντησαν καὶ οἱ στρατιῶτες τὸ πανάχραντο Σῶµα τοῦ Κυρίου ἀπʼ ὅπου ἐξῆλθε αἷµα καὶ νερό. Ἐγχέει καὶ ἐκεῖνος νᾶµα (κρασί) καὶ νερὸ στὸ ἅγιο ποτήριο καὶ ἀκολούθως ἐξάγει ἀπὸ ἄλλο πρόσφορο τὴν µερίδα τῆς Παναγίας, ἡ ὁποία τοποθετεῖται ὄρθια, τιµητικὰ δεξιὰ τοῦ Ἀµνοῦ (ἀριστερὰ ὅπως κοιτάζουµε), ἐνῷ µὲ τὶς ὑπόλοιπες ἐννέα µερίδες µνηµονεύονται κατὰ τὴν τάξη οἱ Ἀσώµατες δυνάµεις, οἱ Προφῆτες τῆς Παλαιᾶς ∆ιαθήκης καὶ ὁ Τίµιος Πρόδροµος, οἱ Ἀπόστολοι, οἱ Ἱεράρχες, οἱ Μάρτυρες, οἱ Ὅσιοι, οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀνάργυροι, οἱ Θεοπάτορες Ἰωακεὶµ καὶ Ἄννα καθὼς καὶ οἱ κατὰ τὴν ἡµέρα ἐορταζόµενοι Ἅγιοι καὶ τέλος ὁ Ἅγιος τοῦ ὁποίου τελεῖται ἡ Θ. Λειτουργία (Μ. Βασίλειος ἢ ἱερὸς Χρυσόστοµος).

Ὅλες αὐτὲς οἱ σὲ σχήµα τριγωνικὸ µερίδες τοποθετοῦνται ἀριστερὰ ἀπὸ τὸν Ἀµνὸ (δεξιὰ ὅπως κοιτάζουµε). Ἕπεται ἡ µνηµόνευση τῶν ζώντων καὶ τεθνεώτων πιστῶν µὲ προεξάρχοντα τὸν Ἐπίσκοπο τῆς τοπικῆς Ἐκκλησίας (ἀποτελεῖ τύπο Θεοῦ Πατρὸς κατὰ τὸν Ἅγ. Ἰγνάτιο τὸν Θεοφόρο), γιὰ τοὺς ὁποίους ἐπίσης ἐξάγονται µερίδες καὶ τοποθετοῦνται κοντὰ στὸν Ἀµνό. Ἔτσι τώρα ὁλόκληρη ἡ Ἐκκλησία, θριαµβεύουσα ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ στρατευοµένη ἐπὶ γῆς συναντῶνται γύρω ἀπὸ τὸν Ἀµνὸ καὶ Σωτῆρα τοῦ κόσµου σὲ µιὰ κοινωνία ὑπερφυσικὴ ἀλλὰ συνάµα καὶ πραγµατική.

Ὁλοκληρώνεται ἡ ἀκολουθία τῆς Προσκοµιδῆς µὲ θυµίαµα καὶ τὴν ἀνάλογη ἁγιαστικὴ εὐχή, κατόπιν ὁ ἱερέας καλύπτει τὰ δῶρα τῆς Προθέσεως µὲ τὰ ἱερὰ καλύµµατα.

Ἡ ἀκολουθία αὐτὴ συµβολίζει τρόπον τινὰ τὸ πρῶτο µέρος τῆς ἐπίγειας ζωῆς τοῦ Κυρίου, ποὺ ἐκτυλίχθηκε στὴν ἀφάνεια, χωρὶς νὰ γνωρίζει κάτι ὁ λαὸς καὶ ἡ τότε πνευµατικὴ καὶ κοσµικὴ ἐξουσία.

Ἂς σηµειωθεῖ ὅτι οἱ ἀκολουθίες τοῦ Καιροῦ καὶ τῆς Προσκοµιδῆς λαµβάνουν χώρα διαρκούσης τῆς ἀκολουθίας τοῦ Ὄρθρου.

Σὲ παλαιότερες ἐποχὲς ἡ Προσκοµιδὴ ἦταν ἁπλούστερη, ἐξαγόταν µόνον ἡ µερίδα τοῦ Ἀµνοῦ καὶ γινόταν κατὰ τὴν ὥρα ποὺ ψαλλόταν ὁ Χερουβικὸς ὕµνος. Γιʼ αὐτὸ σύµφωνα µὲ τὴν ἀρχαία τάξη µνηµονεύει κατὰ τὴν Μεγάλη Εἴσοδο ὁ Ἀρχιερέας (κατʼ οἰκονοµία καὶ µίµηση καὶ ὁ Ἱερέας κατὰ τὰ συλλείτουργα) ὀνόµατα ζώντων καὶ τεθνεώτων. Παλαιότεροι δὲ Ἀρχιερεῖς ὁλοκληρώνουν τὴν Προσκοµιδὴ στὴν ἀρχαία θέση της, τὸ Χερουβικό.

Β) Λειτουργία τῶν Κατηχουµένων

Συνήθως ὀνοµάζεται ἔτσι τὸ πρῶτο τµῆµα τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας διότι κατʼ αὐτὸ συµµετεῖχαν καὶ οἱ Κατηχούµενοι, ὅσοι δηλαδὴ εἶχαν πιστεύσει στὸν ἀληθινὸ Θεό, ἀλλὰ δὲν εἶχαν ἀκόµη βαπτισθεῖ καὶ βρίσκονταν στὸ στάδιο τῆς προετοιµασίας γιὰ τὸ Βάπτισµα. Τὸ τµῆµα αὐτὸ διαρκεῖ ἀπὸ τὴν ἔναρξη µέχρι καὶ τὸ θεῖο Κήρυγµα, τὸ ὁποῖο γινόταν (καὶ πρέπει νὰ γίνεται) ἀµέσως µετὰ ἀπὸ τὴν ἀνάγνωση τοῦ ἀποστολικοῦ καὶ εὐαγγελικοῦ ἀναγνώσµατος. Ἄλλωστε αὐτὰ τὰ κείµενα ἑρµηνεύει τὸ θεῖο Κήρυγµα καὶ πρέπει νὰ ὑπάρχει λογικὴ συνέχεια καὶ ὄχι ἀπόσταση µεταξὺ ἀναγνώσεως καὶ ἑρµηνείας.

Ἀρχίζει ἡ Θεία Λειτουργία µὲ τὴ δοξολογικὴ ἐκφώνηση τοῦ λειτουργοῦ «Εὐλογηµένη ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγ. Πνεύµατος, νῦν καὶ ἀεῖ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων». Ἀναπέµπεται δοξολογία καὶ προσκύνηση στὸν Τριαδικὸ Θεό, ὁ Ὁποῖος ἀπεργάζεται τὴ σωτηρία µας. Φέρνουµε ἔτσι στὸ νοῦ µας τὴ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, τῆς ὁποίας ὅµως µποροῦµε ἀπὸ τώρα νὰ γίνουµε µέτοχοι.

Στὴ συνέχεια, ἐκφωνοῦνται ἀπὸ τὸν λειτουργὸ τὰ εἰρηνικὰ (ὀνοµάζονται ἔτσι διότι οἱ τρεῖς πρῶτες αἰτήσεις ἀναφέρονται στὴν εἰρήνη τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ὁλόκληρου τοῦ κόσµου), µὲ τὰ ὁποῖα ζητοῦµε διάφορα ἀγαθά, ὑλικὰ καὶ πνευµατικά, ἀπὸ τὸν Κύριο.

Ἀκολουθοῦν τὰ Τυπικὰ ἢ συνηθέστερα τὰ Ἀντίφωνα, τὰ ὁποῖα ἔχουν ὡς ἐφύµνιο µικρὰ τροπάρια ποὺ ἀναφέρονται στὴν Θεοτόκο καὶ τοὺς Ἁγίους ὡς πρεσβευτῶν µας στὸ Θεό.

Ψάλλονται ἀντιφωνικὰ ἀπὸ τοὺς χοροὺς τῶν ψαλτῶν (ἐξ οὗ καὶ ἀντίφωνα) καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ αὐτὸ ποὺ σήµερα ὀνοµάζεται «µικρὰ εἴσοδος». Συµβολίζει τὴν ἐµφάνιση τοῦ Κυρίου στὸν κόσµο ὡς ∆ιδασκάλου καὶ Κήρυκα τῆς µοναδικῆς Ἀλήθειας, ὅτι δηλαδὴ Ἐκεῖνος εἶναι ὁ ἀναµενόµενος, ὁ «Μεσσίας», ὁ Σωτῆρας τοῦ κόσµου καὶ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Σήµερα ἐξέρχεται ὁ λειτουργὸς µὲ τὸ ἱερὸ Εὐαγγέλιο ἀπὸ τὴ βόρεια πύλη τοῦ Ἁγ. Βήµατος καὶ φθάνοντας στὸ µέσο ἐκφωνεῖ τὸ «Σοφία. Ὀρθοί».

Ὑπενθυµίζει ἔτσι ὅτι αὐτὸ ποὺ κρατᾷ ἐµπεριέχει τὴ Σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐνῶ τὸ «ὀρθοί», ἐκτὸς ἀπὸ τὴν ὀρθία στάση τῶν πιστῶν ἐκείνη τὴ στιγµή, συµβολίζει καὶ τὴν στάση τῆς ψυχῆς. Ἐπιβάλλεται ἡ ψυχική µας ἐγρήγορση ἐὰν ποθοῦµε τὴν Σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ.

Σὲ παλαιότερες ἐποχὲς ἡ σηµερινὴ «µικρὴ εἴσοδος» ἀποτελοῦσε τὴν ἔναρξη τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας, ὅταν κλῆρος καὶ λαὸς συµψάλλοντας ἀρχικὰ τὸν Τρισάγιο Ὕµνο καὶ ἀργότερα τὸ «Ὁ Μονογενὴς Υἱὸς καὶ Λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ», εἰσέρχονταν στὸ Ναὸ προπορευοµένου τοῦ ἱεροῦ Εὐαγγελίου. Ἀµέσως µετὰ τὴν εἴσοδο καὶ ἀφοῦ εὐλογοῦσε τοὺς πιστούς, ἀνέβαινε στὸν θρόνο του ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος, ἔχοντας ἑκατέρωθεν τοὺς κληρικούς. Ὁ θρόνος τότε βρισκόταν πίσω ἀπὸ τὴν Ἁγ. Τράπεζα, στὸ σύνθρονο. Στὴ σηµερινή του θέση βρέθηκε κατὰ τὴν Τουρκοκρατία καὶ µετὰ τὴν ἀνύψωση τοῦ τέµπλου. Ἀκολουθοῦσε ἡ ἀνάγνωση τοῦ ἀποστολικοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελικοῦ ἀναγνώσµατος. Στὴ συνέχεια λάµβανε χῶρα τὸ Κήρυγµα καὶ ἀκολουθοῦσε ἡ ὑπόλοιπη Θεία Λειτουργία.

Μετὰ ἀπὸ τὴν ψαλµῴδηση τῶν Ἀπολυτικίων καὶ τοῦ Κοντακίου σήµερα ψάλλεται ὁ Τρι- σάγιος Ὕµνος «Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡµᾶς».

Συνήθως ἀντικαθίσταται στὶς µεγάλες ∆εσποτικὲς ἑορτὲς µὲ τὸ «Ὅσοι εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. Ἀλληλούϊα» (αὐτὸ ἀποτελεῖ ἔνδειξη ὅτι κατʼ αὐτὲς τὶς ἡµέρες καὶ κατὰ τὴ Θεία Λειτουργία τελοῦνταν τὸ Βάπτισµα τῶν Κατηχουµέ- νων) ἢ µὲ τὸ «Τὸν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνοῦµεν ∆έσποτα καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου Ἀνάστασιν δοξάζοµεν» στὶς ἑορτὲς τοῦ Σταυροῦ.

Ὁ Τρισάγιος Ὕµνος εἶναι ἐµπνευσµένος ἀπὸ τὸ ὅραµα τῆς κλήσεως τοῦ Προφήτη Ἠσαϊα καὶ τὴν Ἀποκάλυψη τοῦ Εὐαγγελιστοῦ Ἰωάννου. Μὲ αὐτὸν ἀπευθυνόµαστε στὸν Τριαδικὸ Θεὸ διακηρύσσοντας τὴν ἀπόλυτη ἁγιότητά Του. Ὑµνολογοῦµε δὲ συνάµα καὶ τὴν ἄπειρη δύναµη καὶ ἰσχύ Του.

Ἕπονται τὰ ἀναγνώσµατα πρῶτα τῶν ἐπιστολῶν ἢ τῶν πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων καὶ ἔπειτα κάποια περικοπῆ ἀπὸ τὸ ἱερὸ Εὐαγγέλιο. Παλαιότερα προηγοῦνταν αὐτῶν ἕνα τρίτο ἀπὸ τὴν Παλαιὰ ∆ιαθήκη. Χάριν συντοµίας ὅµως αὐτὸ ἀποκόπηκε ἀπὸ τὴν Θεία Λειτουργία καὶ προστέθηκε στὸν Ἐσπερινό.

Μάλιστα ἐκεῖ οἱ περικοπὲς «διὰ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ ἀριθµοῦ» ἔγιναν τρεῖς. Καὶ πάλι οἱ προτροπὲς «Πρόσχωµεν», «Σοφία. Ὀρθοί.» συνιστοῦν σὲ ὅλους τὴν διάθεση ψυχῆς καὶ σώµατος, µὲ τὴν ὁποία θὰ πρέπει νὰ ἀκούσουν τὰ κείµενα ποὺ ἀπαγγέλονται.

Σηµειωτέον ὅτι µεταξὺ ἀποστολικοῦ καὶ εὐαγγελικοῦ ἀναγνώσµατος στιχολογοῦνταν ὁλόκληρος ψαλµὸς µὲ ἐφύµνιο τὸ σύντοµο τριπλὸ Ἀλληλούϊα, τὸ ὁποῖο ἔψαλλε κλῆρος καὶ λαός. Κατὰ τὴ διάρκειά του δὲ προσφε- ρόταν ἀνέκαθεν θυµίαµα πρὸς τιµὴν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου καὶ τῶν λόγων τοῦ Κυρίου ποὺ θὰ ἀκολουθοῦσαν. Τὸ ἱερὸ Εὐαγγέλιο συµβολίζει τὸν κηρύσσοντα Υἱὸ καὶ Λόγο τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὸν Κύριο ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστό. Στοὺς ἀρχαίους χρόνους ἡ παρουσία σηµαντικῶν προσώπων πάντοτε προετοιµαζόταν µὲ τὴν προσφορὰ θυµιαµάτων. Πόσο µᾶλλον τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου µας διὰ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου Του!

Ἐπακολουθεῖ κανονικῶς ἡ ἑρµηνεία τῶν ἀποστολικῶν καὶ Κυριακῶν λόγων, δηλαδὴ τὸ θεῖο Κήρυγµα καὶ ἕπεται ἡ Ἐκτενής. Πρόκειται γιὰ ἐκτεταµένη καὶ θερµὴ δέηση πρὸς τὸν Θεό, µὲ τὴν ὁποία ζητοῦµε ἀπὸ τὸν ἐλεήµονα Κύριο γιὰ ὅλους τοὺς πιστοὺς χάρη, ἔλεος, ἄφεση ἁµαρτιῶν καὶ αἰώνια σωτηρία.

Μετὰ ἀπὸ αὐτὴν ὁ λειτουργὸς καὶ ὁλόκληρη ἡ εὐχαριστιακὴ – ἐκκλησιαστικὴ κοινότητα δέεται γιὰ τοὺς ἁπανταχοῦ Κατηχουµένους, ὅσους δηλαδὴ βρίσκονται σὲ περίοδο ποὺ ατηχοῦνται στὰ τῆς ἀληθινῆς πίστεώς µας καὶ πρόκειται νὰ βαπτισθοῦν.

Ἀφοῦ ὁ λειτουργὸς προτρέψει τοὺς Κατηχουµένους νὰ ἀπέλθουν ἀπὸ τὸ Ναὸ ἀναπέµπει δυὸ εὐχὲς ὑπὲρ τῶν πιστῶν.

 Μὲ αὐτὲς εὐχαριστεῖ τὸν Θεό, ἀφοῦ καταξιώσει τοὺς πιστοὺς γιὰ ἄλλη µιὰ φορὰ νὰ βρεθοῦν µπροστὰ στὸ Θυσιαστήριο γιὰ νὰ τελεσθεῖ ἡ ἀναίµακτη θυσία, νὰ συγχωρήσει τὶς ἁµαρτίες τοῦ κλήρου καὶ τὰ ἀγνοήµατα τοῦ λαοῦ.

Γ) Λειτουργία τῶν Πιστῶν

Απὸ αὐτὸ τὸ σηµεῖο ἀρχίζει τὸ τµῆµα τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας, ποὺ εἶναι γνωστὸ ὡς «Λειτουργία τῶν πιστῶν», δηλαδὴ ἡ τέλεση τῆς ἀναίµακτης θυσίας τοῦ Κυρίου. Ὀνοµάζεται δὲ «Λειτουργία τῶν πιστῶν», διότι στὴν ἀρχαία Ἐκκλησία ἐπιτρεπόταν νὰ παρίστανται κατʼ αὐτὸ µόνον οἱ πιστοί. Λίγο ἀργότερα µάλιστα ὁ λειτουργὸς προτρέπει καὶ ἐντέλλεται νὰ προσέχουν τὶς θύρες µήπως εἰσέλθει κάποιος ἀµύητος, δηλαδὴ ἀβάπτιστος.

