The Way of Life of the ancient Eastern Orthodox Church
Previously, I taught you to wash the inside of your cup. That is, cleanse your heart through repentance. You do not purify your heart so that it remains empty, but so that it may be filled. Through repentance, you make your heart hospitable to the Presence of God. By living the Way, may the Divine Grace, and everything good the Grace brings, overflow within you.
Read: Psalm 23; John 4.4-14; Romans 15.13; 1 Peter 1.8
Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees
Always enter the Orthodox temple with an inner attitude of humble reverence. Be mindful of your sins and imperfections before the Holy One and your unworthiness to stand in the presence of His heavenly Angels and pure Saints. At the same time, remember God’s unconditional love for you and the Saints’ prayers on your behalf. Be modest, courteous, and respectful. Banish thoughts of arrogance and presumption. See everyone else as better than yourself. This is true humility. Beware of becoming ignorantly cocky, egotistical overbearing, hypocritically judgmental, and emotionally offended. Do what is proper for you according to the custom of the Faithful in obedience to the Bishop and Priest.
The architecture of the temple reminds us not to be presumptuous. Sometimes the doors separating the Narthex from the Nave are closed so that no one may enter into the Nave. The Icon Screen that separates the Nave from the Holy Sanctuary reminds us that only Clergy and Laymen blessed to be in the Sanctuary should pass beyond the Screen. No one but the Clergy (or one with a special blessing) touches the Holy Altar. The temple holds a throne for the Bishop that no one but the Bishop sits in. These customs help us all to remember to maintain an inner attitude of humility, obedience, and reverence before God and one another.
As you prepare to enter into the temple with reverence and attentiveness, you may say this prayer:
I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify thee forever, One Divine Power worshipped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Read: Genesis 3.1-7; Psalm 50 (51); Isaiah 1.10-20; 6.1-8; Jeremiah 1.1-27; 2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 6.1-8; Numbers 16-17; Matthew 23.1.39; Luke 1:46–55; 7:36-50; 8:43–48; 14.7-14; 18.9-14; Acts 4.32-5.11; 8.4-25
Text copyright © 2017 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees
An Orthodox Christian holds to the right Faith (expressed by correct doctrine, believed with the heart, and confirmed through action) and also offers right worship from the heart to the true and living God.
Orthodox worship reflects the heavenly worship of the noetic powers, the various kinds of bodiless angelic beings. Through our worship, we actually participate in this unceasing heavenly worship.
Often, we pray the Trisagion Prayer as part of our private prayers and together in our communal worship as the Church. Through this prayer, we call upon the true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We recite the Trisagion (Thrice-Holy) Hymn of the angels: Holy, Holy, Holy. Remembering Who God Is, we ask for His Presence to be made real on earth (daily through our lives until the heavenly kingdom arrives fully at Christ’s return). We also ask for our loving God to grant us His mercy, forgiveness, healing, and good strength to resist the evil one so that we may stay on the Way of salvation.
Pray the Trisagion Prayer at the beginning of your established times of prayer in the morning and evening. Learn the prayer with your mind, but also learn to say it with your heart focused on God.
(Make the sign of the Cross upon yourself at the places marked with a cross (+).
The Trisagion Prayer
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.
O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and abide in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Text (except for the text of the Trisagion Prayer above) copyright © 2017 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees
Living the Way of Christ means possessing a good, healthful disposition of heart that produces good, virtuous action. Read these five parables carefully, learn their meaning for your life, and strive to put them into practice:
1) The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee (Luke 18.9-14)
What does this parable teach you about pride and judgment as well as humility and repentance? What does it teach you about God, prayer, and mercy?
2) The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8.4-15)
Are you eagerly receptive to the Truth and humbly teachable or hard-hearted and unteachable, unable to grow to maturity? You choose the kind of soil your heart shall be. Which kind of soil describes the disposition of your heart? What does this parable teach you with regard to how the condition of your heart affects both the health of your soul inwardly and also your outward actions?
3) The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32)
What does this story teach you about God and His love for us? (The Father did not love the son only when he returned, but the Father always loved the son.) What does the story teach you about sin and the effects of your sin? (Who created the distance between the Father and his son?) What does this teach you about the steps of repentance toward restoration? How does the reaction of the other brother also offer you a lesson?
4) Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
What does this teach you about true love? Why must you love God first and best above all others? (If you do not love God wholly and above all, you cannot love all others fully.) Remember that this parable is also an image of the Church. What does this teach you about the benefit of the Church for you and everyone else?
5) The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7.21-27)
What does this teach you about the the necessity of obedience?
6) The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21.28-32)
What does this teach you about repentance with regard to obedience and disobedience?
(7 & 8) The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearls (Matthew 13.44-46)
Where does this teach you place of the Way of Christ in your life, considering all your competing priorities and distractions?
Text copyright © 2017-2021 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees