Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751 Durham NC 27713 919-484-1600 fatherstavroforos2012@gmail.com www.stbarbarachurchnc.org News & Announcements June 24, 2018 Birth of Saint John the Forerunner Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist 6/24/2018 Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner 6/24/2018 Panagiotis the New Martyr 6/24/2018 Athanasios Parios 6/24/2018 NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church Hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor s Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the Church Office. 1
The Sunday Epistle Reading The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord. Verse: Oh God, hear my cry. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου. Πρὸς Ρωμαίους τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο 13:11-14, 14:1-4 Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτό 2
The Sunday Gospel Reading The Gospel According to Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76-80 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilos, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zacharias after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. And immediately 3
his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Λουκᾶν (1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80) Ἐπειδήπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν περὶ τῶν πεπληροφορημένων ἐν ἡμῖν πραγμάτωνκαθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπ ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου, ἔδοξε κἀμοί, παρηκολουθηκότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀκριβῶς, καθεξῆς σοι γράψαι, κράτιστε Θεόφιλε, ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν. Εγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ηρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς Ιουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Αβιά, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ααρών, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Ελισάβετ. ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασι τοῦ Κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι. καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον, καθότι ἡ Ελισάβετ ἦν στεῖρα, καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν. Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἱερατεύειν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ τάξει τῆς ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι τοῦ Θεοῦ, κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας ἔλαχε τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν τοῦ λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ θυμιάματος. ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος. καὶ ἐταράχθη Ζαχαρίας ἰδών, καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ αὐτόν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου, καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ελισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιωάννην καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ γεννήσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται. ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ καὶ Πνεύματος Αγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραὴλ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν αὐτῶν καὶ αὐτὸς προελεύσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει Ηλιού, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀπειθεῖς ἐν φρονήσει δικαίων, ἑτοιμάσαι Κυρίῳ λαὸν κατεσκευασμένον. καὶ εἶπε Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρός σε καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθ ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν. καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν Ζαχαρίαν, καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐν τῷ χρονίζειν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ναῷ. ἐξελθὼν δὲ οὐκ ἠδύνατο λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι ὀπτασίαν ἑώρακεν ἐν τῷ ναῷ καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν διανεύων αὐτοῖς, καὶ διέμενε κωφός. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ, ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. Μετὰ δὲ ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας συνέλαβεν Ελισάβετ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν μῆνας πέντε, λέγουσα ὅτι οὕτω μοι πεποίηκεν ὁ Κύριος ἐν ἡμέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν τὸ ὄνειδός μου ἐν ἀνθρώποις. 4
Memorial: 1 year Evangelia Koutsourakis (mother of Anna Maria Delassandro 3 years Theodore Koutsourakis (father of Anna Maria Delassandro) Coffee Hour Host : Anna Maria Delassandro Join us for upcoming events at St. Barbara Church! For details visit www.stbarbarachurchnc.org or the church Facebook page A TASTE OF GREECE Sat., June 30, 2018 11 am 7 pm - dine in/take out GREEK HERITAGE NIGHT AT DURHAM BULLS BALL PARK Sat., July 28 th at 6:35 PM GENERAL ASSEMBLY Sunday, August 5 th after Sunday Worship GYRO FEAST Sat., August 25, 2018 11 am 7 pm dine in/take out Featuring gyro pita wraps, our most popular Greek Festival item NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTO TAKING DAYS Thursday, September 13 th 2:00 to 9:00 pm Friday, September 14 th 2:00 to 9:00 pm Saturday, September 15 th 10 am to 5:00 pm GREEK CHICKEN DINNERS Sat., October 6, 2018 11am 7 pm dine in/take out HOLIDAY GREEK PASTRY SALE & ATHENIAN GRILL Fri, & Sat., November 16 & 17, 2018 11am 7 pm Fabulous pastries & dine in/take out gyros, spanakopita & Salad 5
GREEK HERITAGE NIGHT AT THE DURHAM BULLS VS. THE SYRACUSE CHIEFS SATURDAY- JULY 28TH @ 6:35PM DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK (409 Blackwell St. Durham, NC) Join us for an exciting night of baseball and a touch of Greek Heritage with the Durham Bulls. Come for baseball, food, entertainment for the kids, fireworks, Greek Dancers, The Holy Trinity Choir, and Fr. Paul Christy throwing the opening pitch! We have blocks of seats currently secured. Terrace Reserved Seats under the roof $11.99 each (covered reserved seats) Terrace View Seats not under the roof $9.99 each (reserved seats NOT covered) Reserve your tickets at groupmatics.events/bullsgreekheritage Please reach out to Fr. Paul Christy (htraleighfr@gmail.com) or Maria Hicks (mariahicks1966@gmail.com) if you require more information. We hope you all will join us. Please feel free to forward to others. Reserve your tickets. 6
June 2018 Religious Services 29 Friday - Saints Peter and Paul - 9:00 am July 2018 Religious Services 1-5 th Sunday of Matthew - 9 am 8-6 th Sunday of Matthew - 9 am 15 - Sunday of the Holy Fathers - 9 am 22-8th Sunday of Matthew - 9 am 29-9 th Sunday of Matthew - 9 am June 24 Birth of Saint John the Baptist He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yah is gracious." 7
Apolytikion Hym for the Feast of the Nativity of John the Forerunner Fourth Tone O Prophet and Forerunner of the presence of Christ, we who fervently honor you cannot worthily praise you. For by your revered and glorious birth the barrenness of your mother and the muteness of your father were unbound, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world. Προφήτα καί Πρόδρομε, τής παρουσίας Χριστού, αξίως ευφημήσαί σε ουκ ευπορούμεν ημείς, οι πόθω τιμώντές σε, στείρωσις γάρ τεκούσης, καί πατρός αφωνία, λέλυνται τή ενδόξω, καί σεπτή σου γεννήσει, καί σάρκωσις Υιού τού Θεού, κόσμω κηρύτεται. Kontakion Hymn for the Feast of Nativity of John the Forerunner Third Tone She that once was barren doth today bring forth Christ's Forerunner, John, the culmination and the crown of all the Prophets. For when he, in River Jordan, laid his hand on Him Whom the Prophets preached aforetime, he was revealed as God the Word's fore-chosen Prophet, His mighty preacher, and His Forerunner in grace. Η πρίν στείρα σήμερον, Χριστού τόν Πρόδρομον τίκτει, καί αυτός τό πλήρωμα, πάσης τής προφητείας, όνπερ γάρ, προανεκήρυξαν οι Προφήται, τούτον δή, εν Ιορδάνη χειροθετήσας, ανεδείχθη Θεού Λόγου, Προφήτης Κήρυξ ομού καί Πρόδρομος. Τρία θαυμαστά γεγονότα που συνοδεύουν το γενέθλιο του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Προδρόμου (24 Ιουνίου) Τρία θαυμαστά γεγονότα που συνοδεύουν το γενέθλιο του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Προδρόμου (24 Ιουνίου) Το πρώτο θαυμαστό γεγονός, είναι