Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ ,

“Become holy, for I your Lord and God am holy” Lev. 19:2

Here at Evangelismos of Elkins Park, I confess that which St. Basil says “One is my óêïðüò – aim, in everything; to build the Church” is happening. In this parish we, all of us together, see that the íáüò – temple of the Theotokos and its surrounding buildings and land is beautified, but also the Church is being built. With every way the Church, the people of God and the temple of God is being built.

Whatever are the times and the so called other needs of the people, there is nothing better and above for the priest/ shepherd and his people from the uplifting of the Church. Builder is the priest and it is true that this uplifting is a work of love. Builders are the faithful also who contribute their time, talents and treasure for the uplifting of the Church.

St. Paul the Apostle writes to the Corinthians “love ïéêïäïìåß – builds “ I Cor 8:11. Only the one who loves builds, makes, forms and creates. Even though God is the only creator and us men are re-builders, nevertheless, the builders of love are co-workers of God and consequently creators.

It is a creative task to build the wholesome people and beautiful temples. With one word, to build temples, since Christians are living temples of God and house of the Holy Spirit. It has been observed and it is talked by everyone that in our time, when nations have been uprooted and countries have been desolate, we the Orthodox build temples all over the world. The Church by the Holy immortal Spirit of God builds the faithful, and the faithful build temples in His Holy Name. Let us not then loose our faith with all these things that are happening around us and let us glorify the name of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-. There e are more faithful Christians around us than we think. There are more who build than those who tear down.

“Love conquers fear”.

This task of the builder ought to become much loved by all the faithful of the Evangelismos community. Remember what St. Paul said, “Love builds”. Therefore, we need to acquire this LOVE. And how can this be accomplished? Here is where the work of the ecclesiastical calendar of Feasts and Services becomes our helper, our guide, and teacher. The circle of the year has brought us and placed us once again in the ôñï÷ïéÜ – cycle of the great Feast of Pascha. The 40 days of the Great Fast precedes this Feast is a period of spiritual reforming and preparation for the Orthodox. We should try to imitate Moses who fasted for 40-days when he was to receive the Law at Mount Sinai . And Jesus Christ who fasted for 40-days after His baptism in the Jordan by John as to begin His public ministry. With the opening of the Triodion on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, a new wind moves within the Church. It is the wind of humility which is beginning of acquiring the greatest gift, the virtue which is above all virtues; LOVE.

This acquiring of humility brings us into the Sunday of Forgiveness, where repentance and mutual forgiveness must come in us and among us, for the fruit of humility is repentance, and the letting go of our brothers’ debts. Repentance and forgiveness are the necessary keys needed to open the gates of the Great Forty-days that lead to Holy Week and Pascha. The week, which can also be named the week of love “for God so loved the world that he gave his Son to die on the cross for our salvation”.

The hymn, which is sung after the morning Gospel from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee until the fifth Sunday of Lent, are humble words of repentance and confession: “ Ôçò ìåôáíïßáò Üíïéîüí ìïé ðýëáò Æùïäüôá ... Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life, for early in the morning my spirit hastens to Your holy temple, bringing the temple of my body all defiled. But as one compassionate, cleanse me, I pray, by Your loving-kindness and mercy”. This feeling, that we are sinful and in need of repentance from our prodigal life and the desire to find redemption in Christ, the Life-giver, guides our steps in this holy temple, which is the established liturgical place of common worship of the Church. It pulls us and gathers us like the Psalm that we will sing with joyful lips on the glorious night of Pascha “In the Churches bless God”, and we run now on Sundays and everyday in prayer, gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, together in supplication, helping and supporting one another as to cross the sea of the Great 40-days. Only those who are not churched and do not pray with one mind united in one body, the body of Christ , with the connector “Let us love one another”, those do not know the mystical power of common liturgical prayer.

“Let us depart in peace”.

In conclusion (even though there is no end when we discuss theological things of the true faith), let us be attentive when the word of God, the word of truth and life, the word that has the power to build and to give the inheritance to all the sanctified, when it is preached inside the temple. These holy days of the Triodion are days of intense hearing of the will of God, through His divinely inspired written word and teaching herein as to acquire the “likeness” of God as much as it is possible for our human nature. During these unique holy days, let us strive to increase our love towards God and neighbor through humility and repentance.

ÊáëÞ ðïñåßá , have a blessed journey.

Father Christos .