Του Μπάμπη Άννινου
Η καημένη η θεια-Μαργαρώ κάπου θα βρίσκεται εκεί ψηλά τώρα στον παράδεισο, που τόσο πολύ πίστευε, παρέα με τ΄ αγγελάκια, στα «χρυσά τα σύννεφα», κοντά στήν κυρά την Παναγία και όλους τους Αγίους, που θυμιάτιζε και μνημόνευε με τόσες μετάνοιες, κάθε απόβραδο μπροστά στο εικονοστάσι και προσκυνούσε με τρίδιπλες μετάνοιες στη μικρή ενοριακή της εκκλησιά…
Κι όμως, δεν το ‘λπιζε να πάει κι έλεγε:
- Κολάζεται κανένας, γιε μου! Κολάζεται και δεν το καταλαβαίνει! Γι΄ αυτό, δεν πρέπει κανένας να ολιγωρεί και να κάνει τα πρεπούμενα. Εκείνα που μας έχουνε μάθει οι πατεράδες μας και που ξέρανε οι παλιοί…
Κι ανάμεσα σ΄ αυτά τα «πρεπούμενα», που ενέπνεε μιαν αληθινή και αφελής ευλάβεια και πίστη, τις μετάνοιες, τα θυμιάματα, τα σταυροκοπήματα, τ΄ αγιοκέρια που φώτιζαν με την ψιλή τους φλόγα, το εικονοστάσι της γωνιάς με τ΄ άσπρα νταντελωτά μπερντεδάκια, ολονυκτίες στα πανηγύρια, τους όρθρους στις μεγάλες δεσποτικές γιορτές, την ταχτική παρακολούθηση της λειτουργίας και την αυστηρή τήρηση όλων των θρησκευτικών καθηκόντων, η μεγάλη δουλειά ήτανε η Σαρακοστή κι η νηστεία… Νήστευε τα Τετραδοπαράσκευα, νήστευε τις προηγιασμένες, νήστευε των Αγίων Αποστόλων, το Δεκαπενταύγουστο, της Σταυροπροσκύνησης, κάθε φορά που το έγραφαν τα «χαρτιά» και που το νόμιζε αναγκαίο η ψυχούλα της. Μα η μεγάλη νηστεία ήταν η «Αγία και Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή».
- Κολάζεται κανένας, γιε μου! Κολάζεται και δεν το καταλαβαίνει! έλεγε η καημένη η θεια-Μαργαρώ, κι εμείς οι πειρασμοί, εκπρόσωποι του Πονηρού και του Παγκακίστου, μέσα στο ήρεμο αναχωρητήρι της καλής γερόντισσας, εβάλαμε σκοπό να την κολάσουμε!… Μιαν εβδομάδα ολόκληρη, ύστερα από την Καθαρή Δευτέρα, ενήστευε παραδειγματικά, με μαρουλάκια, ελίτσες, βρεχτοκούκια, και κάπου κάπου λιγάκι χαλβά, που ήταν τα μόνα επιτρεπόμενα εδέσματα του νηστίσιμου «οψολογίου» της και μονάχα την πρώτη Κυριακή εμετρίαζε λίγο τη νηστεία κι εμαγείρευε κανένα λαδερό, αγκιναροκούκι, κανένα λαδοπίλαφο με ξερό χταπόδι… Κι έπειτα, λιγάκι ρετσινάτο, «για να στυλωθεί κανενός η καρδιά του, γιε μου!» επισφράγιζε πραγματικά την «κατάλυση οίνου και ελαίου».
Όσο για τα καρύδια και τα σύκα, που εφίλευε εμάς, τα παιδόπουλα, ήταν για τη θεια-Μαργαρώ πράγματα απαγορευμένα… Όχι από τα περίφημα «πρεπούμενα», μα γιατί δεν είχε πια κανένα δόντι. Όμως, για μας, τα πάστρευε με προσοχή και δεν μας τα ΄δινε ποτέ ατσάκιστα, κι είχε πολλούς λόγους, εκτός από την καλοσύνη της, για τούτο. Φρόντιζε πρώτα πρώτα για την ακεραιότητα της κόψης της πόρτας, που τα μαγκώναμε ανάμεσα και την εκάναμε καρυδοσπάστη, αφήνοντας σημαντικά σημάδια της χρησιμοποίησης αυτής, μα και για την ασπράδα των ασβεστωμένων πεζουλιών της αυλής, που ήταν το τελευταίο καταφύγιο για να τσακίσουμε τα καρύδια, χτυπώντας τα με λιθάρια!…
- Μπρε Ιούδες!… Μπρε Ιούδες! εξεφώνιζε, σαν εκαταλάβαινε κατιτί τέτοιο… Ελάτε εδώ, μπρε, να σας τα τσακίσω εγώ!…
Και δεν ήξερε κανένας τι την επονούσε πιο πολύ απ΄ τα τρία: τα δόντια μας, το μάγκωμα της πόρτας ή το λέρωμα των πεζουλιών;
Κι όμως εμείς, οι «Ιούδες», εβαλθήκαμε να τη λερώσουμε!… Έξω, στο παράσπιτο, στην άκρη της αυλής, για να μη λερώσει την κουζίνα που άστραφτε από πάστρα και γυαλοκοπούσαν τα μπακιρικά, είχε βάλει να μαγειρέψει το περίφημο λαδοπίλαφό της με το χταπόδι, ενώ για μας, σ΄ άλλο τσουκάλι, έβραζε αληθινό πιλάφι με το κρέας, ένα «ατζέμ πιλάφι» από κείνα που μονάχα η θεια-Μαργαρώ ήξερε να φτιάνει αλτρουιστικά για την τέρψη των άλλων!… Κι ο Πειρασμός ξελαμπάδιασε μονομιάς μέσα στο μυαλό μας, εκεί που παίζαμε «καλόγερο» στα άσπρα καί μαύρα πλακάκια της αυλής… Κι ούτε καιρό δεν χάσαμε σε μάταιη συνεννόηση… Με μια ματιά, συνεννοηθήκαμε και το κακό έγινε. ΄Ενα κομμάτι κρέας, παχύ και όλο ψαχνό, έσμιξε μέσα στο λαδοπίλαφο με τα ισχνά κομμάτια του ξερού χταποδιού…