Ἀρχικὰ ψάλλεται ὁ Χερουβικὸς ὕµνος: «Οἱ τὰ Χερουβὶµ µυστικῶς εἰκονίζοντες καὶ τῇ ζωοποιῷ Τριάδι τὸν Τρισάγιον ὕµνον προσᾴδοντες, πᾶσαν νῦν βιοτικὴν ἀποθώµεθα µέριµναν. Ὡς τὸν βασιλέα τῶν ὅλων ὑποδεξόµενοι. Ταῖς ἀγγελικαῖς ἀοράτως δορυφούµενον τάξεσιν. Ἀλληλούϊα». Ὁ ἀρχαῖος αὐτὸς ὕµνος ὑπενθυµίζει στοὺς µεµυηµένους, στοὺς πιστοὺς, ὅτι κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν ἱερὴ καὶ ἐπίσηµη ὥρα πρόκειται νὰ ὑποδεχθοῦν τὸν Βασιλέα τοῦ σύµπαντος, τὸν Κύριο.

Ἀµέτρητα ἀόρατα πλήθη ἀγγελικῶν δυνάµεων προετοιµάζουν τὴν ἔλευσή Του κυκλώνοντας τὸ θυσιαστήριο. Καὶ ὅπως οἱ ἄγγελοι ὑµνοῦν ἀκατάπαυστα τὸν Θεὸ καὶ ψάλλουν ὕµνους καὶ δοξολογίες, ἔτσι καὶ ἐµεῖς πρέπει νὰ κυκλώνουµε τὸ θυσιαστήριο µεταµορφωµένοι σὲ ἀγγελικὲς ὑπάρξεις. Πρέπει δὲ ὅταν λατρεύουµε τὸν Κύριό µας νὰ ἔχουµε ἀποδιώξει κάθε βιοτικὴ µέριµνα καὶ φροντίδα.

Κατὰ τὴν ψαλµῴδηση τοῦ Χερουβικοῦ ὁ λειτουργὸς ἀπαγγέλει µυστικῶς τὴν εὐχὴ τοῦ χερουβικοῦ. Πρόκειται γιὰ ὡραιότατη ἀρχαία εὐχὴ (δανεισµένη ἀπὸ τὴν Θεία Λειτουργία τοῦ Ἁγ. Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου), ποὺ ἀφορᾷ στὴν προσωπικὴ προετοιµασία τοῦ λειτουργοῦ καὶ ὄχι τὸν λαό, γιʼ αὐτὸ καὶ ἀπαγγέλεται µυστικῶς ἐν ἀντιθέσει µὲ τὶς περισσότερες τῶν εὐχῶν, ποὺ ἀφοροῦν ὁλόκληρη τὴν εὐχαριστιακὴ κοι νότητα καὶ λέγονται εἰς ἐπήκοον καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, ὅπως γινόταν ἀνέκαθεν καὶ ὅπως γίνεται σὲ ὅλα τὰ Μυστήρια. Μόνον οἱ εὐχὲς ποὺ ἀφοροῦν στὴν προσωπικὴ προετοιµασία τοῦ λειτουργοῦ λέγονται µυστικῶς.

Ὁ λειτουργὸς ἰδιαιτέρως παρακαλεῖ τὸ Θεὸ γιὰ τὸ ἔλεός Του διότι αὐτὸς θὰ γίνει τὸ στόµα καὶ τὰ χέρια Του κατὰ τὴν τέλεση τοῦ Μυστηρίου. Ἄλλωστε ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Κύριος εἶναι ὁ τελεσιουργὸς τοῦ Μυστηρίου· Ἐκεῖνος ποὺ προσφέρεται γιὰ νὰ θυσιαστεῖ, Αὐτὸς ποὺ δέχεται τὴν θυσία καὶ ὁ Ἴδιος διαδίδεται «εἰς βρῶσιν καὶ πόσιν» ἀπὸ τοὺς πιστούς.

Προσφέρεται πλούσιο θυµίαµα γιὰ νὰ προετοιµασθεῖ ἡ ὑποδοχὴ τοῦ Μεγάλου Βασιλέως καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ἡ Μεγάλη Εἴσοδος. Οἱ πιστοὶ κλίνουν εὐλαβικὰ τὸν αὐχένα µπροστὰ στὴν ἱερὴ ποµπή, ποὺ διέρχεται ἀνάµεσά τους. Ἐκφωνεῖται ἡ ταπεινὴ δέηση ἀπὸ τὸν λειτουργὸ µὲ τὴν ὁποία παρακαλεῖ τὸν Θεὸ καὶ εὔχεται νὰ θυµηθεῖ ὅλους τοὺς παρισταµένους στὴν Βασιλεία Του καὶ τώρα ποὺ ἀγωνίζονται «τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα» ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅταν θὰ Τὸν ἀντικρύσουν ὡς Κριτὴ ζώντων καὶ νεκρῶν.

Στὴν ἀρχαία Ἐκκλησία δὲν γινόταν αὐτὴ ἡ Εἴσοδος. Ἀποτελεῖ µεταγενέστερη ἐξέλιξη. Παλαιότερα οἱ διάκονοι προσέφεραν στὸ θυσιαστήριο τὶς προσφορὲς τῶν πιστῶν καὶ ἀπὸ αὐτὲς ὁ λειτουργὸς χρησιµοποιοῦσε µόνον τὴν µερίδα ΙΣΧΡ ΝΙΚΑ, ἡ ὁποία θὰ µεταβληθεῖ κατὰ τὸν καθαγιασµὸ σὲ Σῶµα Χριστοῦ καὶ τὸ κρασί, ποὺ θὰ µεταβληθεῖ σὲ Αἷµα Χριστοῦ. Ἀργότερα καὶ ἀπὸ τὸν 6ο αἱ. περίπου τὰ προετοιµασµένα δῶρα µεταφέρονται πανηγυρικότερα (µὲ λιτανεία) ἀπὸ τοὺς διακόνους ἀπὸ τὴν Πρόθεση (ὅπου τὰ προσέφεραν οἱ πιστοὶ) στὴν Ἁγ.Τράπεζα καὶ µεταγενέστερα λαµβάνουν µέρος σʼ αὐτὴν καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι (ἐνίοτε καὶ ὁ αὐτοκράτορας, ὅταν παρίσταται), ποτὲ ὅµως ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος.

Ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος διάβαζε τότε καὶ τὴν εὐχὴ τῆς Προσκοµιδῆς, ἡ ὁποία σήµερα συµπεριλαµβάνεται στὴν ὁµώνυµη ἀκολουθία, καὶ ἡ ὁποία πλέον τελεῖται κατὰ τὴ διάρκεια τῆς ἀκολουθίας τοῦ Ὄρθρου ἢ καὶ νωρίτερα. Ἀκολουθοῦν δεήσεις µὲ τὶς ὁποῖες ζητοῦµε ἀπὸ τὸν Κύριο νὰ εὐλογήσει τὰ προτεθέντα δῶρα, τὸν ἱερὸ Ναὸ καὶ ὅσους προσέρχονται σʼ αὐτὸν µὲ πίστη, εὐλάβεια καὶ φόβο Θεοῦ καὶ βεβαίως νὰ µᾶς παράσχει εἰρηνικὴ ἡµέρα, φύλακα ἄγγελο, συγχώρηση τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν, κάθε καλὸ καὶ συµφέρον γιὰ τὴν ψυχή µας καὶ βέβαια µετάνοια γιὰ τὸν ὑπόλοιπο χρόνο τῆς ζωῆς µας καὶ καλὴ ἀπολογία τὴν ὥρα τῆς Κρίσεως, ἀφοῦ ἔχουµε περάσει χριστιανικὰ τὰ τέλη τῆς ζωῆς µας, χωρὶς ὀδύνη, εἰρηνικὰ καὶ ἀνεπαίσχυντα.

Βασικὴ προϋπόθεση γιὰ ὅσους συµµετέχουν στὸ Μυστήριο τῶν Μυστηρίων εἶναι καὶ ἡ κοινὴ πίστη. Γιʼ αὐτὸ ἀπαγγέλεται ἀπὸ ὅλους τοὺς συµµετέχοντες τὸ Σύµβολο Πίστεως τῶν δυὸ πρώτων Οἰκουµενικῶν Συνόδων Νικαίας – Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.

Τὸ Σύµβολο εἶναι µιὰ περιεκτικότατη σύνοψη τῆς Ὀρθόδοξης Θεολογίας. Ὀνοµάζεται Σύµβολο τῆς Πίστεως, διότι ἀποτελεῖ τὸ ἐνδεικτικὸ σηµεῖο καὶ γνώρισµα µὲ τὸ ὁποῖο διακρίνεται ὁ πιστὸς χριστιανὸς Ὀρθόδοξος ἀπὸ τὸν µὴ χριστιανὸ Ὀρθόδοξο. Ὁ πιστὸς πραγµατικὰ πιστεύει καὶ κάνει πράξη ὅσα τοῦ ἐπιτάσσει ἡ πίστη του.

