ARCHPASTORAL LETTER FORThe Feast of Holy Pentecost 2014

ARCHPASTORAL LETTER FOR The Feast of Holy Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 2014  

Dearly Beloved in the Lord:

“Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”   ^{(Matthew 5:16)}

The Feast of Holy Pentecost marks the day on which the Holy Spirit Whom Christ promised to His disciples ^(John15:26) came upon them. From that moment, the apostles received “the power from on high,” and they began to preach and bear witness to Jesus as the Risen Christ, the King and the Lord. That day in history has traditionally been known as “the birthday of the Church.”

Saint Luke records this remarkable event for us with these words:

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”^{(Acts 2:1-4)}

This is an incredible account...but it must be noted, that the Feast of Pentecost is not merely the celebration of a happening which took place centuries ago.It is the celebration of what must happen and does happen to us in the Church today. We have all died and risen with Christ in baptism, and we have all received His Most Holy Spirit in Chrismation. We are all indeed “temples of the Holy Spirit” in whom God’s Spirit dwells ^{(Romans 8:1)}. We have, by our membership in the Church, received “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Pentecost has happened to us ... the fire of the Holy Spirit has been ignited in each of us. But just having that flame burn quietly within us, is not enough.

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And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one

^{Fr. Alexander Schmemann}

^{Number 7 of 8 commentaries on The Lord's Prayer broadcast on Raido Liberty by Fr. Alexander Schmemann to listeners in the former Soviet Union. (Translated by Alexis Vinogradov)}

The last petition of the Lord's Prayer reads: "And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one" ^{(Mt 6:13)}.

Quite early on this petition led to misunderstanding and was subjected to all sorts of interpretations. First of all, what is the possible meaning of "lead us not"? Is it possible that God himself is responsible for tempting us, for sending us the sufferings, trials, temptations, and doubts which fill our life and so often make it unbearable? Or perhaps, does God torture us at least for the sake of our eventual illumination and salvation?

Furthermore, who is this "evil one" from whom we seek deliverance? This expression was and is often translated as simply "evil:' while the Greek original, apo tau ponirou, can be translated as either "from the evil one" or "from evil."

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Interview with Bp. Michael about Episcopal Assembly

Interview with Bp. Michael about Episcopal Assembly

^{Office of Communications
Orthodox Church in America
Diocese of New York and New Jersey
RELEASE NUMBER 2010.4.2}

The following interview regarding the recent Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs of North and Central America, which convened in New York City on 25-28 May, was conducted with His Grace, +Michael (Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey) on Wednesday, 2 June 2010. A news release about the Assembly is now available on the OCA webpage: http://www.oca.org/news/2168

Question: Your Grace, we appreciate you taking time out of your extremely full schedule to share some of your observations, thoughts and reflections following the historic Assembly of Hierarchs that concluded just last week in New York City.

Bishop Michael: To begin with, I have to say what an incredible experience it was for me, just newly consecrated, to be privileged to be a part of this first Episcopal Assembly. To be there ... to walk among giants ... the great leaders of the Orthodox Churches in this country and in Canada and in Mexico. To see fifty-six bishops gathered together in the same room for the same purpose, was just awesome. As I said, I was privileged to be there. I had been at Ligonier [Pennsylvania, November 1994] as a priest when SCOBA [the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas] hosted such a gathering, and there were half as many bishops. This was an incredible event to be a part of.

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What is Holy Chrismation?

What is Holy Chrismation?

by Fr. Michael J. Buben

"Holy Chrismation is a Sacrament in which the baptized believer, being anointed with Holy Chrism on certain parts of the body, in the name of the Holy Spirit, receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit for growth and strength in spiritual life." ^(Catechism)

This sacrament is administered immediately after baptism and like baptism cannot be administered twice to the same soul. Baptism cleans us from the pollution of original sin and makes us a member of the grace-giving living Orthodox Church of Christ. Chrismation nourishes and strengthens the baptised in the spiritual life. Just as a child needs the guidance of its parents, so a newly baptised soul receives the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the reasons why Chrismation has never been performed separately in the Orthodox Church.

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