As the old man is crucified, the soul is healed

[Mary Naeem]

As the old man is crucified, the soul is healed

Sunday of the Fathers

of the 1st Ecumenical Council

This Sunday is dedicated to the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, held in Nicea in the year 325 AD. We hear that which is also referred to as the gospel of the Testament (John 17, 1-13). The Lord, with the following words, begins his prayer: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” “The hour has come”; the hour of passion, the hour of sacrifice, of crucifixion, victory over the adversary, and, finally, of man’s salvation.

Christ comes to earth with his attention turned towards the Cross, towards voluntary passion, the death of death -i.e., of sin. The Lord is heading towards the Cross, as it is there that the final war will be waged. The Lord, being sinless, moves towards passion and presents himself as a sinner before the face of God, taking upon himself the sin of the world. And man, a sinful being, is truly redeemed when he treads the Lord’s path, and when inspired by His love strives to imitate His passion. By thus doing he will experience pain, contrition, and true repentance. And as the old man is crucified, the soul is healed.

The Lord offers sacrifice, but not all are willing to accept him. God however dwells with those who accept the sacrifice of the Lord and follow him to the passion. And the more one follows the Lord, the more he is in contrition, and in utter amazement cries out: “My God, you called even me –a useless creature –filled with spiteful rebellion, which I raised up against you! And yet you won me with your grace, and made me yours!”

Holy Hesychasterion “The Nativity of Theotokos” Publications.

Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos