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Those who want to be saved pay no attention to the failing of their neighbors, but always look for their own and so make progress. Such was the man who, seeing that his brother had sinned, sighed and said, ‘Woe unto me! As he has sinned today, so shall I sin tomorrow.’ Do you see the wise disposition of his soul, and how he at once found the means of avoiding condemnation of his brother? For in saying ‘so shall I sin tomorrow’ he prompted himself to fear that he too might soon commit a sin and to pay heed to this — and so he escaped condemning his neighbor. Moreover, not content with this, he prostrated himself at his feet saying, This one will repent his sin, while I shall not repent as I ought. I shall not attain to repentance, I shall not have the strength to repent.’ Do you see the enlightenment of a divine soul? (Early Fathers from the Philokalia, pg. 165.)
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Bread. When we mention this word, bread, many of us think of a white, styrofoam like substance, that is packaged in a hygienic plastic bag (and is) connected with the name ‘Wonder.’ Indeed, it is a wonder that this basic symbol of life for thousands of years has lost much of its meaning to our modern minds. It is only when we ourselves put our time and talents into actually making bread can we then begin to understand and appreciate a piece of nourishing, well-made bread that comes hot from the oven and fills the whole house with the sweet aroma of life in this world.

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“The Liturgy is the supper, the table of God’s love to mankind. Around the Lamb of God upon the holy disc all are at this time assembled – the living, the death, saints and sinners, the Church triumphant and the Church militant.” (p. 197.)

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The festival of the Raising of the Cross originated in Palestine. Instituted to commemorate the dedication of the basilica of the Resurrection, erected by Constantine in Jerusalem, “Festival of the Dedication” was soon associated with the discovery of the true Cross. Eusebius, describing the dedication ceremony which took place in 335 says nothing of the discovery of the Cross. But St. Cyril of Jerusalem, in 347 says this: “Already the whole universe is filled with fragments of the Wood of the Cross.
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“Thy Birth, O Mother of God and Virgin, brought tidings of joy to the whole universe: For the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, has shone forth from Thee….” (Troparion, Tone 4). In the festival of the Nativity of the Mother of God (September 8th), the Church celebrates the most holy human birth, whose “fruit most pure” was elect and sanctified from the moment of conception (Conception of St. Anna, celebrated December 9th). Whilst the Conception and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, equally festivals of the Church, are given a detailed account in the Gospels, the latter say nothing of the birth of the Mother of God.
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