Being a True Christian and Venerating the Saints

1. Bible & Fathers: “Pursue the Economy of the Future Life” by St John Chrysostom

Friday – Feast of St John Chrysostom: Heb. 7:26-28; 8:1-2. Jn. 10:9-16. Online here.

Saturday – Feast of St Philip the Apostle and St Gregory Palamas: 1 Cor. 4:9-16. Jn. 1:43-51. Online here.

Sunday – Nativity Fast begins: Eph. 2:4-10. Lk. 10:25-37. Online here.

Here is the first of two paragraphs from a homily by St John Chrysostom on Repentance and Prayer:

Let us imitate the saints who neither became oppressed by their afflictions nor became filled with conceit by leisure. Many of us suffer this now, and resemble nimble ships’ bilges that are crowded by waves on all sides and capsize. For many times poverty attacked us suddenly, submerged us, and brought us to the ocean bed; and the wealth that came to us puffed us up again, and hurled us into the worst possible conceit. This is why I plead with you to pay no heed to things and for every one of us to direct our souls toward salvation. If our soul is rightly steered, then whatever danger falls upon us—whether famine, or disease, or slander, or plundering of property, or any other such thing—will be bearable and light, by the commandment of the Master and through hope in Him. Likewise, when the soul does not stand well before God, then, even if wealth flows abundantly, and has children, and enjoys immeasurable goods, this person will experience much faintheartedness and many cares. Therefore, let us not seek wealth; let us not avoid poverty. However, above all these, let each one take care of his soul and make it pursue the economy of the future life as well as cause it to depart from the present life to the next.

Read the rest of the passage here.

2. Books & Culture: Eighth Day Books Review of The Cult of the Saints: Homilies by John Chrysostom

Click here to read a review of a collection of homilies by St John Chrysostom on the veneration of saints. And be sure to purchase your copy from Eighth Day Books!

3. Essays et al: A Letter of St. Herman to His Spiritual Son, Simeon Yanovsky

This Sunday is one of three feast days for St Herman of Alaska the Wonder-worker and patron saint of North America (the first one commemorates his death, his burial is commemorated on Dec. 13, and his canonization is commemorated on August 9). Here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to his spiritual son Simeon Yanovsky (later Schemamonk Sergius):

Without exalting myself to the rank of teacher, nonetheless, fulfilling my duty and obligation as an obedient servant for the benefit of my neighbor, I will speak my mind, founded on the commandments of Holy Scripture, to those who thirst and seek for their eternal heavenly homeland.

A true Christian is made by faith and love toward Christ. Our sins do not in the least hinder our Christianity, according to the word of the Savior Himself. He deigned to say: not the righteous have I come to call, but sinners to salvation; there is more joy in heaven over one who repents than over ninety righteous ones. Likewise concerning the sinful woman who touched His feet, He deigned to say to the Pharisee Simon: to one who has love, a great debt is forgiven, but from one who has no love, even a small debt will be demanded. From these judgments a Christian should bring himself to hope and joy, and not in the least accept an inflicted despair. Here one needs the shield of faith.

Sin, to one who loves God, is nothing other than an arrow from the enemy in battle. The true Christian is a warrior fighting his way through the regiments of the unseen enemy to his heavenly homeland. According to the word of the Apostle, our homeland is in heaven; and about the warrior he says: our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spirits of wickedness under heaven (Eph. 6:12).

Read the entire (and delightful) letter here.

If you’ve been encouraged, challenged, enlightened, or found any value whatsoever in my labor of love through Microsynaxis (or any of the other many EDI endeavors), please consider supporting the work of renewing culture by joining the community of Eighth Day Members. Among many other perks, you’ll begin receiving the weekly member’s issue of Synaxis. Learn more about the other perks and sign up here.

Thanks for considering!

In Christ,

Erin John