Με τι καρδιοχτύπι περιμέναμε το μεσημέρι, με τι ανυπομονησία προσμέναμε ν΄ αρχίσει το φαγητό της, ξεχνώντας μες στα πιάτα το νόστιμο δικό μας πιλάφι και κοιτάζοντας το λαδοπίλαφό της…
Και να… Εκεί που δεν το προσμέναμε πια, ύστερα από την πρώτη-δεύτερη μπουκιά, το πιρούνι της ανάσυρε το σώμα του εγκλήματος. Το γύρισε από δω, το γύρισε από κει, με ιερή φρίκη. Το γεροντικό της, μα τόσο συμπαθητικό, πρόσωπο πήρε μια έκφραση συντριβής, και μας κοίταξε ύστερα, ενώ εμείς σκύβαμε τα μάτια στα πιάτα μας, έτοιμοι να γελάσουμε, μα χωρίς να μπορούμε… Περιμέναμε τη δίκαιη τιμωρία μας. Μα εκείνη είπε μονάχα με σπαραγμό, σπρώχνοντας το πιάτο:
- Η αμαρτία στο λαιμό σας!…
Κι αλήθεια, θαρρείς σαν η Αμαρτία να ήταν κάτι το ψηλαφητό, κάποιο πράγμα ήρθε κι έκατσε πραγματικά στο λαιμό μας!… Κομπιάσαμε, ξεροκατάπιαμε, αφήσαμε το φαΐ μας και, μπρουμιτίζοντας στο τραπέζι, αρχίσαμε τα κλάματα.
Τότε η καλή γερόντισσα, που ο θρήνος μας κι η μεταμέλειά μας την είχε συγκινήσει, κατανικώντας κάθε της απέχθεια, κάθε της ευλάβεια και κάθε πεποίθηση, προσπάθησε να μας παρηγορήσει. Και παίρνοντας το κρέας του Πειρασμού, άρχισε να τρώει κι αυτή, μπροστά στα κατάπληκτα και κλαμένα μάτια μας, λέγοντας:
- Να, μπρε σεις!… Φάτε!… Κι άστε τα κλάματα!… Να! Φάτε!… ο Θεός δεν ξεσυνερίζει!…
http://orthognosia.blogspot.ca/2016/02/blog-post_49.html
Kontakion
1
Chosen Bridegroom of our hearts and
souls, through Thine incarnation and death on the cross Thou hast betrothed all
mankind to Thyself forever and hast given us as a pledge of eternal life Thy
most pure Body and Blood. Lo! At Thy call, I though unworthy, dare to approach
Thy divine Table, and struck by its majesty, I cry:
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Ikos 1
Thou didst send Thine Angel to the
Prophet Isaiah with a live coal from the heavenly altar that his lips might be
purified thereby, when, beholding Thee seated upon Thy throne, he was
distressed over his impurity. And how shall I, who am defiled in body and soul,
dare to approach to partake of Thy divine Mysteries for communion except Thou
Thyself purify me from on high? Where fore, I cry out to Thee from the depths
of my soul:
Jesus most good, touch also mine
impure lips with the fire of Thy grace.
Jesus, burn the thorns of my many
transgressions.
Jesus, create in me a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Jesus, lead my poor soul out of the
prison of the passions.
Jesus, destroy in me impure thoughts
and evil lusts.
Jesus, guide my feeble steps to the
path of Thy commandments.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
2
Greatly desiring to eat a last
Passover with Thy disciples before Thy Passion, that in the midst thereof Thou
mightest give them the last and greatest pledge of Thy love, Thou didst send
two of them to Jerusalem two days before Thee, that thus they might prepare it.
Hence, learning how we, too, ought to prepare ourselves betimes to eat of the
divine Passover which is Thy Body and Blood, I cry out to Thee in thanksgiving:
Alleluia!
