A HOMILY FOR THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
About the Chief Characteristics Which Indicate a True Child of the Church
Brothers and sisters!
Today is the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the feast that commemorates the restoration of the holy icons to the Lord’s temples following the final defeat of the heresy of Iconoclasm, which took place on the first Sunday of Lent in the year 843. This day is also called the Triumph of Orthodoxy, because the victory over Iconoclasm symbolizes the victory of eternal Christian truth over every heresy in every age. To remind us of this momentous event, in parish churches we serve a Vespers service or a Moleben after the Divine Liturgy, praying for the conversion to Orthodoxy Christianity of those alien to it, and we process with the holy icons as did our pious forebears on the original Sunday of Orthodoxy. In cathedrals, the anathemas against the foes of the true faith are repeated, and the champions of Orthodoxy are magnified.
It is no mere coincidence, dear Christians, that the Triumph of Orthodoxy occurs on the first Sunday of the Great Fast, just after our conclusion of the strictest week of abstinence and repentance in the entire year. To be a genuine Christian, a genuine child of Christ’s Holy Church, one must adhere wholeheartedly first of all to the dogmatic, and then likewise to the moral and spiritual teachings of Orthodoxy. One must hold steadfastly to the doctrines of the faith, and one must likewise sincerely struggle to live in accordance with piety and fulfill the moral injunctions of the Gospel. Great Lent exists precisely to help us achieve this. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, let us examine more closely what are the characteristics of the true child of the Church, the better to embody those teachings in ourselves.
To begin with: The good and true child, the authentic child of the Church, loves the Holy Orthodox faith. He acquaints himself with it thoroughly and humbles himself before it. However intelligent, however learned he may be, he does not imagine himself wiser than the God-illumined saints, the Fathers of the Church, the holy apostles, or Christ Himself. He acknowledges that his comprehension of divine truth is limited. He is not tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.[1] Rather, he never doubts that the truth of the Lord abideth for ever.[2] He is certain that the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church has and always will hold fast to that truth in its entirety, and thus will remain unshaken forever. He knows by experience that Christ the Lord, the Head of the Church, is the Bread of Life, the True Vine, and that no one can lead the authentic life of the spirit without eating this Bread and drinking the fruit of this Vine. Knowing this, he yearns for divine grace and communion with the Lord through the Sacred Mysteries and the other helps that only the Holy Church can provide.
The true Christian likewise understands that he is not alone in his spiritual struggle, but is one of the many branches on the Vine which is Christ. He rests at ease in the shade of the Church, knowing that countless faithful have earlier rested beneath this broad arbor and, having thereby refreshed and renewed their spirits, have reached the goal of the eternal Kingdom. He is heartened by the knowledge that even now there are many other Orthodox Christians, his brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, treading the same path as he.
The zealous Christian is greatly gladdened when he sees others turning to the truth, to the Church of Christ, to Holy Orthodoxy, and to a life of repentance and spiritual struggle. Whenever he can, he helps guide others out of ignorance and sin to the light of Christ. He realizes that there is nothing better, nothing greater that he can do for his fellow man than this.
The sincere Christian rejoices whenever he has the opportunity to attend the divine services and join in common prayer with his fellow believers. How is it possible, beloved, for someone who does not rejoice at such an opportunity to imagine that he is living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit? Is he not rather quenching the Spirit? Is he not loosening his ties with Christ and His Church? The Lord preserve us from such an attitude! Such a person does not realize what dangerous straits he is in.
If we truly believe, then we will do the works of faith. A tree is known by his fruit.[3] A steadfast believer in Christ is faithful to Christ and revolts neither against Christian doctrine, nor against the ethical or spiritual teachings of Christ and His Church, for faith and fidelity are inseparable. Such a believer also loves his neighbor, especially his Christian neighbor, in accordance with Christ’s saying: By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.[4] He suppresses feelings of envy, hatred, and desire to get back at those who have grieved or offended him; and he takes advantage of opportunities to sacrifice himself for others, especially for the brethren. This invariably has the effect of strengthening Christian love in him, so that he gradually acquires a settled state of forbearance and compassion towards all.
Likewise, the good Christian wars against self-love and sensuality in himself. They that are Christ’s, writes Saint Paul, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.[5] The spirit of self-discipline and spiritual athleticism characterizes, at least to some degree, the life of all genuine Christians, and a chosen few attain a high level of asceticism. The Orthodox Church is mighty in the spirit of self-mortification, and whoever denies its value is ignorant of the essence of Christianity. Nevertheless, the true Christian always remembers the Apostle’s words: Bodily exertion profiteth a little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.[6] Therefore, he greatly loves solitude, not because he is a misanthrope, but because he longs to emulate Christ, the embodiment of perfect godliness, Who repeatedly bade us to solitary prayer by His all-holy example. He loves inner stillness because, as the prophet Elijah learned on Mount Carmel, the Lord is not in the winds or the earthquakes or the fires of worldly distractions and tumult, but in a still, small voice.[7] He loves silence, for as our venerable father Isaac the Syrian says, silence is the mystery of the age to come.
Brothers and sisters, let us take stock of ourselves frequently, especially during the present season of self-examination and self-amendment. Let us make certain that all the characteristics of true the Christian are characteristic of us. Let us love the teachings of our Holy Orthodox Church and occupy ourselves with the study of the law of the Lord. Let us make a daily discipline of reading the Scriptures and other soul-saving books. Let us not prefer words of worldly import to the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Let us hold fast to the faith of Christ. Let us show that we truly love those ignorant of the true faith and those wavering in the faith by teaching them the faith and piety, as much as opportunity allows. Let us love the Lord’s house and hasten – not flee – from the divine services held in it. Let us rather flee the world. Let us seek holy solitude with Christ. Believing in Christ, let us be faithful to Him in thought, word, and deed. Let us remember the Lord’s saying: He that is faithful in the least is faithful also in much,[8] and let us embrace Holy Orthodoxy in its entirety, not picking and choosing what suits our fancy. Let us love our neighbor not in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.[9] Let us crush self-love and everything else impure in ourselves. Let us make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the desires thereof.[10] Let us put off the old man with his deeds,[11] that we may put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness.[12] And let us humbly thank the Lord God every day that He has granted us the inestimable blessing of allowing us to be members of His Holy Orthodox Church, the pillar and ground of divine truth,[13] and the repository of all things that pertain unto life and godliness.[14] Amen.
[1] Eph. 4:14
[2] Ps. 116:2
[3] Luke 6:44
[4] John 13:35
[5] Gal. 5:24
[6] I Tim. 4:8
[7] III Kings 19:12
[8] Luke 16:10
[9] I John 3:18
[10] Rom. 13:14
[11] Col. 3:9
[12] Eph. 4:24
[13] I Tim. 3:15
[14] II Pet. 1:5