Ἀρχαιότερη - συνοπτικὴ ὅµως - µορφὴ ὁµολογίας πίστεως στὴ Θεία Λειτουργία ἀποτελεῖ ὁ ὕµνος «Πατέρα, Υἱὸν καὶ Ἅγιον Πνεῦµα, Τριάδα ὁµοούσιον καὶ ἀχώριστον», ποὺ προηγεῖται (καὶ χρονικῶς) τοῦ Συµβόλου τῆς Πίστεως.

Στὸ ἑξῆς ἀκολουθεῖ τὸ κυριότερο τµῆµα τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας, δηλαδὴ ἡ Ἀναφορά.

Ὁ λειτουργὸς προτρέπει καὶ πάλι θερµὰ τοὺς πιστοὺς νὰ σταθοῦν ὄχι µόνον ὄρθιοι ἀλλὰ καὶ συγκεντρωµένοι, µὲ εὐλάβεια, προσοχὴ καὶ φόβο, διότι πρόκειται νὰ κατέλθει σὲ λίγο ὁ Παράκλητος, τὸ Πανάγιο Πνεῦµα, τὸ ὁποῖο θὰ µεταβάλει τὸν ἄρτο καὶ τὸν οἶνο σὲ Σῶµα καὶ Αἷµα Χριστοῦ. Γιὰ νὰ εἶναι ὅµως εὐπρόσδεκτη ἡ θυσία µας θὰ πρέπει νὰ γίνει µὲ εἰρήνη στὴν ψυχή, διαφορετικὰ δὲν θὰ λάβουµε τὴ χάρη καὶ τὶς δωρεὲς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ φιλάνθρωπος καὶ φιλεύσπλαγχνος Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ θυσιάζεται γιὰ τὸ πλάσµα Του. Καὶ µʼ αὐτὴ τὴ θυσία ἐξαλείφεται ἡ ἁµαρτία καὶ ἐπέρχεται εἰρήνη µεταξὺ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

Ὁ Κύριος ἀφοῦ πρῶτα εὐχαρίστησε τὸν Θεὸ Πατέρα στὴ συνέχεια παρέδωσε τὸ Μυστήριο τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας. Ἔτσι καὶ ἐµεῖς Τὸν εὐχαριστοῦµε γιὰ ὅλες Του τὶς εὐεργεσίες ἀλλὰ καὶ γιὰ τὸ γεγονὸς ὅτι δέχεται τὴν εὐχαριστία καὶ τὴ θυσία µας, παρʼ ὅλον ὅτι πλήθη ἀγγέλων Τὸν ὑµνοῦν καὶ Τὸν δοξολογοῦν. Οἱ οὐράνιες δυνάµεις µαζὶ µὲ τὴν στρατευοµένη πλέον Ἐκκλησία συµψάλλουν τὸν ἀγγελικὸ ὕµνο: «Ἅγιος, ἅγιος, ἅγιος Κύριος Σαβαώθ, πλήρης ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ τῆς δόξης σου…».

Καὶ ὁ λειτουργὸς µὲ τὴν εὐχὴ ποὺ ἀκολουθεῖ µᾶς παραπέµπει σʼ ἐκείνη τὴ µοναδικὴ νύκτα τοῦ Πάσχα, ὅταν ὁ Κύριος παρέδιδε στοὺς µαθητές Του καὶ σʼ ὅλη τὴν Ἐκκλησία Του τὸ µυστήριο τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας. Στὸ τελος ἐκφωνεῖ τοὺς λόγους τῆς συστάσεως τοῦ Μυστηρίου: «Λάβετε, φάγετε, τοῦτό µού ἐστι τὸ σῶµα, τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑµῶν κλώµενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁµαρτιῶν» καὶ «Πίετε ἐξ αὐτοῦ πάντες, τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ αἷµά µου, τὸ τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης, τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑµῶν καὶ πολλῶν ἐκχυνόµενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁµαρτιῶν». Τὸ ψωµὶ καὶ τὸ κρασὶ ποὺ προσφέρει ὁ Κύριος στοὺς µαθητές Του δὲν θὰ εἶναι πλέον κοινὸ ψωµὶ καὶ κρασὶ ἀλλὰ θὰ µεταβληθοῦν σὲ Σῶµα καὶ Αἷµά Του.

Ὁ Κύριος θυσιάζεται γιὰ νὰ λάβουν οἱ πιστοί Του ἄφεση ἁµαρτιῶν καὶ αἰώνιο ζωή. Χωρὶς τὴ συµµετοχὴ στὴν σταυρική Του θυσία ὁ πιστὸς δὲν θὰ λάβει οὔτε τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς Βασιλείας Του, οὔτε βεβαίως θὰ σωθεῖ. Μία νέα λοιπὸν κατάσταση διαµορφώνεται στὴ σχέση τοῦ ἀνθρώπου µὲ τὸν Θεό. Ὁ Θεὸς κάνει µιὰ νέα «συµφωνία» µὲ τὸν ἄνθρωπο µὲ ἐγγυητὴ καὶ µεσίτη τὸν ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν παθόντα, ταφέντα καὶ ἀναστάντα Κύριο Ἰησοῦ Χριστό. Μὲ αὐτὴν τὴν συνθήκη παρέχεται στοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἡ ἄφεση τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν καὶ ἡ αἰώνια ζωή. Γιὰ νὰ καρπωθοῦµε ὅµως τὰ ἀποτελέσµατα αὐτῆς τῆς θυσίας εἶναι ἀνάγκη νὰ τρώγουµε τὸ Σῶµα τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ νὰ πίνουµε τὸ Αἷµά Του. Αὐτὰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποὺ ὁ Κύριος µᾶς προσφέρει ὡς εὐεργεσία, ἐµεῖς Τοῦ τὰ ἀντιπροσφέρουµε µὲ πλήρη ἀφοσίωση καὶ εὐγνώµονα καρδιά.

Ἔπειτα ἀφοῦ ψαλλεῖ τὸ «Σὲ ὑµνοῦµεν, σὲ εὐλογοῦµεν, σοὶ εὐχαριστοῦµεν Κύριε, καὶ δεόµεθά σου ὁ Θεὸς ἡµῶν», µὲ δέος ὁ λειτουργὸς παρακαλεῖ τὸν Θεὸ Πατέρα νὰ στείλει τὸ Πανάγιο Πνεῦµα γιὰ νὰ καθαγιάσει τὰ Τίµια ∆ῶρα. Εὐλογεῖ τὸν ἄρτο καὶ τὸ ποτήριο καὶ αὐτὰ πλέον µεταβάλλονται µυστηριωδῶς σὲ Σῶµα καὶ Αἷµα Χριστοῦ.

Αὐτὴ εἶναι ἡ φρικωδέστερη καὶ πιὸ σηµαντικὴ στιγµὴ τοῦ Μυστηρίου, γιʼ αὐτὸ καὶ οἱ πιστοὶ κλίνουν τὸν αὐχένα ἕως ἐδάφους καὶ µὲ ἀπόλυτη σιγὴ καὶ κατάνυξη προσεύχονται καὶ ἐκεῖνοι ὥστε νὰ κατέλθει ὁ Παράκλητος καὶ νὰ ἁγιασει τὰ ∆ῶρα καὶ ὅλους τοὺς παρισταµένους.

Μνηµονεύεται ἔπειτα ὅλο τὸ νέφος τῶν τεθνεώτων προπατόρων, πατέρων, πατριαρχῶν, προφητῶν, ἀποστόλων, κηρύκων, εὐαγγελιστῶν, µαρτύρων, ὁµολογητῶν, ἐγκρατευτῶν καὶ ὅλων τῶν κεκοιµηµένων.

Σʼ αὐτὴν ὅµως τὴν ἱερὴ στιγµὴ δὲν εἶναι δυνατὸν νὰ µὴν κατέχει ἐξέχουσα θέση ἐκείνη ποὺ ὑπούργησε στὸ µυστήριο τῆς ἐνσάρκου οἰκονοµίας τοῦ Κυρίου, ἡ ἀειπάρθενος Θεοτόκος, ἡ Μητέρα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἡ Παναγία µας. Καὶ ὁ λαὸς ξεσπᾷ σὲ ἕναν πανέµορφο δοξολογικὸ ὕµνο πρὸς τὴν Θεοµήτορα. Εἶναι τὸ µόνο πρόσωπο θνητοῦ ποὺ ἀνυµνεῖται καὶ ἐγκωµιάζεται «ἐξαιρέτως» καὶ «κατʼ ἐξαίρεσιν» κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν ἱερὴ στιγµή. Τὸ τροπάριο «Ἄξιόν ἐστι» πραγµατικὰ παρεµβάλλεται στὴν Ἀναφορά, τὴν καρδιὰ δηλαδὴ τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας.