Ikos 2
"Loose thy sandles from off thy
feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground ," didst Thou say
unto Moses from out of the bush which burned yet was not consumed by Thine
unseen presence therein. The vessel which containeth Thy Body and Blood is
greater and more holy indeed than the unburnt bush, but I am dust, unclean and
sold under sin. Wherefore, with humility and faith I cry out to Thee:
Jesus almighty, strip from me the
old man and all his works.
Jesus, slay within me the seed of
corruption which maketh its nest within me.
Jesus, break Thou the bonds of sin
whereby the enemy hath bound me.
Jesus, grant me a humble heart and a
broken spirit.
Jesus, drive far from me temptations
and occasions for stumbling.
Jesus, establish me in faith and
love for Thee.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
3
"Our fathers did eat manna in
the wilderness, and are dead. I am the Bread which cometh down from heaven
which, if any man eat thereof, he shall live forever. And the Bread which I
will give is My Flesh, which I will give for the life of the world," Thou
didst say to the Jews that sought to see from Thee a sign from heaven like unto
the manna of Moses, And hearing and beholding the fulfillment of the prophecy,
we cry out with fear:
Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Having risen from the supper, as the
holy John doth relate, and girded. Thyself about with a towel, Thou didst wash
the feet of the disciples, thereby teaching us that we ought not to approach
Thy divine Table in our sins unwashed by tears of repentance. Mindful of my
great need for this mystical ablution and of the dearth of tears of my hardened
heart, with Peter I cry to Thee:
Jesus all-good, do Thou Thyself wash
n ot only my feet, but my hand s and head as well.
Jesus, lay bare before me the abyss
of my soul's corruption!
Jesus, open within me the floodgates
of heartfelt contrition!
Jesus, be dew me with the drops of
Thy loving-kindness!
Jesus, wrap me about with the fear
of the judgment and the eternal torments!
Jesus, awaken within me my sleeping
conscience and strengthen its voice.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
4
"Is this not Jesus, the Son of
Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How is it, then, that He saith, I came
down from heaven? How can He give His Flesh to eat?" said the Jews among
themselves, on hearing Thy most glorious promise to give Thyself as food to the
faithful, unable in the hardness of their hearts to believe with humility and
cry out to Thee:
Alleluia!
Ikos 4
"Except ye eat the Flesh of the
Son of man, and drink His Blood, ye have no life in you," Thou didst tell
the Jews that were slow to believe, and this saying was shown to be hard to
accept even for certain of Thy disciples that were yet ignorant of the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven. But we, illumined with light of the Gospel and
beholding Thy divine glory with face unveiled, cry out to Thee with faith and
love:
Jesus, Who canst do everything
through the greatness of Thy power and dominion!
Jesus, Who createth and perfecteth
more then we can understand and comprehend!
Jesus, Who once rained down manna
from heaven as a sign of the present Mystery!
Jesus, Who didst pour forth water
from a rock as a prefiguring thereof.
Jesus, Who didst send a cloud of quail
as food for the Jews, who were starving in the wilderness!
Jesus, Who before the very eyes of
the doubting Jews didst satisfy five thousand men with five loaves of bread.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
5
While eating Thy supper with Thy
disciples, taking bread, and blessing and breaking it, Thou didst give it to
them, saying: "Take, eat; this is My Body, which is broken for you for the
remission of sins." And thereafter, having given them the Cup, Thou didst
say: "Drink ye all of it: this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is
shed for you and for many for the remission of sins." Hearkening to this
divine and most sweet voice, with thanksgiving we cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 5
He who eateth My Flesh, and drinketh
My Blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. He hath eternal life; and I will raise
him up at the last day, which is at the resurrection of life and blessedness.
Wherefore, seeking to be vouchsafed this longed-for resurrection unto life,
from the depths of my soul I cry to Thee:
Jesus, draw nigh unto one that
seeketh union to Thee:
Jesus, enter into my inmost parts,
into all my members and bones.
Jesus, be Thou a light unto my
darkened mind.
Jesus, fill with Thyself the abyss
of my heart, which the whole world cannot satisfy.
Jesus, speak through the voice of my
conscience.
Jesus, stir and guide my will.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
6
"Verily, verily, I say unto you
that one of you shall betray Me," Thou didst say in anguish of spirit to
Thy disciples at the supper. And though they were innocent of any intention to
betray Thee, each of them asked Thee: "Lord is it I?" showing thereby
the depth of their humility. But what can I say to Thee when I fall and betray
Thee seven times a day? Yet keep me Thyself, that I may not fall away utterly,
but cry to Thee thankfully: Alleluia!
Ikos 6 "As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye
abide in Me. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit." Thus, working wonders Thou didst teach Thy beloved disciples on
the way to Gethsemane. Therefore, attending to this instruction, and knowing
the weakness of my nature without Thy grace, I earnestly cry to Thee:
Jesus, most heavenly Husbandman, do
Thou Thyself plant me in Thy life-bearing garden.
Jesus, true vine, graft me to
Thyself like a wild branch!
Jesus, unwithering root, fill me
with the sap of eternal life!