ότι ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Πρόδρομος είναι ο μοναδικός άγιος που πρώτα τον γνώρισε ο κόσμος ως Άγιο και έπειτα ως βρέφος. Πρώτα τον γνώρισε ως Προφήτη και έπειτα τον είδε ως άνθρωπο! Και αυτό γιατί πριν ακόμα βγει από την κοιλιά της μητέρας του, έδειξε την Χάρη που έλαβε από τον Θεό και προφήτευσε προσκυνώντας τον Δεσπότη των απάντων. Σκίρτησε στην κοιλιά της Ελισάβετ όταν η Παναγία την ασπάστηκε. Το σκίρτημα αυτό ήταν ένα προσκύνημα που γέμισε την καρδιά της Ελισάβετ με πνευματική χαρά και ανεφώνησε: ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου. (Λκ 1,44) Αμέσως δηλαδή μεταδόθηκε η χάρη που έλαβε ο Ιωάννης στην Ελισάβετ, η οποία άρχισε να κηρύττει εκείνα που ο Ιωάννης ως αγέννητος δεν μπορούσε να πει: καὶ ἐπλήσθη Πνεύματος Ἁγίου ἡ Ἐλισάβετ καὶ ἀνεφώνησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξὶ καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου. Καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Κυρίου μου πρός με; Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησε τὸ βρέφος ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου. (Λκ 1,41-42) 8
Μητέρα του Θεού, ονομάζει την Παρθένο, σαν να ήξερε ποιον κυοφορούσε μέσα στην κοιλιά της. Γίνεται Προφήτης λοιπόν η Ελισάβετ και αυτό βεβαίως είναι δόξα του υιού της, του Ιωάννη. Είναι πράγματι ασύλληπτη η χάρη που δόθηκε στον Άγιο Ιωάννη τον Πρόδρομο. Αρκεί να αναλογιστεί κανείς ότι: Οι Μάρτυρες, πρώτα βαπτίζονται στο αίμα του Μαρτυρίου τους, οι ασκητές πρώτα πλένονται στον ιδρώτα της άσκησης, οι Απόστολοι πρώτα ευωδίασαν τον εαυτό τους με την οσμή του κηρύγματος, όλοι οι Άγιοι βάφτηκαν πρώτα με τους αγώνες τους και έπειτα έλαβαν την Χάρη του Αγίου Πνεύματος. Ο κόσμος γενικά, γνώρισε τον κάθε άνθρωπο που αγίασε, από τα κατορθώματα των αρετών του. Όλοι οι Προφήτες, από την πολλή τους αρετή έγιναν σκεύη δεικτικά των χαρισμάτων του Αγίου Πνεύματος και έτσι έλαβαν και το χάρισμα να προφητεύουν. Τότε ο κόσμος κατάλαβε πως ήταν Προφήτες. Όμως, τον Άγιο Ιωάννη, τον κατάλαβε ο κόσμος, πριν να γεννηθεί στον κόσμο. Όταν ήταν βρέφος αγέννητο! Ένα δεύτερο θαυμαστό γεγονός, είναι το γεγονός πως για να καταλάβουν οι άνθρωποι ότι ο Άγιος Ιωάννης είναι Πρόδρομος του Μονογενούς Υιου του Θεού, ο Θεός θέλησε η γέννησή του Προδρόμου, να έχει παρόμοια προτερήματα με εκείνα του Ιησού: Στην γέννηση του Ιησού Χριστού ο Γαβριήλ ευαγγελίζει στην Παρθένο το Χαίρε. Στην γέννηση του Ιωάννη ο Άγγελος, λέει στον πατέρα του τον Ζαχαρία «Και έσται χαρά σοι και αγαλλίασις». (Λκ 1,14) Ο Άγγελος λέει στην Παρθένο: Εκείνος που θα γεννήσεις, είναι ο Υιός του Υψίστου. (Λκ. 1,32) Ο Άγγελος προλέγει στον Ζαχαρία, ότι ο υιός σου θα είναι Μεγας ενώπιον του Κυρίου. (Λκ 1,15) Στην γέννηση του Χριστού έχουμε παρθενία και τόκο. Στην γέννηση του Ιωάννη έχουμε στείρωση και γηρατειά. Εκεί Άγγελοι δοξαζουν, εδώ άνθρωποι θαυμάζουν. Εκεί ανοίγουν οι ουρανοί και κατεβάζουν τον αστέρα, εδώ λυνεται η γλώσσα του πατέρα και εκφωνει τις προφητείες. Γεννήθηκε ο Ιησούς και έπαψε του διαβόλου η εξουσία. Γεννήθηκε ο Ιωάννης και άρχισε το κήρυγμα της Σωτηρίας. Μια τρίτη μικρή αλλά πολύ σημαντική λεπτομέρεια: Ο Ζαχαρίας δεν προσευχόταν να του χαρίσει ο Θεός έναν υιό. Αν ζητούσε κάτι τέτοιο, τότε σίγουρα δεν θα απιστούσε τόσο, όταν ο Άγγελος του είπεότι θα γεννήσει υιό η Ελισάβετ. Αυτός, όταν προσέφερε στον Θεό θυμίαμα παρακαλούσε για την Σωτηρία του λαού και κατά την ώρα που έκανε δέηση για την Σωτηρία του κόσμου, τον επισκέφτηκε ο Άγγελος και του είπε, ότι ακούστηκε η δέησή σου και η γυναίκα σου η Ελισάβετ θα γεννήσει τον υιόν σου. Σαν να του έλεγε ότι η Σωτηρία του κόσμου, θα αρχίσει από την γέννηση του υιού σου. Σαν να του έλεγε ότι ήταν η γέννηση του Ιωάννη η Σωτηρία όλου του κόσμου. Λέει ο Άγιος Θεόδωρος ο Στουδίτης πως καθένας από τους υπόλοιπους αγίους εγκωμιάσθηκε από κάποιον άλλον, ο υψηλός στην αρετή από κάποιον επίσης υψηλό, και ο μετριώτερος από κάποιον μέτριο. Γι αυτόν, όμως, που τώρα ευφημείται κατ εξοχήν, το εγκώμιο προέρχεται από τον ίδιο τον Χριστό τον Θεό, που είναι η αλήθεια. Γιατί αναφέρει: «Κανείς μεταξύ των ανθρώπων δεν έχει αναφανεί ανώτερος από τον Ιωάννη τον Βαπτιστή». Επεξεργασία: Ορθόδοξες Απαντήσεις, Ιούνιος 2014 9
10