Συνεχίζεται ἡ Ἀναφορὰ µὲ τὴν µνηµόνευση ὅλων τῶν Ἁγίων καὶ τῶν δικῶν µας προσφιλῶν προσώπων, κυρίως τεθνεώτων. Μνηµονεύονται ἐδῶ ὅλοι οἱ Ἐπίσκοποι τῆς οἰκουµένης, τὰ ἱερατικὰ καὶ µοναχικὰ τάγµατα καθὼς καὶ οἱ φιλόχριστοι ἄρχοντες «ἵνα καὶ ἡµεῖς ἐν τῇ γαλήνῃ αὐτῶν ἤρεµον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωµεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεµνότητι». Τιµητικὴ ὅµως θέση µεταξὺ ὅλων κατέχει ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος τῆς τοπικῆς Ἐκκλησίας, χωρὶς τὴν µνηµόνευ- ση τοῦ ὁποίου ἡ Θεία Λειτουργία εἶναι ἄκυρη, ἀφοῦ ἡ παρουσία του (ἔστω καὶ διὰ τῆς µνηµονεύσεως) ἐξασφαλίζει τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως µὲ τὴν ἀνὰ τὴν Οἰκουµένη Ἐκκλησία καὶ ἐγγυᾶται τὴν ὀρθότητά της.

Ἡ Ἀναφορὰ ὁλοκληρώνεται µὲ τὴν εὐλογία ἀπὸ τὸν λειτουργό: «Καὶ ἔσται τὰ ἐλέη τοῦ µεγάλου Θεοῦ…». Τὸ ἑπόµενο τµῆµα τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας ἀφορᾷ στὴν προετοιµασία τοῦ λειτουργοῦ ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν πιστῶν γιὰ τὴν προσέλευση στὸ Ποτήριο τῆς Ζωῆς, τὴν µετάληψη τοῦ Παναγίου Σώµατος καὶ Αἵµατος τοῦ Κυρί- ου. Σηµαντικὸ µέρος της ἀποτελεῖ ἡ Κυριακὴ προσευχὴ «Πάτερ ἡµῶν», µὲ τὴν ὁποία ζητοῦµε ὄχι µόνο τὸν ἐπιούσιο ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ὑπερούσιο ἄρτο, ποὺ πρόκειται ἄλλωστε σὲ λίγο νὰ λάβουµε. Τέλος µὲ τὴν ἐκφώνηση «Πρόσχωµεν.

Τὰ Ἅγια τοῖς Ἁγίοις» συνιστᾶται ἡ προσοχὴ τῶν πιστῶν νὰ ἐξετάσουν προσεκτικᾶ τὸν ἑαυτό τους πρὶν προσεγγίσουν τὸ Ἅγιο Ποτήριο.

Ὁ Κύριος ἔρχεται γιὰ τὶς ψυχὲς ποὺ ἀγωνίζονται καὶ ὄχι γιὰ τοὺς ρᾴθυµους καὶ ἀπρόσεκτους.

Κατὰ τὴν Κοινωνία τοῦ λειτουργοῦ καὶ τῶν πιστῶν ψάλλεται τὸ Κοινωνικό. Παλαιότερα ἀποτελοῦνταν ἀπὸ τὴν στιχολογία ὁλόκληρου ψαλµοῦ, σὲ κάθε στίχο τοῦ ὁποίου ψαλλόταν ἀπὸ ὅλο τὸν λαὸ ὡς ἐφύµνιο µικρὸ τροπάριο, τὸ «Ἀλληλούϊα» ἢ ὁ κύριος στίχος του.

Σήµερα τὸ Κοινωνικὸ ἀποτελεῖται µόνον ἀπὸ τὸν κύριο στίχο τοῦ σχετικοῦ ψαλµοῦ καὶ τὸ «Ἀλληλούϊα».

Τὸ διάστηµα ποὺ µεσολαβεῖ µέχρι νὰ προσέλθουν οἱ εὐλαβεῖς πιστοὶ στὴ Θεία Κοινωνία δὲν εἶναι «νεκρὸς χρόνος». Ἀφοῦ πρῶτα µεταλάβει ὁ λειτουργός, στὴ συνέχεια τοποθετεῖται τὸ Πανάγιο Σῶµα µέσα στὸ Ἅγιο Ποτήριο, ὥστε νὰ µεταλάβουν ἔπειτα καὶ οἱ πιστοί.

Ἡ πρόσκληση εἶναι προσεκτικὰ διατυπωµένη: «Μετὰ φόβου Θεοῦ, πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης προσέλθετε», λέγει ὁ λειτουργός. Ἀπαιτεῖται εὐ- λάβεια καὶ ἅγιος φόβος, πίστη ἀκλόνητη γιὰ νὰ λάβουµε ἐντός µας τὸ θεῖο πῦρ τῆς Θεότητος.

Ἀπαιτοῦνται αἰσθήµατα εὐγνωµοσύνης ὄχι µόνο πρὸς τὸν Κύριο ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς µας γιὰ νὰ προσέλθουµε στὸν Μυστικὸ ∆εῖπνο. Ὅλοι στέκονται εὐλαβικὰ ὄρθιοι µπροστὰ στὴν παρουσία τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἀφοῦ οἱ εὐλαβεῖς καὶ προετοιµασµένοι πιστοὶ µεταλάβουν τῶν Ἀχράντων Μυστηρίων δοξολογοῦν καὶ εὐχαριστοῦν τὸν πανάγαθο Θεὸ γιὰ τὸ γεγονὸς ὅτι τοὺς ἀξίωσε νὰ Τὸν µεταλάβουν.

Ὅλοι σκύβουν εὐλαβικὰ τὴν κεφαλὴ µπροστὰ στὸν προαιώνιο Θεό, ὁ Ὁποῖος τώρα παρουσιάζεται καὶ πάλι ἐµπρός τους ἐντὸς τοῦ Ἁγίου Ποτηρίου. Εἶναι σὰν νὰ διατρανώνει πρὸς ὅλους ὁ λειτουργὸς ὅτι ὁ Κύριος ἂν καὶ ἀναλήφθηκε (αὐτὸ συµβολίζει ὁ στίχος ποὺ ἀπαγγέλεται ἀπὸ τὸν λειτουργὸ µετὰ τὴν ἐπιστροφὴ τοῦ Ἁγίου Ποτηρίου στὴν Ἁγία Τράπεζα: «ὑψώθητι ἐπὶ τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ὁ Θεός, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἡ δόξα σου»), θὰ εἶναι πά- ντοτε µαζὶ µὲ τοὺς εὐλαβεῖς πιστούς Του.

Τώρα πιὰ ὅλοι καὶ πάλι ὄρθιοι ἀναπέµπουν στὸν Κύριο τῆς ∆όξης τὴν τελευταία τους εὐχαριστία, ἀφοῦ τοὺς ἀξίωσε γιὰ ἄλλη µιὰ φορὰ νὰ γίνουν κοινωνοὶ τῶν ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἀθανάτων µυστηρίων. Θὰ ἀναχωρήσουν πλήρεις εὐλογιῶν, ἀφοῦ Τοῦ ζητήσουν νὰ τοὺς κατευθύ- νει στοὺς δύσκολους δρόµους τῆς ζωῆς, νὰ τοὺς στηρίζει τὴν πίστη, νὰ τοὺς φρουρεῖ τὴν ζωὴ µὲ τὶς εὐχὲς καὶ τὶς ἱκεσίες τῆς Παναγίας Μητέρας Του καὶ ὅλων τῶν Ἁγίων.

Ὁ λειτουργὸς προσφέρει στοὺς πιστοὺς τὴν τελευταία εὐλογία καὶ διανέµει σὲ ὅλους, κυρίως ἐκείνους ποὺ δὲν εἶχαν προετοιµασθεῖ γιὰ νὰ µεταλάβουν τῶν Ἀχράντων Μυστηρίων, τὸ ἀντίδωρο, ὥστε νὰ µὴν φύγουν ἀπὸ τὸν Ναὸ χωρὶς καµιὰ εὐλογία.

Στὴν ἀρχαία Ἐκκλησία θεωροῦνταν ἀδιανόητο πιστοὶ νὰ παρίστανται στὴν Θεία Λειτουργία καὶ νὰ µὴν µεταλαµβάνουν. Θὰ ἔπρεπε νὰ δικαιολογήσουν τὸ γεγονός, διαφορετικὰ θὰ ἔπρεπε νὰ ἐξέλθουν καὶ ἐκεῖνοι µαζὶ µὲ τοὺς Κατηχουµένους καὶ τοὺς βαρέως ἁµαρτήσαντας ἀµέσως µετὰ ἀπὸ τὸ Κήρυγµα καὶ πρὶν ἀπὸ τὸν Χερουβικὸ ὕµνο.

Ἡ σωστὴ τάξη τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων εἶναι νὰ περνοῦν µὲ τὴ σειρὰ ἐµπρὸς ἀπὸ τὸν λειτουργήσαντα Ἱερέα καὶ ἔχοντας τὶς δυὸ παλάµες τους ἀνοικτὲς σὲ σχήµα σταυροῦ, νὰ λαµβάνουν τὸ ἀντίδωρο ἀσπαζόµενοι τὸ χέρι ἐκεῖνο ποὺ πρὶν λίγο ἔψαυσε τὴν ἀκήρατο κορυφὴν τοῦ ∆εσπότου Χριστοῦ, Τὸν τεµάχισε κλπ.

Ἀναχωροῦν λοιπὸν πλέον οἱ πιστοὶ ἔχοντας πάρει πνευµατικὲς δυνάµεις ἀπὸ τὸν θυσιασθέντα Κύριο, ἀπὸ τὴν Παναγία Μητέρα Του καὶ ἀπὸ ὅλους τοὺς Ἁγίους, ἰδιαιτέρως τὸν κατὰ τὴν ἡµέρα ἑορταζόµενο καὶ τιµώµενο. Λάµπουν ἀπὸ τὸ θεϊκὸ φῶς ποὺ πληµµύρισε ὁλόκληρη τὴν ὕπαρξή τους ἀφοῦ πιὰ στὶς φλέβες τους κυλάει τὸ Πανάγιο Αἷµα τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ τὸ Πανάγιο Σῶµά Του ἔγινε σῶµά τους. Φεύγοντας ἀπὸ τὸ Ναὸ ἔχουν ζήσει γιὰ ἄλλη µιὰ φορὰ τὸ προσωπικό τους Πάσχα προσευχόµενοι ὁ Θεὸς νὰ τοὺς ἐλεήσει καὶ νὰ σταθεῖ  ἵλεως τὴν ὥρα τῆς Κρίσεως.

MAN AND GOD. The wrong approach.

MAN AND GOD. The wrong approach.

Observing people and their behavior and studying historical, but also relevant pre-historic reports about people's behavior I find that man has always had a common impulse from his creation until now.

Regardless of the time of his presence on Earth, he always had an inner need. To seek protection from something that he considered superior and stronger than him.

The first years of his presence on the earth are definitely responsible for this need. He immediately felt the danger for his existence since he was defenseless to deal with the wild beasts of that time and extreme weather conditions. They were all things that he did not have the knowledge and the ability firstly to understand and then to find ways to overcome.

The first steps of his existence were full of fear, panic and despair. As if it was a kitten which had been born in a house which was closed and never had gone out of it and which had suddenly been put in a hall with hundreds of people who entertained themselves and danced in the sounds of loud music.

It will get angry, feel panicked and run like a madman to escape from this situation that it has no knowledge of and it cannot even understand what happened to it suddenly. This must be how the first people who were found on Earth felt. They were in an environment where they had no knowledge of what it was. They were savage because of fear and panic. They felt defenseless. Helpful.

And like all the creatures of our Creator, from their first appearance until now, when they find themselves in such a state of panic and danger, man also began to work with the instinct of self-protection and quick adaptation to any unknown challenge. One of the most intense instinctive reactions that came out of him was to ask for protection by something stronger than him. Something that he believed that if he got along with he would have its protection.

His instinct led him in search of the Creator.

As the frightened child runs in his mother’s arms where he instinctively knows that these arms will protect him from any danger.

So man felt the need to find what we call God here, on the Earth.

The functioning of his brain, however, was incomplete in order to conceive the notion of God, the Creator of everything, as we understand it today. So he turned his search to anything that seemed to him more powerful trying to feel safe from the supposed protection he would derive from what he had chosen for his God.

So he worshiped in his first steps the sun, the moon, the stone, the sea even animals at times and he did what his instinct told him. He was trying to do well with the God he loved, for God to rebuke protection, safety, good fortune and everything else he needed.

Those days, of course, there were no moral rules that God would ask for from people. What moral rules of life could the sun and the stone teach you? The most important thing that you will learn is that if you sit in the sun for long, you will get sunburn and if you hit your head on a rock, you will be hurt.

So? How can you get along well with a God who has not asked you for anything? You have to offer him something valuable. What was the most precious thing they had? Their life.

Consequently they started sacrificing people in honor of the sun, the moon and of anything else they might have worshiped. Others for whom human life had begun to have some value sacrificed their animals or something else that was valuable to them. Thus the first man began to cultivate a relationship of dependence, offering but also being self-subservient to something he considered superior and stronger than him.

Spiritual deceivers appeared, of course, as they appear in every era, who persuaded people that they express the wishes of God they worshiped and only they could communicate with God in order to tell others what, for example, the sun, the moon or water want from humans in order to give them what they desire.

They were the first priests of humanity. The priests of the sun or the priests of the sea etc.

And they enjoyed people’s respects by taking advantage of their position and of course they led a better life than the rest of them.

As years went by, man began to create Gods in a human form now to whom he gave supernatural powers and abilities. The need to submit to a God has entered through the evolutionary process of the human species, through its D.N.A, in order to feel safe that someone is watching over him and protecting him.

Development. Now he did not worship the sun. But he worshiped a God of human form who, according to man, could rule the sun. He no longer kneeled before the sea. He worshiped a God of human form who ruled the impertinence of the sea. And this was happening in all countries. The Scandinavians had their own Gods, Saxons had theirs, Greeks their own and so on.

The recipe was the same. People subjected themselves, their lives to the will of one God, and they were head down in order to secure their protection. Depending on their perception and spiritual evolution, they always adopted the God that expressed them at that time. All those Gods, created by people, were asking for was submission. They did not impose any moral rules of life to make people better. When Gods, as presented to us in writings, were immoral and treacherous, what ethics could they ask of men?

This was taken on by enlightened people with a free spirit. Philosophy was created this way. In other words, how to make man friends with wisdom. What wisdom though? The Wisdom of Thor? The wisdom of the Lady of the Lake? Or of Athena?

Of course not. I am talking about the wisdom of our Creator, with which man gradually began to communicate with his Creator and to take the first stimuli and messages from Heaven, turning them into life rules to be applied to Earth.

Gods, Gods, Gods, how many thousands of Gods did man create in the course of his evolution in every place he lived? Behold, every God of them asked different things. What was right for one God was wrong for the other. Difficult to perceive.

And who was the victim throughout this Divine parade over the centuries? Human.

And who did this to man? Who made him a victim? Man again.

Instead of struggling to strengthen himself, to understand by himself, to overcome the difficulties he found before him, he found it easy to give up the effort, to subdue to something that, in his imagination, was stronger than him, to seek help and protection and while he was born free, he found it easy to give away his values and abilities and become a slave to something he believed would protect him better.

And in all the periods of man's presence on Earth, there would always be the deceivers to exploit this weakness and to be proclaimed brokers between God and men and of course treasuring up for themselves.

Priests, oracles and a bunch of other charlatans of every age and country. Their job was one and only. Their only purpose was one. To keep people under the fear of God they believed in, to gain authority over them and so, my children, the course of people continued over the centuries, in the relationship they themselves had created between gods and men.

I am afraid of you, I declare my submission to you, protect me. I need to believe in a God. Whatever God that may be. Just to feel that He protects me. How could this human species evolve?

It was time for the Creator of man to intervene to save His creature. To help it evolve. It was time to make His existence known. To reveal the truth to them.

So He revealed Himself to people. I am your God and your Creator and I give you moral rules for your life to follow to become better people and He gave us the ten commands.

He was revealed, however, and gave moral rules to people who proved to be too small to understand everything that was revealed to them. Priests also assumed there with the art of fear, to explain God to people as it was advantageous to them. They brought everything to their own standards and they also had the time of their life.

But God had made His decisions. And He would correct them all.

He sent His son to Earth, as a great teacher to teach the deceived people the truth of God as it exists in heaven and to take them out of deception, spiritual slavery and free them. Of course the priests of that time wouldn’t let him. They crucified him.

We understand what He tells us but it is not in our best interest to adopt it. So they decided to crucify him. And they crucified him.

The man who had learned to bow down the sun, the sea, the air as his gods for centuries in order to have their protection, this foolish man, who was enslaved by himself to anything inexplicable, this man eventually, killed the son of the only God that exists. Who came to speak the truth to him. Free him from the fallacy.

False gods would cease to exist now. Meet your Creator and come to live all together in His world. Luckily, God's son was able to say enough before people killed him. He put the foundation for a better world on Earth and opened the way for the sky. He managed to liberate us from our spiritual slavery. He taught us love.

But thousands of years, with man having learned to fear whichever God he believed in, it has passed from D.N.A to D.N.A in our own cells and while the son of God taught us love, we prefer to worship Him in fear.

While He freed us, we prefer to be slaves again.

Instead of enjoying our freedom, we seek to find new sins every day to fear God. Do not throw the water of the laundry on Holy Friday in the street, you will go to hell. Did you have an abortion? You will go to hell. Have you cut your nails during Holy Week? You will go to hell.

Do not dye your hair blonde. Holy Mary had them brown. You will go to hell. {Yes, my children, it's been said too}

 As it has been said that if women wear pants Christ will not be able to distinguish them from men at the Second Advent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When a teacher's mind goes insane, it is better to withdraw from the teachings than to say such stupid things to people.