Jesus, Vanquisher of all mortality,
clear away that which hath been dried up within me by the heat of the passions.
Jesus, beautiful goodness, adorn me
with the flowers of good thoughts and feelings!
Jesus, rich in mercy, enrich me with
the fruits of true repentance and righteousness.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
7
To the disciple who at the supper
leaned upon Thy breast and asked: "Who is it that betrayeth Thee?"
Thou didst answer; "He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have
dipped it." And, having dipped the bread, Thou didst give it to Judas
Iscariot, the son of Simon, to move him to repentance. But, being hardened by
the spirit of malice, he had no desire to understand his Lord and Master's
voice of love. May I be delivered by Thy grace from such hard-heartedness, by
crying to Thee:
Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Taking pity on the weakness of our
nature, which turneth away from eating human flesh, Thou wast well-pleased to
bestow upon us Thine all-pure Body and Blood not manifestly, but under the
appearance of Bread and Wine, most wisely ordering the whole matter of our
salvation in Thy love for mankind, O Jesus, and accommodating Thy most saving
Mysteries to the weakness of our comprehension and senses. Marvelling at this
condescension of Thy wisdom to the weakness of our nature, I thankfully glorify
Thee thus:
Jesus, Who in Thy wisdom and love
for mankind arrangest all things for our salvation!
Jesus, Who adaptest Thy most saving
Mysteries to the weakness of our understanding and senses.
Jesus, Who for the assurance of the
doubting hast many times manifested Thy very Body and Blood at Thy holy Table,
instead of bread and wine.
Jesus, Who hast shown to worthy
ministers of the altar the Holy Spirit descending for the consecration of the
Gifts!
Jesus, Who instead of unworthy
ministers of the altar dost send invisibly Thy holy Angels for the celebration
of the Divine Mysteries.
Jesus, Who through the manifestation
of miracles at the holy Table, hast converted to faith many of the impious.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
8
And after the sop - that is, after
the traitor had eaten the bread Thou gavest him - as the holy John relateth,
Satan entered into him. Oh, what a dreadful punishment for unbelief Oh, how
unhappy the lot of the traitor! What should have been for his salvation is
turned into death and damnation for him. Bowing reverently before this judgment
of Thy righteousness, with fear and trembling I cry to Thee:
Alleluia!
Ikos 8
"Do this in remembrance of
Me," didst Thou say to Thy disciples at the supper, giving them Thy Body
under the appearance of Bread, and Thy Blood under the appearance of wine. For
as often as we eat this bread, and drink this cup, we show forth Thy death,
according to the word of the holy Paul. And now, remembering Thy Passion, with
compunction I cry to Thee: Jesus, Who for the salvation of the world didst give
Thyself over voluntarily into the hands of Thine enemies!
Jesus, Who didst not allow legions
of angels to appear in Thy defense!
Jesus, Who with a glance and with
the crowing of a cock didst convert to repentance an unfaithful disciple!
Jesus, Who didst make no reply to
Caiaphas an d Pilate who questioned Thee foolishly.
Jesus, Who from the Cross didst ask
the Father to forgive the sins of them that crucified Thee!
Jesus, Who in Thy surpassing
loving-kindness didst give Thy beloved disciple to Thy Mother as a son.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
9
"Judas, betrayest thou the Son
of Man with a kiss?" Thou didst sadly cry out to Thine unfaithful disciple,
when he came with a detachment of troops into the Garden of Gethsemane seeking
to betray Thee with a kiss. But even these poignant words did not strike his
soul, hardened' in evil, with repentance. And, knowing the inconstancy of mine
own will, 1 fear lest at any time 1, too, give thee the kiss of Judas,
ungrateful as I am. But do Thou Thyself strengthen me by Thy grace, that with
the good thief I may ever cry out:
Alleluia!
Ikos 9
I pray that they all may be one, as
Thou. Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that
the world may believe." Thus didst Thou exclaim in !Thy last great prayer
to the Father. Following this, Thy voice most sweet, and trusting in the power
of Thy prayer, with faith I cry to Thee:
Jesus, Who gatherest all together as
one, unite us all inseparably with Thee and Thy Father!
Jesus, grant that we all abide in
oneness of mind, in faith and in love for Thee.
Jesus, Who cannot abide enmity and
division, destroy impious heresies and schisms!
Jesus, Who lovest and hast mercy
upon all, gather all the lost sheep into one flock.
Jesus, Who guest peace to all, allay
the envy and gainsaying among them that call upon Thy name.
Jesus, Who givest me the Communion
of Thy very Body and-Blood, may I be truly flesh of Thy Flesh and bone of Thy
Bones.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
10
By turning water into wine at the
wedding supper in Cana of Galilee, Thou didst manifest the first sign of Thy
divine power. Then, when about to depart to the Cross as the Bridegroom of
souls, Thou didst manifest to them that believe in Thee the last miracle of Thy
love, by changing bread into Thy Body; and wine into Thy Blood, and nurtured
thereby unto life eternal, I, too, thankfully cry out to Thee:
Alleluia!
Ikos 10
On the day of Thy resurrection,
accompanying in the guise of a traveller two of Thy disciples on the way to
Emmaus, Thou didst instruct them in the mystery of Thy Passion; but their eyes
were holden that they should not recognize Thee, though their hearts burned
within them at the sweetness of Thy words. But when, bowing to their request,
Thou didst go to tarry with them and, and having blessed the Bread, didst give
It them, straightway their eyes were opened and they recognized Thee. Like
those disciples, I, too, humbly make bold to raise my voice to Thee thus:
Jesus long-suffering, forsake me not
on the path of life because of the insufficience of my faith.
Jesus, teach me, like them, to
understand the prophecies concerning Thee and the mystery of union with Thee by
grace.
Jesus, warm and inflame my cold
heart, as Thou didst those of Thy disciples.
Jesus all-good, abide also with me,
for the day of my life is far spent and it is towards evening.
Jesus, grant me to know thee truly
in the present breaking of the mystical Bread and in drinking from the Chalice!
Jesus, grant that even I, perceiving
the power of Thy love, may become a proclaimer thereof to my brethren.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to thyself forever.
Kontakion
11
To him that is victorious hast Thou
promised to give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God, and of the hidden manna. May I be prepared on earth for this
heavenly fare by the Communion of Thy Body and Blood, which as I now unworthily
approach, I cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 11
He that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the Body
and Blood of the Lord, the heaven-rapt Paul doth admonish them that approach
for Communion. Wherefore, I, too, fear and tremble at mine unworthiness; yet
lest, by separating myself for long from Thy Communion, I fall prey to the
noetic wolf, I draw nigh to Thee with such a cry:
Jesus, receive me, as Thou didst
receive the publican, the harlot and the thief!
Jesus, disdain not to enter under
the roof of my soul, though it is all empty and fallen.
Jesus, open the eyes of my soul, as
thou didst open the eyes of the man that was blind from birth!
Jesus, say to me too, as to the
paralytic: Arise and walk!
Jesus, stanch the flow of the impure
desires of my soul as Thou dist stanch the flux of the woman with a issue of
blood!
Jesus, heal the leprosy of my soul
and conscience.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
12
Through the envy of the devil who
spoke through the mouth of the serpent, and through the eating of the forbidden
fruit, the whole human race lost paradise and was given over to death. But by
tasting of Thy most pure Body and Blood all men are again vouchsafed eternal
life and rise up to their former state. For the Communion of Thy life-creating
Mysteries is an antidote against the venom of the serpent and is the seed of
immortality. Wherefore, I thankfully cry out to Thee:
Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Lo! I stand before the vessel which
holdeth Thy divine Mysteries, yet I put not away mine evil thoughts. Thine
almighty grace alone doth hearten and draw me on. Wherefore casting myself into
the -abyss of Thy loving-kindness, I cry out:
Jesus, Who callest all that labor
and are heavy laden to rest in Thee, receive me, who labor under the vanity of
this world.
Jesus, Who didst come to call not
the righteous, but sinners to repentance, absolve me of my sins and passions!
Jesus, Who healest every infirmity
and disease, heal Thou the wounds and festering of my soul.
Jesus, Who didst satisfy the hungry,
feed me with Thy Body and Blood!
Jesus, Who didst raise the dead,
quicken me who have been slain by my sins.
Jesus, Conqueror of hell, rescue me
from the jaws of the spirit of malice.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
13 [3 times]
O Jesus most sweet and
all-compassionate, Who dost ever descend like manna from heaven to nourish our
souls and hearts in the mystery of Thy most pure Body and Blood: vouchsafe me
to partake uncondemned of Thy Divine Mysteries, that, being healed, nurtured,
sanctified and deified by Thee forever, I may thankfully cry:
Alleluia!
O Jesus most sweet and
all-compassionate, Who dost ever descend like manna from heaven to nourish our
souls and hearts in the mystery of Thy most pure Body and Blood: vouchsafe me
to partake uncondemned of Thy Divine Mysteries, that, being healed, nurtured,
sanctified and deified by Thee forever, I may thankfully cry:
Alleluia!
O Jesus most sweet and
all-compassionate, Who dost ever descend like manna from heaven to nourish our
souls and hearts in the mystery of Thy most pure Body and Blood: vouchsafe me
to partake uncondemned of Thy Divine Mysteries, that, being healed, nurtured,
sanctified and deified by Thee forever, I may thankfully cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 1 Repeated
Thou didst send Thine Angel to the
Prophet Isaiah with a live coal from the heavenly altar that his lips might be
purified thereby, when, beholding Thee seated upon Thy throne, he was
distressed over his impurity. And how shall I, who am defiled in body and soul,
dare to approach to partake of Thy divine Mysteries for communion except Thou
Thyself purify me from on high? Where fore, I cry out to Thee from the depths
of my soul:
Jesus most good, touch also mine
impure lips with the fire of Thy grace.
Jesus, burn the thorns of my many
transgressions.
Jesus, create in me a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Jesus, lead my poor soul out of the
prison of the passions.
Jesus, destroy in me impure thoughts
and evil lusts.