Every region of our country has invented its own sins which have not yet reached other areas. How will we find out now which area will go to hell and which in Paradise.

I lampoon a bit this topic, it is true, but forgive me, I can’t help doing  it.

What has been happening for so many thousands of years is still happening today, by inexperienced teachers and brokers, who trade the Son of God, trade the very God, keep people in fear and despair and they live well at the same time that people are cast out of the truth by which they would be lifted up.

And what about confession? Have we forgotten about it? We all make sins.

Let's say then that we will all go to hell and finish this. Who is the one who will tell you without knowing the will of God, whether you will go to hell or not? Who is the one who will estimate the weight of every sin? If a woman aborts, we think she will go to hell, but then a liar, a hypocrite of God who says this to her, where will he go?We abolish the mystery and the beneficial power of confession by ourselves? Have we become gods now? And send souls to hell?

Do not be surprised my children that I am talking this way. I did not come here to stay for long. And from what I say you understand, that even if I want to stay, others will take care of my removal. I will disappear suddenly. To close a mouth that tells the truth. As was the case of our Christ Jesus. He wasn’t in the best interests of status quo and they closed his mouth. But before this is done, I want to help you understand (for this I have done this entire great introduction from the first steps of man) that God, our true God, the one who created man and the universes does not want to fear Him.

Nor is He looking for servants and subordinates. If He wanted to be near this kind of people, He would make as many billion robots as He needed in the sky, He would program them the way He wanted and everything would be fine. But He gave us free will. He made us people not robots. He does not want to be afraid of Him.

He wants but also deserves to love Him. That is what He expects from us.

Like any normal father or mother want their children to love them and not fear them.

We have mistaken God and we approach Him in the wrong way.

We all say we love God. And all of us are trying to be good kids .......

To go to him.

But this is not love, my children. This is purposefulness. I will be good to be in the world of God. Will I pretend good? But who am I trying to deride? The one who controls even my last cell? Will I pretend good?

No, my child. Do not pretend to be good. You've missed the point. Do not pretend  good.

Be good. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you pretend to be good, surely society is benefited through your fallacy. But for your soul to benefit, you must be truly good. When you help a lady across the street to avoid being hit by a car but at the same time you think that since you do good, you will also get something from God, you are not good. You are obscene and your act hides self-interest.

I do not know if you will go to Paradise or not, {only God knows this who will weigh your general presence in life}, but I know that your whole approach towards God is wrong. In the end, they will not be judged for Paradise, those who were good actors, in the role of good.

But the good ones !!!!!!!!!!!

Since God has given us moral rules about how we can go to him. Let's apply them.

We carry as I said, through our inheritance, the syndrome of frightened man which has entered us. We do not love God. We're afraid of Him.

That makes Him really sad. But also takes us away from Him.

I recently experienced the case of a young man who had submitted some advanced questions that were of concern to him about our religion { as he said to me}to a priest. The priest's answers did not cover him and he turned to the Twelve Gods of Olympus. This incident was basically the occasion to say what I am saying today. It had made a great impression on me, a young man thinking like that. He had to believe in a God. To have someone to bow down his head.

Didn’t you get the answer you wanted? Ask someone else. Do not change religion. And go where my child? To Twelve Gods? A young man?

We have already mentioned it. It is the D.N.A we inherited from the first people. Does anyone want to find God? Let him learn to love. So simple. If he learns to love people, God will reveal to him. No farmer sows in a barren field. Cultivate your soul with love and the seed will come

Remember the words of Jesus Christ. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF.

To be able to experience the grandeur of love finally and to love God, with the true love He deserves. With true love away from fear. This true love is what will open the Heaven to you in order to enter His world. I am trying to remind you of these words through what I am saying and writing until I disappear.

 If you understand them, God will make sure that others more capable than me will come to harvest what I have managed {if I have managed} to sow in your souls.

Some people have been ironic because I use, by my name, the LIGHT OF LIGHT.

They told me: ‘ Do you represent the LIGHT OF LIGHT?’ I have said many times though that I am responsible for what I say and not for what others understand.

Of course I am not the Light of Light. LIGHT OF LIGHT is our Jesus Christ. It is mentioned in the ‘symbol’ of our faith. The Creed as we call it. For those who know it. I put beside my name, LIGHT OF LIGHT because I want to feel that I have His presence next to me and to get enlightenment from him. A ray of this light I am, my children, as you are too. Nothing special.

A ray of light that tries to illuminate some rays that have been ostracized away from their source so that they can find their way back again and all together we can unite again with the true LIGHT OF LIGHT. Our beloved Jesus Christ. In truth and love.

Be blessed my children in the love of God. The true God, the Creator of everything.

Father Fanourios

LIGHT OF LIGHT

IOANNINON 10 NEA FILADELFEIA

ATHENS GREECE 14341

OUR SPIRIT: WΗΑΤ IT IS AND HOW IT EVOLVES.

  

Man is not a random creation of the universe.

We were not created by accident as a consequence of what scientists call ‘Big Bang’ nowadays and of course we do not come as other scientists might claim from the ape.

I have expressed and explained my views on this topic in my previous speeches, so to save time, for those who are watching me; I do not have to repeat them today.

Man was not accidentally created. In other words, God did not say: ”What should I do today? What shall I do to spend my time? Why not make man?’’ when He had nothing to do and talking to Himself. He did not make us to spend His time. Of course not and forgive me for the way I presented it to you. But nothing happens to the universe at random, my children. Nothing happens by chance in the world of God.

Even for the supporters of the ‘Big Bang’ at the beginning of creation, I have to say that someone lit the wick to make this explosion, having previously planned the course of the explosion, and everything that would follow to the last detail.

The results of that explosion billions of years ago are evolving and discovered even today. We have already mentioned that nothing is accidental. However, the explosion does not produce emotion, it does not produce tears, it does not produce soul, it does not produce spirit.

Spirit......... What did I say now? Spirit. An omnipotent energy body that can be found everywhere in the universe, unaffected by the conditions prevailing there and thinking, deciding, acting, and creating without the risk of being destroyed.

Without the risk of being destroyed, of course, since it complies with all the obligations and conditions required by the spiritual world. There is order and harmony in the universe and the spirit cannot do whatever it wants.

Spirit is a valuable helper and partner of our Creator. God.

But where does the spirit come from? From human.  Conveying in him all the memories, experiences and values that man has acquired during this lifetime.

 Yes. We are not vanished after death. We are just born as spirits in another world, in the world of God, in another dimension but keeping our memories of this life. We do not cease to exist. The reason why man was created by God, my children, is the spirit that he creates during his life's journey.

A precious helper and associate of God, a gracious God if he evolves properly that will also be able to create in the wonderful world of our Creator.

We come as souls in this world. Our creator puts in us energy from Himself from the beginning of our course as people and so, we would say, we start functioning. It is what we call soul.

And it is again what God Himself means when he tells us that He has created us in His image and likeness. Energy by image and likeness.

Not in appearance. Otherwise, we would all be the same.

We are the energy of His own energy that He has entrusted it to us to accompany us to our journey in this life. This is how we become one body with Him. An eternal body in a promising eternal relationship. In order to develop ourselves as souls, to become precious spirits and partners in the work taking place in His world.

For an eternity.

That's why He created man. There was a reason for the creation of man and no accidental event occurred. Everything was thoughtfully and wisely done by Him.

And where we are going as spirits now, depending on the value we have acquired of course, according to the quality and the purity of our spirit, we will be ranked in the position that we deserve and we can respond, according to our abilities and our eternal journey will begin, putting a small piece in the function and balance of the universe ourselves too.

There is continuous education, activities, there is life. Quality life and creation.

God told us: I have many apartments in Heaven. Going on a little further, I would say that Paradise has many levels. What God called apartments and depending on the grade we graduated from the school of life, depending on the quality we delivered to our spirit while living, it will be ranked at the equivalent level with other spirits that have also gathered the same rating.

The spirits, for example, which have graduated with 10 in their graduation from this life, will be at the level of spirits with a score of 10.

The same goes for those which gathered 20, the same for those which gathered 30 and who knows how far the rating of a spirit's assessment can go.

The most beautiful thing concerning this classification which also gives us a sign of God's wisdom but also of his love for man is that those who have gathered 10, for example, will not know that above them at higher levels there are many other spirits that have scored better, so that they will not feel they have failed in the world of God. So those with a 10 as a score will live happily in Paradise, dealing with activities that can be managed by someone judged by this rating.

As long as we enter Paradise. From then on, without having lost our consciousness and memories of this life, we will live a happy life without fear, without human needs and obligations for money, rents, food and, in general, everything that filled us with anxiety and sorrow while we were in life.

At the level we can express ourselves and exist. Where we were ranked.

To verify what I say about the levels of Paradise, I will remind you of the Second Corinthian letter of Saint Paul, in which he tells the Corinthians about his rapture from the earth and his rise to the third heaven where he saw the great and wonderful of the world, which of course a human mouth cannot describe and say.