Jesus, guide my feeble steps to the
path of Thy commandments.
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Kontakion
1 Repeated
Chosen Bridegroom of our hearts and
souls, through Thine incarnation and death on the cross Thou hast betrothed all
mankind to Thyself forever and hast given us as a pledge of eternal life Thy
most pure Body and Blood. Lo! At Thy call, I though unworthy, dare to approach
Thy divine Table, and struck by its majesty, I cry:
Jesus, God
of my heart, come and unite me to Thyself forever.
Amen
1. Η αμαρτία έχει πέντε δάχτυλα: δύο μας βάζει στα μάτια, δύο στα αυτιά,κι ένα στο στόμα!
2. Κάνε μια αμαρτία δύο φορές και θα σκεφθείς ότι επιτρέπεται.
3. Η μεγάλη αμαρτία είναι παιδί της μικρής.
4. Το κακό με τις ..μικρές αμαρτίες είναι ότι ..δεν μένουν πολύ καιρό μικρές.
5. Η αγάπη μιας μικρής αμαρτίας, είναι …μια μεγάλη αμαρτία.
6. Η συνήθεια της αμαρτίας αφαιρεί την συνείδηση της αμαρτίας.
7. Όποιον πόνο κι αν δοκιμάσει ο άνθρωπος τον ξεχνάει. Μα τον πόνο από το δάγκωμα της συνειδήσεως, δεν τον ξεχνάει ποτέ.
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/12/blog-post_2.html
During the Great Lent the Church makes an effort to wake us up to repentance. Heart-penetrating services, canons and frequent readings from the Old Testament are the tools for coming to realization of our sinfulness. The examples from the Old Testament caution us and, based on the experience of thousands of years, point us to the only way of grace: the way of communion with God.
God led the Jewish people to His Truth and Righteousness by means of various tribulations, long years of slavery and devastating diseases. All of the Old Testament is the story of God’s Righteousness punishing for sin and showing mercy. But despite such a multitude of punishments, the Jewish people often hardened their hearts and did not want to receive God’s rebuke.
Such hardening of heart can also be observed amongst us today. The Lord strikes us with tribulations, pours grief upon the stone-like ground of our heart, so that it may be ploughed and made ready to receive the seed of God’s grace; i.e. our hearts are often not receptive to the mercy of the Lord, even when He is showing us mercy in obvious ways. Like animals, we are still possessed by the fear of death, but do we fear God’s Judgment? The Lord is waiting for us to see in our troubles the axe and mercy of God, not just a coincidence.
Thus comparing the Old Testament with our time, we can see than both then and now the Lord cares for His people, not allowing them to perish in carelessness and iniquity. In various ways He leads us to repentance, calls us to again be united with Him, Who is the Source of life. Truly the love of God surpasses human understanding! His love goes to the extent that, according to the prophet Isaiah, for the sake of His chosen ones, for the sake of a small part of the people, He spares the whole people. For the sake of a few saints the kingdom shall stand. Thus God was leading his servants, showing Himself sometimes as a terrible and rebuking Judge, and sometimes as Merciful and All-Forgiving for the sake of man, to establish righteousness on the earth. (Indeed, there is yet another aspect of love, its protective power.)
If the Lord cared so much for his servants, does he not care even more for His sons? The Old Testament is slavery; the New Testament is sonship. We are no longer slaves in the Master’s house, but sons in the Father’s home. A slave strives only to please his master, and their relationship is measured by the slave’s work. But a son has a closer relationship with the father and is afraid of insulting him not only by action, but also by intention, lest he be separated from the love of the father; his relationship with the father is measured by feelings and thoughts. Yet to whom more was given, of him more will be asked. "We are children of God, but it has not yet been revealed what we will become,"-says the apostle; we have been given a lot, and it is up to us to multiply the Lord’s gift. It is up to us to set our feet on the warrior path, the path of the warriors of Christ, fighting on the battlefield of our hearts for the Truth and Righteousness of God. It is up to us to make a good beginning, since the Lord appreciates even our intentions, and everything else we will be able to do with the help of God’s grace.
Our weapon is frequent prayer, creative prayer beyond a mechanical repetition of memorized words. The Holy Church offers such prayers to us in the touching services of the Great Lent. The goal of our struggle is to acquire the inner peace of the soul. When peace finds home in our hearts, then we begin our blessed journey toward communion with God. The state of communion with God is so great, that this communion itself is our reward, the Kingdom of Heaven inside of us. This is what the Lord has called us to, so that here on earth we could in separate moments acquire eternity for ourselves. Amen.
Kontakion 1 O Champion Leader and Lord, Wondrous Creator of human nature, hear our prayers from the height of the throne of Your Glory: Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Ikos 1 Having created the multitude of archangels and angels for Your service, You made man from the dust of the ground for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and You loved him above all creatures, O All-Merciful Lord. Learning of Your inexpressible love, as Your children, we cry unto You: Jesus, Who called us into the marvelous world, allow us to abide with You forever. Jesus, Who called us to be children of the Creator, allow us to ever hymn Him. Jesus, grant us healing from our sins, with which we stained ourselves. Jesus, grant us to stand at Your right on the Day of the Resurrection of all. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 2 Seeing the perdition of the human race, You, O Father, desired to save it, for You so loved the world that You willed to send Your Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ for our salvation. Therefore to Him we sing: Alleluia. Ikos 2 You endowed Your creature with heavenly understanding, O Compassionate Lord, worthy of songs of praise and thanksgiving, You abide in Your Heavenly Kingdom, but we who are enslaved to sin abide in the poverty of our minds. Therefore we pray to You, fill our feeble minds with Your grace that we may know that we bear Your image and may become Your worthy children. For this sake, receive our petition: Jesus, Who made our bodies to be temples of God, cleanse them from all impurity. Jesus, Who breathed the breath of life into our bodies, enlighten them again with the Holy Spirit. Jesus, Who created our souls to be immortal, deliver us from mortal sins. Jesus, Who gave us luminous reason, chase the darkness from our hearts. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 3 Strengthened by divine power, though we are great sinners, do not despair of our salvation, but put all hope in You alone and sing to You with compunction: Alleluia. Ikos 3 With Your immeasurable compassion, enter our hearts and make them into Your dwelling place so that abiding with You, we may know You with our whole souls and minds, for You are the God of those who repent and all things are possible with You. We cry to You such things as these: Jesus, Who created our eyes, allow us to see You with clarity. Jesus, Who created our ears, allow us to hear Your sweet voice. Jesus, Who created our mouths, allow us to unceasingly praise You. Jesus, Who created our senses, allow us to apprehend the fullness of life in You alone. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies.
Kontakion 4 Wearied by the storms of life, we hasten to Your divine intercession, O our Savior. Strengthen our weakness enabling us to carry our cross for the rest of our lives without complaint but praising You: Alleluia. Ikos 4 Hearing our endless weeping, tell us as You told Your friends, O Lord: “Do not cry, O my beloved, I will not leave you without my protection, but will heal you from your sickness and sorrow.” Gladdened by such promise, we call upon You: Jesus, the True Light, enlighten us with the knowledge of God. Jesus, the Living God, vouchsafe us worthy of eternal life. Jesus, Who gave Your body to us as incorruptible food, fill our hungering souls. Jesus, Who suffered on the Cross for us, heal the wounds of our souls with Your Blood. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 5 Worshipping the Unoriginate Trinity, we humbly beg You, our Christ: intercede for us sinners before Your Father so that He would not withdraw the Holy Spirit from us. And we cry to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 5 Again and again we behold your outpourings of mercy on us of which we are not deserving, but marveled by Your compassion and long-suffering, we cry to You: Jesus, we know that we are infirm and careless, but we diligently seek Your help. Jesus, we know that we are hard-hearted and disobedient, but we long for the recovery from our ills. Jesus, we know that we have sinned many times against You, but offer You tearful repentance. Jesus, we know that we fall every day, but we can rise from our falls by the strength of Your power. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 6 Desiring to save us from perishing forever, O Our Father, Your Only-Begotten Son was sent for our salvation as a Sacrifice. Through Your grace, heal our bodies and souls infected with the leprosy of sin so that we may even here on earth worthily praise You: Alleluia. Ikos 6 Enlighten our souls with Your unwaning Light, O Lord, teaching us to walk in the light of Your commandments so that we may not sin before Your face but sing to You: Jesus, Inexpressible Love, warm our cold hearts with Your Love. Jesus, Gentle Light, make our darkened souls radiant with Your never-waning Light. Jesus, Heavenly Sweetness, delight our human nature with Your Grace. Jesus, Benevolent Master, fill our lives with Your bounties. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 7 Desiring to manifest the greatness of Your love and compassion throughout Your earthly life, O Lord, You led many sinners to repentance. As the Publican, we cry to You: “God, be merciful to us, sinners!” And hoping in Your abundant mercy, we call unto You: Alleluia. Ikos 7 You revealed in us a new creation, O Jesus, when in Your baptism You delivered us from the ancestral sin. For such benevolence to our mankind, we praise You: Jesus, we glorify Your inexpressible loving-kindness. Jesus, we praise Your great benevolence. Jesus, we extol Your saving Passion. Jesus, we thank You for all Your bounties. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 8 Amazing and strange is Your ineffable benevolence and care for us, O Lover of mankind. Knowing our infirmities and weaknesses, with tears we entreat You: endure us, O Merciful One, and if we find favor in Your sight, do not forsake us, Your servants who cry to You: Alleluia. Ikos 8 O Christ Our God, You are the fulfillment of our every desire and enjoyment by which we strengthen and satisfy our souls and bodies. For this we hymn You: Jesus, You are our Joy and Sweetness. Jesus, You are our Tenderness and Delight. Jesus, You are our Glory and Stronghold. Jesus, You are our Power and Protection. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies.