What Saint Paul described as a third heaven, I describe it as a third level. We refer to the same thing.

And because what I say up to now might make some people think everything is all right after death. ‘Why do I torture myself here? I'm leaving.’ Even if they want to end their presence here, with the troubles from the problems, illnesses and darkness putting an end to their lives, I will say this: ‘You might be able to leave, my child. This is certain. The case is you cannot imagine where you will be found the moment that you escape life.’

From the beginning, I would like to make clear that you should forget about Paradise and the wonderful things I described before for those who are there. You will regret what you did a thousand times when you see who will receive you and what you will be doing. Thousands of times you will beg to go back to earth and double the suffering that led you to suicide.

But then....... My child it will be late.

You will not only have killed your body but also the spirit of God that you have been entrusted to safely keep within that body and evolve it. You will have destroyed your soul.

So you do not need me to say it. You understand that ...... you should forget about Paradise.

Those who have fought, evolved, tried and succeeded in their love and truth will find themselves in Paradise, regardless of the level, cultivating their spirit so that it can live up to Heaven.

Nothing is given to the world of God unless someone deserves it. It is not like the earth where a spiritually and qualitatively unworthy man can  possess great offices, kingdoms, empires, riches and glory, exploiting circumstances, acquaintances, dirty deals, consciously selling his soul to evil, torturing and tormenting human souls.

You will tell me: « Well, these people’s spirits where do they go? » You all know the answer. Whatever they call their world, it is certain that it will be far from the love and warmth of God.

Far-off as our people say.

But as I was saying before and this is what we are interested in today's speech, is where we will go and what specifications are needed to get there.

In Heaven. What do we have to do so that our spirit can be found in the world of God?

You know, my children. No one from Heaven will blame us if we do not become saints. They will blame us and we will be judged for because we have not tried to become one. But as a result of this effort, our final score will come out when we graduate from this life. From this effort, it will be judged whether we will be in the world of God and of course at what level too.

Now ......... is there anyone of you my children who really wants to be in Paradise?

I am saying this because if there is someone in the world who has this intention, they should continue listening to this speech. If  someone watching  the channel wanted to listen to a couple of words but they do not really care about Paradise, let the video stop now because they may not like the following in my speech and I would not like to hurt them.

Because, my children, truth that will hurt us will be heard.  Because this truth is related to our truth in this world.  It refers to whom we think we are, who we tell others we are and who we really are.

So all of us want to go to Paradise. And we said that there are spirits who have gathered some score needed there, no matter at what level of Paradise they will eventually be ranked.

It's enough to go there. In the world created for us by Jesus Christ waiting for us.

The prerequisites to walk this path that leads there were given to us with his teachings and his orders. He has set the requirements and obligations. What we have to do to obtain the right to get there.

But my children, under all conditions and obligations and before we even begin to demand our rights and dream of our presence in Paradise, we should seriously, very seriously, ask ourselves: ‘Do we understand what's going on in this world? Are we really prepared to fight for this conquest of Paradise? Or…. days come and go, just repeating in our minds the goal of Paradise but diligently we refuse to fight for it?’

Do we really want to be saved? Our spiritual state up to this moment is able to stand equally with other higher spirits in the spiritual world and communicate, interact, exchange opinions and work with them or are we incomplete in all respects about this possibility?

They will tell us, for example, these higher spirits about values, morality, honesty, truth and we will tell them about when we were on earth, when our neighbor was throwing away the water of her laundry on the street and our brother who took our piece of land and other such bizarre things that would make the supreme spirits of Paradise wonder what is wrong in the sky and we ended up there.

A little far-fetched, my children, the example in the way I presented it but do not be fooled because it is not far from reality.

Of course, such a discussion will never take place in Paradise, for the simple reason that this spirit that carries with it the behavior of the neighbor and of the dishonest brother who took our land will never have the opportunity to find Paradise. Because it simply did not develop qualitatively. It never surpassed the human field. He has never succeeded in becoming God by the grace of God.

So how can they end up with the spirits who fought and succeeded?

But is this example enough to let the alarm in our minds go off and make us understand whether we are deficient as humans and to what extent? And if we really want to get there, is it enough to make us start today a sincere effort for this purpose? Because  God, my children, cannot be deceived. So who are we trying to fool   when we say that we want to go to Paradise without fighting for it?

Of course only ourselves.

But how can a person evolve their spirit so that they can get there?

First of all, study our holy books and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Did you hear what I said? Study. Not just read. I know too many who have read for example the Bible 10 or 20 times but they seem to have never met the word love. They have never met the words almsgiving, forgiveness, help to their neighbor, respect, temperance, true faith in God.

And I say that they have never met them because I cannot explain how it is possible that these people who are always with the Bible in hand, can do one hundred repentances in front of the icon of Christ, they will not miss a Mass, they will receive Holy Communion every Sunday but are still cruel and inhumane towards their neighbor.

They believe that they have secured Paradise because they read the Bible and make repentance. As I said God cannot be deceived.

 Holy Scriptures, my children and all of our holy books, our holy gospels and the wisdom of the Holy Fathers of our church were not written to be read so that we can spend our time. They were written and exist to study them. The truth lies behind the words. When we read them we get the information. I have said this before. But in order to make the information knowledge, we must practice and be tested in what we read as information.

To bring the information into our lives and to try through it and the tribulations that it will bring to our life’s fight to apply it. And if we succeed despite the difficulties in its implementation, to come out winners and of course changed for the better, only then it becomes knowledge and wisdom. Then there is only evolution and spiritual rise.

By reading, for example, in the teachings of Christ one hundred times the phrase ‘love each other’ but nevertheless, keep being tough with people because while we read it, we never decided to apply it to our lives, what have we done? Nothing at all.

All we can achieve is to confuse Christ in some way, seeing our behavior he will be wondering: ‘What did I say to them and what did those who say they are Christians understand? What relationship can they have with my teachings? And all these bad things they do in my name? What are these?’

These will our Christ think sadly.

In order to evolve, my children, spiritually we need to make the information knowledge as I said and in this process tests also come. Nothing is easy and nothing is gained without a price. To get on the bus we need to buy a ticket. To gain prestige and wealth, most of us have to give moral, values, and in general to disgrace the quality we have every day.

We exchange our dignity every day to keep our job. Our reputation, our honor, our freedom, our own existence, our soul are products to be exchanged in this world, which we can easily trade off in order to acquire or preserve something.

It is the game if you want, in which we take our tests as they are called, in order to evolve and prove to God the quality of the spirit we cultivate.

A testing, however, that God does not have to send us as most people claim. Life itself, our decisions and our choices are the ones that usually cause difficulties for us to test on them, to overcome them and evolve through them. God, if you wish, simply allows these tests to exist because it is our curriculum within the school of life.

Sometimes, however, this is true, He also sends us some hardships. These hardships usually have to do with empowerment and confirmation of our faith. Without tests, however, my children, we cannot evolve. How does God know if we are true and true to our values?

Most of us have God in our minds as someone who has to give us constantly. And if we do not see the result we are expecting we say there is no God, we throw the cross and the icons away from us and from our home and full of anger we swear at Him. And we do not think because we have no faith that the result we expected and did not come may have been our test for God to see if we are really His children or freeloaders.

When we lose one of our loved ones, some of us move away from God. When we have a flat tire at the National Road, some of us put the blame on God. We do not even have the basic perception to understand that God has more serious things to do than having a tire flat.

These are the tribulations that life itself puts us daily as I have mentioned. When we get a tilt because we ran a red light, we accuse God. These are the tribulations that come from our own wrong choices. I could talk for endless hours about tests we take every day and fail my children. But they are necessary.

Life is a school in which our spirit must evolve in order to be worthy to be found in the world of God and these tests are the lessons we have to go through.

There are people, I have heard many and I imagine you have heard too, who say: ‘Ιn my life the same thing is constantly happening. I continually find this situation in front of me or this fact. I cannot understand why this is happening to me.’

You cannot understand, my child, because you can’t think that what's going on all the time in your life is the lesson you have failed. The same test or event that you cannot at last handle correctly and learn its teaching to advance to the next class.

Testings for those who want to advance is necessary. We must have the courage, perseverance and faith needed to overcome them. We must evolve every day. We must stand out qualitatively from the masses of the rest of the people who have left the fight and move towards the path we have charted. Towards Paradise. 

And something I often say is that through lying no one ever entered Paradise.

Let us study our holy books, the teachings of our Christ and the Holy Fathers. Let us study them and draw conclusions from what we have read. We bring the conclusions into our lives and put them into practice in our everyday life, we overcome the tests that will appear, the information becomes knowledge, becomes wisdom and finally we cultivate a beautiful and unique spirit, ready to function in the world of God eternally.

My children, nothing is achieved without effort.

Let us have this in mind and let us not miss the opportunity in this life.

My blessing and my love.

{SPEECH FROM VIDEO  IN GREEK} https://youtu.be/6voc-6uV3oM

Father Fanourios

LIGHT OF LIGHT