Kontakion 9 All of the human nature healed by You from infirmity and illness gratefully praises You, Almighty Physician, and, knowing that God's power is made perfect in our weaknesses, cries out with compunction: Alleluia. Ikos 9 God-loving orators, though they speak much of You, are unable to worthily glorify the great power of Your miracles, O Lord, by which You healed the woman with the issue of blood from her sickness, raised Lasarus from four days in the grave, lifted up Jairus' daughter from her death bed, and performed many other healings. But we, well aware of such miracles, cry out to You: Jesus, Who raised the paralytic from his bed, raise our souls from sins. Jesus, Who opened the eyes of the man born blind, open our spiritual eyes. Jesus, Who resurrected the son of the widow of Nain, resurrect our kind thoughts. Jesus, Who granted Abgar healing from his terrible disease, grant us healing from all our diseases. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 10 Desiring to save all who believe in You, O Christ the Savior, You ascended into heaven and prepare a place for them in Your Kingdom. Therefore, vouchsafe us at the hour of our death to reach our Father's home in heaven, where we can glorify You: Alleluia. Ikos 10 Everlasting King, Jesus Christ, Who for our salvation received flesh from the all-pure Virgin Mary and sanctified her by Your divinity, sanctify our sinful flesh with Your divinity so we may cry out to You in gratitude: Jesus, cleanse our hands so we may glorify You with good deeds. Jesus, strengthen our legs so we may follow You with gladness. Jesus, correct our thoughts so we may live our lives to Your glory. Jesus, bring peace to our souls so we may love all Your servants. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies.
Kontakion 11 Most tender songs we offer to You, our Sweetest Jesus, exalting Your great mercy towards us and worshipping You with love and humility, we call on You: Alleluia. Ikos 11 Shine into our souls the great and divine Light, O Giver of eternal life, so enlightened by it, we may reach the Heavenly Kingdom and, as the apostles on Mount Tabor, exclaim to You: “It is good for us to be here!” Receive now our supplications: Jesus, forgive all our sins. Jesus, receive our humble repentance. Jesus, place our souls into the heavenly abode. Jesus, transfigure our bodies at the resurrection of all. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Kontakion 12 Grant us Your grace, O Jesus Our God, which You bestowed on Your beloved disciples here on earth. Receive the confession of our sins, hear our groaning, send down upon us Your Holy Spirit, so that purified by Him, we can be accounted worthy to call upon You on earth as the angels call upon You in heaven: Alleluia. Ikos 12 Singing of Your unspeakable love for mankind, we worship the greatness of Your deeds, O Christ, and fall down at Your feet with faith and love as before the Almighty Physician of our souls and bodies, exclaiming to You: Jesus, our Maker, make us heirs of Your Kingdom, Jesus, our Savior, save us from eternal torments. Jesus, our Redeemer, redeem us from death unto eternal life. Jesus, our Archpriest, save all Your archpriests who intercede for us at Your Judgment. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies.
Kontakion 13 O Sweetest and Most-Bountiful Jesus, look down with love from Your Heavenly throne on us who are infirm and exhausted by the wounds of soul and body. Mercifully incline Your ear to our tearful plea and heal us by Your saving Passion from all sickness of soul and body, so that rising from our sick bed, we may enter into Your Holy Church, forever singing to You: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. O Sweetest and Most-Bountiful Jesus, look down with love from Your Heavenly throne on us who are infirm and exhausted by the wounds of soul and body. Mercifully incline Your ear to our tearful plea and heal us by Your saving Passion from all sickness of soul and body, so that rising from our sick bed, we may enter into Your Holy Church, forever singing to You: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. O Sweetest and Most-Bountiful Jesus, look down with love from Your Heavenly throne on us who are infirm and exhausted by the wounds of soul and body. Mercifully incline Your ear to our tearful plea and heal us by Your saving Passion from all sickness of soul and body, so that rising from our sick bed, we may enter into Your Holy Church, forever singing to You: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. (then again ikos 1 and kontakion1) Ikos 1 Having created the multitude of archangels and angels for Your service, You made man from the dust of the ground for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and You loved him above all creatures, O All-Merciful Lord. Learning of Your inexpressible love, as Your children, we cry unto You: Jesus, Who called us into the marvelous world, allow us to abide with You forever. Jesus, Who called us to be children of the Creator, allow us to ever hymn Him. Jesus, grant us healing from our sins, with which we stained ourselves. Jesus, grant us to stand at Your right on the Day of the Resurrection of all. Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies.
Kontakion 1 O Champion Leader and Lord, Wondrous Creator of human nature, hear our prayers from the height of the throne of Your Glory: Jesus, Almighty Physician, heal our souls and bodies. Prayer O All-Powerful and Almighty Physician of our souls and bodies – Lord Jesus Christ! Hear now the tearful prayers of all Your servants who are suffering from grievous illnesses and who place all their hope in You alone. For we know, O Lord, that where human hand cannot give relief and healing - You can, for nothing is impossible for You. Having created our souls and bodies, You possess the power to save us. Therefore we beseech You, All-Merciful One, if it is Your holy will, heal us of our infirmities of soul and body and, according to the judgments known to You, regenerate our nature afflicted with sickness. Above all, we entreat You to forgive all our sins so that with our souls purified by repentance, we can hymn You, together with Your Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
